ST. PETERSBURG, FL \u2014 With 2025 winding down, St. Pete Patch has compiled some of the top news stories from 2025, from a mother accused of forcing her 11-year-old daughter to perform sex acts on video to a penthouse selling for a record $27 million to a driver fatally shot with a toddler in his car. <\/p>\n
FL Animal Trapper Who Loves Reptiles Focuses On Conservation, Education<\/a><\/p>\n A St. Petersburg-based animal trapper dreams of opening a reptile sanctuary that educates people about FL’s unique, natural ecosystems.<\/p>\n Find out what’s happening in St. Petefor free with the latest updates from Patch.<\/p>\n Artists, Activists Respond To Removal Of Street Murals By FDOT Crews<\/a><\/p>\n LGBTQ+ rainbow and Black History Matters murals were removed by FL Dept. of Transportation crews, drawing the ire of activists and artists.<\/p>\n Find out what’s happening in St. Petefor free with the latest updates from Patch. <\/p>\n FL Driver Shot, Killed With Toddler In Car<\/a><\/p>\n A driver who was shot and killed in St. Pete had an 18-month-old girl in his car at the time of the shooting, police said.<\/p>\n FL Polish Club Spent 3 Months Drying Out Historic Dance Floor After Hurricane Helene<\/a><\/p>\n Through community support, the Polish American Society of St. Pete was able to restore its historic floating dance floor after hurricanes.<\/p>\n Woman Shot Father During Custody Exchange Outside FL Sheriff\u2019s Office<\/a><\/p>\n A woman was charged with attempted murder for shooting her father during a child custody exchange with his estranged wife, PSCO said.<\/p>\n Families Sue Boat Owner In Fatal Clearwater Ferry Crash: Reports<\/a><\/p>\n A family of six is reportedly citing negligence in a ferry crash that killed a Palm Harbor man and injured 10 others in Clearwater.<\/p>\n 730 HSN Workers Laid Off At St. Pete Campus<\/a><\/p>\n HSN cut 730 jobs as the shopping channel moved to QVC’s headquarters in PA and closed its St. Petersburg campus.<\/p>\n Missing Girl, 16, Killed, Dismembered: St. Pete Police<\/a><\/p>\n A missing Gulfport girl was lured to a St. Pete home, where she was killed. Investigators are looking for her dismembered body, police said.<\/p>\n FL Grocery Store Is The Best In The U.S., A New Ranking Says<\/a><\/p>\n An Italian market in St. Petersburg is ranked as the No. 1 overall grocery store in the U.S., according to a new ranking.<\/p>\n FL Mom Accused Of Forcing Daughter, 11, To Perform Sexual Acts On Video<\/a><\/p>\n A St. Pete mother forced her 11-year-old daughter to perform sexual acts on her, a man and the family dog, the Pinellas County sheriff said.<\/p>\n FL Homeowner Fatally Shot Home Invasion Suspect; 2nd Suspect Sought<\/a><\/p>\n A St. Pete homeowner fatally shot a home invasion suspect in April, police said. <\/p>\n Penthouse Sells For $27M, Sets St. Pete Sales Record: Reports<\/a><\/p>\n The penthouse of a condo building being built along the downtown St. Pete waterfront sold for $27M, setting a new record, reports said.<\/p>\n Man Attacked FL Restaurant Owner Before Being Fatally Stabbed By Him, Police Say<\/a><\/p>\n A man was fatally stabbed during an altercation with the owner of Ahi Sushi in downtown St. Pete, police said.<\/p>\n Tampa Bay Rays Abandon $1.3B St. Pete Stadium Deal<\/a><\/p>\n St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch said the Tampa Bay Rays’ decision to walk away from a $1.3B redevelopment of Tropicana Field “is not unexpected.” The city is now accepting proposals for the redevelopment of 86 acres in the Historic Gas Plant District. <\/p>\n Body Found On Weedon Island Identified As Missing Teen: Police<\/a><\/p>\n A body found at Weedon Island Preserve was identified as a missing teen, 17-year-old Allister Samer Nasr, St. Pete police said.<\/p>\n