Latrice Royale got her start doing drag shows in Fort Lauderdale, where she's lived for 30 years, but she's known worldwide for "RuPaul's Drag Race," along with its international tours and Las Vegas stint.State of play: Royale hit the road again last year for HBO's "We're Here," along with queens like Jaida Essence Hall, showing people in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and Tulsa, Oklahoma what drag is all about.Before tonight's premiere, Selene chatted with her about the art and activism of drag.You go into rural towns to show people drag isn't scary. But that in itself can be scary. Why take the...

President Biden's campaign is opening a field office in Hillsborough County to mobilize voters in a region where Republicans are gaining ground.Why it matters: This is Biden's first field office in Florida and a sign that he is serious about winning the state.Catch up quick: The campaign sees Florida as a worthy investment now that a referendum to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution will be on November's ballot.Biden and other top Democrats are making appearances in Florida to blame Donald Trump for the state's six-week abortion ban.Vice President Kamala Harris will visit Jacksonville on May 1, when the...

Right on the menu, south St. Pete's newest eatery Tchotchke acknowledges the award-winning fried chicken in the room."Thank you for trying us out. We hope to grow into being your neighborhood eatery," a note on the bottom right corner reads. "We have some big shoes to fill!"Dig in: The big shoes are Munch's, the iconic south St. Pete diner that for seven decades served up breakfast and lunch "like mama used to make" that was once featured on "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives."The restaurant opened as a sundries shop and post office in 1952 and closed December 2022, per the Tampa...

Coming off a third straight division title, the Buccaneers enter the NFL Draft in need of replacements for some former key contributors.State of play: The Bucs hold the 26th pick in tonight's first round.Experts seem divided on whether the team will seek to bolster its defense or surround returning quarterback Baker Mayfield with more talent.Here are some rumored candidates for the Bucs' first-round pick:Chop Robinson, an edge rusher from Penn State, has been one of the more frequent names linked to the Bucs in mock drafts.The team has a need at the position, having lost star rusher Shaquil Barrett to...

Data: ATTOM; Note: A flip is defined as any transaction between an unrelated buyer and seller within 12 months of a previous transaction; Chart: Axios VisualsHouse flipping is hot again in Tampa Bay, new reports show.Why it matters: Buying a fixer-upper is one way for wishful homeowners to squeak out a deal in hot housing markets like ours, if they can beat investors to it.State of flip: Tampa was named one of the top U.S. cities for fixer-upper deals in a recent StorageCafe study, with potential average savings of $80,000 on sales.Savings were even higher in Miami, Orlando and Jacksonville.Zoom...

What do Anthony Fauci, Rob Gronkowski and Glenn Close have in common?They're all headed to Sarasota next year for the Ringling College Library Association Town Hall Lecture Series.Plus: Former National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster and Moiya McTier, an astrophysicist and folklorist writer, are also on the recently announced lineup.State of play: Close kicks off the monthly series at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Center in January, followed by Gronkowski, McTier and McMaster both in March, and ending with Fauci next April.This year's lecture series included former Congresswoman Liz Cheney, Stanley Tucci and Misty Copeland.How to see them: Tickets are sold by subscription only. Ringling College Library Association members get early access to ticket sales in May before they open to the general public in June.Tickets range from $95-135.Meanwhile: Fauci's memoir, "On Call: A Doctor's Journey in Public Service," comes out in June.

President Joe Biden slammed former President Donald Trump's stance on abortion Tuesday during a campaign stop in Tampa, zeroing in on an issue top Democrats hope will turn out voters in November.Why it matters: It's the president's first stop in Florida since the state Supreme Court ruled in two key cases impacting abortion access in the Sunshine State and across the South.Catch up quick: Justices on April 1 set in motion a six-week abortion ban that's slated to go into effect next week, all but obliterating access to the procedure in Florida and across the South.But voters will have a...

The long-awaited Gateway Expressway is set to open to drivers on Friday, the Florida Department of Transportation announced.Why it matters: Two new toll roads will better connect Interstate 275, U.S. 19 and the Bayside Bridge at a common choke point for drivers traveling between Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.The Gateway area is also home to St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport and several Fortune 500 companies.State of play: State transportation officials announced on Tuesday that state roads 690 and 686A and new I-275 express lanes will open to the public on Friday afternoon, with a tour for members of the media scheduled for...

Tampa boasted one of the biggest craft beer makers in the nation — until last month.Why it matters: The once-booming craft beer industry has hit a troubling downturn as competition and shifting alcohol consumption habits threaten its future, Axios Denver's John Frank reports.Tampa Bay defines Florida's craft beer scene, with 110 brewers contributing to the state's multibillion-dollar industry.Driving the news: Cigar City Brewing was among the nation's top craft beer producers in 2023, new data from the Brewers Association shows.But Monster, the energy-drink maker that purchased Cigar City's parent company in 2022, closed the main Tampa facility last month and...

Black Floridians are more likely to die early from preventable illnesses than their white counterparts, a new Commonwealth Fund report finds.Why it matters: Health equity doesn't exist anywhere in the United States, the report's author said. The data also shows the pandemic's disproportionate health effects on Black communities.What they found: Preventable illnesses cause over 300 deaths per 100,000 Black Floridians under 75 years old — higher than any other racial demographic in Florida.Florida also had a higher rate of preventable deaths among white Americans than the national average. Asian Americans in the state have the lowest premature death rates from...

The University of South Florida may not have a Tortured Poets Department, but it will offer a course this fall studying the work of Taylor Swift.State of play: The course is officially styled LIT3301: Cultural Studies and Popular Art, according to The Oracle, USF's student-run publication.It arose from a conversation between three English professors who were probing the lyrics of "Begin Again" from Swift's album "Red," The Oracle reported.What they're saying: "We realized after we'd been talking for a few minutes, that this is the kind of thing our students do," professor Emily Jones told the student newspaper. "We could teach a course on this."The latest: Swift on Friday released her 11th studio album, "The Tortured Poets Department." She surprised fans with a 31-track double album, giving instructors and students plenty to talk about.The big picture: USF isn't the only college to offer a study in Swift.The University of Florida, University of Miami and Brigham Young University are among schools that have offered courses studying various aspects of Swift's music and business savvy.And Harvard is prepping a Swift-focused English class for next spring.

Some of the world's best kayakers and canoers are paddling into Sarasota this week.Why it matters: It's the last opportunity for the athletes to secure their spots for the 2024 Paris Olympics.State of paddle: Nathan Benderson Park hosts the Canoe Sprint Americas Continental Olympic Qualifier and Pan American Championships Tuesday through Thursday.By the numbers: About 100 athletes from 17 countries across North, Central and South America will compete in 200m, 500m and 1000m events over three days.Ones to watch: USA's Olympic hopefuls include Jonas Ecker and Aaron Small, who will compete in the Men's Kayak Double 500m event.Nevin Harrison, who took the gold in 2020 for the Women's Canoe Single 200m event, has already secured her spot for Paris.If you go: Entry is free for spectators, except for any parking fees at Nathan Benderson Park.

Data: Chain Store Guide; Note: Stores under the same brand name have been combined, e.g. Walmart and Walmart Supercenter; Chart: Axios VisualsThe Pub Sub will always reign supreme in Florida, but other grocery stores are competing for the bag too.State of play: Publix is the most popular grocery chain in Tampa Bay, with about 40% of the market share as of last year, on par with the last two years.That's more than $5 billion in sales, according to new data from Chain Store Guide, which tracks the retail and food service industries.Walmart remains a solid second with 25% of the share, or $2 billion in sales.The intrigue: Sprouts rejoined the rankings this year, surpassing Dollar General, Save-A-Lot and Aldi.BJ's Wholesale Club, which ranked above Dollar General last year, fell behind in the rankings.

The Lightning begin the NHL playoffs with a trip to South Florida to face the Panthers in a battle for the Sunshine State.Why it matters: After three consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup Finals, the Lightning collapsed in the first round last year. To make a deeper run this postseason, they'll need to upset their in-state rivals.State of play: The Panthers (52-24-6) won the Atlantic Division while the Lightning (45-29-8) finished fourth.Tampa Bay is led by star winger Nikita Kucherov while the Panthers will be counting on Matthew Tkachuk, who scored 11 goals last postseason, to get hot in the playoffs again.Kucherov (No. 6) was the only Lightning player to make the top 20 of ESPN's playoff player rankings. Four Panthers did, including Tkachuk (No. 7).How to watch: Sunday, 12:30pm, on ESPN.

Earth Day at the Bay: Kids of all ages can join hands-on, family-friendly activities that combine nature, art, and science.The Bay Park in Sarasota, 11am-1pm. Free!108 Salutations for Earth Day: Yogis United hosts an all-level yoga session and hangout at Williams Park in St. Petersburg.Sunday, 9am-1pm. Yoga runs 10am to 12pm. Free with donations benefit Tampa Bay Waterkeeper.Keep Manatee Beautiful: Help build a community garden at Trinity United Methodist Church and bring e-scrap for a drive-through safe disposal.Bradenton, 9am-2pm.Go Deeper: The Tampa Bay Times rounded up 58 more ways to celebrate.

Taylor and Florence, you did us right.State of slay: Taylor Swift's much-anticipated new album, "The Tortured Poets Department," dropped at midnight.Among its 17 angsty tracks is "Florida!!!" featuring the ethereal Florence Welch of Florence + the Machine.Catch up quick: Upon release of the tracklist in February, Axios Tampa Bay and Miami joined the crush of theories about what Swift's take on the Sunshine State would sound like.The prevailing opinion — that it would cover her breakup with Joe Alwyn, which reportedly happened not long before last year's three-night The Eras Tour run in Tampa — turns out to be mostly...

New Michelin stars have risen across Florida.Why it matters: Chefs and restauranteurs gathered at a flashy ceremony in Tampa on Thursday to celebrate the prestigious honor granted to restaurants in three of the state's foodie destinations.Driving the news: For Tampa, Scandinavian restaurant Ebbe and Japanese fine dining restaurant Kōsen each earned a star.Streetlight Taco also earned a Bib Gourmand this year. Tampa has 30 restaurants in Michelin's ​​recently updated Florida guide. Photo: Selene San Felice/AxiosMiami Shores contemporary restaurant EntreNos and Japanese eateries Ogawa, in Little River, and Shingo, in Coral Gables, each earned one star.Zoom out: The new stars add...

I recently spent the day in downtown Lakeland and was delighted to find the "little mecca of cool" advertised by the city's Downtown Development Authority.Why it matters: Lakeland is the fastest-growing metro area in the country, and its location along the ever-developing I-4 corridor between Tampa and Orlando makes it uniquely situated for continued growth.The big picture: The Swan City has exploded from about 97,000 people in 2010 to an estimated 120,000 in 2022, per the most recent census figures. New and under-construction apartment buildings are scattered throughout the city.The number of new businesses per year has been on the...

Ybor Harbor is one step closer to reality.Why it matters: The 33-acre mixed-use development would open a now-restricted part of the waterfront and bring the Riverwalk and TECO trolley line much closer to historic Ybor City.Driving the news: Darryl Shaw, the entrepreneur investing in Ybor City real estate and the adjacent Gas Worx project, got rezoning approval from Tampa City Council last week.By the numbers: His updated plans, according to a press release, include:500,000 square feet of office space,800 hotel rooms,150,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space,4,750 new residential units, with a commitment to allocate 10% towards affordable housing,A minimum of 100,000 square feet of open space including a boardwalk lined with restaurant and retail uses, piers, boat slips, floating docks and green space.Between the lines: That's much more office and hotel space and less retail space than Shaw shared in January 2023.What's ahead: The height of the planned buildings will depend on Federal Aviation Administration limits.

Data: National Science Foundation; Note: Patents identified by location of inventors; Excludes metros with fewer than 50 patents in 2022; A bigger bubble indicates greater change; Map: Kavya Beheraj/AxiosTampa Bay has gained more inventors in the last decade.Why it matters: While Silicon Valley still holds the title for most patents awarded overall, the rate of change over time offers a compelling look at newly ascending — or lagging — areas.Utility patents may be granted for inventing or discovering a new and useful process, machine or composition of matter, among other things.Zoom in: 20 utility patents per 100,000 residents were granted...