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Erika Kengni - Business and Health Reporter
Erika Kengni

Business and Health Reporter

I cover business and health news in the Tampa Bay area. As a reporter, I value human connection and digging deep to find out what’s behind each and every story. My reporting skills have grown leaps and bounds since I started at Washington and Lee University in Virginia, where I study Journalism, French and Law. During my summer in the Tampa Bay area, I hope to explore as much as I can about this vibrant and sunny community.

  1. Gas prices dropped across Tampa Bay, but it won’t stay that way
    • Business
    The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in the area was $3.14 as of Friday, according to the American Automobile Association. That’s up eight cents from $3.02 last week.
  2. Duckweed Urban Grocery will open a new store in Tampa’s Gasworx
    • Business
    La Unión Residence & Social Hall was Gasworx's first apartment building, opening last November.
  3. Many canceled weddings later, the Rusty Pelican is ready to reopen
    • Business
    The Rusty Pelican, a popular event venue and restaurant located in Tampa with a view of Old Tampa Bay, is open again for business on July 17th. July 8, 2025.
  5. Renderings showcase a new look for South Tampa’s Britton Plaza
    • Real Estate
    Brixmor Property Group shared renderings for a redeveloped Britton Plaza in May. The company says they are in the early stages of development.
  6. Jabil to open manufacturing facility in North Carolina, not Florida
    • Business
    Jabil's headquarters are in St. Petersburg, with a new plant planned for North Carolina that will support the company's cloud and AI data center customers.
  7. Tampa General nurses are now using AI with their patients
    • Health
    Tampa General Hospital nurse Carlysa Telemaque uses the new AI ambient listening technology while helping a patient.
  8. Beloved St. Pete pet food store set to close this summer
    • Business
    At Pet Food Warehouse in St. Petersburg, pet owners can buy a Thundershirt, which helps to sooth frightened dogs during thunderstorms or fireworks. They work on the same principle as swaddling a baby to keep it calm. The shirts range in price from $25 to $50.
  9. St. Pete-based Jabil to invest $500 million in new AI infrastructure
    • Business
    The headquarters of Jabil at 10800 Roosevelt Blvd. N in St. Petersburg, photographed on Oct. 20, 2022. Jabil, an electronics manufacturing company based in St. Petersburg, announced Tuesday that it will invest $500 million over the next several years to expand its cloud and artificial intelligence data center infrastructure.
  10. Downtown St. Pete businesses feel summertime lull without Rays baseball fans
    • Business
    When Tropicana Field lost its roof during Hurricane Milton, St. Petersburg also lost its Major League Baseball team for the 2025 season.
  11. Tampa Bay residents gather in 1,000s at ‘No Kings’ protests across region
    • The Buzz on Florida Politics
    Thousands of protesters take to the streets in front of City Hall during the nationwide "No Kings" protest on Saturday in Tampa.