After a lot of sometimes heated discussion at last night’s St Pete City Council meeting, the decision was made not to immediately fund all of the $4.8 million for design costs for the new pier Lens design. The city will spend just $1.7 million for the next design phase. The remainder will be paid later as needed. City attorneys also told council members they can still move forward with the Lens contract, and commit design funds for the architects without violating the spirit of the court-ordered mediation which was ordered Wednesday by Pinellas Circuit Judge Amy Williams.

It was an undercover officer last on the stand yesterday at the Dee Dee Moore trial. Undercover Lake Wales police officer Mike Smith said Moore came to him, and asked him to take the blame for Abraham Shakespeare’s murder. In return, Moore is heard saying she’d pay him $50,000 to be paid in installments or a two family home. The prosecution should wrap up their case today.

Good news – we’ll be able to watch Sunday's Bucs- Eagles Enough tickets were sold to lift the television blackout for Sunday’s 1 pm kickoff. Big day for the team, they’ll celebrate the 10th anniversary of their Super Bowl championship team at halftime.

Former St Pete Mayor Rick Baker has a new job. He’s left USF and will be the president of The Edwards Group, owned by mortgage company executive and music producer Bill Edwards. Baker will be in charge of the Mahaffey Theater and the newly named Shops at St. Pete, formerly known as BayWalk.

Don’t even think about trying to park briefly curbside at TIA. Starting this month, officials will ban idling in the curbside arrival lanes. At yesterday’s Hillsborough County Aviation Authority meeting the decision was made to enforce the ban, and try to eliminate the extreme congestion at peak travel times.

Still no break in the NHL lockout. NHL owners wanted was a yes or no from players concerning the league's latest offer. But the players association wanted to negotiate according to Commissioner Gary Bettman. That stopped things cold with the league breaking off talks on a collective bargaining agreement.

He was known as the singing waiter at the iconic Columbia Restaurant. Joe Roman worked for almost 60 years and through four generations of owners there, and passed away Wednesday at 84. A viewing will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at Boza & Roel Funeral Home at 4730 N. Armenia Ave. A private graveside service for family members will be held at 11 a.m. Monday.