Author: Owen E. Richason IV
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Temple Terrace officials are alerting residents about a scam involving individuals posing as a water testing company. The impostors are reportedly going door-to-door, asking to enter homes under the guise of checking water quality on behalf of the city. City leaders clarified that Temple Terrace does not perform water testing inside private homes. Police Chief…
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As another hurricane season begins, many families in St. Petersburg’s Shore Acres neighborhood are still struggling to recover from Hurricane Helene — and waiting to see if state aid will help them stay. More than 550 homeowners applied to Elevate Florida, the state’s pilot program to raise flood-prone houses. However, state officials said that only…
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The My Safe Florida Home program is expanding eligibility for hurricane-hardening assistance, with new grant opportunities set to open this month. Low-income homeowners are now eligible to apply for grants of up to $10,000 to help cover upgrades such as impact-resistant windows, roofing reinforcements, and other safety measures. St. Petersburg resident Michelle Adams calls herself…
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The Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council (TBRPC) is developing the region’s first-ever Coastal Master Plan — a unified effort to map flood risks in seven coastal counties and identify resiliency projects to protect vulnerable communities. “This coastal master plan is the region’s first united effort,” said Alana Todd, principal environmental planner at TBRPC. “It’s the…
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About 330,000 St. Petersburg utility customers could see higher water bills this fall as city leaders weigh a package of rate hikes. The City Council is set to discuss the proposal on Thursday, which would raise drinking water, wastewater, and sanitation rates by $2 to $4 per month. The biggest jump would come in stormwater…
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Almost 11 months after Hurricane Helene battered the City of St. Petersburg and well beyond, some homeowners say they’re still waiting on the city to approve repair permits — even as another hurricane season gains momentum. Back in March, city officials admitted there were about 1,400 storm-related permits stuck in the pipeline. At the time,…
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From Beer Can Island to Shell Key, the Tampa Bay area offers plenty of scenic waters for boating — whether you own a vessel or rent one online. But maritime experts caution that Florida’s lax boating requirements leave newcomers especially vulnerable to accidents. “People think boats are just toys, but they’re powerful machines,” Griffin Sher,…
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Florida’s climbing eviction rates are affecting more than housing — they’re disrupting classrooms across the state. Teachers and researchers say the crisis is forcing students to change schools, miss class, and fall behind academically. In Orange County, over 8,800 students lack a permanent home — a 50% jump since 2019, district records show. Most are…
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A hurricane recovery law touted as a way to speed rebuilding across Florida is now facing pushback from communities, advocacy groups, and some local officials who say it strips cities and counties of important decision-making powers. State Rep. Linda Chaney (R–St. Pete Beach) says she will push next session to roll back parts of Florida…
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The National Hurricane Center is tracking two weather systems in the Atlantic that could develop into tropical or subtropical depressions in the coming days. One system—a non-tropical area of low pressure—is expected to form within a day or so, a few hundred miles off the coast of North Carolina. As it moves northeast over the…
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St. Petersburg officials have kicked off their annual review of utility rates and fees ahead of the new fiscal year. The process involves evaluating rates for water, wastewater, reclaimed water, stormwater, and sanitation services—fees that help fund both daily operations and long-term infrastructure upgrades across the city. The City Council will hold the first reading…
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Residents question how grant decisions were made after hundreds of denials Florida’s new Elevate Florida program—launched to help homeowners raise properties at risk of flooding—has left many disappointed after its first round of funding. Of the more than 12,000 applications submitted, most are now being met with rejection letters. Only a fraction of applicants have…
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The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is currently tracking three systems in the Atlantic, including Invest 96L, a newly designated tropical disturbance in the central Atlantic Ocean. While the system remains far from Florida, forecasters say it’s entering more favorable conditions that could allow for gradual development over the next week. The NHC is also monitoring…
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Largo city leaders voted July 15 to raise utility rates, a move expected to increase the average resident’s monthly bill by more than $7.50. Combined with a proposed 2.6% property tax hike, some residents could face nearly $10 in added monthly costs. Commissioners gave initial approval to three ordinances: a 10% increase in solid waste…
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Residents at two St. Petersburg apartment complexes — The Elements on Third and The Morgan — were shocked to find notices on their doors warning that the city could shut off their water by the end of the month due to unpaid utility bills. “I somewhat screamed,” said a woman who has lived at The…
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Treasure Island commissioners voted Tuesday to approve a new ordinance aimed at supporting transportation infrastructure as Pinellas County’s population continues to grow — but immediately delayed enforcing it for four years. The ordinance focuses on multimodal impact fees, which are payments developers must make if their projects are expected to increase traffic in the area.…
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As the 2025 hurricane season ramps up, local emergency officials are urging residents to take steps now to protect their boats and electric vehicles from flood damage. Hillsborough County Firefighter Captain Jeff Hartzner said last year’s Hurricane Helene caught many boat owners by surprise. “A lot of these boats were lifted off their boat lifts…
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U.S. Senator Rick Scott is spearheading a bipartisan push to combat the rising wave of financial scams targeting older Americans. His newly introduced legislation, the Guarding Unprotected Aging Retirees from Deception (GUARD) Act, aims to provide local and state law enforcement with enhanced tools and federal resources to better track, investigate, and prevent sophisticated fraud…
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After a year-long pause, the My Safe Florida Home grant program is once again accepting applications starting Monday morning. The state-run program offers free wind mitigation inspections and up to $10,000 in matching grant funds for eligible homeowners making approved storm-hardening improvements. This year, the Florida Legislature allocated $280 million to the initiative, which is…
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As summer temperatures soar, many Floridians are feeling the impact on their utility bills from running air conditioners and lawn sprinklers. To help ease that burden, Tampa Bay Water has launched a new pilot program offering rebates for upgrading sprinkler systems. The initiative is designed to lower water bills, improve irrigation efficiency, and reduce water…
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St. Petersburg city councilors voted unanimously to end negotiations with the Tampa Bay Rays on a new stadium at the Historic Gas Plant site, signaling a fresh start for one of the city’s most high-profile redevelopment projects. The decision follows the Rays’ announcement that they will no longer pursue the proposed stadium and neighborhood redevelopment…
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Teen drivers in Florida will face new requirements starting next month under a state law aimed at improving safety. In 2023, the fatal crash rate for 16- to 19-year-olds was nearly triple that of drivers over 20, prompting lawmakers to act. Beginning Aug. 1, teens ages 14½ to 17 must complete a six-hour, classroom-based driver’s…
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Ann Haendel spent more than 30 years in her St. Pete Beach cottage before Hurricane Helene sent three feet of water rushing through her home. When she returned, it looked like a tornado had torn through it—soaked books, flipped furniture, and extensive damage. The city later deemed the home “substantially damaged,” meaning repair costs exceeded…
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A new report from the insurance industry reveals a significant barrier facing many Florida homeowners as this year’s hurricane season intensifies: nearly 30% say the cost of preparation is preventing them from getting ready. But former Florida Deputy Insurance Commissioner Lisa Miller says there are still essential, budget-friendly steps homeowners can take to stay protected.…
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The tropics are quiet this week, offering a temporary lull in activity during the 2025 hurricane season. This pause follows the first signs of life in the main development region—an area of warm Atlantic waters stretching from the African coast to the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, known for generating tropical systems. That disturbance is…
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With hurricane season in full swing and a new state leader overseeing financial matters, insurance experts say it’s a smart time for Florida homeowners to review their policies and explore other options. Blaise Ingoglia was sworn in Monday as Florida’s new Chief Financial Officer, taking over the role left vacant by Jimmy Patronis’ resignation. A…
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Parents now have more time to register their children for Florida Virtual School (FLVS), with the enrollment deadline extended to 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 31. FLVS offers several education options for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, including: Enrollment can take several weeks to finalize. Required documents include proof of age, residency, immunization records,…
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Pinellas County is in the final stages of planning its emergency beach renourishment project—but officials say a lack of signed easements from property owners is threatening the scope and funding of the effort. So far, 131 easements remain unsigned, a hurdle that’s preventing the county from securing federal dollars to help pay for the project.…
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Building Official Don Tyre called Florida’s new hurricane-emergency law “a good first step,” citing the October collapse of a tower crane from the Residences at 400 Central into a neighboring downtown office building during Hurricane Milton. The legislation (SB 180) now requires every development using a tower or mobile crane to keep a hurricane preparedness…
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City leaders in St. Pete and Tampa have unveiled their proposed budgets for the upcoming fiscal year—and both are placing a major focus on storm preparedness and storm recovery. In St. Petersburg, Mayor Ken Welch presented a $1.1 billion budget to the city council on Thursday, highlighting $202 million in capital improvement projects aimed at…
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One Tampa Bay area law enforcement agency is stepping up its fight against credit and debit card fraud with the help of new technology aimed at detecting skimming devices. Thanks to a grant from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, officers are now equipped with handheld skimmer detection tools designed to uncover illegal card readers…
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County and state officials are moving forward with a major beach renourishment effort to restore storm-damaged stretches of Pinellas County’s coast — and leaders in Indian Rocks Beach are watching closely. “It’s happening, it’s really happening!” Indian Rocks Beach Mayor Denise Houseberg said in a recent interview. “I’m just delighted the arguments are over, and…
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A broad area of low pressure drifting west across northern Florida and the Panhandle on Wednesday still has a 40% chance of developing into a tropical depression or storm, according to the National Hurricane Center. Designated as Invest 93L, the system could intensify as it enters the Gulf of Mexico. If it reaches tropical storm…
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A Hillsborough County woman is speaking out after scammers used artificial intelligence to clone her daughter’s voice and con her out of $15,000 in a sophisticated hoax. Sharon Brightwell said the terrifying scheme started last Wednesday with a call from a number that appeared to belong to her daughter. On the line, she heard a…
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Hillsborough County commissioners are set to vote Wednesday on a proposal to allocate more than $700 million in federal disaster recovery funds following a series of recent hurricanes. The county expects to receive approximately $709 million in Community Development Block Grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The money is intended…
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Florida citrus growers just wrapped their smallest harvest in more than 100 years, according to new data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For the 2024-25 growing season, the USDA reported a 32.7% drop in orange production and a 27.4% decline in grapefruit output compared to last year. In total, growers produced 14.52 million boxes…
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A low-pressure system known as Invest-93L, currently off Florida’s east coast, is becoming more organized, according to the National Hurricane Center. Forecasters say the disturbance is expected to move westward across the Florida peninsula today and reach the northeastern Gulf of Mexico by midweek. While showers and thunderstorms remain disorganized for now, environmental conditions are…
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Florida homeowners continue to face some of the highest insurance premiums in the country—a reality driven by frequent hurricanes and rising litigation costs. But former state Sen. Jeff Brandes believes the tide may be turning. During a recent appearance on The Florida Roundup, Brandes, who now chairs a newly launched insurance company, said Florida’s property…
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Florida drivers are seeing the cheapest gas prices in two months, according to AAA. As of Sunday, the statewide average for a gallon of regular unleaded was $2.94—a drop of 19 cents over the past 10 days. “Florida drivers may feel some relief from the recent downturn at the pump, but that break may not…
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Facing more frequent and severe storms, St. Petersburg is pushing forward with $614 million in accelerated stormwater upgrades — but without a fully developed plan to fund them. The city’s current utility revenues are enough to maintain day-to-day operations, but not the scale of upgrades needed. With many residents already feeling the pinch of recent…
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Following catastrophic flash flooding in Texas that claimed the lives of at least 120 people, emergency officials in the Tampa Bay Area are urging residents to sign up for local emergency alert notifications. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor took to social media Wednesday with a clear message: don’t wait until it’s too late. “We are not…
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Hezekiah Walters was a 14-year-old eager to play football at Middleton High School in Tampa. He had no known heart issues when he collapsed during summer conditioning drills in June 2019. Minutes into the workout, he suffered cardiac arrest and died—his death was later linked to undiagnosed heart conditions and heat-related complications. Now, Florida has…
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Colorado State University has slightly lowered its hurricane season forecast but continues to project a busier-than-normal year for tropical activity. In its latest update released Wednesday, CSU’s tropical meteorology team now predicts 16 named storms for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. Of those, eight are expected to become hurricanes, with four likely to reach Category…
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