Author: Owen E. Richason IV
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Residents in Tampa could soon see one of the nation’s most advanced drinking water treatment systems as the city moves forward with plans to remove PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals,” from its water supply. The City of Tampa is preparing to construct a new treatment facility at the David L. Tippin Water Treatment Facility…
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As the 2026 hurricane season continues, TECO Peoples Gas has launched a door-to-door effort in parts of South Tampa to identify homes that rely on natural gas-powered generators during extended power outages. The initiative follows problems reported during Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024, when some residents with standby generators lost access to natural gas…
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Starting Wednesday, every Florida high school student who wants to play sports must undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) screening, under a new state law aimed at catching hidden heart conditions before they turn deadly. Senate Bill 1070, known as the Second Chance Act, was passed by the Florida Legislature in 2025 and takes effect July 1.…
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A New Port Richey homeowner’s monthslong flooding nightmare has come to an end after the city traced the source to an abandoned water main that may have been buried since the Eisenhower administration. Mike Armstrong’s front yard had been flooding repeatedly since February. He believed a leaking city water pipe was to blame, but city…
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Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Friday that a majority of Florida students are now meeting or exceeding grade-level benchmarks, marking the highest proficiency levels recorded since the state scrapped its old end-of-year standardized exams in 2022. According to data released at a Lakeland press conference, more than 60% of Florida students are performing at or above…
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Safety Harbor city officials say a new state law could strip up to $700,000 from next year’s budget, forcing tough decisions about which services residents may have to live without. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the legislation this week, and it took effect immediately. The law changes how cities and counties calculate the maximum property tax…
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A proposed data center project in Haines City has been placed on hold after city officials determined the municipality does not currently have sufficient water capacity to support the facility. Texas-based developer Cielo Digital Infrastructure has expressed interest in building a data center near Marion Road and State Road 544 East. According to city officials,…
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A new technical report from the National Institute of Standards and Technology has identified the structural failures that triggered the 2021 collapse of Champlain Towers South in Surfside, finding the building’s breakdown began roughly three weeks before the tower came down. According to NIST’s findings, two critical connections between garage support columns and the pool…
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The City of Lakeland has secured federal funding to investigate structural damage at the historic Frances Langford Promenade at Lake Mirror, a nearly 100-year-old landmark that has experienced worsening deterioration in recent years. City officials announced that a nearly $80,000 grant from the National Park Service will fund a geotechnical study to identify the causes…
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Officials in Belleair and Belleair Bluffs are raising concerns about a proposed Florida constitutional amendment that would significantly expand the state’s homestead property tax exemption, arguing the measure could substantially reduce revenue for local government services. The proposal, approved by the Florida Legislature and scheduled to appear on the Nov. 3 ballot, would increase the…
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A new consumer-focused certification effort is launching in Florida’s condominium market, aiming to provide prospective buyers with greater financial transparency before they close on a unit. Former state senator Jeff Brandes has introduced the Florida Communities Certification Association, or FCCA, a private-sector organization designed to evaluate the financial health of condo associations and assign them…
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Nearly two years after Hurricane Helene flooded thousands of homes across Tampa Bay, many Florida homeowners remain stuck in a holding pattern as they wait for decisions on home-elevation grants through the state’s Elevate Florida program. The program, administered by the Florida Division of Emergency Management and funded through federal mitigation grants, was created to…
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A nearly 100-year-old bridge that turns sideways to let boats pass is now at the center of a decision that will determine whether it survives at all. Sarasota County held its third public workshop this month on the future of the Blackburn Point Bridge, a swing-span structure connecting Osprey across Little Sarasota Bay. The bridge,…
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A proposal backed by President Donald Trump to make daylight saving time permanent year-round is gaining attention in Washington, but not everyone supports the change. The legislation, known as the Sunshine Protection Act, would end the twice-yearly clock changes and keep the nation on daylight saving time year-round if approved by Congress and signed into…
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The Connected Manatee program is expanding to three additional schools in the Palmetto area, extending support services to more students, families, and school district employees facing financial or personal hardships. The program, a partnership between Turning Points and the School District of Manatee County, launched in January at Lincoln Memorial Middle School and Palmetto Elementary…
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The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority is set to announce the purchase of two boats for a revamped ferry service connecting Tampa and St. Petersburg. Tampa and Pinellas County officials approved the new Tampa Bay Ferry service in April, agreeing to spend $4.8 million to purchase and renovate the two vessels. The move follows the end…
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Pinellas County commissioners have approved a $29 million federal grant to repair and stabilize five waterways damaged by Hurricane Milton, addressing erosion and drainage issues that officials say could increase future flooding risks if left unresolved. The funding comes through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Emergency Watershed Protection Program and…
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A bill that would impose new safety regulations on electric bicycle riders across Florida is awaiting action from Gov. Ron DeSantis as state officials and medical professionals report a growing number of e-bike-related injuries. Senate Bill 382, approved by the Florida Legislature earlier this year, would establish statewide safety standards for e-bike use on sidewalks…
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The St. Petersburg City Council has voted down a proposal that would have allowed neighborhoods outside of downtown to establish resident-only parking zones, ending a debate that pitted frustrated residents against local business owners fearful of losing customers. The vote followed a public comment session last Thursday in which both sides made their case. Supporters…
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Clearwater city leaders are weighing whether to move forward with a plan to replace Duke Energy with a city-owned electric utility, but new estimates show the transition could carry a significant price tag. According to the City of Clearwater’s municipal electric utility study, the estimated cost to acquire Duke Energy’s local distribution infrastructure is approximately…
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Pinellas County is moving forward with plans to redevelop 17 county-owned properties spanning more than 30 parcels in downtown Clearwater, and local business owners are watching closely to see what the transformation will mean for them. The county has opened the door to developers, giving them 90 days to submit redevelopment proposals. Officials plan to…
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Hillsborough County commissioners reviewed a new internal report Wednesday warning that a proposed statewide property tax reform amendment could cost the county an estimated $367 million in annual revenue — a shortfall that county administrators say could rival the lasting financial damage of the 2008 Great Recession. Florida lawmakers recently approved placing the property tax…
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Housing affordability is expected to dominate discussions today as real estate professionals, community leaders, and policymakers gather for the fifth annual State of the Market event in Tampa. The conference, held at the historic Cuban Club in Ybor City, will focus on current conditions in the Tampa Bay housing market and what may lie ahead…
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Florida remained in the bottom half of national child welfare rankings for the second consecutive year, placing 35th overall in the 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The annual report evaluates child well-being across four categories: economic well-being, education, health, and family and community factors. The report found that…
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Florida homeowners and drivers are waking up Wednesday to welcome the news that reports insurance rates across the state are falling, and the trend shows no signs of slowing. More than 42 personal auto insurers have filed for rate decreases over the past year, with major carriers including State Farm, Progressive, GEICO, Allstate, USAA, and…
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A developing weather system in the Gulf of Mexico could become the first named tropical storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). Forecasters are monitoring the disturbance, known as Invest 90L, as it moves from northeastern Mexico into the northwestern Gulf. As of Monday, the NHC gave the…
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Safety Harbor officials are weighing a dramatic increase in boat slip rental rates at the city marina as the facility prepares to reopen after hurricane damage closed it for the repair season. The marina’s 44 private slip holders could see their monthly fees jump significantly under two proposals presented to the city commission. Under Plan…
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Citrus County commissioners have approved a temporary hiring freeze for most county positions funded by property tax revenue as officials prepare for the potential financial impact of proposed property tax reductions in Florida. The measure, approved during a recent commission meeting, pauses hiring for many vacant county jobs while leaders evaluate how possible changes to…
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The Florida Legislature approved House Joint Resolution 1-F (HJR 1-F), a proposed constitutional amendment titled the “Save Our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes” amendment. Backed by Governor Ron DeSantis, the measure aims to drastically reduce or entirely eliminate non-school local property taxes for primary homeowners. It requires a 60% voter approval threshold to pass. Key…
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As the city continues to grow and parking pressure mounts in residential neighborhoods, the St. Petersburg City Council on Thursday took up a proposal that would give residents a formal path to restricting street parking to permit holders only. The ordinance would establish what the city calls Neighborhood Resident Only Parking Areas, or NROPAs. It…
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Dunedin City leaders here are bracing for deep budget cuts to fire protection, public parks, and libraries if Florida voters approve a sweeping property tax exemption increase on the November ballot — and they’re already mapping out what could be lost. The constitutional amendment, placed on the ballot by the state legislature, would raise the…
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The Polk County School Board voted unanimously Tuesday to impose a $400 participation fee on non-traditional student-athletes who play sports in the district, a move driven by a new state law reshaping athletic eligibility across Florida. Senate Bill 538, which takes effect July 1, standardizes how public, charter, private and homeschool students may participate in…
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Hillsborough County is expanding access to its storm recovery assistance program for homeowners still dealing with damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. County officials have set aside $211 million through the Rebuilding for Tomorrow Homeowner Repair and Reconstruction Program, which provides financial assistance to eligible homeowners for repairs, reconstruction projects, and reimbursement for completed storm-related…
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Tampa Electric customers will see a reduction in their monthly bills sooner than expected, the company announced Tuesday. Tampa Electric, known as TECO, said it will remove a storm-related surcharge from customer bills beginning Aug. 1 — one month earlier than originally planned. The change amounts to a savings of roughly $20 per 1,000 kilowatt-hours…
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Nearly two years after Hurricanes Helene and Milton battered the Tampa Bay region, Hillsborough County is expanding access to a $211 million federal repair program by launching two new pop-up assistance centers beginning Tuesday. The centers are part of the county’s Rebuilding for Tomorrow Homeowner Repair and Reconstruction Program, funded through the U.S. Department of…
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Hillsborough County officials are seeking public input as part of a regional effort to evaluate flooding issues and develop long-term strategies to improve stormwater management and flood resilience across the Tampa Bay area. The initiative comes as communities continue to assess the impacts of recent storms and recurring seasonal flooding. County leaders are encouraging residents…
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A group of Lutz residents is preparing to challenge a proposal to build a large private school in their community, arguing the project conflicts with the area’s semi-rural character. The Naidip Foundation has submitted a special-use application to Hillsborough County to construct Apex Academy, a K-8 private school with capacity for up to 1,000 students,…
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Travelers flying out of Tampa International Airport will soon pay more to park, as airport officials move to raise rates for the first time in more than three years. The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Board approved the parking rate adjustment last week, with changes set to take effect August 4. The board voted to raise…
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A South Tampa business organization has filed a lawsuit against the City of Tampa, alleging the city failed to provide public records related to a planned stormwater project aimed at reducing chronic flooding along the South Howard Avenue corridor. The lawsuit, filed by the SoHo Business Alliance, centers on the city’s proposed South Howard Flood…
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The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro area has vaulted to second place among the nation’s fastest-growing job markets for young workers, according to a new study by ADP Research. The study analyzed payroll data from more than 400,000 workers aged 20 to 29, covering January 2025 through January 2026. ADP compared 53 U.S. metro areas with populations…
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The Pinellas County School Board has approved new principals at six schools for the coming school year, with the changes driven primarily by retirements and internal transfers. At the middle school level, Karen Huzar will move from East Lake Middle School to Carwise Middle School, where she will replace retiring principal Chad Eiben. Huzar has…
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City officials on Thursday released a wide-ranging list of services that could face reductions if Florida voters approve a constitutional amendment in November to raise homestead exemptions and reduce or eliminate property taxes. The warning came during the city’s annual State of the Economy event, where leaders outlined the potential local fallout from the statewide…
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The Plant City Chamber of Commerce has launched a new disaster preparedness resource page to help local businesses prepare for and recover from hurricanes during the 2026 storm season. The online resource provides business owners with access to emergency information, storm preparation tools, recovery assistance programs, and other resources before and after severe weather events.…
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As the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season gets underway, Pasco County officials are highlighting new flood-monitoring and preparedness initiatives developed in response to the widespread flooding during the 2024 hurricane season. County leaders said the back-to-back impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton exposed vulnerabilities across the region, including flooded neighborhoods and evacuation routes that became impassable…
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