Author: stpeteclearwatersun
-
Thieves stealing copper wire from Manatee County’s streetlight system have left roads darkened and racked up more than $200,000 in losses, prompting the county and sheriff’s office to take action. The thefts have been reported across multiple locations, including Moccasin Wallow Road and 44th Avenue East, where thieves have cut copper wire from the county’s…
·
-
Citrus County commissioners are preparing to hear a proposal for a large artificial intelligence data center, but say they want local guidelines established before any project moves forward. The proposal involves the development of an AI data center on roughly 800 acres near County Road 491 and Tram Road in the Lecanto area. Commissioners are…
·
-
As tens of thousands of visitors descend on Clearwater Beach for spring break, the Clearwater Police Department has launched a new “drone as a first responder” pilot program aimed at improving emergency response in heavy traffic conditions. Spring break congestion regularly clogs roads and stretches emergency response times across the beach area. The new program…
·
-
A Washington County wolf sanctuary is asking a judge to pause its court-ordered eviction while it pursues an appeal, with a hearing scheduled for Thursday, March 5. Seacrest Wolf Preserve, which has housed wolves and other animals for 25 years, with a focus on education and conservation, lost a legal battle against the property owner…
·
-
Beach-area businesses in Pinellas County are preparing for a strong spring break season following the completion of a $125 million beach renourishment project that was finished last month. Restaurant owners on Treasure Island reported increased customer traffic in recent weeks and expect even larger crowds around St. Patrick’s Day and during spring break. The widened…
·
-
City officials in Tampa detailed plans this week to improve pedestrian safety in the Ybor City entertainment district, focusing on changes along 7th Avenue and nearby streets following a deadly crash in the area late last year. The measures — discussed by city leaders and transportation officials — are aimed at slowing vehicle speeds and…
·
-
Approximately 14,000 gallons of raw wastewater spilled into Sarasota Bay on Sunday after a valve shifted on a pipe near the Ringling Causeway, according to Florida environmental officials. Just before 11:30 a.m., Sarasota city officials received a report of water coming up out of the ground at West John Ringling Causeway Park. City staff found…
·
-
A St. Petersburg woman who has lived next to a Pinellas Trail crossing for more than 30 years is calling for greater safety measures after years of witnessing close calls and crashes at the intersection. The Pinellas Trail is a multi-use path running from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs, crossing several busy roads along the…
·
-
The Tampa Bay Rays have announced the first in a series of public community engagement sessions to discuss plans for a proposed new ballpark and surrounding mixed-use district in Tampa. The meetings are scheduled to begin March 3 at Hillsborough Community College’s Dale Mabry campus, with additional sessions planned for March 10 at Jefferson High…
·
-
The Tampa Bay region is preparing for an influx of visitors as the spring break travel season begins this week and is expected to last through mid-April. Although local school districts in the area have not yet started their breaks, officials anticipate that travelers will begin arriving immediately and continue over the next six weeks.…
·
-
More than a year after Hurricanes Helene and Milton devastated Pinellas County’s Gulf Coast communities, four barrier-island cities — St. Pete Beach, Indian Rocks Beach, Treasure Island, and Madeira Beach — are each being led by city managers who weren’t in place when the storms hit. In each case, leadership turnover followed public outcry, staff…
·
-
Two budget air carriers are adding new routes to the Tampa Bay area this year, giving travelers more low-cost options out of two regional airports. Breeze Airways announced three new nonstop routes from Tampa International Airport (TPA) beginning this summer. Starting July 1, the airline will offer service to Fort Lauderdale 13 times weekly, as…
·
-
The typical first-time homebuyer in the U.S. was 35 years old in 2025, down slightly from 36 the year before, according to a new report from real estate brokerage Redfin released Wednesday. The median age of first-time buyers dipped from 36 in 2024 to 35 in 2025, and is down from a peak of 38…
·
-
Manatee County commissioners have approved a grant of up to $2 million toward rebuilding the Anna Maria City Pier, which was significantly damaged by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024. The total reconstruction project is estimated to cost between $7 and $8 million, with additional funding expected from FEMA and the state. Anna Maria City…
·
-
St. Petersburg city leaders are laying the groundwork to accommodate electric air taxis — known as eVTOLs, or electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft — at Albert Whitted Airport, following the release of a roadmap from the city’s Advanced Air Mobility Task Force. The task force, led by chair Ed Montanari, presented its recommendations to…
·
-
The Florida Cabinet voted Tuesday to grant a 22-acre parcel of state land to Hillsborough Community College (HC), clearing a key hurdle for a proposed Tampa Bay Rays baseball stadium on the college’s Dale Mabry Highway campus in Tampa. Gov. Ron DeSantis, who presided over the vote, cited the potential economic benefits for both the…
·
-
NASA is rolling back its Artemis II moon rocket to the Vehicle Assembly Building after engineers discovered a helium flow interruption in the Space Launch System’s interim cryogenic propulsion stage, canceling a planned March launch attempt from Kennedy Space Center. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced the issue on February 21, stating that teams were unable…
·
-
Florida legislators in at least eight states have introduced bills this year to restrict or ban wage garnishment as a tool for collecting unpaid medical bills, a practice that is currently legal in most of the country. The push follows a KFF Health News investigation that found courts approved wage garnishment in an estimated 14,000…
·
-
The Florida Senate unanimously passed SB 302 last week, which includes an amendment prohibiting dredging in the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve near Rattlesnake Key in Manatee County. The measure, championed by Republican Sen. Jim Boyd of Bradenton, is aimed at blocking a proposed cruise terminal south of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. However, the bill’s path…
·
-
A bill that passed unanimously through the Florida Senate last week could allow churches, temples, mosques, and other houses of worship to use armed volunteers for security instead of licensed, paid guards. Senate Bill 52, sponsored by Republican Sen. Don Gaetz of Niceville, would exempt certain members of congregations from the state’s security licensing requirements.…
·
-
Pinellas County Animal Services has integrated an AI-powered platform into its operations to help match lost pets with their owners, and early results suggest the technology is working. The agency began using Petco Love Lost — a free tool developed by Petco’s nonprofit arm — roughly two months ago through its Found Center website. People…
·
-
Three area beaches in the Tampa Bay region were ranked among the top beaches in the United States in TripAdvisor’s 2026 Travelers’ Choice “Best of the Best” list, the travel platform’s annual ranking based on millions of traveler reviews and ratings. The beaches recognized from the region are: The Travelers’ Choice Awards reflect sustained positive…
·
-
Florida recorded more unprovoked shark bite incidents than any other U.S. state in 2025, according to the International Shark Attack File compiled by the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida. The report found that the United States had the highest number of unprovoked shark bites globally last year, with 25 incidents—about…
·
-
The City of Lakeland has announced that construction on a long-planned “road diet” project along South Florida Avenue in the Dixieland corridor is expected to begin in spring 2027, after the design phase reaches about 60% completion. The project, estimated to cost $22 million, calls for reducing the road between Ariana Street and Lime Street…
·
-
Allegiant Airlines will begin three new nonstop routes from St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE), expanding travel options from the Gulf Coast airport. The new service includes flights to Atlantic City and Trenton, New Jersey, and Huntsville, Alabama. The Atlantic City flights started Friday; Trenton service begins Feb. 20, and Huntsville flights start March 5. With…
·
-
Polk County commissioners have approved a $1.8 million contract to drill a new water supply well in the northeastern part of the county, near Davenport, as officials work to keep pace with the region’s rapid population growth. The new well will replace an existing one that county utilities director Tamara Richardson described as inadequate, and…
·
-
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has committed $16.5 million to reimburse St. Petersburg for repairs to Tropicana Field, which was severely damaged by Hurricane Milton in October 2024. St. Petersburg Assistant City Administrator Tom Greene informed City Council members of the expected reimbursement in a Feb. 10 email, describing it as “an extremely promising step…
·
-
The historic Tampa Theatre is preparing to close part of its facility this spring for a roughly $30 million renovation, city and theatre officials announced as the venue approaches its 100th anniversary in October 2026. The project, part of the theatre’s “Second Century Campaign,” will focus on restoring decorative finishes in the auditorium, updating production…
·
-
The Seahorse Restaurant reopened this month after nearly 1-1/2 years of recovery work following hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024. The 88-year-old beachfront restaurant, established in 1938, is considered an iconic fixture in Pass-a-Grille, according to owner and general manager Anayeri Gomez. Hurricane Helene brought 7 feet of water into the building, and Hurricane Milton…
·
-
St. Petersburg officials say that Tropicana Field repairs will be completed by Opening Day on April 6, 2026, more than a year after Hurricane Milton severely damaged the stadium. City leaders conducted a final media walkthrough of the facility on Friday, marking a significant milestone in the stadium’s recovery. Hurricane Milton tore through the stadium’s…
·
-
The City of St. Petersburg has begun accepting bids from consulting firms to conduct a feasibility study on whether the city should leave Duke Energy and establish a municipal electric utility. The study will evaluate whether a city-run utility could reduce residents’ electric bills and help St. Petersburg meet its clean energy goals, among other…
·
-
Several Tampa Bay area cities were ranked among U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Places to Live in Florida in 2025-2026.” Riverview ranked 11th in the state. The job market in Riverview is better than the national average, with an unemployment rate of 3.8%, lower than the national average of 4.5%. The median home value…
·
-
The Tampa Bay Rays will hold their annual Fan Fest on Saturday, February 14, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. outside Tropicana Field. The event will take place on 16th Street South due to ongoing repairs inside the ballpark. Admission is free, though attendees must claim tickets through the Rays website. Free parking will be…
·
-
Indian Rocks Beach city commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday night to implement paid parking at all 182 beach access spots, ending the last free beachfront parking in Pinellas County. The pilot program will charge $4.50 per hour for parking between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily. Residents with valid city decals will continue to park free…
·
-
The Temple Terrace City Council has unanimously approved placing a $50 million general obligation bond measure on the August primary ballot to fund construction of a new public safety complex. The proposed facility would house the Temple Terrace Police Department and Fire Station 3 on a five-acre site at 7911 Harney Road. The city purchased…
·
-
St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) announced that Allegiant Air will begin nonstop service to three additional cities, expanding its route options for travelers. The new flights will connect PIE with Atlantic City, New Jersey; Trenton, New Jersey; and Huntsville, Alabama. Service to Atlantic City and Trenton is scheduled to begin in February 2026, while flights…
·
-
Tampa Bay area school districts are weighing whether to add 2% and whole milk to cafeteria menus following federal legislation that made the higher-fat options available again. President Donald Trump signed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act in January, reversing a nearly 15-year ban on 2% and whole milk in schools. The Obama administration…
·
-
Crews began positioning equipment Monday to begin a long-delayed dredging project at John’s Pass in Madeira Beach, Florida, aimed at clearing decades of accumulated sand. The $1.5 million project, funded by the Florida legislature in 2022, will remove nearly 13,000 cubic yards of sand from the northern end of John’s Pass. Sand accumulation has been…
·
-
Pinellas County Schools is set to graduate its first class of teacher apprentices from a two-year program that converts support staff into certified teachers. The program combines virtual college coursework with classroom teaching experience under mentor supervision. Participants work as co-teachers while completing their certification at no personal cost and earn higher salaries than their…
·
-
Florida state parks will waive admission fees from February 13 to 16 in celebration of George Washington’s birthday and America’s 250th anniversary, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection announced. The four-day promotion, which runs over Presidents Day weekend, applies to day-use admission at most state parks statewide. Free admission excludes Skyway Fishing Pier State Park…
·
-
Florida high school student-athletes will be required to undergo electrocardiogram testing beginning July 1 under the Second Chance Act, a new state law. An electrocardiogram, commonly referred to as an ECG or EKG, is a non-invasive test that records the heart’s electrical activity. The requirement aims to prevent cardiac arrest among young athletes by detecting…
·
-
The Southwest Florida Water Management District has declared a Modified Phase II “severe” water shortage, placing the Tampa Bay region, including Hillsborough County, under a Stage 2 drought warning because of prolonged dry conditions and low water levels. Under the new restrictions, outdoor lawn watering will be limited to one day per week from Feb.…
·
-
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles began offering driver’s license knowledge and skills tests exclusively in English on Friday, ending a long-standing practice of providing exams in multiple languages. Previously, the tests were available in languages including Spanish, Haitian-Creole, Portuguese, and Chinese. Language translation services are no longer permitted, and printed exams…
·