Author: stpeteclearwatersun
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A stationary front draped across Central Florida will shift into a warm front this holiday weekend as it links with an incoming low-pressure system. The change is expected to ramp up showers and thunderstorms across much of the state just in time for Labor Day. With a south-southwest flow in place, storms will mainly develop…
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A little more than a year after passenger flights returned to Lakeland Linder International Airport, officials say demand is climbing fast — and so is the need to grow. Since Avelo Airlines launched service in June 2024, what started as a single route has expanded to eight destinations. The airport has already processed more than…
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St. Petersburg is aiming to have hurricane-damaged Tropicana Field ready for the Tampa Bay Rays’ 2026 home opener, now officially set for April 6 against the Chicago Cubs. Major League Baseball released its schedule on Tuesday, giving the city a firm deadline to finish the ambitious repairs. Roof work is already underway, with the city…
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Florida health officials are reporting an increase in cases of the potentially deadly flesh-eating bacteria Vibrio vulnificus. In just three weeks, four new cases have been confirmed, bringing the statewide total to 20 so far this year, up from 16 in early August. The number of deaths remains at five, reported across Bay, Broward, Hillsborough,…
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Citrus County may be on the brink of a population surge as demand for housing continues to climb. County commissioners this week reviewed how other parts of Florida are managing rapid growth, a timely discussion as more people look to call the area home. For Inverness City Manager Eric Williams, growth is inevitable — but…
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Pinellas County’s $126 million beach renourishment project is finally underway, with crews starting work this week in Indian Shores to restore sand lost during the devastating 2024 hurricane season. The effort will rebuild nine miles of shoreline and reinforce dunes, but a major obstacle remains: more than 120 property owners still refuse to sign temporary…
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Flights, hotels, and rental cars are less expensive this Labor Day compared with last year, but many Americans are still scaling back their holiday plans. A survey of 1,000 U.S. adults for Retrospec’s Labor Day Report found that rising living costs and inflation are pushing 20% of Americans to cut back, cancel or shorten their…
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As hurricane season ramps up, state leaders and disaster experts are voicing concerns that Florida may be less prepared than it has been in years past. They point to Governor Ron DeSantis’ recent budget vetoes, warning that reduced funding for recovery and infrastructure projects could leave communities more vulnerable when the next major storm strikes.…
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Home sales are falling through at record levels across Florida and the U.S., according to a new Redfin report. Roughly 15% of pending home purchases were canceled in July—the highest share for that month since records began. Florida cities dominated the rankings, with Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, and Tampa all landing among the top five markets…
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Mayor Ken Welch has agreed to explore whether St. Petersburg should break from Duke Energy and create its own municipal utility—while also proposing a 10-year extension with the company. Welch outlined his stance in a memo to council members Friday, one day after they voted 5-3 to order a feasibility study. The city’s current 30-year…
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St. Petersburg officials are preparing to take another step toward the possibility of electric air taxis in the city. For months, the city’s Advanced Air Mobility Task Force has been studying electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles, or EVTOLs — futuristic aircraft that resemble a cross between a drone, plane and helicopter, and are expected…
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Florida drivers are seeing some relief at the pump as gas prices fell 20 cents ahead of Labor Day, according to AAA. As of Sunday, the statewide average was $2.93 per gallon. “Gas prices are moving lower as the unofficial end of the summer travel season approaches,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA – The…
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The University of Florida will begin construction in November on the Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence, a new 40,000-square-foot facility at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Wimauma, Hillsborough County. Backed by $30 million in state funding and $4.5 million in federal support for equipment, the project aims to push innovation in agricultural…
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Road construction is underway on a $340 million project to expand Interstate 275 through St. Petersburg and Pinellas Park. The work will add three tolled express lanes designed to ease congestion, improve hurricane evacuation routes, and reduce noise with new barriers, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. The new lanes will eventually link downtown…
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Hurricane Erin is losing strength as it races northeast into the open Atlantic, but forecasters are monitoring three other tropical systems that could develop in the coming days. Hurricane ErinErin remains a large Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds near 90 mph. As of Friday morning, the storm was positioned several hundred miles east of…
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After decades of work, Florida and federal agencies have completed the massive restoration of the Kissimmee River, undoing one of the state’s most damaging environmental mistakes: its mid-20th-century canal straightening project. Crews reconnected 44 miles of winding river channel, re-flooded 40,000 acres of wetlands that now act as natural filters for pollution. Within just a…
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Florida welcomed 34.4 million visitors in the second quarter of 2025, setting a new record for the busiest spring travel season in state history, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced. Domestic travelers made up the bulk of the numbers, with 31.5 million U.S. visitors — about 91.5% of the total. International tourism also grew, with overseas visitors…
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The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is shifting into a higher gear next year with the addition of a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race. NASCAR announced Wednesday that the trucks will compete on February 28, marking the first time the series has ever raced on a street course. “This is an exciting addition to…
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Hundreds of residents at The Morgan apartments in St. Petersburg are bracing for a possible water shutoff after the property’s owners failed to pay overdue utility bills. Thursday marks the deadline for Lurin Real Estate Holdings, which owns the complex, to settle more than $350,000 in unpaid water charges. City officials confirmed the outstanding balance…
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Florida has been named the second-most fun state in the U.S. for 2025, according to a new WalletHub report. The Sunshine State scored high thanks to its abundance of restaurants, amusement parks, arcades, and music festivals. WalletHub ranked all 50 states using 26 factors tied to affordability and entertainment, from movie ticket prices to nightlife…
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More than 1.7 million window air conditioners have been recalled after reports of mold growth inside the units, which can cause respiratory problems and allergic reactions. The recall affects Midea U and U+ Window Air Conditioners, sold under several brand names including Midea, Comfort Aire, Danby, Frigidaire, Insignia, Keystone, LBG Products, Mr. Cool, Perfect Aire…
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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Tuesday that the state is suing two of the nation’s largest textbook publishers, accusing them of inflating prices and costing school districts—and taxpayers—millions of dollars. The lawsuit, filed in the Second Judicial Circuit Court, names McGraw-Hill LLC and Savvas Learning Company LLC. Uthmeier said the…
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The City of St. Petersburg is moving quickly to stake its claim in a rapidly growing aerospace industry centered on electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles, also known as eVTOLs. Former City Council member and career pilot Ed Montanari, now chair of the city’s first Advanced Air Mobility Task Force, returned to City Hall Aug.…
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Car shoppers in Florida are being warned to watch out for flood-damaged vehicles hitting the used car market. Carfax reports that many vehicles destroyed in last year’s storms are showing up for sale, despite insurance companies declaring them total losses. “They may look fine on the outside, but inside they’re a ticking time bomb,” Em…
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Tampa’s effort to modernize its noise ordinance is moving forward, with consultants gathering data and residents weighing in on concerns ranging from loud music to modified car exhausts. City officials hosted a community meeting Monday to share updates on the sound study, which began earlier this year. Consultants have been taking sound measurements in neighborhoods…
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Hillsborough County homeowners have another chance to apply for federal help in repairing storm-damaged homes. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in partnership with the state of Florida, is offering assistance through the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program. The funding is also available to residents who were previously denied through the state’s Elevate Florida Grant…
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Nearly a year after Hurricane Helene slammed into the Gulf Coast, redevelopment plans are beginning to reshape parts of Pass-a-Grille, where some of the beach town’s most recognizable properties remain storm-damaged. The former “Barracks by the Sea” apartments—historic World War II-era Army barracks converted into rental units—still sit partly boarded up. Now, the property owners…
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Tropical Storm Erin is gaining strength over the Atlantic and is forecast to become a hurricane by Friday, potentially intensifying into a major Category 3 storm this weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center. As of 11 a.m. Thursday, Erin was located near 16.4°N and 49.7°W with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph, moving west…
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Bradenton police are urging drivers to slow down in school zones after cameras recorded 50 speeders on the first day of the 2025-26 school year — including one motorist clocked at 78 mph. Each driver was going at least 10 mph over the posted limit during school hours, earning a $100 ticket that will be…
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More than a year after the idea first emerged, St. Petersburg leaders have taken their first step toward exploring what it would mean to cut ties with Duke Energy as the city’s electricity provider. On July 31, the City Council’s sustainability committee voted 2-1 to draft a resolution asking Mayor Ken Welch’s administration to seek…
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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has concluded its 2025 Python Challenge, a 10-day competition designed to raise awareness and reduce the spread of invasive wildlife in South Florida. This year’s event set a new record, with participants removing 294 Burmese pythons from the region. Grand prize winner Taylor Stanbury took home $10,000 after…
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Florida Senate President Ben Albritton told a hometown audience Monday to “breathe” when it comes to potential property-tax cuts, assuring residents that lawmakers won’t move hastily. “Everybody breathe. Nobody’s going to do anything crazy,” said Albritton, R-Wauchula, during a Hardee County legislative delegation meeting. “Measure three times, cut once. We’re going to take a measured…
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Tropical Storm Erin is moving westward across the Atlantic and is expected to strengthen into a hurricane within the next couple of days, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). Forecasters say the storm could pass close enough to affect the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico this weekend, though the potential…
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Weekend flooding in St. Petersburg’s Disston Heights has reignited neighborhood concerns over a new housing development they say is worsening stormwater problems. Several residents told WFLA they warned city leaders last year that the Palm Lake Urban Sanctuary attainable housing project would create runoff issues. “I’ve lived here 30 years, and this place has never…
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Tropical Storm Erin is expected to intensify into a hurricane within the next few days, the National Hurricane Center reported Tuesday. As of 11 a.m., Erin was about 820 miles west of the Cabo Verde Islands, moving west at 23 mph. Forecasters expect the storm’s rapid westward track to continue for several days before slowing…
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Tropical Storm Erin has developed in the eastern Atlantic, marking the fifth named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. With maximum sustained winds near 45 mph, Erin is moving west at 22 mph and is expected to intensify as it tracks west-northwest through favorable conditions. Forecasters anticipate it could become the season’s first hurricane…
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Nearly a year after Hurricane Milton brought devastating floods to neighborhoods around Lake Bonny, the City of Lakeland has released a long-awaited independent report analyzing what went wrong—and what must change to prevent future disasters. The storm left streets underwater and homes inundated, forcing families to evacuate and sparking concerns about the city’s ability to…
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Pasco County’s bay scallop season has been put on hold after state officials detected elevated levels of contaminants in the water. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced the precautionary suspension, citing health concerns. A similar pause occurred during the 2024 season. The impacted area stretches from the Hernando-Pasco county line south to…
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As students return to class, Alicia Smith is heading back more prepared than most — not just with school supplies, but with life-saving knowledge. “I have an allergy to coconut,” Alicia told Bay News 9. “When I touch it, I break out in rashes and hives. But when I eat it, my throat starts to…
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A proposed noise ordinance in St. Pete Beach is stirring strong opposition from residents and business owners who say it threatens the island’s vibrant nightlife and tourism-driven economy. “If we had to stop live music, we’d pretty much go out of business,” said Matt Vario, owner of the Toasted Monkey. “We’re known for live music—it’s…
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A 500-foot-long, nine-foot-tall AquaFence flood barrier has been installed around Lift Station 85 on the St. Petersburg bayfront, part of the city’s efforts to protect critical infrastructure from hurricane-driven storm surge. Located near Albert Whitted Airport, the station plays a vital role in the city’s wastewater system—collecting sewage and pumping it to the Southwest Sewer…
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