Author: stpeteclearwatersun
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Hillsborough County is asking residents to weigh in on how to spend more than $700 million in federal hurricane recovery funds. The county expects to receive $709,324,000 through the Community Development Block Grant for Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The funding is aimed at long-term recovery and mitigation…
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Tens of thousands of Suncoast homeowners now pay more each year toward special district bonds than they do in traditional property taxes — a financial burden baked into their neighborhoods long before they move in. Developers across Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto counties are increasingly relying on obscure government entities known as independent special districts to…
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Recovery efforts continue in Treasure Island following last year’s damaging storms—and for many local businesses, the lingering effects are hitting hard. Several major hotels remain closed or are only partially operational. The iconic Thunderbird Hotel, for example, is still shut down and undergoing a full rebuild. As a result, some business owners say they’re seeing…
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Floridians may be eligible for up to $275 per week in disaster unemployment assistance (DUA) if their job or self-employment was disrupted due to a federally declared disaster. As you prepare for the 2025 hurricane season—whether by stocking your emergency kit or reinforcing your home—it’s also important to plan for potential financial setbacks. Severe storms…
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When Sunset Beach resident Grant Smith and his wife first discussed disaster plans for their 1940s cottage-style home, they assumed a major storm would mean a full rebuild. But after Hurricane Helene flooded their home with 3 to 5 feet of water, they took a different route: lifting the house 14 feet to meet current…
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Months after Hurricane Helene devastated the Island Shopping Center in Holmes Beach, the plaza is ready for a fresh start. Jennifer Moore, owner of Sun and Surf, has deep roots in the shopping center — her family has owned the store since 1983. “I grew up here. I was 11, and I’d come in after…
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Hillsborough County officials are inviting residents to weigh in on how to use more than $700 million in federal hurricane recovery funding. The county expects to receive $709 million in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds to support long-term recovery from hurricanes Idalia, Debby, Helene, and Milton. At least 70% of the funds…
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To support hurricane readiness efforts across the state, the Duke Energy Foundation has distributed $163,000 in emergency preparedness and resiliency grants to Florida communities. Twelve organizations—including several in Central Florida—received funding to bolster local emergency response capabilities. The grants will support a range of initiatives such as installing automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in public spaces,…
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Lakeland city commissioners have approved a plan to install speed cameras in several school zones to help curb speeding and improve student safety. The cameras will be placed near the following eight schools: City officials referenced a May 2024 study that recorded nearly 850 speeding violations per day near these schools. Lakeland police also reported…
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All lanes of Alt US 19 just south of Klosterman Road in Palm Harbor are now closed for approximately one month as part of a major repaving project. According to the Florida Department of Transportation, drivers will need to use Belcher Road and Alderman Road as detour routes to bypass the construction zone. “Motorists should…
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Kevin and Nicole Berry, owners of Shattered Glass DIY, are working hard to keep their dream alive after a series of setbacks. Their art studio, located in Dolphin Village on St. Pete Beach, was set to open just as Hurricane Helene struck last year, destroying much of their inventory. “Everything inside was wiped out—we had…
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Long-awaited repairs could soon begin on Pier 60 in Clearwater, which was heavily damaged by Hurricane Helene in September 2024. On Monday, city officials will ask the Clearwater City Council to approve $313,575 in funding for permanent repairs to the bait shop located at the center of the pier, along with temporary fixes to the…
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As hurricane season kicks off this weekend, Pinellas County, in collaboration with the City of St. Petersburg, hosted a free Hurricane Preparedness Expo to help residents get ready for the months ahead. The event offered a hands-on learning experience, connecting attendees with emergency experts and resources to better prepare themselves, their families, and their homes…
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With hurricane season starting Sunday, Pinellas County employees are completing their final training sessions to operate emergency shelters. Knowing where to go during a storm can be lifesaving, and local officials are making sure shelters are ready when residents need them most. “We had around 1,700 people for Hurricane Helene and close to 14,000 for…
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With hurricane season set to begin on Sunday, Florida has yet to schedule any disaster preparedness sales tax holidays due to ongoing delays in finalizing the state budget. Governor Ron DeSantis, speaking in Jupiter on Friday, emphasized the importance of readiness and expressed confidence that the tax holidays—allowing residents to purchase hurricane supplies without paying…
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Business owners recovering from hurricane damage are rebuilding with resilience in mind. At local favorite Ricky T’s, a hugely popular destination in Treasure Island, staff members are celebrating the completion of renovations designed to withstand future storms. Owner Brad Piche prioritized hurricane-proofing the restaurant, a beloved local fixture for decades. To enhance durability, the restaurant’s…
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The Resilient St. Pete Resident Task Force will complete its final round of neighborhood visits on Saturday, giving residents in three flood-prone areas a chance to voice concerns and suggest solutions directly to engineers and city officials. Shannery Barnes, president of the Old Pasadena Neighborhood Association, described the unusual flooding experienced during Hurricane Helene. “A…
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Last fall, still stinging from the damage wrought by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the Crowder Brothers Ace Hardware in St. Pete Beach found itself in the same boat as many of its customers—dealing with extensive flood damage and a long road to recovery. The store was forced to close for two months as employees worked…
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If you’re a new homeowner, you may not realize that flood insurance and homeowners insurance are usually sold separately. In fact, most homeowners policies don’t cover flood damage at all. This became painfully clear for many Floridians affected by the devastating 2024 storms. Even with insurance, some found themselves on the hook for costly repairs…
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With forecasters predicting an above-average hurricane season, utility provider Duke Energy Florida is offering a rare glimpse inside its high-tech Distribution Control Center in St. Petersburg — the hub responsible for managing power outages and restoring service when major storms hit. This state-of-the-art facility operates around the clock, monitoring the electrical grid in real time…
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With hurricane season just days away and federal forecasters predicting another above-average year, Florida lawmakers have passed a sweeping new bill aimed at improving disaster recovery efforts statewide. However, some officials warn the measure could actually hinder local resiliency planning. The legislation, Senate Bill 180, is designed to support rebuilding efforts after major storms and…
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With hurricane season beginning this Sunday, Visit Central Florida is getting ahead of the storms by launching its annual Hurricane Prep Week, offering free resources to help local families get ready. Throughout the week, families who stop by the center will receive a complimentary hurricane preparedness bag. Each bag contains vital items including a Polk…
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Florida led the way in 2023 by becoming the first state to regulate cellphone use in schools, and now more than half of U.S. states have followed suit, with additional states likely to introduce similar laws soon. Alaska and Nebraska recently became the 25th and 26th states to enact such laws, with other measures awaiting…
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Nearly a year after a series of hurricanes battered the Tampa Bay area, the city of Gulfport is still grappling with the aftermath. Hundreds of boats were wrecked or washed ashore, and while significant progress has been made in cleanup efforts, the scars remain—both environmental and financial. Gulfport has removed over 50 derelict vessels from…
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A new bill (HB 1049) on Governor Ron DeSantis’s desk could soon require landlords across Florida to inform potential tenants if a property has a history of flooding. The legislation, unanimously approved by state lawmakers, aims to bring transparency for renters after recent storms left many Floridians displaced from repeatedly flooded homes. Gabe Cormier, a…
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The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season officially begins on Sunday, June 1, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is forecasting an active year ahead. According to NOAA’s annual outlook, there is a 60% chance of an above-normal hurricane season, a 30% chance of a near-normal season, and just a 10% chance of below-normal activity.…
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On May 20, St. Pete city officials and business leaders convened at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital for the annual State of the Economy meeting. Since last year, St. Petersburg has weathered significant setbacks—including two major hurricanes, Helene and Milton, and the collapse of the Tampa Bay Rays redevelopment deal. In response, the city is…
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In the seven months following a punishing 2024 hurricane season, residents of Pinellas’ barrier islands are approaching hurricane preparedness with renewed urgency. On May 7, the fourth floor of the Indian Shores Municipal Center was filled to capacity for “Storm Ready: Hurricane Awareness and Preparation,” an annual event hosted for the communities of Indian Shores…
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A new law signed by Governor Ron DeSantis makes trespassing at large-scale ticketed events in Florida a third-degree felony. Under the legislation (HB 1447), anyone who enters or stays at a ticketed event with more than 5,000 attendees without proper authorization can now face felony charges. The message is clear: if you don’t have a…
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Manatee County is inviting residents to help shape how it will use a $252 million federal grant for long-term hurricane recovery and resilience. The initiative, called Lasting Manatee, is focused on addressing unmet needs from the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton in 2024. Funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban…
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Pinellas County commissioners have opted not to let voters decide on establishing a countywide elected mayor, instead signaling support for enhancing the authority of the commission’s chairperson. At a May 15 workshop, commissioners expressed a clear preference to maintain the existing commission-administrator form of government—first adopted by Pinellas County in 1964—and build upon it rather…
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Duke Energy is stepping up its efforts to remain Clearwater’s primary power provider, releasing a surprise study Monday that estimates it would cost the city between $1.13 billion and $1.52 billion to take over Duke’s infrastructure and create a city-owned utility. “That study reflects their perspective, which is to be expected,” said Clearwater Mayor Bruce…
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In response to a troubling rise in student fatalities, the City of Lakeland is moving forward with an ordinance to install speed cameras in school zones. The proposed measure aims to deter speeding and protect students by enhancing traffic enforcement in high-risk areas. During the 2023–2024 school year, Polk County Public Schools reported 25 student-involved…
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Governor Ron DeSantis officially signed the Boater Freedom Act into law on Monday in Panama City. A key priority for DeSantis during this year’s legislative session, the law aims to protect boaters’ rights by preventing random vessel searches by law enforcement without probable cause. “People feel violated when someone comes aboard their boat and starts…
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Now’s the time to inspect your yard—especially if you have pets. Toxic cane toads are a growing concern across Florida, posing a serious risk to dogs and cats. These invasive toads secrete a potent toxin from large glands on their shoulders when threatened. If a pet bites or licks one, it can become seriously ill—and…
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As Memorial Day weekend approaches, gas prices across the state of Florida have dropped, just in time for what AAA expects to be a record-breaking travel period. According to AAA’s holiday forecast, an estimated 2.6 million Floridians will travel at least 50 miles, with 2.3 million of them hitting the road. “With so many motorists…
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Strolling along Gulfport’s beaches, visitors often come across cigarette butts scattered in the sand — a sight city leaders are hoping to change. In response, Gulfport officials are moving toward a ban on smoking in several beachside areas. The city council has already given preliminary approval, with a final vote scheduled for Tuesday. If passed,…
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Florida’s real estate market is undergoing a notable shift: there are more homes for sale, but fewer buyers are actively making offers. While that may sound like a red flag, real estate experts say it’s not necessarily a negative trend. According to a recent report from the Florida Realtors Association, housing inventory has increased compared…
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Just weeks before the official start of hurricane season, a newly surfaced internal review is casting doubt on FEMA’s ability to respond effectively to major disasters. The report, initially reported by CNN and later obtained by CBS News, flags critical concerns about staffing shortages and confusion over FEMA’s role, as the Trump administration signals a…
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A long-neglected, storm-damaged tower in downtown St. Petersburg is finally on track for demolition, paving the way for a new boutique hotel. For many in the area, the change can’t come soon enough. The 11-story structure at 300 Central Avenue, heavily damaged by Hurricane Milton, will be replaced by a 74-key branded hotel developed by…
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A St. Pete Beach hotel owner who opened his doors to hurricane victims says a federal relief program meant to support recovery has left him footing a massive bill. Robert Czyszczon, owner of the Plaza Beach Hotel, began housing displaced residents through FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program after hurricanes struck Pinellas County. For 180…
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A powerful and unseasonably early heatwave took hold across the Tampa Bay area on Thursday, marking the beginning of what forecasters expect to be a prolonged stretch of extreme heat. Tampa reached a high of 91 degrees, while Plant City soared to 95 — and temperatures are set to climb even higher in the coming…
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The City of North Port is hoping that recent cleanup efforts along the Myakkahatchee Creek will help reduce the risk of future flooding. In 2022, Hurricane Ian caused widespread flooding, displacing residents and turning neighborhoods into waterways for days. The storm left lasting impacts, prompting city officials to take action. “This is probably the most…
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