Author: stpeteclearwatersun
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Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s new “Lion & Hyena Ridge” habitat opens to the public on Saturday, July 25, marking the latest expansion of the park’s Edge of Africa section. The 35,000-square-foot habitat, more than double the size of the space it replaces, is home to five African lions named Pascal, Lou, Huge, Henri and Hurman,…
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Tesla has officially launched its Robotaxi service in the Tampa area, expanding its driverless ride-hailing network into Florida’s Gulf Coast as the company continues to grow its autonomous transportation program. The taxi service uses Tesla vehicles equipped with the company’s Full Self-Driving technology to transport passengers without a driver behind the wheel. Tampa joins Orlando…
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City officials are hosting a free public seminar Thursday evening to explain Florida’s “customary use” doctrine and clarify where public beach access ends and private property begins. The seminar runs from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at St. Pete Beach City Hall Commission Chambers. The event follows months of dispute over private property signs along the…
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Local business owners say higher public parking rates are hurting sales and driving away visitors, prompting one shop owner to launch a petition calling on city leaders to reconsider the policy. Jessica O’Connell, co-owner of Cool Vibes on the Beach near Upham Beach, said business has slowed since new parking rates took effect in April.…
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Two additional Tampa Bay-area cities are moving to temporarily pause the development of hyperscale data centers as local governments continue evaluating how the facilities could affect infrastructure, utilities and surrounding communities. City leaders in Pinellas Park and Zephyrhills have approved temporary moratoriums on new hyperscale data center applications, joining a growing number of local governments…
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A federal committee has unanimously approved a request that would bring U.S. Army Corps of Engineers resources into St. Petersburg to study canal dredging, flood mitigation, and ecosystem restoration, Mayor Kenneth Welch announced. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee signed off on the request last week. According to the mayor’s office of governmental affairs, St.…
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Travelers flying through Tampa International Airport could soon see airport security handled by a private workforce instead of federal Transportation Security Administration officers after the airport opted into the TSA Gold+ program. Under the program, the TSA will continue to oversee security operations and enforce federal screening standards, but a private contractor will manage the…
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Pinellas County School Board members are set to receive an update Tuesday on the district’s ongoing review of which schools could close or consolidate due to declining enrollment, with just weeks remaining before the new school year begins. The update follows the closures of Cross Bayou Elementary and Disston Academy, which shut down for good…
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St. Petersburg is moving ahead with another major flood mitigation project in Shore Acres, a neighborhood that has experienced repeated flooding during hurricanes and heavy rain events in recent years. Construction is expected to begin as the city advances infrastructure improvements aimed at reducing future flooding. The project includes upgrades to the area’s stormwater system,…
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Tampa Bay homebuyers now have access to a new breed of real estate platforms that use artificial intelligence to slash traditional commission costs, potentially saving buyers thousands of dollars. A recent NerdWallet survey found that nearly half of prospective homebuyers are already using, or plan to use, AI tools to research neighborhoods, compare mortgage options…
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A tropical system in the western Gulf of Mexico could become the first named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, according to Spectrum News meteorologists, giving Tampa Bay area residents an early reminder that storm season is underway. What to know June is typically a slow month for tropical development, with a named storm…
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The City of Clearwater is asking residents to weigh in on the future of the historic North Ward School building, which has sat vacant for more than a decade. The city will host an open house on Thursday, July 30, from 5:30 to 8 p.m., where the public can share ideas for redeveloping the site.…
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Pinellas County officials are warning residents to hang up on callers posing as emergency animal control officers who demand immediate payment over the phone. According to Pinellas County Animal Services Director Jennifer Renner, scammers are spoofing the county’s official caller ID so calls appear to come from a legitimate government number. The callers claim a…
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Nearly two months after a costly sand dredging project wrapped up at John’s Pass, city leaders say leftover debris from the old bridge could be undoing the work. The Florida Department of Transportation demolished the former John’s Pass bridge to build a new drawbridge, which opened more than a dozen years ago. Concrete rubble from…
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Construction is continuing on a new mixed-use path along the west side of 4th Street North between Gandy Boulevard and Interstate 275 in St. Petersburg, a project led by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). The recreation trail is designed to provide a dedicated route for pedestrians and bicyclists while improving connectivity in the area.…
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With summer winding down, Tampa Bay Area families are gearing up for the 2026-27 school year. Start dates, holiday breaks, and early dismissal schedules vary by county, so parents are encouraged to check the specifics for their district. Citrus CountyFirst day: Aug. 10 | Last day: May 27Major breaks include Labor Day (Sept. 7), Thanksgiving…
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U.S. inflation slowed in June as lower gasoline prices helped reduce overall consumer costs, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) released by the Labor Department. Consumer prices fell 0.4% from May to June, the largest monthly decline in four years, following a 0.5% increase the previous month. On an annual basis, inflation eased…
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Treasure Island has secured an additional $2.5 million in state funding to build a new public safety facility, nearly two years after Hurricane Helene destroyed the building that once housed the city’s fire rescue and police departments. The 1957-era building took on roughly three feet of floodwater during the 2024 storm, leaving it a total…
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A new $2 million state appropriation will help fund stormwater improvements in Shore Acres, one of St. Petersburg’s most flood-prone neighborhoods, with city officials planning to accelerate construction of a major resiliency project. The funding, included in Florida’s 2026-27 state budget, will support the Shore Acres Denver Street Storm Damage Improvements project. The project is…
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St. Petersburg has completed more than $60 million in upgrades at its Northeast Water Reclamation Facility, aimed at protecting the city’s sewage system from the kind of storm surge that has repeatedly knocked the plant offline. Crews finished the work in May, according to St. Petersburg Public Works Administrator Claude Tankersley. The project raised critical…
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A new weather alert system is now monitoring athletic fields across Plant City, giving players, coaches and families an added layer of protection when dangerous weather approaches. Plant City’s Parks and Recreation Department recently installed Perry Weather systems at its athletic facilities. The technology detects lightning and tracks weather conditions, sounding an audible alarm when…
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Tampa is posting the fastest luxury home price growth of any city in the nation, according to a new report from Redfin, revealing a widening gap between the region’s high-end housing market and the rest of the market. Redfin found that luxury home prices nationwide rose 4.7% year over year in May, compared with just…
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Florida’s state legislature has passed more than 50 laws in the past five years limiting the authority of local governments over issues ranging from land development to public health and elections, according to a review by the nonprofit newsroom Suncoast Searchlight. The eight state lawmakers who represent Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto counties supported nearly every…
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Hernando County officials are moving forward with a series of improvements at Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport that they say could strengthen the local economy, attract new businesses, and create additional jobs. The airport has been the focus of long-term redevelopment efforts aimed at expanding aviation facilities and increasing industrial and commercial development on airport property.…
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St. Pete Beach has been awarded $5.3 million in state grant funding to support three major infrastructure projects aimed at improving public safety, utilities and transportation. City officials said the funding will be used to help construct a new fire station, replace aging sewer infrastructure in the Pass-a-Grille neighborhood and continue the reconstruction of Boca…
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The St. Petersburg City Council is set to vote Thursday on a series of agreements that would clear the way for the long-awaited Tampa Bay Ferry to launch, including a $324,000 deal for a temporary dock near The Vinoy. The resolution includes a three-year agreement with Mobro Marine to install the temporary dock off Bayshore…
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Colorado State University has revised its 2026 Atlantic hurricane season forecast for the third time, further reducing the expected number of storms as a strengthening El Niño takes hold. The university’s latest outlook, released this week, calls for nine named storms, four hurricanes, and one major hurricane this season. That’s down sharply from CSU’s original…
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A contested plan to change beachfront development rules in Treasure Island is on hold again after city commissioners voted 3-2 Tuesday night to delay a decision. The proposed Planned Development ordinance would allow property owners to seek customized approval for individual redevelopment projects. Much of the debate centers on the historic Thunderbird Beach Resort, which…
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Pinellas County is set to receive $29.4 million in federal funding to repair creeks damaged by Hurricane Milton. County commissioners unanimously approved an agreement last month with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to accept the grant through its Emergency Watershed Protection Program. Pinellas County Public Works Director Kelli Hammer Levy told commissioners the funding will…
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City of Sarasota residents can now register for a program that provides professionally installed shade trees at a fraction of their normal cost. Registration for the City’s Neighborhood Canopy Program opened this week and will remain available through Aug. 17. The initiative allows eligible homeowners to purchase and have a mature tree installed between their…
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Madeira Beach city commissioners are scheduled to hold a final vote Wednesday on a $150 million hotel development proposed for the heart of John’s Pass Village. The project, led by JPV Hotel Property partner Bill Karns, calls for a six-story, 87-room hotel that would join Marriott’s Tribute Collection, a brand designed to reflect the character…
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Florida has climbed to No. 2 in the nation for child hot car deaths following a series of recent tragedies across the state, prompting renewed warnings from safety advocates and medical professionals as summer temperatures rise. Nationally, nearly 40 children die in hot cars every year, an average of about one death every nine days.…
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Dozens of volunteers spent Sunday morning cleaning up Treasure Island’s beach after Fourth of July celebrations left behind piles of litter. The group, Treasure Island Adopt-a-Beach, brought together 39 volunteers who filled 90 bags with a total of 450 pounds of trash. The debris included food wrappers, towels, leftover fireworks, and large amounts of plastic…
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Lakeland residents are expected to weigh in today as city commissioners hold a public hearing on a proposed temporary moratorium on new large-scale data center development. The proposed ordinance would establish a one-year pause on approvals for hyperscale data centers, giving city officials additional time to study how the facilities could affect Lakeland’s infrastructure, utilities,…
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Florida restaurants are now required to disclose mandatory service charges and other required fees before customers place an order under a new state law that took effect July 1. Senate Bill 606 expands existing disclosure requirements by requiring restaurants to clearly inform customers about any mandatory “operations charges,” including service charges, automatic gratuities, credit card…
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The City of Sarasota is moving forward with plans that could eventually bring water taxi service to the city’s waterfront, with officials hoping the system will provide another transportation option and help reduce travel times between downtown and nearby destinations. City planners are proposing pickup and drop-off locations at O’Leary’s dock next to Bayfront Park,…
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BayCare Health System announced this week it will launch a drone-based delivery network for medications, lab samples and medical supplies, in partnership with autonomous delivery company Zipline. The service, expected to launch in late 2027, will begin in the St. Petersburg-Clearwater area before expanding into Hillsborough County and the broader Tampa Bay region, according to…
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The Tampa Bay restaurant industry continues to face significant challenges, with more than 20 restaurants and bars across Tampa, St. Petersburg, and surrounding communities either closing permanently or rebranding during the first half of 2026. Restaurant owners cite a combination of economic pressures that have made it increasingly difficult to operate. Rising food and labor…
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Pinellas County commissioners this week approved a $29 million federal grant to repair five waterways left severely eroded by Hurricane Milton’s historic rainfall. The funding, awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service under its Emergency Watershed Protection Program, will fully cover construction and oversight costs for repairs to Joe’s Creek, Curlew…
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A sweeping new Florida law took effect Wednesday, giving pet buyers stronger legal footing when a newly purchased animal turns out to be sick, arming consumers with rights to refunds, exchanges, and reimbursement for vet bills. SB 1004 is one of more than 100 new state laws taking effect July 1. Gov. Ron DeSantis has…
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Florida will waive admission fees at its state parks for three days next month as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection announced. Day-use admission will be free at Florida State Parks from Friday, July 3, through Sunday, July 5, 2026, in celebration of America’s 250 years of independence.…
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As residential real estate slows across the region, a quieter boom is reshaping Tampa Bay’s commercial landscape: warehouses. Industrial real estate is surging in the area, driven largely by growth in warehouse and distribution space tied to the region’s expanding role in the national supply chain, according to Julia Silva, president and founder of commercial…
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