Author: stpeteclearwatersun
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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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Residents across Florida and the southeastern United States are being urged to monitor the weather as forecasters track an area that could develop into a tropical or subtropical system ahead of the Independence Day holiday weekend. According to forecasters, a weakening frontal boundary is expected to stall off the Southeast coast later this week. As…
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More than 400 mobile home owners across Pinellas County have applied for a federally funded program that will tear down and rebuild homes left substantially damaged by the 2024 hurricanes, county officials confirmed Monday. The Homeowner Rehabilitation and Reconstruction program, run through Pinellas Recovers, replaces qualifying mobile homes with new storm-grade units at no cost…
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Loggerhead sea turtle nesting activity on St. Pete Beach has declined significantly this season, prompting city leaders to consider additional measures to protect one of Florida’s most important nesting habitats. According to Sea Turtle Trackers, the number of loggerhead nests documented on St. Pete Beach is down about 50% compared to the same point last…
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More Americans are expected to travel during the Independence Day holiday than ever before, according to a new forecast from AAA. The organization projects that 72.2 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home during the extended July Fourth travel period, which runs from June 27 through July 5. That would surpass last…
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Beginning July 1, more than 100 new Florida laws will take effect, bringing changes that affect education, public safety, transportation, housing, agriculture, technology, government operations, and consumers. The new laws were approved during the 2026 legislative session and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. In total, approximately 140 new laws from the regular and special legislative…
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An additional charge on receipts at a Tampa restaurant has prompted questions from customers after some diners were surprised by the fee. The issue gained attention after a customer shared an online receipt showing an added surcharge. The customer said the charge was unexpected and questioned why it was not more clearly disclosed before payment.…
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A proposal to redevelop a key parcel in the heart of John’s Pass Village won unanimous approval on its first reading Monday, putting an 87-room hotel, retail space, and a new public park on track for construction within two years. The Madeira Beach Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 to rezone the 1.457-acre site from John’s…
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Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two bills Wednesday in Bradenton aimed at limiting how much local governments can raise property taxes, adding new fuel to his push for a major tax cut ballot measure this fall. The first bill, SB 4F, removes a provision that allowed cities, counties, and special taxing districts to factor in rising…
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Florida’s top agriculture official is urging caution as residents prepare to celebrate Independence Day next week, warning that wildfire risk remains high despite recent rain. State Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson said nearly 2,500 wildfires have broken out across Florida since the start of the year, making it one of the state’s busiest fire seasons in…
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Tampa Bay residents will be living with strict water limits for at least three more months after regional officials voted to keep emergency drought restrictions in place through the heart of summer. The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board voted Tuesday to extend the Modified Phase III “Extreme” Water Shortage order, which had been…
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Pinellas County has officially launched a 90-day bidding period for the redevelopment of 17 county-owned properties in downtown Clearwater, marking a major step in a plan that could reshape the city’s core for decades to come. The county is seeking proposals from developers interested in redeveloping approximately 25 acres of land that will become available…
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Dunedin city commissioners have directed staff to begin drafting an ordinance to permanently ban launching jet skis and other motorized watercraft from the Dunedin Causeway, following nearly two years of restricted access that officials say has allowed seagrass and marine life to recover. Commissioners reached consensus on the move during a June 2 work session,…
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Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) is finalizing plans for a new program that would allow members of the public to access airport restaurants and shops without purchasing an airline ticket. Airport officials are working with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to establish a non-passenger dining program that would permit approved visitors to enter the secure side…
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ALDI is giving away free boxes of groceries through Thursday, and shoppers willing to act fast at exactly noon Eastern each day can claim one before supplies run out. The discount grocery chain launched the “ALDI Blind Box” giveaway, releasing a new themed box each day from June 22 through June 25. At noon ET…
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The Zephyrhills City Council is scheduled to vote Monday evening on a proposed one-year moratorium on new data center development, making it the latest Tampa Bay-area community to examine restrictions on the rapidly growing industry. If approved, the temporary moratorium would halt actions that could facilitate data center construction, including the issuance of building permits,…
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Florida drivers are paying less at the pump, with gas prices falling below the $4-a-gallon mark for the first time in weeks as summer travel season ramps up. The statewide average stood at $3.65 per gallon as of Sunday, down from roughly $3.96 the previous week, according to AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins. The decline marks…
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The Clearwater City Council voted 3-2 to vacate a portion of South Garden Avenue, the stretch of road running in front of the Church of Scientology’s flagship building downtown. The vote transfers control of that section of public road to the church, which already owns multiple properties in the surrounding area. The decision followed months…
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A Boston-based technology company has filed a permit application to build a data center on a half-acre lot in Pinellas Park, less than a quarter-mile from the nearest residential property — even as surrounding counties across the Tampa Bay region move to pause or ban similar projects. American Tower submitted the permit request for a…
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A community group representing more than 1,000 Tierra Verde residents has filed a circuit court petition seeking to nullify St. Petersburg’s approval of a sweeping marina redevelopment, and the central question is whether the approved structures are simply too tall to be legal. The St. Petersburg Development Review Commission approved Greenleaf Capital’s redevelopment plan for…
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A new report shows that nearly half of Florida households are struggling to afford basic necessities, highlighting ongoing affordability challenges despite a strong labor market and continued population growth. According to the 2026 State of ALICE Report, 47% of Florida households fell below the ALICE Threshold in 2024, meaning they either lived in poverty or…
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Drivers traveling through school zones in Venice will soon face automated enforcement as the city prepares to activate new speed cameras before the start of the 2026-27 school year. The Venice City Council unanimously approved the installation of school zone speed cameras near Venice Elementary School, Venice High School and Epiphany Cathedral School. The cameras…
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A disorganized weather system lurking in the western Gulf of Mexico may become the Atlantic hurricane season’s first named storm before the day is out, forecasters said Tuesday. Potential Tropical Cyclone One could develop into Tropical Storm Arthur sometime this afternoon, which would mark an unusually early start to the season. June is typically a…
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The Lakeland Police Department is seeking approval for a proposed $21 million technology agreement that would expand its use of artificial intelligence, drones, and upgraded body cameras over the next decade. Police officials presented the proposal to city commissioners, describing the investment as a way to improve efficiency and allow officers to spend more time…
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Pasco County commissioners are taking up a proposal Tuesday that would freeze approvals for new data center projects for one year, including facilities tied to artificial intelligence technologies. The ordinance would prevent new data center applications from moving forward for 12 months while county leaders study the potential impacts of the rapidly growing industry and…
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A major mixed-use development is moving forward in the heart of downtown Dunedin, with city leaders betting the project will attract more visitors while protecting the small-town character that put the city on the map. Dunedin commissioners have approved design plans for the Main Street Exchange, a mixed-use development slated for the corner of Main…
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Florida drivers are seeing some relief at the pump as gasoline prices continue to decline following an international agreement to restore oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy transit routes. The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in Florida fell to about $3.81 on Monday, according…
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The Tampa City Council voted Thursday to delay a decision on the Tampa Bay Rays’ $2.3 billion stadium proposal until Aug. 20, giving negotiators additional time to work through outstanding details on the publicly subsidized project. Sitting as the Community Redevelopment Agency board, council members approved the postponement 5-2, with Lynn Hurtak and Charlie Miranda…
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St. Pete Beach City commissioners are weighing a new ordinance that would impose a range of restrictions on beach activities, affecting visitors, residents, and businesses alike — but community pushback has already slowed the process. Under the proposed measure, the city would ban smoking and vaping on the beach, with cigars excluded from the prohibition.…
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Local officials on Anna Maria Island and Manatee County are weighing a paid parking system at county-owned beaches as they look for ways to ease what has become a daily traffic crisis, but business owners along the barrier island fear the added cost could push visitors away. Holmes Beach City Commissioner Dan Diggins said license…
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The future of Treasure Bay’s ongoing transformation will largely depend on the city’s ability to fund future improvements, according to Mayor John Doctor, who said upcoming budget decisions will play a key role in determining what comes next for the waterfront recreation complex. Treasure Bay, a 17-acre city-owned property on Boca Ciega Bay, has been…
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The Zephyrhills City Council voted unanimously Monday to temporarily halt new data center development, joining a growing number of Florida communities taking a cautious approach to the industry’s rapid expansion. The council approved a first reading of a one-year moratorium that would pause the issuance of building permits, rezonings, and site plan approvals for data…
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Almost a year after an EF1 tornado tore through the Ranchero Village community, demolition and construction crews are still working to restore what the storm took away — but residents say healing is underway. The tornado struck the Largo neighborhood last summer, damaging an estimated 40 to 50 homes, according to Largo Fire Rescue. Many…
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City commissioners in Indian Rocks Beach are expected to take a final vote Tuesday evening on proposed changes to local golf cart regulations designed to improve safety and bring city rules into compliance with Florida law. The proposed ordinance would revise existing regulations that currently allow anyone age 14 or older to operate a golf…
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A proposal to build a massive data center in west Lakeland is facing mounting community opposition, with residents urging city leaders to pause all such projects while officials sort out regulations and potential environmental impacts. The plan, internally dubbed “Project Swan,” calls for a 600,000-square-foot hyperscale data center near Old Tampa Highway and Wilkinson Road,…
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Residents of Palmer Ranch are turning to nature-based solutions to reduce flooding and improve stormwater management ahead of future hurricane seasons. Volunteers have begun planting hundreds of trees and native plants near East Bay Street and Honore Avenue as part of the new Promenade Estates Microforest Park, a project spearheaded by the Palmer Ranch Master…
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Millions of Americans who rely on federal food assistance are facing new limits on what they can purchase, as a growing number of states move to restrict the types of items that can be bought using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. Eight additional states — Arkansas, Colorado, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, and…
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City leaders in Inverness are moving forward with several redevelopment initiatives aimed at increasing pedestrian activity and attracting more visitors to the downtown area. The projects, which are in various stages of planning and development, include a downtown city walk, the creation of a medical arts district, and improvements at Whispering Pines Park. City officials…
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A long-planned overhaul of Warm Mineral Springs Park is moving toward construction, with work expected to begin as early as this fall, city officials said. The North Port Parks and Recreation Department is in the final design phases of the project, which carries an $11 million price tag funded through a Sarasota County surtax, park…
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