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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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Housing affordability is expected to dominate discussions today as real estate professionals, community leaders, and policymakers gather for the fifth annual State of the Market event in Tampa. The conference, held at the historic Cuban Club in Ybor City, will focus on current conditions in the Tampa Bay housing market and what may lie ahead…
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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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Florida remained in the bottom half of national child welfare rankings for the second consecutive year, placing 35th overall in the 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The annual report evaluates child well-being across four categories: economic well-being, education, health, and family and community factors. The report found that…
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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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Florida homeowners and drivers are waking up Wednesday to welcome the news that reports insurance rates across the state are falling, and the trend shows no signs of slowing. More than 42 personal auto insurers have filed for rate decreases over the past year, with major carriers including State Farm, Progressive, GEICO, Allstate, USAA, and…
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A developing weather system in the Gulf of Mexico could become the first named tropical storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). Forecasters are monitoring the disturbance, known as Invest 90L, as it moves from northeastern Mexico into the northwestern Gulf. As of Monday, the NHC gave the…
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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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Safety Harbor officials are weighing a dramatic increase in boat slip rental rates at the city marina as the facility prepares to reopen after hurricane damage closed it for the repair season. The marina’s 44 private slip holders could see their monthly fees jump significantly under two proposals presented to the city commission. Under Plan…
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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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Citrus County commissioners have approved a temporary hiring freeze for most county positions funded by property tax revenue as officials prepare for the potential financial impact of proposed property tax reductions in Florida. The measure, approved during a recent commission meeting, pauses hiring for many vacant county jobs while leaders evaluate how possible changes to…
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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 Florida Legislature approved House Joint Resolution 1-F (HJR 1-F), a proposed constitutional amendment titled the “Save Our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes” amendment. Backed by Governor Ron DeSantis, the measure aims to drastically reduce or entirely eliminate non-school local property taxes for primary homeowners. It requires a 60% voter approval threshold to pass. Key…
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As the city continues to grow and parking pressure mounts in residential neighborhoods, the St. Petersburg City Council on Thursday took up a proposal that would give residents a formal path to restricting street parking to permit holders only. The ordinance would establish what the city calls Neighborhood Resident Only Parking Areas, or NROPAs. It…
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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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Dunedin City leaders here are bracing for deep budget cuts to fire protection, public parks, and libraries if Florida voters approve a sweeping property tax exemption increase on the November ballot — and they’re already mapping out what could be lost. The constitutional amendment, placed on the ballot by the state legislature, would raise the…
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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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The Polk County School Board voted unanimously Tuesday to impose a $400 participation fee on non-traditional student-athletes who play sports in the district, a move driven by a new state law reshaping athletic eligibility across Florida. Senate Bill 538, which takes effect July 1, standardizes how public, charter, private and homeschool students may participate in…
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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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Hillsborough County is expanding access to its storm recovery assistance program for homeowners still dealing with damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. County officials have set aside $211 million through the Rebuilding for Tomorrow Homeowner Repair and Reconstruction Program, which provides financial assistance to eligible homeowners for repairs, reconstruction projects, and reimbursement for completed storm-related…
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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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Tampa Electric customers will see a reduction in their monthly bills sooner than expected, the company announced Tuesday. Tampa Electric, known as TECO, said it will remove a storm-related surcharge from customer bills beginning Aug. 1 — one month earlier than originally planned. The change amounts to a savings of roughly $20 per 1,000 kilowatt-hours…
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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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Nearly two years after Hurricanes Helene and Milton battered the Tampa Bay region, Hillsborough County is expanding access to a $211 million federal repair program by launching two new pop-up assistance centers beginning Tuesday. The centers are part of the county’s Rebuilding for Tomorrow Homeowner Repair and Reconstruction Program, funded through the U.S. Department of…
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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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Hillsborough County officials are seeking public input as part of a regional effort to evaluate flooding issues and develop long-term strategies to improve stormwater management and flood resilience across the Tampa Bay area. The initiative comes as communities continue to assess the impacts of recent storms and recurring seasonal flooding. County leaders are encouraging residents…
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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 group of Lutz residents is preparing to challenge a proposal to build a large private school in their community, arguing the project conflicts with the area’s semi-rural character. The Naidip Foundation has submitted a special-use application to Hillsborough County to construct Apex Academy, a K-8 private school with capacity for up to 1,000 students,…
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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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Travelers flying out of Tampa International Airport will soon pay more to park, as airport officials move to raise rates for the first time in more than three years. The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Board approved the parking rate adjustment last week, with changes set to take effect August 4. The board voted to raise…
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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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A South Tampa business organization has filed a lawsuit against the City of Tampa, alleging the city failed to provide public records related to a planned stormwater project aimed at reducing chronic flooding along the South Howard Avenue corridor. The lawsuit, filed by the SoHo Business Alliance, centers on the city’s proposed South Howard Flood…
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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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The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro area has vaulted to second place among the nation’s fastest-growing job markets for young workers, according to a new study by ADP Research. The study analyzed payroll data from more than 400,000 workers aged 20 to 29, covering January 2025 through January 2026. ADP compared 53 U.S. metro areas with populations…
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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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The Pinellas County School Board has approved new principals at six schools for the coming school year, with the changes driven primarily by retirements and internal transfers. At the middle school level, Karen Huzar will move from East Lake Middle School to Carwise Middle School, where she will replace retiring principal Chad Eiben. Huzar has…
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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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City officials on Thursday released a wide-ranging list of services that could face reductions if Florida voters approve a constitutional amendment in November to raise homestead exemptions and reduce or eliminate property taxes. The warning came during the city’s annual State of the Economy event, where leaders outlined the potential local fallout from the statewide…
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The St. Petersburg City Council voted Thursday on whether to fund a $590,000 feasibility study examining whether the city should end its relationship with Duke Energy and create its own municipally owned electric utility. The city’s 30-year franchise agreement with Duke Energy expires Aug. 1. Before that deadline, council members considered authorizing an eight- to…
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The Plant City Chamber of Commerce has launched a new disaster preparedness resource page to help local businesses prepare for and recover from hurricanes during the 2026 storm season. The online resource provides business owners with access to emergency information, storm preparation tools, recovery assistance programs, and other resources before and after severe weather events.…
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Manatee County has unveiled its first high-water rescue vehicle, adding a new tool for reaching residents during flood emergencies as hurricane season gets underway. The vehicle can travel through water up to 48 inches deep and is equipped with lights and cameras. It has a capacity of 25 to 30 passengers and a liftgate that…
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As the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season gets underway, Pasco County officials are highlighting new flood-monitoring and preparedness initiatives developed in response to the widespread flooding during the 2024 hurricane season. County leaders said the back-to-back impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton exposed vulnerabilities across the region, including flooded neighborhoods and evacuation routes that became impassable…
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