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With the 2026 hurricane season less than a month away, Florida’s chief financial officer is taking a new approach to storm readiness — going directly to residents before a storm is in the forecast. Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia announced the initiative on Tuesday, saying his team will visit neighborhoods and communities across the state to…
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Tampa City Council members peppered Tampa Bay Rays CEO Ken Babby with questions on Wednesday night about how the public would foot its share of the bill for a proposed $2.3 billion ballpark at the Dale Mabry campus of Hillsborough College. The Rays have said they are prepared to cover more than half the cost…
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Duke Energy Florida customers will see lower electric bills this summer after state regulators approved a $90.5 million refund stemming from hurricane recovery overcharges. The Florida Public Service Commission approved the refund Tuesday after a review of final storm restoration expenses. The commission had authorized an interim storm restoration charge in February 2025 to allow…
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The end of the 2025-26 school year is just weeks away for students across the Tampa Bay region, with most local districts wrapping up between Wednesday, May 27, and Friday, May 29. The last day of school varies by county. Hillsborough County students finish on Friday, May 29. Pinellas County students wrap up a day earlier, on Thursday,…
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Pinellas County has completed its first home repair project under the People First Hurricane Recovery Program, a federally funded initiative aimed at helping residents still rebuilding from the 2024 hurricane season. The program is backed by $813 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, targeting residents affected by Hurricanes Idalia,…
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The Florida Department of Education on Monday released the framework for a new state-developed U.S. History course for high school students, positioning it as an alternative to the College Board’s Advanced Placement program. The Florida Advanced Courses and Tests (FACT) U.S. History course will be available to public and charter schools in the upcoming school…
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Hillsborough County has updated its hurricane evacuation zone maps for the upcoming season, and some residents who were previously outside any evacuation zone may now find themselves in one. Officials said the adjustments were made based on lessons learned from the 2024 hurricane season. Zone A and Zone E saw the most significant changes. “Evacuation…
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A new St. Pete Beach ordinance banning signs and posts on the sand near the waterline took effect Tuesday night, following a dispute over property markers placed by a local hotel that residents said posed a danger to beachgoers. City commissioners passed the emergency ordinance last week, giving property owners seven days to comply. The…
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Florida drivers are paying significantly more at the pump after gas prices surged sharply over the past week, reaching their highest level in nearly four years. The statewide average climbed 40 cents per gallon — from $3.94 on Monday to $4.34 on Sunday — marking the highest daily average price recorded in Florida since July…
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Severe drought conditions along the Withlacoochee River have pushed water levels far below normal, prompting the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) to lower the gate at the Wysong Water Conservation Structure, located between Citrus and Sumter counties. District chief professional engineer Dr. Mark Fulkerson said current water levels haven’t been seen in roughly nine…
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With National Hurricane Preparedness Week underway, insurance experts and consumer safety organizations are urging Floridians to review their coverage now, warning that a significant portion of residents remain dangerously underprepared. According to a survey by AAA, roughly one in four Florida residents lacks adequate preparation for hurricane season, which officially begins June 1. Nearly one…
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The Indian Rocks Beach city commission has unanimously approved a new citizen advisory panel and taken steps to protect residential streets from beachgoer overflow as a paid parking program prepares to launch later this month. The Neighbor Advisory Board, approved 5-0 on April 14, will consist of five regular members and two alternates serving one-year…
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More than 18 months after Hurricane Helene battered the Seventh Avenue Pass-a-Grille Pier in St. Pete Beach, the beloved landmark remains closed — and residents are losing patience. The pier was damaged by Helene’s storm surge in September 2024, which buckled and dislodged several planks. Since then, it has sat idle, frustrating locals who say…
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With the share of first-time homebuyers at a historic low, a free workshop in Tampa this weekend is seeking to give aspiring homeowners the tools they need to succeed. The Freddie Mac CreditSmart® Essentials Workshop takes place Saturday, May 9, at CareerSource Tampa Bay, 9215 N. Florida Ave., from 10 a.m. to noon. The event…
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With hurricane season less than a month away, local emergency managers and landscaping professionals are urging Tampa Bay area homeowners to trim trees now to reduce the risk of property damage when storms arrive. Overgrown or unhealthy trees pose a significant threat during high winds, which can snap limbs or uproot trees entirely, turning them…
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Construction is officially underway on a new eight-story, 161-unit hotel along Madeira Way after a groundbreaking ceremony last Thursday. The project, called The Beachmaker, will replace a cluster of vacant and storm-damaged buildings that have sat idle since the 2024 hurricane season. Madeira Beach Mayor Anne-Marie Brooks attended the event and operated construction equipment to…
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Pinellas County commissioners heard public feedback Wednesday night on plans to vacate and redevelop nearly 25 acres of county-owned property in downtown Clearwater. The county is consolidating 17 properties in downtown Clearwater into a single facility near US 19 and Ulmerton Road, citing the existing buildings as old and oversized. Officials estimate the move will…
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Downtown Tampa braces for a packed weekend as Riverfest, one of the city’s largest annual events, gets underway today along the Hillsborough River. The free festival, hosted by Friends of the Tampa Riverwalk and presented by Publix Super Markets, runs Friday, May 1, and Saturday, May 2, with events stretching along the riverfront between Curtis…
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Hillsborough County Public Schools held an “Apprenticeship Night” at Riverview High School, giving students the opportunity to network with managers and representatives from skilled trades across the Tampa Bay area. The event aimed to highlight careers in fields like ironworking that offer free training, immediate pay, and strong long-term job security — with organizers emphasizing…
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Pinellas County government is preparing to leave nearly 25 acres of downtown Clearwater real estate, consolidating 17 properties into a new government center at US-19 and Ulmerton Road. County officials say the move is driven by aging buildings and operational inefficiencies, and they project the consolidation will save approximately $150 million in upkeep costs over…
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Manatee County’s oldest city is making a significant bet on its own future, with a series of public and private investments aimed at transforming downtown Palmetto from a commuter corridor into a regional destination. The Palmetto Community Redevelopment Agency is leading several projects to improve the downtown area and waterfront, encouraging more visitors and residents…
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Florida has landed at the bottom of national teacher pay rankings for the third year in a row, according to newly released data from the National Education Association. The average teacher salary in Florida rose to $56,663 in the 2025–26 school year, a 3.3% increase from the prior year. However, adjusted for inflation, average teacher…
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Construction is officially underway on a new shared Hillsborough County campus for Just Elementary and Stewart Middle Magnet School in West Tampa, following a groundbreaking ceremony held Tuesday. The $77 million project is designed to serve more than 1,500 students. Renderings show the two schools linked together by the historic Blake High School gymnasium. Superintendent…
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A prolonged drought has pushed a stretch of the Upper Peace River in Polk County to the brink of complete drying, prompting water managers to shut down a key water supply structure. The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFMD) has closed the Lake Hancock water control structure, a move expected to cause roughly 15 miles…
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Siesta Beach on Sarasota County’s Siesta Key has earned a spot on the World’s 50 Best Beaches list, making it the only American beach to appear among the global rankings. The World’s 50 Best Beaches said its judges, beach ambassadors, and team explored beaches worldwide to compile the list. Siesta Beach came in at No.…
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A newly formed community group is pushing Pasco County residents to support renewing a school property tax referendum that voters will consider this November. The group, called “People for Pasco,” has organized to advocate for the renewal of the Pasco County Schools tax referendum. The current referendum is set to expire in June 2027. Revenue…
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As rental fraud schemes become increasingly common, the Pinellas County Property Appraiser’s Office is pointing residents to a new way to verify who actually owns a rental property before signing a lease or paying rent. The office has added a direct link to Florida’s official Division of Corporations database, known as Sunbiz, to its online…
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Tampa city officials are reviewing recommendations from the University of South Florida on how to rebuild and better protect Tampa’s urban tree canopy after recent hurricanes caused significant losses. A USF study, presented at a recent city council workshop, found that hurricanes Helene and Milton reduced Tampa’s tree canopy by roughly 5% — a loss…
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Officials from the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority and the City of Tampa met Monday to discuss next steps for restoring cross-bay ferry service between downtown Tampa and downtown St. Petersburg. The meeting comes as the newly renamed Tampa Bay Ferry — formerly the Cross Bay Ferry — moves closer to a potential launch this spring…
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More than 13,000 Florida families have enrolled in a new state program that links preschool registration with college savings accounts, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced last week. The partnership between Florida’s Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) program and Florida Prepaid allows families to open a 529 college savings account when they enroll their child in the state’s free…
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Florida legislators gathered Tuesday in Tallahassee to begin a special session running through May 1, with congressional redistricting emerging as the session’s most contentious issue alongside agenda items covering artificial intelligence protections and health care policy. The push to redraw Florida’s congressional maps follows former President Donald Trump’s call last year for a new census…
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Five Pinellas County beach community mayors gathered Thursday evening for the fourth annual “State of the Beaches” panel, tackling two issues dominating local government across the Tampa Bay area: proposed elimination of property taxes and ongoing hurricane recovery. The event was organized by St. Petersburg College’s Institute for Strategic Policy Solutions and the Pinellas Beaches…
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A federally funded dredging project is weeks away from restoring more than a mile of Lido Beach while also improving navigation safety through the New Pass Channel, city officials said. Workers are dredging sand from sandbars in the New Pass Channel and pumping it onto Lido Beach, with the goal of returning more than 300,000…
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Pinellas County Schools is signaling that more school closures are on the horizon, driven by falling enrollment and ongoing budget pressures. The school board voted in February to shut down or repurpose several schools in order to save the district more than $7 million in recurring annual expenses. Two schools are already set to close…
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A program in Pasco County is offering millions of dollars in incentives to developers willing to build affordable housing is closing its application window on Tuesday, April 28. The “Better Futures” initiative is backed by $100 million in federal block grant funding tied to hurricane Helene and Milton disaster relief. County leaders say they chose…
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Plant City homeowners who sustained damage during the 2024 hurricane season may soon have access to financial assistance through a county-administered recovery program, with applications opening May 1. Hillsborough County’s Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program is drawing on $709 million to support long-term recovery from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The program targets low-…
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The Lakeland Downtown Development Authority is seeking approval to expand its security camera network, proposing to add five cameras to a system that already watches over roughly a 16-block area of the city center. Officials say the existing cameras in Lakeland have already proven effective, helping identify suspects in thefts, vehicle break-ins, and dine-and-dash incidents…
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Florida’s housing affordability crisis took center stage Thursday at the Florida Policy Project’s third annual summit in St. Petersburg, where Realtors, builders, business owners, and elected officials gathered to examine the pressures squeezing buyers and renters across the state. According to Zillow, the average home price in Florida currently stands around $375,000 — well above…
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The Philadelphia Phillies moved a significant step closer Thursday to a sweeping renovation of their Clearwater spring training complex after Pinellas County commissioners voted to commit public funding to the project. In a 6-1 vote, the Pinellas County Board of Commissioners approved a term sheet directing $85 million in tourism dollars toward the $205 million…
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Hillsborough County commissioners have approved a package of 10 stormwater infrastructure projects totaling $95 million, funded through the same federal Community Development Block Grant for Disaster Recovery tied to Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The projects are designed to reduce flooding risks and improve the county’s resilience during severe weather, with work targeting localized stormwater systems,…
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Seagrass conditions across much of the Tampa Bay region are improving, according to preliminary survey results released Wednesday by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD). Scientists conducted field surveys this week near Fort DeSoto Park in Pinellas County, including in Boca Ciega Bay, to verify aerial photography taken from small aircraft. Chris Anastasiou, the…
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Hillsborough County homeowners still dealing with damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton have a new avenue for financial relief. The county launched a call center this week as part of its Rebuilding for Tomorrow program, which has set aside $211 million specifically for homeowner repair and reconstruction. The funding comes from a $709 million Community…
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A $12 million dredging project is simultaneously restoring Lido Beach and improving navigation safety in the New Pass Channel, with work expected to wrap up within the next few weeks. Workers are dredging sand from sandbars in the New Pass Channel and pumping it onto Lido Beach, adding more than 300,000 cubic yards of sand…
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