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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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Florida drivers looking for relief at the pump will have a new option starting tomorrow, but experts say it may not be right for every vehicle. The state has issued an emergency order allowing gas stations statewide to sell E-15 fuel — commonly known as winter-blend gasoline — for 90 days beginning May 1. The…
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Publix is expanding its popular deli sub lineup with a new brisket-focused menu available now at stores across the Southeast. The Lakeland-based grocer announced three new brisket subs and one new brisket sandwich, all featuring smoked brisket sourced from a Texas supplier. The three new subs are: the Spicy Brisket Sub, made with Boar’s Head…
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Residents in Sarasota and Manatee counties are now subject to immediate fines for outdoor watering violations — no warning required. Under current Phase III restrictions mandated by the Southwest Florida Water Management District, homeowners may irrigate only on their assigned day and only during two windows: midnight to 4 a.m. or 8 p.m. to midnight.…
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Five years after one of Florida’s worst environmental disasters, the site responsible — a former phosphate processing facility in Manatee County known as Piney Point — is on course to be permanently closed by the end of 2026. For decades, crews processed phosphate at Piney Point to produce fertilizer, generating large amounts of wastewater that…
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Tampa Bay Rays CEO Ken Babby has put Hillsborough County on notice, warning in an email to commissioners that the team would be forced to “evaluate alternatives” if it cannot reach a financial agreement for a proposed $2.3 billion stadium in Tampa. The Rays have proposed building the ballpark on land currently occupied by Hillsborough…
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A major new entertainment venue is coming to downtown Clearwater, with Texas-based EVO Entertainment announcing plans for an 83,000-square-foot family entertainment center at the corner of Cleveland Street and Myrtle Avenue. The development represents an approximately $50 million private investment and will serve as EVO Entertainment’s flagship location. At the heart of the project is…
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The city of Indian Rocks Beach has significantly stepped up enforcement of its short-term rental ordinance, generating more than $246,000 in combined registration fees and fines in the current fiscal year. So far in fiscal year 2026, the city has collected over $176,000 in short-term rental registration fees and an additional nearly $70,000 through fines…
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The St. Petersburg City Council has approved $1.4 million to demolish the Jungle Prada Pier, which has been closed since Hurricane Helene severely damaged it in September 2024. The vote, taken Thursday as part of a consent agenda, moves the city toward tearing down the waterfront structure — but leaves its future uncertain, to the…
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U.S. businesses that paid tariffs later ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court can begin applying for refunds today through a new federal online portal — but most everyday consumers are unlikely to see direct reimbursements. The refund system, administered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, opened at 8 a.m. Monday, allowing importers and their customs…
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Florida’s roughly three million Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients are waking up to new limits on what they can buy with their benefits, as restrictions on certain foods and drinks took effect today. Beginning April 20, soda, energy drinks, candy, and ultra-processed shelf-stable prepared desserts can no longer be purchased using SNAP benefits in Florida.…
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Florida’s top insurance regulator is encouraging homeowners to comparison shop for coverage, saying the market has improved significantly following years of turmoil — though consumer advocates and independent analysts say many policyholders have yet to feel meaningful savings. Florida Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky opened the state’s first Office of Insurance Regulation Insurance Summit since 2019…
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As Florida’s rainy season approaches, Pinellas County officials are calling on residents to take steps now to reduce mosquito breeding around their homes. County Mosquito Control officials warn that mosquitoes can breed in surprisingly small amounts of standing water — as little as a quarter of an inch, roughly the volume of a bottle cap,…
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Music fans in the Tampa Bay area have a packed week ahead, with major concerts scheduled across multiple venues from April 22 through April 28. The weekend’s biggest draw is BTS. The Grammy-nominated South Korean group will perform Saturday and Sunday, April 25 and 26, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. The shows mark the…
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Downtown St. Petersburg’s 400 Central — the tallest residential building on Florida’s Gulf Coast — has announced its first retail tenant: Volta Wine + Market, a wine shop, specialty food market, and wine bar lounge set to open this summer. Volta founder Rachelle Tomushev announced the venture at a press conference Wednesday, crediting the small…
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A weapon detection pilot program at two Pinellas County high schools is being shut down today, just 10 days after it launched, following operational problems and concerns about upcoming standardized testing. The pass-through detectors were installed at school entrances on April 7, with administrators initially saying they would remain in place through May 29. Instead,…
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St. Pete Beach city officials are moving toward ending their nearly 7-year relationship with Freebee, the electric shuttle service that replaced PSTA buses and trolleys serving the Pass-a-Grille area, amid mounting cost and ridership concerns. City commissioners directed staff Tuesday to begin exploring alternative transit vendors, as the Freebee contract could expire at the end…
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Residents of Tierra Verde turned out Tuesday for a community town hall to voice continued opposition to a revised redevelopment proposal for the Tierra Verde Marina, making clear that scaled-back plans from developer Greenleaf Capital have not satisfied their concerns. Tampa-based Greenleaf Capital, the real estate division of HCI Group Inc., is seeking approval from…
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A grocery store may be coming to Sulphur Springs, a Tampa neighborhood that has gone without one for more than 15 years, but officials caution that no agreement is finalized. Hillsborough County Commissioner Joshua Wostal publicly named Aldi for the first time on Wednesday as a potential grocer for the community, which has long been…
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Fort Meade city commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve a developer agreement for what would be Florida’s first hyperscale data center, advancing a project that drew strong opposition from residents at the meeting. The proposed facility would span 4.4 million square feet on a 1,300-acre former phosphate mine just west of U.S. 98 in…
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The city of Clearwater is underway with a major stormwater infrastructure upgrade at North Beach, replacing a system that officials say is no longer adequate for today’s tidal conditions and storm events. The project centers on installing six new pump stations to address flooding from heavy rain, rising sea levels, and high tides in low-lying…
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A University of South Florida researcher is heading up a statewide initiative to integrate electric air taxis into Florida’s transportation network, with the Tampa Bay area among the first regions targeted for potential service. Dr. Yu April Zhang, who leads USF’s Advanced Air Mobility program, is working to incorporate electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft…
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The Pinellas County School Board voted Tuesday evening on a proposal to shift start times earlier at three high schools and one middle school, with the most dramatic change affecting Largo Middle School. Under the proposal, St. Pete High School and Dunedin High School would both begin the school day at 7:45 a.m., while Largo…
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The Hillsborough County Planning Commission has found a proposed development in Lithia to be inconsistent with the criteria governing the county’s Urban Service Area, raising questions about whether the project aligns with the county’s long-term growth policies. The decision came during a recent commission meeting, where members voted against a county staff recommendation that supported…
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More Florida homeowners are switching to solar power as rising energy prices prompt residents to seek long-term relief from high utility costs. Dave Henegar, a Seminole homeowner, says installing solar panels five years ago cut his annual electric bill from roughly $4,500 to between $500 and $900. For Henegar, the decision was also motivated by…
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The Florida Lottery has surpassed $50 billion in contributions to the Florida Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF) as of January, marking a significant milestone for the program since its launch in 1988. The funding supports public schools, higher education, and vocational training programs across the state, including the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program, which helps…
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A Republican state representative is pushing to eliminate Florida’s entire property tax system and replace it with alternative revenue sources, positioning the effort as a backup plan after the Legislature failed to advance a constitutional amendment during its regular session. Rep. Ryan Chamberlin, R-Belleview, says he wants to launch a petition campaign to place a…
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Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 246 into law last Friday, authorizing five new specialty license plates for Florida drivers. The new plates are themed around the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the Miami Northwestern Alumni Association, an “Outsider” design benefiting a public spaces nonprofit, St. Petersburg College, and first responder mental health. Proceeds from each…
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Beachgoers visiting St. Pete Beach are now paying more to park, as the rate increases that city commissioners approved in late March took effect last week. The new rates bring the weekday cost to $5 per hour and the weekend rate, which now includes Friday, to $6 per hour. During peak tourist season, from February…
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Nearly two years after hurricanes Helene and Milton battered Sarasota County’s barrier islands, residents and business owners on Siesta Key are forming a new organization to accelerate recovery and prepare the island for future storms. The Siesta Key Beautification Alliance received unanimous approval Monday from the Sarasota County Commission to pursue grant funding for rebuilding…
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Florida homeowners hoping a quieter 2026 hurricane season will bring relief on their property insurance bills may be in for a mixed message: experts say the storm forecast itself won’t move the needle on premiums, but rates are falling anyway. Colorado State University forecasters last week projected a slightly below-average hurricane season for 2026, though…
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Tampa city leaders are urging caution on a proposed $2.3 billion stadium deal for the Tampa Bay Rays, saying major financial and legal questions must be answered before any commitment is made. A working draft memorandum of understanding outlines a plan to build a new stadium on the Hillsborough College Dale Mabry campus, with a…
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Despite recent rainfall, Florida remains dangerously dry, with nearly 80% of the state under extreme drought conditions as of April 2026. The Tampa Bay area has been hit particularly hard. National Weather Service data shows that St. Petersburg has received less than half its normal rainfall since September 1, 2025, and several other cities in…
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