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Florida is set to restrict what SNAP recipients can purchase beginning April 20, banning the use of benefits to buy sugary drinks, candy, and ultra-processed desserts. State lawmakers say the change is intended to encourage healthier eating habits among program participants. But food bank leaders in the Tampa Bay area are warning the new rules…
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Florida’s Legislature last week passed a bill to expand and incentivize participation in Florida Advanced Courses and Test, or FACT, a state-developed alternative to Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs. The legislation allows school districts and teachers to earn bonuses for offering FACT courses, including a $50 bonus per student who achieves a qualifying score…
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Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday that the state will construct a new fishing pier on the Manatee County side of the Sunshine Skyway and renovate the existing structure on the Pinellas County side, both prompted by damage from Hurricane Milton. Part of the current Skyway Fishing Pier on the Manatee County side has been closed…
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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signaled last week that property tax relief could still move forward this year, even after a proposal stalled in the state Senate during the recently concluded legislative session. Speaking at a bill signing in Bradenton on Thursday, DeSantis said property taxes remain his top priority for addressing residents’ cost of living.…
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The City of St. Petersburg has released a long-awaited master plan for the Port of St. Petersburg, proposing a sweeping redevelopment of the waterfront property that includes a cruise terminal, superyacht marina, harborside park, and marine repair facility. The plan reimagines four acres of waterfront property and is the first update to the port’s vision…
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Roughly 50 parents, students, teachers, and community members gathered on Wednesday at Tampa’s Rotary Riverfront Park to protest a plan by Hillsborough County Public Schools to close or restructure several public schools next year. The most prominent concern centered on Pizzo K-8, a Tampa school located on the University of South Florida campus. Unlike other…
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The Tampa Bay area is experiencing a significant influx of visitors and spending this week as the Valspar Championship golf tournament and the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament’s first and second rounds overlap with an already busy spring break season. The Valspar Championship teed off Thursday at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, while Tampa is hosting…
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Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Wednesday that the state has launched a civil investigation into Discord, a social media and online gaming application, over concerns that it is being used by predators to target children. Uthmeier made the announcement at a press conference in Sarasota, where he described Discord as a platform where predators…
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A lane closure tied to a Pinellas County infrastructure project is creating traffic backups at the intersection of 54th Avenue North and 113th Street. The westbound right-turn lane at that intersection has been closed since late last year as crews work to upgrade traffic signals. Pinellas County says the project involves replacing traffic light span…
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Several popular Gulf Coast destinations have rolled out new restrictions this spring break season to manage crowds and reduce disorder. In Panama City Beach, officials have approved temporary overnight beach closures from March 12 through April 30, with certain sections of the beach closed nightly from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. The measure is intended…
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The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has installed new asphalt speed tables along a roadway in Sarasota County to slow traffic and improve safety, according to officials. Speed tables were installed in the St. Armands area along State Road 789, also known as John Ringling Boulevard. The devices are designed to reduce vehicle speeds while…
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Students and community members urged the Pasco County School Board on Tuesday not to eliminate language governing student peaceful assemblies from its code of conduct. The guidelines currently state that students taking part in walkouts or peaceful assemblies should limit them to 15 minutes or less, gather in places they are typically allowed, and should…
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Federal workplace safety regulators have issued citations against a Duke Energy contractor following an August incident in Seminole that killed one worker and severely injured two others. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued three serious citations against Primoris Services Corp., operating as Primoris T&D Services LLC, and proposed $49,650 in…
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Florida drivers are paying significantly more at the pump after a rapid spike in gas prices over the past two weeks. The state average climbed 84 cents over just 12 days, reaching $3.72 per gallon as of Sunday — the highest daily average since August 2023, according to AAA. That increase translates to roughly $12…
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A new retail investment forecast from Marcus & Millichap ranks the Tampa-St. Petersburg metro sixth nationally, citing population growth, limited retail construction, and steady consumer spending. The firm projects the metro will add roughly 10,000 jobs in 2026 — a slower pace than recent years, but still above the national average. Retail construction in the…
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Florida lawmakers returned home Friday without delivering on one of their most-hyped promises to the state’s homeowners: property tax reform. The 2026 legislative session wrapped up without passing a state budget or agreeing on a plan to cut property taxes, sending the Legislature into overtime for a second year in a row. What Happened? Republican…
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North Port is currently constructing two new fire stations simultaneously — a first for the city, according to the fire rescue administration. Fire Station 87 is nearing completion in the Wellen Park area, where officials say extended response times prompted the build, as residential development has brought more residents to the area. The station is…
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About one month after dredging began at John’s Pass, city officials say the project is roughly 20% complete. The dredging effort, led by contractor Bayside Dredging, is removing sand that has accumulated beneath the John’s Pass Bridge. City officials say the work is progressing slowly as crews remove an estimated 13,000 cubic yards of sand…
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Tampa-based developer Greenleaf Capital has submitted a scaled-back proposal to redevelop the 40-year-old Tierra Verde Marina, but the revised plan is already drawing fresh resistance from some residents. Greenleaf withdrew its original application after roughly 3,000 neighbors signed a petition opposing the project, citing concerns over increased traffic and the height of the proposed buildings.…
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The City of St. Petersburg is set to begin dredging Bartlett Lake next week as the first phase of a $30 million stormwater improvement project aimed at reducing flooding on the city’s southside. Workers will remove between one and six feet of accumulated silt from the lake bottom to improve water flow. The buildup has…
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A proposal to build thousands of homes on a large rural property in northeast Hillsborough County is facing resistance from nearby residents concerned about its impact on water, wildlife, and infrastructure. The housing development project would be located on Two Rivers Ranch, owned by the Thomas Family, across from Hillsborough River State Park along US…
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The Florida Legislature has passed a bill that would allow booster clubs to supplement the pay of high school coaches and other extracurricular sponsors, while also tightening student-athlete transfer rules. The measure now heads to Gov. Ron DeSantis for his signature. The legislation, carried in a Senate companion bill to CS/HB 731, permits school districts…
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A coalition of 32 environmental groups and businesses is urging Florida lawmakers to significantly increase funding for state park repairs, warning that current budget proposals fall far short of what’s needed to address a growing maintenance crisis. According to a December 2025 report from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the state’s park system faces…
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Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia announced this week that the state returned a record $88 million in unclaimed property to residents and businesses during the month of February — the highest single-month total in the program’s history. Unclaimed property refers to financial assets that have been abandoned or left inactive for at least five…
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St. Pete Beach city officials are weighing a series of parking rate increases that could push the cost to park near the beach as high as $7 per hour during peak times. The proposal, presented to city commissioners this week by assistant city manager Adam Poirrier, stems from a parking audit conducted by Dixon Resources…
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School resource officers (SROs) in Hernando County will begin wearing body cameras when students return from spring break on March 24, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday. Sheriff Al Nienhuis said the rollout is part of a broader effort to equip all sheriff’s deputies with body cameras following funding approval received several months ago.…
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A long-planned renovation of the Dunedin Marina is running behind schedule, with city officials blaming slow federal permitting as the primary obstacle. The Army Corps of Engineers has not responded to the city’s permit applications since October, and a consultant told commissioners the agency is currently taking nine months for simplified permits and up to…
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Tampa Electric customers gathered Tuesday evening for a community forum hosted by the Hillsborough Affordable Energy Coalition, looking for answers and assistance amid a stretch of significant rate increases. The event gave residents the opportunity to share personal stories, speak with energy experts, and connect with local elected officials about rising electricity bills. The timing…
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Publix is discontinuing its pay-with-the-app feature beginning March 19. The grocery chain notified customers via email, citing a desire to improve other parts of its digital experience. “This change allows us to focus on enhancing and expanding other features that provide value and convenience for our customers,” said Media Relations Manager Lindsey Willis. The company…
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The Florida Senate passed legislation Monday that would require some of the state’s poorest Medicaid recipients to work or participate in education programs to maintain their health coverage, a provision that has no counterpart in the House version of the bill. Senate Bill 1758 would impose 80 hours of monthly work or education requirements on…
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Tarpon Springs city officials are considering charging non-residents $5 to park at Sunset Beach and its adjoining Splash Park, a move that would bring the popular destination in line with the city’s other beach, Howard Park Beach, which already charges for parking. According to cell phone data obtained by the city, approximately 291,000 non-residents visited…
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The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) is alerting the public to an active phone scam in which callers impersonate a real sheriff’s office official to fraudulently collect money from residents. Scammers are currently using the name of Assistant Chief Deputy Paul Carey to pressure potential victims. Callers claim the recipient has a warrant for their…
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A rezoning request that could pave the way for a data center in the small Citrus County community of Holder has drawn sharp opposition from residents who fear the project would disrupt the area’s rural character. The Deltona Corporation, which already controls 557 acres near Lecanto Highway and US-41 zoned for industrial use, is seeking…
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Seven candidates competing for seats on the Indian Rocks Beach City Commission gathered at City Hall on Feb. 24 for a public forum centered largely on the growing tensions over short-term vacation rentals in the beachside community. The election is March 10. The two-hour event, co-hosted by the League of Women Voters of North Pinellas…
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St. Petersburg residents could see two referendums on their November ballot, including one that would allow longer leases at the city’s port to support an expansion of a coastal resilience research center. The proposed measure would extend allowable lease lengths at the port from 10 to 25 years, enabling the development of a planned Center…
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Florida homeowners are set to receive some relief on their insurance bills after the Florida Insurance Guaranty Association announced it is ending a 1% emergency surcharge two years ahead of schedule. The surcharge had been in place for three years, originally put in effect after 10 insurance companies went out of business. Eliminating it early…
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Amazon has introduced its Prime Air drone delivery service to the Tampa Bay area, operating out of the company’s TPA1 fulfillment center in Ruskin — marking the program’s first Florida location. Eligible customers within an eight-mile radius of the Ruskin facility can receive orders within 30 minutes to an hour of placing them. The service…
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The Florida House approved legislation Thursday that would curtail the powers of homeowners’ associations, though the bill faces an uncertain path in the Senate. The bill’s sponsor, State Rep. Juan Porras (R-Miami), argued that HOA board presidents currently wield unchecked authority, leaving residents with little recourse against excessive fines or liens. The legislation would move…
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Safety Harbor city leaders say they hope to reopen the city’s pier this summer after it was destroyed during the 2024 hurricane season. Mayor Joe Ayoub said construction is progressing well, with electrical and structural work among the remaining tasks. The marina next to the Safety Harbor pier, also damaged during the 2024 storms, is…
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The Florida House approved a wide-ranging tax relief bill on Thursday by a vote of 105-2, and the state Senate unanimously passed the measure the following day with minor amendments. The legislation, HB 7031, now heads back to the House for concurrence before being sent to the governor’s desk. If signed into law, it would…
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Florida legislators are moving forward with two bills aimed at reducing child drowning deaths as the state enters spring break season. Florida recorded 119 fatal child drownings in 2025 — the highest number ever reported in the state and the highest rate in the nation. One of the bills, which passed unanimously in the Florida…
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Crystal River is moving forward with a long-term effort to upgrade its stormwater infrastructure following severe flooding during the 2024 hurricane season. The city has received a $2 million state grant to improve stormwater drainage throughout Crystal River, marking the first step in a broader initiative to reduce flooding after major weather events. The push…
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Thieves stealing copper wire from Manatee County’s streetlight system have left roads darkened and racked up more than $200,000 in losses, prompting the county and sheriff’s office to take action. The thefts have been reported across multiple locations, including Moccasin Wallow Road and 44th Avenue East, where thieves have cut copper wire from the county’s…
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St. Pete city officials and residents of the Shore Acres neighborhood gathered Wednesday to discuss a $32 million flood mitigation project aimed at reducing chronic flooding in the low-lying St. Petersburg community. The plan calls for building a new pump station and replacing part of a culvert on Connecticut Avenue, with construction expected to begin…
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