Tag: Pinellas County
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The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is alerting residents about a fraud scheme targeting tampered parking meters and mobile parking areas across the county. Scammers have placed fake QR code stickers over legitimate ones on parking signs and meters, allowing them to steal bank account and debit card information within seconds of payment, according to Deputy…
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If you’re a Pinellas County homeowner who watched Hurricanes Helene and Milton turn your place into a soggy mess last fall, you know the drill: Floodwaters recede, but the real nightmare? Getting back to normal. It’s been over a year since those back-to-back beasts slammed the Gulf Coast in September and October 2024, leaving thousands…
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Dunedin city officials are implementing measures to combat recurring tidal and stormwater flooding affecting the North Douglas and Baywood Shores neighborhoods. At a November 4 commission workshop, city staff outlined plans to address flooding that occurs even without heavy rainfall, a phenomenon known as “clear sky flooding” caused by rising sea levels and high tides…
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Pinellas County collected $92.5 million in bed tax revenue for fiscal year 2025, a decline of $4 million from the previous year, according to data released last week by Visit St. Pete-Clearwater. The 4.4% decrease followed two major hurricanes that hit the region, though officials said the relatively small drop demonstrated the area’s tourism resilience.…
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Pinellas County school officials have begun a series of public meetings to gather community input on addressing declining enrollment that has left the district with approximately 45,000 empty seats. The district held the first of five town hall meetings on November 12 at Boca Ciega High School, where about 30 residents attended. Chief Operating Officer…
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Pinellas County commissioners are set to vote Tuesday on a major expansion plan for St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE), which has experienced record passenger growth this year. The airport has broken monthly passenger records since February and expects 2025 to be its busiest year ever. Officials say the surge in travelers has strained the facility’s…
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Pinellas County Schools held a community meeting Monday night at Largo High School to address declining enrollment and gather public input on the district’s future planning. Enrollment dropped from nearly 78,000 students last school year to just over 74,000 this school year, a decrease of 3,651 students, according to district officials. Chief Operations Officer Jennifer…
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St. Pete Beach city commissioners have unanimously approved a mixed-use condominium project after the developer agreed to enhanced community contributions. The commission approved a conditional use permit for Corey Landings, a 133-unit residential development planned for the eastern end of Corey Avenue. The real estate development project will include 11,000 square feet of commercial space,…
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Pinellas County has experienced 685 bicycle crashes so far this year, resulting in 10 deaths, according to the sheriff’s office. The crashes are part of a broader trend across Florida, where more than 8,000 bicycle crashes occurred in the first 10 months of 2025, including 156 fatalities. Of those deaths, 38 occurred in the Tampa…
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St. Pete Beach Mayor Adrian Petrila has proposed implementing tolls at the barrier island’s north, central, and southern access points to help fund infrastructure repairs following Hurricanes Milton and Helene. Under the proposal, tolls would only apply to tourists, while business owners, employees, and residents would be exempt. The mayor estimates that a $1 toll…
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The Beachcomber hotel and adjacent Jimmy B’s Beach Bar will reopen Thursday evening, more than a year after sustaining severe damage from Hurricane Helene in September 2024. The 102-room hotel features two heated pools, beach amenities, and a boardwalk-style bar with live music open to the public. Jimmy B’s is hosting a four-day welcome back…
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The Indian Shores Town Council held its Oct. 14 meeting with several unanimous votes, including the recognition of a longtime police retiree, approval of board reappointments, and the expansion of paid parking throughout the town. The council passed a resolution recognizing Florida City Week, observed statewide Oct. 20–26, to promote civic education and volunteerism. In…
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Multiple businesses at John’s Pass have reported receiving counterfeit $20 bills, prompting an investigation by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. Business owner Hubbard said security videos show two people visiting several shops and using fake $20 bills to make purchases or get change. His store’s cashiers accepted three counterfeit bills that the bank later identified…
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Forward Pinellas, a transportation planning organization, was awarded a $320,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All program. The funding will support a comprehensive road safety action plan to reduce traffic-related injuries and fatalities across the county. The initiative will focus on analyzing crash data to pinpoint high-risk corridors…
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Crews working in Pinellas County on its emergency beach renourishment project have completed sand placement on Clearwater Beach and are now focusing on Belleair and Upham beaches, with work scheduled to be completed by March. The project involves placing 2.5 million cubic yards of sand along a 9-mile stretch of eroded coastline damaged by 2024’s…
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Pinellas County commissioners unanimously approved $2.5 million in Tourist Development Council funds for renovations to St. Petersburg’s Palladium Theater at their Oct. 7 meeting. The funding brings the historic performing arts venue’s renovation project to approximately $10.8 million in secured commitments, enabling construction to proceed. The 815-seat theater, owned and operated by St. Petersburg College,…
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Pinellas County residents affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton can now apply for recovery funds through the People First Hurricane Recovery Programs, which began accepting applications Monday. The initiative provides assistance to homeowners, renters, and landlords with home repairs, repair reimbursements, home buyer assistance, and disaster-related expenses including rent, mortgage, and utilities. At least 70…
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Pinellas County will begin accepting applications next week for hurricane recovery programs aimed at helping vulnerable, lower-income residents affected by recent storms. The programs are funded by an $813 million Community Development Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development—the largest federal storm recovery grant awarded to any local government in Florida…
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Pinellas County has completed the first month of a major beach renourishment project that will place 2.5 million cubic yards of sand along 9 miles of eroded coastline. Work has been completed in Redington Shores and Indian Shores, with crews currently working on Sand Key in Clearwater. Upcoming work will focus on Upham Beach in…
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Tampa, Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Hernando counties are developing a unified post-disaster recovery strategy, supported by a $1.3 million Department of Homeland Security grant secured following Hurricane Ian in 2022. The funding supports the Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Program, which aims to help the region rebuild more quickly and stronger after future disasters. Emergency managers emphasized the…
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Pinellas County residents affected by Hurricanes Idalia, Helene, and Milton will soon be able to apply for assistance from an $813 million Community Development Block Grant awarded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The grant addresses widespread damage from the three storms, with Hurricane Helene causing over 33,000 homes to be damaged in…
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Pinellas County commissioners unanimously approved a contract with Horne LLP to manage more than $813 million in federal hurricane recovery funds, despite concerns about the Mississippi-based consulting firm’s previous work. The county hired Horne to oversee the implementation and administration of Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funds awarded earlier this year to help residents…
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St. Pete Beach has initiated a multi-year infrastructure project to replace century-old drainage pipes as flooding problems worsen throughout the coastal community. The city is upgrading drainage systems that include pipes more than 100 years old, which have struggled to handle increased flooding on major roadways and in residential neighborhoods. The project involves installing new…
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A $340 million widening project has started on Interstate 275 in Pinellas County, part of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Moving Florida Forward initiative to address traffic congestion across the state. The project covers the stretch of I-275 from 38th Avenue North to 4th Street North. Plans include constructing two express lanes in each direction between 38th…
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Largo city commissioners are expressing doubts about the city’s participation in a Duke Energy solar program that has already cost taxpayers more than $150,000, with questions mounting about whether the 33-year commitment will deliver promised returns. During a September 9 commission work session, several commissioners criticized the 2020 decision to join Duke Energy’s solar program,…
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The Oldsmar City Council declined to approve a revised concept plan for the city’s downtown redevelopment project during its meeting Tuesday night, leaving the future of the district undecided. The city has acquired more than eight acres of land over the past three decades with the goal of developing a walkable downtown area. Developers from…
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The Pinellas County School Board is considering school closures following a decline in student enrollment. At a workshop Tuesday, Superintendent Kevin Hendrick told board members the district will begin reviewing options in response to a drop of more than 3,000 students compared to last year. No schools have been identified for closure at this time.…
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Pinellas County’s bed tax collections have declined for two consecutive months, with lingering hotel and vacation rental closures identified as a key factor, according to Visit St. Pete-Clearwater (VSPC). Several hotels and short-term rentals damaged in last year’s hurricanes remain closed, particularly in southern Pinellas. Eddie Kirsch, VSPC’s director of digital and data, said most…
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For the first time since 2018, Pinellas County has begun a major beach renourishment project along its barrier islands — but this round comes without funding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps, which historically covered about 65% of the cost, now requires beachfront property owners to grant permanent public access in exchange…
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In response to the widespread damage caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, officials and homeowners in Pinellas County are moving ahead with elevating homes and implementing stricter floodplain standards — part of what authorities say is a longer-term strategy to protect lives and property. What’s happening Why it matters Challenges and community impact What comes…
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The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is reminding residents to brush up on Florida’s electric bicycle laws as e-bikes surge in popularity across the county. In a recent social media post, deputies laid out a legal checklist for riders: an e-bike must have working pedals, a motor no larger than 750 watts, and a top speed…
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The Pinellas County school district has offered teachers a 0.7% raise this year, the amount tied to the district’s share of $100 million in state-approved salary funding. Gov. Ron DeSantis and Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas have urged districts to deliver the increases quickly, even if it means bypassing collective bargaining. The Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association…
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Residents of the Harshaw Lake Park neighborhood in St. Petersburg’s Disston Heights community — one of the city’s higher-elevation areas, reaching 60 feet — say they’re seeing more frequent flooding and want the city to step up stormwater maintenance. “It just seemed that the water was coming up faster than it used to,” resident Heidi…
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Pinellas County’s $126 million beach renourishment project is finally underway, with crews starting work this week in Indian Shores to restore sand lost during the devastating 2024 hurricane season. The effort will rebuild nine miles of shoreline and reinforce dunes, but a major obstacle remains: more than 120 property owners still refuse to sign temporary…
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Hundreds of Clearwater homes may soon be reclassified into flood zones that require insurance, according to preliminary maps recently released by FEMA. The city’s Floodplain Administrator, Gene Henry, stated that the updated flood maps are based on more accurate data collected over the past five years, including LiDAR and improved elevation information. “This is very…
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A proposed noise ordinance in St. Pete Beach is stirring strong opposition from residents and business owners who say it threatens the island’s vibrant nightlife and tourism-driven economy. “If we had to stop live music, we’d pretty much go out of business,” said Matt Vario, owner of the Toasted Monkey. “We’re known for live music—it’s…
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A 500-foot-long, nine-foot-tall AquaFence flood barrier has been installed around Lift Station 85 on the St. Petersburg bayfront, part of the city’s efforts to protect critical infrastructure from hurricane-driven storm surge. Located near Albert Whitted Airport, the station plays a vital role in the city’s wastewater system—collecting sewage and pumping it to the Southwest Sewer…
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Largo city leaders voted July 15 to raise utility rates, a move expected to increase the average resident’s monthly bill by more than $7.50. Combined with a proposed 2.6% property tax hike, some residents could face nearly $10 in added monthly costs. Commissioners gave initial approval to three ordinances: a 10% increase in solid waste…
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A year after Hurricane Debby brushed past Tampa Bay, Gulfport is still reeling from the impact of what local officials have called a “triple threat” storm season. Debby brought widespread flooding to the small waterfront city, damaging hundreds of homes and overwhelming infrastructure. It was the first in a string of storms—followed by Hurricanes Helene…
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Treasure Island commissioners voted Tuesday to approve a new ordinance aimed at supporting transportation infrastructure as Pinellas County’s population continues to grow — but immediately delayed enforcing it for four years. The ordinance focuses on multimodal impact fees, which are payments developers must make if their projects are expected to increase traffic in the area.…
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St. Petersburg city councilors voted unanimously to end negotiations with the Tampa Bay Rays on a new stadium at the Historic Gas Plant site, signaling a fresh start for one of the city’s most high-profile redevelopment projects. The decision follows the Rays’ announcement that they will no longer pursue the proposed stadium and neighborhood redevelopment…
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Plans to redevelop the long-closed Toytown landfill in Pinellas County are gaining momentum, thanks to a $15 million state grant that will kickstart long-awaited environmental cleanup efforts. The site, located just off I-275 and Roosevelt Boulevard, has sat unused since its closure by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in 1990. After three years of…
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Pinellas County is in the final stages of planning its emergency beach renourishment project—but officials say a lack of signed easements from property owners is threatening the scope and funding of the effort. So far, 131 easements remain unsigned, a hurdle that’s preventing the county from securing federal dollars to help pay for the project.…
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