Tag: Tampa Bay
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A 50% jump in tariffs on Canadian aluminum is squeezing Tampa Bay manufacturers, forcing companies to eat rising material costs or pass them along to customers, industry leaders say — the latest test of how well local businesses can adapt to a shifting trade landscape. Southern Manufacturing Technologies, a Tampa-based supplier that produces components for…
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Hillsborough County taxpayers are about to find out whether nearly $880 million in public money will flow to a professional sports franchise, as local governments prepare to finalize a deal that has grown and shifted in the final stretch before a vote. Tampa City Council is scheduled to vote on the stadium funding package Thursday,…
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Buying a home in Tampa still requires a six-figure income, but new data suggests the runaway affordability crisis of recent years may finally be leveling off, without any new state or federal mandate forcing the shift. A household needs to earn $103,549 a year to comfortably afford a typical home for sale in the Tampa…
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Hopeful Tampa Bay homebuyers are still tens of thousands of dollars short of what it actually costs — and a new report suggests years of policy drift, not just market forces, are keeping the dream of ownership out of reach for the region’s middle class. A newly released Redfin analysis shows that a household in…
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The school bell isn’t the only thing ringing across Tampa Bay this week. So are cash registers. As students head back to class Monday, local governments are flipping school zone speed cameras back on across Hillsborough County and the cities of Tampa, Lakeland, Bradenton and Sarasota. A Spectrum Bay News 9 Watchdog investigation found the…
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New research shows that nearly half of working households across Tampa Bay are struggling financially, even as local food assistance organizations report record levels of aid distributed to the community. According to data from the Tampa Bay Partnership, 46% of working households in the Tampa Bay region continue to struggle to make ends meet. Feeding…
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A certified arborist is urging Tampa Bay property owners to inspect the trees on their property for signs of disease and structural weakness before severe weather hits, saying a healthy, well-pruned tree remains the best defense against storm damage. Lee Claxton, a board-certified arborist, walked through warning signs to look for, including branches overloaded with…
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Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s new “Lion & Hyena Ridge” habitat opens to the public on Saturday, July 25, marking the latest expansion of the park’s Edge of Africa section. The 35,000-square-foot habitat, more than double the size of the space it replaces, is home to five African lions named Pascal, Lou, Huge, Henri and Hurman,…
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Tesla has officially launched its Robotaxi service in the Tampa area, expanding its driverless ride-hailing network into Florida’s Gulf Coast as the company continues to grow its autonomous transportation program. The taxi service uses Tesla vehicles equipped with the company’s Full Self-Driving technology to transport passengers without a driver behind the wheel. Tampa joins Orlando…
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Two additional Tampa Bay-area cities are moving to temporarily pause the development of hyperscale data centers as local governments continue evaluating how the facilities could affect infrastructure, utilities and surrounding communities. City leaders in Pinellas Park and Zephyrhills have approved temporary moratoriums on new hyperscale data center applications, joining a growing number of local governments…
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Tampa Bay homebuyers now have access to a new breed of real estate platforms that use artificial intelligence to slash traditional commission costs, potentially saving buyers thousands of dollars. A recent NerdWallet survey found that nearly half of prospective homebuyers are already using, or plan to use, AI tools to research neighborhoods, compare mortgage options…
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A tropical system in the western Gulf of Mexico could become the first named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, according to Spectrum News meteorologists, giving Tampa Bay area residents an early reminder that storm season is underway. What to know June is typically a slow month for tropical development, with a named storm…
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A Florida-based company is offering Tampa Bay residents a new option for hurricane season: a membership that guarantees a seat on an evacuation flight, rather than joining the crowds fleeing by car. PriorityEvac is selling memberships priced at $1,250 per person that cover two storm evacuations per year, with flights departing from Tampa International Airport…
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With summer winding down, Tampa Bay Area families are gearing up for the 2026-27 school year. Start dates, holiday breaks, and early dismissal schedules vary by county, so parents are encouraged to check the specifics for their district. Citrus CountyFirst day: Aug. 10 | Last day: May 27Major breaks include Labor Day (Sept. 7), Thanksgiving…
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Tampa Bay families across the area are facing sharply higher costs for classroom supplies as the new school year approaches, adding financial pressure just weeks before students head back to class. The Hillsborough County School Board is expected to vote on adding $3 million to the district’s budget for classroom supplies, citing inflation as a…
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The Tampa Bay restaurant industry continues to face significant challenges, with more than 20 restaurants and bars across Tampa, St. Petersburg, and surrounding communities either closing permanently or rebranding during the first half of 2026. Restaurant owners cite a combination of economic pressures that have made it increasingly difficult to operate. Rising food and labor…
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The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority is set to announce the purchase of two boats for a revamped ferry service connecting Tampa and St. Petersburg. Tampa and Pinellas County officials approved the new Tampa Bay Ferry service in April, agreeing to spend $4.8 million to purchase and renovate the two vessels. The move follows the end…
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As June marks National Homeownership Month, many Tampa Bay residents are still struggling to enter the housing market, with mortgage rates remaining above 6.5% and everyday costs high. Experts say inflation — driven in part by global instability and rising energy prices — continues to make borrowing expensive. Sylvia Alvarez, CEO of the Housing &…
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As the cost of pet food continues to climb, Feeding Tampa Bay has partnered with Greater Good Charities and the Humane Society of Tampa Bay to make pet food and supplies a consistent offering at its food distribution markets. Through the partnership, people visiting Feeding Tampa Bay’s Hillsborough and Pinellas County markets can now pick…
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Transportation leaders across the Tampa Bay region are narrowing down a list of transit projects they say could move from planning stages into development over the coming years. During a virtual session on Wednesday titled “From Vision to Action,” regional officials discussed potential transportation improvements aimed at reducing congestion and expanding transit options throughout the…
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Scientists from the Southwest Florida Water Management District have completed the first seagrass survey of Boca Ciega Bay since the 2024 hurricanes, finding the underwater grass beds in that part of southern Pinellas County are in excellent shape — and the data could be used to help restore seagrass elsewhere in the bay system. Seagrass…
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Tampa International Airport is planning a complete redesign of its second-floor ticketing level — the first such overhaul since it opened in 1971. The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority recently approved a $25.44 million design-build contract with Austin Commercial LP to carry out the renovation. The project will add more ticket counters to serve all 22…
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Dozens of drivers cited for speeding in Hillsborough County school zones appeared Thursday at the Brandon Services Center to appeal their violations, as a dramatic rise in automated enforcement continues to draw attention across the county. Since August 2025, more than 100,000 school zone speeding tickets have been issued by speed cameras, an increase of…
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The Hillsborough County School Board voted Wednesday to close three schools and restructure a fourth, citing low enrollment and a need for greater operational efficiency across the district. Graham Elementary, Madison Middle, and Pizzo K-8 will be shut down entirely. Pizzo K-8 is located on the University of South Florida campus, where its lease is…
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A major live music venue is coming to Tampa’s Ybor City neighborhood, with developers announcing plans for a 4,300-capacity concert hall as part of the growing Gasworx District. Washington, D.C.-based real estate firm KETTLER announced the project, which will be operated by Live Nation and is scheduled to open in late 2028 on North 15th…
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Rain and thunderstorms are expected to move into the Tampa Bay area Monday evening, potentially affecting fans heading to the Tampa Bay Rays game, forecasters said. The local teams issued a Weather Impact Alert from 5 p.m. Monday through 11 a.m. Tuesday, warning of periods of rain and storms across the region. Conditions are expected…
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Tighter water restrictions go into effect across the Tampa Bay area today as the Southwest Florida Water Management District moves into a modified Phase III water shortage declaration, driven by a persistent regional drought. The most significant change affects the permitted window for lawn watering. Under the new rules, irrigation is allowed only between 8…
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Tampa residents and community advocates are pressing city leaders to publicly oppose rising electricity rates from Tampa Electric Company (TECO), as the utility’s bills continue to climb faster than its customers can keep up. The issue came into focus during a March 26 Tampa City Council meeting, where city energy officials revealed that despite investing…
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Pasco County has expanded income eligibility for its hurricane relief program, opening the door to thousands more homeowners still recovering from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The Better Future Individual Homeowner Program, which launched in January, provides $200 million in federal block grant funding to help residents repair and strengthen their homes. When the program began,…
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A proposed new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark is advancing toward a potential vote next month, but the $2.3 billion price tag is generating pushback from at least one Hillsborough County commissioner. The stadium is proposed for Hillsborough Community College’s Dale Mabry campus. The Rays’ new ownership group, led by Patrick Zalupski, has offered to cover…
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