Tag: Tampa Bay
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All lanes of Alt US 19 just south of Klosterman Road in Palm Harbor are now closed for approximately one month as part of a major repaving project. According to the Florida Department of Transportation, drivers will need to use Belcher Road and Alderman Road as detour routes to bypass the construction zone. “Motorists should…
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Long-awaited repairs could soon begin on Pier 60 in Clearwater, which was heavily damaged by Hurricane Helene in September 2024. On Monday, city officials will ask the Clearwater City Council to approve $313,575 in funding for permanent repairs to the bait shop located at the center of the pier, along with temporary fixes to the…
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The destructive 2024 hurricane season has Pinellas County officials emphasizing the importance of storm preparedness for boat owners ahead of the 2025 season. Local leaders and marine experts stress that securing boats properly can reduce damage and prevent them from becoming hazards during severe weather. According to marine authorities, Pinellas County, which has nearly 54,000…
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With hurricane season beginning this Sunday, Visit Central Florida is getting ahead of the storms by launching its annual Hurricane Prep Week, offering free resources to help local families get ready. Throughout the week, families who stop by the center will receive a complimentary hurricane preparedness bag. Each bag contains vital items including a Polk…
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Nearly a year after a series of hurricanes battered the Tampa Bay area, the city of Gulfport is still grappling with the aftermath. Hundreds of boats were wrecked or washed ashore, and while significant progress has been made in cleanup efforts, the scars remain—both environmental and financial. Gulfport has removed over 50 derelict vessels from…
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In response to a troubling rise in student fatalities, the City of Lakeland is moving forward with an ordinance to install speed cameras in school zones. The proposed measure aims to deter speeding and protect students by enhancing traffic enforcement in high-risk areas. During the 2023–2024 school year, Polk County Public Schools reported 25 student-involved…
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Now’s the time to inspect your yard—especially if you have pets. Toxic cane toads are a growing concern across Florida, posing a serious risk to dogs and cats. These invasive toads secrete a potent toxin from large glands on their shoulders when threatened. If a pet bites or licks one, it can become seriously ill—and…
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As Memorial Day weekend approaches, gas prices across the state of Florida have dropped, just in time for what AAA expects to be a record-breaking travel period. According to AAA’s holiday forecast, an estimated 2.6 million Floridians will travel at least 50 miles, with 2.3 million of them hitting the road. “With so many motorists…
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Living in the greater Tampa Bay area is becoming increasingly unaffordable for many working families, according to a new report from United Way Suncoast. The study finds the cost of living has increased significantly over the past several years. The annual ALICE report — which stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — highlights the…
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Members of the Resilient St. Pete Resident Task Force will visit several South St. Petersburg neighborhoods this Saturday to hear directly from residents about chronic flooding issues. “The residents are the real experts — they live there, they know what’s happening,” said Claude Tankersley, the city’s Public Works Administrator. “We’re pairing them with engineers who…
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A powerful and unseasonably early heatwave took hold across the Tampa Bay area on Thursday, marking the beginning of what forecasters expect to be a prolonged stretch of extreme heat. Tampa reached a high of 91 degrees, while Plant City soared to 95 — and temperatures are set to climb even higher in the coming…
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As the start of hurricane season nears, Tampa officials are intensifying efforts to improve the city’s stormwater system and avoid the kind of severe flooding experienced during last year’s Hurricane Milton. Recent heavy rains have helped pinpoint trouble spots, allowing crews to target areas most prone to flooding. Teams are now working six days a…
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Breeze Airways is taking off with more options for Tampa travelers, launching three brand-new nonstop routes from Tampa International Airport (TPA) and officially beginning service to Memphis, Tennessee. Introductory fares for these new destinations start as low as $39 one-way. Known for its low-cost fares and premium in-flight experience, Breeze is connecting Tampa to: “We’re…
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Pasco County is set to receive over $585 million in federal funding to aid in storm recovery efforts. The funding comes from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These funds will support recovery efforts across Pasco County in the wake of Hurricanes Idalia, Helene,…
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Hillsborough County officials are urging residents to watch their mailboxes closely as transportation tax refund checks begin to arrive — and to avoid mistaking them for junk mail. The checks are part of a class-action settlement stemming from a one-cent sales tax for transportation projects that collected nearly $569 million before being struck down by…
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A new K-8 school set to open in Tampa this fall will use artificial intelligence to tailor learning experiences for each student. “At Alpha School, it’s not about being the smartest—it’s about learning at the pace and level that works best for you,” said co-founder MacKenzie Price. Alpha School, which already operates campuses in Texas…
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The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) is leading a critical infrastructure effort to strengthen flood defenses in the Tampa Bay region. South of Tampa, repairs are underway on the Tampa Bypass Canal, which sustained damage during Hurricane Milton. This canal, one of several in the area, plays a key role in redirecting floodwaters around…
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Two Tampa Bay area school districts—Pasco and Pinellas—will raise school lunch prices due to inflation and the anticipated effects of new tariffs. In Pasco County, school officials voted this week to increase lunch prices by 5 percent, translating to an additional 10 to 15 cents per meal. The district emphasized that students in need can…
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When Hurricane Milton struck last year, hundreds of homes far from the coast were inundated, exposing vulnerabilities in inland flood management. Now, local governments across the Tampa Bay region are reassessing how to prevent similar disasters. In Land O’Lakes, Douglas Woods waded through three feet of water nearly a week after the storm submerged his…
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As Florida observes Hurricane Preparedness Week, many Tampa residents—especially those in the hard-hit Westshore neighborhood—say they’re still struggling to recover from last year’s storms and feel unprepared for the hurricane season ahead. With the 2025 tropical storm season just three weeks away, anxiety is mounting. In Westshore, where Hurricanes Helene and Milton left a trail…
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Efforts to rebuild the storm-damaged Fire Marshal Dick Brock Memorial Pier in Safety Harbor are gaining traction, with city officials expressing optimism after a recent meeting with potential contractors. The project—vital to local tourism, recreation, and economic development—continues to move through key phases, including finalizing design plans, securing permits, and pursuing critical funding. The pier…
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With hurricane season officially starting on June 1, now is the time to prepare — and the City of Treasure Island is here to help. If you live on this beautiful stretch of Florida’s Gulf Coast, don’t miss the upcoming Hurricane Expo on Wednesday, May 28, from 6 to 8 p.m. at City Hall (10451…
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The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season officially kicks off in just a month, and Gulf Coast communities are still recovering from the damage caused by last year’s back-to-back storms. With another active season on the horizon, now is the time to prepare. Here’s what you need to know: Forecasts Point to Another Active Hurricane Season Researchers…
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The St. Petersburg City Council is expected to finalize approval Thursday for a $134,800 state grant that would fund upgrades at Albert Whitted Airport—securing its operation as an airport for at least the next 20 years. The funding, provided by the Florida Department of Transportation, will support the construction phase of the airport’s Airfield Vault…
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While concerns about road rage, boating incidents, and even gun violence persist across Florida, a new report finds that around 10 percent fewer residents experienced such incidents compared to previous years. SafeWise, a platform specializing in security product reviews, analyzed FBI crime data from municipalities across the state for its 11th annual “Safest Cities in…
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Homeowners in St. Petersburg trying to rebuild after Hurricane Helene are now grappling with a new crisis: foreclosure threats from a mortgage company that recently acquired their loan. Woody Faircloth and his family, who live in the Riviera Bay neighborhood, say their mortgage was sold while they were still recovering from storm damage. Despite following…
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The Cross Bay Ferry will operate its final route on Wednesday, officially ending service between Tampa and St. Petersburg. Hillsborough County Commissioners terminated the ferry’s four-year contract after discovering the operator was using a slower vessel than initially agreed upon. For more than three years, the ferry provided a popular transportation link across the Bay,…
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The City of Tampa is holding a meeting on Tuesday to discuss its post-disaster redevelopment plan, as city crews continue their preparations for the upcoming hurricane season. During her State of the City address yesterday, Mayor Jane Castor provided an update on the city’s ongoing efforts and highlighted the progress made so far. “We must…
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The Florida Public Service Commission’s staff advised Thursday that state regulators should stick to their decision to approve Tampa Electric Co.’s base-rate increases despite objections from consumer groups. The commission is set to revisit the issue on May 6, following a request for reconsideration filed by the state Office of Public Counsel, Florida Rising, Inc.,…
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Pinellas County is pulling out of Duke Energy’s Clean Energy Connection program following growing criticism about the lack of financial returns and rising utility expenses. On Tuesday, county commissioners voted to end their agreement with Duke Energy, ceasing participation in a program that charges subscribers $8.35 per kilowatt monthly to support the development of solar…
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As St. Petersburg recovers from past hurricanes and braces for a new season, the city is facing a sharp decline in financial support. Compared to this time last year, the city has received $31.3 million less in grant funding — an 83% drop from $37.6 million to just $6.3 million through March. The decline is…
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The Pines Trailer Park in Bradenton Beach has weathered storms for decades, but now, its residents face a new challenge: eviction. After enduring the devastation of Hurricane Helene and the difficult cleanup that followed, residents began to rebuild their lives. Many feared their homes would be red-tagged by FEMA, but 83 of the 86 homeowners…
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Multiple female real estate agents across Tampa Bay have reported alarming encounters with a man who appears to be using fake house showings to inappropriately touch women’s feet. At least half a dozen women have come forward with strikingly similar stories about the same individual, who systematically books property viewings or attends open houses with…
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The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Business Recovery Center in Clearwater will permanently close its doors at 2 p.m. today, Friday, April 25th, according to an announcement from Pinellas County on Thursday. Located on 58th Street North, the center has provided support to business owners, homeowners, and renters applying for disaster loans. With its closure,…
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Marilyn Mendez Arnett has lived in her Tampa home for over 40 years, raising a family and building a life with her late husband. Her property lies in what FEMA currently designates as a “non-flood zone”—Zone X. But that classification may soon change. Following recent hurricanes, including Hurricane Milton, FEMA is reassessing Tampa’s flood maps,…
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The City of St. Petersburg is considering tearing down Al Lang Stadium—the iconic downtown home of the Tampa Bay Rowdies—to make way for a new amphitheater and a vibrant, reimagined waterfront park. On Thursday morning, the city’s Economic and Workforce Development Committee reviewed conceptual designs and early plans for what’s being called the Center of…
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Just 3 days from now will mark 7 months since Hurricane Helene, and in only 2 weeks, 6 months since Hurricane Milton. Yet, hundreds, if not thousands, are still dealing with the fallout, attempting to recover from the double punch the historic storms delivered. Meanwhile, the Florida legislature is considering House Bill 1535, a set…
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Next month, St. Petersburg’s new Resident Task Force pilot program will kick off with a bus tour through the flood-prone neighborhoods of Shore Acres and Riviera Bay, as part of a collaborative effort to explore innovative flood mitigation strategies. “The city is finally giving residents a real voice,” said Kevin Batdorf, President of the Shore…
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As hurricane season looms, Florida’s House Bill 1535 is making waves with a bold proposal to ease the burden on property owners recovering from devastating storms. Backed by Rep. Fiona McFarland (R-Sarasota) and with a Senate counterpart (SB 180) sponsored by Sen. Nick DiCeglie (R-Indian Rocks Beach), the measure aims to streamline post-storm recovery and…
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Honeymoon Island State Park is once again welcoming visitors, and recovery efforts continue following Hurricane Helene’s extensive damage. The hurricane severely impacted the park’s coastal dunes. To restore the shoreline, the Florida Park Service hired Clearwater-based Gator Dredging to remove and redistribute 168,000 cubic yards of sand from nearby Hurricane Pass. That material was used…
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