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Tag: APP Community

  • Pasco County hosting series of town hall meetings on homelessness

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    NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — It has been a growing issue throughout the country and one that hits close to Tampa Bay.

    What You Need To Know

    • Pasco County will host a series of town hall meetings discussing homelessness

    • The local government is asking to hear from residents to find out how homelessness is impacting neighborhoods, communities and businesses
    • Two town hall meetings will take place, starting Tuesday night at the West Pasco Government Center


    Homelessness has become a cause for discussion, even in Pasco County. The local government is asking to hear from residents to help reduce the trend in a series of town halls with the first taking place Tuesday night.

    Pasco County says they want to find out how homelessness is impacting neighborhoods, communities and businesses. But it all starts with hearing from residents. That’s the reason behind this series of town hall meetings the county will host; first tonight and again next Tuesday.

    The Board of County Commissioners is working on their 2025-2030 strategic plan and the goal is to make homelessness rare, brief and non-existent. The county says they want to hear which services and facilities are working and which of those services still need some work. Residents are invited to either attend in-person or fill out an online survey.

    “I hope to see education around the topic of homelessness so that we can create a response external to county government, local county government, but all-inclusive with our citizens, our not-for-profits, our public safety sector,” says Brian Hobin, Pasco County Director of Community Services. “It needs to be an all-hands-on-deck response for us to be able to make a difference in homelessness.”

    And Hobin says Pasco County has already opened what they call a low barrier shelter through Pasco Hope. They will be in attendance for tonight’s meeting.

    The first town hall takes place tonight at the West Pasco Government Center in the boardroom starting at 5:30 p.m. Another town hall is scheduled for next Tuesday, Sept. 30, at the Saint Leo University Wellness Center at 5:30 p.m.

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    Calvin Lewis

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  • Charlotte honors Iryna Zarutska at Vigil

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Hundreds of people stood shoulder to shoulder Monday night in South End Charlotte, honoring the life of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska.

    Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee, was killed last month while riding Charlotte’s light rail system. Her death has fueled demands for safer transit and mental health reform, both in North Carolina and across the nation.

    What You Need To Know

    • Hundreds of people stood shoulder to shoulder Monday night in South End Charlotte honoring Iryna Zarutska

    • The event was organized by the Mecklenburg County GOP

    • One woman brought her daughter’s wedding flowers, explaining it’s an experience Zarutska would never get after her life was cut short

    • Zarutska’s memorial at the East West light rail station continues to grow


    At the vigil, her name echoed through the streets as prayers were said and candles lit. The event was organized by the Mecklenburg County GOP.

    (Spectrum News 1/Jordan Kudisch)

    One speaker told the crowd, “This tragic loss deeply touches every heart and every soul here, present and even wider. And it will take time for these wounds to begin to heal.”

    Strangers gathered together, clutching roses and candles. Among them was Charlotte resident Kimberly Fahey.

    “This has impacted not just the Charlotte area, but the entire world,” Fahey said.

    Fahey carried flowers from her daughter’s wedding, placing them at the site as a symbol of the moments Zarutska will never experience.

    “My daughter just got married on Saturday, and I bring these flowers that were from her wedding because I read it will never have a wedding, and she will never see beautiful flowers like this again and it’s tragic.”

    For Fahey, the vigil was a reminder of the strength of community.

    “And I was not going to miss it,” she said. “So, yes, I’m proud of the community and the world for showing so much support. We need to do better.”

    She said “better” means safer public transit and more attention to mental health, and she hopes the tragedy will not define Charlotte.

    “I think we’re a great city. And come visit us and don’t be scared of this because it does happen in a lot of places. This was just such a horrible tragedy that I don’t, well, I don’t really know what could have fully prevented it. Just keep the love going for each other.”

    As Fahey laid her flowers down, she reflected on what Zarutska will never have.

    “From the things I’ve read and everything I’ve seen how loved she was, and she deserves this day. She deserved a day to be married also and to be carrying flowers like this,” she said.

    The night ended quietly as candles flickered in the dark, and a community grieving a life cut short.

    Zarutska’s memorial at the East West light rail station continues to grow.

    (Spectrum News 1/Jordan Kudisch)

     

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    Jordan Kudisch

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  • Bradenton mayor says horse riding in Palma Sola Bay has been paused

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    BRADENTON, Fla. — Horse riding in Palma Sola Bay has been paused for a month.

    The announcement was made earlier this month by Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown, who said that it was the horseback riding companies that presented the idea as part of an effort to get to the root of a bacterial issue in the water.

    What You Need To Know

    • Horse riding in Palma Sola Bay has been paused for a month

    • The announcement was made earlier this month by Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown

    • Officials with the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program say they plan to test the water samples during the month the horses are gone and the month after the horses come back

    Abbey Tyrna, the executive director for Suncoast Waterkeeper, says her organization has been testing the water every week at Palma Sola Bay since 2022. The testing is taking place in the area residents call the “Little Palma Sola Bay,” which Tyrna says is unsafe to swim in due to high levels of bacteria.

    “Since 2022 we’ve seen that the water quality does not meet state standards,” she said.

    She tests in a location where businesses offer horseback rides on the beach. She said it’s possible that the waste left behind by horses is contributing to the bacteria levels. 

    “We have seen horses be attributed to our high levels in our side, but they’re not the only cause,” Tyrna said. “So what we’re trying to understand is, what are all the causes?”

    Officials with the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program say their organization is also testing the water to see if keeping the horses out of the bay for a month will improve water quality.

    “Both SCWK and SBEP have found evidence that horses are contributing some of the bacteria found in Palma Sola Bay. But the levels appear to be low enough that they are considered to be ‘detected, but not quantifiable,’” the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program said in a statement.

    But Tyrna worries about the repercussions of the experiment.

    “I worry about their financial stress under a situation where the conclusions that will be gleaned from those month-long experiments are not going to be scientifically valid, given the conditions that we know of the bay,” she said.

    Tyrna believes keeping the water clean is a task not just for her, but for the entire community.

    Sarasota Bay Estuary Program officials say they plan to test the water samples during the month the horses are gone, and then again the month after they return.

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    Julia Hazel

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  • Manatee County residents react to new ‘Big Bin Advantage’ trash service

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Manatee County is making changes to its trash services with the “Big Bins Advantage” program, which starts Oct. 6. 

    Residents in unincorporated parts of the county will each receive a 96-gallon trash bin. The county says the program will reduce truck traffic and save taxpayers money.

    What You Need To Know

    • Manatee County is making changes to its trash services with the “Big Bins Advantage” program, which starts Oct. 6

    • Residents in unincorporated parts of the county will each receive a 96-gallon trash bin

    • The county says the program will reduce truck traffic and save taxpayers money

    Fourth-generation Myakka City resident Susie Brown lives on a small six-acre farm off State Road 64, and says she wants what’s best for her county, which is why she is concerned about the upcoming changes to trash service in unincorporated Manatee County.

    She says this rural community supports one another.

    “This county means a lot to me because it’s my family heritage,” she said.

    The “Big Bins Advantage” program will provide one 96-gallon trash bin to each resident.

    “It’s just — it’s huge,” she said.

    The county says recycling and waste pickup will occur once a week instead of twice a week. The new bins are also four inches taller and one inch wider than the current bins.

    Brown says the size of the bins could be an issue, since one driveway is shared by three separate homes.

    “They’ve got to be three feet apart. We can’t get in and out of the driveway. I mean, I haul horses, I have horse trailers. My neighbors leave early with their trailers for work, and it makes pulling in and out really difficult,” she said.

    She also worries about safety when bringing the larger bins to the end of her driveway.

    “It’s the safety of putting them out there — (because as you can hear), the traffic’s really bad,” she said.

    But Brown says the county is trying to address her concerns. County officials told Spectrum News they are helping residents on a case-by-case basis, saying,“We’ve seen tremendous cooperation from our haulers in adapting quickly when adjustments are needed.”

    Brown says she is not the only one concerned about the new program, but she’s hopeful the county will work with her toward a solution.

    The county reminds residents to place all items curbside by 6 a.m. on collection day.

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    Julia Hazel

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  • Pasco goes ‘spooky,’ offers haunted history of county

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    PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — Pasco County is offering an opportunity to hear about the county’s ‘haunted’ history.

    On Wednesday night, author and historian Madonna Wise will share “haunted folklore and ghostly legends” about Pasco County’s past.

    “It’s a wonderful genre,” Wise said. “I think there’s an emotional connection we have to something that’s haunted, and probably a spiritual connection.”

    Wise compiled the stories for her book “A Haunted History of Pasco County.” It includes stories of ghosts, oddities and warlords from Zephyrhills, Dade City, New Port Richey and Wesley Chapel.

    Paranormal investigator Nicole Ferro will join Wise for the presentation.

    It starts at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at the Richey Suncoast Theatre in downtown New Port Richey. Tickets are $20. Members of the West Pasco Historical Society only need to pay $15.

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    Jeff Butera

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  • Helene displaced thousands of students. Some struggled to get back on track

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    SWANNANOA, N.C. (AP) — When 12-year-old Natalie Briggs visited the ruins of her home after Hurricane Helene, she had to tightrope across a wooden beam to reach what was once her bedroom.

    What You Need To Know

    • Thousands of students across western North Carolina lost their homes a year ago when Helene hit with some of the most vicious floods, landslides and wind ever seen in the mountainous region

    • Helene damaged more than 73,000 homes

    • The homeless student population surged, doubling in some places and even increasing fourfold in one county

    • Across the state, more than 2,500 students were identified as homeless as a direct result of Helene, according to state data obtained by The Associated Press


    Knots of electrical wires were draped inside the skeleton of the house. Months after the storm, light filtered through breaks in the tarps over the windows. “All I could think of was, ‘This isn’t my house,’” said Natalie, who had been staying in her grandparents’ basement.

    At school, Natalie sometimes had panic attacks when she thought of her ruined home in Swannanoa.

    “There were some points where I just didn’t want people to talk to me about the house — or just, like, talk to me at all,” Natalie said.

    Thousands of students across western North Carolina lost their homes a year ago when Helene hit with some of the most vicious floods, landslides and wind ever seen in the state’s Appalachian region, once considered a “climate haven.” Across the state, more than 2,500 students were identified as homeless as a direct result of Helene, according to state data obtained by The Associated Press.

    While storm debris has been mostly cleared away, the impact of the displacement lingers for the region’s children. Schools reopened long before many students returned to their homes, and their learning and well-being have yet to recover.

    The phenomenon is increasingly common as natural disasters disrupt U.S. communities more frequently and with more ferocity.

    ___

    The Associated Press is collaborating with Blue Ridge Public Radio, Honolulu Civil Beat, CalMatters and Centro de Periodismo Investigativo in Puerto Rico to examine how school communities are recovering from the disruption of natural disasters.

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    In the North Carolina mountains, the challenge of recovery is especially acute. After all, many families in rural, low-income areas already deal with challenges such as food insecurity and rent affordability, said Cassandra Davis, a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill public policy professor.

    “I would almost argue that they don’t get the opportunity to recover,” Davis said.

    Finding stable housing became all-consuming

    After Helene flooded her rental home in Black Mountain, Bonnie Christine Goggins-Jones and her two teenage grandchildren had to leave behind nearly all their belongings.

    “They lost their bed, clothes, shoes, their book bag,” she said.

    The family lived in a motel, a leaky donated camper and another camper before moving into a new apartment in June.

    Goggins-Jones, a school bus aide at Asheville City Schools, struggled to heat the camper during winter. Her grandchildren kept going to school, but it wasn’t top of mind.

    The area around Asheville, western North Carolina’s largest city, still has a significant housing shortage a year after the storm.

    The family of America Sanchez Chavez, 11, had to split up to find housing. Helene left their trailer home in Swannanoa uninhabitable, and money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency wasn’t enough to cover the renovations.

    America and some relatives went to stay at her grandmother’s apartment, while her older brother lived at a friend’s house. Eventually, America moved with her mother to a room at a Black Mountain hotel where she works.

    America said she is still frightened by rain or thunder.

    “At one point when the rain actually got, like, pretty bad … I did get scared for a while,” she said.

    Helene damaged more than 73,000 homes, knocking out electricity and water for weeks if not months. The destruction of local infrastructure also closed schools for large stretches of time, and a barrage of snow days exacerbated the time out of class even more. In rural Yancey County, which has approximately 18,000 residents, students missed more than two months of school last year.

    Displaced students spread across North Carolina

    After natural disasters, it’s common to see a surge in students living in unstable, temporary arrangements, such as sleeping on a couch, staying in a shelter, or doubling up with another family, according to research from UCLA’s Center for the Transformation of Schools. Those arrangements qualify students as homeless under federal law.

    In Puerto Rico, more than 6,700 students were identified as homeless in Hurricane Maria’s aftermath during the 2017-2018 school year, the study found. Hawaii saw a 59% increase in its homeless student population following the 2023 Maui wildfires.

    In Helene’s aftermath, student homelessness spiked in several hard-hit counties, according to AP’s analysis of data from the North Carolina Homeless Education Program.

    Yancey County saw the region’s highest percentage increase. The number of homeless students went from 21 in the 2023-2024 school year to 112 last school year. All but 15 were homeless due to Helene.

    Some students enrolled in other school systems, at least temporarily. Others never returned.

    Terri Dolan of Swannanoa sent her two young children to stay with her parents in Charlotte ahead of the storm. After seeing the extent of the devastation, Dolan had them enroll in school there. They stayed over a month before returning home.

    “My job is to make money for our family and their job is to go to school,’” Dolan says she’d always told her kids. “Just because the school wasn’t open here, I felt like they needed to go to school and do their job.”

    Some districts receive federal money for services such as transporting homeless students to their usual school buildings and providing tutoring under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. But districts must apply in a competitive process, and they can’t request more money immediately after a natural disaster until the next application cycle. Many miss out on McKinney-Vento funding entirely.

    Helene-impacted students made up at least a fifth of the homeless population in 16 counties, but only six counties received McKinney-Vento money last funding cycle. Nationally, only 1 in 5 school districts receives McKinney-Vento money due to limited funds, said Barbara Duffield, executive director of Schoolhouse Connection, a nonprofit that advocates for homeless students.

    “If there’s a disaster, it’s going to involve districts that don’t get money from McKinney-Vento,” Duffield said.

    Housing instability has a lasting impact

    Gwendolyn Bode, a pre-law student at Appalachian State University, had to leave her mud-wrecked apartment complex after Helene. Told she couldn’t get campus housing, she found an Airbnb where she could stay at until her FEMA housing application went through, and then she moved into a hotel.

    She felt like she was drowning as she tried to keep up with her classes and a part-time job.

    “I can’t tell you what I learned,” Bode said. “I can’t even tell you when I went to class, because (mentally) I wasn’t there.” She found more stability after moving into an apartment for the spring semester.

    For Natalie Briggs, now 13, the grief of losing almost everything, coupled with the tight quarters in her grandparents’ basement, sometimes got to her — and to her mother, Liz Barker. Barker said it felt like a “time with no rules” because there was so much to deal with on top of her job as a health care worker.

    The circumstances sometimes led to friction. But Barker said overall, she and Natalie had “done pretty well” together.

    “She’s been a little bit more loving since all of this happened,” Barker said, smiling at her daughter.

    “I give her hugs and stuff,” Natalie said, “and I’ll tell her I love her, more than I did.”

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    Associated Press

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  • Ocala special election to fill mayor and District 3 seats

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    OCALA, Fla. — The city of Ocala is holding a special election Tuesday to elect a new mayor and fill the city council seat for District 3.

    What You Need To Know

    • An Ocala special election is being held for mayor and District 3 seats

    • Incumbent Mayor Ben Marciano faces 20-year-old Zackary Feliciano

    • District 3 council member Jay Musleh faces Mark Clark and TamBoura Jenkins

    • Polls close at 7 p.m.

    Mayoral elections occur every two years, as outlined in the city’s charter, while elections for city council members occur every four years.

    Ocala Mayor Ben Marciano will face off against 20-year-old candidate Zackary ‘Arbor’ Feliciano in the special election.

    District 3 council member Jay Musleh has served since 2012 and will face two challengers: retired Air Force officer Mark Clark and community advocate TamBoura Jenkins.

    While District seats 1 and 5 are up for re-election, council members Barry Mansfield and James Hilty Sr. are running unchallenged and will remain the representatives for District 1 and 5.   

    Marciano said he’s proud of what he’s accomplished in the past two years and hopes to continue.   

    Since one of the mayor’s responsibilities is to oversee the police department, he said reducing crime in Ocala was a major focus during his first term.

    “We actually reduced crime by 5% with 5% growth,” he said, adding that the city has had no murders in the past 15 months.

    One initiative he introduced to help with that crime reduction was a community policing program, which allowed Marciano to work alongside the community to solve crimes.

    Another big focus of his was improving the mental and physical health of his community.

    “We are one of the most unhealthy cities in the state of Florida,” he said.

    One way he aimed to address that issue was by introducing a digital platform called Healthy Ocala, giving the community an easy way to find all the mental health resources.

    “People had no idea where to go to find help. We have thousands of people using that platform every month, so I’m really excited about that,” Marciano said.

    Another big initiative he took part in was opening two new homeless shelters and addressing addiction issues in the community.

    Now, he’s working to support Ocala’s growing population.

    “Right now, we’ve experienced a lot of growth issues. People are complaining about the growth. I think growth is good, but it’s got to be good growth. There’s a lot more things for people to do now, a lot more high-paying jobs. We had a lot of affordable housing issues, but now, because we have been able to build apartments, people are lowering the rates, so people can get into affordable housing. But right now, we need to look at infrastructure and how can we support this growth? So that’s going to be a major focus of mine. Looking at our roadways, looking at the infrastructure, and how can we make it so that there’s not some of the congestion issues that I’m hearing from our citizens?” he explained.

    Spectrum News reached out to his opponent but has not received a response.

    Based on his campaign website, Feliciano is focusing his campaign on a more affordable Ocala.

    Among his top priorities are housing reform and land conservation, which he aims to address by reducing suburban sprawl.

    Feliciano said his focus is to maintain Ocala’s “idyllic natural beauty, strong culture and affordability,” despite the growth in its population.

    On the affordability note, Feliciano also focused his campaign on making health care accessible to residents, adding that “nobody should have to choose between their health and finances.”

    Other priorities outlined on his website deal with homelessness, ending the city’s agreement with ICE and raising property taxes on corporations that have 1,500 employees or more to help small businesses.

    The mayor’s position does not have a vote on the city council but does have veto power and oversees the police department. A mayor’s salary is capped at $550 a month.

    City council members oversee the city manager, attorney, clerk and auditor and make other community decisions. They earn $250 a month.

    Polling places will close at 7 p.m.

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    Sasha Teman

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  • First courthouse facility dog for Circuit 6 offers comfort, support for children

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    CLEARWATER, Fla. — A new, and furry, face in the Circuit Six courthouse is helping make children feel a little more comfortable in the courtroom.

    What You Need To Know

    • Polar is the first official courthouse facility dog for both the Circuit Six court and Hero To A Child, offering comfort and support in what can be an otherwise intimidating setting

    • His job is to provide emotional support to children who have to go through such things as medical examinations, forensic interviews and testify in the courtroom
    • Polar was trained by a professional puppy raiser for the first year and a half of his life, also taking part in Duke University’s canine cognition program


    Polar is the first official courthouse facility dog for both the Circuit Six court and Hero To A Child, offering comfort and support in what can be an otherwise intimidating setting.

    “My biggest job for him is, actually, I’m his chauffeur,” said Tammie McQueeney, program coordinator and dog handler for Hero To A Child. “I make sure he gets to where he needs to be and that he’s taken care of appropriately.”

    Together, they make a pretty formidable team.

    “He has these trading cards, which is the front side of the big picture that you just took,” says McQueeney. “But the kids get these when they meet him.”

    Polar isn’t just any ordinary dog.

    “His job is to provide emotional support to children who have to go through such things as medical examinations, forensic interviews and — God forbid — they have to sit in the courthouse across from maybe their abuser and testify,” said McQueeney. “He’s there to provide emotional support for those children and impact is immediate.”

    The training both Polar and McQueeney went through is quite extensive. He was trained by a professional puppy raiser for the first year and a half of his life. Polar also took part in Duke University’s canine cognition program.

    “They teach him the basics,” she said. “They give him exposure to pretty much as much as they can in the world around him because, obviously, these dogs have to be bombproof. So the more they do, the better they are. And then in a year and a half, they go back to an official Canine Companions campus where they have six months of formal, in-depth service dog training.”

    McQueeney and Polar graduated from the program in November. Though still fresh to his new role, the impact Polar has had, McQueeney said, has been immediate.

    “He knows who needs him most. Whoever in the room seems to be carrying the most stress at that point in time, he will go straight to them and just lay down and put his head on their lap, and hang out and let them pet him and make them feel better.”

    Being the first of his kind, Polar may pave the way for other aspiring canines to join him in the future.

    “We have so many requests and so much community support that one team can’t handle it all,” McQueeney said. “So we could, potentially, bring in another handler and dog and serve even more children because both Pinellas and Pasco counties are pretty big. And there’s a lot of kids that need his help.”

    It’s all helping provide comfort with a wag of the tail and one big smile.

    McQueeney said Polar works solely on donations and community partnerships. Learn more about supporting Polar and his work.

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    Calvin Lewis

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  • Pasco County woman fights off gator to save puppy

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    LAND O’ LAKES, Fla. — A Pasco County woman and her dog are both OK after an alligator attacked them while on a walk.

    What You Need To Know

    • Danie Wright said she and her puppy, Dex, are doing well after being attacked by an alligator last week

    • Wright said it happened while she walked Dex near a creek behind her house on Sept. 3

    • According to Wright, she was able to grab Dex by the collar and get him on land before the gator clamped down on her left arm

    • Wright said she was able to fight the 5-foot-long gator off. She has minor injuries, while Dex was unharmed


    “He really dug in right here, but it was another, the other side of his mouth that dug in here that’s a lot deeper,” Danie Wright said, referring to scratches visible under and just outside a bandage on her left arm during the Sept. 3 attack.

    Wright’s wounds may be healing, but the memory of what happened to her and her 4-month-old puppy, Dex, is still fresh.

    “I heard a squeal you never, ever want to hear, and I looked and the alligator was pulling him into the water,” said Wright.

    Wright said she was walking Dex on his leash near a creek behind her home when the gator came out of the water and grabbed him while she was not looking. She told Spectrum News there was only one thing to do: jump into the water after them.

    “Option B was I was just going to kind of step back because I don’t want to fight an alligator, and then not only have to watch my dog get murdered, but hear it,” she said.

    Wright said that was never an option. In the water, she grabbed Dex by the collar.

    “The alligator had him by the front teeth, wasn’t like it was back far,” Wright said. “I took him, and I tossed him up onto the bank. By then, my arm was in the alligator’s mouth.”

    So, the Massachusetts native fought off the Florida predator the only way she could.

    “My dad was a Brockton cop. There’s two famous people from Brockton: Rocky Marciano and Marvin Hagler, two boxers. So, they always say, you know, ‘Brockton tough.’ But my dad always said, ‘You know, if anyone ever gets you, fight for your life,’” said Wright. “I literally just started punching and kicking and elbowing.”

    Wright said she was able to flip the 5-foot-long gator on its back and thinks it was a punch near his eye that got him to loosen his grip and let her get away.

    “So, then, I literally just come walking out of here looking like Swamp Thing and Carrie from the movie,” she said.

    She provided Spectrum News with video of a trapper catching and hauling the gator off, with Dex barking after it. Luckily, he wasn’t hurt at all.

    “This AirTag saved his life because the alligator got his teeth under it,” Wright said, referring to a small disk on his collar. “If he had gone a centimeter more, he would have punctured his throat.”

    While Wright said she’s never seen a gator in the creek in the 20 years she’s owned the property, she said a 13-foot gator was recently trapped nearby. She said she knows things could have gone differently.

    “Just this five-foot gator, how strong his, I mean, I could not get my arm out of his mouth. He was so strong. But I am so, so thankful, I’m thankful that this guy is fine,” she said about Dex.

    The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office confirmed deputies assisted with an animal complaint involving an alligator on Wright’s street on Sept. 3 and referred Spectrum News to FWC for details.

    FWC did not respond to a request for more information.

    Wright is urging dog owners to stay away from bodies of water while on walks and to always be vigilant.

    “If you’re looking at something or listening to something, you’re not watching your dog,” Wright said. “This guy came out of nowhere. Never saw him. So, you have to have your eyes on your dog the entire time you walk.”

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • Pasco County woman fights off gator to save puppy

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    LAND O’ LAKES, Fla. — A Pasco County woman and her dog are both OK after an alligator attacked them while on a walk.

    What You Need To Know

    • Danie Wright said she and her puppy, Dex, are doing well after being attacked by an alligator last week

    • Wright said it happened while she walked Dex near a creek behind her house on Sept. 3

    • According to Wright, she was able to grab Dex by the collar and get him on land before the gator clamped down on her left arm

    • Wright said she was able to fight the 5-foot-long gator off. She has minor injuries, while Dex was unharmed


    “He really dug in right here, but it was another, the other side of his mouth that dug in here that’s a lot deeper,” Danie Wright said, referring to scratches visible under and just outside a bandage on her left arm during the Sept. 3 attack.

    Wright’s wounds may be healing, but the memory of what happened to her and her 4-month-old puppy, Dex, is still fresh.

    “I heard a squeal you never, ever want to hear, and I looked and the alligator was pulling him into the water,” said Wright.

    Wright said she was walking Dex on his leash near a creek behind her home when the gator came out of the water and grabbed him while she was not looking. She told Spectrum News there was only one thing to do: jump into the water after them.

    “Option B was I was just going to kind of step back because I don’t want to fight an alligator, and then not only have to watch my dog get murdered, but hear it,” she said.

    Wright said that was never an option. In the water, she grabbed Dex by the collar.

    “The alligator had him by the front teeth, wasn’t like it was back far,” Wright said. “I took him, and I tossed him up onto the bank. By then, my arm was in the alligator’s mouth.”

    So, the Massachusetts native fought off the Florida predator the only way she could.

    “My dad was a Brockton cop. There’s two famous people from Brockton: Rocky Marciano and Marvin Hagler, two boxers. So, they always say, you know, ‘Brockton tough.’ But my dad always said, ‘You know, if anyone ever gets you, fight for your life,’” said Wright. “I literally just started punching and kicking and elbowing.”

    Wright said she was able to flip the 5-foot-long gator on its back and thinks it was a punch near his eye that got him to loosen his grip and let her get away.

    “So, then, I literally just come walking out of here looking like Swamp Thing and Carrie from the movie,” she said.

    She provided Spectrum News with video of a trapper catching and hauling the gator off, with Dex barking after it. Luckily, he wasn’t hurt at all.

    “This AirTag saved his life because the alligator got his teeth under it,” Wright said, referring to a small disk on his collar. “If he had gone a centimeter more, he would have punctured his throat.”

    While Wright said she’s never seen a gator in the creek in the 20 years she’s owned the property, she said a 13-foot gator was recently trapped nearby. She said she knows things could have gone differently.

    “Just this five-foot gator, how strong his, I mean, I could not get my arm out of his mouth. He was so strong. But I am so, so thankful, I’m thankful that this guy is fine,” she said about Dex.

    The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office confirmed deputies assisted with an animal complaint involving an alligator on Wright’s street on Sept. 3 and referred Spectrum News to FWC for details.

    FWC did not respond to a request for more information.

    Wright is urging dog owners to stay away from bodies of water while on walks and to always be vigilant.

    “If you’re looking at something or listening to something, you’re not watching your dog,” Wright said. “This guy came out of nowhere. Never saw him. So, you have to have your eyes on your dog the entire time you walk.”

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • 26-mile stretch on Blue Ridge Parkway reopens almost a year after Helene

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    A 26-mile section of the Blue Ridge Parkway from Asheville to Craggy Gardens has reopened, the National Park Service announced Monday.

    The reopening marks the completion of two more landslide repair projects following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.

    After the completion of the projects at mileposts 375 and 380, officials said they were able to reopen the section of the parkway between Asheville and the Ridge Junction Overlook near NC 80 and the Mount Mitchell State Park entrance.

    The newly reopened section includes popular stops in the Craggy Gardens area, near milepost 364. Those stops include the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center, Craggy Pinnacle Trail and short sections of the Mountains to Sea Trail.

    Officials said the Craggy Gardens Picnic Area and sections of the Mountains to Sea Trail from the Craggy Trail Shelter to the Snowball Mountain Trail remain closed, however.

     

    “Today’s opening also provides access to other popular, adjacent recreation areas, including Mount Mitchell State Park and lands managed by the USDA Forest Service,” the park service said.

    For more information on Mount Mitchell State Park’s reopening, click here.

    Officials said additional projects are beginning at 45 remaining locations along the parkway as part of a phased system to restore road access to areas damaged by Helene.

    Anyone traveling to the Blue Ridge Parkway should plan their trip carefully, officials said, to ensure safe travel and avoid delays. To find more information on road closures along the parkway, click here.

     

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    Justin Pryor

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  • Foster parents Aaron and Jolene Slavik adopt five children

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    PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — A Pasco County couple has adopted five children over the past three years. Jolene and Aaron Slavik adopted the children after taking in dozens of foster children. 

    The first child the couple adopted was a boy who they had taken in as a foster child.

    The adoption was finalized in 2022. That boy is now 14-years-old. Then, they adopted three young siblings in 2023. Finally, they adopted a little girl in 2024.

    “Then I said there is no more room in the inn, and we are done,” Aaron said with a smile and a laugh.

    What You Need To Know

    • Aaron and Jolene Slavik have been foster parents to dozens of children

    • Their two biological children encouraged the foster home idea

    • The couple decided to start adopting foster children several years ago

    • The Slaviks stay very busy caring for the special needs of their five adopted children


    The couple has a very busy schedule keeping up with the special needs of the children. The children have various physical and other issues that require trips to specialists. Aaron says he keeps up with all the appointments by using an online calendar.

    “I haven’t been bored in seven years. I don’t remember what that’s like anymore,” said Aaron.

    The Slaviks try to keep a very structured environment in their home. That includes special exercises for the children.

    “We do occupational therapy with our children to help regulate their system,” said Jolene. “We have learned through our OT (occupational therapist) to do different exercises that get all their large motor skills going to regulate their systems. Because if the children are dysregulated when they go to school today their brain is not going to be set to learn,” she said.

    The Slaviks have pictures of many of their former foster children on a wall along the stairs leading to the second floor. One of the reasons they chose to adopt was because of the heartbreak of the foster children leaving their home.

    “All of our foster kids we considered ours as well, said Aaron. “And we loved them like they were ours. We never went on a vacation without them.”

    Jolene said it was a special moment when adoptions were finalized. “Once you are told they are yours it’s like your heart just explodes.”

    The couple’s two biological children were 11 and 14-years-old when they started fostering children. They encouraged their parents to take in foster children and then to adopt.

    “And because they came to us and asked us, it became a family ministry for us,” said Jolene. The biological children are now adults. “Our daughter does their hair, and our son comes and brings them to the park or brings them to Disney.”

    “We have looked at this like it was a higher calling for us,” said Aaron. “It was something I never planned on. I planned on two kids and being done. But it’s kind of that old phrase,” he said. “Man makes plans and God laughs.”

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    Rick Elmhorst

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  • Tarpon Springs women’s club uses stickers to spread human trafficking awareness

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    TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. — A Tarpon Springs women’s group is working to fight human trafficking by placing awareness stickers in bathrooms across the city.

    What You Need To Know

    • The GFWC Woman’s Club of Tarpon Springs puts up stickers that include contact information of the National Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence Awareness hotline

    • The group wants to bring awareness to the issue of human trafficking 

    • They hope a victim will see the number and make contact if they’re in the hands of a trafficker 

    • Member Linda Eisner and the rest of the group plan to send letters to Gov. Ron DeSantis and their local lawmakers about their project


    The GFWC Woman’s Club of Tarpon Springs hopes the stickers, which include the National Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence Awareness Hotline, will give victims a chance to seek help.

    “We wanted to put it in some place where a victim will be separated from their trafficker — to be able to read it, make a copy of it, or memorize it — and be able to use it in the future,” said member Linda Eisner.

    The nonprofit has already posted stickers in dozens of businesses and plans to keep going.

    “We’ll probably hit 50 or 60 businesses. We will continue to walk up and down Tarpon Avenue, Pinellas Avenue and then we’ll go on (US 19) to all those stores,” Eisner said.

    The project has been years in the making, with awareness as the goal.

    “Tampa is like number two in the country for human trafficking, so we really just want to protect the victims and bring awareness to everybody,” Eisner said. “There are so many people out there that are oblivious to the whole issue of what’s going on,” Eisner said.

    The group is now pushing for a statewide mandate requiring stickers in all restrooms and rest areas.

    “Any chain store like a McDonald’s or an Ace Hardware, they can’t make the decision for themselves, they have to ask corporate. That’s why the mandate is so important to come from the top down,” Eisner said.

    Eisner and the GFWC Woman’s Club of Tarpon Springs plan to send letters to Gov. Ron DeSantis and their local lawmakers about their project. The next legislative session, where a bill could be introduced, will be in January 2026.

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    Jeff Van Sant

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  • Pinellas County kicks off $125M beach renourishment project

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The onetime $125.5 million beach renourishment project mostly funded with Pinellas County bed tax dollars kicked off this week with 80% of the temporary easements needed, according to Public Works Director Kelli Levy.

    What You Need To Know

    • Pinellas County’s $125M beach renourishment project kicked off this week 

    • The project is funded with $11 million from state grants and $114.5 million from the bed tax 

    • The project encompasses 9 miles of beach from Sand Key in Clearwater south to Upham in St. Pete Beach

    • Public Works will accept temporary easements from homeowners within five days of the contractor being in front their property


    “We really want to fill every property that we can,” she said. “We want to create the most resilient beach that we can.”

    The project encompasses 9 miles of beach from Sand Key in Clearwater south to Upham in St. Pete Beach. All of the sections will be worked on at the same time to complete the project as fast as possible.

    Levy said 2.5 million cubic yards of sand will be pumped onto the beach. For residents worried about wash-over after Hurricane Helene buried Gulf Boulevard in sand last year, Levy said the new dunes will be smaller than the emergency dunes created in 2023.

    “I think once everybody saw that it wasn’t going to be a 10-foot dune and that it was going to be something lower, something that’s more similar to what they had in the past, they were very supportive,” she said. “So most people, if they signed the easement, they signed it with a dune.”

    In the Sand Key project area, Levy said they still need easements from 90 parcels. Even though the project has started, Levy said residents can still sign temporary easements until they see heavy equipment getting near their homes.

    “We do need it within five days of the contractor being in front of your property. If we don’t get it before then, it’s too late,” she said. “Unfortunately, we’re going to have to skip you and you’re going to end up with that really low spot behind your property.”

    Normally, the Army Corps of Engineers would pay for more than 60% of the project, but the agency has been locked in a standoff with Pinellas County since 2015 over perpetual easements from homeowners. Pinellas Commissioner Kathleen Peters said the Corps got a new administrator and she’s hopeful they can break the standoff.

    “He has talked to our staff twice now, and he’s even going to come visit Pinellas County,” she said. “We’re going to talk about the interpretation of the policy.”

    The beach renourishment project costs $125.5 million, with $11 million coming from state grants and $114.5 million coming from the Tourist Development Tax collected from overnight visitors.

    “This is another example of how the visitors coming to Pinellas County really impact the quality and enhance the quality of life for our residents through a project like this funded with bed tax,” said Brian Lowack, CEO and president of Visit St. Pete-Clearwater. “We’re making our beaches bigger, wider, brighter and better than ever.”

    The 6-month project is expected to be complete in March. Homeowners interested in signing a temporary easement can contact the county through signforsand@pinellas.gov.

    The tentative construction schedule and map for the entire project area can be found at the 2025 Pinellas County Beach Nourishment Project website. Residents can also text PCBEACHES to 888777 to opt in for alerts with key project updates.

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    Josh Rojas

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  • LGBTQ+ advocate works to create more art in the community

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Across the Tampa Bay area, local municipalities are removing street art following a state policy change.

    What You Need To Know

    • India Miller found herself looking for artistic alternatives after street art was removed last month in downtown Sarasota

    • Miller started her own group recently — called ‘Good Trouble’ — that advocates for the LGBTQ+ community, as well as for artists

    • Miller said that this Saturday at 10 a.m., her group and others will be painting a rainbow at the Harvest United Methodist Church in Bradenton


    That has left some artists looking for other ways to express themselves.

    For India Miller, painting is a form of expression.

    “I’m drawing the transgender pride flag,” she said.

    Which is why she’s painting rocks with LGBTQ+ colors, to then scatter around the community.

    “It just gives people hope. I hope that somebody’s walking, just sees it and picks it up, takes it home, or just realizes we care,” she said.

    She found herself looking for artistic alternatives after street art was removed last month in downtown Sarasota.

    For example, it appears that a rainbow was painted over on one particular crosswalk.

    “I’m sad, you know, that our rights to exist and have, you know, freedom and dignity and the same rights that everybody else has, you know, are up for vote,” she explained.

    Miller started her own group recently — called ‘Good Trouble’ — that advocates for the LGBTQ+ community, as well as for all artists whose work was once here on a sidewalk that has been scrubbed clean.

    “It’s something that says you’re here, you’re valid, we love you, you know. It can be hopeful, or it doesn’t have to be an LGBTQ person — somebody who loves art,” she said.

    She is also offering the rock art to local businesses to have inside their shops.

    Miller said it’s a way to speak without words.

    “I hope it’s, you know, a way to protest peacefully and resist,” she said.

    By placing a new form of art where other art was removed.

    Miller said that this Saturday at 10 a.m., her group and others will be painting a rainbow at the Harvest United Methodist Church in Bradenton.

    She said there will also be opportunities for the public to participate in rock painting.

    The next event will be on Oct. 4 at 10 a.m. at the Church of the Trinity.

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    Julia Hazel

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  • Weightman Middle receives funding for a school sidewalk thanks to one 8th-grader

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    WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. — A $1.75 million check will be presented Friday to Pasco County for a funding bill passed during the 2025 Florida Legislative Session.

    The funding will be used to build a 5-foot wide sidewalk between Curley Road/SR54 and Wells Road, where three local schools are located.

    State Senator Danny Burgess pushed for the funding bill after learning of an effort by a Pasco County eighth-grader to have the sidewalk built.

    Weightman Middle School’s Joshua Patrick said he attended local meetings, met with local leaders and even launched social media pages to push for the sidewalk, after noticing dozens of kids walking and biking to school, at risk from the busy traffic on Curley Road.

    “I noticed kids walking through drainage ditches, through mud, dodging cars on the side of the road, and that’s just unacceptable,” said Patrick. “You need to be able to get to school safely and that’s not a safe thing.  You are walking to class covered in mud and water, or you, a kid could have got hit by a car, and never want that to happen.”

    Construction of the sidewalk is already underway, and it will be completed in the coming months.

    A check to help with funding of the sidewalk will be presented outside of Weightman Middle School on Friday.

    Patrick has been invited to attend the presentation.


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    Jason Lanning

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  • More affordable housing opens in Durham with a new look

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    DURHAM, N.C. — Some affordable housing units in the Bull City are getting a makeover.

    The Durham Housing Authority reopened the Vanguard Apartments and recently broke ground on the Dillard Street Apartments. It’s an effort to open up more affordable housing opportunities while also creating a new vision for what these communities can look like.

    What You Need To Know

    • Durham Housing Authority reopened Vanguard Apartments in May

    • The $200 million redevelopement project will replace 214 old unites with 538 mixed-income homes

    • 21 Vanguard units are set aside for former residents

    • The next phase, Commerce Street Apartments, is expected to open in 2026 with 172 units


    Inside her newly developed apartment at the Vanguard, Bianca Rivera says it’s finally setting in that this is her space to call home.

    “I’ve been sitting outside on the patio and just enjoying it,” Rivera said as she reflected on the new space she now shares with her 10-year-old son, Micah.

    Rivera and her son previously lived at Liberty Street Apartments before moving to Oxford Manor to live temporarily as the city made space for new developments.

     She says that she and her family can now feel safe.

    “There was trash all over the place, and me coming here and not seeing trash all over the place, not seeing drug activity or gun violence,” she explained, “so far, that has made a big change in our lives.”

    The Vanguard Apartments just reopened after a major renovation as part of Durham Housing Authority’s efforts to build what’s officials hope will be vibrant, mixed-income communities. 

    The $200-million redevelopment project began with two aging properties downtown.

    It’s a four-phase project. In all, 214 units will be replaced with 538 new homes, 348 being affordable and 190 being market rate. Twenty-one units are prioritized for former residents like Rivera.

    Interim CEO of DHA Anthony Snell says this project and others to come reflect the importance of building safe, beautiful and affordable homes for people no matter the socioeconomic status.

    “I know people think it’s innovative and it’s a model, right? We are just building communities that are totally inclusive of the entire community,” Snell said. “And so, that’s where we think we’re going to have our success.”

    The need for more affordable housing is urgent.

    In a recent National Low Income Housing Coalition report, it found that there are over 330,000 extremely low-income households in North Carolina. For every 100 of them, there are only 41 affordable rental homes available.

    For Rivera, the move is more than just about having a new space. It has allowed her to dream big.

    “It has helped me grow into wanting more and bigger and better living in the future,” she said.

    The first phase, the Vanguard, officially opened in May with 72 new homes. The next step is the Commerce Street Apartments, where construction began in July 2024. It is expected to open in 2026 with 172 units for both seniors and families. Phases three and four will add nearly 300 more units for individuals and families.

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    Ryan Hayes-Owens

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  • Orange deputy accidentally shot victim of alleged home invasion, officials say

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    PINE HILLS, Fla. — Officials with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office say a deputy has been relieved of law enforcement duty after he accidentally fired his weapon and hit the victim of an alleged home invasion last month.

    The incident happened on Aug. 23, just after 3 p.m., when deputies were sent to a home in the 2600 block of Sheringham Road in Pine Hills after a resident there reported an attempted home invasion.

    According to information from the Sheriff’s Office, a man in his 40s had fired shots at four individuals he said were trying to break into his home. The four had fled the scene on foot by the time deputies responded.

    “When deputies arrived on scene, the victim went to unlock the door and one of the deputies accidentally discharged his agency firearm and struck the man,” a Sheriff’s Office statement said.

    The victim — who was not identified by investigators — was taken to the hospital with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening.

    The deputy — who was also not identified by the Sheriff’s Office — was relieved of his law enforcement duties and reassigned to “an administrative capacity.”

    The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the incident.

    No other information was immediately released by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Public hearings set for Poinciana’s Southport Connector Expressway

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    POINCIANA, Fla. — Three public hearings will take place next week on the Southport Connector Expressway, called the “Great Wall of Poinciana” by some. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Public hearings are set for Sept. 16, 17 and 18 regarding the Southport Connector Expressway

    • Central Florida Expressway Authority says the elevated toll road would reduce congestion in Poinciana

    • Critics argue the toll road, built in the median of Cypress Pkwy, would split Poinciana in half


    The Central Florida Expressway Authority will hold public hearings on the Project Development and Environment study on Sept. 16, 17 and 18.

    Poinciana drivers have some of the worst commute times in the nation.

    “It was pretty bad when we first moved here. It has gotten much worse since then,” said Keith Laytham, a resident of Poinciana’s Solivita 55+ community for 17 years.

    The expressway authority said traffic on Cypress Parkway has increased 25% in the past 5 years, and they expect it to increase another 29% in the next 25 years.

    “Cypress Parkway is very heavily congested,” said Laytham.

    That is why early on, Laytham supported the Southport Connector Expressway, an elevated toll road built in the median of Cypress Parkway.

    “Right in the middle of the lanes here,” Laytham explained. “But the best part would be (it would) overpass all of the traffic lights at the intersections.”

    The expressway authority’s Southport Connector Expressway would stretch from Poinciana Parkway through Poinciana, below Lake Toho and over to Florida’s Turnpike.

    However, some residents aren’t for the plan, including Lita Epstein.

    “There’s no question that it’s going to divide the community,” said Epstein.

    Epstein started a group urging for an alternate route, concerned an elevated expressway down the middle of the community would split Poinciana in half.

    “There really is not much choice for Poinciana,” she said. “Poinciana has no alternative.”

    When it became apparent that officials would not consider an alternate route, Epstein pushed for this project to include more benefits for residents of Poinciana.

    Instead of building a wall down the middle of Cypress Parkway for the elevated toll road, the expressway authority agreed to make some of it a bridge-like structure.

    “It won’t be as much of a wall. The Great Wall of Poinciana won’t exist for most of the community,” said Epstein.

    Another big victory, according to Epstein, is the expressway authority agreeing to widen Cypress Parkway, so that local traffic not on the new toll road will have six lanes instead of four.

    There are still others who think the Southport Connector Expressway won’t benefit local drivers, the widened Cypress Parkway will have narrow lanes, and the construction will affect businesses and the environment.

    But Epstein and Laytham see more eye-to-eye now, agreeing something has to be done to tackle the crushing congestion in Poinciana.

    “We can’t go with the no-build alternative, leaving traffic conditions as they are,” said Epstein. “No, because it’s a parking lot already,” Laytham added.

    Here is information on the three public hearings:

    • Liberty High School
      • 4250 Pleasant Hill Road, Kissimmee, FL
      • Tuesday, Sept. 16
      • 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
    • Virtual
      • Wednesday, Sept. 17
      • 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
      • Register here
    • Poinciana Community Center
      • 445 Marigold Avenue, Poinciana, FL
      • Thursday, Sept. 18
      • 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
    • Anthony DePalma Center
      • 395 Marigold Avenue, Poinciana, FL
      • Thursday, Sept. 18
      • 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

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    Jerry Hume

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  • Bear harvest permit applications open Friday for 2025 hunt

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    FLORIDA — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will open bear harvest permit applications on Sept. 12 at 10 a.m. for the 2025 regulated bear hunting season.

    Applications can be submitted through Sept. 22 at 11:59 p.m.

    A bear harvest permit is required to harvest a bear in one of the four selected Bear Harvest Zones from Dec. 6 through the 28, according to FWC.

    A hunting license is also required to hunt bears, unless exempt.

    For the bear hunt, FWC is allowing participants to apply for permits as many times as they want for $5 per application. Applicants must be at least 18 years old by Oct. 1 to apply.

    Only one nontransferable permit may be issued per person, and permits will cost $100 for residents and $300 for nonresidents.

    Permits will be distributed by random drawing, and no more than 10% of all permits issued will be to nonresidents.

    Hunters can submit online applications at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com by logging into their account and choosing “Apply for Limited Entry/Quota Permits” or by completing an application worksheet and presenting it to a license agent or Florida tax collector’s office.

    You can find more information on how to apply by going to MyFWC.com/License and clicking on “Limited Entry and Quota Permits.” Visit MyFWC.com/BearHunting for more information on bear hunting in Florida.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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