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  • Charlotte, Mecklenburg County to offer free A/C units to eligible residents

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    Eligible residents will be able to claim a free air conditioning unit thanks to a partnership between the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation.

    What You Need To Know

    •  The City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation have partnered to provide eligible residents free air conditioning units

    •  To be eligible, officials say residents must be at or below 60% of the area median income level

    •  Eligible residents must complete an application for the units, which will be available for pickup on Thursday, Aug. 28


    The units will be available on Thursday, Aug. 28 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the following locations:

    • Eastway Recreation Center located at 3150 Eastway Park Drive
    • Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center located at 2921 Tuckaseegee Road

    Residents at or below 60% of the area median income can take part, according to a release.

    Those eligible can apply by clicking here. A valid photo ID will be required at pickup.

    Officials say applicants will be asked to share their address, whether they rent or own their home, and the type of home they live in, such as a multifamily apartment or single-family home, when filling out the application.

    The information will be only be used to help the city better understand community cooling needs and plan for future programming, officials said. No other data will be kept.

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    Justin Pryor

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  • Bradenton resident receive flooding from rainfall

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Our Weather Experts have been tracking significant rainfall in Manatee County since Saturday. They say areas of East Bradenton have received five to six inches of rain, leading to localized flooding for residents.

    There’s been a lot of rain in Bradenton the last few days, and with this rainfall, you’ll see pockets of flooding here and there while driving through the area. But one resident said flooding has been a consistent battle on her property for the last few years whenever it rains.

    “It’s a complete lake all the way out to the road. This whole property from here forward floods. It’s a huge lake,” Barbara Ficklin said.

    Ficklin lives off Waterline Road in Bradenton. She says rainfall and runoff from nearby developments flooded her property. The water rose to within feet of her house.

    “It just starts coming and rising and rising from the runoff upstream,” she said.

    Ficklin says this has been happening for about three years now and she has contacted county commissioners several times.

    Manatee County officials released a statement regarding this specific area:

    “We have received numerous reports of standing water and street flooding in various areas around the county.”

    But her main priority is keeping her animals safe.

    “We haven’t let the horses out in two days because the land is so wet. If they run, they could hurt themselves. So, they have been in the barn for two days and they’re not very happy,” she said.

    Because of the consistent flooding on her property, she’s had unexpected expenses.

    “This year, we have paid to secure a hurricane flash flood stall at a facility — a stall for each of these horses we’ve reserved. And you pay in advance. But just to have that peace of mind was worth it,” Ficklin said.

    Now she’s hoping there will be a solution soon, not just to protect her home from potentially flooding, but also to protect her animals.

    “Fix what’s going on, put proper drainage in,” she said.

    Ficklin said she spoke with County Commissioner Carol Felts on Monday about the ongoing flooding issue. She hopes the commissioners can work together toward a solution.

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    Julia Hazel

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  • Efforts underway to save Chassahowitzka River Campground from potential sale

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    HOMOSASSA, Fla. — A popular campground in Citrus County will be closing this fall.

    The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) will assess hurricane damage at the Chassahowitzka River Campground and could recommend selling the property.

    Efforts are underway to help save the campground from being sold.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Chassahowitzka River Campground will be closing Oct. 1 as the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) evaluates hurricane damage

    • According to SWFWMD, the campground saw a lot of damage from last year’s storms and may put the campground up for sale
    • But locals disagree with any sale, with an online petition going around, fighting against the sale of the campground
    • A protest is planned on Sept. 6 at the Publix parking lot at 9525 S. Suncoast Blvd. in Homosassa


    Standing under the greenery of the Chassahowitzka River Campground, Ryan McGovern breathes in the fresh air.

    “It’s pristine land, it’s beautiful, I wouldn’t want to see it go any other way,” he said. “I’ve been bringing my kids here since they were 5 years old, so probably about the last decade-and-a-half or so, they have learned to love nature coming out here. It gets them off of their electronic devices, and it shows them real old school Florida.”

    McGovern is taking in the view with little extra time. That’s because the campground will be closing Oct. 1, as SWFWMD estimates hurricane damage.

    “It made me very emotional,” McGovern said. “I was upset, I was mad. That morning, as soon as I saw that, I created the first petition. I got together with some other folks through social media. We’ve grown a group, and we’re moving forward with it.”

    According to SWFWMD, the campground saw a lot of damage from last year’s storms. The cost to restore the campground, the district says, is not an effective way to use taxpayer dollars with a potential sale on the horizon.

    “We would like to see it kept open,” said Elaine Moore, administrator for the campground. “We don’t mind whether we lease it through SWFWMD or the county, we’ve done both before, and we have worked it out. We would just like to see it stay open and be able to fulfill all the reservations that we have on the books.”

    But McGovern disagrees with any sale. It’s why he’s started an online petition, fighting against the sale of the campground. Plus, he has another petition.

    “We need to make sure this land is saved going forward,” he said.

    Already, his petitions have garnered more than 4,000 signatures from people who want to see the campground remain open, he says.

    “It just shows that people do not want development,” said McGovern. “They don’t want this land sold to the highest bidder. They don’t want corporate interests coming in here and ruining our Florida, and we need to keep it that way for our kids and their kids to enjoy for future generations.”

    So they too can enjoy these serene views.

    McGovern said they will be holding a protest on Sept. 6 in the Publix parking lot at 9525 S. Suncoast Blvd. from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. He says they will also be in attendance at next Tuesday’s Water Management meeting.

    Meanwhile, the parking area and boat ramp will remain open and under the control of Citrus County.

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    Calvin Lewis

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  • City of Leesburg donates shuffleboard property to foster youth nonprofit

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    LEESBURG, Fla. — A beloved Leesburg shuffleboard court may be no more after the city commission voted on a proposal to donate the land to a nonprofit working to support homeless teens and foster youth in the county.

    This comes after dozens of residents and even non-residents using the courts spoke out during the meeting.

    What You Need To Know

    • Leesburg City Commission moved to donate land they own, including shuffleboard courts, to Forward Paths Foundation to build 10 tiny homes for homeless teens

    • Leesburg Shuffleboard Club has spent weeks gathering signatures to keep their courts and say they were able to get more than 1,000 signatures

    • In a 4-1, Leesburg City Commissioners felt the need to offer stable housing for youth outweighed the need for the historical Leesburg Shuffleboard Club and their courts

    • Forward Paths has 2.5 years to complete the project but supporters of the shuffleboard courts say they’re not going down without a fight and may take legal action
    • RELATED coverage: Leesburg to decide who gets shuffleboard property


    A lot of the city commissioners focused on the need. In a 4-1 vote, the majority felt the need to offer stable housing for youth outweighed the need for the historical Leesburg Shuffleboard Club and its courts, which has major ties in the city.

    “They celebrated their 100-year anniversary back in 2013,” said Leesburg Shuffleboard Club (LSC) member Rick Tallman.

    The club has been playing at the site on Palmetto Street for 54 years.

    The city of Leesburg owns the property, but the LSC has been running and operating the courts and even hosts tournaments there.

    But the future of the property is now in jeopardy with the Leesburg City Commission moving to donate land, including the shuffleboard courts, to a nonprofit foster youth called Forward Paths Foundation.

    “Somebody decided that this was a property to offer forward paths,” Tallman said. “We don’t know who that somebody was.”

    Forward Paths Foundation stated the donation of the land would go towards building 10 tiny homes that would house 20 youths who are aging out of the foster care system or at risk of homelessness.

    Foundation officials spent time at the meeting sharing their history of success stories as they now house 42 youth with more on the waiting list.

    Those in support of the program showed up to speak at the meeting but the majority of public speakers were in support of keeping the shuffleboard courts. 

    The shuffleboard supporters shared that they had more than a 1,000 signatures combined with handwritten and online petitions to keep the courts.

    Despite this, the commission moved forward with the donation of the land, which came with mixed reviews.

    “Well, we won. But it’s always hard when others leave with hurt feelings,” explained Forward Paths Foundation Executive Director Denise Burry. “So, that’s not a good feeling but it’s my job to look out for our at-risk youth aging out of foster care and in need in Lake County. That’s what I did and luckily we came out on top.”

    “It’s very disappointing. This isn’t the end. It’s really the beginning because now the lawsuit comes,” Tallman shared. “What they’ve done is very wrong. Very wrong, they didn’t listen to the people.”

    And while this has brought some divide in the City of Leesburg, the Forward Paths Foundation hopes the community can embrace this project just as the town of Eustice did after completing a similar project there.

    “I hope people will see the good that it brings to these youth and hopefully they’ll come around us and support us,” Burry said.

    The Leesburg City Commission also voted to give Forward Paths Foundation two and a half years to finish the project as opposed to five. Burry says she believes they can accomplish it.

    But supporters of the shuffleboard court say they’re not going down without a fight and say they have already filed a claim against the City of Leesburg with the Florida Commission on Ethics.

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    Brandon Spencer

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  • Changes to FEMA maps could mean Clearwater residents will need flood insurance

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    CLEARWATER, Fla. — Hundreds of Clearwater homes could be added to special flood hazard areas on FEMA maps. That would mean some homeowners would be newly required to buy flood insurance. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Changes may be coming to FEMA flood insurance rate maps for the Alligator Creek Watershed

    • Clearwater’s floodplain administrator says 369 buildings in the city are added to the special flood hazard area on the preliminary maps, while 203 others are removed

    • Homeowners added to the hazard area with federally backed loans or a mortgage would be required to get flood insurance

    • A 90-day comment period on the preliminary maps is expected later this year


    “This is very similar to what we currently have,” Clearwater Floodplain Administrator Gene Henry said of the preliminary maps.

    Henry said the city started gathering data for the updated flood insurance rate maps five years ago. That information was passed on to FEMA, which created the new maps. 

    “You’ll get this blue area, and that’s called the special flood hazard area,” Henry said, gesturing to one of the maps. “So, there are going to be changes on people’s properties.”

    According to Henry, the preliminary maps for the Alligator Creek Watershed add 369 buildings in the city to that hazard area, while another 203 would be removed.

    “It’s better data. So, more accuracy,” Henry said of the reason for the changes. “They’ve got the LIDAR now, they’ve got better contour interval information.”

    Clearwater Floodplain Administrator Gene Henry said that the owners of any homes added who have a federally backed loan or a mortgage will now need to get flood insurance. (Spectrum News/Sarah Blazonis)

    Henry said that the owners of any homes added who have a federally backed loan or a mortgage will now need to get flood insurance. Residents outside the hazard areas can learn from the updated maps about spots around them that are now in the hazard areas.

    “The orange areas are the .2%, or what we call the 500-year. Flood insurance is not required, but if someone would ask me, I would say get the low-risk policy,” Henry said. “That flood hazard area may not have been there before, or it may not have gone down that street, but you saw the water there in Milton, or you saw it in one of the other events. So, the models pick it up because we have to know that.”

    Henry told Spectrum News the city has time to work through what the maps mean for residents. A 90-day comment period will be held later this year for residents and businesses to weigh in on the maps and let the city know if they think any of the changes are incorrect. That will be passed on to FEMA for consideration. The city also created a website where residents can enter their address and see if they’re impacted by the changes.

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • SpaceX launches 8th flight of U.S. Space Force’s Orbital Test Vehicle

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    KENNEDY SPACE CENTER — SpaceX successfully launched the USSF-36 mission Thursday evening, the eighth flight of U.S. Space Force’s X-37 Orbital Test Vehicle and third Falcon launch of the spacecraft, which previously launched OTV-5 and OTV-7.

    The space company’s Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 11:50 p.m. on Aug. 21 from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center.

    The 45th Weather Squadron gave a 35% -> 20% of poor liftoff conditions, with the primary concerns being the cumulus cloud rule and anvil cloud rules.

    According to SpaceX, this was the sixth flight for the first-stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched:

    Following the stage separation, the first stage landed on SpaceX’s Landing Zone 2 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, which means surrounding areas likely heard a sonic boom. 

    SpaceX issued a Sonic Boom Advisory Wednesday afternoon for residents in Brevard, Orange, Osceola, Indian River, Seminole, Volusia, Polk, St. Lucie, and Okeechobee counties. One or more sonic booms may be heard during the landing, the company said, but what residents experience will depend on weather and other conditions. 

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Florida Holocaust Museum to reopen in September after renovations

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Florida Holocaust Museum will reopen on Sept. 9 after more than a year of renovations.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Florida Holocaust Museum has been closed for renovations

    • New exhibits, along with previous ones, will be on display

    • The museum first opened in 1992 and has been located at its current St. Petersburg location since 1998


    The museum first opened in 1992 and has been located at its current St. Petersburg location since 1998.

    The last time the community was able to come into the Florida Holocaust Museum was in July 2024.

    They now have many new safety features plus new exhibits.

    Florida Holocaust Museum President and CEO Eric Stillman said the layout highlights both their new exhibits, like Thor, the Danish fishing boat, and old exhibits, like the boxcar that transported Jews during the Holocaust.

    “The boxcar represents fear and death,” he said. “Thor represents hope and future. Their juxtaposition is very intentional and creates contrast between the two.”

    The renovation wasn’t only about the exhibits; it was also about adding new safety features like a ballistic glass barrier.

    From the deadly shooting outside the Capitol Jewish Museum in D.C. to the firebombing of demonstrators in Colorado, Stillman said there have been numerous attacks on the Jewish community.

    They want both visitors and employees of the museum to be safe. 

    “We know that there are folks out there who are looking to do bad things, and we want to make sure that we take all these security precautions so that our environment is a safe and secure one,” he said.  

    One of the other major additions to the museum will be an exhibit dedicated to Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor most known for his book “Night,” a memoir covering his time in Nazi concentration camps.

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    Matt Lackritz

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  • Pulse Memorial crosswalk on Orange Avenue repainted to meet state standards

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    ORLANDO, Fla. — Calling it a “cruel political act,” Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer is speaking out after the Florida Department of Transportation repainted a rainbow-colored crosswalk in Orlando overnight, which honored the 49 victims of the Pulse nightclub attack.

    However, the crosswalk was repainted to meet state standards after FDOT issued a memorandum in June stating that “all traffic control devices, including pavement surface markings, be compliant with the FDOT Design Manual and the Manual of Uniform Minimum Standards for Design, Construction and Maintenance for Streets and Highways, on all public roads, as applicable.”

    “This callous action of hastily removing part of a memorial to what was at the time our nation’s largest mass shooting, without any supporting safety data or discussion, is a cruel political act,” Dyer said in a Facebook post on Thursday.

    According to the memo, “non-standard surface markings, signage, and signals that do not directly contribute to traffic safety or control can lead to distractions or misunderstandings, jeopardizing both driver and pedestrian safety.

    Examples of non-compliant surface pavement would include any pavement markings that do not meet the color, shape or dimensions provided in the MUTCD or FDOT Standard Plans … or other pavement surface art that is associated with social, political, or ideological messages or images and does not serve the purpose of traffic control.”

    However, Dyer argues that it enhances safety and visibility for pedestrians visiting the Pulse memorial, and says it was approved by FDOT when it was installed in 2017. 

    “While the state works to erase the memory of the victims of the Pulse tragedy by painting over the crosswalk, our community’s commitment to honoring the 49, and completing the memorial, will never waver,” he said on Facebook.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Is St. Pete closer to eliminating their food desert?

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A community grocery store could be steps closer to being a reality in South St. Pete. A group of organizers met with city leaders on Thursday to discuss a possible solution to the food desert in the area.

    Based on reactions from city leaders, there’s a strong possibility something like this could happen, but this is still in the infancy stages.

    What You Need To Know

    • A group of organizers met with St. Petersburg city leaders on Thursday to discuss a possible solution to the food desert in the area
    • One Community Co-op founding member Brother John Muhammad said idea of having a community-centered grocery store was born after the area’s only grocery store closed in Tangerine Plaza eight years ago and never returned

    • City leaders seem to be strongly considering this option, but there are several questions that remain, like location, funding and sustainability

    • One of the council members said she spoke with the developers of Tangerine Plaza, and they have secured a grocer. There are still a lot of steps for that process, but it’s something that could nix the conversation completely


    The option up for discussion at the Health, Energy, Resiliency and Sustainability Committee meeting Thursday was the co-op proposal.

    “A co-op is a business model where you have community residents who are the owners and operators. It’s basically just people who collectively work together to create a business,” said One Community Co-op founding member Brother John Muhammad. “The member owners would be the ones who determine what the products are in there. So, as a co-operative grocery store, are we going to sell processed food? Are we selling alcohol? So, you have more control over the products, the pricing and the investments being made.”

    Muhammad said this idea of having a community-centered grocery store was born after the area’s only grocery store closed in Tangerine Plaza eight years ago, and never returned. It left behind a food desert with no healthy food for miles.

    “We saw Sweetbay come and we saw them leave,” Muhammad said. “We saw Walmart come, we saw them leave, and it was like, ‘Okay, how do we address this? Do we wait on another Superman to come in, or another superhero, or do we organize our community?’”

    City leaders seem to be strongly considering this option, but there are several questions that remain, like location, funding and sustainability.

    The now-vacant Historic Manhattan Casino, slated to be an event space, was mentioned as a possibility, and so was Tangerine Plaza. Earlier this year, the city awarded the Sugar Hill Group to redevelop Tangerine Plaza.

    “Right now, Sugar Hill, they have the development rights for Tangerine Plaza and so Tangerine Plaza has always been the focal point for this conversation, because a lot of these conversations started happening when Walmart, who was a tenant, left,” Muhammad said.

    Since they’ve been gone, Muhammad said their co-op group has stepped up with pop-up grocery shops and so have others like Positive Impact St. Pete.

    “We meet the need in South St. Pete. The need is extremely great. Every single Saturday, our organization provides food for nearly 3,000 individuals,” said Positive Impact St. Pete Executive Director Karen Rae.

    Rae said she likes some of the ideas the co-op presented, but after eight years of watching a community in need, she’s hoping for a faster solution.

    “I’m proposing that we work together to meet the need today. That we don’t wait on government assistance, but the individuals who have a heart for the hungry, step up and partner with positive impact where we can open a neighborhood market tomorrow,” she said.

    There’s no real timeline of funding for Rae’s proposal-and the co-op plan is still up in the air too.

    In the meeting, one of the council members said she spoke with the developers of Tangerine Plaza, and they have secured a grocer. There are still a lot of steps for that process, but it’s something that could nix the conversation completely.

    After eight years of waiting, the people invested in the community said they want to keep all options on the table until the healthy food need is met.

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    Saundra Weathers

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  • Volusia County votes to move forward with beach horseback riding proposal

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    ORMOND-BY-THE-SEA, Fla. — Volusia County beaches could soon welcome horseback riders under a proposal that council members approved to move forward with on Tuesday night. 

    The county council voted 5-2 to proceed with a beach horseback riding proposal in the northern part of the county before an ordinance is presented to members. 

    The council asked staff to bring back the proposal with some options to questions the council had regarding waste, safety, locations, parking, permitting, regulations, etc. 

    Volusia County Council member Troy Kent suggested for horses to wear bags that catch their waste. However, the pros and cons of mandating bags will be addressed.  

    What You Need To Know

    • Members of the Volusia County Council are looking into implementing beach horseback riding in northern parts of the county

    • The two locations being considered are Al Weeks North Shore Park and the Neptune Beach Approach
    • Council members plan to discuss regulatory requirements, programs that already exist, potential impacts and implementation strategies before moving forward with the plan
    • Some factors they will have to consider include access to parking, environmental impacts and waste management


    If the plan was to be implemented, nine miles of coastline at the Al Weeks North Shore Park in Ormond-by-the-Sea would serve as a riding corridor from Flagler County line to Granada Boulevard.

    The other location of interest for this proposal is at the Neptune Beach Approach. However, the more popular location seemed to be Al Weeks North Shore Park. 

    But before anything official can happen, discussions took place since both of the proposed areas are within a Natural Beach Management Area — which require a close monitoring of turtle nests and the potential impact on protected species.

    Council member Kent is behind the idea and he says parts of the county already allow for beach-side driving and dogs on the beach.

    That is why he believes that allowing beach horseback riding would be a great addition.

    Another council member was concerned about the implementation of horses on the beach and taking away nine miles of the beach for residents and visitors.

    Right now, eight counties across the Sunshine State allow beach horseback riding, including Flagler and St. Johns counties. According to the county, these programs typically feature permits, designated areas and times, trailer parking and low-tide restrictions with fees that range from free to $200 annually.

    Recommendations for the proposal include:

    • Implementing beach horseback riding in non-beach driving areas
    • Only allowing it during daylight hours
    • Operating outside of sea turtle nesting season
    • Ensuring that horses are ridden below the high tide and not interfering with turtle nests
    • Ensuring that horse owners are responsible for their horses’ waste

    Members heard from Jessica Fentress, Volusia County Coastal Director, and two residents — one of which owned a horseback riding business — before voting to advance the proposal to a trial stage.

    Since it passed, Kent said he will direct county staff to bring the matter back as an ordinance, which could be taken up by the county council in the next six to eight weeks. They will likely approve a trial period for beach horseback riding. 

    View the council discussion from 5:48 to 6:42:



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    Sasha Teman

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  • Program at Bay Pines VA Hospital provides veterans with legal help

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    BAY PINES, Fla. — The Medical-Legal Partnership at Bay Pines VA Hospital provides veterans with civil legal assistance and, in some cases, legal representation for themselves or their family.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Medical-Legal Partnership at Bay Pines VA Hospital was established in 2017 to better meet the needs of veterans

    • Program officials say the service is free for income-eligible veterans
    • They say there are four attorneys and two paralegals who work at the Bay Pines VA Hospital office

    • For more information on the Medical-Legal Partnership, visit the program’s website


    According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the program operates at 31 VA hospitals across the country and helps with many different types of legal services.

    Navy veteran Carl Leegrand said he first sought help in 2021, after having issues with his apartment complex.

    “I was being charged some things that actually shouldn’t have been charged, because they said I had broke the lease,” he said.

    He was unsure what to do until he learned about the resource while attending a mental health class.

    He has since used this resource two additional times for issues with his HOA and installing a safety door at his home.

    “You could go to an outside lawyer or whatever, but it’s not a guarantee that you got to come up with the money and all this other stuff,” he said. “So the problem to me, and the help they gave me, I’m very appreciative of that and the way they responded to me.”

    Pye Young, the managing attorney at Bay Pines Legal Services’ St. Pete office, helped Leegrand with his first case.

    She said they offer help in many kinds of legal matters — including family law assistance, credit card issues, veterans benefits, and more.

    “The purpose of this partnership is to work together to provide this service that has been identified as a greatest need of veterans, and to also meet them where they are on site here at the VA,” she said.

    The Medical-Legal Partnership was established at Bay Pines in 2017 to better meet the needs of veterans.

    The consultation is free, and thanks to grants, the service is free for income-eligible veterans.

    The office is open every Monday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Bay Pines VA Hospital. The program also operates at Bay Pines VA Lakeside Clinic, Bradenton VA Clinic, Sarasota VA Clinic, and Daystar Life Services in St. Petersburg. Days and hours of operation vary by location.

    For more information on the Medical-Legal Partnership, visit the program’s website.

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    Matt Lackritz

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  • Popular pedestrian bridge in Seminole reopens after rehabbing safety concerns

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    WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. — A popular pedestrian bridge has reopened ahead of schedule in Winter Springs after being closed for construction since the end of April.

    What You Need To Know

    • Seminole County closed the pedestrian bridge for the Seminole Cross Trail over State Road 434 at the end of April

    • According to information from Seminole County, the bridge was closed on April 28 and wasn’t expected to reopen for 150 days
    • A county spokesperson said the bridge was closed for a critical safety rehabilitation project

    • The pedestrian bridge has reopened ahead of schedule, despite some electronic signs that still need to be installed


    Christina Watts uses the pedestrian bridge to cross over State Road 434 to continue running on the Seminole Cross Trail.

    “I was surprised it’s been closed for a little bit,” Watts said. “I figured it would be open for us to be able to get to the nicer end of the trail, where it’s more shaded, and to finish off my run.”

    According to information from Seminole County, the bridge was closed on April 28 and wasn’t expected to reopen for 150 days.

    Watts said it was frustrating to find the bridge closed without any explanation.

    “We don’t know why it’s closed, and it’s confusing because this is the route we like to take for our runs,” Watts said.

    During the closure, Watts had to change her routes, stopping and turning around at SR-434, fearful of crossing four lanes of busy traffic.

    “There’s no crosswalk,” Watts said. “There’s not even a light to take you across.”

    A Seminole County spokesperson said the bridge was closed for a critical safety rehabilitation project, which included fixing slab cracks, resurfacing the deck and removing equestrian tiles and railings that separated the equestrian trail.

    Bike calming features were also a part of the project, the spokesperson said.

    “I think it’s great that they are rehabilitating the bridge,” Watts said. “However, it would be nice if maybe they would have done one side at a time or left an area for runners to get across.”

    For safety reasons, the entire bridge had to be closed until the end of construction, according to the county spokesperson.

    About a week ago, the bridge reopened ahead of schedule.

    “It’s really important that we’re able to come on the trail and run in the mornings, and run in a safe place where there’s not a lot of cars,” Watts said.

    Some electronic signs still need to be installed, but when they arrive from back order, county officials say crews won’t have to close the bridge.

    Seminole County monitors and maintains 83 bridge structures, and a recent inspection found the problems that resulted in the Cross Seminole Trail rehabilitation project.

    If you’ve got a traffic trouble spot or question, complete the form on the Traffic Inbox page.

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    Jerry Hume

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  • Manatee Village 1887 Church on the ’11 to save’ list

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    BRADENTON, Fla. — A Manatee County organization is pushing to preserve an old church in Bradenton.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Manatee Village 1887 Church is one of the 11 historical sites under threat in 2025, according to the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation.

    • Now that it’s on the “11 to Save” list, there is more help on the way

    • Since the list was just released last month, acting President of Friends of Manatee Village Andrea Knies said they are still in the early stages of planning for repairs


    The Manatee Village 1887 Church is one of the 11 historical sites under threat in 2025, according to the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation.

    Now that it’s on the “11 to Save” list, there is more help on the way.

    History is something Andrea Knies says needs to be saved.

    “You can’t replace history,” she said. “And I also think historic buildings obviously cannot be replaced.”

    Knies is the acting president of Friends of Manatee Village, a nonprofit that she has volunteered with since 2017.

    “I have actually always been part of historic societies,” she said. “I joined my first one in my hometown in Indiana when I was 15. So this is part of who I am.”

    Today, she is standing in front of the Manatee Village 1887 Church at the Manatee Village Historical Park.

    Last month, it was named one of the 11 historical sites under threat in Florida.

    “I hope that this church continues to be a place where not only are we in tune with the history, but it’s a place where people can come and they can celebrate and they can gather for many, many more years,” she said.

    Earlier this year, Knies said she applied for the church to be on the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation’s “11 to Save” list. She believed it would open doors to more funding to help make repairs to the building, including a new roof.

    “We are going to have experts from all over the state,” she said. “They’re going to come together to help us with creative ways to make sure that we are able to preserve this building to its historical accuracy.”

    She is pushing for preservation because of the church’s unique history in the community.

    “The fact that it was slated to be demolished in 1975, they found a way to move it here,” she said. “The fact that even when it was built, the congregation went through yellow fever and they still persevered and completed it.”

    Since the list was just released last month, Knies said her organization is still in the early stages of planning for repairs. 

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    Julia Hazel

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  • Metro BrigAIDe back up and running after AmeriCorps cuts

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    PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — The Metro BrigAIDe program is a part of Metropolitan Ministries.

    They travel around Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties looking for those experiencing homelessness so they can help.

    However, earlier this year, they were forced to shut down temporarily.

    For people like Nelson Doland, who had been previously helped by the program, he said it’s upsetting to see.

    “If it wasn’t for them, I’d still be at the soup kitchen, probably sweating to death,” he said in sign language.

    Metro BrigAIDe Associate Director Ethan Weilant said their entire team is passionate about helping people like Doland.

    Since 2018, Metro BrigAIDe has helped thousands of people gain access to the resources they need.

    “The main thing we’re trying to do is housing, and so a really good way to create initial connection with individuals is by having some kind of good that we can hand out,” Weilant said.

    In late April, Metropolitan Ministries was told it would no longer receive funding through AmeriCorps.

    With 20 members of the BrigAIDe team funded through AmeriCorps, Weilant said they had to pause services to reorganize.

    “People felt that we weren’t there,” he said. “The phone lines started adding up. We got tons of calls from the hotline. We had agencies reaching out, seeing if we were able to help them, and we had to tell them we’re doing as much as we can right now, but we have a really limited team.”

    10 Metro BrigAIDe positions were revived after the cuts.

    Three for Hillsborough County, three for Pasco, and four for Pinellas.

    According to Metropolitan Ministries, AmeriCorps contracts were reinstated in late July.

    However, they said that since the Metro BrigAIDe program was reorganized due to the original cuts, they’ve decided not to apply for the 2026 fiscal year, citing the volatility of the funding.

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    Matt Lackritz

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  • Polk’s Florida Dance Theatre shuts down following loss in state funding

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    WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Polk County’s only professional dance company has officially closed after more than 30 years in operation.

    What You Need To Know

    • Florida Dance Theatre has officially shut down after more than 30 years
    • The closure was triggered by the loss of an $18,000 grant, part of a broader $32 million cut to arts and cultural funding
    • Founder Carol Erkes says the decision was difficult, but she’s comforted by the legacy she leaves behind


    Founder Carol Erkes still holds decades of memories close.

    “Oh my gosh, these are old. You can tell they’re all black and white,” she said, looking through old photos.

    Erkes welcomed her first group of students to Florida Dance Theatre in 1994. At the time, it was known as the Lakeland School of Ballet. She later changed the name and transitioned the school into a nonprofit. She says that shift opened the door to government funding — and the chance to truly invest in children’s lives.

    “I really loved all of them. It was never work. It was passion. It was joy on a daily basis,” she said.

    After a successful 25-year run, Erkes retired in 2019 but stayed involved with the organization. She says things remained steady until after the pandemic — when community funding began to dwindle and some students stopped attending.

    The final straw, she says, came last year when the theatre lost a grant worth more than $18,000 after Gov. Ron DeSantis cut $32 million in state arts and cultural funding. That ultimately led the organization’s board of directors to vote to shut down in June.

    In a statement, Tiffany Van Wieren, president of Florida Dance Theatre, said:

    “The board’s decision to close was incredibly difficult and made after thoughtful reflection on the organization’s long-term sustainability. We are grateful to all those that helped the organization to have such a lasting effect. We’re proud of the legacy FDT leaves behind and the impact it’s had on our community.”

    Erkes shares those sentiments, but admits it was difficult to accept the decision — until a recent conversation with a former student

    “I said, ‘I’m so sad because I wanted Florida Dancing to be my legacy.’ And he said, ‘Carol, it is your legacy. I’m your legacy. All the people’s lives you affected are your legacy,’” she said.

    A reminder that while the company has closed, Erkes’ impact will live on.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Lakeland axe-throwing restaurant to close, citing downtown construction impact

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — Lakeland’s first and only axe-throwing restaurant is permanently closing its doors this weekend after owners say downtown construction hurt their business.

    What You Need To Know

    • Ax-Caliber is closing permanently this weekend after a sharp drop in business, which the owners attribute to construction for Publix’s new I.T. campus

    • The owners say street closures and reduced foot traffic have led to hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost revenue

    • Ax-Caliber’s last day is this Saturday, July 26


    Joyce Woodrow said each day is becoming more surreal as she takes inventory of what’s left inside her restaurant.

    “I can’t believe it. I still can’t believe it,” she said. “It’s like every time I come in here to work, to meet our customers, our employees and I keep counting, ‘We only have these many days left.’ It’s very heart breaking.”

    Woodrow and her husband first opened Ax-Caliber in downtown Lakeland in 2020. Over the past five years, they’ve weathered a lot — from the pandemic to a shifting economy.

    But Woodrow says things didn’t start to take a real turn for the worse until a sudden drop in foot traffic going into March — just around the time Publix began preparing to renovate two buildings for its new I.T. campus.

    “A lot of the employees weren’t coming in for lunch and so we had to discontinue our lunch times and opening until two in the afternoon and the evenings,” Woodrow said.

    Soon after preparations started, the Cty of Lakeland shut down portions of East Orange Street and surrounding roads. Since then, Woodrow said the restaurant has lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue.

    She said they’ve done everything they can to offset the losses — including giving up half the building to the landlord, reducing staff, and cutting down the menu.

    “But it’s hard to fight to continue moving forward when things are out of your control,” Woodrow said. “I mean we cannot control the street closures, we can’t control the lack for foot traffic, we can’t control the accessibility. We can only control what we’re dealing with.” 

    Spectrum Bay News 9 reached out to Publix and the City of Lakeland several times regarding Woodrow’s claims but has not received a response. However, Woodrow she’s not trying to place blame. Instead, she wants to shed light on the impact large companies can have on small businesses.

    “A lot of these larger businesses are great to have. We need them to sustain our city, but I think the smaller ones are the ones that keep us going,” she said. 

    Based on the interactions between the customers and Woodrow, there is a shared feeling of disappointment that a small business has to shut its doors.

    Ax-Caliber’s last day is this Saturday, July 26. Woodrow says they’ll also be hosting a “going out of business” sale on Monday and Tuesday at 9 a.m.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Polk County track team fundraises to compete at Junior Olympics

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    AUBURNDALE, Fla. — Athletes across the Tampa Bay area are gearing up for the National Junior Olympic Games.

    What You Need To Know

    • Pressure Track and Field, a Polk County-based nonprofit, is sending its largest group ever to the National Junior Olympic Games



    • The team is working to raise $3,500 by next week to cover travel, food, and lodging expenses, lifting the financial burden off families



    • Pressure will host its final fundraiser this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside the Walmart on U.S. 92 in Auburndale




    This year, the event will be held in Houston, Texas, but one Polk County team is in need of some help in getting there.

    Twelve-year-old Shamyra Ellison joined Polk County Pressure Track and Field in 2022. Since then, she’s been invited to compete in the National Junior Olympic Games three times.

    But this year, she’ll be joined by 14 of her teammates — the largest group ever to come out of the nonprofit.

    “It really shows how dedicated we are to making it,” Ellison said.

    To prepare for nationals, Ellison and her teammates practice several days a week. While they push through the heat, their coaches are working to make sure every child gets to go.

    Pressure Track and Field started in 2019 to provide students in predominantly Black neighborhoods with new opportunities and positive ways to stay active.

    Head coach David Hicks says each year, the nonprofit strives to cover the cost for athletes to compete in the Junior Olympics, taking the financial burden off parents.

    “Some of these parents have three, four kids on the track team. So just imagine trying to get two tickets,” he said. “Hopefully with doing this, this segment here, fundraising, we’re able to get these 15 kids to nationals.”

    Coach Hicks says the goal is to raise $3,500 by next week to help pay for transportation, food and lodging.

    As for Ellison, she says she wouldn’t have made it this far without her coaches’ determination.

    “I don’t know what I would do without my coaches,” she said. “Without them, I don’t think I’d be where I am now. They’ve really helped me through this.”

    And with a little help from the community, she says they’ll be able to get her across the finish line.

    Pressure Track and Field will host its final fundraiser Saturday, July 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside the Walmart on U.S. 92 in Auburndale.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Manatee canal and drainage debris removal expected to be complete next month

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    PALMETTO, Fla. —  Manatee County crews are hard at work to finish the last of the debris removal work orders, and say all the canal and drainage system debris removal jobs are expected to be completed by next month.

    County officials say they started with more than 700 jobs on the list, and now it is down to just a few dozen.

    What You Need To Know

    • Manatee County crews are hard at work to finish the last of the county’s debris removal work orders

    • With initially more than 700 jobs on the list, they’re down to just under 80 left to complete

    • County officials say they anticipate being completed with all canal debris removal work by the middle of next month

    Michael Vickers knows it takes more than heavy lifting and heavy machinery to get the job done.

    A member of the Manatee County stormwater maintenance team, he said getting things done requires teamwork.

    “Our hand communications and communication skills is what we use to be able to let the operator know, ‘Hey, you may need to swing around or you might be better to come this way,’” he said. “Our biggest thing is we try to do it as safe as possible.”

    Vickers has been doing this job for the county for about four years, but said the work is second nature to him.

    “This is a part of the Florida life,” he said. “I grew up on a farm cutting trees down, and it’s what I’m passionate about the most. I know what I’m doing, and I’m good at it.”

    On this day, the crew was clearing fallen trees and removing other debris from an area of Palmetto west of U.S. 41 to prevent upstream flooding during a storm.

    “A lot of people think that we worry about the amount of water that comes through here,” Vickers said. “What we actually worry about is the flow at which it leaves. So being able to clear out anything that can grab, hold and create blockages is what our biggest concern is.”

    Next month will mark a year since the county began its canal and drainage debris clearing process.

    They started with big jobs like Gamble Creek and Braden River.

    With initially about 700 jobs on the list, they’re down to just under 80 left to complete.

    “We are in a lot better shape this year right now than we were last — you know, even six months ago,” Vickers said. “The systems that we’ve got, most of the majors have been cleaned out at this point, and most of the minor canals have been cleaned. And we are ready for the storm season.”

    As a 17th-generation Floridian, Vickers said he understands the storm season well, and knows what needs to be done to stay ahead of any storm.

    “I love doing this,” he said.

    County officials say they expect all canal debris removal work to be done by the middle of next month.

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    Julia Hazel

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  • Palm Harbor turns 100, plans celebration

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    PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Palm Harbor is celebrating its 100th birthday.

    On July 15, 1925, the city’s official name was changed from Sutherland to Palm Harbor. This weekend, city leaders will celebrate a full century under that name with multiple events.

    • Commemorative Proclamation, 10 a.m., Palm Harbor Museum
    • Family-Friendly Event, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Harbor Hall and historic White Chapel, with local vendors, food trucks, nonprofit organizations
    • City Celebration, 6 p.m., Pop Stansell Park, with live music, food, fireworks

    “We are so excited,” said Nancy McKibben, a Pinellas County coordinator who represents unincorporated county communities. “We have a wonderful history here.”

    There will also be a pop-up exhibit depicting the community’s history, developed by the Palm Harbor Museum.

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    Jeff Butera

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  • The Cortez Stone Crab Fishing Festival cancelling this year; businesses react

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Typically, Florida’s festival scene is vibrant with options.

    But this year, some local festivals are having to make a tough decision as hurricane recovery continues.

    What You Need To Know

    • On a Facebook post, the Cortez Stone Crab & Music Festival states: “After much thoughtful consideration, we have made the difficult decision not to host the Cortez Stone Crab Festival this year. The aftermath of last year’s hurricanes brought significant challenges to our beloved historic village.”

    • Local vendors rely on the Stone Crab Fishing Festival as it brings in needed revenue
    • Last year’s hurricanes left the business without power for days, costing them thousands of dollars

    • In the same Facebook post, the Cortez Stone Crab & Fishing Festival says they are planning a mini stone crab celebration this fall

    The Cortez Stone Crab & Music Festival announced on its Facebook page that this year’s festival is being cancelled.

    That affects not only festival-goers but also the vendors who serve them.

    Vendors relied heavily on the Cortez Stone Crab Festival every year as it brings in needed revenue.

    But with the festival cancelled, businesses that were already still trying to recover from last year’s storms now find themselves taking another hit.

    For Travis Roy, baking is his business. He co-owns Breezy Bakery in Cortez.

    Last year’s hurricanes left the business without power for days, costing them thousands of dollars.

    “That was money we were never able to recoup,” he said.

    It was a huge loss because of food going bad and a dip in sales from being closed.

    They also saw fewer customers after the storms.

    “And even with the loans, it’s still a loan and we still have to pay that back. So, we are still fighting and struggling,” he said.

    That’s why Roy relies on local events and festivals to ramp up business and income.

    So when he heard the Cortez Stone Crab & Music Festival was being cancelled this year, he says it was disappointing.

    “It helps out. It allows us to live, really. We’re definitely not the most high-volume place, but it definitely gives us a more relaxing month when it comes to the bills and keeping the place going and running,” he said.

    On a Facebook post, the Cortez Stone Crab & Music Festival states:

    “After much thoughtful consideration, we have made the difficult decision not to host the Cortez Stone Crab Festival this year. The aftermath of last year’s hurricanes brought significant challenges to our beloved historic village.”

    But they go on to post about a plan for a mini stone crab celebration this fall.

    “It’s something we love doing, and we love being a part of it,” Roy said.

    So whenever the festival returns, he’ll be there.

    He says that for him, community support goes a long way.

    Last year’s Cortez Stone Crab & Music Festival was also cancelled because of the hurricanes.

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    Julia Hazel

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