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Tag: APP Local & State Politics

  • Attorney asks Stetson Law School to denounce Pam Bondi

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi is under fire about the way she handled the Epstein file release. And the people speaking out are some of her fellow attorneys and judges who are alumni of Stetson Law School.

    What You Need To Know

    • Attorney General Pam Bondi faces criticism for her handling of the Epstein file release

    • Stetson Law alumni, including judges and attorneys, call for the school to denounce Bondi

    • A letter initiated by attorney Johnny Bardine has gathered hundreds of signatures

    In a letter written to Stetson Law School officials, Bondi’s ethics were called into question and it asks the school to publicly denounce her.

    Like Bondi, attorney Johnny Bardine is a graduate of Stetson Law. He’s also the author of the letter that’s garnered about four hundred signatures and counting.

    “I was surprised by how many there were in a short amount of time,” he said. “We count among our numbers three retired members of the judiciary and a former county commissioner and hundreds more attorneys that span political differences.”

    He read part of the letter that was sent out on Feb. 23, 2026:

    “We write to you with grave concern about the conduct of one of our most prominent graduates, Pam Bondi,” he read.

    In the letter, attorney Bardine asks the law school to issue a public statement reaffirming the college of law’s commitment to ethical practice, transparency and the rule of law. It also requests the school to express formal disapproval of Bondi’s actions and to support efforts to hold positions of legal authority to the highest ethical standards.

    Bardine said there were several tense moments during a congressional hearing where Bondi testified.

    “You don’t tell me anything you washed up loser lawyer. You’re not even a lawyer,” Bondi said while being questioned in that hearing. “I have spent my entire career fighting for victims, and I will continue to do so. I am deeply sorry for what any victim has been through. Especially as a result of that monster.”

    Bardine says Bondi’s words didn’t appear to match her actions. There were several tense moments during the hearing, but there was a moment Bardine said he knew he had to say and do something.

    “In particular, in that testimony there was the moment in which she wouldn’t turn around and acknowledge the Epstein survivors and the sort of glib look on her face really struck a chord which is sort of immediately empathetical to the Florida oath of attorney which requires we handle ourselves with ethics and candor,” Bardine said.

    President Trump came to Bondi’s defense the day after the hearing in a Truth Social post saying she was under intense fire and was fantastic at the hearing on the never-ending saga of Jeffrey Epstien.

    Gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds told Spectrum Bay News 9’s partners at the Tampa Bay Times Bondi did the best she could with millions of pages of documents. He said the messaging kind of got a little off, but the files are out there.

    As an attorney and a Stetson Law graduate, Bardine says more is expected from anyone who took the oath.

    “At a minimum, attorneys are trusted to follow the law, and not one attorney is above the law. And prior to her testimony she had fallen short of the law. She’d been dilatory releasing these files and when she did, they were sloppily redacted,” Bardine said.

    At a 2013 Stetson Law School graduation, Bondi delivered a speech to graduates with a message about ethics and the law.

    “The value of Stetson is so much more than the degree you’re about to receive. My studies at Stetson taught me to understand, respect and love the law and speak up for what’s right,” Bondi said in that speech.

    The message she gave to students about doing the right thing is what Bardine said his letter is calling on Stetson administrators to do.

    “In a perfect world, I think the dean makes a statement that says this is not who we are. This is not who we stand for. Stetson has a long legacy of prizing ethical conduct and professional responsibility,” Bardine said.

    Spectrum News reached out to Stetson Law School about the letter that’s asking them to denounce Bondi, and they said they have no comment. Spectrum News is also still waiting to hear back from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. As for Bardine, he says he plans to continue collecting signatures and press officials at Stetson.

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    Saundra Weathers

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  • Crowded Republican field lines up to take on Democrat Don Davis

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    It’s a small group at the Nashville Exchange in Nash County on a Monday night, a little more than two weeks before the North Carolina primary election. But each person here is a dedicated Republican and an almost certain voter.

    What You Need To Know

    • Five Republicans are running in North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District primary

    • The district was recently redrawn to benefit the Republican Party

    • The winner of the Republican primary will challenge Democratic Rep. Don Davis


    They are hearing from two of the Republicans running in the state’s 1st Congressional District. It’s a race with national attention because the party thinks it can flip the seat red for the first time in more than 140 years.

    Issues in this district include farming, where tobacco is very prevalent, health care, there’s been a number of hospital closures, and poverty. While there’s been a decline in the poverty rate, eastern North Carolina has some of the highest rates in the state.

    There’s a flood of Republicans running in the primary, which is March 3. The number of candidates makes it hard to predict who could win.

    President Donald Trump, an influential voice in Republican primaries, has not endorsed a candidate.

    “He’s really proven over and over to be a kingmaker in Republican politics,” said East Carolina University political science professor Peter Francia. “If he had decided to endorse one of the candidates, then I think we would be able to say with a lot of confidence that that candidate had a really good chance of winning.”

    Related: A closer look at N.C.’s only toss-up congressional House race

    Of the five Republicans running, the candidate who’s probably received the most attention is Laurie Buckhout.

    Democratic Rep. Don Davis is seeking reelection in the 1st Congressional District. (AP File Photo/David Yeazell)

    She ran for the seat in 2024, losing to Democratic Rep. Don Davis by two points. Despite the loss she has name recognition. She’s a retired Army colonel who recently served as acting assistant secretary of war for cyber policy in the Trump administration.

    Asa Buck is the longtime sheriff of Carteret County and is well-known in parts of the district.

    State Sen. Bobby Hanig represents some of this U.S. House district in the General Assembly and runs a pool cleaning and maintenance business in Currituck.

    Eric Rouse is a construction business owner who lives in Kinston and is a Lenoir County commissioner.

    And Ashley-Nicole Russell is a family law attorney with offices throughout the state.

    “The high number of candidates means there’s always the potential that a candidate doesn’t reach 30%, and in that case we have a runoff,” Francia told Spectrum News 1. “But my suspicion is that there will be a candidate who exceeds 30%.”

    Spectrum News 1 spoke with a number of voters at a poll site in Nash County.

    “I’ve met Laurie a couple of different times and I feel like her service to our country and I know that she has worked for Trump and I believe she is dedicated and loyal,” said JoAnn Everette, who said she voted for Buckhout.

    “Reducing it down to the top two would have been Laurie Buckhout and Asa Buck. I consider both of them to be near equals in different categories,” said Jerry Barnes. “The deciding factor for me was based on who stood the best chance in beating Don Davis and I felt that was Asa Buck.”

    The winner of the Republican primary will take on Davis, who’s vying for his third term.

    Davis is arguably one of the most moderate Democrats in the U.S. House and has a record of winning in the district.

    This November could be Davis’ toughest election because Republicans in the state legislature recently redrew the district boundaries to heavily favor their party’s candidate. It was part of the rare move of mid-decade redistricting that a number of states have taken in the country, started by Texas at Trump’s urging.

    “In this new map I think any political expert would tell you that the Republicans have a very good chance of winning the district this time around,” Francia said about the new 1st Congressional District.

    The district is wide, stretching from the Virginia border to the Democratic area of Rocky Mount and now the Republican stronghold of the Outer Banks.

    “In the 40 years that we’ve lived here we’ve been redistricted a lot of times, so it’s just a matter of OK, what’s coming up next,” said Republican voter Cynthia Carpenter.

    With so many candidates in the Republican primary, this race could be close as the GOP smells a chance to flip a blue seat to try to keep control of the U.S. House in November.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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    Reuben Jones

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  • Residents express concerns over plans for Polk agriculture center

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    POLK COUNTY, Fla. — County leaders presented plans to the community Tuesday night for an agriculture center.

    While the county believes the facility will be an economic boost, others are not totally on board with the idea.

    What You Need To Know

    • Polk County commissioners presented plans for a new agriculture center

    • The center will be located near the Mosaic Peace River Park in Bartow

    • Some residents are concerned over the effect it will have on the existing disc golf course


    One of those is Eric Bailey, who has a passion for disc golf. He picked up the sport about three years ago.

    “It gets you out in the environment, we’re out in wildlife,” he said.

    Every weekend, you’ll find him at the Mosaic Peace River Park on the disc golf course.

    “This is one of the top courses in the state of Florida. It brings a lot of challenges, it’s open to creativity with our shots,” he said.

    But this space will soon look a lot different. It will be home to Polk County’s newest agriculture center.

    Bailey says the change worries him. “This property is already occupied by a disk golf course, nature, birdwatchers,” he said.

    Polk County Commissioner Rick Wilson said the facility will include a new arena, livestock stables, trails, and RV parking. They won’t be getting rid of disc golf — it will just be in a new space.

    “They’ll still be on the property,” Wilson said. “We’re going to build a nice place for them because they are good for the community and good for what we got going on here.”

    Wilson said the county has outgrown the current agricultural center, which is actually in a state-owned building. 

    He said a new complex will provide an economic boost for the county. “This is a good starting point. This can be utilized with a lot of different areas and agricultural,” he said.

    The county will fund the project, and Wilson says they’ll also be looking for federal grants to move forward.

    Bailey said that he is not opposed to a new center, although he hopes the area doesn’t lose the appeal it currently has.

    “It’s not just to support disc golf or wildlife, agriculture, everything that’s out here is important to everybody,” he said.

    The county’s decision means change is coming, but it doesn’t mean Bailey won’t be able to enjoy disc golf.

    Wilson says their goal is to have the center constructed by the end of 2028.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • Trump cites Charlotte light rail slaying, criticizes ‘pro-crime’ Democrats

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    In President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday night, he recognized Anna Zarutska in the audience. She is the mother of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska, the Ukrainian woman killed on a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

    Anna Zarutska cried as the president described the stabbing and blamed “pro-crime” Democrats for Iryna Zarutska’s 2025 death.

    “Iryna fled war-torn Ukraine to live with relatives near Charlotte, North Carolina,” the president said in his address. As an aside, he added, “And by the way, what’s going on with Charlotte?”

    “Last summer, 23-year-old Iryna was riding home on the train when a deranged monster, who had been arrested over a dozen times and was released through no cash bail, stood up and viciously slashed a knife through her neck and body,” Trump continued.

    Cameras showed Anna Zarutska openly weeping as the president talked about her daughter’s killing. 

    RELATED: 8 takeaways from Trump’s State of the Union address

    The president falsely said the accused killer, DeCarlos Brown, was an immigrant. Brown is, in fact, an American citizen.

    “She had escaped a brutal war only to be slain by a hardened criminal, set free to kill in America, came in through open borders,” Trump said. 

    The stabbing death of Iryna Zarutska, caught in a graphic video, shocked Charlotte and drew national attention to the Queen City. 

    RELATED: Iryna’s Law already impacting some defendants’ pretrial process

    Brown had a long history of mental health issues and contacts with the criminal justice system, public records show. He served five years in prison for armed robbery. He was arrested most recently for misuse of 911 in 2025, a misdemeanor, and released from jail. 

    The killing on Charlotte’s popular Lynx Blue Line light rail drove action in Raleigh, where the North Carolina General Assembly passed Iryna’s Law.

    The law gets rid of judges’ ability to release people from jail on a written promise to appear. It also gives judges more authority to deny “no cash” bonds to people who could potentially be a risk to the community. 

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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    Charles Duncan

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  • Bowling Green survey highlights voters views

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    OHIO — President Donald Trump is set to make his State of the Union speech at 9 p.m. on Tuesday night.

    As the president prepares to speak to the joint session of Congress, there’s a lot on the minds of Americans just over a year into his second term.

    What You Need To Know

    • Bowling Green State University/YouGov’s February 2026 survey of 1,200 U.S. registered voters paints a picture of Americans’ thoughts on the current political environment

    • President Donald Trump will make his State of the Union speech at 9 p.m. Tuesday evening

    • Voters seemed to identify the economy as an important issue

    According to Bowling Green State University/YouGov’s February 2026 survey of 1,200 U.S. registered voters, 41% either somewhat or strongly approve of how Trump has handled the job as president. On the other hand, 51% strongly disapprove, and 7% somewhat disapprove.

    Here’s what else the survey found.

    Voters appeared to identify the economy as an important issue.

    Respondents identified the following issues as the most important to them: the economy in general (42%), health care (31%), threats to democracy (32%), immigration (31%) and inflation (29%).

    Only 28% of the respondents said the economic situation has improved (either somewhat or significantly) in the past year. That’s compared to 55% who said it has gotten much or somewhat worse. A total of 17% of people said it stayed about the same.

    As the 2026 Midterm draws nearer, 49% of respondents said they’d support the Democratic candidate in Congress if the vote were today, compared to 41% who said they’d support the Republican and 9% who said they’d support neither.

    A total of 59% of respondents feel the U.S. is headed in the wrong direction, compared to 34% who feel it on the right track.

    Operations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have dominated recent media cycles, and it has seemingly not escaped the notice of voters. According to the survey, 58% of respondents said they’ve paid a great deal of attention to recent ICE raids, and 33% said they paid some attention. Only 9% of people said they paid little or no attention.

    Most respondents oppose what they’ve seen of these “ICE raids,” with 50% strongly opposed and 9% somewhat opposed. A total of 27% of the respondents said they strongly favor the raids, and 14% somewhat favor them.

    The majority of Americans agree with the statement “I am proud to be an American.” A little over half (52%) of the respondents strongly agreed with the state, and a quarter (25%) somewhat agree. A total of 23% of people either somewhat or strongly disagree.

    You can view the full survey here:

    Spectrum News reporter Susan Carpenter contributed to this report.

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    Cody Thompson

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  • School board OKs closings, consolidations to adjust to declining enrollment

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    LARGO, Fla. — Tuesday, the Pinellas County Schools board unanimously approved a series of proposals to close and consolidate a handful of schools.

    The move, the district officials say, will help it save money and adjust to declining enrollment.

    What You Need To Know

    • Pinellas County school board members voted to approve a number of changes the district says will help it adjust to declining enrollment

    • Disston Academy and Cross Bayou Elementary will close, Bay Point Elementary and Middle will combine to form a K-8, and Oldsmar Elementary will expand to a K-8

    • According to the district, the changes will save $7.7 million in recurring annual expenses

    • Read previous coverage: Final word on Pinellas schools closings and consolidations likely Tuesday


    The board approved combining Bay Point Elementary and Middle Schools into a K-8 and expanding Oldsmar Elementary to eighth grade. Cross Bayou Elementary School and Disston Academy will both close at the end of this school year.

    For some, it was an emotional decision.

    “I’ll only ask you one more time: Please save my school,” said Michael Gerke, a parent of a Cross Bayou student and volunteer at the school.

    Gerke says Cross Bayou Elementary should not be on the chopping block. He previously told Spectrum Bay News 9 the school’s 250-student population makes it easier for educators to know the kids than at a bigger school.

    He also said he doesn’t think the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Program should be disturbed.

    In the end, that proposal, like the others, passed with a 7-0 vote from the board. Gerke and his son were visibly upset afterwards, walking out of the meeting and declining an on-camera interview.

    “Any closure is impactful for the communities we serve. We certainly heard from Cross Bayou Elementary School community members who are not happy with this recommendation, and we should expect that,” said Superintendent Kevin Hendrick. “Our schools should be places that are loved and remembered fondly. It is my responsibility, though, and obligation to provide our families with excellent academic choices and programs while maintaining a balanced budget.”

    Hendrick told board members Cross Bayou is only at 40% utilization and needs $5 million in maintenance. According to the district, closing it, along with the other changes, can save $7.7 million on recurring annual expenses. Another is expanding Oldsmar Elementary to a K-8.

    One parent told the board he supports it.

    “Three more years, my kids get to be together as siblings. That increases the togetherness, the bond, the psychological safety. Not only, though, is it stability for them, it is stability for my wife and I as parents,” said Oldsmar Elementary parent Curtis Campogni. 

    The superintendent said expanding Oldsmar will take it from 57% utilization up to 95%.

    Board member Eileen Long said she’s heard from parents who asked for closer options for middle school.

    “When your child goes to Carwise and you work until 5 p.m. and then want to go to open house at 6 p.m., a lot of parents didn’t make it. We have a lot of support for this,” Long said.

    The Oldsmar expansion will happen in phases beginning next school year. Bay Point K-8 will begin in 2027-28, and Disston Academy will close at the end of this school year. 

    According to district information, more comprehensive recommendations are expected this fall. They wouldn’t go into effect until the 2027-28 school year.

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • Despite some public objections, Palmetto approves teen curfew

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    PALMETTO, Fla. — Despite some pushback from the community, members of the Palmetto City Commission voted 4-1 Monday to adopt a new curfew ordinance for minors.

    What You Need To Know

    • Despite some pushback from the community, members of the Palmetto City Commission voted 4-1 Monday to adopt a new curfew ordinance for minors

    • Children under 16 will not be allowed out without a parent between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and midnight to 6 a.m. Friday and Saturday

    • Some parents and community members spoke against the ordinance, saying they worry teens in minority groups might be targeted

    Children under 16 will not be allowed out without a parent between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and midnight to 6 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

    The city’s ordinance mirrors the ordinance passed by the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners in November.

    Some parents and community members spoke against the city’s ordinance, saying they worry teens in minority groups might be targeted.

    “I just don’t want our children ending up caught up into the system or having any fines imposed on them when they’re not the responsible ones for all of that,” said Manatee County NAACP President Tracey Washington.


    Palmetto Police Chief Scott Tyler said the rule will help protect teens, and they will not be charged criminally for violating it.

    “We enforce the law impartially, effectively,” Tyler said. “This isn’t an ordinance where we’re going to be out there stopping kids. When we encounter kids, we’re trying to get them home. Also, remember that this ordinance and the statute that backs it up, it’s not criminal.”

    Tyler added there could be a $50 fine, but that will be reserved for repeat violations.

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • Manatee County Commissioner Carol Felts dies

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Commissioner Carol Felts has died, according to a statement by District 5 Commissioner Dr. Bob McCann on Tuesday.

    Felts represented District 1 after being elected to the post in November 2024.

    McCann called Felts a “true friend to the people.”

    “As the Manatee County Commissioner for District 1, Carol Felts was a devoted public servant, people person, and someone who spoke from the heart,” McCann said.

    Before she took office, she was a regular at county meetings, McCann said.

    She also served on several boards and councils in the county.

    In a news release, the county said: “Throughout her tenure, she worked diligently to represent her constituents, strengthen community partnerships, and advance initiatives that supported the well-being of Manatee County and its residents.”

    Commission Chair Tal Siddique said Felts cared deeply about the people she served.

    “Her commitment to District 1 and to the future of our county was evident in her leadership and service. She will be greatly missed by her colleagues, County staff, and the community,” Siddique said.

    The county will formally recognize Felts during its meeting on March 3.

    The cause of her death wasn’t released.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Tampa resident hopeful Cuba oil embargo topples regime

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa resident Rafael Pizano said his relatives in Cuba tell him the country is likely days away from running out of fuel, and he is hopeful the pressure will lead to regime change on the communist island.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Trump administration shut off the flow of oil to Cuba last month

    • The lack of fuel and tourists visiting the island has increased the economic crisis in Cuba

    • Tampa resident Rafael Pizano said his relatives in Cuba tell him the country is likely days away from running out of fuel 

    • Pizano is hopeful that the pressure will lead to regime change on the communist island


    “We welcome it,” he said. “I would rather have my family in Cuba spend a couple of months going through a tough time, more than usual, if it could lead to a transition.”

    The Trump administration shut off the flow of oil to Cuba last month with military action in Venezuela, and Mexico suspended shipments under pressure from the U.S. The lack of fuel and tourists visiting the island has increased the economic crisis in Cuba.

    “It’s actually getting tougher for the first time on the actual regime,” said Pizano, 45. “These active measures haven’t been seen in decades.”

    Pizano’s dad, Roberto, 87, was a political prisoner in Cuba for 18 years until President Jimmy Carter negotiated an exchange for his release in 1979. The end game the father and son want to see in Cuba includes pluralism in political parties, legalized labor unions and the right to vote.

    “That transition would be freedom, liberty, democracy,” said Pizano. “Change the course of history forever in Cuba in a positive way.”

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    Josh Rojas

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  • Department of Homeland Security suspends Global Entry

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    DALLAS — The Department of Homeland Security said Sunday that the Global Entry program would be shut down as long as the partial government shutdown remains in effect.

    The announcement comes after the department said Saturday night that it planned to shut down both Global Entry and the Transportation Security Administration’s PreCheck program as well, but DHS canceled the PreCheck closure.

    What You Need To Know

    • The turmoil at security and customs lanes is tied to a partial government shutdown that began Feb. 14 after Democrats and the White House were unable to reach a deal on legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security

    • Democrats have been demanding changes to immigration operations that are core to President Donald Trump’s deportation campaign
    • The security disruptions come at a time when a major winter storm will hit the East Coast from Sunday into Monday

    • Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement that “shutdowns have serious real-world consequences”

    “As staffing constraints arise, TSA will evaluate on a case-by-case basis and adjust operations accordingly,” the agency said.

    The turmoil at security and customs lanes is tied to a partial government shutdown that began Feb. 14 after Democrats and the White House were unable to reach a deal on legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats have been demanding changes to immigration operations that are core to President Donald Trump’s deportation campaign.

    The security disruptions come at a time when a major winter storm will hit the East Coast from Sunday into Monday. Nine out of 10 flights going out of John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport and Boston Logan Airport have been canceled for Monday.

    Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection program that allows pre-approved, low-risk travelers to use expedited kiosks when entering the United States from abroad. There’s no specific government data that shows how much time passengers save at airports or other ports of entry from Global Entry but travel industry experts estimate that Global Entry cuts the amount of time passengers getting through customs from an average of 30 to 90 minutes to 5 to 10 minutes in Global Entry lines.

    Those who purchase Global Entry also receive TSA PreCheck. In 2024, the Department of Homeland Security said more than 20 million Americans had TSA PreCheck, and millions of those Americans have overlapping Global Entry memberships.

    Airport lines seemed largely unaffected Sunday, with security check line wait times listed as under 15 minutes for most international airports, according to TSA’s mobile app.

    Blair Perkins, 39, of Dallas, had seen the news about the shutdown of Global Entry before she left Cancun to return home Sunday morning to Dallas. She said after she and her friends arrived at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport that the regular line was long but moved fairly fast.

    “We went around about four or five different corners to get to the end of the U.S. line,” she said.

    With Global Entry, it usually takes less than five minutes to get through customs. she said. Sunday, it took about 30 minutes.

    Perkins said the shutdown was frustrating. “It feels like Washington is using travelers as a pawn to try to, I guess, persuade the other side to do what they want,” she said.

    Homeland Security previously said it was taking “emergency measures to preserve limited funds.” Among the steps listed were “ending Transportation Security Administration (TSA) PreCheck lanes and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Global Entry service, to refocus Department personnel on the majority of travelers.”

    “We are glad that DHS has decided to keep PreCheck operational and avoid a crisis of its own making,” said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association.

    Before announcing the PreCheck shutdown, Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement Saturday night that “shutdowns have serious real world consequences.” Noem said she would take away courtesy escorts from members of Congress at airports during the partial government shutdown as well.

    Jean Fay, 54, said she had no issues going through TSA PreCheck at the Baltimore airport for her 6 a.m. Sunday flight back home to Texas. She didn’t hear about the shutdown until she was changing planes in Austin, Texas, on her way to Dallas Love Field.

    “When I landed in Austin I started getting the alerts,” she said.

    Airlines for America, a trade group representing major carriers, said Saturday night that “it’s past time for Congress to get to the table and get a deal done.” It also criticized the announcement by saying it was “issued with extremely short notice to travelers, giving them little time to plan accordingly.”

    “A4A is deeply concerned that TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs are being suspended and that the traveling public will be, once again, used as a political football amid another government shutdown,” the organization said.

    Democrats on the House Committee on Homeland Security criticized Homeland Security handling of airport security after the initial announcement on Saturday night. They accused the administration of “kneecapping the programs that make travel smoother and secure.”

    Sen. Andy Kim, a New Jersey Democrat, said Noem’s actions are part of an administration strategy to distract from other issues and shift responsibility.

    “This administration is trying to weaponize our government, trying to make things intentionally more difficult for the American people as a political leverage,” he told CNN on Sunday. “And the American people see that.”

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    Associated Press

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  • Trump announces $10 million for economic recovery in East Palestine

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    EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — President Donald Trump, in a Thursday evening social media post, said his administration is providing $10 million, through the Economic Development Administration, toward economic recovery in East Palestine, Ohio.

    What You Need To Know

    • President Donald Trump made a social media post in which he said his administration is providing $10 million for economic recovery in East Palestine Ohio

    • He said the money is being provided through the Economic Development Administration

    • Republican Ohio Sen. Jon Husted shared the post on X, thanking the president

    The town was thrust into the national spotlight on Feb. 3, 2023, when a Norfolk Southern train derailed in the area.

    Fearing the chemicals inside these containers would explode, officials performed a “controlled burn,” sending a massive plume of smoke into the sky.

    In the aftermath, the town has received multiple presidential visits, including Trump and Former President Joe Biden.

    “We want to see East Palestine grow, flourish, and be able to take advantage of our now BOOMING Economy,” Trump’s post reads. “It was horrible what was allowed to happen there, and we are with you for the LONG HAUL. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”


    Republican Ohio Sen. Jon Husted shared the post on X, thanking the president.

    “Thank you, Mr. President, for not forgetting East Palestine,” he said. “I look forward to working with you to make sure this community is stronger than ever.”

    Spectrum News 1 has reached out to the Economic Development Administration for more information.

    You can view a timeline of the East Palestine train derailment and subsequent developments below:

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    Spectrum News Staff, Cody Thompson

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  • N.C. toy store owner says impact of Supreme Court tariff decision is unclear

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday that many of President Donald Trump’s tariffs are illegal.

    A toy store owner in Charlotte says after the past year’s tariffs, “you kind of become numb to it.”

    “You have to run your business,” Dan Weiss, owner of Harper and Skyler’s Toys and Sweets, said. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The U.S. Supreme Court ruled many of President Donald Trump’s tariffs illegal

    • It’s unclear what the ruling means for local businesses that had to deal with the tariffs 

    • The owner of Harper and Skyler’s Toys and Sweets in Charlotte sells a variety of items other than toys in order to keep his business afloat 

    • Regardless of the ruling, owner Dan Weiss says he’s keeping a level head about the future 


    Weiss says it’s unclear what this ruling could mean for his business or the industry in general. Over the last year, he absorbed most of the extra costs due to tariffs.

    “Some prices I kept the same. I again, 20% of the stuff in the store might have went up in price, but for the most part, we ate a lot of it. We kept our pricing the same and we tried to not burden the customer,” he said.

    The justices ruled that the president does not have the authority to impose sweeping tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, but other Trump duties, including on goods such as aluminum and lumber through the Trade Expansion Act, were not part of the case considered by the Supreme Court and still remain.

    Trump responded to the Supreme Court ruling in a press conference Friday afternoon, saying, “Their decision’s incorrect, but it doesn’t matter because we have very powerful alternatives that have been approved by this decision. You know they’ve been approved by the decision, for those that thought they had us.”

    Weiss has dealt with surcharges from companies and discontinuation of some items because of tariffs, but in the short term, he said, “You’re not going to get money back. I’m not going to see money back.”

    “And if it happens, it’s going to be years down the road,” Weiss said. “Today and tomorrow mean nothing.”

    That’s why he’s focused on the day to day of his business.

    “I have to run my business the way I run it. I have to order the way I order. I have to get products. The way I get products, whether they’re 10% more, 20% more, or I’m getting a check back next week, it doesn’t affect what I do day to day,” he said. 

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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    Melody Greene

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  • Report: Florida Cabinet to discuss gift of 22 acres to Hillsborough College

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet are considering giving Hillsborough College 22 acres of land.

    The move would give the college the land needed for a proposed Tampa Bay Rays baseball stadium.

    What You Need To Know

    • Florida Cabinet may consider giving 22 acres of land to Hillsborough College to go toward a Rays stadium 

    • The possible land gift is listed as an agenda item for a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 24

    • The team is envisioning a mixed-use entertainment district that would include a domed stadium that can seat about 31,000 people  
    • The Tampa Bay Rays released initial renderings on Thursday morning of the proposed ballpark at Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry campus 
    • PREVIOUS STORIES on Rays stadium pursuit

    According to Spectrum Bay News 9 partner newspaper, the Tampa Bay Times, the possible land gift is listed as an agenda item for a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 24.

    DeSantis, along with Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, has come out in support of the project.

    The team is envisioning a mixed-used entertainment district that would include a domed stadium that can seat about 31,000 people. According to a team release, the entire development would stretch about 130 acres across the campus.

    The college campus is located on North Dale Mabry Highway, across from Raymond James Stadium.

     

    Rays officials have said they want to be in the new ballpark for the 2029 season. The team’s lease with St. Petersburg at the newly renovated Tropicana Field expires after the 2028 season.

    According to a potential deal, the college would own the land and could negotiate its use with the Rays. Construction of the stadium could cost an estimated $2.3 billion.

    The team’s new owners, led by developer Patrick Zalupski, have said they would fund 50 percent of the stadium costs.

    City, county and state officials have yet to officially discuss any other funding sources, though property taxes on the nearby area, a half-cent county sales tax and a tourist tax have all been mentioned.  

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Tim Boyum talks with State Senator Michael Garrett on ICE, Bad Bunny

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    On this week’s episode of Tying it Together, State Senator Michael Garrett, a Democrat, joins Tim Boyum to talk about his recent visit to Minnesota, where he sat in on legislative hearings about ICE operations. 

    Then, the night of the Super Bowl, a post he made about Bad Bunny went very viral. 

    About the Podcast

    With the speed of the local news cycle, it’s easy to forget that the politicians who represent us and the influencers in our communities are more than just a sound bite. North Carolina’s veteran reporter and anchor, Tim Boyum, loosens his signature bow tie to give listeners a glimpse behind the curtain, showing us who these power players really are and why they do what they do. Through Tim’s candid conversations on “Tying It Together,” his guests reveal their most fascinating life stories, passions, and help all of us get a better grasp on the issues affecting our communities.

    Listen and Subscribe

    Apple | Spotify | Stitcher

    Join the Conversation

    Do you have any thoughts or questions for Tim? Weigh in on X with the hashtag #TyingItTogetherNC. Afterward, rate the podcast and leave a review to tell us what you think!

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Polk County approves nearly $2M contract for new well water supply

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    POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Polk County leaders are looking for ways to keep up with the influx of people moving to the area.

    They recently approved a nearly $2-million contract for a new water well supply in the northeast part of the county.

    What You Need To Know

    • Polk County Commissioners approved a new water supply well in Northeast Polk County
    • An alternative water supply receiving facility is awaiting approval to be constructed on the same property as the new well
    • The county cites the growing population and the need to look for sustainable water sources


    Stepping out into his backyard, Sean Brinkmeier likes to enjoy the scenery, although it might look a little different this time of year.

    “I’ve always wanted to live near water, around water, I have for a good portion of my life,” he says.

    He’s lived in and around Polk County for several years.

    So, he’s seen the growth firsthand and what’s needed for growing communities like his.

    “It needs a lot of infrastructure, whether that’s roads, water, power lines all of it, so it’s great to see that they’re investing in this part of Polk County,” he said.

    The Polk County Board of Commissioners recently approved a $1.8-million project for a new water supply well in northeast Polk County adjacent to Davenport.

    “It’s more of a maintenance type thing, rather than a new water supply,” said Tamara Richardson, the utilities director.

    She said the current well in the area isn’t up to par, so they’re creating a new one about a mile away, but she says this is just part of a bigger project to construct an alternative water supply receiving facility.

    Richardson said they’ve reached the water pumping limit from the upper level of the Floridan aquifer.

    Now, they’re having to find new ways to access water from the lower Floridan aquifer.

    She said the northeast part of the county is the fastest growing, and they serve more than 40,000 residential and commercial areas.

    “We need this lower Floridan to continue to serve additional growth and to provide more reliability for the northeast for our existing customers,” she says.

    Richardson said the new project came with rate increases; according to the county, customers can expect a 6% increase every year over the next six years.

    Brinkmeier says he’s excited to see more people calling Polk County home, and he hopes local leaders keep residents in mind as the growth continues.

    “Davenport is lagging, Polk County’s lagging but they are showing great steps to get back up and get in front of the growth that’s happening right now,” says Brinkmeier.

    It’s a growing community, one which Brinkmeier hopes his family can continue to enjoy for many years to come.

    The plans for the construction of the receiving facility are going to be presented for approval on Tuesday at the Polk County Board of Commissioners’ meeting.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • AI, property tax bills garnering attention as legislature meets halfway point

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    TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Lawmakers are in the second half of the legislative session in Tallahassee, and among the mountain of legislation being considered, a number of bills addressing artificial intelligence and property taxes are still moving through committees.

    What You Need To Know

    • Florida legislative session at halfway point 

    • Two bills garnering a lot of interest addressing artificial intelligence are House Bill 1007 and Senate Bill 484

    • Lawmakers also discussing House Joint Resolution 209, which is taking aim at property tax reductions with a full House vote expected in the coming weeks

    Two bills garnering a lot of interest addressing AI are House Bill 1007 and Senate Bill 484.

    The artificial intelligence bill is seeking regulation of new data centers — which require a huge draw of electricity and water — across the state

    The bill would disallow incentives and make providers pay full price for electricity. Those data centers would also be subject to strict water restrictions.

    Meanwhile, House Joint Resolution 209 is taking aim at property tax reductions with a full House vote expected in the coming weeks.

    The resolution would provide an increase of homestead exemption to $200,000 for homeowners that carry comprehensive multi-peril insurance coverage.

    Other bills also moving through committees include mandatory mediation for disputes between homeowners and insurance companies and a bill that would prohibit insurers from dropping homeowners based solely on roof condition.

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    Jason Lanning

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  • ‘Bent, but not broken’: Congresswoman Shontel Brown reflects on a chaotic 2025

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    CLEVELAND — Democratic Congresswoman Shontel Brown reflected on what she calls a chaotic year in Washington, D.C. during her State of Ohio’s 11th Congressional District Address.

    What You Need To Know

    • Democratic Congresswoman Shontel Brown reflected on what she calls a chaotic year in Washington, D.C. DC during her State of Ohio’s 11th Congressional District Address

    • Brown says her district is facing pressure because of many of President Donald Trump’s priorities, including the tax and spending policy he calls the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”

    • Brown vowed to use every tool she has to dismantle ICE, saying she would not vote to approve giving the agency even one more cent of funding

    “Our communities are being terrorized by ICE,” she said. “Our health care is being cut. Our food assistance is being slashed. Our schools and our local programs are being defunded by Washington. Our pocketbooks are being stretched thin by Trump’s reckless tariffs.”

    Brown says her district is facing pressure because of many of President Donald Trump’s priorities, including the tax and spending policy he calls the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”

    “But I like to call it the Big Ugly Law,” Brown said.

    The law extends tax cuts and cuts spending on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and health care programs Medicare and Medicaid, reduces spending on clean energy tax credits and significantly increases spending for ICE. 

    The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates nearly 100,000 Ohioans will lose out on SNAP food benefits because of the Republican-backed spending bill. Brown said her district has the highest percentage of people relying on SNAP in the state. While she fights to protect and restore those benefits, she said Republicans invested $75 billion into ICE. 

    “I am going to introduce legislation in the coming weeks that would repeal that funding and put it right back into the SNAP program,” she said.

    Brown vowed to use every tool she has to dismantle ICE, saying she would not vote to approve giving the agency even one more cent of funding. 

    She said House Democrats will continue using their leverage to secure wins despite being in the minority, pointing to the release of the Epstein files as a win.

    Constituent Terreia Whitsett said she’d like to see Brown continue to press that issue.

    “The biggest issue is that the attorney general is not interviewing the victims,” Whitsett said. “And I think that’s very important. When you’re a victim of something, you want to be heard and you want to know that people really feel what you’re going through. And I just think she’s deflecting a lot.”

    Through all the chaos of 2025, Browns said her community banded together, protesting ICE’s crackdown, raising money to make up for frozen federal benefits and taking care of each other.

    “We know our strength and we know our power,” she said. “We’ve been tested, but not defeated. Battered, but not beaten. Bent, but not broken.”

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    Nora McKeown

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  • N.C. A&T students host first of several early voting events

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    GREENSBORO, N.C. — The first day of early voting kicked off with a march to the polls from N.C. A&T.

    What You Need To Know

    • N.C. A&T students walked to the polls after the State Board of Elections decided against early voting locations at their campus

    • All 10 early voting sites around Guilford County opened this week

    • The two closest to the university’s campus are the Old Guilford Court House and the Guilford AG Center, but both are more than a mile away

    • The event is the first of many voter turnout events students said they will be holding leading up to the primary election March 3



    The event comes after the State Board of Elections decided against adding early voting locations at the university along with UNC Greensboro and Elon University.

    Organizers said it is the first of many more voter turnout events they’re planning to help students navigate voting off campus.

    “Aggies do what is necessary for our rights, for our survival and for our people,” said N.C. A&T student Jae’lah Monet, who joined more than 60 other students and community members in a walk to the nearest polling site about 1.3 miles away from campus.

    She said the event helps students get to the election site safely while demonstrating to the State Board of Elections how important a polling site is on campus.

    “We will be there all day, and we will all get a chance to vote. Accessibility is truly, truly so important to all of us Aggies, because we understand not everyone has a car, not every student has money for Uber, so we work together to make sure that everybody has an equal chance, and that is what it means to be an Aggie,” Monet said.

    There are 10 early voting sites around Guilford County. The two closest to campus are the Old Guilford Court House and the Guilford AG Center, but both are more than a mile away.

    Charlie Collicutt, director of the Guilford County Board of Elections, said this is usual for this election, but the school will remain a voting location on election day.

    “There’s never been a midterm election, primary or general election that used any of our college campuses. We’ve only ever used them in presidential elections,” Collicutt said.  

    “We’re staffed up at all of our polling sites. Any voter going to any site should see a fairly efficient process,” he said as students began lining up in the registration and voting lines.

    Monet said they hope this walk changes that.

    “There are a lot of things in this country that people have never had, and that doesn’t make them right. That doesn’t mean that it’s always fair, and this country is not known for always being accessible. That is why the future matters so much. The goal is to have polling sites for every election cycle, on our college campuses,” she explained.

    Monet serves as a canvasser with the N.C A&T Chapter of the NAACP, where she’s trying to make sure more than 15,000 students are registered to vote.

    “Every day, I meet a new Aggie who is doing something in the community to encourage their peers. Campaign trailblazers want people who are out making an impact every single day,” she said while standing in line to vote. 

    Monet said more than 200 other student organizations are working together to help get students to the polls for the primary election.

    The final day to cast early in-person ballots is February 28. Primary election day is March 3.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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    Sasha Strong

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  • President Trump, first lady to visit Fort Bragg Friday

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    President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump will visit Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, North Carolina, on Friday. 

    The president will meet with military families and members of the special forces who took part in the operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a news conference Tuesday.  

    Trump is a regular visitor to North Carolina. In December, Trump visited Rocky Mount. The president visited Fort Bragg last summer for a military celebration. 

    Fort Bragg is the home of the Joint Special Operations Command. 

    Last year, the base went through controversial change. It was re-branded as Fort Liberty in 2023, going from a base that carried the name of a former Confederate soldier to Liberty instead. 

    In 2025, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed an order to reinstating the Bragg name, but this time to honor a World War II paratrooper. 

    Trump’s trip to the base comes as early voting begins in North Carolina’s primary elections. The midterm primary is set for March 3, with a competitive U.S. Senate seat, every U.S. House seat and the entire state legislature up for election.

    President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk from Marine One to board Air Force One, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025, at Joint Base Andrews, Md., en route to Norfolk, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

     

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    Elizabeth Townsend

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  • St. Pete Council votes to hold off on Gas Plant work for now

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Some members of St. Pete’s City Council want Mayor Ken Welch to pump the breaks on development of the historic Gas Plant district.

    The council voted 6-2 on Thursday to pursue a ‘planning-first framework’ before choosing a developer.

    Councilwoman Brandi Gabbard said it is the like the city is “chasing a speeding bullet” when it comes to redevelopment. It was Gabbard who introduced the motion, which can’t force the mayor to delay the project but expresses how Council is feeling.

    Mayor Ken Welch’s office received nine proposals from developers before their deadline earlier this week.

    In a memo sent to the Council on Wednesday, Welch said: “Pausing all progress for yet another planning exercise — after proposals have been submitted, risks repeating a familiar and painful pattern for this community: plans discussed, promises acknowledged, and action deferred.”

    Gabbard hasn’t officially filed but said she plans to run for mayor. Welch has filed to run for re-election.

    This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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