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Tag: APP Local & State Politics

  • Trop and Gas Plant redevelopment plan takes next step forward

    Trop and Gas Plant redevelopment plan takes next step forward

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It’s a step forward for the redevelopment of Tropicana Field and the Historic Gas Plant District. Thursday night, St. Petersburg City Council members voted 5-3 to schedule the second reading of an ordinance that would approve a development agreement for the site. They also gave the OK for a second reading of an ordinance on rezoning and a public hearing on increasing the Intown Redevelopment Plan’s redevelopment program budget. All are scheduled to take place on July 11.

    What You Need To Know

    • St. Petersburg City Council approved a number of measures Thursday that move the Rays/Hines deal for the Trop and Gas Plant District redevelopment forward

    • Members could take a final vote on July 11

    • Dozens of residents spoke both for and against the plan at Thursday’s meeting

    • Read previous coverage here

    Before the meeting began, groups including Sierra Club Florida and Faith in Florida held a rally outside city hall, asking the council to “pump the brakes” on making a decision on the plan.

    “It’s ignoring the will of the people,” said Bishop Manuel Sykes, one of those who spoke at the rally.

    Speakers said they weren’t asking council to scrap the Rays/Hines deal, but they do want to see changes made to the plan. Among their concerns were environmental impacts and the project timeline when it comes to features meant for the community, like affordable housing.

    “We’re talking about getting a stadium done in a matter of three years, and everybody else’s concerns may be addressed over the next 27 years,” Sykes said.

    Inside, dozens addressed council during public comment.

    “Fundamentally, this is rotten,” said William Kilgore, an organizer with the St. Petersburg Tenants Union. “This is our money. This is public wealth, and we’re giving it to a private corporation.”

    The $1.3 billion project would see St. Petersburg contribute $287 million, while Pinellas County and the Rays would put in $312 million and $770 million, respectively.

    Supporters told the council the project is the chance to bring new opportunity to the area with mixed use development.

    “That million-and-a-half square feet of office space — if we don’t do this deal, that office space will not come,” said one speaker.

    Others said the deal is the best chance to fulfill past promises made to Gas Plant residents, which was razed to make way for the Trop.

    “If Rays/Hines is not approved, who is going to ensure that the efforts to fulfill those promises are going to be made?” one speaker asked members.

    A sticking point for some council members was that they haven’t received finalized documents on the plan and have been working with drafts.

    “It is our duty to do our due diligence, and we can only do that appropriately with final documents and not being rushed through this process,” said council member Lisset Hanewicz. 

    Council Chair Deborah Figgs-Sanders noted members had previously decided they needed to have final documents two weeks before making a final decision.

    “I’m going to vote for the motion as is, but if we don’t have those documents, we cannot really discuss them on July 11. It’s a given. We voted on that,” said Figgs-Sanders.

    Officials said if members didn’t have final documents two weeks before the July 11 meeting, they could push the items back to July 18.

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • Bradenton attorney gets Latinos involved in the voting process

    Bradenton attorney gets Latinos involved in the voting process

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    BRADENTON, Fla. — Several organizations and community members are working to increase the numbers of people voting amongst Hispanics. It comes as the demographic is falling behind other ethnic groups when it comes to heading to the polls.

    What You Need To Know

    • There are more than 30 million Hispanics eligible to vote, up almost 4 million from 2020

    • The Pew Research Center reports younger Hispanics are more active when it comes to voting

    • Christopher John Czaia is an injury and accident attorney in Bradenton

    • Czaia believes in helping educate Hispanics to help them get out to the polls

    Attorney Christopher John Czaia is one of those people encouraging the Hispanic community, saying “democracy is a very fragile thing, we could have it today and lose it tomorrow.”

    Czaia has formerly run for political office in Manatee County and Pinellas County, to name a few. Although he’s not seeking office now, his political work hasn’t stopped.

    What he saw as an elected official motivated him to start his own accident and injury law firm.

    “When I started out, I found myself in a community that didn’t have attorneys representing Latinos, particularly the Mexican community,” said Czaia. “We had a lot of people here doing agriculture here working in the fields.”

    Czaia says the limited representation opened his eyes to the need for education and it’s the reason he started a weekly podcast talking about recent pieces of legislation.

    “We try to educate what exactly is the law, in order to have a democracy that functions we need to be educated,” he said.

    Czaia is also pushing for Latinos to be involved in the voting process.

    Right now, there are approximately 36 million Hispanics who are eligible to vote in the 2024 election. That’s almost four million more than 2020, according to the Pew Research Center.

    Czaia says it’s particularly important to target young adults.

    “If we participate, we see change. If we don’t participate, nothing changes,” he said.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • Families of hostages in Gaza back cease-fire deal set out by Biden

    Families of hostages in Gaza back cease-fire deal set out by Biden

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    TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas called for all parties to immediately accept a proposal detailed by U.S. President Joe Biden to end the war in Gaza, but Israel’s government said that conditions for a cease-fire still must be met.

    What You Need To Know

    • The families of Israeli hostages are supporting a proposal by President Joe Biden urging Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement to release about 100 remaining hostages, along with the bodies of around 30 more, for an extended cease-fire in Gaza

    • Cease-fire talks halted last month after a push by the U.S. and other mediators to secure a deal in hopes of averting a full-scale Israeli invasion of Gaza’s southern city of Rafah. Israel says the Rafah operation is key to uprooting Hamas fighters responsible for the Oct. 7 attack

    • Many families of hostages accuse the government of a lack of will to secure a deal

    • Hamas said in a statement Friday that it viewed the proposal “positively” and called on Israel to declare explicit commitment to an agreement that includes a permanent cease-fire, a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, a prisoner exchange and other conditions

    Biden outlined a three-phase deal Friday that he said was proposed by Israel to Hamas, saying the militant group is “no longer capable” of carrying out a large-scale attack on Israel like the one in October that started the fighting. He urged Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement to release about 100 remaining hostages, along with the bodies of around 30 more, for an extended cease-fire in Gaza.

    Cease-fire talks halted last month after a push by the U.S. and other mediators to secure a deal in hopes of averting a full-scale Israeli invasion of Gaza’s southern city of Rafah. Israel says the Rafah operation is key to uprooting Hamas fighters responsible for the Oct. 7 attack.

    Israel on Friday confirmed its troops were operating in central parts of the city. The ground assault has led around 1 million Palestinians to leave Rafah and has thrown humanitarian operations into turmoil.

    Following Biden’s speech, hostage families said time was running out.

    “This might be the last chance to save lives,” Gili Roman told The Associated Press. His sister, Yarden Roman-Gat, was taken hostage and freed during a weeklong cease-fire in November, but Yarden’s sister-in-law, Carmel, is still held. Roman added: “There is no other way towards a better situation for all. Our leadership must not disappoint us. But mostly, all eyes should be on Hamas.”

    The proposal came after what hostage families called an aggressive meeting Thursday with Israel’s national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, who told them that the government wasn’t ready to sign a deal to bring all hostages home and that there was no plan B.

    Hanegbi said this week he expects the war to continue another seven months to destroy the military and governing capabilities of Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad militant group.

    Netanyahu has promised a “total victory” that would remove Hamas from power, dismantle its military structure and return the hostages. On Saturday, the government said that its conditions for ending the war hadn’t changed and that putting a permanent cease-fire in place before the conditions are fulfilled is a “nonstarter.”

    Many families of hostages accuse the government of a lack of will to secure a deal.

    “We know that the government of Israel has done an awful lot to delay reaching a deal, and that has cost the lives of many people who survived in captivity for weeks and weeks and months and months,” Sharone Lifschitz said. Her mother, Yocheved, was freed in the November cease-fire, and her father, Oded, is still held.

    The first phase of the deal announced by Biden would would last for six weeks and include a “full and complete cease-fire,” a withdrawal of Israeli forces from all densely populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages, including women, older people and the wounded, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

    The second phase would include the release of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers, and Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza. The third phase calls for the start of a major reconstruction of Gaza, which faces decades of rebuilding from the war’s devastation.

    Biden acknowledged that keeping the proposal on track would be difficult, with a number of “details to negotiate” to move from the first phase to the second. Biden said that if Hamas fails to fulfil its commitment under the deal, Israel can resume military operations.

    Hamas said in a statement Friday that it viewed the proposal “positively” and called on Israel to declare explicit commitment to an agreement that includes a permanent cease-fire, a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, a prisoner exchange and other conditions.

    In Deir al-Balah, where many Palestinians have fled following Israel’s ground assault on Rafah, there was some hope.

    “This proposal came late, but better late than never,” said Akram Abu Al-Hasan. “Therefore, we hope from God, the American administration, and the European community in general to continue to put pressure on Israel for a cease-fire.”

    The main difference from previous proposals is the readiness to stop the war for an undefined period, according to analysts. It leaves Israel the option to renew the war and diminish Hamas’ ability to govern, but over time, said Michael Milshtein, head of the Palestinian Studies Forum in Dayan Center at Tel Aviv University.

    Experts said that Biden’s speech was one of the few times that gave hope the war might end.

    “It was a very good speech … it seems that Biden is trying to force it on the Israeli government, he was clearly speaking directly to the Israeli people,” said Gershon Baskin, director for the Middle East at the International Communities Organization.

    Also on Saturday, Egypt’s state-run Al-Qahera News said that officials from Egypt, the United States and Israel would meet in Cairo over the weekend for talks about the Rafah crossing, which has been closed since Israel took over the Palestinian side in early May.

    The crossing is one of the main ways for aid to enter Gaza. Egypt has refused to open its side, fearing the Israeli hold will remain permanent. Egypt has demanded that Palestinians be put back in charge of the facility. The White House has been pressing Egypt to resume the flow of trucks.

    Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7 killed around 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and abducted about 250. More than 36,370 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza by Israel’s campaign of bombardment and offensives, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Its count doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants.

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    Associated Press

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  • Short-term rental bill continues to draw criticism

    Short-term rental bill continues to draw criticism

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — A short-term rental bill that would give the state more power of regulating the industry instead of local governments has been in the works in Tallahassee. 

    What You Need To Know

    •  Short-term rental bill narrowly passed at the end of 2024 legislative session 

    •  It would give the state more power of regulating the industry instead of local governments 

    •  Some mayors continue to fight against it

    The bill would cap the number of occupants allowed and would require owners to pay a registration fee.

    It also calls for someone to be available to address complaints and lets local governments suspend a rental’s registration if rules are continuously broken.

    However, the bill is still getting push back from some local governments across the state.

    Republican State Sen. Nick DiCeglie is the sponsor of the bill.

    “This bill is about balance. This bill is about identifying what is currently going on locally, not so much with violations but what local governments are currently doing,” DiCeglie said while defending the bill during the 2024 session.

    Redington Beach Mayor David Will says the bill isn’t needed.

    “The short-term rental bill removes the current legislation — the 2014 legislation — which actually struck the balance which allows short-term rentals in residential communities but also allows those communities to regulate the short-term rentals, and to be able to distinguish between a single family home and a vacation rental,” Mayor Will said.

    While Gov. DeSantis has not voiced his opinion on the bill yet, Mayor Will plans to continue to advocate against it.  

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    Jeff Van Sant

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  • United in Grief, Divided on Solutions, Part 3: A Foggy Future

    United in Grief, Divided on Solutions, Part 3: A Foggy Future

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    On this last episode of our three-part series, “United in Grief, Divided on Solutions,” the Maine legislature wraps up its work and a final decision is made on potential new gun laws after the Lewiston mass shootings last October.

    Find out how this community and state will try to move forward and what it means for the future.

    This story takes place in Maine, but it will remind you of conversations happening in diners, barber shops and kitchen tables across America.

    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 | Google

    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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  • Man travels the world to interview World War II Veterans

    Man travels the world to interview World War II Veterans

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    POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Rishi Sharma leads an interesting life. For the past seven years, he has traveled the world to interview allied World War II veterans.

    What You Need To Know

    • Rishi Sharma travels the world to talk to WWII veterans

    • He has interviewed more than 2,500 people from all allied countries

    • He runs a nonprofit and YouTube channel that features the interviews

    “To date, I’ve interviewed over 2,500 veterans across all 50 states, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, we do all the allied countries,” Sharma said.

    At 26, Sharma is gathering all these interviews for future generations to watch and learn from.

    He got the idea to do this when he was only 15 years old. He started by reading about soldiers’ personal stories through books and then eventually wanted to meet some of these veterans.

    He started interviewing veterans who lived nearby in his hometown in California. From there, it ballooned into what it is today.

    “I feel every time I enter one of their homes and I talk to them, I feel like it’s a little boy meeting Superman. These are my heroes,” Sharma said.

    Spectrum News followed Sharma to the home of Robert Taylor, a veteran who served on the famous USS Yorktown aircraft carrier.

    Taylor manned anti-aircraft cannons on the ship and fought in the Coral Sea and Midway battles — those engagements were ferocious — and were also pivotal battles in turning the tide against the Japanese Empire in the Pacific.

    “People like Mr. Taylor, he is what I would call an American War Hero. He’s not just a veteran and an older man with a family, this is someone who lives every day of his life contributing more than he has taken,” Sharma said.

    Sharma sometimes sleeps in his car to save cash as he travels from state to state. He does all this with the help of donations on his website.

    You can also check out his thousands of interviews at his YouTube channel.

    Sharma says he has no plans to slow down. He wants to find every combat veteran that is willing to speak to him. It’s vital work, as that generation is nearly gone.

    “I feel this is my only way to say thank you to them,” Sharma said. “I feel like documenting their story 200 years from now – their great-great-great grandkids will get to know not only their name but the way they look. Their characteristics, their jokes, they get to live forever.”

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    Jeff Van Sant

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  • Dade City and Zephyrhills Chambers to merge as one under new name

    Dade City and Zephyrhills Chambers to merge as one under new name

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    PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — Two chambers of commerce will unite under the same roof when Dade City and Zephyrhills join to become the East Pasco Chamber of Commerce.

    What You Need To Know

    • Dade City and Zephyrhills chambers of commerce will be merging as one under the new East Pasco Chamber of Commerce

    • The move has been in discussion for years and will finally take place on July 1

    • Combining chambers is expected to create better representation for smaller businesses in both cities

    It’s a move that those involved expect to be beneficial for businesses moving forward.

    “It’s definitely changed,” said Shane Barker, owner of Vitis Realty and Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce board member. “Demographics are changing and median age is coming down.”

    On the downtown streets of Zephyrhills, Shane Barker reminisces about the city’s past as a new Zephyrhills begins to emerge through a chamber of commerce merger with Dade City.

    “It’s really great for a small business, because the chamber advocates for us in the community,” said Barker. “So when we have more membership, the voice is larger.”

    He said creating better representation for smaller businesses is one of the benefits of merging. As the owner of his own real estate business, he would know.

    “With the economy and the growth of Pasco County, I think it all just hit right,” he said.

    And just a short drive down U.S. 301, Dade City Chamber of Commerce CEO Vicki Wiggins said the combined chamber could face a challenge when it comes to identity.

    “The whole demographic of Zephyrhills is changing from the seniors and retirees to families with young kids, and so it’s just a changing demographic,” said Wiggins. “So how do you make sure that you’re incorporating all of that into the new chamber?”

    But timing can be everything, and merging would mean more resources for the 81 members.

    “They finally decided that the time was right,” said Wiggins. “The previous CEO here at the Dade City Chamber retired in June. They started looking around and decided this was the time to take advantage of the bigger footprint if we were a merged chamber.”

    Officials say the merger would also lead to a bigger “footprint” in Tallahassee, and the power that comes with it would be pivotal for small businesses in both cities.

    “Merging, hopefully, the efficiencies brought will allow us to better serve the population that is growing so fast,” Barker said.

    Each chamber will still own their own buildings, and both offices will remain open. 

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    Calvin Lewis

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  • Pinellas Park leaders taking steps to move council meetings

    Pinellas Park leaders taking steps to move council meetings

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    PINELLAS PARK, Fla. — The city of Pinellas Park is considering a new location for City Council meetings. 

    What You Need To Know

    • City Manager Bart Diebold said the cost of moving to a new location for City Council meetings could cost around $2,000,000

    • The Pinellas Park City Council planned to vote Thursday to authorize conceptual drawings

    • Diebold hopes council meetings will be in a new location within two years

    City Manager Bart Diebold said they’ve been at the same spot for 50 years. 

    However, despite attempts to modernize the room, Diebold said it’s time to move. 

    “We’ve replaced a lot of stuff and try to keep it up to date,” he said. “Our wiring and network stuff is not where it should be for, like Bluetooth features and the wireless type of things that are out there in this day and age.”

    It’s not just about the features. 

    Diebold said the layout of the room makes it difficult for some to get to the podium, and he worries about others falling down the steps. 

    “If you’re in a wheelchair, you can’t get down here to the podium to speak to the council,” he said.

    Diebold hopes the meetings move to Park Station down the road.

    First up is authorizing conceptual drawings that cost around $50,000. The council planned a Thursday vote on that topic.

    Diebold said there will still be more decisions and money before it’s all said and done.

    “It’s going to be maybe $2,000,000, somewhere in that ballpark,” Diebold said. “I’d love to see it less than that but versus buying a whole new building which we’re talking $60, $70 (million), even on the way up, it’s a lot better for us to redo a building.”

    Diebold hopes to be in the new building within two years.

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    Matt Lackritz

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  • Manatee County private school bans cellphones for all grades

    Manatee County private school bans cellphones for all grades

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — As several counties in the Tampa Bay area weigh the pros and cons of using cell phones in classrooms, one private school in Manatee County has already banned cell phones for students in kindergarten through 12th-grade.

    What You Need To Know

    • Educational Harbor Christian School banned cell phones on May 1

    • If a student goes against these rules, there will be a one-day suspension

    • There are special allowances depending on the students’ needs

    The principal and founder of Educational Harbor Christian School Stacey Mayo said that at first, they told students to leave their phones in their bags, but the devices were still too much of a distraction, so the school enforced the cellphone ban on May 1.

    “Our overall goal actually isn’t just academic. Although there are academic benefits, I’ve read studies where having the cell phone in the room can affect their GPA and their attention. Just having the notifications close by them or on vibrate is enough to pull their focus away from their studies,” she said.

    Educational Harbor Christian School is a private K-12th grade school in Manatee County.

    One pastor and teacher in favor of this new policy is Ryan Akers, who teaches math and science.

    “They are able to focus on what we are doing at the time without being distracted, and they are able to be on task a whole lot more,” he said.

    With more than 20 years of teaching experience, he’s seen a lot change over the years.

    “Well, when I started teaching, hardly anybody had a phone, especially the teenagers. There just weren’t very many. As we’ve gotten more and more used to phones in culture, they’ve come inside the classroom. It’s really hard to set down your phone,” said Akers.

    Those distractions led school administrators to ban cellphones for all students.

    When students arrive, they put their phones in this cubby that’s later locked by school staff, but for special circumstances the rules can change depending on the students’ needs. But every student will get their phone back at the end of the school day.

    Educational Harbor Christian School’s phone locker. (Spectrum News/Julia Hazel)

    Akers says he’s already seen a positive impact on the students.

    But not all parents are on board with this new rule. Denise Musso is against the cell phone ban that impacts her 11-year-old daughter. Her main concern is safety.

    “If something were to happen, it would be very nerve-wracking. I think having phones locked up and not on their persons can cause a lot of anxiety. I think that you have to look at it case-by-case,” she said.

    And the school does. There are some exceptions for students, like those with an Individual Education Plan. This family wants the school to change the policy for everyone.

    “I hope that they will have good procedures in place and really get the parents involved and let them have some kind of a say on moving forward,” she said.

    And her daughter likes to stay connected in the classroom. She wishes the rule would change too.

    “I like having the phones more than not having them,” she said.

    But Akers said limiting phones allow him to push his students to reach higher.

    “The biggest hope is for the students to start to achieve their peak level,” he said.

    It’s a new rule for students, but parents and school leaders agree — the goal of education remains unchanged.

    If students don’t abide by the new rules, they will be suspended for one school day.

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    Julia Hazel

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  • Study says Florida has third-highest car insurance rates in country

    Study says Florida has third-highest car insurance rates in country

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Insurance rates continue to be a growing problem in the Sunshine State, and there seems to be no fix in the near future.

    What You Need To Know

    • Insurify says Florida has the third-highest auto insurance rates in the country

    • The Sunshine State has an auto insurance rate 44% higher than the national average

    • Small businesses are hurting with skyrocketing rates

    According to a study by Insurify, a company that does insurance comparisons, says Florida is the third-most expensive in the nation for auto insurance with rates 44% higher than the U.S. average.

    For everyday drivers, this could break the budget, but it’s also affecting small businesses that operate on tight margins like Dimitri Kostakis. He runs Complete Tree Service & Trimming Care, a business that he built from the ground up starting in 2000.

    “You know, I come here, start something and from nothing, you end up having everything,” Kostakis said.

    But he is worried about the future. His expenses are narrowing his margins – especially auto insurance.

    “If it keeps going up $400 per truck times 10 trucks, that’s $4,000 a year. And that’s double in two years than what I paid three years ago,” Kostakis said.

    Dimitri Kostakis says the rising auto insurance rates are hard on his business. (Spectrum Bay News 9/Jeff Van Sant)

    Insurance agents like Angel Cook with Leaders insurance say it’s getting harder to find affordable insurance for her clients. Some are forced to remove premiums to bring down the cost.

    “How people can afford this is difficult. They are ending up canceling or dropping coverage,” Cook said.

    She has tried to help Kostakis find the best solution for his business and says that he has had to cut back on coverage for his trailers to make the insurance affordable.

    That is something he really didn’t want to do. Kostakis loves his company but says if the rates continue to climb as they are, he might have to close up shop.

    “I know we have to have it. It has to be there,” he said of auto insurance. “But I don’t like being taken advantage of.”

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    Jeff Van Sant

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  • Protesters temporarily take over building on University of Chicago campus

    Protesters temporarily take over building on University of Chicago campus

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    CHICAGO (AP) — A group protesting the war in Gaza and demanding that the University of Chicago divest from companies doing business with Israel temporarily took over a building on the school’s campus.

    What You Need To Know

    • A group protesting the war in Gaza and demanding that the University of Chicago divest from companies doing business with Israel temporarily took over a building on the school’s campus

    • Members of the group surrounded the Institute of Politics building around 5 p.m. Friday while others made their way inside, the Chicago Sun-Times reported

    • The Chicago protest follows the May 7 clearing of a pro-Palestinian tent encampment at the school by police. University of Chicago administrators had initially adopted a permissive approach, but said earlier this month that the protest had crossed a line and caused growing concerns about safety

    • More than 2,900 people have been arrested on U.S. campuses over the past month

    Members of the group surrounded the Institute of Politics building around 5 p.m. Friday while others made their way inside, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

    The brief occupation came as other colleges across the country, anxious to prepare for commencement season, either negotiated agreements with students or called in police to dismantle protest camps.

    The Chicago protest follows the May 7 clearing of a pro-Palestinian tent encampment at the school by police. University of Chicago administrators had initially adopted a permissive approach, but said earlier this month that the protest had crossed a line and caused growing concerns about safety.

    On Friday, campus police officers using riot shields gained access to the Institute of Politics building and scuffled with protesters. Some protesters climbed from a second-floor window, according to the Sun-Times.

    The school said protesters attempted to bar the entrance, damaged university property and ignored directives to clear the way, and that those inside the building left when campus police officers entered.

    “The University of Chicago is fundamentally committed to upholding the rights of protesters to express a wide range of views,” school spokesperson Gerald McSwiggan said in a statement. “At the same time, university policies make it clear that protests cannot jeopardize public safety, disrupt the university’s operations or involve the destruction of property.”

    No arrests or injuries were reported.

    Students and others have set up tent encampments on campuses around the country to protest the Israel-Hamas war, pressing colleges to cut financial ties with Israel. Tensions over the war have been high on campuses since the fall but the pro-Palestinian demonstrations spread quickly following an April 18 police crackdown on an encampment at Columbia University.

    The demonstrations reached all corners of the United States, becoming its largest campus protest movement in decades, and spread to other countries, including many in Europe.

    Lately, some protesters have taken down their tents, as at Harvard, where student activists this week said the encampment had “outlasted its utility with respect to our demands.” Others packed up after striking deals with college administrators who offered amnesty for protesters, discussions around their investments, and other concessions. On many other campuses, colleges have called in police to clear demonstrations.

    More than 2,900 people have been arrested on U.S. campuses over the past month. As summer break approaches, there have been fewer new arrests and campuses have been calmer. Still, colleges have been vigilant for disruptions to commencement ceremonies.

    The latest Israel-Hamas war began when Hamas and other militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing around 1,200 people and taking an additional 250 hostage. Palestinian militants still hold about 100 captives, and Israel’s military has killed more than 35,000 people in Gaza, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants.

    On Thursday, police began dismantling a pro-Palestinian encampment at DePaul University in Chicago, hours after the school’s president told students to leave the area or face arrest.

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    Associated Press

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  • Clearwater City Council postpones vote on major Drew Street project

    Clearwater City Council postpones vote on major Drew Street project

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Clearwater City Council members voted unanimously Thursday night to postpone a vote on a project meant to improve safety along Drew Street.

    People both for and against the plan packed last night’s council meeting.

    What You Need To Know

    • Clearwater city council pushes back vote on major Drew Street changes 

    • Members decided to hold off on a decision to give themselves time to meet with Forward Pinellas and FDOT

    • Changes would reduce Drew Street from four to two lanes between Keene Road and Osceola Avenue, and add a center turn lane 
    • FDOT Drew Street corridor study

    Members decided to hold off on a decision to give themselves time to meet with Forward Pinellas and FDOT to get any questions answered and possibly come up with compromises.

    The sticking point is that the plan involves reducing Drew Street from four to two lanes between Keene Road and Osceola Avenue, and add a center turn lane.

    Council members questioned whether it would actually ease congestion on this major artery to downtown.

     

    Nathaniel Chason, who said he drives Drew Street every day, said his commute can be challenging.

    “When you have to stop and cars are turning left, it basically stops traffic, you know? Twenty cars behind you sometimes,” he said. “And then, also, you have to worry that you’re not. Some people turn their kind of wheel into the traffic. You have to make sure your front panel isn’t kind of off into the next lane.”

    Forward Pinellas’ Executive Director Whit Blanton said the nearly $20 million project is mostly funded by federal dollars.

    Those have to be allocated by June 10.

    If the council doesn’t approve the project by then, that money could go to other projects in the county.

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • Duette Fire & Rescue chief says no to consolidation

    Duette Fire & Rescue chief says no to consolidation

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Could Manatee County fire departments be consolidating? That was the talk during one commissioner’s meeting after a volunteer fire department requested more resources. Commissioners said in order to achieve that, Duette Fire and Rescue Station would need to merge with a station that already has those services.

    The Duette Fire Rescue District encompasses 200 square miles of northeastern Manatee County. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Manatee County Commissioners tossed around the idea of Duette Fire and Rescue merging with another station to receive more resources

    • Manatee County Commissioners said that the fire station does not meet the bare requirements for an Advanced Life Support Permit
    • In order for the fire station to use their life saving equipment they must get the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (COCPN) from the commissions
    • Once they have the COCPN, they can then apply for the Advanced Life Support Permit with the state and then the state will decide.

    The Duette Fire and Rescue team are trying to get a Certificate of Public Convenience from Manatee County commissioners. Once the fire station has that, they can make a request to the state for their Advanced Life Support Permit.

    However, at the April 23rd meeting, County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge said they don’t meet basic requirements.

    “It came up again this time because Duette was wanting to achieve ALS status, but they are unable to meet the bare minimum qualifications to meet that. If Duette were to merge, they would achieve the same thing,” said Van Ostenbridge.

    VIDEO: County commission meeting about consolidation of fire districts

    According to county commissioners, they have no say or any part of decision making if the fire stations are going to or can consolidate. The commissioners say it’s entirely up to the fire departments.

    “We have no power. We aren’t a charter county. We can’t do anything up here other than try to facilitate anything that is in your best interest to do it,” said Manatee County Commissioner George Kruse.

    Spectrum News did reach out to Commissioner Kruse for comment and he told us that he doesn’t want to comment any further on the matter.

    Fire Chief Rocky Parker has been with the Duette Fire and Rescue station in Duette for 7 years, and a chief since 2023. He is against the consolidation and says that he doesn’t believe that this is a true conservative approach.

    The Duette Fire & Rescue Station has 7 paramedics in a volunteer team of 40.

    One of the recent investments Parker has made in technology was the purchase of defibrillators that cost the station $80,000.

    He says he purchased this equipment, among other things, in order to use during calls.

    The department had these devices for two years now, but is unable to use them because the county hasn’t given them a permit to apply for their Advanced Life Support permit.

    “The county kind of declared that we weren’t even barely qualified to provide this service. That’s not true; the state really determines that,” he said.

    The fire chief has put out everything that the Duette Fire Rescue Station has provided for the ALS permit according to the Manatee County Ordinance 17-041 on their Facebook page:

    That’s when county commissioners offered up the idea for Duette to merge with another fire station. That would give them the ALS resources they need. So the chief hosted his own town hall meeting on April 30th to see what the residents in their coverage area wanted. “It was no on cosolidation,” said Parker. “True conservative values lies within local people deciding their own destiny, their cost and the level of service that they want and this is what our citizens want.”

    Parker has been a paramedic and firefighter for decades. He knows how important it is to respond quickly to a call, especially in this rural area. But when they can’t use their ALS equipment, he says it puts lives at stake.

    “We will wait for an ambulance up to 20 to 40 minutes. There’s not a thing we can do with advanced life support. It keeps happening over and over and over again,” he said.

    Parker says he’s going to continue asking the county for a Certificate of Public Convenience, in order to request an ALS permit from the state.

    “We’ve have some of the worst car crashes out here in the county; it’s nothing for us to have 4 or 5 people that are critically injured, and having just one paramedic on the scene is just not enough. We fill that gap for people that need it,” he said.

    Despite the county telling the chief that they don’t meet the requirements, Parker says they have already invested $80,000 on Advanced Life Support equipment and already have an ALS rescue vehicle.

    He’s pushing forward with a mission to give people more help and will be meeting with Senator Jim Boyd to talk about what more can be done so his station can use this life saving equipment.

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    Julia Hazel

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  • Lakeland leaders to discuss preparing for population growth during retreat

    Lakeland leaders to discuss preparing for population growth during retreat

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — City leaders in Lakeland are spending the next two days at the RP Funding Center to go over some big picture ideas they have for the city.

    What You Need To Know

    • Lakeland officials are going to a two-day retreat at the RP Funding Center

    • They plan on discussing a variety of big picture topics for the city moving forward

    • Some topics include public safety, infrastructure, transportation and economic development

    This two-day retreat kicks off Monday at 8 a.m.

    It’s not only big ideas they’re looking to discuss but also some problems the city may face as it continues to grow, and that they feel need to be addressed.

    Polk County and Lakeland are growing fast and it is partly why they are looking to do some improvements around town.

    Last year, Lakeland’s mayor said officials expect the population to double by 2035, so they know they must work now to meet the incoming demand of a booming population.

    “We’ve had unprecedented growth and unprecedented growth puts strains on your infrastructure, your parks, your roads, your sewage system, all things city services,” said Kevin Cook, Lakeland’s director of communication. “So, it’s a way to envision the future and plan for that growth.”

    According to its itinerary, officials plan on focusing on things like economic development, infrastructure, transportation and affordable housing Monday, while talking about public safety, finances and what the future might look like for this Polk County community Tuesday.

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    Nick Popham

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  • Examining next steps to get President Biden on Ohio’s presidential ballot

    Examining next steps to get President Biden on Ohio’s presidential ballot

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    COLUMBUS, Ohio —  Ohio lawmakers failed to agree on a bill to finalize a solution to place President Joe Biden on the Ohio ballot this upcoming November.

    While lawmakers from both parties say the issue will resolve itself and he will be on the ballot for this upcoming election, it’s still unclear what steps will be taken to achieve that.

    What You Need To Know

    • Lawmakers from both parties expect President Biden to end up on the ballot

    • The Ohio House and Senate tried to resolve the problem by trying to pass legislation, but the two chambers couldn’t agree on a bill 

    • Ohio Democrats have a variety of options to pursue to secure President Biden’s spot on the ballot

    The House and Senate had two separate proposals that would have extended the deadline for Democrats to officially nominate President Joe Biden. However, neither one of those proposals passed both chambers. That means that in order to make a change legislatively, lawmakers have to pass a proposal with an emergency clause. If that does not happen, Democrats could go through the court system instead.

    “If a lawsuit is filed, it could force the legislature to reconsider the ballot rules,” said Atiba Ellis, a Professor of Law at Case Western Reserve University. “Certainly there is a lot of evidence from other states that different states have far more flexible deadlines. Some states have deadlines that are later. Some states have deadlines that allow a contingency for the nomination to be certified within a week of the convention whenever that might be or what have you.” 

    Meanwhile, the Biden campaign is pointing to other Republican led states like Alabama and Washington that have already taken action to resolve a similar issue.

    “Joe Biden will be on the ballot in all 50 states. Election after election, states across the country have acted in line with the bipartisan consensus and taken the necessary steps to ensure the presidential nominees from both parties will be on the ballot. And this election is no different — Alabama, with full Republican support, and Washington State are already taking action to ensure that voters can exercise their right to vote for the candidate of their choice in November,” said Charles Lutvak, a spokesperson for the Biden campaign.

    “If the courts get involved, it would ultimately raise questions about the law and it could potentially cut the legislature out of the process,” Ellis said. “And certainly, as a political matter, that could end up looking like a failure on the part of the legislature. Given that both the governor and senior members of the legislature have said that President Biden at the end of the day will end up on the ballot.” 

    While Republicans and Democrats have acknowledged that they believe this issue will sort itself out, politics are still at play. Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose released a statement criticizing Democrats for not passing the measure on Wednesday. While Ohio Democrats say it’s the Republicans who are playing politics here. 

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    Samana Sheikh

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  • St. Pete officials want more time to digest Trop redevelopment details

    St. Pete officials want more time to digest Trop redevelopment details

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — St. Petersburg city leaders have postponed the second meeting focusing on the new stadium agreement with the Tampa Bay Rays.

    That could push final votes on the proposal to July, about a month later than expected.


    According to the city, the second meeting is being pushed back so city council members can have more time to consider what’s in front of them. Officials did not release a date yet for the second meeting.

    City officials released a statement, reading in part:

    “These are complex agreements, and the additional time will allow the team to complete the meeting documents and allow city council ample time to review the agreements prior to their discussion.”

    Here’s a recap of what was discussed Thursday:

    The latest plan between the Rays and the Hines development group includes more than 5,000 residential units, 600 of them for seniors and over 1,200 would be affordable and workforce housing.

    Plans also include 750,000 square-feet for retail space, including spots for small businesses, a grocery store, and a 4,000 to 6,000-seat entertainment venue.

    That’s in addition to the office, conference and meeting space and 750 hotel rooms.

    This rendering shows St. Petersburg’s proposed $6.5 billion Historic Gas Plant District development, including a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium. (Hines/Rays rendering)

    The Rays and Hines group will also pay $50 million for the Woodson African-American Museum, minority business development and workforce training.

    There was a bit of back and forth during yesterday’s meeting, which was only the second time the council has met publicly on the project.

    Some council members raised concerns about whether the amount of affordable housing was too low.

    Council members also asked for more specific details and recommended some adjustments, which is why the city said they need more time before they hold another meeting, which was supposed to happen on May 23.

    “We appreciate all of the time and effort Mayor Welch, his administration and the City Council have devoted to this agreement, and we look forward to making a positive impact in the city we love, our home,” said Tampa Bay Rays President Brian Auld. “The approach to placemaking, to community gathering, to the environment, to workforce development and job creation, to intentional equity are all best in class; the product of some of the smartest, most thoughtful, and caring people in the world working together to do something special.” 

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Anaheim makes it official. DisneylandForward passes

    Anaheim makes it official. DisneylandForward passes

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    ANAHEIM, Calif. — Disneyland’s future starts now. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The Anaheim City Council made the Walt Disney Co.’s DisneylandForward rezoning project official

    • The Anaheim City Council unanimously passed DisneylandForward — after listening to three hours of public comment — last month, but it needed a second reading to make it final

    • The new master plan will reshape and guide the construction of attractions, hotels, entertainment, rides and other projects at the 490-acre Disneyland Resort for the next 40 years

    • Disney plans to invest at least $1.9 billion in the resort in the first ten years of the initiative

    On Tuesday, the Anaheim City Council made the Walt Disney Co.’s DisneylandForward rezoning project official. 

    “The next era of Disneyland Resort is about to begin,” said Disneyland President Ken Potrock in a statement on the Disney Parks blog.

    The Anaheim City Council unanimously passed DisneylandForward — after listening to three hours of public comment — last month, but it needed a second reading to make it final.

    The new master plan will reshape and guide the construction of attractions, hotels, entertainment, rides and other projects at the 490-acre Disneyland Resort for the next 40 years.

    Disney asked the city to rezone the properties as mixed-use instead of independently designated areas. 

    Disney plans to invest at least $1.9 billion in the resort in the first ten years of the initiative.

    As part of the deal, Disney is also giving the city $30 million for affordable housing, $8 million for parks, $85 million in traffic improvements and pedestrian safety and continued investment in workforce development programs, Potrock said.

    “A Cal State Fullerton economic impact study projects increased revenues of about $15 million annually for Anaheim from each $1 billion we invest,” said Potrock. “This will help fund necessary community services, including additional fire and police, parks and libraries.”

    With the project passing, Disneyland will now focus on which of their intellectual properties they will build on the property. Will it be “Avatar” or “Encanto”?

    “Our future is indeed bright,” said Potrock.

    “For nearly seven decades, Disneyland Resort has made a unique, irreplaceable impact on hundreds of millions of guests from around the world. How exciting to know our best days are still ahead – I can’t wait to show you what’s to come,” he added.

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    Joseph Pimentel

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  • Florida joins antitrust lawsuit challenging NCAA’s NIL rules

    Florida joins antitrust lawsuit challenging NCAA’s NIL rules

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    TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida on Wednesday joined an antitrust lawsuit filed by the states of Tennessee and New York, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Virginia that challenges the NCAA’s rules restricting how athletes can commercially use their name, image, and likeness and prohibiting compensation for recruits.

    What You Need To Know

    • The state of Florida on Wednesday joined an antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA

    • The lawsuit challenges the name, image and likeness restrictions of the college sports governing body

    • The original lawsuit was filed Jan. 31 by Tennessee, New York, Virginia and the District of Columbia

    • The legal case said the rules hurts the states’ economies and the welfare of their athletes

    The lawsuit says the restrictions are anticompetitive and violate the Sherman Act. It says enforcement of the rules harms “the states’ economies and the welfare of their athletes, and should be declared unlawful and enjoined.”

    Florida is joining the lawsuit, originally filed on Jan. 31, after reports in January that the NCAA was investigating Florida over its recruitment of class of 2023 quarterback Jaden Rashada, who signed with Florida in December 2022 but never enrolled and later enrolled at Arizona State. The NCAA also announced Level II sanctions against Florida State during the same month, accusing its athletic program of using NIL payments to entice recruits. The NCAA said it sanctioned Seminoles assistant coach Alex Atkins and an unnamed booster for impermissible recruiting activity and facilitating impermissible contact with a NIL-related booster.

    The lawsuit says the NCAA changed its rules to permit college athletes to earn certain types of compensation from their NIL. “But, after allowing NIL licensing to emerge nationwide, the NCAA tried to stop that market from functioning” by allowing NIL compensation for current athletes but enforcing its rules for prospective athletes, including those in the transfer portal.

    In a statement, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “It appears no one could ever comply with these ever-changing and unfair regulations that limit the ability of student athletes to negotiate in good faith. I am taking legal action to reverse the unlawful restrictions the NCAA has placed on Florida universities and our collegiate athletes.”

    The NCAA restrictions prohibit prospective student-athletes from discussing NIL opportunities with schools and collectives prior to enrollment, including: 

    • Negotiating with collectives, 
    • Reviewing NIL offers prior to making enrollment decisions,
    • Learning about the full scope of NIL-related services schools might offer upon enrollment. 

    In late February, U.S. District Judge Clifton Corker in the Eastern District of Tennessee issued a preliminary injunction that bars the organization from enforcing its rules prohibiting NIL compensation for recruits, but that ruling covered one district. If the NCAA appeals, the case would go to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overseeing Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan. Florida is part of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.

    Corker’s ruling undercut what has been a fundamental principle of the NCAA’s model of amateurism for decades: Third parties cannot pay recruits to attend a particular school.

    The judge wrote the NCAA’s stance likely violates antitrust law because Congress so far has been unwilling to give the association an antitrust exemption. The judge said athletes with a limited recruiting window are hurt by not being able to know their true value before committing to a school.

    The NCAA said it would review the ruling and talk with its member schools about possible policy changes. But the NCAA said turning rules supported by its members “upside down” will only make an already chaotic situation worse and lessen protections keeping athletes from being exploited.

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    Associated Press

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  • Second primary: What separates the state auditor Republican candidates

    Second primary: What separates the state auditor Republican candidates

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    This week, the two Republican candidates for State Auditor, Jack Clark and Dave Boliek, join host Tim Boyum.

    The two aim share their backgrounds with voters, what they hope to bring to this elected position and their focus if elected. Neither got the 30%+ necessary to avoid a runoff and face the current state auditor, Democrat Jessica Holmes, in the fall.

    The candidates will face off in the second primary on May 14.

    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 | Google

    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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  • Protestors detained during demonstrations on campus at UNC Chapel Hill

    Protestors detained during demonstrations on campus at UNC Chapel Hill

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    Police on the campus of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill detained multiple protestors Tuesday morning during demonstrations outside the Polk Place buildings.

    UNC says protestors attempted to stop police vehicles from leaving with detainees by throwing air matresses and other belongs in their path. (Spectrum News 1Kyleigh Panetta)

    The university said roughly 30 people were detained shortly after 6 a.m. when they clashed with campus police after refusing to leave the area. A spokesperson with UNC said several of those detained “are not students or affiliated with the university.”

    After relocating from the quad, the university said some protestors began pushing officers while attempting to forcibly enter South Building. No injuries or additional arrests, however, were reported.

    Authorities on campus have placed metal barricades around the quad and are continuing to monitor the area.

    US College Protests Spread

    Universities across the U.S. are grappling with how to clear out encampments as commencement ceremonies approach, with some continuing negotiations and others turning to force and ultimatums that have resulted in clashes with police. Dozens of people were arrested Monday during protests at universities in Texas, Utah and Virginia, while Columbia said hours before the takeover of its Hamilton Hall that it had started suspending students.

    Demonstrators are sparring over the Israel-Hamas war and its mounting death toll, and the number of arrests at campuses nationwide is approaching 1,000 as the final days of class wrap up. The outcry is forcing colleges to reckon with their financial ties to Israel, as well as their support for free speech. Some Jewish students say the protests have veered into antisemitism and made them afraid to set foot on campus.

    At the University of Texas at Austin, an attorney said at least 40 demonstrators were arrested Monday. The confrontation was an escalation on the 53,000-student campus in the state’s capital, where more than 50 protesters were arrested last week.

    Later Monday, dozens of officers in riot gear at the University of Utah sought to break up an encampment outside the university president’s office that went up in the afternoon. Police dragged students off by their hands and feet, snapping the poles holding up tents and zip-tying those who refused to disperse. Seventeen people were arrested. The university says it’s against code to camp overnight on school property and that the students were given several warnings to disperse before police were called in.

    The plight of students who have been arrested has become a central part of protests, with the students and a growing number of faculty demanding amnesty for protesters. At issue is whether the suspensions and legal records will follow students through their adult lives.

    The Texas protest and others — including in Canada and Europe — grew out of Columbia’s earlier demonstrations that have continued. On Monday, student activists defied the 2 p.m. deadline to leave the encampment. Instead, hundreds of protesters remained. A handful of counter-demonstrators waved Israeli flags, and one held a sign reading, “Where are the anti-Hamas chants?”

    While the university didn’t call police to roust the demonstrators, school spokesperson Ben Chang said suspensions had started but could provide few details. Protest organizers said they were not aware of any suspensions as of Monday evening.

    Columbia’s handling of the demonstrations has also prompted federal complaints.

    A class-action lawsuit on behalf of Jewish students alleges a breach of contract by Columbia, claiming the university failed to maintain a safe learning environment, despite policies and promises. It also challenges the move away from in-person classes and seeks quick court action requiring Columbia to provide security for the students.

    Meanwhile, a legal group representing pro-Palestinian students is urging the U.S. Department of Education’s civil rights office to investigate Columbia’s compliance with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for how they have been treated.

    A university spokesperson declined to comment on the complaints.

    In a rare case, Northwestern University said it reached an agreement with students and faculty who represent the majority of protesters on its campus near Chicago. It allows peaceful demonstrations through the June 1 end of spring classes and in exchange, requires removal of all tents except one for aid, and restricts the demonstration area to allow only students, faculty and staff unless the university approves otherwise.

    At the University of Southern California, organizers of a large encampment sat down with university President Carol Folt for about 90 minutes on Monday. Folt declined to discuss details but said she heard the concerns of protesters and talks would continue Tuesday.

    USC sparked a controversy April 15 when officials refused to allow the valedictorian, who has publicly supported Palestinians, to make a commencement speech, citing nonspecific security concerns for their rare decision. Administrators then scrapped the keynote speech by filmmaker Jon M. Chu, who is an alumnus, and declined to award any honorary degrees.

    The backlash, as well as Columbia’s demonstrations, inspired the encampment and protests on campus last week week where 90 people were arrested by police in riot gear. The university has canceled its main graduation event.

    Administrators elsewhere tried to salvage their commencements, and several have ordered the clearing of encampments in recent days. When those efforts have failed, officials threatened discipline, including suspension and possible arrest.

    But students dug in their heels at other high-profile universities, with standoffs continuing at Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, Yale and others. Police in riot gear at Virginia Commonwealth University sought to break up an encampment there late Monday and clashed with protesters.

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    Associated Press

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