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Tag: hillsborough county

  • Arrest log

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    The following arrests were made recently by local police departments. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Massachusetts’ privacy law prevents police from releasing information involving domestic and sexual violence arrests with the goal to protect the alleged victims.

    LOWELL

    • Tasha Perry, 39, 65 Summer St., Apt. 162, Lowell; warrant (failure to appear for assault and battery with dangerous weapon).

    • Ibrahim Mbouemboue-Yogno, 35, 218 Wilder St., Apt. 24, Lowell; keeper of disorderly house, disturbing peace, assault and battery on police officer, assault and battery with dangerous weapon (door).

    • Whitney Labossiere, 28, 1005 Westford St., Apt. 4, Lowell; disorderly conduct, trespassing after notice.

    • Kenneth Eng, 21, 27 Hastings St., Lowell; operating motor vehicle after license suspension, making illegal turn from wrong lane.

    • Jeremy McWhinnie, 35, 157 Summer St., Apt. L, Lowell; warrants (failure to appear for assault and battery on police officer, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct).

    NASHUA, N.H.

    • Kevin Mulligan, 29, 7 1/2 Martin St., Nashua; simple assault.

    • Hayden Lee Wilburn, 32, 44 Amherst St., Nashua; warrant.

    • Ricardo Encarnacion, 31, 290 Ruggles St., Roxbury Crossing; three counts of theft by unauthorized taking ($0-$1,000).

    • Danielle Evans, 32, 39 Palm St., Apt. 2, Nashua; criminal trespassing.

    • Kenneth Gurski, 70, no fixed address; criminal trespassing, nonappearances in court.

    • Edgar McIntosh, 19, 20 Century Road, Nashua; disobeying an officer, speeding (26 mph over limit of 55 mph or less).

    • Rachel Tutein, 30, 16 Cold Spring Road, Westford; stalking (domestic violence).

    • Kimberlee Bryson Cora, 29, 104 Ash St., Nashua; nonappearances in court.

    • David Perez, 37, 18 Mulberry St., Nashua; nonappearance in court.

    • Brian Anthony Desautels, 54, 23 Cushing Ave., Nashua; simple assault.

    • Hector Solano, 54, 25 Amory St., Roxbury; lane control violation, driving motor vehicle after license revoked/suspended, nonappearances in court.

    PELHAM, N.H.

    • Victoria Coyle, 38, Dracut; suspension of vehicle registration.

    • Nicholas Gentile, 39, Chelmsford; suspension of vehicle registration.

    • Sara Beaulieu, 46, Tyngsboro; suspension of vehicle registration.

    • Jean Richard, 28, Lowell; suspension of vehicle registration.

    • Heloisa Moreira Oliveira, 28, Lowell; suspension of vehicle registration.

    • Michael Ingham, 50, Pelham; driving under influence.

    • Brian Arsenault, 39, Tyngsboro; suspension of vehicle registration.

    • Robert Carleton, 23, Pelham; simple assault (domestic violence).

    • Daniel McGillicuddy, 45, Dracut; two counts of violation of protective order.

    • Jessica Conway, 25, Dracut; driving motor vehicle after license revoked/suspended.

    • Luis Lopez, 55, Lowell; suspension of vehicle registration.

    • Tamy Smith, 33, Lowell; suspension of vehicle registration.

    • Frantz Letang, 48, Andover; arrest on another agency’s warrant.

    • Nathan Harrington, 49, Lowell; suspension of vehicle registration.

    • Carmen Ruiz, 25, Hudson, N.H.; suspension of vehicle registration.

    • James Frederick, 51, Hudson, N.H.; operating motor vehicle after certified as habitual offender, driving under influence (subsequent offense), driving motor vehicle after license revoked/suspended for driving under influence.

    WILMINGTON

    • Mohammed Ali Jones, 43, 25 School St., Apt. 2, Everett; operation of motor vehicle with registration suspended or revoked, uninsured motor vehicle, license not in possession.

    • Nolan Patrick Vigeant, 22, 42 Hanover St., Wilmington; operation under influence of alcohol, two counts of leaving scene of property damage, marked lanes violation, speeding.

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  • Florida Strawberry Festival 2026: Dates, entertainment, food and more

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    PLANT CITY, Fla. — The 91st annual Florida Strawberry Festival will make its return to Plant City on Thursday. Guests can celebrate the history of the Florida strawberry while enjoying plenty of entertainment, rides, agriculture, fine arts and food — including the St. Clement “Make Your Own” Shortcake Booth.

    Here is everything you need to know about the 2026 Florida Strawberry Festival.

    What You Need To Know

    • View the guide to the 2026 Florida Strawberry Festival below
    • Follow Spectrum Bay News 9 for coverage and download our app to track the weather before heading out


    When is the Florida Strawberry Festival? ⏰

    The Florida Strawberry Festival is scheduled to take place from Feb. 26 through March 8.

    Festival Hours:

    Administrative Office:
    Open Daily

    Amscot Main Ticket Gate, Gate 1:
    Open Daily

    Solution Source Construction Box Office Hours:
    Open Daily

    Midway Hours:

    SUN ‘n FUN Kiddie Korral:
    Open Daily

    Tuesday-Friday:

    • 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. (*On Friday, March 6, Midway closes just before 10 p.m. and reopens from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. for Moonlight Magic. Moonlight Magic wristband purchased for $30 includes gate admission.)

    Weekends & Monday:

    Ticket Prices 🎟️

    • Adults (ages 13+): $15
    • Children (ages 6-12): $5
    • Children (ages 5 and under): Free with paid adult admission

    Discount Gate Admission:

    (Available Feb. 1 through March 8 at these participating Publix Super Market stores throughout Central Florida.)

    • Adults (ages 13+): $10
    • Children (ages 6-12): $4
    • Children (ages 5 and under): FREE with paid adult admission

    Purchase tickets for the Florida Strawberry Festival.

    Special Days and Discounts 🍓

    THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH, 2026

    Florida Blue Senior Citizens Day | Lazydays RV Ride-A-Thon Day

    Patrons 60 years of age or older will be admitted at a discounted gate admission ticket for $10. From noon – 11 p.m. A wristband purchased at the Midway for $25 will entitle the wearer to ride most mechanical rides for this one low price. Visit the Lazydays RV display on the festival grounds to receive a $5 off voucher. Take this voucher to any Midway ticket booth to receive $5 off the $25 wristband and ride most mechanical rides for this one low price of $20. Vouchers will be available at the Lazydays RV display on Feb. 26 and March 5.

     

    FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH, 2026

    Publix Food & Fun Friday | Special Smiles Day

    Present any Publix branded or GreenWise non-perishable and receive a voucher for $5 off the $30 wristband and ride most mechanical rides for only $25. Special Smiles Day is sponsored by Rotary Club of Plant City and welcomes all individuals with special needs from 9 a.m. to noon. This unique event is reserved for celebrating and serving our most treasured guests in a safe, fun and sensory considerate environment. All Special Smiles attendees and one companion will be admitted FREE. Entry at Gate 5.

     

    SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH, 2026

    Mid Florida Credit Union Free Kids Day | Circle K Super Saturday Wristband Day

    Kids through high school age admitted FREE. Just stop by any Festival ticket booth and receive a complimentary voucher on this special day. From 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. Present a Circle K register receipt and receive $5 off the $35 wristband and ride most mechanical rides for only $30. One receipt required per wristband.

     

    SUNDAY, MARCH 1ST, 2026

    Coca-Cola Family Day

    Present any empty Coca-Cola brand can or plastic bottle product at the entry gate to receive a voucher for $5 off the $35 wristband and ride most mechanical rides from 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. for only $30. One voucher required per wristband. Can or bottle is not valid for gate admission. Only one can per person.

     

    MONDAY, MARCH 2ND, 2026

    TITAN’s Grand Parade Day | Chick-fil-A Ride-A-Thon Day

    Grand parade begins at 1 p.m. and passes by Festival grounds at approximately 2 p.m. 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. – Present a Chick-fil-A register receipt or any proof of purchase and receive $5 off the $25 wristband and ride most mechanical rides for only $20. Home Depot Kid’s Workshop starts at 3 p.m. located near The Bank of Tampa Berry Big Wheel.

     

    TUESDAY, MARCH 3RD, 2026

    Tampa Bay History Center TWOSDAY | FREE Kids Day

    All kids up to age 17 are admitted free with a paid Adult. From noon – 11 p.m. Ride any single ride for only $2 or ride all day with a $25 wristband.

     

    WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4TH, 2026

    Grow Financial American Heroes Day | Hungry Howie’s Ride-A-Thon Day

    All active, reserve, and retired military veterans, law enforcement, first responders and healthcare professionals are admitted free with valid ID. Ride-A-Thon from noon – 11 p.m. Present a Hungry Howie’s register receipt or any proof of purchase and receive $5 off the $25 wristband and ride most mechanical rides for only $20.

     

    THURSDAY, MARCH 5TH, 2026

    Florida Blue Senior Citizens Day | Lazydays RV Ride-A-Thon Day

    Patrons 60 years of age or older will be admitted at a discounted gate admission ticket for $10. From noon – 11 p.m. A wristband purchased at the Midway for $25 will entitle the wearer to ride most mechanical rides for this one low price. Visit the Lazydays RV display on the festival grounds to receive a $5 off voucher. Take this voucher to any Midway ticket booth to receive $5 off the $25 wristband and ride most mechanical rides for this one low price of $20. Vouchers will be available at the Lazydays RV display on Feb. 26 and March 5.

     

    FRIDAY, MARCH 6TH, 2026

    Tampa Bay Times Day on the Midway | Moonlight Magic Night

    The Tampa Bay Times Day on the Midway noon -10 p.m. Receive $5 off the $30 wristband and ride most mechanical rides for only $25. Moonlight Magic – Ride most mechanical rides for one special price of $30 per person. All patrons entering the Midway will be required to purchase a $30 wristband., 10 p.m. – 2 a.m.

     

    SATURDAY, MARCH 7TH, 2026

    Farm Worker Appreciation Day sponsored by Astin Farms | Circle K Super Saturday Wristband Day

    Farmworkers receive free admission with a voucher from Astin Farms. Super Saturday Wristband Day from 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. Present a Circle K register receipt and receive $5 off the $35 wristband and ride most mechanical rides for only $30.

     

    SUNDAY, MARCH 8TH, 2026

    Coca-Cola Family Day

    Present any empty Coca-Cola brand can or plastic bottle product at entry gate to receive a voucher for $5 off the $35 wristband and ride most mechanical rides from 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. for only $30. Can or bottle is not valid for gate admission.

    Information provided by the Florida Strawberry Festival

    Location 🗺️

    The Florida Strawberry Festival is located at 2209 W. Oak Ave., Plant City, FL 33563.

    Festival Parking 🚗

    There are 11 festival parking lots (cash only) surrounding the grounds. These are manned by local churches and nonprofit organizations who benefit from the profits. The lots are easily accessible to gates 1, 16, 14, 13, 10 and 5, depending on where the lot is located.

    • All festival lots are $10, including the Red, Gray, Pink, Purple, White, Tan, Yellow, Green, Orange and Magenta Parking Lot. Additional parking lots can be located off Ritter Street, Highway 92 or Highway 574.

    In the Red lot only:

    • Cars, pickup trucks and vans under 20 ft: $10 cash
    • Vehicles over 20 ft. to 39 ft.: $20 cash
    • Vehicles or buses over 40 ft.: $20 cash

    The T-Mobile tram runs daily from the Red parking lot to the Festival’s entry Gate 10 and 14 as well as the corner of BerryFest Place and Oak Avenue near Gate 1 and Gate 5. There will also be parking available in independent lots around the festival grounds.

    View additional information about directions and parking (including a parking map) for the Florida Strawberry Festival.

    Food 🍰

    The Florida Strawberry Festival is known for its variety of food options. Here are some highlights to expect this year, which include many new offerings such as the viral Strawberry Dubai funnel cake, and of course plenty more strawberry-themed treats:

    Fresh Strawberries:

    • Parkesdale Farms – South side of Parke Exhibit Building
    • Wish Farms – Northeast corner of Parke Exhibit Building and just outside Gate 1/ Amscot Main Ticket Gate

    World-Famous Strawberry Shortcake:

    • St. Clement “Make Your Own” Shortcake Booth – In the middle of the Parke Exhibit Building, next to the Parkesdale Farms booth
    • Transforming Life Church – Inside the Entenmann’s Strawberry Tent
    • East Historical Society Shortcake Booth – South of the TECO Expo Hall near Pioneer Village

    Strawberry shortcake station from the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City, Fla. (Spectrum News)

    Strawberry shortcake station from the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City, Fla. (Spectrum News)

    Here are some of the new foods that guests can enjoy at the 2026 Florida Strawberry Festival:

    Strawberry BBQ Eggroll:

    • Double T Enterprises (formerly Piggy Palace, inside Gate 10)

    Strawberry Shortcake Snoball and Royal Strawberry Snoball:

    • Pelican’s Snoballs (on the west side of the Arthur Boring Civic Center)

    Penne Pickle Pasta:

    • Spaghetti Eddie’s (outside the Stingray Chevrolet Entertainment Pavilion)

    Hot Honey Apple Fries:

    • Crumpet Concessions (by the Central Florida Exterior Comfort Zone)

    Strawberry Decker:

    • Plant City High School Raider Regiment (inside the Stadium Exhibit Building)

    Strawberry Campfire Crunch Melt:

    • Sunshine Concessions (north of the Wish Farms Soundstage)

    Strawberry Crunch Funnel Cake:

    • Prowant Specialty (on the west side of the GT Grandstands)

    Strawberry Cinnamon Bun à la Mode:

    • Cinnamon Bun Saloon (south of the Parke Exhibit Building)

    Strawberry Crunch Nachos:

    • Sweet Missions (in the Softub Carriage House)

    Deep Fried Uncrustable:

    • Plant City Black Heritage Concessions (north of the Tampa Electric EXPO Hall)

    Poor Porker:

    • Sandy Ann’s Fried Pies (by the Stingray Chevrolet display)

    Dubai Chocolate Strawberry Slush:

    • Moose Joose Slush (outside the Tampa Electric Expo Hall)

    Dubai Chocolate Truffles with Pistachio Cream:

    • Orme’s Deep Fried Treats (near the Stingray Chevrolet display)

    Strawberry Dubai Funnel Cake:

    • Best Around Concessions (north of the BayCare Center)

    Strawberry Dubai funnel cake from the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City, Fla. (Spectrum News)


    Dubai Strawberry Chocolate Cups:

    • Super Crunch (inside the TECO Expo Hall)

    Chicken Teriyaki Mac and Cheese, White Cheddar Truffle Mac and Cheese and Buffalo Mac and Cheese:

    • Brody’s Mac & Cheese (west of the GT Grandstands)

    View additional details about food at the Florida Strawberry Festival.

    Headline Entertainment 🎶

    The Florida Strawberry Festival has been long known for its popular entertainment lineups. This year, attendees of all ages can expect to see dozens of performers take the stage. Some performances are free with the price of admission.

    Here is the 2026 Florida Strawberry Festival entertainment lineup:

    🍓DATE 🍓TIME 🍓LINEUP   🍓COST  
    Thursday, Feb 26 10:30 a.m. Jimmy Stuff & His Orchestra FREE WITH PAID ADMISSION
    Thursday, Feb 26 3:30 p.m. The Oak Ridge Boys $40
    Thursday, Feb 26 7:30 p.m. Alabama $65
    Friday, Feb 27 3:30 p.m. Jo Dee Messina $40
    Friday, Feb 27 7:30 p.m. Jamey Johnson $45
    Saturday, Feb 28 3:30 p.m. Lonestar $35
    Saturday, Feb 28 7:30 p.m. Ty Myers $50
    Sunday, March 1 6:30 p.m. Riley Green featuring Hannah McFarland $110
    Monday, March 2 3:30 p.m. Gene Watson $30
    Monday, March 2 7:30 p.m. Legends of Love featuring Brian McKnight, Ginuwine & Ruben Studdard $40
    Tuesday, March 3 3:30 p.m. Sandi Patty $30
    Tuesday, March 3 7:30 p.m. Lauren Daigle $70
    Wednesday, March 4 3:30 p.m. John Foster $25
    Wednesday, March 4 7:30 p.m. Brantley Gilbert $50
    Thursday, March 5 10:30 a.m. Bill Haley Jr. & The Comets FREE WITH PAID ADMISSION
    Thursday, March 5 3:30 p.m. The Bellamy Brothers $30
    Thursday, March 5 7:30 p.m. Dierks Bentley $70
    Friday, March 6 3:30 p.m. The Marshall Tucker Band $35
    Friday, March 6 7:30 p.m. Forrest Frank $70
    Saturday, March 7 3:30 p.m. Pitbull Toddler FREE WITH PAID ADMISSION
    Saturday, March 7 7:30 p.m. The Offspring $70
    Sunday, March 8 7:30 p.m. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts $45

     

    View additional Florida Strawberry Festival entertainment details and tickets.

    On Grounds Entertainment 🎪

    The Florida Strawberry Festival has dozens of free on grounds entertainment, acts, and performers for all ages to enjoy.

    Here’s the schedule of events:

    EVENT TIMES
    Granpa Cratchet Daily at 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m. & 7 p.m., Puppet Mobile Daily at 1 p.m. & 4 p.m.
    K9s in Flight Daily at 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. & 6 p.m.
    Rannels Rustic Wood Carving Show Daily at 11:30 a.m.,1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.
    Robinson’s Racing Pigs Daily at 11 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. & 8 p.m. 
    “Mr. & Miss Berry” Daily at 11- 11:30 a.m., 3:30-4 p.m. & 5:30- 6 p.m.
    Gizmo D Robot Daily at noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m.
    & 6 p.m.
    Runa Pacha Daily at 11 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. & 8 p.m.
    Kids Coloring Corner Daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    Pretty Bird Paradise Daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
    The Berry Big Wheel Celebrating America’s 250 Daily from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. *Ticket required to ride.

    Information provided by the Florida Strawberry Festival

    View more free entertainment at the Florida Strawberry Festival.

    Florida Strawberry Festival official mascots, Mr. & Miss Berry (Courtesy of Florida Strawberry Festival)

    Agriculture 🐮

    The Florida Strawberry Festival will hold livestock shows each day, which give youth the opportunity to showcase the animals and plants they have been raising for months, some even years. Animals in the shows include cows, sheep, pigs, rabbits and chickens.

    Here is this year’s livestock show schedule:

    EXHIBIT TIME DATE LOCATION
    Poultry & Rabbit Exhibit Days   ALL DAYS Astin Pavilion
    Swine Exhibit Days   Thursday, Feb 26 -Friday, Feb 27 Astin Pavilion
    – Swine Show (Mosaic) 6 p.m. Thurday, Feb 26  
    – Swine Sale (Mosaic) 6 p.m. Friday, Feb 27  
    Dairy Animal Exhibit Days   Friday, Feb 27 – Sunday, March 1 Astin Pavilion
    – Dairy Judging Contest 1 p.m. Friday, Feb 27  
    – Dairy Showmanship 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb 28  
    – Dairy Show 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb 28  
    – Dairy Adult Showmanship 11 a.m. Sunday, March 1  
    – Dairy pee Wee Showmanship 11:30 a.m. Sunday, March 1  
    – Dairy Costume Ball 12:30 p.m. Sunday, March 1  
    Plant Exhibit Days   Sunday, March 1 Swindle Pavilion
    – Plant Silent Auction 11 a.m. –
    1 p.m.    		 Sunday, March 1  
    – Plant Sale 2 p.m. Sunday, March 1  
    Lamb Exhibit Days   Monday, March 2 – Tuesday, March 3 Swindle Pavilion
    – Lamb Jumping Contest 3 p.m. Monday, March 2  
    – Lamb Costume Contest 7 p.m. Monday, March 2  
    – Lamb Showmanship 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 3  
    – Lamb Show 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 3  
    Steer Exhibit Days   Wednesday, March 4 – Friday, March 6 Astin Pavilion
    – Steer Show (Mosaic) 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 4  
    – Steer Sale (Mosaic) 6 p.m. Thursday, March 5  
    – Steer Showmanship (Mosaic) 6 p.m. Friday, March 6  
    Beef Animal Exhibit Days   Saturday, March 7 – Sunday, March 8 Swindle Pavilion
    – Beef Breeds Showmanship 6 p.m. Saturday, March 7  
    – Beef Breeds Show 11 a.m. Sunday, March 8  
    Livestock Judging 10 a.m. Saturday, March 7 (Registration – 9 a.m.)  

    *All shows and sales are held in the Patterson Arena located in the Grimes Family Agriculture Center
    Information provided by the Florida Strawberry Festival

    Festival App 📱

    The Florida Strawberry Festival has a mobile app where visitors can access food locations, event schedules, the grounds map and more. Guests can also purchase and download gate admission and headline entertainment concert tickets to their mobile wallets. The app is available on Apple iOS and Google Play.

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  • Could a retractable wall in Tampa Bay prevent storm surge flooding?

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The immediate past president of the Shore Acres Civic Association, Kevin Batdorf, has pitched lawmakers on a big idea to install a retractable wall at the entrance of Tampa Bay to protect against storm surge flooding from hurricanes.  

    Batdorf lives in the lowest lying neighborhood in St. Petersburg, Shore Acres, which has experienced repeated flooding from storms in the past five  years. Batdorf said he’s constantly looking for solutions to mitigate the rising problem.

    “Create a floodgate system that crosses from Pinellas County to Manatee or Hillsborough County at the narrowest point that rises 12-to-15 feet high when a storm is coming,” he said. “It would prevent the water from coming into Tampa Bay and save billions of dollars of damage.”

    What You Need To Know

    • Kevin Batdorf has pitched lawmakers on a big idea to install a retractable wall at the entrance of Tampa Bay

    • Batdorf wants the 14 mile long wall to be 12-to-15 feet high to prevent storm surge flooding from hurricanes  

    • State Senator Nick DeCeglie said “it’s a great concept” but he’s skeptical it could actually be implemented

    • Sen. DeCeglie said he’s focused on more realistic solutions which include stormwater and seawall infrastructure improvements


    “In the Netherlands, they had a similar situation to us,” he said. “Meaning they were inundated by rising tides, changing climate. So they had their engineers come up with a solution.”

    State Senator Nick DeCeglie, R-Indian Rocks Beach, represents District 18, which covers most of Pinellas County. Senator DeCeglie said “it’s a great concept” but he’s skeptical a 14 mile long retractable wall in Tampa Bay could actually be implemented.

    “Something like this would be billions and billions of dollars,” he said. “My question is immediately, what about the coastal communities? How does the water interacting with a dam, essentially, how does that impact areas North of the Bay? South of the Bay? That water has to go somewhere.”

    DeCeglie said he’s focused on more realistic solutions and has been working on a permitting bill this session to make it easier for homeowners to install flood barriers.

    “What we can actually accomplish in the near mid and long term is infrastructure improvements,” he said. “Whether that be stormwater, whether that be seawalls.”

    Batdorf said he realizes there are big challenges with his idea from jurisdictional, funding and environmental.

    “I think it’s going to be the State of Florida and the federal government that are going to have to come in and do the engineering and frankly, pay for it,” he said. “FEMA’s paying out billions of dollars in claims, there’s money available to stop paying those claims.”

    “There are going to be environmental concerns and I get that it’s going to disturb the environment by installing it,” he added. “But I think it’s going to enhance the environment for sea life. Once it’s built, becomes a natural reef.”

    Batdorf points out Tampa General Hospital and the City of St. Petersburg have purchased an Aqua Fence to prevent flooding and he wants to do the same for residents on a much larger scale.

    “This idea is just common sense. If there’s a wall of water coming in, you put something up to stop it from coming in,” he said. “You see all these other entities putting up barriers to keep water out. Here’s a barrier to keep it out of everybody’s home.”

    Batdorf has announced he’s going to run in the St. Petersburg mayor’s race but has not yet officially filed.

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    Josh Rojas

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  • Florida cabinet set to vote on land gift to Hillsborough College

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    TAMPA, Fla. — The Florida Cabinet are expected to vote Tuesday on gifting 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

    • Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet are expected to vote Tuesday on gifting Hillsborough College 22 acres of land. The move would give the college the land needed for a proposed Tampa Bay Rays baseball stadium

    • Hillsborough College says it is working on plans to allow a quick relocation of the campus, and later a move in to a new permanent home 

    • Local leaders are still conducting economic impact studies on a new Rays Stadium

    • The Rays have told local leaders it wants to be playing in a new stadium by the start of the 2029 MLB season 
    • PREVIOUS STORIES on Rays stadium pursuit

     

    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.

    Gov. Ron DeSantis has publicly signaled support for the project and discussions have been underway behind the scenes for months. The proposal would relocate HC’s oldest campus, a move that carries both promise and uncertainty for thousands of students and staff.

    The Dale Mabry campus is adjacent to Raymond James Stadium. Most of the campus buildings are more than 50 years old, making maintenance increasingly costly.

    Freshman Dania Arauc said she sees opportunity in the proposal but also has concerns.

    “I do think it’s a great opportunity, especially if it means it is going to improve the campus or things like that, like make it more modern and stuff like that,” Arauc said. “The only thing is, how will it look during the transition?”


    That transition is now the focus for campus leadership.

    Campus President Paige Niehaus said HC has been intentional about planning for both temporary and permanent solutions.

    “We’ve been very, very intentional in making sure that what works good here on Dale Mabry Campus and our thriving campus, carries over into a temporary space and then eventually a new permanent home,” Niehaus said.

    Relocating an entire college campus is no small task, especially under a tight timeline. The Rays hope to open a new stadium by the start of the 2029 season. To meet that deadline, construction would need to begin within months.

    “It will probably be a very rapid move into a temporary space,” Niehaus said. “So we are taking all the time that we have now to make sure that we are prepared for when that happens.”

    While the governor has cited ongoing maintenance costs as a reason to support the relocation, college leaders stress the importance of collaboration.

    “I think for not only the Rays to be successful, Hillsborough College Dale Mabry Campus needs to be successful as well,” Niehaus said. “And I think everybody has that in their best interest.”

    Behind the land discussions lies a much larger financial question: How to pay for a new stadium.

    Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa are still conducting economic impact studies to determine funding sources.

    The projected cost of the stadium itself is just over $2 billion. 

    However, some estimates suggest the total cost, including surrounding development, could climb to $8 billion.

    State approval of the land transfer would mark the clearest signal yet that Tampa is positioning itself as the Rays’ long-term home. 

    If the vote goes through today, the team would have five years to start building a stadium, or else the state could take the land back.

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    Jason Lanning

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  • Latest airport delays and cancellations due to winter storm

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    TAMPA, Fla. — If you have a flight out of Tampa International Airport today, it could be affected by winter weather up north. The airport is showing more than 100 cancellations this morning and multiple delays. The airport says if you have a flight, check with your airline for the latest information.

    Check below to see the status of all the flights at Tampa International Airport.

    **Be sure to double check your flight status on the airport website as information could be delayed**

    Tampa International Arrivals

    Tampa International Departures

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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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  • Businesses in Plant City helps others as Florida Strawberry Festival kicks off

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    PLANT CITY, Fla. — Strawberry season is a big deal in Plant City, which is known as the winter strawberry capital of the world. With the season comes the Florida Strawberry Festival, drawing in thousands of visitors, many of whom turn into repeat customers for local businesses.

    What You Need To Know

    • It draws more than 600,000 people to the city each year
    • It is foot traffic that affects local businesses like RAOK boutique


    It’s out with the old and in with the new at RAOK boutique in Plant City, as the staff prepares to launch its latest strawberry-themed collection.

    “This is our twelfth year,” said Brigitte Hodge.

    She is one of the owners and has strong roots in the community, and she has seen firsthand the effect the festival has each year.

    “It supports the farmers in the community and actually just our small town,” she said.

    For her business, that support often means an increase in foot traffic. Hannah Benton is a co-owner of the boutique.

    She said that the months after Christmas can be slow for retailers, making strawberry season a welcome boost.

    “This is not typically the busy season, so I feel that strawberry is just a wonderful fill-in,” she said.

    The tradition has grown to include everything strawberry, from candles and jewelry to t-shirts.

    And the effect goes beyond just one store. Raok works with more than 10 local businesses to bring their collections to market.

    “We work with local printers to bring it to life, so you’re supporting three small businesses with the purchase of one tee,” Hannah said.

    One of those partners is Cap and Cole. Owner Ashlynn Hotchkiss said that she has printed more than 50 shirts for Raok this year.

    Those partnerships can lead to more business long after the festival ends.

    “Somebody sees that, and they’re like, ‘Oh, Cap and Cole, she did their shirts, maybe they’ll do our shirts for this, this, and this,’ not necessarily just the festival,” Hotchkiss explained.

    Cap and Cole was founded in 2023. Ashlynn says she’s been able to connect with more people and print all designs in-house.

    For these business owners, it’s about working together during a season that brings new faces and new opportunities to town.

    “We all benefit from it,” said Brigitte.

    A busy month ahead, one many local businesses say feels like a second Christmas.

    The Florida Strawberry Festival kicks off Feb. 26 and runs through March 8.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • Hillsborough County Public Defender brings free legal help directly to community

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    HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — In a first-of-its-kind event, the Hillsborough County Public Defender’s Office offered free legal help and additional resources in Tampa.

    The initiative is called PD 13 Street Legal, which brought legal services directly to Tampa residents.

    What You Need To Know

    • PD 13 Street Legal brought legal services directly to Tampa residents

    • The initiative was organized by the Hillsborough County Public Defender

    • Wraparound services were also offered at the inaugural event

    • The event will be held on the third Saturday of every month


    “This has been my area, my neighborhood, but I had never seen this right here,” said Tampa resident Cornelius Trussell.

    Trussell has lived in the University area of Tampa his whole life. He stopped in PD 13 Street Legal looking for legal help for his wife. He has a part-time job but he’s hoping to get assistance finding a full-time warehouse job.

    “I’m good with my hands, so I like doing stuff like that, and being active as well,” he said.

    Public defender Lisa McLean said she felt that many clients have challenges when it comes to meeting with their attorney, so she wanted to bring their services to them. McLean said it’s all about communication.

    “We’re not about, ‘Hey, let’s move these people through the system. Let’s plead out as many cases. We can try the cases that we need to and just keep things moving.’ That’s not what we do here. We take a holistic approach to what we do,” she said.

    At Saturday’s event, that holistic approach included wraparound services. Community partners helped with different types of needs like food insecurity, public transportation, mental health, drug treatment and more.

    “We’re really hoping that not only can we provide these services to the clients that we currently represent, but if we have an opportunity to meet with people in the community before they get involved in the criminal justice system, it gives us the opportunity to make real change in the community,” McLean said.

    Trussel was grateful for the support and said PD 13 Street Legal is a great event for the neighborhood.

    “There’s nothing that can’t possibly get done with all these resources here. So that’s amazing,” Trussell said.

    It’s help that Trussell hopes he can return one day.

    If you missed Saturday, there will be future events. It will be held on the third Saturday of every month.

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    Tyler O’Neill

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  • Cold weather shelters to open across Tampa Bay

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    TAMPA, Fla. — A cold front on the way could bring overnight temperatures to the 30s during the early part of the week.

    Counties are once again preparing to open up cold weather shelters for people in need of a warm place to sleep.

    What You Need To Know

    • A cold front on the way could bring overnight temperatures to the 30s during the early part of the week

    • Counties across Central Florida are opening cold weather shelters for people in need 

    • Monitor the conditions with our Weather Experts


    HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY

    These shelters will take in guests from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 22, 23 and 24, unless they reach capacity prior to that time. 

     

    MANATEE COUNTY

    Manatee County will open cold shelters on Monday, February 23, and Tuesday, February 24. 

    Transportation to both locations will be available through Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) at 2:30 p.m. from Turning Points, located at 701 17th Ave. W. in Bradenton. Turning Points will also be open to provide warmth and coffee during the cold weather.

    For more information on cold weather safety and shelter updates, visit mymanatee.org/cold.

     

    PASCO COUNTY

    Pasco County will open cold shelters Monday, February 23, and Tuesday, February 24. The shelters will open at 6 p.m. each day and close at 10 a.m. the following day.

     

    PINELLAS COUNTY

    Cold night shelters in Pinellas County will be open Monday night, Feb. 23, the Homeless Leadership Alliance has announced. The shelters will be open from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

    The following cold weather shelters are available to adult men and women:

    Tarpon Springs

    • St. Timothy Luthern Church
      • 812 E. Tarpon Ave., Tarpon Springs
      • PSTA Route #19

    Clearwater

    • First United Methodist Church of Clearwater
      • 411 Turner Street, Clearwater
      • Allows leashed/contained pets
      • PSTA Route #52A

    Pinellas Park

    • Boys & Girls Club of Pinellas Park
      • 7790 61st St. N, Pinellas Park
      • PSTA Route #74
    • First United Methodist Church of Pinellas Park
      • 9025 49th St. N, Pinellas Park
      • Allows leashed/contained pets
      • PSTA Route #49

    St. Petersburg

    • Unitarian Universalist Church
      • 100 Mirror Lake Drive N, St. Petersburg
      • Requires the use of stairs
      • PSTA Routes #9, #20, #24, SunRunner
    • Salvation Army
      • 1400 4th Street South, St. Petersburg
      • Requires valid ID for entry
      • PSTA Route #4A or B
    • Allendale Church
      • 3803 Haines Rd. N, St. Petersburg
      • PSTA Route #16, #38

    Families with children will be placed in family shelters on cold nights (if space is available). Families should call 2-1-1, First Contact, for information about family shelters.

    Monitor the weather conditions with our Spectrum Bay News 9 Weather Experts.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • FAMU’s Dr. Walter L. Smith’s lasting global impact on the Black diaspora

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    TAMPA, Fla. — This Black History Month, the legacy of former Florida A&M University President Dr. Walter Lee Smith is being remembered not only for strengthening one of the nation’s leading HBCUs, but for extending its reach across the African diaspora.

    What You Need To Know

    • During Black History Month, Tampa’s library honoring Civil Rights activist and FAMU 7th President Dr. Walter L. Smith lands an $800,000 grant, advancing a legacy that reached from Florida to Africa and Haiti

    • Smith led FAMU from 1977 to 1985 — a period marked by post-Civil Rights era expansion in higher education and political instability in parts of the Caribbean and Africa

    • At the invitation of Haitian officials, Smith traveled to Haiti multiple times to assist following a “brain drain” and intellectual exodus during the Duvalier Era

    • On Saturday, Feb. 28 at 8 a.m., the Walter Smith Library & Museum will hold its yearly Black History Month event titled “Fish, Grits & Black History“


    Dr. Smith led FAMU from 1977 to 1985 — a period marked by post-Civil Rights era expansion in higher education and political instability in parts of the Caribbean and Africa.

    His son says his father saw education as something far bigger than a degree.

    “Dad internationalized FAMU under his administration,” said Walter L. Smith, Jr. 

    Building bridges during Haiti’s Duvalier Era

    In the early 1980s, during the presidency of Jean-Claude ‘Baby Doc’ Duvalier, Haiti was facing political repression and an accelerating “brain drain.” Professionals and university-educated Haitians were leaving the country in large numbers — many bound for the United States, France, and Canada.

    At the invitation of Haitian officials, Smith traveled to Haiti multiple times.

    His mission: strengthen academic standards and create partnerships that would allow Haitian degrees to be recognized internationally.

    “What that Dad did was help to establish that articulation so that when people who had degrees from those colleges would go to Western Bloc countries, their degree would be of the same caliber or the same validity,” said Smith Jr. 

    Smith’s work came against the backdrop of a dictatorship that began under François Duvalier and continued under his son. Despite political instability, Haitian officials sought educational infrastructure support.

    “Despite the despotic nature of the government and of the family, they wanted my father to come and help,” said Smith Jr. 

    Smith was often joined by his wife, FAMU’s seventh First Lady, Jeraldine Williams.

    “I’ve been to Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haïtien,” said Williams.

    She says Smith’s focus was not simply elite university access, but practical, workforce-driven education.

    “High on his (Dr. Walter Smith) list of agenda items was to install two-year schools, two-year colleges,” said Williams. 

    The goal was to create local two-year institutions that could provide credentials, workforce training, and pathways to four-year degrees.

    “So they got a degree, they have a certificate, and so they are qualified to perform at some level rather than not be,” Williams added. 

    Williams says Smith deeply worried about the long-term effects of intellectual migration and “brain drain.”

    “Those who had the brain power would go away, let’s say, from Haiti to the United States, or Haiti to France, or Haiti to England. And then they wouldn’t come back. So that’s a loss. There is an enhancement for them, but it’s a loss for the country,” she said. 

    A home for Haitian students at FAMU

    Some Haitian students did come to Florida, enrolling at FAMU during Smith’s presidency.

    Williams says many faced cultural and linguistic barriers. 

    They found opportunity and support. 

    “(Smith) was trying to deal with those people who were coming in, who probably felt more at a greater distance from success than he did because of the language, because of tradition, because of expectation,” Williams said.

    For Smith, education was about empowerment and nation-building. His work extended beyond the Caribbean.

    During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Smith also traveled to African nations, part of a broader effort by historically Black colleges to reconnect with the global Black diaspora following the Civil Rights movement.

    “Education was a sign of status and still is,” said Smith Jr. “If you had an education, especially a college education, you are big time. You’re doing something right. And that was the basis of the values, is to what was to create a society that could help them to grow that infrastructure.”

    And to his son, there was never a question about whether the work was worth it.

    “There’s never a time that I’ve ever witnessed my father not think the education of Black people was not worth it. He put it all on the line for more than half of his life,” said Smith Jr. 

    Smith’s lasting global impact on the Black diaspora

    Today, decades after his presidency, the influence of Dr. Walter Lee Smith’s legacy continues to cross borders.

    The Walter Smith Library & Museum in Tampa recently received an $800,000 grant from the Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency. On Feb. 28,  the library will hold its yearly Black History Month event, titled “Fish, Grits & Black History.”
     

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    Fadia Patterson

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  • Council hears recommendations from advanced air mobility task force

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — They’re being called a potentially transformative change to transportation in Tampa Bay.

    While it’s uncertain when advanced air mobility aircraft (AAM) will start carrying passengers in the region, St. Petersburg is one of the municipalities getting ready for them. 

    “You want to be ready for the latest technology. You want to be prepared. You don’t want to be reactive when something kind of comes on the horizon,” said Ed Montanari, chair of St. Petersburg’s Advanced Air Mobility Task Force.

    During an interview at Albert Whitted Airport, Montanari pointed out a model of the first commercial airliner. A sign on the display says it took off from downtown more than 110 years ago.

    “A lot of people don’t know this, but the airline business started right here in St. Petersburg in 1914, and this is the newest airborne transportation system that’s coming along,” said Montanari.

    A report from the task force describes AAM as “an emerging sector of the aviation industry that enables the quick and efficient transport of passengers or cargo over short distances.”

    While the report says this encompasses different kinds of aircraft, the most common kind being developed is the electric vertical take off and landing aircraft, or eVTOL.

    Montanari said they haven’t been approved by the FAA yet, but that could happen later this year or early next. Thursday, he told city council what can be done to prepare.

    “I think it’s going to be transformative to transportation throughout the region, and the state, and around the world,” he told Spectrum News.

    Improvements to Albert Whitted Airport were among the recommendations. They included creating AAM parking spots and installing electrical charging stations and fire safety systems in the next three years. It says one or more vertiports — or takeoff and landing sites — should be built in the next decade.

    “I see the first place these aircraft are going to operate out of would be right here at the airport,” said Montanari. 

    He also said there’s a potential for standalone vertiports in different areas of the city, like downtown. He compared those sites to helipads on the tops of tall buildings in New York City. Montanari said AAMs would first operate out of the airport.

    Council Member Brandi Gabbard said a critical part of getting the introduction of AAMs right will be cooperation beyond St. Pete.

    “I think we can look at our transit today and note that if there had been regional collaboration decades ago, we would be in a much different place,” Gabbard said during the meeting.

    The task force’s report does recommend working with regional planners to develop flight corridors to link Whitted with Tampa International Airport and other facilities. 

    “We also want to capture the jobs that might come with these new vehicles, the education, the training, and then the manufacturing,” said Montanari. “We’re going for it all right here. We really wanted to plant the flag of — this is the home of commercial aviation, we want to keep it the home of commercial aviation.” 

    Montanari said next, a study is needed to determine where at Whitted the infrastructure and landing spots should be.

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • New $59M state appeal courthouse opens in St. Petersburg

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A ceremonial ribbon cutting for the new $59 million Bernie McCabe Second District Court of Appeal courthouse in downtown St. Petersburg will be held on Saturday, along with a tour for community leaders.

    What You Need To Know

    • A ceremonial ribbon cutting for the new Bernie McCabe Second District Court of Appeal courthouse in downtown St. Petersburg will be held on Saturday

    • The three-story courthouse along Mirror Lake in downtown St. Petersburg cost $59 million

    • It serves six counties: Pinellas, Pasco, Hillsborough, Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto

    • The courthouse is named after Bernie McCabe, who was the State Attorney for Pinellas and Pasco Counties for nearly 30 years, before his death in 2021


    “This is a way for us to recognize all of the partners who have helped us along the way to make this happen,” said Chief Judge Matt Lucas. “A way for us to formally announce to everyone, ‘Hey, we’re here, we’re open for business, we’re part of this community and we’re excited to get to work.’”

    Lucas said staff began moving into the courthouse in December, with the first oral arguments held last month. Construction at the site, located at 525 Mirror Lake Drive North, began in 2023. The appeal courthouse opened on budget and on time, according to Lucas.

    The 59,000 square-foot building features a single courtroom, suites for 15 judges and workspace for 96 staff members. Lucas said the community room, which the court provides as a meeting space for local bar associations, has become very popular.

    “I will tell you, my phone has been ringing off the hook,” he said. “I had no idea there was so much pent up demand in St Petersburg, but we’re thrilled it’s getting used.” 

    The courtroom is the crown jewel of the three-story building featuring the latest technology and sound absorbing acoustic panels on the walls. Attorney Kevin Hayslett said it’s the envy of most judges in the state.

    “It is pristine. It’s the talk of every appellate judge in the state,” he said. “We’ve got the best courtroom in the state right here in St. Pete.”

    Chief Judge Matt Lucas in the new courtroom. (Spectrum News/Josh Rojas)

    A panel of three appellate court judges serve the Sixth Judicial Circuit (Pinellas and Pasco counties), the 13th Circuit (Hillsborough County) and the 12th Circuit (Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties). Lucas said the state chose to build the courthouse in St. Petersburg because of its centralized location.

    “Being right in the center downtown, it’s fitting. It makes sense,” he said. “It’s a place where everyone, when they walk by, whether they have business here or not, they know, yeah, the second DCA is doing the work that they’re supposed to be doing for the people in our district.”

    Before moving into the new courthouse, the judges and staff were working out of the Stetson Law Center in Tampa and a leased building in Lakeland. In 2016, the second DCA had to abandon its courthouse in Lakeland due to structural and air-quality issues.

    Lucas said while everything in the courtroom is brand new, they did bring a few pieces of the past to honor traditions.

    “These oak tables are the original council tables from the Lakeland courthouse,” he said. “We have the original gavel up on the bench there.”

    The courthouse is named after Bernie McCabe, who was the State Attorney for Pinellas and Pasco Counties for nearly 30 years. He died on Jan. 1, 2021, at the age of 73. Hayslett worked as a prosecutor under McCabe. He said naming the courthouse after McCabe honors his legacy of public service.

    “When you think about Bernie McCabe, you think of a person that he believed in law and order,” Lucas said. “He believed in the right of law and people to appeal their sentences even when it didn’t go their way. That’s Bernie McCabe.” 

    Lucas said a modern courthouse must have two important functions to fulfill, security and technology.

    “Keeping up with technology and leaving room for new technology,” he said. “This building has numerous security features and layered security features.”  

    Having an office overlooking Mirror Lake makes it really easy to work at the courthouse, Lucas said, and he’s not looking to leave anytime soon.

    “We are here to stay,” he said. “I have every intention of being here for as long as the people of Florida will have me.”

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    Josh Rojas

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  • Interactive Map: Track Florida Wildfires

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    TAMPA, Fla. — The Florida dry season usually runs from November through May, and with that comes fire danger. This is usually due to low humidity and reduced rainfall. 

    Due to the enhanced fire danger, burn bans are in effect for the Tampa Bay area. A burn ban prohibits burning outdoors as well as fireworks, sparklers and fire pits. Outdoor grilling is allowed as long as flames are contained within a grill and the fire is constantly attended. 

    Here are some safety tips to prevent fires:

    • Remove fuels that can lead flames to your home or that can be ignited by windblown embers.
    • Clear away dead grass, leaves, twigs, and branches from structures, roofs, rain gutters, decks, and walkways.
    • Store firewood at least 30 feet from occupied structures.
    • Plant landscaping that retains moisture and resists ignition, such as native, fire-resistant vegetation.
    • Help emergency responders find your home faster by making sure that street numbers are easy to read.
    • Know where the closest firefighting water source is to your home or building.
    • Dispose of cigarette butts properly.
    • Pick up light-refracting metal items, such as soda cans, that can spark a fire.     
    • Don’t park vehicles over high grass that could come into contact with hot engines and other components.

    INTERACTIVE MAP: LATEST WILDFIRES

    Click/tap on the fire icons to get more information on that particular fire.


    If the map does not load, try this link

    Florida Wildfire Resource Links:

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Events this week to help seniors file for new tax deduction

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    TAMPA, Fla. —Seniors across Florida could see meaningful tax savings this filing season thanks to a new deduction aimed at residents age 65 and older. 

    Officials say the change could translate into hundreds—or even thousands—of dollars back in taxpayers’ pockets, but many eligible residents may not yet be aware of the benefit.

    What You Need To Know

    • Anyone age 65+ is eligible for the new $6,000 tax deduction 

    • The deduction could increase a seniors tax return from $700 to $1,500 

    • The new senior tax deduction will be in place through the 2028 tax filing season
    • The deduction is part of a broader push to repeal all income taxes on social security payments


    Under the new provision, taxpayers 65 and older can claim an additional $6,000 deduction when filing their federal returns with the Internal Revenue Service. 

    Depending on income and tax bracket, seniors who claim the deduction could see their refunds increase by roughly $700 to $1,500.

    Older adults make up more than 20%t of the state’s population, meaning the combined value of additional deductions claimed by seniors statewide could exceed $29 billion, according to estimates shared by officials.

    To help residents understand how to claim the benefit, U.S. Representative Gus Bilirakis is hosting a series of senior outreach fairs across the Tampa Bay region. 

    Bilirakis to Hold Local Senior Forums on Tax Changes, Community Resources, and Advances in Disease Research

    Spring Hill – February 18, 2026 – 10:00 am – Elks Lodge – 13383 County Line Road, Spring Hill, FL  34609

    Citrus Springs -February 18, 2026 – 1:00 pm –  Citrus Springs Community Springs – 1570 W. Citrus Springs Blvd.  Citrus Springs, FL  34434

    New Port Richey – February 19, 2026 – 9:00 am – Kontos Event Center – 9426 Little Road, New Port Richey, FL  34654

    Events scheduled this week take place in Pasco County, Citrus County, and Hernando County, where attendees can receive guidance on filing requirements, eligibility, and available assistance programs.

    Organizers say the events will also connect seniors with free tax-preparation services, offering an option for those who do not work with a private accountant or tax professional. Proper filing is essential to receiving the deduction, officials emphasize, as eligible taxpayers must claim the benefit when submitting their returns.

    Bilirakis said the effort is part of a broader push to increase financial relief for older Americans. 

    “This deduction will be up until 2028. I think we should make it permanent,” Bilirakis said. “Matter of fact I believe that no one should pay taxes on social security.”

    There are no income or employment requirements tied to the new deduction; the primary eligibility condition is age. 

    Any taxpayer who is 65 or older and files a return can claim the additional deduction. Current provisions keep the benefit in place through 2028, giving seniors multiple filing years to take advantage of the savings.

    Local officials and community groups are encouraging eligible residents to verify the new deduction when preparing their taxes to ensure they do not miss the added benefit. 

    For more information on the Senior Fairs happening this week in Pasco, Hernando and Citrus Counties, visit here.

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    Jason Lanning

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  • Spring Training games set to begin across the Bay area

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Baseball fans are heading back to Florida as Grapefruit League spring training games begin this weekend across the state, with matchups scheduled in cities including Tampa, Clearwater, Bradenton, Dunedin, Lakeland, and Sarasota.

     The annual preseason tradition is expected to draw thousands of visitors, providing a significant boost for local tourism, hotels, and restaurants.

    What You Need To Know

    •  Florida’s Grapefruit League says it has spured a $679-million-dollar ecomnomic ompact to the State of Florida 

    • Games begin this Friday and run through the end of March 

    • Hotels in Tampa’s midtown district are seeing a spike in occupancy as it is in close proximity to Steinbrenner Field and the Yankees spring training facility  

    • For the scheudle of the Grapefruit Leagues spring training games, visit here: BN9 Spring Traing Guide 2026


    One of the biggest attractions each year is the New York Yankees, who play their spring training games at Steinbrenner Field.

    Located near Tampa’s rapidly growing Midtown district, the stadium sits close to a range of hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues that benefit from the seasonal influx of fans.

    Local hospitality leaders said the spring training season consistently brings a surge of visitors.

    Brittany Mattix, assistant general manager of the Midtown Aloft hotel, says the area becomes especially lively during rivalry games, when passionate fans from across the country travel to see their teams play.

    “Very busy. We’re super excited,” said Mattix. “We encounter every year during this time for spring training, especially during the rival game, such an influx of passionate people that are just very, very overwhelmed with joy to see their teams playing here. 

    “With it being in such close proximity, Midtown is a great place to be for this.”

    Spring training runs through late March, leading up to Opening Day March 26. During that time, many fans travel to Florida for extended stays—some remaining for the entire six-week season—helping sustain strong business activity throughout the region.

    The Yankees open their home schedule Friday at 1:05 p.m., facing the Baltimore Orioles.

    Local fans will also be heading south to Port Charlotte, where the Tampa Bay Rays hold spring training at Charlotte Sports Park.

    The Rays begin their preseason schedule Saturday at 1:05 p.m. against the Atlanta Braves.

    With multiple teams playing across Florida and fans arriving from around the country, regional tourism officials and local businesses expect another busy and economically important spring training season.

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    Jason Lanning

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  • Nick Townley inspired by long line of Plant baseball legends

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Wade Boggs Field, the baseball stadium at Plant High School, has the footsteps of legends on it.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Plant baseball program has sent multiple players to the MLB

    • Jac Caglionone just got his number retired, meeting the current group of Panthers players

    • Nick Townley hopes to be the next guy in line

    • Townley is the ace of the staff, a senior pitcher who has impressive command on the mound


    “We’ve always had some pretty good players and there’s kind of a long line of tradition to that,” Plant baseball head coach Dennis Braun said.

    The program boasts an impressive list of alums on the outfield wall, which has numbers retired from left field all the way down to right field.

    “We’re one of the few schools that has a Hall of Famer in Wade Boggs and we might have a future couple more if they keep doing the things they’re doing,” Braun said.

    Braun is referring to 5-time MLB All-Star Pete Alonso and 4-time All-Star Kyle Tucker, both former Panthers who are two of the best hitters in baseball.

    The latest pro to get his number retired is Jac Caglianone, a 2021 Plant alum who was a two-way star for the Florida Gators and is already in the bigs with the Kansas City Royals. The current team was able to meet Cagnianone at the ceremony earlier this month, seeing a guy who sat in the same dugout they do move on to accomplish what he has accomplished.

    “Yeah, I think that’s what the motivation is, I think everyone wants to be them not all of them are going to be 6 foot 5 250 pounds and that’s a big part of getting to the level that they get to but I think that motivation is a big deal for them and I think it’s what makes the program grow,” Braun said.

    “It was really nice to see. Obviously, he’s one of the greats of high school baseball, and it was really nice to be able to see the impact he’s made here,” Plant senior pitcher Nick Townley said.

    Townley hopes to one day be the next guy in line.

    “Yeah it really does help my focus. It just helps me stay concentrated on my main goal here which is competing as a team and winning and focusing on getting better,” Townley said.

    Townley is the ace of the staff, a senior right-hander who doesn’t light up the radar gun with a ton of velocity but makes up for it with an impressive command on the mound.

    “Throughout the fall and early spring I’ve just been working on my pitch location and delivery, getting better at sequencing and finding out where hitters are weak against me so I can get them out in the best way,” Townley said.

    He got some preseason recognition from 813 Preps, a Hillsborough County high school baseball publication, ranking him as the 23rd best player in the area.

    “I thought it was pretty cool but the rankings don’t mean anything until we start playing games so I try not to focus on it much, yeah it for sure adds some pressure but I gotta go into games knowing that I still have a job to throw good pitches and compete with the hitters so that just helps me stay focused,” Townley said.

    “Being ranked means you’ve done something you’ve earned that and every year you’ve gotta earn it. Baseball is a tough game so I think it’s important for him to come back down a little bit and not get too caught up in that throw strikes rely on his defense and if he does those things I think he will have another great year,” Braun said.

    Of course, Townley dreams of making it to “The Show.” Every baseball player does. No program around here has sent more players to the pros than Plant lately, so he’s in a great spot to try and get that dream started here.

    “Even though you may not make it, you may not be them let’s do everything we can so if that day comes that we don’t you can hang your cleats up and say I did everything I could to be the best player I could and that’s what we’re trying to do every day,” Braun said.

    For now, Townley is focused on this season and getting his team to state.

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    Michael Epps

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  • Strong storms possible later today

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    TAMPA, Fla. — A line of thunderstorms will move through our area between 5 p.m. and midnight tonight.

    Winds will be gusty out ahead of this line, and brief gusts of 40 mph or greater are possible as the line comes through.

    Strong wind gusts are the primary concern, but a brief, isolated tornado cannot be ruled out in some of these thunderstorms.

    Showers and storms exit the area after midnight, giving way to a breezy, cooler, and drier Monday.

    BE WEATHER AWARE

    Watch Spectrum Bay News 9 LIVE anytime on our website and our app for the latest updates. Scroll down for the latest important weather information and the latest watches and warnings for the Tampa Bay area.

    We encourage everyone to download the Spectrum news app and enable weather alerts to be notified when severe weather is in your area. Be sure to check in with Klystron 9 throughout the day.

    Manage your weather notifications in the Spectrum Bay News 9 app.

    LATEST WATCHES/WARNINGS

    Click/tap on the warning areas on the Klystron 9 map for more information on watches/warnings. Turn on the Klystron 9 layer to track storms. More watches/warnings information below the map.

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  • Decision approaching on possible Tampa Bay MPO merger

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Thirty-five years after it was first discussed, a decision on merging three of Tampa Bay’s metropolitan planning organizations may be on the horizon. 

    “We would be the largest metropolitan planning organization in the state of Florida, and with size comes some funding,” said Whit Blanton, executive director of Forward Pinellas. “A lot of the federal funding is based on formula: based on population, based on transit ridership, things like that.”

    What You Need To Know

    • Metropolitan planning organizations in Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas Counties could learn in the next few months whether they’ll merge into a regional MPO

    • Forward Pinellas Executive Director Whit Blanton said the idea of a merger was first brought up in the early 1990s, but it was thought at the time the counties were too different for the move to make sense

    • Blanton said creating a larger organization could make it easier for Tampa Bay to secure federal dollars for transportation projects

    • The MPOs could vote on whether to merge in March or April. The county commissions and Tampa City Council would also have to give their approval


    Forward Pinellas, the Hillsborough Transportation Planning Organization, and the Pasco Metropolitan Planning Organization are the groups that could merge. Blanton said initial talks happened in the 1990s, but it was thought the counties were too different for a merger to make sense.

    For instance, Pasco County was just starting to grow. Now, he said the time is right and the move would be in the best interest of the region.

    “So much funding for capital projects, like the big interstate projects or the big transit projects, is competitive, and you’ve got to show strong regional support to be competitive with Seattle or San Diego,” said Blanton.

    He said a merger could help Tampa Bay compete at that level.

    “We would be a mega MPO, and with that would come so much more opportunity for funding,” said St. Petersburg City Council Member Gina Driscoll.

    Blanton updated council members on the effort at Thursday’s meeting, telling them the latest effort began in 2023. That’s when state lawmakers passed legislation requiring the MPOs to study what a merger would mean. Details are still being worked out, but Blanton said a 25-member board seems to be the preference.

    He said federal law requires the number of representatives from each county to be based on population. He also said Florida statutes require tax revenues to be distributed equitably among counties based on population.

    “So, even though Hillsborough County, City of Tampa may be larger, they would not be able to take down all the transportation dollars, nor would they have a majority of the votes,” said Blanton.

    “It’s going to take a lot of political will across the region to bring this together,” said City Councilmember Brandi Gabbard.

    Gabbard said MetroPlan Orlando, the MPO for Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties, is an example of how local governments can work together to benefit a region.

    “What they’re accomplishing is phenomenal,” said Gabbard. “Because right now, those dollars are not coming to us the way that they should be, and this is really the only way to make that happen.”

    Blanton said a workshop is being held Friday to talk about the details of the governing board and what the structure of the organization would look like.

    He said the MPOs will likely vote on whether to merge in March or April. Next, the three county commissions and Tampa City Council would also have to approve it. Blanton said that could happen by June, and the merger could be complete in 2027 or 2028.

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • AI helping more medical offices improve patient interaction

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    TAMPA, Fla. — A new part of a doctor’s greeting with a patient now involves a bit of a new explanation. 

    More medical offices are implementing the use of artificial intelligence to summarize patient visits to help reduce documentation, time, and improve patient interactions. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Orlando Health interventional cardiologist confirmed AI use has immensely helped office efficiency and understanding from patients of their current state of health

    • Dr. Jesal Popat, cardiologist at Orlando Health, said the AI app used is HIPPA compliant, and patients are told and asked for their consent before it is used for information
    • Some patients have been hesitant about AI use in professional, medical settings, but Popat said after understanding how it works that almost all patients in his office are on board 

    “We are using artificial intelligence today in the office,” said Dr. Jesal Popat, an Interventional Cardiologist with Orlando Health.

    Popat said his office at Orlando Health has begun to use AI to summarize his visits with patient, like Maureen Cravey and others. 

    Popat’s cell phone utilizes a secure application with Orlando Health to listen and understand what is said during appointments. 

    “I kind of saw it as sort of a court stenographer,” said Cravey. “Just somebody taking notes, which allowed then my provider, which of course is Dr. Popat, to stay focused on me.”

    The entire visit, Popat never looks at a computer screen or any other technology, keeping his full attention on Cravey. The two discuss her current medical heart needs and future procedures.

    When Orlando Health first launched this, Popat admits some of his clients were wary for their safety.

    Dr. Jesal Popat, an Interventional Cardiologist with Orlando Health, talks with patient Maureen Cravey. (Spectrum News/Erin Murray)

    “There was apprehension about privacy concerns and just reassuring the patients that all of the technology that we use is HIPPA compliant and health care quality grade. If it wasn’t, we would have nothing to do with it,” Popat said.

    Once the visit ended, the information gathered via AI is turned into a summary and printed out. Cravey was given the printout when she checked out. 

    On the paper it showed everything discussed including medications and doses, upcoming procedures, and any lifestyle modifications she may need to make. 

    “Since we started using AI in the office, the phone calls to our office from patients or patients’ family members has gone down by about 50%,” said Popat.

    Popat said that AI has helped in a big way with family of patients who cannot attend checkups with their loved ones, keeping ever the furthest family members up to date with instant information. 

    “It’s just a wonderful thing to be able to look at that hard copy, because it’s hard to retain everything when somebody is telling you something about your health,” said Cravey. 

    Popat said the AI recording from appointments is deleted instantly after a patient’s visit, ensuring none are saved for client privacy, and no identifiable patient information is entered into the AI application other than a person’s name. 

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    Erin Murray

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  • MLB Spring Training 2026: Teams, locations and more

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    PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Pitchers and catchers are back, signaling another Opening Day is not too far ahead.

    But first comes the state’s annual rite of spring, Major League Baseball’s Spring Training and the Grapefruit League across Florida.

    The Tampa Bay Rays, who return to Tropicana Field this year for the regular season after spending last season outdoors at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, welcome players to camp on Feb. 11 with the first full squad workouts set for Feb. 17. The Rays will play their first spring training game on Feb. 21 against the Atlanta Braves in Port Charlotte.

    With new ownership and a revamped roster, the new-look Rays are saying hello to a lot of new faces and will spend camp filling in lineup spots, establishing depth and finalizing their pitching staff, particularly among their relievers. 

    Meanwhile, 14 other teams are opening camp in the coming days across the state of Florida. (See map below). Cactus League Information

    When the players are back on the field, a big focus this spring will be robotic umpires and the World Baseball Classic.

    In what could be the last full season before a labor confrontation over a possible salary cap proposal, players are preparing for the Automated Ball-Strike system, giving teams a chance to appeal pitch calls by the plate umpire to so-called robot umps.

    ABS was tested in 13 spring training ballparks last year, and teams won 52.2% of 1,182 challenges, which averaged 13.8 seconds. Major League Baseball’s 11-man competition committee voted in September to approve regular-season use for 2026.


    🧢WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC 🧢

    The World Baseball Classic is back in 2026.

    Japan will try for its fourth title and second straight when players leave their clubs for the sixth edition of the tournament, to be played from March 5-17 in Houston; Miami; San Juan; Puerto Rico; and Tokyo.

    Rosters on the 20 national teams include 306 players under major league and minor league contracts, including 78 All-Stars.

    The tournament will begin on March 5 at the Tokyo Dome (March 4 at 10 p.m. ET in the U.S.) with Chinese Taipei and Australia playing in the first game. The other pools — located at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Daikin Park in Houston; and LoanDepot Park in Miami — will begin play on March 6.

    Here are the Tampa Bay Rays players taking part in the tournament:

    Here’s what you need to know before the WBC first pitch.

    ⚾2026 Florida Grapefruit League Team Capsules and Locations ⚾

    Atlanta Braves – CoolToday Park, North Port

    Baltimore Orioles – Ed Smith Stadium, Sarasota

    Boston Red Sox – JetBlue Park at Fenway South, Fort Myers

    Detroit Tigers – Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium, Lakeland

    Houston Astros – Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, West Palm Beach

    Miami Marlins – Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, Jupiter

    Minnesota Twins – Hammond Stadium at Lee County Sports Complex, Fort Myers

    New York Mets – Clover Park, Port St. Lucie

    New York Yankees – George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa

    Pittsburgh Pirates – LECOM Park, Bradenton

    Philadelphia Phillies – BayCare Ballpark, Clearwater

    St. Louis Cardinals – Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, Jupiter

    Tampa Bay Rays – Charlotte Sports Park, Port Charlotte

    Toronto Blue Jays – TD Ballpark, Dunedin

    Washington Nationals – Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, West Palm Beach

    🏟️ SPRING TRAINING STADIUMS 🏟️

     

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    Spectrum News Staff

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