ReportWire

Tag: Jason Lanning

  • 35th Annual Ruskin Seafood Festival this weekend

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    RUSKIN, Fla. — One year after hurricanes destroyed their entire office and left the community in tatters, organizers of the Ruskin Seafood Festival are celebrating resilience with an even bigger event and free admission for all attendees. 

    Building on last year’s success, the festival will once again offer no entry fee, and this year they’re also waiving the usual $2-per-car charge to enter E.G. Simmons Park, where the event is held.

    What You Need To Know

    • Ruskin Seafood Festival to feature 150 vendors this weekend at E.G. Simmons Conservation Park

    • Festival will include 300 local musicians

    • Admission fee of $10 is waived, as is the $2 fee to enter the park

    • Festival runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday


    Festival-goers can expect a full weekend of entertainment.

    Over the course of two days, around 300 local musicians will perform across two stages. The grounds will also feature car shows both days, a dog “Bark Yard” for pet owners, 35 arts and crafts vendors, and of course, plenty of seafood and other local fare.

    Melanie Davis, Executive Director of the Greater South Shore Chamber of Commerce, says the festival plays a major role in supporting local businesses by giving them face-to-face access to the community.

    “Our small businesses… it is their opportunity to showcase what they have to the community,” Davis said. “You have new residents here, even older residents that have been here forever, [who] have no idea that these guys are right down the road and what they do. Whether they sell here or just make the connections and develop that trust… you know exactly where they are — you met them right down the road.”

    The Ruskin Seafood Festival runs Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    For more details, visit Ruskin Seafood Festival.

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    Jason Lanning

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  • Citrus Cold Weather Shelter helps shield dozens overnight from chilly temps

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    HOMOSASSA SPRINGS, Fla. — With cold temperatures moving into the Tampa Bay area, counties are preparing for the chill. 

    That includes at the Citrus Cold Weather Shelter at Nature Coast Church in Homosassa, where about 40 people took refuge Monday night from the cold temps. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Cold temperatures are sweeping across the Tampa Bay area, with counties opening shelters to brace for the chill

    • Citrus Cold Weather Shelter is opening Monday and Tuesday nights from 6 p.m. — 7 a.m.

    • An anticipated 75 people will be helped Monday night and at least 300 people this season

    • Elsewhere — as those shield against the cold, a few local businesses are embracing it


    “We open whenever the temperature drops to 40° or below, and we’re looking to be in the 30s,” said Kristy Jocelyn, shelter coordinator for Citrus Cold Weather Shelter. “They’ve put out some pretty severe warnings now.”

    Inside Nature Coast Church in Homosassa, Jocelyn is stocking up on supplies, preparing the church to serve as Citrus County’s cold weather shelter.

    “We don’t have an agency that is open 24/7,” says Jocelyn. “We’re in the works of hoping to get Citrus Hope open and running, but that’s not here yet. Until we do, this is vital.”

    County officials said they opened sites for a few days last October, but that this is the first freeze this early in the season anyone can remember. 


    Everyone taking shelter receives not just food and supplies, but also help in finding a sustainable place to live.

    “When they come in, one of the things we offer is case management and doing housing assessments with them and help to put them on a waitlist for funding to help them to get into housing and off the street for government and state funding,” Jocelyn said.

    According to a homeless count in Citrus last January, the county is home to 846 identified homeless people. That number is up more than 100% in the past two years, with affordable housing one of the biggest factors.

    For more information on the Citrus County Cold Weather Shelter or how you can volunteer or donate, visit B.A.S.I.C.S. United inc.

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    Calvin Lewis, Jason Lanning

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  • Pasco Schools set to unlock AI for student use on Dec. 1

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    PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — As artificial intelligence (AI) tools continue to shape classrooms and workplaces, Pasco County Schools is preparing to embrace the technology, while also setting clear boundaries for its use.

    District teachers are already using Microsoft Copilot, an AI-powered assistant similar to ChatGPT, to help create lesson plans and develop guided tutorials for students.

    Beginning Dec. 1, high school students in the district will gain access to the tool as well.

    What You Need To Know

    • Pasco Schools to unlock AI for use by students in high school on Dec. 1

    • The district is currently drafting guidelines for the use of AI by students 

    • Pasco teachers have been using AI tools for lesson plans and student tutorials 

    • Pasco students will be allowed to use Microsoft Copilot in a limited capacity 


    Copilot functions like an advanced search engine. It can draft essays, answer questions and summarize research materials in seconds — tasks that could otherwise take students hours to complete. With such powerful capabilities, district leaders say they are focused on balancing innovation with responsibility.

    During a recent school board meeting, Superintendent John Legg emphasized that Pasco’s AI guidelines will need to evolve alongside the technology.

    “The one thing that I have heard — and I am not an AI expert — but in working with people who are, is the day we publish this is the day it is obsolete because it is emerging that quickly,” Legg said. “We will be constantly revisiting this, probably for the next few years.”

    The district is planning one more round of revisions to its AI guidelines before officially releasing them to students.

    While Pasco moves forward, other nearby school districts — Hillsborough and Pinellas, for example — are also drafting or refining their own policies around AI. Pasco officials say they’ve reviewed those guidelines closely to ensure consistency across the region.

    So far, there have been no statewide directives in Florida regarding the use of AI in schools. For now, each district is deciding how best to prepare students for a future where AI is part of everyday learning.

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    Jason Lanning

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  • Food lines growing as SNAP Benefits set to expire Saturday

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    WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. — What began as a small community effort ten years ago has grown into a critical lifeline for hundreds of local families.

    The Bay Chapel Food Pantry, run out of two shipping containers in the parking lot of First Presbyterian Church of Tampa Bay, is now serving record numbers of people each week.

    What You Need To Know

    •  Bay Chapel Food Pantry is preparing for SNAP Benefits to expire on Saturday

    • The need was growing weeks before the shutdown happened 

    •  Bay Chapel Food Pantry expects to help at least 600 people this Saturday

    • To help, visit www.baychapelfoodpantry.org


    “Six months ago, we were at 340,” said pantry director Lee Schielka. “Then it started spiking — 400, 395, 421, 495 — and then last Saturday, we hit what the volunteers called a world record: 541.”

    The pantry partners with Feeding Tampa Bay and local donors to provide both fresh and canned food to families in need. Photos from recent weekends show the food line stretching out to Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, with cars and people waiting for assistance.

    Schielka says the demand was already growing before the recent government shutdown, but with SNAP benefits set to run out this Saturday, he expects the crowds to be even larger.

    “Feeding Tampa Bay has called and warned me — be prepared, it’s coming,” Schielka said. “We’ll probably do 600-plus this Saturday. They’ve been great about sending extra food. We’re trying to deal with this the best we can. And if this truly does happen, we’re hoping and praying it won’t — but if it does, we’ll open sometime during the week to give some relief to the community and those affected.”

    As the need grows, Schielka says there are several ways the community can help — by donating food, money, or time. Volunteers are always needed to help run the food lines and distribute items to families.

    For more information on Bay Chapel Food Pantry, or how you can help visit baychapelfoodpantry.org

     

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    Jason Lanning

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  • Feeding Tampa Bay expanding its efforts as shutdown goes on

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    TAMPA, Fla. — As the federal government shutdown enters its fourth week, Feeding Tampa Bay is expanding its efforts to support thousands of local workers and families who are struggling without paychecks.

    The organization has extended hours at its Causeway food market, opening its doors specifically for federal employees to shop for groceries and essential items.

    But the help doesn’t stop there. Through partnerships with community organizations, Feeding Tampa Bay is also assisting with bill payments and extensions for those facing mounting financial strain.

    What You Need To Know

    • Feeding Tampa Bay is expanding its efforts as shutdown goes on 

    • Feeding Tampa Bay is also assisting with bill payments and extensions for those facing mounting financial strain

    • A critical deadline looms on November 1, when SNAP benefits are set to expire, potentially impacting about 250,000 people across the Tampa Bay area

    “With the shutdown continuing and no end in sight, the needs in our community are growing,” said Shannon Hannon-Oliviero with Feeding Tampa Bay. “If you could donate, one dollar equals five meals for us, and we are going to have a lot more people in our care. We do right now with government workers, but if SNAP is cut, it is going to be a lot of people in need that are already at a critical time in their lives.”

    A critical deadline looms on November 1, when SNAP benefits are set to expire, potentially impacting about 250,000 people across the Tampa Bay area who rely on that assistance each month.

    Feeding Tampa Bay is urging the public to step up with donations and volunteer support, especially if the shutdown continues past the SNAP deadline.

    Those wishing to help can visit FeedingTampaBay.org/governmentshutdown for more information on how to donate or volunteer.

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    Jason Lanning

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  • Children’s Home Network Celebrates Major Renovations

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    TAMPA, Fla. — One of Tampa’s oldest and most impactful organizations is entering a new era of care.

    The Children’s Home Network, which began its mission in 1892, has unveiled a series of major renovations designed to enhance the lives of the foster children it serves.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Children’s Home Network provides socials services to 7,000 kids and adults every year across Florida 

    • Established in 1892, the Children’s Home Network has seven locations across Central Florida  

    • Hillsborough County awarded a $688,000 block grant for the organization to make renovations at its main campus in Tampa

    • Upgrades include new AC units for the gym, a new roof, renovated bathrooms and an outdoor pavilion 


    This week, the nonprofit celebrated the completion of upgrades at its main campus with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The improvements focused on Kids Village, a residential area where up to 54 children live and recover from experiences of neglect and abuse.

    Thanks to a Community Development Block Grant of nearly $700,000 provided by Hillsborough County, the renovations included a new roof, improved lighting, updated bathrooms, new windows, a covered pavilion, and new air-conditioning units for the gym.

    “We want it to be a place where they feel comfortable, where they can experience joy, where they can experience healing from past trauma in their lives,” said Taylor Cheeseman, Executive Vice President of the Children’s Home Network. “Having all of these facilities available to them is a really important part of that.”

    The upgrades mark a significant investment in creating a nurturing and stable environment for children in foster care.

    While the recently renovated main campus remains the heart of the organization’s operations, the Children’s Home Network also runs six additional locations across Central Florida, providing social services to children, teens and families throughout the state.

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    Jason Lanning

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  • Tampa WOW! gets approval from city council, clearing way for work

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa’s proposed “Wheel Over Water” was approved by city council on Thursday after a second public meeting on the project.

    What You Need To Know

    • The proposed Wheel over Water will stand 250-feet tall and be located next to The Florida Aquarium   

    • Channelside residents are voicing concerns about added traffic and parking issues should the project move forward

    • In a statement, The Florida Aquarium voiced its support of the project

    • The developer says the city will bear no financial burden for the WOW! 
    • On Thursday, Tampa City Council approved the project


    The 250-foot observation wheel, dubbed Tampa WOW!, will be built on the parking lot between Port Tampa Bay and The Florida Aquarium.

    Thursday’s action by the council clears the way for site preparations to begin in the coming weeks.

    Supporters said it could become a new family-friendly attraction for the city’s waterfront but many nearby residents are worried about the impact on parking, noise and traffic in an already congested area

    “It is extremely exciting that people want to invest $20 million in my neighborhood,” one resident said during the first public meeting earlier this month. “But I will remind you this is 40 feet taller than Gwazi, it is illuminated, and it is less than 1,000 feet from my home.”

    Another resident voiced similar concerns about congestion near the port.

    Developer Tony Miller said he wants to build the Tampa Wow!, or Wheel Over Water, just north of the Florida Aquarium. (Tampa WOW! rendering)

    “Have you ever been down there when the ships are in? It’s a cluster down there,” the resident said. “People are already searching for parking spaces. This is going to add more problems for us.”

    City council members also raised questions about financial responsibility. The developer behind the project has pledged to cover all costs and assume full risk if the venture fails.

    Despite community concerns, The Florida Aquarium, located next to the proposed site, has voiced its support. In a statement, CEO Roger Germann said:

    “The vision behind Tampa WOW! — Tampa’s Wheel Over Water aligns with the bold ideas set forth by our founders and city, business, and community leaders when we first opened our doors. The Florida Aquarium supports this unique opportunity to bring a new family-friendly experience to Tampa.”

    The $20 million project could open by the fall of next year.

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    Matt Lackritz, Jason Lanning

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  • Government shutdown threatens wave of missed mortgage and rent payments

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    TAMPA, Fla. — As the federal government shutdown enters its third week, hundreds of thousands of government employees are now officially one paycheck short and by the end of the month, they’ll likely miss a second. 

    However, there are advice and programs out there to help government workers. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The government shutdown is now in its third week

    • Federal workers are now one paycheck short, and soon to be two short if the shutdown continues 

    • Lenders and landlords are bracing for a wave of missed payments by the end of October 

    • Some lenders are preemptively offering forbearance programs to impacted federal workers 


    The financial pressure is mounting, especially for those with rent or mortgage payments due.

    The impact is being felt not only by federal workers but also by landlords and lenders, who may soon see a wave of missed payments if the shutdown drags on. 

    Still, financial experts say there are options available and communication is key.

    Charles Gallagher III, an attorney with Gallagher and Associates, says some lenders are already offering forbearance programs to help struggling borrowers through this time.

    Gallagher advises anyone affected by the shutdown to reach out early to creditors.

    “Whether it be your lender in a mortgage matter, or your landlord in a potential eviction matter, ask them for help,” Gallagher said. “I can’t imagine too many lenders, whether big banks or small services, not being receptive.”

    There are also financial incentives for banks and landlords to work with tenants and homeowners.

    Foreclosures and evictions are costly and time-consuming processes that can take three to four months or more. With no certainty about how long the shutdown will last, most lenders are hesitant to start legal actions that could ultimately prove unnecessary.

    Experts recommend that anyone at risk of missing payments due to the shutdown document their situation and be proactive in reaching out to financial institutions, landlords, or housing authorities.

    There are programs available for those federal workers who are not getting any breaks from lenders or landlords.  

    For more information, visit here feature.org.

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    Jason Lanning

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  • Pinellas People First Hurricane Recovery Program opens Monday

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — The Pinellas People First Hurricane Recovery Program has opened for Pinellas County residents still working to recover from Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024 and Idalia in 2023.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Pinellas People First Hurricane Recovery is open for applications Monday, Oct. 20 
    • The fund is part of the largest community block grant awarded in Florida, totaling more than $800 million
    • Program is income-based, and will accept households that make up to 120% the area’s median household income
    • St. Petersburg residents are not eligible because the city has its own disaster recovery program


    The recovery funds are part of the largest community block grant awarded in Florida, totaling more than $800 million.

    All Pinellas County residents can qualify, excluding St. Petersburg residents, who can apply for a similar program run by the city.

    Pinellas County Senior Communications Project Coordinator Josh Boatwright says there are still thousands of residents who have not been made whole from recent hurricanes.

    “Our hope is to really see people who have been struggling financially through this time, to get back in their home, to find a stable home where they can stay rooted in the community and really rebuild the resilience of our community going forward,” said Boatwright.

    The Pinellas People First Hurricane Recovery Program is income-based, available for low to mid income households, and is based on the area’s median income.

    There are five categories a household could qualify, including funds for repairs that still need to be made, reimbursement for money already paid for documented repairs, landlord assistance, funds for a new home outside of a flood zone, and reimbursement for disaster expenses like late mortgage and utility payments.

    For more information on how to apply for the Pinellas County program, visit Pinellas Recovers.

    If you are a St. Petersburg resident, the city’s program can be found at Sunrise St. Pete.

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    Jason Lanning

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  • Judge set to weigh in on district-filed injunction to close Walton Academy

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    HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — A judge may rule at a Friday afternoon hearing on the future of Walton Academy.

    The county district said Thursday that it has filed an emergency motion to close a school that remained open this week despite the school board terminating its charter.

    Officials said the injunction was filed “to stop Walton Academy from putting children at risk by continuing to operate in defiance of the Board’s action. We have requested an emergency hearing before a judge.”

    The injunction, if granted by a judge, would prevent the school from being in session.

    The school board, at the recommendation of Superintendent Van Ayres, cited safety concerns Tuesday night as the reason for terminating Walton Academy’s charter.

    However, the school opened its doors Wednesday and Thursday, saying Wednesday that, “All alleged safety violations of the School were cured before the School Board’s decision to terminate the School, and there is no danger to students.”

    Walton Academy’s attorneys say the school’s closure wasn’t as cut and dry as the district tried to make it seem after Tuesday’s meetings. They say they plan to comply with the injunction if it is granted but say that this is far from over. 

    District officials say they have reached out to parents about options for other schools, including their neighborhood school or using school choice to enroll in others nearby, including Muller and Shore Elementary Magnet Schools that focus on performing arts.

    PARENTS REACT TO THIS WEEK’S DEVELOPMENTS

    For parents like Mario Dunkin, Walton Academy for the Performing Arts is the best place for his first-grade twin boys. He believes any closure would only be temporary.

    “If the doors close, we will home school until the school opens back up,” Dunkin said.

    Stephanie Hicks said she is going to do the same, while helping her children understand what’s happening. 

    “My children are kind of like trying to process everything, especially my two older ones who were here since kindergarten, and they’re now eighth grade and ninth grade,” she said.

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    Spectrum News Staff, Jason Lanning

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  • Small businesses could soon feel strains of government shutdown

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    TAMPA, Fla. — As the government shutdown continues, an immediate concern for many Americans is the furloughed federal workers who are not receiving their full paychecks or, in some cases, any pay at all. 

    However, there’s another group facing serious challenges: small businesses that depend on federal support programs. 

    While the shutdown directly impacts government employees, its ripple effects are being felt across various sectors, particularly among small businesses that rely on government funding.

    What You Need To Know

    • The last government shutdown happened in 2018 and lasted 35 days

    • In 2018-19, the GDP only saw minimal impacts from the extended shutdown 

    • Uncertainties remain for small businesses that rely on funding from the federal government for various programs

    • Congress is expected to take another vote to end the shutdown on Tuesday


    These businesses, some of which do not have an emergency fund to sustain them during periods of disruption, are at risk of facing tough times ahead.

    Steve Ribble with Guardian Accounting Group says small businesses without adequate financial reserves could be forced to make cutbacks.

    “For businesses that can’t weather the current storm, cutting back could be the only option,” Ribble said.

    This situation may result in increased unemployment, which could then strain state unemployment funds. If layoffs become a reality, states will have to pay out more in benefits, further stretching budgets and creating additional financial pressure.

    Despite the immediate concerns, Ribble doesn’t believe the shutdown will drastically impact the overall gross domestic product (GDP) or cause a recession.

    However, he cautions that the shutdown will only add to the financial pressures that were already affecting the economy prior to the government closure. “We were already seeing strains before the shutdown,” Ribble notes, referring to existing economic vulnerabilities.

    Beyond the shutdown’s effects, many Americans are already grappling with significant personal debt.

    Currently, Americans carry over $1.6 trillion in auto loan debt, with delinquencies reaching a 14-year high. Additionally, credit card delinquencies are at record levels, and even subprime mortgage holders are seeing an increase in late payments.

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    Jason Lanning

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  • Manatee school board member proposes cheaper way to build public schools

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    BRADENTON, Fla. — Manatee County Schools recently opened two new schools amid the district’s current school construction boom.

    Two other schools are still under construction, and officials have proposed opening a new high school in Lakewood Ranch by 2027. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Mantee County has five new schools planned for the near future

    • The new high school has a price tag of $180 million, funded with 20-year bonds

    • School board member Richard Tatem is proposing a new way to finance the school building boom 

    The new high school has a price tag of $180 million, funded with 20-year bonds. Interest on the bonds will be around $80 million, bringing the true cost of the new high school to more than $250 million.

    That’s too expensive according to school board member Richard Tatem.

    Tatem says that the spending on new schools is not sustainable.

    Tatem says he is working with state lawmakers to change legislation, allowing school districts to build traditional public schools for cheaper.

    “I’m trying to get some legislative changes made,” he said. “I am working with our local representative, Rep. Conerly, and some other people across the state so that when we build what we call our traditional public schools, we can use part or all of the same building codes that charter schools use, and the same fire code they use, and that will give us some flexibility on the cost we have within our schools.”

    Tatem’s proposal comes as Florida lawmakers are debating property tax cuts or a repeal of property taxes altogether.

    State lawmakers expect to have a proposal about property taxes by the end of the year, with discussions and the possible approval of a plan by next year’s legislative session.

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    Jason Lanning

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Patrick has been invited to attend the presentation.


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    Jason Lanning

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  • Special Election for Tampa City Council District 5

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    TAMPA, Fla. — The much anticipated special election is happening Tuesday for the District 5 city council seat in the City of Tampa. 

    Councilwoman Gwendolyn Henderson unexpectedly died in June, leaving her seat vacant, and now 14 candidates have qualified for the election happening today.

    District 5 includes downtown, East Tampa, Ybor City and parts of West Tampa. 

    What You Need To Know

    •  City of Tampa District 5’s city council seat was left vacant in June after the passing of Councilwoman Gwendolyn Henderson

    •  14 candidates qualified for the special election today 

    •  For a candidate to win, he or she needs to get 50% +1 of the vote 

    • If no candidate secures enough votes today, the top two vote-getters will head to a run-off election on Oct. 28 
    • Tampa Council District 5: What to know, meet the candidates


    Click here to view or download a map of the district. (The District 5 map is located near the bottom of the page.)

    Some pockets of East Tampa have seen recent development, however, many remain untouched and in need of affordable housing and economic development.

    Chair of the East Tampa Community Redevelopment agency and Chief Strategy Officer for the Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa Bay Dr. Jeffery Johnson says whoever wins the District 5 seat will need to enter city council as a fighter.

    “This is where a lot of your families are,” Johnson said. “This is where some of your lower, marginalized communities are. And they need the support, they need the economic development, they need affordable housing. They need  opportunities that other areas may see often, that District 5 may not see, so they have to fight immediately.”

    Only residents of District 5 can vote in Tuesday’s election.

    Because of the limited number of voters and the large pool of candidates, it’s likely none will get the needed 50% +1 majority of votes to win outright Tuesday. If that is the case, the top two candidates will participate in a runoff to be held on Oct. 28.

    The winner of the election will serve the remainder of Henderson’s term through 2027. 

    The list of candidates running includes: 

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    Jason Lanning

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  • FDOT introducing major Courtney Campbell Causeway project

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    TAMPA, Fla. — The Florida Department of Transportation District 7 is hosting a community meeting Thursday night to kick off its Project Development and Environmental Study for a major project on the Courtney Campbell Causeway from Clearwater to Tampa.

    The project is in its early planning stages but will likely include widening the causeway as well as adding more environmental buffers between the water and the road.

    What You Need To Know

    • FDOT hosting meeting Thursday to announce Project Development and Environmental Study project on the Courtney Campbell Causeway

    • The project is in its early planning stages but will likely include widening the causeway as well as adding more environmental buffers between the water and the road

    • Thursday’s meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at the DoubleTree Hilton on Rocky Point
    • A CLOSER LOOK: Project Development and Environmental Study project on the Courtney Campbell Causeway

    Kirk Bogen, FDOT District 7 Environmental Engineer, said one of the first things the project will address are bridge spans on the causeway.

    “I know one of the areas that we are probably going to look at first is the main span bridges to see if we need to replace those or expand those and where they are,” Bogen said.

    The goal of any project on the causeway, according FDOT, would be to improve traffic congestion and harden it against major storms.

    But some groups are less worried about the pavement and more worried about the water the causeway crosses.

    Justin Trimble with Tampa Bay Waterkeeper, a nonprofit working to protect Tampa Bay’s watershed says his group will attend the meeting tonight, and hopes any project will improve water flow near the causeway.

    “We believe this is a great opportunity to help Tampa Bay,” said Tramble.  “We believe that any infrastructure investments that are made should help the environment, should help the Tampa Bay estuary and not harm it.

    Thursday’s meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at the DoubleTree Hilton on Rocky Point.

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    Jason Lanning

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  • Street murals are soon to be no more in Florida

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    TAMPA, Fla. — As part of a new law, Gov. Ron DeSantis said the Florida Department of Transportation is working on the removal of hundreds of street murals across the state.  

    DeSantis said the purpose of the law was to bring uniformity and safety to local roadways, with the threat of local governments losing state funds for road projects if they don’t comply.

    What You Need To Know

    • A new law is forcing the removal of dozens of street murals across Florida 

    • Critics say the law targets LGBTQ street murals, including one located outside Pulse nightclub in Orlando and another in St. Petersburg

    • 47 street murals are being removed in the city of Tampa 

    • 11 schools in Hillsborough County had street murals removed that they say helped add safety for students


    Critics argue the law was a way for the state to target LGBTQ street murals, including the rainbow mural in St. Petersburg, which was removed.

    But parents and students at local schools say the enforcement has also targeted dozens of education street murals near schools.

    In Tampa, 47 street murals are in the process of being removed.

    The education street mural outside Mabry Elementary School in Tampa was removed last week, and featured dolphins, pencils, notebooks, and apples.

    Parents and students from Mabry Elementary are reacting, saying the mural was a way to make areas where kids get dropped off and picked up safer.

    “We installed these because we wanted our students and campus to be more safe, and for traffic to be aware of our students entering and exiting campus,” said parent Mackenzie Ombres, a parent of two at Mabry Elementary. “And now, simply, it’s not there. The safety is not there anymore.” 

    Ombres’ daughter, a 4th-grader at Mabry, said she’s disappointed the mural is gone after two years of hard work to install it.

    So far, no local governments have challenged the state’s removal of the murals, despite groups of citizens recoloring some areas with rainbow chalk. 

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    Jason Lanning

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  • School boundary changes ahead for Polk County high schools

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    BARTOW, Fla. — Polk County Schools will host the first of a half-dozen community meetings on Thursday night to address proposed boundary changes for high schools. 

    The boundary changes are needed because of exponential growth in certain areas of the county, which has pushed school capacities to their limits.

    Director of Facilities Planning and Real Estate for Polk Schools Joshua McLemore says the plans drafted by the School Boundary Committee are aiming to help elevate overcrowding and improve district transportation.

    What You Need To Know

    • Polk Schools-appointed boundary committee has drafted school boundary changes to take effect in the 2026-27 school year for high schools

    • The School Boundary Committee is made up of community members appointed by the school board 

    • The school district will host its first of a half-dozen meetings on the boundary changes on Thursday night at Bartow High 

    • Polk Schools says boundary changes are needed because of exponential growth in certain areas of the county  
    • RELATED: Polk County schedules public forums on school rezoning


    “While some of our schools are feeling that impact more so than others with the presence of overcrowding and the heavy reliance on portables, others are not,” said McLemore. “So what we are attempting to do, and what is the main goal is to cross balance the enrollment across all the high schools as well as improve the bus route planning.”

    The first of the community meetings is scheduled for Thursday night at Bartow High School.

    The schools to be discussed include Bartow, Fort Meade, Mulberry and George Jenkins.

    View more information on boundary changes in Polk County and the locations and dates of upcoming meetings.

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    Jason Lanning

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  • Local Supervisor of Elections sound alarms about mail-in voting ban

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    PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — Tampa Bay area Supervisors of Elections offices are reacting this week to President Donald Trump’s social media posts outlining his plans to ban mail-in voting before the 2026 midterm elections. 

    Trump said work is being done to draft an executive order banning states from allowing mail-in voting.

    But many are raising legal questions about the move, saying the federal government can’t tell states how to conduct elections.

    What You Need To Know

    • President Donald Trump posted on social media this week saying he wants to ban mail-in voting before the 2026 midterm election

    • Legal questions are swirling around the move, as individual states can control how they run elections, not the federal government 

    • More Republicans have begun using early voting in recent years, with more than one million Floridians casting a mail-in vote in the 2024 general election

    • In 2024, more than three million Florida voters cast mail-in ballots, and combined with early voting, made up more than 50% of all votes cast


    Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley says his office is already getting calls from concerned voters.

    “I had someone call me yesterday and said, ‘I am a disabled voter, if this goes through, how am I going to vote?’” said Corley. “I explained to that person that it’s an executive order, it’s not legislative, it’s unconstitutional. I said the Florida legislature could, in theory, adopt what the president wants to do in his public comments. I said we vehemently oppose it. I don’t think that would happen. I think Gov. DeSantis’ comments echo that as well.”

    DeSantis this week called Florida’s mail-in voting system the “gold standard” and claimed Trump wasn’t talking about Florida’s mail-in voting system, but rather other states that send blanket mail-in votes to people unsolicited.

    During the general election last year, more than three million Floridians cast a ballot by mail, including more than one million Republican voters.

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    Jason Lanning

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  • Some Pasco schools may no longer qualify for free meal programs

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    NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — The Pasco County School District says big changes are on the way for its Community Eligibility Provision regarding free school lunches.

    For several years, Pasco County Schools has not charged for school breakfast and lunch under the federal CEP Program.

    What You Need To Know

    •  Pasco County Schools is making changes to its CEP free and reduced price meal program 

    •  Only schools in high-poverty areas now qualify for CEP benefits 

    • Students who don’t attend CEP schools can fill out an online application to see if they still qualify for free and reduced-price meals 

    • The changes to Pasco’s CEP Program take effect in August when school resumes 
    • PASCO COUNTY SCHOOL LUNCH INFORMATION (.pdf)


    But changes to funding and rising costs have forced changes in the district that will require some students to start purchasing school meals.

    Beginning with the new school year in August, only schools in high-poverty areas will qualify for free school breakfast and lunch.

    Students attending schools that no longer qualify for CEP benefits will need to fill out an application online to determine if they qualify for free and reduced school meals.

    Pasco Schools Food and Nutrition Services Director Stephanie Spicknall says the changes will not impact any students that are in need of free or reduced meals, regardless of the school’s CEP status.

    “The non-CEP areas, students that attend those sites that need assistance, all they have to do is complete the free and reduced application and as long as they meet those eligibility requirements for their household size and their family income, they will get a letter from us that states that they are on a free or reduced lunch for the school year,” said Spicknall.

    Pasco Schools is encouraging all parents to check their students’ schools for CEP status before the school year starts, and to fill out an application to determine if their students will continue receiving free or reduced-price meals, or if they will need to load money into the students account for meals.

    The first week of school will serve as a grace period for students, but after that, students not qualifying for CEP will be charged on their online accounts.

    View more information on CEP schools and fill out a free and reduced meal application.

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    Jason Lanning

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  • Year-round hurricane supply kit tax exempt status begins today

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Florida’s new state budget goes in to effect today, but the new budget does not include a sales tax holiday for hurricane supply kit items.

    Instead, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed in to law a new, permanent, year-round tax exempt rule for many items that families would include in hurricane supply kits.

    What You Need To Know

    • New budget does not include a sales tax holiday for hurricane supply kit items

    • Instead, Gov. DeSantis signed in to law a new, permanent, year-round tax exempt rule for hurricane supplies

    • MORE INFORMATION: Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay

    According to Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay, many residents did not include batteries and cell phone power banks in their supply kits last year, causing big problems for some after storms passed.

    “One of the things that we noticed is the lack of communication by many of the homeowners, because they ran out of batteries in their cell phones.,” said Rebuilding Together Greater Florida CEO Jose Garcia.  “And this year we are going to include the additional external batteries so they can charge it and ready to use it in case they run out of batteries because there is now power in their house.”

    Rebuilding Together is currently helping hundreds of homeowners with financial and work assistance that are still making repairs to their homes after Helene and Milton last year.

    At the same time, RTTB is working to stockpile supply kit items, that would be distributed to impacted area’s after any potential storms later this year.

    It says batteries, flashlights and a way to charge your cell phone for at least two days is crucial if you choose to ride a storm out.

    Millions lost power during hurricanes last fall, and it took 2-3 days for relief sites to be setup for residents to visit.

    Florida has now declared the following items tax-exempt year round in order for Floridians to prepare for an incoming storm or other disaster:

    AA-cell, AAA-cell, C-cell, D-cell, 6-volt, or 9-volt batteries

    Smoke detection devices

    Carbon monoxide alarms

    Fire extinguishers

    Portable generators

    Waterproof tarps and other flexible waterproof sheeting (1,000 square feet or less)

    Ground anchor systems and tie-down kits

    Portable gas or diesel fuel cans (5 gallons or less)

    Life jackets

    Bicycle helmets

    Sunscreen

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    Jason Lanning

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