ReportWire

Tag: Jason Lanning

  • Passenger Service Returns to Lakeland Linder

    Passenger Service Returns to Lakeland Linder

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — Avelo Airlines is launching passenger service Thursday at Lakeland International Airport, with flights to New Haven, Connecticut.

    Lakeland International has not seen passenger service in 12 years, and is hoping to build on passenger service as Avelo takes off today.

    What You Need To Know

    •  Lakeland International Airport has not had passenger service for 12 years

    •  Avelo Airlines will offer flights between Lakeland and New Haven, Connecticut two days a week

    •  Airport administrators saying Lakeland’s security checkpoint and ramps were updated to accomodate the new passenger service

    • Avelo Airlines is a low-cost carrier flying in and out of 50 destinations across the U.S. 
    • Avelo Airlines

    Avelo Airlines is a low-fair provider that flies between 50 destinations in the US. It had the fewest flight cancellations in 2023, and ranked #2 in on-time performance, according to Anuvu, which provides content for the airline industry.

    Service using Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft will include two flights each week between Lakeland and New Haven, Conneticuit, home of Yale University but also close to popular Northeast destinations like New York City. Fares are being advertised as $81 to start, each-way.

    Lakeland International has been working for months to launch Avelo’s passenger service, with a update of its security checkpoint, as well as ramps to accomodate Avelo’s passenger planes.

    Airport Director Kris Hallstrand says the airport hopes to build on passenger service in the coming years.

    “You will see some growth here at Lakeland,” Hallstrand said. “We don’t know what the future holds, but there is a lot of work to do with terminal expansions and parking lot expansions, but we are working toward that diligently and our goal is to provide the best service we can in Lakeland.”

    Avelo Airlines offers service up and down the East and West Coast of the US, including service to mid west cities like Chicago’s Midway Airport.

    “Avelo Airline flights to and from Lakeland Linder International Airport mark the dawn of a new era in passenger air service for visitors and our residents,” said Lakeland Mayor Bill Mutz. “We eagerly anticipate travelers discovering the incredible amenities that our community has to offer.”

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    Jason Lanning

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  • Metro Ministries expands family services in Pasco County

    Metro Ministries expands family services in Pasco County

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    HOLIDAY, Fla. — Metropolitan Ministries is expanding their services with a ribbon cutting and new expansion at their MiraclePlace Pasco campus.

    It’s a two-phase expansion that starts with the grand opening of a new family support center. That center includes a food pantry, homeless prevention resources and other emergency benefits.

    What You Need To Know

    • Metropolitan Ministries is expanding their services with a ribbon cutting and new expansion at their MiraclePlace Pasco campus.

    • New family support center includes a food pantry, homeless prevention resources and other emergency benefits

    • Metropolitan Ministries 

    This center also doubles their capacity to house single women and homeless families with an additional 24 residential units.

    It’s all part of a $20 million project that’s fully funded by donations, State of Florida Department of Children and Families, Pasco County Commissioners, Florida Community Loan Fund, Chase New Markets Corporation, The Reinvestment Fund, Inc., and Chase Community Equity, LLC.

    The next phase of the project includes building a new Early Childhood Education Center.

    That center will include 10 classrooms to help children who have experienced trauma. Metro says their CREATE (Children’s Recreational, Education, Arts, and Therapeutic Experience) program will help these children and will be open to campus residents and families in the surrounding community.  

    Today’s ribbon cutting and groundbreaking ceremony was set for 9:30 a.m. in Holiday.

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    Jason Lanning

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  • Mission of Mercy hosting free dental clinic in Lakeland

    Mission of Mercy hosting free dental clinic in Lakeland

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — Mission of Mercy is hosting its annual free dental clinic Friday and Saturday at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.

    What You Need To Know

    • Mission of Mercy hosting its annual free dental clinic Friday and Saturday

    • It is located at the RP funding Center in Lakeland

    • The free clinic opens at 7 a.m. both days

    More than 300 dentists are hoping to see as many as 2000 people during the two-day clinic, and have prioritized 250 veterans for free dental care.

    The 250 veterans were assessed ahead of the event on Thursday afternoon to avoid a more timely assessment and care during regular clinic hours.

    Dr. Christopher Bulnes with Buckenheimer and Bulnes Dentistry in South Tampa leads the free dental clinic every year, and says because most people wait until the last minute to get dental care, the cost of visits can be expensive.

    For veterans, Bulnes says, the challenges are even greater because the VA won’t cover dental care unless the veteran is deemed 100% disabled.

    “If they didn’t have private insurance with a private sector job, then they are kind of left in the lurch where they can’t afford to get to a dentist to take care of this because maybe they don’t qualify. They make too much money to be on medicaid, which is a whole other topic,” Bulnes said. “But they are caught in this segment where what do we do? So they let things go.”

    The free clinic opens at 7 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and patients will be seen on a first come, first serve basis.

    Dentists and hygienists will provide a number of services at the free clinic, including cleanings, fillings, extractions, limited root canals, dentures and pediatric dentistry. 

    For more information on Mission of Mercy’s free dental clinic, visit www.floridadental.org/foundation/programs/mission-of-mercy

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  • Companies eyeing insurance rates ahead of hurricane season

    Companies eyeing insurance rates ahead of hurricane season

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    TAMPA, Fla. — For the first time since 2021 when United Property and Casualty Insurance stopped writing new policies in Florida and asked for a 14.7% rate increase, some homeowners may finally get relief. 

    Eight insurance companies have requested rate decreases this year.

    What You Need To Know

    • 8 insurance companies have filed for rate decreases this year in Florida

    • Insurance claims dropped in 2023 leading to cheaper reinsurance costs for insurance companies

    • The My Safe Florida Home Program has provided incentives for thousands of Florida Homeowners to cover costs of storm hardening projects like roofs and windows

    Florida’s former Deputy Insurance Commissioner Lisa Miller says the rate decreases are happening for a number of reasons, including work in Florida’s Legislator to cut down on litigation claims against insurance companies.

    That fact has helped to lower the cost of reinsurance, what insurance companies buy to insure themselves in the event of a catastrophic event.

    Miller also says the My Safe Florida Home program has helped Floridians make their homes more storm resilient, something insurance companies also take into consideration.

    “More of our consumers are strengthening their homes, and when there is a collective of us across the state that make our homes more resilient, I think insurance companies look at that in terms of their total book of business,” Miller said. “It can have a very positive effect on how they charge their rates.”

    Florida is expanding its My Safe Florida Home program that is set for a relaunch on July 1.

    The program will make seniors a priority this summer for projects like new roofs and windows, but any Floridian can apply for assistance.

    For more information, visit here mysafefloridahome.com.

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  • Police search home of boyfriend of missing Auburndale woman

    Police search home of boyfriend of missing Auburndale woman

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    AUBURNDALE, Fla. — Auburndale police executed a search warrant Saturday at the home of Russell Carroll, who officials say was the boyfriend of Tonya Whipp.

    Whipp is presumed dead by police and was reported missing last June.

    What You Need To Know

    • Russell Carroll is now in custody on unrelated charges of taking money out of Tonya Whipp’s bank accounts after she was reported missing.

    • Police searched Carroll’s home for hours today but did not release any information about what they were looking for  

    • Police have closed Whipp’s missing persons case and presume she is dead 

    Police arrived at the house with a skid steer equipped with a root grappler. They would not discuss what they were searching for, but said information since Carroll’s arrest Tuesday led them to the home.

    Carroll is currently being held on $35,000 bond, accused of impersonating Whipp to steal money from her bank accounts after she was reported missing.

    Carroll has maintained his innocence, but police said in Whipp’s final missing persons report that he was the only suspect in the homicide investigation.

    Police spent hours searching Carroll’s property with Whipp’s family sitting outside the scene waiting for information.

    While Whipp is presumed dead and her missing persons case is closed, her body has still not been found.

    We are the Essentials, an independent search and recovery group, has been working with the family since last summer to find Whipp.

    “We searched field after field,” said co-found Billy Lane. “We searched ravine through roadsides, pretty much any area we could think of that we could connect back to either to Tonya or one of her associates.”

    Police refused to talk publicly about the search warrant, saying they would only comment if something of significance was discovered.

    At the same time Carroll’s home was being searched, prosecutors were working to increase Carroll’s bond, arguing he is a flight risk, and if he makes bond, that he should be confined at his home as the investigation continues.

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  • Housing need at center of Polk’s State of the County

    Housing need at center of Polk’s State of the County

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — Polk County is wedged between two fast growing cities: Tampa and Orlando.

    The area has seen booming growth as people look for housing as well as more affordable cost of living options.

    What You Need To Know

    • Polk County State of the County address

    • The address, featuring multiple local officials, is scheduled for 8:30 a.m.  Thursday

    • Officials said the top issue for Polk County is housing for its continued growth

    And affordable housing is one of the big challenges Polk County faces in its future. That’s why it will be one of the central messages during the State of the County address on Thursday. 

    The address, featuring multiple local officials, is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office’s PROCAP Room in Winter Haven. 

    Polk Commission Chair Bill Braswell, one of the speakers, said in the past year, the county has chipped away at county service issues like trash collection and emergency response times.

    Braswell said that happened while officials were able to lower property taxes.

    But available affordable housing is the continuing challenge, Braswell said, adding that people moving to Polk need more options.

    “I look at things like, we call them snuggle wides, they are half of a full-size mobile home, kind of like a mini-home,” Braswell said. “This mini-home thing is really popular. but we could house a lot of people and at very low rent if we could get somebody to come in here and develop out some of these properties.”

    And population growth is not going away.

    In fact, in an estimate last year from State Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, she wrote, over the next 5 years, Florida could see 300,000 new residents per year.

    That’s a net gain of around 800 people, per day, through 2029.

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    Jason Lanning

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  • Hillsborough County School Board to vote Tuesday on millage increase

    Hillsborough County School Board to vote Tuesday on millage increase

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    TAMPA, Fla. — The Hillsborough County School Board will vote Tuesday on a millage referendum that would likely appear on the general election ballot in November.

    For the average homeowner, the increase would cost less than a dollar a day, or between $150 to $300 per year.

    What You Need To Know

    • Hillsborough County School Board voting on millage referendum 

    • The referendum would help fund teacher and support staff pay raises in Hillsborough County

    • Hillsborough schools asked voters for a millage increase two years ago, but the referendum failed by just 600 votes
    • If the school board approves the referendum on Tuesday, it would head to the county commission for approval to head to the ballot

    The referendum would help fund teacher and support staff pay raises in Hillsborough County, which have fallen behind in recent years as neighboring districts have increased salaries.

    Hillsborough schools asked voters for a millage increase two years ago, but the referendum failed by just 600 votes.

    This time, people like Nikki Rivera with Families for Strong Public Schools Tampa Bay say more voters may be willing to vote yes now that inflation has cooled.

    “This time around the school district has demonstrated a high level of accountability,” Rivera said. “We’ve definitely seen a track record of success in managing money and in getting financing healthy in the district, and I think that was our community’s biggest concern previously.”

    Currently, teachers in Hillsborough County make below the state average for teacher pay, and Florida ranks 48th in the country for teacher pay.

    That means teachers in Florida are some of the lowest paid in the country.

    If the school board approves the referendum on Tuesday, it would head to the county commission for approval to head to the ballot.

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  • Hillsborough votes to create more parking spots for big-rig trucks along I-4

    Hillsborough votes to create more parking spots for big-rig trucks along I-4

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    TAMP, Fla. —  The Hillsborough County Transportation Planning Organization voted Wednesday to create more spots for big-rig truck drivers along Interstate 4, a project worth more than $5 million. 

    The proposal would create a new truck driver parking area on the Hillsborough-Polk County line along I-4. 

    What You Need To Know

    • There are currently only 90 truck parking spaces available for drivers between Daytona Beach and Tampa

    • The Florida Trucking Association said the state would need to spend more than $1-billion to provide enough parking for drivers currently on the road

    • Professional truckers say the shortage of available spaces is a nationwide problem

    The West Central Florida Truck Parking Facility would include 120 parking spaces for trucks with the ability to expand by 250 parking spaces in the future.

    Trucking professionals say a shortage of rest areas and safe areas to park is a nationwide problem.

    The Florida Trucking Association said the state would need to make a more than $1-billion investment to meet the needs of truck drivers currently on the road.

    Currently, there are only 90 truck parking spaces between Tampa and Daytona Beach.

    Florida Trucking Association President and CEO Alix Miller says not only has the lack of safe parking hurt in the hiring of new drivers, but it is also hurting companies retaining drivers.

    “Trucking is hard. It’s a tough job,” said Miller. “And on top of that, not have somewhere safe to sleep, not have facilities at your disposal or even vending machines at the end of a long day. That makes the job even harder.”

    Miller says although any project that helps fill the void of truck parking spaces is good news for the industry, it only scratches the surface of the broader shortage of parking available for drivers.

    The project timeline has construction starting in the spring of 2025. 

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    Jason Lanning

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  • Play Ball! Grapefruit League games begin this weekend

    Play Ball! Grapefruit League games begin this weekend

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Major League Baseball Spring Training begins in Florida this weekend with teams, including the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees, playing their first games of the season on Saturday.

    Florida is playing host to 13 MLB teams this year for Spring Training, including several that call the Tampa area their spring training homes.

    What You Need To Know

    • MLB Spring Training games start across Florida this weekend

    • The Tampa Bay Rays will play their first game Saturday against the Atlanta Braves

    • The New York Yankees will play their first game Saturday against the Detroit Tigers

    • Florida is playing hosts 13 MLB teams for spring training this year
    • Bay News 9 Spring Training guide 2024 

    The New York Yankess in Tampa are a big draw for fans traveling from New York. Some of those fans stay in Tampa for several weeks each year.

    In Tampa’s Midtown, Senior Sales Manager for Aloft Midtown Nancy Jennings says hotel bookings have been solid since January.

    In fact, she says, booking a room right now requires at least a month or two lead time.

    “Our February, we are looking at an occupancy for the month at around 90%, and our expected, possibly in March, to be more than 90%” said Jennings. “So that’s 90% of the month, which is a lot of sold out nights.”

    The influx of MLB Spring Training fans isn’t just good for local hotels. 

    Local bars, restaurants, and shops also benefit from spring training visitors.

    The Red Sox, Orioles, Pirates, Twins, Cardinals, Mets, Marlins, Phillies and Blue Jays will all play their first spring training games Saturday, along with the Rays and Braves and the Yankees and Tigers.

    Check the Bay News 9 Spring Training Guide for game times, ballpark maps and ticket information. 

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  • Pasco schools approves settlement payment for Marcus Button

    Pasco schools approves settlement payment for Marcus Button

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    NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — The Pasco County School Board unanimously voted Tuesday to approve a settlement worth $1.2 million to Marcus Button and his family.

    Button was the passenger in a car struck by a Pasco County school bus in 2006.

    What You Need To Know

    • Pasco School Board voted Tuesday to approve a settlement worth $1.2 million to Marcus Button

    • Marcus Button claims bill is asking legislators to force Pasco Schools to pay $1.5 million in damages after a jury found the district liable for the 2006 bus crash

    • PREVIOUS STORY: Marcus Button Bill to be debated during legislative session

    Now 33, Button suffered significant brain injuries that impair his vision, short-term memory and impulse controls.

    In 2007, the Button family filed a lawsuit against the district and the trial court found the Pasco School District to be liable. The court ordered the district to pay a final judgement in the amount of $1,670,364.24.

    Since that time, claims bills have been filed in the Florida Legislature seeking the payment of this claim by the district, but none have passed. Currently, both the House and Senate have claim bills pending in the amount of $1,507,364.24 (the House claim bill was initially seeking over $2.7 million).

    The family says the school district has only sent a settlement of $163,000 for Marcus’ care — the most the district is required to pay because of a legislative immunity cap.

    For years the Buttons have remained hopeful legislators will act, passing the claims bill that would force Pasco Schools to pay out the remaining jury award.

    The state legislature still needs to approve the settlement and have Gov. Ron DeSantis sign it.

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  • Fans to turn out for Super Bowl watch parties across the Bay

    Fans to turn out for Super Bowl watch parties across the Bay

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Super Bowl Sunday is promising big watch parties on both sides of the Bay as fans of the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers gear up for the big game.

    In Tampa, the “Niners Empire” Tampa Chapter will hold a watch party at McDinton’s in South Tampa, where the group expected as many as 200 fans.

    What You Need To Know

    • 49ers fan group to host watch party at MacDinton’s in Tampa

    • KC Chiefs fan group hosting watch party at Glory Days in St. Petersburg 

    • A record 68 million bets are expected to be made on the Super Bowl this weekend

    Chapter President John Downer became a 49ers fan in 1989 after getting free tickets to a game while he was serving in the Navy.  

    He and his wife have grown the Niner Empire Tampa Chapter to more than 70 active members.

    “MacDinton’s is the place to be, Super Bowl Sunday baby, all day,” Downer said.

    On the other side of the Bay, Chiefs fans will be holding a watch party at Glory Days on 4th Street in St. Petersburg.

    Pam Durkin runs the Arrowhead South Tampa Chapter for Kansas City fans and says around 250 will likely turn out to root on the Chiefs at Glory Days.

    “It’s so exciting, and to see them become so good is astronomically great,” Durkin said.

    If you aren’t a fan of either team, chances are good you still may have a financial interest in the game.  

    A record-breaking 68 million bets are expected to be placed for the Super Bowl.

    Pam Durkin runs the Arrowhead South Tampa Chapter for Kansas City fans and says around 250 will likely turn out to root on the Chiefs at Glory Days. (Spectrum News)

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  • Marcus Button claims bill moves through Florida House

    Marcus Button claims bill moves through Florida House

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    LAND O’ LAKES, Fla. — The Marcus Button claims bill was unanimously passed in the Florida House Civil Justice Subcommittee last week and has two more hurdles before the Senate would consider the bill.

    Button was the passenger in a car struck by a Pasco County school bus in 2006.

    He suffered significant brain injuries that impair his vision, short-term memory and impulse controls.

    What You Need To Know

    • Marcus Button claims bill is asking legislators to force Pasco Schools to pay $1.5 million in damages after a jury found the district liable for the 2006 bus crash

    • Marcus Button takes more than a dozen medications a day, will never work a full-time job and will never be able to drive again

    • The Button family says it has received less than 10% of a jury award for damages because of a legislative immunity cap

    • The Marcus Button claims bill is expected to be debated in the Florida House Judicial Subcommittee next week
    • PREVIOUS STORY: Marcus Button Bill to be debated during legislative session

    Today, Button requires 24-hour care and takes more than a dozen medications daily.

    Despite the challenges he will face for the rest of his life, Marcus Button said he is optimistic he will one day be able to live independently.

    “Always look at the bright side of everything, and know that things could be worse,” Button said.

    A jury found Pasco Schools liable for the bus crash and was ordered to pay the family approximately $1.6 million in damages.

    The family says the school district has only sent a settlement of $163,000 for Marcus’ care — the most the district is required to pay because of a legislative immunity cap.

    For years the Buttons have remained hopeful legislators will act, passing the claims bill that would force Pasco Schools to pay out the remaining jury award.

    In Tallahassee last week, Marcus’ mother, Robin Button, issued a tearful plea to legislators before the claims bill unanimously was approved.

    “I’m worried about him,” she said. “His father passed away a few years ago and I am the only one left, taking care of him. And I know Marcus is going to outlive me. This bill means everything.”

    The Marcus Button claims bill has one more committee to pass in the Florida House before it would get a full floor vote.

    Family attorney Steele Olmstead is optimistic the House will pass the claims bill, but says it is rare for the Senate to hear claims bills unless there is a prior agreement between the parties.

    “Once these members of this school board are confronted with what Marcus has, I believe there’s an agreement that could come to fruition and take it to the Senate and get it passed,” Olmstead said. “Finally, after 17 years.”

    The Button family was planning to address the Pasco School Board at Tuesday’s meeting, however, those plans were canceled and instead they issued a statement saying negotiations with the school board will continue.

    The Marcus Button claims bill likely will be heard in the House Judiciary Subcommittee next week.

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  • Pasco Commissioner pushing back on Florida’s Live Local Act

    Pasco Commissioner pushing back on Florida’s Live Local Act

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    PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — Pasco County District 5 Commissioner Jack Mariano will be in Tallahassee Wednesday, sitting in on a debate over Florida’s Live Local Act.

    The Live Local Act was signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis last year, with hopes of increasing the amount of affordable housing available across the state.

    Mariano said the legislation had good intentions, but now he says luxury apartment complexes are beginning to apply for the tax breaks even though they don’t offer what traditionally is thought of as “affordable.”

    What You Need To Know

    •  The Live Local Act was signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis last March with hopes of spurring more affordable housing across the state
    • Live Local sets “affordable” rent at 120% of average monthly income (AMI), which in Pasco County allows for market-value or above market-value rent
    • Pasco District 5 Commissioner Jack Mariano is asking Florida Legislators to lower rent to 80% AMI under Live Local
    • Two Pasco apartment complexes that have filed for tax breaks under Live Local did not respond to a request for comment on this story

    “We are going to keep on pushing to get our voices heard,” Mariano said. “A lot of other counties that weren’t aware of what’s going on are starting to wake-up to find out, you know what, this is going to hurt our tax base.  

    “And it’s not helping the people we want to get affordable housing.”

    Mariano said at least two apartment complexes in Pasco County have applications on file for tax breaks under Live Local, Tapestry at Cypress Creek and the Gallery at Trinity Apartments.

    Neither complex responded to a request for comment.

    Mariano said in both cases, the properties are charging more than $2,000 in rent for some units.

    Under Live Local, apartment complexes can file for tax-breaks if they set rent at 120% the average monthly income rate, or AMI.

    Mariano said that rate is too high, allowing for the act to be abused. He is asking legislators to adjust the AMI amount downward to 80%.

    “Now it becomes affordable,” said Mariano. “Instead of a $2,200 dollar monthly payment, somebody can actually have a $1,500 payment, which is a lot more affordable. That’s the type of affordable housing we should be going after, not to subsidize these luxury ones that are already built, that they are going to be allowed to retrofit, after they are already in place and take them off the tax rolls.”

    Mariano said a single apartment complex approved under the Live Local Act could cost Pasco County up to $35 million over a 30-year period.

    Pasco County has been lobbying for changes to the Live Local Act for two weeks during the current legislative session.

    Mariano said tax breaks are currently allowed under the Live Local Act as a “charity,” and he said if changes aren’t made, he’d support lawsuits against apartment complexes that aren’t providing affordable housing in the community.

    The commissioner said his fear is even more apartment developers will buy property and build under the live local act while at the same time not providing the affordable housing the tax credits are meant for.

    The Live Local Act was a legislative priority of Senate President Kathleen Passidomo last year.

    Now that it’s been law for nearly a year, her office says “creating affordable rental units for our workers in areas that are otherwise costly to live is the entire premise behind Live Local.”

    Passidomo’s office said the amendment dealing with industrial zoning this session is a clarification to make sure the units built must be “affordable rental units.”

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  • Marcus Button Bill to be debated during legislative session

    Marcus Button Bill to be debated during legislative session

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    LAND O’ LAKES, Fla. — A 2006 Pasco County bus crash is now at the center of a bill Florida Legislators will debate in the coming weeks.

    The crash happened in September 2006, and severely injured then 16-year-old Marcus Button.

    What You Need To Know

    • 33-year-old Marcus Button was catastrophically injured in the Pasco County bus crash in 2006
    • The jury originally awarded Button $1.65 million for his medical care
    • A bill is seeking to lift Florida’s legislative cap of $200,000 which would force Pasco Schools to pay the original jury award, plus interest 
    • A similar bill for Marcus Button has been heard by legislators more than 10 times

    He was the passenger in a car when a Pasco County bus pulled out in front of them.

    Today, at 33 years old, Button suffers from a number of mental and physical disabilities, short-term memory loss and the ability to make judgements.

    He isn’t able to work, or drive, and his mother, Robin Button, says the crash changed her son’s life forever.

    “It would seem to me, at least going through what I went through, that they kind of wish he would have just died,” Button said. “I mean, I hate to say it that way because they have not done anything to help him.

    If they actually cared, why haven’t they?”

    Button is talking about a judgement against the school district in 2010 for the crash that awarded Marcus Button $1.65 million, money to go toward his lifelong medical care.

    Instead, the family attorney, Steele Olmstead, says the district only paid what they had to under Florida’s legislative cap, $163,000.

    Marcus Button suffered severe injuries in this 2016 crash in Pasco County. (Courtesy of Button family)

    Olmstead says the Pasco School District doesn’t carry private insurance for its fleet of buses, which means if there is an accident like Marcus Button’s, the school district is only legislatively responsible to pay up to a $200,000 claim.

    “I don’t understand why the legislature hasn’t brought this up,” Olmstead said. “I don’t understand why Pasco County has not decided to be responsible, or accountable for what their actions were and accept the judgment of, you know, the verdict of the jury.”

    Under the verdict, Pasco County was responsible to pay an award of $1.65 million with 6% interest.

    To date, that award totals around $3.2 million, an award that is now the subject of a bill that would lift the legislative cap for Marcus Button, forcing Pasco Schools to pay the full amount of the jury verdict.

    The bill has gone before legislators more than 10 times since 2010, and according to the family’s attorney, has never passed.

    Spectrum Bay News 9 reached out to Pasco County School District, and it said it had nothing to add as the bill is prepared for debate.

    Read the bill for Marcus Button, SB 18.

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  • Teacher contract negotiations continue across the Tampa Bay area

    Teacher contract negotiations continue across the Tampa Bay area

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Only two counties have ratified contracts with teachers in the Tampa Bay area, while the others are at different stages of negotiations. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Hernando and Manatee County have ratified contracts with teachers

    • Pasco, Polk, Pinellas and Hillsborough County are still at the bargaining table 

    • The Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association (HCTA) says it has reached a tentative agreement

    • Hillsborough hourly employees not seeing movement in two key areas

    Hernando County and Manatee County have come to an agreement with teachers, and Citrus County will ratify its contract later this month.

    Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Polk counties remain at the bargaining table.

    In a statement, the Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association (HCTA) says it has reached a tentative agreement with the school district, and will meet again with the school board to finalize specific language in the agreement.

    If the tentative agreement holds, all HCTA employees would see a pay raise.

    For employees on a salary schedule, they will see a pay bump of 6%, which includes a total of $8.3 million in annual pay increases.

    For those employees not receiving a raise this year, they will advance one step on their respective salary schedule.

    The HCTA says it plans to continue its work on issues affecting hourly employees.

    The union says the district will not change its policy on equalized pay, where the district averages an employee’s take home pay and splits it up equally so employees are still getting a check after long holidays like winter break.

    The HCTA also says it will keep fighting for hourly employees coaching athletics.

    The district currently bans hourly employees from being coaches, which takes away their ability to supplement their pay with an additional stipend.

    Once the final language of the new contract is drafted, it will go to union members and the school board for a vote.

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  • Idalia lashes Citrus County with winds and heavy rain

    Idalia lashes Citrus County with winds and heavy rain

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    CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. — It started with a blast of wind-driven rain at 6 a.m.

    An inner rain band of Hurricane Idalia lashed Kings Bay in Crystal River late Tuesday, pushing the first of feet of storm surge toward land.

    What You Need To Know

    • Citrus County residents and business owners dealt with pounding winds and rising rain levels from Idalia

    • Idalia lashed Kings Bay in Crystal River late Tuesday and into Wednesday

    • LIVE UPDATES: Aftermath of Idalia in Tampa Bay

    That surge continued to rise Wednesday, knocking on the door of neighborhoods and dozens of small town businesses.

    “This water has risen in an hour from walking back there to up to your waste,” said Marty Hoffman, whose son works on commercial fishing boats in Crystal River. He came to try and help workers from losing the boats as the surge quickly pushed in.

    “There’s four commercial fishing boats back there that they are trying to keep from floating into buildings,” he said.

    Away from the docks, there’s water where it’s not supposed to be.

    Meanwhile, along the North Citrus Avenue shopping district, businesses owners threatened by rising water could only watch Wednesday afternoon, waiting to see how long the inshore winds will push water in.

    Aside from the storm surge, more than 3,000 power outages are being reported.

    And at least one fire was reported, an electrical fire, potentially due to storm surge.

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    Jason Lanning

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