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Tag: Pinellas County

  • St. Pete invests additional $1M for Shore Acres pump station

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The St. Petersburg city council approved a state grant agreement last Thursday to invest an additional $1 million for a pump station in the Shore Acres Flood Mitigation Project.

    What You Need To Know

    • St. Petersburg was awarded a $1 million matching state grant for a pump station in Shore Acres

    • The pump station is part of a much larger $33M flood mitigation project 

    • Construction is expected to begin in summer 2026

    • State Rep. Lindsay Cross (D) and Sen. Nick DiCeglie (R) secured the state grant 
    • MORE INFORMATION: Shore Acres Flood Mitigation Project


    “I was honored to be able to carry a budget request with Senator Nick DiCeglie for that money,” said State Rep. Lindsay Cross, D-St. Petersburg. “We know it doesn’t fix all of the problems but it helps.”

    The pump station will be located under the roadway at the intersection of Connecticut Avenue NE and Bayshore Boulevard, according to the Director of Engineering and Capital Improvements Brejesh Prayman.

    “The discharge piping will then extend underground easterly towards Tampa Bay,” he said. “The existing outfall will be modified to allow the new piping to convey stormwater to Tampa Bay.”

    Prayman said the station will have six pumps installed allowing for redundancy and will have emergency backup power.

    “On average the pumps which will be installed underground are expected to be approximately 10 feet tall,” he said. “Giving a sense of the stormwater capacity based on the size of the pumps.”

    The discharge piping from the pump station will include a design feature of creating an inverted “U” which will act as a flow control not allowing high tide to flow back into the stormwater pump station and eliminates the need for a backflow preventer, according to Prayman.

    A building for the electrical components will be constructed on the right of way east of Bayshore Boulevard which will be at an elevation above the FEMA floodplain. Pending permit approvals, construction is expected to begin in summer 2026 and will take one year to complete.

    The relief can’t come soon enough for the lowest-lying neighborhood in St. Petersburg. Last year, Hurricane Helene flooded nearly 2,200 homes, which was 82 percent of the neighborhood. Shore Acres Civic Association President Kevin Batdorf said he’s frustrated with the city’s timeline.

    “My honest opinion, the timeline sucks,” he said. “We were told it was going to start September of this year.”

    Despite wanting to see the project happen faster, Batdorf said he’s grateful for a shovel-ready project, which should eliminate sunny-day flooding.

    “I’m excited to see that this is finally going to happen,” he said. “It can’t come soon enough.”

    The pump station is part of a much larger flood mitigation project for Shore Acres, which has been estimated to cost $33 million. The project also includes box culverts, backflow preventers and elevating sections of roadway and intersections.

    Rep. Cross said these types of projects are really easy to champion in Tallahassee.

    “It was a very compelling project for the legislature to fund because we knew it’s shovel. We’re ready to use this money. It’s part of a larger comprehensive plan,” she said. “The city has got skin in the game with significant amount of match.”

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    Josh Rojas

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  • Toys for Tots Pinellas searches for permanent home as demand reaches record high

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — For decades, Toys for Tots Pinellas has helped make the holiday season brighter for children in need. This year, as demand reaches a record high, the organization is also facing a challenge of its own: finding a permanent place to operate.

    What You Need To Know

    • Toys for Tots is one of the largest missions of the Marine Corps Reserves

    • This year’s operation is based at the former Pinellas Gulf Coast Academy campus, a school that closed because of low enrollment

    • Marines say a permanent home would help streamline logistics and allow them to focus on what matters most: helping families facing economic hardship experience a joyful holiday season

    • This is the largest year on record for Toys for Tots Pinellas, with 9,500 children signed up to receive gifts. Wednesday is the last day for toy donations, with distribution scheduled for Friday and Saturday


    Each year for about two months, Marines and volunteers transform temporary warehouse space into what they call Santa’s workshop. Inside, new, unwrapped toys are collected, sorted and prepared for children ranging from infancy through age 12.

    “We’ve done over seven million gifts and three million kids,” said Ed Zaleski, the Toys for Tots Pinellas coordinator.

    Toys for Tots is one of the largest missions of the Marine Corps Reserves. Zaleski has coordinated those efforts across the Tampa Bay region for 16 years, including the past decade in Pinellas County.

    “The idea is to empower the family and bring a smile to a child’s face on Christmas,” Zaleski said.

    This year’s operation is based at the former Pinellas Gulf Coast Academy campus, a school that closed because of low enrollment. From the parking lot to the inside of the building, nearly every inch of the space is being used. However, whether the organization will remain there long term is still uncertain.

    “So I always say, like 35,000 square feet is what we need to actually do this the right way. And we ask every year to get us home,” Zaleski said. “Hopefully, we can stay here for a while. We’ll see what happens. But it’s hard to find that home every year.”

    As the Pinellas County School District continues discussions about potentially shuttering and repurposing additional school sites, the future use of properties like this one remains unclear. Toys for Tots Pinellas hopes to be part of that conversation and secure another lease to continue operating at the location.

    “For us, it’d be a great gift because then we can refine our system, because our goal is to do more and more every year,” Zaleski said. “And if we know where we’re at and we can set up earlier and get things running faster, it helps the community know where to come back.”

    Marines say a permanent home would help streamline logistics and allow them to focus on what matters most: helping families facing economic hardship experience a joyful holiday season.

    This is the largest year on record for Toys for Tots Pinellas, with 9,500 children signed up to receive gifts. Wednesday is the last day for toy donations, with distribution scheduled for Friday and Saturday.

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    Fadia Patterson

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  • Largo police says 87-year-old Petro Kuqo is still missing

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    LARGO, Fla. — The search continues for an 87-year-old man who disappeared after walking out of his family’s apartment early Friday morning.

    What You Need To Know

    • Petro Kuqo, 87, was last seen at a complex at 1845 Oak Trail West 

    • He left his home while family members slept, according to investigators

    • Petro has dementia and doesn’t speak English

    • Anyone with information is asked to call Largo police at (727) 587-6730


    Largo police say Petro Kuqo was last seen around 9 a.m. near his home at 1845 Oak Trail West, inside an apartment complex near U.S. 19, about a mile north of East Bay Drive.

    Police are using K-9 units, drones, helicopters and ground search crews to comb a roughly one-mile radius around the area where Kuqo was last seen. A command center has been set up as officers and volunteers continue the search.

    Kuqo is described as 5 feet 3 inches tall, weighing about 163 pounds. He was last seen wearing dark gray sweatpants and a gray sweatshirt. Family members say he is Albanian, does not speak English and has dementia.

    Surveillance video shows Kuqo walking through the apartment complex, but that footage is the last confirmed sighting of him.

    “The corner up here is the last place he was seen on camera,” said his granddaughter, Elena Mita. “There’s a Ring doorbell camera from these apartments and a gas station that caught him walking this way, but that’s the last time anyone has seen him.”

    Mita says the apartment complex is fenced in, adding to the family’s confusion and frustration.

    “It’s completely fenced in, and there are no gaps whatsoever where he could have gotten out,” she said. “We’re just really confused on what else to do at this point.”

    Since Friday, Mita and other family members have been walking throughout the complex, hoping to find any sign of Kuqo.

    “We’re just asking people to keep sharing and getting the word out,” Mita said. “Maybe someone remembers what they saw.”

    Volunteers have also joined the search. Debby LaCroix, who lives in Indian Shores, came to help after hearing about Kuqo’s disappearance.

    “It’s kind of scary,” LaCroix said. “He is very old, and I’m just praying for the best.”

    Police say they are checking all available surveillance cameras in the area and contacting local hospitals, but so far, there have been no leads.

    “It’s really hard, especially since we haven’t gotten any clues,” Mita said. “It’s just really strange that he has vanished like this. So many things are running through our minds, but it’s impossible to know what has happened at this point.”

    The family says all they can do now is hope and pray that Kuqo is found.

    Anyone with information about Petro Kuqo’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Largo Police Department.

     

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    Jeff Van Sant

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  • Chabad of St. Petersburg says light of Chanukah needed after attack

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — People around the world are reacting to this weekend’s shooting in Bondi Beach, including the Bay area.

    Rabbi Alter Korf of Chabad of St. Petersburg said the organization has increased security for this week’s Chanukah events, but he said it’s even more important now to move forward with celebrations.

    What You Need To Know

    • Chabad of St. Petersburg’s Rabbi Alter Korf said it was difficult to wake up Sunday to news of the Bondi Beach attack

    • Rabbi Korf said security will be increased at this week’s Chanukah celebrations, but that he also thinks it’s more important than ever for people to come out and celebrate

    • Korf said the attack was meant to intimidate and frighten the Jewish community worldwide and Chanukah is a time to fight back against the darkness

    • Chabad will hold its Car Menorah Parade on Wednesday


    “I think for the Jewish community around the world, everybody felt like it’s their family,” said Rabbi Korf.

    For him, Korf said it actually was family. He said he’s related to Rabbi Eli Schlanger by marriage, who was one of more than a dozen people killed in the Bondi Beach attack.

    “Australia is the first to welcome Chanukah, and then all the communities around the world follow,” he said. “It was intended to send a message — a message of fear, a message of retreat.”

    It’s a message Korf said, is having the opposite effect in St. Pete. He said Sunday’s Chanukah in the City event drew an even bigger crowd than usual.

    “People came to make a statement: We are here. We’re not disappearing. We don’t retreat from darkness,” Korf said.

    According to an Anti-Defamation League report released in April, the U.S. saw a 5% increase in antisemitic events last year compared to 2023. Korf said Tampa Bay is a friendly region to the Jewish community, but vigilance is still important. He said it’s also important not to live in fear.

    “We have to be present, we have to be in the public, and make sure that every Jew in our community feels comfortable, feels proud,” he said.

    On Wednesday, Chabad is holding its Car Menorah Parade. Korf said the parade will have a police escort and end with a menorah lighting in Vinoy Park.

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • St. Pete-Clearwater Airport gets OK for construction of new parking garage

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A key vote was held Tuesday afternoon that executives at St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) say will help them keep up with growth.

    Pinellas County commissioners give them the green light to build a 4-story parking garage adjacent to the terminal that would be used for economy parking. The proposed garage would have roughly 2,000 spots and be where the current ‘Strawberry Lot’ sits.

    What You Need To Know

    • Proposed parking garage would be 4 stories and have roughly 2,000 spots
    • Bulk of project would be paid for in funds from customer facility charges and airport reserves
    • Was approved Tuesday, design phase expected to begin in early 2026
    • 2025 is busiest year in airport history 

    The airport’s interim director, Mark Sprague, says this is the busiest year in airport history. They have already had a record-breaking roughly 2.6 million passengers in 2025 with 15 days remaining in the year.

    Sprague says the parking garage would cost an estimated $60 million. The airport already has funding sources in place that would include roughly $6 million from an FDOT grant and nearly $30 million in airport reserves. Over $24 million would come from revenue from what’s called a ‘customer facility charge’ — a surcharge placed on rental cars.

    To pay for the garage, Sprague says the airport would not have to take out any type of loan.


    “Which Is really unheard of,” he said.  “A lot of airports go out and get either bonds or loans for this, but we saw the growth and we saw what we needed to do and we saved the money in order to keep the costs low.”

    Sprague presented the parking garage plans to county commissioners during a workshop last week.

    Some commissioners agreed that updates to parking are much-needed at the airport while Pinellas County Commissioner Vince Nowicki questioned the net-gain of 1,500 spots at a $60 million cost.

    “With PIE not having much land constraint, have we exhausted all surface-level parking lot options before diving into $40,000 per parking space?” he asked Sprague. “It seems we could be shorting a project somewhere else by using 1/3 of our reserves.”

    Te design phase of the parking garage construction is expected to begin early next year.

    Pinellas County commissioners give airport officials the green light to build a 4-story parking garage adjacent to the terminal that would be used for economy parking. (FILE IMAGE)

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    Angie Angers

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  • St. Pete to conduct study to dredge shallow canals in Riviera Bay

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The City of St. Petersburg says a stormwater study is a direct result of summer walking tours held weeks ago.    

    What You Need To Know

    • St. Pete’s public works department wanted to hear directly from residents about the flooding problems in their neighborhood
    • Riviera Bay residents say all their canals are full of sand and sediment


    Its public works department wanted to hear directly from residents about the flooding problems in their neighborhood.

    The city now says it will conduct a study to dredge the shallow canals in Riviera Bay. It’s taking a phased approach to the flooding solutions in what public works calls a massive undertaking.

    Riviera Bay residents say all their canals are full of sand and sediment.

    A homeowner who lives where two of the canals meet is dealing with the issue.

    Kathy Crow says Hurricane Helene’s storm surge pushed a lot of sand and sediment into the canal behind her home last year.

    Public works says the Riviera Bay canal problem is now on its radar thanks to the Resilient St. Pete Action Plan. (Spectrum News/Josh Rojas)

    New land has formed where there should be a few feet of water. It is rendering her boat useless.

    “We are no longer on navigable waterfront,” Crow said. “We are barely on a drainage canal because I don’t even think it could drain water properly during a storm event.” 

    The Riviera Bay canals are part of St. Pete’s stormwater conveyance system.

    Runoff from the Saltgrass Lake area drains into the canals.

    Crow says that because those canals are so full of sediment, homes are now being threatened during regular summer storms.

    “If all that water is going to be diverted down this canal system, there is nowhere for the water to go,” Crow said. “So now that there’s no depth, it’s going to come up, and it’s going to flood our properties.”

    Public works says the Riviera Bay canal problem is now on its radar thanks to the Resilient St. Pete Action Plan.

    The public works administrator says that the dredge study is a direct result of walking tours earlier this year. (Spectrum News/Josh Rojas)

    The public works administrator says that the dredge study is a direct result of walking tours earlier this year. (Spectrum News/Josh Rojas)

    Spectrum News reported earlier this year how public works, along with consultant engineers, conducted walking tours in nine different neighborhoods.

    The city wanted to hear directly from residents about the flooding problems in their neighborhoods.

    Riviera Bay Civic Association President Vanessa Pugliese says the city will now conduct a study to dredge the canals.

    “This is going to give us the absolute data we need about the sedimentation and silt issues in these canals so that we can make sure that they’re actually dredged to appropriate depths to handle the increased stormwater runoff loads from the city.” 

    The public works administrator says that the dredge study is a direct result of the walking tours.

    Crow participated in that walking tour and showed city leaders the problem in her backyard.

    “It is nice to see something moving forward,” she said. “I appreciate that they are listening to us, and they took us seriously.” 

    The city says it chose those nine neighborhoods for walking tours based on their unique relationship with the water and wants to avoid a one-size fits all solution.

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    Josh Rojas

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  • St. Petersburg Jewish Experience aims to bring community together

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The first St. Petersburg Jewish Experience is arriving in just a few weeks. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The St. Petersburg Jewish Experience is on January 11

    • The event is being held at The Floridian Social

    • Local rabbis said this event is the perfect way for community members to express their Jewish pride 


    Bringing Jewish culture, music, food, and more, Rabbis Alter Korf and Mendel Lebovics said this will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

    “We feel it’s just the right thing for the community now,” Korf said. “It’s just the right vibe, the right energy that the Jewish community needs.” 

    Lebovics agrees and said community members are looking for ways to express their Jewish pride.

    “It’s our job to say, ‘We’re here, we’re here to stay, and we’re going to be proud of who we are,’” he said. 

    The event isn’t only for people who are Jewish — it’s for everyone. 

    That’s part of the reason Korf said they’re hosting the party at The Floridian Social.

    “Our goal is that this Jewish experience would make everybody inside here feel like part of one big family,” he said.  

    An unforgettable experience is what Korf said they’re looking to create. 

    With the people they’re bringing in and the venue they’ve chosen, he has no doubt they’ll achieve their goals. 

    “It’s not an intellectual experience, it’s not a class, it’s not a lecture,” he said. “This is a moment to feel it in your bones.”

    The event is on January 11. You can purchase tickets here.

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    Matt Lackritz

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  • Dunedin Freebee pilot program coming to an end

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    DUNEDIN, Fla. — A Dunedin pilot program that gives residents and tourists free rides in downtown is coming to an end.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Freebee loop service pilot program launched in 2023 and was funded by American Rescue Plan Act money

    • Drivers for Freebee, like Patrick Stout, went to city council to try and keep the service running

    • December 14 is the last planned day for rides


    The Freebee loop service pilot program launched in 2023.

    Originally funded by American Rescue Plan Act money, the city said, “With no additional grant money or advertising revenue generated, it’s time for the program to end.”

    Freebee driver Patrick Stout said the service is well-known in the city, stopping at hotels, parks, city hall, and more Dunedin locations.

    “Freebee is very important, not only to me, because I love this job, but for the residents,” he said.

    Stout said he sees how the service helps the community — not only for tourists, but for those who live in the area and want to visit downtown.

    “It alleviates some of the traffic down here,” he said. “Especially on Friday and Saturday nights, it can tend to get congested, and this way we do the driving and the residents don’t.”

    Former Mayor Julie Ward Bujalski told Specrum News in 2023 that this program was introduced to address the city’s limited parking.

    However, in a statement from the city this week, they said:

    “After reviewing ridership data, the City determined that the cost of continuing the program cannot be justified with City funds. As a result, the City will allow the pilot program to conclude when the current contract expires on December 17.”

    Despite this, Stout is trying to keep the program alive.

    “All four of us drivers have been going door to door through all the restaurants, reaching out to our contacts through social media, saying, ‘Hey, this is what the city is trying to do to us,’” he said. “We need your voice and your help to save Freebee.”

    Despite this, Dec. 14 is the last planned day for rides.

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    Matt Lackritz

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  • Free Clearwater clinic serving uninsured marks milestone

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    CLEARWATER, Fla. — A free medical clinic in Clearwater is celebrating a major milestone: 30 years of providing care to community members with little to no health insurance — a mission that nearly came to an end just two years ago.

    La Clinica Guadalupana marked the anniversary with a day filled with faith, culture and celebration, coinciding with the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a sacred Catholic holy day.

    Mariachi music, prayer, and gratitude filled the clinic as staff, volunteers, and patients reflected on three decades of service.

    What You Need To Know

    • La Clinica Guadalupana, a free Clearwater clinic, celebrates 30 years after a last-minute partnership saved it from closing

    • The clinic sees more than 2,000 patients each year, offering primary care and preventative services to people who might otherwise delay or forgo treatment
    • Despite its long history, the clinic’s future was uncertain, with rising overhead costs putting La Clinica Guadalupana at risk of shutting down

    • Catholic Charities stepped in, making La Clinica Guadalupana the fourth free medical clinic within the Diocese of St. Petersburg


    Monse Mangual, one of the clinic’s first nurses, helped open La Clinica Guadalupana in 1995 and said the work has always been about service.

    “It was amazing. I love to help people and I always say that I came here to serve,” Mangual said.

    All medical providers at La Clinica Guadalupana volunteer their services. The clinic sees more than 2,000 patients each year, offering primary care and preventative services to people who might otherwise delay or forgo treatment.

    Clinic director Laura Ramos said the goal is to provide care that is both accessible and respectful.

    “They can come in and get all of those services that are dignifying and reduce the hospital visits,” Ramos said.

    But despite its long history, the clinic’s future was uncertain. Rising overhead costs put La Clinica Guadalupana at risk of shutting down.

    Dr. Jennifer L. Cabreira-Steimle, who has volunteered with the clinic for 15 years, says the reality was sobering.

    “I don’t think that people realize that two years ago we were close to not being able to provide the service anymore,” she said.

    In search of a solution, Cabreira-Steimle reached out to Catholic Charities for help — a move she describes as a turning point.

    “(I thought) this is big, that’s where we got that Hail Mary Pass,” she said with a chuckle.

    Catholic Charities stepped in, making La Clinica Guadalupana the fourth free medical clinic within the Diocese of St. Petersburg.

    Deacon Rick Wells with the Diocese says the partnership reflects a commitment to dignity and care for all.

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    Fadia Patterson

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  • 8,500 wreaths laid at Bay Pines to honor veterans

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    BAY PINES, Fla. — Remember the fallen, honor those who serve and teach the next generation the value of freedom. This is the mission of Wreaths Across America.

    What You Need To Know

    • Wreaths Across America is a mission to remember the fallen and honor those who served

    • Thomas Schooley participates annually, inspired by his late mother who passed in 2020

    • Fundraising efforts helped place 8,500 wreaths at Bay Pines National Cemetery this year

    • Organizers hope to continue increasing the number of wreaths with community support


    For Thomas Schooley, it has become a yearly tradition.

    “When I found out that this happens, I signed up the very first year after my mom passed,” he said.

    Schooley’s mom died from cancer in 2020.

    Her name, Betty, is written along with Schooley’s stepfather, Paul, at the cemetery.

    Schooley is one of dozens of people who place wreaths across these markers to honor all those who served our country.

    “I come out here at least once a month,” he said. “I try to do it every other week and just sit and have a talk with her.”

    Ronalee Klase, the Bay Pines coordinator for Wreaths Across America, said she’s grateful to every person who donated to purchase these wreaths.

    Still, with the number they have, they have to spread the wreaths one for every four veterans.

    “We don’t have quite as many wreaths here as I would like to see, but we have a good showing,” she said.

    Klase said there are 35,000 graves at Bay Pines National Cemetery.

    Last year, 5,000 wreaths were laid at veterans’ graves.

    It’s this number that inspired Schooley to reach out and try to increase the number of wreaths available.

    “I made it my point this year to ask for donations from my group,” he said in reference to the Facebook group, THUNDER BOLTS. “We raised $4,000.”

    Thanks to that money and all the others who donated, there were 8,500 wreaths laid this year.

    While it’s still less than they like, Klase said she’s focusing on making sure the community understands what makes this so special.

    “It’s just a way to say we love you, we miss you, and we wish you were here,” she said.

    For those interested in contributing for 2026, click here.

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    Matt Lackritz

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  • St. Pete council votes to approve extension for Tangerine Plaza developer

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The St. Petersburg City Council voted this week to give an extension to the developer of Tangerine Plaza.

    PREVIOUS: South St. Pete redevelopment plans stall for Tangerine Plaza

    It’s a project in south St. Pete that would include affordable housing and a grocery store. 

    The city gave the Sugar Hill Group 18 months to secure funding for the project and come up with a plan.

    But the group says it needs another 12 months. 

    One City Council member raised concerns about the lack of secured funding, but representatives from the city and county were on hand to lay out what it’s going to take to get the plan approved and funded within the 12 months.

    The agreement would’ve expired on Jan. 2. Now, the group has another 12 months.

    Developers say they hope to break ground late next year. 

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • New housing assistance for Pinellas County residents affected by Helene, Milton

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Pinellas County homeowners affected Hurricanes Helene and Milton have a new place to turn for help. The Homeless Empowerment Program is offering storm recovery housing assistance.

    What You Need To Know

    • Storm recovery housing assistance being offered by Homeless Empowerment Program (HEP)

    • HEP says qualified applicants will receive financial literacy courses and be assigned an HEP housing navigator

    • To learn if you qualify, contact HEP at HurricaneRelief@HEPempowers.org or call: (727) 442-9041 extension 167


    “It’s $100,000 that goes towards anyone who is trying to recover from storm damage, is displaced because of the storm, maybe needs rental assistance or deposit assistance,” said Tawny Swain Castle, vice president of clinical services with HEP.

    A donor remaining anonymous multiplied that relief amount.

    “They matched another $100,000 on top of that, so we have $200,000,” Swain Castle said. “We were going to serve 25 people, and now we can serve 50 people.”

    United States Air Force veteran Troy Corbin was one of the first recipients.

    “I’m very grateful for that,” said Corbin, whose Largo home was damaged during the storms last year.

    “I had the ceiling collapse, unfortunately, but I fixed that,” said Corbin.

    From roof and fence damage to a screen porch blown in, Corbin has already completed some repairs. But he said there are thousands of dollars left in projects to finish and limited funds to do them.

    “See how bad it is, it won’t open. It’s warped,” Corbin said, showing us the door to his garage that houses a piece of history.

    “This is a US Army 1953 M37 cargo truck from the Korean War,” said Corbin, who is also part of the Florida Military Vehicle Preservation Association.

    Repairs made at his home will help get him one step closer to finishing projects to protect his personal property and preserve a piece of history, all while preparing for future storms.

    “I’m very thankful that this money is coming,” said Corbin.

    Maximum individual distribution amounts are $4,000.

    HEP says qualified applicants will receive financial literacy courses and be assigned an HEP housing navigator, who will follow-up to see how things are going with repairs, offer resources and answer questions.

    “We really want to embrace the community,” said Swain Castle. “We watched the trauma from the storms last year, and it really means a lot for us to be able to help those in the community.”

    To learn if you qualify, contact HEP at HurricaneRelief@HEPempowers.org or call: (727) 442-9041 extension 167.

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    Melissa Eichman

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  • Clearwater weighs options after ruling on abortion clinic buffer zone

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    CLEARWATER, Fla. — A buffer zone is still in effect at a Clearwater abortion clinic following a court’s ruling last week that it shouldn’t be enforced. 

    What You Need To Know

    • A federal appeals court ruled Dec. 4 in favor of a preliminary injunction on the city of Clearwater’s buffer zone around Bread and Roses’ driveway

    • The city passed an ordinance creating the buffer in 2023

    • Police said at the time that gatherings of protesters created safety concerns, including for cars trying to get in and out of the property

    • The nonprofit Florida Preborn Rescue filed a complaint, claiming a violation of First Amendment Rights


    The city of Clearwater passed a law in 2023 that prohibited pedestrians from entering or crossing the driveway of the Bread and Roses Woman’s Health Center. Police said they had safety concerns for cars coming and going when protesters gathered at the site.

    The nonprofit Florida Preborn Rescue filed a complaint. While their request that the buffer not be enforced was originally denied, an appeals court just reversed that. 

    “The district court denied the motion, holding that the plaintiffs were unlikely to succeed on the merits. We disagree,” the opinion from the U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals reads. “We hold that the plaintiffs are likely to succeed on the merits of their First Amendment challenge and that the district court therefore abused its discretion in denying the preliminary injunction on that ground.”

    “What the city of Clearwater did was so extreme and so strange, frankly, that we sort of knew that it would get struck down eventually,” said Florida Preborn Rescue Director Scott Mahurin.

    The buffer zone comprises five feet on either side of Bread and Roses’ driveway. Video shown during a first reading of the ordinance highlights why. The woman who brought it to council’s attention said it was recorded at the clinic. It shows protesters standing and walking in the clinic’s driveway, shouting at people, and approaching cars. 

    “The city of Clearwater felt that, in the interest of public safety, regardless of anybody’s viewpoint on any of these issues, it would be good to simply say, ‘Whatever your viewpoint is, you have the right to express it on five feet of either side of the driveway,’” said special counsel for the city of Clearwater, Luke Lirot. “That way, the cars pulling in will get in without having to block traffic, that there won’t be people walking up to the windows where drivers would have their views obstructed.”

    The buffer zone comprises five feet on either side of Bread and Roses’ driveway. (Spectrum Bay News 9/Sarah Blazonis)

    Mahurin said his group wasn’t part of those encounters.

    “Our group is peaceful. I train my volunteers to engage peacefully, not to break any laws or trespass or provoke any confrontations,” he said.

    According to Mahurin, members go to Bread and Roses to offer women information about resources like crisis pregnancy centers, housing and jobs.

    “When you take that five feet away, it may not seem like a lot, but if you look at the pictures or you drive by there, that’s the difference between me looking at you as you enter the facility and me having to shout at you over a fence,” Mahurin said.

    “Even though there were many other locations in the area that they’d be allowed to do that five feet outside of the driveway, they felt that that restriction impeded their First Amendment rights,” said Lirot.

    According to Lirot, the appeals court’s ruling didn’t go into effect immediately. He said the courts allow time for the city to weigh its legal options.

    “Even though the court reversed the lower court’s decision, there’s never been any goal of the city to do anything but be fair to everyone and just simply try to keep that whole area safe, regardless of what your viewpoint is,” Lirot said. 

    Spectrum News reached out to Bread and Roses for comment but didn’t hear back.

    Lirot said a motion for a rehearing would need to be filed later this month. If no action is taken, he said this latest ruling could take effect early in the new year.

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • Shore Acres residents skeptical of chances at securing storm recovery dollars

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — When the Sunrise St. Pete application process opens December 15, residents will have the chance to request a share of nearly $160 million to help them recover from Hurricanes Idalia and Helene.

    However, people who live in the Shore Acres neighborhood said they’re doubtful it will provide their community some much-needed relief due to income requirements. Funding for the program comes from the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development.

    A city spokesperson told Spectrum News that HUD specifies that no less than 70% of those funds must go to help low-to-moderate income residents. 

    What You Need To Know

    •  Applications for the Sunrise St. Pete program open December 15

    •  The federally-funded program can provide financial assistance to help residents recover from Hurricanes Idalia and Helene

    •  Money can go toward home rehab, rebuilding, and elevation, as well as repair reimbursements

    • While Shore Acres was hit hard by both storms, people who live in the neighborhood tell Spectrum News they’re skeptical the program will provide them relief due to income requirements


    “They’re income-based. So, they’re not going to qualify for everybody,” said resident Barry Rubin.

    Rubin said Helene marked the first time his home flooded in the nearly 30-years he’s lived in the flood-prone Shore Acres. 

    “Everything is brand new. It’s actually a new house on a very old house shell,” he said of the state of his house today.

    According to Rubin, “everything” includes the walls, floor, paint, fixtures, and electricity – to name just some of the work done to his home.

    Sunrise St. Pete is meant to make at least part of recovery easier for residents. It offers financial assistance to rehab, rebuild, and elevate their homes, as well as reimbursements for repairs.

    A city spokesperson said that per HUD requirements, households that earn up to 80% of the area median income will be given priority. For a family of four, that works out to a yearly income of about $83,000. Some help will also be available for those earning up to 120% AMI, which comes out to about $125,000 for a four-person household.

    Because of that, Shore Acres Civic Association President Kevin Batdorf said he thinks the program will have very little impact in the neighborhood, despite it being hit hard by both storms. Batdorf said the more than 1,200 homes that flooded in Shore Acres during Idalia made up 82% of the total flooded properties in the city during that storm, and residents are still recovering from Helene. Erin Knight said she and her husband were finally able to get back into their home after it was inundated by up to five feet of floodwater.

    “We literally were in a camper. It was a 21-foot camper. It was my husband and me and two dogs from January until about a month ago,” Knight said.

    Knight told Spectrum News she was planning to apply for Sunrise St. Pete but was discouraged by news of the income requirement.

    “We still had to fork out $20,000 on top of around $100,000 out of our own pocket to rebuild this house and then put up flood gates, but yet somehow, we don’t qualify for any of the help,” she said.

    Both Knight and Rubin, along with other neighbors, said they still planned to apply just in case there’s a chance they could see some funding.

    “I’m cautiously, cautiously optimistic, but ‘cautious’ is the main word,” said Rubin.

    While he realizes Sunrise St. Pete is funded by HUD dollars and not city funds, Rubin said he’d like to see the St. Pete work with the federal government to let them know many in hard-hit coastal areas won’t meet income requirements.

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • St. Petersburg unveils city’s first purpose-built water testing lab

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — St. Petersburg unveiled the city’s first purpose-built water testing laboratory on Tuesday, which protects the environment and aims to ensure drinking water flows during hurricanes.

    What You Need To Know

    • St. Petersburg unveils new water testing lab on Tuesday  

    • The storm-hardened facility cost about $9 million and has 8 labs

    • The lab tests stormwater, beach surface water, drinking water and wastewater

    • Pinellas County, Hillsborough County and Gulfport also utilize the regional asset


    “Clean, healthy water is essential for everything we do,” said John Palenchar, Water Resources Director. “Whether it’s the water we drink, the beaches we enjoy, or the environment that we depend on that supports us.”

    The new facility cost about $9 million and is a nationally accredited environmental laboratory that prioritizes public health. City leaders held a ribbon-cutting on Tuesday and invited the public for a tour.

    Mayor Kenneth Welch said the new facility would stand up to storms much better than the old lab, which was in an administration building. Welch said staff was scrambling in the old lab after Hurricane Milton last year.

    “Our old retrofitted lab lost power,” he said. “Our staff had to run more than 180 drinking water tests in one day so that we could lift the boil water notice.” 

    The new lab is storm-hardened and has modern equipment. The facility has commercial power, backup generator power and a second backup generator.

    “This isn’t just about the hurricanes,” said Copley Gerdes, City Council Chair. “This is about making sure that every day, whether the sun is out or not, that our people have a place to do the work that is needed for our city.”

    There’s a total of 8 different water testing labs inside the facility. Palenchar said the metals lab tests to make sure the city’s industrial customers are properly disposing of their wastewater.

    “We have to ensure that they’re not discharging any of those metals  — those harmful metals  — into our system, because those would pass through our treatment,” he said. “Metals aren’t treated in a domestic wastewater plant.”

    Palenchar said the nutrients lab tests for nitrogen or phosphorous in surface water from Tampa Bay or the Gulf beaches, which can create red tide blooms.

    “The most, I guess, important nutrient that we measure in the Bay is nitrogen,” he said. “That really is an indicator of how much nutrient pollution is going into our Bay, which feeds algae growth and blocks the light from getting to the sea grasses.”

    Special overhead red lights are used in the chlorophyl lab to test water from Tampa Bay for plant matter.

    “If there’s a lot of plant matter like algae, algae is photosynthesizing. So it uses chlorophyl. That’s a good indicator of the cloudiness in the water,” said Palenchar. “It’s what the Tampa Bay Estuary Program uses to measure. It’s a performance measure of the health of Tampa Bay.”

    Palenchar said the microbiology lab is the most popular by the number of analysis run and impacts every single type of water.

    “Stormwater, beach surface water, drinking water, of course, and wastewater,” he said. “So all those different water types have microbiology components that need to be monitored to make sure that those waters are healthy for either human contact or, in the case of drinking water, for drinking.”

    Palenchar said the lab is a regional asset, which Pinellas County, Hillsborough County and Gulfport also utilize.

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    Josh Rojas

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  • You’re pregnant, don’t eat for two, health experts say

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Sitting on an exam table inside Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital, Sabrina Correa is waiting for her 34-week checkup to begin. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Eating for two doesn’t mean eat more. It truly means eat smart, health experts say

    • Most expecting mothers are recommended to have a high-protein, low-fat diet. Though always do what the medical provider recommends

    • During the holidays, remember to stay hydrated when pregnant

    • Sabrina Correa is 34 weeks pregnant. She said she works to eat small meals throughout the day


    “Sabrina, hey good morning. How are you?” said Jaida Taylor-Herring walking into the room, who is an advanced registered nurse practitioner and certified nurse midwife. 

    She measures Correa’s stomach and checks the baby’s heart rate. 

    “Alright, baby sounds great,” said Taylor-Herring. 

    “I get so emotional every time I hear it,” said Correa. 

    During the visit, a topic expecting moms might not think about this time of year is brought up intentionally. 

    “So, what are your plans for the holidays?” asks Taylor-Herring. 

    “Going to spend it with friends and family and eating,” said Correa.

    “Eating?” questions Taylor-Herring. 

    She wanted to know because often mothers are told they are now eating for two. But that is a myth, said Taylor-Herring.

    “I tell patients all the time, weight is like trouble, easy to get into, hard to get out of,” said Taylor-Herring. “You don’t really need to eat for two because that’s really overeating. You eat for one and the baby will take what it needs from you.”

    Correa smiles and says that is easier said than done. 

    “It’s actually very hard, like trying to control yourself and like eating a lot, but it’s been actually really good. I’m still trying to eat small meals,” said Correa. 

    “Cabbage, broccoli, all those things are good for you,” said Taylor-Herring, going over a high-protein, low-fat diet. 

    Though all expectant mothers should remember, no pregnancy is the same, and they should always take the nutrition advice given to them by their medical provider. 

    “I usually tell pregnant patients instead of doing like three large meals a day, especially around the holidays, try and do like little small meals in intervals,” said Taylor-Herring. 

    Correa agrees that is doable for the remainder of her pregnancy. 

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    Erin Murray

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  • Final parent input meeting set as Pinellas County school closures loom

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The final community meeting regarding the future of Pinellas County schools amid declining enrollment is set for Tuesday night.

    The fifth and final “Planning for Progress” meeting put on by the district will be held at Lakewood High School from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

    All parents are invited to attend. At the meeting, district staff will share enrollment updates and the options the district is considering moving forward. Following the briefing, parents will be asked to provide input.

    At last week’s “Planning for Progress” meeting that was held at Hollins High School, staff stated the district has 3,600 fewer students enrolled this year compared to the start of last school year. That includes a 9% drop in kindergarten enrollment.

    Reasons for declining enrollment include more families moving out of Pinellas County due to high cost of living and an overall decline in the birthrate for school-aged kids.

    At a school board workshop earlier this year, Superintendent Kevin Hendrick said the district is looking at building capacity, current utilization and improvements a school building might need as they assess the next best steps. Hendrick said changes will likely include school closures and consolidations.

    That’s something that worries parent Megan Diehl.

    “If a school is shuttered when a child is in the middle of their school experience, there’s going to be a huge impact for their social experience as well as their educational experience,” she said. “The trust they’ve built up with the administrators and the staff in that building. That does concern me.”

    Diehl was happy to hear the district was open to parent input before making any major decisions. She said while making some schools K-8 is not a primary concern of hers, she’s hoping the district looks at the schools with the best enrollment and parent involvement as models for the future.

    “One thing I think would be really important is to look at the schools that feel they have good engagement and family input and see what makes them successful. How did they get those families engaged?” she explained.

    Parent Karolina Quearry also provided feedback at last week’s meeting. She said she’s also open to the idea of making some schools K-8.

    “I think I’m open-minded as to whatever happens in the future. I understand the need for change,” she said.

    After Tuesday’s final community meeting wraps, the district says they will use parent input as they make final recommendations on what should happen next. Those recommendations will be presented to the school board in January.

    Pinellas County currently has 116 schools, not including charter schools.

    Photojournalist Eugene Buenaventura contributed to this report.

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    Angie Angers

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  • Largo residents raise alarm over apartment plan on former landfill site

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    LARGO, Fla. — A developer is seeking approval for a new apartment community in Largo — a request that has reignited debate over the site’s history as a former construction and debris landfill.

    Neighbors and Pinellas County planners have repeatedly flagged the “brownfield’s” concerns, saying the 18-acre site at 13400 Pine Street could be contaminated. 

    What You Need To Know

    • A developer is seeking approval for a new apartment community in Largo — a request that has reignited debate over the site’s history as a former construction and debris landfill

    • Neighbors and Pinellas County planners have repeatedly flagged the “brownfield’s” concerns, saying the 18-acre site at 13400 Pine Street could be contaminated

    • A cancer survivor who has lived in the neighborhood for more than 50 years, Marva Perry said she’s worried about possible environmental risks

    • Hill Ward Henderson represents Green Energy for North America, LLC; Attorney Katie Cole shared the following statement with Spectrum News, saying in part: “There has been extensive testing on the site and no hazardous materials have been found.”


    Master gardener Marva Perry has spent over 30 years tending the flowers and produce in her yard.

    “I’m able to build a salad straight out of my yard,” she said.

    Perry said her garden played a key role in her journey through breast cancer.

    “It keeps you living because you need to be able to take care of it,” said Perry. “When you ask yourself where did God first put man, it was in the garden. That’s where you go to find peace.”

    But she said what could happen just blocks from her home is unsettling.

    “The brownfield is located less than 500 feet from the house,” said Perry. 

    The site, which was once used for construction and debris disposal, is now being considered for an 1,800-unit apartment community.

    “We would sit on the porch and see what they were doing over there,” Perry said. “We knew, everybody knew, but everybody did not understand the effect of what would happen when they start filling it in.”

    A cancer survivor who has lived in the neighborhood for more than 50 years, Perry said she’s worried about possible environmental risks. She and other residents attended and planned to raise those concerns during a Nov. 18 Pinellas County Commission meeting, but the public hearing was postponed.

    Largo residents sitting in at a Pinellas County Commission meeting voicing concerns about a site for a planned apartment complex. (Spectrum News/Fadia Patterson)

    “What concerns me the most is how (are) they going to clean it up? How deep are they going to go?” she added. 

    Green Energy for North America, LLC is represented by Hill Ward Henderson. Attorney Katie Cole shared the following statement with Spectrum News, saying in part:

    “Our client is proceeding with all due diligence as it relates to the suitability of development of the site and such diligence will not be completed for a few months. We are currently working to get the proper zoning in place to allow for the development of the property if and when the developer is comfortable that the property can be developed. Historically, the site was used for construction debris disposal and the diligence relates to investigations regarding the existing debris. There has been extensive testing on the site and no hazardous materials have been found. Our client will continue to test and conform to all applicable regulations and requirements to ensure a safe development.”

    If approved, this would be the second affordable housing project within blocks of Perry’s home.

    “It takes me sometimes five minutes to back out of my driveway,” she said.

    Perry said the new proposal does not match the character or capacity of the neighborhood.

    “We want our community to be safe. We want our community to have affordable housing. But there is a place for it, and two back-to-backs is just not the place for it,” she said.

    She said more housing should not come at the cost of public health or community stability.

    The next hearing is scheduled for Jan. 20.

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    Fadia Patterson

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  • Deadly shooting being investigated outside Clearwater sports bar

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    CLEARWATER, Fla. — Police in Clearwater released more information Monday about a deadly shooting that took place over the weekend outside of Fuzzy’s Sports Bar & Grill on South Highland Avenue.

    The incident happened just before 8 p.m. Sunday.

    Investigators say one person was found dead in the parking lot and multiple other victims were dropped off by a car at Morton Plant Hospital.

    The car then left the hospital.

    Jordan Javontay Walls, 24, was killed in the shooting, police said Monday.

    Teron Albert Dudley, 27, Jaheim Jabez Maxie, 23, Lamar Johnson, 23, and Antwone Jackquezz Holmes, 22, were all injured.

    “Detectives believe the suspects were two men dressed in dark clothing who then fled the scene,” police said in a release. “Detectives also reiterate they do not believe this was a random act.”

    Police are still investigating. Anyone with information is asked to call Clearwater Police at (727)-562-4242.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • South St. Pete redevelopment plans stall for Tangerine Plaza

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Residents who have been hoping for a grocery store in south St. Pete will have to wait a bit longer.

    The development group chosen last year to remake Tangerine Plaza plans to ask city council Thursday for a one-year extension and over $22 million in city and county funds to get the project off the ground.

    Last June, St. Pete City Council members narrowly voted in favor of the Sugar Hill Group’s plan to put more than 180 units of affordable housing and a small grocery store at the site of the current Tangerine Plaza. At the time, the group was told they had 18 months to secure funding and finalize those plans.

    Documents submitted from Sugar Hill Group to the city show they have not successfully located funding for the entirety of the project. The group plans to ask for more than $11 million in funds from both Pinellas County and the South St. Petersburg CRA to cover the length of the mortgage.

    If the city rejects the developers’ ask for a one-year extension, the current agreement will expire January 2.

    St. Pete City Council Member Corey Givens Jr., who represents the district where Tangerine Plaza is located, says he doesn’t plan to vote in favor of the extension.

    “It’s not fair to taxpayers to have to keep fronting the buck for this,” he said. “I think you have other folks that have proposals, and they have the financing in place, and it’s only fair to restart the RFP process and give everyone a fair shot.”

    Previously, Positive Impact Ministries was interested in redeveloping the plaza. For years, the group has held weekly food giveaways and outreach events at Tangerine Plaza. Their food pantry storage facility sits in one of the once-vacant storefronts.

    Givens says he wants change at the plaza and to stop the waiting game.

    “We just can’t keep kicking the can down the road. The folks that live there in that community, they’ve been without access to healthy and nutritious food since 2017,” he said. “I think it’s time to get a developer in there that actually has the financing in place to invest in that community.”

    Erica Hardison, who runs the One Community Grocery Co-Op, says access to fresh food is so limited in her south St. Pete neighborhood and that something needs to change.

    “You’re forced to ride a bus, catch an Uber, find rides… do all of these things to spend money outside your community,” she said.

    St. Pete City Council members are expected to make a decision Thursday on the extension.

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    Angie Angers

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