ReportWire

Tag: Pinellas County

  • Bay area food pantry rescued by local moving company

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — An undeniable truth is that moving is stressful.

    What You Need To Know

    • With food assistance programs from the government being cut back, local food pantries are stepping up to fill the gap, including Love Thy Neighbor, which is expanding this week to serve more people

    • Love Thy Neighbor went from serving 1,000 people a month to 2,000 recently. They found a new, larger location just four blocks away

    • The problem – they had no way of moving the large freezers and refrigerators. The owner was panicked over what to do. 

    • 2 College Brothers Moving and Storage offered to move them free of charge


    “We’ve packed up most of this stuff,” said Joanne Braccio, pointing to stacked boxes with food inside.

    She is the owner of Love Thy Neighbor FL food pantry and thrift in St. Petersburg.

    The nonprofit serves anyone in need, but following back-to-back hurricanes last year, rising food prices this year and now a government shutdown, she said her customers have been struggling.

    “We’ve gone from a thousand people a month to almost two thousand. And I’m starting to watch the news this morning, and I’m really starting to get scared,” said Braccio.

    To help the increased need, they decided to move four blocks away to a larger space. But they had no way of moving the large freezers and refrigerators used in the food pantry.

    She admits she was starting to panic until she got an unexpected call.

    “God bless you, sir,” she said as she hugged Wade Swikle. “Thank you so much, this means a lot to me. I’m a little emotional now, but thank you for doing this. We couldn’t have done this without you.”

    Swikle owns 2 College Brother Moving and Storage. He heard that Braccio was struggling and knew he had a solution to her dilemma.

    He offered to move the entire food pantry and thrift store for free.

    “At the end of the day, I mean, it just makes you feel good about doing business,” said Swikle. “We’re all in business to help people. At the end of the day, we’re here to solve problems.”

    For Braccio, his kindness moved her to tears.

    “To have people help me with this, to have people that believe in what we are doing, and for the actions to be happening it’s like, I’ve prayed for this for a long time,” she said with tears in her eyes.

    The new location is on 7110 5th Avenue N in St. Pete.

    Braccio said they will be open on Thursday in their new location with the same hours. She said this was important to make sure those in need didn’t have any delay in getting food and other necessary items.

    Erin Murray

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  • Tampa Bay businesses weigh health care costs amid government shutdown

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — With the government shutdown approaching the four-week mark, time is running out to extend enhanced health care tax credits before open enrollment begins for Affordable Care Act health plans on Nov. 1.

    What You Need To Know

    • Government shutdown has led to uncertain future costs in health care 

    • Rising rates could have a negative impact on consumers and small businesses 

    • Tax credits for health care expire on Nov. 1


    Jenny Miller, a proud business owner in St. Petersburg, runs The Body Electric Yoga Company. She has a large staff and more than a thousand clients. Health care costs are on her mind right now, and she said that if 2026 premiums go up, many of her employees would feel the impact.

    “It affects us a lot,” Miller said. “A good third of our staff uses marketplace Medicaid. We have single parents on staff, so everything that is increasing people’s cost of living hurts because, you know, rents have gone up and up.”

    Miller worries that more expensive health care could force some of her employees to move out of the Tampa Bay area.

    The uncertainty about future health care costs is also affecting organizations like the Family Health Foundation, which helps people find the best Affordable Care Act plans on the marketplace.

    “I have a lot of people that I’ve worked with since the beginning of the health insurance marketplace that I’m trying to schedule appointments for, for open enrollment. And they all are really even hesitant,” said Linette Lacey, consumer experience supervisor and senior navigator at the foundation.

    “I just tell people that we don’t have the prices for 2026 and give me a call back next week and I’ll try and, you know, hopefully we’ll have them,” Lacey said. “This is really unusual this year.”

    As for Miller, she — like so many others — is waiting for answers.

    “I think it’ll be a struggle to keep staff,” she said. “We want excellent people, you know, and they want to be here, but there’s only so much you can do.”

    As the government shutdown continues, Miller said she’s in a holding pattern. She hopes lawmakers can find a way to minimize any cost increases and that the resolution comes soon.

    Republican lawmakers like Florida Sen. Rick Scott argue this will be addressed when the shutdown ends, saying, “Premiums are going up whether it gets extended or not. Premiums are going up because health care costs are going up. Because Obamacare is a disaster.”

    Jeff Van Sant

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  • Hurricane-damaged home demolished in Indian Rocks Beach

    INDIAN ROCKS BEACH, Fla. — The owners of an Indian Rocks Beach home damaged during Hurricanes Helene and Milton recently made the decision to tear it down and start over.

    What You Need To Know

    • Homeowners Mary Frances and Chris Gorman say it was a bittersweet decision on how to move forward after the storms

    • Before demolition began, the Gormans took one final moment inside the house describing what it was like when Hurricane Helene hit
    • It was decided that tearing down and rebuilding the house was a better option than trying to repair it


    Homeowners Mary Frances and Chris Gorman say it was a bittersweet decision on how to move forward after the storms.

    “It’s hard, it’s definitely hard seeing it getting destroyed,” Chris Gorman said of their home of eight years being torn down. 

    “Honestly, I’m starting to tear up a little bit,” Mary Frances Gorman said.

    “There was a lot of memories in this house,” Chris said. “And it was a great house — and it was where we first brought our firstborn home. And we’ve just experienced a lot of great memories here.”

    Before demolition began, the Gormans took one final moment inside their home, and described what it was like when Hurricane Helene hit.

    “Pulling your 1-year-old out of her crib when the water is that close to getting in, I mean gives you a different perspective certainly,” said Mary Frances.

    It was that perspective that compelled the couple to move forward the way they are.

    “There’s so much damage, from the top to the bottom,” said Chris. “It definitely makes more sense to start anew.”

    “We are currently demolishing this house because it was more economical to raze this house to the ground, or to eliminate it, and build a new house back up at flood-plane level,” said Tommy Whitehead, president and CEO of TOMCO Solutions.

    “Building something that is going to be safety-wise where we know it needs to be,” said Mary Frances. “It’s not a question of if, it’s when the next storm comes, and what it’s going to be. And you want to make sure you do everything possible to withstand it.”

    Whitehead said the process of tearing down and rebuilding a home can be challenging.

    “There’s been quite a few challenges here,” he said. “Navigating FEMA, navigating SBA loans and lending, navigating permitting and then the homeowners have to do a lot of research because this is a major financial impact to them and their family.”

    Even a year later, families like the Gormans are still feeling the impact of the storms in a variety of ways.

    “There’s the pre-storm, and then there’s post-storm, and I want to get beyond and start enjoying and living again, because we just haven’t been,” Mary Frances said. 

    Melissa Eichman

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  • St. Pete Gets Taller: How the city’s skyline grew in last decade

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — As recently as 2018, the tallest building in St. Petersburg stood 386 feet tall. It was Priatek Plaza, a 28-story skyscraper that opened in 1990 on Central Avenue.

    What You Need To Know

    • In just seven years, four new buildings in St. Pete have eclipsed what was once the city’s tallest building  

    • The tallest building in St. Pete now soars more than 500 feet tall 

    • There are plans for a building that stands even taller than the current tallest building (400 Central)  

    • City leaders say the downtown area is evolving in a way that involves not only “expansion” but also “innovation” 


    But in the seven years since, four new buildings in downtown St. Petersburg have eclipsed Priatek Plaza in height:

    The four new condo towers have transformed the St. Petersburg skyline, a change city leaders sought.

    In response to an inquiry from Bay News 9, a city spokesperson said the city was “dedicated to driving inclusive economic development that enhances the quality of life for all residents.” The spokesperson suggested the “city’s downtown is evolving in ways that demand not just expansion, but innovation.”

    That innovation includes building housing upward instead of just outward. With limited land options for housing development, the four new high-rise towers offer new places to live-and-work in the city.

    “We’ve seen the tallest building in St. Pete go from 380 feet to now close to 515 feet, and that ceiling will continue to increase as new buildings are completed,” said Anthony Close, founder of St. Pete Rising, a website that chronicles growth and development in St. Petersburg.

    This year, a development firm announced plans to build the Waldorf Astoria residences in St. Pete, with the intention of making it the tallest building in the city.

    These new buildings, though, offer luxury condos with a high-rise view. They do not solve the issue of affordable housing, which remains a need in Pinellas County.

    The Shimberg Center for Housing Studies at the University of Florida just released its 2025 Rental Market study.

    It shows 29 percent of all renters in Pinellas County are low-income, cost-burdened renters. That means those renters are at or below 60 percent of the area’s median income level (low-income) but also spending 40 percent of their income on rent including utility bills (cost-burdened).

    A spokesperson for the city of St. Petersburg noted that, in addition to the new condo towers, the city brought 281 affordable units online in 2024. During Mayor Ken Welch’s term, the spokesperson said the city brought 855 affordable and workforce housing units online.

    Jeff Butera

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  • Neighbors concerned about first responders in ongoing Pinellas road closure

    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Residents in a Pinellas County neighborhood are concerned about an ongoing road closure they say makes it hard for first responders to get through.

    What You Need To Know

    • Whitney Road has been closed at Wolford Road for nearly a year in unincorporated Pinellas

    • Neighbors have some concerns about firefighters responding to emergencies from a nearby fire station

    • The project is for roadway, drainage, sidewalk and safety improvements, currently set to be done next fall

    The project is on Whitney Road at Wolford Road in unincorporated Pinellas. Whitney Road closed late last year to through traffic for an improvement project.

    Neighbor Perry Goosie says he has had to take the detour every time he leaves home.

    “It’s usually 13-20 minutes around the closure,” Goosie said.

    Since the project started in December, he has had an ongoing worry.

    “My concern is for the people in my neighborhood. I’m 76 years old and everyone over there is older. If something happens, if there is an emergency, it takes an extra 13 to 20 minutes, to get around this closure,” Goosie said.

    Largo Fire Station 40 is right at the start of the closure. Firefighters have told Goosie that the roadblock does send them out of their way.

    “If your house is on fire, that’s extra time that your house is burning. How much worse can it get?” Goosie said.

    Nearly a year later, he feels enough work has been done that part of the road could now be opened.

    Pinellas County officials say the project is for roadway, drainage, sidewalk and safety improvements, currently set to be done next fall.

    “I know this needed to be done. But it’s just aggravating when it takes so long,” Goosie said.

    So he’s hoping the county considers opening at least part of the road before a potential emergency.

    “At least at the minimum, make it so that the fire department can get through for emergency services without a problem,” Goosie said.

    Pinellas County officials didn’t say if the road would reopen soon. But they say that emergency services are continuously notified of closures.

    For more information on closures and the project, visit the Pinellas County website.

    Tim Wronka

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  • Clearwater nonprofit helps houseless get resources

    CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Florida Department of Health estimates this year that nearly 30,000 people are houseless in Florida.

    That number has slightly decreased from last year.

    What You Need To Know

    • Hydrate the Homeless helps the houseless with food and water



    • It serves meals at The Refuge in Clearwater on Tuesdays and Fridays



    • The nonprofit started with two neighbors and a wish to help



    • According to the 2025 Point in Time Count, more than 1,800 people are houseless in Pinellas County




    The Pinellas County Point in Time Count has shown a similar trend.

    Hydrate the Homeless, a nonprofit, is helping to make sure people in need are cared for.

    “It’s always a struggle trying to figure out how many people we’re going to have coming,” said Carla Mogan, president and founder of Hydrate the Homeless.

    The effort began three years ago when Mogan and her neighbor, Mel Swartout, were looking for a way to give back. They started by walking around Largo Central Park, where they found people in need. 

    “I took out my cooler and I started yelling, ‘Lemonade, ice cold lemonade!’ And they all started coming over,” Mogan said.

    Years later, the nonprofit is serving warm meals and distributing clothes and hygiene products with the help of about 15 volunteers.

    “I love it. It’s as much for me as it is for them,” Mogan said. “I’m not going to lie. I get a lot out of it.”

    And the need in Pinellas County is there. According to the 2025 Point in Time Count, which tracks the number of people experiencing homelessness, more than 1,800 people are houseless. That’s the lowest for the county since the count began, but Mogan thinks that total is miscalculated.

    “Now I know for a fact we didn’t count all of them, because I know where some of them where that didn’t get counted. So I think you could almost double that number,” she said.

    With three different outreach events every week, Mogan said they serve more than 200 people.

    Janet Muharay was houseless for two years and is now giving back to the nonprofit that helped her. 

    “A lot of them want that chance to take a shower, to get food, clothing. We need to have more places like this for that, because I was there, I know what it felt like,” Muhary said.

    Mogan said she wants to see Hydrate the Homeless continue to grow and expand to every city in the county.

    “It’s nice to be able to come together and just have time when we’re just people and people enjoying each other’s company,” Mogan said.

    Hydrate the Homeless has three different outreach events every week.

    They serve meals at The Refuge in Clearwater on Tuesdays and Fridays.

    On Wednesdays, they make and deliver sandwiches for distribution at the Crossroads Church in Largo.

    Tyler O’Neill

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  • USF studies environmental impact of pollutants like pharmaceuticals in Tampa Bay

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — University of South Florida scientists are studying how contaminants like flushed or thrown away pharmaceuticals impact Tampa Bay, hoping to mitigate future environmental damage.

    What You Need To Know

    • USF is studying pollution from contaminants like pharmaceuticals

    • Previous research has detected PFAS, known as forever chemincals, and medications in Tampa Bay

    • Research aims to understand sources and distribution of these chemicals

    • The five-year study will come to end in 2028, but researchers are hoping to extend the project


    As part of the Tampa Bay Surveillance Project, USF scientists placed 17 racks around Tampa Bay for barnacles to grow on.

    “We’re interested in what contaminants they may be actually filtering out and contained within their bodies,” said Steve Murawski, professor at USF’s College of Marine Science.

    Murawski said previous research has detected PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, in the bay. He said research has also shown the presence of anti-depressants, heart medicine, illicit drugs and other pharmaceuticals.

    “The majority of them are passing through people first before they actually get in the bay. So, the fact that we can detect them in concentration is very impressive and what that basically says is it’s primarily coming from the wastewater treatment system,” Murawski said.

    The Tampa Bay Surveillance Project aims to characterize the distribution of what’s called contaminants of emerging and known concern.

    “We’re trying to understand what the sources are of these chemicals that are entering the environment and also how they might spread out,” he said.

    Because these pollutants impact more than just the environment.

    “Many of these chemicals can mimic estrogen, for example. So, they potentially can disrupt reproductive facilities, not only in the fishes, but in people as well and so that’s why it’s quiet problematic,” Murawski said.

    The concept for the research began years ago when USF was studying the impacts of the Deep Horizon oil spill. When that projected ended Murawski said the Tampa Bay Surveillance Project was the next logical step.

    The five-year study will come to end in 2028, but researchers are hoping to extend the project to answer more questions about the bay.

    Tyler O’Neill

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  • St. Petersburg police target e-bike misuse after 3 fatal crashes

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — This week the St. Petersburg Police Department conducted a special operation targeting e-bike misuse.

    The crackdown comes after three fatal accidents this month, where the e-bike riders were allegedly at fault.

    What You Need To Know

    • St. Petersburg Police issued 161 tickets to electronic mobility device users over three days this week

    • The targeted enforcement operation was in response to three fatal e-bike accidents this month

    • Officers were looking for people riding down the wrong side of the road, running stop signs or red lights, and lane splitting 


    “We’re out here trying to do the enforcement to try to curb that problem,” said Sgt. Michael Schade. “The biggest problem we’re seeing is just that the bicycles and the scooter operators are not following the basic rules of the road.”

    The targeted enforcement was conducted from Wednesday through Friday with officers looking out for riders on e-bikes, e-scooters, and uni-wheels. The violations officers said they saw were people riding down the wrong side of the road, running stop signs or red lights, and lane splitting.

    “The scooters can’t ride tandem,” Schade said. “The uni-wheels can’t be on the road at all, road or sidewalk.”

    Schade said officers issued 68 citations on Wednesday, 24 on Thursday and 69 on Friday.

    The enforcement on Thursday night involved a large group of e-riders who completely take over the road when they go from North Shore Park to Beach Drive in downtown St. Petersburg. Due to complaints, police said the group, which rides on a regular basis, was stopped and warned over the summer about restrictions on the various mobility devices.

    On Friday, Spectrum News went on a ride-a-long with Schade, who quickly spotted a man who allegedly ran a red light on a bicycle. He stopped the man and explained the problem.

    “You went through the red light, OK?” Schade said. “So, we’re out here doing bike enforcement because we’ve had several fatalities related to bicycles.”

    The rider, Patrick Jarrell, was issued a $64 ticket. Jarrell said he understood why he was stopped.

    “They’re doing their job. There’s a lot of accidents out here,” he said. “So I’m glad they’re doing it. Unfortunately, I’m not loving this, but it is what it is.”

    Another rider on an e-scooter, who allegedly ran a stop sign at the Pier, did not stop when ordered by Schade. The man fled on his scooter until Schade caught up with him near the Vinoy. The man was arrested on charges including fleeing and eluding, DUI, possession of marijuana and no driver’s license.

    Schade said any scooter motor that’s stronger than 750 watts is considered a motor vehicle. He said the e-scooter the man was riding has 5,600 watts.

    “It’s capable of doing over 50 miles an hour,” he said. “So, this is actually classified as a motorcycle.”

    The problem is being seen all over the city, police say. In the Harbor Isle neighborhood, resident Geoff Davis said he and his neighbors have been having problems with kids on e-bikes riding in backyards and cutting in between homes.

    “They literally trespass on everybody’s property,” he said. “These are dirt bikes that are very high horsepower, very high powered, and they’re very fast.”

    Davis said the kids also race their e-bikes on 16th Street N.E., because it’s a long straight road.

    “It goes all the way down there like a big drag strip,” he said. “This is where we routinely see donuts, tire marks, drag racing kids on these e-bikes, doing wheelies up and down the street. This is where they play.”

    Schade said officers have been seeing people from all ages riding recklessly on electronic mobility devices — from 12 years old to 60. He said the three fatal accidents all involved adults.

    Davis said he’s thrilled the police conducted a special operation on e-rider who break the rules, especially the kids.

    “The issue is the sheer number of them and the fact that they’re not regulated,” he said. “The parents do not understand what they’re doing. They’re contributing to something that can get these children injured or killed.” 

    Josh Rojas

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  • New bill aims to eliminate tariffs on coffee

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — If your cup of coffee costs more than usual this morning, some U.S. House Representatives are trying to change that. 

    Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have introduced a bill to remove tariffs on coffee imports. 

    What You Need To Know

    • U.S. House Representatives have introduced a bill to remove tariffs on coffee

    • One of the owners of Gypsy Souls Coffeehouse said tariffs have increased their cost of goods 

    • The coffeehouse said it had a stockpile of beans, but with the supply running out, it had to raise prices

    • The White House has said the president imposed tariffs to strengthen the U.S. economy and to protect American workers


    Gypsy Souls Coffeehouse is known for its sandwiches and of course, its coffee.

    “We have people coming from all over to get our coffee,” Dena Gasic, co-owner of Gypsy Souls Roasters, said.

    The family-owned coffeehouse has been open in St. Petersburg for seven years. Gasic does all the cooking.

    “I’ve been cooking all my life,” she said.

    While the sandwiches are homemade, their coffee is imported. According to the National Coffee Association, more than 99% of America’s coffee is imported because there are only a few places in the country where coffee beans can grow. 

    “Columbia, Brazil, Indonesia, we use Kenya, the Malabar — we have a lot of customers that are using that. They have their own espresso machines,” Gasic said.

    Gasic said their coffee brokers had to increase prices because of tariffs. 

    “If we didn’t have the tariffs in place, we would have been able to buy 800 more pounds of coffee,” she said. “That’s a lot of coffee.”

    Because of the increases, Gasic said they aren’t buying as large of a selection of beans because she said it’s gotten too expensive. 

    “The cost of the goods is impacting our ability to do business and to stay in business,” Gasic said.

    The coffeehouse had bought a stockpile of beans while they could, but with the supply running out, they said they had no other choice but to raise their wholesale and retail prices. 

    “We talked about it and talked about it, and then finally we said we can’t do this anymore,” she said.

    Bipartisan U.S. House Representatives introduced the “No Coffee Tax Act” to remove tariffs on coffee imported from countries the U.S. has normal trade relations with. 

    Gasic said that if that became law, they would roll back their recent increases. 

    “So, our customers would pay less than they’re paying, we would pay less, hopefully, when we bought the green coffee, and then that would help all of us,” she said.

    Gasic is hoping those changes get brewed up.

    President Donald Trump has said that foreign trade and economic practices have created a national emergency. The White House has said the president imposed tariffs to strengthen the U.S. economy and to protect American workers.

    Tyler O’Neill

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  • SNAP benefits may stop for millions, if government shutdown continues in Nov.

    Pinellas County, Fla. — The ongoing government shutdown may soon have a direct impact on 42 million people, including 2.8 million Floridians, receiving benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP. 

    Starting November 1, SNAP recipients may experience delays in receiving money to purchase groceries due to federal funds running out at the end of October.

    What You Need To Know

    • The ongoing government shutdown may soon have a direct impact on 42 million people, including 2.8 million Floridians, receiving benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP

    • Starting November 1, SNAP recipients may experience delays in receiving money to purchase groceries due to federal funds running out at the end of October

    • Access Center and Healing Tampa Bay


    “SNAP benefits for the month of November will not be issued until federal funding is restored.

    You may receive notices about your eligible benefit amount, but you will not receive any benefits deposited to your EBT card during this time” according to an “Important Message for Florida SNAP recipients” posted on the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) website.

    Serving Pinellas and Pasco counties, the Access Center and Healing Tampa Bay helps hundreds of Tampa Bay area residents every month with SNAP recertifications and initial enrollments, along with Medicaid, cell phones and many other federal benefits.

    “For the next several days, tens of thousands of members of our community are really waiting to see what happens; if they’re going to have any food, or how they’re going to fill in that gap, and that creates unbelievable levels of anxiety, stress, fear,” said Healing Tampa Bay president and founder Chris Keto.

    “Last year alone, we injected about $12 million dollars of SNAP benefits in Pinellas County, and that’s your lifeline. The average SNAP benefit we’re doing is around $ 150 to $200 per individual and they’re on incomes that are sometimes less than $1,000. So, this is a main source of someone sustaining themselves, functioning and giving hope. We have countless people that come in and we’re very blessed to be able to help out,” Keto continued.

    The steady flow of residents seeking help at the non-profit’s Pinellas County office included John Sirois, a senior citizen recently diagnosed as legally blind.

    “My hours were drastically reduced at my place of employment, and, right now, I’m in quite a situation needing some extra help in every way possible, especially EBT and utilities,” said Sirois who fears the devastating consequences of losing food assistance.

    “A friend of mine was stricken with ALS, as an example, and everything fell apart. Another person I know suffers from dementia and lost their legs. These are situations that came out of nowhere and could happen to anyone,” Sirois continued.

    DCF administers Florida’s SNAP benefits, but the program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a federal agency affected by the government shutdown.

    Healing Tampa Bay and DCF stress that their organizations are still processing and accepting SNAP applications this month.

    Keto underscored the critical importance of filling in the gap and being able to have a bridge to efficiently get people the proper benefits to help them survive.

    “One of my favorite success stories came from our partnership with the Largo Police Department. They brought an individual to us who had recently been released from jail and was on probation. We got them a cell phone, food stamps, and health insurance. They were able to go on an interview, get a job, and then they became a manager at a local restaurant in the area. This demonstrates the impact and why these benefits are necessary to get people back into community and thriving.”

    Erica Riggins

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  • Greek Orthodox Church breaks records with number of new young male members

    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — The Greek Orthodox Church is known for its traditions and rich history dating back to the apostles. It’s not the kind of thing leaders in the church have known to be a huge draw for the younger generation who didn’t grow up in the church, but lately it has been.

    Is it the gold-plated dome, the beauty inside covering the walls or the traditions that are bringing young people like David Guerrero to the Greek Orthodox church?


    In his case, not quite.

    “The YouTube algorithm started sending me all of these Orthodox videos. So, I just kept learning and learning, and I came to the conclusion that this is God’s church, and I stepped foot in this church Aug. 18 of last year on my birthday and I never left since,” Guerrero said.

    That’s what brought him to The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Clearwater, but what he felt when he got there is what keeps him coming back.

    “Videos can only take you so far. It’s something you have to experience with all your five senses. The touch, the feel, what you see around you. It is truly something that is not of this world,” he said.

    Guerrero is a 29-year-old military veteran. He’s one of dozens of young men who have joined the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church this year.

    “I think they want reality. I don’t think they want bells and whistles anymore,” said Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church priest Father Jim Paris. “You get so much of that on TV.”

    Father Paris said new membership went from four to five new members a year, to 30 to 35 this year alone. And he said almost all of those new members have something in common.

    “We’re finding a lot of young people coming. That’s very impressive, and a lot of young men, which it’s usually the women in faith. I’m not putting the men down. I’m admiring the women for that, but now the men are coming. And young men at that. Young men from the military,” he said.

    The increase in membership is happening in Greek Orthodox churches all over the Bay area according to Father Paris. A Pew Research poll shows a slight increase for men in Greek Orthodox men and even more with evangelical Christians.

    No matter the denomination, experts like St. Leo Theology professor Randall Woodard say the trends are surprising.

    “In the United States, the fastest growing faith for the last little while has been the nones. Like none. People that would click I have no official tradition or affiliation. It would just be like none of the above,” Woodard said.

    Woodard said the details, discipline and order of the Orthodox Church may be a draw for younger men and military veterans, but he says trends show it’s more than that. It usually leads back to someone’s political ideologies mirroring a particular faith.

    “A lot of times we’re all guilty of that,” he said. “It’s, I want to find a group that’s going to reinforce my already existing ideas and of course I want to seek that community and I want to seek somebody who’s gonna push me and ask me to grow as a human being.”

    He says social media algorithms and influencers also play a critical role.

    “A lot of those influencers, they have this underlying framework where they’re pushing young men to start to really step things up. Take personal responsibility, don’t be a victim, don’t blame your problems on someone else. You are the future of this country, your family, church and marriage,” he said.

    Woodard believes overall, an increase of young men coming to a place of worship is a good thing. Something Guerrero agrees with.

    “At the very least, it can put something in your soul, in your spirit, that can be a positive influence in your life,” Guerrero said.

    Saundra Weathers

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  • Palladium Theater awarded $2.5M from Pinellas bed tax fund

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Palladium Theater was recently awarded $2.5 million from Pinellas County’s tourist development tax fund, when the capital project request was unanimously approved by commissioners, allowing the St. Petersburg venue to move forward with major renovations.

    “That was the last money we needed to really start this project,” said Paul Wilborn, Palladium Theater executive director. “So it’s very exciting.” 

    What You Need To Know

    • Palladium Theater awarded $2.5M from Pinellas bed tax fund on Oct. 7

    • The capital project request was unanimously approved by Pinellas commissioners 

    • The Palladium has raised $10.8 million to begin renovations next year  

    • All 815 seats will be replaced, sightlines will improve and a new acoustic ceiling will be installed


    Wilborn said money granted from Pinellas County on Oct. 7, combined with grants from the State of Florida, the city of St. Petersburg and private donations, total $10.8 million for the renovation project, which is expected to begin in late summer next year.

    “We’ve raised over $7 million, almost $8 million, in private donations. So we’ve got more still to come,” he said. “I think it just shows that we’ve stayed with our mission of being this community-focused venue that really works with local people in our community. And that’s paid off for us.”

    The renovations include completely replacing all 815 seats, which will have a new configuration to improve sightlines, re-raking the balcony and removing the plaster ceiling for better acoustics.

    “We’re dropping in an acoustic ceiling,” said Wilborn. “There’s 12 feet of attic above the current ceiling, and that’s going to let sound rise up in there and have some curtains that we’re able to drop when we’re doing amplified music.”

    Due to rising costs, Wilborn said they had to remove a few items from the renovation list, which include an orchestra shell and raising the performance stage. He hopes to raise more money in the future to complete those projects.

    “We still think there’s going to be things we want to do additionally,” said Wilborn. “So we’ve got more still to come.”

    The Palladium was built in 1925 as a Christian Science church and is on the Register of Historic Places. Since 2007, the theater has been owned and operated by St. Petersburg College.

    Wilborn said he expects the renovations to begin next August and the Palladium will go dark for about one year until the work is complete.

    “We very likely will close the whole theater for eight to 12 months,” he said. “We might do some satellite projects. We’re still debating that.”

    Josh Rojas

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  • Madeira Beach buys waterfront property for $18M

    MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. — Madeira Beach has agreed to purchase 4.6 acres of vacant waterfront property located at the city’s entrance off the Tom Stuart Causeway for $18 million and will close the sale on Wednesday. 

    “It’s a really good deal,” said Mayor Anne-Marie Brooks. “We purchased the land for a considerable amount of money less than what it appraised at.”

    What You Need To Know

    • Madeira Beach has agreed to purchase 4.6 acres of waterfront property for $18 million

    • The land located at 555 150th Ave. was appraised for $21 million and $27.5 million

    • The mayor wants community input on how to develop the land 

    • Commissioners unanimously approved the sale at their Oct. 1 meeting


    The land located at 555 150th Ave. was appraised for $21 million and $27.5 million, far above the agreed upon sale price of $18 million. The city maintains a cash reserve of more than $37 million and will use that money to purchase the land, according to Finance Director Andrew Laflin.

    “What I would recommend is that we… go through a reimbursement resolution, at the next regular meeting. Which would be in November,” he said. “That would preserve the city’s ability to engage in a tax exempt finance.”  

    Laflin said a tax exempt finance would give the city the ability to pay itself back in the future for the purchase price with a lower debt service cost and interest rate. Brooks said expanding the city’s marina and adding boat slips could also help offset the cost.

    “So there is a possibility of extending the marina to be a cost making, revenue generating establishment which would be great for the city long term,” she said. “The possibilities are endless.”

    Other ideas floated for the vacant land include a public works facility and a waterfront park. Brooks said the city will use input from residents to decide how to develop the property.

    “We don’t know what we’re going to do with it yet because we have a community that needs to be a part of that decision,” she said. “The idea when we purchased the property was that we would use it for recreational green space in some fashion, but we’ll wait and see what the community wants.”

    Madeira Beach city commissioners unanimously approved buying the land at their Oct. 1 meeting. Commissioner Eddie McGeehen called it “a great investment for the city.” Vice Mayor Ray Kerr said, “This piece of property is an opportunity that will only come by us once.”

    Commissioner David Tagliarini said it was a chance for the city to control the appearance of its main entrance.

    “I like the idea that we’re in control of what people see first when they come over the Tom Stuart Causeway for a change,” he said. “We get to decide what it looks like and I think that’s very positive.”

    Brooks said several years ago developers wanted to build a hotel, condos and townhomes on the property. She said the city buying the land was a decision that just made sense.

    “This may not be the time that many people thought we should do it because we’re coming off the heels of two hurricanes,” she said. “But sometimes you don’t get to choose the time to make the purchase. You have to make the purchase when it’s afforded to you.”

    Brooks called it a strategic investment she hopes residents and visitors will enjoy for generations to come. The city will hold public workshops over the coming months to develop a plan for the waterfront property.

    Josh Rojas

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  • David Fischer, 3-term St. Pete mayor, dies at 92

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — David Fischer, who served as St. Petersburg’s mayor from 1991 to 2001, died Wednesday, city officials confirmed.

    He was 92 years old.

    “Mayor Fischer was a dedicated public servant who left lasting impacts on the City of St. Petersburg,” said Mayor Kenneth T. Welch. “I join the rest of our community in celebrating his legacy and contributions that helped make our City what it is today – from the Rays’ first pitch in St. Pete to redefining the role as Mayor.”

    Fischer won three terms as mayor before term limits were put in place. He also served on St. Pete’s City Council.

    “He believed in listening, building relationships, and doing the quiet, steady work that moves a community forward. His work and leadership will forever be a staple in our City’s history and we are all better for it,” Welch said.

    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Pinellas County teacher fosters kindness in her classroom

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Jessica LoGrande, who has been a teacher in Pinellas County for 11 years, says she was in school herself when she decided she wanted to be a teacher.

    “I always kept notes of what I liked of teachers and what I didn’t like and tried to embody that in my teaching,” she said.

    LoGrande, who currently teaches second grade, has been at Woodlawn Elementary School for nine years, and said she enjoys building lasting connections with her students.

    “I spend a lot of time in the first few weeks of school really building the classroom community and trying to uplift everyone, and make sure that everyone is positive and kind,” she said.

    “We do a lot of lunches together, we have conversations outside of academic times about our lives,” she said. “I share about myself, they share about themselves. We really get to know each other on a deeper level and it kind of bonds us forever.”

    LoGrande said the motto in her classroom is: “Be kind to yourself, be kind to others.” She said she hopes her students will carry that with them when they leave her class.

    “I hope that they continue to be kind humans and to spread kindness throughout the world,” LoGrande said.

    Would you like to nominate an A+ Teacher? Click here.

    Jorja Roman

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  • Pinellas County Schools considers piloting weapon detections system

    LARGO, Fla. — Weapon detection systems are being used in all sorts of venues now, and Pinellas County Schools could be next.

    On Tuesday, school board members discussed launching a pilot program to see how a weapon detection system may help improve security within the district.

    What You Need To Know

    • School board members discussed launching a pilot program to see how a weapon detection system may help improve security

    • If it moves forward, the district would select two schools to put the weapon detection devices at, then see how it goes

    • Superintendent Kevin Hendrick says funding would come from capital funds and would be covered by grants


    Within the next month or so, the district will decide on whether to proceed with the pilot program. If it moves forward, the district would select two schools to put the weapon detection devices at, then see how it goes.

    Pinellas County School Board members heard from the district’s chief operations officer and the director of safety and security, Sean Jowell, presenting their plans for a weapons detection pilot program.

    “Technology that allows to alert our staff that someone may potentially have a weapon on their person before entering into one of our campuses across the district,” said Jowell.

    Jowell said he visited Sarasota and Manatee County schools where similar weapons detection systems are already being used. While he didn’t say if this is exactly how they would look in Pinellas, Jowell did say the program runs very smoothly in those districts.

    “To see that it was not intrusive, it allowed students to get to their classes for first bell, and still alert to certain objects that may or may not be a dangerous weapon coming onto campus gave us a greater sense that this technology may be a beneficial layer to our current security protocols, or it may not,” he said.

    Board member Lisa Cane did question why now. “In past years, it was actually recommended not to do this, so you can let everyone know what has changed? What is the primary reason for the change that it is now a recommendation, and what do we think we’ll gain as a district because of this?” she asked.

    Jowell said advances in technology have calmed previous concerns — such as using artificial intelligence to determine exactly which area on a person something is detected. Ultimately, he said this is all about adding an extra layer of protection.

    “The schools are not ever going to look or feel like a prison, but we want to do as much as we can to ensure that they are going to school and coming home every afternoon,” said Jowell.

    If the district moves forward with the pilot program, two schools would be selected to test them out, and the systems would be placed in March. Superintendent Kevin Hendrick said funding would come from capital funds and would be covered by grants.

    Fallon Silcox

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  • School bus turned ‘Innovation Lab’ visits Pinellas County middle schoolers

    DUNEDIN, Fla. — It’s a decommissioned school bus turned mobile science lab, and it will be traveling to middle schools all over Pinellas County.

    Pinellas County Schools designed the “Innovation Lab” to give all seventh-graders an opportunity to do hands-on STEM activities outside the classroom. It’s all part of the district’s push to improve the middle school experience.

    What You Need To Know

    • Pinellas County Schools turned a decommissioned school bus into a mobile science lab called the “Innovation Lab”

    • The bus will travel to all Pinellas County middle schools, giving students an opportunity to do hands-on STEM activities 

    • The Innovation Lab is part of the district’s push to improve the middle school experience


    The Innovation Lab school bus looks a lot different than it used to after employees from 11 different departments worked on renovating it, turning it into a state-of-the-art mobile laboratory, bringing hands-on activities to students.

    “They’re going to use robots, they’re going to do 3D printing. They get to experience thermoplastics and different dynamics with heat,” said Stephanie Hornick, the middle school science specialist.

    “It really gives them a chance for that lab experience, and hands-on experience that they don’t always get in class.”

    She said as the name implies, Pinellas County Schools is focused on providing innovative ways for students, specifically middle school students, to learn.

    “Mr. Hendrick really challenged us to rethink middle school in Pinellas County and what we’re doing for middle school students to be more innovative and give them opportunities to really think outside of the classroom, and that’s where this was born from,” said Hornick.

    The Innovation Lab will visit every middle school in the county, reaching more than 5,200 seventh graders. (Spectrum Bay News 9/Fallon Silcox)

    At the Innovation Lab, students do things like building obstacle courses, then programming robots to successfully move through them. Inside the bus, students move through three stations.

    Liam Ray, a seventh-grader at Dunedin Highland Middle School, said he would take a day on the innovation lab over sitting in science class anytime.

    “Science classroom is mainly taking notes, while this, you get to do a lot of fun things and learn a lot of new stuff,” he said.

    Which Hornick said is the goal.

    “Middle school is a tough age, it’s a tough group, and they don’t always love school as much in middle school,” she said. “So, we wanted to find what’s going to get them to want to come to school, what’s going to get them excited about school, and for me, what’s going to get them excited about science.”

    She hopes that eventually, that excitement leads these students to successful STEM careers. 

    The Innovation Lab will visit every middle school in the county, reaching more than 5,200 seventh graders. The district also has special science and STEM programs for sixth and eighth grade.

    A grant provided the funding for the Innovation Lab.

    Fallon Silcox

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  • Clearwater parent concerned for son’s safety as drivers don’t stop for bus

    CLEARWATER, Fla. — A Clearwater father is worried for the safety of his son because drivers on a busy road aren’t stopping for the bus.

    What You Need To Know

    • A Clearwater parent says many drivers don’t stop for the bus at his son’s bus stop on Gulf to Bay Boulevard

    • According to state law, drivers on both sides of Gulf to Bay Boulevard should stop because there is no physical barrier between the two directions

    • Clearwater PD is patrolling the area

    • Do you have a Traffic Inbox suggestion? Click here


    Jonathan Sharp walks his son Oliver to a bus stop on Gulf to Bay Boulevard and Thornton Road each morning, near the Courtney Campbell Causeway.

    “On the walk to the bus stop, it’s pretty peaceful,” Oliver said. “But then when we get on the sidewalk, it pretty much makes me feel unsafe.”

    Cars zip just feet away on Gulf to Bay as Oliver and his dad wait for the bus.  

    But it’s what happens when the bus arrives that has Sharp very concerned: Drivers not stopping for the bus.


    “We watch cars every day. I’ve had to scream and yell at traffic and wave my arms and flail around to try and get traffic to recognize that they have to stop in both directions,” Sharp said.

    He says sometimes even drivers on the same side of the road don’t see the bus.

    “People won’t care. They’ll come out and it’s almost like they’re confused. They’ll slow down for the bus or just drive right by. Other people are going way over 45 MPH,” Sharp said.

    According to state law, drivers on both sides of Gulf to Bay Boulevard should stop because there is no physical barrier between the two directions.

    Clearwater Police Department officials say they have targeted this area several times since school started with patrols and will continue to do so.

    (Courtesy of FLHSMV)

    Sharp is grateful for that — but he wants to remind drivers to always watch out for buses and students.

    “It’s not up to them to post officers here every day. It’s up to the residents to go ahead and follow the state law,” Sharp said.

    Police also say they are working with the city and school system on making this location safer, including possibly moving the bus stop. Pinellas County Schools said they would have someone from their safety team at the stop this week.

    Tim Wronka

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  • Pinellas People First Hurricane Recovery Program opens Monday

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

    What You Need To Know

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jason Lanning

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  • Experts, lawmakers debate the lack of A/C in most Florida prisons

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A former Tampa Bay lawmaker calls it a “moral collapse” that a majority of Florida prisons do not have air conditioning. 

    While federal prisons are required to have air conditioning, state prisons are not. A 2023 report suggested about 75% of the facilities in Florida do not cool the air.

    What You Need To Know

    • A 2023 report found that around 75% of Florida prisons don’t have air conditioning  

    • Officials say it would cost around $582 million to install A/C at all state prisons
       
    • Some consider not having air conditioning at prisons to be cruel and unusual punishment, a violation of the Eighth Amendment 

    • Others think the money should be used on continuing education and job training for inmates 


    “That isn’t just logistics,” said former State Sen. Jeff Brandes, a Republican who represented Tampa Bay in the Florida Legislature from 2010 to 2022. “That’s morally saying, ‘We’re doing something wrong.’”

    The Florida Department of Management Services commissioned KPMG in 2022 to develop a 20-year master plan for the Florida Department of Corrections. The plan, released in 2023, found that more than a third of state prisons were in “critical” or “poor” condition, and work for “immediate needs” — basic life, health and safety modifications needed to make Florida prisons inhabitable — would cost $2.2 billion.

    According to the plan, adding air conditioning to Florida prisons that currently lack HVAC systems would cost $582 million.

    Brandes suggested that all state lawmakers should tour prisons to understand what inmates are dealing with. He said his experience touring facilities — he described the heat by saying it  “felt like 105 (degrees)” — convinced him the money should be spent to outfit facilities with air conditioning.

    “Going to prison is supposed to be the deterrent,” said Brandes, who is currently the president of the Florida Policy Project. “That is the punishment. You are in prison. Prison is not supposed to be additional punishment while you’re there.”

    State Sen. Jonathan Martin (R-Fort Myers) said he disagrees with Brandes. He has argued the $582 million would be better spent on job training and continuing education for inmates, saying they have told him that’s what they prefer.

    “There’s a finite amount of resources,” Martin said. “Could we do more if we moved these resources somewhere else?”

    Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith (D-Orlando) argued that not having air conditioning during Florida’s hot summers is a violation of the Constitution’s Eighth Amendment, which outlaws cruel-and-usual punishment.

    “It’s not meant to be a luxury hotel. We all get that,” he said. “But the punishment is time away from their families and society and their loved ones. The punishment is not cruel and inhumane conditions.”

    Martin, though, pointed to Florida statute 921.002 (“The Criminal Punishment Code”) which specifically states: “The primary purpose of sentencing is to punish the offender. Rehabilitation is a desired goal of the criminal justice system but is subordinate to the goal of punishment.”

    He went on to argue that the Eighth Amendment was ratified in 1791, before modern air conditioning existed.

    “To say somehow that not having air conditioning is a violation of your constitutional rights flies in the face of everybody over the age of 30 in the state of Florida who rode a school bus to school without air conditioning,” Martin said.

    Attorneys representing the state during a lawsuit over hot conditions at a prison in Miami-Dade County recently argued “the lack of air conditioning does not pose a substantial risk of serious harm.” They contended that, to violate the Eighth Amendment, conditions must be “objectively extreme enough to deny an inmate the minimal civilized measure of life’s necessities.”

    Brandes said he believes the state was arguing the conditions were cruel, just not “cruel enough.”

    “What is cruel? Is it 110 degrees? 115? If you could fry and egg on the floor, would that make it cruel and unusual?” Brandes asked.

    Connie Baroth Edson, an inmate advocate in Central Florida, has fought for years to bring air conditioning to prisons.

    She said adding air conditioning would decrease turnover among correctional officers (which is a significant issue in Florida) and offer basic humanity to inmates.

    “Why are you made to feel like you’re not worthy of anything by not having air conditioning?” Baroth Edson asked.

    While she did not think the state would ever pay the $582 million necessary to put air conditioning into all the Florida prisons, Baroth Edson said she was encouraged when the Florida Legislature agreed in 2025 to spend $300,000 on a pilot program to add wall units to some institutions.

    The expenditure was ultimately vetoed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

    When Spectrum News requested an interview with the secretary for the Florida Department of Corrections, the department provided a statement that said: “FDC has air-conditioning housing units serving the most vulnerable inmate populations, including the infirmed, mentally ill, pregnant and geriatric.”

    The statement said all new institutions are designed to include air conditioning, but noted many existing facilities were built before air conditioning was commonplace.

    The Florida Department of Corrections uses “various climate control measures” to reduce heat, according to the statement.

    Jeff Butera

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