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Tag: Sarah Blazonis

  • School board OKs closings, consolidations to adjust to declining enrollment

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    LARGO, Fla. — Tuesday, the Pinellas County Schools board unanimously approved a series of proposals to close and consolidate a handful of schools.

    The move, the district officials say, will help it save money and adjust to declining enrollment.

    What You Need To Know

    • Pinellas County school board members voted to approve a number of changes the district says will help it adjust to declining enrollment

    • Disston Academy and Cross Bayou Elementary will close, Bay Point Elementary and Middle will combine to form a K-8, and Oldsmar Elementary will expand to a K-8

    • According to the district, the changes will save $7.7 million in recurring annual expenses

    • Read previous coverage: Final word on Pinellas schools closings and consolidations likely Tuesday


    The board approved combining Bay Point Elementary and Middle Schools into a K-8 and expanding Oldsmar Elementary to eighth grade. Cross Bayou Elementary School and Disston Academy will both close at the end of this school year.

    For some, it was an emotional decision.

    “I’ll only ask you one more time: Please save my school,” said Michael Gerke, a parent of a Cross Bayou student and volunteer at the school.

    Gerke says Cross Bayou Elementary should not be on the chopping block. He previously told Spectrum Bay News 9 the school’s 250-student population makes it easier for educators to know the kids than at a bigger school.

    He also said he doesn’t think the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Program should be disturbed.

    In the end, that proposal, like the others, passed with a 7-0 vote from the board. Gerke and his son were visibly upset afterwards, walking out of the meeting and declining an on-camera interview.

    “Any closure is impactful for the communities we serve. We certainly heard from Cross Bayou Elementary School community members who are not happy with this recommendation, and we should expect that,” said Superintendent Kevin Hendrick. “Our schools should be places that are loved and remembered fondly. It is my responsibility, though, and obligation to provide our families with excellent academic choices and programs while maintaining a balanced budget.”

    Hendrick told board members Cross Bayou is only at 40% utilization and needs $5 million in maintenance. According to the district, closing it, along with the other changes, can save $7.7 million on recurring annual expenses. Another is expanding Oldsmar Elementary to a K-8.

    One parent told the board he supports it.

    “Three more years, my kids get to be together as siblings. That increases the togetherness, the bond, the psychological safety. Not only, though, is it stability for them, it is stability for my wife and I as parents,” said Oldsmar Elementary parent Curtis Campogni. 

    The superintendent said expanding Oldsmar will take it from 57% utilization up to 95%.

    Board member Eileen Long said she’s heard from parents who asked for closer options for middle school.

    “When your child goes to Carwise and you work until 5 p.m. and then want to go to open house at 6 p.m., a lot of parents didn’t make it. We have a lot of support for this,” Long said.

    The Oldsmar expansion will happen in phases beginning next school year. Bay Point K-8 will begin in 2027-28, and Disston Academy will close at the end of this school year. 

    According to district information, more comprehensive recommendations are expected this fall. They wouldn’t go into effect until the 2027-28 school year.

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • Despite some public objections, Palmetto approves teen curfew

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    PALMETTO, Fla. — Despite some pushback from the community, members of the Palmetto City Commission voted 4-1 Monday to adopt a new curfew ordinance for minors.

    What You Need To Know

    • Despite some pushback from the community, members of the Palmetto City Commission voted 4-1 Monday to adopt a new curfew ordinance for minors

    • Children under 16 will not be allowed out without a parent between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and midnight to 6 a.m. Friday and Saturday

    • Some parents and community members spoke against the ordinance, saying they worry teens in minority groups might be targeted

    Children under 16 will not be allowed out without a parent between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and midnight to 6 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

    The city’s ordinance mirrors the ordinance passed by the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners in November.

    Some parents and community members spoke against the city’s ordinance, saying they worry teens in minority groups might be targeted.

    “I just don’t want our children ending up caught up into the system or having any fines imposed on them when they’re not the responsible ones for all of that,” said Manatee County NAACP President Tracey Washington.


    Palmetto Police Chief Scott Tyler said the rule will help protect teens, and they will not be charged criminally for violating it.

    “We enforce the law impartially, effectively,” Tyler said. “This isn’t an ordinance where we’re going to be out there stopping kids. When we encounter kids, we’re trying to get them home. Also, remember that this ordinance and the statute that backs it up, it’s not criminal.”

    Tyler added there could be a $50 fine, but that will be reserved for repeat violations.

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  • Council hears recommendations from advanced air mobility task force

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • City officials use first meeting to take stock of city seawalls

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla, — St. Petersburg city officials are one step closer to developing a plan about what improvements will take place for miles of seawall around the city.

    A virtual meeting was held Tuesday to get public input on the seawall master plan, which calls for improvements to the structure.

    What You Need To Know

    • St. Petersburg city officials are one step closer to developing a plan about what improvements will take place for miles of seawall around the city

    • The meeting came after consultants did extensive inspections of 15 miles of city-owned seawalls

    •  St. Pete residents asked to take Seawall Capital Improvement Plan survey

    The meeting came after consultants did extensive inspections of 15 miles of city-owned seawalls.

    The most common finding noted that more than 27,000 feet of wall was in “fair” condition.

    City engineering and capital improvements department design manager Evan Birk told residents improvements can include replacing what was already there and creating living shorelines.

    “Ultimately, the goal is to create a program that serves the city and by serving the city, it really means that it’s serving the neighborhoods and it serves the residents that reside in those neighborhoods,” Birk said.

    The goal, the city said, is to make the area more resistant to flooding and erosion.

    This comes after years of storm damage and documented flooding issues that plague parts of St. Pete.

    “It’s obviously very important,” said St. Petersburg resident Stephanie Kelly. “And living here, it’s the most important thing because your home is a lot of money, and you don’t want to be relocated or anything like that.”

    Residents can still fill out a survey online.

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  • Night to Shine lights up Pinellas for third year

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It was a Night to Shine at the St. Petersburg Coliseum Friday night. The Tim Tebow Foundation held its annual prom for people with special needs there for the third year.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Tim Tebow Foundation held its annual Night to Shine on February 13 in St. Petersburg

    • It’s a prom-type event for people with special needs who are ages 14 and up

    • The coordinator said guests live with conditions ranging from learning disabilities to ambulatory impairments

    • Guests told Spectrum News they enjoy the event because they can let loose without feeling self-conscious


    “Epic,” said Kimberly Nash, coordinator of the Pinellas County event, when asked to describe the night in one word. “It’s amazing, it’s beautiful, it’s fantastic. There’s not one word that can actually describe tonight.”

    Nash said registration filled to capacity within an hour-and-a-half of opening, and this year’s waitlist was longer than the actual guest list.

    Invitees arrived in limos and were greeted by a red carpet lined with volunteer “paparazzi.”

    “This is my third year doing it, and I love it,” said volunteer Kim Heffner.

    “You get to cheer them on, blow bubbles, give them high-fives,” said six-year-old Liv, another volunteer.

    At one point, volunteers took part in an impromptu sing-along when one guest started singing “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by one of his favorite artists, John Denver.

    “Seeing what they have to go through day by day, I mean, it’s just amazing to see everyone show up for them,” said Heffner.

    Guests attending Night to Shine. (Spectrum News/Sarah Blazonis)

    Connor Deeb and Ashunti Teasley Dorsey said they wouldn’t have missed this year’s event for the world. It was the second time attending for both of them.

    “Honestly, I love it here,” said Deeb, 22. “It’s a great place to meet people, have some great music, dance.”

    “We get to be ourselves without having to worry about judging and things like that,” said Dorsey, 25.

    Dorsey told Spectrum News she has autism and chronic tic disorder. She said that means she makes movements that she can’t control.

    “I remember waking up one day, and I thought I was just having chills until it started progressing worse and worse until I found out it’s tics,” she said. “Even though I struggle, I continue to move on and live my life like no other.”

    Dorsey said tics aren’t something she has to be self-conscious of at Night to Shine, and that’s the point.

    “It’s a night that we invite those with special needs, and we remind them that it is not their disability that defines them, it is Christ,” said Nash.

    Nash said the 265 guests live with a range of conditions, from learning disabilities to ambulatory impairments. This night is about giving them and their plus-ones a chance to feel like royalty.

    “Whether you leave here as an honored guest with a crown on your head and a smile on your face and probably some feet that hurt from all the dancing, or a parent who has seen your child celebrated and loved tonight, I think that everybody just leaves here with joy,” said Nash.

    A Night to Shine is a worldwide event held in more than 700 locations. Nash said this is the third year Central Christian Church hosted the Pinellas event.

    Nash said they hope to hold next year’s dance at the newly repaired Tropicana Field. If that works out, she said that they can expand to inviting 750 guests.

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  • Decision approaching on possible Tampa Bay MPO merger

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

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

    What You Need To Know

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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  • Foreclosure complaint filed against Elements on Third owner

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — People who live at the Elements on Third apartment complex say they’ve dealt with everything from maintenance issues to a possible water shut-off that could’ve resulted in them needing to find new places to live.

    That’s all within the past six months.

    Now, a foreclosure complaint has been filed against the complex’s owner. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Court records show a mortgage lender has filed a complaint for foreclosure against Lurin Real Estate Holdings for a loan it issued for the Elements on Third apartment complex

    • In the complaint, lawyers for BDS IV Mortgage Capital say Lurin failed to make payments starting in August and now owes more than $110 million

    • Lurin previously came under scrutiny when the city of St. Petersburg said a water shut-off at two properties, including Elements, was possible after Lurin failed to pay its utility bills

    • Read previous coverage here


    “Am I surprised? No, not really,” said Boshko Stanisic, an organizer with the St. Petersburg Tenants Union. “Lurin has been in kind of a financial fall for quite awhile.”

    The complaint was filed on Feb. 6 against Lurin Real Estate Holdings. Lawyers for BDS IV Mortgage Capital claim Lurin failed to make payments on a $110 million loan starting in August.

    “I didn’t know this was an ongoing thing. So, it’s a little concerning,” said Elements on Third resident Mitchell Williams.

    In the nearly three years Williams has lived at the complex, he’s seen it go through ups and downs.


    “I think they were running out of cash or something,” he said. “The property started to get a little bit dirty.”

    Then, the city said Lurin wasn’t paying its water bill at Elements and another of its properties, The Morgan Apartments.

    “It was a little scary when we were notified that we might be without water and might have to make other accommodations when we’d been paying for it the whole time,” Williams said. “So, that was definitely frustrating.”

    Williams said things started getting better in the fall, with maintenance and amenities being brought up to par. A city spokesperson also said back in August that Lurin paid its outstanding utility balance on the property. 

    Now, the BDS is seeking for force Lurin to pay the principal of the loan, plus interest and expenses, in full. 

    Stanisic said he’s working with residents at The Morgan as they navigate their own uncertain situation. He said tenants of a property facing foreclosure wouldn’t necessarily see immediate impacts.

    “A lot of it is just a change in ownership, a little bit of uncertainty,” he said. “A new owner, they might purchase the property, they might come in and change up the property manager.”

    Williams said residents haven’t been notified of the proceedings or any changes.

    “We’re happy at the moment, but hopefully nothing goes downhill to where we were a few months ago,” he said.

    A spokesperson for Lurin did not immediately respond to requests for comment. 

    The complaint says BDS is requesting the court appoint a receiver for Elements on Third. It also asks that the property be sold at a public sale if Lurin doesn’t pay the debt.

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  • Measles case reported at St. Petersburg Catholic High School

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Measles cases are spiking nationwide according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The latest case identified in Tampa Bay is a student at St. Petersburg Catholic High School. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The Diocese of St. Petersburg confirms a student at St. Petersburg Catholic High School has measles

    • The student hasn’t been in the building since Jan. 27

    • The diocese says while students can get immunization exemptions, 99.2% of students at the school are vaccinated against measles

    • Classes and activities will continue as usual


    “We were just made aware that one of our sophomore students has a confirmed case of measles,” the letter provided to Spectrum News by the diocese reads. “The student in question has not been present at school since January 27th and we are unaware of any additional cases at this time.”

    In addition to this case, information from the Florida Department of Health shows Hillsborough and Manatee Counties reported one case each in January.

    “Unfortunately, it was only a matter of time,” said Dr. Patrick Mularoni, a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. “We’re seeing a lot more vaccine hesitancy, and measles spreads very easily. So, those that are unvaccinated were bound to get it and spread it.”

    Mularoni said it doesn’t start with that telltale rash. He said the earliest symptoms of measles can be a cough, runny nose, fever, and red eyes, and it can take seven to 10 days before a patient starts to fell sick. That gives the virus plenty of time to spread.

    “Measles is very contagious. It’s more contagious than the common cold, and some sources say 10 out of ten people in a room with somebody with measles, if they’re not vaccinated, they’ll get it,” said Mularoni.

    According to the CDC, when more than 95% of people in a community are vaccinated, herd immunity is achieved. Its data shows 88.8% of Florida kindergarteners were vaccinated in the 2024-25 school year. Nationwide, measles vaccination coverage has dropped from 95.2% in the 2019-2020 school year to 92.5% last school year. The CDC said that put 286,000 U.S. kindergarteners at risk. 

    Meanwhile, cases have jumped in the past year. While just one or two weekly cases were reported in early 2025, that increased to a high of 279 cases reported for the week of January 11 of this year.

    The diocese said in its letter to parents, “While diocesan immunization policy allows for medical exemptions from a licensed physician, 99.2% of our student body is vaccinated against measles. Given the school’s high vaccination rate, we plan to continue all classes and activities as normal.”

    Mularoni said the reemergence of measles may not just mean a learning curve for parents.

    “The one thing about measles is it has very subtle symptoms, and most providers haven’t seen it. You know, we’ve been vaccinating for so long, and it’s been relatively well-contained in the United States. Many providers might not know it if they see it,” he said.

    The diocese letter urged anyone with symptoms to stay home and see a doctor. Mularoni encouraged parents to call ahead before they do so. He said babies are usually vaccinated when they’re 12-15 months old, and it would be easy for unvaccinated babies to catch measles.

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  • Driver’s license exams only in English starting Friday

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Beginning today, the Florida Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles will only offer driver’s license knowledge and skills tests for drivers in English. 

    Previously, the exams have been offered in a variety of languages, including Spanish, Haitian-Creole and Portuguese.

    “This is not a decision made by the tax collector’s office,” said Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano. “This was made by the Florida Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, which is also known by many as the DMV. They make these decisions. We are an agent of that department, and we have to follow their policy, their rules.”

    What You Need To Know

    • FLHSMV says starting Feb. 6, driver’s license knowledge and skills tests will only be offered in English

    • Tax collector’s offices administer the exams and say they’re currently available in a range of languages, including Spanish, Haitian-Creole and Portuguese

    • FLHSMV did not give a reason for the change, but said in a statement that it remains committed to ensuring safe roadways “by promoting clear communication, understanding of traffic laws, and responsible driving behavior”

    • One man, who works to connect members of the Hispanic community who are new to Tampa Bay with resources, says the change will be a major hurdle for those who don’t speak English and can impact other areas of their life, including holding a job


    Fasano said normally with a change as drastic as this, county offices would get notice weeks in advance. This time, they had just a week to try to get the word out to the public.

    Tax collectors aren’t the only ones who were surprised.

    “Number one — I was in shock. Number two — I was angry, because it became personal for me,” said Itamar Martinez.

    Martinez is now the one Hispanics who are new to Tampa Bay come to for help through his business, Centro De Ayuda Hispano. 

    “It’s a little bit of everything,” Martinez said. “People call looking for a job. They’re just moving to the city and they don’t have contacts.”

    Martinez said he gets 1,800 calls a year from people asking for everything from a legal referral to enrolling kids in school. He estimated 70% of his clients speak only Spanish.

    “Especially if you look at someone that’s only been here for five years, yeah — they’d rather speak in their language to be understood,” he said.

    But it was once his family who needed guidance. He said they immigrated from Cuba to Portugal and, finally, to the U.S. in 1989. When they arrived, his mother needed a driver’s license.

    “My mom is 85 years old today, and she’s been driving all those years. If she had to take that test in English, she wouldn’t be able to be a productive member of our society,” Martinez said.

    FLHSMV said in a statement, “Language translation services will no longer be permitted for knowledge or skills examinations, and any printed exams in languages other than English will be removed for use.”

    “This comes as a surprise because translations in administering road tests or skills tests have been in place for decades,” said Hillsborough County Tax Collector Nancy Millan.

    According to Millan’s office, it administered more than 13,000 skills tests in languages other than English in 2025. That’s about 37% of exams given that year.

    “I know that there’s a lot of barriers when you first come into this country, especially when you’re at an age where another language was your first language,” said Millan, the daughter of Cuban immigrants. “I believe that everyone should, in America, should speak English, but it’s not something that happens overnight.”

    Millan said tests have been offered in multiple languages, including Haitian-Creole, Portuguese and Chinese. 

    “We have many of our road testers who speak several languages, and it has been extremely helpful for those who are taking road tests,” Fasano said.

    Fasano also said his offices provide many services to non-U.S. citizens who are in the country legally, as well as others whose primary language isn’t English.

    “Many of them are U.S. citizens. Many of them come from Puerto Rico, who are U.S. citizens, by the way. It’s going to have a big impact on them,” he said.

    Martinez said he’d like to see people given more time — potentially by being able to take their initial tests in the language of their choice, then taking an English only test after they’ve had more time to learn the language.

    “Just telling someone cold, telling someone, ‘As of next week, if you don’t know English, you’re SOL’? That’s not fair,” he said.

    FLHSMV declined a request for comment.

    It didn’t give a reason for the change, but its statement concludes, “FLHSMV remains committed to ensuring safe roadways for all Floridians and visitors by promoting clear communication, understanding of traffic laws, and responsible driving behavior.”

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  • Florida Agriculture Commissioner says cold caused up to $1.5B in crop damages

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    SARASOTA, Fla. — Information from the Florida Department of Agriculture shows that the state’s recent bout of cold weather may have caused more than $1 billion in losses for the state’s farmers. 

    “We’ve really gotten devastated in Florida,” Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson said. “We don’t know the full extent yet of all the damage. Early assessments were the first night, we probably did OK. We were able to come through that. But three nights in a row, well below 32 for many, many hours really has devastated agriculture.”

    What You Need To Know

    • Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson says early assessments show the state’s farmers lost anywhere from $500 million to $1.5 billion to crop damage during the recent bout of cold weather
    • The owner of Blumemberry Farms in Sarasota estimates her losses at $45,000

    • Colleen Blumenthal said her team was able to harvest a lot right before temperatures dipped, but much of what they couldn’t get to was lost — including about 80% of her tomato crop and half of her farm’s green beans

    • Simpson said he’s in talks with federal officials about securing financial relief for Florida farmers


    Walking the fields of Blumenberry Farms in Sarasota, visitors will find as many as 70 different crops. After the recent cold snap hit, owner Colleen Blumenthal said much of the view is very different.

    “This was completely full with really ripe, luscious green beans,” she said. “But once the weather got below 35, they just died on the vine.”

    Blumenthal said about half of her green beans were lost to the recent cold weather, along with 80% of her tomatoes. She said she’s looking at up to $45,000 in losses across all crops.

    Simpson said that is a situation farmers are facing statewide, with early assessments showing anywhere from $500 million to $1.5 billion in damages.

    “You’ve got to remember, this time of year we’re growing 70-80% of all the fresh vegetables that are sold on the eastern seaboard of the United States,” Simpson said. “So, this is the bread basket of the country right now.”

    He said he’s in talks with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and the White House to secure financial relief for the state’s farmers. 

    “I believe the President (Donald Trump) is going to be very supportive of resources coming back in to support our farmers,” Simpson said. “My big thing was, let’s try to do this in real time.”

    In the meantime, local farms like Blumenberry are making assessments of their own.

    “It’s possible we might be able to harvest those,” farm manager Aaron Drucker said, gesturing to green tomatoes that may not have frozen in the cold. “As far as these plants continuing to thrive and create more tomatoes? Unlikely.”

    According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, agriculture brought nearly $9 billion to the state’s economy in 2022. 

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  • Tampa Sports Authority raises questions about proposed Tampa Bay Rays ballpark

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    TAMPA — The Tampa Sports Authority discussed the potential for a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium at their meeting on Tuesday, but no vote was taken.

    Instead of voting on whether to recommend to the city and Hillsborough County that they conduct economic impact studies on the project, the board president said the firm AECOM is already working on a study for them.

    The board also said that construction and development company Skanska is evaluating the cost and feasibility of a new stadium.

    Members had a number of questions surrounding the potential project. They were sparked by a presentation county commissioners are expected to hear Wednesday, saying that the Rays plan to pay for at least half of construction costs.

    One question was whether that is for just the stadium or if it includes parking and infrastructure.

    Others included how many hotel rooms the Rays will generate, what impact a stadium would have on local businesses, how parking and traffic issues will be handled, and what role the sports authority will play in stadium operations.

    “If it gets built, I don’t think the Rays want to pay one dime in taxes on a $2.3 billion stadium,” said sports authority board member Joseph Robinson. “I believe it will be transferred ownership to the county, and after they do that, guess what? We’re going to end up managing it, just like we manage all sports facilities right now in this area. So, I think down the road, we need to make sure, because that’s going to impact staff, it’s going to impact us big time if we’ve got to start managing that Rays stadium. That’s all I want to say. I can see it happening.”

    Spectrum News tried to talk with a few members of the board, but they declined interviews and requests for clarification.

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  • “Something has to be done” – public weighs in on Ybor City road safety

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Nearly three months after four people were killed and more than a dozen injured in a fatal Ybor City crash, the community had the chance to let city officials know what safety improvements they’d like to see in the historic district. 

    “Something has to be done, and sooner than later, too,” said Candra Granville Mack.

    Granville Mack was among the dozens who came out to Centro Asturiano de Tampa Monday night for a public meeting with city council members, police representatives, and more. She said her reason for being there was personal.

    What You Need To Know

    •  City council members, police, and more met with residents Monday night to discuss roadway improvements in Ybor City

    •  The meeting follows a November crash that took the lives of four people and injured more than a dozen others after a driver Tampa Police say was fleeing from law enforcement plowed into a crowd

    •  Tampa’s interim director of transportation services says some steps have already been taken, including lowering the speed limit on 7th Ave

    • Read previous coverage here


    Her cousin, Sherman Jones, was 53 years old when his life was cut short in the early morning hours of November 8.

    “‘Superman’ is what they called him,” she said. “That’s what he was – our super hero to the whole family.”

    Jones was one of more than a dozen people hit by a speeding driver who Tampa Police said was involved in a pursuit with Florida Highway Patrol on Nov. 8. 

    “He was just out people watching,” she said. “It’s so funny because one of his nephew’s friends was out there that same day at a motorcycle event and happened to catch the last photo of my cousin just standing there, just people watching, before he was killed.”

    Granville Mack said she and other family members returned to Ybor on Monday for Jones and for others.

    “It’s difficult, and we’d like to hear some good information tonight to move forward so other families don’t have to be where we are now,” she said.

    Interim Transportation Services Director Adam Purcell told the crowd that crashes like November’s are rare in the district.

    “In the last ten years, there has not been a fatal crash on 7th Ave. except for what occurred in November,” said Purcell.

    He said that for the historic district as a whole, the past five years have seen a relatively small number of crashes with serious injuries and two involving fatalities.

    According to Purcell, transportation services staff started meeting with Tampa Police soon after November’s fatal crash to explore safety improvements.

    He said speed reduction is a main focus, with the speed limit on 7th Ave. being lowered from 30 mph to 25 mph, part of the street being re-bricked, and on-street parking being added to narrow lanes and encourage slower speeds. The city is also looking at adding four-way stops and bollards at higher volume intersections.

    Speakers at the meeting raised concerns about sidewalks and a street design they said favors cars instead of pedestrians. The panel also heard from people for and against a suggestion that’s come up again and again through the years – shutting down 7th Ave.

    “Just take the street and make it like New Orleans,” said Granville Mack. “Just cut it off certain days so people can have fun and be safe.”

    “The owners are concerned about closing down 7th Avenue, bringing in congestion and bringing in more people who do not spend their money on 7th Avenue,” said Joe Citro, a former member of Tampa City Council. “You have the homeowners concerned that it’s going to take more traffic off of 7th and put it on their neighborhood streets.”

    Citro said he supports adding four-way stops and setting up bollards in parking spaces Thursday through Saturday.

    Granville Mack said she hopes some change comes from the lives lost.

    Some at the meeting asked for more discussions on the topic or a workshop-style meeting. City Councilmember Naya Young led the meeting and said she’s open to more conversations on making Ybor streets safer.

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  • FLHSMV says driver’s license exams will only be offered in English

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    TAMPA, Fla. — The Florida Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles announced that starting on Friday, February 6, it will only offer driving knowledge and skills tests in English. 

    “This is not a decision made by the tax collector’s office,” said Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano. “This was made by the Florida Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, which is also known by many as the DMV. They make these decisions. We are an agent of that department, and we have to follow their policy, their rules.”

    What You Need To Know

    •  FLHSMV says starting February 6, driver’s license knowledge and skills tests will only be offered in English

    •  Tax collector’s offices administer the exams and say they’re currently available in a range of languages, including Spanish, Haitian-Creole, and Portuguese

    •  FLHSMV did not give a reason for the change, but said in a statement that it remains committed to ensuring safe roadways “by promoting clear communication, understanding of traffic laws, and responsible driving behavior”

    • One man who works to connect members of the Hispanic community who are new to Tampa Bay with resources says the change will be a major hurdle for those who don’t speak English and can impact other areas of their life, including holding a job


    Fasano said normally with a change as drastic as this, county offices would get notice weeks in advance. This time, they have just a week to try to get the word out to the public. Tax collectors aren’t the only ones who are surprised.

    “Number one – I was in shock. Number two – I was angry, because it became personal for me,” said Itamar Martinez.

    Today, Martinez is the one Hispanics new to Tampa Bay come to for help through his business, Centro De Ayuda Hispano.

    “It’s a little bit of everything,” Martinez said. “People call looking for a job. They’re just moving to the city and they don’t have contacts.”

    Martinez told Spectrum News he gets 1,800 calls a year from people asking for everything from a legal referral to enrolling kids in school. He estimated 70% of his clients speak only Spanish.

    “Especially if you look at someone that’s only been here for five years, yeah – they’d rather speak in their language to be understood,” he said.

    But it was once his family who needed guidance. He said they immigrated from Cuba to Portugal and, finally, to the U.S. in 1989. When they arrived, his mother needed a driver’s license.

    “My mom is 85 years old today, and she’s been driving all those years. If she had to take that test in English, she wouldn’t be able to be a productive member of our society,” Martinez said.

    FLHSMV said in a statement, “Language translation services will no longer be permitted for knowledge or skills examinations, and any printed exams in languages other than English will be removed for use.”

    “This comes as a surprise because translations in administering road tests or skills tests have been in place for decades,” said Hillsborough County Tax Collector Nancy Millan.

    According to Millan’s office, it administered more than 13,000 skills tests in languages other than English in 2025. That’s about 37% of exams given that year.

    “I know that there’s a lot of barriers when you first come into this country, especially when you’re at an age where another language was your first language,” said Millan, the daughter of Cuban immigrants. “I believe that everyone should, in America, should speak English, but it’s not something that happens overnight.”

    Millan said tests have been offered in multiple languages, including Haitian-Creole, Portuguese, and Chinese. 

    “We have many of our road testers who speak several languages, and it has been extremely helpful for those who are taking road tests,” said Fasano.

    Fasano also said his offices provide many services to non-U.S. citizens who are in the country legally, as well as others whose primary language isn’t English.

    “Many of them are U.S. citizens. Many of them come from Puerto Rico, who are U.S. citizens, by the way. It’s going to have a big impact on them,” he said.

    Martinez said he’d like to see people given more time – maybe be able to take their initial tests in the language of their choice, then take an English only test after they’ve had more time to learn the language.

    “Just telling someone cold, telling someone, ‘As of next week, if you don’t know English, you’re SOL’? That’s not fair,” he said.

    FLHSMV declined a request for comment. It didn’t give a reason for the change, but its statement concludes, “FLHSMV remains committed to ensuring safe roadways for all Floridians and visitors by promoting clear communication, understanding of traffic laws, and responsible driving behavior.”

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  • Businesses prep for a cold, windy Gasparilla

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    TAMPA, Fla. — “Shiver me timbers” may take on a whole new meaning this Gasparilla, as temperatures are expected to drop while the winds pick up Saturday, the day of the annual Pirate Fest celebration. 

    “Cold and windy for Gasparilla this year, unfortunately,” said Spectrum News meteorologist Brian McClure. “I don’t think it’s going to be a problem on land. The problem’s going to be a lot of people like to take their boats out, right? That’s the biggest issue.”

    What You Need To Know

    • This weekend’s Gasparilla celebrations are expected to include temperatures that dip into the 40s and wind gusts of up to 40 mph

    • South Tampa Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Kelly Flannery said Gasparilla is important for local businesses, with 300,000 visitors expected and a projected economic impact of $20 million

    • Flannery said she’s not expecting people to cancel hotel and restaurant reservations due to the weather

    • The COO of Jackson’s Bistro along the flotilla route said the restaurant is prepared for cooler temps, with heaters and screens to protect people from wind and rain on the patio


    McClure said on land, winds are expected to get up to 20-30 mph, with gusts up to 40 mph. Temperatures are expected to dip into the 40s.

    “I remember a lot of cold Gasparillas. I remember lots of wet Gasparillas. I remember some Gasparillas where we even had some severe weather, but I don’t remember a Gasparilla where it was windy and cold combined,” McClure said. “I think that’s going to be the biggest problem is the wind is just going to be so strong.”

    According to Kelly Flannery, president and CEO of the South Tampa Chamber of Commerce, 300,000 people are expected to come out for the weekend’s flotilla and parade.

    “Gasparilla’s a fantastic weekend,” Flannery said. “Our hotels are going to be full. Our restaurants and bars are full.”

    That includes Jackson’s Bistro, which is on the flotilla route and offers a front row seat to watch the boats go by.

    “It’s just shoulder-to-shoulder, wall-to-wall, bow-to-bow out there on the water, and everybody’s having a good time,” said James Hamilton, the restaurant’s chief operating officer.

    Hamilton said Jackson’s business jumps by about 300% during Gasparilla compared to a normal weekend.

    “It’s literally an invasion,” Hamilton said. “It’s the field of dreams. If you build a restaurant here, they’re coming on Gasparilla.”

    He said the restaurant is ready for the chilly weather.

    “I wasn’t worried about it. We just spent millions of dollars renovating this patio, putting in these heaters, dropping down these canopies to keep the wind off of everybody,” Hamilton said. “We had the warmest New Year’s Eve we’ve ever had while everybody else was cold. So, Gasparilla will be the same.”

    Flannery said she doesn’t expect visitors to cancel planned reservations at hotels and restaurants because of the weather. She said the festival usually brings a $20 million economic impact with it.

    “I think that the cold weather is going to add another element to this weekend’s events, but I don’t think it’s going to keep people away,” she said. “I think people have been looking forward to this weekend all year. People travel from all over the state or all over the southeast part of the country to attend this event.”

    Hamilton also said he expects Jackson’s to be as busy as usual with crowds of Gasparilla faithful.

    “They’re pretty dedicated,” he said. “The costumes they wear are made for the summer no matter what the weather is, and they don’t look like they’re cold. They’re really dedicated.”

    McClure said he’s recommending people don’t take their personal boats out on Saturday. He said winds could get up to 35-40 knots on the water, and a gale warning will likely be posted. 

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  • K-8 plan met with support, questions at Oldsmar Elementary

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    OLDSMAR, Fla. — Oldsmar Elementary parents and students heard what a possible K-8 expansion could mean for them at a meeting Monday evening.

    That recommendation is just part of what Pinellas County Schools is considering to adjust for a declining student population. If approved by the Pinellas County School Board, Oldsmar would add sixth grade next school year, then seventh and eighth in the following two years. 

    At a meeting held at the school Monday evening, Pinellas County Schools Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Dull told parents the county’s birth rate and kindergarten enrollment trends have been declining for decades.

    Her presentation included data from the Florida Department of Health and Florida Department of Education.

    It showed 10,264 children were born in the county in 1990 and kindergarten enrollment in the 1995-96 school year, the year those 1990 babies would have enrolled, was 8,346. In 2020, data showed 7,609 babies were born in Pinellas County, and 5,208 kindergarteners enrolled in 2025-26.

    Dull cited a University of Florida report that found Pinellas County’s school-age population is expected to decrease through 2050, then plateau. 

    “As the district and board started looking into this, we were really looking at solving, ‘What can we do for now?’ and to future-proof and look at through 2050,” Dull said.

    She said that with 383 current students, Oldsmar is at 53% utilization. She told meeting attendees that if every current third, fourth, and fifth grader stayed at the expanded K-8 instead of moving onto Carwise Middle School, that number would increase to 97%.

    “I really support Oldsmar turning into a K-8,” said Alisha Reith.

    Reith said she’s not only a former student and employee, but her third grader was once a student there.

    “It’s such a family environment, and for the people who get nervous about going to middle school, the family environment really helps,” Reith said. “It really keeps the kids comfortable.”

    “We like the proximity,” said Emily Fuchs, whose child is in fourth grade at Oldsmar. “It’s a five-minute drive from the house. We’re zoned for Carwise, and it’s just — it’s far.”

    Fuchs told Spectrum News that without traffic, the middle school is a 20 minute drive from her home.

    Matin Norozzy, who has a daughter in kindergarten at Oldsmar, said the presentation left him with questions.

    “It seems like the county’s plan is not very clear,” he said. “As we heard tonight, a lot of their fundamental aspects of this school are still in the ‘We’ll figure it out when we get there’ stage. Who the teachers are going to be. What the courses will be. What the potential electives will be. We still don’t have any of those answers.”

    He was also among those who brought up concerns about adding older students to the school.

    “Oldsmar is not an outlier that needs to be fixed,” Norozzy said. “So, why Oldsmar? Why make my kindergartener go to school with sixth graders when she’s in first grade?”

    Dull said older and younger students would be separated.

    “What a kindergarten space looks like, or a pre-K space looks like, has very different needs than what a middle school space looks like,” Dull said. “That doesn’t mean that the climate and the culture of a campus isn’t supportive throughout.”

    As for questions about courses and activities, Dull told parents during the meeting that’s going to depend on student interest. She said the district would survey parents and students to find out what they’d like to see at the school, but there may be fewer options than at an established middle school because there will be a smaller number of students.

    Dull also said if the expansion is approved by the School Board, students who live in the Oldsmar Elementary zone would be able to choose to stay at the school or move on to Carwise. They would also still be able to apply to other schools through the choice/district application program process.

    The school board is expected to vote on this and other possible changes at its meeting on Feb. 24.

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  • Advocates push for city to take over troubled apartment complex in St. Pete

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The St. Petersburg Tenants Union is calling on the city to take over The Morgan Apartments. That’s the property that was in danger of having its water shut off last summer because the city said the property owner wasn’t paying its bills. 

    At Thursday’s council meeting, SPTU Organizer William Kilgore told members the concern is that foreclosure proceedings could lead to the building being sold at auction.

    Rather than have another corporate landlord come in, he said a city acquisition could offer residents of the troubled complex some stability.

    What You Need To Know

    • The St. Petersburg Tenants Union told city council members Thursday that residents want the city to take over The Morgan Apartments

    • The city warned tenants last summer that a water shut-off was possible to The Morgan and another complex owned by Lurin Real Estate Holdings because the company was thousands of dollars behind on its water bill

    • A tenants union organizer says the concern is that the foreclosure process could lead to the building being sold at auction to another corporate landlord

    • The city says there are no plans to acquire The Morgan, and a Lurin spokesperson says the company doesn’t believe that step is justified


    “The city has a responsibility to step in,” Kilgore told council.

    “The city needs to take care of its residents,” said another speaker. “The out-of-state landlords do not care about us.”

    Nat Pudlak didn’t attend the meeting. She said she’s lived at The Morgan for three years and describes her time there as not the worst, but also not the best.

    “I had a pipe bust on me,” she said. “Then, my ceiling caved in because of a pest problem that we had. So, they had a rat infestation.”

    From shuttered pools to mold, Pudlak said The Morgan has its share of issues. So, when she heard about the push to get the city to take over the property, she wasn’t against it.

    “We are fixed income. So, being owned by the city at least has that security for a lot of us,” said Pudlak. “Originally, when the water was going to get shut off, I didn’t have a backup plan.“

    St. Petersburg Public Information Officer Samantha Bequer said in a statement, “At this time, the city does not have plans to acquire the Morgan property. Right now, our focus is on collecting the remainder of the outstanding water services balance and providing assistance and information to residents wanting to relocate from the property.”

    “They do have the money. They do have the ability. It’s a matter of political will, is what it is, and they don’t have the will to do it,” said Kilgore.

    Kilgore praised city staff for the help provided to residents so far, but he said more needs to be done for tenants.

    “I agree with exactly where they’re coming from,” said Councilmember Richie Floyd. “I think when the private sector fails, the public sector needs to step in.”

    According to Floyd, codes staff visited The Morgan frequently to address issues. He said he’s supported a possible city takeover at past council meetings.

    “I think we definitely need to be involved in this process, even if the administration’s not interested in going the direction I am,” he said. “But I would love to continue the conversation any way I can.”

    As for Pudlak, she said of the residents who lived at the complex when she moved in, she’s one of the few who remain — but not for long.

    “Nope. No. Instant no,” she said when asked if she planned to stay. “As soon as my lease is up in October, I’m personally moving over to Bradenton.”

    Lurin spokesperson Ed Cafasso said in a statement that The Morgan is operating normally, and the company is working to strengthen its longterm financial stability. It reads in part, “While we understand the demand by some residents for the city to seize the property, we do not believe such an unusual step is justified or in the community’s best interest.”

    Bequer said the city is monitoring the potential foreclosure of the property and is working through the litigation process related to unpaid water bills.

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  • Major flood mitigation plan moves forward in Tarpon Springs

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — A flood relief project in the works for years in Tarpon Springs recently took another step forward.

    The city commission approved an agreement in December with the Florida Department of Emergency Management.


    It allows the city to accept $31,000 for the design phase of the Sponge Docks Flood Abatement Project.

    It would help relieve flooding more quickly, according to city officials.

    Vice Mayor Mike Eisner said the city has been exploring ways to combat the flooding, especially at the Sponge Docks. They are considering installing what is called a “vault” underground that would collect floodwater through a series of pipes and a water pump station would then push it out. The city is also looking at rebuilding seawalls as well.

    Eisner said the cost of the project increased through the years from about $1 million to $5 million. He said some details still need to be worked out.

    “We also have to try to schedule it to where it’s the least-busiest time,” he said. “We have two areas off of Athens (Street) that usually flood on every single type of rain.

    “Then, we have people driving by and they’re always giving wakes from their cars and, yes, it’s not a good situation.”

    The city would also like to see smaller pumps so Dodecanese Boulevard isn’t closed for too long.

    Eisner said project engineers are still designing a plan.

    City officials expect the project to take around six to eight months to complete.

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  • Public media look to future after Corporation for Public Broadcasting dissolves

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Bay’s public radio and television stations are looking at how they’ll move forward without the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

    After Congress voted to defund its operations over the summer, the 58-year-old organization’s board voted to dissolve the CPB this week. 

    “We absolutely feel the fact that CPB has closed,” WEDU-PBS President and CEO Paul Grove said. “They were kind of the glue to the system to try to keep all the stations with grants and making sure that we had the opportunity to find additional dollars for our national programming.”

    What You Need To Know

    •  The board of directors of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting voted Monday to dissolve the 58-year-old organization

    •  The move comes after Congress pulled funding for the CPB this past summer

    •  Public media stations nationwide relied on funding from CPB to include in their budgets

    • Representatives from Tampa Bay stations like WEDU-PBS, WMNF, and WUSF said they’re not going anywhere, despite the CPB closure, and will have to rely more heavily on the public and other revenue streams for funding 
    • Visit web sites for WEDU-PBS, WMNF, and WUSF to learn more


    This past year, WEDU-PBS — a 70-year-old public television station — lost 20% of its operational budget when Congress defunded the CPB.

    “It is tight,” Grove said. “We knew that when we lost the $2.8 million for the annual budget that it was going to be a strain for us. So, we looked at what we were going to be doing in the future and how we’re going to be pivoting to make sure that we’re going to be providing this content.”

    That includes everything from free educational resources for home schooled students and in-depth documentaries, to providing critical information during emergencies, like hurricanes. Grove said the station made small cuts and is getting creative to come up with new ways to bring in money, like its WEDU Travel Club.

    “We’re going to rely on our community even more now than ever,” he said. “They’ve been wonderful — an outpouring of support, especially when they heard about us losing federal funding.”

    The CPB said in a statement that without federal funding, it couldn’t fulfill its congressionally mandated responsibilities.

    “A dormant and defunded CPB could have become vulnerable to future political manipulation or misuse, threatening the independence of public media and the trust audiences place in it,” the statement said, in part.

    “I mean, it wasn’t shocking,” WMNF anchor and reporter Chris Young said of the board’s vote. “It’s sad, obviously, because public radio and public media in general in America is just so important.”

    Listeners seem to agree. According to the radio station, it raised a record amount of money during an emergency drive after it lost funding.

    Young said subsequent drives have been so successful that the station was able to hire two new positions. In the past, CPB support helped pay for employee benefits, an antenna, and more. Young said that while donation drives have been successful thus far, there is a question about whether that support will be sustained.

    “This is obviously a huge chunk of money that we got from the federal government, and with its loss, we’re going to have to figure out how to make up for it,” he said. “But our current board of directors is working now on a contingency plan on how we can sustain that funding and that support throughout these next few years.”

    WUSF general manager Leslie Laney said that radio station also expected the dissolution and is well prepared. She said WUSF lost $800,000 in annual funding, or 6% of its budget. Like other stations, she said the vast majority of funding comes from listeners, and they’ve stepped up in a huge way. 

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  • Child advocates brace for post-holiday spike in abuse reports

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    NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — Students across Tampa Bay head back to school next week following winter break. The CEO of Pasco Kids First, a child advocacy center, said it’s the time of year his team typically sees a spike in reported child abuse cases.

    What You Need To Know

    • Winter break ends next week for Tampa Bay students

    • There could be an increase in abuse cases due to holiday stress and family tension

    • Pasco Kids First monitors and supports affected children


    “Unfortunately, we’ve been really busy,” said president and CEO Mike Trepper. “So, we have children and families coming through, and that’s because things have happened to them on their person, meaning they’ve been physically or sexually assaulted or they have been witness to violence.”

    Trepper said after cases of abuse, neglect, or trafficking get reported to the state hotline, they’re forwarded to law enforcement. From there, victims will be referred to agencies like Pasco Kids First, one of 26 child advocacy centers in Florida.

    Trepper said there’s normally a 10% to a 20% increase in reports to review and children who need to be seen at the center in January. According to advocates, while the holidays can be a fun time for kids, they can also mean family stress and tensions rising to the surface.

    “We’ve actually seen a lot more cases this year than we have before,” said Michelle Mejia, a case coordinator with the child protection team.

    Trepper said the center handles more than 5,000 abuse and neglect cases every year. There are a number of reasons that could be behind the post-holiday spike.

    “The economy, job situations, joblessness, perhaps food insecurity, and then you have the added stress of just the holiday season,” he said.

    “The kids are out of school, and so some parents just may have that frustration. They may not be used to dealing with the kids for that long,” said Mejia.

    According to Trepper, kids may then tell someone what happened once they get back to school, but there are also signs a child may be in trouble. They can include a change in behavior or language, being secretive, or marks on their bodies. He encouraged believing kids when they disclose and reporting suspected cases of abuse.

    “I know sometimes it can be scary and you think, ‘I don’t want to get involved,’ but for the sake of children, get involved,” said Trepper.

    As tough as her job can be, Mejia said there are signs of happy endings, too. T-shirts line the hallways of the center with messages from past clients to those just walking in the door. Mejia said she’s seen it, too, like when children come back for therapy appointments she’s scheduled for them.

    “Granted, I don’t talk with them too much because I don’t want them to make that little connection, but I do see them happier and different from what I get to see when I interview them because they’re healing. So, it’s a different child that I’m seeing afterwards,” she said.

    Child abuse can be reported to the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873. The Florida Department of Children and Families offers other reporting options on its website.

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  • Tampa Bay’s first recovery high school marks five years in 2026

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    PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — Tampa Bay’s first recovery high school is marking a milestone in the new year. Victory High School held its grand opening five years ago this month. It’s an option for students struggling with drugs and alcohol to receive an education without going back to familiar places or people that can cause them to fall back into old patterns.

    What You Need To Know

    • Victory High School turns five years old in 2026

    • The recovery school is a place where students struggling with drugs and alcohol can receive an education based on their needs and away from old temptations

    • Its founder says more than 150 students have been served, with 23 receiving diplomas and 58% successfully transitioning to public schools

    • Graduates say that while they were reluctant to attend Victory at first, the school met them where they were and provided a pathway forward


    “It feels like 50 years since we started,” said Tina Miller, founder and executive director of Florida Recovery Schools of Tampa Bay. “It’s been a lot of ups and downs, but overall, the quality of the services and the connections we have made with students have just been remarkable.”

    The school held its annual Golfing For Victory fundraiser at Innisbrook Golf Resort in Palm Harbor on November 17. It was the third year in a row that Alex and Chris Finch took part.

    “Today, we did pretty good,” Alex said.

    “I really enjoy getting the time to come out here on a beautiful day and spend it with my son. I’m just so proud of him,” said Chris.

    Spectrum News first spoke with the father and son duo when they were practicing for the 2024 event. It’s a cause that’s close to both of their hearts.

    “I went to Victory because I was having problems with drugs and also just problems with how I was acting,” said Alex. “I remember even thinking through my mind, ‘I don’t want to do college. I don’t want to do baseball for much longer, and I just want to do my own thing.’”

    But in 2024, Alex graduated from Victory and is now playing baseball for Bryant & Stratton College in Virginia Beach while studying business. He said Victory helped him develop the mindset to succeed.

    “In public school, I was maybe kind of over thinking or worried about small things. In Victory, they’re very open, and if maybe even you’re just not having a good day, you can open up and talk about that,” he said.

    “It’s not a typical school, where you sit at a desk and chair for six-to-eight hours,” said Miller. “It’s self-directed, it’s self-paced.”

    Miller opened the first Victory High School in Pasco County in 2021. Two more followed in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. She said the schools have served more than 150 students. Twenty-three have earned diplomas, and 58% successfully transitioned into public schools.

    “That’s really what we’re doing with the majority of our students is we stabilize them emotionally and mentally, and then they actually go and transition into a traditional school,” she said.

    For some, traditional school wasn’t the answer.

    “I never thought I would be where I am today,” said James Guerin.

    The first time Spectrum News interviewed Guerin, he was taking part in an equine therapy program offered through Victory in 2022.

    “When I was a kid, I was being stupid – doing drugs, got sent to a very abusive rehab program that just kept me spiraling even deeper. So, I got into harder drugs, got into more fights, stuff like that,” he said.

    Guerin said Victory met him where he was rather than forcing him to work towards recovery in one certain way.

    “There were days I would come in and Tina would tell me, ‘Sometimes, amends is just working on other people who were in the same spot you were.’ Little things like that, where it was just a slight switch-up from what I was taught prior to make it digestible for me,” Guerin said.

    Since graduating in 2022, James has become a mentor to current students. He said he’s less than a semester from earning his associate in arts degree from St. Petersburg College and plans to study biochemistry at the University of Tampa.

    “My dream is to end up being either a neurosurgeon or a cardiovascular surgeon, but one step at a time,” he said. “No matter where I end up right now, it’s better than where I thought I’d be.”

    Alex’s dad, Chris, called Victory a lifesaver. He said the school gives students breathing room to get into a good head space and move forward from there.

    “What makes me so proud of him is everything he does today is his decision. He wants to go to school. He wants to play ball. He wants to work hard, and I couldn’t be more proud of him,” said Chris. 

    Victory is a nonprofit and relies on donations and grants. Anyone interested in becoming a donor can visit this web site.

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    Sarah Blazonis

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