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  • 5 men charged with felonies for allegedly working as unlicensed contractors in Eaton fire burn scar area

    Los Angeles County prosecutors have charged five men with felonies for allegedly working as unlicensed contractors in the Eaton fire burn scar and vowed to find and prosecute other workers trying to rebuild homes destroyed by the January wildfires without a license, officials announced Thursday, Dec. 11.

    The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office accused the men of knowingly doing contract work without licenses during a natural disaster, a felony in California.

    Property owners are drawn to unlicensed contractors after receiving insurance money because they often promise to rebuild their homes faster and cheaper than others, District Attorney Nathan Hochman said. Unlicensed contractors bring a greater risk of fraud, he said.

    Homeowners can be sued for any injury workers experience on their property, and it would be difficult if not impossible to recover losses or damages from unlicensed contractors, who often aren’t insured, he said. Unlicensed contractors may ask for significant money upfront and then leave homeowners high and dry or do a faulty job that leads to higher costs and issues in the long run.

    “There’s a reason it’s quick and there’s a reason it’s cheaper,” Hochman said, “because of all these risks that can occur.”

    Undercover operatives will search the area for unlicensed contractors in an effort to weed them out, he said.

    “Get the heck out of our community, all you unlicensed contractors,” Hochman said.

    L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents Altadena, said residents should turn to official lists of vetted contractors when planning to rebuild.

    The men are expected to be arraigned on Jan. 8, Hochman said.

    Andrea Klick

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  • Weather looking clear for SpaceX’s Starlink launch Thursday afternoon

    CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The weather is looking favorable as SpaceX prepares again for another Starlink launch Thursday afternoon.

    The company will launch its Falcon 9 rocket, carrying over two dozen Starlink satellites.

    SpaceX is targeting 3:26 p.m. for liftoff from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

    The 45th Weather Squadron shows clear skies over the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Thursday with no weather concerns.

    Sweet Sixteen

    The company said the Starlink Group 6-90 mission will be the 16th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched:

    Following stage separation, the first stage booster will land on the Just Read the Instructions droneship, which is stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

    About the mission

    The 29 satellites will head to low-Earth orbit to join the thousands already there once deployed.

    SpaceX owns the Starlink company, where the satellites provide internet service to many areas on Earth.

    Dr. Jonathan McDowell, of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, has been recording Starlink satellites.

    Before this launch, McDowell documented the following:

    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Cleveland nears 50th anniversary of school desegregation

    CLEVELAND — Leah Hudnall’s grandparents moved to Cleveland, along with hundreds of thousands of other Black families from southern states during The Great Migration. She said many incoming residents were forced into redlined neighborhoods with overcrowded schools that were segregated under the city’s historic “Relay” policy.

    What You Need To Know

    • Leah Hudnall, several other nonprofits and civic leaders came together to create a political history campaign now called Relay Cleveland

    • Campaign director Leah Hudnall said the exhibit showcases the history of desegregation in the city’s schools, which will remain on display at the Cleveland Public Library through February

    • The exhibition features the lived experiences of former educators administrators, students and activists across generations

    The Cleveland Relay Policy split the school day into morning and afternoon sessions with Black students only attending for half of the day, rather than sending them to white schools with space in their classrooms during the 1950s and 60s. The NAACP sued the State of Ohio and Cleveland Schools in the 1973 Reed. v. Rhodes court case. The policy didn’t come to an end until 1976, when U.S. Federal Judge Frank Battisti declared that Cleveland schools had been operating a segregated system, Hudnall said.

    As part of subsequent reintegration efforts, Batiste also mandated crosstown busing, transporting students from predominantly Black schools on the city’s east side to whiter suburban schools on the west side.

    (Spectrum News 1/Tanya Velazquez)

    “Now what you have are Clevelanders, elders in our community who are 70 and 75 years old, who may have only gotten three hours of the third grade or they may not have started kindergarten until they were seven years old,” Hudnall said.

    The exhibit also highlights the Cleveland’s larger role in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, Hudnall said.

    “You have parents, like Mrs. Daisy Craggett and Mrs. Clara Smith, who created a committee called Relay Parents March to fill empty classrooms,” she said. “… parent groups like that all banded together with historic organizations like the NAACP and Core Congress on Racial Equality, and they came together under a banner, calling it the Unite Freedom Movement.”

    While the exhibit celebrates nearly half a century of progress in education, Hudnall said, it is only a piece of an ongoing journey toward educational equity.

    Public data from the Ohio School Report Card shows many schools rated under 4 stars in 2024.

    (Spectrum News 1/Tanya Velazquez)

    “Cleveland saw a growth in many areas, graduation rates and academic success,” she said, “All of that led to what we all experienced together as a global community. The pandemic, which kind of shattered all of that hard work.

    Greg Deegan is the executive director of Teaching Cleveland, which joined other local groups, researchers, educators and leaders on the Relay Campaign Committee team. Deegan, who worked as a high school teacher for over 20 years, said many challenges still remain in Cleveland’s school system. 

    The Cleveland School District approved a plan Tuesday to close and consolidate dozens of schools in the city after facing a decades-long enrollment decline and budget deficit.

    “The more we talk about it, the more we sort of have a community conversation about this, the more we can be more well equipped for the challenges and opportunities today and what we see in schools,” Deegan said.

    Now, Hudnall said, the’re calling on other community members to “carry the baton.”

    “Our children in Cleveland need us,” Hudnall said. “They need us as neighbors, and they need us to actually get back in the game, on to fight for fair education.”

    Tanya Velazquez

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  • Phase 1 of Bishop Animal Shelter expansion project to be complete next week

    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — It’s a major upgrade for Manatee County’s four-legged residents and the families waiting to meet them.

    Manatee County Animal Welfare is nearing completion on the first phase of a multi-million-dollar expansion project, one that’s set to eventually replace the county’s aging Palmetto shelter.

    Manatee County Animal Welfare is getting a much-needed boost at its Bishop Animal Shelter.

    What You Need To Know

    • Manatee County Animal Welfare is nearing completion on the first phase of a multi-million-dollar expansion project, one that’s set to eventually replace the county’s aging Palmetto shelter

    • A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly expanded Bishop Animal Shelter will take place Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 11 a.m. 
    • Manatee County Animal Welfare is getting a much-needed boost at its Bishop Animal Shelter

    “This is needed because of our outdated shelter in Palmetto,” said Michael Strollo, Community & Veterans Services Communications Coordinator for Manatee County.

    He said crews are building a modernized campus featuring eight kennel buildings, an adoption center, expanded play yards and room for more features in the future.

    “Each kennel building will have a cleaning station and a water station. We have new fire-suppression systems for all the kennels to ensure safety for all of our animals,” he explained. “And the kennels themselves have indoor and outdoor runs.”

    Fifteen dogs can be housed in each building, and the plan is to transition all dogs from the Palmetto shelter to this site by the end of the year.

    And the play yards there are more than double the size of those at the Palmetto location, part of a campus-wide investment in enrichment and comfort.

    “Modern things that include fiber run throughout the property, upgraded security systems, cameras,” Strollo said. “Even just having water at every single play yard.”

    Local leaders, including Manatee County Board Chairman George Kruse, say improving animal welfare has been one of the community’s top concerns.

    “We have a shelter up in Palmetto that has been band-aided year after year and is in inadequate condition,” Kruse said. “Fortunately, Bishop Animal Shelter was graciously donated to us years ago, which led to this unique opportunity allowing us to expand and completely eliminate Palmetto.”

    These upgrades are all about giving dogs a safe, temporary home, one where they can heal, play and connect with future families.

    A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly expanded Bishop Animal Shelter will take place Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 11 a.m.

    Julia Hazel

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

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

    What You Need To Know

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

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

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


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

    A donor remaining anonymous multiplied that relief amount.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Maximum individual distribution amounts are $4,000.

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

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

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

    Melissa Eichman

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  • LA City Council expands adaptive reuse policy, allowing empty offices to be turned into housing

    Los Angeles City Council moved to dramatically expand the city’s adaptive reuse policy citywide, clearing the way for empty office and commercial buildings across the city to be converted into housing.

    The City Council voted unanimously to adopt a pair of ordinances that extend adaptive reuse regulations beyond Downtown for the first time in more than two decades.

    The action repeals the city’s existing Adaptive Reuse Incentive Areas Specific Plan, which had limited conversions largely to parts of Downtown, Chinatown, Lincoln Heights, Hollywood and Koreatown. It also updates the 1999 Adaptive Reuse Ordinance (ARO) that helped spur more than 12,000 new homes in downtown alone.

    According to a City Planning Department fact sheet, the updated regulations are intended to make it easier to convert older or underused commercial buildings, many left partly empty after the pandemic, into much-needed housing.

    The revision expands eligibility for adaptive reuse citywide and introduces new incentives and streamlined approvals designed to make conversions easier.

    The updated ordinance broadens the types and ages of buildings that qualify, allows more projects to be approved by right, adds incentive for developments that include affordable housing, and establishes design standards to improve ground-floor uses and the public realm. It will apply citywide outside the Downtown Community Plan area, which is governed by its own adaptive reuse regulations under the new zoning code.

    City officials said the expansion is part of the Citywide Housing Incentive Program, a package of six strategies aimed at boosting housing production and helping Los Angeles meet its state-mandated housing goals. The adaptive reuse update is the first of those strategies moving forward.

    Teresa Liu

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  • The Geminid meteor shower peaks this weekend

    The Geminid meteor shower peaks heading into this weekend.

    What You Need To Know

    • Geminid meteor shower peaks the night of Dec. 13

    • Up to 150 meteors per hour

    • Known as one of the best meteor showers of the year



    Every year in December, the night sky treats us to one of the best and brightest displays known as the Geminid meteor shower. 

    When to watch

    The Geminids can be viewed in the night sky as early as 9 p.m. The best time to view the Geminid meteor shower will be in the pre-dawn hours between 1 and 3 a.m.

    Tips for viewing

    To see up to 150 meteors in one hour, you will need to be far away from city lights and tall buildings. Ideally, there will be clear skies for viewing on the night of the 13th. 

    After you arrive, avoid bright lights, such as phone screens, for 15–20 minutes so your eyes can adapt to the darkness.

    A waning crescent moon will make viewing conditions even better because there will not be much moonlight to wash out the meteors, which are often bright and vivid.

    Here is the cloud forecast through the weekend across the country. 


    Even though the peak is this weekend, you can still view the Geminid meteor shower through December 21st. 

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

    Meteorologist Ramel Carpenter

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  • Pro Football Hall of Fame honors home county with new exhibit

    CANTON, Ohio — The Pro Football Hall of Fame is opening a new exhibit this month, but taking a slight turn from the usual football exhibits.

    What You Need To Know

    • The new exhibit titled “Stark County Proud!” will focus on the individuals who have made an impact on the game, and museum, from its formative years to present day

    • Families of the Pro Football Hall of Famers from Stark County and other NFL legends who hail from Stark County will be in attendance at the ribbon-cutting

    • The Bronze Busts of Paul Brown, Len Dawson, Dan Dierdorf, Marion Motley and Alan Page will be at the center of the exhibit

    The new exhibit titled “Stark County Proud!” will focus on the individuals who have made an impact on the game and museum from its formative years to the present day. 

    On display will be artifacts, including the Bronze Busts of five men from the region, along with interactive displays, multimedia storytelling and graphics. Each will show the ways players, coaches and contributors have left their mark on the sport. 

    Families of the Pro Football Hall of Famers from Stark County and other NFL legends who hail from Stark County will be in attendance at the ribbon-cutting for the new exhibit, scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 19.

    “‘Stark County Proud!’ is the Hall of Fame’s way of saying thank you to the individuals from this area who have contributed not only to the game on the field but also to those who dedicated themselves to the formation and building of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Museum more than 60 years ago, making it a national landmark in our community,” said Jim Porter, president and CEO of the Hall in a news release. “Football has been woven into the fabric of Stark County for more than a century, and this exhibit will tap into that nostalgia while also celebrating players from today who are contributing to the sport we love.”

    The Bronze Busts of Paul Brown, Len Dawson, Dan Dierdorf, Marion Motley and Alan Page will be at the center of the exhibit. Each will have a display showcasing artifacts from their careers.

    Organizers said the exhibit will explain “Why Canton?” and how the museum made the county its home. The 1920s Hupmobile will be on display along with artifacts related to the NFL’s founding and early pro teams, including the Canton Bulldogs and Massillon Tigers.

    There will also be an interactive kiosk highlighting the 97 NFL legends who played high school football in Stark County. 

    The exhibit will run through the end of February, with more details to be announced on special programming.

    Madison MacArthur

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  • Ohio releases 2026 state fair schedules

    OHIO — While the snow is falling, the Ohio Department of Agriculture is already laying out plans for next summer, including the official dates of the 2026 fair season. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The schedule includes Ohio’s 94 county fairs, independent fairs and the Ohio State Fair

    • ODA said the season kicks off on June 6 and runs throughout the summer until Oct. 17

    • ODA helps assure the safety of fair amusement rides, monitors livestock shows to assure honest competition and coordinates animal health efforts with local veterinarians

    The schedule includes Ohio’s 94 county fairs, independent fairs and the Ohio State Fair. 

    ODA said the season kicks off on June 6 and runs throughout the summer until Oct. 17. 

    “Ohio’s county and independent fairs are an important part of Ohio’s agricultural heritage and play a critical role in supporting youth leadership programs, like 4H and FFA,” said Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Brian Baldridge. “When people attend the fair, they are supporting their local community, the agriculture industry, and our next generation of responsible food producers.” 

    Beyond setting and approving dates for the fairs, ODA helps assure the safety of fair amusement rides, monitors livestock shows to assure honest competition and coordinates animal health efforts with local veterinarians.

    Week of May 31

    • Paulding County Fair (Paulding): June 6-June 13

    Week of June 14

    • Pickaway County Fair (Circleville) June 20-June 27

    Week of June 21

    • Harrison County Fair (Cadiz) June 22-June 27
    • Putnam County Fair (Ottawa) June 22-June 27
    • Hamilton County Fair (Carthage) June 25-June 28
    • Marion County Fair (Marion) June 28-July 4
    • Clinton County Fair (Wilmington) July 11-July 18
    • Madison County Fair (London) July 11-July 18

    Week of July 12

    • Adams County Fair (West Union) July 12-July 18
    • Logan County Fair (Bellefontaine) July 12-July 18
    • Lawrence County Fair (Proctorville) July 13-July 18
    • Lucas County Fair (Maumee) July 13-July 19
    • Montgomery County Fair (Dayton) July 14-July 19
    • Trumbull County Fair (Cortland) July 14-July 19
    • Jackson County Fair (Wellston) July 17-July 25

     

    Week of July 19

    • Ottawa County Fair (Oak Harbor) July 19-July 26
    • Crawford County Fair (Bucyrus) July 20-July 25
    • Fayette County Fair (Washington C.H.) July 20-July 25
    • Perry County Fair (New Lexington) July 20-July 25
    • Warren County Fair (Lebanon) July 20-July 25
    • Franklin County Fair (Hilliard) July 20-July 26
    • Carroll County Fair (Carrollton) July 21-July 26
    • Clark County Fair (Springfield) July 24-July 31
    • Pike County Fair (Piketon) July 24-Aug. 1
    • Knox County Fair (Mt. Vernon) July 25-Aug. 1

     

    Week of July 26

    • Butler County Fair (Hamilton) July 26-Aug. 1
    • Shelby County Fair (Sidney) July 26-Aug. 1
    • Union County Fair (Marysville) July 26-Aug. 1
    • Seneca County Fair (Tiffin) July 26-Aug. 2
    • Clermont County Fair (Owensville) July 27-Aug. 1
    • Vinton County Fair (McArthur) July 27-Aug. 1
    • Lake County Fair (Painesville) July 28-Aug. 2
    • Summit County Fair (Tallmadge) July 28-Aug. 2
    • Ohio State Fair (Columbus) July 29-Aug. 9
    • Preble County Fair (Eaton) Aug. 1-Aug. 8

     

    Week of Aug. 2

    • Auglaize County Fair (Wapakoneta) Aug. 2-Aug. 8
    • Greene County Fair (Xenia)* Aug. 2-Aug. 8
    • Wood County Fair (Bowling Green) Aug. 2-Aug. 9
    • Gallia County Fair (Gallipolis) Aug.3-Aug. 8
    • Scioto County Fair ( Lucasville) Aug. 3-Aug. 8
    • Columbiana County Fair (Lisbon) Aug. 3-Aug. 9
    • Medina County Fair (Medina) Aug. 3-Aug. 9
    • Champaign County Fair (Urbana) Aug. 7-Aug. 14
    • Athens County Fair (Athens) Aug. 7-Aug. 15

    Week of Aug. 9

    • Hartford Independent Fair (Licking Co.) Aug. 9-Aug. 15
    • Richland County Fair* Aug. 9-Aug. 15
    • Ross County Fair (Chillicothe) Aug. 9-Aug. 15
    • Holmes County Fair (Millersburg) Aug. 10-Aug. 15
    • Erie County Fair (Sandusky) Aug. 10-Aug. 16
    • Attica Independent Fair (Seneca Co.) Aug. 11-Aug. 15
    • Ashtabula County Fair (Jefferson) Aug. 11-Aug. 16
    • Cuyahoga County Fair (Berea) Aug. 11-Aug. 16
    • Mercer County Fair (Celina) Aug. 13-Aug.19
    • Henry County Fair (Napoleon) Aug. 13-Aug. 20
    • Miami County Fair (Troy) Aug. 14-Aug. 20

     

    Week of Aug. 16

    • Huron County Fair (Norwalk) Aug. 16-Aug. 22
    • Muskingum County Fair (Zanesville) Aug. 16-Aug. 22
    • Meigs County Fair (Pomeroy) Aug.17-August 22
    • Jefferson County Fair (Smithfield) Aug. 17-Aug. 23
    • Allen County Fair (Lima) Aug. 21-Aug. 29
    • Darke County Fair (Greenville) Aug. 21-Aug. 29
    • Defiance County Fair (Hicksville) Aug. 22-Aug. 29

     

    Week of Aug. 23

    • Lorain County Fair (Wellington) Aug. 23-Aug. 30
    • Monroe County Fair (Woodsfield) Aug. 24-Aug. 29
    • Sandusky County Fair (Fremont) Aug. 24-Aug. 30
    • Portage County Fair (Randolph) Aug. 25-Aug. 30

     

    Week of Aug. 30

    • Noble County Fair (Caldwell) Aug. 31-Sept. 5
    • Morrow County Fair (Mt. Gilead) Aug. 31-Sept. 7
    • Hancock County Fair (Findlay) Sept. 1-Sept. 7
    • Richwood Independent Fair (Union Co.) Sept. 1-Sept. 7
    • Stark County Fair (Canton) Sept. 1-Sept. 7
    • Van Wert County Fair (Van Wert) Sept. 1-Sept. 7
    • Mahoning County Fair (Canfield) Sept. 2-Sept. 7
    • Geauga County Fair (Burton) Sept. 3-Sept. 7
    • Fulton County Fair (Wauseon) Sept. 4-Sept. 10
    • Washington County Fair (Marietta) Sept. 5-Sept. 8

     

    Week of Sept. 6

    • Highland County Fair (Hillsboro) Sept.6-Sept.12
    • Belmont County Fair (St. Clairsville) Sept. 7-Sept. 13
    • Morgan County Fair (McConnelsville) Sept. 8-Sept. 12
    • Hardin County Fair (Kenton) Sept. 8-Sept. 13
    • Wayne County Fair (Wooster) Sept. 12-Sept. 17
    • Williams County Fair (Montpelier) Sept. 12-Sept. 19

     

    Week of Sept. 13

    • Guernsey County Fair (Old Washington) Sept. 14-Sept. 19
    • Hocking County Fair (Logan) Sept. 14-Sept. 19
    • Wyandot County Fair (Upper Sandusky) Sept. 14-Sept. 19
    • Bellville Independent Fair (Richland Co.) Sept. 16-Sept. 19
    • Delaware County Fair (Delaware) Sept. 19-Sept. 26

     

    Week of Sept. 20

    • Ashland County Fair (Ashland) Sept. 20-Sept. 26
    • Tuscarawas County Fair (Dover) Sept. 21-Sept. 27
    • Albany Independent Fair (Athens Co.) Sept. 23-Sept. 27

     

    Week of Sept. 27

    • Brown County Fair (Georgetown) Sept. 28-Oct. 3
    • Barlow Independent Fair (Washington Co.) Sept. 30-Oct. 4
    • Coshocton County Fair (Coshocton) Oct 2-Oct. 8

     

    Week of Oct. 4

    • Loudonville Independent Fair (Ashland Co.) Oct 6-Oct 10
    • Fairfield County Fair (Lancaster) Oct. 11-Oct. 17

    Madison MacArthur

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  • New initiative called Drink & Dine Passport to help bring more business to AMI

    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — You won’t need a plane ticket for this passport… just an appetite.

    Small businesses on Anna Maria Island are offering special discounts through a Drink & Dine Passport.

    It began last month to bring more people to the island’s restaurants.

    What You Need To Know

    • Small businesses on Anna Maria Island are offering special discounts through a Drink & Dine Passport

    • Anna Lichnowski started the initiative to help small businesses that were impacted by Hurricane Helene

    • Those interested can purchase the Drink & Dine Passport online or in person at the Coquina Beach Market on Dec. 12 and Dec. 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

    For 35 years, Sam Marchi has been making and serving food with the same family recipes passed down through generations.

    “Yeah, this is what we do. And I think we’re pretty good at it,” he said.

    He’s the owner of Pizzano’s Pizza & Grinderz. While his business has other locations, this one in Holmes Beach has been going through ups and downs since rebuilding after it was flooded by Hurricane Helene.

    “It’s been a rough year. Things have been a little bit off. You know, I think that’s just for everybody in general on the island,” he explained.

    So Marchi and other businesses on the island agreed to participate in what’s called the Drink & Dine Passport.

    Each business creates custom discounts, and people who purchase the passport can redeem each offer once.

    So far, more than 120 people have purchased one.

    “There is a lot of demand. People are excited,” said founder Anna Lichnowski.

    Lichnowski first thought of the idea after experiencing firsthand what natural disasters can do.

    “We come from a small town. It was impacted by Hurricane Sandy back in 2012. We know how hard it is to recover as a small business,” she explained.

    She says it’s all about encouraging people to shop local.

    Around 30 Anna Maria Island businesses are part of the passport, each offering different food and drink discounts.

    “They all want more business. They need more business,” she said.

    The passport costs $25 and covers up to four people in a family.

    Marchi says he’s giving a 10% discount off orders when customers show the passport.

    “I think it’s going to help us. It’s going to draw new customers in. And obviously, any new customers help all the island businesses,” he said.

    Marchi knows that any initiative to help island businesses regain strength is something he wants to support.

    Those interested can purchase the Drink & Dine Passport online or in person at the Coquina Beach Market on Dec. 12 and Dec. 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

    Julia Hazel

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

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

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

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

    What You Need To Know

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Sarah Blazonis

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

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

    What You Need To Know

    • St. Petersburg unveils new water testing lab on Tuesday  

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Josh Rojas

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  • Your sidewalk, your responsibility — Ohio cities’ rules on shoveling sidewalks

    There’s a lot of benefits to living in the Midwest. Shoveling snow isn’t necessarily one of them.

    While Ohio doesn’t have a statewide law mandating a property owner clear their sidewalk and the state’s supreme court found they’re not generally liable for an injury if someone slips, individual metros have their own ordinances and codes requiring property owners to clear their sidewalks after accumulation of winter weather.

    Here’s what Ohio cities say about your responsibility to shovel your sidewalk.

    Cleveland

    According to the City of Cleveland Code of Ordinances section 507.13, property/land owners must clear their entire sidewalk of snow and ice before 9 a.m. every day. They must also clear other sidewalk of other debris including tree branches, bricks, etc.

    Columbus

    Property owners are responsible for removing snow and ice from their sidewalks in addition to other maintenance/repair, according to the city’s common questions section. The city also says you can report poor sidewalk conditions to 614-645-3111 or 311@columbus.gov.

    Cincinnati

    According to the city, the owner of the property is responsible for removing snow/ice from their sidewalk “in a timely manner.”

    “Do your part in helping fellow residents and visitors  – especially the elderly and those with disabilities – navigate through the difficulties of winter,” the city website reads.

    Dayton

    According to the city, it is the responsibility of property owners to remove snow/ice from their sidewalks.

    “Please help your community by clearing storm drains and fire hydrants adjacent to your home, and do not shovel snow into streets or onto sidewalks,” the city website reads. “Keeping storm drains clear will help prevent flooding once the snow melts.”

    Toledo

    The city reminds residents that it is their responsibility to keep their sidewalks safe for pedestrians and are not allowed to push the snow into public roads.

    They highlight their Snow Angels Program, which helps residents with disabilities and elderly residents remove snow from their sidewalks/driveways.

    “Along with fostering community relationships, this act relieves the stress after a heavy snowfall, keeps residents safe, and leaves a path for those outside during the winter weather – like postal carriers, firefighters, police officers, and other neighbors,” the website reads.

    Youngstown

    According to the city’s codified ordinances section 521.06, property owners have the responsibility to remove snow from their sidewalk as well as other debris that “obstructs the free, common and convenient use of the sidewalk.”

    Akron

    According to the Akron Code of Ordinances section 98.01, property owners must clear their sidewalks of snow, ice and other debris within 24 hours.

    “No person shall shovel, push, or pile snow onto the sidewalks, aprons, streets or cause or create barriers of snow and/or ice that impede passage of pedestrians or vehicular traffic on public property,” the code reads.

    Springfield

    The Springfield Codified Ordinances state that building occupants should clear their sidewalks of snow, ice “and filth” as of 10 a.m. the day after the event.

    “No owner or occupant of abutting lands shall fail to keep the sidewalks, curbs or gutters in repair and free from snow, ice or any nuisance,” the code reads.

    Sandusky

    After a snowfall, the “owner, occupant, or person having the care of any building or lot of land” is responsible for removing snow/ice from the sidewalk at some point during the first four hours of daylight after accumulation occurs, according to the city’s codified ordinances.

    It is their responsibility, the code reads, to ensure the sidewalk is “made safe by removing the ice or sprinkling the same with sand or other suitable substance.”

    Cody Thompson

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  • Massullo rolls to State Senate District 11 seat

    HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. – Republican Ralph Massullo Jr. has captured the State Senate District 11 seat.

    Massullo saw resistance from Democrat Ash Marwah, but he ultimately came out on top. District 11 covers Hernando, Sumter, Citrus and a small section of northwest Pasco County.


    Massullo, a Lecanto physician who previously served four terms in the Florida House of Representatives since 2016, will replace Blaise Ingoglia in District 11. Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Ingoglia to replace Jimmy Patronis as the state’s Chief Financial Officer, opening the seat.

    DeSantis expressed his support for Massullo early in the race.

    Massullo stressed during his campaign that his experience made him right for the seat.

    He said his platform is highlighted with his work toward protecting families, strengthening Florida’s economy and keeping children safe.

    Spectrum News Staff

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  • SpaceX successfully launches U.S. security satellite into orbit

    CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION — SpaceX successfully launched the NROL-77 mission from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 Tuesday afternoon.

    Rocket lovers may have heard a sonic boom, which was expected during SpaceX’s launch of a U.S. national security satellite.

    What You Need To Know

    • The takeoff took place at Space Launch Complex 40
    • This is a top-secret mission for the National Reconnaissance Office and U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command

     

    Going up

    This was the fourth mission for B1096, the name of this Falcon 9’s first-stage booster.

    After the first-stage separation, it landed at Landing Zone 2 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

    And many may have heard it.

    “There is the possibility that residents of Brevard, Orange, Osceola, Indian River, Seminole, Volusia, Polk, St. Lucie, and Okeechobee counties may hear one or more sonic booms during the landing, but what residents experience will depend on weather and other conditions,” explained SpaceX in an email to the media.

    How the first-stage Falcon 9 rocket booster lands at Landing Zone 2. (SpaceX)

    About the mission

    There is not much about the mission that can be released since it is a launch for national security.

    “The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC) are partnering to launch NROL-77 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket through the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program. This mission carries a national security payload designed, built, and operated by NRO,” stated the National Reconnaissance Office in a media release.

    This is SpaceX’s second NRO mission, with the first one being in 2017.

    The mission patch is of a flying squirrel, which the NRO has stated is a symbol of hard work and endurance.

    Anthony Leone

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  • Voters head to polls Tuesday in State Senate District 11 Special Election

    HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. – Voters are heading to the polls today to decide the Florida Senate District 11 Special Election.

    Republican Ralph Massullo Jr. is running against Democrat Ash Marwah for the seat, which became vacant when Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Blaise Ingoglia to replace Jimmy Patronis as the state’s Chief Financial Officer. Patronis vacated that office after his election to Congress.

    Special Election Day is Tuesday, Dec. 9 and voting is open to residents in the district, which covers Hernando, Sumter, Citrus and a small section of northwest Pasco County.


    Massullo is a Lecanto physician who served four terms in the Florida House of Representatives since 2016. DeSantis has expressed his support for Massullo.

    Marwah is a Democrat from The Villages and is originally from India.

    He is an engineer by trade, and his background includes being an entrepreneur in the Pittsburgh area.

    Marwah and his wife retired to The Villages in 2016. Since moving to the area, he has been affiliated with the Democratic Party of Sumter County, Tutors for Kids, and The Villages Democratic Club.

    Republican Ralph Massullo Jr. (right) is running against Democrat Ash Marwah for the State Senate District 11 seat. (FILE IMAGES)

    He previously ran for the Florida House of Representatives District 52 seat in 2024, where he lost to incumbent John Temple, a Republican.

    In a recent appearance before the League of Women’s Voters, where he took questions along with Massullo, Marwah reiterated his stances in favor of affordable housing, addressing healthcare and increased funding for education.

    Massullo, meanwhile, has stressed during this campaign that his experience makes him right for the seat. He has highlighted his work toward protecting families, strengthening Florida’s economy and keeping children safe. 

    Spectrum News Staff

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  • USF introduces Brian Hartline as new coach

    TAMPA, Fla. – The University of South Florida introduced Brian Hartline as its seventh coach in program history on Monday.

    Hartline made his way to Tampa this weekend amid Ohio State’s preparation for its College Football Playoff run. 

    What You Need To Know

    • USF introduced Brian Hartline as its new head football coach Monday

    • Hartline, 39, comes to USF from Ohio, were he has been the Buckeyes’ WR coach and offensive coordinator. He will take over fully at USF once the Ohio State plyaoff run concludes

    • More on Brian Hartline and USF football

    “We want to build on this impressive foundation. Things have been going really well here,” Hartline said during his introductory news conference. “We’re not here to change things, we’re here to enhance.

    “Time is now for USF football and we can’t wait to get started.”

    The Bulls new coach will balance beginning his Bulls’ tenure with duties as the Buckeye’s offensive coordinator through the college postseason.

     

    USF CEO of Athletics Rob Higgins, making his first major hire in his relatively new role, said Hartline will bring grit and passion in replacing former coach Alex Golesh, who left USF last week to accept the coaching job at Auburn.

     

    “Brian Hartline was our clear-cut first choice to lead our football program into the most exciting era in program history, and I am so fired up to have him leading the Bulls,” Higgins said. “A relentless recruiter, outstanding developer of talent and a gritty competitor, he comes from a championship background and is obsessed with instilling championship excellence in his players and teams.

    “He is ready to lead our program to the next level.”

    Hartline, 39, said he was excited for the opportunity at USF and emphasized his past connections with the Bay area, Central Florida and South Florida as a NFL player and college recruiter. He added that the location and his history in the region makes USF a good fit. 

    “Our culture will be built on relentless effort. Built on it,” Hartline said. “Effort is a choice and we know that. Our program will be disciplined and accountable. Every detail will matter.”

    HARTLINE AT OHIO STATE

    As offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach, Hartline has led the 2025 Ohio State offense to rank No. 13 in the nation in scoring (37.0 ppg), No. 24 in total offense (438.5 ypg) and No. 24 in passing (267.0 ypg) with Heisman Trophy candidate Julian Sayin posting 3,065 passing yards and 30 touchdowns and Biletnikoff Trophy finalist Jeremiah Smith posting 55 catches for 725 yards and nine touchdowns. Pro Football Focus has Ohio State as the highest graded offense in the nation at the end of the 2025 regular season.

    Serving as co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach in 2024, Hartline led the Buckeye offense to rank No. 14 nationally in scoring (35.7 ppg) and No. 3 in pass efficiency (171.55) with quarterback Will Howard ranking No. 6 in passing yards (4,010) and No. 4 in passing touchdowns (35) and Smith standing No. 4 in receiving yards (1,315) and No. 2 in receiving touchdowns (15) nationally.

    A major part of Ohio State’s recruiting success, Hartline has helped the Buckeyes’ current 2026 signing class rank No. 5 in the nation according to 247Sports. Ohio State has ranked among the top five recruiting classes in the nation in each of the last seven seasons. He was named 247Sports national recruiter of the year in 2020.  

     

    WHAT’S NEXT FOR USF

    The Bulls will face Old Dominion Dec. 17 in the Care Bowl in Orlando. USF Defensive Line Coach Kevin Patrick will guide the squad as the interim coach during the bowl week.

    USF will be looking to post a 10-win season for just the third time in program history and the first since going 10-2 in 2017. 

    Spectrum News Staff

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  • SpaceX launches another batch of Starlink satellites

    KENNEDY SPACE CENTER — SpaceX launched another batch of Starlink satellites Monday evening from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

    The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Launch Complex 39A at 5:26 p.m. EST, carrying over two dozen satellites. 

    The 32nd launch

    SpaceX said the Starlink Group 6-92 mission was the 32nd flight for the first-stage booster, B1067, which had previously launched:

    1. CRS-22
    2. Crew-3
    3. Turksat 5B
    4. Crew-4
    5. CRS-25
    6. Eutelsat HOTBIRD 13G
    7. SES O3B mPOWER-A
    8. PSN SATRIA
    9. Telkomsat Merah Putih 2
    10. Galileo L13
    11. Koreasat-6A
    12. 20 Starlink missions

    Following the stage separation, the first stage landed on the Just Read the Instructions droneship, which is stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

    About the mission

    The 29 satellites will head to low-Earth orbit to join the thousands already there once deployed.

    SpaceX owns the Starlink company, where the satellites provide internet service to many areas on Earth.

    Dr. Jonathan McDowell, of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, has been recording Starlink satellites.

    Before this launch, McDowell documented the following:

    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Florida Polytechnic turns to Lakeland Police Department after staffing losses

    LAKELAND, Fla. — As state leaders push to keep public university campuses safe, Florida Polytechnic University is now leaning on local law enforcement for help.

    The university started using the Lakeland Police Department for security after a major staffing shortage in its campus police force.

    At least eight officers have left the department since May, including the chief and deputy chief.

    What You Need To Know

    • Florida Polytechnic University’s campus police force has seen significant turnover, with at least eight officers — including the chief and deputy chief — leaving since May

    • The university is relying on the Lakeland Police Department for security support as it works to rebuild
    • Former leadership accuses the university of budget cuts, while university officials deny defunding


    Retired Deputy Chief Danny Houser was with the department from the very beginning. Starting in 2014, Houser says he and former Chief Rickard Holland helped build the police force from the ground up. They hired staff, brought in gear and equipment, and wrote the policies the department still uses today.

    “We prided ourselves on providing professional police service to our community, and our job was to give the best service to our students because they really were our customer base. That and the parents,” Houser said.

    But Houser says the dynamic shifted under new leadership, which he says led to resignations and early retirements.

    “They cut our funding by $84,000. Then they started talking about the officers, taking their take-home cars away from them,” he said. “And they wanted to cut out my position as the assistant chief, and they wanted to cut out the accreditation department.”

    Holland, who put in his two weeks’ notice in July, backed Houser’s claims in an email to Bay News 9.

    However, Florida Poly’s chief information officer, Cole Allen, denies any defunding. He says that while the university is relying on Lakeland Police for support, they’ve increased starting pay, boosted the police department’s budget, and invested in the school’s new public safety center.

    “This is going to give our officers the space they need, the facility they need, and everything they’re going to need to move into the next phase of our growing campus,” Allen said.

    Allen says the university has already begun hiring new officers and is looking to fill even more positions. As for Houser, he says he’s concerned about the department’s future without the people who helped build it.

    “It hurts. This wasn’t the way I wanted to go out,” Houser said.

    Alexis Jones

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  • Lakeland nonprofit helping seniors stay fed among increasing food insecurity

    LAKELAND, Fla. — Imagine having to make the tough decision to pay your bills or buy groceries. Advocates say that’s the harsh reality for many seniors who are navigating not having enough money for food.

    It’s leading some seniors to seek help from nonprofits like Volunteers in Service to the Elderly in Lakeland.

    What You Need To Know

    • Volunteers in Service to the Elderly, or VISTE, is a nonprofit organization that serves at-risk seniors in Lakeland

    • Its supplemental groceries program started over 20 years ago and has since continued to increase the number of people it serves

    • The nonprofit serves people 70 and older


    While most of us get in our cars to head to the grocery store, for seniors in Lakeland, their drive is to VISTE to pick up their monthly groceries free of charge.

    When one cart comes in, another one goes out — it’s a cycle that Welton Morris knows all too well.

    “Every month, once a month,” he said.

    He is one of more than 4,000 seniors who visit the nonprofit to pick up groceries.

    A line forms and volunteers pack each car with the month’s assortment of goods.

    Recently, Welton said he’s found himself relying on this service even more to stock his fridge.

    “The grocery store is so expensive when you go in the store, very expensive, and it’s hard, especially when you’re on a fixed income. It’s hard,” he said.

    Steve Bissonnette is the president of VISTE and said the number of seniors they serve is increasing.

    “We’re averaging about 130 clients each day during the week, almost a 30% increase just in the past few months,” he said.

    The nonprofit’s impact report from last year shows a 9.5% increase in clients. Its supplemental groceries program increased 6.2%, providing groceries to more than a thousand households.

    Bissonnette said that need has increased again in the last few months.

    “We can only attribute that to the environmental circumstances that people are uncertain about and fearful of, and we want to make sure that they at least get basic food to remain in their own home,” he said.

    Most of the food comes from Feeding Tampa Bay, the United States Department of Agriculture and items they purchase.

    Groceries that will go a long way for seniors, like Yoleida Cardona.

    “From an economic standpoint, my husband receives a small amount of money, and this helps us move forward,” she said. “There is also a lot of people in need, and there are those who live on their own that need this.”

    It’s a program that has become a lifeline for many seniors to keep their pantries stocked.

    The nonprofit also has a hot meal program for seniors who are unable to attend the grocery pick-up or cook for themselves.

    Those meals are provided twice a week with the help of Florida Southern College.

    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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