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Tag: Tyler O'Neill

  • St. Pete chocolate factory sees price increase from tariffs

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Buying your Halloween candy might feel more like a trick than a treat this year. 

    Cacao prices have been rising due to several factors, including tariffs. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The owner of Schakolad Chocolate Factory in St. Petersburg said cacao prices have gone up due to weather

    • At the same time, tariffs have caused about a 7% increase 

    • Packaging prices have also gone up, the owner said

    • To combat the increases, Schakolad Chocolate Factory is looking into different suppliers


    One chocolatier in St. Petersburg is dealing with a nearly 50% increase. 

    What can be sweeter than owning a chocolate factory?

    “I call myself Wilhemina Wonka, or the chocolate lady,” said Jane Rakestrawm, owner of Schakolad Chocolate Factory.

    Rakestraw said Schakolad Chocolate Factory is the oldest chocolate shop in Tampa Bay.

    “We specialize in handcrafted luxury chocolates specifically for holiday gifts, where we can brand a business in chocolate,” Rakestraw said.

    Since 2024, Rakestraw said some chocolate makers have had to increase their prices by 40%. Rakestraw said that’s because of weather conditions where cacao is grown. At the same time, she said tariffs are also increasing her cost of goods by an additional 7%.

    “I’ve owned multiple franchises before, and I’ve never seen anything like a 47% increase in my cost of goods, that’s huge,” she said.

    To deal with the increase, Rakestraw said, they are shopping smarter, changing their product line and increasing the cost of their products.

    “We are adjusting our prices accordingly while still making the chocolate accessible and also keeping our margins where they need to be so we can be a sustainable business,” Rakestraw said.

    Tariffs have also increased the price of packaging — she said it’s more than doubled. 

    “When your cost of goods goes up 40, 50%, you have to raise your prices or you’re not going to be in business very long,” Rakestraw said.

    They are still fine-tuning their changes and looking at new packaging and different suppliers for certain imported goods.

    “We don’t have a huge corporate safety net. So, we are who we are, and buy local,” she said.

    Rakestraw is hoping prices come down, but for now they’ll continue making adjustments when needed.

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

    In November, the Supreme Court will consider whether Trump has the power to impose sweeping tariffs.

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    Tyler O’Neill

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  • Florida nonprofit has been vital in Israel evacuations

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    TAMPA, Fla. — A Florida nonprofit has played a major role in getting Americans out of Israel since the country’s war with Hamas began in October 2023.

    What You Need To Know

    • Grey Bull Rescue has brought thousands back to America over the course of the Israel-Hamas war

    • The organization’s leaders said moving people across borders was complex

    • The founder of the nonprofit was there on Sunday as the first part of the peace plan plays out


    Grey Bull Rescue has brought thousands back, including Robyn and Neil Spirtas, who were in the Middle East on a volunteer mission.

    What was supposed to be a trip of giving back unexpectedly changed overnight. 

    “In the middle of the night we were awakened by the missile sirens. They were on our phones and in the air. So we woke up and didn’t really know what was happening,” Robyn Spirtas said.

    This was when the conflict between Israel and Iran began. The airports closed, so the Spirtas had to find a new way home. After many phone calls, they were connected to the nonprofit Grey Bull Rescue. Their mission is to rescue Americans in need. 

    “It took us 75 hours to get back. Three days of planes, buses, hotels,” Robyn said.

    Through the challenges, the Spirtas are now home and join the roughly 7,000 people that Grey Bull has rescued over its lifetime.

    “Took great courage and leadership to get us where we needed to go. We commend Grey Bull Rescue for everything that they do now and into the future,” Neil said.

    Even though moving people across borders has been complex, it’s what Grey Bull is all about.

    “Getting all those people together and trying to move them to areas where they can actually get evacuations through Cyprus, through Jordan, working with Syria, and dealing with all the conflict that’s going on over there, (it is) very, very difficult,” said Andy Wilson, who is on the Board of Directors for Grey Bull Rescue.

    On Sunday, Grey Bull’s founder Bryan Stern was on the ground in Israel to witness the first phase of the peace plan play out.

    “Seeing this come to fruition is going to give great closure to the team for something that we’ve been working on so long, as part of this particular mission set,” Wilson said.

    Grey Bull Rescue is a nonprofit and relies on donations for support.

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  • Community steps in after alleged Riverview restaurant burglary

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    RIVERVIEW, Fla. — About a month after a Riverview restaurant was allegedly burglarized, the community is helping the business owner get back to normal.

    Eggs Up Grill lost thousands of dollars in cash and equipment during the Labor Day weekend. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Eggs Up Grill said it was burglarized over Labor Day weekend

    • Owner Priscilla Conyers said it lost its safe with a couple thousand dollars, and thousands of dollars in equipment 

    • Conyers said the incident took morale out of her staff

    • On Friday, her alma mater hosted an event to drum up support and business 


    When the owner’s alma mater, Florida A&M University, heard about the incident, they knew they wanted to help.

    On Friday night, it hosted a mixer to help drum up business and bring morale back to the restaurant. 

    Along with a healthy portion of eggs, the restaurant is serving up positivity.

    “We want to be your happy place. We want us to make you smile. So that’s a part of our DNA. That’s our mantra,” said Priscilla Conyers, owner of Eggs Up Grill Riverview.

    Conyers said some of that positivity was lost. In her surveillance video, a person can be seen taking a safe from the office, and then equipment from the dining room. 

    “We were devastated. We felt like it was definitely an invasion of our privacy,” Conyers said.

    She said two server handheld devices — worth $2,000 each — are now gone, and there was a couple thousand dollars in the safe. 

    “My front of the house staff, my back of the house staff, we all worked extremely hard to be here to provide for the community. So, for something like that to happen to us, it just kind of took us out,” she said.

    Friday night’s mixer helped to promote the restaurant and bring back some positivity to the staff.

    “We’re hoping to basically patronize, drum up business to help fill the gap where the burglary may have caused some hardship from a financial standpoint,” said Laketra Claiborne, president of Florida A&M University Alumni Association’s Tampa Chapter.

    Conyers said the community support has turned an unfortunate situation into a positive one. 

    “The community has really had our back. We absolutely love being in the Tampa Bay community, and we are here to stay. That situation will not hurt us anymore,” Conyers said.

    The dining room was filled with FAMU’s colors and smiles once again.

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  • New monument for Gold Star Families unveiled in Tampa

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    TAMPA, Fla. — A new Gold Star Family monument was unveiled at Veterans Memorial Park in Tampa.

    The memorial stands to honor families whose loved ones were killed during active military service.

    What You Need To Know

    • Veterans Memorial Park in Tampa has unveiled a new Gold Star Family monument

    • The monument honors families whose loved ones were killed during active military service

    • Funds for the monument were raised by the Veterans Council of Hillsborough County and other local organizations and volunteers

    • The Woody Williams Foundation partnered on the project with hopes to build similar monuments nationwide


    “The gold star represents their sacrifice and their courage,” said Gold Star Mother Jean Uffalussy. “The symbol of the soldier here that’s hollowed out represents the fact that they’re no longer with us.”

    Uffalussy said her son, Staff Sgt. Patrick Dolphin, wanted to join the military since he was a kid.

    “He lived his life training himself. He read books on military history,” she said. “He slept in pup tents in the woods with his helmet. He had a night vision helmet, goggles and he had a BB gun.”

    Dolphin was a Marine and served for more than 11 years in Iraq and Afghanistan before he paid the ultimate sacrifice in 2011. Uffalussy has been a Gold Star Mother ever since.

    “This is a monument to the families that missed their loved ones every day,” Uffalussy said.

    Funds were raised for the project by the Veterans Council of Hillsborough County, American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. and dozens of local organizations and volunteers.

    “This memorial is really the pinnacle of capturing all the sacrifices that our veterans and their families have endured for defending our freedom,” said Frank Strom, director of Hillsborough County Consumer and Veteran Services.

    The Veterans Council’s Gold Star Monument Committee worked in partnership with the Woody Williams Foundation on the new monument.

    The foundation hopes to build statues in every state across the country.

    It’s a new spot for Uffalussy to reflect and remember her son and all those who died serving our country.

    “I think the fact that he died makes those of us that survived try to live a life more worthy,” Uffalussy said

    The term Gold Star Families originated during World War I. Families would display a flag with a blue star for a serving military member, and if the service member didn’t make it home, the star was turned to gold. The color change signifies their sacrifice.

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  • Tampa City Council’s Racial Reconciliation Committee will be dissolved

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    TAMPA, Fla. — After years in the making, the Tampa City Council’s Racial Reconciliation Committee will be dissolved.

    On Thursday Oct. 9, 2025, the city council unanimously voted to terminate the committee.

    What You Need To Know

    • Tampa City Council’s Racial Reconciliation Committee will be dissolved

    • The decision came after the city’s attorney recommended it in a memo to city council

    • The city’s attorney said President Trump’s executive orders could withhold federal funding to recipients with programs that discriminate on race or gender 

    • Some committee members said they will continue making recommendations to the city 


    After less than a year of work, Tampa’s Racial Reconciliation Committee has been stopped.

    “I am very angry, I’m very frustrated to the fact that is no longer continuing,” said Daryl Hych, former member of the Racial Reconciliation Committee.

    Daryl Hych was one of the 13 members on the committee. They were working on recommendations to give to the city on issues surrounding housing, economic development, entrepreneurship and recidivism. Dr. Jeffery Johnson was also on the committee.

    “To look at what is the problem when it comes to economic development? What’s the problem when it comes to affordable housing? Identify those needs, address those issues, and make the necessary changes through the city government and administration,” said Dr. Jeffery Johnson, former committee member.

    In September, the city’s attorney, Andrea Zelmam, sent a memo to the city council recommending that the racial reconciliation committee be eliminated. In the memo, Zelman said one of President Trump’s executive orders requires federal funding recipients to not have programs that discriminate on race or gender. 

    “We understand we have to follow federal regulations. But now, in our mind, we’re saying, ‘Is the city of Tampa still going to address the hurt, the plight, the disenfranchisement that people of color have experienced for so many years?’,” said Johnson.

    The committee was supposed to turn in its recommendations to the city in June, but ultimately asked the city for more time and support. The city had said it provided all resources that were requested.

    “It wasn’t just about this 13-body board. It wasn’t just about this short period of time. It was about a lifetime of wrongs that we are committed to making sure that we bring a right to these wrongs,” Hych said.

    Now, both members say the committee will continue its work of making recommendations to the city. 

    The committee was formed more than three years after the city council passed Resolution 568.

    That resolution addressed the injustices experienced by African American residents.

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  • Bay area nonprofit’s phone programs help promote health among seniors

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    HUDSON, Fla. — A nonprofit in the Bay area is making sure seniors aren’t lonely. 

    Seniors in Service connects seniors with volunteers for routine phone calls that often lead to friendship.

    What You Need To Know

    • Seniors in Service connects seniors with volunteers for routine phone calls that often lead to friendship

    • The nonprofit’s Health Buddies Program focuses on senior health 

    • When the Health Buddies Program ends, many seniors join the Telepal Program to maintain their social connection

    • Seniors in Service said there is a real need for this kind of help


    Before Pamela Roberts starts her volunteer phone calls, she makes sure to get a drink.

    “I can’t survive without a Coke,” said Roberts, volunteer for Seniors in Service.

    Then the retired registered nurse gets comfortable on the couch and dials the phone. Spectrum News couldn’t listen to a real phone call, as Roberts keeps them confidential. The calls are part of the nonprofit Seniors in Service Health Buddies Program, which helps seniors improve their health with informative calls.

    Pamela Roberts volunteers for both the Health Buddies and Telepals Programs with Seniors in Service (Spectrum News/Tyler O’Neill)

    “I don’t tell them what they should do, but I can make suggestions or explain to them what they should expect during different procedures,” Roberts said.

    When the Health Buddies Program ends after 12 weeks, many of the participants join the Telepals Program to maintain the social connection they grew over those several months. Roberts volunteers for this too. 

    “It’s people that you’ve developed an extra special bond during Health Buddies, and you just don’t want to stop the relationship,” she said.

    Both Roberts and her participants value the connection that often develops into a friendship. 

    “So they feel real lonely and isolated and, kind of forgotten,” the volunteer said.

    Aria Garling with Seniors in Service said there is a real need for this kind of support. This year, the organization has served more than 350 people between the two programs.

    “So for the wellness of our older adults, especially in the community, our program is crucial for wellbeing. Being able to age in place and further, just being able to have that quality of life that they absolutely deserve,” Garling said.

    That quality of life Roberts is excited to work on with others. 

    “I do this because this is a God-given talent that I have,” she said.

    Giving back with her talent and a soda.

    To volunteer for either program, you must be at least 18 years old and have a phone. 

    You must also meet those requirements to be a participant, in addition to living in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco or Polk Counties. 

    View more information on getting involved with Health Buddies.

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  • Downtown Clearwater and Clearwater Beach parking rates go up

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    CLEARWATER, Fla. — The next time you go to Downtown Clearwater or Clearwater Beach, you’ll be paying more to park. 

    The new rates went into effect on Oct. 1, 2025.

    What You Need To Know

    • Downtown Clearwater’s on-street parking is going from 50 cents to $1 an hour. Downtown garage rates are also increasing



    • Clearwater Beach parking is also going up. On-street parking is now $4 an hour, and lots are rising to $3.50 an hour



    • The city said the new rates will encourage turnover and better support downtown



    • The updated rates went into effect on Oct. 1, 2025




    The city said the rates will encourage turnover and better support downtown. 

    Lao Deli, a pop-up restaurant, is partnering with Chiang Mai Thai and Sushi Bar in Downtown Clearwater to share their love for Lao food.

    “We know we can reach the masses about Lao food in this area,” said Somsai Thongsavanh, co-owner of Lao Deli.

    Being in Downtown Clearwater, Thongsavanh said they see their fair share of tourists during the spring and winter months. 

    “I wish that folks would just come down when there’s a concert, there are events that’s happening, go check out the calendar,” Thongsavanh said.

    On-street parking is going from 50 cents to $1 an hour, and downtown garages are now 75 cents an hour. 

    “I don’t know how much that’s going to affect that. It’s a slight increase. So, it’s one of those things where we’ll see what happens,” he said.

    The owner of Chiang Mai Thai, who’s had the busines for 18 years agrees. She said she doesn’t expect much to change.

    “We’re seeing people come and go all the time. Prices on things go up, go down, and it didn’t affect anything,” said Nola Louvon, Chiang Mai Thai and Sushi Bar.

    Beach parking is also going up. On-street parking is now $4 an hour, and lots are rising to $3.50 an hour. 

    “I don’t feel good about it, but hopefully they’ll do something about it and make it lower,” said Pierre Kayrouz, beachgoer.

    Either way, Thongsavanh said he’s optimistic for the future because he said the area has a lot to offer.

    “Once you come through here, you’ll want to come back again,” Thongsavanh said.

    And hopefully, Thongsavanh said, you’ll have some Lao food too.

    Clearwater residents can get a 50% discount on both downtown and beach parking. They just have to apply for a permit.

    The BayCare Sound will also have a new flat rate for large events. Starting two hours before the event, parking will be $5.

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  • Dunedin restaurant hires people of all abilities

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    DUNEDIN, Fla. — Finding a job can be challenging — and if you have a disability, it can be even harder. 

    In 2024, the unemployment rate for people with a disability was about twice that of those with no disability, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Current Population Survey. 

    In October, Spectrum News is celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

    What You Need To Know

    • The owners of Pisces Sushi and Global Bistro in Dunedin say they hire people of all abilities

    • The owners’ son has autism and they said they saw a need for employment opportunities

    • They’ve hired around 10 people with autism or Down syndrome since they opened 12 years ago


    Pisces Sushi and Global Bistro in Dunedin hires people of all abilities. 

    Gabby Collazo is a busy busser.

    “Whenever we don’t have a lot of customers or there’s nothing for me to clean tables, this is what I do often,” Collazo said while setting up the menu holders.

    Whether it’s switching out menus, seating customers or clearing tables, Collazo has it under control.

    “You get to meet nice people here, both employee and customer,” Collazo said. “It’s a really nice workplace.”

    She’s been working at Pisces Sushi and Global Bistro for more than three years, but Collazo said it was difficult at first because she has autism. 

    “I’m not used to talking to new people because I get nervous easily,” she said. “And it’s hard for me to get a get along, because you don’t know what they like. You don’t know if they’re comfortable talking to you.”

    The restaurant has been in business for 12 years, and the owners estimate they’ve hired close to 10 people with autism or Down syndrome. Angelica Galvin, who has Down syndrome, has been a hostess at the restaurant for eight years.

    “They make me very, very happy, like a gift,” Galvin said.

    One of the owners has a son is on the spectrum, which led to the realization that there is a need for employment opportunities for people like him. 

    “It was a thought, it was like, ‘OK, what is he going to do in the future?’” said co-owner Elizabeth Perez-Keene.

    Perez-Keene said it’s rare for people with different abilities to be a part of the day-to-day busy restaurant operations, and since their son has autism, she said they figured, why not let him try? 

    “We just have to give them a chance, and not just automatically put in our heads that it’s just hard for them to do a job,” Perez-Keene said “Let them do it, let them try because they’ll prove you so wrong.”

    The industry, Perez-Keene said, teaches them multitasking and patience, while Collazo said it’s helped her socially.

    “The employees here are all so nice,” Collazo said. “That’s what helps me get through the day. Helps me chat, at least talk a little more, make eye contact. It’s been easy, it’s been helpful.”

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  • Hispanic Outreach Center director of community engagement hits career milestone

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    CLEARWATER, Fla. — For two and a half decades, the Hispanic Outreach Center has been helping people with resources and life skills in Pinellas County.

    And Director of Community Engagement Andrea Vendetti has been there since it all began.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Hispanic Outreach Center in Clearwater has been helping people for decades

    • Andrea Vendetti has been with the nonprofit since it began 25 years ago

    • After decades with the nonprofit, Vendetti said she is considering retirement


    “I feel grateful that I had this opportunity because I met so many incredible people, and I was able to help so many people,” said Vendetti.

    Vendetti has been working for the nonprofit since it began 25 years ago. 

    “God put me here for a reason, I think I should stay. I never thought of leaving after I started working,” she said.

    Vendetti started out as a bilingual assistant, helping non-English speakers access resources. She was also an interpreter who worked in partnership with Clearwater Police to help victims of crime work through the legal process.  

    “I really like to help the victims because like, they were so helpless. They didn’t know where to go, and they had so much need and were scared.”

    The nonprofit started with just three employees in 2000, including Vendetti. The staff has now grown to 17. As the director of community engagement, Vendetti said, they are always finding new needs. The organization recently added a health navigator program. It also coordinates monthly food distributions.

    “We’re a key partner in our community to bridge the gap between the Hispanic community and the mainstream, to integrate them into the community and provide access to services,” Vendetti said.

    Vendetti said some of the biggest challenges facing the Hispanic community today are immigration, health care navigation, affordable housing and childcare

    “We really love our community, and we want to support the Hispanic community. We want it to be successful,” she said.

    Vendetti has been there through it all, and after decades of service, she said she is considering retirement. 

    “It’s really hard. I can’t imagine myself and not being here and not working with the community. I probably will still be involved, maybe with the Hispanic Leadership Council,” she said.

    No matter what her role is, Vendetti will always be a staple in the Pinellas County Hispanic community.

    The Hispanic Outreach Center is moving locations in the next several weeks, from Franklin Street to Woodlawn Street in Clearwater.

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  • St. Pete tea company deals with uncertainty around tariffs

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Nearly all imported teas are subject to a tariff, but a recent executive order from President Donald Trump could remove reciprocal tariffs from many products that cannot be grown in the U.S. in future trade negotiations.

    That includes some teas; however, the president specifically wrote his willingness to modify tariffs “will depend on numerous factors.”

    What You Need To Know

    • President Donald Trump signed an executive order that could narrow the scope of what imports are tariffed

    • The excluded items cannot be made or grown in the U.S.

    • Tea and coffee are on the list

    • One local business has adjusted to the tariffs but is still dealing with uncertainty


    “We’re not counting on anything, but it would be really great to see that come to fruition and to allow products like tea and coffee that really aren’t grown at scale the United States at all, and really have no domestic market, available without a tariff,” the order said.

    Abigail StClair, founder and owner of TeBella Tea Company in St. Petersburg, is watching all of this closely, as in recent years, matcha tea has surged in popularity.

    “We go through almost 200 pounds of matcha a month, so that’s a lot of matcha,” said StClair.

    That’s about 10,000 cups across TeBella’s four locations and wholesale customers. Matcha sales have been increasing since StClair founded the tea business in 2010.

    “It’s always been about the ritual for me. I love the moment that you take to sit and relax and kind of celebrate all that there is to enjoy and to love about tea,” she said.

    The rising global demand has led to concerns of shortages, but StClair said they aren’t worried about their supply at the moment. Right now, she is more concerned about the uncertainty surrounding tariffs. 

    “We currently import on any given day from about 13 different countries, so it’s a lot to keep track of,” she said.

    StClair said the unpredictability is the greatest challenge. She said it’s hard determining how much of a product to buy. 

    “I’ve had several instances where when I’m purchasing and when I’m receiving, the tariffs have changed, and that’s hard to predict. It’s hard to budget for that,” StClair said.

    In November, the Supreme Court will consider whether President Trump has the power to impose sweeping tariffs.

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  • Pastor addresses arrest for allegedly blocking crews from covering mural

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The “Black History Matters” mural in St. Petersburg was painted over Friday night. Two pastors were arrested for allegedly trying to block FDOT crews covering the mural.

    Reverend Andy Oliver and Minister Benedict Atherton-Zeman were charged with obstruction.

    What You Need To Know

    • Two pastors were arrested for allegedly trying to block FDOT crews from covering the “Black History Matters” mural

    • St. Petersburg Police said they told Pastor Andy Oliver that he was putting himself and FDOT workers at risk. Police said they tried multiple times to get him off the road, but he had to be carried off
    • Oliver’s attorney said the area of the road was blocked off and Oliver wasn’t putting anyone at risk

    • Gov. Ron DeSantis defended directives to remove street art from roads statewide he said it’s more safety than politics.


    Spectrum News spoke with Oliver after his Sunday morning worship.

    The worship was full of music and references to history and murals.

    “I am Pastor Andy Oliver. I use the pronouns he/him, also known this week now as inmate 2007898 or something like that I don’t remember,” said Oliver.

    Oliver said he was kneeling and praying on the “Black History Matters” mural when FDOT began to remove it. Oliver said his faith compelled him to be there.

    “I follow Jesus, who always stood with those who were being marginalized and attacked, and I knew that there was no other place for me to be that on that mural,” he said.

    St. Petersburg police said they told Oliver that he was putting himself and FDOT workers at risk. The arrest affidavit said Oliver refused multiple attempts by police to get him to move and had to be carried off the road.

    “I was told that I was in the way of traffic, and I let the police know they were in the way of justice,” Oliver said.

    Oliver said he wasn’t going to move until his prayers to stop the mural’s erasure were answered. His attorney, Michele Rayner, said the men were using their right to protest and didn’t put anyone at risk because she said the area was blocked off and it was late at night. They were charged with obstruction.

    “I think that that is a catch-all charge. When law enforcement doesn’t know what to charge people with, they charge them with that. I would argue that they weren’t obstructing anything. At the point they needed to comply with law enforcement, they did,” said Michele Rayner, Attorney.

    Gov. Ron DeSantis defended directives to remove street art from roads statewide. He said it’s about more safety than politics.

    “Local governments are required to mimic the state standard and I know some of them think that they don’t have to follow that, but this is all very clear in law and interestingly, most of this stuff, I mean, they had to remove a back the blue, they had to remove some of these other things, so it spans different things,” said DeSantis at a Tampa press conference on Tuesday.

    Spectrum News asked Oliver what he thought of DeSantis’ claims, and his answer was short.

    “We all know that’s bulls**t, that’s all I have to say,” Oliver said.

    Oliver said the state can take away the city’s murals but not the community’s joy.

    Rayner said now she will talk to the state attorney’s and encourage them not to press formal charges. If they are found guilty, they could face up to a year in jail.

    Spectrum News reached out to St. Petersburg police to see if they have any further comment. They don’t have one at this time.

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  • Juvenile Welfare Board ensures students have access to mental health services

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Local experts said there is a growing need for mental health services for Pinellas County students.

    Funding for those services at Pinellas County Schools was up in the air when President Donald Trump froze federal education grants in July.

    What You Need To Know

    • Experts said there is a growing need for mental health services among children

    • Funding for mental health services in Pinellas County Schools was uncertain when President Trump froze federal education grants

    • At the time, the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County said it was reallocating lapse funds to two mental health providers

    • The frozen funds were released, and the board is still reallocating money to fund therapists that will help more than 300 students


    While the funding was released, the school district had a back-up plan it is still moving forward with.

    School is back in session, and school-based therapists are hard at work. 

    “It feels amazing, it is the most rewarding job you can have. The children are wonderful and having them just run up to you every day and give you hugs and they’re just so excited to see you,” said Danielle Potter, school behavior therapist at Suncoast Center.

    Danielle Potter is a school-based therapist in Pinellas County. She’s been in this career field for over four years, helping students in kindergarten through fifth grade. 

    “We treat a variety of mental health disorders. Many of our children are struggling with anxiety, depression, ADHD, post-traumatic stress disorder,” she said.

    She has a wall full of tools to help her treat those disorders. Whether it’s coloring, reading or playing with blocks, her goal is to get her students to open up.

    “It’s super important, it helps me identify the issues that we need to work on and the skills that we need to develop,” Potter said.

    She said the need for mental health services has been growing since the pandemic. Potter said the need is so great, she splits her time between Sandy Lane and Kings Highway Elementary schools every week. 

    “So both schools have extensive needs for the services, and a lot of the children are struggling and have behavioral challenges,” she said.

    Funding for mental health services at Pinellas County Schools was uncertain when Trump froze federal education grants in July. Those funds were released, but a plan that was initially considered as an alternative has become reality.

    “In order to be ready to learn and be available to learn in school, it’s important that we nurture and support our youth,” said Karen Boggess, chief operating officer of the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County.

    The Juvenile Welfare Board (JWB) said it is reallocating lapse funds to two mental health providers. About $600,000 will be split between Suncoast Center and Directions for Living. That’s funding a handful of therapists and helping more than 300 students. 

    “When we can come together and partner with each other and figure out solutions so that our children and youth have all the tools that they need to be able to learn, grow, develop and be successful, and that’s what’s the most important,” Boggess said.

    This school year, Potter says her position is now fully funded by the Juvenile Welfare Board. Both the board and Potter said her role is crucial to student success.

    “We need to address the mental health issues that our children are exhibiting now, instead of waiting until they are adults,” Potter said.

    In an executive order, President Trump called for more oversight of federal grant making. He said every tax dollar the government spends should improve American lives or advance American interests.

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  • Tampa Bay area solar companies busy as federal tax credit ends this year

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — For homeowners looking to take advantage of federal solar tax credits, time is running out.

    Those credits will expire at the end of this year after recent federal legislation ended tax credits for rooftop solar setups. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Federal solar tax credits to end on Dec. 31

    • Federal solar tax credits offered a 30% reduction in cost to consumers 

    • Justin Senia, who started Evolve Solar about five years ago, said his company has been busy in the last several months


    There are a lot of moving pieces to prepare a house for solar power. Justin Senia would know — he has been in the industry for nearly 13 years and started Evolve Solar about five years ago. 

    “It’s outdoors, it’s pretty fun, a little challenging,” he said. “I like electricity, I like the technology.”

    Co-owner Jay Singh said business has been busy, in part because of a federal solar tax credit. 

    “It made it more affordable for homeowners to make that switch — especially when they’re saving 30% off the solar system costs,” Singh said. “It makes tons of financial sense,” Singh said.

    When President Donald Trump signed the “Big Beautiful Bill Act” into law, the federal solar tax credit that gives consumers that reduction in price was slated to go away. It will disappear at the end of 2025.

    In an executive order, Trump claimed that solar and wind projects displaces domestic energy sources and compromises the country’s electric grid.

    “Reliance on so-called ‘green’ subsidies threatens national security by making the United States dependent on supply chains controlled by foreign adversaries,” the order said.

    Singh said business has gone up about 20% in recent months, as homeowners try to go solar while they still have a tax break. 

    “So there’s definitely a big jump in demand for solar,” he said. “And everybody’s pushing to, to get their install done by the end of the year.”

    Evolve Solar worked on Diane Willis’ house on Tuesday. She said she made her appointment early this year and said the tax break ending was a factor. 

    “It’s saved me money, but I probably would have done it anyway,” Willis said. “Because I’m so convinced that I need this right now.”

    Despite losing the tax break after Dec. 31, 2025, Senia said he is still expecting people to turn to solar power.

    “Yes, high demand for residential and commercial, for solar for sure, and I think it will always be,” Senia said.

    According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, Florida ranks second in the country for total installed residential solar capacity.

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  • Homes for Our Troops builds home for injured veteran in Wesley Chapel

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    WESLEY CHAPEL Fla. — An injured veteran is getting a brand-new home with the help from a nonprofit.

    Homes for Our Troops is building a home in Wesley Chapel with special accommodations for an injured veteran who’s moving to Florida.

    What You Need To Know

    • Homes for Our Troops is building a home in Wesley Chapel 

    • The new home is for Christopher Lawrence, a veteran

    • The veteran said he needs a house with special accommodations because of his injuries from being in the Marine Corps. 

    • Volunteers did the landscaping at the house on July 26, 2025


    On Saturday, over a hundred volunteers were putting the finishing on the house, getting it ready for its first resident, Christopher Lawrence.

    After watching the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, as a high schooler, Lawrence said he knew he wanted to join the U.S. Marine Corps. He enlisted in 2005 and was stationed at Camp Pendleton before being deployed to Iraq two years later.

    “I wouldn’t recommend it for vacation. Iraq was hotter than this, wasn’t fun,” the veteran said.

    He was part of the 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion in Iraq for about five months before he was severely injured.

    “Doing combat patrols, and walking over a bridge, and they blew the bridge up underneath me, and I lost my leg,” Lawrence said.

    He said everything was injured but his right arm. He eventually needed a wheelchair and said he had a hard time getting around his house. So, one of his friends recommended he reach out to the nonprofit Homes for Our Troops.

    “What good am I just laying on the couch, not able to do anything, making my wife do everything?” he said.

    Homes for Our Troops is now providing Lawrence and his family with a new home in Wesley Chapel. The house has specific modifications to meet the veteran’s needs.

    Christopher Lawrence (far right) and his familly is moving into this brand new home free of charge. Homes for Our Troops provided the home to the family. (Spectrum News/Tyler O’Neill)

    “This is the way to pay back the kind of sacrifices that they put up,” said Bob Samonte, IT Consultant for Homes for Our Troops.

    150 volunteers came out Saturday morning to do the landscaping in the front and backyard of the house.

    “It’s amazing to see the support from people that I don’t know in the community. You know, it makes me happy to be here,” Lawrence said.

    Lawrence hopes his new home lets him be a functional member of his family, he said.

    After all the volunteers left, the family got to see inside the home.

    The nonprofit said it expects Lawrence and his family to be able to move in during early September.

    Homes for Our Troops builds about 30 homes a year across the country, and since 2004, the nonprofit says it has built roughly 430 homes.

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  • Nonprofit making Biochar with first mobile processing facility in Florida

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    HIGHLAND PARK Fla. — A Florida nonprofit is on a mission to revive the state’s farmland with sustainability in mind.

    Biotech Applied Research is turning waste into “biochar,” a charcoal-like material.

    The nonprofit said it could completely change the Florida agriculture industry.

    What You Need To Know

    • Biochar is a charcoal-like material 

    • BAR said biochar will benefit soil, water and air quality


    Farming is in Biotech Applied Research CEO Zack Farr’s blood

    “It’s everything, being able to be outside and in God’s country and just not be behind a cubicle,” said Farr.

    He is a third-generation citrus farmer from Avon Park. He grew up working in the groves, but now, many are just piles of wood.

    “We’re going to be going to groves that I’ve planted when I was four years old,” Farr said.

    The United States Department of Agriculture said Florida orange production has decreased by more than 90% since the early 2000s. 

    “Now we’re at a 93% loss of production over the last two decades because of disease and hurricane and real estate encroachment,” Farr said.

    In 2023, Farr realized that some of his crops were on an old citrus burn pile. 

    “On one plot of land we had, a 12-foot by 12-foot plot of hemp that was 12 feet tall in 60 days, and the rest was barren,” he said.

    From the ashes came an opportunity, he spent about two years researching technology to make biochar himself.

    Now, he is the CEO of Biotech Applied Research.

    He said the nonprofit has the first mobile biochar processing facility in Florida.

    “This machine can eat about 15 tons of wood an hour,” he said.

    Nearly whole trees are dropped into the Tigercat 6040 Carbonizer and hit with 2000 degrees Fahrenheit.

    “With that heat and the right combustion, it actually allows that, organic carbon, the pores inside of it to expand,” Farr said.

    Farr said rather than burning the trees in an open fire where their carbon is turned into carbon dioxide, this machine is helping keep the carbon in place

    “When you burn a grove, you’re releasing about 11 tons of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. What we’re going to be doing is redirecting that carbon back into the soil,” Farr said.

    This is biochar, a charcoal-like material. Biotech Applied Research said the material will help soil, air and water quality. (Spectrum News/Tyler O’Neill)

    The final product is biochar. The material is chock-full of carbon — Farr said it’s just what the soil needs.

    “So adding that carbon into the soil allows for that microbial growth. Basically, it allows the plants to eat more food. The more food you eat, the bigger you are, the bigger you are, the higher the return for the farmer,” he said.

    Big Earth Landscaping in Tampa sells biochar. The store’s assistant manager said they’ve been selling more of the product as awareness grows. 

    “It helps to provide a healthier environment for the plants. And, if you have a healthy plant, you get better nutrient intake and, more resistant to pests and disease,” Big Earth Landscaping Assistant Manager Kevin Damphouse.

    As Biotech Applied Research is scaling up its operations, Farr said it’s hoping to clear about 5 acres of trees and produce about 20 tons of biochar a day. 

    “That’s what Biotech Applied Research’s intentions are, is to kind of take the risk to do crazy innovative stuff and this is where we’re starting,” he said.

    Turning waste into innovative farming solutions.

    The nonprofit said local schools are testing how much carbon dioxide is absorbed from the atmosphere when biochar is produced.

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