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  • The Deuces: Where Black community thrived, barred from other parts of St. Pete

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Before the end of segregation, there were two St. Petes: a white one and a Black one. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Segregation and Jim Crow laws restricted where the Black community could go in St. Pete 

    • The Black community created a mostly self-contained community around 22nd Street South 

    •  It offered houses, businesses, schools, healthcare and entertainment

    • Groups now strive to preserve the history of that area 


    Laws restricted Black residents from going to certain portions of the city except for work, limiting them to designated areas and neighborhoods.

    The most famous of those neighborhoods is the one centered around 22nd Street South, often called “The Deuces.”

    “It was more than a street. It was an ecosystem. It was our ecosystem,” said Latorra Bowles, executive director of Deuces Live. “It was the only place African Americans thrived.”

    It was also a self-contained area that tried to cover all facets of life.

    Housing

    The neighborhood offered housing options for African Americans, though early housing was built without formal planning. In 1941, the Jordan Park Housing Complex opened. It incorporated 446 apartments, the state’s largest public housing endeavor to that time.

    “He knew African Americans needed decent and affordable housing,” said Basha Jordan Jr., whose grandfather, Elder Jordan Sr., donated the land for the project. The housing complex is named in Jordan’s honor.

    Businesses

    At its peak, more than 100 businesses lined 22nd Street South and some of the streets that ran parallel and perpendicular.

    “Everything we need is in the corridor,” Bowles said. “You have your small businesses, you have your restaurants, you have your hotels, you have your clubs.”

    Churches

    Numerous churches lined the streets in the neighborhood, especially along 9th Avenue South, which intersected with 22nd Street South. The city notes that in 1939, 19 of the city’s 123 churches were located in the 22nd Street neighborhood.

    Schools

    Jordan Park Elementary opened in 1925, a segregated school located on 9th Avenue South. Gibbs High School, the first all-Black high school in St. Pete, opened in 1927.

    Healthcare

    Mercy Hospital was established in 1923, one of the few healthcare institutions that accepted Black patients during the segregation era. Jim Crow laws precluded some hospitals from treating Black people, while prejudice stood in the way as well.

    Entertainment

    The Royal Theater opened in 1948, one of just two theaters that African Americans could attend in St. Pete.

    Down the street, the Manhattan Casino Hall had launched in 1925. It was the focal point of entertainment, socializing, and music in the neighborhood. It was even a well-known stop on the Chitlin’ Circuit, a network of performance venues safe for African Americans to play during the segregation era.

    “This was a place where African Americans could come, feel at peace, feel human, in the midst of segregation and racism that was running rampant in the city,” Jordan said, sitting underneath a statue of his grandfather that stands on 22nd Street South.

    Deuces Live is attempting to “preserve, promote and revitalize” this corridor, preserving its history while promoting a rich future.

    “It’s extremely important to preserve the history of this area because if we don’t tell the story, it will be rewritten or untold,” Bowles said. “If we don’t tell our story, no one will.”

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    Jeff Butera

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  • Artists highlighting representation this Black History Month

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — When it comes to public art, the Tampa Bay area is no stranger to mural-covered walls and, at one time, mural-covered streets.

    In 2020, new artists emerged with painting things like the Black Lives Matter street mural in St. Pete and similar murals in Tampa.

    A number of those artists were Black artists who say representation was crucial during a time of racial unrest in this country and that representation is just as important now.

    For artist Jade Jackson, all she sees is color when she thinks of what her art brings to the world. For her, representation plays a big role in her work.

    “It’s not something abstract or nature-based. I like painting women and women of color. A lot of my artwork and paintings I’ve done and sold, they’re usually Black,” Jackson said. “I’m really into, like, the sci-fi fantasy anime world, and I love redoing things sometimes in a way where it shows us. And so I think that representation is important in regards to younger people seeing us.”

    Jackson said she applied that same intentional approach in 2020 when she was asked to paint three words that mean so much to her. “Black Lives Matter. So, I had the S. So Black Lives, I had the “S” in the middle for lives,” she said.

    The project in front of the Woodson African American Museum in St. Pete was her first mural.

    “I was like, ‘Let me do something that comes natural for me,’ and so I approached it with joy and excitement and curiosity. I was, ‘Like, let me paint something I enjoy,’ and I thought if people see that and feel inspired, that’s great,” she said.

    Two years later she painted over the Black Lives Matter mural and helped paint the Black History Matters street mural. Then, in 2025, she watched as it was painted over following a directive from the Florida Department of Transportation, citing safety hazards and restrictions against ideological or political markings on roadways.

    The move sparked an emotional response from a lot of people, but Jackson said she was more worried about the broader picture.

    “I care more about what they’re doing to us than them painting over the mural,” she said.

    A popular street mural in Tampa was also inspired by the racial reckoning in America back in 2020. Mark Anthony, along with his son, was one of the artists there that day.

    “I felt some type of way with it, but it was also just, I think, the camaraderie of the artists and now seeing those artists from that period how they’ve grown,” Anthony said. “Shout out to that day. I mean it was a great moment to see community come together all at once. So, to me, it was an amazing experience.”

    It’s an experience that now lives on through photos and memories because it was also painted over after FDOT directives.

    Jackson believes the message in the murals belongs in public view.

    “I think we can still have a place for it, and I think it is a strong reminder. We have things that remind us of the Holocaust and 9/11, things that are important, and Black history is a part of this country and this culture and important to all of us,” she said.

    Libraries, city hall and the courthouse are just some of her suggestions for a new mural to replace the street art. And she’s hoping someone is listening.

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    Saundra Weathers

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  • Pasco County Schools planning to create first K-8 campus in East Pasco

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    DADE CITY, Fla. — Pasco County School officials are looking at creating a new K-8 school campus.

    What You Need To Know

    • Pasco County School officials are looking to combine Pasco Elementary and Pasco Middle to create a new K-8 school campus

    • The district hinted at the possibility in December when the school board named Gretchen Rudolph-Fladd as the half-time principal of both campuses
    • Unlike other K-8 mergers in the district, those with the district say this move is not related to efficient use of space but rather for academic reasons
    • The school board could vote on the proposal as early as next week during a meeting on Feb. 17


    This would combine Pasco Elementary School and neighboring Pasco Middle School into one school, creating the first K-8 school in East Pasco County.

    Employees at both schools first learned of the proposal in January. The district hinted at the possibility in December when the school board named Gretchen Rudolph-Fladd as the half-time principal of both campuses. If approved, she would become the principal of the K-8 school.

    Unlike other K-8 mergers in the district, those with the district say this move is not related to efficient use of space, but rather for academic reasons.

    Superintendent John Legg says ongoing behavior and course performance concerns at Pasco Middle are a motivating factor. District data shows the school as having one of the highest levels of student absents of all 20 schools with middle school students.

    “It gives them better opportunities in the upper grade divisions,” said Legg. “So what we see is we see it as a win-win for parents, a win for students, and really a win for faculty as well in order to help those students achieve their goals.”

    Meanwhile, parents Spectrum Bay News 9 spoke to seem pretty split on the proposal. Some say they would welcome the change, while others see it negatively impacting their child’s education and would rather explore other methods of teaching.

    “As long as my kids are getting the education that they need and deserve, that’s really all I’m concerned about,” said Eric Rondo, a parent of two students at Pasco Middle School.

    “The thoughts scream louder that there’s definitely reasons why enrollment is dropping and that, in and of itself, makes me want to explore options that might be better for my kids,” said parent Amanda Bookman.

    Legg says there will be no changes in enrollment or service boundaries. He says the proposal will allow for more flexibility and innovative programs at that campus.

    The school board could vote on the proposal as early as next week during a meeting on Feb. 17.

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    Calvin Lewis

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  • Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival celebrates African American healthy living

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It starts with a lemon, and then some liquid gold.

    And tea brewing teen queens Stevie and Stephanie Fitzpatrick of Fitzpatrick Sweet Tea are ready to open their doors for a festival of celebration.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival is located at Carter G. Woodson African American Museum at 2240 9th Ave. S., in St Pete

    • The 2026 festival is scheduled for Saturday, February 14th, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m, during Presidents’ Day weekend and Black History Month.

    • Now in its ninth year, the free, family-friendly festival brings together over 18,000 attendees to celebrate Black culture, history, health equity, and community empowerment.

    • Free collard green plants, entertainment, marketplace, music, healthy collard recipes, line-dancing class to Motown, soul music

    The 13-year-olds are prepping for Tampa Bay’s Collard Green Festival, in cooalition with a program for young entrepreneurs.

    “We needed to figure out a way that our youth in this community who have businesses can benefit from this foot traffic,” said festival co-founder Samantha Harris.

    The Fitzpatrick 8th graders are in their second year at the festival’s young business owner’s program.

    Since 2018, The Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival works as a community driven nonprofit to transform lives with good food, joy, movement, and culture. 

    Through student programs, school partnerships, and an annual city-defining festival, the Collard Green Festival addresses the root causes of poor health, limited opportunities, and social isolation, for one practical, sustainable change at a time.

    We meet people where they are and walk with them toward better health, stronger connections, and a higher quality of life, not just for a day, but for a lifetime.

    “I enjoy doing this because I get to meet new people and I get to experience different things,” said Stevie Fitpatrick.

    They St. Pete duo are completing a 4-week online course studying topics like customer service and budgets. They earned food safety handling certificates and got a stipend.

    The twins encouraged other young people to start thinking of starting a business, or supporting their community. 

    “You could do anything you put your mind to, you just have to have the right mindset, and plan everything out, and budget,” Stephanie Fitzpatrick said.

    Also look for an official taste tester — like a younger brother maybe? The girls have 8-year-old Steve. 

    “This is the best sweet tea I ever tasted in my life,” said Steve, after taking one sip.

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    Virginia Johnson

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  • Fort Meade residents work to block potential data center

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    FORT MEADE, Fla. — Polk County residents are working to block a potential data center from coming to Fort Meade.

    What You Need To Know

    • Residents in Fort Meade are concerned that the proposed data center would strain Fort Meade’s water and energy infrastructure

    • The project overview states that the developer, Stonebridge, sees a timeline of Q1 2028 for the building, and the site size is roughly 1,330 acres, less than two miles from downtown Fort Meade

    • City leaders have held town hall meetings since early January, and found that no final decision has been made as the project remains in early stages

    • BELOW: Statement from company

    Data centers house large computer servers for major corporations. In June, city commissioners approved land-use and zoning changes for the facility. Since January 2026, they’ve held town halls to hear from the community.

    Like with anything in life, Tiffani Kline says time spent on her porch has shown her that change is inevitable.

    “You have to have change to continue to grow, especially in a small town like Fort Meade. You don’t want it to die, so to speak,” Kline said.

    Over the years, she has watched the small community slowly become more alive. But she says what hasn’t improved much is the infrastructure.

    “The city doesn’t really have the infrastructure to really house something. The data center that they’re proposing is going to be 4.4 million square feet. So roughly the property is around 1,300 acres, so I don’t feel like we have enough infrastructure.”

    Like many other residents, Kline believes the proposed data center would drain the city’s water and energy resources. Typically, data centers rely on large amounts of water to keep their equipment cool.

    “If we can’t sustain what is already here, how are we going to sustain something that is that big?” she said.

    According to the developing company, Stonebridge’s recent plans show the facility — which would be located on U.S. 17 — would require 50,000 gallons of water per day.

    In a statement, company principal Doug Firstenberg said:

    “The development will fund its own infrastructure costs for all utilities, including those related to Duke Power. We have been coordinating with local utilities to ensure sufficient capacity is available. For water, in particular, we are committed to a closed‑loop mechanical system, which means water use will essentially be limited to bathrooms and kitchens. This results in a very low commercial demand, reducing the approved allocation by more than sixty percent. The City will also benefit from significant revenue growth, including real estate taxes and municipal service taxes, as well as both short‑ and long‑term job creation.”

    Newly appointed Mayor of Fort Meade Jaret Williams says he is taking in all of this information right along with residents. He assures the city will not make any decision that isn’t in the best interest of the community.

    “What’s important to me is the education and that residents feel like they have a voice because you can sell anything, but what I want to make sure is that they don’t feel there’s been any type of bait and switch or there’s been a short sale,” Williams said. “A list of promises that can happen and will happen, and then whatever company gets on the ground, they don’t make good on those promises.”

    As for Kline, she says there’s no way to know for sure what the long-term impact would be.

    “How can they guarantee what they need? And who’s to say that’s not going to change later on, once it’s completely built? There are a lot of empty questions and promises at this point,” she says.

    Stonebridge is looking to have the first building for the data center complete by 2028. So far, developers haven’t purchased the property or announced which company would operate it.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Young Cocoa driver chasing NASCAR dream

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    AUBURNDALE, Fla. — Ayden Carmichael’s favorite parts of racing are in the thick of the competition. 

    “To be honest, it has to be like the actual race, and I really like passing people,” Carmichael said. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Ayden Carmichael is a young racer from Cocoa

    • He won his first U.S. Legend race at the Showdown Series this weekend

    • Carmichael was named the reserve champion for 2025 Legends Division points standings at Auburndale Speedway

    • At the Summer Shootout Series in Charlotte, N.C., he worked with his favorite NASCAR driver, Bubba Wallace 


    The track is his domain. It’s been that way since he was 4 years old. 

    When he’s in race mode, it’s like he’s on the hunt, just like a shark. 

    “My grandma, me and her used to always read shark books,” Carmichael said, explaining how he got his nickname, “The Shark.”

    “Every time I pass somebody, it was just my driving style. I would come up on you, push you out the way, and my uncle said, ‘just like a shark’.”

    Ayden Carmichael, 12, is nicknamed ‘The Shark’ for the way he chases down other racers. (Spectrum Sports/Brandon Green)

    Carmichael started by driving go-karts. Since then, he has graduated and is now driving a U.S. Legend car, which goes around 120 mph. 

    The Cocoa native comes from three generations of racers. Granddad Bill; his uncle, Nate; and Carmichael work on the car together. 

    “It means a lot that they would spend their time [here], instead of with other parts of the family, just relaxing and helping me do this. It means a lot,” Carmichael said.

    At just 12 years old, Carmichael earned the reserve champion honor for 2025 Legends Division points standings at Auburndale Speedway. He’s the youngest driver to accomplish the feat. 

    “It means a lot to be the youngest driver, especially beating the big dogs,” Carmichael said. 

    “We got second overall last year, adults and children. They don’t separate them at the local tracks,” said Nate Carmichael, his uncle and crew chief.

    Nate Carmichael has been coaching Ayden since he started racing.

    Nate Carmichael, Ayden’s uncle, has been coaching the young racer since he was young. (Spectrum Sports/Brandon Green)

    “It was a lot of hard work, some bad words, a lot of sleepless nights,” Nate Carmichael said. “A couple bent frames, it’s just very rewarding to come together as a team.”

    Carmichael’s motivation to be the best comes from knowing it’s possible.

    Last year, he participated in the Summer Shootout Series in Charlotte, N.C., and went to work alongside and learned from the NASCAR driver who he said is his favorite, Bubba Wallace. 

    “It was really great. He’s a good, down-to-earth guy. He really helped me with my line over at Charlotte,” Carmichael said.

    This past weekend at Auburndale Speedway, Carmichael added to his trophy case by winning the Showdown Series. It was his first win in a U.S. Legend car. 

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    Brandon Green

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  • Bay area schools weigh adding 2% and whole milk as options

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    TAMPA, Fla. — When President Donald Trump signed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act in January, it paved the way for 2% and whole milk to return to schools after a nearly 15-year absence.

    What You Need To Know

    • School districts have the option to bring back 2% and whole milk as options

    • No Bay area school district has committed to having these milks as options but are considering them

    • M&B Products said it will work with schools on what they need 


    The Obama administration originally removed those milks in an effort to fight childhood obesity.

    Now, school districts will once again have the option to provide a wider range of milk options. 

    Dale McClellan, the President of M&B Products, a Bay area dairy company, has been working with schools since 2004. 

    The majority of the milk they supply is low fat, but now school districts have more options.

    So far, the response has been limited. 

    “There’s been a little bit of a handful of phone calls from systems wanting to know, do we plan on doing a bigger variety of butterfat percentages? And we’ve told them we would entertain anything that makes sense,” he said.

    Christie Roberts, the Director of Patient Nutrition Services at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, said more options may encourage children to drink more milk.

    “If you’re a child that doesn’t like skim milk and then you have the option of a 2% or whole, then it’s going to increase your consumption of milk,” she said. 

    No matter the type of milk, Roberts said children should have between two and three servings of milk a day.

    “Younger children, we do recommend the more full or fat options for their growth and development,” she said. “But as they get older and they’re trying to work towards a healthy, lean physique and health, then the lower-fat options might be good.” 

    Spectrum News reached out to local school districts to find out if they are considering adding 2% and whole milk as options. 

    No districts have committed to adding the products, but are considering it.  

    Most provided statements that were similar to this from Hillsborough County Schools:

    “We are exploring how we might add whole milk and 2% milk to our offerings, as these products are not part of our current contracts with our dairy vendor.”

    Sarasota County Schools provided this statement:

    “If it is ultimately determined that Sarasota County Schools will move forward with offering 2% and whole milk as part of the National School Lunch Program, the earliest anticipated implementation would be the 2026–2027 school year.”

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    Matt Lackritz

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  • New Port Richey museum searches for larger home as collection outgrows space

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    NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — The Museum of Archaeology, Paleontology and Science in New Port Richey is looking for a new place to call home. It has been housed on the campus of Wendell Krinn Technical High School for the past five years. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The museum has been on the campus of Wendell Krinn Technical High School for the past five years

    • Leaders say they need at least 35,000 square feet to properly store, preserve and display the items — and to expand educational programs

    • Right now, the museum is considering several possible locations, but officials say none can be shared publicly yet

    Its collection has grown so large, the museum simply doesn’t have enough room anymore.

    Inside the current building, Executive Director Charles Zidar walks through tightly packed display rooms and storage areas filled with artifacts from around the world.

    “We have really packed it in here, and the collections continue to grow,” Zidar said.

    The museum houses everything from dinosaur fossils to ancient cultural artifacts. Among the collection are excavated hadrosaur bones — a duck-billed dinosaur — including a tibia, rib and vertebra recovered in Wyoming.

    There are also artifacts from ancient South America, Roman and Greek items, and even objects recovered from famous shipwrecks.

    “We have a lot of objects from famous shipwrecks, including a Titanic spoon,” Zidar explained.

    But the vast collection has created a major challenge: space.

    The museum currently occupies about 5,000 square feet. Leaders say they need at least 35,000 square feet to properly store, preserve and display the items — and to expand educational programs.

    Staff and volunteers are still cataloging pieces that have been sitting in boxes for decades.

    University of South Florida student Melissa Abbruzzese has spent years documenting artifacts and placing them into a digital archive.

    “Right now I’m taking all the artifacts out of these boxes so I can verify which piece is which and put them into a digital archive,” she said.

    Many of the boxes she opens have not been touched in years.

    “This one is from Colombia and dates to about 750 to 1500 A.D.,” she said while examining a newly opened artifact.

    She hopes one day visitors will be able to see all of it on display.

    “That would be a dream come true. I’ve been in this little room for years now and I’m still seeing artifacts for the very first time,” Abbruzzese said.

    The museum regularly hosts hands-on events for children and families, and leaders say a larger facility would allow them to expand those programs.

    “We know this is going to be huge, and we want to be there for Tampa Bay — so we need the location to do it,” Zidar said.

    Right now, the museum is considering several possible locations, but officials say none can be shared publicly yet.

    Their goal: a space large enough to bring more people in and allow visitors to see, touch and learn about the history of the world.

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    Jeff Van Sant

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  • Poor weather forces NASA to push Crew-12 launch

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    KENNEDY SPACE CENTER — On Monday morning, NASA announced that Crew-12 mission managers made the decision to delay the launch to Thursday, due to unfavorable weather conditions.

    What You Need To Know

    • NASA is now eyeing Thursday for the Crew-12 launch

    • The NASA team is meeting on Tuesday morning for a weather briefing to determine if the Thursday opportunity holds or if it will be pushed to Friday

    • Get more space coverage here  ▶

    Originally, NASA’s commercial crew mission to the International Space Station was going to be on Wednesday at 6:01 a.m. ET.

    However, poor weather forced NASA to change its plans.

    “When we had our briefing this morning, the launch site weather is very favorable for the entire week here at the Kennedy Space Center, but we have abort weather up the east coast where should something happen to the launch vehicle, we can separate dragon and land safely, we could see high winds along that track,” says Steve Stich, NASA Commercial Crew Program manager, on Monday during a press conference.

    NASA pushed the launch ahead one day to 5:38 a.m. ET, Thursday, Feb. 12, as SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon are waiting at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 for launch.

    The NASA team is meeting on Tuesday morning for a weather briefing to determine if the Thursday opportunity holds or if it will be pushed to Friday.

    The four-member crew is NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedvaev.

    Meir and Fedvaev have flown to the space station once before.

    “They are returning residents, then we have two new flyers Jack Hathaway and Sophie Adenot. We are looking forward to having them on board as well,” says Dana Weigel, NASA International Space Station Program manager.

    Crew-12 was moved up due to an undisclosed illness of one of the Crew-11 astronauts, who safely returned to Earth back in January.

    “I wanted to thank the whole team for the early Crew-11 return, and this particular launch. Everyone’s done a great job,” Weigel says.

    Because of the medical episode, Crew-11’s mission was cut short. It was originally going to end in February.

    A big part of Crew-12’s mission is scientific investigations and technology demonstrations, prepping humans for future deep space missions to the moon and Mars and beyond.

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    Greg Pallone

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  • Ground broken on rare 100% affordable housing community in Largo

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    LARGO, Fla. — With housing costs continuing to climb across Pinellas County, local leaders say a new development now underway could help some working families stay in the community.

    What You Need To Know

    • Crews officially broke ground Tuesday on Olea on 126, a 144-unit apartment complex in Largo where every unit will be reserved for lower-income residents — something officials say is increasingly uncommon.

    • The project is expected to cost about $55 million, including $7.92 million from the Penny for Pinellas fund.

    • County leaders say the project targets workers who are increasingly being priced out of Pinellas County.

    • Construction is expected to be completed in June 2027.


    Crews officially broke ground Tuesday at Olea on 126, a 144-unit apartment complex in Largo where every unit will be reserved for lower-income residents — something officials say is increasingly uncommon.

    Not only does Largo see few new affordable housing developments, but projects where all apartments are income-restricted are even rarer.

    The complex will include two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments designed for families. Units will be set aside based on area median income (AMI):

    • 35 units for households earning up to 40% AMI

    • 72 units for households earning up to 60% AMI

    • 38 units for households earning up to 80% AMI

    County leaders say the project targets workers who are increasingly being priced out of Pinellas County.

    “We have so many folks that are trying to work in this community, whether they’re teachers, whether they’re hospitality workers, first responders, whatever. A wide range of folks looking for housing, a place to call home,” said Dave Eggers, Pinellas County Board of County Commission Chair. 

    Officials say without more housing options, many workers are forced to move to neighboring counties — and sometimes leave the workforce locally altogether.

    “So yeah, it’s a unique one. Many of them are 100% AMI of 80%. So it’s a little higher income threshold. This (Olea on 126) is a lower income threshold and really goes to the heart of some of the workers right here in Pinellas who are struggling to find a place, in fact, have to go to Pasco County or live somewhere else. And eventually we lose those workers,” Eggers added. 

    Cost and funding

    The project is expected to cost about $55 million, including $7.92 million from the Penny for Pinellas fund.

    Instead of a traditional retention pond, developers are installing an underground stormwater system designed to reduce flooding while freeing up land for housing and parking. Similar systems have been used in Orlando, Jacksonville and Fort Myers.

    “It takes away the water from the streets, the surface streets where everyone is walking and driving, where it’s going to keep it underground and out of sight, out of mind,” said stormwater consultant Mike Nester. 

    County officials say the project shows that affordable housing can still include modern infrastructure.

    “These projects are not easy to make work. So our County Commission and our residents have said affordable housing is important,” added Eggers. 

    Construction is expected to be completed in June 2027.

    Once finished, the development will provide family-sized units — one of the hardest types of affordable housing to find in the region.

    Project rendering

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    Fadia Patterson

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  • LILLY Learning Center offers students new direction on path of education

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    ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. — A Pasco County entrepreneur is changing the perception of homeschooling.

    What You Need To Know

    • Lexa Duno opened the LILLY Learning Center in 2024 as an alternative teaching method for students with learning disabilities

    • With a smaller atmosphere focused on helping students with learning disabilities, the center differs from your average school
    • Now, already two years in existence, Duno is noticing a positive trend among students and parents


    Lexa Duno opened the LILLY Learning Center as an alternative teaching method for students with learning disabilities. The learning center is helping shape the young minds of tomorrow.

    Hard at work inside a classroom are students, including mother and daughter duo Dacia and Julia Mitchell.

    “She’s an incredibly gifted child,” said Dacia of her daughter, Julia. “Both of our kids really are.”

    The center differs from your average school. It’s a smaller atmosphere focused on helping those students with learning disabilities.

    “As a mom of six, I find that there’s a learning environment for every child and every child is different,” said Dacia.

    Dacia said it was a struggle to find the right fit for her children — a struggle many parents go through.

    “We’ve done public school, private school, homeschool, we have two in boarding school — I mean, literally, you name it. If there’s a school out there, we’ve given it a go. I think that a lot of parents are finding the same frustrations that there is not necessarily one right way,” she said.

    Something that founder Duno realized while working as a literary specialist.

    “I work with a lot of kids who need reading interventions and, at that point in time, I was getting a lot of kids who were homeschooled in the area,” said Duno.

    That’s when she decided to open up LILLY, with the help of SMARTstart Pasco Incubators. It’s helping students who might need a little help on their path to education.

    “A diagnosed learning disability or maybe because they, for some reason, aren’t fitting socially or emotionally in the traditional school system and their families are looking for a really small, safe environment beyond the school system for them to grow and thrive and to be able to learn amongst their peers in a social learning environment,” said Duno.

    Now, already two years in existence, Duno is noticing a positive trend.

    “We have parents who think (their) child is probably not going to interact or participate,” she said. “And then, in a short amount of time, they come and they’re able to just thrive, which is amazing.”

    It’s changing the lives of Dacia and her daughter, and helping these students reach their full potential

    “It’s just a great place for you to learn who your child is and for them to learn who they are, about themselves and really grow into that,” Dacia said.

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    Calvin Lewis

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  • Ongoing Curlew Road construction causing traffic delays

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — An ongoing lane closure in Pinellas County is frustrating drivers on a busy road.

    What You Need To Know

    • Curlew Road eastbound now has reduced lanes between Countryside Boulevard and Tampa Road

    • According to FDOT, at least one lane is now closed 24 hours a day for a drainage project there

    • The $10.8 million project is set to be completed in the fall of 2026


    Curlew Road eastbound now has reduced lanes between Countryside Boulevard and Tampa Road — which is a major east-west connection in north Pinellas County.

    According to FDOT, at least one lane is now closed 24 hours a day for a drainage project there.

    Nicky Folven commutes on Curlew Road daily and says the one lane being closed has caused lots of delays, especially at McMullen Booth Road during rush hour.

    “There’s a lot of people trying to turn left to McMullen Booth. So there’s really only one lane that can get through. Because both sides are backed up,” Folven said.

    The lane closure extends from there to Curlew’s merge with Tampa Road — causing backups for drivers at all hours.

    “After school, on the weekends, just that lane being shut down. It’s a lot of people trying to get into two lanes,” Folven said.

    So she’s hoping that the work is done soon to help traffic flow through the area better.

    “I know it’s like a minor inconvenience but I guess my concerns are more with the length of time this has been closed down,” Folven said.

    According to the FDOT, the $10.8 million project is set to be completed in the fall of 2026.

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    Tim Wronka

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  • How a two-year program in Pinellas turns staffers into teachers

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Pinellas County Schools is gearing up to graduate its first class of teacher apprentices, an innovative program designed to promote support staff to full-time teachers.

    What You Need To Know

    • Pinellas County Schools is about to graduate its first cohort of teacher apprentices

    • The two-year program combines college coursework with real-world teaching experience

    • This graduation comes as the district faces staffing challenges, lessened by success of the apprenticeship

    • By fall 2026, 25 more staffers will be part of the teacher apprentice program


    Tamara McKinney says it’s like she was called to teach.

    “When I was a little girl, I did — I always wanted to be a teacher. I would set my dolls up and they would be my students,” said McKinney.

    As a mother of an adult son with disabilities, McKinney knows what children with special needs need. That’s how she ended up at Pinellas County Schools’ Nina Harris Exceptional Student Education Center as a paraprofessional.

    But, she says, she had more to give. That’s when she heard about the teacher apprenticeship program.

    “The purpose of the program is truly to match them with a mentor, and they’re with the same mentor for two years, they’re in that classroom, co-teaching side by side and learning from our experts,” said Dr. Nicole Gallucci-Landis, HR partner with the school district.

    The program for Pinellas County Schools’ support staff combines virtual college coursework with real-world teaching experience. After two years, and at no cost to the participant, they graduate and get promoted to full-time teachers.

    All throughout, they’re making more money than they would in their parapro jobs and then have an even better job waiting for them when it’s all finished.

    “I was telling my coworkers that I felt, at one point, that the county didn’t really care about us support staff. This was many years ago. And then, once this program came about, and all of the support I’ve received, I’ve changed my mindset,” said McKinney.

    Pinellas County’s program is the first to be endorsed by the Florida Department of Education. 

    A group of 24 is set to sign their contracts by the end of February, graduate in May and be in their own classroom by August. Ten more staffers started the apprenticeship in January, with 15 more slated to begin in the fall.

    “What we’re finding is they want to become teachers, but for whatever reason — life, financial reasons, they’ve cared about everybody else but themselves — but they have a desire and a passion to become a teacher and they’re so good with their kids. So this program supports that and then, we’re growing our own,” said Gallucci-Landis.

    Growing themselves, so they can pour into others.

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    Andy Cole

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  • Melissa Ley and FUELS help Pinellas County teachers and students

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A former Pinellas County teacher is still doing a lot to support students and teachers — in fact, Melissa Ley helped to start a nonprofit to do just that.

    Ley was a teacher with Pinellas County Schools for three years, but then decided to focus on homeschooling her two children.

    What You Need To Know

    • Melissa Ley is a former Pinellas County teacher

    • She helped to start Florida’s Unique Education Learning Support, or FUELS

    • FUELS provides classroom supplies for teachers, free professional development and student care closet supplies, among other things


    Ley’s experience in the classroom gave her an appreciation for the needs of teachers and the lack of resources they often face. She started an organization called Florida’s Unique Education Learning Support or FUELS, which provides classroom resources for teachers and items for school care closets for students in need.

    On a recent morning Ley and FUELS treasurer Maureen Price were taking large bags of personal care items to two schools.

    “So, tons of personal care items. Shampoo, deodorant. Personal hygiene things. Snacks. They go like crazy,” Ley said as she took bags out from the back of her SUV in front of St. Petersburg High School.

    “It is the fun part,” she added. “Shopping for, delivering and seeing how excited they are is the fun part.”

    A few moments later Ley and Price were meeting with school social worker Janna Vichaikul in her office to show her the items for her care closet.

    “Lotions, then all of your deodorant, T-shirts and stuff like that,” said Ley.

    Vicheikul said she was always grateful for the supplies.

    “We didn’t want to be too greedy, and they really surprised with how generous their donations were,” she said.

    FUELS has also donated some chairs and a mini fridge for the space where Vicheikul meets with students.

    FUELS also provides thousands of books that teachers can use in their classroom libraries, provides free professional development training for educators and an annual teacher appreciation event.

    Ley and Price also delivered care closet supplies to the Nina Harris Exceptional Student Education Center.

    “Basic needs have to be met in order for students to learn,” said Ley as she and staff members were placing the personal care items on shelves. “So, without these things, without schools and us providing it, the students aren’t able to do what is important and learn.”

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    Rick Elmhorst

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  • Lindsey Vonn crashes in Winter Olympic downhill, taken away by helicopter

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    CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Lindsey Vonn ‘s defiant bid to win the Winter Olympic downhill at the age of 41, on a rebuilt right knee and a badly injured left knee, ended Sunday in a frightening crash that saw her taken to safety by a rescue helicopter for the second time in nine days.

    What You Need To Know

    • Lindsey Vonn’s pursuit of a second Olympic downhill gold medal is over

    • The 41-year-old American, skiing with a badly injured left knee, crashed early in Sunday’s race in Italy

    • She was taken off the course by helicopter after receiving medical attention

    Vonn lost control within moments of leaving the starting gate, clipping a gate with her right shoulder and pinwheeling down the slope before ending up awkwardly on her back, her skis crisscrossed below her and her screams ringing out soon after medical personnel arrived. She was treated for long, anguished minutes as a hush fell over the crowd waiting far below at the finish line.

    She was strapped to a gurney and flown away, possibly ending the skier’s storied career. Her condition was not immediately known, with the U.S. Ski Team saying simply she would be evaluated.

    “She’ll be OK, but it’s going to be a bit of a process,” said Anouk Patty, chief of sport for U.S. Ski and Snowboard. “This sport’s brutal and people need to remember when they’re watching (that) these athletes are throwing themselves down a mountain and going really, really fast.”

    United States’ Lindsey Vonn is airlifted away after a crash during an alpine ski women’s downhill race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

    Breezy Johnson, Vonn’s teammate, became only the second American woman to win the Olympic downhill after Vonn did it 16 years ago. The 30-year-old Johnson held off Emma Aicher of Germany and Italy’s Sofia Goggia on a bittersweet day for the team.

    “I don’t claim to know what she’s going through, but I do know what it is to be here, to be fighting for the Olympics, and to have this course burn you and to watch those dreams die,” said Johnson, whose injury in Cortina in 2022 ruined hopes of sking in the Beijing Olympics. “I can’t imagine the pain that she’s going through and it’s not the physical pain — we can deal with physical pain — but the emotional pain is something else.”

    Vonn had family in the stands, including her father, Alan Kildow, who stared down at the ground while his daughter was being treated after just 13 seconds on the course where she holds a record 12 World Cup titles. Others in the crowd, including rapper Snoop Dogg, watched quietly as the star skier was finally taken off the course. Fellow American star Mikaela Shiffrin posted a broken heart emoji on social media.

    Vonn’s crash was “tragic, but it’s ski racing,” said Johan Eliasch, president of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation.

    “I can only say thank you for what she has done for our sport,” he said, “because this race has been the talk of the games and it’s put our sport in the best possible light.”

    All eyes had been on Vonn, the feel-good story heading into the Olympics. She had returned to elite ski racing last season after nearly six years, a remarkable decision given her age but she also had a partial titanium knee replacement in her right knee, too. Many wondered how she would fare as she sought a gold medal to join the one she won in the downhill at the 2010 Vancouver Games.

    The four-time overall World Cup champion stunned everyone by being a contender almost immediately. She came to the Olympics as the leader in the World Cup downhill standings and was a gold-medal favorite before her crash in Switzerland nine days ago, when she suffered her latest knee injury. In addition to a ruptured ACL, she also had a bone bruise and meniscus damage.

    Still, no one counted her out even then. In truth, she has skied through injuries for three decades at the top of the sport. In 2006, ahead of the Turin Olympics, Vonn took a bad fall during downhill training and went to the hospital. She competed less than 48 hours later, racing in all four events she’d planned, with a top result of seventh in the super-G.

    Cortina has had many treasured memories for Vonn beyond the record wins. She is called the queen of Cortina, and the Olympia delle Tofana is a course that had always suited Vonn. She tested out the knee twice in downill training runs over the past three days before the awful crash on Sunday in clear, sunny conditions.

    “This would be the best comeback I’ve done so far,” Vonn said before the race. “Definitely the most dramatic.”

    News of the crash spread quickly, including to the fan zone down the mountain in Cortina.

    “It’s such a huge loss and bummer,” American Megan Gunyou said. “I feel like hearing her story and just like the redemption of her first fall and like fighting to come back to the Olympics this year, I mean, I feel so sad for her.”

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    Associated Press

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  • ‘Tanisha’s Law’ officially signed, family celebrates

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    CLEVELAND — After advocating for years, Tanisha Anderson’s family is celebrating the official signing of law named in her honor that aims to establish a more compassionate and dignified response to calls for mental health crises in Cleveland. 

    What You Need To Know

    • After advocating for years, Tanisha Anderson’s family is celebrating the official signing of law named in her honor that aims to establish more compassionate and dignified response to calls for mental health crises in Cleveland

    • Mayor Justin Bibb officially signed what’s known as “Tanisha’s Law,” which will establish a bureau of unarmed clinicians and social workers to respond to calls for mental health crises, at a celebration of her legacy at Case Western Reserve University’s Law School on Saturday

    • It’s been 11 years since Tanisha died after being restrained by Cleveland police during a mental health crisis

    “I just want to let Tanisha know right now that the theory of a Black woman just being thrown out to the sidewalk and dying that way, those days are no more,” Tanisha’s Uncle, Michael Anderson, said.

    It’s been 11 years since Tanisha died after being restrained by Cleveland police during a mental health crisis. Her family has been fighting for a more humane response to those dealing with mental illness since her death.

    “I’ve always said until Tanisha’s law is passed, to me, she’s still out there on the sidewalk,” Anderson said. “Well, today she got up.”

    Mayor Justin Bibb officially signed what’s known as “Tanisha’s Law” at a celebration of her legacy at Case Western Reserve University’s Law School on Saturday. It will establish a bureau of unarmed clinicians and social workers to respond to calls for mental health crises, rather than police. 

    “The guy I serve, he makes no mistakes,” Tanisha’s sister, Jennifer Johnson, said. “All this was for a purpose in his divine plan to save someone else’s life. If this is what it took to come to forth, so be it. Someone else like will be saved because of this Tanisha’s law.” 

    It’s the first piece of legislation Bibb has signed outside of city hall, choosing to do it where the original draft was written five years ago by former CWRU law students Michael O’Donnell and Alexandra Mendez-Diez. 

    Ayesha Bell Hardaway, a law professor at Case, helped spearhead those efforts.

    “They did this work without course credit,” she said. “They did this work without payment, and they did it in addition to everything else that they had to do while being students in school, which is a lot in law school.”

    Anderson said he couldn’t have gotten here without their support, but not every member of his family was able to make it to this point. His sister, Tanisha’s mother Cassandra Johnson, died in 2021.

    “Now, nothing was wrong with her,” Anderson said. “She didn’t have any kind of diagnosis or anything like that. She just pretty much willed herself away.”

    Johnson was there the night Tanisha died. In a video of an old press conference shown at the celebration, she said officers prevented her from going to Tanisha as she lie restrained, calling for her mother’s help and praying on the ground. 

    “I was having a really hard time,” Johnson said. “I think when any mother hears the cry of their child asking you to help me mommy. ‘Mommy help me. Help me.’ I can talk about it now without crying. When you hear that ringing in your head day in and day out, all through the night, you can’t sleep. You can’t eat. It’s something I can’t explain to anybody, what’s really happening in my mind about that day.” 

    Anderson said Johnson fought for justice for years before the trauma became too much to bear.

    “I heard her last heartbeat, and that’s the beat that kept me going,” he said. “That’s the beat that pushed me, was her last heartbeat.”

    Tanisha’s daughter, Mauvion Green, was also there the night her mother died. She was 16 years old. Now 27, she said she has since focused on carrying herself with love, kindness and compassion.

    “No matter what’s going on, even if it’s the enemy, I pray for you,” Green said. “I really do. I don’t have no bad blood in my heart. It’s nothing there for hatred. What she left with me was love, and that’s how I always go through life.”

    While they are taking time to celebrate how far they’ve come, Anderson said there’s still work to be done.

    “It’s not over,” he said. “You come to things like this where, it’s like, ’Yeah, we got Tanisha’s law!’ Okay, but now do you understand there’s a lot of things that need to come together to bring this to fruition, to make sure that it’s done right.”

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    Nora McKeown

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  • Phillies begin unpacking equipment in preparation for spring training

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    CLEARWATER, Fla. — Pitchers and catchers will report for their first workouts for Major League Baseball spring training starting Tuesday.

    What You Need To Know

    • Pitchers and catchers start reporting for spring training in Florida this week

    • Phillies staff members are already unloading trucks with the supplies the team will need

    • They are bringing 2,400 baseballs, 140 batting helmets and 1,200 baseball bats this spring

    • Spring training games begin Feb. 20

    Florida is home to baseball’s Grapefruit League, and thousands of fans will flock to the Tampa Bay area to watch their favorite teams because seven of the franchises call the Tampa Bay area home during spring training, bringing a huge economic impact. Throughout Florida, more than 1.4 million fans visited for spring training in 2025, generating about $687,000 annually for the state and creating more than 7,000 jobs, according to data from the Florida Sports Foundation and studies of the Grapefruit League.

    That means teams like the Philadelphia Phillies have to start getting ready.

    When the equipment trucks start pulling into Baycare Ballpark, it marks the unofficial start to spring training in Clearwater.

    Phillies staff members like clubhouse attendant Tim Schmidt wait months for the trucks full of gear and supplies.

    “It’s been on my calendar for a while, so yeah, it’s nice that it’s here, and I’m excited to get it underway, and I’m ready to see the guys,” Schmidt said.

    Filled to the brim, it takes the whole staff, as well as some help from a forklift, to unload all the supplies needed for spring training.

    The Phillies are bringing 2,400 baseballs, 140 batting helmets and 1,200 baseball bats this spring, Schmidt said.

    Among all the people who helped unload the trucks was Clearwater Mayor Bruce Rector.

    He said it’s a day he looks forward to every year.

    “Our sign of spring is the Phillies equipment truck arriving,” Rector said. “That’s a little bit more predictable than the groundhog.”

    Spring training has been in Clearwater for about 100 years, including the Phillies here for most of that time, Rector said.

    “Such a strong connection with our citizens,” Rector said. “They’ve been here for 80 years. It’s almost like seeing family come home.”

    Schmidt said it was going to be a long day because there is a lot to unpack before the players arrive.

    Still, the work isn’t an issue.

    He’s ready to focus on the season.

    “Once we get down here, it’s go time,” Schmidt said. “We don’t really stop until the playoffs are over.”

    The seven teams that will be in the Tampa Bay area for the next few weeks, honing their skills before the regular season begins, are the Phillies, the New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers, Pittsburgh Pirates and the Atlanta Braves.

    Spring training games begin Feb. 20, and tickets are on sale now.

     

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    Matt Lackritz

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  • Plant City church ‘explores untold stories’ of Black History Month

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    PLANT CITY, Fla. — This month, we take time to celebrate Black History Month, and one church in Plant City is doing that through an educational program known as “Exploring the Untold Stories of Black History.”

    What You Need To Know

    •  Terrie Strachan says the program includes members of the church to portray the stories told
    •  Many of the stories shared are not taught in school


    Inside Mount Olive Baptist Church in Plant City, history is being shared.

    Organizers present the program every February to honor Black History Month.

    Terrie Strachan started the program back in 2013. “I always try to explore new avenues of Black history,” she said.

    It’s a history that some may not even know about. The story told on the first Sunday of this month was about Joseph Ligon, who was the nation’s longest-serving juvenile offender.

    “(Trying) to familiarize our youth with things that they never heard of, not just our youth, even our adults,” she said.

    Strachan said it’s important to immerse the youth in stories they rarely learn about in school.

    For 11-year-old Cortlyn Fisher, it’s a program she looks forward to every year.

    “It reflects on what people went through back in the day, and it helps me learn about the people,” she said.

    The stories that are shared are also reflected in the sermons of the church.

    Ted Taylor took part in the program. He said it’s a story that he never heard of, that’s helped him reflect on the importance of celebrating Black history.

    “Informative, enlightening and spiritual to the church,” he said.

    Every Sunday throughout the month of February, a new story will be portrayed.

    Strachan said it’s one way she’s hoping to preserve Black history in her community.

    “If I can just continue to do that and touch my members and touch people in the community about topics that I bring forth, I’d be doing my job, and I’d be fulfilling what God wants me to do,” she said.

    Honoring Black history and how its shaped the lives of many one story at a time.

    On February 22, Mount Olive Baptist Church will also host a praise dance team as part of its Black History Month education.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • St. Petersburg Distance Classic draws largest turnout ever

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Sunday was the largest St. Petersburg Distance Classic in the program’s history.

    This was the sixth time the event was hosted.

    Thousands of runners took off from North Shore Park to participate in a marathon, half marathon, 10K and 5K.

    What You Need To Know

    • Under 3,500 people registered to run in the St. Petersburg Distance Classic

    • There were 30% more runners this year compared to last year

    • Chris Lauber and his wife, Rya, founded and operate the St. Pete run from their home

    • This event is a qualifer for the Boston Marathon


    Marathon runners were met with lots of cheering as they stepped off on their 26.2-mile journey.

    Norman Shaw ran in the St. Pete Distance Classic for the first time, but he knows the area well. He grew up here, but he’s visiting from New Jersey to make this his ninth marathon.

    “This is one of the most special ones. Runners know St. Pete is as flat as a pancake, so it’s a beautiful run. San Francisco was awful — all the hills, I mean, it was beautiful, it was horrible to run. This will be nice,” he said.

    The 64-year-old trained for this by running about 30 miles a week. He said you have to go until your body is tired.

    “It’s just constantly pushing yourself not to stop,” he said.

    This year’s St. Pete Distance Classic had the largest number of runners ever. Under 3,500 people registered for all of Sunday’s races, making it 30% larger than last year. Organizers said they got a grant from Visit St. Pete-Clearwater to advertise the event.

    “We have almost every state represented and 15 countries,” said Chris Lauber, race director.

    Chris Lauber and his wife, Rya, founded and operate the St. Pete run, but Chris has a long history of organizing these things.

    In 1979, Chris had orchestrated jet ski races in Sebring, Florida. That eventually grew into a big event, even getting ESPN coverage.

    Then, using that experience, he created the Gulf Beaches Marathon in 2000. He said at the time, there wasn’t any sort of race like that in the county.

    The couple now runs the St. Pete Distance Classic out of their garage.

    “To see literally a thousand smiling faces run by you as the fruits of our efforts, I wish there was a single word, but there isn’t,” Chris said.

    It’s that same feeling that athletes like Shaw have when they run across the finish line.

    “Those last six miles are the toughest, but when you’re done, you feel like you beat yourself. It’s such an incredible feeling,” Shaw said.

    The marathon is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon.

    Runners who have a qualifying time can register for the Boston Marathon for 2027.

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    Tyler O’Neill

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  • Lakeland youth step team helps preserve cultural tradition

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — You may have seen it — the perfectly timed stomps, the chants and hand claps.

    What You Need To Know

    • A Lakeland-based youth step team is helping preserve the cultural tradition of stepping, an art form rooted in African history

    • Beyond competition, the team provides mentorship, sisterhood and a safe space for self-expression for middle and high school girls

    • The group is actively sharing the tradition on a national stage, hosting a step show this weekend with teams from across the country


    But where did it all begin?

    For centuries, stepping, a powerful ritual dance, has inspired generations, including the Lakeland-based step team Taken by Surprise.

    The group of girls, ranging in age, practices stepping inside Sleepy Hill Middle School’s gym about four days a week. While winning competitions is the goal, the steppers say they gain so much more.

    For 12th grader Aleyah Davis, it’s sisterhood.

    “It got me out of my shell because I am shy,” Davis said.

    Meanwhile, 11th grader Keyanah Colston says it’s a safe place to express herself.

    “If anything is weighing on my mind, I feel like when we come here, it’s just an open space to do you,” Colston said.

    Team sponsor Corey Tumer started Taken by Surprise 13 years ago to help build character in young people. As a member of Kappa Alpha Psi, he also wanted to expose them to Greek life — specifically historically Black fraternities and sororities known as the Divine Nine.

    “And that gives them more exposure than just being home and the possibility to network with other students across the country and get that experience of what life would be like as a college student,” Tumer said.

    Though stepping is widely used throughout Divine Nine culture, the art form didn’t originate there. Longtime dance instructor Andrida Hosey says stepping is rooted in African tradition.

    “So a lot of things, like celebratory things like naming ceremonies, and wedding celebrations, and going out for war, we used movement and rhythm, especially the drums,” Hosey said. “But as we came over to America, we couldn’t use the drums as slaves. They started using their body as instruments, and the clapping and the rhythm, and their voices as instruments.”

    She says those movements became a way to express feelings during a time when doing so was forbidden.

    Today, stepping gives young people that same freedom of expression, something the girls of Taken by Surprise say they don’t take for granted.

    Taken by Surprise will host a national step show this Saturday at Kathleen High School. Twenty teams from around the country will compete. Doors open at 2 p.m.

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    Alexis Jones

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