The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners has adopted a lien forgiveness resolution and approved amendments to the county code. The measures are designed to encourage code enforcement compliance, streamline the condemnation and demolition of hazardous buildings and structures, and reduce undue delays for reinvestment opportunities, according to a news release. The action authorizes the county's code enforcement department to reduce liens in unincorporated parts of the county. Liens are capped at $20,000 per violation for properties in use as single-family homes and $100,000 per violation for properties such as multi-unit residences and commercial and industrial buildings. A hardship committee can reduce liens for residents facing particularly difficult circumstances once their violations have been resolved. A predictable process for reducing liens is an incentive to prospective property owners or an organization such as Habitat for Humanity to rehabilitate properties, county officials said.
Tampa Bay Rays spring training ticket sales open to the general public at 10 a.m. on Friday. The team, in a news release, said it will limit capacity for its games at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte by offering tickets for socially distant “pods” of two or four people. Face coverings will be required at all times, except for fans who are eating or drinking while seated in their ticketed seat. For a full list of Rays spring training health and safety protocols, visit the team’s website.
United Insurance Holdings Corp., a St. Petersburg-based property and casualty insurance holding company, has formed Skyway Technology, an insurtech subsidiary developing direct-to-consumer products. The new subsidiary will build off of the investments that United Insurance has made in its technology systems over the last several years, Daniel Peed, chairman and CEO, said during a conference call with analysts Wednesday. United Insurance (Nasdaq: UIHC), which does business as UPC Insurance, reported a net loss of $96.5 million, or $2.25 a share, on revenue of $846.7 million for the full year of 2020. During the conference call, Peed cited a record number of named storms last year and said the catastrophe loss masked a significant improvement in the company's underlying portfolio.
iQor, a customer support and business solutions company headquartered in St. Petersburg, has announced six new members of the company's board of directors. They are: Gary Praznik, president and CEO of iQor; Christopher Carrington, CEO Omni Interactions and a former executive at Sykes Enterprises; Sue Nokes, a former executive at Asurion and T-Mobile, Ted Russell, an attorney and president of Russell PC and a former executive at Fox Entertainment Group; Satish Raman, chief strategy officer, Fractal.ai; and Scott D Vogel, managing member of Vogel Partners. Carrington was elected board chairman. iQor,one of the larger companies based in St. Pete, recently emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
The board of directors of the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority agreed to extend service for its autonomous vehicles in St. Petersburg. The PSTA board voted to allow the fare-free, all-electric shuttle to continue operations through March 28. It had been scheduled to end next week. The St. Petersburg City Council is expected to take up its own vote on the extension on March 4. Since launching in November, the shuttle has been "a great success," said Brad Miller, PSTA CEO. The shuttle, dubbed AVA for Autonomous Vehicle Advantage, operates along Bayshore Drive Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The Synapse Summit, an annual conference for the Florida’s tech sector that usually takes place in Tampa but is being held virtually this year, has added NFL Hall of Famers Steve Young and Jerry Rice to its lineup of guest speakers, along with Cameo founder Steven Galanis, who recently located from Chicago to Tampa. Quarterback Young — who began his NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — and wide receiver Rice played together for 12 years as members of the San Francisco 49ers, connecting for 85 touchdowns. They've teamed up again to launch 8 to 80 Zones, an initiative to help youth living in underserved communities in Tampa, Atlanta and Miami gain skills that can lead to careers in technology, e-sports, video games and media. The Synapse Summit takes place March 8-11.
The Tampa Bay Lightning and Jabil Inc. have partnered with the University of South Florida’s Muma College of Business to offer a free, seven-week certificate program that will focus on ways organizations can create a more diverse workplace as well as address equity issues and foster inclusivity. The program, set to run from March 24 to May 5, will highlight the ways that racial, religious, age, gender and sexual orientation diversity can help companies develop novel business practices, increase revenue and improve performance. The Lightning and Jabil helped recruit guest speakers and develop the curriculum for the course, which is geared toward HR professionals and C-suite executives but welcomes people across all levels of their respective companies and organizations.
The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday to extend the local state of emergency through March 5. The local state of emergency keeps in effect a county ordinance requiring face coverings while in public places. It also requires restaurants and bars to serve only patrons who are seated. The unanimous board vote followed a presentation by public health officials, including Dr. Ulyee Choe, director of the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County. Positive Covid-19 cases are up slightly, with an average of 6.3 percent of tests coming back positive in the past seven days, but hospital capacity remains stable, Choe said. About 132,000 people or 13.4 percent of Pinellas County residents have received one or two doses of the Covid vaccines. As of Tuesday, there was a cumulative total of 65,375 Covid-19 cases reported in Pinellas County and 1,430 deaths.
Yolanda Herrera of Rex, Ga., has been sentenced to 22 years in federal prison for her role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin sourced in Mexico and shipped to the Port of Tampa aboard a cargo ship. According to a news release issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, Herrera, 43, conspired with two Mexican nationals, Nestor Vazquez-Morales and Adan Martinez-Onofre, in the scheme, which involved smuggling the drugs inside stone blocks. She was arrested in Atlanta in September 2019 and pleaded guilty to the charges levied against her on June 4, 2020. Vazquez-Morales and Martinez-Onofre also entered guilty pleas and were sentenced in July 2020 to federal prison terms of 15 years and eight months and five years and 10 months, respectively.
Will Weatherford, a Tampa businessman and former speaker of the Florida House, was elected vice chairman of the University of South Florida Board of Trustees. He will serve a two-year term in the role. Weatherford was appointed to a five-year term on the USF board in January by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Weatherford is a managing partner of Weatherford Capital and recently served as co-chairman of the Super Bowl LV Host Committee.
Scripts Pharmacy has opened a new location at Bayfront Health St. Petersburg, making it easier and more convenient for patients to pick up prescription medications while on site. The pharmacy will also provide training opportunities for aspiring pharmacists who are part of Bayfront Health St. Petersburg’s pharmacy residency program. The hospital, in a news release, said lack of access to prescribed medication is one of the biggest reasons why patients are readmitted. The Scripts Pharmacy, said Bayfront Health St. Petersburg President John Moore, “provides access to our patients as they are discharged, helping them to continue on their road to recovery.”
The Tampa Bay Rays, still basking in the glow of their American League pennant and run to the World Series last year, have established the American League Champions Club for fans who want to remember the 2020 season with some special promotional items. For $199, or $149 for existing season membership holders, fans will be able to take part in a Zoom session with Rays Manager Kevin Cash and General Manger Erik Neander. They will also receive a photo opportunity with the American League Championship Trophy at Tropicana Field, a Randy Arozarena bobblehead, American League Championship replica ring, American League Championship replica trophy and a commemorative wooden coaster.
