Pinellas County officials will increase municipal, commercial and yard waste disposal fees by 6.8% starting Oct. 1. County Commissioners will also consider several additional disposal rate increases at their Sept. 19 meeting. The additional revenue will help fund the Waste-to-Energy facility’s operational and maintenance expenses.
At least the third home in St. Petersburg’s Shore Acres neighborhood has caught fire in Hurricane Idalia’s aftermath. St. Pete Fire Rescue officials reported the home early Monday morning blaze caused “significant damage” but no injuries as the residents temporarily relocated. The house experienced flooding, and investigators are still working to find the cause of the fire.
St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch is making his third stop on the 2023 City Hall on Tour series at the Lake Vista Recreation Center on Sept. 19 from 5:30 - 8 p.m. The series, which kicked off this year, entails Welch and members of his administration team hosting open house-style stops at different recreation facilities. The event was created for city leaders and decision makers to hear from the residents and directly address questions and concerns.
Artists Ashley Cassens, Illsol Studio and Brian McAllister have been chosen to create murals in South Pasadena, at Florida Orange Groves Winery, Leverocks and Pasadena Liquor and Fine Wines, respectively. To be completed by November, the murals are part of a beautification project by Creative Pinellas and the City of South Pasadena.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers overcame a slow start by maligned quarterback Baker Mayfield and the offense to defeat the Minnesota Vikings 20-17 Sunday. Mayfield made multiple clutch plays in the second half to upset the Vikings in his first game as a Buc. He finished with 173 passing yards and two touchdowns to Mike Evans and rookie Trey Palmer.
The University of South Florida’s plan for an on-campus football stadium received final approval Friday from the Florida Board of Governors. Interest rates have increased since USF officials announced their $200 million financing plan, which could cost nearly $400 million over 20 years. Construction should commence next year, and the university expects it to open in time for the 2026 football season.
Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall as a Category 3 in August bringing storm surges throughout Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas, may have caused up to $20 billion in damages. Moody's Analytics' report shows the preliminary cost estimate for Idalia is between $12 billion and the $20 billion figure of damage and lost economic output. "Flooding was especially problematic in and around Tampa early in the event, and the storm surge also drove major flooding in Charleston, South Carolina. Along the way, downed trees and swelling rivers caused damage as well, leading to a price tag of $10 billion to $16 billion in property losses," the report read.
U.S. Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg personnel traveled 150 miles offshore Thursday night to rescue a cruise ship passenger experiencing a medical emergency. They transferred the patient to a rescue boat and brought them ashore to a waiting St. Pete Fire Rescue unit. Local Coast Guard leaders and servicemembers then participated in the Tampa Bay Rowdies’ third annual 9/11 Stair Climb Friday morning at Al Lang Stadium. All participants received complimentary tickets to Saturday’s match against the Louisville City FC.
The YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg is looking to close a funding round after raising $20 million for the new facility underway at 501 62nd Ave. NE. "While engaged in quiet fundraising, the YMCA raised approximately $20 million of a $25 million goal and we are determined to raise an additional $5 million to complete the YMCA portion of the project through community support,” YMCA Board Member Jane Link Ferguson, chairperson for the Y for Life Campaign, said in a prepared statement. “The building campaign for the new Speer YMCA is a key part of the YMCA's comprehensive fundraising strategy to include additional association wide capital improvements, endowment, expansion, redevelopment, programmatic expansion and support.” The Community Fundraising Campaign will be led by Alexandra Feinberg and David Hood, members of the board of directors. The Speer Foundation previously donated $8 million for the future 75,000-square-foot Speer YMCA campus that will open in December.
The Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg has joined the Catalyst Impact Council. The Foundation works for racial equity, which leads to health equity. As a connector, a listener and a source of fuel that accelerates the powerful work already being done to advance equity, FHSP makes for a powerful addition to the already formidable cohort of thought leaders on the Impact Council.
Business advocacy group AMPLIFY Clearwater and Economic Impact Catalyst (EIC) has extended the application deadline for businesses interested in participating in the area's first tourism business incubator. The new application deadline is Sept. 11. The startups must demonstrate a clear connection to the tourism industry and address issues such as traffic jams during the winter months, needed beach nourishment, light pollution that affects turtle nesting and coral bleaching.
Tampa International Airport’s service to and from Frankfurt, Germany, is expected to expand to daily service next summer, according to airline Eurowings Discover’s announcement. The German leisure airline is rebranding and is now known as Discover Airlines. The service initially kicked off in 2021 and was available four times a week.
