Government & Politics

PSTA Cuts Safety Harbor's Snapper Van, Adds 11-Cent Card Surcharge as Route 90 Gets a Reprieve

The transit board voted Aug. 26 to end on-demand Snapper service in Safety Harbor and charge riders extra to tap a credit card onboard. A decision on Route 90 was pushed to the end of the year.

Aug 274 min read

Government & Politics

Pinellas Will Put It in Writing: No Large Data Centers in the Unincorporated County

Commissioners directed a resolution stating large-scale data centers are not permitted outside city limits, two weeks after Pinellas Park adopted a 12-month moratorium. The county has fielded two inquiries and no applications.

Aug 264 min read

Government & Politics

Clearwater Council Sets Sept. 17 Vote on Handing Two Downtown Streets to Scientology-Backed Complex

The city would give up portions of Laura and Grove streets, an alleyway and an $875,000 parcel for a $50 million entertainment center. Public comment is at 6 p.m. at the Clearwater Main Library.

Aug 244 min read

Government & Politics

Commissioners Eye $500,000 From Campus Reserves to Keep Weedon Island Open

County Administrator Barry Burton proposed dropping Pinellas' funding for Weedon Island and Shell Key preserves to save about $474,000. On Thursday, Commissioner Chris Scherer offered a different bill to pay it with: reserves tied to the future government campus at U.S. 19 and Ulmerton.

Aug 224 min read

Government & Politics

Pinellas Commissioners Want Their Own E-Bike Rules After DeSantis Veto Left the State With None

At a Thursday workshop, county commissioners traded near-miss stories and learned state law gives them only four tools to regulate e-bikes. Commissioner Brian Scott asked staff to start drafting a local ordinance.

Aug 214 min read

Government & Politics

PSTA Says 25 of Its 40 Bus Routes Could Disappear if Amendment 3 Passes

Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority laid out a preliminary scenario Tuesday showing a $34 million hole, up to 120 lost jobs, and no bus service at all in Safety Harbor, Treasure Island and Gulfport if voters approve the property tax amendment on Nov. 3.

Aug 204 min read

Government & Politics

Pinellas School Board District 6 Goes to a Recount in Largo, With Bostock Ahead of Lord by a Fraction of a Point

The Pinellas County Canvassing Board began recount work at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Election Service Center in Largo after Nancy Bostock finished roughly 50.17% to 49.83% over Amanda Lord in Tuesday's primary. Two other school board seats and the County Commission District 4 race were decided.

Aug 193 min read

Government & Politics

Polls Open 7 a.m. Tuesday in Pinellas, and This Time You Have to Vote at Your Own Precinct

Pinellas' primary is Tuesday, Aug. 18, with polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. More than 86,000 ballots are already in, and three local races are open to every voter regardless of party.

Aug 174 min read

Government & Politics

Pinellas Budget Plan Would Pull Lifeguards Off Fort De Soto and Sand Key, Charge $3.50 an Hour to Park

Facing a $42 million gap, the county's proposed FY2027 budget cuts all 25 lifeguard positions at two beach parks, ends county funding for Shell Key and Weedon Island, and switches beach parking to an hourly rate. Commissioners take it up Aug. 20.

Aug 174 min read