Gov. Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 1061, expanding Florida’s new aquatic preserve about 800 square miles along the Gulf Coast, its first new aquatic preserve in over 30 years. This bill creates the Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve, which will protect approximately 400,000 acres of aquatic habitat stretching from Pinellas CountyContinue Reading
Florida is one of the two dozen or so states, particularly in the south and west, that have reported an increase or surge in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks. On Saturday, test results for more than 72,100 individuals were reported to DOH and 8,530 were positive for COVID-19. During theContinue Reading
On Tuesday evening, the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners passed an emergency ordinance requiring that citizens wear face coverings in most indoor public places, and restaurants and bars to implement new safety and anti-crowding measures. The ordinance passed 6-1, with Commissioner Kathleen Peters dissenting. The countywide ordinance takes effectContinue Reading
The Florida Department of Health (DOH) reported 2,926 new positive COVID-19 cases (2,908 Florida residents and 18 non-Florida residents) out of more than 37,000 tests Sunday, bringing to case tally for the state to 100,217 total cases. 12 additional deaths were reported bringing Florida’s death toll to 3173. A lookContinue Reading
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office arrested a former probation officer, Rutherford Jean, charging him with two counts of sexual battery and blackmailing victims for sexual favors. An inmate at the Pinellas County Jail filed a complaint in October 14, 2019 to detention deputies that her probation officer had blackmailed herContinue Reading
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office reported that a Temple Terrace fire inspector has been arrested and accused of possessing “thousands of images and videos of child pornography, ranging in ages from infants to young teenagers,” Casey Dwayne Hannah, 40, of Seminole, was charged with 20 counts of Possession of Child Pornography.Continue Reading
Former Florida House Rep. Larry Ahern filed to run against Pinellas County Commissioner Janet Long Wednesday for the at-large District 1 seat representing northeast and mid-Pinellas. Ahern brings name recognition to the race to challenge the incumbent Democrat, serving Florida’s 66th District in northwestern Pinellas County from 2012 to 2018. He also served in Florida’sContinue Reading
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida announced the indictment of a two people from Clearwater, Courtney Marie Michaelis and Nicholas Andrew Ham, with the illegal distribution of fentanyl. Michaelis, 37, and Ham, 21, have been charged with distributing fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury to anContinue Reading
Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced plans for Florida’s K-12 public schools to reopen at full capacity in the fall. “Having a teacher there, there just isn’t going to be a substitute for that in-person instruction,” he said. Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran said that’s the recommendation being made to local schoolContinue Reading
The Wagon Wheel and Mustang Flea Markets are closing their doors permanently after being shuttered due to coronavirus, ending their business after 55 years. According to their Facebook page Wednesday afternoon, the organization stated, “It is with a heavy-heart that we share with you the news that we will not beContinue Reading
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office arrested a St. Petersburg area couple, Samantha Smith and Cody Corbin, charging them with child abuse, hiding the 6-year-old boy’s injuries and scars with makeup. Smith, 26, was charged with one count apiece of aggregated child abuse with great bodily harm and child neglect. Corbin, 31,Continue Reading
Police details some of the looting and riot arrests from early Tuesday, listing Lady Nicole Nash, Javonta McCloud, and Eddie Bryant among those charges with inciting a riot. Anthony Koedel was arrested for organizing the attack as a “protest” but the event quickly turned violent and dangerous. Koedel, 29, ofContinue Reading
Pinellas County detectives arrested and charged Zachary Hoyt yesterday for capital sexual battery on a child less than 12 years old. Hoyt, 31, confessed to the accusations that he placed his hand under the girl’s clothing and said it was possible his DNA would be found on the victim. AtContinue Reading
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office reports that Steven Tromblee was arrested Monday on a charge of aggravated child abuse after striking a 7-year-old girl and causing her to suffer a head injury. Officers detailed the girl’s account, confirming that she’s related to Tromblee. Tromblee became angry at the girl because sheContinue Reading
The Florida Chamber Foundation’s new daily COVID-19 Tracker shows that Hillsborough County and Pinellas County are moving in the right direction when it comes to meeting important White House Guidelines for Opening Up America Again. This free COVID-19 Tracker is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on www.TheFloridaScorecard.org and provides county-by-county dailyContinue Reading
Florida state health officials are reporting 60 COVID-19 deaths as of this morning, including the fifth in Pinellas County. The latest case in Pinellas is a 58-year-old male. This is the fifth death in the county in the past 10 days. Of the 60 fatalities reported, 52 were in individualsContinue Reading
As of Saturday, March 28, there are 4,038 total Florida cases, 56 deaths, and 567 hospitalized. In Hillsborough County, there are 206 total cases. Of those cases, 200 are residents and 6 are non-residents. The age range for the cases in the county are 0 to 86, with an averageContinue Reading
The COVID-19 death toll in Pinellas County is now at four after the Florida Department of Health released new data Saturday morning. The new deaths include an 83-year-old woman, a 64-year-old man and a 52-year-old man. Mayor Rick Kriseman tweeted Saturday that realtor Bob Barnum was among those who have died. “COVID-19 hitting closer and closer to home. BobContinue Reading
The Florida Department of Health reported three additional coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19 fatalities today with deaths being reported in St. Johns, Pinellas and Lee counties. This brings the total deaths to 20 to date. Officials are reporting 1,467 total COVID-19 cases–1,379 in Florida residents and 88 cases in non-Florida residents.Continue Reading
The Florida Department of Health reported this evening that the coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19 case tally in the state has risen to 432. This is up by 42 cases since the last update. There are currently 393 positive cases in Florida residents and 39 positive cases in non-Florida residents. HealthContinue Reading
Earlier this week, 39-year-old Heidi Kalous of Dunedin, FL pleaded guilty to conspiring and distributing a substance that contained a mixture of heroin, fentanyl, and acetyl fentanyl, causing the death of an individual. She faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet beenContinue Reading
