Local News

City considers $2.7M fiber network for water infrastructure

St. Petersburg City Council will consider a $2.72 million agreement during its Aug. 27 meeting with Unity Fiber to design, build, install and maintain a dedicated fiber-optic network for the Water Resources Department. The deal includes a 20-year lease of the network to the city.

Floyd calls for review of St. Pete’s Flock camera contract

City Council Vice Chair Richie Floyd wants the City’s contract with Flock Safety and its use of license plate reader cameras sent to the committee for discussion. The referral comes as the cameras face growing local scrutiny, including local protests and vandalism, as well as…

Treasure Island staff pulled into city manager dispute

Treasure Island’s investigation into allegations against City Manager Charlie Van Zant has raised an uncomfortable question inside City Hall: How freely can employees speak when the complaint involves the person at the top of the city’s administration? City emails obtained by the…

Take Two on Tuesday with Mayor Love (8/18/2026) – Remembering 9/11

Mayor Karen Love shares Gulfport’s plans to commemorate the 25th anniversary of 9/11, including remembrance boards, community service pledge cards, and a Remembrance and Reflection ceremony at Williams Pier. She encourages residents to reflect on the unity felt on 9/12/2001,…

Outspent and outnumbered: At Ybor City rally, David Jolly makes his case for winning Florida

David Jolly likes his chances of becoming the first Democrat to win the governor’s race in Florida in more than three decades this November. You read that correctly. The 53-year-old former GOP Congressman and MSNBC pundit’s confidence appears off the charts even though there are…

Grandmothers, landscapers, even kids, swept into Florida’s shadowy immigration database

Florida officers are gathering names, photographs, and addresses of people they suspect may be in the country without authorization.

The Scoop: Tues. Aug. 18, 2026, Tampa Bay and Florida headlines by WMNF

Tuesday's execution of William Frances Silvia would be Florida’s 13th execution so far this year, following a record 19 executions in 2025.

Major Renovations Underway at 64-Year-Old Pumping Station

Major Renovations Underway at 64-Year-Old Pumping Station Tony D. Tue, 08/18/2026 - 08:31 am Large underground tank installation at a construction site with pipes and safety railings. Strengthening Tampa’s Wastewater Infrastructure Tampa’s wastewater infrastructure continues to…

As Pinellas considers defunding 2 parks, residents plead for alternatives

Can property taxes ease St. Pete’s utility hikes?

“I want us to look at property tax and utility rates as one big bill from the city."

Packed meeting highlights concerns over St. Pete’s Flock cameras

DeFlock St. Pete organizer Zach Schira is pushing for greater oversight of St. Petersburg’s 50 Flock license plate reader cameras, warning the system is “ripe for abuse” without stronger safeguards. Saturday’s meeting packed the Obama Main Library auditorium to its 120-person…

Courthouse busy as Jennifer Odom trial begins