Latest reporting from the Local Government desk.
Local Government
Pinellas County's 2026 point-in-time count found 1,949 people experiencing homelessness, up 5%, with the unsheltered population jumping 18% to 635 as agencies report more families and seniors losing housing for the first time.
Local Government
The Pinellas County School Board voted 6-1 on Oct. 13 to close six schools, including Clearwater's Kings Highway Elementary, while a last-minute addition of Sunset Hills Elementary to the restructuring plan drew protests and a walkout from Tarpon Springs parents.
Local Government
Local Government
Local Government
Clearwater Police asked Flock Safety to remove 14 license plate reader cameras from state highway property before a Wednesday, Sept. 30 FDOT deadline, part of a statewide crackdown on ALPRs that has sparked debate between law enforcement and privacy advocates in Pinellas County.
Local Government
Clearwater's City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance vacating Grove Street, portions of Laura Street and a 15-foot alley for a $50 million EVO Entertainment complex tied to the Church of Scientology, while a grassroots petition challenging a separate downtown land transfer gathered more than 10,000 signatures.
Local Government
Democratic gubernatorial nominee David Jolly announced he will not debate Republican nominee Byron Donalds before the Nov. 3 election, citing bad faith, one day after Donalds addressed the dispute during a Clearwater campaign stop.
Local Government
Treasure Island firefighters rescued disoriented sea turtle hatchlings from a storm drain and transferred them to Clearwater Marine Aquarium, highlighting the ongoing threat artificial lighting poses during nesting season.
Local Government
Third-party 'Second Notice' mailers stamped in red are confusing Clearwater-area voters ahead of the Nov. 3 election, but the Pinellas County Elections Office says the envelopes are not official and registered voters do not need to respond.
Local Government
Pinellas County commissioners unanimously approved a five-year Allegiant Air deal expected to generate $22.8 million for St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport through 2031, a 60.6% increase over the previous agreement that will help fund a $145 million terminal modernization.
Local Government
Archaeologists confirmed at least 328 graves from the historic St. Matthews Baptist Church Cemetery beneath FrankCrum's Clearwater headquarters, with 258 newly detected beyond the 70 found in 2021. Community leaders and the city manager say descendants should decide what happens next.
Local Government
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna pushed a ban on congressional stock trading at the RNC's first midterm convention in Dallas, while her Democratic challenger Leela Gray campaigned locally and accused Luna of ignoring cost-of-living issues facing FL-13 voters.
Local Government
A study commissioned by Clearwater-based BayCare Health System finds the health system generates $5.1 billion annually for the Pinellas County economy, with $6.6 billion in capital projects planned through 2030.
Local Government
Pinellas County Utilities will switch Clearwater's water disinfection from chloramine to chlorine from Sept. 21 through Oct. 10, which may change the taste and smell of tap water but poses no health risk to the general population.
Local Government
Pinellas County Utilities customers will pay higher water, sewer and reclaimed water rates starting Oct. 1 under the third year of a four-year rate plan the Board of County Commissioners approved in 2023, though two county web pages list different base-rate figures.
Local Government
Sam Wilson and Mark Bunker will face off Nov. 3 for Clearwater City Council Seat 5, a race shaped by debate over the Church of Scientology's expanding downtown footprint and a grassroots petition drive over the South Garden Avenue street vacation.
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