Carlos Moncada

Pinellas Current • 12th July 2026

They can raise the house. But where do the stairs go?

REDINGTON SHORES — Nearly two years after hurricanes Helene and Milton, property owners trying to elevate storm-damaged homes are coming up against an unexpected obstacle: Where do the stairs go when there's no room for them?That question has surfaced in this coastal beach town of 2,000, where two property owners preparing to raise their homes above the floodplain found they couldn't legally build the exterior stairways needed to reach them without zoning variances.In one case, owner Danny Powna...

Pinellas Current • 9th July 2026

Belleair Beach may allow hooting, singing after dark. Basketball hoops? Still up in the air.

BELLEAIR BEACH — It soon may be legal to hoot, whistle or sing on city streets after 10 p.m. But can you leave a portable basketball hoop in your driveway overnight?It’s complicated.Such unusual and rarely enforced rules are among the quirks that remain on the city’s code books, legal tomes that govern life in this beachside community of about 1,600 residents.The city council on July 6 tried to add some clarity and common sense to some of these outdated and lesser-known ordinances, approving on...

Pinellas Current • 8th July 2026

Largo officials eye fire assessment if tax amendment passes

LARGO — City officials plan to dust off a years-old fire assessment study in response to a proposed constitutional amendment that could sharply reduce property tax revenues for local governments.During the July 7 city commission meeting, Commissioner John Lauser suggested the city consider levying such a fee if voters approve the proposed amendment on November’s ballot.Mayor Woody Brown agreed with taking a look at the potentially controversial fee, but recommended staff dig up a fire assessment...

Pinellas Current • 7th July 2026

South Pasadena only Pinellas city to see taxable values decline, eyes higher tax rate

SOUTH PASADENA — Among Pinellas County’s 24 municipalities, this city of retirees holds an unwanted distinction: It was the only one that saw a decline in taxable property values last year.That unusual drop led city commissioners to set a proposed maximum property tax rate for next year that is 10% above the rollback rate, leaving open the possibility of a tax increase as they finalize the budget.The commission voted unanimously July 1 to certify a proposed maximum tax rate, or millage, of 5.81...

Pinellas Current • 3rd July 2026

Two developers pitch competing visions for Largo’s former City Hall campus

LARGO — Two development groups have proposed sharply different visions for transforming the city’s former 14-acre municipal campus, with project costs ranging from tens of millions to more than $300 million, documents show.

Pinellas Press • 25th June 2026

State rejects Belleair Shore bid to remove beach boundary

BELLEAIR SHORE — Siding with Pinellas County and Belleair Beach, the state has rejected this town’s controversial bid to remove a long-standing beach boundary separating public and private shoreline areas.

Pinellas Press • 25th June 2026

Will public drinking help revive downtown Largo?

Supporters see the entertainment district as a key piece of Largo's ongoing effort to transform its once-sleepy downtown into a dynamic destination where people can live, work and play.

Pinellas Press • 3rd June 2026

Seminole Grounds Walmart Drone Delivery Talks

SEMINOLE — Drone deliveries won’t be taking off from the Walmart Supercenter in Bay Pines — at least not anytime soon.

Pinellas Press • 25th May 2026

Downtown Largo's new centerpiece finally arrives

LARGO—After years of delays, cost overruns and occasional teeth-gnashing by city leaders, Largo finally has opened the doors to its long-awaited new city hall at Horizon West Bay.

Beach Scene • 18th May 2026

Belleair Shore petition seeks to erase key coastal boundary

BELLEAIR SHORE — A petition drive to do away with a key coastal boundary could alter where the public can walk along the mile-long stretch of shoreline here.

Beach Scene • 18th May 2026

Belleair Beach meeting gets 'out of hand'

BELLEAIR BEACH — A meeting on a proposed beach access agreement with Belleair Shore was cut short after devolving into heated exchanges between city council members and residents.

Pinellas Press • 16th April 2026

Sunshine law worries surface at Redington Shores meeting

REDINGTOIN SHORES — Commissioner CJ Hoyt said colleagues discussed a pending matter outside a public
meeting, potentially violating state law.

Pinellas Press • 25th March 2026

Pinellas, Army Corps nearing deal on beach renourishment

REDINGTON SHORES — County officials say the Corps may now be willing to move forward with future renourishment projects without requiring permanent public access easements from beachfront property owners.

Pinellas Press • 25th March 2026

Under protest, Largo approves 500K City Hall change order

LARGO — The change order that came before commissioners March 3 covers work that failed final building or life-safety inspections at Horizon West Bay, Largo's centerpiece mixed-use anchor and hoped-for downtown revitalization catalyst.

Pinellas Press • 26th February 2026

Epstein Files Reveal Ties to Pinellas County

Pinellas County is mentioned dozens of times in U.S.
Department of Justice files related to the convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

Appen Media Group • 28th January 2026

Consultant: Use TAD for Buford Highway revitalization

BROOKHAVEN, Ga. — An economic development consultant is urging the City of Brookhaven to partner with DeKalb County to establish a special tax district aimed at revitalizing Buford Highway.At a Jan. 27 City Council work session, Geoff Koski, president of KB Advisory Group, said that Decide DeKalb, the county’s economic development arm, could sponsor a special tax district to harvest revenue for revitalization.The tax allo...

Pinellas Press • 27th January 2026

Largo sticks with Duke Energy, for now

LARGO — City commissioners have opted, at least for now, to continue with a controversial clean energy program that has fallen short of initial expectations.

Pinellas Press • 21st October 2025

State Targets Largo Man for Speaking Out

LARGO—As a dog barked and a child cried inside, O’Gara was questioned about a postcard he had sent
Florida’s chief financial officer in which he simply wrote, “You lack values.”

Pinellas Press • 21st September 2025

Largo seeks to borrow $26 million for injection wells

LARGO — The funds would finance construction of two
deep injection wells that would send excess
wastewater, or effluent, 1,200 feet below the
surface.

Beach Scene • 9th September 2025

A Loss of Beach Access?

BELLEAIR BEACH—This small
coastal community could
lose one of its public beach
access points, and city leaders fear
that might shut them out of future
beach renourishment projects.

Beach Scene • 9th September 2025

A Fine Mess in Madeira Beach

MADEIRA BEACH — A homeowner must pay a hefty penalty for an outdoor kitchen he later demolished — along with his house.

Pinellas Press • 5th August 2025

Largo votes to leave property tax rate unchanged

LARGO—For the fourth straight year,
city commissioners have decided to
keep Largo’s property tax rate where
it is, although most property owners are expected
to see slightly higher taxes anyway.

Pinellas Press • 5th August 2025

Largo hires broker to help sell City Hall site

LARGO — With a new municipal building set to open later this year, city leaders have approved spending up to $279,000 in taxpayer money for hiring a real estate broker to help them sell the current city hall site — despite questions about whether the company can deliver.

Beach Scene • 15th July 2025

Beach renourishment plan gets public airing

TREASURE ISLAND — A mostly supportive crowd of more than 50 people turned out July 9 to hear details of Pinellas County’s massive project to rebuild severely eroded beaches along most of its coastline.

The Tampa Tribune • 6th October 1999

Doo unto others

There is more bark than bite in "pooper-scooper" ordinances designed to help keep sidewalks clean in St. Petersburg and Tampa.

5th February 2026

Doo unto others (jump)

The Tampa Tribune • 17th November 2004

Last Grand Hotel To Be Razed?

Preservationists and elected leaders are troubled by the idea of losing what has been called the world's largest occupied wooden structure.

17th November 2004

Hotel to be razed? (jump)

The Tampa Tribune • 18th November 2004

Possible razing of Biltmore sparks outcry in community

Many in the Tampa Bay area are sentimental about the architecturally inspiring, 107-year-old landmark whose days may be numbered.

The Tampa Tribune • 18th November 2004

Biltmore resort (jump)

The Tampa Tribune • 4th November 2003

Fur flies as animal lovers split over license plate

The Tampa Tribune • 4th November 2003

Specialty plate (jump)

The Tampa Tribune • 31st August 2007

A tail of two species

For the first time since she was a baby, 2-year-old Winter the dolphin swam almost normally with the help of a prosthetic rear fin.

The Tampa Tribune • 31st August 2007

Dolphin (jump)

The Tampa Tribune • 28th May 2026

Lost In Transition

One by one, the mom-and-pop motels with neon signs and plastic flamingos, vintage beach cottages and small seaside shops that for decades beckoned budget-minded families and tourists to Pinellas County beaches are closing their doors.

5th February 2026

Lost in transition (jump 1)

5th February 2026

Lost in transition (jump 2)

The Tampa Tribune • 1st August 2003

Guardian investigated after boy's funds dives

The state attorney leads an inquiry after an audit shows the investment portfolio plummeted $2 million in two years.

The Tampa Tribune • 1st August 2003

Guardian investigated (jump)

The Tampa Tribune • 8th September 2007

St. Pete Councilman resigns, commits suicide

Police were investigating allegations of sexual abuse against the two-term council chairman, found dead in his garage.

The Tampa Tribune • 8th September 2007

St. Pete councilman (jump)

The Tampa Tribune • 24th January 1998

RVs uproot old-fashioned campers

Most motor-homers aren't trying to "get away from it all." In fact, they try to take as much of it with them as possible.

The Tampa Tribune • 24th January 1998

Campers (jump)

The Tampa Tribune • 7th July 1997

Serving on good behavior

Pinellas administrator Fred Marquis has held the county's top post for 18 years, almost unheard of for government managers.

The Tampa Tribune • 7th July 1997

Marquis (jump)

The Tampa Tribune • 8th October 2000

Destination downtown

Bay Walk, the latest in a new generation of shopping and entertainment centers, is set to open in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg.

8th October 2000

Downtown (jump)

The Tampa Tribune • 22nd May 2008

DEP worker knew of pollution in 1999

State regulators knew a toxic plume of industrial waste was migrating from a defense plant toward the Azalea neighborhood at least nine years ago, newly obtained records show.

The Tampa Tribune • 22nd May 2008

Azalea pollution (jump)

The Tampa Tribune • 30th November 2003

Pinellas' lost landfills

Many areas lie hidden, posing possible pollution or, with methane gas, exposion problems.

The Tampa Tribune • 30th November 2003

Lost landfills (jump)

The Tampa Tribune • 30th November 2003

Toytown (jump)

The Tampa Tribune • 26th February 2000

Making waves

A lively water war has erupted between model-boat hobbyists and homeowners who live near Ruby Lake.

The Tampa Tribune • 26th February 2000

Noise (jump)

The Tampa Tribune • 29th May 2008

WWII airman gets belated service honor

After six decades, a bombardier receives an award the war forgot.

29th May 2008

Airman award (jump)

The Tampa Tribune • 19th November 2006

Gov. Known as Likable

Despite his privileged background, Charlie Crist comes off more as the guy next door than Florida's top political leader.

The Tampa Tribune • 19th November 2006

Charlie Crist (jump)