All articles tagged with #pinellas county
Florida has recorded five deaths from Vibrio vulnificus in 2026, including a new fatality in Pinellas County. The state reports 23 total cases, matching last year’s death toll but significantly lower than 2024. Health officials warn that the bacteria, which thrives in warm coastal waters, carries a 50% fatality rate if it enters the bloodstream, particularly for those with chronic illnesses.
Judge Joseph Bulone found plastic surgeon Tomasz Kosowski guilty of first-degree murder in the 2023 disappearance of attorney Steven Cozzi. Kosowski, who waived his right to a jury trial and represented himself, will face a sentencing hearing on October 8 to determine if he receives life in prison or the death penalty.
Health officials in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties have issued alerts after locally acquired dengue cases were reported in Florida, marking local transmission in the state. Dengue, also known as breakbone fever, is spread by Aedes mosquitoes. While the CDC says the overall risk of wide spread transmission remains low, residents should take precautions and seek medical care if dengue-like symptoms appear after travel to risk areas; through 2026 Florida has reported about 149 dengue cases.
Florida has reported 10 locally acquired dengue cases this year—eight in Hillsborough County and two in Pinellas County—marking the first local transmission in Pinellas in 15 years. Dengue fever is mosquito‑borne and can cause fever, rash and severe body pains; most U.S. cases come from travelers, but local transmission can occur when an infected traveler introduces the virus to local Aedes mosquitoes. The CDC advises protective clothing and insect repellent and authorities continue mosquito-control efforts to prevent further spread.
Pinellas County again has no Michelin-starred restaurants as the Guide expands statewide through partnerships with Visit Florida and local tourism agencies. In Tampa, no new stars were awarded and Lilac lost its star, now listed as a recommendation. Rocca, Ebbe, Koya and Kosen retained their one-star status in Tampa, while four area spots—Fat Beet Farm Kitchen and Bakery, Bar Terroir, The Brisket Shoppe, and Kinjo—received recommendations; Fat Beet Farm earned a Green Star and Kinjo’s chef Jada Vidal won the Michelin Young Chef Award. The expansion, funded by state and regional tourism bodies, aims to boost Florida’s culinary profile and attract international visitors.
St. Petersburg and Pinellas County are exploring the possibility of transforming Tropicana Field into a convention center as part of a broader redevelopment plan for the Historic Gas Plant District, with a feasibility study underway to assess market demand and potential benefits for regional tourism and economic growth.
The St. Petersburg City Council has approved bonds to fund a new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays, with a narrow 4-3 vote. This decision shifts the responsibility to the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners, who will vote on the funding in December. The Rays have expressed concerns over increased costs due to delays, but council members believe approving the bonds will compel the team to adhere to the original deal. The Rays' current venue, Tropicana Field, is unplayable for 2025 due to hurricane damage, adding urgency to the situation.
The St. Petersburg City Council voted to delay a decision on issuing bonds for a new $1.3 billion stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays, aligning with Pinellas County's earlier decision to postpone its financing vote. The delay, pushed to no later than January 9, allows newly elected council members critical of the deal to participate. The Rays have indicated they may terminate the agreement under current terms, casting doubt on the future of the project. The council also reversed a decision to fund repairs to Tropicana Field's roof, further complicating the situation.
The Tampa Bay Rays' plans for a new stadium in St. Petersburg face uncertainty after the Pinellas County Board postponed a vote on bond financing for the second time, potentially delaying or jeopardizing the project. The delay follows comments by Rays owner Stu Sternberg, which frustrated commissioners. The Rays, currently displaced from Tropicana Field due to hurricane damage, may play 2025 home games at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. The future of the Rays in the Tampa Bay area remains unclear as the team and county officials navigate financial and logistical challenges.
The Tampa Bay Rays have halted their current stadium deal with Pinellas County due to delays in finalizing bond financing, which has made a 2028 stadium opening impossible. The team, responsible for $700 million of the $1.3 billion project, is open to negotiating a new solution to keep Major League Baseball in Tampa Bay. The delay in bond votes, influenced by recent elections and concerns over temporary playing locations, has led to a potential anti-stadium majority in the county commission.
The Tampa Bay Rays' plans for a new stadium by 2028 are in jeopardy following Hurricane Milton's damage to Tropicana Field, leading to delays in crucial bond votes for financing. The Rays will play their 2025 games at Steinbrenner Field, sparking criticism from Pinellas County officials who are investing $1 billion in public funding. Owner Stu Sternberg has mentioned relocation as a possibility if the situation doesn't improve, with potential delays and increased costs threatening the project.
The Tampa Bay Rays' plan to build a new $1.3 billion stadium at the Tropicana Field site is likely dead due to delays by the Pinellas County Commission in approving bond financing. This jeopardizes the future of Major League Baseball in St. Petersburg, as the Rays may consider relocating if the stadium deal falls through. The team has already announced plans to play the 2025 season at the Yankees' spring training stadium in Tampa, and concerns over costly repairs to Tropicana Field's roof add to the uncertainty.
The body of a 49-year-old man who went missing while paddleboarding off of Dunedin, Florida was found dead in the Intracoastal waterway. Ziad Abdeen was reported missing on Friday and his body was recovered on Sunday. The cause of death is yet to be determined as the investigation continues.
Pinellas County deputies have identified the victims of a double homicide in Largo as 61-year-old James McKinley Barber, Sr. and 62-year-old Wesley Barber. The suspect, James McKinley Barber Jr., was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder after allegedly shooting his brothers multiple times. The incident was captured on surveillance footage, and the investigation is ongoing.
Pinellas County deputies have identified the victims of a double homicide in Largo as 61-year-old James McKinley Barber, Sr. and 62-year-old Wesley Barber. The suspect, James McKinley Barber Jr., was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder after allegedly shooting his brothers multiple times. The incident was captured on surveillance footage, and the investigation is ongoing.