GOVERNMENT

Tarpon Springs’ busiest intersection, U.S. 19 and Tarpon Avenue, is in dire need of maintenance. The crosswalks for pedestrians and turning guidelines for motorists are badly worn or invisible. When this is addressed, I would encourage the emplacement of reflectors that will enhance night vision driving and out last...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Pinellas County Emergency Management is focusing some extra attention on the boating community this hurricane season, especially people who live on boats. Boaters and Pinellas officials are seeing more people moving off land and onto the water to live, and that comes with a different kind...

The lawsuit, filed last month on behalf of five residents of Tampa and St. Petersburg, focuses on Senate District 16 and Senate District 18.

The city of Clearwater will host a ceremony in honor of Pride Month that will feature remarks from local officials, chalk art and giveaways. But unlike in previous years, Monday’s kickoff event will not include raising a LGBTQ+ flag at the Municipal Services Building. The city since 2022 has...

DEMOREST, Ga. — Joanna Tsesmelis of Tarpon Springs was among more than 300 graduates at Piedmont University's commencement ceremonies on May 10. MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Jenna Wichmann of Palm Harbor, a sophomore at Wisconsin Lutheran College, has been named to the college's Dean's List for the spring 2024 semester.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Saturday is not just the start of storm season, it’s also the beginning of some fertilizer bans in the Bay Area. These bans happen yearly to combat environmental issues like algae blooms and water quality problems. However, when it comes to the city of...

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – The Pinellas County Air Quality Section of Public Works is issuing...

DUNEDIN — In case you're wondering, don't bring a couch to an emergency shelter. That was one of the snicker-worthy pieces of advice given to about 200 attendees at the 2024 Hurricane Preparedness Expo on May 21 at Dunedin City Hall. Several local officials along with local weather enthusiast...

PINELLAS PARK, Fla. – The westbound Gandy Boulevard ramp to US 19 will close nightly...

Re: City adopts new Scientology strategy (May 17) I was so disappointed to see the article about my Church: Scientology. The author claims she “covers” Scientology but she does not. If she really wanted to cover Scientology, she would cover the immense benefits we have brought to the community. She focuses on and adds to the troubles with downtown development instead of being constructive and printing the full truth. And what about the hundreds of thousands of former drug addicts who we have salvaged in our Narconon program — statistically the most effective such program in the world? What about the criminals we have rehabilitated in our Criminon program, also the most effect such program. What about our Volunteer Ministers program — the only such movement during the pandemic which helped so many people, other churches, police, governments, businesses to keep functioning safely around the world? Our Human Rights program teaching millions about the Universal Declaration on Human Rights? Our drug education program lowering drug use where it is implemented? Our Way to Happiness program restoring common sense moral values. I don’t know why the Beacon would want to reprint the counterproductive writing that this journalist puts out. Reporting should be fair and complete but instead she is heavily bigoted towards us. There is, by the way, an excellent article on Scientology’s efforts toward downtown development at https://freedommag.org, one of the award-winning magazines put out by the Church of Scientology.

Pinellas County has launched a new service designed to make it easier for residents to access behavioral health services locally. The program, called Care About Me, provides a confidential access line for Pinellas County residents of all ages who need help finding appointments for mental health, substance use and/or addiction services.

NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — June 1 marks the official start of the 2024 Hurricane Season. As a way to get ready, plenty of local cities are advising residents to gather supplies now. Including New Port Richey, which hosted its inaugural Hurricane Preparedness Expo at the Recreation and Aquatic Center. It’s a time that some are spending getting prepared.

As St. Petersburg and Pinellas County officials close in on negotiations with the Tampa Bay Rays for a new stadium and surrounding redevelopment, St. Petersburg City Council members on Thursday received a cache of agreements that would enforce how a new baseball stadium would be built, funded and operated. But...