Chad Mills

3 weeks ago | abcactionnews.com | Chad Mills

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Last summer, the Florida Department of Environment Protection considered adding amenities like golf courses, pickleball courts, and hotels to certain state Parks across the state. Nine parks across the state, including Honeymoon Island and Hillsborough River State Parks, were selected for proposed upgrades. However, the changes sparked fierce protest and backlash, and Gov. Ron DeSantis shelved the plans. It’s still hard for residents like Michael McGrath to believe.

3 weeks ago | abcactionnews.com | Chad Mills

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — The mobile home located just minutes from the Dunedin Causeway was supposed to be Linda and Steve Lounsbury’s Florida Dream. Their mobile home at Sun Retreats in Dunedin was supposed to be a reliable place for the snowbirds to vacation and spend half the year to escape the cold of Ontario, Canada. “We love it, obviously,” Linda said through tears. “You know, that’s why it’s so hurtful.”Soon, Linda and her husband might have to abandon their Florida Dream.

3 weeks ago | abcactionnews.com | Chad Mills

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Cheeseburgers, wine, and card games. The Thursday night get-together at Matt Soehnlen’s home had all bases covered. Soehnlen and several of his neighbors-turned-friends gathered around a dining room table and filled the warm, inviting room with laughter. But looks can be deceiving. Their smiles concealed a deep sense of worry that’s now present throughout the 55+ community off Gandy Boulevard, Gateway Mobile Home Park.

4 weeks ago | abcactionnews.com | Chad Mills

CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. — It’s been six months since Hurricane Helene, but for Morgan Sundberg, it’s hard to tell. “It almost feels like just time has stopped. Like, it’s been six months since the hurricane, but you’re still going through the motions,” she said. Sundberg owns multiple Crystal River restaurants, including Kane’s Cattle Co. Steakhouse on Citrus Ave. ABC Action News first visited Kane’s in Sept.

1 month ago | abcactionnews.com | Chad Mills

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — It’s spring break for a lot of people, and Ericka Hering can tell. A number of the homes in her Seminole neighborhood are listed as short-term rentals on Airbnb, and Hering says she and her neighbors often experience disruptive behavior as a result. “This week, we already had 16 or 18 people at one of the short-term rentals. They had eight cars parked in the street,” she said. Hering is one of several homeowners who showed up to a Feb.