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1 month ago | 
wtsp.com | Cristina Mendez |Cristina Méndez
TREASURE ISLAND, Fla. — The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) has planned workshops this week in Pinellas County to help residents navigate the first-of-its-kind statewide residential mitigation program, 'Elevate Florida'. The program aims to expedite the process of protecting properties by reducing damage caused by natural disasters, such as hurricanes and flooding events.
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1 month ago | 
wtsp.com | Cristina Mendez |Cristina Méndez
TREASURE ISLAND, Fla. — 'Back to the Beach': Sand & Kites & Coastal Delights is a signal to visitors that Treasure Island is open for business. Following two back-to-back storms last year, the city's staple events 'Sanding Ovation' and the Treasure Island Kite Festival were canceled.
After months of recovery efforts since then, the city combined the two events into a smaller one that will debut this weekend.
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1 month ago | 
wtsp.com | Cristina Mendez |Cristina Méndez
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg will put the city on an international stage, and with that, an economic boost to local businesses.
The twenty-year tradition that takes over part of downtown is anticipated to generate revenue in the same ballpark as the previous annual event: more than $60 million.
Last year, Tampa Bay took a one-two punch from storms. Inflation also edged up slightly at the start of 2025.
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1 month ago | 
wtsp.com | Cristina Mendez |Cristina Méndez
TAMPA, Fla. — The head of the Catholic Church remains hospitalized in critical condition Monday embattled with a lung infection and mild kidney insufficiency. Pope Francis, 88, was diagnosed with double pneumonia and has been in the hospital since Feb. 14. Doctors have said his condition is touch-and-go, given his age, fragility and pre-existing lung disease.
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2 months ago | 
wtsp.com | Cristina Mendez |Cristina Méndez
CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Clearwater Airpark is one step closer to receiving an added safety measure that's been years in the making. On Thursday evening, Clearwater City Council unanimously approved a grant agreement between the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), the City of Clearwater and FlyUSA, the airpark's manager.
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2 months ago | 
abc10.com | Cristina Mendez |Cristina Méndez
TAMPA, Fla. — A puppy who was in the care of a Rover sitter went missing on the evening of Jan. 28 from a Tampa home.
Since then, the pet owners of 6-month-old Bernedoodle 'Blue' have not stopped searching for answers.
Shelby Caldwell and Zach Evers went away to Washington D.C. for a work trip last month and entrusted their new dog with a sitter through the Rover app for the first time.
"I actually told the Rover before we left that 'please watch after Blue.
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2 months ago | 
wtsp.com | Cristina Mendez |Cristina Méndez
BARTOW, Fla. — A community forum at the Bartow Civic Center on Tuesday evening took up one issue: Should the city continue adding fluoride to its drinking water? After a September federal court ruling called for the Environmental Protection Agency to take a closer look at the potential health risks stemming from the recommended levels of fluoride in the United States drinking water supply, a debate has grown about whether the benefits of water fluoridation outweigh the risks.
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2 months ago | 
wtsp.com | Cristina Mendez |Cristina Méndez
ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — A pilot program is now in play on St. Pete Beach aimed at stricter and increased enforcement of certain ordinances. To keep the beach safe and clean, the city's Code Enforcement and Pinellas County Sheriff's Office will work together to enforce current beach ordinances. This includes no alcohol on public beach areas, keeping off the dunes and having people remove their dogs from the beach.
The pilot program runs from Feb. 14 through April 30.
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2 months ago | 
wtsp.com | Cristina Mendez |Cristina Méndez
FORT MEADE, Fla. — Screen structures stretch for as far as the eye can see across a swath of land in Polk County. It's the newest and largest site where 'Citrus Under Protective Screen' or 'C.U.P.S.' is being grown by the Dundee Citrus Growers Association. "Not only are you getting something that looks great, that tastes great... There's a great story behind it," CEO Steven Callaham said.
The story began in 2017 when the association first used this production system commercially.
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2 months ago | 
wtsp.com | Cristina Mendez |Cristina Méndez
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — When Hurricane Helene hit, it wasn't the first, second or even third flood event the home that was purchased by Melanie Cook and partner Shawn just months prior to last year's back-to-back storms sustained. Once the couple learned of the extent of the repeated flooding history, the two said there was no other option than to go up.
"Until we're up, we have the potential to flood again and that's the scariest part," Cook said.
