Staff Reports

TAMPA – Launch Credit Union members have approved the proposed merger with Suncoast Credit Union following a 45-day voting period conducted earlier this summer, the credit unions announced Aug. 26. 

With approval from Launch members, both boards of directors and the National Credit Union Administration, the merger will take effect Sept. 1, with the combined organization operating under the Suncoast Credit Union name.

Launch Credit Union serves more than 86,000 members across Florida’s Space Coast and operates 17 branches in Brevard and Volusia counties. The combined credit union will serve more than 1.5 million members and manage over $22 billion in assets.

“Today marks an exciting new chapter as Launch Credit Union members become part of Suncoast Credit Union,” said Kevin Johnson, president and CEO of Suncoast Credit Union. “Together, we’ll continue investing in innovative products, enhanced services and meaningful community impact while remaining focused on our mission of helping our members achieve financial success.”

Johnson will lead the combined organization. Joe Mirachi, CEO of Launch Credit Union, is retiring.

“Our members’ approval reflects confidence in a partnership that positions us to deliver even greater value while preserving the member-first philosophy that has guided Launch Credit Union for more than 60 years,” Mirachi said. “We’re grateful for the trust our members have placed in us and look forward to the opportunities this new partnership creates.”

The integration process will continue over the coming months, and members will not experience immediate changes to their accounts or day-to-day services. Operational Day One, when members and employees are fully operating under the Suncoast umbrella, is expected in summer 2027.

Launch Credit Union will operate as Launch, a Branch of Suncoast Credit Union, during the transition period while both organizations work to integrate operations. Members will be notified in advance of any changes.

During the transition period, Launch and Suncoast will continue operating on separate systems. Members should continue conducting transactions through their existing credit union’s branches, digital banking platforms and service channels. 

No branches will close. The credit union said the merger will not result in job losses and will create new opportunities for employees to grow.

The merger will create opportunities to expand products and services, enhance technology, increase access to financial resources and provide additional value and convenience for members.  

A special dividend of up to $15 million will be paid to qualified Launch accounts before the effective date of the merger. The credit union announced that $5 million will be invested in nonprofits and school districts throughout Florida’s Space Coast.

 

PINELLAS PARK – The Tunnel to Towers Foundation delivered physical and financial independence to Marine veteran Michael DeLancey on Aug. 19 with a mortgage-free home in Pinellas County.

The foundation’s Smart Home Program builds or modifies homes to make them accessible for injured veterans and first responders. Each home is designed to address the individual’s specific needs.

A sniper attack in September 2006 in Haditha, Iraq, left DeLancey paralyzed from the chest down. 

The lance corporal sustained a gunshot wound that entered through his left shoulder, shattered his seventh vertebra and fragmented into his right shoulder. He was airlifted from Iraq to Germany before being transferred to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he spent more than 50 days hospitalized.   

DeLancey returned home to Tampa and dedicated himself to rehabilitation while discovering adaptive sports and outdoor recreation. He began mentoring newly injured service members at Walter Reed.  

DeLancey started Wounded Warriors Abilities Ranch in 2015. The nonprofit helps veterans stay active through sports and activities in the Tampa Bay area. 

Some of the features of his new home include automated exterior doors; wider halls and doorways; automatic door locks; adjustable cabinets, counters and stovetops; wheelchair-accessible showers; smart controls for lighting, temperature, security and sound; and backup generators.
“To me, this house represents the foundation of the strong community bond that I have been lucky enough to have since coming home,” said the Pinellas Park native.

 

Want to help?

Visit T2T.org to support Tunnel to Towers’ mission and help deliver life-changing mortgage-free smart homes.

 

ST. LEO – Saint Leo University is entering the 2026-27 academic year with expanded academic programs, new student resources and a continued focus on becoming the region’s most workforce-oriented university.

“After almost one year serving this community, I am encouraged by the progress we are making and the momentum building across Saint Leo University,” said Jim Burkee, university president. “As we begin a new academic year, our focus is clear: We are preparing students not just for their first job, but for the future of work. We are developing the next generation of leaders, who bring our core values and ethics to every challenge.”

Nearly 850 new students will begin the fall semester at Saint Leo’s residential campus. Classes begin Aug. 24.

 

Academic innovation

For the 2026-27 academic year, Saint Leo University is introducing new undergraduate and graduate programs in health care, technology, business, criminal justice, education and ministry. 

The new offerings, along with revamped experiential learning opportunities, are designed to prepare students for high-demand careers and meet the changing needs of employers.

The university recently received $1.8 million in state funding to expand its cybersecurity and nursing programs. Dewey and Becky Mitchell donated $1 million to launch the Derek J. Mitchell Collegiate Recovery Program, which is currently accepting applicants with the first cohort expected to begin in spring 2027. 

Arnie and Lauren Bellini donated $2 million to develop an accelerated graduate program designed to prepare executives for leadership roles in cybersecurity, also planned for spring 2027.

“At the heart of everything we do is a commitment to helping students thrive in a work environment that looks nothing like it did even five years ago,” said Bryan DePoy, provost and vice president of academic affairs. “We’re strengthening the programs our students already count on while introducing new ones, bringing emerging technologies into the classroom and reimagining what experiential learning looks like from day one of a student’s time at Saint Leo University.”

New academic programs for 2026-27 include:

College of Arts, Sciences, and Allied Services

• The college is introducing a new Bachelor of Arts in Medical Humanities with a Pre-DPT concentration and a new Master of Education in Exceptional Student Education: Autism Spectrum Disorder Practices and Intervention.
• Saint Leo also is expanding its forensic science education through a forensics specialization within the Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and a new Doctor of Criminal Justice in Forensic Science.
• A new online Graduate Certificate in Pneumatology and Renewal Leadership provides additional opportunities for graduate-level study in ministry and theology.

College of Health Sciences

• The new Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing offers a hybrid format for career changers holding a non-nursing bachelor’s degree.
• New degree programs include a Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sport Science and an asynchronous online Master of Social Work.
• A Doctor of Social Work is planned for spring 2027, pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Tapia College of Business and Technology

• The newly merged Tapia College of Business and Technology is expanding its offerings with a new Bachelor of Science in Business Analytics, a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a minor in artificial intelligence.
• Other new programs include advanced MBA Advantage tracks in finance and economics and a Master of Science in Applied Business and Leadership that can be applied toward Saint Leo’s existing Doctor of Business Administration.
• A new Cybersecurity Executive Track is planned to launch in spring 2027.

Visit saintleo.edu/academics/academic-affairs/catalogs to view the 2026-27 Academic Catalog. 

 

Connecting classroom learning to careers

As employers increasingly seek AI and digital skills, Saint Leo is putting its university-wide AI training initiative into practice this fall in partnership with IBM. AI and digital fluency training through IBM SkillsBuild is being embedded in every academic program. Saint Leo aims to become the first university in the nation to fully integrate the SkillsBuild platform across all areas of study.

The university also is expanding experiential learning through internships, externships, clinical experiences and employer partnerships, giving students opportunities to apply classroom learning in professional settings.

“We’re also rethinking how we support students beyond the classroom,” DePoy said. “Plans are underway to bring career services, workforce engagement and academic advising together into one integrated model, so students get consistent guidance connecting what they’re learning to where they’re headed.”

The university continues to invest in campus spaces, resources and programs that support students.

LEO 360, a centralized hub for student-facing services, brings together academic advising, accessibility services, career and workforce engagement, the registrar and student financial services in one convenient location. 

Other improvements for 2026-27 include new gathering spaces, a new campus store and enhanced dining options.

 

By the Numbers

• Nearly 850 new students at University Campus
• 10+ new academic programs
• $4.8 million in recent state and donor investments
• 100% of students to receive AI training

 

Pasco Extension hosting 4-H open house

DADE CITY – UF/IFAS Pasco County Cooperative Extension Service will host a 4-H open house to highlight 4-H clubs, projects, camps, workshops and community service opportunities.

Families can drop in during the event from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Aug. 27 at the Pasco County Extension Office, 36702 County Road 52.

Children ages 5 to 18 can participate in 4-H community clubs with adult volunteers. Project areas include animal science, environmental science, food and nutrition, leadership, citizenship, gardening and shooting sports.

Members can also participate in events at the county, district, state, regional and national levels.

Email for more information.

 

Pasco seeks input on West Port channel marker

NEW PORT RICHEY – Pasco County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources will hold a community meeting to discuss the installation of a slow-speed channel marker in the West Port Channel.

The meeting begins at 6 p.m. Aug. 31 at the West Pasco Government Center, 8731 Citizens Drive.

The meeting will give community members and stakeholders an opportunity to provide input on the proposed channel marker. Representatives from other government agencies have also been invited.

On the web: MyPasco.net

 

Water district seeks input on water priorities

BROOKSVILLE – The Southwest Florida Water Management District seeks public input on priorities for establishing minimum flows and levels for lakes, wetlands, rivers, streams and aquifers.

The district will hold a virtual workshop at noon Aug. 27 through Microsoft Teams.

The district plans to publish its draft 2026 priority list after the Governing Board’s Aug. 25 meeting. The board will consider approval in October.

Written comments may be submitted to by Sept. 7. 

On the web: watermatters.org

 

Hillsborough to mail out notices of proposed property taxes 

TAMPA – The Hillsborough County Property Appraiser’s Office will begin mailing Truth in Millage Notices to property owners on Aug. 13.

The notice is not a tax bill. It contains information about a property’s market value, assessed value, exemptions and proposed property taxes.

The notice reflects proposed tax rates and budgets established by the various taxing authorities. The reverse side includes the dates, times and locations of public budget hearings at which comments regarding proposed tax rates and budgets may be presented directly to the appropriate taxing authorities.

Questions concerning a property’s market value, assessed value, exemptions or classification should be directed to the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser’s Office. 

Reviewing the notice provides an opportunity to address questions or concerns before property tax bills are issued in November.

 

Hillsborough seeks applications for Neighborhood Awards

TAMPA – Applications are open for the 2026 Hillsborough County Neighborhood Awards.

The awards recognize projects, programs and events held in unincorporated Hillsborough County between July 2025 and June 2026.

Neighborhoods may apply in three categories: promoting conservation, environmental stewardship or healthy living; enhancing safety or boosting disaster preparedness; or building community spirit through volunteerism or communication. 

Each neighborhood may submit one application and compete in multiple categories.

Applications are due by 5 p.m. Sept. 11. One category winner will be named the 2026 Neighborhood of the Year and receive $500.

Visit HCFL.gov/NeighborhoodAwards for details.

 

HART offers discounted fares for young riders

TAMPA – Hillsborough Transit Authority has brought back its HART Youth Pass for the new school year.

The pass gives riders ages 6 to 18 a 50% discount on regular HART fares. A one-way ride costs $1, a one-day pass costs $2 and a monthly pass costs $32.50. Children ages 5 and younger ride free with a parent or guardian.

Eligible riders must register with a valid form of identification at the Marion Transit Center or University Area Transit Center.

The Youth Pass is available through Flamingo Fares, HART’s mobile app and smart card payment system.

On the web: goHART.org 

 

Quick Hits

• Pasco County Fire Rescue celebrated the grand opening of Station 2 at 32134 Wesley Chapel Blvd., Wesley Chapel.
• The Wesley Chapel Rotary Club will celebrate its 21st anniversary during the week of Aug. 19. 

Jonas Brothers expand concert series

TAMPA – The Jonas Brothers will bring The Burning Up Tour All Over Again to Benchmark International Arena at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11.

Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas expanded the concert series into a 45-city North American tour after sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden. Magnus Ferrell and Deleasa will join the band as special guests.

The tour revisits the Jonas Brothers’ original Burning Up Tour.

“The response was so overwhelming announcing the MSG shows that we knew we couldn’t stop at New York,” the Jonas Brothers said. “We’re taking The Burning Up Tour All Over Again on the road so we can relive it with all of you, city by city.”

 

Chelsea Handler books comedy show in Tampa

TAMPA – Comedian Chelsea Handler will bring The High and Mighty Tour to Tampa Theatre at 8 p.m. Dec. 18.

Handler hosted E!’s “Chelsea Lately” for seven years and later launched the Netflix documentary series “Chelsea Does” and talk show “Chelsea.” She has written seven New York Times best-selling books. Her latest is “I’ll Have What She’s Having.”

Handler earned a Grammy nomination for her 2020 comedy special “Evolution.” She also hosts the “Dear Chelsea” advice podcast. Her third Netflix comedy special, “The Feeling,” premiered in March 2025.

Tickets range from $99 to $139 plus taxes and fees. They go on sale at 10 a.m. Aug. 21 at the Tampa Theatre box office and online.

 

Public radio hits the Tampa Theatre stage

TAMPA – WUSF will present “This American Life” creator and host Ira Glass in “Stories for a Saturday Night” on Dec. 5 at Tampa Theatre.

The live show gives audiences a behind-the-scenes look at the public radio program and podcast. Glass will explain how producers find stories and create the show. He will also recreate its sound on stage through narration, prerecorded quotes and music.

“This American Life” reaches more than 3 million public radio listeners each week. It became the first radio show or podcast to win a Pulitzer Prize.

WUSF members can purchase tickets beginning Sept. 28. Remaining tickets go on sale to the public Oct. 5 through Tampa Theatre.

 

Suncoast celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

TAMPA – Suncoast Credit Union will present Juntos y con Ritmo, a concert celebrating Hispanic culture, Oct. 17 at the Yuengling Center.

The concert begins at 7 p.m. A pre-concert celebration begins at 5 p.m. with entertainment, nonprofit showcases and community activities.

Latin Grammy-winning Cuban duo Gente de Zona will headline. Grupo Manía and Alexandra “The Bachata Queen” will also perform.

Suncoast is partnering with Hispanic Chambers of Commerce across Florida. Participating chambers will nominate local nonprofits to receive a portion of concert proceeds.

“Juntos y con Ritmo is a phenomenal celebration of culture, connection and community impact,” Suncoast President and CEO Kevin Johnson said.

Suncoast members will receive 50% off eligible concert tickets.

 

GeckoFest returns to Gulfport on Sept. 5

GULFPORT – The 26th annual GeckoFest will bring live music, food, art and street performers to downtown Gulfport from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 5.

The free festival takes place along Beach and Shore boulevards. This year’s “Gecko Music Awards” theme celebrates Gulfport’s music and arts scene.

Activities include live music on two stages, street theater, artisan vendors, food trucks and Gecko Skateboard Races. Acrobats, magicians, dancers, aerialists and fire eaters will perform throughout the festival.

Attendees are encouraged to wear costumes and participate in a walking parade at 6 p.m. A birthday celebration for the G. Gordon McFly sculpture will follow.

Admission and parking are free. Courtesy shuttles will serve designated off-site parking areas.

 

Model train rolling into Brooksville

BROOKSVILLE – Regal Railways will host a model train show and sale with more than 70 tables of vendors offering model trains, toys and other items. 

The event takes place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 12 at the Hernando Fairgrounds, 6436 Broad St. It will also feature a running train layout, test track and food vendor.

Admission costs $6 for adults. Children ages 12 and younger are admitted free. Credit cards will be accepted for admission.

Visit regalrailways.com for advance tickets, vendor information and additional details.

 

Steve Lacy to perform … Oh yeah?

TAMPA – Grammy Award-winning artist Steve Lacy will bring his Oh yeah? Tour to the Yuengling Center at 8 p.m. Oct. 28.

The North American tour marks Lacy’s first run of headlining shows since his sold-out Give You The World Tour in 2022.

Lacy recently released “Oh yeah?,” his first album in four years. The self-produced, 10-track album features collaborations with SZA, Erykah Badu and Cecile Believe.

The 28-year-old artist has two songs in Spotify’s Billions Club and has won two Grammy Awards.

Tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster.

 

Stage West Playhouse hosting New Works Festival

SPRING HILL – Stage West Playhouse will showcase 11 original plays during its second annual New Works Festival Aug. 21 to 23.

The festival features nine 10-minute plays and two full-length productions written by members of the Stage West Playwriting Group. The short plays will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 21 and 2 p.m. Aug. 22.

Brian Brijbag’s “One Seat Over” premieres at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 22. Lil Barcaski’s Dinner for Six closes the festival at 2 p.m. Aug. 23.

Other activities include an improv battle, showtune karaoke and food trucks.

Tickets cost $15 per show. An all-access pass costs $35. Stage West Playhouse is at 8390 Forest Oaks Blvd.

 

Live Oak Theatre staging ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’

BROOKSVILLE – Live Oak Theatre will present five performances of “The Diary of Anne Frank” from Sept. 11 to 13 at the Carol and Frank Morsani Center for the Arts, 21030 Cortez Blvd.

Matinees begin at 2:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

The theater will offer a special Sept. 11 matinee for school and homeschool groups. Groups receive one additional seat for every 10 seats purchased.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning play is based on the diary of Anne Frank and was written by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett.

Tickets cost $25 for adults and $10 for children ages 13 and younger with the purchase of an adult ticket.

SPRING HILL – A deputy with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office killed his ex-girlfriend and then himself, according to the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. 

Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco said the victim and her two children were returning home to Hudson from the beach around 5:30 p.m. Aug. 10 when they saw her ex-boyfriend standing in their yard. They started arguing over his TV. 

The victim tried calling 911, but the suspect took the phone from her hands. She told her children to go inside and call 911. One of the children identified the suspect to dispatch as Deputy Troy Savetz with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. 

Deputies arrived at the scene but Savetz and the victim were gone. The sheriff’s office learned that Savetz was using a rental vehicle. The Pasco Sheriff’s Office alerted neighboring jurisdictions to the kidnapping. 

A deputy spotted the rental vehicle around 7 p.m. on Platinum Drive in Spring Hill. Deputies found both bodies inside.

Savetz worked for the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office for 14 years. Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri described the situation as horrific. 

“There is no reason to have a permanent solution to a temporary problem,” Gualtieri said. “The fact that he made that kind of a decision to leave two kids, 12 and 9 years old, without a mom for the rest of their lives is just awful. Our hearts go out to her family.”

Nocco praised the cooperation of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

“The moment this individual committed a crime, he was no longer a law enforcement officer,” Nocco said. “He was a criminal.”

Nocco credited the children for listening to their mother by going inside to call 911. After listening to the 911 audio, he was struck by how brave and calm they were as they relayed information to the dispatcher under pressure. 

“We’re so proud of you and I know your mom is,” Nocco said in a message to the children. “But know this entire community is praying for you and our arms go around you. We’re going to do everything we can because we know that you’re going to be going back to school and we’re going to make sure the resources are there for you.”

 

TAMPA – The Tampa Bay Sun Foundation is launching a new season of free soccer clinics across Tampa Bay, thanks to support from Tampa Electric.

Kids can turn their enthusiasm for soccer into opportunities to get active, learn skills, and create friendships through 19 free programs that develop character on the field. TECO’s support also powers Gear Goals, a year-round effort to get quality soccer gear into the hands of kids who need it.

“Soccer gives kids something powerful. It’s a sense of belonging and a little more confidence every time they step on the field,” said Rachel Jolley, director of the Tampa Bay Sun Foundation. “Thanks to TECO’s support, we get to share that fantastic feeling with even more kids across Tampa Bay this year.”

Last season, in the first year with TECO’s support, Tampa Bay Sun Foundation clinics reached 1,292 children.

Through the spring of 2027, TECO’s sponsorship will support:

• 10 Energize the Bay Youth Clinics: open to girls and boys ages 7 to 13 at fields throughout Tampa Bay, including Suncoast Credit Union Field.
• 6 Shine Soccer Clinics: bringing the game to girls and boys at Title I schools and youth-focused community organizations.
• 3 Rise Up Soccer Club School Sessions: four-week partnered program for girls at Title I schools, blending soccer education with leadership and life skills.
• Gear Goals: ongoing, year-round program that pairs coaches, players and teams in Tampa Bay with the soccer gear they need to participate.

Every clinic includes a free Tampa Bay Sun Foundation x TECO jersey. Kids can collect three different jerseys by attending three different clinics.

Players from Tampa Bay Sun FC will take part in some of the clinics. All programs are led by U.S. Soccer Licensed Coaches with support from the foundation’s team of volunteers, the Sunshine Squad.

“At TECO, we believe in investing in the communities we serve and that means investing in the next generation,” said Stephanie Smith, vice president of state and regional affairs at TECO. “These programs give kids a place to build friendships, stay active and grow as people, whether it’s in the classroom or on the field.”