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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Juvenile Choice Program opens to ages 11 to 17

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The Pasco Sheriff’s Office (PSO) has announced its Juvenile Choice Program is now open to anyone ages 11 to 17, according to a news release.

(Olia Danilevich/Pexels)

The program is geared toward mentoring youth by highlighting the real consequences of bad decisions and encouraging kids to make strides toward a positive future, the release says.

Youth in the program learn through classroom instruction and participation in exercises. PSO members also give a virtual tour of Pasco County’s Corrections Center, a walk through the booking process, and review scenarios to teach the importance of making informed choices.

In addition, participants will discuss the challenges they see today such as peer pressure, substance abuse and involvement in criminal activities, and how those challenges influence their paths.

The interactions between PSO members and those in the program focus on empowerment and education. Both law enforcement and the kids can build trust during the program, which opens the lines of communication and, in turn, keeps our community safe.

Students also can reflect on their goals for the future and how they can achieve them.

The Juvenile Choice Program meets in person at various locations across Pasco County and lasts three hours.

The first meeting is open to all ages 11 to 17 on April 24 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at 7601 Little Road in  New Port Richey.

For more information about times and locations, or to sign up a youth for this program, email the participant’s name, age and parent contact information to .

Published April 17, 2024

Closing the STEM skills gap to create new possibilities for kids

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Over the next decade, it’s projected that nearly 3.5 million manufacturing and STEM-related jobs will be available, yet 2 million are expected to go unfilled due to a skills gap, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics. Advocates are addressing systemic educational barriers that impact student success in order to fill this skills gap and expand opportunities for young people.

(Kevin Jarrett/Unsplash)

That’s the idea behind Driving Possibilities, a $110 million STEM career readiness and community engagement initiative of the Toyota USA Foundation. Its unique approach brings industry and academia together, while coordinating nonprofit services that address barriers and societal disparities—all to prepare youth for successful futures.

“From machine learning and connected technologies to autonomous vehicles and electrification, the career opportunities of tomorrow will be boundless for those with STEM skills. During this time of rapid industry advancement, it’s more important than ever to give all young people an equal opportunity to access rewarding careers in high-growth industries tomorrow,” says Colleen Casey, executive director, Driving Possibilities.

With the goal of increasing student awareness, excitement and interest in STEM learning, the multi-pronged approach of Driving Possibilities includes innovative, hands-on STEM programming from pre-K to 12th grade levels, professional and leadership development for teachers, and industry exposure and mentorship opportunities for students. The program also addresses students’ essential needs to ensure they have the food, transportation, mental health services, after-school programming and early intervention literacy support they need to succeed.

This long-term initiative is already making a huge impact for thousands of families in such high-need locations near Toyota’s operations in Michigan, Kentucky, Indiana and Alabama. And while the program looks a little different in each location because it is based on the unique needs of each community, the mission remains the same: to level the playing field for students facing educational barriers.

“Young people are tomorrow’s problem-solvers, makers and innovators. But they can face many roadblocks on their journey. Listening to what students need and then working within their communities to come up with solutions, will contribute to thriving communities, stronger local economies and limitless possibilities for all,” says Casey.

Published April 17, 2024

New Florida law increases penalties for organized retail theft, porch piracy

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(The Center Square) — Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law on Tuesday a measure designed to combat organized retail theft and porch piracy.

DeSantis signed House Bill 549, which lowers the threshold value for third-degree felony theft. The governor added that retail theft results in skyrocketing customer prices because businesses need to recoup their losses.

“That has an impact on you as a consumer because the prices will go up to reflect those stolen goods,” DeSantis said. “That’s just basic business. If they’re not able to sell those goods, if those are losses, then they gotta find a way to compensate.”

(Meanwell Packaging, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

DeSantis said that the recent phenomenon of stores locking away certain goods to prevent them from being stolen is demoralizing for customers. They said it is not good for quality of life. He further noted that the behavior of thieves shows contempt for the law.

“Then of course, if you have people come in and just steal retail and walk out, that creates a contempt for the rule of law that has a spillover effect in areas far beyond retail theft,” DeSantis said.

“Florida is a law-and-order state, and our policies combating organized retail theft are another shining example of how we are leading the nation,” said Attorney General Ashley Moody. “Grateful for Gov. DeSantis signing this important piece of legislation into law, as well as for the work of Representative Rommel and Senator Trumbull this session to keep building a stronger, safer Florida.”

According to DeSantis, Florida has seen a decline in retail theft over the last four years and added that he thinks it’s because people know that Florida is not a state a thief would want to “try that” in.

“We are seeing issues with retail theft across the country, nationwide 88% of retailers have reported that shoplifters are more aggressive and violent now, compared to just a few years ago, 49% said they have observed much more violent and aggressive behavior,” DeSantis said.

He noted that those committing these crimes do not think they will be held accountable, and in some parts of the country, stores are closing down all together.

“You see stores closing down in other parts of the United States, whether that’s Target closing nine stores in Portland and Seattle, Walmart closing stores in Chicago, Nordstrom closing stores in San Francisco, that is a direct result of the lack of commitment to the rule of law and holding criminals accountable,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis stated that is not what will happen in Florida and that the new legislation will ensure that retailers can continue operating their businesses and criminals are held accountable.

Published April 17, 2024

What every mom and soon-to-be-mom needs to know about their heart

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Over the last three decades, the United States has seen pregnancy-related deaths rise nearly 140%, and heart disease continues to be the leading cause. Furthermore, women who have prenatal complications, such as high blood pressure or gestational diabetes, have a significantly higher risk of heart disease and stroke later in life, yet many are not getting the care they need.

According to the National Collaborative for Infants & Toddlers (NCIT), an advocacy collaborative working to pass policies that make it possible for all expectant parents, infants and toddlers to thrive, the United States is in the midst of a maternal health crisis.

(Giulia Bertelli/Unsplash)

This sentiment is echoed by “Opportunities in the Postpartum Period to Reduce Cardiovascular Disease Risk Following Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes,” a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association (AHA), which was recently published in “Circulation,” the Association’s flagship peer-reviewed journal.

“Healthcare professionals and the public alike often think of heart disease as a man’s disease. While heart disease is also the leading cause of death for women, fewer than 50% of women identify it as such. This is creating a dangerous situation for women, especially during higher-risk periods of their life, as their symptoms often go undiagnosed and untreated,” says Dr. Sadiya S. Khan, one of the statement’s authors. “As adverse pregnancy outcomes become increasingly common, it’s important for women to be aware of their risk for heart disease, the actions they can take to lower their risk if they experience pregnancy complications, and for birth justice policy interventions to take place that will improve their care during their pregnancy, and throughout their lifetimes.”

Many women face significant barriers in accessing primary care after delivery. Up to 40% of women do not access postpartum care, and only an estimated 18% to 25% of postpartum patients with pregnancy complications or chronic health conditions are seen by a primary care clinician within 6 months of delivery. Women of color, and women in rural areas are disproportionately impacted by barriers to care that could leave them vulnerable to further health complications.

According to NCIT, policy interventions such as expanded Medicaid coverage for 12 months postpartum in all states, expanded income eligibility for health insurance programs, paid family and medical leave, community-based doulas, and evidence-based home visiting programs can help promote ethnic, racial and socioeconomic birth equity, and help ensure all expectant and new parents have access to insurance, care and the supports needed to thrive.

Also supporting women in all stages of life, and all stages of pregnancy is Go Red for Women, an AHA initiative empowering women to take charge of their heart health. One way they can do that, according to the initiative, is by understanding their heart disease risks, and coming to their doctors’ appointments prepared to discuss their personal and family health history and other factors that could impact their chance of a healthy pregnancy. Women can also proactively manage their heart disease risk factors during pregnancy and after delivery using the AHA’s Life Essential 8 cardiovascular health metrics as a framework. These include: eating better, being more active, quitting tobacco, getting healthy sleep, managing weight, controlling cholesterol, managing blood sugar and managing blood pressure.

“Stemming the tide of this maternal health crisis is vital for families, and it starts with bringing light to the tremendous need for better delivery of care to moms and soon-to-be moms with a focus on heart health,” says Dr. Khan.

-StatePoint

Published April 17, 2024

State board approves premium reimbursement formula to help insurers

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(The Center Square) — The Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (FHCF) Advisory Council has approved a new premium reimbursement formula that will help alleviate the burden on insurance companies operating in Florida.

The FHCF operates under the State Board of Administration and is a tax-exempt state trust fund that reimburses a portion of hurricane losses to residential property insurance companies in the Sunshine State.

(Andrea Booher, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

According to FHCF’s website, it operates to protect and advance Florida’s interest in maintaining sufficient insurance capacity. All residential property insurance companies are mandated to participate in the FHCF and enter into a reimbursement contract.

Under Florida statutes, contracts must stipulate that coverage for each contract year does not exceed the funds-paying capacity of the FHCF, which is limited to $17 billion.

In late March, the FHCF approved a new reimbursement formula that would be reduced by 6.86% for insurance companies that do not change their coverage selections for contract year 2024-25. The FHCF overall rate change is projected to decrease by 7.38%, after adjusting for individual company coverage selection changes from the previous year.

According to the FHCF 2024 Ratemaking Formula Report, based on 2023 market shares and 2024 coverage selections, the average coverage is projected to be 86.874% in 2024, a 0.56% decrease from 2023 which was 87.36%.

The report states that the decrease in average coverage selection for FHCF, generates the 2024 FHCF layer of $19.5 billion, a slight increase over 2023’s $19.4 billion layer. It further states that rate changes vary by deductible, construction type and territory.

In the report’s summary of changes to the 2024 rate-making formula, it states that several notable factors impact the rate and premium changes including projected growth in the fund’s exposure; modeled loss cost decreases; law and ordinance assumption changes; pre-event note expenses and mobile home manufacture dates.

Projected loss retention for 2024 is $9.9 billion, increasing from $9.4 billion in 2023, while the FHCF premium will increase from $1.513 billion to $1.532 billion. This is due to exposure growth, coverage selection changes, and rate decreases.

In January, Bloomberg reported that the Florida State Board of Administration made a securities filing that indicated it intended to generate at least $1.5 billion from the sale of municipal bonds to replenish the FHCF and provide a further safety net for insurers.

Published April 17, 2024

State plans to accelerate critical road projects

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(The Center Square) — Florida will be accelerating its road projects, which are poised to finish 10 to 20 years ahead of schedule.

Gov. Ron DeSantis approved House Bill 1301, which will include a 14.7-mile road widening project on Interstate 4, that will run from Polk County to Osceola Parkway in Osceola County and will come at a cost of $2.5 billion.

DeSantis stated that a year ago, his administration launched the “Moving Florida Forward” initiative designed to speed up infrastructure projects, including roads.

(Jamie Street/Unsplash)

“We recognize that Florida continues to lead the nation for net in-migration…we’ve got a lot of people coming in, there’s benefits but there’s also challenges to that.” DeSantis said.

DeSantis stated that they have to acknowledge that reality, get ahead of the growth, and make adjustments to accommodate newcomers and Floridians better.

“We already have traffic congestion that is really really bad in many parts of the state. Are we going to say oh well, we’ll get to that 15 years from now or 20 years from now, or do we want to do something to make an impact now.” DeSantis said.

DeSantis noted that the state will invest billions of dollars that are already available due to big surpluses to get the job done ahead of time.

“So we proposed the ‘Moving Florida Forward,’ multi-billion dollar infusion of money into our transportation program to identify some of the key areas that need to see these projects accelerated,” DeSantis said.

According to DeSantis, last month, the Census Bureau said Florida has four of the five fastest-growing metro areas in the country. The Villages in Central Florida being the fastest, Lakeland and Winter Haven are second, Ocala and Port St. Lucie came in fourth and fifth place.

DeSantis pointed out that the projects are spread across the state, with one project already breaking ground in South Florida, while projects in West Florida and the Panhandle are also poised to begin work.

“This is in addition to what was already in the hopper, so there are things that are being done anyways that were always scheduled to be done. These are all projects that are being accelerated to times much faster than what they would otherwise do.” DeSantis said, adding that some of the projects will be completed up to 20 years early.

Published April 10, 2024

State to provide more toll relief for commuters

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(The Center Square) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Monday that Floridians will receive additional funding for toll relief.

Toll relief began April 1 and will save some commuters who frequently drive through toll plazas hundreds of dollars over the course of a year after the state has promised to reimburse 50% of those toll costs back to drivers.

“We were able in 2023 to do the most significant toll relief program in the history of the state, we were able to rebate 50% of all the tolls from our commuters on a monthly basis,” DeSantis said.

(Chase Baker/Unsplash)

DeSantis noted that relief was only meant for Florida residents, and if that commuter met the required threshold, they would receive a refund. DeSantis noted that rebates were done this way to ensure Floridians were getting the relief and not visitors to the state.

“The visitors, we want them to pay, right? We’d rather have them pay than us…but if you’re here just working, and you’re getting to and from work, and you’re getting hit with these tolls, we wanted to be able to provide relief,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis noted that toll relief in 2023 was very successful, and it was one way that he and the Legislature could also provide Floridians with relief from inflation. DeSantis stated that commuters do not need to do anything, and they will begin to see savings.

The toll relief program is operated by the Florida Department of Transportation and is spread across the state from the Panhandle to South Florida. These toll roads include parts of Interstate 95, the Florida Turnpike, Interstate 4 in Central Florida, and some roads and bridges that are not state-managed, according to DeSantis.

“If you’ve had 35 clicks going through any of these toll facilities, which you figure if you’re working full-time, you’re gonna do that on a monthly basis no problem, and it also includes if you’re just doing leisure [travel],” DeSantis said.

DeSantis mentioned how Floridians are also receiving permanent sales-tax relief on items such as baby clothing, baby clothing, and baby equipment.

“This toll relief I think is really really significant, so we’re excited to be able to re-up this for a second year,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis further announced that the Golden Glades Interchange Improvement Program also started Monday, a decade ahead of schedule.

Published April 10, 2024

Young local talent shines bright at 41st ‘Spotlight on Talent’

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“Spotlight on Talent” held its 41st annual talent competition on March 16 showcasing some of Central Florida’s best young performing artists.

The prestigious competition featured over 120 students aged 6 to 18 giving performances as singers, dancers and instrumentalists, and offering contestants the option to compete as solo performers, as part of a group, or both.  

Kasey Lang won the $1,000 Pasco Heritage Scholarship with her piano performance during Category 3 of the Evening Show.

For many, it was their first time performing at a professional venue with a full audience and expert judges. The event is attended by over 600 people each year, and took place at the Wesley Chapel Center for the Arts, located on the Wesley Chapel High School campus.

Pianist Kasey Lang won the $1,000 Pasco Heritage Scholarship which is awarded to the Pasco County graduating senior who receives the highest combined score from the auditions and finals, after she placed first in Category 3 of the Evening Show.

Barbara Friedman, who served as the executive producer and publicity chair, shared with us more detail about the event.

The annual production is orchestrated by the non-profit Heritage Arts Center Association. A dedicated 15-member Board of Directors spent three months planning the event, with an additional 15 community volunteers contributing to the final production. 

Friedman was supported by Assistant Producers Lauretta Brown, Michelle Twitmyer, and Laurel Weightman. The event received support from 30 corporate and community sponsors.

The night was skillfully emceed by Ben Alexander and the performances were dedicated to the memory of Linda LaFayette and Vickie West, two members of the Heritage Arts Board of Directors who recently passed away.

Here is the full list of winners:

Matinee Show (younger students and groups)
Category 1
1st – Amber Luu – Piano
2nd – Rhys Ricardo – Vocal
3rd – Adelynn Erickson – Jazz Dance
4th – Addie Pereira – Piano

Category 2
1st – Savanna Nelson – Ballet Dance
2nd – Naomi Reed – Piano
3rd – Kaiya Bistany-Charles – Vocal
4th – Adina Polley – Vocal
5th – Annabelle DePolis – Vocal
6th – Chloe Adams – Lyrical/Ballet Dance

Category 3
1st – Tenley Ryman – Contemporary Dance
2nd – Fiona Lin Blackburn – Piano
3rd – Caitlyn Siers – Contemporary Ballet
4th – Nikki Lang – Piano
5th – Gabriella Reto – Vocal

Younger Groups
1st –  Libertango Trio – Violins and Piano

Evening Show (older students and groups)
Category 1
1st – Makenna Henry – Dance
2nd – Paul McGill – Piano
3rd – Maelee Scaglione – Contemporary Dance
4th – Autumn Hawkins – Dance
5th – Isabel Geskey – Ballet Dance
6th – Elyana Coriano – Vocal

Category 2
1st – Abigail Wallace – Contemporary Dance
2nd – Katie Young – Vocal
3rd – Conway Theel – Piano
4th – Anna Hutchinson – Jazz Dance
5th – Huy Duong – Piano

Category 3
1st – Kasey Lang – Piano
2nd – Ylenia Giannini – Ballet Dance
3rd – Jasmine Crew – Contemporary Dance
4th – Larkin Mainwaring – Vocal
5th – Ashlyn Masson – Vocal

Older Groups
1st – Star Company – Acrobatic Dance
2nd – AIM Stars I – Musical Theater
3rd – AIM Stars B – Acting Comedy

Pasco Heritage Scholarship Winner 
Kasey Lang

Matinee Show, Category 1 first place winner Amber Luu – Piano.
Matinee Show, Category 2 first place winner Savanna Nelson – Ballet Dance.
Matinee Show, Category 3 first place winner Tenley Ryman – Contemporary Dance.
Matinee Show, Younger Groups first place winner Libertango Trio – Violins and Piano.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evening Show, Category 1 first place winner Makenna Henry – Dance.
Evening Show, Category 2 first place winner Abigail Wallace – Contemporary Dance.
Evening Show, Older Group first place winner Star Company – Acrobatic Dance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

State data shows electricity rates remain constant for most Floridians

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(The Center Square) — Florida’s electricity rates are set to decrease slightly over the coming months for some customers, while others will likely remain the same.

According to data from the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC), electricity rates remain steady for three of the four investor-owned electric companies in the Sunshine State.

These include Duke Energy, Florida Power & Light, Tampa Electric Company, and the Florida Public Utilities Company.

(Andrey Metelev/Unsplash)

Duke Energy’s base rate of $83.91 remains unchanged since January, and residential bills for 1,000 kilowatt hours of service average around $163.35. Florida Public Utilities Company remains one of the most expensive providers, with an average bill of $165.98.

The Tampa Electric Company has a base rate of $87.80, however, average residential bills are slightly lower at around $143.48 per month.

The state’s largest electric provider, Florida Power & Light , has two separate areas that are charged differently after the company merged with Gulf Power.

FPL’s former Gulf Power customers in Northwest Florida have an average bill of around $143.08, which decreased from an average of $149.70 in January. The rest of FPL’s residential customers pay the lowest monthly bills at $128.88.

FPL recently proposed lowering electricity rates, and the PSC is due to hear this proposal Tuesday. The proposal came after natural gas prices were lower than previously expected, and if approved customers could save a total of $662 million, with savings being seen on customer bills from May until December.

According to FPL’s website, customers could see decreases in April and then again in May, with residential customers using 1,000-kWh, having their bill reduced by over $14.

If the proposal is approved by PSC, Northwest FPL customers could see monthly bills reduced to $135.38 in May. FPL customers around the rest of Florida could see monthly bills decreased to $121.19 in May.

The company further states that the price decrease in April is due to the end of a temporary surcharge to pay for past hurricane restorations, which ended March 31.

The PSC also approved a $5 million refund to customers of FPL in late March, after they were charged “recovery” rates during outages at the power company’s nuclear power plants at Turkey Point and St. Lucie.

Published April 10, 2024

Public Works department recognized for innovation

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Pasco County works to maintain more than 600 guardrails across the county — each one different from the other — knowing the rails help keep the traveling public safe. Monitoring, repairing and upgrading guardrails is a major job, and Pasco’s Department of Public Works does it with its first-of-its-kind Guardrail Assessment Program, according to a news release.

The department recently announced it won the Technical and Management Innovation Award from the American Public Works Association (APWA) Florida Chapter – West Coast Branch and received the top honor at a ceremony on March 13.

The Public Works team spent months creating the Guardrail Assessment Program, reviewing materials from the Florida Department of Transportation and other agencies.

Training materials and assessment criteria for guardrails was developed and a guardrail ID inspection handbook was created.

“We’re extremely proud of our team for developing this top-notch program to make our roads safer,” said Public Works Director Jason Mickel in the release.

“We’re committed to keeping up this excellent work, knowing how instrumental it is in our pursuit for safety,” said Mickel.

Published April 10, 2024