News

Grocery shoppers now have two more options in Pasco County, as GreenWise Market and Aldi have opened new stores. The 25,147-square-foot GreenWise Market, at the Preserve Marketplace Shopping Center, 2175 Sembler Drive, is GreenWise Market’s fourth location in Florida. The ...

It has taken years to get to this point, but by the summer of 2021, a new recreation center at Wesley Chapel District Park is expected to be up and running. A virtual groundbreaking was held, due to COVID-19. A ...

Pasco County Schools has delayed the start of school for two weeks, but controversy continues over how the district should deliver instruction once the new school year begins. The Pasco County School Board on July 21 unanimously approved changes in ...

Dade City Police Chief James Walters has reached quite the career milestone — 25 consecutive years with the only law enforcement agency he knows. Walters joined the Dade City Police Department in 1995 as a beat cop, fresh out of ...

The Hillsborough County School Board has delayed the reopening of schools, as recommended by Superintendent Addison Davis. In adopting Davis’ plan, the board also said it would reconvene in two weeks to look at the COVID-19 data, to see if ...

Tiffany Ewell, the new principal at Steinbrenner High School, said she always  knew she would face a learning curve when taking the leadership role at a school. However, she said, “my learning curve might be a little steeper than I ...

The Pasco County Commission has adopted new standards that aim to keep apartment development from consuming frontage along state roads 54/56, between Gunn Highway and U.S. 301. Commission Chairman Mike Moore has championed tighter restrictions along the State Road 54/56 ...

Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore recalls pedaling his bicycle to the local library when he was young, so he could get his hands on its books and magazines. It was an enjoyable part of his youth, the commissioner said, ...

The Pasco County Commission has taken the first step in the process needed to clear the way for a proposed Downtown Connerton in Land O’ Lakes. Commissioners approved changes to the long-range plan that would set the stage for a ...

Pasco County has named Sally Sherman as its new assistant county administrator of development services. She was selected through a nationwide search that drew more than 100 applicants. County Administrator Dan Biles cited Sherman’s extensive work in public service, as ...

The Pasco County School Board and Pasco County have approved an agreement that allows the county to use the school district’s fueling facilities during emergency situations. In exchange, the county will cover the cost of installing new generators or retrofitting ...

Francis Xavier O’Connell — a former prisoner of war and decorated military veteran — had been scheduled for a special moment during the most recent session of the Florida Legislatures. State Rep. James Grant, from House District 64, sponsored a ...

The Pasco Sheriff’s Office has another tool, aimed at helping its deputies when responding to situations involving residents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The law enforcement agency has introduced an autism identification card program, otherwise being called Autism Assistance Cards ...

The swearing-in ceremony for the Dade City Commission took on a new look, as the city adapted to this COVID-19 time. This year, oaths were recited and hands were raised, as usual — but not at City Hall. Commissioners took ...

In the wee hours of June 2 — around 1:35 a.m., to be exact — the first of two sections of a log cabin were transported down U.S. 301, en route to a new home on the grounds of The ...

The Pasco County Commission is looking at changing the county’s employment center land use requirements in an effort to encourage more jobs. County Commissioner Jack Mariano raised the issue during the board’s July 14 meeting, noting that he’s aware of ...

Zephyrhills property owners will have to wait a bit longer before finding out the property tax rate for fiscal year 2020-2021. The Zephyrhills City Council tabled setting a tentative millage rate, until information on projected revenue streams is provided from ...

Pasco County’s revenues grew, but not as much as had been projected — before COVID-19 flattened the economy. Pasco County commissioners last week approved the proposed tentative millage rates recommended by County Administrator Dan Biles. “We are recommending no change ...

The Zephyrhills City Council is proceeding with plans for an intersection project at U.S. 301, Pretty Pond Road and the Townview shopping center. Council members unanimously awarded the bid for the project and approved a construction agreement with BRW Contracting ...

Pasco County Schools plans to require all students, staff and visitors to wear face masks or face coverings while on school campuses or at other district properties beginning this fall, according to a district news release. Superintendent Kurt Browning placed ...

In normal times, summer-camp kids at the East Pasco YMCA in Zephyrhills would be greeted with hugs and high-fives. These aren’t normal times. “Camp Cattle and Grove’’ almost is routine. It is still 10 weeks of swimming, games, activities, sports ...

Hillsborough County has launched a COVID-19 dashboard to help residents keep themselves better informed, to enable them make the best decisions to keep them and their families safe, according to a county news release. The dashboard is accessible at HCFLgov.net/COVID19Dashboard ...

The City of Dade City has been scrambling to fill a key vacancy in its finance department — during a critical juncture where many budgetary details need to be ironed out for fiscal year 2020-2021. To handle that chore, the ...

The Florida Department of Health has issued some reminders, to help you reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19. These are some things you can do: Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds. If soap ...

Americans do love their ice cream. In fact, in 1984, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed July as National Ice Cream Month, and named the third Sunday in July — this past Sunday — as National Ice Cream Day. It turns out ...

Camryn Farquhar, an athlete and a scholar, keeps picking up awards. Recently, she was named Pasco County’s Career Technical Education High School Student of the Year. She also was named Wesley Chapel High School’s Outstanding Senior. And, those are just ...

Pasco County Schools expects to experience some growth in the coming school year, but the district remains uncertain about just how much. The district has been projecting a growth of slightly more than 1,900 students, district-wide, including charter schools. But, ...

Hillsborough County Public Schools will require face coverings when school resumes, Aug. 10. Hillsborough Schools Superintendent Addison Davis made the announcement on July 7. In a video posted the same day on the district’s website, Davis elaborated on his decision ...

Vince Vizzari, a retired City of Tampa firefighter, was always there for his three sons. He coached them in baseball. He worked with them in Boy Scouts. He was available to help with a project or share some family time ...

The Florida Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed one case of Naegleria fowleri in Hillsborough County. “The amoeba can cause a rare infection of the brain called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) that destroys brain tissue and is usually fatal. The ...

Florida’s final $92.2 billion budget reflects a billion dollars in projects and programs vetoed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The governor blamed the economic impacts of COVID-19 for forcing the budget cuts — which included numerous initiatives in Pasco County. “As ...

The Melton family’s history of farming and ranching in Pasco County stretches back to 1950, when Jack Melton went to work growing watermelons for a rancher. Steve Melton, Jack’s oldest son, shared the story of his family’s abiding love for ...

The Museum of Science and Industry’s (MOSI) summer exhibit, “Space For Art,” through the Space For Art Foundation, is now open, at 4801 E. Fowler Ave., in Tampa. The foundation’s mission is to use community art projects to inspire and ...

The Tampa Downtown Partnership’s Summer Series is back at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, to help residents escape the heat. The series offers free activities, including a 10,000-square-foot tent to help protect guests from the Florida sun while they burn off ...

When Abbie Grace Flohr returned to her Lutz neighborhood after a life-saving surgery, she was greeted with a life-affirming welcome home celebration. The young woman, who will be a freshman at Steinbrenner High this fall, was coming home from the ...

Some local high schoolers will get a chance to get an up-close look at the many components of forensic investigations — via a weeklong summer camp in Land O’ Lakes hosted by the Pasco Sheriff’s Office and FIRST (Florida’s Forensic ...

It began as an errant wish, then slowly evolved into a burning desire. Now, it’s reality. Aiden Hopping, a 17-year-old home-schooled student from Dade City, has been accepted to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, completing the ...

The City of Dade City has announced the reopening of its City Hall municipal building for utility customers to make payments, with some added restrictions and limited capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The city also has announced that anyone ...

Pasco County’s revenues are falling short of projections — in the wake of a flattened economy due to the impacts of COVID-19. Robert Goehig, budget director for Pasco County, presented an overview of the preliminary budget at the Pasco County ...

Florida COVID-19 cases continue to rise, with 9,478 cases recorded on July 2, according to Florida Department of Health figures. The day before, 9,529 positive cases were reported. The surge in new cases has prompted additional measures to try to ...

Except for some weeks throughout March and April, the COVID-19 hasn’t halted much new development within the City of Zephyrhills. That’s the word from Zephyrhills Planning Director Todd Vande Berg, who outlined a number of citywide projects during an East ...