NewsBreak Original

Three Pinellas County restaurants were temporarily closed earlier this month after state inspections. State inspectors found high priority violations at the restaurants, including rodent activity. High priority violations are considered the most severe. All the restaurants have resumed operations.

A recent phone scam has the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office encouraging the public to be on high alert, as suspects are calling residents in Pinellas County and falsely identifying themselves as a Pinellas County Sheriff's Office employee.

Those in Pinellas County impacted by Hurricane Idalia may now be eligible for assistance, a release states. According to the release from the City of Treasure Island Florida, The Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced that Pinellas County has been added to Florida's Major Disaster Declaration, making communities across the county eligible for federal assistance, including Individual Assistance.

Pass-A-Grille Beach in Florida sustained some damage due to the storm surge from Hurricane Idalia. This beach is around 150 miles away from where the eye of the hurricane made landfall on August 30, 2023 as a Category 3 storm near Keaton Beach. This area only experienced 4-6 ft storm surge but it did damage the boardwalks to the beach and flooded the streets. Thankfully many of the business have already cleaned up and are back open. The Florida Disaster Fund has been activated to support the communities in the big bend that were devastated by Hurricane Idalia, if you would like to provide support, consider donating at volunteerflorida.org #clearwaterbeach #hurricaneidalia #florida #servfl

Sixteen restaurants in Pinellas County were temporarily closed in August after state inspectors found violations. All of the restaurants have since reopened. Listed below are the 16 restaurants and some of the violations found.

With some of the highest tides of the month expected to happen throughout the day Wednesday, Pinellas County Emergency Management is warning that storm surge flooding could be worse in many low-lying areas and could continue after winds from Hurricane Idalia have subsided, a release states.

Detectives with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Robbery and Homicide Unit as well as the Tactical Investigations Section have arrested a Seminole man for voyeurism and two counts of burglary, a release states.

Not all heroes wear capes, some of them wear badges and rescue ducks from trucks — as evidenced by the actions of one deputy with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) just a couple of weeks ago.

Four Florida men led Pinellas County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) deputies on a high-speed chase after an attempted robbery in unincorporated St. Petersburg on Saturday, a release states.

Cover photo for illustrative purposes only.Photo bywabisabi2015 | Flickr. Been thinking of bringing a furry friend into your fur-ever home? An event hosted by Pinellas County Animal Services dubbed #cleartheshelters may just be your ticket to doing so while saving a little cash — as they're waiving adoption fees for the entire month of August.

At approximately 10:22 am on June 19, deputies with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office (PCSO), Patrol Operations Bureau, Flight Unit, Marine/Environmental Lands Unit, and Underwater Search and Recovery Unit responded to a call reporting a missing boater on Lake Tarpon in Palm Harbor — resulting in the discovery of the body of 50-year-old Mark Mayer among the wreckage.

Four men from Pinellas County, Florida, have been charged with first-degree murder over a drug deal in April that escalated into violence, resulting in a tragic death. The case unraveled from Florida, crossing state lines into California and Nevada, as investigators tracked down the suspects involved in the fatal incident.

St. Petersburg, Florida is more than just the home of the Tampa Bay Rays--it's a vibrant city located on the Gulf of Mexico in Pinellas County, known for its beautiful beaches, museums, and lively downtown area. This vacation-worthy city boasts gorgeous beaches with beautiful blue waters, historic architecture, and a thriving downtown area full of restaurants, bars, and cultural attractions. Visitors can enjoy world-renowned museums such as The Dali Museum and the Chihuly Collection, as well as the stunning Sunken Gardens botanical paradise. The city's vibrant arts scene includes the Mahaffey Theater, which hosts Broadway productions and music concerts. With a variety of outdoor activities, family-friendly attractions, and a relaxed atmosphere, St. Petersburg is a must-visit destination for anyone looking for a taste of Florida's Gulf Coast and better yet, there is always something happening at any time of the day.

The Pinellas County Department of Solid Waste (PCSW) has created an interactive Google Map for all the artificial reefs in Pinellas County. The map contains the GPS coordinates for all 42 artificial reefs. The map is a helpful tool for boaters, divers, or anyone who wants to learn more about these environmentally beneficial structures.

Hazardous conditions exist along the central Florida coast as the red tide has returned. We tell you what to expect and what precautions to take. Recently, a red tide bloom which arrived along the Southwest Florida shores last fall, has continued to drift up and down the Gulf Coast. Fortunately, conditions improved for many local beaches this week as a more concentrated area of the bloom moved deeper offshore, heading toward the mouth of Tampa Bay and hopefully, further out into the Gulf of Mexico.

Treasure Island is known for it's white sand beaches, calm waters and having a variety of hotels, restaurants and bars along the beachfront. Treasure Island tends to be more family friendly when compared to more touristy Tampa area beach towns such as Clearwater Beach. It's wide beach allows for much more room for visitors to spread out and relax. In this video we share some of the reasons why Treasure Island on the gulf coast of Florida may be a great beach destination for you. In this series we visit our Top 10 Beaches in the greater Tampa Bay Area along the gulf coast of Florida to help you decide which beach is best for you. Be sure to follow our channel so you won't miss future episodes. If you missed the first two episodes, you can find them on our profile page. Are you already familiar with the area and have a favorite beach? Let us know what it is in the comments! -- Music Credit: Apollo - Patrick Patrikios Mountain - Text Me Records Bobby Renz

Caladesi Island is the perfect spot to experience Florida's natural beauty. The secluded beach on this island usually has plenty of open space, and that is likely because it isn't easy to get there. Visitors must take the ferry or paddle from Honeymoon Island or walk there from Clearwater Beach. In this video we cover some of the reasons you may want to visit Caladesi Island, along with some of the reasons you may choose to visit another beach that is easier to access instead. In this series we share our Top 10 Tampa Bay Area Beaches to help you decide which beach is the best for you. Be sure to follow our channel so you won't miss an episode. You can find the first episode on our profile page. If you are already familiar with the area and have a favorite beach, let us know what it is in the comments. -- Music Credit: YT Audio Library: Apollo by Patrick Patrikios

Ordinance goes into effect Oct. 3 to address income discrimination, notice of rent increases. Following County Commission approval in August, the countywide Tenants Bill of Rights goes into effect Oct. 3.

In July, a man from Florida was given a $116 ticket for using a beach umbrella on an exclusive Florida beach that had banned them from use. On September 3 it was reported that he's challenging the ticket in court, with his case being heard later this month.