Cheers St. Petersburg! We're back, helping you stay up to date with what's happening. Let's take on the day together! ☀️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: 9/11 Memorial Ceremony and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: Why are elevator jokes so good ? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. Duke Energy Florida Proposes Lower Customer Rates for 2027 (iheart.com) — Duke Energy Florida, serving St. Petersburg households and businesses, is proposing slightly lower electric bills starting January 2027, including about a 71-cent monthly drop for typical residential customers. The plan, driven by lower fuel costs and a tax strategy that avoids a planned base-rate hike, still needs approval from the Florida Public Service Commission.
2. St. Pete considers making room for taller buildings (stpetecatalyst.com) — St. Petersburg is weighing major zoning changes that would allow taller, denser mixed-use buildings along many commercial corridors outside the coastal high-hazard area. Development Review Commissioners backed raising height limits to at least 60 feet, with some urging up to 86 feet to make projects more feasible. City Council will now decide how much extra room to give these properties to grow near homes, shops, and SunRunner transit.
3. St. Pete tentatively keeps millage steady; property tax debate grows (stpetecatalyst.com) — St. Petersburg is poised to keep its property tax rate at 6.4525 mills, meaning many homeowners will still see higher bills as property values rise. City leaders and mayoral candidates are debating whether to cut millage or preserve revenue for services like police, fire, arts, and utilities. A final vote on the millage rate is set for Sept. 17.
4. 2 pedestrians injured in St. Petersburg hit-and-run crash, police searching for driver (fox13news.com) — Two pedestrians were seriously injured in a Friday night hit-and-run at 40th Avenue North and 49th Street North in St. Petersburg, and police are still searching for the driver of a white pickup truck. Both victims, a 19-year-old woman and a 20-year-old man, are stable at Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital. Investigators are asking anyone with information to call St. Petersburg police at 727-893-7780.
5. Animal advocates apalled at sentence for couple who dumped puppies (tampabay.com) — A Pinellas County judge sentenced a St. Petersburg couple to just over a year in prison for dumping and abusing Shiba Inu puppies, outraging local animal advocates who hoped Dexter's Law would bring a much harsher penalty. The case, involving illegally bred dogs from the couple's St. Petersburg home, has galvanized rescue groups and residents demanding tougher enforcement of Florida's animal cruelty statutes.
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Ok St. Petersburg! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Because they work on so many levels ! (Thank you Gary M. for sending it in!)
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