What's up St. Petersburg! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: GMF Online Auction and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: What do you call a belt that is made of watches? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. Man's Death During St. Pete Police Struggle Was 'Excusable Homicide,' Sheriff Says (patch.com) — St. Petersburg residents are learning that a Pinellas investigative task force and the State Attorney's Office have ruled the August death of Brian Michael Pepal during a struggle with St. Pete police an excusable homicide under Florida law. Officials say officers used Tasers and physical restraint during a mental health call on 5th Street North, and concluded their force was reasonable given Pepal's attack and the evidence reviewed.
2. Florida officials aren't answering questions about the move, but it appears related to the Rays stadium development. (tampabay.com) — St. Petersburg's Britt Technical Youth Academy quietly closed this summer, and a girls' program displaced by the Rays' stadium plan in Tampa has moved into its 26th Avenue S building, raising questions about where local boys in the system were sent. Lawmakers and advocates say the state's lack of transparency worsens existing juvenile bed shortages and leaves families and attorneys scrambling for information and access.
3. Storm surge forecasting: USF models predict surge levels days ahead of storms (fox13news.com) — New storm surge models tested during Hurricanes Helene and Milton gave highly accurate one- and three-day forecasts for peak water levels in St. Petersburg, helping predict where flooding could be worst. University of South Florida researchers use buoys, gliders, and tide gauges around Florida's coast to refine these tools, aiming to give residents earlier, more precise warnings before future storms.
4. St. Petersburg College launches its own police department (baynews9.com) — St. Petersburg College has created its own sworn police department, meaning students and staff will now see SPC-branded officers and vehicles on local campuses alongside existing security. Leaders say the move will improve access to law-enforcement information, speed up responses, and deepen relationships with students, with seven sworn officers expected as the department grows over the next year.
5. Pinellas County Deputies Rescue Bedbound Resident During Apartment Fire in St. Petersburg – [your]NEWS (yournews.com) — A recent apartment fire in St. Petersburg saw two Pinellas County deputies carry a bedbound resident to safety when smoke filled the building and no mobility equipment was available. Deputies went door to door alerting neighbors while fire crews handled the blaze, highlighting both the challenges residents with limited mobility face and the coordinated emergency response protecting local tenants.
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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: A waist of time. (Thank you Martin L. for sending it in!)
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