Today in Pasco County.

Monday, September 14, 202688°FPasco County, FL

Land O' Lakes Artist's Hand-Painted Guitar, Signed by Dolly Parton, Raised $2,500 for Hudson Nonprofit

Bert Swartz spent 40 to 45 hours painting a guitar inspired by "Coat of Many Colors," then tracked down Dolly Parton's team to get it signed. The auction proceeds went to The Angelus in Hudson.

Sep 14, 2026Read the story ↗

THE NEWS DESK More stories that matter

Events

Fall Carnival Weekend at Starkey Market Wraps Up Today in New Port Richey

Sep 13, 2026

Events

First-Ever Two Good Soles 5K Steps Off Today in Hudson to Fund Shoes for Pasco Kids

Sep 12, 2026

Business

Michelin Team Behind Koya Bringing Sushi and Ramen Spot to Odessa

Sep 10, 2026

Government & Politics

New Port Richey Skaters Rally Behind $900K Plan to Rebuild Aging Skatepark in Concrete

Sep 9, 2026

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Community & Events

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Sep15

UF/IFAS Pasco County Extension — Ask a Master Gardener Volunteer

Tue, Sep 15 · 5:30 PM

New Port Richey Public Library

Sep15

New Port Richey Farm Net — Plants and Pints

Tue, Sep 15 · 5:30 PM

The Florida Room

Sep16

NPR Main Street Promotion Committee Meeting

Wed, Sep 16 · 6:00 PM

Business & Development

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Business

Trattoria Napoli Opens on 7th Street, Backed by $50,000 Zephyrhills Grant

The new Italian restaurant, run by a Culinary Institute of America grad who trained under Chef Charlie Palmer, is the latest business to open with help from Zephyrhills' downtown redevelopment grants.

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Latest News

Community

New $35 Million Mary W. Sierra Family YMCA Set to Open This Month in Wesley Chapel

The Wellbeing Way branch is in its final construction stretch, with more than 100 families already signed up for charter memberships before the doors even open.

Sep 73 min read

Crime & Safety

Pasco Sheriff's Corporal Arrested on Child Sex Abuse Charges

Sheriff Chris Nocco's office confirmed Corporal Donald Valverde, 37, faces two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation and unlawful sexual activity involving a minor.

Sep 62 min read

Education

Pasco Schools Set to Finalize $2.28 Billion Budget and Lower Tax Rate Tuesday

The Pasco County School Board holds its final hearing Sept. 8 to adopt a $2.28 billion budget and a millage rate that would save the owner of a $350,000 home about $29 this year.

Sep 53 min read

Education

Pasco Schools Lost 2,415 Students This Fall, More Than Expected. A Building-Use Review Is Next.

The district's official fall count came in about 400 students below projections, and Superintendent John Legg says a countywide look at how school buildings are used is coming, with public input sought within the month.

Sep 33 min read

Government & Politics

Pasco Reviews $7.44 Million Plan to Merge Its Road-Planning Agency With Hillsborough and Pinellas

County officials met at the Historic Pasco County Courthouse to review a draft plan merging three Tampa Bay transportation planning agencies into one, with a price tag near $7.44 million and no vote yet taken.

Sep 24 min read

Public Safety

3,200-Gallon Chemical Spill at Duke Energy's Anclote Plant in Holiday Raises Water Safety Questions

A fallen ladder broke a valve overnight, spilling roughly 3,200 gallons of an irritant chemical outside the Holiday power plant. Duke Energy and state regulators say none of it reached the Anclote River.

Aug 313 min read

Government & Politics

New Port Richey Council Votes Tuesday on First Parking Ordinance Overhaul in 30 Years

Fines would triple, unpaid tickets could trigger registration holds, and new rules would target bike lanes and EV spots as downtown crowds strain parking.

Aug 303 min read

Public Safety

Sheriff Nocco to Remove Pasco's Road-Facing License Plate Cameras by Sept. 30

Sheriff Chris Nocco says he'll end the county's interlocal agreement for Flock license plate readers after commissioners pulled their support, warning the move will hurt investigations and searches for missing people.

Aug 294 min read

Government & Politics

Pasco Commissioners Approve $235 Million for Storm Repairs and Hurricane-Proofing Countywide

The Board of County Commissioners signed off on 20 projects, from drainage upgrades to a hardened library and a new east-side shelter, using federal disaster money after Idalia, Helene and Milton.

Aug 283 min read

Education

Pasco School Board Wants a Tougher Capacity Test Before New Homes Get Approved

The board voted Tuesday to lower the crowding threshold that allows new subdivisions to move forward, from 115% of capacity down to 100%, and to split the county into five school service areas instead of two. County and city officials get the final say.

Aug 263 min read

Government & Politics

Bilirakis Brings Affordable Housing Fair to Pasco Tonight at 6, Venue Only by RSVP

The congressman's housing fair connects Pasco residents with help on mortgages, rent and insurance bills. It lands on top of $15.2 million in local housing projects and the county's half-billion-dollar storm recovery program.

Aug 253 min read

Pasco approves 832-home Denton Avenue plan, delays Kent Grove decision

The Aug. 25 afternoon meeting brought a major northwest Pasco development approval, a delay for a disputed Kent Grove proposal, and action on commercial zoning and hurricane-recovery projects.

Aug 254 min read

Pasco camera debate brings contract update as residents press for privacy safeguards

The Aug. 25 morning meeting brought an update on license plate cameras, calls for a closer look at housing policy, and requests for help with flooding and small-business permitting.

Aug 253 min read

Public Safety

Lightning Destroys Wesley Chapel Apartment Building; 200 Residents Displaced and a 25-Minute Delay Before 911

A three-alarm fire sparked by lightning gutted a building at the Cobalt Apartments on Jermyn Loop, condemning the structure and putting roughly 200 people out of their homes. Investigators say nobody called 911 for about 25 minutes.

Aug 224 min read

Business & Development

Casper Family Proposes 550-Acre Resort, Farm and 50 Estate Homes Northeast of Dade City

Blake Casper and Allison Casper Adams unveiled plans Wednesday for "Clay Hill," a 130-room resort, equestrian center and working farm off Clay Hill Road, with about 330 of its 550 acres inside Pasco County's rural northeast.

Aug 204 min read

Today in Pasco County.

Land O' Lakes Artist's Hand-Painted Guitar, Signed by Dolly Parton, Raised $2,500 for Hudson Nonprofit

Fall Carnival Weekend at Starkey Market Wraps Up Today in New Port Richey

First-Ever Two Good Soles 5K Steps Off Today in Hudson to Fund Shoes for Pasco Kids

Michelin Team Behind Koya Bringing Sushi and Ramen Spot to Odessa

New Port Richey Skaters Rally Behind $900K Plan to Rebuild Aging Skatepark in Concrete

More Top Stories

Pasco Commissioners Hold Waste Rates Steady, Weigh Major Growth Projects

Pasco Commissioners Discuss Fire Safety and Trinity-to-Trilby Trail

Dade City's First Chick-fil-A Opens With $35,000 Gift to Fight Hunger

Community & Events

UF/IFAS Pasco County Extension — Ask a Master Gardener Volunteer

New Port Richey Farm Net — Plants and Pints

NPR Main Street Promotion Committee Meeting

Business & Development

Trattoria Napoli Opens on 7th Street, Backed by $50,000 Zephyrhills Grant

Latest News

New $35 Million Mary W. Sierra Family YMCA Set to Open This Month in Wesley Chapel

Pasco Sheriff's Corporal Arrested on Child Sex Abuse Charges

Pasco Schools Set to Finalize $2.28 Billion Budget and Lower Tax Rate Tuesday

Pasco Schools Lost 2,415 Students This Fall, More Than Expected. A Building-Use Review Is Next.

Pasco Reviews $7.44 Million Plan to Merge Its Road-Planning Agency With Hillsborough and Pinellas

3,200-Gallon Chemical Spill at Duke Energy's Anclote Plant in Holiday Raises Water Safety Questions

New Port Richey Council Votes Tuesday on First Parking Ordinance Overhaul in 30 Years

Sheriff Nocco to Remove Pasco's Road-Facing License Plate Cameras by Sept. 30

Pasco Commissioners Approve $235 Million for Storm Repairs and Hurricane-Proofing Countywide

Pasco School Board Wants a Tougher Capacity Test Before New Homes Get Approved

Bilirakis Brings Affordable Housing Fair to Pasco Tonight at 6, Venue Only by RSVP

Pasco approves 832-home Denton Avenue plan, delays Kent Grove decision

Pasco camera debate brings contract update as residents press for privacy safeguards

Lightning Destroys Wesley Chapel Apartment Building; 200 Residents Displaced and a 25-Minute Delay Before 911

Casper Family Proposes 550-Acre Resort, Farm and 50 Estate Homes Northeast of Dade City

Today in Pasco County.

Land O' Lakes Artist's Hand-Painted Guitar, Signed by Dolly Parton, Raised $2,500 for Hudson Nonprofit

Fall Carnival Weekend at Starkey Market Wraps Up Today in New Port Richey

First-Ever Two Good Soles 5K Steps Off Today in Hudson to Fund Shoes for Pasco Kids

Michelin Team Behind Koya Bringing Sushi and Ramen Spot to Odessa

New Port Richey Skaters Rally Behind $900K Plan to Rebuild Aging Skatepark in Concrete

More Top Stories

Pasco Commissioners Hold Waste Rates Steady, Weigh Major Growth Projects

Pasco Commissioners Discuss Fire Safety and Trinity-to-Trilby Trail

Dade City's First Chick-fil-A Opens With $35,000 Gift to Fight Hunger

Community & Events

UF/IFAS Pasco County Extension — Ask a Master Gardener Volunteer

New Port Richey Farm Net — Plants and Pints

NPR Main Street Promotion Committee Meeting

Business & Development

Trattoria Napoli Opens on 7th Street, Backed by $50,000 Zephyrhills Grant

Latest News

New $35 Million Mary W. Sierra Family YMCA Set to Open This Month in Wesley Chapel

Pasco Sheriff's Corporal Arrested on Child Sex Abuse Charges

Pasco Schools Set to Finalize $2.28 Billion Budget and Lower Tax Rate Tuesday

Pasco Schools Lost 2,415 Students This Fall, More Than Expected. A Building-Use Review Is Next.

Pasco Reviews $7.44 Million Plan to Merge Its Road-Planning Agency With Hillsborough and Pinellas

3,200-Gallon Chemical Spill at Duke Energy's Anclote Plant in Holiday Raises Water Safety Questions

New Port Richey Council Votes Tuesday on First Parking Ordinance Overhaul in 30 Years

Sheriff Nocco to Remove Pasco's Road-Facing License Plate Cameras by Sept. 30

Pasco Commissioners Approve $235 Million for Storm Repairs and Hurricane-Proofing Countywide

Pasco School Board Wants a Tougher Capacity Test Before New Homes Get Approved

Bilirakis Brings Affordable Housing Fair to Pasco Tonight at 6, Venue Only by RSVP

Pasco approves 832-home Denton Avenue plan, delays Kent Grove decision

Pasco camera debate brings contract update as residents press for privacy safeguards

Lightning Destroys Wesley Chapel Apartment Building; 200 Residents Displaced and a 25-Minute Delay Before 911

Casper Family Proposes 550-Acre Resort, Farm and 50 Estate Homes Northeast of Dade City