Monday, May 13, 2013
An additional suspect is charged as part of an alleged prostitution ring that included a brothel in Pinellas County and a sting operation in Largo.
An additional arrest has been made in a human trafficking bust announced last week, Clearwater Police said Monday. Holly Cannarelli, 55, is charged with racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering, according to authorities. Cannarelli is listed as a transient from Pinellas County in online arrest records. Cannarelli was being held on $1 million bond in Pinellas County Jail along with two other men for their alleged involvement in a prostitution ring that stretched from Tampa to Sarasota and included a brothel in Pinellas County. Peter D. Kitt, 41, of Tampa, and Shawn D. Franklin, 42, of St. Petersburg participated in the sex trafficking of approximately 16 women, officials said Friday. A sting operation in Largo kicked off the …
Friday, May 10, 2013
Two men were arrested and charged with racketeering and conspiracy for their role in a prostitution ring that stretched from Tampa to Sarasota and had ties to Largo.
Two men were arrested and charged with racketeering and conspiracy for their role in a prostitution ring that stretched from Tampa to Sarasota and included a brothel in Pinellas County. Peter D. Kitt, 41, of Tampa, and Shawn D. Franklin, 42, of St. Petersburg were arrested and charged with racketeering and conspiracy for their participation in the sex trafficking of approximately 16 women, according to officials Friday. "These arrests are the first step in bringing justice and peace to the victims of this alleged sex trafficking ring," Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a release. "Florida is a zero-tolerance state for human trafficking, and any individuals engaged in this abhorrent crime will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest …
Friday, March 1, 2013
Officials say cold shelters will open at various locations around the county around 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 3. Guests will be accepted throughout the night.
Anticipated cold temperatures and high wind gusts over the weekend are prompting Pinellas County officials to open cold night shelters on Sunday, March 3. Temperatures are expected to drop to 48, and wind gusts may reach up to 20 mph. Officials say cold shelters will open at various locations around the county around 6 p.m. Guests will be accepted throughout the night. The shelters will close Monday morning at approximately 6 a.m. Shelter guests are provided a hot evening meal, a warm, safe place to spend the night and breakfast the following morning, county officials say. Families with children are placed in motels. To make arrangements for a family, call Sarah Snyder with the Homeless Leadership Board at 727-424-1355. Nearby locations …
Thursday, February 21, 2013
The bill's sponsor put the statewide domestic partnership registry plan on hold after lawmakers expressed concerns about its constitutionality. Largo city leaders have supported a countywide registry.
Largo city leaders have spoken in favor of a domestic partnership registry at the county level, passing a resolution back in December that voices their approval. But now, the opportunity to allow gay and straight unmarried couples some of the legal benefits of marriage at a state level has been stalled in committee. On Tuesday, Feb. 19, the Florida Senate Committee on Children, Families and Elder Affairs tabled a bill that would create a statewide domestic partnership registry. According to WFSU Media, lawmakers expressed concerns about its constitutionality. Sen. Nancy Detert (R-Venice) said she supports the idea of allowing all couples certain rights, like hospital visitation, according to the report. However, she is concerned about its …
Friday, February 15, 2013
Here is a look at some of the holiday closings in Largo and Pinellas County for Presidents Day.
Pinellas County government offices will be closed on Monday, Feb. 18 for in-house training. The Tax Collector and Supervisor of Elections offices will be closed, as will the Pinellas County Courthouse, the offices of the Property Appraiser and Clerk of the Circuit Court. The offices and adoption center at Pinellas County Animal Services will be closed. The Solid Waste Administration Building facility will be closed. The Environmental Education Center at Brooker Creek Preserve, the Cultural and Natural History Center at Weedon Island Preserve and Heritage Village will be closed. Pinellas County Schools are closed. There will be no U.S. Postal Service delivery. No residential garbage, recycling, yard waste or bulk pickup for City of Largo …
Monday, February 11, 2013
See what they're serving in the cafeteria this week at Pinellas County Schools.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Due to lingering negative perceptions of the Gulf seafood industry following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, BP will give Pinellas County money to help promote a local seafood festival and an episode of "Emeril's Florida."
Pinellas County is set to receive $500,000 from BP due to the linger effects of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. According to county documents, the grant money will go to the Convention and Visitor's Bureau so it can "conduct two major programs: to dispel negative Gulf seafood impression and generate tourism to Pinellas County." "While tourism has rebounded in the two years since the 'Deepwater Horizon' oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010, the local seafood industry has not. Despite repeated statements from scientists that Gulf of Mexico seafood is safe to eat, the perception still persists that Gulf seafood is tainted." The two programs the CVB will be promoting with marketing dollars are The St. Petersburg & the Bay …
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Unmarried couples, gay and straight, in Pinellas will be able to register as domestic partners following Tuesday's county commission vote.
Unmarried couples, gay and straight, in Pinellas County will be able to register as domestic partners following Tuesday's vote by county commissioners, the Tampa Bay Times reports. The legal recognition will give couples the right to visit each other in the emergency room, make health care decisions for each other in a crisis and, depending on their employers, share health insurance coverage, the Times reports. Commissioners voted 6-1 to approve the registry, with Norm Roche casting the dissenting vote. The Times story notes that residents of Gulfport, St. Petersburg and Clearwater, where domestic partnership registries are already in place, the planned $50 fee will be reduced. Those residents will only have to pay the difference between …
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
A special domestic violence court looks to follow up on violators and streamline the handling of these types of cases.
More than 3,500 people go into Pinellas courtrooms to allege abuse by a spouse, domestic partner or date every year. Sometimes in these cases accused abusers might have to complete mental health or substance abuse evaluations or surrender firearms. To ensure these court orders are met, a Civil Domestic Violence Court starts next month with the help of a nearly $300,000 grant. The special court comes after a year of planning and preparation that started shortly after the Office on Violence Against Women approved the $299,310 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Court Training and Improvement Fund. The grant helps put some resources in place in a consistent and effective way that have been missing, said Michelle Ardabily, chief deputy …
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
On Monday, Pinellas County Schools Superintendent Michael A. Grego sent the following letter to Pinellas County Schools staff regarding school safety in response to the deadly shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT.
This letter from Pinellas County Schools Superintendent Michael A. Grego to Pinellas County Schools staff is also posted on the Pinellas County Schools website. Dec. 17, 2012 Dear Colleagues, Whenever something as tragic as Friday’s shooting in Newtown, Conn., occurs, especially when it affects innocent children and dedicated educators so similar to the ones in our own district, we can’t help but be affected. We naturally share a bond with members of our profession whose first priority is the students they serve, and our hearts ache when families and communities are in mourning. These incidents also direct our attention and cause us to reflect on the value of our employees – not only teachers and administrators, but every member of our …
Jim McCurtain
3:10 pm on Tuesday, May 14, 2013
This is bad stuff & violators should be fully prosecuted. However the use of the term "human trafficking" often does not meet the criteria set by the UN a dozen years ago & the estimates used to inflate the number of "human traficking" victims is wafer thin simply to get funding of 100 of millions of dollars of tax payer money to attack estimates of true human trafficking victems that don't stand… more ›