Pinellas County

Residents along the beach communities, especially those cleaning out their homes and businesses from Hurricane Helene, may experience respiratory irritation when concentrations are higher.

Some spring break travelers misuse painkillers contaminated with fentanyl. Advocates hope equipping more people with Narcan will save lives.

Illegal supplies of fentanyl are being cut with xylazine, a powerful horse tranquilizer. Overdoses involving this veterinary sedative are growing nationally and now Florida officials are tracking the deaths.

High school can be a tough place for any kid, especially students struggling with drug or alcohol addiction. A few schools in Florida are dedicated to helping kids stay sober while they earn their diplomas.

Nearly $3 million in home modification funds remain for county residents until Dec. 31.

Researchers call it "sea sawdust," and it has a friendly relationship with the organism that causes red tide.

The Pinellas sheriff’s office told county commissioners there have been several incidents in which deputies have been exposed to harmful narcotics. The TruNarc analyzers cost $25,000 each.

Spring breakers may be exposed to another outbreak of red tide, which is being pushed by southerly winds to some of the region's most heavily visited beaches.

Red tide is now affecting beaches along the central Pinellas coast. Winds from the south are expected to continue pushing the blooms northward.

Red tide has been drifting north ever since Hurricane Ian came ashore in Southwest Florida.