Today in Pasco County.

Monday, September 21, 202685°FPasco County, FL

E-Bike Battery Sparks Fire That Destroys New Port Richey Home, Kills Family Dog

A recently purchased aftermarket e-bike battery began "venting" before flames tore through a house on Grouper Lane, displacing four adults and two children and killing their dog, Pasco County Fire Rescue says.

Sep 21, 2026Read the story ↗

THE NEWS DESK More stories that matter

Events

Raprager Farms' Fall Pumpkin Festival Returns to Odessa With New On-Site Restaurant

Sep 20, 2026

Starlink in Pasco County: Understanding a Satellite Internet Alternative

Sep 20, 2026

Government & Politics

St. Leo Mayor Resigns Days After University Fires Him Over Unspecified "Allegation"

Sep 19, 2026

Government & Politics

Cobalt Apartments Fire Was "Nearly Unpreventable," Fire Chief Tells Pasco Commissioners as Displaced Tenants Hire Lawyers

Sep 18, 2026

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Community & Events

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Sep22

USPA 2026 Nationals — Canopy Piloting & Freestyle

Tue, Sep 22

Skydive City Z-Hills

Sep23

ZHS Homecoming Parade

Wed, Sep 23

Downtown Zephyrhills

Latest News

Community

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 143 min read

Events

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

The three-day event at Starkey Market closes out Sunday with carnival games, inflatables and GellyBall running from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Sep 132 min read

Events

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

Pasco County and United Way of Pasco County are hosting the inaugural Two Good Soles 5K run/walk this morning at Sunwest Park, with proceeds going toward new shoes and socks for students in need.

Sep 122 min read

Government & Politics

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

The city has set aside more than $900,000 to replace the rusting metal skatepark next to its recreation center, and skaters are showing up to weigh in before the city council signs off on a final concrete design.

Sep 93 min read

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

Commissioners reviewed fire protections after the Cobalt apartment fire and heard a proposed Trinity-to-Trilby trail alignment. The morning session ended without a fire code change or final trail decision.

Sep 92 min read

Pasco Commissioners Hold Waste Rates Steady, Weigh Major Growth Projects

Afternoon session covers flat solid waste rates, Orange Belt Trail routing, and large residential/commercial rezonings near Zephyrhills and SR 56, with several land-use items continued to October.

Sep 94 min read

Business

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

The new restaurant on US 301 brings roughly 80 jobs to Dade City and pairs its opening with a $35,000 donation split between Feeding Tampa Bay and Meals on Wheels of Pasco.

Sep 82 min read

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

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.

Sep 12 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

Today in Pasco County.

E-Bike Battery Sparks Fire That Destroys New Port Richey Home, Kills Family Dog

Raprager Farms' Fall Pumpkin Festival Returns to Odessa With New On-Site Restaurant

Starlink in Pasco County: Understanding a Satellite Internet Alternative

St. Leo Mayor Resigns Days After University Fires Him Over Unspecified "Allegation"

Cobalt Apartments Fire Was "Nearly Unpreventable," Fire Chief Tells Pasco Commissioners as Displaced Tenants Hire Lawyers

More Top Stories

Semi-Truck Hits Stopped School Bus on US-301 Near Dade City, Injuring Four

FDOT's $19.8 Million Repaving of SR 56 and Bruce B. Downs Brings Nightly Closures Through Fall 2027

Community & Events

USPA 2026 Nationals — Canopy Piloting & Freestyle

ZHS Homecoming Parade

Latest News

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

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

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

Pasco Commissioners Hold Waste Rates Steady, Weigh Major Growth Projects

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

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

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

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

Today in Pasco County.

E-Bike Battery Sparks Fire That Destroys New Port Richey Home, Kills Family Dog

Raprager Farms' Fall Pumpkin Festival Returns to Odessa With New On-Site Restaurant

Starlink in Pasco County: Understanding a Satellite Internet Alternative

St. Leo Mayor Resigns Days After University Fires Him Over Unspecified "Allegation"

Cobalt Apartments Fire Was "Nearly Unpreventable," Fire Chief Tells Pasco Commissioners as Displaced Tenants Hire Lawyers

More Top Stories

Semi-Truck Hits Stopped School Bus on US-301 Near Dade City, Injuring Four

FDOT's $19.8 Million Repaving of SR 56 and Bruce B. Downs Brings Nightly Closures Through Fall 2027

Community & Events

USPA 2026 Nationals — Canopy Piloting & Freestyle

ZHS Homecoming Parade

Latest News

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

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

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

Pasco Commissioners Hold Waste Rates Steady, Weigh Major Growth Projects

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

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

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

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

Bail Bondsman Shot Six Times, Two Deputies Hurt in Wesley Chapel Apartment Ambush

Thrifty Crafters

Business & Development

Michelin Team Behind Koya Bringing Sushi and Ramen Spot to Odessa

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

Upcoming Events

USPA 2026 Nationals — Canopy Piloting & Freestyle

ZHS Homecoming Parade

Thrifty Crafters

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