Government & Politics

Wesley Chapel Apartments are Built to Code. That Is Why the Whole Building Burned.

A half-second lightning strike destroyed 90 apartments and displaced more than 200 people in a building two years old. Nothing about it violated code. Here is exactly how a four-story wood-frame building dies, and why Pasco County has not used the authority it has to change that.

Election Day: Wesley Chapel's Pultorak Takes On Maggard in a Closed Primary That Likely Decides the House 54 Seat

Polls are open until 7 p.m. today in the Republican primary for Florida House District 54, where Wesley Chapel firefighter Michael Pultorak is challenging two-term incumbent Randy Maggard on growth and infrastructure. Because a write-in candidate qualified in June, only registered Republicans can vote, and the winner is almost certain to take the seat.

Analysts Warn Florida’s Property Tax Amendment Could Squeeze Pasco County Services

Florida voters will decide in November whether to dramatically expand the homestead exemption — a change backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis that supporters call overdue tax relief and that state analysts, county groups and local officials warn could pull billions of dollars out of the budgets that pay for fire trucks, deputies and roads. In fast-growing, property-tax-dependent Pasco County, the stakes are unusually high.

How Much Could Pasco Homeowners Save Under DeSantis’s Property Tax Plan? We Ran the Numbers

Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco to Resign in November, Who will be Next Sheriff of Pasco?

The Demographics of Wesley Chapel, Florida: A Detailed Look

From a rural settlement of fewer than 10,000 residents at the turn of the century to a booming suburban hub approaching 80,000 people, Wesley Chapel’s transformation is written in the numbers. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of who lives here, what they earn, how they’re educated, and what the data says about the community’s future.

Why some Wesley Chapel utility bills are suddenly raising eyebrows

A wave of local posts this week is putting a spotlight on something most homeowners feel right away, monthly utility bills that do not seem to match a normal season or a normal-sized home.The biggest...

Understanding Growth in Pasco County: Who Really Decides What Gets Built, and Who Actually Benefits

If you’ve lived in Wesley Chapel for more than a few months, you’ve probably heard it, or maybe even said it yourself:  “Why does the county keep approving more apartments, storage units, and car washes?”  It’s one of the most common frustrations among residents watching new developments rise on nearly every corner. But the truth is, in most cases, those projects aren’t directly “approved” by the county in the way many people think. Almost all of the new construction popping up across Wesley...

Protest Draws Hundreds to Wesley Chapel Intersection

WESLEY CHAPEL — More than 250 residents gathered at the intersection of State Road 56 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard in Wesley Chapel on...

Should Wesley Chapel, FL Become a City?

Wesley Chapel, FL  — Several recent well written articles in local publications like Neighborhood News , and the Tampa Bay Business...

Why did it flood? Understanding the Unprecedented Flooding in Wesley Chapel During Hurricane Milton

WESLEY CHAPEL, FL - The recent catastrophic flooding in Wesley Chapel, Florida, has left residents grappling with the aftermath and...

Pasco County Explores New Affordable Housing Solutions

WESLEY CHAPEL, FL - Pasco County officials are taking steps to address the affordable housing crisis with a series of innovative...