St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg, Fla. – September 19, 2026 -- Squaremouth, a travel insurance comparison platform, has expanded its partnership with Trawick International Travel Insurance, adding two new plans to its marketplace for U.S. residents in all states.

Two new Pathway plans launched on Squaremouth on August 27, 2026

Trawick Pathway Plus and Trawick Pathway Premium join the existing Trawick lineup on Squaremouth.com, which already includes Pathway Essential and three Safe Travels Annual plans. The new options are designed for luxury travel or longer trips, covering up to 90 days and offering high trip cost allowances.

St. Petersburg – September 18, 2026 -- AI use for trip planning has surged over the past year, but travelers remain wary of letting algorithms make actual decisions, according to new survey data from travel insurance marketplace Squaremouth.

AI adoption for trip planning has more than doubled since last year

The share of travelers who said they never use AI to plan trips fell from 63.1% last year to 27.6% this year. Nearly one in five travelers, 18.7%, now say they use AI to help plan every trip they take.

Gen Z shows the most skepticism toward AI in travel

Despite being widely seen as the most tech-savvy generation, only 38.0% of Gen Z respondents strongly agreed that AI is integral to how they travel. That compares with 55.7% of Gen X, 52.7% of Millennials, and 45.5% of Boomers. Gen Z also posted the highest rate of strong disagreement at 31.0%, versus 24.6% for Millennials, 21.2% for Boomers, and 18.4% for Gen X.

St. Petersburg – September 17, 2026 -- Webull will give eligible customers access to CME Group's E-nano S&P 500 and E-nano Nasdaq-100 futures starting in mid-September, adding contracts sized at one-tenth of the platform's existing CME Micro E-mini futures.

Smaller contracts mean smaller dollar commitments

The reduced contract size lets investors take on less notional exposure and potentially lower dollar margin requirements, according to Webull. That gives retail traders finer control over position sizing when managing exposure to major U.S. equity indexes.

Access requires an approved futures account

Nano Futures will trade alongside Webull's existing futures products, using the same monitoring and position-management tools already on the platform. Customers need an approved Webull futures account, and trading remains subject to applicable account, margin, risk, and jurisdictional requirements.

Central Florida – September 17, 2026 -- As hurricane season peaks and National Preparedness Month draws attention to household safety, Frank Gay Services is urging Central Florida homeowners to inspect plumbing, electrical and air-conditioning systems before storm damage or summer wear causes bigger problems.

Homeowners should watch for warning signs before systems fail

"Seasonal home checks provide an opportunity to spot concerns before those issues disrupt their routines," said Josh Geltz, Operations Manager with Frank Gay Services. He advised residents to contact a licensed professional when plumbing, electrical or air-conditioning systems look, sound or perform differently than expected.

Largo, Fla. – September 15, 2026 -- Largo residents now have clearer guidance on how to dispose of used batteries safely, according to an article published by HelloNation detailing local drop-off points and handling rules.

Battery chemistry, not size, determines the correct bin

Pinellas County's 2026 Recycle Guide allows batteries labeled alkaline to go in household trash, but no batteries belong in mixed recycling bins. Rechargeable batteries, lithium batteries, and some button batteries require separate collection instead.

Two county sites accept household batteries near Largo

The Household Hazardous Waste Center at 2855 109th Avenue N. in St. Petersburg and HHW North at 29582 U.S. 19 N. in Clearwater both serve Largo residents. Both locations operate on specific schedules, so residents are advised to check the county's current calendar before making a trip.

St. Petersburg – September 13, 2026 -- Summer heatwaves have driven water levels on some of Europe's most popular rivers so low that cruise lines are altering or canceling itineraries, and travel insurance marketplace Squaremouth warns that most policies won't reimburse travelers for it.

Only 2 of 6 cruise-specific plans cover water level disruptions

Squaremouth lists six cruise-specific insurance plans on its platform, more than any other marketplace, but only IMG Choice Cruise and Tin Leg Cruise include coverage for cancellations tied to low or high water levels. Chrissy Valdez, Senior Director of Operations at Squaremouth, said travelers often assume any cruise-specific plan covers water-related disruptions, but that's usually not the case, making it essential to read the fine print before purchasing.

St. Petersburg – September 13, 2026 -- Amped Fitness named Joel "J.D." Valdez the $10,000 Grand Prize winner of its first Amped Summer Creator Challenge, a three-month contest that drew more than 2,000 creators competing for a $25,000 total prize pool.

Over 100 million views flooded in from thousands of submitted videos

Launched in June as the debut activation of the Amped Creator Program, the challenge invited members to document their personal experiences with the gym brand. Content ranged from transformations and training milestones to friendships and setbacks, collectively racking up more than 100 million views across social media. Amped Fitness distributed the $25,000 prize pool across 12 winners over the course of the summer.

Chicago – September 11, 2026 -- GO Airport Shuttle has added Tampa International Airport (TPA) to its worldwide network, giving travelers a new upfront-priced ground transportation option with no surge pricing.

The service now covers all of Tampa, plus St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and surrounding communities. Because rides are booked in advance, passengers avoid the uncertainty of finding transportation during peak travel periods.

Three vehicle tiers cover solo travelers to large groups

Sedans start at $136, aimed at solo travelers and budget-conscious business flyers. SUVs start at $222 for families or small groups needing extra space. Private vans start at $290 and seat up to 14 passengers plus luggage, suited for corporate teams, wedding parties, and conference attendees.