A good place to live is going to be one that you know has a landlord that cares looking after it. apartments for rent in pinellas park fl You can usually look at a building and know if someone is working on keeping it nice.
WASHINGTON—The White House is planning for a potential summit between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to people familiar with the efforts, a meeting that would bring to the international stage one of the world’s most enigmatic political relationships and possibly ease tensions that have grown to Cold War proportions.
A senior administration official said Friday that Jon Huntsman, the U.S. ambassador to Russia, has been in Washington to help arrange a meeting between Messrs. Trump and Putin.
The planning is still at an early stage, the official said, with the two nations needing to agree on a date and location.
“This has been an ongoing project of Ambassador Huntsman, stretching back months, of getting a formal meeting between Putin and Trump,” the official said.
Any meeting between the two presidents would be expected to include discussions on Syria, Ukraine and nuclear-arms control. The summit’s purpose would be to resolve longstanding differences, people familiar with the matter said.
The summit would mark the third meeting between Messrs. Trump and Putin, who held discussions on the sidelines of two international meetings in 2017—one at the Group of 20 summit in Hamburg last July and at a November summit in Vietnam.
In April, Yuri Ushakov, a former Russian ambassador to the U.S. and now an aide to Mr. Putin, told reporters in Moscow that Mr. Trump had invited Mr. Putin to Washington during a March 20 phone call.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders, responding to questions about Mr. Ushakov’s revelation, confirmed the invitation. “The two had discussed a bilateral meeting in the ‘not-too-distant future’ at a number of potential venues, including the White House,” Ms. Sanders said at the time.
Mr. Trump is currently focusing on the summit with Kim Jong Un, the North Korean leader, according to an administration official. “If negotiations there continue, [work on the Russia summit] will be delayed,” the official said.
The Russia summit “will be focused on specifics not grand bargaining,” the official said. “Those things need to be negotiated.”
Related
—Michael R. Gordon contributed to this article.
Write to Brett Forrest at brett.forrest@wsj.com and Peter Nicholas at peter.nicholas@wsj.com
9035 40th St N, Pinellas Park, FL 33782
9035 40th St N, Pinellas Park, FL 33782
DISCOVER MAINLANDS, an inviting and active 55+ community located in the heart of Pinellas County. The moment you enter this luxurious home, you will note the tasteful updates the owners have made throughout. Crown moldings and artful painting of the living spaces are well matched with the wood laminate flooring. The exquisite kitchen is outfitted with solid wood, decoratively finished, soft close cabinetry with complementary coloured granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances. From the kitchen, you can access the well-lit breakfast nook and then continue on to the traditionally styled study. The home has been armored with impact windows which have been decorated with plantation shutters. Adding to your protection are both a hurricane rated front door and garage door. Energy efficiency in this home is achieved through blown-in insulation added to a level of R-38 which minimizes your electric bill. This move in ready home can be added on to should the new owner desire additional outdoor or living space. Its location is minutes from shopping, downtown St Pete, the beaches and Tampa International Airport. (Note: only the plantation shutters convey. All other window treatments do not convey.)
6543 59th Ln N, Pinellas Park, FL 33781
6543 59th Ln N, Pinellas Park, FL 33781
This absolutely beautiful home is located just minutes away from the Gulf of Mexico (to the west) and Tampa Bay (to the east) which provides you access to both Gandy Beach which is dog friendly and Treasure Island which is known for its stunning Beaches, Restaurants, and Shopping! As you pull up to this home situated in a cul-de-sac, you will notice the well maintained manicured Florida inspired landscaping that only adds to the homes beautiful aesthetic. As you open the door to this 4 bed 2 bath home you will notice how well kept and immaculate this home is! The home provides you with porcelain tile and hardwood floors throughout and carpet in the bedrooms. You continue forward through the family room which has a Billiards table that stays with the home for your enjoyment, you then notice the open concept of the home that provides a dining, great room, and kitchen combo that over looks your beautiful private pool which is entirely screened in. You will love this updated kitchen with granite counter tops, stone backslash and custom cabinetry with plenty of room and stainless steel appliances while still being able to entertain your guests. Enjoy the Florida weather in your screened in pool area that allows plenty of room for entertaining which includes a dry bar, sitting area with ceiling fans to keep you comfortable and mature Florida palm trees to add to this paradise of a home!
Property Features
2 Full Bathroom(s)
Fl. Friendly/Native Landscape
Lot Size Square Feet: 6917 View: Pool
The Pentagon separately said it had issued new guidelines for transferring new detainees to the military facility, which is part of a U.S. naval base in Cuba. It didn’t say how the updated policy would affect enemy combatants currently held abroad.
In January, Mr. Trump signed an executive order to keep Guantanamo Bay operating, reversing a 2009 order by his predecessor to close the facility. Its operating costs are about $400 million a year. Mr. Trump said at the time that keeping it open would prevent the release of suspected terrorists back to the battlefield.
WASHINGTON—The Defense Department said Wednesday that it had transferred a prisoner from Guantanamo Bay to Saudi Arabia, the first such detainee transfer to take place under President Donald Trump.
The Pentagon separately said it had issued new guidelines for transferring new detainees to the military facility, which is part of a U.S. naval base in Cuba. It didn’t say how the updated policy would affect enemy combatants currently held abroad.
In January, Mr. Trump signed an executive order to keep Guantanamo Bay operating, reversing a 2009 order by his predecessor to close the facility. Its operating costs are about $400 million a year. Mr. Trump said at the time that keeping it open would prevent the release of suspected terrorists back to the battlefield.
The Pentagon said that it had transferred Guantanamo detainee Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Haza al-Darbi to Saudi Arabia, his native country. In 2014, Mr. Darbi pleaded guilty to various offenses, including an attempt to attack shipping vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The Pentagon said he would serve the remainder of his 13-year sentence in Saudi Arabia.
The transfer reduced the detainee population at Guantanamo Bay to 40 individuals.
Mr. Trump has previously criticized his predecessor’s efforts to close the facility. “There should be no further releases from Gitmo. These are extremely dangerous people and should not be allowed back onto the battlefield,” Mr. Trump wrote in a tweet in January 2017.
The Pentagon declined to comment on how the new guidelines might apply to new prisoners captured in the fight against Islamic State, such as a U.S.-Saudi dual citizen held at a secret military facility in Iraq.
“This policy provides our warfighters guidance on nominating detainees for transfer to Guantanamo detention should that person present a continuing, significant threat to the security of the United States,” said Cmdr. Sarah Higgins, a spokeswoman for the Pentagon.
The Justice Department also declined to comment on the U.S.-Saudi dual citizen’s case, which has been in limbo since a federal judge blocked the suspect’s transfer to Saudi Arabia last month.
Rights groups criticized the Pentagon’s decision to issue secret guidelines and continued to advocate the closure of the facility.
“Although so far the new policy is secret, the government’s statement suggests it will allow new detainees to be transferred to Guantanamo,” said Daphne Eviatar of Amnesty International USA. “Given the history of torture, unlawful detention and complete lack of justice provided there, no new detainees should ever be transferred to Guantanamo.”
Since Sept. 11, 2001, 779 men have been held at Guantanamo, the State Department has said. The administration of President George W. Bush released 532 and Mr. Obama’s released 197. Nine prisoners died while in custody.
Mr. Darbi, the latest prisoner to be transferred, pleaded guilty to charges stemming from a 2002 terrorist attack on a French oil tanker that left one civilian crew member dead. The plea bargain calls for another five to 11 years’ incarceration in Saudi Arabia following Mr. Darbi’s repatriation.
A spokeswoman for the Saudi embassy didn’t immediately respond to a request to comment on whether Mr. Darbi, who has been detained by the U.S. military since 2002, will continue to be jailed there.
U.S. investigators have concluded that Mr. Darbi was abused by interrogators during the early years of his detention.
Mr. Trump had long expressed skepticism of Mr. Obama’s efforts to close the detention center, and on the campaign trail Mr. Trump referred to Guantanamo Bay by pledging to “load it up with some bad dudes.”
But State Department and Pentagon officials said earlier this year there were no plans to send new detainees to Guantanamo. No detainee has been sent to Guantanamo in nearly a decade.
—Gordon Lubold and Jess Bravin contributed to this article.
Sand Key Park in Clearwater will be closed until 3 p.m. All other county parks and preserves, the Florida Botanical Gardens and Heritage Village will be open.
Pinellas County government offices will close on Wednesday, April 25, for a workforce recognition and staff training event.
The following closures impact the departments that operate under the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners.
Closure is for workforce recognition, training Sheriff’s Office, Clerk of Court will be open All county facilities resume normal hours April 26
Sand Key Park in Clearwater will be closed until 3 p.m. All other county parks and preserves, the Florida Botanical Gardens and Heritage Village will be open. Boat ramps and beach access areas will also be open during regular hours, though annual beach and boat ramp parking permits will not be available for sale as the administrative offices of Parks and Conservation Resources will be closed.
The facilities of the Department of Solid Waste will close at noon. This includes the Scale House Disposal Facility, Solid Waste Administration Building and the Household Electronics and Chemical Collection Center (HEC3).
Pinellas County Building Services will be closed on Wednesday. All Human Services and Veterans Services offices will be closed. However, offices of the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County will be open.
The offices and adoption center at Pinellas County Animal Services will be closed.
The closures do not affect the offices of the county’s Constitutional officers, including the Sheriff’s Office, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, Tax Collector, Property Appraiser and Supervisor of Elections. These offices will remain open countywide.
The courts of the Sixth Judicial Circuit (Pinellas and Pasco) will be in session with normal operating hours.
All county facilities will resume normal operating hours on Thursday, April 26.
PINELLAS PARK, FL – Attempts to arrest a man wanted in the murder of Pinellas Park musician Caroline Morton-Hicks led to a standoff Wednesday night, April 11, with the U.S. Marshals Service in Alabama.
Morton-Hicks, 59, was shot and killed Feb. 12 around 9:55 p.m. after leaving a rehearsal for the Pinellas Park Civic Orchestra. Morton-Hicks played the trombone with the orchestra.
After conducting an extensive investigation, Pinellas Park Police narrowed the suspects to 45-year-old Siddeeq Ma’Shooq, also known as Steven Brooks, of St. Petersburg.
Pinellas Park Police received a tip that Ma’Shooq was in Harvest, Alabama, a small town north of Huntsville, and contacted law enforcement in Madison County, Alabama.
Last night, Madison County law enforcement officers along with marshals of the U.S. Marshals Service attempted to take Ma’Shooq into custody on the Pinellas Park arrest warrant.
While trying to arrest Ma’Shooq, he took an elderly couple hostage, leading to a standoff with law enforcement. Eventually the hostages were released
unharmed but Ma’Shooq was able to escape.
Law enforcement is now searching for him.
Image via Pinellas Park Police
Veterans Day is a day to honor America’s Veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. The Pinellas County Housing Authority is honored to provide housing and/or rental assistance to over 500 Veterans in our community through a variety of programs.
"To honor veterans, the Pinellas County Housing Authority has made serving and providing housing to Veterans one of the agency’s highest priorities" said Angela Rouson, Chair, Board of Commissioners.
PCHA provides housing assistance to formerly homeless Veterans in partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center with the ultimate goal of ending Veteran homelessness.
Veterans reside throughout PCHA affordable and assisted communities and PCHA’s Housing Choice Voucher waiting list remains open at all times for Veterans.
At PCHA’s Magnolia Gardens assisted living community in Pinellas Park, veterans receive assistance with activities of daily living, all meals, activities and transportation. A special "Honor Flight" presentation will be held on Wednesday November 30th at 3 PM at Magnolia Gardens located at 3800 62nd Avenue North in Pinellas Park. Honor Flight’s mission is to transport America’s Veterans to Washington, DC to visit those memorials dedicated to honor the service and sacrifices of themselves and their friends. The event is free and open to the public.
Several Veterans have purchased their own homes through PCHA’s Homeownership Program. Recently PCHA featured a story of a local Veteran, Mr. David Griffith, who, with the assistance of the HUD-VASH program and PCHA’s Homeownership Program, went from homelessness to homeownership. Another inspiring example of a Pinellas County Veteran achieving first time homeownership through PCHA’s program is the story of Mr. Jack Powell. After being homeless for many years, Mr. Powell, an honorably discharged Army Veteran was fortunate enough to receive rental assistance through PCHA’s HUD-VASH program. While on the program he participated in financial and budgeting workshops, and first time homebuyer classes. Soon he too was on his way to owning his own home. Today, Mr. Powell says he "loves every bit of homeownership" and he encourages others to work toward owning their own home.
For the complete history and significance of Veterans Day please visit the Veterans Administration website at https://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp
PARKLAND, Fla. (WFLA) – Just hours after Florida Governor Rick Scott stood shoulder-to-shoulder with families of those killed in the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting and showcased the bipartisan school safety and gun control bill he and the legislature battled to put together – the National Rifle Association fired its first shot in its new legal battle over the law.
Missing from the new lawsuit filed by the NRA as a plaintiff? The governor himself.
Included in the lawsuit as those most discriminated by the new age restrictions on gun sales are women. In particular, women who are supposedly NRA members and are 18 to 21 years of age.
That suit, filed against Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Commissioner Rick Swearinger, wants a judge to block the part of the law that raised the legal purchase age from 18 to 21.
According to the lawsuit, Bondi is sued in her official role as the state’s chief prosecutor when it comes to enforcement of the new law making it a third-degree felony for any licensed gun seller or manufacturer to facilitate the sale of a firearm to someone under the age of 21. Swearinger, as head of the FDLE, oversees the enforcement of that law, the NRA claims.
The lawsuit goes on to say the new age restriction violates the second amendment right to bear arms and the 14th amendment’s equal protection clause, discriminating against a specific group: 18 to 21-year-old people who are otherwise law-abiding citizens.
One takeaway is the focus on women in this age group.
The NRA cites the 2015 FBI Crime in the United States report, specifically Table 40, claiming that only 1.8 percent of violent crimes are committed by women ages 18 to 21. The NRA’s interpretation of those numbers will be up for debate in federal court, as the report shows violent crime among women in that age group ranged from 2.8 percent to 3.7 percent.
Regardless of their position on women as those that will be most affected by the new laws, it is still a narrow approach to a more general issue they have with the law – that it is an attack on the second amendment.
A Federal District Court Judge will expect responses from the attorney general’s office, FDLE and possibly the governor’s office as the case moves forward.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE NEW LAW: ARMING TEACHERS
On Friday, Gov. Scott once again expressed his opposition to arming school personnel in favor of having armed law enforcement protecting students on campus.
The evolution of arming teachers in the classroom to the Guardian Program that was part of the new law is complex.
Under the new law, several things would have to happen.
Legal Lesson: Teachers and officials will NOT be forced to arm themselves in schools. Here’s why:
The law requires at least one school resource officer be on campus in every school in Florida. As part of that plan, the original plan of arming school officials was delegated to the sheriffs of all 67 counties in the state, which overlap with each school district. In another part of the law that expands the powers of the sheriff in each county, they could participate in the Coach Aaron Feis Guardian Program that would allow for certain school employees to be armed after extensive training.
The sheriff would also decide who would receive that status only if the school district wants to participate.
The Guardian Program was also written into law as a backup to satisfy the requirement of having an armed school resource officer provided by local law enforcement agencies.
Additionally, teachers whose primary teaching functions exist only in the classroom would not be able to volunteer for the program.
Junior ROTC teachers are the exception based on their specific training.
In the Tampa Bay area, the Hillsborough County School Board has already voted against being part of the Guardian Program. Polk County Schools Superintendent Jacqueline Byrd has also publicly stated her district will not participate.
If a district opts into the program, here is the training a volunteer school employee would have to go through to carry a firearm on campus before they would be considered by their local sheriff to be appointed as a guardian, according to the new statutes:
Have or obtain a Concealed Carry License. Undergo 132 hours of firearm training under the state’s Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission’s (CJSTC) law enforcement training model. 85 percent pass rate on firearms proficiency training. Undergo a psychological evaluation by a licensed psychologist and designated by FDLE. Results would then be submitted to the local sheriff’s office for evaluation. 12 hours of certified diversity training. Pass a drug test. Continuing firearms training every year.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE NEW LAW: RISK PROTECTION ORDERS
Another bold step forward in the new law is dealing with people who may pose a threat to themselves or others beyond the 72-hour Baker Act, especially when access to firearms becomes a factor.
Under the new “Risk Protection Order” statute, law enforcement – and families of those who may be suicidal, mentally ill or even be a real danger to the community – can ask a court to have that person referred for mental health counseling and have them surrender all firearms that they possess.
These orders can also block someone in this situation from purchasing a firearm while their case is under review.
Once law enforcement learns of the individual threat or circumstance, they can ask a court for a Risk Protection Order with the following conditions (Florida Statute 790.401):
The person poses a significant danger of harming themselves or another by possessing a firearm or ability to purchase a firearm Notify family members that they are seeking the order and provide referrals to mental health or appropriate counseling Have the person voluntarily surrender any firearms in their possession, with the ability to get them back after treatment if a court approves and proof is shown that they have completed the treatment Identify whether there is an existing reason that person should not lawfully possess a firearm (prior felony conviction, misdemeanor domestic violence conviction, adjudicated mentally incompetent or any other factor already part of the existing statute) A hearing will be held within 14 days of law enforcement serving notice Witnesses will be able to testify Court will consider concerns raised by law enforcement, current threats, mental health issues, diagnosis of mental illness and other factors to determine appropriate placement and treatment Court will use “clear and convincing evidence standard” before issuing the order In specific cases, law enforcement will be able to present their case to a judge only (ex parte order) to obtain a temporary risk protection order before the hearing if the danger is imminent
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE NEW LAW: MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING FOR TEENS
As the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety law has tried to fix every problem from gun control to protecting schools and dealing with the delicate issue of what to do with those who might be the next threat to school safety, there is also a significant push to help students and parents deal with mental health issues earlier than most even want to talk about.
Also inside this sweeping new law, a massive expansion of mental health services for students – beginning at 11 years old and lasting in some adults until they turn 21. Under certain criteria, children under age 11 facing these same issues would also be eligible for counseling.
So, what will school and mental health counselors be looking for under the new law?
The primary focus of SB-7026 will be keeping at-risk children at home with expanded counseling resources provided with state funding through local schools.
Some of the factors schools and counselors will be looking for include the following:
Repeated failures at less intensive care or counseling Two or more hospital stays related to behavior issues Contacts with Department of Juvenile Justice Multiple contacts with law enforcement Looking at declining academic performance
Thirty counties will be part of this new counseling program with the option to expand. Right now, it includes school districts in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, DeSoto, Manatee, Highlands and Hardee counties in the Tampa Bay area.
IN MEMORIAM
Regardless of how anyone feels about any of these issues, here is one part that needs to be recognized in this $400 million process: Remembering those who were lost on Feb.14, 2018 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School – a school named after a journalist and activist herself.
Those who survived the shooting are trying to move on with a new movement themselves called #NeverAgain.
There is also a separate, physical recovery that will happen in Parkland that is part of this new law.
Let’s start with the In-Memoriam part.
One million dollars has been set aside in the new law to build a memorial honoring the 14 students and 3 faculty members that lost their lives on that tragic day.
For the thousands of current, past and future students of Stoneman Douglas who don’t want a constant reminder of the carnage that visited their home-away-from-home on Valentine’s Day – $25 million will be spent to tear down the classroom building where the shootings happened and rebuild it into a separate educational memorial to everyone there.
Hopefully, it will be up to those brave students, survivors and the future generation of the City of Parkland to redefine what Stoneman Douglas will look like as they heal, remember and march on.
Copyright 2018 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
We could not find any nearby foreclosures, but here are a few nearby homes for sale:
The houses for sale in and around Pinellas Beaches are just a small portion of more than 4 million homes sold in Florida. and across the United States every year. We’re not just talking listed homes for sale, either. We’re talking about homes for sale — that sell.
Looking for a home to buy? Or do you just like looking at what homes are on the market? Either way, here are the latest homes for sale in and around Pinellas Beaches listed by our partners at realtor.com.
We could not find any nearby foreclosures, but here are a few nearby homes for sale:
The houses for sale in and around Pinellas Beaches are just a small portion of more than 4 million homes sold in Florida. and across the United States every year. We’re not just talking listed homes for sale, either. We’re talking about homes for sale — that sell.
Looking for a home to buy? Or do you just like looking at what homes are on the market? Either way, here are the latest homes for sale in and around Pinellas Beaches listed by our partners at realtor.com.
We could not find any nearby foreclosures, but here are a few nearby homes for sale:
The houses for sale in and around Pinellas Beaches are just a small portion of more than 4 million homes sold in Florida. and across the United States every year. We’re not just talking listed homes for sale, either. We’re talking about homes for sale — that sell.
Looking for a home to buy? Or do you just like looking at what homes are on the market? Either way, here are the latest homes for sale in and around Pinellas Beaches listed by our partners at realtor.com.
We could not find any nearby foreclosures, but here are a few nearby homes for sale:
The houses for sale in and around Pinellas Beaches are just a small portion of more than 4 million homes sold in Florida. and across the United States every year. We’re not just talking listed homes for sale, either. We’re talking about homes for sale — that sell.
Looking for a home to buy? Or do you just like looking at what homes are on the market? Either way, here are the latest homes for sale in and around Pinellas Beaches listed by our partners at realtor.com.
We could not find any nearby foreclosures, but here are a few nearby homes for sale:
The houses for sale in and around Pinellas Beaches are just a small portion of more than 4 million homes sold in Florida. and across the United States every year. We’re not just talking listed homes for sale, either. We’re talking about homes for sale — that sell.
Looking for a home to buy? Or do you just like looking at what homes are on the market? Either way, here are the latest homes for sale in and around Pinellas Beaches listed by our partners at realtor.com.
We could not find any nearby foreclosures, but here are a few nearby homes for sale:
The houses for sale in and around Pinellas Beaches are just a small portion of more than 4 million homes sold in Florida. and across the United States every year. We’re not just talking listed homes for sale, either. We’re talking about homes for sale — that sell.
Looking for a home to buy? Or do you just like looking at what homes are on the market? Either way, here are the latest homes for sale in and around Pinellas Beaches listed by our partners at realtor.com.
We could not find any nearby foreclosures, but here are a few nearby homes for sale:
The houses for sale in and around Pinellas Beaches are just a small portion of more than 4 million homes sold in Florida. and across the United States every year. We’re not just talking listed homes for sale, either. We’re talking about homes for sale — that sell.
Looking for a home to buy? Or do you just like looking at what homes are on the market? Either way, here are the latest homes for sale in and around Pinellas Beaches listed by our partners at realtor.com.
We could not find any nearby foreclosures, but here are a few nearby homes for sale:
The houses for sale in and around Pinellas Beaches are just a small portion of more than 4 million homes sold in Florida. and across the United States every year. We’re not just talking listed homes for sale, either. We’re talking about homes for sale — that sell.
Looking for a home to buy? Or do you just like looking at what homes are on the market? Either way, here are the latest homes for sale in and around Pinellas Beaches listed by our partners at realtor.com.
We could not find any nearby foreclosures, but here are a few nearby homes for sale:
The houses for sale in and around Pinellas Beaches are just a small portion of more than 4 million homes sold in Florida. and across the United States every year. We’re not just talking listed homes for sale, either. We’re talking about homes for sale — that sell.
Looking for a home to buy? Or do you just like looking at what homes are on the market? Either way, here are the latest homes for sale in and around Pinellas Beaches listed by our partners at realtor.com.