Today in Wesley Chapel.

Saturday, September 19, 202675°FWesley Chapel, FL

Fire Chief: Lightning Severed Alarm Wiring in Cobalt Apartments Blaze, Demolition Decision Awaits Owner

Pasco County's fire chief told commissioners the Aug. 20 lightning strike completely disconnected fire alarm wiring in three Cobalt Apartments buildings, and the county is now waiting on the property owner to decide whether the fire-ravaged complex can be saved or must come down.

Sep 18, 2026Read the story ↗

THE NEWS DESK More stories that matter

Business

Tesla Files Permits for Private Robotaxi Charging Hub at Wesley Chapel Service Center

Sep 17, 2026

Community

Pasco Approves First-Ever Pickleball-Only Courts at Wesley Chapel District Park

Sep 16, 2026

Healthcare

Golisano's $40 Million Gift Names Wesley Chapel's New Children's Hospital

Sep 15, 2026

Government & Politics

Pasco Approves School-Zone Speed Camera Pilots for Wells Road Schools in Wesley Chapel

Sep 14, 2026

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Sep19

Fresh Market at Wiregrass

Sat, Sep 19 · 9:00 AM

The Shops at Wiregrass

Sep19

Wesley Chapel Lifestyle Expo

Sat, Sep 19 · 10:00 AM

Saddlebrook Resort

Latest News

Education

New Free App Wipes Out $3.50 Lunch Fees for Wesley Chapel School Families

Pasco County Schools' new Pasco One app has eliminated the per-deposit fees families paid through MySchoolBucks, saving a household with three kids about $42 a month.

Sep 83 min read

220

Public Safety

Standoff Near Meadow Pointe Boulevard and Sheringham Way Has Ended; Suspect Seen Leaving the Area

Update, 1 p.m. Sept. 7: The standoff in the Meadow Pointe subdivision has ended. The suspect was seen leaving the area and deputies have cleared the scene. No official statement has been released on what happened.

Sep 72 min read

10,752

Government & Politics

Woodcreek CDD's FY2027 Budget Raises Residential Assessments

Woodcreek CDD’s adopted FY2027 budget lists a $295.01 annual increase for its listed on-roll residential categories, alongside higher field-operations spending.

Sep 62 min read

662

Education

Pasco School Board's Final Vote Tuesday Sets $17 Million Tax Hike Affecting Wesley Chapel Homes

The board votes Sept. 8 on a 2026-27 budget that raises the district's property tax levy to $436.6 million even as it cuts 476 jobs, with growth concentrated near Wesley Chapel and Wiregrass Ranch.

Sep 53 min read

1,182

Community

New Wesley Chapel YMCA Opens Doors This September, Charter Memberships Still Open

The $35 million Mary W. Sierra Family YMCA on Wellbeing Way is on track for a September opening, with $0 join fee memberships and youth programs already enrolling.

Sep 43 min read

508

Government & Politics

Pasco School Board Backs Tougher Growth Test That Targets Wesley Chapel Crowding

A vote to cap school crowding at 100% and split the county into five zones could slow new housing approvals near Wesley Chapel, where high schools are already running well past capacity.

Sep 34 min read

351

Community

New Mary W. Sierra Family YMCA in Wesley Chapel Set to Open Its Doors Next Month

The Tampa YMCA says construction on its long-awaited Wesley Chapel branch is on schedule, with more than 100 families already signed up and doors opening in September.

Sep 23 min read

332

Public Safety

Sheriff Nocco Ends Pasco's License Plate Camera Program, Effective Sept. 30

Sheriff Chris Nocco is terminating the countywide license plate reader agreement after county commissioners signaled they no longer support it, meaning fewer Sheriff's Office cameras around Wesley Chapel by the end of the month.

Sep 13 min read

233

Business & Development

Double Branch and Abbey Crossings: What's Actually Rising Along SR 52 North of Wesley Chapel

Two massive mixed-use developments just north of Wesley Chapel are moving from dirt lots to real construction, with the first retail shells, townhomes and a Wawa now taking shape along State Road 52.

Aug 314 min read

304

Business & Development

First Apartments Open at The Oasis at Two Rivers in Wesley Chapel

Leasing has begun on the first 344 units at The Oasis at Two Rivers, the opening residential chapter of the sprawling Two Rivers development taking shape along SR-56.

Aug 303 min read

337

Alerts

FDOT Begins $19.8 Million Repaving of SR 56, Bruce B. Downs Through Wesley Chapel

Nightly lane closures start this week on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard as crews mill and repave 7.3 miles of Wesley Chapel's busiest roads, a project running through fall 2027.

Aug 293 min read

974

Government & Politics

Wesley Chapel's Vazquez Officially Set to Challenge Weightman for Pasco Commission Seat

The Nov. 3, 2026 ballot is now set for Pasco County Commission District 2, pitting Wesley Chapel Air Force veteran Stephanie Vazquez against incumbent Seth Weightman in a race centered on growth, traffic and flooding.

Aug 283 min read

184

Government & Politics

Two Rivers' 6,547 Homes and a 35-Acre Surf Park Reach Their Final Pasco Vote

Pasco commissioners held the last public hearing on the Two Rivers amendment Tuesday in Dade City, the final county step for a plan that stacks nearly 6,550 homes and apartments, 1.3 million square feet of retail and an 8-million-gallon wave lagoon onto the State Road 56 corridor.

Aug 264 min read

1,042

Public Safety

After the Cobalt Fire: Donations Fill the Clubhouse, and Investigators Say 911 Wasn't Called for 25 Minutes

Two days after lightning destroyed a Cobalt Apartments building on Jermyn Loop, about 200 displaced residents are living out of cars, hotels and a Red Cross shelter in Hudson. Fire officials say Ring footage shows nobody called 911 for 25 minutes.

Aug 243 min read

425

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.

Aug 2212 min read

9,920

Today in Wesley Chapel.

Fire Chief: Lightning Severed Alarm Wiring in Cobalt Apartments Blaze, Demolition Decision Awaits Owner

Tesla Files Permits for Private Robotaxi Charging Hub at Wesley Chapel Service Center

Pasco Approves First-Ever Pickleball-Only Courts at Wesley Chapel District Park

Golisano's $40 Million Gift Names Wesley Chapel's New Children's Hospital

Pasco Approves School-Zone Speed Camera Pilots for Wells Road Schools in Wesley Chapel

More Top Stories

Wesley Chapel Driver Speaks Out After Gunman Fires 9 Shots Into His Truck on State Road 56

Wright's Gourmet House Confirms 15,000-Square-Foot Wiregrass Ranch Location, Targets Summer 2028

Community & Events

Fresh Market at Wiregrass

Wesley Chapel Lifestyle Expo

Latest News

New Free App Wipes Out $3.50 Lunch Fees for Wesley Chapel School Families

Standoff Near Meadow Pointe Boulevard and Sheringham Way Has Ended; Suspect Seen Leaving the Area

Woodcreek CDD's FY2027 Budget Raises Residential Assessments

Pasco School Board's Final Vote Tuesday Sets $17 Million Tax Hike Affecting Wesley Chapel Homes

New Wesley Chapel YMCA Opens Doors This September, Charter Memberships Still Open

Pasco School Board Backs Tougher Growth Test That Targets Wesley Chapel Crowding

New Mary W. Sierra Family YMCA in Wesley Chapel Set to Open Its Doors Next Month

Sheriff Nocco Ends Pasco's License Plate Camera Program, Effective Sept. 30

Double Branch and Abbey Crossings: What's Actually Rising Along SR 52 North of Wesley Chapel

First Apartments Open at The Oasis at Two Rivers in Wesley Chapel

FDOT Begins $19.8 Million Repaving of SR 56, Bruce B. Downs Through Wesley Chapel

Wesley Chapel's Vazquez Officially Set to Challenge Weightman for Pasco Commission Seat

Two Rivers' 6,547 Homes and a 35-Acre Surf Park Reach Their Final Pasco Vote

After the Cobalt Fire: Donations Fill the Clubhouse, and Investigators Say 911 Wasn't Called for 25 Minutes

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

Today in Wesley Chapel.

Fire Chief: Lightning Severed Alarm Wiring in Cobalt Apartments Blaze, Demolition Decision Awaits Owner

Tesla Files Permits for Private Robotaxi Charging Hub at Wesley Chapel Service Center

Pasco Approves First-Ever Pickleball-Only Courts at Wesley Chapel District Park

Golisano's $40 Million Gift Names Wesley Chapel's New Children's Hospital

Pasco Approves School-Zone Speed Camera Pilots for Wells Road Schools in Wesley Chapel

More Top Stories

Wesley Chapel Driver Speaks Out After Gunman Fires 9 Shots Into His Truck on State Road 56

Wright's Gourmet House Confirms 15,000-Square-Foot Wiregrass Ranch Location, Targets Summer 2028

Community & Events

Fresh Market at Wiregrass

Wesley Chapel Lifestyle Expo

Latest News

New Free App Wipes Out $3.50 Lunch Fees for Wesley Chapel School Families

Standoff Near Meadow Pointe Boulevard and Sheringham Way Has Ended; Suspect Seen Leaving the Area

Woodcreek CDD's FY2027 Budget Raises Residential Assessments

Pasco School Board's Final Vote Tuesday Sets $17 Million Tax Hike Affecting Wesley Chapel Homes

New Wesley Chapel YMCA Opens Doors This September, Charter Memberships Still Open

Pasco School Board Backs Tougher Growth Test That Targets Wesley Chapel Crowding

New Mary W. Sierra Family YMCA in Wesley Chapel Set to Open Its Doors Next Month

Sheriff Nocco Ends Pasco's License Plate Camera Program, Effective Sept. 30

Double Branch and Abbey Crossings: What's Actually Rising Along SR 52 North of Wesley Chapel

First Apartments Open at The Oasis at Two Rivers in Wesley Chapel

FDOT Begins $19.8 Million Repaving of SR 56, Bruce B. Downs Through Wesley Chapel

Wesley Chapel's Vazquez Officially Set to Challenge Weightman for Pasco Commission Seat

Two Rivers' 6,547 Homes and a 35-Acre Surf Park Reach Their Final Pasco Vote

After the Cobalt Fire: Donations Fill the Clubhouse, and Investigators Say 911 Wasn't Called for 25 Minutes

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

One Bondsman Critical, Two Deputies Hurt After Wesley Chapel Apartment Gunfire, Suspect Dies

Dunkin' Grand Opening

Business & Development

Fresh Market-Anchored Plaza Planned for SR 56 and Mansfield Boulevard in Wesley Chapel

Wesley Chapel Driver Speaks Out After Gunman Fires 9 Shots Into His Truck on State Road 56

Upcoming Events

Fresh Market at Wiregrass

Wesley Chapel Lifestyle Expo

Dunkin' Grand Opening

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