Ocean

Pinellas County officials and environmental advocates held a town hall to discuss the Duhme Road Reserve Project, a public-private partnership aimed at protecting roughly 29 acres of marine habitat and coastal property between two waterside neighborhoods. The mangrove marsh, one of the few remaining undeveloped tracts in the county, serves as an estuary supporting numerous protected species and marine life at early stages of their life cycle.

County leaders, including Commissioner Brian Scott, said officials have eyed the property for more than a decade. The current owner reportedly is willing to sell at a reduced price on the condition the land remains undeveloped. Advocates from groups such as the WK Preservation Group emphasized the urgency of preserving remaining green space as development continues to spread across the region. The town hall took place at the Seminole Recreation Department to gather public input and support for advancing the conservation effort.

Nassau County police have begun testing water rescue drones near Island Park on Long Island, aiming to reach swimmers and boaters in distress faster than marine units can respond. The drones carry rescue equipment and deploy a beacon that activates on contact with water, potentially closing the critical gap—5 to 10 minutes, officials say—before first responders arrive. They are expected to help with rip tide incidents and shark sighting monitoring on South Shore beaches during peak season.

Beyond water rescues, officials say the drones will support broader law enforcement functions, including monitoring crime scenes, road rage incidents, street takeovers, and threats at places of worship, sometimes covertly. The county is funding the program with money seized from drug dealers, currently operating eight drones with plans to expand to 24 by spring. Long Beach police also see potential for crowd monitoring at large gatherings. Officials highlighted the drones' rapid deployment, thermal imaging, and collision-avoidance sensors as key advantages for both emergency response and policing.

Hillsdale County Sheriff Scott Hodshire, 59, faces two felony charges — obstruction of justice and misconduct in office — filed by the Michigan Attorney General's Office. The case stems from a Feb. 18 incident in which Hodshire allegedly disclosed confidential information about an active investigation, tipping off a theft suspect and his parents that a Williams County, Ohio, sheriff's office had a search warrant and planned to search the family's property. Testimony from Michigan State Police Detective Sgt. Travis Pohl at an Aug. 31 probable cause hearing indicated phone records show Hodshire called the suspect's parents and later the suspect himself before Ohio investigators executed the warrant.

Hodshire was arraigned Sept. 2 and released on bond; each charge carries up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. A probable cause conference is scheduled for Sept. 30 in Jackson. Hodshire has denied wrongdoing, saying he was assisting an out-of-state agency as a courtesy and did nothing to interfere with the investigation. First elected in 2020 and reelected in 2024, he says he intends to remain in office in full capacity, and county commissioners have voiced support, though they lack authority to remove him.