Hillsborough County has announced its Christmas holiday schedule, with closures affecting services such as waste collection, customer service, and office operations, while providing information for Christmas tree disposal and emergency contacts.

Tampa's weather forecast includes a slight chance of rain, highs around 81 degrees, and mild winds. Conditions will remain mostly stable with some variability in wind direction and temperature.

Tampa's NWS forecast predicts mostly cloudy skies, high humidity, and stable conditions. The outlook includes partly sunny weather, a chance of showers, and thunderstorms later in the week, with a trend of sunny and pleasant weather into the weekend.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held for The Ballad Hotel in downtown Clearwater, marking the start of a development aiming to boost tourism and revitalize the waterfront with a 158-room hotel and mixed-use facilities.

Gainesville man, Jhakheem Smith, was sentenced to over ten years for an armed robbery of a Clearwater store, with his accomplice Jones also convicted.

Hernando County Sheriff's Office conducted a raid on a narcotics hub, arresting Justin Byrd and seizing nearly a kilo of meth, firearms, and vehicles. Byrd, with prior felonies, admitted to the crimes.

Stephen J. Phillips was arrested in Polk County for pointing a gun during a road rage incident involving a child.

Dunedin, Florida, is emphasizing the protection of local mangrove species, urging residents to engage in responsible stewardship to preserve these vital ecosystems.

The Tampa Convention Center is expanding its team, appointing Chris Katsares as National Sales Manager and Melissa Pray as Fiscal Manager, to support increasing event demand.

Barranquilla Avenue will be closed between San Cristobal Avenue and Viedma Street for maintenance from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 16-17, with detours in place.

A firetruck and an SUV collided in Winter Haven; the SUV driver was critically injured. Speed and impairment might be factors; charges are anticipated. Firefighters were unharmed and assisted the victims.

An anonymous tip led to the arrest of Austin Daniel Richardson in Polk County for attempted murder and other charges following an incident on July 29, 2025.

Plant City Police Department is hosting the Tinsel Tidings Christmas toy event at Plant City Stadium, featuring gifts, a toy selection, bicycle raffles, and Santa visits for children.