Two years after HB 1083 hid adoption photo listings, Tampa Heart Galleries and child‑welfare recruiters say the privacy-driven change is cutting casual interest and complicating matches.

A Frostproof man was arrested after deputies found a loaded Ruger and ammunition; he told deputies he kept the gun to guard against alligators. The firearm was later traced to a 2022 burglary.

A Lakeland man was given a 35-year sentence after police say he ran a motel-based trafficking ring that exploited four teenage runaways.

HCA’s West Florida division is set to finish a nearly $70M freestanding ER build with a Spring Hill center tied to Oak Hill Hospital. The project brings another 24/7 ER option to Hernando County.

Pasco County Schools reversed a proposal to withhold final grades from students who skip AP, IB or AICE exams after community concerns about fairness and access.

A St. Petersburg man was arrested after a late-night collision on Seminole Boulevard in Largo that killed an electric skateboard rider; police say breath tests read about .158 and .162.

Explosions and fire destroyed a Crystal River honey-processing facility, with Citrus County Fire Rescue estimating more than $1.2M in damages and state investigators called in.

A 70‑year‑old Wesley Chapel man was arrested after troopers say his SUV turned into the path of a motorcycle at Handcart and Old Bridge roads, killing the rider and seriously injuring the passenger.

A Fort Myers man is jailed after police say he intentionally rammed a marked Clearwater cruiser on Gulf‑to‑Bay Boulevard. The officer was treated and released; the suspect faces aggravated battery charges.

A 30-year-old Bradenton man was killed early Friday after a Ram 5500 struck him on SR 70 while he stopped to repair his bicycle, troopers say.

A fast-moving two-alarm fire at 4106 S. 50th St. sent thick smoke across South Tampa and closed South 50th Street while crews brought the blaze under control.

A Port Charlotte man is jailed without bond after being accused of molesting a child under 12; detectives arrested him after parents called police.

Moffitt and BayCare will open proton therapy centers in Tampa Bay in 2026, allowing local patients to avoid long trips for high-precision radiation.