Mid-90s heat today with feels-like temperatures over 100°F. Storm chances increase Thursday through the weekend.

A St. Petersburg man was arrested in Avon Park after traveling to meet who he believed was a 15-year-old, Highlands County deputies report.

A Polk County jury convicted Clinton Robinson of first-degree murder in a September 2024 Fleming Avenue shooting; he received a life sentence.

A rabid stray cat attacked five people and a puppy in north Lakeland; authorities cited a neighbor and quarantined exposed animals as the state lab confirmed rabies.

A WalletHub analysis puts Florida 10th for fast‑food spending as a share of income; the three‑item basket costs about $24.80, highlighting rising menu prices.

Two adult sea turtles were found dead near Manasota Key with injuries consistent with boat strikes. Volunteers say boaters can help by slowing down and reporting injured animals.

A pre-dawn fatal crash on I-75 northbound near Exit 213 in Sarasota County prompted an active FHP investigation and drew county deputies to the scene.

Miami’s Mister O1 is set to open at University Town Center on June 23, bringing its Michelin‑recommended pies, star‑shaped pizzas and a burrata bar to Sarasota.

A Georgia man was sentenced after prosecutors say he helped divert nearly $1.4M from Manatee County; about $510K has been recovered so far. Local officials are tightening payment controls.

DeSantis ordered state offices closed July 2 and July 6, stretching Independence Day into a five‑day holiday for nearly 100,000 state workers as part of America 250.

Capital Electric opened a 258,000-square-foot distribution center in Steele Creek and plans to hire about 100 employees to support its Southern expansion.

A Seminole nurse was sentenced to two years after prosecutors say she replaced injectable painkillers with saline and returned the vials to hospital supplies.

A Clearwater man was arrested after deputies say he aimed a laser at a sheriffs helicopter from the Memorial Causeway Bridge. Authorities booked him on laser-misuse and related charges.