The Hob Nob Drive-In, a Sarasota landmark since 1957, is set to reopen this spring under new owners who promise classic burgers, shakes and community nights.

Mote Marine Laboratory is treating three manatees and 25 cold-stunned sea turtles after a rare Florida freeze that has stretched rehab centers across the state.

Companion bills in Tallahassee would add visible citizenship markers to Florida IDs, pitting election‑security backers against civil‑rights groups over privacy and profiling.

Pinellas County to close select offices on Presidents Day for staff training, but key services will remain open.

Polk County deputies released surveillance of a suspected repeat shoplifter at the Publix on S. Florida Ave; investigators say about 278 items were taken across roughly 50 incidents.

Hillsborough County seeks a Veterinary Pharmacy Control Coordinator for inventory management and compliance at the PRC, with a salary range of $39,312 to $51,105.

St. Petersburg has issued an RFP for a feasibility study to see whether the city could form a municipal electric utility and replace Duke Energy.

Dream Finders paid $8.5M for 20 acres at Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel; the builder plans 118 luxury townhomes and a one‑acre commercial parcel near SR‑54.

Localtopia returns to Williams Park this Saturday with 300+ vendors, fare-free SunRunner service and bike valet. Expect street closures and limited downtown parking.

Protesters gathered outside the Pinellas County courthouse after an arraignment was canceled in the case of sick puppies abandoned at Taylor Park. Arrests and added charges have made the case a local flashpoint.

A Winter Haven driver was arrested after her pickup struck a woman; officers say they recovered MDMA, cocaine, marijuana and a loaded handgun at the scene.

A bicyclist was killed Sunday after being struck by a pickup near Siesta Key’s Beach Access 9; Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

Chipotle opened a new Bradenton restaurant with a Chipotlane drive‑thru and roughly 30 new jobs. The chain is serving limited‑time Chicken al Pastor and high‑protein items.