Tampa Police Officer Steven Barber was arrested on charges including domestic battery and false imprisonment after an off-duty incident on Thanksgiving. He's on administrative leave pending investigation.

Franklin Water Treatment opened a new facility in Punta Gorda, Charlotte County, with local officials attending the ribbon-cutting. It plans to expand its workforce to 30 by 2026.

The historic Sanchez y Haya building in Tampa is undergoing a $18.5 million restoration led by the local CRA, with community support and federal funding.

The South Eastside Drive closure in Lakeland, Florida, is extended to December 9 due to extensive drainage improvements needed, causing local detours.

Hillsborough County features student artwork promoting recycling on garbage trucks, with an upcoming contest focusing on small acts for environmental impact.

The weather in Tampa is expected to be mostly sunny with highs in the low 80s and nighttime lows in the mid-60s. Thanksgiving Day may see a dip to 77 degrees. No rain is forecasted.

Judge William F. Jung sentences three individuals involved in a California-to-Florida drug trafficking ring, following investigations that started with Colin Zirpoli and led to the arrest and guilty pleas of multiple conspirators.

Four individuals, two Americans and two Chinese nationals, have been charged with attempting to export AI technology to China, violating U.S. export controls.

An 8-year-old girl in Florida stabbed her grandmother to protect her mother during an attempted murder. The grandmother, Serpil Adams, was later arrested and charged.

Hillsborough County is constructing four new fire stations to upgrade facilities and equipment, potentially funded by the American Recovery Act, to enhance firefighter safety and improve emergency response times.

Joel Moreno Cobo was arrested in Tampa for the fatal shooting of Dedrick Sykes, charged with second-degree murder. A dispute escalated into gunfire, with Moreno Cobo claiming self-defense.

Charlotte County Commission invites public input on a proposed utility rate increase at a hearing on Dec. 9, 2025, at 18500 Murdock Circle, Port Charlotte.

Firefighters in Clearwater were reunited with a dog named Bandit they had saved from a house fire, an event that moved both the pet's owner and the rescuers.