Hernando County Fire Rescue says crews are battling a brush fire near Lomita Wren and Mountain Bluebird. Smoke may reduce visibility and drivers should avoid the area.

Pinellas County gave Suncoast Center 90 days to fix overnight rape‑kit staffing after reporting showed survivors waited hours for time‑sensitive exams.

Hernando County Sheriff’s Office posted a change-of-address notice naming Ronda Charlene Hawkins as a registered sexual predator and directed residents to the state registry.

A fire near State Road 52 pushed smoke across Conner Preserve Thursday, prompting social‑media alerts and a Florida Forest Service response. Officials urged caution on nearby roads.

Tampa police say a cyber tip led to an arrest after detectives found AI-generated child sexual images in cloud storage. The suspect now faces more than 100 felony counts.

Tampa Bay Business Journal’s new roster lists 69 teams with $40M+ in 2025 sales and shows a lower cutoff that expanded the field of high-volume players.

Mayor Jane Castor joined the ribbon cutting for Aqua at Westshore Yacht Club, marking the opening of a 77-unit luxury tower with marina and rooftop amenities.

Hot, humid start in Tampa; highs near 95 and feels like the low 100s. Afternoon storms possible and cooling centers are available.

Pasco deputies arrested three in Port Richey after seizing nearly 396 grams of fentanyl and 1.5 kilograms of meth — an amount the sheriff says could equal about 197,500 lethal doses.

Rey Park's 1955 community center is being replaced in a nearly $4M project that adds new playgrounds, courts and preserves a landmark mural.

Hot and humid with highs near 94°F and a 30–40% chance of afternoon storms. Heat index may top 100°F — take precautions.

A St. Petersburg builder plans to convert a vacant Central Avenue parking lot in the Grand Central district into mixed‑use space with street‑level retail and homes above. The move comes amid a wave of new restaurants and projects on Central.

Auburndale resident Tammy Roosa was arrested after a Facebook photo led deputies to a dog found with its muzzle wrapped in duct tape.