Longtime Bern’s executive chef Chad Johnson has died; he was a major figure in Tampa’s fine‑dining scene and led new restaurant projects.

Plant City installed Perry Weather stations across its parks to detect lightning, monitor heat and trigger audible alarms so staff can clear fields faster.

St. Petersburg may ask voters to free nine long-vacant parcels near Jamestown for roughly 41 workforce and affordable homes.

J. Cole plays Benchmark International Arena on Wednesday, July 15 as part of The Fall-Off Tour. Tickets and local tips for the Tampa stop.

An FWC officer found human remains near State Road 70 in Highlands County; deputies have opened a death investigation while the medical examiner works to identify the person.

Sarasota County approved a $15 million plan to dredge Hudson Bayou and remove tens of thousands of cubic yards of silt to ease neighborhood flooding and protect evacuation routes.

Deputies arrested a man after finding a West Waters Avenue restaurant ablaze; HCSO says a propane tank was burning and the suspect was inside holding two knives.

A Hudson woman was arrested after troopers say she crashed into a clinic and reversed into a deputy’s SUV while her two young children rode in the back.

A Collier County school board member has sued Byron Donalds, alleging he cornered and threatened her during a 2022 Naples grocery confrontation as the GOP primary approaches.

A proposed class action in Hillsborough County says CommTow charged a $250 lien‑release fee to drivers who reclaimed towed cars quickly; plaintiffs seek refunds and court review.

An appeals court affirmed dismissal of Florida’s 2023 suit, finding private accreditors aren’t federal actors. The ruling shifts the fight back to policy and the Education Department.

A Georgia woman pleaded no contest in a multi‑state refund‑fraud case that prosecutors say used fake rug returns at TJ Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods. Sentencing is set for Aug. 3.

Highs near 94°F Tuesday with a heat index up to 104°F and scattered afternoon storms. Brief heavy downpours possible where storms form.