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.

Busch Gardens is building Lion & Hyena Ridge — a nearly 35,000‑sq‑ft Edge of Africa expansion that will house five brother lions and two hyenas with panoramic viewing. Construction is underway and the exhibit is due to open later in 2026.

A Harbor Acres waterfront estate at 1204 Hillview Drive closed for $17 million, one of the largest mainland Sarasota transactions this year.

Heat index near 103°F today with scattered afternoon storms. City cooling stations are open this week.

A fisherman found a missing scuba diver off Treasure Island Beach on July 5, ending a weekend search; the Pinellas medical examiner will perform an autopsy.

Muggy start and a hot Sunday: highs near 93°F with a heat index up to 103°F and scattered afternoon storms.