Panama City Beach will issue on‑the‑spot $500 citations for entering the water when double‑red flags close the Gulf; repeat violations can carry a $1,000 fine and possible arrest. Officials say the change is meant to cut drownings and risky rescues.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier sued OpenAI and Sam Altman, accusing ChatGPT of causing harm to Floridians and children. The 83‑page complaint seeks penalties and limits on under‑13 data collection.

A Jacksonville nurse practitioner pleaded guilty to distributing Lortab and Adderall to an undercover DEA agent and now faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

Conservation crews are juggling ATV patrols and fragile chicks as Florida's nesting season hits full swing.

A dispute at Derbyshire Park left one person dead and two injured early Sunday, police said. Detectives have identified the parties and say the investigation is ongoing.

A Vero Beach man led troopers on a 110 mph chase from an RV park in New Smyrna to I‑95 that ended in a crash; no serious injuries were reported.

Muggy morning with patchy fog; scattered storms likely this afternoon. Boaters and beachgoers should watch for increasing surf and rip-current risk later in the week.

A Volusia County raid uncovered more than 42,000 suspected child-abuse files and has deputies asking how the man slipped through sex‑offender registration.

DB Insurance closed a $1.65 billion purchase of Jacksonville-based Fortegra; the insurer says its leadership and operations will remain in Jacksonville.

A Jacksonville woman pleaded guilty this week after prosecutors say she and co‑conspirators bought dozens of guns in Northeast Florida and hid them in a shipment bound for Haiti; sentencing is set for Aug. 18, 2026.

A JTA bus struck and killed a pedestrian Sunday on I‑95 south near University Boulevard West in Jacksonville. JTA says the bus had no passengers and the driver was uninjured.

A fight inside the Ollie's Bargain Outlet in Jacksonville left a man stabbed and a woman charged, police say.

A car smashed into Bono's Pit Bar-B-Q on Merrill Road Saturday; two adults were taken to hospital with non-critical injuries and the restaurant plans limited seating.