A South Tampa dog owner warned neighbors after finding an invasive Bufo (cane) toad in the yard. Experts and vets outline the signs, emergency steps and prevention tips for pet owners.

Body‑cam video shows Tampa officers freeing a child locked in an SUV at a gas station; officials urge parents to call 911 and never leave kids unattended.

USF President Moez Limayem announced a broad leadership reshuffle July 17, moving research and national-security units under new oversight and naming interim leaders.

A DeFuniak Springs man claimed the $5 million 200X THE CASH prize and took a $2.78M lump-sum; the winning ticket was sold at a local Tom Thumb, state records show.

Florida’s jobless rate slipped to 4.7% in June — the first monthly decline since late 2024 — as payrolls added about 11,100 jobs amid uneven sector gains. The year‑over‑year jump in unemployed keeps policy makers on alert.

Neighbors want tougher enforcement after high‑occupancy vacation homes drew complaints and prompted thousands of fire‑safety checks.

Hillsborough County will remove i‑Ready and Amira from daily K‑2 lessons, shifting classrooms back to books, handwriting and hands‑on learning while keeping devices for tests.

A Steinbrenner valedictorian’s 11.99 weighted GPA has prompted Hillsborough County to cap future GPAs and rethink how honors and dual‑enrollment classes are counted. The move aims to curb incentives for overloaded schedules.

Police dispersed an estimated 250–300 teens at Bradenton Riverwalk Saturday night; officers closed parts of the park and said no major crimes were reported. Authorities urged parents to stay involved.

A $1 million Mitchell family gift will fund a residential recovery program at Saint Leo University, offering sober housing, counseling and peer support beginning fall 2026. The initiative honors their son Derek and is modeled on Augsburg's StepUP program.

A St. Petersburg law firm is accused of mishandling a probate fight that cost a client roughly $1.7M. The suit centers on missed deadlines and procedural errors in estate work.

The EEOC said a Tampa-area pizza owner harassed young female servers, including at least one teen; Joey’s New York Pizza will pay $55,000 and adopt new training and reporting rules.

Pinellas County officials say four children in Florida have died after being left in hot cars this year. Safety groups and federal authorities urge simple back‑seat checks and reminders to prevent more tragedies.