A brush fire in southwest Charlotte grew to about seven acres Wednesday as crews worked amid high fire danger and a statewide burn ban.

A 16‑year‑old accused of killing 19‑year‑old Jonathan Blue in a March drug‑deal shooting appeared in court April 23 as prosecutors push adult charges.

Charlotte County deputies executed a search warrant at a Port Charlotte home, seizing fentanyl, meth and cocaine and arresting four people, officials said.

Hillsborough detectives asked the public to help find 43‑year‑old Timothy Watkins, who is wanted on alleged sex‑offender registration violations and is listed as 43 years old.

A 12-year-old boy riding an electric skateboard was struck and later died in Wesley Chapel’s Crosswinds subdivision on April 21. Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.

An 18-year-old Plant City High senior was arrested after deputies found a loaded handgun in his backpack on April 21.

A 24-year-old Tampa man died after his motorcycle struck a van at County Line Road and Maximilian Drive in Wesley Chapel; Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.

A judge ordered a Tampa homeowner jailed after finding his guest house violated a 1924 plat and sat in a utility easement.

A Kissimmee man was sentenced to more than 17 years in federal prison for receiving child sexual abuse material, federal prosecutors announced. The case ties into Project Safe Childhood enforcement.

Evacuation orders were issued Tuesday in Myakka City after a brush fire near Gopher Hill Road. Crews report the blaze is largely contained.

Pinellas Park and Seminole crews contained a brush fire behind a business park Tuesday as a Red Flag Warning raised wildfire risk across the Tampa Bay region.

David Mohr, owner of Storm Distillery in Inverness, died after suffering severe burn injuries in an April 17 explosion that also injured three. State investigators are probing the cause.

An 18‑year‑old former Braves catcher was arrested after a chain‑reaction crash on southbound I‑75 in Manatee County killed a truck driver. Troopers say the team helped identify a damaged Mustang.