An FDOT Road Ranger was struck and killed on I‑75 in Pasco County while setting up a lane closure; troopers arrested a Bradenton man on a DUI manslaughter charge after a 0.334 breath test.

Highs near 94°F with a heat index up to 103°F on July 14; scattered afternoon storms possible. Saharan dust will keep most days hazy and a bit drier.

A new program called PriorityEvac sells $1,250 annual memberships that reserve seats on prebooked evacuation flights from six Florida airports to Atlanta for hurricanes.

The Florida Police Chiefs Association formally endorsed Sen. Ashley Moody, giving the incumbent a major law‑enforcement boost ahead of the 2026 Senate race.

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.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has opened a probe into potassium bromate, a flour additive flagged by animal studies; the investigation could prompt enforcement or policy changes. Regulators and lawmakers are already watching the issue closely.

BayCare placed the final steel beam on its new Manatee County hospital in Palmetto, capping a $563M campus that includes a HealthHub this year and a 2028 hospital opening. The 154‑bed facility will add a NICU and middle‑of‑county acute care.

A new analysis finds Florida has the highest U.S. rate of pedestrian deaths involving drivers 65 and older, raising fresh questions about road design and licensing.

Tastes Pretty Good Hospitality will open Rippers, a casual American counter focused on "ripper" hot dogs, in Clearwater’s restored Telephone Building.

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.

St. Petersburg detectives arrested 28-year-old Jermaine Ivery on July 13, 2026, in connection with a Feb. 9, 2025 club shooting that killed a 27-year-old man. Police say the arrest closes the city's last unresolved 2025 homicide.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said he was at the scene of a deputy-involved shooting on Fowler Road in Auburndale; the suspect was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries and no deputies were hurt.

Podiatrists in Tampa and across the U.S. say some patients on GLP‑1 drugs are reporting heel pain, visible tendons and sudden shoe‑size changes after rapid weight loss.