A Lakeland man was given a 35-year sentence after police say he ran a motel-based trafficking ring that exploited four teenage runaways.

Tampa starts hot and muggy Wednesday with highs near 94°F and heat-index readings into the low 100s. Expect scattered afternoon storms; move outdoor plans to the morning if you can.

A witness told jurors in Tampa about the November 2023 attack that killed a mother and her 14-year-old daughter as prosecutors prepare a capital case.

A Virginia man pleaded guilty after a 12-foot alligator was found shot near Stumpy Point; a social-media video helped investigators identify him.

A Navy base employee was critically hurt after a shark bit him while he swam at the NSA Panama City marina. State and federal agencies are investigating.

Trulieve will begin trading on the NYSE as TRLV on June 10. The uplisting follows a corporate carve‑out and federal rescheduling of medical marijuana.

A Bonita Springs man was arrested after a multi‑vehicle crash on U.S. 41 in Estero that killed a 67‑year‑old Naples woman; troopers say the driver faces DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide charges.

Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw submitted a resignation on Tuesday and will retire Aug. 6, 2026 to take a teaching post at the University of South Florida. The department held a news conference the same day.

A multi-vehicle crash on I‑4 westbound near Polk City around 6:30 a.m. closed all westbound lanes and troopers confirmed there were fatalities as investigators worked the scene.

HCA’s West Florida division is set to finish a nearly $70M freestanding ER build with a Spring Hill center tied to Oak Hill Hospital. The project brings another 24/7 ER option to Hernando County.

Three masked vandals smeared feces and condiments on cars in the Epperson neighborhood. Pasco deputies are investigating and neighbors have added cameras.

An arrest affidavit says a St. Petersburg man struck a dog with a shovel; he faces cruelty and battery charges.

The state education department wants districts to explicitly include AI in internet‑safety policies. A State Board workshop is scheduled for June 22 to begin drafting rules.