The Florida House approved HB 253 in a 116–0 vote to expand state dental grant eligibility for veterans. The bipartisan measure, led by Rep. Jervonte "Tae" Edmonds, now goes to the Senate.

A Port Charlotte couple was arrested after court records say they performed unlicensed renovations and took $10,000 from a homeowner.

Pinellas deputies say suspects checked car door handles across Safety Harbor, Dunedin and Palm Harbor; the sheriff’s office says the simplest prevention is to lock your car.

A duplex fire on 33rd Avenue N in St. Petersburg sent two people to hospital while crews contained the blaze and checked for hidden hot spots.

Morning gunfire in south St. Petersburg injured a teenager and an adult woman and briefly put nearby schools on lockdown. Police say a suspect is in custody and detectives are investigating.

Pinellas deputies arrested a 71-year-old Tuesday after flight deputies say a green laser hit the sheriff’s helicopter; he’s charged with felony misuse of a laser device.

A Lakeland man was taken into custody after deputies say he punched and choked a person Tuesday night, then fled and was stopped on US 98, officials say.

Florida accounted for six ICE‑custody deaths in 2025 amid a national spike that made the year the deadliest for ICE detainees in decades.

Officer Curtis Wright's Feb. 16 arrest for domestic battery has put St. Petersburg's handling of officer‑involved domestic violence under the spotlight. Local leaders and advocates are calling for training and clearer rules.

One person died and another was hospitalized after a house fire off Ralph Road Tuesday; state and county agencies have opened an investigation.

A 34-person GT Church tour from St. Petersburg sheltered in Tiberias after strikes and sirens in Israel; leaders are coordinating with the State Department and veteran rescue groups. Evacuation plans are being worked out as members wait for a safe exit.

F23, the female at the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam nest, hasn’t been seen since last Friday. Mate M15 is caring for eaglet E26 while wildlife groups monitor the situation.

Sunny and humid today with highs near 86°F and a slight chance of a brief afternoon shower between about 3–4 p.m. Fog possible in low spots early.