Sticky heat today with scattered afternoon storms and a heat index near 99°F. Plan for quick downpours and lightning.

A car struck the sail‑roof Venice Beach Pavilion early Saturday, seriously injuring four teenagers; the pavilion remained standing though landscaping was damaged. Police say speed was a factor and the crash is under investigation.

A senior Moffitt scientist stepped down after journals and watchdogs flagged image problems in older papers tied to her earlier work. Reviews are ongoing.

A City of St. Petersburg sanitation worker was charged after police say a garbage truck struck and killed a 49‑year‑old woman in an alley near 17 3rd Street North.

Hillsborough’s downtown courthouse annex is decades old and court leaders are weighing whether to rebuild, move or renovate. A study put a downtown rebuild near $241 million.

A 15-year-old is in critical condition after a pickup rear-ended an electric dirt bike Friday night in Pinellas Park. Police say the rider lacked a helmet and the bike had no lights.

A multi-agency search ended when Polk County deputies and K9 Ace tracked a Tampa man into woods; he was arrested and now faces multiple charges.

A roughly 600,000‑square‑foot data‑center concept has been filed for west Lakeland; planners say it’s far smaller than Fort Meade but power and water questions remain.

A developer wants to replace Clearwater Beach’s 30‑room Palm Pavilion Inn with a 144‑room resort while preserving the historic restaurant. The plan returns to City Council in early June.

Mark Barcia was sentenced to 18 years after a New Year's Eve 2019 crash that killed an Uber passenger and injured others in North Port.

USDA finalized ASCF payment rates and opens enrollment June 1, offering $1.625B in one‑time aid with tiered per‑acre payments and specific eligibility rules for specialty growers.

R. Fred Lewis, a former Florida chief justice and civics‑education advocate, has died at 78. The Florida Supreme Court will hold lying‑in‑state and a memorial in June.

New industry reports put Florida among the nation’s cargo‑theft hotspots while Jacksonville carriers say fake pickups and stolen loads are disrupting operations.