Zephyrhills police say an undercover four‑day operation arrested eight people on allegations ranging from soliciting prostitution to human‑trafficking and traveling to meet a minor. The department named suspects and listed charges in a Facebook post.

A man was shot Tuesday evening at the Verona apartment complex in south Lakeland; police say his injuries are not life-threatening and an investigation is underway.

A private Polk County utility asked regulators for a 479% wastewater rate increase, worrying homeowners already hit with triple‑digit bills and repeated outages.

DeSoto County officials say two people were arrested after detectives developed probable cause in a child-abuse investigation announced on July 21.

Georgia running back Dante Dowdell was hospitalized after an ATV accident; coach Kirby Smart called the injuries serious and gave no timetable for his return.

The SEC's new nine-game slate for 2026 pauses long-running rivalries and forces teams to add a tough 10th Power Four opponent.

Dewayne Gallishaw is on trial after prosecutors say he killed a man during a sexual encounter at a Tampa apartment and wounded a 73‑year‑old neighbor when bullets tore through a closed bedroom door.

Pinellas Park says it earned a FEMA CRS Class 5 rating, a move the city says will cut NFIP premiums by 25% for many property owners starting Oct. 1, 2026.

Dade City police have opened an investigation after a shooting on Magnolia Avenue. Detectives remained on scene and say the incident appears isolated.

Polk County deputies are probing a suspicious death in Eagle Lake after a woman was found on Wilder Way. Sheriff Grady Judd says suspects have been identified and the public isn’t at risk.

A house that was a foundation in January is now move‑in ready under Tampa’s Infill Housing Program, a sign of Phase III progress.

Three Tampa teens were charged after July 13 assaults left a homeless man critically injured; police say evidence from an unrelated arrest linked them to the attacks.

A South Tampa dog owner warned neighbors after finding an invasive Bufo (cane) toad in the yard. Experts and vets outline the signs, emergency steps and prevention tips for pet owners.