State officials say more than 10,000 recruits have received $5,000 signing bonuses as part of a $67.9M recruitment push — but lawmakers and watchdogs are now questioning funding and vetting.

USF’s trustees’ committee voted to remove four degree programs and advance bachelor’s proposals in architecture and fintech, with teach‑outs promised for current students.

A new Energy and Policy Institute analysis finds a sizable share of household electric bills is flowing to investor profits. Local estimates put TECO near 19.5%.

Florida AG James Uthmeier gave Mayor Jane Castor until March 31 to reverse TPD policies he calls 'sanctuary' measures or face penalties including possible removal. The deadline escalates an unfolding statewide fight over local cooperation with ICE.

Municipal elections on March 10 brought fresh faces to several Pinellas beach towns amid low turnout and local fights over parking and beach policies.

A Pinellas-Pasco circuit judge is under scrutiny after the Judicial Qualifications Commission accused her of soliciting donations and implying endorsements during her 2024 campaign.

St. Petersburg Councilmember Brandi Gabbard filed to run for mayor, setting up a challenge to incumbent Ken Welch as the Gas Plant redevelopment fight intensifies. Her campaign centers on housing, flood resilience and a planning‑first approach.

A Democratic bill to force immigration agents to show name-and-badge identification stalled in Tallahassee as the 2026 session wound down, leaving advocates disappointed.

A local bill would ask Hillsborough voters in 2026 whether to elect the county's schools chief, shifting the post from an appointed job to a partisan, four‑year office starting in 2028.

The Florida House passed SB 824, which would force school districts to inventory vacant property; supporters call it transparency while critics warn of charter pressure.

A Florida bill would bar taking threatened marine animals for exhibition after a viral video showed a giant manta hauled from Panama City waters.

Hillsborough officials unveiled a boundary plan Tuesday that could reassign thousands of students and put several Tampa schools at risk of closure. The district says the moves aim to balance enrollment and cut costs.

Florida’s unclaimed‑property program returned a record $88 million in February, with the Tampa–St. Petersburg area collecting about $23.8 million.