The Tampa Police Department is set to trial electric vehicles in its fleet, funded by a near $1 million federal grant, aiming to reduce emissions and fuel costs.

Four people have been indicted for distributing fentanyl leading to a USF student's overdose death, with the main dealer also facing firearm and cocaine possession charges.

Hillsborough County is implementing NGCS technology to improve its 911 system's reliability, ensuring effective emergency responses even during disasters.

Lithia Springs Conservation Park in Florida is celebrated for its 72-degree natural waters, historical significance dating back over 7,000 years, and a range of amenities like a kayak launch, volleyball courts, and campsites.

Sunset Beach at Treasure Island is set to charge for curbside parking using the ParkMobile app, at a rate of $5 per hour, to manage congestion and direct drivers to city lots with lower rates.

A TSA officer at Tampa International Airport, using facial matching technology, caught an individual trying to use someone else's ID, leading to an arrest.

Hillsborough County invests in 3D printing technology for affordable housing, with a $500,000 printer for constructing homes, to address the local need for cost-effective housing solutions.

An audit report on Tampa's handling of computer hardware by the city's Technology & Innovation division is now publicly available on the city website.

The Manatee County Public Library System has launched a mobile app that allows patrons to access services, manage accounts, and download content directly from their smartphones.

The James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital in Tampa receives praise for its rehabilitation program and specialized care, training programs, and high retention rates of graduates within the VA system.

The Tampa Police Department is implementing new technologies like real-time translation tools, virtual reality training, and a drone response program to improve safety and efficiency.

Pinellas County Jail has provided inmates with tablets for communication and services, aiming to enhance safety and reduce violence, though with restricted access to certain digital content.

Hillsborough County deputies used body-cam translation tech for effective communication with a Spanish-speaking driver, showcasing inclusivity and modern policing.

Hillsborough County Solid Waste released an interactive virtual tour of its Waste-to-Energy Facility that burns up to 1,800 tons of trash daily, powering 35,000 homes and recycling metals.

Hillsborough County partners with MD Ally Technologies to route non-emergency 911 calls to telehealth services, aiming to better utilize EMS resources.

Tampa General unveiled a 32,000-square-foot Innovation Center in Ybor City to house its innovation and venture teams, analytics staff and a new Palantir hub.

UF researchers retooled tomato carotenoids with a pepper gene, producing orange fruit higher in beta‑carotene that could help address vitamin A deficiency.

The Tampa Bay Times is using a template-driven 'Times AI News Engine' to post short AI-written real-estate notices and weather alerts since September 2025. Editors say staff review most templates while a public AI policy is finalized.

A viral X post shows an OpenClaw AI assistant allegedly sending 70% below-asking offers to hundreds of Tampa Zillow listings, sparking outrage and security warnings.

A Senate committee backed a NASA reauthorization that would extend the ISS to Sept. 30, 2032 and direct NASA to develop a permanent Moon base. The move shifts timelines for the Space Coast and commercial station builders.

Pasco County has launched a "BioCoast" brand to market land, labs and clinical partners to biotech firms as Moffitt’s Speros campus advances. The effort ties Pasco to Tampa’s research district.

USF’s reported research expenditures climbed to $531M — a 15% gain in two years that is drawing federal and private dollars into Tampa Bay.

The Global Virus Network cut the ribbon on its international headquarters at USF on March 5, bringing Robert Gallo and global virology programs to Tampa Bay. University and network leaders say the move strengthens local research, training and pandemic preparedness.

spARK Labs filled all available offices with 45 startups and has started a waitlist as it expands programming and partnerships in St. Pete’s Innovation District.

AI‑made war clips and recycled videos are circulating on social feeds. Local experts and fact‑checkers lay out the red flags and tools to tell what’s real.

Sarasota's TENEX.AI closed a $250M Series B to scale its AI‑native SOC, hire hundreds and expand into EMEA.

NSF's TechAccess program and a Labor Department MOU could channel up to $224M into state AI hubs that pair training with apprenticeships and help small businesses adopt AI. The first letters of intent are due in mid‑June.

Sidus Space and St. Petersburg's Lonestar Data Holdings amended a roughly $120M collaboration to add another StarVault orbital data vault, pushing commercial backups farther from Earth.

Tampa‑based XTEND won a $1.67M contract from Israel's defense ministry as it prepares for a planned Nasdaq debut and expands local manufacturing.

JPMorgan is leaning on Tampa’s Highland Oaks teams to build AI and payments tools, reshaping hiring and boosting campus investment across the region.

UF researchers will sample Tampa Bay to build a Vibrio forecast that could warn residents and shellfish managers weeks ahead. The effort follows recent deadly cases in Florida.

Ian and Jean MacKechnie gave $10 million to establish an 8,000-square-foot immunotherapy lab in downtown Tampa and to support a new clinical tower at Tampa General.

Tampa-based Trace Systems won a 10-year, roughly $1.8B USSOCOM EAGLE‑I award to modernize C2ISR and multi-domain data transport.

FDA advisers will vote this week on whether to switch the 2026–27 COVID booster to target XFG, a subvariant with immune‑evasive mutations.

Google has filed with the EPA to test Wolbachia‑treated male mosquitoes in Florida, proposing 16M releases per year for two years to cut disease‑carrying populations.

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

Tampa-based XTEND was invited to Phase II of the Pentagon’s Drone Dominance program and will demo its XOS autonomy at Camp Grayling this summer.

A unanimous DRC vote advances a $25M plan to remake the long-idle St. Petersburg Science Center into an AI hub with classrooms, labs and startup space.

Moffitt is piloting EMMA, an AI-driven lab platform that screens myeloma cells against 31 drugs to speed personalized treatment decisions.

Sunshine Genetics will offer free, opt‑in whole‑genome sequencing to newborns at Tampa General this summer. The state pilot aims to detect hundreds of treatable genetic conditions earlier.

A state data snapshot shows Florida Poly alumni earn a median $93,600 five years after graduation — the highest among Florida public universities and a win for focused STEM training.

Col. Bob Hines, named Artemis III's sole backup, has the résumé and training that could put him on the moon on a later Artemis flight.