TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Lightning celebrated Stephanie Haile as its latest Community Hero during the October 17th game against the Vegas Golden Knights. Haile received a $50,000 donation from the Lightning Foundation and Jabil, which she will dedicate to expanding the reach of…
Latest News
Russian Special Forces Officer Assassinated Near Moscow
A high-ranking Russian special forces officer has been killed near Moscow, sparking intrigue and raising questions about possible connections to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Nikita Klenkov, deputy commander of the Special Operations Forces Training Center and a veteran of the war in Ukraine, was…
Over 833K Mail-In Ballots Cast As Florida Prepares For Early Voting In November Elections
More than 833,000 Floridians have already cast mail-in ballots ahead of the November 5 elections, according to data posted by the state Division of Elections on Thursday morning. The report shows that election supervisors have received 833,464 mail-in ballots so far. Among these, 355,709 ballots…
Mystery Surrounds Death Of Man After Body Found In St. Petersburg Home
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – St. Petersburg police are investigating the death of a 54-year-old man discovered inside a residence in the 3000 block of 51st Avenue South. Officers responded to a call reporting a suspicious death at approximately 3:45 p.m. on Thursday. Upon arrival, they…
News Scroll
-
Tampa Bay Lightning Honor Stephanie Haile As Community Hero With $50,000 For New Life Warehouse
TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Lightning celebrated Stephanie Haile as its latest Community Hero during the October 17th game against the Vegas Golden Knights. Haile received a $50,000 donation from the Lightning Foundation and Jabil, which she will dedicate to expanding the reach of…
-
Russian Special Forces Officer Assassinated Near Moscow
A high-ranking Russian special forces officer has been killed near Moscow, sparking intrigue and raising questions about possible connections to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Nikita Klenkov, deputy commander of the Special Operations Forces Training Center and a veteran of the war in Ukraine, was…
-
Over 833K Mail-In Ballots Cast As Florida Prepares For Early Voting In November Elections
More than 833,000 Floridians have already cast mail-in ballots ahead of the November 5 elections, according to data posted by the state Division of Elections on Thursday morning. The report shows that election supervisors have received 833,464 mail-in ballots so far. Among these, 355,709 ballots…
-
Mystery Surrounds Death Of Man After Body Found In St. Petersburg Home
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – St. Petersburg police are investigating the death of a 54-year-old man discovered inside a residence in the 3000 block of 51st Avenue South. Officers responded to a call reporting a suspicious death at approximately 3:45 p.m. on Thursday. Upon arrival, they…
-
CNN’s Harry Enten Says Trump Could Be In A ‘Very Strong Position’ In Wisconsin
CNN senior data reporter Harry Enten said Thursday that Republican nominee Donald Trump may be in a “very strong position” in Wisconsin if the polls are underestimating his support. President Joe Biden won Wisconsin by about 1 point, 49.6% to 48.9%, after leading Trump by 8 points…
-
FEMA Offers Temporary Housing For Hurricane Victims In Pinellas County
PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – Pinellas County residents displaced by Hurricanes Milton and Helene can now apply for FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program. This program provides temporary housing in hotels for eligible homeowners and renters for up to 90 days. Who is eligible? TSA is…
-
Bucs Mayfield On The Ravens ‘Want To Be The Bully’
TAMPA, Fla. – Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield is impressed with the Baltimore Ravens defense, talent-wise, but also just how tough they are. “They’re (Ravens) physical, they want to be the bully, but they have guys that set the tone for them on all three levels,” Mayfield…
-
Lake Wales Man’s Kindness Repaid With Car Theft: Polk County Sheriff
POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Lake Wales resident’s act of kindness was met with betrayal when a man he had previously helped stole his vehicle. On October 15th, 2024, the victim reported his car stolen and immediately suspected 43-year-old Leslie Jarod Langford, whom he had…
-
The Future Of Disaster Forecasting: How GenAI Can Revolutionize Our Response
As hurricanes Helene and Milton pound the southern U.S., the devastating physical impact is undeniable—destroyed homes, widespread power outages, and entire communities displaced. Yet, amidst this destruction, there’s an opportunity for transformation. These relentless storms shine a bright spotlight on the urgent need to overhaul…
-
Florida Gov. DeSantis Award $1.5 Million To Nonprofits, Schools Impacted By Hurricane Milton
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis visited Tampa Bay today to announce $1,000,000 in awards through the Florida Disaster Fund to assist nonprofits working on storm recovery efforts following Hurricane Milton. The funds will go to organizations providing essential services, including hot…
-
Morris Bridge Road Partially Closed Due to Hurricane Milton Damage, Flooding
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – Hillsborough County is closing portions of Morris Bridge Road due to damage caused by Hurricane Milton and continued flooding. Starting today, October 17th, Morris Bridge Road will be closed between State Road 56 and Cross Creek Boulevard for repairs. Work is…
-
Road Rage Rampage: Impatient Thonotosassa Man Attacks Linemen, Crashes Into Utility Pole
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – A Thonotosassa man faces serious charges after police say he rammed his vehicle into a utility pole and threatened to shoot power line workers who were repairing storm damage. On Tuesday afternoon, Kenneth Ray Velasco, 57, became enraged by a traffic…
-
BREAKING: Two-Alarm Fire Engulfs Scrap Metal Yard In St. Petersburg
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – A massive fire erupted at Aceros America St. Pete, a scrap metal recycling facility located at 2550 30th Avenue North in St. Petersburg, this afternoon. St. Petersburg Fire Rescue (SPFR) crews are battling the blaze, which broke out around 1:55 PM…
-
Tampa Stabbing Suspect Jumps From I-275 Overpass After Fleeing Police
TAMPA, Fla. – A Tampa man accused of stabbing a woman Wednesday night was apprehended Thursday morning after a dramatic chase and jump from an I-275 overpass. Police responded to a stabbing at the Trails at Hunters Village Apartments on Wednesday night where they found…
-
Two Juveniles Arrested After Online Threats Spark Investigation In Pasco County
PASCO COUNTY, Fla. – A 15-year-old student from Gulf High School in Pasco County, Florida, and another juvenile from a different county were arrested on Sunday, October 13th, following an investigation into concerning online messages. The Pasco Sheriff’s Office received a tip about the two…
Sports
Bucs Mayfield On The Ravens ‘Want To Be The Bully’
TAMPA, Fla. – Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield is impressed with the Baltimore Ravens defense, talent-wise, but also just how tough they are. “They’re (Ravens) physical, they want to be the bully, but they have guys that set the tone for them on all three levels,” Mayfield…
Lightning Host Golden Knights In Rematch Of Last Season’s Sweep
TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Lightning are set to host the Vegas Golden Knights tonight at AMALIE Arena, marking the first of two meetings between these Stanley Cup contenders this season. Tampa Bay will be looking to continue their dominance over Vegas after sweeping…
USF Men’s Basketball To Be Showcased In 14 Nationally Televised Games
TAMPA, Fla. – The University of South Florida men’s basketball team is set for a thrilling 2024-25 season with 14 games slated for national television, the American Athletic Conference announced. Coming off a historic season with a school-record 25 wins and their first conference title,…
LSU’s Nussmeier Rising: 2025 NFL Mock Draft Predicts First-Round Surge
It’s a familiar story in the NFL Draft: a quarterback emerges from relative obscurity to become a first-round pick, sometimes even a top-five selection. Think Kyler Murray, Joe Burrow, even Baker Mayfield. This year, that quarterback could be LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier. After waiting his turn…
Cops And Crime
Lake Wales Man’s Kindness Repaid With Car Theft: Polk County Sheriff
POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Lake Wales resident’s act of kindness was met with betrayal when a man he had previously helped stole his vehicle. On October 15th, 2024, the victim reported his car stolen and immediately suspected 43-year-old Leslie Jarod Langford, whom he had…
Road Rage Rampage: Impatient Thonotosassa Man Attacks Linemen, Crashes Into Utility Pole
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – A Thonotosassa man faces serious charges after police say he rammed his vehicle into a utility pole and threatened to shoot power line workers who were repairing storm damage. On Tuesday afternoon, Kenneth Ray Velasco, 57, became enraged by a traffic…
Cold Case
Pasco Sheriff: Missing Woman Last Seen Near US 19 In Port Richey, Located Safe
PASCO COUNTY, Fla. – Ruth Schaefer has been located and is safe, according to Pasco Sheriff’s Office. Previous Report: The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating a missing 24-year-old woman, Ruth Schaefer. Schaefer was last seen in the early…
Missing Wesley Chapel Teen Located Safe: Pasco County Sheriff
WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla.– Zaina Younis has been located and is safe, according to the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. Previous Report: The Pasco Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in locating 15-year-old Zaina Younis, who was reported missing/runaway on October 15th. Zaina is described as:…
Missing Port Richey Teen, Located Safe: Pasco County Sheriff
PASCO COUNTY, Fla. – Emma Weyde has been located and is safe, according to Pasco Sheriff’s Office. PREVIOUS REPORT: The Pasco Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a missing teenager. Emma Weyde, 16, was last seen in the early morning hours of…
Florida Agriculture
Florida AG Commissioner Urges USDA To Issue Disaster Declaration For Hurricane Milton Agricultural Damage
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson has formally requested a disaster declaration from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Milton. In a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Simpson urged immediate federal support to help Florida’s agricultural…
Florida Citrus Industry Faces Devastating Blow After Hurricane Milton
Florida’s citrus industry, already reeling from citrus greening disease and the impact of previous hurricanes, has been dealt another severe blow by Hurricane Milton. A new federal report projected a 16.8% decline in citrus production for the 2024-2025 season even before Milton struck, and the…
UF/IFAS Needs Your Help To Assess Hurricane Milton’s Impact On Florida Agriculture
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is requesting that agricultural producers participate in a survey to assess Hurricane Milton’s impact on Florida’s agricultural sector. The survey, conducted by the UF/IFAS Economic Impact Analysis Program (EIAP), aims to gather crucial data…
Politics
Russian Special Forces Officer Assassinated Near Moscow
A high-ranking Russian special forces officer has been killed near Moscow, sparking intrigue and raising questions about possible connections to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Nikita Klenkov, deputy commander of the Special Operations Forces Training Center and a veteran of the war in Ukraine, was…
Over 833K Mail-In Ballots Cast As Florida Prepares For Early Voting In November Elections
More than 833,000 Floridians have already cast mail-in ballots ahead of the November 5 elections, according to data posted by the state Division of Elections on Thursday morning. The report shows that election supervisors have received 833,464 mail-in ballots so far. Among these, 355,709 ballots…
Lottery
Florida Woman Strikes Gold With $1 Million Lottery Scratch-Off Win At Walmart
A Florida woman is celebrating a life-changing win after claiming a $1 million prize from the Florida Lottery’s “$1,000,000 A YEAR FOR LIFE SPECTACULAR” scratch-off game. Shawandra Nichols, 48, of Clearwater, chose to receive her winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $640,000. She purchased…
$1 Million Dreams Come True For Florida Woman With Lottery Win After Publix Stop
Angel Colon of Plant City is celebrating a life-changing win after claiming a $1 million prize from the Florida Lottery’s “$1,000,000 A YEAR FOR LIFE SPECTACULAR” scratch-off game. Colon chose to receive her winnings as a one-time lump sum payment of $640,000. The winning ticket…
$1 Million Scratch-Off Ticket Makes Florida Man An Instant Winner
Artolino De Castro, a 48-year-old from Fort Myers, has won a $1 million prize from the Florida Lottery’s “$1,000,000 A YEAR FOR LIFE SPECTACULAR” scratch-off game. He chose to receive his winnings as a one-time lump sum of $640,000, the lottery announced last week. De…
$1 Million Richer: Florida Man Wins Big On Scratch-Off Lottery Ticket
Clifford Rogers, 47, of Orlando, is celebrating a $1 million win on the “$1,000,000 A YEAR FOR LIFE SPECTACULAR” scratch-off game. Rogers chose to receive his prize as a one-time lump sum of $640,000, the Florida Lottery announced last week. The winning ticket was purchased…
Job News
Florida Unemployment Claims Defy Hurricane Helene, Taking A Dip
Despite Hurricane Helene’s impact on Florida, the number of unemployment claims filed in the state surprisingly decreased last week. The U.S. Department of Labor reported that 5,367 initial claims were filed in Florida during the week ending September 28th, down from 6,454 the previous week.…
Florida Sees Drop In Unemployment Claims Ahead of Labor Day
Unemployment claims in Florida decreased last week, offering a positive sign for the state’s labor market as the Labor Day weekend approached. The U.S. Department of Labor reported an estimated 5,932 claims filed in Florida, a drop from the revised count of 6,402 the previous…
Florida Sees Drop In New Unemployment Claims
Florida saw a decrease in the number of people filing for unemployment benefits for the first time last week. The U.S. Department of Labor estimated that 6,219 new claims were filed, a notable decline from the 7,715 claims in the prior week. While this figure…
Disaster Unemployment Assistance Now Available For Floridians Affected By Hurricane Debby
Florida residents and businesses in certain counties impacted by Hurricane Debby can now apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) if they lost their jobs or self-employment due to the storm and are ineligible for regular unemployment benefits. Eligible individuals must have been employed or self-employed…
Good Eats
Lip-Smackin’ Good: Peanut Butter Challenge Returns
Few culinary pleasures transcend kiddom. But whether crunchy or smooth, paired with jelly, crackers or bread, peanut butter is a food nearly everyone can enjoy. High in protein, it’s also among food banks’ most requested items. Since 2012, UF/IFAS Extension and partner institution Florida A&M…
“Patriots Palate” Event Canceled And Will Be Rescheduled
TAMPA, Fla. – This event has been canceled and will be rescheduled at a later date. We will update this as soon as the new date is released. Hillsborough County Extension Service is hosting a special cooking event for military families newly stationed at MacDill…
Red Lobster Continues Cuts, Closes 23 More Restaurants Amid Bankruptcy, 3 In Florida
Red Lobster, previously struggling and undergoing a turnaround after filing for bankruptcy, has now targeted an additional 23 locations for closure. Three of those locations are in Florida. The company, which once boasted over 700 restaurants globally, began its journey in 1968 in Lakeland, Florida.…
University Of Florida Olive Oil Study Suggests ‘Less-Is-More’ Approach
As a staple of plant-based diets like the Mediterranean diet, olive oil has long been lauded for its ability to lower heart disease risk. A recently published University of Florida study, however, suggests other elements of that diet may play a greater role in achieving…