PASCO COUNTY, Fla. – Pasco County is taking precautionary measures ahead of the potential impacts of Tropical Storm Milton. Four comfort stations located on the west side of the county will close tonight, October 5th, at 8:00 PM until further notice. The affected comfort stations…
Latest News
Florida Abortion Rights Amendment Campaign Spends Big In Final Weeks Before Election
The political committee spearheading the campaign to pass a proposed constitutional amendment protecting abortion rights in Florida has ramped up spending in the final weeks before the November election. Floridians Protecting Freedom, the committee behind the amendment, spent over $11 million between September 21st and…
Pinellas Park SWAT Team Responds To Domestic Incident, Man Arrested After Holding 2 Women Hostage
PINELLAS PARK, Fla. – A tense situation unfolded in Pinellas Park on Friday afternoon when police responded to a report of an armed domestic disturbance. The incident, which occurred at a residence on 50th Way N, resulted in the arrest of 37-year-old Russell Rippey. Upon…
Gov. DeSantis Declares State Of Emergency For 35 Florida Counties Ahead Of Tropical Storm Milton
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has issued Executive Order 24-214, declaring a state of emergency in 35 Florida counties in preparation for the anticipated impacts of Tropical Storm Milton. This storm is expected to intensify into a hurricane as it approaches the Gulf Coast, with potentially…
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Pasco County Closing West Side Comfort Stations Tonight Due To Tropical Storm Milton
PASCO COUNTY, Fla. – Pasco County is taking precautionary measures ahead of the potential impacts of Tropical Storm Milton. Four comfort stations located on the west side of the county will close tonight, October 5th, at 8:00 PM until further notice. The affected comfort stations…
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Florida Abortion Rights Amendment Campaign Spends Big In Final Weeks Before Election
The political committee spearheading the campaign to pass a proposed constitutional amendment protecting abortion rights in Florida has ramped up spending in the final weeks before the November election. Floridians Protecting Freedom, the committee behind the amendment, spent over $11 million between September 21st and…
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Pinellas Park SWAT Team Responds To Domestic Incident, Man Arrested After Holding 2 Women Hostage
PINELLAS PARK, Fla. – A tense situation unfolded in Pinellas Park on Friday afternoon when police responded to a report of an armed domestic disturbance. The incident, which occurred at a residence on 50th Way N, resulted in the arrest of 37-year-old Russell Rippey. Upon…
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Gov. DeSantis Declares State Of Emergency For 35 Florida Counties Ahead Of Tropical Storm Milton
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has issued Executive Order 24-214, declaring a state of emergency in 35 Florida counties in preparation for the anticipated impacts of Tropical Storm Milton. This storm is expected to intensify into a hurricane as it approaches the Gulf Coast, with potentially…
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AccuWeather: Florida Gulf Coast To Brace For Heavy Rain, Storm Surge, And Powerful Winds From Hurricane Milton
Expert meteorologists are urging Florida’s Gulf Coast residents, businesses, and emergency officials to prepare for severe weather impacts from Hurricane Milton, expected to make landfall midweek. Widespread heavy rain, strong winds, and dangerous storm surges are forecast for much of the peninsula, with the potential…
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Pasco Schools To Remain Open Monday, But Urge Families To Prepare For Potential Tropical Storm
PASCO COUNTY, Fla. – Pasco County Schools announced Saturday that they are closely monitoring Tropical Depression 14 in conjunction with Pasco County Emergency Management. As of now, schools are expected to remain open on Monday. However, the district is encouraging families to use the weekend…
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Hurricane Milton Looms: Florida Faces Another Potential Hurricane Threat
Florida is once again bracing for a potential hurricane strike as Tropical Depression Fourteen strengthens in the Gulf of Mexico. Forecasters anticipate the system will become Tropical Storm Milton later today or Sunday, with further intensification into a hurricane possible as early as Monday. The…
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Pasco Sheriff’s Office Seeks Public’s Help In Locating Missing Hudson Teen
PASCO COUNTY, Fla. – The Pasco Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in locating 15-year-old Ameira Lee, who was reported missing/runaway from the Hudson area. Lee was last seen on October 4th around 9:00 PM in the vicinity of Hunt Call Street in…
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Tropical Depression 14 Threatens Florida, Yucatan Peninsula As Hurricanes Kirk, Leslie Churn In Atlantic
The National Hurricane Center is monitoring multiple systems in the Atlantic basin, including two named hurricanes and a developing tropical depression in the Gulf of Mexico that poses a potential threat to Florida and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. A broad area of low pressure over the…
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Insured Losses From Hurricane Helene Exceed $900 Million In Florida
The financial impact of Hurricane Helene continues to mount, with estimated insured losses in Florida now exceeding $900 million. Data released by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation reveals a grim picture of the storm’s aftermath. As of Friday, the estimated total in insured losses…
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Florida Uber Driver Puts Brakes On “Lit” Passenger’s Burning Revenge Plot Over $100
An Uber driver in Florida found himself in the middle of a real-life thriller when his passenger, 33-year-old Carlos Agustin Flores, revealed a fiery plan for revenge. Apparently, a friend of Flores had borrowed $100 at a strip club a few nights prior and, despite…
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Florida Sen. Rick Scott Slams Biden-Harris Economic Policies, Rising Unemployment, And Job Instability
Following the release of the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ September jobs report, which showed the U.S. unemployment rate climbing to 4.1%, up from 3.8% in September 2023, Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) issued a pointed statement criticizing the Biden-Harris administration’s handling of the economy. The report…
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Winter Haven Woman Arrested After Pizza Dispute Turns Violent: Polk County Sheriff
POLK COUNTY, Fla. – Winter Haven resident Crystal Tigner, 45, was arrested on Thursday evening, October 3rd, by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office following a disturbance in Jan Phyl Village. Deputies were called to St. Paul Drive, where they encountered a man with a ripped…
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Pasco Sheriff’s Office Seeks Public’s Help Locating Missing Land O’ Lakes Woman
LAND O’ LAKES, Fla. – The Pasco Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing and endangered woman. Christina Strunk, 43, was last seen around 5:00 p.m. on October 4th in the Causeway Boulevard area of Land O’ Lakes. Description: How…
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Tampa Offers Free Uber Rides To Help Residents Access Post-Hurricane Support
TAMPA, Fla. – To assist residents impacted by Hurricane Helene, the City of Tampa is providing free Uber vouchers for transportation to and from Comfort Stations. These stations offer essential resources for those recovering from the storm. Free Rides to Comfort Stations: The “Tampa Emergency…
Sports
Tampa Bay Lightning Call Up Rising Star Forward Gabriel Szturc
TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Lightning are giving forward Gabriel Szturc his first taste of NHL action. The 21-year-old was recalled from the Syracuse Crunch (AHL) today after an impressive season in the WHL. Szturc, a skilled center, led the Kelowna Rockets with 83…
Tampa Bay Lightning To Host USA Hockey Warrior Classic In Wesley Chapel For Disabled Veterans
WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Lightning will be hosting the eighth annual USA Hockey Warrior Classic presented by the NHL at AdventHealth Center Ice in Wesley Chapel from October 10th to 13th. This inspiring event will feature 39 Warrior hockey teams from across…
Lightning, Ferman Strike Back At Hurricane Helene With $3 Million In Aid For First Responders & Teachers
TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Lightning are delivering a powerful assist to those impacted by Hurricane Helene. The Lightning Foundation has announced a $2 million grant focused on helping local heroes recover from the devastating storm. And in a truly inspiring move, Lightning Community…
Bucs Recovering While Getting Ready For The Falcons
TAMPA, Fla. – It was a short week for the Bucs coming off a win over the Eagles, but Tampa Bay had no time to rest, having to get ready to play the Falcons in Atlanta Thursday night. Bucs head coach Todd Bowles says he feels…
Cops And Crime
Florida Uber Driver Puts Brakes On “Lit” Passenger’s Burning Revenge Plot Over $100
An Uber driver in Florida found himself in the middle of a real-life thriller when his passenger, 33-year-old Carlos Agustin Flores, revealed a fiery plan for revenge. Apparently, a friend of Flores had borrowed $100 at a strip club a few nights prior and, despite…
Winter Haven Woman Arrested After Pizza Dispute Turns Violent: Polk County Sheriff
POLK COUNTY, Fla. – Winter Haven resident Crystal Tigner, 45, was arrested on Thursday evening, October 3rd, by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office following a disturbance in Jan Phyl Village. Deputies were called to St. Paul Drive, where they encountered a man with a ripped…
Cold Case
Pasco Sheriff’s Office Seeks Public’s Help In Locating Missing Hudson Teen
PASCO COUNTY, Fla. – The Pasco Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in locating 15-year-old Ameira Lee, who was reported missing/runaway from the Hudson area. Lee was last seen on October 4th around 9:00 PM in the vicinity of Hunt Call Street in…
Pasco Sheriff’s Office Seeks Public’s Help Locating Missing Land O’ Lakes Woman
LAND O’ LAKES, Fla. – The Pasco Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing and endangered woman. Christina Strunk, 43, was last seen around 5:00 p.m. on October 4th in the Causeway Boulevard area of Land O’ Lakes. Description: How…
Pasco County Sheriff: Missing Lutz Woman Located Safe
PASCO COUNTY, Fla. – Kelly Schweigart has been located and is safe, according to Pasco Sheriff’s Office. Previous reporting: Pasco Sheriff’s deputies are currently searching for Kelly Schweigart, a missing/endangered 31-year-old. Schweigart is 5’3″, around 110 lbs., with blonde hair and brown eyes, and was…
Florida Agriculture
University Of Florida Researchers Use AI, Lasers To Pioneer Precision Spraying To Combat Mosquitoes
Researchers from the UF/IFAS Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory (FMEL) and the Florida Museum of Natural History are working to revolutionize mosquito control by using artificial intelligence to improve the precision of mosquito control. Their research aims to make it easier to apply larvicide effectively but…
Florida Launches Interest-Free Loan Program For Farmers, Ranchers Affected By Hurricane Helene
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson has announced that farmers, ranchers, and growers affected by Hurricane Helene can now apply for interest-free loans through the Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program. The loans aim to help eligible producers restore, repair, or replace…
Southern Land-Grant Universities Create AI Centers To Encourage Faster, Accurate Solutions To Practical Problems
Artificial intelligence (AI) can help feed the world and preserve our natural resources. To maximize the bandwidth of AI, scientists are working together to develop robotics and precision agriculture, use drones effectively and more. Recognizing the strength of collaboration, universities across the South are launching…
Politics
Florida Abortion Rights Amendment Campaign Spends Big In Final Weeks Before Election
The political committee spearheading the campaign to pass a proposed constitutional amendment protecting abortion rights in Florida has ramped up spending in the final weeks before the November election. Floridians Protecting Freedom, the committee behind the amendment, spent over $11 million between September 21st and…
Florida Sen. Rick Scott Slams Biden-Harris Economic Policies, Rising Unemployment, And Job Instability
Following the release of the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ September jobs report, which showed the U.S. unemployment rate climbing to 4.1%, up from 3.8% in September 2023, Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) issued a pointed statement criticizing the Biden-Harris administration’s handling of the economy. The report…
Lottery
Florida Lottery Launches Limited-Time $500 Raffle Promotion
The Florida Lottery is thrilled to announce its new $500 Raffle Promotion, which will run from September 23rd to October 27th or until all raffle tickets are sold out. Players who purchase a single $10 or more ticket for CASH POP™, FLORIDA LOTTO®, MEGA MILLIONS®,…
Florida Man Scores $1 Million Monopoly Doubler Win On Scratch-Off From Raceway
Roy Boyer II of Shalimar is celebrating a $1 million win on the Florida Lottery’s $20 MONOPOLY DOUBLER Scratch-Off game. Boyer opted for a one-time lump-sum payment of $798,985.00. The winning ticket was purchased at Raceway, located on 1183 North Eglin Parkway in Pensacola. This…
Orlando Man Strikes Gold With $1 Million Scratch-Off Win
Efren Villamar Herrera, a 56-year-old from Orlando, is celebrating a life-changing $1 million win from the Florida Lottery’s $20 GOLD RUSH LIMITED Scratch-Off game. Herrera opted for a one-time lump sum payment of $795,000.00. The lucky ticket was purchased at the Wawa on 3100 South…
Clearwater Man Wins $1 Million From Florida Lottery Scratch-Off
PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – Silver Gutierrez Figueredo, a 53-year-old resident of Clearwater, Florida, has claimed a $1 million prize from the Florida Lottery’s “$1,000,000 A YEAR FOR LIFE SPECTACULAR” Scratch-Off game. He opted to receive his winnings as a one-time lump-sum payment of $640,000. Figueredo…
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…