State Supreme Court justices Wednesday questioned whether regulators adequately justified the approval of a settlement that increased base electric rates for Florida Power & Light. The Supreme Court heard arguments in two challenges to the Florida Public Service Commission’s approval in late 2021 of the…
Latest News
Florida Missing Child Alert Issued For 2-Year-Old Elias Brucker
A Florida MISSING CHILD Alert has been issued for Elias Brucker, a white male, two years old, 2 feet 5 inches tall, 30 pounds, blonde hair, and brown eyes, last seen in the area of the 2100 block of North Sunshine Path in Crystal River,…
Cops and Crime
Boca Raton Man Killed When He Crashes Into Lakeland Police SUV
LAKELAND, Fla. – A 52-year-old Boca Raton man was killed in a crash that happened early Tuesday morning, according to police. Lakeland Police Department says that on Tuesday, January 8, 2023, at approximately 6:09 a.m., a silver F-150 truck, driven by the Boca Raton man,…
Florida Teen Arrested For Shooting Death Of Another Teen At Local Fair
A 15-year-old boy has been arrested in the shooting death of another teen while at a fair on Saturday. On February 8, 2023, the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office assisted Arcadia Police Department with conducting a search warrant at 2002 SE Rhode Island Street. DCSO and…
New Hillsborough County Deputy Cadet Arrested For ATM Theft While Working At Loomis
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla – Detectives have arrested a new cadet of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and charged him with crimes that occurred before starting the academy. Darius Barnwell, 25, was only on his second day as a cadet in the Sheriff’s Training Academy when…
Polk County Sheriff Searching For 2 Suspects Who Burglarized, Stole Pickup Truck In Lakeland
LAKELAND, Fla. – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a motor vehicle theft that happened early Monday morning in the Copper Ridge neighborhood off of North Campbell Road in Lakeland. Investigators say two suspects burglarized a vehicle and found a key fob inside of…
Sports
VIDEO: Gronk, From The Super Bowl, Believes Tom Brady Coulda Played Till He’s 50
PHOENIX, AZ. – Tom Brady on Miami Beach, last week told the world via his phone, he was retiring after 23 seasons in the NFL. His long time friend and teammate Rob Gronkowski actually thought Brady was still gonna play. “I was shocked because I would say…
VIDEO: Media Coverage At An All-Time High For The Super Bowl
PHOENIX, AZ. – After two years of limited media coverage because of the pandemic, the NFL has issued more than 6,000 credentials to media from all over the world to cover Super Bowl 57, and The Free Press’ Rock Riley is there. Media from over 25…
Local News
Suspect Arrested In New Tampa Murder Of Young Pregnant Mother
TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Police Department arrested the suspect wanted for killing a mother in New Tampa last month. Through investigative means, detectives identified Billy Adams, 25, as the suspect in the homicide. He was arrested today, February 8, 2023. The arrest comes nine…
Florida Gov. DeSantis “Freedom Is Here To Stay”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis built his campaign on a simple slogan: “Florida is where woke goes to die.” Now, the Republican governor may have a new catchphrase: “Freedom is here to stay.” DeSantis touted that in a tweet on Tuesday as he announced the continuation…
Florida Republican Proposes Consumer Loan Changes, Allowing Interest Rates Up To 36%
A Senate Republican on Wednesday filed a proposal that would make changes in the consumer finance-loan industry, including allowing annual interest rates up to 36 percent. Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, filed the proposal (SB 580) for consideration during the legislative session that will start March…
Florida Gov. DeSantis Highlights Plan To Provide $2 Billion In Tax Relief For Florida Families
Today, Governor Ron DeSantis was joined by Senate President Kathleen Passidomo and House Speaker Paul Renner to highlight their intent to pass the largest tax relief proposal in Florida history to save Florida families a historic $2 billion during the 2023–2024 fiscal year. The proposed…
Florida Agriculture
Florida Citrus Forecast Takes Another Hit
The forecast of Florida’s orange production dropped again Wednesday, as efforts intensify to assist citrus growers who sustained damage in Hurricane Ian. The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a revised forecast that said Florida growers will fill 16 million 90-pound boxes of oranges during the…
University Of Florida Plant Breeders Can Play ‘Cupid’ For Valentine’s Day
Roses are red, violets are blue, but plants may be just right for you to give your Valentine this year. They can be as pretty as roses, and University of Florida scientists breed oodles of ornamentals. For example, David Clark, a UF/IFAS professor of environmental…
Cold Case
Florida Missing Child Alert Issued For 2-Year-Old Elias Brucker
A Florida MISSING CHILD Alert has been issued for Elias Brucker, a white male, two years old, 2 feet 5 inches tall, 30 pounds, blonde hair, and brown eyes, last seen in the area of the 2100 block of North Sunshine Path in Crystal River,…
Without A Trace: 28 Years Ago James Woodard Checked Out Of Florida Hotel And Vanished
LARGO, Fla. – Largo Police Detectives continue to investigate the missing person’s case of James Woodard from 1994. According to police, in September 1994, the Largo Police Department began an investigation into the missing person case of 43-year-old James Woodard. Family members of James Woodard…
Hernando County Sheriff Searching For Teen Who Went Missing Feb 1 From Brooksville
HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. – The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office is seeking assistance from the public and from our media partners in locating missing 15-year-old Alexzander Soto. Alexzander Soto was last seen last Wednesday just after 6:30 a.m., on Ganz Drive in Brooksville, reportedly walking to…
Florida Agriculture
Florida Citrus Forecast Takes Another Hit
The forecast of Florida’s orange production dropped again Wednesday, as efforts intensify to assist citrus growers who sustained damage in Hurricane Ian. The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a revised forecast that said Florida growers will fill 16 million 90-pound boxes of oranges during the…
University Of Florida Plant Breeders Can Play ‘Cupid’ For Valentine’s Day
Roses are red, violets are blue, but plants may be just right for you to give your Valentine this year. They can be as pretty as roses, and University of Florida scientists breed oodles of ornamentals. For example, David Clark, a UF/IFAS professor of environmental…
Florida Ag Commissioner Wilton Simpson Wants To Move Quickly On Land Deals
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson wants to quickly spend $300 million in land-conservation money that became available as he took office this month. Also, Simpson told members of the House Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee on Wednesday he wants to target additional parcels so…