Over 72,000 Florida residents have filed flood insurance claims with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton. As of Friday, the NFIP has paid out approximately $894 million to affected policyholders. These claims highlight the importance…
PASCO COUNTY, Fla. – The Pasco Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in locating missing teenager Zain Tamayo. The 15-year-old was last seen on November 7th around 5 pm in the Trucious Place area of New Port Richey. Zain is described as 5’10” and…
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Houston Field Office successfully removed 25 illegal immigrants from the United States in October who were convicted of child sex offenses while residing illegally in the country. Among the individuals removed in October, two…
Toymaker Mattel finds itself in hot water after a hilarious yet inappropriate error surfaced on the packaging of their new “Wicked” movie dolls. Social media users have been sharing photos of the doll boxes, which display the incorrect website address for the film. Instead of…
Over 72,000 Florida residents have filed flood insurance claims with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton. As of Friday, the NFIP has paid out approximately $894 million to affected policyholders. These claims highlight the importance…
PASCO COUNTY, Fla. – The Pasco Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in locating missing teenager Zain Tamayo. The 15-year-old was last seen on November 7th around 5 pm in the Trucious Place area of New Port Richey. Zain is described as 5’10” and…
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Houston Field Office successfully removed 25 illegal immigrants from the United States in October who were convicted of child sex offenses while residing illegally in the country. Among the individuals removed in October, two…
Toymaker Mattel finds itself in hot water after a hilarious yet inappropriate error surfaced on the packaging of their new “Wicked” movie dolls. Social media users have been sharing photos of the doll boxes, which display the incorrect website address for the film. Instead of…
President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House could shape the federal judiciary for decades. With potential retirements on the Supreme Court and Republican control of the Senate, Trump is likely to finish his time as president with a majority of his own appointees on…
LAKELAND, Fla. – A Lakeland father has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the tragic death of his 18-month-old daughter. Joel Rondon pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in August. According to deputies, on July 4, 2023, the couple went to a Fourth of…
Detectives have arrested Caylen Deller, 30, and Tina Marie Lee-Ellis, 56, of Satsuma, in connection with the murder of Chad Mullen. Authorities say that Lee-Ellis turned herself in at the sheriff’s office on Thursday evening, where she was charged as an accessory to first-degree murder…
Former President Donald Trump was declared the winner in Arizona on Saturday night, locking in the final swing state needed to cement his sweeping Electoral College win. Arizona’s decision gives Trump 312 Electoral College votes, solidifying his decisive victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. Arizona…
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – Hillsborough County Administrator Bonnie Wise has extended the state of local emergency declared on October 6th due to the threat of Hurricane Milton. The extension will remain in effect until November 17th. This declaration empowers county officials to take swift action…
Tropical Storm Rafael is expected to weaken and dissipate over the Gulf of Mexico early this week. While the direct threat to land has diminished, the storm’s remnants will continue to influence weather conditions in the region. Rip Current Risk: As Tropical Storm Rafael moves…
A tragic shooting marred the final night of Tuskegee University’s 100th homecoming celebration early Sunday morning. The incident resulted in one fatality and multiple injuries. The victim, who was not a student at the university, has not yet been identified. Several Tuskegee University students were…
RUSKIN, Fla.– The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a deadly shooting that occurred early Saturday morning. Deputies responded to a 911 call around 12:23 a.m. on November 10th, reporting a home invasion in the 3000 block of Double D Ranch Trail in Ruskin. Upon…
TAMPA, Fla. – Ursula Cheney has been located and is safe, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. Previous Report: The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance locating missing Ursula Cheney. Cheney was last seen on Friday, November 8, 2024, between 5…
It was a week of golden opportunities for Florida Lottery players, with six lucky individuals striking it rich and claiming a staggering $7 million in combined scratch-off prizes! From Panama City to Tampa, the Sunshine State witnessed a windfall of instant millionaires, each with their…
A decades-old mystery has been solved. The remains discovered in 2009 near Hoover Dam have been positively identified as William Herman Hietamaki, a Michigan native who disappeared nearly 30 years ago. Hietamaki, born on April 4, 1950, was last seen in 1995 when he traveled…
TAMPA, Fla. – The gathering on a steamy Friday afternoon included a who’s who of Florida politics. Among those present at the University of South Florida on-campus stadium groundbreaking were Attorney General Ashley Moody, Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, House Speaker Paul Renner, Tampa Mayor Jane…
TAMPA, Fla. – The Bucs are mired in a three-game losing streak and are facing a 49ers team that head coach Todd Bowles says is good. Very good, especially on defense… “They’ve got talent,” Bowles said. They’ve got talent at some key positions. Obviously, they’ve…
TAMPA, Fla. – Coach Alex Golesh referred to him as a locker room favorite. Defensive coordinator Todd Orlando could not say enough about his warm personality. Indeed, Decarius Hawthorne has brought much to USF football this season. “We love his personality,” said Orlando. “He always…
TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Lightning suffered a tough 2-1 shootout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers Thursday night at Amalie Arena, despite a late third-period goal by Nikita Kucherov. Kucherov’s goal, assisted by Brandon Hagel and Emil Lilleberg, tied the game with less than…
LAKELAND, Fla. – A Lakeland father has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the tragic death of his 18-month-old daughter. Joel Rondon pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in August. According to deputies, on July 4, 2023, the couple went to a Fourth of…
Detectives have arrested Caylen Deller, 30, and Tina Marie Lee-Ellis, 56, of Satsuma, in connection with the murder of Chad Mullen. Authorities say that Lee-Ellis turned herself in at the sheriff’s office on Thursday evening, where she was charged as an accessory to first-degree murder…
PASCO COUNTY, Fla. – The Pasco Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in locating missing teenager Zain Tamayo. The 15-year-old was last seen on November 7th around 5 pm in the Trucious Place area of New Port Richey. Zain is described as 5’10” and…
TAMPA, Fla. – Ursula Cheney has been located and is safe, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. Previous Report: The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance locating missing Ursula Cheney. Cheney was last seen on Friday, November 8, 2024, between 5…
A decades-old mystery has been solved. The remains discovered in 2009 near Hoover Dam have been positively identified as William Herman Hietamaki, a Michigan native who disappeared nearly 30 years ago. Hietamaki, born on April 4, 1950, was last seen in 1995 when he traveled…
Franta Majs is a common fixture at Florida plant shows and sales. He doesn’t attend to shop, however. He’s on hand to offer advice. “Frequently I’ll see people pulling a wagon with hundreds of dollars worth of plants or trees,” Majs said. “And I’ll ask…
Hurricanes Helene and Milton left many homeowners with flooded septic tanks. To make sure your system is ready for future storms, a University of Florida scientist has suggestions for you. “If you are one of those homeowners with a flooded septic system, it’s likely not…
Invasive species in Florida like Nile monitors and Argentine black-and-white tegus pose a growing threat to the Sunshine State’s environment, economy and public safety. South Florida’s warm climate, disturbed habitats and bustling pet trade have made it a hotspot for these non-native, cryptic reptiles. However,…
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Houston Field Office successfully removed 25 illegal immigrants from the United States in October who were convicted of child sex offenses while residing illegally in the country. Among the individuals removed in October, two…
President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House could shape the federal judiciary for decades. With potential retirements on the Supreme Court and Republican control of the Senate, Trump is likely to finish his time as president with a majority of his own appointees on…
It was a week of golden opportunities for Florida Lottery players, with six lucky individuals striking it rich and claiming a staggering $7 million in combined scratch-off prizes! From Panama City to Tampa, the Sunshine State witnessed a windfall of instant millionaires, each with their…
A Florida man is celebrating a $2 million win in the Florida Lottery’s JACKPOT TRIPLE PLAY game. Appolon Jean, 65, Pompano Beach, claimed the jackpot from the July 26th drawing. He chose to receive his winnings as a one-time lump sum payment of $1,223,575.20. Jean…
LUTZ, Fla. – A Lutz man is celebrating a life-changing win after claiming a $1 million prize from the Florida Lottery’s “500X THE CASH” scratch-off game. Jorge Rodriguez Acosta, 46, purchased his winning ticket from the 7-Eleven at 3560 West Waters Avenue in Tampa. He…
A Florida man is $2 million richer after claiming a top prize from the Florida Lottery’s “$2,000,000 100X BONUS CASHWORD” scratch-off game. Avery Leach, 57, of Jacksonville, chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $1,280,000. He purchased his lucky ticket…
LAND O’ LAKES, Fla. – Pasco County is looking for talented individuals to join its team! The Pasco County Human Resources Department will be hosting a career fair on Friday, November 8th, 2024, at the Pasco County Utilities Building in Land O’ Lakes. This is…
Want to help your community rebuild after Hurricanes Helene and Milton? FEMA is hiring! Over 600 positions are available in Gainesville, Melbourne Beach, Sarasota, and Tallahassee. FEMA’s “Local Hire” program employs local residents to assist in disaster recovery efforts, providing crucial support to their own…
Hurricane Milton, which struck Florida on October 9th, has had a significant impact on the state’s job market. The U.S. Department of Labor reported a sharp increase in unemployment claims for the week ending October 19th, with 10,574 initial claims filed. This marks the highest…
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.…
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…
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, 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.…
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…