The world of illicit drug trade is a complex and ever-evolving landscape where criminal organizations employ sophisticated tactics to evade law enforcement and expand their reach. One such intricate case unfolded across multiple states, showcasing the determination of federal authorities to dismantle a sprawling drug…
Latest News
Florida Sen. Rick Scott, Colleagues Challenge Democrats’ Contraception Bill
Florida Senator Rick Scott, along with 21 of his Republican colleagues in the U.S. Senate, has issued a scathing rebuke of the Democrats’ so-called “Right to Contraception Act.” This controversial legislation, first passed by the Democrat-controlled House in 2022, now faces renewed scrutiny as Senate…
U.S. Postal Worker Terrorized By Crazed Florida Man With Assault Rifle
A Florida man has been sentenced to over 15 years in prison for violently assaulting a mail carrier and brandishing a deadly firearm. According to court records, the incident occurred in June 2021 when the victim, a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) mail carrier, was making…
DOJ: Plant City Man Charged With Smuggling Machinegun Conversion Devices Into U.S.
PLANT CITY, Fla. – Authorities in Florida have uncovered a disturbing case of a convicted felon’s illicit activities involving the smuggling of machinegun conversion devices, known as “Glock switches,” into the United States. According to the criminal complaint, in April 2024, U.S. Customs and Border…
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Nine Charged In Drug Trafficking Network Spanning California, Arizona, And Florida: DOJ
The world of illicit drug trade is a complex and ever-evolving landscape where criminal organizations employ sophisticated tactics to evade law enforcement and expand their reach. One such intricate case unfolded across multiple states, showcasing the determination of federal authorities to dismantle a sprawling drug…
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Florida Sen. Rick Scott, Colleagues Challenge Democrats’ Contraception Bill
Florida Senator Rick Scott, along with 21 of his Republican colleagues in the U.S. Senate, has issued a scathing rebuke of the Democrats’ so-called “Right to Contraception Act.” This controversial legislation, first passed by the Democrat-controlled House in 2022, now faces renewed scrutiny as Senate…
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U.S. Postal Worker Terrorized By Crazed Florida Man With Assault Rifle
A Florida man has been sentenced to over 15 years in prison for violently assaulting a mail carrier and brandishing a deadly firearm. According to court records, the incident occurred in June 2021 when the victim, a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) mail carrier, was making…
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DOJ: Plant City Man Charged With Smuggling Machinegun Conversion Devices Into U.S.
PLANT CITY, Fla. – Authorities in Florida have uncovered a disturbing case of a convicted felon’s illicit activities involving the smuggling of machinegun conversion devices, known as “Glock switches,” into the United States. According to the criminal complaint, in April 2024, U.S. Customs and Border…
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St. Petersburg Launches ‘Safe Summer’ Block Party And Friday Event Series
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Neighborhood Health and Safety is one of St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch’s key Pillars for Progress. St. Pete’s ‘Safe Summer’ activities will help keep all children safe all summer long. “A ‘Safe Summer’ is defined as one where residents in the…
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Sun City Man Killed In Single-Vehicle Crash On I-75 In Hillsborough County
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – A 44-year-old Sun City man was killed in a single-vehicle crash that happened on Tuesday at 11:54 pm, troopers say. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 42-year-old Sun City woman was driving a Mercury Milan southbound on I-75 near Mile…
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Dade City Man Killed When Trying To Pass Vehicle In Grass Median, Collides With Tree
HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. – A Dade City man has died after attempting to pass a vehicle using the grass median and losing control of his truck. Troopers say a Chevy Silverado, driven by a 50-year-old Dade City man, was traveling eastbound in the inside lane…
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Three Trump Allies Face 10 Years In Prison After Wisconsin AG Files 2020 Fake Elector Charges
The Wisconsin Attorney General has taken action against three key former President Donald Trump allies, charging them with felony forgery related to their role in the 2020 election. The charges, filed against attorneys Kenneth Chesebro and Jim Troupis, along with former Trump aide Mike Roman,…
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Motorcyclist Dies After U-Turn Crash In St. Petersburg
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – A 48-year-old man was killed in a crash that happened on Tuesday evening in St. Petersburg. Police say at 9 p.m. on Tuesday, a 36-year-old woman was driving a silver Nissan Altima southbound on 34th Street North, attempting to make a…
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Land O’ Lakes 5th Grader Awarded Top Honors From AAA In Florida
LAND O’ LAKES, Fla. – If you pass by your local elementary school, you may see students adorned with neon green safety belts. They’re part of the AAA School Safety Patrol® program, and each is committed to helping fellow classmates get to class safely. The…
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Water Main Break Closes Lane On Bayshore Blvd. Between S. Newport Ave And S. Willow Ave
TAMPA, Fla. – Beginning at 9 a.m. today, the outside southbound lane of Bayshore Boulevard will be closed between South Newport Avenue and South Willow Avenue while the Tampa Water Department repairs a water main break. Barricades and signs will be located in the area…
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UF Study Shows How Strawberry Growers Can Use Less Pesticide To Control Destructive Chilli Thrips
Florida strawberry growers can use less pesticide and save money as they try to control a mighty pest known as chilli thrips, University of Florida research shows. An invasive pest in the southeastern United States, chilli thrips was introduced to the United States from Southeast…
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Florida Doctor Could Lose License In Deadly Botched Liposuction Case
An Orlando physician could lose his license after an administrative law judge Tuesday backed allegations made by the Florida Department of Health, including that the doctor breached a standard of care during a botched liposuction procedure that resulted in a patient’s death. Judge Andrew Manko…
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Florida Gov. DeSantis And State Cabinet Meeting Rescheduled
Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Cabinet will meet next week on June 12, a day after it was scheduled for June 11. Also, according to the Cabinet website, instead of appearing at the Capitol, DeSantis, Attorney General Ashley Moody, Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, and…
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Florida Man Shot And Killed While Riding Scooter: Police
A 28-year-old father of two young daughters was found dead next to his crashed gas-powered scooter in Florida Tuesday, the victim of a senseless shooting. It was around 12:30 a.m. when the first calls came into the Melbourne Police Department, reporting the sound of gunshots…
Sports
Baker Mayfield ‘It’s Expected To Underestimate The Bucs’
TAMPA, Fla. – Most so-called NFL media experts are predicting the Bucs to fall short of winning the NFC South. Some even have the Bucs finishing 3rd behind the Falcons and Panthers. Bucs QB Baker Mayfield doesn’t seem surprised and, in fact, welcomes it. “It doesn’t matter,”…
Florida High School Athletic Association Approves Athlete-Pay Rules
The Florida High School Athletic Association on Tuesday opened the door for student-athletes to earn money from business agreements such as endorsement deals, with the organization’s president calling the move a “good starting point.” The FHSAA’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to approve a seismic…
New Study: Florida Named Top US State For Golfing Getaways
New data has pinpointed the best states for a golfing vacation, with Florida leading the rankings with a score of 64.42 out of 100. The study, carried out by relocation experts My Baggage, analyzed the distribution of golf courses, driving ranges, tournaments, and golf coaches…
NFL Renews Grant For The Gulf Coast JFCS And St. Petersburg Police Department CALL Program
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – As part of the NFL’s Inspire Change social justice initiative, Gulf Coast JFCS was one of 10 social justice programs nationwide awarded a grant renewal for its work to enact positive change in the community. The new two-year grant of $450,000…
Cops And Crime
Nine Charged In Drug Trafficking Network Spanning California, Arizona, And Florida: DOJ
The world of illicit drug trade is a complex and ever-evolving landscape where criminal organizations employ sophisticated tactics to evade law enforcement and expand their reach. One such intricate case unfolded across multiple states, showcasing the determination of federal authorities to dismantle a sprawling drug…
U.S. Postal Worker Terrorized By Crazed Florida Man With Assault Rifle
A Florida man has been sentenced to over 15 years in prison for violently assaulting a mail carrier and brandishing a deadly firearm. According to court records, the incident occurred in June 2021 when the victim, a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) mail carrier, was making…
Cold Case
Pasco Deputies Searching For 2 Teens Missing Out Of Land O’ Lakes
PASCO COUNTY, Fla. – Pasco Sheriff’s deputies are currently searching for Taina Padilla, a missing/runaway 17-year-old, and Nevaeh Scott-Whyte, a missing runaway 14-year-old. Padilla is 5’5”, around 240 lbs., with brown/blonde hair and brown eyes. Padilla was last seen on June 3, around 12:45 a.m.,…
14-Year-Old Zain Tamayo, Last Seen In New Port Richey, Located Safe
PASCO COUNTY, Fla. – Zain Tamayo has been located and is safe, according to the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. Pasco Sheriff’s deputies were searching for Zain Tamayo, a missing/runaway 14-year-old. Tamayo is 5’7”, around 120 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes. Tamayo was last seen…
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd Investigating Lakeland Missing Persons Case As Murder
POLK COUNTY, Fla. – Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd briefed the media and public this afternoon with an update on the investigation into a missing man, 21-year-old Ethan Fussell. Fussell went missing on May 7, 2024, from the Driggers Road Area of Lakeland. “This was…
Florida Agriculture
UF Study Shows How Strawberry Growers Can Use Less Pesticide To Control Destructive Chilli Thrips
Florida strawberry growers can use less pesticide and save money as they try to control a mighty pest known as chilli thrips, University of Florida research shows. An invasive pest in the southeastern United States, chilli thrips was introduced to the United States from Southeast…
Campfires Banned On Florida District Conservation Lands Due To Dry Conditions
The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is prohibiting campfires and other sources of open flames on District conservation lands in conjunction with numerous county burn bans and dry conditions. The lack of rainfall this spring has made grasses and other light vegetation extremely dry…
Another Florida Family Farm Preserved Through Rural And Family Lands Protection Program
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced Thursday the preservation of a Florida family farm through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. The Limestone Creek Ranch property, a more than 470-acre cattle operation in Hardee County, is…
Politics
Florida Sen. Rick Scott, Colleagues Challenge Democrats’ Contraception Bill
Florida Senator Rick Scott, along with 21 of his Republican colleagues in the U.S. Senate, has issued a scathing rebuke of the Democrats’ so-called “Right to Contraception Act.” This controversial legislation, first passed by the Democrat-controlled House in 2022, now faces renewed scrutiny as Senate…
Three Trump Allies Face 10 Years In Prison After Wisconsin AG Files 2020 Fake Elector Charges
The Wisconsin Attorney General has taken action against three key former President Donald Trump allies, charging them with felony forgery related to their role in the 2020 election. The charges, filed against attorneys Kenneth Chesebro and Jim Troupis, along with former Trump aide Mike Roman,…
Lottery
Florida Woman Wins $1 Million On $20 Cashword Scratch-Off Lottery Ticket
The Florida Lottery announced Friday that Anita Ervin, 61, of Tallahassee, claimed a $1 million prize from the $5,000,000 CASHWORD Scratch-Off game at Lottery’s Headquarters in Tallahassee. Ervin chose to receive her winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $780,000.00. Ervin purchased her winning ticket…
Florida Man Wins $1 Million On $5 Lottery Scratch-Off From Publix In Winter Haven
The Florida Lottery announced Friday that Carlos Cole, Sr., 53, of Winter Haven, claimed a $1 million top prize from the SEVEN FIGURES Scratch-Off game at Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. Cole chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $695,000.00. Cole purchased his…
Winning $214 Million Powerball Ticket Sold In Florida
A lucky POWERBALL player in Florida won a whopping $214 million in the May 6 drawing! The winning ticket was purchased at Publix at 9050 Biscayne Boulevard in Miami Shores. The winning ticket was purchased at Publix, located at 9050 Biscayne Boulevard. The winning numbers…
Georgia Woman Wins Whopping $2 Million On Florida Lottery Monopoly Scratch-Off Game
The Florida Lottery announced Thursday that Lavoncis Armstrong, 64, of Riverdale, Georgia, claimed a $2 million top prize from the $10 MONOPOLY DOUBLER Scratch-Off game at Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. Armstrong chose to receive her winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $1,597,848.00. Armstrong purchased…
Job News
Pinellas County Government To Hold Career Fair On June 14
PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – Pinellas County Government will hold a Career Fair on Friday, June 14, from 1 – 4 p.m. at Florida Botanical Gardens (Magnolia Room), 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo. Hiring managers from Pinellas County Government, Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, and Pinellas County Schools…
Tampa Ranks In The Top 15 Best Cities For Summer Jobs: WalletHub
TAMPA, Fla. – WalletHub issued its study on 2024’s Best Places for Summer Jobs on Wednesday. With summer quickly approaching, many businesses are ready to hire due to labor shortages. WalletHub compared more than 180 markets in the U.S. across 21 key metrics. The data…
Florida Jobless Claims Increase
The number of first-time unemployment claims filed in Florida last week was the highest total since January. On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Labor released a report that estimated 7,051 jobless claims were filed in the state during the week ending May 11, up from…
Polk County Sheriff’s Office Seeks Substitute School Crossing Guards Across Polk County
POLK COUNTY, Fla. – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is seeking qualified men and women in Polk County who desire to work as substitute crossing guards this year. Substitute school crossing guards are needed in the following areas: Lakeland, Fort Meade, Bartow, Highland City, Lake Wales…
Good Eats
Rick’s Coffee House: It’s A God Thing
LAND O’ LAKES, Fla. – Since the age of 14, Rick Smith has been a coffee enthusiast. About 30 years ago, his friend, for whom he’d created a successful marketing idea, bought Smith his first coffee maker, an Italian hand press. This marked the beginning…
Spread The Sunshine With Carolyn: Low-Carb Hot Dog Sauce Recipe
This is a recipe I experimented with this week. It was my Grandmother’s hotdog sauce recipe, but since I’m a type 1 diabetic, I tweaked it a little so it wouldn’t interfere with my blood sugar or my low-carb diet. I must admit it turned…
Spread The Sunshine With Carolyn: Strawberries And Cream Cake
Today is my sister and I’s birthday. We were born on the same day, three years apart. Growing up, we always hated having to share our birthdays. Since we are grown, I just wanted to tell her, “ Sister, you are the best birthday gift…
Spread The Sunshine With Carolyn: Old Fashion Potato Soup
This is a recipe I got from my grandmother. This was her ‘go-to’ recipe for years, especially when someone in the family was sick. It is delicious and very filling. She is no longer with us, but she would be so proud that I’m sharing…