In a move that reignites political tensions surrounding one of the most controversial investigations of the past decade, the U.S. Department of Justice on Monday released information related to the FBI’s handling of its investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server during her time as Secretary of State. The decision to honor…
More than 7,000 gallons of untreated wastewater spilled into Winston Creek in Lakeland, prompting an emergency environmental response that stretched into the early hours of Tuesday morning. According to reporting officials, the incident began around 12:00 PM on July 21, when city workers inspecting sewer lines discovered a leak spewing sewage into the nearby waterway….
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating a man wanted in connection with the theft of two black swans and their eggs earlier this year. Authorities are searching for 30-year-old Alfredo Casanova of Homestead, who failed to appear in court after being arrested in February. Casanova was initially taken…
Florida health officials have confirmed a new human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) in Escambia County during the week of July 6–12, 2025, marking the latest development in the state’s ongoing mosquito-borne illness surveillance efforts. The case is part of broader arbovirus monitoring across Florida, which includes viruses such as Eastern equine encephalitis (EEEV),…
A 70-year-old man from Marianna has been sentenced to a decade behind bars after being found guilty of federal methamphetamine trafficking charges. According to the official release, Lorenzo Heatrice was convicted by a federal jury of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, as well as possession with intent…
Five separate food and drug products were recalled on July 14, 2025, in what appears to be a spike in safety alerts issued by the FDA. The recalls, which span both consumables and medications, involve risks ranging from salmonella and plastic contamination to dangerously mislabeled prescription drugs. One of the cases involves Sandoz, Inc., which…
The fentanyl crisis continues to claim lives across the United States—and Florida has not been spared from its devastating impact. In response, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) launched Faces of Fentanyl, a powerful tribute to those lost to fentanyl-related overdoses. The physical memorial wall is located at DEA Headquarters in Arlington, Virginia (700 Army Navy…
Floridia might be known for sunshine and palm trees, but some cities in the Sunshine State are feeling the heat in more ways than one. A new report by WalletHub has ranked the most and least stressed cities in the U.S. for 2025—and several Florida metros didn’t escape the stress radar. The annual study analyzed…
The State of Florida has scheduled the executions of two death row inmates later this month, following the latest death warrant filings signed by Governor Ron DeSantis. According to official records published by the Florida Supreme Court, Michael B. Bell and Edward J. Zakrzewski II are slated to be executed at Florida State Prison in…
A Florida man is among fifteen individuals charged in connection with an unprecedented international health care fraud and money laundering scheme that defrauded Medicare, Medicaid, and other health care programs out of more than $10.6 billion. The charges, announced as part of the 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, represent the largest health care fraud…
As Fourth of July travel plans ramp up, a new update from AAA shows Florida drivers may catch a bit of a break at the pump—depending on where they live. According to AAA’s fuel data released June 27, 2025, Florida’s average price for regular gas sits just under $3, at $2.999 per gallon, noticeably lower…
Governor Ron DeSantis today signed the Tristin Murphy Act (Senate Bill 168) into law, introducing new pathways for people with mental illness within Florida’s criminal justice system. The legislation, named after Tristin Murphy—who died by suicide in a state prison in 2021—was sponsored by Senator Jennifer Bradley (R‑Fleming Island) and carried with bipartisan support. “Tristin’s…
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is forecasting an above‑normal Atlantic hurricane season for 2025, with activity expected to surpass the long‑term average. According to the May 22 outlook, there is a 60% chance of an above‑normal season, compared to a 30% chance for near‑normal and just a 10% chance for below‑normal activity. They anticipate…
Yesterday, Attorney General James Uthmeier joined the U.S. Marshal for the Central District of Florida William Berger to announce the rescue of 60 children as part of Operation Dragon Eye in the Tampa Bay Area. As a result of the operation, eight defendants were arrested, including one on charges of human trafficking. “The real heroes…
A Hillsborough County High School teacher has admitted to her role in a conspiracy involving illegal firearm purchases tied to an international criminal organization. According to U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe, 46-year-old Shannon Lee Samlalsingh pleaded guilty on June 20, 2025, to conspiring to make false statements to a licensed firearms dealer. She now faces…
A multi-state human trafficking conspiracy that preyed on vulnerable women across the Florida Panhandle and southern Alabama has been dismantled, according to federal prosecutors—exposing a chilling scheme that involved bonding women out of jail only to enslave them into the sex trade. Kimberly Robinson Gandy, 47, of Gulfport, Mississippi, was convicted on Wednesday, June 18,…
Move over, cats and coffee. St. Petersburg is about to welcome a new kind of café experience — and it involves the internet’s favorite oversized rodents. The Capybara Café, a wildlife-centered experience originally launched in St. Augustine, has announced plans to open a second location in the Tampa Bay area. Known for its up-close animal…
Florida has been named among 13 states involved in a growing multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes linked to prepackaged chicken fettuccine alfredo meals sold at Walmart and Kroger grocery stores. The outbreak, which is currently under investigation by the FDA, USDA, and CDC, has already sickened 17 people across the country. Of those, 16 have…
As Florida contends with seasonal surges in mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue and West Nile virus, a new discovery in malaria prevention could help shape future approaches to vector control — and possibly benefit not just the Sunshine State, but all of humanity. Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health, in collaboration with the NIH,…
A new report released by WalletHub ranks several Florida cities among the best and worst-run in the United States based on how effectively local governments manage their budgets while delivering public services. Tallahassee ranked as the best-run city in Florida and 18th overall out of 148 major U.S. cities evaluated in the 2025 report. Jacksonville…
It has been 20 years since citrus greening—also known as Huanglongbing (HLB)—was first detected in Florida. In that time, the bacterial disease has reshaped the state’s iconic citrus industry, slashing orange production considerably, decimating family-run groves, and turning the future of Florida orange juice into a multimillion-dollar question. First confirmed in south Miami-Dade County in…
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has announced a new initiative aimed at supporting federal immigration enforcement officers stationed in Florida, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Border Patrol agents. According to the official press release, in response to recent demonstrations in California that involved incidents of violence and property damage, Uthmeier stated…
Sheldon James Biddle, 25, of Ormond Beach, is being charged with threatening to kill the President of the United States. If convicted, Biddle faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. According to the indictment, on April 2, 2025, Biddle made a threat to take the life of the President of the United…
Florida posted one of the highest foreclosure rates in the country last month, according to a newly released report from property data analytics firm ATTOM. The state ranked second nationally for foreclosure filings in May 2025, with one in every 2,536 housing units impacted. The report, released Tuesday, highlights a troubling trend for several Florida…
Florida is no stranger to murky waters, but new research out of Georgia is raising fresh concerns about what might be hiding beneath the surface—and it’s not just alligators. A recent study by the University of Georgia’s Odum School of Ecology has uncovered dangerously high levels of mercury in the blood of alligators from the…
Will robots soon be taking care of us when we get sick? It might not be too far from reality. A Clearwater-based healthcare technology company is teaming up with Mayo Clinic in Florida to explore how artificial intelligence can reshape hospital care. hellocare.ai, which develops AI-driven tools for inpatient environments, announced Tuesday it has entered…
Last night the Florida State Parks announced the passing of Lu the hippopotamus, a cherished resident of Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park for more than six decades. The post stated that Lu, who recently celebrated his 65th birthday, was more than just a longtime inhabitant of the park — he was a living…
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has officially removed COVID-19 mRNA vaccines from its recommended immunization schedule for healthy children and pregnant women, following an announcement by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The change marks a significant shift in national vaccination guidance, coming after years of evolving…
Bay County health officials have issued a 60-day rabies alert after two foxes in the Bayou George area tested positive for the deadly virus. The infected animals were killed near the east end of John Pitts Road on May 20 and May 26, prompting the Florida Department of Health in Bay County (DOH-Bay) to take…
John P. “Jack” Heekin, once responsible for advising on death penalty cases in Florida, now holds the reins as the top federal prosecutor for the state’s northern region. Sworn in this morning by Chief District Judge Mark E. Walker, Heekin becomes the 42nd U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida—a post that puts him…
