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…
Can we save the Florida manatee before it’s too late? Well, according to the most current data from 2023, the Florida manatee population numbers around 8,800, but hundreds of them die off of Florida’s coasts every year with around another hundred ending up at rescues like Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership. Despite a gradual decrease in annual…
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…
As Florida heats up this summer, there’s no better way to cool down than by dipping into the Sunshine State’s famous clear blue springs. With year-round temperatures averaging a refreshing 72°F, these natural swimming holes are a go-to for locals and tourists looking to beat the heat — and they’re especially perfect for summer 2025….
Legislation aimed at protecting animals during emergencies is now in the hands of Governor Ron DeSantis. The bill, known as “Trooper’s Law” (CS/SB 150), passed unanimously in both chambers of the Florida Legislature and was officially presented to the Governor on May 23, 2025. If signed into law — or allowed to pass without the…
When the television series Yellowstone first aired, it captivated viewers with its drama, scenery, and cowboy grit—but for those paying attention, it was more than just a hit show. It was a warning. A warning that Floridians—especially as car washes quietly popped up on every street corner—should have taken to heart. (Seriously, who is approving…
The Florida Supreme Court is expediting legal proceedings in the case of death row inmate Anthony Floyd Wainwright, following the signing of a death warrant by Governor Ron DeSantis. Wainwright is scheduled to be executed at 6:00 p.m. on June 10, 2025, for the 1994 murder of a Florida woman. The case, Anthony Floyd Wainwright…
In a scandal that reads more like a reality TV plot than a federal indictment, the former Chief Operating Officer of Jackson Health Foundation has been charged with masterminding a million-dollar kickback scheme — allegedly using stolen nonprofit funds to bankroll a lifestyle of designer handbags, luxury gadgets, and even a rose gold-colored golf cart…
Flooding for coastal areas in Florida is likely to get worse, according to data from the past year. The data, provided by the National Sea Level Explorer, a government website, reveals that Florida’s sea levels have increased by 7 inches from the 1970s to the present day, highlighting the ongoing impact of climate change on…
Federal health officials are warning consumers not to eat cucumbers grown by Bedner Growers, Inc., a Florida farm located in Boynton Beach, after a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Montevideo infections sickened at least 26 people across 15 states. The cucumbers, distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc. of Delray Beach, Florida, were shipped to retailers,…
Residents who think they can legally harvest berries from their own backyards may want to think again. Under Florida law, picking the olive-shaped fruit known as saw palmetto berries without proper authorization can result in significant fines and even criminal charges. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), officers respond to numerous…
