A driver in Holiday jumped the curb, raced through a yard and into the side of a house on Elkhorn Boulevard early Sunday morning, just missing residents, Shari and Rodney Bizier, asleep in their bed. Bay News 9 tweeted about the incident, including a photo from their coverage: “Not quiteContinue Reading
The Florida Supreme Court blocked a voter initiative to ban assault weapons, semiautomatic rifles and shotguns from going to voters in 2022. The Thursday ruling squashed the Ban Assault Weapons Now sponsored constitutional amendment because of deceptive language and the clause grandfathering weapon ownership to the owner only, not theContinue Reading
As a result of Philadelphia Phillies announcing Friday five players had tested positive for COVID-19, every team in Major League Baseball will shut its spring training camp over concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. The Associated Press (AP) reports that all of the spring complexes in Florida and Arizona will temporarilyContinue Reading
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor held a news conference Friday morning on policy changes to the police department. Watch the video clip below. “It’s clear from the days of protest, unrest, grief and rage that it is an important time in our history and for law enforcement,” Castor said. “The TampaContinue Reading
NOTE: This post has been updated to remove “kill” from the title and references to “murder” charges against Mr. Lapin. This was false information provided in the government press release, verified by other media outlets. FULL UPDATE ON CASE: JAMES LAPIN INNOCENT! This is the full press release: United StatesContinue Reading
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office says a “peeping tom,” Anthony Garcia, was arrested for breaking into a woman’s home while she showered to open her bedroom curtains, and authorities are seeking if there are additional victims. Garcia, 31, forced his way inside the victim’s residence at the Retreat at CrosstownContinue Reading
As protesters take to the street and Florida reopens many businesses, the rise in coronavirus testing has led to more positive cases and prompted St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman to announce the city will mandate that employees wear face masks in all businesses in the city beginning Friday. “Don’t expect to receiveContinue Reading
The number of Tampa General Hospital (TGH) employees testing positive for COVID-19 has more than doubled over the weekend. On Friday, June 13, 24 employees were positive for the coronavirus. However, as of Tuesday evening, that number had shot up to 54. TGH President & Chief Executive Officer, John CourisContinue Reading
State Attorney Andrew Warren announced that many protesters were not going to be prosecuted for low level crimes stemming from blocking traffic and assembly violations. Ahead of the November election, Warren’s opposition, Mike Perotti spoke out against the move, criticizing Warren’s “misguided but well-intended policies” as part of the problem.Continue Reading
Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren said in a press conference Monday that nearly 70 protesters arrested earlier this month won’t be prosecuted after the State Attorney’s Office decided not to file charges. Warren spoke out about the 667 protesters arrested on the night of June 2 in the downtown areaContinue Reading
Florida Wildlife Conservation officer Julian Keen Jr. was found fatally shot in Hendry County Sunday morning, shot and killed while off-duty trying to stop a hit-and-run driver. The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were dispatched to the area of Apache Circle and Nobles Road in Labelle after reports thatContinue Reading
Polk County schools are planning now for a fall reopening. Over 30,000 parents responded to a Polk County survey to integrate with the district’s task force. “We see a strong sense for students to return to some sense of normalcy,” said Michelle Townley, interim assistant superintendent of curriculum. “This hasContinue Reading
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office arrested a former probation officer, Rutherford Jean, charging him with two counts of sexual battery and blackmailing victims for sexual favors. An inmate at the Pinellas County Jail filed a complaint in October 14, 2019 to detention deputies that her probation officer had blackmailed herContinue Reading
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida announced that a Port Richey man, Angelo David Salvarezza, has been sentenced to federal prison on charges of drug dealing and firearm possession. Salvarezza, 38, of Port Richey, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for possessing with theContinue Reading
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed a bill into law, which would allow college athletes in the state to earn money from endorsement deals. Effective in 2021, the restrictions on college athletes will be lifted to allow these student athletes to be paid for the use of their names, imagesContinue Reading
On Friday, Governor Ron DeSantis and Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran announced 60 schools, representing 28 districts in Florida, were chosen to participate in the first phase of the Florida Civics and Debate Initiative (FCDI). On January 27, 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis announced a multiyear, $5 million grant from TheContinue Reading
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office reported that a Temple Terrace fire inspector has been arrested and accused of possessing “thousands of images and videos of child pornography, ranging in ages from infants to young teenagers,” Casey Dwayne Hannah, 40, of Seminole, was charged with 20 counts of Possession of Child Pornography.Continue Reading
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said people armed with hammers and other blunt objects smashed their way into the Tampa Walmart on East Fletcher Avenue after 9 p.m. May 30 during a George Floyd protest. Detectives believe approximately 200 people entered the store and said most began looting the electronicsContinue Reading
Former Florida House Rep. Larry Ahern filed to run against Pinellas County Commissioner Janet Long Wednesday for the at-large District 1 seat representing northeast and mid-Pinellas. Ahern brings name recognition to the race to challenge the incumbent Democrat, serving Florida’s 66th District in northwestern Pinellas County from 2012 to 2018. He also served in Florida’sContinue Reading
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida announced the indictment of a two people from Clearwater, Courtney Marie Michaelis and Nicholas Andrew Ham, with the illegal distribution of fentanyl. Michaelis, 37, and Ham, 21, have been charged with distributing fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury to anContinue Reading
Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced plans for Florida’s K-12 public schools to reopen at full capacity in the fall. “Having a teacher there, there just isn’t going to be a substitute for that in-person instruction,” he said. Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran said that’s the recommendation being made to local schoolContinue Reading
