U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber has sentenced Terrance Lee Hester Jr. (21, Tampa) to five years in federal prison for damaging or destroying by fire a building used in interstate commerce. The court also ordered Hester to pay restitution and to serve three years of supervised release following completion ofContinue Reading
Kimberly Fleer (27, Seffner) has pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl to an individual, causing that individual’s death. Fleer faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years, and up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled. According to the plea agreement, on November 2, 2019,Continue Reading
The Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County is notifying the public of a Red Tide bloom along Pinellas coastal beaches. In a tweet earlier today, DOH-Pinellas says the Red Tide health alert issued earlier remains in effect. Health officials remind the public to stay away from affected areas if youContinue Reading
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday that former Hillsborough County Sheriff, Cal Henderson had died. He was 77. Sheriff Henderson began his law enforcement career in 1965 with the Tampa Police Department, in 1967 joined the United States Border Patrol, and then served with the Central Intelligence Agency inContinue Reading
On Friday, Director of the Department of Health in Hillsborough County (DOH-Hillsborough), Dr. Douglas Holt said concerning the rise of COVID-19 cases–“By now we should have more people vaccinated and it’s very concerning that so many people have chosen to not get vaccinated. The vaccine is safe, effective and widelyContinue Reading
Health officials in Hillsborough County is notifying the public of red tide blooms within Tampa Bay with health alerts being issued for Picnic Island and Davis Islands beaches. Caution signs have been placed at Ben T. Davis and Cypress Point due to the presence of red tide in the TampaContinue Reading
The suspect in a shooting that critically injured a man in Gibsonton over the weekend has been arrested, deputies said. Angel Hernandez-Tellez, 29, was arrested without incident by the Hale County Sheriff’s Office in Greensboro, Ala., according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. The police press release issued Tuesday confirmedContinue Reading
CareerSource Tampa Bay (CSTB) has $4.6 million available to assist Hillsborough County youth and adults with tuition assistance scholarships to begin post-secondary training at local schools. Scholarships awarded in totals of up to $10,000 based on the program choice. Tuition assistance is awarded in the following in-demand industries: Healthcare InformationContinue Reading
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) reports that former Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Vincent Jackson, 38, was found deceased today at the Homewood Suites located at 10240 Palm River Road in Brandon, Florida. According to hotel staff, Jackson, who is a South Tampa resident, checked into the hotel on JanuaryContinue Reading
Hillsborough County’s state of local emergency enacted in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic is extended through Jan. 21, according to county government officials. Hillsborough County Administrator Bonnie Wise on Wednesday signed an extension of the declaration under authority authorized by the County’s Emergency Management Ordinance and the Board ofContinue Reading
Former Hillsborough County School Board member Cindy Stuart was sworn in as Hillsborough County Clerk of Court and Comptroller Monday morning. Stuart is replacing Pat Frank, who retired after serving as clerk for 16 years. Stuant and Frank are both Democrats, both serving as a Hillsborough County School Board member before becoming clerk. “I willContinue Reading
Hillsborough County, in partnership with the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County, will begin vaccinating residents age 65 and older on Wednesday, Jan. 6. Hillsborough has allocated an initial 4,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to be distributed to front line health care workers and the vulnerable population ofContinue Reading
Hillsborough County residents who have been laid-off or terminated during the COVID-19 pandemic can apply for part-time jobs funded via the National Dislocated Worker Grant (NDWG) program. The jobs available with the grant is for: Part-time employment at 25 hours per week Wages of $15.50 per hour A 12-week programContinue Reading
With limited capacity, Hillsborough County cold weather shelters will open tonight, Dec. 1, for the homeless and for those who live in homes without adequate heat. The National Weather Service expects local temperatures to dip to or below 40 degrees with wind chill in Hillsborough County Tuesday night. Important changesContinue Reading
Hillsborough County has extended its state of local emergency enacted in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. In addition, the mandate that face coverings must be worn in indoor locations of businesses, with certain exceptions, remains in effect. Hillsborough County Administrator Bonnie Wise Wednesday signed an extension of the declarationContinue Reading
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is reporting that a Valrico man has been charged with murder following a domestic violence incident that resulted in the death of a woman. On the evening of November 3, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call concerning a domestic violence incident thatContinue Reading
In this video, I look at the news surrounding Naegleria fowleri in the US and around the world. Cases reported in India, Costa Rica and the United States. Also, a report on the situation in Karachi, Pakistan, the hotspot for the parasitic infection during the past decade. Naegleria fowleri isContinue Reading
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) announced today that they will cautiously resume offering in-person visitation to families and friends of inmates beginning in October. Effective Monday, October 5, 2020, HCSO will resume non-contact visitations at the Falkenburg Road Jail Video Visitation Center. Along with allowing loved ones of inmatesContinue Reading
Starting Friday, Aug. 14, Hillsborough County residents are now able to receive free testing for antibodies to the COVID-19 coronavirus. The state-run site at Raymond James Stadium, 4201 N. Dale Mabry Highway, will offer 200 antibody tests a day, which indicate whether the person has antibodies associated with a pastContinue Reading
Oldsmar Vice-Mayor, Linda Norris, 59 was arrested Wednesday after causing a three-vehicle pile up in Oldsmar, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO). According to HCSO, deputies responded to a traffic accident on West Hillsborough Avenue and Race Track Road Wednesday. A witness called 911 after seeing a redContinue Reading
Hillsborough County health officials issued a health advisory for Bahia Beach in Ruskin because of high bacteria levels. Samples taken July 29 were above threshold for enterococci bacteria. The beach will be re-sampled, Wednesday, August 5, 2020. When re-sampling indicates that the water is within the satisfactory range, the advisoryContinue Reading
