Utah Burrito Chain Storms Pinellas In First Florida Beachhead
Costa Vida Fresh Mexican Grill is on its way to the Tampa Bay area, with the Utah-born fast-casual chain planning its first Florida restaurant in Pinellas County. The debut will officially drop the brand into Florida's quick-casual Mexican market and bring its Baja-inspired lineup to Bay Area diners. According to...
Clearwater: Woman Charged in Hit-and-Run That Left Pedestrian Seriously Injured; Later Arrested in Separate...
A 65-year-old S. Pasadena woman was arrested twice within hours after investigators say she fled the scene of a crash that seriously injured a pedestrian and was later involved in a separate DUI crash the same night. Kristy A. Monaghan, 65, was first arrested late Feb. 27, 2026, following a...
Dog tavern approved on Safety Harbor’s Main Street over neighbor’s objections
SAFETY HARBOR — The City Commission voted 4-1 on Feb. 17 to approve a site plan for The Barking Lot, a 1,058-square-foot tavern and "dog dining" facility planned for the corner of Main Street and Delaware Street, despite a wave of testimony from neighbors who say the area has reached a "critical mass" of flooding and...
Planned 420-mile Florida Gulf Coast Trail will connect Tampa Bay to Naples
You can’t walk, run or bike it just yet, but ambitious plans to link Tampa Bay with Naples are well on their way to being realized. The 420-mile Florida Gulf Coast Trail will be one of the longest continuous trails in Florida, linking seven counties and 52 rural, urban and suburban communities, including Hillsborough...
Iranian-Americans relieved by fall of Ayatollah Khomeini — but questions remain about country’s future
CLEARWATER, Fla. - Iranian-Americans are relieved to see the fall of Ayatollah Khomeini, but so many questions remain about Iran's future that they say it is not yet time for a full celebration. What they're saying:. Siavash Moradi, who owns an Iranian restaurant on Gulf-to-Bay in Clearwater, has been busy...
Florida man sentenced for Okaloosa County murder
Video above: ‘News 5 Now’ — Top Stories from March. 2, 2026 OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG) — A man from St. Petersburg has been found guilty of second-degree murder in Okaloosa County. According to a news release from the Office of the State Attorney, First Judicial Court of Florida, Jerrish Stephens, 45, was found...
Tampa car dealer sentenced for defrauding banks, stealing $470K Rolls-Royce
A 27-year-old Tampa car dealer has been sentenced to more than five years in federal prison for obtaining fraudulent auto loans from finance companies and trying to export a stolen Rolls-Royce. Mohamad Jihad Fakih was sentenced last week to 54 months in prison and ordered to pay $378,655 in restitution...
Gas prices spike in Tampa Bay after Iran conflict drives up oil prices
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Gas prices across Tampa Bay rose throughout the day on Monday, after the U.S. conflict with Iran continued after the weekend strikes. The price of crude oil rose Sunday night as the market opened. Experts say it’s possible gas prices will follow suit. “There’s definitely a trickle-down effect,...
Pinellas County School Board Approves Two Closures as Enrollment Falls
The Pinellas County School Board voted Tuesday to shutter Cross Bayou Elementary in Pinellas Park and Disston Academy in Gulfport when the 2025-26 school year wraps up. These decisions stem from the district's Planning for Progress initiative. Cross Bayou Elementary educates about 250 kids. It sits at 40% capacity...
Clearwater Police Boost Speeding Crackdown With $75K Grant From Florida DOT
Clearwater Police will fight speeding and reckless drivers using a $75,000 grant from the Florida Department of Transportation. The contract began Dec. 17, 2025. It runs through Sept. 30, 2026. Officers will work extra shifts to catch speeders on roads known for dangerous driving. More patrols will saturate trouble...
