District declares water shortage extending to all of Marion, Sumter counties
The St. Johns River Water Management District’s governing board on Tuesday declared a water shortage for parts of the region overseen by the District, including in Marion County. There, in Marion, the Southwest Florida Water Management District had already declared a more serious water shortage is in effect for...
I-75 Lane Closures, Delays in Tampa Bay Area Through February 14
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) reports the following I-75 traffic impacts associated with construction and maintenance work in the Tampa Bay area through Saturday, February 14, 2026. All work is weather dependent and subject to change. I-75 from Tampa Bypass Canal to Fowler Avenue. Lane closures...
Hollis Garden Comes Alive for the 5th Annual Plantae-Palooza
The City of Lakeland is excited to announce the 5th annual Plantae-Palooza Garden Festival, returning to Hollis Garden on Saturday, February 28, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This FREE community favorite celebrates five years of connecting residents with nature and will feature a diverse selection of vendors...
Renting is cheaper than owning in Tampa Bay
Renting is cheaper than owning a home in Tampa Bay, according to a LendingTree analysis. Why it matters: Housing costs have soared nationwide, with stubbornly high home prices and mortgage rates weighing on would-be buyers. By the numbers: Tampa Bay's median monthly gross rent was $1,776 in 2024, based on...
Florida Strawberry Festival coming soon. How to get discount tickets
The Florida Strawberry Festival will be here before you know it, drawing more than a half a million people attracted to anything strawberry. Held in Plant City since 1930 — except during World War II — the festival offers food, entertainment and rides, along with plenty of vendors. "Today, the annual event has become...
Tampa Bay watering limits tighten as Florida drought deepens
A drought has taken hold across Florida, with some areas experiencing extreme conditions. Why it matters: Watering restrictions are in place across the Tampa Bay area as an ongoing rainfall deficit tests supply. State of play: Tampa Bay residents can water their lawn only once per week under Southwest Florida...
‘You can’t erase truth’: Black History Month events around Tampa Bay
The celebration marks its 100th anniversary this year. The post ‘You can’t erase truth’: Black History Month events around Tampa Bay appeared first on Creative Loafing Tampa .
Davenport man arrested after hit-and-run crash in Polk County
POINCIANA, Florida - A 23-year-old man from Davenport was arrested following a hit-and-run crash on Cypress Parkway, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office. Deputies responded to the scene on February 9, 2026, at around 5:53 p.m., where they found a 2026 Cadillac sedan and a 2015 Dodge Ram truck involved in...
‘It’s done nothing to make our schools safer’: Parkland father on attempts to roll...
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla (WFLA) — Some state lawmakers are working to change Florida’s gun buying age restriction back to 18-years-old. This week marks 8 years since the deadly Parkland school shooting. A bill moving through the Senate looks to reverse the age change signed into law because of the shooting. Then,...
Lakeland Circle K Clerk Charged in Underage Alcohol Sale Sting by Polk County Sheriff’s...
A routine sting operation by the Polk County Sheriff's Office, dubbed Operation Pop Top, snagged a Circle K clerk in Lakeland for selling alcohol to an underage cadet—a mere 18 years old. According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office official reports, the sting was part of a broader effort to clamp down on illegal...
