Bradenton officer fired after drunkenly slamming child in car seat, deputies say
A Bradenton police officer was fired after investigators say he drunkenly “slammed” his child into a car seat while off duty. Nicolas Leeman, 29, faces a felony child abuse charge in Hillsborough County after his arrest last month . An arrest report obtained by the Bradenton Herald provides the first detailed account of the allegations against him, including that Leeman spent the day drinking while...
USF Researchers Build Framework for Air Taxi Service in Tampa Bay Region
University of South Florida researchers are prepping Tampa Bay for air taxi operations through a simulation tool. The tool predicts up to 50,000 passengers might use the service each day by 2045. USF's Smart Urban Mobility Lab created a platform that allows policymakers to test how electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles would function in the area.
Sunday’s mass murder investigation remains ‘active and ongoing’: Plant City police
PLANT CITY, Fla. (WFLA) — The Plant City Police Department said Sunday’s mass murder investigation remains “active and ongoing” in an update released Friday. On May 3, a mother, grandmother, 4-year-old, and 4-month-old were murdered in Plant City. Plant City police officers said they found the...
7 Brew Plots Second Polk County Drive-Thru Near Haines City
7 Brew, the fast-growing drive-thru coffee chain, has quietly put in for a water permit on a potential new stand near Haines City, signaling that Polk County’s coffee wars might be heating up again. If this one goes the distance, it would be the brand’s second Polk County location, joining an existing drive-thru in Davenport. The play fits right into the...
Publix signage reverses open carry policy
(The Center Square) – Publix, headquartered in Lakeland, has posted signs in Florida stores asking for only law enforcement to open carry firearms in stores. Whether it is policy isn’t clear. The move comes months after reverse policy was enacted. The state’s ban on openly carrying firearms was ruled unconstitutional in September. The popular grocery chain has not formally commented. On its website and in...
2 Florida communities rank among ‘hottest neighborhoods’ in U.S.: Redfin
LAND O'LAKES, Fla. (CBS12) — Two fast-growing Florida communities have landed at the very top of Redfin’s list of the hottest neighborhoods in America for 2026. According to the real estate brokerage’s latest report, Land O’ Lakes ranked No. 1 nationwide, with nearby Plant City coming in at No. 2.
Hammer Horror at Winter Haven Intersection as Lakeland Driver Busted
A Wednesday afternoon drive through Winter Haven turned into a roadside nightmare when, authorities say, a Lakeland man erupted in a hammer-swinging road rage attack that left another driver bloodied and with a broken nose. The violence allegedly played out in full view of the victim’s children, while stunned motorists and nearby residents watched the chaos unfold.
Woman arrested after stealing Red Bull truck, leading deputies on multi-county chase
TAMPA, Fla. (WWSB) - A woman is in custody after deputies say she stole a Red Bull box truck in Tampa and led law enforcement on a multi-county pursuit. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as 33-year-old Nicole Schular. According to deputies, the truck was making a...
Plant City Police Search For Answers After Two Children And Two Adults Found Dead
Police Lights (File) PLANT CITY, Fla. – Plant City investigators are working to untangle the...
IHOP Plots Pancake Invasion on Haines City’s U.S. 27
IHOP is one step closer to serving up stacks in Haines City, with fresh filings pointing to a spot along U.S. 27 near Bates Road. If the deal comes together, the restaurant would join a growing lineup of national names on a highway corridor that has been quietly turning into a commercial hot zone.
