Talbot House appeals for Lakeland homeless shelter on Memorial Boulevard
Talbot House Ministries will plead its case for a new Memorial Boulevard homeless shelter to Lakeland officials this spring, after its relocation plans were denied based on strong community objections. CFTB Realty LLC, the property owner of 1005 E. Memorial Blvd., has appealed the Planning and Zoning Board's Dec. 16...
China Garden receives warning due to 10 violations during inspection
China Garden in Polk County failed a routine health inspection on Jan. 21, 2026, receiving a warning from state inspectors and requiring a follow-up visit. The Chinese restaurant at 1527 Bartow Rd accumulated 10 violations during a review conducted by the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation. What...
Windy, cold Gasparilla ahead, Bay area lawmakers discuss potential shutdown and St. Pete looks...
Good evening, Tampa Bay. We're wrapping up the day for you with the most important stories you need to know and your weather outlook. It will be cool to start Friday with some patchy frost north of Tampa, but it will warm up to near 70 in the afternoon. Expect...
Tampa Bay nonprofit lets you ‘neuter your ex’ this Valentine’s Day
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A nonprofit helping Tampa Bay pets says, “don’t get mad, get even” with your ex this Valentine’s Day. “Still feeling a little salty this Valentine’s Day? For just $20, you can ‘Neuter Your Ex’ (or spay!) and turn that heartbreak into something that actually helps animals,” Rescue Pets of Florida...
Lakeland PD’s red-light program catching serious violations as they work to curb dangerous driving
LAKELAND, Fla. - A way that the Lakeland Police Department is trying to reduce the number of traffic homicides and crashes is by using red-light cameras, which have captured serious speeding violations and near-collisions. A video compilation — released by Lakeland police — shows the worst violators captured by...
Haines City police chief retires days before new public safety director starts
Haines City Police Chief Jay Hopwood is retiring after 40 years in law enforcement His retirement takes effect days before former Polk County Assistant Manager for Public Safety Joe Halman Jr. takes over the police and fire departments as Haines City's new public safety director. Hopwood's retirement is effective...
Two Hillsborough County Employees Arrested After Months Of Hidden ‘School Bus’ Abuse
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – An investigation into the safety of some of Hillsborough County’s most vulnerable students has culminated in the arrest of two school bus employees following allegations of repeated physical abuse. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday that Juanita Wright, 79, and Tonya...
Whataburger Expanding Throughout the Tampa Bay Region This Year
Back in November, Texas-based burger chain Whataburger held a “ground-breaking” ceremony at 10150 Ulmerton Road in Largo, where, coverage by Business Observer said in November, the building had in fact already been completed, with only interior work remaining. But a groundbreaking ceremony was nonetheless...
Freeze Alert: Tampa Bay Area Facing Frigid Weekend Plunge
TAMPA, Fla. – The weather is about to take residents on a bit of a ride, shifting from a mild Thursday to a shivering weekend. Today looks bright and sunny with a high reaching near 66 degrees, though a northeast breeze might make the morning feel much colder. As the sun goes down, temperatures are expected to drop...
What would an Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony look like in Tampa Bay?
The grand opening of the alpine event is on Friday, Feb. 6 in Northern Italy. We're imagining how it would go down in Charleston for the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony.
