DOGE visits Pinellas County, commissioner says a lot can be ‘trimmed down’
Efforts to make local governments more efficient are underway in the Tampa Bay area.
Lakeland nurse sentenced after stealing fentanyl from patients, injecting in bathroom
A Lakeland nurse has been sentenced to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to stealing fentanyl from patients across Tampa Bay.
Florida nurse used cup to take fentanyl from patients’ IV treatments: DOJ
A Florida registered nurse was sentenced after he was found guilty of using fentanyl intended for patients.
Nation’s longest-running MLK Parade will not lose funding
A new organizer, budget crunch and state auditors will not, at least for now, affect St. Petersburg’s support for its storied Martin Luther King (MLK) Parade. Councilmember Gina Driscoll caused a community stir when she broached the topic at a July 31 budget meeting. She questioned why the annual event’s allocation...
Florida’s State Fair ranks in USA TODAY’s ‘10Best’ State Fairs in the U.S.
Florida has more than 100 county fairs and festivals each year, but there’s only one official state fair. Held in Tampa, Florida, every February, the Florida State Fair recently ranked as one of the 10 best state fairs in the country by a panel of experts and USA TODAY readers. “From funnel cake to enormous pumpkins,...
Massachusetts Sheriff Arrested In Florida On Extortion Charges
Federal Prosecutors Allege Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins Leveraged His Position for Personal Gain in Cannabis Company Scheme. Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Tompkins has been arrested in Florida and indicted on two counts of ‘Extortion Under Color of Official Right,’ according to the U.S. Attorney’s...
Strawberry Festival to exclude swine show participants west of I-75, citing space concerns
PLANT CITY, Fla. - The Strawberry Festival is overflowing with livestock, and its organizers are changing the rules to try to get control of it. However, their new plan to restrict participation in the swine show is ruffling some feathers on the western side of Hillsborough County. Kids at schools west of I-75 will...
Pinellas prepares for students with new school, maintains ‘A’ grade
LARGO, Fla. (WFLA) — From following a hot trend of combining K-8 schools to welcoming students back to schools that suffered major hurricane damage last year, Pinellas County School Superintendent Kevin Hendrick is excited to get back to learning. Hendrick was once himself a student at Walsingham Elementary. He tells...
St. Pete’s Woodson Museum design wins international architecture award
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (BLOOM) — A proposed design for the future home of the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum has earned top honors on the global stage. The rendering, created by architect Everald Colas of STORYN Studio for Architecture, was named a winner in the Cultural Identity category at the 2025...
‘No Choice’: St. Pete moves forward with Tropicana repairs amid criticism
The price tag to repair Tropicana Field was already set at more than $55 million, but St. Pete city leaders voted Thursday to spend even more. However, the decision was not without debate over whether the expenses are even worth it.
