An Arcadia couple was stranded in the open Gulf of Mexico for more than six hours after their boat’s anchor failed while they were scuba diving about five miles offshore near Boca Grande. Antonio “Tony” Rivera and Brianna Rutledge surfaced from their dive around 2:30 p.m. to discover their unattended vessel had drifted away, apparently…
No Florida city ranks in the top 100 for rental affordability nationwide, according to a new WalletHub analysis of 182 U.S. cities. Jacksonville placed highest among Sunshine State markets at No. 125 nationally, with renters spending 25.16% of median household income on rent and an overall affordability score of 46.61. St. Petersburg ranked No. 153…
The Avon Park Chamber of Commerce has named Raquel Embrack-Scott as its new executive director, filling the vacancy left by former director Kamla Long. Embrack-Scott, who had been serving as interim executive director, officially began her permanent role on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. The chamber’s mission is to promote the interests of its members by…
The Florida Senate passed a major election integrity bill Thursday, requiring proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration and tightening voter ID rules at polling places. The measure, HB 991, cleared on a party-line 27-12 vote. Republicans framed it as closing potential vulnerabilities in election security. Sen. Erin Grall (R-Vero Beach), the Senate sponsor, said:…
Reports now indicate Florida Commerce Secretary J. Alex Kelly sent a letter to Ft. Meade Mayor Jaret Landon Williams cautioning that the city’s proposed 4.4-million-square-foot hyperscale data center campus northwest of downtown remains far from ready to move forward, citing significant risks to Central Florida’s energy capacity, water resources and transportation infrastructure.  Kelly described…
The Florida Department of Education has established a dedicated complaint process for parents, students and others to report alleged violations of religious expression rights in public schools, including suppression of voluntary prayer, following updated federal guidance issued last month. In a letter dated March 17, 2026, and distributed to parents, Education Commissioner Anastasios “Stasi” Kamoutsas…
There’s a great new murder mystery – and it happens right here in Polk County. But don’t go looking for Lakeland’s Sun Gate Retirement Community, because it doesn’t exist (at least under that name.) “I have had numerous people ask me if this was based on their park,” said American Artist & Author Kris Courtney….
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has announced a Florida civil investigation into Discord, alleging the popular messaging and voice chat platform has become a primary conduit for online sexual predators targeting children, with many state criminal cases tracing back to the app. Speaking at a news conference at the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office alongside Sheriff…
Sebring is known as the longest running endurance sports car race in North America. But that record spans beyond cars and drivers – to sponsors. Officials at Sebring International Raceway say the ExxonMobil’s Mobil 1 brand has extended its title sponsorship of the Twelve Hours of Sebring, continuing a partnership that now spans 32 consecutive…
Florida lawmakers on Wednesday gave final approval to a bill establishing a pilot program that would allow the state to accept stablecoins for certain government fees, positioning Florida as a leader in digital asset adoption. The House passed the Senate version of SB 1568 by a 108-3 vote after waiving rules for a swift final…