WFLA

Mother of Lakeland toddler with rare genetic disorder hopes intensive therapy could help her son

This holiday season, a Lakeland family is wishing to go to North Carolina. It is not for a vacation, but instead an intensive, specialized therapy for a toddler with an “ultra rare” genetic disorder.

11 indicted for stealing over $2 million in COVID relief funds, US attorney says

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida has announced that multiple arrests were made in connection with a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme.

Man's body found in empty Tampa lot, police say

The Tampa Police Department said a death investigation is underway after a man's body was found in an empty lot on Friday morning.

4 injured in crash between ambulance, Tesla at Florida intersection

A crash between an ambulance and a Tesla sent four people to the hospital Friday, first responders in Fort Myers said.

Florida tip helps solve 40-year-old abduction case; missing toddler, now woman, found alive

A Kentucky family was reunited with their daughter 40 years after her abduction, after a Crime Stoppers tip led investigators to her and her mother.

Tampa-based group involved in daring rescue of Venezuela opposition leader

The founder of Tampa-based Grey Bull rescue is giving chilling details about the rescue of Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.

Clearwater clinic marks 30 years of free medical care

A Clearwater medical clinic that provides free health care to uninsured residents marked 30 years of service Friday, celebrating the milestone alongside a faith-based partnership that has helped sustain its mission.

14 vehicles are involved in four crashes when heavy smoke blankets I-75 in Naples; one person killed

NAPLES, Fla. (WFLA) — A major car crash, along with three others, in Naples killed one man, sent three people to the hospital, and shut down both directions of I-75 for hours Friday morning. The Florida Highway Patrol said it happened just after midnight on southbound I-75 in Collier County. Smoke from prescribed burns and [...]

Democrats release new Epstein photos showing Trump, Bill Clinton

Democrats on Friday released 19 new photos from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, showing him alongside President Trump and former President Clinton. “These disturbing images raise even more questions about Epstein and his relationships with some of the most powerful men in the world,” Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee wrote [...]

Florida's Alligator Alcatraz 'box' may amount to torture, says Amnesty International

"The conditions of the ‘box’ ... would likely cause severe physical and psychological pain and suffering," the report read. "Amnesty International considers that the use of the ‘box’ as a form of punishment at 'Alligator Alcatraz' constitutes torture."

Tampa Bay nonprofit rescues Nobel Peace laureate from deep in Venezuela

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Tampa Bay nonprofit Grey Bull Rescue, known for launching recovery missions after natural disasters and rescuing civilians from dangerous environments, said on Thursday that it completed its most "high threat and high stakes" mission yet. Nobel Peace Laureate and Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was absent from the Nobel award [...]

"You did this, buddy": Man leads Florida deputies on hours-long manhunt

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office said an hours-long manhunt ended in the capture of a man who fled from a traffic stop, stole a vehicle and led deputies on a chase through the woods on Dec. 4. According to SJSO, the man, Tomal Rico Bowe, is listed as [...]

Family of Florida officer shot by Circle K worker sues company for wrongful death

The family of an off-duty police officer who was shot and killed in September at a Circle K gas station has filed a lawsuit against the company, claiming that the death was preventable.

Florida man buys $50 scratch-off ticket at Winn-Dixie, wins $1M

The Florida Lottery announced Friday that a man won a $1 million prize from a scratch-off ticket he bought at a Winn-Dixie.

Josh Allen, Hailee Steinfeld announce pregnancy

An Instagram video co-posted by Steinfeld and Allen showed the couple in a snowy field as Allen kissed Steinfeld's belly.

Democrat: Latest Epstein photo cache shows 'people engaged in sexual acts'

Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.) on Friday said some of the photos found in the home of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein depict "people engaged in sexual acts."

New technical college opens in Plant City for students, adults

On Friday, Hillsborough County Public Schools cut the ribbon to a brand-new technical college for both students and adults.

House GOP unveils health care bill without ObamaCare subsidies extension

House Republicans on Friday unveiled a health care bill they will bring to a vote next week that includes items that are broadly popular in the party, like cost sharing reductions and reforms to the pharmacy benefit manager industry, but will exclude extension of expiring enhanced ObamaCare subsidies. House GOP leaders will allow an amendment vote on [...]

Baby born after growing outside of uterus, behind 22-pound cyst

"[It's] almost unheard of.”

Florida plows ahead with push to roll back certain vaccine mandates for schoolchildren

Florida officials are plowing ahead with a proposal to roll back certain vaccine mandates for the state's schoolchildren, after Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis called for the state to become the first in the nation to eliminate all school vaccination requirements.

1 dead, 2 injured in Polk County crash; SR-60 closed

One person died and two others were injured after a vehicle crash in in Lake Wales on Friday.

Woman orders Waymo taxi for daughter, finds 'random' man hiding in trunk

A viral video showing a man being discovered hiding in the trunk of a Waymo by a female passenger is raising concerns about the safety of the driverless taxis. The video was originally posted to TikTok under the caption, "I ordered a Waymo for my daughter and a random was in the trunk."

Bucs with Bowles: Bucs scrambling for answers after another bad loss

For the second straight week, the Bucs have dropped a gut-wrenching game to a division opponent.

Bucs Bonus: Another gut-wrenching loss puts the Bucs playoff hopes in jeopardy

The Bucs now find themselves looking up at the Carolina Panthers in the NFC South standings.

Florida Attorney General Uthmeier sues Roblox for misrepresenting child protection policies

Florida's Attorney General James Uthmeier announced a lawsuit against Roblox on Friday, alleging that the company deceived parents by misrepresenting the platform's safety.

Wildlife officers drag bear out from beneath deck of home

(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) had a bear of a time on Dec. 11, when officers had to relocate a 200-pound black bear from under a home in Colorado Springs. According to CPW, officers estimated that the female bear was around three years old. Responders temporarily immobilized the bear, retrieved her from [...]

Costco just set a food court sales record — and not for hot dogs

Business was booming for one certain Costco item on Halloween, the company's CFO said.

New restrictions on what SNAP can buy in Florida next year

Hawaii, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Virginia and Tennessee are joining 12 other states in adding waivers that will redefine what types of food can be purchased with SNAP dollars in 2026.

Woman attempts to kidnap child at courthouse

The frantic scene was caught on camera.

Moez Limayem confirmed as USF president

The Florida Board of Governors confirmed the University of South Florida's new president on Friday.

These 5 states had the most robocall complaints in 2025: FTC

Does it seems like you received more robocalls in 2025 than the year before? According to data released Thursday by the FTC, complaints about the obnoxious phone calls spiked this year, especially in a handful of states.

DeSantis pushes back on Trump's order limiting states' role in governing AI

TAMPA, Fla., (WFLA) — Days after Governor DeSantis laid out a proposal to address AI standards in Florida, President Trump signed an executive order to impose a national AI standard. DeSantis has already publicly pushed back against the new executive order, which would limit states' efforts to establish their own rules. Trump said he wants [...]

State trooper vehicle damaged after getting hit during traffic stop

SEMINOLE, Fla. (WFLA) — A state trooper made it out unscathed, but his vehicle did not when it was hit while he was conducting a traffic stop on Thursday. The Florida Highway Patrol said it happened on Bay Pines Boulevard, approaching Seahorse Drive, which was the scene of a fatal hit-and-run earlier in the day. [...]

What's at stake for Americans after the Senate voted down dueling health proposals

Affordable Care Act subsidies will end in three weeks, more than doubling the premiums for many with health coverage through the 2010 law known as “Obamacare.”

WATCH: Skydiver dangles at 15,000 feet after parachute catches on plane's tail in Australia

Australian accident investigators on Thursday released dramatic images of a skydiver’s parachute becoming entangled on an airplane’s tail, leaving him dangling at 15,000 feet.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia freed from federal immigration detention on judge's order and returns home

PHILIPSBURG, Pa. (AP) — Kilmar Abrego Garcia was freed from immigration detention on a judge's order Thursday while he fights to stay in the U.S., handing a major victory to the immigrant whose wrongful deportation to a notorious prison in El Salvador made him a flashpoint of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. U.S. District Judge [...]

St. Pete council votes 5-2 to approve extension for group developing Tangerine Plaza

It's been a Sweetbay, a neighborhood Walmart, and mostly an empty space. But a vote Tuesday approved giving the Sugar Hill Group more time to bring their vision to the Deuces and Midtown corridors.

Florida teens set fire to American flag, church sign in series of arsons, police say

Two teens are facing charges following a series of arsons in which Cape Coral police said they burned an American flag, a church sign, and other items, causing significant damage at multiple locations.

Trump signs order to fight state AI laws 

“We have to be unified. China is unified because they have one vote and that’s President Xi [Xinping],” Trump said, speaking in the Oval Office.

Florida Goodwill evacuated after live grenade found in donation bin: police

A Goodwill store had to be evacuated Thursday after someone found a live hand grenade inside a donation bin, according to Palatka police.

Drunk raccoon who ransacked Ashland ABC store is a serial break-in artist

The now-infamous raccoon who got drunk after breaking into a Virginia ABC store in Hanover County is apparently a serial offender.

Sweet Tomatoes to make comeback in Florida

Sweet Tomatoes is planning to make a comeback in Florida.

St. Armands residents, businesses push for funds to upgrade stormwater infrastructure

On St. Armands Circle, things have come a long way since last year. However, it hasn't fully bounced back as a number of storefronts remain shuttered.

Former pool contractor avoids criminal charge, receives probation & restitution order

Former pool contractor Jordan Hidalgo has been ordered by a Pinellas County judge to serve two years of probation to settle two charges of felony contractor fraud.

Waymo self-driving cars are in Tampa

You might see them driving around in downtown Tampa. Waymo, the self-driving cars are here.

Man arrested in connection with deadly shooting outside Ybor sports bar: Tampa police

Tampa police announced Thursday that a man has been charged in connection with a deadly shooting that happened outside a sports bar in Ybor City in September.

Epic Universe death: Man's girlfriend cried for help as he 'flew forward' on ride, report reveals

The Orange County Sheriff's Office released its completed incident report regarding a man's death after riding Epic Universe's Stardust Racers.

Tampa man, 86, recalls rescue after he became stranded dangling from roof

What was a normal task for 86-year-old James Manitaras nearly turned to tragedy Wednesday after he became stranded dangling from his roof.

St. Petersburg City Council approves additional $1M for Shore Acres flood mitigation

The St. Petersburg City Council approved an additional $1 million Thursday for the Shore Acres Flood Mitigation Project

Senate rejects extension of health care subsidies as costs are set to rise for millions of Americans

Dems fought to save ACA tax credits but the subsidies are now set to expire Jan. 1.

Powered by RSS 2 HTML