A Hillsborough County circuit judge has denied requests from four defendants accused in the killing of Charles Jones, known to many as “Julio Foolio,” to be tried separately, keeping the case on track for a joint trial, according to a court order filed on Thursday.

Two surprise Democratic wins this week — one in Hillsborough County and one in Palm Beach County — are being read by local analysts as more than isolated events.

Two Florida public school employees have been arrested following a child abuse investigation involving a 10-year-old student, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

Florida officials are working on eliminating all vaccine mandates, Florida Surgeon General Joe Ladapo announced on Wednesday.

Here were the counties with the most license holders as of June 30

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis will hold a roundtable discussion in Hillsborough County Wednesday morning.

St. Petersburg police say a man and a woman face charges in the alleged kidnapping and killing of a 16-year-old girl who was reported missing last month.

The attorney for one of the five people accused in the ambush killing of Charles Jones — also known as Jacksonville rapper “Julio Foolio” — have asked for their client to be evaluated by a forensic neuropsychologist.

A new state report shows that 475 manatees had died in 2024 in Florida as of Oct. 11.

Hurricane Debby made landfall about 7 a.m. Monday near Steinhatchee as a Category 1 storm, bringing the rural Big Bend region its second hurricane in less than a year.

Police in Plant City are investigating why a man was on fire inside a Publix Supermarket.

A 5-year-old girl with autism from Hillsborough County was found safe after she wandered into a wooded area near her home after deputies used thermal imaging technology.

Sheriff's deputies corralled a wayward kangaroo after it was spotted hopping around in the pool area at a Florida apartment complex.

Former Clay County Superintendent Addison Davis on Wednesday resigned from his position as superintendent of Hillsborough County Public Schools.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wants a federal judge to throw out a free speech lawsuit filed by a Democratic prosecutor he suspended from office over statements about not pursuing criminal charges in abortion, transgender rights and certain low-level cases.

A Florida prosecutor is vowing to fight his suspension from office by Gov. Ron DeSantis over his promise not to enforce the state’s 15-week abortion ban and support for gender transition treatments for minors.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has suspended the elected state prosecutor of Tampa for pledging not to enforce the state’s new 15-week abortion ban and for supporting gender transition treatments for minors.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Thursday morning announced the surprise suspension of Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren for not prosecuting certain crimes.

A man wanted in connection with a Hillsborough County murder was captured Wednesday in Lake City, a week after he led officers on a car chase, crashed his vehicle and evaded law enforcement, police said.

A man wanted in connection with a Hillsborough County murder was located Wednesday by Lake City police, but he led officers on a car chase, crashed his vehicle and evaded law enforcement, police said.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office identified on Tuesday the second deputy found dead inside a St. Augustine vacation home.

The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a possible murder-suicide Sunday in St. Augustine involving two Hillsborough County deputies.

The number of Florida school districts facing sanctions at Thursday’s State Board of Education meeting over mask policies is now down to nine.

The Florida Highway Patrol says two men who were involved in a crash on Interstate 75 are accused of carjacking the good Samaritans who stopped to help them.

Hillsborough County is home to one of a growing number of Florida school districts imposing a mask mandate in its classrooms because of skyrocketing COVID-19 cases in its schools.

A Florida judge on Thursday refused to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the order by Gov. Ron DeSantis that parents should decide whether their children wear masks at school to combat the coronavirus.

A Florida judge has refused to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the order by Gov. Ron DeSantis that parents should decide if their children wear masks at school to combat the coronavirus.

Sheriff's officials say an alligator apparently attacked a woman whose body was found in a retention pond near Tampa.

A Florida man will serve a life sentence after a jury convicted him of killing a marijuana grow house operator with a machete.

A Florida sheriff says a 30-year-old man set his Tampa area condo on fire and turned the gun on himself after admitting to a friend in a FaceTime call that he’d killed his boyfriend during a dispute.

Fears over red tide prompted Florida officials to briefly prohibit aquaculture farmers from harvesting in the lower Tampa Bay.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville City Councilman Terrance Freeman joins this edition of “This Week in Jacksonville” to discuss the City Council meetings in March that included discussions of the NOPE bill and the replacement of septic systems in the Christobel neighborhood. Then, Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren and state Rep. Cord Byrd join the show to share their views on HB 1, the so-called “anti-riot” bill. Finally, Susan King, president and CEO of Feeding Northeast Florida, joins the show to talk about her meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris and the help her organization is receiving and providing for COVID-19 relief.

That roadside encounter, in November, was the exception rather than the rule when it comes to enforcing a new Florida law against texting and driving. AdBut the new law against texting is rarely enforced, according to official state figures. The report also contained at least one major error – discovered after the fact by a news reporter – that overcounted texting tickets by hundreds. AdIn areas where law enforcement agencies submitted data, the numbers also showed that police aren’t aggressively enforcing the anti-texting law. AdThose provisions make the texting law difficult to enforce, said Kinsey, the Alachua County sheriff’s sergeant.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – UPDATE: 5:50 p.m. | “This is a cancellation to the AMBER Alert that was issued on 02/16/2021 for Tinnley West. For more information please contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.” (FDLE)Missing Child is Tinnley Sage West. Last seen wearing a yellow shirt w/ a white rainbow, tan pants w/ rainbows and one sandal #SHARE #MissingChild #Valrico pic.twitter.com/TZW54S6pSo — HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) February 16, 2021Deputies said the girl inside the SUV is 1-year-old Tinnley Sage West. She was last seen wearing a yellow shirt with a rainbow on it, tan pants with rainbows and one sandal. Deputies released a video of a potential person of interest who may have seen something to help the investigation.

This year, the Tampa Bay region probably won't generate even half that, said Sean Snaith, director of the University of Central Florida’s Institute for Economic Forecasting. “A lot of things you associate with a Super Bowl aren't going to happen,” Snaith said. AdRob Higgins, president and CEO of the Tampa Bay Super Bowl host committee, said the region is looking at the Super Bowl as an unparalleled marketing opportunity. Hotel occupancy in the Tampa area was about 53% during the first three weeks of January this year, said Visit Tampa Bay CEO Santiago Corrada. Same with baseball's Tampa Bay Rays, who lost the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers — in Arlington, Texas.

TAMPA, Fla. – A Florida sheriff’s deputy with one shift left before retirement was intentionally hit and killed by a man fleeing law enforcement, officials said. Despite their courageous efforts and those on frontlines at Tampa General Hospital, Master Corporal LaVigne passed away while in the line of duty. Master Corporal LaVigne was set to retire this week. He is survived by his wife, and two adult children, one of whom is also a deputy with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. He does not have any arrest history in Hillsborough County, but he was previously Baker Acted in Pasco County.

TAMPA, Fla. – A Hillsborough County sheriff’s deputy with one shift left before retirement was intentionally hit and killed by a man fleeing law enforcement, officials said. Despite their courageous efforts and those on frontlines at Tampa General Hospital, Master Corporal LaVigne passed away while in the line of duty. Master Corporal LaVigne was set to retire this week. He does not have any arrest history in Hillsborough County, but he was previously Baker Acted in Pasco County. pic.twitter.com/VIYq40Vs0z — HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) January 12, 2021LaVigne was a 30-year veteran with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and was days away from retirement.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The number of people hospitalized in Florida with “primary” diagnoses of COVID-19 topped 5,000 on Tuesday, as case numbers and deaths continued to climb. As of early Tuesday evening, 5,103 people were hospitalized with primary diagnoses of COVID-19, up from 4,931 during a Monday count, according to the state Agency for Health Care Administration website. Miami-Dade County had the largest number of people hospitalized Tuesday with 932. It was followed by Broward County, with 514; Hillsborough County, with 300; Duval County, with 286; Palm Beach County, with 283; Pinellas County, with 241; Orange County, with 234; Polk County, with 155; Pasco County, with 136; Escambia County, with 126; Sarasota County, with 125; Lee County, with 124; Osceola County, with 119; Lake County, with 114; Volusia County, with 110; and Collier County, with 109.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – With thousands of additional COVID-19 cases being reported every day, the number of people hospitalized with the disease continues to mount. As of early Monday evening, 3,243 people in Florida were hospitalized with “primary” diagnoses of COVID-19, up from 3,118 on Sunday afternoon, according to Florida Agency for Health Care Administration numbers. The increase came as Florida reported an additional 4,663 cases on Monday, bringing the overall total to 889,864 since the pandemic started, the state Department of Health reported on its website. Also, 17,559 Florida residents and 216 non-residents had died of COVID-19. Miami-Dade County had the most COVID-19 hospitalizations on Monday, with 465.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The number of people hospitalized with “primary” diagnoses of COVID-19 has substantially increased during the past two weeks, topping 2,900 on Monday, according to numbers posted on the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration website. The total of 2,902 hospitalizations late Monday afternoon was up from 2,777 on Sunday. It also was up from 2,474 a week earlier and 2,252 two weeks earlier, numbers compiled daily by The News Service of Florida show. The increase in hospitalizations has come as the state has seen thousands of new COVID-19 cases each day. Miami-Dade County had the most people hospitalized late Monday afternoon at 402.

“So glad this great GDP number came out before November 3rd,” Trump tweeted, predicting a dire reversal if Biden is elected. Biden was forced to wrap his speech up early at a drive-in rally at the Florida State Fairgrounds In Tampa after a brief shower turned into a torrential downpour. Biden's campaign also announced he will visit Minnesota Friday, hours before Trump holds a rally in one of the few Clinton-voting states Trump is hoping to pick up this year. Associated Press writers Tamara Lush in Tampa, Florida, Michelle Price in Bullhead City, Kathleen Ronayne in Phoenix, and Will Weissert and Brian Slodysko in Washington contributed to this report. ___AP’s Advance Voting guide brings you the facts about voting early, by mail or absentee from each state: https://interactives.ap.org/advance-voting-2020/.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – After 37 years behind bars, a Florida man was formally cleared Monday of a 1983 rape and murder that DNA evidence proved he did not commit after a long-ago trial that relied on a sketchy jailhouse informant and faulty bite mark analysis. “This court has failed you for 37 years,” Nash said during the hearing, held remotely. “Today, it has finally succeeded.”DuBoise, 55, was convicted in the 1983 murder of 19-year-old Barbara Grams. “We're righting this wrong today, finally.”The exoneration came as a result of cooperation between prosecutors in Warren's office and the Innocence Project, which works to free prisoners who have been wrongly convicted. Given that, the killing of the teenager 37 years ago will return to the unsolved file.

TREASURE ISLAND, Fla. – A handcuffed Florida man died after bolting from police custody and jumping into Boca Ciega Bay, where he drowned, authorities said. Treasure Island police arrested Donnie Brownlow Jr., 33, after responding to a domestic disturbance Sunday evening around 7:40 p.m., the Tampa Bay Times reported. He was in custody on charges of domestic battery, obstruction, felony driving while license suspended and violation of probation. Paramedics from the Treasure Island Fire Department pulled Brownlow from the water and performed CPR. Brownlow was brought to the Palms of Pasadena Hospital, where he died around 9:40 p.m.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – School districts began opening in-class learning Monday as the lawsuit filed by the Florida Education Association to delay classroom learning hangs in limbo. The order transferring the reopening lawsuit to the State Capital was issued last Thursday. The Florida Education Association, which filed the lawsuit, wants schools open — but safely. Late Friday, the Hillsborough County School District’s plan to start the school year with four weeks of online-only instruction was rejected by the state. “They brought together medical professionals from many of the area hospitals and asked them, is it safe to open schools,” Spar said.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Statewide in-person early voting began Saturday in Florida while the state continues to grapple with a high number of coronavirus cases. But counties can choose to begin early voting 15 days before an election through the second day before an election. Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa, began early voting Monday and has had more than 9,000 votes cast at 24 early voting sites. But the turnout has widely varied, including one early voting site that only had one voter come in on Wednesday. Before early voting began statewide Saturday, more than 107,000 voters cast ballots in person in counties that had already opened polls.

TAMPA, Fla. – A Florida man suspected in kidnapping his ex-girlfriend at gunpoint was killed in a Thursday night shootout with sheriff's deputies, officials said. Kocolis opened fire, hitting the woman's friend, whose injuries aren't considered life-threatening. They were able to drive away even though Kocolis opened fire, hitting the car four times. Deputies found Kocolis in a Burger King parking lot and he opened fire on them, the sheriff said. Chronister told reporters the officers involved were Sgt.

A Tampa teenager is accused of being the mastermind of a Twitter hack this month that targeted high-profile celebrities, politicians and musicians. Nima Fazeli, aka Rolex, a 22-year-old Orlando man, was charged with aiding and abetting the intentional access of a protected computer. Warren said Clark will be charged as an adult with organized fraud, communications fraud, fraudulent use of personal information and access to a computer or electronic device without authority. The complaints allege that the Twitter attack consisted of a combination of technical breaches and social engineering. This young man is going to be charged with 30 federal felony counts, said Jimmy Patronis, state chief financial officer.

The only countywide race that wasn’t totally settled in the August primary was electing a superintendent of schools. Acting Superintendent David Broskie, who was appointed to the post when Addison Davis left to become superintendent of schools in Hillsborough County, won the three-way Republican primary with 47% of the vote to advance to the November ballot. REPUBLICAN CANDIDATEDavid S. BroskieParty affiliation: RepublicanAge: 52Candidate’s family: wife Sue, sons Ryan and DavidOccupation: current Superintendent of Schools-Clay CountyEducation: M.S. I have over 30 years experience as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal of 3 different schools (which were all "A" rated during my tenure), Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and current Superintendent of Schools. I also believe continuity of leadership will be necessary to lead Clay County District Schools during these unprecedented times.

The two suspects were identified as David and Markesha Blakely, of Tampa, Florida, who are brother and sister, according to police. When the officer searched the car, he first located 15 grams of marijuana and a large stack of cash totaling $7,000, the affidavit said. When the officer searched the trunk, he found several shoe boxes. He told the officer his sister had nothing to do with his actions, according to the affidavit. According to the affidavit, she is a Hillsborough County employee.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. State health officials confirmed a rare brain-destroying amoeba is in the Sunshine State. The Florida Health Department said that the deadly amoeba was first reported in Hillsborough County. It usually infects people when the contaminated water enters the body through the nose. A person cannot get infected with this kind of amoeba by swallowing contaminated water. While the amoeba has been confirmed, the chances of getting infected are low.

(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)TOP OF THE HOUR:— Man shot as protesters in New Mexico try to tear down statue. — Seattle City Council votes unanimously to bar police from using tear gas and pepper spray. ___ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A man was shot Monday night as protesters in New Mexico’s largest city tried to tear down a bronze statue of a Spanish conquistador outside the Albuquerque Museum. Moments later a few gunshots could be heard down the street and people started yelling that someone had been shot. Gallegos said officers used tear gas and flash bangs to protect officers and detain those involved in the shooting.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A week before Clay County’s superintendent leaves for a job in Hillsborough County, Gov. Broskie, who lives in Fleming Island, has worked for the Clay County School District for 30 years and has been assistant superintendent since 2015. Broskie will fill the unexpired term of Addison Davis, who resigned last month to become superintendent of the much larger school district on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Broskie will fill the superintendent role until a new superintendent is elected in the fall. News4Jax reported late last year that Charlie Van Zant, the former Clay County superintendent of schools, had filed to run to get his old job back.

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – The Hillsborough County School Board voted unanimously Tuesday to hire Addison Davis as its next superintendent. “We are very excited for you.”HASA congratulates @ADOneClay Addison Davis on his appointment as the new superintendent of Hillsborough County Public Schools! pic.twitter.com/lEnXchVxaB — HASA (@HASA_Leaders) January 21, 2020Davis was among 51 candidates to replace Jeff Eakins, the current school superintendent in Hillsborough County, who will be retiring in June. “I could not pass on the possibility to use my skill set to impact more than 220,000 students in Hillsborough County," the statement read. “For those of you who are watching from Clay County, know that, that I love Clay County.

Clay County Superintendent of Schools Addison Davis was named a semifinalist for Hillsborough County superintendent job, but he has also filed to run for another term as superintendent in Clay County. Davis said Clay County voters should still feel confident casting their ballots for him if the superintendent job in Hillborough County doesn’t work out. Two other candidates have filed to run for the Clay County superintendent job. Charlie Van Zant, the former Clay County superintendent, filed in November to run again for the position. The Hillsborough County School Board on Thursday will narrow its list from seven candidates to around two to three.

TAMPA, Fla. – A woman in Tampa, Florida is facing charges after authorities say she tried to build a bomb inside a Walmart on Saturday. According to a sheriff’s office news release, a store security guard caught Emily Stallard, 37, going through store aisles and opening items. The guard called police and Stallard was detained. There was a child with her at the time. Stallard is charged with offenses including attempted arson, firebombing, child abuse, and battery on a law enforcement officer.

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – Addison Davis, the superintendent for Clay County public schools, has applied to be the next superintendent in Hillsborough County, which encompasses the Tampa area. The Tampa Bay Times reports Davis is among 51 candidates to replace Jeff Eakins, the current school superintendent in Hillsborough County who will be retiring in June. READ: Superintendent Addison Davis’ full statement regarding his Hillsborough County applicationThe statement outlined the reasons why Davis believes he was recommended for the job in Hillsborough County. Davis has been the school superintendent in Clay County since November 2016. News4Jax reported last month that Charlie Van Zant, the former Clay County superintendent of schools, filed to run again for his old job.

WIMAUMA, Fla. - A Florida woman whose alarmed parents discovered a trove of pipe bombs, weapons and bomb making materials in her bedroom was arrested by Tampa Bay area authorities Friday. "If used, these bombs could have caused catastrophic damage to hundreds, if not thousands of people," he said. On Thursday evening, he said Kolts' parents found the pipe bombs and other concerning items in her bedroom and called the sheriff's office. Because officers were so worried about the potential hazards of the materials, they left the home with the parents and called the agency's bomb squad. "It's because of these parents, who knows what type of catastrophic event was prevented in the Tampa Bay area?"

Suspects try all kinds of things to evade the cops. Suspects in Hillsborough County, Florida, need to try harder.