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Bonnie Tyler, the legendary voice behind “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and “Holding Out for a Hero,” has died at 75 after battling illness following emergency surgery in Portugal. Born in Wales, she rose from local bands to global stardom thanks to her dramatic ballads and iconic collaboration with producer Jim Steinman. Her music, including the 2024 chart resurgence of “Total Eclipse,” proves her...

Madeira Beach is set for a major transformation with the approval of a $150 million, six-story Marriott hotel featuring a rooftop pool, bar, restaurant, cafe, event space, and nearly 100 rooms—all rising on existing parking spots near 129th Street East with stunning Intercoastal Waterway views. Designed to elevate John’s Pass Village as a premier tourist destination while preserving its charming b...

A tragic fire in Zephyrhills claimed the life of 44-year-old father and youth baseball coach Randy Horsley, who died of a heart attack while trying to escape flames that started from a lithium-ion battery. His teenage son and a friend survived by climbing out a window, while his daughter recounted his heroic effort to push a couch out a window to escape. The community rallied around the family, ho...

A Florida mother has been convicted of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse after her four-year-old adopted son died from severe, prolonged abuse — including being thrown into a pool with his hands tied and suffering fatal liver trauma. Surveillance footage, autopsy evidence, and testimony from her son’s older brother exposed the horror, leading to a life sentence awaiting her. This case...

The Tampa Bay Rays are retiring Evan Longoria’s number 3 jersey this Sunday at Tropicana Field, honoring his legendary impact on the franchise. Longoria will be joined by his 95-year-old friend Soot Zimmer, a devoted Rays supporter and keeper of baseball history, whose home is filled with memorabilia from her late husband Don Zimmer — a baseball icon and mentor to Longoria. Soot, who considers Lon...

Two Holocaust survivors, Vera and Laszlo Adler, made history by throwing out the first pitch at a Tampa Bay Rays game — their first time ever on a baseball field. Laszlo, a physicist who escaped Hungary and later met Vera, called it one of the best days of his life. Vera, smuggled out of a ghetto as a baby and whose brother perished in the Holocaust, carries his memory with her. Both shared harrow...

Sarasota County is pouring over $60 million into critical stormwater and dredging projects, with major investments in Phillippi Creek and Hudson Bayou to boost flood control and waterway health—$45 million alone for Phillippi Creek, plus $14.7 million for Hudson Bayou, all set to transform how the county manages its water for years to come. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http:...

A sixteen-year-old was shot in a 2024 road rage incident, with suspect Rasool Abdul Hakeem admitting to firing the gun. The other driver, Jeremiah Potter, testified he had no weapon but claimed he cut off Hakeem’s red SUV — though he couldn’t recall if the SUV honked. The defense brought up a separate reckless driving charge against Potter, hinting at possible relevance. The judge has scheduled a...

Hillsborough County voters are about to decide two major ballot measures: one to switch from at-large to district-based county commissioners, and another to let voters elect their own school superintendent. State Rep. Michael Owen argues the current system dilutes accountability, while Rep. Michele Rayner, running for state senate, pushes back on legislative inaction on affordability — a top conce...

Cyclosporiasis is back—peak season from May to August—with 145 U.S. cases and 46 in Florida already reported. Caused by a parasite found on fresh produce like herbs and berries, it leads to prolonged diarrhea and stomach issues. Not contagious, it’s foodborne, so wash all fruits and veggies under clean running water—no soap needed. If symptoms last more than a couple days or worsen, see a doctor....

A chilling incident unfolded at a Walmart in Mulberry, Florida, where a man allegedly exposed himself to a five-year-old girl in the soda aisle Monday evening. Witnesses, including a store employee, saw the suspect—described as an older man in a red polo, black shorts, and gray shoes—stand near the cold food section and pull his genitals out of his shorts. The child’s mother, nearby, didn’t notice...

Hillsborough County is launching an overnight aerial mosquito spray in Ruskin this week, targeting adult populations with Dibrom between 8 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. The operation covers a wide area from Cockroach Bay Road to County Line Road and U.S. Highway 41 to Tampa Bay — with backup dates set for July 11th and 12th if weather hampers the initial effort. It’s a standard, proactive move to curb mosqui...

A 17-year-old from Manatee County is now facing a second-degree murder charge after a fatal shooting in Sarasota early Tuesday morning. Police swiftly arrested the suspect within 48 hours — a rare feat in homicide cases. The 18-year-old victim didn’t survive his injuries, and while investigators haven’t disclosed motive or relationship between the two, Police Chief Rex Troche praised his team’s re...

Florida voters win big as new law ensures every dollar from school tax votes goes straight to classrooms, not administrative fees — a victory born from a Sarasota County lawsuit that forced tax collectors to stop taking commissions, freeing up millions to fund teachers, safety, and programs exactly as voters intended. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discou...

The Tampa Bay Rays are unveiling fresh renderings of their “Forever Home” — a next-gen ballpark set to open in 2029 near Hillsborough College, featuring center-field entrances, massive scoreboards, and ultra-close seating for every fan. Privately funded, the stadium is just the centerpiece of a massive mixed-use development including housing, shops, hotels, and educational spaces — turning basebal...

A Florida federal judge just sided with four states—Florida, Iowa, Indiana, and Ohio—ordering Homeland Security to keep letting them use the SAVE database to verify voter citizenship. This comes after a previous ruling warned the system could accidentally disenfranchise eligible voters. Originally designed to prevent fraud in government benefits, SAVE gained prominence under the Trump administrati...

HHS is pouring over $281 million into 15 major programs tackling addiction, mental illness, and the overdose crisis — from expanding opioid treatment access to boosting school-based mental health, training first responders, and launching campus suicide prevention. This comprehensive push, led by SAMHSA, also funds trauma care, recovery support, and privacy education, signaling a serious commitment...

Sarasota’s housing market exploded as a flood of Midwestern retirees flocked south during the pandemic, chasing warmth and remote work—only to face skyrocketing prices and fierce competition. Now, after a wild boom, prices have stabilized thanks to new construction, though single-family homes remain scarce. The lesson? Patience pays, and the pandemic didn’t just change where people live—it rewrote...

Over 325,000 Honda Odyssey minivans are being recalled due to a rearview camera glitch — water intrusion can corrode the circuit board, causing the camera to fail. This isn’t the first recall for this issue; many affected vehicles were already part of a prior fix. Models built between January 2017 and July 2020 are impacted. Honda says no crashes or injuries have been reported. Owners will be noti...

Florida’s AI boom hits the power grid as lawmakers push companies to foot the bill, not ratepayers; a Tampa Bay clinic faces a $115K fine for discriminating against a veteran with his service animal; a Little League team worries about field cuts due to city budget woes; Saharan dust is calming the tropics and drying up rain chances — but more showers could roll in this weekend. Listen in comfort:...

State Rep. Angie Nixon is launching her bid for the U.S. Senate in 2026 with a fiery, people-first platform aimed squarely at corporate greed. She’s proposing sweeping measures to crack down on price gouging, cap rents at 10%, hold social media giants accountable for misinformation, and push for healthcare reforms that could lead to Medicare for All. Nixon also stands out by advocating for diploma...

Polk County Public Schools is racing against time to hire 70 bus drivers before school starts August 11, as a growing student population and retirements create a critical shortage. With buses risking double routes and students missing class, the district is offering $19.46/hour plus full benefits and targeting areas like Davenport, Haines City, and Lakeland. Applicants need a clean record, CDL per...

Pinellas County’s Juvenile Welfare Board is rolling out its beloved book bus to combat the summer learning slide, handing out 10,000 free books across 85 stops this July. Kids pick two books to keep, sparking joy and excitement as they swap screens for stories. This ninth-year initiative aims to keep literacy skills sharp and ensure every child reads at grade level by third grade — with stops like...

A reckless crash on Turner Road in Tampa left two people hospitalized and sent a 30-year-old man, Kelly Castleman, fleeing on foot after his vehicle smashed through a fence and into a backyard. Deputies tracked him down at his apartment, found him with a blood alcohol level over .28 — far above the legal limit — and now he faces multiple DUI charges including causing serious injury and leaving the...

A heartbreaking Father’s Day tragedy in Tampa claims the life of 29-year-old Kevondre Thomas, a devoted dad to a 5-year-old and newborn, during a party when shots erupted as police tried to disperse the crowd. Now, 30-year-old Roosevelt Harmon has been arrested in Palm Beach County, charged with first-degree murder and illegal gun possession as a felon. Surveillance shows Harmon arguing with Thoma...