Bay Area artist helped design action figures for G.I. Joe franchise

Artist Mark Pennington still gets questions and hears stories about a job that he had nearly 40 years ago. It comes with the territory of designing action figures for the iconic G.I. Joe franchise. 

Watch: Fisherman uses drone to help girl stuck in rip current

A fisherman in Florida used his drone to help rescue a teenage girl caught in a dangerous rip current near Fort Pickens Beach.

5 Miami men charged after 2023 hit-and-run that killed Sarasota man, SCSO

Five men from Miami have been charged after a 2023 hit-and-run that killed a Sarasota man, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office.

Man driving 118 MPH with wife and 2 kids arrested for DUI: BCSO

While driving his wife and two children, a man was clocked at 118 MPH on I-95, according to the Broward County Sheriff's Office.

Governor Ron and Casey DeSantis ‘double down’ on Hope Florida

Hope Florida has helped more than 30,000 people get off means-tested government assistance, secured jobs for more than 3,000 people and saved the taxpayer more than $100M, according to Governor Ron DeSantis. 

Smoking may be banned on Gulfport beaches

Cigarette butts in the sand and smoke in the air aren’t the way city council members want visitors to think about Gulfport public beaches. 

Lakeland moves closer to adding school speed zone cameras after 13 student deaths in Polk County

The City of Lakeland is taking significant steps to improve student safety by advancing an ordinance to install speed cameras in school zones. This initiative comes in response to a series of tragic vehicle-related accidents involving students, which have deeply affected the community.

Duke Energy claims it would cost $1 billion for Clearwater to drop utility company, mayor responds

Duke Energy is amping up its fight to stay plugged in as the main utility provider for all residents and businesses in the City of Clearwater. On Monday, the company unexpectedly released a study which found that it would cost the city between $1.13 billion and $1.52 billion – depending on timing and other factors – to take over Duke’s equipment and form a municipal-run utility.

Manatee County wetland protections on hold after response from state

It was supposed to be a final vote to restore wetland buffers in Manatee County. But four state agencies are now questioning the legality of those efforts, calling them restrictive and burdensome.

MOSI property could soon attract new indoor sports complex

Hillsborough County Commissioners have given approval to explore building a new indoor sports complex on land shared by Tampa's Museum of Science and Industry.

Father arrested for shooting 3 sons in Ruskin: Deputies

A Florida father was arrested after deputies said he shot his three sons over the weekend in Ruskin, according to deputies. 

17 arrested in Florida drug trafficking operation; Fentanyl and cocaine worth $1.5M seized

A drug trafficking organization that imported pounds of fentanyl from Mexico and California, and cocaine from Puerto Rico, has been dismantled following a multi-county investigation in Florida, authorities said.

Man accused of sexual battery on 3 of his female juvenile family members

A Pinellas Park man has been arrested for alleged inappropriate sexual activity with three of his female family members between the ages of 12 and 18, according to police.