Former Braves player was 'panicking,' 'scared' after fleeing scene of fatal I-75 crash: Arrest report

BRADENTON, Fla. (WFLA)— A former Atlanta Braves minor league player was "panicking" and "scared" after fleeing the scene of a crash on Interstate 75 that killed a man, an arrest report said. New details are emerging in the fatal crash that claimed the life of 34-year-old Stavan "Owen" Facey. According to an arrest report, around [...]

23rd, April 2026, 09:24pm

Clearwater leaders discuss BayCare Ballpark improvements

CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFLA) - City leaders in Clearwater decide whether to play ball with renovation plans for BayCare Ballpark on Thursday. Renderings show a new concourse, concessions area, video board and seats. Phillies fans from Pennsylvania to Florida are excited for the proposed $205 million project. Tuesday, Pinellas County Commissioners voted 6-1 in favor of [...]

23rd, April 2026, 09:14pm

Florida adds 8 new specialty license plates

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA)—Drivers will be able to get eight new specialty license plates after a Florida bill was signed. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 246, adding eight new specialty license plates that includes UFC and more schools. The specialty license plate designs are: There are more than 100 different specialty license plates that Florida [...]

23rd, April 2026, 05:39pm

Wildfires across Georgia, Florida destroy more than 50 homes, force evacuations

NAHUNTA, Ga. (AP) — Huge plumes of smoke blanketed swaths of the Southeast on Wednesday as crews battled rapidly growing wildfires that destroyed more than 50 homes in Georgia and forced hundreds to flee the drought- and wind-fueled flames. Some of the biggest blazes were near Georgia’s coast, while others were popping up in northern Florida, a [...]

23rd, April 2026, 04:57pm

Senate Republicans adopt budget resolution in late-night voting marathon

Senate Republicans adopted a budget resolution during a late-night voting marathon that lasted until early Thursday morning, setting the stage for Congress to vote next month on a budget reconciliation package to fund immigration enforcement and reopen the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The resolution passed by a vote of 50-48 shortly after 3:30 a.m. [...]

23rd, April 2026, 03:44pm

Navy Secretary John Phelan is leaving in the latest departure of a top defense leader

WASHINGTON (AP) — Navy Secretary John Phelan is leaving his job, the Pentagon abruptly announced Wednesday, the first head of a military service to depart during President Donald Trump’s second term but just the latest top defense leader to step down or be ousted. No reason was given for the unexpected departure of the Navy’s [...]

23rd, April 2026, 03:11pm

DeSantis signs bill eliminating DEI programs; leaders say he wants to 'create a culture war that doesn't exist'

Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation Wednesday that will ban local governments from funding, promoting, or implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. This has been a discussion for leaders in both Hillsborough County and the City of St. Petersburg.

22nd, April 2026, 10:24pm

Senators to introduce 'Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act' for SNAP recipients

A bipartisan group of Senators on Tuesday introduced the "Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act" to help Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, recipients to use their benefits to buy rotisserie chicken.

22nd, April 2026, 08:55pm

2 dead, several require treatment after 'violent reaction of chemicals' in West Virginia

A "violent reaction of chemicals" is believed to have occurred during cleaning at the facility, officials said.

22nd, April 2026, 08:22pm

Longboat Key aims to reduce 'sunny day, nuisance flooding' impacting low lying neighborhoods

The Town of Longboat Key has been working to address nuisance flooding in low-lying areas across the island for the last several years, even before the devastating 2024 hurricane season.

22nd, April 2026, 08:10pm