Local News in Hillsborough County
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Jack Latvala, Republican who represented Pinellas in the Florida Senate, dead at 74
Longtime Republican lawmaker Jack Latvala, who defended unions and state employees in the Florida Senate as the Legislature trended more conservative, died Thursday. He was 74. “It is with profound sadness that our family shared the news of the passing of Jack Latvala. We are…
Brittany Lyssy, School Board Member, District 2
Every parent wants to know their child is receiving the best education possible. For Brittany Lyssy, that belief is more than a campaign slogan—it’s personal. As she and her husband raise their three young sons in Hillsborough County, Lyssy is committed to helping every student…
Major School Summer Upgrades Underway Across County
While students and families enjoy a well-earned summer break, Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) is hard at work transforming campuses across the district. Funded through the voter-approved half-penny sales tax and state capital dollars, dozens of projects are underway to…

Venezuela Earthquake Live Updates: July 10, 2026
Refresh this page for the latest updates. Nature never obeyed: how Chavismo turned disasters into national tragedies (Opinion by Ernesto Reitich) Venezuela Earthquake Live Updates: July 10, 2026 Follow WMNF’s live coverage of the aftermath of Venezuela’s devastating earthquakes.…
Community Invited To Help Name New Wimauma Middle School
Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) is seeking community input to help name the district’s new middle school in the rapidly growing Wimauma community. The approximately $72 million project will accommodate up to 1,600 students and is scheduled to open in August 2027. The…
Students Earn Top Honors At 2026 Florida FFA State Convention
Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) students brought home an impressive collection of state championships, top five finishes and chapter recognitions from the?2026 Florida FFA State Convention, showcasing the district’s strength in agricultural education, leadership…
Manatee County EMS employees noticeably underpaid
A recent Manatee County audit revealed that more than 200 EMS employees were being underpaid by approximately $336,000.
USF Receives $1.5 Million Gift From ReliaQuest To Advance AI Education
The University of South Florida (USF) recently announced a $1.5 million investment from ReliaQuest that will benefit students in the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing. The gift expands AI cybersecurity programming, establishes the new…
Extreme heat: most of Florida will continue under a heat advisory & dusty conditions
Across Florida, numerous temperature records could be broken or tied on Friday and Saturday.
Center for Biological Diversity sues over protections for queen conch.
The lawsuit is a step towards getting the Queen Conch’s home recognized as a critical protection habitat under the Endangered Species Act.
Florida’s high SNAP error rate is by design, says state’s top Democrat
If Florida doesn’t lower its SNAP error rates, the state could have to pay as much as $1 billion to continue to participate in the federal food security program. Florida Democratic Party Chair Chair Nikki Fried says the high error rate might not be due to mundane mistakes but…
DSA candidates are winning Democratic primaries — can they do it in Florida?
The recent electoral successes by Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) candidates in New York, Pennsylvania, and Colorado has sparked vituperative responses from Republicans and establishment Democrats around the country. But conventional wisdom would have you believe that the…