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st. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Both protests and petitions are growing in response to the National Department of Transport deadlines that submit and then remove certain street art, like a progressive pride mural on Central Avenue in St. Petersburg. Johnathon Hackworth told WFLA that he painted some of the Pride mural himself. “Yeah, I drew some stripes,” Hackworth said. He said it could be erased. “So they call it St. Pete’s Pride. It disappoints me. It’s really iconic to St. Petersburg,” Hackworth said. Today, at 2pm, LGBTQ community members, the NAACP, St. Petersburg branch and Woodson will hold a “save our…

The American Insurance Comparative Shopping website has just released a new forecast that Florida motorists will see premiums rising over the remainder of the year. After Florida’s rate fell 8% in the first half of the year, the state guarantees a project that can turn the course back, with Floridians facing the biggest increase in costs between now and the end of the year, reaching 7%. This will result in a state average of between $2,912 and $3,107, assuming no additional tariff-related increases. Florida ●Annual cost forecast without customs duty: $3,107 (-1% year-on-year) ●Annual annual cost forecast, tariff: $3,194 (2%…

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Tropical storm Erin is expected to become a hurricane by Friday, the National Hurricane Center said. Erin is moving west at 5pm and will continue this move today before moving towards a west-northwest movement tonight and weekend. Erin’s centre is expected to move near or north of the Northern Leeward Islands over the weekend, the NHC said. The maximum sustained wind is close to 50 mph. According to the NHC, there is a high possibility that it will be Friday and Saturday, with a gradual strengthening expected the next day or so. There are no valid…

TALHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Attorney General James Usmieire has issued an emergency rule classifying 7-hydroxymitraginine (7-OH), a high concentration compound derived from the Kratom plant, as a Schedule I controlled substance. The action will take effect immediately and prohibit the sale, possession and distribution of isolated or concentrated 7-OH throughout the state. “Due to the dangers posed to the public, Florida is quickly removing 7-OH from the shelf,” Uthmeier said, noting that the compound is actively sold to teenagers and young people, and is at a high risk of abuse and fatal consequences. The Florida emergency travel provides the first…

st. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) – A team of auditors at Florida Doge arrived at St. Petersburg City Hall Wednesday morning. This is a two-day effort to look directly at the city’s finances and ask follow-up questions for city staff. Hours after the team arrived, protesters were at city hall to express their concern. One of them was Mary McMullen. “We don’t need them to tell us how to spend our money and how we should live,” McMullen said. Tampa Bay in areas with worst inflation problems: Report Longtime residents joined others who held up signs. “We’re missing out on our…

Clearwater, Fla. (WFLA) – Clearwater Fire Rescue has a new fire chief with an extensive background. Chief Chad Pittman has made a 35-year dedication to the Tampa Bay Area, playing Clearwater Fire on the third day. He said his overall goal is to get his full potential in the community. Pittman’s career began in 1990 and for many years he has worked in East Lake, Palm Harbor and Largo. His brand new home is Station 45 in Clearwater. “There’s a lot to do, a bit surreal, but I was excited and I was very warmly greeted throughout the city and…

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — State Attorney Jack Campbell and defense attorney Peter Mills met in Leon County Courthouse, where Florida State University’s alleged shooter case. The court hearing on Wednesday was the first progress report as the state and defense proceeded towards a trial scheduled to begin in November. However, due to the vast amount of evidence, such as videos filmed on the day of filming, ChatGpt messages and hundreds of witnesses, it is possible that lawyers for shooting game Phoenix Echner will move to delay its start date.”We got that material, judge. We’re in the process of digging into…

Following the lawsuit filed June 24th in Orange County Circuit Court, a legal dispute over the trust of late Westgate Resort founder David Siegel. The complaint, which was launched by Siegel’s stepdaughter Janessa Siegel on behalf of two minor sons, alleges, was inappropriately removed as a beneficiary by trustee and trust guardian Michael Marder. Janassa’s late husband, Stephen Siegel (son of David Siegel), was kicked out of an incurable brain tumor at the age of 63. Stephen served as Senior Vice President of Westgate before resigning in 2021. He married Janessa in 2015 and had two sons together. Stephen’s mother…

Marathon, Fla. (WFLA) — A man has been rescued after the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Committee (FWC) discovers officers are clung to a kayak that “barely barely over the water” overturned his head. The man was not wearing a life jacket, so on July 19th, it was a mile south of the Spanish Port Bridge for the marathon, officials said. FWC announces winners of the 2025 Florida Python Challenge™ A Bodycam video showed one of the officers throwing a rope at the exhausted Kayaker and screaming, “I’m going to throw this at you, right?” The man grabbed the ahold…

(AP) – Prosecutors “do not take any further action” against Florida Sheriff’s deputies in the arrest of a black college student who was pulled out of a vehicle during a traffic stop in February and was beaten by an officer. The actions of Officer D. Bowers of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office did not constitute a crime, according to an investigation report released by the State Attorney’s Office for Florida’s Fourth Judicial Circuit. The video showing Jacksonville Sheriff TK Waters punching and dragging William McNeill out of his car sparked national rage. William McNeill Jr., left, along with his mother, Latoya…