Tampa News

St. Petersburg Times

• For Tampa Bay, renting is the new owning

  St. Petersburg Times – 6 mins ago  

  Question: What do you call a couple that bought their Tampa Bay dream home in 2006?Answer: Renters. Full Story »

• Tampa settles contract with firefighters union

  St. Petersburg Times – 48 mins ago  

  TAMPA The firefighters union and city officials agreed Thursday on a new contract after nine months of negotiations. Full Story »

• Crist will decide fate of woman convicted in fatal crash

  St. Petersburg Times – 1 hr 13 mins ago  

  TALLAHASSEE Gov. Charlie Crist will decide whether to grant clemency to a woman who is serving a 16-year sentence for her role in a 1998 crash near Ybor City that killed one of her passengers and severely injured the other. Full Story »

• 10-foot alligator makes himself at home in Palm Harbor

  St. Petersburg Times – 1 hr 21 mins ago  

  PALM HARBOR A wildlife trapper captured a 10-foot long alligator that was roaming a Palm Harbor neighborhood Wednesday, authorities said. Full Story »

• Brooksville parade, other holiday events put a twinkle in the weekend

  St. Petersburg Times – 2 hrs 2 mins ago  
  

  A philanthropic soul and her sidekick will lead the 35th spectacle. Full Story »

The Tampa Tribune

• Oft-arrested man accused of beating homeless man

  The Tampa Tribune – 16 mins ago  

  If Jeffrey Christian Crouch's name rings a bell, it's not surprising. Full Story »

• New details released in 2 Pasco homicides

  The Tampa Tribune – 17 mins ago  

  Pasco detectives have released new details about two recent unrelated homicides and are asking for the public's help in solving them. Full Story »

• Costco will resume carrying Coca-Cola products

  The Tampa Tribune – 24 mins ago  

  Coca-Cola Co. products will soon be available again in Costco stores now that a pricing dispute with the wholesale club operator has been settled. Full Story »

• McDonald's to roll out breakfast dollar menu

  The Tampa Tribune – 27 mins ago  

  McDonald's Corp. will begin selling a variety of breakfast items for $1 early next month, a spokeswoman for the world's largest hamburger chain said Thursday. Full Story »

• Man bets against Saints, gets his TV shot to bits

  The Tampa Tribune – 42 mins ago  

  A Louisiana man who bet against the New Orleans Saints has lost his 60-inch high-definition, flat-screen TV to a backyard firing squad, but he also became an Internet star. Full Story »

Bradenton Herald

• Sheriff: Teen stabs mom’s boyfriend with steak knife

  Bradenton Herald – Thu Dec 10, 12:17 am ET  

  MANATEE — An 18-year-old boy was questioned by investigators Wednesday night after he allegedly stabbed his mother’s live-in boyfriend with a steak knife, according to Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. Full Story »

• Mother jailed for not protecting children from boyfriend

  Bradenton Herald – Thu Dec 10, 12:07 am ET  

  MANATEE — A mother was arrested for not protecting her 3-year-old and 5-year-old from her abusive boyfriend, according to a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office report. Full Story »

• Insurer, hospitals at odds over contract

  Bradenton Herald – Thu Dec 10, 12:04 am ET  

  BRADENTON — Arif Abdulla couldn’t believe the notice he received from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida this week. Full Story »

• Gang fight pairs police in Manatee, Sarasota counties

  Bradenton Herald – Thu Dec 10, 12:04 am ET  

  MANATEE — The fight against street gangs that may be moving south from Manatee into Sarasota is strengthening an anti-gang partnership between sheriff’s offices in the two counties. Full Story »

• How they voted: Rail legislation

  Bradenton Herald – Thu Dec 10, 12:03 am ET  

  How local lawmakers voted Tuesday on train legislation: Full Story »

The Sarasota Herald-Tribune

• Federal budget deficit hits $120.3B in Nov.

  The Sarasota Herald-Tribune – 2 hrs 35 mins ago  

  MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer The federal deficit for the first two months of the new budget year is piling up faster than last year's record imbalance. Economists worry the flood of red ink could push interest rates higher and raise the cost of borrowing for consumers and businesses, a potential drag on the fragile economic recovery. Full Story »

• Longboat Key Club expansion OK'd

  The Sarasota Herald-Tribune – 2 hrs 35 mins ago  

  STAFF REPORT An ambitious and expensive plan to expand the Longboat Key Club & Resort Islandside passed its first hurdle today when the town’s Planning & Zoning board narrowly approved the project. Full Story »

• 1 dead, 12 injured in Chicago high-rise fire

  The Sarasota Herald-Tribune – Thu Dec 10, 2:33 pm ET  

  ASSOCIATED PRESS Full Story »

• NYC panhandler dead after Times Square shootout

  The Sarasota Herald-Tribune – Thu Dec 10, 2:03 pm ET  

  CRISTIAN SALAZAR and TOM HAYS Associated Press Writers Full Story »

• Man chokes teen; teen stabs man

  The Sarasota Herald-Tribune – Thu Dec 10, 12:33 pm ET  

  Anthony Cormier A man attacked and choked his girlfriend’s son, then was stabbed by the teenager during a confrontation late Wednesday, deputies say. Both Kenneth Crouse, 38, and Jeffery Schueller, 18, were arrested after the fight. According to a Sheriff’s Office report: Full Story »

WTSP-TV Tampa

• Prosecution rests in Hoffman murder trial

  WTSP-TV Tampa – 24 mins ago  

  Tallahassee, Florida -- Prosecutors rested their case against Deneilo Bradshaw, who is charged with murdering confidential informant Rachel Hoffman of Clearwater a year and a half ago. Full Story »

• Proposed new school building sparks opposition

  WTSP-TV Tampa – 39 mins ago  

  Tampa, Florida - Plant High School currently has 250 students learning in 10 portable classroom units. The school's overcrowding issues came as a result of both the school's good reputation and classroom size restrictions. Full Story »

• The Venue and Metropolitan ministries team up to help feed families

  WTSP-TV Tampa – 2 hrs 9 mins ago  

  Clearwater, Florida - The holidays are here and if you order a catered meal from the Venue , you not only make your family happy, you help feed another Bay area family. Full Story »

• 35-years in prison for a crime he didn't commit?

  WTSP-TV Tampa – 2 hrs 24 mins ago  

  Bartow, Florida - James Bain was convicted in 1974 for the kidnapping and rape of a young boy in Lake Wales, but now DNA tests show he's the wrong man. Full Story »

• Former deputy sentenced to 5 years in prison

  WTSP-TV Tampa – Thu Dec 10, 2:29 pm ET  

  TAMPA, Florida (AP) — A former Hillsborough County sheriff's deputy was sentenced to five years in prison for forcing a woman to perform a sex act on him in his patrol car. Full Story »

The Lakeland Ledger

• Haven Teens Arrested in Robbery, Car Theft

  The Lakeland Ledger – Thu Dec 10, 12:47 pm ET  

  By MERISSA GREEN The Ledger WINTER HAVEN | Winter Haven police have arrested two teens they said robbed a motorist last week after one of them pretended to be hurt by lying in the road. Brayan-Douglas Stubbs, 17, and Kenny Lott, 17, were charged with armed burglary, armed robbery and grand theft auto. Full Story »

• Warm Now, Cooler Later Today

  The Lakeland Ledger – Thu Dec 10, 7:47 am ET  

  THE LEDGER Enjoy the warmth this morning, it's only going to get colder. That's the forecast from meteorologists at Bay News 9. Full Story »

• Planners OK Polk Commerce Centre Changes

  The Lakeland Ledger – Thu Dec 10, 3:18 am ET  

  By TOM PALMER THE LEDGER Polk County planning commissioners have approved changes to the Polk Commerce Centre development of regional impact near Auburndale. Full Story »

• Polk City May Drop Sewer, Water Utilities

  The Lakeland Ledger – Thu Dec 10, 3:17 am ET  

  By KEVIN BOUFFARD THE LEDGER After angry public protests killed two proposed sewer projects earlier this year, the City Council voted 4-1 Tuesday to explore divesting its water and sewer utilities to an independent state authority. Full Story »

• Polk City May Drop Sewer, Water Utilities

  The Lakeland Ledger – Thu Dec 10, 2:33 am ET  

  By KEVIN BOUFFARD THE LEDGER POLK CITY | After angry public protests killed two proposed sewer projects earlier this year, the City Council voted 4-1 Tuesday to explore divesting its water and sewer utilities to an independent state authority. Full Story »

ABC Action News Tampa Bay

• Florida quiz: How much do you pay attention?

  ABC Action News Tampa Bay – 1 hr 48 mins ago  

  Test your knowledge of recent Florida events along with a little state history. Click inside to take the quiz. Full Story »

• Sarasota Sheriff warns of dangerous herbal mix

  ABC Action News Tampa Bay – 2 hrs 3 mins ago  

  Two high school students were taken to the hospital after smoking K2, a legal mix of dried herbs. Full Story »

• White powder scare forces Tampa office building evacuation

  ABC Action News Tampa Bay – Thu Dec 10, 2:35 pm ET  

  A Bank of America building on Gandy Boulevard was evacuated after a white powder was found inside an envelope that had been mailed there. Full Story »

• Detectives: Attempted burglary in Hudson may have led to murder

  ABC Action News Tampa Bay – Thu Dec 10, 1:50 pm ET  

  Pasco County detectives believe an attempted burglary at MDR Salvage may have led to David Cutshaw's murder. Full Story »

• Fast food restaurants may have safer food than schools

  ABC Action News Tampa Bay – Thu Dec 10, 1:35 pm ET  

  We all love a fast food hamburger or chicken sandwich from time to time, but just how safe is the meat? Full Story »

FOX 13 Tampa Bay

• Neighborhoods put brakes on sign deal

  FOX 13 Tampa Bay – 17 mins ago  

  St. Petersburg's Council of Neighborhood Associations made City Council think twice about a billboard deal cut by Mayor Rick Baker. Full Story »

• Burned baby should leave hospital soon

  FOX 13 Tampa Bay – 1 hr 2 mins ago  

  A newborn baby who was burned in a house fire in Lakeland on Wednesday is expected to be released from Tampa General Hospital this weekend. Full Story »

• Ex-deputy admits sex assault on suspect

  FOX 13 Tampa Bay – 1 hr 32 mins ago  

  A seven-year veteran deputy with a squeaky clean record is headed to prison as a convicted sex offender. He pleaded guilty to releasing a woman he'd arrested after getting sexual favors in the back seat of his patrol car. Full Story »

• Oyster shells return to nature

  FOX 13 Tampa Bay – 2 hrs 1 min ago  

  Oyster shells are being turned into a natural reef to help clean up Hillsborough Bay.  The goal is to create 250 feet of oyster shell reef off Whiskey Stump Key. Full Story »

• Man gets autopsy instead of freezer

  FOX 13 Tampa Bay – Thu Dec 10, 2:38 pm ET  

  The nation's leading cryogenics organization lost its bid Thursday to prevent an autopsy on a 48-year-old man who wanted his body frozen until he could be brought back to life. Full Story »

Bay News 9 Tampa Bay

• Residents band together to stop Ybor City arsonists

  Bay News 9 Tampa Bay – 23 mins ago  

  Residents of a fire-plagued neighborhood are banding together to stop arsonists. Full Story »

• Santa comes early for some ill Manatee County kids

  Bay News 9 Tampa Bay – 52 mins ago  

  He came on a special visit to deliver gifts and cheer to a group of terminally ill children. Full Story »

• Exclusive: Battle over body decided in courtroom

  Bay News 9 Tampa Bay – 1 hr 7 mins ago  

  A judge ruled the Hillsborough County medical examiner may perform an autopsy on a man who wished to be kept frozen after he died. Watch the story Comment on this story Full Story »

• Homes with Chinese drywall may get tax break in Hills.

  Bay News 9 Tampa Bay – 1 hr 8 mins ago  

  The Hillsborough County property appraisers office is offering some tax relief to people whose homes contain Chinese drywall. Full Story »

• DNA may exonerate man imprisoned for rape for 35 years

  Bay News 9 Tampa Bay – 1 hr 22 mins ago  

  James Bain has been in prison for 35 years for a crime he said he didn't commit, and now DNA evidence may support his innocence. Watch the story DNA exonerations in Florida  Full Story »

The Polk County Democrat

• The Manor at West Bartow Offers Affordable ‘Fine Living’ for Seniors

  The Polk County Democrat – Wed Dec 9, 10:33 am ET  

  Fine living doesn’t have to come at a high price for senior citizens at The Manor at West Bartow. Full Story »

• Bartow Becomes Winter Wonderland Friday Night

  The Polk County Democrat – Wed Dec 9, 10:33 am ET  

  Snow may not line the streets of downtown, but Christmas season will reach its peak on Friday with the Main Street Bartow annual Christmas Parade at 6 p.m. Full Story »

• Man Killed When Car Flips

  The Polk County Democrat – Wed Dec 9, 10:33 am ET  

  A 23-year-old man was killed, but three passengers were spared injury, when his vehicle skidded and flipped Monday about 11:38 p.m. at the intersection of Eagle Lake Loop and Starling Roads. Full Story »

• Woman Charged With False Reports

  The Polk County Democrat – Wed Dec 9, 10:32 am ET  

  A Bartow woman has been charged by police with filing false reports of armed attacks. Full Story »

• Bartow City Commission Cancels Dec. 21 Meeting

  The Polk County Democrat – Wed Dec 9, 10:32 am ET  

  Bartow city commissioners canceled their Dec. 21 meeting; they don’t have any business to conduct. Full Story »