More than 200 California state parks will offer free entry on Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Governor Gavin Newsom announced Friday. The move follows a decision by the National Park Service, which removed MLK Day and Juneteenth—two holidays recognizing Black history—from its list of free entrance days in December. “Dr. King … Read more
A 6-year-old boy with autism from North Miami, identified as Mason, is in critical condition after police say he was beaten by his mother’s boyfriend. Mason’s grandmother, Elizabeth Garcia, described her devastation seeing her grandson in the hospital, connected to machines and tubes. She said Mason’s mother’s boyfriend, 34-year-old Daniel Romero, has a history of … Read more
A cold weather alert was issued Thursday evening as a blast of frigid air moved into South Florida, bringing falling temperatures and strong, chilly winds overnight. A cold weather advisory is in effect for Broward and Miami-Dade counties from 3 a.m. to 9 a.m. Friday. Wind chills are expected to dip to around 35°F or … Read more
A 23-year-old woman has been arrested and charged with first-degree premeditated homicide after police say she admitted to drowning her 7-month-old daughter. Tierra Scott-Franklin called 911 herself on Wednesday afternoon, reporting that she had drowned her infant at the Sweetwater Square Apartments. First responders arrived shortly after 12:45 p.m. and found the child unresponsive in … Read more
Nearly four years after a deadly shooting at a Tampa apartment complex, authorities have arrested a suspect in connection with the murder. On January 13, 2026, deputies took 27-year-old Nekko Orta into custody for the 2022 killing of Bryce Green at the Verra North Apartments on Skipper Road. The original shooting occurred on May 6, … Read more
Three men are facing criminal charges after allegedly harassing a group of students praying inside a University of South Florida parking garage. The Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office announced that Richard Penkoski, Christopher Svochak, and Ricardo Yepez have been charged with disturbing a religious assembly and disorderly conduct, both classified as misdemeanors. The incident occurred … Read more
A federal judge has sentenced an Atlanta man to nearly six years in prison after identifying him as the mastermind behind a large-scale identity theft and check fraud operation that targeted businesses across central and southern Illinois. Traveon H. Reese, 31, received a 70-month federal prison sentence after admitting he led a conspiracy involving stolen … Read more
A Citrus County jury has convicted Dwann Demetrius Ross Jr., 37, of second-degree murder with a firearm, rejecting his claim that a deadly 2024 shooting involving a fellow business owner was committed in self-defense. The verdict was delivered Thursday in a case centered on the death of Traske C. Johnson, 33, who was shot and … Read more
A Kissimmee man is facing multiple felony charges after investigators say he exploited Walmart’s return system to pocket thousands of dollars, targeting dozens of stores across Florida and Georgia through a “phantom receipt” refund scheme. Authorities identified the suspect as Branden Nikita Brown, 31, who was arrested last Friday by the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office. … Read more
Three suspects were hospitalized after a dangerous police pursuit involving an allegedly stolen pickup truck ended in a violent rollover crash in Pacoima on Thursday night. Details remain limited, and authorities have not confirmed when or where officers with the Los Angeles Police Department initially began the pursuit. At some point, the driver led police … Read more