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Capturing the Spirit of Florida, One Story at a Time.
Black Bear Wanders Into Front Yard, Delays Florida Man on Way to Work
Bear cruising through Gulf Breeze neighborhood A Florida man’s regular morning took a turn when a black bear wandered through his front yard, stopping him in his tracks on his way to work. Michael Tullos, who lives in Gulf Breeze, stepped outside, ready to head for his van. But as he rounded the corner, he spotted the bear — big, shaggy, just ambling along. He didn’t waste a second. Tullos darted right back inside, still shaken, and grabbed his phone to share the whole thing
Teresa Grosze
"We Love Our Little Girl": Family Sues After IVF Embryo Mix-Up in Orlando
A Florida couple is suing a fertility clinic. A Florida couple is in the middle of a heartbreaking and complicated situation after an IVF clinic mixed up embryos. They filed a lawsuit against the Fertility Center of Orlando and Dr. Milton McNichol, claiming the clinic implanted someone else’s embryo during the procedure. Their daughter was born in December, but soon after, the couple noticed she didn’t share their ethnicity. Genetic testing confirmed the truth—they aren’t her
Teresa Grosze
The Highwaymen’s Florida: A Landscape of Perseverance and Light
The Art of The Highwaymen Selby Gardens In the mid-1950s, a group of 26 young Black artists in Fort Pierce and Gifford, Florida, decided they weren’t going to wait for anyone’s permission to make art. Segregation kept them out of galleries, so they took matters into their own hands. These 26 artists are known today as The Florida Highwaymen. Back then, most career paths open to Black men led to fields or factories. Group founders Harold Newton and Alfred Hair weren’t intere
Teresa Grosze
FEATURED STORIES
Say it Isn't Snow! Arctic Air Meets Gulf Waters as the Florida Weather Forecast Eyes Gulf-Effect Snow
Could Florida experience Gulf Coast snow? Florida is about to experience a blast of real winter weather this weekend, and...just maybe snow flurries will dance along the Gulf Coast. Updated Thursday, January 29, 2026 – Forecasters are tracking a rare weather scenario. A surge of Arctic air will clash with the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. When that happens we can sometimes see “Gulf-effect” snow, a phenomenon similar to lake-effect snow that occasionally happens in Upsta
Teresa Grosze
NEWS
Florida Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost Attacked at Sundance in Park City; Suspect Charged with Aggravated Burglary and Assault
A man faces charges after allegedly punching a Florida congressman during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City. U.S. Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost, a Democrat from Florida, says the attack happened Friday night. Court documents show police arrested Christian Joel Young, 28, and charged him with aggravated burglary, assaulting an elected official, and assault. Utah House Minority Leader Angela Romero responded, “This is unacceptable, and I’m deeply sorry Rep. Frost had this
"Bring Back Matt!" SW Florida in Outrage Over WINK Firing of Matt Devitt
Popular meteorologist, Matt Devitt (Facebook photo) Matt Devitt spent ten years at WINK News, helping Southwest Florida get through some of its worst storms. Folks say he saved lives—especially when hurricanes like Irma and Ian hit. Now, WINK has been fired without any explanation after 10 years on the air, and honestly, people are shocked. On Saturday, January 10, 2026, Devitt broke the news on Facebook. “After 10 years, my time with WINK News has come to an end after being
Lake Eola bird flu update: 21 bird fatalities since December 7, 2025
Lake Eola's beloved swans Photo courtesy of City of Orlando As of January 6, 2026, Orlando officials confirmed that avian influenza, or bird flu, is behind the deaths of 21 birds at Lake Eola Park. The outbreak began on December 17, 2025, and it’s hit the swan population especially hard. Nineteen of the dead birds were Royal Mute swans. The others: one anhinga, one ibis. Before this started, Lake Eola had around 50 to 60 swans. City workers, together with the Florida Fish and
Florida Grocery Shakeup: Publix is No Longer Florida’s Best Grocer, According to ACSI Study
Publix is an institution in Florida. Whether it’s nostalgic Pub Subs or that catchy-as-hell slogan, “Where Shopping is a Pleasure,” Floridians love Publix. But things are changing. According to the latest American Customer Satisfaction Index, Publix isn’t Florida’s top grocer anymore. Each year, the American Customer Satisfaction Index surveys consumers to determine how happy they are with products and services within certain industries. This year, shoppers are a little less
Lightning Stays in Tampa through 2043 as Hillsborough County approves $250 million renovation
Lightning fans can breathe easy—the team’s not leaving Tampa anytime soon. On Wednesday, Hillsborough County commissioners backed a new lease extension in a 7–0 vote, locking the Tampa Bay Lightning into Benchmark International Arena for at least six more years. That means the Bolts are here through 2043. It’s a big statement about the team’s commitment to Tampa and the county. Commissioner Ken Hagan didn’t hold back: “Everyone knows what Jeff Vinik’s done for the Lightning,
THEME PARKS
Orlando is Getting the World’s First-Ever Slotharium
Orlando’s about to get a whole lot slower, and way cuter. The world’s first slotharium, Sloth World, is landing on International Drive in February 2026. Honestly, who doesn’t want to hang out with a sloth? This isn’t your typical zoo setup. At Sloth World, you’ll get to wander through a lush rainforest habitat with more than 40 sloths roaming around—no glass, no cages, just you and these gentle, sleepy creatures. There’ll be different species to meet, and yes, you might even
SeaWorld, Disney, and LEGOLAND Florida Unveil Family-Friendly Thrills for 2026
Get ready for a big year in 2026—Central Florida’s theme parks are rolling out new family rides and giving old favorites a fresh twist. SeaWorld Orlando is launching SEAQuest: Legends of the Deep, an indoor dark ride that’s the first of its kind for the park. You’ll hop into a submersible and dive into shipwrecks and deep-sea mysteries. “We’re redefining what a family attraction can be,” said Conner Carr, the park’s vice president of rides and engineering. He’s excited about
Farewell to Katina: SeaWorld’s Beloved Killer Whale Passes at 50 After Decades of Devotion
Katina dies at age 50, photo courtesy of SeaWrlorld SeaWorld shared sad news on Sunday: Katina, one of their best-known killer whales, has died at 50. Her health had been slipping for a while, and things got worse in the past few weeks as she grew older. The animal care and medical staff watched over her day and night, eventually focusing on making sure she was comfortable. She passed away with staff members by her side—people who’d cared for her for almost forty years. Katin
TRAVEL & DINING
Pack Your Sleigh: 8 Festive Florida Cities for the Ultimate Christmas Road Trip
Florida doesn’t exactly scream “Christmas” to most people. We’re the Sunshine State—kids run outside in shorts on Christmas morning, zipping around on new scooters, spraying each other with water guns. Snow? Not a chance. Sure, we decorate, but our neighborhoods aren’t dotted with cozy, snow-covered cottages. We have fir trees, but you won’t spot many reindeer. Fireplaces? Only if you count barbecue grills or those patio fire pits. Our Christmas cards usually star Santa in sw
Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish History: The Story Behind the St. Pete Institution
Right after World War II, in 1945, Ted Peters and his family decided it was time for a fresh start. Ted joined forces with his stepbrother, “Red Hot,” who’d already made his way down to Florida from upstate New York. Together, they dove straight into the fish business. Ted worked at the Fisherman’s Co-Op over in Madeira Beach, Florida, and something caught his attention. Most folks stashed their fish smokers out back, hidden away like some kind of secret. Ted thought that was
Remembering the Kapok Tree Inn: The Enchantment of Old Florida
The Kapok Tree Inn wasn’t just a restaurant—locals and tourists saw it as a real escape, a place with its own kind of magic right in Clearwater, Florida. For decades, people came for the grand, Roman-inspired setting, built in the 1950s around a massive Kapok tree that had stood since the late 1800s. Inside, you’d find twelve different dining rooms, each one lavishly detailed, where the food was simple but elegant. The Kapok offered something you couldn’t get anywhere else. L
ARTS & CULTURE
Orlando’s Night of Magic: "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" Opens at Dr. Phillips Center
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child North American Tour Photo by Matthew Murphy courtesy of Dr. Phillips Center Orlando gets a taste of magic—Dr. Phillips Center just opened for the Florida debut of HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD. The play, a six-time Tony Award® winner, lands at the Walt Disney Theater from January 24 to February 15, 2026. This production has been heralded as “one of the most defining pop culture events of the decade.” The story comes straight from J.K. Row
The Nature of Movement: Calder Masterworks Arrive at Selby Gardens and Sandor Museum on February 8, 2026
Circle February 8, 2026 on your calendar—the 10th Annual Jean & Alfred Goldstein Exhibition is coming, and this year it’s all about “Alexander Calder: The Nature of Movement.” If you’re a Selby Gardens member, you get a head start with early access on Friday, February 6. This time, they’re bringing Calder’s original works into the galleries at the Richard and Ellen Sandor Museum of Botany & the Arts. But they’re not stopping there. The entire Downtown Sarasota campus, from th
Venice Rotary Throws 34th Annual Fine Arts & Crafts Festival
Mark your calendar—Venice’s 34th Annual Fine Arts & Crafts Festival is back January 16–18 at the Venice Airport Festival Grounds. This year, the Venice-Nokomis Rotary Club pulled out all the stops. They’ve got over a hundred artists and makers lined up, showing off everything from handmade jewelry and ceramics to woodwork, paintings, textiles, and home décor. It’s a huge mix—some folks are local, others are coming in from all across Florida and even further. But let’s be hone
FLORIDA LIFESTYLE
"Walkin' Lawton" Remembering Florida History - 55 years ago this month
On January 3, 1971, Polk County's Lawton Chiles took his seat in the U.S. Senate. Honestly, his campaign was pretty wild for Florida. Nobody really knew him at first, so he decided to walk—yep, actually walk—1,003 miles from Pensacola all the way down to Key West. "Walkin' Lawton" met people face to face, shook hands, listened to their stories. It took him 91 days and more than one pair of boots. People called it a “public relations stroke of genius,” and it worked. Chiles cr
Happy Birthday to a Florida Sports Legend: Tiger Woods Turns 50 Amidst Triumph and Trials
Tiger Woods reacts as he wins the Masters golf tournament, Sunday, April 14, 2019, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File) Tiger Woods turned 50 on Tuesday, Dec. 30. Hard to believe, right? He’s spent decades making history on the golf course and fighting through plenty away from it. No one else has ever held all four major titles at once. He’s won 82 PGA Tour events—that’s tied for the record. The guy’s body has taken a beating, too. Surgeries on his legs and back,
Celebrate Nature: The 39th Annual Florida Manatee Festival Returns to Crystal River
Get ready—Citrus County’s favorite celebration of manatees is back. The 39th Annual Florida Manatee Festival splashes into Crystal River on January 17–18, 2026, filling downtown and the gorgeous Kings Bay area with two days packed full of fun. The Citrus County Chamber of Commerce puts on the festival, with support from Coast to Coast Heating & Air Conditioning, LLC. Every year, the Manatee Festival gets bigger, more creative, and—let’s be honest—more fun for everyone. You ca
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