Florida Turnpike Toll Booth

Buckle Up – Your Daily Commute Is About To Cost You More

Image of Toll booths. Courtesy FDOT
Image Courtesy of FDOT

As I sat sipping my morning coffee and checking emails today, I noticed that my monthly Sun Pass toll statement popped up. Like many Floridians, I have a transponder that automatically charges my account whenever I use one of the Florida toll roads, and my bank account is automatically drafted whenever toll funds need to be replenished. So things are pretty much on autopilot, and honestly, I haven’t paid much attention to that aspect of my finances. I mean, when you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go, right?

Volusia Man Dubbed ‘Sovereign Clown’ Arrested Twice in 10 Days Over Bizarre Legal Claims

sovereign citizen license plate
A typical sovereign citizen self-made license plate Photo: OrlDemo /Reddit

They call themselves sovereign citizens. They claim they’re not subject to state or federal laws. And every so often, one of them makes headlines—usually after an encounter with law enforcement. In Florida, these self-proclaimed “freemen” are part of a movement that’s less about organized ideology and more about a tangled mess of internet-fueled legal theories.

moving truck

Sunbelt Surge: Tampa and Orlando In Top Ten Destination For Movers

moving truck

Cities Grappling with Rapid Population Growth and Its Consequences

Florida’s central corridor is experiencing unprecedented growth. Tampa and Orlando, two of the state’s major metropolitan areas, have seen significant population increases over the past decade, and according to Penske Truck Rentals, both cities are in the Top 10 moving destinations in the country.

teenager on phone

Controversial ‘Social Media Use By Minors’ Bill Fails In Florida Legislature

teenager on phone

Florida’s controversial “Social Media Use by Minors” bill, which among other things sought to mandate encryption backdoors in social media platforms, has failed to pass into law. The legislation, known as SB 868/HB 743, was indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration in the Florida House of Representatives earlier this week, despite having previously passed the Senate with a 34–3 vote.

kangaroo

Kangaroo On The Loose Gets FWC Hopping

In an unusual turn of events, residents of St. Cloud, Florida, were somewhat surprised on Monday afternoon when a kangaroo was spotted hopping along Hickory Tree Road, a busy thoroughfare in Osceola County. The sighting prompted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to leap into action leading to the safe capture of the marsupial and filing charges subsequent charges against its owner.

kangaroo
Clearwater Condos Evacuated After Structural Crack Found

Clearwater Condos Evacuated After Structural Crack Found

South Beach III condos in Clearwater, Florida
South Beach III condos. Photo: LippyRealEstate.com

Approximately 60 residents were evacuated from the 12-story South Beach III condominium at 1460 Gulf Boulevard in Clearwater on Tuesday, May 6, after construction workers discovered a significant crack in a concrete support column within the building’s ground-level parking garage. The crack, reportedly over two feet wide, raised immediate concerns about the structural integrity of the building.