Worker Decapitated | Phone Mistaken For Gun | HSN To Close HQ: FL News

FLORIDA — On the weekend, we present a week in review of the top stories and headlines from across Florida. Here's a roundup of some of the biggest and quirkiest stories across the state. You can also find your local Patch and catch up on those stories by clicking here.

HSN To Close 70-Acre FL Corporate Headquarters

The Home Shopping Network will shut down its headquarters in St. Petersburg after 47 years and move to QRG’s Pennsylvania campus with QVC.

Student Mistook Cell Phone For Gun At High School: Police

Reports of a gun at Tampa’s Freedom High School were unfounded after investigators learned a student mistook a cell phone for a gun.

Tree Trimmer Pulled Into Wood Chipper Dies In South FL: Reports

The man in Ocean Ridge was caught head-first in a wood chipper up to his shoulders and was decapitated, media reports say.

Paradise Grille Reopens After Hurricane: St. Pete Beach Officials

Paradise Grille beach concession stands reopen at Pass-a-Grille and Upham beaches after hurricane damage, St. Pete Beach officials said.

2 Men Face Attempted Murder Charges: St. Pete Police

The suspects fired several shots at a man getting out of a vehicle on 14th Avenue N. on Wednesday afternoon, St. Pete police said.

5 FL Hospitals In Top 1% Nationwide, Report Says

The 2025 America’s Best Hospitals Awards from Healthgrades recognized five hospitals in Florida that are considered top-tier in the U.S.

Raccoon Tests Positive For Rabies In Sarasota: FL Health Officials

A raccoon killed in Sarasota’s Bee Ridge area tested positive for rabies, the Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County said.

2 Dead, 3 Officers Injured During 'Violent Night' In Tampa: Cops

A driver was accused of hitting multiple people with a car before a police chase and a shooting that killed the suspect, Tampa Police say.

Missing Woman Declared Dead 1 Year Later: Bradenton Police

A Bradenton woman reported missing last year and whose brother took his own life was declared dead by a Manatee County judge, police said.

FL Pilot Among Those Killed In DC Plane, Helicopter Crash: Reports

A FL man was one of the American Airlines pilots killed in a crash between a passenger flight and a military helicopter at a DC airport.

Clearwater Ferry Expansion Offers Extra Day Of Service: PSTA

The Clearwater Ferry is offering expanded service Thursday through Sunday, the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority said.

‘Quad-Demic’ Of Illnesses Straining FL Emergency Rooms

Respiratory viruses are at high or very high levels across most of the country. Here is a snapshot of how Florida is faring.

6 FL Restaurants Among 100 Most Romantic In America

Making plans for Valentine's Day? OpenTable says these Florida eateries are two of the most romantic restaurants in America.

Fire Captain Faces Child Porn Charges: Hillsborough Sheriff

A Hillsborough County Fire Rescue captain had hundreds of child porn images and videos on various devices, the sheriff’s office said.

Man Attacked, Robbed Woman In St. Pete: Watch

Investigators are looking for a man who attacked a 65-year-old woman with a knife and robbed her Monday, St. Petersburg police said.

‘Eggflation’: Why Are Eggs So Expensive In FL, When Will Cost Go Down?

Bird flu is a primary driver of the higher prices Florida consumers have been paying for eggs.

‘Keep The Rage Up’: Tampa Bay Abortion Fund Ramps Up Work In FL

The Tampa Bay Abortion Fund raised more than $650,000 last year to assist more than 2,200 abortion-seekers in the area, a report said.

FL Lawmakers Reject DeSantis' Special Session, Call Their Own

Gov. DeSantis called a special session to support President Trump's immigrant deportation plan, but lawmakers ended it and called their own.

La Niña Has Developed: Will The Rest Of Winter Feel Like Spring In FL?

A weak La Niña weather pattern has developed that's affecting Florida. Could it take the sting out of the rest of our winter?

These Are The Best FL Colleges For Online Degrees: US News

How many Florida schools made U.S. News' 2024 Best Online Programs for college degrees ranking? See the list.

2 Cuban Nationals Found With Credit Card Skimming Devices: FL Troopers

Two Cuban nationals pulled over on I-75 in FL were found with 4 credit card skimming devices, 20 fake credit cards, state troopers said.

Arrest Made In North Sarasota Shooting: Police

Local police and the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force arrested a Sarasota man Monday morning for a shooting earlier this month.