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When Ron and Dot Gilbert heard a “pitiful cry” coming from the side of their Leesburg home, they didn’t mind ripping apart their hedges and flower garden to find the source: a tiny female kitten they rescued, shivering from hunger and fear. However, when the sound of furious meowing continued emanating from underground, the elderly couple knew they needed professional assistance.

The northbound lanes of South Westshore Boulevard will be closed between West Melrose and West Clear avenues beginning at 9 a.m. tomorrow morning while the Tampa Water Department repairs a water main break. Barricades and signs will be located in the area to assist with traffic flow. Please use caution when traveling in the area.

The Lake County Solid Waste Division, in partnership with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, is encouraging Lake County residents to dispose of unwanted household hazardous materials and medications in a safe and environmentally conscious way at an upcoming collection event

Florida-based WRB Enterprises to develop Clarendon solar photovoltaic facility $47 million OPIC loan catalyzes private sector support for White House Caribbean Energy Security Initiative

Miami’s luxury properties saw a significant year-over-year rise in median sales prices in the first quarter of 2015, according to the MIAMI Association of REALTORS® (MIAMI), the nation’s largest Realtor group with 36,000 members. Single-family homes priced at $1 million or above had a median sales price of $1.7 million in the 2015 first quarter, a 6.25 percent increase from $1.6 million in the 2014 first quarter. Luxury condos also had a median sales price of $1.7 million in the first quarter of 2015, a 13.3 percent spike from $1.5 million in the 2014 first quarter

Demand in South Florida’s commercial real estate market is producing low vacancy rates and a number of major developments in an array of sectors, according to local experts at the third annual Miami Association of REALTORS® Commercial Alliance Midyear Update that took place recently in Coral Gables. Five of South Florida’s top real estate professionals discussed Miami’s booming retail market as well as local developments in the multifamily, capital markets, industrial, and office sectors in an event presented by the MIAMI Association of REALTORS, the nation’s largest Realtor group with 36,000 members.

Three new boat slips along with a kayak/paddle board launch have opened at Water Works Park in historic Tampa Heights just in time for the Independence Day holiday this weekend.

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) announced the conclusion of a sting operation that identified unlicensed contractors in the Jacksonville area. Working together with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) and the Florida Department of Financial Services – Division of Workers’ Compensation, DBPR investigators identified eight unlicensed contractors who were allegedly advertising for contracting services, such as electrical, plumbing or roofing, which require a Florida license

The Lake County Board of County Commissioners will hear the county manager’s budget summary presentation for fiscal year 2016, which includes certified property values and constitutional budgets, at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7.

Many families across Florida and the nation will spend the Fourth of July holiday away from home, soaking up sun on the state’s beautiful beaches, traveling to see relatives or visiting friends for a backyard barbecue

The Lake County Solid Waste Division is encouraging Lake County residents to dispose of toxic materials in a safe and environmentally sensitive way at an upcoming Household Hazardous Waste Collection event. The County’s Household Hazardous Waste Mobile Unit will be on site from 9 a.m. – noon on Thursday, July 2 at the Central Solid Waste Facility Collection Center, located at 13130 County Landfill Road, Tavares.

The Florida Division of Insurance Fraud today announced the arrest of Dr. Troy Godsey and Renata Berriel Deazevedo for their roles in a scheme to defraud multiple insurance companies of more than $100,000

Representing Florida’s Realtors and the interests of the state’s real estate industry, Florida Realtors® President Andrew Barbar and CEO Bill Martin are back from a recent trade mission in France with Gov. Rick Scott and key business leaders. The group met with French companies and individuals to emphasize the affordability and opportunities for real estate investment in Florida and to show “Florida is a great place to do business.”

“For the 9th consecutive month, St. Lucie County has seen a double digit increase in median sale price of single family homes. Both buyers and sellers are benefiting from this significant boost in our market indicators. Sellers are motivated by the steady equity increase being recuperated, and buyers gain the advantage of our reasonably priced homes compared to surrounding areas. St. Lucie County is poised for major growth and re-development.” ─ Kathy J. Slusser, Northern Vice President of the Realtors® Association of the Palm Beaches (RAPB).

The Palm Beach County market has accelerated, according to year-over-year statistics for May. For single family homes, median days on market dropped a whopping 25.0 percent (56 to 42 days), and closed sales bumped up 6.0 percent (1,640 to 1,739 transactions). Median sale price rose 4.8 percent from $281,900 to $295,000, falling just below the $300,000 mark we broke the previous month

“May’s inventory of single family homes in Martin County has dropped 35% from last year to an unprecedented 4.8 months. Although the median sale price remained virtually unchanged, the average sale price moved up 13% to $416,314 compared to last year. All great news to hear if you are a Seller, but a Buyer will have fewer opportunities to find those “deals”.

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater today announced the arrest Thomas Harry Penquite and Maria Lourdes Gutierrez, both of West Palm Beach, after an Office of Fiscal Integrity investigation discovered that the two allegedly concocted an elaborate scheme designed to steal more than $730,000 from the state of Florida’s unclaimed property program

Mayor Bob Buckhorn released the following statement today following Governor Scott’s signing of the 2015 state budget. This year’s budget included funding critical to the relocation of the University of South Florida (USF) Morsani College of Medicine to downtown Tampa.

Tightening inventory continued to impact Florida’s housing market in May, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. Realtors across the state reported rising median prices and fewer days on market for both existing single-family homes and for townhouse-condo properties. Closed sales of existing single-family homes statewide totaled 24,789 last month, up 7.7 percent over May 2014

As part of the City of Tampa’s Downtown Utility Capital Improvement Projects (UCAP), the intersection of W. Fortune St. and N. Macinnes Place will be closed beginning June 23, 2015. Flagmen will be present to guide motorists through the construction work. The intersection will re-open Tuesday, June 30, 2015.