NewsTalk 730

Federal money is flowing to support local immigration enforcement as public opposition plays out in the streets. The Highlands County Sheriff’s Office has received more than two hundred thousand dollars in grants for detention support, transportation, and equipment tied to ICE-related cases. Sheriff Paul Blackman says the funding does not authorize patrols or raids. Even…

A Sebring man faces four charges after a rollover crash early Wednesday morning at the entrance to Lakeshore Mall. Jonathan Christopher Payne, 37, was charged with DUI, refusal to submit to testing, refusal to sign citations, and DUI causing damage. According to police, Payne’s SUV rolled onto its side after attempting a left turn across…

All Florida Department of Health offices in Highlands County will be closed Monday, January 19, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, with normal hours resuming Tuesday. In addition, drivers should expect several road closures in downtown Sebring for the annual MLK Day Parade, which begins at noon. Staging and parade routes will temporarily…

Highlands County will open a warming center as freezing temperatures move into the area. With a Freeze Watch in effect, the center will open Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Bert J. Harris Jr. Agricultural Center in Sebring and close Friday at 7 a.m. The shelter is available for anyone without adequate heat or shelter.…

Avon Park City Council voted 3–2 Monday night to move interim City Manager Jason Atkinson closer to a permanent role. The decision comes after interviews with three candidates, with council citing Atkinson’s public works background as a key strength. Final approval is pending follow-up with his previous employer. Atkinson says his focus is restoring stability…

Highlands County residents are invited to a Town Hall Meeting preview focused on key local issues. The event takes place Wednesday, January 14th, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the South Florida State College University Center Auditorium, Building B. Highlands County Commissioner Don Elwell and members of the county’s executive team will be on hand…

A dramatic protest has ended with charges dropped against a Sebring man who went on a hunger strike to prove his innocence. Felix Tellez was arrested after a minor traffic stop in November, despite later testing at zero blood alcohol and negative for drugs. Prosecutors dismissed the case, closing a high-profile dispute that spotlighted DUI…

Highlands County Fire Rescue responded Thursday morning to a brush fire on Afton Road off U.S. 98 in Sebring. Crews were dispatched just after 11 a.m., with deputies evacuating three nearby homes as a precaution. By mid-afternoon, the fire had burned about 10 acres and was nearly fully contained. No injuries were reported and all…

Highlands County Fire Rescue responded to a mutual aid call Tuesday night to assist the Avon Park Fire Department at a commercial structure fire in the 1400 block of Oleander Drive. The call came in around 7:36 p.m., where multiple tractors were reported on fire. The fire has been extinguished, but a pole barn was…

An extension of the burn ban is now in effect across all of Highlands County. Fire officials say the mandatory ban runs from January 6, 2025, through February 18, 2026, unless lifted earlier due to improved conditions. Campfires, bonfires, yard waste burning, fireworks, and outdoor fire pits are prohibited. Cooking is allowed only on contained…