Local News from NewsTalk 730

A new draft plan from Highlands County School Superintendent Brenda Longshore proposes cutting 19 district-level positions for the 2026–2027 school year. The reductions focus on administrative, instructional, and support roles at the district level, including positions in academics, transportation, maintenance, and food services. School-based staff are not included in this draft. The School Board will Continue reading

Authorities in Avon Park are investigating a deadly overnight hotel fire that left two people dead. Dispatch received the call just before 2 a.m. Friday at the Econo Lodge. Deputies and fire crews arrived within minutes to find a second-story room filled with smoke. An adult man and woman were discovered inside and pronounced dead Continue reading

The Highlands County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to assist with immigration enforcement in Highlands County through federal programs that allow deputies to issue detainers. Since 2025, trained deputies can identify individuals during arrests and coordinate with ICE. Data shows 61 encounters with suspected unauthorized immigrants, most involving local charges. Continue reading

A wandering alligator caused a stir this past Sunday at a construction site in Avon Park, where a deputy with the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office stepped in to handle the situation. Body camera footage shows Deputy Gage Massey wrangling the gator using a piece of PVC pipe—while wearing a rain jacket—before guiding it into the Continue reading

The Highlands County School Board is continuing discussions on proposed changes to the Code of Student Conduct, with ongoing concerns surrounding the future of the Academy program in Sebring. Board members remain divided over a proposal to move students to virtual learning at home, citing concerns about attendance, supervision, and overall student success. Officials say Continue reading