talk about trying to protect man's best friend....

 a polk county church gave a local k-9 dog... his very own bulletproof vest. money raised by the 'first presbyterian church' youth group... paid for this vest... for 'ringo.'

 he and...

A 23-year-old man reported missing Sunday is found dead near his car in Avon Park.

Maybe he was bored. Maybe he just likes prank phone calls.

An Avon Park man faces fraud charges after reportedly pretending to be his twin brother after he was pulled over for driving under the influence.

Investigators said three people are in custody and are being questioned.

The driver told FHP she did not see the 1-year-old.

Officer Adam Willis is charged with armed burglary and grand theft.

All South Florida Community College campuses and off-site locations in Highlands, Hardee, and DeSoto counties will be closed effective 5 p.m., today,

The city of Avon Park voted down a controversial illegal immigration ordinance. The proposed ordinance would have penalized businesses that hire illegal immigrants and landlords that rent to them.

The Avon Park city council is casting a final vote today on the Illegal Immigrant Relief Act. It would make English the city's official language and impose fines for those who offer jobs, services or housing to illegal immigrants.

After hearing about another city's ordinance, the Mayor of a small central Florida city is proposing a similar ordinance. It would make English the city's official language, and who anyone needs services at city hall would have to speak English.

Avon Park leaders are considering revising a proposed ban on assistance to illegal immigrants after learning its broad scope might block the construction of a Wal-Mart.

According to a report by the National Wildlife Federation, US military installations are battling wild hogs, snakes and other trouble-making species.

Police in Georgia say a woman in her 60s was killed when a deputy's car slammed into her vehicle during a high-speed chase of a Florida jail fugitive.