Bringing you the important stuff, like breaking news & weather alerts. But also plenty of fun stories, like sports updates and all those
#WeLiveHere
tales.
"The people in Polk County like guns, they have guns, I encourage them to own guns... And if you try to break into their homes to steal, to set fires, I'm highly recommending they blow you back out of the house with their guns." STORY:
WORLD RECORD! 633 divers in South Florida broke the Guinness World Record for the largest underwater cleanup in history, collecting thousands of pieces of trash from the ocean floor! ๐
6-year-old Jermaine had been saving up money so he could go to Walt Disney World, but he decided to spend that money on food to hand out to Hurricane Dorian evacuees instead ๐๐
Florida man who put car in cruise control before standing in the open sunroof gets pulled over in Polk County, tells troopers he'd rather go to jail than go home to his wife:
BRINGING THE FIRE ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ: WWE superstar Titus O'Neil says "enough is enough" with violence at otherwise peaceful protests. He stole the show at today's press conference with the mayor and police chief.
WATCH MORE:
President Trumpโs cameo in โHome Alone 2: Lost In New Yorkโ was reportedly cut from showings of the movie on Canadian broadcasts. The network says it was to make room for commercials.
19-year-old Mohammed Haitham from St. Pete was one of three victims killed in yesterday's mass shooting in Pensacola. He joined the Navy after graduating from Lakewood High School, where he was a track star. Friends said he died trying to stop the shooter.
DO YOU KNOW THEM? The Hillsborough County Sheriffโs Office is asking for help identifying approximately 200 looters who broke into a Tampa Walmart and stole more than $100,000 worth of merchandise. DETAILS:
DISTURBING: A mannequin dressed in a police uniform and wearing a pig mask was found hanging from an I-95 overpass in Jacksonville Saturday morning in what the sheriff describes as a mock lynching. DETAILS:
A Chick-fil-A worker in North Carolina said he knew the Popeyes had been super crowded and stressful for the employees, so he brought them free sandwiches.
North Port police confirmed that Brian Laundrie's mother Roberta called 911 on Dog the Bounty Hunter when he knocked on the family's front door over the weekend.
WAY TO GO! 6-year-old John Oliver just finished his very last chemo treatment and beat leukemia, so his entire school celebrated by giving him a standing ovation! โค๏ธ๐ญ STORY:
TITLETOWN, USA! The Bucs have just won the
#SuperBowl
, the Lightning won the Stanley Cup and the Rays won the AL pennant! It's a great time to be a sports fan in the Tampa Bay area!
#GoBucs
AMAZING: After a farmer suffered a heart attack in his field, about 60 of his neighbors stepped up and brought their own machinery over to harvest his crops for him. "You help your neighbor out when they need it, and donโt expect anything in return."
A Washington man serving time for a wild police chase found himself sharing a cell with the convicted child rapist who had once victimized his sister โ so he killed him.
#BREAKING
: Gov. DeSantis just announced a new bill that will increase penalties against protesters involved in looting and violence -- increasing the charges to felonies for causing injuries,property damage, or blocking roadways.
In just 3 days, Gov. DeSantis says Florida built a temporary bridge to Pine Island after its lone bridge to the mainland was destroyed by Hurricane Ian. The move allows emergency vehicles and even Publix trucks to get to the island. STORY:
Legendary FSU coach Bobby Bowden says he's recovering following a tough battle with COVID-19: โI've had a chance to to get a lot of wins in my life, but I really wanted to win this one because I wanted to be around to vote for President Trump."
"You don't care as much if it's a 'peaceful protest,'" DeSantis said. "You don't care as much if they're celebrating a Biden election. You only care about it if it's people you don't like. I'm a Bucs fan. I'm damn proud of what they did on Sunday night."
LOMBARDI TROPHY TOSS! Bucs QB Tom Brady threw yet another perfect pass -- but this time, it was the Lombardi Trophy that he tossed to teammates in another boat in the middle of the parade! ๐๐๐
#GoBucs
If passed, Florida high school students would have to take a financial literacy class in order to graduate, which would include lessons on on credit scores, managing credit card debt, types of bank accounts to open, and how to file income taxes.
Los Angeles County is accusing Vanessa Bryant of putting law enforcement officers at risk after the widow revealed the names of the deputies who took and shared photos of the deadly helicopter crash.โ
Florida Highway Patrol released interior view of Trooper Toni Schuck's Tahoe when she put herself in between a speeding DUI suspect and runners in the Skyway 5K Sunday. STORY:
READY TO HELP: Hundreds of utility trucks are lined up at staging areas across the state, including Clearwater, as they prepare to restore power after Hurricane Dorian. Crews from 34 states are now in Florida. Thank you, linemen! STORY:
ALL FLORIDA SCHOOLS TO CLOSE: The state of Florida is shutting down all public schools for two weeks due to the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. DETAILS:
It's a great time to be a sports fan in the Tampa Bay area: the Bucs are coming home for the Super Bowl, the Lightning won the Stanley Cup and the Rays won the AL pennant!
#GoBucs
K9 TITAN IS WALKING! Just days after being shot by a suspect,
@StPetePD
's police dog Titan is up on his feet and walking at Partridge Animal Hospital! STORY:
Rest in peace, Winter. The Clearwater Marine Aquarium says its beloved Winter the dolphin died shortly before 8 p.m. After 16 years, she leaves a legacy of perseverance and inspiration for people around the world. WINTER'S STORY:
'BACK THE BLUE' MURAL: Volunteers painted a mural in front of Tampa Police Department headquarters over the weekend so officers could be greeted this morning with a message of support. STORY:
An Ohio cemetery put out a call to the public after learning that no family members would be attending the funeral of 90-year-old Korean War veteran Hezekiah Perkins. HUNDREDS of strangers showed up to pay their respects over Memorial Day weekend ๐บ๐ธโค
THANK YOU! ๐ Tom Brady and wife Gisele Bรผndchen have donated to Feeding Tampa Bay, which will provide 750,000 meals to children, families and seniors in our area โค
GET WELL SOON! The Polk County Sheriff's Office says their K-9 Vise was stabbed nine times in the head and neck by a burglary suspect. He underwent emergency surgery -- and is thankfully expected to make a full recovery ๐ STORY:
When this airman in Oklahoma saw an elderly woman struggling to carry her groceries in 101 degree heat, he immediately pulled over, loaded her bags into his car, and drove her home. โค๏ธ STORY:
Rest in peace, Zeus: The family's 8-month-old pit bull died after protecting their two children from a coral snake in Sumter County. The snake bit the dog four times.
WILD RIDE: A man climbed to the top of a severely bending palm tree in California to cut the top off with a chainsaw -- and ended up swinging high in the air as the trunk rebounded ๐๐ด
In case you needed a reminder โ
- Bucs win Super Bowl at HOME
- Lightning won the Stanley Cup
- Rays were American League Champions
- Rowdies were USL Eastern Conference Champions
#ChampaBay
QUARANTINE 'CAN'T STOP THE FEELING'! This 97-year-old World War II veteran isn't letting the coronavirus pandemic dampen his spirits! The former Navy pilot has some dance moves that are sure to put a smile on your face! ๐บ๐ธ STORY: (Video:
@sshonorflight
)
This year's Tampa Pride on the River event has been canceled following Governor Ron DeSantis signing multiple bills into law Wednesday, including one that critics call the "anti-drag" bill.
KINDNESS: Former Florida Gator Tim Tebow recently visited a homeless shelter to deliver 50 pairs of shoes to the residents. When he noticed some still didn't have a pair, he reportedly gave one person the shoes off his own feet.
'THE PARTY IS OVER': Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is telling tourists that the Sunshine State is closed for Spring Break: "Maybe come back next year when things are better, but that is not what we're looking for here in the state of Florida." STORY:
"SHAME ON YOU": As soon as Gov. DeSantis started talking during yesterday's briefing in Miami, a protester began shouting over him. "You are an embarrassment. We are getting record-breaking cases every day and you are doing nothing.โ WATCH:
Gov. DeSantis just signed a bill to require high school students in Florida to take a financial literacy class in order to graduate, including lessons on credit scores, managing credit card debt, types of bank accounts to open, and how to file your taxes.
#BREAKING
: A homeowner in Wesley Chapel was playing video games when three armed robbers tried to break into his home early this morning. The homeowner grabbed his gun and shot all three men -- killing two of them.
DADS TO THE RESCUE: The 15-year-old girl told her dad she saw the man peek his head from under the restroom stall next to her, so he and a group of other dads made sure the registered sex offender couldn't run away.
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation Monday banning Chinese citizens from purchasing land in Florida unless they are also a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
ARREST WARRANT FOR PASTOR: Less than 24 hours after the pastor of The River Church ignored the county's "safer at home" order and held services for hundreds of people, the Hillsborough sheriff has issued a warrant for Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne. STORY:
SO SWEET: A 2-year-old boy ran out to hug the pizza delivery driver -- only for the family to later learn the man was mourning the death of his own child. "It was almost as if the universe or my daughter had known and sent it to me," he said. STORY:
Itโs not every day you get to meet your favorite Buccaneers player, but for one Tampa 8-year old battling cancer, he not only got to meet Mike Evans; he got to interview him and even play video games with him.โ
#BREAKING
: Gov. Ron DeSantis says the state of Florida is canceling all testing and school grades for students in the state's K-12 public schools for the remainder of the school year.
Rehan was initially rejected from all of the universities he had applied to, so he got a job as a garbage man to pay the bills. He continued to study hard, and ended up finally getting his college degree. He's now heading to Harvard Law School! ๐
STILL STANDING: Here's a view of Sanibel Lighthouse from this morning. It's still unknown if there was any structural damage. Gov. DeSantis says the causeway that connects the island to the mainland is damaged and will need to be rebuilt. LATEST HERE:
Joshua was diagnosed with stage four testicular cancer when he was just 15 years old, but still managed to keep up with his school work and even taught himself AP Bio while going through chemo. He is graduating on time -- and cancer free!