— Most of the people who filed into the cafeteria of Pierce Middle School for a Tuesday evening meeting brought with them a worry about future hurricanes and they want Hillsborough County to do more to calm those fears if I had done my job like they’re doing their job Mullins thinks his property on Thatcher Ave in Egypt Lake-Leto flooded during last year’s storms because nearby canals and ditches were overgrown with shrugs or clogged with trash Hillsborough County is studying what went wrong during Hurricanes Helene and Milton and what drainage problems should be fixed Commissioner Harry Cohen and other county leaders heard directly from people like Mullins who live in and around the Egypt Lake-Leto/Town ‘N’ Country area Seven future meetings will examine what went wrong in other neighborhoods across Hillsborough County it may have been preventative maintenance,” Cohen said “The only way that you can make intelligent spending decisions is to prioritize based on what the needs are.” WATCH: Town 'N' Country homeowners urge county to make drainage fixes before future storms Cohen said Hillsborough County can likely use federal funds and its Community Investment Tax to start tackling the problems “We’ve had some people from the county telling us that improvement might be coming We can’t wait that long,” said Russell Habel He and Partho Roy want faster fixes because they said their community is vulnerable until change happens “We need to clean out these drainage canals put more money in the budget for our district,” Roy said the study will be complete and presented to county commissioners in June Here is a list of the remaining seven meetings where you can give your input: Residents can also provide input virtually from April 15 to May 19 at HCFL.gov/HCengage Report a typo the two-minute walk from his doorstep to his car can feel like a treacherous journey he must carefully tip-toe down from the curb and into the driver’s seat to avoid soaking his feet in a filthy puddle the parking lot at the Lake Azzure apartment complex where he lives has been inundated with shin-deep standing water Heavy rain Monday night raised the water level even higher “To think that hundreds of families are living in this sewer He and other residents accused management of ignoring the situation the company that owns the complex said it’s not for lack of trying Regional manager Rick Cowan said they’ve spent weeks navigating a bureaucratic gauntlet of city county and state agencies just to get permission to clear the mess Kiffani Irby tips her toes through flood water to get into her Toyota in a parking lot on Friday at the Lake Azzure Apartments in the Egypt Lake-Leto neighborhood of Tampa CLIFFORD | Times ]“We understand that this has been a very difficult situation for the residents,” Cowan said “We’re working within the system and trying everything to get the water out of there as fast as we can.” This is the eighth installment of Housing Horror Stories, an occasional series exploring the unique challenges that come with buying or renting in Tampa Bay. Reporters from the Tampa Bay Times visited the property — at 8505 Lincoln Cove Drive, just outside Tampa city limits — on Friday and spoke with residents as they slogged through murky waters. Though the parking lot occasionally flooded after storms, the problem escalated when Hurricane Debby dumped nearly seven inches of rain on Tampa early this month. In the immediate aftermath, the water was knee-deep in certain areas and spilled onto the sidewalk, tenants said. Since then, he said they’ve spent weeks trying to come up with a plan for where to pump the water and receive approval from county officials. Subscribe to our free DayStarter newsletter You’re all signed up!Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started. Cowan said he was also communicating with the city and the Southwest Florida Water Management District, a state agency. But representatives from both said they have no jurisdiction. By Friday afternoon, Cowan said they got the go-ahead to resume pumping. But rain in the forecast may thwart their plans to finally dry out. As of Tuesday morning, the water was higher than it’s ever been after a downpour the night before, residents said. Some were unable to drive in or out of the parking lot at all. A photo taken by a resident at Lake Azzure shows the water levels as of Tuesday morning. A heavy downpour the night before added to the existing flooding. [ Jackson Denly ]“Multiple pipe failures within the apartment complex’s outfall system are contributing to the flooding,” Josh Bellotti, the Director of Engineering & Operations for Hillsborough County said in a statement. One source of the problem is a blocked drain that runs under Himes Avenue. Bellotti noted that county officials will continue to work with apartment management to pump the water and repair the pipes. Cowan said that a lake behind the property overflowed into the parking lot. He said they’d like to come up with a plan to prevent future flooding, but that it’s unclear who owns the lake. A map from the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser shows that the lake is split between two parcels, one owned by Lake Azzure and the other by a neighboring apartment complex called Innovo Living on the Water. The parking lot for Innovo Living showed no signs of flooding. Tenant Julianna Diaz, who lives on the first floor of her building, said she’s noticed mold spores in her apartment and a damp feel in the air since Debby. Another tenant, Scarlett Vargas, said the front bumper of her truck was damaged from repeatedly driving through deep water. Julianna Diaz stands near a flooded parking lot on Friday, Aug 23, 2024, where she parks her car at the Lake Azzure Apartments. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]Cowan said they haven’t received any complaints about water getting inside the apartments or damaging vehicles. There are no plans to offer discounts on rent or options for tenants to exit their leases. Rent ranges from $1,255 for a one-bedroom to $2,000 for the largest three-bedroom floorpan, according to apartments.com. “This is just one of those acts of God,” Cowan said. Several longtime residents said this is not the first time they’ve experienced problems. They complained about six-foot high mountains of trash piling up near the dumpsters and a pool that’s been closed for months at a time. Cowan said he has never personally witnessed either of those issues. Birds congregate at a pile of trash at the Lake Azzure Apartments on Friday, August 23, 2024. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]When Jackson Denly moved to Lake Azzure three years ago, he said he awoke on his first night to find cockroaches crawling over him. He noticed broken fire alarms and fire extinguishers in his building. Despite his constant complaints both to the front office and the Fire Marshall, things never seemed to improve. So when the parking lot flooded, he did nothing. “I’ve had so many issues in the past, I figured what’s the point?” he said. He plans on moving out early next year once his lease expires. Times Staff Photographer Douglas Clifford contributed to this report. If you have a housing horror story of your own, we want to hear about it. Fill out the form below for an opportunity to be featured in the series. Rebecca Liebson is a reporter covering real estate and housing. She can be reached at rliebson@tampabay.com. TAMPA | A jury found Gerald Declan Radford not guilty Feb. 6 in the fatal shooting of John Walter Lay, a gay man murdered in the Egypt Lake-Leto area’s West Dog Park last year The State Attorney’s Office filed second-degree murder charges against Radford in March 2024 after a death investigation was conducted the month prior They were also seeking a hate crime enhancement The state shared at the time that evidence showed Radford “was the aggressor and was motivated by the fact that the victim was a gay man.” If convicted Lay’s friends and family had shared with law enforcement that Radford “had been harassing him at the park for months hurling homophobic slurs and threatening him.” When announcing the charges State Attorney Suzy Lopez noted that “we should all be able to enjoy a day at the dog park without the fear of gunfire” and that Lay “deserved to live free from fear and discrimination based on his sexual orientation “The evidence shows the defendant’s actions were motivated by hate and he will be held accountable,” she added Radford sought to dismiss the case last December testifying that Lay repeatedly hit him in the face prior to the shooting His attorneys cited Florida’s stand-your-ground law in his defense arguing at this month’s trial that their client acted in self-defense 3 before jurors heard from the prosecutors and the defense Feb The case’s six-person jury deliberated for around 2.5 hours before acquitting Radford Feb “Prosecutors argued that Radford shot Lay during a fight without the legal justification to use deadly force, and was motivated by the fact that Lay was gay,” the Tampa Bay Times reported “They had to build a case without any eyewitnesses or video surveillance of what unfolded on the morning of Feb The outlet also noted that Radford’s defense attorney “told jurors in his closing argument that prosecutors presented no evidence that contradicts Radford’s account [in which] Lay was committing felony battery on Radford which gave him the right to use deadly force.” Lopez subsequently responded to Radford’s acquittal in a statement “We respect the jury’s decision in this case and thank them for their service We especially thank the community members who stepped up in the hours and days following the shooting to provide critical information that helped law enforcement investigate this case,” the State Attorney shared “While it is not the outcome we sought we are proud to stand with Walt’s friends and family as we fought for justice together,” she continued “The fact that this victim was forced to endure hatred and prejudice from the defendant based on his sexual orientation shows that our society still has progress to make toward equality.” Sign up to receive our weekly newsletters today Dhruv Development began construction on the hotel in January HomeTowne Studios Tampa – Airport is now open in Tampa The 124-room hotel will be operated by Dhruv Management “The HomeTowne Studios Tampa – Airport is the first in the brand to feature the new prototype which sets new standards for updated guestroom aesthetics as well as improved operational efficiency,” said Zack Gharib “Guests in central Florida have the opportunity to experience a new kind of economy extended-stay lodging—one that also meets the needs of the franchising community and of which we can all be proud.” The hotel is near Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park Historic Tampa Gulf Coast Railroad Trestle Bridge and the Museum of Science and Industry It features a business center and other amenities Dhruv Management and Dhruv Development are also building a HomeTowne Studios in Bradenton with four additional properties in various stages of development “Tampa is the perfect market to introduce the new and improved HomeTowne Studios and Vijay Patel at Dhruv Management and Amit Patel at Dhruv Development are the perfect partners in this endeavor,” said Matthew Hostetler “This addition to the Red Roof family of hotels will offer guests a reimagined and elevated extended-stay experience.” Amit Patel expressed excitement about partnering with Red Roof on their new extended-stay hotels “Red Roof is more than a franchisor; they are deeply involved in every franchisee partnership from the moment a deal is signed,” he said from securing approvals to breaking ground With Red Roof’s continued commitment to hospitality fundamentals we are confident in the future of this hotel.” In January, Dhruv Development began construction on this hotel and a new HomeTowne Studios in Bradenton, Florida. In December Red Roof opened a 41-room Red Roof Inn in Hutchins who was introduced to the brand by an existing franchisee friend CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL began its 69th Annual Convention themed “Powering the Future,” at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on April 29 The three-day event opened with a keynote by Choice President and CEO Patrick Pacious before thousands of owners operators and industry partners from around the world The event includes 100 educational sessions, a trade show for owners to connect with vendors, and brand sessions where Choice leaders outline focus areas and company investments to drive revenue and reduce costs, Choice said in a statement Pacious opened with a message: Choice Hotels is not just bigger “Everything we do at Choice Hotels is about delivering value to hotel owners The stronger we and our franchisees grow together the more we can reinvest in their future success,” said Pacious “With 22 brands ranging from economy and midscale to upscale the company leverages its growing size to strengthen value for owners by increasing revenue opportunities reducing operating costs and supporting long-term business success.” Some results achieved by Choice and its owners include: The company's scale has enabled strategic investments in proprietary tech tools and support systems that help its hotels stand out “Becoming bigger has allowed us to build a better and stronger business for you,” Pacious told the crowd Choice’s business revenue increased 45 percent year-over-year in the fourth quarter with transient business revenue in upper midscale rising 20 percent Business travel now accounts for 40 percent of all stays Preferred Hotels & Resorts and Westgate Resorts along with a strengthened Choice Privileges loyalty program Choice Hotels is driving more guests to its properties and marketing channels AARP members booked more than 1.1 million room nights at Choice hotels in 2024 and hotels with an official AAA appointment saw an average return on investment of $50,000 The program’s enhancements — longer booking windows premium room redemptions and exclusive experiences — have driven a 30 percent increase in redemptions and 13 percent growth in average length of stay More redemptions have increased loyalty and Elite memberships with 20 percent of redemption stays including a paid night Choice has integrated artificial intelligence for more than five years revenue management and new business tools to help owners grow Choice launched an initiative to develop and implement a suite of capabilities to be delivered over the next two years Choice recently launched new prototypes for Comfort and Country Inn & Suites refining their brand identities and introducing new features to drive growth a brand that marked its 85th anniversary last year Pacious stated that the company plans to stay ahead by continuing to invest where it matters most the company marked the opening of its 500th property and continues to innovate with solutions like “Lobby in a Box” and “Kitchen in a Box,” making conversions easier and faster Choice brands accounted for half of all economy and midscale extended stay hotels open and under construction in 2024 Choice said its Everhome Suites brand is growing quickly with 25 hotels projected to open by the end of 2025 The WoodSpring Suites brand continues to operate under a proven formula with gross operating profits above 55 percent Pacious stated that “today’s Choice is the industry’s one to watch” in the upscale and upper upscale segments where the company’s growing presence is driven by strategic investments and a series of brand refreshes designed to stand out Upscale-and-above room count rose 44 percent to more than 110,000 rooms in 2024 and Choice Privileges members now have access to 180,000 upscale rooms including through partnerships with Westgate Resorts and Preferred Hotels & Resorts Pacious closed with a message of momentum: Choice Hotels is delivering and has plans for the future "From midscale and extended stay leadership to AI-powered transformation Choice’s scale isn’t just making it bigger — it’s making it better," he said is powering new possibilities for hotel owners ready to grow alongside one of the industry’s most forward-looking franchisors." In April Choice Hotels International hosted its 10th MasteryX tech summit in Scottsdale with 650 associates exploring tech solutions to boost revenue PEACHTREE GROUP RECEIVED I-956F approval from U.S the agency that oversees the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program for the under-construction SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Bryce Canyon The I-956F approval marks a key step in Peachtree’s efforts to facilitate EB-5 investment This is the company’s third hotel development to receive I-956F approval, following approvals for the Home2 Suites by Hilton in Boone, North Carolina, and the TownePlace Suites by Marriott in Palmdale, California, Peachtree said in a statement “Securing USCIS approval for this project marks an important milestone,” said Adam Greene “It underscores our ongoing focus on structuring and originating capital for high-quality developments that drive economic impact and long-term value for investors and communities.” Atlanta-based Peachtree is led by CEO and Managing Principal Greg Friedman Peachtree originated $16.95 million in floating-rate construction financing over a three-year term for the 127-room SpringHill Suites near Bryce Canyon National Park which draws more than 2 million visitors annually for its unique geological formations The hotel is slated for completion by mid-2025 well-located new developments are positioned to outperform their competitive set,” said Greene and the firm has retained an equity stake aligned with our EB-5 investors—reinforcing our commitment and tying our success to theirs.” Peachtree launched its EB-5 program in 2023 as a key financing tool for job-creating projects nationwide The firm remains committed to offering high-quality investment and development opportunities through its growing EB-5 portfolio The EB-5 visa program allows foreign investors to apply for a green card by investing in a new U.S A minimum investment of $800,000 in a project that generates or preserves at least 10 full-time U.S jobs qualifies investors for permanent residency Peachtree recently opened the 87-suite TownePlace Suites Forney in Forney THE 2025 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show is over but the partnerships announced during the show will go on The theme of AAHOACON25 was "New Ideas New Orleans," and more than 5,000 registered attendees filled the New Orleans Ernest N Morial Convention Center for the conference AAHOACON25 also had nearly 500 exhibitors occupying 85,000 square feet of exhibit space, according to AAHOA The event featured around 20 education sessions a do-it-yourself product demo experience known as The Garage on the Trade Show Floor including the Block Party at Fulton Street "The enthusiasm and engagement at AAHOACON25 truly showcased the strength of our community," AAHOA Chairman and AAHOACON25 Convention Chairman Kamalesh ”KP” Patel said "From the launch of new member benefits to invaluable networking and educational opportunities this convention reinforced AAHOA's role as a leader in the hospitality industry We also welcomed the return of major hotel brands like Marriott further underscoring the significance of AAHOACON as a premier event for the industry It's an incredible way to begin my tenure as Chairman and I look forward to building on this momentum in the year ahead." Announcements at AAHOACON25 included: and community," AAHOA President & CEO Laura Lee Blake said this year's event reinforced why AAHOACON is the must-attend gathering for hotel owners The energy and engagement we saw in New Orleans will carry forward as we continue to champion the interests of our members and the industry at large." RECENTLY added the 159-room MC Hotel in Montclair The property is owned in partnership with CSP MC Partners LP an affiliate of Circle Squared Alternative Investments Denver-based Stonebridge is a privately owned hotel management company founded by Chairman Navin Dimond and led by President and CEO Rob Smith The eight-story hotel connects to the Montclair community It includes a ninth-floor rooftop bar and lounge with views of the Manhattan skyline more than 3,000 square feet of rooftop space and more than 8,000 square feet of meeting space Guests have access to seasonal events like the Montclair Jazz Festival in August and the Montclair Film Festival in October “The MC Hotel is an exceptional asset in a thriving market and we’re proud to welcome it to our managed family of Autograph Collection Hotels,” said Smith design and connection to the Montclair arts scene make it a perfect fit for our lifestyle portfolio We look forward to enhancing its performance while preserving its unique identity.” Stonebridge recently promoted 18 team members across operations Explore more guides to help you find what you need Find Your Evacuation Zone the elderly or those without transportation may need assistance in order to stay safe during a tropical storm or hurricane Register for Special Needs Disaster Assistance Contact InformationOffice of Emergency ManagementTampa Fire Rescue808 E More Contact Info General Question? contact us Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInTAMPA (WWSB) - The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Tampa man for murder after a deadly shooting at a dog park deputies responded to the West Dog Park in the Egypt Lake-Leto area for reports of a shooting but Lay was pronounced dead at a local hospital Radford told dispatchers he shot a man in the dog park Radford told them he and the victim were in a “scuffle” when he pulled his gun and shot the victim There were no other eyewitnesses to the incident In the weeks that followed the deadly shooting searching for video connected to this incident speaking with those who are familiar with the men involved and analyzing all evidence HCSO then met with the State Attorney’s Office to present them with the totality of what the investigation uncovered and discuss potential charges The State Attorney’s Office has approved charging Radford with second-degree murder with an enhancement for a hate crime Most of us love our hometowns and only locals are allowed to poke lighthearted fun of the place we call home that fun turns to joking around about the city's name The names of some Florida cities and towns are shrouded in history. Others are more recent. Some just sound fake or even downright strange ➤ Quiz: Test your knowledge of where these cities got their names Let's wander around Florida and take a look at the names of some towns you may recognize but others may leave you wondering if those are the names of real cities Heads up: We will also answer a question that's been the subject of numerous books Where did these names come from? From 'pretty prairie' to 'dead man's creek,' find out origin of Florida city names though the usual combination is "opillakpo." Odds and ends when it comes to names of Florida citiesCelebration: This master-planned community near Orlando was originally developed by Walt Disney Company.Doctor's InletDoctor PhillipsFidelisFluffy Landing: Not sure exactly what is so fluffy that it deserved recognition in a name.Lazy LakeLeisure City: Sorry Lazy Lake isn't in Leisure City.Masaryktown: Named after the first president of Czechoslovakia Now you know.Medley: Now this is a place to sing about.Needmore: Not sure if this is a question.NicevilleAstatulaBokeeliaKissimmee: This town has been mispronounced for decades for those looking for a quick laugh.UniversityPersonal names immortalized in the names of these Florida citiesWhen discovering or settling a new place it's not unusual for someone to use a personal name TAMPA | The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Feb. 6 that a death investigation was conducted Feb 2 after the fatal shooting of John Walter Lay a 52-year-old gay man murdered in the Egypt Lake-Leto area’s West Dog Park Deputies investigated the matter just before 8 a.m. No arrest was made and there were no impending charges filed adding that “there is no danger to the public.” According to the Tampa Bay Times which spoke with some of Lay’s friends and family Radford “had been harassing him at the park for months hurling homophobic slurs and threatening him.” The outlet obtained a video in which he chronicled one such incident on Feb “So this morning while I’m walking — and we’re the only two here — he comes up to me and screams at me you’re going to die,’ and I asked him to just leave me alone and so far he has,” Lay says in the recording The Times reached out to Radford who advised via text message that the shooting was self-defense The outlet obtained Lay’s death certificate and reported he was shot with a semi-automatic handgun Lay’s sister Sabrena Lay Hughes publicly shared that her brother had been murdered via social media “My brother John Walter Lay was murdered yesterday,” she wrote Feb “He was shot and killed by someone … that had been harassing him for months and found Johnny alone at the West Dog Park and killed him claiming self defense with no witnesses (convenient for the liar).” Hughes was among those interviewed by the Times She said she wasn’t sure if Lay was targeted because of his sexuality but Will Meyer — described as his best friend — told reporters he was verbally harassed for it Meyer said that Lay and Radford were initially friendly toward one another during dog park visits but that changed during COVID-19 That’s when “Radford found out about Lay’s politics and that he was openly gay,” the Times reported calling him slurs when he was walking in the park.” Watermark reached out to HCSO’s Public Information Office Feb which noted “at this time no arrests have been made and there are not any criminal charges.” Media Relations Manager Jessica Lang added that the “investigation will be handed over to the State Attorney’s Office” at its conclusion which will decide if criminal charges should be filed ShareSaveCommentMoneyPersonal FinanceWill The Tampa Housing Market Crash?ByAndrew DePietro Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights economics and cost of living.Follow AuthorOct 18 10:55am EDTShareSaveCommentThe city of Tampa has seen its median sale price grow by almost 20% year-over-year More August 2022 to $455,000 in August 2023 much of the Sunshine Star State experienced the worst effects Florida was one of the states most impacted by the real estate bubble And its subsequent crash left Florida housing markets picking up the pieces for years The median sale price in Tampa rose by 19.7% from $380,000 in August 2022 to $455,000 in August 2023 Out of the 34 cities in the greater Tampa Bay area the city of Tampa’s year-over-year increase in median sale price is the third highest growth rate in the study Tampa’s current median sale price is way above prices during the pre-pandemic era the median sale price in Tampa was only $222,250 nearly half of 34 cities we analyzed experienced declines in their median sale price year-over-year: Several cities are located right in the middle of the Pinellas Peninsula Most of the other cities are those that are west and south of the city of Tampa The city that experienced the biggest year-over-year decline in home prices is Lealman which is in the central part of the Pinellas Peninsula Petersburg: The median sale price fell by 27% which witnessed the second largest drop in prices is in the south of the Pinellas Peninsula: Its median sale price fell by 22% Of the 34 cities in the Tampa metro area we analyzed seven housing markets experienced double-digit annual growth rates in their home prices Two of these are pillars of the Tampa metro area — the Tampa housing market and the St They saw their median sale prices rise by 19.7% and 14.3% The other five housing markets are mainly cities near the city of Tampa proper Prime examples are Carrollwood — 48.1% year-over-year home price growth — and Keystone — 30% year-over-year home price growth many of the cities that witnessed decreases in home prices also saw their inventory build up while its available inventory grew by a remarkable 71.4%: From 56 homes for sale in August 2022 to 96 homes for sale in August 2023 suburbs that are very close to the city of Tampa experienced significant declines while its housing inventory fell by 40.5%: From 84 homes for sale in August 2022 from 11,727 homes for sale in August 2022 to 10,519 homes for sale in August 2023 From 1,683 available homes for sale in August 2022 the Tampa housing market saw its inventory drop by 22.2% down to 1,310 homes for sale in August 2023 Redfin refers to this measure as days on market which represents the monthly median days on market a home for sale sits before being taken off the market the median number of days on market of a home for sale rose from 16 days in August 2022 to 23 days in August 2023 equal to an annual increase of roughly 43.8% the year-over-year increase in the median days on market was smaller — 11.1% — rising from 18 days on market in August 2022 to 20 days on market in August 2023 Below is a table detailing the trends in days on market in the 35 areas we analyzed in the greater Tampa housing market: On the question of whether the Tampa housing market will crash As with so many housing markets across the country the Tampa housing market has experienced moderation in housing market activity an outright crash doesn’t appear to be reflected in the data If the Tampa housing market were in the midst of a housing bubble and homes weren’t selling typically listed homes for sale would have their prices slashed The very opposite has occurred in the Tampa housing market Out of the 34 cities we analyzed 30 of them saw the percentage of active listings with price drops decline year-over-year the percentage of active listings with price drops fell by more than a fifth (20.9%): From 49.7% in August 2022 down to 39.3% of active listings in August 2022 Florida historically has had high rates due to natural causes like hurricanes and flooding. A recent report from Bankrate showed the annual average for car insurance rates across the country Florida was the second highest-paying state your coverage can change over several factors: your age According to the recent report from Bankrate, Florida drivers spend about 5.69% of their income on car insurance on average. The average annual premium is $3,945 (about $ 1,402 more than the national average). To break the price down by Tampa Bay area counties, we went to valuepenguin.com They updated the cheapest and best car insurance quotes in Florida for January 2024 Value Penguin collected thousands of rates from every ZIP code in Florida for the largest car insurance companies Quotes are for a 30-year-old man with good credit who drives a 2015 Honda Civic EX is the cheapest city for car insurance in Florida but what are Florida lawmakers doing to help curb this There is a new law being proposed in Florida that would make it a third degree felony to buy, possess or sell any stolen catalytic converters Thieves can take the “cats” (catalytic converter) in about a minute and this bill will head to the House for a vote Carfax  released the list of the 10 top vehicles targeted for catalytic converter theft in Florida and all regions of the United States Catalytic converters contain metals such as rhodium, palladium, and platinum which can be turned around and sold for thousands of dollars. To put this into perspective, currently (at the time of writing this) rhodium is selling for $4,200.00 and gold is selling for $1913.00.  If someone does steal your catalytic converter you’ll know immediately because it will be very loud The catalytic converter passes air from the engine and out through the muffler You may also experience darker exhaust and you will might a warning light on the dash telling you something isn’t right One of the best ways to keep you and your vehicle safe from thieves is to know your surroundings. Remember to park your vehicles in a well lit area especially if you have fleet vehicles for business. You can even install a catalytic converter anti theft device and if you want to take that extra step. Carfax suggests etching you VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) on the converter itself Now that we've given some background on what you can do to prevent your vehicles' catalytic converters from theft lets get into this list on the top 10 vehicles targeted for catalytic converter theft in Florida One of the hottest rucks on the market for consumers at the moment Be sure to park in a well lit area if you have a new Tacoma These big family vehicles are easy targets for thieves Make sure you know your surroundings before parking these trucks These are becoming more and more popular as a family adventure SUV If you're taking a Travers eon a road trip make sure to park near cameras or lights in the hotel parking lot If you're parking this truck in your driveway use a motion sensor camera to help keep it safe If your truck sounds much louder you'll know if your catalytic converter was stolen One of the most popular SUVs in America and for law enforcement officers Definitely watch where you park with this one If you own a business or use these vans for fleet Fleet vehicles are among the highest targets for thieves if you have one of these be sure to check your surroundings A very popular sedan in Florida and a daily commuter Make sure you're parking in your garage if you have one or near a motion camera in your driveway the Outlander is the second most popular vehicle thieves target when stealing catalytic converters The number one selling truck in Florida tops another chart If you have any F series trucks you'll want to remain on high alert and if you think you've had your catalytic converter stolen turn the engine over and listen for a change in your exhaust sound It’s no surprise that Florida is a strange place with odd headlines about the Sunshine State popping up virtually every day And when it comes to the different places you can visit in Florida Below are 33 places in Florida that have some of the strangest names around This planned community got its name from the Ave Maria Development Company The company is a partnership including the Ave Maria Foundation led by Roman-Catholic philanthropist Tom Managhan — who also happens to be the founder of the Ave Maria Catholic Church and Domino’s Pizza Mary,” and it’s commonly used in prayers during Catholic worship Much of the area is built around Roman Catholic ideology as Managhan reportedly wanted to establish a community that would be attractive to Catholics This 9-acre island is actually Pine Key — though after becoming a hotspot for local boaters to go party it earned the de facto moniker “Beer Can Island.” though entrepreneur Russell Loomis and three of his friends purchased the island in 2017 and turn it into an official party hotspot This Florida town gets its name from the town of Bowling Green after one of its residents moved to Florida in 1883 the Kentucky town got its name from Bowling Green Square in New York City which is where rebels in the American Revolution tore down a statue of King George to make lead bullets The square was called “Bowling Green” because it was a park where people could go to bowl in the early 1700s this historic Florida town started off as a supply fort built on Christmas Day in 1837 during the Second Seminole War and it’s become known for its myriad of holiday features — including a U.S Post Office with a “Santa box” where children can drop off their letters to the big man up north Cockroach Bay is a wilderness preserve and state park in Tampa Bay but its name is actually thanks to the abundance of horseshoe crabs in the area there used to be so many horseshoe crabs in the bay that Spanish explorers mistook them for seafaring cousins to actual cockroaches While there aren’t many records online about this community its name appears to be a portmanteau of the adjacent Croom Wildlife Management Area and the Withlacoochee State Forest Croom was also the name of a nearby ghost town that’s located within the Withlacoochee State Forest Lacoochee (named for the Withlacoochee River) is a community situated a short ways away in Pasco County This small island is located in Florida Bay and is considered part of the Everglades National Park While its name might indicate something less-than-prurient it’s actually named after the Dildo Cactus which is a native species in the Sunshine State this small community isn’t filled to the brim with puppies the name comes from the two mines that were situated in the area “Dogtown” is actually a term that refers to miner camps with poor living conditions so the label has been applied to plenty of communities across the U.S As the name might imply, this area is named after the local Egypt Lake, which itself was called “Hagin Lake” until having its name changed to fit with the fraternal Egypt Temple Shriners in the 1930s Egypt Lake combined with the adjacent town of Leto which got its handle from Ateo Phillip Leto who used to be a well-known educator in Tampa This small community and boat ramp is reportedly named after a Creek Native American phrase the name seems to come from an infestation of Mediterranean fruit flies in 1929 The larvae of this species burrowed into the fruits of citrus trees To prevent these flies from spreading to other areas the state implemented a program to inspect all vehicles traveling into and out of the affected area traffic through the area had slowed to a crawl causing one of the inspectors to hang up a sign reading “Fort Lonesome,” leading to the area’s modern name Four Corners is a distinct area of Central Florida as it’s comprised of land in four separate counties: Lake The census-designated area is also a hotspot for thunderstorms, being considered the nation’s lightning capital just last year This village in Collier County has its roots in the 1800s when founder Johnny Roberts allegedly named the area “Goodland Point” thanks to the 40-acre shell mound left behind by the Calusa Native Americans there are several stories about how this community got its moniker One resident posited that residents used to let their hogs run loose leading to a growing hog population in the area Another legend says that a pet hog named Petunia was the mascot for a local bar — until some of the customers got drunk and decided on a barbecue Other accounts claim the Florida Barge Canal project caused flooding in a nearby swamp which forced hogs to migrate to a part of the forest where pine seedlings had just been planted the hogs rooted up and destroyed the newly planted seedlings the community still embraces plenty of hog-themed traditions including an annual Christmas parade led by “Miss Piggy.” this city was named “Howey” after its founder — William John Howey — in 1925 its name changed to “Howey-in-the-Hills” thanks to the nearby “rolling hills.” According to the Orlando Sentinel this area of Osceola County was originally planned to be a resort that would link the Atlantic and Gulf coasts — appropriately dubbed “Interocean City.” However that project ran out of money by the 1920s Bishop Osie England of the Household of Faith — a denomination of Methodism — purchased the area around a decade later with plans to start an orphanage (though state regulatory burdens forced her to instead build up a school for needy children) A contest was offered to find a better name for the city and the winner suggested “Intercession City” due to the Household of Faith’s incessant prayers this small community got its name thanks to the high number of residents who moved from Michigan Historians claim that “Kalamazoo” in Michigan was allegedly born from the Native American term for the river “Ke-kanamazoo,” which translates out to “the boiling pot.” This town is named after the state — sans the “F.” A train station was established in the town in the early 1900s bearing the name “Lake Istokpoga.” However it was often mistaken for the “Istokpoga” station on the other side of the lake With mail and other goods brought by train getting mixed up who fell in love with Florida’s epithetical Spanish roots — suggested renaming the town “Lorida.” With other residents agreeing the rail station followed suit and adopted the new moniker State historians say that this small town was originally named “Hagan,” though it was forced to rename in 1891 due to confusion with a similarly named town down south One story goes that the postmaster at the time had a girlfriend named “Lulu,” though another story tells it that a visitor to the town named “Lulu Brown” was the first person to step off the nearby train once the town decided to change its name These two islands in the Florida keys are situated right next to each other though not much information is available about where their names come from Sea Seek claims that Woman Key got its name on account of a group of prostitutes who allegedly washed ashore after a Spanish shipwreck the sailors were apparently stranded on the other island This town was first conceived of by the editor of a Czechoslovakian newspaper in New York and it was named in honor of Thomas Masaryk The editor and other Czechoslovakians purchased 24,000 acres of land in the area to develop the town the seat of Lafayette County was named in honor of Col a Confederate soldier and father of Nathan Mayo who was the state commissioner of agriculture in the early 1900s this quiet little community got its moniker from a local country store by the same name no information is available about whether there was any connection between that store and the Big Apple The town was originally named “Boggy” on account of the nearby Boggy Bayou Post Office’s mail boat kept getting confused about which of the many bayous was called Boggy The former postmaster’s daughter suggested “Niceville,” and the option resonated with locals “Okahumpka” is derived from the name of an early Native American village called “Okahumpkee,” which means “deep water” or “lonely water.” This is likely in reference to the nearby Bugg Spring It’s another phrase derived from Native American languages “Sopchoppy” refers to a Creek Native American term that means “long and twisted river,” which likely references the nearby Sopchoppy River It turns out that certain parts of Florida have a history of potato farming The potato industry in this area bloomed in the early 1900s and with so many potato-farming families living there the community decided to adopt the name “Spuds.” it actually stems from an old adage in the area: “We ‘tain’t in Chuluota and it ‘tain’t in Oviedo The area was situated between Chuluota and Oviedo causing locals to push for their own slice of the county to be formally recognized with its own name And after discussing the issue at a local meeting residents decided to give it the comedic label of “Taintsville.” It turns out Hell can be found right here in the Sunshine State Tate’s Hell State Forest can be found in the panhandle near the Apalachicola River a farmer and trapper who got lost in the area back in the 1870s While there are different legends about what happened to Tate but accounts generally agree that between the insects Tate finally wandered out of the forest near Carrabelle where he happened across a couple of local passersby The strangers reported seeing Tate covered in mud and scratches Tate only had two words to say before he collapsed dead at their feet The origins of this small town’s name are obscure though local historian Dale Cox provides a likely theory courtesy of a long-time resident many small communities were unable to get or use cash so bartering with farm commodities became a common practice for many two boys would reportedly visit a local store to trade for two eggs’ worth of sugar And it happened often enough that that store was eventually dubbed “Two Egg Store.” the nickname snowballed until the entire town was labelled “Two Egg” on highway maps “Weeki Wachee” actually stems from a Native American phrase the area was named by Seminole Native Americans with the term meaning “little spring” or “winding river.” This is likely due to the nearby spring and river the latter of which leads over 10 miles to the Gulf of Mexico In 2020, the city of Weeki Wachee was abolished so the land has since become an unincorporated area within Hernando County There are plenty of legends about how Yeehaw Junction got its name though historian Jason Byrne says that only one is correct the origin of “Yeehaw” stems from a Seminole term “eyaha” or “yah-hah,” which means “wolf” or “to howl.” Wolves were once native to Florida though they went extinct around a century ago “Junction” wasn’t added until much later when the Florida Turnpike was built like “Yeehaw Crossing” or “Yeehaw Crossroads.” a crew of Italian and Spanish men came through the Peace River to collect phosphate the Italians nicknamed the region “Zolfo” (meaning “sulphur”) the “Springs” part of the name was tacked on later in 1909 after the town was more developed We might just use your suggestions in a future story Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us / Follow on Social Media Careers at WKMG Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications EEO Report Disability Assistance Copyright © 2025 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group The 41-year-old Tampa man was walking across Dale Mabry Highway near the Humphrey Street intersection when a vehicle driven by a 33-year-old Tampa man struck him around 7:15 a.m., troopers said. The pedestrian was taken to an area hospital, where he later died, the agency said in a news release. The Florida Highway Patrol did not release the name of the man who was killed or the name of the driver. Amy GehrtProduction Editor 2018 at 3:16 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}CARROLLWOOD FL -- A severe storm and tornado warning has been issued for northwest Hillsborough County and western Pasco County including Citrus Park A line of storms is moving in from the Gulf at about 50 mph with gusty winds Residents are urged to stay away from windows and to take cover National Weather Service meteorologists were tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 30 miles west of Hudson to 20 miles west of Palm Harbor to 35 miles west of Anna Maria Movement of these storms was east at 50 mph especially those with outdoor activities or events should monitor the weather closely and be prepared to take quick action Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. 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To see more, visit WUSF Public Media - WUSF 89.7 Tampa businessman Steve Cona announced Tuesday that is running for District 1 seat on the Hillsborough County School Board “Our public schools should be our biggest economic development engine; a place that cultivates and elevates the uniqueness of every student I will work to ensure our students are prepared to be career and college ready I want to ensure we are utilizing all of our current resources to provide the best learning environments for our students,” Cona said in a news release “My expertise and experience will provide a fresh set of eyes and solutions to build the best school district in the country because that is what our Hillsborough County students deserve.” Cona is a Hillsborough County native and the current president/CEO of the Associated Builders and Contractors Florida Gulf Coast Chapter, a position he has held for five years have two children enrolled in Hillsborough public schools Cona is a Republican who once ran for Hillsborough County Commission The special election for the District 1 School Board seat will be on the 2018 ballot alongside the regularly scheduled elections for District 2 District 1 covers northwestern Hillsborough including part of Tampa and the communities of Egypt Lake The winner of the nonpartisan election will serve out the remainder of Valdes’ term Drew Wilson covers legislative campaigns and fundraising for Florida Politics He is a former editor at The Independent Florida Alligator and business correspondent at The Hollywood Reporter covered the state economy and Legislature for LobbyTools and The Florida Current prior to joining Florida Politics This platform and all of its content are owned by Extensive Enterprises Media Publisher: Peter Schorsch @PeterSchorschFL © Copyright by Extensive-Enterprises 2025. All rights reserved. STAFF LOGIN Angel Manuel Molina, 30, of Tampa is facing charges of DUI manslaughter, driving without a valid license involving a death, DUI with property damage and refusing to submit to testing. Molina was driving south on North Dale Mabry Highway at a high rate of speed around 9:40 p.m. when he made a sudden lane change and lost control, according to a news release from the Tampa Police Department. Molina’s car left the roadway, struck a utility pole and ran over a man who was sleeping near the parking lot of the Carrabba’s Italian Grill at 700 N. Dale Mabry, police said. Molina’s vehicle then crashed into the building. Police said Molina’s license was suspended in December 2021. Molina was booked into the Hillsborough County jail, where he was being held without bond on Wednesday. Police have not released the name of the man who was killed because investigators were still working to notify his family, the news release said. Hillsborough court records show that Molina in 2019 pleaded no contest to DUI resulting in property damage or injury, leaving the scene of a crash with property damage and marijuana possession. An arrest affidavit states that he left the scene of a crash in the Egypt Lake-Leto area that caused about $1,000 in damage. Tony Marrero is the criminal justice and breaking news reporter. Reach him at tmarrero@tampabay.com. In the next 40 minutes Thursday evening, authorities say, Antonio Cruz Ortiz would open fire on more than a dozen people, including a Tampa police officer, at locations across Tampa before he was taken into custody. Five people were injured in the apparently random shootings, including the officer. Authorities said none of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening. One man told detectives that Ortiz stared and laughed at him before pointing a gun in his direction and firing a shot. By Friday morning, Ortiz, 31, was in the county jail facing 15 charges. “This had to be a scary moment for (witnesses) to see this person driving around either shooting his weapon or pointing it at people‚” Tampa police spokeswoman Jamel Laneé said at a news conference Thursday night. “We definitely wanted to get this person into custody and that’s what our officer was basically trying to do when the suspect opened fire on him.” Antonio Cruz Ortiz, 31, went on a shooting rampage in Tampa on July 30, wounding at least five people including a police officer, authorities said. [ Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office ]The string of shootings began about 6:52 p.m., when Tampa police received a 911 call about a man firing from a moving vehicle on Westshore Boulevard near the Interstate 275 overpass, police said. Two people were shot there. Details about their injuries were not available Friday. A heavily-redacted arrest report released by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office picks up at 7:25 p.m. in the Egypt Lake-Leto area, when witnesses said a man in a red SUV sped into a parking lot near the intersection of Fountain Mist Drive and Tadpole Lane, in the Coopers Pond Apartments. It was Ortiz, in a 2019 Dodge Durango, the report says. Witnesses told investigators that Ortiz got out and started yelling, then reached into his SUV, pulled out an assault-style weapon and fired one shot, according to the report. Ortiz then got back into his SUV and drove away. The Sheriff’s Office also reported that juveniles gathered at a park on Fountain Mist Drive were shot at by a passing motorist. According to the Sheriff’s Office, at least five people were shot at in this area. None was hit. Moments later, Ortiz pulled up next to a man in a Ford 150 at the intersection of North Dale Mabry and Lambright Street. The man in the Ford told detectives later that Oritz “kept staring at him and laughing,” the report says. Subscribe to our free Stephinitely newsletter When the light turned green and both men began to make the turn onto Lambright, Ortiz pointed a large gun at the Ford driver and fired a single round, then cocked the gun and fired again, the report says. The Ford driver was not hit but at least one of the truck’s tires was flattened. Ortiz drove east on Lambright for about a half mile, where a man in a black Cadillac Escalade was stopped at the intersection with Himes Avenue. The Cadillac driver told investigators he heard multiple gunshots, then his back window shattered. The man quickly turned to pull around the car in front of him. Ortiz kept driving east on Lambright and onto Sligh Avenue. Near Habana Avenue, he pulled next to a Honda Odyssey. The woman driving the Honda told detectives later that Ortiz started yelling at them, then pulled slightly ahead and fired three rounds at them, the arrest report says. The woman’s son told her he was shot, then she felt a pain in her ankle and realized she’d been hit, too. She pulled to a stop on Sligh. Two children in the back of the Honda, ages 4 and 2, were not hit. Ortiz turned onto N 43rd Street, police said, then jumped out brandishing a weapon. He started shooting at the 24-year-old officer, police said, as the officer ducked and backed his vehicle up. Several rounds penetrated the front windshield and shattered the back windshield as the vehicle drove in reverse. The officer did not return fire. Ortiz then ran to the nearby Park Terrace Apartments, police said. Multiple officers descended on the area to search, and a canine tracked him to a third-floor landing, where he was captured. After Ortiz was caught, police found several firearms, including a rifle that matched the description the witnesses gave investigators, the Sheriff’s Office report says. Rounds in the rifle matched the model and caliber found at several of the shooting scenes, according to the report. Tampa police Chief Brian Dugan visited the officer, who has been on the force for 11 months, and said he was in “good spirits.” Ortiz was charged with attempted first degree murder of a law enforcement officer with a firearm; four counts of attempted second degree murder; seven counts of aggravated assault with a firearm; and three counts of shooting at an occupied vehicle. He was being held without bail. Records show Ortiz has one prior criminal charge in Hillsborough County, a petty theft case from 2011 that was later dropped. He has no other prior arrests in Florida. Police tape marks the building in the Park Terrace Apartments where suspect Antonio Cruz Ortiz was arrested Thursday. [ LUIS SANTANA | Times ]A Tampa Bay Times reporter visited three Tampa addresses associated with Ortiz on Friday. No one answered at two. A man who answered the door at the third address, an apartment in the complex where Ortiz was arrested, said he didn’t know Ortiz. Reporters tried more than a dozen phone numbers associated with Ortiz and possible family members but did not reach anyone who knows him. Times staff writers Kathryn Varn and Caitlin Johnston contributed to this report. Tony MarreroMorning Editor and Justice Reporter Josh FialloFormer Times Reporter Juan Carlos ChavezImmigration Reporter Jamal ThaljiFormer Times Staffer shooting and wounding several people including a Tampa police officer during a 40-minute shooting rampage Thursday evening The gunman was later captured and now three different law enforcement agencies are trying to piece together what happened The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as Antonio Cruz Ortiz he was charged with attempted first degree murder of a law enforcement officer with a firearm four counts of attempted second degree murder seven counts of aggravated assault with a firearm and three counts of shooting at an occupied vehicle The Sheriff’s Office reported that Ortiz fired upon at least 11 people in its jurisdiction including the police officer and two people driving on Interstate 275 None of the wounded suffered life-threatening injuries went on a shooting rampage in Tampa on Thursday injuring several people including a Tampa police officer [ Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office ]The shootings took place in the city the Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol are investigating crime scenes in their jurisdictions Authorities received 911 reports from across the city and county from people who said a man was driving around “randomly” aiming a weapon at people and firing it at them “For witnesses who were seeing what was going on this had to be a scary moment for them,” said Tampa police spokeswoman Jamel Lanee' Suspect arrested after shooting at and injuring police officer. @TampaPD, @HCSOSheriff, & @FHPTampa now working coordinated investigation regarding multiple shootings.Details➡️https://t.co/ArQFbwwRjw pic.twitter.com/AwLjXATftC Tampa police said that the first call to 911 was made at 6:52 p.m., when someone reported that a gunman was shooting from a moving vehicle while driving on I-275 near Westshore Boulevard. Police also received a report that two people suffered gunshot wounds on the interstate. Both were expected to survive their injuries. More callers made similar reports near W Cypress Street and N Reo Street, near Memorial Highway. Tampa Police update on a shooting that left an officer wounded in Tampa. The first incident took place at 7:28 p.m. near the 6300 block of Tadpole Lane in the Egypt Lake-Leto area. A vehicle fired gunshots at kids in a nearby park, a resident reported. Deputies were sent to the area but did not find anyone who was injured. Subscribe to our free News Alerts newsletter The next incident took place just after 7:33 p.m Two people called 911 and said they were shot and wounded by a passing driver at the intersection of W Sligh Avenue and N Habana Avenue They did not suffer life-threatening injuries deputies said a driver reported that their tires were shot at by a passing vehicle at N Dale Mabry Highway and Lambright Street The driver pulled into a CVS parking lot and called 911 Deputies said Ortiz also shot at a man who was in his vehicle on Lambright Street west of Himes Avenue a Tampa police officer spotted a vehicle matching the callers’ description headed east on E Hillsborough Avenue The officer attempted what law enforcement calls a “felony traffic stop,” which is when officers take certain precautions because they are pulling over someone who may be armed or dangerous then suddenly jumped out brandishing a weapon He started shooting at the 24-year-old officer as the officer ducked and backed his vehicle up Several rounds penetrated the front windshield and shattered the back windshield as the vehicle drove in reverse A Tampa police officer was shot and wounded late Thursday during what authorities call a shooting rampage that took place across the city of Tampa and Hillsborough County Three people total suffered non life-threatening injuries and the shooter was captured The officer was shot in the area of Hillsborough Avenue and N 43rd Street [ LUIS SANTANA | Times ]The armed man then ran to the nearby Brandywine Apartments at 5029 N 40th St. Multiple officers descended on the area to search for him A canine tracked the man down to a third-floor landing fired more gunshots or surrendered without incident When Tampa Bay Times journalists arrived on the scene more than two dozen police vehicles in the area and a police helicopter hovering above The injured officer was wounded in the arm by gunfire and shattered glass He was taken to Tampa General Hospital for medical treatment Tampa police Chief Brian Dugan visited the officer Authorities did not release the name of the wounded police officer or any of the shooting victims This is a developing story. Stay with tampabay.com for updates Luis SantanaPhotographer Tampa Police update on a shooting that left an officer wounded in Tampa Antonio Cruz Ortiz, 31, appeared via video in a small courtroom in the Hillsborough County Courthouse Annex building. Through a Spanish interpreter, Hillsborough County Judge Joelle Ann Ober ordered that Ortiz continue to be held without bail in the county jail until an Aug. 5 hearing. Prosecutors say they plan to argue at that hearing that he should held without bail until his trial. None of the wounded suffered life-threatening injuries, authorities say. Ortiz faces charges of attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer with a firearm; four counts of attempted second-degree murder; seven counts of aggravated assault with a firearm; and three counts of shooting at an occupied vehicle. More charges are likely to come, Tampa police said. Ortiz said nothing during the hearing. He was represented by an assistant public defender who argued that bail should be set. By 7:25 p.m. he was in the Egypt Lake-Leto area, when witnesses said a man in a red SUV sped into a parking lot near the intersection of Fountain Mist Drive and Tadpole Lane, in the Coopers Pond Apartments, according to a heavily redacted arrest report. It was Ortiz, in a 2019 Dodge Durango, police said. Witnesses told investigators that Ortiz got out and started yelling, then reached into his SUV, pulled out a semi-automatic rifle and fired one shot, according to the report. He then got back into his SUV and drove away. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office also reported that juveniles gathered at a park on Fountain Mist Drive were shot at by a passing motorist. He targeted at least five people, according to the Sheriff’s Office, but hit none. Moments later, Ortiz pulled up next to a man in a Ford F-150 pick-up truck at the intersection of N Dale Mabry Highway and W Lambright Street. The man in the Ford told detectives later that Oritz “kept staring at him and laughing,” the report says. When the light turned green, both men began to make the turn onto W Lambright Street. Ortiz fired two rounds at the Ford driver, the report says. The driver was not hit but at least one of the truck’s tires was flattened. Ortiz drove east on W Lambright Street for about a half mile, where a man in a black Cadillac Escalade was stopped at the intersection with Himes Avenue. The Cadillac driver told investigators he heard multiple gunshots and his back window shattered. Ortiz kept driving east on Lambright and onto W Sligh Avenue The woman driving the Honda told detectives later that Ortiz started yelling at them then pulled slightly ahead and fired three rounds at them then she felt a pain in her ankle and realized she’d been wounded The vehicle of a Tampa Police officer who was wounded when a gunman opened fire on his police cruiser on July 30 The officer was one of five people wounded in a shooting rampage that took place across the city [ LUIS SANTANA | Times ]About 7:35 p.m. The officer attempted what law enforcement calls a “felony traffic stop,” which is when officers take precautions while pulling over someone who may be armed or dangerous Ortiz then ran to the nearby Park Terrace Apartments at 4121 Royal Banyan Dr. Multiple officers surrounded the area and a canine led them to him to the third-floor landing including a rifle that matched witnesses’ descriptions Rounds still loaded into the rifle matched the model and caliber of several shell casings found at the shooting scenes The injured officer was taken to Tampa General Hospital Laneé said it was unclear Friday if he was struck by a bullet or just glass fragments Laneé said the department will likely release his name next week He was released from the hospital on Friday and was resting at home A Tampa Police officer was wounded after a suspect who had been randomly shooting people around Tampa opened fire on him while attempting a traffic stop on July 30 in Tampa. The suspect fled and was later tracked by a police canine and apprehended. [ LUIS SANTANA | Times ]Josh SolomonFormer Times Reporter 2023 at 5:27 pm ETClearwater police said one structure was completely demolished by the tornado (Clearwater Police)Toppled trees from the tornado caused extensive property damage and knocked out power in the area (Clearwater Police )Toppled trees from the tornado caused extensive property damage and knocked out power in the area (Clearwater Police)The tornado flipped heavy trucks over in Dunedin this car was empty when a rain gutter crashed through its windshield in Clearwater roofs flew off apartment and condominium buildings (City of Dunedin)The tornado toppled over and displaced trucks and cars (Clearwater Police )In addition to damaging two homes streets and yards in the area are strewn with debris from fallen tree limbs building materials and unsecured outdoor furniture (Clearwater Police)Toppled trees from the tornado caused extensive property damage and knocked out power in the area (Clearwater Police)In addition to damaging two homes the tornado decimated a structure on North Clearwater Beach (Clearwater Police)Police said the tornado peeled metal roofs off mobile homes like shredding paper FL — Clearwater police are restricting access to the northern part of Clearwater Beach due to the damage from a tornado that touched down early Thursday morning Reports said Dunedin also suffered damage to homes and businesses from the storm The NWS has issued a tornado watch in effect until 3 p.m Manatee and Pinellas counties including the cities of Bayshore Gardens Other counties under the watch include: Alachua Strong thunderstorms will affect parts of Pasco Pinellas and Hillsborough counties through 12:45 p.m radar was tracking a cluster of strong thunderstorms near offshore Pinellas County extending northeast and moving northeast at 40 mph Wind gusts up to 40 mph and possible funnel clouds are a hazard The NWS has now confirmed that at least two tornadoes touched down in Florida early Thursday morning: one in North Clearwater Beach and another in Citrus County "There was significant damage throughout multiple areas in the city," said Crystal River Mayor Joe Meeks who provided photos of the damage including one showing the destruction of the pro shop at the Plantation Resort Golf and Country Club Because the west side of Citrus County experienced significant damage all public school classes were canceled," said Linda Blair public information officer for the Citrus County School District she said all sports and extracurricular activities have been canceled as well we have teams assessing damage at schools and will get more insight into the full scope of damage to buildings once the sun comes up," she said "There are other potential tornado impact areas that we will be assessing based on radar and damage reports photos/videos submitted to us from emergency management and media as well as a wealth of data mined from social media," said NWS meteorologists officers and firefighters were called to the area around Eldorado Avenue just after 2 a.m "It sounded like all heck was busting loose outside," said Clearwater resident Manny Carrasquillo not knowing a tornado hit so close to where I live," said Kathleen Slaven of Clearwater She said she learned how close the tornado was to her home with a neighbor sent her a photo taken near the Carlouel Yacht Club on North Clearwater Beach showing one building that was torn apart and debris strewn throughout the area very blessed there was no damage here," she said police said no injuries have been reported at this time The tornado was spawned by a storm system that swept through Pinellas Pasco Manatee and Hillsborough counties in the early-morning hours but it appears that north Clearwater Beach and Crystal River in Citrus County received the brunt of the damage according to the National Weather Service in Ruskin the city of Dunedin is reporting extensive damage that has forced the city to close the Dunedin Causeway radar indicated a waterspout had formed just offshore of Clearwater Beach near Harbor Bluffs and predicted it would make landfall around Clearwater Keystone and Beacon Square around 1:55 a.m The NWS issued a tornado warning at 1:59 a.m alerting residents that a severe thunderstorm Thursday had been detected over Palm Harbor and near Holiday in Pasco County moving northeast across Pinellas and Pasco counties at 35 mph The NWS said the dangerous storm caused severe damage to mobile homes as well as to the roofs and windows of permanent structures and parked cars meteorologists said the tornadic storm impacted the Keystone Pinellas County emergency management officials are warning residents that higher-than-normal tides may cause minor coastal flooding throughout Thursday morning and into the afternoon Coastal and barrier island residents and those traveling through these areas should prepare for localized flooding Tarpon Springs resident Holly Slay captured a video of the waterspout as it came ashore near the Dunedin Causeway Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. TAMPA — Seeking to keep children fed while they study at home, the Hillsborough County School District has expanded its “grab-and-go” distribution of packaged breakfasts and lunch. As of Friday, the district said its staff had distributed nearly 84,000 meal packages, each containing packaged foods for one breakfast and one lunch. “The need for meals has steadily increased each day this week,” the district said. Feeding sites are open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for students 18 and under. Students must be present to be served. The expansion, from 23 sites to 147, takes effect Monday. Here is the new list of locations, organized by area of the county: Chamberlain High School. [OCTAVIO JONES | Tampa Bay Times]Claywell Elementary Greco Middle School [Times files]Heritage Elementary Members of the Blake High School Yellow Jackets marching band pump themselves up for the Gasparilla parade with a good old fashioned dance battle. [ ILEANA NAJARRO | Times ]Bowers-Whitley Career Center Edison Elementary School in East Tampa. [ TBO ]Ferrell Middle (Girls Prep) Kimbell Elementary School [MARLENE SOKOL | Times] [ MARLENE SOKOL ]Madison Middle Potter Elementary School [Times files]Progress Village Middle Booker T. Washington Elementary [Times files | 2010]West Shore Elementary Jackson Elementary School, Plant City [ Times staff ]Kingswood Elementary Strawberry Crest High School in Dover. (SKIP O'ROURKE | Times file) [ Times (2014) ]Symmes Elementary 2011 at 9:24 pm ETIf you’re traveling north on 56th Street and run the red lights at Riverhills Drive the northbound traffic lights at these three intersections will have active red-light safety cameras taking photographs and videos of red-light runners,” said Mike Dunn “Warning signs will be placed at those locations to alert motorists to the cameras.” The three new cameras will give the city a total of five red-light cameras The two current cameras are located westbound on Bullard Avenue at 56th Street and southbound on 56th Street at Fowler Avenue “The city’s traffic-safety camera program has been in effect since October 2008 and has recorded more than 26,000 violations said Deputy Chief Bernie Seeley of the ,” the press release states “The program is intended to protect motorists cyclists and pedestrians from crashes caused by red-light runners The city will have a warning period at the new camera locations from Sept a violator will be mailed a courtesy warning notice in lieu of a citation The warning notice will be issued to the vehicle’s registered owner Temple Terrace’s red-light traffic camera program is administered by American Traffic Solutions Inc. Each violation is reviewed and approved by the Temple Terrace Police Department before the registered owner of the vehicle is issued a citation The City of Temple Terrace is one of more than 70 communities in Florida and 500 nationwide that use the hotly contested cameras to enhance highway safety Petersburg and Oldsmar voted to install red-light cameras earlier this year Hillsborough County operates red-light cameras at six intersections the sheriff's office issued 33,966 red-light citations The intersection with the most citations issued was Bruce B Other Hillsborough County intersections with red-light cameras include: “Red light runners are a danger to others as well as themselves,” the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office typically comments when it posts videos it has captured of red-light runners impatient or inattentive motorists who run a red light can be detected at certain intersections in unincorporated Hillsborough County.” According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety 113,000 people were injured and 676 people were killed in 2009 in red-light running crashes making Florida the third most deadly state for red-light running crashes However, some motorists say they think that red-light cameras are an abuse of local and state governments’ power. A website called Ban the Cams is a self-described grass roots organization that aims to “restore freedom and sanity to our roadways.” They had a protest at the intersection of Bullard Parkway and 56th Street last year which was posted on Temple Terrace Patch on June 16 received several comments for and against red-light cameras “I definitely am in favor of keeping the cameras,” said reader “Those opposed are most likely the ones that fear getting ticketed because they are the offenders of red-light running.” “Of course stopping at red lights is a good thing,” said “but I would rather help drivers(and safety) by lengthening the yellow light time and truly making intersections safer instead of punishing normally safe driver for technical fouls like rolling over the stop line before coming to a complete stop and making everyone paranoid about running afoul of the eyes in the sky.” Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.