WFLA Articles: June 25, 2020

Experts predict more at-home fireworks amid the coronavirus ‘It was only a couple of hours’: 18 members of Texas family get COVID-19 after surprise party State sending help to Raymond James testing site; 1,000 people to be tested a day for COVID-19 Second stimulus check: Lawmakers mixed on who gets money and when Search underway for missing Pasco County teen House Democrats pass sweeping police overhaul, Senate stalls Florida trooper, retired marine dies following lengthy illness Homeowners association tells Florida man to take down Blue Lives Matter flag President Trump says coronavirus is ‘going away’; task force disagrees Hillsborough business owner upset with enforcement of mask ordinance Crooks posing as coronavirus contact tracers to steal personal information Tampa Bay moms group looking to disband from national organization after anti-discrimination message Vice President Mike Pence to visit Sarasota next week Police reform bill blocked in Senate: What happens next? After viral video, GoFundMe for Chicago ice cream man surpasses $35K for his retirement Tool or torture? Retired Tampa Bay officer weighs in on chokeholds amid nationwide controversy Storm Team 8 Forecast: Hot Weekend Ahead House poised to pass police reform bill in honor of George Floyd House advances police reform bill but major hurdles still ahead House Democrats rally behind police reform bill, Republicans disappointed 6-month-old baby tests positive for COVID-19 in Sarasota Family calls for full investigation into Manatee County man’s death Window for Senate to pass police reform bill could be closing Can Democrats and Republicans reach deal on police reform? Polk Co. woman kept calling 911 because she needed a ride, police say ‘Until we become immune, we’re not going to get past this’: Some express opposition with Pinellas Co. mask ordinance Woman exposes herself after argument over ‘Black Lives Matter’ etched in the sand, police say Pinellas Co. schools announce several graduation time changes Walmart employees getting another bonus for working through pandemic Man has swastika chest tattoo removed after change of heart Polk Co unemployment rate rises to 19%, fourth highest in Florida Veteran’s win leaves glimmer of hope for others who served in Thailand IHME’s Florida projections paint a grim picture after record amounts of new cases Police reform bills at impasse in Congress Dolphins spotted swimming alongside submarine in Florida US health officials estimate 20M Americans have had coronavirus Some Americans call for replacement of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ with new national anthem Sarasota Memorial Hospital enacting ‘no visitors’ policy again due to COVID-19 concerns CDC adds 3 new coronavirus symptoms to list Three NC police officers fired after talk of ‘slaughtering’ black people caught on video ‘We are where we are’: Gov. DeSantis says Florida not moving to next phase as coronavirus cases increase Pregnant women with COVID-19 are 5 times more likely to be hospitalized Audit: US sent $1.4B in virus relief payments to dead people Woman who intentionally coughed on baby identified as school employee Eiffel Tower reopens, ending 104-day coronavirus shutdown NFL cancels Hall of Fame game, delays inductions until 2021 NASCAR releases photo of noose-shaped pull rope found in Bubba Wallace’s garage Deadly crash snarls traffic on Howard Frankland Bridge Elizabeth Banks to drive ‘Magic School Bus’ onto big screens NYPD officer charged with using banned chokehold Actors union asks Disney to delay opening Florida parks too Saharan dust Q&A: Densest plume in decades bringing hazy, colorful skies to Gulf coast Indiana woman enjoys 100th birthday after surviving COVID-19 Dixie Chicks drop ‘dixie’ from name, now known as The Chicks Woman finds 2.23-carat diamond at Arkansas state park Disney World to re-theme Splash Mountain as ‘Princess and the Frog’ ride Valedictorian with perfect attendance since preschool earns $430K in scholarships Gaither Humane Society Club is teacher’s pet project The Invisible Thinigs Cakes for a Cancer Cure Prodigy Cultural Arts Spa Pedicure At-Home Welcome to the Agrihood Poetry Made Concrete The Return of the Gabber Saving More this Summer Florida coronavirus: State reports over 5K cases for second day Eating Smart / Healthy Living The Doctor Is In: Self-Care During/After Pandemic Newsfeed Now: Sahara dust cloud hits US; Mississippi flag debate Stouffer’s unveils ‘Mac on Tap’ machine Justices rule for Trump administration in deportation case Neurologist: COVID-19 can cause serious brain damage Pandemic takes a bite, Chuck E Cheese files for bankruptcy Georgia lawmakers approve hate crime bill Lawmakers face pressure to change Mississippi state flag Black Lives Matter asks for more evidence after death of Tampa man killed in shootout with officers Ohio police who were called on kids playing football in street respond by joining in game St. Pete restaurant serves up 100th Burger of the Month for good cause Hillsborough County launches online appointment system for COVID-19 testing Applications for jobless aid fall to still-high 1.48 million Hillsborough County leaders discuss face mask requirement Testing demand rises, but more staffing needed; Hillsborough County calls on state for help Manatee County school leaders discuss reopening plans at workshop Man charged in 1981 cold case murder receives 5–18 years in prison NASA names its D.C. headquarters after ‘Hidden Figure’ Mary W. Jackson Police: Woman admits to kicking, stomping on 5-year-old boy, killing him St. Pete YMCA lifeguard tests positive for COVID-19, spokesman says Where to get a free face mask in Tampa Bay Dozens of Secret Service agents will be quarantined after Trump’s Tulsa rally GRAPHIC: Child recovering from shark attack at Florida beach, mom says Leigh’s runcast: Dangerous heat means consider indoor exercise STORM TEAM 8 FORECAST: Another scorcher; heat advisory issued