WFLA Articles: May 18, 2023

Couple accused of stealing tortoises, rare books now facing more charges Why is the water brown at some Tampa Bay area beaches? Teen who used dad’s police gun sentenced to 5 years in shootings New College of Florida students hold ‘alternative’ commencement in protest of state changes to school 12 year-old set to graduate from college with 5 degrees Publix debuts new Italian-inspired bread for Pub Subs Dodgers face blowback after uninviting LGBTQ group from Pride Night 2 workers missing, 15 others rescued in 5-alarm NC apartment complex fire Faith leaders call on St. Pete mayor for 5,000 more affordable housing units by the end of his term Target recalls nearly 5 million Threshold candles due to burn hazard Haley Pullos from ‘General Hospital’ faces DUI charge after wrong-way crash Abbott confirms first bus of migrants has arrived in Colorado ‘A tremendously humbling experience:’ Firsthand look from the air at Coast Guard’s humanitarian response to migrant crisis How is Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis funding ‘campaign travel?’ New iPhone feature can replicate user’s voice in 15 minutes: Apple Disney World’s Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will make its final voyage this fall Tensions flare in ‘weaponization’ panel hearing with sidelined FBI agents  Publix introduces 8 new limited-time ice cream flavors Clearwater Fire & Rescue lifeguards rescue pelican tangled in fishing line Jimmy Buffett hospitalized, forced to reschedule concert Florida man wrestles 12-foot alligator to save beloved K-9 Chocolate shop’s high water bill ‘impossible,’ expert says Florida man reportedly bitten by shark while spearfishing Lawmakers put on pressure to protect AM radio in vehicles Conservatives make last-minute push for border security in debt ceiling package Florida traffic sign ‘tampered with’ to read ‘Kill All Gays’ US to unveil ‘substantial’ sanctions package against Russia at G-7 summit in Hiroshima Florida traffic sign altered to read ‘Kill All Gays’ Petition calls for Hernando County school board member to step down after Disney film controversy Memorial Day: Honor the fallen with events around Tampa Bay Second man arrested in connection with ‘heinous’ Ruskin murder Democrats, advocates demand action on gun control Sarasota man gets life in prison for child sex crimes; police credit concerned citizens Freedom Caucus says ‘no further discussion’ on debt ceiling until Senate passes House GOP bill Disney scraps $1 billion office complex in Florida amid DeSantis feud 85-year-old beat man in wheelchair with metal pipe, affidavit says Study ranks Florida third for deadly crashes over Memorial Day weekend Disney World’s Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will make its final voyage this fall Rabies alert issued for part of Manatee County 9-year-old brings meth to Pinellas County school, affidavit says Man accused of beating another man to death in St. Pete Disney scraps plans for $1 billion Florida campus as fight with Gov. Ron DeSantis continues Changes coming to high school basketball rules next school year How 16 LIV golfers stack up heading into the PGA Championship Dietician on a Mission Roundtable Rainbow Greek Salad Recipe Easy Homemade Hummus Woman with 7 DUI arrests wants to go to prison, says Las Vegas is not the place for her Uber letting teens take rides on their own How food affects kids WATCH: BayCare worker stopped driving wrong way across Howard Frankland Bridge Pricey fountain in Ybor City gets an overhaul How to start eating healthy Professor attempts to fail students after falsely accusing them of using ChatGPT to cheat Today’s Joy Bauer cooking healthy creations with the kids Jimmy Buffett hospitalized, postpones weekend show Garcia vows to demand timeline on Santos Ethics probe ‘every single day’ USPIS offering $50K reward for information on letter carrier robbery in Tampa Wife says doctor purposely drove Tesla off cliff. He tells different story Wendy’s testing underground robot system for orders Senate to break for recess as debt ceiling talks heat up Man run over by Lakeland city street sweeper PHOTOS: First full-size 3D scan of Titanic shows shipwreck in new light Florida woman arrested after Kim Kardashian lookalike dies Man charged with killing 5-year-old who was found dead in a suitcase 9 years ago Biden expected to withdraw controversial judicial nominee Louisiana congressman manhandles activist during press conference: ‘You’re out’ 8-year-old girl dies in Border Patrol custody in Texas, as agency struggles with overcrowding St. Petersburg student named winner in Google Doodle contest Rainn Wilson hunts for happiness in ‘Geography of Bliss’ California-based In-N-Out Burger poised for major expansion Florida city installs road sign to warn drivers of ‘smartphone zombies’ Bowman rips Greene for ‘reckless,’ ‘dangerous’ remarks about Capitol encounter Polk County citrus grower plans central Florida’s first avocado farm The history of Coq au Vin and a great recipe in Destination Delicious: Paris FDLE deploys first team to U.S.-Mexico border after Title 42 ends Woman drugs Florida man, steals $600K in his Jewelry, police say Guess that price at Save-A-Lot Tips for National Home Improvement Month and Summer Prep More women attempt suicide. More men die by suicide. Argument escalates into shooting at Brooksville home Musk: Tesla Roadster production “hopefully” starts in 2024 Supreme Court hands Twitter, Google wins in internet liability cases 2.5 million vehicles with ‘urgent recalls’ remain unrepaired in US Polk County teen opened fire during McDonald’s robbery, sheriff says Surf’s up! Florida beach named nation’s best in annual ranking Healthy Swaps for Your Memorial Day Party Answers to the most googled questions about selling a home ‘Give a Pint, Get a Pint’ Blood Drive at 13 Culver’s locations Florida corrections officer arrested for DUI in Dunedin Tampa pride event cancelled after DeSantis signs ‘anti-drag’ bill Greene plans to file articles of impeachment against Biden Beyond Coffee: Surprising sources of caffeine you might not know about Apple to release more accessible features for users with visual, speech impairments Chew on This: 7 Surprising health benefits of chewing gum National Home Improvement Month: Modern Kitchen Must-Haves Making Wedding Memories Mental Health Action Day Prioritizing Teen Wellness this Summer with Planet Fitness The Power of Habit: Why our brain resists change and how to overcome it Blue Bell, Dr Pepper team up to release new ice cream flavor Engagement ring lost down toilet recovered over year later in California It’s official: Blue Bell, Dr Pepper team up, release ‘Dr Pepper Float’ ice cream New College students plan alternative graduation in protest of commencement speaker, campus changes WWE Hall of Famer Billy Graham dies at 79 Tampa City Council aims to address affordable housing crisis Spring Hill shooting leaves 1 dead, sends man and child to hospital NYC’s famous red-tailed hawk Pale Male dies after nesting above Fifth Avenue for 30 years I-75 south reopens after semi-truck catches fire in Sarasota County 1 dead, 4 injured in crash near Winter Haven Man indicted in theft of ruby slippers from ‘Wizard of Oz’ Democrats warn Biden against cutting debt ceiling deal with McCarthy Texas, Florida laws have Latinos rethinking where they live Florida becomes conservative model for other GOP states GOP presidential field shaping up to be party’s most diverse yet Judge in abortion pill case asks if Mother’s Day is ‘celebrating illness’ Judge rejects attempt by Tiger Woods’ ex-girlfriend to throw out nondisclosure agreement Dead armadillo on Florida airport runway delays dozens of flights Surf’s up! Florida beaches named nation’s best in annual ranking Inland storms fade, muggy overnight