ReportWire

Tag: APP Human Interest

  • Summer heat adds extra risk for homeless communities

    Summer heat adds extra risk for homeless communities

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    GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — With heat advisories across the state, health experts say outside workers and vulnerable communities are more likely to be impacted by heat-related illnesses and death.

    What You Need To Know

    2023 is one of the hottest years on record, and Spectrum meteorologists say 2024 is on pace to keep up with that trend

    Heat-related illnesses were three times as likely in July and August of 2023, compared to in May, June and September, according to the CDC

    Vulnerable communities are more likely to be impacted by heat-related illnesses

    Those living outside say rechargeable fans and ways to hydrate are helpful in these summer conditions


    According to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), outside workers, pregnant women and people with underlying health conditions are more sensitive to the heat.

    The report shows that 92% of all emergency room visits for heat-related illnesses in 2023 happened between May and September. The emergency room visits were three times as likely to happen in July and August.

    Spectrum News 1 meteorologists say 2023 was one of the hottest years in recorded history, and 2024 is on track to keep up with that trend. 

    People who live outside, in encampments and in homes without air conditioning are also more susceptible to heat-related illnesses.

    Dave and his wife have been living in a camp in Gaston County for six years, after a new landlord increased their rent to a figure the couple could no longer afford.

    “It’s unbearable…being out in the heat,” said Dave, who did not want to share his last name. “No way to really take showers or anything.”

    He and his wife look for places in the shade, where they can recharge their portable fans and hydrate.

    “You can always put on more clothes, you can always find ways to cover up and keep warm, but you can never find enough ways to stay cool,” said Dave.

    Dallas High Shoals Christian Ministry offers a hot meal and two bags of essentials a week to those who need it.

    Executive Director Leah Hedgpath says fans and jugs of water are often what they get asked for. 

    “It extends more than just someone who doesn’t have a home. We have several that have a shelter, but that’s all that it is,” said Hedgpath. “They don’t have running water. They don’t have electricity. They don’t have a way of cooking their food, storing their food, cleaning properly and so they kind of fall in that category of needing these types of items as well.” 

    Dave says cold water and ice is what they need to help stay hydrated this summer. 

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    Alexis Bell

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  • Veteran enters National Veterans Creative Arts competition

    Veteran enters National Veterans Creative Arts competition

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Across the county, medical facilities with the Department of Veterans Affairs send in works of art for the annual National Veterans Creative Arts Competition. 

    What You Need To Know

    • In 2023, more than 4,000 were entered into the national competition. 

    • Medical facilities across the VA use creative arts as a form of rehabilitation. 

    • Submissions for the competition are due on July 12. 


    The contest recognizes the progress and recovery our veterans are making with the help of art therapy.

    Mike Welsh is one veteran submitting his artwork to the competition. He said it’s not something he thought he’d be doing just a few years ago.

    “I had never drawn or painted before, not anything serious,” he said.

    Whether it be with a paintbrush or his putty knife, Welsh has spent the last three years creating all sorts of different pieces.

    He served in the Army for more than a decade, but after his time in the military, he struggled with his sobriety and his mental health.

    Whether the piece is big or small, he said he’s found an outlet where he can express himself.

    “I’m able to do this at any point in time,” he said. “I’ve encouraged some of my other veteran friends too. They’ll give me a call and say I’m experiencing a lot of anxiety right now. I say, ‘OK, let’s draw it out.’”

    Welsh is excited to submit his latest piece to the contest and often thinks of his mother when he creates his art.

    For 18 months, his mother was in the hospital for end-of-life care, but because of how the room was designed, she rarely got to look outside.

    “I would go to my mother’s room and notice her roommate would have her curtains drawn half the time,” he said. “So I said, ‘Well, tell you what, let’s go ahead and I’m going to draw what image is out there and then I can put it up next to you so you can see it every day, and that way you never have to worry about not being able to see outside.’”

    His painting will be put just outside the window of a hospital room at Bay Pines.

    If his mother could talk to him now and find out why he made the piece, he said she would be proud of him.

    “I really hope that she can see this down from heaven,” he said.

    Submissions for the competition are due on July 12 and an in-person showcase will be held on July 18 at the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center.

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    Matt Lackritz

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  • Tampa Bay sends large showing to AAU karate nationals

    Tampa Bay sends large showing to AAU karate nationals

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    LAND O’LAKES, Fla. — Competing at a high level takes dedication, practice and a little noise. 

    What You Need To Know

    • AAU Karate Nationals started on July 2 and runs through July 6

    • 36 students from the Mark Pinner Karate Club are competing

    • The AAU Karate Program offers opportunities for boys, girls, men and women, ages five to senior adults, in all skill levels to participate

    • Events are held throughout the country

    “Actions speak louder than words. You can say you are the best, you gotta show us you are the best,” Mark Pinner shouted to a group of eager kids. 

    They are all preparing for AAU Karate Nationals in Fort Lauderdale. 

    Joined by many adults also, the group is training both body and mind inside the Mark Pinner Karate Club.

    “It’s a really big deal,” said Pinner. “It really is. They’ve actually held it here several times because Florida is one of the biggest regions in the AAU.”

    The biggest, baddest and fiercest fighters in the country will compete. 

    Fighters like 6-year-old Madison Gozalez. 

    “When I do my Kata, I do like mean looks,” she said with a glare on her face. 

    Her competitors learn quick to not let her small stature fool them — she is fierce. 

    “She just turned six. But she is so talented. She uses her body dynamically that most of the time teenagers and adults have a hard time to do,” said Pinner. 

    Madison is so good, in part from a training technique older than the art of karate itself. She learned from sibling rivalry. 

    “We want to be a black belt,” said her brother Danick. 

    “I want to be a brown belt,” chimes Madison.

    “That is our goal. We want to be a black belts,” said the oldest, Scarlett. 

    The Gonzalez kids are the youngest siblings in the dojo and all three are competing at Nationals this week. 

    “To them, it’s like just another day in the office. For me, my blood pressure spike through the roof, especially in tournaments,” said Ramiro Gonzalez, their father. 

    Scarlett is 10, Danick is eight, and Madison is six.

    “They’re so talented,” said Pinner. “Especially little Maddy. She started by sitting here watching when she was three years old and she kept saying, ‘I want to get in karate and I want to get in karate.’ And I thought she was too young. And then one day she got up and said, can I do my Kata for you?”

    They are competing in a series of events including Kata, Kumite, Kubota and even family Kata. 

    “Cause you work as a team. It’s like, it’s like one person going at the same time,” said Danick. 

    A team that must be siblings and be in unison as they show their skill at the art of karate. 

    “When you first learn new things, it’s kind of hard to get it down. But then when you start practicing, it kind of gets easy,” said Scarlett.

    The AAU Karate Nationals started July 2 and run through July 6 in Fort Lauderdale. Thirty-six students from Pinner’s dojo are attending.

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    Erin Murray

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  • Miki Sudo wins women’s division of Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

    Miki Sudo wins women’s division of Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

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    Miki Sudo has won her 10th women’s title at the annual Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest.

    The defending champion scarfed down 51 hot dogs in 10 minutes, crushing the 39 1/2 hot dogs that she ate last year and also beating her personal best of 48 1/2. The 51 hot dogs is a new world record for women.

    She defeated 14 competitors from around the world, including 28-year-old Mayoi Ebihara of Japan, who came in second after eating 37 hot dogs in 10 minutes. Ebihara was also the runner-up in 2023.

    ESPN will broadcast the men’s division at approximately 12:20 p.m

    Competitors have come from over a dozen states and five continents, with prospects from Brazil, Japan, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Australia and the Czech Republic vying for the coveted title in men’s and women’s divisions and $10,000 prize money.

    But this year, the event’s biggest star, Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, will be chowing down 1,900 miles (3,000 km) away.

    Chestnut, who won 16 out of the previous 17 contests, isn’t attending the competition over a sponsorship tiff. Instead, he’ll compete against soldiers at a U.S. Army base in El Paso later in the day.

    That leaves the traditional Brooklyn event wide open for a new men’s winner, with eaters from around the world competing on America’s Independence Day to see how many hot dogs they can eat in 10 minutes.

    Thousands of fans flock each year to the event held outside the original Nathan’s location in Brooklyn’s Coney Island, a beachfront destination with amusement parks and a carnivalesque summer culture..

    Last year, Chestnut, of Indiana, chewed his way to the title by downing 62 dogs and buns in 10 minutes. The record, which he set in 2021, is 76.

    Ahead of the event, ESPN said it would focus on two Americans with dedicated camera shots: Sudo and Massachusetts high school teacher Geoffrey Esper in the men’s division.

    Esper came second last year with 49 dogs and buns, though his personal best is 51.

    Chestnut was initially disinvited from the event over a sponsorship deal with Impossible Foods, a company that specializes in plant-based meat substitutes.

    Major League Eating, which organizes the Nathan’s Famous contest, has since said it walked back the ban, but Chestnut decided to spend the holiday with the troops anyway.

    Chestnut said he wouldn’t return to the Coney Island contest without an apology.

    The event at the Fort Bliss army base in El Paso, scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. ET, will use traditional franks, with Chestnut attempting to out-eat four soldiers in five minutes.

    Even though he won’t be eating their vegan products, Impossible Foods is promoting Chestnut’s YouTube livestream of the exhibition by flying airplanes with banners over Los Angeles and Miami. The company will also donate to an organization supporting military families based on the number of hot dogs eaten at the event, a spokesperson said.

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    Associated Press

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  • St. Pete woman investigates what happened to a London woman’s former pen pal

    St. Pete woman investigates what happened to a London woman’s former pen pal

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Even in 2024, there’s something exciting about getting a letter in the mail. For many, it just feels more meaningful.

    What You Need To Know

    • A St. Pete woman received letters in the mail from a person in London who used to correspond with a pen pal that lived at her address

    • The London woman, named Barbara, said she was corresponding with her pen pal, who had a disability, throughout the 1960s when the letters suddenly stopped coming

    • The current homeowner, Layla Giloy, took to Facebook to see if anyone knew Barbara’s pen pal

    • Through her investigation, she learned Alton Bridges Jr., Barbara’s pen pal, died in 1977, seven years after the final letter to her


    The words on the page can trigger an old memory or a piece of joy that’s been forgotten over the years.

    For Layla Giloy, the letters she has do just that, but what’s interesting about Layla’s letters is that she didn’t write them and her only connection to them is her house in St. Petersburg.

    “A couple weeks ago,” she said. “I received a very large envelope in the mail, and it was from London, England, which I don’t know anybody in London. So, I thought that was a little strange.”

    Inside that envelope were these old letters and a new one from a London woman named Barbara.

    See, back in the 1960s, Barbara had a pen pal she corresponded with for years.

    He was disabled and spent six years developing a friendship with Barbara through letters he sent from his house – the same one Layla now calls home.

    “According to her letters, one day, the letters just stopped, and she didn’t know what had happened to him,” Layla said.

    So, in a last-ditch effort, 50 plus years later, Barbara sent the original letters and her message back to her pen pals’ old home to see if the current owners knew anything about what happened.

    “I didn’t think it was real at first,” Layla said. “This is kind of the stuff you see in movies, or you see on online and things like that. I said, there’s no way that this is happening to me.”

    Layla is an EMT, her career is focused on helping people, so she took that to heart with these letters.

    After hitting dead ends on her own, she turned to Facebook, asking if anyone knew Barbara’s pen pal. This was the post:

    “I definitely did not think that any of this was going to happen,” she said. “I thought for sure it was going to be ‘we have no idea what you’re talking about.’”

    But, she was wrong.

    After some help from a woman who saw her post, she was able to learn that Barbara’s pen pal, Alton Bridges Jr. died in 1977, seven years after his last letter.

    “When the letters ended,” Layla said, “I believe he got a little bit sicker, and he did pass away.”

    But through her investigation, she learned Alton has relatives that still live in Florida, including a nephew in St. Pete and a foster brother who lives in Gainesville.

    “I’m going to be able to pass these letters on to his family,” Layla said. “it’s very heartwarming because it’s nice to know that even though he passed away so long ago, his life still has meaning. He’s still making an impact with people.”

    Making an impact, not only with his old pen pal but with a St. Pete homeowner who was just checking her mail.

    Layla was planning on meeting Alton’s foster brother last month, but he had to reschedule because of some family health issues.

    Layla says she still receives messages from people on Facebook asking to hear if she was able to find out what happened to Barbara’s lost pen pal.

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    Nick Popham

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  • Bay area woman and recent West Point grad makes history

    Bay area woman and recent West Point grad makes history

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A St. Pete native, who had hoped to go to college on a track scholarship and make her family proud, has found herself on the list of history makers in the Bay area.

    What You Need To Know

    • St. Petersburg native Jazmine Alderman became the first African American female graduate from Admiral Farragut Academy, to go to the United States Military Academy West Point

    • It was a first for any female student in the St. Pete school’s history

    • Alderman is hoping to serve as an example for young girls in her community


    Jazmine Alderman became the first African American female graduate from the prominent private school, Admiral Farragut Academy, to go to the United States Military Academy West Point.

    It was a first for any female African American student in the St. Pete school’s history.

    Alderman said she had planned to just run track at the school, but once she got involved more, she studied, got accepted and then graduated from the prestigious military academy.

    This semester, she graduated and celebrated the history-making moment and an accomplishment she was able to celebrate alongside 49 other young Black women at West Point.

    She’s hoping to serve as an example for young girls in her community.

    “I think hopefully this gives them encouragement. I know for me, I definitely want to use my voice to share this opportunity that I had, because I know there’s plenty of other kids out here for the younger generation who can use the same avenue that I used,” she said.

    Alderman will head back to New York before going to her first assignment.

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    Saundra Weathers

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  • New Florida law supports veterans transitioning to civilian life

    New Florida law supports veterans transitioning to civilian life

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    TAMPA — Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two new bills for veterans that took effect Monday.

    House Bill 1329 supports the expansion of veteran benefits and services for those transitioning to civilian life.

    What You Need To Know

    • House Bill 1329 revises the veteran’s employment and training services program to help match veterans and spouses with businesses in their preferred industry

    • House Bill 725 expands eligibility for veterans’ long-term care facilities to include spouses or surviving spouses of qualifying veterans

    • Veterans Florida is now the initial point of contact for military transition assistance

    • According to the Veterans Challenges Report, two-thirds of veterans experienced a difficult transition from military to civilian life, and close to half did not feel ready to transition


    One business owner who is a veteran talked about one of the biggest challenges those leaving the service face today — employment.

    After leaving the Army reserves, Troy Underwood says he went into building materials and eventually focused on a new trade, working with steel.

    “I didn’t think I’d be in metal,” he said.

    He says that when he registered “Tampa Steel and Supply Incorporated” as a veteran business, Veterans Florida stepped in to ensure his success with entrepreneurial programs, job training, and grants, an opportunity he wishes his own father had.

    “My dad was at MacDill, and when he came out of the service, there was no Veterans Florida that he could go to, to, you know, find a job or his next career and know that where that was,” he said. “It was all through whatever networking he had on his own. It caused us to have to move out of state, which was tragic because I was in my senior year of high school and I didn’t want to leave,” he said.

    According to the Veterans Challenges Report, two-thirds of veterans experienced a difficult transition from military to civilian life, and close to half did not feel ready to transition. Difficulties are largely attributed to unemployment and health challenges.

    Alan Suskey is a member of the Veterans Florida Board of Directors, which is the initial point of contact for military transition assistance.

    “I think the legislature and governor are always looking to improve the environment in Florida for veterans. We continue to be the most veteran-friendly state in the country,” Suskey said. “You know, growing and expanding in areas like agriculture and these new technologies and innovations that are emerging. I think we have to make sure the veterans are well-equipped to compete in those environments.”

    House Bill 1329 revises the veteran’s employment and training services program to help match veterans and spouses with businesses in their preferred industry, encourage entrepreneurship, and provide funding.

    Another bill signed by DeSantis, House Bill 725, expands eligibility for veterans’ long-term care facilities to include spouses or surviving spouses of qualifying veterans. This ensures that spouses can enjoy long-term care together.

    “It’s just exciting to see that whole exposure to the entire veteran community and really make Florida … the number one place for veterans to retire and start a business or transition to the civilian (life),” said Underwood.

    Troy says that the initial investment from Veterans Florida continues to yield positive results by enabling his business to hire other veterans and pay it forward.

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    Fadia Patterson

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  • Crystal River couple helping sponsor family from Ukraine

    Crystal River couple helping sponsor family from Ukraine

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    CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. — A Citrus County couple is opening their doors to sponsor a family from Ukraine. It’s through a government program called ‘Uniting for Ukraine.’

    What You Need To Know

    • Thanks to a government program called ‘Uniting for Ukraine,’ one Crystal River couple is helping sponsor a family from Ukraine
    • The sponsorship allows the Kebap family to live and work in America, an opportunity to help the family start their lives fresh
    • As they look to restart their lives, a GoFundMe page has been set up for the Kebap family


    Thanks to that sponsorship, the Kebap family is living and working here in the U.S. It’s an opportunity to help them start their lives fresh.

    Gathered around the kitchen table of their Crystal River home sits Bart Rasmussen and his wife, Sue, along with their new house guests from Ukraine —  the Kebap family.

    “We were hearing of his son sleeping in the bathtub at night in case their home was hit with a bomb,” says Bart. “We just wanted to find a way to help them.”

    The Rasmussens were first introduced to Andriy, who was working as a wine sommelier, on a European cruise seven years ago. They learned about him, his wife Olesia and their son Ilya, who they were expecting at the time.

    With the war in Ukraine taking a turn for the worse, Andriy decided it was no longer safe to stay.

    “You can hear the rockets and missiles going around and it’s not a firework, you know,” says Andriy. “When you have an explosion, you can hear it from many, many kilometers or miles away.”

    The Rasmussens, having kept in touch with Andriy, got involved, signing up with the ‘Uniting for Ukraine’ program.

    “It’s a two-year commitment on our part but to get them out of harm’s way and here to safety and, if they like it, to possibly start a new life here in the United States,” said Bart.

    It has meant the Kebaps starting fresh, with Andriy seeking work to provide for his family.

    “It not only means right now, but what potentially this could mean for them long-term,” Bart said. “And have a safe life and a new life here in America if they hope to stay at one point.”

    It’s a move that Andriy is thankful for.

    “To find a job, to have enough money to work to support my family, to support my son to go to school, to have everything for them to live a normal life,” he says.

    For more on the Kebap family and their new start, you can learn more about their journey and get involved through a GoFundMe page set up for the family.

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    Calvin Lewis

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  • First full orchestra performs inside Lima prison

    First full orchestra performs inside Lima prison

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    LIMA, Ohio — History is being made in Lima, Ohio. It’s the first full orchestra to perform inside of an Ohio prison. 

    What You Need To Know

    •  It’s the first full orchestra to perform inside of an Ohio prison

    • This performance is a part of the Lima Symphony’s “Healing through music” program

    • Bringing an experience like this to a community that is often overlooked and stereotyped gives inmates hope for the future of their rehabilitation

    “Music, I believe, is healing, and it does restore,” said Allen/Oakwood Correctional Institution inmate, Kevin Karszewski.

    Kevin Karszewski is an inmate at Allen Oakwood Correctional Institution, but he is also a member of the one hundred man choir. Along with Kevin is Jeff Hawkins, and he says this experience is great for the inmates. 

    “It’s great from all different aspects because it’s great for the inmates to see what a real symphony orchestra is to come actually in and hear it live, because many of these guys have never, ever heard a live orchestra, you know, especially something as large as a symphony orchestra,” said Allen-Oakwood Correctional Institution inmate, Jeff Hawkins.

    But it’s also great for people on the outside to see what really happens inside a prison.

    “But it’s also good, I think, for people on the outside that see this, to understand that we do so much more in prison than what you see in movies or our reality TV shows where we always portray prison as violent or, you know, all the bad things,” said Hawkins.

    This performance is a part of the Lima Symphony’s “Healing through music” program. A program that began in 2018 with the intent of helping individuals fight addiction and mental illness. According to Lima Symphony executive director, Elizabeth Brown-Ellis, music can help everyone. 

    “Music is therapeutic. Music unites us. It just transcends. I think our place and our the limitations of our current reality,” said the Executive Director of the Lima Symphony, Elizabeth Brown-Ellis.

    Bringing an experience like this to a community that is often overlooked and stereotyped gives inmates hope for the future of their rehabilitation. 

    “It’s so progressive to have the administration here team up with an organization like the Lima Symphony Orchestra because, again, it’s just not something that either organization is, is usually experienced,” said Hawkins.

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    Kennedy Chase

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  • 5 things to know about LEGOLAND’s Summer Brick Party

    5 things to know about LEGOLAND’s Summer Brick Party

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    5 things to know about LEGOLAND’s Summer Brick Party

    Your littlest children and grandchildren can now take part in new summer adventures at LEGOLAND Florida Resort. The Summer Brick Party is jam-packed with new acts, characters, and seasonal treats.

    1. One of the shows making a fresh comeback is “Go Xtreme.” Stunt performers do all kinds of tricks on skateboards and bikes.

    2. Kiddoes can even interact with the newest character — “LEGO Producer.” “There’s not a lot of shows in the world where you can see a LEGO IP along with awesome stunts,” LEGOLAND Entertainment Creative Production Manager Shay Davis said. “And it’s fun for the whole family.”

    3. You can also indulge in an array of new seasonal snacks at LEGOLAND. During our visit, the park’s top chef, Jose Aleman, showed us his pork shoulder BLT with arugula and lemon vinaigrette.

    4. In addition to the BLT and some fried treats, you’ll notice lots of lighter foods for the next few months. “We try to go with flavors like pineapple, citrus, watermelon,” Aleman said.

    5. The Summer Brick Party runs through Aug. 11. Also, for a heads up on an upcoming event on July 4th, LEGOLAND is hosting its one-day-only celebration, Red, White & Boom.

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    Allison Walker

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  • Gene Smith reflects on career at OSU

    Gene Smith reflects on career at OSU

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    COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State Athletics is about to have a new leader for the first time in almost 20 years as Athletic Director Gene Smith is retiring after this weekend. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Gene Smith is retiring after 39 years as an athletic director, including 19 at Ohio State

    • Under Smith’s tenure OSU has won 32 team and 117 individual NCAA championships as well as 115 team and 369 individual Big Ten Championships

    • Smith says he’s most proud of changing the culture of the classroom for student athletes

    • Smith is moving to Arizona after his retirement, but hopes to still keep tabs on the Bucks from afar

    After 39 years as an athletic director, including 19 at Ohio State, Smith is saying goodbye as the leader of OSU Athletics and his prolific career.

    “There’s just so many student athletes whose names just run through my head,” Smith said, as he reflects on his career.

    In those years, Smith has seen the Buckeyes win 32 team and 117 individual NCAA championships.

    During Smith’s 19 years OSU has won 32 team and 117 individual NCAA championships as well as 115 team and 369 individual Big Ten Championships. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

    “Of course, the football championship was huge, and did so many other championships,” Smith said. “You know, the wrestling championship was significant.”

    But the thing Smith is most proud of is the change in culture in the classroom for student athletes.

    Smith hugs Keith Diebler, OSU’s men’s basketball head coach’s dad. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

    “I’m proud of a lot of things, but, most proud that we’ve changed the culture with our student athletes,” he said. “We recruit character, we recruit athletes who want to compete in the classroom.”

    In 2005, 324 student athletes maintained a 3.0 GPA. This year, it’s up to 811. And while Smith leaves behind quite a legacy, he says the hardest part about leaving is not seeing the student-athletes each day.

    Smith is often seen on the sidelines of football games and other OSU athletic events. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

    “I think it’ll probably be more emotional as I follow our teams from afar. It’ll just be new for me,” he said. “I won’t be able to just, you know, say, ‘oh, we got a tennis match today. I’m gonna run over or, you know, we got a swimming meet or whatever.’”

    Smith and his wife are moving to Arizona after his retirement to be closer to family and allow new AD Ross Bjork to make his own decisions. But Smith is hopeful to see his Buckeyes out west.

    Ross Bjork takes over as AD on July 1. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

    “Fiesta Bowl holds the quarter final this year in football,” Smith said. “So, you know, fingers crossed.”

    Smith, a Cleveland native, says finishing his career in his home state has been the honor of his life.

    “To be able to end my career in a state that I grew up in, it means a great deal to me,” he said. “I love Ohio, will always love Ohio. You know, I’ll slide back into Ohio at the right times.”

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    Katie Kapusta

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  • Fireworks and festivities: 4th of July celebrations across Tampa Bay

    Fireworks and festivities: 4th of July celebrations across Tampa Bay

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Pyrotechnics are planned to dance across the night sky as the 4th of July approaches on Thursday. July 4, or Independence Day, commemorates the Declaration of Independence, which was ratified by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, establishing the United States of America. It has been a federal holiday since 1941, but celebrations have gone back to the 18th century.

    Tampa Bay has a list of festivities to get residents and visitors into the patriotic spirit. View the events that are happening in your community.

    All events take place on July 4 unless otherwise stated.
     

    Citrus County

    • Patriotic Evening
      July 3, 3 p.m. | Liberty Park
      The city of Inverness will be hosting its annual fireworks show over Lake Henderson. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets or chairs during the viewing. There will be live music, vendors and plenty of family-friendly activities.
    • 4th of July Celebration
      5 p.m. | Kings Bay Park
      Join the city of Crystal River for a 4th of July celebration. Enjoy live music, food trucks, vendors, games, kids’ activities and a fireworks show over Kings Bay.

     

    Hernando County

     

    Hillsborough County

     

    Manatee County

     

    Pasco County

    Pinellas County

    • The Fourth
      4 p.m. – 10 p.m. | St. Pete Pier
      The city of St. Petersburg’s annual fireworks show returns with live performances, vendors, food trucks and a family fun zone. Fireworks will be visible from the entire downtown waterfront.
    • Clearwater Celebrates America 2024
      5 p.m. – 11 p.m. | Coachman Park
      There will be a free, patriotic performance at The BayCare Sound. No tickets are needed and seating is first-come, first served. Guests can also enjoy local vendors, food trucks, family friendly activities and live music.
    • Fireworks Over the Gulf
      9 p.m. | Treasure Island Beach
      Celebrate America by watching fireworks light up the sky over Treasure Island Beach. The best viewing areas will be near the Gulf Front Park area of the beach located at 10400 Gulf Blvd. Bring a beach chair or towel and enjoy the show.
    • 4th of July Parade & Celebration
      9 a.m. | Old Time Pottery
      Join Kenneth City Mayor Megan Zemaitis and Healing Pinellas for a day of food, live music, vendors and more. The parade starts at 66th Street North and 46th Avenue North, then through downtown to Ernst Park, located at 46th Avenue North and 58th Street North.
    • 4th of July Picnic in Craig Park
      10 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Craig Park
      Bring the family to enjoy live music, a water slide, paddle boarding, inflatables, lawn games and free hot dogs. Stay later for the firework show after sunset.

    Polk County

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Dunedin parish takes fellowship outside of the church

    Dunedin parish takes fellowship outside of the church

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    DUNEDIN, Fla. — Attendance is on the decline for most religious organizations in the United States, with numbers for young adults seeing the biggest dip over the past two decades. But one Bay area church is working to bring that age group and others back into the fold with a modern spin on fellowship.

    What You Need To Know

    • Attendance is on the decline for most religious organizations in the United States, with numbers for young adults seeing the biggest dip over the past two decades
    • Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Dunedin offers a program called “Tap into Fellowship,” which meets monthly at downtown’s House of Beer

    • Father Zach Brasseur says the focus is on making people feel welcomed into the church community

    Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Dunedin offers a program called “Tap into Fellowship,” which meets monthly at downtown’s House of Beer.

    “If you can meet up with friends from work here, why not meet up with friends from church?” said Father Zach Brasseur.

    This month’s meeting had a large gathering, a good sign considering the most recent numbers from Gallup show fewer adults are regularly attending religious services, at 30% today compared to 40% two decades ago.

    Dr. Randall Woodard, a professor of theology at St. Leo University, points to cultural changes as a big factor.

    “A hundred years ago, and not every case, but you were more likely to be a black sheep and kind of cut out from your family if you left,” Woodard said.

    Now, he points out, it’s more acceptable, as parents are parenting differently and places of worship may not be the social hubs they used to be, making faith based outreach that much more important.

    “When people are loved and appreciated and welcomed, that ends up being just one of the greatest things that churches and other groups can do for people and especially young adults,” Woodard said.

    At “Tap into Fellowship,” Father Brasseur said the group takes that concept a step further.

    “I think even more important than welcoming is belonging,” Father Brasseur said. “When someone says, ‘These are the people I play kickball with,’ ‘These are the people I go to House of Beer with, that I go to the coffee shop with’ — these are my people.”

    Bringing faith outside the walls of church for conversations that, in turn, bring people back in.

    “Tap into Fellowship” is held by Our Lady of Lourdes parishioners on the first Monday of every month.

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    Cait McVey

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  • More families in need of food in the Tampa Bay Area

    More families in need of food in the Tampa Bay Area

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Britney Vela is doing what she knows best, serving food to people in need. She has been working at Our Daily Bread in Bradenton for 10 years. As the food pantry manager, she ensures all the food is organized and the volunteers are on task.

    What You Need To Know

    •  More families are in need of food this year than last year according to recent data from Our Daily Bread
    • The soup kitchen at Our Daily Bread  is open every single day from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
    • The pantry at Our Daily Bread is open Mondays and Fridays 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

    “If we weren’t here, and you were hungry, how would you get a meal? You’d end up breaking a law, having to go somewhere or dumpster diving. Being able to prevent that is a blessing,” she said.

    She said giving free food and warm meals is a blessing that people desperately need right now.

    “The price of food has gone up. Rent, gas. And they live off a fixed income, and their checks aren’t going up. But the cost of living is. So thankfully for them, we’re here and we can, you know, help with that,” she said.

    Britney says more people need help. Our Daily Bread produced 20% more meals this March compared to March 2023. Their food pantry has increased production by 40% compared to this time last year, helping more than 10,000 people save money and get the food they need.

    “That makes them able, you know, to have that extra money to meet rent, meet their light bills, meet their water bills and their kids,” she said.

    They serve roughly 300 families every day with food pantry items, basic care products, and meals.

    “Protein is important. Kids are growing,” she said. “Everybody deserves to have a good dinner. Everybody deserves it. Nobody should go hungry,” she said.

    Britney knows what it’s like for people who need help because, at one point, she did too. She had just moved to the county as a single mom of two young kids with only $200 in her pocket.

    “Just being able to know that help and now what that help feels like is a blessing, a very big blessing,” she said.

    She’s already made a difference for her family and is now offering the same help to those in need.

    The soup kitchen is open every single day from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The pantry is open Mondays and Fridays 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

    There was a food drive through event in St. Petersburg on Saturday to help fill the gap this summer for families in need.

    One in eight kids in Pinellas County are food insecure, which is why local organizations hosted a drive-thru food pantry for the summer.

    The Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County and St. Petersburg Free Clinic are hosting six drive-thru pantry events for the summer, and the first one was on Saturday. Officials tell us that this summer they will be feeding more than 2,000 families. They explained why this summer is crucial to fill the gap for families compared to past years. Officials say it is because of the increased cost of basic necessities like groceries.

    Each family will receive more than 50 pounds of food at each event. That includes items like fresh fruits, vegetables, and meat, as well as canned goods and other non-perishable items. Altogether, at the end of the summer, they will have donated 120,000 pounds of food to families in the county.

    Beth Houghton, CEO of the Juvenile Welfare Board, said, “And so this summer, you have this time where rents have been going up, utilities have been going up. Wages are not going up as much. Food costs are up for families really in a crisis this summer, more than we’ve seen for a few years.”

    Their next drive-thru food event will be on June 29 at the Feast Food Pantry in St. Petersburg.

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    Julia Hazel

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  • St. Pete native hosts conference for Bay Area kids

    St. Pete native hosts conference for Bay Area kids

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — If you remember those battery commercials about the bunny with unlimited energy, that rabbit would be envious of Deonte Thompson.

    What You Need To Know

    • Dreamfaith Foundation hosted a a conference at USF St. Petersburg for young people in the Bay area

    • The conference, St. Pete Strong, is a lively conference with music, prizes, along with lectures and seminars from people in STEM and other fields

    • The goal, according to the organizer, is to give kids information to potential careers and activities they can pursue during the summertime and for the rest of their lives


    He is the executive director of the Dreamfaith Foundation and the kids in St. Petersburg are why he’s so eager to get today started.

    “Their smile makes my heart smile,” Thompson said. “And I’m trying to just keep it all together. I love the handshakes. I love the smile. They’re so excited, so it makes me excited.”

    Even though this is the eighth year Thompson is hosting a youth conference in the Bay area, that excitement still comes back with every kid he interacts with.

    “I am running on, like, zero sleep right now, but I don’t even feel it at this point,” Thompson said.

    At the St. Pete Strong Youth Conference on USF’s St. Pete campus, the objective, according to Thompson, is to give kids something to do that’s constructive now that it’s officially summer.

    “The goal is really about exposing kids to information, to data, to careers they meet that they may not have been exposed to before,” he said.

    Because, he says, boredom in the summer can sometimes lead to bad choices. So giving them an atmosphere that’s not only fun, but educational and insightful is why he flies from Texas back to his hometown to host this event.

    “I see 10-year-old Deonte, wishing that I had something like this to come to during the summertime, and it just makes my heart smile because they have their faces light up,” Thompson said. “They have no clue what they’re in for today.”

    Because it’s not just lectures and a free breakfast. This conference is a party.

    St. Pete Strong has a DJ, dancing and booths for things like stem activities.

    They also have speakers to motivate each young person in the crowd.

    “We give you support; we give you backing, we give you a network, we give you community, we give you exposure,” Thompson said.

    After all, community and support is why Thompson keeps coming home to put this conference on.

    This year, about 400 kids from the Bay area are at the conference and Thompson wouldn’t want to do this anywhere else.

    “There’s no greater place to do it in my hometown,” he said.

    That drive to touch these young lives helps you realize exactly why Thompsons’s energy isn’t going away anytime soon.

    Next year, Thompson plans to host the conference as part of a week-long experience he calls St. Pete Week.

    He says it’ll include things like a beach block party, and a 5K, ultimately culminating with the 9th Annual Empowerment Conference.

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    Nick Popham

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  • Lakeland teen pilots set to compete in World Gliding Championships in Poland

    Lakeland teen pilots set to compete in World Gliding Championships in Poland

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — In a hangar full of planes, there’s something special about the kind of aircraft Steven Tellmann likes to fly.

    What You Need To Know

    •  Teenagers with Lakeland AeroClub will be competing at the Junior World Gliding Championships in July

    •  The competition will be held in Poland, with videos posted to the club’s YouTube channel

    •  This is the first time a high school club from the United States will be competing in this competition


    “I took my first flight in 2019, in a glider, and since then I’ve always been hooked,” he said.

    A glider is a plane that doesn’t have an engine and, for Tellmann, when he’s by himself in the air, flying one of these things is unlike any other plane.

    “It’s more challenging,” he said. “It’s always, kind of, a different challenge every time you go fly it.”

    It’s a surreal experience that has been part of his years of training and practicing with the Lakeland AeroClub.

    He’s the team captain of the club’s soaring team and they’re about to do something no high school soaring team in the United States has done, which is glide competitively on an international scale.

    “It’s neat in itself, just going to represent the U.S., but it’s also really cool, like to go with my friends,” Tellmann said.

    Tellmann will be one of four pilots representing the U.S. in the Junior World Gliding Championships next month in Poland.

    It happens every two years and he and the rest of the boys here have been working hard to get to this point.

    While Tellmann is one of the pilots, his teammates will be a part of the ground crew.

    “It really says something when we’re able to kind of nurture that and keep bringing it up, because now our plane is not just to have me go, we’re trying to work down the line of the kids,” said Tellmann.

    Which includes helping those younger kids train in things like virtual reality.

    “It gets you used to everything that’s going to be in the airplane,” said Qwest Hipps, a 16-year-old member of the team joining Tellmann in Poland.

    According to Hipps, before ever flying a real glider, he and the rest of the students with the club use this technology to better prepare themselves.

    “Everything looks identical,” he said. “So, if we if we’re going, if we’re planning to fly somewhere else, we’ll set it up to the airport that we’ll be flying at, and it helps us get to know the area.”

    Training that’s perfect for Tellmann too, who, because of logistical and cost reasons, must rent a glider in Poland to compete with.

    But, if you ask him, his dad is a pilot and flying has been a part of his life for as long as he can remember. So competition is one thing, but being able to feel the air underneath these wings is a feeling that will never get old.

    “I’ve always seen myself doing it,” Tellmann said. “Never really thought about doing anything else.”

    And now, he gets to do it while representing his country alongside his friends.

    The championships in Poland will be happening July 13 through 27.

    Members of the club say they’ll be posting videos of the competition on their YouTube channel for people interested in following their progress competing against nearly 20 different countries.

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    Nick Popham

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  • Tampa Bay group quilts together history on Juneteenth

    Tampa Bay group quilts together history on Juneteenth

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    CLEARWATER, Fla. — Americans across the country are celebrating Juneteenth on Wednesday. It’s the day enslaved people in Galveston, Texas found out they were free — nearly two years after President Abraham Lincoln emancipated enslaved Africans in America.

    In 2021, Juneteenth was established as a federal holiday, but for some, learning about the history of the holiday needs to be emphasized more.

    What You Need To Know

    • Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021

    • On June 19, 1865, enslaved people in Galveston, Texas were alerted that they were free — nearly two years after President Abraham Lincoln emancipated enslaved Africans in America
    • The sewing club, Quilting Sisters of Color Too, made quilts to be on display for Juneteenth at the Pinellas County African American History Museum

    • WHILE YOU’RE HERE: Juneteenth celebrations across Tampa Bay for 2024

    That’s why the women from the sewing club, Quilting Sisters of Color Too, made quilts to be on display for Juneteenth at the Pinellas County African American History Museum.

    Denise Campbell said she has a piece she’s been working on for years. She started on the quilt around the same time she learned about the significance of quilting for African Americans.

    “What the slaves would do is they would put a quilt up and put it on the line, and the people would know when to gather their food, gather everything and each stop on the underground railroad, they would have a quilt saying, ‘It’s safe, you can do this,’ or ‘You can do that,’” Campbell said.

    For her, learning that motivated her to keep moving her needle.

    “What motivated me is knowing what they had to do to gain their freedom,” Campbell said. “Because I just thought they were, you know, I thought they were really smart to do this without the slave owner knowing what they’re doing. To know that our ancestors were smart enough to do that, without the slave owners knowing about it, and they were able to escape to freedom, and I thought that was pretty brilliant of them myself.”

    She said she first learned about Juneteenth when she moved to Texas.

    “I never knew anything about Juneteenth until I moved to Texas 20 years ago. But it shows people what kind of people they were dealing with. And I felt bad they stayed in slavery what, two more years, than everybody else,” she said.

    When she moved back to Florida, the sewing club, called Quilting Sisters of Color too, was formed. Annie Miller has tailored it for anyone who wants to learn. She said the oldest member at 85, and the youngest is 35 years old.

    Every week, the women meet to create quilts just like their ancestors did. And they do it in a room that’s bursting at the seams with love, laughter and history.

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    Saundra Weathers

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  • Local actor teaches next generation of bay area movie makers

    Local actor teaches next generation of bay area movie makers

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — “Quiet on the set!” Cranston Cumberbatch said, and the room of young people fell silent.

    What You Need To Know

    • Wednesday, June 19, 6 p.m. is the Juneteenth Film Festival

    • It will be at Tampa Theatre, 711 N. Franklin St., Tampa

    • Entry is Free


    Cumberbatch sees more than teenagers at summer camp, these are creatives, and they need direction.

    Cumberbatch can do that. And wield a camera. And write and act.

    “I have a motto,” said Cumberbatch. “I refuse to be limited, and it allows me to get my creative ideas out there when I have them. I don’t have to wait on anyone and/or ask permission.”

    Cumberbatch is the first on-camera instructor at American Stage Theatre. This summer, he’s making movies with his students.

    “I like to engage my students in the world I live in every day,” said Cumberbatch.

    Cumberbatch has been acting professionally since 2006. And he not only stars in the movies for the upcoming Juneteeth Film Festival at the Tampa Theatre, he’s helped to organize it.

    “Growing up on the south side of St. Petersburg I didn’t have anyone to look up to in the community,” said Cumberbatch. “And now being in a position to actually be that person, it’s one of my biggest rewards of giving back to the community,” said Cumberbatch.

    Cumberbatch will enter this student film into local film festivals.

    “I just so happen to be the festival director for the Sunshine City Film Festival and the Tampa Bay Black Arts and Film Festival here in St. Pete,” said Cumberbatch.

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    Virginia Johnson

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  • Richey Suncoast Theatre approved for $100k grant to help with renovations

    Richey Suncoast Theatre approved for $100k grant to help with renovations

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    NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — A local landmark in Pasco County is getting a financial boost. 

    The Richey Suncoast Theatre — known to passersby via its beautiful golden dome roof — has recently been approved for a grant. Help will be received in the form of a $100,000 grant from the New Port Richey Community Redevelopment Agency.

    It’s helping bring life back to a once forgotten art form.

    What You Need To Know

    • A $100,000 grant has been approved for the Richey Suncoast Theatre, courtesy of the New Port Richey Community Redevelopment Agency

    • Recent renovations have been made at the theatre over the years, but with the new grant, the once prominent, cultural meeting ground will be getting a makeover
    • Funding arrives at a promising time as attendance numbers, according to theatre board members, have been on the rise
    • Plans include updating the theatre’s air conditioning units as well as replacing its roof

    Just a block from New Port Richey’s Main Street proudly stands the iconic Richey Suncoast Theatre.

    “It was the center of culture for the area,” said actor and president of the Board for the Richey Suncoast Theatre, Angela Sarabia. “People came down just to cool off, to see a film, and it was really a cultural touchstone.”

    The theatre’s exterior is impressive but, according to Sarabia, it’s inside where the magic happens.  

    “It really is iconic because of that dome. It really stands out,” said Sarabia. “But I meet people every day who say they see it from the road, but have never been inside. But once they come inside, they are really impressed with it.”

    A once prominent, cultural meeting ground is getting a makeover. Recent renovations have been made at the theatre, including LED lighting fixtures and soundproofing.

    Originally built in 1925, the theatre wasn’t converted into a community one until 1972. Seating just under 300 people, with 295 seats in the vicinity.

    “We’ve upgraded that sound quality so that when you walk in, you’re really getting a professional level of audio quality to the experience. There are music acts coming in and booking to be on the stage and they’re loving that the sound that their patrons are hearing from them is a professional quality sound,” Sarabia said.

    More upgrades are planned, thanks to funding from the New Port Richey Community Redevelopment Agency and their $100,000 grant. The funding arrives at a promising time, with attendance numbers on the rise.

    “During our season last year, I was thrilled to be getting updates from the board about our amazing sales every day, as well as our concession sales,” said Kate Connolly, board member for Richey Suncoast Theatre. “We definitely see the trickle-down effect within the community and the different businesses come to us after a big show, and they say they’re so happy to see all of that opportunity right after the show lets out.”

    And with a growing audience, the theatre’s upgrades will be that much more impactful.

    “Our hope is to continually be a community space, but to have more and more upgrades to the overall experience, and we’d like to increase our inclusivity,” Sarabia said.

    Ensuring the theater continues offering entertainment for future generations.

    And those with the theatre said with this new grant, a few upgrades can be made on existing air conditioning units. They also say it may also mean the theatre can replace its roof next year.

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    Calvin Lewis

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  • Queen City Book Bank welcomes new mural

    Queen City Book Bank welcomes new mural

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    CINCINNATI — Queen City Book Bank will have a new ArtWorks mural designed by renowned artist and author Loren Long.

    Long’s piece is designed after his newest book, “The Yellow Bus.”

    What You Need To Know

    • Long’s piece is designed after his newest book, “The Yellow Bus”

    • Ten ArtWorks Apprentices, comprised of local high school and post-high schoolerers between the ages of 14 to 21, and two Teaching Artists have begun to work on the mural

    • The mural is a lively, mission-minded scene from the book and is coming to life on a grand scale outside the Book Bank’s headquarters

    • Loren has lived in Cincinnati for more than three decades and is a member of the QCBB board

    Ten ArtWorks Apprentices, comprised of local high school and post-high schoolerers between the ages of 14 to 21, and two Teaching Artists have begun to work on the mural.

    “We are ecstatic about this very special project with Loren, ArtWorks and Macmillan Publishers,” said Michelle Otten Guenther, CEO of the QCBB. “’The Yellow Bus’ will be our signature book for the 2024–25 school year and its simple, but profound, message will set the tone for an inspiring year ahead. This unique mural reinforces that by working together our community makes literacy a priority.”

    The mural is a lively, mission-minded scene from the book and is coming to life on a grand scale outside the Book Bank’s headquarters, 1200 Gest St. in Queensgate.

    Loren has lived in Cincinnati for more than three decades and is a member of the QCBB board. “The Yellow Bus,” is Loren’s latest book about a forgotten school bus that finds joy and purpose in the most unexpected places and in the journey along the way. 

    Loren’s has ilustrated nearly 30 books and has appeared on the New York Times bestseller list 12 times. His latest book goes on sale on June 25, 2024 from Roaring Brook Press. The book bank itself will distribute 3,500 copies to children in its curated book program beginning in September. 

    The public will be able to hear from Long and the mural team at the free Wet Paint public speaking event on July 11 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at 21C Museum Hotel, 609 Walnut St. in Cincinnati. Advanced registration is required for this event. 

    Apprentices shall complete their mural work in early August and Artworks and the QCBB ar eplanning a mural dedication celebration in mid-September.

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    Madison MacArthur

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