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  • What to know about Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapping and the race to find her

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    TUCSON, Ariz. — It’s been a week since “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie ‘s mother disappeared from her home in Arizona in what authorities say was a kidnapping.

    What You Need To Know

    • It’s been a week since “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie’s mother disappeared from her home in Arizona in what authorities say was a kidnapping

    • Investigators have been examining ransom notes and looking for evidence but have not named a suspect

    • On Friday, officers returned to 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie’s home near Tucson and to the surrounding neighborhood to continue their search

    • Family members told officials they last saw Nancy Guthrie at 9:48 p.m. on Jan. 31 when they dropped her off at home after they ate dinner and played games together

    Investigators have been examining ransom notes and looking for evidence but have not named a suspect. On Friday, officers returned to 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie ‘s home near Tucson and to the surrounding neighborhood to continue their search.

    Here’s what to know about the case:

    The disappearance

    Family members told officials they last saw Guthrie at 9:48 p.m. on Jan. 31 when they dropped her off at home after they ate dinner and played games together. The next day, family learned she didn’t attend church. They reported her missing after they went to check on her.

    Guthrie has a pacemaker and needs daily medication. Her family and authorities are worried her health could be deteriorating by the day.

    Collecting evidence

    Authorities think Guthrie was taken against her will from her home in an upscale neighborhood that sits on hilly, desert terrain. DNA tests showed blood on Guthrie’s front porch matched hers, the county sheriff has said.

    This image provided by the Pima County Sheriff s Department, on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, shows a missing person alert for Nancy Guthrie. (Pima County Sheriff s Department via AP)

    Investigators found her doorbell camera was disconnected early Sunday and that software data recorded movement at the home minutes later. But investigators haven’t been able to recover the footage because Guthrie didn’t have an active subscription to the service.

    Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told The Associated Press in an interview that investigators have not given up on trying to access those images.

    “I wish technology was as easy as we believe it is, that here’s a picture, here’s your bad guy. But it’s not,” Nanos told the AP on Friday. “There are pieces of information that come to us from these tech groups that say ‘This is what we have and we can’t get anymore.’”

    The president of the Catalina Foothills Association, a neighborhood group, thanked residents in a letter for being willing to speak with law enforcement, share camera images and allow their properties to be searched.

    Ransom notes

    At least three media organizations reported receiving purported ransom notes, which they handed over to investigators. Authorities made an arrest after one ransom note turned out to be fake, the sheriff said.

    It’s unclear if all of the notes were identical. Heith Janke, the FBI chief in Phoenix, said details included a demand for money with a Thursday evening deadline and a second deadline for Monday if the first one wasn’t met. At least one note mentioned a floodlight at Guthrie’s home and an Apple watch, Janke said.

    Investigators said they are taking the notes seriously.

    On Friday, KOLD-TV in Tucson said it received a new message, via email, tied to the Guthrie case. The station said it couldn’t disclose its contents. The FBI said it was aware of a new message and was reviewing its authenticity.

    Family appeals

    Concern about Guthrie’s condition is growing because authorities say she needs daily medicine that’s vital to her health. She has a pacemaker, high blood pressure and heart issues, according to sheriff’s dispatcher audio on broadcastify.com.

    Guthrie’s children recorded two separate video messages to their mother’s abductor and posted them publicly on social media.

    Savannah Guthrie filmed a sometimes emotional message on Wednesday asking the kidnapper for proof their mother was alive. She noted that technology today allows for the easy manipulation of voices and images and the family needed to know “without a doubt” that she is alive and in the abductor’s hands.

    Police have not said that they have received any deepfake images of Nancy Guthrie.

    Savannah Guthrie described her mother as a “kind, faithful, loyal, fiercely loving woman of goodness and light” and said she was funny, spunky and clever.

    “Talk to her and you’ll see,” she said.

    She spoke some words directly to her mom, saying she and her siblings wouldn’t rest until they’re all together again.

    Trump’s involvement

    The FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for information about Guthrie’s whereabouts.

    Separately, a Kentucky priest has offered a $10,000 reward for Nancy Guthrie’s safe return.

    The White House said President Donald Trump called and spoke with Savannah Guthrie on Wednesday. He posted on social media that he was directing federal authorities to help where they can.

    On Friday night, he told reporters flying with him to his Florida estate on Air Force One that the investigation was going “very well” and investigators had some strong clues.

    Famous kidnappings

    The kidnapping is the latest abduction to attract the American public’s attention.

    Other notorious kidnappings in U.S. history have included the son of singer Frank Sinatra, the granddaughter of newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst and the 9-year-old girl for whom the AMBER Alert was named.

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    Associated Press

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  • DOJ to allow lawmakers to see unredacted Epstein files

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    WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice will allow members of Congress to review unredacted files on the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein starting on Monday, according to a letter that was sent to lawmakers.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Department of Justice will allow members of Congress to review unredacted files on the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein

    • That’s according to a letter obtained by The Associated Press says that lawmakers starting Monday will be able to review unredacted versions of the more than 3 million files that the Justice Department has released

    • To access the files, lawmakers will need to give the Justice Department 24 hours advance notice

    • They will be able to review the files on computers at the Department of Justice, and only lawmakers and not their staff will have access to the files

    The letter obtained by The Associated Press says that lawmakers will be able to review unredacted versions of the more than 3 million files that the Justice Department has released to comply with a law passed by Congress last year.

    To access the files, lawmakers will need to give the Justice Department 24 hours’ notice. They will be able to review the files on computers at the Department of Justice. Only lawmakers, not their staff, will have access to the files, and they will be permitted to take notes, but not make electronic copies.

    The arrangement, first reported by NBC News, showed the continued demand for information on Epstein and his crimes by lawmakers, even after the Justice Department devoted large numbers of its staff to comply with the law passed by Congress last year. The Justice Department has come under criticism for delays in the release of information, failing to redact the personal information and photos of victims and not releasing the entire 6 million documents collected in relation to Epstein.

    Still, lawmakers central to the push for transparency, described the concession by the Justice Department as a victory.

    “When Congress pushes back, Congress can prevail,” Rep. Ro Khanna, who sponsored what’s known as the Epstein Files Transparency Act, posted on social media.

    Khanna has pointed to several emails between Epstein and individuals whose information was redacted that appeared to refer to the sexual abuse of underage girls. The release of the case files has prompted inquiries around the world about men who cavorted with the well-connected financier. Still, lawmakers are pressing for a further reckoning over anyone who may have had knowledge of Epstein’s abuse or could have helped facilitate it.

    Epstein killed himself in a New York jail cell in 2019 while he faced charges that he sexually abused and trafficked dozens of underage girls. The case was brought more than a decade after he secretly cut a deal with federal prosecutors in Florida to dispose of nearly identical allegations. Epstein was accused of paying underage girls hundreds of dollars in cash for massages and then molesting them.

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    Associated Press

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  • Lakeland youth step team helps preserve cultural tradition

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — You may have seen it — the perfectly timed stomps, the chants and hand claps.

    What You Need To Know

    • A Lakeland-based youth step team is helping preserve the cultural tradition of stepping, an art form rooted in African history

    • Beyond competition, the team provides mentorship, sisterhood and a safe space for self-expression for middle and high school girls

    • The group is actively sharing the tradition on a national stage, hosting a step show this weekend with teams from across the country


    But where did it all begin?

    For centuries, stepping, a powerful ritual dance, has inspired generations, including the Lakeland-based step team Taken by Surprise.

    The group of girls, ranging in age, practices stepping inside Sleepy Hill Middle School’s gym about four days a week. While winning competitions is the goal, the steppers say they gain so much more.

    For 12th grader Aleyah Davis, it’s sisterhood.

    “It got me out of my shell because I am shy,” Davis said.

    Meanwhile, 11th grader Keyanah Colston says it’s a safe place to express herself.

    “If anything is weighing on my mind, I feel like when we come here, it’s just an open space to do you,” Colston said.

    Team sponsor Corey Tumer started Taken by Surprise 13 years ago to help build character in young people. As a member of Kappa Alpha Psi, he also wanted to expose them to Greek life — specifically historically Black fraternities and sororities known as the Divine Nine.

    “And that gives them more exposure than just being home and the possibility to network with other students across the country and get that experience of what life would be like as a college student,” Tumer said.

    Though stepping is widely used throughout Divine Nine culture, the art form didn’t originate there. Longtime dance instructor Andrida Hosey says stepping is rooted in African tradition.

    “So a lot of things, like celebratory things like naming ceremonies, and wedding celebrations, and going out for war, we used movement and rhythm, especially the drums,” Hosey said. “But as we came over to America, we couldn’t use the drums as slaves. They started using their body as instruments, and the clapping and the rhythm, and their voices as instruments.”

    She says those movements became a way to express feelings during a time when doing so was forbidden.

    Today, stepping gives young people that same freedom of expression, something the girls of Taken by Surprise say they don’t take for granted.

    Taken by Surprise will host a national step show this Saturday at Kathleen High School. Twenty teams from around the country will compete. Doors open at 2 p.m.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Polk County landscaper advises residents on new watering schedule

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    POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Polk County Utilities is one of the latest utilities working to preserve water across the Tampa Bay area.

    What You Need To Know

    • Polk County Utilities is the latest to enforce a new once-per-week lawn watering schedule due to below-average rainfall and low water levels

    • Watering is limited to specific days and times based on street address, with schedules running before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m.

    • Local landscapers warn that the restrictions may not be enough to maintain healthy lawns


    Officials recently announced it will enforce the Modified Phase II water shortage order issued by the Southwest Florida Water Management District. The restrictions apply to the following areas:

    Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota and Sumter counties; portions of Charlotte, Highlands and Lake counties; the city of Dunnellon and The Villages in Marion County; and the portion of Gasparilla Island in Lee County.

    Starting this Sunday, residents and businesses can only water their lawns once a week. The new watering schedule is due to below-average rainfall and low water levels in area water resources.

    However, Eric Myers, owner of Myerscapes Environmental, says that may not be enough to maintain a healthy landscape.

    “The limitations on irrigating your yard, it’s going to cause a lot of damage to sod and everybody’s plants and foliage is going to start dying off. If they can’t irrigate, it’s going to be a lot of unhappy people,” Myers said.

    While the restrictions could mean more business for him, Myers says he is more concerned about how they will impact his customers.

    “Everybody doesn’t have tons of money to put into their yards to keep it properly maintained and looking good,” he said.

    With that said, Myers recommends residents water their yards for at least 20 minutes on their designated day. Even then, he says a healthy lawn is not guaranteed.

    Polk County Utilities says watering hours are assigned to one day per week based on address and must take place before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m.

    Details of the once-per-week watering schedule are as follows:

    • Addresses ending in 0 or 1 may only water on Mondays.
    • Addresses ending in 2 or 3 may only water on Tuesdays.
    • Addresses ending in 4 or 5 may only water on Wednesdays.
    • Addresses ending in 6 or 7 may only water on Thursdays.
    • Addresses ending in 8 or 9, along with locations for which an address cannot be determined (such as common areas associated with a subdivision), may only water on Fridays.

    The new schedule begins Sunday and is expected to remain in place through July 1.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • ‘We will pay,’ Savannah Guthrie says in desperate video plea

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    TUCSON, Ariz. —  Savannah Guthrie told the potential kidnappers of her mother Nancy Guthrie on Saturday that the family is prepared to pay for her safe return, as the frantic search for the 84-year-old Arizona resident has entered a seventh day.

    What You Need To Know

    • “We received your message, and we understand. We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her,” she said in a video posted on social media, flanked by her siblings
    • Guthrie was referencing a message that was sent to the Tucson-based television station KOLD on Friday afternoon, according to Kevin Smith, a spokesperson for the FBI office in Phoenix

    • Investigators think Nancy Guthrie was taken against her will from her home just outside Tucson last weekend

    • Meanwhile concern about Nancy Guthrie’s health condition has grown, because authorities say she needs vital daily medicine

    “We received your message, and we understand. We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her,” she said in a video posted on social media, flanked by her siblings. “This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.”

    Guthrie was referencing a message that was sent to the Tucson-based television station KOLD on Friday afternoon, according to Kevin Smith, a spokesperson for the FBI office in Phoenix.

    KOLD said it received an email related to the Guthrie case on social media that day but declined to share specific details about its contents as the FBI conducted its review.

    The station was one of multiple press outlets that received alleged ransom letters during the week. At least one letter made monetary demands and established Thursday evening and the following Monday evening as deadlines.

    In a news conference Thursday, law enforcement officials declined to affirm that the letters were credible but said all tips were being investigated seriously. They also said one letter referenced Nancy Guthrie’s Apple watch and a specific feature of her property.

    The video released Saturday was the third this week that pleaded with potential kidnappers.

    No suspects identified

    Investigators think Nancy Guthrie was taken against her will from her home just outside Tucson last weekend. DNA tests showed blood on Guthrie’s front porch was a match to her, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has said. Authorities have not identified any suspects or ruled anyone out.

    The sheriff said Friday that he was frustrated that a camera at Nancy Guthrie’s home was not able to capture images of anyone the day she went missing.

    Investigators have found that the home’s doorbell camera was disconnected early Sunday and that software data recorded movement at the home minutes later. But Nancy Guthrie did not have an active subscription, so none of the images were able to be recovered.

    “It is concerning, it’s actually almost disappointing, because you’ve got your hopes up,” Nanos told The Associated Press in an interview. “OK, they got an image. ‘Well, we do, but we don’t.’”

    President Donald Trump, speaking on Air Force One on Friday, said the investigation was going “very well.”

    “We have some clues that I think are very strong,” Trump said, while en route to his Florida estate. “We have some things that may be coming out reasonably soon.”

    Investigators return to scene

    They were back in Nancy Guthrie’s neighborhood on Friday.

    The sheriff’s department posted on social media to say access was restricted to the road in front of the home to give investigators space. Journalists staked out there were directed to move.

    The Catalina Foothills Association, a neighborhood group, told residents in a letter that authorities were resuming searches in the area immediately.

    “I know we all stand together in our collective disbelief and sadness and greatly appreciate your willingness to speak with law enforcement, share camera images and allow searches of your properties,” the association president said in the letter.

    The sheriff said Thursday that investigators have not given up on trying to retrieve camera recordings.

    “I wish technology was as easy as we believe it is, that here’s a picture, here’s your bad guy. But it’s not,” Nanos told the AP. “There are pieces of information that come to us from these tech groups that say ‘this is what we have and we can’t get anymore.’”

    The sheriff also said he had no new information about the note to the TV station or other purported ransom letters sent to some media outlets, saying the FBI is handling that side of the investigation.

    Meanwhile concern about Nancy Guthrie’s health condition has grown, because authorities say she needs vital daily medicine. She is said to have a pacemaker and have dealt with high blood pressure and heart issues, according to sheriff’s dispatcher audio on broadcastify.com.

    “Her conditions, I would imagine, are worsening day by day,” Nanos said. “She requires medication. And I have no way of knowing whether they’re getting that medication to her.”

    The kidnapping has captured the attention of Americans, including Trump, who said he was directing federal authorities to help investigate.

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    Associated Press

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  • Dangerously cold temperatures this weekend

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    Another weekend will bring bitter cold to parts of the country—this time across the Ohio River Valley, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Wind chills could plunge to as much as 35 degrees below zero in some locations.

    What You Need To Know

    • Cold Weather Warnings are in place tonight through Sunday afternoon

    • Wind chills could dip as low as 30 degrees below zero

    • Temperatures are expected to moderate into next week



     

    Cold Weather Alerts

    Arctic air will pour into the region through the weekend. Area-wide temperatures will dip near zero, and gusty winds could drive wind chills down to 30 below.

    Cold Weather Advisories are in place for the Lakes and Mountains region of Maine, Ohio and eastern Michigan, with Extreme Cold Warnings set to go into effect for New York State and western Massachusetts.


    Cold weather alerts will remain in effect through Sunday afternoon.

    A Cold Weather Advisory is issued when dangerously cold wind chills can cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 15 minutes. An Extreme Cold Warning is issued when frostbite and hypothermia are likely if skin is left unprotected.

    Frigid wind chills

    The cold will settle in Saturday night and remain locked in the Northeast and New England through Sunday. A gradual warmup will begin on Monday. 


    Several of these areas were hit with heavy snow two weeks ago, and much of it remains. Additional snow this weekend will only build bigger piles.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Stacy Lynn

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  • Weekend Digest: Headlines from across Ohio over the last week

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    Your weekend is here, Buckeye State. Let’s look back at some of the stories that were in the headlines this week. But first, here’s a look at the forecast:

    Find more forecast details: Cincinnati | Cleveland | Columbus | Dayton | Toledo

     

    Top headlines across Ohio this week

    U.S.-based Haitians are buoyed but wary after a judge stops Trump from ending their protections

    A judge intervened Monday to keep the protection in place while a lawsuit challenging the administration’s order plays out, Charpentier’s driver’s license was set to expire Tuesday, and he’s worried he might yet be forced to leave before he can graduate in May. Read more >>>

    Skimming devices removed from Ohio businesses during operation

    The U.S. Secret Service, along with other agency partners, conducted a multi-city Electronic Benefit Transfer fraud and payment card skimming outreach operation in late January, targeting Cleveland, Cincinnati, Seattle and Denver. Read more >>>

    Why East Palestine residents are getting smaller settlement checks than anticipated

    Personal injury payments are the first portion of the $600 million class action settlement to be distributed to residents. In September of 2024, the settlement was approved, and personal injury payments were ordered to start 30 days after that approval. Read more >>>

    State officials: Haitians’ drivers licenses, state IDs may not be valid despite judge’s ruling

    State officials said the state of Ohio is working to notify thousands of Haitians in Springfield and surrounding areas that their drivers licenses and state IDs may no longer be valid, despite a federal judge’s ruling on Tuesday extending the Temporary Protected Status designations. Read more >>>

    Buckeye Chuck goes against Punxsutawney Phil, predicts early spring

    Buckeye Chuck is Ohio’s own Punxsutawney Phil, and he made his 47th appearance this year. As the folklore goes, if Buckeye Chuck sees his shadow at sunrise, Ohioans can expect six more weeks of winter. If not, spring could be right around the corner. . Read more >>>

    The biggest stories of the week across the nation

    1. Authorities believe Savannah Guthrie’s mom ‘is still out there’

    2. Video depicting the Obamas as apes removed from Trump’s social media account

    3. Super Bowl LX will help celebrate America’s 250th anniversary

    Download the Spectrum News App

    Weekend Playlist

     

    Here’s what we’re listening to as we relax and unwind this weekend.

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  • Key participant in 2012 Benghazi attack is in custody, Bondi says

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    WASHINGTON — A key participant in the deadly 2012 attack on the U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans has been taken into custody and will be prosecuted in their deaths, Attorney General Pam Bondi said Friday.

    What You Need To Know

    • Attorney General Pam Bondi says a key participant in 2012 attack on a U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans is in custody

    • The 2012 attack on the U.S. compound killed Americans including Ambassador Chris Stevens and immediately emerged as a divisive political issue. Republicans challenged President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on security at the facility, the military response to the violence and the Democratic administration’s changing narrative about who was responsible

    • A Libyan militant suspected of being a mastermind of the attacks was convicted in the U.S. and is serving a prison sentence

    Bondi said in a news conference that Zubayr Al-Bakoush had landed at Joint Base Andrews at 3 a.m. on Friday.

    “We have never stopped seeking justice for that crime against our nation,” Bondi said.

    U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said that an eight-count indictment charged Al-Bakoush with crimes including the murders of Ambassador Chris Stevens and State Department employee Sean Smith. It was unclear if Al-Bakoush had an attorney representing him.

    The 2012 attack on the U.S. compound immediately emerged as a divisive political issue as Republicans challenged President Barack Obama and then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on security at the facility, the military response to the violence and the administration’s changing narrative about who was responsible and why.

    A final report by a Republican-led congressional panel faulted the Obama administration for security deficiencies at the Libyan outpost and a slow response to the attacs. The report, however, found no wrongdoing by Clinton.

    Clinton dismissed the report as an echo of previous probes with no new discoveries, saying it was “time to move on.” Other Democrats denounced the Republicans’ report as “a conspiracy theory on steroids.

    On the night of Sept. 11, 2012, U.S. officials have said, at least 20 militants armed with AK-47s and grenade launchers breached the gate of the consulate compound and set buildings on fire.

    The fire led to the deaths of Stevens and Smith. Other State Department personnel escaped to a nearby U.S. facility known as the annex.

    A large group assembled for an attack on the annex. That attack, including a precision mortar barrage, resulted in the deaths of security officers Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty.

    A Libyan militant suspected of being a mastermind of the attacks, Ahmed Abu Khattala, was captured by U.S. special forces in 2014 and was brought to Washington for prosecution. He was convicted and is serving a prison sentence. His attorneys argued that the evidence was inconclusive and that he was singled out because of his ultra-conservative Muslim beliefs.

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    Associated Press

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  • Browns Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz resigns

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    This comes just days after the team officially introduced Todd Monken as the 19th coach in franchise history.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Super Bowl LX will help celebrate America’s 250th anniversary

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    SANTA CLARA, Calif. — With all the pomp and circumstance, it might not immediately register, but Super Bowl LX isn’t only the biggest annual sporting event in the United States — this year, it will also help commemorate America’s 250th anniversary.

    What You Need To Know

    • Super Bowl LX will help commemorate America’s 250th anniversary

    • The ball, the sidelines — even the coin that’s tossed to determine which team receives the ball first — will be emblazoned with the America250 logo to honor the country’s semiquincentennial

    • “This is a yearlong celebration tied to moments that bring communities together,” America250 Chair Rosie Rios told Spectrum News. “Football is something that’s very near and dear to many Americans”

    • After Super Bowl LX ends in a blizzard of confetti and the Vince Lombardi Trophy has been claimed, America250 will have a presence at another marquee moment in football: the NFL draft in Pittsburgh in April


    The ball, the sidelines — even the coin that’s tossed to determine which team receives the ball first — will be emblazoned with the America250 logo to honor the country’s semiquincentennial.

    “This is a yearlong celebration tied to moments that bring communities together,” America250 Chair Rosie Rios told Spectrum News. “Football is something that’s very near and dear to many Americans.”

    As they do every year, the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy will conduct a joint Super Bowl LX flyover with an eight-ship aircraft formation. For 2026, it will honor USA’s 250th anniversary when the American flag used in Flag Sojourn 250 — a single American flag that’s traveled to every state, territory and overseas military cemetery — will be in the cockpit of one of the formation’s aircraft.

    To help honor America’s 250th, the NFL said it plans to assemble care packages for the military community through its Salute to Service initiative that seeks to honor, empower and connect with active-duty service members, veterans and their families, the league said.

    America250’s partnership with the NFL kicked off during Week 18 of the 2025 season that was played in early January 2026, following its presence at college football’s “Iron Bowl” in Auburn, Alabama, in November and the Rose Bowl Parade on Jan. 1.

    “Sea to shining sea is what’s really important,” Rios said of the organization’s goal of engaging all 350 million Americans to celebrate the country’s big birthday.

    On Super Bowl Sunday, as the New England Patriots square off against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, it will get almost two-thirds of the way there, when a record 213.1 million U.S. adults are expected to tune in, according to the National Retail Federation.

    In the days leading up to the game, America250 has been part of the Super Bowl Experience fan event at San Francisco’s Moscone Center, where an Airstream trailer has been transformed into a recording studio for Americans to share their personal stories — some of which will be archived at the Library of Congress.

    “The semiquincentennial is about storytelling. It is about convenings. It’s about making people feel at home,” Rios said.

    Sporting events are a natural connector.

    After Super Bowl LX ends in a blizzard of confetti and the Vince Lombardi Trophy has been claimed, America250 will have a presence at another marquee moment in football: the NFL draft in Pittsburgh in April.

    “We are going to the Super Bowl and beyond to show those experiences with the fans and in these beautiful moments that we’re sharing together,” Rios said.

    America250’s collaboration with the NFL is one of several with sports organizations as the country prepares to celebrate its big day.

    The sports collaborations will continue with Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game in Philadelphia and the FIFA World Cup games over the summer.

    One day after America’s 250th birthday is officially in the books, America250 will hand off its U.S. celebrations to LA28 — the organizing committee for the next summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The handoff will take place July 5, during the FIFA World Cup.

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    Susan Carpenter

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  • Ohio nonprofit receives $250,000 in NASA STEM Innovator Award

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    CLEVELAND — Helping students piece together parts and explore technology is Bill Scott’s passion. He’s the executive director of Youngstown nonprofit Advanced Methods in Innovation (AMI).

    What You Need To Know

    • AMI is one of more than a dozen institutions receiving more than $5 million in NASA cooperative agreements to create STEM education for free

    • A growing number of after-school programs are now providing science, technology, engineering and math learning opportunities, according to the Afterschool Alliance

    • While STEM learning is rising, enrollment is declining, with many low-income families citing cost as the number one barrier to afterschool participation 

    “We have our 3D printing farm, where we have about 50 3D printers, and they have various sizes and capabilities,” Bill Scott said. “We’re able to print some various filament types. We use these to build our project kits, and we also print student projects.”

    Working with K-12 schools in the Mahoning Valley area, AMI helps teams of students research and create designs using 2D or 3D software and also develop their own solutions to different NASA-related challenges. The group is part of 29 institutions nationwide that submitted proposed projects to NASA and were selected to help provide learning opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math beyond the classroom.

    Students create their own tail and wing design and test which airplane can fly the furthest. (Spectrum News 1/Tanya Velazquez)

    AMI President John Scott said their two-year proposal includes delivering kits to more than 3,500 students and educators to support different NASA challenges, including “Gaining Traction on Mars” and “Let it Glide.”

    “With the resurgence of interest in space with the Artemis program, they felt it was a good time to bring more attention to the opportunities for students to learn about NASA, to learn about aerospace, to learn about space in schools, so they came out with a solicitation for proposals,” Scott said.

    He said they’re also planning on launching other initiatives using the STEM Innovator fund, including a Mars Community 2050 project and hosting adventure weeks in Ohio libraries.

    AMI President John Scott and 3D-printed model.

    AMI President John Scott and 3D-printed model. (Spectrum News 1/Tanya Velazquez)

    The projects aim to foster learning and build skills in an industry where women represent around a quarter of computing and engineering jobs, and Black and Hispanic STEM workers are significantly underrepresented.

    “A lot of students learn to lose their interest in STEM because they don’t think they’re strong in mathematics when, [in] reality, math isn’t the key gatekeeper to STEM, technology is a gatekeeper to STEM,” Scott said. “What we want to do is get students comfortable with technology, with the emerging technologies, so they’ll explore some of these careers.”

    Maria Arredondo is the Next Gen STEM project manager at NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement. She said NASA hopes to use these regional partnerships to inspire the country’s next generation of innovators and aerospace workers.

    Mission Integration Center at the NASA Glenn Research Center.

    Mission Integration Center at the NASA Glenn Research Center. (Spectrum News 1/Tanya Velazquez)

    “The STEM Innovator Awards are valued at a $250,000 award amount, and nationwide we made about $4.5 million in awards to 18 organizations for STEM innovators,” Arredondo said.

    While AMI has strong roots in northern Ohio, Scott said, he hopes the organization’s partnership with NASA will help them reach classrooms across the state.

    “For us, NASA provides an opportunity with our statewide initiative to have a vehicle to reach out across the state and have other people learn about our program,” Bill Scott said. “… [These] activities allow kids to design and make things and express their creativity. I think that’s really key.”

    You can check out some more photos below:

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    Tanya Velazquez

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  • St. Pete track build on 1.8-mile Grand Prix street course begins Monday

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — In less than three weeks, some of the waterfront streets of downtown St. Pete will be transformed into a racecourse.

    The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg will be returning for its 22nd year from Feb. 27 to March 1. The 1.8-mile temporary street course has 14 turns and weaves around parts of downtown St. Pete, while also utilizing part of a runway at Albert Whitted Airport.

    While work on the grandstands and part of the course inside the airport grounds has already begun, course construction affecting streets in downtown St. Pete begins on Monday.

    Kim Green, with Green Savoree Racing Promotions, said it will take the team between 15-16 days to construct the course. That includes nearly 2,000 12-foot steel-reinforced concrete blocks that will be placed along the course, and 25,000 feet of chain-link fencing. Green said it will take Stepp’s Towing about 400 trips to haul all the necessary concrete.

    Track setup took 75 days for the first race, and the group has gotten more efficient over time, Green said.

    One of this year’s drivers, Nikita Johnson, 17, is from St. Pete and said the way the roads are constructed to drain rainwater makes the course even more interesting. He said the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is one of his personal favorites.

    “It’s really tricky with the crests — we have a lot of crests here because we have to get the rainwater off,” he said. “It’s pretty hard because it sucks you into the corner, into the apex … so that’s a big thing here. There’s some interesting big bumps here that want to throw the car around.”

    Construction on the course is expected to wrap up by Feb. 25. The races begin on Feb. 27 and run through that weekend.

    New this year, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will also be competing. Those races take place Saturday, Feb. 28.

     

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    Angie Angers

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  • Measles case reported at St. Petersburg Catholic High School

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Measles cases are spiking nationwide according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The latest case identified in Tampa Bay is a student at St. Petersburg Catholic High School. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The Diocese of St. Petersburg confirms a student at St. Petersburg Catholic High School has measles

    • The student hasn’t been in the building since Jan. 27

    • The diocese says while students can get immunization exemptions, 99.2% of students at the school are vaccinated against measles

    • Classes and activities will continue as usual


    “We were just made aware that one of our sophomore students has a confirmed case of measles,” the letter provided to Spectrum News by the diocese reads. “The student in question has not been present at school since January 27th and we are unaware of any additional cases at this time.”

    In addition to this case, information from the Florida Department of Health shows Hillsborough and Manatee Counties reported one case each in January.

    “Unfortunately, it was only a matter of time,” said Dr. Patrick Mularoni, a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. “We’re seeing a lot more vaccine hesitancy, and measles spreads very easily. So, those that are unvaccinated were bound to get it and spread it.”

    Mularoni said it doesn’t start with that telltale rash. He said the earliest symptoms of measles can be a cough, runny nose, fever, and red eyes, and it can take seven to 10 days before a patient starts to fell sick. That gives the virus plenty of time to spread.

    “Measles is very contagious. It’s more contagious than the common cold, and some sources say 10 out of ten people in a room with somebody with measles, if they’re not vaccinated, they’ll get it,” said Mularoni.

    According to the CDC, when more than 95% of people in a community are vaccinated, herd immunity is achieved. Its data shows 88.8% of Florida kindergarteners were vaccinated in the 2024-25 school year. Nationwide, measles vaccination coverage has dropped from 95.2% in the 2019-2020 school year to 92.5% last school year. The CDC said that put 286,000 U.S. kindergarteners at risk. 

    Meanwhile, cases have jumped in the past year. While just one or two weekly cases were reported in early 2025, that increased to a high of 279 cases reported for the week of January 11 of this year.

    The diocese said in its letter to parents, “While diocesan immunization policy allows for medical exemptions from a licensed physician, 99.2% of our student body is vaccinated against measles. Given the school’s high vaccination rate, we plan to continue all classes and activities as normal.”

    Mularoni said the reemergence of measles may not just mean a learning curve for parents.

    “The one thing about measles is it has very subtle symptoms, and most providers haven’t seen it. You know, we’ve been vaccinating for so long, and it’s been relatively well-contained in the United States. Many providers might not know it if they see it,” he said.

    The diocese letter urged anyone with symptoms to stay home and see a doctor. Mularoni encouraged parents to call ahead before they do so. He said babies are usually vaccinated when they’re 12-15 months old, and it would be easy for unvaccinated babies to catch measles.

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • 2026 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg: What you need to know

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It’s that time again! Racing fans from all over will be heading to the Bay area for the start of the next INDYCAR season.

    The 2026 Firestone Grand Prix will be speeding through the streets of St. Pete Feb 27 – March 1.

    Here’s what you need to know.


    QUICK RECAP:

    The 2025 IndyCar season kicked off with an exciting showdown at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, where Alex Palou emerged victorious after an intense battle with two of the sport’s biggest names, Josef Newgarden and Scott Dixon.

    WHEN IS THE 2026 FIRESTONE GRAND PRIX OF ST. PETERSBURG?

    The event starts on Thursday, February 27 and goes until Sunday, March 2.

    WHERE DO I GET 2026 FIRESTONE GRAND PRIX TICKETS?

    General admission adult tickets for the Firestone Grand Prix start at just $30 and three-day tickets start at $80.

    GRANDSTAND PRICING

    Day / Location Cost Ticket Type
    GOLD – Turn 1 & Turn 10 Grandstands (3-Day Only) $185 Adult
    GOLD – Turn 1 & Turn 10 Grandstands (3-Day Only) $165 Junior
    SILVER – Upper Rows of Pit Lane Grandstands 3-7 (3-Day) $170 Adult
    SILVER – Upper Rows of Pit Lane Grandstands 3-7 (3-Day) $150 Junior
    BRONZE – Lower Rows of Pit Lane Grandstands 3-7 (3-Day) $140 Adult
    BRONZE – Lower Rows of Pit Lane Grandstands 3-7 (3-Day) $120 Junior

     

    Day / Location Cost Ticket Type
    SILVER – Single Day (Saturday or Sunday) $135 Adult
    SILVER – Single Day (Saturday or Sunday) $125 Junior
    BRONZE – Single Day (Saturday or Sunday) $110 Adult
    BRONZE – Single Day (Saturday or Sunday) $100 Junior

    GENERAL ADMISSION PRICING

    Day / Type Cost Ticket Type
    GENERAL – 3-DAY $80 Adult
    GENERAL – 3-DAY $70 Junior
         
    GENERAL – FRIDAY $30 Adult
    GENERAL – SATURAY $55 Adult
    GENERAL – SUNDAY $70 Adult
         
    GENERAL – FRIDAY $30 Junior
    GENERAL – SATURDAY $45 Junior
    GENERAL – SUNDAY $60 Junior

     

    ADDITIONAL PASSES

    Day(s) Cost Pass Type
    PIT & PADDOCK – 3-DAY $160 Adult (18+)
    PADDOCK – 2-DAY $85 Adult / Junior
    PADDOCK – 1-DAY $55 Adult / Junior

    FIRESTONE GRAND PRIX MAP:

    In downtown St. Petersburg, the streets along the waterfront near Straub Park will be converted into a 1.8 mile race track. Just follow the noise from the loud engines!

    2026 FIRESTONE GRAND PRIX SCHEDULE:

    THURSDAY, FEB 26

    Time Event Location
    4:00 PM – 7:00 PM INDYCAR Party in the Park

    North Straub Park – No ticket

    required
    5:00 PM – 6:30 PM

    5K Run on the Firestone

    Grand Prix Track

    400 Bayshore Dr. NE

    Sign-up at gpstpete5k.com

    FRIDAY, FEB 27

    Time Series Session
    7:30 AM Gates Open  
    8:00 AM – 8:30 AM

    USF2000

    Practice
    8:55 AM – 9:40 AM Mazda MX-5 Cup Practice
    10:00 AM – 10:30 AM USF2000 Qualifying
    10:50 AM – 11:10 AM Mazda MX-5 Cup Qualifying
    11:30 AM – 12:10 PM USF2000 Race 1
    11:30 AM – 12:30 PM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Autograph Session – American Legion in Firestone Fan Experience
    12:30 PM – 1:15 PM INDY NXT by Firestone Practice
    1:00 PM – 1:45 PM NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Autograph Session – Details TBA
    1:35 PM – 3:00 PM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 1
    4:00 PM – 4:50 PM NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Practice
    5:05 PM – 6:00 PM NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Qualifying

    SATURDAY, FEB 28

    Time Series Session
    7:00 AM Gates Open  
    7:30 AM – 8:15 AM

    Mazda MX-5 Cup

    Race 1

     

     
    8:35 AM – 9:15 AM INDY NXT by Firestone Practice 2
    9:35 AM – 11:00 AM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 2
    11:00 AM – 11:45 AM INDY NXT by Firestone Autograph Session – American Legion in Firestone Fan Experience
    11:30 AM NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Driver Introductions
    12:00 PM NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race (80 Laps)
    3:45 PM – 4:15 PM INDY NXT by Firestone Qualifying
    4:35 PM – 6:00 PM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying

    SUNDAY, MARCH 1

    Time Series Session
    8:00 AM Gates Open  
    9:05 AM – 9:35 AM

    NTT INDYCAR SERIES

    Warm-up
    10:06 AM INDY NXT by Firestone Race (45 Laps)
    11:20 AM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Driver Introductions
    12:29 PM Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg NTT INDYCAR SERIES Race (100 Laps)
    3:00 PM – 3:40 PM USF2000 Race 2
    4:00 PM – 4:40 PM Mazda MX-5 Cup Race 2

    PARKING

    City Parking Garage (SouthCore):

    City Parking Garages will be $25 per day.

    Motorcycle Parking:

    Available for $10, along the west side of 1st Street South between 1st Avenue South and Central Avenue.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Shoot 360 opens data-driven basketball facility in Vero Beach

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    VERO BEACH, Fla. — It’s a nondescript building where basketball players from around the area come to take their game to the next level.

    At Shoot 360 in Vero Beach, athletes of all ages step onto the court to train with a mix of traditional coaching and advanced technology designed to measure every move.

    What You Need To Know

    • Shoot 360 is bringing high-tech basketball training to Vero Beach, using smart sensors and real-time analytics to help players sharpen their skills

    • Coaches combine traditional instruction with video screens and machines that give athletes instant feedback on every pass and shot

    • Students say the technology helps them understand what they’re doing right — and wrong — so they can improve faster

    • Owners say the same technology is used by nearly every NBA team and is now accessible to everyday players on the Treasure Coast

    Coach and General Manager Charlie Miller says the instant feedback is what sets the program apart.

    “You’re going to get immediate, immediate reaction on how or when you pass the ball correctly or incorrectly on the screen,” Miller said.

    Large one-on-one screens guide players through drills, offering face-to-face instruction through video coaching.

    During workouts, Miller can be heard encouraging athletes, saying, “Good job, good job.”

    Miller says the system allows players to track progress over time.

    “You come in here, there are different levels, and you can always measure how much you’ve gotten better in here. So, this technology makes it a little bit different in play,” he said. “This measure has accuracy and precision right here.”

    Vittoril Mangieri, 13, has been playing basketball for nine years and has trained at Shoot 360 for the past two years.

    He says the technology has helped him improve.

    “As you can see here, this helps with your ball handling. And if you’re having a tough time getting better, if you’re having a tough time not knowing what you’re doing wrong. The machines here, the technology will really help you,” Mangieri said.

    Full- and half-court systems track every shot, showing players detailed data on their performance.

    Student Ryan Radocaj says the feedback helps her understand her success.

    “If I’m making them, you know, show me why I’m making them, and they’re all in the green. That’s a good shot,” she said.

    Owner Arthur Andrews says the technology matches what professionals use at the highest levels of basketball.

    “28 or 29 of the NBA teams use the exact same shooting technology. And so, these are billions of shots that have been loaded in, data analyzed,” Andrews said.

    Shoot 360 now has 60 locations across the country, including its Vero Beach facility.

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    Randy Rauch

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  • Wind and snow will slow down travel on Friday

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    OHIO — Friday will begin with a round of accumulating snowfall and end with a reinforcing shot of Arctic air.

    What You Need To Know

    • Accumulating snowfall will begin early Friday morning

    • Roads may be snowy and slushy during the daytime hours

    • Most areas can expect between 1 to 3 inches of snow, with pockets up to 4 inches
    • Snow squalls are possible Friday evening

    Snowfall amounts will be 1-3 inches for most but some pockets of heavier snow up to 4 inches are possible.

    Road conditions during the daytime hours may be snowy and slushy with afternoon highs mainly at or above freezing. Winter weather advisories are up for Cleveland, Dayton, Columbus and Cincinnati.

    Winds will be gusty so we could see lower visibility from blowing and drifting snow. Intense snow bands are possible in the snowbelt, with the possibility of snow squals in Northeast Ohio. Snow squalls can reduce visibility down to zero and produce heavy snowfall and snow covered roads in a short amount of time.

    This system will be fast moving so many will see the snow come to an end Friday evening.

    Following the snow, a blast of Arctic air will come rushing in out of the northwest, dropping wind chills as low as -10 to -20 early Saturday.

    Cold weather advisories are up for Saturday.

     

    Temperatures will moderate on Sunday, with milder and more average temperatures for most of next week.

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    Meteorologist Erin Carroll

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  • Driver’s license exams only in English starting Friday

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Beginning today, the Florida Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles will only offer driver’s license knowledge and skills tests for drivers in English. 

    Previously, the exams have been offered in a variety of languages, including Spanish, Haitian-Creole and Portuguese.

    “This is not a decision made by the tax collector’s office,” said Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano. “This was made by the Florida Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, which is also known by many as the DMV. They make these decisions. We are an agent of that department, and we have to follow their policy, their rules.”

    What You Need To Know

    • FLHSMV says starting Feb. 6, driver’s license knowledge and skills tests will only be offered in English

    • Tax collector’s offices administer the exams and say they’re currently available in a range of languages, including Spanish, Haitian-Creole and Portuguese

    • FLHSMV did not give a reason for the change, but said in a statement that it remains committed to ensuring safe roadways “by promoting clear communication, understanding of traffic laws, and responsible driving behavior”

    • One man, who works to connect members of the Hispanic community who are new to Tampa Bay with resources, says the change will be a major hurdle for those who don’t speak English and can impact other areas of their life, including holding a job


    Fasano said normally with a change as drastic as this, county offices would get notice weeks in advance. This time, they had just a week to try to get the word out to the public.

    Tax collectors aren’t the only ones who were surprised.

    “Number one — I was in shock. Number two — I was angry, because it became personal for me,” said Itamar Martinez.

    Martinez is now the one Hispanics who are new to Tampa Bay come to for help through his business, Centro De Ayuda Hispano. 

    “It’s a little bit of everything,” Martinez said. “People call looking for a job. They’re just moving to the city and they don’t have contacts.”

    Martinez said he gets 1,800 calls a year from people asking for everything from a legal referral to enrolling kids in school. He estimated 70% of his clients speak only Spanish.

    “Especially if you look at someone that’s only been here for five years, yeah — they’d rather speak in their language to be understood,” he said.

    But it was once his family who needed guidance. He said they immigrated from Cuba to Portugal and, finally, to the U.S. in 1989. When they arrived, his mother needed a driver’s license.

    “My mom is 85 years old today, and she’s been driving all those years. If she had to take that test in English, she wouldn’t be able to be a productive member of our society,” Martinez said.

    FLHSMV said in a statement, “Language translation services will no longer be permitted for knowledge or skills examinations, and any printed exams in languages other than English will be removed for use.”

    “This comes as a surprise because translations in administering road tests or skills tests have been in place for decades,” said Hillsborough County Tax Collector Nancy Millan.

    According to Millan’s office, it administered more than 13,000 skills tests in languages other than English in 2025. That’s about 37% of exams given that year.

    “I know that there’s a lot of barriers when you first come into this country, especially when you’re at an age where another language was your first language,” said Millan, the daughter of Cuban immigrants. “I believe that everyone should, in America, should speak English, but it’s not something that happens overnight.”

    Millan said tests have been offered in multiple languages, including Haitian-Creole, Portuguese and Chinese. 

    “We have many of our road testers who speak several languages, and it has been extremely helpful for those who are taking road tests,” Fasano said.

    Fasano also said his offices provide many services to non-U.S. citizens who are in the country legally, as well as others whose primary language isn’t English.

    “Many of them are U.S. citizens. Many of them come from Puerto Rico, who are U.S. citizens, by the way. It’s going to have a big impact on them,” he said.

    Martinez said he’d like to see people given more time — potentially by being able to take their initial tests in the language of their choice, then taking an English only test after they’ve had more time to learn the language.

    “Just telling someone cold, telling someone, ‘As of next week, if you don’t know English, you’re SOL’? That’s not fair,” he said.

    FLHSMV declined a request for comment.

    It didn’t give a reason for the change, but its statement concludes, “FLHSMV remains committed to ensuring safe roadways for all Floridians and visitors by promoting clear communication, understanding of traffic laws, and responsible driving behavior.”

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • New Cortez Bridge construction to start in June; some businesses concerned

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Crews are set to begin construction this summer on a new Cortez Bridge.

    It’s a $128 million project to replace the span connecting Bradenton to Anna Maria Island.

    What You Need To Know

    • Construction for the Cortez Bridge Project is to begin in June 2026.

    • According to FDOT, it will take four years for the new Cortez Bridge to be completed.

    • Officials say regular repairs are no longer an effective or long-term option. Instead, crews will begin building a four-lane bridge this summer.

    Change can happen fast or slow.

    But for this area in Manatee County, a new Cortez Bridge has been years in the making.

    For the businesses and workers rooted in this historic Cortez Village, like James Gowett with the Star Fish Company, construction is a concern.

    “You know, it’s going to affect business. People just won’t be able to get here,” he said.

    James has been working there for 25 years and knows how busy traffic gets, especially during the busy season. He hopes when construction begins this summer, it won’t interfere with customers coming in.

    “We are going to wait and see,” he said.

    FDOT says, “We are going to be working and coordinating with the locals in the area and the businesses to try to ensure that they still have access to their businesses and their homes. We’ve had coordination with them during the design process as well.”

    FDOT tells us the Cortez Bridge was built in the 1950s and connects Cortez to Anna Maria Island. Officials say regular repairs are no longer an effective or long-term option. Instead, crews will begin building a four-lane bridge this summer.

    “Cortez Bridge has to be replaced,” he said.

    John Chappie, the mayor of Bradenton Beach, agrees the new bridge will help reduce traffic.

    “The bridge is going to help traffic off the island, I think, a lot more than it will coming onto the island,” he said.

    “It’s safer because traffic will be able to flow easier, with less opportunity for people getting upset in traffic,” he said.

    Animation from FDOT’s YouTube page shows the new bridge will have four lanes instead of two and will not include a drawbridge. FDOT says once the new bridge is complete, the old one will be demolished.

    One of the biggest differences between the Cortez Bridge and the new bridge is the height. The current bridge is 22 feet high and must open for boats to pass underneath. The new bridge will be 65 feet high, allowing ships to pass without stopping traffic, which could reduce congestion.

    James worries the new bridge won’t make a difference in regards to the traffic.

    “It gets so backed up because the bridge has to keep going up and down, and it gets really crazy on Cortez Road. I don’t see how that’s going to help because you’re just allowing more and more people to flow over it, which is going to be the same problem,” he said.

    It’s a big change people are preparing for.

    According to FDOT, it will take four years for the new Cortez Bridge to be completed.

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    Julia Hazel

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  • Snow follwed by dangerously cold temperatures this weekend

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    Another weekend will bring snow and bitter cold to parts of the country—this time across the Ohio River Valley, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Wind chills could plunge to 35 degrees below zero.

    What You Need To Know

    • Cold Weather Warnings are in place Saturday night through Sunday afternoon

    • Wind chills could dip as low as 30 degrees below zero

    • Snowfall totals will be around 1 to 3 inches with the potential for higher amounts in southern Maine and eastern Massachusetts



    Snow chances

    A cold front will bring snow to New York and New England from tonight through tomorrow. Totals will generally be light—around 1 to 3 inches—but a unique phenomenon known as ocean-effect snow could enhance accumulations in eastern Massachusetts and southern Maine (including York County).

    A heavy band may develop there, with localized totals exceeding 6 inches. If this occurs, the most likely timing is early Saturday afternoon.

    Here’s one model’s timing on the snow.


    Cold Weather Alerts

    Arctic air will move in behind the snow starting Saturday night. Area-wide temperatures will dip near zero, and gusty winds could drive wind chills down to 30 below.

    Cold Weather Advisories are in place for the Lakes and Mountains region of Maine, Ohio and eastern Michigan, with Extreme Cold Warnings set to go into effect for New York State and western Massachusetts.


    Cold weather alerts will remain in effect through Sunday afternoon.

    A Cold Weather Advisory is issued when dangerously cold wind chills can cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 15 minutes. An Extreme Cold Warning is issued when frostbite and hypothermia are likely if skin is left unprotected.

    Frigid wind chills

    The cold will settle in Saturday night and remain locked in the Northeast and New England through Sunday. A gradual warmup will begin on Monday. 


    Several of these areas were hit with heavy snow two weeks ago, and much of it remains. Additional snow this weekend will only build bigger piles.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Stacy Lynn

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  • More than 100 Ohioans join Happy Dog Takes on ICE Forum

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    CLEVELAND — More than 100 community members joined for the City Club of Cleveland’s Happy Dog Takes on ICE forum as anti-ICE protests are taking place around the state.

    What You Need To Know

    • Widespread demonstrations followed the Trump administration’s efforts to end Temporary Protected Status for more than 300,000 Haitian Americans earlier this week

    • Springfield, Ohio is home to tens of thousands of Haitians, though many have left the city after President Donald Trump falsely claimed that many of the immigrants were abducting and eating pets

    • Ohio House Democrats said they’re planning to propose legislation that would bar ICE from schools, churches and hospitals

    While a federal judge has postponed the Trump administration’s termination of TPS for Haitians, many Ohioans are expressing concerns that Cleveland and other major cities in the state could be next in experiencing a potential surge in ICE operations.

    Patrick Espinosa is the founder and managing partner at Sus Abogados Latinos, which is the only fully bilingual and Hispanic law firm in Ohio, based in Painesville. He joined other legal experts on stage at the Happy Dog on Cleveland’s west side, to discuss recent changes to U.S. immigration system under President Donald Trump, from increased deportations to large-scale ICE operations in several U.S. cities.

    “The best way to, to fix our immigration system is for everybody to understand how it actually works and to avoid tragedies like we’ve seen in the last couple weeks,” Espinosa said.

    From left to right, Patrick Espinosa, managing partner & Founder of Sus Abogados Latino; Lynn Tramonte, executive director of the Ohio Immigrant Alliance; and Chriss Schmitt, CEO of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association and forum moderator.

    From left to right, Patrick Espinosa, managing partner & Founder of Sus Abogados Latino; Lynn Tramonte, executive director of the Ohio Immigrant Alliance; and Chriss Schmitt, CEO of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association and forum moderator. (Spectrum News 1/Tanya Velazquez)

    Americans’ attitudes toward ICE tactics have soured in recent weeks after the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by ICE agents in Minneapolis last month, according to a Quinnipiac University Poll. Around 60% of voters disapprove of the way ICE is enforcing immigration laws and think the recent ICE-involved shootings in Minneapolis are a sign of a broader issue in the way ICE is operating. 

    Cleveland City Council passed an emergency resolution opposing proposed statewide legislation that would require state and local agencies to cooperate with ICE operations in Ohio. Still, the Ohio Immigrant Alliance said they’ve noticed a shift in federal immigration enforcement over the last year.

    “It’s happening here. It’s not at the level – it’s not in your face like Minneapolis … but, I mean, we have to be ready, and it’s going to get worse,” said Lynn Tramonte, the executive director of the Ohio Immigrant Alliance.

    While the country has experienced significant changes to immigration policy and enforcement tactics, Espinosa said the reason why people are migrating to the United States hasn’t changed.

    “They do own businesses. They do work. They do pay taxes. They have children. They’re married to U.S. citizens,” Espinosa said. “… What immigrants are actually doing, it’s always been the same. And if you look at different studies put on by different groups, immigrants are more likely to be entrepreneurs, are more likely to employ more people.”

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    Tanya Velazquez

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