ReportWire

Tag: VOD

  • Guthrie posts message to mother’s kidnapper asking for proof she is alive

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    TUCSON, Ariz. — NBC “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie sent a public message to her 84-year-old mother’s kidnapper on Wednesday saying that her family is ready to talk but wants proof that she is alive.

    What You Need To Know

    • NBC “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie has sent a public message to her mother’s kidnapper saying that her family is ready to talk but wants proof that she is alive

    • Guthrie said in a recorded video posted on social media Wednesday that her family has heard about a ransom letter in media reports

    • Nancy Guthrie was last seen Saturday around 9:45 p.m. when she was dropped off at home by family after having dinner with them

    • She was reported missing midday Sunday after she didn’t appear at a church

    Guthrie said in a recorded video posted on social media that her family has heard media reports about a ransom letter for Nancy Guthrie, who authorities believe was taken from her home in Arizona against her will.

    “We are ready to talk. However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated,” Savannah Guthrie said while reading from a prepared statement. “We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen. Please reach out to us.”

    She was last seen around 9:45 p.m. Saturday, when she was dropped off at home by family after having dinner with them, the sheriff’s department said. She was reported missing midday Sunday after she didn’t appear at a church.

    The family posted the message after police conducted a search in and around Nancy Guthrie’s home for several hours Wednesday.

    Kevin Adger, a spokesperson for the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, said investigators had been at the home earlier in the week for a couple of days and then turned it back over to the family with the understanding they could go back if they needed to.

    “This is a follow up investigation,” he said in reference to officials returning Wednesday.

    Adger said the sheriff’s department was not commenting on the video released by the family.

    Multiple media organizations reported receiving purported ransom notes Tuesday that they handed over to investigators. The sheriff’s department had said it was taking the notes and other tips seriously but declined to comment further.

    The family’s message for Nancy Guthrie

    Savannah Guthrie was at times emotional during the recording, with her voice cracking. She smiled and looked into the camera when addressing her mother directly, saying that the family was praying for her and that people were looking for her.

    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)

    “Mommy, if you are hearing this, you are a strong woman. You are God’s precious daughter,” she said.

    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.

    Guthrie was flanked by her sister Annie and her brother Camron who both also spoke. Annie called their mother their beacon and said they need her.

    “Mamma, If you’re listening, we need you to come home. We miss you,” Annie Guthrie said.

    No suspect identified

    Authorities on Wednesday offered no detailed update on their search. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos’ office said detectives still were speaking with anyone who had contact with Nancy Guthrie last weekend but that no suspect or person of interest had been identified.

    Nanos suggested there was video from some cameras, though he didn’t elaborate, adding: “That’s all been submitted and we’re doing our best with the companies that own those cameras or built those cameras.”

    There were signs of forced entry at the home in the Catalina Foothills neighborhood. Guthrie has limited mobility, and officials do not believe she left on her own. A sheriff’s dispatcher talking to deputies during a search Sunday indicated that she has high blood pressure, a pacemaker and heart issues, according to audio from broadcastify.com.

    Jim Mason, longtime commander of a search-and-rescue posse in Maricopa County, isn’t involved in the search for Guthrie but said desert terrain can make looking for missing people difficult. He said it can be hard to peer into areas that are dense with mesquite trees, cholla cactus and other desert brush.

    “Some of it is so thick you can’t drive through it,” Mason said.

    St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church hosted a candlelight service for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie in Tucson, Ariz. on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. (Mamta Popat/Arizona Daily Star via AP)

    St. Philip’s in the Hills Episcopal Church hosted a candlelight service for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie in Tucson, Ariz. on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. (Mamta Popat/Arizona Daily Star via AP)

    Supporters around the country

    A couple hundred people attended an evening vigil for Nancy Guthrie at a Tucson church where they heard prayers and placed lit candles on an altar. A priest prayed for God to comfort Guthrie and to bring her home to those she loves.

    Afterward, Jeremy Thacker had tears in his eyes as he described the heartbreak and helplessness he was experiencing over Guthrie’s disappearance. He worked with Savannah Guthrie at a local news station and they shared losing their fathers at a young age. His own sister was kidnapped when he was young.

    Thacker said he knew Nancy Guthrie to be sharp, grounded and earnest.

    “We’re all holding our breath,” Thacker said.

    On the other side of the country, Victory Church in Albany, New York, said it’s offering a $25,000 reward for information that leads to finding Nancy Guthrie.

    “Me and my wife, we watch Savannah every single morning. We’ve heard of her faith. We’ve heard of her mom’s faith. And she’s got such a sweet spirit,” Pastor Charlie Muller said.

    The White House said President Donald Trump called and spoke with Savannah Guthrie on Wednesday.

    “I spoke with Savannah Guthrie, and let her know that I am directing ALL Federal Law Enforcement to be at the family’s, and Local Law Enforcement’s, complete disposal, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. “We are deploying all resources to get her mother home safely.”

    For a third day, “Today” opened with Guthrie’s disappearance, but Savannah Guthrie was not at the anchor’s desk. NBC Sports said Tuesday that she will not be covering the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics “as she focuses on being with her family during this difficult time.”

    The “Today” host grew up in Tucson, graduated from the University of Arizona and previously worked as a reporter and anchor at Tucson television station KVOA. Her parents settled in Tucson in the 1970s when she was a young child. The youngest of three siblings, she credits her mom with holding their family together after her father died of a heart attack at 49, when Savannah was just 16.

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    Associated Press

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  • Florida Agriculture Commissioner says cold caused up to $1.5B in crop damages

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    SARASOTA, Fla. — Information from the Florida Department of Agriculture shows that the state’s recent bout of cold weather may have caused more than $1 billion in losses for the state’s farmers. 

    “We’ve really gotten devastated in Florida,” Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson said. “We don’t know the full extent yet of all the damage. Early assessments were the first night, we probably did OK. We were able to come through that. But three nights in a row, well below 32 for many, many hours really has devastated agriculture.”

    What You Need To Know

    • Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson says early assessments show the state’s farmers lost anywhere from $500 million to $1.5 billion to crop damage during the recent bout of cold weather
    • The owner of Blumemberry Farms in Sarasota estimates her losses at $45,000

    • Colleen Blumenthal said her team was able to harvest a lot right before temperatures dipped, but much of what they couldn’t get to was lost — including about 80% of her tomato crop and half of her farm’s green beans

    • Simpson said he’s in talks with federal officials about securing financial relief for Florida farmers


    Walking the fields of Blumenberry Farms in Sarasota, visitors will find as many as 70 different crops. After the recent cold snap hit, owner Colleen Blumenthal said much of the view is very different.

    “This was completely full with really ripe, luscious green beans,” she said. “But once the weather got below 35, they just died on the vine.”

    Blumenthal said about half of her green beans were lost to the recent cold weather, along with 80% of her tomatoes. She said she’s looking at up to $45,000 in losses across all crops.

    Simpson said that is a situation farmers are facing statewide, with early assessments showing anywhere from $500 million to $1.5 billion in damages.

    “You’ve got to remember, this time of year we’re growing 70-80% of all the fresh vegetables that are sold on the eastern seaboard of the United States,” Simpson said. “So, this is the bread basket of the country right now.”

    He said he’s in talks with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and the White House to secure financial relief for the state’s farmers. 

    “I believe the President (Donald Trump) is going to be very supportive of resources coming back in to support our farmers,” Simpson said. “My big thing was, let’s try to do this in real time.”

    In the meantime, local farms like Blumenberry are making assessments of their own.

    “It’s possible we might be able to harvest those,” farm manager Aaron Drucker said, gesturing to green tomatoes that may not have frozen in the cold. “As far as these plants continuing to thrive and create more tomatoes? Unlikely.”

    According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, agriculture brought nearly $9 billion to the state’s economy in 2022. 

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • Pause or move forward? St Pete City Council to mull next move for Gas Plant site

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — After St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch expressed his interest in moving forward with selecting a developer for the Historic Gas Plant District site, a city council member is asking the administration to pump the brakes.

    St. Pete City Council member Brandi Gabbard filed a resolution asking the city administration to pursue a ‘planning-first framework’ before choosing a developer. The item will be discussed by city council members during Thursday’s meeting.

    What You Need To Know

    • City council member asks for ‘planning-first framework’ before moving forward with choosing Gas Plant site developer 

    •  Mayor Ken Welch issued a memo stating now is the time to move forward

    •  Rays reaffirm commitment to move to Tampa

    • As of now, the Rays lease expires after 2028 season 


    In response to the resolution, Welch issued a memo asking city council members to stay committed to action and progress.

    “There are some who believe we should continue to further delay this development, but I want to be clear as I reaffirm my position — we should move forward to fulfill the decades-long promise of equitable and beneficial development of this site. The time for action is now,” Welch wrote.


    Welch referenced at least four different rounds of proposals and community input sessions over the last decade, dating back to the HKS Master Planning in 2016, which took place under a former administration.

    “With respect to timing, pausing all progress for yet another planning exercise — after proposals have been submitted — risks repeating a familiar and painful pattern for this community: plans discussed, promises acknowledged, and action deferred. St. Pete, including the families and descendants impacted by the original displacement, has already waited generations for meaningful progress. I do not believe further inaction serves them or the City,” Welch continued.

    Welch has family ties to the Historic Gas Plant District, as does City Council member Corey Givens Jr., who supports what he calls a planning-first — not proposal-first — process.

    “I have no problem telling the developers what we want to see at the Historic Gas Plant site — I don’t think it should be the other way around,” he said. “I care about honoring the history of that site, and I think we have to be intentional. Part of honoring the history of the site means taking a community-driven approach to doing so. That doesn’t mean proposal first, it means planning first, and we need the community to be a part of that process.”

    The city of St. Pete has received 9 new proposals from groups that wish to redevelop the 86-acre site. 

    A discussion regarding the resolution is set to take place during Thursday’s city council meeting, which is set for 9 a.m.

    A spokesperson for the city says it is in the administration’s purview to select a developer. But in order to get a funding vote to pass later down the line, the mayor would need city council support.

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    Angie Angers

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  • Lake Gibson High School will be all over the Super Bowl

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — The high school football season doesn’t kick off until August, but the Lake Gibson Braves are putting in the work now that hopefully will show up on Friday nights.

    And this offseason, they’ve got extra incentive. Three of their fellow Lake Gibson Braves will be in the Super Bowl.

    What You Need To Know

    • When the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots faceoff in the Super Bowl, Lake Gibson High School will be represented in three ways

    • Roy Ellison, Class of 1983, will be officiating. Quinshon Odom, Class of 2010, is an assistant coach for the Seahawks. And Tyrice Knight, Class of 2018, is a linebacker for Seattle

    • All three played football at Lake Gibson


    “Yeah, it gives me hope,” junior linebacker Malachi Moore said. “You know what I’m saying, one in a million chance, so it really just gives us all hope.”

    And it gives the school serious bragging rights. Former Lake Gibson coaches Keith and Doug DeMyer coached two of the alumni that will be in the Super Bowl.

    Going through old yearbooks brought back some fond memories of the glory days.

    On Super Bowl Sunday, referee Roy Ellison, Lake Gibson Class of 1983, Seattle Seahawks offensive assistant coach Quinshon Odom, Class of 2010 and Seahawks linebacker Tryrice Knight, Class of 2018 will be representing the Braves. Roy will be officiating his fourth Super Bowl. Quinshon, the former Lake Gibson quarterback, will be coaching in his first. It will also be a first for Tyrice, who is a big part of the NFL’s sixth-ranked defense.

    “It’s pretty special to have three of them in all three phases,” Keith DeMyer said. “Administration, officiating and a player. It’s just great.”

    These current players can bear witness to dreams really coming true.

    “It opens up some eyes, like we can really do that if we put in the work and do what we’re instructed to do,” Doug DeMyer said. “And take care of things in the classroom and out in the community and we just follow the plan that’s been laid many, many moons ago and obviously the plan is successful.”

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    Katherine Smith

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  • Despite rescheduling, fans flock to Bowman Gray Stadium for Cook Out Clash

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    WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Thousands of fans showed up to Bowman Gray Stadium Wednesday for the Cook Out Clash. The NASCAR exhibition race was pushed back multiple times due to snow, but that didn’t stop fans from attending the event.

    Ryan Preece battled sleet and near-freezing temperatures to win the race.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Cook Out Clash was rescheduled due to snow

    • Fans traveled from 41 states, eight countries, four continents and three Canadian provinces

    • A lot of ticket buyers came from the Triad


    “Short track racing to me is just more exciting,” said Kerry Zapata, a racing fan from Minnesota. “Where else can you stand up, yell and scream and just get your frustration out. You don’t need anything to make it exciting, just get you some racing. Oh, it’s just exciting.”

    NASCAR officials tell us fans traveled from 41 states, eight countries, four continents and three Canadian provinces. They say a lot of the ticket buyers came from the Triad.

    “If they had it Sunday, we would’ve been here Sunday,” said Ronnie Banks, a racing fan from Dobson. “Last year there was some good racing, two and three wide racing, which you don’t normally see that here with the modifieds. Just some good entertainment.”

    Fans said they couldn’t miss out on the opportunity to see Cup Series cars at the place known as “The Madhouse.”

    “This is kind of the thing you don’t get to see every day,” said Seth Renigar, a fan from Winston-Salem. “You know, you don’t get to see experience every day, and so I had to be here for this.”

    It’s not clear yet if or when the Clash will return to Bowman Gray, but fans are hoping NASCAR will consider more short track races in the future.

    “I think now they’re seeing that spectators are liking to come to these smaller tracks,” Renigar said. “I think they should branch out to the smaller tracks, back to the basics, basically.”

     

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    Zach Tucker

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  • In the Chef’s Kitchen for Quiche, with multiple ways to enjoy

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    INDIAN SHORES, Fla. — Chef Phillipe Monnet of Voilá-Merci French Bakery and Bistro offers his mother’s recipe for Quiche Lorraine.

    The popular French dish is also the latest dish in The Chef’s Kitchen.

    Opened in January of this year, Monnet originally hails from Lyon, a French culinary hub in the southeast of France, near Switzerland.

    Quiche Lorraine
    (Made in 10-inch tart pan)

    Dough
    7 oz flour
    3.5 oz butter
    1 egg
    1 tbsp cold water
    ½ tsp salt 

    Add flour and butter and salt all together
    Add egg and water
    Mix the dough to get a smooth texture, and keep it in the fridge.
    Roll out the dough and put in a 10-inch tart pan.

    Filling
    ¼ cup bacon
    ¼ cup ham
    ¼ cup Swiss cheese
    1 cup heavy cream
    1 cup milk
    1 cup eggs
    Dash of salt
    Dash of pepper
    Dash of nutmeg

    Add cheese, bacon and ham to pie dish.
    You can also play with the ingredients—more or less of the proteins, add spinach or just do cheese in a bigger quantity.
    Chef says in France, people make the dish with whatever they have in the fridge.
    The eggs, cream and milk stay the same, but these other ingredients can change.
    Next combine the eggs, cream, milk and seasonings.
    Cover with the quiche ingredients.
    Bake it at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes.
    You can eat cold or hot.
    Serve with a salad.

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    Virginia Johnson

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  • Artist teachers hone craft and show work at The Werk

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Art is in Sydney Gauthier’s DNA.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Werk Gallery presents ECHO: and educational, collaborative, and holistic opportunity 

    • Opening Night at the Werk Gallery for ECHO is Saturday, Feb. 6, 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.

    • Located at 2210 First Ave. S., St. Pete

    Gauthier is a senior student at the Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School in St. Pete.

    Both her parents and uncle graduated from Pinellas County Center for the Arts.

    And thanks to teachers like Steve Beverage, Gauthier’s dream of becoming a working artist is that much closer.

    “I’m the first generation going to college for the arts,” said Gauthier.

    “I’m still learning,” said Steve Beverage.

    Beverage has been teaching at PCCA for 15 years — not only instructing students, but showing art as well.

    “That’s really starts here. We’re a community of artists who support each other,” said Beverage.

    Beverage and several other PCCA teachers are part of an upcoming art show at the Werk Gallery in St. Pete, including Amber Quimby.

    “All of us here are practicing artists, and I think that’s key because we understand the creative process,” said Quimby.

    Quimby is also a PCCA alumna. “I had art classes here in this building,” said Quimby, “and I had some amazing instructors — really wonderful mentors.”

    Together with students, instructors created public art murals, shepherding a new generation of artists as they continue to grow their own repertoire.

    “I feel like I’m humbled I get to do this,” said Beverage. “I mean, I get to work with these kids, and watch them grow and develop as artists. And it’s celebrating over 40 years of excellence in arts magnet programming. And to be a participant is really a blessing.”

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    Virginia Johnson

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  • Former lumber yard site to offer affordable housing in St. Petersburg

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A new affordable housing community is coming to St. Petersburg’s Warehouse Arts District, and city leaders say a state law designed to speed up housing development helped make it possible.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Fairfield Avenue Apartments — a 264-unit community — officially broke ground Wednesday on land with more than 50 years of local history

    • City officials say the project is moving forward using Florida’s House Bill 1339, which allows qualifying affordable housing developments to be approved administratively on industrial-zoned land, significantly reducing approval timelines

    • City leaders say the Fairfield Avenue Apartments will add hundreds of affordable housing units within close proximity to downtown jobs and transit once construction is completed


    The Fairfield Avenue Apartments — a 264-unit community — officially broke ground Wednesday on land with more than 50 years of local history.

    The property once housed Tibbetts Lumber and, before that, Cox Lumber — businesses that helped build much of the surrounding city.

    “My grandfather immigrated here in the 1940s, (and) had bought a little tiny lumber company,” said Jeff Brandes of the Tibbetts-Brandes family. “(Those businesses) really grew this community and grew along with it and helped build many of the houses that you and I live in today.”

    Over the years, the site has served several purposes — starting as an orange grove, later becoming a Seaboard rail line, and eventually operating as a lumber yard. Now, it will be transformed into housing intended for working residents priced out of living near their jobs.

    Brandes said conversations with local hospitals highlighted the need.

    “I was talking to the leadership of the hospitals and at All Children’s in Bayfront and talking about how what a struggle they were finding for housing some of their employees that were making $20 or $30 an hour, but they still couldn’t find a place to live anywhere near downtown Saint Petersburg,” he said.

    City officials say the project is moving forward using Florida’s House Bill 1339, which allows qualifying affordable housing developments to be approved administratively on industrial-zoned land, significantly reducing approval timelines.

    “Now, the state passed legislation a few years ago to permit the development of affordable housing on industry zoned land like this. And St. Pete, again, was the first city to take advantage of that opportunity,” said Mayor Ken Welch.

    Brandes, who founded the Florida Policy Project, said seeing the project move from policy to reality is meaningful.

    “Well, it’s exciting to be able to talk to people, not somebody who’s theoretical, but who’s doing it practically, too,” he said. “I mean, it’s great to be part of that process. And knowing the struggles of putting a development like this together, but also the looks on people’s faces when they get their keys for the for the for their apartments. That’s what I’m really excited about.”

    City leaders say the Fairfield Avenue Apartments will add hundreds of affordable housing units within close proximity to downtown jobs and transit once construction is completed.

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    Fadia Patterson

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  • All Children’s shares latest on $7.5 million pediatric cancer research grant

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — To Mia Morrison, 5, the rooms on the seventh floor of Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital have become almost a second bedroom. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The Cancer Connect Collaborative Research Incubator was created in 2025 by the Florida Legislature as part of the Casey DeSantis Cancer Research Program

    • The state initiative was designed to advance pediatric cancer research and care in Florida

    • For five years, the hospital and three others will receive $7.5 million a year

    • Mia Morrison is 5 and was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia


    She is comfortable here, even though this is where she gets ongoing cancer treatments. 

    “Mia is actually on a clinical trial right now for an immunotherapy drug that she received. It has already done incredible things for the outcome of children with B-cell ALL. And so we are always very excited to hear about new trials, participate in new trials,” said Callie Morrison, Mia’s mother.

    New and expanded trials are a big part of the Florida Cancer Connect Collaborative Research Incubator grant, giving this hospital and three others in Florida $7.5 million a year for the next five years. 

    “We are trying to attract and grow the research in Florida so people do not have to leave Florida to go get that care,” said Dr. Cassandra Josephson, director of the Cancer and Blood Disorders Institute at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.

    Mia has acute lymphoblastic leukemia and this grant will help her and others in five main ways. 

    First, it expands current clinical trials, it also will develop a statewide clinical trial database, create a network to move research discoveries into the trial-phases faster, implement more immune system studies, and will create more testing for the next generation of gene and cellular therapies. 

    “Getting more kids to be on study and to be enrolled in studies is part of this grant. And that will lead to bigger cures and bigger survival rates in different places,” said Josephson. 

    It also will help more complex cases, like Mia. 

    She is non-verbal living with autism. Callie said that being neurodivergent sometimes creates barriers with being included in long-term trials. 

    “So the fact that we have this grant, this renewable grant that we have access to for the next five years, I can’t wait to see what the opportunities are for kids like Mia,” said Morrison. 

    Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital was one of four specialty hospitals in the state for this five-year grant. 

    Nicklaus Children’s in Miami, Nemours Children’s in Orlando, and Wolfson Children’s in Jacksonville were also awarded this funding.

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    Erin Murray

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  • Unique way of learning taking place in Thonotosassa

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    THONOTOSASSA, Fla. — When you think of education, you often think of textbooks and notebooks, but one academy is taking a different approach.

    What You Need To Know

    • Montessori is more of a hands-on approach, but this academy takes learning outdoors
    • The academy is also looking to expand services into Dade City next year


    Freedom Montessori Academy is giving students an opportunity to learn outdoors. And they are expanding their reach.

    Learning is all about being hands on at Freedom Montessori Academy.

    The school’s process is a method of education based on self-directed activity and hands-on learning. The academy is a tutoring service that serves 15 students in the Thonotosassa area.

    Eleven-year-old Adelyn Iott says this supplemental approach has been a big help for her.

    “It’s just really hands on, and you understand it better,” she said.

    Madison Whitmer says the teaching methods help her concentrate.

    “My school I had computers after I did it, so I had a headache when I got home, here I don’t have a headache because we don’t use electronics,” she said.

    The majority of the work isn’t done indoors but outside on the farm.

    Melanie Smith, the founder of the academy, was an educator for more than 20 years prior to this. She decided to take that experience and give students a personalized way of learning.

    Students go at their own pace, in a unique learning environment.

    “I think it’s nice in this setting that they understand how long it takes for a plant to grow that they eat in in 10 seconds,“ said Smith.

    From building a labyrinth, to planting seeds, Smith believes it’s part of raising curious kids that will use these skills in life.

    “Every child is unique and every child’s brain is developing at a different level, and they need that time to think for themselves, this is what this is about,” said Smith.

    It shows students like Iott that learning can happen anywhere.

    “Outdoor experience, life survival, how to take care of plants, how to build stuff,“ said Adelyn.

    Making education fun and something that doesn’t always happen indoors.

    The academy will be expanding to a location in Dade City next year.

    And the farm will soon be home to a nonprofit aimed at providing farm education to veterans and breast cancer survivors.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • Debate ramps up on immigration enforcement, Florida Museum of Black History

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    Another funding cliff for the Department of Homeland Security, and the Florida Museum of Black History is one step closer to becoming a reality.


    Another funding cliff for the Department of Homeland Security as hearing held on ICE’s future

    Debate is ramping up on immigration enforcement. Congress has passed a funding bill to end the partial government shutdown, and President Trump signed it earlier Tuesday.

    But it creates another funding cliff for the Department of Homeland Security.

    DHS is only funded through Feb. 13 as Congress debates reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

    On Tuesday, Democrats held a public hearing on ICE’s future.

    They called as witnesses the brothers of Renee Good, who was shot and killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis.

    “The deep distress our family feels because of Renee’s loss in such a violent and unnecessary way, is complicated by feelings of disbelief, distress, and desperation for change,” said Luke Ganger, one of the brothers.

    “In the last few weeks, our family took some consolation thinking that perhaps Nee’s death would bring about change in our country. And it has not,” he said. “The completely surreal scenes taking place on the streets of Minneapolis are beyond explanation. This is not just a bad day or a rough week or isolated incidents. These encounters with federal agents are changing the community and changing many lives, including ours, forever.”

    Brent Ganger added, “There are billions of people who know her name. And it would be so easy to fall into the false belief that great, heroic things are required to overcome difficult things in the world. But as Tolkien wrote, it is the small, everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.”

    During the hearing, members also brought up the case of Alex Pretti.

    Pretti was an intensive care unit nurse in Minneapolis that was killed by federal agents on Jan. 24.

    On Monday, a judge lifted the order requiring federal investigators to preserve evidence from the Pretti shooting scene.

    The hearing called out the Trump administration for lack of accountability in these investigations.

    Democratic candidate for Florida governor David Jolly joined Political Connections on Tuesday to discuss the issue. The interview is included in the video above.

    Bill paves way for 1st Black history museum in Florida

    The Florida Museum of Black History is one step closer to becoming a reality. It’s a plan that has been years in the making.

    If approved, it would become Florida’s first museum of Black history.

    But the proposal will need approval in both the Florida House and Senate.

    It would be located in St. Augustine in St. Johns County.

    The bill paves the way for construction and establishes a new board to oversee it.

    Lawmakers kicked off the museum process in 2023 with a task force interviewing more than 4,000 people.

    Fast forward to Tuesday, when the bill made it out of its final Florida Senate committee stop.

    If approved by lawmakers, the bill would go into effect July 1.

    “I don’t think the history of Florida can be told without also telling the story of Black Floridians,” said Republican state Sen. Tom Leek of St. Augustine. “What this does is give the opportunity for that history to be told and for the story to be completed.”

    In 2024, a state task force chose St. Johns County over Eatonville in Central Florida.

    — Jason Delgado, Spectrum News

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Ruskin teacher helps juggle school’s Head Start program and food pantry

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    RUSKIN, Fla. — Magali Garcia-Rosado has been a teacher for 25 years. She says she loves helping young students learn and grow.

    “My kids are everything to me,” Garcia-Rosado said. “They come into the classroom and they’re always talking about how happy they are, they’re talking about giving warm hugs. They are curious learners.”

    What You Need To Know

    • Magali Garcia-Rosado is the Head Start teacher at Ruskin Elementary 

    • Garcia-Rosado also runs the school’s food pantry 

    • Would you like to nominate an A+ Teacher? Click here

    Garcia-Rosado said she loves the interaction with the little ones and watching them grow every day.

    “I love to see the process of learning,” she said.

    Garcia-Rosado is the Head Start teacher at Ruskin Elementary. She’s been there for seven years. A parent reached out to nominate Garcia-Rosado to be featured as an A+ Teacher, saying she is always there for her students and their families. 

    “It makes me feel very humbled that my families see me as someone who supports not just the children but also them,” she said. “Because I am a firm believer that I am working with the parent. The parent is the first teacher and I come along to support them.”

    Garcia-Rosado also helps run the school’s food pantry. Families can get food there every Wednesday. That’s one of her many contributions to the school.

    “She focuses on the whole child so not just academics, but social, emotional growth as well,” said Ruskin Elementary Principal Jeanine Saddler. “I have never seen anything like it in a Head Start or Pre-K classroom.”

    Garcia-Rosado is certainly making a difference.

    “When we see the children learning, it just humbles me and it gives me such great joy to see that everything that we have worked towards, we begin to see it,” said Garcia-Rosado.

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    Jorja Roman

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  • Tampa Sports Authority raises questions about proposed Tampa Bay Rays ballpark

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    TAMPA — The Tampa Sports Authority discussed the potential for a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium at their meeting on Tuesday, but no vote was taken.

    Instead of voting on whether to recommend to the city and Hillsborough County that they conduct economic impact studies on the project, the board president said the firm AECOM is already working on a study for them.

    The board also said that construction and development company Skanska is evaluating the cost and feasibility of a new stadium.

    Members had a number of questions surrounding the potential project. They were sparked by a presentation county commissioners are expected to hear Wednesday, saying that the Rays plan to pay for at least half of construction costs.

    One question was whether that is for just the stadium or if it includes parking and infrastructure.

    Others included how many hotel rooms the Rays will generate, what impact a stadium would have on local businesses, how parking and traffic issues will be handled, and what role the sports authority will play in stadium operations.

    “If it gets built, I don’t think the Rays want to pay one dime in taxes on a $2.3 billion stadium,” said sports authority board member Joseph Robinson. “I believe it will be transferred ownership to the county, and after they do that, guess what? We’re going to end up managing it, just like we manage all sports facilities right now in this area. So, I think down the road, we need to make sure, because that’s going to impact staff, it’s going to impact us big time if we’ve got to start managing that Rays stadium. That’s all I want to say. I can see it happening.”

    Spectrum News tried to talk with a few members of the board, but they declined interviews and requests for clarification.

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • Flyng without your REAL ID? TSA $45 ‘ConfirmID’ fee is now in effect

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    Travelers without a REAL ID are required to pay a $45 identity verification fee.

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    Nick Buffo

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  • Through the freeze: Kannapolis store stays open in historic snow

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    KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — Icy roads. Snow plows. Closed businesses. It’s a frozen sight Kannapolis hasn’t seen since 2004.

    Despite the record-breaking snow, one supermarket stayed open.

    What You Need To Know

    • Kannapolis experienced a historic snowfall not seen since 2004

    • Many businesses closed, but the Cancun Supermarket remained open

    • Owner Esther Carbajal drove two hours from Charlotte to keep the store running at the peak of the snow

    • Imported goods and high demand made it difficult to keep shelves stocked


    Esther Carbajal, owner of Cancun Supermarket, says there’s a reason she wouldn’t close.

    “I know they need this kind of store open because we sell a lot for food for, a lot of things,” she said. “They need it.”

    Carbajal lives in Charlotte and travels to Kannapolis each day. When the snow was at its peak Saturday, her normal 30-minute commute turned into two hours.

    “I live in Charlotte, but I come here every day last week, too, and this week,” she said. “It’s been hard but you have to do it.”

    As one of the few places open, she says it’s been difficult to keep shelves stocked. Limes and peppers ran low. Some bins sat empty.

    Much of the store’s food is imported from Mexico, adding another layer of uncertainty during winter weather disruptions.

    “The bread, you see? Every day we stock, but the people take,” she said. “Tortillas stocked every day.”

    For Carbajal, staying open isn’t just about business. It’s about service.

    “So happy. I stay here for the people. I don’t know, I never think about it. But when I stay here, I do everything for everybody,” she said.

    While much of Kannapolis waited for roads to thaw, one set of doors remained open, lights on, register ringing and shelves refilled as quickly as they emptied, serving a community determined to weather the storm together.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

     

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    Jordan Kudisch

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  • Duke says it’s not anticipating any rolling blackouts during cold snap

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Duke Energy asked customers to voluntarily reduce their energy use on Monday morning, in response to the extremely cold temperatures driving unusually high demand for electricity.

    What You Need To Know

    • Duke Energy asked customers to reduce reduce electric usage early Monday morning

    • Two Hernando County schools closed Monday due to possible power outages

    • Spokesperson says goal was to protect grid and conserve power if neighboring utilities needed assistance 

    • MORE: Notice from Duke Energy


    Duke Energy spokeswoman Ana Gibbs says the request was made in order to conserve energy and protect the grid to keep electricity flowing for any many customers as possible.

    “We’ve definitely heard rumors about rolling blackouts or rolling brownouts and right now Duke Energy does not anticipate doing any of those things,” she said. “We have a situation in Florida where our energy grid, our power grid, is interconnected. Not just throughout Florida but also the southeastern U.S. so it’s just important that we can share that with our neighbors in case they need it.”

    Duke asked customers to lower energy use by reducing thermostat temperatures, avoiding using major appliances during the coldest four hours on Monday morning, and charging electric vehicles after 9 a.m.

    “Keeping that heater temp as low as you can but to your comfort is really what saves the most energy,” Gibbs said. “That is about 30% of your energy bill. So it’s mutually beneficial because not only does it save energy, it reduces your energy bill.”

    Gibbs said the last time they had a similar situation with energy usage due to the extreme cold was in the winter of 2010.

    “The last time we had kind of record demand was back around in 2010 when we had these similar record low temperatures,” she said. ”Right now everyone’s asking, ‘Do you think you’re going to see a record demand or a record peak?’ We’re not anticipating seeing that. We’re not anticipating a record use of energy during this event. This really has to do with that we’re in a position to help our neighboring utilities if that’s something that’s needed.”

    Duke Energy said a text that’s been circulating appearing to be from Duke regarding rolling blackouts in a scam and customers should disregard it and not click on any links.

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    Angie Angers

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  • Tampa mother concerned with charter school bus stop safety

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    TAMPA, Fla. — A Tampa mother has safety concerns about the location of the bus stop her kids walk to.

    What You Need To Know

    • A Tampa parent is concerned about her kids walking to the bus stop on Clewis Avenue

    • The stop was moved this school year away from the neighborhood 

    • IDEA Hope says they reviewed the stop location and found it safe 


    Watching cars speed down Clewis Avenue is always a concern for Jessica Bradford, especially when thinking of her 8-and 10-year-old children walking on it.

    There are no sidewalks there — and she says drivers often speed on the straightaway.

    “There are ditches on both sides. So really, there’s nowhere else to walk but on the road. There are also no streetlights, so it’s completely dark at 6:30 a.m. when you have tons of kids walking to this one bus stop,” Bradford said.

    Bradford’s kids attend IDEA Hope, a charter school that is not affiliated with Hillsborough County Schools. Bradford says the bus stop was moved from her neighborhood to the Stop & Save Food Store this school year, which means her kids now walk further along Clewis Avenue.

    “My kids used to wait for the bus no problem. Now they must walk on this very dangerous road with no sidewalks,” Bradford said.

    Clewis Avenue is a two-lane, north-south road between MLK Boulevard and Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa. As of now, there are no plans for sidewalks there.

    Bradford says she tried getting the school to change the stop back to where it was.

    In a statement, IDEA Hope told Spectrum Bay News 9:

    “IDEA Hope is aware of a parent who is concerned about an assigned bus stop location. Our transportation team has carefully reviewed the approved stop, including walking the route directly, and found no safety concerns for any students. We are in close communication with the parent and will continue working to ensure a safe and consistent transportation experience for all students.”

    Bradford hopes the school will consider moving the stop, not just for her kids but for others who walk along Clewis Avenue as well.

    “I love how my kids get education there. They absolutely love it. This is the first issue I’ve ever had. And I’ve had to take it this far because safety of my kids is my number 1 priority,” Bradford said.

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    Tim Wronka

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  • Cynthia Henderson starts Citrus County group for female veterans

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    CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. — A Citrus County woman started a group for other female veterans like herself. She also spearheaded an effort to get a monument for female vets built and placed in front of the historic county courthouse in Inverness.

    What You Need To Know

    • Cynthia Henderson is a U.S. Air Force veteran

    • Henderson started the Female Veterans Network of Citrus County

    • Group members meet monthly and perform community service projects 

    • Members raised funds to have a monument to female veterans built and placed in front of the historic county courthouse in Inverness 


    Cynthia Henderson served in the U.S. Air Force in the 1960s and is very proud of her service. She believed that there needed to be a local organization that was just for local female veterans. So, she started the Female Veterans Network of Citrus County.

    “Well, the camaraderie number one. We all get together for lunch once a month,” said Henderson.

    Group members talk about issues they face as veterans, while supporting each other through the struggles and helping the community.

    “We do various things for the community. We had a female veteran, and we replaced her roof,” said Henderson.

    They also offer a scholarship program for female high school senior JROTC members.

    The members of the group all take pride in their military service. “It’s a sisterhood. Even the sisterhood that we felt in the branch that we were in,” said Sigmond. “This is a bigger sisterhood because this is all the branches.”

    The network also spent several years planning the design and raising funds for the female veterans’ monument. They recently held a five-year rededication ceremony for the monument.

    Henderson said she makes sure to keep up with group members to make sure they are OK. “Well, it’s deep-rooted in the service we served in, even though we were in different branches. We were still serving in the same country,” said Henderson. “Every time I see the girls I find out something new about one or two of them.”

    “She has that compassion and always has that smile. And she loves us. We know she does,” said Sigmond.

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    Rick Elmhorst

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  • Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, predicting 6 more weeks of winter

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    PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. — Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of wintry weather Monday, a forecast sure to disappoint many after what’s already been a long, cold season across large parts of the United States.

    His annual prediction and announcement that he had seen his shadow was translated by his handlers in the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club at Gobbler’s Knob in western Pennsylvania.

    What You Need To Know

    • Punxsutawney Phil’s handlers say he’s seen his shadow and is therefore predicting six more weeks of winter weather

    • Phil’s annual prediction occurred shortly after dawn Monday outside his tree stump in Gobbler’s Knob

    • Groundhog Day on Feb. 2 comes at the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox

    The news was greeted with a mix of cheers and boos from the tens of thousands who braved temperatures in the single-digits Fahrenheit to await the annual prognostication. The extreme cold kept the crowd bundled up and helped keep people on the main stage dancing.

    Usually guests can come up on stage and take pictures of Phil after his prediction, but this year the announcer said it was too cold for that and his handlers were afraid to keep him out too long. Instead, the audience was asked to come to the stage, turn around and “do a selfie.”

    The club says that when Phil is deemed to have not seen his shadow, that means there will be an early spring. When he does see it, it’s six more weeks of winter. Phil tends to predict a longer winter far more often than an early spring.

    The annual ritual goes back more than a century, with ties to ancient farming traditions in Europe. Punxsutawney’s festivities have grown considerably since the 1993 movie “Groundhog Day,” starring Bill Murray.

    Lisa Gibson was at her 10th Groundhog Day, wearing a lighted hat that resembled the tree stump from which Phil emerges shortly after daybreak.

    “Oh man, it just breaks up the doldrums of winter,” said Gibson, accompanied by her husband — dressed up as Elvis Presley — and teenage daughter. “It’s like Halloween and New Year’s Eve all wrapped up into one holiday.”

    Gibson, a resident of Pittsburgh, had been rooting for Phil to not see his shadow.

    Rick Siger, Pennsylvania’s secretary of community and economic development, said the outdoor thermometer in his vehicle read 4 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 15 degrees Celsius) on his way to Gobbler’s Knob.

    “I think it’s just fun — folks having a good time,” said Siger, attending his fourth straight Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney. “It brings people together at a challenging time. It is a unifying force that showcases the best of Pennsylvania, the best of Punxsutawney, this area.”

    Last year’s announcement was six more weeks of winter, by far Phil’s more common assessment and not much of a surprise during the first week of February. His top-hatted handlers in the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club insist Phil’s “groundhogese” of winks, purrs, chatters and nods are being interpreted when they relate the meteorological marmot’s muses about the days ahead.

    AccuWeather’s chief long-range weather expert, meteorologist Paul Pastelok, said early Monday some clouds moved into Punxsutawney overnight, bringing flurries he called “microflakes.”

    Pastelok said the coming week will remain cold, with below-average temperatures in the eastern United States.

    Phil isn’t the only animal being consulted for long-term weather forecasts Monday. There are formal and informal Groundhog Day events in many places in the U.S., Canada and beyond.

    Groundhog Day falls on Feb. 2, the midpoint between the shortest, darkest day of the year on the winter solstice and the spring equinox. It’s a time of year that also figures in the Celtic calendar and the Christian holiday of Candlemas.

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    Associated Press

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  • Crystal River approves new shuttle to help with busy manatee season

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    CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. — It’s the height of manatee season, and local leaders are adding accommodations to help visitors get to their destinations easier.

    What You Need To Know

    • At the height of manatee season, Crystal River city leaders are adding a shuttle to help visitors get around the city more efficiently

    • According to city leaders, the area sees more than 100,000 visitors this time of year for manatees
    • Because of growing numbers, city council approved the purchase of a new shuttle to help reduce wait times from an hour to 30 minutes


    The city of Crystal River recently bought a new shuttle. Once it’s up and running, leaders say it will help ease the flow of increased traffic between the Three Sisters Springs Visitor Center. The recent investment is coming at a crucial time for the “Manatee Capital of the World.”

    Gathered around Three Sisters Springs, visitors fill the water’s edge, snapping pictures, trying to glimpse of the manatees huddled together down below.

    “The colder the weather, the more manatees we have and the more visitors we have to see those manatees,” said Crystal River City Manager Audra Curts.

    It’s the height of manatee season, the city’s busiest time of year. It’s something Curts understands better than most.

    “We have in excess of 100,000 visitors per season, probably reaching the 200,000 range at this point, coming to the area to see these manatees,” said Curts. “That’s a lot of people for a very small town to absorb.”

    Due to those growing numbers, the city recently approved the purchase of a new shuttle, helping reduce wait times from an hour to 30 minutes. Parking lots throughout the city are also being made accessible to the route.

    “They even have a QR code so that people can buy their tickets to the refuge to see the manatees right from the parking lot,” says Curts. “Then they board the bus and they can come down here and go straight to the park at the gate.”

    “With the crowds getting larger and larger, the City of Crystal River has done a great job of recognizing those needs,” said Director of Tourism Auvis Cole. He said the move is much needed.

    “It’s connecting all of our resources and our attractions,” he said. “But number two, and I think it’s really the most important thing, is it offers accessibility. Everyone cannot walk the short distances or whatever and it’s really important to make sure we welcome all visitors.”

    Connecting visitors with all there is to see in Crystal River.

    “This is one of the most beautiful places on Earth and our manatees, obviously, many people love to come here and see them,” said Curts. “We welcome everyone to come see the manatees here in Crystal River.”

    Getting them one step closer to nature.

    Curts says they hope to have that new shuttle soon. In the meantime, the city’s current stock of buses is running more frequent routes to help transport visitors.

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    Calvin Lewis

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