Facebook impersonator rips off a Florida free diver's online identity
Free diver, Tiffany Marie Owen's videos evoke fear and wonder in the hundreds of thousands who follow her underwater adventures on social media. Free divers aim for depth or navigate underwater tunnels without using breathing equipment. Owen says she hit a personal best this year, holding her breath while diving down shy of 100 feet. “I think I find most of my joy when I am able to hit depth,” she said. She may love the deep dives, but Owen’s cave adventures tend to go viral on social media. Over 211 million people viewed one of her tunnel swims on TikTok shortly after she posted it in March.
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Double homicide suspect found in Sarasota County
A suspect in a double homicide in Sarasota County is now in custody after a search early Friday morning. North Port Police said 21-year-old Dima Tower was found near I-75 and Laurel Road. Authorities were searching the area after Tower ran into a wooded area near the interstate following a pursuit.
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United Cajun Navy helping with Hernando County hurricane recovery
Erin Daly learned how to organize volunteers in New York after Hurricane Sandy. “Then the next year, we had Hurricane Hermine here in Hernando Beach, and I brought a pop-up tent to this location and said volunteers check-in. And we had a tremendous turnout,” she said. Now, after Hernando Beach got hit hard by flooding from Hurricane Idalia, the volunteers are back.
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Tracking the Tropics | September 1, morning update
ABC Action News tracks tropical developments in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.
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Florida Missing Child Alert issued for Plant City 15-year-old last seen Wednesday
A statewide missing child alert was issued Thursday night for a 15-year-old girl from Plant City who was last seen on Wednesday. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said Kimberly Nolasco Hernandez was last seen in the area of the 600 block of West Ball Street. Authorities believe she may be with 21-year-old Abraham Lopez-Iglesias. https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-hillsborough/florida-missing-child-alert-issued-for-plant-city-15-year-old-last-seen-wednesday
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Some Hernando Beach businesses back up and running as storm clean up continues
Brian Alvarez wasn't sure he'd be able to open his Hernando Beach restaurant, Brian's Place, on Thursday. That's because as of 10 a.m. on Wednesday, the business's back patio looked more like a pool due to flooding from Hurricane Idalia. "The water was over our fence into our back patio," he said.
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Buccaneers boast young roster after final cuts
The post-Tom Brady Buccaneers roster has a lot of new faces. Tampa Bay sports one of the youngest rosters in the league, with 13 rookies on the active roster and nine more on the practice squad.
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Even after Idalia, stalemate halting beach renourishment could continue
Sand Key needs more sand. It’s an ironic problem on the Pinellas County barrier island that’s home to coastal communities like Belleair Beach, Indian Rocks Beach, Redington Beach, and Madeira Beach. For months, mayors along the island have underscored the need for more. Now, they’re intensifying that plea after Hurricane Idalia worsened beach erosion that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection already considers “critical.”
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Tracking the Tropics | August 31, Evening Update
ABC Action News tracks tropical developments in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.
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Electric cars catch fire in Florida after flooding
In just the last couple of days after the storm, two electric vehicles, one in Pinellas Park and a Tesla in Palm Harbor, caught fire after the storm surge pushed a wall of saltwater inland. Carfax spokesperson Patrick Olsen said owners need to understand the fire risk doesn't go away after the vehicle dries out. “The saltwater that is flooding can get into the battery and dry there and once it dries, it creates what federal safety officials call bridges between cells, and that can lead to fires, and that those fires can come anywhere from days to weeks later. And once an EV catches on fire, it is incredibly difficult to put it out.”
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Gulfport businesses continue to clean up and work together
Businesses in Gulfport are breathing a sigh of relief. Some of them did receive flood damage, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as hurricanes of the past. They say it’s a combination of luck and preparation. From H-VAC machines to TECO employees to heavy-duty machinery, everywhere you looked, cleanup continued in Gulfport Thursday. “The biggest thing is took on about 18 inches of water inside; we lost an AC unit and some compressors, but overall, not too bad; we survived, we are cleaning up and getting ready for the next one,” said Tom George, owner of Hurricane Eddie’s.
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Veteran retreat in Ruskin floods following Hurricane Idalia
People who live along the Little Manatee River in Ruskin are cleaning up from Hurricane Idalia. Among those dealing with flood damage is a quiet retreat for veterans and their families called My Warrior’s Place. ABC Action News anchor Jamison Uhler first visited the retreat back in 2021. But this was the first time he’d ever seen it like this. Several cabins and their contents are soggy and unlivable after the banks of the Little Manatee River gave way during Hurricane Idalia. “I'm going to easily say $50-75,000 worth of damage. Easily,” explained Kelly Kowall, the founder of My Warrior’s Place.
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Hernando Beach cleans up after serious flooding, fire
Residents in Hernando Beach clean up after serious flooding and house fire caused by Hurricane Idalia. Joel Silver banged the keys on his piano, playing a song of celebration, “Stand by Me.” His Hernando Beach neighborhood was underwater after Hurricane Idalia went by. And five houses down, a home was on fire.
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Storm surge, high tide from Idalia impact Sponge Docks businesses
Storm surge and high tide from Hurricane Idalia have forced Sponge Docks businesses in Tarpon Springs to clean up in its aftermath.
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Homeowners in Town 'N' Country deal with damage from Idalia
Homeowners living on Brunswick Lane in Town 'N' Country saw significant flooding as Hurricane Idalia moved through the Tampa Bay area.
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Most insurance claims in Tampa Bay will be flood-related
Most insurance claims filed in and around Tampa Bay will be related to flood damage. There are steps to take to both protect the rest of your home and ensure you get a proper payout for your claim.
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Idalia makes major impact on small Florida city
Cleanup and recovery efforts are underway in the small city of Perry, Florida, a part of the Big Bend, after Hurricane Idalia slammed into the area.
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Cedar Key left with lots of cleanup in aftermath of Idalia
Cedar Key, like so many of Florida’s coastal communities, is no different. It has a vibrant commercial district and it relies on tourism dollars to survive. But when Idalia hit, it hit those businesses hard, and now, there is a lot of cleanup left to do.
Shore Acres community recovering from flooding due to Hurricane Idalia
The Shore Acres neighborhood flooded during Hurricane Idalia. One day later, some roads remained flooded and residents are busy tossing out damaged furniture, decorations and appliances.
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