Briona Arradondo

1 week ago | fox13news.com | Briona Arradondo

A bill led by a Pinellas County state senator now heads to the Florida House, focusing on hurricane preparedness and response. Its goal is to make sure each county has a post-storm plan following the devastating impacts of last year’s hurricane season. The 2024 hurricane season packed a punch in the Bay Area, bringing Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton. Senate Bill 180 was approved Wednesday on the floor, and the House version of the bill, HB 1535, was also approved in a subcommittee this week.

1 week ago | yahoo.com | Briona Arradondo

The BriefA new bill moving through the Florida Legislature aims to better prepare local governments for hurricane response. The bill follows Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton, which caused widespread damage to the Bay Area in 2024. Debris cleanup, post-storm damage assessments and the training of local government's emergency management teams are all addressed in the bill. TALLAHASSEE, Fla.

1 week ago | fox13news.com | Briona Arradondo

It may take years for survivors of sexual assault to report a crime if they choose to do it at all. A new law that went into effect last year aims to help protect them by storing rape kits for up to 50 years. April is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and victim advocates in Tampa are sharing how they are informing survivors of the change. Nurses with the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay gather evidence using a rape kit, and what happens to those kits has changed.

2 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Briona Arradondo

The BriefA new law in Florida allows law enforcement to store rape kits for up to 50 years. Advocates say one in six American women is sexually assaulted, and the new law sends a message of believing in survivors if or when they are ready to report it. Non-reported kits are stored separately from sexual assaults that have already been reported. TAMPA, Fla. - It may take years for survivors of sexual assault to report a crime if they choose to do it at all.

2 weeks ago | fox13news.com | Briona Arradondo

With sargassum season here, it's only a matter of time before the seaweed washes up on shore, and University of South Florida researchers are developing a new tool to predict where it goes. Big picture view: Higher-resolution sensors from satellite imaging allow USF researchers like Brian Barnes to pinpoint sargassum seaweed like never before around Florida and the Caribbean.