Erik Waxler

Tampa

Reporter at WFTS-TV (Tampa, FL)

Emmy winning veteran of the tv news biz @abcactionnews in Tampa, @UFJSchool grad. Star of Netflix's #TigerKing2

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Articles

The show must go on at the MIDFLORIDA Amphitheatre, despite missing roof

1 week ago | abcactionnews.com | Erik Waxler

TAMPA, Fla — Avril Lavigne fans like Javier Moreire are headed into the MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheater early Friday afternoon to get as close as possible to their favorite singer. “She’s just awesome. Amazing person. Great performance. She does a legendary performance,” Moreire said. Javier came from Miami to go to the show and saw the damage Hurricane Milton did to the roof here. “I’m glad everybody is safe. But I’m glad they are getting it back together.
Talks underway for new ordinance to protect Pasco trees from developers

1 week ago | abcactionnews.com | Erik Waxler

NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — Sasha Bartunek tries not to miss a meeting when it involves protecting Pasco County’s environment. And among the many concerns on her list, preserving the trees. “The tree situation is really tragic in Pasco County. Many people move here because of the beauty and aesthetics,” said Bartunek, the conservation chair with the Suncoast Sierra Club. Pasco County has grown in the last decade with thousands of new homes and other developments.
Plans for soccer stadium latest in Ybor development boom

1 week ago | abcactionnews.com | Erik Waxler

YBOR CITY, Fla — It would be tough to find someone more enthusiastic about doing business in Ybor City than Harry Kayafas. "I love what's going on. There's a big buzz around here,” said Kayafas. Harry owns the Stirling Cigar Lounge on 7th Avenue and says the vibe in Ybor City is getting better every day. "There's a lot of excitement. Things are changing from day to day,” said Harry.
Citrus County Sheriff adds new technology for officers

1 week ago | abcactionnews.com | Erik Waxler

CITRUS CO., Fla. — When David Vincent was elected Citrus County's sheriff, he said he wanted to fulfill a campaign promise. That promise is bringing body-worn cameras to the agency. "It's going to help our men and women out there wearing this uniform. Protect them from frivolous complaints and also added safety features that allow us to make sure they are ok out there doing the work,” said Vincent. Deputies will be expected to turn on the cameras during any encounter with the public.
At home with the Bellamy Brothers in Pasco County

1 week ago | abcactionnews.com | Erik Waxler

DARBY — The Bellamy Brothers didn’t write the song that made them famous. A roadie with Neil Diamond penned “Let Your Love Flow.”But the duo from Pasco County recorded the song, it hit number one in 1976 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the rest is history. WATCH: At home with the Bellamy Brothers in Pasco County At home with the Bellamy Brothers in Pasco County “Somebody said, hey, you know this song is breaking in Holland. And we said who’s Holland?
Tampa startup gets NASA contract for work on wildfire response system

2 weeks ago | abcactionnews.com | Erik Waxler

TAMPA, Fla. — Inside a downtown Tampa office, Rocio Freg Vitalle is showing us how new technology can help track wildfires. Last year, firefighters in Northern California got vital information from the project, called TAGS or Target Acquisition and Guidance System. “We told them you better go and deploy resources on the south end because the fire is going to jump the river,” said Vitalle, SkyTL’s founder and CEO.
Residents still waiting for fix as South Tampa storms bring constant flooding

2 weeks ago | abcactionnews.com | Erik Waxler

SOUTH TAMPA, Fla — David Adams has spent a decade trying to get Tampa City officials to fix the flooding problem in his neighborhood. “Every time the answer is the same. We need a large, high-capacity pipe to move the water out of this area because it’s a divot. And it’s a low point and all of the water comes to it,” Adams said. Flooding concerns during storm season David showed me a picture of his wife putting down sandbags at their Parkland Estates home.
Zephyrhills homeowner forced to demolish house after constant flooding

2 weeks ago | abcactionnews.com | Erik Waxler

ZEPHYRHILLS — Benjamin Catlett says constant flooding ruined his home. Then, even more flooding from hurricanes finished it off. Homeowners in Pasco County ask for help with flooding “We were going to try and fix the house but the joist were so rotted you could literally crumble them with your hands,” said Catlett. He says there was nothing left to do but tear it down. “I lost everything in it.
Haitian children rescued from crisis and brought to adoptive families

2 weeks ago | abcactionnews.com | Erik Waxler

TAMPA, Fla. — The Smith family from Plano, Texas came to Tampa full of hope and now they have their daughter. This is crazy. It’s all been hitting all at once," said Kathleen Smith. Two years ago, they matched with a little girl from Haiti, named Love Ester. But with gang violence and much of the country in chaos, they’ve been dealing with the unknown. “Our agency went back and forth on whether she might be coming home any day. They may pull her out. They may not," Kathleen said.
FEMA frustrations: Pasco County woman trying to rebuild mobile home after hurricanes

2 weeks ago | abcactionnews.com | Erik Waxler

HOLIDAY, Fla — Kelly Welty's mobile home lost its roof during Hurricane Milton. "It was devastating,” she said. Homeowner frustrated with FEMA process She says it was the only one in the Buena Vista community to get totaled by a tornado. "I cried, of course, because I've worked very hard getting it nice which has been difficult for me since I lost my husband and being alone,” Welty said. She said things got worse as she waited for a FEMA inspector.