Julie Salomone

2 months ago | abcactionnews.com | Julie Salomone

TAMPA, Fla. — GLAAD, the world's largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization, is reacting to the death of Pope Francis. GLAAD leadership called Pope Francis "a transformational leader who included LGBTQ people in historic ways." Ross Murray, President of the GLAAd Media Institute and a Lutheran deacon, met Pope Francis in 2023. Murray gave him a handmade stole that his mother had made. "I presented this rainbow stole to him and described that my mother handmade the stole.

2 months ago | abcactionnews.com | Julie Salomone

NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — After being diagnosed with a rare condition, a New Port Richey teen customizes stuffed animals to provide comfort to children in the hospital. Aubrey Harris, 15, started Medical Minis. She sends stuffed animals to children around the country, customizing them to reflect a child's specific diagnosis. "Just having that stuffed animal that looked like me, it was really nice," she said. About 4 years ago, Harris was diagnosed with gastroparesis.

2 months ago | abcactionnews.com | Julie Salomone

BRADENTON, Fla. — Manatee County commissioners voted this week not to add fluoride to the county's drinking water. Patrick Shea, Director of Utilities, said that county commissioners adopted an ordinance in 1991 to begin adding fluoride to the public water system. Shea said the county's drinking water fluoridation system has been out of service since 2021. "The water treatment staff, maintenance staff worked diligently to try to nurse the current fluoride system back to health.

2 months ago | abcactionnews.com | Julie Salomone

CLEARWATER, Fla. — A Pinellas County teen who lost her family's home during Hurricane Helene attended prom on Friday night with the help of two "Fairy Godfathers."Jillian Stammel got ready for Prom at La Posh Salon in Clearwater. "It means a lot to me. I didn’t go last year because I really wanted this last year to be really special, so it has been it has been very special," said Jillian Stammel.

2 months ago | ktvz.com | Julie Salomone

By Julie SalomoneClick here for updates on this story    VALRICO, Florida (WFTS) — An 18-year-old from Valrico is searching for a live kidney donor and hopes his perfect match sees his story. Roderick Johnson celebrated his 18th birthday in April. His family said he should be planning his future and dreaming about college, but instead, he’s searching for a kidney donor.