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1 week ago | 
abc10.com | Andrea Chu |Parisa Akbarpour
POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Wildlife officials recovered two alligators from Lake Kissimmee after a woman was killed while canoeing with her husband.
Polk County deputies responded just after 4 p.m. to assist the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) at the mouth of Tiger Creek into Lake Kissimmee. The lake sits between Polk and Osceola counties.
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1 week ago | 
wtsp.com | Parisa Akbarpour
TAMPA, Fla. — A new lawsuit could pave the way for more online sports betting options in Florida. If this sounds like déjà vu, that's likely because a similar lawsuit dominated headlines in 2024. That case got thrown out by the Florida Supreme Court on a procedural issue. This time around, the group behind the new filing is taking the advice of the court and starting the process correctly.
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2 weeks ago | 
wtsp.com | Parisa Akbarpour
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — U.S. Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R, FL-13) wrote a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem on Thursday, urging the agency to delay the deadline to meet REAL ID requirements. Instead of needing to meet the requirements by May 7, 2025, Luna asked Noem to extend the deadline for another two years to May 7, 2027.
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2 weeks ago | 
wtsp.com | Parisa Akbarpour
WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — National security adviser and former Florida congressman Mike Waltz will soon step down, according to a CBS News report citing "multiple sources familiar" with the departure. Fox News and ABC News also reported that the same information was confirmed by their sources. The move will also reportedly include the removal of Waltz's deputy, Alex Wong.
The White House did not respond to CBS News' request for comment.
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2 weeks ago | 
wtsp.com | Parisa Akbarpour
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Days before the 32-year anniversary of a teen mom and her baby's disappearance near Tampa, investigators renewed their call for information that could help them figure out what happened to them. Bonnie Lee Dages was 18 years old when she left her home with her 4-month-old son, Jeremy, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
That was the last time they were seen. "We have not forgotten about Bonnie or Jeremy Dages," Sheriff Chad Chronister said.
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2 weeks ago | 
wtsp.com | Parisa Akbarpour
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla — Toll scams are some of the most commonly reported schemes to VERIFY. Since they first began in April 2024, we've seen various strategies deployed by scammers to trick drivers. This time, they're pretending to be government officials. Several VERIFY viewers have shared screenshots of text messages they received, claiming to be from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV).
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2 weeks ago | 
wtsp.com | Parisa Akbarpour
DUNEDIN, Fla. — In just one night, thieves were able to steal a gun, a car, $2,000 worth of barber's equipment and a pricey speaker from unlocked cars in Dunedin, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. The agency took the opportunity to remind car owners to lock their vehicles, especially before going to bed, as most car burglaries happen overnight while homeowners are sleeping.
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1 month ago | 
wtsp.com | Parisa Akbarpour
PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) sent an award to a Pinellas County deputy on Monday for his quick thinking that saved the lives of seven baby opossums whose mother had died. The sheriff's office said the deputy spotted an opossum lying "motionless" in the road on March 20. Instead of passing it by, Deputy Baldwin remembered that baby opossums can survive in their mother's pouch for hours after she's passed away.
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1 month ago | 
wtsp.com | Parisa Akbarpour
WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — In a letter sent to the House Freedom Caucus on Monday, March 31, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna said some members of the caucus have succumbed "to the very corruption [they] pledged to uproot." The letter was obtained by several outlets, including CBS News, and confirmed to 10 Tampa Bay by Rep. Luna's office as authentic.
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1 month ago | 
firstcoastnews.com | Parisa Akbarpour
LAND O' LAKES, Fla. — A 31-year-old man from Land O' Lakes was charged with seven felonies after a statewide investigation revealed he had sex with a runaway child, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). Michael Durshimer is also accused of arranging transportation for the child to come to his house, where officials said he had sex with her. The investigation started when the Citrus County Sheriff's Office reached out to FDLE to assist with a runaway child case.
