Tampa City Council set to vote on $2 billion Rays stadium plan

ABC Action News 8/27 2:01A Blake Phillips

Tampa city leaders are set to vote Thursday on the final version of an over $2 billion stadium plan for the Tampa Bay Rays. Under the current agreement, the city is on the hook for $80 million, which it will cover with a loan rather than an...

Puerto Rican kikiriki chickens winning hearts across Florida

ABC Action News 8/27 1:16A Michael Paluska

Dawn Marie spent 30 years as an educator before discovering a new passion: raising tiny Puerto Rican kikiriki chickens that weigh less than a pound and fall asleep in your arms. A Bay Area resident tells Tampa Bay 28 reporter Michael Paluska that...

Man who served 40 years for murder, gets life for human trafficking: SAO

ABC Action News 8/26 11:52P Brian McBride

A man who had already served 40 years in prison for murder was sentenced to life on Wednesday for human trafficking of a minor, prosecutors said. Clinton Gholson, 65, of Tampa, also was charged with lewd and lascivious battery, deriving support...

Man charged with 6 counts of attempted murder after shooting into Lakeland home: LPD

ABC Action News 8/26 10:18P Brian McBride

A Winter Haven man was charged with six counts of attempted first-degree murder after shooting into a Lakeland home, striking two people, authorities said. The Lakeland Police Department (LPD) arrested 24-year-old Treveon Raggs on Monday. On Aug....

Grandmother charged with manslaughter after death of toddler who was left in hot car

ABC Action News 8/26 10:04P WFTS Digital Staff

A 74-year-old grandmother was arrested and charged Wednesday in connection with the death of her 17-month-old granddaughter, Winter Haven Police Department announced. The "heartbreaking event" occurred March 31, police say, after the grandmother...

Bucs jewelry designer Kelsey Belmont finds retail home at Heads and Tails in Tampa

ABC Action News 8/26 8:00P Sean Daly

Kelsey Belmont likes her Bucs bling to be loud. "When you are standing out in the stadium, you need some of this!" says the popular Tampa jewelry designer. "I like things that pop, sparkle and shimmer." Hand-making her inventive creations for...

Fallen Polk County Fire Rescue chaplain honored at celebration of life

ABC Action News 8/26 11:52A Rebecca Petit

A Polk County Fire Rescue chaplain killed in a crash last week was laid to rest Wednesday. The man who spent his life serving others is being remembered by the very people he was there to support. In 2022, Hector Cruz answered the call to become...

Temple Terrace water overhaul could mean major rate increase

ABC Action News 8/26 11:49A Chad Mills

Temple Terrace is moving forward with plans to overhaul its aging water treatment system and remove PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals, from its water. But, the project could come with a significant cost for people who pay the city's...

Trattoria Napoli opens in Zephyrhills with help from city grant program

ABC Action News 8/26 11:40A Annette Gutierrez

A new Italian restaurant is now open in Zephyrhills, and the city helped make it happen. Trattoria Napoli , located on 7th Street, held its grand opening with the help of a $50,000 commercial improvement grant from the City of Zephyrhills...

Meet Tampa's new acting police chief: Bret Owen on building trust, talent and what comes next

ABC Action News 8/26 11:31A Jada Williams

Acting Tampa Police Chief Bret Owen marked one of his first major milestones in the role Wednesday as 32 new officers were sworn in to the Tampa Police Department, including one who came up through the department's own youth explorer program....

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. responds to our questions about Florida proposal to remove 4 required...

ABC Action News 8/26 10:59A Lauren St. Germain

Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla., were in Tampa on Wednesday to discuss a new federal initiative to help improve school meals and nutrition. The HHS says the goal of the program is...

Bulls name starting QB, count down to season opener

ABC Action News 8/26 10:50A Kevin Lewis

USF football opens the regular season in 10 days when they host FIU at Raymond James Stadium. First-year head coach Brian Hartline says expectations are sky high despite a new-look roster. For Hartline, discipline and toughness are the foundation...

Dolly Parton remembered for performances in Tampa Bay: 'It was just magic'

ABC Action News 8/26 10:28A Maya Sargent

Country music legend and philanthropist Dolly Parton died Tuesday at age 80. Meghan Lewallen, a Dolly Parton fan, said the loss is deeply felt. "I feel like a huge light has been taken out of this world. I feel like she brought everybody together...

Murder charge dismissed due to Stand Your Ground motion in shooting death of Tampa DJ

ABC Action News 8/26 8:56A Amanda Boettcher

A Hillsborough County judge said it has dismissed charges against a man accused of shooting and killing a man after a roadway dispute in Ybor City. Tampa police arrested and charged Cobo with second-degree murder following the death of a...

Two Zephyrhills teens cause 4 crashes fleeing law enforcement: FHP

ABC Action News 8/26 7:54A Brian McBride

Two Zephyrhills teenagers were jailed after causing four hit-and run crashes in Hillsborough County on Wednesday while fleeing from law enforcement, the Florida Highway Patrol said. Braden Wallace, 17, and Jeffrey Bettis, 16, were arrested by...