Dozens of roads around the bay area remain closed due to flooding from Tropical Storm Colin. And afternoon high tides are making flooding worse on streets and in other places. In fact, residents at Mariner’s Cove Mobile Home Park in Largo have been evacuated due to three foot deep waters. The Skyway Bridge is back open nearly a day after it was closed because of high winds. St. Pete Beach residents are being asked not to shower, wash clothes, or use dishwashers because of storm waters that have backed up the town’s sewer system. Farther north in Madeira Beach, residents can resume water use now that the sewer system in that town has been unclogged. Tropical storm winds destroyed 70 tents at the Pinellas Hope homeless shelter. Damage is 10 thousand dollars. Scattered showers and locally heavy rainfall are still possible tonight and tomorrow.
Lakeland Police are at Lake Hunter where a large alligator was seen with a man’s body in its mouth. The gator has dropped the body and authorities are trying to trap the reptile and retrieve the body.
Bradenton Police are in a standoff at this hour with a carjacker. They’ve got him cornered inside a 37th Avenue East house. Minutes earlier, the man, Cody Morrison, forced a woman out of her car at a gas station. Cops think he’s armed.
Tragedy at an Orange County house overnight. A 63 year old man tells police he accidentally shot and killed his wife while cleaning his gun. Police found the woman with a gunshot wound to her head. The investigation continues.
The search for that missing 9 year old Fort Myers girl moves to Osceola County. Meantime, the man believed to have taken little Diana Alvarez from her bed 9 days ago, Jorge Guererro, is now charged with possessing child porn. The 28 year old rented a room from the girl’s parents before getting kicked out for cozying up to her.
Could be trouble for Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. An Associated Press report says Bondi decided not to investigate Donald Trump University in Florida for fraud after Trump’s foundation donated 25 thousand dollars to her. Bondi calls the report and what it implies—false.