Latest news with #8OnYourSide
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Hyde Park's Forbici in legal battle as neighbors react to changes in Village
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A popular Hyde Park restaurant is facing possible eviction, and the legal fight is drawing attention to broader concerns about the future of the neighborhood. Court records obtained by 8 On Your Side show the landlord for Hyde Park Village filed a lawsuit against the operators of Forbici Modern Italian, citing multiple lease violations specifically exceeding seating limits and expanding without the proper permits. 'M*A*S*H' actress Loretta Swit dies at 87 The lawsuit claims the owners, listed under the corporate name CRG, were restricted to 159 guests total, including just 40 seats outside. According to the complaint, the restaurant added tables without approval from the City of Tampa. But the legal battle has also stirred emotions among residents and business owners who said the dispute reflects a bigger shift in the identity of Hyde Park. 'I think one of the challenges is there's been a change to a little bit more upscale shopping, which affects the family atmosphere,' said Patrick Chimino, Land Use Chair of the Historic Hyde Park Neighborhood Association. Many neighbors said they've watched some of their favorite spots disappear replaced by luxury brands and higher prices. 'Some of my favorite places are gone,' resident Eboni Staton said. 'Most of the other places are kind of expensive, so we come here as a treat.' Despite the changes, some businesses in the Village say they're thriving. 'Our jewelry sales have never been better,' said Eric Wolf, General Manager of Old Northeast Jewelers. 'With gold prices up and a strong demand for vintage timepieces, we're having one of our best years yet.' Still, many in the community hope a compromise can be reached. 'We do hope they do because I think they're one of those in-between type restaurant … family oriented, but it also attracts young crowds,' Chimino said. A spokesperson for Forbici told 8 on your side they are working on an agreement with the landlord. The restaurant remains open, and no court date has been set for the eviction case. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Ruskin community mourns family of 4 killed in crash
RUSKIN, Fla. (WFLA) — Community members in Ruskin mourned the loss of a family of four who were killed in a car crash Sunday night. While the cause of the crash is still under investigation, Hillsborough County deputies said it does not appear to be the result of reckless driving. Operation 'Remember the Fallen' leads to 29 DUI arrests over Memorial Day weekend The crash is bringing attention to the dangerous intersection. Neighbors said it's time to turn this pain into purpose. They're called on Hillsborough County for safety changes along West Shell Point Road in Ruskin to prevent future tragedies. Surveillance video showed a car blowing through an intersection, into Julie Coleman's home, and flipping over multiple times. The car came to a final stop when it slammed into a neighbor's car on Sunday night off West Shell Point Road. 'I'm really sad I upset the neighbors because they didn't know if anyone of those people on the ground were us,' Coleman have identified the family of four inside the car who were killed. The family was identified as 53-year-old Richard Wilson, his wife 52-year-old Cynthia Wilson, and her two children, 19-year-old James Janus and 20-year-old Shannon Janus. In a social media post, Cynthia wrote she and her family spent Sunday at Universal Studios.'I have goosebumps,' Colen said 'It's so good that we weren't in here.'Coleman said this is not the first time something like this has happened.'Enough is enough,' she said. 'Four people are dead, and they died horrifically.'She and her neighbor, Mark Larson, have long called on Hillsborough County to make safety improvements.'Public works and the county commissioners need to get involved,' Larson said. 'I don't know what else to say. We've tried and tried and tried.'A Hillsborough County spokesperson told 8 On Your Side that the county 'has done studies at this intersection in the past at the request of residents including a study earlier this year.' The speed study found that the average speed on 32nd Street Northwest was 38 mph (posted speed: 30 mph), and on West Shell Point Road, it was 43 mph (posted speed: 45 mph). These results placed both roads on the 85th percentile, 12 MPH or more, meaning that there is not an excessive speeding issue in the area. Additionally, a crash report review showed three crashes within the last five years. 'Personal property is inconsequential to the loss of four lives,' Larson said. 'We've made this evident to the county. We've told them something is going to happen. What's it going to take? It happened last night.' 'Public Works is waiting for the official report about the crash from Memorial Day Weekend from Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office to potentially add to the most recent report,' the spokesperson the community mourns the loss of this family, Coleman's home has been deemed uninhabitable.'We love it here,' Coleman said. 'We've made so many good friends, but we're out of here.' Deputies said there's no indication of criminal activity. 8 On Your Side has asked Hillsborough County for the medical examiner's reports once they become available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Retired firefighter captain sees safety improvements in Temple Terrace
TEMPLE TERRACE, Fla. (WFLA) — 8 On Your Side is getting results for a retired firefighter captain who wanted to see safety improvements in Temple Terrace. The city has stepped up to create safer streets along Ridgedale Road. There are two schools, a sports complex, a public library, and a church, which makes this area a hub for kids and their families. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Fred Morello had long worried that people were driving too fast along Ridgedale Road. 'I feel more comfortable for my grandkids on this road,' he said. 'I was horrified before because it was just a matter of time.' Last week, the City of Temple Terrace said to address traffic safety concerns in this area, it installed rubberized speed humps, new school zone signs and flashing beacons after Ridgedale was selected for traffic calming improvements. Dunedin woman gets help after being left with holes in home 'There's less traffic cars are slowing down,' Morello said. 'It's much safer along the stretch of road.' 8 On Your Side first reported on the issue in April 2024 when Morello turned to us for help. 'I initially started sending emails and calling the city, trying to get speed bumps and a crosswalk,' Morello said. 'I got nowhere until Channel 8 called and got a traffic study done.' That study found 68% of drivers on Ridgedale were speeding. Police clocked one driver going 74 in a 25 mile per hour zone. 'The whole stretch from the stoplight to here has speed bumps and it's made a huge, huge difference,' Morello said. Morello is grateful to finally see the city take action. 'I thank Channel 8 it wouldn't have happened without Channel 8,' he said. 'I'd truly believe that.'Morello said he would also like to thank the City of Temple Terrace, but he wishes it didn't take so long. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Manatee School Board meeting to focus on superintendent's resignation or termination, board member says
MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — The Manatee County School Board has called a special meeting for Tuesday. The focus will be on the superintendent's contract. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now School board members selected Dr. Jason Wysong May of 2023. He had previously been a Deputy Superintendent with Seminole County Public Schools since 2021. A source within the district said the special meeting will either be about the resignation or termination of the superintendent. He did not go into further details. 'When public education is done really well, it's an economic driver, and it's a civic driver for community success,' said Wysong in July 2023, when he was sworn in as superintendent. Hernando High teacher charged with giving student Kratom Less than two years later, the school board called a special meeting. It was posted on the calendar on Friday, May 16. The agenda shows the 'Purpose: conduct business relating to educational issues.' It was initiated by School Board Chair Chad 8 On Your Side spoke with Choate, he wrote, 'It is a discussion on his contract. Where that goes will depend on the board discussion.'Vice Chair Cindy Spray told me she had no comment. She suggested for those curious to attend the meeting or watch it via Zoom on Tuesday at 9 a.m.'Which is not much notice and a difficult time for parents and the community who work most people to attend,' said Robin Taub Williams, president of Democratic Public Education Caucus of said concerned parents alerted her of the special meeting over the weekend.'There's a lack of transparency and a lack of time, and from what I've heard from good sources that the intention is to terminate the superintendent, that's not explicitly stated on the agenda item,' she Manatee County School District told 8 On Your Side anything before the meeting would be deemed as speculation and would not comment further. 8 On Your Side questioned School Board Member Heather Felton about the special meeting. She cited Sunshine Laws preventing her from going into detail outside of school board chambers.'In terms of academic metrics, things have been improving under [Wysong's] leadership,' said from the Florida Department of Education shows the Manatee District Graduation Rate in 2023 was 82.3% and the following year that rate rose to 85.7%. In response to the FDOE school grades released Superintendent Wysong released this statement on July 25, 2024: I am pleased with the academic progress made by Manatee County students and schools during the 2023-24 school year, as measured by results from the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) progress monitoring system initiated by the state in 2022. With support and inspiration from talented teachers, staff, and administrators, students across the district demonstrated significant growth in reading and mathematics. This year, 20 SDMC schools earned an A grade. Additionally, fifteen schools earned a higher grade in 2024 than either 2022 or 2023. We are especially proud to celebrate Abel Elementary (improved to A; first A since 2011), Ballard Elementary (improved from D to B; first B since 2011), Tillman Elementary (first A grade in school history), and Parrish Community High School (first A grade in school history). Manatee earned a district grade of B, finishing just two percentage points away from an A. We look forward to building on this momentum as we enter the 2024-25 school year! Williams questioned if the special meeting boils down to budget, but no matter what unfolds she wants transparency for parents and the community. 'I just think the public needs to have time to find out what the facts are here, and there shouldn't be this rush,' Williams said. The district source said a compensation package will need to be decided following the outcome of Tuesday's meeting. Once that's finalized, he said the school board will either choose an interim superintendent or appoint one. Wysong replaced former Superintendent Cynthia Saunders, who retired in June 2023 after 34 years in public education in Florida. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Pasco County substitute fired after 8 On Your Side report makes its way inside classroom
WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. (WFLA) — Days after a Wesley Chapel mother turned to 8 On Your Side, saying her daughter was being bullied repeatedly at a Pasco County middle school, our report made its way inside the classroom. 'I said 'what's going on why are you bullying people? You should be ashamed that you're on the news for this,'' said Jeffrey Pash, substitute teacher. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Pash said he wanted to encourage his students to be kind to one another. A few hours later, he said he was fired and walked off the campus. This photo was taken on Monday inside Thomas E. Weightman Middle School showing our story projected for the class to watch. Tampa Bay mother takes bullying concerns to court 'My intention was to say, 'hey guys this is wrong, there's no reason you should be on the news for bullying, you guys are doing wrong,'' Pash explained. 'I feel like nobody else was talking about it. Nobody else was helping.'A few periods later, Pash said the principal fired him and escorted him off campus. When asked if Weightman has a bullying problem, Pash said, 'I really think there is.'Last week, 8 On Your Side introduced you to Tosha. We're not using Tosha's real name to protect her children's identities. Tosha told us her oldest daughter was bullied repeatedly at the school after the family moved to Wesley Chapel last September. The working mom of three said her oldest daughter endured name calling, racial slurs, even photos taken in a school locker room and then posted on social media.'It was very traumatizing for her,' Tosha said. 'She at one point she thought if she got skinnier that the girl would leave her alone if she had nice hair, the girl would leave her alone. We went through: 'I'm only going to eat crackers and water'.'Tosha said she turned to the school district for help, then Pasco County deputies, but when the bullying continued, she took the case to court. A judge signed an injunction forbidding the accused bully from stalking Tosha's daughter. 'She's broken not only the school order of the non-contact,' Tosha responded. 'She's broken the civil order that was given to my daughter by a judge.'Tosha was outraged the story was shown in class, knowing it would only further the bullying. She wants to see change County Schools confirmed 'that the school immediately addressed the situation' and wrote 'the substitute works for a staffing company and will no longer be utilized as a substitute in our district.''I think the district needs to go into Weightman and see exactly how bad it is,' said Pash.A district spokesperson previously cited a statute forbidding them from sharing confidential student information but wrote: 'While Pasco County Schools in not in a position to discuss specific students, we can assure you that our District strictly and ardently complies with both our anti-bullying School Board policies and Florida Law. You can review more information regarding our Anti-Harassment ( Policy 5517) and Anti-Bullying (Policy 5517.01) at: Active Policies – 7227 Land O' Lakes Blvd.| Land O' Lakes, FL 34638 | (813) 794-2000 BoardDocs® Pro.''I feel that I failed her,' Tosha said. 'I feel like the community failed her and I feel like the school system failed her.' 'It's very, very, very shameful that you trust all these adults to do right by your kid and they can't even do that right,' said Pash. Tosha said her 13-year-old couldn't take it anymore, so she moved her daughter back to live with the girl's grandmother in Ohio and when her own lease is up in Wesley Chapel, Tosha said she and her other daughters will join them. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
