Latest news with #WFTS
Axios
5 days ago
- General
- Axios
Tampa Bay schools start next week. Here's what to know
Classes resume Monday as Hillsborough and Pinellas schools welcome students back from summer break. Whether you're a parent, grandparent or other caretaker — or just want to avoid traffic at pick-up or drop-off time — here's what you need to know. ⏰ Bell schedule: In Hillsborough County, elementary and K-8 schools operate from 7:40am to 1:55pm; middle schools run from 9:30am to 4:30pm; and high schools are in session from 8:30am to 3:32pm. Bell times are less uniform in Pinellas County, with schools divided into tiers. Most high schools in Pinellas run from 7:25am to 1:55pm; most middle schools from 9:40am to 4:10pm; and most elementary schools from 8:45am to 2:55pm. You can find specific schools here and here. 📱 What's new: A new state law (HB 1105) bars cellphone use in elementary and middle schools. Teachers can no longer allow phones during class, even for educational purposes. All wireless devices must be off or in airplane mode for the entire school day, starting when students arrive on campus. Hillsborough had previously limited its ban to the "instructional day." High schoolers can't use phones during class unless a teacher allows it for schoolwork. Use outside class time is still allowed. Read the districts' policies: Hillsborough, Pinellas. Meanwhile, marching band students who complete two years in the program can now earn credit for physical education or performing arts under the new law. 🍎 Teacher vacancies: There are 430 vacancies in Hillsborough, down from 600 last year, according to WFTS. Pinellas has just 30 vacancies. Hillsborough County teachers are set to receive a $6,000 raise this school year, funded by a tax increase approved by county voters last year that adds $1 for every $1,000 of assessed property value. 💰 Back-to-school savings: Florida's sales tax break on school supplies doesn't end even after classes begin. Shoppers have until Aug. 31 to take advantage of the following exemptions:
Daily Mirror
05-08-2025
- Daily Mirror
Woman searches her husband's name online and awful discovery leads to his arrest
A woman's hunch about her husband lead to his arrest after she discovered he was living a double life. He issued a grovelling apology as he was sentenced in court A woman turned detective and discovered a shocking double secret about her husband - which ultimately led to his arrest. Tonya Betsey met Henry Betsey, Jr on Tinder, and the two were married at the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, US, on November 24, 2020. "Meeting on a dating site and the way he portrayed himself, he sold the perfect person, when in reality he was none of those things," she warned. It comes after woman is jailed for leaving eight starving dogs to eat each other in hellhole flat. Sadly, it didn't take long for Tonya to realise she wasn't the only lady in Henry's life. His indiscretions came to light when she began to search for her husband's name in county court records, and made the shocking discovery that he had marriage licenses to two other women. Henry had married second wife Brandy two years after his wedding to Tonya, in February 2022. And just months later, a third woman, Michele, met Henry on the dating website and they tied the knot at a courthouse in Hernando County in November 2022, after only knowing each other for three weeks. "I just started county by county, putting in his name. And that's when I came up with the marriage to Michele and the marriage to Brandy," Tonya told WFTS. Betsey Jr. didn't get divorces or annulments before marrying again, and there is no database that compares Florida marriage licenses between counties. The wives all blame the state of Florida for not cross-referencing marriage licenses between counties. "There are no safeguards, and I feel like that's part of where the system failed," Michele said. "If the counties did talk, it would have saved me a lot of heartache, a lot of money, a lot of stress," Tonya added. Betsey Jr. pleaded guilty to the felony bigamy charge in May. Speaking at his sentencing hearing this week, he apologised for marrying three women at the same time. "First and foremost, I want to apologise to the ladies and I want to apologise to the court administration and to my family and friends that had to be involved in this. Because ultimately this is something that I didn't wish to be part of," he said. Since Henry had no prior criminal convictions - and with another case in Virginia not yet resolved - the judge explained that he was limited under the law in what sentence he could impose. "I'm going to adjudicate him guilty of the bigamy offense, which is gonna make him a convicted felon," Judge Charles B. Merritt, Jr. said. "I'm gonna sentence him to two years' probation with 8 days credit for time served. You're gonna have to do a mental health evaluation, complete a certified battery intervention program." Betsey's former wives and their families said they had hoped Henry would see jail time - but that they were glad to put the ordeal behind them "While I respect the court's decision and understand the reasoning behind the sentence, I can't say I was completely satisfied with the outcome. I had hoped for a stronger sentence," Tonya said in a statement. "That said, I recognise that the judge weighed all the factors involved, and I accept the decision, even if it wasn't what I had expected." "While it was not jail time, the fact that he is a convicted felon, that speaks mountains and I feel like that's vindication on our part," Michele added.
CNN
30-04-2025
- CNN
1 person died, 10 injured after a boat ‘shattered the whole back' of a ferry in Florida
A ferry ushering families from a popular sand sculpting competition in Florida was struck by a recreational boat Sunday evening in an apparent hit-and-run, killing one ferry passenger and injuring several others, police and witnesses said. The ferry was carrying people to and from the Sugar Sand Festival in Clearwater, CNN affiliate WFTS reported. The collision happened around 8:40 p.m. Sunday near the Clearwater Memorial Causeway Bridge when a 37-foot recreational boat carrying about six people struck the 40-foot ferry carrying about 45 people, according to Clearwater Police and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The recreational boat 'overrode nearly three-quarters of the ferry,' said Clearwater Police Department Chief Eric Gandy during a Monday news conference. Of the 10 people injured, six of them were transported to local hospitals as trauma alerts, Gandy said. The incident was declared 'a mass casualty incident by the fire department due to the number of injuries,' according to Clearwater police. The man who died was identified as Jose Castro, 41, of Palm Harbor, just a few miles north of Clearwater, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife spokesperson Hailee Seely. Officials have not released the names of the people injured. The US Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife are investigating the cause of the crash. Fish and Wildlife will lead the investigation, Clearwater police said. The ferry, as an inspected commercial vessel, falls under the jurisdiction of the Coast Guard, which will review compliance with the Code of Federal Regulations, according to Nicole Groll with USCG. Brenda Alvarez, who is about eight months pregnant, was on the ferry with her husband and two young children when a crew member started yelling, 'Hey, hey, hey!' the family told CNN affiliate WFTS. Alvarez's husband turned around to see a large boat 'just come through' the ferry, he said. The other boat 'shattered the whole back of' the ferry and 'left a huge dent,' Brenda Alvarez told WFTS. 'We can't understand how fast they were going.' Officers arrived to find a 'chaotic scene,' Clearwater city spokesperson Rob Shaw told CNN affiliate Bay News 9. Nearby 'good Samaritans' used their own boats to help evacuate passengers. The ferry came to rest on a sandbar, so some on board were able to walk to shore. But 'firefighters had to go into the water and help some people,' Shaw said. Kristin Vincelli, who was also leaving the festival, shared video with CNN showing emergency vehicles rushing toward the waterfront. The recreational boat did not stay at the crash scene but it is unclear if the collision is being investigated as a hit-and-run, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Captain Matthew Dallarosa. 'There is evidence that shows that the (recreational boat) did remain there for a period of time and then ultimately ended up at the Belleair Boat Ramp,' Dallarosa said Monday. Those injured in the collision were triaged at a separate boat ramp nearby, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife. So far, authorities have released few details about the boat that hit the ferry. As of Tuesday morning, no arrests had been made, Seely said. This story has been updated with additional information. CNN's Michelle Watson, Sarah Dewberry, Sara Smart and Martin Goillandeau contributed to this report.
Irish Examiner
28-04-2025
- Irish Examiner
Florida boat collision leaves one dead and at least 10 people injured
A recreational boat crashed into a ferry transporting 45 people on the final day of a sand-sculpting festival in Florida, killing one person and injuring at least 10 others, officials said. The crash late on Sunday in calm waters off Clearwater on the western Florida coast set off an emergency response due to the high number of possible casualties. Video of the accident released by law enforcement on Monday at a news conference showed the recreational vehicle ploughing into the ferry. 'We were just enjoying the ride and all of a sudden we heard the first mate yelling, 'Hey hey hey,'' Marco Vacheco, who was on the ferry with Brenda Alvarez and their two young children, told TV station WFTS. 'And we looked back behind us and this big yacht just came through the boat.' First responders gather on a beach near where the Memorial Causeway Bridge in Clearwater after the crash (Douglas R Clifford/Tampa Bay Times/AP) The operator of the recreational boat was co-operating with authorities, and a breathalyser test showed no alcohol impairment, officials said. The recreational boat stayed in the accident area for a short time; officers encountered it about 3.5 miles away. Officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were working with the State Attorney's Office to determine if any charges would be filed, officials said. Emergency dispatchers answering 911 calls from the accident scene heard 'horrific screaming' in the background, said Clearwater Police Chief Eric Gandy. The injured passengers had broken bones, soft-tissue injuries and head injuries, said Tony Tedesco, EMS chief for Clearwater Fire Rescue. All of those injured were adults aboard the ferry. Rescue workers gather at the Seminole boat ramp north of the crash scene (Douglas R Clifford/Tampa Bay Times/AP) 'When our crews first arrived, they found themselves in the water trying to rescue people,' Mr Tedesco said. 'On top of that, they're trying to figure out who was the most injured.' The ferry came to rest on a sandbar just south of the Memorial Causeway bridge. 'You never expect any of this to happen,' Brenda Alvarez said. 'We can't understand how fast they were going, like how that is even logically possible that they hit and were able to get off like that.' The family was not injured in the crash. The US Coast Guard said in a social media post that on-scene reports indicated that all 45 people on the ferry and all six people on the boat were accounted for. 'All local hospitals have been notified. Multiple trauma alerts have been called with helicopters transporting two of the more seriously injured,' the post said. Investigators search the wreckage of the Clearwater Ferry after the crash (Douglas R Clifford/Tampa Bay Times/AP) Videos on social media showed several first responders rushing to the scene with lights flashing. Several Good Samaritans also helped the ferry passengers get to safety, officials said. Sunday was the last day of the Sugar Sand Festival, a 17-day sand-sculpting festival in Clearwater Beach. The Coast Guard said the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission will lead the investigation into the cause of the crash.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Yahoo
Florida boat collision leaves one dead and at least 10 people injured
A recreational boat crashed into a ferry transporting 45 people on the final day of a sand-sculpting festival in Florida, killing one person and injuring at least 10 others, officials said. The crash late on Sunday in calm waters off Clearwater on the western Florida coast set off an emergency response due to the high number of possible casualties. Video of the accident released by law enforcement on Monday at a news conference showed the recreational vehicle ploughing into the ferry. 'We were just enjoying the ride and all of a sudden we heard the first mate yelling, 'Hey hey hey,'' Marco Vacheco, who was on the ferry with Brenda Alvarez and their two young children, told TV station WFTS. 'And we looked back behind us and this big yacht just came through the boat.' The operator of the recreational boat was co-operating with authorities, and a breathalyser test showed no alcohol impairment, officials said. The recreational boat stayed in the accident area for a short time; officers encountered it about 3.5 miles away. Officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were working with the State Attorney's Office to determine if any charges would be filed, officials said. Emergency dispatchers answering 911 calls from the accident scene heard 'horrific screaming' in the background, said Clearwater Police Chief Eric Gandy. The injured passengers had broken bones, soft-tissue injuries and head injuries, said Tony Tedesco, EMS chief for Clearwater Fire Rescue. All of those injured were adults aboard the ferry. 'When our crews first arrived, they found themselves in the water trying to rescue people,' Mr Tedesco said. 'On top of that, they're trying to figure out who was the most injured.' The ferry came to rest on a sandbar just south of the Memorial Causeway bridge. 'You never expect any of this to happen,' Brenda Alvarez said. 'We can't understand how fast they were going, like how that is even logically possible that they hit and were able to get off like that.' The family was not injured in the crash. The US Coast Guard said in a social media post that on-scene reports indicated that all 45 people on the ferry and all six people on the boat were accounted for. 'All local hospitals have been notified. Multiple trauma alerts have been called with helicopters transporting two of the more seriously injured,' the post said. Videos on social media showed several first responders rushing to the scene with lights flashing. Several Good Samaritans also helped the ferry passengers get to safety, officials said. Sunday was the last day of the Sugar Sand Festival, a 17-day sand-sculpting festival in Clearwater Beach. The Coast Guard said the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission will lead the investigation into the cause of the crash.
