CLEARWATER

CLEARWATER, Fla. — An argument possibly led to an apparent murder-suicide Friday afternoon in Clearwater, Florida. When deputies arrived at the scene, they found Erica Viney, 41, and Langley Dunsmuir, 70, dead. Viney had reportedly moved into the house with Dunsmuir and his wife earlier in the month on Jan. 2, according to PCSO. Detectives said that a verbal argument had happened regarding the terms of the living arrangements, according to WFLA. The medical examiner’s office is expected to do an autopsy to confirm the exact cause and manner of death, according to WFLA.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — A woman in Clearwater, Florida, has died and her 7-year-old daughter was injured Sunday evening during a shooting between the woman’s boyfriend and ex-boyfriend. >> Read more trending newsThe shooting happened around 6:30 p.m. Sunday in an apartment on the 600 block of Fairwood Avenue, Clearwater Police Department said, according to Tampa Bay News. Nicolshia Washington’s ex-boyfriend, Lavaris Delapierre, was reportedly dropping their daughter when he got into an argument with her current boyfriend, Stacy Cross. That argument reportedly led to a shooting, CPD said, according to Tampa Bay News. Washington, 25, and her daughter were both injured as a result of the shooting, according to WFLA.

APOPKA, Fla. — An Apopka Man is facing charges in connection with a string of crimes, including breaking into a Melbourne gun shop and trying to burglarize another gun shop in Clearwater on Friday. When he was arrested, police said 14 guns were recovered. Jeremy Middleton, 24, is facing a long list of charges for his alleged involvement in a smash-and-grab at Sicario’s Gun Shop on North Wickham Road. READ: Buffalo Bills’ Damar Hamlin released from hospitalOnce inside, the suspect caught on surveillance stole several firearms. Two days later, on the opposite side of the state, law enforcement responded to a burglary in progress at Arms for Defense, a gun shop in Clearwater.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — A Florida man is accused of being the driver of a vehicle when a pedestrian was killed last year, instead of the woman who was originally charged, authorities said. During the course of their investigation, deputies said Garabrant was captured on video leaving The Liquid Therapy Bar in Pinellas Park minutes before the crash, WFLA-TV reported. According to the sheriff’s office news release, investigators alleged that Garabrant admitted to the owner of the bar that he was the driver and should have been arrested. Investigators also determined that Mashtare, now 55, was the passenger in the vehicle, the Times reported. Her DUI manslaughter charge will be amended to a DUI, the sheriff’s office said.

In the 1950s, in Clearwater, Florida, Black cemeteries were supposed to be relocated for various development projects. But many graves were never relocated and the cemeteries were paved over.

In Clearwater, Florida, segregation followed people into the grave. Now the injustices of the past are resurfacing.

Lance McCullers Jr. started on the mound in the game that sent the Houston Astros to this year’s World Series.

Jermaine Bennett, of Tampa, Fla., is charged with first-degree murder in the "heinous and violent" attack of 49-year-old bicyclist Jefferey Chapman in Clearwater Beach on Friday.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Police in Clearwater, Florida, have arrested a Tampa man accused of beating a bicyclist to death with a tire iron on Friday. A man accused of beating a bicyclist to death with a tire iron in Clearwater was arrested by law enforcement — but the search for another person involved is ongoing. Chapman was beaten with a tire iron at least 10 times, Walek said in a press conference Saturday. “It was a chance encounter that turned deadly while the victim was simply trying to ride his bike home,” Walek told WFLA. Bennett will be charged with first-degree murder, according to Walek, and is currently in the Pasco County Jail awaiting extradition, according to WTVT.

PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. — A Florida man who was evacuating planes for his flight school from Florida to South Carolina before Hurricane Ian arrived had an unwelcome surprise -- the storm followed him after he fled north. Nope.”Moorhead, a senior majoring in communications at the University of South Florida in Tampa, is a private pilot in Clearwater, the newspaper reported. Cullen Moorhead, a pilot, flew his plane from Clearwater, Fla., out of the path of Hurricane Ian. Waves topping 7 feet crashed into the South Carolina home, while the Tampa Bay area was spared from the worst of Ian. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (Win McNamee/Getty Images)Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 14 Hurricane Ian strikes South Carolina CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 30: A pedestrian navigates a driving rain from Hurricane Ian on September 30, 2022 in Charleston, South Carolina.

Search and rescue teams are uncovering scenes of enormous loss in the aftermath.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — A Florida woman working as an assistant manager at a Dollar Tree is accused of stealing from the store by using her teenage son to stage a robbery. Police said that on Aug. 13, 14 and 15, Ford collected the money and placed it into the bank money bag, but never delivered the bag to the bank deposit drop. On Aug. 21, Clearwater police said that Ford called 911 to report an armed robbery as she was closing the store. In the arrest affidavit, police said that Ford staged the robbery, using her 15-year-old son as the alleged robber. Ford told police that she was leaving the store with the money bag when she was robbed at gunpoint.

Police and emergency vehicles, Clearwater, FL Police and emergency vehicles, Clearwater, FL (Photo by: Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) (Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty)LAFAYETTE, La. — A police officer in Lafayette, Louisiana, is in critical but stable condition after being dragged about 100 feet behind a fleeing vehicle early Sunday morning. He faces charges of attempted first-degree murder, reckless operation of a vehicle, resisting an officer with force/violence and operating while intoxicated, KFLY-TV reported. According to a news release provided to KATC-TV, officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle driving recklessly at around 1:20 a.m. Police also confirmed that several rounds were fired in attempts to stop Chavis’ vehicle, but no injuries related to the gunfire were reported, KATC reported.

Parking dispute: David Berry is shown holding an assault rifle during a parking dispute last month. (Clearwater Police Department)CLEARWATER, Fla. — A Florida man is accused of wielding an assault rifle and threatening another person over a parking dispute last month, authorities said. Police said Berry then went to his truck and retrieved an assault rifle, pointing it at the man “in a threatening manner,” according to the newspaper. I would’ve shot you dead and you would’ve went to jail,” Berry can be heard in the video, according to WFLA. “You don’t arm yourself with an assault rifle and threaten someone over something so trivial.”©2022 Cox Media Group

Police in Florida say a 24-year-old man told police he lured his mother to his apartment, where he beat her with a hammer before fatally stabbing her.

Florida man killed mom after luring her to his home, police sayCLEARWATER, Fla. — (AP) — A 24-year-old man told police in Florida that he lured his mother into an apartment and beat her with a hammer before fatally stabbing her, officials said. READ: FDLE, Brevard County deputies arrest man, woman accused of human traffickingLogan Lopez told investigators on Saturday that he had planned the killing for a year, Clearwater police said on Twitter. Officers responded to a 911 call from a neighbor around 5 p.m. on Saturday. She told dispatchers that she could hear a woman screaming in a nearby apartment at The Palms at Countryside. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, and click here to watch the latest news on your Smart TV.

Seven people were rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard on Saturday after their 39-foot vessel was disabled by a lightning strike 100 miles offshore of Clearwater, according to a news release.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — A Florida mom and her boyfriend have both been arrested after allegedly waiting a week to get treatment for her toddler’s serious injuries, police say. According to WTVT, Taylor told investigators that the toddler fell off the bed and then fell off of a toilet and hit her head on the tub. He also told them that when the girl was sitting on the floor, she fell face-first onto the floor. Gray didn’t take her daughter for treatment out of fear it would make her look like an abusive mother, according to WTVT. CPD said Taylor has been booked on recommended charges of aggravated child abuse and child neglect.

CLEARWATER, Florida — A man was arrested in Clearwater, Florida on Sunday after allegedly admitting to burying his father’s dog alive and laughing about it. Crevasse allegedly told them that he wrapped the dog in a wet blanket and then buried him. Crevasse told investigators that he buried the dog because it was old and believed it was already dying. The records also indicated that he laughed when he told the investigators about the incidentPolice say after his father confronted him about what he did to the dog, Crevasse allegedly attacked him. WFLA says Crevasse told investigators where he buried the dog and they were able to find him.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday announced he had approved $14 million in red tide research and mitigation efforts, earmarked for the 2022-23 state budget.

A 34-year-old man who pleaded guilty to killing a pregnant teenage Florida girl a decade ago faces a shorter prison sentence if her remains are found before he's sentenced.

Officials say a Florida woman was killed when she crashed into a police vehicle that was conducting a traffic stop.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — A Florida man is accused of stealing nearly $576,000 worth of cryptocurrency from a person while he was setting up a computer in the victim’s home, authorities said. >> Read more trending newsAaron Daniel Motta, 27, of Pinellas Park, was arrested Friday and charged with grand theft and offenses against computer users, according to Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office online booking records. The Clearwater Police Department said that Motta stole a Trezor hardware wallet from the victim’s home, according to WFLA-TV. The wallet allows users to store cryptocurrency offline, the Times reported. Motta then transferred cryptocurrency worth $575,910.61 at the time to multiple wallets that he controlled, according to the Times.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Police in Clearwater, Florida, have arrested a homeless man they say stole a family’s luggage and then wore their clothing. >> Read more trending newsPolice told WFLA that Mark Brienza found a luggage claim check at a restaurant, and brought it to the hotel it was from, where he exchanged it for the luggage. The victim then called the police after seeing Brienza near the hotel the next day wearing his clothes, WWSB reported. Police arrived and arrested Brienza. Brienza faces charges of grand theft and was placed in jail without bond.

CLEARWATER — A Coast Guard helicopter successfully evacuated a 7-year-old girl from a cruise ship 264 miles southwest of Clearwater on Sunday, the agency says. The girl and her father were flown to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg. Her condition was not released Monday. A crew member aboard the cruise ship Carnival Dream alerted the Coast Guard that a girl onboard was in ...

Officials say a 46-year-old woman has been arrested on animal cruelty charges after throwing a 3-year-old pug named Bucky off of a seventh-floor balcony Clearwater condominium during an argument with her ex-boyfriend.

A 46-year-old woman has been arrested on animal cruelty charges after throwing a 3-year-old pug named Bucky off of a seventh-floor balcony Clearwater condominium during an argument with her ex-boyfriend, authorities said. Eric Adeson told Clearwater police investigators the woman, who he had dated for several months, also threw his keys and cellphone over the balcony Sunday. The dog was found dead on the pavement below, police said.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — A Florida man is accused of persuading minors to allow him to smell and touch their feet -- and also to commit sexual acts -- by offering them vaping products and marijuana, authorities said. Deputies said the victims are all under the age of 16, the Tampa Bay Times reported. According to the news release, detectives began an investigation in April 2021 after learning of alleged inappropriate conduct between White and a female minor. Detectives said White asked for lewd acts in exchange for vaping devices. “White asked to smell and touch the victims’ feet in exchange for nicotine and marijuana products,” the sheriff’s office said in its news release.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Nicholas the rescued dolphin at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium is putting his best fin forward while predicting the winner this Super Bowl Sunday. During his sixth annual Super Bowl pick, Nicholas chose the Cincinnati Bengals to defeat the LA Rams. Officials said Billie is a rescue, like Nicholas, and is helping to raise awareness for adopting pets from shelters and rescue facilities. The Big Game pick was made by Nicholas while he was presented with a choice during his normal enrichment activities. He was orphaned and unable to learn necessary survival skills as a calf, therefore he became a permanent resident at Clearwater Marine Aquarium, officials said.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — A team of state wildlife officers and marine mammal vets were able to remove embedded fishing line from a 7-month-old bottlenose dolphin calf. The Clearwater Marine Aquarium said it was closely watching the mother and this calf since early December. READ: ‘Betty White Challenge’ raises $12.7M for animal shelters via Facebook, InstagramThey said they waited until Tuesday to help the calf because catch-and-release interventions are dangerous for both rescuers and the dolphin. Dolphin calf rescued from embedded fishing line in FloridaOfficials said every effort was made to remove the line from a boat; however, when those efforts failed and the calf’s condition got worse, they moved in to free the line. Anyone who sees an injured, entangled or dead dolphin is asked to call the Southeast Region Stranding Network hotline at 1-877-WHALE HELP (1-877-942-5343).

(Clearwater Marine Aquarium via AP) (Uncredited)CLEARWATER, Fla. — (AP) — The ashes of Winter the dolphin were returned to the sea on Thursday, about two months after the beloved marine mammal of movie fame died at a Florida aquarium. Clearwater Marine Aquarium staff members released a Himalayan sea salt urn containing Winter's ashes into the Gulf of Mexico from the back of a U.S. Coast Guard response boat. “Being able to return Winter to her natural home was the best feeling in the world,” Kelly Martin, the aquarium’s vice president of animal care, said in a statement. “Our goal at Clearwater Marine Aquarium is always to rehabilitate rescued marine life so they can return to the wild. Clearwater Marine Aquarium will continue to honor Winter’s legacy with an onsite memorial, virtual reality experiences, and an endowment to safeguard indefinite support of the aquarium.

The ashes of Winter the dolphin have been returned to the sea, about two months after the beloved marine mammal of movie star fame died at a Florida aquarium.

This jackpot comes just 18 days after she won $1,241,642 on Dragon Link, marking her second progressive jackpot over $1 million on the popular Aristocrat game. (Aristocrat Technologies Inc.)TAMPA, Fla. — Winning a $1 million jackpot on a slot machine seems like a once-in-a-lifetime kind of luck. A Clearwater woman, identified by casino officials only by her first name, Gloria, won a $1.2 million jackpot on the Dragon Link slot machine at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa on Dec. 22. Casino officials said that marked the third $1 million jackpot to hit on the Dragon Link slot game at a Seminole property in less than 60 days. READ: Florida Lottery celebrates 34 years of making dreams come trueSeminole Hard Rock Tampa paid out over $1.6 billion in jackpots to more than 56,000 individuals in 2021.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Two women were arrested and now face felony charges after police say they threw glitter at a man during an argument in Clearwater, Florida. The women are accused of throwing a container of glitter at the man, hitting him in the head and torso, according to the station. Police say Franks then jumped over the patio fence to throw more glitter at the man, while O’Donovan walked to the front door and was let in by Franks, allowing the glitter attack to continue inside the home, the Miami Herald reported. Police said when they arrived the women were gone, but they tracked down their car, which was reportedly filed with glitter, per the Miami Herald. Both women face charges of felony burglary with assault or battery, and Franks faces additional criminal mischief charges for allegedly kicking and breaking a window as she was leaving, WFLA reported.

A Florida man has been charged after authorities say they found an active explosive in his bag after he was spotted running away from a Jan. 6 anniversary rally.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — (AP) — Florida authorities said they found cocaine and methamphetamine wrapped around a man's penis during a traffic stop, but the man denied the drugs were his. Pinellas County sheriff's deputies said they stopped a vehicle driving without its lights on at 4 a.m. last Saturday. Authorities said they found a gun under the passenger’s seat while searching the car and discovered the drugs while searching the passenger. The man said the drugs were not his, but didn't say who the drugs belonged to, according to the arrest report. For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, WFLA-TV.

Florida authorities said they found cocaine and methamphetamine wrapped around a man's penis during a traffic stop.

A Clearwater man claims that drugs deputies found wrapped around his penis did not belong to him. 34-year-old Patrick Florence was riding in a car...

Officials say a construction worker is feared dead after a portion of a concrete stairwell in a Florida parking garage collapsed on him.

Police in Florida have arrested a 29-year-old man on manslaughter charges in connection to the death of an older man whose body was found floating offshore earlier this month in the Gulf of Mexico.

On the 16th anniversary of her rescue, Clearwater Marine Aquarium proudly announced Friday its plans to honor Winter the Dolphin’s long legacy.

Imagine a snake head popping out of the cushions.

Surprise houseguest A 5-foot-long snake was removed from a couch by police in Clearwater, Florida, on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2021. (Clearwater Police Department)CLEARWATER, Fla. — Police in Florida removed an unwelcome houssssssssse guessssssssssst from a Clearwater man’s home on Saturday, and there was some heavy lifting involved. >> Read more trending newsAccording to a post on the Clearwater Police Department’s official Facebook page, officers responded to the Marilyn Pines condominiums after a man reported that a snake was nesting in his couch. The snake was then taken to a local pet store, and officers returned the man’s couch to his residence, WFLA reported. The man had purchased the couch days earlier, according to the TV station.

We know Florida is strange and so was this call to police for help.

Police say a 3-year-old Florida boy is recovering after accidentally shooting himself in the shoulder with a gun.

Clearwater police officers responded to a call Saturday at the Marilyn Pines condominiums after a man reported that a snake was nesting in his couch, according to a Facebook post by the Clearwater Police Department. Officers carried the couch outside and extracted a red-tailed boa, according to the post. Police said the snake was about 5 feet long. Red-tailed boas are “extremely common in the ...

Police say serial Florida bank robber once dubbed the “I-4 bandit” has been arrested for a new holdup.

Daniel Patregnani A Clearwater man is in the Brevard County jail after deputies said he hit a woman he was dating with his truck before choking and beating her on the side of the road. (WFTV.com News Staff)BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A Clearwater man is in the Brevard County jail after deputies said he hit a Brevard County woman he was dating with his truck before choking and beating her on the side of the road. Deputies said the woman is now in the hospital with serious injuries, and the man, identified as Daniel Patregnani, is facing a charge of attempted murder. READ: Woman fatally struck in hit-and-run on I-95, troopers sayThe sheriff’s office said that Patregani was completely undressed when he exited his vehicle and began choking and beating the woman. He said they were able to get Patregnani off the woman with the help of the Good Samaritans.

A Clearwater man was arrested Thursday after intentionally running over and seriously injuring a woman, according to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.

Several events are planned this weekend in remembrance of Winter, the marine mammal star of the “Dolphin Tale” movies who died at age 16.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Winter, the beloved prosthetic-tailed dolphin who starred in 2011′s “Dolphin Tale” movie, died from twisted intestines, according to a preliminary necropsy report. >> Read more trending newsThe bottlenose dolphin died Thursday night at an aquarium in Clearwater, Florida. Officials at Clearwater Marine Aquarium said the cause of death was intestinal torsion, according to a news release. >> Winter the dolphin, star of ‘Dolphin Tale,’ dies at Florida aquariumOn Nov. 1, staff members at the aquarium first noticed that the 16-year-old dolphin “wasn’t acting like her normal self” and appeared to be uninterested in eating. Winter also appeared in 2014′s “Dolphin Tale 2,” which focused on Hope, another dolphin who has been at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium since she was rescued in 2010.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — (AP) — Florida’s most famous dolphin Winter, beloved by fans around the world and star of the movie “Dolphin Tale,” died of twisted intestines, according to necropsy results released by the aquarium Saturday. But the prosthetic tail and the dolphin’s miraculous recovery offered hopes to many with illnesses and disabilities. The staff said they worked around the clock in recent days to try to save 16-year-old Winter and minimize her pain. The prosthetic tail then slid snugly over the sleeve. Fans — including autistic children and soldiers with missing limbs — made pilgrimages to visit Winter, star of the 2011 film “Dolphin Tale,” which chronicled her recovery.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — (AP) — Florida's most famous dolphin Winter, beloved by fans around the world and star of the movie “Dolphin Tale,” died of twisted intestines, according to necropsy results released by the aquarium Saturday. But the prosthetic tale and the dolphin's miraculous recovery offered hopes to many with illnesses and disabilities. Fans — including autistic children and soldiers with missing limbs — made pilgrimages to visit Winter, star of the 2011 film “Dolphin Tale," which chronicled its recovery. But attaching the tail without damaging Winter’s skin was problematic because its skin is so thin it can be cut with a fingernail. The prosthetic tail then slid snugly over the sleeve.

Florida’s most famous dolphin Winter died of twisted intestines.

Amy Carmichael lives more than 4,000 miles from the Florida aquarium that housed Winter, the “Dolphin Tale” movie star with a prosthetic tail who died this week at age 16.

Famous Dolphin FILE - Clearwater Marine Aquarium senior marine mammal trainer Abby Stone kisses Winter the dolphin during a show Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2011, in Clearwater, Fla. Winter starred in the "Dolphin Tale" movies has died at a Florida aquarium despite life-saving efforts by animal care experts. The Clearwater Marine Aquarium said the 16-year-old female bottlenose dolphin died Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, while being treated for a gastrointestinal abnormality. Those trips inspired people from autistic children to soldiers with missing limbs before Winter died Thursday of a gastrointestinal ailment, saddening fans around the world. Fifteen-year-old Angelina Bongiovanni of Washington Township, New Jersey, fell in love with Winter the first time she saw “Dolphin Tale,” her mother said. The aquarium's president, James Powell, said no other animals at the aquarium were ill including Hope, another rescued dolphin who appeared with Winter in the “Dolphin Tale 2” sequel.

The prosthetic-tailed dolphin's real-life story of rehabilitation became an inspiration for disabled people around the world. It died of intestinal issues.

The prosthetic-tailed dolphin's real-life story of rehabilitation became an inspiration for disabled people around the world. It died of intestinal issues.

Famous Dolphin-Infection Winter the dolphin plays in the water at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Sunday, June 17, 2018, in Clearwater, Fla. The Florida aquarium will temporarily close to treat its resident prosthetic-tailed dolphin that starred in the “Dolphin Tale” movies. (Jim Damaske/Tampa Bay Times via AP, file) (Jim Damaske)CLEARWATER, Fla. — (AP) — A prosthetic-tailed dolphin named Winter that starred in the “Dolphin Tale” movies died Thursday evening at a Florida aquarium despite life-saving efforts to treat a gastrointestinal abnormality, aquarium officials said. A sequel, “Dolphin Tale 2,” was released three years later starring Winter and Hope, another rescued dolphin cared for by the Clearwater aquarium. Winter and Hope became the most famous residents of the Clearwater aquarium, which also operates sea turtle and manatee rescue programs.

Famous Dolphin-Infection Winter the dolphin plays in the water at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Sunday, June 17, 2018, in Clearwater, Fla. The Florida aquarium will temporarily close to treat its resident prosthetic-tailed dolphin that starred in the “Dolphin Tale” movies. (Jim Damaske/Tampa Bay Times via AP, file) (Jim Damaske)CLEARWATER, Fla. — (AP) — A prosthetic-tailed dolphin named Winter that starred in the “Dolphin Tale" movies died Thursday evening at a Florida aquarium despite life-saving efforts to treat a gastrointestinal abnormality, aquarium officials said. A sequel, “Dolphin Tale 2,″ was released three years later starring Winter and Hope, another rescued dolphin cared for by the Clearwater aquarium. Winter and Hope became the most famous residents of the Clearwater aquarium, which also operates sea turtle and manatee rescue programs.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Winter, the prosthetic-tailed dolphin at the center of 2011′s “Dolphin Tale,” died late Thursday night, Clearwater Aquarium announced. “The CMA family is devastated.”READ: Winter the dolphin, star of ‘Dolphin Tale,’ critically ill at Florida aquariumWith heavy hearts, CMA announced tonight that Winter the Dolphin died at approximately 8 p.m. as animal care experts from around the country worked to treat her gastrointestinal abnormality. READ: NASA, SpaceX’s Crew-3 successfully docks at International Space StationWinter had been at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium since 2005, after she became entangled in a crab trapline and lost her tail. The movie was filmed at Clearwater Marine Aquarium, with Winter starring as herself. Winter also appeared in 2014′s “Dolphin Tale 2,” which focused on Hope, another dolphin who has been at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium since she was rescued in 2010.

>> Read more trending newsOfficials with the Clearwater Marine Aquarium said Wednesday that tests showed that Winter’s “intestinal abnormalities have intensified” despite treatment from the aquarium’s animal care experts. Winter has been at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium since 2005, after she became entangled in a crab trapline and lost her tail. “During this time, she has faced many health challenges due to her injury,” aquarium officials said in a statement. The movie was filmed at Clearwater Marine Aquarium, with Winter starring as herself. Winter also appeared in 2014′s “Dolphin Tale 2,” which focused on Hope, another dolphin who has been at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium since she was rescued in 2010.

Winter, the prosthetic-tailed dolphin that starred in the “Dolphin Tale” movies, died during treatment on Thursday, according to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — (AP) — The prosthetic-tailed dolphin that starred in the “Dolphin Tale" movies may be fighting a gastrointestinal infection, officials said. The Clearwater Marine Aquarium said in a news release on Sunday that staff members noticed on Nov. 1 that Winter was not eating and was acting abnormally. "Dolphin Tale," which was released in 2011, chronicled Winter's recovery and her journey using a prosthetic tail. Three years later, "Dolphin Tale 2″ also starred Hope, another rescued Dolphin cared for by the Clearwater aquarium. Aquarium officials said no other animals or marine life at the facility have shown signs of illness.

Winter the dolphin is currently battling a possible gastrointestinal infection.

Officials say the prosthetic-tailed dolphin that starred in the "Dolphin Tale" movies may be fighting a gastrointestinal infection.

Attempted kidnapping suspect arrested Police in Clearwater, Florida, arrested Jacob Holman, 26, on charges of attempted kidnapping and possession of child pornography on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021. (Clearwater Police Department)CLEARWATER, Fla. — Authorities arrested a 26-year-old man Thursday on suspicion of plotting to kidnap a young girl and a possession of child pornography charge, according to police. Jacob Holman, 26, was planning to kidnap a young girl and was gathering items to carry out his plot -- duct tape, shovel, gloves. He also had a list that included "snatch up lil girl" and "throw in trunk." Police said they found a video of a girl who appeared to be about 5 years old on Holman’s phone.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the Florida legislature would return for a special session to combat vaccine mandates and protect jobs as the federal government prepares to release an executive order requiring vaccinations.

The Orange County battalion chief, who was fired earlier this week after failing to follow a direct order over a COVID-19 vaccine mandate, joined Gov. Ron DeSantis Thursday morning speaking out against mandates.

Ron DeSantis spoke out about COVID-19 vaccine mandates during a news conference on Thursday. DeSantis said that when COVID-19 shots became available, he wanted everyone to have a chance to get them, but chose not to mandate them. READ: Orange County battalion chief fired for failing to enforce vaccine mandateDeSantis said he will be pursuing a number of protections for employees in Florida. Orange County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Stephen Davis spoke during the news conference. Attorney General Ashley Moody said she and DeSantis will push back against the COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to make an announcement in Clearwater on Thursday morning. The governor will speak at 8:45 a.m. at the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office hangar. The governor’s office did not say what the announcement will be about. READ: DeSantis pushes back against federal effort to combat threats against school officials, staffChannel 9 will livestream the news conference when it starts.

Linsie Kirsh, a single mom from Clearwater, is the latest victim of a high-tech bank switch that diverted $1,200 in unemployment benefits to a different bank account with the help of the victim’s stolen identity.

A 70-year-old man has been accused of slamming a child to the ground at a playground after yelling that kids were making too much noise.

A sheriff’s deputy fatally shot a man who authorities said forced his way into the home of a former girlfriend and pointed a gun at a man in the house.

A security camera at a Florida aquarium recorded a group of women changing clothes, and top executives watched the video.

Police say a passenger in a vehicle that was fleeing a traffic stop was killed when the driver made a U-turn into oncoming traffic and then crashed into a building.

Travolta home A Florida home with ties to actor John Travolta was sold by a trust headed by his sister, Ellen Bannon, right, late last month. ( Gisela Schober/Getty Images)CLEARWATER, Fla. — A home in west-central Florida with ties to actor John Travolta has sold for $4 million, according to property records. >> Read more trending newsThe waterfront mansion, located in Clearwater, was built in 1988 and has 4,346 square feet of living space, according to Pinellas County online property records. The trust run by Bannon bought the property from Silke Peens, according to online property records. The trust sold the home to Edward Fay, the newspaper reported.

Clearwater police have arrested a 23-year-old man on a charge that he raped a 14-year-old girl under Pier 60 in Clearwater Beach earlier this year. Timon Brandon Fonfara was arrested early Saturday and booked at the Pinellas County jail on a charge of sexual battery. He also was arrested on a charge of illegal possession of THC oil. Bail for both charges was set at $52,000, court records show, ...

Authorities say a Florida man crashed a stolen car through an airport fence and got into a Coast Guard airplane’s cockpit before he was arrested.

A Florida man crashed a stolen car through an airport fence and got into a Coast Guard airplane's cockpit before he was arrested, investigators said Saturday. The suspect was identified by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office as 36-year-old Herrera Hamilton Moreno, who was jailed Saturday with bond set at $24,150. According to the sheriff's department, deputies at St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport began pursuing a vehicle driving near parked commercial airliners.

A beautiful beach day in Florida can quickly go south when storms strike out of nowhere, which is exactly what happened Wednesday in Clearwater.

Mermaids are making a splash at Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

Police say a Florida man who was driving a motorcycle with his young stepdaughter in his lap is facing several charges.

CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Clearwater Marine Aquarium has opened its newest educational exhibit, Whales: Living With Giants. According to the aquarium’s website, guests will come head-to-head with whales through educational multi-media exhibits, an undersea virtual reality experience, walk-through life-size whale gallery and an interactive kid’s zone. Virtual Reality Dive at Whales: Living with Giants exhibit (Clearwater Marine Aquarium)The virtual reality experience, which requires an additional ticket add-on, was created by an Emmy Award-winning documentary team. The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is a non-profit organization that has a mission of preserving the environment while inspiring others through leadership in the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of marine life; environmental education; research; and conservation. Whales: Living with Giants will be open through Aug. 31.

Florida spring breakers have gone viral in a video after helping a handcuffed man escape a Clearwater police cruiser. The video shows a crowd of spring breakers surrounding a police cruiser on the beach. Asad has been charged with aiding prisoner escape and resisting arrest without violence. Adam Asad, 18, of Oldsmar is the suspect who helped a handcuffed prisoner to escape on the beach. He faces two charges -- aiding prisoner escape and resisting arrest without violence.

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Clearwater Marine Aquarium is about to celebrate the rescue anniversaries of some of its most famous dolphins, Winter and Hope. [TRENDING: This woman received the first COVID-19 vaccine | Judge scolds theme park trespasser | Chuck Yeager dies at 97]To celebrate both rescue anniversaries, the aquarium is hosting an event called Rescue Days. Talk to members of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium rescue team and check out one of our rescue vehicles from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Foster families can enjoy a socially distanced behind-the-scenes tour prior to the aquarium opening to guests. Meet with dogs from the SPCA Tampa Bay from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12. (Clearwater Marine Aquarium)Click here to learn about the event and to learn more about the aquariums health and safety guidelines that are in place.

Florida will receive 400,000 rapid-test kits a week that can be used to detect COVID-19 infections at schools, senior centers and long-term care facilities, Gov. Molecular tests, such as RT-PCR tests, detect the virus' genetic material but can take from a day to a week to get the results. Antigen tests detect specific proteins on the surface of the virus and come back within 15 minutes. Nevertheless, DeSantis said Tuesday that he may use some of the rapid test kits coming to Florida to supplant PCR testing that the state is conducting, saying it would reduce costs by 75%. In all, DeSantis said Florida would receive 6.4 million rapid test kits under the federal government’s plan to provide more than 150 million kits across the nation.

CLEARWATER, Fla. Now that Florida is in the cone of uncertainty for a disturbance in the Caribbean thats predicted to become Tropical Storm Isaias, Gov. [READ: Heres how the coronavirus pandemic will impact hurricane season in Florida | COVID or no COVID, some Central Florida residents will need to evacuate if hurricane comes]We are monitoring (Potential) Tropical Cyclone Nine very closely. It looks like were not going to know the storms exact strength and trajectory for a couple more days, DeSantis said. Because social distancing guidelines are in place, local leaders have been forced to reevaluate how they prepare for hurricanes and other potential storms. [RELATED: Florida reports more than 200 COVID-19 deaths, setting new single-day record | What is a potential tropical cyclone?]

CLEARWATER, Fla. Parents across Florida have had to decide whether to keep their students home or to send them back to schools in August amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is not one of those parents because his children are too young, he said he would send them for in-person learning. The governor and his wife First Lady Casey DeSantis have three young children, Madison, 4, Mason, 2, and Mamie, who is about 5 months old. I would have no way of being able to definitively say that nobody in, in any child care setting, a caregiver, has ever come down with it. If theres an outbreak in Pasco County, you know, is the health department tying that to a child care or not?

CLEARWATER, Fla. The U.S. Coast Guard rescued three people from Tennessee after their boat capsized Wednesday some 15 miles off Florida's Gulf Coast. The agency said in a news release that the boaters called at 2:09 p.m., saying their flat bottom fishing boat was taking on water and they needed assistance. A Jayhawk helicopter crew located the men wearing life jackets and clinging to the capsized boat. After everything went wrong, these men did everything right, said Lt. Tim Keily, the Air Station Clearwater helicopter co-pilot. They immediately called for help, wore their life jackets and stayed with their boat.

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Two people were injured, one critically, from a lightning strike Sunday on Clearwater Beach, officials said. Officials received a call around 2:15 p.m. as a line of storms moved onshore from the Gulf of Mexico, officials said. Gacek Arkadiusz, 37, of Des Plaines, Illinois, was unconscious and not breathing when police arrived at the scene around 2:15 p.m., officials said. Arkadiusz was taken to a hospital in critical condition where he remains as of Monday, Clearwater police said. Sav Keomany, 43, of Pickerington, Ohio, who was a few feet away, was taken to the hospital in stable condition.