The Department of Defense identified the soldier killed on Sunday in northern Iraq during a "controlled detonation" of a downed Iranian attack drone.

The U.S. Defense Department said 30-year-old Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton of Fayetteville, North Carolina, was killed in action on July 19 at the Erbil Air Base in Iraq.

The incident is under investigation, according to the department.

Read the full U.S. Defense Department statement here.

The United States and Iran are in their 10th consecutive day of fighting, with no clear path to peace in sight.

Iran aired footage Tuesday claiming to show missile launches at targets in the region as the U.S. conducted another round of airstrikes inside Iran. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has largely stalled a waterway that once carried a fifth of the world's oil and gas.

Iran's interior minister traveled to Pakistan Tuesday for talks, but a resolution remains unclear.

President Donald Trump had been expected to attend a dignified transfer service Tuesday night at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. The White House has since announced that event will be moved to another date, likely later this week.

RELATED STORY | State Department issues warning for Americans traveling or living abroad as Iran conflict escalates

On social media, Trump outlined directives he has issued to military leadership.

"Every time Iran kills an American Soldier, they will pay for that killing many times over!" Trump said. "This directive has been passed on to Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Daniel Caine, and every Leader in the Military."

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is expected on Capitol Hill Tuesday, where lawmakers are seeking answers about the administration's plan for the conflict. Hegseth's last formal press briefing at the Pentagon was in early May.

Questions are also mounting over whether the Pentagon has been accurately and timely reporting the number of troops injured in the Middle East. Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell provided some clarity, saying nearly 100 service members sustained some degree of injury since July 7.

RELATED STORY | Why has the US restarted strikes against Iran now?

Parnell said 96% have returned to duty, with the vast majority experiencing minor concussions. The total figure of roughly 100 injured service members drew significant attention given the short timeframe involved.

The House is also beginning the process of potentially providing the Pentagon tens of billions of additional dollars to fund and offset the cost of the conflict.

Tampa International Airport will privatize most Transportation Security Administration operations, just months after President Donald Trump unveiled a 2027 budget proposal that called for handing more airport security over to private companies.

In a statement to Tampa Bay 28 TPA said it opted in to the program:

"TPA has opted in to the TSA Gold+ program, which is the TSAs new public-private partnership screening program. The TSA will continue to have regulatory oversight of TPAs screening operations, just as it does now, but with a private workforce instead of a federal workforce conducting screening.

TPAs decision to join TSA Gold+ reflects the Airports strong commitment to modernization, innovation, and operational resilience in aviation security. The change to privatization not only reduces disruption risks caused by lapses in federal appropriations or government shutdowns but also allows greater flexibility in exploring new screening checkpoint infrastructure and technology to enhance the customer experience."

The news was first reported by aviation newsletter Gate Access.

The change is targeted for May 31, 2027, a TSA employee in Tampa said they were told during a town hall Monday led by Adam Stahl, acting TSA deputy administrator. Many now face the difficult choice of applying to work at the private contractor, finding other government jobs, transferring to another airport, resigning or taking retirement earlier than they might have planned.

Some employees were sad, some were crying and others were visibly upset, the staffer said, noting that workers were told in May that the airport had put in an application for the TSA Gold+ program. Others put in their retirement paperwork right away.

TSA officers in Tampa will get the first right of refusal for jobs when a private security vendor is selected, the employee was told.

The latest White House budget proposal, released in April, would require small airports to enroll in TSAs Screening Partnership Program, under which TSA pays for private screeners. The administration says the move would save $52 million and begin reform of a troubled Federal agency.

The Gold+ program expands upon an existing program that has been used by a handful of airports featuring privatized screening by also allowing them to manage the screening technology.

There are 20 airports in the United States that have private companies operating the security checkpoints supervised by the TSA under the Screening Partnership Program. San Francisco International, Kansas City International, Orlando Sanford and 17 smaller airports participate.

Privatizing TSA airport screening became a talking point among lawmakers and the president over the last year after government shutdowns disrupted air travel. When TSA employees werent being paid some didnt come to work, leaving some travelers stuck in hours-long lines at airports.

Privatization has been a major concern for the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents about 47,000 TSA officers nationwide. The union expected the White House would propose such a move, which was outlined in Project 2025, the Heritage Foundations conservative blueprint for the second Trump term, an AFGE spokesperson told CNN earlier this year.

AFGE union leaders said in a March news conference that the administration was trying to use the chaos that erupted at airports during the shutdown to show that TSA is in mission failure.

Its very important that people understand what privatization is, Johnny Jones, secretary treasurer for AFGE TSA Council 100, said at the news conference. It has nothing to do with your security or your safety. It has everything to do with somebody making a profit.

CNN has reached out to TSA for more information.

A closely watched legal battle over Floridas race for governor begins Tuesday morning in Tallahassee, where a Leon County judge will hear arguments over whether Republican candidate and financier James Fishback is constitutionally eligible to serve as governor.

The expedited hearing, expected to last two days, stems from a lawsuit filed by Lt. Gov. Jay Collins one of Fishbacks opponents in the Aug. 18 Republican primary challenging whether Fishback satisfies the Florida Constitutions requirement that governors have resided in the state for the seven years preceding the election.

Because vote-by-mail ballots have already been sent to voters, the outcome carries immediate consequences. Collins is asking the court to rule Fishback ineligible before the election, arguing any votes cast for him should not be counted if he is found constitutionally barred from holding office.

Collins lawsuit alleges Fishback remained a legal resident of Washington, D.C., during part of the seven-year qualifying period.

The complaint points to Fishbacks Washington voter registration, a home purchase in the District, homestead tax records and other public documents that Collins argues establish D.C. not Florida as Fishbacks legal domicile during the relevant period. Collins also contends Fishback falsely certified his eligibility when filing to run for governor.

Fishback has denied those allegations, maintaining Florida has long been his true domicile despite ties to Washington. His witness list includes family members, friends, business associates and other individuals expected to testify about where he intended to make his permanent home.

Collins, meanwhile, plans to present witnesses familiar with Fishbacks residency history, along with a forensic document examiner expected to testify about records and signatures introduced in the case.

The case comes as both Collins and Fishback trail Republican frontrunner Byron Donalds in public polling.

A Cygnal survey released Monday found Donalds leading the GOP primary with 43% support among likely Republican voters. Fishback was second at 12%, Collins followed closely at 11%, while former House Speaker Paul Renner registered 2%. Nearly one-third of Republican voters 31% remained undecided, underscoring that the race behind Donalds remains fluid. The poll surveyed 500 likely Republican primary voters July 12-13 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.38 percentage points.

Even if Fishback were removed from contention, the poll suggests the Republican primary remains Donalds race to lose, though the legal challenge could reshape the contest for second place and affect how undecided voters break during the campaigns final month.

The hearing begins at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in Leon County Circuit Court and is expected to continue Wednesday if necessary.

At issue is not whether Fishback can campaign, but whether he met the constitutional qualifications to appear on the ballot in the first place. If the court sides with Collins, it could order that votes cast for Fishback not be counted despite ballots already being in voters hands.

Arizona Republicans are choosing nominees Tuesday to challenge Democrats who hold top offices as the GOP searches for a path back to power in a battleground state it used to dominate.

U.S. Reps. Andy Biggs and David Schweikert, who represent neighboring districts in metro Phoenix, offer a clash of styles in the race to take on Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, considered the most endangered Democratic governor in the country this election cycle.

With President Donald Trump's endorsement and support from the grassroots turnout machine of the conservative group Turning Point Action, Biggs says he can unite the party going into a general election.

Schweikert says his low key, pro-business, fiscal conservatism can win back voters turned off by a string of Trump loyalists like Kari Lake, the Republican nominee for governor four years ago.

Both parties have hotly contested primaries to replace Schweikert in the highly competitive 1st Congressional District.

RELATED STORY | Lindsey Grahams sister Darlene encouraged by Trump to seek full Senate term

Republicans also are picking nominees for secretary of state and attorney general, key posts with power over elections in a state that was pivotal for Trump's efforts to overturn his loss in 2020.

Biggs and Schweikert responded differently to Trump's GOP takeover

Biggs built a national profile as chair of the House Freedom Caucus from 2019 to 2022 and as a staunch defender of Trump. He assisted the presidents attempt to block the certification of his loss in the 2020 election, voting against accepting Electoral College votes from Arizona and other battleground states after the Jan. 6 riot.

He has always represented safe Republican seats and is a veteran of factional brawls within the GOP. Before going to Congress, he nearly lost his post as state Senate president during a confrontation with then-Gov. Jan Brewer, also a Republican, over her push to expand Medicaid.

Schweikert has walked a tightrope with Trump, carefully keeping his distance without antagonizing him. That has helped him win a string of tough races in a competitive House district a track record he says will help him win over swing voters and beat Hobbs but has left him isolated from Trump's Make America Great Again base.

Democrats have focused their attacks on Biggs, whom they plan to portray as an extremist focused on helping Trump and not Arizonans.

Primaries will set the field for a top House battleground

Schweikerts 1st District is a top battleground in the fight for a congressional majority. Anchored in Scottsdale, it is home to many of the white, highly educated and affluent voters who have soured on the GOP under Trump.

RELATED STORY | Judge blocks Trump order creating federal voter list, limiting mail-in ballots

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee controversially threw its support behind Marlene Galn-Woods, a former television news anchor who used to be a Republican. Her late husband, Grant Woods, was the Republican attorney general in the 1990s and later became a vocal Trump critic.

Galn-Woods chief opponent, Amish Shah, is an emergency medicine doctor and former state legislator who was the nominee in 2024 but lost narrowly to Schweikert.

On the Republican side, former Arizona Cardinals kicker Jay Feeley has Trumps endorsement. But he has been dogged by criticism for living outside the district he resides in Biggs district and originally was running there until Trump endorsed a rival in that contest.

Feeley faces Joseph Chaplik, a former state legislator popular with many of the GOPs grassroots activists, and businessperson John Trobough.

In Tucson, retired Marine drill instructor JoAnna Mendoza is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination to challenge second-term Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani, who also has no primary opponent. The seat is perennially competitive in general elections and is a top pickup target for Democrats in November.

Meanwhile, the GOP primary for the safe Republican seat Biggs is vacating has turned salacious: Former Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, who is endorsed by Trump, came under scrutiny for alleged sexual misconduct and abuse of power.

The county attorney cleared him of criminal wrongdoing, and Trump reiterated his endorsement this month. Lamb dismissed the allegations as slander and lies.

He faces Daniel Keenan, who owns a construction company.

As she fills up bins and baskets in her cozy St. Pete produce market with 57 kinds of delicious fruits and vegetables, Kelli Casto is wearing a shiny blue dress.

She looks not unlike a blonde Marvel Avenger.

So you ask her: What would your comic-book character be called?

"I'm the Harvest Hero," she says, laughing.

Kelli's unique store (527 49th St S, St. Pete) is part of her ongoing Produce PAC mission: feed a community in more ways than one.

In the wee small hours of the morning, Kelli works with 7 different area farms to gather produce to fill up her shop and send out food via delivery.

She keeps her fruit and veggie prices lower than those found in grocery stores.

"Everyone, no matter who you are, should be able to afford fresh, healthy produce," she says.

She also uses her fresh bounty to hand-make a variety of cold-pressed juices, a popular new item that helps people replace sugary drinks and sodas.

"Oh, I'm the Juice Queen," she says, coming up with another superhero name.

But supporting farmers and local residents is just the start of her mission.

Each week, Kelli takes part of the proceeds and provides free produce to dozens of area seniors in need, making sure they get healthy food, too.

"I love our seniors," she says. "All that wisdom. Sometimes our community forgets about them."

For more on Produce PAC, go here.

For more Sean Daly stories, go here.

Good morning from the Tampa Bay 28 News team.

Today is Tuesday, and after many days of storms, it looks like the showers are starting to taper off as Bertha moves away from us. Meteorologist Ally Blake says skies are trending drier as we make our way through the week, and while we'll probably still see some scattered July storms after the tropical storm passes, they'll be a lot less widespread.

Good Morning Tampa Bay is streaming NOW through 10 a.m. Watch for free on your favorite mobile and streaming TV platforms.

Mix of sun and clouds today. Meteorologist Ally Blake says showers are possible before noon west of I-75 as Bertha moves away from us.

Watch the One Minute Weather Forecast with Meteorologist Ally Blake:

New Experian data shows personal loans are becoming more common, with experts saying they can help consolidate debt but should be used carefully. Tampa Bay 28 Reporter Susan El Khoury advises comparing interest rates, borrowing only for necessary expenses, and having a repayment plan before taking out a personal loan.

Affordable St. Pete produce market keeps prices down and boosts the community. Tampa Bay 28's Sean Daly learned more about Kelli Casto's Produce PAC, which supports area farmers and helps seniors in need.

Are you still waiting for a friend to pay for their share of a girls' weekend or boys' golf outing? That feeling of frustration is more familiar than you might think. 

From airfare to bar tabs, someone usually ends up fronting the money for group trips or other shared expenses. The problem? Trying to get friends to actually pay you back. 

RELATED STORY | Flight canceled? Here's what you're owed and what you might still have to pay

A new Zelle report found that 76% of Gen Z consumers who covered a group expense were never fully repaid. Nearly half, 47%, say they've gone into debt because of it. 

"You're waiting for that money back -- that then delays your own financial responsibilities and goals, like paying your bills for instance," said Dr. Traci Williams, a board-certified psychologist and certified financial therapist.

Hurting finances and friendships

Williams explained that delayed payments don't just hurt your bank account. They can also damage relationships. 

"If you're not repaid, you can then develop feelings towards your friends, like resentment or anger, and that can impact the relationship," Williams said. 

Ways to avoid unpaid IOUs

Before volunteering to cover a group expense, Williams said it's important to set expectations up front. Make sure everyone in the group is aware of how much they owe, how to send payment, and the payment deadline. 

"If you're clear about the deadlines that you're expecting as well as how much each person is responsible for and you get a verbal agreement from everybody, I think that can make it a little smoother," Williams said. 

If a friend or family member still owes you money, be direct about why repayment matters and set a deadline. 

"Set a date versus leaving it open-ended," Williams added. "That may be the end of the week. And then you can explain why it's really important to you." 

RELATED STORY | Air travel is becoming more luxurious for some, more miserable for others

On the flip side, Williams pointed out it's important to know what you can realistically afford before agreeing to pay someone back. 

"Stop and think first about the true cost of attending something, even though you really want to go," she said. 

Digital payment apps like Zelle and Venmo can make splitting costs easier, as long as everyone follows through. 

Zelle also found that about 20% of young people have canceled plans, or even muted and ignored group chats, to avoid paying someone back. 

A Hillsborough County land use hearing focused Monday on ex parte communications between the Pebble Creek Golf Course owner and county commissioners, as the nearly three-year rezoning dispute continues.

The golf course owner apologized for bringing residents back to another public hearing.

"The land owner could not be here tonight but he did ask me to place into the record his apology in the form of a letter for causing this inconvenience of coming back here today," Jacob Cremer, an attorney for developer GL Homes, said.

WATCH: Pebble Creek rezoning case returns to public hearing over ex parte email concerns

GL Homes first proposed rezoning the Pebble Creek Golf Course for housing in 2023. County commissioners denied the request, but the case went through the courts before being sent back for reconsideration.

Residents say they are frustrated the process is still dragging on.

"It has been 3 years, so it's upsetting in that sense," Emma Szymborski, a Pebble Creek resident, said.

Some residents urged the hearing officer to recommend denying the application, arguing ex-parte communications compromised the fairness of the process.

"I'm asking the board to recommend denial for this application based on the presumption of prejudice arising from ex-parte communications with local public officials, lack of disclosure and improper influence," Szymborski said during public comment.

"What we really want to get across is having fair due process," Szymborski said.

The hearing stems from a June decision by Hillsborough County commissioners to send the case back for further review after emails between the golf course owner and a county commissioner raised legal concerns. County staff reviewed those emails, and through a public records request, I obtained them as well.

The specific phrase at the center of the hearing reads: "I believe the GL Project offers the best solution for residents."

"The limited portion of the email communication being addressed today references what may be the best solution for the community I respectfully disagree," Leslie Green said during public comment.

"It's unfair for one side to be able to talk to a commissioner at this time. We are not given that same opportunity," Green, founder of Save Pebble Creek, said.

Because Monday's hearing was limited to that email exchange, residents like Green said broader concerns including traffic, environmental impacts and contaminated soil were not allowed to be part of the discussion.

"It's horrible that this is a remand only for a couple of lines of that email one thing is there's a lot of things that are not resolved," Green said.

The GL Homes attorney declined to comment after the hearing.

The land use hearing officer has 15 business days to decide whether to recommend the issue move forward to the board of county commissioners. If she does, the next hearing is scheduled for Sep. 22, where residents will be able to participate in public comment before county commissioners are expected to make a decision.

Safety Harbor City Park will stay lit this season after the City Commission voted Monday to approve up to $50,000 to replace light bulbs on the rest of the fields.

City Hall was packed with Little League members as Commissioners approved the re-lamping measure, ensuring kids can play ball this summer.

"The best thing for right now is for us to get the lights fixed for the kids," Coach Sean Hackett said.

WATCH: Safety Harbor City Commission approves $50,000 lighting replacement to keep park open at night

Parent Cristina Radford said she wants to see the kids back on the field.

"So they can get out there and play with their friends and make new friends and learn life lessons and stay off those tablets," Radford said.

But City leaders and staff made clear the $50,000 fix is only a short-term solution. Manufacturers are set to stop making the bulbs in a couple of years, and a full overhaul of the entire lighting system would cost nearly $1 million.

Little League members say they are still not in the clear long term.

Some Commissioners wanted to begin exploring options to start the ball rolling on the overhaul. Commissioner Kevin Shanks called the program a priority.

"Regardless of the [property tax] amendment whether it passes or not I think it's valuable enough program that we need to support it," Shanks said.

Other Commissioners were hesitant to commit to any funding moves until voters weigh in this fall on potential property tax reform.

"I think with what cities throughout the state are being faced with, there's a lot of things to get done in the city, it's just one big moving target," Commissioner Andy Steingold said.

A multi-vehicle crash shut down three southbound lanes of Interstate 75 in Manatee County on Monday night, causing traffic delays near State Road 64 in the Bradenton area.

The Florida Department of Transportation said all lanes have since reopened.

A dispute over a tobacco purchase escalated into an alleged battery and retail theft in Davenport after a group left a store with stolen merchandise, according to investigators.

The Polk County Sheriffs Office (PCSO) said the incident happened around 2 p.m. Sunday, July 19.

Deputies said a man attempted to buy tobacco products but was refused the sale after he could not provide identification. Investigators said the man became upset, and the people with him joined in the disturbance.

PCSO said a woman in the group spat in the face of a store employee during the confrontation.

As the group left the store, deputies said they stole multiple items before driving away in a white Chevrolet SUV.

The Polk County Sheriffs Office is asking anyone with information to contact Detective Hector Melendez at 863-236-3900 or email HMelendez@polksheriff.org.

Florida families are losing hundreds of dollars in SNAP benefits to fraud, with multiple victims in the Tampa Bay area saying unauthorized charges on their accounts are being traced to the same California address and the state is offering no way to get that money back.

Cheyenne Smith, a stay-at-home mother of four, whose husband works as a truck driver, said she first noticed something was wrong when an unauthorized charge came off her card. She canceled it immediately.

"Not even five minutes after that, and you can look on the time stamps, it literally went through for the second transaction of $325.18. But how can that happen when I canceled the card?" Smith said.

WATCH: 'It's either eat or pay bills': Florida families desperate for answers after losing SNAP benefits to fraud

The fraud did not stop there.

"It's happened over a span of a week. I've went through three cards," Smith said.

"The locks, the canceling the card, the changing my PIN, nothing worked. Because they're just messing with it over and over again," Smith said.

Smith said the fraudulent charges appeared to be DoorDash transactions originating from Glendale, California. When she contacted DoorDash directly, she said the company told her the transaction did not exist.

"So, when I called DCF... It says sorry, we're too busy, and it hangs up on you. And you literally have to call multiple times a day for days, and maybe, if you're lucky you can get through," Smith said.

Her family is now facing the consequences.

"I rely on my food stamps, you know, to get through the month. It doesn't last all month, but it supplements," Smith said. "It really does hurt my family. Immensely."

"I got food right now, but come, you know, next week and the week after the fridge is not going to look this colorful," Smith said. "This is going to be gone in, you know, no time."

Smith is not alone.

Shayna Houser Parra, who lives in Plant City, told the I-Team her SNAP benefits card declined while she was grocery shopping with her kids.

"Everything on the app was red, like flagged," Houser Parra said. "All my money was gone, it said insignificant funds."

"We walked out empty-handed," Houser Parra said, recalling how she cried the whole drive home. "I'm going to cry now."

Houser Parra has five children her oldest is 9, her youngest is 9 months, and her 7-year-old has autism. Her husband works as a General Manager for Dollar General.

"We still haven't had all our bills covered this month because of this. It's either eat or pay bills," Houser Parra said. "We have been to a few food pantries this month that we've actually been turned away, because they've ran out."

Houser Parra said scammers also locked her out of her own account entirely.

"My biggest fear of all is I still can't log into this app," she told the I-Team. "They changed my email. They changed my password, my login. Everything, my pin."

The two mothers, plus a third in Port Richey, found each other on Facebook, where Houser Parra said she initially mistook screenshots of another victim's account for her own, until she noticed a different date. All three victims identified so far had fraud occur within the same month, and all traced to the same California address.

"I realized I'm not the only victim," Houser Parra said.

Smith said the connection between victims would have gone unnoticed without social media.

"You're not hearing about it, like, unless I Google the address that the delivery is being made to, I would have never found the other two mothers that this happened to in the Tampa Bay area," Smith said. "It was a shock."

The Florida Department of Children and Families directs fraud victims on its website to file a report with local law enforcement, treating these as individual cases.

A 2-year federal program that reimbursed victims of SNAP benefit theft ended in 2024. According to a document the I-Team obtained from the USDA, state agencies were told they could "choose to replace stolen benefits using state funds." Florida has not done so.

That same document encouraged state agencies to transition to SNAP EBT chip cards to safeguard against fraud. That transition has also not happened in Florida.

Houser Parra questioned why the state has not acted.

"I know for a fact, you know, we're not the only people and the state's not wanting to help us, so my question is, why is the state just so willing to lose money?" Houser Parra said.

Both Houser Parra and Smith told the I-Team they are speaking up for others who will not.

"There's people that are not talking about this. There's people that are too ashamed," Houser Parra said.

Smith said the families affected deserve to be heard.

"We still matter," Smith said. It's not fair, essentially. But life's not fair, but it should be a matter of importance. And it's not."

The I-Team first contacted DCF more than a week ago and has not received any answers about what is being done to investigate allegations of fraud. The I-Team also contacted Florida's Chief Financial Officer, Blaise Ingoglia's office.

In an email Monday evening, the CFO's communications director told the I-Team, "DCFs Office of Public Benefits Integrity refers these cases to the appropriate local law enforcement agency. We provide assistance to local law enforcement agencies with financial crimes when they request it. We encourage anyone who believes they are a victim of fraud to report it to their local law enforcement agency immediately."

The I-Team has followed up with more questions.

If you have had a recent unauthorized charge to a SNAP account, the I-Team wants to hear from you.

A man was shot in the leg in St. Petersburg on Monday, and detectives are investigating what led to the shooting after the victim suffered injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

According to the St. Petersburg Police Department, the shooting happened in the 4500 block of 31st Avenue North.

Police said the victim was shot in the "leg area."

Leading up to the 2026 Florida primary (August 19) and general election (November 3), Tampa Bay 28 contacted qualified candidates for Holmes Beach Mayor. We asked candidates the same three questions and asked for responses to be provided by July 17. These are the candidates' responses to the questionnaire.

Dan Diggins began serving on the City Commission in November 2022 and was re-elected in 2024 to an additional two-year term expiring November 2026. He was elected by the City Commission to serve as Commission Chair 2024-2025 and in 2025-2026 was elected to serve as Vice-Chair. Commissioner Diggins serves as Commission Liaison for the Island Transportation Planning Organization, and serves as a member and the City's Liaison for the Tourist Development Council. Commissioner Diggins has an Engineering Degree from the University of Massachusetts.

I provide extensive experience in emergency response, executive leadership and extensive knowledge of city operations.

I have been active in city business for many years as a commissioner and know and understand our challenges.

Traffic congestion at a beach community is a major issue. As an aviation transportation expert in my previous career I understand how to match capacity with demand. This is best done by implementing new procedures and structural changes to our roadways that allow a better flow of traffic on and off the island.

Tropical Storm Bertha formed in the northeastern Gulf and is expected to hit portions of the Gulf Coast from Florida to Louisiana, and possibly as far west as Texas.

Heavy rain, coastal flooding and tropical storm-force winds are all possible through the week in its path.

The second named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season had winds of 50 mph as of Tuesday morning and additional strengthening is possible.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for areas of the Gulf Coast from the Alabama/Florida border to the Jefferson/Plaquemines Parish border in Louisiana.

A tropical storm watch has been issued for the coast of the Bay/Gulf County line in Florida westward to the Florida/Alabama border, west of the Jefferson/Plaquemines Parish border to Morgan City, Louisiana, and metropolitan New Orleans. In these locations, tropical storm conditions are possible within the next 24 to 48 hours. Additional watches could be issued farther west along the Louisiana and Texas coast in the next day or two.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Tropical Storm Arthur, first of 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, makes landfall

Atlantic hurricane season has gotten off to a slow start compared to recent years as El Nio tightens its grip on parts of the basin.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts a lower-than-average number of named systems in the Atlantic this season because of it.

Storm track, intensity

Bertha will most likely track along or make landfall on the northern Gulf Coast near southeast Louisiana and southern Mississippi by Wednesday.

This would prevent it from intensifying much because tropical systems weaken over land. It would also face an increasing amount of storm-killing wind shear, which is the change in speed or direction of winds in the upper levels of the atmosphere.

Those unfavorable factors could even cause the system to dissipate over Louisiana, but the latest forecast calls for it to reach the Upper Texas Coast as a tropical depression by late week.

Impacts expected on Gulf Coast

Regardless of the systems fate, heavy rainfall, gusty winds and some coastal flooding will impact the northern Gulf Coast through at least midweek.

Heres what to expect:

Rainfall: Widespread totals of 2 to 4 inches, with up to 8 inches in the strongest thunderstorms, are possible from the western Florida Panhandle to southern portions of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and possibly the Texas coast. This could trigger flash flooding, especially in urban areas like New Orleans.

Wind: Tropical storm conditions sustained winds of 39+ mph are possible in the tropical storm watch area of the Florida Panhandle Monday night into Tuesday. Locations farther west in a tropical storm watch could see those conditions late Tuesday night into Wednesday. Higher gusts in thunderstorms could cause isolated power outages.

Storm surge: Water levels could rise 2 to 4 feet above normal from the mouth of the Mississippi River in southeast Louisiana to the Alabama-Florida border. A storm surge watch is in effect for this area, which means life-threatening inundation of ocean water is possible in the next 48 hours.

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have just a handful of legislative days left before their August recess to advance spending bills, nominations, or any other political priorities.

President Donald Trump on Monday again pushed lawmakers to pass the SAVE America Act, which would reform U.S. elections by requiring Americans to provide ID to vote and proof of citizenship to register to vote.

"We need Voter Photo ID (Identification!), Proof of Citizenship and, hopefully, No Corrupt Mail In Ballots (except for illness, disability, Military, or travel)," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "I am asking all House Republicans to VOTE YES this week on the Budget Resolution, which is an important first step towards getting a Budget Bill. House Republicans must UNIFY, and fight for THE SAVE AMERICA ACT!"

RELATED STORY | What's in the voting bill that Republicans are pushing to the Senate floor

Only Republican lawmakers have voiced support for the bill. No Democrats have been willing to cross the aisle not even moderates like Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania.

"Until I see evidence that over a quarter of a million migrants are registered to vote, then yeah that would make me reconsider some of these things," Fetterman said over the weekend. "But there's no evidence and I don't expect that we'll see any of that."

"I don't know why the president is dragging up all this stuff," he added. "You're the president. Do something positive. And you're talking about 2020 that's been settled over six years ago."

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Trump cancels housing affordability bill signing, urges Congress to pass election measure

The SAVE America Act could potentially pass in the House, but it does not currently have enough support to make it through the Senate. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) has raised concerns about it curbing mail-in voting, particularly in her state of Maine.

Therefor, it appears unlikely the SAVE America Act will gain congressional approval this week. When lawmakers return in September, passing government funding bills to prevent a government shutdown will likely be the top priority. That timeline leaves little room to get the SAVE America Act across the finish line before the midterm elections.

President Trump imposed 50% tariffs on most Canadian goods, inside look at Tampa General Hospital's Aeromed team, and Chief Meteorologist Denis Phillips has the latest on when rain showers will end.

Tampa Bay 28 Chief Meteorologist Denis Phillips says rain is expected to continue tonight due to TD-2.

President Donald Trump is insisting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not be arrested if he visits the U.S., pushing back on threats from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said Netanyahu won't be arrested "in any way, shape, or form" if he travels to Manhattan for a United Nations General Assembly meeting in September.

"[Netanyahu] is fighting against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which recently killed 52,000 innocent protestors, and has spent the last 47 years killing American Soldiers, and others," Trump wrote. "The only ones that should be arrested are the people that led Iran into this unprecedented SPIRAL OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION, something that should have been dealt with years ago, by previous Presidents!"

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Mamdani says hes still looking into arresting Netanyahu if Israeli leader visits New York

Over the weekend, Mamdani said on a podcast that his administration's legal department is looking into the possible arrest of Netanyahu, something he vowed to pursue while he was campaigning. Mamdani has been a fierce critic of the Israeli government and referred to the country's war in Gaza as a "genocide" something Israel has denied.

"I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague," Mamdani said. "He's a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court. And what you will find is that is an opinion that is held by many purely because of what his actions have wrought over these last many years."

The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in 2024, alleging war crimes during Israel's military offensive in Gaza. Both Trump and former President Joe Biden have denounced the warrant. The U.S. has also not ratified the Rome Statute, which requires countries to arrest individuals who have ICC warrants against them.

Scallop season is more than a summertime tradition along Pasco County's Gulf Coast. It's also a significant economic driver that brings tens of thousands of visitors and millions of dollars to local businesses each year.

For lifelong Pasco County resident Marla Fisher, scalloping has been a family tradition since childhood.

"My whole childhood, for I would say over a decade, I've been scalloping with my parents," Fisher said.

WATCH: Scallop season brings millions of dollars to Pasco County's economy

Now an adult and a marketing coordinator for Florida's Sports Coast, she still enjoys snorkeling through the Gulf's seagrass beds in search of bay scallops.

"Definitely the taller sea grass is where they hide in my experience," Fisher said. "I think a lot of people look in those sandy areas because it's easier to see, but you kind of have to dig."

While families enjoy the annual tradition, businesses along the coast welcome the influx of visitors during the county's 40-day scallop season.

That's one reason Roger Aguilar opened Riviera Water Sports in Port Richey.

"The important thing about scallop season is it turns this town ... everybody gets together," Aguilar said. "It's a family thing."

Aguilar believes Pasco County's Gulf Coast has even greater tourism potential.

"It's underutilized," he said. "It's like a gem."

Pasco County's tourism brand, Florida's Sports Coast, has embraced scallop season as a way to showcase the area, even inviting international travel influencers to experience the fishery and promote the destination.

"Why not bring in other influencers from different parts of the world to enjoy and highlight that across the world?" said Natalia Melo, Florida Sports Coast's Public Relations Coordinator

The strategy appears to be paying off.

Pasco County estimates last year's scallop season attracted more than 34,500 visitors, who spent nearly $7.5 million and generated almost $11 million in total economic impact for the local economy.

The benefits extend beyond the water. After a day of harvesting scallops, many visitors stop at local restaurants to enjoy fresh seafood or have their catch prepared.

At Sasha's On the Park inside the historic Hacienda Hotel in New Port Richey, scallops are a popular menu item during the season.

"Pan-seared is one of my favorite things to do," sous chef Nicolle Torres said. "It is the easiest way."

Torres said she sees the excitement every year as scallopers return after a day on the Gulf.

"The returning customers, it's really amazing the community that has been built within the years in the New Port Richey area," she said.

Of course, summer weather can interrupt even the best scalloping plans, with afternoon thunderstorms often forcing boaters off the water.

But once the skies clear, Aguilar said, families are eager to head back out.

"It's like it's football season; no, it's scalloping season," she said. "Everybody on the weekends just goes scalloping in the morning, then goes home in the afternoon and cooks what they were able to get that day. And it's just bringing everybody together."

When two Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office deputies were shot in the line of duty on July 16, they were taken to Tampa General Hospital by helicopter.

Deputies Sopharmony Muon and Colton Daniels were shot when a suspect ambushed them during an attempted arrest on Shell Point Road in Ruskin. Deputy Muon was struck in the face. Deputy Daniels was struck in the neck. Both were airlifted to Tampa General Hospital, where their families were reunited with them. The suspect, Chris Dmuchoski, 34, was also transported to Tampa General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

WATCH: How Tampa General's Aeromed helicopter gets critical patients to the hospital faster than an ambulance

That flight was one of nearly 2,000 the Aeromed program completes each year.

Auri Miller, TGH Aeromed Program Director, said the program has been operating since April of 1989.

"Our Aeromed transport program is Tampa General Hospital's helicopter EMS program, and we additionally have a ground ambulance transport program as well associated with Aeromed, so we're responsible for responding to both critical trauma events, critical medical events that may either be generated from our pre-hospital partners through 911, or our inter-hospital partners such as other hospital systems needing to transport patients here to Tampa General," Miller said.

The speed advantage of air transport over ground is significant, Miller said.

"On the aircraft, we have no stoplights, no stop signs, and it's a straight shot," Miller said. "The way we really determine on what that time is going to be like is we take that distance from where we are picking up our patient to the hospital, and let's say that that distance is 20 miles. We know that we're going to get that patient there in 10 minutes. Whereas if you're coming by ground, that might be upwards of anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour, and that can make a significant difference for our patients."

"Time is tissue. Time is brain. That's really what's making a significant impact on our patient outcomes," Miller said.

The helicopter functions as a mobile ICU. The aircraft carries two units of whole blood on every transport, regardless of whether crews have advance information indicating a patient will need it. The crew is also equipped for advanced airway management, chest tube interventions, medication infusions, and other critical procedures. This is all in a miniaturized format due to space constraints.

Miller said the decision to send the helicopter versus a ground ambulance comes down to how sick the patient is.

"Our air medical program have advanced procedure capabilities. They have advanced formulary capacity. So it's really just dependent on the acuity or how sick the patient is," Miller said.

Each flight is staffed by three people: a pilot focused solely on aviation, a flight nurse who is also a dual-credentialed flight paramedic, and a flight paramedic partner.

Miller said the minimum requirement to even apply for a flight nurse or flight paramedic position is five years of experience, specifically in ICU or emergency medicine.

"If we are so fortunate to get a position, then our orientation lasts anywhere from six months to eight months as we go through all of those specialized training," Miller said.

When the crew is in the aircraft with a patient, Miller said there is no time for hesitation.

"When we are in here, absolutely not. It is time to do our jobs. It is just automatic, and that's where that years of experience and that training is so crucial, so that it just really becomes automatic. We know what's wrong, we know how to address it," Miller said.

After every flight, the full crew conducts a debrief that includes the medical crew, the pilot, and communication specialists.

The program operates out of TGH and three other bases across Florida. Miller said Tampa General remains the academic medical center for the region, drawing the most critically ill patients from across the area, a demand that has grown alongside Tampa's population.

Miller said the program is also the second in the nation, and the first in Florida, to provide emergency medical care to canine officers.

"Our Aeromed program is critically important to making a difference to saving lives, and it's not just only the care that we are providing in the ambulance, but it really also is our collaboration and our partnerships with the other pre-hospital agencies, our other hospital partners as well, through training and education, we're only improving the care that all of us are providing to our patients," Miller said.

President Donald Trump on Monday imposed 50% tariffs on most Canadian goods, declaring that Canada has unfairly discriminated against American autos, alcohol and dairy products.

The move could unleash a new wave of economic chaos, with risks of higher inflation and further fraying of relations between two nations that had been closely woven together before Trump's return to the White House. The administration official previewing the action said that Canada was one of the only nations other than China that retaliated against Trump's previous tariffs and must be held accountable.

RELATED NEWS | Federal court rules against new global tariffs Trump imposed after loss at the Supreme Court

The official insisted on anonymity on a call with reporters to preview the president's actions and said that Trump signed three proclamations to launch the tariffs under Section 338 of the 1930 Trade Act. Several Democratic lawmakers last year proposed repealing the section because they said Trump could use it to destabilize the economy.

The 50% tariffs would exclude energy products, potash, fish and critical minerals, but they would include goods that had previously been protected from import taxes by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA. That 2020 trade pact recently expired and triggered a new set of negotiations that could run until 2036.

The official said that Trump had also requested that his aides look into additional tariffs on Canada because its wildfires hurt air quality in the U.S.

President Donald Trump has ordered additional strikes on Iran, the military announced Monday, marking the 10th consecutive night of U.S. attacks in a push to reopen the Strait of Hormuz a critical waterway that typically sees about 20% of the world's oil pass through it.

"Today at 4 p.m. ET, U.S. forces began a new round of strikes against Iran at the Commander in Chief's direction," U.S. Central Command said in a statement. "The strikes are designed to further degrade Iranian military capabilities used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz."

RELATED STORY | Why has the US restarted strikes against Iran now?

The new strikes follow a weekend in which 3 U.S. service members were killed in the region one in northern Iraq during a "controlled detonation" of a downed Iranian drone, and two others at a U.S. base in Jordan hit by Iranian drone and missile strikes. One other service member remains missing, though the military said "unidentified remains" were found Sunday and were being evaluated.

Seventeen U.S. service members have died since the war began in late February.

The ongoing escalation has ultimately voided a memorandum of understanding agreed to by both countries to bring an end to the war. The U.S. military has said the strikes are intended to degrade Iranian capabilities used to attack commercial vessels and civilian mariners transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

Although Iran's military has been weakened by the strikes, it has continued to maintain control of the strait.

A large cave-in above a wastewater mainline will close two lanes on Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa beginning Tuesday, affecting traffic between Brorein Street and Platt Street while crews complete emergency repairs.

The City of Tampa announced Monday that a large cave-in developed above a 15-inch wastewater mainline near 243 Bayshore Blvd. To make emergency repairs, one turn lane and one inside travel lane will be temporarily closed between Brorein Street (bridge) and Platt Street.

The outside lane providing access to South Bayshore Boulevard will remain open to maintain traffic flow during the repair work.

Repairs are scheduled to begin Tuesday, July 21, with the goal of reopening the roadway by Wednesday, July 22, weather permitting.

Traffic control devices and signs will be in place to direct drivers through the work zone. City officials encourage motorists to use alternate routes when possible and allow extra travel time during the repairs.

To track road closures, click here.

Five people have died on a river in Ohio after several of them went into the water to help another person who was struggling to swim, authorities said Monday.

A motorist called 911 after spotting a frightened child who had been with the group and was running on a nearby road, Delaware County Sheriff Jeffrey Balzer said at a news conference Monday.

Two children under age 10 have been placed in the care of family services, the sheriff said, including the child who ran for help.

The group had gathered Sunday along the Scioto River in the Columbus suburb of Powell when one of them went into the river to go swimming. And thats when the tragedy started to occur, Balzer said, as the others who jumped in to help also began struggling.

Rescue crews searching the water on Sunday found two women, who were pronounced dead at a hospital, Balzer said. The bodies of three men were found in the river on Monday, said Tracy Whited, a spokesperson for the Delaware County Sheriffs Department.

Sen. Darline Graham announced that she will run for her late brothers seat this November, after being appointed last week to serve out the rest of Lindsey Grahams term.

Ive made a decision. Im in, she said in an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News.

Graham acknowledged the tremendous amount of pressure shes felt to make up her mind quickly, with a filing deadline looming and President Donald Trump posting on Truth Social that he would like her to run for the seat.

RELATED STORY | Lindsey Graham, influential GOP senator and Trump confidant, dies at age 71

Ive been praying a lot, talking to my family, but with the love of my family, with the support of his staff I know Im a hard worker, I learned that from Lindsey, she added. He cared about the people of this state. Ive worked for almost 30 years for the people of this state. I feel like I can do it. I feel an inner peace about it. Will it be difficult? Yes, absolutely.

Graham is the first woman to represent South Carolina in the Senate. She was appointed to the seat by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster to serve until January 2027. A special primary election will take place August 11 to determine who will next hold the seat for the upcoming six-year term.

Multiple influential South Carolina Republicans told CNN the initial reports last week that Darline Graham planned to seek a full Senate term came as a surprise, as it was understood by them she would only complete the remainder of Lindsey Grahams term.

A source with knowledge of the matter said that at the time McMaster appointed her to serve the remainder of her late brothers current term, he was not under the impression Darline Graham would run as a candidate in the special primary election for a full term.

RELATED STORY | Sen. Lindsey Graham's death leaves a void in the Senate

Graham, 62, has not previously held elected office. After she and Lindsey Grahams parents died within 15 months of each other, she became orphaned at age 13 in 1976. Lindsey Graham the first in his family to attend college, and a member of the Reserve Officers Training Corps became his sisters legal guardian.

Lindsey Graham, a longtime Republican from South Carolina and ally of President Donald Trump, died following an aortic dissection, according to a preliminary finding from the Washington, DC, medical examiner. He was 71.

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Back-to-school shopping can be expensive, but starting July 20, relief is available. We have officially entered the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday in the state of Florida, running now through August 20.

One of the biggest things we talk about is having a plan and having a budget and doing whats realistic and right for your family, said Daniel Davis, Marketing and Product Specialist with GTE Financial.

WATCH: Back-to-School Tax-Free Holiday begins, financial expert offers advice

Davis said when it comes to the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday, families need to know whats tax-free and whats not.

Theres actually different thresholds of what you can save tax-wise based upon what you are purchasing for your back-to-school, said Davis.

For instance, clothes, shoes and backpacks are tax-free as long as you keep the item under $100, while school supplies are tax-free under $50 and computers and accessories are tax-free as long as they are below $1,500.

So if you are going to go buy the top-of-the-line computer thats over $2,000, you may not be experiencing those savings, but if you sit down with your family and you make a plan and you believe that a $1,400 computer can serve the same needs, then that might be a better option for you, said Davis.

If youre looking for something that doesnt fall under the tax-free status, that doesnt necessarily mean there still isnt savings to be found.

Because a lot of stores will run discounts concurrent to this to give you the best bang for your buck as well, said Davis.

For those new to the state of Florida, the holiday could be a huge learning lesson when it comes to how much a seven percent sales tax can add up over the course of the year.

States like Delaware, for example, they dont tax on clothes, so those people get that relief year-round. This is a great opportunity for us to match, especially for the people who want to move here, said Davis.

Davis also said the timing of this years holiday couldnt be more perfect.

Because it extends past the start of school this year, so if you do forget something, you can still take advantage of those tax savings, said Davis.

America's national parks are facing a steep repair bill of roughly $24 billion. This includes costs for aging roads, trails and bridges and in many cases, these repairs have been delayed for years.

This has raised concerns about safety and access during the busy summer travel season, and senior officer of the U.S. Conservation at the Pew Charitable Trust Rebekah Knuffe says infrastructure repair needs impacts not only the national parks but other public lands such as the Bureau of Land Management.

In 2020, the president signed into law the Great American Outdoors Act which was focused on addressing billions in deferred maintenance. It also guarantees permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to support public access and outdoor recreation.

RELATED STORY | Judge orders Trump administration to restore censored National Park exhibits

This established for five years a bill that funded $1.9 billion a year roughly from energy development revenues to federal agencies, including the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management and US Forest Service, to clear maintenance backlogs.

While they've repaired over 3,800 assets across all public lands, legacy restoration funding and contributed to thousands of jobs, there are things that have not been fixed.

Knuffe added that families who are traveling this summer to national parks may notice that parking lots or bathrooms may be under repair.

Although the initial five-year fund has since expired, lawmakers have introduced bipartisan efforts to extend the fund and increase its annual capacity to tackle the backlog.