>> and i'm stacie schaible. police issued an amber alert and they've now cancelled the alert and say the children were found. mother. the mother does not have custody and had threatened to injure her children and herself. also breaking right now. the port of tampa is closed due to fog and you can see why. that is causing a travel mess for cruise line passengers. right now. that is some thick fog. the carnival paradise was supposed to dock this morning. but that same cruise was also supposed to depart today with new passengers it will now leave tomorrow. so instead of a four day cruise to mexico. it's going to be a three day cruise to nowhere.

a 50% refund for that inconvenience. now breaking news on an 8 on your side investigation. sink hole justice. a family who sold their home with a sink hole will avoid jail time. this first of its kind federal case started with our 8 on your side investigation. shannon behnken joining us now from the courthouse with the latest. >> reporter: the judge really wrestled with this decision. he called it a very serious crime but took into account the ages of ken and katherine. they're both in their 60s. he took into their account their many years of community service. >> you didn't know there was a sink hole there? >> no. >> reporter: more than a year

investigation exposed the jenkins lied about a sink hole, the judge made his decision. he spent about 40 minutes deliberating outloud but in the end said. to put it simply is it really necessary to take two individuals and put them in prison for what amounts to an isolated instance of wrong doing? and i think not. the jasons were convicted by a jury in october on one count each of wire fraud. at the start of the day, the jasons each faced at least two years in prison. but whitomore sentenced them to five years house arrest and five years probation. >> honestly no. just because of their age they should have been more severe with it to prove that this won't be tolerated. >> reporter: the home buyers thomas and jayjee are ready to

>> move out of the house and go to a nice safe home where my kids can grow up and make their memories. and do nice things that we used to do. and not have to cancel parties because we're worried about a sink hole. >> reporter: now the homeowners have to pay a fine. >> and how about the victims, i heard they got a new house. >> reporter: they haven't gotten a house. they've been renting. there's going to be another hearing within a month. they will decide the restitution.

strongly that he wants the original owners to buy this home and fix the sink hole problem and make the jameses whole. and political junkies from all across the world focused on the state of iowa. >> more precisely des moiness iowa. that's where the presidential front runners are giannis -- are gathering for tonight's debate. keith cate join us live in des is building. >> reporter: hi stacie. it really is building. we will see the final tallies come in on february 1st. we will find out who wins in iowa. we decided to come here because this really is the beginning process of choosing the next president of the united states. we're going to make a decision we have a primary. it's a little different from

we in florida we go in we pick a democrat, republican. here in iowa it's called a party. so if you want to participate here you need to take off your coat and stay a while. iowa is the first of 21 states year. they've been proudly voting first since 1972. the state gets so much attention because this is also the first real measurable test for the presidential candidates. republicans and democrats will hold 1,681 caucuses. they will meet but they will do it differently. republicans keep it simple. they show up. supporters of the candidates make a final pitch. they vote. everybody heads home. it's a secret ballot. one person, one vote.

>> reporter: democrats add a few more wrinkles. no secret ballots. instead they divide the candidate's support in the room. the supporters of that nonviable candidate can go home or realign with another candidate. after more attempts at persuasion, democrats do a final count. both parties use these tallies from all these meetings to determine how many delegates each candidate will get. don't underestimate the importance of this night. the candidates don't. no candidate that has finished worse than third has ever won

we know that donald trump will not the be at the debate. and this is do or die with the candidates. >> that's what's been keeping the floridians engaged. we're going to be watching the fireworks tonight to see how much they go after each other. leaving here, let me tell you. one of them wants to be on top. >> marco rubio stands to finish third at least in the polls. we'll see if he does that. and for rubio you have to see if this is the end of the road. i don't know the odds aren't very well. >> new hampshire but after that it gets a little more difficult. >> we'll throw it back to you. we're going to go to this debate. and we're going to watch it without donald trump. he's going to be doing his own show. and we're also going to show that to you. friday, saturday, sunday, boom. here comes monday. we'll find out who really is the leading candidate going

back to you, stacie. >> all right, keith c ate live in des moines for us. and he will show us how these tight races are playing out in both the republican and democratic fields and what all this means for the state of florida and the races going forward. another theft from a pinellas county pet store. >> this time a tiny tortoise was taken. we're going to show you how social media played a huge role in tracking down that suspect. plus his job is all about safety. so why did a building code official let his license lapse. an8 on your side investigation coming up. not the prettiest of days today. we're seeing changing now as a cold front is pushing through the area. more sunshine through the weekend. cooler temps too.

a child hit by an suv while trying to get off the school bus. she was a student at barnell middle school. the sheriff's office is investigating. a rare tortoise is back in

police led to a woman in largo. just before christmas. someone the stole that tortoise. someone recognized her as nicole perry. police went to her home and guess what they found. now we got proactive with this thing too. we have a facebook account and we were putting the video out there putting the picture out there. they got picked up. they pursued it pretty well. perry is charged with retail theft. the tortoise valued at $300. and will be put up for sale once they make sure it is healthy. the manati's were released into the power station's canal

well a building official who is not practicing what he preaches. >> he's been doing his job without a required license.

a city building official operating without the credentials he must have to do his job. now some are wondering what the impact will be.

without a license you get in big trouble. >> so why then is that particular tarpin springs treated that particular inspector's situation like it was no big deal. >> reporter: this all began with an anonymous complaint from a homeowner who told me that his contractor walked off the job. now that's because the contractor feared that city building permits are now invalid. the city swears that's not true. but we do know this is serious enough to spark a state investigation. tarpin springs building official anthony mostrachio was supposed to join other city heads. but all we found was an empty chair. >> are there any other questions or comments. >> i have a question. where's the state official that has paid thousands to attend meeting like this.

this meeting. attendees. >> reporter: that's right and wasn't back at his office. we checked several days and he was nowhere to be found. >> i don't know if he is in the building but he's not going to be making any comments today. >> reporter: his provisional since october. one contractor who needs a license and city permits just to erect fences thinks there's something wrong with that. >> since we have to you know get lie sens, why shouldn't everybody else keep up on their licenses. >> reporter: the city has every director. one that's punishable by a fine. permanent license. his department employees were instructed not to tell us who the official building official

>> why is that a secret? >> it's not a secret. it's just, um, since everything is under investigation then the press. >> reporter: a city spokeswoman later told me one of mostrachio's employees does have an administrators license and the city also contracts with a private firm. so none of these permits issued since october are in jeopardy according to the city. the question. why doesn't that building official have the proper credentials to serve in that role. >> oddly enough nobody wants to talk about that. this i know. when he got that job a year ago he was required to get those credentials. he didn't do it. now the state is looking into it. could be a problem for him. >> you will follow up. >> we certainly will. >> all right mark, thank you very much, sir. a bit blustery here. 65degrees.

around with the stronger gusts. kind of showers moving in. .68. that's the number out at st. pete beach. many areas picked up some rain. it's been bloomy around here as of late. over an inch at hula bay. 62degrees. but it appears to be wrapping up now in the gulf of mexico this rain showing you ray -- radar here in a second. a little chilly to start the day certainly. could be upper 40s if you're out there early in the at sunrise. 68degrees at 2:00 p.m. should be an over all nice day with sun and clouds. we're not expecting rain for that event. should be again very seasonal weather. showers continue this evening, cool in the mid-60s for us. but again the dewpoints have been very high. humidity. south rain ends it all wraps up and the conditions change for tomorrow. so we won't get another day like this in the forecast for tomorrow. we look forward to that it's been really cloudy.

pushing east at sebring. the yellow, orange, red. the heavier areas of rain. you can see a few showers here. but not as strong. most of the activity wrapping up around the western sections of citrus. down to pinellas county. farther south. manati, sarisota. don't forget that storm 8 team weather map app take it with you. you can even watch radar on that thing. it's a very convenient app to have the especially with all the rain we've had as of late. some high clouds but over all the sun is definitely returning. winds are strong out of the northwest. as you saw, and i think it'll continue to be gusty this evening over 20-miles-per-hour. st.pete, tampa out to barto at 20 miles per hour. the dewpoint taos are in the 60s. much drier air though across the panhandle. 20-degree dewpoint number. very, very dry.

drier atmosphere as high pressure moves in. this cold front continues to push down to the south. rain is wrapping up to the west. but we'll leave it in the forecast. clouds around two. this will all change southward with that front as it allows the cooler temperatures. that's what the wrap model says for us. here's some rain still in the forecast for the evening hours. although lighter certainly. and about 10:00 you could see a few light rain showers to the west. clouds start to end as well. as you see into the early part of friday. by the friday toward sunrise looks like it'll be breezy and the sun will return shouldn't be a bad day over all. we're looking for much more sunshine. tomorrow afternoon still breezy with below average temperatures. then for saturday, high pressure sits right on top of us by sunday wind shifts a little bit. and we're a bit milder. 72degrees for sunday. don't those cool cool starts to the day both tomorrow, saturday and also sunday. so you'll want to start with a jacket.

sunshine saying, florida is a pretty nice place to live after hiding in the closet for the last couple of days days missing the sunshine. >> kind of felt like a tv bing day. and it was my pleasure to mc this event. it honors a lot of companies and you our viewers who helped raise $3.85 million this year. it's now official tampa's heart walk is the second largest in the nation. second only to dallas where the american heart association is head quartered. so we're doing a big thing to helping heart disease and strokes. coming up next in sports. the bucks new offensive

for mike evans. >> the rays pull off a trade,

new bucks offensive coordinator met with the media. he wants a fight song to play. but his connection to head coach george cutter from their jacksonville days says they will have a huge impact. munken has a challenge for receiver mike evans. it's very simple. hang on to the football. >> but it's all about routine,

it is not a matter of that. he wants to do it. he's talented. i've spoked to people who coached him. i take that personal. my job is to make sure he doesn't drop the ball. drop the ball that's it. the rays said all winter they were ready to trade winters and they're doing it. mcgee had a shortened season last year thanks to injury but evolved into a set up role. dickerson a 3.95 at hitting friendly coors field in denver. and that spot is far from secure as the bolts are just three points ahead of the last wild card spot. but they get to the all star

>> nine out of 11. that's a pretty good record. and you know we're back in the play offs. we wanted to finish this game before the break and get the points and it wasn't, it wasn't pretty but we got it and that's us. >> reporter: today the tampa bay rowdies unveiled their invitational which begins next month featuring six teams from major league soccer, a big opportunity for fans to see some of the biggest players in north america play right here in the bay area. >> it's obviously it's great watching some of these guys on the tv. different experience. how quickly they move and how quickly they pass the ball which is going to be really good. i'm sure the fans will love every minute of it. >> it's going to be good stuff. weeks here. thanks dan. >> don't go any where.

>> and dan and steve are back at 7:00.