tonight a closer look at this troubling trend. >> tomorrow is an important deadline for the florida primary. what voters need to though. and how the us and cuba are changing the way they do business. i'm keith cate. >> i'm jennifer leigh. thanks for joining us. right now the search is on for a driver in a deadly hit and run. she hit and killed a tow truck driver early this morning. the heavily damaged car was later found year the west shore mall. she took a taxi to the hard rock casino after the, i can't. if you see her -- crash. if you see her call 911. john rogers is live in sarasota to tell us more. >> reporter: good evening, get this, in 2014fhp responded to

next -- crashes, the next 92,000, so they're sending a warning, if you drive off in one of these us get in serious trouble. allison huffman could face serious charges. she slammed into a tow truck driver, but instead of stopping to help, she sped off. time and time again troopers are seeing suspects drive off from crash scenes, but say it needs to stop or there will be consequences. >> >. as soon as you decide to flee the scene, you've become a criminal. >> reporter: the damage is long lasting. mark was hit be i a driver on the interstate, and now he's relegate toed a back brace and -- regaited to a -- relegated to a back brace and daily pain. >> i'm so impacted. >> reporter: jim watched his wife die by a hit and run driver during a walk.

the air like a rag doll. >> reporter: his life has never been the same. >> i still have the image in my mind. >> reporter: if you leave a crash with an injury, you'll face up to five years in prison, but if you flee from a deadly crash it's a lot worse because you could face up to 30 years behind bars. troopers say if you hit someone, regardless of the circumstances, stop, because not only could you save a life, but law enforcement won't hunt you down. if you do unfortunately cause an accident, first stop and check out the scene, call 911 and get the names of addresses of witnesses and passengers in your car, and it could prevent some serious legal consequences. >> >. and obviously if you see a hit and run driver, i'm imagining you have to call the authorities, that should be first and foremost.

use the phone, call 911 or fhp. and tell them about the driver. >> the number is star fhp. thank you john. it's almost time the record your vote in florida. the state's primary election is just around the corner, and if you want to play a role in the race, register with your party affiliation. candace mccowan is joining us now live in hillsborough this election take place in four week, it's going to be >> reporter: absolutely. good evening, we're only a month away from the presidential preference primary here in florida. we talked to several people today doing everything they can to make sure they can vote for the man or woman they want. stacie schaible condition 18 severe arctic front -- it's been 28 years for greg. >> i haven't voted since 1988.

has motivation to vote. that motivation is donald trump. >> i'm here to register to vote today. it's important he's the next president. >> reporter: many are inspired by a candidate. >> i'm excited to vote for sanders. >> reporter: but just as many people are coming in to change their party affiliation, knowing they want to vote for a candidate who's not in the party they're currently registered with. >> right now i'm, you know, a non-dedicated party. i'm going to change it to republican. >> a democrat to republican. >> reporter: since january 1st, 7500 people have come to change their party affiliation in hillsborough and pinellas county. 3200 changing to democrat, and 3400 changing to republican so far this year. many of the voters are registered, just not with a party before now. >> well, any time there's a presidential election, presidential year, people get engaged. >> reporter: which is great to

election supervisors are sending the message, pick a party now. >> >. yeah, i've always been pretty much an independent, but this time i'm dedicated. >> reporter: so here's the deal, you have until 5:00 o'clock tomorrow to make sure you register or change your party affiliation add a supervisor of elections -- at a supervisor of elections office, and we have the forms up there on the wfla.com, so you can print them out and make sure it's postmarked by tomorrow. >> and to be in clear in some counties you can vote without party affiliation, but not in a presidential primary. >> >> reporter: right some of the cheryl cities with elections going on -- smaller cities with elections going on, you can vote in those. >> candace mccowan live in tampa, thank you. today in washington there's a fight over replacing the supreme court justice scalia who died over the weekend. democrats and republicans are fight overing whether president

right to appoint a nominee of his choosing. it's spreading from congress to the campaign trail. >> the senate has a duty to consider that, and to decide whether or not to confirm whoever the president nominates. >> we were reminded on saturday evening by an untimely death of the stakes in this election. >> the seat could determine the high court's direction for decades to comment president obama has said it's his responsibility to appoint the next justice and he intends to do so. new tonight strong storms leaving damage in their wake in louisiana and mississippi. this is video in alexandriat room there torn right off -- the roof torn right off. and today a storm covered the white house in snow. a winter storm warning in fact is in effect for the nation's capital until early tuesday morning. they could pick up four to six

and the former new york governor spitzer is back in the tabloids, accused of choking a woman at a hotel. he famously resigned in 2011 after he was caught up in a prostitution scandal. for people with disabilities, a medical service dog could have a lifeline, but a tampa couple last week was said to leave an apartment because their dog violated a lease. >> but that's illegal, and our story caught the attention of others with disabilities that say this has happened to them too. shannon behnken has a preview now of tonight's story. >> we found the laws are there to protect people with service dog, but landlords are finding a loophole.

for ptsd, but her landlord filed for eviction. it caught the attention of another woman who also had this happen to hire, fought, and -- her, fought and won. she want toss spread the word that this kind of discrimination is not okay, and 8 on your side wants to know what can be done to prevent this. >> all right, looking forward to that report tonight at i 11:00. after a long and bitter battle, a famous bay area building is facing the wrecking ball. >> we get a unique look at the demolition of the hotel. and big changes coming to us relations with cuba. exclusive coverage of travel and trade agreements coming up. and a mostly cloudy day, but a much milder feel to the air because we have a more southerlily flow. changes tonight, and the possibilities of strong and severe thunderstorms overnight. -- possibilities of strong and

liquor laws allow this business to sell before noon, and this one has to wait until after noon. what's the problem? that's coming up. you're watching news channel 8, the station that's

(phone ringing) you can't deal with something, by ignoring it. but that's how some presidential candidates seem to be dealing with social security. americans work hard, and pay into it. so our next president needs a real plan to keep it strong. (elephant noise) (donkey noise) hey candidates,

>> >. a large scale transformation is taking place at the bell view biltmore hotel in pinellas county. >> after years of controversy, the developer is moving ahead with demolition of most of the building. peter is live at the site action and drone 8 will -- site, and drone 8 will give a brand new view of the location. >> reporter: yes, good evening,

slowly giving away to the demolition crews. piles of debris are taking the place of the wooden structure, and tonight we're going to see drone 8, it's going to give us a birds eye view, a drone eye view of what it looks like right now. for anyone that visited the bell view biltmore hotel, the sight of what it looks like now is quite a change. the owner allowed drone 8 to fly over the project in the middle other of a trans-- of a transformation. plans are in place for new buildings where the hotel stood. >> we'll have four condominium buildings, 104 homes, 28 carriage homes, and then we'll have the boutique hotel. >> reporter: here's a look at what it looked like if 2014. damaged by water leaks and time, efforts to save it proved

artist renderings show the newer buildings will be historical designs. >> we'll renovate it back like it was in the 1800s. >> reporter: including this western portion of the buildings are carriages and trains pulled up. >> we're actually keeping part aft original hotel -- of the original hotel, just enrate ising it, so it's -- renovating it, so it's similar to the early days. >> reporter: it will be moved east, and serve as the boutique hotel. the front section looming over the parking lot is coming down to make way for the renovated section. it's called biltmore place. >> reporter: would henry plant be proud? >> he would be very proud. >> reporter: and of course that's in reference to railroad man henry plant. i used to bring people down to

the builders are hopes more guests will return, as well as locals. >> and what's the time plan for construction? >> reporter: it's being done in stages. total build out for the project is three years out, so it's going to take a long time. >> peter bernard, live, thank you. and now your exclusive coverage from cuba. historic news today in us and cuban relations. the obama administration approved the first us factory in cuba in years, and jeff patterson spoke to members of delegation today about now agreements on traffic light -- new agreements on travel and trade. >> reporter: since their arrival in cuba, the us delegation is getting a chance to be on the streets and talk with every day cubans about their experiences, but also met with government official, and they're telling me there's a

discussions. >> we heard this morning from the other side of the table, we really need and want to do business with you. >> reporter: what are your thoughts and impressions of what you've seen and learned on this trip? >> it's been an extraordinary trip. for 40 years i thought the american policy with cuba was foolish, and it has to change, and to be here and see the changes occurring within the country and the way the changes can work together with a change in the united states policy, to see real improvement between the two country, but just as important among the people in both country. >> reporter: a congressional representative said cuba may not exactly be ready for the onslaught of americans headed this way, but believe they will be ready. jeff patterson. >> 8 on your side is the only television bringing you reports from cuba on this trip. jeff patterson will continue to

today was a little confusing for me steve jerve. it seemed like it should be warmer, but the clouds made it not as warm. >> yes, we have to get over the hump of stormy activity, and tomorrow better weather, and your instincts will be correct by the end of the week. >> oh, okay. >> clouds the story of the day most of day, and there's a milder feel to the air with a more southerly breeze. 72 at freedom plaza. southeast wind. 72 at it will bay -- at the bay. up in the western part of central county and crystal river, 71. thunderstorms overnight in places like the plantation in crystal river and other spots

the fair is wrapping up tonight. 71 at 5:00 p.m., 68 degrees at 9:00 p.m. the mild temperatures will be ahead for us, your 71 degrees tuesday and wednesday. thursday near 70. 73 friday, 76 by saturday, so that's the milder weather we were talking agent -- about, milder, things have really changed around here. 69 at 7:00 p.m., temperatures generally in the 60s, very high humidity, but note the overnight thunderstorm chances, stronger to the north. a 70 percent chance here at 5:00 a.m., so after midnight to 9:00 in the mornling, there's a chance of thunderstorm, including for the morning commute. 70 treasure island right now, and 73 in sarasota and venice,

the south, so the milder feel in place. we can get some gusty winds once the area of thunderstorms moves through. a tornado warning for extreme northwest florida, that's associated with a cold front. a few showers developing back to the west, and even on local radar, a few showers raced through on the strong southerly breezes around sebring and avon park. light stuff, but gives the idea of things have really changed in the weather in the past 24 hours. broader view shows the showers offshore, and rain to the west crawling our way, and this is the forecast computer model over the short term, showing about 4:00 o'clock in the morning on the wrap model, pushing that line of thunderstorms through the area. the greater possibility of seeing stronger thunderstorms would generally be to the north, but it wraps up by noon tomorrow, and then a great stretch of weather, mostly low to mid-70s, and eventually

tuesday morning, rain chances quickly end as the front passes through. skies clear in the afternoon fairly nice weather as we can see. pleasant, near 70, and then wednesday morning clear skies and average temperatures for february, about 53 degrees. afternoon looking good. sunshine throughout the day after we chase the bad weather away tonight. 71 tuesday, and same for wednesday. note the returning sunshine here. also a few clouds early in the day tomorrow, along with the 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. that does favor the potential for some severe weather in northern areas though. and by the end of the week temperatures back into the upper 70s, setting up a very nice weekend overall. so there's a severe weather threat tonight. no watch in place action the storm prediction -- place. the storm prediction center said there's a severe chance, but more to the north. >> at least we're not getting the north.

pictures from tennessee. thank you steve. >> thank you. still ahead, tax trouble tonight for furniture giant ikea. >> we'll explain. and the company is offering to chip in for a newlyweds dream wedding, but the cash comes

ikea may be in hot water, a new report claims them of avoiding paying taxes in europe for six years. a report accuses them of funneling money through the neglecter lands, and --

untaxed in another country, but ikea says they pay their taxes. and with the popularity of e-books, many thought bookstores were on their way out, but last year sales increased for the first time since 2007. many saw a decline in e-book sales as print sales went up. and today is president's day. many stores have big sales to clear out her chance dice. it's also -- merchandise. it's also one of the biggest car buying holiday of the year, and they offer deep discounts on home upgrades from big name brands. apple music is quickly gaining on its biggest rival spotify, with 11 million subscribers, nearly half of spotify's them collected them

other has been in operation since 2011. a new start up company is betting on marriages. swan love will be couples up to $10,000 to use toward their dream wedding. but there's a catch. if they get divorced, they have to pay the money back plus interest, and that depends on their odds of staying together using data from their application, so if you really want to like rig it, you know, let's say our chances are 0? >> wow, though! i'm not sure that's betting for the marriage or against the marriage. >> yeah. >> but it's ten grand or not. hey, josh benson, what's -- on the other hand? hey, josh benson what's coming up? >> a student infected with zika virus is going back to the country where he caught it, and

underway for the episode 8, and

right now on news channel 8 at 5:30. good evening i'm jennifer leigh. >> and i'm josh benson, thanks for being with us tonight. last fall lakeland passed a law loosening alcohol sales on sunday. businesses in the area pushed for the law to push sales, now it appear test expense of other business owners. josh thomas is live in lakeland. >> reporter: well the law to change the times alcohol can be sold here on sundays, has had some unintended consequence, and a negative effect on other