caught on camera, a school pep rally goes terribly wrong. what sparked this fire. and so long shamu, what's next. good evening, i am josh benson. >> and i i am stacie schaible. we begin with an investigation: schools in chaos. a showdown in st. petersburg, parents upset with managers who drove them to the brink of financial failure and then quit. the stories about education but also about money. a $1 million deficit. and huge loans that no one can explain. mark douglas s joins us live in st. petersburg and mark -- did the meeting get heated? >>you bet it did, stacy. parents are furious. because of the financial

ought to be upset to go because there is a shadadowy $800,000 loan that even the board chairman cannot explain. shall concerned parents packed the area to hold people accountable that they blame for running their charter school in the groundnd. includes the board chairman. >> if you cannot be present and active as the chairman of the board i ask that you step down. >> reporter: the one -- the group operated by this woman ran up a $1 million deficit before suddenly quitting last week. >> repeporter: your website says transparency matters. wouldn't this be a great time to demonstrate that? >> reporter: yes -- >> yes. >> reporter: why in the world as the board chaiairman would you sign off on a certified financial audit that assumes and $800,000 loan that you know nothing about? >> i don't have an answer for

>> reporter: they introduced the new management company that he wants to take over. last week we discovered alliance falsely claimed it works for another charter school, luke's prep. >> we did paid consulting work -- work related to their acquisition. >> so this lawyer that says otherwise is lying. >> i don't represent what he said. i can tell you what we did. we did facility work for lutes prep on a consulting basis. >> are you ready to go to court with him because he's threatening to sue you over that representation. >> i don't want to go to court with anybody. >> reporter: parent selected two of their own to serve on the board and they immediately began taking measures to regain control of their school and get it back on track, stacie . >> so discouraging for everybody involved. what is next, mark? >> reporter: the school is

corrective action plan together by april 5. the school district is forcing that and the money questions continue to trouble them. for example -- there's just no indication of any paperwork to support the $800,000 that new . says the school owes them and now new . has basically appointed this new management company to take its place and as you just heard, there's some credibility issues there, so i'm not sure whehere it's going. but a lot of money questions. >> and you are not hung -- talking 800 or 8000, you are talking $800,000. >> and it's taxpayer money, as well. >> i know you will stay on top of it, thanks. video you will only see on 8. this is what can happen after smoking spice. the number of those overdosing now worse than ever. it's now skyrocketing -- skyrocketing and it comes after another surge in hillsboroughgh county.

clearwater police department. some of this is pretty disturbing. >> yes, it is and police say they've never seen anything quite like it. and today a handful of new cases. tonight, a warning that this could be just the beginning. >> how long ago did you smoke spice? what's your name? >> reporter: clearwater cops called to this park, the place where a whole lot of people are overdosing on spice. >> what's your name? yes, your name. >> they can't speak, their behavior erratic. plenty of bad batches of what some are calling super spice. >> what we're dealing with is unprecedented. >> three overdoses yesterday at the park. the number of cases in the city wentnt up. cops doing their best to stop it but right now the dealers are one step ahead.

movie. i had 15 people wandering around in various states of incapacitation. >> reporter: he says he's seeing his friends act that way but for him that hasn't happened yet. >> have you done it? >> yes personally i have. i've done a lot of drugs. >> he says even if it's super spice he's willing to take the risk. >> you won't know what's in it -- you could be high on rat poison. >> reporter: this body camera shows how disturbing this is. >> reporter: and just last week bad batches of the drug in tampa had quadrupled the number of overdoses, with some who even died. >> does it scare you? >> yes and it should scare you too. >> and police say it's t taxing not only their resources but the doctors at the emergency y rooms as well. they are justst trying to do their best to keep up with all these patients, josh. >> all right, thanks for that report. live in clearwater tonight.

detectives in polk county tall -- tell us he stole a car from a pharmacy with a toddler inside. the child's careretaker was inside filling her prescrcription when she came out of the car was stopped -- was gone. equal hd flew over the scene where the car was abandoned. luluckily the child was still inside -- and the suspect took off. if you have any information on who he might be you are asked to call the polk county sheriff's office. a deputy killed by a wrong way driver will be laid to rest tomorrow. services for the deputy will bebe held at saint timothy he's catholic c church in lutes. he dieded in a wrong way crash on the selmon expressway. tomorrow's funeral starts at 1:00 and we will bring you that service live here on news channel 8 and also stream it on our website. this generation of f -- of killer whales at seaworld will

they are ending the orca breeding wellll program as well as -- orca breeding program as well as the theatrical shows. >> reporter: this news follows increasing controversy over the practitice of keeping those whales in captivity. this massive shift in direction comes after years of targeting by animal rights activists. the debate peaked after the documentary blackfish, a movie that told the story of the whale that killed a trainer. just this month they announced that he's ill and expected to soon die. the world acknowledged the pressure leading to the massive changes. >> my attitude towards these very large, very majestic animals being under human care has shifted for a variety of reasons, whether it's legislation, peoples comments on the internet -- it was clear

>> 29 whales already in captivity at these parks including seven in orlando will live their remaining lives at the park and eventually be moved to habitats called orca encounters, a place where guests can watch them swim and play. seaworld says it's now looking forward to the future by partnering with the humane society to work against commercial whaling and see hence. >> jen, thank you. if you are planning a trip to the beach, right nonow a bacterial wawarning is in effect at several beaches including cypress point.t. ththe bacteria often found in sewage runoff can make similar sick. -- can make swimmers sick. they will test the water again on monday. intense video tonight of a fire breaking out at a school pep rally. take a closer look. you can see a firebreather performing, but in the middle of it he suddenly became engulfed in flames. this is in that gym in front of

he was rushed to the hospital. at least 20 others were treated for injuries. the pep rally was organized to their florida standard assessment tests. president obama is expected to throw out the first pitch when the tampa bay rays take on the cuban national team. the mayor will be there as well but getting tickets for the game is proving to be very difficult. the number of tour groups from tampa would like to go but they can't buy the tickets. >> how difficult has it been to get tickets? >> so far it's been impossible. i contacted the race. they said they have -- i contacted the rays. they said they have no tickets at all. >> the rollining stones are also putting on a free concerert in havana just a few days later and that will also be a historic perfoformance. not a bad deal.

cuba right now. his coverage will begin right here on news channel 8. a woman's pet gator making natitional headlines. >> we asked why they popularity of owning exotic animals is on the rise. and this brand of tuna under a massive recall. wiwidget could make you sick. and here's a look at what's coming up next on jimmy fallon. >> clive owen is my guest tonight. it's a great show, do not change the channel. 82 degrees today, it was a warm when and we expect another one tomorrow. rain chances increasing a bit as we head into ththe weekend. we have those numbers for you

it's the story everyone is

a gator living as a pet in tampa bay and while many are shocked by these exotic pets, those of us who live here -- well we know things in florida can get a little wild. >> exotic pets are fascinating and they are very popular these days. melanie michael went out and found more on this story. >> reporter: it takes a brave and bold person to keep a gator as a pet. from the files of you can't make this stuff up. rameau is making headlines after his owner cuddled him on camera, cradling him like a baby. then there's the python from st. pete who spends her days as part of the family. she lives in living room. >> i would say it's the best pet i've ever had. >> but these pets aren't always peaceful. case in point -- this mother -- 's teenager who tried to snuggle up to his water --

that's when he put the teen on the lips. what's the fascination and the attraction to wild things? >> i think they get attached just like a dog or cat. >> he began studying reptiles when he was just 18 years old. after traveling the world he began his business in tampa bay 35 years ago as a wholesaler. he tells us the world of exotic pets, which includes scorpions, trenchless and of course snakes -- is a booming multimillion dollar industry. >> he tells us one of the most popular snakes people keep as pets are ball snakes because they are so docile and they don't get too big. >> it's almost unbelievable to people who aren't in the business but some lizards go for thousands of dollars.

and that was melanie michael reporting, she's awfully bold to be holding that thing. to each his own, but he says you've got to be very smart about it, prepared and by all means get online and get a lot of information before you enter the world of ownership. >> bumblebee tuna recalling more than 31,000 cases of chunk light tuna. it involves the cans that were producuced in february. they believe it could be spoiled or contaminated due to improper sterilization. with put all my product information for you online at wfla.com. and today the city council voted to decriminalize marijuana. people in possession of 20 g or less will be fined instead of facing misdemeanor chaharges. it will now be like getting a traffic ticket. it will go into effect in 30 days.

new peer. this shows several changes that drawings. one of the main architects on the project insist all of the will be built. the plan is to break ground on the new pier in the spring. and right now a live look at baldld eagles. it's a nest week out -- the first lady. they were ironically and iconic we named that because they live in the us national arboretum. this is the first bald eagle paired and missed in this location since 1947. looking pretty good so far. the first egg began hatching last nigight. dc eagle cam will be on a watch now. we will watch this very closely. the planes will hopefully saturday maybe some shower

rain all day. the possibility of an on and off shower does exist, especially later in the day. 73 degrees on sunday. morning rarain and breezy conditions settling inin once the area of low pressure clears to the north but spring breakers -- another nice day. yes probably more clouds than you'd likeke temperature-wise. air temperature about 78 degrees of -- at the beach. mostly cloudy skies, about a 20% chance of showers and spring officially begins, the vernal equinox begins on sunday. that happens as the earth tilts -- tilts toward the sun but spring start sunday at 12:30. not a significant in the bay area -- as significant in the bay area. andrea took these shots in tampa bay and also this shot

the bridge of green here. it wouldn't change colors. stuck on green tonight, appropriately. tonight we have the higher humidity in place. we've bebeen seeing the youth southwesterly wind. -- the youth southwesterly wind. -- in the clouds hoping to block someme of the clouds but still a nights -- a nice warm day. 72 in bartow currently and then a warm day -- upper 80s very close to 90 degrees earlier today. it was a hohot one on the dewpoint temperatures are fairly high obviously because the humidity is up a little bit. you can feel that in the atmosphere but the evening is generally comfortable.e. this is good news. we will likely see patchy fog . rain now visibility shows 10 miles at all locations. the longer that goes the better with likely some fog forming in the overnight. probably not as thick as it was around portions of the bay but they did close the skyway for a

a few of these showers just clipped the northern part of citrus county that fell apart -- so it's been quiet there. the forecast continues to call for showers primarily to our north. leless fog likely in the morning hours with mostly cloudy skies and that showers developing back to our west, late a showers with extra cloud slighting our way. that's the area of low pressure i was referencing. that will help to enhance rain chances for r saturday. mostly cloudy and muggy. again second half of the day -- and then potentially carrying into the early part of sunday, timing difficult at this particular system. even the rpm model is backing

we think the bulk of the shower activity should be out of here before noontime on sunday and then cooler and d breezy for that day. watch for some patchy fog, 80 degrees on sunday. rain chance 50%. we will go 30% in the morning, and again we will watch the timing on that. that could s still change just a little bit. ththis is difficult to forecast. as we get into the >> -- springtime ---- the sun coming out. 60 degrees on monday, 70 on tuesday. very comfortable and a little bit cool. >> yes the flowers have exploded already. >> and the pollen. [laughter] >> a look at that -- what's that on the desk? [laughter] coming up, march madness is in full >> -- full swing. we get you caught up on the days worth of ncaa tournament

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brenden morrow was a veteran presence last eating -- season but his heart has always been in dallas. he signed a one-day contract with the stars today, retiring with that -- with the franchise. ryan callahan has found a dance way to go, callahan. we pick up the highlights in the 2nd work 1-1 before he shoves -- in the 2nd. 1-1 before he shoves him.

but the stars straw even in the third -- the stars draw even in the 3rd. they win 4-3. and it's darren smith the former raven visiting tampa and signing for a one- year traffic -- contract. he started every game last season and made 121 total tackles last year. logan forsythe the leadoff solo shot. happy st. patrick's day, indeed. then in the 6th, stephen pierce goes far to put them up. then richie schaffer follows suit. it's a bit of a shooting gallery out there in the left. finally a two-run finger and the rays blast the phillies, 6- 1. they were down double digits in the second half but lowly

the brink scoring eight straight points to pull within three. the crusaders answer with a 12- 3 run however. the big man scored a game-high 26 and florida state's big apple aspirations are dashed. 81-69 final score ends the seminoles season. only a very small percentage of teams are still perfect thanks to a couple large upsets this afternoon. yale won its first game ever in the big dance. thanks to a career-high 31 points from sophomore mckay mason. as for the other shocker -- straight cash homey. fast-forward to double

31 points again. 85-83 in 20 t. tar heels trounce carolina 8383-says the -- 67. and miami beat buffalo 7979-72 thanks to 24 points from angel rodriguez. >> what dodo you have a against pocket squares? >> i can't afford them. [laughter] you are doing good -- your seven for seven? >> and then they blew a 13 left.

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possibly -- extra clouds tomorrow. a few scattered showers possible tomorrow. >> it's p ryan at wfla.com. [lauaughter] our next newscast is at

[ cheers and applause ] >> steve: from studio 6b in rockefeller center in the heart