area because rent is too high. in expect to rent a one bedroom for $600 to $800, but in reality it's closer to $1,000 or more. >> they are saying it's a challenge for them, the pricing levels that they need under that $1,000 range. >> it's important to us to not only get the employees here but keep them here. >> reporter: without access to affordable housing, the chamber of commerce says they can't recruit long-term. many want to live near where they work. but many work in downtown sarasota or lakewood ranch, so moving out further means longer commutes. >> it's going to be a bigger and bigger issue. >> reporter: in manatee county, young people started a movement called m3. they are already out connecting

they can really afford to rent when they graduate. new video tonight showing the car police say hit and killed a bicyclist, then left the scene. police released this video, a red circle highlighting the suspect. officers say the driver hit and killed 28-year-old skyler sandofar january 31st along u.s. 301 with that gray newer model toyota corolla with front end damage on the right. if you recognize the car, call police. developing tonight, deputies are asking for your help to identify a murder victim from more than four decades ago. this woman was found dead in brooksville in 1972, about 30 years old at the time, found wrapped in a bedspread with a pineapple print on it. if you know who she is, call

good afternoon, everyone. the radar is rain-free, but i think that will be changing later this evening as we get energy and a front coming in from the north turning 60s into 40s by tomorrow morning. factor in the wind and it's already gusting up to close to 30 miles an hour. tomorrow morning will be an extremely blustery start, but for the time being we are dry. we'll have the full forecast coming up in a few minutes. it's not a stat to be proud of. last year the cdc ranked florida number one for bike deaths nationwide. >> and sarina fazan shows us usf is going to start a new crackdown thanks to one woman's mission to keep students safe. >> reporter: these pamphlets

the efforts of one captain. jill is one of more than 42,000 students at usf. >> nowadays a lot of accidents happen because people are looking at their phones. >> everyone is distracted these days. some are even reading. >> reporter: we saw countless examples in just minutes. >> just the sheer numbers, so many cars and so many pedestrians. >> reporter: but last year the captain was the first to respond to a young girl hit in a crosswalk. >> student that was hit on 50th street, that's when it really hits home. i am a mom. have gone to college. >> reporter: she wanted to educate and enforce traffic laws but needed money. she decided to write a grant, years here.

not only paid for the pamphlets but gives access for two officers approved for four hours of overtime a week through may. they will write citations for anyone breaking laws on campus. >> something we could do to assist the community. >> definitely think it makes a difference. >> reporter: citations could range from $50 to more than $150. the crackdown should begin in the next several days. sarina fazan, abc action news. workers wanted in pinellas county. there are openings for beach life guards and special events support workers. life guards must be 17 and have to complete required training and tests. events staff must have a valid florida driver's license. apply at myclearwater.com.

at abcactionnews.com/jobs. traffic alert if you're driving through ybor city. six railroad crossings have been closed on 7th avenue at 14th, 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th streets and are now off limits. drivers can still cross at 5th, 16th, 21st and 22nd streets. all should be reopened by friday. two whales struggling to swim today off the east coast of florida, the whales were moving against the tide. officials believe the pair were trying to get into the indian river lagoon. researchers set up a perimeter to keep the watering calm and hope the whales will swim through sometime today. coming up, it's an

and apartment has. the warning signs that you should be looking for. >> and a single click could expose you to a scam. what you can do now to protect your tax return. >> and a piece of art stolen from a local gallery. how a thief was able to

we've a safety warning for people in condos an apartment buildings. >> the fire sprinklers may not be up to code. >> if the pipe bursts, you're getting a lot of water. >> reporter: that's what happened at two complexes in south florida. a fire sprinkler led to millions in damages and residents forced out of their homes. in these case, florida attorney irvin gonzalez says it's the manufacturer's fault, and

>> it is a major life safety issue. >> reporter: because plastic pipes commonly used in residential fire sprinklers can break or leak and reduce water pressure in a fire emergency. see the orange pipe? gonzalez says the resin in the plastic pipe breaks down and fails when it comes into contact with building products like bonding agents and anticorrosive materials in the pipes. >> it migrates into the plastic pipe. >> reporter: he filed a lawsuit against several of the makers of the pipe used in sprinkler systems, claiming the pipes are defective and endangering the lives of thousands. he has clients in florida, texas, mississippi, kansas and alabama. >> we have hired a number of nationally recognized experts,

have gone to the lab and tested this material and determined it was defective. >> how widespread is it? >> this is a national issue. >> reporter: tampa's fire marshal says the pipe is in about 90% of condos and apartments in our area. >> it's a lot. anywhere they can use it, they always use it. >> reporter: it's a cheaper alternative to steel pipe. his team tests protectly. >> i've never seen a if i recall in the 20 years at the fire department. has it happened, i'm sure it has. >> it's not a question of if, it's a question of when. >> reporter: the companies in

defective and kept selling it anyway, he claims. he says the apps institute a conspiracy. >> putting profits over people and sales over safety. >> reporter: the company sent us this statement: systems installed from 2005 to 2012 are most at risk. we found a similar lawsuit in orlando, stating the pipes and fire sprinkler systems are defective and unreasonably dangerous. if you notice water beading on the ceiling, you should have a professional check it out. it could save you more money and the headache in the long run.

the companies involved on our website. when you file taxes, especially if you're expecting a refund, be sure to get those in as fast as possible. >> with $15 million stolen through tax fraud last year, we have the latest scams so you don't become a victim. e-mails say if you don't click tooling or call the number, you could forfeit your refund. i don't care who you are, if you get scared you're about to lose money, you're probably going to click it. kelly is here with forbes media and has written several articles about the scams. she says these days they are so convincing, they are even fooling tax professionals. her advice? don't click the link and don't respond to the messages.

reading in part: prepared foods are growing in popularity, but you may wonder are they fresh and

the bay area is celebrating black history month, today, paying tribute to african- american music legends >> it is the 28th year for the event, hundreds of people joining me at the tampa bay convention center today. this year's theme, celebrating music of the past and present. performers with a tampa connection were recognized and local students also showcased their talents.

chilly day out there today, seems like we're stuck in that pattern this week. >> we have either been 10 degrees above or below normal. >> get it right. >> right? and we are stuck on the below normal part and as floridians, we are whining about it. a lot of snow birds saying, look at the sunshine there. but for us, when we wake up in the 40s and 30s and it's windy out there, that's cold stuff for florida. couple sprinkles possible later this evening. you often hear it's not the heat but the humidity in the summer. in the winter time it's not the cold but the wind and cold together. when we have low 60s, that's pretty nice. look at the winds, gusting 30, 35 miles an hour. there are gale warnings in effect. throw in the cold air overnight and it will be coming in. you'll hear the trees blowing

effects first thing tomorrow morning. 64 right now at the airport in tampa, humidity 48%, west southwest winds at 15. just change that one letter from an s to an n, then you have west northwest wind, and that will be dropping temperatures a lot by tomorrow morning. they will stay low the entire day. we hit 66 today, should be about 72 with a morning low 43. we'll see temperatures lower than that over the next couple mornings. clouds are beginning to roll in over the last half hour, 45 minutes. satellite and radar shows a nice day across most of the area, and getting a look at the cloud cover that's going to roll in tonight, could see a few specks of green. what's going to happen is as

later tonight, that in itself will bring in a few showers. anyway. tomorrow morning when the winds begin to pick up, we'll still have that cold air over the warmer waters of the gulf and that brings in more clouds and a few showers. it's the same thing as lake- effect snow up north, just a little warmer and still will bring us a few coastal showers. if you're east of i-75, you won't see it because the moisture evaporates before making it to the east side of the state. by tomorrow afternoon and tomorrow night, still have the gusty winds. that's your weather story of the day, no doubt. the wind and chill, once that begins to subside by wednesday morning, it's going to take a while. see more clouds than sun on the coast, more clouds than sun east. then wednesday, thursday and friday, the weather is noticeably better with more

we are still looking at the possibility of a freeze in the northern counties tomorrow night and wednesday night. forecast highs tomorrow only in the mid- to upper 50s, so unusually cold air rolls in. folks, it's going to be staying around for the next several days with a reinforcing shot of colder weather by the weekend. there's florida's most accurate seven-day forecast, few sprinkles near the coast. then sunshine returns later on. wednesday mostly sunny, and highs 10 to 15 below normal. as we start to look into the weekend, we're back in the upper 50s for highs on sunday. bottom line on the seven-day forecast, we are below normal at least till next week and then some. we saw the lights and i

>> coming up, the reason a

providing jobs for people in the bay area. the people at vm image wear have been working hard to make official t-shirts, showing the denver broncos at the super bowl winner. a local woman even designed the prints and they are making at least 50,000 today alone, meaning hundreds of jobs. >> as a company we'll do about 250,000 shirts and around the united states. it's a huge impact. we employ about 500 people here that do this. >> those will be sold online and the official nfl website. this couple had a good excuse for getting out of a speeding ticket. they were heading to the hospital to have a baby. the alabama state trooper who pulled them over on sunday helped deliver that child. when he started questioning them about their speed, the woman went into labor.

child and wrote them a warning like a birth certificate, stating the wife had a beautiful baby boy. now a look at what's happening at 6:00. a rental ripoff, car companies accused of gouging your wallet. the questionable tactics and actions being taken now to get them to stop. plus these stories. >> reporter: a brazen theft in broad daylight. straight ahead, how much one piece of art work is worth that was stolen from this fame gallery. i dialed 911 and our lives changed. >> a flu shot is blamed for paralyzing their daughter. up next, this 12-year-old's parents believe you can help

now at 6:00, an art theft and the surprising steps thieves had to take to steal it. >> and holding companies accountable for health information. police just identified and arrested the man accused of assaulting a child. 18-year-old ricky blake with battery. police say he inappropriately touched a 6-year-old girl

clearwater.