i'm gene ramirez. >> and i'm gayle guyardo. let's turn things over to leigh spann on this thursday morning. f0 >> good morning. it's a nice morning. we still have lower humidity to talk about. this time of the year, that's a

back to gene and gayle. >> okay. thank you. >>> it's probably a dream come true for student, no homework. >> coming up, the school banning homework. >>> first, a look at the new iphone 7 just unveiled. what is missing in this new smart phone. we will tell you about it. you're watching news channel 8 today. y23wly y5yy > apple unveiled a big change and it's not what is in the new - marco. - polo. - marco. - polo. marco. marco? marco? but it's not a game when our senator doesn't show up. i'm patrick murphy. solving problems means showing up. showing independence. and working together. women's health care and worked with both parties to stop cuts to medicare. i'm patrick murphy and i approve this message because florida needs a full-time senator. marco? >>> apple unveiled a big change and it's not what is in the new iphone, that's raising eyebrows, it's what's not. the headphone jack is being replaced with an addition thal speaker. the company says it will give you a stereo sound. and there's water-proof casing and a hi

>> reporter: gayle, good morning. the public works department recently requested more money to investigate sinkholes because sinkhole activity has gone up here in avenue in tampa highlights that even though it isn't a confirmed sinkhole at this point. it required a blockade to be put up overnight. and now check out crazy video that shows huge sinkholes here in hillsborough over the years. public works funds just went up to $2 million a year. that money pays for investigations and stablelyizations. county-- stabilizations. land, workers investigate. if it's indeed a sinkhole, a team of engineers must stabilize it and then fill it in. county leaders tell us that the funding is necessary. >> they occur randomly. on average in the last five year, about five to six occurrences a year. >> reporter: now this doesn't cover investigations on private property. if a sinkhole forms in your backyard, gayle, it's up to pay for it. back to you. >> well, hopefully the investigation leads to fixing this problem. okay, thank you, ryan.

i'm gayle guyardo. >> and i'm gene ramirez. thank you for joining us for this tuesday. we will check the forecast with lee. >> reporter: good morning t feels comfortable in most -- it places this morning. it is 71 in auburndale. and we are at 76 in sarasota, but basically the humidity level today, not too bad category, and for early september, we will take it. we can thank hermine because of it. with the counterclockwise wind flow around it, see the red color? that's dry air sinking all the way down to the tampa bay bay area it will keep the chances very small today. hour-by-hour through tuesday, and we will go back to work and school this morning. >> it's a tough drive right now, and for those of you living in the manatee county area, heads up. i need to allow for extra time here, and there's no easy alternate right now. and again unfortunately that's due to a fatal crash this morning. you're routed around it, and allow for extra time. traffic on the howard frankland bridge, traveling between hillsborough and pinellas county,

i'm gayle guyardo. >> and i'm gene ramirez. thank you for waking up with us on this thursday morning when we are tracking tropical storm matthew which is quickly

. >> and i'm gayle guyardo. temperatures are running about average for this time of the year at this point. zephyrhills, brooksville, 71. 73 throughout polk county. and gets warmer to the south and west. notice sarasota you're at 76. that's where it's more humid. sure did enjoy that dry air that was around yesterday. and for the most part, we're going to keep the dry air around today. the afternoon high just above the average of 90. i'm expecting 91 during the below average. we have a 10% rain chance at noon. and 20% after 2:00 p.m. and that's mostly for areas south of i-4. at 5:08, i have an hour-by-hour look at your wednesday. >>> that's right. and it's nice out there. bay area bridges look great, folks. not seeing delays there. this is 275 around kennedy by the howard frankland bridge. and if you're hopping across the howard frankland bridge, it's only going to take you roughly six minutes. again, i just want to mention seidel. it's completely blocked due to a road closure. and they're doing repairs on the ro

are you listening, gayle? it's as simple as talking like a pirate. that's because it's international talk like a pirate day. to celebrate krispy kreme is giving away a free blaze donut if you talk like a pirate. now you can walk out with a free dozen. you can use a kus till krispy kreme filter to dress like a pirate to get a free dozen. >> we need to do more bits to celebrate. >> we need doe -- donuts here. >>> weather and traffic only the 8s -- on the 8s just 3 minutes >>> it is 4:28 early on this monday morning. but as you're getting ready to send the kids out to the bus stop it's going to be muggy and around 79 degrees. when they come home around 90 degrees with a 40% chance mostly for areas east of i-75. you can see this lighter green color through tampa, new port richey. into polk and highlands >>> looking at traffic right now this is northbound on i-75 right at martin luther king. earlier a vehicle fire according to fhp. looks like just partially the right lane is taken away as well as the right shoulder. we have a truck out there. keeping an e

i'm sorry, gayle. but i'm pretty sure that it's we will get some more answer for you and have another live report this morning. >> yeah, after the live tour, it looks like a mess out there. thank you, mer. >>> happening right now, questions about a massive sinkhole at a phosphate plant. eagle 8 hd flew over it. it's in the middle right there. the cascading water fall of chemical run-off. and now some worry that this morning peter bernard has details. >> reporter: this is a monster sinkhole. it opened up at the plant on highway 640 south of mulberry. it opened about six weeks ago. >> about 40 feet across and who knows how deep, this sing hole at the plant is in a really bad spot. it sits right in the middle of a stuff that comes out of the plant after the company produces phosphate fertilizers and animal feed ingredients. >> when it was first noticed, we installed pumping systems to move water out of the compartment on the stack to recover the water. >> reporter: the water is contaminated with acid and

now back to paul and gayle. ed a unique program -- >>> a unique program for kids teaching them a lot more than just the three r's. take a look. >> [screams] blasz yeah. there i am with -- >> yeah. there i am can -- with coffee in hand. that's saint paul's independent clearwater school. i had the special speaker series. they have graduates come back and share about life. >> the teacher help a lot and guide me through all these life lessons, they impact me deeply. >> what's the most important thing you want your students to come away with when they leave here? >> we want them to be good people and be relevant in therd -- in the world and make a difference. >> this is the second year of the series. the mastermind, a u.s. navy his story. i think the interesting here too, gayle, is the speakers wither coming in and i'm on tv, tv newscaster but they had more questions about the topic that i brought in, which was perseverance and not my occupation. i thought that was fascinating. >> you need that in any career. >>> thi

i'm gayle guyardo. >> and i'm gene ramirez. a controversial vote today in largo. many residents are concerned about a zip line. >> the decision could anger many residents, and we will look at both sides in a minute, but first, the tuesday forecast with lehigh. >> reporter: it may be the day to get outside and enjoy the lowest amount of low humidity. notice zephyrhills, you're at 70. 72 in tampa, and it's bradenton, and we need a day to dry out, obviously at elfers here, that's part of the main flooding area, but myakka and peace river are above flood stage at this point. interestingly enough, we can thank hermine for bringing in the dry air. it's forced all the way down to tampa. the rain chance today, just 20%. at 5:38, i have an 8-day forecast, letting you know if is going on on the roads right now. >> a big problem in manatee county, and this is the big issue in manatee county. if you're out here used to taking state road 70, it's a big issue. it's been downgraded to a possible fatal crash, but 70 nonetheless blocking both d

. >> and i'm gayle guyardo. and let's get you out the door with a quick check of the forecast with leigh spann. >> yeah, grab the umbrella before you leave the door. steamy at 77 out there. 75 in plant city. 76 in fish hawk. and 75 in bartow. there's actually a tropical wave off the florida east coast. and it's going to draw the tropical moisture into our area. and i mentioned it wouldn't be out of the question for a shower this morning. here's one maybe in the far eastern portions of polk county. but some may sneak into pasco or hillsborough as well. just the 10% chance. and look at the coverage of rain going up through the day. up to 60% late they are afternoon and evening. so at 6:08, we will take you hour-by-hour through the day. and leslee is going to take you through the commute. >>> we have a decent one right now. holding on to a good drive. let's look at what's going on in west tampa. overall, a couple potholes out here. depression eastbound martin luther king past himes. looks like activity still out th

i'm gayle guyardo. >> and i'm gene ramirez. let's see what is in store weatherwise. >> reporter: as you go out to your car this morning, it will we have slightly lower hue marylandty, and that also means slight -- lower humidity, and that also means slightly lower airplane temperatures. 68 in crystal river at this point. and i'm shutting the humidity in the not too bad category. after weeks and weeks of being oppressive, it will feel better, and now you can thank hermine. the remnants coast, and the counterclockwise air flow, and the red stream is all the way down to florida. thank you. we are finally drying things out, and keeping the rain chance today at 20% throughout the afternoon. 6:08, specifically going hour- by-hour throughout the day, and liz will help you get through the day. >> on the bay area interstates, no delays, and all interstates looking good. manatee county is definitely our big issue throughout the through state rode 70, unfortunate news. possible fatal crash with state road 70 blocked both directions at bet

i'm gayle guyardo. >> and i'm gene ramirez. thank you for joining us. everyone is talking about this. battery can catch on fire this morning a warning from the faa about the danger it could cause on airplanes. just ahead, what you need to know before you fly. >> reporter: stepping out the door right now, and you will notice a touch more humidity. we are not back to july levels, and it's not as comfortable as yesterday morning. a heads up before you step outside. right now 77 in in bradenton, and here's perspective for you. inverness, 5 degrees warmer, and here's the reason why. the water vapor imagery. the dry air through the atmosphere, right on top of us yesterday, and that was nice, and you can see the blue color creeping into the area, and that's an indication the moisture level is higher. i'm keeping the rain chances out of the forecast for the first few hours of the day, and chance to 40%, and the storms will push towards the coast. at 5:38, i have an 8-day temperature trend to turn you into the weekend, and let's lee lee will -- and leslee will l

. >> and i am gayle guyardo. let's head to leigh spann. >> hurricane hunters flew into it yesterday and did not find f0 going to fly back in this morning and at this point, they are giving it a 90% chance of becoming the next tropical system, whether it's a tropical depression or tropical storm matthew. and it's moving west at 18 miles per hour right now with sustained winds at 40 miles per hour. so it has tropical storm-force winds but not that closed circulation. as it moves west, between the next couple day, it's going to be south of the dominican republic and haiti by saturday morning at 8:30. and then a dip in the jet system up and move it almost due north. a strange path. our concern will be just how far west it goes before it makes the turn to the north. at this point, all the models keep it in the bahamas but we're watching it, that's for sure. locally, an onshore wind flow so we have seen the spot city showers. here's one. and this will happen through the next couple hours. soy left in a 10% rain chance

i'm gene ramirez. >> and i am gayle guyardo. let's head to leigh spann. >> hurricane hunters flew into it yesterday and did not find

jamel-- >> reporter: good morning, gayle. well, like you said, the father of the child troy whitaker is out of jail. pinellas county sheriff says infant in a hot car that reached up to 108 is irresponsible. and deputies say he was taking his children to school friday morning. he dropped off his 5-year-old daughter first and was supposed to drop off the 23-month-old lawson at a day care center. and detectives say with the child strapped in the backseat, in his car seat, whitaker made a run to publix and then returned home, leaving the child in the car until he was discovered sometime friday afternoon. whitaker tried to give him cpr and the child was pronounced dead at the hospital. law experts say the charge is appropriate because he is a first responder and left the child in the car for hours. >> there's a difference between losing track of a kid for 30 seconds, a minute, verses four to six hours of being locked up in the car. especially if he was in the paramedic field. i'm sure he's countless times pets or animals locked in

i'm gayle guyardo. >> and i'm gene ramirez. leigh spann has your wake-up weather. >> well, good morning. right now, we're more

gayle and paul. sdls >> -- >> thank you so much, leigh. television's biggest night. >> who took top honors at the emmy's and who made many people cry. you have to hear this. 5:49 right now. this is news channel 8 today. i'm hillary clinton and i approve this message. donald trump says he alone can fix the problems we face. well i don't believe that's how you get things done in our country. that's how we got health care for 8 million kids. rebuilt new york city after 9/11. and got the treaty cutting russia's nuclear arms. we've got to bring people together. that's how you solve problems and that's what i'll do as president. >>> hbo's game of thrones and veep took top honors at the emmy's last night. game of thrones is now the most honored julia dryfus won her second emmy as an actress. so many people were brought to tears from her. >> lastly i'd like to dedicate this to my father, willie dryfus who pass ed away on friday. i'm so glad that he liked me because his opinion really mattered. thank you. >> it's hard to even hear. mr. robot won be

i'm gene ramirez. >> and i'm gayle guyardo. let's turn things over to leigh spann on this thursday morning. it's nice that we're seeing this stretch of dry weather. >> yeah, not only dry in the fact that the rain chances are low but lower humidity so it feels more comfortable.

gene and gayle, back to you. >> yeah, a lot of peopled -- people interested in the gayle, this loss means so much more than a loss for a baseball player. in the cuban-american community, this is somebody who came from cuba three time, didn't make the trip on the first three attempts. went to jail in cuba for trying to leave. and finally makes it. finds success and then his life cut short. >> and came back home and paid it forward for other kids to give them hope that they could succeed in life. >> 24 years old with a baby girl on the bay. investigating a strip club shooting this morning. gunfire erupts at goody's gentleman's club on east hillsborough avenue. a man was shot in the leg. he is expected to survive. tampa are on the scene with k9s searching for evident. >>> the battle to keep ride sharing services running in hillsborough county appears to be over. this morning we expect to learn more about an agreement that could allow uber to operate mary mcguire is in downtown tampa this morning. mary, the two groups have been duking it out for months. what's happening now? >> reporter: well

. >> and i'm gayle guyardo. we do have team coverage for you this morning with crews all over the place. tracking hermine. and jamel lanee' live in clearwater beach. ryan hughes in cedar key. and ed bloodsworth is in tampa monitoring the conditions for us this morning. >> yeah, you mentioned it, gayle, a huge system. this extends from north carolina on the north side to the central gulf of mexico. and we are stuck in the middle as the system did make land fall at 1:30 with 80 miles per hour winds, making it a category one hurricane near st. line there. but so significant that it made land fall as a category one hurricane. believe it or not, it's been 11 years since florida has seen a land falling category one hurricane or larger. so very, very unusual to have gone that long. but now we have what is left of this system affecting the tampa bay area. we have been inundated with rain over the last two days. so the ground is saturated but with this rain band, whipping around, this center of this point, the tropical s

back to gene and gayle. detectives are investigating a death in a quiet neighborhood in brandon. >> they're trying to figure out how a person at a home died. news channel 8's ryan hughes is live from the scene. we have been checking in with him all morning. what is the latest now, ryan? >> reporter: gene and gayle, good morning to you guys once again. investigators have been here at this home in brandon for the past five hours and you can see that they are still here onscene. a number of them in the front yard. at this point, they have been going in and out of this home after a search signed by a judge early this morning. and we have video of the scene to show you right now. we're told by a sheriff's spokeman that someone called 911 around 12:15 this morning. deputies got to the home and they tell us they found a person dead inside and. but they are not saying what led to the death of the person or the gender of that person. and we are told by the interviewed. as you can see, an investigation underway. more

i'm gayle guyardo. >> and i'm gene ramirez. thank you for waking up with us

and gayle, it should be an interesting meeting to say the least. >>nd still have a lot of questions. thank you ryan. >>> this morning, a pasco county deputy is on the wrong side of the law. the deputy is accused of punching an inmate in the head. detectives tell us he hit the handcuffed inmate after the prisoner reportedly threw a fit inside and a holding cell. two other deputies witnessed this entire incident. they had been with the agency since 2009. >>> right now, polk county deputies are searching for a he has robbed the same circle k store, get this had, three times. it's happening on spirit lake road in winter haven. the robber threatened clerks twice with a paint ball gun and then once with a knife. and that's not all. he robbed the cvs across the street from the same circle k. >>> the time right now is 4:38. leigh spann, in a matter of hour, the it will be fall. >> and it will feel like it too. no, no, it won't. temperatures running above average. let me take you through each hour of the day. gr now you might notice it's slightly less humid

i'm gayle guyardo. >> and i'm gene ramirez. thank you for waking up with us on this wednesday morning. let's get a check on the coming up. again, the days are getting shorter. tomorrow starts fall. at this point, i've been tracking a few showers offshore but unlike yesterday, they're not pushing toward the coastline. so i only left in a small rain chance this morning. what's happening, see this red color up here? that's dry air in the upper- levels of the atmosphere. and over the last few hour, i've really been tracking it sneaking farther down here into the tampa bay area. which is why i left in the 10% rain chance this morning. and it's why i 30% rain chance later today. not as much rain as yesterday. but still hot. last day of summer, 90 degrees. just as we would expect. at 6:38, tracking the tropics. and leslee is tracking a few things on the roadways. >>> well, still a great drive on the bay area bridges and also downtown tampa. it still looks good. and we have an accident in pasco county. let's zoom in to pasco county her

back to gene and gayle. >> all right, leslee. >>> ray jay is going to the dogs so grab your leash and get ready for the you must love dog thes halloween fest. it kicks off tomorrow at -- dogs halloween fest. it kicks off tomorrow at raymond james stadium. >> puppies are getting ready for a tail-wagging good time. >> a lot of rescue, to benefit humane society of pinellas. a good cause. >> a few pictures from st about 2,000 people showed up. there will be a national pet unit for vaccinations and imizations, a fire safety demonstration and you can even adopt a new four-legged friend. >> i like that. >> she has a little boyfriend named buddy. she is a double adoption if someone adopts her. >> that's right, wherefore she goes, the boyfriend goes. wfla.com. >>> fuccillo kia is generously matching the first $50,000 we raise. for every dollar you donate, it counts as two. the walk is happening november 12th. this is also happening at raymond james stadium. head to wfla.com/heartwalk for more details. >>> new drama i

. >> and i'm gayle guyardo. let's turn things over to leigh spann on this thursday morning. it's nice that we're seeing this stretch of dry weather. >> yeah, not only dry in the fact that the rain chances are low but lower humidity so it feels more comfortable. 67 in brooksville. when you have the lower humidity, temperatures fall more overnight. so we have dropped to 72 in lakeland and auburndale. 76degrees in sarasota. here's what i'm talking about. the water vapor, this shows you where the dry air in red and the humid air in blue and green. so just in our area, the reddish area north of i-4 certainly is entrenched and now it's starting to spread farther to the south. that's really good news as we dry out. a 20% mostly south of i-4. so highs today just above average. i'm expecting 91. 90 is the average. at 5:08, i take you hour-by- hour through your thursday. >>> good commute. let's hope that continues throughout the morning folks. but for your thursday morning, looks very good. paul buchman highway looks good. and 34 over to 75 is just an 11 minute commute. and now on i-4

i'm gayle guyardo. >> and i am gene ramirez. thank you for joining us on this wednesday morning. the former miss universe right now in the center of a political storm. hillary rodham clinton brought her name up during the presidential debate. >> this morning, she is telling her side of the story during much more on this controversy in just minutes. but first, a check on the wednesday forecast with leigh spann. f0 >>> yeah, we have invest 97l. and it has a 90% chance of becoming the next tropical system, whether a tropical depression or tropical storm matthew. the hurricane hunters are expected to fly into it this morning. they flew in yesterday and did not find a closed circulation even though they found strong winds so we will see what they find this sustained winds of 40 miles per hour and it's going to continue in the westerly otion through saturday morning. then it's going to react to an upper-level in dip in the jet stream which is going to make it apparently move almost due north just off florida's east coast is a strange path, i know so we're watching it closely to see how

back to gene and gayle. >> we will check back. thank you. >>> an apple a day may keep the doctor away but it could help solve a stinky problem. >> yeah, that story still ahead. >>> plus, fat shaming and presidential politics. coming up, how a former miss universe ended up in the middle it's 6:40 and you're watching i wore a badge for 38 years knowing how much you trusted us to keep you safe. yet when a officer was killed in action florida was not doing enough to give their families the help they desperately needed. dana young understood. that was wrong, so we changed that law. to ensure these families get the benefits they are entitled to and the honor they deserve. dana young has our back and she has yours. a return to common sense. >>> in your vote, donald trump will campaign in iowa and wisconsin today. you can expect to see more trump ads in the coming days. trump is planning a major $18 million following monday's presidential debate. and trump told rally attendees tuesday night that he won the first debate citing online debat

back to paul and gayle. >> 6:32. breaking news right now. >>> scary moments over night along the veteran's expressway where witnesses reported gunfire the sheriff's office told us this morning they are investigating. now we have learned that evidence was found that confirms shots were fired but no one is in custody. we will keep you posted on new developments in this morning. >>> two citrus county children were violently taken from their care giver by their own mother. >> yeah, authorities issued the bulletin over night hours after 3-year-old rylan williams and the parents, stacie and ryan williams, as soon as possible. they are not supposed to have the children. news channel 8's%-?ryan hughesin hillsborough county this morning. ryan, cops all over the bay area are looking for this family. >> reporter: yeah, good morning once again. police officers, deputies are on streets and highways like the one behind me hoping to find these two kids and their two parents. now this is a picture that shows the missing children. de

. >> and i'm gayle guyardo. let's get you out the door. >> yeah, it feels comfortable again this morning. the drier air held on for a few more hours and we will take it. 64 in brooksville and zephyrhills. the farther south you go, it's more humid. sebring at 75. this red color is the dry air. the blue colorer is humid air. we are split right down the middle but still holding on to the drier air. so the rain chance today once again, just 20%. mostly for areas south of i-4. highs today without that rainfall, not bad, around 91 degrees. close the average. at 4:08 in weather and traffic on the 8s, i have an hour-by- hourk leslee has the commute. >>> very nice this morning. nice drive across the water. travel times here, palm harbor and the land o'lakes area on u.s. 19, that's a 14 minute commute. and about 13 minutes from state road 52 to state road 54 on u.s. 41. and a live look, i-4 coming through, hitting up at the junction through ybor city, looks great. and 275 at bearss, no delays there. traffic. back to gene

back to gene and gayle. >> all right. thank you. >>> the controversy now heating up over a cake order. refusing to make a birthday cake. >>> and a sneak peek at what the new iphone may look like and the possible features we can expect. >>> first, a 12-year-old florida boy home alone when a burglar breaks in. the scary encounter and how the boy called for help. you're watching news channel 8 >>> listen to this. a scary situation for a 12-year- old in south florida when a burglar broke in while the child was still inside and the home. >> you have to take a look at this video. the crook slipped inside and through the window. and then he snatches a laptop, jewelry and passports. the boy says he was inside and his room watching tv when he heard a knock at the front door. the boy saw the burglar break in and ran to the bathroom. that's when the thief told him to stay there. when the boy felt safe, he dialed 911. >> must have been so from social media to word of mouth trying to find the owner of this flag. it was folded on the s

i'm gayle guyardo. >> and i'm gene ramirez. thank you for waking up with us on this thursday morning when we are tracking tropical storm

i'm gene ramirez. >> and i'm gayle guyardo. speaking of leigh spann, let's find out what's going on in the tropics. >> yeah, a lot of us went to bed with rain to the north and woke up this morning and it's tropical storm julia.

gayle-- >> such a sad story. and it just -- we have to start working on something to trigger parents to remember. this happens way too te thank you, jamel. >>> all right, gayle, happening today, a major step beginning to clean-up all that damage hurricane hermine left in her wake. crews in pasco county will now work 12 hour day, seven days a week until all of that debris is completely cleaned up. in all, hurricane hermine destroyed 23 homes. fema officials toured the damage over the weekend to figure out whether they'll declare the area a federal disaster area. but even if it is, the director winning the lottery. >> the average pay-out to a homeowner is only $6,000 per household. it is not a lot of money. it is not an insurance gap. it won't pay to fix somebody's home. if they get every bit that fema can give them, it's between 33,000 to $36,000. >> and leaders expecting to learn whether a federal disaster declaration will be made this week. >>> a suspected car thief shot by tampa police is expected to pulled ove

. >> and i'm gayle guyardo. let's get you out the door with the tropics. >> yeah, you think tropical storm julia, what are you talking senate well, it formed at about 11:00 last night. it was an area of low pressure we were tracking yesterday. us is pretty small. in fact, nothing really changed since it got its name. a better look shows you where the clouds and rain are. the center of circulation just moving into south georgia but nothing on the left side, nothing on the southern side. almost all of the rain on the northern side headed into south carolina. it's going to draw up extra tropical moisture for us. right now, 40 miles per hour winds. by this afternoon, it's going to be a depression and drift north through georgia and si more humid today and that's why we have a couple showers off the gulf of mexico. but not very many. western portions of manatee and sarasota county, some showers. 20% rain chances this morning. and again, this is a tropical air mass so we will get thunderstorms to develop, 30% rain cha

back to gene and gayle. >> thank you. >>> we aring breaking news. these are -- we are following breaking news. these are live pictures of a burglary scene in north tampa. officers tell us that thieves made a hole in the back wall of an at&t store across from university mall. we are zooming in here. you see it that is a hole right through the concrete block of this wall. that's how the bad guys got into the at&t store. no word what if anything may have been stolen but the store is one of many to carry the new iphone 7. of course, a hot item right now. we will have more on this story as soon as we learn more. but just incredible to see the images and the lengths to which some people will go through to investigation this morning. this massive sinkhole in polk county appears to be getting bigger and take a look. this is what eagle 8 hd found just yesterday. look at the differences. the walls cracking and separating. >> yeah, if you compare the two, look at the video on the right specifically, that was taken just

i'm gayle guyardo. >> and i'm gene ramirez. thank you for waking up with us on this tuesday morning. let's get a check on the weather for you, here's leigh. >>> good morning. it is more humid today. and the rain chance is going to you see the moisture on the east coast at this point. thankfully it isn't staying over water any more because it would have more time to development. but it will increase our rain chances. so inland areas like polk county and highlands county, you could see a chance of rain this morning. and boy the coverage of rain gets better through the day, 30% at midday and 60% late they are afternoon. and the extra clouds and rain keeping highs right about average with just 89 degrees. at 4:38, i have an temperature the trend for and you leslee has the tuesday commute. >>> that's right. and it's a pretty good. we've had one accident clear up in the bradenton area. let's take a look at i-4. wonderful drive coming from polk county, plant city and into ybor. let's take a look at the maps now. out to west tampa, zoo

>> reporter: well, gene and gayle, good morning. the governor issued an emergency rule on monday that requires polluters to notify the public if there is a pollution incident. and of course, it stems from the incident here at the mosaic plant here in polk county. this is video of the massive sinkhole that opened up in late august, sending more than 25 15 can. the company notified the state department of environmental protection but no one told residents around the area. it was kept under wraps for around 19 days. a scientist explained the contamination of the aquifer will continue. >> every time it rains, there's more material going down the sick hole. >> reporter: tampa bay water confirms two of the eastern most pumps in the wellfield stay off to protect the public water supply. tampa bay water is drawing 14.5 million-gallons of water a day from this well field. and now governor scott will be here around 11:30. he plans to speak to reporters after he tours the site. we will have the latest on this throughout the day, gayle. back to

back to gene and gayle. >> all right. thank you so much. >>> our team coverage continues in sara where some residents are out of their homes this morning as water from the whitaker bayou crept a little too close for comfort. news channel 8's ryan hughes is live along the bayou this morning. ryan, what's the level like right now. >> reporter: good morning once again. we are not far from tamiami trail on a dock over the buy take a look. you can see the water is probably two feet from the dock and roughly two feet from the top of the retaining wall behind me. so significantly different than last night at 11:00 p.m. when it really looked ominous out here. and at that hour, people were getting out of their homes as quickly as they could. listen here. >> is it under water? >> no, it's coming in now. >> you're all right though? >> yes, i'm fine. >> nice officers to come and get you? >> very nice. >> reporter: she's fine. that's good news. let's hope it judy, lucky to get out as the water got close the to her home. now the rain a

i'm gene ramirez. >> and i'm gayle guyardo. let's get you out the door this thursday morning morning. it looks like julia has stalled. f0 >> still stalled off the south carolina coast. now this morning about an hour ago, it was downgraded to a tropical depression, 35 miles per hour winds and thankfully all the rain is pushing off into the atlantic. but look at this forecast track, it's not a track. it just sits there. today, friday, the weekend, by

i'm gayle guyardo. >> and i'm gene ramirez. >>> an alarming story here. recalling its new galaxy 7 because it can catch on fire. what the faa is warning about the phone so you can stay safe, of course. >> reporter: when you walk outside this morning it will feel a little bit more humid, and not bad, and we have not gone back to july and august levels, but more than yesterday. 72 in brooksville, and it's 77 in northport, at the 24 hours temperature change, we are anywhere from 2- 5 degrees warmer, and when you welcome at the water vapor imagery is right on top of us. the blue colors? yeah, they are creeping in, and that's higher moisture levels, and that's still dry this morning, going up to a 20% rain chance at 3:00 p.m., and 30% at 4:38, an 8-day temperature trend, and leslee will help you get your friday commute started. >> it's not a bad one. it's not perfect, but here's the howard frankland bridge. great drive as you move across it the maps in sarasota county, and there's road work going on here. state road 72 is actually closed to cydell work. they a

i'm gayle guyardo. >> and i'm gene ramirez. thank you for waking up with us on this thursday morning when we are tracking tropical storm quickly gaining steam in the caribbean. >> matthew is thousands of miles away. but could florida be in the storm's path? leigh spann is tracking matthew this morning. what's the latest, leigh? >> well, good morning, guys. we are waiting on the 5:00 update. it should happen anywhere between now and 4:50. we will get the information from the hurricane center. it is a strong tropical storm. 65 sustained winds and just the caribbean and moving quickly to the west at 16 miles per hour. and as it moves through warm waters of the caribbean, it should become hurricane matthew. and notice we will be tracking this through saturday night, still well in the caribbean, way away in florida. and then it will make a hard turn to the north, passing by jamaica and heading toward the eastern portion of cuba monday evening. most of the models take this, continue to take this due north eastern portions of florida.

grey. -- gayle. >> i know a lot is unfolding. thank you, meredith. >>> news channel 8 mary mc york city and many new yorkers are expecting law enforcement to step up security around the city and that's exactly what is happening. >> you will see police on corners, there will be police with heavier artilleries and weapons that will be stationed in different places around the city certainly at a lot of the large subway stations but also at historical sights. >> if you have family or safety check feature so users can go ahead and check on loved ones. >>> now zika in your backyard. >> governor rick scott will be in miami today in winwood, the first area declared a zika zone. the advisory is expected to be lifted because there's been no on going tran mission for -- transmission for 45 this morning it covered all of miami beach. >>> right now pasco deputies are searching for a man accused of trashing a motorcycle shop and stabbing the owner. william angle worked at the action honda shop on u.s. 19 in hudson. deputies tell us husband bos

i'm gayle guyardo. >> and i'm gene ramirez. thank you for waking up with us on this thursday morning when we are tracking tropical storm matthew which is quickly been issued for the lesser an till lees. >> could florida be in the -- lesser antilles. >> what's the latest, leigh spann? >> well, the latest, still at 65 miles per hour winds. the hurricane hunters flew in last night and said it didn't get stronger but still moving quickly to the west at 16 miles per hour. and let me tell you, there was warm waters in the caribbean so it is expected to strengthen and could be a category one hurricane by tomorrow morning. then as we head turn to the north on sunday. and really it's a hard turn to the north. i mean, all those 90 degrees. so by tuesday morning, it's just in the eastern portions of cuba. so i know you're asking how is it going to make the turn to the north? well, i wanted to break it down for you. this is the european model but most say something similar. there's some wobble. and this is the basic overview. it gains stre

i'm gayle guyardo. >> and i'm gene ramirez. thank you for waking up with us for the day. >> not too bad. last full day of summer and. right now, it's warm but it's dry. notice the showers off of pinellas and pasco counties at this moment. not making their way closerrer to the coast. and i want to show you through the atmosphere though. the red color is nice, dry air. and blue and green, that's a the humid air. but what's been happening in the last few hour, the red color is starting to spread south. and this is upper-level dry air. and what that will do the for us, but it will keep our rain chances slightly lower which is why it's just 10% this morning. and during the afternoon, only a 30% chance. still hot and humid today with a high of 90. coming up in weather and traffic on the 8s, i am tracking the tropics, two systems i'm watching for you. and leslee has her eye on the roads. >>> we have a good drive here. it is just very, very nice out there. seeing more vehicles out on the roadway but it's still very light. here's 275 at

gene and gayle -- >> very important. thank you, meredyth. >>> well, thousands of itt tech students are trying to figure out their next move after their school shut down. now one college many hillsborough county stepping in to help. this morning country including the -- campuses across the country including the one in tampa are locked up tight. they are helping students transfer into programs at hcc that might lead to a degree. we spoke with one tampa student who was just about to finish her nursing degree. >> whatever reason they had for closing, i just -- just let the students that really want their career finish. you want to make a better life for yourself. you want to reach that goal. and it's hard when somebody just takes it away from you like that. >> itt tech claims they closed because of major financial problems. >>> in a few months, construction will start on a rope adventure and zip line course in largo. city commissioners approved a deal a company to build the new attraction. we flew drone 8 over the highlands

i'm gayle guyardo. >> and happy friday. i'm paul mueller in for gene today. and let's check in with >> that's right. f0 this is an active part of hurricane season. we've had ian and not a bother to anyone. and now we have julia and as of last night, tropical storm karl. so i'm going to focus on julia. still a tropical storm. actually yesterday downgraded to a tropical depression so it strengthened. notice the forecast track doesn't have it moving anywhere through the weekend. finally taking off to the north and east into next week and moving away from the carolina coast. and here's karl. miles per hour winds now. and it will slowly get some strength as it moves west. in fact, the latest forecast here, wednesday morning, it is a category one hurricane. i like seeing that the forecast is starting to move north. hopefully it will stay away from the united states but at this point, it bears watching because it's headed west. locally, feeling a little tropical. uncomfortable amount of humidity today. and that's going to translate into, well, typical summer if you

i'm gayle guyardo. >> and happy friday. i'm paul mueller in for gene today. and let's check in with with three named storms. >> that's right. karl is the latest one. it formed late last night. ian not going to have an impact on anyone. but julia regained tropical storm status although it's going to continue to just move around the south carolina and north carolina coastline for the next couple days. we will keep an eye on it. but for the most part, not much of an issue for us. and then there's karl which bearss at least a little bit of watching. 45miles per hour and it's slowly gaining strength, becoming about a 60 miles per hour storm on sunday. 70miles per hour storm on tuesday evening. it's still a long way away. we will just watch it for sure. now locally, it feels tropical. our humidity is high for this time of the year. it's not oppressive. that's july and august. but it's uncomfortable which will lead to showers, the first few popping up around noon. much better rain chances east evening. at 4:38 in weather and traffic on the 8s, i will have the eight-

but again, gayle, at this point, the rain has subsided. back to you. >> that's good that they're seeing the reprieve, but more rain is on the way. ; check out our free news channel 8 app before you hit the road. we have a list of road closures so you can avoid the flooding. >>> let's turn things over to leigh spann. >> yeah, again, we don't have a lot of rain now but the ground is completely saturated. so any rain will quickly lead to flooding, especially near the high tide time. flood watch for the coastal areas. anyone close to the coastline at this point. and we do have light rainfalling in hillsborough county. and we also falling in the sarasota county as well. brandon, and some in sarasota. look at the rain in the gulf of mexico though. that's rotating around hermine and that's going to wrap around into our area. the saturated ground plus high tide equals more flooding problems. as far as the wind threats, isn't a big wind event for us but we could see isolated tornadoes, high rip currents and it won't take much with the ground is so