Michaela MulliganBreaking News Reporter
Tampa Bay has been my home since around the time I took my first steps as a toddler. I took a short break away to pursue my passion for storytelling at the University of Florida. But now I’m back and excited to be telling the stories that make my home unique. When I’m not hunched in front of a computer or waiting in line for coffee, you can find me outside enjoying Florida’s beaches. Or when it’s just too hot, snuggled up inside with my two cats, Willow and Gabby, watching the latest home renovation show.
/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/tbt/941900fa-7d06-4d6f-b331-5e87149885aa.png "Michaela Mulligan - Breaking News Reporter")
![Nelya Beremad, 6, of Holiday plays with a mermaid doll at Tarpon Springs Splash Park on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Tarpon Springs. "It's very hot," Kahina, Nelya's mother, said. "Even the ice isn't cold at home."](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 562 316"/%3E "Nelya Beremad, 6, of Holiday plays with a mermaid doll at Tarpon Springs Splash Park on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Tarpon Springs. \"It's very hot,\" Kahina, Nelya's mother, said. \"Even the ice isn't cold at home.\"")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/OGSKYW32SFHHVFFPVPTQGO3AHY.jpg "Nelya Beremad, 6, of Holiday plays with a mermaid doll at Tarpon Springs Splash Park on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Tarpon Springs. \"It's very hot,\" Kahina, Nelya's mother, said. \"Even the ice isn't cold at home.\"")
![Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area has over 20,000 acres of a wide variety of ecosystems including natural springs. Eagle Nest Sink and Buford Spring is popular with divers. [2018]](https://www.tampabay.com/resizer//EcwotVRRj5J44jT53KagYjzgGhw=/200x112/filters:format(webP)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/AJXMKT2EKRBUNBX7QRQFUV3RMQ.JPG "Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area has over 20,000 acres of a wide variety of ecosystems including natural springs. Eagle Nest Sink and Buford Spring is popular with divers. [2018]")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/4OANGJQKFFBHBCJIVOWHJM7BBU.jpg "Six people were injured when a truck hit Building Blocks at Clearwater, a private day care, on Monday, according to Ayman Saed, the owner of the day care.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/3NUNFFFRYEIMVSAZVGPIDYIR3A.png "The body of a missing St. Petersburg woman was found Monday in the Boca Ciega Bay near the Pinellas Bayway, according to police.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/NUNKILPCIFDPJIDJSW7WOHZPXY.jpg "From left: Gavin Alexander Wolden, 25, Benjamin Aakeem Smiley, 23, and Israel Montanez, 23, have been arrested in connection to a fatal shooting on Sept. 9, according to Tampa police. Each one faces charges of first-degree felony murder and burglary with the intent to commit battery, police said.")
:format(webP)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/LPYT5P5A3ZEYDI7U36QOFGCXSY.jpg "The Pinellas Park Police Department arrested Miguel Alejandro Haisten, 31, Friday on a first-degree murder charge in connection to the death of 65-year-old Joseph Alan Maiden. Maiden was found dead in an abandoned Pinellas Park home Wednesday, according to police.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/VOR25N6G7XXLMGVQVLQC2NL74E.jpg "David Gainer Jr., 50, from Lutz, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges after he stole more than $100,000 from the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce for personal use, according to federal authorities. Gainer was the president of the chamber at the time. The missing funds were discovered around the time the chamber merged with the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce to form the Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce in 2019, according to a board member with the chamber.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/FT4VPLF44VBNVOC3ZLDTYMDZUM.jpg "La familia de Jasmin Cervantes-Garcia, de 12 años, observa mientras la cargan en una ambulancia que espera después de aterrizar en el Aeropuerto Internacional de Tampa el martes 12 de julio de 2022. Jasmín Cervantes-Garcia es la única sobreviviente de un accidente automovilístico que mató a sus padres. y abuelos mientras estaban de vacaciones en México.")
:focal(461x347:471x337):format(webP)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/A626HVDNSNGQTGKBNJEZCM2OWE.jpg "The westbound lanes of the Courtney Campbell Causeway have been shut down after a vehicle caught fire Monday afternoon. Clearwater police are advising drivers to seek an alternate route for the afternoon commute.")
:format(webP)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/MXXFX6SPUBGDPAYQUSYSSTMAEU.PNG "Stuart Beck has been arrested on a first-degree murder charge in connection with a Clearwater shooting.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/PUEJVJILHNDFPMMFC4KFE4TPPQ.jpg "Tampa police are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred in South Tampa early Friday morning.")
:format(webP)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/Y2NRCD6R6NBBVCVPQK6RJYGLHY.jpg "Ronny Walker, a 44-year-old Tampa man, has been arrested in the slaying of Nilexia Alexander, a 14-year-old girl from Temple Terrace, the Tampa Police Department announced Thursday night.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/B25K2LIMRFDGRORQ44HQYF2SUY.JPG "Ciclistas participan en el Paseo del Silencio, un evento anual en reconocimiento a aquellos que resultaron heridos o muertos por un automovilista.")
:focal(214x207:224x197):format(webP)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/6JX4LGJL6BGTZKLIYXGULLDLTA.jpg "Levi Stock, 11, second from left, was struck by lightning Thursday while out boating with his family near Williams Park in Riverview, according to the family’s pastor, Daniel Butson. The force of the strike pushed Levi off the boat, causing his father, Derek Stock, to jump in after him, according to Butson.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/MMJK272SSNCOVBJHQAKTIDFTHQ.jpg "Debbie Dunn, of Tarpon Springs, leads a group of cyclists along Curlew Road Wednesday, May 18, 2022 in Dunedin. The group was taking part in the annual Ride of Silence in recognition for those that have been injured or killed by a motorist.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/ACCA7PZ6DZH5BADD2YEU5OIS6Y.JPG "Members of the Pinellas County Use of Deadly Force Investigative Task Force conduct an investigation into the death of a Tampa man who was shot and killed by Pinellas deputies north of Enterprise Road in Safety Harbor on Thursday. Robert Hubbard, 43, was shot after he pointed a gun at deputies, according to Clearwater Deputy Chief Michael Walek.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/OAX3GQOHL5DXBGPV56Q3MNTBCA.jpg "Abortion-rights marchers hold signs during a rally Friday in St. Petersburg.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/FDQ6OTWWJJBZVLGBUOIRZVORT4.jpg "Two scuba divers were found dead at Buford Spring in the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area Wednesday. The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday that neither diver showed any obvious signs of trauma, and both had appropriate diving gear.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/RRBNGP3BBZDVFCMRPY4VM53QJU.png "Detectives were investigating a fatal shooting Tuesday on the 1600 block of Flagler Driver in Clearwater, police said.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/OCZBGSGSFRDDJNL5OB72OOPWJE.jpeg "A child was airlifted Monday afternoon after the spine of a catfish stabbed the child in the chest and broke off, according to Pasco Fire Rescue.")
:format(webP)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/OYTQ33JE3ZFO3MARONCUA5JEHU.jpg "Craig Hartfield, a 54-year-old vocal coach from Brandon, was arrested Monday and is facing molestation charges in connection to a 14-year-old girl he was hired to teach in the New Port Richey area, according to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/K4UE5UUPENBJFHN7T4SONATHIM.jpg "The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office responded to the Westfield Brandon mall Friday afternoon after receiving reports of a shooting. According to the agency, two men got into an argument that took them outside, where one man shot the other.")
