Katlyn Brieskorn

Hi there! I'm a digital content producer looking to grow in the communications field.

WFLA •

How long does $1M in savings last for Florida retirees?

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Figuring out how much to save for retirement can be daunting. Even where you retire can have an impact on how far your money goes.


A recent study from GoBankingRates determined the average American needs about $1.9 million to retire comfortably, which can be way out of reach for many people.


GoBankingRates said you’ll get more bang for your buck if you head to states in the South or the Midwest. If you live in Hawaii or New York, you will want to work as long as you ca...
WFLA •

Florida python trapper captures 17-foot snake

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A python trapper with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission captured a 17-foot snake over the weekend.


“You gotta let her work, as my Brazilian Ju-Jitsu friends say. Got to let them work,” joked Matthew Kogo.


Kogo, a trapper with FWC, wrangled the 17-foot, 1-inch python in the Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area near Fort Lauderdale, NBC affiliate WBBH reported.


“Spend some time with a serpent before snatching it up and pulling it out of the ‘...
WFLA •

Tampa Bay Lightning sign Jake Guentzel to 7-year contract

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The Tampa Bay Lightning announced they have signed forward Jake Guentzel to a seven-year contract worth an average annual value of $9 million.


The 29-year-old was acquired Sunday in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes. The Lightning sent a 2025 third-round pick to the team to earn negotiation rights with Guentzel.


Last season, Guentzel recorded 30 goals and 77 points with a plus-25 rating in 67 games between the Hurricanes and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Guentzel won the S...
WFLA •

World’s largest cruise ship catches fire after sailing from Florida

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A small fire broke out on the world’s largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, on Tuesday.


A Royal Caribbean spokesperson told USA Today that the fire was quickly extinguished and isolated to a crew area. No one was hurt. The ship was docked in Costa Maya, Mexico when the fire broke out.


The spokesperson said the ship briefly lost power, however, backup power was activated immediately and the main power systems were resorted. The ship’s itinerary was n...
WFLA •

‘Ultra rare’ $500 banknote from 1930s to be auctioned off

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — An “ultra rare” $500 banknote from the 1930s is set to be auctioned off Wednesday.


According to Hanson’s Auctioneers, the banknote was printed 90 years ago and is part of a major collection of rare USA notes uncovered in Wales.


William Hayward, a coin/banknote valuer at Hansons, said the banknote is rare for a number of reasons. Hayward said having a $500 note in your pocket in 1934 would have been extremely unusual. 


“It’s also unusual because it hasn’t been redeem...
WFLA •

Breeze Airways announces new nonstop flight from Tampa

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Tampa travelers will soon be able to visit another destination with Breeze Airways.


The airline announced Tuesday that it will begin service from Tampa International Airport to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Pennsylvania starting Oct. 18. Fares for the new route start at $79 for one-way tickets if purchased by July 1 for travel by Jan. 7, 2025.


Breeze also announced that it is offering a 35% discount off roundtrip base fares if travelers use the code “DUPE” online. The promoti...
WFLA •

Red Bull Flugtag returns to Tampa Bay for the first time in 13 years

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — For the first time in 13 years, Red Bull Flugtag will return to Tampa Bay.


The high-flying event will take place in front of the Tampa Convention Center on Saturday, Nov. 9.


Flugtag, which means “flying day” in German, is a competition where crews get to pilot homemade flying machines off the end of a 27-foot-tall flight deck in front of thousands of spectators.


If you are interested in participating, teams can apply from July 8 until Sept. 19.


Teams will be se...
WFLA •

Tampa restaurant ranked among Yelp’s top 100 sushi spots

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A Tampa restaurant was recently ranked among Yelp’s top 100 sushi spots.


Yelp said its reviewers helped identify the best places to find expertly made sushi across the country. They looked for spots that offered the freshest ingredients, sushi styles for every taste and the chef’s choice experience.


Rice & Spice on Sheldon Road in Tampa was ranked at No. 55 on the list.


Reviewers said the sushi spot is a must-try and has “the best Pad Thai ever.”


“There is a reas...
WFLA •

Rapper Travis Scott arrested in Florida

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Rapper Travis Scott was arrested in Florida on Thursday.


Court records show that the rapper, whose real name is Jacques Bermon Webster II, was charged with trespassing on property and disorderly intoxication in Miami-Dade County. He has posted bond.


“Mr. Scott was briefly detained due to a misunderstanding,” Bradford Cohen, the rapper’s attorney told WFLA. “There was absolutely no physical altercation involved, and we thank the authorities for working with us towards a...
WFLA •

Why wasn’t there a tornado warning in Citrus County?

CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — A tornado touched down in Crystal River on Sunday night but residents in the area were not notified about it.


On Monday, the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office explained that an alert was never issued because the tornado started as a waterspout and was too small to register on the National Weather Services’ radar.

The U.S. National Weather Service Tampa Bay said a tornado watch is issued when severe thunderstorms capable of producing land-based tornadoes are widesp...
WFLA •

Jimmy Buffett’s daughter helps welcome new Margaritaville at Sea ship to Tampa

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Jimmy Buffett’s daughter visited Tampa Tuesday to help welcome the new Margaritaville at Sea Islander to its home port.


“It really just brings to life, sort of all the mythology that was created by my father, Jimmy, and what Margaritaville has done with this brand,” Savannah Buffett said.


The new ship will depart on its first voyage on Friday.


Savannah Buffett was named the “godmother” of the Islander and said the ship will help continue her father’s legacy.

“I fe...
WFLA •

Florida’s 1st Wawa drive-thru to open in Largo this week

LARGO, Fla. (WFLA) — Florida’s first Wawa drive-thru is opening in Largo this week.


The 2,200-square-foot standalone drive-thru is located at 2530 East Bay Drive. It’s the first location in Florida and the third in the company.


Customers can grab their favorite Wawa items like hoagies and hot breakfast sandwiches while remaining inside their vehicles. The drive-thru will also offer Wawa’s new line of specialty beverages and Wawa Bakery items.

“Wawa has a long history of testing and innov...
WFLA •

2 Mega Millions tickets worth $4M sold at Largo Publix stores less than a mile apart

LARGO, Fla. (WFLA) — Two Mega Millions tickets each worth $4 million were sold at two Largo Publix stores located less than a mile apart, according to the Florida Lottery.


The winning numbers in Tuesday night’s drawing were 1, 5, 7, 22, 24 and MegaBall 8. The Megaplier was 4X.


No one won the estimated jackpot of $30 million. However, seven tickets sold in Florida (2), New York (2), Georgia, Maine and Pennsylvania matched five numbers in the drawing.


The two tickets in Florida were both...
WFLA •

New Florida highway will charge electric vehicles on the go

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Electric car owners will eventually be able to charge their cars while driving on a new Florida highway.


The Central Florida Expressway Authority, CFX, is building a 4.4-mile expressway that will connect Lake and Orange counties.


State Road 516 will “serve as a revolutionary testbed for electric in-vehicle charging.”


Brian Hutchings, CFX’s manager of community engagement, told NBC affiliate WESH that the roadway will be equipped with coils that can charge el...
WFLA •

Tampa named one of the best cities for staycations

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — You won’t have to travel very far to have a great vacation, according to a new report. WalletHub released the top cities for staycations and Tampa was named one of the best.


WalletHub said it compared more than 180 cities across three key dimensions to find the best places for a fun-filled yet wallet-friendly staycation. The study looked at recreation, food and entertainment and rest and relaxation.


Overall, Tampa ranked No. 5. St. Petersburg also made the list at No....
WFLA •

More Florida Red Lobster locations may close

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — More Florida Red Lobster locations may be in jeopardy of closing.


After filing for bankruptcy last month, court filings obtained by CNN show that Red Lobster wants to close several dozen more restaurants, including several in the Sunshine State.


A few weeks before it announced its bankruptcy, Red Lobster shuttered dozens of its restaurants.

The seafood chain struggled with rising lease and labor costs as well as its promotions like its iconic all-you-can-eat shrimp d...
WFLA •

Crocodile swims 100 miles, returns to where it was captured in Florida

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — A crocodile relocated by Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission officers swam 100 miles to return to where it was originally captured.


According to the FWC, the crocodile was relocated on Oct. 13. Wildlife officials said the crocodile traveled over 100 miles over 8 months to return to an area in Brevard County, “indicating that it prefers this area.”


“The FWC has been tracking the movements of this crocodile and monitoring complaint data related to this anim...
WFLA •

New space plane arrives in Florida, set to launch later this year

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (WFLA) — A new space plane has arrived in Florida and is set to launch later this year.


The first Dream Chaser space plane, built by Colorado company Sierra Space, arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Saturday, May 18 in preparation for its first-ever cargo flight to the International Space Station.

The plane, called “Tenacity,” will make its debut launch in September, according to NBC affiliate WTVJ. It will lift off atop United Launch Alliance’s new Vulcan Centau...
WFLA •

Busch Gardens brings back popular free beer promotion for the summer

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Busch Gardens is bringing back a popular free beer promotion for the summer.


Ticketholders can get one complimentary beer per day. If you are a pass member, you can get two free beers per day.


Guests can grab their free beer daily at the Orang Café located in the Jungala area of the park. There will be a variety of rotating options each day.

“From classic domestic brews to artisanal craft beers, guests can enjoy a refreshing drink while experiencing the thrill of awa...
WFLA •

‘World’s largest’ Buc-ee’s opens next week but Florida’s newest store will be even bigger

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — America’s largest Buc-ee’s is set to open next week.


The Texas-based convenience store and gas station will unveil its largest location in Luling, Texas on Monday, June 10. The 75,000 square feet store will replace the city’s current Buc-ee’s store, the brand’s first family travel center, which was built in 2003. Currently, the largest Buc-ee’s is a 74,000-square-foot store in Sevierville, Tennessee.


The newest store in Texas is located at 10070 I-10 and will offer 120...
WFLA •

Chick-fil-A announces new sandwich, return of fan-favorite milkshake

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A new sandwich will debut, and a fan-favorite milkshake is returning at Chick-fil-A next month.


The Atlanta-based fast food restaurant wants customers to embrace the flavors of a backyard barbecue with the new Maple Pepper Bacon Sandwich. To compliment the sandwich’s smoky flavors, Chick-fil-A’s “much-loved” seasonal treat, the Peach milkshake, returns as a “perfectly sweet sidekick.”


According to Chick-fil-A, the new sandwich “balances the delicate flavors of sweet ma...
WFLA •

Tampa bar named one of the ‘best’ in America

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A Tampa bar was spotlighted on a list of the best bars in America.


Esquire crisscrossed the country over the last 12 months to discover America’s best bars.


Many of the bars highlighted were in California and New York, but the Punch Room in Tampa was named one of the best this year.

The Punch Room is located inside Tampa’s first five-star hotel, The Tampa EDITION. According to the Punch Room’s website, the menu is “dedicated to flavors and spirits of the Caribbean an...
WFLA •

Florida mom finds hidden cameras in daughter’s rooms; ex arrested, police say

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A man was arrested after police in Florida said he hid small cameras in his ex-girlfriend’s daughter’s bedroom and bathroom.


According to the Ocala Police Department, a concerned mother contacted officers after she found a small camera hidden in an electrical outlet in her daughter’s bathroom on May 17.


The Ocala officer called to the scene found the device blinking and saw a small lens from inside the electrical plug’s bottom ground outlet. Police said the outlet was...
WFLA •

Floridians could see northern lights again next month

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Floridians may have another chance to see the northern lights as soon as next week.


According to Live Science, a “monster” sunspot responsible for the aurora borealis that painted skies as far south as Florida and Mexico could return for an encore on June 6.


Live Science reported that the sunspot is still active and will face Earth during next week’s new moon.

Conditions will be similar to how they were when the northern lights were visible in the Sunshine State on M...