Issue #388: Hurricane Checklist 2025 | Alligator Causes Biker Crash | Fake Cash in Marketplace Sting | New Warnings on Diet Drinks

In this issue of NewTampa | WesleyChapel
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WEATHER 

— Hurricane Season 2025: The Essential Storm Kit Checklists

OMG!

— Bikers Hospitalized After Collision with Alligator on I-4

— $100K in Counterfeit Cash Found After Facebook Marketplace Drone Deal

Medical News

— Experts Warn of Heart Risks Linked to Diet Coke and Artificial Sweeteners

🎵 Useful Arts & Entertainment Event Links

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Hurricane Season 2025: The Essential Storm Kit Checklists

With back-to-back hurricanes hitting Florida in recent years, early storm kit preparation is now a must. From basics like food and water to comfort items such as fans and headlamps, a well-stocked kit can make a major difference during and after a storm.

Experts recommend building kits gradually. Start with seven days' worth of nonperishable food and water per person and pet, along with 30 days of medications. Add essentials like a NOAA weather radio, power banks, disinfecting wipes, and a manual can opener.

You’ll need different kits depending on your needs:

• Home kits include items like garbage bags, tarps, a generator, and a fire extinguisher.

• Vehicle kits should have a spare tire, jumper cables, maps, and blankets.

• Children and pet kits focus on comfort, safety, and nutrition—think toys, diapers, pet food, and leashes.

Build your kit early and update it regularly. Checklists are also available at floridadisaster.org and ready.gov/kit.

Read More: tampabay.com

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Bikers Hospitalized After Collision with Alligator
on I-4

Two motorcyclists are recovering after a bizarre crash with an alligator on I-4 in Volusia County Saturday evening. According to Florida Highway Patrol, the incident occurred just after 6 p.m. near Orange City, when the riders, a 67-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman, struck an alligator in the inside lane while traveling westbound.

The impact caused both riders to lose control of their bikes, veering off the highway and into a nearby wooded area, where they collided with a tree. Both were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The alligator was also hurt in the crash. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission responded to handle the animal, though its condition has not been released.

Troopers continue to investigate the circumstances of the crash. Wildlife encounters on Florida roads, while rare, highlight the unpredictable nature of rural travel, even on busy interstates like I-4.

Read More: wtsp.com

$100K in Counterfeit Cash Found After Facebook Marketplace Drone Deal

A botched Facebook Marketplace sale led Michigan State Police to uncover $100,000 in counterfeit bills at a suspect’s home. The case began when a woman sold a drone for $800 in cash in late March, only to realize later that the money was fake. She contacted police, launching a broader investigation.

Authorities identified a suspect after finding similar cases statewide, all involving the same individual. A search warrant executed on May 23 uncovered stacks of counterfeit bills, a laptop, and multiple phones believed to be tied to the alleged counterfeiting scheme.

Police urge buyers to verify cash payments using counterfeit-detecting pens, available at office supply stores. They also advise checking for security threads, texture, and unique serial numbers—key details counterfeiters often overlook.

Residents were shocked, with one telling reporters, “We want to make sure others in the area are well aware.” The investigation is ongoing.

Read More: abcactionnews.com — learn how to inspect bills for being counterfeit

Here's an astonishing and little-known fact about counterfeit money:

Some counterfeiters have managed to print fake currency that is better than real money—at least in terms of quality.

One striking example comes from the infamous "Superdollar" counterfeits—extremely high-quality fake $100 bills that began appearing in the 1990s. These notes were so flawlessly made that they passed even advanced detection tests and were sometimes more accurate in print alignment and ink consistency than authentic U.S. currency.

The origin of the Superdollars remains mysterious, though some experts have speculated state-level involvement. Their sophistication forced governments to upgrade security features on banknotes far earlier than planned.

Experts Warn of Heart Risks Linked to Diet Coke and Artificial Sweeteners

Consuming two or more diet sodas daily may increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and arrhythmias, according to registered dietitian Michelle Routhenstein, who spoke with Fox News Digital. Even one Diet Coke a day has been linked to Afib, an irregular heartbeat tied to vascular events like stroke.

Routhenstein noted artificial sweeteners like aspartame may disrupt gut bacteria or produce harmful metabolites. Tanya Freirich, a North Carolina dietitian, added that aspartame—labeled “possibly carcinogenic” by the WHO—has also been linked to weight gain and type 2 diabetes.

Despite these concerns, the FDA maintains aspartame is safe at current usage levels, a stance shared by regulators in Canada and Europe.

Experts recommend low-sugar kombucha, sparkling green tea, or flavored seltzers as healthier alternatives. For those craving caffeine, lightly sweetened teas or coffee are better choices.

Still, the top choice remains plain water—hydrating, energizing, and essential for digestion and skin health.

Read More: fox13news.com

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Useful Arts & Entertainment Event Links

The Arts
- USF College of the Arts
- USF Steinway Piano Concert Series

Theater
-NTPAC - New Tampa Performing Arts Center
- New Tampa Players
- USF School of Theatre & Dance
- Wesley Chapel Theater Group
- Carrollwood Players Theatre

Misc

- The Krate, WC
- The Shops at Wiregrass, WC
- visitflorida.com

For Kids
- Fun4TampaKids

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