Im gene ramirez. And im gayle guyardo. In a few hour, it will be the first day of fall. Thats right, it begins officially at 10 21. The next question, when is it actually going to cool down . You can put on the orange today like i did but still a summer day. The average high today is 88. Even the average high on october 1st is 87. It takes us til about november 1st before the average high is 81. And then break out the scarves for average high of 75. Eventually it does cool down, just wont be that way today. Drier air is coming in. This is the a look at the amount of water in the atmosphere. Not necessarily the humidity value because thats still high. But drier air is working in and thats going to limit our rain chances in the afternoon. Just a 20 rain chance of showers and thunderstorms between 2 00 and 6 00. 90degrees, even above the average. In weather and traffic on the 8s, i will take you through the first few hours of fall. Its going to be so much nicer than it has been. Eventually. Eventually. Traffic right now, its nice. We do have issues going on here in clearwater. Just a heads up, sunset point is still closed from fort hear sisson to washington avenue and that Fort Harrison to washington avenue. Take union street. The it will reopen later today. At least its scheduled to. But in the meantime, traveling through there, just take union instead. And lets talk about 56th street at hannah avenue. This is in area. We have a collision on 56 right at hannah. And injuries involved and its tying up a couple lanes there amount side from the traffic there. Aside from that, traffic still flowing at good speeds. Thank you. We are on top of breaking news this morning. Chaos in charlotte. The governor of North Carolina declaring a state of emergency turn violent in charlotte. Yeah, angry protesters rampaged through the citys downtown for a second night as frustration builds after a Deadly Police shooting and conflicting stories about how it happened from police and the victims family and neighbors. News channel 8s Meredyth Censullo is in the Tampa News Center this morning with what is happening right now. Reporter and right now, the National Guard is arriving in charlotte, activated as part of the state of emergency declaration. Police say no place in uptown charlotte is 100 safe this morning. [ chanting ] reporter thats what it looks like overnight. At one point, thousands of protesters in the street. One protester was shot by support. Four Police Officers also were hurt. Theyll be okay. Police used tear gas the to break up the crowds which at times shut down major roadways. Some protesters layed down in intersections. Several uptown businesses have been looted. Charlottes mayor reiterating that keith scotts family has asked for peaceful protests. The wife and family have protests, for people not to be violent. That violence will not help bring our Community Back together. And we are urging people to stay home. Reporter and this morning, some businesses including duke the energy and bank of america telling employees to work from home today. It is simply not safe in uptown. The situation is so bad that facebook activated its safety checkin feature for charlotte this morning. Gayle the images coming in news center, unbelievable. Thank you. A fighter jet has taken off from a u. S. Air base near japan. The coast guard has rescued at least one person. Theres no word on what caused the plane to go down. A deadly car crash that you can see the damage to both cars in the video. Showing a closer look here. This happened at brian dairy road and starkey road. One of the cars crossed over the center line while going around a curve, crashing head on into a cadillac. All three people in two vehicles died. Alcohol is not suspected as a cause of the crash. And a clearwater man is in Critical Condition after he was cross the street. This happened just before 6 00 p. M. At missouri avenue and cleveland street. Investigators say the 56year old man was not using a crosswalk. The crash shut down parts of both roads for hours. All lanes are back open this morning. Happening today, city leaders in st. Petersburg will discuss the fallout of a sewage scandal. More than 150 milliongallons of raw sewage was dumped into tampa bay after hurricane hermine. Causing a Health Hazard for residents. So far, two the city administers have been suspend. The big question now, are more ryan hughes is live at city hall. Ryan, some claim that the closure of a treatment a few years ago led to this. Reporter good morning once again. The Courtney Campbell causeway closure of a the closure of a sewage plant left it with nowhere else to go. They were caused by the closure. Reporter he said theres a good possibility this environmental nightmare could have been prevented if the city Council Voted to keep the albert plant open years ago. In the wake of the water woe, the mayor put Water Resources director and the engineering director on unpaid administrative leave. Both saw a report about the dangers of closing the plant and what could happen if rain water backed up. Now later today, the mayor will go over an independent review of the situation and advise if that meeting gets underway at city hall around 1 30. Governor rick scott ordered the state department of Environmental Protection to get involved as well and we are expecting to hear from the governor on this topic. Gayle, back to you. The fact that it could have been avoided is mind boggling. Thank you, ryan. And now an 8 on your side alert. It feeds into wells and ground water throughout the area. And now Hillsborough County commissioners say the Chemical Company mosaic and floridas department of Environmental Protection failed to tell them about the spill. The countys Environmental Protection commission learned of the sinkhole contamination by watching our 8 on your side investigation. County leaders say they have no thats a question for dep to answer. Its always helpful to know than not to know. Had it been in Hillsborough County, i assure you that the response would have been different. If you notice a different smell, taste or color to your water, dont drink it. Call to get it tested. And he refers to the water dumped into the aquifer as, quote, nasty. He also says local wells will need to be tested again and again for years to come. There is a heroin epidemic in sarasota and this Morning Police department and Community Partners are making a public plea to stop it. Theyll come together and address heroin overdoses at 9 30 this morning. In less than two months, 43 people in the city have overdosed on suspected heroin and another unknown drug. Eight of those people have died. Around 10 00 this morning, it will be fall. Yep. And it will feel like it in a after you get into the fall season. Temperatures will climb into the mid80s. 87 by noon. 89 at 2 00. 90 around 3 00, 4 00. The one thing about today that is a little bit different is that we have slightly lower rain chances. Starting a 20 chance this afternoon. And also 20 for friday and saturday. And 30 into sunday and monday. So thats topping the headlines. Yes, fall has begun and it will begin at 10 21 but the summer heat continues. Rain chances are lower through the en in the tropics, theres two systems but theyll stay in the open waters of the atlantic. Its tropical depression karl and Tropical Storm lisa. So nothing on the u. S. Coast in the shortterm. Thats good news. And lets check on the traffic situation with traffic on the 8s. Weve had a great morning so far. I mean, i know its going to get busier and we will see problems but lets enjoy it while we can. Seminole height, overto all a good drive but we have one have one problem, westbound Martin Luther king around highlands avenue, one lane taken away. And that should reopen by tend of the day. They are doing water main repair work. And 56th street at hannah avenue in the temperature the terrace area, a collision no. Delays despite that collision. No delays despite the accident tying up lanes. The Courtney Campbell causeway and Sunshine Skyway bridge, great drive. Thats a look at weather and traffic on the 8s. Back to gene and gayle. All right, thank leslee. And now an 8 on your side alert. A skimmer strikes again at a bay Area Convenience store but this time, the culprit put the skimmer on the atm inside and that store. The crime former congressman Anthony Weiner is now accused of committing with a teenage girled. Its 6 10. Youre watching news channel 8 a skimmer strikes again. This time, theres a twist. The culprit put the skimmer on the atm inside and the store. Thats brazen. Mary mcguire joins us live in reporter well, gene, a technician that was performing routine service on the atm found the skimming device and he later alerted Bradenton Police. Now in the past, we have reported on skimmers that have been found on gas stations outside but never on an atm inside and of the store. And in this case, investigators tell us the atm is in the back of the store where on a busy day, someone could go unnoticed for a period of time. They had to be very slick about it because nobody noticed it. Nobody knew it. I didnt know it. Reporter Bradenton Police tell us this is the first time a skimmer has been found inside and of an atm. Police are now offering common sense advice if you are using atms inside and of gas stations. Check them out. If anything seems out of the ordinary, dont use that atm. And alert authorities and alert the store clerk. If you have used this atm at this 7eleven in bradenton, make sure to check your bank and we have asked the clerks to look outside and now this person is inside and the store right under their nose. In news across america this morning, more trouble for disgraced new york congressman Anthony Weiner. Yeah, this time around, weiner is accused of carrying on a monthslong online sexting relationship with a 15yearold girl. Reports that he asked the teen to dress up in schoolgirl outfits and dressed her to take part in rape fantasies. Weiner says he has given the daily mail some information that proves he was likely the subject of a hoax. And he apologizes for past poor judgment. A california man working as an uber and lyft driver faces customer. Police state he drove her to an alternate location where he reportedly sexually assaulted her. A line of storms dumped rains across minnesota leaving businesses swamped and drivers stranded. In maple grove, so much water covered the roads, we see that people are pushing the cars through it. Oh, no. And the rainfall is not over. More is expected this morning. And we have an 8 on your side alert for you. Does it pay to use premium gas . The regular kind of gas will do just as well. News channel 8s Meredyth Censullo is joining us here, telling us what we should be using. Reporter thats right. While using premium is not going to hurt your car, there is actually Something Better you can do that will save you money. Putting premium gas in a car that calls for regular is siphoning money out of your admit to using a higher octane gasoline. And just in the past year, those americans have spent more than 2 billion. Reporter the majority of cars sold today are designed to run on regular. Researchers tested regular and premium gas in three popular models designed for regular and found no increase in performance, fuel economy, or i emmissions. And now what or emissions. Now what about people who occasionally put premium gas in the tank thinking theyre giving the car a bit of pampering. Maybe taking it in arriving spa day or giving it treat. But we found it has no benefits what so far. Reporter if you really want to treat your car, fill up at a station that has top tier gas. Top tier is proven to leave less residue on the engine and it will perform better. Top tier has detergents in it that keep the engine cleaner. A separate study from aaa shows Engine Components when nontop tier gas is used consistently. The result, cheap gas leaves more in your pocket in the shortterm but could cost you in the long term. Bottom line, if your car takes regular gas, premium gas is not going to help you but the super cheap stuff can hurt you. Get to know which gas stations in your neighborhood have top tier gas and try to fill up there as often as possible. Look for a link on our website, wfla. Com. But basically, its any of but the car maker might recommend the premium gas and if thats the case, thats what you will want to do. Yeah, follow the recommendations you say 70 of cars are not designed for premium. Right. Were all braces for fall. Thats right. But you will be bracing by cranking up the ac once again. Fall officially begins at the 10 21 today. That happens at the official time because thats when the direct rays are over the same amount of daylight and nighttime hoursful during that time period, we are going to see a lot of sunshine. 78degrees at 8 00 a. M. A few of us are a couple degrees cooler than yesterday. Its not much but we will take it. A few clouds, warm at noon, 87. 90 at 4 00 p. M. One thing today you will notice is we will have fewer thunderstorms in the afternoon. Its currently 77 in plant city. 75 in clearwater. 77 in bradenton. I checked in with wendy in brooksvill right now. The upperlevel dry air has moved in. And now again, its still humid at the surface but without the upperlevel moisture, we dont see as many thunderstorms. And thats why its going to the still be hot. And through the hot, just a couple showers pass by from west to east. And same thing for tomorrow, 90 with a 20 chance and 20 saturday. How about traffic it . Well, checking out traffic on the 8s . Well, checking out clearwater, a good drive on gulf to bay. A good drive. Sunset point remains closed and theres road work going on. Closed from Fort Harrison over to washington avenue at the further west end here of clearwater. Take union, it runs parallel to the north of sun and it thats how you get around the closure that links up as you can see with alternate 19. But that should reopen later today. Meanwhile, 56th street at hannah avenue, have an accident here. Temple terrace, injuries involved. Its tying up lanes but delays. Thats a look at weather and traffic on the 8s. Back to gene and gayle. Thank you, leslee. One womans truck adorned with religious images. And a question posed in large letters right across the windshield. Coming up, a christian womans controversy with state troopers. Disagreements over why she was pulled over and what she plans to do it about it. Youre watching news channel 8 on the top of a florida womans windshield read, what would jesus do . A Florida State trooper states he wrote her a ticket for having vinyl lettering proterribly block her view regardless of the view. But she believes the trooper did it because of her faith. She says she will fight this case. Im going to court for i was picked out to be picked on in the name of jesus. Heres what the law says. In florida, no one can drive a car with any signage or material on a windshield that is not transparent but interestingly, i have seen trucks that have like the make ford or whatever on the top part of the windshield. And i wonder if those are transparent or like this and can block your view . But the law, you cant have that. Yeah, no matter what it have you been feeling queasy after desert . One Popular Ice Cream could be contaminated with detective tearia. Stick around for details and im david jolly and i approve this message. Since were going to be friends huck. Let me show you how washington really works. Members of congress spend too much time rasing money. Congressman david jolly on 60 minutes last night pushing back against the current system. And they dont do enough for our veterans. David jolly has opened his Seminole Office to veterans. And they dont get we can prevent terrorism and protect the constitution congressman david jolly you are when the kids go to the bus stop this morning, it will still be summer and 78 degrees. When they come home, its going to be fall. And its going to be hot. 90degrees, only about a 20 rain chance. And i keep the high at 90 today, tomorrow and saturday. Leslee, how about traffic on the 8s . Looking fantastic in pasco county. In and out on the sun coast parkway, looks great. Hillsborough county, both directions at great speeds on the the veterans expressway. As well as u. S. 19 throughout palm harbor, state road 54 to tampa road, thats only going to take about 18 minutes. Mp san fix the problems we face. Well i dont believe thats how you get things done in our country. It takes democrats and republicans working together. Thats how we got health care for 8 million kids. Rebuilt new york city after 9 11. And got the treaty cutting russias nuclear arms. Weve got to bring people together. Breaking news in North Carolina overnight, a state of emergency is declared in that state as new protests erupt there. Are reports of multiple Police Officers injured. What is happening now to get things under control. Thats just ahead. Fallout from the st. Pete 8 on your side is now learning that this big mess could have been prevented. We will look ahead to an update from the mayor today. And a skimmer found in a place you might not expect. Why anyone who swipes their debit cards needs to know about this disturbing discovery at a local store. Good morning and welcome to news channel 8 today. Spice la coffee. It officially kicks off at the 10 21. We live in the sunshine state. So the big question is, when will the weather start cooling off . Leigh spann, we have to wait for it . We have to wait for it. Exactly right. I mean, i may be wearing fall like colors