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McDonald's rewards acts of kindness on Twitter

Tampa Bay, Florida -- Most of us perform random acts of kindness every day including holding the door open for someone, helping someone with their groceries, etc. and McDonald's wants to reward those acts.

Throughout the month of May, Tampa Bay McDonald's restaurants will reward each unique random act of kindness a person shares on the local McDonald's Twitter @McDTampaBay using the #BeDelightful tag in May with a Be Our Guest Card for the newly introduced Egg White Delight McMuffin.

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Mail carriers will collect food to help Stamp Out Hunger

Tampa, Florida -- On Saturday, May 11, residents across the country will be asked to join the U.S. Postal Service and its letter carriers to help combat hunger -- by leaving food at their mailboxes.

The one-day food drive is the nation's largest single-day food drive across America -- including Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands.

Residents are encouraged to leave nonperishable foods, such as canned soup, canned vegetables, pasta, rice or cereal next to their mailbox prior to the time of regular mail delivery on Saturday, May 11.

Earth Day celebration continues at Bok Gardens this week

Earth Day celebration continues at Bok Gardens this week

Polk County, Florida -- Folks from Bartow and all over the region can keep the Earth Day spirit going this week at nearby Bok Gardens.

Students are invited to participate in hands-on activities by environmental exhibitors from around Central Florida and learn about protecting wildlife, water conservation, gardening and more.

It's happening this Thursday, May 2nd at nearby Bok Gardens from 9 a.m. until Noon.

Teen girl arrested for "science project gone bad"

BARTOW, Florida - No one ever expected to see a mug shot from 16-year-old Kiera Wilmot.

The teenager is known among staff for her exemplary record at Bartow High School and her status as a good student.

"She is a good kid," said principal Ron Pritchard. "She has never been in trouble before. Ever."

All of that changed on Monday morning.

The teen is accused of mixing household chemicals in a tiny 8-ounce water bottle, causing the top to pop off, followed by billowing smoke in an small explosion.

Clouds and rain back in the forecast today

Clouds and a few sprinkles are have rolled in this morning, but more rain is headed this way later today.  The unsettled weather continues into Friday before we gradually see decreasing rain chances through Sunday.

Wednesday A 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. East winds 10-15 mph. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Trial begins in Bartow murder case from 1996

Bartow, FL-- It took 17 years to get to this day, but trial is underway for a man accused in the 1996 murder of a Bartow man.

Tommy Eugene Smith was 37-years-old and a nursing supervisor at Lakeland Regional Medical Center when his body was found during the early evening hours of Oct. 11, 1996.

Smith's body was found in an orange grove off Edison and Old Berkley roads, near Auburndale. He'd been shot twice in the head and once in the neck.

Smith was last seen on Oct. 10, leaving his home around 8 p.m. in his Jeep.

Story time Wednesday morning at the Bartow Library

Bartow, FL -- Once upon a time... there was an awesome way for parents to spend a Wednesday morning with their kids!

It's Story Time - an specially designed for children between three and five-years-old.

The Bartow Public Library wants to encourage reading by getting even the youngest bookworms into the groove.

The "Read and Grow With Us!" Preschool story time features stories, finger plays, music and films!

It's scheduled for Wednesday, May 1st between 10:00 a.m. and 10:30 at the Bartow Public Library located at 2150 S. Broadway Ave.