Safe Kids Treasure Coast and the Florida Department of Health are providing free pool alarms to qualifying Martin County residents while supplies last. The organizations are asking residents to fill out a survey to determine their eligibility for the drowning prevention program.

The pool alarms are being offered as part of a safety initiative to help prevent drowning incidents in residential pools. According to the coalition, a pool alarm serves as one layer of protection but should always be used in combination with close adult supervision, pool barriers and water safety education. The alarms are not intended to replace other safety measures but rather to supplement existing drowning prevention efforts.

Residents interested in obtaining a free pool alarm must complete an eligibility survey. The coalition noted that a 9-volt battery is required to operate the alarm, but the battery is not included with the free device. Recipients will need to purchase and install the battery separately before the alarm can function properly.

The program is available to Martin County residents with residential pools, with a limited supply of alarms available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information about the free pool alarm program or questions regarding eligibility requirements, residents can contact Safe Kids Treasure Coast at (772) 462-3501.

A Palm Beach County man led Martin County deputies on a high-speed chase through Indiantown after driving more than 100 mph on State Road 710, one of the area's most dangerous roads. Deputies spotted 33-year-old Markell Tillman driving aggressively at speeds exceeding 100 mph, forcing other vehicles off the roadway. When deputies attempted to stop him, Tillman fled.

Tillman weaved through traffic in an attempt to lose deputies before turning onto SW Martin Highway toward Palm City, where he continued to drive recklessly. Deputies spotted Tillman again traveling eastbound on Martin Highway near Allapattah Road. Deputies used stop sticks to disable his vehicle near I-95.

Tillman then bailed out of the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot before deputies caught up with him and took him into custody. Tillman was arrested on the following charges: fleeing and eluding, aggravated fleeing with injury or damage, operating a vehicle exceeding the speed limit by 50 or more mph, driving while license suspended or revoked, obstruction without violence, and operating a vehicle at 100 or more mph.

Tillman also had an out-of-county warrant at the time of his arrest. He was booked into the Martin County Jail.

Villa Del Sol residents in St. Lucie County are returning home after nearly two years of displacement from their condos. Residents were notified last month they could return to their condos after an inspection in August 2024 found structural damage in buildings 3, 4, and 5, which were deemed unsafe.

Katie Johnson was the first to share with WPTV that residents had been told they could come back. She said she almost didn't believe the news at first, describing it as too good to be true. WPTV received emails sent to residents from the Board of Directors telling them they could return. WPTV also obtained a letter from engineers sent to St. Lucie County's Building Department requesting they lift occupancy restrictions following their special inspection. Katie Johnson described the work still underway at the property, noting that workers are still moving dirt back under the buildings. She reflected on the effort required to bring residents home, saying it's hard work.

Robert Segedin took WPTV inside his family's home, excited to return but thinking about those who cannot. He said some residents had their hearts broken because they wanted to spend the rest of their lives there. Katie Johnson said she feels bad that some were hit harder than others with the situation, thinking of neighbors who cannot return.

Eric Johnson is among those not coming back. He was one of the first residents WPTV met at Villa Del Sol and is now living in Georgia. He said it's been a terrible two years and the financial toll has been severe. The couple had to drain all their savings accounts and 401ks just trying to make ends meet while this was going on. Eric Johnson is filing for bankruptcy and filing his condo for foreclosure. He described it as a real struggle, saying he would like to say they are finally starting to climb out of it, but it still feels like they're kind of still falling and waiting to start climbing back up.

Spain advanced to its first World Cup final since winning in 2010 with a 2-0 victory over France on Tuesday. Mikel Oyarzabal scored from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute after teenager Lamine Yamal drew a foul when kicked by defender Lucas Digne in the penalty area. A day after his 19th birthday, Yamal raced in from behind to challenge Digne, who was trying to clear the ball after a poor first touch with his head. The ball hit off the elbow of the leaping teen before he was kicked by Digne, who was playing in his 63rd game for France six days before his 33rd birthday. Oyarzabal's fifth goal of this year's World Cup marked the first time either team has trailed in their seven games in this tournament. Pedro Porro's goal in the 58th minute came on a give-and-go with Dani Olmo to put Spain up 2-0.

Spain will face either defending champion Argentina or England on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey. They face each other on Wednesday in Atlanta. Kylian Mbappé and France, FIFA's top-ranked team, were trying to become only the third team to reach three consecutive World Cup finals. France will instead play in the third-place game in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Saturday, the day before the final at MetLife Stadium. This win marked the third summer in a row that Spain beat France in a tournament semifinal match.

A Palm Beach County man led Martin County deputies on a high-speed chase through Indiantown after driving more than 100 mph on State Road 710, one of the area's most dangerous roads. Deputies spotted 33-year-old Markell Tillman driving aggressively at speeds exceeding 100 mph, forcing other vehicles off the roadway. When deputies attempted to stop him, Tillman fled.

Tillman weaved through traffic in an attempt to lose deputies before turning onto SW Martin Highway toward Palm City, where he continued to drive recklessly. Deputies spotted Tillman again traveling eastbound on Martin Highway near Allapattah Road. Deputies used stop sticks to disable his vehicle near I-95.

Tillman then bailed out of the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot before deputies caught up with him and took him into custody. He was arrested on charges including fleeing and eluding, aggravated fleeing with injury or damage, operating a vehicle exceeding the speed limit by 50 or more mph, driving while license suspended or revoked, obstruction without violence, and operating a vehicle at 100 or more mph.

Tillman also had an out-of-county warrant at the time of his arrest. He was booked into the Martin County Jail.

Registration is now open for Port St. Lucie City University, a free nine-session program designed to help residents better understand how their local government operates.

Classes begin Wednesday, Aug. 12, and will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Port St. Lucie City Hall, located at 121 SW Port St. Lucie Blvd.

Participants will learn about City departments, municipal services and the decision-making processes that shape the community. The program also gives residents opportunities to meet City staff, ask questions and gain a closer look at the work involved in operating one of Florida's largest cities.

Residents who complete the course will receive a certificate of completion and may also choose to become a City Ambassador, helping share information about City programs and services throughout the community.

City University is intended to encourage civic engagement while strengthening connections between residents and local government. Since the program began in 2016, more than 600 residents have participated.

Enrollment is limited to 160 participants.

Residents who are unable to attend the in-person classes can also access City U on Demand, which offers a more flexible way to learn about Port St. Lucie government and municipal operations.

Adam Chrzan and Tanya Crovo have filed an amended lawsuit against the City of Vero Beach alleging their infant son's remains were disturbed during maintenance work at Crestlawn Cemetery and reburied without their knowledge or consent. The couple's son, identified in court documents only as A.C., died in August 2007 at 37 days old and was buried at the city-owned cemetery. According to the complaint, sometime between the 2007 burial and April 2025, heavy equipment being used for maintenance or irrigation work near the burial site breached the grave, damaging or destroying the casket, its contents, and the child's remains.

The lawsuit alleges that someone acting in an official capacity for the City of Vero Beach then directed cemetery workers to collect the remains, place them into a new casket, and reinter the child without notifying the parents or obtaining their consent. The parents say they did not learn about what allegedly happened until April 2025, nearly 18 years after their son's burial. The amended complaint accuses the city and cemetery of tortious interference with a burial plot and human remains, negligence, negligent infliction of emotional distress, intentional misrepresentation, and fraudulent concealment.

This amended complaint comes after a judge dismissed the family's original lawsuit. The dismissal was not a finding that the allegations were false but rather a ruling that the legal claims as originally pleaded could not proceed against the city under Florida law. The parents have now refiled with different legal arguments in an attempt to overcome the previous dismissal. A judge has not yet ruled on the amended complaint.

The City of Vero Beach has declined to comment on the amended complaint. However, in court filings responding to the original lawsuit, the city disputed the allegation that irrigation work could have caused the damage described by the parents. The city submitted a survey stating there are no irrigation lines adjacent to the burial plot of A.C. The case highlights the legal protections cities have under Florida law and the challenges families face when seeking accountability for alleged mishandling of cemetery operations. The amended complaint represents the parents' continued effort to hold the city responsible for what they describe as the unauthorized disturbance and reburial of their infant son's remains.