Cassandra Garcia

16/06/2024

Last night, I spoke with Navarda Perez, a former Red Lobster general manager involved in a violent armed robbery at the Red Lobster on Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard. Watch as she recounts her traumatic experience.

Navarda Perez's sense of safety and security is “shattered” after getting pistol-whipped four times by a coworker during a violent armed robbery.

27/10/2023

There are mixed opinions about where the Treasure Coast Brightline Station should be built. Some are for it, while others are against it, but the economic impact is something both sides agree on. 

Brightline has formally launched a request for proposals for a new station on the Treasure Coast, the high-speed passenger rail service announced Thursday.

27/10/2023

After years of bad news for Florida citrus growers, one St. Lucie County farmer sees a comeback on the horizon.

Florida's citrus industry has been struggling over the last few years, but the United States Department of Agriculture recently forecasted a strong citrus season.

21/10/2023

A slew of burglaries and thefts in Martin County has law enforcement cracking down on criminals with the help of a new law.

Martin County is working to crack down on burglaries with the help of a new Florida law. WPTV spoke to Martin County Sheriff William Snyder to find out how it works.

20/10/2023

Five St. Lucie County parks will soon have cameras. This comes nine months after a mother was killed in a mass shooting on MLK Day.

Nine months after a fatal shooting at a park in Fort Pierce, leaders in St. Lucie County are taking steps to protect residents.

20/10/2023

A person at Storm Grove Middle School in Indian River County has a confirmed case of tuberculosis, the school district confirmed Wednesday.

11/10/2023

I spoke to one Palm Beach County resident who landed in Tel Aviv on Oct. 6 for her dream trip to Israel. Not even 24 hours later, she found herself in a war zone. See the full story of how she made it out.

It's a difficult time to be in Israel, but getting out can be just as difficult as the conflict with Hamas intensifies.

23/09/2023

Update: Missing 11 year-old girl from West Palm Beach has been found. She was reported missing yesterday after she missed the school bus in the morning.

Police in West Palm Beach said a missing 11-year-old girl who didn't go to school Friday was found safe overnight.

23/09/2023

Passengers weigh-in on Brightline's new route to Orlando. See the story!

Travelers arriving in West Palm Beach discussed the experience of taking Brightline from Central Florida.

22/09/2023

Stuart residents have mixed feelings ahead of Brightline's expansion to Orlando. The new schedule between Central and South Florida includes 16 daily round trips with hourly northbound and southbound departures. See the story!

The first Brightline trains will begin rolling Friday morning with passengers from South Florida to Orlando, completing a massive expansion project.

22/09/2023

Bathtub Beach remains closed as Martin County combats erosion

Bathtub Beach in Martin County is closed after previous storms caused erosion, forcing beachgoers to find solace at other places.

22/09/2023

'A third chance at life.' That's what professional storm chaser and WPTV weather spotter Jeff Gammons is calling his second transplant surgery.

A third chance at life. That's what professional storm chaser and WPTV weather spotter Jeff Gammons is calling his second transplant surgery.

22/06/2023

3 homes reduced to rubble by a fire that broke out on Tuesday afternoon in Starr County. I spoke one Las Lomas family that was impacted. They’re looking to the community for help.

How to help:
Elizabeth Alaffa has three young kids. They’ve lost everything. Contact Roberto Alaffa if you’d like to help.

Two families were left with nothing in Starr County after a fire destroyed their homes.

20/05/2023

As Laguna Heights residents take care of their homes, volunteers take care of them. The Salvation Army has seen as many as 40 volunteers per day since Saturday’s tornado.

Several organizations have come together to help those affected by the deadly Category EF 1 tornado that struck the community of Laguna Heights last week.

19/05/2023

Tune in to our Newscats at 6 and 1O o’clock tonight. We’ll be speaking to the owners of Five Stars EZ Wash about their efforts to help the Laguna Heights community.

🚨We will be offering free services again today to all families affected 6pm-11pm

🚨Estaremos ofreciendo servicios gratis hoy nuevamente para las familias afectadas 6pm-11:00pm

16/05/2023

A homeowner in Laguna Heights, TX reflects on the early morning tornado that devastated her community and destroyed her home on Saturday.

The number of people hospitalized after a tornado touched down in Laguna Heights now stands at 11.

22/04/2023

A replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall with the names of those who died fighting in Vietnam is now on display in Edinburg. The war ended 50 years ago, but many gold star families and Vietnam Veterans are still healing.

A replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall with the names of those who died fighting in Vietnam is now on display in Edinburg.

07/04/2023

One Weslaco restaurant owner makes cascarones from the eggs he uses for food at his restaurant.

The Easter holiday is a big deal for a Weslaco restaurant that has been preparing for the last year for it.

04/12/2022

A San Juan dog owner said she wants the local cop who shot and killed her Great Dane to be held accountable.

The body camera footage has been blurred because the images were so graphic.

A San Juan dog owner said she wants the local cop who she says shot and killed her Great Dane in September to be held accountable.

29/10/2022

Families across the Valley are gearing up to go trick-or-treating, but relatives of young children say Halloween looks a little different these days, and their family's safety is what scares them the most.

29/10/2022

The 13th Court of Appeals ruled against the city of Peñitas in the legal battle to reinstate the city’s public library as a polling location for the November 2022 election.

14/10/2022

This story had a lot moving parts. It took me four days just to compile all the facts, documents, and responses, but I was finally able to get the information I needed to tell it. Check it out…

Thousands of people in western Hidalgo County will need to go somewhere else to vote during the November election.

14/10/2022

A mother is speaking out two weeks after a deadly police shooting claimed the life of her son.

A woman is speaking out two weeks after a deadly police shooting claimed the life of her son.

29/09/2022

With more than a million people without power in Florida, local AEP crews are heading there from the Valley to restore power.

With more than a million people without power in Florida, local AEP crews are heading there to restore power.

18/08/2022

The La Feria Independent School District voted to hire armed security guards for all of the district's campuses.

The La Feria Independent School District on Friday voted to hire armed security guards for all of the district's campuses. 

05/07/2022

“We’re going to work very hard to make sure that the businesses are not impacted any more than they have to be and it’s going to remain open,” said Edinburg Mayor Ramiro Garza.

The design phase for a drainage project off State Highway 107 in Edinburg is almost complete.

28/06/2022

Juul products are being pulled off shelves nationwide after the Food and Drug Administration accused the brand of targeting minors.

Juul products are being pulled off shelves nationwide after the Food and Drug Administration accused the brand of targeting minors.

23/06/2022

Health officials report that COVID-19 numbers are on the rise in Hidalgo County.

23/06/2022

Pharr police are searching for the suspects involved in a $10,000 diesel theft scheme.

07/06/2022

Mayra Hernandez and her family say they owe their lives to their dog, Chispa, after a fire broke out in their Mission home.