Beer Scene, Fatal Stabbing, Best States

Patch operates 24 daily news sites in the Tampa Bay area and surrounding counties. The following are some of the top stories from the past day:

OMG! Cookie Cupcakes Set For Sprinkles Debut

When it’s time for something sweet, folks who can’t decide between a cookie or a cupcake will soon have what might be the perfect solution thanks to Sprinkles. The bakery chain that has taken the nation by storm is debuting its brand new “cookie cupcake” on Wednesday.

Tampa Man Guilty In Sarasota Murder

A 22-year-old Tampa man has been found guilty on second-degree murder charges in connection with the September 2015 death of Daniel Ortiz in Sarasota.

Tampa’s Beer Scene Up For National Honors

Just in time for the start of Tampa Bay Beer Week, Tampa is up for national honors in a USA Today poll that seeks to find the best local beer scene in the country.

Best States Ranked: Where Does Florida Stand?

Massachusetts is the No. 1 state in the nation, according to a brand new ranking rolled out by U.S. News & World Report. The Sunshine State comes in at the middle of the pack, but it does earn high marks in a few key categories measured in the study.

Watch: Giant Gator Snags Boy’s Fish

An opportunistic alligator with a taste for fish recently gave a little boy a lesson about the two types of critters in the world: the quick and the hungry. Casting itself in the role of the quick, the beefy gator swam up to the boy’s catch and snagged it right off his line. With the rather big fish in its jaws, the happy gator turned tail and swam away.

Arrest Made In Fatal Stabbing

The St. Petersburg Police Department is investigating a Monday night stabbing that left a 22-year-old man dead. Another man faces first-degree murder charges in the case.

Persistent Burglar Caught On Video

The Clearwater Police Department is asking for help identifying a man wanted in connection with a recent burglary at a laundromat. The man in question, police say, was rather persistent in his attempts to gain access to the manager’s office.

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