Pit Bull Attack, Turkey Tussle, Miami to Havana Flights Begin

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 or so:

Florida Boy Calls 911 to Invite Deputies to Thanksgiving Dinner

A 5-year-old DeFuniak Springs boy’s Thanksgiving invitation was so sweet deputies at the Walton County Sheriff’s Office just couldn’t bring themselves to turn it down.

Rain Back in Tampa Bay Area’s Forecast

Tampa Bay area residents not ready to put away their T-shirts and shorts after the weather warmed up over the Thanksgiving weekend are in luck. Forecasters at the National Weather Service say the region is in for a mostly balmy week ahead, but the possibility of rain is also on the horizon after a long dry streak.

Bearded Brothers' Fiddle Player Killed in U.S. 19 Crash

The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal Sunday evening crash on U.S. 19 that claimed the life of The Bearded Brothers Band's fiddle player.

Lakeland Christmas Parade 2016: Tips for Enjoying the Fun

The City of Lakeland is gearing up for its 36th annual Christmas parade. The “Miracle on Main Street” is set to step off on Thursday, officially kicking off the holiday season.

Deputy Shoots Her Finger, Kills Pit Bull Following Attack

A Pasco County deputy’s Saturday run-in with a pit bull took a deadly turn for the dog and a painful one for the law enforcement officer.

Diocese of St. Petersburg Has New Leader

The Diocese of St. Petersburg officially has a new spiritual leader to step in as Bishop Robert N. Lynch prepares for retirement. Pope Francis’ appointment of the Most Reverend Bishop Gregory L. Parkes was announced Monday.

USF Bulls Make National Football Rankings

University of South Florida football fans have a reason to celebrate that goes beyond the Bulls’ Saturday victory in the annual War on I-4 rivalry game against the University of Central Florida Knights. It seems that 48-31 win also propelled USF into the national rankings for the first time in five years.

Turkey Tussle Resulted in Thanksgiving Stabbing: Deputies

A 55-year-old New Port Richey woman faces criminal charges after Pasco County Sheriff’s deputies say she stabbed her husband during a fight over how their Thanksgiving turkey was prepared.

Protect Your Packages as Holiday Shopping Season Kicks Into Gear

As the holiday shopping season swings into overdrive, Tampa Bay area residents need to protect themselves and their purchases from a danger that may lurk right outside their front doors: porch pirates. These criminally minded people surf residential areas in hopes of spotting packages that have been dropped off by Federal Express, UPS and the postal service.

American Launches Miami to Havana Flights

While the world contemplates Cuba's future, American Airlines inaugurated its new daily flight service from Miami to Havana on Monday, becoming the first commercial U.S. carrier to fly into the communist capital in more than 50 years.

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