Creepy Clowns, Hurricane Matthew, Red Tide Fish Kills

Patch operates 23 daily news sites in Florida. The following are some of the top stories from the past day:

Red Tide: Fish Kills Reported in Pinellas, Sarasota and Manatee Counties

The red tide bloom that has been causing fish kills and respiratory irritation in Sarasota and Manatee counties has made itself known in Pinellas County. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, a report of a fish kill came in from St. Pete Beach over the past few days.

Credit Card Skimmer Found on St. Petersburg 7-Eleven ATM

The St. Petersburg Police Department is looking for help identifying a woman its officers say put a credit and debit card skimming device inside an ATM machine.

Oops! Burglar Left Wallet Behind on State Senator’s Property, Deputies Say

A Thursday morning burglary on property owned by State Sen. Wilton Simpson practically solved itself. That’s according to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, whose deputies say the accused thief left a pretty big clue behind at the scene: his wallet.

St. Petersburg Facing Sewage-Related Lawsuit

The City of St. Petersburg’s sewage woes may soon get worse. Several environmental groups have announced their intention to sue under the federal Clean Water Act. The 60-day notice of intent comes on the heels of the city releasing about 150 million gallons of sewage into Tampa Bay following Hurricane Hermine’s pass through the area.

Creepy Clown's Tweet Puts Pasco Schools on Alert Campus Status

All Pasco County public schools are were operating on “Alert Campus” status Friday following a morning tweet from a “creepy clown.”

President Barack Obama Stumping for Hillary Clinton in Florida

With just over a month to go before Election Day, Democrat Hillary Clinton is pulling out the big guns in her bid to win the White House. President Barack Obama is scheduled to travel to Florida Wednesday, Oct. 5 for a rally on behalf of his former secretary of state.

Pitcher Jose Fernandez’s High School Jersey Back Where it Belongs

Coach Landy Faedo’s plea for the safe return of Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez’s Alonso High School baseball jersey didn’t fall on deaf ears. Hillsborough County Public Schools reported early Friday morning that Fernandez’s Ravens jersey was back at Alonso where it belongs.

Hurricane Matthew Upgraded to Category 4, Packing 140 MPH Winds

Hurricane Matthew strengthened significantly in the afternoon hours Friday, becoming a Category 4 storm by the National Hurricane Center's 5 p.m. report. The storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 140 mph as of Friday evening.

Graphic courtesy of the National Hurricane Center