Deputy Fired, Black Friday Sales, Rick Scott Staying Put

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

Pinellas Deputy Fired for Excessive Use of Force, Falsifying Report

A 28-year-old Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputy is out of a job after a March traffic stop in St. Petersburg was called into question. Deputy Wayne Wagner’s termination was announced Friday.

Son Charged in Dad’s Stabbing Death

A 23-year-old Tampa man faces second-degree murder charges in the Thursday night stabbing death of his father.

Rays, Yankees to Open 2017 Baseball Season

Major League Baseball announced that the Tampa Bay Rays will throw out the first pitch in the 2017 season. The Rays will open the 2017 season at home at Tropicana Field against the New York Yankees on Sunday, April 2 at 1:10 p.m. The game will be the first played on Opening Day and will be televised on ESPN.

Black Friday Sales: Study Reveals Best Tampa Bay Area Stores for Discounts

Tampa Bay area residents working on their Black Friday shopping game plans may find comfort in the fact the region is home to some of the best stores for offering post-Thanksgiving discounts. That’s according to the personal finance website WalletHub. Its researchers recently surveyed 8,000 deals from 35 of the biggest retailers across the country to create its best stores rankings.

Gov. Rick Scott: 'I'm Staying Put in Florida'

It looks like Florida Gov. Rick Scott won’t be trading Sunshine State oranges for Washington, D.C., cherry blossoms anytime soon. Following a Thursday meeting with President-elect Donald Trump, Scott reaffirmed he won’t be taking a post with the new administration.

Florida’s $150 Million Sale of Driving Records Under Fire

Florida’s $150 million windfall related to the sale of driving records to private companies doesn’t sit right with U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson. The Democrat from the Miami area on Friday called on the U.S. Department of Justice to launch an investigation into the practice’s legality.

Santa’s Workshop at MOSI Opens Soon

Tampa Bay area parents looking for some hands-on fun for their little ones as the holidays approach may want to set a course for Tampa’s Museum of Science & Industry. It seems that Santa Claus intends to set up shop, along with some of his elves, to help kids make their own toys.

Cold Front Should Bring Chill to Tampa Bay Area: Weekend Weather

Tampa Bay area residents might want to pull out those sweaters. A cold front is expected to move into the area over the weekend, bringing noticeably cooler temperatures along with it.

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