Fishermen Rescued, MTV’s ‘Siesta Key,’ Sinkhole Cleanup Starts

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:

Florida’s Burning Bed Case Takes New Turn

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office has announced new charges for the New Port Richey woman accused of lighting her estranged husband’s bed on fire while he slept in it. Deputies say Eva Marie Brennan, 48, also threatened a deputy’s family while on the way to the Land O’ Lakes Jail following her arrest on attempted murder and arson charges last week.

Body Found In Lake Gibson Identified

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has released the identity of a man whose body was recovered from Lakeland’s Lake Gibson on Sunday. According to the agency, missing boater Cornelius R. Wiggins, 32, was pulled from the water at 6:58 p.m. July 30.

Pinellas Kids’ Crime Spree Ends In Spring Hill: Deputies

A meetup between several Pinellas County kids at a park in St. Petersburg on Sunday allegedly kicked off a crime spree that included about 30 auto burglaries and the theft of a car. While Pinellas County deputies flattened three of the tires on the stolen car back in Palm Harbor, Hernando County deputies are credited with making the arrests after the kids reportedly traveled into Spring Hill.

Florida Schools Rank In Top Half Of Country: Study

Florida public schools aren’t the best in the country, but they’re far from the worst. That’s according to a new study released by WalletHub that ranks public school systems in states across the country based on their quality and safety.

Land O’ Lakes Sinkhole Debris Removal Set To Begin

Residents of Lake Padgett Estates hoping to see their neighborhood return to some semblance of normalcy should see some forward momentum soon. The Pasco County Commission on Monday approved expenditures of up to $1.3 million to “remove the debris, eliminate the public health threat from the debris and secure the site.”

Brothers Rescued From Tampa Bay As Tropical Storm Emily Bore Down

Two brothers from Tampa found themselves in a precarious position Monday morning when their fishing boat broke down and began taking on water in Tampa Bay. With conditions rough due to Tropical Storm Emily’s arrival in the area, the two men ended up clinging to a channel navigational aid while waiting for help to arrive.

Sarasota Woman, 20, Shot At Dinner Table Dies

A 19-year-old Sarasota man faces manslaughter charges after his handgun allegedly went off while his family was eating Sunday dinner. Police say the shot led to the death of Leticia Cortez, 20, the man’s sister.

Shark-Dragging Video Sparks MTV ‘Siesta Key’ Boycott

Nearly 6,000 people had joined the “Boycott Siesta Key MTV” movement on Facebook as of Monday morning while the cable network readied for the show’s July 31 debut. Allegations that cast members have ties to those involved in the controversial video that apparently shows a shark being dragged to its death behind a powerboat prompted the effort. The video surfaced on social media last week, sparking outrage.

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