Murder Arrest, Florida’s Budget, Miscarriage Certificates

Patch operates 24 daily news sites in Florida. The following are some of the top headlines from the past day or so:

Special Session Set For Florida’s Budget

While Florida Gov. Rick Scott approved most of Florida’s $82.4 billion budget Friday, lingering issues related to school funding, job growth grants and tourism won’t be resolved until a special session next week. The announcement was made by Scott just days after he promised to review the proposed budget “line by line.”

Arrest Made In Cab Driver’s Slaying

A 27-year-old St. Petersburg man faces first-degree murder charges in the Thursday stabbing death of a United Taxi of Clearwater driver. According to police, Juan Carlos Juares was brought into custody late Thursday evening.

Flooding A Concern As Storms Head Toward Tampa Bay Area

Tampa Bay area residents tired of highs in the 90s are likely to get a break over the coming weekend. Forecasters at the National Weather Service, however, say there could be a price to pay for slightly cooler conditions. A string of rainy days and several disturbances heading into the area could raise the risk of localized flooding.

Chilling Pulse Nightclub Massacre Video Released

As the one-year anniversary of the worst mass shooting in modern American history nears, the City of Orlando has released police bodycam footage that offers a glimpse into the chaos that unfolded inside the Pulse nightclub in Orlando on June 12, 2016.

Florida's Miscarriage Certificates Long Overdue: Opinion

With the stroke of his pen on Wednesday, Gov. Rick Scott signed legislation that paves the way for Florida to become the first state in the country to provide certificates for miscarriages. The “certificates of nonviable birth” will be made available under the Grieving Families Act for parents who miscarry after nine weeks but before 20 weeks of gestation, starting on July 1.

Clearwater Beach Home Delivers Postcard-Perfect Views

A home doesn’t have to be palatial to be impressive. Case in point: this waterfront property on Clearwater Beach. Although only spanning about 3,300 square feet, the home’s British West Indies design and backyard views make it stand out.

‘Extremes’ Made 2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season Unique: Researcher

While folks throughout Florida and along the eastern seaboard are getting ready for whatever the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season brings, a University of South Florida associate professor has been pondering the anomalies that made last year a “season of extremes.”

Hurricane Matthew image courtesy of the National Hurricane Center