Pay Hikes for Cops, Holiday Lights, Cat-Loving Burglar

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:

Rotting Food, Feces, Drugs Prompt 2 Child Neglect Arrests

tip called into the Sarasota Police Department about possible child neglect led to the arrest of two adults and the removal of five children on Monday after officers encountered conditions they say made the home unsuitable to live in.

2016 Holiday Lights: 9 Must-See Displays in Tampa Bay

The holiday season is officially here and communities across Tampa Bay are pulling out the stops to spread a little cheer. Folks who love elaborate light displays will find more than a few illuminating nights this December.

Florida Polytechnic Students’ Device Could Save Hospitals Thousands

Four Florida Polytechnic University students and their professor may have created a way to save hospitals across the country thousands of dollars during construction projects on their campuses. The re-engineered device is meant to measure dust, noise, vibration and other factors that can impact patient health and safety.

HIV Cases: Tampa Bay Area Communities Rank Among Top 30 Areas with New Infections

Miami has the highest rate of HIV diagnosis in metropolitan areas across the country, but several communities in the Tampa Bay area are also represented in a Top 30 ranking released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week.

‘Creep-In,’ Cat Loving Florida Burglar Busted, Cops Say

St. Petersburg Police say they’ve caught the man responsible for giving a Shore Acres resident quite a fright in mid-November.

Man Duped Woman, 74, with Sale of Fake Burial Plot: Deputies

An elderly New Port Richey woman hoping to address end-of-life issues found herself the victim of a crime instead when a man sold her a fake funeral plot for more than $2,000, according to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office.

5 Percent Wage Hike for State Cops Pitched by Gov. Rick Scott

Law enforcement officers on the State of Florida’s payroll might be getting a raise courtesy of a proposal floated by Gov. Rick Scott Thursday morning. Scott has included $11.7 million in his 2017-18 budget recommendations to cover a 5 percent pay raise for Florida’s nearly 4,000 state law enforcement officers.

Photo via the Pasco County Parks and Recreation Department’s Facebook page