Beach Advisories, Trump Rally, Stone Crab Season

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

Donald Trump Announces Lakeland Rally

Tampa Bay area Donald Trump supporters who want to see their presidential pick in person before the election will get their chance Wednesday. Trump’s campaign has placed a rally in Lakeland on the schedule.

Florida Stone Crab Claw Season Opens Soon

Tampa Bay area residents eager for stone crab claw season to begin don’t have much longer to wait before they can get cracking. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has announced the recreational and commercial harvest season in both state and federal waters begins Oct. 15.

Advisory Goes Up for Picnic Island; Lifted at 2 Other Hillsborough County Beaches

People with plans to visit Picnic Island Beach may want to think twice about getting in the water. The Hillsborough County Health Department issued an advisory for the beach’s water after samples taken Monday returned with unsatisfactory results.

Cirque Musica Holiday Spectacular Coming to Tampa

Tampa Bay area residents who want to see a holiday performance that’s complete with acrobatics, daring feats and a full symphony orchestra will get their chance soon. Cirque Musica Holiday Spectacular is coming to Amalie Arena in early December with tickets set to go on sale this Friday.

Tampa Bay Towns Among America’s Fastest-Growing: Study

A number of Tampa Bay area communities have rebounded well since the Great Recession rocked the economy, including Brandon, Clearwater and Largo. That’s according to the personal-finance website WalletHub whose number crunchers recently took a look at the economic pictures in 515 communities across the country.

No Howard Frankland Bridge Toll Lanes, FDOT Secretary Confirms

Tampa Bay area motorists concerned about a proposal to create toll lanes on the Howard Frankland Bridge can breathe a sigh of relief. The Florida Department of Transportation confirmed Monday that the notion is dead in the water.

Felony Charges for St. Pete High Student Accused of Making Threats

A 14-year-old St. Petersburg boy faces felony charges after police say he threatened to shoot other students at his school.

Hurricane Matthew Price Gouging: How to Report It

While the Tampa Bay area has largely escaped the effects of Hurricane Matthew, that doesn’t mean some people won’t try to cash in on the storm by dramatically raising prices on needed goods. That’s called price gouging and it’s illegal in the state of Florida.

Photo courtesy of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission