Community Corner

Coach Sex Abuse Death | Teen Drives 132 MPH | Python Hunt: FL News

Leprosy Cases Increase | Shark Bites Swimmer | 1st Drive-Thru Wawa | Parkland Shooting Re-Enactment | $15M Lottery Win | Boy Dies Diving

FLORIDA — On the weekend, we present a week in review of the top stories and headlines from all across Florida. Here's a roundup of some of the biggest and quirkiest stories across the state. You can also find your local Patch and catch up on those stories by clicking here.

Coach Accused Of Child Sex Abuse Dies By Suicide: Sheriff

A jiu-jitsu coach accused of sexual battery of a minor died by suicide before he could be arrested, according to a sheriff’s office.

FL Teen Drove 132 MPH, Deputy Makes Him Call Parents: Video

Bodycam footage from a traffic stop when a deputy clocked a Florida teenager driving 132 mph has gone viral. When Corporal Greg Rittger learned the driver was 16, he said, “Call your father. I need him here now.”

Find out what's happening in Clearwaterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

13-Year-Old Dies While Free Diving In FL Keys: Sheriff

A 13-year-old Marathon boy died after a free diving incident in the Florida Keys, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a Facebook post. He was spearfishing with a friend around 3 p.m. in about 25 feet of water south of Duck Key when the incident took place.

$15 Million Top Prize In FL Lottery Scratch-Off Game Won

A $30 scratch-off game has made a Haines City man a millionaire. Florida Lottery officials said the top winner in the Billion Dollar Gold Rush Supreme Scratch-Off game chose to receive his winnings as a lump-sum payment of $13.2 million.

Find out what's happening in Clearwaterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

FL Woman Bitten By Shark In Tampa Bay Near St. Pete Pier

A woman was bitten by a shark while swimming in Tampa Bay not far from the St. Pete Pier. The attack happened around 8 p.m. about two or three miles from the pier, Fox 13 reported.

Lawmakers Tour Blood-Stained Parkland Hallways Before Reenactment

Nine members of Congress toured the blood-stained and bullet-pocked halls at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Friday, shortly before ballistics technicians reenact the massacre that left 14 students and three staff members dead.

Florida Python Challenge 2023 Runs Aug. 4-13 With $30K In Prizes

Florida's annual effort to remove invasive Burmese pythons from the wild is under way with more than $30,000 in prizes up for grabs. The 2023 Florida Python Challenge continues until 5 p.m. Aug. 13. The 10-day challenge is open to professional and novice hunters, officials said.

Leprosy Cases On Rise In Central FL: CDC

Leprosy cases are on the rise in Florida, according to a new analysis from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2020, 159 cases were reported nationally with Florida among the states with the highest number of cases. And the number of cases in the Southeast has more than doubled.

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