Fish Kills, Sprouts’ Florida Expansion, Blue Ribbon Schools

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

Sprouts Farmers Market Stakes Out 1st Florida Location: Report

Tampa Bay area shoppers may soon have a new place to turn for organic produce and related groceries. Phoenix-based Sprouts Farmers Market has announced expansion plans for 2017 that include the chain’s first Florida location.

Dead Fish, Respiratory Irritations Reported at Most Sarasota, Manatee County Beaches

Tampa Bay area water lovers may encounter unfriendly conditions at some beaches in Sarasota and Manatee counties as a Florida red tide bloom persists in the region. On Wednesday, Sarasota’s Mote Marine Laboratory reported red tied-related issues at many beaches in Manatee and Sarasota counties.

4 Florida Schools Among 2016 National Blue Ribbon Winners

Four schools in Florida have been named 2016 National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education. The list includes two schools in the Tampa Bay area.

8 Florida Courses Make Golf Magazine’s Top 100

Golf Magazine has rolled out its Top 100 list of publicly playable courses across the country with eight in Florida earning honors, including two in the Tampa Bay area.

Tropical Storm Matthew Holds Steady With 60 MPH Winds

The 13th named storm of the 2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season has officially formed in the Caribbean Sea. Tropical Storm Matthew was located about 35 miles southeast of St. Lucia as of late Wednesday morning.

Expectant Dad Arrested in Pregnant Woman's Beating

A 23-year-old Tampa man is behind bars after Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies say he broke into the home of his unborn child’s mother early Wednesday morning. Once inside, he’s accused of beating the woman, who is seven months pregnant.

Tampa Ranks Among Best Places for Coffee Lovers: Study

From steaming cups of café con leche served up in Ybor City to cappuccinos available at neighborhood coffee shops that dot the region, Tampa is a great place to be if you’re a coffee lover. That’s the conclusion WalletHub came to when its number crunchers sat down in honor National Coffee Day (Sept. 29) to rank 100 of the country’s largest cities based on factors that matter to coffee lovers.

Photo via Sprouts Farmers Market's media room