Scam Alert, Martin St. Louis Jersey Retirement, Skyway Fatality

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:

Beware Ticket Scams As Sports Fans Converge On Tampa: Cops

The Tampa Police Department is warning sports fans to take precautions to safeguard against "scammers peddling fake tickets" as a number of big-name events are set for play in the community over the next few weeks.

Tampa, Sarasota Named ‘Hot’ Real Estate Markets For 2017

House hunters in the West Central Florida area will find several of the region's real estate markets are considered ripe for major growth in the coming year. That’s according to the real estate website Trulia, which just released its top 10 list of “hot” real estate markets across the country.

Winn-Dixie, Publix New Year’s Eve 2016 Hours

Forget the black-eyed peas or collard greens for New Year’s dinner? There’s no need to panic. Both Publix and Winn-Dixie locations in the Tampa Bay area plan to be open for those last-minute ingredients over the New Year’s holiday. Shoppers need to be aware of some special hours for one of the region's biggest supermarket chains though.

Man, 79, Points Gun At 4 Road Workers Over Dog Poop Dispute: Deputies

A 79-year-old Largo man faces four counts of aggravated assault following a Thursday morning dispute with four road workers in Seminole.

New Year’s Weekend Weather: Chilly Start For Tampa Bay Area

The Tampa Bay area may once again earn bragging rights for the best holiday weather in the country. Residents and visitors, however, will have to endure a few bumps along way to near postcard-perfect New Year's Day weather.

Fatal Skyway Bridge Crash: IDs Released

As the Florida Highway Patrol continues to investigate a fatal wrong-way crash that closed lanes on the Skyway Bridge Friday morning, troopers have released some details.

Eaglet Watch Continues

The waiting is almost over for Fort Myers' famous bald eagles. One of Harriet and M15's eaglets has begun cracking out of its shell. The folks at the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam Foundation announced news of the hatchling's progress via Facebook Thursday afternoon.

Martin St. Louis Jersey Retirement Details Announced

Fans looking to see the No. 26 jersey head up to the rafters need to arrive extra early to the Tampa Bay Lightning game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Patch photo by Amanda Lamela