Eagle Rescued, Hurricane Matthew, Picnic Island Advisory

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

Red Tide Concerns Linger Off Florida’s West Coast

Reports of respiratory irritation and fish kills continue to come in from Sarasota County beaches as a red tide bloom lingers in the region. Similar reports have come in from Manatee and Pinellas counties in recent weeks.

$5,000 Reward Offered in Bradenton Homicide Case

The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office has announced that a $5,000 reward is now being offered for information related to the Sept. 29 shooting death of Charles E. Saffore Jr.

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.

Injured Bald Eagle Creates Stir in Clearwater

Clearwater Police are sworn to protect and serve; an oath many say extends to furry and feathered creatures as well as humans. Even so, it’s not every day they find themselves blocking off traffic to protect an injured bald eagle.

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.

Identity of Man Killed in Deputy-Involved Shooting Released

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has released the name of the man killed Tuesday afternoon in Riverview following a car crash, three reported carjacking attempts and an altercation with a deputy that involved a brick.

Hurricane Matthew's Track Shifts West, Deep Into Florida

Hurricane Matthew was packing maximum sustained winds of 120 mph as it made its way toward the Bahamas early Wednesday evening. On its current projected path, the strong Category 3 storm is anticipated to arrive off Florida's east coast at some point on Thursday.

Tropical Storm Watch Goes Up in Tampa Bay Area as Hurricane Matthew Approaches

Florida’s west coast from the Suwanee River south to Chokoloskee was placed under a tropical storm watch Wednesday evening following a westward shift in Hurricane Matthew’s potential path. The advisory includes the entire Tampa Bay area.

Photo courtesy of the City of Clearwater