High School Stabbing, Milestone For Panthers, RadioShack Closings

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 week:

'Major Milestone' For Florida Panthers Reached

The recent discovery of two Florida panther kittens and their mother in an area north of the Caloosahatchee River may be cause for celebration. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the sighting is the first documented north of the river since 1973.

RadioShack Closing 9 Tampa Bay Area Stores

Tampa Bay area residents who rely on local RadioShack stores for gadgets and electronics may soon have to find new places to shop. Nine stores in the region are closing after the company filed for bankruptcy for a second time in recent history.

E9 ‘The Adventurer’ Takes Flight: Video

Although Florida's famous eaglet E9 remains under its parents' watchful eyes, the little critter that made a splash with a New Year's Eve arrival will soon set out on its own. Before it does, viewers can still tune in to watch E9's daily adventures in flight via the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam Foundation's live stream.

Steak Knife Found After Chamberlain High Stabbing

As Tampa Police Department detectives continue to investigate a Tuesday morning stabbing on the Chamberlain High School campus that sent one girl to the hospital, they've announced an arrest in the case.

Delay Denied In Accused Cop Killer's Case

Orange-Osceola State Attorney Aramis Ayala’s attempt to remain as the prosecutor in accused cop killer Markeith Loyd’s first-degree murder trial hit a stumbling block on Tuesday when her request to delay proceedings was denied.

Teens Took Dad’s Car, Wrecked It In Armed Robbery

Two 14-year-old boys face criminal charges after a Tuesday armed robbery in Lakeland resulted in a gunshot going off and a car belonging to one of the teen’s father’s getting smashed.

Universal’s Volcano Bay Pricing Announced

Water park lovers chomping at the bit for the opening of Universal’s new Volcano Bay don’t have much longer to wait. The new water-based theme park is set to open May 25 with new pricing details released recently.

Florida Arson Dog Sniffing Way Toward National Honor

Clearwater Assistant Fire Marshal Ron Neuberger wasn’t so sure he wanted a dog when his wife and 9-year-old daughter talked him into checking out a Labrador-mix puppy at a shelter a few years back. “I was done as soon as I saw him,” Neuberger admitted about his first encounter with Quincy during a quick stop on his way home from work.

Manatee Death Stats Make Status Change Folly: Officials

While some are lauding Thursday’s official removal of manatees from the federal endangered species list, others say recent mortality numbers don’t support the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s decision to reclassify the creatures as threatened.

Photo courtesy of Universal Orlando