Price Gouging, Trump Rally, Creatures of the Night

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

Donald Trump Announces Lakeland Rally

Tampa Bay area Donald Trump supporters who want to see their presidential pick in person before the election will get their chance Wednesday. Trump’s campaign has placed a rally in Lakeland on the schedule.

‘Critical Need’ for Blood, Plasma, Platelet Donations

With Hurricane Matthew forcing closings at many OneBlood donation centers over the past day or so, the agency reports the need is now critical. OneBlood is resuming its collection operations in parts of the state that are now clear from the storm.

Lowry Park’s Creatures of the Night Opens This Weekend

Tampa Bay area residents who’ve ever wondered what zoo creatures do after the sun goes down will get their chance to find out this month. Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo has announced Creatures of the Night will run weekends through the rest of October.

Clearwater’s Injured Eagle on the Mend at Busch Gardens

An injured eagle that blocked Wednesday morning traffic along Clearwater’s Countryside Boulevard is on the road to recovery. Busch Gardens of Tampa Bay stepped in to help the wounded bird.

Driver Cited in Crash That Killed Mastry's Bar Manager

A City of Treasure Island garbage truck driver has been charged in the crash that killed Justin Mastry, 44, on Aug. 12. According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Chester Lee Tunsil II was cited with careless driving on Thursday.

Tampa Bay Weekend Weather: Mild in Hurricane Matthew’s Wake

Tampa Bay area residents may have to put up with a bit more post-Hurricane Matthew rain on Friday, but once it blows past a mild Columbus Day weekend is anticipated. According to the National Weather Service, Saturday through Monday should bring mostly sunny conditions and daytime highs below 90 degrees in much of the region.

Felony Charges for St. Pete High Student Accused of Making Threats

A 14-year-old St. Petersburg boy faces felony charges after police say he threatened to shoot other students at his school.

Hurricane Matthew Price Gouging: How to Report It

While the Tampa Bay area has largely escaped the effects of Hurricane Matthew, that doesn’t mean some people won’t try to cash in on the storm by dramatically raising prices on needed goods. That’s called price gouging and it’s illegal in the state of Florida.

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