Pinky the Flamingo, Tampa Bay Ferry, Teen Defies Odds: August Top Stories

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

Pinky the Flamingo’s Death: SeaWorld Pushing for ‘Zero-Tolerance’

The death of Busch Gardens’ Pinky the flamingo has resulted in a swift response from the theme park’s owners. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment is urging “authorities to pursue the case with vigor.”

Brain-Eating Amoeba: Florida Teen Defies the Odds

The 16-year-old Broward County boy who contracted Naegleria fowleri, also known as the brain-eating amoeba, earlier this month has defied the odds. Sebastian DeLeon is the fourth person in the United States to have survived a run-in with the deadly amoeba in the past 50 years.

Rays Want Your Stadium Ideas

As the Tampa Bay Rays continue their search for a new location to call home, the team is hoping to get fans involved in the process. With that in mind, the Rays launched “Ballpark Reimagined” on Monday.

Tampa Bay Mourns Radio Host Dave McKay’s Death

Tampa Bay area residents may not be familiar with Steve Ehmke, but many have followed his alter ego, Dave McKay, for years. The popular QYK radio personality and co-host of the “Dave and Veronica Show” was found dead in his St. Petersburg home Thursday morning.

Next-Gen PSAs Target New Angle in Drug Addiction, Recovery

A father sits down to a breakfast prepared by his adult son. Silence is oppressive as the two cast glances from opposite heads of the table. Tension builds until the son can take it no longer. “Is it Mom,” he asks, hoping to find an explanation for his father’s alcohol abuse.

Tampa Bay Ferry Gets Final Thumbs Up

It won’t be long before Tampa Bay area residents will be able to hop on a ferry to travel between Tampa and St. Petersburg. The Pinellas County Commission on Tuesday gave a thumbs up to the project, agreeing to spend $350,000 to help float a trial run.

Alligator Kills Florida Woman’s Dog

A Florida woman is mourning the loss of her 1-year-old Jack Russell terrier after a fatal encounter with an alligator at Pinellas County’s Joe’s Creek Greenway Park.

Aetna Exiting Florida Obamacare Exchanges

Tampa Bay area residents who are insured by Aetna through Florida’s Affordable Health Care Act exchange will find themselves needing to look for a new carrier in 2017. The insurer has announced its intention pull out of most Obamacare exchanges across the country, including Florida, after suffering pretax losses of more than $430 million since January 2014.

Blind Fawn Rescued by Deputy

A blind fawn spotted on a Hillsborough County roadway has a second chance at life thanks to a quick-acting deputy.

Goody Goody Opens Its Doors

The wait is over. Goody Goody officially opened its doors in Hyde Park Village early Tuesday morning to a crowd of eager diners, including Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn.

Locally Transmitted Zika Virus in Pinellas Confirmed

The first locally acquired case of Zika virus in Pinellas County has been confirmed by the state of Florida. The case was announced by Gov. Rick Scott Tuesday morning along with four other new locally transmitted cases in Miami-Dade County.

Atlantic Hurricane Season 2016: The Peak is Now

As Tropical Storm Gaston, Tropical Depression Fiona and an unnamed disturbance swirl in the Atlantic Ocean, scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration say there is a good reason for so much activity all at once. The peak of the 2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season has officially arrived.

Photo courtesy of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay