Up In Smoke, Fatal Crash, Hero Deputy

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:

Girl, 3, Dies After Being Hit By Truck

A 3-year-old girl struck by a Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck early Tuesday morning has died from her injuries. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office announced Brianna Savage's death Tuesday evening.

Davis Islands Estate Boasts Gourmet Style

Property hunters in the market for homes with room to roam, waterfront views and kitchens meant to be enjoyed may find this Davis Islands estate to their liking.

3 Students Arrested After BB Gun Found On Campus

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is imploring parents to remind their kids that even toy weapons can get them in hot water if they’re brought on a school campus. The plea comes on the heels of three arrests on the McClane Middle School campus Tuesday.

Powerball Jackpot Swells To $700 Million: Florida Payout, Ticket Info

With no winner in Saturday’s Powerball drawing, the stakes climbed to a whopping $700 million on Tuesday. While that’s not quite a record-breaking jackpot, the take is the second largest in Powerball history.

Deputy’s Shot Saves Couple From Burning Car

An off-duty Manatee County Sheriff’s deputy is being called a hero after he stepped in to save a couple trapped in a burning car on Sunday.

Restaurant Inspections: 75-Plus Rodent Droppings, Bare Hands

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation ordered emergency closures at four area eateries last week when conditions inside didn’t meet state guidelines for health and safety.

Man Arrested In Attack On Elderly Woman

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has announced the arrest of a 28-year-old Tampa man in connection with a Monday afternoon robbery. Deputies say Marcus Wayne Hunt stands accused of following an 86-year-old woman home from a Brandon Walmart in order to rob her at gunpoint.

Eclipse Watchers’ Grow House Burns: Deputies

A Monday fire in Wesley Chapel’s Lexington Oaks subdivision sparked an investigation after “felony amounts of marijuana” were discovered by firefighters and deputies. The alleged owners of the illegal substance were reportedly out of town to watch the eclipse when the grow house went up in smoke, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office reported Tuesday.

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