School Threats Up, Red Tide Back, Presidential Visit: FL Top News

FLORIDA — Leading the news in Florida this week, a rapper was charged with the murder of a woman and her unborn child weeks after being found guilty of a double homicide; President Joe Biden visited Tampa, where he continued to accuse Florida Sen. Rick Scott of wanting to do away with Medicare and Social Security; and parental pushback prompts the high school athletic association to edit a question about menstrual periods from high school sports forms.

Plus, officials share the challenges of helping waves of immigrants arriving in Florida by boat; the state has some of the country's deadliest beaches; more Bed Bath & Beyond stores are closing in the region; and Tampa leaders have been condemned after the city sold an historic Black cemetery at auction.

Here are some top reads:

• FL Sports Board Drops Menstrual Cycle Questions After Pushback
• 'Overwhelming' Numbers Of Cubans Make 94-Mile Trip To FL, Democracy
• Bradenton Proud Boy Guilty Of Assaulting U.S. Capitol Officers On Jan. 6: DOJ
• Biden Takes Another Jab At Scott Over Medicare, Social Security In FL
• City Officials Blasted After Historic Black Cemetery Sold At Auction
• FL Man Accused Of Planning Attack On MD Power Grid: Report
• 7 FL Beaches Among 'Deadliest’ In U.S.: List
• Petito’s Bruised Face Shown In Selfie Taken Before Death
• Red Tide Found At All 16 Sarasota County Beaches: DOH
• 12 More FL Bed Bath & Beyond Stores To Close As Retailer Seeks Funds
• ZooTampa Nominated For Best Zoo In America; Fans Urged To Vote Daily
• Student Threatened Shooting At Palmetto Middle School: MCSO
• Student Threatened Mass Shooting At Manatee County School: Sheriff

See these stories and more on this week's Florida Patch sites.

• Small Plane Makes Emergency Landing At Golf Course: Lee County Sheriff
• DUI Charge Results In Pinellas Sheriff Firing Deputy
• I-275 Toll Lanes, Widening Could Be Funded By $7B Plan: Gov. DeSantis
• $4.7M Presented To Polk County To Expand Broadband Internet Services
• Ex-Miami Dolphins Player Charged With DUI In FL Turnpike Crash: FHP
• Kruse DUI Trial On Hold As It Heads To Manatee Appeals Court: Records
• Suspect In Lakeland Mass Shooting Killed While Fleeing From Police
• Freedom High Paraprofessional Accused Of Having Sex With Student
• Affordable Housing Activists Wary Of Historic Gas Plant Redevelopment
• Florida, Clearwater Marine Aquariums In Running For USA Today's 10Best
• Name A Madagascar Hissing Cockroach After Your Ex This Valentine's Day
• Boca Raton Man Killed In Crash Involving Lakeland Police SUV

• Parental Consent Needed To Read Anti-Racism Book At Sarasota Schools
• Four Students Charged After Making School Threats: Manatee Sheriff

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