Active Hurricane Season, Top Hospitals, Deputy Injured

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:

Deputy Injured When Suspects Ram Cruiser: Sheriff

A 34-year-old Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputy was hospitalized with minor injuries after a Friday morning fraud investigation took a dangerous turn. According to the agency, suspects in the case rammed the deputy’s cruiser and attempted to get away.

Tampa Bay, Central Florida Colleges Whose Grads Make The Most Cash

Freshly minted high school seniors throughout the Tampa Bay and Central Florida areas who don’t want to travel too far when they’re ready for college will find some pretty good options nearby. According to the U.S. Department of Education, some of the region’s colleges also have the highest average earnings for students after graduation within the state.

725-Pound Pilot Whale Returns To Open Water

A 725-pound pilot whale who managed to beach herself in Dixie County on July 1 is back in open water thanks to the crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Joshua Appleby. “Gale,” as the distressed whale was named, was returned to water about 140 miles west of Clearwater on Tuesday.

Remembering Snooty: Memorial Set In Creature's Honor

Tampa Bay area residents who want to pay final respects to the world’s oldest manatee will get their chance early next month. The South Florida Museum has set the date for a memorial open house in honor of Snooty the manatee.

'Extremely Active' Hurricane Season Possible: NOAA's Adjusted Forecast

With the peak of the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season just days away from starting, forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have upped their predictions for an above-normal number of storms. Back in May, NOAA forecast a 45 percent chance of an above-normal season. On Wednesday, that number rose to a 60 percent chance.

McDonald’s Launches Contest Just For Teachers

Tampa Bay area teachers hoping to kick off the new school year with extra cash in their classroom budgets may find themselves loving a contest recently kicked off by McDonald’s restaurants in the region. The contest offers four lucky teachers $1,000 each to purchase supplies.

Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival 2018 Dates, Times Set

Tampa Bay area residents and visitors who can’t wait for the 2018 return of the Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival still have months to go, but now they have some dates to jot down on their calendars. The city of Clearwater announced Wednesday that the 2018 event is set to take place April 13-22, 2018.

Land O’ Lakes Sinkhole: Fundraiser For Victims Continues

As more families in Land O’ Lakes learned over the past few days their homes had been deemed total losses due to the Ocean Pines Drive sinkhole, an effort to help them recover remained active.

35 Best Hospitals In Florida: U.S. News & World Report

Thirty-five Florida facilities were named by U.S. News and World Report when it released its annual rankings of the best hospitals in the country for 2017-18, listing more than 4,500 medical centers in the U.S. in 25 specialties, procedures and conditions. The rankings also looked at the best hospitals in every state and 20 hospitals made it to the honor roll, a distinction given to hospitals that deliver exceptional treatment across multiple specialties.

As Florida’s Lyme Disease Cases Rise, Researchers Offer Slick Solution

While most Floridians prefer the backyard pool or beach this time of year, some are still taking time out to explore the Sunshine State’s more rugged, woodsy areas. Those who do may find nearly invisible ticks just waiting to make meals of out them. Lyme disease, one of the most common tick-borne illnesses, is on the rise — the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there may be as many as 300,000 cases of the infection per year in the United States, though many of these could go undetected.

Tampa Bay Area Schools Rank Among Florida's Best

As the clock winds down on summer 2017, Tampa Bay area parents and students can see how their individual school districts and schools stacked up against others across Florida on new rankings reports released by Niche.com. The website’s annual rankings take a dive into districts and the best public schools across the country and each state.

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