‘Unimaginable’ Event, Accused Cop Killers, Irma’s Impacts

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:

Las Vegas Shooting 'Unimaginable,' Witness Jake Owen Says

“I witnessed the most unimaginable event tonight,” country music singer Jake Owen tweeted out shortly after the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history unfolded at the Route 91 Harvest music festival on the Las Vegas Strip. “We are okay,” the Winter Haven native continued. “Others aren’t. Please pray.”

Accused Cop Killers Should Face Federal Charges: Police Chief

A police chief from Illinois with ties to the Tampa Bay area is on a crusade to get President Donald Trump’s administration to back a change in federal law that would revamp how cop killing cases are handled. Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel’s mission to make the line-of-duty slaying of a police officer a federal offense technically began in 2011. While his pleas so far have mostly fallen “on deaf ears in Washington, D.C.,” he has no intent of backing down.

Publix Recalls Turkey Over Possible Metal Contamination

Publix customers with a taste for the grocery chain’s ground turkey are being asked to check their refrigerators and freezers. The Lakeland-based store has issued a recall on certain packages of meat after its supplier uncovered possible metal contamination.

Sarasota No. 1 For Retirees: U.S. News & World Report

Looking to get the most out of your retirement, take note: Sarasota is the best place to live as a retiree, according to U.S. News & World Report. Sarasota outranked all other cities when it came to the overall happiness of its residents, outpacing Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and San Antonio. These cities were chosen based on criteria including housing affordability, the happiness index, quality of healthcare, retiree taxes, job market and desirability.

Lee Elementary Fire Blamed On Hurricane Irma

Hurricane Irma created a perfect storm of conditions for sparking the fire that ultimately led to the destruction of Tampa’s Lee Elementary School. That’s the conclusion of Tampa Fire Marshal John Reed following his agency’s investigation into the Sept. 12 blaze that rendered the school a loss.

Hurricane Irma’s Impact On Florida Agriculture Hits $2.5 Billion

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has released its preliminary estimate of the financial toll Hurricane Irma took on the state’s agriculture industry. At $2.5 billion, the number is sizable. Officials, however, warn the figure is likely to change and not in a good way.

FIFA World Cup: Tampa In Running For 2026 Games

Soccer fans across the Tampa Bay region may have reason to celebrate. The United Bid Committee announced that Tampa is among 32 cities moving on to the next stage of the process to bring the 2026 FIFA World Cup to North America. Other Florida cities in the running include Orlando and Miami.

Sunshine Skyway Construction Set To Begin

Motorists who travel the Sunshine Skyway will soon notice a buzz of activity in the rest areas. The Florida Department of Transportation announced Thursday that an $18.1 million upgrade project is set to begin Oct. 16.

Health Care: Here’s How Many Florida Kids Are At Risk Because Of Congress Nearly 9 million kids across the country rely on health insurance from CHIP, the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Although it’s not a controversial program, Congress let its funding expire Oct. 1 — and many states may soon tell millions of families that their insurance plans are ending.

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