Florida's Spring Dangers, Bunny Cop, Undocumented Immigrants

Patch operates 23 daily news sites in Florida. The following are some of the top headlines from the past day:

Tampa Cop Injured In Saturday Shooting Goes Home

The Tampa Police Officer injured during a Saturday shooting has been released from the hospital. People lined up outside Tampa General Hospital Monday to wish Officer Jose Rodriguez well as he recovers from the shooting incident that ultimately left two people dead.

Florida Spring Dangers: Gators, Puss Caterpillars, Giant Toads

Tampa Bay area residents aren’t the only ones who have noticed the recent climb in outdoor temperatures and the arrival of wetter weather. Many of the Sunshine State’s critters are taking the turn in conditions as a sign it’s time to get out and start stretching their legs.

Undocumented Immigrants: Florida Ranks 4th In Country

Florida has 605,000 undocumented immigrants, according to a new study from InsideGov. InsideGov synthesized the most recent estimates and broke down the undocumented immigrant population groups by country of birth.

Algebra: Do Most Kids Really Need It?

As high school freshman across the Tampa Bay area dive into their final quarter of the academic year, many are likely sweating their impending need to take – and pass – an algebra end-of-course exam.

Florida Zika Virus Cases Climb To 75

The total number of confirmed cases of Zika virus cases in the Sunshine State has reached 75. That number reflects the latest data released by the Florida Department of Health on Monday.

Stormy Start For Tampa Bay’s Week

Tampa Bay area residents may want to batten down the hatches as the workweek gets under way. The National Weather Service is forecasting a stormy start to the week with a 40 percent chance of showers during the daytime hours Monday.

Bunny Cop Might Be The Cutest Thing You’ll See Today

Criminals and candy stealing parents beware: The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has a new cop on the beat. JAX Cotton Tail hopped through training with flying colors in time to make his debut on the force Easter Sunday.

Photo courtesy of Nancy Chen