15-Foot Gator, Portillo's Opening, Not So Cheap Gas

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

15-Foot Gator Bagged In Florida

Two hunters in Florida are getting the credit for taking down a monster alligator believed to have been making meals out of a farm’s cattle. The beast, which measured in at nearly 15 feet, was killed Saturday at Outwest Farms in Okeechobee.

Lance Ringhaver Killed In U.S. 41 Crash

One of the men responsible for helping bring Major League Baseball to Tampa Bay is dead following a crash on U.S. 41 in the Apollo Beach area Monday night.

Brandon Portillo’s Opens Next Week

Tampa Bay area residents eager to chomp down on a real Chicago hot dog don’t have too much longer to wait for Portillo’s to open the doors on its first Florida location.

Restaurant Inspections: Rodent Droppings ‘Too Numerous To Count’

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

Bail Bondsman Had Help On The Inside, Deputies Say

A 32-year-old Land O’ Lakes man faces criminal charges after Pasco County Sheriff’s deputies say he paid a prisoner to boost his bail bonds business.

Faulty Electric Tap Sparked Grow House Fire

While grow house operators generally strive to fly under the radar, a Brandon operation failed to do so Monday when an electrical fire led authorities right to the front door.

Craigslist, Facebook Cheap Gas Offers Land Man In Jail

Gasoline offered at 99 cents a gallon is a steal for sure. So much so, in fact, that a Florida man now faces a long list of felony charges after authorities say he used stolen credit card information to purchase gasoline before turning around to peddle it online.

Photo courtesy of Portillo’s