Psychic's Lottery Picks, Flamingo Flock, Free McDonald's

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

Psychic’s Picks Score Man Florida Lottery Prize

A 60-year-old St. Petersburg man is more than $500,000 richer courtesy of five lucky numbers suggested by a psychic more than 20 years ago.

Unacceptable: U.S. Tax Code Longer Than Bible, Lawmaker Says

As thousands of Americans scrambled to meet Monday’s deadline for filing their 2015 income tax returns, one lawmaker from Florida made a point to tout the need for reform.

Red Tide In Tampa Bay: What You Need To Know

As a red tide bloom in the Gulf of Mexico continues to create problems at beaches in the Tampa Bay area, the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County has released information it says water lovers need to know about.

Bright House Offers Frustrated Frontier Customers A Deal

As Frontier Communications continues to field complaints from Tampa Bay area customers following its April 1 takeover of Verizon FiOS services, Bright House Networks is offering a deal it hopes some will find too good to pass by.

Top 100 Florida High Schools Ranked

The number crunchers at U.S. News & World Report have released their annual rankings of the “Best High Schools” in the country. While Florida only had one entry in the Top 10 nationally, the Sunshine State does have a number of standout schools, according to the publication.

Sunken Gardens Welcomes Flamingo Flock

George and Lucy have been the only flamingos on the block at Sunken Gardens for years, but all that changed Wednesday when the city of St. Petersburg welcomed 20 feathered friends into the park’s fold.

Lightning Wins Equal Free McDonald’s For Fans

Tampa Bay Lightning fans can celebrate every Bolts’ Stanley Cup Playoff win with a free meal courtesy of McDonald’s. A total of 202 locations in 13 counties across Tampa Bay are participating in the promotion that’s available exclusively via the McDonald’s app.

Restaurant Inspections: Dead Rodents, Roaches, No Hair Nets

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

Rescue Dog Becomes Rare Electronics-Sniffing K9

Gia might not look like the other four-legged deputies in the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office’s K9 unit, but looks aren’t everything. As the agency’s newest electronic-sniffing K9, it’s Gia’s job to find computer equipment and components hidden from view. The job is one sheriff’s office spokesman Dave Bristow said Gia has taken to quite well and it’s an important one at that.

Cuban-Born People Can Sail To Cuba, Carnival Says

Carnival cruise line’s Fathom will set sail as planned on May 1. The cruise ship company announced Friday morning that it had received approval from the Cuban government to sail as planned with Cuban-born passengers on board.

Watch: Bald Eagle Takes Flight

Just one day before Earth Day’s 2016 arrival, the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey reached a milestone in its efforts to protect and conserve bald eagles by officially releasing its 540th rehabilitated bald eagle back into Florida’s skies.

Photo courtesy of the City of St. Petersburg Facebook page