Laced Gummy Arrests, Publix Beard Petition, Wrong-Way Driver

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

2 Teens Charged In Laced Gummy Case

Details are beginning to emerge in an incident that sent five Boca Ciega High School students to the hospital on Monday. According to the Gulfport Police Department, a student brought gummy worms to school that were laced with what field tested positive for marijuana.

Tampa Bay Are Jobs: Gaming Associate, ‘Sales Ninja,’ Preschool Teacher

Employers throughout the Tampa Bay area have put out help wanted signs in recent days. Open positions include entry-level hourly spots, and professional and managerial posts in such fields as medical and retail.

THC-Laced Treats Raising Concerns, Cops Say

The St. Petersburg Police Department is issuing a warning to Tampa Bay area parents after a Monday incident that sent several Boca Ciega High School students in Gulfport to the hospital following their consumption of marijuana-laced gummy treats.

Florida Infant Care More Costly Than College, Study Finds

Sunshine State parents with infants in daycare pay more over the course of a year than those with a child in one of the state’s public colleges. That’s the finding of a new study released by the Economic Policy Institute.

Baby Chance’s Mom, Kristen Bury, Denied Reduced Sentence

The 32-year-old North Port woman who pleaded no contest in the death of her infant son last year has been denied a reduced sentence by a Sarasota judge.

Bear Cub Rescued From Wildfire Recovering In Tampa

The 6-pound black bear cub rescued from a Lake County wildfire last week is recovering at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo. Named “Smokey Junior” by rescuers, the little bear suffered burns on his face and paws during the April 7 ordeal.

Publix Beard Petition Continues To Grow

An online petition created last year by a Florida college student on a quest to get Publix Supermarkets to rethink its beard policy is continuing to grow support.

Wrong-Way Driver Arrested By USF Police

A 27-year-old Miami woman faces DUI charges after officers from the University of South Florida Police Department say they spotted her going the wrong way on Fletcher Avenue early Tuesday morning.

Photo courtesy of Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo