Orca Breeding, Free Food, Deadly Standoff

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

Eat For Free At Little Greek

Tampa Bay area residents are invited to go Greek next week for free, but there’s a catch. Anyone who wants to cash in on Little Greek Fresh Grill’s free mini-Greek salad offer needs to wear a toga to one of the chain’s 16 Tampa Bay area locations.

SeaWorld Ends Orca Breeding, Effective Immediately

SeaWorld has announced an immediate end to its orca breeding program and plans to gradually phase out the creatures’ use in theatrical shows. The announcement came early Thursday morning, amid mounting pressure from animal rights organizations.

E-Cigarettes Are Poisoning Pets, Vets Say

National Poison Prevention Week is generally geared toward safeguarding humans, but veterinarians say pets are also at risk. That’s why pet healthcare professionals are working to raise awareness about an emerging danger posed by e-cigarettes.

Tuna Recall Includes Florida

A nationwide tuna recall for potential "life-threatening" contamination includes the popular Bumble Bee and Chicken of the Sea brands, the FDA reported Thursday.

Tampa Votes To Decriminalize Marijuana Possession

The Tampa City Council has given a green light to a measure that would allow police officers to issue fines to those caught with small amounts of marijuana instead of hauling them off to jail.

Police Shield Takes Bullet, Accused Shooter Subsequently Killed

A 45-minute standoff between Tampa Police and a man involved in a domestic disturbance Thursday morning ended in a fatal shooting.

Photo of the shield Tampa Police say took a bullet Thursday morning when a standoff took a deadly turn, resulting in the suspect's death./Courtesy of the Tampa Police Department