Stamkos Staying, Deadlier Than a Shark, Zika Virus

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

Are Disney Princesses Damaging Little Girls’ Self-Esteem?

Allowing little girls to spend too much time immersed in Disney’s princess culture may be damaging to their self-esteem while serving to reinforce potentially limiting gender stereotypes. Those are the conclusions drawn following a small-scale study conducted by Brigham Young University family life professor Sarah M. Coyne.

It’s Shark Week, But These Things Are More Likely To Kill

Icicles, hot dogs, selfies and vending machines. These are just a few of the things the folks at Discovery Channel say are more likely to kill than sharks.

Buchanan Slams ‘Lame’ Obama Administration Terrorist Screening Plan

A Department of Homeland Security Proposal to ask foreign travelers for their social media information to help ferret out potential terrorists is drawing heavy fire from U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, a Florida Republican.

1st Baby With Zika Virus-Related Defect Born In Florida

The Florida Department of Health on Tuesday confirmed the state’s first Zika-related case of microcephaly. According to the state agency, the mother of the baby born in Florida with the Zika virus-related defect is a citizen of Haiti. She traveled to Florida to deliver the child.

Florida’s Economy Projected To Hit $1 Trillion

Gov. Rick Scott’s boasts about the health of Florida’s economy are more than just that, according to researchers at the University of Central Florida. The Sunshine State is on pace to see its economy swell to the $1 trillion mark by 2018.

Steven Stamkos Reportedly Staying With Tampa Bay Lightning

Tampa Bay Lightning fans worried that team captain Steven Stamkos would skate off to a sweeter deal in free agency can breathe a little easier.

159 New Florida Laws

When Floridians wake up Friday morning there will be 159 new laws in effect across the Sunshine State. July 1 is the effective date for the bulk of legislation signed by Gov. Rick Scott following the regular legislative session, which ended in March.

Victor Hedman Inks Tampa Bay Lightning Deal

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman is sticking around for another eight years. The Lightning announced Hedman’s eight-year contract extension Friday afternoon.

Tampa Named One Of America’s Top Party Hubs

Tampa knows how to get its party on. That’s the conclusion the folks at Wanderu.com came to after crunching numbers to determine America’s “biggest party hubs.”

49 Celebs Honor the 49 Orlando Shooting Victims

When Omar Mateen opened fire in a crowded Orlando nightclub in the early morning hours of June 12, the lives of 49 people came to an abrupt and violent end.

Image via Michael Miller, (CC BY-SA 3.0)