Zika Virus Emergency, 'Bigfoot' Hunt, Banning Refugees

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

Florida Declares Zika Virus Health Emergency

Gov. Rick Scott has declared a public health emergency in four counties where residents have been confirmed to have contracted the Zika virus. One of those counties is Hillsborough.

Sheriff Joins Hunt for ‘Bigfoot’

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office has joined the search for a 9-foot Sasquatch recently reported missing by a homeowner. Residents in the area of Lake Tropicana have no reason to fear, the agency insisted on Facebook. “We do not believe that Bigfoot is a danger to the community, but the owner of Bigfoot genuinely would like it back home,” the agency wrote.

Bill Aims To Allow Use Of Military Force To Block ‘Invaders’

Florida Gov. Rick Scott would be able to call for the use of military force to block some refugees from entering the Sunshine State if a bill being kicked around in the House goes the distance.

The “Prevention of Acts of War” bill cleared a hurdle Wednesday when the House Criminal Justice Committee approved the measure in a 9-4 vote, several media outlets have reported. All committee Republicans were in favor of the measure that seeks to prevent the resettlement of refugees if they happen to be from a country where “invaders” are known to live and train.

Strong Cold Front To Bring Storms To Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay area residents might want to keep their umbrellas handy over the next day or so. The National Weather Service anticipates a strong cold front will move into the region on Thursday, bringing lots of rain and the potential for thunderstorms with it.

Tampa Ranked 4th Best Place For Weddings

Tampa is the place to be if it’s time to say those wedding vows. In fact, the city was named the fourth best place in the nation to get married, according to WalletHub.

Hillsborough Considers Animal Abuse Registry

People who are convicted of animal abuse in Hillsborough County may soon find their names on a registry accessible to the general public, much like those convicted of sexually related crimes. Hillsborough County Commissioners voted 5-1 Wednesday to have an ordinance drafted that would require convicted animal abusers and those convicted of animal neglect to sign up for a registry.

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