Medical Marijuana, Parade Of Pirates, Bacon Bomb Burger

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

Gasparilla Parade Of Pirates: What To Know Before You Go

The 2016 Gasparilla Parade of Pirates steps off in Tampa Saturday afternoon, promising to bring with it a rowdy good time. While cannons will fire, beads will be tossed and pirates and marching bands will take to Tampa’s streets, there are some things revelers need to know before they go.

Medical Marijuana Makes November Ballot

The push to make medical marijuana use legal in Florida has cleared another obstacle with the final decision now resting in the hands of the state’s voters. United for Care announced late Wednesday that the number of signatures required to get the constitutional amendment on the ballot had been attained.

Tortoise Thief Nabbed, Police Say

A 41-year-old Largo woman faces criminal charges after Clearwater Police say they connected her with a “pre-holiday heist of a rare tortoise from a pet store.” The arrest of Nicole Perry was announced Thursday morning.

NASA Marks Challenger Disaster’s 30th Anniversary

As America marks the 30th anniversary of the Challenger space shuttle disaster, NASA is honoring all those who have died advancing the country’s space program. “Today, we pause to remember our fallen heroes of the Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia crews,” the agency tweeted. “NASA Day of Remembrance commemorates the crews of Apollo 1, Challenger, and Columbia; along with all the members of its family who lost their lives while furthering the cause of exploration and discovery.”

ACLU: Report Shows Evidence Of Racial Profiling On Florida Roads

The American Civil Liberties Union wants the state of Florida and its counties to launch probes into how seatbelt violations are handed down to motorists. In a new report released Wednesday, the organization claims that black motorists in Florida are ticketed for seatbelt law violations at nearly twice the pace of white motorists.

Bacon Bomb Explosion Wins Fair’s People’s Choice Award

Burger lovers have made their choice clear. Following a week of online voting, the Bacon Bomb Explosion Burger has come out on top and will be featured on the menu at this year’s Florida State Fair.

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