Mom’s Letter, Lego Thief, Living With Gators

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

Florida Alligators: What You Need To Know

Alligator attacks on humans aren't common, but they do happen as evidenced by the death of 2-year-old Lane Graves in Orlando on Tuesday.

Force Not With Accused Star Wars Lego Thief

Jedi mind tricks didn't seem to work for a 35-year-old man accused of stealing more than $300 worth of Lego Star Wars toys from a Wesley Chapel store earlier this week.

Could Orlando’s Tragedies Hurt Florida Tourism?

As Orlando and the rest of the nation continue to reel in the face of three back-to-back tragedies that claimed 53 lives in the span of a few short days, some are wondering if visitors might think twice about planning Florida vacations.

Fatal Gator Attack: Disney’s Signs Under Fire

One day after a 2-year-old boy’s body was pulled from the waters of Disney’s Seven Seas Lagoon, the entertainment company is under fire about its signage — or lack thereof — along the banks of its man-made lake.

Troopers Seek Help Identifying Woman Killed In Crash

The Florida Highway Patrol is looking for help identifying a woman who died Thursday following a Wednesday morning crash on U.S. 41 at 60th Avenue West in Bradenton.

Mom’s Letter After Cops Surprise Autistic Boy Says It All

Fearing another year of unanswered birthday party invitations and another year of heartache for their little boy, Carolyn and Dan Nicastro decided to make a proactive move to spare their child tears during his celebration. 

Orlando Shooting Updates: Obama’s Visit

President Barack Obama landed in Orlando on Thursday to meet with the families of victims and the survivors of a mass shooting at the Pulse gay nightclub on June 12.

Photo courtesy of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission