Best Beach, Michelin Star Eateries, Best Places To Live: FL Good News

FLORIDA — Some of the good news that happened this week includes a teenage girl fending off a shark attack, a Florida beach tops Dr. Beach’s list of best U.S. beaches, the Tampa Bay-area projected to be spared the worst of a giant seaweed blob heading toward the Sunshine State and a free Cheap Trick concert.

See these good news stories and more on this week's Florida Patch sites.

Tampa, St. Pete, Clearwater No. 7 Best Summer Destination In U.S.

To find out what vacation spots offered the most bang for the buck, WalletHub developed a ranking of the cheapest U.S. destinations.

14 FL Cities Ranked Among Best Places To Live: U.S. News
These 14 Florida cities are among the 2023-2024 Best Places to Live, according to a ranking released Tuesday by U.S. News.

ZooTampa Florida Panther To Be Featured On U.S. Commemorative Stamp

Lucy the Florida panther will be featured as part of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Endangered Species Act.

Professional Women's Soccer Coming To Tampa In August 2024

The team will bring top-tier women's pro sports to the region for the first time, joining 10 to 12 clubs in the league’s initial market.

More Than 100 New Mothers, Mothers-To-Be Treated To Baby Shower

New and soon-to-be mothers were showered with gifts for their new babies, courtesy of team members at Healthpark Genesis Women’s Center.

Primrose Schools Give Back To Community During Spring Fling Fundraiser

Primrose School of Bloomingdale and Primrose School of Carrollwood hosted fundraisers and donated a total of $9,081 to local charities.

3 Tampa Restaurants Added To Michelin Guide

For the first time, the famed Michelin Guide bestowed stars on three restaurants in Tampa: Rocca, Koya and Lilac.

Cheap Trick To Present Free Concert At Opening Of The Sound

Hometown band Cheap Trick will present the first concert at The Sound amphitheater at the newly renovated Coachman Park.

Tampa Purchases Historic Black Cemetery, Sold At Auction, For $100,000

The Cemetery Society will host a 100-year dedication of the Florida Negro World-War Veterans Memorial at the cemetery on May 30.

Tampa Bay Area Spared Worst Of Giant Seaweed Blob Heading To FL: USF

A massive seaweed bloom stretching from West Africa to the Gulf of Mexico poses the largest threat to FL’s East Coast, USF researcher said.

FL Girl Punches Shark, Fends Off Attack At Fort Pierce Beach: Reports

A 13-year-old Florida girl punched a 6-foot-long bull shark to escape an attack at a Fort Pierce beach, reports said.

Florida Beach Earns Top Spot On Dr. Beach's 2023 List Of Best Beaches

This is the 33rd year that the professor in the Department of Earth & Environment at Florida International University has released the list.

Shenandoah The Loggerhead Heads For Home After Rehab In Clearwater

Clearwater Marine Aquarium released a 250-pound loggerhead turtle named Shenandoah back into the wild after almost three months of rehab.

• Rosie The Rough-Toothed Dolphin Moved To Home At Clearwater Aquarium
• Pelican Snagged By Fishing Hook And Line Freed by Clearwater Rescuers
• Pasco Deputies Aid Struggling Newborn Dolphin: Watch