Coast Guard Rescues | Sea Turtle Nests | Top Beach: FL Good News

FLORIDA — U.S. Coast Guard water rescues in the Tampa Bay area, sea turtle nest counts increasing, a historic $97 million conservation land purchase, Ringling Bridge lit up for LGBTQ pride month.

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

Meet The FL Teen Who Won The Scripps National Spelling Bee

Dev Shah, a 14-year-old from Largo, first competed at the national bee in 2019 and won Thursday's competition with the word "psammophile."

Cops Capture Critters

Clearwater firefighters also handle more calls to rescue birds caught in fishing lines, cats stuck in trees and ducklings trapped in drains.

School's Bike Safety Initiative

Roosevelt Elementary School unveiled a biking safety initiative to protect students coming and going to school.

Chicago Firm Opens First Florida Office

Nicholas & Associates has modeled the interiors of its Tampa office, located in a former 1920s glass factory.

Bridge Lit Up For LGBTQ Pride

To recognize LGBTQ+ pride awareness month, the John Ringling Causeway will be lit in rainbow colors, the city of Sarasota said.

Reptiles, Reading, Robotic Library Program

The Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative will provide interesting, entertaining and informative free programs in June.

Clearwater Beach Named Top Beach In South

USA Today named Clearwater Beach Best Beach in the South in its 10Best Readers' Choice Awards.

Squirrelly AF Wildlife Rescue

Squirrelly AF, a wildlife rescue, has rehabilitated hundreds of squirrels since it was founded in 2017 after Hurricane Irma hit Florida.

FL Public Park Systems Rank High

St. Pete was ranked among the top places in the U.S. for park systems, a Trust For Public Land report said. 6 FL cities are in the top 100.

Tiny Homes for Sale

Tiny RV home builder, ESCAPE Homes, has announced the pre-sales of tiny homes at ESCAPE Tampa Bay's The Oaks in Thonotosassa.

Sea Turtle Nest Count Increasing

Five species of sea turtles nest along Florida beaches, including leatherbacks, green sea turtles, loggerheads, Kemp’s ridley and hawksbill.

$97M FL Conservation Land Purchases

A Florida program permits large property owners to sell their development rights to the state while retaining ownership of the land.

Coast Guard Water Rescues:

• 2 Boats Collide Off Sarasota, 8 Rescued By Coast Guard
• Navy Pilot Rescued From FL Waters After Ejecting From Fighter Jet
• Seven Rescued From 2 Capsized Boats In Manatee County: Coast Guard
• Multiple Water Rescues In St. Pete Area Over Holiday Weekend: USCG