>>Gallery (28 images)

Audubon Center for Birds of Prey released their 380th rehabilitated Bald Eagle back into the Florida skies Wednesday afternoon at the Ahhochee Hill Audubon Sanctuary near Brooksville, FL. David Bruzek, Lead Environmental Specialist for Progress Energy Florida, had the honor to release the bird. This is the same eagle that was booted out of her nest in the East Lake area and was beaten up by another female. Her ex-mate has since produced chicks with the usurper. READ THE STORY [JIM DAMASKE, Times] ... Read more

For most of his life, 17-year-old Lorenzo longed to be adopted. The Boca Ciega High School senior, a foster child for nearly 13 years, held on to one wish: to have a parent in the audience cheering for him when he graduated from high school. Though Lorenzo's portrait was of the first featured on the Heart Gallery when it launched in 2006, Lorenzo could not find a family to adopt him. That is until last April when Carolyn Newson, a St. Petersburg mother of four, on her way to a restaurant, happened upon Lorenzo taping a TV promotion for adoption in a barber shop next door. With one look, the grieving Newson was sure it was a sign. A couple of months before, Newson's niece, Malayshia Gamble, 15, was murdered, left for dead in a vacant lot not far from her home. "In Lorenzo, God has given us inspiration to go on," said Newson. "One child has been taken from us, why not give this child a chance?" Lorenzo’s adoption was finalized Wednesday, four days before his 18th birthday. Above, Lorenzo’s case manager Sheryl Allen-Golden applauds while mother and son embrace as the adoption is sealed by Judge Raymond Gross in the Pinellas County Criminal Court Complex. "It shouldn't take this long for dreams to come true," Gross said to Lorenzo during the hearing. About 100 teens age out of foster care in Pinellas and Pasco Counties each year without finding families. Eckerd Community Alternatives, the lead agency for community based child welfare services in Pinellas and Pasco counties, finalized 321 foster kids last year, a record-breaking number. Approximately 120 foster kids in Pinellas & Pasco counties are currently available for adoption. For more information on adoption call Eckerd’s Foster & Adoption Recruitment Line at 1-866-233-0790. To see local foster kids available for adoption visit www.heartgallerykids.org [CHERIE DIEZ, Times] ... Read more

Seen through a Mary Keith's scope, an osprey, Pandion haliaetus, feeds on a fish in the trees at Lettuce Lake Park in Tampa on January 2, 2010 during the annual Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count. [EDMUND D. FOUNTAIN, Times] ... Read more

A fire breathing Jonathan Camp makes his way down Seventh Avenue during the Mama Guava Stumble and The Freak Show Parade at Guavaween in Ybor City on Halloween night. [MELISSA LYTTLE, Times] ... Read more

Bryanna Hudson, 14, and Marquasia Bennett, 6, spot friends on the ground while riding atop the ferris wheel at the Sacred Heart Fall Festival Wednesday. Marquasia celebrated her sixth birthday at the event, which continues through Sunday at 7809 46th Way N. in Pinellas Park. The event includes food, drinks, games, rides, entertainment and raffle prizes. Admission and parking are free. Festival hours are Oct 14-16, 6-11pm; Oct. 17 12pm-11pm; and Oct. 18 12pm-8pm. [LARA CERRI, Times] ... Read more

Mourners gather for the funeral of Tampa Police corporal Mike Roberts at St. Timothy Catholic Church on Tuesday morning. Police estimated about 4,000 people - including Gov. Charlie Crist - attended the service. Roberts was killed Wednesday night while on duty. [CHRIS ZUPPA, Times]

VIEW A PHOTO GALLERY FROM OFFICER ROBERTS' FUNERAL

  ... Read more

Dr. Mark Roberts examines Hayder Abdulwahab during a physical on June 1. Hayder came to Dr. Roberts with the hopes of getting a referral to an opthomologist. He was injured severely by a car bomb as he stood on the balcony of his apartment in Baghdad in 2004. One eye is completely blind and from the other he can see only shadows. Many of his loved ones died in Iraq. He and his family fled to Syria and have been refugees in the United States for almost a year. [KATHLEEN FLYNN, Times] VIEW AUDIO SLIDESHOW ABOUT HAYDER'S STRUGGLE ... Read more

U.S. National Synchronization Team members, from left, Mary Killman, 18, of McKinney, TX; Michelle Theriault, 20, of North Hills, CA; Jillian Penner, 21, of Seattle, WA; and Meghan Kinney, 19, of Mission Viejo, CA, use a swimming technique called spulling during a practice Tuesday at the Southwest Recreation Complex pool in Largo. Spulling is a technique in which hands are used to create the force necessary to allow the swimmers to thrust their bodies above the water's surface and enable the legs to perform. [Douglas R. Clifford, Times] SEE SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMER PHOTO GALLERY ... Read more

Dr. Don Woodman, a veterinarian, who was born with a cleft lip and palate has taken a special interest in the health and well-being of Fabian, a two and a half week old tiger cub, also born with a cleft palate. Along with eight rescue cats and a guide dog named Shirley that they're fostering, Woodman and his wife Susan, a vet tech, are caring for the tiger cub in their Clearwater home. With the help of Dr. Michael Gallant, a pediatric reconstructive surgeon at All Children's Hospital, Fabian was to have surgery to repair his palate, but the tiger cub died on Saturday. SEE A PHOTO GALLERY OF FABIAN THE TIGER [MELISSA LYTTLE, Times] ... Read more