5 things you need to know happening in Florida on Friday, September 14

Here are 5 things you need to know happening in Florida on Friday, September 14.

1) Dontae Morris in court today

A Hillsborough County judge is expected to release his decision today on how to move on with a new murder trial for Dontae Morris.

Back in August, Judge William Fuente dismissed the entire jury pool, because some potential jurors were talking about the case.

Morris is on trial for killing Rodney Jones outside a Tampa night club in 2010.      

He is also accused of killing Tampa Police officers David Curtis and Jeffrey Kocab in June of the same year.
    
2) Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Symposium

Scientists and government officials will meet in St. Pete Beach today to discuss the state of the Gulf of Mexico since the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

The Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Symposium will be held today and Saturday, and is expected to draw hundreds of experts.

Dr. Guy Harvey, who is Chairman of the Board of the Guy Harvey Research Institute, will be heading up the event.  His passion for the underwater world has driven him to be a leading conservationist and advocate for the protection of the environment.  Dr. Harvey has dedicated much of his talent, time, and resources to programs that protect our oceans, fish population and reef systems. He's well-known for his work as an artist, photographer, speaker, and award-winning filmmaker.

For more information on the symposium, click here.

3) PetSmart Charities' National Adoption Weekend begins today

If you're looking to adopt a pet, this may be the weekend to do it.

Today through Sunday is PetSmart Charities' National Adoption Weekend.  Every adoption benefits local shelters and rescue agencies, Which receive 35 dollars in adoption reward grants for each pet they place in a new home.

Those looking to adopt a pet in Tampa can do so during the PetSmart Charities National Adoption Weekend, September 14-16 at your local PetSmart store.

More than 2,000 animal welfare organizations in all 1,250 PetSmart stores will provide opportunities for pet adoptions to find lifelong, loving homes for thousands of pets.

For a list of Petsmart locations or other information on the event, visit pets.petsmart.com/adoptions.

4) Elton John performing at the USF Sun Dome tonight

One of the top-selling musical artists of all time is back in the Bay area tonight.

Legendary music icon Elton John will return to Tampa for the first time since 2009.  He will be appearing with his band at the newly-renovated USF Sun Dome.  Elton John's band includes Davey Johnstone on guitar, Matt Bissonette** on bass, John Mahon on percussion, Nigel Olsson on drums, and Kim Bullard on keyboards.

Tonight's performance will feature number one chart hits and classic album tracks from throughout Elton's incredible five-decade career -- including "Your Song," "Rocketman" and "Bennie and the Jets."

John has 35 gold and 25 platinum albums, 29 consecutive Top 40 hits, and he has sold more than 250 million records worldwide. John holds the record for the biggest selling single of all time, "Candle in the Wind '97," which sold 37 million copies. Since his career began in 1969 he has played almost 3,000 concerts around the world.

The concert begins at 8 p.m.

For more information or to buy tickets, you can visit the Sun Dome website.

5) Clearwater Marine Aquarium to help honor a fallen soldier

The clearwater Marine Aquarium will help honor a fallen soldier this weekend.
    
Twenty-six-year-old Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Sitton was killed in Afghanistan last month, and is survived by his parents Cheryl and Steve Sitton, his wife Sarah and his son Brodey.

The aquarium plans to help his family by raising funds for son's education.

Sitton's family will be visiting the famed Winter the dolphin at the aquarium today, and on Saturday, two dollars from every admission to the aquarium will be donated to a college fund for Sitton's son, Brodey.

If you would like to donate, you can visit this website or made a check out to Brodey Sitton and mail it to the following:
 
UBS Financial Services
150 2nd Ave N STE 1000
St Petersburg FL 33701

** Editor's note: In the original version of the September 14  "Five Things," we inaccurately reported that the bassist for Elton John was Bob Birch.  He died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound on August 14, 2012.  We apologize for the error and have made a correction.