Longboat Key coffee shop’s success brews expansion
“It’s definitely exceeded what our expectations were from when we first opened up the shop,” co-owner Chris Carter said. “We didn’t think we would grow to where we are today.”. The coffee shop at Whitney Beach Plaza has been a regular gathering space on the northern...
Proposal unveiled to build port for mega-sized cruise ships in Manatee County
MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. (WWSB) - Plans are in the works for a new major cruise ship port next to environmentally sensitive Rattlesnake Key in Manatee County, it was announced Friday. The proposed port, that would be built on 300 acres of land known as the Knott-Cowen tract, would be on...
This Florida Drive-In Is Where Movie Nights Still Happen Under The Stars
If movie night still makes you smile, there is a place in Ruskin where the screen glows and the stars stay bright. The Ruskin Family Drive-In Theatre has been part of Florida nights since 1952, and the magic is still very much alive. Cars line up, radios tune in, and...
Pedestrian killed on Manatee Avenue, Bradenton police say
BRADENTON, Fla. (WWSB) - Bradenton police are investigating a fatal crash Friday evening involving a pedestrian on Manatee Avenue, near the intersection of 21st Street East. On a social media post at 7:30 p.m., the Bradenton Police Department said Manatee Avenue would be closed for several hours. Detours are in...
Sarasota County, FL, Restaurants Found with Most Violations in December 2025
Health and safety matter when you dine out. Sarasota County restaurants need to protect local diners who trust these establishments to serve safe food. In December 2025, the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation conducted 108 inspections across the county. Of those, 88 restaurants passed on the...
Hanami Japanese Fine Dining & Lounge Opening in Sarasota’s Rosemary District
A high-end new Japanese restaurant is preparing to open its doors in Sarasota’s Rosemary District, at 1525 Fourth St. Called Hanami Japanese Fine Dining & Lounge, it’s a sister to Lakewood Ranch’s Tsunami Sushi & Hibachi Grill. The menu at Hanami promises to mirror the one served...
Florida woman discovers ex-boyfriend’s bomb-making materials while kicking him out of her house: SCSO
VENICE, Fla. - A Sarasota man’s breakup with his girlfriend attracted more attention to his failed relationship than he wanted when she demanded that he move out. According to documents, she began to remove his things from the home on Mayfield Drive in Venice when she found some items that he was working on in the...
Two Sarasota residents charged with multiple weapons counts after Police Department executes Hillsborough County...
Third resident of same home charged with lewd and lascivious battery against victim under age 12. Two Sarasota residents have been charged with multiple felony counts related to weapons that Sarasota Police Department personnel found in their home after executing a Hillsborough County search and arrest warrant on one...
Mayor’s Corner: City of Bradenton
As 2026 gets underway, I want to thank our residents, local businesses, and City team members for the continued care and commitment you show to Bradenton. Over the past year, the city has continued to make meaningful progress. Important work is happening across the organization, whether it’s advancing long-planned...
SMH achieves perfect 5-star Medicare-Medicaid rating for 10th year in a row
No other Florida hospital has achieved that distinction, SMH leaders note. Sarasota Memorial Health Care System has kicked off 2026 “achieving what no other Florida hospital could: a perfect 5-Star rating from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services [CMS] — every year — for 10 years straight,” the health...
