ICE wants Guatemalan arrested for driving without license in Sumter County
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has placed a detainer on a Guatemalan arrested for driving without a license in Sumter County. Mateo Zavala Mejia, 28, of Bradenton, was driving a white Nissan passenger car at about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday in Bushnell when a deputy ran the vehicle’s license plate and discovered...
9,000 coral babies born in Apollo Beach reef restoration
A major milestone was reached for the coral reefs in Florida. Through a big collaboration, a state-funded vision has become a reality as reef restoration is beginning to happen.
Nearly 20 Years After Dog Finds Remains, Othram Identifies John Doe
In January 2006, a resident of Ruskin, Florida, which is just south of Tampa, found partial human skeletal remains belonging to an unidentified individual in their yard. The remains were brought into the person's yard by their dog. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office responded and began collecting evidence and...
Turning Points launches program to support families, prevent student homelessness
BRADENTON, Fla. (WWSB) - A local nonprofit agency connecting homeless families with local resources has launched a new pilot program in two Manatee County schools. The new program, Connected Manatee, is designed to meet families where they are and provide critical support before a crisis becomes a catastrophe. Member...
Animal advocates ask Manatee County to modify new shelter kennel design
BRADENTON, Fla. (WWSB) - Animal advocates are asking Manatee County Commissioners to make changes to the new Bishop Animal Shelter currently under construction in West Bradenton. The group says the kennels are too small for dogs living there while they look for new homes. Julie Madison, a certified dog trainer...
Derby Lane owner wants to turn the dog track into an entertainment hub
When Florida outlawed dog racing in 2018, questions swirled about the fate of Derby Lane, the country’s longest continually running greyhound track. Set on 130 acres near the Gandy Bridge in unincorporated Pinellas County, the site seemed destined for a major transformation. But for years it lingered in obscurity.
Cortez Small Business on the Brink After Hurricanes — Community Support Needed Now
Long after the hurricanes moved off Florida’s Gulf Coast, the financial storm continues for many locally owned businesses. One Cortez small business is now sounding an urgent alarm: without immediate community support, it may be forced to close its doors within weeks. “The Beach Shop” is located at 11904 Cortez Rd.,...
Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota hospitals gain Forbes’ recognition
Four hospitals in Manatee and Sarasota counties were listed among Florida’s best on a recent ranking by Forbes magazine’s 2026 Top Hospitals survey. Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s main campus, its Venice campus and HCA Florida Doctors Hospital in Sarasota were among the 29 statewide...
Update on death of 4-year-old Parrish boy
WALKER COUNTY, Ala. (WWSB) — The body of 4-year-old Jonathan Boley was found Friday in a creek about two miles from his father’s home in Alabama, three days after the Manatee County boy went missing on New Year’s Eve. Walker County Sheriff Nick Smith said Jonathan, known...
Palmetto rollover crash kills 18-year-old in stolen vehicle
A driver of a stolen vehicle died Monday evening following a traffic crash in Palmetto. At 8:00 p.m., deputies received an alert from Hillsborough County regarding a stolen vehicle traveling southbound in the 7300 block of U.S. 41 near Palmetto. Deputies located the stolen Honda Accord in the 4900 block of U.S. 41....
