Rod and Reel Pier fundraiser surpasses $104,000 toward rebuild
ANNA MARIA ISLAND, Fla. (WWSB) - A fundraising effort to rebuild the Rod and Reel Pier on Anna Maria Island has raised more than $104,000 after the landmark was destroyed by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. A GoFundMe page organized by owner Oliver Lemke shows $104,431 raised toward a $300,000 goal....
Sarasota County crews work to prevent wildfire from reigniting after 300-acre burn
SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. (WWSB) - Mitigation teams with Sarasota County Fire Department are working to prevent a wildfire from reigniting after it burned 300 acres of land. Crews are conducting controlled back burns and mechanical mitigation by fixing fire prevention lines. Assistant Chief Dorsey, who is in charge of spec
Tornado touches down briefly in Parrish construction zone
PARRISH, Fla. (WWSB) - A tornado briefly touched down in a construction zone two miles north-northeast of Parrish on Tuesday afternoon, according to eyewitness accounts. Witnesses saw a circulation descend from the storm base into the construction zone and pick up debris. The tornado touched down briefly and then went
Shuffle Furnishings in Bradenton
FOX 13's Charley Belcher takes us a Bradenton shop with upcycled furniture. It's Shuffle Furnishings where grandma's old chair gets a new life.
Manatee County man who shot victim 5 times during attempted robbery convicted
MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — A Manatee County man who shot a victim five times during an attempted robbery was convicted after a jury trial. According to the State Attorney’s Office, Leonard Allen Lafleur Jr. was convicted after a jury trial of attempted murder in the first degree. On October 14, 2023, Lafleur Jr. att
Howard Frankland Bridge trail to open Wednesday
The walking and biking trail along the new Howard Frankland Bridge is set to open Wednesday, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. The bridge's express lanes will also likely open this week, weather permitting, department spokesperson Kris Carson told Axios. The big picture: The new path and lanes mark
Sarasota man shot girlfriend, son and dog at mother’s home, sheriff’s office says
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - New horrific details are emerging in a double homicide discovered May 23 in South Sarasota. The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office says 34-year-old Nicholas Novickis shot 34-year-old Allie Novickis and their 6-year-old son, Phoenix, with a shotgun at his mother’s home in the 4700 block of Mondrian
Gas leak closes section of Lemon Avenue
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - A gas leak closed a section of Lemon Avenue Tuesday morning. Sarasota County Fire Department responded to the call just before 9 a.m. Police and fire crews blocked off Lemon Avenue north of Ninth Street. A TECO crew were dispatched and the leak was contained in...
USF Student Passes Away in Tragic Incident – Final Communication With Family Revealed
She was minutes from home, driving back from a celebration, when a single bad decision destroyed everything, and the last words her family received from her were ones of pure love. Lauryn Marie Akey, 21, a University of South Florida student from Bradenton, Florida, was killed in the early hours...
City of St. Petersburg launches program to fund affordable rental housing developments
St. Pete’s continued efforts to increase the availability of affordable housing just got a huge boost, as the City of St. Petersburg just launched a new initiative it is calling the Affordable Rental Housing Program (ARHP). With the help of Sunrise St. Pete, the city’s disaster recovery program, the...
