Diving into the shark tooth capital of the world
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - Venice is known as the shark tooth capital of the world, with people coming from near and far to look for teeth every day. So why are there so many shark teeth? Dr. Harry Maisch, a professor at Florida Gulf Coast University, says it’s because of the environment, with a lot of shallow marine...
SPD set to grow its city camera system
As the crowd heads toward the exits following an appearance by Dr. Anthony Fauci at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, a woman hands an employee what appears to be a suspicious package. Alerted to the incident, an analyst in the Sarasota Police Department’s Real-Time Operations Center monitoring live security...
County commission discusses AI pilot program aimed at improving government efficiency
MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. (WWSB) - Manatee County commissioners on Dec. 2 discussed joining the state’s Department of Government Efficiency initiative (DOGE) as the first county to take part in an AI pilot program aimed at improving government efficiency. The pilot would use the same dataset that the county previously...
Manatee County Commission narrowly elects new chair
Thanks to a 4-3 vote, Tal Siddique will wield the gavel in 2026. He was swept into office last fall on a wave of voter discontent. Host: The Manatee County Commission has a new chair. The vote was a tight one, and some of the rhetoric in the run-up of the vote Tuesday reflected the tidal change that brought in three...
Sarasota woman found guilty of practicing medicine without a license
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - A woman who worked in a now-closed Sarasota health clinic has been found guilty of practicing medicine without a license. Jaqlyn M. Tinaro, 31, was found guilty Nov. 26 of four felony counts of unlicensed practice of a healthcare professional, Sarasota County court records show. She...
You’d better watch out: Tow-away zones set for Sarasota holiday parade
Oh, what fun it is to … recover your illegally parked car from a towing service?. No, that’s not how the holiday ditty is supposed to go. So, to avoid creating a new Christmas classic based on frustration and unexpected costs, the Sarasota Police is warning anyone who normally leaves cars and trucks curbside in the...
See it: Florida deputies wrestle massive 600-pound, 14-foot gator
Florida police in Sarasota had their hands full removing a 600-pound alligator earlier this week.
Sarasota Sheriff’s Holiday Operation at UTC Mall Leads to Eleven Arrests for Retail Theft
Between November 18 and 20, 2025, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office conducted a retail theft operation at the University Town Center (UTC) mall in Sarasota. Multiple sheriff’s units participated in the effort. The operation aimed to address an increase in retail thefts during the holiday shopping period.
Man arrested in North Port after being accused of child molestation
CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. — A man has been arrested in Sarasota after being accused of molesting a child under 12 back in June. According to the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, Juan Rafael Hernandez fled to South Carolina before he could be interviewed. The Charlotte County Warrants Division eventually found him in...
Photo: Winter in Sarasota, 1940
Here’s a moment that will look familiar to most Floridians. As winter descends up north, Sarasotans are getting ready to enjoy the nicest time of year in Florida, when we dig our toes into the sand, not the snow. Photographer Joseph Janney Steinmetz, whose work has been called “an American social history,” captured...

















