Sarasota officials approve $2.5M sale of historic downtown building
Key takeaway: Architecture Sarasota, a nonprofit, intends to purchase the McCullough Pavilion in downtown Sarasota from the county. Core challenge: One county commissioner thought the county should use the invitation to negotiate process to get more bids before agreeing to sell it to Architecture Sarasota. What's...
Holmes Beach sees increase in short-term rental compliance after implementing AI platform
The City of Holmes Beach said a boom in short-term rentals over the last decade has made enforcement more challenging for the small island community.
Sarasota police seize more than 400 grams of cocaine in search warrant
SARASOTA, Fla. — The Sarasota Police Department SWAT and Strategic Investigations Unit executed a narcotics search warrant on Friday, Jan. 16, that led to an arrest and more than 400 grams of cocaine seized. Detectives received a tip through the Crime Stoppers of Sarasota Hotline, which initiated their...
This Florida Restaurant’s Grouper Sandwich Is Unforgettable
Some Florida sandwiches are good. Others make you take the long way home. Ever wonder why locals keep certain food secrets quiet? In Sarasota, one answer comes wrapped in a grouper sandwich. At Walt’s Fish Market Restaurant, nothing is dressed up for attention. This is Florida seafood the way...
Mario Cristobal Finds His Longterm QB As Miami Tries to Poach FSU Commit
Miami’s quarterback hunt for the 2027 class is already picking up steam, and one Florida State target has clearly caught the staff’s attention. During a visit to Cardinal Mooney High School in Sarasota, the Hurricanes zeroed in on a three-star quarterback who stood out during a workout and did enough to walk away...
Opposition to mega cruise ship port in Manatee County gaining momentum
MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. (WWSB) - Opposition to a new port for megasized cruise ships in Manatee County is growing, with two groups circulating online petitions. The latest petition is the work of the environmental watchdog Suncoast Waterkeeper, which says the plan for the port, near Terra Ceia Bay and Rattlesnake Key,...
Bradenton deadly medical lab shooting prompts nearby businesses to increase security
BRADENTON, Fla. (WWSB) - Thursday marks one week since the deadly shooting at a medical lab in Bradenton. Now, nearby businesses said they are considering taking extra precautions to avoid a similar situation. Employees at Orchid Dermatology said they are considering having armed employees and doing active shooter...
Centerstone sent incompetent criminals to unlicensed Florida home
Mary Jennings is an 80-year-old convicted felon with no training in the mental health field. She has operated a group home in Bradenton for the last 30 years without any type of license, a third-degree felony in Florida. Local police are regular visitors, and three deaths - a double-murder and a drug overdose - are...
Criminal targets second Tampa Bay business in imposter scheme
A criminal's scheme to pose as a legitimate local business and rip off consumers was first exposed earlier this month in a Better Call Behnken investigation.
Sarasota Sheriff’s Office looking for missing woman
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public for help in locating a missing woman. Deputies say Joann Winter, 73, is 5 feet, 5 inches tall, 165 pounds, with blonde hair and hazel eyes. She was last seen Jan. 21 at 1:50 p.m. leaving a doctor’s office on Fountain Place in Sarasota.
