Autistic youth compete in regatta with Spectrum Sailing
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - The Sarasota Sailing Squadron hosted Spectrum Sailing on Saturday, a sailing and peer mentorship program for autistic youth that offers kids the opportunity to build sailing skills, social skills and confidence. The program reached a new level with Next Tack, a more advanced program making...
Witness Venice Theatre’s rise from Hurricane Ian
VENICE — In an unusual twist, Venice Theatre is hosting a Silver Foxes production in which the play is about the theater itself.
Budget Workshop Shows Promise, But Work Remains
Sarasota County held its much-anticipated budget workshop on February 26th, and the results were a mixed bag. There was genuine progress to acknowledge budget problems, and the commission deserves credit where it is due. At the same time, several issues surfaced that will require continued scrutiny. Taxpayers need to...
Bradenton woman used fake identity to steal nearly $200k in benefits, feds say
A Bradenton woman will serve more than a year in federal prison after prosecutors said she used a fraudulent identity to collect nearly $185,000 in government benefits. A federal judge sentenced a 69-year-old Jane Doe, also known as Rosario Alaniz, to 15 months in prison after she pleaded guilty in December 2025 to...
Spring break on the Suncoast brings in countless visitors
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - Warming temperatures, sunshine, and spring break all drives locals and visitors to the beaches. ABC7 took a trip to Siesta Key Thursday morning to see thousands of people soaking up the sun and relaxing in the sand. Some people even ventured into the waters despite the...
Likely late 2026 start for Laurel Road widening
VENICE — A survey in January showed that the widening of Laurel Road was one of the top concerns of residents of the Venetian Golf & River Club.
Seeing Red, Seeing Green: Red light camera violations leave drivers questioning, and communities bringing...
SARASOTA, Fla. — It’s a ticket that costs hundreds of dollars with no law enforcement in sight, only the eyes in the sky. Red light cameras have been at intersections across Florida for more than 15 years. Many communities installed them as part of an effort to make our roads safer. But as Florida Investigates dug...
Tax Collector Moran proposes short-term vacation rental registration process to ensure county collects ‘bed...
Commissioners Smith and Mast express interest in pursuing idea. Years ago, leaders of the Siesta Key Association (SKA), which represents neighborhoods on the barrier island, urged the Sarasota County Commission to implement some type of registration process for short-term vacation rentals. The commissioners have had...
Woman Lifted 15 Feet by Violent Storm in Venice Isles Estates
People joke that if you don’t like Florida weather, just wait five minutes. That’s never felt truer than it has this past month. One week, the state was shivering through a record cold. Next, it felt like summer showed up early. But last Monday in Venice, things got completely out of hand.
Englewood Grandmother Speaks Out After Granddaughter’s Near-Fatal Fentanyl Overdose
A local Englewood grandmother is speaking up after her granddaughter’s terrifying brush with fentanyl left the young girl unconscious and fighting for her life. The incident happened back in March 2026. Investigators say the child found a container on the bathroom sink at home and, not knowing what it was, took it...
