Showroom opens in former Manatee tax collector branch
A company that designs kitchens has opened a new showroom near State Road 70 in Manatee County. Quality by Design Kitchens is now located in a space that used to house the Manatee Tax Collector’s Lakewood Ranch branch. The new showroom is just over 3,000 square feet, according to...
Woman who responded ‘Which one?’ when cops asked her about 1 of her 2...
Susan Avalon faces murder charges in two counties after police said she fatally shot her two ex-husbands, Timothy Flecher and David Scott, on Dec. 17, 2025. The post Woman who responded 'Which one?' when cops asked her about 1 of her 2 dead ex-husbands could now face the death penalty: Prosecutors first appeared on Law & Crime .
Palmetto woman killed in two-vehicle crash
MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. (WWSB) - A 61-year-old Palmetto woman was killed in a two-vehicle crash Tuesday morning in Manatee County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Troopers said the crash happened at 6:50 a.m. at the intersection of 43rd Street West and 21st Avenue West. The woman was driving an...
Traffic stop leads to discovery of opossum family in truck bed
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - A traffic stop late Saturday night led to the discovery of an opossum and three babies in the bed of a truck. Sarasota Police stopped a vehicle at 10:07 p.m. April 20 after spotting it traveling without headlights near Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way and U.S. 301.
Student protest policy gets final OK, board majority called hypocritical
SARASOTA — Students will officially be banned from protesting on Sarasota County Schools campuses, and staff members and outside organizations will be punished if they help them.
Assisted-living facility near downtown wins rezoning approval
A plan to convert some or all of the assisted-living units in a Laurel Park-adjacent facility to independent living apartments received approval on second reading by the Sarasota City Commission. The 3-2 vote was identical to the first reading. Vice Mayor Kathy Kelley Ohlrich and Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch opposed the...
Laundry is priority, not chore, at East Manatee Fire Rescue
At home, laundry is a simple chore. At a fire station, laundry is an evolving safety protocol. For the East Manatee Fire Rescue, the death of Edward Wadlinger III in 2017 gave the then-new Chief Lee Whitehurst added incentive to make changes to how lingering carcinogens on gear were handled after a fire.
Sarasota Mourns the Loss of Beloved Chef Judi Gallagher, a Culinary Pioneer and Community...
The Sarasota community is mourning the loss of one of its most influential and beloved culinary figures, Judi Gallagher. Known for her passion, innovation, and deep commitment to local food culture, Gallagher leaves behind a legacy that helped shape Sarasota into the vibrant dining destination it is today. A Culinary...
BOCC rejects new contract for Bishop; votes to extend existing contract through 2026
BRADENTON — Manatee County Commissioners changed course on board consideration for a renewal contract for the county administrator. Commissioners instead voted unanimously on Tuesday to extend the administrator’s existing contract through the end of the calendar year. Earlier this month, commissioners moved to send a first-draft renewal contract...
Snowbirds and mallards fight over pool in The Meadows
The pool at Springlake in The Meadows has gotten several new decorations over the past few weeks — an owl statue, CDs hung from strings, a flamingo float, several inflatable snakes and one inflatable alligator. It takes a lot of effort to deter a few determined ducks. Ducks gliding...
