Sarasota FL

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A Florida bill is taking aim at paper straws. A bill has been introduced in both the House and Senate that would require jurisdictions with straw laws to allow options other than paper. The bill claims that paper straws are harmful to the environment and...

VENICE — For the third time, Venice resident Wayne Ramirez, the son of Puerto Rican immigrants, has had a painting accepted in the annual Embracing Our Differences competition.

Long-debated plans to demolish seven structures within the Downtown St. Petersburg National Register Historic District and build a 21-story, $134 million luxury apartment tower can now move forward. Development Review Commissioners voted 4-1 Wednesday to approve the 370-unit project, dubbed The Pelican. Their...

SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - As protests continue across Iran and demands for democracy grow, members of the local community have organized a peaceful solidarity gathering to stand with the Iranian people. The event is scheduled for Jan. 11, starting at 2:30 p.m., by the Unconditional Statue at Marina Jack in...

SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - The first weekend of the year features multiple family-friendly events across the Suncoast area, with activities ranging from food trucks to wellness expos. The North Jetty Food Truck Rally begins at 5 p.m. Friday at North Jetty Park in Nokomis. The event will feature yard games,...

SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - Veterans are invited to participate in free therapeutic guided kayak tours designed to help those living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) through connection with nature and camaraderie. The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP), in partnership with Wayne Adventures, launched the...

South Sarasota County’s Downtown Wellen Park is once again growing . A new hotel, Wellmar, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel by Marriott, is breaking ground in the area this month, with construction beginning immediately afterward. The five-story hotel will feature 149 guestrooms, food-and-beverage venues, resort-style...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A new approach to supporting the neurodivergent community focuses on helping people thrive on their own terms. Neurodivergent is used to describe people whose brains process information, learn, and behave differently from other people, while it also encompasses conditions like autism, ADHD and...

A three-year legal saga between residents of Gran Paradiso and their developer-controlled government has ended — resolving a fight over irrigation water rates that divided the upscale neighborhood and exposed the power imbalance between homeowners and special-purpose districts that control essential services. The...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Like many Americans, 71-year-old Joanne Newton is searching for mobility solutions as movement has gotten tougher over the years. "Knee trouble, back trouble," Newton said. "I had several injuries." Newton says, each day, she's had to pay more attention to what areas are accessible and...