Nearly 20 Years After Dog Finds Remains, Othram Identifies John Doe
In January 2006, a resident of Ruskin, Florida, which is just south of Tampa, found partial human skeletal remains belonging to an unidentified individual in their yard. The remains were brought into the person's yard by their dog. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office responded and began collecting evidence and...
Turning Points launches program to support families, prevent student homelessness
BRADENTON, Fla. (WWSB) - A local nonprofit agency connecting homeless families with local resources has launched a new pilot program in two Manatee County schools. The new program, Connected Manatee, is designed to meet families where they are and provide critical support before a crisis becomes a catastrophe. Member...
Sarasota’s Ringling bridge to see lane closures during construction
The Florida Department of Transportation has begun an improvement project on the John Ringling Causeway , Sarasota’s connector to the barrier islands, which will bring lane closures and a reduced speed limit. The $12.3 million project on the causeway, also known as the Ringling bridge, is expected to be completed in...
Malori Eichler overcame addiction with God’s help
ENGLEWOOD — Malori Eichler and her brother Gary were like Irish twins, siblings born separately but as close as if nurtured in one womb.
Animal advocates ask Manatee County to modify new shelter kennel design
BRADENTON, Fla. (WWSB) - Animal advocates are asking Manatee County Commissioners to make changes to the new Bishop Animal Shelter currently under construction in West Bradenton. The group says the kennels are too small for dogs living there while they look for new homes. Julie Madison, a certified dog trainer...
Missing 4-year-old Florida boy found dead after massive 3-day search in Alabama woods
A 4-year-old Florida boy who disappeared while visiting family over New Year’s has been found dead in Alabama. Johnathan Everett Boley, known to family members as “John John,” was reported missing on New Year’s Eve after he wandered away from a rural property along Highway 195 near Jasper, Alabama, while playing...
Mac McAnally brings the Coral Reefer Band to St. Pete this month
Last August, roughly 700 days after the death of its leader, The Coral Reefer Band embarked on its first national tour without Jimmy Buffett. Led by Mac McAnally, a Reefer since 1994, the 13-member band including Will Kimbrough, Scotty Emerick and Nadirah Shakoor brings the party and family reunion for a night of...
Derby Lane owner wants to turn the dog track into an entertainment hub
When Florida outlawed dog racing in 2018, questions swirled about the fate of Derby Lane, the country’s longest continually running greyhound track. Set on 130 acres near the Gandy Bridge in unincorporated Pinellas County, the site seemed destined for a major transformation. But for years it lingered in obscurity.
Cortez Small Business on the Brink After Hurricanes — Community Support Needed Now
Long after the hurricanes moved off Florida’s Gulf Coast, the financial storm continues for many locally owned businesses. One Cortez small business is now sounding an urgent alarm: without immediate community support, it may be forced to close its doors within weeks. “The Beach Shop” is located at 11904 Cortez Rd.,...
Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota hospitals gain Forbes’ recognition
Four hospitals in Manatee and Sarasota counties were listed among Florida’s best on a recent ranking by Forbes magazine’s 2026 Top Hospitals survey. Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s main campus, its Venice campus and HCA Florida Doctors Hospital in Sarasota were among the 29 statewide...
