Hoax bomb in Venice: cell phone threat shuts down shopping plaza
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - A routine workday for Katherine McCloskey took an alarming turn when she arrived to start her shift at a hair salon in Venice Commons, only to find the entire shopping plaza wrapped in crime scene tape. “Little concerning because they had a complete whole shopping center...
Owner of Forest Lakes Golf Course backs out of sale to Sarasota County
Homeowners who live near the site to purchase it instead. This week, Sarasota County Administrator Jonathan Lewis publicly informed the county commissioners that the county’s planned purchase of the Forest Lakes Golf Course in Sarasota no longer will take place. Instead, The Sarasota News Leader has learned, a group...
Sarasota lab to pay $980K over kickback, false claims allegations
A now inactive Sarasota laboratory will pay $980,000 to resolve allegations it violated the Anti-Kickback Statute and False Claims Act, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. Allin IP DX LLC — which was based at 1. S. School Ave., Suite 900 — violated...
Sarasota County Commission rejects code amendment allowing high-density hotels on Siesta Key
Sarasota County commissioners unanimously rejected a proposed change to development rules on Siesta Key this week.
Fight erupts over plan to hand Sarasota golf courses to developer
A plan to lease hundreds of acres of golf courses and green space in The Meadows to Benderson Development Co. for nearly 50 years has sparked a lawsuit over the future of one of Sarasota’s oldest and largest communities. The Meadows Community Association board voted 6-3 last month to...
Driver’s medical issue likely led to Longboat Key crash, police say
An 80-year-old driver likely experienced a medical episode behind the wheel on Tuesday, leading to a serious crash on the north end of Longboat Key, police said. James W. Gardner, of Longboat Key, was taken to Blake Memorial Hospital by ambulance with cuts and contusions after the 2:40 p.m. incident in the 7100 block...
Englewood man arrested in Charlotte County, accused of battery of a law enforcement officer
ENGLEWOOD, Fla. — Deputies from the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office arrested a man in Charlotte County. He is accused of battery of a law enforcement officer. According to an arrest report, Sarasota deputies were dispatched about a possible reckless driver. A witness reportedly told them that Steven Robert...
Peeping Tom seen looking in windows, exposing himself at Palmetto mobile home park, police...
PALMETTO, Fla. (WWSB) - Residents of a Palmetto mobile home community say they are uneasy after police say a man was caught on camera exposing himself and peering through windows at the Palmetto Mobile Home Club. Investigators say they have not yet identified the suspect. Stephanie Hildebrand and her husband,...
See which Bradenton-area restaurants aced their health inspections
Looking for a place to eat around Bradenton? Manatee County restaurants are routinely inspected by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation for health and food safety issues and cleanliness. Florida bases its inspection standards on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Code , which...
Rare March storms drop 7 inches of rain across parts of the Suncoast
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - (March 5, 2026) — Afternoon thunderstorms produced up to 7 inches of rainfall Thursday in parts of the Suncoast, totals that are unusual for this time of year, according to estimated rainfall data. The National Weather Service issued a flood advisory today for NE Manatee County due to the...
