Wrong-way driver dies after crash on University Parkway, troopers say
A driver suffered critical injuries after a wrong-way driver crashed into his vehicle early Tuesday morning.
Manatee County school officials expected to finalize reopening plan
School leaders in Manatee County are scheduled to address their reopening plan for the next school year -- which begins in one month -- and finalize their plans.
DeSantis sending more nurses to Florida hospitals hit hard by COVID-19
At least 1,000 state-contracted medical personnel, including nurses, will be heading to some of Florida's hardest-hit areas to help hospitals keep up with the growing need for patient care, according to Governor DeSantis.
Bradenton middle school employee arrested on child porn charges
An employee at Haile Middle School was arrested after detectives located child porn imagery on the suspect's computer, officials said.
Governor says help is on the way, dispatching 100 nurses to Bay Area hospitals
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday the state is sending 100 nurses to the Tampa Bay area to help hospitals handle the surge of COVID-19 patients.
Manatee County school leaders set to discuss reopening in the fall
Like many of their peers across the state, Manatee County School Board members have been scrambling this week to come up with a plan to reopen next month given new executive orders from the state.
More Bay Area HCA hospitals restrict inpatient elective surgeries, procedures as inpatient beds fill
HCA Healthcare West Florida Division announced its hospitals in Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, Manatee, Sarasota, and Charlotte Counties will delay certain inpatient surgeries and procedures, effective Saturday, July 11, to free up capacity for COVID patients.
Bradenton family facing charges for allegedly selling bogus COVID-19 cure
A Florida man and his three sons are facing federal charges that they illegally sold a bleachlike chemical mixture as a miracle cure for
Manatee County food bank needs volunteers to help feed hundreds impacted by pandemic
As soon as the Manatee County mega food pantry opens, the need can be seen.
Manatee County reports 44% increase in opioid overdoses since last year
There is a hidden epidemic within the coronavirus pandemic. A spike in drug overdoses is being reported nationwide and the American Medical Association recently issued a warning saying opioid deaths have increased in more than 30 states.
Florida hospitals more worried about staffing than space as COVID cases surge
As hospitalizations from COVID-19 rise, more enter the ICU. It's not so much bed space that hospitals are worried about; it's the staff to take care of patients.
Turtle watchers find loggerhead stuck in massive hole on Anna Maria Island beach
Suzi Fox knew there was trouble the second she saw turtle tracks going one way up the beach, but none headed back to the water.
Holmes Beach man's DUI arrest is his sixth, but first one on a lawn mower
It doesn't matter what you're driving, you can't drive drunk. Scott Pritchard learned that the hard way on July 4th, when Holmes Beach police found him allegedly driving drunk on his lawnmower.
Longboat Key makes masks mandatory for indoor and outdoor public spaces
The town of Longboat Key becomes the latest Manasota beach community to mandate masks in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Longboat Key keeps beaches open, but closes parking lots
To help slow the spread of COVID-19, the town decided to close public beach parking access points until further notice, along with the Quick Point and Overlook parking access.
Black community leaders and local law enforcement agencies virtually gather for town hall
Protests across the county over the death of George Floyd are kicking starting conversations within local Bay Area communities between Black community leaders and local law enforcement agencies. Sunday, the Manatee and Sarasota county chapters of the NAACP and local law enforcement agencies held their first town hall.
Bradenton police searching for a missing teen with teardrop tattoo
Police in Bradenton are searching for 15-year-old Mathias Williams.
Police searching for missing Bradenton teen
Bradenton police are searching for Vodka Davison, 14, who was last seen on June 25.
Bradenton police searching for teen missing since Tuesday
Bradenton police are searching for Laura Albritton, 14, who was last seen Tuesday, June 23 walking toward Manatee Ave. West.
Zip codes with higher population, long-term care facilities, poverty see increase in COVID-19 cases
Officials in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Manatee counties are all working on plans to curb the spread of COVID-19 in so-called hot zones -- zip codes where there have been more than 300 positive cases.