Artists from around the world recharge at retreat in Sarasota

A retreat in Sarasota is giving artists suffering from fatigue a place to rest and get their creative juices flowing again. It's called the Hermitage Artist Retreat and a Tony Award winner is singing its praises. 

Sarasota High mourns football coach who lost battle with COVID-19

The community of Sarasota High School is mourning the loss, Elton 'Coach E' Strawderman, who helped countless students -- on and off the field. He lost his life after a battle with COVID-19, but his memory continues with the students he impacted.

SPD: 2 arrested after man shot, killed in Sarasota

Sarasota police have arrested Willie Abnar, 29, of Bradenton and Ka' Liyah Brown, 18, of Bradenton, following a shooting that left a man dead on Saturday.

SPD: Man suffers life-threatening injuries after being shot in Sarasota

Sarasota police are investigating after a man was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after being shot Saturday morning. 

Hooters partners with Bay Area Girl Scouts, sending thousands of cookies to hometown heroes

We're a week away from the official start of Girl Scout cookie season and while most are used to seeing tables set up at grocery stores, banks, or events, some might spot local troops selling their famous cookies at a famous chicken wing restaurant. 

Cold weather shelters open as Bay Area prepares for blast of artic air

As the Bay Area gets ready for a polar plunge, several counties are opening cold weather shelters for those who are homeless or live in homes without adequate heat.

North Port man meets child online, blackmails him into performing ‘heinous’ sexual acts, police say

North Port police arrested a man who they say pretended to be a teenage girl online and enticed his victim to take a nude photo – then blackmailed the child into performing disturbing sex acts by threatening to post his photo online.

Second suspect charged in connection with shooting death of Riverview grad home from college for Christmas

Nyquan Priester, 20, was charged with second-degree murder on Thursday in connection with the shooting death of Dylan Jenkins, 18, a Riverview High School graduate who was home from college for Christmas.

‘Ethan’s Law’ moves forward in honor of 10-year-old killed in boating crash

The parents of Ethan Isaacs and Rep. Fiona McFarland are trying to pass a law requiring instructors of water sports to wear an engine safety cut-off device.

Artist auctions lipstick painting of Betty White to benefit Humane Society of Tampa Bay

On what would have been Betty White's 100th birthday, Sarasota-based artist Alexis 'Lipstick Lex' Fraser started auctioning off a portrait of the actress that was painted using only lipstick.

Home carrying legacy of Sarasota's first Black community to be relocated, transformed for cultural center

A home in Sarasota's Rosemary District will soon carry the legacy of the city’s first Black community. Plans are in the works to transform it into an African American cultural arts center and history museum, but first the home has to be relocated.

Tax incentives proposed to bring filmmakers back to Florida

There are renewed efforts in Tallahassee to bring major film productions back to Florida through a proposed tax credit incentive program.

100 years after founding of Sarasota's Newtown community, first bank opens its doors

After playing football in the NFL, Carlos Yancy returned home to the Newtown. Now he's working to better his community with First Home Bank – the town's first bank since it was established in 1914.

1 arrested, another sought in shooting death of Riverview graduate, shot while home for Christmas

An arrest was made in connection to a Dec. 29 shooting at Ackerman Park that killed an 18-year-old Riverview High School graduate and budding college football player, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. 

Sarasota seabird sanctuary rescues, rehabilitates and releases thousands of birds each year

Dale Shields, a.k.a. the ‘Pelican Man’ created the Pelican Man Sanctuary in the 1980s after finding an injured brown pelican. Since then it has grown into Save Our Seabirds, which receives 5,000 calls a year about birds in distress.