Sarasota County school board approves 90-day mask requirement

After hours of public comment and several recesses to calm a heated gallery, the Sarasota County school board voted 3-2 Friday night to implement a 90-day mask requirement for students and staff.

'Continuous mass casualty situation': Hospital workers reach breaking point across Tampa Bay

Healthcare workers are exhausted, stretched thin, and working to save lives 18 months after the pandemic began. Now, some of them are sharing their stories in hopes of encouraging the holdouts to get vaccinated.

10-month roundabout construction project tests patience of Sarasota drivers

Horns blared, drivers screamed and some sat in traffic on their phones waiting for the car ahead of them to move near U.S. 41 and Gulf Stream in Sarasota as construction on a roundabout got underway this week.

Efforts underway to get medical care to remote areas of Haiti

An earthquake, followed by a tropical storm, devastated remote areas of Haiti, where residents have struggled for years to overcome repeated natural disasters.

Bay Area groups send planeload of supplies to Haiti

Relief supplies from the Tampa Bay area are beginning to arrive in Haiti after another earthquake devastated the embattled country.

Threat of flooding around Myakka River keeps residents on edge ahead of Fred

One of those flood-prone areas is around the Myakka River. Friday night, water levels were OK, but if a storm rolls through, there are concerns the river won't be able to handle a lot of extra water.

Sarasota schools: No field trips, visitors for 30 days due to COVID-19

Due to the increased community spread of COVID-19 in Sarasota County, school officials have suspended field trips and visitors for 30 days. 

Sarasota coding school gives kids early tech skills

An after-school program in Sarasota is giving kids an edge for the future by teaching them new languages -- computer code.

Sarasota’s first female SWAT officer prepares every day for the unknown

Before Sarasota SWAT's first female became an officer, she had a career in social work and helped people through traumatic events, but she wanted to do more.

Sarasota hospitals see influx of COVID-19 patients, including children

Doctors Hospital of Sarasota was the first in Florida to diagnose and treat a COVID-19 patient and more than a year later, the staff continues to care for patients.

Bay Area schools finalize back-to-school COVID protocols

Florida schools are reopening with little to no guidance from the state, leaving some teachers, students, and parents left to their own devices when it comes to COVID-19 safety.

Sarasota County school officials plan for rising COVID-19 cases as school begins

Sarasota County school officials say they are worried about the new school year after the health department reported its highest number of COVID-19 cases in kids, averaging 30 a day over the last week in the county.