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Today's Top Stories

News Alerts:

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Three locals in sex sting

The sound of men crying like babies was welcomed by Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight after 31 individuals were nabbed in a six-day sting targeting online child sex predators. “Did you hear some of them screaming and crying like babies?” Knight said Monday during a press conference to announce the … Find out how to read more online.

LATEST LOCAL NEWS

Hines enters race
Sat May 19 2012 08:00AM

The last two weeks have been a whirlwind for newly announced Sarasota County Commission candidate Charles D. Hines, starting on the day a Florida Supreme Court ruling eliminated Commissioner Jon … Find out how to read more online.

Despite FCAT change, county scores well
Sat May 19 2012 08:00AM

FCAT reading and writing scores for a portion of Florida students were released Friday and, overall, Sarasota County students scored higher than the state average. The Florida Department of Education … Find out how to read more online.

Sex sting ongoing
Sat May 19 2012 08:00AM

After reportedly offering condoms and pills online to officers posing as a 12-year-old boy and 14-year-old girl, a Longboat Key man recently pleaded not guilty to charges of solicitation and … Find out how to read more online.

Community members discuss data for change
Sat May 19 2012 08:00AM

Fifty-five citizens and community leaders became better informed about the well-being of the place they call home Friday. They attended “Community Data 2.0: Venice” — a workshop held at Venice … Find out how to read more online.

State, National and World News

World leaders confront Afghan withdrawal strategy
Sat May 19 2012 09:44PM

KABUL, Afghanistan — It was what President Barack Obama called a “war of necessity,” a conflict thrust upon America by the 9/11 attacks. As NATO’s mission here winds down nearly 11 years later, the insurgents remain undefeated, corruption runs rife … read more.

Tropical storm forms off SC
Sat May 19 2012 09:44PM

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The first tropical storm of the season formed Saturday off the coast of South Carolina with top winds of 45 mph, but it wasn’t threatening land. Forecasters say tropical storm Alberto was centered about 140 miles … read more.

Debate grows over DNA disclosure
Sat May 19 2012 09:44PM

Camilla Grondahl asked genetics researcher Gholson Lyon a simple, heartbreaking question: Was she carrying a lethal gene that might kill her unborn baby? Grondahl, 29, didn’t want to terminate her pregnancy, which began in 2010. She just wanted to know … read more.

Woman gets 20 years for firing warning shot
Sat May 19 2012 09:44PM

TAMPA, Fla. — Marissa Alexander had never been arrested before she fired a bullet at a wall one day in 2010 to scare off her husband when she felt he was threatening her. Nobody got hurt, but this month a … read more.

SpaceX rocket launch aborted in last half-second
Sat May 19 2012 09:42PM

CAPE CANAVERAL (AP) — A new private supply ship for the International Space Station remained stuck on the ground Saturday after rocket engine trouble led to a last-second abort of the historic flight. All nine engines for the SpaceX Falcon … read more.

Skeletons in Sen. Rubio’s closet?
Sat May 19 2012 09:42PM

MIAMI — For freshman Sen. Marco Rubio, a rising GOP figure seen as a possible Mitt Romney running mate, there are questions about whether potential vulnerabilities in his personal and political background might hold him back. The 40-year-old Florida lawmaker … read more.

UK surveillance program could bare private lives
Fri May 18 2012 10:02PM

LONDON — British officials have given their word: “We won’t read your emails.” But experts say the government’s proposed new surveillance program will gather so much data that spooks won’t have to read your messages to guess what you’re up … read more.

Fla. to scrutinize 182,000 voters
Fri May 18 2012 10:02PM

TALLAHASSEE — Florida officials, responding to skeptical comments this week from county election supervisors, said they are now going to double-check whether 182,000 registered voters are U.S. citizens. State officials announced late Thursday that the Florida agency that handles driver’s … read more.

Stocks fall on Europe worries
Fri May 18 2012 10:02PM

NEW YORK (AP) — It’s going to take more than Facebook’s initial public offering to push the stock market higher. Facebook shares rose 23 cents above their $38 offering price. It seemed like everything else fell. The Dow Jones industrial … read more.

CDC to baby boomers: Test for hepatitis C
Fri May 18 2012 10:02PM

ATLANTA — For the first time, the government is proposing that all baby boomers get tested for hepatitis C. Anyone born from 1945 to 1965 should get a one-time blood test to see if they have the liver-destroying virus, the … read more.

Facebook’s big day
Fri May 18 2012 10:02PM

NEW YORK — Facebook updated its status to “public company” on Friday. After an anxiety-filled half-hour delay, its stock began trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market for the first time as investors were finally able to put a dollar value … read more.

200-year-old shipwreck found in Gulf
Fri May 18 2012 10:02PM

NEW ORLEANS — An oil company exploration crew’s chance discovery of a 200-year-old shipwreck in a little-charted stretch of the Gulf of Mexico is yielding a trove of new information to scientists who say it’s one of the most well-preserved … read more.

Fla. mom who killed self, 4 kids endured violence
Fri May 18 2012 10:00PM

MIAMI (AP) — A child welfare investigator who spoke with Tonya Thomas in the weeks before she fatally shot herself and her four children said there were no signs that the children were in distress or felt unsafe. But hundreds … read more.

Self-defense evidence mixed for Zimmerman
Fri May 18 2012 10:00PM

ORLANDO (AP) — When George Zimmerman tries to convince a judge or jury that he shot Trayvon Martin in self-defense, the evidence he’ll be able to call on appears to be a mixed bag. More than 200 pages of photos … read more.

Rocket, weather look good on eve of new space era
Fri May 18 2012 10:00PM

CAPE CANAVERAL (AP) — NASA hasn’t seen this much prelaunch jitters since the space shuttle program ended last summer. On Saturday, a private company is set to make history by launching a supply ship to the International Space Station. The … read more.

Greece, Spain issues test eurozone
Fri May 18 2012 09:58PM

MADRID (AP) — Chaos in Greek politics and Spanish banking combined this week to underscore just how fragile Europe’s economy remains after an eviscerating austerity regime that has spawned unemployment, desperation and misery. And there is no respite in sight, … read more.

Facebook stock up slightly in public debut
Fri May 18 2012 04:26PM

NEW YORK (AP) — Facebook updated its status to “public company” on Friday. After an anxiety-filled half-hour delay, its stock began trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market for the first time as investors were finally able to put a dollar … read more.

Georgia woman learns toll of flesh-eating bacteria
Fri May 18 2012 04:22PM

By JEFF MARTIN Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) — Faced with the prospect of losing both hands and her one remaining foot, a young Georgia woman battling to survive a case of flesh-eating bacteria that has already claimed one leg mouthed … read more.

Autopsy: Evidence of marijuana in Martin’s blood
Thu May 17 2012 08:37PM

ORLANDO (AP) — Medical examiners found evidence of marijuana in Trayvon Martin’s system after he was fatally shot by a neighborhood watch volunteer, an autopsy report released Thursday shows. The report was included in a large amount of evidence released … read more.

Rural homeless shelters in Fla. to get $2 million
Thu May 17 2012 08:08PM

TALLAHASSEE (AP) — Homeless shelters across the state will receive more than $2 million dollars in federal grants. The Department of Children and Families says the money will go to 25 emergency homeless shelters in rural areas. The money will … read more.

Woman foils would-be robbery by chasing suspects
Thu May 17 2012 08:08PM

HOBE SOUND (AP) — A Hobe Sound woman chased after four would-be robbers when she returned home from taking her husband to work and saw them climbing out of her window. Renee Granlund told Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers she saw … read more.

Central Fla. woman gives birth at gas station
Thu May 17 2012 08:08PM

LONGWOOD (AP) — A Florida woman has made what can certainly be called a speedy delivery: She gave birth at a gas station. Orlando’s WKMG reports Shelly Tester gave birth with the help of her husband early Wednesday at a … read more.

Man pleads guilty to pointing laser at planes
Thu May 17 2012 08:08PM

ORLANDO (AP) — The U.S. Attorney’s Office says a 49-year-old man faces up to five years in prison after pleading guilty to aiming a laser pointer at a plane departing from Orlando International Airport. Prosecutors say Glenn Stephen Hansen pointed … read more.

Fla. tourism numbers show slight gain in 2012
Thu May 17 2012 08:08PM

TALLAHASSEE (AP) — Florida tourism officials say numbers for the first quarter of the year are up slightly over the same period a year ago. Visit Florida, the state’s marketing division, released numbers Wednesday showing a 2.4 percent boost for … read more.

Polk Co. confirms 6th positive rabies case
Sat May 19 2012 10:02AM

FORT MEADE (AP) — Polk County has confirmed its sixth positive rabies case this year. A Fort Meade resident found his two dogs with a dead raccoon. The raccoon was tested for rabies, and it was confirmed positive for rabies … Find out how to read more online.

Agency for disabled people rates Fla. providers
Thu May 17 2012 08:08PM

TALLAHASSEE (AP) — The state has updated its Medicaid provider ratings for Floridians with developmental disabilities. The Agency for Persons with Disabilities posted the new rankings on its website Wednesday. They are part of an effort by all state agencies … read more.

Workshops set for gopher tortoise conservation
Thu May 17 2012 08:08PM

MIAMI (AP) — Wildlife officials will be conducting regional workshops for gopher tortoise conservation. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission made the announcement Wednesday. The workshops will present information on the management plan and permitting guidelines for gopher tortoises. … read more.

Prosecutor: Plea deals set in Fla. A&M hazing case %reldate(2012-05-17T14:09:43
Thu May 17 2012 08:37PM

BC-FL--FAMU Arrests,129 Prosecutor: Plea deals set in Fla. A&M hazing case %reldate(2012-05-17T14:09:43 Eds: APNewsNow. Will be updated. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A prosecutor says two defendants accused of hazing a Florida A&M University band member are expected to plead guilty … read more.

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More Local News

Bus bays possible during widening
Sat May 19 2012 08:00AM

Project engineers are reviewing the Venice Bypass to see if any bus bays, or pull-offs, could be constructed during its widening. So far, Sarasota County Area Transit sees room for only one, on the segment between Albee Farm Road and … Find out how to read more online.

Thaxton mum about future
Wed May 16 2012 08:00AM

Sarasota County Commissioner Jon Thaxton said Tuesday he will not do anything regarding his political future until Monday. Thaxton, 54, is prevented from running for a fourth term to the District 5 commission seat because of a Florida Supreme Court … Find out how to read more online.

Venice by the numbers
Wed May 16 2012 08:00AM

The public is invited to participate in Community Data 2.1, a half-day workshop on innovative approaches to using community data to make community decisions. Friday morning at Venice City Hall the experts are making it easy for citizens to give … Find out how to read more online.

Chef hopes to keep Snook Haven open
Wed May 16 2012 08:00AM

Sarasota County last week took steps to terminate its contract with the vendor operating Snook Haven, a popular Venice tourist attraction, for missing rent payments. Two months ago Sunrise Sunset Concessions of Snook Haven asked for more time to pay … Find out how to read more online.

Hines plans BOCC run
Sat May 12 2012 08:01AM

Joe Gruters got it right. The chair of the Republican Party of Sarasota County said that without District 5 County Commissioner Jon Thaxton running for re-election, voters are “likely to see more candidates (in) the race.” There wasn’t long to … Find out how to read more online.

New Challenger site urged
Wed May 9 2012 08:01AM

Back and forth, and back again. Citing neighborhood opposition and a viable alternate site, the city is now pressing Venice Challenger Baseball to accept its gift of land in the middle of Wellfield Park for three ball fields for the … Find out how to read more online.

House to move again
Sat May 12 2012 08:01AM

When Jim Ainslie purchased a 1935 cottage and moved it from Valencia Road to Villas Drive in Golden Beach, he wasn’t aware of the stir it would cause. He saw it as a workspace and a place to restore antiques. … Find out how to read more online.

Lovebugs? No, we hate them
Sat May 12 2012 08:01AM

The heat of the highway. The intoxicating scent of fuel and exhaust. Hot, vibrating car engines. Put all those things together and it’s the perfect party setting for lovebugs. But if Southwest Floridians haven’t seen the coupling insects out in … Find out how to read more online.

263 dogs taken from Venice home
Sat May 5 2012 11:57AM

It took Sarasota County Animal Services two full days to remove 263 dogs, many of them in need of veterinary care, from a Venice home. Lt. Scott Ortner, director of Animal Services, says it’s quite possibly the worst case of … Find out how to read more online.

Plan could break road transfer stalemate
Wed May 9 2012 08:01AM

Venice City Manager Ed Lavallee this week offered a strategy designed to end the stalemate over a county transfer of 10 miles of road to the city. Over the past year and a half city leaders have acknowledged the long-overdue … Find out how to read more online.

Lower US 41 speed limit eyed
Wed May 9 2012 08:01AM

Venice City Council Member Kit McKeon appears to have sold his fellow members on reducing the speed limit on U.S. 41 Business south of Venice Regional Medical Center, at least while the bypass is under construction. The speed limit currently … Find out how to read more online.

June start for Plaza Venezia
Wed May 9 2012 08:01AM

Building plans for permits were being submitted this week for the new Plaza Venezia shopping center, to be constructed at the Laurel Road/Pinebrook Road intersection. The projected start date is June 26, with projected completion in March 2013, said Michael … Find out how to read more online.

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