North Port Sun

Please wait....

| Subscribe

| Today's Ads

| Place Ad

| Electronic Edition

| Jobs

| Real Estate

| North Port Weather

ARCADIAN

ENGLEWOOD

NORTH PORT

PORT CHARLOTTE

PUNTA GORDA

VENICE

DIRECTORY

Today's Top Stories

News Alerts:

Friday, May 18, 2012

‘Queen of Disco’ dies in region

Disco queen Donna Summer, whose pulsing anthems such as “Last Dance,” “Love to Love You Baby” and “Bad Girls” became the soundtrack for a glittery age of sex, drugs, dance and flashy clothes, died in Naples, Fla., Thursday morning, according to her publicist, Brian Edwards. Summer, 63, had a home … Find out how to read more online.

LATEST LOCAL NEWS

School district to work with Mancheno
Fri May 18 2012 08:00AM

NORTH PORT — The outcome of a meeting regarding an October incident between Lamarque Elementary School principal Sally Mancheno and a Lamarque teacher was unknown Thursday evening. However a letter … Find out how to read more online.

ER helipad goes to commission for OK
Fri May 18 2012 08:00AM

NORTH PORT — The City Commission is expected to decide soon on a proposed resolution that would allow a helipad to be constructed on the parking lot of the Sarasota … Find out how to read more online.

New arrest made in Port Charlotte homicide
Fri May 18 2012 08:00AM

Authorities have made a second arrest in the death of a Port Charlotte man found buried in his own yard. Anna Marie Nangle, 50, was charged with accessory after the … Find out how to read more online.

NPHS scholars honored
Fri May 18 2012 08:00AM

NORTH PORT — When the lunchtime conversation turned to family resemblances, North Port High School senior Stephanie Shoemaker passed a small photo of her mother around the table at Heron … Find out how to read more online.

State, National and World News

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
Thu May 17 2012 08:08PM

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 … read more.

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.

Student to plead guilty to Obama threat
Thu May 17 2012 08:08PM

MIAMI (AP) — Court records show a Miami college student intends to plead guilty to making threatening posts against President Barack Obama on Facebook. A change of plea hearing is set for Wednesday for 20-year-old Joaquin Amador Serrapio Jr. He … read more.

Maas named executive editor of Tampa Tribune
Thu May 17 2012 08:08PM

TAMPA (AP) — A longtime news manager at The Tampa Tribune has been chosen as the new executive editor. The newspaper reported the appointment of Richard “Duke” Maas on Thursday. The 59-year-old Maas has been managing editor of the Tribune … read more.

Ed secretary questions Fla. law on tutoring
Thu May 17 2012 08:08PM

MIAMI (AP) — U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan questioned Thursday why the Florida Legislature passed a law requiring districts to continue tutoring services that have not proven effective. Florida was one of nearly a dozen states that received a waiver … read more.

Citizens board chair urges caution
Thu May 17 2012 08:08PM

TALLAHASSEE (AP) — Citizens Property Insurance Corp. could face dire consequences if it fails to involve Florida lawmakers before deciding whether to approve a dramatic rate increase for new policyholders, the state-backed firm’s board president warned Thursday. The corporation’s Board … read more.

US ready to strike Iran
Thu May 17 2012 08:37PM

JERUSALEM — The U.S. has plans in place to attack Iran if necessary to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons, Washington’s envoy to Israel said, days ahead of a crucial round of nuclear talks with Tehran. Dan Shapiro’s message resonated … read more.

Greek Cabinet, legislators sworn in
Thu May 17 2012 08:37PM

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece on Thursday swore in 300 legislators for just one day before it dissolves Parliament and calls new elections, among them 21 lawmakers from Golden Dawn — arguably the most far-right party to be involved in … read more.

Buffett buys 63 Media General papers
Thu May 17 2012 08:06PM

LOS ANGELES (LA Times) — Former paperboy and current Omaha, Neb., billionaire Warren Buffett is throwing the weight of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. behind the newspaper industry, buying the majority of Media General Inc.’s papers months after picking up his hometown … read more.

Stocks slump again
Thu May 17 2012 08:06PM

NEW YORK (AP) — Unable to shake their worries about Europe, investors drove stocks to a four-month low Thursday and piled into bonds, sending the yield on the 10-year Treasury note close to an all-time low. The Dow Jones industrial … read more.

Senators want to stop Saverin from dodging taxes
Thu May 17 2012 08:06PM

WASHINGTON (LA Times) — Two senators on Thursday denounced Facebook Inc. co-founder Eduardo Saverin as a tax dodger for renouncing his U.S. citizenship ahead of the company’s initial public offering and introduced legislation to punish him and others who leave … read more.

Fate of ‘uninsurables’ hinges on Supreme Court
Thu May 17 2012 08:37PM

WASHINGTON — Cancer patient Kathy Watson voted Republican in 2008 and believes the government has no right telling Americans to get health insurance. Nonetheless, she says she’d be dead if it weren’t for President Barack Obama’s health care law. Now … read more.

Cellphone disaster alert system to start soon
Thu May 17 2012 08:06PM

DAYTON, Ohio (Cox Newspapers) — Major U.S. wireless carriers will go live this month with an emergency disaster alert system broadcasting free text messages warning of tornadoes, flash floods, earthquakes and other emergencies. Major carriers AT&T, Cellcom, Cricket, Sprint Nextel, … read more.

US unemployment aid applications stay at 370,000
Thu May 17 2012 08:06PM

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment benefits was unchanged last week, suggesting modest but steady gains in the job market. The Labor Department said Thursday that weekly unemployment aid applications stayed at a seasonally adjusted 370,000, … read more.

Facebook IPO set at $38
Thu May 17 2012 08:37PM

NEW YORK — Facebook’s initial public offering of stock is shaping up to be one of the largest ever. The world’s definitive online social network is raising at least $16 billion, a big windfall for a company that began eight … read more.

Cuban president’s daughter gets US travel visa
Thu May 17 2012 08:06PM

HAVANA (AP) — Cuban first daughter Mariela Castro has been granted a U.S. visa to attend events in San Francisco and New York, one of her associates confirmed Thursday. The travel permission sparked a firestorm of criticism from Cuban-American politicians … read more.

Postal Service to begin closing plants this summer
Thu May 17 2012 08:06PM

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nearly bankrupt U.S. Postal Service is moving ahead with plans to close dozens of mail processing centers, saying on Thursday it can no longer wait as Congress remains deadlocked over how to help. At a news … read more.

Prisons to step up anti-rape efforts
Thu May 17 2012 08:37PM

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House on Thursday ordered federal, state and local prisons, jails and detention facilities to step up the fight against prison rape, issuing mandatory screening, enforcement and prevention regulations in hopes of reducing sexual victimization behind … read more.

Census Bureau: Minority births outnumbered whites for first time
Thu May 17 2012 08:06PM

LOS ANGELES (LA Times) — The United States has reached a historic tipping point — with Latino, Asian, mixed-race and African-American births constituting a majority of births for the first time, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Thursday. Minorities made up … read more.

RFK Jr.’s estranged wife hanged herself
Thu May 17 2012 08:06PM

BEDFORD, N.Y. (AP) — The Kennedy family, so practiced at public mourning, is grieving again after the estranged wife of Robert Kennedy Jr. hanged herself at her home in suburban New York. Mary Richardson Kennedy, 52, an architect known for … read more.

Page: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7

More Local News

City landscaping award shows growth
Fri May 18 2012 08:00AM

NORTH PORT — Efforts by the city Beautification and Tree/Scenic Highway Committee to honor commercial landscaping efforts were boosted Wednesday afternoon by tips from Bill Gunnin, executive director of the North Port Area Chamber of Commerce. An award for outstanding … Find out how to read more online.

School Board backs prevention of candy-flavored tobacco
Fri May 18 2012 08:00AM

SARASOTA COUNTY — The Sarasota County School Board agreed this week to support a proclamation opposing the sale and consumption of candy-flavored tobacco. School Superintendent Lori White said the proclamation, which would appear on a future agenda for the School … Find out how to read more online.

Free youth cooking class offered
Wed May 16 2012 06:20PM

NORTH PORT — Children in grades three through six are invited to take part in a free “Junior Chef Cooking Class” from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 19 at the North Port Library, 13800 S. Tamiami Trail. Participants … Find out how to read more online.

North Port Memorial Day ceremony set
Wed May 16 2012 06:12PM

NORTH PORT — The city and American Legion Post 254 will host a Memorial Day ceremony at 10 a.m. May 28 at Veterans Park at Biscayne Drive and U.S. 41, near the North Port Library. The small ceremony will include … Find out how to read more online.

Area woman is seamstress to the baseball stars
Wed May 16 2012 08:00AM

ENGLEWOOD — Linda Lee Mercer knew when she was 23 that she didn’t want to work as a secretary at an electronics company in Rhode Island for the rest of her life. She recalls nearly falling asleep at the desk … Find out how to read more online.

Traffic to shift Friday on Sumter
Tue May 15 2012 03:26PM

NORTH PORT — The southbound lanes of Sumter Boulevard will be open to traffic beginning on Friday. Both legs of Morandi Avenue will be closed at Sumter to allow the contractor to construct the left-turn lanes on Sumter at Morandi … Find out how to read more online.

Law Enforcement Memorial Service set
Tue May 15 2012 03:24PM

SARASOTA — The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office will host the 27th annual Law Enforcement Memorial Service at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Faith Lutheran Church, 7750 Beneva Road, Sarasota. Sheriff Tom Knight encourages the public to attend. In addition to the … Find out how to read more online.

Dog hoarding spurs ‘flood’ of adoption inquiries
Wed May 16 2012 08:00AM

Sarasota County Animal Services rescued 263 dogs from a Venice-area home recently in one of the worst dog-hoarding incidents in recent memory. The massive rescue tugged at the public’s heartstrings, setting off a flood of calls offering to adopt them, … Find out how to read more online.

North Port opens $6.2 million fleet facility
Thu May 17 2012 08:00AM

NORTH PORT — At least five times Wednesday, North Port City Commission Chair Tom Jones called building the city’s new $6.2 million fleet maintenance facility “a piece of cake.” Jones jokingly told Public Works Director Branford Adumuah to take a … Find out how to read more online.

Suspect wants bond reduced
Thu May 17 2012 08:00AM

NORTH PORT — The alleged mastermind behind the March armed robbery at a local Dollar General store wants her bond reduced so she can get out of jail. Jilleka Gibson, 33 — who reportedly told police she drew a map … Find out how to read more online.

Businesses can keep signs under revised ordinance
Thu May 17 2012 08:00AM

NORTH PORT — City commissioners voted this week to approve a revised sign ordinance that will allow 26 businesses on U.S.41/Tamiami Trail to keep their nonconforming signs, thereby saving them thousands of dollars. The vote was 3-2, with Commissioners Jim … Find out how to read more online.

Residents, business owners invited to Growth Expo
Mon May 14 2012 08:02PM

NORTH PORT — Residents and business owners are invited to stop by the city of North Port’s table Thursday at the 2012 Business Growth Expo in Tampa. The city is hosting an information table at the large networking event, which … Find out how to read more online.

Page: [1] 2 3

AP Video

North Port Weather

Weather Forecast | Weather Maps | Weather Radar

Publish Your Photos