Community Chat Board - Pinestone - Sarasota FL
Officers are investigating a shooting that happened in the 2400 block of Watts Way just before 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12. Three individuals are in custody and being interviewed by officers. Victim is at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.
Sarasota: Parents and students rallied outside Wilkinson Elementary after a school board discussion on closing the school due to low enrollment. (See Video)
Teachers Warned about Social Media Comments
Florida's Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas warned teachers not to make "despicable" comments on social media following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk this week.
"I will be conducting an investigation of every educator who engages in this vile, sanctionable behavior," Kamoutsas said.
A teacher at Ridgeview Elementary School in Clay County was suspended after posting on Facebook: "This may not be the obituary we were all hoping to wake up to, but this is a close second for me."
According to Kamoutsas, certified educators in Florida are subject to ethical guidelines, violations of …
Trump Launches RICO Probe into George Soros' Protest Funding
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President Donald Trump announced on Friday during a Fox & Friends interview that his administration will investigate billionaire George Soros for allegedly funding professional agitators involved in protests and riots, citing potential violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.
Florida Top State for Education Freedom
Florida is number one in education freedom for the fourth consecutive year, according to an annual study by the Heritage Foundation. Florida's universal school choice program and parental rights in education laws were cited as the reasons.
The Education Freedom Report Card began in 2022, and Florida has earned the top ranking every year since. The report ranks states using five categories: school choice, transparency, regulatory freedom, civic education, and spending.
The Sunshine State ranks No. 1 for civic education, academic transparency, and teacher freedom—due to alternative pathways to enter the teaching profession. See …
National Provisioner ranks Sarasota-based Boar's Head Provisions No. 21 on its top 100 list of largest meat and poultry processors with $3 billion in sales.
On Friday, a legislative budget panel will consider directing $1 million to projects as part of the state's America250FL campaign to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence. (More)
Postal shipments to the U.S. from overseas are down 80% since the government ended the tariff exemption for packages valued at $800 or less. Over 80 international providers have suspended shipping while a system for paying tariffs on small packages is put in place. (More)
Opening Week Football Recap
Rivalry games and dramatic finishes headlined the first Sunday of the 2025 NFL regular season. Aaron Rodgers led a game-winning drive against the New York Jets in his Pittsburgh debut, while Tampa Bay rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka caught two touchdowns, including the last-minute winner against Atlanta. Indianapolis scored on every offensive drive en route to a 33-8 win over Miami. Sunday Night Football featured elite quarterbacks for Baltimore and Buffalo.
Florida Opens ‘Deportation Depot’
Florida opened its second immigration detention facility, dubbed "Deportation Depot," at the former Baker County Correctional Institution this week, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday.
"We'll use as many of the detention spaces as we can. We want to fill them up. We want (to) deliver on this mission," Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said.
Currently, 117 detainees have arrived at the facility, and officials have provided photos from the first day.
