2 women rushed to hospital after Englewood boat explosion
ENGLEWOOD, FL. - A boat explosion sent two women flying into the air and back onto the burning vessel Friday. Neighbors come to the aide and got the passengers off just seconds before it exploded again and went up in flames.
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Investigators say TJ Maxx gunmen left store quickly
VENICE - Investigators revealed Thursday why they believe the masked gunmen took off without any loot in Tuesday's hostage drama in the Venice TJ Maxx store.
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TJ Maxx hostage recalls long night inside the store
VENICE – Wednesday ABC 7 spoke to one of the employees that was held hostage in Tuesday night’s hostage situation at a TJ Maxx store in Venice.
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Suspects sought after hostage situation in Venice
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VENICE, FL. - Police are still looking for two gunmen that got away before causing a hostage situation throughout the night at the T.J. Maxx store on U.S. 41 Bypass in Venice
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Ribbon cut on new green fire station in North Port
NORTH PORT - The City of North Port unveiled it's newest fire and police substation Tuesday. The more than two million dollar facility will replace the city's original firehouse. It's also built hurricane hardy and green.
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Local lawmakers back 911 Reform Bill
SARASOTA COUNTY - Local and state leaders have announced the filing of a 911 reform bill. House Bill 355 comes in the wake of the Denise Amber Lee Murder. Her family claims a mishandled 911 call could have saved her life. Monday, lawmakers say reform is needed.
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Venice man works to improve lives of children across the world
SARASOTA COUNTY - For years, a Venice man has been working to improve the lives of children across the world...literally.
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Prescription drug problem out of control in Sarasota county
SARASOTA COUNTY - In the past year, nearly 50 people have died in Sarasota County as a result of prescription drug abuse. That's nearly twice the state average for fatal overdoses. Thursday, Sheriff Tom Knight announced a new unit aimed at getting the problem under control.
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Veterans honored in Venice
Veterans honored in Venice Wednesday. Hundreds came out to Patriots park there. Each with their own story.
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Fixed bus services in Charlotte County run over
PUNTA GORDA - A plan to bring Charlotte County its first bus stops got nixed Tuesday. Currently the county doesn't offer fixed bus routes. The plan would have brought buses to the Sarasota County line.
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Venice house explodes, neighbors pull owner to safety
VENICE - The State Fire Marshall is investigating why a Venice home went up in flames Saturday. It caused hundreds of rounds of ammunition to go off and oxygen tanks to explode into the air. Now emergency officials are crediting some neighbors for saving the man who lived there.
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Work begins on North Port Teen/Community Center
SARASOTA COUNTY - Work begins on a long awaited North Port youth and community center. Despite a declining budget, the city is building the $7 million dollar facility. City leaders say it's an investment in the area's future.
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Recent Pilar Rodriguez search ends, cold case goes "hot"
CHARLOTTE COUNTY - Sheriff's investigators did not find a body but they may have found more clues into the disappearance of Pilar Rodriguez more than a decade ago.
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The search continues in missing 4-year old death investigation
CHARLOTTE COUNTY - Forensic crews continued their search for clues in the disappearance of Pilar Rodriguez on Wednesday, going inch by inch in the backyard where one of their suspects once lived. The little girl was last seen back in 1999. So far authorities say they have not found what they're looking for but remain positive about finding it.
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Search for Pilar Rodriguez body in Charlotte County
CHARLOTTE COUNTY - A cold case has heated up in Charlotte County. More then a decade ago, 4-year-old Pilar Rodriguez went missing. Currently the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office and the FBI are hoping to dig up evidence on a property where one of the main suspects once lived.
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Suspicious death in Port Charlotte
CHARLOTTE COUNTY - A foul smell in a Port Charlotte neighborhood leads a neighbor to a decomposing body. Now sheriff's investigators are looking not only for a killer but also when the victim was murdered.
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Englewood building finally comes down
CHARLOTTE COUNTY - Englewood residents have waited decades for a building to be finished or leveled. Friday they got the latter.
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Charlotte County commissioners vote to support 911 reform
PUNTA GORDA - Charlotte County commissioners have voted to support legislation aimed at reforming the 911 emergency call system. It's a move the family of Denise Amber Lee have been waiting for.
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Fake money showing up more and more on the Suncoast
CHARLOTTE COUNTY - Funny money is turning up across the Suncoast, especially in the Englewood area. This week, two people there were arrested on 238 counts of counterfeiting bills.
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Punta Gorda man accused of having sex with 18-month-old
PUNTA GORDA, FL. - The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office says it's an unthinkable crime. They've arrested one man for having sex with an 18-month-old child.
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Sheriff's office opens training center in Englewood
SARASOTA COUNTY - Residents in Englewood will be seeing more sheriff's officers. That's because a new training and resource center for law enforcement is now open near Dearborn Street.
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New cookbook celebrates North Port recipes
SARASOTA COUNTY - North Port is still celebrating it's 50th anniversary, and Tuesday the city showed off some home cooking.
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Teachers upset about new health care costs in Charlotte County
CHARLOTTE COUNTY - The union that represents the more than 2,100 Charlotte County teachers and staff say they're at an impasse with the school board. They say the school district has more than $7 million saved up but is raising the contribution for health insurance from each employee.
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Help finding jobs in North Port opens up
NORTH PORT - A new Jobs Etc. office officially opened up inside North Port City Hall on Monday.
With tens of thousands of people looking for a job just on the Suncoast, the not for profit organization is looking to give those they help a way to stand out.
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Venice leaders to discuss buying Jet Center
SARASOTA COUNTY - Venice city leaders will soon discuss buying a jet center owned by accused Ponzi schemer Art Nadel for $3 million. The city council has to figure out what it's worth or if they even want to buy it.
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Gas leak shuts down businesses in Venice
VENICE - A gas leak forces a handful of stores in Venice to evacuate after workers and shoppers are consumed by the fumes. While crews are on scene, a crash in front sends one man to the hospital.
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Nathan Lee files lawsuit against Charlotte County sheriff
CHARLOTTE COUNTY - A lawsuit against the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office for the wrongful death of Denise Lee filed Wednesday morning.
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Venice city projects to create jobs
VENICE - More than $4.6 million in Venice city improvements could soon create some local jobs. A project aimed at rebuilding Venice's only public housing complex could bring even more.
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Habitat for Humanity homes on the rise
CHARLOTTE COUNTY - This year Habitat for Humanity in Charlotte County is looking to put more families into affordable homes than ever before. The group continues to use volunteers to build, but is also using the glut of foreclosed homes to their advantage.
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Judge rules on fees in Venice Sunshine case
VENICE - The Sunshine lawsuit against the city of Venice will cost the city three quarters of a million dollars. A judge released his ruling Friday afternoon. Fees for the city's side could push the total to more than a million and half dollars that city taxpayers will fork over.
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Emergency training for Charlotte's first dinner cruise ship
PUNTA GORDA - A new dinner cruise ship is set to be Charlotte Harbor's first. The "Harbor Lady" is set to sail in October. But before the food, drinks, and sights, the ship's crew and area emergency responders have to train on the open waters.
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Food bank sees supplies increase to meet larger demand
SARASOTA COUNTY - The Suncoast's unemployment is hovering near 12%, and it's one big reason the All Faiths Food Bank in Sarasota is helping more people then ever before. But its director says they have more food than ever before.
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Motorcycle crash turns Venice family upside down
VENICE - It was a motorcycle crash that changed a Venice family's life forever. A year ago, Shawn Sturgill crashed his motorcycle on Manasota Key Road and suffered a traumatic brain injury. It's something his family says could have been prevented by wearing a helmet.
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More dogs and cats being found, less looking to find
SARASOTA COUNTY - With less help from local humane societies and fewer people coming to adopt, a local animal service shelter is dealing with more pets than they've ever had.
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Venice Police Department recommended for accreditation
VENICE - After struggling to gain accreditation, it appears the Venice Police Department is about to reach the status. The department has spent years reworking its policies and procedures after being stripped of the title in 2003.
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Seven brothers who went to war honored on the Suncoast
CHARLOTTE COUNTY - They were seven brothers from Punta Gorda who went off to war. More than 60 years later, the Bailey Brothers are getting some recognition and a thank you.
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Legacy Trail bridges are going up
VENICE - Work has begun on the long-awaited bridge trestles that will eventually link Sarasota County's Legacy Trail. The $3.1 million project will complete the 13-mile biking and hiking trail.
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North Port ordinance could give off roaders a smoother ride
NORTH PORT - A controversial ATV ordinance in the city of North Port is running again. It's a revision commissioners hope will keep riders away from homes and stiffen fines. However, it could allow for more room to run in undeveloped areas of the city.
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Nearly all child safety seats installed wrong
SARASOTA COUNTY - Recent studies show the vast majority of child safety seats in vehicles are not installed properly. It's the leading cause of death for children between the ages of two to fourteen. That's why local experts are looking to help.
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North Port remembers 9/11
SARASOTA COUNTY - The North Port community spent Friday remembering the events and the victims of September 11th.
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Port Charlotte named number one place to retire in country
CHARLOTTE COUNTY - A Suncoast community ranks as one of top places to retire. CNN has ranked Port Charlotte as number one in the nation. A combination of affordable housing, waterfront property, medical facilities, parks and entertainment set the area apart.
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Address changes could be coming to thousands of residents and businesses
SARASOTA COUNTY - The county is working on an ordinance to eliminate duplicate street names and numbers. That could mean that some residents and businesses could get a new address.
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Local students watch President Obama speech on education
SARASOTA COUNTY - Students across the country tuned in Tuesday to hear President Obama's speech on education to them. Some adults were concerned the address would be politically motivated. ABC 7 sat in with a fifth grade class at Laurel Nokomis School and got their take on the President's talk.
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Sentencing phase in Michael King murder trial begins
SARASOTA - The jury in the Michael King murder trial was back in court Tuesday. They'll recommend to a judge whether King should spend the rest of his life in prison, or face the death penalty.
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Police Chief talks about King murder case
SARASOTA COUNTY - It took thousands of man hours to pile up the mounds of evidence used to convict Michael King for the kidnapping rape and murder of Denise Lee. ABC 7 talked with North Port's police chief about their task to serve justice.
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New North Port school opens, easing overcrowding
NORTH PORT - City officials came out to celebrate the opening of a brand-new elementary school on Tuesday -- one that wound up saving Sarasota County millions of dollars.
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North Port father charged in drowning death of two year old son
NORTH PORT - There has been another arrest after a child drowns in a family swimming pool. It's the third in North Port in less than two years.
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Rabies reports across the Suncoast
SARASOTA COUNTY - Two cases of rabies have been reported on the Suncoast. A North Port child fishing in Charlotte County was bit by a bat. The animal has since tested positive for rabies. In another case a rabid raccoon attacked a dog in north Sarasota.
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Jury selection in King trial going well
SARASOTA - Jury selection in the Michael King murder trial continued for a second day. So far things have gone well in trying to seat a jury. The selection process is over for the day and 44 potential jurors have been asked to return Friday for final selection.
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5 years after Hurricane Charley, town is better
CHARLOTTE COUNTY - Friday, August 13th is a day many in the area will not soon forget, when Hurricane Charley hit Charlotte County five years ago. Thursday, Florida governor Charlie Crist remembered the storm and praised the present day recovery.
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Local badges giving boost for back to school
SARASOTA COUNTY - It's the back to school shopping season, and Wednesday in Venice some students in need got a back to school boost, thanks to some local law enforcement officers.
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Budget cuts effecting bus routes in Sarasota county
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Budget cuts at Sarasota county schools mean there'll be fewer bus stops this year.
In some cases, no buses at all. It's put the brakes on one after school program for those in need.
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One year old drowns in Port Charlotte canal
CHARLOTTE COUNTY - Detectives are trying to figure out how a 20-month-old Port Charlotte boy drowned. It happened in a flash Wednesday night in a canal behind the young boy's home.
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Possible jail sites upsetting to some
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SARASOTA COUNTY - Sarasota county's jail has been running over capacity for a few years now. County leaders are considering building a new larger facility.
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Big issues surround Venice City Hall
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VENICE - A number of issues in front of Venice city leaders Tuesday, in cluding lawsuits, layoffs, budgets and growth plans.
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Attack was fake, lessons learned are real
PUNTA GORDA - The Charlotte County community spent Monday getting over a reported attack on the Edison State College campus Thursday...an attack we now know never happened.
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New North Port ER brings in job seekers
NORTH PORT - Hundreds of job seekers turned out Friday in North Port. Sarasota Memorial Health Care Systems was holding a job fair and looking for people to help run the city's first emergency room and health care center.
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Veterans Support Organization remains under fire
CHARLOTTE COUNTY - Recently we told you about the growing concerns regarding a group called the Veterans Support Organization. Within the last week the group handed over a check to a local veterans nursing home. Still, some vet groups say it's only because they were exposed.
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Local teens learn financial literacy
SARASOTA COUNTY - It was a lesson in financial literacy; A group of students from the Laurel Civic Association getting some first hand learning Monday. As back to school shopping begins, they're learning to make every dollar stretch, by shopping at places like Goodwill.
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One year after loved one's death, family patiently waits for justice
CHARLOTTE COUNTY - One year ago Tuesday, a North Port father of two died after being hit by a hit and run driver. Since then, Alex Teehee's family has fought to bring those responsible to justice.
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North Port woman says local hospital harassed her about weight
NORTH PORT, FL - Race, gender and religion are all forms of discrimination that are against the law in the workplace. But not your weight. Now a North Port woman is fighting for reform after it happened to her.
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Rash of burglaries in area has one neighbor fighting back
PORT CHARLOTTE - In Charlotte County, the Sheriff's Office is looking for a burglar hitting up the same neighborhood. It even had one resident taking the law into his own hands and fighting back.
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Good and bad news for local tourism industry
SARASOTA COUNTY - More people are visiting Sarasota County, but they're not spending as much. Tuesday, local tourism officials gave county leaders the latest numbers on the industry keeping Sarasota County afloat.
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Old Glory getting a free makeover in Englewood
ENGLEWOOD, FL - American flags are flying at full force this Fourth of July, but some in better shape than others. One Englewood company is helping make sure Old Glory looks good. They're fixing worn down and tattered flags at no charge.
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7 South Newsroom Archives - 2009 Stories
| 7 South Newsroom Archives - 2008 Stories
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7 South Newsroom Archives - 2007 Stories
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