Latest news with #SarasotaHerald-Tribune
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Former Siesta Key hotel manager arrested after allegedly stealing $100k from resort
A former Siesta Key hotel manager faces fraud charges after allegedly stealing $110,000 from a top-rated resort, Sarasota deputies said. Billy Vann Prater Jr., 39, was arrested on May 21 after deputies said he used his status as the Siesta Key Palms Resort manager at 1800 Stickney Point Road to give free rooms or cancel rooms, while pocketing the money. The resort's owner met with Sarasota County Sheriff's Office deputies on Nov. 26 to file a fraud report. He told deputies that he had discovered theft from the resort by his former office manager following a financial audit. Riley Hudson, Prater's attorney, declined to provide a comment about the case but stated that all defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. In case you missed it: Caught on camera: Bradenton traffic dispute escalates to gunfire and criminal charges In addition to using his status to give free rooms, Prater hired a handyman to do jobs on the property, but it was unclear what work was done and if the amount paid was inflated, the owner told deputies. Prater also committed FEMA fraud by adding extra stays to FEMA-approved accounts even though the guests didn't stay those nights, deputies said. The information was forwarded to FEMA, and the owner was left paying FEMA $7,003. A financial audit found that the money was taken from the end of 2023 through 2024 when it was discovered. Prater bonded out of jail on May 22 for $50,000. He has a criminal arraignment hearing on June 20. Melissa Pérez-Carrillo covers breaking news and public safety for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Reach out at mperezcarrillo@ This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Ex-Siesta Key hotel manager arrested for alleged $100k resort theft
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Wake up, Floridians: Our politicians don't respect or represent us
Are the older folks of Florida just going to sit back while protecting their wallets? The nation is facing an economic and social crisis. Our elected officials at all levels are hiding out, potentially allowing the most vulnerable citizens to lose vital services and assistance. Our leaders are so out of touch with the average Americans' needs, instead moving toward assisting the wealthy to get wealthier. I'll leave the social issues for another letter. Wake up, Floridians, you're being taken for a sad ride while potentially sucking the fumes of the Big 'Bad' Bill. Think of the impact on your grandchildren – or maybe you don't care! Robert Richard, Sarasota This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Wake up, Floridians: Our politicians do more harm than good | Letters
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mark your calendars! Chick-Fil-A's peach milkshake makes its return next week, see when
The Peach Milkshake is returning to Chick-fil-A! The popular seasonal dessert is returning to the chain for its 16th anniversary and will be available nationwide beginning Monday, June 9. "There's something about the Peach Milkshake that really feels like the start of summer, and for 16 years our Guests have expected– and anticipated – its return,' said Allison Duncan, director of menu and packaging at Chick-fil-A, in a news release. "As we continue to surprise and delight our Guests with new and unique flavors throughout the year, we wanted to offer a spin on the peach taste everyone knows and loves with the Peach Frosted Lemonade." Peach Milkshake: Hand-spun the old-fashioned way, this creamy milkshake features Chick-fil-A Icedream dessert and peaches, topped off with whipped cream and a cherry. Introducing the New Peach Frosted Lemonade: Combines of Chick-fil-A Lemonade (or Diet Lemonade) and Icedream dessert mixed with peaches. They are available for a limited time at participating restaurants nationwide starting June 9 through Aug. 16. There are over 3,000 Chick-fil-A restaurants in the United States, with nearly 250 in Florida. To find a location near you and secure a shake, visit their website here. Chick-fil-A also announced that its pineapple dragonfruit seasonal beverages would stick around a little longer. According to the chain, the drink lineup was initially introduced as part of the spring menu and will be available through Aug. 16 while supplies last. The lineup features four beverages, including: Pineapple Dragonfruit Frosted Lemonade: Combines Chick-fil-A lemonade or diet lemonade and Chick-fil-A's signature IceDream dessert with natural pineapple and dragonfruit flavors. Pineapple Dragonfruit Lemonade: Combines Chick-fil-A lemonade or diet lemonade with natural pineapple and dragonfruit flavors. Pineapple Dragonfruit Iced Tea: Mixes classic iced tea with natural and pineapple and dragonfruit flavors. Pineapple Dragonfruit Sunjoy: Combines Chick-fil-A's Sunjoy beverage (lemonade mixed with iced tea) with natural pineapple and dragonfruit flavors. USA TODAY contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Chick-fil-A peach milkshake will return. See when in Florida
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Linda Cohn Makes Tear-Jerking Announcement on Tuesday
The cast and crew of Sportscenter has been a mainstay in tens of millions of American households over the past few decades, producing legends of the broadcasting world including Stuart Scott, Linda Cohn, Scott Van Pelt, Dan Patrick and others. Cohn, known for her light-hearted, sweet demeanor and encyclopedic sports knowledge, has been one of the show's most popular and well known anchors for years. Advertisement On Tuesday, the longtime Sportscenter anchor made a major announcement about the show's future that had fans reacting in the comments section. Sportscenter anchor Kevin Negandi (L), Florida basketball coach Todd Golden and sports journalist Hannah Storm at the Dick Vitale Gala on May 2, 2025. © Thomas Bender/Sarasota Herald-Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images "Ended too soon. The LA Sportscenter is no more. We said goodbye Monday Night," Cohn said on her X page, tagging ESPN's Neil Everett and Stan Verrett in her post. "Best trio since Rush," one fan said in the comments. "Does this mean we get another show of three to four ex professional players yelling at each other?" another asked sarcastically. "Legends," reporter Steve Wyche added underneath the picture with three raised hands emojis. A video of Sportscenter anchors signing off over the course of the show's history was shared on X by ESPN. "One of the best crews in the game will be missed!" a fan said. Advertisement "Sportscenter not gonna be the same without Stan and Neil," another fan added. Another shared a photo of the time he got to sit at the Sportscenter anchor's desk on X after hearing the news. "Love the Sportscenter crew's heartfelt goodbye gesture always," another fan added. "We will miss all of them! Thank you Stan and Neil for keeping me informed ever since I was a young boy in elementary school and now an adult!' Related: Phoenix Suns CEO Facing Lawsuit Involving Indiana Fever's Sophie Cunningham
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Applebee's restaurant in Sarasota just closed — same day a local Chili's shuttered
While one last basket of razor-thin, heavily salted tortilla chips and red salsa was being served at the Chili's on South Tamiami Trail in Sarasota, someone eight miles away at the Applebee's on University Parkway was digging into their final order of boneless wings glazed in that sweet and tangy honey barbecue sauce. Yes, two titans of the American restaurant chain world shuttered Sarasota-Manatee locations this week. As previously reported, the Chili's Bar & Grill near Trader Joe's permanently closed Monday, May 19. The Herald-Tribune has since confirmed that the Applebee's Neighborhood Grill + Bar at 3255 University Parkway also closed for good that same day, according to a guest relations specialist who verified the news on Tuesday, May 20. After nearly 40 years, a Sarasota Chili's restaurant has closed Ticket Newsletter: Sign up to receive restaurant news, reviews, and fun things to do every Friday The Applebee's guest relations specialist declined to provide a reason for the closure or comment on what it might mean for the restaurant chain's other nearby locations. However, the Applebee's website shows that several Sarasota-Manatee locations remain open, including: 5550 Fruitville Road, Sarasota 5490 Clark Road, Sarasota 4329 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice 4301 Cortez Road, Bradenton 4638 State Road 64 E., Bradenton 5908 18th St. E., Ellenton 17500 Tamiami Trail, North Port Nearly a decade ago, Applebee's closed its most prominent Sarasota location — the one downtown in the Sarasota Main Plaza, adjacent to the movie theater on Main Street. Sarasota Main Plaza opened in 1997 with Applebee's — at 1991 Main St. — as one of its original restaurants. Today, the spot is occupied by the high-end apartment complex Aster & Links, with the movie theater still operating next door. Chili's Grill & Bar was founded in Texas in 1975 and is currently owned and operated by Dallas-based Brinker International. The Chili's that recently closed at 4131 S. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota opened in the mid-1980s, while the Applebee's that closed this week at 3255 University Parkway in Manatee County was open since at least 1999, when it first appears in Herald-Tribune archives. Applebee's was founded in 1980 in Atlanta. There's no indication that these Sarasota-Manatee Applebee's and Chili's closures are part of a companywide initiative by the respective chains — just isolated incidents that happened to occur eight miles apart. Contributing: Jimmy Geurts, Sarasota Herald-Tribune Wade Tatangelo is Ticket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and Florida Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and X. He can be reached by email at Support local journalism by subscribing. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Applebee's restaurant in Sarasota just closed — here's what we know
