Daily editionFriday, September 18th, 2026
Good morning, North Port.
The 5AM North Port Team
Here’s your local news at a glance for Friday, the 18th of September.
Community
Two North Port firefighters returned home after fighting a massive wildfire in Texas that burned nearly 90,000 acres over 23 days.
Lieutenant Ray Coyle (who spent 13 days on the fire lines) is now resting with family.
ABC7 WWSBRead more
Government
City Manager Jerome Fletcher said North Port’s population has surpassed 100,000, making it the largest city in Sarasota County.
He explained that the milestone marks fast growth and future plans to address the needs of a larger community.
WWSB ABC7 MySunCoastRead more
Health
A Sarasota County Fire Department crew from Station 16 (near Twin Lakes Park) was honored Thursday morning for helping a stroke patient receive clot-busting medication in 19 minutes at HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital, beating the 60-minute benchmark as Chief Nursing Officer Todd Cruz presented them with a plaque.
WWSB ABC7 MySunCoastRead more
Sports
Sports reporter Emma Moon reviewed Week 4 football results and highlighted top high school games in Sarasota and Manatee counties — setting the stage for Week 5.
Sarasota Herald-TribuneRead more