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News

Plans are to replace the Roy McBean Boys & Girls Club in Newtown with a new building and convert the current structure into outdoor play space.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 30, 2026
Youth club replacement in Newtown wins City Commission approval

The Sarasota City Commission unanimously approved three measures to permit Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and Desoto Counties to replace the McBean club location in Newtown.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Village Idiots Cycling Club member Patrick Franklin Sr. (center) was killed riding his bicycle Jan. 22 when hit by a truck pulling a trailer on Conquistador Parkway in Bradenton.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 29, 2026
Death of beloved cyclist leaves Village Idiots Cycling Club members in shock

Patrick Franklin, 67, was hit by a truck while riding on El Conquistador Parkway in Bradenton.

  • East County
  • News
Sales for the Waldorf Astoria Residences in Sarasota kicked off on Jan. 28 with an event at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. The 18-story building is expected to be finished in 2029.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 29, 2026
Sales for Sarasota's Waldorf Astoria Residences get underway

Condos in the 18-story building begin at $2.2 million and range from one to five bedrooms.

  • Sarasota
  • News
David Crawford is 2026 president of Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 29, 2026
Real estate market conditions show signs of a more robust 2026

As memories of 2024 storms fade, insurance and mortgage rates stabilize and in-migration continues, the Sarasota-Manatee region's real estate organization points to a growth in sales.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A site map of the location of the proposed 41-unit 414 Lime Avenue townhome development in the Park East neighborhood.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 29, 2026
41 new townhomes planned for Limelight District

A new proposal for 41 townhomes is breathing new life into a partially built and then demolished multifamily project on Aspinwall Street in Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Watering restrictions are in place for Manatee and Sarasota counties.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 28, 2026
Water authority's restrictions include Manatee, Sarasota

Once-a-week irrigation rules are in effect. Rain is forecast this weekend, and even the possibility of snow flurries.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Longboat Key water main break cuts north-end service
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 28, 2026
Longboat Key water main break cuts north-end service

North end residents between Broadway Street and Reclinata Drive are affected, the town says.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The owner of the vacant Winn-Dixie site at Midtown Plaza is planning to redevelop it into a mixed-use project that includes apartments, a hotel and retail space.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 28, 2026
Midtown Plaza redevelopment wins partial sign-off

Receiving partial sign-off from Sarasota's Development Review Committee is the proposed redevelopment of the southern portion of Midtown Plaza at 1299 S. Tamiami Trail.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Longboat Key Town Commission met for a workshop meeting Tuesday, Jan. 20 to discuss food truck regulations, temporary certificates of occupancy and police department crime statistics.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • January 28, 2026
Defining 'temporary' in temporary certificates of occupancy

As a landmark development continues to operate under a temporary certificate of occupancy 17 months after opening, Longboat Key commissioners and counsel discussed the rules of TCOs.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Concession Golf Club is hosting the Senior PGA Championship April 16-19.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 28, 2026
Manatee County tees up for Senior PGA Championship

The generated championship dollars are expected to include impressive dividends for the county.

  • East County
  • News
Longboat Key Police Department officer Michael Mathis measures the speed of drivers on Gulf of Mexico Drive. LKPD issued 4,000 traffic warnings and 1,900 citations in the 2025 fiscal year.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • January 28, 2026
Longboat Key isn't crime-free, but it's close

The Florida barrier island has a lower crime rate than the national average in every category, but the town's new police chief still has goals for the new year.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Government Efficiency Liaison Committee meets Jan. 20 at the downtown Manatee County Administration Building.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 28, 2026
Manatee County committee requests DOGE audit results

In the meantime, the Government Efficiency Liaison Committee continues to seek out wasteful spending.

  • East County
  • News
A rendering of the planned Pilatus Aircraft facilities at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 28, 2026
Global aircraft maker breaks ground at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport

Switzerland-based Pilatus Aircraft has begun construction of its $200 million investment at SRQ.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Nicole Rissler is the new Sarasota County assistant administrator.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 28, 2026
Sarasota County promotes new assistant administrator from within

The county's current parks chief, Nicole Rissler, was selected for the role.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Below-freezing weather expected in inland Manatee, Sarasota
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 27, 2026
Below-freezing weather expected in inland Manatee, Sarasota

The wider region is expected to see wind chills in 20s Tuesday night.

  • East County
  • News
« 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 »
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Latest News

1
Sarasota Crew's championship-winning Women's U16 Eight boat races past opponents at Nathan Benderson Park in June 2025. The USRowing Youth National Championships are one of the biggest events on the local sports calendar for 2026.
  • March 20, 2026
Watersports events line up at Benderson Park in April
2
  • March 20, 2026
Longboat Key's Cops, Cars & Coffee rescheduled
3
City parking scheme schemes hurting our tourism
  • March 20, 2026
City parking scheme schemes hurting our tourism
4
Dolores M. Stevens (2025)
  • March 19, 2026
Dolores M. Stevens
5
Zachary Keller and Helen Krushinski star in "Water for Elephants," which comes to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Feb. 12-14, 2027.
  • March 19, 2026
'Water for Elephants,' 'Six' and 'Hell's Kitchen' lead Van Wezel's 2026-27 lineup

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