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News

AG Lafley is Founding CEO of Bay Park Conservancy.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 19, 2026
Conservancy assumes management over more buildings in The Bay

Sarasota turns over management, rental and maintenance control to the bayside park's operators.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Superintendent of Schools Terry Connor speaks on the district's plans to maximize utilization.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 18, 2026
Details firm up for Sarasota schools plan

A K-8 and magnet school conversion begins next year at five Sarasota County campuses.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Couch LBK co-owner Ken Rushing shows a pair of shoppers a fabric sample inside the furniture showroom at Brista Commons Wednesday, Jan. 14.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • January 18, 2026
Brista Commons hits the ground running

The newest shopping center on Longboat Key has seen lots of foot traffic ahead of its Jan. 20 grand opening.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sarasota County Courthouse was voted 10th most beautiful public building in America.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 17, 2026
Sarasota courthouse among nation's top civic buildings

The historic Sarasota County Courthouse checks in at No. 10 on an interior-design website.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Bradenton Area EDC names interim CEO
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • January 17, 2026
Bradenton Area EDC names interim CEO

The appointment of an interim CEO — Fawley Bryant Architecture COO and Partner Amanda Parrish — comes after the former leader of the organization retired.

  • East County
  • Business
Barista Claudia Aridus pours a latte while Sara Rountree rinses a cup at Sips this January. The popular north-end coffee shop is expanding with a second location on Longboat Key.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • January 16, 2026
Longboat Key coffee shop's success brews expansion

A second Sips, with the exact name still to be determined, will open where Turtle Coffee Bar once operated.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Retired Sarasota Police Sergeant Jim DeNiro is challenging incumbent Joe Neunder for the Sarasota County Commission District 4 seat.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 16, 2026
Incumbent faces early challenge for County Commission District 4

Joe Neunder will face retired Sarasota Police Department Sgt. Jim DeNiro in the Aug. 18 preliminary election.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A double staircase leads to 7366 Point of Rocks Road on Siesta Key.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • January 16, 2026
Gulf-front Siesta Key estate lists for $26 million

The home on Point of Rocks features an infinity pool that appears to merge with the Gulf.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Renourishment of Lido Beach is scheduled to be completed prior to sea turtle nesting season.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 15, 2026
Sarasota's Lido Beach renourishment project begins soon

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is set to deposit upwards of 300,000 cubic yards of sand to replenish the degradation of Lido Beach beginning Jan. 20. The beach will remain open throughout the duration of the project.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Commissioner-At-Large BJ Bishop and Scott Dudley with the Florida League of Cities Advocacy Committee.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • January 15, 2026
Longboat commissioner picked as president of Manasota League of Cities

B.J. Bishop was reelected to serve as president of the nine-member group of municipal representatives.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Manatee County has announced available cold weather shelters.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 15, 2026
Cold weather shelters open in Manatee, Sarasota counties for frigid spell

Salvation Army, Under One Roof and Turning Points offer warm, safe spaces.

  • East County
  • News
The interior of the new restrooms at Sarasota City Hall feature tile walls and an architectural feature on the ceilings.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 15, 2026
City Hall bathrooms reopen after 15-month rehab project

The discovery of crumbling, aging iron pipes beneath the restrooms in the City Hall lobby extended the duration and the cost of a nearly $660,000 remodel.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Warren Hutmacher of Sumter Local Government Consulting discusses the search for a city manager before the Sarasota City Commission.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 15, 2026
City makes progress toward hiring a new manager

With interim Sarasota City Manager Dave Bullock's planned departure on March 6, the City Commission now faces urgency to name a new permanent chief executive.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota police executed a warrant at this home at 1579 28th St., resulting in multiple arrests.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 14, 2026
Sarasota raid nets additional felony arrests

While executing a search and arrest warrant at a home, Sarasota police make additional arrests on weapons, drugs and sex charges.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Anthony and Katherine Van Wezel Stone, grandchildren of the late Lewis Van Wezel.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 14, 2026
Van Wezel heirs join with SPAF to support new Performing Arts Center

Grandchildren of the late Lewis Van Wezel have joined the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation in support of a new venue and a "unified cultural campus."

  • Sarasota
  • News
« 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 »
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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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