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News

Cedar Mill is under construction off Lorraine Road. Future construction projects will face increased impact fees in Manatee County.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 14, 2024
Manatee County raises impact fees

Commissioners approved an increase, but George Kruse says they should have raised them more.

  • East County
  • News
Summerfield Bluffs 13-year-old Leah Abrams looks over her destroyed yearbooks as her family works to clean up their home after it was flooded. "All of my yearbooks are ruined," she says.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 14, 2024
Hurricane Debby leaves Lakewood Ranch residents rebuilding

Unexpected flooding causes residents to make swift decisions as they work to rebuild their homes and lives.

  • East County
  • News
This photo from the upper bay shows dark stormwater runoff mixing with more saline water from the Gulf of Mexico.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • August 14, 2024
Experts warn Sarasota Bay water quality suffers after Debby

Increased fish kill and algal blooms may be the result of sewage spills and other pollutants that entered the bay as a result of the storm.

  • Sarasota
  • News
2024 is the 43rd year of Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium's sea turtle monitoring program.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • August 14, 2024
Hurricane Debby’s surge likely washed out many sea turtle nests

As many as half the sea turtle nests could have been lost, according to one expert estimate.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
From left, Kelly Borgia, Emily Joslin and Carol Martin Brown.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 14, 2024
GCCF makes three leadership changes

Changes include the promotion of Kelly Borgia to director of brand engagement.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
A view of downtown Sarasota along the bay front from the Ringling Causeway.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • August 14, 2024
Downtown Master Plan update seeks to enhance city's brand

Sarasota city commissioners debate the composition of an ad hoc committee that will be seated to take the 2020 plan into the future.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Mote staff and interns carry Lil' Dougie to the water.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • August 13, 2024
Sea turtle rescued by county employee released on Siesta Beach

Named after the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office employee who rescued her, Lil’ Dougie was released after receiving care at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A rendering of the St. Regis Longboat Key, set to open this summer.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • August 13, 2024
St. Regis Longboat Key to be unveiled Aug. 16 for soft opening

The resort will hold an unveiling ceremony for the local community on Friday, followed by a soft opening ahead of its official opening in late September.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Joan Leonard, the community liaison for Suncoast Blood Centers in Lakewood Ranch, hopes the shelves can be fully stocked with blood for the next hurricane.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 13, 2024
SunCoast Blood Centers looks for donations

Hurricane Debby further depleted the nonprofit's inventory, which already has yet to return to pre-COVID-19 donations.

  • East County
  • News
Alejandra Cintron Rivera (left) and Ella Satterfield (right) help film the short documentary about Sister Keys featuring Rusty Chinnis (center).
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • August 13, 2024
Ringling College to release documentaries about Longboat nonprofits

As part of a growing program, students with the college created a series of short films highlighting local environmental stewardship efforts.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
This bridge over Sand Branch Creek was one of two private bridges that were destroyed by flooding on Jason and Summer Thurber's property on Waterline Road.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 13, 2024
Swollen Sand Branch Creek batters east Bradenton residents

The water surge from Hurricane Debby caused over $125,000 in damages and left sinkholes in its path.

  • East County
  • News
Sarasota City Hall.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • August 13, 2024
Commissioners mull how to replace city attorney

Sarasota City Attorney Robert Fournier and Deputy City Attorney Michael Connolly are retiring next spring; likely replacements are current law firm partners.

  • Sarasota
  • News
New Pilates club opens in Lakewood Ranch
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 12, 2024
New Pilates club opens in Lakewood Ranch

Club Pilates opened on Aug. 12 in the Center Point Plaza at the corner of University Parkway and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.

  • East County
  • Business
Sarasota's iconic "Mermaid Fountain" has been included in the Smithsonian Institution's collection of public artworks.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 12, 2024
Smithsonian adds Sarasota's 'Mermaid Fountain' to its public art collection

The iconic downtown fountain will be honored by the city of Sarasota at a Sept. 13 ceremony.

  • Arts + Culture
Audit machines won't be used, but voting will carry on as usual for the primary election on Aug. 20.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 12, 2024
Manatee County's new vote audit machines stalled until November election

The primary election will follow the old protocol and be audited by a hand count.

  • East County
  • News
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Latest News

1
Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport Fire Department Chief Jason Hackley and one of the agency's three trucks with onboard tanks that hold 400 gallons of firefighting foam.
  • August 7, 2026
SRQ airport gets out ahead of PFAS foam mandate
2
Lt. Clay Huber was cheered by about 100 first responders and hospital personnel on Thursday.
  • August 6, 2026
Hospitalized Sarasota firefighter cheered upon his release from care
3
Shane Catts, who started Happy Paddler Kayak Tours & Ecoventures with his wife, Holly Rolls, said the Longboat Key-based business has been proud to be part of so many families' favorite times vacationing and living on the island in the nearly 10 years it has been open on the north end.
  • August 6, 2026
Happy Paddler celebrates family legacy on Longboat Key waters
4
  • August 6, 2026
Voter organization to hold election information sessions
5
Workers install boat slips behind the vacant lot where the Buccaneer Restaurant is planned. Additional slips will be installed behind the Harbor Square office building pictured left.
  • August 6, 2026
Boat slip addition underway behind future Buccaneer Restaurant site

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