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News

Tal Siddique is this year's chair of the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 14, 2026
Manatee County explores idea of adopting a charter

New Commission Chair Tal Siddique says a charter can give residents more control of their county.

  • East County
  • News
All appears back to normal in some areas of St. Armands Circle, such as the sidewalk and landscaping aside Columbia Restaurant. Many storefronts, however, remain vacant 15 months after Hurricane Milton.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 14, 2026
St. Armands resilience allocation brings 'sense of accomplishment'

As planning begins on how to best spend $13.5 million in Resilient SRQ funds, St. Armands Key businesses and residents celebrate a sense of relief from years of flooding events.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Clayton McCurry is a senior ranger at Duette Preserve.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 14, 2026
Prescribed burns are a hot topic in Manatee County

The county's burn team set fire to 13,950 acres of preserves last year to safeguard residents and wildlife.

  • East County
  • News
Cyclists utilize the bike lanes on Gulf of Mexico Drive along the newly completed Country Club Shores turn lane project portion of the street. The 0.84-mile segment marks the first example of the town’s Complete Streets vision.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • January 14, 2026
Longboat Key approves short list of transportation projects

Two roundabouts, Complete Streets vision (under a new name) and expanded multiuse path are priorities for the town.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport served more than 4.5 million passengers in 2025.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 13, 2026
Sarasota airport smashes passenger count record at 4.5 million

More than twice as many fly through SRQ than in 2019.

  • Sarasota
  • News
David and Ruth Beliles were married on Valentine's Day in February 1953.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • January 13, 2026
Observer Media Group chairman dies at 95

David Beliles lived a life of grit and guts, and grace and generosity.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Missing Longboat Key teen found safe, police say
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 11, 2026
Missing Longboat Key teen found safe, police say

Anyone with information on the 14-year-old girl is asked to call the town's police.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sarasota's Alyssa Freniere, Beate “Mama G” Goldstein and Blair Sellers are the people behind the new Mama G's location at University Town Center.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • January 13, 2026
New German bakery, coffeehouse rises at University Town Center

Mama G's opened its doors of a new Sarasota-Bradenton location on Dec. 15 under the leadership of two 26-year-old managing partners.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Seaward Development is seeking a parallel facade administrative adjustment for its frontage along South Palm Avenue.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 13, 2026
Mira Mar project moves forward with partial sign-off

The project to rehab the Mira Mar building augmented by two residential towers has received partial sign-off from the city of Sarasota, but some adjustment requests remain.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The town of Longboat Key will soon mail out envelopes with a QR code and unique access code to fill out an online survey to guide the town’s priorities.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • January 12, 2026
Town surveys will hit mailboxes soon

The town of Longboat Key is surveying residents and business owners on a variety of topics to guide the town's priorities.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Mike Newhams began teaching science at the Out-of-Door Academy in 1997 and was known for helping anyone and everyone with anything they might need. This included staying extra hours to provide academic support and attending clubs and events.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • January 12, 2026
Beloved Out-of-Door Academy teacher dies

Mike Newhams, who began teaching at ODA in 1997, died due to complications from his cancer treatments.

  • East County
  • Schools
The mobile Sarasota Learning Center can be deployed anywhere in the city, and can even be used as emergency shelter if needed.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 12, 2026
Police department debuts mobile Sarasota Learning Center

Sarasota Police Department's new tech-rich trailer will be deployed by the Community Relations Division to take technology to many who don't have access.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Crooked River Ranch sits along the Manatee River and is the first property that was recommended by ELMAC and also purchased by the county.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 12, 2026
Conservation, parks referendum could return to Manatee County ballot in 2026

Nationwide nonprofit Trust for Public Lands is exploring the county's financial options to make additional land purchases.

  • East County
  • News
Tropic Ocean Airways have 14 aircraft in their fleet, mostly made up of Cessna Grand Caravans with pontoons affixed for water landings.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • January 9, 2026
St. Regis partners with private airline for seaplane drop-offs in Sarasota Bay

Guests willing to pay for the experience will travel by air, then sea and then land to arrive at their St. Regis reservation.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Pura Vida Miami is at 4994 S. Tamiami Trail, Unit 100, in Sarasota.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • January 9, 2026
Healthy restaurant opens second Sarasota location

Pura Vida Miami recently opened a restaurant in The Landings.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
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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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