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News

Spring break helped bring an year-over-year increase in tourism to Sarasota County in March.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 11, 2026
Tourism sees increase of visitors in March

March 2026 brought an increase in tourists, but not spending, to Sarasota County compared to the year prior.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Il Panificio is now open at 1995 Main St. in Sarasota.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • May 9, 2026
Il Panificio opens new downtown Sarasota restaurant

The pizza restaurant now has two locations on Main Street and one on Siesta Key.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
School district demands repayment of tax fees
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 8, 2026
School district demands repayment of tax fees

The Sarasota County Commission votes to resume paying the tax collector's 2% commission fee and questions the fee itself.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Mason Hull has more than 300,000 followers on TikTok.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 8, 2026
Sarasota TikTok influencer arrested on child-pornography charges

Because of the 18-year-old suspect's digital presence, the Sheriff's Office is reaching out to the public for additional information.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Saucy! is expanding on the Gulf Coast, with a Lakewood Ranch and Trinity location opening May 4 and 5, respectively.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 7, 2026
Saucy new chicken spot opens in Lakewood Ranch

As the name of the KFC spinoff suggests, dipping sauces are front and center in the restaurant on Lena Road.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Work will soon begin on replacing anbd raising 1,500 linear feet of seawall at the Bayfront Park marina.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • May 7, 2026
Bayfront Park marina seawall to be rebuilt

The Sarasota City Commission has approved a nearly $5.6 million contract to rebuild the seawall at the marina section of Bayfront Park.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A rendering of the street level of 1260 North Palm Residences.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • May 7, 2026
Condo tower controversy appears headed back to mediation

For the second time, the Sarasota City Commission sides with opponents of 1260 North Palm Residences as the developer weighs his options for further legal action.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Beginning June 1, 2026, parking fees will be enforced in all city parking decks, such as the St. Armands Circle garage, 24/7.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • May 7, 2026
Paid city parking hours extended and fines for violations increased

To achieve solvency in Sarasota's Parking Division, the City Commission extends enforcement hours and increases fines with changes beginning June 1, 2026.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Manatee County commissioners approve an over $50,000 a month contract for a backup generator for the administration building at 9000 Town Center Parkway.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 6, 2026
$12.48M generator request causes concern over Manatee County 'money pit'

Commissioner Bob McCann said the Lakewood Ranch administration building is becoming a "money pit."

  • East County
  • News
County Commissioner Tom Knight on Tuesday raised the issue of a fee charged by the Tax Collector's office on money raised by the school district's optional 1-mill property tax.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 6, 2026
County Commission reverses stance on paying school-tax fee

Sarasota leaders vote 3-2 to open the door to reassuming the responsibility for paying Tax Collector commission.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota superintendent: District working to find spots for unassigned teachers
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • May 6, 2026
Sarasota superintendent: District working to find spots for unassigned teachers

Currently, 136 teacher roles are unassigned in the district.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
The Stickney Point Road property contains commercial condominiums, 700 feet of bay frontage and 390 feet of canal/boat basin access.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • May 6, 2026
Nearly $21M Stickney Point project moves forward

Sarasota County commissioners authorized the acquisition and loan to finance the property purchase.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A single-family residence at 3515 Gulf of Mexico Drive has been under construction for years and is nearing completion.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • May 6, 2026
Application tweaks aim to streamline permitting process

Longboat Key’s Planning, Zoning and Building Department has introduced a checklist, intake coordinator and file naming conventions for building applications.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Circus Trail currently runs along the east side of Circus Boulevard before crossing over the road to the east and then back again.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • May 6, 2026
Circus Trail envisioned to connect Fruitville to 17th Street Park

The Sarasota City Commission has authorized FDOT to design a realignment of Circus Trail into and through Bobby Jones Golf Course and Nature Park.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Deputy Sarah Brown works for the Manatee County Sheriff's Office in the traffic unit.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 6, 2026
Ride-along offers insight into the job of a Manatee County deputy

With more than 400,000 residents in Manatee County, only 24 Sheriff's Office deputies comprise the traffic unit.

  • East County
  • News
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Latest News

1
The Lakewood Ranch Library will open an hour later starting Aug. 1 due to a hiring freeze that was implemented in February. Commissioner George Kruse says hours could be further reduced if the property tax referendum passes in November.
  • July 22, 2026
Property tax cuts will cause 'new normal' in Manatee County
2
Front porch rug drying sparks a boarding house fight
  • July 22, 2026
Front porch rug drying sparks a boarding house fight
3
Defender Declan Watters (left) is one of several Sarasota Paradise players learning from lead assistant Trevor Sinclair (right). The Paradise are 5-10-3 in USL League One and 6-13-3 overall, as of July 16.
  • July 22, 2026
Assistant coach brings wealth of experience to Sarasota Paradise
4
"Reflection-Venice, 1894," a photogravure print taken by Alfred Stieglitz, and Clarence Hudson White's photogravure print, "Edge of Woods-Evening, (1900)," were gifts of Warren J. and Margot Coville to The Ringling.
  • July 22, 2026
The Ringling goes back to black-and-white photography
5
A Flock camera takes pictures of vehicles that drive on Gulf of Mexico Drive on Longboat Key.
  • July 22, 2026
Flock cameras photograph every car that enters Longboat Key

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