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News

Sarasota Memorial Hospital's Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 14, 2026
Hospital joins clinical trial of new heart failure treatment

Sarasota Memorial Hospital is part of a global research effort on an option to traditional cardiac resynchronization therapy.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Registered sex offender arrested on 10 new charges
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 13, 2026
Registered sex offender arrested on 10 new charges

Sarasota County Sheriff's Office arrests man released from prison in November.

  • Sarasota
  • News
St. Armands Key Lutheran Church Pastor Ken Blyth poses for a photo in his office Tuesday, March 10, less than a week after he and a group of pastors had their pilgrimage to the Holy Land cut short as war erupted in the Middle East.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • March 13, 2026
Sarasota pastor home safe after war breaks out during Holy Land pilgrimage

St. Armands Lutheran Church Pastor Ken Blyth was one of 23 American clergy on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land whose trip turned into a journey to escape a war zone.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A rendering of the new offices, storage and classroom space for Sarasota Youth Sailing on City Island.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • March 13, 2026
Youth sailing program closer to new facility approval

Sarasota Youth Sailing received the unanimous endorsement of the city's Planning Board of its plans for a permanent facility in Ken Thompson Park.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Visitors to St. Armands Circle and other county attractions declined by 10,000 in January 2026 compared to 2025.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 13, 2026
January Sarasota County tourism slips 12.7%

In January 2026, Sarasota County attracted 68,900 visitors, down 10,000 from last year.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Suspects flee police, flood into hotel room on Longboat Key
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • March 12, 2026
Suspects flee police, flood into hotel room on Longboat Key

The case is ongoing, with hotel footage potentially needed to identify the suspects.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center COO Philip Reber, who has overseen the $120 million tower expansion, has been named the hospital's interim CEO.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 12, 2026
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center CEO resigns

Rob Anderson worked a year at the post; current COO Philip Reber named interim CEO.

  • East County
  • News
Allegiant surpassed 1 million passengers served at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport in 2025, setting a new mark for the airline at nearly one-fourth of the total 4.5 million among all 11 carriers.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • March 12, 2026
Airport cites incentives, lower costs to airlines as key to explosive growth

The cost of doing business for airlines is significantly lower at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport than others in the region, a key contributor to its rapid growth.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota's Downtown Neighborhood zone district, which includes Gillespie Park, was omitted from the citywide expansion of its vacation rental ordinance.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • March 12, 2026
Vacation rental rules expand to downtown neighborhood zone district

When the Sarasota City Commission expanded the city's vacation rental ordinance citywide, it left out the mixed-use district that includes Gillespie Park and Park East.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The city of Sarasota paved Industrial Court with heavy-duty concrete, the former dirt road leading to the entrance of U.S. Recycling.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • March 11, 2026
City attorney instructed to pursue action against recycling business

With no regulatory relief in sight for ongoing pollution, the Sarasota City Commission has tasked City Attorney Joe Polzak to investigate a nuisance suit against U.S. Recycling.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Wahlberg brothers -- Donnie, Paul and Mark.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • March 11, 2026
Wahlburgers opens in SRQ's B Concourse

The celebrity-connected airport eatery also includes a full bar.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Larry Thompson and Andy Sandberg shake hands on the site of the Englewood Art Center at 350 McCall Road.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • March 11, 2026
Hermitage takes over art center from Ringling College

The Englewood property figures into artist retreat's developing plans.

  • Sarasota
  • News
This rendering illustrates the plan for three youth baseball fields at Country Club East Park.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • March 11, 2026
$7.2M youth baseball fields move forward in Lakewood Ranch

Regardless of the Manatee County Commission's decision, Country Club East residents are not finished raising concerns.

  • East County
  • News
The town of Longboat Key is taking steps to condemn and demolish the house at 6541 Gulfside Road, nicknamed the Half Moon House.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • March 11, 2026
Town seeks to condemn, demolish 'Half Moon House'

The seawall that gives the Half Moon House its name lies in pieces, and the pilings lifting the house above the beach have visible wear.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Florida Agricultural Crimes Intelligence Unit meets at the Sarasota County Farm Bureau Feb. 19.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • March 11, 2026
Florida agricultural intelligence unit protects country assets

Law enforcement and wildlife officers meet monthly to share resources and intel.

  • East County
  • News
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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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