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News

Changes to the city of Sarasota's public parking program mean longer enforcement hours and higher fines.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 2, 2026
Parking program open house set for Aug. 24

Sarasota city staff will make a presentation and discuss recent changes to the parking enforcement program with concerned residents and businesses.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Lakewood Ranch residents Kathy Flora, Laura Moninski, Nicholas Keen and Susan Solz are happy with the July 28 outcome.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 2, 2026
Manatee considers sliding iceplex to a different location

Residents persuaded county commissioners to reconsider the Premier Sports Campus site for the planned ice rink.

  • East County
  • News
Waves lap against the weathered Bayfront Park seawall, which was installed before the town acquired the land to expand the park in 2011.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • August 1, 2026
Longboat aims to shore up Bayfront Park seawall with stopgap fix

Repair work using a polyurethane injection is scheduled to begin soon on the seawall fronting Sarasota Bay.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Man suspected of vandalizing Sarasota synagogue
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 31, 2026
Man suspected of vandalizing Sarasota synagogue

A Sarasota man was taken into custody by the Sarasota Police Department for reportedly throwing a brick through the the window of a downtown synagogue.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Stock Custom Homes Vice President Sam Canham says that the Sophia IV's sale for $6,775,000 in April was more confirmation that there is a demand for elite homes in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 30, 2026
Lakewood Ranch remains No. 1 in sales in mid-year survey

RCLCO Real Estate Consulting releases its rankings with Lakewood Ranch being No. 1 in multigenerational, master-planned community sales.

  • East County
  • News
Guadalupe Barajas, an ICU nurse at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, meets new CEO Jason Madsen for the first time in the new tower's ICU wing.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 30, 2026
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center begins to plan its future with a new CEO

CEO Jason Madsen is "bullish" on the hospital's future as Universal Health Services shows an appetite for making major investments.

  • East County
  • News
The Breakfast House at 1817 Fruitville Road.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 30, 2026
Sarasota's bungalow row businesses look to re-create their village concept

With an apartment building slated to replace an entire block of small businesses on Fruitville Road, a group of five businesses there hope to move their buildings to create Sarasota Bungalow Village.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Carlos Woods, pictured here before the 2025 high school football season, was dismissed from Booker last week. He led the Tornadoes to the FHSAA Class 3A state semifinals in his year as coach.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • July 29, 2026
Former Booker High athletic director, football coach under investigation

Carlos Woods was dismissed last week after one season leading the football program.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Director of Financial Administration Kelly Strickland and Budget Manager Tyler Harris present the preliminary fiscal year 2027 budget to the Sarasota City Commission.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 29, 2026
City budget process riding on parallel tracks

The Sarasota City Commission is approaching the fiscal year 2027 budget with caution and an eye toward the uncertainty of the November referendum on property tax reduction.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Wawa store on State Road 70 at Lorraine Road sold the winning Mega Millions ticket that totals $800 million.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • July 29, 2026
Lakewood Ranch store sells $800 million lottery ticket

The winning ticket came from the Wawa at State Road 70 and Lorraine Road.

  • East County
  • News
This waterfall at Patton Park in Lakewood Ranch was being fed by heavy rainfall July 29.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • July 29, 2026
Drought runs deep in Manatee, Sarasota

Although storms have popped up, below-normal rain will take months from which to recover.

  • East County
  • News
Several beachfront properties on Longboat were severely damaged from Hurricane Helene's storm surge.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • July 29, 2026
FEMA delays highlight need for town reserves

Longboat Key is awaiting more than $29.7 million from FEMA for recovery costs associated with Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The purple line on this map shows the location of the existing wastewater pipeline that connects Longboat Key to Manatee County’s wastewater treatment facility. The new pipeline will be installed just next to it.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • July 29, 2026
Subaqueous pipeline project cost, timeline still unknown

The town of Longboat Key still needs to obtain permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and FDEP.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Palmetto man sought in connection with gunfire at youth football event
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 28, 2026
Palmetto man sought in connection with gunfire at youth football event

Sarasota Police are looking for the 27-year-old on weapons charges.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sharon Jefferson, a homegrown Manatee student and 27-year educator, wants to be the voice of District 2 for the School District of Manatee County.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 28, 2026
Longtime teacher wants to be the voice of her fellow instructors in District 2

Sharon Jefferson, who grew up attending Manatee schools and has taught within them for 27 years, wants to do more than she can within a classroom.

  • East County
  • Schools
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Latest News

1
Sarasota Military Academy is at 801 N. Orange Ave. in Sarasota.
  • August 5, 2026
Sarasota Military Academy's downtown campus listed for sale
2
Country Club East's Mark Allen Baker shows off his newest book, "Willian A. Brady — The Life of a Boxing and Broadway Impresario."
  • August 5, 2026
Classroom assignment can launch a career
3
The $2.6 million tax refund to the School District of Manatee County was voted by the county commissioners on July 28.
  • August 5, 2026
County sends $2.6 million back to Manatee schools
4
The Hermitage Artist Retreat programming includes free sunset concerts on the beach at its Manasota Key campus.
  • August 5, 2026
Arts incubator receives $450,000 in grants
5
Kids arrive by bus at Southside Elementary. School begins Monday in Sarasota County.
  • August 5, 2026
School zones will be active as kids return to school on Monday

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