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News

The Crystal Waters estate at 8501 Midnight Pass Road has re-entered the market at nearly $30 million.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 9, 2026
Siesta estate returns to the market at nearly $30 million

A Siesta Key estate that was originally listed in 2025 has returned to the market at just less than $30 million.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Longboat Key Police Chief Russ Mager (right) presents Lee Smith with a plaque recognizing his years with the police department at the June 1 Town Commission meeting. Smith retired from his position as sergeant on May 29.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • June 9, 2026
Sgt. Smith retires from Longboat Key Police Department

Lee Smith was honored for his decades of service at a Longboat Key Town Commission meeting.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
From left, City Commission at-large candidates Jen Ahearn-Koch, Flo Entler, John Harshman, Jaime Loomis and Rob Rominiecki at the CCNA candidate forum.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 9, 2026
Neighborhood association forum highlights City Commission candidates

The five at-large candidates for the Sarasota City Commission agreed on most policy issues as they made their case at the Coalition of City Neighborhoods Association forum.

  • Sarasota
  • News
All four wheels of the Ford F-150 penetrated the inside of the Palm Aire home.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • June 9, 2026
Truck crashes into Palm Aire home

A man inside the building sustains "non-incapacitating" injuries, FHP says.

  • East County
  • News
Bridgewater's Jonathan Mullis, a local dad and business owner, wants to bring his experience and connections to benefit the School District of Manatee County school board.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 9, 2026
Bridgewater dad says his connections make him a valuable candidate

Bridgewater's Jonathan Mullis wants to strengthen the relationship between the Manatee school district, the county and nonprofits if he is elected for the District 5 school board seat.

  • East County
  • Schools
Taxable property values at the Gulf Shore and Twin Shores communities on Longboat Key are an anomaly for Longboat Key, with properties valued from $100,000 to $300,000.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • June 9, 2026
Longboat mobile home owner files appeal against canal assessment

A letter addressed to the town asks for the Gulf Shore and Twin Shores communities to be exempt from the canal assessment.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Voters stream in and out of Lakewood Ranch Town Hall during the 2024 general election. However, many Manatee County races are won or lost during the primary election.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 9, 2026
Forums introduce Manatee candidates ahead of primary elections

Elections in Manatee County are often decided during the primaries.

  • East County
  • News
The installation of span wire traffic signals on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard at the intersections of Gatewood Drive and Wood Fern Trail are two projects within Manatee County's "master vision" for speed management on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard between 44th Avenue East and State Road 64.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 8, 2026
More traffic signals coming to Lakewood Ranch Boulevard

A series of traffic signals will be installed between 44th Avenue East and State Road 64.

  • East County
  • News
Trish Shinkle served as Town Clerk for the town of Longboat Key from June 2006 to June 2026.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • June 8, 2026
Trish Shinkle, who recorded town history for 20 years, has retired

Shinkle started as town clerk in 2006. She’s witnessed plenty of contentious issues while she took meticulous notes.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Cynthia Keough is one of several Manatee County residents to step up to the podium June 4 and ask commissioners for more time to review the updated comprehensive plan.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 6, 2026
Residents have 60 more days to review Manatee County comp plan

Given three years of revisions, residents wanted more than seven weeks to review the final updates.

  • East County
  • News
Steven High is retiring as executive director of The Ringling, a position he has held since 2011.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • June 5, 2026
Steven High to retire as executive director of The Ringling

High has led the museum founded by circus magnate John Ringling and now administered by Florida State University since 2011.

  • Arts + Culture
Longboat Key Turtle Watch members documented evidence of the first green turtle nest of the season on the key.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 5, 2026
First green turtle nesting spotted on Longboat Key

The same patrol team that documented the first loggerhead nest of the season spotted the first green turtle nest.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A giant American flag has flown above Sarasota Ford since the 1970s.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 4, 2026
American flag will fly high again over Sarasota Ford

Sarasota Ford has won approval from the city's Board of Adjustment that will permit it to relocate its iconic 150-foot flagpole.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Mike and Jenny Schenk have closed their Pineapple Kitchen location on Lena Road and are now marketing their products on Amazon.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 4, 2026
Pineapple Kitchen owners close store, move to Amazon

Mike and Jenny Schenk close their Lena Road location in Bradenton to concentrate on the Amazon Market.

  • East County
  • Business
Dangers to children lurk within smartphones and other electronic devices.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • June 4, 2026
Sexual abuse case with a minor offers a lesson in prevention

A Sarasota police detective who specializes in online abuse advises parents to monitor their children's online activities to prevent sexual assault and trafficking.

  • Sarasota
  • News
« 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 »
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Latest News

1
St. Lucie County Administrator George Landry has been recommended by Howard Tipton to replace him as town manager as Tipton prepares to retire.
  • June 19, 2026
New town manager recommended for Longboat Key
2
Attendees were impressed by the fireworks across Sarasota Bay.
  • June 19, 2026
Fourth of July 2026 events in Sarasota, Longboat Key and Lakewood Ranch
3
Woman charged in three high-profile Sarasota burglaries
  • June 18, 2026
Woman charged in three high-profile Sarasota burglaries
4
Tony Barrett speaks at a candidate forum in April at the Lakewood Ranch Country Club.
  • June 18, 2026
Manatee County Commission candidate charged with domestic battery
5
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.
  • June 18, 2026
Driver dies of injuries in blowout-triggered crash in Sarasota

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