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News

A pontoon boat passes a privately-installed navigation marker as it heads out to Sarasota Bay on July 22.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • July 28, 2026
Channel marker replacement a resident-led effort off Longboat Key

Buttonwood Harbor Channel System has reorganized as a nonprofit as it works to raise money for buoy replacement.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Water pooled around outdoor seating in front of Cha Cha Coconuts on the night of Thursday, July 23.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • July 27, 2026
Downpour floods St. Armands, frays merchants' nerves again

A slow-moving storm poured rain on the region.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Dr. Abigail Dawes is a resident physician in the internal medicine program, and Dr. Michael Schandorf-Lartey is program director, at HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • July 27, 2026
Hospitals grow residency programs as Sarasota's population evolves

Around a third of participants in residency programs go on to serve the local community, says a physician.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Longboat Key got its high-water vehicle from the Florida Forest Service. The town can keep it on loan for as long as it wants, but agreed to repaint the truck, which formerly had a camo livery.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • July 26, 2026
Longboat Key's oldest vehicle reserved for drastic floods

The 2.5-ton truck was loaned to the town by the state of Florida.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The roof of Sarasota Youth Sailing's future building is designed to direct rainwater into a cistern for washing boats.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 25, 2026
Youth sailing building crests final regulatory wave

The Sarasota City Commission granted final approval for Sarasota Youth Sailing's new operations center on City Island.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Larry Debb of GSP Development with a scale model of Saravela at the development's sales center.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 24, 2026
City staff instructed to develop condo-hotel policy

With developers of hybrid condominium-hotel use buildings submitting plans for the first time, the Sarasota planning staff was assigned to develop a policy to govern the trend.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota Police Department K-9 Kodak seems ready for deployment with handler Officer Ryan Block.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 23, 2026
Police work is dogged determination for SPD's K-9 Unit

With hundreds of hours of certification training and constant reinforcement exercises, the Sarasota Police Department's four-team K-9 Unit takes a bite out of crime.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Can you eat both halves of a corned beef sandwich? You can test your skills when Wolfie's Hand Cut opens at UTC late this year.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 23, 2026
Can new concept earn the bread for Wolfie's at University Town Center?

Wolfie's Hand Cut will use a Chipotle Mexican Grill-style fast-casual concept to streamline operations.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
The Florida Department of Health-Sarasota County has issued a rabies warning.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 22, 2026
Rabies case prompts public health warning in Sarasota County

Rabies found in a raccoon killed in Sarasota County prompted the Florida Department of Health to issue a warning to avoid contact with wild animals.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 22, 2026
Property tax cuts will cause 'new normal' in Manatee County

Commissioners explore how residents could be impacted if the property tax referendum passes in November.

  • East County
  • News
A Flock camera takes pictures of vehicles that drive on Gulf of Mexico Drive on Longboat Key.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • July 22, 2026
Flock cameras photograph every car that enters Longboat Key

The automatic license plate readers are a vital tool for the police department and have helped solve crimes, but privacy concerns have led to nationwide backlash.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Director of Public Safety Jodie Fiske says the data consolidation software saves staff days worth of time during disasters.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 22, 2026
Manatee County expands hurricane software to include public safety

Instead of waiting for another hurricane, Manatee County staff is looking for alternative ways to use its Peregrine software now.

  • East County
  • News
The City Commission moved ahead with an effort to bury utility lines on St. Armands and Lido keys, such as these along Benjamin Franklin Drive.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 22, 2026
City commits $3.1 million toward utility burial on Lido, St. Armands

The full implementation of a project to put utility lines underground on Sarasota's barrier islands would cost about $8 million, with special assessment districts formed to pay for it.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The playground is open daily from sunrise to sunset.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 21, 2026
Manatee County moves forward with Mixon Farms makeover

In the year since the farm's purchase, the county installed a playground and launched several public events.

  • East County
  • News
About 50 local, state and federal candidates attended "Meet the Candidates" at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing July 16.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 20, 2026
Meet the candidates event draws hundreds to Lakewood Ranch

The Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance was one of the sponsors of the event at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing.

  • East County
  • News
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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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