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News

Sarasota Director of Finance Kelly Strickland talks fiscal year 2026 budget with the Sarasota City Commission as Budget Manager Tyler Harris looks on.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 30, 2025
Hurricane recovery depletes city's general fund balance

Having spent some $20 million for hurricane recovery, with tens of millions more to go, Sarasota's fund balance safety net is now far below the city's policy and must be replenished.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Julie Busa (Janet Mixon's daughter), Janet Mixon, Commissioner Amanda Ballard and Dean Mixon are all smiles on July 29. Manatee County commissioners voted unanimously to purchase Mixon Fruit Farms.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 29, 2025
Manatee County purchases Mixon Fruit Farms for $13.5 million

Commissioners voted unanimously to purchase the citrus farm that operated in Manatee County for 84 years.

  • East County
  • News
Allegiant is one of the top airlines at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 29, 2025
Allegiant to begin service from SRQ to Toledo

Allegiant's new service between Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport and Toledo, Ohio is one of several new routes available from Southwest Florida airports.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Jeremy Whatmough poses with Virginia Sanders in this 2013 photo. Whatmough, a former town commissioner and mayor, died on July 21.
    By
  • Michael Harris
  • July 29, 2025
Former Longboat Key mayor and community statesman dies

Jeremy Whatmough was involved with Town Commission, Kiwanis and Longboat Key Garden Club.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Pat Evans, an independent contractor, works on interior trim on a house in Spanish Main Yacht Club.
    By
  • Dana Kampa, Eric Garwood
  • July 29, 2025
Lawsuit adds to Spanish Main's recovery uncertainty

The repair bill totaling more than $13 million remains unpaid, the company says.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Lakewood Ranch is regularly ranked the top-selling, multigenerational, master-planned community in the United States.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 28, 2025
Lakewood Ranch maintains No. 1 standing among master-planned communities

Multigenerational buyers scooped up 1,185 news homes in the first half of 2025 in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
Gov. Ron DeSantis announces July 25 that Manatee County will be audited by the DOGE Task Force.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 28, 2025
Manatee County welcomes audit by Florida DOGE Task Force

Auditors will visit Manatee County in August to review its spending.

  • East County
  • News
The crosswalk paintings at the intersection of Cocoanut Avenue, Pineapple Avenue and Second Street is noncompliant with state policy.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 28, 2025
FDOT orders Sarasota to remove crosswalk and sidewalk paintings

A memo issued by the Florida Department of Transportation requires local governments to comply with roadway and sidewalk marking standards or risk losing funding.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A rendering by DSDG Architects of the new three-story addition at Sarasota Yacht Club,
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 26, 2025
City approval allows Sarasota Yacht Club to set sail on expansion

Unanimous City Commission approval clears the way for the Sarasota Yacht Club to expand its existing clubhouse and build a companion structure.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A Sarasota County Sheriff's Office investigator leads Christopher A. Borchardtinto custody following his arrest July 25 on robbery charges.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • July 25, 2025
Sarasota man charged in two robberies of the same branch

USF Credit Union was robbed in June and July. The suspect lived a block away.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Rex Jensen, CEO of Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, speaks to residents July 24 about a possible roundabout at the intersection of University Parkway and Legacy Boulevard and Deer Drive.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 25, 2025
SMR executive and residents discuss roundabout for University Parkway

More than 400 residents signed a petition because they do not want a roundabout where Legacy Boulevard and Deer Drive intersect with University Parkway.

  • East County
  • News
Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Sarasota has been recognized with multiple awards from the American Heart Association.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 25, 2025
SMH recognized with top AHA awards

The American Heart Association honors both Sarasota Memorial Hospital campuses for emergency cardiac and stroke care.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Visit Sarasota County's newest tourism marketing campaign emphasizes golf opportunities in addition to retail and relaxation opportunities.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 25, 2025
Visit Sarasota promotes alternative tourism activities in new campaign

Visit Sarasota County's late summer into fall campaign emphasizes shopping, serenity, golf and smaller crowds.

  • Sarasota
  • News
City Attorney Joe Polzak and City Auditor and Clerk Shayla Griggs are leading the search for a city manager recruitment firm.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 24, 2025
Pool narrows for city manager search firms

Three finalists seeking to lead the search for a new Sarasota city manager will have two weeks to respond to commissioners' questions.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The vacant property at 1715 N. Tamiami Trail stands between the U.S. 41 and The Strand condominiums to the rear.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 24, 2025
North Tamiami Trail apartment plan denied

Sarasota city commissioners side with residents of The Strand to nix the long-delayed plans to build 58 apartments on the 1700 block of North Tamiami Trail.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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Santa (Steven Trudell of St. Petersburg) gets the runners fired up just before the start of the 2025 Jingle 5K Dec. 12 in Lakewood Ranch.
  • December 13, 2025
More than 500 runners go the distance in Lakewood Ranch's Jingle 5K
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Longboat Key Police Deputy Chief Frank Rubino (left) accepts a framed display of medals, patches and pins that demonstrate his 45-year career in law enforcement.
  • December 13, 2025
Longboat deputy chief with 45 years of experience to retire
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Nicholas Savarese, a teacher who has a background in chemical engineering, judges junior Lillian Pevzner-Downer's project on the comparison of conventionally grown crops with chemicals and pesticides versus organically grown crops at the Lakewood Ranch High School Science Fair.
  • December 12, 2025
Lakewood Ranch High revives its science fair

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