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News

Sarasota County Commission Chairman Joe Neunder presides over the commission's July 1 budget workshop.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 10, 2025
Preliminary Sarasota County budget shows 4% spending increase

Sarasota County's proposed fiscal year 2026 budget includes requests for 152 new full-time positions.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Interim Sarasota City Manager Dave Bullock looks on during his first City Commission meeting on July 7.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 10, 2025
City manager search firm list narrowed to three

The Sarasota City Commission instructs staff to pursue further communications with three executive recruiting firms in its search for a new city manager.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The beginning of Sarasota's renourishment of Lido Beach is timed to begin after nesting seasons for shorebirds and sea turtles come to a close in late October.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • July 10, 2025
Lido Beach set for new round of renourishment, dune work

New Pass sand will propel project, expected to begin late in 2025.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A rendering by architect Igor Reyes depicting the two residential towers behind the Mira Mar building on South Palm Avenue.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 9, 2025
Mira Mar restoration project wins rezoning approval

The historic Mira Mar property along South Palm Avenue will be restored with the addition of twin condominium towers in a multi-use redevelopment.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Northern portions of Longboat Key are typically more prone to flooding. However, the town has other portions of the island that are also low lying like the Sleepy Lagoon and Buttonwood Harbour neighborhoods.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • July 9, 2025
Road-raising timeline extends on Longboat

Because of low financing, what was a two-year plan could take five years.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Manatee County Tax Collector's Office east branch at 10705 Technology Terrace, Bradenton.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 9, 2025
Tax collector charges Manatee County schools $1.5M

The Manatee County tax collector decides to take a $1.5 million commission from the school district's referendum funds.

  • East County
  • Schools
Melody Reedy is one of several Manatee County residents to hold up signs during the land use meeting Oct. 5, 2023 in an attempt to stop commissioners from cutting wetland protections out of the Comprehensive Plan.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 9, 2025
Senate Bill 180 handcuffs Manatee County commissioners

Florida legislators' actions might have stripped commissioners' attempts to make voter-supported changes.

  • East County
  • News
The real estate market on Longboat Key continues to evolve, including in residential areas like the Village.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • July 9, 2025
5 issues to keep an eye on this summer in Longboat Key

Although Town Commission meetings are on hiatus, here's a few topics that will continue to bubble.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Flooding in the area of Celery Fields caused by Tropical Storm Debby in 2024.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • July 9, 2025
Sarasota County hires new Stormwater Department director

Former Sarasota County employee Ben Quartermaine has been selected to head the county's new Stormwater Department.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Nicole Rissler is director of Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 8, 2025
Sarasota County parks department wins national recognition

Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources has earned a conservation award from the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Commissioners Tal Siddique, Jason Bearden, Amanda Ballard and George Kruse visit the House of Representatives in Tallahassee in March to discuss Manatee County's legislative priorities.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 8, 2025
Manatee County hit hard by governor's appropriation vetoes

Gov. Ron DeSantis' vetoes total $1.35 billion across the state, including $576 million in line-item vetoes.

  • East County
  • News
Taylor and Sydney Nichols, co-founders of Le Shop, opening soon on St. Armands Circle, said they are excited to bring high-end espresso and wine to shoppers.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • July 8, 2025
High-end espresso and wine shop coming to St. Armands Circle

The owners aim to bring a little something special to the area, providing provisions for the perfect beach picnic and a go-to spot for high-quality beverages.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Chris Udermann captured pictures of flooding in the Village following a weather event in April 2024.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • July 8, 2025
Money moves ahead for flood resilience project in Longboat neighborhood

The Longbeach Village plan includes raising some roads.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Unincorporated Manatee County residents can now file some police reports online without having to wait on a deputy.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 7, 2025
Unincorporated Manatee County residents can file police reports online

In the first two weeks of service, about 200 online reports were filed through the Manatee County Sheriff's Office website.

  • East County
  • News
Charlie Metzler, Samantha Trotter, Mimi Kruk, JoDene Moneuse, Kelsie Rokicki and 6-month-old puppy Nova held out hope that Freedom Fest and other Fourth of July activities on Longboat Key would continue. However, lightning forced officials to cancel.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • July 4, 2025
Lightning on Longboat causes Freedom Fest cancellation

Despite officials' best efforts, poor weather caused them to cancel the 'world's shortest parade' and other Fourth of July activities.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
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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
2
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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  • December 12, 2025
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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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