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News

Sarasota County Commissioner Mark Smith uses a table to illustrate a beachfront lot and a box to illustrate building size and height to argue for a Comprehensive Plan change for voluntary redevelopment.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • November 20, 2025
Siesta Key condo replacement measure denied by county

A proposed county Comprehensive Plan amendment would have permitted older, nonconforming condo communities to voluntarily rebuild at outdated density and other standards.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Fourth grade students Liam Aikin, Tate Brase, Raymond Burdick and Madden Dabek will be fifth graders next year and will only have one class above them when sixth grade opens at Lake Manatee K-8.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • November 19, 2025
Lake Manatee K-8 to open middle school in phases

With the new rezoning maps comes the decision to open only sixth grade in August instead of sixth, seventh and eighth all at once.

  • East County
  • Schools
Child-neglect charges filed against Sarasota man
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • November 19, 2025
Child-neglect charges filed against Sarasota man

The home had cockroaches and little food, and the children missed extended periods of school, Sarasota Police say.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Longboat Key Town Commission meets at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • November 19, 2025
Longboat Key Town Commission election will be uncontested

The three seats will go to incumbents Gary Coffin and Sarah Karon, while Nick Gladding will assume District 3.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Steve Postle and Tom Walrath are changing the way ponds are maintained in Lakewood Ranch's Central Park.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • November 19, 2025
Grant funding flows to Lakewood Ranch community ponds

Central Park has 29 ponds, five of which are being supplied with plants thanks to the Healthy Pond Collaborative.

  • East County
  • News
Sarasota County Sheriff's Office deputies are stationed at the exit of Cars and Coffee Nov. 8.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • November 19, 2025
Cars & Coffee cuts the gas on revving engines

Organizers of the Sarasota event warned motorists to quiet down or be banned from all future events.

  • East County
  • News
Plymouth Harbor on Coon Key opened in 1966, at the time the 25-story residential tower the tallest in Florida.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • November 19, 2025
Sarasota approves property sale to Plymouth Harbor

The Sarasota City Commission approved the sale of a 650-square-foot pieced of unused city property that presented an obstacle to Plymouth Harbor's expansion plans on Coon Key.

  • Sarasota
  • News
SPD closed traffic outside Sarasota Military Academy Tuesday after a suspicious package was reported.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 18, 2025
Inert explosive devices investigated at Sarasota Military Academy

Sarasota police and outside bomb squad respond after a backpack with hollowed grenades are brought to the Sarasota Military Academy campus.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Charlie Kirk, left, and Chris Pavlovski share the stage at a Turning Point USA event. Pavloski, chairman and CEO of the video platform Rumble, said Kirk was an early investor in Rumble and played a large part in bringing Rumble's headquarters to Longboat Key.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • November 17, 2025
Request for Charlie Kirk memorial road approved

The Sarasota County Commission approved a measure requesting the state designate a segment of Fruitville Road as a Charlie Kirk memorial.

  • Sarasota
  • News
St. Armands experienced catastrophic flooding from Tropical Storm Debby, Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton in 2024.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • November 18, 2025
City seeks resilience funding for St. Armands Key

With the backing of the town of Longboat Key, Sarasota has asked the county for $24.5 million in Resilient SRQ grant funding to mitigate flooding on St. Armands.

  • Sarasota
  • News
John Morrison takes his Gadsden flag down after receiving two notices from his homeowners association saying the flag violates community deed restrictions.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • November 18, 2025
Preserve at Tara HOA tells resident to remove his Gadsden flag

The homeowner says the flag fits within the community's guidelines, but he removed it when threatened with fines.

  • East County
  • News
Commissioner-At-Large BJ Bishop and Scott Dudley with the Florida League of Cities Advocacy Committee.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • November 18, 2025
Longboat Key commissioner appointed to FLC committee

Town Commissioner B.J. Bishop has been appointed by Florida League of Cities President Holly Smith.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Ohana estate at 6633 Gulf of Mexico Drive, photographed in 2013.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • November 17, 2025
Longboat Key's Ohana sells for $17.5 million

The property previously sold in May 2024.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Manatee School District shares redrawn zoning maps, seeks feedback
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • November 17, 2025
Manatee School District shares redrawn zoning maps, seeks feedback

The zones for elementary, middle and K-8 schools will be implemented in the 2026-2027 school year, while high school rezoning begins 2027-2028.

  • East County
  • Schools
Traffic often backs up from the Cortez Bridge intersection onto Longboat Key during peak season.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • November 16, 2025
Cortez Bridge replacement work set to begin in 2026

Manatee County is busy moving infrastructure to prepare for construction of the $135 million fixed span bridge.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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Latest News

1
Britnie Sutika, CEO Kristie Skoglund, Kimberly Treharne, Paola Pinillos and Kate Reed
  • December 7, 2025
Florida Center for Early Childhood hosts 2nd annual Wonder Gala
2
St. Petersburg's Ella Brown and Sarasota's Mike Chambers take full advantage of the live music to show off their best dance moves at the Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival on Dec. 6.
  • December 7, 2025
Lakewood Ranch music fans aren't crying the blues after festival
3
Students from Sarasota High School's marching band walk in the parade.
  • December 7, 2025
Sarasota's spirit goes on display in the holiday parade
4
Debi and Mike O'Leary take a look at the tree.
  • December 6, 2025
Sarasota annual tree lighting takes place at Selby Five Points
5
Devin Mignery (center) prepares to take the snap during the FHSAA Class 2A state semifinal between Cardinal Mooney and Cocoa. The senior quarterback was inserted for junior Davin Davidson and helped usher the Cougars into the state championship.
  • December 6, 2025
Cardinal Mooney football headed to state championship

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