• Alternate Text

  • Loading

  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

News

Lengthy search concludes for new Sarasota city manager
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • March 5, 2026
Lengthy search concludes for new Sarasota city manager

The Sarasota City Commission unanimously agrees to hire Karie Friling to lead the city staff.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A scale model provided by Renzo Piano Building Workshop shows the positioning of the Sarasota Performing Arts Center at the bottom, flanked by two parking garages. The Van Wezel (upper right) parking lot converted into elevated park space.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • March 5, 2026
Leaner Performing Arts Center plan presented to City Commission

Reduced in size and scope, Sarasota Performing Arts Center Concept 2.0 is greeted with enthusiasm by the Sarasota City Commission while funding concerns remain.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Longboat Key Fire Department personnel extricated the 80-year-old driver from a wrecked SUV on Tuesday on the north end of the island.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • March 4, 2026
Driver's medical issue likely led to Longboat Key crash, police say

Tuesday's wreck on the north end of the island also knocked out power to a few homes.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
From left, SPD officers Anthony Zappone, Nick Bernier and Daniel Stevens were the first responders to a house fire on Feb. 20.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • March 4, 2026
Nighttime fire rescue just another day on the job for officers

Sarasota police officers didn't wake up "expecting to be a hero" on Feb. 20, but a house fire pressed them into action.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The home at 1356 Harbor Drive includes more than 100 feet of bayfront.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • March 4, 2026
Harbor Acres home sells for $14.75 million

The property on Sarasota Bay offers more than 6,700 square feet and five bedrooms.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The view through a window wall in Concourse A at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • March 4, 2026
Particulate, air quality tests scheduled to determine flight path impacts on Longboat

Resident concerns about a black powdery residue found on patio furniture and roofs were raised to the town, and particulate and air testing is scheduled to proceed in April.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Doug Melcher is the co-owner of BellaBlue Berry Farm and Winery in Myakka City.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • March 4, 2026
Myakka City bee and berry farms still standing after historic cold snap

Two Myakka City farms experienced little to no losses, but it took a lot of strategizing.

  • East County
  • News
Diners sit outside at Lazy Lobster. Owner Michael Garey said business really starts to ramp up in February before March, April and May, the busiest months of the year for the restaurant.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • March 4, 2026
Seasonal upswing back to 'normal' on Longboat Key

As spring break approaches, Longboat Key business owners are optimistic that business will continue to ramp up.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
At a St. Armands Visioning Session held at Mote Marine Laboratory’s Keating Marine Education Center Thursday, Feb. 26, participants were asked to write on and place note cards on a vision board. On one side, participants wrote on yellow index cards what their favorite things about St. Armands Circle were, and on the other side the most significant areas for improvement were written on blue note cards.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • March 4, 2026
What should St. Armands Circle look like in 20 years?

Some 160 stakeholders and others participate in the first of two visioning sessions for the future of St. Armands Circle.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Several residents report checks mailed from the post office in Lakewood Ranch have been stolen and washed.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • March 4, 2026
Officials release few details in Lakewood Ranch check washing scam

Multiple residents have reported checks being stolen from the post office in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt Hoffman said his department would likely meet spending goals set last year by the County Commission, but he added additional positions are in the offing in subsequent budget years.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • March 3, 2026
Early start gets Sarasota leaders thinking about the next budget

Elected officers deliver mixed predictions on hitting spending goals.

  • Sarasota
  • News
About 14,000 of raw wastewater spilled into Sarasota Bay at Ringling Causeway Park.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • March 3, 2026
City sewage spills into Sarasota Bay

Sarasota reports 14,000 gallons escaped from a broken component in Ringling Causeway Park.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Susan Phillips retired in 2025 from her role as the town manager's assistant.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • March 3, 2026
Phillips named chair of Longboat Key Foundation

The organization's founder, Jim Brown, announces retirement from the position.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Brian Taylor, who works as executive vice president for Perform[cb], has been working from CoworkLWR since 2021 in order to have a separation between work and home life. He enjoys the opportunities to network with fellow remote workers at the new location.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • March 3, 2026
CoworkLWR moves to a new, larger Lakewood Ranch location

Keith Pandeloglou's business had spent the past 10 years on Lakewood Main Street.

  • East County
  • Business
By avoiding littering, driving slow and keeping a safe distance from manatees, humans can help the threatened species stick around.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • March 3, 2026
Manatees travel to manmade, natural water bodies during cold snaps

Manatees that call Sarasota Bay home head north to Apollo Beach during cold weather, using the warm waters discharged from the TECO Power Plant to keep warm.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
« 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 »
The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest News

1
Sarasota Crew's championship-winning Women's U16 Eight boat races past opponents at Nathan Benderson Park in June 2025. The USRowing Youth National Championships are one of the biggest events on the local sports calendar for 2026.
  • March 20, 2026
Watersports events line up at Benderson Park in April
2
  • March 20, 2026
Longboat Key's Cops, Cars & Coffee rescheduled
3
City parking scheme schemes hurting our tourism
  • March 20, 2026
City parking scheme schemes hurting our tourism
4
Dolores M. Stevens (2025)
  • March 19, 2026
Dolores M. Stevens
5
Zachary Keller and Helen Krushinski star in "Water for Elephants," which comes to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Feb. 12-14, 2027.
  • March 19, 2026
'Water for Elephants,' 'Six' and 'Hell's Kitchen' lead Van Wezel's 2026-27 lineup

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2026 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.

The Your Observer App is Here!

Get local news you can trust — now on your phone, tablet or laptop. Fast. Free. Easy to Use.
Stay informed, wherever you are.

Download Now