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News

Gov. Ron DeSantis appoints Karen Rose to Sarasota School Board
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 25, 2025
Gov. Ron DeSantis appoints Karen Rose to Sarasota School Board

Rose will fill the vacancy left by Tim Enos as he leaves to become chief of police for the school district.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Commissioner Jason Bearden says the process of getting the roundabout approved was deceptive.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 25, 2025
Commissioners spar over University Parkway roundabout

One Country Club resident says she will begin legal action because she feels the citizens' rights were violated.

  • East County
  • News
A rendering of the as-yet not named Zenith Redevelopment project, which will include nearly 42,000 sauare feet of retail and commercial at the Five Points roundabout.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • August 23, 2025
Redevelopment of downtown building will create 18-story tower

Plans for the vacant Zenith office tower in Sarasota will include demolition and development of a 96-unit residence and 42,000 square feet of commercial space.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Woody Wolverton was an avid pilot even late into his life, piloting aircrafts high above Longboat Key into his 80s.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • August 22, 2025
Generosity, charisma and stories were trademarks of Wolverton

Two-time college football national champion, Pearl Harbor survivor and monumental Kiwanis benefactor Woody Wolverton died Monday. His legacy is that of generosity and community involvement.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
State Sen. Joe Gruters was elected chair of the Republican National Committee.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • August 22, 2025
Republicans elect Sarasota's Gruters as chairman of RNC

Florida State State Sen. Joe Gruters, one of President Trump's staunchest allies, is elected chair of the Republican National Committee.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Rain drives the protest against the Little League fields inside the Lakewood Ranch Library for a photo, but library supervisor Tiffany Mautino wants it noted that protests are not allowed inside the library.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 22, 2025
Lakewood Ranch community at odds over youth baseball fields

Manatee County is planning to build three youth baseball fields at Country Club East Park next year.

  • East County
  • News
K-9 Officer Butch becomes the fourth deployed by the Sarasota Police Department.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 22, 2025
SPD puts fourth K-9 unit on patrol

Sarasota Police Department K-9 Officer Butch is now on citywide patrol with handler Officer Adam Bearden.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A four-bedroom, five-bath home at 18826 Ganton Avenue in the Concession closed Aug. 20 for $6.9 million to become the second highest-priced sale ever in the Lakewood Ranch area.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 21, 2025
Concession home sells for $6.9 million

The Schemmel Soda Group, which handled the sale, says it is the second-highest priced home ever sold in the Lakewood Ranch area.

  • East County
  • News
River Club's Douglas Whitney, an architect for 43 years, always has loved drawing by hand. He is the only one in WBRC's Lakewood Ranch office to still have a drafting table.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 21, 2025
Noted architect leaves his mark on Lakewood Ranch

Doug Whitney, who died Aug. 11, blazed a trail for WBRC architecture in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
The restored Bobby Jones Golf Club opened in December 2023.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • August 21, 2025
Bobby Jones Golf Club helps fill area's public golf void

With fewer options for public golf locally, the city of Sarasota's Bobby Jones Golf Club offers a private club experience accessible to all.

  • Sarasota
  • News
To make way for an expansion of the County Jail, Sarasota County must move the Criminal Justice Center from location 1, and has requested the city engage in negotiations regarding its parking lot at location 2 with an option to place it at location 3.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • August 21, 2025
Sarasota city, county to discuss possible Ringling Boulevard land deal

Sarasota County has asked the city for possible use of a parking lot on Ringling Boulevard as a new site of its Criminal Justice Center.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Residents gather sandbags on Longboat Key before Hurricane Ian.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • August 21, 2025
Next sandbag filling on Longboat Key is Sept. 4

The next opportunity to fill sandbags is scheduled for 8-11 a.m. Sept. 4 at the Broadway Beach Access, 100 Broadway St.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A roundabout will replace the signalized intersection on University Parkway where Legacy Boulevard meets Deer Drive.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 20, 2025
Roundabout moves forward on University Parkway at Legacy Boulevard

Residents fought for an upgraded signalized intersection, but Manatee County commissioners decided to stick to the current plan for a roundabout.

  • East County
  • News
Purple Ribbon Committee Chairman Charles Cosler presents the committee's report to the Sarasota City Commission while facilitator Jim Shirley (left) looks on.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • August 20, 2025
Task force advises Sarasota to keep Van Wezel running optimally

With no arts group stepping up to assume operating the Van Wezel, the Purple Ribbon Committee recommends making it last five to seven years should a replacement be built.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sheriff Rick Wells holds a press conference Aug. 19 at the District 3 Manatee County Sheriff's Office.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 20, 2025
Sheriff says no foul play in North Carolina teen's death

Camera footage shows Giovanni Pelletier alone, running down the embankment toward the pond where his body was found.

  • East County
  • News
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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

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