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News

Visit Sarasota County reports a continuing downward trend in 2025 tourism data.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 3, 2025
Tourism continues downward trend in Sarasota County

Visit Sarasota County reports lodging prices were up but overall visitors and spending were down in July compared to 2024.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Osprey man arrested in drugs investigation
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 2, 2025
Osprey man arrested in drugs investigation

Sarasota Sheriff's Office employed multiple units in serving search warrant.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Dickey Betts, who died in 2024, was named by Rolling Stone as one of the 100 best rock guitarists of all time.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • October 2, 2025
Rock pioneer Dickey Betts could be memorialized on Sarasota highway

The longtime Sarasota County resident would join a wide and varied list of luminaries honored in Sarasota County by Florida since 1932.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Some blocks along Main Street, such as the 1800 block, already include a mix of angle and parallel parking.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • October 2, 2025
Main Street vision pits walkability against parking

The Sarasota City Commission advances the Main Street Complete Street project to the design phase with an eye toward debate over pedestrian enhancement.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Signs on Longboat Key's public beaches caution swimmers about the dangers of rip tides.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • October 1, 2025
How to spot and escape Gulf rip currents

On beaches with no lifeguards, like Longboat Key, knowing what to look for and how to escape a rip current might just save a life.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt Hoffman speaks at the Sept. 23 Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce State of the Community luncheon.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • October 1, 2025
Sheriff: Law enforcement is expensive but worth the price

Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt Hoffman tells the Chamber of Commerce its $221 million budget is reducing crime and among the lowest cost per capita in the region.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sharon Hillstrom, president and CEO of the Bradenton Area Economic Development Corporation, asks commissioners to extend the contract through December, but commissioners opt to let it expire Sept. 30.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • October 1, 2025
Manatee cuts funds to EDC, Longboat impacts likely limited

The Bradenton Area EDC is jointly funded by public investments and private donors, according to its annual report, which shows $1.1 million in revenue in 2024.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A driver was measured at 88 mph over the Ringling Bridge, which has a 35 mph, leading to their arrest, according to the Sarasota Police Department.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 30, 2025
'Super speeder' arrested for driving 88 mph on Ringling Bridge

Sarasota Police stopped a driver who was clocked going 53 mph over the speed limit Tuesday morning on Ringling Bridge.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Dimmitt Automotive Group President Peter Dimmitt says Bentley Tampa Bay and Bentley Sarasota will have a "symbiotic" relationship. They can "have a greater inventory to work out of," he says.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • September 30, 2025
Downtown Sarasota to get Bentley franchise in 2026

A Bentley franchise has been awarded to Dimmitt Automotive Group, which has experience selling what the company's CEO calls "reward automobiles."

  • Sarasota
  • News
The roundabout at Ringling Blvd. and Pine Place opened on evening of Jan. 31, 2025.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 30, 2025
Ringling roundabout recognized for engineering and design

Opened in January, the roundabout at Ringling Boulevard and Pine Place in Sarasota has captured the attention of a national transportation engineers group.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Commissioner-At-Large BJ Bishop (left) Town Attorney Maggie Mooney (right).
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • September 30, 2025
Longboat Key to overhaul town communication policy

The policy change would require elected and appointed officials to use town phones and email addresses to increase cybersecurity measures.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Achilles Kouskoutis
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • September 30, 2025
New Greek restaurant to open in Sarasota's Gulf Gate

Nikki's Greek Café, located just south of Stickney Point Road, is targeting an early October opening.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
A rendering of the planned 17-unit Habitat for Humanity townhome development.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • September 30, 2025
Habitat for Humanity will build 17-unit townhomes in Park East

Habitat for Humanity received Sarasota City Commission approval to build 17 townhomes across two buildings in a neighborhood surrounded by detached Habitat housing.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Myakka City's Bennett Simunovic, 8, wasn't expecting to fly out of the slide so fast, but he doesn't mind.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • September 30, 2025
Urban Air Adventure Park opens in Lakewood Ranch

The 60,000-square-foot facility is the largest Urban Air in the country.

  • East County
  • Business
Gunnar, a police dog with the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, alerted to the potential presence of drugs in a car stopped by Sarasota Police, leading to the arrest of a Sunrise man.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 29, 2025
Sunrise man arrested on drug charges within sight of Sarasota PD building

A traffic stop at an adjacent intersection leads to the search and fentanyl discovery.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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Latest News

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Manatee County commissioners approve an over $50,000 a month contract for a backup generator for the administration building at 9000 Town Center Parkway.
  • May 6, 2026
$12.48M generator request causes concern over Manatee County 'money pit'
2
County Commissioner Tom Knight on Tuesday raised the issue of a fee charged by the Tax Collector's office on money raised by the school district's optional 1-mill property tax.
  • May 6, 2026
County Commission reverses stance on paying school-tax fee
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Sarasota superintendent: District working to find spots for unassigned teachers
  • May 6, 2026
Sarasota superintendent: District working to find spots for unassigned teachers
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  • May 6, 2026
Milton and Stephanie Kruk 70th Wedding Anniversary

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