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News

A March 2022 development concept plan for the planned Lakewood Ranch Southeast property. (Image via Sarasota County)
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • January 28, 2025
Sarasota County approves plan for major Lakewood Ranch expansion

Schroeder-Manatee Ranch plans to develop 5,000 homes on 4,100 acres near Old Miakka as Lakewood Ranch Southeast.

  • East County
  • News
The Sarasota County criminal justice campus area map shows city- and county-owned parcels.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 28, 2025
Sarasota county jail expansion could cost upward of $700 million

Already well in excess of operational capacity, county commissioners learn an expansion of the county jail will likely cost a least a half billion dollars.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A funding source is one of the challenges in developing a canal maintenance program.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 28, 2025
Commissioners choose not to impose canal maintenance tax in 2025

Still lacking an agreed-upon taxing method and not wanting to impose an additional tax after hurricanes, the commission decided to push the program down the road.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Brista Commons on Longboat Key is expected to finish construction in fall 2025.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 28, 2025
Brista Commons likely to finish construction this fall

The 14,000 square feet of commercial space will take about a year to complete construction, which started in November 2024.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Loggerhead hatchlings emerge from the sand in August 2016.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 28, 2025
Concern about sea turtle disorientation increases with lack of dunes

Without the dunes acting as a natural barrier, Mote Marine Laboratory and Longboat Key Turtle Watch wonder what the impact will be this upcoming nesting season.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Cloud, a Myakka 16-year-old mare who went missing last week, was known as a snuggler when giving rides in the bay for Florida Beach Horses.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 28, 2025
Search continues for Myakka City horse

Cloud is a 16-year-old grey mare that's been missing since Jan. 10.

  • East County
  • News
Charlie Mopps' promotion to Public Works Director was announced by Town Manager Howard Tipton on Jan. 17.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • January 27, 2025
Charlie Mopps promoted to Longboat Key Public Works Director

Mopps was previously the Project Manager and Assistant Public Works Director, then served as interim director for the past three months.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The new Seaside Market is open in Concourse B at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 27, 2025
Big changes on tap for SRQ Concourse B

The new Concourse A at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport offers enhanced options for passenger comfort, but big upgrades are underway for the original gate areas.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Manufactured homes in East County and their carports were no match for Hurricane Milton.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 27, 2025
County seeks input for Resilient SRQ II

Sarasota County residents can provide input to storm recovery effort funding via survey or one of four public meetings.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A cold and rainy day didn't deter participants of a ceremeonial groundbreaking of the Celery Fields Quad Parcels re-wilding project.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 27, 2025
Re-wilding of Celery Fields project gets underway

A groundbreaking ceremony marks the beginning of Phase 1 of bringing nature back to the Quad Parcels of the county's Celery Fields site.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Ringling College of Art and Design film students Ella Satterfield, Beau Agrawal and Almendra Kovac worked on the documentaries.
    By
  • Eric Snider
  • January 26, 2025
Documentaries chronicling Longboat environment set to make waves

Buzz is percolating over a unique program that paired local college film students with a Rotary Club to document some Longboat Key-centric ecology success stories.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Students work their muscles with weights and with laughing at Jazzercise.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • January 26, 2025
Jazzercise studio opens in Lakewood Ranch

Former "gym rat' brings her passion to the Lakewood Ranch enterprise.

  • East County
  • Business
City proclamation honors the life of employee Clifford Smith
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • January 25, 2025
City proclamation honors the life of employee Clifford Smith

Clifford Smith, who joined the city of Sarasota as historic preservation planner in 2007, died late last year.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A rendering of the new dining room at the Bird Key Yacht Club.
    By
  • Louis Llovio
  • January 25, 2025
Bird Key Yacht Club forges ahead on rebuild

The Bird Key Yacht Club is setting a resiliency example by rebuilding its historic clubhouse to be better prepared for stronger hurricanes and more flooding.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Bradenton man gets 13 years for 2020 fatal crash
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 24, 2025
Bradenton man gets 13 years for 2020 fatal crash

The car was traveling 126 mph moments before the crash, prosecutors said.

  • East County
  • News
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Latest News

1
A Goodwill bookstore and donation center will occupy the new outparcel building at 3160 Gulf of Mexico Drive by the end of the year.
  • December 16, 2025
Goodwill to open Dec. 18 on Longboat Key
2
Sixth grader Stella Schechter holds up a finished craft for David Stone.
  • December 16, 2025
Emanu-El students celebrate Hanukkah with Aviva Senior Living residents
3
Bo O'Daniel poses for a photo on Dec. 15 at Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School. The senior had three touchdown catches for the Cougars in the Dec. 10 FHSAA Class 2A state championship.
  • December 16, 2025
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Bo O'Daniel
4
Richard Thomas stars in "Mark Twain Tonight!" at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Dec. 19-20.
  • December 16, 2025
The best things to do in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat for Dec. 18-24
5
Kindergartener Santiago Perez checks out the crochet items.
  • December 16, 2025
Holiday House SRQ now serves a fifth school, but holiday shopping costs rise

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