• 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
    • Elections
    • 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
    • Elections
    • 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

Commissioner George Kruse stops to greet Chula, a 2-year-old mastiff mix, during a walk-through of the Bishop Animal Shelter May 9.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 13, 2026
Animal activists continue complaints despite efforts to improve Bishop shelter

The Manatee County expansion project is up to $12 million, but some residents say it's not enough.

  • East County
  • News
A rendering of 1899 Fruitville from the corner of North Osprey Avenue and Fruitville Road.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • May 13, 2026
Fruitville apartment plan to replace cottages makes second appearance

Multiple comments remain as block-long apartment development on Fruitville Road requires third submittal to the Sarasota Development Review Committee.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota Schools Superintendent Terry Connor speaks during the State of the Community luncheon in April.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 12, 2026
School-tax fee reversal slated to come before county commissioners this week

Sarasota is ready to reassume responsibility for paying the tax collector's 2% commission, but question remains on whether it should be charged at all.

  • Sarasota
  • News
My-Lien Truong and Dwight Fitch, the radiation oncologists at Advocate Radiation Oncology in Lakewood Ranch, both studied chemical engineering before pursuing radiation oncology.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • May 12, 2026
Radiation, oncology center opens Lakewood Ranch office

Advocate Radiation Oncology has opened at 8946 77th Terrace E., to go with its previous location on S.R. 64 in Bradenton.

  • East County
  • Business
Costello’s Neighborhood Pizza owner Kenny Palin takes a pie out of the oven at the Longboat Key branch of Costello’s.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • May 12, 2026
Owner rebrands Longboat, Gulf Gate pizza joints to Costello's Neighborhood Pizza

As the franchise contract reached expiration, owner Kenny Palin decided to personalize his two pizzerias with a family name.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort is the only Gulf-facing property on Longboat Key with a private beach groin, constructed decades ago by Colony Beach & Tennis Resort owner Murf Klauber to fight beach erosion.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • May 12, 2026
St. Regis, town headed to court as Whittall defies order

The developer and owner of the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort says he will fight in court "to whatever extent necessary" to leave the arch that town code enforcement has ordered taken down.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Triple Oak Preserve in Myakka City is one of the purchases Manatee County made using funds collected from the 2020 referendum.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • May 12, 2026
Environmental lands referendum one step closer to 2026 ballot

Manatee County commissioners were presented with four funding options to acquire additional lands and development rights.

  • East County
  • News
The update of the Sarasota City Plan includes the Recreation and Open Space chapter.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 9, 2026
May 11 city plan update open house canceled

Three chapters of the Sarasota City Plan were to be discussed.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sunday morning crash kills 18-year-old on Interstate 75
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 11, 2026
Sunday morning crash kills 18-year-old on Interstate 75

No one else was hurt in the Sarasota County incident, FHP says.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Officer Jorge Castro had his badge pinned onto his uniform by his wife, Melissa Castro, after he was sworn in as the newest Longboat Key Police Department officer Wednesday, May 6, 2026.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • May 11, 2026
New Longboat Key police officer brings force to 19

Officer Jorge Castro most recently served as a police officer with the Bradenton Beach Police Department.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Spring break helped bring an year-over-year increase in tourism to Sarasota County in March.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 11, 2026
Tourism sees increase of visitors in March

March 2026 brought an increase in tourists, but not spending, to Sarasota County compared to the year prior.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Il Panificio is now open at 1995 Main St. in Sarasota.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • May 9, 2026
Il Panificio opens new downtown Sarasota restaurant

The pizza restaurant now has two locations on Main Street and one on Siesta Key.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
School district demands repayment of tax fees
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 8, 2026
School district demands repayment of tax fees

The Sarasota County Commission votes to resume paying the tax collector's 2% commission fee and questions the fee itself.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Mason Hull has more than 300,000 followers on TikTok.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 8, 2026
Sarasota TikTok influencer arrested on child-pornography charges

Because of the 18-year-old suspect's digital presence, the Sheriff's Office is reaching out to the public for additional information.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Saucy! is expanding on the Gulf Coast, with a Lakewood Ranch and Trinity location opening May 4 and 5, respectively.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 7, 2026
Saucy new chicken spot opens in Lakewood Ranch

As the name of the KFC spinoff suggests, dipping sauces are front and center in the restaurant on Lena Road.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
« 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 »
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
Among Overland Partners designs at Selby Gardens is the new welcome center.
  • June 13, 2026
Architect wins industry award for Selby Gardens design work
2
Peculiar Pub takes the place of Twisted Pit BBQ on Main Street at Lakewood Ranch.
  • June 12, 2026
Peculiar Pub crawls across Main Street in Lakewood Ranch
3
Carlos Pagán, a fixture of the Sarasota jazz scene, passed away June 7 at age 78.
  • June 12, 2026
Sarasota jazz crusader and filmmaker Carlos Pagán dies at age 78
4
Congressman Greg Steube speaks at the ribbon cutting for the completion of the renourishment project at Lido Beach.
  • June 12, 2026
Steube named an MVP in Congressional ballgame
5
Sarasota Crew's Gabrielle DeLeo heads to the finish of the Women's Youth 1x Thursday at the USRowing Youth National Championships at Nathan Benderson Park. She qualified for Friday's semifinal by placing eighth in 7:54.36.
  • June 11, 2026
USRowing National Championships opens in Sarasota

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.

Anytime. Anywhere. Observer.

From in-depth local reporting to real-time breaking news, stay connected to the stories shaping our community with the Your Observer app.

Download Now for Free