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News

The purple piles will carry reclaimed water to Lakewood Ranch Southeast for irrigation.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • February 11, 2026
New road construction speeds through Lakewood Ranch Southeast

Lakewood Ranch Southeast's infrastructure won't be featured on any posters, but it will be a major part of the new community's success.

  • East County
  • News
Students in Manatee schools begin learning cursive in third grade. With House Bill 127, that might change to second grade instead. It would also require fifth graders to be evaluated to prove proficiency.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • February 11, 2026
Cursive writing requirements would change if proposed legislation passes

Students currently learn cursive between third and fifth grade. If House Bill 127 becomes law, students will begin learning in second grade and will be tested in fifth.

  • East County
  • Schools
Spanish Main Yacht Club was one of the most impacted communities from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. All of the 212 condominium villas were impacted one way or another, and more than 16 months after Helene, the rebuild continues with some houses finished and residents moved in and others with cabinets in the front yard, work underway on the interior.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • February 11, 2026
Longboat's Spanish Main looks for normalcy a year after the storms

While some Spanish Main residents sold their villas, many more opted to rebuild, and 16 months after Hurricane Helene ravaged the historic community, work continues with an end finally in sight.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
An eVTOL manufactured by Joby Aviation flies over Monterey Bay in California.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • February 11, 2026
Air taxis: An alternative to sitting in Longboat Key's traffic jams?

The Jetsons maybe had the aesthetic wrong, but the flying car idea? Spot on.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Warren Hutmacher is owner and principal of Sumter Local Government Consulting.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • February 11, 2026
City commissioners cut manager field to six

Finalists will visit Sarasota on Feb. 23-24, and a final decision could come Feb 27.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Tipsea Gypsea, a 45-foot Catalina sailboat, lies beached on a sandbar near the Harbor Acres neighborhood, posing a risk to the neighborhood’s seawall and dozens of nearby moored boats. Sarasota Police Department Marine Patrol Officer Michael Skinner said the registered owner is working to get a specialized bolt to re-attach the steering wheel.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • February 10, 2026
Law enforcement agencies tackle removing wrecked, abandoned boats

When a boat washes up on a sandbar or crashes into a seawall, law enforcement agencies step in.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Longboat Key residents gathered at the Bayfront Park recreation center Thursday, Feb. 5 where engineering firm Kimley-Horn & Associates shared 60% plans for Buttonwood Harbour neighborhood improvements.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • February 10, 2026
Buttonwood residents get sneak peek of stormwater improvements

A Longboat neighborhood prone to “sunny day flooding” will be getting much-needed stormwater improvements.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
District 5 Commissioner Bob McCann holds a town hall meeting Feb. 2 at the Lakewood Ranch Library.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • February 10, 2026
Garbage collection a hot topic at town hall meeting in Lakewood Ranch

One constituent requested new residents be tested for their skills in negotiating roundabouts.

  • East County
  • News
From left to right: Chris Vito, Penny Sellers, Dave Boone and Cathy Boone play a game of pickleball at the multipurpose Bayfront Park courts in Longboat Key Friday, Sept. 19.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • February 9, 2026
New impact fee may replace land acquisition fees

The town of Longboat Key hopes to replace the land acquisition fee with one that would cost developers less and go toward upgrading existing parks and recreation facilities.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Valor Commons in Manatee County is designed to include a resource center, memorials, walking trails and public event spaces.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • February 9, 2026
Federal cash streams in for Manatee, Sarasota projects

Local line items are a part of the massive $1.2 trillion spending package.

  • East County
  • News
Cyclist killed on Siesta Key
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 8, 2026
Cyclist killed on Siesta Key

The incident with a vehicle took place near Beach Access 9 around 1:20 p.m. Sunday, deputies say.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Suncoast Waterkeepers regularly tests water quality at 12 sites in Sarasota Bay and its adjacent waters, including the Linley Street boat ramp on Longboat Key.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • February 7, 2026
Sarasota, Manatee bayside beaches graded for water safety

Two sites receive B grades on Suncoast Waterkeeper's summary of 2025 testing.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Capt. A.J. Grande operates a "six pack" fishing charter business who often picks up and drops off customers at Nora Patterson Park.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • February 5, 2026
Permits will be required for charter boat operators using county parks

Following a six-month delay, the Sarasota County Commission approved a one-year pilot program to require charter captains to bid for permits to operate out of county-owned boat ramps and seawalls.

  • Sarasota
  • News
District 2 Commissioner Penny Gold walks in a parade in 2021.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • February 5, 2026
Longboat commissioner appointed to National League of Cities committee

District 2 Commissioner Penny Gold has been appointed to serve on NLC’s Finance, Administration and Intergovernmental Relations Committee.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The house at 3638 San Remo Terrace overlooks the north Siesta Key bridge.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • February 5, 2026
Rock star sells Sarasota estate for $7.5 million

The property near the north bridge to Siesta Key was owned by Stu Cook, the bassist for Creedence Clearwater Revival.

  • Sarasota
  • News
« 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 »
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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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