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Longboat Key | Opinion

    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 15, 2026
Why the worst rise to top

By comparison to other U.S. locales, we are so fortunate in Manatee and Sarasota counties and in Florida.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Lots of loopholes in Florida's laws on fines
  • By Adrian Moor, Vittorio Nastasi
  • July 8, 2026
Lots of loopholes in Florida's laws on fines

With a potential hit to general fund revenue coming, municipalities may have more incentive to supplement their income from fines.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
The 56 who signed for us
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 1, 2026
The 56 who signed for us

As many people have often said: Being an American is winning life’s lottery. Nowhere in the world are people as free as we are.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
DeSantis versus DeSantis
  • By Jeff Brandes, contributor
  • June 24, 2026
DeSantis versus DeSantis

One DeSantis encouraged starter homes. The other may have just made them fiscally impossible to approve.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Another travesty of power
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • June 17, 2026
Another travesty of power

Everyone knows we need more affordable housing. But Sarasota County commissioners are more concerned about losing their home rule power.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
This is not how to 'cut' taxes
  • By Jeff Brandes
  • June 2, 2026
This is not how to 'cut' taxes

The governor’s property tax plan won’t eliminate taxes. It will just shift them. Your city will become increasingly dependent on the state.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
The gentle, warm waters of the Gulf can be an aid to mobility for those with arthritis.
    By
  • Mirabai Holland
  • May 29, 2026
It's possible to live with arthritis. Here's how.

Exercise, as counter-intuitive as it might seem, can go a long way toward relief.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
No good deed goes unpunished
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 28, 2026
No good deed goes unpunished

St. Regis fight with town is a Longboat Key classic.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Lessons on how not to do it
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 13, 2026
Lessons on how not to do it

The Sarasota tax collector-school board dispute has reached a partial resolution. Taking the high road can bring it to the best ending.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Letter to our legislators: Don't turn USFSM over to New College
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • May 12, 2026
Letter to our legislators: Don't turn USFSM over to New College

The fate of USF Sarasota-Manatee depends on the Legislature's special budget session. It will decide whether to shut down the college and transfer the buildings to New College.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Is the only way to protect kids online for all of us to give up our data?
  • By Adrian Moore, Nicole Shekhovtsova
  • May 6, 2026
Is the only way to protect kids online for all of us to give up our data?

Legislators are passing laws to verify the age of social media users — but does it inadvertently require these sites to keep more data than necessary?

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
My oath to the law and the taxpayers of Sarasota County
  • By Mike Moran
  • May 3, 2026
My oath to the law and the taxpayers of Sarasota County

While waiting for the attorney general to rule on a disagreement over how to implement state law, costly litigation could have been avoided.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Tax collector's money grab
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • April 29, 2026
Tax collector's money grab

Mike Moran needs cash to "modernize" his operations. His target: taking money from the schools, in spite of what voters approved.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
There are many pieces to the healthy brain puzzle, including proper diet, exercise and sleep.
    By
  • Mirabai Holland
  • April 15, 2026
Yes, sleeping, eating right and working out can improve and preserve your memory

Healthy habits, including exercise, a good diet and getting enough sleep, can pay big dividends on improving memory function and preventing memory diseases.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Sports betting online became legal in Florida via Hard Rock Bet in 2023.
  • By Guy Bentley, Adrian Moore
  • April 8, 2026
Don’t panic about sports betting in Florida

Although some are concerned that increased access to sports betting may increase gambling addiction, the data show the number of those with a problem has remained stable over the last 35 years.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
1 2 3 4 5 »
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Latest in Longboat Key

1
Logan Shaw, Wolfe Shaw, Michael Garey and Calvin Shaw, the team behind the new M & W Sweet Spot frozen treat shop on Longboat Key, showcase a variety of their offerings, including frozen custard sandwiches and drinks.
  • July 15, 2026
From frozen custard to soft serve, Longboat's treats help locals stay cool
2
A firefighter sprays the roof of a Dock on the Bay condo building Wednesday morning, July 15.
  • July 15, 2026
Fire engulfs Dock on the Bay condo units
3
At 15 stories, the Islands West condominium building constructed in 1972 is one of the tallest buildings on Longboat Key. Driving north on the island, it’s the last taller condo building, as the north end features more single family homes and shorter hotel buildings like Four Winds Beach Resort pictured to the right.
  • July 15, 2026
The great freeze of 1985 still impacts Longboat Key today
4
Reuben Fernandez leads Tai Chi classes on Mondays and Wednesdays at The Paradise Center, and many of his students have stuck with him since he first started teaching at the Longboat Key community center.
  • July 15, 2026
Tai chi brings mind, body, spirit benefits, Paradise Center students say
5
Whitney’s Restaurant on the north end of Longboat Key is planning to expand to the office building next door, pictured to the right.
  • July 15, 2026
Whitney's restaurant plans expansion

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