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Opinion

Robert E. Willis Elementary's Kaitlyn McIntrye, Aly Martinez, Jelena Konatar and Izzy Nunez participated in the world VEX competition. If the referendum fails, STEM opportunities for students could lessen.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • October 29, 2024
School tax referendum poorly designed, but worth supporting

Manatee district must do better job of adding salaries to its general budget.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Midnight Pass on Thursday Oct. 17 looking from Little Sarasota Bay to the Gulf of Mexico. Hurricanes Helene and Milton opened up the Pass after it was closed in 1983.
    By
  • Michael Harris
  • October 26, 2024
Milton did us a solid with Midnight Pass

The hurricane left its mark throughout the area, but one positive to take away is the reopening of Midnight Pass.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
There's more to understanding recent inflation
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • October 23, 2024
There's more to understanding recent inflation

Recent inflation should be attributed to both government parties, one Longboat resident says.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Sarasota City Commission
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • October 23, 2024
Sarasota City Commission

This week, in our final installment of recommendations, we are focusing on the three Sarasota City Commission races.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Give responders high-fives
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • October 16, 2024
Give responders high-fives

Two hurricanes — Helene, a Cat 4 at landfall, and Milton, a Cat 3 at landfall — brought horrific catastrophes smack dab onto Sarasota and Manatee counties.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Recommendations explained and local tax ballot questions
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • October 16, 2024
Recommendations explained and local tax ballot questions

Those of you who have slogged through the many long diatribes on this page surely are familiar by now with the predictable slant at election time.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Lisa Hastings, Ed Murphy, Kelly Jones, Hannah Nese and Alyson Battaglia of Legler, Murphy and Battaglia were sentenced to hard labor during Alliance Gives Back.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • October 9, 2024
Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance digs deep to give back to the community

The Alliance Gives Back program continues to grow in its mission to help nonprofits.

  • East County
  • Opinion
The six amendments
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • October 9, 2024
The six amendments

Every four years, Florida voters face a flurry of proposed amendments to the state constitution. This year, six proposed amendments will be on the ballot.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
This was a busy few opening weeks so far
    By
  • Michael Harris
  • October 8, 2024
This was a busy few opening weeks so far

In Michael Harris' first three weeks as managing editor of the Longboat and Sarasota Observers, the area has had two hurricanes.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Arguments lead to faulty conclusion
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • October 7, 2024
Arguments lead to faulty conclusion

Blaming government for economic woes misses the real causes behind problems.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Manatee County citizens should support school property tax referendum
  • By Richard Tatem
  • October 7, 2024
Manatee County citizens should support school property tax referendum

School board member Richard Tatem says passing the referendum is essential to providing a quality education.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Nov. 5: Road to serfdom or the road to liberty?
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • October 2, 2024
Nov. 5: Road to serfdom or the road to liberty?

Democracy leads to the lousy getting on top; subsidizing and producing more bad behavior; and economic fascism. The November election won’t stop all that, but the right choice can be a start.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
The republic that’s failing
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • September 25, 2024
The republic that’s failing

All the talk about ‘threats to democracy’ and ‘destroying democracy’ are totally off the mark. It’s mob-rule democracy that is destroying the republic and destroying Americans’ individual liberty.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Ford-Coates refutes Moran's charges
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • September 23, 2024
Ford-Coates refutes Moran's charges

The Sarasota County Tax Collector answers allegations made by her challenger in the November election.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Premier Sports Campus is one of many Manatee County amenities that the tourist development tax helps fund.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 18, 2024
Do your research on Manatee's tourist tax

The 1% increase makes sense to keep our attractions pristine.

  • East County
  • Opinion
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Latest News

1
Hospital system expands prenatal care access for expecting mothers in need
  • February 4, 2026
Hospital system expands prenatal care access for expecting mothers in need
2
Herb Methodology co-owner Tryla Brown Larson celebrates the launch of her line of locally made products at Longboat Key's Design 2000 Salon on Jan. 29.
  • February 4, 2026
Herb Methodology launches at Design 2000
3
Davin Davidson reeled in 20 offers from NCAA Division I FBS programs from Jan. 20 through 31.
  • February 4, 2026
Cardinal Mooney quarterback's recruitment takes off
4
Golf pro Stephen Arnold succeeded in his goal of playing 100 holes of golf in a single day to benefit families involved with First 1,000 Days Suncoast.
  • February 4, 2026
Golfing feat makes a difference for area families
5
The Lakewood Ranch Garden Club Butterfly Symposium will take place at 9 a.m. on Feb. 7 at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall.
  • February 4, 2026
Butterfly symposium lands at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall

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