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Opinion

Heather Hackett, the founder of Local Relief, Inc., points to the slat that bears her name as the 2024 C. John A. Clarke Humanitarian Award recipient.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 10, 2025
Local Relief seeks financial relief

Heather Hackett's disaster recovery nonprofit seeks backers.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Ron DeSantis is dead wrong about AI
  • By Max Gulker, Adrian Moore, Marc Scribner
  • September 10, 2025
Ron DeSantis is dead wrong about AI

The governor seems to convey his fears of negative results over the benefits of AI usage.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Planned ball fields at Manatee County park are beyond fiscal prudence
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • September 9, 2025
Planned ball fields at Manatee County park are beyond fiscal prudence

It's time to take a closer look before any further action is taken, a Country Club East resident writes.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Commissioner George Kruse says adopting a county charter is worth exploring. "Anything we can do to have a say, is a good thing," he says.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 4, 2025
State's special interest favoritism plagues Manatee

Manatee County commissioners are trying to figure out wetlands conundrum.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Denise Allen and fiancé Mark Latcheran of Parrish visit with Dr. Shilpa Jadeja, who was part of Latcheran's care team at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 20, 2025
Chalk up a life saved for Lakewood Ranch Medical Center

Parrish's Mark Latcheran tells a feel-good story about the hospital's staff.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Women's suffrage still a work in progress
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • August 19, 2025
Women's suffrage still a work in progress

The path to suffrage was not universal or equal; many barriers continued to exist for the full participation of all women, an Observer reader says.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Corcoran's success at New College can be attributed to low-hanging fruit
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • August 18, 2025
Corcoran's success at New College can be attributed to low-hanging fruit

There are many questions that remain unanswered regarding curriculum changes and total leadership, an Observer reader says.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Roundabout construction will lock up University Parkway in Lakewood Ranch
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • August 18, 2025
Roundabout construction will lock up University Parkway in Lakewood Ranch

There's no doubt the intersection at University Parkway and Deer Drive/Legacy Boulevard needs an upgrade, a reader says.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Some federal land in Florida should be sold
  • By Adrian Moore, Leonard Gilroy
  • August 14, 2025
Some federal land in Florida should be sold

Florida should follow Texas' lead by focusing on legalizing accessory dwelling units, streamlining permitting and loosening restrictive zoning regulations.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Commissioner Bob McCann stands behind the amendment he brought before the commission in January that would reinstate additional wetland buffers in Manatee County. He says the amendment is not more "burdensome or restrictive" because it was already in place.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 13, 2025
Upcoming Manatee land use meeting should grab your attention

Wetland buffers and the Future Development Area Boundary will be discussed.

  • East County
  • Opinion
District 72 Rep. Bill Conerly, FDOT's John Kubler, Commissioner Bob McCann, Commissioner George Kruse and former Commissioner Carol Whitmore handle ribbon-cutting duties for the 44th Avenue Extension Aug. 4.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 6, 2025
Joyous occasion for Manatee County, but more drama on the way

The opening of 44th Avenue extension deserves celebration, but commissioners and SMR are headed for confrontation.

  • East County
  • Opinion
With the gravy train about to crash, now is the time for county officials to start a diet
  • By Tom Knight | District 3 Sarasota County Commissioner
  • July 30, 2025
With the gravy train about to crash, now is the time for county officials to start a diet

Sarasota County’s budget has grown 56% in the last four years. As revenue growth slows, spending needs to be trimmed to prepare for the future.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
A flyover of Interstate 75 is planned near the water tower to relieve traffic congestion at UTC, but the project continues to drag along.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 30, 2025
Is a traffic apocalypse nearing at UTC?

Officials need to speed up steps to increase access to the popular area.

  • East County
  • Opinion
One 'Mighty Banyan'
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 30, 2025
One 'Mighty Banyan'

It's a wonderful story of college spirit and pride — how one of Sarasota's own, Anna Lazzara, created the new mascot for New College.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Keep the name of Longboat's Gulf of Mexico Drive
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • July 28, 2025
Keep the name of Longboat's Gulf of Mexico Drive

America should "stand up" again as it it did under President Eisenhower, a reader says.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
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Latest News

1
Katherine Ceaser, Lydia Chapdelain and Jessica Armstrong
  • March 22, 2026
Art Center Sarasota brings Beaux Arts Ball back to celebrate centennial
2
Mike and Julie Paige, and Amber and Lenny Larson, pose by an "SRQ Wine" sign.
  • March 22, 2026
Festival pours wines from around the world, all at Selby Five Points Park
3
Sarasota's Tracy Tutton and Tania Cook, sisters from Canada, enjoy drinks while listening to Sweet Fleet at My Hometown Fest on March 21.
  • March 21, 2026
My Hometown Fest event raises funds for kids with speech needs
4
Lakewood Ranch's Kathleen Flesch, Sonia Levy, Jane Imperiale and Peri Ann Aptaker dress for the Palm Royale-themed Divas and Dogs fundraiser that will benefit The Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch.
  • March 21, 2026
Divas and Dogs brings together fashion and animal lovers
5
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

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