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Opinion

The show will go on
    By
  • Emily Walsh
  • June 25, 2025
The show will go on

Marina Jack, operated by Suntex Marinas, and Marie Selby Botanical Gardens step up as this year’s sponsors of the city of Sarasota’s Fourth of July fireworks display.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Aerial straps specialist Aidan Bryant will perform during the Circus Arts Conservatory performance at Star-Spangled Spectacular July 4 at Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 19, 2025
The flag is up! Waterside Place hosts July 4 Spectacular

Star-Spangled Spectacular is Lakewood Ranch's initial foray into July 4 entertainment.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Fascist kings behead you
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • June 18, 2025
Fascist kings behead you

Calling Trump a fascist, dictator king is the Democrats’ new mantra to get you to hate Trump even more. The gullible protesters have no clue what a real king does.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
WEDU PBS isn't a luxury. It's a necessity.
  • By Paul Grove
  • June 17, 2025
WEDU PBS isn't a luxury. It's a necessity.

If you're skeptical of funding media with taxpayer dollars, you're not alone. In fact, you're asking the right question: Should the federal government be in the business of funding media at all?

  • Sarasota
  • 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
  • June 11, 2025
Local relief nonprofit continues to draw attention in Lakewood Ranch

The weather disaster app grows into a third hurricane season.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Investors are not hurting the housing market
  • By Eliza Terziev, Adrian Moore
  • June 11, 2025
Investors are not hurting the housing market

The lack of supply is the biggest culprit in housing climbing to unaffordable levels in the area.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Republicans against Trump must stand up
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • June 4, 2025
Republicans against Trump must stand up

Those who state they don't like him, just sit back and watch without speaking up.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Actually, we're in safe zone
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • June 4, 2025
Actually, we're in safe zone

Over a 125-year period, Manatee and Sarasota counties have been among the safest coastal counties in Florida when it comes to hurricanes.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
From left to right, Bruce Udell, Howard Kilman, Mark Gordon and David Fried outside Leket Israel, the country's largest food bank.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • May 30, 2025
Israel: A Love story

Lots of people told me going to Israel would be a life-changing trip. They were right.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Two stormwater storms
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 29, 2025
Two stormwater storms

County commissioners are facing two storms that could blow them away: how to pay for and prevent another 2024 and dumping stormwater on the city.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Speaker Perez has it right
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 29, 2025
Speaker Perez has it right

While President Donald Trump and U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson gloat over the passage of their “big beautiful bill,” Florida Speaker Danny Perez is preparing for his own budget battle next month.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
A missed opportunity?
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 28, 2025
A missed opportunity?

With a looming $14 million library-community center a football field away from the $2.1 million Tidewell building, it makes you wonder.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Arts can (and should) stand on their own
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 28, 2025
Arts can (and should) stand on their own

Whenever the region’s arts organizations and their leaders and representatives convene for a conference or summit, inevitably, discussions get around to lamenting the state of taxpayer funding for the arts.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Democracy takes foresight and forethought
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • May 27, 2025
Democracy takes foresight and forethought

One should consider the consequences before making a decision, a reader says.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
'Save the Mira Mar' is inappropriate form of horse trading
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • May 21, 2025
'Save the Mira Mar' is inappropriate form of horse trading

Seaward's development plan rests on two shaky pillars that lacks an economic need and historic preservation, a reader says.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
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Latest News

1
Britnie Sutika, CEO Kristie Skoglund, Kimberly Treharne, Paola Pinillos and Kate Reed
  • December 7, 2025
Florida Center for Early Childhood hosts 2nd annual Wonder Gala
2
St. Petersburg's Ella Brown and Sarasota's Mike Chambers take full advantage of the live music to show off their best dance moves at the Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival on Dec. 6.
  • December 7, 2025
Lakewood Ranch music fans aren't crying the blues after festival
3
Students from Sarasota High School's marching band walk in the parade.
  • December 7, 2025
Sarasota's spirit goes on display in the holiday parade
4
Debi and Mike O'Leary take a look at the tree.
  • December 6, 2025
Sarasota annual tree lighting takes place at Selby Five Points
5
Devin Mignery (center) prepares to take the snap during the FHSAA Class 2A state semifinal between Cardinal Mooney and Cocoa. The senior quarterback was inserted for junior Davin Davidson and helped usher the Cougars into the state championship.
  • December 6, 2025
Cardinal Mooney football headed to state championship

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