• Alternate Text

  • Loading

  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Elections
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Elections
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

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
Steve Stricker is likely to be one of the favorites at the 2026 Senior PGA Championship in April at the Concession.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 25, 2025
A perfect match for the PGA of America?

Lakewood Ranch-area businesses needed to help service the 2026 Senior PGA Championship at the Concession.

  • East County
  • Opinion
What’s best for NCF, USF?
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 23, 2025
What’s best for NCF, USF?

The governor should appoint a commission to determine what the best long-term structure should be for the Ringling, New College and USF.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Lakewood Ranch Community Activities' Paige Venuto, Keith Pandeloglou, and Danielle Bugel look forward to the first Communi-tee Golf Classic at Calusa Golf and Country Club Sept. 17.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 17, 2025
Lakewood Ranch Community Activities launches its first golf tournament

Calusa Golf and Country Club in Lakewood Ranch will host the inaugural event Sept. 17.

  • East County
  • Opinion
« 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 »
The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest News

1
Sarasota Military Academy is at 801 N. Orange Ave. in Sarasota.
  • August 5, 2026
Sarasota Military Academy's downtown campus listed for sale
2
Country Club East's Mark Allen Baker shows off his newest book, "Willian A. Brady — The Life of a Boxing and Broadway Impresario."
  • August 5, 2026
Classroom assignment can launch a career
3
The $2.6 million tax refund to the School District of Manatee County was voted by the county commissioners on July 28.
  • August 5, 2026
County sends $2.6 million back to Manatee schools
4
The Hermitage Artist Retreat programming includes free sunset concerts on the beach at its Manasota Key campus.
  • August 5, 2026
Arts incubator receives $450,000 in grants
5
Kids arrive by bus at Southside Elementary. School begins Monday in Sarasota County.
  • August 5, 2026
School zones will be active as kids return to school on Monday

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2026 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.

Anytime. Anywhere. Observer.

From in-depth local reporting to real-time breaking news, stay connected to the stories shaping our community with the Your Observer app.

Download Now for Free