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Sarasota

Evidence discovered in the home of 33-year-old Demond L. Smith who was arrested by Sarasota police on multiple charges.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 20, 2025
Repeat felon faces charges in Sarasota drug bust

Demond L. Smith, 33, is charged with three felonies and one misdemeanor, including trafficking in cocaine.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 19, 2025
Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat

Sarasota and Longboat Key both experienced traffic tie-ups during the lunch hour.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
District 5 representative Ron Cutsinger will be the 2026 chairman of the Sarasota County Commission.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • December 19, 2025
Sarasota County commissioners pick chair, vice chair

Ron Cutsinger will serve as chair of the Sarasota County Commission in 2026 and Mark Smith will serve as vice chair.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Locations of the new St. Armands speed tables are marked in red.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 19, 2025
St. Armands speed humps will be replaced with permanent speed tables

Work to replace the modular speed humps at St. Armands Circle with asphalt speed tables will begin mid-January.

  • Sarasota
  • News
All games in the 2027 Sarasota College Softball Classic will be played on the championship field (lower left) at the new 17th Street Park Regional Sports Complex.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 18, 2025
New north Sarasota park draws major collegiate softball tournament

Six Division 1 softball programs will participate in the inaugural Sarasota College Softball Classic in early 2027.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Sarasota Police Department personnel monitor Sarasota's network of cameras, license plate readers, gunshot detectors and other devices in the nearly completed Real-Time Operations Center.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 18, 2025
Police foil developing bank scam as it unfolds

The Sarasota Police Department's Real-Time Operations Center quickly solves a scam involving a bank, credit card and ride share driver.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The home at 2834 Browning Street featured countless decorations and animated figures.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 18, 2025
Sarasota homes light up for the holidays

Some of the highlights in Sarasota include the homes at 2834 Browning St. and 3059 Jamaica St.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
In new year, Sarasota parents may have 3 days to excuse absence
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 18, 2025
In new year, Sarasota parents may have 3 days to excuse absence

The Sarasota County Schools Board will gather public comment Jan. 20 on a new policy that will make the window to excuse an absence consistent across schools.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Osprey play an important role in local ecosystems, and they seek out high perches on either designated nesting perches or, as in this case, power poles.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • December 18, 2025
Ospreys get a home renovation

The city of Sarasota recently straightened out an osprey perch on City Island that was damaged by Hurricane Milton.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Sarasota County's beaches, which are consistently ranked among the nation's best, offer dramatic sunsets.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • December 18, 2025
Tourism outlook expects visitors leveling off in 2026

Visit Sarasota County predicts a "flat" 2026 after years of declines from the COVID highs with spending still outpacing pre-pandemic levels.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Renovations and construction of new concessions in Concourse B at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport are nearly complete.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • December 18, 2025
Airport's growth in 2025 sets the stage for 2026 planning

After spending some $200 million on expansion, Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport sets its sights on more improvements, including a parking deck and new baggage claim system.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The home at 265 Cedar Park Circle was built in 1959 and has five bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 6,455 square feet of living area.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 18, 2025
Top residential real estate sales for Dec. 1-5 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

A Cocoanut Bayou home on Cedar Park Circle tops the week’s sales at $7.2 million.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Emily Chana, 10, rehearses the swinging trapeze.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 17, 2025
Sailor Circus Academy students prepare for 'Winter’s Dream' show

The holiday performance by the youth circus program features eight shows from Friday, Dec. 26 through Monday, Dec. 29.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
St. Armands Circle was several feet underwater following hurricanes Helene and Milton.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • December 17, 2025
St. Armands receives $13.5 million to address flooding concerns

The Sarasota County Commission allocates just more than half of the $24.5 million the city requested for storm mitigation projects on St. Armands Key.

  • Sarasota
  • News
At a Junior Achievement "Discovery Center'' in Tampa, elementary-aged students run a mock city.Two similar facilities are proposed to be set up at Emma Booker Elementary and Booker Middle schools in Sarasota.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 17, 2025
Rejections sent to Manatee, Sarasota Schools of Hope requesters

Manatee and Sarasota counties say no to a pair of companies seeking campus space. But that might not be the end of it.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
1 2 3 4 5 »
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Latest in Sarasota

1
Evidence discovered in the home of 33-year-old Demond L. Smith who was arrested by Sarasota police on multiple charges.
  • December 20, 2025
Repeat felon faces charges in Sarasota drug bust
2
Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat
  • December 19, 2025
Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat
3
District 5 representative Ron Cutsinger will be the 2026 chairman of the Sarasota County Commission.
  • December 19, 2025
Sarasota County commissioners pick chair, vice chair
4
Locations of the new St. Armands speed tables are marked in red.
  • December 19, 2025
St. Armands speed humps will be replaced with permanent speed tables
5
All games in the 2027 Sarasota College Softball Classic will be played on the championship field (lower left) at the new 17th Street Park Regional Sports Complex.
  • December 18, 2025
New north Sarasota park draws major collegiate softball tournament

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