• 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

Sarasota | News

Karen Rushing is the Sarasota Clerk of Circuit Court and County Comptroller.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • August 11, 2026
Sarasota County rushes to get records storage project underway

The county, with approvals from the Sarasota City Commission secured, is embarking on a project to build a new records storage facility for the Clerk of Circuit Court's office.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Denny's property at 3701 Bee Ridge Road in Sarasota has sold.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • August 9, 2026
'Good stuff' coming to site of Bee Ridge Denny's, broker says

The restaurant property on Bee Ridge Road is a “unicorn site,” says one of the brokers involved in the sale.

  • Sarasota
  • News
City names new human resources director
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 10, 2026
City names new human resources director

New Sarasota City Manager Karie Friling continues to build out her team by naming Dominique Anderson director of human resources.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota Tiger Bay Club Board Member Jon Thaxton asked Sarasota County commission candidates about their views Thursday before opening up the floor for a Q&A with members.
    By
  • Leah Schwarting
  • August 7, 2026
Sarasota County Commission candidates campaign as clock ticks down

Candidates spoke to the Sarasota Tiger Bay Club with less than two weeks to go before Election Day.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota Police Marine Patrol Officer Ron Dixon reaches a hand across the bow of a beached sailboat during a marine rescue at Big Pass between Siesta Key and Lido Key Tuesday, July 28.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • August 7, 2026
Officers rescue boater from beached sailboat

A Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office helicopter illuminated the scene at Big Pass as the captain was rescued by a Sarasota Police marine unit.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport Fire Department Chief Jason Hackley and one of the agency's three trucks with onboard tanks that hold 400 gallons of firefighting foam.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • August 7, 2026
SRQ airport gets out ahead of PFAS foam mandate

The Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport Fire Department will fully transition from firefighting foam that includes PFAS by the end of the year, 30 months ahead of Florida's mandate.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Lt. Clay Huber was cheered by about 100 first responders and hospital personnel on Thursday.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • August 6, 2026
Hospitalized Sarasota firefighter cheered upon his release from care

The first responder was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital on Sunday after a medical emergency at the scene of a fire.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 6, 2026
Voter organization to hold election information sessions

The League of Woman Voters of Sarasota County is planning voter information forums in advance of the mid-term and general elections.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Paused 'generational' city projects subject to commission review
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • August 6, 2026
Paused 'generational' city projects subject to commission review

Sarasota City Manager Karie Friling recommended commitment to six projects be paused until after the November election. The City Commission wants to review them individually.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota Military Academy is at 801 N. Orange Ave. in Sarasota.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • August 5, 2026
Sarasota Military Academy's downtown campus listed for sale

The nearly 5-acre property at 801 N. Orange Ave. is being marketed as a downtown development opportunity.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Kids arrive by bus at Southside Elementary. School begins Monday in Sarasota County.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 5, 2026
School zones will be active as kids return to school on Monday

Sarasota County students return to school on Monday, leading to shifting traffic patterns with buses, cyclists and school zones.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Business owners have complained of empty streets since the city's now-suspended parking enforcement hours extension went into effect.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • August 4, 2026
Extended paid parking hours rescinded in downtown Sarasota

Business owners received requested parking relief from the City Commission with a rollback of expanded enforcement hours while Sarasota continues to grapple with how to pay for downtown parking facilities.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Storm debris piled up along streets across the city and St. Armands Circle for weeks following the 2024 hurricanes.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 4, 2026
Solid waste fee added for Sarasota residents, businesses

A non-ad valorem user fee was added to solid waste collection invoices for the city of Sarasota to build a reserve fund for storm debris removal.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A new round of state funding will support the dredging of Whitaker Bayou.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 4, 2026
City wins $4 million in state funding for local improvements

Whitaker Bayou dredging and St. Armands corridor improvements are among the projects funded by $4 million in recently awarded state funding.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota County Fire Department responds to the scene of a structure fire in the 1000 block of Herndon Place in the Pinecraft area.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 3, 2026
Firefighter injured during Pinecraft structure fire

A Sarasota County Fire Department firefighter was hospitalized after suffering a medical emergency during a Sunday blaze battle.

  • Sarasota
  • News
1 2 3 4 5 »
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 in Sarasota

1
Late-night fight night in downtown Sarasota
  • August 12, 2026
Late-night fight night in downtown Sarasota
2
At the 2025 FHSAA Class 4A boys swimming state championship, then-junior Andrew Malaj earned silver in the 400-yard freestyle relay and bronze in the 200-yard freestyle as the Sailors won the team title. He recently competed for the Sarasota Tsunami at the USA Swimming Futures Championships in Knoxville, Tennessee.
  • August 11, 2026
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Andrew Malaj
3
Karen Rushing is the Sarasota Clerk of Circuit Court and County Comptroller.
  • August 11, 2026
Sarasota County rushes to get records storage project underway
4
Official kindergartner Avalyn Chavez, 5, hugs Ruby Chavez at the gate of Alta Vista Elementary School on Aug. 10. In an interview, Avalyn said she was excited to meet her teacher and wear her new sparkling shoes for the first day of school.
  • August 10, 2026
Families look forward to the future as kids return to school
5
City names new human resources director
  • August 10, 2026
City names new human resources director

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