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Sarasota | News

Sarasota County Commissioner Tom Knight was the lone dissenting vote in first vote approval of the county's fiscal year 2026 budget.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • September 12, 2025
Sarasota County budget first vote approval falls short of unanimous

Sarasota County Commissioner Tom Knight voted against approval of the fiscal year 2026 budget over capital spending objections.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota Mayor Liz Alpert said she was "blown away" by executive search firm Sumter Local Government Consulting during a virtual interview with founder and president Warren Hutmacher.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • September 11, 2025
New search firm named for Sarasota city manager pursuit

"Hungry and scrappy" Sumter Local Government Consulting will lead the search to fill the 11-month vacant position.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The public gathers at the entrance to Midnight Pass on Oct. 26, 2024, as boats make their way through the opening.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 11, 2025
Nature opened Midnight Pass. Sarasota County intends to keep it that way.

Fairly stable for its first 11 months, the waterway to the Gulf is critical for Sarasota County, commissioners say as they begin formulating short- and long-term policy to protect it.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Storm damage repairs at Hermitage Artist Retreat could be as long as a year away according to Sarasota County staff.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • September 10, 2025
Hermitage hurricane damage repairs still a year away

As negotiations to sell the Manasota Beach property continue on a parallel track, Sarasota county commissioners are told the complete Hermitage Artist Retreat campus restoration timeline is still unclear.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Lane closures on North Tamiami Trail for water main construction will begin Sept. 15.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 9, 2025
Water main replacement will close lanes on North Tamiami Trail

The inside lanes of U.S. 41/Tamiami Trail between 14th and 22nd streets will be closed for first phase water main replacement until spring 2026.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Flooding in Pinecraft during 2024's Hurricane Debby prompted an emergency response.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 9, 2025
Sarasota County sides with auditor on no stormwater rate hikes

Sarasota leaders heard about a new approach to weighing drainage projects.

  • Sarasota
  • News
From left, Drayton Saunders, Marty Hylton, Mollie Cardamone and Dave Bullock comprised the panel for the Sept. 4 Tiger Bay Club meeting.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • September 8, 2025
Panel shifts focus from Van Wezel to new performing arts center

Tiger Bay Club program on Purple Ribbon Committee report puts new Sarasota Performing Arts Center at center stage.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Artists are invited to submit sculpture proposals for the courtyard at Payne Park Tennis Center.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 7, 2025
Artists invited to submit tennis center sculpture proposals

The city of Sarasota has put out a call to artists for sculpture submissions to be considered for the Payne Park Tennis Center courtyard.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The current portion of School Avenue greenway was completed in November 2007.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • September 6, 2025
School Avenue trail extension project hits snag for flooding concerns

The Sarasota City Commission rejects the recommended concept for the School Avenue Greenway Feasibility Study and instructs staff to return with more alternative concept details.

  • Sarasota
  • News
VSC President and CEO Erin Duggan, Director of Community Relationship and Partnership Hunter Carpenter, Marketing Manager Jess Bertolini, and Vice President of Finance and Administration Andrea Hunt with the Silver Flagler Award.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 5, 2025
Tourism bureau wins prestigious Silver Flagler award

Visit Sarasota County was honored with the award named after the "Father of Florida Tourism" for its 2024 annual summit focused on hurricane recovery.

  • Sarasota
  • News
State agents seized 117 slot machines at Magic Arcade on Swift Road, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • September 5, 2025
Sarasota Sheriff: 2 charged, 117 slot machines seized in gambling bust

An investigation at Magic Arcade netted two arrests and prompted Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota man arrested on charges of exposing himself on Lido Beach
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 4, 2025
Sarasota man arrested on charges of exposing himself on Lido Beach

The arrest stems from an incident reported on Aug. 29 on Lido Beach.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Among the storm damage to city property is the Sarasota Bay shoreline at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • September 4, 2025
City transfers $9.2 million from projects to hurricane recovery fund

To help fund storm recovery efforts, the Sarasota City Commission approved reallocating capital improvement project funding to help pay for $37 million in remaining storm damage projects.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Agencies join forces to promote Sarasota County's vibrant lifestyle
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • September 4, 2025
Agencies join forces to promote Sarasota County's vibrant lifestyle

Representatives of Visit Sarasota County, Economic Development Corporation and Arts Alliance educate commissioners on how they collaborate resources.

  • Sarasota
  • News
In Sarasota Bay, patches of mangroves commonly dominate small islands, providing habitat for small fish in the trees’ root systems or for seabirds in their branches.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer, S.T. Cardinal
  • September 3, 2025
Volunteers, mangrove health, tech lead to better Sarasota Bay water quality

Mangroves have an array of benefits, from increasing water quality to reducing wave strength to providing habitat for small fish and seabirds.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
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Latest in Sarasota

1
Sarasota police executed a warrant at this home at 1579 28th St., resulting in multiple arrests.
  • January 14, 2026
Sarasota raid nets additional felony arrests
2
Anthony and Katherine Van Wezel Stone, grandchildren of the late Lewis Van Wezel.
  • January 14, 2026
Van Wezel heirs join with SPAF to support new Performing Arts Center
3
Senior forward David Young (33) dribbles up the court with two defenders on him during a Jan. 9 game between Sarasota and Riverview. The Sailors have leaned on Young, among others, with Johnny Lackaff unavailable.
  • January 14, 2026
Life without Lackaff: Sarasota boys basketball digs deep in star's absence
4
Hotel, credit card holder fall victim to illicit fraud
  • January 14, 2026
Hotel, credit card holder fall victim to illicit fraud
5
All appears back to normal in some areas of St. Armands Circle, such as the sidewalk and landscaping aside Columbia Restaurant. Many storefronts, however, remain vacant 15 months after Hurricane Milton.
  • January 14, 2026
St. Armands resilience allocation brings 'sense of accomplishment'

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