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Sarasota | News

Sarasota Director of Finance Kelly Strickland talks fiscal year 2026 budget with the Sarasota City Commission as Budget Manager Tyler Harris looks on.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • September 17, 2025
Sarasota approves budget for fiscal year 2026 with millage increase

The Sarasota City Commission has given final approval of the $303 million fiscal year 2026 spending plan that includes money earmarked to rebuild fund balance.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The damage to Bayfront Park from hurricanes Helene and Milton is estimated at $1.15 million.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • September 16, 2025
Sarasota signs contractor for hurricane-related paving repairs

The Sarasota City Commission approves a $7.5 million agreement with Ajax Paving Industries for recovery work related to the 2024 hurricanes.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium is opening its SEA site in early October.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 15, 2025
New Mote SEA facility will open in early October

Members get first views on Oct. 6-7 and public on Oct. 8 at its aquarium located near University and I-75 in Sarasota County.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota couple arrested on child neglect charges
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 15, 2025
Sarasota couple arrested on child neglect charges

Found day drinking outside and testing positive for narcotics, SPD and state investigators arrest couple after finding a child locked in a room.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The damage to Whitaker Gateway Park from hurricanes Helene and Milton is estimated at $1.5 million.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 15, 2025
Sarasota launches park recovery update website

Sarasota's new website allows residents to track the progress of storm damage repairs at 14 coastal parks and assets.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Columbia Restaurant’s fourth-generation owner Casey Gonzmart Sr., believes that passion and fun are essential in running a restaurant empire.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • September 14, 2025
Family legacy at Columbia Restaurant carries to next generation

Casey Gonzmart Sr. is passing the torch to family members as he steps down as chairman of the board of the 1905 Family of Restaurants.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Lido Key is among the highest trending fall vacation rental in the country, according to vacation rental marketplace HomeToGo.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • September 13, 2025
Lido Key ranks among top trending fall vacation destinations

With online searches more the tripling the year prior, vacation rental marketplace HomeToGo rates the Sarasota barrier island sixth in trending growth.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Wilkinson Elementary operates at about 50% capacity, prompting school officials to consider closing it and sending students to three other under-capacity schools.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 13, 2025
Wilkinson Elementary closure part of broader plan, Sarasota superintendent says

By November, the Sarasota School Board could decide on closing the school and moving central office there.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Nearly 300 grams of cocaine, or about 10.5 ounces, was seized from a home in Sarasota, authorities said.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 12, 2025
Manatee, Sarasota agents make cocaine-trafficking arrest

Raids at locations in Manatee and Sarasota counties resulted in seized cocaine and the arrest of a Bradenton man.

  • East County
  • 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
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Latest in Sarasota

1
  • March 15, 2026
Chamber youth leadership program accepting applicaitons
2
Sarasota boys basketball coach BJ Ivey embraces Johnny Lackaff. The junior guard had a game-high 27 points March 14 in the FHSAA Class 7A state championship, but it wasn't enough to secure a title for the Sailors.
  • March 14, 2026
Sarasota boys basketball falls by 3 in state championship
3
Sarasota Memorial Hospital's Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute
  • March 14, 2026
Hosptial joins clinical trial of new heart failure treatment
4
Johnny Lackaff, in his third season as a starter, has scored as many as 35 points in a game for Sarasota. He's done it twice — first on Nov. 21 against Braden River and again on Jan. 29 against Booker.
  • March 13, 2026
Sarasota boys basketball reaches first state title game in program history
5
Registered sex offender arrested on 10 new charges
  • March 13, 2026
Registered sex offender arrested on 10 new charges

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