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Sarasota | Opinion

When two Secret Service agents asked then-Longboat Observer Executive Editor Lisa Walsh to back off reporting on the 9/11 terrorists, she politely declined. "We're reporters. That's what we do," she said.
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • September 12, 2021
An untold story of Sept. 11

In the 43-year history of the "Longboat Observer," two staffers' involvement in Longboat Key's connection to that horrible tragedy will forever tie them and the newspaper to history.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • September 2, 2021
OPINION: Ivermectin II: Cons and pros

Readers chastised us, saying we were promoting a COVID-19 drug that’s dangerous and unproven. Dr. Pierre Kory addresses those concerns.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • September 2, 2021
Mask wars: Coercion only brings destruction

This fight or war over masks on school children brings into vivid focus the incongruity that has existed with education from the day it became the domain of the state.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
  • By David Verinder
  • August 26, 2021
Sarasota hospital CEO urges vaccinations after losing father-in-law to COVID-19

Loss of a relative galvanizes need for action.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
As an Observer staffer put it, running from Longboat to the mainland likely would have been faster than driving.
    By
  • Emily Walsh
  • August 24, 2021
Traffic circle shift show can only get better, right?

A Longboater’s weeklong diary detailing the new traffic pattern at Gulfstream and US 41.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Guest Author
  • August 16, 2021
Letters to the editor: Siesta Key hotel proposals

Siesta Key leaders sound off on recent opinion piece.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Adrian Moore
  • August 11, 2021
Don’t close the door on Siesta Key

Let’s be generous, welcoming and consistent.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • August 5, 2021
Public education unmasked

Parents exposed what’s really going on in Sarasota schools. It’s a case for abolishing public education.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 29, 2021
It’s time for new leadership

There comes a time in the life of every company when it needs new energy, new perspectives and new ideas. Unfortunately, that also means some of those who grew the business need to go. A case in point.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 22, 2021
A good start for Brown

Sarasota City Manager Marlon Brown is off to a good start with this first budget. He is proposing the city lower its millage rate and wants to dissolve the city’s parks and recreation tax district.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 22, 2021
Why should voting be easy?

The easier it is to vote, the less it is valued.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 15, 2021
Wrong time for new tax

It makes little sense for the Sarasota County Commission to adopt a new tax for mental health services — especially when living costs are rising rapidly and the county is awash in federal cash.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 15, 2021
St. Armands master plan called for hotel 13 years ago

It goes without saying in Florida that any major development will spark vocal opposition.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Adrian Moore
  • July 6, 2021
Attempt to silence social media clearly unconstitutional

Legislation to control social media flies in the face of Gov. Desantis' and the GOP's free-market values.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 1, 2021
How will this end?

No one knows how the current strife in America will end. But we’ve been resilient for 245 years. And we know this, too: An essential ingredient to pursuing happiness is you must be free.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
« 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 »
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Latest in Sarasota

1
Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport served more than 4.5 million passengers in 2025.
  • January 13, 2026
Sarasota airport smashes passenger count record at 4.5 million
2
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  • January 13, 2026
Mira Mar project moves forward with partial sign-off

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