Lakewood Ranch Main Street motors past a milestone
Lakewood Ranch has a lot of stuff in its 33,000 acres. But what it doesn’t have is a downtown. It might not be a traditional downtown, like Sarasota has to the south or Bradenton has to the north. But Lakewood Ranch Main Street is certainly a focal point of the master-planned community. Just off Lakewood Ranch...
Charter school companies target Manatee school facilities under new state law
Two charter school companies submitted letters to the School District of Manatee County indicating interest in taking over district facilities under a new state law. On Tuesday, Florida’s “Schools of Hope” law went into effect, which allows charter school companies to “co-locate” in unused or underperforming public...
A Broadway show comes to Tampa with a Sarasota actress as its star
Actress Ann Morrison debuted on Broadway in 1981 in the Stephen Sondheim musical, 'Merrily We Roll Along.'. She’s since played everyone from Norma Desmond in "Sunset Boulevard" to Sally in "Cabaret." Now, she's starring in a tour of the musical, "Kimberly Akimbo." WUSF's Cathy Carter caught up with the...
Englewood hospital gets an A; others, including DeSoto, maintain grades
With two exceptions, the Fall 2025 hospital safety grades from The Leapfrog Group, released Thursday, for the hospitals in Sarasota, Charlotte and DeSoto counties are unchanged since the spring report.
Florida Waterfront Restaurant Seniors Love For Slow Meals And Peaceful Views
If you dream of slow meals beneath shady trees with water lapping nearby, Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub is the gentle pace you’ve been seeking. Tucked on Longboat Key in an early-1900s beach house, it serves Old Florida charm with every plate. The views are calm, the service unhurried, and the seafood tastes...
Hart’s Landing Demolished After Hurricane Damage; City Plans to Rebuild Beloved Waterfront Site
Hart’s Landing, a historic waterfront bait shop in Sarasota, was demolished on November 10, 2025. The building was damaged beyond repair by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024.
Police share new footage linked to Bradenton woman’s unsolved killing
A year after a Bradenton woman was gunned down in her driveway, police released new surveillance video that investigators hope will help identify the people involved. Detectives said 43-year-old Yolanda Baxcajay-Flores , a mother of four, was fatally shot while pulling into her driveway on 15th Avenue East on Nov....
Dima Tower says he was ‘temporarily insane’ when he killed his parents in Sarasota...
During the second day of testimony , Dima Tower, 24, took the stand Thursday, Nov. 13 against the legal advice of his public defender as the only witness in his defense. Tower kept his eyes averted from the jury as he answered questions by the prosecution, huffing into the microphone in front of him. When pressed by...
Domestic violence survivor turns near-death attack into a mission to help
The buzz of blow dryers and hum of small talk fill Rhonda Calahan’s Sarasota salon most days — until her phone rings. She doesn’t hesitate. She sets down her scissors, wipes her hands and answers, her tone soft but urgent.
We’re failing the children and families of Newtown. Let’s step up now. | Opinion
As faith leaders, we are called to shepherd. Our calling is to serve our neighbors. To be a source of comfort in times of trouble. To uplift the vulnerable. And we share one urgent, strongly held conviction: We are failing the children and families of Newtown – and we are facing a profound moral test. Sarasota: A...
