More News & City Life

Suncoast Searchlight

Sarasota County Seeks Stormwater Rate Increase, but Audit Finds Millions Available

New Stormwater Director Ben Quartermaine, who has proposed raising annual rates by more than one-fourth, on average—but the recommendation contradicts a newly released audit

09/05/2025 By Derek Gilliam/Suncoast Searchlight and Michael Barfield/Florida Trident

Whisker Wonderland

At Katy’s Cat Café, Adoptable Cats and Kittens Are the Stars

At Katy’s, one side of the space is a beverage and ice cream outlet, where you can view, but not physically hang out with the cats. A separate entrance takes you into the “cat lounge,” where you can cuddle adoptable cats and kittens lazing about.

09/04/2025 By Lauren Jackson

Mosquito Buzz

You’re Not Imagining It. Mosquitoes Are Getting Worse Here.

More than 80 mosquito species call Florida home, and each mosquito species has different habitat preferences.

09/03/2025 By Isaac Eger

Community Power

Inside Newtown’s Grassroots Push to Become a Trauma-Informed Neighborhood

A national model brought to Sarasota aims to build long-term resilience through local leadership, block-level organizing and deep listening.

09/03/2025 By Kim Doleatto

Flashback

In 1937, the Bradenton Nine Devils Took the Field for the First Time

Part of the Florida Negro League, the team is now honored with a historic marker at LECOM Park—the first step in the creation of the African American Heritage Trail.

09/02/2025 By Megan McDonald

Stats

GoFundMe Offered a Lifeline After Last Year’s Storms

Sarasota ranks high as a giving community.

09/02/2025 By Megan McDonald

Meals That Matter

All Faiths Food Bank Delivers Care and Nourishment to a Growing Number of Hungry Families

An increasing number of local families “are one blown tire away from not being able to pay their rent—forget saving or having any buffer,” All Faiths CEO Nelle Miller says.

09/02/2025 By Megan McDonald

Follow the Money

Where Do Your Donation Dollars Go?

We followed the money at these nonprofits to learn about the impact your donation–from $10 to $10,000–can make.

09/01/2025

Home Sweet Home

Alfred Lanier and Nikki Graybeal Have Found Independence and Friendship at the Haven

“My favorite thing about living here is the diversity."

09/01/2025 By Lauren Jackson

The Rich Keep Coming

How Wealthy Do You Have to Be to Live in Sarasota?

The flow of money and prosperity has accelerated in the last decade, bringing to town more millionaires, multimillionaires and even billionaires. The paradox, of course, is that many households and systems are under strain.

09/01/2025 By Kim Doleatto

10 Major Philanthropic Moments

From big gifts to grassroots campaigns, here are 10 of the year’s major philanthropic moments with huge community impact.

09/01/2025 By Lauren Jackson

Stronger Than the Storm

Thanks to Rebuilding Together Greater Florida, Newtown Homeowners Sheila and Johnnie Cantrell Are Ready to Weather Whatever Comes Next

“No matter what, I know we’re going to be OK for a while.”

09/01/2025 By Lauren Jackson

Creature Comfort

Therapy Animals Come in All Shapes and Sizes

Meet some of our region’s volunteer pet therapists.

09/01/2025

Made For Life

Former Tervis CEO Hosana Fieber and Founding Family Member Rogan Donelly Take Over Osprey Store

That means customers can still walk in for warranty service and same-day customization while Tervis LLC focuses on wholesale.

08/29/2025 By Kim Doleatto

Politics

Sarasota Sidewalk Art Set to Be Removed

A new state mandate bans all “non-standard” markings on streets, sidewalks and crosswalks, insisting they're safety hazards and distractions to motorists—despite research showing street art actually results in safer driving habits and fewer crashes.

08/27/2025 By Kendall Southworth

Save the Seagrass

Mote Expands Seagrass Restoration Efforts With Three New Research Facilities

The new facilities are designed to advance the restoration, resilience and long-term sustainability of Florida's seagrass meadows, which are vanishing at alarming rates.

08/26/2025 By Staff