Do as I Say, Not as I Do

Christian and Bridget Ziegler—he, the former Florida GOP chair active with student groups like Turning Point USA; she, a Sarasota County School Board member (and newly elected chair) and Moms for Liberty co-founder—are suing the City of Sarasota, claiming police violated their rights during a 2023 investigation into sexual battery allegations against Christian. No criminal charges were filed. It’s a curious twist for two public figures who helped drive book bans and laws limiting LGBTQ+ content in schools. After years of warning others about “inappropriate material,” the Zieglers are furious that someone finally read theirs.

Walking the Line

Wallenda siblings Nik and Lijana broke a record for the highest and longest tightrope crossover when they tiptoed across the wires 80 feet above a University Town Center parking lot, instantly giving shoppers the rare choice between grabbing a pretzel or watching history happen. Suddenly, those pre-Christmas sales felt a little less important. Even more impressive: This was Lijana’s first hometown hire-wire walk since she was seriously injured during a rehearsal in 2017. Even parking lots in Sarasota aren’t boring.

Hidden Treasure

An 88-year-old woman in Bradenton discovered more than $100,000 in unclaimed stock dividends from a former employer after the woman suspected she was being scammed and called local police. One routine check later and she’s six figures richer. Who needs Wall Street when the state’s lost-and-found pays better? (By the way, you can check for unclaimed funds at fltreasurehunt.gov.)

Southern Lights

In November, a powerful solar storm pushed the Northern Lights all the way to Sarasota and Manatee, painting the Gulf Coast sky in faint streaks of pink and green. Stargazers called it magical, meteorologists called it rare, and social media briefly lit up like the sky itself with UFO sightings. For once, the glow over Sarasota wasn’t from luxury condos.

Message in a Bottle

A Michigan girl visiting Bradenton Beach spotted a tiny bottle washed ashore—with a note inside that had drifted all the way from Hawaii. It wasn’t a rescue plea, just proof that snail mail still exists—if you’re patient for about 4,500 miles.