Politics

Honors

Tax Collector Receives 'Public Sector Champion' Award

Thomson Reuters announced Monday that Sarasota County Tax Collector Barbara Ford-Coates received the 2016 Thomson Reuters Public Sector Champion Award for Excellence in Office Leadership.

09/26/2016 Research by staff

New hires

Sarasota Chamber Selects New CEO

The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce today selected Kevin Cooper as the organization’s next chief executive officer and president.

09/08/2016 Research by staff

Planning

City Commission OKs Downtown Parking Meter Plan

The Sarasota City Commission voted Tuesday to move forward with a paid parking plan proposed by city staffers.

09/08/2016 Research by staff

Politics

Forum Dedicated to State, County Ballot Choices

The Sarasota County Council of Neighborhood Associations is hosting a discussion of the state and county amendments that will appear on the November ballot during its next meeting.

09/08/2016 Research by staff

Politics

County Commission, State House and Senate Debates Set

Now that local primary elections are over, November candidates for the Sarasota County Commission, the Florida House and the Florida Senate will meet in a series of lunchtime debates hosted by the Sarasota Tiger Bay Club.

08/31/2016 Research by staff

Politics

Post-Primary State House Debate Set for Sept. 1

The Sarasota Tiger Bay Club will host a debate between Democratic and Republican state House candidates shortly after the Aug. 30 primary election.

08/29/2016 Research by staff

Data

Study Finds Florida's Minimum Wage Is Too Low

Florida's minimum wage of $8.05 an hour is too low to lift families out of poverty, leaves workers unable to afford health insurance and is not high enough to offset work-related expenses like child care, according to a new report.

08/09/2016 Research by staff

Health care

Buchanan Asks for Federal Money to Fight Heroin Abuse

Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota, asked federal officials on Monday for immediate aid to confront the region's recent surge of heroin-related overdoses.

07/25/2016 Research by staff

Government

County Considers Changes to Mowing Rules

Sarasota County is proposing changes to mowing service in residential areas within the county's urban service boundary and will host two informational meetings on the changes this week.

07/25/2016 Research by staff

Politics

County Commission Debate Set for Aug. 18

Mike Moran and Frank DiCicco, Republican candidates for the Sarasota County Commission, will square off during a luncheon debate.

07/21/2016 Research by staff

Environment

State Offers Loans to Businesses Affected By Algal Blooms

Gov. Rick Scott last week activated Florida’s Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program for businesses affected by the presence of algal blooms in nearby waterways.

07/19/2016 Research by staff

Politics

Arts Education Group Hosts School Board Discussion

The Arts and Cultural Alliance is hosting an interview session with Sarasota County School Board candidates Caroline Zucker and Teresa Mast on July 25.

07/14/2016 Research by staff

Politics

Democratic State Senate Debate Set for Aug. 4

Frank Alcock and Frank Cirillo will square off before the Aug. 30 primary.

07/12/2016 Research by staff

Politics

Sarasota Clerk Candidates Debate July 21

The Sarasota Tiger Bay Club will host a lunchtime debate between the two candidates for Sarasota Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller on Thursday, July 21.

07/08/2016 Research by staff

Events

Groups Meet Sept. 15 to Determine Legislative Priorities

The purpose of the Legislative Summit is to bring together a broad range of community members to discuss and establish priorities for the Florida Legislature's 2017 session.

06/24/2016 Research by staff

Civil Discourse

Searching for Common Ground on Gun Laws

We asked State Rep. Greg Steube and Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight to sit down with editor Pam Daniel to discuss two proposed gun bills that failed during the recent legislative session but are expected to be filed again next year.

06/22/2016 By Pam Daniel

Convention Wisdom

Inside This Month's Republican National Convention

Each congressional district in Florida is sending three delegates to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland July 18-21.

06/22/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

New hires

Sarasota County Names New Assistant Administrator

Jonathan Evans recently accepted a conditional offer to become an assistant county administrator with Sarasota County.

06/16/2016 Research by staff

We Shall Overcome

Hundreds Gather at Five Points Park to Mourn, Remember, Speak Out

Speakers on Monday evening called for solidarity, encouraged fearlessness and memorialized Eddie Sotomayor, the Sarasota native killed in Orlando on Sunday.

06/15/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Technology

Court Rules in Favor of FCC Net Neutrality Rules

A D.C. Circuit court ruled Tuesday in favor of the Federal Communications Commission's Open Internet Rules, commonly known as net neutrality.

06/14/2016 Research by staff