Art Center Sarasota’s Centennial Season Launch — Art Center Sarasota is celebrating 100 years with a Centennial Season beginning in fall 2025 and running through fall 2026. This season features powerful exhibitions, vibrant events, and expanded programs, highlighting a century of arts impact and community creativity. Special fundraising efforts will support ongoing programs for the local community.

Sarasota/Manatee MPO Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) meetings are taking place today, with the TAC meeting at 10:00 a.m. and CAC meeting at 5:00 p.m. These meetings involve public participation on transportation planning and policy matters and are available for live streaming.

A tragic incident involving a 5-year-old girl pulled into a storm drain after a water main break in Sarasota County. The child did not survive, and the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office is investigating the event.

Upcoming 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony at USF Sarasota-Manatee: The University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee will hold a solemn 9/11 remembrance ceremony on September 11, 2025, marking the 24th anniversary of the terrorist attacks. The event will honor the lives lost, recognize first responders and military personnel, and emphasize resilience and unity. It will feature a flag-raising, playing of taps, and a formal program at the Student Center Ballroom.

Recap from the most recent Sarasota County Commissioners meeting

Recap from the most recent Sarasota County Commissioners meeting

Recap from the most recent Sarasota County Commissioners meeting

Controversy over erasure of sidewalk paintings: The city of Sarasota has removed hundreds of sidewalk paintings as part of a statewide crackdown on street art, sparking outrage among artists and cultural advocates. These paintings, which included historical and cultural depictions such as of John Ringling, had been a part of Sarasota’s artistic identity for over a decade. Only a few paintings remain, with concerns they may soon be lost as well.

Sarasota reallocates $9.2 million from capital projects to hurricane recovery following the costly 2024 storm season. The city faces tens of millions in unbudgeted recovery costs, and to address this, the City Commission approved reallocating funds from 15 capital projects to infrastructure repairs damaged by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Additionally, a millage increase is proposed to replenish the city’s emergency savings.

Sarasota City Commission holds public hearing on FY 2025-26 budget with tax increase: The City Commission proposed a modest 0.3 mill increase in the operating millage rate to replenish financial reserves depleted by the 2024 hurricane recovery. The budget includes investments in coastal parks restoration and resiliency projects. Public hearings are scheduled for the evening of September 3 and September 15 at City Hall.