Demolition has begun on the Sandcastle Resort on Lido Key following extensive flood damage from hurricanes Helene and Milton. The resort, formerly a 176-room hotel, is being knocked down to make way for a new luxury coastal retreat planned by hotel owner Opal, though specific development details have not yet been announced or submitted to the city.

Sarasota Republicans call for School Board member Tom Edwards to resign over his new role as Executive Director of Project Pride SRQ, a nonprofit promoting diversity programs. Edwards rejects the calls, calling them a political distraction.

United Way Suncoast Grant to All Faiths Food Bank: United Way Suncoast has awarded a $270,000 three-year grant to All Faiths Food Bank to support their Benefits Assistance program. This program helps local families access government resources such as SNAP, Medicaid, and Social Security benefits to improve financial stability in the Sarasota area.

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System prepares to clear land for its new North Port full-service hospital and a $57 million expansion of the South County campus, with the new hospital scheduled to open in 2028. The project includes expanding inpatient capacity and medical office space to meet rapid regional growth.

Two teens killed and two seriously injured in a crash in Manatee County—a fatal accident reported by the Florida Highway Patrol.

Sarasota County is holding free, voluntary, self-service sandbag stations today to help residents prepare for possible flooding during the 2025 hurricane season. Several locations, including Venice, South Venice, and Sarasota, have sandbag stations open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., allowing residents to fill and load up to 10 sandbags per vehicle to protect their homes from storm impacts.

Plans to redevelop the Publix store at Shops at Siesta Row have been submitted for review by the Sarasota Development Review Committee. The existing 48,000 sq ft store will be replaced with a larger 50,800 sq ft prototype, with completion expected by June 2026. The retail center owner is Pittsburgh-based Echo Realty, and other retail tenants will remain during the redevelopment.

Art and Cultural Grants Recognition: Embracing Our Differences, a local arts organization, received a $145,675 grant from the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs for its outdoor exhibitions and arts education programs. The group earned a perfect application score, making it one of only 11 organizations in Sarasota and Manatee counties to receive funding this cycle amid statewide cuts to arts funding.

Sarasota public schools face a $45 million drain due to vouchers redirected toward private or home-schooled students for the 2025-26 academic year, prompting discussions of potential policy changes.

Local teen diver Coco Claypoole has taken initiative by starting a scuba-certified youth cleanup crew in Sarasota Bay. This group, supported by Sarasota Bay Watch and Bubbles of Hope Florida, is helping remove storm debris left from last year’s hurricanes and promoting marine conservation in the community.