Aug 15, 2025 TOP STORIES: Sheriff Hoffman the only county constitutional officer to reduce 2026 fiscal year budget in response to County Commission request D.R. Horton and Smith family challenging County Commission’s denial of rezoning petition for 126-home development next to Celery Fields County advertises for bids for dredging of upper portion of Phillippi Creek, with Corps of Engineers citing potential that permit could be issued sooner than originally anticipated City residents express outrage over plans to remove trees at site of proposed Adagio development in downtown Sarasota New county Stormwater Department director puts emphasis on transparency and data sharing On Aug. 18, City Commission to get final Purple Ribbon Committee report about future of Van Wezel ‘Bed tax’ revenue down month-over-month for June Sarasota resident who sued Commissioner Battie for defamation seeking removal of her name from minutes of Jan. 16, 2024 meeting, as it never was mentioned Venice resident dies in officer-involved shooting after threatening deputies trying to arrest him on warrant Sheriff’s Office investigating Aug. 10 shooting in Nokomis On Sept. 22, City of Sarasota to launch new billing system for water utility customers (free) Aug. 19 public meeting scheduled on FDOT plans to resurface U.S. 301 from U.S. 41 to south of 10th Street (free) OTHER NEWS (free): Sarasota Memorial preparing for clearing of land for SMH-North Port and $57-million expansion Tom Edwards hired as new executive director for Project Pride SRQ Public meetings planned for residents to learn about proposed increases in Sarasota County fire assessments for 2026 fiscal year County’s Libraries and Historical Resources Department receives anonymous grant to fund digitization of historical archives Two Sarasota Memorial heart surgeons recognized among America’s leading doctors All Faiths Food Bank launches innovative Wellness Markets Music Compound to present Back to School Bash on Aug. 23 Sheriff’s Office Corrections Sgt. Shea graduates from Florida Leadership Academy
