Herald-Tribune
Guy Fieri again to spotlight beloved Sarasota restaurant
Exciting new details have emerged about a celebrity chef ’s visit — nearly two decades later — to one of Sarasota’s most famous restaurants. That return trip is already taking shape behind the scenes. When Matt Rebhan and his father, Mark, met with...
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What to expect for today’s Artemis II’s homecoming
After a 10-day mission of flying around the moon and venturing deeper into space than any humans in history, the Artemis II crew are set to return to Earth on April 10 — triggering a fullscale recovery operation that involves a U.S. Navy ship and four...
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U.S., Iran both declare victory with ceasefire
A two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran is underway following an eleventh-hour deal struck just before a deadline imposed by President Donald Trump, who threatened to wipe out a “whole civilization” if Iran did not capitulate to U.S....
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Man receives life sentences in double-murder case
In a trial that lasted only a day, Thomas Matejcek of Manatee County was found guilty on two counts of firstdegree murder Monday and received two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole. Matejcek, 38, was found guilty of killing...
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Artemis II photos show view before lunar flyby
More breathtaking images released over the weekend from NASA’s Artemis II mission showed both the moon and Earth in all their cosmic glory as four astronauts headed toward our celestial neighbor. The three Americans and one Canadian have captured some...
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FHP chase tactics bring criticism
After a Florida Highway Patrol high-speed chase in Ybor City’s nightlife district ended in four people dead and 13 injured on Nov. 8, residents, media and elected leaders began asking if the tragedy could have been avoided. The four bystanders — ages...
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At a time when concerns about high grocery prices are rising, why are so many grocery chains opening new stores?
Ormond Beach residents Pedro Mosquera and his wife Loraine got up in the middle of the night to drive four cities over for the grand opening of Aldi’s new store in Port Orange, Thursday, Jan. 8. By the time the former Winn-Dixie opened its doors at 9...
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Crew maneuvers Orion away from Earth orbit
For the first time since 1972, humans are once again heading toward the moon. The Artemis II mission, which launched April 1 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, got the green light to begin its lunar journey after a day of orbiting high above...
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Artemis II rocket starts its journey to the moon
America is sending astronauts back to the moon for the first time in more than half a century. Towering taller than the Statue of Liberty, NASA’s 322-foot Space Launch System rocket — featuring an orange core stage flanked by twin white solid rocket...
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Gulf exempted from the Endangered Species Act
A committee of senior Trump administration officials voted on March 31 to exempt the Gulf oil and gas industry from a federal law meant to protect endangered species including whales, birds and sea turtles. The decision, the first of its kind in more...
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NASA Artemis II astronauts revved up for rocket launch
NASA’s Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman said he finds it surreal to drive across Kennedy Space Center to historic pad 39B — where Apollo and space shuttle missions launched decades ago — and look up at his massive 322-foot Space Launch System moon...
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No Kings protest spurs 5,000 to take to streets
The Sarasota No Kings protests held Saturday, March 28 — opposing what organizers call “authoritarian policies” pushed by President Donald Trump — drew about 5,000 demonstrators downtown, up from roughly 3,000 at a No Kings rally in October. Both...
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A stronger shoreline for Sarasota’s Bay Park
Downtown Sarasota’s Bay Park will see about $10 million in improvements to its shoreline to protect against flooding and storm surges, as part of a public works project funded by federal and state grants. ● The Bay Park Conservancy, which co-manages...
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By studying dolphins in Sarasota, it’s changing how we see and hear them.
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Beloved shops could be replaced by apartments
A set of colorful bungalows in downtown Sarasota, housing popular restaurants and shops, carry some of the city’s historic character and local business charm. The beloved, one-story buildings from the 1920s and ’30s face a daunting, expanding skyline...
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‘Trump slump’ hit U.S. tourism in 2025
With an upcoming FIFA World Cup being staged across the nation, 2026 was supposed to be a bumper year for tourism to the United States, driven in part by hordes of arriving soccer fans. And yet, the U.S. tourism industry is worried. While the rest of...
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Protests against Trump could draw thousands
Multiple “No Kings” protests are set for Saturday in Sarasota and Manatee counties, as organizers and participants push back against what they call unjust and cruel acts of violence by President Donald Trump’s administration. The protests on March 28...
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U.s. airport executives call for end to standoff
As Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers deployed to ease security lines at airports across the country, the pressure on the White House and Capitol Hill to end the partial government shutdown, which affects the Department of Homeland Security,...
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Herald Square building on the market at $8.5M
A yellow and orange building that serves as an entrance to downtown — and as a significant piece of Sarasota history — recently hit the market for $8.5 million. The Herald Square building in the Burns Court district has stood at the corner of South...
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Trump’s ‘war on fraud’ a 50-state problem
President Donald Trump declared a new “war on fraud” during his State of the Union, embracing a task that has eluded presidents for decades. He even tapped his vice president to lead the effort. “This is the kind of corruption that shreds the fabric...
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IS FLORIDA READY FOR TAKEOFF?
Instead of idling in Central Florida traffic tie-ups between Tampa Bay, Orlando, Daytona Beach and Melbourne, what if commuters could simply hop inside an “air taxi” and fly directly to their airports or downtown cities of choice? • Enter Eve Air...
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U.S. sends thousands more troops to Middle East region
Despite promises of the war with Iran ending soon and broad disapproval of further U.S. involvement, the White House is signaling more is coming on the front in the Middle East. The U.S. military is deploying thousands of additional troops, including...
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Retirement community expected to open in 2027
A major Sarasota-Manatee retirement development plans to open its doors to hundreds of new residents by 2027. Emerson Lakes, located on the Manatee County side of the sprawling Lakewood Ranch master-planned community — which also extends into Sarasota...
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Man executed in murder that changed FL 911 laws
More than 17 years after Denise Amber Lee was abducted and killed, the Sarasota County man convicted of her murder was executed Tuesday, March 17, closing a chapter for her family. The case exposed critical failures in 911 dispatch that have since...
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Nation hit by weather extremes coast to coast
A deep freeze settled into the South as a heat wave spread in the West and a trail of high winds and downpours left the East. On the heels of a major storm that delivered downpours, high winds and thunderstorms in eastern states, the National Weather...
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Powerful storms and snow slam much of eastern U.S.
Vast swaths of the country were under severe weather alerts late March 15 into March 16 as a series of storms brought blizzard conditions to the Great Lakes and much of the eastern United States faced thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds...
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Wanted: Volunteers to host nuclear waste
WASHINGTON – The Trump administration’s plan to unleash a wave of small futuristic nuclear reactors to power the AI era is falling back on an age-old strategy to dispose of the highly toxic waste: bury it at the bottom of a very deep hole. But there’s...
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The comeback stage
Can Saratosa's arts thrive amid funding cuts and changing habits?
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Unusual El Niño watch may mean quiet season
Seas are beginning to simmer deep in the eastern Pacific Ocean, a signal that El Niño is stirring after a two-year respite and there are hints that what is coming could be exceptional. The Climate Prediction Center issued an El Niño watch on Thursday,...
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Margie’s Market brings new food options to Newtown
Fresh pineapple, yellow onions and free-range chicken filled the shelves of Margie’s Market ahead of its March 10 grand opening in Sarasota’s Newtown neighborhood. Inside the small grocery-style market on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way, rows of fresh...
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Oil prices soar as Iran names supreme leader
As the U.S.-Israel war with Iran entered its 10th day on March 9, oil prices soared over fears of a prolonged conflict, President Donald Trump demanded “unconditional surrender” and the Pentagon made public the name of the seventh U.S. service member...
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Developer deal to lease golf courses starts fight
A plan to lease hundreds of acres of golf courses and green space in The Meadows to Benderson Development Co. for nearly 50 years has sparked a lawsuit over the future of one of Sarasota’s oldest and largest communities. The Meadows Community...
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Trump is demanding Iran’s unconditional surrender
President Donald Trump demanded Iran’s “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER” in a social media post the morning of March 6, insisting “there will be no deal” to end his 7-day-old war with the battered Persian Gulf power. The president added in a social media post...
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Sarasota scales back plans for performing arts center
Updated plans for a new performing arts center in Sarasota call for a scaledback design and price tag, but it will still cost city taxpayers $88 million. A new facility to anchor the city’s bustling arts scene and replace the aging Van Wezel...
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UNDERSEA DIPLOMACY
Oceans shape everyday life in powerful ways. They cover 70% of the planet, carry 90% of global trade, and support millions of jobs and the diets of billions of people. As global competition intensifies and climate change accelerates, the world’s oceans...
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New College to use $2.5M in dorm fund for baseball field
At a time when New College of Florida faces a longstanding housing shortage for students, the school is planning to shift $2.5 million in its housing fund to instead build a baseball field. The move stems from a landmark National Collegiate Athletic...
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U.S. fighter jets crash in Kuwait
The Trump administration’s conflict with Iran will not be “endless,” Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said on March 2, as the United States and Israel’s joint air strikes against Iran expand, MORE INSIDE Some of President Trump’s most loyal followers...
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Clinton grilling shows a change among Dems
WASHINGTON – In late February 2016, Hillary Clinton cruised to an overwhelming victory in the South Carolina Democratic presidential primary – an unambiguous statement of the former first lady and secretary of state’s dominance over her party as she...
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Judge denies legal challenge against Siesta Key land deal
A judge recently rejected a last-ditch effort to unwind a controversial Siesta Key land deal, clearing the way for a home to be built on property the county once bought to preserve. The legal challenge, filed in December by Lourdes Ramirez, of the...
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Sarasota Performing Arts Center plans get an update
It has been just under a year since members of the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation brought their plan for a new performing arts center within The Bay Park to the Sarasota City Commission, hoping to move the public/private partnership forward toward...
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AI COMPANIES GEAR UP TO SELL ADS
Eighteen months ago, it was plausible that artificial intelligence might take a different path than social media. Back then, AI’s development hadn’t consolidated under a small number of big tech firms. Nor had it capitalized on consumer attention,...
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County to buy property on waterfront for $18M
Sarasota County will buy waterfront property that was home to a once-popular restaurant near Siesta Key for $18.1 million, with plans to turn it into a public park and potentially a new waterfront dining destination. The property in question is called...
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Civil rights icon ‘kept the dream alive’
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a towering civil rights icon who battled alongside the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., negotiated global hostage releases and shamed corporations for their lack of diversity and failure to support voting rights, died on Feb. 17. He...
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States help, hinder immigration effort
State lawmakers across the country are ramping up efforts to either support or block the Trump administration’s mass-deportation efforts, wading deeper into a policy arena that’s long been the province of the federal government. While immigration...
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Police: Suspect waited in home
Sarasota investigators say new evidence shows 51-year-old Russell Kot killed two people, then stayed inside the home in Sarasota waiting for the homeowners to return before fatally shooting them. Kot killed two people in Fort Lauderdale before driving...
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Legend Forever
To this day, watching the replay, you expect him to get out of the car with mixed emotions. Angry with whomever he felt started the whole crash, but thrilled that two cars he owned had finished 1-2 in the Great American Race. But knowing what we knew...
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Mass shooting rocks a quiet neighborhood
Aside from the Sarasota County Sheriff ’s Office detectives investigating a mass shooting, life was somewhat normal inside the gated community of Amberlea on Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 11. A couple of people walked their dogs. Workers installed rain...
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Slain shooting victims, suspected gunman ID’d
Authorities have released the names of four victims and the suspected gunman in a deadly shooting on Tuesday afternoon at a home in Sarasota’s Amberlea neighborhood. Investigators say the shooting is connected to a separate double homicide in Fort...
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Multiple victims shot, killed in Sarasota home
The Sarasota County Sheriff ’s Office is investigating after multiple people were found shot to death inside a Sarasota home on Tuesday afternoon. Deputies responded to a home at 4822 Fallcrest Circle at 12:29 p.m., where multiple shooting victims...
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Fla. freeze destroyed crops; Will grocery prices spike?
BELLE GLADE — Belle Glade grower Stewart Stein’s sweet corn pushes up from rich black dirt in the lee of the Herbert Hoover Dike, generally sheltered from cold fronts by northwest breezes that spill over the levee warmed by Lake Okeechobee water. The...
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Little consensus seen after ‘Gulf of America’ renaming
From the bridge of their charter boat High Class Hooker, Susanna Pope and her husband can look out at the sparkling 65-degree saltwater off Key West and envision customers fishing for marlin, wahoo and mahi-mahi. Which fish will be biting? Will the...
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Fresh food initiative launches in Newtown
In Newtown, a historic Black neighborhood in Sarasota, residents have long traveled beyond their neighborhood streets to find fresh food. A new community market aims to change that this spring. ● All Faiths Food Bank announced that Margie’s Market will...
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BEAUTY, BOUNTY AND BIRTHDAY
From the start, America has been a journey, not a destination. The journey has been a literal one, from Paul Revere’s ride to the Underground Railroad to the Oregon Trail. A country founded as 13 Colonies clustered along the Atlantic Coast has become...
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Trump actions worry free-speech advocates
The FBI search of a Washington Post reporter’s home on Jan. 14 was a rare and intimidating move by an administration focused on repressing criticism and dissent. In its story about the search at Hannah Natanson’s home, at which FBI agents said they...
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GUILTY
In a span of roughly five minutes, trial evidence showed, Brennan Wakey went from reclining on a bed to exiting the Hyatt Place hotel, leaving Colton Wright lying on the hotel floor with a gunshot wound to his face. ● The central question: Did Wakey...
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Thinning ranks
As Michael Heald was driving toward Pensacola on Interstate 10 in August 2023, the sky began to blacken and cascades of rain and lightning fell around his hybrid sedan. • He and his wife barely could see the road ahead of them when they heard a...
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Manatee coastal area could see snow flurries
People living along the coast near Longboat Key and Anna Maria Island have a 10% chance of seeing snow flurries Saturday night and early Sunday. Gusty winds from the next cold front create the potential for dangerous wind chills for the Sarasota area...
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Using threat of shutdown, Dems demand DHS changes
Less than three months after a record-breaking government shutdown, the country stood on the brink of a partial shutdown as lawmakers wrestled over a massive spending package that must pass by Jan. 30. Just the week before, the six-measure bill...
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Buchanan to retire after 20 years
Congressman Vern Buchanan (RManatee County) has announced his retirement from Congress after 20 years in office. Buchanan, 74, was first elected in 2006 and has represented Florida’s 13th and 16th Congressional Districts, which have weaved through...
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Death toll climbs amid frigid cold, power outages
The death toll from the weekend’s winter storm climbed to at least 43 people as extreme cold temperatures persisted across the central and eastern United States on Jan. 27. Tens of millions of Americans were under alerts for severe cold as a blast of...
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Bitter cold grips nation after winter storm blast
Extremely cold weather isn’t going away for a large swath of the United States as impacts linger from a deadly winter storm that resulted in at least 14 deaths. The monster storm dumped sleet, freezing rain and snow over much of the country,...
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‘They understand what works and what doesn’t’
CAPE MAY, NJ – It was Megan O’Rourke’s dream job. As a top climate scientist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, she oversaw grants for research projects aimed at making food production healthier and more sustainable. But when President Donald...
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A BROKEN SYSTEM
At the Mary Jennings Group Home – where the devil is not welcome, but pedophiles, drug addicts and schizophrenic killers seem to be - there has been an overdose death in the bathroom, a suicide attempt in the laundry room, and mentally ill people have...
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Minnesotans start strike to protest surge by ICE
MINNEAPOLIS – Scores of businesses across Minnesota were closing up for the day on Jan. 23 in what religious leaders and labor unions described as a general strike to protest President Donald Trump’s deployment of thousands of immigration enforcement...
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Trump’s latest health care pitch leaves many questions
President Donald Trump’s plan to put the government’s cold, hard cash in Americans’ hands for health care would appear a boon to hundreds of thousands of Floridians dropping off the government-supported health insurance marketplace as plan premiums...
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Florida AG refuses to back race-based programs
In a 3-2 vote, Sarasota School Board members approved a mostly symbolic resolution on Tuesday proposed by board chair Bridget Ziegler for the school district and its police to pledge their support for officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs...
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Bill pushing UTC special district sparks concerns
A new bill in the Florida House would turn the University Town Center into a special government district and give one of the region’s most influential developers the power to set specific rules and levy new taxes. House Bill 4091, introduced last week...
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Lido Beach set for $12M renourishment project
One of Sarasota’s premier destinations will receive a $12 million facelift as the city and federal authorities begin a renourishment effort at Lido Beach on Tuesday, Jan. 20. The beach will be open throughout the project, but some sections will be...
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King was supporter of universal basic income
Each year on the holiday that bears his name, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. is remembered for his immense contributions to the struggle for racial equality. What is less often remembered but equally important is that King saw the fight for racial...
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