Sarasota County has already seen 30% turnout for Nov. 5 after 5 days of early voting
With less than two weeks before the Nov. 5 general election, early voting has outpaced turnout four years ago. Sarasota County Elections Supervisor Ron Turner told the Herald-Tribune on Friday that more than 40,000 people had cast their in-person ballots during the first week of early voting. “That’s a great start and I hope...
LIVE: Week 10 Sarasota-Manatee high school football scoreboard and updates powered by the Herald-Tribune
We are at the stage in the 2024 season, Week 10, where district champions are being crowned. There are several matchups this week that could lead to trophies being raised. Venice can wrap up its 19th district with a victory over the Sailors and a loss by Riverview to visiting Lehigh. In Class 6A-District 11, Palmetto clinches the title with a victory over visiting Lennard. In Class 5A-District 9, the Manatee Hurricanes can wrap up the district title...
Siesta Beach Eats will be open to welcome beach goers as some beaches reopen this weekend
Siesta Beach Eats will be open this Saturday as Sarasota County reopens Siesta Beach and several other beaches following the impacts of recent storms. The sand pavilion, sun deck and retail store at Siesta Key Beach have been closed to the public since Hurricane Helene caused extensive storm surge damage on Siesta Key...
Arts Editor: Sarasota museums helping to steer the future of art world
One of the great things about working in journalism is that even when you think your day has been planned with writing or interviews, the news has a way of disrupting what you were expecting. Lately, it’s been a challenge to keep up with the art being produced and presented in town because of all the arts-related breaking news. Last week, just hours before the Sarasota City Commission was supposed to discuss and vote on the implementation...
Polzak named next Sarasota City Attorney amid talk of office transition
Joe Polzak needed a supermajority vote to become Sarasota’s next city attorney. He easily cleared that hurdle with unanimous agreement by the City Commission that he was the right man for the job. Polzak will be Sarasota’s first new city attorney in more than 20 years. In March he is slated to officially replace Robert Fournier, who has held the top job since 2004. ...
Performing arts foundation cites hurricanes for delay in Sarasota vote on new venue
As the city of Sarasota nears a Nov. 30 deadline for approving an agreement to build a new performing arts hall, the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation, its partner in the project, asked the City Commission to delay a vote after the recent back-to-back hurricanes. The foundation’s CEO said the storms only reinforce the...
VOTE: Who is Sarasota, Manatee's Defensive MVP in high school football midway through the season?
SARASOTA — We're now halfway into the 2024 high school football season and the Herald-Tribune has selected the top defensive players from Sarasota and Manatee counties who have had a big impact for their teams. But we didn't rank them. We're leaving that up to you. Watch Florida HS football games live on NFHS...
Letters: Retired physician best candidate for Sarasota Memorial Hospital board
Paper chose wrong candidate for SMH board I disagree with the Herald-Tribune Editorial Board and support Dale Anderson – a retired internist, emergency room physician and health care manager – for election to the Sarasota County Public Hospital Board (“Opinion: Two reasonable guys want to sit on Sarasota’s hospital board. Here’s who should,”...
Opinion: Two reasonable guys want to sit on Sarasota's hospital board. Here's who should.
Countless people sighed with relief when a slate of “medical freedom” candidates was defeated during the Aug. 20 Republican primary election races for the Sarasota County Public Hospital Board, which oversees the Sarasota Memorial Hospital system. The collective exhale was understandable. ...
FEMA opens disaster recovery centers in Manatee, Sarasota and Hillsborough counties
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has opened three Disaster Recovery Centers in Hillsborough, Manatee, and Sarasota counties as Florida’s Gulf coast grapples with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. President Joe Biden approved a Major Disaster Declaration for Florida, which opens up federal assistance to affected counties: Including Hillsborough, Manatee, and Sarasota. Officials at the...