Former Manatee Commissioner Satcher too late for 2026 Congressional bid

Within a week's time, James Satcher announced and retracted his bid for Florida's 16th Congressional District.

James Satcher, a former Manatee County commissioner and Supervisor of Elections, announced and retracted his bid to represent Florida’s 16th Congressional District within a week.
Shimon Otsuka joins fans in cheering.
  • June 15, 2026
Hundreds of attendees gather for FIFA World Cup watch party at The Bay
Former Rotary Club of Longboat Key President Jan Wallace congratulates current President Terri Driver, who made club history in accepting the role two years in a row at the June 11 cerermony.
  • June 15, 2026
Longboat Rotarians reflect on community impact at annual gathering
More than 40 residents attended Christ Church of Longboat Key's first summer lunch meetup at Pork Belly's Eatery & Catering Co., a new high turnout for the event.
  • June 15, 2026
Longboaters catch up while supporting local eateries
The dozen volunteers assisting the Manasota Track and Field summer cleanup on June 13 collected an estimated 75 pounds of trash from along the roadway near Longboat Key Little Beach in only an hour.
  • June 15, 2026
Volunteers step into summer with fun run and cleanup

Arts + Culture

Cristela Carrizales stars in Lifeline Productions' "Begin Again Badge," which runs through June 21 at the Cook Theatre in FSU Center for the Performing Arts.
  • June 15, 2026
Lifeline Productions follows a Girl Scout who grows up and conquers her demons
Carlos Pagán, a fixture of the Sarasota jazz scene, passed away June 7 at age 78.
  • June 12, 2026
Sarasota jazz crusader and filmmaker Carlos Pagán dies at age 78
Venice Theatre hosts global theater showcase WorldFest
  • June 10, 2026
Venice Theatre hosts global theater showcase WorldFest
Steven High is retiring as executive director of The Ringling, a position he has held since 2011.
  • June 5, 2026
Steven High to retire as executive director of The Ringling
Shimon Otsuka joins fans in cheering.
  • June 15, 2026
Hundreds of attendees gather for FIFA World Cup watch party at The Bay
Former Rotary Club of Longboat Key President Jan Wallace congratulates current President Terri Driver, who made club history in accepting the role two years in a row at the June 11 cerermony.
  • June 15, 2026
Longboat Rotarians reflect on community impact at annual gathering
The dozen volunteers assisting the Manasota Track and Field summer cleanup on June 13 collected an estimated 75 pounds of trash from along the roadway near Longboat Key Little Beach in only an hour.
  • June 15, 2026
Volunteers step into summer with fun run and cleanup
Inglemoor High School rowers Krista Alyakin and Karlie Vince made a splash by winning the Women's Youth 2- class at the USRowing Junior National Championships on Sunday at Nathan Benderson Park.
  • June 14, 2026
Emotions flow on USRowing Youth Nationals' final day in Sarasota
Sarasota Crew's Gabrielle DeLeo heads to the finish of the Women's Youth 1x Thursday at the USRowing Youth National Championships at Nathan Benderson Park. She qualified for Friday's semifinal by placing eighth in 7:54.36.
  • June 11, 2026
USRowing National Championships opens in Sarasota
East County residents wait in line before 7 a.m. on June 11 to start shopping at the new Publix at 16642 State Road 64 East.
  • June 11, 2026
Publix opens at corner of SR 64 and Uihlein Road in Lakewood Ranch
Liz Chappell, DJ and Maddie Lessig
  • June 10, 2026
Camp Shriver creates place of connection for disabled athletes
Members of the public curious to learn more about Longboat Key's sea turtle population ask questions of the experts at the first Turtle Walk of the nesting season on June 6 beside the newly staked nest.
  • June 9, 2026
Following record year, turtle nesting season off to strong start on Longboat
Amy Snider and Julie Waters bring some ribbon energy to the dance floor.
  • June 8, 2026
Silver Pride draws nearly 1,000 in its celebration of older LGBTQ+ adults
Daniel Bitter, 7, tosses the lasso.
  • June 7, 2026
Campers at Sarasota City YMCA try their hand at throwing a lasso
Cole Ralston and Aether Baskin enjoy the con experience.
  • June 7, 2026
SRQCon brings pop culture fans together at Selby Library
Isabella Cz, a rising sixth grader at Dr. Mona Jain Middle School, and Skylar Flandreau, a rising sixth grader at Martha B. King Middle School, take turns playing the ukulele during the Manatee Arts Education Council smARTen Up Camp.
  • June 4, 2026
Smarten Up Camp gives Manatee County students advanced arts opportunities
Gabrielle Finnegan, chapter president of the Lakewood Ranch High School Future Farmers of America, checks out Lucy the cow with 7-year-old camper Luca Bellantonio.
  • June 3, 2026
Camp churns out important agricultural lessons in Lakewood Ranch
Lakewood Ranch's Cole Mule and Bodie Hogan, both 3 years old, explore the bee-themed magnet activity.
  • May 31, 2026
Literacy lessons a hot summer topic at Lakewood Ranch Library
For the final Ranch Nite Wednesdays of the season, Randy Bordon and Bri Rivera of the Bri Rivera Band perform for the crowd.
  • May 30, 2026
Crowd jams final Ranch Nite Wednesdays of the season
Rabbi Michael Shefrin meets Colby.
  • May 30, 2026
Temple Emanu-El celebrates the joy of pets with Blessing of the Animals
Novalee Roberts, a third grader at Myakka City Elementary, is eager to participate in the Tape the Principal (Carol Ricks) event.
  • May 28, 2026
Myakka City Elementary celebrates test achievements with 'Jump a Bucket'
Mark Akerman, Jay Plager and Past Commodore Michael Landis carry away the colors at the conclusion of Bird Key Yacht Club's Memorial Day ceremony on May 25.
  • May 28, 2026
Dedication to service celebrated at Bird Key's Memorial Day ceremony
Andres and Liliana Mendez are continuing their family legacy of bronze sculpting, examples of which they shared at the St. Armands Fine Art Festival on May 23 and 24.
  • May 26, 2026
Bronze sculpture, 3D paintings and more impress at St. Armands art fest
Darrell Butler, the chief veterans service officer with Sarasota County, serves as emcee.
  • May 25, 2026
Sarasota residents honor sacrifices at Memorial Day Parade
Emerson Lepper greets Principal Ben Hopper.
  • May 23, 2026
Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School celebrates graduates' new horizons
Oceane Visa, who says she has waited years to walk across the stage for graduation, is congratulated by Head of School Debra Otey.
  • May 22, 2026
Out-of-Door Academy graduates showed up for the moments that matter most
Molly Reichenbach, Caio Menegardo and Brian Scanlon cheer for their classmates as they receive their diplomas from Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy May 20.
  • May 21, 2026
First class of seniors ready to soar from Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy
Jazmin Ortega, Alora Parcells and Suri Bui reminisce on their time at Braden River High School prior to the commencement ceremony at LECOM Park May 19.
  • May 20, 2026
Braden River High grads know there is 'a lot to be discovered'
Karen and Gregg Sweeney, Chris and Cathy Goglia, and Debbie McPeak socialize at the Longboat Key Club's farewell lawn party on May 15.
  • May 20, 2026
Longboaters jam with Big Z Band to close out season
In a room packed with family members — adjacent to another room with several times as many additional friends — longtime Longboat Key resident Harold Goldstein celebrated his 100th birthday on May 11 at Rosemary and Thyme.
  • May 19, 2026
100 years young takes on new meaning for mold-breaker Harold Goldstein
Sophia Wiley makes her way down the row to shake hands after she receives her Lakewood Ranch High School diploma at Lecom Park May 18.
  • May 19, 2026
Lakewood Ranch High graduates eager for what's ahead