Observe This: Today’s Top Stories

Braden River Utilities to raise rates

→ Braden River Utilities plans to raise its rates for irrigation water to offset costs of an expansion project.

Representatives of Braden River Utilities, the irrigation utility controlled by Lakewood Ranch developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, today told members of the Lakewood Ranch Inter-District Authority Board the utilities' rates would be increasing significantly to offset a $2 million project to secure reclaimed water from the city of Sarasota.

Rates for irrigation water will increase Oct. 1 from 60 centers per 1,000 gallons to 90 cents per 1,000 gallons. The change equates to about... [click here to read on!]

G.WIZ staying put on the bayfront

→ The city cannot sell either its vacant bayfront parcel or the G.WIZ Science Museum property.

The Sarasota City Commission will move forward with G.WIZ Science Museum lease negotiations on the museum’s bayfront parcel after city staff ensures G.WIZ is in compliance with the city’s grant policy.

The decision was made at Monday’s regular commission meeting after city officials learned last week that a suggestion by Commissioner Shannon Snyder to discuss relocating G.WIZ to another city parcel in order to attract a high-profile tenant to the waterfront could never be accomplished. That’s because... [click here to read on!]

Former football coach's appeal rejected

→ The Second District Court of Appeal in Lakeland has refused to overturn former Braden River High football coach Josh Hunter's 10-year prison sentence for a 2009 drunk driving accident that killed his best friend and fellow coach Doug Garrity.

The Second District Court of Appeal in Lakeland has refused to overturn former Braden River High football coach Josh Hunter's 10-year prison sentence for a 2009 drunk driving accident that killed his best friend and fellow coach Doug Garrity.

Hunter, who has been out of jail on a $50,000 bond while his case was appealed, was charged with... [click here to read on!]