Community News
Thursday, June 18, 2026 · Sarasota
Lake County cuts irrigation to one day per week as drought deepens
Lake County residents must cut landscape irrigation to one day per week under a new drought order from the St. Johns River Water Management District.
UF Professor Carves Wooden Comfort Symbols for Shands Cancer Patients
A UF professor carved over 200 wooden comfort symbols for cancer patients at Shands Hospital while recovering from long COVID. Students packaged the handcrafted carvings with encouragement messages for delivery to patients undergoing treatment.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
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REJECT — No news event.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Two motorcyclists arrested after fleeing Brandon traffic stop
Deputies used helicopter surveillance to track two fleeing motorcyclists in Brandon on June 13. One suspect abandoned his bike; the other was stopped by an oncoming train.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Safe Children Coalition Raises $270,000, Completes $9.9M Shelter Campaign
Safe Children Coalition raised $270,000 at its annual Giving Breakfast and exceeded its $9.9 million goal to build a youth shelter for homeless and vulnerable teens opening by fall 2026.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Safe Children Coalition Raises $270,000, Completes $9.9 Million Shelter Campaign
Safe Children Coalition raised $270,000 at its annual breakfast and completed its $9.9 million campaign to build a youth shelter in Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties, set to open by fall 2026.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Mote Marine Laboratory Awards $365,000 for Florida Coral Research
Mote Marine Laboratory distributed $365,000 in grants to fund coral research and restoration projects across Florida through its Protect Our Reefs license plate program.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Mote Marine Laboratory Releases 22,000 Juvenile Snook Across Southwest Florida
Mote Marine Laboratory will release 22,000 juvenile snook into Southwest Florida estuaries this summer and use genetic tagging to track their survival and breeding success.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
New Year’s Eve Dinner at Toro Toro Miami
Toro Toro Miami will offer a four-course prix fixe menu with live entertainment for New Year’s Eve 2024, featuring dishes like Wagyu Short Rib and Pan Seared Chilean Sea Bass.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
When Sarasota Child Safety Cases Require Immediate Review
Sarasota child welfare cases require immediate supervisory review when family circumstances change significantly, including household additions, visitation changes, and domestic violence reports.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Sarasota Safe Children Coalition Restricts Media Access to Leadership
Sarasota's Safe Children Coalition limits media statements to top executives, warning staff that unauthorized comments risk criminal and financial consequences.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Manatee County Churches Shift Mass Times for Holy Week
Manatee County churches announce Holy Week Mass times, including a Thursday evening service and Friday Communion service.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Sarasota County Redraws 37 Voting Precincts Ahead of 2026 Midterms
Sarasota County voters will see new voting precincts and polling locations for 2026 after the county adjusted boundaries to reflect population growth.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Medical Marijuana Advocates Discuss Amendment 2 on Surreal News
Medical marijuana advocates discuss legalization efforts on Surreal News
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Medical Marijuana Advocates Discussed Amendment 2 on Sarasota Radio
Local advocates discussed Amendment 2 on community radio.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Medical Marijuana Advocates Discuss Amendment 2 on The Surreal News
Medical marijuana advocates discuss Amendment 2 on The Surreal News Friday morning, with a focus on a local man's experience treating his wife's ALS with cannabis.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
DeSantis Rejects Florida Gas Tax Pause Amid $4/Gallon Spike
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis shot down calls to suspend the state's 25-cent gas tax, warning drivers won't feel relief at pumps hitting $4 a gallon. Despite pleas from Democrats and Palm Beach County leaders, he cited past failures and oil market volatility. As global tensions rise, Florida motorists brace for pain at the pump.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
DeSantis Signs 9 Key Florida Laws on Safety, Schools and Traffic
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed nine new laws Thursday in Tallahassee, tackling unlicensed drivers, church security and body camera privacy amid rising public safety concerns. Most take effect July 1, joining nearly 60 others passed this year. From stricter traffic penalties to expanded school guardians, the measures aim to bolster security across the Sunshine State.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Florida's Lab-Grown Meat Ban Survives Federal Court Challenge
Nearly two years after Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation banning cultivated meat sales in Florida, a federal appeals court upheld the controversial law as constitutional. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a challenge from California-based Upside Foods, cementing Florida's status as the first state to prohibit lab-grown meat—a move critics say protects the traditional livestock industry rather than consumers.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Florida Launches Mandatory Hurricane Drills Across All 67 Counties
With hurricane season looming just weeks away, Florida's Division of Emergency Management has rolled out mandatory public safety drills statewide to sharpen readiness. The initiative targets all 67 counties, urging residents to stock seven days of supplies and master evacuation protocols. Officials warn that recent storms underscore the need for swift action amid rising threats.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
DeSantis Greenlights UFC, Colleges in Florida's New License Plates
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a bill unleashing eight new specialty license plates, from UFC fighters to South Florida high schools and military academies. Drivers can start pre-ordering Oct. 1, but only if 3,000 vouchers sell in two years. With over 2.3 million special tags already on roads, these could boost scholarships, mental health and more.
Thursday, June 18, 2026