Melissa strengthened into a deadly Category 5 hurricane Monday with catastrophic impacts expected across the Caribbean, similar to Sarasota last year.

SARASOTA, Fla. – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold a news conference on Monday morning in Sarasota. Governor Ron DeSantis, Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins, Florida Department of Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas and New College of Florida President Richard Corcoran are expected to join the governor.

Sarasota and Manatee are following a national trend of increased sales. The number of homes sold was up 7% nationwide year-over-year in September. The supply of homes nationally is still three months, which is up 0% year-over-year, Redfin reported.

The Strauss Fund for Children’s Literacy is supporting a broad coalition of schools and nonprofits across Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties.

Named “Casa del Carnevale” in tribute to Sarasota’s rich circus heritage, the historic waterfront estate was built in 1936 by Midwestern industrialist Charles E. Leigh, co-founder of the Lavoris Chemical Company and inventor of Lavoris mouthwash, according to a news release from listing agency Coldwell Banker Realty.

A longtime Italian American restaurant is closing its downtown Sarasota business this weekend, before relocating in 2026. Caragiulos is celebrating its last day at 69 S. Palm Ave. on Sunday, Oct. 26.

Sarasota County is allocating nearly $14.5 million for the initial phase of dredging Phillippi Creek to address flooding. The project follows severe flooding from Hurricane Debby in 2024, which highlighted significant sediment buildup in the waterway.

SARASOTA, Fla. ( WWSB) - A threat allegedly made because of noise from people playing basketball at a Sarasota park has prompted a police investigation and the city temporarily removing the hoop.

For the third straight year, Sarasota Memorial Hospital is the only hospital in Southwest Florida to be listed on Newsweek’s recently released annual Best in State hospital rankings. The 2025 ranking recognizes 700 facilities across all 50 states. Of the 26 Florida hospitals that made the list, SMH-Sarasota came in at No. 6.

Father Charleston Wilson, rector of Church of the Redeemer in downtown Sarasota, was recently appointed to the Board of Trustees of the American Friends of the Anglican Centre in Rome, Italy. The appointment was made by the Most Rev. Sean Rowe, the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church.

Bill Isaac, who served in Reagan's and Jimmy Carter's administrations, bought the property for $2.7 million in 2000.