If you’ve lived or stayed in Florida for any period of time, chances are you’ve heard of red tide. What exactly causes this environmental phenomenon? It’s the too-high concentration of microscopic algae that make for dead fish lined along the beach and that “red tide” smell in the air. Despite Sarasota County and Manatee County’s … MORE>>

The last of the no-swim advisories posted after high levels of bacteria were found off several Sarasota County beaches last Thursday have been lifted. The Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County lifted the advisories for Turtle and Nokomis beaches on Monday after officials said they received testing results showing the enterococcus bacteria at a … MORE>>

Ringling College of Arts and Design students are working on an environmental art installation on Lido Beach titled “Rise and Run.” The display, using flags to mark high tide lines, is intended to demonstrate projected sea level rise by the years 2030 and 2050. The project was designed by Ringling College of Art and Design … MORE>>

TAMPA — I was prepared to mock The Beach, which is this strange art exhibit turned play space at Amalie Arena, but it turned out to be utterly charming. Kids of all ages dive into a 3-foot-deep pool filled with 1.2 million white plastic balls. And that’s it. Simple, silly fun. The Beach looks like … MORE>>

Just shy of 4,200 sea turtle nests have been laid along Sarasota and Manatee County beaches so far this year, according to Mote Marine Laboratories. That is more than twice last year’s record 1,714 nests, with three months left in the 2016 nesting season. Mote announced this year would be a record season earlier this … MORE>>

Over 90% of the Great Barrier Reef is dying, and the chemicals in your sunscreen are contributing to it. Luckily, there are reef-safe sunscreen brands you can use instead. MORE>>

The roar of racing boats has been enveloping Sarasota shores every summer since 1985, and this year’s Powerboat Grand Prix promises to be one of the biggest events yet. The races feature various sizes of powerful, thundering watercraft competing at the event produced by and benefiting Suncoast Charities for Children. The headline Super Stock races … MORE>>

If you’ve ever kicked your feet up and cracked open a beer on Lido Key’s beaches, it turns out your relaxing day in the sand was actually against the law. It’s nearly impossible to know that, though, because there aren’t any signs saying as much and there’s very little, if any, enforcement of the City … MORE>>

My dad firmly believes it never rains until he washes his car and remembers in horror my childhood baseball games when, if there was one piece of gum stuck to the bench in the dugout, it was always me who sat in it. Sarasota County leaders knows the feeling. Just a few weeks after they finished a huge, $21.5 … MORE>>

New College of Florida graduates, congrats! Sorry, you had to compete with the Tampa Bay Lightning’s playoff game. I’m sure no one was listening to them kick the Penguins ass, 4-3, during the commencement ceremony Friday. Always the best #graduation gallery of the year: @NewCollegeofFL #classof2016 @DanWagner888 https://t.co/u0I64WXeGb pic.twitter.com/xIHHXwJ8hb — Vicki Dean (@vdeanfla) May 21, … MORE>>