Manatee County

The same Suncoast lawmakers who voted earlier this year to let charter schools move into underused public campuses have stayed quiet as a Miami-based charter operator’s early push to occupy local schools set off confusion and concern among parents and educators.Mater Academy, one of Florida’s largest charter school networks, filed notices last week to co-locate inside five Sarasota and Manatee county schools — part of a broader wave of early filings across the state that districts say were submitted prematurely. According to officials, charter operators must wait until Nov. 11 to submit a notice.

Marion County was riddled with storefront gambling dens — until it passed a local ordinance in 2021 that gave deputies more power to shut them down. Within months, the slot-machine parlors vanished.Sumter County saw similar results after adopting its own rules that same year. The 13 gambling businesses once scattered across the rural county are now gone, local officials said.Now Manatee County is preparing to follow their lead. Commissioners voted this week to move forward with a proposal modeled on those counties’ ordinances, hoping to replicate their success in wiping out illegal “arcades” that have long operated with little consequence.

From Monday, Sept. 29 through Friday, Oct. 31, UF/IFAS Extension Manatee County as well as several other Manatee locations will be collecting unopened jars of peanut butter (any size) to support local food banks and animal shelters in Manatee County. Sarasota and Charlotte counties are also participating.

A new, free and on-demand transportation service is now in operation to help veterans easily reach medical appointments.Provided by Manatee County’s Veterans Services and Transportation divisions ‘Manatee Moves’ will directly connect county veterans to health providers by utilizing a rideshare service. Accessible through a smartphone app, Manatee Moves is open to all pre-registered veterans who can walk on their own, or who use an assistance device like a folding walker.

A Southwest Florida rancher is getting a high honor: he's going into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame. "When I got the call, it was extremely humbling," Jim Strickland said.

"All of those people came together because they knew how important it was to get the kids back on the island and back in their school. So, I just feel really, really grateful,” said Principal Katie Fradley.

Manatee County reports that 300 residents and visitors were safely rescued and evacuated from Anna Marie Island, Palmetto and unincorporated areas of the county.

The deadline to register to vote or change your party affiliation for the 2024 Presidential Preference Primary is Tuesday, February 20.

Two loggerhead sea turtles, nicknamed “Lilly” and “Farmer,” were released from Lido Beach on Tuesday after recovering from red tide toxins at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital.