Politics

VENICE — It took nearly two years, but the city of Venice is pretty much recovered from Hurricane Ian … as long as you don’t count getting reimbursed for the additional expenses it incurred.

Dr. Harriet Moore, director of Strategic Engagement for Sarasota County Schools, and Jack Cox, president and owner of Halfacre Construction Company, were honored recently for their dedication to empowering teens at the 18th annual Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties Leadership Breakfast. Presented by Intertape Polymer Group at the Lee...

Mountains of sand still line parts of Gulf Drive on Longboat Key as residents continue to clean up left behind by Hurricane Helene.

MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. (WWSB) - The Manatee County Government has posted an update on recovery efforts in the County. Needs Assessment Teams have been deployed to the hardest-hit regions, including beach communities, Rubonia, Perico Bay and area trailer parks, assisting residents with immediate human needs and recovery concerns. Staff has...

After a relatively quiet summer, arts organizations in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties are getting busy in October, with dozens of new exhibits, performances, concerts and more. Here is a look at what’s happening in the local arts scene. Junie B. Jones: The Musical Florida Studio Theatre’s Children’s Theatre series opens its new season...

Manatee County offers volunteer opportunities to help residents affected by Hurricane Helene.

MANATEE COUNTY — Manatee County is working hard to get back to normal and assess the needs of our neighbors who have been impacted by Hurricane Helene. First, any reports that the beaches are open to tourists are incorrect. `. The barrier island communities of Manatee County are an...

The City of Palmetto is working closely with our Debris Contractors to develop guidelines and a timeline for debris removal within the City limits. At this time, we hope to have crews in the area towards the end of the week or early next week(i.e., week of October 7, 2024) to begin picking up hurricane related debris. Please refer to the guidelines listed below for hurricane related debris.

BRADENTON — During a second budget hearing held on Tuesday, Sept. 24, the Manatee County Commission approved the adoption of an FY24-25 gross budget totaling $3.2 billion, including a .15 millage rate reduction. The approved annual gross budget represents an increase of roughly $342 million over the last fiscal...

BRADENTON — There are several meetings on local government calendars this week. The Palmetto City Commission, the Manatee County Commission, the Bradenton City Council, the Manatee School Board, and the Manatee County Planning Commission will each convene for meetings this week. Monday. Palmetto City Commission Workshop (agenda. ) 4:30...

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Manatee County officials say they are working on relief efforts and have come up with preliminary damage assessments. Among the hardest-hit areas of the county are beach communities, Rubonia, Perico Bay and mobile home parks, officials say. Manatee County staff released “windshield assessment” results...

The law firm of Icard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm, Furen, and Ginsburg, P.A., is pleased to announce that Meghan O’Connell has been inducted into the Young Lawyers Division with the Sarasota County Bar Association. Meghan is a litigation attorney with Icard Merrill, practicing in the areas of personal injury and general civil litigation. She received her J.D. from Stetson University College of Law, graduating magna cum laude. While in law school, she served as a senior associate for Stetson Law Review, competed on the nationally ranked Trial Team and Dispute Resolution Board, and participated in the Stetson Law Honors Program. Meghan received her undergraduate degree in legal studies with a concentration in advocacy from the University of Central Florida, graduating summa cum laude. The mission of the YLD is to integrate young lawyers into the legal profession by stimulating their interest in bar association activities, social and educational programs, public service projects, and providing young lawyers with a voice in the state and local bar associations. The SCBA’s Young Lawyer’s Division (YLD) offers numerous opportunities to network and volunteer in the Sarasota community. SCBA’s YLD has enjoyed tremendous success through its many programs and was recently selected as the Affiliate of the Year at The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Affiliate Outreach Conference.

There are several locations set up on Longboat Key for residents to get necessary supplies and as well as the opportunity for a brief respite. Comfort Stations: Available beginning Tuesday, Oct. 1. Services available include water, electricity to charge phones, a place to cool off and connect with others:. 10...

While most people associate October with Halloween and Oktoberfest, the Lakewood Ranch Info Center is focusing on Nate's Honor Animal Rescue. Through Oct. 4, the info center is collecting puppy pads, puppy and kitten food and used sheets and towels, among other items to donate to Nate's Honor Animal Rescue through its Furry Friends Donation Drive.

Manatee County Government deserves kudos for its efforts to radically improve communications following a relatively poor performance during Hurricane Debby. Those efforts paid off during Hurricane Helene, at which time residents could access critical information much more easily. The next step in those efforts should include elected officials yielding to public safety experts when the cameras and microphones come out.

PALMETTO, Fla. (WWSB) - The City of Palmetto is working closely with Debris Contractors to develop guidelines and a timeline for debris removal within the City limits. At this time, they hope to have crews in the area towards the end of the week or early next week to begin picking up hurricane related debris.

BRADENTON, Fla. (WWSB) -All three Manatee County Animal Welfare locations are open as normal following Hurricane Helene. If you lost your pet during Helene, please visit the Bishop Shelter in order to begin the reunification process. After storms, shelter intake numbers go up. If you can help foster or adopt,...

A sign reminding people to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid — better known as FAFSA — appears on a bus near Union Station in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Shauneen Miranda/States Newsroom)WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Education is launching the first testing period for its phased rollout of the 2025-26 form to apply for federal financial student aid on Tuesday, with more students set to partake in this beginning testing stage than initially expected.

Pam Fielder, a kindergarten teacher at Tara Elementary School, asked her students to gather on the new, colorful carpet at the front of her classroom. They all sat quietly and listened as Fielder gave them instructions on their next math assignment before they were dismissed back to their new desks and chairs.

Longboat Key has welcomed residents back after a period of recovery and repair, with town officials allowing returns starting yesterday afternoon. Entry back onto the island has been structured to begin at 1 p.m., strictly from the South via the New Pass Bridge with checkpoints requiring identification for access, a directive aimed to funnel the flow of returnees in an orderly manner amidst infrastructure revamps still underway, as reported by WFLA.