The Bradenton Herald (Sunday)
New Rattlesnake Key owner plans cruise port near Skyway Bridge
Over 300 acres of coastal Manatee County land near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge could soon become home to cruise ship terminal. The new owner of Rattlesnake Key announced plans Friday morning to develop a cruise port on the Knott-Cowen Tract, a 328-acre...
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Palmetto recognized for turning wasteland into park
Palmetto recently earned national recognition for using environmental remediation to turn a contaminated wasteland into a community park. What was once a contamination site from railroad operations, Connor Park opened in 2023 after nearly a decade of...
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Is development affecting Bradenton’s bird population?
This holiday season, dozens of Manatee County bird lovers teamed up with a simple goal: to count as many birds as they could in one day around Bradenton. The annual outing is part of the National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count. Now in its...
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Manatee County may scrap Cortez boat ramp plan
Neighbors say they’re against Manatee County Government’s plan to add a new public boat ramp just north of the Cortez Bridge — and county officials are considering an alternate plan. The county purchased the 9-acre site that used to be the Seafood...
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New coffee shop planned for busy Bradenton intersection
Another drive-thru coffee shop could be coming to one of Bradenton’s busiest intersections. A developer pitched new building plans near the corner of Manatee Avenue and U.S. 301, across from Manatee Memorial Hospital. Included in the plans are a...
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Affordable housing complex could replace shuffleboard club
A five-story affordable housing apartment complex could replace the Bradenton Shuffleboard Club, city officials say. On Tuesday, Bradenton’s Community Redevelopment Agency Director Jeff Burton confirmed the CRA is in negotiations with housing...
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Undeveloped Rattlesnake Key sold to private buyer
Rattlesnake Key, an undeveloped island of over 670 acres in Tampa Bay that state and local officials hoped to conserve as a public park, recently sold to a private buyer. The island, which sits between Terra Ceia Bay and Tampa Bay, was previously...
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New affordable housing project coming to Palmetto
The Palmetto City Commission recently approved a plan to build affordable housing units near the downtown area. Twenty single-family homes are included in the plans the commission approved on Monday. The Manatee County Habitat for Humanity project is...
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Manatee County approves Charlie Kirk memorial road
Manatee County commissioners took a final vote Tuesday to name a road after controversial political activist Charlie Kirk following his assassination in September. After debating a proposal by Commissioner Jason Bearden last month to rename a major...
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County OKs plans for new high school despite traffic concerns
Manatee County commissioners narrowly approved a new district high school after a lengthy discussion about nearby infrastructure concerns. On Tuesday, the board voted 4-3 to approve the School District of Manatee County’s plan for “AAA High School,”...
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How will Bradenton stop sewage spills into the river?
Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown says the city is years ahead of a 2032 deadline to stop discharging treated wastewater into the Manatee River, but there’s still plenty of work to do . One of the newest projects at the city’s Water Reclamation Facility is a...
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Inside casino case naming ASK-GARY founder that went nowhere
When Manatee County Sheriff’s deputies raided the Spin Fun Arcade two years ago this month, they believed they were shutting down one of the county’s more blatant illegal gambling dens. Perched along U.S. 41 in a busy Bradenton strip mall, the...
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When will FDOT replace the DeSoto Bridge?
A replacement for the DeSoto Bridge connecting downtown Bradenton and Palmetto will need to wait a couple more years. The 68-year-old bridge is due for an upgrade, which will include shoulders and multi-use paths, but the Florida Department of...
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FDOT weighs overpass, new bridges for Bradenton traffic
The Florida Department of Transportation has narrowed the Bradenton-Palmetto connector study to three options to alleviate the area’s traffic congestion. Representatives from FDOT presented the latest in a yearslong study to Manatee County...
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Business owners seek compromise on kratom proposal
As Manatee County officials consider a ban on kratom, local businesses that sell drinks containing the herbal supplement are asking for a compromise. Owners of Adobe Kava and Kava Social Club in downtown Bradenton say a complete kratom ban would take...
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Is Manatee County ready for climate change flooding?
A new local study found that increased flooding caused by climate change poses a significant threat to over 90% of Manatee’s County’s infrastructure. Last year’s hurricane season demonstrated that the county’s infrastructure is already struggling to...
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Village of the Arts reacts to ‘heartbreaking’ art removal
For Village of the Arts residents, losing sidewalk art felt like losing a piece of their identity. Around 5 a.m. on Aug. 27, residents in Bradenton’s Village of the Arts (VOTA) watched as city employees sandblasted sidewalks, removing murals and...
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County OK’s $4.8M community center for Washington Park
Four years after the groundbreaking to create a new park in Palmetto, Manatee County leaders have approved a $4.8 million community center for the project. Washington Park, located at 3011 Eighth Ave. E. in Palmetto, is a multi-phased project to...
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FDOT orders Bradenton to remove street art or face fund cuts
The City of Bradenton has begun removing art on public roads and sidewalks to comply with a state order amid the threat of lost funding. City officials said they received notice from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) on Aug. 21 that...
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County invites negotiations for downtown Bradenton project
A new development could bring housing, more parking spaces and possibly a grocery store, to the heart of downtown Bradenton. Manatee County recently opened an invitation to negotiate (ITN) for its cluster of downtown properties, including the...
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Manatee County buys riverfront land to expand Rye Preserve
Manatee County leaders have voted to add nearly 10 acres of riverfront land to Rye Preserve in Parrish. It’s the second purchase recently approved by the county to expand the nature haven in East Manatee. In June, county leaders voted to purchase 4.5...
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Experts say Manatee’s land conservation is not enough
As Florida’s wilderness shrinks by the day, conservationists around the state, including in Manatee County, are in a race against the clock to protect some remaining pieces from being paved. Conserved lands protect air and water quality and safeguard...
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Manatee County OKs purchase of Mixon Fruit Farms
Two years after Mixon Fruit Farms closed for business, Manatee County commissioners approved the county’s purchase of the property to preserve the historic local site. On Tuesday, the Board of County Commissioners unanimously voted to move forward...
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DeSantis announces state audit of Manatee County spending
Manatee County will be the next subject of examinations and audits from Florida’s Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE), Gov. Ron DeSantis announced. The state’s DOGE, backed by state funds, investigates state and local spending with a task...
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Manatee Community Foundation launches new chapter
It’s a big moment for the Manatee Community Foundation. In 27 years, the charity foundation in Bradenton has surpassed $67 million invested in the community through grants, scholarship funds and a diversity of local programs and partnerships. The...
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Mote aquarium opening delayed by water concerns, animal safety
For two years, Mote Marine has been constructing its new Science Education Aquarium near the University Town Center Mall. Originally projected to open in early 2025, Hurricane Helene and Milton’s devastating damage delayed the $130 million facility...
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DeSantis OKs $100M in Manatee projects
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the state budget Monday and sent over $100 million in funding to Manatee County, including money toward key infrastructure projects and the reconstruction of the iconic Anna Maria City Pier. About $13 million of the approved...
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Manatee County to buy land through conservation fund
Manatee County leaders have voted to buy two new pieces of land with the county’s voter-backed conservation fund. A purchase of several acres of forest land at the edge of Rye Preserve, a nature preserve in Parrish, will create a buffer between the...
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Trump can command Guard in LA as challenge moves forward
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided Thursday to leave troops in Los Angeles in the hands of the Trump administration while California’s objections are litigated in federal court, finding the president had broad – though not “unreviewable” –...
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Half of Florida households struggle to make ends meet, report says
They’re your child’s middle school teacher. They’re the seniors bagging your groceries at Publix. They’re the bank teller, the nurse, the neighbors. They might even be you. They’re nearly half of all Floridians, and they’re struggling to make ends...
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Anna Maria Island restaurant adds new dining options
There’s a fresh look and new food to try at the Sandbar Seafood + Spirits restaurant on Anna Maria Island. Last year, Beachside Hospitality Group bought the iconic Sandbar from Ed Chiles and Chiles Hospitality in 2024. Now the new owners have...
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State downplays FEMA changes as hurricane season begins
Every hurricane season in Florida comes with uncertainty but there’s a surprising new source of questions this year surrounding the federal agency that responds to disasters and has historically helped pay for often massive cleanup and recovery...
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Manatee County expands conservation efforts with island buy
Manatee County leaders voted this week to expand a local nature preserve with the purchase of 13 acres of island property near the mouth of the Braden River. The $41,500 land buy will add a missing piece to the county’s 85-acre Pine Island Preserve,...
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Manatee County wants to stop eastward development expansion
BRADENTON Manatee County leaders are trying to roll back changes that let local development sprawl farther east over the last several years. At a recent Land Use Meeting, commissioners voted to undo a 2021 Comprehensive Plan amendment that allowed...
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Astoria on 9th brings affordable senior housing to Bradenton
A new 120-unit affordable housing community for seniors is complete and accepting applications in Bradenton. The $37.4 million project, called Astoria on 9th, is a collaboration between Miami Heat legend Alonzo Mourning’s nonprofit AM Affordable...
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Vietnam veterans worry war’s lessons are being forgotten
A scratchy prerecorded message crackled over American Armed Forces radio in Saigon 50 years ago, repeating that the temperature was “105 degrees and rising,” and then playing a 30-second excerpt from the song “White Christmas.” It was a secret signal...
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Manatee County OKs loan for 155 affordable housing units
A new affordable housing complex in Bradenton is one step closer to construction. At a recent meeting, Manatee County commissioners approved a $5.6 million loan to One Stop Housing. The company plans to build 155 affordable housing units at its Forest...
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Manatee County leaders consider stormwater fee for residents
Manatee County officials are considering charging residents a new stormwater fee to reduce widespread flooding issues. The fee would add millions to the budget for cleaning canals and waterways and enhancing the county’s stormwater system, which staff...
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Safety concerns spark call for return of school zone cameras
The School Board of Manatee County is asking for the return of a controversial school zone speed camera program that county officials recently ended. In a March 24 letter to the Manatee County Commission, School Board Chairman Chad Choate III urged...
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Seagrass recovering in Bradenton-area waters, survey finds
The state’s latest survey of seagrass in Gulf Coast Florida waters has good news for the Bradenton area, where the vital marine plant is rebounding for the first time in years. Scientists use seagrass as a measure of water quality and ecosystem health...
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New program lets local students start school day later
A Manatee County high school has launched a pilot program that provides flexibility for students facing different challenges, allowing them the opportunity to graduate on time. The extended-day program is for students who want to raise their GPA, make...
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Manatee County looks to protect Myakka land with purchase
BRADENTON Manatee County officials hope to partner with the state to add a key link to the Florida Wildlife Corridor near Myakka City. That potential link is a 550acre stretch of land in East Manatee County — space that county staff say could help...
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Pork Belly’s Eatery brings smoked meats, more to Bradenton
A couple with years of restaurant experience out west is bringing their love of homestyle cooking to Florida’s Gulf Coast. Their new restaurant, Pork Belly’s Eatery and Catering Co., opened its doors at 9516 Cortez Road W., Bradenton, on Feb. 15. It...
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Immigration changes raise concerns in Manatee County
BRADENTON As the Trump administration expands immigration enforcement nationwide, fear of deportation is already reshaping daily life for many immigrant families in Manatee County. While local Bradenton-area officials say there have been no raids or...
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Manatee County seeks solutions for storm, hurricane flooding
With fewer than 100 days until hurricane season returns, Manatee County leaders are looking for ways to reduce the severity of local flooding during future storms. Last year, Hurricane Debby’s record-breaking rain swamped inland Manatee County...
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New hotels coming to Ellenton Premium Outlets
Ellenton Premium Outlets could be getting a makeover soon. Gulf Coast Factory Shops Limited Partnership filed paperwork with Manatee County Development Services to add two extended-stay hotels on the 68-acre site at 5593 Factory Shops Blvd., Ellenton....
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Cortez Fishing Festival celebrating village’s resilience
The annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival is back this weekend to celebrate the Bradenton community’s survival through the decades. But this year, it will also celebrate the village’s resilience through 2024’s brutal hurricane season. With the...
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Trump says he will announce reciprocal tariffs this week
President Donald Trump said he plans to unveil reciprocal tariffs this week in a major escalation of his trade war with U.S. economic partners. Trump made the announcement during a meeting with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Friday...
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Manatee County receives federal hurricane relief grant
Manatee County is set to receive a grant worth more than $250 million to bounce back from disaster impacts following catastrophic damage from Hurricanes Milton and Helene. The grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is the...
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Florida coast mixed on Gulf of Mexico name change
CEDAR KEY President Donald Trump’s executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico has left residents along the Gulf Coast sharply divided. Some say it awakens their pride in the U.S. while others suggest it’s a silly distraction. The order, which Trump...
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Sarasota Bradenton airport expands with new terminal
SARASOTA Sarasota Bradenton International Airport’s newest terminal is now open with three new restaurants and other convenient features for travelers. The airport hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new terminal Tuesday and the first flight...
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Manatee officials try to restore wetland protections faster
BRADENTON Some of Manatee County’s newly elected commissioners are hoping to speed up the process of restoring local wetland protections that were removed in 2023. In September, the board voted to restore the county’s wetland buffers, which are meant...
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Premier Sports Campus to rebrand, expand
the late Gov. Lawton Chiles. The Democrats were re-elected in 1994. MacKay ran to succeed Chiles in 1998, but was defeated by Republican Jeb Bush. Shortly before leaving office, however, MacKay stepped in as governor after Chiles’ sudden death on Dec....
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Climate change could partly explain repeated Gulf hurricanes
Since the turn of the century, major hurricanes hitting the U.S. have had one key feature in common. Location. The Gulf of Mexico coastline transformed into a bullseye for major storms, which have taken aim from Corpus Christi, Texas, to Marco Island...
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Bradenton singer-songwriter’s music dream is going viral
Dylan Cotrone says it was a happy accident that made his music go viral and set the Bradenton native on a path toward becoming a full-time musician. It all started about a year ago. Cotrone was on the way home from a long day of work bussing tables at...
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Bradenton man sentenced in fatal road rage shooting
BRADENTON A confrontation allegedly sparked by a thrown Coca-Cola has resulted in a Bradenton man being sentenced to more than two decades in prison for manslaughter in a deadly road rage incident. Circuit Judge Frederick Mercurio sentenced...
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Police follow new leads in killing of health insurance CEO
NEW YORK Investigators, working with a growing list of details about the man they believe fatally shot the CEO of UnitedHealthcare in midtown Manhattan, continued their chase for new leads Friday as the search for the gunman stretched into its third...
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Manatee County officials spraying after reports of dengue virus
Mosquito control officials recently sprayed a pesticide to kill mosquitoes in Bradenton, where at least three people have caught the dengue virus. The move came after health officials reported new cases of dengue. A helicopter flew over about 10,000...
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Students make holiday pies with celebrity chef Marvin Woods
BRADENTON At Visible Men Academy, the ingredients for Thanksgiving pie include flour, butter, apples, 50 elementary-aged students and one celebrity chef. Chef Marvin Woods guided small hands as they measured, rolled and mixed their way to creating...
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Bradenton nonprofit MCR Health files for bankruptcy
MCR Health, a Bradentonbased nonprofit that specializes in healthcare for low-income communities, filed for bankruptcy and said mass layoffs will happen in the coming weeks. The organization, which opened its first site as Manatee County Rural Health...
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County OKs developer changes to wetland conservation area
The Manatee County Commission approved a developer’s request to release conservation easements for about 10 acres of wetland buffers around Cooper Creek in the University Park area. Cooper Creek is a 4-mile stream that is part of the Manatee River and...
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Prosecutors asked to probe state officials’ campaigning
TALLAHASSEE Gov. Ron DeSantis’ use of state resources to campaign against two constitutional amendments has prompted a flurry of lawsuits, rebukes from politicians on both sides of the aisle and at least one state official’s abrupt resignation. One...
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FDOT narrows options for bridge from Bradenton to Palmetto
The Florida Department of Transportation has ruled out half of the possible locations for a new bridge across the Manatee River that is meant to reduce traffic congestion. FDOT delivered its alternate corridor study update at Tuesday’s Manatee County...
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TikToker elevating her Florida home 12 feet after flooding
ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. Exhausted, though relieved to have survived, is how Dr. Meghan Martin summarized her Hurricane Milton experience in her first post-storm update to her more than 2 million TikTok followers last week. “These hurricanes, man, like,...
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Millions without power as Florida begins recovery
Florida residents were returning to their homes Friday to begin a long recovery after Hurricane Milton carved a path of destruction through the state. Millions of customers remained without power. The storm leveled homes along its path, flooded...
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Bradenton nursery, farm pick up the pieces after Helene
Two of Bradenton’s iconic agricultural businesses are reeling after Hurricane Helene damaged the crops and plants they have relied on for generations. Helene’s record-setting storm surge flooded the fields at Orban’s Nursery and Geraldson’s Family...
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