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Local

Ground breaks on project to convert Lena Road landfill methane to Natural Gas

On Friday, Manatee County, Nopetro Energy, Johnson Controls, and Mead & Hunt broke ground on a $50 million renewable natural gas production facility at the Lena Road Landfill. The facility will …
Staff Report
Yesterday at 3:15 PM
The main gate at Fort Hood. Photo credit: U.S. Army
national

Trump may backtrack on livestreamed execution of Fort Hood shooter

President Donald Trump on Friday appeared to leave open the possibility that the federal government won’t livestream a military execution planned for December that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth …
by Jonathan Shorman
Yesterday at 2:12 PM
Guest Opinion

They Build It. You Pay for It

If you've sat in traffic on a road built for half the people using it, or watched your street flood after an ordinary storm, you know the problem. Growth has outrun the roads, pipes and drainage …
by Kelly Kirschner
Yesterday at 1:26 PM

Risks of the Homestead Exemption Bill and why I'm voting no on Amendment 3

The governor’s initiative, modified by the Legislature and known as Amendment 3, will appear on all statewide ballots this November and will require 60% statewide approval to pass. The ballot …
by Terry Schaefer
5 days ago
More local news
Election 2026
Indivisible Manatee to host final No Kings event ahead of midterm voting
Indivisible Manatee will host one of thousands of events nationwide to energize voters to turn out and make their voices heard ahead of the upcoming midterms.  The final push will take …
Staff Report
Yesterday at 2:23 PM
State
Florida DBPR Issues Emergency Orders to Support Hurricane Isaias Response and Recovery
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) filed Emergency Order 2026-01, as amended by Emergency Order 2026-02, to waive or modify statutes and rules that would prevent, …
Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
Yesterday at 1:56 PM
local government
Manatee County to Host Public Meeting for 26th Avenue East and 27th Street East Traffic Signal Improvements
BRADENTON — Manatee County will hold an open-house-style public meeting to share information about planned traffic signal improvements at the intersection of 26th Avenue East and 27th Street …
Manatee County Government
Yesterday at 1:17 PM
local
This Week in Local Government: 10/11/26
This week, the Tourist Development Council meets on Monday in the Manatee County downtown Administrative Building. The  Manatee County Commission, the Bradenton City …
4 days ago
Local government
Manatee School Board members Richard Tatem, Chad Choate, Charlie Kennedy, Cindy Spray, and Heather Felton.
Manatee County School Board Notes: 10/06/26
The League of Women Voters of Manatee County Education Issues Committee observes the Manatee County School Board meetings for items of interest to citizens and the League and notes adherence, or lack …
LWV Manatee County
5 days ago
Investigation
Sarasota County Commissioner Teresa Mast at a board meeting | Photo by Christian Casale.
Sarasota County commissioner’s husband paid $42K by lobbyist for developers
On April 9, the developer behind Lakewood Ranch gave $10,000 to a political committee chaired by prominent Tallahassee lobbyist Dave Ramba. About eleven weeks later, that same committee paid …
By Christian Casale | Suncoast Searchlight
5 days ago
Opinions
For Florida Attorney General, we recommend José Javier Rodríguez
The Florida Attorney General race features appointed Republican incumbent James Uthmeier against Democrat José Javier Rodríguez. The winner will serve a four-year term as Florida’s chief legal …
Yesterday at 2:55 PM
EarthTalk: Wood Burning Stoves and Fireplaces
During the cold gaps of the winter day, a warm, cozy fire may seem like the perfect solution. But burning wood releases far more than just heat …
4 days ago
Election 2026
For Governor of Florida, we recommend David Jolly
Florida’s 2026 gubernatorial race features Republican Congressman Byron Donalds and former Republican Congressman David Jolly, now a Democrat. Jolly represented Florida's 13th Congressional …
5 days ago
COMMENTARY
Sunday Favorites
The Guests Who Never Checked Out
A balcony door moves on its own. Music drifts through a hotel hallway. Someone spots a light in a building that has stood empty for years. Around Tampa Bay and Sarasota, old hotels have accumulated stories that don’t appear in their guest registers. Their histories are documented; whether anyone stayed beyond their allotted lifetime remains a matter of belief.
by Merab Favorite
4 days ago
Sunday Favorites
A Day Aboard the Miss Cortez III
The Miss Cortez III didn’t stay close to shore. The all-day fishing boat carried passengers 20 to 50 miles into the Gulf of Mexico, part of a fleet that became a familiar sight along the Cortez …
by Merab Favorite
Sunday, October 4
guest commentary
The Silent Dying of the Braden River Demands Our Attention
For 40 years, I have lived on the banks of the Braden River in Manatee County, Florida, watching its waters from my home just feet from the shoreline. As a retired marine scientist with over 50 years …
by Randy Edwards
Friday, October 2
Obituaries
obituary
Alma I. Alnunu
Alma I. Alnunu, age 71, of Bradenton, Florida passed on October 6, 2026. She was born on May 31, 1955 in Jerusalem. A Funeral Service will be held at St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church, 7671 …
Thursday, October 8
obituary
Cathy Remiasz
In loving memory of Cathy Remiasz, who passed away at the age of 40 on September 29, 2026. Cathy was a cherished member of our family who will be remembered with love and compassion. Though life …
Thursday, October 8
obituary
Mary Fugate
Mary Fugate, the beloved matriarch of our family, passed away peacefully on September 30, 2026, at the age of 92, surrounded by the family she loved so deeply. Mary had a remarkable passion for …
Thursday, October 8
Join us on social media
TBT Podcasts
podcast
Reggie Bellamy is running for the Manatee County Commission's District 6 at-large (countywide) seat in November's election. He joins Mitch and Dawn to discuss what motivated him to run after being …
2 hours ago
podcast
Harvey Shifrin is the Democratic candidate for Florida House District 72, currently represented by Bill Conerly, whom he faces on the Nov. ballot. Harvey joins Mitch and Dawn to talk about his …
Thursday, October 8
COMMENTS FROM OUR READERS
TBT ENDORSEMENTS
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Sports & recreation
Sports

Rafael Flores Jr. Ready to Take Next Step in Pirates Depth Chart

Beginning next spring in Bradenton, I’m looking forward to Rafael Flores Jr.’s 2027 season. When the Pirates recalled Flores Jr. from Triple-A Indianapolis in early July, the rookie catcher …
by Don Laible
5 days ago
Sports

Random Ramblings from the 2026 MLB Season

The New York Mets, at $357,626,125, have the highest MLB team payroll in 2026. The Mets are not in the postseason. The team with the lowest payroll, the Cleveland Guardians, at $69,984,029, not only …
by Don Laible
Friday, October 2
Sports

Pirates Presenting Case for 2027 Postseason Participation

I don’t bet. But if I did, odds are the Pittsburgh Pirates are a postseason club in 2027. Forget the fear-mongering circulating that there might not be an MLB season in 2027. A new collective …
by Don Laible
Thursday, September 24
Sports

Bradenton's Harrison Wins 2026 US Open Doubles Title

Christian Harrison of Bradenton won the 2026 US Open men's doubles title with Neal Skupski of Great Britain by defeating Germany's Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz 64 76. Harrison and Skupski also won …
by Scoop Malinowski
Tuesday, September 22
Arts & Entertainment
music
photo by Spidey Smith

Interview: Jake Owen

"This is still a young man's game." That’s something Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder has said. Pearl Jam's singer-songwriter is correct. The peak for many singer-songwriter's is during their salad …

by Ed Condran
Thursday, October 8
Arts & Entertainment

Tickets On Sale Now for 2026 European Holiday Market at the Bradenton Area Convention Center

Tickets are on sale now for the third annual European Holiday Market hosted at the Bradenton Area Convention Center , December 2-6, now with an added day for optimal cultural immersion …
Manatee County Government
Thursday, October 1
Music

Interview: Alice Cooper

Alice Cooper has more than earned his reputation as the “Godfather of Shock Rock.”  From his half-century of onstage decapitations to last year’s unexpected reunion album with his original …
by Bill Forman
Thursday, October 1
Arts & Entertainment

Art Walk returns to VOTA this weekend

Art Walk returns to Bradenton's Village of the Arts this weekend. This month's theme is Fall in Love with Art! The monthly event will take place Friday and Saturday for t wo days of art, …
Tuesday, September 29
ICYM - In Case You Missed It
Guest Opinion
Vaccines are among the most important advances in modern medicine. A walk through an old cemetery makes this painfully clear: before the 1950s and 1960s, infant and child graves were heartbreakingly …
by Linda LongMSN, MBA, APRN, Adult NP-BC, Gerontological NP-C Lakewood Ranch, Florida
5 days ago
Election 2026
The Manatee County Commission District 2 race features incumbent Amanda Ballard and former D2 Commissioner Charles Smith.
Tuesday, October 6
Guest Opinion
Elections are often described as moments of choice. But sometimes, they are moments of complacency. In Manatee County, voters recently had an opportunity to reshape the direction of local government, …
by Bob McCann
Tuesday, October 6
Opinion
When Florida voters look at their general election ballots, few items carry as much personal financial weight—or as much potential disruption to local government—as Amendment 3. 
by Joe McClash
Saturday, October 3
PFAS, or Polyfluoroalkyl substances, are chemicals that are resistant to breaking down, or “forever chemicals.” Having both …
Saturday, October 3
Interesting News

The big small town holding the borderline

Atmos reports on Redford, Texas, where locals oppose the proposed border wall. Community groups unite against construction, citing environmental and personal impacts.

Katie Hill for Atmos
7 hours ago

Hit by an uninsured driver? What to know

TheZebra.com reports that 1 in 3 drivers are uninsured or underinsured, increasing financial risk for insured motorists in accidents. 
Erik J. Martin for TheZebra.com
7 hours ago

What history says about the stock market in the month before midterm elections

Plus500 reports that U.S. stocks average 2.9% returns in the year before midterm elections and 12.4% after, but macroeconomic factors play a bigger role than election outcomes.
Matthew Adams for Plus500
7 hours ago
Florida report

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Bob Delaney - Undercover Film "Hiding in Plain Sight" Working Undercover in New Jersey as a State Trooper

Emmy Award winning director, Nick Nanton, interviews Bob Delaney. Former undercover New Jersey state trooper and NBA referee. Bob Delaney talks with Nick Nanton about his incredible careers in two vastly different fields, from infiltrating the Mafia in the 1970s to becoming one of the NBA's most respected referees. In this episode, Bob opens up about his experience with post-traumatic stress and his passion for helping others overcome it.

State News
Florida Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds says that under the U.S. Constitution, states “have” to work with the federal government in enforcing immigration laws. However, nine …
Mitch Perry (via Florida Phoenix)
2 hours ago
The U.S. Department of Justice is demanding California not count ballots from voters it says are suspected noncitizens, a move by the Trump administration to apply last-minute pressure as voting …
Jonathan Shorman (via Florida Phoenix)
3 hours ago
WASHINGTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection need to improve oversight and guidance for federal immigration officers’ use of body-worn cameras, …
Ariana Figueroa (via Florida Phoenix)
3 hours ago
WASHINGTON — The Social Security Administration announced on Wednesday that recipients will receive a 3.6% increase in benefits in 2027. The cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, will begin for 72 …
States Newsroom staff (via Florida Phoenix)
3 hours ago