We are just shy of the halfway point in the 2026 Florida legislative session. I’ve been up to Tallahassee twice already during the first four weeks of the regular session and once during committee …
President Donald Trump’s calls this week to “nationalize” elections capped a year of efforts by his administration to exercise authority over state-run elections. The demands now have some …
Classical conductor Giancarlo Guerrero, Music Director of the Sarasota Orchestra, lent his talents to this year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, headlined by Puerto Rican pop star Bad Bunny.
MONTEZUMA, Iowa — Ben De Boef grew up working on his grandfather’s 400-acre farm in Montezuma, Iowa, and hearing stories about it. “I loved it since I was a kid,” said De Boef. “I didn’t really want to do anything other than farm.” Now 23 years old, De Boef grows corn, soybeans and some alfalfa […]
Fresh off Eatonville’s founding story, we’re staying close to home for a second look at its most famous daughter. This week’s column traces how a small, self-governed Black town helped shape Zora Neale Hurston’s voice, her curiosity, and her lifelong habit of listening for the stories other people overlooked.
The Walk for Peace is a 2,300-mile Buddhist pilgrimage from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C., led by 24 monks from the Hương Đạo Vipassana Bhavana Center, promoting peace, compassion, and …
Public backlash has only intensified after SSA Marine announced its intention to explore developing a private cruise port at the southern end of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, near the Terra …
With all of the hamfisted developer-sponsored bills our "representatives" in the Florida Legislature have filed this year, some have drawn a lot of attention, while others have largely flown under …
Groundwater levels are the level of the water table below underground aquifers and are crucial to water security. In dry states like California, 40 percent of water is from groundwater; during …
It will be a fairly busy week in local government, with the Manatee County Commission scheduled to hold three meetings, …
When a hurricane approaches the U.S. mainland, weather forecasters issue warnings and provide guidance for preparedness. Unfortunately, not everyone heeds these advisories, exposing themselves to …
The 28th Annual Thunder By The Bay Music & Motors Festival returns to the Sarasota Fairgrounds February 13–15 with a monster of a music lineup featuring legendary 80s bands Night Ranger and 38 …
Over the past week, red tide was observed in 21 samples from Northwest Florida and one sample from Florida’s East Coast. Bloom concentrations (>100,000 cells/liter) were not observed. We …
Last year, Florida lawmakers halted the ability of communities to plan for their future when they passed SB 180 in the name of hurricane recovery. The law sharply limited local governments’ ability …
The University of Florida said Thursday it was investigating two college classrooms where measles exposures may have occurred. Additionally, six other confirmed measles cases were …
Two Florida voters backed by the National Redistricting Foundation filed a legal challenge with the Florida Supreme Court Thursday against Gov. Ron DeSantis’ plan to hold a special legislative …
Senate Republicans blocked a Democratic proposal Thursday to sue the Trump administration over allegations that it did not fully release the Epstein files, as mandated under a law …
The 2026 election season is officially underway in Manatee County, and local races are already shaping the future of our community. In this episode of The Big Picture Manatee, we break down who …
There wouldn’t be any Westerns if it weren’t for us Floridians. The Spanish brought the first cattle to America, so the first cowboys were vaqueros tending herds around St. Augustine in the late …
Time is ticking down, and quickly, to the Pittsburgh Pirates welcoming pitchers and catchers. Before you know it, position players will officially begin working out at Pirates City. One of, if not …