In its Dobbs ruling two years ago this June, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade . Since then, abortion restrictions have had devastating effects not only on pregnant people …
Last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 7014 into law, effectively gutting the only accessible corrective mechanism Floridians have at their disposal when their elected officials engage in …
On October 5, 2023, Manatee County Commissioners approved the elimination of our Local Wetland Policies. After attending the meeting and looking at the requirements of the State of Florida and our …
Cannabis is an increasingly popular recreational and medicinal drug that is capable of producing psychogenic effects. As more states legalize cannabis for some medicinal and recreational uses, …
To err is human, the old axiom goes, and we Republicans proved ourselves all too human in 2020 when we put Kevin Van Ostenbridge (KVO) on the Manatee County Commission. Now, in 2024, we have the …
On Thursday, James Satcher and Scott Farrington participated in a debate organized by the Lakewood Ranch Republican Club. The difference between the Republican candidates for Supervisor of Elections …
A recent bill passed by the House of Representatives claims to regulate the cryptocurrency industry and protect consumers. But the bill is a Trojan horse designed by an industry flush with cash …
The two medians on Perico Island of SR 64 West were originally landscaped with sod and shrubs by the developer of Perico Bay Club. The developer turned them over to the Homeowners Association, …
The League of Women Voters envisions a democracy where citizens have the right and ability to determine who represents them on governing bodies. On May 7, the League sent a letter to Supervisor of …
Recent research increasingly suggests a correlation between exposure to various forms of pollution and an increase in criminal behavior. This relationship is multifaceted, influenced by a complex …
Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge fully embraced “free speech” when he ran for office in 2020. However, when it comes to the speech of the citizens he claims to represent, …
In the first of two public hearings, Manatee County Commissioners moved forward with their plan to significantly underfund infrastructure required by rampant development by collecting far less in …
The district-switching County Commissioner, Kevin Van Ostenbridge, continues to pursue his ill-conceived parking garage plan by searching for funding through a public-private partnership. The county …
Global warming has already had profound impacts on Africa, which is already grappling with many environmental and socio-economic challenges. The most dramatic effects observed so far include …
This Thursday, the Board of County Commissioners will have our first of two public hearings to finalize the future of our impact fees. These fees have been a source of contention with the public as …
This week, our useful idiots on the Manatee County Commission backed up the dump truck and deposited another impressively large pile of manure onto the proverbial lawns of the citizens they are …
In an era of climate disasters, Americans in vulnerable regions will need to rely more than ever on their home insurance. But as floods, wildfires, and severe storms become more common, a troubling …
According to Florida Department of Education data, the average teaching salary in our state is $51,166.57 annually. That ranks a lowly 48th in the United States. Despite poor pay and a highly …
In our ongoing quest for sustainable energy solutions, innovative technologies are necessary to complement renewable sources like solar and wind power. One such potential breakthrough revolves around …
When the Florida legislature passed SB 540 during last year’s session, sustainable growth advocates cried foul. The non-partisan non-profit Friends of the Everglades said it would …