3 major construction projects are almost finished for Manatee schools
One thing that seems to be never-ending in the School District of Manatee County is construction. With the population continuing to explode in Manatee County, it seems like the work never is done. Three main construction projects are currently progressing in East County schools. The most prominent is the building...
Girls firefighter camp inspires next generation
ST PETERSBURG - As a way to honor the legacy of the first female firefighters who joined St. Petersburg Fire Rescue in 1982, St. Pete Fire Chief Keith Watts worked with the city to host a summer camp for girls. "Nationally, women make up less than 5% of the fire...
Bright lights, no rules: Florida’s illegal gambling dens are hiding in plain sight
They light up U.S. 41 north of the airport with neon promises — flashing 7-7-7 and mounds of gold — on storefronts wrapped in dark tint. Up and down 14th Street in Bradenton, along the Manatee Avenue corridor and tucked in southern stretches of Sarasota County, places like Diamond City and Spin Fun operate in plain...
Traffic, flooding concerns doom Hilton hotel plan near Sarasota Memorial-Venice hospital
For the second time in 16 months, the Sarasota County Commission refused to change the county's growth plan to allow for the construction of a hotel near the northwest corner of Honore Avenue and Laurel Road, near the Venice campus of Sarasota Memorial Hospital. The proposed change failed July 8 because it did not...
MOMENTS WITH HISTORY: Venice Historical Society member flies through the air with the greatest...
VENICE — Last week, members of the Venice Area Historic Society spent quality time at Tito Gaona’s Trapeze Academy at the former site of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus Arena.
Cramped cells and costly solutions: inside Sarasota’s jail overcrowding crisis
Michael, 51, is four days away from graduating from Sarasota County’s 120-day Restore program. He was at the Sarasota County Jail for about four and a half months. As a part of his plea deal, he was required to participate in a jail alternative. He requested that his last name be withheld. The program was one of many...
Natives want St. Pete’s ‘City of Green Benches’ history to be remembered
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay area is home to some of Florida’s richest history, but many worry that history is getting lost with all the new development and new residents who don’t know its significance. How much weight does a name carry? At Green Bench...
Sheriff requests $25M budget bump
SARASOTA — As Sarasota County grows in residents and tourists, so does crime and police caseload, and with it, a need for better technology.
Rainbow crosswalks could be removed under FDOT and USDOT memos
Recent letters by the FDOT and USDOT secretaries outline their basis for the potential removal of "non-compliant surface pavement," which could include rainbow crosswalks. According to FDOT, non-standard surface markings "can lead to distractions or misunderstandings, jeopardizing both driver and pedestrian safety."...
Englewood Beach Waterfest To Host APBA Offshore World Championships Finale
Heading into its 11th year, Englewood Beach Waterfest set for October 10-12 will enjoy a new designation this year. The longstanding Southwest Florida powerboat-racing venue will host the last event of the American Power Boat Association Offshore World Championships recognized by the Union Internationale Motonautique...
