Former mayor, columnist passes at 82
PALMETTO, Fla. — Bob Johnson, a former Islamorada mayor, marina owner and Florida Keys Free Press columnist with a passion for public service, died on Dec. 15. He was 82. Robert Eliot Johnson was born in 1943 in Detroit, Michigan, and most recently lived in Palmetto, just north of Bradenton. He spent 40 years in...
Downtown Sarasota Is Building Up and Locals Are Feeling It
*** DRAFT *** THIS POST IS SPONSORED **** THIS TEXT WILL BE REMOVED AS SOON AS PAYMENT IS MADE. Downtown Sarasota used to feel like a place where the skyline stayed politely in the background. Water, palms, arts venues, and low-rise blocks did most of the talking. Lately, height has started to take the microphone....
Ambulance transporting patient involved in 3-vehicle crash in Bradenton
BRADENTON, Fla. (WFLA) — The Bradenton Police Department said an ambulance was involved in a crash that shut down an intersection for a few hours on Saturday night. Just before 10 p.m. on Dec. 20, the ambulance, with emergency lights activated, was transporting a patient on Manatee Avenue West.
Lower speed limits coming to 10 Manatee County roads
MANATEE COUNTY (WFLA) — Manatee County drivers will soon see changes to the speed limit on a number of roadways. Commissioners approved the ordinance to make the changes last week. Public Works Director Chad Butzow explains it was a combination of things that prompted staff to analyze the speed along different...
911 dispatchers assist in delivering babies
Manatee County 911 telecommunicators have helped callers deliver five babies over the phone in the last three months. FOX 13's Ariel Plasencia reports.
USF Sarasota-Manatee is under threat again. Let’s act now. | Opinion
We are current and former USF Sarasota–Manatee campus board members, campus student leaders, former regional chancellors, community partners and donors who have been part of the campus 50-year history. Together we have contributed to building USFSM to reflect the aspirations of our fast-growing, forward-thinking...
Bay area circus company increases its staff amid industry struggles
MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — A local circus company says its business is booming, even as the industry struggles. Cirque Italia has hired 30% more performers this year compared to last year and says one of the reasons is because small circus companies are closing. Joselina Moine is an acrobat....
The best things to do in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat for Dec. 25-31
2 and 6 p.m. at LECOM Big Top at UTC, 195 University Town Center Drive. Visit WonderlandCircus.com. Death-defying aerialist Nik Wallenda returns to University Town Center with his Wonderland Circus, featuring a new tent with plush seats, cupholders and lots of room between rows. Joining Wallenda will be his faithful...
Renegades bring Christmas joy to three families
BRADENTON BEACH – The Bradenton chapter of the Renegades motorcycle club delivered a truckload of Christmas gifts to the Drift In bar on Dec. 19. The Renegades brought Christmas joy to three local families who will now have many presents to open on Christmas day. Renegade Jay Dash said,...
Website established for Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail
SARASOTA — Interested in birding from Sarasota to Key West to St. Augustine to Panama City?
