New book revisits 1980 Kingfish boat ramp murders
HOLMES BEACH – On the 45th anniversary of the unsolved Kingfish Boat Ramp murders, Bradenton resident Alan Cross released his self-published non-fiction book, “Tales from the Island: The Kingfish Boat Ramp Murders.”. Released on Aug. 1, Cross’s book is available locally at Ginny’s and Jane E’s Café in...
School board to decide fate of new high school in Lakewood Ranch
The School District of Manatee County school board members are pondering whether to build a new high school in Lakewood Ranch to keep up with population growth in East County. High school capacities are measured by the Florida Inventory of School Houses, a data numbering system used by the Florida Department of...
Flesh-eating bacteria reported in Manatee County
MANATEE COUNTY – The Florida Department of Health (DOH)-Manatee County is reporting one confirmed case of vibrio vulnificus, commonly known as flesh-eating bacteria, in Manatee County this year. Two deaths from the bacteria were reported in Manatee County, one in 2023 and one in 2024. The DOH warns against...
Sarasota County schools prepare to welcome students back
Stellar grades, new schools and navigating state funding were some of the topics Sarasota County Superintendent Terry Connors mentioned speaking with us ahead of the 2025-2026 school year.
Manatee property values decelerate, but tentative millage stays steady
Manatee County commissioners Jason Bearden and Bob McCann attempted to lower the tentative millage rate by .05 mills at a special work session July 31, but the final vote was 4-2 against the measure. Instead, commissioners set the maximum rate at 6.08, which is the current countywide operating millage rate....
Driver with two driver’s licenses gets one ticket
Alarm: An officer arriving to follow up on an activated home alarm found an open garage door, a van in the driveway and a man from Bradenton. The officer first spoke to the man, then to the homeowner via the communications link built into the home’s doorbell system. The homeowner, through the doorbell, vouched for...
1 dead after fire breaks out in camper trailer
The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office said deputies are currently investigating the incident, which occurred in the 200 block of Tamiami Trail around 1:10 a.m.
Texas Man Sentenced To Prison In Florida For Creating Disturbing AI Images
Man Sentenced to Two Years for Creating Child Sexual Abuse Images Using AI Technology. A Texas man has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for using an artificial intelligence (AI) application to create obscene visual depictions of minors. The case, prosecuted in Florida, highlights the evolving legal...
Lakewood Ranch 8-year-old starts his own business
LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. — How did your elementary school student spend their summer? Going to the beach? Summer camps? Vacation?. One Lakewood Ranch 8-year-old spent his summer preparing to launch a business. What You Need To Know. Dominic Faramarzifar is an 8-year-old who started his own business a few...
Manatee County woman denied auto insurance due to fraudulent glass claims
More than a year and a half after a Better Call Behnken investigation exposed inflated windshield claims, totaling more than $14,000 for a Manatee County woman, she continues to pay the price.
