Manatee County

WUSF reporters Meghan Bowman and Gabriella Paul will emcee the discussion along with "Florida Matters Live & Local" host Matthew Peddie.

Point Park University has reached a non-binding agreement with the city of Bradenton to create a new campus at the former GTE building downtown.

The Florida scrub jay is found only in the Sunshine State. A recent move of 48 young jays to an already established bird colony has scientists optimistic about their future.

El Pueblo Unido Tampa Bay, the organization behind the initiative, sells the bracelets in local businesses and at rallies. Proceeds go to immigrant families dealing with deportation and detention.

An administrative law judge has narrowed the roughly 25 allegations raised in their petitions, leaving claims involving issues such as proposed athletic fields near Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, development of land planned for the Education Freedom Institute, tree removal in the Uplands Preserve and vehicle access from Uplands Boulevard.

A Suncoast Searchlight-Bradenton Herald investigation exposed more than 20 “adult arcades” operating across the region despite state law banning slot machines. The ordinance would give the county and law enforcement new tools to shut down existing operations.

More than 5,000 residents now considered on the brink of losing their housing — up more than 50% in just three years.

Gruters will run against Democrat Kelly Kirschner and independent Mark Davis in the November election.

More than half of the candidates running for Florida statehouse seats this year across Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties are self-reported millionaires.

Anti-growth candidates swept into office in 2024 have struggled to implement campaign promises, constrained by pushback from Gov. Ron DeSantis and laws preempting their ability to control development.

Manatee's Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of a data center moratorium at a July 28 meeting. The move also directs county staff to potentially revise their land development code.

The decision came after a long-simmering controversy over who should pay the cost of collecting the voter-approved tax.