Manatee County

As Trump ramps up mass-deportation efforts, Suncoast Searchlight found Florida jails have become a main pipeline for ICE arrests — sweeping up thousands of immigrants on minor charges before their local cases are resolved. Among them is Bradenton resident Oscar Romero Santos, whose wife is now struggling to keep their family and business afloat after his sudden deportation.

The situation raises questions about the balance between local autonomy and executive power in Florida.

Manatee officials say that SB 180 has hamstrung them when it comes to protecting the county's natural resources.

Manatee County’s grassroots Republican commissioners, elected on promises to slow runaway growth, have found themselves in a pitched battle with Gov. Ron DeSantis and the developers aligned with his administration.

Laurie Breslin has a doctoral degree in education and has worked at high levels in many local schools.

Last year's hurricanes did more than swamp low-lying areas and flood homes. It also killed a lot of mangroves, acting as natural buffers along Sarasota Bay.

County commissioners had wanted to reinstate tougher rules on building near wetlands that had been rescinded by a previous board. But threats from the state caused them to back down.

The commissioners said the curfew is in response to late-night crime involving young people. A vote will be held at an upcoming meeting.

Residents are accusing their elected board of lavish spending, nepotism and a lack of transparency — from hiring family members for paid positions and awarding no-bid contracts to insiders, to throwing exclusive themed parties on the homeowners’ dime.

In an era of MAGA dominance, who owns the Republican Party?

The Florida Trust for Historic Preservation listed the Manatee Village 1887 Church among the historic places that are jeopardized.

About 20 people attended the public forum hosted at the Manatee Unitarian Universalist Church in Bradenton in partnership with Onward and Empowered Florida Inc.