Manatee County

Sydney Gruters, who is married to the chairman of the Republican National Committee, Joe Gruters, defeated Democrat Kelly Kirschner. Vern Buchanan announced in January he would not seek reelection.

Here are the results of key races across the greater Tampa Bay region, including U.S. House, and state House and Senate.

A growing population and changing demographics are making Manatee County less affordable.

The population in Manatee County has grown by around 17% since 2020. With it has come certain growing pains, like rising home prices, traffic congestion and lagging public infrastructure.

The disputes have raised questions about how local governments balance neighborhood safety with the need for social services — and whether zoning restrictions are making it difficult for organizations to operate.

A new property tax is on the ballot for Manatee County, while Sarasota County seeks to continue a tax from more than two decades ago.

"Florida Matters Live & Local" recently recorded in front of an audience at the Manatee Performing Arts Center in Bradenton to dig into issues affecting the state like affordability, growth and development.

Citing a 2017 memo, Manatee County prohibited the League of Women Voters' of Manatee County from distributing its nonpartisan voter guides in public libraries ahead of the midterm election.

Manatee County's rapid growth is putting increasing pressure on its drinking water supply as development consumes land that helps protect water quality. In November, voters will decide whether to expand an existing land conservation program through higher property taxes and authorization of up to $75 million in bonds.

Manatee County residents who successfully opposed a 175-unit housing development last year now face a proposal for more than 640 apartments on the same property — this time with little opportunity for public input.

The 63-year-old pilot was pronounced dead at the scene. The aircraft, spraying pesticide amid a county mosquito-borne illness advisory, went down in a wooded area near homes in Myakka City.

The school district is the first in the state to launch the integrated technology that uses existing surveillance cameras and links them to police and EMS.