Manatee County Commission

"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 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.

County staff will use the year to consider things like the consumption of electricity and water, noise abatement, environmental impacts, and defining data center uses.

The backlash is growing against Flock automatic license plate readers. Our panel of experts expresses concerns about the technology.

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 audit found that more than 200 employees were owed back pay between June 28 and March 30. Some were shorted a few hundred dollars. Others were owed thousands. One was underpaid by $9,000.

A race that could become a key swing vote on issues like new development has attracted a crowded pool of candidates. It includes a candidate who went viral as “Lectern Guy” after he was photographed holding Nancy Pelosi’s lectern during the capitol riot in Washington D.C. on Jan. 6, 2021.

A controversial proposal that would have required nonprofits receiving Manatee County funding to verify they are not serving undocumented immigrants was withdrawn Tuesday after drawing widespread public opposition and little support from commissioners.

If approved, the measure would require nonprofits to certify that county funds are not used to serve those individuals, a change that could affect at least 86 organizations receiving more than $26 million annually from Manatee County Government.

The Myakka City resident, who was elected to represent District 1 in 2024, was known for her dedication to constituents and focus on land use, the environment and government accountability.