The Department of Interior and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is proposing to lease submerged lands off the coast of Alaska and up to 10 new leases in the Gulf of Mexico. Written comments …
This week, Manatee County Commissioners approved a final budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Funding for the two additional audit staff that the county clerk had requested was noticeably absent. The …
Two hundred and thirty-five years ago, on September 17, the U.S. Constitution was signed, thus creating the system of government, a representative democracy, we have in place to this very day. My …
Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that you shouldn’t put plastic bottle caps that are less than three inches wide in diameter into the recycling bin?–Bill S., Grafton, VT Yes! It …
The budget process does not look at reality, i.e., the actual financial results published monthly and annually by the Clerk. The focus is always on the budget, not the income statement and balance …
On Wednesday, TBT reported that, following the advice of Manatee County Administrator Scott Hopes, county commissioners quietly voted to declare a massive parcel of land next to the Lena Road …
Some of you may have noticed that the recently mailed T.R.I.M. notices from the Assessor's office contained an unpleasant surprise. Due to surging inflation, the assessed value of every Manatee …
In her most recent piece of investigative journalism, TBT ’s Dawn Kitterman shines a bright light on the inner workings of Manatee County government, providing rarely seen examples of exactly …
Dear EarthTalk: Is there any way to counter the epidemic of topsoil erosion that is plaguing farmers here in the U.S. and around the world? –Mary. R., Sarasota, FL Topsoil holds …
Dear EarthTalk: Are carbon capture technologies pie in the sky or really feasible as a global warming mitigation technique?–Paul C., Scranton, PA The short answer is É …
If you’re a fan of good government and follow our local elected officials closely, you might be pretty distraught following the results of Tuesday’s election. The big money from big …
Dear EarthTalk: I know that upgrading the energy efficiency of my home will make it less expensive to heat or cool, but will it also raise its market value significantly?–J.B.M., St. Louis, MO …
Founded in 1942, Camp Lejeune is just one of the hundreds of military bases whose environment abounds in dangerous amounts of toxic chemicals such as benzene, trichloroethylene, vinyl chloride, and …
For the past couple of months, I’ve been deeply immersed in race analyses followed by a much-needed vacation, which I spent helping my son drive his car across the country to Los Angeles. Road …
Dear EarthTalk: What on Earth is a "macrogrid" and how do proponents of the concept think it will improve energy efficiency?–T. McGraw, Houston, TX The term macrogrid simply …
Governor Ron DeSantis, during his first term, has promoted an education platform that prioritizes students' needs and encourages parents to be active participants in their children's education and …
When the Chairman of the Manatee County Commission states that Misty Servia's constituents will have no representation at the Board level if she is re-elected because she has alienated the rest of …
It appears Manatee Commissioner Chair Kevin Van Ostenbridge (KVO for short) wants to cut Manatee County beach patrol funding to the City of Holmes Beach - $40,000 per year, back to $10,000 per year. …
Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that koalas are on the verge of extinction? What is being done to help this species survive?–May Jenkins, Chicago, IL Despite their status as icons of …
On August 23, there is an important Manatee School Board election. If you don't have children in the local school district, you might be interested in a recent column from the Bradenton Area Economic …
