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A Historical Look at Why We Must Stand with Ukraine

If one is to understand the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine, it is critical to examine the historical context of the post-Soviet relationship between the two countries and decades-old …
by Mitch Maley
Yesterday at 9:56 AM

2025 Legislative Session: Numerous Measures Proposed by Lawmakers

Florida lawmakers convened at the Florida Capitol for the regular legislative session on March 4. Numerous bills have been introduced in this session touching on varying issues from …
by Dawn Kitterman
Yesterday at 9:52 AM
Bywater Call

Weekend Sounds: March 14-16

It's another weekend, and you know what that means. If you guessed another great lineup of local, talented musicians in Manatee, Sarasota, and surrounding counties, you would be ...
Staff Report
3 days ago
Trump border czar Tom Homan at CPAC. Photo by Gage Skidmore

DeSantis to appear at New College event with Trump border czar Tom Homan

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has been added to a program discussing immigration policy scheduled for next week at New College of Florida in Sarasota. Tom Homan, President Trump’s border czar, …
by Mitch Perry
3 days ago
More local news
This Week in Local Government: 3/16/25
There are no meetings of note on any local government calendars this week. All Manatee County School District sites will be closed Monday through Friday in observance of …
by Dawn Kitterman
3 days ago
Red Tide Status Update: 3/12/25
Over the past week, red tide was detected at background concentrations in one sample collected from Southwest Florida. We continue to use chlorophyll satellite imagery (USF, NOAA NCCOS) to …
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
3 days ago
Public Input Sought for US 41 Corridor Improvements
The Manatee County Commission is asking for public input and ideas for improving the US 41 corridor in an initiative called “Vision 41.”   Two upcoming public …
Manatee County Government
4 days ago
Full phone ban in Florida schools gets unanimous support in House committee
Florida lawmakers voted to take a proposed phone ban in school another step forward on Tuesday.  The House Education Administration Subcommittee unanimously supported Rep. Demi …
by Jay Waagmeester
4 days ago
Gene Brown
Mayor Brown to Address Bradenton’s Sewage & Water Issues at Public Forum
Mayor Gene Brown and his staff will participate in a public forum hosted by the Manatee Democratic Environmental Caucus to address ongoing sewage spills and infrastructure …
Staff Report
4 days ago
Red Tide Status Update: 3/7/25
Over the past week, red   tide was detected in 16 samples collected from Florida’s Gulf Coast. Bloom concentrations (>100,000 cells/liter) were not observed. However, cells were present …
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Saturday, March 8
Opinions
EarthTalk: Urban Wildlife Corridors
Urban wildlife corridors, also known as green corridors or ecological corridors, are strips of vegetation and natural landscape dispersed throughout a city. From simple, street-lined rows of trees to …
3 days ago
The greatest threat to Social Security in its 90-year history
America’s historic retirement security program has survived world wars, pandemics, and recessions. But without a rapid course correction, it may not survive Donald Trump and Elon Musk. In …
by Nancy J. Altman
3 days ago
Guest Opinion
Citizen-led Initiatives are a Bastion for Individual Freedom: Why Florida Republicans Must Reject HB 1205
As lifelong conservatives, we believe in limited government, personal responsibility, and the rights of the people to shape our own governance. We founded Conservative Women for Freedom because we …
by Jaymie Carter and Carol Whitmore
4 days ago
COMMENTARY
commentary
Council Corner: Ward 3
Spring is ... springing, officially this coming Thursday. However, in Bradenton, where, over the past month and in the month ahead, we've seen visitors flocking to our town and community as if spring …
by Josh Cramer
3 days ago
commentary
Gene Brown
Mayor's Corner
February was an exciting month in The Friendly City, as we welcomed over 100,000 visitors for the 10th Annual Bradenton Area River Regatta! The two-day event featured a dazzling drone and fireworks …
Gene Brown
3 days ago
Sunday Favorites: Kingpin’s Sunshine State Reign
​Al Capone, the infamous Chicago gangster, extended his criminal empire into Florida during the Prohibition era, engaging in bootlegging operations and investing in various establishments, including rumored ownership of the Jungle Prada nightclub in St. Petersburg. Here's the story.
by Merab Favorite
Sunday, March 9
Obituaries
Ronald Barnes
Ronald Charles Barnes, 80, of Bradenton, Florida, passed away peacefully on March 9, 2025. Ron was born on June 20, 1944, in Chicago, Illinois, to Irene Stewart and Eugene Barnes. He grew up in …
3 days ago
Roger Bell
Roger Edward Bell of Ellenton, Florida, passed away quietly during the early morning of Feb. 26. Roger was 88 years old and with his wife Mary had lived in Terra Siesta mobile home park for 19 years …
3 days ago
Letitia George
Letitia S. George, age 91, of Bradenton, passed away, March 6, 2025.
3 days ago
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TBT Podcasts
podcast
This week, Mitch & Dawn discuss the Manatee County Commission's decision to move forward with the demolition of Annie's Bair & Tackle and revoke the school zone speed camera program entirely. …
Wednesday, March 5
podcast
This week, Mitch and Dawn discuss the Manatee County Commission's compromise on moving forward with a retail pet sale ban, the ethics of breeding, and Mitch's weekend getaway to Tarpon Springs.
Wednesday, February 19
COMMENTS FROM OUR READERS
Local Events and More...
Calendar of events
Sports & recreation

Pittsburgh’s Catching Corps Solid With Bart’s Leadership

A solid season for Joey Bart, behind the plate and in the batter’s box, could be the difference if the Pittsburgh Pirates see postseason play in 2025. Bart is going about his work quietly …
by Don Laible
4 days ago

Pirates’ Skenes Well Prepared for 2025 MLB Season

Halfway through Pittsburgh Pirates’ spring training, all signs point to a successful 2025 MLB season for pitching ace Paul Skenes. This past Saturday in Sarasota, at Ed Smith Stadium, …
by Don Laible
Tuesday, March 4

Oviedo Back Throwing in Pirates Camp

Good News. Johan Oviedo is back at Pirate City. Many familiar faces are making their way around the Pittsburgh Pirates spring training complex. The facility is busy, from front office personnel …
by Don Laible
Tuesday, February 25
Arts & Entertainment

Author of New Phosphate Book Comes to Tampa and St. Pete

Jack Lohmann, author of the upcoming book White Light , will make two local appearances to support its Match 18 release. The book details our history with phosphate, with a section dedicated to …

Staff Report
3 days ago

Interview: Old Crow Medicine Show

Old Crow Medicine Show founding member Ketch Secor had no shortage of topics he was ready to discuss when he phoned in for a recent interview.  There was, of course, another round of …
by Alan Sculley
3 days ago
Theater Review

Florida Studio Theatre's Bad Books

It seems that every decade or so, American society confronts yet another effort by conservatives to ban or even burn books that are deemed harmful to kids. As we find ourselves smack …
by Mitch Maley
4 days ago

BAM!Fest Brings Live Music to Riverwalk April 5

The Bradenton Art & Music Festival, aka BAM!Fest, will transform the Bradenton Riverwalk into a dynamic, immersive art and music experience. The free event will take place on …
Staff Report
4 days ago
ICYM - In Case You Missed It
Opinion
In 2018, a school shooter murdered 17 children and injured 18 others at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Weeks later, then-Governor Rick Scott signed Senate Bill 7026 into …
by Mitch Maley
Saturday, March 8
guest opinion
Citizens should be given the opportunity to fully participate in all phases of decision-making processes. The current Bradenton City Council public hearing policies and procedures do not encourage …
by Glenn Compton
Friday, March 7
Opinion
OCCUPIED TALLAHASSEE — The circus is coming to town. Y’all might know it as the regular session of the Florida Legislature. Don’t even begin to think this year can’t possibly …
by Diane Roberts
Friday, March 7
Wildfires are uncontrolled destructive fires that spread over natural areas, like forests or brush. They can happen for many reasons, natural or manmade. Climate change has made wildfires …
Wednesday, March 5
Opinion
For two years, the Tampa Bay Times and Miami Herald have been trying to get their hands on an in-depth study of our state’s homeowners insurance market commissioned by the Florida Office of …
by Mitch Maley
Saturday, March 1
Interesting News

'This business just wouldn't exist': Farmer says federal program was critical to success

The Daily Yonder reports on the confusion over a federal spending freeze that is threatening large- and small-scale farmers who rely on USDA programs in areas that private investors won't touch, according to a national farmers coalition.

Claire Carlson for The Daily Yonder
Yesterday at 12:00 PM

How a tribe won a legal battle against the federal Bureau of Indian Education — and still lost

The Hechinger Report reports on how a much-touted federal reform effort, and a tribal lawsuit, sought to improve outcomes for Bureau of Indian Education students, but now the Trump administration's efforts to slash the government threaten what little progress the agency has made.
Neal Morton for The Hechinger Report
Yesterday at 11:30 AM

Fish are thriving in the river Seine

Reasons to be Cheerful reports on river Seine, the storied French waterway that was once nearly biologically dead but is not teeming with marine life once again.
Peter Yeung for Reasons to be Cheerful
Yesterday at 11:00 AM
Florida report

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Bob Delaney - Undercover Film "Hiding in Plain Sight" Working Undercover in New Jersey as a State Trooper

Emmy Award winning director, Nick Nanton, interviews Bob Delaney. Former undercover New Jersey state trooper and NBA referee. Bob Delaney talks with Nick Nanton about his incredible careers in two vastly different fields, from infiltrating the Mafia in the 1970s to becoming one of the NBA's most respected referees. In this episode, Bob opens up about his experience with post-traumatic stress and his passion for helping others overcome it.

State News
Florida lawmakers peppered the state’s sitting and former insurance commissioners for three hours on Friday to demand answers about why they didn’t bring immediate attention to a 2022 report …
Mitch Perry (via Florida Phoenix)
Yesterday at 6:36 PM
A House committee has criticized the DeSantis administration for overspending by the state Agency for Health Care Administration, with one Republican estimating the liability at the state’s largest …
Christine Sexton (via Florida Phoenix)
Yesterday at 6:20 PM
A U.S. appeals court has once again upheld Florida’s 2018 law barring people under age 21 from buying long guns, rejecting a challenge by the National Rifle Association. But Florida’s attorney …
Mitch Perry (via Florida Phoenix)
Yesterday at 5:43 PM
The state may enforce its 2024 slaw limiting social media use for minors for now, Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker ruled Friday in Tallahassee.  Associations representing social media companies …
Jay Waagmeester (via Florida Phoenix)
Yesterday at 3:22 PM