I have something startling to tell you. You’d better take a seat. Are you ready? The Florida Legislature did something good. Do you need to lie down? Can I get you something to drink? A touch …
On this Easter Sunday, Americans wake to church bells, family gatherings, astronauts traveling toward the moon—and politicians speaking of war. Some are worshiping, attending an Easter sunrise service …
This week the nation celebrated Circus Day, but on Florida’s Gulf Coast, the circus never really left. What began as traveling shows arriving by rail brought wonder to small-town streets and then, thanks to John Ringling, Sarasota became the winter home of the big top. This Sunday, we revisit how a passing spectacle became a lasting legacy.
The words “God Squad” do not appear anywhere in the Federal Register notice posted last week, but they sure were implied. “The Endangered Species Committee will meet regarding an Endangered Species Act exemption for Gulf of America Oil and Gas Activities ...
There’s no “Cutest Critter in Florida” contest but, if there were, I can name a few contestants. The diminutive Key deer, for one. The seagrass-munching manatee for another. And, of course, the …
This week, we turn to the women of Florida’s waterfront and frontier, store owners, lighthouse keepers and homesteaders who built lives along the Gulf Coast when conditions were anything but easy. Their grit helped shape the character of our coastal communities.
I stopped this weekend to gas up our car, and it took longer than usual. The pumping wasn’t the problem. The delay came from securing a big enough bank loan. In case you’ve been holed up in …
Across the United States, firms are increasing spending on facilities, equipment, and technology as they prepare for future growth. Economists often view rising capital spending as a signal that …
This week, our Women’s History Month series turns to the women who helped build Florida’s economy from the ground up. From citrus groves and cigar factories to newspapers and storefronts, women across Tampa Bay stepped into business and industry — often out of necessity, sometimes out of ambition, and always with determination.
One of my hobbies is keeping tabs on which of our distinguished officeholders could be called the most “Florida Man” of Florida politicians. …
The Bradenton Police Department is pleased to report an overall 10% reduction in crime in 2025, reflecting the continued efforts of officers, detectives, and community partners to keep our city safe.
As the calendar turns toward spring, this is certainly an exciting and active time of year in Bradenton. With the Pirates underway at LECOM Park, our city welcomes visitors from across the county …
Officials in Florida — a state with a 500-year-old Spanish name — recently announced that they would require everyone taking a driving test to do so in English only . I wish the folks in charge …
Long before “sustainability” became a buzzword, a handful of determined women were already fighting for Florida’s fragile ecosystems. These women used their pens, persistence, and public voices to ensure Florida’s wild places were not erased without a fight.
I first met Carol Ann Felts in early 2022. I had seen her give passionate public comment at meetings many, many times, and excitedly invited her onto the Bradenton Times podcast when she announced …
Facing foul weather, the old sailors would always say, “Any port in a storm.” But what if the port is the cause of the storm? Right now, big controversies are blowing up over two of …
This month, we have visited a town built on Black votes, followed the Florida-born anthropologist it helped shape, and watched a peaceful protest unfold at the shoreline. This week, we end where all of those stories collide: the ballot box. In Ocoee in 1920, Black citizens tried to vote, and the response was organized violence that drove families out and nearly erased a community for decades.
Have you ever seen an out-of-control fire? I have. Seeing flames leaping wild and high, spreading smoke and ash everywhere, was one of the scariest sights ever. Now imagine seeing a fire like …
A hot Florida beach day looks simple at first glance. People wade into the surf to cool off. Children splash at the shoreline. But in the 1960s, even stepping into the water could be a protest. After …
Signs at our state line now welcome visitors to “the Free State of Florida,” but some members of our fine Legislature are working reeeeeally hard to make those signs a lie. They want to take …