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The Florida Story We Tried to Forget

This Sunday Favorites looks back at a week Florida once tried to forget. In January 1923, the Black community of Rosewood was erased in a wave of racial violence that left families scattered, homes …

Happy New Year! How’s 2026 treating you so far? Looks to me like it’s got a new twist on the challenges of 2025, at least when it comes to AI. “AI,” in case you’ve just awakened from …

2026: The Year of AI (Artificial Intelligence)

As we get ready to start another year, we need to face the reality that the world is changing rapidly. The year 2026, in my opinion, will be when we face the reality of AI. It is something you …

Dear Santa, can you please help our crumbling Florida state parks?

Dear Santa, I know you’re already in the air delivering gifts around the world, but I hope you’ve got an emergency miracle stuffed in your big bag. Our Florida state parks could sure use …

This Christmas, Let Us All Count Our Blessings as Americans

Christmas is a time to reflect on the many gifts we have as Americans. While it is easy to dwell on negative issues, this season of hope and giving reminds us of how much we have to be thankful for …

Quirky Christmas Customs

In Florida, where sunshine meets the delightfully unexpected, holiday traditions take a quirky turn. From festive flamingos to palm trees decked in lights, the Sunshine State proves that even Christmas comes with a twist.

During the holidays y,ou see ribbons and bows everywhere you look. You find them on the packages under the tree and at the gift wrap counter. Dealers even stick big bows on top of new cars. But the …

The Real Cost of More Roads

Every time Manatee County opens a newly widened road, we celebrate the extra paved lanes and the perceived faster travel. But should we? Because I can make an argument that what we’re really …

As the holidays approach, news has not slowed to its typically languid pace. Here’s a look at some of the most interesting stories I came across this week. Tucked deep inside a farm-related …

The Day Arcadia Burned

In the predawn hours of November 30, 1905, Arcadia’s downtown was reduced to embers. A fire sparked in the rear of a restaurant roared across 42 buildings in just two hours, gutting the heart of town. Telegraph lines melted, storefronts collapsed, and the Arcadia News printed its last edition, at least for a while.

Rodman drawdown exposes the beauty of Florida’s lost springs

This is the time of year, many of us go searching for something. We look for good deals on Black Friday and beyond. We hunt for a good place to hide the gifts we’ve acquired for our family and …

Guardrails of Freedom: The Bill of Rights

December 15 is National Bill of Rights Day. The Bill of Rights, ratified in 1791, comprises the first ten amendments to the Constitution and secures our most fundamental liberties, including freedom …

Stories you may have missed this week include the Trump administration pressing the ICC for immunity from potential war crimes, OpenAI is being sued after a chatbot played a role in a tech exec murdering his mom, a major deal between OpenAI and Disney, and another significant ruling in the Kilmar Abrego Garcia case.

The Tamiami Lodge

This week, a new historical marker at Cherokee Street Park in Englewood, spotlighting the story of William Goff and the Tamiami Lodge. One of the area’s earliest settlers, Goff helped lay the foundation for Englewood’s development in the early 20th century. His land later became home to the Tamiami Lodge, a charming two-story guesthouse that welcomed seasonal residents and tourists seeking Florida’s coastal charm. Here's the story.

After a short break for Thanksgiving, the news faucet is back to full flow. Here are some interesting stories I was not able to get to this week ...

When I was growing up here in Florida, everyone revered science. We looked to high-IQ scientists to tell us how to fly to the moon, how to transplant a heart, how to fire up a laser, how the universe …

WWII on Longboat Key

Discover how life changed on our quiet barrier island during World War II. From whispered fears of enemy submarines to wartime resilience on the home front, one local woman’s memories offer a rare glimpse into Longboat Key’s hidden past.

From Manifest Destiny to Manifest Dysfunction

Americans are exhausted — not from blazing new trails, but from fighting over old ones. We bicker about politics, identity, and ideology as if conquest were still our national sport. Our …

Mayor's Corner: City of Bradenton

As we come to the end of the year, I want to take a moment to thank everyone who helps make Bradenton the community it is. This has been a year of steady progress and collaboration. Together we have …

Big Things in Store for 2026

A lot happened across Bradenton this year, and 2025 set the stage for improvements residents will begin to feel in 2026. From public safety upgrades to major investments in utilities and community …

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