Modern urban skylines are dominated by towering skyscrapers with expansive glass facades that absorb large amounts of solar heat …
As someone who has analyzed public policy in Manatee County for a long time, one of my biggest frustrations is the ongoing disconnect between voters' expressed concerns and their voting …
When the state party under Joe Gruters installed Mark Flanagan as Chairman of the local Manatee Republican Executive Committee, it was because party leadership wanted a radical right-winger to …
Nearly half a billion birds cross the U.S. to travel to their northern nesting grounds in the spring, and then return to central and south America to escape the cold in the fall …
Rattlesnake Key, south of the Sunshine Skyway, reachable only by boat, is about 700 acres of mangroves and tidal flats beside the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve. Its shallows shelter the young snook, …
After the takeover of the local Republican Executive Committee, Mark Flanagan spent an outrageous amount of money to bring in Lara Trump, the daughter-in-law of Donald J. Trump. In reviewing the …
Campaign season demands sharp debate, but it also demands accountability. Misleading voters to shore up party turnout harms our political process and disrespects the intelligence of everyday …
The Republican Party of Florida must have been caught completely off guard when local Republicans dared to reject Governor DeSantis’s preferred candidates in the 2024 primary. Candidates James …
Manatee County’s voters have sent an unmistakable message: many would rather cast their ballots for moderate Democrats than back the slate championed by appointed Republican Executive Committee …
This year’s Florida Congressional District 16 race wasn’t supposed to be competitive. The RNC/RPOF worked to ensure there were no issues getting their candidate through in the primary. The State …
During the primary, I wrote a column describing the dirty tricks being played on Manatee County Commission Republican candidate Elizabeth Arnold, based on some excellent investigative reporting by …
A few years ago, I wanted to better understand how the conservation lands my family and I enjoyed came to be protected, and how I could be more involved in the process. When my wife suggested I apply …
Advanced technology and automated systems are becoming a big part of environmental conservation. Researchers are starting to use smart machines …
The Florida House District 71 race features Republican Jordan Varnadore, Democrat Ocean Fitts, and NPA candidate Joseph Hoolihan. Ocean Fitts is a 27-year-old, seventh-generation Floridian …
In a fast-growing county like Manatee, some decisions can be revisited years later. Others cannot. When a wetland is filled, when a wildlife corridor is fragmented, or when a working ranch …
I want to be very clear with the people of Manatee County about where I stand. I have always stayed true to my core conservative principles and my commitment to doing what is right for Manatee …
Elections can bring out the worst in people. Tensions rise, friendships become strained and political campaigns bombard us with messages designed to divide rather than inform. Just read some of the …
Greenhouse gas emissions around the globe are driving tropical ocean temperatures to historic highs. As a result, coral reefs are attempting to migrate toward cooler, …
The Florida House District 72 race features incumbent Bill Conerly and challenger Harvey Shifrin. Incumbent Republican William “Bill” Conerly has been one of the most reliable votes for …
The Florida Senate District 20 race features longtime incumbent Jim Boyd and political newcomer Gerald Baldi. Baldi, 70, is a former advertising executive who moved from real estate to financial …