On Thursday, the Manatee County Commission wisely voted to continue a public hearing on the transmittal of a rewrite of the county’s comprehensive land use plan until after its July recess. On Tuesday, the county administration tried to push through approval of an amendment to its contract with CIP Solutions, the company that operates the former Piney Point …
There has never been a more threatening proposal to the way of life for Floridians than the “Save Our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes” tax reform. This legislation stands to strip local …
Everyone is talking about property taxes. Almost nobody is talking about power. That's strange because power, not taxes, is what this debate is really about. The sales pitch is simple: property …
Pesticides are used to control the spread of or eliminate pests in the agricultural field. The primary purpose of using them is to control invasive species …
After all the back-and-forth, here’s where the final bill landed this week. It would be a $150k exemption in 2027 and $250k in 2028. Eventually, the exemption is intended to maybe reach $500k (or …
The transformation of Manatee County and Lakewood Ranch has reached a tipping point. What was once celebrated as a master-planned haven of pristine wetlands, sprawling cattle country, and …
There are flickering signs that the United States and Iran might negotiate a settlement to end the unprovoked war launched by President Trump earlier this year. A settlement would be welcome …
On Monday, Florida lawmakers return to Tallahassee for a three-day special session to consider Governor Ron DeSantis' "Save Our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes" proposal, which aims to eliminate …
Koalas are facing a serious risk of extinction within the next few decades. Experts warn that without urgent action; these beloved animals could disappear from Australia in just 20–30 years. …
During springtime, many people develop a series of symptoms generalized as seasonal allergies: coughing, sneezing, itchy eyes and congestion …
Florida’s mid-census redistricting was nothing more than another effort by Gov. Ron DeSantis to breathe life into a political career that has been dying a slow death since his failure to launch …
As we navigate the housing and development landscape of 2026, it is clear that the battles of 2024 were not the finish line—they were just the opening salvo. Two years ago, our community stood …
Thrifting is more than the act of buying used items; it’s a lifestyle adopted by people who share a distinct set of values. …
This week, the Florida House used the special budget session to revive a failed plan to give the University of South Florida’s Sarasota-Manatee campus to New College. At the heart of this deeply …
Climate change is not the only reason we have suffered huge biodiversity losses in recent years, but it has played a part in the shifts and declines of species …
It was a mixed bag politically in Florida this week. On Tuesday, the Manatee County Commission held a meeting, in which we saw some good and bad. Tallahassee, as per usual, came through on the ugly.
Friday was International Workers' Day. May Day, as it's often referred to, is a day in which the working masses celebrate the hard-fought victories of the labor movement, while recognizing the …
Each year, companies produce nearly 460 million metric tons of plastic, a number that is projected to reach 1.1 billion by 2050. Microplastics, defined as plastic particles smaller …
Wildfires are escalating globally, and the threat extends beyond destruction by flames. NASA warns that “Earth’s warming climate is amplifying wildland fire …
Florida Senator Stan McClain (R-Ocala) is a residential homebuilder. He's responsible for sponsoring many of the preemption bills that have made it much more difficult, and in some instances …