City of Bradenton changing the future of development
MANATEE COUNTY - The City of Bradenton wants to give residents a chance to be community planners. Mayor Wayne Poston says that conventional zoning and building codes are not working, so they've come up with another way to better control future development.
|
Firefighter's son remains critical
MYAKKA CITY - Family and friends of a Suncoast teenager are holding on to hope, praying the young man pulls through. The 18-year-old man was involved in a head on crash last week. One of the firefighters who pulled him from the mangled wreckage was his father.
|
Myakka City man says he's living American dream
MANATEE COUNTY - A federal grant is allowing a Suncoast family to put Myakka City on the road to high speed internet access. A small company plans to lead the rural community into the future through miles of new fiber optic cable.
|
Teen convicted of fatally shooting another teen
BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) - A Manatee County teen has been found guilty of fatally shooting another teen armed with a bat.
|
Residents vigilant at peak of hurricane season
MANATEE COUNTY - We're approaching the peak of hurricane season, and emergency officials say it serves as a good reminder to Suncoast residents that now is the time to be prepared.
|
Plans underway for trauma center in Bradenton
BRADENTON - The Suncoast may soon get a trauma center of its very own. Blake Medical Center announced Tuesday their plans to add a level-two adult trauma center to its Bradenton location.
|
FSU to work with Southeast High over trademark issues
BRADENTON - Florida State University will try to work with a Suncoast high school that was recently ordered to stop using its Seminoles logo and mascot.
|
Condo residents continue search for place to live
Updated:
BRADENTON - The people forced out of a condemned Bradenton condo continue their frantic search for somewhere else to live. Water seeped into the building after it was built and is causing serious problems with the structure's integrity.
|
Bradenton condo residents forced to vacate
Updated:
BRADENTON - Dozens of people living in a Bradenton condo are scrambling to find somewhere to live, after the city finds their building unsafe.
|
Community to support "Lil Superman"
Updated:
From the moment you meet Wyatt Smith you know he's no ordinary kid. His family says he's gone through a lot, especially in the past 5 months, but it hasn't broken his spirit.
|
Suncoast church reacts to Proposition 8 ruling
Updated:
The Church of the Trinity Metropolitan Community Church was founded in the gay and lesbian community. They've fought for marriage equality since 1968 and married same sex couples since it's inception.
|
Briles family drumming up support, remembering Kathleen
MANATEE COUNTY - A Palmetto wife and mother is remembered one year after she was violently murdered in her home. The man charged with the killing is behind bars; now her family is drumming up support for a cause they believe in.
|
Youth pastor up in the air to collect school backpacks
BRADENTON - The new school year is quickly approaching, and a youth pastor at one Bradenton church is going to new heights to make sure kids in the community have the tools they need.
|
Suncoast reacts to Arizona immigration bill
MANATEE COUNTY - State Senator Mike Bennett of Bradenton is planning to introduce legislation next session regarding immigration. He says will stop government officials from turning a blind eye to illegal immigration.
|
Local business donating portion of profits to Panhandle
MANATEE COUNTY - Tourism officials continue to work hard to get the word out that our beaches are clean and oil free. Officials say the Suncoast appears to be hanging in there.
|
Will new DNA evidence set Manatee County man free?
BRADENTON - A Palmetto man serving life in prison for raping a woman in 1992 may get a chance at freedom.
|
School board moving forward with superintendent's budget proposal
BRADENTON - Manatee County school board members have approved the superintendent's budget proposals for the upcoming school year. The district is looking at $9 million in cuts this year.
|
Manatee County schools look to make further budget cuts
BRADENTON - Manatee County schools are going to suffer more than $9 million worth of cuts in the upcoming school year. Monday night, the school board is expected to discuss the proposed budget.
|
NOAA re-opens a portion of Gulf fishing boundary
CORTEZ - Some Suncoast fisherman say they're relieved the oil is no longer gushing into the Gulf, but the damage is done. A lot of the territory they normally fish in has been off limits since the oil disaster.
|
Suncoast alliance to create jobs first in region of it's kind
BRADENTON - A Suncoast alliance working to create jobs and train potential employees is getting national attention. The Manatee-Sarasota Workforce Funders Collaborative has been invited to become a model for others in the nation.
|
Waterlefe residents still fighting bridge
MANATEE COUNTY - A group of residents in Eastern Manatee County are hoping to somehow stop plans already in progress for a new bridge at Fort Hamer.
|
Palmetto to consider relaxing restrictions on Sunday alcohol sales
MANATEE COUNTY - Palmetto city commissioners are set to reconsider a ban on Sunday alcohol sales. For decades, stores have had to lock up the booze because of a law outlawing the Sunday sales within city limits.
|
Repaving project to affect Bradenton Beach drivers
MANATEE COUNTY - Drivers in Bradenton Beach should expect to face some construction delays this week.
|
Bradenton man confronts burglar trying to steal beer
BRADENTON, FL. - A Manatee County man is recovering after chasing down a man he says broke into his patio and stole his beer. It happened Thursday morning just after 8 o'clock.
|
Firefighters head to NYC to pick up World Trade Center beam
BRADENTON - A piece of the World Trade Center will soon arrive at its new home here on the Suncoast.
|
DCF shuts down Bradenton in home daycare
MANATEE COUNTY - A Bradenton home daycare has been shut down after reports of physical and sexual abuse. Police are investigating the claims, and one of the cases has already been turned over to the state attorney's office.
|
Tourism officials combating negative perception
MANATEE COUNTY - Suncoast tourism officials are working aggressively to combat negative perceptions caused by the massive oil spill.
|
Manatee Sheriff reports the overall crime rate is up
BRADENTON - Manatee County Sheriff Brad Steube says overall crime is up between 5% and 6% so far this year.
|
Suncoast man pushing for tougher pawn shop laws
MANATEE COUNTY - The family of a murdered Terra Ceia woman is pushing for tougher laws in pawn shops. They believe a combination of digital pictures and a statewide database could help save lives and solve crimes in the future.
|
Task force aims to keep kids out of gangs
Phone number for gang members or their parents to get help -- 713-4344.
|
Manatee County takes action against pill mills
BRADENTON - Manatee County is joining other communities across the area by outlawing pill mills.
|
Controversial pain clinic moves to Ellenton
MANATEE COUNTY - A follow up on Bradenton pain clinic we first told you about two weeks ago, when protestors asked the city to shut it down. That clinic has since moved to a larger facility in Ellenton.
|
Popular Holmes Beach cafe to close in July
ANNA MARIA ISLAND - The Café On The Beach and Gift Shop has been operating for 18 years, but despite its popularity, the restaurant's lease will not be renewed.
|
Nixle offers free service alerts in Bradenton
Updated:
BRADENTON - Bradenton residents can now be the first to know of any crime or accidents in their neighborhoods.
|
Bradenton lawmaker defends bikini picture on Senate floor
BRADENTON, FL. – A state senator from Bradenton made international headlines this week for looking at a sexy email picture during a senate debate.
|
Turtle watch volunteers prepare to take action on oil clean-up
MANATEE COUNTY - Sea turtle nesting season could be in danger because of the huge oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Now a group of local volunteers is hitting the beach to make sure the sea turtles stay safe.
|
Palmetto to keep promise and build ball fields
MANATEE COUNTY - A Palmetto little league says it's having major league problems keeping its teams together without nearby ball fields.
|
Turtle watch volunteers preparing for nesting season
MANATEE COUNTY - Folks on Anna Maria Island are watching for sea turtles. Sea turtle nesting season begins next month, and new turtle watch volunteer training begins Thursday.
|
Popular beachfront cafe could lose its lease
MANATEE COUNTY - This season could be the last one for a Holmes Beach staple. The Beach Café and Gift Shop has been operating for 18 years, but despite its popularity, the restaurant's lease may not be renewed.
|
Easter comes early for Bradenton moms-to-be
BRADENTON - Easter came early for some expectant moms in Manatee County. Volunteers donated much-needed gift baskets at a home for young mothers.
|
Bradenton home gets the extreme makeover treatment
BRADENTON - Dozens of volunteers are hard at work in Manatee County, taking part in an extreme home makeover -- Bradenton style.
|
"New Options" seeking professional volunteers
Updated:
MANATEE COUNTY - Manatee Technical Institute is working to give non-traditional students an edge in the job market, and they need your help.
|
Muscle car series kicks off in Bradenton
MANATEE COUNTY - Dozens of dragsters are burning rubber at a Manatee County race track this weekend. They're here for the Ross Racing Pistons NMCA Muscle Car Nationals.
|
Manatee County leaders taking poverty personally
BRADENTON - You hear about it and talk about it, but do you really know about poverty at the root level? Suncoast community leaders and decision makers met in Bradenton Thursday to get a better handle on it.
|
Realize Bradenton preparing to launch new interactive website
MANATEE COUNTY - The non-profit Realize Bradenton is getting ready to launch a new website aimed at branding the downtown area. The group is using social networking and media to attract world wide attention.
|
Project manager making vision a reality
BRADENTON - Plans for major revitalization efforts are underway in the City of Bradenton. The Downtown Development Authority recently hired a project manager to take the reigns and make the vision of a new downtown a reality.
|
Suncoast staffing service sees increase in some job positions
MANATEE COUNTY - A Suncoast staffing agency is seeing a slight increase in employers looking for temporary workers. But only certain sectors have openings.
|
Spring breakers choose volunteer work over beach
SARASOTA - Instead of hitting the beaches this spring break, several college students are volunteering their time to help clean up the Suncoast. Monday they spent hours cleaning up an eyesore some are tired of looking at.
|
Termite season is here
SARASOTA - Termite swarming season is here on the Suncoast. Experts say Spring is the busiest time of year for the insects, which eat 24/7, never stopping to rest.
|
Palmetto man heading to Iraq to help families in crisis
PALMETTO - When you face emergencies, it's vital to get a hold of relatives. That can be challenging when family members are serving overseas. But a Palmetto man about to deploy to Iraq is going to help.
|
Parents step up as budget cuts for schools start again
MANATEE COUNTY - Parents in Manatee County are calling for help in a grass roots effort on behalf of public education. This as the school district predicts cuts between $6 million and $15 million next school year.
|
Manatee officials see increased need for assistance, less money
MANATEE COUNTY - The unemployment rate is Manatee County is around 12.7%. That means more than 18,500 people are looking for jobs. With so many struggling to find work, the foreclosure rate is continuing to rise.
|
Shelter manager says lack of emergency beds is a crisis
MANATEE COUNTY- Workers at the Manatee County Salvation Army Family Lodge say they're booked solid. The unemployment rate and foreclosures have created a lack of available beds.
|
Dying homeless man inspires Manatee County couple
BRADENTON - A Manatee County couple is working to start a non-profit group to help homeless people who are also disabled. The idea came after they found a man lying in a parking lot, next to his wheelchair, dying from cancer.
|
Bradenton officer receives medal of honor
BRADENTON - A Bradenton police officer received the department's highest honor Tuesday for saving someone's life.
|
Manatee County students and staff raise $37,000 for Haiti
MANATEE COUNTY - From walk-a-thons to car washes, Manatee County students have been working hard to raise money for Haiti. Often a dollar at a time.
|
Braden River Little League hosting public opening day ceremonies
BRADENTON - The Braden River Little League is ready for their biggest opening day ever, hoping to give something back those who helped them recover from a fire.
|
Fans happy to see Pirates back in action
Updated:
BRADENTON - The Pittsburgh Pirates also starting spring training Thursday in Bradenton. Pitchers and catchers taking the fields at Pirate City for their first full workout.
|
Bradenton company unveils grease disposal system, hopes to create jobs
MANATEE COUNTY - A Bradenton business unveiled new technology Tuesday: an environmentally-friendly system to keep landfills cleaner and sewers free of grease. The company president also says it will create more jobs on the Suncoast.
|
Bridge tourney brings boost to economy
PALMETTO - A game of skill and communication that dates back to the 16th century is taking over Manatee County this week. More than 2,500 people are expected to take part in a regional bridge tournament in Palmetto.
|
Cell Phones For Soldiers being collected in Lakewood Ranch
LAKEWOOD RANCH - A Manatee County business is joining a national effort to help keep U.S. soldiers in touch with their families.
|
Home invasion suspect now charged in Kathleen Briles murder
MANATEE COUNTY - A man accused in a series of violent home invasions on the Suncoast now faces a murder charge. Manatee County Sheriff's investigators say Delmer Smith killed a Terra Ceia woman in her home last summer.
|
Wisconsinites boast friendliness on Holmes Beach
MANATEE COUNTY, FL - Several hundred cheeseheads got together Wednesday on the Suncoast for the annual Wisconsin Day on Holmes Beach. It's a place where no one teases the northerners for their accent or their friendliness.
|
Manatee Newsroom Archives - 2010
| Manatee Newsroom Archives - 2009
|
Manatee Newsroom Archives - 2008
| Manatee Newsroom Archives - 2007
|
