Local News
Community news from our local sources
How your home is appraised in Manatee County
Every year, each of Manatee County’s approximately 236,000 real estate parcels receives a valuation. Sometimes it goes up. Sometimes it goes down. Most importantly, this appraisal of valuation is the basis of that property owner’s tax bill, which makes it an essential process for…
St. Regis lawyers respond to Longboat arched sign lawsuit
Now that a suit was filed by the town of Longboat Key against the developers of the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort, the resort owner’s lawyers responded to the town’s claims, and a court date was set. Lawyers Morgan Bentley and Brian Goodrich, who have been retained by Chuck…
Sarasota Little League treasurer sentenced to 1 year, restitution
The woman who plead no contest to stealing more than $200,000 last year from Sarasota Little League was sentenced Monday to a year in Sarasota County Jail and was ordered to begin paying $176,000 in restitution upon her release. In court documents, 35-year-old Ahnaysa Kristina…
Manatee commissioner tells LWR CDDs he has seen the county waste funds
The property tax referendum was the topic that rose to the top during Commissioner Bob McCann's joint workshop with Community Development Districts on June 30 at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall. Representatives of each CDD were able to submit questions to the commissioner beforehand.…
Registration deadline for August primary is July 20
Voters choose the candidates who will appear on the general election ballots months before the election in August. The primary election is Aug. 18, and those who are not yet registered or wish to change their party affiliation must do so by Monday, July 20. Registration can be…
Le Gardenia Bleu closes on Longboat Key
The team at Le Gardenia Bleu, a family-run Longboat Key flower and gift shop that opened shortly before hurricanes Helene and Milton, announced on July 6 they are closed. Co-owner Lita Brannan shared on Facebook multiple factors prompted the closure, including several personal…
Bobby Jones clubhouse granted partial sign-off
Although the potential impact of a statewide property tax referendum on this fall’s ballot remains unknown, the planning process continues for city capital improvement projects, including the scaled-down Bobby Jones Golf Club clubhouse. The clubhouse, reduced in size and scope,…
Palmetto lawyer vies for District 1 Republican nomination
With two attorneys already seated on the Manatee County Commission — Amanda Ballard and Bob McCann — another attorney has entered the race for District 1: Leland Taylor. Taylor said lawyers can make good county commissioners because they’re open-minded, know how to apply the…
Town may encourage home raising through code amendment
As Longboat Key residents continue to raise their homes while rebuilding from the 2024 hurricanes, the town has begun to look at ways to make the process more straightforward. “We know that water levels are continuing to be a concern, and we want to see more folks elevating,”…
Buchanan proposal on school-tax fees now law
A proposal that requires county governments to either pay tax-collector fees on school taxes or waive them all together is now Florida law. The provision, proposed by State Rep. James Buchanan, R-Sarasota, was part of a broader tax package signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis this week.…
1899 Fruitville apartment development advances
The reformation of an entire block of Fruitville Road in the east downtown Sarasota area has taken a step forward as a project currently called 1899 Fruitville, having received partial Development Review Committee sign-off at the June 17 meeting. There is a caveat, though.…
City parking changes are now in effect
Downtown parkers beware: Changes made to the city’s parking policy are now in effect. Paid and timed parking is now being enforced from 8 a.m. to midnight for marked on-street parking spaces and 24 hours a day in city-owned parking garages, Monday through Saturday. On Sundays,…