Read the whole story here, which features fantastic photographs by Tiffany Tompkins (blue check here) and art by Madeline Everett miamiherald.com/news/local/com…

NEW: Ron DeSantis says he will likely decide Marco Rubio’s U.S. Senate successor by early January miamiherald.com/news/politics-… w/ Max Greenwood

From the lean years to becoming the nation’s fastest growing airport, Sarasota Bradenton International Airport benefited from CEO Rick Piccolo’s steady hand. Now he’s retiring after 30 years | ⁦Jason Dill⁩ ⁦Bradenton Herald⁩ bradenton.com/news/local/art…

Judge Matt Whyte denied the defense's motion for a new trial on the basis of juror misconduct and sentenced Ashley Benefield to prison for manslaughter in the 2020 shooting death of her husband, Doug Benefield.

When will Manatee County wetland protections be restored? Officials look for faster way: bradenton.com/news/politics-…

A Manatee County judge is set to decide whether Ashley Benefield, convicted of manslaughter in the 2020 shooting of her husband, will be granted bond while she appeals her case. Benefield, sentenced in December to 20 years of prison, appeared in court Thursday morning.

Kobe Bryant passed away five years ago today. I went around the Unrivaled league and talked to some of its stars about his impact miamiherald.com/sports/nba/mia…

NEW: In private call w/ supporters Monday night, DeSantis says he talked to Trump and his advisors as he tries to get support for his version of a state immigration proposal over a dueling proposal put forward by legislative leaders, audio recording shows miamiherald.com/news/politics-…

Manatee County joins the list of Florida communities considering an end to water fluoridation. But in a surprise, staff reveal the fluoride system has been broken for years: bradenton.com/news/politics-…

bradenton.com/news/local/art…

NEW: Within weeks of his election, a Manatee County commissioner who campaigned on transparency and putting voters first was already looking for another job — as a top health official in the Trump administration. He didn't tell voters: bradenton.com/news/local/art…

A viral social media post of a fire at Myakka River State Park is raising questions about why a prescribed burn happened during drought conditions. w/ Jason Dill: bradenton.com/news/local/art…

A Florida bill that slashes red tape for hurricane recovery efforts also has some provisions that local govs say will make it more difficult to rebuild stronger -- and higher -- after a hurricane. With Ryan Ballogg, who's been watching this already unfold in Manatee

Over the weekend, the Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times obtained and published a list that is the first public accounting of who is being held or slated to be sent to the Florida-run detention center for migrants, known as Aligator Alcatraz. Non-subscribers can now access that story

Volunteers plan to restore ‘defender of the dunes’ on AMI. How you can help || Jason Dill bradenton.com/news/local/art…

Are Gulf sharks really an ‘overwhelming problem’? It’s complicated, experts say || w/ Michael Moore Jr. bradenton.com/news/local/art…

NEW: Florida DOGE audit makes Manatee County a test case for defying DeSantis and developers, w/ Carter Weinhofer and Josh Salman: bradenton.com/news/politics-…

Florida is set to end all state vaccine mandates, the state surgeon general announced today miamiherald.com/news/politics-…