Month: March 2024

by FWC

Red Tide was observed at background concentrations in one sample collected from Florida’s East Coast over the past week. 

• In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.
• In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.
• Along the Florida East Coast over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background concentrations in one sample collected from Palm Beach County.

No reports of fish kills suspected to be related to red tide were received over the past week. For more details, please visit https://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/health/ and https://visitbeaches.org/.

Respiratory Irritation was not reported in Florida over the past week. For recent and current information at individual beaches, please visit https://visitbeaches.org/ and for forecasts that use FWC and partner data, please visit https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/science-areas/habs/hab-forecasts/gulf-of-mexico/.

Forecasts by the USF-FWC Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides for Pinellas County to northern Monroe County predict variable transport of surface waters and net southeastern movement of subsurface waters in most areas over the next 3.5 days.

The next status report will be issued on Friday, April 5^th. Please check our daily sampling map, which can be accessed via the online status report on our Red Tide Current Status page. For more information on algal blooms and water quality, please visit Protecting Florida Together.

This information, including maps and reports with additional details, is also available on the FWRI Red Tide website. The website also provides links to additional information related to the topic of Florida red tide including satellite imagery, experimental red tide forecasts, shellfish harvesting areas, the FWC Fish Kill Hotline, the Florida Poison Information Center (to report human health effects related to exposure to red tide), and other wildlife related hotlines.

To learn more about various organisms that have been known to cause algal blooms in Florida waters, see the FWRI Red Tide Flickr page. Archived status maps can also be found on Flickr.       

The FWRI HAB group in conjunction with Mote Marine Laboratory now have a facebook page.  Please like our page and learn interesting facts concerning red tide and other harmful algal blooms in Florida.

Source: thebradentontimes.com

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While Bradenton Christian couldn’t quite beat Inspiration Academy Red on Tuesday, the two-point margin was a huge improvement compared to the ten-point loss they were dealt last Thursday. The Bradenton Christian Panthers fell just short of the Inspiration Academy Red Lions by a score of 11-9. The defeat unfortunately continues a disappointing trend for Bradenton Christian in their matchups with Inspiration Academy Red: they’ve now lost three in a row.

Bradenton Christian saw four different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Connor Henderson, who scored a run and stole a base while going 2-for-4. Henderson is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as he’s now stolen at least one in the last three games he’s played.

Bradenton Christian’s loss dropped their record down to 7-7. As for Inspiration Academy Red, their win (their first of the season) made their record 1-6.

Both squads are looking forward to the support of their home crowds in their upcoming games. Bradenton Christian will take on Bracken County at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday. As for Inspiration Academy Red, they will be playing in front of their home fans against FSBE Academy at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps

Source: maxpreps.com

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Staff Report

SARASOTA — The final installment of 96.5 WSLR’s Public Newsroom series will take place Tuesday at its Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center. Titled “Community News and Democracy,” it will feature three regional news leaders: the Herald-Tribune, WUSF, and the Barancik Foundation.

A thriving democracy relies on an informed and engaged electorate. Local news, in particular, is essential to civic engagement, trust, voter participation, and community vitality. Now more than ever, it can be a critical tool to help combat misinformation and polarization. In this session, we will discuss the role that local news plays in supporting healthy local democratic practices.

Facilitator: Maria Vesperi, professor of anthropology, New College of Florida

Panelists:

Brian Ries is the engagement editor at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Mary Shedden is news director at WUSF Public Media, where she oversees a team of reporters, editors, and producers covering 13 counties on Florida’s west coast. A journalist for more than two decades, Mary arrived at WUSF in 2013, where she worked first as a reporter and then as editor of the Health News Florida journalism collaborative. She became news director in 2015.

Matthew Sauer is the Collaboration and Impact Officer for the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, working on issues such as the environment, workforce housing, the foundation’s community journalism initiative, health equity and recidivism. Prior to joining Barancik in May 2021, Sauer spent 35 years in journalism, lastly as executive editor and general manager of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and as Gannett Co.’s regional editor for Florida, overseeing newsrooms at the company’s 20 publications in the Sunshine State.

The program is free and open to the public, though you must register here. It is scheduled for 6 p.m. The Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center is located at 525 Kumquat Ct, Sarasota, FL 34236. Doors open at 5 p.m. 

Funding for this program was provided through a grant from Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this forum do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Source: thebradentontimes.com

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by Kara Gross

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ authoritarian approach to governing is losing relevance with Floridians, and the tide seems to be turning in Florida.

A year ago, we saw bill after bill restricting our freedoms being fast-tracked through the legislature and signed into law by DeSantis. These laws were part of the governor’s “anti-woke” crusade — including government restrictions on speech and expression, government restrictions on access to health care, and government censorship in public schools, workplaces and our institutions of higher education.

Bills passed that created barriers to voting, targeted our immigrant communities, and banned books. These laws were unpopular with Floridians and the rest of the country. And they have caused tremendous harm to Floridians, our workforce, and our freedoms.

But this year’s session was different.

The backlash against the governor’s extremist agenda has been loud and fierce. After seeing the devastating impacts of government control over reproductive health care with IVF clinics closing their doors in Alabama, government-censorship-gone-wild with dictionaries and encyclopedias being removed from libraries, widespread teacher shortages, and an ignored and unaddressed property insurance crisis, Floridians across the political spectrum and of all faiths were successful at thwarting many of the most egregious bills filed this session and diluting many of the harms of the bills that did ultimately pass.

The governor must have hoped that Floridians would be so overworked and underpaid that they would sleep-walk through his assaults on our freedoms. But the opposite happened.

Floridians fought passionately throughout this legislative session to make their voices heard. Together, among other victories big and small, Floridians were able to defeat these bad bills:

• an anti-abortion bill that would have allowed abusers to sue individuals seeking abortion care, their healthcare providers, and their support systems who helped them access the care they need (SB 476/ HB 651)
• a government censorship bill that would have chilled the speech of reporters and members of the public from writing about the actions of public officials (HB 757/SB 1780)
• a bill that would have barred minors under 16 from accessing constitutionally protected speech on the internet, even if they had their parents’ consent (HB 1)
• an anti-voter bill that would have limited access to secure dropboxes, where you can safely submit your vote-by-mail ballot (SAC6)
• anti-voter bills that would have abolished no-excuse vote-by-mail (SB 1752) and that would have required law enforcement in polling places (SB 190/HB 671)
• a government censorship bill that would have censored adults from using their own pronouns at work (HB 599/SB 1382)
• an anti-LGBTQ+ bill that would have forcefully outed transgender Floridians by requiring driver licenses to list a person’s sex assigned at birth instead of their gender (HB 1639/HB 1233)
• a bill that would have protected Confederate monuments (HB 395/SB 1122)
• a bill that would have prohibited schools and local governments from displaying pride flags (HB 901/SB 1120)
• a government censorship bill that would have made it harder to pass constitutional amendments (HJR 335)
• a government censorship bill that would have criminalized peaceful protests on campuses (HB 465/SB 470)

These are wins to be proud of.

Though we staved off the brunt of the legislature’s extremist agenda, several unconstitutional and inhumane bills still made it through.

These include an unconstitutional “stop-woke teacher training bill” that prohibits adults from teaching other adults about institutional racism and sexism (coalition opposition to HB 1291), a bill requiring all adults to verify their age and surrender their anonymity to access vast amounts of constitutionally protected speech online and barring youth under 14 from accessing constitutionally protected speech on the internet even with their parents’ consent (coalition opposition to HB 3), bills that could be weaponized against bystanders filming police activity (opposition to SB 184) and restricting civilian review boards that provide a measure of accountability for local police (opposition to HB 601), a bill allowing anyone claiming to be a religious chaplain, regardless of credentials, to counsel students in public schools (opposition to HB 931), and bills restricting community IDs (opposition to HB 1451), abolishing locally authorized safety protections (like water and shade) for outdoor workers exposed to Florida’s extreme heat (opposition to HB 433), and rolling back child labor protections (opposition to HB 49).

Several of these egregious bills have already been signed into law by DeSantis since the session wrapped up earlier this month, and we expect the governor will sign the others into law soon after they land on his desk.

While we still have a long way to go before Florida is a state where all people can live freely — regardless of what we look like, who we love, or how we express ourselves — the movement for justice is not confined to the legislative chambers. It exists in the courts, in the streets, in public opinion, and in elections.

If this legislative session has shown us anything, it is that extremists in our legislature will continually try to take away our rights, but that we — the people — have enormous power when we all work together to advocate for our freedoms.

We plan to take that power to the polls this November.

Stay woke, Florida. And hold your legislators accountable — your voice and your actions are critical. Our freedoms depend on it.

Kara Gross is the legislative director and senior policy counsel at the ACLU of Florida.

Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Diane Rado for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com. Follow Florida Phoenix on Facebook and Twitter.

Source: thebradentontimes.com

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Source: sportingkc.com

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by Scoop Malinowski

WTA tennis pro Danielle Collins has reached the Miami Open finals. Currently ranked no. 53 in the world, the Bradenton resident has won two WTA singles titles in her career. Her highest ranking is no. 7. She frequently trains at IMG Academy and Harrison Tennis Academy in Bradenton.

DOB: December 13, 1993, St. Petersburg, FL

Ht: 5-10 Wt: 130

First Tennis Memory:  “Crawling on the court when my dad (Wally) would play his league matches. (age?) Probably like one or two.”

Tennis Inspirations:  “Martina Hingis. The Williams sisters. Anna Kournikova. Who else…Caroline Wozniacki. Maria Sharapova.”

Last Book Read:  “Ghosted.”

Nickname:  “Danimal.”

First Famous Player You Met or Encountered: “Justine Henin at Saddlebook (age 10).”

Greatest Career Moments:  “Australian Open finals (2022). First WTA title (Palermo 2021). Beating Venus Williams (at Miami Open). Pretty cool.”

Most Painful Moment:  “…painful moment…probably having wrist surgery after I won NCAA my sophomore year.”

Current Car:  “I drive an Audi Q3 (white).”

Favorite Tournaments:  “Indian Wells, Fed Cup and Australian Open.”

Funniest Players Encountered:  “Madison Brengle for sure…Christian Harrison.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor:  “Mint chocolate chip.”

Funny Tennis Memory:  “There’s a lot. We’re always laughing out here… that’s a good question…probably falling on my face in Wuhan. Bad fall. Really bad fall.”

Strangest Match:  “Playing Sonia Kenin in a semifinal in Norman, Oklahoma. Really windy. And all the referee’s chairs were flying around the court. Ridiculous. (Who won?) I did.”

Favorite Sport Outside Tennis: “Hockey.”

Three Athletes You Like To Watch:  “Lebron James…I’m just not like a fan person. Alex Killorn from hockey.”

Why Do You Love Tennis:  “I love tennis because I think competition makes everyone better. And I love embracing the challenge of competition.”

Fiercest Competitors Encountered:  “…I think Coco Vandeweghe.”

Closest Tennis Friends:  “Madison Brengle. Tom Fawcett. Sonia Kenin. Allison Riske. Nicole Melichar. Who else…that’s about it.”

People Qualities Most Admired:  “Enthusiastic. Witty. And honest.”

Which Match(es) Were You At Your Best:  “There’s been a lot of good ones…(Maybe it hasn’t happened yet?)…Hasn’t happened yet. Good option.”

Read more Biofiles by Scoop at www.mrbiofile.com

Source: thebradentontimes.com

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As tourist season finally slows down and the spring weather remains gorgeous, it’s the ideal time to dine with a view, which is why I recently spotlighted the 10 best waterfront restaurants in Sarasota and Bradenton.

Four of those local dining destinations have been chosen for our USA TODAY Network Florida Dining & Entertainment team’s newly published story: “What’s the best waterfront restaurant in Florida? 17 favorites for food, drinks and fun!“

You will find restaurants selected from Sarasota as well as Manatee County, with places overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, Sarasota Bay, and the Intracoastal Waterway.

Presented in alphabetical order, here’s information on all four of my favorite waterfront restaurants located in Sarasota-Manatee.

Best waterfront restaurant in Sarasota:10 favorites I love to recommend

Best waterfront restaurant in Florida:17 favorites for food, drinks and fun!

Ticket Newsletter:Sign up to receive restaurant news and reviews plus info on things to do every Friday

Beach Bistro

6600 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach; 941-778-6444; beachbistro.com

Boasting decades of history and numerous honors, Beach Bistro excels at fine dining done Florida-style. Secure a table on the soft white sands of Anna Maria Island and watch the waves gently crash on the shoreline while indulging in a fabulous five-course tasting menu. It begins with a mini cocktail and an equally sublime shot of ice cream, and somehow, only gets better from there. Choose from iconic dishes such as Lobstercargots and Bistro Bouillabaisse, and be sure to consider my personal favorite, the grouper grenobloise.

10 best romantic restaurantsfor fine dining in Sarasota, Bradenton and Venice

Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant 

760 Broadway St., Longboat Key; 941-383-2391; marvistadining.com

There might not be a more enchanting waterfront dining experience in Florida than being seated at the wrought-iron tables located under the buttonwood trees overlooking Sarasota Bay at Mar Vista, which also offers a charming covered deck for seating that overlooks the restaurant’s 14-slip dock. To complement the Old Florida setting with more than 100 years of history, Mar Vista serves delectable Southern cuisine including the Lemon & Herb grouper entrée that features a fresh filet of fish covered in a superior beurre blanc, served with a side of smartly seasoned rice and delectable sausage made from Florida wild boar via Shogun Farms in Seffner. Local resident Ed Chiles, son of former Gov. Lawton Chiles, owns Mar Vista along with the nearby Anna Maria Island waterfront restaurants Beach House and Sandbar.

Oldest restaurants in Manatee County?10 historic dining destinations

Pop’s Sunset Grill

112 Circuit Road, Nokomis; 941-488-3177; popssunsetgrill.com

Pop’s offers a tropical getaway along the Intracoastal Waterway by the Albee Road Bridge connecting Casey Key to Nokomis. Originally opened as Urbanek’s Fish Camp in 1954, Pop’s produces a winning combination of Old Florida charm and modern features, such as the three-level, full-liquor tiki bar. While stopping by Pop’s for libations and daily live music is always fun, be sure to bring your appetite. Personal favorites include the smoked mahi spread, fresh grouper cooked on the open-flame grill, and a veggie skewer that is not to be dismissed.

Bucket list:Discover Sarasota County’s 100 best restaurants, fun things to do, places to visit

Star Fish Company

12306 46th Ave. W., Cortez; 941-794-1243; starfishcompany.com

Nestled along Sarasota Bay in the fishing village of Cortez, Star Fish Company offers exceptional Gulf seafood with a generous serving of Old Florida charm. Credit Karen Bell, a third-generation Cortezian dedicated to preserving her family’s commercial fishing heritage. She not only owns Star Fish and its adjoining fish market, but also a fleet of commercial fishing boats and the adjacent “fish house.” While dining at her dockside restaurant boasting a century of history, you’ll be captivated by the fishermen working alongside seabirds and the occasional dolphin. Star Fish serves expertly prepared Florida favorites like grouper, shrimp and oysters. However, the restaurant is particularly renowned for its mullet, a fish best enjoyed fried or blackened with a side of cheese grits.

Star Fish Companyin Cortez named one of the best restaurants in U.S.

Wade Tatangelo is Ticket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Florida Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. He can be reached by email at wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.

Source: heraldtribune.com

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Source: richlandsource.com

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License plate thefts are an ongoing issue around Tampa Bay.

The Bradenton Police Department has seen a small uptick in license plate thefts in recent weeks, reporting several in the last week alone.

“It’s simply because people don’t want to pay to have their car registered,” Meredith Censullo, a spokesperson for the Bradenton Police Department said. “Or they moved from out of state and they don’t want to register their vehicle in the state. So, it’s because they don’t have the means to do it, or they just don’t want to do it.”

“They will put that license plate on the vehicle used in the crime, thinking that it will make it harder to solve that case,” she said.

“The criminals are actually looking for a car that looks like theirs,” Censullo said.

Once someone steals a plate, they also have access to the registration decal.

“Check your vehicle regularly, especially if it’s a vehicle that you don’t drive that often,” Censullo said.

“You could invest in anti-theft screws for your license plate,” Censullo said. “Those make it harder to steal your plate.”

Although police have to go through an extra step when investigating a different crime involving a stolen plate, Censullo says that’s typically the first thing investigators will identify on a car.

If your license plate is stolen, police say it’s important to report it, because that information goes into a national database. The information can be used to link the plate to any possible future crime.

Source: fox13news.com

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Source: patch.com

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