Community News
Thursday, June 11, 2026 · Manatee County
Mote Marine Laboratory Awards $365,000 for Florida Coral Research
Mote Marine Laboratory distributed $365,000 in grants to fund coral research and restoration projects across Florida through its Protect Our Reefs license plate program.
Safe Children Coalition Raises $270,000, Completes $9.9M Shelter Campaign
Safe Children Coalition raised $270,000 at its annual Giving Breakfast and exceeded its $9.9 million goal to build a youth shelter for homeless and vulnerable teens opening by fall 2026.
Thursday, June 11, 2026
Safe Children Coalition Raises $270,000, Completes $9.9 Million Shelter Campaign
Safe Children Coalition raised $270,000 at its annual breakfast and completed its $9.9 million campaign to build a youth shelter in Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties, set to open by fall 2026.
Thursday, June 11, 2026
Manatee County Deputy Saves Drowning Swimmer, Wins 2025 Award
Manatee County Sheriff's Office Sergeant Brett Getman won the 2025 Deputy of the Year award for swimming into strong currents and rescuing two struggling swimmers in August.
Thursday, June 11, 2026
MCSO Crew Leader Revives Unresponsive Driver on US 41, Earns 2025 Employee of the Year
Manatee County Sheriff's Office crew leader Jose Torres revived an unresponsive driver on US 41 in May and was named the agency's 2025 Employee of the Year.
Thursday, June 11, 2026
MCSO Crew Leader Saves Crash Victim's Life, Named 2025 Employee of the Year
Jose Torres, an inmate crew leader at the Manatee County Sheriff's Office Work Farm, saved a driver's life after witnessing a crash in Hillsborough County and performing CPR until emergency responders arrived.
Thursday, June 11, 2026
Lee Middle School Teacher Arrested After Directing Student to Slap Classmate
A Lee Middle School teacher was arrested after directing a student to slap a classmate in her sixth-grade classroom on May 13.
Thursday, June 11, 2026
MCSO Deputy Blocker Disarms Armed Suspect at Walmart, Named Deputy of the Month
Deputy Michael Blocker disarmed an armed suspect at a Walmart in March, earning him the Manatee County Sheriff's Office Deputy of the Month award for April 2026.
Thursday, June 11, 2026
Coralee Garrison Wins 2025 Molter Memorial Award for MCSO Volunteer Work
Coralee Garrison won the 2025 Molter Memorial Award for nearly a decade of service with the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, logging hundreds of volunteer hours in crime prevention and community outreach.
Thursday, June 11, 2026
Mote Marine Laboratory Releases 22,000 Juvenile Snook Across Southwest Florida
Mote Marine Laboratory will release 22,000 juvenile snook into Southwest Florida estuaries this summer and use genetic tagging to track their survival and breeding success.
Thursday, June 11, 2026
Sergeant Getman Rescues Two Men From Rip Current at Bradenton Beach
Manatee County Sheriff's Office Sergeant Brett Getman rescued two swimmers from a rip current at Bradenton Beach on August 9, earning the agency's Deputy of the Year award.
Thursday, June 11, 2026
Man Arrested After Shooting Two People in Bradenton
A 26-year-old with nine prior felony convictions shot two people in Bradenton early Sunday morning after confronting them over a debt. Police arrested him within blocks of the shooting.
Thursday, June 11, 2026
From Single Mother to Role Model: Cequoya’s Journey
Bradenton single mother Cequoya transformed her life and achieved homeownership through her career and support from Goodwill Manasota.
Thursday, June 11, 2026
4ocean Challenges Eckerd Students to Cut Plastic Waste
Eckerd College hosted 4ocean on April 2, where more than 140 students, faculty, and staff pledged to reduce single-use plastic. The nonprofit committed to removing one pound of plastic for each pledge signed.
Thursday, June 11, 2026
MCSO Deputy and Case Manager Honored for Homeless Veteran's Rescue
Deputy Daniel Ensign and Resource Assistance Case Manager Wanda Alejandre received the 2025 MCSO Bealls Humanitarian Award for helping an elderly homeless veteran gain housing and financial security.
Thursday, June 11, 2026
MCSO Case Manager Wanda Alejandre Named December Employee of the Month
Wanda Alejandre, a Resource Assistance Case Manager with the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, was named Employee of the Month for December 2025 for her work securing housing and resolving financial exploitation for a homeless client.
Thursday, June 11, 2026
Deputy Rescues Father and Son from Rip Current at Bean Point
Deputy Matthew Daugherty swam 20 yards through dangerous currents at Bean Point to rescue a father and son swept away on a boogie board in August. He received the Manatee County Sheriff's Office Deputy of the Month award for the rescue.
Thursday, June 11, 2026
MCSO's Oscar Aguero-Yovera Finds Missing Elderly Woman, Earns Employee of the Month
CSO Oscar Aguero-Yovera found a missing elderly woman with dementia on Nov. 2, earning MCSO's Employee of the Month award.
Thursday, June 11, 2026
New Year’s Eve Dinner at Toro Toro Miami
Toro Toro Miami will offer a four-course prix fixe menu with live entertainment for New Year’s Eve 2024, featuring dishes like Wagyu Short Rib and Pan Seared Chilean Sea Bass.
Thursday, June 11, 2026
When Sarasota Child Safety Cases Require Immediate Review
Sarasota child welfare cases require immediate supervisory review when family circumstances change significantly, including household additions, visitation changes, and domestic violence reports.
Thursday, June 11, 2026
Sarasota Safe Children Coalition Restricts Media Access to Leadership
Sarasota's Safe Children Coalition limits media statements to top executives, warning staff that unauthorized comments risk criminal and financial consequences.
Thursday, June 11, 2026
Manatee County Churches Shift Mass Times for Holy Week
Manatee County churches announce Holy Week Mass times, including a Thursday evening service and Friday Communion service.
Thursday, June 11, 2026
Sarasota County Redraws 37 Voting Precincts Ahead of 2026 Midterms
Sarasota County voters will see new voting precincts and polling locations for 2026 after the county adjusted boundaries to reflect population growth.
Thursday, June 11, 2026
Success By 6: Inaugural Diaper Drive a Success!
The Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County's inaugural Success By 6 Diaper Drive collected 18,256 diapers for families in need.
Thursday, June 11, 2026
Bradenton Police Warn Against Distracted Driving as Crashes Rise
Local authorities urge Bradenton drivers to eliminate distractions behind the wheel to prevent crashes and save lives.
Thursday, June 11, 2026
Medical Marijuana Advocates Discuss Amendment 2 on Surreal News
Medical marijuana advocates discuss legalization efforts on Surreal News
Thursday, June 11, 2026
Medical Marijuana Advocates Discussed Amendment 2 on Sarasota Radio
Local advocates discussed Amendment 2 on community radio.
Thursday, June 11, 2026
Medical Marijuana Advocates Discuss Amendment 2 on The Surreal News
Medical marijuana advocates discuss Amendment 2 on The Surreal News Friday morning, with a focus on a local man's experience treating his wife's ALS with cannabis.
Thursday, June 11, 2026
DeSantis Rejects Florida Gas Tax Pause Amid $4/Gallon Spike
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis shot down calls to suspend the state's 25-cent gas tax, warning drivers won't feel relief at pumps hitting $4 a gallon. Despite pleas from Democrats and Palm Beach County leaders, he cited past failures and oil market volatility. As global tensions rise, Florida motorists brace for pain at the pump.
Thursday, June 11, 2026
DeSantis Signs 9 Key Florida Laws on Safety, Schools and Traffic
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed nine new laws Thursday in Tallahassee, tackling unlicensed drivers, church security and body camera privacy amid rising public safety concerns. Most take effect July 1, joining nearly 60 others passed this year. From stricter traffic penalties to expanded school guardians, the measures aim to bolster security across the Sunshine State.
Thursday, June 11, 2026