Elections
Unofficial Manatee County returns show Camden “Cam” Bedinghaus leading Jonathan Mullis in the School Board District 5 race, 22,557 votes (51.66%) to 21,107 (48.34%). The county’s results report lists all 12 precincts reporting and vote-by-mail returns as partially reported. The report was last updated at 10:56 p.m. Nov. 3. Totals remain unofficial pending canvassing and certification.
Elections
Unofficial Manatee County returns show Arnold and Poulton leading in two commission races, while Ballard leads District 2 by 173 votes.
Elections
The Associated Press called Florida Amendment 3 approved. Unofficial statewide returns checked at 12:57 p.m. EST Nov. 4 showed 61.99% support. Local projections estimate $1.6 billion in combined five-year revenue losses for Manatee, Sarasota and DeSoto counties.
Elections
Democrats break Republican strongholds in Senate and governor races. Dems likely to control both chambers of Congress.
Local Government
Manatee County commissioners on Oct. 7 approved more than $100 million in federal disaster recovery funding for stormwater and infrastructure projects, including automated outfall structures and drainage improvements in flood-prone neighborhoods.
Health
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs awarded a lease for a replacement Sarasota VA clinic at 2390 Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, with services including mental health, dental, audiology and telehealth for more than 120,000 veterans per year.
Education
Alta Vista Elementary School is one of only 36 Florida schools identified as eligible for the 2027 ECTAC Exceeding Expectations Award, which recognizes high-poverty schools demonstrating strong student achievement.
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Editor
Megan published her first poem in the Sun Sentinel at the age of 11 and has been locked in ever since. She attended UF and FIU and has a degree in Communication Arts. Her professional background includes photography, editing, writing, translation, and graphic design. Megan enjoys learning language, art and vegan foods.
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