Lakewood Ranch — your local wire.
Lakewood Ranch — your local wire.
Latest reporting from the Local Government desk.
Latest reporting from the Local Government desk.
Latest reporting from the Local Government desk.
Local Government
Manatee County commissioners moved forward Aug. 25 with a proposed ordinance that, if adopted, would give the Sheriff's Office additional enforcement tools against roughly 25 illegal gambling arcades in unincorporated Manatee County. The first of two required public hearings is expected Sept. 22.
Local Government
Manatee County commissioners moved forward Aug. 25 with a proposed ordinance that, if adopted, would give the Sheriff's Office additional enforcement tools against roughly 25 illegal gambling arcades in unincorporated Manatee County. The first of two required public hearings is expected Sept. 22.
Manatee County commissioners moved forward Aug. 25 with a proposed ordinance that, if adopted, would give the Sheriff's Office additional enforcement tools against roughly 25 illegal gambling arcades in unincorporated Manatee County. The first of two required public hearings is expected Sept. 22.
Local Government
Jean Kabongo will lead USF's Sarasota-Manatee campus through a multi-year teach-out serving more than 1,000 students after the 32-acre site transferred to New College of Florida on July 1, with more than $50 million in debt and the future of local dual enrollment programs in play.
Local Government
Two new CSUSA-managed schools on Fruitville Road in Sarasota County — a tuition-free K-8 charter and a preschool — have completed construction and will open Monday, August 10, adding 1,105 seats near Lakewood Ranch.
Local Government
The Manatee County Commission blocked a proposed 0.15-mill property tax referendum from reaching the November 3 ballot, with three commissioners opposing the measure to fund a new animal shelter before a formal vote was taken; the commission instead directed staff to study the cost of building a new facility.
Local Government
The Bradenton Kiwanis Club and the Kiwanis Club of North Manatee together contributed $35,000 to rebuild a pavilion at Camp Flying Eagle in Bradenton that was damaged by Hurricane Milton, with a dedication ceremony held Sunday, July 26.
Local Government
Republican challenger Jim DeNiro released an AI-generated attack ad targeting Sarasota County Commissioner Joe Neunder over developer donations and the county's $2.52 billion budget ahead of the August 18 primary, a race with direct implications for Lakewood Ranch growth.
Local Government
The Manatee County Commission voted 6-0 on July 28 to place a $75 million environmental lands bond referendum on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the county estimates the additional 0.16-mill tax would cost about $47 per year for a home with $300,000 in taxable value, though most Lakewood Ranch homes are assessed higher and would pay more.
Local Government
The School District of Manatee County is exploring a $2.5 million to $4 million upgrade to Rangeland High School's planned auditorium that would create an 800-to-900-seat performing arts theater open to community groups, with a funding decision expected by December or January.
Local Government
Sharon Jefferson, a 27-year Manatee County teacher and Lakewood Ranch parent, is running for the District 2 school board seat on a platform of teacher retention, Title I school support and restorative discipline ahead of the August 18 primary.
Local Government
The Lakewood Ranch YMCA hosts a free "Endless Summer" community event on Saturday, August 1, from 9 a.m. to noon, with activities, snacks, and free school supplies for families nine days before the August 10 first day of school.
Local Government
HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital and Sarasota Memorial Health Care System are expanding physician residency programs with new specialties and training facilities, aiming to retain more doctors in a region where demand for healthcare already outstrips supply.
Local Government
Sarasota County voters will decide on November 3, 2026, whether to extend a 0.25-mill property tax for 20 more years and authorize up to $250 million in bonds to continue protecting environmentally sensitive land, a program that has shielded more than 42,000 acres since 1999.
Local Government
The Bradenton Police Department's Elder Fraud Unit says it has investigated more than $11.4 million in losses to seniors since early 2024, with cryptocurrency scams increasingly hard to recover, and is urging Lakewood Ranch-area residents to learn the "five P's" of fraud.
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©2026 Lakewood Ranch Beacon
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©2026 Lakewood Ranch Beacon
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