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1 week ago | 
thebradentontimes.com | Mitch Maley |Mitch Perry |Jackie Llanos |Dawn Kitterman
The U.S. Senate appears poised to pass the GENIUS Act, a comprehensive piece of cryptocurrency legislation that could facilitate widespread fraud and economic instability throughout the economy. The bill is called the "Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins of 2025" or the "GENIUS Act of 2025." The intent is quite simple: to ensure that digital currencies face minimal regulation or oversight. President Trump once referred to cryptocurrency as a scam.
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2 weeks ago | 
thebradentontimes.com | Mitch Maley |Paige Gross |Josh Salman |Derek Gilliam
Rumors were abuzz this weekend after the Manatee County School Board announced a special meeting would be held on Tuesday for a “general discussion” on the superintendent’s contract. There were all kinds of supposed reasons as to why, but word on the street was that Dr. Jason Wysong would be fired. On Tuesday, those rumors proved true, although the reasons why remained murky.
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3 weeks ago | 
thebradentontimes.com | Mitch Maley |Josh Salman |Derek Gilliam |Suncoast Searchlight
Last week, we saw how developer stooges in Tallahassee have made it much more difficult for the new Manatee County Commission to overturn the horrible decisions made by the previous board, including reversing the gutting of our wetland protections and the decimation of our Future Development Area Boundary. This week, we learned that big government Republicans in Tallahassee are not finished trampling on the conservative principle of home rule.
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4 weeks ago | 
thebradentontimes.com | Mitch Maley |Dawn Kitterman |Mitch Perry |Stacie Hurst
In 15 years of covering the Manatee County Commission, I don't know that I have ever witnessed anything as bizarre as District 1 Commissioner Carol Felts' performance Tuesday when the board was to vote on an application to rezone nearly 220 acres of Parrish farmland from agricultural to planned residential development. Hope Ranch is in Felts’ district and surrounded by neighborhoods that endured some of the worst flooding in the county during last year’s hurricane season.
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4 weeks ago | 
thebradentontimes.com | Mitch Perry |Mitch Maley |Meredith Kolodner
Front of the Florida Capitol Building, taken on April 25, 2025. (Photo by Mitch Perry/Florida Phoenix)Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis continued his full-fledged campaign on Friday to get the Florida Legislature to back his idea of providing immediate targeted property tax relief this year to Floridians, and for lawmakers to jettison their proposed sales tax cut.
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4 weeks ago | 
thebradentontimes.com | Don Laible |Mitch Perry |Mitch Maley |Ruth Harenchar
One day, Renny Duarte could be elevated to the position of pitching coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Spending a few minutes with Duarte prior to a Marauders’ home game is a treat. Confidence oozes from every sentence the Venezuelan speaks about the nuances of pitching. The experience he’s picked up around the globe on baseball makes him uniquely qualified to teach.
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4 weeks ago | 
thebradentontimes.com | Mitch Perry |Mitch Maley |Meredith Kolodner
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has concluded its initial investigation into what is confirmed to be the first fatal Florida black bear attack in state history this week in Jerome, Florida. On Monday morning, May 5, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office notified FWC staff of a possible fatal wildlife encounter. Family members reported a relative missing from his residence and signs of recent disturbances that could have been caused by a bear or bears around the property.
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4 weeks ago | 
thebradentontimes.com | Mitch Perry |Mitch Maley |Meredith Kolodner
Florida Capitol and Old Capitol. (Photo by Michael Moline/Florida Phoenix)A $2.8 billion tax cut deal reached between Senate President Ben Albritton and House Speaker Daniel Perez last week to help bring the 2025 regular session to a close is now off the table. The breakdown means legislators are nowhere near coming up with a new budget, which needs to be in place by July 1 or the state risks a government shutdown. The Friday morning announcement from legislative leadership came as Gov.
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4 weeks ago | 
thebradentontimes.com | Mitch Perry |Mitch Maley |Meredith Kolodner
Calendar Jah Movement at Tarpon Bay Grill & Tiki Bar Posted Friday, May 9, 2025 9:14 pm Tarpon Bay Grill & Tiki Bar 7150 N. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34243 View larger map Event time 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Cost / donation No cover The winner of Manasota Honors 2021 Musical Artist of the Year, reggae band Jah Movement features a glorifying sound where individual talents of each member come together. Highlighting the talented ensemble is hometown hero and vocalist extraordinaire Shantel Norman....
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4 weeks ago | 
thebradentontimes.com | Mitch Perry |Mitch Maley |Meredith Kolodner
Calendar The Shakes Society at Motorworks Brewing Posted Friday, May 9, 2025 8:18 pm Motorworks Brewing 1014 9th Street West BRADENTON, FL 34205 View larger map The Shakes Society is a multi-talented, multi-instrumental band. Their unique blending of Soul, Funk, Ska and Rock is like no other band, creating their own unique genre, not easily fitting into traditionally defined categories. The Shakes Society is a very interactive experience so don’t be surprised if you find yourself dancing with...
