Ryan Ballogg

Florida

Associate Editor and Environment Reporter at Bradenton Herald

Associate Editor & Environment Reporter @BradentonHerald Chair, @BHnewsguild | Tips: [email protected]

Articles

Manatee leaders want to reduce flooding. Here’s how much it might cost you

6 days ago | bradenton.com | Ryan Ballogg

Manatee County officials are considering charging residents a new stormwater fee to reduce widespread flooding issues. The fee would add millions to the budget for cleaning canals and waterways and enhancing the county’s stormwater system, which staff say could use major improvements. Officials pursued a similar measure in 2019, but after pushback from residents and a change in county leadership, commissioners abandoned the idea.
Bradenton man scores $1,000,000 prize on Florida Lottery game

1 week ago | bradenton.com | Ryan Ballogg

A Manatee County man recently won a $1,000,000 prize on a lucky scratch-off ticket, the Florida Lottery said in a news release. Gary Moore bought the winning ticket at Circle K, 836 301 Blvd. E., Bradenton, the Florida Lottery said. Launched in 2024, the costs $50 per ticket and features the Florida Lottery’s largest scratch-off top prize ever at $25 million. One of the two top prizes has been claimed. The game also offers 160 prizes of $1 million.
Will fluoride stay in Manatee’s drinking water? Officials make a decision

1 week ago | bradenton.com | Ryan Ballogg

Manatee County leaders are bringing the county’s decades-long practice of adding fluoride to drinking water to an end. Amid a renewed national controversy over fluoride’s safety, Commissioner Amanda Ballard first proposed ending Manatee County’s fluoride program in January.
Manatee leaders set to debate removing fluoride from drinking water. What to know

1 week ago | bradenton.com | Ryan Ballogg

Manatee County leaders are set to debate whether the county should end its decades-long practice of adding fluoride to drinking water this week. An ordinance that is up for a vote at a board meeting on Tuesday would bring the program, which started in the 90s, to an end. Manatee County joins a host of other communities around Florida and the country that are reconsidering the practice following a national controversy over its safety. But Manatee County’s situation has an extra twist.
Inspectors temporarily close Bradenton restaurant with roach problem

1 week ago | bradenton.com | Ryan Ballogg

Florida’s Division of Hotels and Restaurants routinely inspects restaurants, food trucks and other food service establishments for public health and cleanliness issues. During recent inspections, a Thai restaurant in Bradenton was temporarily shut down for the second time this year after inspectors again found signs of roach activity. The business was temporarily closed in February after inspectors found live and dead bugs and rodent droppings onsite.
Which Bradenton-area restaurants aced their health inspections? Here’s the list

2 weeks ago | bradenton.com | Ryan Ballogg

Looking for a place to eat around Bradenton? Manatee County restaurants are routinely inspected by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation for health and food safety issues and cleanliness. Florida bases its inspection standards on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Code, which contains many, many possible violations.
A new Manatee County development board? Officials eye major changes

2 weeks ago | bradenton.com | Ryan Ballogg

Manatee County leaders are considering a major overhaul of the county’s Planning Commission, citing a list of complaints about how the board operates. The Planning Commission is a seven-member advisory board that reviews local development requests and rule changes before they come to the Board of County Commissioners. The Planning Commission can vote to recommend or not recommend an item. Then the Board of County Commissioners has the final say.
Which Bradenton-area restaurants aced their health inspections? Here’s the list

2 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Ryan Ballogg

Ryan BalloggWed, April 9, 2025 at 9:50 AM UTC2 min readLooking for a place to eat around Bradenton? Manatee County restaurants are routinely inspected by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation for health and food safety issues and cleanliness. Florida bases its inspection standards on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Code, which contains many, many possible violations.
Inspectors temporarily close Bradenton eatery with rodent issues

2 weeks ago | bradenton.com | Ryan Ballogg

Florida’s Division of Hotels and Restaurants routinely inspects restaurants, food trucks and other food service establishments for public health and cleanliness issues. During recent inspections, a golf course restaurant in Bradenton was temporarily shut down after inspectors found signs of rodent activity. • High priority: An inspector observed approximately 10 rodent droppings on the floor in a back kitchen area.
37-year-old Bradenton woman killed in motorcycle crash, FHP says

2 weeks ago | bradenton.com | Ryan Ballogg

A 37-year-old Bradenton woman died in a motorcycle crash on Friday evening, Florida Highway Patrol said in a news release. Troopers say the crash happened around 6:38 p.m. on Honore Avenue in The Meadows area of Sarasota County. The Bradenton woman was riding south on Honore Avenue, approaching a curve north of Athletes Drive, FHP said. Troopers say that’s when she lost control of her motorcycle, which drove off the roadway.