Sonja Dümpelmann

2 weeks ago | thebradentontimes.com | Glenn Compton |Jackie Llanos |Kimberly Zerkel |Sonja Dümpelmann

Two bills moving through this legislative session would shield owners of former phosphate mines from pollution liability, which will likely encourage development of that land and expose people and the environment to increased radiation risks. Senate Bill 832 and House Bill 585 guts important environmental and public health protections by adopting new exceptions to the “Water Quality Assurance Act”, which holds companies responsible for any damage caused by certain types of pollution.

2 weeks ago | thebradentontimes.com | Mitch Maley |Jackie Llanos |Sonja Dümpelmann |Ludwig Maximilian

This week marks my 15th anniversary as Editor of The Bradenton Times. The milestone, which comes just a few months after turning 50, has given me the chance to reflect on a decade and a half during which I’ve had the opportunity to do work that I love, in and for a community that will always be dear to me. TBT had been online for less than a year when I took the helm.

2 weeks ago | thebradentontimes.com | Jackie Llanos |Sonja Dümpelmann |Ludwig Maximilian |K. Hill

Former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn at St. Leo University on April 24, 2025. (Photo from St. Leo's University)The former mayor of Florida’s third biggest city says he wants to return to finish the job. Bob Buckhorn led Tampa from 2011 to 2019 before he was term-limited from office. Now, nearly two years away from the next election, he says he wants back in. “Tampa has more chapters to write and to the extent that I can be helpful I will, ” Buckhorn told the Phoenix in a text message on Thursday night.

2 weeks ago | thebradentontimes.com | Jackie Llanos |Kimberly Zerkel |Sonja Dümpelmann |Ludwig Maximilian

Former GOP state Rep. Joel Rudman and Tracy Caruso in the Capitol on April 25, 2025. (Photo by Mitch Perry/Florida Phoenix)For the past month, something of a civil war has raged between Florida Republicans in Tallahassee. Gov. Ron DeSantis has accused Florida GOP House leadership of being “at war with the voters who provided the supermajority in the first place.”He’s criticized them for ignoring his request for a property tax cut and not doing enough on condominium legislation.

2 weeks ago | thebradentontimes.com | Jackie Llanos |Sonja Dümpelmann |Ludwig Maximilian |K. Hill

Rep. Lawrence McClure and Speaker Daniel Perez discuss the budget impasse at a news conference April 24, 2025. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix)The House on Friday voted, 78-29, to pass a $5 billion tax relief package, with most of the opposition involving changes to the collection of tourist development dollars. While it was a mostly partisan vote in support, the bill faces opposition from Gov.