Manatee government efficiency committee says DOGE report is off base

The committee met with Manatee's administrator and will report to commissioners July 28.

The committee presents its findings to County Administrator Charlie Bishop June 23.
Barbara Joseph, Marylee Danahy, Kristin Sciuto, Andrea Burr and Barbara Thornton embrace the motto of fun, friendship and community service through the Lakewood Ranch Women's Club.
  • July 1, 2026
Lakewood Ranch Women's Club provides friendship and community service
Paradise Pilates owner Julia Yesler, left, and Paulina Peralta, a certified personal trainer and Pilates instructor, demonstrate one of the stretches possible on the studio's new Cadillac reformer. Yesler recently opened the studio at The Centre Shops.
  • July 1, 2026
Returning Longboater opens new Pilates studio
Ken Rushing and Noel Ladd are co-owners of Couch LBK.
  • July 1, 2026
Voices of America: In what era of American history would you have liked to have lived?
  • June 30, 2026
Voices of America: Who's your American hero, and why?

Arts + Culture

Hand balancer Yelitza Vivas wows the crowd at the Summer Circus Spectacular, which runs through Aug. 8 at The Ringling's Historic Asolo Theater.
  • July 1, 2026
The Summer Circus Spectacular is a family affair
Andy Sandberg is artistic director and CEO of the Hermitage Artist Retreat, an artist incubator based in Englewood.
  • June 29, 2026
Hermitage Artist Retreat strengthens its ties with Broadway
A visitor to Sarasota Art Museum takes a photo of David Hockney's "Inside It Opens Up As Well," which collector Stanton Storer loaned to the museum for "Something Borrowed, Something New."
  • June 24, 2026
Collectors lend their treasures to Sarasota Art Museum for blockbuster exhibition
Jerome and Kathryn Chesley pose in their living room surrounded by colorful glass art that they've collected over the years.
  • June 22, 2026
Sarasota couple are cultural ambassadors, together and separately
Liam Schreiner reviews the selection of house-made sweets available at the newly opened Chocolate Emporium on St. Armands Circle. Branching from the original location on Anna Maria Island, the second shop held a soft opening this week.
  • June 30, 2026
Local artisanal chocolate shop brings sweet treats to St. Armands
Gary St. Clair, his wife Elizabeth St. Clair, granddaughter Avianna Pereira, 7, daughter Allison Pereira, and granddaughters Adley Pereira, 5, and Amelia Pereira, 6, enjoy Sarasota Key Quest Fest.
  • June 29, 2026
Sarasota Key Quest Fest aims to provide the keys to well-being
Tanjee Lane, Tyler Marion, Ning Tinsley, Jessica Johnston and Nickie Hartsock of SPARCC were an event finalist.
  • June 28, 2026
Sarasota Business Awards honor innovation, entrepreneurship and the American spirit
Freya from Low Rider Dachshund rescue soaked up the summer rays at Hamlet's and The Bazaar's annual Hot Dog Day event.
  • June 28, 2026
Hot Dog Day brings pups to downtown Sarasota
Kristin Hokanson, co-owner of Fiorelli Winery and mom of Jackson and Madison, says the Red, White and Blueberry Celebration is bigger and better every year and is great way to come together as a community.
  • June 27, 2026
Fiorelli Winery hosts foot-stomping music
Kelera Turaga, a dancer with GRAE Productions, performs at sunset for The Ritz-Carlton's reopening celebrations for the Lido Key Tiki Bar on June 20. After a year-and-a-half rebuilding process, the beachside bar is now open to the public.
  • June 27, 2026
Lido Key residents and visitors rejoice a Tiki bar's return
Ellen Waugneux, Heather Rippy and Stephanie Troxler at the first Summer Night Out of the summer season.
  • June 26, 2026
Longboaters meet to sip and shop during summertime event
Sisterhood for Good's Glo Reber presents Harbor58's Ari Gibbons and Annie Wilson a grant for $7,500 to go towards a mentoring program for foster kids.
  • June 26, 2026
Another monster year for Sisterhood for Good, which awards 29 grants worth $150,095
Commodore Saul Landesberg assumed his new leadership role with the Bird Key Yacht Club at the passing of the gavel on June 20 at Art Ovation Hotel.
  • June 25, 2026
Bird Key Yacht Club leadership looks forward to clubhouse completion
Shanty Mann, Kaitlyn Presha, 11, Tyanna Mann, 8 and Tyrone Mann attended the event to support its organizer and Tyrone Mann's cousin Gwendalyn Fleetwood.
  • June 23, 2026
Newtown celebrates Juneteenth holiday
Sienna Linn, a rising first grader at Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy, says she has no pets at home but has had a blast with her dog, Mia, at the Little Vet School camp.
  • June 20, 2026
Little Vet School teaches skills at The Out-of-Door Academy's summer camp
Eadon Foster, a rising fourth grader at Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary, and Zion Stenzler, a rising fifth grader at Rowlett Elementary Academy, each use microscopes to look at a goldfish scale, dandelion fuzz, pollen, and more.
  • June 19, 2026
Mad Scientist Adventures Camp presents students with scientific challenges
Jolanta Bremer received the award of the 2026 Queen Helen.
  • June 16, 2026
Attendees get into costume as Mrs. Roper at The Bazaar on Apricot and Lime
Shimon Otsuka joins fans in cheering.
  • June 15, 2026
Hundreds of attendees gather for FIFA World Cup watch party at The Bay
Former Rotary Club of Longboat Key President Jan Wallace congratulates current President Terri Driver, who made club history in accepting the role two years in a row at the June 11 cerermony.
  • June 15, 2026
Longboat Rotarians reflect on community impact at annual gathering
The dozen volunteers assisting the Manasota Track and Field summer cleanup on June 13 collected an estimated 75 pounds of trash from along the roadway near Longboat Key Little Beach in only an hour.
  • June 15, 2026
Volunteers step into summer with fun run and cleanup
Inglemoor High School rowers Krista Alyakin and Karlie Vince made a splash by winning the Women's Youth 2- class at the USRowing Junior National Championships on Sunday at Nathan Benderson Park.
  • June 14, 2026
Emotions flow on USRowing Youth Nationals' final day in Sarasota
Sarasota Crew's Gabrielle DeLeo heads to the finish of the Women's Youth 1x Thursday at the USRowing Youth National Championships at Nathan Benderson Park. She qualified for Friday's semifinal by placing eighth in 7:54.36.
  • June 11, 2026
USRowing National Championships opens in Sarasota
East County residents wait in line before 7 a.m. on June 11 to start shopping at the new Publix at 16642 State Road 64 East.
  • June 11, 2026
Publix opens at corner of SR 64 and Uihlein Road in Lakewood Ranch
Liz Chappell, DJ and Maddie Lessig
  • June 10, 2026
Camp Shriver creates place of connection for disabled athletes
Members of the public curious to learn more about Longboat Key's sea turtle population ask questions of the experts at the first Turtle Walk of the nesting season on June 6 beside the newly staked nest.
  • June 9, 2026
Following record year, turtle nesting season off to strong start on Longboat
Amy Snider and Julie Waters bring some ribbon energy to the dance floor.
  • June 8, 2026
Silver Pride draws nearly 1,000 in its celebration of older LGBTQ+ adults
Daniel Bitter, 7, tosses the lasso.
  • June 7, 2026
Campers at Sarasota City YMCA try their hand at throwing a lasso
Cole Ralston and Aether Baskin enjoy the con experience.
  • June 7, 2026
SRQCon brings pop culture fans together at Selby Library
Isabella Cz, a rising sixth grader at Dr. Mona Jain Middle School, and Skylar Flandreau, a rising sixth grader at Martha B. King Middle School, take turns playing the ukulele during the Manatee Arts Education Council smARTen Up Camp.
  • June 4, 2026
Smarten Up Camp gives Manatee County students advanced arts opportunities
Gabrielle Finnegan, chapter president of the Lakewood Ranch High School Future Farmers of America, checks out Lucy the cow with 7-year-old camper Luca Bellantonio.
  • June 3, 2026
Camp churns out important agricultural lessons in Lakewood Ranch