Week in review: Tropical trouble + DeSantis OKs buying Rattlesnake Key + Manatee County rejects circus plans + CDC says COVID is 'high' in Manatee + George Kruse 'joins' the media
It was another eventful week of news in Manatee County. Gas prices are spiking, a judge ruled against developer Carlos Beruff and the COVID-19 pandemic is worsening in Manatee County.
But first this.
Brace yourself, Florida
Manatee and Sarasota counties will be under a flood watch starting at 8 a.m. Friday and running until 8 p.m. Saturday. A flood watch means flooding in the area is more likely than on a normal day, but that flooding is not currently expected.
“Potential tropical cyclone one is expected to spread locally heavy rain across portions of west central and southwest Florida today and Saturday,” the National Weather Service said early Friday. “Rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches (are) possible.”
As of early Friday, Manatee County was not under a tropical storm warning, but we’re close. A tropical storm warning covered south Florida, including the Gulf Coast from the Sarasota County portion of Longboat Key to the Card South Bridge; the Florida Keys; and up the east coast of Florida to the Volusia/Brevard county line.”
Get the latest weather forecast for Manatee County here.
And get the latest on potential tropical cyclone one, from the National Hurricane Center, here.
Gas prices keep rising
Maybe the expected bad weather this weekend will keep you off the roads, where the price of gasoline keeps climbing.
AAA says the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Bradenton-Sarasota hit a new record high on Friday morning — $4.759.
Manatee County commissioner to put his spin on the news
Manatee County residents are fortunate to have a wide selection of media options from which they can get their local news, from daily and weekly newspapers to TV to online-only outlets to Facebook groups to Substack newsletters published by former journalists who just can’t break the habit.
I am sure there is plenty the press is missing and the quality, and credibility, of the reporting is not evenly distributed. But the competition for eyeballs among local media is as vigorous as I ever seen during my 17 years in the area.
Despite the plethora of choices to feed your local news diet, there are some, like Manatee County Commissioner George Kruse, who aren’t happy with what they are reading.
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