While the Florida Institute of Government has little information on the cost of a feasibility study to consolidate the three Island cities, its counterpart in Georgia has considerable experience in ...

Many of Manatee County's homeless population often head to Anna Maria Island, particularly on weekends. With free bus service to Manatee Public Beach from the mainland and the free Island Trolley, the ...

Lifelong islander Jean Bystrom captured mullet photos last week at "mom and dad's dock," Jean and Hugh Holmes Sr., in Holmes Beach, where the fish were schooling and gurgling on the bay water's ...

Dr. Ernest Estevez is the keeper of all lore nautical in our part of the world. For more than three decades he has practiced his craft at Mote Marine Laboratory, publishing scores of technical papers ...

Officials investigate the crash of a private, single-engine plane on April 13. islander Photo: Courtesy Craig Herbert of NewsManatee.com A Cortez man and a Sarasota man suffered injuries April 13 when ...

Current red tide conditions around the state of Florida are summarized, and sampling results are mapped. Reports are updated on Friday afternoon. Current and past regional status reports are also ...

Island visitors take a walk on the short pier at Manatee Public Beach June 2, as tropical storm Barry approached the Gulf Coast. islander Photo: Lisa Neff The rain late Friday, June 1, and Saturday, ...

Holmes Beach city commissioners considered several changes to the zoning map Feb. 27, but facing questions about preservation boundaries delayed action until March. The commission held a hearing last ...

More than 100 species of birds - including wood storks - can be found at Robinson Preserve. After a ribbon-cutting ceremony, visitors to Robinson Preserve see the park by wagon tour. A kayaker ...

A piece of U.S. Navy history lies buried on the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico northwest of Anna Maria Island. The USS Narcissus, an 82-foot-long Union tugboat, struck a sandbar just north of the ...

County officials are concerned about the width of Coquina Beach, where sand has eroded to expose rocks and jetties. islander Photo: Lisa Neff A map of the proposed beach renourishment scheduled for ...

Bill Shuman of Westbay Cove condos on Manatee Avenue reported damage to one building’s roof and significant damage to two units, evidenced by debris and insulation at the curb. islander Photo: Bill ...