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East County | News

District 72 Rep. Bill Conerly and his challenger, John Phillips, attend a candidate forum at the Lakewood Ranch Library Aug. 1.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 3, 2026
District 72 House candidates speak to Lakewood Ranch Republican Club

Rep. Bill Conerly and John Phillips discussed legislation Aug. 1 at the Lakewood Ranch Library.

  • East County
  • News
Manatee County resident Julie Madison addresses commissioners at the July 28 meeting. The black t-shirt Madison is wearing was also worn by several other residents.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 3, 2026
Voters to decide additional Manatee environmental lands millage

The idea to fund an animal shelter through a dedicated millage was shot down by commissioners and residents.

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch residents Kathy Flora, Laura Moninski, Nicholas Keen and Susan Solz are happy with the July 28 outcome.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 2, 2026
Manatee considers sliding iceplex to a different location

Residents persuaded county commissioners to reconsider the Premier Sports Campus site for the planned ice rink.

  • East County
  • News
Stock Custom Homes Vice President Sam Canham says that the Sophia IV's sale for $6,775,000 in April was more confirmation that there is a demand for elite homes in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 30, 2026
Lakewood Ranch remains No. 1 in sales in mid-year survey

RCLCO Real Estate Consulting releases its rankings with Lakewood Ranch being No. 1 in multigenerational, master-planned community sales.

  • East County
  • News
Guadalupe Barajas, an ICU nurse at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, meets new CEO Jason Madsen for the first time in the new tower's ICU wing.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 30, 2026
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center begins to plan its future with a new CEO

CEO Jason Madsen is "bullish" on the hospital's future as Universal Health Services shows an appetite for making major investments.

  • East County
  • News
The Wawa store on State Road 70 at Lorraine Road sold the winning Mega Millions ticket that totals $800 million.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • July 29, 2026
Lakewood Ranch store sells $800 million lottery ticket

The winning ticket came from the Wawa at State Road 70 and Lorraine Road.

  • East County
  • News
This waterfall at Patton Park in Lakewood Ranch was being fed by heavy rainfall July 29.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • July 29, 2026
Drought runs deep in Manatee, Sarasota

Although storms have popped up, below-normal rain will take months from which to recover.

  • East County
  • News
Sharon Jefferson, a homegrown Manatee student and 27-year educator, wants to be the voice of District 2 for the School District of Manatee County.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 28, 2026
Longtime teacher wants to be the voice of her fellow instructors in District 2

Sharon Jefferson, who grew up attending Manatee schools and has taught within them for 27 years, wants to do more than she can within a classroom.

  • East County
  • Schools
Can you eat both halves of a corned beef sandwich? You can test your skills when Wolfie's Hand Cut opens at UTC late this year.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 23, 2026
Can new concept earn the bread for Wolfie's at University Town Center?

Wolfie's Hand Cut will use a Chipotle Mexican Grill-style fast-casual concept to streamline operations.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
The Lakewood Ranch Library will open an hour later starting Aug. 1 due to a hiring freeze that was implemented in February. Commissioner George Kruse says hours could be further reduced if the property tax referendum passes in November.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 22, 2026
Property tax cuts will cause 'new normal' in Manatee County

Commissioners explore how residents could be impacted if the property tax referendum passes in November.

  • East County
  • News
Director of Public Safety Jodie Fiske says the data consolidation software saves staff days worth of time during disasters.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 22, 2026
Manatee County expands hurricane software to include public safety

Instead of waiting for another hurricane, Manatee County staff is looking for alternative ways to use its Peregrine software now.

  • East County
  • News
The playground is open daily from sunrise to sunset.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 21, 2026
Manatee County moves forward with Mixon Farms makeover

In the year since the farm's purchase, the county installed a playground and launched several public events.

  • East County
  • News
About 50 local, state and federal candidates attended "Meet the Candidates" at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing July 16.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 20, 2026
Meet the candidates event draws hundreds to Lakewood Ranch

The Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance was one of the sponsors of the event at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing.

  • East County
  • News
Manatee EMS deputy chief charged with lewd conduct, released from employment
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • July 17, 2026
Manatee EMS deputy chief charged with lewd conduct, released from employment

Local investigators arrested the 46-year-old Bradenton man after receiving an alert from the FBI.

  • East County
  • News
The construction of Rangeland High School is underway in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 17, 2026
Manatee school district's construction efforts peak in the summer

Three East Manatee schools are under construction this summer.

  • East County
  • Schools
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Latest in East County

1
Junior running back Antonio Jackson (center) of Braden River finds a gap in Lakewood Ranch's defense. The Pirates won this year's rivalry game.
  • September 5, 2026
High school football results from Week 3
2
Fifth graders Amilia Dragovoy, Betsi Branscomb and Raegan Standifer are able to work at their own pace on state standards through the Ethos AI Experiential Academy at Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy.
  • September 2, 2026
Lakewood Ranch Prep embraces personalized AI academy
3
Dr. Samuel Yelverton is proud Universal Health Services is purchasing the most advanced technology for Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.
  • September 2, 2026
Da Vinci 5: A robotic masterpiece at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center
4
Owen Gellatly, pictured here in 2025, is one of two seniors for Lakewood Ranch boys golf this season alongside Donovan Plakyda. Both of them were on last year's team which reached the state championship.
  • September 2, 2026
After 12th-place state finish in 2025, LRHS boys golf team aims higher
5
For security reasons, Commissioner Jason Bearden is wary of giving a private company so much data on Manatee County. He wants to "push the brakes" on AI.
  • September 2, 2026
AI pilot program says it can save Manatee County up to $110 million

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