Good morning Bradenton! We're back again in your inbox, keeping you updated with what's happening in and around town. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: Open House - North Port and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: Riddle: David's parents have three sons: Snap, Crackle, and what's the name of the third son? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. FDOT recommends overpass, expanded DeSoto Bridge to improve downtown traffic (bradenton.com) — State transportation officials are backing a nearly $1 billion plan to widen the DeSoto Bridge and add elevated express lanes between downtown Bradenton and Palmetto, aiming to pull through-traffic off local streets. The project would expand U.S. 301 and U.S. 41, add pedestrian and bike paths, and could include tolls, though funding and construction timelines are still undecided.
2. Manatee County commissioners move forward with moratorium on new data centers (bradenton.com) — Manatee County commissioners are advancing a 12‑month moratorium on large data centers, a move that could significantly affect future development and resource use for Bradenton-area residents. The pause, up for final approval October 6, would halt permits and approvals while staff study environmental, water, and power impacts and craft long‑term regulations under new state authority.
3. Vote-by-mail ballots are out. Here is the Information You Need! (thebradentontimes.com) — Bradenton and Manatee County voters can already check their registration, districts, and vote‑by‑mail status ahead of the November 3, 2026 election. The guide lays out key deadlines, early voting sites, and links to candidate forums, including for Bradenton City Council Wards 3 and 4, so you can compare contenders and study local referendums before casting your ballot.
4. 'A bright light in this world': Bradenton volleyball player dies from rare blood disorder (snntv.com) — A young volleyball player from Bradenton has died from severe aplastic anemia, a rare blood disorder that rapidly worsened after she returned home from college. Her family, friends, and former IMG Academy community remember her as a joyful, driven athlete whose positivity and kindness deeply touched those around her, and a fundraiser is helping support her loved ones.
5. Piney Point caused crisis on Florida's Gulf Coast. When will its cleanup end? (bradenton.com) — Residents near Bradenton are seeing real progress at Piney Point, where crews are racing to permanently close the troubled phosphate waste stacks by the end of this year and shift into decades of long‑term monitoring. The state-funded project has already removed and treated hundreds of millions of gallons of polluted water, with Manatee County preparing upgraded treatment systems and watchdog groups vowing to keep a close eye on Tampa Bay's water quality.
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Ok Bradenton! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: David (Thank you Thomas F. for sending it in!)
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