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IN HOME STATE, MOMS FOR LIBERTY SHOWS LACKLUSTER INFLUENCE IN SCHOOL BOARD RACES
FROM FLORIDA TRIB
Moms for Liberty, a conservative grassroots organization focused on promoting parental rights in the public education system, took Florida school board meetings by storm in 2021, first by opposing mask mandates and required reading assignments, then by staging a political takeover of school boards themselves. Today, it has made no contributions to local school board candidates across Florida and is poised to be just a minor player this cycle.
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SARASOTA PARKING FIGHT ISN'T OVER AFTER HEATED PUBLIC BACKLASH
FROM SARASOTA HERALD-TRIBUNE
The city of Sarasota has tentatively scheduled an Aug. 24 open house to discuss the controversial changes to its paid parking program, as well as an Aug. 31 workshop but — despite the pleas of several business owners at the July 20 city commission meeting — the expanded parking hours will remain in place. Business owners told the commission how both the morning and evening extensions have strangled business.
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DATA CENTER DONORS HAVE SPENT MORE THAN $20 MILLION IN FLORIDA AHEAD OF 2026 ELECTIONS
FROM SEEKING RENTS
Data center supporters have spent more than $22 million on campaign contributions in Florida ahead of the 2026 elections, according to a new Seeking Rents analysis of state fundraising data. Roughly a quarter of that money — around $5.8 million — has been spent boosting Byron Donalds, the Republican Congressman from Naples who is the heavy favorite to win the GOP nomination for governor in next month’s primary elections.
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NORTH PORT SCHEDULES DATA CENTER MORATORIUM VOTE
FROM WSLR
A couple weeks after Sarasota County enacted a freeze on data center applications and a week before the Manatee County Commission is scheduled to discuss a moratorium, the City of North Port joined the growing number of counties and cities trying to slam the brakes on the unpopular facilities that consume big quantities of water and electricity and emit constant noise. North Port has a particular incentive to act now; the city has received a data center project application.
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PROPERTY TAX CUTS WILL CAUSE 'NEW NORMAL' IN MANATEE COUNTY
FROM EAST COUNTY OBSERVER
If 60% of voters pass the property tax referendum in November, Commissioner George Kruse said Manatee County won’t simply be “tightening its belt.” “I think people are misinterpreting,” he said. “It’s not our belt. We’re providing stuff for everyone else.” Kruse noted that the county is left with “very little" after the Sheriff’s Office, union contracts and bondholders are paid, so barring the state redistributing wealth, Manatee County won’t be able to bridge the gap of lost revenue. By county estimates, staff would have to work with about $81 million less in 2027 and about $149 million less in 2028.
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SARASOTA SCHOOL BOARD MOVES MEETINGS BACK TO EVENINGS
FROM WSLR
In a surprise vote at the very end of Tuesday’s meeting, the Sarasota County School Board reversed one of its most controversial decisions of the past year. By a narrow three-to-two vote, board members agreed to move regular board meetings back to 6 p.m, beginning with the first regular meeting in August. The board had voted by the same margin just months ago to move meetings to 10 a.m, drawing criticism from parents, teachers and community members who said the daytime schedule made it difficult for working families, students and teachers to attend. Board member Tom Edwards made the motion.
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PUBLIC OPINION ON ABORTION HAS SHIFTED 4 YEARS AFTER DOBBS DECISION OVERTURNED ROE V. WADE
FROM THE CONVERSATION
For nearly 50 years after Roe, public opinion on abortion was remarkably stable. In 1975, Support for legal abortion in certain circumstances was at 54% and support for a ban in all circumstances at 22%. In 2021, these figures were virtually the same. Today, more Americans identify as pro-choice than they did before Dobbs. And more Americans are now taking absolutist positions.
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NEW APARTMENTS OPEN IN BRADENTON WITH 180 AFFORDABLE UNITS. TAKE A LOOK INSIDE
FROM BRADENTON HERALD
A new workforce and affordable housing complex is open in Manatee County with over 180 apartments for rent. The Nest at Robin’s Apartments, 2111 and 2117 First St., Bradenton, is a two-building addition to the six-building Robin’s Apartments from One Stop Housing. Of The Nest’s 182 apartments, 80 are reserved for Manatee County first responders and employees of Manatee County schools, MCR Health, the City of Bradenton and Manatee Memorial Hospital.
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SARASOTA ART MUSEUM'S 'SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING NEW' FEATURES ART LOANED BY RESIDENTS
FROM ARTSBEAT
When Virginia Shearer, who took over as SAM’s executive director just after the Covid pandemic hit, began visiting the homes of local art afficionados who wanted to talk about their support of the museum and its mission, she immediately noticed the “extraordinary” pieces she was seeing on their walls, pedestals and coffee tables.
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FLORIDA STUDENT DISCIPLINE RECORDS TO FOLLOW THEM TO COLLEGE, A RESPONSE TO FSU SHOOTING
FROM FLORIDA PHOENIX
High school students headed to college will have their disciplinary records transferred to the institution they attend, a policy prompted by the Legislature’s post-Florida State University shootings higher education safety package. The provision was part of HB 757, a package designed to prevent another tragedy such as the campus shootings at FSU in 2025, when two people were killed and more were injured. Most notably, that package arms trained college and university faculty.
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