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Opinion

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

What's Tampa Bay Saying?

Florida Lt. Gov. Resigns: What Do You Think, Tampa Bay?

Jennifer Carroll’s resignation amid a racketeering investigation has Patch wondering if this affects your trust in government, Tampa Bay?

Florida Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll has resigned her post as a racketeering investigation into a nonprofit she was once affiliated with continues. That nonprofit, Allied Veterans, is accused of money laundering, siphoning profits and misreporting how much cash actually went to the charity, according to The Washington Post. The organization claims to help “fellow veterans in need,” according to its website. While no charges against Carroll have been filed, several people with connections to Allied Veterans have been arrested. Carroll resigned to prevent her “former affiliation with the company from distracting from the administration’s important work on behalf of Florida families,” a spokesman for Gov. Rick Scott is quoted as saying. The …

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

What's Tampa Bay Saying?

Scott Says Policies Are Working: Do You Agree?

Florida’s governor was adamant in his State of the State address that his policies have put us on the right path. What do you say, Tampa Bay?

Florida Gov. Rick Scott might have a new catchphrase. If his March 5 State of the State address is any indication that phrase is: “It’s working.” The governor gave his address as both the Florida House and Senate officially began their sessions. "We eliminated thousands of regulations on job creators. We paid down state debt for two years in a row," The Tampa Tribune reported him as saying. "We invested in priorities – like education. And, now our economy is on the rebound. It's working." Scott went on to defend his anti-tax and anti-spending policies. He also sent the message that his reforms have improved the state’s public schools. Throughout the address, he repeated the phrase: “It’s working.” Do you agree, Tampa Bay? What are your …

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Michael D.

8:58 am on Friday, March 22, 2013

Rick, It was a bad deal, because of the possible litigation against the state of Florida and how the cost structure of the deal was set up. The owners of the rail (Believe CSX) would have no liability for any accident on the tracks regardless of owner of the train, it would all fall on the state of Florida. It was also a poorly constructed plan over all in the cost center and job growth. That is …   more ›

Saturday, March 2, 2013

VIDEO: Manatee Flings Poo-Filled Water On Reporters

It was a crappy day at the office for reporters this week covering the arrival of manatees at the South Florida Museum.

How did a few cameramen and women's Thursday go? Pretty crappy. Earlier this week, Bradenton Patch brought you the arrival of two manatees being rehabilitated at the South Florida Museum, but it there was a part of the story we left out until now. If you're easily grossed out, stop now, but given the headline, you know what you are in for. One of the manatees, Longo, was a little nervous during the ride from Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo and had defecated in his harness blanket, which you would expect animals to do.  This wasn't an issue until Longo was ready to be placed in a holding tank at the South Florida Museum. With several Bradenton and Tampa-area media outlets on hand, the TV crews and newspapers wanted an up-close look of Longo being …

Monday, February 25, 2013

Blog: Grant Helps Train Students With Disabilities Through Goodwill

Thanks to blogger Yen Reed for sharing Goodwill Manasota received $5,000 to help train students with disabilities. Have something you want to share? Consider posting on Patch-- http://bradenton.patch.com/blog/apply

Friday, February 22, 2013

Weekly Tails From Southeastern Guide Dogs

Southeastern Guide Dogs: Play to Your Strengths

Ever wonder what happens to the dogs that aren’t cut out to be guide dogs? Well, they have a “career change!”

It takes a dog with very specific characteristics and abilities to become a guide dog.  They must be intelligent, patient, hard-working, focused, loyal, meticulous, conscientious and sound. While all of these qualities are selectively bred into each of Southeastern Guide Dogs’ dogs, not every one of them ends up with the perfect balance of all traits.  So, if they aren’t quite right for the demanding work of being someone’s eyes, Southeastern finds a job for that dog that plays to their strengths and at which they can excel. A branch of Southeastern’s Paws for Patriot program trains Veteran Service Dogs that are specially trained to work with a veteran who is living with post traumatic stress and help to mitigate its symptoms. These …

Patricia A. Menser

12:21 pm on Saturday, April 20, 2013

HI my name is Patti menser I use to comeplay with pups and walk a few dogs but now I have my own service dog for my epilespy was wondering about just incase she gets older and can no longer work for me if I could get my next dog from here?" I know that these are very intellegent dogs but could they alert on an onset of seizure?' My Brownie's Daisy Mae is now six years old," how long do these dogs…   more ›

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Weekend Happenings In Bradenton

Want to shop on Bradenton Beach or tour a farm? Check out our event calendar for weekend things to do! Is your event missing? Add it to our calendar.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

EVENT DEADLINE: Community Boat Building at the Florida Maritime Museum

The Florida Maritime Museum is honored to be hosting renowned boat building expert Dave Gentry for a two-weekend kayak building workshop.

Monday, February 18, 2013

BLOG: Mazarro's Italian Market Worth The Drive To St. Pete

Mazzaro's Market in St. Pete is worth the gas and the time standing in lines. The prices are wonderful and it that "experience" that us foodies crave.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

What's Tampa Bay Saying?

An End to Olympic Wrestling: What Do You Think?

The International Olympic Committee’s executive board wants to boot the sport from the 2020 games. We’d like to hear your thoughts on this, Tampa Bay!

High school wrestling and Tampa Bay practically go hand in hand. From Brandon High School’s championship-winning program to Clearwater Olympian Jared Frayer, the sport and its loyal athletes make headlines both on the local and national level. Now, the International Olympic Committee wants to drop this sport from its 2020 roster. The IOC’s executive board decided on Feb. 12 it no longer wanted to see Greco-Roman wrestling in the games. While the executive board’s decision could be overturned later this summer, ESPN is reporting that isn’t likely to happen. The problem, ESPN reports, is that wrestling just doesn’t have the following other sports do. Wrestling tickets didn’t sell out during the 2012 London Games and television audience …

Who is WILLIAM BINNEY?

9:05 am on Saturday, February 16, 2013

I love how they blame ratings when the coverage is a joke. Thankfully we do not have cable, but that doesn't mean I am not aware of the joke that is the Olympics on NBC. With the technology today, we should be able to view more events than we are shown. We should be able to watch events in real time, not 17 week tape delayed. We should be able to watch more coverage of more sports......not forced…   more ›

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

What's Tampa Bay Saying?

Executive Orders: Is Obama Going Too Far?

President Barack Obama has the authority to set policy, but some say he’s abusing it to skirt Congress. We’d like to hear your thoughts on the issue, Tampa Bay.

One of the perks of sitting in the Oval Office is having the authority to set national policy on topics as far ranging as civil liberties and gun control. The executive order is a tool afforded to the president that has long been used to direct government agencies to do certain things. While the Constitution doesn’t specifically grant this authority, according to a 1999 report prepared for Congress, presidents from George Washington forward have used orders to conduct business. President Barack Obama’s use of the executive order, however, has drawn fire from critics. In some cases, false claims have been made about the number of orders he’s issued since taking office. One rumor, which has been squelched, claimed Obama had signed 900 …

Jim S

11:35 pm on Sunday, February 17, 2013

Alex Jones is DANGEROUS. He poisons the weak minded who can't think for themselves. Someday, one of these insanely radical individuals is going to go too far and goad some psychopath in their audience to kill someone. THEN maybe we can have a sane conversation about just how far free speech should go. IMHO, spouting the hatred and bile people like Jones, et al put out is no different than yelling…   more ›

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