Manatee County

State Health officials reported 6,118 new COVID-19 cases and 120 deaths, Thursday. As of Wednesday, more than 3.1 million people in Florida have been vaccinated, including more than 1.4 million who have received a first dose and more than 1.7 million people who have completed the series.Retail pharmacy sites offering the vaccine like CVS and Publix are now offering doses to K-12 school employees, daycare workers and those extremely vulnerable to the virus due to a medical condition, regardless of age.Florida Democratic leaders like Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried remain critical of the governor’s vaccine rollout, citing another example of an affluent community in the Florida Keys including nearly two dozen financial supports of DeSantis, that was given vaccine priority.A draft Inspector General’s report, this week, details problems with Florida’s unemployment benefit system.A U.S. Census Bureau survey this week reveals that most U.S. businesses are not requiring COVID-19 testing for workers or vaccines when employees become eligible to receive them.Democrats in the Florida House, Thursday, introduced a broad COVID-19 relief bill.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is facing bipartisan criticism of playing politics with the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Southwest Florida. The criticism stems from DeSantis’ recent selection of COVID-19 vaccine pop-up clinic sites in Charlotte and Manatee Counties.

State health officials reported 8,720 new COVID-19 cases, Monday, for a total of 1,658,169 infections.The Florida Department of Health reported 153 coronavirus-related deaths, Jan. 25, increasing the statewide death toll to 25,849 fatalities.

As Eta makes its way toward southwest Florida, Manatee County Emergency officials have issued a voluntary evacuation notice for residents of Anna Maria Island and other low-lying, flood-prone areas.

Welcome to this week’s Environmental Roundup! Here’s what happened in the environment this week that might have missed your radar.

Manatee County Voters have decided to create a fund dedicated to land and water conservation.

Welcome to this week’s Environmental Roundup! Here’s what caught our eye in the environment this week.

Early voting started in Manatee County last week and already 54% of the registered voters have cast ballots for the general election.WGCU’s Andrea Perdomo spoke with Manatee's Supervisor of Michael Bennett, about early voting and projected voter turnout.

Manatee County Voters will have their say on whether to create a fund dedicated to land and water conservation.

Manatee County has $1.3 million available to disperse to residents in need through the Manatee CARES Housing Assistance Program.