Daily News Roundup: January 9, 2026
Happy 171 Birthday to Manatee County
Norma Kennedy Honored with Manatee County Distinguished Citizen Award
Norma Kennedy, a longtime community leader and advocate, has been named a recipient of the Manatee County Distinguished Citizen Award, recognizing her decades of service and unwavering dedication to Parrish and the greater Manatee County community.
School District to Host STEM and School Choice Showcase at Convention Center
The School District of Manatee County will host its annual STEM and School Choice Showcase on Saturday, January 24, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Bradenton Area Convention Center in Palmetto.
ELC of Manatee County Honors 45 VPK Providers With "Excellent" Rating
The Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County (ELC) today proudly recognizes 45 Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) providers that have earned an “Excellent” designation from the Florida Department of Education’s Division of Early Learning for the 2024-2025 program year. Across Florida, more than 2,000 VPK providers (33%) received this distinction.
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center Named a Top Hospital for 2026 by Forbes
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center has been named to the 2026 Forbes list of America’s Top Hospitals. Lakewood Ranch Medical Center was one of only 29 hospitals in the state of Florida to make this list, and the only hospital in Manatee County to receive this recognition.
City of Palmetto Launches New Year Hiring Push Across Multiple Departments
The City of Palmetto is kicking off the new year with a broad hiring initiative, inviting residents to consider careers that support essential services and strengthen the local community. Multiple full-time and part-time positions are currently open across public safety, customer service, and public works departments.
Pedestrian Injured in Anna Maria Crosswalk Collision
An 80-year-old woman was injured Thursday, Jan. 8, after being struck by a pickup truck in a crosswalk near the Pine Avenue and Bay Boulevard intersection in the City of Anna Maria.