Good morning, Bradenton.

The Manatee Chamber held its 46th awards ceremony today at the Bradenton Area Convention Center in Palmetto, honoring two nonprofits and five small businesses.

Winners include the Manatee River Fair Association, United Way Suncoast, Gulf Coast Music Therapy, Agneto, Coastal Hearing Care, Ananda Farm, & ZNS Engineering.

Local homelessness groups report that more than 5,000 people in Sarasota and Manatee counties are at risk of losing housing, up from nearly 3,000 in 2023 due to rising living costs + economic pressures.

Agencies are boosting support services to help residents stay housed.

Bonefish Grill in Bradenton is hosting Give Back Night to benefit Suncoast Charities for Children, offering local diners a way to support community programs for children.

The event promises to engage residents while raising funds to help young ones in need.

The Fleet Force Truck Driving Training program at State College of Florida celebrated its 10,000th graduate and plans to train another 10,000 to help fill over 23,000 local CDL vacancies.

The four week course teaches practical skills to start truck driving careers + ease a nationwide driver shortage.

NASA will launch the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Sunday at 7:26 a.m. from Cape Canaveral on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy Rocket as the telescope brings breakthrough space views; the local planetarium will host a free live launch party with NASA presentations and giveaways from 7 to 10 a.m.

A piebald lemon shark (a rare color variant) was spotted near Anna Maria Island today by local observers; marine experts advise caution for swimmers in the area.

CDC data shows dengue cases rose in several Florida counties with Hillsborough increasing from 20 to 36, Miami-Dade from 49 to 67, Broward from 11 to 12, and Lee now reporting five (1,575 cases statewide so far in 2026).

Manatee County was not listed in the latest report.