First of Manatee County's Community Cleanups of the year are happening NOW at Myakka City Community Center and Parrish Community Park! Sites are open until 1:00 p.m. today! Visit mymanatee.org/dropoff for all the details! | Manatee County, Florida Government

Join us as we rededicate the Cracker Trail Historical Marker and officially kick off the annual Florida Cracker Trail Ride, a celebration of Florida’s rich cultural heritage. The Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, which operates the Manatee Village Historical Park, is partnering with Manatee County to honor the history, traditions, and stories that shaped our state. Watch live and celebrate Florida history with us. | Manatee County, Florida Government

Video from the Lee County Sheriff's Office shows Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission personnel and others rescuing an injured mother manatee and her calf from the Orange River on Wednesday. Manatees are gentle, round-tailed giants sometimes known as sea cows that weigh as much as 1,200 pounds (550 kilograms) and can live as long as 65 years. Manatees are Florida’s official state marine mammal but are listed as a threatened species, also facing peril from boat strikes and toxic red