BRADENTON, Florida (AP) - A former business partner of U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan says he was responsible for improperly reimbursing employees for contributions they made to Buchanan's congressional campaigns.

The Bradenton Herald reports a federal court in Jacksonville said Sam Kazran,...more Buchanan's former business partner, committed "non-knowing and non-willful" violations when he reimbursed employees of a Jacksonville car dealership he co-owned with Buchanan. The reimbursements totaled $67,900 for contributions they made to Buchanan's campaigns in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Kazran's attorney says Kazran is "just a pawn in a scheme devised by Vern Buchanan." As part of the settlement, Kazran will pay civil penalties totaling $11,000 over the next two years.

Attorneys for Buchanan have acknowledged that the Justice Department is conducting a separate investigation of Buchanan's campaign finances.

Bradenton, Fla. -- Grab a napkin and some silverware because the Blake Medical Center, along with the ACHIEVE (Action Communities for Health, Innovation and Environmental Change Coalition), is holding a free tasting event to celebrate the second year of the Healthy Choices Restaurant Program...more in Manatee County. 
This year's theme, "Taste Around the World", has restaurants bringing healthy menu items with inspirations from places like Peru, Thailand, Greece, Spain and more.
The event will be held on Thursday, Feb. 23 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Blake Medical Center, Courtyard and Dolphin/Pelican Rooms, at 2020 59th Street West. It's free and open to the public. 
Chefs and dietitians will also be on hand to answer your questions about healthy eating and the Healthy Choices Restaurant Program.
The goal of ACHIEVE is to make the healthy choice the easy choice in Manatee County. Healthy Choices requires participating restaurants to provide at least two menu options that

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Students at Gullett Elementary School will participate in Chompy's Annual Walk-A-Thon on Friday, Feb. 24.
The Parent Teacher Organization's event will raise money for classroom supplies.
Students are collecting pledges and will walk at least one mile that day.
They hope to raise $10,000.

SARASOTA, Florida (AP) - Police say a 54-year-old elementary school teacher died during a President's Day fishing trip.

Sarasota police spokesman Paul Sutton says Calvin Esaw and a relative were wading in Sarasota Bay Monday afternoon when they began yelling for help.

The...more Sarasota Herald Tribune reports witnesses heard the men, grabbed a kayak and paddled out to help them. The witnesses say Esaw was completely under water when they arrived. They pulled the men out of the water and brought them to shore.

Attempts to revive Esaw were unsuccessful. The other man was treated at the scene.

Esaw taught graphic art at Tillman Elementary in Palmetto. Crisis counselors will be at the school on Tuesday.

Police say drowning is the likely cause of death, but authorities haven't ruled out a medical condition.

PALMETTO, Florida (AP) - Police say a bicyclist has died in southwest Florida after being struck by a car and falling from a bridge into a river.

Palmetto Police say 44-year-old Adon Newsome of Bradenton was riding across the DeSoto Bridge early Sunday when he was struck by a car. He...more fell into the Manatee River.

Police tell the Sarasota Herald-Tribune the driver stopped then drove to a nearby hospital to report the accident.

The crash remains under investigation.

Manatee County, Fla. – Manatee County Government offices will be closed Monday, Feb. 20 to commemorate Presidents Day.

Trash, recycling and yard waste collections for the week will be postponed one day from Tuesday through Saturday for residents in unincorporated...more Manatee.

Manatee County Area Transit and the Anna Maria Island Trolley will operate normal daily routes.

Manatee County parks and beaches will be open to the public.  Manatee County and Buffalo Creek Golf Courses will be open.  Blackstone Skate Park will be open.  G.T. Bray Recreation Center will be closed. G.T. Bray Skate Park is currently closed for repairs.

Central Library, the only county library normally open on Mondays, will be closed for Presidents Day and will resume normal operating hours on Tuesday, Feb. 22. All of Manatee County's branch libraries operate Tuesday through Saturday and are therefore not affected by the Monday closure.

Manatee County’s publicly owned

Bradenton, Fla. -- Freedom Elementary School will recognize Black History Month with a special assembly on Feb. 21.
Starting at 8:45 a.m. students will hear from prominent African-American speakers, classes will sing songs, and students will perform.
First grade projects about famous African-Americans will also be displayed in school hallways.

BRADENTON, Florida (AP) - A Tampa Bay area man has been sentenced to life in prison for killing a young woman and her unborn child.

A Manatee County judge sentenced Gregory Kennon Friday after a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder.

The Bradenton Herald reports that...more 19-year-old Crystal Johnson was six months pregnant in July 2009 when she was spending the night at her boyfriend's home. Johnshon's boyfriend, Lawrence Funsch, testified that several men kicked in the front door and opened fire, fatally wounding Johnson. Authorities believed it was a drug-related robbery.

Prosecutors say Kennon's blood was found at the scene, and magazines matching the caliber of bullets used in the shooting were found in his car.

Kennon's attorney questioned the testimony of Funsch, a convicted felon who initially lied to police about shooting back at his attackers.

Manatee County, FL - Sheriff's deputies are seeking the public's help in locating 17-year-old Garrett Laue. 

Garrett was last seen at around 7p.m. leaving his residence off of Magellan Dr. on foot in a southeast direction.  Garrett has no cell phone or cash on him.  Prior to leaving...more the residence on his own, Garrett made remarks about harming himself.

Garrett Laue's physical description:

6' 1", 190lbs, brown hair (short), brown eyes
Last seen wearing tan cargo shorts, green Michigan State long sleeve shirt with Michigan State in white lettering across the front
Black Nike tennis shoes and black socks
No distinguishing marks, scars, or tattoos and jewelry

If you have any information, you are asked to contact the Sheriff's Office at 941-747-3011.

Manatee County, FL -- The Boys & Girls Club of Manatee County recently announced the launch of their new app for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. 
The app keeps users up-to-date on the latest news and events going on with the Boys & Girls Club. The app free and no registration is...more required. 
The BCBG Manatee app allows users to:Browse through and watch videosShare on Twitter, Facebook, Read it Later and moreContact the club by phone or emailFind all 6 locationsDonate on the spot through our websiteSee current list of event the club is involved with or hostingRead current news and announcements
The app can be downloaded from the iTunes store at http://itunes.apple.com/app/bgc-manatee/id495284034?mt=8 or search "BGC Manatee" in the iTunes app store.

Bradenton, FL -- In June, two local 11th grade students will head to Washington, D.C. for an annual week-long, all-expense-paid "Youth Tour" event.  Ian Harkins and Anna Shah, along with 30 other students from Florida electric cooperatives, will join about 1,500 students from co-ops around the...more nation for the event.
Every year since 2007, Peace River Electric Cooperative (PRECO) has sponsored students in the national Youth Tour program, making it available to students at 16 selected schools in its 10-county service territory. 
 
A total of five students submitted an application and an essay describing the important qualities the applicant believes legislators should possess. High school faculty chose one student to represent their respective school as a semi-finalist, creating a pool from which the winners were selected. Ruralite Services, of Forest Grove, OR, publisher of PRECO’s Florida Currents member magazine judged student essays.
Shah was recommended by

Bradento, FL -- Motivational speaker Ronnie Bachman will be on the campus of eight Manatee County middle schools next week.

Bachman will share his story of overcoming the loss of both legs.

His events begin on Monday at Johnson Middle and end on Friday at Haile Middle.

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Manatee County Sheriff's deputies are searching for a missing 13-year-old girl who threatened to hurt herself before leaving her family's home Friday night.

Cristina Ramirez left her home in Bradenton after she became upset over her boyfriend, according to the...more Manatee County Sheriff's Office. As she was leaving, they say she cut herself on the wrist with a piece of glass and made verbal threats about hurting herself.

The injury to her wrist is believed to be minor.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Cristina is asked to call the Sheriff's Office at 941-747-3011 or Crime Stoppers at 866-634-TIPS.