SARASOTA, Florida - In response to a 10 News Investigators report and mounting public criticism over the failure to deliver on a perceived promise of a youth baseball complex, Cal Ripken Jr.'s baseball group is pointing the finger back at activists in Southwest Florida.

Three years...more ago, Sarasota landed Orioles spring training with a $31.2 million upgrades package and in exchange was promised benefits that included a Cal Ripken Jr. Youth Baseball Academy.  Similar complexes in Aberdeen, Md. and Myrtle Beach, S.C. draw thousands of travelers a year.

But the Orioles, who put out a press release in 2009 touting the Ripken academy, never wrote a guarantee into their contract with Sarasota County. Ripken is now in talks with neighboring Charlotte Co. to possibly build his youth academy in Port Charlotte.

While criticism so far has been targeted at commissioners and the Orioles, a spokesman for the Ripken Group issued a press release Wednesday that said the

SARASOTA, Florida -- "Charlie one, Charlie one, Bravo one come in!" barks a resident of Isles of Palmer Ranch into a hand-held radio.

This Sarasota County neighborhood is responding to an emergency. Ambulances and fire trucks roll down the streets.

A tornado has touched down...more and people are injured.

"One, two, three," counts a paramedic, while lifting a woman who has a metal spike in her forehead.

"Oh, I don't want to do this," Tova Fisch moans.

Before you get too worried about Fisch, this is just a drill. But hundreds of people involved, including law enforcement, medical experts, and community volunteers are taking it seriously. 

"This community is trying to stay prepared, so we can survive that kind of very serious weather condition," says Paul Hersey, a member of the Community Emergency Response Team or CERT. 

While simulated tornado action takes place at several spots in the county, at the Emergency Operations

Sarasota, Fla. -- The students and staff of Phoenix Academy will celebrate Black History Month with a presentation at 6:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 24, in the Sarasota High School auditorium.
The Greatness Beyond Measure Choir and other community members will join the Phoenix Academy family in...more highlighting the contributions of African-Americans through song and the spoken word.
"We are delighted to offer everyone an opportunity to be inspired and motivated by the achievements of African-Americans," said Phoenix Academy Program Director Harriet Moore. "These celebrations strengthen the bond between school, home and community, while giving students a chance to showcase an important part of the history that has made our country strong."
About Phoenix Academy
Phoenix Academy is a Sarasota County public school that helps refocus students in grades eighth through 10 who have struggled academically in traditional school settings. The school is located just east of Sarasota

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

Sarasota, Florida -- Stephen A. Brewster lists his home address as a residence on Holiday Drive in Sarasota. But those who deal with him on a regular basis might suggest he'd be better off listing the Sarasota County Jail instead.

His rap sheet seems like it's a mile long and his mug...more shots number more than most people have pictures on their Facebook page.

On Tuesday morning, Brewster was arrested once again... this time for car burglary.  It marks arrest number 40 in Sarasota County.

Photo Gallery: The many mug shots of Stephen Brewster

Says Sarasota Sheriff Tom Knight: "He's been though the judicial system (so much), he probably knows it better than I do."

Brewster's rap sheet includes arrests for fraud, forgery, stealing credit cards, criminal mischief, grand theft, petty theft, robbery, loitering... and the list goes on and on.

The woman whose car Brewster allegedly broke into was outraged when she learned of his arrest

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.

After the 10 News Investigators reported on a seemingly broken promise from the Baltimore Orioles and Cal Ripken Jr., critics of the spring training deal in Sarasota have taken to the opinion page.

Cathy Antunes and Pat Rounds, with "Citizens for Responsible Government," wrote in...more Tuesday's Sarasota Herald-Tribune that "(t)he Orioles' commitment to bring a Cal Ripken Youth Academy to Sarasota is proving to be as elusive for the team as a winning season."

Continue reading here.

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.

Sarasota, FL -- UPDATE: Sarasota Police have arrested the GTE Federal Credit Union robber thanks to the public's help identifying Daniel Pezanetti as the suspect.
The detective investigating the robbery developed information from the public's tips that Pezanetti was in North Port. North...more Port detectives helped locate Pezanetti and recover evidence and cash from the robbery. Police say Pezanetti confessed to the robbery to help pay for his drug habit. 
Pezanetti was arrested on Feb. 16 on Robbery and Violation of Probation charges.
Previous Release:
Sarasota Police are asking for the public's help identifying the man who robbed the GTE Federal Credit Union on Fruitville Road Tuesday afternoon.
According to police, around 12:30 p.m., the man walked up to the teller and presented a note. He did not display a weapon and took off on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Anyone with any information about the robbery is asked to contact the Sarasota Police

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