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Local News

Sean Allison, president and chief executive officer at the Manatee YMCA, speaking with reporters Thursday.
SARA KENNEDY/skennedy@bradenton.com

Manatee County School District decision may close YMCA high school, officials say

YMCA officials say they were told a contract would be cancelled under which a high school for at-risk kids operates. 14 minutes ago

Crime

Matthew Ovens, violation of pretrial release, no bond.

PHOTO GALLERY | Inmates booked in at Manatee jail on July 10, 2014

Some of the latest arrivals at the Manatee County jail.

Prostitute in Google exec case linked to 2nd death 4 minutes ago
Florida to execute man for rape, murder of girl 39 minutes ago
Sarasota sheriff: 'Prolific' offender charged in burglaries 1 hour ago
Florida warden suspended over prisoner's scalding death

Sports

Tampa Bay Rays starter Alex Cobb pitches against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 9, 2014 in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Perez hits 3-run HR in 9th, Royals beat Rays 5-4

Salvador Perez gave the Royals a late lift Wednesday night heading into a key midseason series.

Business

Nancy Krohngold began her passion for catering in 2004 and is planning to expand to the University Park area near Lakewood Ranch. PHOTO PROVIDED

Nancy’s Bar-B-Que expanding near Lakewood Ranch to meet demand for catering

Sarasota barbecue restaurant and catering business set to expand to a shopping plaza near the new mall.

Opinion

Sean Allison, CEO of the Manatee County YMCA, holds a press conference at Pride Park to address the findings of a Clerk of Courts audit of the use of funds for their programs. According to the report, auditors found the YMCA defrauded the county more than $100,000. TIFFANY TOMPKINS-CONDIE/Bradenton Herald

YMCA's explanation for fraudulent billing to Manatee County inadequate

The Manatee County YMCA cannot minimize a detailed audit into billing to county taxpayers for after-school and gang-prevention programs as mere "flaws" in documentation.

Living

2008 National Basketball Hall of Famer Dick Vitale gets doused with ice water to raise money for the Kay Yow Foundation and the V Foundation, which both benefit cancer research. Video by Kate Irby.

Dick Vitale bathed in buckets of cold water to support cancer research

#Chillin4Charity Challenge with Dick Vitale in LWR. 58 minutes ago

Bradenton woman bequests $1 million to Jewish organization
Parts of US Capitol closed after asbestos accident 7 minutes ago
Dayton names 16 to study impact of marijuana law 7 minutes ago
Video game preview: Epic Games details new free PC game 'Fortnite' 7 minutes ago

Entertainment

A dragon breathes fire from atop Gringnotts Bank during a preview of Diagon Alley at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando, Thursday, June 19, 2014, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

10 things to love about Diagon Alley

In honor of this week's opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Orlando, we share 10 favorite things about the new attraction.

Lakewood Ranch

Members of the Survivors In Sync dragon boat racing team are all breast cancer survivors from the Bradentona-Sarasota area. They are shown above at a weekly practice session at Nathan Benderson Park.
JAMES A. JONES JR./Bradenton Herald

Manatee-Sarasota Dragon Boat Festival to stage preview rally in August

On Aug. 9, seven of the Florida dragon boat teams and more than 100 breast cancer survivors will converge on Nathan Benderson Park to offer a preview of the October festival. 1 hour ago