Free hurricane readiness seminar offered

LAKEWOOD RANCH -- The Home Builders Association Manatee-Sarasota is offering a free hurricane preparedness seminar for homeowners from 4 to 5 p.m. Monday at its Lakewood Ranch office, 8131 Lakewood Main St.

The seminar is open on a first-come basis with limited seating available.

There will be some door prizes and refreshments.

The seminar will cover general areas for the homeowner in preparing their home for a hurricane event. RSVP to Elizabeth MacDonald at Elizabeth@hbamanatee-sarasota.org and or call 941-907-4133, ext. 309.

Iberiabank supports, aids animal services

MANATEE -- Iberiabank has "symbolically adopted" a dog or cat from the Humane Society of Manatee County, Animal Rescue Coalition of Sarasota and St. Francis Animal Rescue of Venice as part of its "i Gives Back" community outreach program for June.

The bank is accepting donations to benefit the animals and others in need.

Among the adopted animals is Samantha, a 1-year old Siberian Huskie who is looking for a home. She and her fellow dog and cat friends are in need of pet toys, collars, leashes, bath towels, cat litter, canned and dry dog and cat food, grooming clippers, treats, as well as cleaning supplies such as bleach, paper towels, garbage bags, laundry detergent and hand sanitizer. Photos of the respective adopted pets will be available in each branch during the month of June or may be viewed online at www.animalrescuecoalition.org, www.humanemanatee.org and www.stfrancisarfl.org. Pet supply donations may be dropped off at bank branches: 5310 State Road 64 E., 6351 Manatee Ave. W., 5844 14th St. W., and 11255 U.S. 301, Parrish.

U.S. trade deficit narrowed to $50.1 billion

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. trade deficit shrank in April, but only because a big drop in imports more than offset the first decline in U.S. exports in five months.

The Commerce Department said Friday that the trade deficit narrowed 4.9 percent in April to $50.1 billion.

U.S. exports, which had hit a record the previous month, fell 0.8 percent to $182.9 billion. Sales of everything from commercial jetliners to industrial machinery declined.

Wholesale stockpiles grew 0.6 percent in April

WASHINGTON -- U.S. wholesale businesses restocked faster in April, responding to a strong gain in sales. The increase could be a good sign for economic growth in the April-June quarter.

The Commerce Department says stockpiles grew 0.6 percent at the wholesale level in April, double the March gain. Sales by wholesale businesses jumped 1.1 percent in April, nearly three times the March sales gain.

-- Herald staff, wire reports