Thief steals truck, spray paints it in failed attempt to conceal it: Bradenton police

Police say the man stole the red pickup truck from a hospital parking lot, then spray-painted it black, hoping no one would recognize the vehicle. It didn't work.

Manatee County waives adoption fees as pets overwhelm area shelters

Adoption fees have been waived this weekend as Manatee County Animal Welfare partners with Best Friends Animal Society to get pets into homes.

Water taxi may soon connect downtown Bradenton to the beaches

A city-to-sand water taxi service that would travel from downtown Bradenton to the Anna Maria Pier, Bradenton Beach Pier, and Coquina Beach is in the works.

Manatee County teachers to receive salary increase as other districts continue negotiations

Starting pay for Manatee County teachers is about to increase from less than $53,000 a year to more than $55,000 -- becoming one of the highest starting salary for teachers in Florida.

New park in Manatee County to be named after Gov. Ron DeSantis

Governor Ron DeSantis has made quite a name for himself. In Manatee County, his will now be the official name of the 17 acres previously known as Kinnan Park, but the naming decision wasn't unanimous.

Bradenton foster mom adopts four siblings, giving them loving home

The Bradenton foster mom adopted four siblings. She's been working with children since she was 13 years old and spent 20 years as a teacher.

DEP warns developer for 'aggressive and excessive' trimming of mangroves on Sarasota Bay

Off Longbar Pointe in Manatee County, the largest continuous track of mangrove growth stretches around Sarasota Bay, but a large portion of the protected tree species has been damaged by a developer and environmental organizations want them to be stopped.

Bradenton police chief exonerated of allegations of wrongdoing, city mayor says

The Bradenton police chief has been exonerated after an officer accused her of searching a home and someone inside without a search warrant, according to the city's mayor. Bradenton police and the chief were assisting with an arrest at a home in July.

Terra Ceia residents hope for change as more injured pelicans get stuck in rookery near Skyway Fishing Pier

More and more people near Terra Ceia are trying to rescue pelicans that end up getting stuck, many hanging from a rookery off Manatee County. They believe the birds are flying south from the Skyway Fishing Pier.

1 dead after cigarette lit near oxygen tank causes explosion at Bradenton apartment complex, police say

A Bradenton resident was killed Wednesday afternoon after lighting a cigarette near an oxygen tank inside a unit of a Bradenton apartment complex, according to the Bradenton Police Department. 

'It's do or die': Man loses arm after surviving alligator attack at Lake Manatee

The man was alone and missing part of his arm after he was attacked by the gator at Lake Manatee and spent three days lost in the woods before finding help.

Alligator attacks 77-year-old Bradenton woman, FWC says

A Bradenton woman was hospitalized Saturday night after she was attacked by a nearly 8-foot alligator, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). 

Community rallies around family of couple killed in food truck crash on I-75

Carlos Mendoza and Alondra Lopez died when their food truck blew a tire, crashed on I-75, and caught on fire in the median — trapping the husband and wife inside. Food trucks from across the area immediately began working together to help the family, raising thousands of dollars to support the couple's 4-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter.

Family: 12-year-old found safe after 3 days missing from Bradenton home

A group of family and friends had just gathered Tuesday evening in Bradenton to pass out fliers for a missing 12-year-old when they got word she had been found and she was alive.