Stories Related to Manatee County Commission Approves Legislative Priorities, Including Padi Bill, Substance Abuse Help

By JILL COLVIN and STEPHEN GROVES WASHINGTON (AP) — After several weeks working mostly behind closed doors, Vice President-elect JD Vance returned to Capitol Hill this week in a new, more visible role: Helping Donald Trump try to get his most contentious Cabinet picks to confirmation in the Senate, where Vance has served for the last two years. Vance arrived at the Capitol on Wednesday with former Rep.

MIAMI GARDENS — The South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Miami Dolphins writers are picking out a pair of prop bets each week in the 2024 season. Dolphins columnist Chris Perkins and Dolphins reporter David Furones, neither of whom condone gambling, will make predictions on player or team props they believe will occur for every Dolphins matchup. Each writer will offer their “Best Bet,” a near 50-50 proposition they believe will occur, and a “Longshot,” which has to be given betting odds of at least +300, or 3-to-1 probability. Odds are according to the Hard Rock Bet app.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a quick special election timetable Friday for voters to replace former U. S. Rep. Matt Gaetz in a Republican congressional seat in Florida’s Panhandle. His urgency is a marked contrast to his months-long delay setting a special election to fill a vacancy in a Democratic district in South Florida. The special primary election in Florida’s 1st Congressional District will be held Jan.

Bryce Thompson scored 17 points, Marchelus Avery had 15 points and eight rebounds, and Oklahoma State beat Miami 80-74 on Friday in the consolation bracket of the Charleston Classic. Oklahoma State (4-1) will play in the fifth-place game on Sunday, while Miami (3-2) will try to avoid going winless in the tournament. Oklahoma State led 43-27 at halftime after making 8 of 15 from 3-point range, while Miami was just 8 of 27 overall.

By JONEL ALECCIA, Associated Press At least 19 people in Minnesota have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a national recall of more than 167,000 pounds of potentially tainted ground beef, federal health officials said. Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled the meat this week after Minnesota state agriculture officials reported multiple illnesses and found that a sample of the product tested positive for E.

MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith had enough fairytale moments for a career in one game last Sunday. When Smith caught the opening-drive touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders on a fourth-and-goal, he launched the football up with no regard as to where it was going. It landed right in the hands of his oldest son, as he revealed in an interview with ESPN’s “Pat McAfee Show” earlier this week.