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DeSantis addresses Disney feud, poem removal from Miami-Dade school library amid fundraising controversy

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:30:44 GMT

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis attended his first public event since officially launching his 2024 presidential bid, as a new controversy reportedly involving fundraising swirls around his campaign.The governor on Friday weighed in on several issues while delivering a speech at the Florida Homeschool Convention in Orlando.“We want parents to be armed with the ability to make sure their kids are in a safe environment,” he said.DeSantis doubled down on Florida’s gender studies ban, his case against Disney and support for parents’ rights.“We stand for parents’ rights in education, elimination of gender ideology, because it’s the right thing to do,” he said, “and if that means we have to stand up to a major company like Disney, well, here I stand. I’m not backing down.”DeSantis also addressed a controversy in a Miami Lakes school, at the Bob Graham Education Center Library.“The Hill We Climb,” a poem that was recit...

18-year-old who overcame obstacles gifted new car from Rick Case Honda in Davie

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:30:44 GMT

A South Florida teen received a generous gift and is being recognized for the obstacles he’s overcome.Jackie Knight was given a brand new car from Rick Case Honda in Davie, Friday.The 18-year-old had a rough upbringing after he was abandoned by his family when he was 1 year old.He also suffered from the death of his foster mother, which resulted in Knight being taken in by an agency that provides safe harbor for youths.Despite it all, Knight just graduated high school and was awarded a scholarship to attend Broward College.He now also has some brand-new wheels.“Cause you don’t always expect good things to come out. I’m a lucky person as is, so I always kinda give myself that benefit of the doubt,” Knight said. “Yeah, today might be a good day, it’s a lucky day. I’m trying to see if I can find any jobs that will require the car, which most of the time they usually hire. So as is, it’s to work, school, home, just making a life for ...

Rollover crash causes SB lane closures on Turnpike near Kendall Drive; 1 hospitalized

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:30:44 GMT

Rescue crews have taken one person to the hospital following a rollover wreck along the Florida Turnpike in Southwest Miami-Dade that has led to heavy congestion during rush hour.Florida Highway Patrol and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units responded to the scene of the crash near the Kendall Drive exit, just after 5:30 p.m., Friday.A traffic camera captured an overturned sedan along the southbound lanes.Troopers have shut down three southbound lanes as they continue to investigate. They urge drivers to avoid the area and seek alternate routes.Authorities continue to investigate the crash.Please check back on WSVN.com and 7News for more details on this developing story.

Boston Calling Day 1: Foo Fighters headline Friday night

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:30:44 GMT

The stage is set for the first day of Boston Calling, the annual music festival in Allston. Music began around 2 p.m., and the Foo Fighters are headlining later this evening. More than 50 artists will perform over the next three days including Alanis Morissette, Queens Of The Stone Age, The National and Paramore. Twenty artists with local ties will perform as well, including a last minute fill-in by the Dropkick Murphys.“I’m a big fan of live music, and just everyone coming together in Boston is always so cool,” attendee Zach Murphy said. “There’s always a mish mash of genres so there’s something for everyone.”The line-up is strong, fans say. Other artists performing includes Niall Horan, Noah Kahan, King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard and Maren Morris.“Excited about the Foo Fighters, Alanis Morissette,” Stephanie Smith said. “It’s a good festival weekend.”Some concertgoers are excited about the full three-day festival, while some are at...

Healey reestablishes council tasked with advising her on veterans’ services

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:30:44 GMT

Gov. Maura Healey signed an executive order Friday reworking a council tasked with advising the governor on veterans’ services, a move she said shows the administration’s “dedication” to advocating for the rights of former service members.The Governor’s Advisory Council on Veterans’ Services will meet four times a year and be tasked with producing a written report every two years, a change from the annual reporting requirement former Gov. Charlie Baker his version of the council.Healey’s order comes after she created a new executive office focused on veteran’s services earlier this year and appointed former state Rep. Jon Santiago — a captain in the United States Army Reserve — to lead it.“This council represents another step forward in our mission to prioritize the diverse experiences of our service members and will play a crucial role in our efforts to elevate veterans’ services statewide,” Healey said in a statement.Baker issued a similar advisory council order ...

Biden says debt default deal ‘very close’ while deadline now set at June 5

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:30:44 GMT

By LISA MASCARO, SEUNG MIN KIM, KEVIN FREKING and FATIMA HUSSEIN (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said a deal to resolve the government’s debt ceiling crisis seemed “very close” late Friday, even as the deadline for a potentially catastrophic default was pushed back four days until a week from Monday.The later “X-date” threatened to open another week of frustrating negotiation between House Republicans and the White House over the risk of a default that could throw the U.S. economy into chaos and sap world confidence in the nation’s lleadership.Yet President Joe Biden was upbeat as he left for the Memorial Day weekend at Camp David, declaring, “It’s very close, and I’m optimistic.”With Republican at the Capitol talking with Biden’s team at the White House, the president said, “There’s a negotiation going on. I’m hopeful we’ll know by tonight whether we’re goin...

Orioles pitcher John Means suffers setback during recovery, won’t be ready in July

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:30:44 GMT

Orioles pitcher John Means recently suffered a setback that will delay his return from elbow surgery, executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias said Friday.Means, the Orioles’ opening day starter in 2021 and 2022, strained the teres major muscle in the scapula area of his upper back while doing a nonthrowing-related drill at the team’s complex in Florida.Elias said the injury means the left-hander won’t be able to return in July, the month the team previously set as a possible return for Means. It’s unclear how long the muscle strain will set back Means as he recovers from Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery, but Elias said the hope is that the 30-year-old will return in 2023.“Unfortunately, he was doing some activation drills down in Florida and strained a muscle kind of in the scapular region of his upper back,” Elias said. “It’s a muscle injury, it’s not his shoulder capsule, it not a throwing injury, he̵...

Resurgent Mets may be righting ship as they face Rockies for second time this season

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:30:44 GMT

DENVER — The last time the Mets faced the Colorado Rockies, they were at a low point. They were coming off series losses to the Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves and they had just been swept on the road by the Detroit Tigers.The Mets edged the lowly Rockies 1-0 in the first game of a three-game series at Citi Field, but the team failed to get back on track after that win. The bats weren’t showing up and the starting pitching was in rough shape.That series began 21 days ago and since then the Mets’ bats have come alive and the starting pitching has started to as well. Memorial Day typically marks the time of the baseball season when the standings become relevant and the Mets look as though they might be righting the ship just in time as they head into Denver for another three-game set against Colorado having won six of their last eight.This shouldn’t be an especially pressure-packed series, but given the troubles the Mets have had against opponents with ...

Texas AG Ken Paxton invites supporters to rally at state Capitol to protest vote to impeach

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:30:44 GMT

By ACACIA CORONADO, JIM VERTUNO and JAKE BLEIBERG (Associated Press)AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Friday urged his supporters to protest at the state Capitol when Republicans in the House of Representatives take up historic impeachment proceedings that threaten to oust him.The House has set a Saturday vote to consider impeaching Paxton and suspending him from office over allegations of bribery, unfitness for office and abuse of public trust — just some of the accusations that have trailed him for most of his three terms. Paxton, a 60-year-old Republican, decried the impeachment proceedings as “political theater” that will “inflict lasting damage on the Texas House,” adding to his earlier claims that it’s an effort to disenfranchise the voters who returned him to office in November.“I want to invite my fellow citizens and friends to peacefully come let their voices be heard at the Capitol tomorrow,” he ...

US cities hope crime strategies keep homicide numbers dropping and prevent summer surge

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:30:44 GMT

By KATHLEEN FOODY (Associated Press)CHICAGO (AP) — An expected bump in violent crime this summer has mayors and police officials around the U.S. rolling out familiar strategies of making officers more visible and engaging with community groups, in some cases leaning on civilians to enforce curfews and keep the peace.Chicago is among the U.S. cities under scrutiny following a mayoral race that focused on public safety in response to demands for change. Violence often surges during summer months, so this holiday weekend will undoubtedly ramp up pressure on Mayor Brandon Johnson’s new administration to deliver short-term improvement along with the long-term strategies that the former union organizer advocated while campaigning to lead the nation’s third-largest city.“It’s going to take all of us, not just the police, not just city government, to ensure that our communities can live and thrive in peace and safety,” Johnson said at a lakefront press co...