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Surfside commissioners approve luxury condo plan at Champlain Towers collapse site

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:44 GMT

Surfside commissioners voted 3-1 in favor of approving a luxury condo site plan for the location once occupied by the ill-fated Champlain Towers South. The contentious meeting saw intense exchanges between Commissioner Nelly Velasquez and Surfside Mayor Shlomo Danzinger, who has been accused of voicing racially insensitive comments towards Velasquez. Emotions ran high as former and current commissioners, Surfside residents, and the families of the victims turned out to protest the proposal. They gathered outside the chambers, voicing their concerns and demanding respect in the wake of the devastating tragedy that claimed 98 lives on June 24th, 2021.On Wednesday evening, developers presented detailed modifications to their plan, emphasizing compliance. According to the new proposal, trash collection would be relocated to the basement of the new building, with trucks still coming up on Collins Avenue to the intersection of 88th Street, where a memorial will be built.The loading dock a...

Staying Soggy and Unsettled into this Weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:44 GMT

The relentless stretch of daily rain and thunderstorms will continue the rest of this week and unfortunately into the weekend. It’s all because of a stuck weather pattern with a slow-moving front across northern Florida and tropical moisture flowing in from the Caribbean Sea.This Thursday, expect a round of scattered showers and thunderstorms moving from the Florida Keys to parts of the metro in the morning. Then the afternoon and evening will feature mostly cloudy skies and random, pop-up showers and storms. Like the past few days, it won’t be a washout but just prepare for that anytime risk for rain. With the clouds in place, temperatures will be held near average in the upper 80s at most locations.Over the next few days, the King Tides will be back, which are higher than normal high tides. Through at least Friday morning, a Coastal Flood Advisory is in effect for Miami-Dade and Broward Counties and the lower Florida Keys.Friday and into the weekend will feature more o...

Vice President Kamala Harris to bring ‘Fight for Our Freedoms’ college tour to FIU

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:44 GMT

Vice President Kamala Harris is set to bring her “Fight for Our Freedoms” college tour to South Florida today, with Florida International University (FIU) as the next destination. This sixth stop on her nationwide tour is set to provide a unique platform for students to voice their concerns and aspirations in the ongoing quest for freedom. Harris’s visit to FIU promises to spark crucial conversations on pressing national challenges. As she takes the stage, students and the community eagerly await her insights into the relentless pursuit of cherished liberties.This nationwide tour has captivated audiences of all ages and backgrounds, and Harris’s presence at FIU provides a unique platform for students to voice their concerns and aspirations in the ongoing quest for freedom.Harris’s commitment to engaging with the younger generation underscores their pivotal role in shaping America’s future. Her visit to South Florida signifies a momentous opportuni...

Blaze consumes historic building in Templeton after fire breaks out in bar with patrons inside

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:44 GMT

Fire crews worked late into the night to contain a massive fire that engulfed a historic building in Templeton that housed a pub and a pool hall, officials said.The blaze broke out around 10 p.m. at the Otter River Hotel, where open mic night was underway at the Otter River Pub. Fire crews used ladder trucks to fight the intense flames and several nearby buildings were evacuated.There were no reported injuries and fire officials say the building is a total loss. “This was a historic building to the town of Templeton, it has been a bar for many, many years here in town and it has been here for more than 100 years ,” said Templeton Fire Chief Dickie, who added construction materials may have helped spread the flames.The cause of the fire remains under investigation.No additional information was immediately available.This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.

Authorities searching for man who tied up workers during NH cash loan store robbery

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:44 GMT

A search continued in Massachusetts and New Hampshire Wednesday night after police said a man robbed a cash loan store in Salem, New Hampshire and fled toward the state line.The Salem Police Department said its officers were called to a business at 522 South Broadway/Route 28 around noon on Wednesday after receiving a 911 call about an armed robbery.According to police, the caller said a man walked into the business — a LoanMax location — with a gun before tying up employees and robbing them.Police said the suspect, described as a white male in his 50s or 60s, fled south on Route 28 toward Methuen, Mass. after the robbery.“Responding patrol units immediately began a search for the suspect and cleared the business, ensuring the employees were unharmed,” Salem PD said on its Facebook page. Authorities described the suspect as having a height of 6’2″ and wearing a Covid mask with glasses, a Bruins cap, blue sweatshirt/hoodie, gray pants, black s...

Nice Afternoon, Some Rain Ahead

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:44 GMT

It’s another cool start with many inland towns kicking off the day near 40 degrees while Boston starts near 50. With a calm wind and dew points close to the air temps, we have enough moisture in place to cool and condense into fog, allowing for reduced visibility at times this morning. A dense fog advisory is in effect until 10am for parts of Southern New England. Some sun this afternoon send temps back into the mid 60s to near 70. A comfortable day overall. Clouds thicken overnight tonight with a mostly cloudy Friday on hand. It’ll be cooler tomorrow too, in the lower 60s for highs as shower chances increase through the day. There’s still a bit of uncertainty how far north the rain will make it from a storm located to our south, but the highest chance of rain is tomorrow afternoon, into Saturday morning, especially south of the Mass Pike. Sunday’s forecast looks brighter and milder, with highs in the 70s. 70s linger through much of next week with more dry ai...

Callahan: Why this change in Mac Jones’ game could spur an upset of the Cowboys

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:44 GMT

FOXBORO — You remember Mac Jones’ longest pass of the season.The 58-yard touchdown he slung down the right seam to tight end Pharaoh Brown last Sunday against the Jets; a splash of offensive brilliance in a sea of rain and defensive misery.But what about the play before?Do you remember Jones getting ripped to the ground? How Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams snatched the back of his jersey as he unwound a third-down throw? Or how Williams spun Jones down with his right arm, while fighting off Patriots offensive lineman Cole Strange with his left?Do you remember how the play finished?Jones completed the pass.He feathered it over a Jets defender in short zone along the right sideline for a 15-yard gain. Rookie receiver Demario Douglas tumbled backwards with the catch and into the Jets’ sideline. First down.“When I was watching film of it Monday, I saw the hit and said ‘Yo, that’s crazy,’ ” Douglas remembered. “I swear I was smiling ...

2023 Lexus LS500 is Lusciously Luxurious

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:44 GMT

When the word black tie event, or tuxedo proper comes to mind, I always resort to the context of automobiles. Yes, everyone has been to a black tie event where you get dressed up for the occasion or gala and act on your best behavior. But in automobile context, words like livery or limousine congruently come to mind.In Grasso’s Garage, it’s the ultimate Black Car event! The 2023 Lexus LS500 AWD has arrived and what a ride it is. Enjoy amazingly comfortable seats, while enjoying enlarged legroom and the ride of some executives who enjoy being chauffeured. But it gets better, as a car that is meant to be driven in, the backseats are the best yet. Reclining rear seats, massaging options, even more legroom and engineering specifically designed for livery companies or busy executives who have their own driver. Similar to a very popular show on TV right now, this is the same car you witness them being driven in, yet just an older model.Our Iridium Silver wrapped LS500 came with AWD ...

Should Celtics pursue Jrue Holiday after Bucks’ surprising trade for Damian Lillard?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:44 GMT

The expectation all summer was that Damian Lillard would become a new Eastern Conference rival for the Celtics. Just not the team he ultimately landed with.The Heat were the frontrunner to acquire the longtime Blazers star but after a deal never materialized, another East contender swopped in. The Bucks, on the eve of training camp, stunned the NBA world on Wednesday by trading for Lillard in a blockbuster deal that made them the immediate championship favorite.So, what does it mean for the Celtics?The Celtics, certainly, already had to worry about the Bucks before the trade, even after last season’s No. 1 seed suffered a shocking first-round exit to the Heat. But now the 2021 champions are even more formidable, pairing superstar Giannis Antetekounmpo with Lillard, one of the league’s best scorers to form a potentially lethal duo.Add a fully healthy Khris Middleton to the mix, in addition to a deep roster that includes Brook Lopez, Bobby Portis, Malik Beasley, Pat Connaughton and Ja...

China’s defense minister has been MIA for a month. His ministry isn’t making any comment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:44 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — A Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson said Thursday that he was “not aware of the situation” in the ministry’s first public comments on the disappearance of the defense minister from public view about one month ago.Senior Col. Wu Qian, the director of the ministry’s information office, gave only a one-sentence response when asked at a monthly news conference whether Li Shangfu is under investigation for corruption and if he is still the defense minister.“I’m not aware of the situation you mentioned,” Wu said in response to a question from a foreign news outlet. Li, who became defense minister when a new Cabinet was named in March, hasn’t been seen since giving a speech on Aug. 29. He is the second senior official to disappear this year, following former Foreign Minister Qin Gang, who was removed from office in July. The Chinese government has given no reason for his removal, or why both he and Li suddenly stopped making public appearances. There is...