Early prenatal care, considered best for moms and babies, is on the decline in the US

By LAURA UNGAR, AP Medical Write Early prenatal care improves the chances of having a healthy pregnancy and baby. But a new federal report shows it’s been on the decline. The share of U.S. births to women who began prenatal care in the first trimester dropped from 78.3% in 2021 to 75.5% in 2024, according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday. Meanwhile, starting care later in pregnancy or getting no care at all has been on the rise. Prenatal care... Read More

Walmart delivers another quarter of impressive sales but offers a muted outlook

By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO, AP Retail Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart delivered another standout quarter as the promise of lower prices drew in a broader spectrum of Americans during the critical holiday shopping period, including wealthier households. The outlook from the Bentonville, Arkansas, company, however, hinted at a volatile economic environment ahead on Thursday. Shares dipped almost 3% before the opening bell. Walmart reported fourth quarter earnings of $4.24 billion, or 53 cents... Read More

Man who lived rent-free in New Yorker Hotel, then claimed to own it, pleads guilty to fraud charge

By JAKE OFFENHARTZ NEW YORK (AP) — A New York City man who attempted to claim ownership of the New Yorker Hotel has pleaded guilty to fraud, ending a lengthy legal saga involving an obscure tenant law that allowed the man to live rent-free for years in the storied Manhattan hotel. Mickey Barreto entered the plea on Wednesday, admitting that he had forged property records in an effort to take ownership over the hotel. That effort was, at least on paper, partially successful. In Barreto’s... Read More

Daily Horoscope for February 19, 2026

General Daily Insight for February 19, 2026 Small sparks could lead to brave starts now. With the emotional Moon entering bold Aries at 2:39 pm EST, following our impulses may be easier than usual. Soon after, Luna meets restrictive Saturn, asking for measured steps, simple promises, and patience as we shape plans we can actually keep. Moments later, the Moon’s contact with dreamy Neptune softens edges, encouraging us to listen from the heart. Checking the facts might ultimately be... Read More

‘Suspicious’ death of woman found in Fort Lauderdale thought to be murder, police say

Detectives believe a woman whose body was found in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday morning was murdered. Someone discovered the body in the area of the 200 block of Northwest 15th Avenue just before 7:30 a.m., Fort Lauderdale Police said. Detectives after their initial investigation at the scene determined the woman’s death is “suspicious” and is likely a homicide, spokesperson Casey Liening said in a statement Wednesday afternoon. The woman’s name will be released once her family is... Read More

No means no: Fort Lauderdale again rebuffs offer to buy office tower for City Hall

Fort Lauderdale is forging ahead with plans to build a $200 million City Hall despite concerns there will be no money to build it should voters across the state approve property tax reform. Commissioners are expected to vote in April on an interim agreement with FTL City Hall Partners, a development team chosen last year. A comprehensive agreement would likely come to the commission for approval in November. If all goes well, the developer would break ground in January 2027. The commission... Read More

‘A Survivor’s Song’: Broward County students create music from Holocaust testimonies

As the voices of first-generation Holocaust survivors start to grow quiet, teaching the next generation is more critical than ever. Many descendants have taken on the role of storytelling, but educators still face a challenge: How do you teach the history in a way that is engaging to students? Two local artists turned to music. Musician Jeff Jacob proposed the idea of a songwriting session for students — using Holocaust survivor testimonies to create an original, fully produced piece — to... Read More

Ticket alert: Bruce Springsteen sets Sunrise concert, first South Florida show in 3 years

Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band will bring the Land of Hope and Dreams American Tour to Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on April 23. Tickets are scheduled to go on sale at noon Friday at Seatgeek.com. The 20-date trek will begin March 31 in Minneapolis, the setting of Springsteen’s anti-ICE protest song “Streets of Minneapolis,” released on Jan. 28. The tour is a continuation of Springsteen’s 2025 European tour that produced the “Land of Hope and Dreams” EP, recorded live... Read More

See the 10 South Florida restaurants that closed: December-January edition

South Florida’s restaurant scene felt a wave of closures in December and January. Here are some that shuttered over the past two months in Broward and Palm Beach counties. Mistah Lee’s Smokin’ Good BBQ, 8240 State Road 7, Suite 250, Boynton Beach: Pitmaster Lee Stransky’s ’cue shack, known for beef brisket, house-brined pastrami, cornbread slathered in “sticky” sauce and a big accolade — its food truck won top honors in the Sun Sentinel’s Best of South Florida Dining series... Read More