BOSTON — Observations and other notes of interest from Friday night’s 98-96 loss to the Boston Celtics: – So no veteran addition for the Heat and therefore a move toward youth while practically locked into the play-in round? – Not exactly. – Actually not even close, as Heat coach Erik Spoelstra made abundantly clear in his pregame media session, before a massive Heat lead again turned into something less. – “We’re not going to prioritize something over winning,” he said,... Read More
Security concerns and skepticism are bursting the bubble of Moltbook, the viral AI social forum
By KAITLYN HUAMANI You are not invited to join the latest social media platform that has the internet talking. In fact, no humans are, unless you can hijack the site and roleplay as AI, as some appear to be doing. Moltbook is a new “social network” built exclusively for AI agents to make posts and interact with each other, and humans are invited to observe. Elon Musk said its launch ushered in the “very early stages of the singularity ” — or when artificial intelligence could... Read More
Florida starts English-only policy for driver’s license testing
A statewide policy requiring driver’s license exams to be administered in English only went into effect Friday, ending years of accommodations for applicants whose primary or only language is Spanish or Creole. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles announced the policy change last week, saying the state no longer will provide translation services or printed exams in any language other than English. And it said the new policy applies to all driver license... Read More
Facing judgments and fines, fraudulent Florida mover files for bankruptcy
A Fort Lauderdale-based mover, facing judgments and attorneys fees in Miami-Dade and Orange counties that could cost him over $310,000, has filed for bankruptcy protection. Shawn Thompson’s Jan. 26 bankruptcy petition in West Palm Beach federal court — the day before a hearing in Miami-Dade on $242,000 in attorney fees — triggered notices to the two county courts that the filing halts most collections against the debtor. How the bankruptcy filing affects a $110,000 fine imposed on... Read More
At least 3 people have died from eating Death Cap mushrooms as they spread in California after rains
By JULIE WATSON, Associated Press SAN DIEGO (AP) — At least three people have died and three others have required liver transplants after eating the aptly named Death Cap mushroom that is proliferating in California following a rainy winter. The California Department of Public Health is urging people to avoid mushroom foraging altogether this year because Death Cap mushrooms are easily confused with safe, edible varieties. Since Nov. 18 there have been at least three dozen cases of... Read More
Roach infestations, no hand washing & ‘dirt buildup’: 7 South Florida restaurants & 1 food truck shut
Live and dead roaches fueled the majority of South Florida’s temporary restaurant closures last week, including five restaurants and one food truck in Palm Beach County and two eateries in Broward County. Other violations included a “black/green mold-like substance” in an ice machine and stop sale orders for items such as potato salad, sour cream and cooked ribs. The South Florida Sun Sentinel typically highlights restaurant inspections conducted by the Florida Department of Business... Read More
Woman who shot boyfriend to death during gun game cleared under Stand Your Ground law
A woman accused of fatally shooting her boyfriend during a gun game they were playing in Hollywood can’t be tried for manslaughter, a Broward judge has ruled. Brittany Brothers, 29, had her manslaughter charge dismissed on Jan. 30 under Florida’s Stand Your Ground law, which allows a person to take up to deadly action if they feel their life is threatened. “The State did not present substantial, competent, clear and convincing evidence sufficient to satisfy its burden of proof to... Read More
Actor Timothy Busfield indicted on 4 counts of sexual contact with a child
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico grand jury has indicted Timothy Busfield on four counts of criminal sexual contact with a child. Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman announced the indictment Friday in a social media post. Authorities had issued an arrest warrant for Busfield over allegations of misconduct from when he was working as a director on the set of the TV series “The Cleaning Lady.” Busfield has denied the allegations. He turned himself in to authorities and... Read More
Italy braces for Winter Olympics with high security and decree targeting violent protesters
By GIADA ZAMPANO and NICCOLÒ LUPONE, Associated Press MILAN (AP) — Italy has ramped up security ahead of the opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics Friday, with thousands of agents protecting athletes, spectators and global leaders at locations spanning from Milan to the Dolomites. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Cabinet on Thursday approved a security decree including stricter measures to counter violent protests, just ahead of fresh demonstrations planned around the... Read More
Most Florida Republicans won’t watch Bad Bunny halftime show at Super Bowl, poll finds
The partisan divide over the Super Bowl halftime show is affecting Floridians’ viewing plans. A poll released Friday found that 68% of Florida registered voters said they would watch the Super Bowl on Sunday. The survey comes from the Public Opinion Research Lab and Sport Impact Jax, both programs at the University of North Florida. Plans to watch are high across political groups: 75% of Democrats, 65% of Republicans and 63% of independents said they’d watch. There’s a significant... Read More