By DYEPKAZAH SHIBAYAN, Associated Press ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — The United States will restrict visas for Nigerians and their family members responsible for mass killings and violence against Christians, the U.S. State Department said Wednesday. “The United States is taking decisive action in response to the mass killings and violence against Christians by radical Islamic terrorists, Fulani ethnic militias, and other violent actors in Nigeria and beyond,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio... Read More
South Florida firefighter accused of hitting teens with bat after ‘ding-dong ditch’ prank
A South Florida firefighter is accused of chasing down four teens who ding-dong-ditched at his family’s Lighthouse Point home and hitting them with a bat, police said. Alex Michael Lutz, 31, a Highland Beach Fire Rescue firefighter, faces six charges, some felonies, including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill and criminal mischief of $200 or less, according to an arrest warrant. He turned himself in Monday at the... Read More
Futuristic design for new City Hall a winner for Fort Lauderdale
The new Fort Lauderdale City Hall would be a sexy landmark, curvy and futuristic — nothing like the boxy old gray bunker taken out by the flood of April 2023. On Tuesday night, commissioners ranked four development teams vying to build the new City Hall. One activist referred to the competition as a beauty contest. In the end, the team with the most head-turning design snared the top ranking. The rankings, from first to last: FTL City Hall Partners, Balfour Beatty, Fort Lauderdale Civic... Read More
27 flies buzzing around kitchen at fast-food grill: 1 South Florida restaurant shut
Only one Palm Beach County restaurant was forced to temporarily close last week after a state inspection found more than two dozen flies flying around the kitchen and food preparation areas. The Sun Sentinel typically highlights restaurant inspections conducted by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation in Broward and Palm Beach counties. We cull through inspections that happen weekly and spotlight places ordered shut for “high-priority violations,” such as... Read More
Shine bright: Celebrate Hanukkah with South Florida festivals and menorah lightings
Hanukkah officially begins at sundown on Sunday, Dec. 14, and South Florida is jumping right into celebrations. Bring the family to a preholiday fest before lighting the candles at home, or light them together with other Jews during community-wide menorah lightings. Celebrations start in the afternoon on Sunday and continue throughout the eight nights. So, whip out your favorite Hanukkah-themed sweaters, get your dreidels ready and prepare for a festive holiday. Below, find holiday events... Read More
Weekend things to do: Holiday lights by Water Taxi, Jeremy Piven, FGO’s ‘Silent Night,’ Holy Terror remembered
This is that heartwarming time of year when we would do well to look for opportunities to warm the hearts of others, because you just never know. The 13th annual Dan Hosker Music Continuum returns on Sunday to raise money for music scholarships in the name of the Fort Lauderdale punk-rock guitarist who died in 2012, at age 46, from injuries sustained in a car accident. After his death, bandmates and friends threw themselves into creating an ongoing event to remember Hosker and his generous... Read More
Air taxi developer working with Related Ross, South Florida airports to create a commuter network
A novel alliance that includes an electric aircraft maker, Related Ross and several South Florida airports said Wednesday they are poised to develop an air taxi service that would link Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Martin counties. Archer Aviation of California, developer of a four-passenger electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, says it intends to build an air taxi network connecting Miami, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, and Fort Lauderdale, with “low-noise” electric air... Read More
The Nerds share tips for memorable, budget-friendly gifts
Growing up, my parents taught me a basic concept around gifts: The more creativity you put into the gift, the more the recipient will appreciate it — regardless of the cost. I took the lesson to heart. As a child, I would hand out “experience” gifts — like an offer to spend quality time with someone or a voucher to do a chore. As I got older, I got more creative. For my parents’ recent 50th wedding anniversary, I wrote them an original song to a Beatles tune and arranged for their... Read More
High school football predictions: State semifinals — who will make it to the championship?
St. Thomas Aquinas, ranked nationally No. 11 by MaxPreps, and No. 21 Chaminade-Madonna will try to take the easier road to the FHSAA state championship games next weekend at Pit Bull Stadium on the campus of FIU, as they have home semifinal games. Six-time defending state champion St. Thomas Aquinas (5A) and four-time defending state (1A) champ Chaminade-Madonna both rolled to regional final victories, as did defending champ West Boca (6A) and also Cardinal Newman (1A). Defending Class 4A... Read More
Camp Mystic announces enhanced safety plans after death of 25 girls, 2 counselors
By SEAN MURPHY The owners of an all-girls summer camp in the Texas Hill Country, where 25 campers and two teenage counselors died in catastrophic July 4 flooding, announced plans on Tuesday for new safety upgrades that will be in place when a portion of the camp opens next summer. Camp Mystic owners said in a letter to parents that they plan to exceed new camp safety laws that were passed by the Legislature and signed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott following the devastating floods that killed at... Read More