Top Miami Area Local News Stories
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<p> A missing 2-year-old has been found unresponsive in a canal, investigators said.</p><p> The Broward Sheriff's Office said the girl’s mother lost track of her and she wandered away.</p><p> Investigators were searching for the child in the area of 3500 NW 23rd Court.</p><p> Police said the child was found in a body of water near U.S. 441 and Oakland Park Boulevard.</p><p> Rescuers planned to fly the child to Broward General Medical Center.</p>
Published: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:00:33 GMT
<p> Crews worked Friday afternoon to fix a water main break at Andrews Avenue and Broward Boulevard.</p><p> Fort Lauderdale Public Works crews are working to cap the leak.</p><p> Fort Lauderdale spokesman Matt Little said the westbound lane of Broward Boulevard to North Andrews Avenue was closed. One passing lane on westbound Broward Boulevard also was closed, he said.</p><p> Little said traffic is moving in the area, but there are delays. Drivers should avoid the area. </p>
Published: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:50:18 GMT
<p> Police are investigating the shootings of two people in Miami on Friday afternoon. </p><p> The shootings took place behind an apartment building at Northwest Miami Place and Northwest 77th Street. </p><p> Miami police said someone pulled up in a pickup truck and started shooting, wounding a teenager and a middle-aged man. </p><p> The teenager is in extremely critical condition, and the man is expected to survive. </p><p> Officer Kenia Reyes, of the Miami Police Department, said that the only information investigators have about the shooter is that the person was in a pickup truck of unknown color. She urged anyone with information to call police.</p>
Published: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:12:06 GMT
<p> First lady Michelle Obama visited South Florida on Friday to continue her fight against childhood obesity.</p><p> VIDEO: Preps for visit by Michelle Obama</p><p> The Homestead YMCA Family Center was filled with dozens of children, their parents and volunteers an hour before the first lady was expected to arrive.</p><p> As though the crowd wasn't already pumped up, a YMCA volunteer led everyone in a series of jumping jacks and arm-whipping jump-rope moves. </p><p> "Are you ready?" he shouted. </p><p> "Yeah!" the crowd replied.</p><p> When the routine was over, kids were encouraged to drink water and help themselves to the snack table, which was full of packaged apple slices, granola bars and veggie chips.</p><p> When Obama arrived at 4:10 p.m., she was joined by pediatricians and experts from the popular medical website, WebMD. The first lady and the doctors focused on physical fitness and the importance of eating healthy.</p><p> The first lady spoke about what she and her family eat, the importance of exercise and sleep and what parents can do to play a role in what their children eat in school.</p><p> This is all part of Obama's national initiative called "Let's Move," which is designed to help fight childhood obesity. Obama has appeared in schools across the country, including Dallas and Arkansas, speaking to students about eating healthy.</p>
Published: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:07:30 GMT
<p> The search continues for a 3-year-old girl last seen in February 2011, after police track down her missing father in Pensacola.</p><p> Police said they believe Samuel Montes took his then-2-year-old daughter, Angelina Montes, on Feb. 28, 2011. Authorities have been searching for the father and child ever since. </p><p> Officers pulled over Samuel Montes in Pensacola for a traffic stop and realized there was a warrant out for his arrest. He was taken into custody and sent to Miami, where he appeared in bond court Friday morning. </p><p> In court, it was revealed that Angelina's mother tried to leave Montes last year, taking her child, but Montes' mother would not let her. The woman left on her home and returned with agents from the Department of Children and Families to pick up Angelina, but when they arrived, Montes and Angelina were gone. </p><p> Although police have found Montes, the search for Angelina continues. Prosecutors said they suspect the child is with Montes' parents.</p><p> Montes is being held without bond.</p>
Published: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:32:46 GMT
<p> Three people are dead after a standoff Thursday night in which police said a man took his wife and children hostage. </p><p> A SWAT team moved in on a recreational vehicle in Deerfield Beach after neighbors found a man shot and bleeding and the gunman inside claiming to have a hostage, according to police. </p><p> "He was bleeding, blood all over the place," said witness Gerald Baudim. </p><p> "When he was lying there, he was still breathing. He was still breathing," said witness Larraine Garneau. </p><p> Joanna Beauchemin said her mother, Pierrette Beauchemin, was the hostage, and her mom's boyfriend was the one killed. She said this started when a man, identified by BSO as William De Jesus, 41, of Port Orange, pulled up in a car with his wife and two kids, asking to use Beauchemin's phone. </p><p> BSO said Ovila Plante, 76, of Quebec, who was with Beauchemin, approached De Jesus, who started yelling. Plante pushed De Jesus, who then pulled out a revolver and shot Plante in the chest, investigators said. When Plante fell to the ground, De Jesus shot him in the head, killing him, BSO said.</p><p> De Jesus led his wife, Deanna De Jesus, 37, and their two children, Jeshiah and Samson, ages 9 and 7, into the RV, with Beauchemin still inside, BSO said.</p><p> "We see the guy closed the window and everything," said witness Rick Forteil.</p><p> "We saw the man in the trailer breaking all the lights," said Garneau.</p><p> Cops arrived and stood their ground as negotiators worked to coax the gunman out peacefully. Moments later, a woman, identified as Beauchemin, emerged from the RV unharmed. </p><p> Police decided to make a move at about 12:30 a.m. Friday after a standoff that lasted for hours. Once inside, they found Jeshiah De Jesus dead and his 7-year-old brother, Samson, and his mother, Deanna De Jesus, in critical condition. </p><p> William De Jesus took his life before cops could confront him, BSO said.</p><p> Investigators determined that William De Jesus stabbed his sons with a knife from the RV's kitchen, then stabbed his wife and himself.</p><p> "It was devastating to everyone who worked here all night long to have a little boy die and another little boy and woman critically injured," said Broward Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Dani Moschella.</p><p> Samson and Deanna De Jesus remained in serious condition at hospitals Friday.</p>
Published: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:46:26 GMT
<p> A man robbed a Fort Lauderdale bank on Friday afternoon, and investigators believe he is the same robber behind six similar crimes in the past two months.</p><p> The FBI said the man went into the Bank of America at 2300 E. Sunrise Blvd. at about 2 p.m. and demanded cash from an employee. </p><p> The robber stole an undisclosed amount of cash and left the bank on foot, investigators said. </p><p> Although there were customers present at the time, no injuries were reported. </p><p> The FBI said it believes the same man may have robbed six other South Florida banks in the past two months. Those banks include an IberiaBank in Pompano Beach on Jan. 27, a Comercia Bank in Boca Raton on Jan. 20, a TD Bank in Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 18, a Regent Bank in Davie and a Valley Bank in Hollywood on Jan. 6 and an Amtrust Bank in Hollywood on Dec. 24.</p><p> Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI at 305-944-9101 or Crime Stoppers.</p>
Published: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:22:00 GMT
<p> A woman and a horse were killed and another woman was injured Friday in an explosion at a Marion County equine rehabilitation center. </p><p> Deputies said Erica Marshall, 28, died in the explosion. Sorcha Moneley was seriously injured, and a horse was also killed when a hyperbaric chamber exploded at about 9:30 a.m. at Kesmarc Florida at 15530 W. County Road 326. </p><p> Fire rescue officials said the horse started kicking while it was inside the chamber, and the workers had gone to turn the chamber off when the explosion occurred. </p><p> Rhonda Stroup, a Marion sheriff detective, said the horse kicked off a protective shield inside of the oxygen-filled chamber, and as the steel shoe as struck the side of chamber, it caused a spark and ignited instantly. </p><p> Stroup described it as a "horribly huge explosion," and added that there was nothing the women could do because it happened so fast. </p><p> The horse owner lives in Virginia, and the animal was spending the winter in Florida.</p><p> Stroup said the horse was put into chamber to be treated for a condition called equine morbillivirus pneumonia. The horse had been in the chamber approximately four times and had never had any problems, so they didn't give the horse a tranquilizer. </p><p> Marshall had been running the chamber for two years as part of her daily job, officials said. Stroup said Marshall had treated two to six horses every day. </p><p> Stroup said Moneley witnessed the horse beginning to kick and relayed what happened to paramedics as she was being treated. </p><p> Horses are typically treated in a hyperbaric chamber after a vet prescribes it, Stroup said. It's not clear if the horse was prescribed treatment. </p><p> Deputies said Marshall died at the scene. Moneley was airlifted to Shands with serious injuries and underwent surgery.</p><p> News helicopters overhead showed other horses being loaded into trailers. Officials said around 30 horses were at the rehabilitation center when the explosion occurred. The building was deemed unsafe, and horses were evacuated. </p><p> Debris from the explosion could also be seen scattered across the property. </p><p> Authorities are investigating the explosion. Homicide detectives said they are interviewing representatives of another facility in Marion County that uses a hyperbaric chamber to see how they operate. </p><p> Stroup said the homicide unit isn't aware if there are any official rules or regulations on how to run a hyperbaric chamber. </p><p> The medical examiner arrived at the scene Friday afternoon.</p>
Published: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:51:21 GMT
<p> Thousands of Broward County children are now going home after a full school day with full stomachs, thanks to a new program that provides free, healthy suppers for schoolchildren. </p><p> More than 120 students at Oriole Elementary School in Lauderdale Lakes are eating a hot meal before leaving school for the day. </p><p> It consists of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, applesauce, bread and milk. </p><p> “When they're here and they eat this food, it's healthy,” said mom Rosalin Marte. “It's everything low-fat. There is no fat on it, and it's really good.”</p><p> "It could be fish, it could be chicken, it could be pasta," said Alan Wolnek, who runs the program under a federal grant that feeds more than 2,200 children in 32 Broward after-school programs. ”When children are well fed, have the proper nutrition, their marks are always better. Their attention span is better. They do better in school.”</p><p> During a time when governments and families are both struggling, students and their parents are grateful for the helping hand.</p><p> “Times are tough, so any help is good help. Anything that could help is appreciated,” said Tara Dolby as her fourth-grade daughter Vivian ate dinner.</p><p> The after-school meal program is scheduled to run for five years. </p><p> Supporters said they have money to feed more needy students in free and reduced-price lunch program schools. </p>
Published: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:45:05 GMT
After the yearbooks came out, school couldn't end soon enough for these students. Just proves that class pictures may take only a second to snap... but they last a lifetime.
Published: Thu, 27 Jan 2011 19:41:44 GMT
J.C. Penney recently hired talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres as a spokeswoman in an effort to rebuild its image, despite protests. Celebrity spokespeople have stirred controversy before. While Ellen has earned J.C. Penney's support, some celebrities have lost their jobs due to their own bad behavior. Here's how other famous spokespeople have faired.
Published: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:00:00 GMT
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