Rule allowing rail shipments of LNG will be put on hold to allow more study of safety concerns
A Trump-era rule allowing railroads to haul highly flammable liquefied natural gas will now be formally put on hold to allow more time to study the safety concerns related to transporting that fuel and other substances like hydrogen that must be kept at extremely low temperatures when they are shipped.
Man who fired gun at Everglades park rangers arrested
Park rangers encountered an active shooter about 20 miles from the Homestead of Everglades National Park. EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK, Fla. โ A man who fired a gun at Everglades National Park rangers was involved in a domestic violence situation at the park earlier in the day, the park said. The suspect, described as a 33-year-old man, was taken into custody Sunday night, according to a statement. The domestic violence situation was reported at Mahogany Hammock, a boardwalk for wildlife viewing within the park. Miami-Dade police, fire rescue, as well as the FBI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection assisted the park in the incident, the statement said.
Byron gives NASCAR another surprise winner at Homestead
HOMESTEAD, Fla. โ William Byron gave NASCAR its third surprise winner in three weeks, this one not quite as stunning as the first two at Daytona International Speedway. Byron controlled most of the final two stages at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday and won for the second time in 111 Cup starts. Byron entered the weekend as a 28-1 shot to win a race many expected would provide a return to normal for the racing series. When Byronโs former crew chief, Chad Knaus, moved up at Hendrick Motorsports, Rick Hendrick hired Fugle and paired him with Byron. The Roush Fenway Racing driver led five times for a total of 57 laps, but he started to fade when as sunset neared.
Florida sets another record with 17,783 more COVID-19 cases
A health care worker administers a COVID-19 test at a site sponsored by Community Heath of South Florida in Homestead. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Florida set yet another record for newly confirmed coronavirus cases in data reported Wednesday by the Florida Department of Health. The 17,783 increase in cases brings the state to 1,409,906 since the pandemic began. Florida has reported more than 10,000 cases each of the last nine days, averaging 14,826 a day over the last week -- the highest week of increases since the pandemic reached Florida in March. As of 4:48 p.m. Wednesday, 7,303 people were hospitalized in Florida with a primary diagnosis of COVID-19, according to the state Agency for Health Care Administration.
Police: 3 injured in shooting at family gathering in Florida
HOMESTEAD, Fla. โ Three people were injured Sunday night when someone began shooting at a group gathered outside during a family gathering in Homestead, police said. A police officer for the Miami-Dade County school system who was attending the party returned fire, news outlets reported. One man was airlifted to a trauma center, where he was reported to be in good condition. The other two were taken to Homestead Hospital. The officer wasn't injured, police said.
Crew chiefs feel the heat to be perfect in NASCAR finale
FILE - In this Nov. 16, 2019, file photo, crew chief Christopher Gabehart watches practice for a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. The pressure will be intense for crew chiefs in NASCAR's championship race. With everything on the line, his crew chief went with an aggressive adjustment aimed at gaining one last burst of speed. Only Hamlin and Gabehart, in their second season as driver and crew chief, have previously raced for a championship together. โI donโt think you can really be prepared for it until you go through it,โ said the veteran Hendrick Motorsports crew chief.
4 dozen undelivered ballots found at Florida post office
HOMESTEAD, Fla. โ Postal and law enforcement officials are investigating after four dozen mail-in ballots were found undelivered at a post office in Florida. Postal Service Office investigators said Saturday they found six completed ballots and 42 blank ballots among piles of undelivered mail in a post office near Homestead on the Florida peninsulaโs southern tip. Video taken by a postal worker shows they had been sitting there for more than a week. Postal officials did not immediately respond to an email Saturday asking how the backlog occurred and if anyone is facing discipline. The investigation was launched Friday after Florida House Minority Leader Kionne McGhee tweeted video taken by a postal worker of the piles of undelivered mail.
Migrant children go to Florida shelters
CNNTALLAHASSEE, Fla. - When the federal government suddenly emptied a South Florida detention center for migrant children in August, it was unclear exactly where more than 1,000 children had gone. Federal officials declined to comment on the operations of the Florida shelters due to the "privacy and security of the unaccompanied alien children." The Homestead center became a flashpoint this year in the national debate about immigration policy and the Trump administration's handling of migrant children. The shelter also helps Florida's foster children, and of its 16 cottages, seven of them are licensed for migrant children. According to DCF records, the Miami-Dade County public schools offer on-site education programs to the migrant children who are at His House.
Deputies: Woman in car with drugs says she was delivering them to prison
The two women who were inside the car told deputies they had parked at that location to talk about a recent breakup that one of them was experiencing. Deputies said the driver was later identified as Gomez, who told them she had rented the vehicle. During their search, according to the report, the deputies found an undisclosed amount of cash -- $20 bills and $100 bills -- inside a bag. According to the report, she told the deputies "that what she did was stupid and that she was a church going person." Deputies said the case is still under investigation to see whether her statements about delivering the narcotics to a prison are true.
Bank of America will no longer do business with companies that run detention centers
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images(CNN) - Bank of America will end its association with companies that provide prisoner and immigrant detention services at both the state and federal levels. A spokesperson said Wednesday that Bank of America has discussed the issue with its clients that provide those services. The Miami Herald previously reported that Bank of America was a financier of Caliburn which the newspaper said runs a facility called Homestead under a US government contract. Bank of America declined to comment Wednesday regarding the companies with which it had previously worked. On Wednesday, employees of online furniture retailer Wayfair walked out from the company's headquarters in Boston in protest of the company selling furniture to a detention facility.
Inside a Florida migrant facility that's become a stop for presidential candidates
(CNN) - As calls for action on the border crisis grow louder, a facility housing thousands of unaccompanied migrant children in Florida has become a major stop for Democratic presidential candidates. The facility in Homestead holds 2,300 immigrant children in a massive compound tucked behind a chain link fence. Presidential candidates take noticeImmigration advocates have pushed for the closure of the Homestead facility for months, decrying what they describe as unfavorable conditions for children. More candidates are comingWhile some candidates had long planned to visit the detention facility during their trip to Miami for the debate, Warren's announcement seemingly set off a wave of announced visits. Former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke was the first candidate to announce he planned to visit the Homestead detention facility.
Questions swirl about detention center hurricane plan
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Almost a month into Floridas hurricane season, state and local emergency officials have few details about the federal governments plans for evacuating migrant children from a controversial Homestead detention facility if a hurricane comes toward Miami-Dade County. Emergency management officials in Miami-Dade County, where the detention center is located, have had several discussions with officials at the facility about evacuation plans. When asked whether the state had been looped into that plan, Florida Division of Emergency Management spokesman Jason Mahon said the federal government is not required to submit a Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan for state review.Bryan Koon, who served as head of state Division of Emergency Management under former Gov. And they better not mess with my plan if their plan falls apart because I have too much to deal with, Koon said. Mucarsel-Powell has called for the Trump administration to shut down the Homestead shelter, saying children were being kept in prison-like conditions.