Miami Beach โbroke upโ with spring break. Could that help curb violence in our area?
As detectives in Jacksonville Beach ask for help solving the string of shootings on St. Patrickโs Day evening, leaders and residents are wondering how to prevent violence like this from happening in the future. Police released frantic videos of people scattering after one of the shootings just before 8 on Sunday. A 21-year-old man died, and three more men were hospitalized with gunshot wounds. Detectives believe two of the injured were shooting at each other. News4JAX looked at how Miami Beach handled violence last year and a strategy they say has been successful in preventing crime this year.
Gov. DeSantis backs proposed bill that could limit people without homes from camping in public places
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday said he supports a proposed Florida bill that could potentially restrict people without homes from sleeping in public buildings and on public property without a permit.
Apple to disable blood-oxygen feature on premium watches sold in US as part of patent dispute
Apple says it will disable a blood-oxygen monitoring feature on its two most popular watches in the U.S. beginning Thursday to comply with a court-ordered revival of a sales ban stemming from a patent dispute.
MLS and Apple announce all-access docuseries chronicling 2024 season
Apple TV and Major League Soccer are expanding their collaboration, announcing Thursday that the looming MLS season will be chronicled in a new all-access docuseries similar to the ones that have given fans a deep, different look at golf, auto racing and tennis in recent months.
Twitter-turned-X CEO Linda Yaccarino working to win back brands on Elon Musk's platform
The new CEO of the company formerly known as Twitter says sheโs spent much of the past eight weeks trying to get big brands back to advertising on the social media platform thatโs been in upheaval since it was bought last year by Elon Musk.
Following Surfside condo collapse, Jacksonville councilman introduces new mandatory building inspection bill
Jacksonville City Councilman Rory Diamond has introduced a bill that would impose new mandatory building inspections for Jacksonville in the wake of the Surfside building collapse last year that killed 98 people.
EU regulator OKs plan to increase monkeypox vaccine supplies
The European Medicines Agency said a smaller dose of the monkeypox vaccine appears to still be effective and can be used to stretch the current supply by five times, echoing a recommendation made earlier this month by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Mother missing after condo collapse known as philanthropist who raised money for children
More than a day after a large part of the Chaplain Towers Condominium building collapsed, the family of 65-year old Judy Spiegel is remaining optimistic she is still alive under the rubble waiting to be rescued.
Vacay at Miami Beach! with The Travel Mom | River City Live
Miami Beach, a slender, nine-mile-long barrier island along the Atlantic Ocean, is divided into three distinct neighborhoods. South Beach โ from South Pointe Park north to 23rd Street โ is the most famous of the trio, home to sandy strands, swaying palms, and the pastel-colored Art Deco buildings that have become synonymous with this iconic destination and render it so undeniably photogenic.
9-year-old boy recovering after bite at Florida beach
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. โ A 9-year-old Minnesota boy was bitten by a shark as he body surfed in Miami Beach over the weekend, his parents said. Kristine Weiskopf told WPLG she and her son Jay were in the water for only a few minutes when the shark bit the boy. When she pulled him up, she said she saw a chunk of skin missing from his shoulder. A Miami Beach Fire Rescue crew took the child to the hospital where surgeons closed the wound, his mother said. That heโs gonna be OK,โ the childโs father, Ren Weiskopf told the TV station.
Florida bill seeks to better plan for future pandemics
The bill would require the state Public Health Officer to develop a plan for every foreseeable public health emergency and update it every five years. But the four Democrats who opposed the bill took issue with provisions that limit emergency orders issued by local governments. The bill would prevent local governments from restricting personal freedoms during a health emergency, including the right to worship, buy a gun, work, travel or assemble. Local emergency orders would also be limited to seven days, with the ability to renew them another seven days at a time for a total of no more than six weeks. The Department of State would have to create a website listing in searchable form all emergency orders.
Miamiโs South Beach confronts disastrous spring break
People in a mostly maskless crowd walk down Ocean Drive in Miami Beach, Florida's famed South Beach, Monday, March 22, 2021. A party-ending curfew is in effect in Miami Beach, imposed after fights, gunfire, property destruction and dangerous stampedes broke out among huge crowds of people. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)MIAMI BEACH, Fla. โ Floridaโs famed South Beach is desperately seeking a new image. AdโWe definitely want people to come and have fun," Miami Beach Commissioner Ricky Arriola said Monday. Miami Beach took less proactive measures under Republican Gov.
Police chief says Miami partying 'couldnโt go on any longer'
After days of partying, including several confrontations with police, Miami Beach officials enacted a highly unorthodox curfew Saturday from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m., forcing restaurants to stop outdoor seating entirely during the three-day emergency period, and encouraging local businesses to voluntarily shut down. A military style vehicle was seen rolling down the palm-tree lined Ocean Drive as outnumbered Miami Beach police officers struggled to disperse the raucous crowds Saturday. โWe couldnโt go on any longer,โ Clements said during Sunday's meeting, defending the cityโs curfew. Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said he has trouble sleeping at night, worried about the out-of-control parties. Miami tourism officials say billions of dollars were lost when the pandemic first erupted last year, canceling spring break and forcing beach closures across the Sunshine State.
Miami sets early curfew after spring break crowds, fights
A military style vehicle was seen rolling down the palm-tree lined Ocean Drive as outnumbered Miami Beach police officers struggled to disperse the raucous crowds Saturday. By Thursday, the crowds were growing, fights were breaking out, setting off dangerous stampedes of people fleeing for safety. Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said he has trouble sleeping at night, worried about the out-of-control parties. Several said it was time for a new marketing campaign to help rebrand South Beachโs as a party city, pointing to the small handful of arrests in nearby Fort Lauderdale over spring break. Miami tourism officials say billions of dollars were lost when the pandemic first erupted last year, canceling spring break and forcing beach closures across the Sunshine State.
US long-term mortgage rates flat; 30-year stays at 2.73%
Home-loan rates stayed near record lows as the economy, especially in the services sector, remains burdened by the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)WASHINGTON โ U.S. long-term mortgage rates were flat this week for a second straight week. Home-loan rates stayed near record lows as the economy, especially in the services sector, remains burdened by the coronavirus pandemic. The damage from the pandemic to the U.S. and global economies suppressed mortgage rates through most of 2020. Economists are forecasting modest increases in home-loan rates this year.
US employment costs rise modestly in fourth quarter
Total U.S. workers compensation rose 0.7% in the October-December quarter, an increase over the previous two quarters, the Labor Department said Friday. For the year, wages and benefits grew 2.5%, with wages and salaries up 2.6% and benefits, which include Social Security, grew 2.3%. Wages and salaries grew 0.9% in the final quarter of 2020 while benefits rose 0.6%. Compensation costs for private industry workers rose 0.5% in the quarter and 2.6% in 2020. Economists say moderate gains in wages and salaries, which make up 70% of employment costs, are generally not threatening to trigger inflationary pressure.
Job openings down in most industries, while layoffs spike
Layoffs spiked in November compared with the previous month and the number of job openings slipped, a sign the job market has stalled as the resurgent coronavirus has forced new shutdowns of restaurants and bars and discouraged consumer spending. While the layoffs were concentrated among restaurants, bars and hotels, the slowdown in job postings was widespread across most industries, showing a reluctance by businesses to hire more people amid a pandemic fueled recession. Layoffs, however, soared 17.6% to 1.9 million, driven mostly by job cuts at restaurants, bars and hotels, which more than doubled. Tuesdayโs report, known as the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, or JOLTS, adds more details about hiring and firing by businesses and government agencies. Last week, job postings website Indeed said that while companies listed more jobs in December, the pace had slowed from previous months.
Florida doctorโs death after COVID-19 vaccine under investigation
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. โ Questions remain in the death of a 56-year-old Miami Beach doctor who died Sunday, just a little over two weeks after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, our sister station WPLG-TV in Miami reported. It is not clear, however, if the 56-year-old doctorโs death is related to the shot, but an investigation is underway. A Facebook post by Michaelโs wife described him as โvery healthy.โ His website said he was an avid tournament and big game fisherman and also a rescue certified scuba diver. โWe are actively investigating this case, but donโt believe at this time there is any direct connection to the vaccine. The CDC, who has been tasked with reviewing vaccine safety, stated that their thoughts are with the family.
US loses 140,000 jobs, first monthly drop since spring
Walcott had to furlough four employees at his restaurant, just before Christmas, after New York state stopped allowing indoor dining. Still, the nation has nearly 10 million fewer jobs than it did before the pandemic sent it into a deep recession nearly a year ago, having recovered just 56% of the jobs lost in the spring. Most other industries added jobs in December, with manufacturers, construction companies, and higher-paying professional services such as architecture, engineering and accounting hiring more workers. Fridayโs monthly jobs report, the last of Donald Trumpโs presidency, shows that the nation has 3 million fewer jobs than it did four years earlier. Still, Trump had pledged to create 25 million jobs in four years.
Miami Beach wants to help homeowners adapt to sea level rise
(AP Photo/Ellis Rua, File)MIAMI โ Miami Beach is exploring a way to help residents cover the cost of floodproofing their properties from heavy rains and high tides made even higher by sea level rise โ at least a little. โI believe this is a major step forward for our overall resilience program,โ said Miami Beach Commissioner Mark Samuelian, who sponsored the resolution. The city renamed it the Miami Beach Resilience Fund at a November meeting. โThat is the best way you can help us residents.โMIAMI BEACH BREAKS NEW GROUNDGovernment programs to help homeowners adapt to climate change are relatively rare outside of federal funding after disasters. Few, if any, cities offer the kinds of grants Miami Beach is considering.
Florida lawmakers target Confederate holidays
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ State Rep. Mike Grieco, D-Miami Beach, wants lawmakers to eliminate legal holidays honoring the birthdays of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee and Confederate President Jefferson Davis, along with a Confederate Memorial Day. Grieco on Thursday filed a bill (HB 6007) to remove the Lee, Davis and Confederate Memorial days from a list of legal holidays on the books in Florida. Leeโs birthday, Jan. 19, and Confederate Memorial Day, April 26, have been legal holidays in Florida since 1895. Florida is one of five states that continues to keep Confederate Memorial Day a legal holiday, though legal holidays are not necessarily paid holidays for public employees. Other legal holidays that are not paid holidays include Susan B. Anthonyโs birthday, Good Friday, Flag Day and Pascua Florida Day to mark the discovery of Florida in 1513 by Juan Ponce de Leon.
Final weeks of historic hurricane season bring new storms
Tropical Storm Eta is parked off the western coast of Cuba, dumping rain. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Theta โ which formed overnight and broke a record as the 29th named Atlantic storm of the season โ is chugging east toward Europe on the cusp of hurricane status. The system now has a 70% chance of becoming the 30th named storm. Never before have three named storms been twirling at the same time this late in the year, Klotzbach said. The overall message is that everyone in the area should pay attention to Eta, Brennan said.
Already flooded, South Florida braces for Eta's wrath
A couple walks along the beach during a downpour, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, on Miami Beach, Florida's famed South Beach. A strengthening Tropical Storm Eta cut across Cuba on Sunday, and forecasters say it's likely to be a hurricane before hitting the Florida Keys Sunday night or Monday. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Tropical Storm Eta dumps rain on already flooded South Florida
Elsewhere, forecasters announced that Subtropical Storm Theta, a record-breaking 29th named storm of the 2020 hurricane season, had formed far out in the northeast Atlantic by late Monday night. Eta made landfall in the Florida Keys and posed a serious threat across South Florida, which was already drenched from more than 14 inches (35 centimeters) of rain last month. โNever seen this, never, not this deep,โ said Anthony Lyas, who has lived in his now-waterlogged Fort Lauderdale neighborhood since 1996. It was the 28th named storm of a busy Atlantic hurricane season, tying the 2005 record for named storms. ___Associated Press writers Cody Jackson in Fort Lauderdale, Tamara Lush in St. Petersburg, and Haleluya Hadero in Atlanta contributed to this report.
Eta strikes Florida Keys; expected to become hurricane
A strengthening Tropical Storm Eta cut across Cuba on Sunday, and forecasters say it's likely to be a hurricane before hitting the Florida Keys Sunday night or Monday. The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami declared hurricane and storm surge warnings for the Keys from Ocean Reef to the Dry Tortugas, including Florida Bay. Several shelters also opened in Miami and the Florida Keys for residents in mobile homes and low lying areas. On Sunday night, authorities in Lauderhill, Florida, responded to a report of a car that had driven into a canal. South Florida started emptying ports and a small number of shelters opened in Miami and the Florida Keys for residents in mobile homes and low-lying areas.
Glamorous Miami club caught in power struggle over the virus
LIV owner David Grutman poses for a photograph at the nightclub, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020, in Miami Beach, Fla. LIV, one of Miami's most glamorous, star-studded nightclubs sits empty and quiet these days, a casualty of both the coronavirus outbreak and a power struggle between state and local government over how to contain the scourge. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
In Miami Beach, live theater returns โ in vacant storefronts
NEW YORK โ This fall, the seven deadly sins will be found all along an iconic Miami Beach thoroughfare โ but they'll be socially distanced, thankfully. โThis pandemic has shown in stark light the fragility of our world,โ said Miami New Drama Artistic Director Michel Hausmann. The Miami City Ballet recently took over a vacant storefront. The move by Miami New Drama is just the latest attempt by theatermakers to offer their art to the public despite the ongoing pandemic, which has stuttered traditional theater venues. The Public Theater in New York City has turned to audio plays, while the Vineyard Theatre plans digital and outdoor productions.
Art Basel cancels annual Miami event due to virus
FILE - In this Dec. 4, 2019, file photo, a sculpture by artist Jane Alexander with the Stevenson Gallery is shown during Art Basel Miami Beach, in Miami Beach, Fla. According to a statement released Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, the Art Basel fair, known for glamorous parties and celebrity sightings, is cancelling its annual Miami event amid the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)MIAMI The high-brow Art Basel fair, known for glamorous parties and celebrity sightings, on Wednesday announced the cancellation of this year's Miami event amid the coronavirus pandemic. The prestigious December art fair draws collectors, socialites and celebrities from around the world. In December, the fair plans to unveil Online Viewing Rooms that will be open to the galleries accepted to this year's Miami fair.
Miami Beach has issued $14,400 in fines to mask violators
Police and city officials in Miami Beach have issued $14,400 in fines to people who weren't wearing facial coverings to help stop the spread of COVID-19. One man was issued a citation after he had taken his mask off to answer his phone, while another was walking alone and maskless on a quiet street, the Miami Herald reported. The city has issued 288 $50 fines since July 23, the newspaper reported. Body-camera footage from Miami Beach Code Compliance captured three stops from July 23, which offers a glimpse into how the city enforces its order, the newspaper reported. Each inspection began the same way, with a code officer taking a photo of the alleged violator, and then approaching to ask for ID to write the ticket.
Florida sheriff bans masks for deputies with some exceptions
Florida added at least 276 fatalities to its coronavirus death toll on Tuesday, a new state record. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. A central Florida sheriff says his deputies wont be allowed to wear face masks except under some conditions, and neither will visitors to the sheriffs office. Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said in an email to staff that he had weighed both sides of the issue amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. On Wednesday, Florida reported 213 new coronavirus deaths. At the sheriffs office, masks wont be allowed so that visitors can be easily identified and there is clear communication, the sheriff said.
Virus testing in the US is dropping, even as deaths mount
Widespread testing is considered essential to containing the outbreak as the U.S. approaches a mammoth 5 million confirmed infections and more than 156,000 deaths out of over 700,000 worldwide. Jessica Moore of rural Newberry, South Carolina, said that after a private lab lost her COVID-19 test results in mid-July, she had to get re-tested at a pop-up site organized by the state. A number of companies are studying COVID-19 antigen tests in which you spit on a specially coated strip of paper, and if you are infected, it changes color. But the approach faces resistance in Washington, where federal regulators have required at least 80% accuracy for new COVID-19 tests. To date, the Food and Drug Administration has allowed only two COVID-19 antigen tests to enter the market.
The Latest: Australian state reports 357 new cases, 5 deaths
(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)MELBOURNE, Australia Five more Victoria residents died from COVID-19 as the Australian state recorded 357 new cases in the past 24 hours. The deaths take Victoria state toll to 61 and the national figure to 145. The mayors orders came as the Louisiana Department of Health reported more than 2,000 new confirmed coronavirus cases, for a total of 103,734. The Oregon Health Authority said Friday the newly recorded deaths raise the states toll for the pandemic to 282. The authority also said there were 396 new confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19, bringing Oregon's case total to more than 16,100.
US holiday weekend adds to virus worries as case counts grow
The Fourth of July holiday weekend began Saturday with some sobering numbers in the Sunshine State: Florida logged a record number of people testing positive for the coronavirus. Officials and health authorities warned people to take precautions or simply stay home on Independence Day, as confirmed cases are climbing in 40 states. Florida reported 11,445 confirmed infections on Saturday, bringing the statewide total to more than 190,000. Im really, really worried about the Fourth of July," said Dr. Don Williamson, a former state health officer who now heads the Alabama Hospital Association. Officials in South Florida including in Miami-Dade County and the Florida Keys closed beaches through the weekend.
Man, 40, dies โunable to breatheโ in Miami Beach after coronavirus infection
MIAMI, Fla. โ Israel Carrera loved to dance, and he adopted a healthy lifestyle while living in Miami Beach. He said Carrera showed signs of improvement and his loved ones were convinced that he was going to get better. Consquista said he and Carreraโs loved ones are still trying to make sense of the loss. โJust because this didnโt affect you directly, it doesnโt mean this virus doesnโt exist,โ Consquista said. It doesnโt mean people are not dying.
Jamie Foxx tricks pre-Super Bowl gala crowd with 'Beyoncรฉ'
(Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)MIAMI BEACH, Fla. โ Jamie Foxx tricked an A-list crowd at a pre-Super Bowl show Saturday, telling them Beyoncรฉ was about to perform. 2001 Super Bowl MVP and Hall of Famer Ray Lewis honored fellow Hall of Famer Jim Brown with a philanthropic award. Foxx was playful all night, salsa dancing with the crowd, practicing his Spanish and telling everyone to get close because he smelled especially good that evening. โWe want the original Whitney," he said, before getting the audience to chant her name. The event raised money for several charities, auctioning off sports memorabilia, last-minute Super Bowl tickets and a retreat on a private island in Belize.
Florida law enforcement โready for anythingโ at Super Bowl LIV
MIAMI, Fla. โ Florida and federal law enforcement agencies preparing for the Super Bowl this Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens say they are ready for anything, including a detonated bomb or massive food poisoning, but havenโt identified any threats. Events for the 54th Super Bowl, between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers, kicked off Monday around South Florida, with an interactive Super Bowl Experience in Miami Beach and Super Bowl Live at Miamiโs Bayfront Park. Anthony Salisbury, chief of the Homeland Security Investigations office in Miami, said law enforcement agencies nonetheless must be prepared. Itโs the same with every Super Bowl. โEnjoy the Super Bowl.
Suspect killed by police after stabbing officer on South Beach
A police officer was hospitalized after being stabbed in Miami Beach. The suspect who injured the officer was shot and killed by other officers responding to the incident. Police responded in droves, shutting down busy Ocean Drive on a Saturday night. Cell phone video obtained by WPLG-TV shows Miami Beach police officers shining a flashlight on the suspect around 9 p.m. Saturday. Details of what led to the officer being stabbed, and the subsequent shooting of the suspect, have not yet been released.
Inside Jennifer Lopez's Star-Studded 50th Birthday Party
On Wednesday, Jennifer Lopez celebrated turning 50 at the Star Island neighborhood of Miami Beach, where she partied alongside with family members and her famous friends. Alex Rodriguez, Lopez's fiance, took to Instagram to give a peek into the lavish bash, sharing a video of Lopez bouncing and grooving along as DJ Cassidy, DJ Khalid and Fat Joe performed. "TONIGHT was a Jenny from the Block party, and we took it from the Bronx all the way to the 305!!! InstagramInstagramInstagramOther attendees also posted about the epic evening on social media, showcasing performances from Ashanti, Stevie Mackey, Pia Toscano, Lopez's 11-year-old daughter, Emme, and Lopez herself. RELATED CONTENT:Jennifer Lopez's Sunglasses Collection Is Majorly Discounted In Celebration of Her 50th Birthday6 Makeup and Skincare Products Jennifer Lopez Uses to Achieve Her Ageless GlowJennifer Lopez Turns 50!
As Florida faces climate crisis, Democratic candidates take debate stage
Unlike in past primaries, many Democratic contenders are treating the climate crisis as a major campaign issue. But these days, the city is just as well-known as ground zero for the impacts of sea level rise. Add the estimated 9 inches that sea levels have risen in the region in the past 100 years, and you have a recipe for costly flooding. Then there is the problem of the very ground on which Miami Beach and much of South Florida sits. Red tide, failing septic tanks and hurricanesSea level rise is hardly the only danger the climate crisis poses across the state.
On this day: September 25
2016: Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez, 24, dies along with two other men when his boat collides with a jetty off Miami Beach, Florida, in the early morning hours. Toxicology reports later showed the Cuban-American ballplayer had cocaine and alcohol in his system at the time of the crash, although it remains unknown who was driving. Fernandez, the National League Rookie of the Year in 2013 and a two-time All-Star, posted a record of 38-17 with an ERA of 2.58 and 589 strikeouts in his brief career. Hide Caption