Top Miami Area Local News Stories
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<p> A man posing as a flower deliveryman forces his way into a Miami home Tuesday and robbed a woman, Miami police said.</p><p> The incident occurred at a home at 30 SW 59th Ave., where a woman and her 20s was home with her child.</p><p> Miami police said the woman answered the door and found a man posing as a flower deliveryman. The man was holding flowers and chocolates, police said.</p><p> The man forced his way inside the home, pulled a gun and took an undisclosed amount of cash and jewelry, police said. </p><p> The robber ran away after stealing the money, according to investigators. Police said he took the flowers with him, but he left the chocolates behind.</p><p> Police said the robber was in and out of the home in a minute. He did not fire any shots, and no injuries were reported. </p><p> The search for the man continues.</p>
Published: Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:11:58 GMT
<p> A toddler was hit by a car Tuesday afternoon in Miami Gardens, fire officials said. </p><p> The child was hit by the vehicle at 3451 NW 177th Terrace, investigators said. </p><p> Miami-Dade Fire Rescue came to the scene. </p><p> An air rescue helicopter landed near 167th Street and Northwest 29th Avenue to take the child to Jackson Memorial Hospital.</p>
Published: Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:35:11 GMT
<p> New plaintiffs have been added to a revised lawsuit that seeks more than half-billion dollars in damages in last month's Italian cruise ship disaster.</p><p> Attorneys said the lawsuit filed Tuesday in Miami-Dade Circuit Court now names 39 individual plaintiffs who were aboard the Costa Concordia when it capsized off the Tuscany coast on Jan. 13. At least 17 people died and 15 remain missing.</p><p> The lawsuit names Miami-based Carnival Cruise Lines Inc. and its Costa subsidiary, which has offices in Hollywood, Fla., and Genoa, Italy. The new version seeks $528 million in actual damages. It also seeks $78 million in compensatory damages and $450 million in requested punitive damages.</p><p> Many law experts say it will be difficult to win lawsuits in Florida because Costa's cruise tickets require that any legal action be filed in Italy. Passenger lawyers contend Florida is proper because Carnival Corp. and Costa are essentially the same entity.</p><p> Other attorneys have announced plans to file lawsuits for passengers in Florida.</p><p> Meanwhile, Costa announced Tuesday it will extend its compensation offer for passengers until March 31. The previous deadline had been Feb. 24 for North America and Tuesday for all other countries, said Costa spokesman Buck Banks.</p><p> The offer would pay passengers 11,000 euros ($14,485 at current exchange rates) plus reimbursement for cruise ticket costs and extra travel expenses.</p><p> "The families of deceased and missing victims and guests who were injured will be covered under a separate proposal based on their individual circumstances," Costa said in a statement, without providing further details.</p>
Published: Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:37:29 GMT
<p> Broward Sheriff's deputies are looking for a thief who they said snatched a Rolex from a bin at a security checkpoint at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.</p><p> READ: Wanted Flier</p><p> Gloria de Regalado placed the $6,500 Rolex inside a bin at terminal three on Jan. 18. Thirty minutes later, she realized she left the pricey watch at the checkpoint. When she got back to security, the watch was gone.</p><p> WATCH: Security Video</p><p> A Transportation Security Administration supervisor reviewed the surveillance video and confirmed Regalado had left her watch behind, and said the man who passed through security after her, took it.</p><p> Survey: Theft?</p><p> According to BSO, the security video showed the suspect collecting his coat, then reaching for the watch as he picked up his laptop in the bin next to his. Afterwards, deputies said he walked to a nearby bench and put the watch and laptop in a book bag.</p><p> BSO deputies searched the terminal but did not locate the suspect.</p><p> "There are good people and there are bad people, and unfortunately, the person behind me in line that day was bad," de Regalado said.</p><p> De Regalado, who lives in El Salvador and has a home on Key Biscayne, warned other passengers always to put their belongings in a bag before going through a TSA security checkpoint to avoid accidentally leaving something behind.</p><p> A reward up to $1,000 may be available for information leading to an arrest.</p><p> Anyone with information about the suspect should call Broward Crimestoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477).</p>
Published: Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:47:51 GMT
<p> South Florida's most famous artist is about to be honored in a very big way.</p><p> Romero Britto, now known around the world for his art, will share it with an even bigger audience as his art comes to life at Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro.</p><p> His art decorates our landscape. You can't escape the color.</p><p> PHOTOS: Slideshow</p><p> Romero Britto has left his mark on South Florida and the world -- paintings, sculptures, cars, even a line of collectables now sold at Bed, Bath & Beyond.</p><p> Britto is wildly successful. His art is now sold in galleries in more than 100 countries. He has painted presidents, celebrities, even royalty.</p><p> But with all of his successes so far in his life, his greatest achievement is about to be realized.</p><p> This weekend, Britto will be celebrated in Brazil, at the country's biggest celebration: Carnaval.</p><p> "I got an invitation from the school of samba. They said they wanted to make homage of my work," Britto said. "I was thrilled, and I couldn't believe it. Carnaval in Brazil is the biggest cultural event in the country."</p><p> It will truly be full circle for Britto.</p><p> He was born in poverty in Brazil, one of nine children raised by a single mother.</p><p> The once-struggling artist who gained fame in Miami, now returns to Brazil as a pop art icon and will watch as 4,000 performers bring his art to life.</p><p> It will be a spectacular production -- big, bold and bright.</p><p> "There will be thousands of people dressed up. There will be huge floats," Britto said. "It's hard to describe in words. I'm very appreciative. I'm very thankful."</p><p> Britto has worked for more than a year getting ready for this weekend's event. No detail has been overlooked. And Sunday night is show time!</p><p> "To do this in Brazil is, like, wow -- incredible," Britto said.</p><p> Here are some more incredible numbers to consider:</p><p> In Brazil alone, 100 million people will watch the Carnaval parade on television. In addition, the parade will be broadcast in 137 countries. Britto will be there in person at Carnaval to take in the experience.</p><p> Local 10's Will Manso will be in Rio to document the event.</p><p> "This is truly one of my bucket list items," Manso says.</p><p> You can keep up with his travels on Local10.com, where we will publish all the photos and videos he will be sharing from Carnaval. </p>
Published: Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:24:14 GMT
<p> A man accused of breaking into a Coral Springs home and sexually assaulting a woman in front of her newborn baby appeared in a Fort Lauderdale courtroom Tuesday morning.</p><p> Gary Holmes, 19, was arrested Sunday night in connection with the attack, which occurred at a home on Northwest 95th Avenue. </p><p> "Sir, you have three charges of sexual assault with a weapon," Judge John Hurley said in bond court Tuesday morning.</p><p> Investigators said they believe Holmes' motive was burglary when he entered the home through a back sliding-glass door, but that he was surprised to find the 25-year-old female homeowner still inside.</p><p> "You came in with a knife, demanded her valuables, then allegedly beat her and sexually battered her with her newborn baby in the bedroom," Hurley said.</p><p> The woman gave birth one week ago. Police said she was choked and raped during the attack but managed to call 911 from her cellphone. She was not able to put the phone to her ear and speak, but the open line alerted police of trouble, and officers traced the signal to the area, police said. </p><p> When the attacker ran, the woman called 911 a second time and pointed officers in the right direction.</p><p> Holmes was arrested, and police said he confessed in detail to the attack.</p><p> "You'll be held without bond until further order of the court," Hurley said.</p><p> Police said they are trying to determine if he is connected to other crimes, but he only faces charges in this one. </p><p> The alleged victim has been released from a hospital.</p>
Published: Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:51:13 GMT
<p> The Department of Agriculture's Mark Fagan said it has identified a new species of whitefly that is targeting ficus trees. </p><p> The whitefly was first spotted in December up north, and officials have now learned they are also prevalent in Monroe, Miami-Dade and Broward counties. </p><p> PHOTOS: Slideshow</p><p> The new variety is even more harmful because it attacks both sides of a ficus leaf, not just one side, as other whitefly species do. </p><p> As the whiteflies feed, they leave a sticky, white goo behind. That means if you've noticed white blotches on your ficus leaves, that could indicate the trees have a whitefly infestation. They are also the cause of black mold. </p><p> Fagan said right now, the Department’s scientists are working on what he calls a "biological control." </p><p> In this case, they are working to identify a predatory wasp that will consume the whitefly and other pests. The trick is finding the right wasp that, once release, will not also prey on "beneficial insects." Fagan said the wasps they are looking at won't harm humans. </p><p> Experts are days away from identifying the right wasp, and then it will take a few months to breed enough of them to combat the whiteflies. </p><p> They believe this latest variety is found in Brazil and some other Latin American countries and traveled to South Florida by either hitching a ride with a "pleasure boater" or on a cargo ship.</p>
Published: Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:21:18 GMT
<p> One year to the day Nubia Barahona was found dead, the staff of the Miami office of the Department of Children and Familiesplanted a tree in her honor today in the building's courtyard.</p><p> A small gathering included many of the people who were involved in the fostering, adoption and legal case involving Nubia, whose adoptive parents are now awaiting trial for her abuse and murder.</p><p> Her twin Victor, who endured much of the same abuse with Nubia in the Barahona home, is now living with relatives in Texas.</p><p> Before a moment of silence for Nubia, David Lawrence, founder of the Childrens Trust and one of the members of the blue ribbon panel that investigated the missteps and oversights that led up to Nubia's death, told the gathering Nubia's death was caused not only by dysfunction, but evil.</p><p> The tree is a Jamaican Caper tree.</p>
Published: Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:21:31 GMT
<p> "Life is like a box of chocolates (or fruits and peanut butter!) – you never know what you’re going to get.However, if it’s Valentine’s Day at Zoo Miami, it’s usually pretty good," says Zoo Miami's Ron Magill.</p><p> As the zoo's family of chimpanzees received their Valentine's Day gifts, Magill was standing by with camera ready.</p><p> The staff at the zoo's amphitheater prepared the individual boxes, which were painted with hearts and stuffed with some of the animals' favorite treats -- such as fruits and vegetables, along with some peanut butter. </p><p> Slideshow: Chimps open their gifts</p><p> The treats are part of an enrichment program designed to stimulate an animal's natural behavior to forage and search for food. </p><p> "One of the greatest rewards of working in this wonderful place is the opportunity to observe and photograph these amazing animals as they display truly wonderful behaviors," Magill said. "Watching our family of chimps, including a 45-year-old female named Bubbles (the smiling one!) open their Valentine’s Day boxes was the beginning of a fantastic day at Zoo Miami!"</p><p> Happy Valentine’s Day and may you all be as happy as “Bubbles” was when she opened her special gift!</p>
Published: Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:02:56 GMT
Walmart's low prices may get you into the store... but these Walmart shoppers will run you out!
Published: Fri, 15 Jul 2011 14:16:46 GMT
Love is in the air! Get gift ideas, learn mistakes to avoid and check out recipes for sweets for your sweetheart.
Published: Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:24:09 GMT
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