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Miami-Dade County commissioners urged to reject lease extension for ‘Miami Wilds’ theme park on Zoo Miami property

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:12 GMT

Ron Magill, animal expert and Communication Director with Zoo Miami, wrote a passionate email to the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners calling for the rejection of a lease extension for a proposed “Miami Wilds” theme park on Zoo Miami property. The email, sent by Magill in his capacity as a private citizen, highlighted concerns regarding the potential environmental impact of the project and its implications for the region’s wildlife.“We as county employees at the zoo have been told we’re forbidden from speaking about this project, from expressing our opinions,” said Magill. “So I had to take the day off, have you come to my home to speak about this because I am passionate about this, I don’t care if I lose my job over this, I’d rather lose my job than my credibility as a conservationist.”Magill said he wanted to make it clear that he wasn’t speaking on behalf of the zoo but was exercising his right as a private citi...

Protesters demand verdict for former Hialeah officer found guilty of kidnaping homeless man be overturned

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:12 GMT

Family and friends of former Hialeah Police Officer Rafael Otano, who was found guilty of kidnapping a homeless man, are furious. They are now demanding that the verdict be overturned.On Monday, several family members and friends were in front of the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building in Miami to show support for the convicted former officer. 7News cameras captured the protestors chanting and holding signs that read “Free Otano.” According to the protestors, they do not believe there was sufficient evidence to warrant the guilty verdict. Otano was accused of kidnapping and beating Jose Ortega Gutierrez, along with former Officer Lorenzo Orfila, on Dec. 17, 2022.During his court appearance last week, the jury reached a split decision. While Otano was found guilty of kidnapping the homeless man, he was found not guilty of battery.“We just want to just make a little noise because it has been an injustice what has been done to my brother,” said Otano...

35 people displaced after fire damages multiple buildings in Dorchester

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:12 GMT

Thirty-five people were displaced Monday after a fire broke out in Dorchester, drawing a large emergency response and ultimately impacting five buildings. The Boston Fire Department said crews were first called to 37 Holiday St. where flames burned through the back of a house and extended to a building next door on Monday afternoon.On the department’s Twitter account, officials said several rear porches in the back of the home at 37 Holiday Street collapsed as a result of the fire.Authorities also shared photos from the scene, including an image of crews spraying down the back of the house, which appeared to be burnt out with remnants of the porches and back wall visible.In an update just before 4:15 p.m., the Boston Fire Department said the fire was knocked down.Later speaking with reporters, fire officials said two buildings were considered total losses as a result of this fire. Other buildings sustained heat damaged, with charred or melted siding in some spots.One fire...

Person found dead after search at quarry in Westford

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:12 GMT

A person was found dead Monday after a search at a quarry in Westford, a local fire official said. Speaking with 7NEWS, the town’s deputy fire chief said an initial call came in around 4:15 p.m. reporting a person dove into the quarry and did not resurface. Emergency crews responded and called in mutual aid from other area departments. After a search spanning several hours, officials said divers found the person’s body submerged in roughly 40 feet of water. Crews remained on scene as of around 6:30 p.m. and this incident remained under investigation. In the meantime, officials emphasized that no one is allowed in or around the quarry, saying the site is private property. No further information was immediately available.This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

Massachusetts faces a ‘heat advisory’ during hot and humid September stretch: ‘Drink plenty of fluids’

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:12 GMT

New Englanders who have been anxiously waiting for that comfortable fall weather in September, it’s going to be a little while.Parts of Massachusetts are under a “heat advisory” this week just as the kids go back to school. It could feel like close to 100 degrees, especially in western Massachusetts, as meteorologists warn that the hot temps and high humidity may spark heat illnesses.After a cool August in comparison, summer has arrived in the final weeks of astronomical summer.“Even with that said about August, this isn’t super atypical for this time of year,” Bill Leatham, meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Boston office, told the Herald on Monday.“It’s not out of the question to get summerlike warmth across the region in September,” he added, also noting that the latest 90-degree day in Boston’s recorded history was on Oct. 12, 1954.The best chance for an official heat wave — three consecutive da...

Patriots lose potential starter to injured reserve for four weeks

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:12 GMT

FOXBORO — The Patriots will be without Riley Reiff for at least four games after placing the veteran offensive lineman on injured reserve.Reiff suffered a leg injury in the Patriots’ preseason finale against the Titans when the majority of starters sat out. Reiff has only played offensive tackle during the regular season of his 11-year NFL career, but he had been kicked inside to right guard — a position he played late in training camp and during the preseason this summer — when he got hurt.To take his place on the 53-man roster, the Patriots signed veteran tight end Pharaoh Brown off of the practice squad. The Patriots filled Brown’s spot on the practice squad by signing defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms Jr.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots practice: Roster move incoming; DeVante Parker returns New England Patriots | Bill Belichick was excited to see Patriots get surplus of depth at important position New England Patriots | Pa...

Boston firefighters battle 4-alarm blaze in Dorchester, 35 residents displaced and one firefighter injured

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:12 GMT

Boston firefighters knocked down a heavy fire in Dorchester Monday afternoon, as the rear porches of a multi-family home collapsed.Nearly three dozen residents were displaced by the fire, and one firefighter suffered minor injuries.The Boston Fire Department responded to the heavy blaze in the rear of 37 Holiday St., before 4 p.m. on Labor Day.The fire reportedly extended to the building next door and in the rear, and a fourth alarm was ordered for the heavy fire.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Boston fire union passes on Louijeune endorsement ahead of City Council primary Crime & Public Safety | Heavy fire spreads through three residential Mattapan buildings “The rear porches of 37 Holiday St. have collapsed, all companies are working,” Boston Fire tweeted.After 4 p.m., the fire department reported that the heavy fire had been knocked down on all three of the buildings.Overall, 35 residents, three dogs and one cat were dis...

4 alleged gunmen have been killed in a clash with marines in Mexican border city

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:12 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Four people were killed Monday in a shootout with marines in the Mexican border city of Matamoros, triggering an alert to shelter in place from the U.S. consulate in the city across the Rio Grande from Brownsville, Texas.A state official who was not authorized to comment and requested anonymity, said the shooting happened on a Matamoros street when gunmen engaged a marine patrol. Authorities recovered guns and tactical equipment, the official said. No marines were injured.The Navy confirmed that its personnel were involved, but did not provide any details.The federal Attorney General’s Office did not respond to a request for information.On Monday morning, the U.S. Consulate in Matamoros issued an alert via X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that employees were under a shelter in place order until 1:30 p.m. “due to gun violence occurring in the city.”In March, four Americans were abducted in Matamoros when one went for a scheduled cosmetic surgery. Two of t...

Tom Skilling: Monday weather headlines, Labor Day Edition!

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:12 GMT

Happy Labor Day All!  And what a BEACH DAY and DAY TO BE OUTDOORS it's been. We may flirt with the record of 95-deg for the date set 40 years ago back in 1983—but this may end up tied with two other Labor Days in the 129 years since the day  was declared a National Holiday in 1894—namely Labor Day 1913 and 1983.  In other words, this could be the warmest Labor Day in 40 years here in Chicago. Interestingly, only 7% of the past 129 Labor Days have produced high temps of 90-deg or higher—and THIS was one of them. Historically, 31% of Labor Days have seen rain—THIS WASN'T ONE OF THEM, though the arrival of humid tropical air for the first time in the current hot spell did lead to the formation of cottony summer-like cumulus clouds.With 97% of the day's possible sunshine likely to go onto the books by the time the sun sets this evening, Frank Wachowski notes this has been the sunniest opening 4 days of a September in Chicago since 1955—68 years ago!!It hasn't rained here in the city in ...

Monday: Labor Day Forecast

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:12 GMT

A hot and humid Labor Day for the Chicago area with increasing clouds. Air quality is in the Good category for today. Monday Night:  Partly cloudy, breezy, warm and humid.  Low 76—but closer to 70 coolest inland areas.Tuesday: Partly cloudy, fairly windy, hot and humid. Widely scattered mainly afternoon and evening t-storms possible impact 20 to 30% of the area.  Wind gusts to 30 mph likely by and during the afternoon.  High 93 with a peak heat index around 98.Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, warm and humid. Scattered t-storms possible early and again toward morning. Low 74. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Wednesday: Partly cloudy, windy, quite warm and continued moderately humid. A t-storm possible early—a few scat t-storms may develop again in the afternoon and evening. Gusts to 30 mph possible—a stronger storm gusts possible.  Wednesday sees the best bet for isolated showers and storms. High 90—peak heat index 94.Thursday: Mostly clou...