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Heavy rains cause flooding in Miami; Biscayne Boulevard ramp heading east closed

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:59 GMT

Several areas in South Florida were hit with flooding due to heavy rains, causing difficulties for drivers and prompting officials to take precautionary measures.Monday marked a soggy start to the work week as rain poured down, reducing visibility on the roads. It is a well-known fact among Floridians that rainfall often leads to localized flooding.In an abundance of caution, officials made the decision to close the Biscayne Boulevard ramp, which heads east onto the MacArthur Causeway, due to flooding concerns. This closure aims to ensure the safety of motorists.Additionally, authorities issued a warning to drivers that if the rain persists and continues to create hazardous conditions, sections of Biscayne Boulevard between Northeast 11th Street and 13th Street may be closed as well.To avoid disruptions and potential hazards, authorities are urging drivers to seek alternative routes.

Hit-and-run investigation underway in fatal collision on I-75 in Weston

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:59 GMT

Authorities are conducting an investigation into a fatal hit-and-run collision on southbound Interstate 75, near Royal Palm Blvd – Exit 15 in Weston. The incident involved a pedestrian and a gray Honda Civic, which fled the scene.According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the unidentified driver was traveling south on the southbound I-75 in the outside center travel lane, approaching Royal Palm Blvd – Exit 15, around 3:30 a.m., Sunday. For reasons still under investigation, the pedestrian was standing or walking on the outside center travel lane. Despite attempts to avoid the collision, the vehicle was unable to prevent the collision and subsequently struck the pedestrian with the front right portion of the vehicle.Vehicle parts belonging to a gray Honda Civic were found near the pedestrian. The year of the Honda Civic is currently unknown and is part of the ongoing investigation. The vehicle is expected to have front right damage and is considered a vehicle of interest in...

Pedestrian fatally struck in North Miami Beach

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:59 GMT

A pedestrian was struck and killed in the street in North Miami Beach on Monday morning.The fatal incident occurred near the intersection of 163rd Street westbound, just before Northeast 35th Avenue.Upon arrival at the scene, a yellow tarp was observed covering the victim’s body, while the driver’s car displayed noticeable front-end damage.Law enforcement officials confirmed that the driver involved in the collision remained at the scene and cooperated with authorities. Following the necessary investigative procedures, all lanes in the surrounding area have since reopened.

Musk: Twitter will respect EU content moderation rulebook

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:59 GMT

PARIS — Twitter will respect the EU’s content moderation rules, known as the Digital Services Act, the company’s owner Elon Musk said on French TV. “If a law is enacted, Twitter commits to comply with it,” he told star presenter Anne-Sophie Lapix in a pre-recorded, sit-down interview broadcast in dubbed French on France 2. Twitter is considered a very large platform under the EU’s content-moderation law, meaning the company will have to put in place mitigation measures against fake news from August 25 onwards. Earlier this month, Digital Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said he was “concerned” the platform wouldn’t be able to comply with the rules. Later this week, Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton and his team will visit Twitter’s U.S. headquarters and stress-test the platform.Twitter will abide by the law but will not go further, Musk said during the interview. He claimed hate speech had decreased by 30 percent ...

Qatargate judge Michel Claise steps down

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:59 GMT

Michel Claise, the Belgian judge leading the European Parliament corruption probe, announced Monday he will step down from the ongoing investigation known as Qatargate, according to a statement from the Belgian prosecutor’s office.“As a precautionary measure, and in order to allow justice to pursue its work in serenity and maintain the necessary separation between private and family life and professional responsibilities, the investigating judge Michel Claise has informed us that he has decided this evening to step down from the case,” reads the statement. The prosecutor’s office added that the move comes in “the absence of any real evidence to cast doubt on the probity of any of the parties involved, and the substantial work he and his investigators have accomplished in this case.”Judge Aurélie Dejaeffe, who was already involved with the case, is expected to take over the investigation. The resignation by Claise could delay the investigation for a significant period of ti...

Boston police search for man seen with gun in Dorchester

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:59 GMT

A search got underway Monday after a man seen with a gun in Dorchester took off before officers could arrive. Police said the incident happened Monday morning along Mercier Avenue. Officers were called to a home, according to police, for reports of a man armed with a rifle and barricaded inside. A heavily armed tactical team soon swarmed the area, using drones and dogs while working to peacefully resolve the situation. Neighbors said the man was seen acting strange outside on a sidewalk shortly before the police response. “The person was bathing, literally in his driveway with a small container, just kind of bathing. But he had a rifle to his right side,” one neighbor said.Marie Exume is the landlord of the building where police were called. She told 7NEWS her tenant pointed a weapon at her son. SWAT team members eventually entered the house but were unable to locate the suspect. Police later learned the man slipped away, possibly through a back door.Police cruis...

Your guide to a tabletop role-playing game party

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:59 GMT

Erin Thorburn | Tribune News ServiceIt’s easy to see why tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) are growing in popularity. The games — often ongoing for weeks, months or even years at a time — involve creative, interactive and adventurous collaborative storytelling. According to MarketWatch.com, the TTRPG market is headed to become a multimillion dollar merchandise category in the U.S. by 2029.If you’ve always wanted to try to facilitate your own TTRPG experience or kickoff event, TTRPG pros Aaron Rollins, host of the comedy Dungeons & Dragons podcast “Break Battle & Roll,” and Mary Holocher, director of Mox Boarding House, have tips to get you started.Consulting the game masterThose new to the TTRPG game — pun intended — may be curious about where to begin. Which is best to host for a newbie to the RPG world?“There’s lots of different systems depending on what people like,” Rollins says. “Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) [is] one of the most popular that peo...

Clashing ideas on taxes teed up for 2024 campaign

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:59 GMT

WASHINGTON — Just six days after the bipartisan deal on the debt limit became law, House Republicans proposed a slew of tax cuts, leading to charges of hypocrisy by Democrats in a squabble that shows two clashing visions for the U.S. economy.GOP lawmakers are pushing deep tax cuts for companies and the affluent as the primary driver for sustaining economic growth, while President Joe Biden and fellow Democrats seek more targeted tax cuts to achieve social goals such as reducing child poverty and shifting to renewable energy that can help the economy in the long run.The Republican tax cuts for businesses, coupled with an increase in the standard deduction for households, would be funded by wiping out $216 billion in tax breaks over 10 years that Biden signed into law last year to support the development of electric vehicles and renewable energy.“They should look at this plan as more jobs, higher wages,” said Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., chairman of the House Ways and Means Co...

Biden plans 4 fundraisers in the San Francisco area as he revs up his 2024 campaign

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:59 GMT

By JOSH BOAK and ZEKE MILLER (Associated Press)PALO ALTO, California (AP) — President Joe Biden ramps up his reelection effort this week with four fundraisers in the San Francisco area, as his campaign builds up its coffers and lays strategic foundations for 2024.In the back half of June, Biden’s campaign will have more than 20 fundraisers involving him, Vice President Kamala Harris, first lady Jill Biden and second gentleman Douglas Emhoff, according to a person involved in Biden’s travel plans who insisted on anonymity to discuss the schedule.More than half of the fundraisers are with the Democratic president, who arrived in California on Monday and was greeted by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Biden also will be traveling to New York, Maryland and Illinois. The president hit the themes of his campaign at a Friday fundraising event in Connecticut, saying his goal is to do more to tell voters about his legislative accomplishments with infrastructure, computer chip production ...

Try the Messi burger, sip the Messi mojito, visit the Messi murals — it’s Messi Mania in Florida

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:59 GMT

Feeling Messi Madness?You’ve got all that excited energy because soccer superstar — and Argentina World Cup champion — Lionel Messi is coming to South Florida, but it’s got no place to go yet because his Inter Miami CF matches are still a ways away.Well, fear not, because there are plenty of places where you can go now to bask in the Messi Magic. With this handy guide, you can eat, drink and be merry while you count the days till his first game in that pristine pink, black and white jersey.Who wants a burger?You’re in luck, because there are options! The Hard Rock Cafes in Hollywood and downtown Miami invite you to “experience the taste of victory” with a special Messi Burger, a double stack loaded with provolone cheese, sliced chorizo, caramelized red onion, lettuce, tomato, a sunny-side-up egg and a “spicy smoky sauce.” On a toasted brioche bun. Plus french fries. Wow, that’s goals right there.The Messi Burger is a winner at the Hard Rock Cafes in Hollywood and Miami. (Mike Stocke...