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Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo found liable in federal civil case, ordered to pay $63M

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:23:55 GMT

A jury in Fort Lauderdale has found Miami City Commissioner Joe Carollo liable in a civil case that accused him of harassing businesses in Little Havana as a form of political retaliation. The trial which lasted two months discussed the 2017 commissioner elections in which two businesses including the popular Ball & Chain nightclub, said they were targetted due to their support for Corollo’s opponent Alfonso Leon. The business owners claimed he weaponized the city’s resources in an attempt to close down their businesses.On Thursday, Jurs agreed that Corolla violated the First Amendment rights of business owners in Little Havana. He was ordered to pay $63.5 million to William Fuller and Martin Pinilla in compensatory and punitive damages.It’s unclear who will be paying for the lawsuit, but since he was sued in his personal capacity it is expected he will be responsible and not city taxpayers.The City of Miami has already paid nearly $2 million of Carollo’s legal...

Spirit Airlines flights delayed amidst technical difficulties

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:23:55 GMT

There were several flight delays after an airline experienced technical difficulties.According to a tweet from Spirit Airlines, flights were down at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport Thursday morning.https://twitter.com/SpiritAirlines/status/1664251404087697408?cxt=HHwWgIC92bP1zZguAAAALive video footage showed the delays appeared to affect travelers that already passed security and awaited their flights.Earlier, the check-in area of Spirit flights was busy as people wondered why their apps and kiosks were down.It remains unclear what caused the malfunction.Travelers flying with Spirit Airlines have been advised to check their flights to make sure their plane has not been delayed. Click here to check on your flight.Please check back on WSVN.com and 7News for more details on this developing story.

Former deacon arrested after molesting 2 girls on church grounds in North Miami

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:23:55 GMT

A local deacon was arrested after he was accused of molesting two underage girls while on church grounds at a North Miami Catholic school.North Miami Police arrested Carlos Humberto Ramirez, 51, on Wednesday after he was accused of touching little girls inappropriately while he was a teacher and deacon at Holy Family Catholic School.According to the police report, the abuse happened on March 13, when an 11-year-old student walked up to turn in homework during Spanish class. Ramirez grabbed her by the waist and squeezed her rear end twice before letting her leave the room.The second victim, a 12-year-old girl, witnessed the encounter and when she went up to turn in her classwork, Ramirez again repeated his actions on her but also added a kiss on the cheek and pulled her in closer to him. He then let her leave as well.Ramirez denied the allegation but was arrested by authorities. He remained in Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center where he awaits his bond hearing. 7News has reac...

Ukraine’s ‘rightful place’ is in NATO, says Rishi Sunak

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:23:55 GMT

LONDON — Ukraine’s “rightful place” is within NATO, the U.K. prime minister said Thursday — but he stopped short of supporting French calls for an accession roadmap.Speaking to broadcasters after the end of the second summit of the European Political Community — held in Chișinău, Moldova — Rishi Sunak said he had held “very productive discussions” with European counterparts on irregular migration and how to help Ukraine and Moldova stand up to Russian aggression.Asked if he agreed with French President Emmanuel Macron, who Wednesday called for a clear plan for Ukraine’s NATO membership to be discussed next month, Sunak said: “I agree with the NATO secretary-general, Ukraine’s rightful place is in NATO, but what we are also talking with Ukraine about right now is making sure that they have all the support they need for a successful counteroffensive.”Although there’s a broad understanding that Ukraine cannot join NATO while the war against Russia continues, Ukraine wants NATO leaders ...

DA: Somerville woman charged with strangulation after police find body of her mother in apartment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:23:55 GMT

A 48-year-old woman from Somerville has been charged with strangulation and assault and battery on a person over 60 after police found the body of her mother over the weekend.In a joint statement, the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and Somerville Chief of Police said that April Monroe was facing charges in connection with an alleged assault on her mother, Gail Gasperini, 73, who was found dead in Monroe’s Summer Street apartment on Sunday, May 28.Authorities said Gasperini, of East Boston, had been reported missing that evening by her husband, who told police she had gone out to visit her daughter but never returned.Somerville police officers went on to respond to Monroe’s apartment, where the deceased victim was found.“The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner accepted the case and, during an autopsy conducted the following day, observed injuries to the body consistent with an assault,” the joint statement read. “Based on the subsequent inve...

Police respond after student brings pellet gun to school in Dorchester

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:23:55 GMT

Authorities say a student brought a pellet gun to a school in Dorchester Thursday morning, prompting an investigation.In a letter sent to families, school officials said the item was confiscated by Boston Police and Safety Services personnel after they were notified by school staff at the Dr. Martin Luther King K-6 School.No students or staff were injured and the pellet gun was not discharged at any point, according to Natalie Diaz Ake, Elementary School Superintendent for Region 3.“The King School, alongside the entire Boston Public Schools, is committed to fostering learning environments where all students feel safe, respected, and academically challenged,” Ake said. “Our School Social Workers will provide additional support for students and staff.”The superintendent added that the Boston Police Department would continue to investigate the incident.Parents with any questions or concerns were asked to contact the school at 617-635-8212.

6 LGBTQ+ financial influencers to follow in 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:23:55 GMT

The investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. NerdWallet does not offer advisory or brokerage services, nor does it recommend or advise investors to buy or sell particular stocks, securities or other investments.People in the LGBTQ+ community experience unique economic disparities that cisgender straight people and heteronormative families do not. According to a 2019 Williams Institute analysis of Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data, 22% of LGBTQ+ adults in the United States live in poverty, compared with an estimated 16% of their cisgender straight counterparts.LGBTQ+ financial pros are uniquely positioned to share their knowledge and relate it to their individual experiences of queerness because of these disparities and the political climate affecting their communities.We talked to some financial influencers from the LGBTQ+ community about tips on finding affordable housing, starting a business, building generational wealth and findi...

Senate races to wrap up Biden-McCarthy debt ceiling deal before default deadline

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:23:55 GMT

By LISA MASCARO, KEVIN FREKING, STEPHEN GROVES and FARNOUSH AMIRI (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — Days away from a default crisis, the U.S. Senate dashed on Thursday to wrap up work on a debt ceiling and budget cuts package that overwhelmingly cleared a House vote, aiming to send it to President Joe Biden’s desk to become law before the fast-approaching deadline.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the chamber was digging into the bill that Biden negotiated with Speaker Kevin McCarthy and would “keep working until the job is done.”He warned of a crush of ideas from senators anxious to revise the bill’s budget cuts and environmental policy changes, but said, “There is no good reason, none, to bring this process down to the wire.”Passage in the Senate will require cooperation between Democrats and Republicans, much the way the narrowly divided House was able to approve the compromise late Wednesday night. Fast action is vital if Wash...

Thousands march in Jerusalem Pride parade, first under Israel’s most right-wing government ever

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:23:55 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Thousands of people on Thursday marched in Jerusalem’s Pride parade — an annual event that took place for the first time under Israel’s new far-right government, which is stacked with openly homophobic members.The march in the conservative city is always tense and tightly secured by police, and has been wracked by violence in the past. But this year, Israel finds itself deeply riven over a contentious government plan to overhaul the judiciary. The plan has torn open longstanding societal divisions between those who want to preserve Israel’s liberal values and those who seek to shift it toward more religious conservatism.Jerusalem’s march is typically more subdued than the one in gay-friendly Tel Aviv, where tens of thousands of revelers pour into the streets for a massive, multicolored party. But Thursday’s parade, amid tight security, drew bigger crowds than usual in a show of force against the government and its plan to reshape the legal sy...

German soccer mourns death of 15-year-old who died after tournament brawl

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:23:55 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — The German soccer federation will hold a weekend of mourning for the 15-year-old player who died after a post-match brawl at an international youth tournament last weekend.“This incredibly sad and shocking act at a soccer tournament for juniors leaves us speechless,” federation president Bernd Neuendorf said Thursday. “It is the ultimate challenge to all of us to take a firm stand against violence — in soccer and in society as a whole.”The player from JFC Berlin died Wednesday from severe brain injuries sustained during a post-match brawl on Sunday. A 16-year-old player from a French team remained in detention in Frankfurt pending further inquiries.The victim was struck in the head or neck area and collapsed, police said. They asked for witnesses who may have video of the brawl to come forward. The federation said a weekend of mourning will begin Friday when the German and French teams contesting the Under-17 European Championship final in Budapest, Hungary, will line ...