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Wet Stretch continues

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:56 GMT

We’re still in the thick of a soggy weather pattern. A deep moisture flow is streaming out of the Caribbean Sea. It’s large plume of moist air that expands north across all of Florida. It’s this situation that’s contributing to our wet and unsettled weather days. On Tuesday, we saw some repeated rains over saturated grounds in western Broward County. That soaking brought the return of Street Flood alerts into the areas around Weston and Southwest Ranches. Trying to determine exactly when thunderstorms might ramp up continues to be challenging. We rely on guidance from forecast models that often don’t jive with one another. That’s still a big dilemma, at the moment! The daytime heat sometimes plays a role, as well as sea breeze boundaries. There are other “triggers” too so it’s best to be prepared to face an anytime downpour (as long as this pattern holds). On Wednesday, watch for scattered to numerous showers and storm...

Dania Beach Vervet Project once again seeking public’s help in locating missing monkey

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:56 GMT

A primate on the loose in South Florida is evading capture and, experts said, that’s because it’s looking for love.The Vervet monkey, named Ninja Joe, left his group in Dania Beach last month and is on a mission to find love.But he seems to have gotten lost.“Not going to have much luck out here,” said Dr. Missy Williams, founder of the Dania Beach Vervet Project. For years she’s been helping the monkeys stay safe and healthy.Ninja Joe is sure healthy; He just turned five years old and has reached his sexual maturity.Love is the only cure but he’s not going to find it if he continues his northward trek. “If he would’ve just ran across the street, he would’ve found another social group,” continued Williams. “But instead of that, he seems to have the urge to travel Broward County.”The monkey has been seen in Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach and most recently, Lighthouse Point.“I turn to the left and I see this...

Poland seeks extradition of Ukrainian SS veteran who was applauded in Canada

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:56 GMT

Poland’s Education Minister Przemysław Czarnek said Tuesday he has “taken steps” toward extraditing Yaroslav Hunka, a 98-year-old Ukrainian Nazi veteran who was honored by Canadian parliamentarians last week.During Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Canada last Friday, House Speaker Anthony Rota introduced Hunka as a Canadian-Ukrainian war hero, prompting a standing ovation from parliamentarians.But the tribute triggered a wave of criticism from Jewish organizations, advocacy groups and leaders across the world, because Hunka fought with the First Ukrainian Division — also known as the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division, which served under command of the Nazis in Adolf Hitler’s World War II fight against Russia’s Red Army.“In view of the scandalous events in the Canadian Parliament, which involved honoring, in the presence of President Zelenskyy, a member of the criminal Nazi SS Galizien formation, I have taken steps towards the possible extrad...

State lawmakers unveil new tax relief plan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:56 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts lawmakers unveiled a tax relief package Tuesday aimed at delivering $561 million in reductions to taxpayers and companies during the current fiscal year through a slew of tax credits and other steps aimed at lowering tax burdens.The proposal — which would top $1 billion in tax relief by the 2027 fiscal year when fully phased in — includes more than a dozen specific tax proposals, from eliminating the tax for estates under $2 million to increasing the child and dependent tax credit from $180 to $330 per child or dependent in the current tax year to $440 for the 2024 tax year.Lawmakers say the increased child tax credit will benefit 565,000 families and will be the most generous universal child and dependent tax credit in the country.The bill would also increase the cap on the rental deduction from $3,000 to $4,000, reduce the tax rate on short-term capital gains from 12% to 8.5% and allow cities and towns to adopt a local property tax exemption to encourag...

Baseball Hall of Famer and Baltimore Orioles legend Brooks Robinson dies at age 86

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:56 GMT

(CNN) — Baltimore Orioles legend Brooks Robinson, a third baseman who won 16 consecutive Gold Glove awards and is considered by many to be the greatest fielder at that position ever, has died, according to a statement from the Robinson family and the Orioles organization.He was 86. No cause of death was given.“We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of Brooks Robinson,” the statement read. “An integral part of our Orioles Family since 1955, he will continue to leave a lasting impact on our club, our community, and the sport of baseball.”Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Robinson made his debut for the Orioles in 1955 and manned the hot corner in Baltimore for the next 23 seasons.Robinson was named American League MVP in 1964 and helped the Orioles bring World Series championships to Baltimore in 1966 and in 1970, when he was also named World Series MVP.He set the standard for third basemen during his career, with 18 All-Star Game selections...

Menendez co-defendant Wael Hana pleads not guilty in alleged bribery scheme

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:56 GMT

(CNN) — Wael Hana, an alleged co-conspirator indicted in a bribery scheme with New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez, pleaded not guilty and was released on bail in federal court Tuesday.Hana was arrested Tuesday morning at John F. Kennedy International Airport upon his return from Egypt, his attorney Larry Lustberg told reporters after the hearing. His wife and children remain in Egypt where they all live much of the year. Hana returned to the US to face the charges, Lustberg said.Hana was charged in an indictment last week with Menendez and others and faces one count of conspiracy to commit bribery and one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, which carry maximum prison sentences of five and 20 years respectively.Prosecutors allege that he facilitated an agreement to provide bribes to the senator and his now-wife in exchange for the senator’s influence in matters benefiting himself, the Egyptian government and others. The couple has denied wron...

Red Sox notebook: Legendary 2004 skipper Terry Francona to retire after managing 23 seasons

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:56 GMT

Terry Francona, the manager who led the 2004 Red Sox to their first World Series championship in 86 years, will retire at the end of this season, his 11th managing the Cleveland Guardians.At 64 years old, the man known as “Tito” has spent his entire life in baseball, first as the son of Major League outfielder John Patsy Francona, who went by the same moniker, then as a big-leaguer in his own right for a decade. When years of playing in Montreal, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Milwaukee came to an end in 1990, he joined the ranks of minor league coaches. By 1997, he was the Philadelphia Phillies rookie manager. The gig lasted four seasons, during which the Phillies never finished better than 77-85.The second time was the charm for Tito. After a brief hiatus during which he spent a year as special assistant to Cleveland’s GM and a season apiece as the Rangers’ and Athletics’ bench coach, he took over the Red Sox in 2004. By season’s end, he’d led a beloved “Band of Idiots” to a ...

Dog day afternoon

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:56 GMT

Cori Copley, of the Fairmont Copley Plaza, had a play date with Liberty Hotel’s Benny. The pooches are synonymous with what makes both spots so homey. Everyone was wagging about this reunion.Joe Fallon introduces Cori Copley of the Fairmont Copley Plaza to Liberty Hotel’s Benny, with Mark Fischer for playdate. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)Cori Copley of the Fairmont Copley Plaza with Joe Fallon, right, welcomes Liberty Hotel’s Benny, with Mark Fischer for playdate. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)Cori Copley of the Fairmont Copley Plaza with Joe Fallon, welcomes Liberty Hotel’s Benny, with Mark Fischer for playdate. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)Boston, MA – September 26: Cori Copley of the Fairmont Copley Plaza with Joe Fallon, right, welcomes Liberty Hotel’s Benny, with Mark Fischer for playdate. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

Top Red Sox international signing Yoeilin Cespedes turned heads in Dominican

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:56 GMT

Yoeilin Cespedes was already highly regarded by the time he joined the Red Sox this past January. The teenage shortstop signed with Boston for a $1.4 million bonus, the largest of the club’s international free agents, and was considered by scouts to be among the best pure hitters in his class.But when you’re talking about a 17-year-old, you never know how their skills will translate to the professional game. Fortunately, Cespedes didn’t need long to prove he could be the real deal.Cespedes more than lived up to the hype in his first year with the Red Sox, delivering a standout season as one of the top players in the Dominican Summer League. The 5-foot-9, 180-pound native of the Dominican Republic batted .346 with six home runs, 38 RBI and a .953 OPS in 43 games this summer, a performance that earned Cespedes recognition as the Red Sox Latin Program Position Player of the Year.“He put up some offensive numbers that normally for a first-year player you don̵...

Brooks Robinson, legendary Hall of Fame third baseman for the Orioles, dies at 86

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:56 GMT

Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson died Tuesday, his family said in a joint statement with the Orioles. He was 86.”An integral part of our Orioles Family since 1955, he will continue to leave a lasting impact on our club, our community, and the sport of baseball,” the statement said.Through much of baseball’s golden age, Brooks Calbert Robinson Jr. was a poster boy for the national pastime, a symbol of Americana whose visage was even captured in a 1971 Norman Rockwell painting.The face of the Orioles for nearly a quarter of a century, Robinson won the heart of the city that adopted the deft-handed kid from Arkansas in 1955 and never let go. Before Ripken, there was Robinson. Before Cal, there was Brooks. Before the Iron Man, there was the Human Vacuum Cleaner. As Oriole icons, no others come close.Robinson played 23 years in Baltimore, piling up numbers that made him one of the game’s greatest third basemen and which put him in the Hall of Fame in 198...