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Tampa mayor makes $1.1M cocaine catch while fishing in Florida Keys with family

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:34:28 GMT

(CNN) — Tampa Mayor Jane Castor made a big catch while fishing the Florida Keys with family late last month, spotting and hauling in a package containing 70 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value of approximately $1.1 million, according to the mayor’s office.The package was discovered south of Marathon on July 23, according to US Border Patrol.Castor saved the location of the find on her watch as the family hauled the package out of the water onto their recreational boat, and contacted the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office to report the drugs, her office said. Border Patrol agents with the Miami Sector then took custody of the drugs, according to the border agency and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.The packaging contained 25 bricks of cocaine, according to Border Patrol. “We appreciate the ongoing support from our boating community. Thanks to the efforts of this Good Samaritan, 70 pounds of cocaine are in federal custody and off our streets. We encourage th...

Authorities investigating explosion in Miami Lakes; no injuries reported

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:34:28 GMT

Authorities are investigating an explosion in Miami Lakes, which is believed to have originated underground. The incident occurred in the 1400 block of NW 77th Ave.Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) responded to the call and dispatched Engine 1 to the scene, around 12:45 p.m., Tuesday. Upon arrival, the team confirmed the presence of road debris, indicating the likelihood of an explosion. Utility services have been notified to assess the situation.As of now, no injuries have been reported in connection to the explosion.Please check back on WSVN.com and 7News for more details on this developing story.

National Weather Service confirms tornado appeared in Mattapoisett

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:34:28 GMT

Officials with the National Weather Service confirmed that a tornado appeared in the area of Mattapoisett Tuesday morning.In an update provided by the National Weather Service – Boston/Norton office, officials said that a survey team was in the process of investigating damage after the tornado appeared around 11:30 a.m., while a Tornado Warning for the area was active.“A more detailed statement on EF-rating, start & end times will be sent later today upon damage survey completion,” the NWS Boston Twitter account stated.An additional warning was issued for nearby Barnstable County an hour later, hours after another warning had expired for Worcester and Middlesex counties.This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.https://twitter.com/NWSBoston/status/1688965681210138624

Jason Mraz to play free show at The Rady Shell

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:34:28 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Jason Mraz is performing a free show at The Rady Shell later this month, and fans can reserve tickets Tuesday.The San Diego singer-songwriter and his Superband will end their tour, The Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride, at The Rady Shell on Wednesday, Aug. 23 at 7 p.m.Fans can reserve free tickets starting at 11 a.m. Tuesday at TheShell.org. There is a limit of four tickets per household. Imitation In-N-Out opens in Mexico Ticketholders must be inside the venue before 6:30 p.m. At that time, tickets that have not been used may be voided, The Rady Shell notes on its website. No seats will be provided for the General Admission concert.

Quebec police say 22 people died in road and off-road crashes over two-week period

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:34:28 GMT

MONTREAL — Twenty-two people died in crashes on the province’s roads and trails over the past two weeks, marking a particularly deadly summer holiday period, Quebec provincial police said Tuesday.Police said there were 13 fatal road accidents, as well as four involving off-road vehicles during the two-week construction holiday, when construction workers and many other Quebecers have annual vacations.In comparison, there were 11 fatal accidents resulting in 13 deaths during the same period last year. Ten of those accidents were on the road network, while one involved an off-road vehicle.Lt. Ann Mathieu of the Quebec provincial police said the number of road deaths in the province has been creeping up. “We feel there’s an increase, so we’re trying to break that tendency,” she said in a phone interview.The majority of crashes this year were caused by what Mathieu called “human behaviour,” including illegal passing, failure to yield and distracted dri...

Ontario launches new initiatives for women in construction

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:34:28 GMT

The province of Ontario is working to help more women and young people enter the construction trades with three new projects. Currently, women make up less than five per cent of Ontario’s construction workforce. The government will be investing $3.6 million in all the three of these programs.The first program, run by the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario (PBCTCO), will help 700 tradeswoman gain leadership, communications, health and safety training and networking opportunities within the construction industry. Another project is expected to provide 1,500 people access to online resources and training tools where they explore skilled trades and find opportunities within their profession of choice.Finally, an ongoing program call the Tomorrow’s Trades program, which has previously run in Toronto, will provide 60 grade 12 students in Ottawa and London with hands-on learning opportunities.He also acknowledged that women are unaware of these jobs,...

Bring your own bag: LCBO ending paper bags in September

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:34:28 GMT

BYOB will soon mean ‘bring your own bag’ for Ontarians shopping at LCBO stores.Or buy one. Come the first week of September, those will be the only two options available, the LCBO confirmed on Tuesday. The LCBO previously announced its plan to phase out single-use paper bags, but has now provided a firm date of September 5. “This initiative will help to minimize our impact on the environment and create a more sustainable Ontario,” the LCBO said in a release. “We thank our customers for helping us to take better care of the planet.”The moves comes 15 years after the provincial liquor retailer got rid of plastic bags.In addition to bringing their own reusable bags moving forward, customers will also have the option to buy a reusable bag in-store, or use cardboard boxes or an 8-pack carrier for free.“This initiative will remove almost 135 million paper bags annually from LCBO retail stores and convenience outlets,” reads the release.The r...

Man makes initial court appearance following Indiana block party shooting that killed 1, wounded 17

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:34:28 GMT

MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) — A 36-year-old central Indiana man has made his initial appearance Tuesday in court following a shooting at a massive block party that left one person dead and 17 others wounded.John L. Vance Jr. officially heard aggravated battery, criminal recklessness and gun charges against him in a Delaware County courtroom.Vance entered a not guilty plea and told a judge he intended to hire his own attorney. He remains jailed on a $105,000 bond.Shots were fired as hundreds of people attended the July 30 block party in Muncie, about 60 miles (100 kilometers) northeast of Indianapolis. Joseph E. Bonner III was fatally shot.The shooting occurred as police were calling the venue’s owner to shut down the gathering, authorities have said.Police were aware that the owner of a business that periodically rents out space for events was hosting a block party that got “out of control,” with between 500 and up to 1,000 in attendance, Muncie Police Chief Nathan Sloan has said.Vance was ar...

Who’s in, who might be out: Eight candidates have qualified for the first Republican debate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:34:28 GMT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — With two weeks until the first Republican presidential debate of the 2024 campaign, eight candidates say they have met qualifications to be on stage in Milwaukee, with former Vice President Mike Pence announcing this week he had secured enough donors.But a handful of candidates in the broad GOP field are running short on time to make the cut.To qualify for the Aug. 23 debate, candidates need to satisfy polling and donor requirements set by the Republican National Committee: at least 1% in three high-quality national polls or a mix of national and early-state polls, between July 1 and Aug. 21, and a minimum of 40,000 donors, with 200 in 20 or more states.A look at who’s in, who’s (maybe) out and who’s still working on making it:WHO’S QUALIFIED DONALD TRUMP The current front-runner long ago satisfied the polling and donor requirements. But he is considering boycotting and holding a competing event.Campaign advis...

$1.58 billion Mega Millions jackpot is among the largest in US history

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:34:28 GMT

Lottery players will have another shot Tuesday night at a massive Mega Millions prize that ranks among the largest jackpots in U.S. history.The estimated $1.58 billion prize has been gradually building for months thanks to 31 straight drawings without a jackpot winner. The last time someone won the game’s top prize was April 18.Each drawing without a winner pushes the prize closer to the record $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot that someone in California won last year. The second largest in size was in 2016, when the Powerball jackpot reached a nearly identical amount of $1.586 billion.Mega Millions jackpot winners are so rare thanks to odds of one in 302.6 million.The $1.58 billion payout would go to a winner who opts for an annuity, doled out over 30 years. But people usually prefer a lump sum option, which for Tuesday’s jackpot would be an estimated $783.3 million.The money would be subject to federal taxes. Many states also tax lottery winnings.Mega Millions is played in 45 ...