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New College of Florida graduates to hold alternative commencement ceremony

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:21 GMT

(CNN) — Graduates at the New College of Florida will hold an alternative commencement ceremony Thursday evening in protest of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ takeover of the college.The alternative ceremony will be a private event, students say, held at an undisclosed location in Sarasota, where the school is based. The small liberal arts college has been known to offer a welcoming environment to LGBTQ students.New College graduates told CNN they wanted a ceremony where they could have freedom of expression and feel celebrated without the influence of the college’s conservative leadership. Some also rejected the college’s decision to tap Dr. Scott Atlas, a former Covid-19 adviser to President Donald Trump, to deliver the keynote speech at the official graduation set for Friday.Maya Wiley, president of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, will speak at the alternative ceremony Thursday.“I am honored to be joining you to celebrate your academic achievements & your bravery,” Wil...

Truck driver hospitalized after rollover crash blocks I-75 exit ramp to Miramar Parkway; NB lanes closed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:21 GMT

Crews have taken a driver to the hospital after a tractor-trailer rolled over along Interstate 75 in Miramar, blocking an exit ramp to Miramar Parkway and leading to multiple lane closures.Miramar Fire Rescue crews responded to the scene of the crash near the northbound lanes, at around 3:30 p.m., Thursday.7SkyForce captured the overturned tractor-trailer and the debris that it was carrying scattered on the side of the road against a guardrail.Paramedics have transported the driver of the truck to an area hospital in unknown condition.As of 4:40 p.m., I-75 remained closed northbound, and Miramar Parkway was shut down westbound near the scene of the crash, causing considerable traffic backups. Officials urge drivers to avoid the area and seek alternate routes.Please check back on WSVN.com and 7News for more details on this developing story.

Miami-Dade County man hospitalized after shark attack while spearfishing in Marathon

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:21 GMT

A man from Miami-Dade County had a terrifying encounter when he was bitten by a shark while spearfishing off the coast of Marathon. According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred around 3 p.m., Thursday afternoon. The 20-year-old unidentified man, accompanied by two others, was rushed back to shore on a private boat and brought to the Sunset Grille & Raw Bar. A Trauma Star helicopter landed on the iconic Seven Mile Bridge and was able to transport the man to Jackson South Medical Center in Miami.Details about the man’s condition are not currently available.Although shark attacks are uncommon in the Florida Keys, authorities urge everyone to stay vigilant and follow safety protocols when engaging in ocean activities.Local law enforcement and marine experts are actively investigating the incident to determine the circumstances surrounding the encounter.

Police find missing 30-year-old woman from Miramar in Miami

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:21 GMT

A South Florida woman who had been missing for a month has been found, police said. Thirty-year-old Courtney Babb, who had been missing since April 16, was located, Thursday afternoon, according to Miramar Police.Babb’s family on Tuesday pleaded for the public’s help at the Miramar Police Station.According to detectives, she was found on a bench at a bus stop in the City of Miami.Someone spotted Babb and called police. After being found by police, Babb was Baker Acted. Her family knows she’s in the hospital receiving treatment.

Boston city councilor calls on colleague, Ricardo Arroyo, to step down after Rachael Rollins reports

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:21 GMT

The fallout continued Thursday after two federal reports found US Attorney Rollins interfered in last year’s Suffolk County District Attorney race to help then-candidate Ricardo Arroyo. As Rollins prepares to resign her position, Arroyo is now facing calls to step down from his seat on the Boston City Council representing the city’s District 5. “Disappointment isn’t a strong enough word,” said Boston City Councilor At-Large Erin Murphy.Murphy spoke to 7NEWS on Thursday. She said revelations of Arroyo’s actions are a distraction and cause distrust of the council. “I think he should seriously consider stepping down,” Murphy said. “I think he should ask himself if he is the right person in this moment to meet the needs of the people of District 5 and also in the city of Boston.”Rollins previously served as the Suffolk County District Attorney before her appointment as U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts prompted a race for the DA position. Arroyo and then-acting Distric...

Braving frigid morning cold and long lines, Taylor Swift fans gather for merch ahead of Gillette Stadium concerts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:21 GMT

Taylor Swift’s weekend of concerts at Gillette Stadium kicks off in about 24 hours, but her fans were already gathering in Foxborough on Thursday, braving cold morning temperatures and waiting in long lines for special merchandise.Before the break of dawn, a crowd of Taylor Swift superfans were already lined up in the cold for “The Eras Tour” merch, with some wrapped in blankets as temps tumbled overnight.By noontime, merch sales were in full-swing after a tractor-trailer loaded with gear opened up shop to the sound fans cheering. Some shoppers told 7NEWS they had been waiting anywhere from eight to ten hours for a chance to grab a shirt or sweater from the mobile outlet. “Oh, yeah it was – 100 percent,” Michaela Griffiths said when asked if it was worth the wait. “I pulled an all-nighter. I got here at like five in the morning, so I’m really excited that I got my stuff that I wanted.”“Now I don’t have to w...

Breezy Friday, then weekend rain

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:21 GMT

7Weather – It was a cold morning! Some towns inland fell into the 20s. The May sunshine helped warm temperatures into the 60s this afternoon. Quite the rebound! Tomorrow will be milder and breezy. The weekend brings some much needed rain.High pressure that’s been around will slide farther east into tomorrow and usher in a south/southwest wind. That’ll pull a more milder airmass into Southern New England. You can see some of the low 70s around Cincinnati and Washington D.C. Tomorrow our afternoon high temperatures will reach near upper 60s/low 70s. The South Coast, Buzzard’s Bay, Cape and Islands will stay cooler in the low 60s with the wind coming off the cool water.We’ve been lacking in our May rainfall bucket. Some towns are about one inch to 1.5″ below average for the month. Today’s updated U.S. Drought Monitor, highlights portions of Southeast Mass, Rhode Island and southern Connecticut as “abnormally dry.” Yes, we could use ...

Disney is scrapping plans for a new $1 billion Florida campus

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:21 GMT

(CNN) — Disney on Thursday upped the ante in its battle with Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, and it cost his state 2,000 white-collar jobs.Disney is scrapping plans to build a $1 billion office complex in Florida, citing “changing business conditions,” according to a memo provided by a Disney spokesperson.The decision comes at a time when the company is openly feuding with DeSantis, who is expected to officially enter the 2024 GOP presidential race next week, CNN reported Thursday.A spokesperson for DeSantis said it was “unsurprising” that Disney would cancel the project “given the company’s financial straits, falling market cap and declining stock price.”Disney, along with the broader media industry, is grappling with a difficult advertising environment and a massive writers strike. Earlier this year it announced it would be cutting 7,000 jobs as part of a cost-cutting effort.Separately, the company confirmed Thursday that it would shut do...

Starbucks is changing its ice cubes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:21 GMT

New York (CNN) — Starbucks is changing its ice cubes. Will its customers have a meltdown?Customers who order cold beverages will now sip on “nugget ice” in their drinks, ice pieces which are smaller than the chain’s current cubes.Ice is a key ingredient for the coffee giant, especially since its iced handcrafted beverages now account for about 75% of its sales. Ice is also apparently a flashpoint for its customers.Initial reactions to the new ice on Reddit are mixed, but passionate. Some note that it is chewier or flakier and claim it’s similar to the ice used at Sonic and the Coffee Bean. The so-called “pellet ice” has some fans, but other people are worried that it will water down the drinks or change the texture of their Frappuccinos.The nuggets don’t melt any faster, the company said, and the switch to nuggets doesn’t mean customers will get any less ice since baristas are using the same ice scoop.The company’s new iteration of ice has had a “resoundingly positive response”...

UPDATE: Townsend man reported missing has been located

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:21 GMT

UPDATE: A man from Townsend who was reported missing by family has been located, according to police.In a statement, Townsend Police Chief James Sartell said his department was able to locate 42-year-old Joseph Paul KnisellKnisell had not been seen or heard from by his family since May 2, but in an update, police said he was safely located in Manchester, N.H.“I am grateful that this missing persons case has been brought to a successful conclusion, and I want to thank all the members of the public for their attention to this matter,” Sartell said.