CORAL GABLES

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — (AP) — Miami women’s basketball coach Katie Meier has been suspended for the first three games of the season while the school cooperates with an NCAA probe. The NCAA has not announced any sanctions against Miami, which means this is a self-imposed penalty by the university. “I have, and will continue to, collaborate transparently with the NCAA as they review an enforcement matter with the Hurricanes' women’s basketball program. Meier said she suspended the guard for “conduct detrimental to the team,” and the Hurricanes lost in the second round. Meier has won 324 games at Miami, the most in the school’s basketball history, and 400 games overall.

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — (AP) — Miami women’s basketball coach Katie Meier has been suspended for the first three games of the season while the school cooperates with an NCAA probe, a person with knowledge of the matter said Sunday. The games Meier will miss Monday’s season-opener against Maryland-Eastern Shore, Thursday's game against Stetson and a Nov. 13 matchup with Boston University, all at home. Her 2011-12 team spent most of the season as a top-10 team in the AP Top 25, reaching No. Meier said she suspended the guard for “conduct detrimental to the team,” and the Hurricanes lost in the second round. Meier has won 324 games at Miami, the most in the school’s basketball history, and 400 games overall.

Miami women’s basketball coach Katie Meier has been suspended for the first three games of the season while the school cooperates with an NCAA probe. Meier said Sunday that she is also cooperating with the NCAA. Neither she, the school nor the NCAA has released specifics of the probe, other than Miami calling it “an enforcement matter."

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — A fraternity at the University of Miami has been permanently closed and removed from the school’s campus after several women accused members of the chapter of drugging them at a party. A video surfaced that reportedly shows members of the fraternity at the party features male students chanting about digging up dead women and raping their bodies, WFOR reported. “It’s sick and it’s crazy that they are chanting it together,” Patrick McCaslin, a student and editor at UM’s school newspaper, the Miami Hurricane, told WFOR. The Miami Hurricane was the first to report the story, saying the video clearly shows the party’s banner in the background and audible chanting. The University received allegations the Sigma Phi Epsilon chapter violated university policy and participated in behavior that is inconsistent with the values and expectations of the university community and their national fraternity.

Federal investigators say a 20-year-old Tesla driver who died with a passenger in a fiery, high-speed crash on a South Florida street last year might have been upset after learning he had lost a scholarship.

This SC city has BMW racing, restaurants, history and a good-sized downtown public park.

Nino Pernetti, the owner of Caffe Abbracci in Coral Gables, died on Tuesday night, according to the mayor of Coral Gables.

Weekend warriors trying to enjoy a rare day off got quite the show at Matheson Hammock Park in Coral Gables.

The experimental program that has fed tons of lettuce to starving Florida manatees will begin to wind down soon as the weather warms.

The experimental program to feed Florida manatees starving because water pollution is destroying their natural food has topped 55 tons of lettuce, wildlife officials said Wednesday, March 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) (Rebecca Blackwell)ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — (AP) — More than 55 tons of lettuce have been fed to starving Florida manatees as part of an experimental program to help the slow-moving marine mammals since their natural food is being destroyed by water pollution, wildlife officials said Wednesday. “That's a substantial amount,” said Ron Mezich, feeding program coordinator for the Florida wildlife commission. “We're not solving the seagrass issue in a year," said Tom Reinert of the Florida wildlife commission. Officials say most distressed manatees in Florida are reported by people who spot them and call a state hotline at 888-404-3922.

Officials have now fed more than 55 tons of lettuce to starving Florida manatees as part of an experimental program to help the animals since their natural food is being destroyed by water pollution.

Dying Manatees Florida An adult and young manatee swim together in a canal, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022, in Coral Gables, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) (Rebecca Blackwell)ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — (AP) — The unprecedented human effort to feed starving Florida manatees has so far provided the lovable marine mammals with more than 25 tons of lettuce, officials said Wednesday. Officials say the feeding program involving donated romaine lettuce at a Florida Power & Light plant on the east coast is attracting about 300 to 350 manatees per day. Looking at the big picture, there are an estimated 8,800 or so manatees in Florida waters. But even with this unusual die-off, Reinert said there's only a 1% chance of manatees becoming extinct in the wild any time soon.

The unprecedented human effort to feed starving Florida manatees has so far provided the lovable marine mammals with more than 25 tons of lettuce.

A man accused of opening fire in the middle of a Florida Publix has been arrested.

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Authorities arrested a man on suspicion of murder early Sunday following a shooting at a Publix supermarket in South Florida that left another man dead over the weekend. >> Read more trending newsJail records show authorities booked Osmel Lugo-Gutierrez, 51, on a second-degree murder charge. >> Related: Argument in checkout line leads to fatal shooting at Publix in FloridaThe victim was identified as Franklyn Jose Pineyro, 49, WSVN reported. Other shoppers were in the store at the time of the shooting, though no other injuries were reported, according to WFOR. “Our thoughts are with those who are impacted by this tragedy,” the statement read.

An argument in the checkout line of a South Florida grocery store escalated into a fatal shooting.

Publix shooting: One man was killed after an argument broke out in the checkout line of a South Florida Publix supermarket. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)CORAL GABLES, Fla. — One man was killed after an argument escalated into a deadly shooting Saturday night at a South Florida supermarket, authorities said. >> Read more trending newsAccording to the Miami-Dade Police Department, the shooting occurred at a Publix in Coral Gables, the Miami Herald reported. Police said two men were arguing in the store’s checkout line when one man pulled out a gun and fatally shot the other, the newspaper reported. One man is dead after a checkout line dispute escalated into a Saturday night shooting inside a Coral Gables Publix, Miami-Dade police say.

An argument in the checkout line of a South Florida grocery store escalated into a fatal shooting, as other shootings around the state took place in a sports bar and a banquet hall. One of the men pulled a gun and shot the other man.

What began as an exotic mystery has quickly turned into a battle pitting neighbors against each other.

The University of Miami will start the spring semester with remote-only classes amid surging cases of COVID-19 in South Florida.

Police in South Florida killed a man they suspected of burglarizing vehicles, and then charged an alleged lookout with murder in his death.

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — (AP) — Florida police officers responding to a call about vehicle thefts on Sunday morning fatally shot one of the suspects, officials said. Coral Gables police officers arriving at the scene observed two people breaking into a U-Haul pickup truck. READ: Man shot and killed on I-4 after pulling gun on officers, police say“Upon engaging the individuals, the first arriving officer and the second arriving officer discharged their firearms in an attempt to protect their lives,” police Chief Ed Hudak told the Miami Herald. READ: Man and woman found shot inside car that crashed into building in Orange County, deputies sayWPLG reported that the truck had several bullet holes on the driver’s side. One of the officers was injured in the lower body and was being treated, Hudak told news outlets.

Police say officers responding to a call about vehicle thefts in South Florida fatally shot one of the suspects.

Police say a former South Florida judge who resigned this year amid misconduct allegations is now accused of pulling a gun on a man who wanted to be let into his apartment complex.

Billboard Latin Music Awards 2021: See the complete list of winners Bad Bunny, right, and Gabriela Berlingeri arrive at the Billboard Latin Music Awards on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, at the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Rapper Bad Bunny won big Thursday at the 2021 Billboard Latin Music Awards, topping 10 categories at the event in Coral Gables, Florida, according to Billboard magazine. >> RELATED STORY: Bad Bunny is big winner at 2021 Billboard Latin Music AwardsExpand Autoplay Image 1 of 35 Photos: Stars shine on the Billboard Latin Music Awards 2021 red carpet Camila Cabello arrives at the Billboard Latin Music Awards on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, at the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)See the list of winners below:>> Read more trending news• Artist of the year: Bad Bunny• New artist of the year: Myke Towers• Crossover artist of the year: Black Eyed Peas• Latin song of the year: “Dákiti,” Bad Bunny and Jhay Cortez• Latin song of the year, vocal event: “Dákiti,” Bad Bunny and Jhay Cortez• Latin songs male artist of the year: Bad Bunny• Latin songs female artist of the year: Karol G• Latin songs artist of the year, duo or group: Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga• Latin airplay song of the year: “Hawái,” The Weeknd and Maluma• Latin airplay label of the year: Sony Music Latin• Latin airplay imprint of the year: Sony Music Latin• Sales song of the year: “Ritmo (Bad Boys for Life,” Black Eyed Peas and J Balvin• Streaming song of the year: “Dákiti,” Bad Bunny and Jhay Cortez• Latin album of the year: “YHLQMDLG,” Bad Bunny• Latin albums male artist of the year: Bad Bunny• Latin albums female artist of the year: Karol G• Latin albums artist of the year, duo or group: Eslabon Armado• Latin pop solo artist of the year: Shakira• Latin pop artist of the year, duo or group: Maná• Latin pop song of the year: “Mamacita,” Black Eyed Peas, Ozuna and J.Rey Soul• Latin pop album of the year: “Sin Miedo (Del Amor y Otros Demonios),” Kali Uchis• Tropical solo artist of the year: Romeo Santos• Tropical artist of the year, duo or group: Aventura• Tropical song of the year: “Carita de Inocente,” Prince Royce• Tropical album of the year: “Alter Ego,” Prince Royce• Regional Mexican solo artist of the year: Christian Nodal• Regional Mexican artist of the year, duo or group: Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga• Regional Mexican song of the year: “Yo Ya No Vuelvo Contigo,” Lenin Ramírez featuring Grupo Firme• Regional Mexican album of the year: “Tu Veneno Mortal,” Eslabon Armado• Latin rhythm solo artist of the year: Bad Bunny• Latin rhythm artist of the year, duo or group: Los Legendarios• Latin rhythm song of the year: “Hawái,” Maluma and The Weeknd• Latin rhythm album of the year: “YHLQMDLG,” Bad Bunny• Songwriter of the year: Bad Bunny• Producer of the year: TainyRead more here. ©2021 Cox Media Group

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — It was a big night for Bad Bunny at the Billboard Latin Music Awards. >> Read more trending newsThe Puerto Rican rapper and songwriter took home 10 trophies at the annual awards ceremony, including artist of the year, Billboard reported. Bad Bunny, 27, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, also won songwriter of the year; Hot Latin Songs artist of the year, male; Latin Rhythm artist of the year, solo; and Top Latin Albums artist of the year, male, according to Billboard. Bad Bunny receiving his awards, the most awarded artist at the 2021 Latin Bilboard. #Billboards2021 pic.twitter.com/KE7TFRVx2C — Access Bad Bunny (@AccessBadBunny) September 24, 2021Bad Bunny also scored wins for Hot Latin Song of the year, teaming with Jhay Cortez in “Dákiti,” which also won streaming song of the year and Hot Latin Song of the year, vocal event.

2021 Billboard Latin Music Awards Bad Bunny arrives at the Billboard Latin Music Awards on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, at the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier) (Marta Lavandier)CORAL GABLES, Fla. — (AP) — Bad Bunny is the champion of the Billboard Latin Music Awards, taking home artist of the year honors and a whopping 10 trophies. Among the awards received Thursday by the urban music superstar were Hot Latin Song of the Year for “Dákiti” and album of the year for “YHLQMDLG.”“Thanks always to all the audience for all the support, for supporting the music we make, thanks to all those who worked on this anthem,” said Bad Bunny after receiving the Hot Latin Song award. You are the ones who give us this award.”The awards were handed out at a ceremony at the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Florida, that was attended by Latin superstars Marc Anthony, Camila Cabello and more. The Black Eyed Peas won Latin Pop Song of the Year for “Mamacita,” while Karol G, Maluma and The Weeknd each won two awards apiece. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Bad Bunny is the champion of the Billboard Latin Music Awards, taking home artist of the year honors and a whopping 10 trophies.

Federal officials said Friday, Sept. 17, 2021 they will investigate a fiery Tesla crash that left two people dead in South Florida. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File) (David Zalubowski)CORAL GABLES, Fla. — (AP) — Federal officials said Friday they will investigate a fiery Tesla crash that left two people dead in South Florida. The Coral Gables crash occurred near a residential intersection, and it wasn’t immediately known whether speed was a factor. READ: 2 dead after Tesla crashes into Florida homeIt was also unclear whether the car’s partially automated driving system was activated at the time of the crash. Coral Gables is located southwest of downtown Miami.

Federal officials said Friday, Sept. 17, 2021 they will investigate a fiery Tesla crash that left two people dead in South Florida. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File) (David Zalubowski)CORAL GABLES, Fla. — (AP) — Federal officials said Friday they will investigate a fiery Tesla crash that left two people dead in South Florida. The Coral Gables crash occurred near a residential intersection, and it wasn’t immediately known whether speed was a factor. Coral Gables police have identified the victims as a 20-year-old man, who was driving, and a 19-year-old woman. Coral Gables is located southwest of downtown Miami.

Federal officials say they will investigate a fiery Tesla crash that left two people dead in South Florida.

The Miami Hurricanes will host Appalachian State at 7 p.m. on Saturday as the team continues to look for its first win on Saturday.

The new CDC study also found that the unvaccinated were nearly five times more likely to be infected with Covid than vaccinated people.

Seminole County is working with the school district to offer mobile vaccine clinics throughout the first week of school.

Residents of a condo building in Coral Gables have been told they will no longer need to evacuate their homes after emergency measures were taken over the weekend to address fears of structural concerns in the underground parking garage.

The Orlando Police Department’s headquarters will be a site for a mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinic Friday morning.

With leaders like Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago, who needs enemies?

Delia Fiallo Obit FILE - In this Oct. 24, 2011 file photo, writer Delia Fiallo speaks during an interview in her home in Coral Gables, Fla. Fiallo, who wrote many successful telenovelas, such as "Cristal" and "Kasandra," has died on Tuesday, June 29, 2021. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File) (Lynne Sladky)MIAMI — (AP) — Delia Fiallo, a native of Cuba who was considered the mother of Latin America's telenovelas and wrote dozens of the popular television soap operas, died Tuesday at her home in Coral Gables, Florida, her caregiver said. Fiallo, whose TV hits included “Cristal,” “Kassandra” and “Leonela,” died just five days before her 97th birthday, her caregiver for the past three years, Blanca, told The Associated Press. The caregiver gave no cause of death but said Fiallo died at her home surrounded by her children. She finished “Cristal,” the last of her 43 telenovelas, more than three decades ago.

Delia Fiallo, a native of Cuba who was considered the mother of Latin America’s telenovelas and wrote dozens of the popular television soap operas, has died at her home in Coral Gables, Florida.

A veteran engineer hired by the town of Surfside plans an autopsy of the tower examining the foundation, concrete, leaks, groundwater and possible intrusion of salt water.

A man was hit on the head by falling concrete Wednesday, fire-rescue said, while working at a construction site that’s part of the $600 million Plaza project in Coral Gables.

For six years, Orlando Capote has been tilting at windmills — and backhoes — by refusing to move out of his little house as it has been engulfed by the most mega commercial development in Coral Gables history.

Virus Outbreak Unemployment Benefits A customer walks behind a sign at a Nordstrom store seeking employees, Friday, May 21, 2021, in Coral Gables, Fla. Jobless claims fell by 9,000 to 376,000 from 385,000 the week before, the Labor Department reported Thursday. Nearly 3.5 million were receiving traditional state unemployment benefits the week of May 29, down by 258,000 from 3.8 million the week before. In May, the U.S. economy generated 559,000 million new jobs, and the unemployment rate dropped to 5.8% from 6.1% in April. The United States is still short 7.6 million jobs from where it stood in February 2020.

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell for the sixth straight week as the U.S. economy reopens rapidly after being held back for months by the coronavirus pandemic.

Miami-Dade County’s ethics commission on Wednesday dismissed a complaint that a veteran lobbyist communicated with Coral Gables officials on behalf of Wawa without registering as a lobbyist.

Photographic proof is always key.

Virus Outbreak Unemployment Benefits A customer walks behind a sign at a Nordstrom store seeking employees, Friday, May 21, 2021, in Coral Gables, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier) (Marta Lavandier)WASHINGTON — (AP) — Americans increased their spending by a slight 0.5% in April, a slowdown after a massive gain in March that had been powered by the distribution of billions of dollars in individual stimulus checks. Even with the pullback from a 4.7% surge in spending in March, the April increase provided further evidence that consumers are driving a strengthening recovery from the pandemic recession. Friday’s report from the Commerce Department also showed that personal incomes, which provide the fuel for spending, tumbled 13.1% in April. The April gain in spending supported the view that the economy is rebounding rapidly as individuals and businesses grow increasingly confident enough to spend, hire and invest.

Americans increased their spending by 0.5% in April, a slowdown after a massive gain in March which had been powered by distribution of billions of dollars in individual stimulus checks.

Election politicking behind them (or so was claimed), the newly installed city of Coral Gables mayor and commission finally did the right thing Tuesday and reversed a wrong.

There’s something about Black joy that really makes me smile.

When Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago voted against renaming a portion of Dixie Highway after abolitionist Harriet Tubman in January, he called the proposal “a pure example of playing politics.”

Standing outside one of my restaurants in Coral Gables on a sunny afternoon, I never expected it to happen: an angry man yelling racist, anti-Asian slurs at me, blaming me and my “people” for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Central Florida health officials are expecting a decision from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration this week that would expand eligibility of the Pfizer vaccine to those as young as 12 years old.

Pfizer and BioNTech are seeking full approval for its COVID-19 vaccine from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

As vaccination efforts continue, many counties are relying on state data to determine how to get more vaccines to areas in need.

The bill would also make pandemic-related changes in accountability requirements for schools in the kindergarten through the 12th-grade system. The bill, SPB 7070, which will be considered by the Senate Education Committee, focuses in part on lawsuits that have been filed in Florida and other parts of the country against colleges and universities. [TRENDING: SpaceX aims to fly -- and avoid explosion | 4-year-old among 3 dead in I-95 crash | Thief pup gets new home]AdSuch lawsuits have sought tuition reimbursements because students were forced to take online classes when campuses closed last year to try to prevent the spread of COVID-19. For example, it would prevent using performance on standardized assessments this year to determine whether to retain third-grade students. Also, it would allow parents to request that their students be retained in third grade.

Dr. Seuss' never-before-published book, "What Pet Should I Get?" Books by Dr. Seuss have flooded Amazon's U.S. bestseller list after it was announced that six of the author's publications were being pulled over racist imagery. In total, 15 Dr. Seuss publications were in Amazon's top 20 list on Friday morning. Former Presidents Donald Trump and Barack Obama mentioned Dr. Seuss in their previous speeches. "Research in recent years has revealed strong racial undertones in many books written/illustrated by Dr. Seuss," the statement said.

More than a dozen health insurers are launching a pilot program aimed at getting 2 million American seniors vaccinated as quickly as possible, President Joe Biden's senior advisor on the Covid-19 pandemic announced Wednesday. The pilot program — Vaccine Community Connecters — is designed to educate seniors on the vaccines, help schedule appointments for shots and arrange transportation, advisor Andy Slavitt told reporters. The White House is working with America's Health Insurance Plans and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association on the initiative. The announcement comes as the Biden administration works to ramp up the supply of Covid-19 vaccines and get the majority of Americans as quickly as possible. This isn't the first vaccine program tailored to seniors that the federal government has touted.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga declared a state of emergency Thursday for Tokyo and three other prefectures to ramp up defenses against the spread of the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)How many variants of the coronavirus are there? One of the three main variants experts are watching was discovered in the United Kingdom late last year and has been detected in dozens of countries since. Data so far suggests current vaccines should still protect against these variants, though there’s some concern their effectiveness may be slightly diminished. The emergence of variants is linked to ongoing surges since infections give viruses the chance to mutate and spread.

(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Florida reported an additional 12,311 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, as well as more than 150 new deaths from the virus. As of Saturday, Florida has had more than 1.6 million virus cases and 25,561 deaths, according to the Florida Department of Health. Florida had a positivity rate of 11.1% on Saturday, according to Johns Hopkins University. Around Florida, residents 65 years or older continued have difficulties scheduling appointments for vaccines, either by phone or online. In Pinellas County, home to St. Petersburg, a vaccine registration portal was delayed from opening due to vendor issues, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

That is the largest gain among the 50 largest U.S. housing markets. As for the next-hottest housing markets, Phoenix came in second, with 69% of those surveyed saying it would outperform the national average, followed by Nashville, with 67%, Tampa, with 60%, and Denver, with 56%. While these markets are expected to see the strongest value gains, other former hot spots have fallen far out of favor. The three markets most likely to underperform, according to Zillow's survey, are: New YorkSan FranciscoLos Angeles The panelists who participated in the survey do expect these markets to see some growth given the overall housing demand nationwide. Prices are being driven by high demand and short supply, and, more recently, by an improved economic outlook driven by progress on Covid vaccinations.

PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. – All of Florida’s 67 counties now have at least one site offering a coronavirus vaccine. This will be the first large county where Publix pharmacies will be rolling out its vaccination program since partnering with the state. The governor spoke again in Brevard County on Tuesday afternoon, announcing that 22 Publix pharmacies there would also be administering shots starting on Thursday. With the inclusion of Brevard County, the governor said 242 Publix pharmacies statewide would now be providing the vaccine to people 65 and older. With plans to gain access to the next vaccine approved for use, DeSantis said, for now, Florida will stay the course and increase access to the vaccine as best as possible.

Uncertainty over the pace of federal COVID-19 vaccine allotments triggered anger and confusion Friday, Jan. 15, 2021, in some states where officials worried that expected shipments would not be forthcoming. On Monday, which is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the testing site at the Orange County Convention Center had little to no wait. You can wait more than 28 days, you can wait 30 days,” Dr. Raul Pino from the Florida Department of Health in Orange County said. [READ YESTERDAY’S REPORT: Florida reports 10,000 new COVID-19 cases, over 7,000 people currently hospitalized]CasesThe Florida Department of Health reported 7,884 new cases on Monday, bringing the state’s overall total to 1,579,281 cases since the coronavirus pandemic began in March. VaccinationsThe Florida Department of Health recently began releasing a daily report on COVID-19 vaccines administered throughout the state.

Ron DeSantis said stories of the rich flying to Florida, getting vaccinated and returning home are overblown. State records show of the nearly 850,000 people who have received at least one shot, more than 40,000 are overdue for their booster shot. [READ YESTERDAY’S REPORT: Florida reports 13,000 new COVID-19 cases, 222 deaths]Below is a breakdown of Florida COVID-19 data reported by the state on Jan. 15:CasesThe Florida Department of Health reported 16,589 new cases on Friday, bringing the state’s overall total to 1,548,067 cases since the coronavirus pandemic began in March. Since March, 67,463 people have been hospitalized in Florida after complications from COVID-19. VaccinationsThe Florida Department of Health recently began releasing a daily report on COVID-19 vaccines administered throughout the state.

Ron DeSantis announced expanded vaccine locations at Publix supermarkets in Florida, including in Volusia and Flagler counties. HospitalizationsAs of Wednesday afternoon, there were currently 7,758 people with the virus hospitalized in Florida, according to the state Agency for Health Care Administration. Since March, 66,634 people have been hospitalized in Florida after complications from COVID-19. That number includes the 430 new patients who have been recently hospitalized due to the virus, according to the health department’s daily report released on Wednesday. VaccinationsThe Florida Department of Health recently began releasing a daily report on COVID-19 vaccines administered throughout the state.

When it comes to mental and emotional health, older adults in the United States are showing resilience and persevering despite struggles with loneliness and isolation, the latest self-reported results in an ongoing study suggest. About half as many older adults now report they are very happy or extremely happy, and an increasing number report occasional feelings of depression or isolation. Other interesting findings from the responses:—About one-fifth of older adults in the study said they’d had no in-person contact with family and friends outside their own households during the pandemic. —At the same time, at least half of older adults “have not reduced their frequency of in-person contact with friends and family not living with them" since the pandemic began. “There’s a lot we don’t appreciate about how well people do cope with age,” said Hawkley, who specializes in researching loneliness and social isolation in older adults.

All rights reserved)ORLANDO, Fla. – JetBlue is the latest U.S. airline to announce it will stop blocking seats on flights. The company says it will reduce the number of middle seats it leaves empty starting Dec. 1. [TRENDING: COVID-19 closes early voting location | Can you get COVID-19 twice? Airlines have been blocking seats due to the coronavirus pandemic. Southwest announced last week it will start selling middle seats after Dec. 1.

Chandan Khanna | AFP | Getty ImagesA top official at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday that the agency is seeing a "distressing trend" in the United States' coronavirus outbreak. "Unfortunately, we are seeing a distressing trend here in the United States," he told reporters on a call. Health officials and infectious disease experts fear the situation could become dire as flu season begins and hospitals risk reaching capacity. Butler said the U.S. will likely have a safe and effective coronavirus vaccine "very soon," adding that he is "cautiously optimistic" a vaccine will be available in limited quantities by the end of the year. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar said on the same call that Pfizer and Moderna, front-runners in the Covid-19 vaccine race, are "very close if not fully enrolled in their trials."

Until the pandemic upended the operations of American companies, from factories to family diners, weekly jobless aid applications had never exceeded 700,000 in the U.S. They’ve topped 700,000 for 26 consecutive weeks. An extra $600 in weekly unemployment benefits ran out July 31, squeezing households that had depended on the beefed-up payments. President Donald Trump issued an executive order Aug. 8 providing a scaled-back version of the expanded jobless aid. “Layoffs remain widespread and a historically high number of individuals are still receiving some type of jobless benefits," Nancy Vanden Houten, lead U.S. economist at Oxford Economics, wrote in a resarch report. The extra $600 in weekly jobless benefits didn’t replace all her lost income but helped.

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Florida High School Athletic Association will hold an emergency meeting Monday to discuss fall sports. The board of directors is expected to discuss whether to recommend a fall sports season. The meeting comes amid rising coronavirus cases in Florida. Monday’s meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m.To keep up with the latest news on the pandemic, subscribe to News 6′s coronavirus newsletter and go to ClickOrlando.com/coronavirus.

REUTERS/Marco BelloWASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. judge ruled on Sunday that the state of Florida cannot force felons to pay legal fines and other fees before allowing them to register to vote. The state may disenfranchise felons and impose conditions on their reenfranchisement. Whatever might be said of a rationally constructed system, this one falls short in substantial respects, said Hinkles ruling in the Northern District of Florida. A group of Floridians and voting rights organizations sued Republican Governor Ron DeSantis last June, arguing that the law amounts to an illegal poll tax. The Republican-led Florida Senate drew up the payments bill just months after Floridians approved a constitutional amendment restoring voting rights to felons who have completed their sentences.

In a victory for retailers, the Florida Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to take up an appeal in a battle about the city of Coral Gables attempt to ban the use of Styrofoam food containers. As is common, the Supreme Court did not explain its reasons for declining to hear the case, but the decision was unanimous. The Attorney Generals Office backed the retailers in the case, including filing a brief in November at the Supreme Court. The bill barred local governments from regulating food-related polystyrene containers and made that prohibition retroactive to any local ordinances passed after Jan. 1, 2016. The Senate, for example, passed a bill (SB 172) last month that would prevent local governments from regulating over-the-counter drugs and cosmetics.

Florida State forward Malik Osborne (10) shoots the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Miami on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, in Coral Gables, Fla. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

9-ranked Florida State Seminoles forced 24 turnovers, including three in a row in overtime, and rallied from a nine-point deficit in the final 4:33 of regulation Saturday to earn their ninth consecutive victory by beating Miami 83-79. Sophomore Devin Vassell set a career high for the second consecutive game by leading Florida State with 23 points while adding 11 rebounds and five assists. M.J. Walker added 19 points in 23 minutes for the Seminoles, who won despite shooting 42 percent and committing 16 turnovers. Florida State (16-2, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), which began the day tied with No. The Hurricanes play Tuesday at Duke, which won 95-62 when the teams met Jan. 4.

(Reuters) - Four people died in a shootout following the theft of a United Parcel Service Inc (UPS.N) truck and an attempted jewelry store robbery in a Miami suburb, the FBI and police said late on Thursday. The incident began with an attempted robbery of a jewelry store in the Miami suburb of Coral Gables, in the citys famed Miracle Mile shopping district about 4:15 p.m. At least one bullet hit Coral Gables city hall, breaking a window and the building was put on lock-down, police said. The two thieves were shot and killed, FBI agent George Piro told the media. Two civilians were also killed, the UPS truck driver and a bystander, said Coral Gables Police Chief Ed Hudak.

Police pursuit of a carjacked UPS vehicle ended in a shootout on the streets of South Florida Thursday that left four people dead Thursday, including two suspects, officials said at a press conference. At approximately 4:36 p.m., the suspects hijacked a UPS vehicle, and led police on a high-speed chase through multiple counties, Piro said. The chase came to an end after the driver of the UPS vehicle was forced to slow down due to traffic. Police surround a UPS truck in South Florida on Thursday, December 5, 2019. UPS told CBS News that one of its employees was killed in the shootout.

Ron DeSantis and members of the state Cabinet on Monday named a Coral Gables securities lawyer to become Floridas third top financial regulator in less than two years. In a conference call lasting just over a minute, DeSantis recommended Russell Weigel for the job with a $166,000-a-year salary. DeSantis was backed by state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis and Attorney General Ashley Moody, while Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried abstained. DeSantis, Patronis and Moody ultimately decided to fire Rubin in July. DeSantis and the Cabinet share oversight of the Office of Financial Regulation.

Ron DeSantis and members of the state Cabinet on Monday named a Coral Gables securities lawyer to become Floridas third top financial regulator in less than two years. In a conference call lasting just over a minute, DeSantis recommended Russell Weigel for the job with a $166,000-a-year salary. DeSantis was backed by state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis and Attorney General Ashley Moody, while Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried abstained. DeSantis and the Cabinet share oversight of the Office of Financial Regulation. Fried, a Democrat, had been unsuccessful in repeated calls for DeSantis and the other Cabinet members, all Republicans, to name an interim leader for the Office of Financial Regulation.

Attorney General Ashley Moodys office Tuesday urged the Florida Supreme Court to reject an appeal in a battle about the city of Coral Gables attempt to ban the use of Styrofoam food containers. The city contends, in part, that the state preemption of the ordinance violates local home-rule powers. Lawmakers during the 2019 legislative session, for example, passed a bill that would have blocked local governments from banning plastic straws, but Gov. The bill barred local governments from regulating food-related polystyrene, containers and made that prohibition retroactive to any local ordinances passed after Jan. 1, 2016. Moodys office said that is another reason the Supreme Court should not wade into the dispute.

click to enlarge Florida Attorney General Office via Wikimedia CommonsAttorney General Ashley Moodys office Tuesday urged the Florida Supreme Court to reject an appeal in a battle about the city of Coral Gables attempt to ban the use of Styrofoam food containers.Coral Gables took the dispute to the Supreme Court after the 3rd District Court of Appeal in August upheld the constitutionality of state laws that blocked a 2016 city ordinance targeting polystyrene, better known as Styrofoam. Lawmakers during the 2019 legislative session, for example, passed a bill that would have blocked local governments from banning plastic straws, but Gov. Despite home rule, its hands are now tied, and there is nothing to indicate that the department will take action on polystyrene. Moodys office said that is another reason the Supreme Court should not wade into the dispute.Both pending bills, if passed, would repeal the preemptive effect of the three statutes at issue here, Tuesdays brief said. Because the preempting statutes are constitutional, and in light of these legislative efforts, the (Supreme) Court should defer to the political process regarding whether regulation of polystyrene should be a statewide or local matter.

The new ruling says state law can and does prevent Coral Gables from enacting a Styrofoam ban.The case focused heavily on a wide-ranging Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services bill that state lawmakers passed in March 2016. It is well-established that the home rule amendment must be strictly construed to maintain the supremacy of (state) general laws. (The 2016 state law) plainly preempts all municipalities statewide from enacting local polystyrene regulations after January 1, 2016. The city of Orlando banned single-use plastics and polystyrene on city property in June. "Lawmakers this year passed a bill (HB 771) that would have blocked local governments from banning plastic straws, but Gov.

In Defeat for Home Rule, Appeals Court Rejects Florida Citys Ban on Styrofoam Containers FlaglerLive | August 14, 2019Siding with the Florida Retail Federation and upholding the constitutionality of state laws, an appeals court Wednesday rejected a 2016 move by the city of Coral Gables to ban the use of Styrofoam food containers. Coral Gables approved a Styrofoam-ban ordinance in February 2016, and the retail federation and Super Progreso, Inc., later filed the lawsuit challenging its legality. Part of Cuetos ruling dealt with Miami-Dade County home-rule powers included in the Florida Constitution and said the 2016 state law improperly singled out Coral Gables. It is well-established that the home rule amendment must be strictly construed to maintain the supremacy of (state) general laws. (The 2016 state law) plainly preempts all municipalities statewide from enacting local polystyrene regulations after January 1, 2016.