Mexican actor Pablo Lyle gets prison for road rage death
MIAMI — (AP) — Mexican actor Pablo Lyle was sentenced Friday to five years in prison for involuntary manslaughter after fatally punching a man during a road rage confrontation in Miami in 2019. The sentence came almost four years after Lyle was charged with murder in the death of a man he struck during a traffic incident. Dressed in a red jail uniform, Lyle looked calm and expressed repentance during the more than three-hour hearing. After a week-long trial, a six-member jury convicted Lyle of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Juan Ricardo Hernández, 63. According to security video footage, Lyle and Hernández got into an argument, and the actor punched Hernández in the face.
wftv.comMemorable LeBron James moments as he closes in on NBA record
As LeBron James closes in on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and is about to become the NBA's career scoring leader the journey has included several memorable moments. Through 20 seasons and four NBA championships, the list of James' unforgettable nights is immeasurably long. Miami won 98-79, came home to beat the Celtics in Game 7 and went on to beat Oklahoma City for James' first NBA title. THE STREAKOn May 31, 2007, James and the Cavaliers went to Detroit for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals, series tied 2-2 entering what would become a double-overtime thriller. He finished with 48 points; Cleveland closed out the series with a Game 6 win and sent James to the NBA Finals for the first time.
wftv.comSigning day ends recruiting sagas for QB Rashada, CB McClain
Also in the Pac-12, Cormani McClain, previously committed to Miami, signed with Colorado to make it two straight years that coach Deion Sanders has landed a five-star cornerback. Last year, Sanders made recruiting history when he swayed five-star cornerback Travis Hunter to renege on a verbal commitment to Florida State and sign with Jackson State. The rest of the top 10 were LSU, Miami, Oregon, Tennessee and Notre Dame. Florida State, 16.017. Florida State, 2019.
wftv.comDems urge Biden to halt aid to Peru over protest crackdown
Peru's foreign minister is in Washington this week seeking international support for President Dina Boluarte's increasingly besieged government. “Security forces have indiscriminately responded with almost no regard for protestors’ human rights,” according to the letter, which was signed by 20 mostly progressive House Democrats. That shocked many Peruvians because campuses have long been off limits to security forces except when crimes are being committed. Officials from the United Nations and European Union have strongly condemned what they consider the disproportionate use of force. Ambassador Lisa Kenna announced an additional $8 million in U.S. support for coca eradication efforts in the remote Upper Huallaga valley.
wftv.comGregory Allen Howard, who wrote screenplay for ‘Remember the Titans,’ dead at 70
Gregory Allen Howard, who wrote the screenplays for the movies “Remember the Titans,” “Ali” and “Harriet,” died Friday at a Miami hospital. Sad to hear about the passing of Remember the Titans screenwriter Gregory Allen Howard. https://t.co/ekpyj804qy pic.twitter.com/8b53gdyNX9 — Ashley Spencer (@AshleyySpencer) January 28, 2023Inspired by the story, Howard wrote the screenplay and became the first Black screenwriter to pen a $100 million drama. The 2000 film starred Denzel Washington in the lead role. Howard also taught a screenwriting course at Howard University as a visiting professor, the Post reported.
wftv.com2 ex-police officers in Florida charged with beating homeless man
MIAMI — Two ex-police officers in Miami, Florida have reportedly been charged with beating a homeless man. Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said in a news conference, according to the AP, that both men have been charged with kidnapping and battery. Fernandez Rundle said that the officers were called out to a shopping center on Dec. 17 about a homeless man who was frequenting the area, according to the AP. The officers allegedly beat the man and was thrown to the ground, according to the AP. The homeless man was identified as Jose Ortega Gutierrez, 50, according to the newspaper.
wftv.comMiami fires offensive coordinator Josh Gattis after just one season
Josh Gattis’ Miami tenure lasted all of one season. Gattis was hired by coach Mario Cristobal after Cristobal left Oregon to become Miami’s head coach. It also means that Miami is in the market for an offensive coordinator along with Michigan and Alabama. The 2022 season is already a big one for Cristobal and the Hurricanes. Arroyo worked with Cristobal at Oregon and was the Ducks' offensive coordinator in 2019 before becoming the Rebels' head coach.
wftv.comOperation Nightingale: 25 charged in fake nursing diploma scheme in Florida
>> Read more trending newsAccording to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, the defendants took part in a scam that involved fake diplomas from three South Florida-based nursing schools. Prosecutors said on Wednesday that the scheme also involved transcripts from the nursing schools for people seeking licenses and jobs as registered nurses, practical nurses and vocational nurses. Fraudulent Nursing Diploma Scheme Leads to Federal Charges Against 25 Defendants: More than two dozen individuals have been charged in the Southern District of Florida for their alleged participation in a wire fraud scheme. Other students were recruited from outside Florida to participate in the nursing programs, prosecutors said. “The nursing candidates had done no work for these diplomas,” Lapointe told reporters, according to WPLG.
wftv.comFlorida Gov. DeSantis proposes new statewide criminal justice reform
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis proposed implementing criminal justice reform efforts statewide Thursday, which include bolstering penalties for drug and sex crimes, easing restrictions on administering the death penalty and preventing the early release of offenders.
Fake nursing diploma scheme in Florida; 25 arrested
Federal authorities in Florida have charged 25 people with participating in a wire fraud scheme that created an illegal shortcut for aspiring nurses to get licensed and find employment. Recently unsealed federal grand jury indictments allege the defendants took part in a scam that sold more than 7,600 fraudulent nursing degree diplomas from three Florida-based nursing schools, federal officials said during a news conference in Miami on Wednesday afternoon. Prosecutors said the scheme also involved transcripts from the nursing schools for people seeking licenses and jobs as registered nurses and licensed practical/vocational nurses.
news.yahoo.comUS court gives $153 million to Miami man jailed in Venezuela
A federal judge in Miami has awarded $153 million in damages to the family of an exiled Venezuelan lawyer lured back home by his father’s kidnapping only to end up imprisoned for two years on trumped up charges of working as a “financial terrorist” undermining President Nicolás Maduro's rule. Carlos Marrón brought the lawsuit after fleeing Venezuela and describing to The Associated Press the beatings, asphyxiation and other abuse he claims to have suffered while detained. The ruling issued Monday is the second of its kind in recent months targeting Maduro's government over its alleged ties to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia under a little used federal law that allows American victims of foreign terror groups to seize the assets of their victimizers.
news.yahoo.comBrightline partners with Uber to add rideshare to tickets
ORLANDO, Fla. — People looking to travel between Orlando and Miami will have a new way to get to and from Brightline stations in South Florida. Read: Brightline reveals first look at new Orlando station at OIABrighline announced Friday that it would partner with Brightline+ and Uber to offer rideshare assistance in the Brighline+ app. Watch: Central Florida Spotlight: BrightlineThe rideshare option will help travelers avoid highway traffic and make it easier to get to and from the five Brightline stations. The company said this would help customers and already facilitate airport shuttles, event shuttles, and electric golf carts. Read: EXCLUSIVE: Brightline on track to bring passengers to Orlando 2023Guests can add a private or shared Uber ride along with their Brightline train ticket.
wftv.comDolphins blow best chance at beating Bills with butchered 4th-down sequence, wasted timeouts
The Miami Dolphins had a great chance to stun the Buffalo Bills on Sunday despite playing with third-string quarterback Skylar Thompson. When the play clock hit 4 seconds, they were still in their huddle. They burned their third and final timeout earlier on their final drive for the same reason. With the play clock ticking toward zero, the Dolphins called a timeout on offense on a second-down play. With the play clock winding down on third-and-10 early in the fourth quarter, the Dolphins were slow to leave the huddle.
wftv.comHamlin cheers on Bills from home, says 'heart is with' team
"My heart is with my guys as they compete today!" Hamlin tweeted less than hour before kickoff. Nothing I want more than to be out there with them!” Hamlin posted, along with a video of himself greeting fans during the Bills' last game against Miami, which was on Dec. 17. A person with direct knowledge of the player’s schedule had told The Associated Press on Sunday that Hamlin planned to attend the game in person. Hamlin visited teammates at the Bills' stadium on Saturday but has not been seen in public since being rushed off the field in Cincinnati in an ambulance on Jan. 2.
wftv.comMiami Heat home arena gets temporary name after FTX collapse
MIAMI — (AP) — The home of the Miami Heat has yet another name: Miami-Dade Arena. The Heat and Miami-Dade County announced the new name Friday, two days after a bankruptcy court terminated the county's naming rights deal with collapsed cryptocurrency exchange FTX. “Effective immediately, Miami-Dade County and the Miami Heat have agreed that, until such time as there is a new naming rights partner, to refer to the arena as Miami-Dade Arena," the parties said in a joint statement. The county owns the arena and negotiated what was to be a 19-year, $135 million naming rights deal with FTX. Before the FTX deal, the building had been referred to as AmericanAirlines Arena since its opening in 1999.
wftv.comUS Coast Guard in Florida stops hundreds fleeing Cuba, Haiti by sea, returns most
MIAMI — (AP) — The Coast Guard returned another 177 Cuban migrants who were caught at sea off Florida to the island on Thursday, while a group of about two dozen Haitians swam ashore in Miami. The Cuban migrants were all intercepted separately off the coast earlier this month, according to a Coast Guard news release. They were repatriated by two Coast Guard cutters. Read: DeSantis activates Florida National Guard after migrants land in Florida KeysGood Samaritans among island beachgoers helped some of the migrants ashore with small boats and jet skis, Selva said. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr.
wftv.comUS stops hundreds fleeing Cuba, Haiti by sea, returns most
The Cuban migrants were all intercepted separately off the coast earlier this month, according to a Coast Guard news release. They were repatriated by two Coast Guard cutters. The latest returns and landings came just after President Joe Biden’s administration began a new policy to start turning back Cubans, Haitians and Nicaraguans at the Texas border, along with Venezuelans, who arrive illegally. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Don't put your life at risk by taking to the sea when you don't have to.”____Curt Anderson reported from St. Petersburg, Fla.
wftv.comUS stops hundreds fleeing Cuba, Haiti by sea, returns most
The Cuban migrants were all intercepted separately off the coast earlier this month, according to a Coast Guard news release. They were repatriated by two Coast Guard cutters. The latest returns and landings came just after President Joe Biden’s administration began a new policy to start turning back Cubans, Haitians and Nicaraguans at the Texas border, along with Venezuelans, who arrive illegally. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Don't put your life at risk by taking to the sea when you don't have to.”____Curt Anderson reported from St. Petersburg, Fla.
wftv.comCoast Guard returns 177 Cubans caught at sea to the island
MIAMI — (AP) — The Coast Guard returned another 177 Cuban migrants who were caught at sea to the island on Thursday. The migrants were all intercepted separately off Florida's coast earlier this month, according to a Coast Guard news release. They were repatriated by two Coast Guard cutters. Since Oct. 1, 2022, the Coast Guard has interdicted more than 4,900 Cuban migrants at sea as they attempted the risky Florida Straits crossing to illegally enter the Keys island chain and other parts of the state. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr.
wftv.comFlorida doctor sentenced to 20 years for substance abuse treatment fraud scheme
MIAMI — A Florida doctor was sentenced on Monday to 20 years in prison for engaging in a multiyear scheme to bill health care benefit programs for fraudulent tests -- including unnecessary urine tests -- for patients suffering from alcohol and drug addiction, prosecutors said. Ligotti pleaded guilty in October in the Southern District of Florida to conspiring to commit health care and wire fraud and was ordered to surrender his Florida medical license, the Miami Herald reported. Florida doctor gets 20 years for urine-testing scheme that cost insurers $125 million https://t.co/LpmYDsnaOk — Miami Herald (@MiamiHerald) January 10, 2023The case was part of the Department of Justice’s Sober Homes Initiative. Prosecutors said Ligotti authorized the fraudulent tests for patients, the Herald reported. The FBI and our partners will continue to pursue those individuals who use our health care system to prey on the vulnerable and steal from the taxpayers.”©2022 Cox Media Group
wftv.comRecord 5 1st-year coaches lead teams into postseason
Bowles struggled a bit more as Tampa Bay won just eight games to become the fourth division winner in NFL history with a losing record. Two of the previous three — the 2010 Seahawks (7-9) and 2014 Panthers (7-8-10) — won a playoff game, while Washington (7-9) lost to the Bucs in the 2020 playoffs. Two of those three matchups ended in splits in the regular season with the Ravens and Bengals, and Dolphins and Bills splitting their two games. San Francisco is the 13th team in the Super Bowl era to end the regular season on a winning streak of at least 10 games. Five of the teams lost their first playoff game: the 2019 Ravens, 2012 Broncos, 2009 Chargers, 2006 Chargers and 1993 Oilers.
wftv.comFlorida’s Democratic Party chairman resigns, says party ‘resistant to change’
Manny Diaz, the former Miami mayor who was in charge of the Democratic Party in Florida, resigned as party chairman Monday in a lengthy letter that exposed party shortcomings with building membership and accused the party’s culture as being “resistant to change.
Nets top Heat 102-101, lose Durant to right knee injury
Royce O'Neale's putback with 3.2 seconds left put Brooklyn to stay, and the Nets beat the Miami Heat 102-101 on Sunday night in a game where Durant left in the third quarter with a right knee injury. “Right knee, he'll get evaluated tomorrow and then hopefully I'll have some more info," Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said. Durant left with 36.6 seconds left in the third quarter, not long after he appeared to get hurt on a drive by Miami's Jimmy Butler. Durant grabbed at his right knee after Butler, who had just driven to the basket, landed with his back to Durant and fell into him. “Jimmy made the absolute right play," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said, after the team argued for a foul to no avail.
wftv.comDurant leaves Nets game in Miami with right knee injury
MIAMI — (AP) — Brooklyn forward Kevin Durant left in the second half of the Nets' game in Miami on Sunday night with a right knee injury. Durant appeared to be hurt when Heat forward Jimmy Butler fell into the Nets' forward on a drive late in the third quarter. Durant grabbed at his right knee after Butler, who had just driven to the basket, landed with his back to Durant and fell into him. Durant stayed in the game briefly, then went into the locker room for evaluation. The Nets quickly determined that he would not return to the game.
wftv.com15-foot Burmese python slithers across road in Everglades National Park
MIAMI — For those wondering why a Burmese python crosses the road, here is the answer: Because it can. >> Read more trending newsA 15-footer of the invasive species was caught crossing a highway in South Florida’s Everglades National Park, WTVJ reported. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website, Burmese pythons are found primarily in and around the Everglades in South Florida, and the snake represents a threat to native wildlife. Every year, Florida hosts a competition to eliminate Burmese pythons. In 2022, more than 230 of the pythons were removed from the Everglades, according to WTVJ.
wftv.comSteelers beat Browns 28-14 but miss out on playoffs
PITTSBURGH — (AP) — Najee Harris ran for 84 yards and a touchdown and the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Cleveland Browns 28-14 on Sunday but were eliminated from the playoffs when Miami edged the New York Jets. The Steelers (9-8) will have to settle for a 16th straight non-losing season under coach Mike Tomlin, fueled by a 7-2 finish. Pittsburgh's defense sacked Deshaun Watson seven times to assure the Steelers of finishing ahead of the Browns (7-10) in the standings for the 34th consecutive time. The Browns will miss out on the playoffs for a second straight year, although coach Kevin Stefanski’s job appears safe. ... C Mason Cole was evaluated for a left ankle injury in the third quarter but did not miss a series.
wftv.comMessage from US asylum hopefuls: Financial sponsors needed
President Joe Biden announced a massive expansion of humanitarian parole Thursday for Cubans, Haitians, Venezuelans and Nicaraguans that is reserved for those who apply online, pay airfare and have a financial sponsor for two years. She set up a website, circulated a signup sheet and got 40,000 responses from people seeking financial backing, some representing entire families. Biden said Thursday that up to 30,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans would be eligible for humanitarian parole every month, entitling them to work in the U.S. for two years. He said U.S. officials are also working on a plan under which people may seek asylum through scheduled appointments at border entry points. Some who arrive at the border will later obtain asylum through the U.S. immigration courts, but not all will qualify.
wftv.comPolice: ‘Multiple people’ injured in shooting outside Miami-area restaurant
MIAMI — Multiple people were injured Thursday in a shooting outside a Miami-area restaurant, authorities said. >> Read more trending newsAccording to Miami Gardens Police Detective Diana Gourgue, officers responded to The Licking, a soul food restaurant in Miami Gardens, at about 8 p.m. EST, WTVJ reported. Police confirmed that “multiple people” were shot, with at least four victims airlifted to Miami Jackson Memorial Hospital for treatment, according to WFOR. Witnesses said the shooting occurred during a video shoot for rapper French Montana in the parking lot of the restaurant, WTVJ and WFOR reported. Police believe the shooting occurred after an altercation started at an unknown location and eventually spilled over to the restaurant, according to WTVJ.
wftv.comBed Bath & Beyond shares plummet as company warns of deeper financial troubles
A Bed Bath & Beyond store is seen on June 29, 2022 in Miami, Florida. Bed Bath & Beyond warned Thursday that it has had slower than expected sales, which contributed to mounting losses and deeper financial troubles for the struggling home goods retailer. Shares of the company plummeted by 17% in pre-market trading. Net sales in the fiscal third-quarter, which ended Nov. 26, are expected to be about $1.26 billion — a sharp drop from $1.88 billion in the year-ago period. Please check back for updates.
cnbc.com2 cruise ships rescue more migrants off Florida coast
MIAMI — (AP) — Crew members aboard two cruise ships rescued around two dozen migrants in small boats, the latest episode of hundreds making or attempting landings in the Florida Keys over the past several days, authorities said. Crew members aboard Celebrity Beyond rescued 19 migrants from a crowded boat Monday, and crew members aboard Carnival Celebration spotted five people in distress on a small vessel about 29 miles (46 kilometers) northwest of Cuba. Once the migrants were rescued from their drifting boat, the Carnival Celebration crew members contacted the U.S. Coast Guard, which took them into custody offshore, said Matt Lupoli, a spokesperson for Carnival Cruise Line. After the migrants were aboard the ship, crew members provided them with blankets, a change of clothes, food and a medical evaluation, she said. The rescues were made amid a wave of migrant landings in the Florida Keys in the past several days that the local sheriff's office has called a “crisis."
wftv.com2 cruise ships rescue more migrants off Florida coast
Crew members aboard two cruise ships rescued around two dozen migrants in small boats, the latest episode of hundreds making or attempting landings in the Florida Keys over the past several days, authorities said. Crew members aboard Celebrity Beyond rescued 19 migrants from a crowded boat Monday, and crew members aboard Carnival Celebration spotted five people in distress on a small vessel about 29 miles (46 kilometers) northwest of Cuba. Once the migrants were rescued from their drifting boat, the Carnival Celebration crew members contacted the U.S. Coast Guard, which took them into custody offshore, said Matt Lupoli, a spokesperson for Carnival Cruise Line.
news.yahoo.comTakeout bots: Uber Eats showcases robotic food delivery in Florida
MIAMI — Uber Eats is trying out some new technology for its deliveries in Florida. The company is working with a company to have robots to deliver food and more to its customers. Read: Squeeze on Florida’s orange crop may cause surge in orange juice prices, analysts predictUber Eats recently showcased the autonomous delivery service in Miami. The six-wheeled robots have sensors and cameras to help them choose routes and avoid collisions. See: Disney World previews ‘Moana’ inspired attraction ‘The Journey of Water’Customers get a signal when the robot is waiting outside their house on the sidewalk.
wftv.comAP basketball Top 25: Xavier snaps UConn's undefeated run, leaving just 2 undefeated teams
Here’s everything you missed in Week 8 of the season, and the latest Associated Press men’s college basketball poll. UConn finally goes down, leaving 2 undefeated teamsThere are just two undefeated teams left in college basketball. Though UConn’s loss isn’t detrimental by any means, it does stop the Huskies from overtaking Purdue in this week’s rankings. The only other undefeated team in college basketball is New Mexico, which narrowly survived a one-point battle with Wyoming on Saturday. The Hurricanes are undefeated so far in conference play, with that win over Virginia under their belt, and have proven they can run with anyone.
wftv.com$740M in crypto assets recovered in FTX bankruptcy so far
The company tasked with locking down the assets in the failed cryptocurrency exchange FTX said they’ve managed to recover and secure $740 million in assets so far, a fraction of the potential billions that is likely missing from bankrupt company’s coffers.
Tom Brady, Larry David, other celebrities named in FTX suit
A host of Hollywood and sports celebrities including Larry David and Tom Brady were named as defendants in a class-action lawsuit against cryptocurrency exchange FTX, arguing that their celebrity status made them culpable for promoting the firm’s failed business model.
Miami Heat's home arena will get new name after FTX collapse
The arena where the Miami Heat play will soon have a new name, after the team and Miami-Dade County decided Friday to begin actions to terminate their relationship with FTX on the same day that the cryptocurrency exchange filed for bankruptcy.
Florida objects to federal election monitors in polling places
The U.S. Department of Justice routinely sends monitors to precincts around the country to make sure that Election Day is going smoothly, but on Monday Gov. Ron DeSantis’s administration objected to the oversight in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.