Panthers hope All-Star weekend showcased team's investment
SUNRISE, Fla. — (AP) — Matthew Tkachuk is under contract to the Florida Panthers for much of the next decade. And right there are two compelling reasons for players to join the Panthers in the coming years. So much about the Panthers has changed over the last few years, and All-Star weekend was both confirmation and affirmation. “There’s no quick-fixes,” Florida Panthers president Matthew Caldwell said. And the Panthers can only hope some All-Stars this weekend took notice.
wftv.com25 people charged in massive scheme to sell thousands of fake diplomas to nursing students
ORLANDO, Fla. — More than two-dozen people have been charged for their roles in a massive fraud scheme that provided bogus diplomas to thousands of nursing students.
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Florida police arrest man accused of stealing van with man in wheelchair inside
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — A New Hampshire man is accused of stealing a van with a nonverbal man in a wheelchair inside the vehicle before ditching it in a South Florida city, authorities said. The 55-year-old nonverbal man, who uses a wheelchair, was inside the van when it was stolen, according to the website. The man was unharmed but Peloquin was not in the van, according to the television station. Del Toro said the detectives met with Peloquin in Port Salerno, where he was taken into custody, according to WPEC. “(Oge) was responsible for a disabled adult, left the gentleman in the vehicle running unattended,” Del Toro told reporters.
wftv.comNew Jersey Devils assistant Andrew Brunette arrested on DUI charge in South Florida
New Jersey Devils assistant Andrew Brunette is accused of driving under the influence and disobeying a traffic sign in South Florida, authorities said. Brunette played in the NHL for 16 seasons and was the interim head coach of the Florida Panthers in 2021-22 before joining the Devils this season, according to Hockey-Reference.com. Former Florida Panthers coach arrested on charge of driving golf cart under the influence https://t.co/WFzVJenKWi pic.twitter.com/l0BHcI4w6o — South Florida Sun Sentinel (@SunSentinel) February 1, 2023According to the Sun-Sentinel, a sheriff’s deputy was issuing Brunette’s golf cart a ticket for illegal parking in Deerfield Beach. The sheriff conducted a traffic stop, and when Brunette refused to take a breath test he was arrested, the Sun-Sentinel reported. The NFL’s All-Star Weekend is being held in the South Florida city of Sunrise, where the Panthers play their home games.
wftv.comDevils associate coach Andrew Brunette charged with DUI
DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. — (AP) — New Jersey Devils associate coach and former Florida Panthers head coach Andrew Brunette was arrested Wednesday in South Florida and charged with driving under the influence. Brunette was pulled over in the Deerfield Beach area, north of Fort Lauderdale, according to Broward County jail records. Online jail and court records didn't list an attorney for Brunette. Brunette is in his first season as associate coach of the Devils. He was interim coach of the Florida Panthers last season after taking over when Joel Quenneville resigned for his connection to a 2010 Chicago Blackhawks sexual abuse scandal.
wftv.comSouth Carolina tops women's AP Top 25; Ohio State tumbles
It was a rough week for Ohio State, which lost all three of its games and tumbled down the AP Top 25 as a result. LSU is the only other undefeated team in women's basketball besides South Carolina, which visits UConn for a top-five showdown on Sunday. Iowa jumped out four spots to sixth with Utah, Maryland and Notre Dame coming in ahead of Ohio State. “For us not being in a so-called football five conference, that’s a huge accomplishment,” South Florida coach Jose Fernandez said. The team's four losses have all come against ranked opponents (Michigan, Villanova, Ohio State and N.C. State).
wftv.comFlorida animal rescue group seeks donations to treat abandoned, burned 4-week-old puppy
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A South Florida animal rescue organization is seeking donations as it attempts to save the life of a 4-week-old puppy that was discovered abandoned and severely burned. >> Read more trending newsMutty Paws Rescue in Palm Beach County wrote in a graphic Facebook post that the Palm Springs-based group received the 3-pound puppy on Saturday. The animal was taken to Miami-Dade Animal Services before being transferred to Mutty Paws Rescue, according to the television station. “When we received his rescue plea.. we didn’t grasp how bad his burns actually would be in person. Persons wishing to help Dade can donate at the Mutty Paws Rescue website.
wftv.com‘He’s a trooper’: Dog recovering after being ‘cemented’ to sidewalk in Florida city
BOCA RATON, Fla. — A dog is recovering after the abandoned animal was discovered stuck to a sidewalk in a South Florida city. >> Read more trending newsAccording to a Facebook post from Tri-County Humane, the dog, who officials have named Trooper, was found covered in his waste on a sidewalk in Boca Raton. “It took them, they say, about an hour to pick him up off the sidewalk,” Julia Sheehan, the veterinarian who has been treating Trooper, told WPBF-TV. “He was covered in fecal material, burrs, even maggots,” Sheehan told WBPF. Sheehan said Trooper has been responding well to the treatments and the attention he has been receiving from the Tri-County Humane staff.
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.comFeds investigate Florida nursing schools that sold thousands of fake diplomas
ORLANDO, Fla. — Federal investigators are warning healthcare facilities nationwide after uncovering a scheme that sold thousands of fake diplomas to people looking to work as nurses. Prosecutors said this involved three nursing schools in South Florida. Photos: Feds investigate Florida nursing schools that sold thousands of fake diplomasExpand Autoplay Image 1 of 8 Feds investigate Florida nursing schools that sold thousands of fake diplomasMore than two dozen people have been arrested in connection with the scheme. The fake diplomas offer a dangerous shortcut into the nursing field. Prosecutors said in some cases, students would use the fake diplomas to get nursing jobs in other states, without proper training.
wftv.comMLS player Anton Walkes dies in South Florida boating accident
MIAMI — Anton Walkes, a defender for Major League Soccer’s Charlotte FC franchise, died Thursday after a boat crash in South Florida, officials said. We are deeply saddened to share that Anton Walkes has tragically passed away this morning. pic.twitter.com/8oUcHvWW6g — Charlotte FC (@CharlotteFC) January 19, 2023“Everyone at Tepper Sports & Entertainment is devastated by the tragic passing of Anton Walkes. He was acquired by Atlanta United FC in 2020, where he had previously been on loan, WSB-TV reported. An inaugural member of Atlanta United, Anton was the epitome of a great teammate with a personality that lit up every room he entered,” Atlanta United said in a statement.
wftv.comGov. DeSantis talks hurricane recovery, gives $1M from disaster fund to South Florida schools
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday held a news conference at a street corner near Fort Myers, recapping the state’s ongoing recovery efforts in South Florida after Hurricane Ian, previewing some future plans and awarding money to local education foundations.
Brightline 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.comDucklings that fell in drain rescued by Florida fire rescue unit
BOCA RATON, Fla. — Workers conducted their first duck rescue of the year on Friday in South Florida. >> Read more trending newsAccording to a Facebook post by Palm Beach County Fire Rescue, several ducklings fell through a drain grate in western Boca Raton. Rescue workers used the Jaws of Life to open the drain, the agency wrote on Facebook. A net was then used to dip into the drain and remove the ducklings. “The ducklings and their mother were reunited and went on their merry way!” Palm Beach County Fire Rescue wrote on Facebook.
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.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.comMultiple people wounded in shooting near Florida restaurant
Multiple people were wounded Thursday night in a shooting after an altercation outside a restaurant in south Florida, police said. It wasn’t immediately clear how many people were hit by gunfire, but the Miami Herald cited a law enforcement source saying as many as 10 people were wounded in the shooting outside a soul food restaurant in Miami Gardens. Investigators were looking into reports that a video was being shot at the restaurant, Miami Gardens Police Chief Delma Noel-Pratt said.
news.yahoo.comFlorida deputy suspended after shotgun, rifle stolen from vehicle
A South Florida deputy was suspended for two days after burglars allegedly stole a bag full of weapons from his patrol vehicle last year. According to the report, Ramirez told investigators that he parked the sheriff’s office cruiser outside his apartment at about 6:30 p.m. EST on May 12, 2022, WPEC-TV reported. Two days later, he called the sheriff’s office communications department to report that the vehicle’s rear window had been shattered. According to the internal affairs report, Ramirez flagged down Boynton Beach police Officer Janelle Jumelles, who was patrolling the area for vehicle burglaries. Jumelles told investigators that Ramirez claimed he saw his “vehicle secured on May 14, 2022, at about 11:40 p.m. EST, WPEC reported.
wftv.comFlorida’s Lion Country Safari welcomes giraffe calf
LOXAHATCHEE, Fla. — A South Florida drive-through safari park welcomed a giraffe calf on Tuesday, officials said. >> Read more trending newsIn a news release, Lion Country Safari announced the birth of a male giraffe calf. The yet unnamed calf was born to Ayanna, an 18-year-old giraffe, WPEC-TV reported. Park officials asked people to name the calf in a Facebook post and will announce the winner soon. The choices are Kandoro, which means sweet potato; Mahaba, which means love; and Kianga, which means sunshine.
wftv.comFlorida preschool teacher accused of slapping 1-year-old during diaper change
MIAMI — A South Florida preschool teacher is accused of slapping a 1-year-old child while changing the boy’s diaper, authorities said. Perez-Barrios is a teacher at Brickell Heights Preschool, the Miami Herald reported. The woman took the boy to a physician to have it looked at, according to the television station. Surveillance video from the school showed Perez-Barrios striking the toddler several times in the thigh as she changed his diaper, according to WTVJ. When shown the surveillance video, Perez-Barrios allegedly said she did not remember striking the child, according to the arrest report.
wftv.comFlorida man lost temper while shoplifting clothes, deputies say
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A man accused of shoplifting clothes from a South Florida store in early December became angry when he realized the store’s front door had been locked, authorities said. The man, wearing a black-and-white jacket, black pants and black hat, is shown kicking the door and slamming against it, the Miami Herald reported. Unknown to the alleged shoplifter, the store was about to close and employees had locked the door, the sheriff’s office said. Deputies said the man could have simply unlocked the door and left with the clothes, the Herald reported. The sheriff’s office asked that anyone who can identify the man contact Detective Armando Enrique at 954-321-4233 or submit a tip through the SaferWatch app.
wftv.comDeputies: 3 South Florida men caught with 13 catalytic converters in trunk of stolen car
FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. — Three South Florida men are facing a long list of charges after deputies say they were caught in a stolen car with a trunk full of catalytic converters. Deputies say they also found 13 catalytic converters in the trunk as well as the tools commonly used to steal them. 3 South Florida men caught with 13 catalytic converters in trunk of stolen car 18-year-old Shancello Gazich, 19-year-old Michael Antunez, and 25-year-old Franko Louis, all facing multiple charges related to theft of catalytic converters. They were booked into the Flagler County jail and have since been released after posting $10,500 bond each. “The theft of catalytic converters is a nationwide problem involving criminals that know no boundaries,” Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staley said in a statement.
wftv.comDeSantis administration launches investigation into holiday drag show
Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) on Wednesday announced it was investigating a holiday-themed drag show in South Florida. It said the department had received “multiple complaints” alleging a Dec. 26 performance of Drag Fans’ “A Drag Queen Christmas” was “sexually explicit” and “marketed to children.” “The Department is actively investigating this matter,…
news.yahoo.comVideo shows man randomly shooting gun while driving on South Florida highway, troopers say
MIAMI, Fla. — The Florida Highway Patrol arrested a man after he allegedly fired a gun out of a moving car on the highway. Troopers said video shows Nelson Perez-Valdivia firing several shots on State Road 826. Read: Florida inmate reportedly dies after alleged attack on prison deputiesHe was arrested by troopers with the assistance of the Miami Police Department. Video shows man randomly shooting gun while driving on South Florida highway, troopers sayRead: Bob Saget’s widow, shares details of last Christmas with her husbandOfficers said he is facing several criminal charges. ©2022 Cox Media Group
wftv.comConcerns grow over Florida’s manatee population after recent cold snap
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Wildlife crews are making sure Florida’s manatee population is safe after the recent cold snap. In South Florida, some “sea cows” were seen gathered in warm water near a power plant in West Palm Beach. Read: Manatees huddle together as the cold weather moves through FloridaWarm water is crucial for the creatures to survive and thrive. The manatee protections include “no-entry” zones to keep boats out of the warm waters that attract manatees in the winter. Read: Florida manatee feeding program restarts to help ease starvation crisis, wildlife officials sayThe protections come after the state partnered with the U.S.
wftv.comBaker Act exams for children on the rise in Florida, new study shows
ORLANDO, Fla. — It’s a sobering sign of Florida’s mental health crisis among children. According to a new study by the University of South Florida, more children than ever are being Baker Acted. While the total number of Baker Act exams performed on adults in Florida is down, many of the involuntary mental health exams were done on children during fiscal year 2020-2021 than ever before. READ: Orange County warming centers open despite staffing concernsThe number of involuntary psychiatric exams on children exceed 38,000, an increase of 77% in just the past decade, equivalent to an average of more than 100 children a day who, in one year, underwent mental health exams against their will in Florida. According to the report, the highest number of exams on children during that time period occurred among white girls between the ages of 11 and 14.
wftv.comHave you seen him? Alert issued for missing child in South Florida
BOCA RATON, Fla. — An alert was sent out Friday morning for a toddler reported missing in South Florida. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said 1-year-old Gabriel Ristick is missing from the Boca Raton area. Police said he was last seen wearing a black hoodie and blue jeans. He was last seen wearing a gray polo and blue jeans. Watch: Vandals damage system built to protect Volusia County coast after hurricane, officials sayAnyone with information on the whereabouts of the child is asked to call the Boca Raton Police Department at 561-368-6201 or 911.
wftv.com5-star defensive back committed to Miami doesn't show at school's signing ceremony
Five-star defensive back Cormani McClain’s decision to not sign with Miami on Wednesday appeared to catch many people by surprise. The Florida native goes to Lakeland High School and was set to sign with the Hurricanes during a signing ceremony at his school. And McClain didn’t go to the ceremony after his mom said earlier in the day that he wouldn’t be signing on the first day of the early signing period. His own school didn’t know 😬📸: @polk_way pic.twitter.com/qGQKnCdFfG — Rivals (@Rivals) December 21, 2022McClain is ranked as the top recruit in the state of Florida and the No. He would be happy to answer any questions regarding the game, but he made it clear that he did not want to answer any questions regarding recruiting.”As of now, Miami’s class ranks No.
wftv.comFormer Florida nurse accused of switching vials of liquid fentanyl with saline
MIAMI — A registered nurse in South Florida, whose license was suspended in August, is accused of tampering with vials of liquid fentanyl and replacing them with saline, federal prosecutors said. The incidents occurred at The Surgery Center at Jensen Beach, TCPalm.com reported. https://t.co/Hn6OUXb4Gt — TCPalm (@TCPalm) December 17, 2022According to an investigation conducted in August by the Florida Department of Health, Dunton allegedly swapped the vials at the outpatient surgery center from Feb. 28 to April 18 this year, WPEC-TV reported. Dunton, hired at the center in 2021, allegedly switched the vials “two to three days a week,” TCPalm.com reported. An employee at The Surgery Center referred inquiries to corporate officials in Dallas, who on Friday did not respond to requests for comment, according to the news outlet.
wftv.comPart-time basketball coach at Florida high school accused of paying for teens’ nude photos
STUART, Fla. — A campus monitor and part-time basketball coach at a South Florida high school is accused of paying female students to send him nude photographs, authorities said. Edwards worked as a campus monitor and helped coach basketball at Martin County High School, according to the television station. Martin County High School coach arrested, accused of soliciting teen girls for nude pictures https://t.co/jySQD7hsuB — WPTV (@WPTV) December 9, 2022Martin County Sheriff William Snyder said that his department received a tip about a week ago that Edwards was allegedly paying for nude photos, WBPF-TV reported. He told reporters that most of the students appeared to be 15 and 16 years old, according to WPTV. Martin County High School employee accused of paying teenage girls for nude photos https://t.co/PbNDQ52i5X — WPBF 25 News (@WPBF25News) December 10, 2022In a message to parents and employees, Martin County High School Principal Alfred Fabrizio said that the school district and sheriff’s office were “made aware of a very serious” allegation.
wftv.comWhoa, boa: Florida homeowner finds large albino snake in backyard
>> Read more trending newsRhett Stanberry and Taylor Stanberry, who wrangle snakes, received a message last weekend from a homeowner near Naples about a “huge python” in their backyard, the Miami Herald reported. After arriving, the Stanberrys realized the snake was not a python but an albino boa constrictor that measured nearly 9.5 feet long, they wrote on their Facebook account. “You NEVER know what you will find in South Florida!” Rhett Stanberry wrote. “That is the fattest boa constrictor I’ve ever seen.”“He’s so fat he can’t get away,” Taylor Stanberry added/Rhett Stanberry initially thought the snake was docile, but he was wrong. “We are putting this girl on a diet, she’s already a meany so I’m sure she is gonna get even meaner when she’s hungry,” Taylor Stanberry wrote in a reply to her post on Instagram.
wftv.comDemings talks gun violence in South Florida campaign stop
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Val Demings visited a Coral Springs community center Thursday, calling for passage of “common sense” gun control laws and calling out her challenger, incumbent Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, for not supporting them.
Viral TikTok emu fights to survive avian flu that struck its entire South Florida farm
You might know of Emmanuel the Emu, the viral TikTok sensation, from hilarious videos taken at a farm in South Florida. But what you might not know is that the animal has been fighting for its life this past week after being sickened with the avian flu.
Many Floridians now eligible for Transitional Sheltering Assistance after Ian, FEMA says
The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Friday announced Floridians living in counties deemed eligible for FEMA individual assistance after Hurricane Ian qualify for the now-activated Transitional Sheltering Program.