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Judge who sentenced Parkland shooter removed from other case

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:46:18 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The judge who oversaw the sentencing of the Parkland massacre gunman was removed from another death penalty murder case Thursday by the Florida Supreme Court, which agreed she showed unfair sympathy for prosecutors in the Parkland school shooting case.The court removed Judge Elizabeth Scherer from overseeing any post-conviction proceedings for Randy Tundidor, who was sentenced to death for the 2019 murder of his Broward County landlord and is appealing his case.Justices cited Scherer’s chummy interactions with prosecutors who were seeking the death penalty against shooter Nikolas Cruz during sentencing.“Immediately after sentencing Cruz, Judge Scherer left the bench and, while still in her judicial robe, exchanged hugs with the victims’ families and members of the prosecution team,” the justices’ said in their unanimous decision.Judges are supposed to remain neutral during trials and sentencing.One of the prosecutors in Tundidor’s cas...

American Red Cross sets up shelter in Fort Lauderdale for those displaced after heavy flooding ruins homes

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:46:18 GMT

For residents that needed to be rescued after severe flooding impacted parts of Broward County, they are receiving more help from the American Red Cross. For the next few days, Holiday Park Gymnasium in Fort Lauderdale is where Brenna Landers, her sister Latefia Vergess, her nephew and countless others will sleep. Landers’ home off of State Home 84 looked more like a lake as Wednesday’s washout set water gushing inside and forced her and family outside. She spoke with 7News on Thursday.“You might think that you have everything one day, and the next you have nothing,” Landers said. “My car, the water is at its windows in the inside of the car. I don’t even know if the car’s going to work.”The water inside her home spread home quickly, and at one point, it was up to her knees, which left most of her valuables and personal belongings ruined. “So much of my stuff was wet, and my drawers, I thought it was high enough, obviously I told...

Drivers abandon stalled cars after severe floods impact Broward County

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:46:18 GMT

Rising waters forced many drivers to swim to safety after they wound up stranded in the street. Now, car owners are asking what’s next.Broward Sheriff’s Office dispatchers have been busy with flooded cars since the overnight hours on Thursday.“We have several vehicles over here in high water, disabled,” said a dispatcher. With the light of day, tow trucks came to the rescue, while others still waited.“The battery is probably dead,” Bill Cuhm said. “Yeah, that battery is probably dead, and my key fob won’t work.”So, for five hours with a dead car battery, Cuhm has been trying to simply get into his car with a coat hanger.“I gotta see if I can jump it and see what’s going on with it, but I don’t know,” he said. “From the looks of it, it might be gone.”Now that the water is finally receding in some areas, it is like a graveyard of cars left abandoned and left behind.In just one block area, there a...

Biden to Ireland’s parliament: ‘I only wish I could stay longer’

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:46:18 GMT

DUBLIN — President Joe Biden on Thursday hailed America’s close alliance with his ancestral home of Ireland, touting a “partnership for the ages” focused on forging peace in the face of rising global challenges.Speaking to a joint session of Ireland’s Parliament, Biden praised the nation for aiding the war effort in Ukraine, striking a defiant tone against “Russia’s brutal aggression.” He commended Ireland as a model for efforts to fight climate change and global hunger, urging it to go even further in pushing for economic and social progress.And he celebrated the historic ties between the U.S. and Ireland that date back to America’s founding, crediting Ireland’s influence for shaping his life and the country he now leads.“The United States has been your closest partner, your most dependable partner and your most enthusiastic supporter every step of the way,” Biden said. “In this moment, the world needs Ireland and the United States, and our limitless imaginations.”Biden’s remarks c...

FBI arrests Massachusetts man in connection with investigation into leaked classified documents

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:46:18 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Massachusetts Air National Guard member was arrested Thursday in connection with the disclosure of highly classified military documents about the Ukraine war and other top national security issues, a breach that has raised questions about America’s ability to safeguard its most sensitive secrets.The guardsman, an IT specialist identified as 21-year-old Jack Teixeira, was taken into custody without incident after FBI officers converged at his Massachusetts home.He is to be charged under the Espionage Act, which makes it a crime to remove or transmit classified national defense information, Attorney General Merrick Garland said.In his brief statement from the Justice Department podium, Garland did not reveal a possible motive, but accounts of those in the online private chat room where the documents were disclosed have depicted Teixeira as motivated more by bravado than ideology.Even as the investigation continues into the highest-profile intelligen...

Man arrested in Georgia in connection with Malden stabbing

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:46:18 GMT

A Boston man was arrested Thursday in Georgia and after being charged last month with murder in connection with the deadly stabbing of a 79-year-old Malden man. Dion Smith, 33, had a warrant out for his arrest previously in connection to the victim’s stolen car, state and local officials said.Ronald Gilbert, of Malden, was found dead in February, but officials believe he was stabbed more than 30 times in late December. Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Malden Chief of Police Glenn Cronin released in a joint statement announcing that Smith was arrested without incident early this morning.Officials announced he was charged with murder on March 15, and said he and Gilbert did not appear to know each other.

Brush fire causes lane closures on I-495 in Middleboro

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:46:18 GMT

A brush fire prompted lane closures on I-495 in Middleboro Thursday afternoon, state police announced. State police shared word of the closures around 4:50 p.m. Police said crews were on scene with what they described as a “significant brush fire” in the I-495 median in the area. All lanes were shut down on I-495 northborough around the fire. On the southbound side, only the breakdown lane was open to traffic.Police asked drivers to avoid the area. Weather conditions have been ripe for fires in recent days, prompting warnings from experts. Crews have been busy across the state, battling fires in several communities. Speaking earlier this week, officials told 7NEWS they were hoping rain over the weekend would improve conditions. Some showers are now expected to arrive on Sunday and Monday. This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

New Episodes of Superman & Lois Tuesdays at 8

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:46:18 GMT

Summer-like feel continues tomorrow

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:46:18 GMT

7Weather – Some towns joined the 90° club today! That includes you, Norwood and Fitchburg. High temperatures ranged in the 80s and 70s across most of our area. The summer-like temperatures continue inland tomorrow. Boston’s average highs this time of year are in the upper 50s. It wasn’t just us with the very warm temperatures today. Across the Midwest and East Coast, temperatures soared above average!We’ll hold on to the above-average temperatures into tomorrow morning. It’ll feel warm as you get your Friday going!There will be a wide range in temperatures tomorrow afternoon! The farther you are away from the coast and the influence of the sea breeze, the higher your temperature will be. We’ll see filtered sunshine throughout the day.The weekend will feel and look a bit different. Temperatures will fall back day to day. Saturday starts with filtered sun and temperatures in the upper 40s/near 50°. We’ll see increasing clouds. Temperatures won...

Sen. Tim Scott visits NH after launching presidential exploratory committee 

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:46:18 GMT

South Carolina Senator Tim Scott was in New Hampshire Thursday, one day after he launched his exploratory committee for a presidential campaign. Scott visited with community members in Manchester. He also spoke with local pastors and Republican leaders as part of his “Faith in America Tour.”“What’s being sold today seems to be the drug of victimhood as opposed to the concept of individual responsibility,” he said. “I want to set the record straight that we are, without question, the greatest country on God’s green earth and we should all be very proud to be Americans and I think the future is incredibly bright.”“The American people, we’re doing just fine,” Scott continued. “We have to get the American government right.”