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Florida mops up after floods close Fort Lauderdale airport

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:45 GMT

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — South Florida kept a wary eye on a forecast that called for more rain as it cleaned up Thursday from nearly a foot (30 centimeters) that fell in a matter of hours, causing widespread flooding, closing the Fort Lauderdale airport, and turning thoroughfares into rivers.Fort Lauderdale issued a state of emergency as flooding persisted in parts of the city. Crews had worked through the night to attend rescue calls, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths.Stranded cars littered streets around eastern Broward County, where rains started Monday, with the heaviest downpours coming Wednesday afternoon and evening. Crews worked to clear drains and fire up pumps to clear standing water. People were told to stay off roads until it drained.The Red Cross arrived at 5 a.m. Thursday and set up a staging area to help residents whose homes were flooded, providing them with blankets and coffee, officials said. The staging area also acted as a reunificatio...

Fire crews work to put out house fire in Fort Lauderdale as flooded roadways makes travel difficult

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:45 GMT

A fire broke out a South Florida home. Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue arrived at the scene at 2008 SW 10th Ave., Thursday morning. 7Skyforce hovered the scene where smoke emitted from the home. The source of the fire started in the home’s attic. On their way to the scene, crews had to endure flooded roadways caused by heavy rains to get to the home. Fire crews were having issues finding sources of water.The fire has been put under control. No injuries were reported. Please check back on WSVN.com and 7News for more details on this developing story.

The rainiest day in Fort Lauderdale’s history sparks severe flooding and emergency rescues as roads are submerged

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:45 GMT

(CNN) — Fort Lauderdale experienced the rainiest day in its history Wednesday — a 1-in-1,000-year rainfall event — sparking a flash flood emergency in Broward County that has prompted emergency rescues, forced drivers to abandon cars, shuttered schools and shut down the airport through Thursday morning. And more rain is on the way.The region recorded widespread rainfall totals of more than a foot, while Fort Lauderdale tallied 25.91 inches in a 24-hour period, according to preliminary reports from the National Weather Service office in Miami.While the rain Thursday won’t reach nearly the amounts that fell on Wednesday, it will be problematic and create additional flooding, the National Weather Service said. Gusty winds, small hail and even isolated tornadoes are possible.A flood warning is in effect for portions of Broward County until noon Thursday. A flood watch is in effect through Thursday evening.Between 14 and 20 inches of rain have drenched the greater...

Europe, US must stand together, says UK chancellor in wake of Macron’s China comments

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:45 GMT

WASHINGTON — History shows Europe and the United States need to “stand together” to defend “democracy and freedom,” U.K. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said, after French President Emmanuel Macron warned against becoming ensnared in a U.S.-China dispute over Taiwan.Speaking to POLITICO on the sidelines of this week’s spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, Hunt signaled that the U.K. isn’t interested in breaking with the U.S. on geopolitics — days after the French president called for Europe to bolster its autonomy from Washington.“Ukraine stands free and independent today, because of leadership by the United States,” said Hunt, who talked up the “complete unity in Europe” that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year.“That says to me one very simple thing: that when Europe and the United States stand together, we can successfully defend democracy and freedom around the world,” Hunt added.“An...

Rishi Sunak reckons it’s ‘great’ Boris Johnson is still lurking in the background

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:45 GMT

LONDON — Boris Johnson may be unable to resist swiping at Rishi Sunak — but Sunak thinks that’s just “great.”“It’s great that we’ve got former prime ministers who want to contribute, still, to public life and feel that they can do that,” the current U.K. prime minister told the Conservative Home website in an interview Thursday.Johnson — ousted after a spate of Cabinet resignations last year — has proved a thorn in Sunak’s side during his fledgling premiership.As a backbench MP, Johnson has intervened to criticize Sunak on multiple occasions — particularly on his post-Brexit Windsor Framework deal on the Northern Ireland protocol. To Sunak’s chagrin, Johnson and a very small band of Tory MPs, including his fellow former PM Liz Truss, voted against that deal. Johnson has also attacked Sunak’s decision not to send fighter jets to Ukraine. But if Sunak minds he isn’t letting on. He said of the interventions from Johnson,...

African penguin chick hatches at New England Aquarium

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:45 GMT

The New England Aquarium is celebrating the arrival of an African penguin chick who hatched behind the scenes three weeks ago.The chick, born to parents Malgas II and Demersus III, came into the world on March 23 and has been rapidly growing – it is now 16 times its hatch weight. It is the first chick to join the penguin colony since 2019. Aquarium taffers say they are pleased with the chick’s progress so far, but there are still many milestones to go. In the next few weeks, they will be transitioning the bird to hand feeding and helping it become accustomed to the daily routine of other penguins in the colony. “Raising a penguin chick is no easy feat for us, or its parents! Months of planning, preparation, and hard work go into ensuring each chick has the best chance for success,” said Eric Fox, Assistant Curator of Penguins. “It has been a while since we have had a new chick join our colony, so it is a huge win for our team and for this endangered species.&...

Jamie Foxx is recovering after suffering undisclosed ‘medical complication,’ daughter says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:45 GMT

(CNN) — Actor Jamie Foxx is recovering after experiencing a “medical complication,” according to an Instagram post Wednesday night from his daughter Corinne Foxx.“We wanted to share that, my father, Jamie Foxx, experienced a medical complication yesterday. Luckily, due to quick action and great care, he is already on his way to recovery,” the post from Corinne Foxx reads. “We know how beloved he is and appreciate your prayers. The family asks for privacy during this time.”The exact nature of Foxx’s medical scare has not been disclosed.Alan Nierob, a spokesman for Jamie Foxx, declined to share anything beyond Corinne Foxx’s Instagram post.“Nothing more, at this time, than what was posted,” he told CNN by email Wednesday.The movie “Back in Action,” which includes Jamie Foxx, had recently been filming in Georgia.

Lobsterman Catches Five-footer: Maine State Police defuse military rocket caught by lobster trapper

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:45 GMT

State police in Maine safely disposed of a five-foot-long military rocket discovered off the coast this week.Maine State Police said members of its bomb squad were called in Tuesday morning after a lobsterman based out of Cushing caught the armament some 20 miles away from shore.According to MSP’s Facebook page, the lobsterman brought the rocket ashore and contacted authorities a day after making the discovery.Bomb squad personnel were able to analyze the item and identify it as an “MK29 Mod-0” type rocket, but when using X-ray imaging, state police said technicians could not confirm whether it contained explosive materials.Due to the condition of the missile, authorities opted to “countercharge” the missile with guidance from a Navy Explosive Ordinance Disposal unit and were able to safely dispose of it.

Mega Millions jackpot up to $476M for Friday’s drawing

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:45 GMT

The Mega Millions jackpot for Friday’s drawing is an estimated $476 million with a cash option of $256 million, according to the Mass Lottery.Friday’s Mega Millions drawing will be the 21st since the jackpot was last hit on Jan. 31, when a ticket sold in Woburn won a $31 million jackpot. One week earlier, on Jan. 24, a ticket sold in Belchertown won a $33 million jackpot. This week’s jackpot is the game’s largest since Jan. 13, when a ticket sold in Maine won a $1.35 billion jackpot.Mega Millions tickets are $2 each and can be played in 45 states, Washington D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tickets for Friday’s drawing can be purchased until 10:45 p.m. Friday at Mass Lottery retailers throughout the state. Drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday at 11:00 p.m. in Atlanta, GeorgiaThe Powerball jackpot for the Saturday, April 15 drawing is an estimated $219 million with a cash option of $119.7 million, and the Megabucks Doubler jackpot for Saturday is an estimate...

Trump will answer questions in NY fraud lawsuit, lawyer says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:45 GMT

By MICHAEL R. SISAK (ASSOCIATED PRESS)NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump arrived at the offices of New York’s attorney general Thursday for his second deposition in a legal battle over his company’s business practices, with his lawyer signaling that he intends to answer questions this time instead of invoking his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination.“President Trump is not only willing but also eager to testify before the Attorney General today,” his attorney, Alina Habba, said in a statement. “He remains resolute in his stance that he has nothing to conceal, and he looks forward to educating the Attorney General about the immense success of his multi-billion dollar company.”The Republican was meeting with lawyers for Attorney General Letitia James, who sued Trump last year. Her lawsuit claims Trump and his family misled banks and business associates by giving them false information about his net worth and the val...