Announcement on Lolita the orca’s future to be made at Miami Intercontinental Hotel

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 13:42:08 GMT

Announcement on Lolita the orca’s future to be made at Miami Intercontinental Hotel Lolita, the orca whale also known as Tokitae or Toki, is set to make a long-awaited return to her home in the Pacific Northwest after over 50 years in captivity at the Miami Seaquarium. An announcement will be made on Thursday in the Miami Intercontinental Hotel by Jim Irsay, the owner of the Indianapolis Colts football team, who partially funded the cause. https://twitter.com/JimIrsay/status/1640786127308357632?s=20At 11:30 a.m., Eduardo Albor, CEO of the Dolphin Company, Pritam Singh with Friends of Toki, and Miami-Dade County Mayor Danielle Lavine Cava are set to speak at the event as well.Last year, Lolita’s health began to decline, which led her to stop performing. With her health now stable, a homecoming for Lolita is possible. A federal report alleged that she was kept in inhumane conditions at the Miami Seaquarium.The Dolphin Company, which took over the Seaquarium in 2021, have worked with advocates like Irsay and Singh to potentially move her.Jared Goodman, the Gene...

Brief Relief from the Heat Late Week

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 13:42:08 GMT

Brief Relief from the Heat Late Week A weak front is moving through South Florida this Thursday, which was responsible for the heavy thunderstorms much of the metro received Wednesday evening. As this front slowly pushes through the area, it will introduce milder temperatures and lower humidity — but it won’t last long.In Miami, the 0.57 inches of rainfall over the past two days (Tuesday and Wednesday) was the most since February 17 when 0.61 inches of rain fell. In Fort Lauderdale, just shy of 1 inch was recorded, which is the most in nearly two months!A few showers will remain possible this Thursday due to the weak front and moisture blowing onshore associated with a northeast wind. The best chance for any showers will be from 9 AM through 3 PM across Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. Then that rain risk will shift toward the Florida Keys with the best chance for any shower activity being in the mid-afternoon to evening hours.Otherwise, expect times of sunshine paired with seasonable highs in the low to mi...

7 officers and nurse charged with involuntary manslaughter in the 2020 killing of a man in police custody in Los Angeles County

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 13:42:08 GMT

7 officers and nurse charged with involuntary manslaughter in the 2020 killing of a man in police custody in Los Angeles County (CNN) — Seven California Highway Patrol officers and a registered nurse were charged for the 2020 death of a man who was being restrained on the ground and repeatedly said he could not breathe, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced in a news conference.Edward Bronstein, 38, was killed in police custody in March 2020 after officers pulled him over in Los Angeles County after suspecting he was driving under the influence.Officers obtained a warrant to get a blood sample from Bronstein, who initially resisted but then agreed as officers restrained him while he was on the ground. Bronstein became unresponsive and was later pronounced dead.Seven CHP officers were charged Wednesday with one count of involuntary manslaughter and one count of assault by an officer, while the nurse who took a sample of Bronstein’s blood was charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter, according to the complaint.CNN has reached out for comment to attorneys representin...

Homes evacuated after train carrying ethanol derails and catches fire in Minnesota

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 13:42:08 GMT

Homes evacuated after train carrying ethanol derails and catches fire in Minnesota (CNN) — A train carrying ethanol derailed Thursday morning in Raymond, Minnesota, and several cars caught fire, officials said, forcing nearby residents to evacuate their homes as a precaution.The derailment occurred at approximately 1 a.m., the Raymond Fire Department said in a Facebook post.The train was carrying mixed freight, including ethanol and corn syrup, Lena Kent, general director of public affairs for BNSF Railway, told CNN.There are no reported injuries and railroad personnel are responding to the site and will work the first responders, Kent said.Homes within a half-mile of the derailment were evacuated, the Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.The main track is blocked and an estimated time for reopening the line is not available, the railroad said. The cause of the derailment is under investigation.The Minnesota Department of Transportation has closed a nearby highway due to the derailment and fire, the fire department said.Raymo...

The political king: Charles talks up net-zero and refugee action in Berlin visit

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 13:42:08 GMT

The political king: Charles talks up net-zero and refugee action in Berlin visit LONDON — In his first overseas visit as U.K. monarch, King Charles III is doing little to dispel the notion he’s a political animal at heart.During a state banquet speech at Schloss Bellevue, the official residence of the German president, Charles talked up politicians’ “vital” efforts to cut carbon emissions, praised Germany’s “extraordinary generosity” in hosting Ukrainian refugees, took a swipe at Vladimir Putin’s Russia, and attempted a patch-up job on U.K.-German relations frayed by Brexit.Charles had previously vowed to take a restrained approach as king, having earned a reputation as prince of Wales for speaking out on hot-button political issues — and even lobbying British ministers over policies he disagreed with.His mother, Queen Elizabeth, had famously avoided political topics as monarch, and Charles said last year that his elevation meant it would “no longer be possible for me to give so much of my time and energies t...

Red Sox to celebrate Opening Day at Fenway Park with game against the Orioles

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 13:42:08 GMT

Red Sox to celebrate Opening Day at Fenway Park with game against the Orioles The Red Sox are celebrating Opening Day at Fenway Park Thursday with a game against the Baltimore Orioles. The team posted a time-lapse video of the opening day logo being painted behind home plate. The team gets to start the season within the friendly confines of their home stadium, with game one out of 162 getting underway at 2:10 p.m.After last season’s disappointing last place finish in the AL East, the Sox are ready to rebound after revamping their roster during the offseason…“Any time we don’t make it to October and play baseball in October, it’s a disappointment, we know that, but we have definitely turned the page,” said Red Sox President and CEO Sam Kennedy. “It’s been a great vibe at spring training and [we are] really looking forward to getting going here.”Despite losing a few mainstays from last year’s roster, including Xander Bogaerts, JD Martinez, and Nathan Eovaldi, the Sox say they are optimistic that this s...

‘She was a very hard worker, very honest, such a sweetheart’: Husband mourns wife killed in Lynn hit-and-run

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 13:42:08 GMT

‘She was a very hard worker, very honest, such a sweetheart’: Husband mourns wife killed in Lynn hit-and-run A man is mourning the loss of his wife, who was killed in a deadly hit-and-run crash in Lynn on Wednesday morning.Speaking Wednesday evening, Redzo Barucija described his wife, 55-year-old Emira Barucija, as a kind, hardworking woman.“It was just sudden,” Redzo said. “Very tough.”Lynn officers responded to the incident just after 6 a.m. Wednesday on Route 107 northbound between Ida and Cooper Streets, where police said Barucija was hit in a crosswalk.Police said the driver left the scene. Within hours of the crash, officials said detectives using city surveillance cameras had identified the driver and located the damaged car in Boston inside a parking garage in the area where the man behind the wheel worked. Redzo Barucija said he and his wife moved to the United States from Bosnia for a better life. On Wednesday, Redzo said his wife was on her way to Salem Hospital, where she worked. “She was a very hard worker, very honest, such a sweetheart,” Redzo said....

Vatican: Pope improving since hospitalization with infection

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 13:42:08 GMT

Vatican: Pope improving since hospitalization with infection ROME (AP) — Pope Francis rested well overnight and was “progressively improving” Thursday after being hospitalized with a respiratory infection, the Vatican said.The 86-year-old pontiff, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, ate breakfast, read the newspapers and was working from his hospital room at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, according to a statement from Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni.“Before lunch he went to the little chapel in the private apartment, where he gathered in prayer and received the Eucharist,” the statement said.Francis was hospitalized Wednesday after having suffered breathing problems in recent days and was diagnosed with a respiratory infection, though not COVID-19. The Vatican said he would remain for a few days of treatment. His audiences were canceled through Friday.Francis is scheduled to celebrate Palm Sunday this weekend, and it wasn’t clear how his medical condition would affect the Vatican’s Holy Week observances, which include Holy Thursday, Goo...

Cold wind today, warming up for the weekend

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 13:42:08 GMT

Cold wind today, warming up for the weekend After the passage of a cold front overnight, chilly weather is expected today with windy conditions and high temperatures in the 30s and 40s. Factoring in the wind, wind chills will range from the upper 20s into the mid 30s all day. If you’re headed to Fenway this afternoon, expect mostly sunny skies but a wind chill from 29-34 degrees from first pitch to last out.Friday into the weekend, temperatures will be on the rise as another weather system heads towards New England from the Midwest. Although we will see rain on Saturday, temperatures are expected to reach the low 60s, so a warm rain instead of a cold rain this time around.

2023 Season Preview: Mets look to become NL powerhouse in Year 3 of Steve Cohen era

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 13:42:08 GMT

2023 Season Preview: Mets look to become NL powerhouse in Year 3 of Steve Cohen era The 2023 season could be a crucial turning point in Mets history.They have the highest payroll in baseball with $370 million committed before taxes. They have a roster littered with elite talent and the ability to take more on should they need to. Steve Cohen, who quite possibly might be the most popular owner in baseball right now, was high on the “vibes” at spring training.Some might even say they were Amazin’.The Mets are even favored by some Las Vegas oddsmakers to win the World Series.In year No. 3 of the Cohen era, the Mets have shed their lovable loser identity and instead are poised to become a National League power, looking to improve on a 101-win 2022 campaign.But the enthusiasm has been curbed in recent weeks. The Mets will be without closer Edwin Diaz for the season, who tore his patellar on his right knee while celebrating a win with Puerto Rico during the World Baseball Classic.Typical Mets, right? They lost the best closer in baseball just months aft...