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Residents in Fort Lauderdale frustrated as they assess damage caused by historic floods

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:26:46 GMT

First responders are still on alert as they answer calls as parts of Fort Lauderdale remain waterlogged, though Friday was finally a day with no rain.“My car has literally floated away,” said a person on a video recording the scene on a cell phone, recorded Wednesday night.An Edgewood neighborhood is still under water Friday afternoon. John Foreman told 7News that he and his friends rescued 20 people from flooded homes in this community.“There was about 4 feet of water in the houses,” Foreman said. “It was above the couches and the beds. There was no place that wasn’t wet, and people were freezing.”With so much water remaining, so does the trauma from that torrential downpour.“Terrible. It’s a nightmare,” said a woman. “We have a flooded house over here, and over here we have no electricity. This whole street is no electricity. I am shaking now.”Those just now coming back to survey the damage are stunned.“This is insa...

Crews working to pump standing water from flooded Dania Beach neighborhood

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:26:46 GMT

Residents in Dania Beach are pumped up about receiving much-needed help in removing standing water from their flooded out neighborhood.7News cameras on Friday captured floodwaters near Southwest 28th Avenue and Griffin Road, where residents are still dealing with the aftermath of relentless downpours that battered the area earlier in the week.“It’s ridiculous,” said a resident.“I’m a little nervous for tomorrow ’cause I’ve got to leave my house way before 5:30 [a.m.]. I’ve got to be to work at 5:30,” said resident Raymond Johnson.This is why Dania Beach city officials said they have crews working around the clock.“Right now, we have six vac trucks and pumps citywide,” said Dania Beach City Manager Ana Garcia.To get the water out faster, Garcia said, she has asked Miami Beach and the South Florida Water Management District for help.“We’re going to be receiving more vac trucks, we’re going to be receiv...

South Florida law enforcement vet Delrish Moss sworn in as Miramar Police chief

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:26:46 GMT

A police officer who’s no stranger to the streets or the people of South Florida has taken the reigns at a new department.Delrish Moss was sworn in on Friday as Miramar Police chief.The veteran officer spent more than 30 years at the Miami Police Department, where he rose through the ranks.Moss most recently served as captain of the Florida International University Police Department.He also led the police department in Ferguson, Missouri, where he took over as the city dealt with the fallout over the killing of an unarmed Black man by a white police officer.

Tortuga Music Festival kicks off on Fort Lauderdale Beach amid flood cleanup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:26:46 GMT

The Tortuga Music Festival opened on Fort Lauderdale Beach as scheduled, as the region recovers from historic flooding.While the floods did not prevent the event from getting underway at noon on Friday, rain that rolled in during the afternoon hours prompted organizers to ask concertgoers to briefly leave the venue.The beach bash, featuring some of country music’s biggest acts, has since resumed.Among the performers expected to take the stage this weekend are Eric Church, Shania Twain and Kenny Chesney.The festival, now in its 10th year, runs until Sunday night.

Crooks caught on camera stealing cars from NW Miami-Dade dealership, crashing through lot’s fence

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:26:46 GMT

Surveillance cameras captured some car crooks in action at a car dealership in Northwest Miami-Dade.Thieves took off with two vehicles from Hot Wheels Auto Brokers on Northwest 79th Street and 33rd Avenue, late Wednesday night, crashing through a fence to get away.One of the vehicles was returned in rough shape.The crime has cost thousands of dollars for the dealership’s owner, Johnny Hernandez.“It’s always hard for a small businessman,” said Hernandez. “We’re a small business. We’ve been around for a long time. We’re not the new kids on the block, but any hit like this is, you know – now we have to deal with the insurance company to see whether they decide to pay. You know how that goes. This will take a year to get solved.”A similar crime happened early Wednesday morning at a nearby dealership. A pair of crooks stole an SUV and took off by crashing through a fence.If you know anything that can help solve these thefts, cal...

House goes up in flames in Topsfield

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:26:46 GMT

A fast-moving fire raced through a home in Topsfield on Friday and officials are working to determine what cause the flames to break out. Crews responding to a reported structure fire on Coppermine Road found the house fully engulfed in flames.Witnesses said they heard an explosion before the flames broke out.The cause of the fire remains under investigation.No additional information was immediately available.This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.

Pedro Martinez joins Mayor Wu at BPS Red Sox hat giveaway

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:26:46 GMT

Boston Red Sox legend Pedro Martinez was on hand as the Red Sox, in partnership with JetBlue, distributed more than 40,000 blue and yellow City Connect hats to Boston Public Schools students and staff at 104 K-8 schools across the city on Friday.This year’s hat giveaway launched with an event at the James F. Condon School in South Boston that included City of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Martinez, Red Sox Partner and Foundation Board Member Linda Henry, Red Sox President & CEO Sam Kennedy, and BPS Superintendent Mary Skipper.“We began this program in 2017 with the simple idea that every child in Boston should have a Red Sox hat,” Kennedy said in a statement. “It’s a way for students to connect with the team as our season gets underway, and this year, we had an opportunity to tie it to Patriots Day weekend by designing hats in our City Connect blue and yellow as a tribute to the 10-year anniversary of the 2013 Marathon. We are grateful for our partners at JetBlue who have supported ...

7’s Amaka Ubaka joins bombing survivors for event at Shriners Children’s Hospital in Boston

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:26:46 GMT

Boston Marathon Bombing survivors and 7’s Amaka Ubaka were on hand for a volunteer event at Boston’s Shriners Children’s Hospital on Friday ahead of One Boston Day.The Webb Norden Foundation and 7NEWS provided art supplies to the hospital, which were used by some recovering burn victims to express themselves through art.“We fully understand what these kids are going through and we have so much support from this amazing city and we wanted to pay it forward and put a smile on their faces,” said Jacqui Webb, of the Webb Norden Foundation, who survived the bombing in 2013.Paul Warden agreed, saying, “That’s why we started the foundation, to help young kids and put a smile on their faces like people put a smile on ours.” Learn more about the Webb Norden Foundation.

Boston EMS Center in Hyde Park gets fresh paint, new appliances ahead of One Boston Day

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:26:46 GMT

An array for special volunteer events got underway Friday ahead of One Boston Day on Saturday and 7NEWS was among the organizations taking part. Ten years after the Boston Marathon bombings on April 15, 2013, the 7NEWS team took part in several initiatives, including improvements at the Boston EMS center in Hyde Park.7’s maintenance staff prepared and painted a break room at the facility with help from anchor Jadiann Thompson. 7’s Jon Hall was out in the facility’s garage, in the meantime, laying down a fresh coat of yellow paint.Beyond new paint, the EMS facility is getting new appliances, including a fridge, stove and microwave donated by GW Toma in Weymouth. “The world is a little bit different today and I’m in a lucky position that I can help and give back and it’s important to help,” George Toma of George Washington Toma TV and Appliance said. “We need those things to keep going,” EMS Facilities Management Director John Cushing said. “And I’m sure the people that...

Pedro Martinez inspires students, launches a sports mentoring initiative for young athletes in Boston and Lawrence

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:26:46 GMT

Pedro Martinez wants students to understand that he used to “sit on the same chair” as them, learning from his teachers and parents, before becoming a Red Sox legend.“I understood the values of respecting education and trying to learn and be the best you possibly could be. I want you guys to look at me as a sign of hope for whatever you want to do,” the Hall-of-Famer told a packed cafeteria full of excited students Friday morning at South Boston’s James F. Condon School.Martinez and his wife, Carolina, are continuing their passion for education and giving back to the community through the Pedro Martinez Foundation by launching a sports mentoring initiative for young athletes in Boston and Lawrence.The initiative will include mentorship sessions with “major” athletes from across New England, Carolina Martinez said. Those sessions will feature personal training and access to educational events and resources throughout the year. The foundation also will look to participate in events, s...