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Articles by Stephen Smith
New Orleans holds burial of repatriated African Americans whose skulls were used in racist research
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — New Orleans celebrated the return and burial of the remains of 19 African American people whose skulls had been sent to Germany for racist research practices in the 19th century. On Saturday, a multifaith memorial service including a jazz funeral, one of the city's most distinct traditions, paid tribute to the humanity of those coming home to their final resting place at the Hurricane Katrina Memorial.
Custom made by Tulane students, mobility chairs help special-needs toddlers get moving
NEW ORLEANS — At 19 months old, Elijah Jack, born with no femur bone in one leg and a short femur in the other, is unable to walk on his own like most toddlers his age. Another 19-month-old, Freya Baudoin, born prematurely at 28 weeks and delayed in her mobility, has finally taken her first step. Special needs children like these often take longer than most to become independently mobile, which can be a hardship for parents and others who care for them.
Police respond to yoga class after someone mistook meditating for a 'ritual mass murder'
A yoga class in the United Kingdom was interrupted by a swarm of officers after a concerned citizen mistook people lying on the floor meditating for a "mass killing" in the building. The Seascape Cafe, located inside the North Sea Observatory in Chapel St Leonards, detailed the incident in a lengthy Facebook post Thursday. According to the post, officers rushed to the observatory on Wednesday with their sirens blaring, only to find yogis quietly meditating.
The IRS plans to crack down on 1,600 millionaires to collect millions of dollars in back taxes
IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel speaks during an event on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at 22nd Century Technologies on August 2, 2023 in McLean, Virginia. The IRS announced on Friday it is launching an effort to aggressively pursue 1,600 millionaires and 75 large business partnerships that owe hundreds of millions of dollars in past due taxes.
Lee forecast to become major hurricane
ORLANDO, Fla. - Tropical Storm Lee on Wednesday continues to churn in the Atlantic Ocean and is forecast to become a major hurricane as it approaches the Caribbean by the weekend. Early in the day, the storm was 1,265 miles east-southeast of the northern Leeward Islands with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph. Lee was moving west-northwest at 14 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center in Florida.
Ford to replace rear cameras in new recall, take $270 million charge
A Ford Motor Co. Explorer Hybrid sports utility vehicle (SUV) is unveiled during the 2019 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, Michigan, Jan. 14, 2019. Daniel Acker | Bloomberg | Getty Images Ford Motor said on Friday it will recall 169,000 U.S. vehicles to replace rearview cameras and update software and is taking a $270 million charge to address the callback. It was the latest in a series of recalls for rear camera-related recalls by the No. 2 U.S. automaker in recent years.
Hurricane Idalia To Intensify, Heading To Florida
Idalia is now a hurricane and could be at Category 3 strength when it makes landfall Wednesday. Storm surge, damaging winds, flooding rainfall and some tornadoes are concerns. Hurricane and storm surge warnings have been posted for portions of Florida. Idalia will spread heavy rain, strong winds and storm surge along the Southeast coast. NEW: Get breaking news delivered straight to your desktop or mobile phone.
A Florida mother tried to hire a hitman to kill her 3-year-old son, police say. She's been arrested
MIAMI - An 18-year-old Miami woman is accused of trying to hire a hitman to kill her 3-year-old son. The woman appeared before a Miami-Dade County judge Wednesday following her arrest on charges of solicitation of murder and unlawful use of a communications device. The woman visited a parody hit-for-hire website - intended to assist law enforcement - in an attempt to have the boy "taken away, far, far, far away and possibly be killed but ASAP," Miami-Dade police said in a report.
Teamsters says UPS has walked away from negotiations
The United Parcel Service Inc. (UPS) logo is displayed on a truck parked in New York. Michael Nagle | Bloomberg | Getty Images The union representing roughly 340,000 U.S. drivers, package handlers and loaders at United Parcel Service said on Wednesday the parcel delivery firm had "walked away from the bargaining table". UPS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Microsoft, Google strategy to test AI search ads irks some brands
Jonathan Raa | Nurphoto | Getty Images Alphabet's Google and Microsoft are inserting ads into AI experiments without providing an option to opt out of participation, an approach that has already rankled some brands and risks further pushback from the industry, ad buyers told Reuters. The two tech giants are racing to revamp their search engines with artificial intelligence that can produce written responses to open-ended queries.
Florida man loses arm after gator attack behind bar
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - A man in Florida lost his arm after being attacked by an alligator behind a bar, according to wildlife authorities. The 23-year-old man was attacked early Sunday behind a bar in Port Charlotte, Florida, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The man had been a patron at Banditos Bar, which is located next to a pond.
Hyundai, Kia agree to $200 million settlement over U.S. car thefts
Attendees view a Hyundai vehicle during opening day of the 2023 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) in New York, on Wednesday, April 7, 2023. Stephanie Keith | Bloomberg | Getty Images Hyundai and Kia agreed to a consumer class-action lawsuit settlement worth $200 million over rampant car thefts of the Korean automakers' vehicles, lawyers for the owners and the automakers said on Thursday.
OpenAI launches ChatGPT app for iOS, Android coming soon Original
Samuel H. Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, speaks to media after meeting Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the Prime Minister's office in Tokyo on April 10, 2023. OpenAI launched a ChatGPT iPhone app on Thursday, its CTO Mira Murati said on Twitter. An Android version is coming soon, she said.
Sam Zell, billionaire real estate investor, dies
Sam Zell, chairman of Equity Group Investments. Sam Zell, a Chicago real estate magnate who earned a multibillion-dollar fortune and a reputation as "the grave dancer" for his ability to revive moribund properties has died due to complications from a recent illness. He was 81. Bearded and blunt-spoken, Zell reveled in bucking traditional wisdom. He had a golden touch with real estate, and got his start managing apartment buildings as a college student.
74 million tourists visited Orlando, Florida, almost reaching pre-pandemic levels
ORLANDO, Fla. - More than 74 million visitors came to the Orlando, Florida, area last year, a benchmark just short of pre-pandemic levels, tourism officials said Thursday. The number of tourists was 25% greater than it was in 2021, when central Florida was still recovering from the blows to tourism caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which restricted international travel and caused convention cancellations.
Gov. Hochul Touts Plan to Raise New York’s Minimum Wage
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Michelle Obama launches company to improve child nutrition
Michelle Obama speaks at 2023 WSJ's Future Of Everything Festival at Spring Studios on May 03, 2023 in New York City. Joy Malone | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images Michelle Obama announced Wednesday that she has co-founded a new company to make and sell healthier food and drinks for kids, products that she says will be less detrimental to their long-term health because of their lower sugar and higher nutrient content.
Tesla cuts U.S. prices for sixth time this year ahead of first-quarter results
Visitors check a Tesla Model 3 car next to a Model Y displayed at a showroom of the U.S. electric vehicle (EV) maker in Beijing, China February 4, 2023. Tesla cut prices for some of its Model Y and Model 3 electric vehicles in the United States, its website showed late on Tuesday, the sixth time it has lowered U.S. prices this year amid concerns about the effect on its profit margins.
Popular Central Florida restaurant stops sale of Bud Light amid transgender controversy
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. - A popular restaurant in Central Florida is no longer serving Bud Light after the beer received backlash for partnering with a transgender TikTok influencer during March Madness.
Ukraine attacks continue amid Easter pleas for peace
KYIV - Weekend shelling by Russian forces killed at least seven civilians, Ukrainian officials reported Sunday as Pope Francis and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby used their traditional Easter messages to highlight the war in Ukraine and other conflicts around the world.
Toyota to launch 10 new battery EV models by 2026, executive says
A Toyota RAV4 Prime electric car is recharged October 3, 2022 at a charging station at the town hall in Charlotte, Vermont. Robert Nickelsberg | Getty Images Toyota Motor Corp aims to introduce 10 new battery electric vehicle models by 2026, a senior executive said on Friday, as the Japanese automaker looks to catch up in electric vehicles.
Myrtle Beach, SC 10-Day Weather Forecast - The Weather Channel
As of 9:30 am EDT Arrow Up | Day Abundant sunshine. High around 65F. NNE winds shifting to SE at 10 to 15 mph. Humidity Humidity40% UV Level UV Index8 of 10 Sun Rise Sunrise7:01 am Sunset Sunset7:37 pm | Night 54° Mostly Clear Night A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. Low 54F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Humidity Humidity75% UV Level UV Index0 of 10 Moon Rise Moonrise4:27 pm Moon Phase - Day 11 Waxing Gibbous Moon Set Moonset5:30 am Mon 03 70°/62° Arrow Down | Day 70° Cloudy Cloudy.
Disney World reaches deal with union on minimum $18 hourly wage
Disney cast members pose in front of Cinderella Castle. (Photo by David Roark/Walt Disney World Resort via Getty Images) Unions for service workers at Walt Disney World reached a tentative deal with the company on Thursday that would raise the starting minimum wage from $15 to $18 an hour by the end of the year in a pact that could set the basement for starting pay throughout central Florida's sprawling tourism industry.
2 escape jail and go to IHOP, where patrons report them
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Two inmates in a Virginia jail used primitively made tools to create a hole in the wall of their cell and escape, only to be found hours later at an IHOP restaurant nearby, a sheriff said. Authorities discovered the two men, ages 37 and 43, missing from their cell in the Newport News jail annex during a routine head count Monday evening, according to a statement from the Newport News Sheriff's Office.
Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen recovering from attack outside Florida hotel
Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen says he recovering from an attack earlier this month outside a Florida hotel. Allen, who was in South Florida to perform a show at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, was attacked while taking a smoke break outside the the Four Seasons hotel on Fort Lauderdale Beach. Police arrested a 19-year-old man, but said they don't have a motive for the attack. They did not identify either the suspect, or Allen, in the police report.
Deputy shoots, kills zebra that attacked owner
CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio - A zebra attacked its owner at an Ohio home and bit the man's arm before it was fatally shot by a sheriff's deputy, authorities said. The attack occurred around 5:30 p.m. Sunday in Circleville. Pickaway County Sheriff's deputies responded to the home and found the man in a fenced-in field, lying on the ground.
Applebee's patron shoots, kills man inside The Villages restaurant, police say
THE VILLAGES, Fla. - A patron at an Applebee's in The Villages shot and killed a man who entered the restaurant after he was involved in another shooting outside, police said. The fatal shooting happened around 1:15 a.m. Tuesday at the Applebee's at 1009 Bichara Blvd. in Lady Lake. Lady Lake police said a preliminary investigation shows that a man arrived at the Applebee's just after 1 a.m. and got into an altercation outside the restaurant, which was closed.
FAA fixes issue that delayed hundreds of Florida flights
The Federal Aviation Administration said Monday it fixed a radar issue that caused it to halt flights to and from parts of South Florida for about an hour. The FAA did not describe the radar problem in detail, but a spokesman said it affected air-route traffic control centers in Miami and Jacksonville. The issue caused FAA to hold up flights leaving airports in Miami and other cities. Miami International Airport told travelers with flights on Monday to contact their airline.
Sky 6 flies over Pine Hills neighborhood where multiple were shot, sheriff's office says
PINE HILLS, Fla. - Orange County deputies said they have detained a person after multiple people were shot in Pine Hills Wednesday, near the scene of another shooting that happened earlier in the day. Video from Sky 6 shows multiple units responded to the home on Hialeah Street around 5 p.m. According to a tweet by the Orange County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff John Mina is expected to give a briefing later this evening.
JFK Airport terminal to remain shut Friday after power outage
Travelers at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on July 1, 2022. Angus Mordant | Bloomberg | Getty Images A terminal in New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport will remain closed on Friday due to electrical issues, affecting inbound and outbound flights, the airport said in a tweet, disrupting activity at one of the world's busiest airports. "Travelers should check with their carriers for flight status before coming to the airport," JFK said.
Marion County fire chief makes heartfelt plea after department loses 2 members to suicide in just weeks
MARION COUNTY, Fla. - A Central Florida community came together Saturday to honor a fallen member of Marion County Fire Rescue. The department has lost two members to suicide this year, according to the fire chief. Funeral services for paramedic Allen Singleton were Saturday morning in Ocala, according to News4JAX. Singleton served the department for six years before his death last week. He left behind a wife and two children.
Florida lawmaker proposes bill to penalize left-lane drivers
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - A House Republican this week filed a proposal that seeks to prevent motorists from driving in the left lane on roads with speed limits of at least 65 mph. Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, R-Fort Myers, filed the bill ( HB 421) for consideration during the legislative session that will start March 7.
Google parent to lay off 12,000 workers - memo
Sundar Pichai, CEO, Alphabet Lluis Gene | AFP | Getty Images Alphabet is eliminating 12,000 jobs, its chief executive said in a staff memo shared with Reuters. The cuts mark the latest to shake the technology sector and come days after rival Microsoft said it would lay off 10,000 workers. The job losses affect teams across the company including recruiting and some corporate functions, as well as some engineering and products teams.
Straight Shooter
About The Book America’s most popular sports media figure tells it like it is in this surprisingly personal book, not only dishing out his signature, uninhibited opinions but also revealing the challenges he overcame in childhood as well as at ESPN, and who he really is when the cameras are off. Stephen A. Smith has never been handed anything, nor was he an overnight success.
London police officer admits multiple counts of rape
LONDON - A London police officer on Monday admitted raping and sexually assaulting a dozen women over a 17-year period, in what prosecutors described as one of the most shocking cases involving a serving police officer. David Carrick, 48, pleaded guilty to 49 offenses, including 20 counts of rape and charges that included assault, attempted rape and false imprisonment.
Girl Scouts unveil new, online-exclusive cookie
In case you need something to look forward to, Girl Scout Cookie season is right around the corner! This year, the National Girl Scouts have a new sponsor and a new cookie. The organization is introducing the highly anticipated Raspberry Rally. [TRENDING: FAA computer failure delays flights nationwide | This area near Disney World is the lightning capital of the US | Check out the Florida Foodie podcast.
Ashli Babbitt's mother arrested during Jan. 6 demonstration
WASHINGTON - The mother of Ashli Babbitt, the woman fatally shot by police inside the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot, was arrested in Washington on Friday after refusing to get out of the street during a demonstration on the two-year anniversary, police said. Micki Witthoeft, 58, was accused of traffic violations, Capitol Police said in an emailed statement. She was released Friday afternoon and given a citation to appear in court at a later date, police said.
Fake teen doctor, now 25, sentenced to prison for new scam
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - A serial grifter who gained national infamy as a teenager when he impersonated a doctor to defraud a patient is heading back to prison after pleading guilty to stealing more than $10,000 from his employer. Malachi Love-Robinson, 25, received a sentence of over two years and four months last week after pleading guilty in Palm Beach County, Florida, to grand theft and organized scheme to defraud.
U.S. pending home sales sag more than expected in November
A "Sale Pending" sign outside a house in Morgan Hill, California, on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images Contracts to buy U.S. previously owned homes fell far more than expected in November, diving for a sixth straight month in the latest indication of the hefty toll the Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes are taking on the housing market as the central bank seeks to curb inflation.
Airlines cancel 5,700 U.S. flights amid fierce winter storms Original
An American Airlines plane is de-iced as high winds whip around 7.5 inches of new snow at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Thursday, December 22, 2022. Star Tribune Via Getty Images | Star Tribune | Getty Images Airline cancellations topped 5,700 U.S. flights on Friday as massive winter storms snarled airport operations around the United States and frustrated tens of thousands of holiday travelers.
Potential Bomb Cyclone, Midwest Blizzard Ahead
A major storm will track through the Midwest, Northeast and South through the end of the week. The heaviest snow will target the Great Lakes, with over a foot possible for some. High winds capable of tree damage and power outages could blast much of the Plains, Midwest and East. Severe travel impact because of snow, wind and cold is expected through at least Friday or Saturday.
SUNY Campus Reinstates Mask Mandate Amid COVID Spike, Tridemic Threat
One of the State University of New York's top liberal arts colleges announced Tuesday it was reinstating its indoor mask mandate for thousands, citing high COVID-19 transmission levels that have prompted a flurry of renewed advisories across much of America in recent weeks. SUNY Purchase said it believed it was the lone Westchester County college to reinstate the mask rule amid rising COVID cases.
Man dies in Florida while delivering free bikes to children
KINGSFORD, Mich. - A Michigan Army veteran who turned his life around with a bike shop died in a crash while delivering free bikes to children in Florida affected by Hurricane Ian, his family said. Steven Pringle, 57, was killed in Punta Gorda, Florida, on Nov. 23, a few weeks after a profile in the Detroit Free Press described how his passion for fixing bikes had touched many people in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
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