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Fake flower deliveryman robs woman

A man posing as a flower deliveryman forced his way into a Miami home Tuesday and robbed a woman, Miami police said. The incident occurred at about 1:30 p.m. at a home at 30 SW 59th Ave., where a woman and her 20s was home with her child. Miami police said the woman answered the door and found a man posing as a flower deliveryman. The man was holding flowers and chocolates, police said. The man forced his way inside the home, pulled a gun and took an undisclosed amount of cash and jewelry, police said. "You can only imagine. I mean, she's very shaken up. She was alone at the moment, so I imagine that this Valentine's Day and all other Valentine's Days are going to be quite hectic for her," said Miami police Sgt. Freddie Cruz. The robber ran away after stealing the money, according to investigators. Police said he took the flowers with him, but he dropped the chocolate. Police said they planned to examine the chocolate for fingerprints and DNA. Police said the robber was in and out of the home in a minute. He did not fire any shots, and no injuries were reported. "This is not a common thing; however, we have seen in the past where criminals have posed as deliverymen, whether it's a pizza delivery, or in this case flowers, and they take advantage of individuals and they do home invasion crimes," Cruz said. The search for the man continues. He is described as 6 feet tall, and he was wearing a white T-shirt and a green hat.

Published: Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:08:51 GMT

Car hits, injures toddler

A toddler was hit by a car Tuesday afternoon in Miami Gardens, fire officials said. The child was hit by the vehicle at 3451 NW 177th Terrace, investigators said. The details of the crash are unclear. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue came to the scene. An air rescue helicopter landed near 167th Street and Northwest 29th Avenue to take the child to Jackson Memorial Hospital. There is no word on the child's condition.

Published: Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:03:34 GMT

Revised Italian cruise lawsuit adds new plaintiffs

New plaintiffs have been added to a revised lawsuit that seeks more than half-billion dollars in damages in last month's Italian cruise ship disaster. Attorneys said the lawsuit filed Tuesday in Miami-Dade Circuit Court now names 39 individual plaintiffs who were aboard the Costa Concordia when it capsized off the Tuscany coast on Jan. 13. At least 17 people died and 15 remain missing. The lawsuit names Miami-based Carnival Cruise Lines Inc. and its Costa subsidiary, which has offices in Hollywood, Fla., and Genoa, Italy. The new version seeks $528 million in actual damages. It also seeks $78 million in compensatory damages and $450 million in requested punitive damages. Many law experts say it will be difficult to win lawsuits in Florida because Costa's cruise tickets require that any legal action be filed in Italy. Passenger lawyers contend Florida is proper because Carnival Corp. and Costa are essentially the same entity. Other attorneys have announced plans to file lawsuits for passengers in Florida. Meanwhile, Costa announced Tuesday it will extend its compensation offer for passengers until March 31. The previous deadline had been Feb. 24 for North America and Tuesday for all other countries, said Costa spokesman Buck Banks. The offer would pay passengers 11,000 euros ($14,485 at current exchange rates) plus reimbursement for cruise ticket costs and extra travel expenses. "The families of deceased and missing victims and guests who were injured will be covered under a separate proposal based on their individual circumstances," Costa said in a statement, without providing further details.

Published: Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:37:29 GMT

Cab medallions fetch record prices

Miami-Dade County auctioned off six new taxicab medallions Tuesday, and bidders paid record prices to get one. The least expensive medallion was purchased with bid of $312,000; the most expensive fetched $431,000. “It’s insanity,” said Joel Barbanell, president of Flamingo Taxi in Miami, who, as a taxi company owner, was not allowed to bid. “But there’s a good reason for it. These people who get a medallion can do what they want with it. They can sell it, lease it, keep it as an investment.” Lonnie Sorkin submitted a winning bid of $430,000 for a taxi medallion and called it a good deal. “It has a lot of value,” Sorkin said. “It’s the first time in quite a while that medallions have been available.” Until Tuesday, Miami-Dade had issued 2,105 taxicab medallions. The six new ones were authorized last summer by the Miami-Dade Commission. The bid restrictions are aimed at making cab drivers the owners of the medallions, but at Tuesday’s prices, it’s unlikely they will be. “A cab driver will not be able to buy a medallion in the near future. It’s just too expensive,” Barbanell said.

Published: Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:46:09 GMT

$6,500 Rolex stolen from airport security checkpoint

The Broward Sheriff's Office is trying to identify a man caught on surveillance video stealing an expensive watch from an airport security checkpoint. It happened in Terminal 3 at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Jan. 18. The watch belongs to a woman wearing a black and white shirt passing through the Transportation Security Administration checkpoint. It's a stainless steel and gold Rolex valued at $6,500. When she grabbed her things out of the plastic bin, she accidentally left the pricey timepiece behind. Survey: Theft? READ: Wanted Flier WATCH: Security Video The man was right behind her, tying his shoes. When he stood up to collect his belongings, he spotted the watch, looked around, grabbed it, picked up his stuff and walked away. "This is no mistake; it was deliberate," said BSO Lt. Brian Montgomery. Rather than alerting TSA, the video shows the man walk over to a bench, set his stuff down right next to the woman in the black and white shirt, and then put her watch in his backpack. "He again looks around to make sure no one is looking, and then he proceeds to walk by two uniformed deputy sheriffs, and when he sees them, he looks down to the ground. But then when he looks up, he looks directly into the surveillance cameras," said Montgomery. BSO is trying to identify the pilfering passenger to charge him with grand theft, but is this really stealing? Or is it a case of finders, keepers? Local 10 showed the video to Fort Lauderdale criminal defense attorney Andrew Coffey, who said it would have been different if the man found the watch on the sidewalk, but in this case, he said, the circumstance makes it a crime. "This is a situation where they both had to go through, they both had to pass through security. There's no doubt that he knew she was right in front of him, and he just took it, like any common criminal would," Coffey said. BSO deputies searched the terminal but did not locate the suspect. They think he boarded a plane to Charlotte, and they are now in the process of checking the passenger list of that plane. Local 10's Roger Lohse spoke to Gloria de Regalado, who owns the watch. "There are good people and there are bad people, and unfortunately, the person behind me in line that day was bad," de Regalado said. De Regalado, who lives in El Salvador and has a home on Key Biscayne, warned other passengers to always put their belongings in a bag before going through a TSA security checkpoint to avoid accidentally leaving something behind. A reward up to $1,000 may be available for information leading to an arrest. Anyone with information about the suspect should call Broward Crimestoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477).

Published: Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:58:04 GMT

Romero Britto to be honored at Brazil's Carnaval

South Florida's most famous artist is about to be honored in a very big way. Romero Britto, now known around the world for his art, will share it with an even bigger audience as his art comes to life at Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro. His art decorates our landscape. You can't escape the color. PHOTOS: Slideshow Romero Britto has left his mark on South Florida and the world -- paintings, sculptures, cars, even a line of collectables now sold at Bed, Bath & Beyond. Britto is wildly successful. His art is now sold in galleries in more than 100 countries. He has painted presidents, celebrities, even royalty. But with all of his successes so far in his life, his greatest achievement is about to be realized. This weekend, Britto will be celebrated in Brazil, at the country's biggest celebration: Carnaval. "I got an invitation from the school of samba. They said they wanted to make homage of my work," Britto said. "I was thrilled, and I couldn't believe it. Carnaval in Brazil is the biggest cultural event in the country." It will truly be full circle for Britto. He was born in poverty in Brazil, one of nine children raised by a single mother. The once-struggling artist who gained fame in Miami, now returns to Brazil as a pop art icon and will watch as 4,000 performers bring his art to life. It will be a spectacular production -- big, bold and bright. "There will be thousands of people dressed up. There will be huge floats," Britto said. "It's hard to describe in words. I'm very appreciative. I'm very thankful." Britto has worked for more than a year getting ready for this weekend's event. No detail has been overlooked. And Sunday night is show time! "To do this in Brazil is, like, wow -- incredible," Britto said. Here are some more incredible numbers to consider: In Brazil alone, 100 million people will watch the Carnaval parade on television. In addition, the parade will be broadcast in 137 countries. Britto will be there in person at Carnaval to take in the experience. Local 10's Will Manso will be in Rio to document the event. "This is truly one of my bucket list items," Manso says. You can keep up with his travels on Local10.com, where we will publish all the photos and videos he will be sharing from Carnaval.

Published: Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:24:14 GMT

Penalty: High school coach fired for nude Facebook pic

It took 10 minutes of online exposure for a high school football coach to lose his job. Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School football coach Paul Withee resigned his positions as coach and middle school science and math teacher on Monday, a week after he posted a nude photo of himself on Facebook. School Superintendent Rick Colpitts said Tuesday that Withee intended to send the explicit photo to a friend but ended up making it public to his Facebook friends. Withee told Colpitts that the photo was posted for 10 minutes -- long enough to be seen by a parent who alerted school administrators. "He's contrite and apologetic," Colpitts said. "It's disappointing. We're all disappointed. Even when it's a mistake, there are still consequences. That's really the story here." The superintendent said he's convinced that Withee never intended for the photo to be seen by students. School policy bars teachers from being Facebook friends with students unless it's part of an activity approved by the school, but no students were among the coach's Facebook friends, Colpitts said. Withee couldn't be reached by The Associated Press on Tuesday. But he told the Sun Journal newspaper, "I'm embarrassed, I'm ashamed, I'm humiliated." Withee previously coached football and taught math at Foxcroft Academy in Dover-Foxcroft, where he spent 19 years and won three state football championships before school officials decided not to renew his contract in 2008. Peter Culley, who was president of the Foxcroft Academy's board of trustees at the time, declined to discuss the reason behind Withee's dismissal. Foxcroft Academy is a private school that also takes in local students on a tuition basis. Withee was hired as coach at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School in March. His abrupt resignation came as a surprise to the western Maine community. Some felt bad that Withee's mistake cost him his job, while others felt that he should go. Don Gouin, a former football coach and school board member, said Withee made a big mistake. Said Gouin, for whom the local football field is named: "This is tragic for everybody, not just the school but for Paul Withee."

Published: Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:43:48 GMT

Experts seek wasp to combat whitefly

The Department of Agriculture's Mark Fagan said it has identified a new species of whitefly that is targeting ficus trees. The whitefly was first spotted in December up north, and officials have now learned they are also prevalent in Monroe, Miami-Dade and Broward counties. PHOTOS: Slideshow The new variety is even more harmful because it attacks both sides of a ficus leaf, not just one side, as other whitefly species do. As the whiteflies feed, they leave a sticky, white goo behind. That means if you've noticed white blotches on your ficus leaves, that could indicate the trees have a whitefly infestation. They are also the cause of black mold. Fagan said right now, the Department’s scientists are working on what he calls a "biological control." In this case, they are working to identify a predatory wasp that will consume the whitefly and other pests. The trick is finding the right wasp that, once release, will not also prey on "beneficial insects." Fagan said the wasps they are looking at won't harm humans. Experts are days away from identifying the right wasp, and then it will take a few months to breed enough of them to combat the whiteflies. They believe this latest variety is found in Brazil and some other Latin American countries and traveled to South Florida by either hitching a ride with a "pleasure boater" or on a cargo ship. Don Pelton at Galloway Farm Nursery off 87th Avenue in Miami recommended some products to help prevent and combat whitefly infestations. He said to soak roots in Tree and Shrub Systemic Insect Drench once a year and to spray Triple Action Neem Oil on leaves.

Published: Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:40:00 GMT

Tree planted in honor of Nubia Barahona

A tree is now planted in the courtyard of Miami's Department of Children and Families headquarters in memory of Nubia Barahona, whose body was discovered in her father's truck at the side of the highway one year ago. "I believe there was not only dysfunction in this case but evil in this case," said David Lawrence to a small group of DCF employees and supervisors gathered to watch. Lawrence was part of a blue ribbon panel that uncovered the DCF's missteps and mistakes that allowed Nubia and her twin brother Victor to fall through cracks and remain with the foster parents then adoptive parents Carmen and Jorge Barahona, who are now accused of their years of abuse and Nubia's murder. That panel and a grand jury investigation led to changes that DCF Secretary David Wilkins outlined in a letter to his employees Tuesday. They include more child protective investigators, more coordination with law enforcement and improved training and technology. "Since that day, every decision we have made has been to help ensure such a tragedy does not occur again," Wilkins wrote. "Things have not gotten better," insisted the twins' guardian ad litem Paul Neumann, who had raised red flags that went all but ignored. "If you hear a story once a year like this, things have not gotten better. You should never hear the story," said Neumann. Neumann was among a group of guardians ad litem invited to Tallahassee last week to talk to lawmakers considering more changes to DCF. He came away unconvinced enough lawmakers were committed enough to giving the time, money and resources necessary to make protecting vulnerable children foolproof. "The state promised the same amount of dollars to the program that they got last year and the year before, but there are more children in the system. They need more dollars. Money solves a lot of problems," said Neumann, referring to the Guardian Ad Litem program. Anyone interested in volunteering as a guardian or supporting the program can find more information at BeAVoice.org.

Published: Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:34:09 GMT

Walmart wackos: Most bizarre Walmart pics Ever!

Walmart's low prices may get you into the store... but these Walmart shoppers will run you out!

Published: Fri, 15 Jul 2011 14:16:46 GMT

Happy Valentine's Day

Love is in the air! Get gift ideas, learn mistakes to avoid and check out recipes for sweets for your sweetheart.

Published: Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:24:09 GMT

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