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South Florida dog rescue founder reacts to new state law prohibiting pit bull bans in Miami-Dade

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:44 GMT

LOXAHATCHEE GROVES, Fla. (WSVN) — A new Florida law prohibiting bans on certain dog breeds comes as big news for the founder of a South Florida animal shelter.At the center of the new law are pit bulls, animals that those who run rescue facilities in the Sunshine State argue are often misunderstood.Their size and stature, coupled with a checkered breed history as fighting dogs, mean no other kind of canine finds itself at these shelters more than pit bulls.It’s something that Big Dog Ranch Rescue founder Lauree Simmons sees every day in Loxahatchee Groves.“Owner surrenders are up 60%. Forty percent of that is due to breed discrimination, where people are downsizing, renting somewhere smaller or moving into a different community,” she said.But times may be changing.Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill outlawing a ban on pit bulls in Miami-Dade County. It also walks back housing restrictions based on breed or weight.“This was an unnecessary ban that co...

‘Everyone jumped in to help’: Owner of Laconia, NH bar addresses crash that left dozens hurt, 14 hospitalized

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:44 GMT

Police are investigating after a vehicle crashed into a bar in Laconia, New Hampshire, on Sunday, leaving dozens of people injured and 14 hospitalized, officials said.Officers responding to a report of a vehicle into a building at 554 Endicott St. around 12:45 p.m. found a four-door sedan inside the Looney Bin Bar & Grill with numerous people injured, according to the Laconia Fire Department.Fourteen of the injured were taken to Laconia Hospital in Concord, Concord Hospital, and Franklin Hospital. Two of the patients who were transported had significant lower leg injuries, the others had lacerations. Twenty people were evaluated at the scene and didn’t require medical transport.The owner, Michelle Watson, told 7NEWS it was a miracle that no one was killed and credited patrons with springing into action to help the wounded.“I’m just so grateful that everyone’s OK,” she said, adding that the most seriously injured person became pinned in the bathroom....

Fire breaks out at Andover restaurant

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:44 GMT

Fire officials are investigating the cause of a blaze that broke out in a restaurant in Andover on Sunday.Crews responding to a reported structure fire at Daxi on Essex Street found the restaurant in flames.Video from the scene showed crews breaking windows and cutting away a section of wall to access the fire.There were no reported injuries.The cause remains under investigation.

Day 2 of NASCAR in Chicago: Shane Van Gisbergen wins Grant Park 220

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:44 GMT

Organizers dealt with poor weather conditions all day Sunday for Day 2 of NASCAR in Chicago.Torrential downpours caused flooding issues throughout Chicago Sunday. Latest forecast updates here.After all the commotions and delays caused by rain throughout the day, Shane Van Gisbergen took home first place in the Grant Park 220 Sprint Cup Series Race Sunday evening.A day of firsts for NASCAR was also a day of firsts for Van Gisbergen. The New Zealand native won his first NASCAR race in his first ever NASCAR start in the first ever street race held by NASCAR.Gates were scheduled to open at 9 a.m. but officials tweeted that it would be delayed due to weather. They opened at 10:15 a.m.Around 12:30 p.m. officials canceled the remainder of the Xfinity Series race and declared Cole Custer the winner. The green flag for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Grant Park 220 was originally moved back to 4:05 p.m., before being moved back again to 5:15 p.m. to accommodate poor weather conditions.Below are r...

CTA, Metra suspend services due to poor track conditions

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:44 GMT

Metra and the CTA both announced train services have been temporarily suspended in certain areas in and around Chicago Sunday due to poor track conditions.According to Metra, UPW trains will not operate between Chicago and Oak Park due to high standing water, while trains will not depart from Chicago and only operate from Oak Park to Elburn.Metra Officials urge those affected to seek alternate transportation.According to the CTA, Blue Line train service has been temporarily suspended between their UIC Halsted and Kedzie stops due to poor track conditions. Man in custody after ramming vehicle onto NASCAR Street Race course Metra and the CTA have not announced a timetable for service to return to affected train lines.

Outfielder named MLB All-Star for White Sox

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:44 GMT

CHICAGO — The man at the heart of the South Siders' batting order has been named to the American League All-Star Team, team officials said Sunday.Luis Robert Jr was named to the AL All-Star Team, making it his first selection to participate in the Midsummer Classic since he began his career with the White Sox during the COVID-shortened 2020 season.After their game against the Oakland Athletics Sunday, Roberts Jr had a slash line of .276/.333/.574 to go with 24 home runs, 21 doubles, 46 runs batted in, and seven stolen bases. Liam Hendriks gets to receive award for perseverance after beating cancer Robert Jr's 24 home runs puts him in a tie for the third-most home runs in Major League Baseball so far this season. Pete Alonso of the New York Mets also has 24 home runs, while the Atlanta Braves' Matt Olson has 28, and the Los Angeles Angels' Shohei Ohtani has 31 to lead MLB.Robert Jr's two dozen home runs are also the most home runs hit by a White Sox player in the first half of a se...

Man dead following east Austin shooting Sunday evening

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:44 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin police are searching for a suspect involved in a fatal east Austin shooting Sunday evening, police told KXAN.Police responded to a gunshot wound call at the intersection of Loyola Lane and Langston Drive, responding to the call around 6:46 p.m. Police told KXAN one adult male victim was found at the scene. Officials later confirmed the man died from his injuries.Police tape at the scene blocked off the Dottie Jordan Recreation Center.Austin police responded to a gunshot wound call in east Austin Sunday evening. (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez)Austin police responded to a gunshot wound call in east Austin Sunday evening. (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez)Austin police responded to a gunshot wound call in east Austin Sunday evening. (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez)Police said the suspect remains at large but the identity is known. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Wild acquire three-time Stanley Cup champion Pat Maroon in trade with Lightning

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:44 GMT

Not much more than 24 hours after losing physical winger Ryan Reaves in NHL free agency, Wild general manager Bill Guerin quickly found his replacement.On Sunday night, the Wild acquired three-time Stanley Cup champion Pat Maroon in a trade with the Tampa Bag Lightning. As if that wasn’t already enough, the Wild also nabbed winger Max Cajkovic in the deal, and only had to give up a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NHL draft. To make the money work, the Lightning will retain 20% of Maroon’s contractIt doesn’t take a hockey savant to understand what the 35-year-old Maroon brings to the table. He had 14 points (5 goals, 9 assists) in 80 games last season to go along with a league-high 150 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-3, 235-pound winger has spent 12 seasons in the NHL with the Anaheim Ducks (2011-12), Edmonton Oilers (2015-18), New Jersey Devils (2017-18), St. Louis Blues (2018-19) and Lightning (2019-23).Though his Stanley Cups clearly speak for themselves, Maroon also has 288 points (11...

Child killed after falling tree crashes into Jennings home

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:44 GMT

JENNINGS, Mo. – A young boy died over the weekend after being struck by a falling tree.According to Officer Adrian Washington, a spokesman for the St. Louis County Police Department, the incident happened just before 4 p.m. Saturday in the 5200 block of Hamilton Avenue.Police received a call for reported storm damage and an unconscious child. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News SIGN UP NOW Officers met with a woman who told them a tree had been uprooted and fallen into her five-year-old son’s bedroom and that the child was trapped beneath it.Firefighters and EMS raced to the scene to free the child and rush him to a local hospital.Unfortunately, the boy later died of his injuries.

Rockies’ Elias Diaz becomes first All-Star catcher in team history

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:44 GMT

Strong as a bull and blessed with a heart of gold, Elias Diaz is one of the most popular players in the Rockies’ clubhouse.Now he’s also an All-Star, the first catcher in the Rockies’ 31 years of existence to be so honored.When manager Bud Black informed Diaz in the clubhouse before Sunday’s game vs. Detroit, Diaz teared up as his teammates applauded and cheered.“I’m grateful for the way the season has gone, grateful for the team, grateful for my family’s support and truly honored,” Diaz said, with bullpen catcher Aaron Munoz interpreting.“The guys have come to appreciate Elias in a number of ways,” Black said. “The care factor for the Rockies, the care factor for his pitchers as teammates. It’s great because it’s understated. He’s pretty quiet, but you can tell there’s a big heart in there.”The fact that he made Rockies history wasn’t lost on Diaz.“I was told I was the first catcher (to make it) before the game...