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Marching Conchs: Key West High School band headed to London to perform in New Year’s Day parade

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:20 GMT

A South Florida high school band is going to London, England. You gotta be a pretty darn good marching band to get this invitation.Tonight, a high school band from Key West is about to cross the pond and toot their own horns.They call themselves the Marching Conchs. These Conchs have been practicing for months, and they’ve got it down.The Key West High School marching band is going global.Gary Hernandez, band director: “This is probably the largest stage that we’ve ever performed on as the Key West High School band.”Invited to play in the famous London New Year’s Day parade.Eddie Strunk, band captain: “The London New Year’s Parade is really their version of the Thanksgiving Macy’s parade, and there’s gonna be so many people lining the streets, and members of the Royal Family in the audience.”Perhaps the King and Queen will be among the 500,000 spectators on the streets of London … but probably in some comfy chairs.Gar...

Eat, drink, be merry and party: 3 SoFlo New Year’s events let you welcome 2024 in unique ways

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:20 GMT

Are you still looking for New Year’s Eve plans? We’ve got a few ideas.From partying to eating to toasting, we rounded up the hottest vibes for ‘ya. Grab your Champagne and put on your dancing shoes — Deco has all the deets to say hello to 2024.When it comes to New Year’s Eve, the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort is the place to be.The oceanfront hotel is turning its rooftop pool deck into a Winter Wonderland, using more than 40,000 twinkling lights.Nicole Rhone: “It’s just going to be spectacular, like you’ve never seen before.”And the vibes they will be serving are just as merry.Corey Sax: “You’re going to sit by cozy fire pits, we have a DJ/sax combo, live entertainment.”But if you think this experience will be like any other New Year’s Eve party, think again..Corey Sax: “We are going to personalize every experience for you. Whatever you ask from us, we will provide.”Of course, that includ...

Friends, family gather for vigil for teen victim of Lynn shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:20 GMT

Grief-stricken friends and family members of one of the teen victims of two deadly shootings in Lynn on Wednesday gathered to light candles and mourn their loss as city officials call for an end to street violence.The Essex County District Attorney’s Office said the two victims were found by police when officers were called to Camden Street around 10:20 p.m. after receiving multiple 911 calls for shots fired.Arriving officers found two males suffering from gunshot wounds behind a gas station, according to the DA’s office, both of whom were taken to North Shore Medical Center.In an update Thursday morning, authorities said the first victim, a 16-year-old, was pronounced dead in the emergency room while a second victim, a 19-year-old male, succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.Family members of the 19-year-old victim identified the teen as Kyle Mel, a junior at Lynn Classical High School. Speaking with 7NEWS, his mother described how her son had gone out to a friend...

7 Investigates: Grave concerns at Lowell cemetery

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:20 GMT

A Lowell man is calling for the community to ensure the stability of graves at a local cemetery, one of which he said he found completely caved in, exposing the casket below.Tommy Foster said he was spending a peaceful afternoon visiting the graves of family members at the Westlawn Cemetery when he was shattered by what he saw.“That’s where the hole was right there,” he told 7NEWS. “The casket, they’re gone they’re literally gone, I could se-e the linen … You could see that the casket is completely deteriorated and rotted away.” Foster said this isn’t the first time he’s found a grave like this as Westlawn — he claims he fell into one in 2016.“There was no casket there at all, I stepped on his head,” Foster said adding, “I was absolutely mortified because I didn’t know what to think at the time.”A spokesperson for the city-owned cemetery declined an on-camera interview to discuss the problem. T...

Shocking surveillance video shows string of break-ins at area smoke and vape shops

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:20 GMT

Police are investigating a series of brazen break-ins at area smoke and vape shops, several of which were caught on camera and show young thieves smashing their way into the businesses. In Saugus, a group of teens could be seen smashing the window and front door of the Vaporzone off Route 1, sending glass across the floor. The thieves could be seen grabbing T-Shirts, backpacks, and a case of vape products before fleeing the area.In Woburn, surveillance video shows a group trying to break into New Edge Vape, taking turns kicking and throwing a rock at the business but fleeing before making their way inside.The owner said,” It wasn’t just a you know a quick smash and grab. They spent almost 3 minutes and 11 seconds of their time smashing my windows with no fear in the world.”The robberies come on the heels of another in Framingham, where a group of teens wearing nearly identical clothing smashed their way inside and made off with several products.The owner of New Edge Vape...

Man shot his mother then led Vegas police on chase as he carjacked bystanders, killing father of 7

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:20 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A man who authorities say fatally shot his mother two days after Christmas led police officers on a chase through the suburbs of Las Vegas and, along the way, stole a police vehicle and carjacked bystanders at gunpoint, shooting and killing one of them.The victim killed in what Las Vegas police say was the final carjacking was 39-year-old Jerry Lopez, a married father of seven children between the ages of 3 and 11.Karen Lopez told The Associated Press that her husband had just left for work around 4 a.m. and was minutes away from their home in southwestern Las Vegas when he unknowingly entered the suspect’s path and was killed.According to police, the deadly crime spree began before dawn Wednesday, when the suspect shot his mother near his childhood home in southeastern Las Vegas. When officers arrived to investigate that shooting, they heard more gunfire and took cover.At the same time, police said, the suspect stole an unoccupied patrol car and fled toward t...

Body found in Illinois in search for missing St. Louis mother

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:20 GMT

A body has been found in Northern Illinois in the search for a missing St Louis mother of four.Twenty-nine-year-old Marquisha Williams went missing a week before Christmas. Police sources tell Fox 2 in St Louis a body was recovered in the search.Prosecutors have charged Trenton Ivy, her ex-boyfriend, with murder amid the investigation. Ivy was arrested last Friday on unrelated charges. After his arrest, he reportedly confessed to police in Racine, Wisconsin, that he killed Williams in St. Louis. He also admitted to a physical altercation and dumping her body at an undisclosed location.Court documents released Wednesday revealed investigators discovered blood evidence in Williams’ vehicle on Dec. 22, along with some of her personal belongings.Police conducted several searches for Williams over the last few days, including some in the St. Louis area. Illinois State Police and other agencies are assisting with the investigation. Ivy is being held without bond in Wisconsin until he can ...

DeSantis says Maine Trump decision 'opens up Pandora's box'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:20 GMT

(The Hill) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis blasted the decision to keep former President Trump off the ballot in Maine in 2024 while urging Republicans to focus more on Democrats’ shortcomings rather than on Trump’s legal issues.“The idea that one bureaucrat in an executive position can simply unilaterally disqualify someone from office, that turns on its head every notion of constitutional due process that this country has always abided by for over 200 years,” DeSantis said in a Thursday interview on Fox News with Jason Chaffetz.“It opens up Pandora's Box,” DeSantis added, suggesting Republican secretaries of state could then try to disqualify President Biden over the so-called “massive invasion” of migrants at the southern border.DeSantis, a 2024 GOP candidate for president, said he thinks the Supreme Court will ultimately overturn the ruling. Still, he said, Trump’s legal troubles will remain a focus of much media coverage.“I don't think that this ultimately will be legally sustained...

DeSantis knocks Haley over Civil War remarks: 'Incomprehensible word salad'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:20 GMT

(The Hill) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) went after fellow GOP candidate Nikki Haley on Thursday over her remarks failing to acknowledge slavery as the cause of the Civil War.The Florida governor told reporters in Iowa that Haley’s explanation for the Civil War was “incomprehensible word salad” and called her “not a candidate that’s ready for prime time.”Haley’s comments came at a Wednesday event in New Hampshire, where she responded to a voter asking her thoughts on the cause of the Civil War. She answered that the war was about “the freedoms of what people could and couldn’t do.”When specifically confronted by the voter about slavery, she responded, “What do you want me to say about slavery?”DeSantis framed the episode as an example of how Haley isn’t ready to be president.“The minute that she faces any type of scrutiny, she tends to cave. And I think that that's what you saw yesterday,” he said. “It’s not that difficult to identify and acknowledge the role slavery played in the...

John Reynolds: The DFL’s $20 billion spending spree put Minnesota on thin ice

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:20 GMT

As with a lot of lakes this time of year, the news Minnesota budget officials released earlier this month seemed good on the surface. At first glance, it looks like a sheet of ice solid enough to drill the first fishing hole of the season. But the moment you test it out, a crack makes its way across the lake.Minnesotans who appreciate political balance and fiscal responsibility had the same experience following that budget update. On the surface, there’s a seemingly stable surplus in the current budget cycle.When you check to see if it’s solid, however, you discover we’re actually on very thin ice because our state is headed toward a deficit beginning in 18 months.The rotten ice is a result of Minnesota Democrats’ $20 billion spending spree during the 2023 legislative session. Thanks to single-party control of state government, we went from a record-setting budget surplus toward a potential $2.3 billion deficit in just five months.We should be thankful the Legislature doesn’t meet y...