Water surrounded a block of homes and apartments in the area of A1A and Oklahoma Street, prompting crews to shut down two southbound lanes, Friday morning.

Drivers were forced to maneuver around the street closures as officials investigated the situation.

Officials say the break impacted nine homes.

Cell phone video from Thursday night captured water gushing out like a geyser.

A man who lives nearby told 7News he stepped outside to see the water spraying out.

“I came outside, I don’t remember what time but there was, like, a geyser in the middle of the road and shortly after that, we lost the water and it’s been off ever since,” he said.

Beyond just the impacted homes, some tourists are now unable to reach their hotel nearby with their cars, forcing them to pay to park elsewhere as crews continued to work on repairs, Friday afternoon.

“It is a very big inconvenience, yes. We can’t have access to the parking lot so I don’t know what’s gonna happen tonight,” said Patricia. “We’re leaving tomorrow morning anyways.”

Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy said there was no construction going on in the area at the time and that a broken valve triggered the break. He said the valve was previously installed decades ago with non-stainless steel bolts that corroded over time leading up to the burst.

While those repairs were made, the surrounding residents faced a major inconvenience with no water for hours.

“Huge, ’cause we’re renting so we don’t even, I mean, we can’t even get ahold of the landlord and we’re just trying to figure out when it’s gonna come back on,” a local area resident said.

City officials say that while the valve issue is fixed for now, there was also damage to other parts of the water system, which will require more repair work.

A Precautionary Boil Water Advisory has been issued directly to the nine impacted residential properties on A1A, meaning those customers should not consume water without boiling it first until further notice.

Officials advise that all water for consumption be brought to a boil and then left to continue boiling for one minute, and only boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, making coffee and for food preparation.

As of Friday night, water has begun flowing again but crews still have the area blocked off to traffic. City leaders say the damage to other parts of the water system will require more expansive repair work that is set to begin on Monday.

Some animal advocates said that the sparsely filled out database leaves out some much-needed information.

Heidi Hardman, the president of Polka Dogz Pet Rescue, is working to find a perfect home for Coyote, the latest of 2,000 dogs her Polka Dogz team has rescued and rehomed since 2015.

The new law, Dexter’s Law, promised her a searchable statewide database of convicted animal abusers that she could use to check applications.

“We have no idea where they live in the state, nothing,” Hardman said.

The database that launched Wednesday is a list of 1,700 names, from John Smith to Timothy Brown, but it doesn’t include birthdays, photos or counties. So, in cases of people with the same name, like John Smith, there is no way to tell who is who.

Hardman and other rescue group leaders said it’s going to create a headache for the thousands of other John Smiths and commonly named people in Florida.

“And that’s going to make people more suspicious and make it harder,” Hardman said.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, however, appeared to publish exactly what the law demanded: a list of names.

“Is this just too loosely written?” Nick Papantonis, an Orlando-based reporter, asked animal rights activist Debbie Darino.

“They did a list. I’m not sure what they were thinking, but that’s not what it was supposed to be,” Darino said.

Darino pushed for the new state law to be modeled after the one she helped pass in Volusia County, which includes photos and dates of birth.

Darino said she’s already spoken to the law’s legislative sponsor who plans to reach out to FDLE and urge them to add more identifying details.

“I’m all over it, just like, if I was you, and my name was in there, that just can’t happen,” she said.

Only convictions that are made when the law went into effect will be listed in the database. Older animal abuse convictions will remain unpublished.

Around 5,000 people jumped into the chilly waters near where Washington state borders Canada on New Year’s Day.

Participants braved the freezing water in an effort to break the Guinness World Record for the largest polar plunge ever recorded.

Norway currently holds the record with just over 3,000 participants.

The daring group is still waiting for confirmation from Guinness World Records as to whether or not they broke the record.

Michael Dority Gee is facing multiple charges, including a felony charge for leaving the scene of a crime that had caused injury.

“Yo, yo, yo, are you okay? Are you okay?” a man can be heard yelling to the boat as it spun out of control, as seen in Ring camera footage.

People eating at a restaurant by the Boynton Beach Inlet on Sunday evening were shocked as they saw the boat spin by, some taking video of the scene. One person can be heard saying that they believed the driver was unconscious.

Moments later, according to officials, the customers watched it slam right into Woolbright Bridge, then into a private dock.

Investigators with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission said two people on board the boat were thrown into the water. Crews airlifted the driver and passenger to Delray Medical Center. The female passenger sustained head and back injuries.

The crash was so loud it set off someone’s doorbell camera. A neighbor shared what she knows about that night.

“My parents said that they had just heard something like an explosion. It was very loud. It was alarming,” the woman said.

Boynton Beach Fire Rescue said Gee somehow managed to climb back onto the moving boat and drive away.

According to the FWC, two other boaters tried to catch him and eventually did when his boat started to sink near the George Bush Boulevard Bridge.

As investigators took him into custody, a dive team pulled the woman and dog from the water.

Gee remains in a West Palm Beach jail as of Thursday afternoon on the charges of leaving the scene of a crash that caused injury and property damage.

According to officials, around 6 a.m. on Wednesday, the Hialeah Police Department responded to a call from a concerned citizen about a potential kidnapping.

Surveillance footage, that corroborates the witness’s account, shows the suspicious situation on New Year’s Eve morning at West 27th Avenue and 52nd Street.

At some point, the man can be seen appearing to pull the woman toward the truck, according to detectives.

Police believe the woman and man seen in the footage know each other.

As of Thursday morning, no missing persons report has been filed matching the woman’s description. This is why police are asking for the public’s help in identifying her.

She was wearing a gray sweatshirt, khaki sweatpants, black sandals and has long black hair.

The man is about 5 feet, 7 inches, was wearing all black clothing and a blue hat, and was driving a modified white Ford F-150 Platinum Edition with distinct black rims.

Officers say their primary concern is the woman’s immediate well-being and are working quickly to locate her and verify her safety.

If you recognize the male subject, the female victim, or the vehicle involved, please contact the Hialeah Police Department immediately at (305) 687-2525.

The Miami Hurricanes: underdogs, underestimated and unstoppable.

“What a moment for the city, the alums, the program,” a commentator said after UM’s winning play. “Man. They deserve it.”

The Canes were invited into the college football playoffs out of 12 teams. The top conference teams advanced automatically, and the Canes were chosen to advance by a selection committee.

“Be fast, physical, violent and relentless. Whatever it takes,” UM’s head coach Mario Cristobal said.

UM hasn’t won a conference championship since moving into the ACC in 2003. Their five national championships in the 80s and 90s, however, ranks them as one of the best programs ever.

One of the team’s former coaches in the 80s, Jimmy Johnson, was in the stands Wednesday night showing support for the U. Cristobal, the current head coach, was one of Johnson’s players.

“Our guys have really worked hard at being a physical, violent bunch. And you know what? Coach Johnson!” Cristobal yelled to Johnson. “There you go, brother! There you go! Green Tree practice field! Let’s go. Wait for me. Don’t leave. Don’t leave. Don’t leave.”

They leaned on their foundation to beat the Texas A&M Aggies on Dec. 20. Wednesday night was no different. From the first quarter to the second, and from the start of the second half, all the way to the final few seconds, the program has proven they can do it all over again.

“Hey man, hard fought battle today, I don’t know what’s on my face, but man, oh man,” UM’s quarterback Carson Beck said. “It feels good to be a Hurricane, baby. Go Canes, let’s go.”

The win was a great start to 2026 for all Canes fans. The team is expected back home at the Coral Gables’ campus around 2 p.m. on Thursday. While the campus was calm early in the morning, 7News is expecting it to be another celebration when the team arrives.

In interviews, the four fire rescue members facing charges said that it all started out as a playful joke, but department leaders said what actually happened was anything but.

In total, 10 fire rescue members were fired for failing to report the alleged hazing at a firehouse in Ocala last month.

“It’s a devastating loss with the 10 personnel and the experience that they have, and we don’t take that lightly,” Marion County Fire Rescue spokesperson James Lucas said.

Marion County considers the November incident as an act of violence.

“Couldn’t breathe for a little bit, and I was, like, trying to actually, like, fight and get out,” the alleged victim said in an audio recording.

Marion County Fire Rescue released 15 hours of video from 14 different interviewees, as well as hundreds of pages of investigative documents.

Every single employee questioned told a similar story, saying they roughhoused often.

“Not an excuse, but this is, like, what’s been happening to me all the time,” one of the accused fire rescue members said in an interview.

They also told deputies that they didn’t think things started out all that serious.

“Because I just thought we were all just joking around with it,” a different fire rescue member accused of assisting in the hazing said.

They admitted, however, that things got out of hand last month.

Marion County Fire Rescue policy states there is no tolerance for hazing, and firefighters have a duty to report any harassment they see.

Officials said this case was only reported after a firefighter at a different station heard what happened.

“We are here to answer their call on their worst day. We hope to restore the trust and confidence that the citizens once had in us,” Lucas said.

An attorney representing one of the accused firefighters said in a statement that he hopes to get the matter resolved in an appropriate manner.

The price for a single 30 minute e-ride will now go up to just over $17. That is 240% higher than the cost of a ride in 2019.

The company said it attributes the new prices to rising tariffs, insurance costs, field staffing and service vehicles.

Citi Bike officials said they have previously covered the extra expense of tariffs in 2025, but can no longer do so.

The new prices are set to go into effect Jan. 28.

All across the region, celebrations are planned Wednesday, from Fort Lauderdale to Miami and even all the way down to the Florida Keys.

The Big Orange will rise in downtown Miami, it will be anchors away in Fort Lauderdale, and the shoe will drop in the Keys, as tens of thousands of revelers ring in 2026.

At Bayfront Park, the Big Orange — a 35-foot, 2,000-pound LED sculpture — will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a 400-foot rise to the top of the InterContinental Miami at midnight. The iconic “Mr. Neon” will begin its ascent at 6 p.m.

An estimated 100,000 people attended last year’s event at Bayfront Park in what organizers called the “biggest Hispanic New Year’s Eve gathering in the country.”

In true Miami fashion, South Florida didn’t wait for midnight to start the party.

There’s no better place than Miami to celebrate New Year’s, no better place. We had to be here,” said a woman.

Some came from across the world to celebrate in the 305.

“I’m from Zimbabwe. 20 hours in the plane,” said one woman.

The Miami skyline will be lit up by thousands of fireworks synchronized with music the second midnight strikes.

Great views aren’t the only thing partygoers will get to see at night.

Willy Chirino, Flo Rida, and Marshmello are all scheduled to perform Wednesday night.

“We’ve got a fusion of Latin hip hop, all the talent of South Florida is gonna be out here tonight,” said a man.

“I’m very excited to see Marshmello,” said a woman.

The crowds will have several bites available to eat as they enjoy the beats throughout the night.

All of the excitement will lead up to the moment everyone is waiting for.

“Two minutes ’til, we’ll raise it to the top,” said Steve Carpenter, the designer of the Big Orange.

The iconic orange will make its climb up the side of the InterContinental at 11:58 p.m. for everyone to begin counting down.

“It’s free to the public, so anybody and everybody can come down and see it and they have food trucks and they have bands, it’s amazing,” said Carpenter.

The party in downtown Miami is expected to carry on past midnight.

In downtown Fort Lauderdale, a 900-pound anchor made of steel and covered in 5,000 LED lights will slowly drop as the clock strikes midnight. The anchor was chosen to reflect the city as the marine capital of the world.

“We’re here to celebrate the New Year and say goodbye to the old year,” said Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis.

As with years past, kids got to start ringing in the New Year early in the afternoon.

“There’ll be activities for kids, there’ll be kiosks for food, it’s gonna be a great festival for everyone to enjoy,” said Trantalis.

“We’re gonna have a DJ on stage, we’ll have a bunch of inflatables over here in the park. We’re gonna have pony rides, petting zoos, face painting, arts and crafts,” said Todd Stilphen, the Fort Lauderdale community program manager.

The anchor lit up at 7 p.m. for those that need to be in bed before midnight.

As the night rolled in, the crowds grew and the excitement escalated.

For many visiting from out of state, the mild temperatures made for the perfect time to be outdoors for the countdown.

“This is the best place on earth, I guess, I don’t know,” said a tourist.

As for some of the youngest partygoers, they shared their New Year’s resolutions with 7News as they wait for the anchor to drop.

“I wanna learn to do times,” said one girl.

“Play outside more,” said another girl.

“Eat more veggies,” said a boy.

“I’m gonna practice skateboarding more often,” said another boy.

For anyone looking to head to downtown Fort Lauderdale, officials have Southwest Second Street closed between Southwest Fifth Avenue and Southwest First Avenue, with the surrounding streets restricted to local traffic.

“We’re gonna ring in the New Year, we’ll be safe, we’ll be happy and I hope we’ll be successful for everyone,” said Trantalis.

Officials also said there will be an enhanced police presence during the festivities to ensure everyone’s safety.

In the Keys, a giant red shoe will drop outside the Bourbon Street Pub on Duval Street. Year after year, a drag queen sits inside the supersized heel as a rowdy crowd of revelers gather on the street below.

No matter where you eventually decide to celebrate, officials say they just want you to do it safely.

“The best way to stay safe while celebrating New Year’s is by leaving the fireworks to the experts,” Miami-Dade Fire Rescue spokesperson Erika Benitez said. “If you decide to celebrate at home, only buy fireworks from approved vendors and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.”

First responders work to prevent many of the thousands of fireworks-related injuries and fires reported nationwide every year. One way they do this is by reminding revelers to wear protective eyewear, light fireworks on pavement, and keep water or a fire extinguisher nearby.

Better yet, they say, sit back and leave it to the professionals.

“Make sure that you have a sober adult, a sober, responsible adult who is in charge of discharging the fireworks. Make sure you’re shooting the fireworks off of a hard flat surface,” Dan Peart, the Director of Government Affairs for Phantom Fireworks, said. “I know a lot of people are shooting fireworks from their lawn. If it’s possible, you can lay down a piece of plywood to give yourself a hard flat surface, and again, you can brace the items in there if you’re shooting aerial fireworks.”

So, no matter how you decide to celebrate the New Year this year, be sure to do it safely and responsibly.

If you’re going to be outdoors, remember to bring a jacket as temperatures are forecasted to be in the 40s by the time the clock strikes midnight in some parts of South Florida.

Jordan Wilmore, 24, wants to become the tallest police officer in Texas. He wants to become an officer in general, but he didn’t pass his exam by one point.

So Wilmore’s area chief contacted O’Neal, who is a certified peace officer. Without hesitation, the basketball icon stepped in to mentor him.

“I mean, I’m really thankful for him helping me out, and being there, and being like a mentor for helping me out through this,” Wilmore said.

O’Neal is sponsoring Wilmore’s academy journey and even promised to help him get a custom cruiser when he passes that exam.

Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the scene of the crash at Southwest 68th Street and 142nd Avenue in Kendall Lakes, at around 3:45 a.m. on Tuesday.

Responding deputies located a single vehicle that had hit a wall and burst into flames.

Deputies said the three victims, between the ages of 15 and 17, were out of the car by the time they arrived on the scene.

The car fire was quickly extinguished.

Paramedics with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue transported the juveniles to a local hospital in stable condition.

The car was later towed from the scene. Detectives have yet to release what caused the crash.

Monday’s meeting of the Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines happened as the Trump administration has been giving considerable attention to childhood vaccine policy.

“MRNA technology poses more risks than benefits,” Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said.

This year, the Department of Health and Human Services, led by Kennedy, recommended changes to vaccines for COVID-19, hepatitis B and measles.

“Starting in 2025, there have been more than 1,900 confirmed measles cases in the United States, which is the largest annual number since 1992. Most cases have been in people under 18 years of age,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention representative Jonathan Duffy said.

HHS officials said they plan to revamp the entire childhood vaccine schedule in the new year, aligning U.S. policy more closely with other countries like Denmark, resulting in fewer shots.

At Monday’s meeting, CDC officials emphasized the importance of immunizations for children.

Duffy expanded on the benefits of early childhood vaccinations.

“The last basically 30-year period from 1994 to 2023, which CDC estimated that vaccination of children born during that time prevented more than 500 million illnesses, avoided more than 1 million deaths,” he said.

Data from the European Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows Denmark does not vaccinate children against hepatitis A, chickenpox or RSV, the leading cause of hospitalization in infants.

Critics argue that the administration chose Denmark because it administers fewer vaccines than any other Western country.

James Campbell is the Vice Chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Infectious Diseases.

“You’ve seen this brazen attempt to sow fear and distrust in vaccinations that have saved countless lives,” he said.

The final announcement on changes to the childhood vaccine schedule is expected in the new year.

The group of cloggers took their last photo in South Florida on Sunday before packing up a bus in Davie and heading straight to Miami International Airport to fly to England and perform in the London New Year’s Day parade.

“I’m super excited and nervous at the same time, but I feel like it’s going to be a really cool experience,” Madison King, one of the 29 South Florida Cloggers, said.

The journey for King and the South Florida Cloggers began two years ago. That’s when they were handpicked for America’s Clogging All-Stars, an elite dance group made up of teams across the nation who combine together to perform in large professional settings. In total, the team is composed of 100 All-Stars representing 10 states and 18 teams nationwide.

“It’s just been a lot of practice and a lot of hard work,” clogger Cayla Calcaterra said.

The next stop for the 100-member national team? London on New Year’s Day.

Rebecca Veter is the director of the South Florida Cloggers.

“There has been rumor that the royal family will be in attendance of the parade, so that will be an incredible experience,” she said.

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to watch these South Florida dancers in the parade from the streets of London, while even more can watch the televised broadcast around the world.

This parade is just one stop on a 10-day tour for the team. They’ll be showcasing their skills at various festivals and events throughout London.

Shakira is performing a three-night gig at the hotel in Hollywood. She’ll be singing one more time, Monday night, as her last concert of the year as part of her Hard Rock exclusive “Up Close & Personal” performances.

Tickets are still available as of Monday morning. You can learn more about the event here.

According to investigators, Lonnel Brinson did not slow down past the Florida Highway Patrol and Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office vehicles near Northwest 58th Street on the Turnpike, Saturday morning. The suspect, 28, swerved as he tried to avoid the crash and struck MDSO Deputy Leonard Cantave.

Authorities said Cantave was on his way to work on Saturday when he heard a dispatch call about a crash and stopped to help troopers at the scene.

That is when, officials said, Brinson struck the deputy. Deputies said the suspect stayed at the scene of the crash.

Cantave, a 20-year law enforcement veteran, was airlifted to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital, where he underwent surgery. Officials later confirmed he was recovering.

“We’re just hoping and praying that he can see his way through this situation,” Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Assistant Sheriff Eric Garcia said at a press conference following the accident.

According to his arrest report, Brinson had admitted to consuming alcohol and marijuana before the crash. He had also been driving with a suspended license.

Brinson was taken to jail and charged with one count of felony reckless driving causing serious injury.

Back at the scene of the crash, Florida Highway Patrol assisted with traffic control as the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office investigated. All lanes of the Turnpike were reopened later in the day.

Authorities urge drivers to slow down and move over when approaching emergency scenes.

“We cannot stress enough how important it is to our motorists, when they’re driving, and they’re approaching a traffic scene, to slow down and to move over, in order to prevent these types of incidents,” Garcia said.

“Our deputy is currently still in ICU, but in stable condition. He has a very long recovery, but we are very grateful that that is what we’re talking about: a recovery,” Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero Stutz said.

Brinson bonded out of jail on Sunday and is expected back in court in February. Cantave remains in stable condition as of Monday morning.

Davie Fire Rescue units responded to the scene of the blaze off the 6800 block of College Court Manor, just after 9 a.m. on Friday.

According to Davie Police Department officials, the woman was identified as Gloria Dickenson, who was 73-years-old.

Her next of kin was on scene and notified.

Police also stated that the fire off College Court Manor was deemed accidental.

Crews arrived at the scene to find heavy smoke pouring out of the building. They began to evacuate the structure.

Residents described the ensuing chaos.

“The alarm is sounding and the fire. The neighbors are coming [outside] the house,” said a man. “Everything is happening very, very fast.”

“[I saw] only smoke. Yeah, like a lot coming out of, like, over there, like the window, I think,” said a girl.

Fire officials said crews located the woman inside the structure. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

7News footage shows that there is not much external damage to the residential structure.

Early Friday afternoon, fire officials remained at the scene as they conducted their investigation.

Neighbors have since been able to return to their homes. Volunteers with the American Red Cross are helping those impacted by the fire.

Students from Riverview High School were seen in the parking lot of the large retailer earlier this week as they carried out their small but meaningful gesture to help brighten shoppers’ holiday season.

“I happened to pick a old lady who was using a wheelchair scooter and, for me, it just kind of reminded me of my grandma, who passed a few years ago,” one student said.

The white-haired woman who was one of the recipients was bowled over by the kind gesture.

“Unbelievable. I just got out of the hospital yesterday, and my baby daughter told [me], ‘Come take me to the store because I don’t have nothing.’ And then, and all of a sudden I got everything, and God paid for it with these nice fellas,” she said.

The young men behind this special gift are a part of a mentorship program called Gentlemen’s Quest. The group teaches young men to lead with compassion, empathy and service while building character and purpose for their futures.

Crew members in Expedition 74 aboard the International Space Station shared a festive message complete with decorations and new holiday traditions in microgravity.

“From all of us aboard the International Space Station, to all of you, we would like to wish you the happiest of holiday season, the happiest of Christmas, Merry Christmas, and a happy, happy New Year,” astronaut Mike Fincke said.

The astronauts showed off their Christmas tree and makeshift stockings they had set up on Dec. 17, as they sent Christmas and New Year’s wishes back here to Earth.

On the pediatric floor of HCA Florida Palms West Hospital, therapy dogs Peach, Penny, Sadie, Oliver, Loki and many others made rounds visiting kids this week.

One grateful patient was 3-year-old Mia, who has been battling an infection since Monday.

“It’s been really good. It’s been a hard time,” Mia’s mom said.

Mia’s mother also said seeing the pups helped make the holidays special, even from a hospital room.

“It’s been a little bit of light in the dark,” she said

The dogs not only bring cheer to the patients of all ages, but also their owners.

Eleven-year-old Tristan came with his dad and shared his dog Finn with others.

He said he’s glad to share time with his dog if it means other children can feel even a bit more at home.

“To give basically what I have from my house, basically giving them the feeling of home,” said Tristan. “I’m glad that there’s, like, not that much, like, rooms that are like filled with people, because like we don’t want anyone in the hospital when it’s Christmas. Who does?”

All of the dog owners are volunteers with a nonprofit dedicated to training therapy dogs to visit those in need of emotional support.

According to Lauderhill Police, the gunfire occurred in the area of Northwest 22nd Street and 56th Avenue, at around 10 p.m. on Thursday.

Security footage shared with 7News shows a group of people arguing in the parking lot of the Sunny Lake apartment complex.

Neighbors said that the people were from two different apartments and had been fighting for most of the day over loud music and parking spots. They said the arguing had been going on for more than a day, but things escalated quickly on Christmas night.

In a separate video shared with 7News, that is too graphic to air, a woman in an orange dress is seen waving around a gun and within seconds a man shoots her, she falls to the ground, and screams follow.

When officers arrived at the apartment complex, investigators said, they found the victim suffering from at least one gunshot wound outside of a home. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

“Service requested for someone suffering a gunshot wound to the head. Caller is a passerby,” can be heard over the police scanner detailing the scenario.

Detectives said they have accounted for everyone involved and believe this is an isolated incident.

Neighbors said the victim, identified as 36-year-old Octavia Stewart, had lived at the apartment complex for a few years with her daughter and that the gunman was a guest of one of the apartments. The identity of the woman or if anyone will face charges has yet to be confirmed.

Officials still ask that if anyone has any information that could help with their investigation to call Lauderhill Police Department at 954-497-4700 or Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.

Court documents state that Paetra Ann Grandsberry was on board the Carnival Conquest near the Bahamas when she attacked the teen.

Grandsberry claimed she mistook that teen for one who was bullying her son. She was arrested when she disembarked at PortMiami on Monday.

On Tuesday, Grandsberry stood before Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Victoria Sigler. The 38-year-old faces child abuse charges.

“She was a mother. Her children were attacked. It was a misunderstanding in terms of who,” Grandsberry’s attorney said.

“Your client allegedly ran up and grabbed the wrong child, tackled him to the floor, and then call him a little [expletive],” Sigler said.

Grandsberry has since bonded out of jail. She has been ordered to stay away from the victim.

For more than two decades, the Benevolent Association Christmas Express, hosted by the Broward Sheriff’s Office and Pompano Beach Fire Rescue, has been delivering gifts to families and children who may otherwise not receive any during the holiday season.

At Fire Station 63 on Thursday morning, volunteers and first responders told 7News that there were three U-Haul truck full of toys and that more were on the way.

Every year, these first responders and community volunteers take time out of their own Christmas, away from their families, to give back and put a smile on the faces of so many.

They loaded up a few trucks and traveled to several neighborhoods around Pompano Beach, all with the goal of spreading joy and being there for the community when they need it most.

Kori Christmas and Kathy Oliva are among the event’s organizers.

“Something that looks like a simple toy to us means so much to that family,” Oliva told 7News at a previous gift giveaway. “And where I find my joy is in the faces of the moms, the dads and the grandparents who have tears pouring down their faces because we’re able to help supplement them for Christmas, to be able to put the smiles on those kids’ faces.”

Christmas, who works for the Pompano Beach Fire Rescue, said the event has expanded over the years.

“It was originally ran with a teacher, actually handing out teddy bears out of the back of her truck, and the local police department and fire department heard about it and has taken it over since,” she told 7News at this year’s giveaway. “We used to be in small little U-hauls with boys and girls on one truck, and now we’ve built it over to three [trucks], with an overflow truck, which is amazing. We’re so thankful to be able to do this and, you know, support the community. As a firefighter, I serve the community working, but now also on my off time, and it’s just like an amazing thing to be able to do.”

Oliva, meanwhile, detailed plans for this year’s event.

“It’s going to be an amazing day. We have nine stops today, and we’re going to go all through the community. We go led by the fire truck, the ambulance and then the three toy trucks, followed by the sprinter with the bikes, and then we actually have one other truck with big things in it, too,” she said. “At each stop we pull up, and it’s amazing. It’s amazing to see the kids in the line. It’s amazing to see their smiles. It’s amazing to see their mothers, their grandmothers, their parents just so blessed with sometimes tears pouring down their eyes. And it’s neat to see how one toy puts a smile on a child’s face, and it warms my heart to do it.”

The volunteers and first responders drove the trucks full of toys to nine different locations around Pompano Beach. Hundreds of children lined up at each stop.

D. Hicks brought her nephew for the gifts.

“Just to see him excited to get up out the bed and to come over here, it means everything to see him happy,” Hicks said.

Her nephew got a Nerf gun.

Oliva explained how the event is not just for the community, but supported by the community.

“Kori and I get started quite early in the year. Actually, I’ll be shopping starting next month again, but we are so so blessed by businesses that are around here in Pompano, and some not in Pompano,” she said. “People that just start seeing what we’re doing and start sending us the either toys or donations, and we shop, and we shop, and we shop to fill up these trucks. It takes a lot, and we are so, so blessed by all of our vendors that come out and support us.”

The toy deliveries started at 8:30 a.m. Volunteers spent about half an hour at each stop.

Jennifer, one of the volunteers, told 7News that this is not the first time she and her daughter have participated in the event.

“I have an 18-year-old daughter, and we were invited to be a part of this three years ago, and it’s just such an honor to be able to see her, be able to give back, and just show love and community. So we really love doing this,” she said.

Another volunteer said that he and his mother have been helping with this event for almost as long as it’s been around.

“Yeah, it’s a beautiful thing. Me and my mom, we’ve been doing this for 20 years now,” he said. “It’s just – we want to just bring happiness and joy and just show that the community that we can just all get together and just spread joy for all the kids. It’s just – it’s so beautiful, absolutely.”

Later in the morning, Oliva caught 7News up with how the event was going now that it was fully underway.

“Now that the word is getting out, we’re getting longer lines and everything like that. Our toys, our trucks are still very, very full. We still have an overflow truck. We’re just expecting all the same,” she said. “We’re expecting more kids, more smiles, more happy faces and sometimes some joyous tears, and we are fully blessed to be able to do this.”

One mother, Brittany Pullam, brought her daughter to the gift giveaway.

“It’s very sentimental,” she said. “You have some families who’s not able. So, it’s tough times. Times are tough right now, and these guys come every year and we appreciate everything they do.”

Pullam’s daughter walked away with a Barbie doll.

Christmas said things were going well as the volunteers worked on their third gift-giving stop.

“It’s going really great, actually. We’ve already gone over a couple hundred kids now, and it’s only the third stop,” she said. “So we’ve got a couple more to go, and I’m hoping that there’s more and more kids, a lot of smiles on faces and a lot of people happy to see Santa Claus.”

Christmas said this event is not only important to the community, but for her as well.

“I mean, it’s a big deal, honestly, to me. You know, I spend most of my holiday season doing this and planning and stressing out, and then being able to be here on Christmas Day and actually seeing the smiles on people’s faces and just the appreciation by the community is just like such a good feeling,” Corey said.

Christmas said that the event has been going on for over 25 years, and she hopes it can continue for many years to come. She said, “I just hope to spread joy and happiness and just, you know, that we’re a community and that community helps community.”

Organizers told 7News that as soon as they handed out the last toy, they would immediately start planning for next year.

The surveillance footage captured the moment when the dog charged at the victims as they walked in the neighborhood, Tuesday afternoon.

According to police, the owner left his garage door open, allowing that pet to get out. What happened next left the neighborhood without a sense of safety.

All three victims were transported to the hospital with bite wounds and abrasions suffered while they fought off the canine during the attack, which lasted about a minute.

“I grabbed him so tight, and then I hold on, everybody was there, and then I said, ‘Call 911, call help,'” one victim said.

That is exactly what a neighbor did.

“911, where is your emergency?” a dispatcher said.

“We’re inside the house because we’re worried that [the dog is] going to come and attack us,” the neighbor said.

When officers arrived, the dog was back inside his home. Police said that he had gotten out when his owner forgot to close the garage door.

“That dog was not confined, so it ran out, ran up the street and went after these three people,” police spokesperson Mike Jachles said.

Ion is the neighbor whose security cameras recorded the attack. He said the dog once threatened him as he left to pick up his children.

“Three minutes later, my dad calls me like, ‘Oh, Ion, people are screaming here. The dog attacked the people,'” Ion said.

Animal Care and Control arrived at the scene and took custody of the dog from the owner.

The owner did not want to go on camera, but said the dog is a 1-year-old named Enzo. He said Enzo is sweet and playful and doesn’t understand what happened.

Police said they’re lucky the outcome of the attack wasn’t worse.

“They fear that, had it been a child or just one person, it could have been a much more brutal attack, because this dog had a lot of power and was very aggressive,” Jachles said.

“I had two boys, 5 and 6. God forbid. I don’t even know what I would have done,” Ion said. “It’s sad to see this kind of stuff, but it’s scary at the same time.”

Enzo’s owner hopes to have Enzo returned home, but according to police, animal control officials will decide what happens to the dog.

Earlier this month, a video showing the woman being detained by ICE agents made national headlines.

The newly released footage shows the scene from the perspective of a deputy with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office who was there for the traffic stop and asked the woman to cooperate.

“All I’m saying is, if you don’t cooperate with these gentlemen, OK, it’s going to get to something that you don’t want to get there,” the deputy said to the woman while she sat in the car with the window slightly down.

In the video, obtained by The Miami Herald, the woman can be heard saying it’s not the first time she’s been pulled over in the car that belongs to her boyfriend, who was in the U.S. illegally and had already been detained by ICE. She said she had been using his car to get to and from her job as a behavioral therapist.

“I’m scared. I don’t want to have to go through this anymore,” the woman is heard saying in the bodycam footage.

She also said, “You guys stop me every time. It’s not the first time.”

“So, if you can get her to ID, if not, we’re going to drag her out of the car,” a masked officer told the deputy.

It all happened on U.S. 1 in Key Largo back on Dec. 3.

In the video, the woman maintains she is a U.S. citizen on her way to work, though she refuses to show her ID. At one point, an agent is heard threatening to break her windows. What happened next would gain international attention.

In cellphone video captured by The Miami Herald, the woman can be seen in her scrubs being pulled from her vehicle as she screams for help

“I’m a U.S. citizen, please help me. This is unfair, why are you doing this to me?” she cried while being cuffed and then placed in the back of an SUV, only to be released when the agents confirmed she was, in fact, a U.S. citizen.

Following that detainment, the woman released a statement that reads in part:

“From the very beginning of the encounter, there was clear intimidation. To clarify, I did roll down my window the moment they pulled me over, and any claim saying that I refused to do so is completely false.”

Her detainment later sparked a small protest in front of the Islamorada Public Library Branch against what protestors described as aggressive immigration enforcement that’s sweeping the country.

The Department of Homeland Security later told 7News that the woman was detained because she was driving her illegal alien boyfriend’s car at the time of that video. They told 7News that once they were able to confirm her identity, she was immediately released.

Surveillance footage released on Tuesday shows the suspect, identified as 46-year-old Nicholas Eichorst, tearing down the menorah and pushing it to the ground, Monday night.

The menorah, located outside of the Miami-Dade County Tax Collector’s Office, was part of the office’s first ceremony lighting a menorah on Saturday.

Miami-Dade Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez issued a statement denouncing the latest act of vandalism, saying it “has no place in Miami-Dade County and no place in a civilized society.”

The county office had celebrated its first ever Hanukkah ceremony over the weekend for the holiday that ended on Monday.

According to the arrest report, it’s not the first time Eichorst has targeted the Tax Collector’s Office. Last month, Eichorst was arrested for throwing a rock at the building, cracking one of the windows.

Fernandez called the vandalism a despicable act and said the county’s tax collector’s office is working with authorities to identify the man in the video.

The tax collector said he wants to focus as well on the good Samaritan who found the vandalized menorah and restored it.

“But the good thing is, in the video, is that one bad actor can, you know, destroy the menorah, but another good person from our community comes back and restores the menorah, and that is the message that we wanted to give to our community,” Fernandez said. “It’s not a message about hate. It’s the message about, we are here to continue to fight for light, and that is the most important message here: that the only way to fight darkness is with light.”

Fernandez’s office said they are also looking for the good Samaritan so they can thank him.

The menorah is standing and lit once again as of Tuesday night.

“It doesn’t matter what’s your faith, we’re going to be here for you,” said Fernandez.

Authorities said the estimated damage for this incident is $500.

Eichorst remains behind bars on $2,500 bond.

A mass adoption took place at the Duval County Courthouse on Friday.

The event, organized by the Family Support Services of Duval & Nassau Counties, finalized 13 families.

The children’s ages ranged from infants to teenagers, with several older youth adopted.

Wyatt Mann is one of the four teenagers who were adopted on this momentous day.

“I’m super excited. Really excited,” he said.

Emily Clement adopted Mann.

“People tend to forget that with older kids you still have a lot of firsts. This year, it was the first time he got to pick out his own Christmas tree, and decorating the home and have that full family dynamic,” Clement said.

Organizers said the event helped families come together right before Christmas.

The Pooches Playhouse in Failsworth, England, went full-on festive and viral this holiday season with a video of a doggy Nativity.

Staffers took 11 of the day care’s pups and dressed them up to reenact the Nativity scene on Dec. 13.

From Baby Jesus to Mary and the Three Wise Men, the fluffy performers posed for the camera just in time for the Christmas season.

Many have commented on how calm and well-behaved the dogs seem to be.

The letter from the religious leaders is the latest in a continued campaign by the church to try to convince the government to be more humane when it comes to their treatment of immigrants who come to the Unites States illegally.

Many of the bishops in the U.S. who have been appointed by the Pope have been critics of the president.

“Don’t be the Grinch that stole Christmas,” Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski said in a news conference held Monday.

Wenski, along with the rest of Florida’s Catholic bishops, called for a pause on immigration enforcement during the holy week of Christmas.

“That could help a lot to lower the temperature in our nation, but also it will help the families of our community to be able to gather together and celebrate Christmas with their families,” Wenski said.

The letter was penned by the church’s leadership in Florida. It pleads with Trump and DeSantis for a pause, citing the border being secure and the fact that hundreds of thousands of people have already been deported or have left voluntarily.

Pope Leo XIV has publicly taken a pro-immigrant stance.

“I think we have to look for ways of treating people humanely,” he said previously in a statement to the press.

The pontiff supported his bishops who have criticized Trump’s sweeping immigration crackdown.

“When people are living good lives — and many of them for 10, 15, 20 years — to treat them in a way that is extremely disrespectful, to say the least, and there’s been some violence, unfortunately, I think that the bishops have been very clear in what they’ve said,” the pope said.

“Give people these two weeks to be with their families without fear of being arrested or taken into custody and ending up at ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’ at Krome or other places to await deportation,” Wenski said. “It’s a very simple request: a pause during the Christmas holidays.”

Two recently appointed religious leaders have also shown a shift in views on immigration, with New York bishop-elect Ronald Hicks, and Palm Beach bishop-elect Manuel De Jesus Rodriguez

“The church supports the authorities efforts to enforce migration laws, but the church is also all for the respect due to the human dignity of migrants,” said Rodriguez.

Wenski was also asked whether he thinks he will receive a response from either the president or the governor or whether their plea will be convincing. He said he is hopeful that the Christmas spirit is a powerful one.

“The majority of people that are being removed are people with no criminal records. Give us a pause, let people celebrate the holiday in peace with their families, and without fear.” said Wenski.

The year 2025 is ending on a historic note. The American Automobile Association estimates a record-setting 122.4 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home.

“You’ve got this two-week period when people are coming and going during different times,” AAA spokeswoman Aixa Diaz said.

According to AAA, nearly 110 million people will drive, just over 8 million will fly and close to 5 million will take other forms of travel like buses or trains.

For those getting behind the wheel this holiday season, a basic rule of thumb: The sooner you leave, the better.

“Early mornings are the best. Those are the times that you’re going to have the lighter traffic. Also, you don’t have the buildup and more opportunities for there to be crashes or construction later in the day,” Diaz said.

If you’re heading to the airport, be proactive before pulling up to the front doors.

“Do everything you can before you get to the airport,” Melanie Fish, Vice President of Global Public Relations for Expedia, said. “Reserve that parking, check into that flight, prepay for checked baggage. It’s really going to save you time and heartache when you get there.”

As for those procrastinators who may still be looking for a last-minute bargain on a plane ticket, Fish said, “There’s always weird things going on with airfare, so you can probably find a cheap deal to fly, but is there value in that flight? Is the layover three times longer than it normally would be? Is it going to take you three times longer than it normally would be? Is it going to take you three times longer to get to your destination?”

According to Pembroke Pines Police, two vehicles got into an accident near the intersection of Pines Boulevard and Northwest 76th Avenue, just before 9 a.m. on Monday.

Investigators said one hit the electrical pole, while the other hit a fire hydrant. First responders had to pull one person trapped inside their vehicle.

Paramedics transported the injured victims to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood as trauma alerts.

Back at the scene, police said, the impact caused the electrical pole to fall across the roadway, as well as flooding along the road, including at a nearby shopping plaza on Pines Boulevard, due to the fire hydrant being hit.

Southbound traffic at Northwest 76th Avenue remains blocked as of 2 p.m. Westbound traffic has reopened; only one lane remains closed. Officials urge drivers to avoid the area and seek alternate routes.

The iconic Sean Paul made a show-stopping red carpet appearance on Saturday as he performed at the Kaseya Center.

He set the tone for a night of headliners that included Monsta X and Nelly.

After rocking the Kaseya Center, MGK, also known as Machine Gun Kelly, kept the party going at E11EVEN Miami, giving fans two unforgettable performances in one night.

Just after midnight on Oct. 12, the victim found himself struggling to breathe after he suffered a severe allergic reaction during a visit to Central Florida.

“Yes, my son is passing out. I need an ambulance,” his fearful mother told the dispatcher.

Osceola County Sheriff’s dispatcher Richard Calderale answered quickly, recognizing the child was in anaphylactic shock.

“We’re coming as quick and as safe as we can,” he said.

“He was having an asthma attack,” said the boy’s mother.

Calderale successfully walked the victim’s parents through lifesaving steps to keep his airway open until help could arrive.

Minutes later, Osceola County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Michael Romero-Perez reached the vacation home in Davenport to find the child unresponsive inside of a car and in cardiac arrest.

“Hey, buddy. Keep breathing. Come on,” Romero-Perez said in bodycam footage.

Without hesitation, the deputy began CPR, applying his automated external defibrillator, and continued lifesaving measures. He worked to restore a heartbeat and help the child breathe.

“Continue with compression. Press, press, press. There you go, press. Breathe, son,” could be heard in video footage.

Paramedics rushed the boy to a hospital and then transferred him to a different hospital that was better suited for his condition.

Deputies said the child made a full recovery, something doctors call remarkable, as well as a reminder of how seconds matter. Training and teamwork can make all the difference.

“They come probably to Disney, to the happiest place on earth, right? And here they are in Kissimmee, in our area, and they go into a medical emergency,” said Osceola County Sheriff Christopher A. Blackmon. “And I don’t think anybody, when they planned their trip, thought a medical emergency was going to happen. So, thank God our deputy and dispatch were able to coordinate through that and save this child’s life.”

Doctors say only about 13% of children who suffer cardiac arrest survive without facing life-changing complications.

Calderale and Romero-Perez were recently recognized by the Arnold Palmer Hospital for their lifesaving work. Romero-Perez was also honored with the Life-Saving Award at a ceremony held at the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.

Sylvester Grice Jordan stood before a judge on Saturday. The 32-year-old was charged in connection to the fatal shooting of his girlfriend’s stepfather at a home they once shared.

“You’re being charged with second-degree murder, also display of a weapon while committing a crime,” the judge said during the bond hearing.

The victim was identified as Yasmany Rodriguez Fernandez.

According to the arrest report, Jordan, his dog, his girlfriend, Rodriguez Fernandez and Rodriguez Fernandez’s wife all lived together at a home near the 3300 block of Northwest 177th Terrace.

This is where, detectives said, the tragedy unfolded.

On Thursday, Rodriguez Fernandez demanded Jordan remove his dog from the home after Jordan had moved out about a week before, investigators said.

Things escalated and, according to his arrest report, that’s when Jordan opened fire, striking Rodriguez Fernandez in his front yard.

After the victim fell to the ground, he pleaded for help, and that’s when, police said, Jordan pointed his firearm at the older man’s head, counted down from five and fired.

Miami Gardens Police officers arrived to find Rodriguez Fernandez with multiple gunshot wounds, clinging to life on his front porch.

Paramedics with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue airlifted the patient to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

As of Monday afternoon, Jordan was behind bars facing felony charges. He faces no bond for the charge of second degree murder, and a bond of $2,500 for the charge of displaying a weapon while committing a crime.

Jordan also has a fugitive hold out of Broward County.

According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, Kathleen De Jesus has been reunited with her family after being found safe and unharmed.

The international airline announced on Wednesday that, effective immediately, Basic Economy tickets can no longer earn miles or loyalty points toward an “elite” status.

Perks like one free carry-on, one personal item and in-flight entertainment remain.

The airline said it made the choice when it compared its benefits to its competitors.

The Southwest Florida Eagle Cam caught the hatching of the little one, Thursday night.

The nest is on ground that has been watched carefully by the Florida State Monitoring Program for the past 16 years.

The birth has been highly anticipated, as both the mom and dad have overcome avian flu. They lost two eaglets to the disease in the spring.

However, things are looking up, as a second egg is expected to hatch in about two or three days.

According to City of Miami Police, someone shot anti-gun violence activist Dwight Wells multiple times in front of his business in Liberty City, Oct. 10.

Paramedics rushed the 40-year-old victim to Jackson Memorial’s Ryder Trauma Center, where he succumbed to his injuries.

The local community activist and leader lost his life to the same violence he dedicated his life’s work to prevent.

During a news conference held Thursday, Wells’ family asked the public to help find answers as to who pulled the trigger.

“It would mean more than a million dollars to me if someone come forth and tell us who was the shooter that shot my son,” Mary Brown, Well’s mother, said.

In surveillance footage recently released by police, the suspected gunman can be seen sprinting across the screen.

The nightmare unfolded in front of Wells’ restaurant. Police said the masked man approached the victim during a game of dominoes and opened fire.

“Where’s my baby?” Brown said.

Wells’ sister, Trowana Barron, remembered her brother, who was known as Screamer, as a local leader.

“Screamer was a pillar to the community. Everybody loved Screamer,” Barron said. “So the thing is, who would want to kill Screamer?”

The grieving sibling called his death not only a loss to their family, but to the young men Wells mentored through his “Bikes Up, Guns Down” initiative. Wells founded the initiative with the goal of helping young ones pedal toward peace in an effort to end gun violence.

“Keeping a gun out of their hands is their main objective, and that’s what we’re all about,” Dwight Wells said before he passed.

“Another young man said he was with Screamer since he was 13. He’s now 22, so it’s a big loss,” Barron said.

As Wells’ family continues mourning his loss, detectives on the case beg the community for help in finding the person who pulled that trigger.

“He was a member of the community, a positive member of the community, and if you did see something, please say something,” Miami Police Detective Roberto Gonzalez said.

If you have any information on this shooting, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.

The crew of an USCG MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter responded to a distress signal where the 30-foot sailing vessel became disabled off Tarpon Springs, early Wednesday morning.

The boaters were located just before 4:50 a.m. and listed as stable. They were safely transferred to Air Station Clearwater. 

Known as “Sandi,” the sand tree sculpture showcases a unique theme each year.

This year, the tree features musical notes, instruments and marine life sculptures.

The festive and very Florida sand tree stands 35 feet tall and weighs about 700 tons.

“Sandi” has earned several international and regional awards since its debut in 2012.

Following the hurricane’s wrath, thousands of people in the Caribbean are still left without basic needs.

Members of the Miami-based Beta Beta Lambda chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, along with the Tau Beta Lambda chapter based in Haiti, partnered with Soles4Souls and the Haitian American Caucus on Wednesday to pack 3,000 new pairs of shoes in Opa-locka. The footwear will be sent to Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Cuba.

Members of the organization said this is just one of many things that can help bring some sense of normalcy to those who’ve been impacted by this natural disaster.

“This is what we call the second wave, right? Because you have no idea. People have lost everything,” Samuel Darguin of the Haitian American Caucus said. “So, in losing everything, things like shoes, socks, clothing will help in that recovery and actually having people feel like they are a part of what’s going on and rebuilding their lives.”

The shipment is set to arrive in the Caribbean countries in about 10 days.

Smoke and flames billowed from the fifth floor of the apartment complex, located along the 9600 block of Fontainebleau Boulevard, early Wednesday morning.

The blaze caused extensive damage to at least one unit.

Firefighters with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue were able to knock down the flames. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

The driver of the tow truck, Sergio Suarez, was seen quickly lifting the car that was parked and towing it away, Sunday, apparently without checking whether there was anyone inside.

Sunrise Police detectives said the car was parked in front of the Bistro Creole Restaurant on West Oakland Park Boulevard.

Suarez posted bond on Monday after being charged with child neglect without great bodily harm.

“This is one that stuck out to me this morning. He towed a vehicle, allegedly, without checking whether or not there was anybody in the vehicle,” Broward Circuit Court Judge Corey Friedman said.

A court document states the driver and father of the young girl parked the car for and went inside the restautant for about two minutes. When he noticed his car was about to be towed, he ran outside to alert Suarez that his daughter was inside.

The surveillance video showed the very moment the white tow truck sped away with the dark colored sedan.

Within seconds, the young girl’s father tried to stop the driver, as he frantically chased the truck out of the camera’s frame.

Cellphone video from a witness shows another angle of the father chasing after the truck.

“Oh, his kid’s in there,” the witness is heard shouting.

A woman who did not want to be identified told 7News she saw it all happen.

“The [tow truck] driver is speeding, and the dad is behind, screaming, ‘My daughter is in the car, my daughter is in the car, my daughter is inside,’ and he didn’t stop,” she said.

The court document states the child in the vehicle then jumped out of the vehicle in the middle of the road.

The father told police he saw his daughter fall out of the vehicle and that he “immediately ran into traffic, picked up his daughter from the middle of West Oakland Park Boulevard, moved her to safety,” the court document states.

Suarez, 34, works for Always Towing in Pembroke Park.

Another driver who spoke with 7News said she found herself in a similar situation at the same restaurant.

“So many people have experienced the same thing out there; they have a huge problem with it,” she said. “And I ran out and said, ‘Hey, I’m right here,’ you know, so they just do a partial hookup to get it far away from you, and you’re pretty much running down the street.”

The driver said she was pregnant at the time this happened to her.

“At this point, I was seven months pregnant, right, and that did not stop him from taking the car,” she said.

After seeing footage of Sunday’s incident, she went on to say she was saddened to see how it unfolded.

“It was really sad. I mean, I’m surprised because they’re very ruthless out there. They don’t care if there’s a child out there, if you’re seven months pregnant, they’ll take your car,” she said.

Officer-worn bodycam video shows the moment a police officer returned the keys of the towed vehicle to the father and informed him Suarez had been taken into custody.

“The guy got arrested. Those are your car keys, I parked your car in a spot,” the officer said.

The father told officers his daughter would recover from the ordeal.

Meanwhile, witnesses hope something like this doesn’t happen again.

“They got to hold him accountable, that’s all; because with human beings, when we’re dealing with people, especially a little girl, the situation could’ve been worse, and I think we have to hold them accountable,” a witness said.

In court Monday, Suarez’s attorney defended his actions.

“He advised me he checked the vehicle three times before he towed it. There was no child inside. He also had a partner, whom he called the spotter. He had the spotter also look at the vehicle, and that’s why he said he doesn’t know how this came about,” the attorney said.

The judge pushed back on the assertion.

“He admitted that he didn’t look at the vehicle, and I think it’s also on surveillance,” said Friedman.

Monday night, Suarez was tight-lipped as he bonded out of jail. Friedman ordered him to avoid contact with the victim and refrain from driving until further notice.

As for the little girl, police said she suffered minor injuries to both arms and her right calf.

7News contacted the tow company multiple times to learn more about their side of the story, but they did not wish to comment.

Sunrise Police told 7News that they can’t provide information on whether the father will be facing any charges for leaving his daughter unattended, as it remains an active investigation.

According to the Hollywood Police Department, 15-year-old Victoria Paez was last seen leaving her residence, at approximately 1 a.m. on Tuesday.

Paez was last seen wearing a blue sweater and gray pants. She was also carrying a Nike backpack.

Police said Paez does not have any traceable electronic devices with her. She is a ninth grade student and did not report to school on Tuesday, which is out of character.

Officials urge anyone with information on Paez’s wherebouts to contact Hollywood Police at 954-764-HELP (4357) or dial 911 immediately.

Deputy-worn body camera video captured the suspect as he was being handcuffed on the grass, Friday afternoon.

“Don’t fight my dog! Don’t fight the dog! Let go of the dog, bro! He’s choking the dog,” a Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputy told the man accused of attacking the dog while resisting arrest.

That suspect was wanted for breaking into a home in Cape Coral while a family slept inside.

K-9 Vader was deployed to catch him when he refused to obey orders.

Luckily, Vader was OK, and the suspect was taken into custody.

Monday morning, on the eighth day of the death penalty phase in the case against Jason Banegas, both the prosecution and the defense present their closing arguments at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale.

Soon, the jury must decide whether Banegas will receive the death penalty or life in prison.

Banegas was 18 when, police said, he shot Officer Yandy Chirino in the face during a struggle on Oct. 17, 2021. Officers were responding to reports of a suspicious person near North Hills Drive in Hollywood.

Chirino was taken to Memorial Regional Hospital, where he later died. The 28-year-old had been with the Hollywood Police Department since 2017.

Prosecutors said that Banegas shot the officer twice. He knew that carrying a gun and committing crimes was wrong, prosecutors argued, and that he knew he was taking the life of another human being.

“He had a lousy childhood. His mother certainly was not going to win mother of the year awards. He came from a bad neighborhood,” prosecutor Stephen Zaccor said during his closing arguments. “Remember this: Mitigation neither excuses nor justifies the murder. And I didn’t even tell you that; the defense team told you that.”

Banegas pleaded guilty back in October as jury selection was underway for his trial. Prosecutors said Banegas changed his plea to guilty without a negotiated deal.

The defense said life in prison without the opportunity or the possibility of parole should be the fair and just verdict here.

Lien Lafargue, Banegas’ defense attorney, stated her case to the jury on Monday.

“Do we kill Jason Banegas? Must we kill Jason Banegas? Is that the only option that you have? Absolutely not. The law never requires you to kill,” she said.

7News cameras found the courtroom packed with family members and friends on both sides of the case.

Banegas was charged with first-degree murder, armed burglary, battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence, grand theft of a firearm and carrying a concealed firearm.

The defense rested last Thursday after Banegas’ sister testified. The prosecution rested their case on Thursday, Dec. 4.

The jury will be sequestered once they begin deliberations.

Park representatives held a competition on Saturday at the Miami Children’s Museum, where South Florida children designed and built their own Lego spacecraft.

Julie Estrada is the Director of Communications for Merlin Entertainments in North America

“This is an exciting day for Merlin Entertainments as we kick off our national tour right here at Miami Children’s Museum,” Estrada said. “We’ll be going to several different museums throughout Florida and California looking for a junior galaxy explorer. The winner of this competition will be the first to ride ‘Galacticoaster’ when it opens at Legoland Florida Resort on February 27th or at Legoland California on March 6th.”

The competition will also take place at the Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 10.

Weissman, a sophomore at Brown University, said she was preparing to head to the library when a shooting on campus that, authorities said, killed two people and injured nine others took place.

The student from South Florida said she didn’t hear any gunshots, but she heard a helicopter and saw when the first responders arrived.

Weissman, who was near Marjory Stoneman Douglas in Parkland the day of the mass shooting in 2018, said she didn’t expect this to happen. Not again.

“I’m shocked, but I’m not surprised, and I think that that’s probably a sentiment that a lot of students also have here,” Weismann said about experiencing the Brown University shooting. “It’s like, obviously you never expected to actually happen, but it’s not surprising because we see how often it happens.”

This was not the first time Weissman witnessed the outcome of a school shooting.

“So in 2018, when the shooting happened in Parkland, I was outside at the middle school that is directly adjacent to the high school.” Weissman said. “So I was kind of like right on the edge of the school property of Douglas. And so, because I got stuck outside, I saw the first responders, and I heard the gunshots. So that was my experience then, and so, I’ve gotten really involved in gun violence activism, prevention activism since then.”

7News cameras captured Rose Renaud as she pulled up in a vintage car to make an unforgettable entrance to her birthday party this weekend.

Who better to share what makes Renaud so special than those who know her best?

“This young lady is my fabulous mom, Rose Renaud,” Dorothy Jackson said.

Jackson, whose birthday was on Friday, is one of Renaud’s five children.

Her 105th birthday was quite the celebration. The dress code? Vintage, of course.

Kiana Loyd is Renaud’s granddaughter.

“She’s always been like a rock. She’s the matriarch of the family,” Loyd said. “She just brings so much life to everybody.”

Tiana Goldman is another of Renaud’s 17 grandchildren.

“She loves to sew. As a matter of fact, she put my sister’s wedding dress together,” Goldman said.

Renaud also has eight great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

“Anything I told her, if I told her I liked something, she would give it away,” Taisha Theard, Renaud’s great-great-granddaughter, said. “She was always looking for something to give to me. She’s like the most giving person I’ve ever met. She’ll take her hat, her shirt, off of her back to give to you.”

Loved ones came from as far as Nevada and New York, where she used to live, to join in the celebration of Renaud’s life.

Ninoska Etienne is Renaud’s great-niece.

“She’s always giving compliments, like always,” Etienne said. “And she’ll always let you know. She’ll give it to you raw also.”

“During the pandemic, she sewed masks because of her family all being in the health care industry, and being nurses and everything,” Renaud’s niece, Adrianna Sims, said. “She voluntarily sold masks so that everyone can have it during the pandemic.”

Jackson said she believes healthy living in Renaud’s native Haiti is the reason for her mother’s long life, but Renaud has her own top three.

“Number one, she never smoked,” Jackson said. “Number two, she never drank. And number three, she never drove a car.”

The outpouring of love on this day was the best gift of all.

“That’s a big surprise,” Renaud told 7News. “I didn’t expect that.”

Her family said the crowd that turned out to celebrate Renaud’s 105 years was a true testament to her character and her charisma.

Jose Luis Antigua-Martinez, 60, was charged with three counts of child sex abuse.

Hialeah Police officers arrived at the warehouse located at 8288 West Eighth Avenue on Thursday afternoon to serve a warrant for the defendant’s arrest.

According to the warrant, Antigua-Martinez was caught on video pleasuring himself while inappropriately touching a minor sleeping in his home over the past four months.

The minor said she would suddenly awake in the middle of the night with sensations that someone was touching her. When she shared her concerns with the defendant, she said he would tell her that it was a ghost living in the apartment.

The victim then left her phone recording one night while sleeping and found the defendant allegedly engaging in lewd behavior in front of her.

Investigators said Antigua-Martinez had been sleeping at the warehouse for two days after his wife kicked him out of their home. When officers arrived at the scene and identified themselves, Antigua-Martinez barricaded himself inside and pointed a handgun to his head, indicating suicidal ideation.

After a long standoff with SWAT personnel and a crisis negotiation team, detectives said, the suspect surrendered.

While being questioned, police said the defendant invoked his right to council and said “he was framed.”

In his court appearance, he was denied bond.

If convicted, Antigua-Martinez could face a life sentence.

Britney the crocodile was found in October with a fishing spear lodged in her head and a bullet near her left eye.

Tests revealed the reptile had several metallic objects in her stomach. She underwent emergency surgery to treat the high levels of lead in her system.

During the surgery, vets found small lead fishing weights and what appeared to be pellets from a gun.

As of Friday morning, Britney is recovering and being monitored. Vets are hopeful she will eventually be able to return to the wild.