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‘It blows my mind’: Diving duo’s hunts for invasive lionfish making a splash on social media 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:07 GMT

Like iguanas and pythons on land, lionfish are the invasive species of our seas, and one diving duo has made a splash on social media with viral videos of their underwater catches. Alex Browning has today’s 7 Spotlight.We headed out on the water off the coast of Boynton Beach, but this fishing expedition wasn’t for mahi-mahi, wahoo or even spiny lobster.Our eyes were set on lionfish.Nate Sorensen, Lionfish Extermination Corp: “The biggest problem with this fish is, it has zero predators in this area.”Make that marine predators, because divers Nate Sorensen and Alex Borsutzky of Lionfish Extermination Corporation are a two-man creature catching machine.Nate Sorensen: “The fact that we only target lionfish and our brains are triggered, focused on lionfish, that’s all we want.”And it is the only fish allowed on this boat.Alex Borsutzky, Lionfish Extermination Corp: “I tell you, it’s a passion for the reef.”Reefs that have been...

Boy struck and killed by a car in Florida after a dog chased him into the street

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:07 GMT

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — A 12-year-old boy was struck and killed by a car Friday morning in Florida after a dog chased him into the street, authorities said.The boy and his younger brother had been walking on a sidewalk to a nearby bus stop when witnesses said a dog began to chase them, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Lt. Nassim Mana said during a news conference.The younger boy stopped, but the older boy ran into the four-lane street to get away from the dog and was struck by a car, officials said. Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department transported the boy to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.The car’s driver remained at the scene and was cooperating with investigators, officials said. No charges or citations were immediately reported. Investigators said speed doesn’t appear to be a factor in the crash.Animal control officers responded to the area to search for strays matching the dog’s description.

1 dead, 2 injured following reported shooting in SW Miami-Dade

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:07 GMT

Police are investigating a reported shooting in a Southwest Miami-Dade neighborhood that one person dead and two injured.Miami-Dade Police and Fire Rescue units have responded to reports of a shooting in the vicinity of the 9900 block of Southwest 165th Terrace, shortly before 4:30 p.m., Friday. According to officials, all of the victims were adults, and two were rushed to Jackson South Medical Center as trauma alerts.Please check back on WSVN.com and 7News for more details on this developing story.

Labor Day travelers heading to the Cape to enjoy perfect summer weather face traffic, rising gas prices

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:07 GMT

Friday marks a busy travel day as Bostonians and more head to the Cape for a last hurrah of the summer. Along Route 3 in Plymouth where traffic is expected to be congested., travelers kicked off the long holiday weekend with smooth traveling.After a crash on the Sagamore Bridge Friday afternoon, slowdowns were inevitable for travelers as they head out of the city to vacation after a summer of relentless rains.“Labor Day weekend, it’s the last bit of the summer, last weekend,” said Nicole Weinstein, who was headed to the Cape. “You gotta live it, and you gotta deal with the traffic, but you know what, it’s going to be beautiful.” Mass DOT and AAA are urging everyone to plan ahead before hitting the roads for the long holiday weekend. “Normally on a traditional Labor Day holiday like this, we’d see most folks leaving Friday afternoon,” said Mark Schieldrop of AAA-Northeast. “Now we’re actually noticing that peak time is on a Thursday.”Many have waited weeks for a perfec...

Families in Dracut anxious for answers as shortage of players threatens high school football season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:07 GMT

Families in Dracut continued to wait for answers Friday after public school officials told them this year’s high school football season may have to be canceled due to a shortage of players. As of Thursday, the Dracut High School football team had just 17 players physically cleared to play. “To field a varsity team safely, we must ensure that students are appropriate for the vigorous and demanding level of competition required for varsity play, have rest and relief during play, and sufficient numbers of back-up players should injuries sideline players,” school officials said in a statement this week about the situation. “To do otherwise places students at greater risk.”While school officials consider their options, families and players have expressed frustration, holding a rally Thursday evening in hopes of saving this year’s football season. School officials said they have been exploring all options to save the season and said they expected to announce a decision at some p...

Good Samaritans in Worcester save swans stuck in Salisbury Pond basin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:07 GMT

A swan was saved in Worcester by some good Samaritans Thursday from a basin in Salisbury Pond.People in the community voiced concerns about the swans that were stuck, and the Animal rescue League was going to send a team to safely remove the birds. However, some local residents stepped in and freed the birds themselves.New video shows the neighbors using a ladder to climb into the pond, placing the swans in trash cans and hoisting them back up to be released.

EEE found in mosquitos in Mass. for the first time this year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:07 GMT

Officials shared a word of warning Friday as they announced eastern equine encephalitis, known as EEE, has been detected in mosquitoes in Massachusetts for the first time this year. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health in a statement said EEE was found in mosquito samples taken on Tuesday in Douglas and Southbridge. While no animal or human cases of EEE have been detected this year, to date, officials said the positive mosquito samples have increased the risk level for the virus to “moderate” in Douglas, Dudley, Southbridge, Sturbridge, Uxbridge and Webster. Health officials this week described EEE as a “rare but serious and potentially fatal” disease generally spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. Massachusetts faced a series of EEE cases in 2019 and 2020, with 12 human cases in 2019 and five human cases in 2020, according to the Department of Public Health. Six people died due to EEE in Massachusetts in 2019. One person died due to the ...

NHSPCA rescues more than three dozen animals found neglected in Northwood, NH

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:07 GMT

Officials in New Hampshire discovered more than three dozen animals living in “horrifying conditions” Thursday, the New Hampshire SPCA announced.Local officials completed a search warrant and discovered and removed 39 animals, including dogs, cats, rabbits, turtles, donkeys, mini-donkeys, goats and fowls, as well as a parrot, a sheep, a cow and a snake.Investigators with the NHSPCA said the animals were found without food and water and in conditions with waste before they were ordered into protective custody.

Rudy Giuliani pleads not guilty in Georgia election case, won’t attend arraignment hearing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:07 GMT

By KATE BRUMBACK (Associated Press)ATLANTA (AP) — Rudy Giuliani on Friday pleaded not guilty to Georgia charges that accuse him of trying, along with former President Donald Trump and others, to illegally overturn the results of the 2020 election in the state.In filing his not guilty plea with the court, the former New York mayor and Trump attorney also waived his right to appear at an arraignment hearing set for Sept. 6. He joins the former president and at least 10 others in forgoing a trip to Atlanta to appear before a judge in a packed courtroom with a news camera rolling.Trump and Giuliani are among 19 people charged in a sprawling, 41-count indictment that details a wide-ranging conspiracy to thwart the will of Georgia’s voters who had selected Democrat Joe Biden over the Republican incumbent.The charges against Giuliani, along with other legal woes, signal a remarkable fall for a man who was celebrated as “America’s mayor” in the aftermath of the...

Proud Boy convicted of helping spearhead Capitol attack ties Jan. 6 sentence record with 18 years

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:07 GMT

By LINDSAY WHITEHURST (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — A one-time leader in the Proud Boys far-right extremist group was sentenced Friday to 18 years in prison for his role in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, tying the record for the longest sentence in the attack.Ethan Nordean was one of five members convicted of spearheading an attack on the U.S. Capitol to try to prevent the peaceful transfer of power from Donald Trump to Joe Biden after the 2020 presidential election. “He is the undisputed leader on the ground on Jan 6,” said prosecutor Jason McCullough. The Seattle-area chapter president was one of two Proud Boys sentenced Friday. Dominic Pezzola was convicted of smashing a window at the U.S. Capitol in the building’s first breach on Jan. 6, 2021. He defiantly raised a fist and declared “Trump won!” as he walked out of the courtroom after being sentenced to 10 years in prison, also among the longest sentences in the Jan. 6 attack. The ...