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Teen with spina bifida writes open letter to 2 airlines advocating for changes in handling of critical mobility devices for disabled travelers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:19:50 GMT

A South Florida teen’s summer vacation took a troubling turn when her wheelchair went missing during an international trip. Now she hopes her efforts to push for change in the airline industry will take off. Karen Hensel has today’s 7Spotlight.Bella Duarte-Crespo was born with spina bifida. Over the years, the 16-year-old has had four surgeries.Bella Duarte-Crespo, lost wheelchair on international trip: “My left leg is a little more smaller and a little weaker than my right side, because I’ve had to overcompensate my whole life when it comes to walking, or even just standing for long periods of time, I have pain.”It’s why Bella needs this wheelchair, which also turns into a walker. But what happened in June, left her without a crucial piece of her life.Bella Duarte-Crespo: “I’m low-key freaking out a little bit.”Bella and her family left from Miami on an American Airlines flight to London to catch a connecting British Airways fli...

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez addresses ethics complaints, city issues, heated exchange with reporter

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:19:50 GMT

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez sat down with 7News to discuss several issues plaguing the city, as well as heated exchange he had with a reporter. During Friday’s interview, Suarez said he’s not aware of any investigations into his private business dealings.“I have not been reached out to by the FBI. They haven’t called me,” he said.Regarding the ethics complaints that was filed against him related to expensive entertainment and trips, Suarez addressed those allegations. “The law is very, very clear on what you have to do,” he said, “I followed the law, and that’s why the Miami-Dade Ethics Commission complaint, which is the same one that was filed by the state, which you referred to, was dismissed on Friday.”7News also asked Suarez about the removal of Miami City Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla, who was arrested on corruption charges.“I don’t know anything about it,” he said. “I focus on the things...

High school launches investigation into boys rating, making trading cards of female students’ body parts in Bedford, NH

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:19:50 GMT

Students and staff at a New Hampshire high school are stunned by allegations that some male students took photos of female students without their knowledge and then graded their appearance.The school superintendent of Bedford High School told 7News the administration is investigating that boys, freshman and sophomores about 14 or 15 years old, have been taking pictures of older female students.“Students have come forward saying they have overheard conversations of other students talking about these things,” Superintendent Michael Fournier said. “We’ve taken those reports seriously.”The reports also allege the boys made up trading cards with the girls’ names and the images of their body parts.“I have not seen any of these pictures,” Fournier said. “My operating assumption based on the report from the student is that they’re clothed.”One student was moved to start an online petition on Change.org, which calls for the boys to be expelled from school.“The young women attending Bedford H...

Tropical Storm Ophelia brings weekend rain

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:19:50 GMT

So long to our nice stretch of dry weather as we get back in the weekend rain we’ve been used to lately. Tropical Storm Ophelia brings us rain tomorrow through Monday. It’ll be breezy to gusty at times too.Tropical Storm Ophelia was named this afternoon. Here’s the latest update from Hurricane Hunters as of 5 pm.Ophelia will lose its tropical characteristics as it gets closer to us. Rain arrives tomorrow morning south to north. The farther north you are tomorrow you get a little bit more dry time. We can expect steady rain Saturday afternoon. The heaviest rain will be across the South Coast, Buzzard’s Bay Cape and Islands. Rain will still be steady through tomorrow evening. There will be a bit of a lull late Saturday night into early Sunday morning.The wind will pick up later in the day tomorrow. The strongest wind will be across Cape Cod and Islands. Here’s a look at potential gusts.Tomorrow’s temperatures will stay below average. It’ll fee...

Celtics bolster defensive depth with signing of former Cavs forward

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:19:50 GMT

The Celtics beefed up their roster with some defensive depth with the signing of wing Lamar Stevens to a one-year deal, according to multiple reports on Friday.The 26-year-old Stevens spent the first three seasons of his career with the Cavaliers, and started 25 games for them last season as he emerged as a strong defensive contributor. His deal is partially guaranteed according to MassLive and he’ll be in the mix to battle for a roster spot when training camp begins in early October.With the departures of Marcus Smart and Grant Williams this summer, the Celtics lost a significant part of their defensive edge but have addressed it with a few additions to their bench. The signing of Oshae Brissett gives the Celtics some defensive versatility, draft pick Jordan Walsh’s calling card is on defense and now Stevens should also bring more juice on that end.The Celtics will remember Stevens from a meeting against the Cavs last March, when the forward scored eight points and eight rebounds, ...

Federal judge again strikes down California law banning high capacity gun magazines

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:19:50 GMT

By ADAM BEAM (Associated Press)SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California cannot ban gun owners from having detachable magazines that hold more than 10 rounds, a federal judge ruled Friday.The ruling from U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez is likely not the final decision in this case. Benitez said his ruling will not take effect for 10 days, giving state Attorney General Rob Bonta enough time to appeal the decision.This is the second time Benitez has truck down California’s law banning high-capacity magazines. The first time he struck it down — way back in 2017 — an appeals court ended up reversing his decision.But last year, the U.S. Supreme Court set a new standard for how to interpret the nation’s gun laws. The new standard relies more on the historical tradition of gun regulation rather than public interests, including safety. The Supreme Court ordered the case to be heard again in light of the new standards. It’s one of three high-profile challenge...

Canton cops auction off vintage cruiser

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:19:50 GMT

Call this a blue light special.Canton police are auctioning off a vintage 1965 Ford Galaxie police car. This online auction is open to the public at municibid.com and ends Sept. 29. It appears to need to be a Bay State resident to make a winning bid.The auction site lists 54 bids, as of late Friday afternoon, with the $11,955 “reserve price met.”Canton police said in an announcement that “all of the proceeds” will be used by the department “to help fund safety initiatives for the local community.”Police added the car has 58,872 miles on it and features a V8 engine. “The car starts and runs and has recently been on the road,” they add.They also say 1965 Ford Galaxie cars have been featured in high-profile movies such as “Remember the Titans,” “Crazy/Beautiful,” and “Doctor Dolittle.” A 1965 Ford Galaxie was also the winner of the 1965 Daytona 500!Don’t count on this model winning any races again...

Revolution look to clinch a playoff spot at Chicago

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:19:50 GMT

The New England Revolution can salvage a three-game road swing by securing three points in Saturday night’s (8:30) encounter with the Chicago Fire FC at Soldier Field.The Revolution’s last win was a 2-1 home victory over the New York Red Bulls on Aug. 30. The Revolution have since gone 0-1-2 under interim head coaches Richie Williams and Clint Peay, who lost his debut game as field manager with a 2-1 setback at Colorado last Saturday. In both ties, the Revolution lost the lead after 90 minutes.Peay has been on the job less than two weeks and inherited a team that’s been in disarray on and off the pitch for over six weeks. Peay has measured his progress from the give and take he’s getting from a veteran team that remains in contention for the MLS Cup.“We’ve been able to introduce some good ideas and the guys have been really good with receiving those ideas,” said Peay. “It’s been nice to be able to do it on the field for a full week and explore it a little bit and get some feedback f...

Tropical Storm Ophelia gathers strength off the mid-Atlantic coast, promising heavy rain and wind

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:19:50 GMT

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Tropical Storm Ophelia was gaining strength as it churned toward the North Carolina coast on Friday, promising a weekend of heavy rain and windy conditions throughout the mid-Atlantic.Forecasters issued a hurricane watch for parts of eastern North Carolina, saying Ophelia showed the potential to gather even more strength as it passes over warm Gulf Stream waters in the coming hours. The storm is expected to make landfall in North Carolina on Saturday morning and dump as much as 7 inches (17.7 centimeters) across portions of the state and into southeast Virginia.The intensifying weather system spun up into a tropical storm on Friday afternoon with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 kph), the National Hurricane Center said. A storm surge warning was in effect for some areas, with surges between 3 and 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 meters) forecast for parts of North Carolina, the hurricane center reported.The governors of North Carolina and Virginia declared a state of em...

At the edge of the UN security perimeter, those with causes (and signs) try to be heard

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:19:50 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Daniel Pedro came to the U.S. from Angola five months ago. He works construction in the New York City borough of Queens. Kadija Tyler made the journey from Senegal to Harlem. She works in sales in a department store. Neither is a full-time activist. But they and many others this week spent the first days of the U.N. General Assembly holding homemade signs decrying what they call abuses in their homelands. Outside the enormous perimeter of police and barricades that surrounds the United Nations this time of year, there is a park dedicated to U.N.-centered protests. And a variety of dedicated groups show up in Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza throughout the year to draw attention to their causes.The General Assembly, the most inherently international event, is also the most American — a place where people raised unfree come to speak out because they can.In official protest locations and just plain street corners, the heavily secured streets outside the United Nations complex wer...