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Texas-based Velvet Taco opens first SoFlo eatery in Fort Lauderdale

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

Mexican food lovers, we’ve got some tasty news. Velvet Taco has come to town.The legendary Texas franchise has opened its doors in South Florida. Forget what you think you know, the future of the taco is happening right here.When it comes to bringing the world to your table, Velvet Taco is most definitely the real deal.Devin Glenn: “Velvet Taco is a restaurant where we serve tacos outside the norm with globally inspired cuisine.”The Fort Lauderdale location is the perfect spot to unveil their first-ever South Florida joint.Devin Glenn: “It’s got a nice energy, good atmosphere, close to the beach and a great place to bring our culture.”Their culture has turned the typical taco into a piece of hand-held heaven.Devin Glenn: “We’ve taken the taco outside of what everybody perceives a taco can be. We’ve changed the tortilla, we’ve changed the type of cuisine.”Your culinary trip around the world is popping with flavors.The ...

Monkey Ninja Joe is on the loose in South Florida and ‘looking for love’

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

In the 1940s, a group of monkeys escaped a Dania Beach research facility. And they’ve called an area nearby “home” ever since.But for one male in the troupe, nature finally called. Ninja Joe has been spotted in pictures and videos all across Broward County, from Dania Beach to Wilton Manors, and even Deerfield.Determined to, one day, add his spoke, to the circle of life.A monkey is on the loose. And its libido has taken the wheel.Missy Williams: “He’s reached the age of sexual maturity, and here we are.”Until August, Ninja Joe had been living with a troupe of fellow vervet monkeys near the Fort Lauderdale airport. But, this bachelor was not in paradise.Missy Williams: “Some male vervet monkeys like to be very machismo, and he was not one of those.”Alpha? No. Desperate? Absolutely.Missy Williams: “I have video of him running along the sidewalk, in trees.”… As far north as Deerfield Beach.Biologist Missy Williams has studied ...

Local woman running Chicago Marathon stops to help kitten alone on side of the course

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

A local woman running the Chicago Marathon this weekend finished the race and helped a kitten in the process, rescuing the small animal from the side of the course late in the race. Sarah Bohan lives in Beacon Hill and works as a social worker at Boston Children’s Hospital. One day after she rescued the kitten near Mile 21 of the Chicago Marathon, Bohan spoke to 7NEWS about the experience. “The cat looked very thin and was crying,” she said. “The fur was matted.” “I was like, ‘OK my personal record is going out the window if I stop and walk with this cat because I don’t have any other option right now,’” she continued. “And then that became my job for the rest of the race.”Bohan was running the marathon for TEAM PAWS Chicago, a charity dedicated to rescuing cats and dogs. “This charity was something that was already passionate enough to me without knowing I was going to stumble on a cat in the first place,” she said. After finding the cat, Bohan and another ...

Blinken calls deposed Niger leader ahead of expected US declaration that his overthrow was a coup

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Niger’s deposed President Mohamed Bazoum on Monday ahead of an expected decision by the Biden administration to formally declare that his overthrow was a coup d’etat. The State Department said Blinken called Bazoum to stress that a restoration of a freely elected government remains the best way for Niger to not only succeed for its people but also to remain a key partner of the U.S. and others in countering extremism.In the call, Blinken “reiterated that a democratically elected, civilian-led government presents the best opportunity to ensure that Niger remains a strong partner in security and development in the region,” the State Department said in a brief statement. “The United States calls for the immediate release of all those unjustly detained following the military takeover,” the department said.Blinken’s call came as the administration is preparing to make a formal determination that July’s military takeov...

Hamas official says Iran and Hezbollah had no role in Israel incursion but they’ll help if needed

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — A senior Hamas official on Monday said only a small number of top commanders inside Gaza knew about the wide-ranging incursion launched into Israel, but that allies like Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah “will join the battle if Gaza is subjected to a war of annihilation.”Ali Barakeh, a member of Hamas’ exiled leadership, spoke to The Associated Press in his Beirut office as Israel bombarded Gaza and vowed a total blockade of the Hamas-ruled territory.The surprise attack on Saturday caught Israel’s vaunted military and intelligence services completely off guard, as hundreds of Hamas gunmen poured through holes blown in the border fence and rampaged through several towns, killing hundreds of soldiers and civilians, and capturing scores of others.Barakeh said the attack was planned by around a half dozen top Hamas commanders in Gaza and that even the group’s closest allies were not informed in advance about the timing. He denied reports that Iranian security officials help...

2 Chicago-area residents believed to be missing in Israel

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

CHICAGO — A mother and daughter from Evanston are missing and family members say they fear the two are among those being held hostage by Palestinian militant group Hamas.Family members say Natali Raanan and her mother Judith Tai Raanan were visiting relatives in Nahal Oz, near Gaza, when the attacks began over the weekend.Raanan's father told WGN-TV that he has not heard from either of the two since Friday, Oct. 6. What to know as Israel declares war, bombards Gaza Strip after unprecedented Hamas attack Family members say the two arrived in Israel on Monday, Sept. 2.According to the Associated Press, Hamas and other militants in Gaza say over 130 soldiers and civilians who were captured from inside Israel are being held.President Joe Biden confirmed over the weekend that at least 11 Americans have been killed in the attacks and says he believes Americans are among those being held hostage.

Search underway for missing woman last seen in August

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Police Department is asking for the public's help in locating a missing 41-year-old woman who was last seen on August 31. Guadalupe Villeda, 41, was last seen in the area of 5200 South Green Street in Chicago's New City neighborhood around 10 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 31. Police search for missing man last seen in Loop Villeda is described as 5-foot-5, weighing 120 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. She was last seen wearing blue jeans and a light color shirt.According to the Chicago Police Department, Villeda frequents the area of 47th Street throughout Chicago.Anyone with information regarding Guadalupe Villeda's whereabouts are asked to contact the Chicago Police Department at 312-747-8380.

Puppies adopted together after being thrown over animal shelter fence

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) -- Two puppies tossed over a fence and abandoned at an animal shelter in Michigan last month have found a new home. "From suffering from neglect, malnutrition and parasites then being thrown over a fence…these 2 survivors are now ready to live their best life in a loving home!" the Jackson County Animal Shelter posted on its Facebook page on Friday. Video shared by the shelter shows people pulling up to its parking lot in a truck on Sept. 26. A passenger hopped out of the vehicle with the puppies and threw them over a nearby fence, the footage shows. Arkansans reunited with their dogs after they are found hundreds of miles away (Photo: Jackson County Animal Shelter)(Photo: Jackson County Animal Shelter)(Photo: Jackson County Animal Shelter)The puppies were taken in by animal shelter staff and were discovered to both be severely emaciated. Lydia Sattler, the animal shelter's director, said the puppies scored 1 on the body condition score system. This is a 0 to...

Woman allegedly killed by husband worked as nurse at Isanti County jail, sheriff says

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

The Isanti County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the loss of a registered nurse who worked in the county jail after she was killed last week in neighboring Chisago County in a case of suspected domestic violence.Sarah Jane Carda, 35, was fatally shot Friday afternoon in her Fish Lake Township home, and her husband, Mike Larry Carda, 39, has been charged in connection with the killing.Sarah Carda had worked as a nurse for the Isanti County jail in Cambridge since 2014, Isanti County Sheriff Wayne Sieberlich said in a Facebook post mourning her death.“Our hearts are broken and our agency is devastated,” the post said. “Words cannot fully describe the shock and pain our agency and community are feeling.”A criminal complaint Monday gave the following details:Shortly before noon Friday, Chisago County deputies were called to a house in the 42000 block of Elmcrest Avenue in Fish Lake Township. Authorities were told there was a “large number of weaponsR...

Albany County unveils 2024 budget proposal

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Albany County Exec. Dan McCoy released his budget proposal for 2024. The proposal is for a total of $819 million. This is up more than eight percent compared to the 2023 budget.The county executive said it includes funding for mental health and addiction treatment as well as affordable housing. There would also be a ten percent yearly reduction in property tax rates, and county employees would receive a three percent salary increase and more health benefits. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! "We are living within our means, we are expanding the services people used in this county, and we are adding services by still reducing the tax levy by 28% since 2014," McCoy said.The budget announced also forecasts a 12 percent increase in sales tax revenue compared to last year.