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Broward County Library seeks to become book sanctuary following strict laws banning books in Florida, US

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:58 GMT

The library system wants to be a safe space for curious minds in search of titles that are becoming harder and harder to find.The Broward County Public Library plans to become a book sanctuary.“We are highlighting books that have been banned or challenged, not only here in Florida, but throughout the entire United States,” said Allison Grubbs, director of the Broward County Library.More that 2,000 such sanctuaries already exist across the country.The move comes in time for the celebration of National Library Week, which starts Sunday.“Providing an area where people have the freedom to read, the freedom to access different ideas is really critical to civic engagement,” Grubbs said. It comes as school libraries have seen more and more books challenged or outright removed.Laws like the recently expanded Parental Rights in Education in Florida, known by critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” law and the “Stop Woke Act,” which limits how race...

Jack and Jill Children’s Center seeks donation after historic floods affect peoples homes and belongings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:58 GMT

In some cases, help from Federal Emergency Management Agency won’t be enough.The Jack and Jill Children’s Center is asking the community to pitch in by donating essentials to its students, families and staff could really use right now.“I lost pretty much everything that I own like furniture, clothing for my kids, shoes, clothes, towels, bedding, like the water kept coming, I was doing the best I can do to stop it,” said Shamika Delcine, flooding victim. “When I go home, I sit there just think what’s going to come next, what’s going to happen to me and my kids, my family?”To help, the center is collecting food, baby supplies, cleaning supplies, clothing, furniture and appliances. Monetary donations are also welcomed. For more information, click here.

Broward School district estimates damage to schools from last week’s floods at $10M+

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:58 GMT

We’re now getting a look at the damage done to several schools soaked from the historic floods that rocked Broward County.The Broward School district said the floods caused millions of dollars in damage, and some rooms at several campuses are not even usable.“So far, to date about $10 million worth of damage,” said Broward school board member Debra Hixon.Broward Schools officials showed 7News the damage done to two of nine schools, Thursday, impacted by the heavy rains, last week, flooding an auditorium and even making it rain indoors.Parkway Middle School sustained extensive damage to its performing arts building, where cellphone video provided by the district showed rain coming through the ceiling, flooding the auditorium.“We sustained major stage damage,” said Angeline Flowers, Parkway Middle School Principal. “Our orchestra pit was flooded as well as roof leaks over our pews and also rain onto the stage.”At Stranahan High School, Princip...

Coast Guard finds 3 bodies off coast of Cape Ann amid search

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:58 GMT

The Coast Guard confirmed Thursday that they have found the bodies of three boaters off the coast of Cape Ann amid an extensive search in the area. The group had gone fishing from Hampton, New Hampshire on Wednesday before being reported missing. Their overturned boat was found this afternoon. Crews are still searching for a fourth person who was on the boat.This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

Police searching for suspect wanted in connection with several armed robberies in Boston

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:58 GMT

The FBI asked for the public’s help Thursday in efforts to track down a person accused in connection with several armed robberies in Boston. Authorities said the suspect has been linked to four commercial armed robberies in the Hyde Park and Roxbury areas, adding that he is considered armed and dangerous. In each robbery, the FBI said the man showed “a distinct black handgun with a long barrel” and demanded money. The FBI shared video from the most recent robbery at the SK Convenience Store in Hyde Park on Feb. 20, asking members of the public to watch and listen as they work to identify the person in the video. Officials asked anyone with information to contact the FBI Boston Division’s Violent Crimes Task Force at 1-857-386-2000 or to reach out online via tips.fbi.gov.

Rep. Jake Auchincloss says more accountability needed in military chain of command after documents leak

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:58 GMT

Massachusetts Congressman Jake Auchincloss said there needs to be more accountability in the military’s chain of command this week after the recent leak of top secret military documents. The FBI arrested Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira earlier this month in North Dighton in connection with the leak. He is accused of posting documents online that contained sensitive information about the war in Ukraine and other military actions. Speaking with 7NEWS, Auchincloss said the Pentagon needs to change its document classification system. “The Pentagon has to answer for that both in terms of breakdowns in existing procedures and also what new procedures might be necessary,” Auchincloss, a marine veteran, said.Auchincloss continued, saying the existing classification system in the US is broken.“We both over classify information that doesn’t need to be classified, that’s classified in order to prevent embarrassment to politicians and officials and we also clearly tre...

Mild inland and cooler coast Friday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:58 GMT

7Weather – After a chilly start, the April sun went to work and warmed our temperatures into the 60s! The sea breeze kicked in early this afternoon in Boston, and temperatures along the coast stayed in the 50s. Tomorrow it’ll be mild once again, but stay even cooler on the coast. Looking ahead to the weekend, we’ll have rain for part of it.Tomorrow starts off seasonably cool in the upper 30s/low 40s with a few clouds and light wind. There will be a wide range of temperatures by the afternoon thanks to an east/southeast wind. Along the immediate coast temperatures will stay near 50-55°. The farther away you are inland and away from the coast, temperatures will be in the mid/upper 60s. We’ll see sun mixed with high clouds throughout the day.Saturday might be your better day of the weekend. It’s still dry. More clouds and a breeze into the afternoon. Highs will be coolest at the coast, near 60° inland. Rain moves in Sunday and the breeze gets gusty especia...

Players excited to start play in new girls flag football league supported by New England Patriots

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:58 GMT

The New England Patriots are helping girls from several local high schools get out on the field this year through a new flag football league. As the season approaches and after receiving new jerseys this week, players said they’re excited to get started. “It was really exciting,” said Leominster High School flag football player Ashley McMeneny. “We’ve never had something big like this. Flag football has never been this big.” Eight Massachusetts teams are part of the inaugural season of the Patriots Foundation’s new girls flag football league, including Leominster, Fitchburg and Needham high schools.Players were at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough on Thursday, to receive their jerseys. Speaking with 7NEWS, girls on the teams said the new league marks important representation. “Women’s sports have never been a big thing, especially with football,” McMeneny said. “So, now it’s getting introduced into schools.” “It’s very exciting,” McMeneny continued. “It’s a very exc...

Photos: See the stunning superbloom happening across California

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:58 GMT

A “superbloom” of wildflowers is appearing across California this spring due to historic levels of rain that fell in some parts of the state amid a wild winter’s barrage of atmospheric river storms.“Superblooms take place in some desert climates after unusually wet winters, when typically dormant seeds and plants wake up,” Mindy Sink wrote for the Denver Post. “The result, especially in California and Arizona, can be hillsides carpeted in color as thousands of flowers pop open around the same time.”Photographers around the West are capturing stunning images of the blooms, from Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve in Lancaster to Carrizo Plain National Monument near Santa Margarita in California. A recommendation? Take your Instagram photos from the trail to avoid trampling the flowers.An aerial view of people walking in a field with blooming poppy flowers near the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve following an unusually wet winter...

Developers have right to finish $1B Maine power line, jury says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:58 GMT

By DAVID SHARP (Associated Press)PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A jury that heard complicated testimony about construction schedules and constitutional rights delivered a victory Thursday for a $1 billion transmission project, concluding developers had a constitutional right to proceed despite being rebuked by state voters in a referendum.Jurors ruled 9-0 in favor of developers when asked to decide whether enough work was completed in good faith before the referendum for developers to have a vested right to complete the project.Based on the outcome, a state judge is expected to issue a judgment that the referendum can’t be applied to the project.That decision could be appealed to the state Supreme Judicial Court for the final say.At stake is a project touted as a bold effort to combat climate change by supplying up to 1,200 megawatts of Canadian hydropower to the New England power grid — enough electricity for about 1 million homes.Supporters say electricity supplied by the 145-mile (233-ki...