POMPANO BEACH, Fla. – Reports of a fatal crash involving a pedestrian shut down northbound lanes of the Florida Turnpike in Pompano Beach Wednesday morning.
Authorities responded to reports of a car crashing into a pedestrian in the area, killing them.
A Local 10 News crew was at the scene of the Turnpike’s Coconut Creek Parkway exit in Pompano Beach where a yellow tarp was placed over the victim’s body as authorities continued to investigate.
Coconut Creek Parkway’s ramp toward the turnpike was also closed.
Police officers in the area were focusing on a white truck that was pulled over on the side of the road.
Authorities have not released any information on the victim involved in the crash and it is unclear if any arrests have been made at this time.
Drivers are being urged to avoid the area or use Interstate 95 at this time if they are looking to head northbound.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
This is a developing story. Viewers are encouraged to watch Local 10 News at 9 a.m. or refresh the page for the latest updates.
Copyright 2024 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.
RICHMOND — Bicycle advocates are bracing for a pedestrian and bike lane to be removed from the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, a shift transportation officials hope will alleviate traffic as alternative changes are studied.
This May, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission plans to seek approval from the Bay Conservation & Development Commission to remove the multipurpose lane Mondays through Thursdays, creating a shoulder for drivers to pull off to after collisions or breakdowns, said John Goodwin, MTC assistant director of communications.
The lane would be reopened to cyclists and pedestrians Friday through Sunday, under the current plan. This comes about four years after the pedestrian lane opened as a pilot program.
“It’s an attempt to balance legitimate competing interests,” Goodwin said.
Officials broke the news to bike advocates in a meeting Thursday. Warren Wells, policy and planning director for the Marin County Bicycle Coalition, and Robert Prinz, advocacy director with Bike East Bay, said the update came as a surprise. Both organizations had expected the lane to remain as is until a final report on the pilot program could be finalized and released this summer.
While Goodwin described use of the lane as “underwhelming,” the bicycle advocates have argued it serves as an important connector — especially for non-vehicle commuters who would otherwise have to rely on a bus — between the East Bay and North Bay. Wells said the lane can see between 80 and 250 users daily, depending on the day of the week and weather.
Initial reports also indicate the lane hasn’t amplified vehicle traffic, which has been an issue along the corridor long before the lane was installed, Wells, Prinz and Goodwin agreed. All three also acknowledged that long-term remedies will take years to develop.
“At the very least, we were expecting MTC to gather data on the cost and benefits of the pilot before making a decision,” Wells said.
The news came just days after the Bay Area Toll Authority Oversight Committee approved spending another $2.5 million on the Richmond-San Rafael Forward initiative. Most of those funds will go toward completing designs for an open road tolling project which would replace the existing toll plaza and allow traffic to flow more freely onto through the bridge. The remaining $1 million will cover a study into alternatives to a third high-occupancy vehicle lane on the upper deck where the multi-use lane currently exists.
John Grubb, chief operating officer of the Bay Area Council, an influential business advocacy group, thanked the commission for their decision.
Wells during the meeting shared his disappointment in seeing the commission move forward with evaluating another lane before a report on the multi-use lane trial could be finalized. Even after that meeting though, Wells said he thought the lane would remain in place until at least the summer.
Those expectations now dashed, the groups said they’re planning to continue advocating for bike and pedestrian access on the bridge.
“Whatever happens with the path, this issue is not going away,” Prinz said.
According to the report, the mayor’s office is reviewing the changes to the busy through street completed in 2023 that include bike lanes and safe crosswalks at several different intersections, particularly at Nicholson where the Heights hike and bike trail intersects with 11th. The project created some controversy as several businesses complained about how it would impact their establishments, but cycling and pedestrian advocates lauded the changes as adding additional protections for a busy neighborhood street.
In addition, the project recently won an award as the 2024 In-House Project of the Year by the Texas chapter of the American Public Works Association. And despite initial complaints, a recent video interviewing residents and business owners in the Heights would seem to indicate that what was initially a concern has turned into something that is now fairly popular.
Still, the Mayor’s office has decided to review the project.
“Mayor Whitmire’s administration is evaluating the project’s effectiveness, overall impact and lessons learned,” [spokesperson Mary] Benton said. “The mayor has been very open about his concerns with the 11th Street project. What started out as a request for a safe crossing at Nicholson and 11th Street ended up a bike lane project that makes it difficult for emergency apparatus to maneuver and has negatively impacted a business. He is reviewing this along with other projects.”
With the changes to Houston Avenue and this statement, it feels an awful lot like Mayor Whitmire’s concerns about safety and convenience extend only to cars and businesses. And given this reaction, it stands to reason that other potential projects that would increase pedestrian and cycling safety could be on the chopping block. Those include new sidewalks and bike paths currently under construction on Shepherd and Durham between I-10 and the North Loop, the planned updates to the Antoine Corridor, and even the bike upgrades to Patterson, intended to connect the White Oak hike and bike trails with Buffalo Bayou.
Many of the projects under Whitmire’s scrutiny were initiated under former Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Vision Zero 2030 plan designed to reduce pedestrian and cyclist deaths. Now, there appears to be ample evidence the new administration is not just abandoning those plans, but perhaps attempting to reverse course.
This despite the support of council members and commissioners as well as studies showing that bike lanes not only improve rider safety, but driver safety as well, the current administration seems hellbent on focusing almost solely on vehicular issues, while largely ignoring the safety of those not on four wheels. For a Mayor whose near singular message during his campaign was public safety, it appears the scope of that excludes a pretty broad swath of Houstonians.
Over the last 25 years, Houston has managed to turn a corner in our region’s decades-long battle over transportation and how to effectively move millions of people around an increasingly congested city. Citizens have pushed back against the car-centric mentality that turned Houston into a concrete sprawl, demanding different and safer forms of transportation across the entire region. We sincerely hope it isn’t the current Mayor’s intention to takes a step backward to a time when the streets of Houston were a far more dangerous place for those not inside a car.
PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — Pasco County voters who need transportation to the polls on Tuesday, March 19, will get a free bus ride through GoPasco.
Pasco County Public Transportation and Supervisor of Elections have partnered to provide voters free bus rides when they show a valid voter information card.
“This partnership to benefit the voters of Pasco County epitomizes good government and we are grateful to GoPasco for this program,” said Supervisor Brian Corley.
The 2024 Presidential Preference Primary has no Democratic, Minor Party or Nonpartisan candidates. Only eligible Republican voters will receive a ballot.
MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Manatee County commissioners passed an ordinance Tuesday that would make the fare-free pilot program permanent in the county.
In November 2022, Manatee County commissioners kick-started an 18-month pilot program that allowed residents to take the bus free of charge. It is only for certain bus routes with Manatee County Area Transit.
“Instead of incurring some additional costs to our fare boxes, which were exorbitant. We decided just take the fare boxes out, put in a pilot program, and see if people would ride the bus, get off the road. And in a time when things are less and less affordable for our residence we were trying to create a little more affordability,” commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge said.
What You Need To Know
Manatee County Commissioners voted during their Tuesday meeting to make the free fare pilot program a permanent addition
The 18-month free of charge bus rides were to expire in May of this year, but now it’s permanent
It’s a free fare for fixed routes, handy bus services, and the Longboat Key shuttle, and the Skyway and Port Manatee ConneXion Shuttle
With the program ending in May, commissioners decided to keep it permanently due to its success.
“The program was wildly successful. Within six months ridership was up 28%. Now we are well over a 50% increase in just 18 months,” Ostenbridge said.
It’s a way for everyone to save money, especially for life long bus rider Eric Williams, who is a Bradenton native.
“I’ve been catching the bus since I was 13-years-old. I love it,” he said.
Williams has been an MCAT bus rider since he was a kid. It was a transportation option that allowed his family to save money.
He has carried that same mentality with him as an adult and continues to save money by riding the bus. Now that the county has announced select bus routes will be free of charge, Williams says he’s thankful.
“It’s good because I go to dialysis three times a week. I do my shopping,” he said.
Williams has been going to his weekly appointments for eight months. He says being able to ride for free has been a huge help.
County commissioners also say traffic has decreased because of more people choosing to take the bus.
Williams feels that is a good thing that will help other families who can’t afford transportation.
“It’s really good. There’s going to be a lot of people riding the bus and you don’t have to pay any fare and that’s a good thing,” he said.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Some residents in St. Petersburg say walking along a busy stretch of Gandy Boulevard is dangerous because there are no sidewalks in the area.
What You Need To Know
St. Petersburg residents say sidewalks are needed on Gandy Boulevard east of Fourth Street
Many have expressed concern across Pinellas County due to gaps in sidewalks
Florida Department of Transportation officials say there is a project in the works that addresses sidewalk gaps in Pinellas County, including on Gandy Boulevard
Nathaniel Williams says he has to walk on the side of the road on Gandy Boulevard just east of Fourth Street when he needs to go grocery shopping or run other errands.
“You feel some of these trucks come by,” he said. “They rock your world.”
There is no sidewalk on the north side of Gandy Boulevard from his home at the Itopia Condos over to Fourth Street, and Williams said it’s an oversight that should be fixed.
“It’s fantastic engineering,” he said. “They just missed one thing: sidewalks for pedestrians.”
While there are sidewalks on other parts of Gandy, the ones in the Williams uses to get around end near Barney’s Mini Storage, which is located at the corner of Oak Street.
Gaps in sidewalks have been a concern throughout Pinellas County, and the missing pavement forces pedestrians like Williams to walk on the shoulder or in bike lanes.
“You take your life into your hands,” Williams said.
Nathaniel Williams of St Pete reached out to me for this week’s Traffic Inbox. He’s worried about a lack of sidewalks on Gandy Blvd near 4th St.
You can tell he’s passionate about it! I have the rest of his interview throughout the morning on @BN9. pic.twitter.com/kOhV6ZRUXp
Florida Department of Transportation officials say there is a project in the works that addresses sidewalk gaps in Pinellas County that is scheduled to start next year. They said the stretch of Gandy Boulevard east of Fourth Street is included.
Officials say there are some areas where existing light poles and signs will have to be moved, and other areas where an embankment will be required, making some of the additions more complex.
Williams said he was relieved to hear that a walkway is planned for the area, and hoped the project can get underway soon.
“One of the healthiest things to do is walk,” he said. “But what I would like to see is for them just to put another sidewalk in, so we can enjoy the privileges that everybody else has.”
MELBOURNE, Fla. – A man was struck and killed early Saturday while walking across a street in Melbourne, according to police.
The crash occurred around 5:02 a.m. on South Babcock Street near Eber Boulevard, police said.
The pedestrian, identified as a 61-year-old man from Melbourne, was crossing South Babcock Street south of a marked crosswalk from an unknown direction when he was struck by a Mercedes-Benz SUV traveling southbound, driven by a 22-year-old Palm Bay man, a news release states. The Melbourne man was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
There were no indications that drugs or alcohol were factors in the crash, according to the release.
Melbourne police are still investigating.
Anyone with information about the crash was encouraged to call Melbourne traffic homicide investigators at 321-616-6116.
Note: This map depicts the general area of this crash and not necessarily its exact location.
Washington State Patrol is mourning the loss of Trooper Chris Gadd, who died in a crash early Saturday morning near Marysville.
MARYSVILLE, Wash. – The Washington State Patrol (WSP) trooper who died in a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 5 near Marysville early Saturday morning has been identified.
WSP said Christopher M. Gadd, 27, was on patrol searching for speeding and DUI drivers when he was hit and killed. According to the agency he had been with WSP for two and a half years, starting back on September 16, 2021.
“Chris’s passing is a devastating loss to his family who knows all too well about the risks of public safety servants,” said WSP Chief John Batiste.
Gadd is survived by his wife, Cammryn, daughter Kaelyn, father WSP Trooper David Gadd, mother Gillian and sister, Jacqueline, who currently serves as a trooper with the Texas Department of Public Safety, according to WSP.
“I can tell you that across the entire Washington State Patrol, every head is bowed, every knee is bent, and every heart is broken as we mourn this loss,” added Batiste.
Since news of his death, various law enforcement agencies have sent their condolences to Gadd’s family and colleagues.
According to investigators with the Snohomish County Sherrif’s Office, Gadd was killed when his vehicle was hit by a motorist just before 3 a.m. on southbound Interstate 5 near 136th Street North.
Investigators said a man in an SUV was driving southbound when the vehicle veered off the roadway onto the shoulder where it struck the parked WSP patrol car, the SUV driver was driving at a high speed when he crashed into Gadd’s WSP patrol car.
FOX 13 has learned a van with six passengers was also involved in the crash. It reportedly crashed into the SUV. The driver was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The other passengers were not injured.
A 32-year-old Lynnwood man was evaluated and taken into custody for vehicular homicide.
Outside State Patrol Headquarters a makeshift memorial has been set up for Trooper Gadd.
All day supporters came by to drop off flowers and pray.
“We always just try to pay our respects,” said Anna Utley from Marysville, who dropped off a large bouquet of flowers with her father Matt.
“We live here,” said Matt. “We live in this community. I ran into him a couple of times. He was just a nice guy. He was so young. This is so sad.”
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — If you’ve driven or walked around downtown St. Petersburg lately, you’ve likely come across lots of road and sidewalk closures.
While construction is booming right now in downtown, it does come with some concerns for business owners.
What You Need To Know
New building construction is affecting business owners in St. Petersburg
Mickey Paleologos, owner of Mickey’s Café on Central Avenue, says the massive projects are costing him customers
The projects are causing several sidewalk and lane closures
Mickey Paleologos, owner of Mickey’s Café on Central Avenue, says the massive projects are costing him customers.
“I’m wedged between two buildings that are going up. Right in the middle of it. So our sidewalks are blocked off. And that’s killing business,” Paleologos said.
Paleologos opened his shop there in 2005. His business has been successful for nearly 20 years, but he says making a profit now is harder than ever.
“I’ve been here long enough to know. I survived the oil spill, the down economy, housing, COVID, everything else. But this? By far worse than any of those,” Paleologos said.
According to StPeteRising.com, there are at least six residential high-rise projects being built as downtown St. Pete continues to thrive and attract new residents. The city of St. Petersburg confirmed there are 48 active construction permits in downtown.
Paleologos is happy to see the progress and the growth. But he also worries about the traffic and parking issues that come with it.
“A lot of my customers will circle around once or twice. By the third time, they can’t find parking and off they go,” Paleologos said.
The St. Pete Downtown Partnership held a meeting last year with city officials to see what can be done, but the closures have remained in place. City officials say that infrastructure improvements are part of these projects. City engineering teams, developers and utilities are working together as part of the process.
Paleologos says many of his fellow business owners just hope they can make it through the work to see if the influx of new residents can help their bottom line.
“The sidewalks will be open again and traffic will flow through here like it did before. We’ll just have to wait and see,” Paleologos said.
Multiple lanes of southbound I-280 in San Francisco were closed Monday after a wrong-way driver was involved in an injury collision just north of San Jose Ave., according to CHP.
The three-car collision was triggered about 2:30 p.m. by a driver headed north in southbound lanes near the Geneva Avenue on-ramp, the CHP said.
I-280 collision in San Francisco.
KPIX
At least three people have been hospitalized, according to the CHP.
Chopper footage showed at least two vehicles that had sustained major damage on southbound lanes of I-280. There were multiple CHP, fire units and ambulances at the scene. At one point, fire crews could be seen extricating a person from a silver sedan that was reportedly the vehicle that was traveling in the wrong direction on the freeway.
Several other vehicles stopped on southbound I-280 seemed to be involved in the collision. There also appeared to be a vehicle with a CHP unit stopped on the northbound side of I-280 by the accident site. CHP said it would take about an hour to reopen the closed lanes.
There were earlier CHP reports of a vehicle driving north on southbound I-280 through the area that had been involved in multiple traffic collisions prior to the major accident.
The left and center lanes were blocked by the response to the collision. Motorists are advised to expect delays and to use alternate routes to avoid the area if possible. CHP said there is no estimated time to reopen the roadway.
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POLK COUNTY, Fla. — As work is underway to replace a nearly 100-year-old bridge in Polk County, its history is being preserved.
What You Need To Know
The John Singletary Bridge has taken drivers over the Peace River in Fort Meade since 1931
The history of the old bridge is now part of the Crossroads exhibit at the Polk County History Center in Bartow
The new bridge will bring much needed wider lanes for safety and also include a bike path and sidewalk
The John Singletary Bridge has taken drivers over the Peace River in Fort Meade since 1931.
Though it’s now being replaced, the memory of the old bridge will live on as part of the Crossroads exhibit at the Polk County History Center in Bartow.
“The theme is to talk about transportation development across the country, for us particularly in Polk County,” said Historic Preservation Manager Myrtice Young.
The Crossroads exhibit is a joint venture with the Smithsonian.
Visitors can learn about the history of Polk County transportation, from railroads to highways and bridges, like the John Singletary Bridge.
The bridge is now part of US 98 and still traveled every day.
Florida Department of Transportation photo
Young is grateful for the opportunity to remember how the old bridge served the community for so long.
“We can’t preserve every structure. The bridge needed to be changed. It needed to meet current and modern needs. But we captured the story, the history,” Young said.
The bridge was named for John Singletary, a Polk County commissioner who helped get it built.
It was originally just wide enough for the typical, smaller cars of the 1930s.
Renderings show how the new bridge will bring much needed wider lanes for safety. It will also include a bike path and sidewalk.
Its railing will mimic the design of the old one as well.
Florida Department of Transportation photo
Young also worked with FDOT to have historical marker be placed on the new bridge when it’s done.
“The bridge had served its purpose. Yes, it’s beautiful and historically significant. But the new bridge will be a great service to the transportation needs in that area,” Young said.
FDOT says the new bridge is expected to be finished in 2026.
You can visit the Polk County History Center to learn more about the bridge and the history of transportation in Polk County.
View more information about the bridge on FDOT’s website.
View of the MacArthur Causeway and the Herald Plaza and Venetian Marina site which were part of the 2023 Miami International Boat Show on Feb. 16, 2023. The sites will once again be used for the 2024 event Feb. 14-18.
Pedro Portal
pportal@miamiherald.com
There seems to be as many big events in Miami leading up to Presidents Day Weekend than the number of U.S. presidents.
The biggest event? Five days of the Discover Boating event that combines the Miami International Boat Show and Miami Yacht Show that begins at 10 a.m. Wednesday and runs daily through Sunday.
There are more than 500 boat exhibits on the water at the Herald Plaza site along Biscayne Bay. Then there’s SuperYacht Miami at Yacht Haven Grande Miami. And new offerings in Miami Beach like a pickleball court in partnership with the 2024 Miami Open.
With all of this going on, here’s a guide to getting around town, with information on parking, driving and road shutdowns:
Boat show locations
There are six official locations for the 2024 Discover Boating Miami Interational Boat Show:
▪ Miami Beach Convention Center (1901 Convention Center Dr.) offers powerboats up to 49 feet, engine manufacturers, marine accessories, electronics, retail pavilions.
▪ Herald Plaza (One Herald Plaza, downtown Miami between the MacArthur and Venetian Causeways on the bay) features larger powerboats, motor yachts ranging from 50 feet to 125 feet, yacht tenders, engines, marine accessories, retail pavilions.
▪ Venetian Marina & Yacht Club (1635 N. Bayshore Dr.) offers vessel test-drives, and boat and engine manufacturers.
▪ Museum Park Marina (801 Biscayne Blvd.) gives an up-close look at the latest sailboats, catamarans, sailing accessories.
▪ Yacht Haven Grande Miami (838 MacArthur Cswy. at Watson Island Park) showcases SuperYacht Miami, billed as “the largest and most luxurious yachts” at the boat show. Access requires a SuperYacht Miami ticket or Windward VIP pass.
▪ Pride Park (just outside the Miami Beach Convention Center). Progressive Boat Show Experience event. Access is included with general admission to the show.
Not everyone in Miami this week and Presidents Day Weekend is here for the boat show. Some of you may be going to the Coconut Grove Arts Festival. Attending Chris Botti’s smooth jazz concert at the Arsht. Or heading to your friend’s Biscayne condo for dinner. Here’s where some roads will be closed during the boat show’s run from Wednesday through Sunday:
▪ Downtown Miami: The Herald Plaza roadway is closed on 14th Street from Bayshore Drive east to One Herald Plaza on Biscayne Bay.
▪ Miami Beach: Near Miami Beach Convention Center on Convention Center Drive from 18th Street to Dade Boulevard. Also, the eastern portion of 19th Street between Meridian Avenue and Convention Center Drive.
How to get to boat show events
Drive, or take Uber or Lyft, public transportation including Metrorail and Brightline, or water taxis.
Water Taxi: It’s a boat show. Perhaps a water taxi ride could be the most convenient means of navigating within the show or put you in the spirit. Tickets for the water taxi are priced at $10 for the day and free for children younger than 12. The route starts one hour before the show’s start and concludes one hour after its end.
Board the water taxi at these two locations to connect to and from the Boat Show’s six locations:
▪ Maurice Gibb Memorial Park. Embark here to get to and from Herald Plaza and the Museum Park Marina on its loop.
▪ For ticketholders of the Windward VIP and Superyacht Miami the water taxi will whisk you to and from Herald Plaza and Yacht Haven Grande.
Brightline: For guests coming from Aventura, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton or Orlando, they can board the Brightline and take a complimentary shuttle to the boat show show from Brightline’s Miami Central Station.
Uber or Lyft:
Ride share pickup and drop off locations:
▪ Herald Plaza pick-up/drop-off is at Bayshore and 14th Street.
▪ Miami Beach Convention Center.
▪ Ride Share drop-off: 18th Street between Convention Center Drive and Meridian on Miami Beach.
▪ Ride share pick-up: 19th Street and Meridian.
Bus shuttle connections: Free for those going to the boat show. The shuttle route begins an hour before and an hour after the show ends. The boat show will have four routes along a loop:
▪ Red Route: Brightline Shuttle goes to Herald Plaza and Miami Beach Convention Center/Pride Park.
▪ Green Route: Kaseya Center Shuttle goes to Herald Plaza, Venetian Marina and Museum Park Marina.
▪ Yellow Route: Herald Plaza Shuttle goes to Venetian Marina, Museum Park & Convention Center/Pride Park.
▪ Brown Route: Maurice Gibb Park Shuttle goes to Miami Beach Convention Center/Pride Park.
Metromover stops.
▪ Herald Plaza and the Venetian Marina. The nearest Metromover stop for both sites is the Adrienne Arsht Center station across the street.
▪ Museum Park Marina, which is sandwiched between the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science and the Kaseya Center. The nearest Metromover stop is the Park West station.
Golf cart shuttles. These are new this year. Golf cart operating hours are noon-7 p.m. Wednesday; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday; and, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday.
The complimentary golf cart shuttles to all Boat Show ticketholders travel the following routes:
▪ Maurice Gibb Park Golf Cart Shuttle goes to Miami Beach Convention Center/Pride Park.
▪ Kaseya Center/Museum Park Marina goes to Herald Plaza and Venetian Marina.
Parking at the boat show
The boat show has partnered with SpotHero, a parking service that connects people to reserved parking spaces with parking lots, parking garages and valet services.
Miami Beach parking details:
The following municipal parking garages will offer free shuttle services to and from the Miami Beach Convention Center to 17th Street and Convention Center Drive from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday:
▪ Sheridan Avenue and 42nd Street.
▪ 23rd Street and Liberty Avenue.
▪ Alton Road and Fifth Street.
Downtown Miami parking:
Miami Parking Authority has these lots to help accommodate Boat Show guests.
Park at the College Station garage at 190 NE Third St. or the Knight Center garage at 100 SE Second Street for the Herald Plaza and Venetian sites. Ride the free Metromover, which has a stop on Northeast 15th Steet east of Biscayne Boulevard.
▪ The College Station garage is $10 for up to four hours and $15 after four hours.
▪ The James L. Knight Center garage is $10 for up to four hours and $20 after four hours.
Want to walk and get your steps in for the day? Municipal Lot 19, at the center of Biscayne Blvd. between Flagler Street and Northeast Fourth Street, or Municipal Lot 5 at Maurice A. Ferre Park at 1075 Biscayne Blvd. can put you near the downtown Miami Boat Show venues.
▪ Lot 19 is $5 per hour. Maximum rate is $30.
▪ Lot 5/Ferre is $5 per hour. Maximum rate is $25.
Coconut Grove Arts Festival
File photo from the 2018 Coconut Grove Art Festival. Roberto Koltun Miami Herald file
Some of you may want to spend a day at the Miami International Boat Show and another at the Coconut Grove Arts Festival, which runs on Presidents Day Weekend from Saturday through Monday.
If you’re doing the arts fest, you can park at the Regatta Harbour garage at 3351 Pan American Dr. and Municipal Lot 6 — the Coconut Grove Playhouse lot. Both are $20.
Coconut Grove Arts Festival president Monty Trainer and executive director Camille Marchese shake hands with artist Benjamin Frey at the festival. Courtesy of CGAF
Arsht Center for the Performing Arts
The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts at 1300 Biscayne Blvd. is across the street from the Herald Plaza site and near the Venetian marina and there are numerous shows running at the same time as the boat show.
Among them: the Detroit Symphony Orchestra on Thursday night and Area Stage’s presentation of “Oliver!” running through Feb. 25 and there are 1 p.m. matinees on Saturday and Sunday for that classic musical. The Arsht is also host to a Chris Botti concert at 8 p.m. Friday and one by Julieta Venegas at 8 p.m. Sunday.
The boat show ends at 6 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 5 p.m. Sunday — so there could be some overlap.
The theater staff suggests that patrons “plan ahead when coming to an Arsht Center performance.” The recommendation is to pre-purchase valet or self-parking. Self-parking options include designated lots, street parking meters and garages that are within a 5-to-10-minute walk. Parking information can be found at www.arshtcenter.org/parking.
Art Wynwood
The Art Wynwood art fair returns to Herald Plaza for four days from Wednesday, Feb. 14 to Sunday, Feb. 18 in downtown Miami. (Photo courtesy Art Wynwood)
Art Wynwood’s VIP Preview runs 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday and regular viewings are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. The event takes place at The Art Wynwood Pavilion at One Herald Plaza right near the boats on Biscayne Bay.
This story was originally published February 14, 2024, 6:06 AM.
Miami Herald consumer trends reporter Howard Cohen, a 2017 Media Excellence Awards winner, has covered pop music, theater, health and fitness, obituaries, municipal government, breaking news and general assignment. He started his career in the Features department at the Miami Herald in 1991. Support my work with a digital subscription
The area of congestion is near Chester from about Exit 62 south to around Exit 55 on I-77.
Fernando Salazar
The Wichita Eagle
Chester County SC
Traffic is clogged for at least 6 miles on Interstate 77 south between Charlotte and Columbia after a collision that happened while one lane of the road was closed for bridge repairs, officials said.
The area of congestion is near Chester from about Exit 62 south to around Exit 55, said Master Trooper Gary Miller of the S.C. Highway Patrol. Miller advised drivers to seek an alternate route if possible. WSOC-TV also reported miles of traffic in southbound lanes.
Chester County: I -77 southbound is currently experiencing a heavy traffic back up! One lane is closed for repair near the 56 mile marker and also a collision involving 3 tractor trailers near the 61 mile marker south bound. Seek an alternate route if possible! pic.twitter.com/jPlIJCDku6
The traffic slowed after noon when three commercial vehicles in the southbound lane of traffic collided on I-77 south near mile marker 61, Miller said. Troopers were en route to work the incident, Miller said.
I-77 is the main route between Rock Hill and Columbia. There are more vehicles traveling through Chester County on I-77 each day — at least 50,000, officials say — than the 32,000-plus people living in the county.
It remains unclear when crews will clear the crash.
The I-77 southbound bridge under repair is near mile marker 56, according to the S.C. Department of Transportation and the Richburg Fire Department Facebook page.
DOT crews started repairs Tuesday morning after the highway patrol notified them about damage to the bridge deck early Tuesday morning, DOT spokesperson Kelly Moore said in an email to The Herald.
The DOT said bridge repair is expected to be finished later Tuesday.
This story was originally published February 13, 2024, 1:20 PM.
Andrew Dys covers breaking news and public safety for The Herald, where he has been a reporter and columnist since 2000. He has won 51 South Carolina Press Association awards for his coverage of crime, race, justice, and people. He is author of the book “Slice of Dys” and his work is in the U.S. Library of Congress.
STATEWIDE — AAA stated that Florida has seen a massive jump to its average gas prices on Tuesday.
What You Need To Know
The average Florida price is at $3.27 per gallon
The national average price is $3.23 per gallon
Florida’s average gas price on Tuesday is $3.27 per gallon, a 13-cent jump from the day before, stated AAA.
Monday: $3.14
Sunday: $3.14
The current record for the average price of gas in Florida is $4.89 that was set on Monday, June 13, 2022.
In February 2022, Florida drivers were paying an average of about $3.50 per gallon.
National gas prices
The national average price of gas on Tuesday is at $3.23 per gallon, a three-cent increase from the previous day, according to AAA.
Monday: $3.20
Sunday: $3.19
The current national record was set on Sunday, June 12, 2022, at $5.01 per gallon.
The previous record high had been $4.33, set on March 11, 2022. But the old record was $4.08 per gallon, set on July 16, 2008.
For some context, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says $4.11 in 2008 was worth about $5.25 in 2022. AAA had predicted prices would keep spiking and that they could resume their climb, which they did after a short-term decline.
STATEWIDE — AAA stated that Florida has seen a massive jump to its average gas prices on Tuesday.
What You Need To Know
The average Florida price is at $3.27 per gallon
The national average price is $3.23 per gallon
Florida’s average gas price on Tuesday is $3.27 per gallon, a 13-cent jump from the day before, stated AAA.
Monday: $3.14
Sunday: $3.14
The current record for the average price of gas in Florida is $4.89 that was set on Monday, June 13, 2022.
In February 2022, Florida drivers were paying an average of about $3.50 per gallon.
National gas prices
The national average price of gas on Tuesday is at $3.23 per gallon, a three-cent increase from the previous day, according to AAA.
Monday: $3.20
Sunday: $3.19
The current national record was set on Sunday, June 12, 2022, at $5.01 per gallon.
The previous record high had been $4.33, set on March 11, 2022. But the old record was $4.08 per gallon, set on July 16, 2008.
For some context, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says $4.11 in 2008 was worth about $5.25 in 2022. AAA had predicted prices would keep spiking and that they could resume their climb, which they did after a short-term decline.
Protesters who block roadways in New York could face felony charges for “engaging in an act of domestic terrorism” under a newly proposed state law.
New York Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato, a Democrat from Queens, recently introduced a bill that aims to make it a felony to deliberately block traffic in the state.
Pheffer Amato’s measure comes amid months of pro-Palestinian protests that have created chaos on New York City streets since the conflict in the Middle East erupted in October 2023. Hundreds of protesters have been arrested for blocking and disrupting rush-hour traffic in the city on busy roadways, such as the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg bridges and the Holland Tunnel. Other protests have resulted in altercations between participants and New York City police.
The assemblywoman’s bill aims to change state law to make such stunts a “domestic act of terrorism” and make it a Class D felony to intentionally block public roads, bridges, transportation facilities or tunnels in New York, according to a copy of the legislation. The measure is co-sponsored by Assemblyman Sam Berger, who is also a Democrat from Queens.
Newsweek reached out via email on Saturday night to Pheffer Amato for comment.
Members of the activist group Jewish Voice for Peace join others in protesting President Joe Biden’s visit to Manhattan due to his continued support for Israel in the Middle Eastern country’s war against Hamas in… Members of the activist group Jewish Voice for Peace join others in protesting President Joe Biden’s visit to Manhattan due to his continued support for Israel in the Middle Eastern country’s war against Hamas in Gaza on February 07, 2024 in New York City. The protesters briefly shut down traffic along 5th Avenue in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. A New York State assemblywoman introduced a bill to make blocking roadways in the state a “domestic act of terrorism.”
Spencer Platt/Getty
In a statement justifying the need for the new measure, Pheffer Amato wrote that while the U.S. Constitution enshrines Americans’ right to freely protest, it does not give demonstrators the right to “cause fear, panic and put the lives of other people in danger.”
“When those who protest directly hinder the ability for pedestrians and motorists to freely move, impacting their ability to arrive at a location, or seek aid, that is unacceptable,” the assemblywoman wrote. “The purposeful blocking of bridges, tunnels and road-ways which results in cars being stopped, sick people not being able to get medical attention, or any attempt to prevent innocent people from getting from Point A to Point B is not appropriate or fair – in fact it is flat out dangerous.”
The demonstrations started after Israel began its assault on Gaza in response to the surprise October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas militants in southern Israel, which killed at least 1,200 people and resulted in hundreds of others being taken hostage.
So far, more than 27,000 Palestinians have since been killed by Israel, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, which notes that the death count is likely higher, as thousands more Palestinians are believed to be buried under rubble in Gaza, according to Reuters.
The number of civilians killed in Gaza, especially children, has sparked protests all over the world where participants have been calling for a ceasefire in Israel’s war with Hamas.
It was unclear at the time of publication whether Pheffer Amato’s bill has support for passage.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Caltrans issued a traffic advisory Thursday, announcing that there would be multiple freeway offramp closures in San Francisco Sunday night after the end of Super Bowl LVIII between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Caltrans plan with the California Highway Patrol appears aimed at discouraging people from coming into San Francisco to celebrate in the event of a 49ers victory that would mark the team’s first Super Bowl win in almost three decades. Officials took similar action on the night of the NFC Championship Game almost two weeks ago.
The closures are scheduled for multiple offramps along the U.S. 101 and I-280 corridor in San Francisco the evening of Sunday, Feb. 11. Caltrans and CHP are assisting the San Francisco Police Department with the closures of off-ramps tentatively scheduled to start at 7 p.m. that will continue until midnight.
The freeway exits scheduled to be closed are as follows:
US-101 Southbound, Cesar Chavez St. off-ramp
US-101 Northbound, Cesar Chavez St. off-ramp
US-101 Northbound, Mission St./Duboce St. off-ramp
I-280 Northbound, San Jose Ave off-ramp
I-280 Northbound, Geneva Ave off-ramp
I-280 Southbound, Geneva Ave off-ramp
“These ramp closures in San Francisco are necessary to enhance public safety due to an anticipated increase traffic and pedestrian congestion during the National Football League game scheduled for Sunday afternoon,” the statement said.
Muni also issued an advisory regarding bus service in the the Mission during and after the game.
Starting at 5 p.m., Muni bus service will avoid using Mission Street, 24th Street and 16th Street in the Mission District, the SFMTA said. That will continue until streets are clear.
The following Muni routes will be re-routed:
14 Mission, 14R Mission Rapid and 49 Van Ness/Mission will use Guerrero Street from 15th to Cesar Chavez streets.
12 Folsom and 27 Bryant will use Potrero Street between 22nd and Cesar Chavez streets.
22 Folsom, 33 Ashbury/18th Street and 55 Dogpatch will use 14th and 15th streets between Guerrero Street and South Van Ness Avenue.
48 Quintara/24th Street and 67 Bernal Heights will use Cesar Chavez Street instead of 24th Street between Potrero and Valencia streets.
On Friday, San Francisco police confirmed there would be “traffic closures in the Mission District” but did not specify which streets would be shut down or when the closures would take place. When the 49ers beat the Detroit Lions in NFC Championship Game on Jan. 28, bot Mission Street and 24th Street were closed for a period of time.
“Officers will have a visible presence throughout the city before, during, and after the game with safety as our priority,” police said in the released statement. “The SFPD will not tolerate violence, property destruction, or other criminal activity.”
The statement also encouraged those participating in Super Bowl festivities “to do so respectfully and responsibly” and to avoid driving while intoxicated.
SUGAR LAND, Texas – Authorities say a Sugar Land city worker was killed in a major crash following a police chase on Highway 90A on Wednesday.
The crash happened on the stretch between Industrial and Eldridge.
Sugar Land city officials told KPRC 2 they have identified the victim as 56-year-old Joseph Aponte. Aponte has been employed with the public works department since last January.
JUST IN: 56-year-old Joseph Aponte, a City of Sugar Land employee, is the victim in today’s pursuit that started in Missouri City and ended with a fatal crash in Sugar Land. He had been employed with the public works department since last January. @KPRC2pic.twitter.com/oY06EtXuxw
Officers in the area of Texas Parkway and Fifth Street in Missouri City received a call in regards to a residential burglary at 10:08 a.m. The burglary was confirmed in the 1100 block of Crestmont Place Loop.
Police said when officers located two of the suspected vehicles, they started to follow them.
A traffic stop was initiated on one of the suspect vehicles in the area of Highway 90 in Stafford but the suspect fled. Officers chased the vehicle on Highway 90 into the city of Sugar Land.
A video shared with KPRC 2 appeared to show the suspects and the officer weaving in and out of traffic lanes.
At around 10:30 a.m., at the intersection of Highway 90 and Gillingham Lane, police said the suspect vehicle ran a red light and struck another vehicle in the intersection.
The SUV flipped upside down in the opposite lanes, and the truck, barely standing upright.
“As you can imagine, this is one of the worst days imaginable for us,” said Doug Adolph with the City of Sugar Land.
NEW AT 10: Videos shared with @KPRC2 shows a Missouri City police officer chasing 3 burglary suspects before they ran a red light and crashed, killing a City of Sugar Land employee. Details in minutes on KPRC 2 at 10. 🎥: kev_tinez pic.twitter.com/17nlQ1CB7p
The innocent driver, later identified as Aponte, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Surveillance video shared by a neighbor shows what appeared to be a Toyota Highlander speeding away from the house with the trunk still open as a bag falls into the street.
“Officers were trying to do their job, you know, apprehending two felony criminal suspects and the loss of life is certainly tragic,” said Lt. Jeff York with the Missouri City Police Department.
Missouri City PD are now reviewing the pursuit, as they do with all pursuits. But it’s too early if Aponte’s death would result in any policy changes.
The driver and two passengers inside the suspect vehicle were all taken to hospitals for injuries sustained in the crash, police said.
The second suspect vehicle was stopped in Houston and the driver was taken into custody.
The suspects could possibly face murder charges.
Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — State lawmakers are set to discuss a bill Tuesday dealing with transportation across the state, specifically the Interstate-4 corridor between Tampa and Orlando.
In November, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said there will be a Brightline high-speed train that will connect the two cities by the end of the decade.
The state legislature is doing its part to make that happen.
A Senate committee on transportation will discuss Senate Bill 1226 on Tuesday.
It would require the department of transportation to preserve a rail corridor along I-4 between the two cities.
The bill says it’s in the interest of the state and travelers to extend the rail service to the west coast.
In 2022, Brightline received a $15.9 million federal grant toward the preliminary engineering for the 67-mile Tampa-Orlando connection.
And, according to the Tampa Bay Times, in December 2023, the Florida Department of Transportation got $500,000 from the federal government to study the rail corridor from Orlando to Tampa.
A Tampa extension is expected to include stops at the Orange County Convention Center and likely another along International Drive.
