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Broward resident takes the ultimate as finalist in Netflix’s ‘Squid Game: The Challenge’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:50 GMT

“Squid Game: The Challenge is one of the hottest game shows on TV. And the series finale is happening this week with very big bucks on the line.Deco caught up with a contestant from South Florida who could be Netflix’s $4.5 million point man. What would you do for over $4.5 million?If you were Sam Wells on the new Netflix reality competition show “Squid Game: The Challenge,” it would be everything, right.Sam Wells: “It’s the hardest and most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.”After all, that’s why the Broward County resident is sitting all swanky in a fancy tux, as one of only three finalists out of 456.Sam Wells: “It’s still sinking in because I feel like just a normal guy and people keep coming up to me at the airport or at the mall, and they’re waving at me.”Sam, or player 16, made it, tooth and nail, to the series finale, which drops on the streamer this Wednesday. Sam Wells: “I wasn’t really ...

Mother of transgender Monarch High School student releases statement amid controversy, investigation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:50 GMT

The mother of a transgender student at Monarch High School in Coconut Creek responded to a controversy surrounding her daughter who plays for the school’s volleyball team. A statement was released by the mother of the child several days after her child was taken off the team, saying that the outing of a transgender student, specifically a child, is a direct attempt to endanger them. Hundreds of Monarch High School students walked out of class last week after the reassignment of their principal and school officials because a transgender student was allowed to play on the girls’ volleyball team. “I walked out because I support trans students,” said student Jessica Kromphold. “A lot of students are upset. Mr. Cecil was a great principal.”Florida State law prohibits transgender girls and women from playing on public school teams intended for student-athletes identified as girls at birth.The reassigned coach, Jessica Norton sent a statement to 7News sa...

As Red Sox seek pitching, Craig Breslow hopes to produce more homegrown arms too

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:50 GMT

NASHVILLE — While the Red Sox have yet to make a major move, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said Monday the club’s top priority this offseason remains bolstering the starting rotation.They could add starters through free agency, through a trade, or both. They could add two starters, just one, or even three or more. If they go the free agent route, Breslow said they’re comfortable making the kind of investment it will take to land a big fish. If they go for a trade, they’re also willing to part with some of their top position player prospects if it means reeling in someone with multiple years of team control.Given Boston’s roster situation, those potential external reinforcements are likely to make the biggest impact, but Breslow also made it clear he hopes the Red Sox can start producing more internal reinforcements as well.Since starting with the Red Sox in late October, Breslow has already taken meaningful steps to revamp the organization’s pitc...

New England Aquarium treats over 200 hypothermic, cold-stunned sea turtles

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:50 GMT

The New England Aquarium has taken in over 200 hypothermic or cold-stunned sea turtles that have washed up on Massachusetts shores this “stranding season,” Aquarium officials said.“This sea turtle stranding season has gotten off to a later start than the past few years,” said Aquarium Director of Rescue and Rehabilitation Adam Kennedy. “Whether it is 1 or 100 turtles in a given day, our team at the New England Aquarium is ready to help give these turtles the best shot of being returned home.”Turtles began to strand on Cape Cod in early November, and so far this year, Aquarium staffers have treated 189 critically endangered Kemp’s ridley turtles, 19 green turtles, and six loggerheads. Numbers are “ramping up,” Kennedy said, with 134 taken in in the last five days.Stranding season occurs annually from fall to early winter as many sea turtles fail to escape Cape Cod Bay before becoming hypothermic due to falling temperatures and wind patt...

Cougar at Massachusetts zoo is euthanized after suffering from seizures: ‘Heartbroken’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:50 GMT

A cougar that has been an “incredible presence” at a local zoo for almost a decade has died, according to Zoo New England’s Stone Zoo.Blue the cougar was euthanized over the weekend after he reportedly suffered multiple seizures, and he was no longer responding to medication. Blue was 9 years old.“We are completely heartbroken to share this news about Blue,” said John Linehan, Zoo New England’s president and CEO. “He has been an incredible presence at Stone Zoo since he arrived as a very young cub.“Guests had the opportunity to watch Blue grow up, and we know there are many people who love him as much as we do,” Linehan added. “This is an incredibly sad day, and we appreciate everyone who is keeping our animal care team in their thoughts.”Blue began experiencing seizures several months ago and had responded well to treatment, according to staff at the Stoneham zoo.But within his final 24 hours, Blue experienced multip...

David Ross reflects on magical season, career with Chicago Cubs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:50 GMT

Former Chicago Cubs catcher turned manager David Ross relived the magic of the 2016 World Series championship for a large crowd of avid fans Sunday at the Purdue University Northwest Sinai Forum lecture series.Less than a handful in the Westville crowd admitted to being White Sox fans.“I’ve got stories for days,” Ross told former MLB pitcher Dan Plesac in their conversation on stage.“The buzz in the city when we won the World Series was palpable,” Ross said. “It’s a unique stadium, the neighborhood, the city, it’s a special place.”“The fan base, how they treat you when you walk down the street,” is incredible, he said.Ross got a standing ovation when fans recognized him as he walked into a restaurant. “You guys know I suck, right?,” he said he felt.In 2016, Ross was one of the team’s heavy hitters. As catcher, he watched the games unfold from a perspective few players get. Catchers get to see the who...

Boston city councilor rejects opposing panel on immigrant voting rights proposal, Republican leader says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:50 GMT

A local Republican leader says a progressive Boston city councilor reneged on her promise to allow a panel of opponents to testify at an upcoming hearing weighing voting rights for immigrants with “legal status” but without full citizenship.Kendra Lara, the city councilor pushing for the policy change, said that’s not the case — her commitment, she said, was to allow time for the opponent to speak during public testimony in the first hour of a Tuesday afternoon Council hearing.The matter stems from an exchange on WBZ NewsRadio’s “Nightside with Dan Rea,” where Lara, a progressive Democrat, was a guest last Thursday. Lou Murray, former chairman of Ward 20 Republican Committee of West Roxbury, called into the program to ask whether Lara would “allow someone who’s in opposition to put a panel together and testify” against her proposed home rule petition.“What happens, people that don’t know, politicians in Massachusetts hold a hearing,” Murray said on the radio segment. “They stack the...

14-year-old student stabbed near San Diego High School

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:50 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A 14-year-old was stabbed Monday near San Diego High School, authorities said.The stabbing occurred around 11:15 a.m. at 1400 Park Blvd., located across the street from San Diego High School, in the East Village neighborhood, San Diego Fire-Rescue Department told FOX 5.The victim, who school officials say was a San Diego High student, was taken to a hospital, where their condition is unknown.There are no details on the suspect besides that they are a juvenile, per San Diego police. Teen dies at San Diego border after crossing from Mexico: CBP San Diego High Principal Francisca Del Carmen sent a letter Monday to students, families and staff that "an altercation occurred off campus that resulted in the injury to one of our students," with school police continuing to support students and staff. "The safety and security of our students is the district’s top priority. Our School Police work with educators every day to ensure that they have a safe learning environment. I’ve...

Photographs capture humpback whale’s Seattle visit, breaching in waters in front of Space Needle

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:50 GMT

Seattle (AP) — Pictures released by a conservation group show a young humpback whale breaching in front of the Space Needle as it visited the waters off Seattle last week, capturing a rare display of wildlife next to a major city.The photos were also used to gauge the general health of the whale and create a serial identification number that will help researchers keep track of the young marine mammal. This young whale, which is estimated to be about two years old, now has the designation of CRC-20899, according to Cascadia Research Collective. The photos were taken by Jeff Hogan, co-coordinator of the Seattle-branch of Soundwatch Boater Education Program. Hogan shadowed the whale for most of its time in the bay to alert other vessels to it. Hogan said the whale looked healthy and watched it breach nearly 30 times.Soundwatch has been operating off the San Juan Islands, where orcas are commonly found, for more than 30 years. The Seattle wing of the program debuted this past August wit...

B.C. community prepares to stickhandle removal of world’s largest hockey stick

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:50 GMT

DUNCAN, B.C. — Vancouver Island’s Cowichan Valley Regional District wants to know who is willing to take a shot at owning the world’s largest hockey stick.It says the more than 62-metre wooden stick and puck that has been attached to the east side of the Cowichan Community Centre in Duncan for the past 35 years needs more than a new tape job.The regional district says the glue structure holding the giant Douglas fir replica stick together has decayed and must be removed to protect public safety.The district says a public survey about the future of the stick found few respondents calling for efforts to repair or replace the prominent landmark, which was originally constructed for Expo 86 in Vancouver.The district says its goal now is to seek expressions of interest from community organizations or individuals looking to make use of a large hockey stick.Tom Duncan, the acting chair of the Cowichan Core Recreation Commission, says in a statement that the stick has been a com...