Top Miami Area Local News Stories
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<p> Rain pounded parts of Miami-Dade County Tuesday, flooding streets and sidewalks and coming close to homes.</p><p> Wednesday promises more of the same.</p><p> VIEWER PHOTOS: Stormy South Florida</p><p> Forecast, Radar: JustWeather.com</p><p> Some residents trudged through the water on foot because some cars just couldn't make it on the roads.</p><p> "The water came up and the car turned off," one Sweetwater resident told Local 10's Ben Kennedy.</p><p> Tow trucks plucked cars from the wet roads after flooded engines put the brakes on the drive home.</p><p> Even city workers had their hands full putting up warning signs.</p><p> A total of 9.7 inches of rain fell at Miami International Airport, setting a new maximum daily rainfall record. </p><p> A funnel cloud was spotted just west of the Sawgrass Expressway between West Atlantic Boulevard and West Sample Road a little before 2 p.m.</p><p> So far this month, all but seven days have seen rainfall recorded at Miami International Airport.</p>
Published: Wed, 23 May 2012 15:40:14 GMT
Check out this slideshow for a quick look at today's weather forecast.
Published: Wed, 23 May 2012 15:29:39 GMT
Mother Nature has hit South Florida with a few storms, and residents are now dealing with floods. Check out this slideshow to take a look at pictures sent to us by you, Local 10 viewers.
Published: Wed, 23 May 2012 14:52:18 GMT
<p> Divers are set to go back in the water Wednesday as the search for a missing Miramar mother of three continues.</p><p> Villet Torrez has been missing for 53 days. She was last seen March 30th after she dropped of her children with her estranged husband and went to dinner with a male co-worker.</p><p> Police have used K-9s on prior searches in area parks, lakes and canals in hopes of finding some sign of Torrez. However, they said that was part of a grid search in a routine investigation, not a follow-up to a specific tip.</p><p> Torrez's estranged husband, Cid Torrez, is a person of interest in the case. </p><p> In April, he lost custody of the couple's children.</p>
Published: Wed, 23 May 2012 14:09:17 GMT
<p> One person was found dead inside a house following a fire at a home in Northwest Miami-Dade County Wednesday morning.</p><p> The fire happened at 3080 N.W. 63rd St.</p><p> Police were conducting a room to room search after the fire was put out, when they found the body. </p><p> The cause of the fire and circumstances around the victim's death are still under investigation.</p><p> The victim's identity has not yet been released.</p>
Published: Wed, 23 May 2012 14:57:26 GMT
<p> The scoreboard at Marlins Ballpark is working again after a grand slam home run by Giancarlo Stanton temporarily knocked it out Monday.</p><p> Stanton’s monster home run in the fourth inning Monday night definitely knocked out the Colorado Rockies who lost a lead they wouldn't recover.</p><p> "When he hit the ball, fans were standing up, you knew it was going right away. He hit a rocket," said Larry Blocker, the Marlins’ Director of Game Presentation who manages the scoreboards and content displayed on the big screens. Blocker said his excitement over the grand slam quickly turned to panic when he realized a giant section of the LED panel was dark.</p><p> "That board is primarily put in for the fans that can’t see the main scoreboard -- fans sitting in the home run porch out in right field -- so they can get all the statistically information that baseball fans want to have," Blocker said.</p><p> The 20 by 50 foot big screen is perched high above left field, a place that's generally safe from most home runs, but not Stanton's 438-foot bomb.</p><p> Local 10's Roger Lohse climbed up to see for himself just how grand of slam it was and found out it was a lucky shot, for the scoreboard.</p><p> Field service engineer Bryan Clark says the ball just knocked out one of the cables that feeds data to the multi panel screen.</p><p> So it was an easy fix?" Lohse asked. </p><p> "Yep, it took us two minutes. Once we found it, we plugged it in and we were good," Clark replied.</p><p> Stanton has a well deserved reputation as one of the leagues power hitters and the 22-year-old makes no apologies for putting a few dings in the Marlins new stadium.</p><p> "I mean, they put it up there as a target, past left field, so if it’s going to be up there, it’s going to be hit," Stanton told Lohse.</p><p> For MORE Miami Marlins news ... Click here.</p>
Published: Wed, 23 May 2012 14:40:26 GMT
<p> A reported arrest quota for Memorial Day weekend is causing anger and concern among community activists and union officers in Miami Beach.</p><p> Rumors of the quota, which allegedly calls for 2,000 people to be arrested over the holiday weekend, first came to light in an email complaint from the officers' union. In that email, the union called the quota "aggressive, patently unfair, and unjust."</p><p> Police Chief Raymond Martinez has denied the reports, saying in an email to Local 10, "I want to be clear, there is no arrest quota for Memorial Day weekend or any other day on Miami Beach."</p><p> But the ACLU is also concerned, especially when it comes to protecting civil rights.</p><p> "This is a big mistake they're making," said ACLU attorney Howard Simon. "Their goal should be zero arrests, not two thousand arrests. If police are going to use arrests not as a last resort, but as a first resort they're going to make the situation worse."</p><p> They also said police need to use "professional training" to diffuse situations rather than arrest party-goers as a first response.</p>
Published: Wed, 23 May 2012 10:21:47 GMT
See this week's gorgeous furry friends waiting at the Humane Society of Broward County to find a caring home.
Published: Tue, 22 May 2012 18:52:21 GMT
<p> A Fort Lauderdale entrepreneur who imagined himself in the entertainment industry now runs a website providing straight, male escorts to interested women.</p><p> "From a young age, I always wanted to be an actor or just some form of entertainment. So it ended up that I am in the entertainment business," said Garren James.</p><p> VIDEO: Part I | Part II</p><p> Four years ago, the former model found his calling when he started the website Cowboys 4 Angels.</p><p> "Male escort companions are very big in Europe and there was nothing down here that offered straight men for women," said James.</p><p> Into the spotlight</p><p> An appearance on the Tyra Banks Show propelled Cowboys 4 Angels into the national spotlight.</p><p> "I never thought it was gonna take off like this," said James.</p><p> James now represents 40 male escorts in New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Las Vegas, and most recently, South Florida.</p><p> "The men are available for functions, corporate events, weddings, or just an intimate evening of dinner and drinks and dancing," said James.</p><p> Meet the men</p><p> Tommy and Doug have been with the agency for a little more than a year.</p><p> "I went on an appointment and it was like I was a natural born gigolo," said Tommy, 35. "I got to church on Sundays. I'm a spiritual person. Love making people happy and I love women."</p><p> "It's great. It's definitely a great income and it's really a lot of fun, too. I totally enjoy it," said Doug, 31.</p><p> The dates</p><p> What keeps the business legitimate and legal is the underlying contract which states that the women are paying a flat fee for companionship, not sex.</p><p> "The men have strict rules and guidelines that they follow and so are the clients," said James. "Escort agencies are legal in the United States. It is legal to charge somebody for your time and companionship."</p><p> But what happens if sparks fly?</p><p> "If something happens romantically, it's because two consenting adults wanted for that to happen," said James.</p><p> And it does happen.</p><p> "It's only natural you're going to get close with the client," said Tommy.</p><p> The pay</p><p> But at the end of the day, the escorts said it's just a job that pays well.</p><p> "About $10,000 a month. That's definitely fair," said Doug.</p><p> Commanding that kind of money takes more than good looks. The man have to be intelligent, humorous, engaging, and attentive.</p><p> "I need to find somebody who can instantly make somebody feel comfortable," said James.</p><p> The customers</p><p> Many of the clients are repeat customers.</p><p> "It's anywhere from a young girl wanted to have fun to a little older woman wanting to have a relaxing time and get treated amazing," said Doug.</p><p> For Heather Smith, it's a good time with no strings attached.</p><p> "I know they aren't going to call. I don't want them to call. I know that whatever I say is what I say and you know they like it or they don't. I don't care," said Smith.</p><p> The perks</p><p> Tommy and Doug both know there's an end to their escort days, but for now, they're enjoying the perks of getting paid to date women.</p><p> "I really love the time it's freed me up to see my daughter on a daily basis. That I love," said Tommy.</p><p> "I'm just going to do it until I don't want to do it anymore," said Doug.</p><p> The cost of the Cowboys 4 Angels service ranges from $1,000 for four hours to $15,000 for a week.</p>
Published: Wed, 23 May 2012 04:18:22 GMT
<p> He already has a Super Bowl ring, and now football star Donald Driver can add the "Dancing With the Stars" mirrorball trophy to his awards collection.</p><p> The Green Bay Packers receiver won the ABC dance show Tuesday. He and partner Peta Murgatroyd hoisted the glittery prize above their heads as streamers and confetti filled the ballroom.</p><p> Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins came in second place and Cuban actor William Levy finished third.</p><p> All three finalists earned perfect scores for their final performances Tuesday. Judges' scores combined with viewer votes determined the winner.</p>
Published: Wed, 23 May 2012 03:10:49 GMT
Jewel, who is marking her 38th birthday May 23, is just one of several celebrities who go by one name. In honor of the Alaskan songstress, take a look at other stars who are too big for a last name.
Published: Wed, 23 May 2012 06:00:00 GMT
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