Two dead, 30 injured at bus accident at MIA




















One male passenger was instantly killed and a second person died from injures after the top of a motor coach bus entering Miami International Airport smashed into an overpass at the airport’s arrivals entrance Saturday morning.

Thirty others were transported by ambulance to the Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Four of those were in critical condition, including the second passenger who died.

The male driver of the bus, who has not been identified, was not injured and did not require medical treatment, said Lt. Arnold Piedrahita a Miami-Dade Fire Rescue spokesman.





The accident, which happened at about 8 a.m., brought traffic in and out of the airport to a halt and authorities scrambled to rescue passengers trapped inside the large white bus, which was carrying 32 people.

The identities of the two dead passengers were not immediately released but authorities removed the body of a male passenger at about 11 a.m. A white Miami-Dade County van arrived at the scene about 10 minutes later to pick up the body.

Three people placed the body in a clear plastic bag, as six police officers used yellow plastic to block the view from arriving travelers. Two men carried the body off the bus at 11:20 a.m.

Piedrahita said the male passenger who died was sitting near the front of the bus. He was dead when emergency personnel arrived. The gender of the second dead passenger was not immediately released.

The front of the bus was so badly damaged that emergency personnel could not get inside through the front door. Instead, they used a Jaws of Life to cut a hole on the side of the bus, toward the rear, to remove the victims, Piedrahita said.

Many of those who were hurt suffered "major injuries," said Greg Chin, an airport spokesman.

According to public records, the bus belongs to Miami Bus Service Corporation, a Miami company owned by Mayling and Alberto Hernandez.

Mayling Hernandez, reached on her cell phone shortly after noon Saturday, to comment.

"I'm too busy dealing with this to talk at the moment," she said at 12:25 p.m. "I don't have time to talk about this at the time."

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the company has two drivers for its three passenger motor coaches.

The company had no unsafe driving or controlled substances violations based on a 24-month record ending on Oct. 26, 2012.

However, the company scored a 92.2 percent in the fatigued driving category, which means it exceeded the federal safety threshold based on roadside data or it has been cited with one or more serious violations in the past year.

At MIA, about a dozen fire trucks and six ambulances blocked the airport entrance, and traffic entering the airport was delayed by about 30 to 40 minutes. Although no flights were affected or delayed, traffic was tied up. Only one lane on the lower level arrivals entrance remained open through mid-day.

The departures entrance, on the upper level, was not blocked, but there was a long delay for many getting to or leaving the airport.

Pedro Gomez, a taxi driver, was among those stuck in traffic.

"We have been waiting three hours waiting to leave," he said.

People arriving from their flights were peeking from their windows to get a view of the scene. On the first floor, in arrivals, the crashed white bus remained on site with the top missing over the driver’s seat. Shattered glass covered the floor.

The back side emergency door was missing and a bus chair lay on the ground, as well as luggage, which had been packed into the lower level of the bus.

A large yellow sign warns drivers that the vehicles exceeding 8'6" cannot pass through, said Piedrahita, the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue spokesman, adding that he did not know the height of the bus.

"You would think the driver should have know his bus was too high," Susan Lillis said, who flying in from Baltimore. "You would think he would have been here before."

Peter Beltre, a taxi driver, speculated that the bus driver miscalculated the height of the overpass in the arrivals area.

"I have seen buses that are too high have a section to drop people off," Beltre said. "There are yellow signs with warnings."

Hernan Garcia, who works at the airport, guiding cruise ship tourists to buses taking them to the Port of Miami, said: "It’s clear that the driver was not familiar with the airport. There are designated routes for these type of buses and it is prohibited to speed in this area."

Only taxi drivers were allowed in the arrivals lanes as of mid-morning. Traffic homicide detectives were still at the scene, measuring the area and collecting evidence.

Among some of the arriving tourists who spotted the crash scene was three-year-old Edwin Aparicio of Bogota, Colombia.

"Wow, like a can of sardines," he said in Spanish, referring to the top of the bus, which bended like an accordion as it hit the iron ceiling.





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The Kids Are All Right: How Social Media Created a Generation of Activists












This week marked the nation’s inaugural  “Giving Tuesday,” a UN sponsored initiative, which utilized social media to encourage businesses, schools, and community members to give back. The effort resulted in $ 10 million worth of donations made in a single day, a 53 percent increase over the same day last year.


Conceived as a means to promote activism and charity, the campaign’s use of social media to spread its message is most likely a large part of the initiative’s success. 












Certainly people from every age group use Twitter and Facebook, but social media activism is especially resonant with young adults. According to TBWA, people between the ages of 18-29 strongly identify as activists and count social media as their first point of engagement when they learn about a new cause.


MORE: ‘Tis Always the Season to Give: Creating a Corporate Culture That Gives Back


In fact, about half believe that activism is important to their personal identity and about a third look to it as a means of socializing and relating to one another.


But more than identifying with activism, this younger generation’s aptitude for social media can effect real change. Look at the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Earlier this year, when the organization announced it would pull its funding for breast cancer screenings from Planned Parenthood, cutting off medical access for millions of women, Twitter and Facebook lit up with vitriolic statements, claiming the organization had become a puppet of the religious right. The ensuing bad press proved to be too much and within days, the organization reversed its decision and issued a public apology.


Similarly, when Florida law enforcement officials refused to arrest George Zimmerman after he fatally shot Trayvon Martin, the case lay dormant for almost a month. But an online petition started by Martin’s parents went viral and galvanized a nation demanding justice for the boy’s death. Zimmerman was arrested and charged as a result.


For all we hear about “kids these days” and their irresponsible use of social media−posting questionable pictures of themselves doing kegstands or letting Twitter corrode their ability to hold a thought for more than a nanosecond−it turns out that most are using it to express a genuine passion for changing the world around them. And they’re succeeding.


And these trends extend well beyond the U.S. That same age group in other countries shows similar interests in contributing to larger causes. China’s young adults for instance, lead the world in online political discussions and offline they donate the most money to charities. India’s younger generation ranks the first in the world when it comes to staying informed, and they’re the most optimistic about the impact their activism has on the world around them.


It seems that our youngest generation of adults are the ones leading the charge when it comes to effectively making a difference.


Do you consider yourself an activist? Let us know in the Comments what social causes inspire you to get involved.


Related Stories on TakePart:


• Secret Santas: Profiles in Anonymous Holiday Generosity


• Rwanda Genocide Survivor Wins Grant for Giving Back


• 40 U.S. Billionaires Pledge Half of Fortunes to Charity



A Bay Area native, Andri Antoniades previously worked as a fashion industry journalist and medical writer.  In addition to reporting the weekend news on TakePart, she volunteers as a webeditor for locally-based nonprofits and works as a freelance feature writer for TimeOutLA.com. Email Andri | @andritweets | TakePart.com


Social Media News Headlines – Yahoo! News


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Buzzmakers: AJ is a Dad and Angus Apologizes

What had ET readers buzzing this week?

1. Charges Filed Against Lindsay Lohan

California prosecutors have officially filed charges against Lindsay Lohan.

The charges, which include willfully resisting, obstructing, or delaying an officer in the course of their duties, supplying false information to a police officer and reckless driving, stem from the car accident Lohan was involved in last June when she crashed her Porsche into the back of a dump truck on the Pacific Coast Highway.

All three charges are misdemeanors, and no court date has been set at this time.

The accident in June occurred when she was on her way to the set of Liz & Dick. According to The Los Angeles Times, Santa Monica prosecutors had been weighing charges against Lohan for weeks after police said they found evidence she lied when she claimed she was not behind the wheel of her Porsche.

The charges come just hours after Lohan was arrested early Thursday morning after a brawl broke out at a New York City nightclub. Lohan was arrested for allegedly punching a female patron at Club Avenue, and is facing third degree assault charges from the incident.

2. Nancy O'Dell Launches New App

ET host Nancy O'Dell is combining her love of two things -- reporting and kids -- by launching a new storybook app on iTunes.

The highly interactive app features a holiday theme and uses the story and games to educate users. The voice of Arty the cameraman is provided by Bryson Foster, the Muscular Dystrophy Association's National Goodwill Ambassador, and a portion of the proceeds will go to the MDA.

Nancy says of her endeavor, "As the host of Entertainment Tonight, one of the things I love most about my job is how much I learn by meeting interesting people and going to so many different places. So, I thought, how fun it would be for little kids to do that too! Obviously, they can't travel the world in reality by themselves, but they can via an app."

Nancy discloses, "Every app is a magical story as Ashby and her FUNtastic crew go on their adventures. And what better first assignment for a little reporter to cover than Santa's Big Premiere on Christmas Eve. Little Ashby files her report on what the Holiday Spirit is all about!"

Check out the app, available just in time for the holidays, here.

3. Backstreet Boy AJ McLean Welcomes Baby Girl

Backstreet Boy AJ McLean and wife, makeup artist Rochelle Deanna Karidis, had their first child together on Tuesday, In Touch reports.

According to the news source, the couple welcomed a baby girl named Ava Jaymes.

"We are all doing well and are thrilled to welcome Ava to the world," said the singer, 34.

Ava was born weighing 7 lbs. and 7 oz., according to In Touch.

AJ and Rochelle made their pregnancy announcement just four months after their Beverly Hills wedding.

AJ announced the baby's gender and name via Twitter in July.

4. Angus T. Jones Apologizes For 'Men' Remarks

In a self-written statement obtained by ET, Two and a Half Men star Angus T.

Jones breaks his silence on controversial remarks made by the actor about the series in a video testimonial for Forerunner Christian Church.

In the note, Jones apologizes for harm he might have caused to his colleagues for labeling the popular CBS show as "filth" and in urging viewers not to watch. He writes:

I have been the subject of much discussion, speculation and commentary over the past 24 hours. While I cannot address everything that has been said or right every misstatement or misunderstanding, there is one thing I want to make clear.

Without qualification, I am grateful to and have the highest regard and respect for all of the wonderful people on 'Two and Half Men' with whom I have worked and over the past ten years who have become an extension of my family.

Chuck Lorre, Peter Roth and many others at Warner Bros. and CBS are responsible for what has been one of the most significant experiences in my life to date. I thank them for the opportunity they have given and continue to give me and the help and guidance I have and expect to continue to receive from them.

I also want all of the crew and cast on our show to know how much I personally care for them and appreciate their support, guidance and love over the years. I grew up around them and know that the time they spent with me was in many instances more than with their own families. I learned life lessons from so many of them and will never forget how much positive impact they have had on my life.

I apologize if my remarks reflect me showing indifference to and disrespect of my colleagues and a lack of appreciation of the extraordinary opportunity of which I have been blessed. I never intended that.

The video in question shows Jones opening up about his conversations with God and how his new-found religious beliefs led him to stop doing drugs and leading a selfish life.

5. Bobbi Kristina in Crash That Sent Car Off the Road

Bobbi Kristina Brown was cited by police after being involved in a car accident Wednesday in which the vehicle left the road and traveled down an embankment.

Police in the Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta confirmed to ET that a passerby called 911 just before noon to report that the black Chevrolet Camaro had veered off the road and traveled through a wooded area striking trees before eventually coming to a stop.

"The investigation revealed the driver lost control and the vehicle left Beaver Creek Road on the east side and traveled down an embankment," a police statement said. Damage to the vehicle was described in the statement as "moderate."

Upon the initial arrival, officers say they found Bobbi Kristina standing beside the vehicle and she was uninjured. "Our officer completed an official accident report and issued a traffic citation to Ms. Brown for the offense of failure to maintain lane," the police statement said.

Bobbi Kristina appeared to address the accident Wednesday on Twitter.

"My#PersonalGuardianAngel thankumommiss&loveumre u'lleverkno. NotAScratch&ok Wow,PraiseGod. @nickdgordon #SeriousChangeswithinME," she wrote.

She also tweeted: "#LETMELIVE without YOUppl crucifying me?! OH, yes now I remember .. YOUppl did the SAME DAMN THING2 JESUS.& he overcame you ALL. #NOWWATCH."

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Brooklyn Bridge 'vandal' may have stolen Calvin Klein poster from art gallery








Cops are investigating whether a grafitti artist busted yesterday for vandalizing the Brooklyn Bridge swiped an expensive Calvin Klein poster from a Manhattan art gallery, police sources said.

Enno Tianen, 32, of Queens was arrested about 1 p.m. for allegedly spraypainting the tag tag “LEWY” on the midspan part of the bridge on June 25, cops said.

Sergeant Kevin Cooper and Detective Nino Navarra, who work in the transit bureau, recognized Tianen’s tag from his previous arrests, and collared him, authorities said.

Police are eyeing whether he is responsible for stealing the poster, valued at $100,000 from an art gallery at 40 West 23rd Street in August 2011.



He was charged with criminal mischief, making graffiti, criminal trespass and possession of a grafitti instrument for the Brooklyn Bridge incident.

It cost $8,000 to repair and clean the New York City icon, cops added.










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Boat Show may block Miami’s 2016 Super Bowl bid




















This winter, the biggest NFL match-up in South Florida might be Super Bowl versus Boat Show.

As South Florida readies a bid for the 2016 Super Bowl, it must contend with a major potential conflict on the tourism calendar. The National Football League may move the Super Bowl to Presidents’ Day weekend, already home to the five-day Miami International Boat Show since the 1940s.

It’s a significant enough conflict that, in the past, local tourism officials have declined to pursue a Super Bowl if it fell on boat show weekend. But this time around they may have no choice. For the first time, the NFL is requiring that potential host cities agree to a Presidents’ Day weekend Super Bowl if they want to pursue the big game at all, said two people who have seen the NFL request for Super Bowl bids.





The NFL “invited South Florida [to bid] knowing there was going to be an issue with Presidents’ Day weekend and the boat show,” said Nicki Grossman, Broward’s tourism director. “In the past, South Florida has not responded to a Super Bowl date that included Presidents’ Day weekend. This package is different.”

South Florida vies with New Orleans as the top Super Bowl host, with government and tourism leaders touting the game as both a boon to the economy and a publicity bonanza. But the notion of accommodating both Super Bowl and boat show — not to mention a major arts festival in Coconut Grove — strikes some top tourism officials as a bad idea.

“There is not sufficient hotel inventory available in Miami that weekend to host a Super Bowl,” said William Talbert, president of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We have taken a close look at that weekend, and it’s not physically possible in Miami to host Super Bowl during the Presidents’ Day weekend because of the boat show and the Coconut Grove Arts Festival. The hotel inventory is all being used for these two great events.”

His comments are at odds with the region’s top Super Bowl organizer and reflect the burden that the boat show may be to South Florida’s Super Bowl hopes for 2016 and 2017. The NFL invited Miami and San Francisco to bid for the 2016 Super Bowl by April 1, with the loser vying with Houston for the 2017 game. Talbert said the bid package states both decisions will be made in May.

For now, South Florida’s Super Bowl organizers face a largely hypothetical challenge, because the current NFL schedule has the Super Bowl occurring two weeks before Presidents’ Day weekend. The bid requirements for the ’16 and ’17 Super Bowls include three consecutive weekends as possibilities for the game, with the latest falling on the Presidents’ Day holiday.

Still, possible logistical hurdles may combine with political obstacles if the Miami Dolphins resume their push for a tax-funded renovation of Sun Life Stadium, the Super Bowl’s South Florida home.

Last year, the Dolphins proposed that Broward and Miami-Dade counties subsidize a $225 million renovation at Sun Life as a way to keep the region competitive for Super Bowls and other large events. The renovation includes a partial roof that would prevent the kind of drenching Super Bowl spectators suffered in 2007 when a rare February downpour hit Miami Gardens.





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Report on GOP shindig to remain sealed




















Floridians will have to wait a little longer for details of that golf cart full of prostitutes.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal on Friday ruled in favor of anonymous petitioners who want to block the release of investigative reports about a gathering in the Bahamas sponsored by the Republican Party of Florida when Jim Greer was chairman.

Greer faces trial in February for allegedly defrauding the party of about $200,000. Reports of the party and prostitutes surfaced during a pretrial hearing in the summer.





Orlando Judge Marc Lubet declared the reports public record in July after hearing objections from Orlando lawyer Richard E. Hornsby who said he wanted to spare his clients from being embarrassed.

Hornsby said the four-page police report is “defamatory’’ and “salacious and basically harassing in nature.’’ He would not identify the clients who want to keep it sealed.

Lubet read the report and then asked prosecutors if GOP lobbyist Brian Ballard, former party finance chair Harry Sergeant III, former party executive director Delmar Johnson and Dane Eagle, a former aide to Gov. Charlie Crist who was elected to the Florida House in November, would be called as witnesses in Greer’s criminal trial.

When Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Michael Williams said all but Eagle are slated to be witnesses, the judge ordered the report released because it is part of the evidence turned over to defense attorneys in the criminal case. Under Florida law documents given to a defendant are public record.

But in a brief unsigned opinion Fifth District Court of Appeal Chief Judge Richard B. Orfinger and Judges Thomas D. Sawaya and Bruce W. Jacobus said “the documents should not be disseminated and should remain confidential at this time.”

They did not address the use of the report at trial, saying they would leave that up to the trial judge.

Johnson was Greer’s top assistant but has been granted immunity in return for his testimony against Greer. In a deposition released last month, Johnson said prosecutors asked him about the Bahamas event.

Johnson described a golf cart filled with women he presumed to be prostitutes.

Other witnesses questioned in the Greer investigation say the former GOP chairman often had parties for men only and refused to allow women unless they were “paid.’’

Ballard and Eagle have denied knowing about prostitutes at the gathering, which was designed to thank donors who helped support a property tax amendment the party supported.





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Wanted Singer Wears 'Free Lindsay' Shirt

Just one night after it was reported that three of The Wanted band members were seen clubbing with Lindsay Lohan prior to her early morning arrest, 22-year-old Jay McGuiness wore a "Free Lindsay" shirt during the boy band's second New York City show opening for Justin Bieber at Madison Square Garden on Thursday evening.

Wanted member Max George, who was cited as being at the NYC nightclub Avenue with Lohan, 26, at the time of her arrest, sang alongside McGuiness as he showed off his DIY t-shirt.


RELATED: Charges Filed Against Lindsay Lohan

The Liz & Dick actress, who attended The Wanted's show at MSG on Wednesday, was arrested after a physical altercation with another woman on Thursday morning. It's been alleged that the incident may have been spurred on when a female began hitting on George, 24. The actress is facing third degree assault charges.


RELATED: Dina Lohan Speaks Out - EXCLUSIVE

Prior to her arrest, LiLo was seemingly in good spirits, tweeting on Wednesday night: "I love all of my fans and @justinbieber @thewanted fans!!! Thank you so much for putting a smile on my face!! Lots of love."

George also took to Twitter to document the evening, simply tweeting: "eventful night!!"

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Missouri mechanic and his wife named as one of two Powerball winners








DEARBORN, Mo. — A 52-year-old Missouri mechanic and his wife claimed their share Friday of the record $588 million Powerball jackpot.

Lottery officials sent a statement Friday announcing that Mark and Cindy Hill, of Dearborn, held one of two winning tickets for the nation's biggest Powerball jackpot.

The Hills will split the $588 million prize with whoever holds a winning ticket sold at a convenience store in suburban Phoenix. No one has come forward yet with the Arizona ticket, lottery officials said.

The $587.5 million payout, which represents the second-largest jackpot in U.S. history, set off a nationwide buying frenzy, with tickets at one point selling at nearly 130,000 per minute. Before Wednesday's winners, the jackpot had rolled over 16 consecutive times without someone hitting the jackpot.





REUTERS



The Trex Mart gas station in Dearborn, Missouri, where one of two winning tickets in a $587.5 million Powerball lottery was sold.





Lottery officials' announcement that the Hills had won only confirmed what many residents in Dearborn, a town of about 500 about 40 miles north of Kansas City, already knew. Lottery officials said Thursday that one winning ticket had been sold at a Trex Mart gas station and convenience store on the edge of town, and Mark Hill's name circulated quickly. While he and his wife did not speak to reporters, friends and relatives identified Mark Hill as the winner.

Myron Anderson, pastor of the Baptist Church in nearby Camden Point, said he heard Thursday that the Hills had won the huge lottery prize. Anderson said he has known Mark Hill since they attended high school together and that the couple have older children and a younger elementary school-age daughter.

"He's a really nice guy, and I know his wife, and they have this nice little adopted daughter that they went out of their way to adopt," Anderson said. Funeral services for Hill's father were at the Baptist church, but the family attends church elsewhere, he said.

"I hope it's good news for them," Anderson said. "I've heard awful horror stories about people who get all that money in their lap and how everybody treats them, and if you don't mind me saying, I mean just the fact that the press is going to be after them."

Kevin Bryan, a lifelong Dearborn resident, said the only other local lottery winner he could remember was a farmer who won about $100,000 in scratch-off game years ago "and bought himself a combine."

The winning ticket sold in Arizona was purchased at a 4 Sons Food Store in Fountain Hills near Phoenix, state lottery officials said.

In a Mega Millions drawing in March, three ticket buyers shared a $656 million jackpot, the largest lottery payout of all time.

Hill and the holder of the Arizona winning ticket have numerous decisions ahead, including how to accept their new wealth. The cash payout from the overall jackpot has been estimated at about $385 million, or about $192.5 million for each ticket. The winners can take their jackpots in lump sums or annual payments.










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California Pizza Kitchen brings prototype to Sawgrass Mills




















The restaurant chain that took barbecued chicken pizza mainstream is ready to push the culinary envelope again. How about a pizza topped with roasted Brussels sprouts and applewood smoked bacon or a Korean barbecue pizza with pork loin and spicy kimchee salad?

Innovative menu items are just one piece of what’s unique about California Pizza Kitchen’s new flagship restaurant unveiled Thursday at Sawgrass Mills in Sunrise. The first of its kind, the Sawgrass location aims to reinvigorate the brand that started in 1985 in Beverly Hills.

“The whole idea is about taking the best of what put us on the map and making it relevant for 2012 and beyond,” said G.J. Hart, who took over as chief executive officer of the chain just over a year ago. “Over the years the brand morphed from being a leader and it became a follower of food trends. We want to bring back the hip, cool feel.”





The changes are obvious from the moment you walk into the restaurant, which opens to the public Monday. The new look is all about focusing on the chain’s California roots. Very little of the bright yellow and chrome remains. The design is California-casual with earth tones and reclaimed wood everywhere from the walls to the floor and tables. An outdoor terrace with couches and fire pits is designed to encourage lingering. Large windows and glass doors let in lots of natural light and fold open to enjoy the weather.

Pizza is center stage with the kitchen designed so diners can watch the pizza makers at work. At the Sawgrass location — and by mid-2013 at all restaurants — pizzas will once again by hand-tossed. Currently the chain uses a pizza press to make the dough more uniform.

The new focus is on upping the culinary quotient across the board with dishes like a roasted beets and whipped goat cheese salad, plus a sweet pea carbonara featuring pea-filled pasta purses tossed with Italian pancetta and a Romano cream sauce. These are some of the unique items only on the Sawgrass menu, which also features a specialty menu of hand-crafted cocktails.

Chain-wide the company has actually slimmed the menu from more than 100 items to 74 in order to improve execution. But there are also more healthy choices like quinoa and arugula salad or a fire-roasted chile relleno stuffed with chicken, cheese, mushrooms, spinach and eggplant that dishes up at only 380 calories.

“As we grew, we didn’t keep up with the creativity on the menu and we tried to be all things to all people,” said Brian Sullivan, senior vice president of culinary innovation, who has been with the company for 24 years. “We’re always going to be pizza-centric. But we’ll continue to push the envelope with these specialty items that resonate with who we are. We don’t want items that you are going to see in other restaurants.”

The chain chose Sawgrass to unveil its new flagship location because of a combination of the area’s diverse demographic base and the influx of international visitors. South Florida has already been a strong market for the brand, which has seven locations in the tri-county area stretching from Coral Gables to Palm Beach Gardens.

The opening is the culmination of a new vision that began to take shape when Golden Gate Capital purchased California Pizza Kitchen in July 2011 for $470 million, taking the company private and bringing in Hart as the new chief executive.

“They saw a brand that was undervalued,” said Hart, who has an ownership stake in the chain. “This is an iconic brand with so much brand equity. If we can bring the excitement and enthusiasm back we’re only going to see it go up.”

Industry experts say the changes make sense because the brand still has a loyal following, although it has not kept pace with the competition.

“It’s a good time for them to go back to what were the fundamental things that made the brand so intriguing,” said Dennis Lombardi of WD Partners, a restaurant industry consultant. “The difficulty is going to be getting the word out to consumers that this is different. The devil is always in the details in these kind of evolutions.”

Based on consumer reaction, the plan is to take pieces of the Sunrise concept and introduce it into the chain’s other 268 existing restaurants. Some restaurants could be completely remodeled, but most will only get elements of the new prototype, which cost $2 million in Sunrise, Hart said. The company’s Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton locations could be strong candidates for remodeling next year or early 2014, he said.

Community and business leaders, who got a first look at the restaurant on Thursday, were impressed.

“This is phenomenal,” said Luanne Lenberg, general manager of Sawgrass Mills. “We’re so excited to have this caliber of restaurant and to be their test for the rest of the world.”





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Opera’s Second Act




















Laura Horton’s grandmother always dreamed of becoming an opera singer.

Today, Horton’s 10-year-old daughter, McCall, is living her great-grandmother’s deferred dream.

“My grandmother was a professional singer and she wanted to be in the opera,” said Laura Horton, an attorney who lives with her family in Coral Gables. “Though she passed away this year, when I hear the opera, I feel like I hear my grandmother’s voice. It’s very meaningful to me that my daughter is taking over her footsteps.”





McCall is one of 20 choristers ages 8 to 12 who are performing with the Florida Grand Opera in its production of Puccini’s La Bohème at the Adrienne Arsht Center and the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. The children are members of the Miami Children’s Chorus (MCC), based in Coral Gables and conducted by music director Timothy Sharp.

The chorus and opera have had a partnership for nearly 30 years, said Alejandra Serna, a spokesperson for the opera.

“Rehearsals with the children's chorus has been excellent and I have been very impressed with them,’’ said Ramon Tebar, conductor for La Bohème and music director of FGO.

The children are featured during Act II, which features lovers Mimì and Rodolfo and their friends at a Parisian café, amid street vendors, street urchins and crowds.

“Act II of La Bohème is always difficult,” Tebar said. “The music is very fast and they have to move and run on stage during the whole act while singing. It can prove difficult for the adult choristers, but for the children it's as easy as eating ice cream. It's a joy making music with them.’’

The children have become captivated by the art form.

“Whenever I talk about the opera at school no one really knows about it,” said Zelda Rosenberg, 9, a fourth grader at David Fairchild Elementary in Coral Gables. “Whenever I talk about it they really don’t take interest in it. They’re more into rock bands and sports.”

The children also are exposed to foreign languages. La Bohème is performed in Italian; subtitles are shown in English and Spanish.

“I get to sing in Italian, and that’s not something you get to do every day,” said Alejandra Vivanco, 11, who had one line to sing in the production.

“I’m excited and nervous, but mostly excited,” said Alejandra, a student at Jorge Mas Canosa Middle School, immediately before the Nov. 17th opening night performance at the Arsht.

Though she only had one line to sing, she practiced and practiced to perfect her part.

“At first I was not doing it so well, so I had to keep working until I got it right,” she said. “But, now I am confident about myself and I’ve been told that I’m doing it better.”

She has been a member of the Miami Children’s Chorus for three years; this is her first opera.

McCall, a fourth grader at Coral Gables Preparatory Academy, joined the Chorus in August and has fallen in love with the opera.

“I like the way the adults and the kids combine the singing,” she said. “Also, I like being on stage.”

For MCC business manager Viviana Liviero, the experience with FGO has been just as memorable. Though Liviero is now employed with MCC, she remembers when she would watch her own daughter perform at the opera.

“I was in the other side and then in the office,” Liviero said. “She was lucky to be chosen twice. This is just a phenomenal opportunity for the children.”





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Eva Longoria Stars In Baytown Outlaws Trailer

She's not on Wisteria Lane anymore! Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria hits the road in the new action film The Baytown Outlaws.

Longoria, 37, plays a woman who finds herself relying on three redneck brothers who agree to help her save her son from an abusive father. They then become targets on the run from an odd cast of characters.

Also starring Billy Bob Thornton, Vampire Diaries star Paul Wesley, Daniel Cudmore, Serinda Swan, and Natalie Martinez, Baytown Outlaws is scheduled to hit theaters in Jan. 2013.

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NJ allows menorahs in prisons for Hanukkah








TRENTON — Jewish inmates in New Jersey state prisons will be allowed to use menorahs for Hanukkah this year.

The state Corrections Department unveiled a Hanukkah policy this week. Corrections spokesman Matt Schuman says this is the first time there's a uniform policy.

Previously, most prisons were uncomfortable with allowing real candles. Now, authorized volunteer religious leaders or prison staff will light candles with inmates present.

Rabbi Zalman Grossbaum of the Rabbinical College of America-Lubavitch is praising the new policy, saying it shows the Corrections Department is sensitive to inmates' religious needs.



Hanukkah begins Dec. 8 this year.










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City National Bank of Florida and its Spanish parent have four years to evaluate the Miami bank’s future ownership




















City National Bank of Florida, the Miami bank purchased by Bankia (formerly Caja Madrid) of Spain in November 2008, said Wednesday that its parent has a “four-year window to evaluate alternatives” for the bank’s future ownership and will work closely with management in Miami during the process.

The Spanish government has reached and agreement with the European Union related to Spain’s financial system problems, which will result in a recapitalization of Bankia and other institutions, the bank said. The agreement calls for Bankia to sell non-core assets and its holdings outside of Spain so that Bankia will emerge with a solid capital position and be more focused on its core domestic business.

“Because City National Bank is so well capitalized, profitable and well positioned in the marketplace, we are going to take our time to fully evaluate all of our strategic alternatives,” City National Bank President and CEO Jorge Gonzalez said in a statement. “This does not impact our ongoing strategy of profitable growth and diversification or our commitment to the markets we serve. Our focus continues to be taking excellent care of our clients and employees. ”





City National, founded 65 years ago, has $4.32 billion in assets and 26 branches from Miami-Dade County to the greater Orlando area.

INA PAIVA CORDLE





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Sentencing postponed in hit-and-run that killed cyclist on Rickenbacker Causeway




















The sentencing for the man who pleaded guilty to hitting two cyclists on the Rickenbacker Causeway and leaving the scene has been rescheduled for Jan. 16. The later date was chosen to accommodate the defendant, the family of the victim and Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge William Thomas.

Judge Thomas was out earlier this month for a family emergency. He has also been nominated to become a federal judge in South Florida and is awaiting his Senate hearing.

In February, Michele Traverso, 26, was traveling north on the William Powell Bridge in his Honda when he hit Aaron Cohen and cycling partner Enda Walsh. Traverso left the scene.





Both cyclists were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital. Cohen died hours later.

Surveillance video and bar receipts show Traverso, who was on probation for cocaine charges, buying alcohol in Coconut Gove before driving home. He turned himself in to Miami Dade police the following day, but it was too late for a blood test to determine if he’d been drinking.

He pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident involving a death, leaving the scene of an accident with great bodily harm and driving with a suspended license. He faces a minimum 22.8 months, maximum 35 years in prison.

Cohen’s wife Patty, who was in court on Wednesday, said her husband was “a positive, loving person,” especially with their two young children. She said the family is leaving the sentencing decision up to the state prosecutor, but hopes that it will be severe enough to “send a message as a deterrent for similar crimes.”





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German lawmakers condemn Google campaign against copyright law












BERLIN (Reuters) – Senior German politicians have denounced as propaganda a campaign by Google to mobilize public opinion against proposed legislation to let publishers charge search engines for displaying newspaper articles.


Internet lobbyists say they are worried the German law will set a precedent for other countries such as France and Italy that have shown an interest in having Google pay publishers for the right to show their news snippets in its search results.












Lawmakers in Berlin will debate the bill in the Bundestag (lower house) on Thursday. Google says the law would make it harder for users to retrieve information via the Internet.


Google launched its campaign against the bill on Tuesday with advertisements in German newspapers and a web information site called “Defend your web”.


“Such a law would hit every Internet user in Germany,” Stefan Tweraser, country manager for Google Germany, said in a statement. “An ancillary copyright means less information for consumers and higher costs for companies.”


The campaign has caused outrage among some members of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s center-right coalition.


“The campaign initiated by Google is cheap propaganda,” said conservative lawmakers Guenter Krings and Ansgar Heveling.


“Under the guise of a supposed project for the freedom of the Internet, an attempt is being made to coopt its users for its own lobbying,” the two said in a statement.


Supporters of the law argue that newspaper publishers should be able to benefit from advertising revenues earned by search engines using their content.


Under the plans, publishers would get a bigger say over how their articles are used on the Internet and could charge search engines for showing articles or extracts.


German Justice Minister Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger, a member of the Free Democrats (FDP) who share power in Merkel’s government, said she was astonished that Google was trying to monopolize opinion-making. She is responsible for the law.


“PANIC MONGERING”


Germany’s newspaper industry, suffering from economic slowdown and keen to get its hands on any revenues it can, backs the plans and railed against Google’s campaign.


“The panic mongering from Google has no justification,” Germany’s BDZV newspaper association said in a statement.


“The argument from search engine companies that Internet searching and retrieval will be made more difficult is not serious. Private use, reading, following links and quoting will be possible, just as before.”


Internet lobbyists in Brussels fear the European Commission is sympathetic to publisher demands for a piece of Google’s profits online. Recent statements, they say, are proof.


“Consumers are not the only ones facing difficulties,” Michel Barnier, the EU’s internal market commissioner, said in a speech on November 7. “Think of newspaper publishers who see the content they produce being used by others to attract consumers on the net and generate advertising revenues.”


French newspapers and magazines want Google to pay them for linking to their articles on Google. The French government has named a mediator to negotiate with the press and Google to try to get a deal by the end of the year.


If no deal emerges, President Francois Hollande’s government will ask parliament to draft a law modifying copyright laws to protect the press from appropriation of its content online, according to a letter signed by two ministers on November 28.


(Additional reporting by Harro ten Wolde in Frankfurt, Claire Davenbport in Brussels and Leila Abboud in Paris; Writing by Madeline Chambers, Editing by Gareth Jones and)


Tech News Headlines – Yahoo! News


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Syfy

One word, one syllable, one million uses. Yes, I'm talking about "Frak" -- the expletive du jour for the men and women who populated Syfy's Emmy and Peabody Award winning series, Battlestar Galactica.

The word became so popular it not only appeared in a smattering of other TV shows (30 Rock, The Big Bang Theory, Veronica Mars, Castle) but also entered the vernacular of fans and non-fans alike.

RELATED - Katee Sackhoff & Tricia Helfer Bare All For Charity

The importance of "Frak" is a major talking point in the star-studded Syfy 20th Anniversary Special, airing December 10 at 9 p.m, as you can see in ETonline's exclusive clip featuring Jamie Bamber, Katee Sackhoff and Jane Espenson reveling in the iconic term.

PHOTO - In Praise of Fat Lee Adama

"Frak was the best invention, ever," Espenson says in the clip. "The thing I love about it is that you don't have to have fighter pilots going, 'Forget You!' 'Duck You!'" But for Sackhoff, who probably spouted the most "fraks" of all, the word presented a unique problem.

Watch ETonline's exclusive clip from Syfy 20th Anniversary Special above, and tune in on December 10 at 9 p.m. to see the stars of Battlestar Galactica, Farscape, Warehouse 13, Ghost Hunters and more look back at Syfy's launch, evolution and cultural impact!

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Sandy caused $37 billion in damage in NJ: Christie








TRENTON, NJ — Gov. Chris Christie says Superstorm Sandy caused $36.8 billion in damage in New Jersey.

Christie is requesting that amount, which is greater than his state's entire budget, from the federal government.

Christie says more than 30,000 homes or businesses were destroyed or sustained substantial damage from last month's storm.

The governor says the Federal Emergency Management Agency has distributed more than $500 million in aid since the storm and 230,000 New Jerseyans have registered for assistance.

The financial tally is higher than neighboring New York's. Earlier this week, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that Superstorm Sandy ran up a bill of $32 billion in his state.





AP



Chris Christie













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Gift ideas for the techie on your list




















The holidays are coming fast, and if you’re like me, you’ve probably gotten very little of your gift shopping done.

Here are suggestions for a variety of gifts for the techie and the not-so-techie people on your list.

Some of these items can be found in stores and some are only available online, but you should be able to order them in time for Christmas or Hanukkah.





IOMEGA EZ MEDIA & BACKUP CENTER

What is it? A hard drive that lives on your home network so you can share files, store all your photos and music and back up your home computers. Works on Macintosh, Windows and Linux computers.

The EZ Media & Backup Center is available in 1-, 2- and 3-terabyte capacities. It is simple to set up. It lives next to your home router and plugs into the network via Ethernet.

Major features include a built-in iTunes server so your music is available to all connected computers, Time Machine support for easy Macintosh backups and Iomega’s Personal Cloud to access your data from any Internet connection.

It can also stream your video files to your TV if you’ve got a compatible streaming box or an Internet-connected TV.

Software for backing up Windows PCs is also included.

Who’s it for? Any family that wants central storage for their digital lives. This is a great home for your digital photo, music or video library.

What does it cost? One terabyte for $169.99, two terabytes for $209.99, three terabytes for $279.99.

Where can you get it? Online at www.iomega.com, Amazon, Best Buy, Apple store, Fry’s.

NETATMO URBAN WEATHER STATION

What is it? A wireless indoor/outdoor weather station that displays through an application on your Apple or Android mobile device.

There are two parts, one that lives in your house and one you place outside.

The indoor component plugs into the wall and monitors the temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, carbon dioxide level and even the sound level in decibels.

The outdoor module is battery-powered and measures temperature and humidity.

Once you connect the Netatmo to your home Wi-Fi network, you can download the free app and see your weather stats from anywhere.

Setup was easy enough, and you can set the app to notify you when carbon dioxide rises to levels that you should be warned about — which is great.

Who’s it for? Weather geeks and people who like to know what the temperature is without having to fire up a browser.

What does it cost? $179

Where can you get it? www.netatmo.com

3M LED ADVANCED LIGHT

What is it? 3M’s first foray into the home light bulb market is with the LED Advanced Light, which uses light-emitting diodes (LED) to produce 800 lumens (the light of a 60-watt bulb).

The Advanced Light has a life span of 25 years and costs just $1.63 per year if it’s turned on for three hours per day.

The bulb lights instantly and is dimmable.

It’s a little intimidating to start buying light bulbs that might outlive me, but my wallet approves.

Who’s it for? Anyone who wants to save money or wants a bulb that might not have to be changed until 2035.

What does it cost? $25

Where can you get it? Select Wal-Mart stores. For more information, go to www.3mlighting.com/LED.

STEM IZON 2.0 WI-FI VIDEO MONITOR

What is it? A small, wireless video camera that you can monitor remotely with an iOS device.





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Defense in Rilya Wilson trial asks for mistrial based on prosecutor’s standing with Florida Bar




















The defense for Geralyn Graham, the foster mother accused of murdering 4-year-old Rilya Wilson a decade ago, asked for a mistrial Tuesday morning after a Miami Herald reader found that one of the prosecutors was not technically a member of the Florida Bar.

The trial is proceeding as usual, and Judge Marisa Tinkler-Mendez will rule on the mistrial by the end of the day.

Assistant state attorney Joshua Weintraub completed more than the required 30 hours of continuing education in August but failed to enter the correct course number, and the credits were not recognized by the Florida bar. A reader identified as “Bambie” commented on The Miami Herald article about the opening day of the trial, saying that according to the Florida Bar registry, Weintraub was not eligible to practice law. The reader’s concern was that “it would be a travesty for this case to proceed to verdict only to learn that the Assistant State Attorney had no authority to prosecute the case.”





Defense attorney Michael Matters asked for a mistrial based on Weintraub’s “individual participation in depositions of critical witnesses” and his presentation of himself as an assistant to state attorney Katherine Fernández Rundle.

“Whether he’s suspended for small or humongous violation, it’s still a suspension,” Matters said. “It’s absolutely inappropriate, unethical and wrong. There is no justification for someone practicing law without a license.”

Neither Weintraub nor the other two prosecutors on the case — one of whom is his mother — addressed the continuing education oversight. Don Horn, one of the chief assistants to the state attorney, said Weintraub was pulled from the trial Monday afternoon and temporarily suspended until his continuing education course credits could be straightened out. As of Tuesday morning, on the second day of the trial, Weintraub was reinstated and resumed his seat at the prosecutor’s table.

The trial resumed with Willie Harris, supervisor for the Department of Children and Families taking the stand. He was questioned on his decision to remove then 3-year-old Rilya Wilson from the home of her first foster mom, Pamela Kendrick, and place her in the care of Geralyn Graham, who is now standing trial for her murder.





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Nintendo says more than 400,000 Wii Us sold in US












NEW YORK (AP) — Nintendo has sold more than 400,000 of its new video game console, the Wii U, in its first week on sale in the U.S., the company said Monday.


The Wii U launched on Nov. 18 in the U.S. at a starting price of $ 300. Nintendo said the sales figure, based on internal estimates, is through Saturday, or seven days later.












The Wii U is the first major game console to launch in six years. It comes with a new touch-screen controller that promises to change how people play games by offering different people in the same room a different experience, depending on the controller used.


Six years ago, Nintendo Co. sold 475,000 of the original Wii in that console’s first seven days in stores, according to data from the NPD Group. The original Wii remains available, and Nintendo said it sold more than 300,000 of them last week, along with roughly 250,000 handheld Nintendo 3DS units and about 275,000 of the Nintendo DS.


At this early stage, demand isn’t the only factor dictating how many consoles are sold. Supply is, too. This means it’s likely that more people wanted to buy the Wii U in the first week than those who were able to. The original Wii was in short supply more than a year after it went on sale.


As of Monday afternoon, the website of Best Buy Co. was sold out of the Wii U. Video game retailer GameStop Corp. said there was at least a three day wait for a deluxe Wii U, which costs $ 350, has more memory and comes with a game called “Nintendo Land.” GameStop still had the basic, $ 300 version available.


Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter estimates that Nintendo will ship 1 million to 1.5 million Wii Us in the U.S. through the end of January.


Gaming News Headlines – Yahoo! News


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Freeloaders Trailer Debut

The boys from Super Troopers, Beerfest and Club Dread are back with Freeloaders, and ETonline has the exclusive first look at the trailer!

In addition to Broken Lizard (a comedy troupe comprised of Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Erik Stolhanske and Paul Soter), Freeloaders stars Olivia Munn, Nat Faxon, Jane Seymour, Dave Foley and Natalie Morales!

The hilarious new comedy revolves around a group of slackers who live for free in a rock star's mansion. But when the musician decides to sell his pad, their sweet lives are threatened and they're forced to dissuade every potential buyer through a series of increasingly extreme stunts.

Freeloaders hits VOD on December 11 and opens in theaters, January 2013.

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Record Powerball jackpot boosted to $500M








EPA



DES MOINES, Iowa — Get your ticket!

The record Powerball jackpot is now even bigger.

Powerball officials say they've boosted the jackpot for Wednesday's drawing to $500 million from the previously posted $425 million. Huge ticket sales nationally are pushing the payout higher.

A single winner choosing the cash payout will take home $327 million before taxes.

Record jackpots encourage players who usually sit on the sidelines to play and group purchases from work pools increase.

The jackpot is the largest ever for the Powerball game and the second largest lottery jackpot of all time, eclipsed only by the $656 million Mega Millions record set in March.











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Case-Shiller: Miami, U.S. home prices up again




















The good news keeps coming for housing.

Miami area home prices rose 7.4 percent in September from a year earlier, according to the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices.

Home prices in Miami inched up 0.1 percent in September from August, the report, issued by S&P Dow Jones Indices, said. Seasonally adjusted, Miami posted a 0.3 percent gain in home prices in September from August.





Miami, which was among the hardest hit areas in the nation in the housing downturn, has shown price increases for 11 consecutive months, while nationally prices have been on a six-month streak of increases.

The national index showed a 3.6 percent gain in home prices for the third quarter compared with a year earlier.

Seventeen of 20 Metropolitan Statistical Areas, or MSAs, and both the 10-city composite and 20-city composite issued by S&P/Case-Shiller showed higher prices.

The report said Phoenix continues to be the top performer, with a 20.4 percent annual increase in home prices. Atlanta broke a 26-month streak of annual price declines, posting a 0.1 percent annual increase in home prices September, according to the Case-Shiller data.

Case-Shiller indexes are designed to show the price change of typical single-family homes in an area and nationally. Each index tracks matched price pairs for thousands of homes.





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Lawyers offer opening statements in Rilya Wilson murder case




















A Miami woman “snuffed the life” out of foster child Rilya Wilson, then concocted a web of lies to cover up the murder, a prosecutor told jurors Monday.

The caretaker, Geralyn Graham, hated Rilya so much that she kept the girl restrained with “flex cuffs” and in a dog cage, prosecutor Joshua Weintraub told jurors during his opening statement.

“She thought, after eight months, that the child had demons and was evil,” Weintraub told jurors. “She referred to her as “it” because she didn’t want to wear an angel outfit at Halloween. She wanted to wear a Cleopatra mask.”





Monday marked the muchn-anticipated first day of trial for Graham, 66, who is charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping and aggravated child abuse.

Rilya’s disappearance — her body has never been found — sparked massive upheaval and reform at the Department of Children & Families in 2002, leading to a series of unbridled public hearings, a scathing report, legislative changes and a Miami visit by then-Gov. Jeb Bush.

Rilya was born to a crack-addicted mother, and by 2000, was living with Graham and her domestic partner, Pamela Graham, under DCF supervision.

The agency did not realize the girl had disappeared until April 2002, more than one year after she was last seen. The reason: Her case worker, whose job was to check on the girl regularly, had not bothered to do so — and instead falsified numerous reports.

According to prosecutors, Graham forced her lover, Pamela, to lie about Rilya’s whereabouts. Graham told investigators that a DCF employee whisked Rilya away for mental health treatment.

And Graham later admitted to jailhouse inmate that she smothered the child with a pillow case. The inmate, Robin Lunceford, came forward because she was outraged about the death of an “innocent child,” Weintraub said.

But without Rilya’s body, prosecutors can’t even prove the girl is dead, defense attorney Scott Sakin told jurors. “She could be at the Dadeland Mall shopping ... or in school in the Bahamas,” Sakin said.

Sakin shifted the blamed to the state’s child welfare agency, saying “Rilya was abandoned by DCF shortly after she was born” and heaped scorn on Lunceford, who had her life prison sentence busted down to 10 years.

“She’s a professional snitch. She’s a rat,” Sakin said.





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Adorable Tots: Celebs and their Cute Kids!


Miranda Kerr


Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom's boy Flynn is growing up! Wearing an adorable plaid shirt, baseball cap and a black jacket, the little guy looked quite comfortable in the arms of his supermodel mom as they left their New York City apartment, though he is walking now.


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R Train service between Manhattan and Brooklyn could return in a week or two








The R train - which has been operating severely curtailed service since Sandy - could begin running between Manhattan and Brooklyn in a week or two, officials said.

"Obviously we're trying to get it back sooner rather than later," said Thomas Prendergast, president of New York City Transit.

Its especially important to connect the the two boroughs because the nearby 4/5 trains are becoming overcrowded due to the outages, he said.

"The 4 and 5 are getting hammered," he said.

The J/Z train service to Fulton St and Broad should also be restored in that time frame, he said.



However it will be "months" before the 1 train South Ferry stop is brought back, he said. That station was completely flooded in the storm and lost a lot of equipment to salt water damage.










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Shifting tides of Panama real estate echo Miami trends




















PANAMA CITY, Panama — As a real estate agent shows off a model apartment — white leather sectional, stainless steel appliances, open concept, ocean views — in the 59-story Yacht Club Tower, and touts its fitness center and pool deck designed to mimic a ship floating on the sea, he makes a telling statement:

“We tried to emulate the Miami style in this building.”

Approaching this Central American capital from the air, the first thing a traveler notices is a skyline on steroids — gleaming towers jutting skyward like so many pickets on a fence. There’s even a Trump high-rise here — the sail-shaped 72-story Trump Ocean Club International Hotel & Tower. And it’s not uncommon for those active in Miami real estate and development circles to try their luck in Panama or move back and forth between the markets.





Although Miami is nearly 1,200 miles from Panama City, the real estate markets of the two cities share certain similarities. Both went through booms and overbuilding and then had way too many empty condominiums. Wealthy Latin American buyers were a salvation in both cities when traditional segments of the market fell off.

“Now that things are starting to pick up in the States, they are picking up here too. Now that there’s not as much economic uncertainty in the United States, people feel more confident about Panama too,’’ said Morris Hafeitz, general manger of Emporium Developers. He used to work in Miami as a project manager for Odebrecht, the Brazilian conglomerate.

Now Hafeitz is trying to sell Allure at the Park, a 50-story building Emporium developed in Panama City’s Bella Vista neighborhood. The building is chock full of amenities — gym, teenage game room, adult lounge, toddler playroom, pool, squash court and even miniature golf on the roof — but one of its main selling points is that it overlooks a park and two low-rise historic buildings. “In the heart of the city without the hassles of the city,’’ said Hafeitz.

During the boom, many buildings in central Panama City went up practically on top of each other. “In the beginning of the boom there were no regulations on density,’’ said Mauricio Saba, a project manager at Zoom Development in Panama City and another Miami real estate alum. “I have a friend who said he could watch his neighbor’s TV from his balcony.’’

Margarita Sanclemente, a Miami real estate broker with offices in Panama City and New York, has seen it all — the boom, the irrational building and the slowdown — and has stuck with the Panamanian market.

She first ventured into Panama in 2005. The Panamanian real estate market, which had been sluggish for more than a decade, was undergoing a rebirth and Americans, lured by low prices and the low cost of living, were snapping up properties.

The sweet spot was the 1,000 to 1,500-square-foot apartment, sans maid’s quarters, which appealed to retirees from Canada and the United States, she said.

That was back when Americans still believed you couldn’t go wrong with real estate. “Some of the buyers didn’t even see the units. We sold them by phone,’’ Sanclemente said. Condo prices at new buildings such as Destiny averaged $98 to $120 per square foot. She herself bought a 1,000 square foot, one bedroom condo for $123,000 back in 2005.





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South Florida responders returning home from Sandy recovery work




















A group of South Florida medical responders are returning home Sunday and Monday after spending two weeks assisting with Hurricane Sandy recovery in New York.

The team of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, paramedics and mental health experts are expected to arrive at local airports.

While in New York, the medical responders staffed a field hospital in Long Beach providing first aid, triage and medical care.





The team is part of the National Disaster Medical System, a federal network that provides assistance in case of a natural disasters or other catastrophes, where area medical facilities are stretched to their limits.

The team that assisted in Sandy recovery is comprised of medical professionals from Broward and Palm Beach counties.

They represent personnel from Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue, Coral Springs Fire Rescue, Pembroke Pines Fire Rescue, Hallandale Beach Fire Rescue, Davie Fire Rescue, Boca Raton Fire Rescue and Palm Beach County fire rescue departments.

The medical personnel on the team are from Broward Health, Memorial Healthcare System, Boca Raton Regional Medical Center, West Boca Medical Center and Palms West Hospital.





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Larry Hagman Dies

Larry Hagman, best known for playing Dallas villain J.R. Ewing, died Friday morning from complications stemming from his recent battle with cancer.

He was 81 years old.

Video: Larry Hagman Talks 'Dallas', Cancer and Veganism

"Larry was back in his beloved Dallas, re-enacting the iconic role he loved most," his family said in a statement via The Dallas Morning News. "When he passed, he was surrounded by loved ones. It was a peaceful passing, just as he had wished for. The family requests privacy at this time."

Hagman's rep says the late actor will be cremated.

His Dallas co-stars Linda Gray (who played his wife Sue Ellen) and Patrick Duffy (who played his brother Bobby) were reportedly at his bedside when he died, The Sun is reporting.

"Larry Hagman was my best friend for 35 years. He was the Pied Piper of life and brought joy to everyone he knew," Gray told ET in a statement. "He was creative, generous, funny, loving and talented, and I will miss him enormously. He was an original and lived life to the fullest ... The world was a brighter place because of Larry Hagman."

"Friday I lost one of the greatest friends ever to grace my life. The loneliness is only what is difficult, as Larry's peace and comfort is always what is important to me, now as when he was here," Duffy said in a statement. "He was a fighter in the gentlest way, against his obstacles and for his friends. I wear his friendship with honor."

Victoria Principal, who played Pamela Barnes Ewing, added, "Larry was bigger than life ... on screen and off. He is unforgettable, and irreplaceable, to millions of fans around the world, and in the hearts of each of us, who was lucky enough to know and love him. Look out God ... Larry's leading the parade."

Video: J.R. Menaces in New 'Dallas'

Hagman, who also starred as Air Force Captain Anthony Nelson in I Dream of Jeannie, was last seen on television in TNT's Dallas reboot, where he returned to play his most well-known character.

"Larry Hagman was a giant, a larger-than-life personality whose iconic performance as J.R. Ewing will endure as one of the most indelible in entertainment history," Warner Bros., Dallas executive producers Cynthia Cidre and Michael M. Robin, and the show's cast and crew said in a statement. "He truly loved portraying this globally recognized character, and he leaves a legacy of entertainment, generosity and grace. Everyone at Warner Bros. and in the Dallas family is deeply saddened by Larry's passing, and our thoughts are with his family and dear friends during this difficult time."

"It was truly an honor to share the screen with Mr. Larry Hagman," Dallas reboot star Jesse Metcalfe, who plays Christopher Ewing, said in a statement. "With piercing wit and undeniable charm he brought to life one of the most legendary television characters of all time. But to know the man, however briefly, was to know a passion and dedication for life and acting that was profoundly inspirational."

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The week's winners and losers








WINNERS

MARIANNE LAKE

Tapped by Jamie Dimon as JPMorgan CFO on departure of Doug Braunstein.

JEFF BEWKES

Time Warner announces CEO's contract has been extended through 2017.

THOMAS RABE

Bertelsmann CEO close to reeling in mystery partner for BMG Rights music biz, replacing KKR.

LOSERS

STEVE COHEN

SAC chief implicated in Preet Bharara's $276M insider-trading case vs. Mathew Martoma.

MEG WHITMAN

Hewlett-Packard CEO takes $8.8B write-down on disastrous Autonomy purchase.

HOSTESS EMPLOYEES

18,500 join jobless rolls as owners of the iconic 82-year-old bakery liquidate assets.











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Is the electric car dying again?




















A second administration of President Barack Obama will be forced to revisit the issue of subsidies for renewable energy and, with it, those for electric vehicles. Despite the millions of dollars spent on government incentives, marketing and promotion, sales of fully electric cars are well below projected targets. Investment in vehicle charging infrastructure also has fallen victim to budget cutbacks, limited usage and concern over the return on money spent.

Indeed, only last month, a leading automotive battery manufacturer, A123 Systems, was forced to declare bankruptcy. And the founder and CEO of Better Place, Shai Agassi, whose company (in which I was employed) promotes all-electric vehicles with batteries that can be both charged and replaced, was himself replaced due to low sales figures and high capital expenses arising from the deployment of battery-switching stations.

As a result, the question is now being raised: Are we again bearing witness to the death of the electric car?





Any such conclusion over the longer term may be premature. With declining costs and gradually improving technologies that can extend battery range beyond its current limitations, the electric car continues to hold promise. Rising gasoline prices and potential disruptions in oil supply favor alternative sources of energy.

To achieve mass market adoption, however, cars running on electricity — or any other alternative energy source — must satisfy the three “C’s”: cost, convenience and connectivity.

Few buyers are able or willing to pay more for a car running on clean energy unless the upfront cost of the car roughly equals or is below its carbon-powered alternative. Advertised savings over time in powering a car using alternative “fuels” so far have failed to persuade the average driver to buy. And while government subsidies play a role in reducing initial costs to consumers, such incentives so far have not been sufficient to attract large numbers of drivers to switch to electric vehicles.

Cars driven solely or partially by electricity or other alternative energies also must be at least as convenient as those powered exclusively by internal combustion engines. Drivers appear unwilling to sacrifice the expected hundreds of miles in driving range between refuelings. Likewise, drivers demand refueling times equal to what they are accustomed — about five minutes at the gasoline station.

Further, there must be adequate infrastructure in place to enable large numbers of drivers to connect to an alternative energy source before that source can be widely adopted. While a scattering of drivers simultaneously connecting to a power grid may not have much impact, large numbers of drivers doing so can cause major power outages that escalate absent the real-time balancing of energy loads across the network. Moreover, the environmental impact of the connected cycle between car and infrastructure, often referred to as the “well-to-wheel” balance, has to result in less pollution overall for alternative energy vehicles to achieve significant market traction.

Until the fully electric car can satisfy all three C’s, any assessment of projected vehicle sales must reflect a variety of energy sourcing options, both traditional and alternative, all competing for market share.

Gasoline and diesel likely will remain the predominant source of energy in the foreseeable future for new car buyers, with hybrid vehicles that run on both petroleum and alternative energy sources taking an increasingly larger share of the market. Although more costly than pure gasoline-driven cars, hybrids do offer a more environmentally friendly solution and provide the driving range demanded by car buyers.





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