Staff Report, Author at RISE NEWS

NY Times Op-Ed Suggets Sunny Isles Beach Russians Could Be Key To Mueller Investigation

By Staff Report

What’s News With This Story:

**– In a much talked about op-ed in the New York Times, the founders of Fusion GPS defended their investigation into Russia’s efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential campaign.**

-The founders of the research firm and authors of the piece, Glenn R. Simpson and Peter Fritsch pushed back against what they saw as Congressional Republican efforts to “chase rabbits” instead of going after the “bear”- President Donald Trump.

–They said that in Congressional testimony, they informed members of Congress that they were concerned by the level of Russian involvement in the election.

-Here’s the point that should draw attention to those in South Florida: “We told Congress that from Manhattan to Sunny Isles Beach, Fla., and from Toronto to Panama, we found widespread evidence that Mr. Trump and his organization had worked with a wide array of dubious Russians in arrangements that often raised questions about money laundering. Likewise, those deals don’t seem to interest Congress.”

–Sunny Isles Beach has become an area in recent years where scores of Russian families live.

–There is also the Trump International Beach Resort located in Sunny Isles Beach.

Read Another Story:

This Millennial Haitian-American Activist Is Not Backing Down From A Fight With Trump

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Cover Photo Credit: Leandro Neumann Ciuffo

It’s Snowing In Tallahassee For The First Time In 28 Years

By Staff Report

For the first time in 28 years, Tallahassee has seen significant snow fall.

But in Florida our idea of significant snow fall is a bit different than most.

The National Weather Service in Tallahassee was reporting 0.1 inches of “snow/sleet accumulation” on the roof of their building according to FOX 13.

People around the region snapped videos of what they saw- a winter wonderland to be sure!

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Want To Write About South Florida? We’re Hiring!

By Staff Report

RISE NEWS is hiring freelance writers as we continue to grow and deepen our coverage of South Florida politics, culture and trends.

The best candidates for these positions should be energized about telling stories that matter and be able to meet a deadline.

Most of our writers are at the start of their careers and are looking to gain valuable experience in a professional news setting.

However, we have also had successful writers who are more advanced in their careers, and write for us on the side in order to keep their journalistic skills honed.

So here’s the deal:

Pay: $20 per story.

Regularity: You can write multiple stories per day or a few stories a week. It really is totally up to you!

Professional Development: Your stories will be edited (Sad we have to say that even) and then positioned in a way to make an impact locally. We will also give you direct feedback on how you are doing and give you actionable advice on how to improve. Since we are a start up, there are also opportunities to grow within our company.

How To Apply:

Email [email protected] the following items:

-A copy of your resume

-A link to an online portfolio and/or writing samples.

-Be a nice human being who we would want to hang out with!

Applications will be answered quickly as we looking to fill the open positions ASAP.

Broward County Will Start The 2018-2019 School Year WAY Earlier Than Usual

By Staff Report

What’s New With This Story:

-Broward County will start the next school year nearly a week earlier than usual.

-The first day of class for the 2018-2019 school year will be on Wednesday August 15.

– The last day of class is scheduled for June 4, 2019.

The Broward County School Board voted to start the 2018-2019 school year a bit earlier than usual.

The first day of class will be on Wednesday August 15, in contrast to the August 21 start date for the current school year.

There will also be 10 teacher planning days, 6 early release days and students will have Election Day off on November 6.

WSVN reports that the School Board has also set aside five hurricane make up days in case they are needed.

You can see the entire 2018-2019 Broward School Calendar online.

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WATCH ANOTHER STORY:

Cover Photo Credit: Brett Levin/ Flickr (CC By 2.0)

$400 Million Worth Of Cocaine Off Loaded At Port Everglades

By Staff Report

What’s New With This Story:

-The Coast Guard off loaded a huge amount of cocaine at Port Everglades today.

-The cocaine was collected over the course of two months from operations in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

– Key West based Coast Guard cutter Thetis was involved in the operation.

The U.S. Coast Guard brought the spoils of the drug war to South Florida Thursday.

Over 12.5 tons of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $378 million was off loaded at Port Everglades.

According to CBS Miami, the haul was delivered by Coast Guard cutter Escanaba.

The drugs had been collected over a two month period in a series of operations in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

“The crew’s contributions over the past two months directly support our government’s efforts to dismantle smuggling routes used by transnational criminal organizations and interdict drugs at sea bound for the United States,” Cmdr. Michael Turdo told CBS Miami.

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Cover Photo Credit: Craig Stanfill/ Flickr (CC By 2.0)

Burglars Allegedly Punch 13 Year Old Boy In The Face After Breaking Into Miami Shores Home

By Staff Report

What’s New With This Story:

–Miami Shores Police are searching for three suspects who they say broke into at least two homes on Thanksgiving Day.

-According to LOCAL 10, one of the burglars punched a 13 year old boy in the face while his 11 year old sister looked on.

-A Miami Shores resident named Brett Firestone foiled the robbery at one house when he confronted the men. He told LOCAL 10, that they then drove away down NE 107th St at over 100 miles per hour.

–The alleged robberies took place at a home near NE 107th St and NE 10th Place and at a home on NW 100th Terrace.

Here’s the official advisory from MSPD:

Here’s LOCAL 10’s report on it:

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Huge Shark Spotted Near Swimmers Off Miami Beach

By Staff Report

What’s New With This Story:

–A large shark was spotted close to swimmers off Miami Beach this past weekend.

-According to the Miami Herald, it was probably a tiger shark, but Vince Conosa, the chief of Miami Beach’s Ocean Rescue wasn’t 100% sure.

-The video was taken by professional drone photographer Kenny Melendez.

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Hallandale Beach Mayor Appears To Be “On Something” During Commission Meeting, According To Commissioner

By Staff Report

Hallandale Beach Mayor Joy Cooper slurred her words and rambled on for long stretches of time in an incoherent fashion during last night’s commission meeting.

Commissioner Michele Lazarow eventually called Cooper out for her actions.

“You’re an embarrassment mayor,” Lazarow said. “You don’t know where to put a period.”

Lazarow later told a Local 10 reporter that she thought Cooper was “on something” and that she may inform Gov Rick Scott of the incident.

Watch:

Under Florida law, the governor has the power to suspend local government officials.

Cooper told Local 10 that she wasn’t on drugs or intoxicated. She claims that her actions were due to her feeling sick after a trip to Mexico.

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Watch: Senator Tried To Use Connection To FPL Lobbyist To Get Power On For Her Family Post Irma

Chaminade-Madonna Finally Starts Construction On Lights For Football Field

By Staff Report

Chaminade-Madonna has been one of the more consistently dominant football programs in recent South Florida history.

Last year, they were the state runner-up in Division 3A and are currently on track to compete for a state championship again this year.

The program has won multiple state championships in its past.

But the lack of lights at its home field, a unique curiosity among South Florida’s powerhouse programs, has held it back.

Chaminade is having to play a home playoff game at a nearby school this week because of the lack of lights.

After having announced that the school would be putting lights in last year, construction has finally begun.

The school announced today on its Facebook page that ground was officially broken on November 14th.

No expected completion date was announced.

Photo: Chaminade-Madonna

Chaminade-Madonna is a small Catholic high school with around 600 students.

It is located in the heart of Hollywood and is surrounded by private homes.

Some of these homeowners have opposed lighting for the football field for years due to the expected disruption it would cause.

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Senator Tried To Use Connection To FPL Lobbyist To Get Power On For Her Family Post Irma

Massive 45 Story Luxury Tower Given Go Ahead Just North Of Miami Shores

By Staff Report

Updated: (The original version of this story said that Apeiron at The Jockey Club would be only 40 stories high. In fact, it will be 45 stories high.

Apeiron at The Jockey Club, a planned 45 story luxury tower has just been given an important go ahead, paving the way for the long awaited development to be built.

According to Curbed Miami, the Biscayne Shores Community Council voted 5-0 to approve the project.

While coming in at an impressive 45 stories, it will include 120 residences, a 90-room boutique hotel, a five-acre health and wellness facility, a deep-water marina, and several upgrades to the preexisting Jockey Club site according to Curbed Miami.

The official address for the site is 11111 Biscayne Boulevard.

It is being designed by the Pritzker Prize-winning architect Rafael Moneo.

Apeiron at the Jockey Club is Moneo’s first South Florida project.

It will still need additional approvals before construction can begin.

Sales are expected to open in 2018.

According to The Real Deal Miami, the project has been bogged down in litigation over the past few years because of disagreements over whether the developers of Apeiron at the Jockey Club had the right to build on the land.

The Jockey Club currently consists of three buildings built between 1971 and 1982.

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Watch: Greenpeace has invaded Miami