Latest news with #Boston-bound
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
He changed laws and inspired youth. Now, this Miami Lakes grad is Harvard-bound
Former Miami Lakes Mayor Manny Cid still remembers the first time he met Maurits Acosta. He was a seventh grader with a pitch to prevent street flooding in the wake of Tropical Storm Eta. Cid told him to put it in writing. A week later, it landed in his inbox. Acosta organized support, presented before the town council, and defended the proposal at multiple hearings. It passed — modifying a 17-year-old ordinance which, according to Cid, has benefited dozens if not hundreds of households since its revision. 'Nobody questioned it until a seventh-grader said, 'We can do better,'' Cid said. 'That's civic leadership.' That same kid just graduated Hialeah-Miami Lakes High School on Tuesday and is now Boston-bound. He was accepted at Yale University, but he decided he wants to head to Harvard, a testament to the dedication of a student who made it his mission to show others the importance of being civically engaged. He's the pride of a community that just got out of his way and let him lead — even giving him an office inside his high school as a command center for his many projects and initiatives. At 18, Acosta's resumé is staggering: he served a one-year term as student advisor to the School Board of Miami-Dade County, served in multiple public service roles for the Town of Miami Lakes, and in 2022 launched a nonprofit, Virtuem Populo, dedicated to promoting civic engagement among youth across Florida. He was the 2025 Miami Herald Silver Knight recipient in Social Science. His alma mater, Miami Lakes Middle School, even named an award after him. ('He's a legend here,' said Miami Lakes Middle social studies teacher Lisa Deyarza, who helped Acosta organize the anti-flooding ordinance initiative.) Acosta worked on dozens of local initiatives and advised the mayor himself. Cid said Acosta's journey 'deserves a movie at some point,' and also offers a blueprint: Start in the classroom, expand to the school, then the community, county, and eventually the country. Born and raised in the Netherlands by his Cuban-born parents, Acosta moved to the U.S. at age 9. In the years since, he's woven himself into the civic fabric of Miami Lakes, driven by a blend of pride in his heritage and democratic idealism. A visit to Hialeah-Miami Lakes High School with Acosta quickly becomes a walk through his legacy. Ashwan Lawson, a security guard, greets him at the front desk with a laugh and a nickname: 'Marco Rubio!' The school has benefited from Acosta's ambition. Social studies teacher Rukayat Adebisi, who heads HML's legal studies program, first heard from Acosta in summer 2021 — weeks before he'd even started freshman year. Over the phone, he pitched her a vision: build the school its first-ever courtroom, a feature other schools had but HML lacked. 'He's telling me all his plans and I kept thinking, 'who is this kid telling me what we're about to do?'' Adebisi said. 'But I listened. I was like, 'Okay, we'll see where this goes.'' Once enrolled, Acosta successfully rallied a team of students to lobby the Miami Lakes Education Advisory Board and other entities, securing funding for the project along with a renovation of the school's planetarium. On Friday, four years later, the school is cutting the ribbon on its new courtroom. 'He's not a talker; he's a doer,' said Adebisi, who also serves on Virtuem Populo's board of directors. 'I think he challenges his peers to be better versions of themselves. I think that's his legacy.' Acosta's other feats at HML include starting a foodie club and launching the school's first-ever alumni association, which had its kickoff event earlier this month with over 100 in attendance, according to Acosta. 'Not to toot my own horn — but I feel like a lot of the work I've done, I've been able to bring up others with me,' Acosta said. By senior year, Acosta had three internship periods built into his schedule — time used for civic meetings, community events, and duties from his school board advisory role. Inside his office, which is nestled within the school's front office, walls are adorned with memorabilia: a proclamation from Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, framed photos with U.S. Senator Rick Scott and President Joe Biden and a Harvard tumbler beside a business cardholder. Among the keepsakes is a class assignment from a fellow Miami Lakes Middle School alum, declaring her dream: to become 'the next Maurits.' Acosta says his free time is limited — 'not a lot, but just enough.' He recently picked up golf ('not great at it,' he admits), and plans a summer trip to Nicaragua to meet the family of his girlfriend, Melany Alvarez, who's heading to Florida State University to study sociology. She preceded him as student body president and captained the dance team at HML. Are they HML's power couple? 'I think so, yeah. A little bit,' Acosta said. Acosta, who leaves for Boston in August, is unsure about where exactly his career path is headed. He's still considering whether he wants to study law or government at Harvard, but he said he's sure of one thing: 'I want to live a life dedicated to public service.' Asked about whether his name would one day appear on a Florida ballot, Acosta said 'maybe.' 'I definitely envision myself one day coming back to Miami and serving this community that's opened its doors to me and my family,' he said. Acosta's passion for public service is rooted, in part, by a sense of responsibility stemming from his family's experiences living in Cuba. Although his parents, Sergio and Anet, left Cuba decades ago, Acosta still has family in the country. His parents met in the Netherlands in the late 1990s, when his father was working as a radio journalist and producer. When his employer, Radio Netherlands, faced federal funding cuts, the family made the decision to move to U.S. The hardest part of emigrating was convincing the then 9-year-old Maurits, his father said, but the move ultimately 'went well for all of us, but especially for him.' 'I think the Phenomenon Maurits Acosta will continue to grow and expand.' Sergio Acosta said. 'I wait for it with curiosity. After all, he's only 18 years old.' He's already primed the next generation of Miami-Dade changemakers. At Virtuem Populo, the executive director-elect is Clint John Jr., a bespectacled, bowtie-wearing eighth grader got involved two years ago after cold-messaging Acosta. Within months, he was assistant deputy director. 'He saw something in me that I didn't see myself,' John said. 'To bring me into the organization — that right there was a changemaker for me.' Just like he brought John into the fold, Acosta has spent much of high school pushing his peers to take themselves seriously and take action. His message has been consistent: don't wait for permission — do the work. That spirit was on full display Tuesday night, when Acosta delivered his valedictorian speech at Hialeah-Miami Lakes High School's graduation ceremony. Speaking to an audience of hundreds at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center at FIU, told his peers that they had 'proved to the world that greatness doesn't require privilege, only purpose.' 'We are students who speak Spanish in the hallway and dream of a better tomorrow,' Acosta said. 'We are the children of field workers, teachers, mechanics, nurses, undocumented laborers and silent heroes. And somehow, despite everything, we made it.' Do you know an unsung hero in South Florida? Nominate them in the form below. If you can't see the form, click here to fill it out.
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
He changed laws and inspired youth. Now, this Miami Lakes grad is Harvard-bound
Former Miami Lakes Mayor Manny Cid still remembers the first time he met Maurits Acosta. He was a seventh grader with a pitch to prevent street flooding in the wake of Tropical Storm Eta. Cid told him to put it in writing. A week later, it landed in his inbox. Acosta organized support, presented before the town council, and defended the proposal at multiple hearings. It passed — modifying a 17-year-old ordinance which, according to Cid, has benefited dozens if not hundreds of households since its revision. 'Nobody questioned it until a seventh-grader said, 'We can do better,'' Cid said. 'That's civic leadership.' That same kid just graduated Hialeah-Miami Lakes High School on Tuesday and is now Boston-bound. He was accepted at Yale University, but he decided he wants to head to Harvard, a testimony to the dedication of a student who made it his mission to show others the importance of being civically engaged. He's the pride of a community that just got out of his way and let him lead — even giving him an office inside his high school as a command center for his many projects and initiatives. At 18, Acosta's resumé is staggering: he served a one-year term as student advisor to the School Board of Miami-Dade County, served in multiple public service roles for the Town of Miami Lakes, and in 2022 launched a nonprofit, Virtuem Populo, dedicated to promoting civic engagement among youth across Florida. His alma mater, Miami Lakes Middle School, even named an award after him. ('He's a legend here,' said Miami Lakes Middle social studies teacher Lisa Deyarza, who helped Acosta organize the anti-flooding ordinance initiative.) Acosta worked on dozens of local initiatives and advised the mayor himself. Cid said Acosta's journey 'deserves a movie at some point,' and also offers a blueprint: Start in the classroom, expand to the school, then the community, county, and eventually the country. 'Not a talker, a doer' Born and raised in the Netherlands by his Cuban-born parents, Acosta moved to the U.S. at age 9. In the years since, he's woven himself into the civic fabric of Miami Lakes, driven by a blend of pride in his heritage and democratic idealism. A visit to Hialeah-Miami Lakes High School with Acosta quickly becomes a walk through his legacy. Ashwan Lawson, a security guard, greets him at the front desk with a laugh and a nickname: 'Marco Rubio!' The school has benefited from Acosta's ambition. Social studies teacher Rukayat Adebisi, who heads HML's legal studies program, first heard from Acosta in summer 2021 — weeks before he'd even started freshman year. Over the phone, he pitched her a vision: build the school its first-ever courtroom, a feature other schools had but HML lacked. 'He's telling me all his plans and I kept thinking, 'who is this kid telling me what we're about to do?'' Adebisi said. 'But I listened. I was like, 'Okay, we'll see where this goes.'' Once enrolled, Acosta successfully rallied a team of students to lobby the Miami Lakes Education Advisory Board and other entities, securing funding for the project along with a renovation of the school's planetarium. On Friday, four years later, the school is cutting the ribbon on its new courtroom. 'He's not a talker; he's a doer,' said Adebisi, who also serves on Virtuem Populo's board of directors. 'I think he challenges his peers to be better versions of themselves. I think that's his legacy.' Acosta's other feats at HML include starting a foodie club and launching the school's first-ever alumni association, which had its kickoff event earlier this month with over 100 in attendance, according to Acosta. 'Not to toot my own horn — but I feel like a lot of the work I've done, I've been able to bring up others with me,' Acosta said. By senior year, Acosta had three internship periods built into his schedule — time used for civic meetings, community events, and duties from his school board advisory role. Inside his office, which is nestled within the school's front office, walls are adorned with memorabilia: a proclamation from Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, framed photos with U.S. Senator Rick Scott and President Joe Biden and a Harvard tumbler beside a business cardholder. Among the keepsakes is a class assignment from a fellow Miami Lakes Middle School alum, declaring her dream: to become 'the next Maurits.' Acosta says his free time is limited — 'not a lot, but just enough.' He recently picked up golf ('not great at it,' he admits), and plans a summer trip to Nicaragua to meet the family of his girlfriend, Melany Alvarez, who's heading to Florida State University to study sociology. She preceded him as student body president and captained the dance team at HML. Are they HML's power couple? 'I think so, yeah. A little bit,' Acosta said. 'Greatness doesn't require privilege, only purpose' Acosta, who leaves for Boston in August, is unsure about where exactly his career path is headed. He's still considering whether he wants to study law or government at Harvard, but he said he's sure of one thing: 'I want to live a life dedicated to public service.' Asked about whether his name would one day appear on a Florida ballot, Acosta said 'maybe.' 'I definitely envision myself one day coming back to Miami and serving this community that's opened its doors to me and my family,' he said. Acosta's passion for public service is rooted, in part, by a sense of responsibility stemming from his family's experiences living in Cuba. Although his parents, Sergio and Anet, left Cuba decades ago, Acosta still has family in the country. His parents met in the Netherlands in the late 1990s, when his father was working as a radio journalist and producer. When his employer, Radio Netherlands, faced federal funding cuts, the family made the decision to move to U.S. The hardest part of emigrating was convincing the then 9-year-old Maurits, his father said, but the move ultimately 'went well for all of us, but especially for him.' 'I think the Phenomenon Maurits Acosta will continue to grow and expand.' Sergio Acosta said. 'I wait for it with curiosity. After all, he's only 18 years old.' He's already primed the next generation of Miami-Dade changemakers. At Virtuem Populo, the executive director-elect is Clint John Jr., a bespectacled, bowtie-wearing eighth grader got involved two years ago after cold-messaging Acosta. Within months, he was assistant deputy director. 'He saw something in me that I didn't see myself,' John said. 'To bring me into the organization — that right there was a changemaker for me.' Just like he brought John into the fold, Acosta has spent much of high school pushing his peers to take themselves seriously and take action. His message has been consistent: don't wait for permission — do the work. That spirit was on full display Tuesday night, when Acosta delivered his valedictorian speech at Hialeah-Miami Lakes High School's graduation ceremony. Speaking to an audience of hundreds at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center at FIU, told his peers that they had 'proved to the world that greatness doesn't require privilege, only purpose.' 'We are students who speak Spanish in the hallway and dream of a better tomorrow,' Acosta said. 'We are the children of field workers, teachers, mechanics, nurses, undocumented laborers and silent heroes. And somehow, despite everything, we made it.' Do you know an unsung hero in South Florida? Nominate them in the form below. If you can't see the form, click here to fill it out.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Massachusetts man pleads guilty after attempting to stab flight attendant on flight to Boston
BOSTON (WWLP) – A man who tried to stab a flight attendant and open a door mid-flight on a Boston-bound plane in 2023 has pleaded guilty. Wales man sentenced to prison for distributing fentanyl Francisco Severo Torres, 34, of Leominster, was arrested at Logan International Airport in Boston on March 6, 2023 after he allegedly tried to open an emergency exit door during a United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Boston, and when confronted, allegedly tried to stab a flight attendant. Prosecutors say that about 45 minutes before landing, the flight crew was notified by an alarm in the cockpit that a side door between the first class and coach sections had been disarmed. A flight attendant found that the door's locking handle had been moved out of the fully locked position and into the 'disarmed' position and notified the captain and other flight crew. Another flight attendant said they saw Torres near the door and believed he had moved the door handle. Torres was approached about tampering with the door, and he allegedly asked if there were cameras proving their claim. According to court documents, the flight attendant then notified the captain that they believed Torres was a threat and that the plane should be landed as soon as possible. Witnesses say that Torres got out of his seat again and approached the two flight attendants who were standing near the door. Video taken by a passenger allegedly shows Torres yelling that he would 'kill every man on this plane' and 'I'm taking over this plane.' He then allegedly moved toward one of the flight attendants in a stabbing motion with a broken metal spoon, hitting the flight attendant on the neck area three times. Several passengers apprehended Torres and helped the crew keep him restrained until landing. Torres was taken into custody after the plane landed. The attendant was not injured. Torres pleaded guilty to one count of interference and attempted interference with flight crew members and attendants using a dangerous weapon. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 17th. The charge of interference and attempted interference with flight crew members and attendants using a dangerous weapon is a sentence of up to life in prison, up to five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Yahoo
Mass. man pleads guilty to trying to stab flight attendant, open airplane door midflight in 2023
A Massachusetts man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to attacking a flight attendant with a broken metal spoon after trying to open an airliner's emergency door on a Boston-bound flight in 2023. Francisco Severo Torres, 34, of Leominster, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of interference and attempted interference with flight crew members and attendants using a dangerous weapon, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said in a statement on Tuesday. U.S. District Court Judge Patti Saris scheduled sentencing for July 17. Torres was charged by criminal complaint in March 2023 following his arrest at Boston Logan International Airport. A federal grand jury subsequently indicted Torres in September 2023. On March 5, 2023, Torres was a passenger aboard a United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Boston. The flight was just 45 minutes from landing at Logan Airport when the scary moments on board happened. The flight crew received an alarm in the cockpit that a starboard side door located between the first class and coach sections of the aircraft was disarmed. Video captured by Lisa Olsen, who was seated a couple of rows in front of Torres on the 2023 flight, showed Torres hurling threats before charging at a flight attendant with a broken metal spoon. Federal investigators said at the time that Torres struck her three times in the neck area. Olsen said at the time that Torres had somehow managed to break out of zip tie restraints. The cell phone video shows Torres yelling threats that he would 'kill every man on this plane' and 'I'm taking over this plane.' 'Tell them to bring SWAT because they're going to have to shoot me down today,' Torres is heard saying in the video. 'Where are they diverting us? Because wherever it is, there's going to be a bloodbath everywhere.' During those harrowing moments in the air, a flight attendant found that the door's locking handle had been moved out of the fully locked position – approximately a quarter of the way towards the towards the unlocked position – and that the emergency slide arming lever had been moved to the 'disarmed' position. The flight attendant reported this to the captain and flight crew after securing the door and emergency slide. Another flight attendant then reported that he had witnessed Torres near the door and believed Torres had tampered with the door. A flight attendant then confronted Torres about tampering with the door, to which he responded by asking if there were cameras showing that he had done so, prosecutors said. The flight attendant then notified the captain that they believed Torres posed a threat to the aircraft and that the captain needed to land the aircraft as soon as possible. A short time later, Torres got out of his seat and approached the starboard side door where two flight attendants were standing in the aisle, prosecutors said. One of the flight attendants saw Torres mouthing something that he could not hear. 'Torres then thrust towards one of the flight attendants in a stabbing motion with a broken metal spoon, hitting the flight attendant on the neck area three times,' Foley said in her statement. Passengers tackled Torres and he was restrained with the assistance of the flight crew. Torres was immediately taken into custody by state police upon the flight's arrival at Logan Airport. Passengers who were aboard the flight later reported that Torres asked a fellow passenger where on the safety card it showed where the door handle was located during the flight attendants' safety briefing prior to takeoff. They also reported seeing Torres pacing in a galley before attacking the flight attendant. Following his arrest in 2023, Torres was also accused of attacking two guards at the Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls, Rhode Island, where he was being held. According to court documents, Torres struck the officer in the face a few times. Torres faces a sentence of up to life in prison, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Time of India
‘You thought you were gonna fly?': Frontier Airlines agents caught mocking passenger in viral video
A check-in dispute between a passenger and Frontier Airlines gate agents has gone viral, drawing widespread criticism of the airline's staff conduct and check-in policies. The incident took place at last Friday, when a 45-year-old Boston-bound passenger was hit with an unexpected $25 fee for missing the airline's 60-minute pre-departure check-in deadline, according to the New York Post. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now According to the passenger, who requested anonymity, he arrived at the airport with around 50 minutes to spare after a business trip but couldn't check in via the kiosk due to the time cutoff. When he approached staff at the counter, he was informed of the $25 'agent assist' fee. What followed was a heated 20-minute exchange that escalated after he muttered, 'I'm never flying this sh**y airline again.' The staff reacted strongly. One female agent reportedly refused to continue assisting him, saying, 'How dare you curse at me? I'm not checking you in.' The man insisted, 'You will check me in,' prompting the agents to disengage completely. The situation further escalated when two other staff members, dressed in Frontier uniforms, began filming the man and mocking him, laughing and saying, 'You thought you were gonna get on your flight?' The confrontation was caught on video and has since racked up millions of views, sparking fierce debate online. The New York Post quoted the passenger criticising the staff's behaviour, saying, 'Not one person on their side took the professional route or the high road.' He added that he was caught off guard by the fee and was merely voicing frustration. 'It's not okay to be disrespectful of somebody for no reason,' he said. 'I thought that they were being disrespectful to me out of the gate.' The man ultimately threatened to involve the police. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'I had a very, very professional conversation with two officers who were completely empathetic,' he said as per the Post, adding that the officers acknowledged seeing similar incidents with Frontier in the past. The passenger ended up purchasing a $500 JetBlue ticket to get home but was later reimbursed by Frontier after lodging a formal complaint. The airline has since responded. Frontier said, 'We are aware of what occurred and have been directly in touch with the customer. The individuals in question, who work for a third-party contractor, are no longer associated with the Frontier account.' According to the Aviation Source News, Frontier's 60-minute check-in policy is stricter than rivals like Delta or Southwest. While some online defended the airline's rules, much of the outrage has focused on the staff's behaviour. Critics have called the mocking and filming of the passenger 'thoroughly unprofessional,' with many demanding better training and customer handling protocols. The incident has reignited discussion around Frontier's rigid policies, hidden fees, and customer service standards, issues the airline has faced backlash over in the past.
