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Time of India
24-06-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
'Zero containment': Forsyth fire burns through Utah's Pine Valley; air crews, ground teams fight to contain blaze
(X/@HotshotWake) The Forsyth Fire burning in Pine Valley, Utah, United States, grew to 7,045 acres (approximately 28.5 sq km) overnight and continued to spread on Monday. Firefighters told FOX 13 News that they made their first significant breakthrough in 24 hours, crediting a slight increase in humidity and easing winds for the improved conditions. The massive fire, which began in the Pine Valley Mountains on Thursday, has destroyed infrastructure and forced some residents in rural southwest Utah to evacuate. The fire has spread rapidly, with at least 14 homes destroyed. As of Monday 5 pm local time, the wildfire was still reported at zero per cent containment. 🔥WILDFIRE RAGES: The Forsyth Fire in Utah nearly quadrupled in size over the weekend, destroying at least 14 homes. How smoke from the fire could impact air quality in the eastern US: — FOX Weather (@foxweather) June 23, 2025 Fire crews are focusing on preventing further damage by containing the blaze within the rugged canyons, where fewer structures are located. The smoke in the area has largely taken the form of a white haze, with hillside stained pink by fire retardant deployed during Sunday's air operations. Currently, five divisions of firefighters are active within the fire zone, with one team specifically assigned to structure protection. Over the past 24 hours, fire breaks have been burned around an equestrian campground and a cabin on Pine Valley's eastern side to eliminate fuel in the event that wildfire spreads further. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Authorities are maintaining strict access control to the fire affected areas. 'We don't want to have people in there and have a search and rescue operation on top of the firefighting,' Stevenson added. The firefighting efforts remain ongoing, as crews navigate challenging terrain in their bid to establish containment lines and protect surrounding communities.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Judge to decide if Clearwater businessman faces criminal contempt in $100M trust fund case
The Brief A federal judge in Tampa will decide Thursday whether to refer Clearwater businessman Leo Govoni for criminal contempt. Govoni is accused of taking more than $100 million from special needs trust funds. Families relying on the trust money are still trying to recover their losses. TAMPA, Fla. - A high-stakes hearing is set for Thursday morning inside Tampa's federal courthouse – one that could escalate a long-running trust fund scandal into criminal proceedings. The backstory Leo Govoni, a Clearwater businessman, is accused in federal court of taking more than $100 million from medical trust funds managed by the Center for Special Needs Trust Administration, which he founded. The money was intended to cover medical and living expenses for people with disabilities and serious injuries. The trust center filed for bankruptcy in February 2024 after records showed the money was loaned to Govoni's private company, Boston Finance Group, but never repaid. Bankruptcy estate attorneys say Govoni has failed to fully disclose what happened to the funds, including proceeds from roughly $5 million in real estate sales. PREVIOUS: Over 100 businesses seized from Pinellas businessman accused of taking $100M from special needs trusts U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Roberta Colton previously found Govoni in civil contempt in April for failing to turn over financial records. At Thursday's hearing, she could decide whether to refer the case to federal district court for criminal contempt, which could lead to charges and prison time. Court records show Govoni spent lavishly, using trust fund money on a $3.4 million private jet, trips to the Kentucky Derby, large political contributions, and real estate investments. The FBI, IRS, and SEC are also investigating. RELATED: Lawsuit filed against Pinellas County businessman Leo Govoni, Big Storm Brewing's 'Fat Point Brewing' brand Why you should care Many families who relied on the trust funds have been left without critical financial support. Megan Murray, an attorney representing impacted families, told FOX 13 News last month: "It feels like a complete disregard for the victims and welfare and what they've been through over the last decade or so. The victims deserve better, and it was unfortunate to hear some of the things that were testified to because the victims are really at a loss. A lot of them are fully compromised. They don't have alternative resources." Follow FOX 13 on YouTube The Source Details for this report were gathered from federal court records, public bankruptcy filings, and prior FOX 13 News reporting. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Driver in deadly DUI crash that killed cousin to be sentenced Friday
The Brief Jennifer Carvajal is expected to be sentenced on Friday. She was the driver in a 2021 crash that killed her cousin and injured multiple other passengers. Carvajal pleaded guilty in February to the charges, including DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide. TAMPA, Fla. - The woman who caused a 2021 DUI crash that killed her cousin will learn her fate in a Tampa courtroom on Friday. The backstory Troopers said Jennifer Carvajal was going 110 mph on I-4 in April 2021. She lost control of the car, veered off the road, went airborne and hit a fence, then landed in the Gator Ford dealership lot. There, law enforcement said, she hit a parked truck, a concrete pole and a tree. Carvajal's 22-year-old cousin died. Her cousin's girlfriend broke both legs, and another passenger was severely injured. Dig deeper It's not Carvajal's first time in this position. At the time of the 2021 crash, she was on probation for another deadly DUI crash in 2014 when she was 16 years old. A judge sentenced her to five years in prison for driving drunk, running a red light and crashing into a 52-year-old Plant City man, killing him in that incident. Friday's sentencing for the 2021 crash comes after Carvajal pleaded guilty in February to the charges, including DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide, avoiding a trial. Prosecutors previously offered her 50 years in prison in exchange for pleading guilty to all charges against her, but Carvajal wanted 25 years. The state rejected that. What's next Friday morning's sentencing hearing is set to begin at 8:30 a.m. Carvajal faces anywhere from 31 years to life in prison. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube The Source This story was written with information from Hillsborough County court records and previous FOX 13 News reports. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Construction continues on University Area park to install artificial turf on sports field
The Brief This week, work to install artificial turf continues at the sports field at Harvest Hope Park in the University Area of Tampa. Community leaders said because this sports field was used so much by so many teams, the grass was reduced to dirt, and the field needed repairs. The new turf is made possible by federal funding awarded to the community through a Hillsborough County grant. TAMPA, Fla. - Construction continues at Harvest Hope Park in the University Area of Tampa as crews work to install artificial turf on the sports field. "We have so many sports leagues that run this to the ground so hard that we needed a field that would be able to last for all the different sports programs," Dr. Sarah Combs, the CEO of the University Area CDC, told FOX 13. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube Dig deeper This field is used by soccer, football and girls' flag football teams. Due to heavy usage, Combs said the grass was reduced to dirt, so significant upgrades were needed. Thanks to federal funding awarded through a Hillsborough County grant, this new turf should be done in the next month, so sports can resume at Harvest Hope Park. "[The field] was used so much that we had another problem, which was trying to figure out how to get more use on it," Combs added. "Putting in a turf field will actually solve a lot of those problems and challenges. And, it is very low maintenance, so we're excited about that as well." Why you should care Located near USF, more than 30% of residents in the University Area neighborhood live in poverty, according to recent census data. Community leaders told FOX 13 they believe the park and all its amenities have become an asset to the neighborhood. READ: Man who tried to kill ex-girlfriend & killed her dog headed to prison Meanwhile, residents have described this park – which includes a playground, splash pad, community garden, and soon, a turf field – as an oasis. "This was one of the highest crime statistic tracks in the community. After we acquired it and spoke with the community about what they wanted to build, we thought they wanted to build housing, and they said, no, we want a park," Combs said. "And so, after we opened the park, crime reduced by 65%. So that just talks to you about how important community development is." The Source FOX 13's Ariel Plasencia gathered information from University Area CDC officials, past FOX 13 News reporting, and U.S. Census Bureau data. WATCH FOX 13 NEWS: STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app:Apple |Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Man who tried to kill ex-girlfriend & killed her dog to be sentenced Thursday
The Brief Timothy Crawford is scheduled to be sentenced in a Tampa courtroom on Thursday. He entered an open plea last month after trying to kill his ex-girlfriend in December 2023. He also shot and killed the victim's dog. His sentencing hearing is set for 1 p.m. TAMPA, Fla. - The man who traveled from Atlanta to Florida, then tried to kill his ex-girlfriend and shot her dog after the attack, is expected to learn his sentence in a Tampa courtroom on Thursday. The backstory According to federal prosecutors, Timothy Crawford left Atlanta in the early morning hours of Dec. 7, 2023, and began driving toward the home of his ex-girlfriend (referred to as "M.B.") in Odessa. Court documents show that Crawford broke into M.B.'s house around 8 p.m. that evening armed with a pistol and stun-gun and waited for her to return home. PREVIOUS: Georgia man traveled to Florida to kill ex-girlfriend and her dog: Officials When his ex-girlfriend came home, Crawford punched, kicked and electrically stunned her numerous times, while telling her that he was going to kill her and her children. M.B. defended herself with a dumbbell and ultimately escaped the home. Before leaving, authorities say, Crawford shot and killed M.B.'s dog, an 8-pound Maltese. Deputies arrested Crawford a neighbor called 911, according to investigators. M.B. was severely injured during the attack. Officials say she had extensive bruising to her body, neck and face, stun-gun burns, a fractured left orbital bone, nose, ring finger/hand and a laceration to her head requiring stiches. Crawford admitted to breaking into the victim's house, using a taser on her, punching her in the face and killing her dog. In April, Crawford entered an open plea in court and asked for a 20-year sentence, according to court documents. He faces up to life in prison. What's next Thursday's sentencing hearing is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube The Source This story was written using information from court documents and previous FOX 13 News reports. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
