Latest news with #News4JAX
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Family drowning in debt after 'routine' service from Costco goes horribly wrong
A Florida family has been left with $700,000 in damages after a Costco refrigerator delivery went horribly wrong. Bradley Byrd purchased the $3,500 fridge online from the superstore in November, which included installation. However, the free service ended up costing his family hundreds of thousands of dollars due to a faulty water line installation that caused massive flooding. The appliance was delivered and installed by an uninsured third-party contractor hired by Costco on December 2. About six hours after it was placed, Byrd said his daughter frantically called to tell him their house was flooded. 'She facetimes me and says, "Dad, the house is underwater,"' Byrd told local outlet News4JAX. The father said the water supply line had been improperly installed and caused flooding throughout his home. 'So what happened is, during installation, most of the extra water line is wrapped into a coil and taped on the back of the refrigerator like it is now, but the installers didn't do that,' Byrd said. The free service ended up costing his family hundreds of thousands of dollars due to a faulty water line installation that caused massive flooding 'They allowed it to go underneath the refrigerator, and they allowed the refrigerator's wheels to sit on a line, which caused a crack that grew larger and larger.' Video showed Byrd wading through the water that spread throughout his home and damaged furniture, electronics and even structural elements of the house. 'We got the tree up, Christmas presents wrapped. Everything was great. And then all of a sudden, a couple of days later, we had to leave,' Byrd said. 'Right now, we're down to what appears to be a construction site. Still, it looks like an unfinished home, because it is an unfinished home.' Byrd said his family was forced to leave their home, and air quality testing found high moisture levels and mold in a majority of the first floor. He claimed he was given an estimated total repair costs at about $700,000 and neither Costco nor the delivery company have been helping. 'So far, I have spent about $300,000 on repairs, mitigation, third-party charges for reports and testing, and to get our belongings moved out and into storage,' Byrd said. Byrd said he accepted a $38,000 no-strings-attached payment from Costco, but has not agreed to their $175,000 settlement offer. 'They drop the ball and are hoping that I foot the bill with my life savings for their bottom line,' he said. The family returned to their home in March, which does not have a fully functional kitchen or bathroom. Byrd launched a website to document the mounting damage and claims process he has faced. 'These are the expenses to pay for our alternative living, mitigate our house, and bring our house back to the same condition it was in before the damage,' the website states. 'Any enhancements, upgrades in materials, etc., are not reflected here. These are my cost to be made whole and not a penny more.' The website stated the approximate damage to the house is $360k, personal property damaged is $76k, alternative housing and living expense $78k, litigation and moving and storage $117k, and professional services to recover monies from RXO so far is $72k.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Parts of the U.S. have already experienced 100 degree heat. Experts say this summer is going to get even hotter
It's already hot across parts of the U.S., with some communities seeing 90- and 100-degree days already - and forecasters say it's only going to get worse. Florida residents have already been laboring under an oppressive heat wave over the course of the last few days, with highs in the 90s. These temperatures are slated to continue through much of the week, with brutal 'feels-like' temperatures in the triple digits. "It's been a warmer-than-normal spring overall with eight 90-degree-plus days to date. Thursday's high reaches 93 degrees, matching the temperature we hit back on April 27. In April alone, Jacksonville logged five days of 90 degrees or higher — marking the most 90-degree days in April since 2011, which had nine," News 4 JAX meteorologist Mark Collins explained. But, now forecasters are warning that other parts of the nation can expect hot temps over the next few months. 'Warmer-than-normal temps are favored over the [United States} for June with the greatest probabilities stretching from the DesertSouthwest through the High Plains,' the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said about June temperatures. 'The dry soil conditions in place along with a strong trend in temperatures (towards warmer values) combined with the North American Multi-Model Ensemble data that supports this warmth have led forecasters to have an increased confidence in the temperature forecast for [the summer months],' the agency added. It's the hottest across the West, with drought expected to persist there and over much of the Plains region. The combination of heat and drought there is a concern for wildfire activity. The Rockies are also slated to see a 'dry trend' next month, while the East Coast and Southwest are likely to experience above-average precipitation. Humidity has also been a concern, with dew points in the low-to-mid-70s. High humidity can cause more blood flow to the skin and the heart to beat faster, according to the Mayo Clinic. Overexposure to humidity can also lead to overheating, reducing the body's ability to cool itself through sweat evaporation. Expected summer heat in the East is projected to be worst in the Northeast and Florida. The summer-like temperatures are already hitting some areas. 'Last week saw summer-like heat in Austin, Texas. While 90-degree weather is not uncommon there in May, long stretches usually [hold] off till June, Cameron Self, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's office in the Houston and Galveston area, told The Associated Press. 'Definitely more like August this week than May,' he added. Orlando Bermúdez, a forecaster in the Weather Service's Austin and San Antonio office, agreed, according to The New York Times. 'This is something we see in mid-June and definitely in July and August,' he said. 'But this early in May? This is rare.' In Los Angeles, summer-like temperatures are set to hit the area by midweek. Forecasters are warning that the high could reach 103 degrees in parts of Southern California by Thursday, according to NBC Los Angeles. That could lead to heat advisories for part of the area. In Louisiana, many areas will see temperatures in the upper 80s by the end of Monday's workday, according to KPLC-TV. However, forecasters say that the heat index will make many communities feel like they are in the 100s. 'If you have plans to be outdoors working, or fishing or just to enjoy the weather, make sure to drink plenty of water to help stay hydrated,' forecaster Jacob Durham with KPLC warned.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
Mass. veteran and father dies saving 2 children at Florida beach
A Halifax man died last week while attempting to save two children from drowning at a beach in Florida. Joshua Curtis, 38, was on vacation with family in Fernandina Beach on Florida's northern border, according to TV station News4JAX. The family was at Main Beach Park on April 24 when Curtis' son and niece got caught in a rip current while playing in the water with another child, the TV station reported. Local police told the Boston Globe that when first responders arrived at the beach around 7:15 p.m., they found Curtis unconscious in the water. They attempted to resuscitate him, but he was determined to be in cardiac arrest and was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. The two children were rescued from the water safely. 'He was a hero, he loved his son, he loved being a dad, he was a great husband‚" Curtis' wife, Barbara, told News4JAX, adding that he was a U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Police told the Globe that bystanders also stepped in during the incident, including pulling the two children from the water. Silver Lake Warriors Football, a youth football program serving kids in Halifax, Kingston and Plympton, wrote in a Facebook post that Curtis had been a coach for the league. 'His selfless actions were a reflection of the man he was — brave, loving, and devoted to those he cared about,' program leaders wrote. 'His impact on the Warrior family was immediate and lasting. ... His passion, leadership, and kindness will be deeply missed on and off the field.' Curtis' family has organized a GoFundMe fundraiser to cover funeral costs and support his wife and son. 'Josh lived a life of service — first to his country, and always to his family. His courage and selflessness are an inspiration to all who knew him,' the organizers wrote. Pipe that damaged car in Maine may have fallen from airplane, police say AG punishes companies over asbestos cleanup at former Springfield YMCA PHOTOS: Puppies invade Worcester's airport as they learn to be seeing eye dogs 'Mayor Musk?' Here's what Elon Musk is doing now that he's stepping away from DOGE At 76, NBA's all-time winningest coach steps away, takes new role (report)
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Gladys Knight, 80, Cancels Concert at Last Minute After Sudden Illness
Grammy Award winner fell sick shortly before she was set to go on stage in Jacksonville, Fla., forcing the singer to cancel the show at the last minute. Florida Theatre President Numa Saisselin announced the cancellation on Saturday, March 8 in a statement shared by News4JAX that began, "Tonight's performance by Gladys Knight was canceled due to illness." 🎬 🎬 "Ms. Knight and another member of her staff were taken ill backstage, very suddenly and at the last minute, which necessitated the sudden cancellation of the show," he went on, explaining that Jacksonville Fire Rescue attended to Knight's health and "she was smiling and in good spirits when they left the building." Saisselin also commented on whether or not the concert would be rescheduled, saying, "We should know more early next week." People could either keep their tickets for a potential rescheduled concert or get a full refund from the theatre. "We will be in touch early next week as soon as we have been able to talk to everyone we need to talk with to formulate a new plan," he reiterated, before signing off with a wish that people "keep Gladys Knight in your thoughts." A rep later confirmed to TMZ that Knight developed the flu shortly before the show and was treated in Jacksonville. The singer was reportedly released during the night and headed back home to North Carolina to recuperate. View the to see embedded media. The 80-year-old singer was scheduled to perform in Tampa on Sunday, March 9 as well, but the venue, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa, announced the day of the concert that it was officially postponed. "We regret to announce that tonight's show featuring Gladys Knight has been postponed due to illness," read the statement, which indicated that a new show date would be announced later. Knight's next scheduled concert is on March 11 in Orlando, but the status of the show is unclear. Parade reached out to Knight's rep for comment. Next:
