Latest news with #WOFL
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Mom Killed in Crash That Injured Her 3 Kids After Nearby Truck's Tire Blew Out: ‘A Complete Shock'
A 32-year-old mom of three has died after a truck's tire blew out near her car on Interstate 95 in Florida on Memorial Day and slammed into her vehicle The mother was with her three kids, who survived the fatal crash Olivia Maggs is remembered by her husband as a 'loving' wife was 'a beautiful mother'A mom of three has died after she and her children were involved in a crash on a Florida highway on Memorial Day. Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) said a tire blew out on an Ford F-350 along Interstate 95 in Melbourne, on Monday, May 26, according to NBC affiliate WESH and FOX affiliate WOFL. The 58-year-old man driving the truck reportedly then lost control of his vehicle before slamming into a nearby Honda Odyssey and sending them both into a guard rail, WOFL and CBS affiliate WKMG-TV reported. The woman driving the Odyssey, 32-year-old Olivia Maggs, died as a result of the crash, per the reports. Her three children, ages 8 months to 4 years, survived the crash. The three children reportedly were sent to the hospital with various injuries. The baby girl had a broken leg and brain bleed, while the older two had minor injuries. FHP did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. Cody Maggs, Oliva's husband, paid tribute to his late wife in an emotional post on Facebook, describing her as a 'gentle, patient and kind' soul who had 'a true servant's heart.' 'I just want to thank everyone who has reached out with your words, love and support,' Cody wrote. 'The past day has been very difficult to comprehend and understand and will only get more complicated in the coming weeks as we grieve the loss of Olivia. As with many of you, the news comes as a complete shock.' Cody also said his 'loving' wife was 'a beautiful mother' as well as 'a nurse who was passionate about helping others.' 'When talking with each of you, and seeing the impact she has stamped on everyone's life, it is a true testament of who she was,' Cody continued. 'Your love and support is deeply felt.' More than $141,000 has been raised through a GoFundMe campaign started to support Olivia's family following the fatal crash. Gabrielle and Aaron Wright, who organized the online fundraiser, described the late mom as 'a kind, beautiful soul' as well as "loving and gentle mother, devoted wife, and cherished daughter, sister, friend, and compassionate nurse.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'Her absence leaves a deep void in the hearts of all who knew and loved her,' the Wrights wrote. They said Olivia's family 'now faces a long road of healing; physically and emotionally.' 'Your prayers of comfort, peace, and strength to surround them during this devastating time mean more than words can say,' the organizers added. Cody also thanked those who have shown their support through the GoFundMe campaign. 'This is such a beautiful community in such a mourning time,' he wrote on Facebook. Read the original article on People
Miami Herald
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
‘Screaming' family calls dad when alligator knocks at front door, FL video shows
Goofy things are expected when kids call their dad for unexpected reasons, but Tramaine Gaines was in disbelief when his family claimed an alligator was trying to break in. A security camera confirmed it, however. 'Got a call about 30 min ago from my wife and kids screaming come help there is a gator at our front door,' Gaines wrote in a Wednesday, April 23, Facebook post. 'I check the Ring camera to find this massive gator chilling. Trying to get in the damn door. You can't make this up.' It happened around 7 p.m. Wednesday, at a home outside of Orlando, and multiple videos of the strange visit have appeared on social media. Gaines' wife, wedding photographer Nathalie Gaines, said suspicious sounds led her discover the 'massive' alligator lying across the doormat — with its mouth open. 'I heard a knock at the door, and then nothing else. I waited a little while, and then I heard it again,' she told WOFL. 'The first time, when it knocked at the door, it stood up and kind of banged on the door, and then laid back down.' The fate of the alligator was not revealed, but one video shows it eventually left the porch and took off for a wooded area. It is alligator courtship season in Florida, a time when the reptiles wander in search of mates. That search occasionally takes alligators through populated areas and even onto porches, experts say.
Jordan Times
23-02-2025
- Politics
- Jordan Times
Jordan took 'major' steps toward women's empowerment
Minister of Social Development Wafa Bani Mustafa on Sunday says the Kingdom achieved great strides in developing an appropriate environment to support the role of women and empower them in all areas of life (Petra photo) AMMAN — Minister of Social Development Wafa Bani Mustafa on Sunday said the Kingdom achieved great strides in developing an appropriate environment to support the role of women and empower them in all areas of life. The minister, who was deputising for Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, was speaking at the seventh edition of the "Women On the Front Lines (WOFL) – Middle East and North Africa Region – Jordan" conference. 'The conference that carries many indications, including that the presence of women in decision-making positions and at the forefront of development and progress, places us before two matters: recognising the effective role of women in assuming leadership, and the necessity of providing the appropriate environment to make their role more effective,' the minister told the gathering. Bani Mustafa also stressed that Jordan is one of the first countries to fulfil its international obligations to ensure that human rights are respected on its territory under the guidance and leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah. 'Jordan ratified many treaties related to female's rights, which has enhanced the Kingdom's efforts in the field of women's participation in decision-making positions,' the minister added. The event, which was held at the Fairmont Hotel was organised by the May Chidiac Foundation (MCF) in Amman. The conference aims to support and empower women to achieve lasting accomplishments that benefit society in all its aspects. Also speaking during the event was former minister of state for administrative reforms in Lebanon and President and Founder of the MCF Foundation May Chidiac who commended Jordan's efforts in promoting women's roles and empowering them in various fields. Chidiac also expressed her gratitude to King Abdullah for his 'continued support of initiatives that elevate the status of women and help develop their potential, as well as to Her Majesty Queen Rania, who has been at the forefront of supporting the WOFL Jordan conference since its first edition in 2016'. Turning to women who are facing the toughest challenges of war, Chidiac said that 'women are not only an integral part of society but also the heartbeat that sustains it and the driving force that transforms it'. 'Women are accomplished, self-assured, and inspire global pride, embodying a mirror of society itself. Yet, despite all their vitality, women's rights remain a contentious issue and a fundamental cause, sparking discussions to affirm their rightful entitlement,' Chidiac stressed. Chidiac also pointed out that the conference will focus on initiatives that underscore the critical importance of communities' efforts to secure women's rights, stressing that when we pursue the right path, regardless of how long the journey may be, justice will ultimately prevail, and destinies will be reshaped. Meanwhile, Executive Board Member of the MCF Foundation and Chairwoman of the conference Maha Shair said the goal of the conference is to ensure that the voices of all women are heard and their authentic selves are recognized. 'A woman's voice is her strength, and when women unite, they possess the power to ignite change that reverberates far beyond walls,' Shair told the gathering. She also emphasised the crucial role of Jordanian women in achieving gender equality, highlighting their proven ability to make significant contributions to development, promote education and culture, and achieve notable successes across various fields.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Vouchers are growing in Florida. How will the state pay for them?
The big story: As Florida's school voucher system expands, so, too does its cost. It's anticipated to reach $4 billion as enrollment caps rise and income eligibility requirements remain a thing of the past. Members of the House PreK-12 Budget subcommittee already have held two hearings this year to discuss how they might change the state's education funding model to accommodate the growth. Gov. Ron DeSantis, meanwhile, has proposed legislation with his budget plan to shift hundreds of millions of dollars from public schools to voucher recipients. Superintendents have urged state officials to keep district schools, which still educate the vast majority of Florida schoolchildren, top of mind as they make decisions. Read more here. Block scheduling: Four Pinellas County high schools plan to do away with their block scheduling for the fall. Hundreds of students are petitioning in protest. Book challenges: Volusia County schools will remove 'The Kite Runner' from their shelves after a school board member stopped a person from reading excerpts aloud during a public meeting, WOFL reports. College leadership: Gov. Ron DeSantis has appointed another former Republican official to serve as a state college trustee, the Sun-Sentinel reports. Early education: Two national child care chains are preparing to expand into Lee County, the Fort Myers News-Press reports. High school graduation: Students at Orange County's Jones High school are upset that their graduation ceremony has been scheduled at a site miles away from their school and community, the Orlando Sentinel reports. Immigration enforcement: Gov. Ron DeSantis says Florida universities should not admit students lacking permanent legal status, Florida Phoenix reports. He also criticized a U.S. Supreme Court decision that guarantees access to K-12 education regardless of their immigration status. Public comment: The Brevard County school board appears close to setting its new public comment rules after losing a lawsuit that challenged its efforts to limit input at meetings, Florida Today reports. Security: The Miami-Dade County school district is exploring the possibility of having employees carry wearable panic buttons in case of crises, WLRN reports. • A firearm detection dog has been assigned to schools in Seminole County as an extra layer of security protection, WKMG reports. Special education: Federal officials are investigating a parent's complaint that the Seminole County school district did not provide an appropriate education to her child with special needs, WMFE reports. From the police blotter ... A Marion County high school teacher was arrested on allegations of engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a student, WCJB reports. Don't miss a story. Here's a link to Friday's roundup. Before you go ... Have you been following the mystery of Duolingo's mascot?
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nearly half of Magic Kingdom's attractions shut down Monday night, reports say
The same night that the Philadelphia Eagles were celebrating their Super Bowl win at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, nearly all the rides shut down at the park, according to reports by local outlets WKMG News 6 and WOFL. There were also some social media posts about the issue. "My brother is at Disney World right now & everything just stopped," @MelissaElrod20 wrote in the post on X. "People are stuck in rides everywhere [and] all the lights inside the rides are on. He said it's pandemonium in the streets at the Magic Kingdom." "This is crazy," wrote a Reddit user in the Walt Disney World subreddit. "Several ride queues emptied out in front of me. [I] go to the next ride, and it's being emptied." Hours before the park was set to close at 10 p.m. local time, the My Disney Experience app listed 18 out of the park's 40 attractions as "temporarily closed," reported local news outlet News 6. Guests use the My Disney Experience app to view the wait times of rides and the app also shows which rides are out of service. At 8 p.m. on Monday, only five rides were available to ride, according to News 6. Attractions guests were able to ride included the following, according to the news outlet: The Haunted Mansion in Liberty Square Jungle Cruise in Adventureland Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover in Tomorrow Land Tron Lightcycle / Run in Tomorrowland As of Tuesday morning, at 8:45 a.m. ET, some of the rides that were listed as "temporarily unavailable" on Monday have wait times and seem to be available on the My Disney Experience app. Rides without wait times listed on the rides will not open until 9 a.m. ET. USA TODAY has reached out to Walt Disney World for comment. Although there were claims online that the shutdown was due to a power outage, what actually caused the park's attractions to be shut down remains unclear. While the rides shut down before the park closed, Magic Kingdom was scheduled to host a "Disney After Hours" ticketed event, according to Walt Disney World's website. The event allows guests who purchased a separate ticket, priced from $175 to $185 plus tax, to stay from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., after the park closes for regular ticket or annual pass holders. However, by 10 p.m., the time the event was set to start, only three rides were shut down, reported WOFL. On the list were the following: Space Mountain in Tomorrowland Tiana's Bayou Adventure in Frontierland "It's a Small World" in Fantasyland It is unclear if the event was affected by the ride closures. On Monday, the Philadelphia Eagles, the winners of the big game that happened the night before, also made the traditional visit to the Magic Kingdom. In a video posted to Walt Disney World's Instagram, Jalen Hurts, the Eagle's quarterback, can be seen on a parade float with Mickey and Minnie Mouse driving down Main Street USA. It is not known if the Philadelphia Eagles were affected by the ride shutdown. As of Tuesday, at 8:45 a.m. ET, the only rides that were listed on the theme park app as unavailable were previously closed for refurbishment before Monday night's shutdown. The rides "closed for refurbishment" are: Astro Orbitor in Tomorrowland Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Frontierland The Hall of Presidents in Liberty Square Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. You can connect with her on LinkedIn, follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Magic Kingdom rides were temporarily shut down Monday night: Reports
