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Turnpike construction means big detours

A construction project will close the northbound and southbound lanes of Florida's Turnpike beginning Tuesday night. The stretch of the Turnpike is between Commercial Boulevard and exit number 67 in Coconut Creek. The road is scheduled to close at 11 p.m. Tuesday and open to traffic at 5 a.m. Wednesday. The closure is planned again on Wednesday night at 11 p.m. and again Thursday if needed. The Pompano Service plaza will also be closed. Northbound drivers will exit at Commercial Boulevard and go east to State Road 7. They can get back on the Turnpike in Coconut Creek. Southbound drivers will exit in Coconut creek go west to State Road 7 and get back on the Turnpike at Commercial Boulevard. Crews will be working on replacing signs that stretch across all lanes of the road.

Published: Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:27:13 GMT

Victims in NW Miami-Dade shooting identified

Two people who were shot and killed Monday in northwest Miami-Dade were identified. The shooting happened near Northwest 146th Street and 7th Avenue about 8:40 p.m. Officers responded to the scene after hearing gunfire. Miami-Dade police said Dorian Jones, 38, of Pembroke Pines, and Stephen Smith, 24, of Miami, were found shot to death inside a car. Anyone with information in the case is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 305-471-TIPS.

Published: Wed, 22 Feb 2012 01:11:34 GMT

Missing Delray Beach teen found in Hialeah

A missing Delray Beach teenager who disappeared Tuesday morning has been found in Miami. According the police, Jade Beneby, 17, left for her bus stop at Southwest Eighth Avenue and Southwest First Street at about 6:30 a.m. At 7:05 a.m., Beneby sent a text message to her mother saying she needed help. "The text message that I saw this morning, where she said, 'Mom,' she said, 'Help me. I'm in trouble,'" said Ruth Willis, Beneby's grandmother. A minute later, she sent another text saying she did all she could but that she was in the trunk of a car. Guerriero said investigators had spoken with people from the neighborhood, including friends and students who might have been at that bus stop Tuesday morning. Family members described Beneby as a well-mannered girl who likes school and running track and said they do not believe she left on her own. "I know she did not go willing. She had to fight to her last minute. Jade is a fighter. She's a strong girl," said Beneby's mother, Susan Stewart. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Hialeah police recovered Beneby at about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at the El Paraiso hotel at 1615 Okeechobee Road. It is unclear how Beneby ended up at the hotel. Delray Beach police said they want to interview Beneby before they can determine whether she was abducted. Beneby's mother thanked police for their efforts to track down her daughter and said she can't wait until they bring her home. "I'm going to hug my child. I'm going to thank God for my child. My job is to show her love, that no matter how it worked out, if you don't find fault and flaws, (it) is not time for that. It's to show love and let her know we love you," said Stewart.

Published: Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:21:57 GMT

Tax fraud scheme targets military members

A suspect has been charged in the thefts of tax refunds from U.S. military members, according to investigators. Dorothy Boulin, 29, is charged in the kind of scheme that Florida Southern District U.S. Attorney Wifredo Ferrer called a top priority. "This has become a real epidemic. Folks stealing your identity steal your tax refund," said Ferrer. Boulin, prosecutors said, had hundreds of names, addresses and Social Security cards and offered to sell them to an FBI informant. She also had an electronic filing number, as though she were a legitimate tax preparer and admitted filing online for at least 14 tax refunds for more than $60,000 for other people, prosecutors said. "It's easy because you just need a just need a laptop and identification information to commit this fraud," said Ferrer. "It's also safer for the criminals. We've seen a trend where those who were involved in much more dangerous crimes now come into this scheme." The alleged victims are U.S. servicemen and servicewomen, including at least one U.S. Marine now serving in Afghanistan. Last week, a volunteer at a Social Security office in Pembroke Pines who was in charge of shredding personal information was accused of selling the info to another man, who prosecutors said used it to file false tax returns on quick filing programs and downloaded the refunds to a cash card.

Published: Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:36:02 GMT

25 cars found in Pembroke Park lake

A sea of cars and trucks found submerged in a Pembroke Park lake are being plucked from the water one by one. The Broward Sheriff's Office Dive and Rescue Team worked all day Tuesday to remove vehicles from the underwater auto graveyard, which is in a lake just west of Interstate 95 between Hallandale Beach Boulevard and Pembroke Road. The water is 50 feet deep in places, and the embankment is steep. PHOTOS: Slideshow Investigators said most of the cars found in the lake were either stolen or abandoned for insurance fraud purposes. Sam Lapinsky, of the BSO Dive and Rescue Team, said at least 25 cars were found in the lake. Lapinsky used sonar equipment to scan the bottom of the lake, creating a map that helped the team to pinpoint the locations of vehicles fairly quickly. "Some of the cars are stacked on top of each other, so you have to be careful when you're working around vehicles like that because they may be unstable," Lapinsky said. The lake caught the attention of investigators in October when a mother and her 3-year-old daughter were rescued from the lake after their car plunged into the water. "When our divers went in after the rescue was done and our divers went in to recover the vehicle, they bumped into another vehicle," Lapinsky said. Investigators believe the cars could answer some questions in previous cases. "When we solve those missing persons cases, it makes it all worth it," Lapinsky said. "To know the mystery is over for someone -- now they can put it to bed. They don't have to wonder anymore what happened." Uncovering the secrets of the lake is a job shared by tow truck drivers, divers, homicide detectives, auto experts, medical examiners and forensic experts. The results of the investigation are pending.

Published: Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:01:04 GMT

Off-duty officer involved in U.S. 27 crash

An off-duty Hialeah Gardens police officer was involved in a crash on Okeechobee Road near Northwest 105th Way on Tuesday afternoon. Hialeah Gardens police said a pickup truck with an off-duty police officer inside was involved in a crash with a school bus, which only had a driver on board. Police said the officer was extricated from the truck and flown to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center. No information on the officer's condition was available. It is unknown whether the bus driver was injured. U.S. 27, which is also known as Okeechobee Road, was closed in both directions after the crash. As of 5 p.m., the scene was clearing.

Published: Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:22:16 GMT

Marine receives home makeover

A South Florida Marine and his family got a major home makeover thanks to a caring South Florida community. The Dania Beach Design District sponsored a Military Room Makeover for Lance Cpl. Martin Escoto, giving his family all new furniture. "I told these people they are a blessing," Escoto said. "I can't express how thankful I am. It's going to save me a lot of money." Escoto was shot in the stomach in 2006 while in Iraq and received a Purple Heart for his service. Now, he is back in South Florida with his family, studying for a career in electrical engineering. "We appreciate not only because we're getting, you know, something that will benefit our home, but it's something he can enjoy, something that he's always wanted. He almost didn't come back, but he's here," said Escoto's sister, Linda Escoto. The makeover included new living room furniture and two bedroom sets, a fresh new start for the proud military vet. "It shows him that it was definitely worth it, and to be back here, it's definitely worth it. And, to have the family together, it's definitely worth it," Linda Escoto said. "It's not easy, but this is what you fight for." Nine military families received home makeovers through the project.

Published: Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:52:29 GMT

Lover or loser?: Worst things to say during sex

There's no worse way to ruin a "moment" then by uttering one of these phrases while making love.

Published: Fri, 28 Jan 2011 13:17:21 GMT

Winding down in Rio

Tuesday 1:54 p.m. We're 40,000 feet in the sky and our way back home to South Florida. Our Local 10 crew is ready to get home, but the 8-hour flight has given us a chance to look back at what a crazy four days we had in Rio De Janeiro. We saw street parties everywhere, got a rare behind-the-scenes look at how the amazing Carnaval floats are made, walked near the beginning of the parades at the Sambodromo, watched the parades from a VIP suite. which included Jennifer Lopez and pretty much consumed 100,000 calories between the three of us (I may be slightly exaggerating on that last one, but not by much!) I can do without a steak and capirinha for a while. I think I may have eaten an entire cow in meat and slept maybe 15 hours total, but I wouldn't trade this experience for anything professionally. Just think, how often can you really go to Carnaval and be up close and to the action? As the producer for our shoot said to me this morning on our way to the airport; we saw Carnaval in person. That pretty much sums it up. We also got to spend some great time with Miami artist Romero Britto, as he was honored with a parade in his native country. It was refreshing to see how much he has given back to Brazil through his art and how much they love him. The good news is I get to re-live all of this with you in the upcoming weeks. We're working on a Carnaval half-hour special that we expect to air in about three weeks. The show will give you an inside look at what we experienced. I'll keep you posted as it gets closer, but for now, it's back home to South Florida. Thanks for keeping up with our adventures. Tuesday 12:49 a.m. It's our time to leave Rio De Janeiro, but the party just goes on. As I sit in my hotel room, it's close to 4 a.m. local time and yet, I'm still watching the Carnaval celebration live on my TV. Even crazier, I look outside and their is a massive street party with a live band playing and it doesn't seem to be quieting down. What a trip and what a party. It was even wilder than I expected. Simply put, the people here just don't stop! In a few hours we head to the airpot and it's back home to South Florida. Ciao, Rio. It was the experience of a lifetime. Look for our Local 10 special on the entire Carnaval festivities in the coming weeks. Monday 1:45 p.m. We have finally recovered from our night at Carnaval, or at least I think we have. Our crew has been looking over the video and pictures this morning and it's incredible to see what we experienced. Today is more about sightseeing and trying to enjoy the beautiful weather. We've been so busy that we didn't even notice or hotel had a great view of the Christ statue from the pool area. That's what happens when you're in Rio. It's non-stop. Last night felt like attending five Super Bowls in one, yet they still have two complete nights left of parades at the Sambodromo. We won't be making the trip over tonight. As amazing as it was, it was like running a marathon for our crew. Watch: The biggest party in the world! We were forced to go from place to place in a hurry, but looking back, we wouldn't want it any other way. In the US, at most big events, the media is stationed in one area for the entire event. We were able to see the Carnaval parades from all angles. While it was draining, it was the experience of a lifetime. Now it's time to send some pictures and video back to South Florida. We'll have a complete report on Local 10 news at 5 p.m. For now, ciao from Rio. We'll see you at 5 o'clock. Monday Feb. 20, 2012: 3:45 a.m. What a day! We just got back from the Sambodromo and the start of the Carnaval parades. Simply put, it was amazing. It's 3:45 a.m. local time in Rio De Janerio, but our crew is still buzzing about the experience of taking part in Carnaval. It was like watching a Super Bowl halftime show that was 10 hours long and was performed by thousands of people. Slideshow: Latest photos: Rio's Carnaval The show is still continuing until 6 a.m., but we had to call it a night. It was an amazing show of beauty, color and dance. Miami artist Romero Britto was honored with the first parade of the entire festival, and it was quite a show. The crowd just overflowed from their seats and their were millions more walking the streets of Rio. That didn't even include the multi-millions watching on live TV throughout the world. We spent time in the beginning of the parade route, in the stands with all the fans and even in a private suite where actress and singer Jennifer Lopez attended. The outfits were elaborate and the bodies were rock hard. This truly was a show like no other. I had been told that this was the biggest party in the world and it didn't disappoint. I'll have plenty of pictures and video throughout Monday on Local10.com, but for now, it's off the get some much needed rest. Sunday 3:00 p.m. It's time to head to the start of the Carnaval parades. We spent the day shooting video for our special show all around the beach. They say what happens in Rio stays in Rio, well, it doesn't work that way when you work in TV. Today alone, I ate filet mignon for the 3rd straight day an wore a speedo (momentarily) for a TV shoot. Yes, I'd say those are only things I'd do in Rio. I'm hoping the speedo thing never makes it to your television sets. I've always wanted to see the Carnaval parades in person, and tonight is my chance. Even though it doesn't begin for another 3 hours, we have to leave the hotel now because of the crazy traffic. Our Local 10 crew will take plenty of pictures and video. I'll update here in the morning. At this pace, we may get back to the hotel around 5:00 a.m.! Talk to you soon from Rio. Feb. 19, 2012: 8:00 a.m. After two days of work, we finally got a taste of a party at Rio's Carnaval. Our crew was invited to attend a private party at one of the most amazing homes in Rio De Janeiro. It's in a small mountainside community known as Santa Theresa. It's the home of a former first lady of Brazil, and it's hard to put into words how beautiful and luxurious the home is. The only way I could describe the outside of the home is that it looks like it's straight out of the movie "Scarface." For those who are fans of that movie, it had the same type of grand entrance. A long, sprawling driveway with fountains and gorgeous landscaping. The inside of the home was even more incredible, including a library that was the size of my home back in South Florida. The famous Christ statue literally overlooked the home from behind. What a sight! Samba music played all night, as a who's-who's of Brazil partied away, including not one, but TWO former Miss Peru's! Like all women there, they couldn't stop talking about the fact famous shoe designer Christian Louboutin was in attendance. Of course our Local 10 crew, made up of three men, had no clue who this man was. Champagne flowed the entire night, and by the time a live band jumped out to perform, everyone was dancing. It was interesting to see the different side of Carnaval parties. Rio is a city with very distinct financial and living areas. You have multi-millionaire's living in high-end homes and condominiums and then the majority of people living in the slum areas called Favelas. Those two sides of Brazil life may not have much in common on the surface, but when it comes to a good party, they're alike. It's all about energy, passion and fun. We felt that energy at the parties on the streets, and we certainly felt that energy at the party in Santa Theresa. The real difference for us, other than the free flowing champagne, was the feeling of safety. As I've mentioned in previous blog updates, you do have to be very careful of pick-pocket's who try to box you in on the streets. We've now had two encounters like that. Fortunately, the second time we were able to get away with all our belongings, i.e; camera equipment. By the end of the night, around 2 a.m. local time, we were ready to take a private van back to the hotel. To describe this scene wouldn't do it justice. We fit about 20 people in a van made for 15. This included people still carrying glasses filled with champagne. Put it this way, my photographer had to sit on my lap. Yes, it was that kind of night, and everyone in the van still wanted to party. I thought I could hang and party like a Brazilian in Rio, but by the time we got back to Ipanema, I was ready to go to bed. But hey, I still had a great time. To think, the so-called "real" party begins tonight at the Sambadromo for the start of the Carnaval parade. I better get my rest! Saturday 5:45 p.m. The day was long in Rio De Janeiro, but the night is young. The streets of Ipanema are overflowing with people. Locals tell us police were even a bit startled by crowds exceeding two million people partying all over the city. Speaking of parties, it's 8:45 p.m. local time and it's time to head to a private party at a sprawling estate in a beautiful home in Santa Theresa. That's a quaint town about an hour outside of the center of Rio. I think I'll call it a night and go enjoy it with our crew. We have big day tomorrow with the official start of the Carnaval parades. Meantime, I hope you enjoy the story we just filed that will air on Local 10 news at 6:30 and 11 p.m. Good night. We'll talk tomorrow from Rio. WATCH: Will goes behind the scenes at Carnaval Saturday 12:30 p.m. Our crew is back at the hotel to work on our story for Local 10 news at 6:30, and what a story we were able to get. With the start of Carnaval just over 24 hours away, we got a rare behind-the-scenes look at the final preps going on for the first parade.PHOTOS: Behind-the-scenes parade preparations I even got to get on the floats where all the samba will be happening Sunday night. I would call it a controlled chaos! Workers were still gluing, sawing, nailing and doing everything possible to get the floats ready. Meantime, upstairs in the costume area, we saw hundreds of costumes being finalized by dozens of workers. It was amazing to see the detail of each piece in the parade. No detail is missed in the production. The floats look larger than life with bright colors and movement. To think, we're not even seeing the final product of how they'll be once Carnaval starts. Miami artist Romero Britto will be honored with his own parade, and his bright colors were evident everywhere. Many parts of the city showcase his work, and we stopped at two spots with him this morning to see some beautiful art he has created for his native country. Now, after we edit our package, it's time to head to the beach. Yes, let the Rio madness continue! Feb. 18, 2012: 5:21 a.m. Good morning from a sunny and beautiful Ipanema. I look outside and the view of the water is stunning! Believe it or not, while my body says it's only 5 a.m. (it is in South Florida), it's 8 a.m. here in Rio De Janeiro, so that means it's time to get back to work. We're set to meet Romero Britto at his hotel close by here in Ipanema. We have numerous stops this morning where his art work is being displayed. We plan on seeing that and also have some time saved to check out the beaches. Don't worry, I'll snap plenty of good pictures and video. Meantime, our crew had an "eventful" evening last night around this neighborhood. The plus was we saw some great Carnaval parties and people. We also had an amazing dinner at a local steak and fish restaurant. The bad news was the pick pocket who snatched the iPhone out of the hands of one of our crew members. Call it a lesson learned. Fun can be had here, but the opportunists are everywhere. Okay, I'll be blogging more later. It's now our opportunity to see some amazing things today. Friday 9 p.m. We are already crime victims in the crazy street crowds of Rio. Pushing and shoving crowds got us boxed into a corner. Lots of opportunists pounced when they saw the television equipment. They tried to get our cameraman's wallet and telephone. He made it through the other end of the crowd with his belongings. Another member of our crew, not so lucky. His iPhone was snatched right from his hand, never to be seen again. Not a good way to start our weekend, but crime is real in Rio, like so many other big cities. At least it wasn't the much more expensive TV camera we lost. We won't let it ruin our adventure. Friday 7 p.m. Not sure what to compare it to. Enormous crowds have overwhelmed Rio de Janeiro. The streets are packed. Traffic is not budging as tourists and locals who have had way too much to drink start their Carnaval celebrations. We are heading out into the crowds. Don't have to go too far to find great pictures and stories. More to come! Friday 5 p.m. Welcome to Rio. We have arrived. What a memorable journey so far, and it promises to get even better. Carnaval here we come. We will navigate through the gridlocked streets of Rio de Janeiro to our hotel in Ipanema, then hit the streets looking for tonight's story. I have a feeling plenty of stories will find us! If all goes according to plan, we will see you on Local 10 News at 11 p.m. Friday 2:05 p.m. Five hours into our flight and it's nap time. Need to conserve energy for tonight in Rio. Romero is taking a short snooze too. I have a feeling we won't get much sleep this weekend, so good idea to catch some Z's when we can. Heard some incredible stories from Romero on the flight so far. He's currently painting a picture of Queen Elizabeth and will be presenting it to her soon. Amazing stories, amazing trip. And have you ever wondered what the bathroom looks like in a $50 million jet. Well here's a picture. How will I ever go back to commercial flights again? Friday 12:55 p.m. It's about 12:30 p.m. local time back home in Miami and we're about 45,000 feet in the skies over Brazil. We're still a good four hours away from Rio De Janeiro. Our first stop tonight will be the street parties that accompany the start of Carnaval. I'll be filing a report as soon as I get in and send it back for Local 10 news at 11 o'clock. PHOTOS: Slideshow: Romero Britto PHOTOS: Destination Rio PHOTOS: Rio de Janeiro, Carnaval (Updated throughout the weekend) I'm told to expect literally thousands of people on the streets everywhere. Tomorrow morning we have a tour of some of the local spots in Rio and then a visit to a samba school. We also plan on hitting the beaches to see the real beauty of Brazil; the people! Romero Britto has a busy day and night planned, including a special party in his honor in the evening. He'll also tour a number of spots where his art work is being displayed. Meantime, I don't think I'll ever want to fly commercial again! Flying in a private G-550 plane sure is nice. Okay, I can stop dreaming. I'll be hitting the connecting commercial flights come the NBA playoffs, but no complaining from me. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience I'm making sure to enjoy. More to come from Rio... Feb. 17, 2012: 8:35 a.m. It's time to head to Rio De Janeiro. Needless to say, I'm beyond excited for this trip to Carnaval. It's cliche to say something is on your bucket list, but this truly has been on mine since a young age. Our Local 10 crew is set up on a private jet with Miami artist Romero Britto and ready for the 8-hour ride. Britto is sitting next to me right now, and I doubt he's ever been more anxious. While he's painted for presidents, actors, singers and even royalty, being honored in his native Brazil is a dream come true for him. So, here we are, both preparing for an experience of a lifetime. Like I mentioned in an earlier video post, I wish we could bring all of you along, but I'll make sure to send some great pictures and video to give you a taste of the experience. OK, it's time for liftoff. Next stop; Rio! We'll talk next from Carnaval. Feb. 14, 2012 South Florida's most famous artist is about to be honored in a very big way. Romero Britto, now known around the world for his art, will share it with an even bigger audience as his art comes to life at Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro. His art decorates our landscape. You can't escape the color.PHOTOS: Slideshow Romero Britto has left his mark on South Florida and the world -- paintings, sculptures, cars, even a line of collectables now sold at Bed, Bath & Beyond. Britto is wildly successful. His art is now sold in galleries in more than 100 countries. He has painted presidents, celebrities, even royalty. But with all of his successes so far in his life, his greatest achievement is about to be realized. This weekend, Britto will be celebrated in Brazil, at the country's biggest celebration: Carnaval. "I got an invitation from the school of samba. They said they wanted to make homage of my work," Britto said. "I was thrilled, and I couldn't believe it. Carnaval in Brazil is the biggest cultural event in the country." It will truly be full circle for Britto. He was born in poverty in Brazil, one of nine children raised by a single mother. The once-struggling artist who gained fame in Miami, now returns to Brazil as a pop art icon and will watch as 4,000 performers bring his art to life. It will be a spectacular production -- big, bold and bright. "There will be thousands of people dressed up. There will be huge floats," Britto said. "It's hard to describe in words. I'm very appreciative. I'm very thankful." Britto has worked for more than a year getting ready for this weekend's event. No detail has been overlooked. And Sunday night is show time! "To do this in Brazil is, like, wow -- incredible," Britto said. Here are some more incredible numbers to consider: In Brazil alone, 100 million people will watch the Carnaval parade on television. In addition, the parade will be broadcast in 137 countries. Britto will be there in person at Carnaval to take in the experience. Local 10's Will Manso will be in Rio to document the event. "This is truly one of my bucket list items," Manso says. You can keep up with his travels on Local10.com, where we will publish all the photos and videos he will be sharing from Carnaval.

Published: Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:55:50 GMT

Rio's Carnaval: Latest photos

Local 10's Will Manso's photos from Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro.

Published: Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:43:27 GMT

Local 10 staff Oscar picks: Best Supporting Actor

Published: Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:42:52 GMT

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