South Florida doctor sentenced to prison for fraud related to unnecessary drug addiction tests, treatment
A Delray Beach doctor who served at over 50 substance abuse treatment facilities and laboratories across South Florida has been sentenced for conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud.
sun-sentinel.com‘His skin was melting’: BSO firefighter flown to JMH to continue recovery after I-95 inferno
A firefighter with Broward Sheriff’s Office Fire Rescue is continuing to recover from severe burns after he and his girlfriend were hurt in a massive inferno following a tanker truck crash on Interstate 95 this week.
‘I cannot let her die.’ BSO firefighter jumps back into burning car to rescue girlfriend after fiery fuel tanker crash
Firefighter Bryan Aparicio put his professional training into action Tuesday after he and his girlfriend, traveling in an Uber, found themselves surrounded by flames in a multi-vehicle crash with a fuel tanker on Interstate 95 in Delray Beach. He rescued his girlfriend from the burning car.
sun-sentinel.com3 people critically hurt when fuel tanker explodes on I-95 in Delray Beach
Three people are in critical condition after multiple vehicles caught fire near the Atlantic Ave exit of Interstate 95 when a fuel tanker truck exploded Tuesday afternoon, closing down all lanes in both directions.
sun-sentinel.comA South Florida doctor who made millions in health care pleads guilty to fraud conspiracy
A Delray Beach doctor has pleaded guilty on a federal charge of conspiracy to commit health care fraud after prosecutors said he billed for fraudulent tests and treatments for vulnerable patients who were seeking treatment for drug or alcohol addiction, or both.
sun-sentinel.comSpady Museum Explores How Newly Freed Citizens Formed South Florida, Following Civil War
DELRAY BEACH, FL – The Spady Cultural Heritage Museum is trying to undo the effect of “untold stories” by sharing history’s narratives from multiple viewpoints. In its newest exhibit, the museum explores the development of South Florida following the Civil War from the perspective of a formerly enslaved person, building a new life. The exhibit, “Strong Communities Emerging: The Development of Coastal Communities” invites visitors to learn how newly freed citizens made their way to this region for a new start. In spite of the obstacles that follow them to their new home, they thrive and leave a legacy of strong communities that endure today. Cost: Free to enter gallery; $20 for guided tour; no reservations needed.
thewestsidegazette.comMan who ruined gay pride mural avoids jail sentence. ‘You did a bad thing but you’re not a bad person,’ judge says.
A Palm Beach County judge withheld adjudication and sentenced the man to two years of probation, 100 hours of community service and a mandatory mental health screening. He avoided a felony conviction and any jail time, aside from the night he spent in jail after turning himself in last year.
sun-sentinel.comWoman who took rubber bullet to the face at Black Lives Matter rally sues Fort Lauderdale police
A Delray Beach woman who was shot in the face with a rubber bullet by a police officer during a Black Lives Matter protest sued Fort Lauderdale and several of its officers, accusing them of using excessive force and causing her “permanent physical and emotional injuries.”
sun-sentinel.comWatercolorist Kim Heise opens Mutualism exhibition in Biscayne National Park Gallery
Biscayne National Park has opened Mutualism, an exhibition of Delray Beach artist Kim Heise’s new watercolor paintings celebrating the ties that bind some of Florida’s most unique flora and fauna. Heise’s paintings feature pairs and groupings of animals and plants native to Florida, emphasizing the connectedness of species. Mutualism is part of the park’s Community Artists Program, started in 1997 as an outlet for the works of artists who are inspired by the beauty of Biscayne National Park. The program is made possible by The Alliance for Florida’s National Parks. For more details about the exhibition, visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/bisc or contact park ranger Gary Bremen at 305-338-6584.
communitynewspapers.comDelray Beach water inspector claims city fired her for reporting contamination
Christine Ferrigan sued Delray Beach Monday, saying the city fired her from her job as a water inspector after months of harassment for providing information to state and county officials about contamination in the city’s water supplies.
sun-sentinel.comThis Delray Beach man, 102, fought Nazi war crimes. Now he’s expected to get a big award.
A South Florida man who fought Nazi atrocities as a Nuremberg prosecutor is on tap to receive Congress’ highest civilian honor — receiving a big thank you Monday for his lifelong human-rights work.
sun-sentinel.comSouth Florida Residents Convicted of Attempting to Illegally Export Controlled Items to Libya
A federal jury convicted a pair of Florida residents yesterday for their roles in an illegal exports scheme. Such restricted items require a DOC-BIS license if the rebreathers are to be exported to any countries with national security concerns, such as Libya. The defendants were warned that it was illegal to export the items to Libya without a license and they willfully attempted to export those items after receiving an instruction from a Department of Commerce special agent that such items were detained and not to be exported while a license determination was pending. Sotis and Voissem were both convicted of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), attempted violation of the IEEPA and smuggling. Trial Attorney Nathan Swinton of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section and Assistant U.S.
justice.govVIDEO: Freeze Punks: This Really Is Free Ice Cream From Your Neighborhood Cops
A Florida police ice cream van offers free icy treats in the community of Delray Beach to engage with children and adults. “Delray Beach Police Chief Javaro Sims says it is the perfect ‘icebreaker’ to continue to build relationships …,” the Delray Beach Police Department said. On a Facebook video, he added that the ice cream truck is something he’d been contemplating “for quite some time.”The idea was proposed six months ago and the Delray Beach Police Department was eventually gifted a truck, which is now stocked with popsicles and ice cream. “Hopefully, when the music comes on, we’re going to get kids, who are going to run out their doors and want ice cream,” he said. (Edited by Fern Siegel and Judith Isacoff)The post VIDEO: Freeze Punks: This Really Is Free Ice Cream From Your Neighborhood Cops appeared first on Zenger News.
thewestsidegazette.comBusiness tax cut makes Florida online sales tax OK, activist Grover Norquist says
Florida lawmakers are poised to add a large business tax cut to a bill that would require online retailers to collect more sales taxes from purchases, avoiding violating a pledge made by three dozen Republicans not to raise taxes, according to the anti-tax group that organized the pledge.
sun-sentinel.comSouth Florida man charged with COVID relief fraud
DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – Federal prosecutors say a Florida man tried to obtain about $1.5 million in coronavirus relief funds by filing false loan applications and by stealing the identifies of elderly victims. A federal grand jury returned an indictment Tuesday for Jeremie Saintvil, of Delray Beach. The indictment says Saintvil submitted nine fraudulent loan applications last year to nine different federally insured credit unions and banks on behalf of businesses that did not exist. Officials say Saintvil also opened accounts under the names of eight elderly victims in order to transfer the fraudulently obtained funds. It’s unclear whether he has an attorney.
Woman missing for several weeks found naked in Delray Beach storm drain
DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – A South Florida woman is recovering in the hospital after she was found naked and stuck in a storm drain. Images show Delray Beach police and firefighters surrounding a storm drain near the intersection of Atlantic Blvd. “A passerby heard something coming from the storm drain,” said Dani Moschella with Delray Beach Fire Rescue. Delray Beach Fire’s Special Operations Team was able to remove the storm grate, lower down a ladder and hoist Kennedy up. “For her to say she was in the storm drain system for weeks is kind of hard to believe,” White said.
Shelly Petrolia wins second term as Delray Beach mayor, edging Tracy Caruso
Similar to Delray Beach,the two incumbents on the ballot for Boca Raton city council won re-election. Yvette Drucker beat three candidates for Seat C, garnering over 50% of the vote. Drucker was appointed to the seat in October after the seat was vacated by Jeremy Rodgers, who was sent overseas by the Navy in June.
sun-sentinel.comYouth and the law enforcement gather to talk Policing the community
The EJS Project is a 501(C)3 non profit organization that is committed to serving the teens in and around the Delray Beach community. This event was hosted by Ike Powell III, Senior Program Specialist in the Outreach and Community Programming Division of Palm Beach County Youth Services Department. “We are so happy to have this safe space to have this time with our youth, the community, and our law enforcement. It’s not every day that law enforcement and youth get an opportunity to have a mutual exchange. Kudos to the city of Delray Beach for keeping the community actively involved and engaged.
thewestsidegazette.comKenny Chesney group helps install artificial reef in Florida
Chesneys No Shoes Reefs organization is helping to have an artificial reef installed off of Floridas Atlantic Coast. The organization and other marine groups donated and installed 13 reef balls on the ocean floor off of Delray Beach in Palm Beach County. (Photo by Rick Scuteri/Invision/AP, File)DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – Country music superstar Kenny Chesney's No Shoes Reefs organization is helping to install an artificial reef off of Florida's Atlantic coast. It will make up a 32-acre (13-hectare) underwater reef park known as No Shoes Reef 4. AdDelray Beach is located south of West Palm Beach.
Are you 65 or older? Here’s how to make an appointment to receive COVID-19 vaccine
“The Palm Beach County Health Department will administer vaccines to 300 residents of Kings Point, all of whom are age 65 and older,” DeSantis said. “Each county health department will be offering the vaccine in ways that best suit the needs of that particular community. So some county health departments will deploy teams to senior communities, like we see here in Palm Beach County,” he said. Those who receive the first dose of the vaccine will need to be in Broward County to receive the second dose of the vaccine 21 days later. The Cleveland Clinic Florida region will also be scheduling appointments for seniors 65 and up to receive the COVID-19 vaccine beginning Wednesday.
Grateful Delray Beach fire chief meets Coral Springs team who rescued him
CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – Delray Beach Fire Chief Keith Tomey said he was grateful for the team of heroes who recently rescued him when was suffering from chest pain at his home in Coral Springs. “I owe my life to these guys, Tomey said while meeting them again on Thursday for a gratitude dinner. Shaunte Reid, a 911 dispatcher, answered the call and sent Coral Springs Fire Department personnel from Station 71 to Tomey’s home. A medical team at the emergency care hospital performed surgery to treat the heart attack in progress. Dave Schneider, a fire captain for the Coral Springs Fire Department, said he was grateful that Tomey survived and was healthy enough to meet with them.
Adult, child extricated from SUV after it rolled over on I-95
DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – An adult and child were extricated from an SUV Monday morning after the vehicle rolled over on Interstate 95 in Delray Beach. The single-vehicle crash occurred just after 5 a.m. in the northbound lanes of the highway near Atlantic Avenue. Delray Beach Fire Rescue officials said both victims were transported to a local hospital in stable condition. The cause of the crash is under investigation, but the rainy weather is believed to have been a factor. Authorities warn drivers that rain is expected in the area all morning and urge people to drive with caution.
Blind dog falls into intracoastal, Delray Fire Rescue gets him out
A lab mix is rescued from the Delray Beach intracoastal waterway Saturday. DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – A paddle boarder tried to rescue a vision-impaired lab mix after it fell into the intracoastal waterway Saturday morning. The dog, named Sam, was too heavy for the paddle boarder to rescue by himself, so the paddle-boarding neighbor called 911 for help. Full Screen 1 / 3 A lab mix is rescued from the Delray Beach intracoastal waterway Saturday. Delray Beach Fire Rescue from Station 112 showed up.
Study underway into hyperbaric treatment for Gulf War syndrome
DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – Joseph Gallagher was nearing the end of a 20-year career in the military when he was sent to lead U.S. Army troops in the first Gulf War. “Seven-hundred-thousand troops were in the Gulf War and as a result of their exposure and probably due to some genetic conditions, one-third of them have become ill and are ill to this day,” said Dr. Alison Bested, with Nova Southeastern University. The foundation recently joined forces with NSU to launch a study called The Hero’s Project to investigate the potential benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on chronic issues such as fatigue, pain and sleep difficulties related to Gulf War syndrome. With the support of The 22-Project, Gallagher has undergone several hyperbaric treatments. If proven to be beneficial, researchers hope the results of the study will lead to the approval of hyperbaric therapy for coverage by insurance.
Survival rates improving for metastatic breast cancer patients
DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – It’s estimated that over 150,000 women in the United States have metastatic breast cancer, meaning the disease has spread outside the localized area of the breast. Fortunately, advances in treatment are helping these women live longer, fuller lives — people like Amelia Pullium, who was hit with a double-whammy diagnosis in 2019: she had breast cancer and it had spread. Dr. Zeina Nahleh with the Cleveland Clinic Weston said survival rates for patients with metastatic disease are improving. In fact, it is a chronic disease where patients can live with breast cancer many years and receive treatment in collaboration with their oncology team,” Nahleh said. It’s estimated that 6-10% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have late-stage disease which has spread to other organs, typically the bone, lung, brain and liver.
Lightning strikes home on Lucky Lane
DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – A stormy Friday left a family homeless in Palm Beach County. According to Delray Beach Fire Rescue personnel, lightning struck a home near the intersection of Lucky Lane and Southridge Road. Firefighters said no one was injured, but the structure isn’t safe. The lightning strike caused electrical damage and charring to the roof and attic.
Man lucky to be alive after metal crashes through windshield on I-95
That’s what happened to Eduardo Rivera on Tuesday and he believe’s it’s a miracle he’s alive. Rivera said he was driving home from work on Interstate 95 in Delray Beach when a flatbed tow truck pulled in front of him. Stunned and still unsure of what had happened, Rivera pulled over. right on top of him and not one single piece of glass fell in his eyes. So at that speed it is pretty much a spear.”The driver of the tow truck did not stop and Florida Highway Patrol said they are still looking for the person.
Investigation continues into deadly shooting involving Florida Highway Patrol trooper in Delray Beach
DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – A police chase came to a crashing end in Delray Beach Tuesday night, but it wasn’t until shortly after that things turned deadly. The man police were chasing opened fire on Florida Highway Patrol troopers in pursuit, and they eventually fired back and killed him. “I’m in the house now, at the window, pow pow pow 4 shots,” he said. FHP said that trooper then tried to pull over the car, but it took off, eventually exiting at Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach, before crashing. According to authorities, the man behind the wheel then got out and started shooting at the trooper, who returned fire.
Florida Highway Patrol trooper fatally shoots man after being fired upon in Delray Beach
DELRAY BEACH, Fla. Authorities swarmed a very active scene in Delray Beach following a police-involved shooting. Florida Highway Patrol investigators were quickly on scene following the shooting which involved a State Trooper. Investigators say the trooper attempted to pull over a man on the interstate when he drove off, crashing his SUV into a fence near Southwest 10th Avenue. That trooper fired back, ultimately killing the suspect behind a Delray Beach home. Authorities have not released the name of the trooper or the man he killed.
Boca Raton and Delray beaches give South Floridians a chance to return to the sand and surf
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Larisa Zhukova perhaps sums up the feeling best: “To take beaches away from a Floridian is like to cut a part of their body, because we are all here because of that.”Zhukova, who moved to Boca Raton from Russia, was enjoying the beach in Boca on Tuesday. Boca and Delray Beach, in Palm Beach County, reopened their beaches this week, while beaches further south in Broward and Miami-Dade counties remain closed because of the coronavirus pandemic. The people soaking in their return to the sand say it has been a long time coming. Boca Raton was among the first communities to shut down its beaches amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Broward County has discussed possibly reopening its beaches May 26, the day after Memorial Day, but that hasn’t been finalized.
Family sets up tent outside hospital to be near woman in ICU
DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – A South Florida woman is fighting for her life after a personal watercraft accident on the water. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, her family has to go to great lengths to be by her side. He said he and Kaitlin were taking turns with some friends riding a See Doo personal watercraft near Delray Beach on Sunday. Now though, she’s in the ICU and, because of COVID-19, her family, who live in Broward County, can’t even be by her side. "I’m just so thankful that in this storm of life we’ve been going through, that she’s a fighter, she’s going to pull through this and that she’s going to have a great story to tell," said Alexander.
Teens charged with arson, burglary in vacant train station fire
DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – Four teenagers have been charged with starting a massive fire Tuesday at a vacant train station. Delray Beach Fire Rescue responded to the structure fire shortly after 10:15 a.m. when a 911 caller reported seeing heavy smoke coming from the train station. The caller also described four young males running from the train station toward Atlantic Avenue. The train depot was constructed in 1927 and was used as train station until 1991. It was added to the United States National Register of Historic Places in 1986, becoming one of six Delray Beach historic sites on the register.
Coco Gauff defeats University of Miami national champion at Delray Beach Open
In what was perhaps the most anticipated exhibition match in the history of the Delray Beach Open, Coco Gauff defeated Estela Perez-Somarriba 6-3, 6-3 on Saturday night in her homecoming debut. There was plenty of support for her Saturday night on the main court at the Delray Beach Tennis Center -- the same facility where she grew up practicing. “The University of Miami, they’ve been my family for the last four years and if I’m here today, it’s because of them. Although there was plenty of fanfare for both players during the match, Gauff had, by far, the bigger following. After the match, Gauff was far from elusive, taking the time to sign autographs, pose for selfies and toss autographed tennis balls into the crowd of fans.
Man, 40, arrested for following teenage girl, spying on her in shower, police say
LIGHTHOUSE POINT, Fla. – A 40-year-old man followed a 14-year-old girl from her dance practice Tuesday night in Palm Beach County to her home in Broward County -- where the girl’s relative found him spying on her through a bathroom window, police reported. The girl was taking a shower, according to the Lighthouse Point Police Department. A witness told deputies he chased away the man, officers later identified as Sean Shalev, who works for a cruise line. Shalev injured his arm during the chase, and officers reported he was hospitalized at the North Broward Medical Center. On Monday afternoon, Shalev was being held without bond at the Broward County main jail.
Woman struck by stray bullet during New Year’s Eve celebration in Delray Beach
DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – A woman was wounded by a stray bullet while taking part in a New Year’s Eve celebration in Delray Beach. The shooting occurred shortly after midnight on the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Northeast First Avenue near Old School Square. Delray Beach police spokesman Ted White said the woman was sitting down when she felt something hit her right leg. The woman was taken to a hospital to be treated and later released. White said the shooting is believed to be the result of celebratory gunfire.