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UM Students camp out for Obama tickets

<p> More than a thousand University of Miami students spent their night sleeping outside, waiting in line to get tickets to see President Obama.</p><p> The university announced to students that tickets would be available starting at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, and some began lining up as early as 6 p.m. Tuesday night.</p><p> "It's a once in a lifetime opportunity," said Shelby Sedberry, a Political Science major. "Being here in an election year is really exciting and I can't wait to see what else is in store."</p><p> Officials from UM estimate 750 tickets are available, while well over 1,000 showed up to stand in line.</p><p> After the event, which is held at the BankUnited Center, President Obama will head to the Biltmore for a fundraising event.</p>

Published: Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:06:56 GMT

Fla.'s Turnpike construction means big detours

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

Published: Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:17:00 GMT

Missing Delray Beach teen found in Hialeah

<p> A missing Delray Beach teenager who disappeared Tuesday morning has been found in Hialeah. </p><p> 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.</p><p> At 7:05 a.m., Beneby sent a text message to her mother saying she needed help.</p><p> "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.</p><p> A minute later, she sent another text saying she did all she could but that she was in the trunk of a car.</p><p> Guerriero said investigators had spoken with people from the neighborhood, including friends and students who might have been at that bus stop Tuesday morning.</p><p> 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. </p><p> "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, Sandra Stewart.</p><p> 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. </p><p> It is unclear how Beneby ended up at the hotel.</p><p> Investigators appeared to focus on one room inside the hotel. A tow truck hauled away a silver Mercedes from the room's private garage.</p><p> Staff members at the hotel said they had not seen Beneby.</p><p> "Sorry. I don't know nothing about that case," said a woman at the front desk.</p><p> Delray Beach police said they want to interview Beneby before they can determine whether she was abducted.</p><p> Beneby's mother thanked police for their efforts to track down her daughter and said she can't wait until they bring her home.</p><p> "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. </p>

Published: Wed, 22 Feb 2012 04:40:11 GMT

Tax fraud scheme targets military members

<p> A suspect has been charged in the thefts of tax refunds from U.S. military members, according to investigators. </p><p> Dorothy Boulin, 29, is charged in the kind of scheme that Florida Southern District U.S. Attorney Wifredo Ferrer called a top priority. </p><p> "This has become a real epidemic. Folks stealing your identity steal your tax refund," said Ferrer.</p><p> 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. </p><p> "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."</p><p> The alleged victims are U.S. servicemen and servicewomen, including at least one U.S. Marine now serving in Afghanistan. </p><p> 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.</p>

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

Take me home: New pets awaiting adoption

See this week's beautiful furry friends waiting at the Humane Society of Broward County to find a caring home.

Published: Wed, 22 Feb 2012 04:34:15 GMT

25 cars found in Pembroke Park lake

<p> A sea of cars and trucks found submerged in a Pembroke Park lake are being plucked from the water one by one. </p><p> 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. </p><p> PHOTOS: Slideshow</p><p> Investigators said most of the cars found in the lake were either stolen or abandoned for insurance fraud purposes. </p><p> Sam Lapinsky, of the BSO Dive and Rescue Team, said at least 25 cars were found in the lake.</p><p> 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. </p><p> "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. </p><p> 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. </p><p> "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. </p><p> Investigators believe the cars could answer some questions in previous cases. </p><p> "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." </p><p> 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.</p>

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

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

<p> An off-duty Hialeah Gardens police officer was involved in a crash on Okeechobee Road near Northwest 105th Way on Tuesday afternoon.</p><p> 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.</p><p> 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.</p><p> It is unknown whether the bus driver was injured. </p><p> 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.</p>

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

Made in South Florida: Armour Group

<p> Bullet proof glass that allows you to fire through it and kill an attacker. </p><p> It sounds like James Bond, but it's made in Fort Lauderdale, and being used to protect soldiers in war zones throughout the world.</p><p> Martin Miller of Armour Group is proud of his company's cutting edge product, RhinoGlass. </p><p> He shows off a  piece that kept NATO forces safe during an attack and able to shoot back. </p><p> ”These were NATO rounds that were fired out through the glass.  So you're perfectly protected here. If you're a bad guy you're dead here,”  Miller said. </p><p> RhinoGlass is assembled at Armour Group's factory near Port Everglades. </p><p> It can stop bullets fired by AK-47's.</p><p> Armour Group also 'Up-Armors' everyday vehicles, like Toyotas for United Nations peacekeepers.  </p><p> "It was done quickly. They didn't have to wait months and months to get it in there,"  said Miller. "That saves lives and that's our primary mission."</p><p> The kits are made by hand.  Then sold and sent to friendly nations that need first rate protection, but can't afford specialty vehicles. </p><p> Armour Group tries to come up with a solution that will solve problems and be affordable.</p><p> Some of the company's 30 employees have fought in Iraq. </p><p> "They understand how to prevent it, they understand what's needed to protect against it, and they have the real life experiences that we need when we deal with our clients," Miller adds.</p><p> From troop transport vehicles, to boats used against pirates and smugglers, Armour Group is ready to outfit them all.  </p><p> Workers say they're honored when they receive 'Thank You' letters from attack survivors. </p><p> "They served us and we gave them the best we had to protect them, and that makes us feel real good here," said Miller.</p><p> Armour Groups’ business is so good, they are moving to a space three times bigger later this year. </p><p> In 2013, they expect total sales to top $100 million.</p>

Published: Wed, 22 Feb 2012 04:43:33 GMT

Don't move a muscle: Epic pictures of laziness

Laziness can be an addiction... just ask these people; some of the laziest on the planet!

Published: Thu, 24 Feb 2011 22:54:13 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 Actress

Local 10 staff Oscar picks: Best Actress

Published: Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:55:09 GMT