Comment on The sights, sounds and seeds from Monticello's 68th Annual Watermelon Festival

By TARA COPP, ALANNA DURKIN RICHER, COLLEEN LONG and TY ONEIL, Associated Press LAS VEGAS (AP) — The person who died when a Tesla Cybertruck packed with explosives burst into flames outside President-elect Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel was a highly decorated U. S. Army Green Beret who deployed twice to Afghanistan, officials said Thursday. Two law enforcement officials identified the man inside the futuristic-looking pickup truck as Matthew Livelsberger.

TALLAHASSEE — After an investigative agency sided with the company, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office will urge an administrative law judge to find that Starbucks has improperly used race-based hiring practices. Moody in May filed a complaint with the Florida Commission on Human Relations alleging that Starbucks had policies that “appear on their face to be racial quotas.” But after an investigation, the commission’s executive director in November issued a determination that there was “no reasonable cause” to believe that the Seattle-based coffee company violated a state anti-discrimination law. Moody’s office responded by filing a petition that led Monday to the case going to the state Division of Administrative Hearings, where a judge will consider it. The case came as Moody and other Republican leaders in Florida and across the country have targeted diversity, equity and inclusion efforts by companies and at places such as colleges and universities. Moody’s office alleges Starbucks violated the Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992, which says it is illegal to make hiring or other employment-related decisions based on factors such as race.

MIAMI GARDENS — The Dolphins are among four teams not to have a player named to the initial 2025 Pro Bowl squad. The Dolphins join the New York Jets, Tennessee Titans and New Orleans Saints as teams that didn’t have a player selected. Last season the Dolphins had six Pro Bowl selections, including five on offense: quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, wide receiver Tyreek Hill, running back Raheem Mostert, fullback Alec Ingold, left tackle Terron Armstead and cornerback Jalen Ramsey.

The new year brings some new oversight for Broward Schools, as the district makes final plans to become part of the county’s Office of Inspector General. The office will start working in the school district in a couple of months, Marylin Batista, the school district’s general counsel, said in a recent meeting.

The NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau and federal investigators raided the home of disgraced former NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey Thursday as a criminal investigation into accusations he swapped sex for overtime was launched, officials said. Search warrants were also executed in “other locations” as the NYPD officially suspended Maddrey, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a statement. Maddrey abruptly resigned and put in his retirement papers on Dec.

Tesla’s global annual sales fell for the first time in at least 9 years, with a 2.3% increase in the final quarter not enough to overcome a sluggish start to 2024 despite offers of 0% financing, free charging and low-priced leases. The Austin, Texas, company delivered 495,570 vehicles from October through December, boosting deliveries to 1.79 million for the full year.