Florida
Florida Chabad synagogue and community center set aflame in arson
The Florida Las Olas Chabad Jewish Center was ravaged by a fire in an act of arson early Saturday morning, causing damage to the synagogue, Hebrew school, and community center, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue and Las Olas Chabad said.
The Chabad Center said in statements on Sunday night that the fire was deliberately and intentionally set.
“It was a clearly targeted attack on our facility and our Community,” said the Chabad.
The South Florida Sun Sentinel reported that police were not investigating the incident as a hate crime. The alleged arsonist, Scott Hannaford, 50, was a transient who had previously trespassed on the property, according to the report. Hannaford has been charged with arson, criminal mischief, and possession of cocaine.
The Fort Lauderdale Police did not immediately respond to The Jerusalem Post‘s requests for comment.
Fire Rescue said on Saturday on social media that the fire started with a vehicle next to the building and which later extended into the facility.
Chabad center seeks to raise a million dollars
Las Olas Chabad said that just on Friday night, as the Jewish Sabbath began, they “sat in the shul surrounded by our Hebrew School students and families, we were filled with pride! We were horrifyingly awakened Shabbos morning to the news of the Shul burning!”
The Jewish Center said it was saddened that the center was established ten years ago and was damaged, leaving no home for its various community projects.
“The loss that we feel right now isn’t just a loss of property but a loss to all those who count on us,” said the Chabad.
Las Olas Chabad seeks to raise a million dollars to rebuild the center.
“Despite the tremendous setback this will cause, we will rebuild our home!” said the Chabad.
FORT MYERS, Fla. – An injured manatee and her calf are recovering after authorities on a boat rescued them from the Orange River near Fort Myers on Thursday.
What we know:
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office said its Marine Unit, Advanced Technology Support Unit, drone pilots and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission helped in saving the pair after the mother was found hurt in the water and in need of medical attention.
READ: Missing Florida man found stuck in mud without food or water for days: PFD
Video shows authorities pulling the frantic manatees safely onto the boat in netting before taking them to shore.
Courtesy: Lee County Sheriff’s Office
Both animals will be taken to ZooTampa for evaluation and medical care.
What we don’t know:
LCSO did not say the extent of the mother’s injuries.
By the numbers:
As of Feb. 20, there have been 85 manatee deaths across Florida in 2026, according to the FWC. Last year reportedly saw a total of 632 manatee deaths.
Dig deeper:
Earlier this month, the FWC began investigating a spike in manatee deaths, specifically in Lee County, where officials say 25 were found dead within a week.
READ: FWC investigating spike in manatee deaths over the past week
The FWC believes these manatee deaths could be from several factors: cold stress, a lack of seagrass and polluted waterways.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
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