Florida
Holiday travel rush in South Florida continues as new year looms. Here are tips to avoid gridlock
MIAMI — We’re on the tail end of holiday travel in the Sunshine State, but we’ve still got to get through the new year.
AAA has some advice for any travel ahead of New Year’s celebrations.
AAA says to make sure you know where you’re going – leave with plenty of time in case of any closures, crashes or holiday congestion that will delay your arrival.
Specifically in Florida, traffic gridlock can be expected around area attractions like theme parks, airports, shopping plazas and beaches.
For trips across the state, the best time to get out there is mid-afternoon and the early evening, or you can wait until after dinner.
AAA is expecting about 900,000 calls from stranded motoroists over the holiday travel period.
“Our roadside technicians are going to be spending their holidays on the roadside which can be a very dangerous place so if you are planning a road trip, please minimize distractions while you’re behind the wheel,” says Mark Jenkins, AAA spokesperson
Florida is also seeing an increase in gas prices amid high demand due to holiday travel.
“I wouldn’t necessarily anticipate this to cause travelers to cancel their plans, but more often than not when you see higher prices you tend to see people budgeting differently maybe travelers spending a little bit less dinning out or shopping,” says Jenkins.
Florida Highway Patrol is asking you to report any impaired or aggressive drivers out there by calling *FHP
AAA’s Tow To Go program is also going to be activated for New Year’s Eve.
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DADE CITY, Fla. – Looking for a winter wonderland that isn’t too far from home? Snowcat Ridge in Dade City officially opens for the season on Friday.
Despite the state’s tropical landscape, Snowcat Ridge brings a unique alpine snow park and gives visitors a chance to experience snow and winter activities without leaving Florida.
The park’s centerpiece is a massive 60-foot-tall snow tubing hill with runs extending up to 400 feet, where families can zoom down on tubes while surrounded by snow.
READ: Top destinations people dream of traveling to for the holidays
“So this year, what we really wanted to do was focus on what people said they enjoy most—the Christmas aspects of the park. So I said, ‘okay, let’s really do the Christmas thing,’” said Winston McDaniel with Snowcat Ridge.
Guests can also build snowmen, create snow angels and engage in snowball play inside the park’s 10,000-square-foot Arctic Igloo. The facility also has cutting edge snow-making technology to maintain snowy conditions.
There’s also a cozy lodge for guests to grab hot chocolate and winter treats.
“It’s just about really doubling down on what it means to spend family time here at Christmas,” said McDaniel.
MORE: After 112 years, ‘Operation Santa’ still accepting letters
In the evening, the slopes at Snowcat Ridge transform into a colorful LED light display, illuminating the snow and creating an unforgettable atmosphere for guests.
For more information on the park and its hours of operation, visit snowcatridge.com.
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Florida
‘I feel like Bin Laden,’ Florida man arrested by FBI for planning to bomb NYSE to 'reboot' US government
A Florida man has been arrested and charged in connection with a plot to bomb the New York Stock Exchange in an effort to “reboot” the US government, according to the FBI.
Harun Abdul-Malik Yener, 30, from Coral Springs, Florida, was charged with attempting to use an explosive device to damage or destroy a building involved in interstate commerce.
The FBI began investigating Yener in February after receiving a tip that he was storing materials related to bomb-making in a storage unit. Agents searched the area after obtaining a search warrant. They found “bomb-making sketches, numerous watches with timers electronic circuit boards and other electronics that can be utilised to build bombs.
According to the FBI, Yener had also been conducting online searches about bomb-making since 2017.
In March, Yener admitted to authorities during questioning that he had knowledge of making “rockets” and “bombs” and had previously tried to join a “domestic extremist group.” He also revealed that in 2015, he had considered travelling to Iraq to join ISIS but ultimately decided against it because he doubted the group’s ability to meet its objectives.
Yener allegedly told undercover FBI agents that he planned to detonate the bomb during the week before Thanksgiving, targeting the New York Stock Exchange in lower Manhattan. Court documents state that his goal was to “reboot” the US government.
‘I feel like Bin Laden’
“There is one place that would be hella easy… the stock exchange, that would be a great hit. Tons of people would support it. They would see it and think dude, this guy makes sense, they are [profanity] robbing us. So that’s perfect,” he told the agent.
“I feel like Bin Laden,” he told the undercover agent.
Weeks before his arrest, Yener had modified two-way radios to function as remote triggers for explosives. He also planned to wear a disguise while planting the device, according to court filings.
Yener appeared in court on Wednesday afternoon, where it was decided he would remain in custody while awaiting trial.
(With inputs from agencies)
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