Florida
South Florida Catholics pray for Pope Francis amid health battle
As Pope Francis remains in critical condition, South Florida Catholics are turning to prayer, hoping for his recovery while reflecting on his legacy.
“We are receiving all the news and praying for him every day,” said Andre Kramer, a parishioner at St. Martha’s Church in Miami Shores.
Another churchgoer, Zully Mardival, echoed the sentiment, “We’re praying for his health. Yes, it’s true we’ve heard he’s in critical condition, but we do not lose hope.”
Archbishop of Miami Thomas Wenski addressed the Pope’s condition before Sunday’s service, acknowledging the uncertainty of the situation.
“He’s critical. It could go either way,” Wenski said. “Faith tells us if he gets better and goes back to work, it’s a win. But if he goes home to the Lord, it’s also a win. So we’re praying for a win-win here.”
Vatican reports “slight improvement”
The Vatican said Monday that while Pope Francis remains in critical condition, his health has shown “a slight improvement.” Officials confirmed he has not experienced further respiratory crises and some of his lab results have improved.
The 87-year-old pontiff was first admitted to a Rome clinic 10 days ago for a respiratory tract infection, later diagnosed as pneumonia and bronchitis. He underwent additional clinical tests on Sunday.
Despite his condition, the Pope has remained alert and aware, even acknowledging the global outpouring of support. On his official X account, he thanked people for their prayers, particularly children, saying, “Thank you for your caring and consoling prayers I received from all over the world.”
A legacy of compassion and advocacy
For many in South Florida, Pope Francis’ legacy is one of compassion, particularly for the poor and marginalized.
Robert Rodriguez, a parishioner in Miami Shores, emphasized the Pope’s focus on social justice.
Wenski highlighted the pontiff’s advocacy for migrants and immigrants, a pressing issue in the region.
“The Holy Father has spoken very forcibly in defense of migrants and immigrants,” Wenski said. “We feel his closeness, especially during these times when there is a lot of heightened concern over immigration and people feeling a bit fearful.”
TAMPA, Fla – New SNAP restrictions will start Monday in Florida.
What we know:
These changes will ban the purchase of many sugary sodas, energy drinks, candy and ultra-processed, shelf-stable prepared desserts.
Hunger Free America, an advocacy group, is against these restrictions.
Joel Berg, the CEO, said some regulation is a good thing, but he wants to see it support access to healthy foods as a choice.
“We do support mandates to mandate that healthier food is available in stores that do accept SNAP,” Berg said. “So, it makes a lot more sense to make it easier to get healthier food.”
Berg said these restrictions are unnecessary in achieving a healthier America.
“We should make America healthier again by making healthy food more affordable, convenient and physically available,” Berg said. “We shouldn’t micromanage the eating patterns of adults to try to achieve that goal.”
The other side:
This is part of the Make America Healthy Again initiative.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said, “Under the MAHA initiative, we are taking bold, historic steps to reverse the chronic disease epidemic that has taken root in this country for far too long.”
What they’re saying:
Berg said that these changes, on top of cuts to the program nationwide, will increase hunger.
“It’s not that low-income Americans don’t want healthier food; it’s that they can’t afford healthier food,” Berg said.
This coincides with the announcement that there will be cuts to WIC, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, which supplies food to mothers and young children.
“President Trump’s budget just announced that he’s proposing taking away fruits and vegetables from the WIC program for pregnant women and children under five,” Berg said. “So, they’re taking away healthier food.”
The WIC cuts would take away $1.4 billion in fruit and vegetable benefits from 5.4 million people.
Big picture view:
The SNAP changes come as part of the MAHA movement and include more than 20 other states that will implement changes over the next two years.
The Source: Information in this story comes from WIC, SNAP and interviews done by Fox 13’s Danielle Zulkosky.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — The engines are revving for one final day of high-stakes bidding and family fun at the South Florida Fairgrounds.
Barrett-Jackson’s Palm Beach auction reaches its grand finale today with an action-packed “Super Saturday” lineup, promising to close out the weekend with a full slate of collector car sales, live entertainment, and fan attractions.
“Super Saturday,” presented by Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, officially kicks off at 8 a.m. when gates, food courts, and the exhibitor marketplace open to the public.
What to expect
- 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.: The Fantasy Bid presented by Dodge begins early, running in tandem with the automobilia auction in the arena.
- 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Thrill-seekers can catch Dodge thrill rides on the Barrett-Jackson Performance Track.
- 10:00 a.m.: New amenities open to the public, including the Stella Artois, Staging Lanes, and Food Court patios, which offer shaded seating and auction views.
- 10:45 a.m.: The national anthem will be performed in the auction arena, signaling the start of the main collector car auction at 11 a.m.
- Afternoon Entertainment: DJ sets run from noon to 5 p.m. across the various patios, and a detailing clinic by Adam’s Polishes is scheduled for 2 p.m. near the South Showcase.
For those unable to attend, the whole event will be livestreamed throughout the day on the Barrett-Jackson website and the HISTORY channel from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Today’s finale comes on the heels of a high-energy Friday that saw significant sales and notable celebrity interest.
Star power was evident throughout the day, particularly with vehicles tied to the Busch family. A 1957 Ford Thunderbird Convertible owned by Samantha Busch and a 1969 Oldsmobile 442 Custom Coupe were among the day’s heavy hitters, each fetching $159,500. Kyle Busch’s 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Custom Coupe also drew a strong bid, selling for $143,000.
Other Friday highlights included:
- 1968 Ford Mustang Eleanor Replica: $137,500
- 2004 Dodge Viper SRT-10 Mamba Edition: $132,000
- 1972 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Custom SUV: $126,500
- 1957 Ford Thunderbird Custom Convertible: $121,000
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
With a festival-style atmosphere and high-profile sales driving momentum, organizers expect a busy crowd for the final push at the auction block today.
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — A quiet Monday turned into a frantic race against time when a deputy stepped in to save a choking 1-year-old’s life.
According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a call about a 1-year-old baby choking. Upon arrival, the responding deputy performed life-saving procedures to help the child breathe again.
See also: Two arrested after 6-year-old arrives at Florida school with bruises, deputies say
Body camera video shows a deputy holding the baby, flipping it over on its stomach, and beginning to pat the baby’s back.
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
When the baby begins to cry, the deputy is heard saying, “he’s good.”
-
South-Carolina5 minutes agoMid-amateur from South Carolina wins Terra Cotta Invitational in Florida
-
South Dakota11 minutes agoNature: Prairie chickens in South Dakota
-
Tennessee17 minutes agoTennessee baseball vs Ole Miss score, live updates, start time, Game 3
-
Texas23 minutes agoTexas needs at least $174 billion to avoid water crisis, state says
-
Utah29 minutes agoMultiple earthquakes detected near Kanosh
-
Vermont35 minutes agoWrong-way driver stopped on I-89, charged with DUI
-
Virginia40 minutes agoParachutist Slams into Jumbotron at Virginia Tech Spring Game
-
Wisconsin53 minutes agoUS animal rights activists clash with police over Wisconsin dog breeder