🏠 News From Your Neighborhood
Miami, FL
Passenger convicted of sexual abuse of child on cruise ship that left Miami
A Malaysian man has been convicted of sexually abusing a child while on board a cruise ship that sailed out of Miami, authorities said.
Lay Ong, 67, was convicted by a federal jury on Oct. 23 of abusive sexual contact of a minor, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida said in a news release Friday.
According to an arrest affidavit, Ong had been a passenger aboard the Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas that departed PortMiami on March 29 and returned April 5.
While the ship was in international waters, Ong encountered two boys, ages 7 and 9, who were playing in a corridor outside their cabin, the affidavit said.
Ong started speaking with the children and began touching the 7-year-old’s head and chin before he reached down and squeezed the child’s genitalia, prosecutors said.
According to the affidavit, the kids reported the incident to the 7-year-old’s parents, saying Ong had asked them if they were boys or girls then said “let me check” before grabbing the child.
Security cameras on the ship captured the encounter, the affidavit said.
Ong faces a maximum of life in prison at sentencing. He’s also subject to deportation after his sentence.
“Abusing a child is an unforgivable act,” U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida, said in a statement. “This verdict makes clear that anyone who preys on a child—anywhere, and under any flag—will be held to account. We will continue working with the FBI to protect young victims and bring their abusers to justice.”
Miami, FL
Wives of detained men allege inhumane conditions at federal detention center in Miami
Wives of several men being held at the Federal Detention Center in downtown Miami are alleging their husbands are facing inhumane conditions following a transfer from the Krome Detention Center, where detainees were evacuated due to recent wildfires.
The women gathered outside the downtown Miami facility on Wednesday to call for basic humane treatment for their husbands.
The Federal Detention Center is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, not U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. While ICE transferred the detainees to the federal facility, the Bureau of Prisons is responsible for conditions inside.
Among those speaking out was Judith Castellanos, whose husband, 51-year-old Marlon Cervelo, has been in immigration detention since 2023.
“He is my husband, my brother, my confidant, my everything,” Castellanos said, adding that she fears for his life.
According to Castellanos, Cervelo was detained following his annual immigration appointment in 2023. Since then, he has been held at multiple facilities, including Alligator Alcatraz, Krome Detention Center and now the Federal Detention Center in downtown Miami.
Castellanos said the detainees are requesting basic necessities.
“They want something similar to what they had in Krome,” Castellanos said, noting the need for clean clothing and reliable access to drinking water.
Arianne Betancourt, an activist with the social justice organization The Workers Circle, echoed the families’ concerns.
“Nobody should be denied access to water,” Betancourt said during a news conference.
While CBS News Miami was covering the event, Castellanos received a call from her husband inside the facility. Speaking in Spanish, Cervelo claimed conditions remain difficult.
“We still have no air conditioning in the rooms and no medicines,” Cervelo said.
Another spouse says deportation isn’t an option
Another spouse, Annette Uset, said her husband, Daikel Dumont, is being held in solitary confinement.
“He told me the conditions that he was in, and I went ahead and contacted the news,” Uset said.
Anisley Cortez said she is concerned for her husband, 41-year-old Noslen Sendra, who suffers from diabetes and acute pancreatitis. She alleged he is not receiving the necessary medication.
The three women said their husbands share similar immigration histories. Each was detained by immigration authorities after serving prison sentences for past criminal convictions. Because Cuba has not accepted their deportation, they have remained in federal custody.
CBS News Miami requested a response from the Federal Bureau of Prisons regarding the allegations.
In a statement, the agency acknowledged the facility experienced water pressure problems on July 1, but said inmates were provided additional bottled water while repairs were underway. Officials said the issue was resolved the following day.
The Bureau of Prisons also confirmed that one of the facility’s air-conditioning chillers malfunctioned on July 6, but stated the problem has been repaired and both chillers are operating normally.
Despite those assurances, the families said they will continue to speak out until they see meaningful improvements in the treatment of their loved ones.
When asked if she would follow her husband to Cuba if deportation were an option, Castellanos replied, “I would follow him.”
According to the families, however, immigration officials have encouraged their husbands to self-deport to a third country, an option all three men have declined.
Miami, FL
Tokyo-style Neapolitan pizza is coming to Miami, led by legendary pizzaiolo chef Bun
If you’re a diehard pizza fanatic in Miami, you’ll soon be able to check another renowned style off your list without leaving home. Arriving in October 2026, Royale Pizza Napoletana will debut at 1680 Meridian Avenue, introducing South Florida to the exceptionally precise world of Tokyo-style Neapolitan pizza. This highly anticipated opening marks the monumental stateside arrival of legendary Japanese pizzaiolo Chef Bun, the mastermind behind Tokyo’s genre-defining concept, Savoy.
RECOMMENDED: Where to find the best pizza in Miami
The restaurant is the brainchild of banking entrepreneur and restaurateur Jess Varughese, the innovator behind Miami’s ultra-exclusive, members-only hotspot, Haiku. After experiencing Chef Bun’s “perfect pizzas” during a trip to Japan, Varughese envisioned bringing this science-driven culinary movement to sunny South Florida. To ensure absolute authenticity, Varughese assembled an elite culinary team. Alongside Chef Bun, the kitchen features Haiku Executive Chef Albert Diaz and Chef Dalila Sabatino, a rising pizzaiola talent praised by Bun who previously trained at Los Angeles’ acclaimed Pizzeria Sei.
What sets Tokyo-style Neapolitan pizza apart is its rigorous, chemistry-like execution. At Royale, the dough undergoes a meticulous 30+ hour fermentation process. Varughese and his team spent hundreds of hours adjusting the recipe, combining artisan flours with the Autolyse technique and even altering Miami’s water softness to match Japan’s famously soft water. Pizzas are then baked fresh in an 800-degree oven. The resulting crust achieves an ethereal balance of lightness, chewiness, char and crunch. As Varughese notes, having Chef Bun’s 20-plus years of innovation on board elevates the entire culinary game.
Royale will be fast-casual, yet polished, with seating for 65 guests including a large community table at its center. Staying true to an accessible vibe, the restaurant will operate on a first-come, first-served walk-in basis with no reservations, though takeout and delivery will be available. You’ll order at a main counter from a carefully curated menu featuring antipasti, two pastas, two mains and seven distinct pizzas—including four traditional options and three specials. This is a pizza spot that deserves the hype, so stay up to date on their progress at @royalenapoletana ahead of the official October launch.
Miami, FL
Girl, 12, shot while sitting in parked car in northwest Miami-Dade, deputies say
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — A 12-year-old girl was shot in the arm after gunfire erupted in a northwest Miami-Dade neighborhood early Tuesday morning, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said they responded just before 1 a.m. to the area of Northwest 64th Street and Northwest 21st Avenue in the county’s Gladeview area, where they found three vehicles struck by gunfire, including a silver Hyundai.
“The car was parked outside of the residence. It was occupied by three juveniles, so it was the girl and her two siblings that were in the vehicle. The mom was outside of the vehicle at the time, so this could have been a very different outcome,” MDSO Detective Samantha Choon said.
Authorities said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue medics transported the girl to a nearby hospital in stable condition.
A family member of the victim told Local 10’s Jackie Pascale that the girl is now home and doing OK.
They said neither her siblings nor their mother was injured in the shooting.
According to investigators, no arrests have been made, and detectives have not released any suspect information at this time.
Neighbor Marie Grimes said she was shaken after hearing multiple gunshots.
“I heard the booms — boom, boom, boom, boom — and I said, ‘Oh my God, what’s happening?’” she said. “Maybe five or six, ’cause look at that right there. I’m just glad the little girl is OK.”
Investigators asked neighbors to check their surveillance or Ring camera footage from around 1 a.m. and contact authorities with any information.
Anyone with information on the shooting is urged to contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477. Anonymous tips are accepted.
Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.
-
Florida6 seconds agoFlorida preacher buys VT campus to build Christian college | Fox News Video
-
Georgia6 minutes agoNorthwest Georgia shelters overwhelmed: Catoosa tops 80 pets and Walker adds 73 in July
-
Hawaii12 minutes agoRecords were set for June rainfall – Hawaii Tribune-Herald
-
Idaho18 minutes agoHow the City of Boise tests water samples to ensure the Boise River runs clean
-
Illinois24 minutes agoData center fears mount after Illinois village residents prepare for the worst
-
Indiana30 minutes agoStatewide Silver Alert issued for two missing Indiana children
-
Iowa36 minutes agoWeight loss drug needles creating safety risk for eastern Iowa law enforcement
-
Kansas42 minutes ago
Kansas Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for July 15, 2026