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FAU professor worked with Houston in 70s

His Florida Atlantic University students may call him professor, but the music industry knows Michael Zager as a platinum-record producing Hall of Famer. In the 1970’s, it was Zager who took a chance on a 14-year-old girl named Whitney Houston. He was in New York at the time producing music with the Michael Zager Band and working with Whitney’s mom, Cissy. Zager said one day Cissy told him a back-up singer couldn’t make the taping and suggested that her daughter fill-in. Whitney was still wearing her school uniform. Shy and sweet, Zager decided to see what she can do. Her voice blew him away. It wasn’t long before Zager decided to give the teenager the lead female vocal on a singled called, “Life’s a Party”. LISTEN: "Life's a Party"

Published: Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:09:28 GMT

Pit bull supporters want dog ban lifted

They wore shirts that read, "Pit bulls are not the problem, bad owners are the problem," and held signs that said, "No BSL." WATCH: Raw Video: Protestors demonstrate against BSL BSL stands for "breed specific legislation." The protesters of Miami-Dade County's more than 20-year ban on the breed call BSL "canine profiling". Dahlia Canes told Local 10 she started the "Miami Coalition Against Breed Specific Legislation" seven years ago. During Sunday's rally outside Tropical Park supporters asked passing cars to honk if they support their cause. Their goal is to support lawmakers on a state level who are working to end Miami-Dade County's ban. Bills are currently making their way through House and Senate committees. Canes said if Miami-Dade County's ban is lifted it could save taxpayers millions of dollars each year and set precedent for smaller cities and counties nationwide to do the same. Canes dismissed critics who argue Pit bulls are more likely to bite someone than a Maltese, for instance. Miami-Dade County Animal Services told Local 10 that Pit bull enforcement is complaint-driven. A USA Today article from 2010 found that despite the ban being in place for more than two decades, there was no solid evidence to show how effective it had been in preventing dog bites. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at data collected from the Humane Society and media reports from 1979-1998 that involved dog bite-related fatalities or DBRF. Here's what they found: "Most victims were children. Studies indicate that Pit bull-type dogs were involved in approximately a third of human DBRF reported during the 12-year period from 1981 through 1992, and Rottweilers were responsible for about half of human DBRF reported during the 4 years from 1993 through 1996. These data have caused some individuals to infer that certain breeds of dogs are more likely to bite than others and should, therefore, be banned or regulated more stringently." READ: The full CDC report The study goes on to say that drafting an effective breed-specific ban is problematic, in part because the dog breeds that have resulted in deadly dog bites have varied over time. "Breed-specific legislation does not address the fact that a dog of any breed can become dangerous when bred or trained to be aggressive," researchers said.

Published: Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:22:17 GMT

Man arrested in violent home invasion

A Coral Springs woman and her newborn baby escaped serious injury Sunday during a violent home invasion. A man carrying a knife broke into the home on NW 95th Avenue with intent to burglarize what he believed to be an empty home, police said. However, the female homeowner startled the would-be thief. The suspect turned his attention to the 25-year-old woman and began to sexually assault her. The victim managed to grab a cell phone and dial 911 during the attack but was not able to put the phone to her ear. The dispatcher on the other end could hear commotion. "As soon as there was a problem she called from her cell phone," said Sgt. Dave Kirkland of the Coral Springs Police Department. "After she wasn't able to communicate, she kept an open line and that was instrumental because what that did was it allowed the dispatchers to triangulate at least a close proximity to where the call came from." Coral Springs police were already in the area when they said the 19-year old suspect ran out a back door. The woman made a second call to police from a land line and was on the phone as she tried to point police in the right direction. Officers set up a perimeter in the area and eventually found the teen attempting to hide outdoors not far from the home. The suspect was arrested, according to police. Meanwhile, the victim was being checked out at a nearby hospital and planned to speak with detectives. The newborn was unharmed. It does not appear the suspect and victim knew each other.

Published: Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:18:07 GMT

Hollywood residents take back neighborhood

The savage beating of an elderly man in Hollywood prompts neighbors to take action. Several local organizations joined forces for a public safety rally.

Published: Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:57:34 GMT

S. Fla. shop whips up sweet treats

It's estimated $1 billion worth of chocolate will be sold by this Valentine's Day. A Davie shop wants a piece of that pie by selling boxes of chocolate. And you can even eat the box it comes in. Schakolad Chocolate Factory in Davie will make thousands of hand-made hearts before Valentine's Day. “We have hearts that we can custom write whatever people want to write, personalize them,” says Schakolad co-owner Dafne Reich. “Same thing with the boxes we can personalize the names of the sweethearts.” The edible heart box is a big seller for $35. And comes filled with whatever you want. “It is a mad house over here thankfully you know. It's great for business,” says Reich. If life is not a box of chocolates for you, how about a chocolate covered bottle? ”Somebody who really loves wine or champagne they can enjoy that and the chocolate at the same time,” laughs Reich. Or flowers, or maybe body paint in white or dark chocolate. The store will be open 10am to 7pm on Monday. For those who haven’t bought sweets for your “sweetie” yet. Click here for more information.

Published: Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:46:37 GMT

Couple celebrates wedding despite venue troubles

When Dwaine Brown proposed to his now-wife, Shelby, it wasn't all roses and candles; he practically tossed the diamond ring in her direction. Shelby laughed and said yes. That's how you know it was real love. But their journey to get to the altar wasn't as straightforward. In January, after sending out 120 invitations and making the final alterations on bridesmaids dresses and tuxedos, the couple drove to the Roman Palace Ballroom in Hialeah to make one of their final payments on their wedding package. As Dwaine approached the front door, he noticed a piece of paper taped to it: an eviction notice. According to a property manager, the owner of the Roman Palace was behind on rent at the shopping plaza and couldn't afford to keep it open. It came as a devastating blow to the couple, who were always on time with their payments, refusing to go into debt. Now they were out $3,800, and unable to get in contact with anyone from the Roman Palace to reclaim any of their losses. "I'm embarrassed," Brown said in January. But when the couples' story aired on the news, some generous South Floridians stepped up to help. Lourdes Velez, a photographer with One Shot Studio, said she was compelled to offer her services for free. Tony's Ballroom in Hialeah couldn't offer their venue for free, but the owner said he could offer a wedding package and a ballroom at a reduced price. Dwaine and Shelby wanted to keep their original wedding date of February 11th; Tony's was able to accommodate that. And, as it turned out, Lourdes became much more than a photographer. She helped the couple with the planning, the wedding favors, and the decorations. "Dwaine and Shelby have been such a blessing and are so humble," Lourdes wrote in an email. On Saturday, February 11, Dwaine and Shelby walked down the aisle at the Holy Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Opa-locka. They followed the ceremony with a reception at Tony's, decorated with red roses and elegant linens. Shelby danced all night and the party, according to friends' accounts, was a huge success. But the real success might actually be Dwaine and Shelby's resilience. Planning a wedding can be stressful. Planning a wedding in one month, after losing thousands of dollars, is trying. Dwaine and Shelby ended up having a great wedding. Now they're looking forward to having a great marriage. Local 10 has continued to try to track down the owner or any associate of Roman Palace.

Published: Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:01:31 GMT

BSO: Suicide, suspicious death linked

Detectives investigating a suicide Saturday morning at a gun shop were led to another suspicious death. About 10:40 a.m., Broward Sheriff's deputies were called to the Arizona Shooting Range at 4317 N. State Road 7 after an apparent suicide. A 52-year-old man had rented a gun and then shot himself. He was transported to Broward General Medical Center in extremely critical condition. The man later died at the hospital. Saturday afternoon, a Broward Sheriff's spokesperson said detectives went to the man's Tamarac home to notify the family of the death. When they arrived at the home, located at 2605 NW 55th Street, detectives found the body of the man's 45-year-old wife in the bedroom. The couple was married in 1997. Police found no records of domestic violence at the home. Neighbors said the couple kept to themselves, and didn't believe the couple had any children. Police have not released the name's of the victims.

Published: Sun, 12 Feb 2012 01:14:26 GMT

Vehicle drives into strip club

A vehicle drove into the front door of a strip club. According to police, two men were thrown out of 'Gold Rush' on Northeast 11 St. Once outside, a man drove an SUV into the glass doors of the club. Police said the passenger stayed on the scene, while the driver left the car and ran off.

Published: Sun, 12 Feb 2012 16:08:13 GMT

Key West church named Minor Basilica

Pope Benedict XVI has named a Key West church as a Minor Basilica. St. Mary Star of the Sea was established in 1846. It is the oldest church in the Archdiocese of Miami. St. Mary Star of the Sea will become Miami's first Minor Basilica and the fifth in Florida. Last year, Archbishop Thomas Wenski made the official request for the designation. A mass with the conferral of the insignia of a basilica will be celebrated on May 31st.

Published: Sun, 12 Feb 2012 04:55:34 GMT

Turchin's Take: Killing family in time of crisis 'cowardly'

I am so sick to my stomach. Once again, some selfish, self-centered, twisted person who can't cope with life on life's terms, and decides to end the lives of others - and then take his own. COWARDS! This is a sickening trend that unfortunately is becoming all too common - men angry, jealous, wasted on drugs, you pick the excuse - kill an ex-girlfriend, a former wife, or worse yet, their own children ... and then themselves. How brave! The latest cowardly act was earlier this week in Deerfield Beach. Michael DeJesus first shot and killed a 76-year-old man who wouldn't let him use the phone in his motor home. Then, hours later, inside that man's RV forced his wife and two sons to lie shoulder to shoulder on a bed and one-by-one plunged a knife into each one of them several times, then ended his own life with the same knife. Nine-year-old Jeshiah bled out and died on that bed. His mother and 7-year-old brother Samson are fighting for their lives. How can a father do something like that to his own kids? I cannot comprehend how someone can kill their own children. How can someone look into a child's eyes and stab them? This comes a week after Josh Powell - the Washington father who blew up his house, killing himself and his two children - 7-year-old Charlie and 5-year-old Braden. I have a message for both of them - and the thousands who have preceded them --kill you, okay - but to kill your own kids or spouse or ex, this way - wow - what a poor excuse for a human being. How brave! I can only pray that his sons didn't suffer. A child who has not even had a chance to taste life and all it can offer, and you stop them, because YOU have problems. Chances to go to school, to get married, have children and go through troubles, just like everyone else - you took that away. If your life isn't what you wanted - you should have changed it. And if you don't have the cajones to do that - you should have gone somewhere and ended it, if that is all you could see to do. If you were not man or woman enough to see what tomorrow brings, take yourself out, but give your wife/girlfriend and children the chance to live. To kill a spouse and/or children - who do they think they are? These children might have grown up to be leaders of this country. They might have discovered a cure for who knows what. But, because someone felt their life was in the pits, they took their lives. How selfish can a person be? When someone kills their family, or someone they love, that is purely selfish. It's like saying, I cannot take the life I want, and so we all go. I'm not sure how people figure they have a right to take anyone else's life, because their lives suck. It's time people with "issues" stop thinking of what they want and start thinking of what others deserve. Life can be tough. And, sometimes you have to man up or woman up and take the bad with the good. If you can't do that, then at least give your family a chance to do it. As for these murderers - we can only hope that they still have Hell to endure.

Published: Sun, 12 Feb 2012 17:06:32 GMT

Liberty City leaders defend beautification plan

"The Putney Perspective" has some Liberty City residents and business leaders outraged. It began when the city of Miami announced $428,000 in tax money would be spent to beautify four privately owned businesses on Northwest Seventh Avenue. During his commentary at the end of "This Week In South Florida” last Sunday, Local 10’s Michael Putney said, "Why are taxpayers footing the bills for it, and what long-range difference will it make to Liberty City? I would say, not much.’" VIDEO: Putney Perspective READ: Michael Putney's Column "Spending this money on four -- just four -- businesses is absurd," Putney added. The area is in Commissioner Michelle Spence Jones's district, and she said Putney is absolutely wrong. Spence-Jones said this grant was earmarked for commercial rehabilitation. On Friday, some 70 people gathered to attack Putney's on-air comments and his op-ed in the Miami Herald. "I think it's bigotry towards the residents of Liberty City," said Leroy Jones, executive director of the Neighbors and Neighbors Association. A Chinese restaurant, a day care center, a lounge and a beauty salon will all get the taxpayer-funded makeover. It will include new paint, stucco, impact windows, doors and lighting. Putney said the money would be better spent elsewhere. "Why not take that $428,000 and spend it on after-school tutoring, special programs for kids who attend schools in Liberty City, so they will have the intellectual and social skills to get the heck out of there if they can," said Putney in his commentary. In print, Putney said it was a short-term fix that would lead to long-term failure. "This is putting lipstick on a pig," he wrote. "It was a slap in the face to every black person in this community," said the Rev. Nathaniel Wilcox. Wilcox said public money was being used to build the new Marlins stadium, so why not spend some money in Liberty City? "We are taxpayers, too," he said. Community leaders said cleaning up the buildings will increase morale and make the area attractive in the hope of bringing in new business and customers to the area. Putney stands by his editorial comments and said they are based on 35 years of reporting in South Florida.

Published: Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:31:56 GMT

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