WEATHER ALERT
‘Rattlesnake Dinner:’ This is one of Florida’s strangest delicacies. Would you try it?
Read full article: ‘Rattlesnake Dinner:’ This is one of Florida’s strangest delicacies. Would you try it?When looking at a rattlesnake, “Delicious” isn’t usually the first word that comes to mind. But that wasn’t always the case.
Irad Ortiz Jr. wins his fifth Bill Shoemaker Award as the outstanding jockey at the Breeders' Cup
Read full article: Irad Ortiz Jr. wins his fifth Bill Shoemaker Award as the outstanding jockey at the Breeders' CupIrad Ortiz Jr. rode three winners at the Breeders’ Cup to earn the Bill Shoemaker Award as the outstanding jockey at the world championships.
2nd horse based at Santa Anita dies leading up to Breeders' Cup
Read full article: 2nd horse based at Santa Anita dies leading up to Breeders' CupGeaux Rocket Ride has been euthanized four days after getting injured during a workout leading up to the Breeders’ Cup and struggling to recover after surgery.
The spate of racehorse deaths this year has Breeders' Cup under intense scrutiny
Read full article: The spate of racehorse deaths this year has Breeders' Cup under intense scrutinyAfter horse deaths marred this year’s Kentucky Derby and Preakness, and two more occurred days ahead of the world championships, safety at the Breeders’ Cup is under intense scrutiny.
Like antique shopping? These are the Florida cities you’ll want to visit
Read full article: Like antique shopping? These are the Florida cities you’ll want to visitFor the antique hunters among us: you’re in luck, as Florida sports several locales that host great outlets for antique seekers, according to Southern Living.
4-year-old killed, 5-year-old injured when SUV crashes in Florida day care playground, FHP says
Read full article: 4-year-old killed, 5-year-old injured when SUV crashes in Florida day care playground, FHP saysA 4-year-old girl was killed and a 5-year-old girl was seriously injured when a car crashed into a Florida day care, according to troopers.
Florida men were flying to get tacos when plane went down in the Everglades
Read full article: Florida men were flying to get tacos when plane went down in the EvergladesJose Ecarri says he and his pilot friend were flying from Tamiami to Arcadia to grab some tacos on Tuesday when the engine of their small plane failed and they landed in a remote area of the Florida Everglades — miraculously unscathed.
California officials take wait-and-see approach with Baffert
Read full article: California officials take wait-and-see approach with BaffertThe California Horse Racing Board says it will honor any action against Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert by other states if his license is suspended or revoked after a hearing and due process.
New York suspends Bob Baffert pending Kentucky Derby probe
Read full article: New York suspends Bob Baffert pending Kentucky Derby probeBob Baffert has been temporarily suspended from entering horses at New York racetracks pending an investigation of the failed drug test by Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit.
Rock Your World rocks win in Santa Anita Derby; Baffert 2nd
Read full article: Rock Your World rocks win in Santa Anita Derby; Baffert 2ndRock Your World won the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby by 4 1/4 lengths over 4-5 favorite Medina Spirit, preventing Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert from earning his 10th win in the West Coast’s prep for the Kentucky Derby.
Damage from virus: Utility bills overwhelm some households
Read full article: Damage from virus: Utility bills overwhelm some householdsA study done by Arcadia, which runs a service that helps households lower utility bills, found that the average past-due amount by those in its network was roughly $850. And many people have lost income even while remaining employed, leaving them unable to buy food, pay rent or afford utility bills. Combined with other government financing allotted for energy aid since the pandemic began, the total available to help struggling households pay utility bills is about $9.1 billion. With their sharply reduced income, Desper and her husband fell nearly $700 behind on energy bills and more than $1,100 behind on mortgage payments. Even bigger past-due bills have been emerging in New Jersey, said Kathy Kerr, director of utility assistance for the Affordable Housing Alliance.
Polk County Sheriff’s Office detention deputy arrested on DUI charge
Read full article: Polk County Sheriff’s Office detention deputy arrested on DUI chargeA Polk County Sheriff’s Office detention deputy was arrested Saturday on a charge of DUI. Michaela Butler, 25, was arrested in unincorporated Arcadia by the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office after she registered a blood alcohol level of 0.09, above the legal limit of 0.08. There was also a cooler with several cans of opened and unopened beer in it, the sheriff’s office said. Butler was arrested and booked into the DeSoto County Jail. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said Butler, who was hired as a dual-certified detention deputy sheriff in 2019 and was assigned to the Central County Jail, is currently suspended pending termination proceedings.
UK online fashion retailer buys Topshop, three other brands
Read full article: UK online fashion retailer buys Topshop, three other brandsOnline retail company ASOS, confirmed Monday Feb. 1, 2021, it has sealed the takeover of Topshop and three other brands from the collapse of the Arcadia retail empire, buying the brand names but not the high street retail space. The deal, announced Monday, puts thousands of jobs at risk because Asos acquired the Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge’s and HIIT brands but none of their stores. AdArcadia struggled to respond to increased competition from low-cost rivals like Primark, as well as from online disrupters such as Asos and Boohoo. The four brands acquired in Monday’s deal posted sales of 1 billion pounds, Asos said. Boohoo, said last week it was in exclusive talks to buy three other Arcadia brands — Dorothy Perkins, Wallis and Burton — in a deal that also won’t include any stores.
UK retailing shifts further online as Boohoo buys Debenhams
Read full article: UK retailing shifts further online as Boohoo buys DebenhamsUnder the terms of the deal, Boohoo will sell Debenhams products from early next year. Boohoo said the deal represents a “fantastic opportunity” to target new customers and launch into beauty, sports and homewares. However, Shore Capital retail analyst Greg Lawless cautioned that an online-only operation could hit Debenhams’ beauty sales. “The big question in beauty is whether the big beauty brands — Clinique and Chanel — will remain with Boohoo longer term," he said. Arcadia, which employed around 13,000 people and has 444 U.K. stores, also collapsed at the start of December.
In dark day for UK retailing, 242-year-old Debenhams to shut
Read full article: In dark day for UK retailing, 242-year-old Debenhams to shutA woman wearing a face mask walks past the Debenhams flagship department store on Oxford Street, during England's second coronavirus lockdown in London, Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020. Long-suffering Debenhams, the 242-year-old department store chain, said Tuesday that administrators had decided to start winding down operations after a potential buyer of the company pulled out. Since the pandemic took root in March, the U.K. has forced the closure of retailing outlets in various ways. Arcadia is the biggest operator of concessions in Debenhams department stores, so its potential collapse affected Debenhams' appeal. Brands were added to the Burton menswear business before the umbrella company Arcadia was formed in 1997.
Philip Green's retail empire Arcadia calls in administrators
Read full article: Philip Green's retail empire Arcadia calls in administratorsArcadia Group, the retail empire of tycoon Philip Green, which owns well-known British fashion chains like Topshop and employs around 15,000 people, appears to be on the brink of collapse following the economic shock of the coronavirus pandemic. In another blow to the country's retail industry during the coronavirus pandemic, Arcadia said it had called in administrators from Deloitte. The decision protects Arcadia from creditors while a buyer is sought for all or parts of the company. For the past couple of decades, Green has been one of the most influential executives in European retailing. He bought Arcadia in 2002 and subsequently came close to taking over Marks & Spencer, too.
UK retail empire of billionaire Philip Green teeters on edge
Read full article: UK retail empire of billionaire Philip Green teeters on edge(AP Photo/Matt Dunham, FILE)LONDON – The retail empire of tycoon Philip Green, which owns well-known British fashion chains like Topshop, appears to be on the brink of collapse following the economic shock of the coronavirus pandemic. England is in a four-week lockdown that has forced the closure of all shops selling items deemed to be non-essential. For the past couple of decades, Green has been one of the most influential executives in European retailing. Though Green subsequently paid hundreds of millions into the pension, his reputation never recovered. Chappell, meanwhile, was this month sentenced to six years in jail for tax evasion during his time running BHS.
Memorials grow in Eddie Van Halen's adopted hometown
Read full article: Memorials grow in Eddie Van Halen's adopted hometownSean Costello, of Arcadia, photographs Eddie Van Halen's childhood home, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, in Pasadena, Calif. Van Halen, who had battled cancer, died Tuesday at age 65. (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)If you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000.
Memorials grow in Eddie Van Halen's adopted hometown
Read full article: Memorials grow in Eddie Van Halen's adopted hometownSean Costello, of Arcadia, photographs Eddie Van Halen's childhood home, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, in Pasadena, Calif. Van Halen, who had battled cancer, died Tuesday at age 65. (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)PASADENA, Calif. – The childhood home of Eddie Van Halen and a sidewalk outside a nearby liquor store have been turned into memorials to the legendary rock guitarist in his adopted hometown near Los Angeles. The shrines began popping up shortly after Van Halen’s death from cancer at age 65 earlier in the week. “This way people have a chance to come out and share their feelings,” said Jackie Gibson, whose younger brother was childhood friends with the Van Halens. The Van Halens formed their first band, The Broken Combs, at Hamilton Elementary and played at lunchtime.