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fireworks

Hold my beer and watch this! July Fourth fireworks light up ER

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As the long July 4 holiday weekend continues, Sachs Media Group’s Breakthrough Research Division wanted to look on the brighter side of our independence-declaring holiday — and by that, we mean fireworks, of course! Specifically, we consulted the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) to look at the volume of recorded injuries involving fireworks since 1997. We were illuminated to learn from Jim Rosica of FloridaPolitics.com that Floridians purchasing fireworks promise to use them “solely and exclusively in frightening birds…

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Florida’s bizarre fireworks law still in place

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

It’s almost Independence Day, which in Florida means: Time to scare some birds. Although you can buy fireworks in the state, they’re not actually legal here. Indeed, The Tampa Tribune in 2014 called fireworks sales in Florida an “institutionalized charade,” leading one lawmaker to call for “more freedom (and) less fraud.” Retail sales are allowed only because of a 62-year-old loophole in the law, the only known one of its kind in the country. That allows “fireworks … to be used…

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Authorities: Woman chokes teen for blocking view at Disney

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Authorities in Florida say a woman is accused of child abuse after choking a teenager who refused to sit down during a fireworks display at Disney’s Magic Kingdom. An Orange County Sheriff’s arrest report says 41-year-old Tabbatha Kay Mature of New Baltimore, Michigan, was sitting with her family Wednesday night, waiting for the nightly fireworks display. The teen, who was visiting the park with friends, stood up when the show started, blocking the Mature family’s view. The Orlando Sentinel reports…

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Greg Steube files fireworks legalization bill

in Statewide by

Sis-boom-bah: state Sen. Greg Steube has filed legislation to legalize consumer fireworks in Florida. Steube, the Sarasota Republican who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, filed his bill (SB 324) Tuesday. The legislation appears to be identical to a bill (HB 4005) filed for the 2014 Legislative Session by then-state Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Fort Walton Beach Republican. That bill died in committee, records show. Similar to Gaetz’s effort, Steube’s bill would repeal the prohibition on selling fireworks to the general public. It also would…

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Hold my beer and watch this! July Fourth fireworks light up ER

in Apolitical/Top Headlines by

As the July Fourth weekend approaches, Sachs Media Group’s Breakthrough Research Division wanted to look on the brighter side of our independence-declaring holiday — and by that, we mean fireworks, of course! Specifically, we consulted the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) to look at the volume of recorded injuries involving fireworks since 1997. We were illuminated to learn from Jim Rosica of FloridaPolitics.com that Floridians purchasing fireworks promise to use them “solely and exclusively in frightening birds from agricultural…

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Bucs place injured C.J. Wilson on reserve/retired list

in Sports/Top Headlines by

There will be no medical miracle, at least not in the immediate future. Cornerback C.J. Wilson, who lost two fingers in a fireworks’ accident earlier this month, has been placed on the reserved/retired list by the Tampa Bay Bucs. “We know this process has been difficult for C.J. and respect his decision to step away from football,” Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht said. “We are grateful for the contributions he has made to the Bucs and wish him the…

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Father of cornerback C.J. Wilson thankful his son’s alive

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At the worst of times, it is still possible for one to count his blessings. Just ask Curtis Wilson Sr., who is grateful his son C.J. only lost two fingers instead of his wife in a recent fireworks explosion. His NFL career? He’ll worry about that later. “I’m sure it’s in the back of his mind,” Wilson told WBTV. “For me, that really doesn’t matter. My son is alive, so God took care of him. I guess we’ll cross that…

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