Betty White, whose television career spanned more than 80 years, has died. She was 99 years old.

Considered to be a trailblazer of the small screen, White’s career was longer than any other female entertainer, having worked in the industry since 1939.

Known for her iconic sitcom roles on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "The Golden Girls," White is considered to be the first woman to create a television sitcom and also was a staple of many popular game shows of the 1960s, all of which helped give her the title of "first lady of television."

White continued to act late into her life, starring in the TV Land sitcom "Hot in Cleveland," which ran from 2010 to 2015.

Throughout her career, White’s work earned her eight Emmy Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, three American Comedy Awards and one Grammy Award.

She was the first woman to win an Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host for "Just Men!" in 1983.

White was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1995 and named a Disney Legend in 2009.

In an interview with journalist Katie Couric to celebrate the actress' 95th birthday, White said she considered herself the "luckiest old broad on TV."

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https://www.wpbf.com/article/betty-white-dies/38646315

LOS ANGELES —

Sally Ann Howes, who played as a child actor before she later starred in the 1968 film "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" with Dick Van Dyke, has died. She was 91.

Her son Andrew Hart Adler confirmed his mother's death in an interview with the Press Association on Wednesday. Her nephew, Toby Howes, said on Twitter that the family hoped Howes could "hold on" until the Christmas screening of "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," but he said she ultimately died peacefully in her sleep.

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https://www.wpbf.com/article/sally-ann-howes-chitty-chitty-bang-bang-dies-at-91/38597305

2021 was a year of amazing images. From the Tokyo Olympics to another year of the coronavirus pandemic, a new president, wildfires and riots at the Capitol, 2021 was full of newsworthy events. Take a look at the slideshow above to see a recap of the year in photos.

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https://www.wpbf.com/article/2021-year-in-photos/38574975

John Madden, the Hall of Fame coach turned broadcaster whose exuberant calls combined with simple explanations provided a weekly soundtrack to NFL games for three decades, died Tuesday morning, the NFL said. He was 85.

The league said he died unexpectedly and did not detail a cause.

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https://www.wpbf.com/article/john-madden-dies/38630926

After 78 years of waiting, this 97-year-old WWII veteran finally got his high school diploma

Ernie was sent to boot camp in 1943, which was supposed to be his graduating year.

From there, he fought in the Battle of the Bulge and took part in the Normandy Invasion, his son Dave Reda told CNN.

Since he missed out on getting his diploma, Ernie's granddaughter, Heather Anderson, had been thinking for about 2 years about how to give her grandfather that recognition.

"It had crossed my mind; it had crossed all of ours minds, but she (Heather) just stayed after it," Dave told CNN.

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https://www.wpbf.com/article/after-78-years-97-year-old-wwii-veteran-high-school-diploma/38584824

ORLANDO, Fla. —

Tiger Woods might not be ready for tour-level golf. He can still deliver quite a show.

In a remarkable return from a car crash 10 months ago that badly damaged his right leg, Woods and 12-year-old son Charlie set a tournament record with 11 straight birdies and pushed John Daly and his college son all the way to the finish Sunday in the PNC Championship.

Daly and John Daly II, a freshman at Arkansas, won by two shots. It might have been the widest Woods ever smiled after a runner-up finish.

"The fact that I'm able to have this opportunity this year — even a couple weeks ago we didn't really know whether or not I would be doing this," Woods said. "But here we are. And we had just best time ever."

The birdie streak ended on the final hole, allowing Team Daly room for error they didn't need.

Daly birdied the 16th hole to regain the lead and they stayed in front when Woods and his son both chipped too strong on the par-5 closing hole and missed 8-foot birdie putts. Daly and John Daly II two-putted for birdie on the 18th for a 57 and set the record that mattered.

They finished at 27-under par, breaking by one the tournament mark set by Davis Love III and his son three years ago.

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https://www.wpbf.com/article/tiger-son-11-straight-birdies/38561438

All holiday meals have one thing in common: festive desserts. But across the country, people's go-to holiday sweets vary. Job hunting website Zippia used Google Trends to determine Americans' favorite Christmas dessert by state, and one sweet treat surprisingly stood out more than the rest during the holiday season: cheesecake.

The company selected over 40 classic Christmas desserts and looked at Google Trends to see which ones were searched for at a disproportionately high rate throughout the holidays in each state. According to the December 2020 report, countrywide, the search volume for holiday fudge, peppermint bark, gingerbread desserts and cheesecake sky rocketed. Though there were plenty of obscure classics in some states as well.

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https://www.wpbf.com/article/favorite-christmas-dessert-by-state/34953609

Procter & Gamble has recalled more than 30 aerosol spray haircare products, including many dry shampoos and dry conditioners, warning that the products could contain benzene, a cancer-causing agent.

The affected items include assorted Pantene, Herbal Essences, Hair Food, Old Spice and Aussie products, according to Friday's recall notice, which is P&G's second within a month. A full list of recalled products is available on the company's website, including the production code numbers affected by the recall.

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https://www.wpbf.com/article/dry-shampoo-sprays-recalled-for-cancer-causing-chemical/38573294

NEW YORK —

New York state reported Friday that just over 21,000 people had tested positive for COVID-19 the previous day, the highest single-day total for new cases since testing became widely available.

Just under half of the positive results were in the city, where lines were growing at testing stations, the Rockettes Christmas show was canceled for the season and some Broadway shows nixed performances because of outbreaks among cast members.

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https://www.wpbf.com/article/rockettes-christmas-spectacular-shows-are-canceled-due-to-covid-19/38555908

Partial human remains found in a garbage bag nearly 40 years ago have been identified as belonging to Frank "Frankie" Little Jr, a member of the R&B band, The O'Jays, according to police. SOURCE: Twinsburg Police Department

Partial human remains found in a garbage bag nearly 40 years ago have been identified as belonging to Frank "Frankie" Little Jr, a member of the R&B band The O'Jays, according to police.

The Twinsburg Police Department in Ohio announced the news on Tuesday, saying DNA from relatives was used to help identify the remains found on Feb. 18, 1982. Police said that not much is known about Little's disappearance and death.

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https://www.wpbf.com/article/human-remains-found-40-years-ago-identified-as-member-of-the-o-jays-r-b-band/38519076

Support those affected by deadly tornadoes by donating to WPBF 25's Day of Giving. We have teamed up with the American Red Cross to help raise money for those in need.

Call 1-855-848-GIVE to donate or click here.

NEW YORK —

U.S. Senate candidate Mehmet Oz will end his "Dr. Oz" syndicated talk show next month, and producers will replace it with a cooking show featuring his daughter.

The "Dr. Oz" show, in its 13th season, will air its last episode on Jan. 14, Sony Pictures Television said on Monday.

The heart surgeon and talk show host is running for the U.S. Senate as a Republican in Pennsylvania. Television stations in Philadelphia, New York City and Cleveland that are seen in Pennsylvania had already taken "Dr. Oz" off the air, for fear that the Federal Communications Commission's "equal time" rules would allow rival candidates to seek similar air time.

In many parts of the country, "Dr. Oz" will be replaced by "The Good Dish," a combination talk-cooking show where hosts Daphne Oz, Gail Simmons and Jamika Pessoa will serve up a dish of the day. Producers boasted it would be "the most fun you can have in the kitchen without having to do the dishes."

The show is an outgrowth of a weekly segment on "Dr. Oz," much like Oz's television career got an early boost from Oprah Winfrey.

Sony said it has commitments to air "The Good Dish" in stations representing 90% of the nation's population.

"The Good Dish" begins Jan. 17, Sony said.

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https://www.wpbf.com/article/dr-oz-show-ending-next-month-as-host-seeks-senate-seat/38505204

RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. —

PGA Tour player, Justin Thomas is known for his good work on the golf course, he was named the 2020 PGA player of the year.

But Monday afternoon, Thomas stopped by the Boys and Girls Club of Riviera Beach, giving those who attend a special gift ahead of the holidays.

For many of these kids at the Boys and Girls Club, this will be their biggest gift of the season.

Now thanks to PGA golfer Justin Thomas, these kids will have a very happy holiday.

Thomas and his family passed out gifts for all the teens at the Max M. Fisher Boys & Girls Club of Riviera Beach.

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https://www.wpbf.com/article/pga-golfer-justin-thomas-donates-gifts-to-riviera-beach-boys-and-girls-club/38507484

NEW YORK —

It was just another job for child actor Karolyn Grimes. She was 6 and had already done four movies by the summer of 1946 when filming began on "It's a Wonderful Life."

The only thing she recalls about the biggest movie of her career was being delighted to play in the snow on the set.

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https://www.wpbf.com/article/two-stars-of-it-s-a-wonderful-life-look-back-at-a-classic/38485018

ORLANDO, Fla. —

Two local youth football teams were crowned national champions Friday at Pop Warner's 64th annual Super Bowl in Orlando.

Both teams beat the Northampton Indians.

The 10u Palm Beach Gardens Gators shut out the Indians 34-0 to win the Division 2 title at Camping World Stadium. The Gators outscored their opponents 536-25 this season.

The Fort Pierce Firehawks beat the Northampton Indians 14U team, 38-12, and were crowned the 14U Division 2 national champions.

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https://www.wpbf.com/article/two-local-pop-warner-teams-win-national-titles/38489118

Singer Michael Nesmith of The Monkees performs onstage during The Monkees Farewell tour at Atlanta Symphony Hall on October 08, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images) SOURCE: Paras Griffin

LOS ANGELES —

Michael Nesmith, the singer-songwriter, author, actor-director and entrepreneur who will likely be best remembered as the wool-hatted, guitar-strumming member of the made-for-television rock band The Monkees, has died at 78.

Nesmith, who had undergone quadruple bypass surgery in 2018, died at home Friday of natural causes, his family said in a statement.

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https://www.wpbf.com/article/monkees-singer-and-guitarist-michael-nesbit-dies-at-78/38486348

HAMILTON, Ohio —

A home in Hamilton, Ohio, is leaving no blade of grass unturned, decking out its front and back yard in lights, even including a lit-up archway.

The display features more figurines and inflatables than you can count.

The home also has an illuminated archway so you can walk through the display and take in all scenes.

Find some familiar characters decked out in Christmas gear along the front and back lawns.

Watch Video:

https://www.wpbf.com/article/ohio-home-decked-out-front-to-back-in-christmas-lights-with-walk-through-archway/38458323

Better.com CEO Vishal Garg announced the mortgage company is laying off about 9% of its workforce on a Zoom webinar Wednesday abruptly informing the more than 900 employees on the call they were being terminated just before the holidays.

"If you're on this call, you are part of the unlucky group that is being laid off," Garg said on the call, a recording of which was viewed by CNN Business. "Your employment here is terminated effective immediately."

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https://www.wpbf.com/article/900-employees-fired-over-zoom/38443231

Just a day before the head of Instagram will face questions from lawmakers over its child safety practices, the company is rolling out a handful of new features aimed at making it harder for users, particularly teenagers, to fall down rabbit holes that could be harmful to their mental health.

On Tuesday, the company launched its Take a Break tool, which will encourage users to spend some time away from the platform after they've been scrolling for a certain period. The feature, announced in September, will first come to users in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, and to all users in the months ahead.

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https://www.wpbf.com/article/instagram-tell-users-when-to-take-a-break-from-app/38447385

A graphic designer and animator has come up with an interactive light display that you need to see, and hear, to believe.

Michael Coffing has his home in New Mexico decked out with lights that light up to different songs.

He runs the show using a single-board computer called a Raspberry Pi, which he says is about the size of a credit card.

The video above is a light display set to the holiday classic, the "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy." He has other shows set to other favorites like "Winter Wonderland," "O Holy Night" and "Little Drummer Boy."

See The Video:

https://www.wpbf.com/article/animated-light-display/38419074

Just in time for the season of giving, Bublé and bubly are joining forces to spread some holiday cheer, giving fans a chance to sip this season's most refreshing stocking stuffer

PURCHASE, N.Y., Dec. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Just in time for the season of giving, and in celebration of the 10-year anniversary of his iconic, chart-topping holiday album "Christmas" as well as new holiday music videos for hits "Let It Snow" and "It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas," bubly is giving a very special gift to singer Michael Bublé: his very own, limited-edition holiday flavor: merry berry bublé!

Since 2019, fans of bubly sparkling water have had a front row seat to Bublé's entertaining endeavors to change the "y" in bubly to an "é" -- thanks to his unrelenting conviction that bubly is, in fact, named after him. From spray painting a bubly billboard to being caught red-handed in a bubly warehouse changing cans of bubly bounce™ to bublé bounce, Bublé has pulled every trick in the book to make his mark (literally). This year, in the spirit of the holidays, bubly is finally granting Bublé his wish!

merry berry bublé, the bubly brand's first-ever holiday flavor, features the perfect melody of raspberries, blackberries and strawberries, creating a refreshing blend of festive fruit flavors. To make the limited-edition cans truly worthy of their namesake, merry berry bublé is playfully adorned with musical notes and an ode to Michael's signature necktie. And because no can of bubly would be complete without giving fans a reason to crack a smile™, each can of merry berry bublé is decked out in its own tacky holiday sweater, bringing that iconic bubly grin into the holiday season.

"After two years of working to show the world that bubly should actually be spelled bublé, I can finally put the markers down! I am incredibly excited that bubly is granting me my holiday wish and putting my name on their first-ever holiday release, merry berry bublé," says Michael. "I don't want to say, 'I told you so,' but c'mon – merry berry bublé has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"

Tony Bennett won over generations of fans crooning "I Left My Heart in San Francisco." And on his 95th birthday, the beloved singer left his heart on the stage of Radio City Music Hall.

Six months after Bennett and his family revealed he is suffering from Alzheimer's, Bennett sang alongside Lady Gaga before sold-out crowds in a two-concert series in early August billed as his final New York performances.

Read more:

https://www.wpbf.com/article/tony-bennett-moving-final-concert-with-lady-gaga/38380270