the attic but they are not sure how. >> danielle: more historic changes for cuba. snail mail just got a little fast eemplet and it means going back to the way things were more than half a sen cowr tiewr ri ago. >> lynn: craig has more to exain. craig. >> craig: and lynn and danielle. as of today mail between the u.s. and cuba no longer that's make a pit stop nay third country which obviously de plays their arrival. it heads there directly. and in the first batch a a letter from the president to the elderly woman on the island. >> before president obama steps foot in cuba next week. a letter he wrote may well have reached her mailbox. that letter is in t first batch of direct mail in 50 years

taition for yarza to join him and m r- the first lady for coffee. she wrote the letter to the president. the second best one after your open admit tanss that over half a century cruel em wargo on this lovely enduring and resilient little island just didn't work. we cubans believe it's a bla page on american history and geo politics. very sorry to say this. she ends with please, please do visit me. give this 76-year-old lady the gift meeting you personally. i think there are not many cubans so ee dwar to meet you in person. not as an american personality but who is a charming president and o op smiel warm smile warms hearts. >> and he now days before her hayes rival. he sent a reflight. thank you for your kind words and appreciate your support over the years and a hope this letter

mail flight from the united states if he cuba in over 50 years serves as a reminder of theliet new chapter of our relationship. and he went on to express his excitement about his visit and made no promises about a cuch coffee. he signed it barack obama. and employment ease at the u.s. postal service prepared it with great care and prievmentd one proi ee called it the biggest day of her career. >> craig: obviously this would be mrn porn for a lot of folks in our area. information on how to direct letters and pack cadges to ca is listed on the usps.com web site. ininhe newsplex. i'm craig stevens. 7 news. >> lynn: well, this change comes days before president obama's historic stroits cuba. we'll have coveragerom havana head tonight k4r5067b9. >> danielle: deputies case

>> assault on a protestor ate donald trump. five officers suspended without pay. and they did not detain him forel boag a protest or on the face. the scene caught on camera in fateville last week. the supporter has since been arrested and charged. >> lynn: take you cross country tonight. a driver making a major mistake in north car. the driver whoho was heading to the hospital wound up dplarkt o hot. the car hitting barricades and median before slamming into the lobby of of the emergency room in charlotte. fourureople including the driver were humplet police say he probably suffered a medical emergency behind the wheel. >> danielle: and it was a close call in pen pennsylvania. part of gilgd collapsing t. was being de mog mollished at at time. debris, a lamb post and tree also crashing on to that bus. ckily the drive rever had just dropped off all the students who were on board.

clerk's quick thinking elping save a mother and her baby nicole cool. look at. that she s sd she noticed the glades look on the woman's face as she was swaying back and foncht the seconds after the mother falls to the ground she suffered a seize iewmplet the clerk then calling for hem and mom and baby are now doi just fine. >> danielle: wow, grabbeded that baby just in time. >> lynn: yes, good replexes. >> reporter: coming up on 7 news. the mother tossed a gun and the intruder breaks to the home. her safety wasn't the only concer >> >> lynn: customers eelgt pizza when the car steaks a swipe o o the restaurant. >> danielle: and nine music dance call er e e e happening here in s. what you need to know to have a good ultragood time this weekend. >> >> this is not a day we thought would ever happened a iemplet and a lost dog de fietz odds to be back with liz owner again.

>> phil: and it's a hot day especially in miami. hive 87 degrees. that was just one degree way. 88 degrees is the record setback in 2014. we'll have a look at the entire core for cast here nay couple minutes. >> for news 24/7, tap the 7 news. it's free. sponsoreby paul ains beige roofing.

>> >> danielle: now to the story of a mir rack you louse much. the story of an owner who

>> this dog disappeared on a fishing trip. >> lynn: whandnd happened over the next five weeks is pretty astonishing. belkeys nerey has the story from the plex. belkeys. >> belkeys: five weeks. they searched for her at sea and just when all hope was lost, the dog was found wag it's tail. >> i'm speechless. this is not a day we thought would ever happened. >> belkeys: one lucky dog found after five weeks after being lors at sea in san diego. the ger planned shephard back on the mainland safe and sound. niew lieu narks the one and half year-old must be some kind of k9 expert. after days of searching water and by plane she was presumed lost at sea and given up dor for dead weeks ago. >> they drove around the entire island m- lots of times a. >> and she swam to san clemente island. then another miracle happened.

and spotted her, opened their car door and whisled and she jumped n. just like that she was in the caring hands of naval con sue late. every one hantd a picture with her and fell in love with her. this is a four legged survivor. started with her falling off the fishing boat in the darveg night without hairg sound, the owner nick believed she was lost at sea. broken hard he held out hope luna could survive. but to make thu matters works the eye lafned san clemente is not a hos pit ta bell space. but as face fate would have it luna survivied. with the lusk el nino storm she had water and she ate dead see gallons and. >> have you to thank the navy for luna and owner and every one

i hoad owe so much gratitude to them >> >> belkeys: luna you're a star and one lucky gog dog. luna needs to pick out some lot terry numbers. other than that she is doing just fine but a little tired. >> >> lynn: she mubs a good swimmer too. >> danielle: and it was night when she fell over. >> lynn: thanks bell. >> danielle: good girl. >> lynn: good becialtion good dog. >> danielle: not belkeys but dog. >> lynn: that's funny. hurricane season on a power company's mind. right around the corner taking steps today to help you weather the storm. >> danielle: and a musical feature age story from the bible set to steak center stage. >> lynn: and two stars of empire can't wait to get trowrnt scene. they plaik guest appearance on a

company running a disaster drivment employees at fpl simulate age hurricane at the gulf stream hurricane center in hollywood. it's in an effort to speed up the response in restoring power. the practice beginning with a briefing and distra biewftion work assign ments as well as technology and assessing damage. >> lynn: yep, it's almost hurricane season. yippee. >> now 7 weather with chief meteorologist phil ferro. >> phil: hurricane conference is right around the corner and the season begins the 1st of june. all right. let's take a look at the nation. it's been beautiful especially along the west coast after thief had some nasty storms. still a lot of cloudiness across the upper mid west. we're looking that the area of low pressure way trailing front make it all the way down into the southeast. a lot of rain there. behind the front temperatures on the cool side. 38 degrees in minneapolis.

san antonio and it's warm. and it it's precisely that warm air running into cooler air here and that is causing the nasty weather. any time you get a clash of hot and cold you will have strong thunderstorms. we're sitting warm here at t degrees. here's all the rain. you can seat warm air head heading north and running into the cooler air. a line of strong thunderstorms from louisiana in through mississippi and even norther florida getting rain. we may get some of this rain here by the weekend. fal all these counties highlighted in red are look at say veer thunderstorm wall. the once highlighted here in orange threrks looking at a severe thunderstorm warning. meanwhile this little red pocket there, that say tornado warning right now. means that there's a twister on e ground. they will be eyeing that very, very careful lie. now for us threat of rip currents night biscayne bay way light chop. for you thrghout the florida keys, no advisories, five to ten knot winds.

>> next high ti, dade and broward almost tief in the morning. eight minus after 7:00 and water temperature will be at 79 degrees. the uv index at 9:00. now for tonight. partly cloudy skies. especially for broward and miami-dade. over night lows in theeven 350e6789s except for interior portions of mainland. you're looct tpsz in the mid 60s. the average high for this time of year or low i should say is about 65 degrees. the average high is between 78 and 80. tomorrow once again well above that. low 308's for the keys. mid to upper 80s for broward and miami-dade. and here is injure yur extended outlook. saturday and sunday. moisture a aociated with the front will start to filter in. right now it looks like sunday will be the wettest day and by wait, that is also the start of spring. after the rain is gorntion temperatures should come back down to near seasonal values. nice, small and gradual warm up bybyednesday and thursday.

>> lynn: a religious musical take the stage just in time for easter. fox's live vefghts passion just around the corner. the man who wrote high school musical is telling the story of the last hours of jesus christ's life on earth. >> danielle: 7's shireen sandoval live in the control room with the preview. shireen. >> reporter: yeah, pretty excited about this. first it was grease and now it's the passion. the musical is getting a modern day update. >> love takes over pam sunday as a 2000-year-old storyomes to life like never before. >> i think it is the best place to have for it. one reason literally the town rolls in. >> you heard him right. fox presents a live performance of the passion set in new orleles. tyler perry nair rates the journey which will literally

>> it will happenly. and you see the cross being carried from the superdome to the bank. >> and tris a year wood is part of an all-star cast also featuring prince recognize and seal. >> i think it will be an in crew f fair. every one will be curious. and leading the show is miami's own jen carlos ca nel a. >> miami in the house baby. let's do this. gem carlos and idol alum chris dawn doubt tri sat down with 7 news and spilled the deeds on it. hes jew dish. i'm jesus and we're best friend. jesus bff. sheentd intense and ge flrks carlo says sm the story over powers the emotion. there were moments when we were crying on scene and we rehearsed and can't get through theme of

very skin chilling. jaw dropping. and the key to pullingd off the story, the music. >> uncon nally katy perry. we singly cue et from imagine wa a gone. a 40 piece quite chie or with choir with choice that's will warm your heart. and don't miss the passion here at 8:00 on 7. >> reporter: all right sha reefnlt and two hitox shows teaming up for star power. justine in nez bringing their star power to the americaca idol stage. they will be stlirng sith never let it die on the stage. and the contestants will be announced night a big night a luvment adam lambert make the come back to the idol stage. you can watch it all unfold beginning at 8:00 right here on 7. >> l ln: next tonight from the

a south florida man insurer wants him to cover the cost of what they won't pavement that has him turning to "help me howard" with patrick fraser. >> danielle: and a student pilot with a rough landing. >> that story at six po enclose. >> now find 7 news on facebook and twitter. just search wsvn.

>> danielle: well, if you have health insurance and it pays a medical provider l le a doctor oor hospital. do you have to pay what the insurance company doesn't cover. >> lynn: good question. the answer in tonights "help me howard" with patrick fraser. >> >> spend five minutes with ricic romney and you realize this fella is a fighter.

i didn't walk 'til i was fight. i've been walking with braces and crutches since the age of five. >> as an adult rich opened a studio in brooklyn that recorded a song inin the 50s that is still being done today. >> my claim to fame, i'm the one who reported in thetudio johnny sleep walk. recorded by over a hundred artist. >> rich is a character that never gives up. broke my already dislocated help. to recould of hip. and first medicaid paid for the first hyundai and then when that ran out, my family paid. >> and he concluded his family should not have to pay that medicare and medicaid shoved covered him. so he filed an appeal woond. twas decided by the judge twhaiz indeed getting necessary care and not custodial care and there

the money i didn't p. and he sent back 23,006 # $4. rich called him to get that money since his famamy had already paid those bills. all they will give me is possibly 10,000 and the rest will pay for the money that medicaid didn't pay. rich argued with them that they were doing what it called balance billing mean theg were take his money to cover what they said medicare insurance did not cover. i'm what they call a qmb. >> qualified medicaid official nair ri and the as a result they not lieueuto balance by. can't bill the balance. as you might expect this fight ser fighting and not for himself this time. woi like to see my family get the money back. they were so nice. not a penny of it will go to me. pgh well, howard balance billing protects all of us o who have health insurance. does it mean rich should get the

>> because rich is called a medicare ben fish fish rare ri. it prohibits him to be charged for what they won't can cover. and tbhawfs it seems he is entitled to get the $13,000 back. and we contacted gray stone. do to privacy laws they cog could not confirm or deny whether rich rom me received service buzz they did tell me w do not have any outstanding issues at this location regarding patient bill. next step howard. rich needs to file a complaint with both the agency and health care administration and medicaid. and if they are reading lawt the same way we are, they can force the provider to return his mon. and if the health care facility tries to bill you for more than your private insurance pai contact the florida department of iens i'm not giving up at. no, the money is legally owed and must be paid. rich is determined to collect that nearly $13,000 and we're not giving up trying to help him

the nact channel 7 is willing to extend themsves farther to pursue this thing is really a wonderful thing. >> w wt an amazing guy and we'll let now thousand turns out for him. >> now, remember w balance billing a medical provider cannot make you pay what the insurance did diso not pay but still may have to p p a co payment or de tiewk daibl. so make sure you know what that is. and the agencies howard mentioned to complain too, their contact information at wsvn.com under this "help me h hard" story. >> off balance because of a billing problem. want to ensure it gets corrected. contact us. no co payment with us. we just cooperate with you. with this "help me howard," i'm patrick phrase. 7 news. >> lynn: this is 7 news at 5:30. thank you for watching. i'm lynn martinez. >> danielle: i'm danielle knox. 7 news at 6:00 begins now. now on 7 news residents thought they were saf at a south

gunman maid made his move. ee was so cam. that's the thing i can't get over. the gun never wave verd with me screaming like a lunatic. a car slamming into a pizza shop and a couple right in the path of danger. all i see is this car come at us. excitement building for the president's trip to cuba. but the feeling may not be shared on the other side flaft fla straights. >> from havana to srvetion team 7 coverage of this historic visit. >> every one from police to music fans. ultraready for a big weekend. >> and officers tack. even severely injured on the job. so what makes them go back on the beach. find out inn our special assignment report. this is 7 news at k4r067b. >> now at 6:00t was supposed to be a quiet day for home owners. but an armed intruder changed all that.

that's the thing i can't get over. the gun never wave verd with me streem screaming like a lunatic. >> putting them under the gun. good evening. the thief ripped off some of their vavaables in this a thrarnlg. >> belkeys: and we also take their sense of security. brandon beyer in deerfield beach with this. brandon. >> reporter: and belkeys it was tuesday morning on the back posh when the crook came around the corner way gun. and now police throapg are hoping this sketch jogs your memory eye won't make him leave my memories. i just won't this is a se neighborhood. >> reporter: for the first time since moving to this deerfield beach neighborhood 25 years ago. barbara sutton considered moflg out of the home her husband once built her but she changed her mind. >> i i want him off the street. i don't want any one to go through this. it's horrific. the most frightening thing i've ever had happen to me.

she was having could ofree on the back posh before work a heard someone behind her fence. >> and in the time it took me to step stand up, he was right re. >> and he pointed a gun at her and entered her home and robbed her. >> he was so cam. the thing i can't get over with me screaming like a lunatic. >> neighbors heard the screams and came running and then millie next door heard it. barbara said the man never said word. just grabbed herurse and ran. now the quite neighborhood is on edge. >> i've never b bn like that tblvment is my home for 2535 years andever had to be afraid here and now i am. >> brar says she just wants to feel safe again and get this suspect off the stree. it's an old fashioned neighborhood, we take care of each other and this is just this can't be aloud. it just can't ab lewd you know and a won't let him drive me out

it i just won't snoovment okay, take anotherer look that the disench provide bit brord ear sheriff's oofs. it's a pretty clear picture. if you know who that person is, maybe you can recognize him from the sketch and that would be wowoh a cash reward to you. call broward crime stoppers 954-493-tips. we're live in deerfield beach. brandon beyer. 7 news. >> craig: cameras roll as a south florida pizza s op suddenly gets a drive stliew and a couple found themselves in the path of danger. 7's rosh lowe live for us on the scene in oakland parkk with details on the story now. rosh. >> >> reporter: well, they are open for business here in the downtown pizza grill. they have spent the entire day trying clean umm the mess. as i step out of way here, you can seat windows arere back in place, back in place after an suv goes slamming right through.