so jackie and jawan, a spirited day here in little havana. let's send it back over to you guys in havana, cuba. >>> a very awkward moment happening today at that joint press conference beten president obama and president raul castro. raul castro was asked about political prisoners. he asked the reporter to give him a list if political prisoners. >> he's not used to receiving questions from the international press. we go to laura rodriguez who spoke to a former political prisoner. >> reporter: raul castro wanted a list. one list from the cuban american national foundation. on this list 47 names and there are more political prisoners who are on other lists of course. we spokkto a former political prisoner who works here at the foundation. he calls castro's comments absur what political prisoner? tell me a name or the names, said castro in a visibly aaitated manner. he a awered an american journalist's questions about political prisoners and why he doesn't release them. when the meeting concludes, give me a list@with the names. if we have those p

yesterday and today in little havana. from there we take you to old havana in cuba, and that'ss where our own victor oquenen is standing by live for us. victor, all of the activity is gogog to move to that area tomorrow, correct, when it really becomes about the people? >> absolutely, laurie. this is exactlyhere the president will be first thing tomorrow morning. where he'll,be giving a speech here. as i mentioned earlier, t`e grand theater just behind me, before he goes to the tampa bay rays national team just before he flies to argentina which is his next stop. but as he's mentioned over and again, it this trip is about getting to know the cuban people. so his first night in havana after the planned scheduled meetings where he was scheduled to go to the embassy and meett with staffs and decided to go to a hotel instead and meet them there. after his visit to old havana he decided to have dinner with the first first family at a small little -- it's one of the family run restaurants, sometimes right inside their homes wher

so many different things going on. >> domino park in english is the hub of little havana. much of this area has been renovated. more renovations are on the way. >> over the years, little havana has become a hod bed of tourism, one of the most popular in miami with bus loads of people taking in the cuban culture. >> at a news conference, miami's mayor says now is the time to make these streets shine. >> new planters and trees will line a stretch of southwest 8th street from 4th to 27th avenues, sidewalks will be widened and the rooster, a symbol of the cuban culture have already been spruced up. artist babe ruiz did that. >> they got repainted and got new looks. >> even the garbage c cs are getting a fresh look, painted with vibrant colors, offering a cuban flare. noted cuban american arti perez did a few. >> i'm so excited. it's a way to get our art to millions. >> transforming southwest 15th avenue into a pedestrian friendly plaza is the most ambitious part of the upgrade, creating a larger gathering place for celebrations and conversations. resident karina is hoping for

we're seeing some protests in little havana. it's the same feeling in havana. aot of people, of course, welcoming president obama there but a lot of questio as to whether or not his intentions there are really going to play out to more freedoms and more a democratic way of life for them, more of an entrepreneurial spirit for these people, more freedoms that have in large part, according to many people, many cubans ask a lotf cuban-americans living in the united states want to see evidence to see this continue. this has been a very quick months in terms of normalizing relations here. but they are also in terms of that quick timeline, you have to start thinking about president obama and th terms he has left in office and he wants to lay some very spific groundwork so that moving forward, whoever he or she is that takes office after him then has some groundwork to follow. without the strong foundation built-in havana with the people there, a new president, a new regime here in the united states could very much change all of that. so the process is now being laid f

that all is calm here at the iconic versailles restaurant in little havana. a handful of little noisy deem tray stores -- demonstrators. left a few hours ago. the feeling i am getting is one of resignation if not one of acceptance of the fact that the relationship between our country and cuba is changing. in little havana, a small, but loud crowd de cried the president's trip to cuba. signs supporting insults of all sorts. >> he is not asking for anything in return. it's like a tourist trip with his family. >> reporter: shortly before the meeting, the ladies in white manched in and the -- marched in. >> not just from a pr perspective, but cuba is saying we are not going to change internally. >> oppression, whatever they are going to do, they are going to do. >> reporter: when the president stepped off of air force one, noticeably missing was another castro donald the white house said he was not expected at the airport. this one, a state welcome. >> my father was a political prison nor. >> reporter: even the daughter of a political prison nor can see the counte

it's funny tourists are going to little havana in miamto eat the cuban food. president obama has loved the cuban food here. let's talk again about the embargo embargo. not all americans share the same sentiment about it. >> that's according to a new poll. check in with jewiaulia bagg. >> quote, the embargo's got to go. the latest "new york times" poll shows most americans agree with him. 62% of americans said reopening ties would be mostly good for the unit states. fewer than half of the people surveyed, just 40%, think the effort will lead to more democracy for cuba. overall, nearly 6 in 10 americans support normalizing relations with cuba. the trade ban is a sticking point that cuban leader raul afternoon. he called it the most important obstacle between his country and the u.s. essential. newsroom. now back to havana withackie and jawan. >> thank you. >> thank you, julia. different sentimentnt about the embargo and different sentiments about the normalizion of relations twun the u.s. and that's in favor of the normalization is of course mayor philip levine.

thousands in cash swiped in a matter of nutes from a school in little havana on monday. >> police have g their guy. sharon lawson joins us tonight with more on this big break. >> reporter: they were able to apprehend the sususct outside to a tip from the community. authorities say that he admitted to the crime and that's not all. ssdents cheer in celebration after learning the alleged suspect behind a burglary at their school is behind bars. >> we want to thank the community for coming forward. we d get a crime stoppers tip that he was living in the little havana area. >> reporter: he faced a judge this afternoon accused of breaking into the la progresiva school in little hahana on monday. surveillance video captured t t crime in progress before police say he tried to smash the camera. >> he did confess to this burglary and another burglary at another school down the street in the little havana area as well. we know this guy has broken into two schools. the most important thing is recovering the 5,000 that he took from these kids. in the 2400 block of northwest seventh street devastate

the edible extravaganza on the streets of little havana this weekend. lots of international flare on the street. >> aalalys calle ocho a big hit! >> 39 years, 12 stages, dozens of couris from latin america and the caribbean wrapping for one major party or in thisiscase fiesta. >> calle ocho miami! >> little havana packed for a street party like none other. >> and people that come and i really like that. >> vegan? no problem. carnivore?e? you're covered! the food offers something for every taste. >> choosing with jerk chicken and others. >> and this is much more than just a party. to the community for 40 years. summer camp, basketball camp, school supplies for kids. christmas presents and a bunch of other programs too many to name. we're bringing back someone that grew up near calle ocho hehe and it's a great person to have. >> it's always great to be home. i come here all the time and i don't need calle ocho to be here. >> and presento. and garcia and all-stars! >> reporter: 7's belkys nerere up on the stage to introduce oscar, emme and golden globe nom

rights and freedom for the cuban people. >> hundreds gathering in little havana. fighting to take down the cuban regime and protesting the troubles to cube a. many holding signs and one stating cubans are human, too. in chief an accomplice of rats. some burning mad and others hurt. >> the mother one of the brothers to the rescue shot down by cuban migs in 1996 while flying the florida straits. >> 20 years later we have a president vacationing and taking his whole family to vacation with the dictator and assassin of american citizens. >> reporter: across south florida, as the president toucd down, the cuba conversation heated up. in a statement u.s. representative mario diaz billard said the president should refuse to shake the blood-stained hands of the cuban people's oppressors and qnstead meet with courageous activists who are cuba's true leaders. the congresswoman sending out these words. when president obama shakes raul castro's hand, a hand responsible for the murder of americans, he should remember the many cubans who have sacrificed their lives, liberty and

little havana, calle ocho needs some polish and people who work and live hereay it's about time. >> i think it's important that we represent ourselves. it's not great to see trash on the streets. >> there's so mucm culture. there's so many different things going on. >> reporter: domino park is the hub of little havana and much of this area has already been renovated, but more renovations are on the way. become a hotbed of tourism, with bus loads of people taking in the cuban culture. at a news conference today, miami's mayor said now is the time to make these streets shine. new planters and trees will line a stretch of southwest eight street from fourth to 27th avenues. sidewalks will be widened and the roosters have will be been spruced up. artist ava ruiz did that. >> they got repainted and new looks. >> reporter: even the garbage cansnsre getting a fresh look. noted cuban american artists perez did a few. >> i'm so excited. it's one way to get our art millions of places where every tourist comes and they take pictures. you'll see them on social media. >> reporter: transforming sout

political calculations of the way the president presented his speech today right to the so from little havana, i will take you back to the original havana, calvin. >> and all right. glenna, thanks a lot. it was pretty much all around praise for the president's speech today but i did talk about a cuban diplomat in havana who had a unique take on what the president had to say. i'll have that coming up at 11:00. for now that's a look back at an extraordinary day and a groundbreaking trip by president barack obama and the first family here to havana. laurie and janine, i'll send it back tyou. i'll have much more coming up at 11:00. >> laurie: we'll look foror you then. it makes all the difference having and you your team right there i cuba. calvin hughes, thank you. >>> now to o other taupe story tonight the terror in brussels. here is the surveillance picture captured of the suspect, at least one of this considered a wanted man tonight. >> janine: what happened to him is still urn clear e. but we do know these coordinate attack killed at least 31 people. our morning anchor eric yutzy since it br

the little havana sefntle i'll step out of way. you can see it. ter here at 21 avenue and flagler street. again, this boy was robbed of his cell phone and book bag. police, miami police have one boy in custody and at this hour they are look for at least two oornlings well. do have video we too a short time ago. will you see two boys from the back in this video. one of them is the victim who was robbed of his cell phone and book bag. >> there was a gun involved her no. 1 injured but because the weapon was involved. police put citrus grove mit middle as wells citrus grove elementary on lockdown. coming back live here at 21 avenue and flagler street. ville a very active scene. lots of police conducting this search for at least two other boys they are looking for at this hour. we don't have a description of them at this time but as we get more information we'll pass that long to you. we're live in the city of miami.

alex. >> reporter: craig, a very active scene here in little havana miami neighborhood. robbed of their backpack and drel phone and lee the believe that the people who robbed them were three other boys. we have video to show uf t t two victims. they were robbed of a backpack and cell phone. miami police put up up a perimeter in the area and west avenue and flagler to try and capture these guys. they were able goaone of these boys in custody but at thisour there is a large perimeter that remains here in miami. it is just breaking down. they haven't been able to find the two othe. >> we did talk to a student that was at one of the two schools put on lockdown. citrus grove middle as well as citrus grove elementary. the student explains what happened a. >> there was 3, i don't know kids from high school. they were all armed and they robbed someone's phone and they found out where one was and the othth two started running in the back streets here and then they haven't found them. >> okay what did they say at school? >> they just had us on lockdown. much. >> and whehe you're o

this is what people in little haf havana are saying about it. he says he gets his cough fooe fee everyyorning next door. police are searching for a white hispanic man from 5'6" to 5'8". if you know anything about this, you can help detectives by calling miami-dade crimestoppers at 305-471-tips. live in little havana, julia bagg, nbc 6 news. >>> a south florida teenager accused of pretendsing to be a doctor has less than 48 hours to schedule a mental exam. this comings after his arrest yesterday. 19-year-old malachi love robinson has since walked out of jail after a palm beach county judge granted hihi supervised release. he is accused of using an elderly woman's checking account to pay for more than $30,000 in auto and credit card debt. this stems from his arrest last month on charges of practicing without a license. arrested in connection with a multimillion dollar gold heist. federal agents say alberto perez was involved in the hijacking of a tractor-trailer out of north carolina. that happened a year ago. was happening. the truck was heading

in little havana, a small, but loud crowd protested the visit of president. a vote of no confidence from some. >> he is not asking for anything in return, so it's just like a tourist trip with his family and mother-in-law. >> reporter: this group, ladies in white marched and cuban officers marched in hauling the protesters off to jail. a strong message even if it >> it's the same. it's oppression, whatever they want to do, they are going to do. >> reporter: when the president stepped off of air force one on monday, a noticeable absence from raul castro. it prompted donald trump to tweet president obama just stepped onto cuba and castro was nowhere around. even the daughter of a political prison nor can see the counter to the argument these protesters spoke so loudly of. >> i'm torn in thinking that this will help the people there. >> reporter: and helping the people requires reaching out in every possible way. >> we are very impatient about rapid change, internal change and that's not going to come. >> reporter: changing 50 years of oppression is a task that'

in the years since little havana has evolved from an anti-castro hotbed to an anti-castro industry. cropped up over the years with the express purpose of toppling castro's communist government. sustained by hundreds of millions of dollars in u.s. government funding. but america's historic shift in relations with the communist island is raising new questions about whether that stream of money will continue. those like mri gel who founded the anticastro group, are concerned about what that will mean for cuba and the anti-castro community. >> do you think it still makes sense to keep sending money down here to south florida to develop groups that are fighting the castro government? flog we've done has really changed much over there. >> that's right. it's working 50%. >> so you're saying about half of the dollars that are spent in terms of anticastro activities are actually making a difference? >> about 50, 45%. because if it's working 80% castro wouldn't be about see? >> how is it working? >> um -- doing in cuba violence. >> but not only attempts to dislodge castro failed, the money re

these protests out here, we're live outside versaillele out here in little havana. these happen on a regular basis. sometimes even weekly. day, they have stepped up their efforts today. all of these people we talked with, just keep on talking about and they are very loud about their opinions about how they think it is just flat-out wrong and mr. obama is in cuba today meeting with raul castro, let alone warming relations and doing business with the castro brothers. you know, it got a little tennis -- tense here a little earlier today. wearing a shirt and walked through this area with a man and boy, they got the attention of protesters out here. she had a trail of protesters following her, screaming at her, of course, the man was -- the woman wearing the jake vagara shirt, they started following her and screaming at her. that is the c cor out here, guys. we expected protests. the street sweeper, that was elaborate. 99% of the people is are the opinion that today is a horrible day. i did talk to one woman on the other side of the street, she today. live in little va h

protests and political chatter in miami's little havana while obama wakes up a few hundred miles away in cuba. >> he's not asking for anything in return. >> reporter: many cuban americans are against the presidential visit to the communist nation saying we made a deal with the devil but nothing to show for it. >> you can never make it through dealing with the best person. >> reporter: the commander in chief boarded air force one sunday. disapproving crowds marched in miami. relations more than a year ago. >> there hasn't been any reduction of oppression. there's been an increase of political arrests and beatings. change. >> i'm torn between thinking the president's visit there opening up relations would help the people there. i think instead of protesting him we should just support what's going on. >> reporter: the real change will happen when congress lifts the trade embargo, says a professor. >> the government is adamant about not changing internally. they want to lift the embargo. >> reporter: you have had a lot of loud passionate debates and yelling out there. that's an extra poli

there has been protests in little havana in miami. are also those who think it is time for fresh thinking. >> protest is a way of life for the cuban exiles in little havana. for decades they have been venting their fury at the castro brothers and any american president who flirted with the idea of normalizing relations. so president's visit is a scene -- is seen as a betrayal. >> i never thought i would see a wouldere air force one land in a communist cuba. i hoped there would be a day where the president woodland in a free cuba. >> many did not part in the protests. many younger cubans think it is time to move on. >> i think it is a good thing. we will see what comes out of it. >> at this time of new departures america has signed an agreement with cuba to reestablish scheduled air service between the two countries. be more than ald hundred daily round-trip flights. minutes flying time between the tip of florida and cuba. the countries of been estranged for more than 50 years. many cuban-americans believe the embargo has been not just

we're here in the heart of little havana. a lot of strong feelings about whether president obama should be going to havana, cuba, in the first maplace. we heard some new things today after all of thisshat has been going on about these people trying to get compensation for their property. novel concept that might work out for them. >> ironically, it may open up some opportunities and we need to be prepared to capitalize on those. >> reporter: nick gutierrez has the -- his family and others in south florida w for decades came up empty when it came to what theastro regime confiscated may have an opening. the possible scenario? dealing directly with investors who want to use the properties, not the cuban government. >> the foreign investors don't want to go into cuba until they ve the consent of the legitimate owner. the owners could receive some investors would feel more comfortable. >> every individual claim matters us to in that process. >> reporter: the point man told us the property claims are part of the ongoing dialogue wit

what we're seeing in little havana t. protests are expected continue throughout the day. reporting live, ann keil, 7 news. >>> dissidents are expected to meet with the president >> diana: and many were arrested before his arrival. >> people in miami are the ones thatay them. they send people here. everybody in cuba knows that. torture? what torture? they never torture people here. >> reporter: protest in the face vowing to demonstrate every weekend for change. there was no torture seen in the street earlier sunday but there was this. otesters aligned under the hashtag, everyone marches provided to us and woman local journalist was attacked by local authorities. >> today he arrive chd h h was beaten on the corner over there. it left a lot of legions on him. he was bleeding a lot. >> reporter: in the sleepy neighborhood outside havana, the faithful is joined by journalists. palm sunday services drawing a massive crowd to the church of the ladies in white. were you invited? >> i am one of the people president. obama. they said first meeting. >> reporter: he is considering wh

. >> reporter: cafee versailles in what's known as the little havana section of miami has long been ground zero for anti-castro demonstrations. today protestors knew they would find cameras here. they stomped on and steam rolled pictures of president obama. these cuban-americans call his presence in cuba betrayal. for 76-year-old emilio izquierdo, it's personal. he spent two years jailed in cuba before escaping during the >> i feel very bad about our president. >> reporter: what if it's good for cuba down the road? >> it's a fool's hope. i'm very mad. >> you can call me an extremist if you want. to. >> reporter: 69-year-old laura viniello was born in havana and escaped the communist regime as a child. >> the president is a sell-out, sir. don't you know the cuban nation was left out. the cuban people, we have been left out. >> we're going to have more eyes over there. >> reporter: abe rivera left cuba when he was four years old. now 49, this investor is ready to do business in cuba. >> we're going to have an island that everybody is going to go and visit. what obama has done for

jessica holly is following the story for us live from little havana. jessica? >> reporter: this could be a sign of trouble brewing for the president's upcoming trip to cuba, and some are saying now same. now. john kerry cancelling his >> i am really susurised. >> reporter: congresswoman ileanna ros-lehtinen reacting to the latt development in cuban relations. >> i think the acccculation of evidence of the human rights violations got to be too much for even secretary of state john kerry to stomach, and so he's postponed his visit. >> reporter: the secretary of state was set t to visit cuba to lay the ground work for the commander in chief. president obama headed to the island nation on march 21st. the haggling over human rights in which dissidents will be allowed to meet has kerry's trip on hold. how will this impact the president's visit? >> just like kerry cancelled, president obama must cancel his trip as well. is the castro regime willing to stop beating the heads of human right activists? they won't stop for john kerry. will they stop for obama? i doubt it.

castro growths to unclench the fist that o presses the cuban people. >> reporter: and here in little havana on sunday as the president prepares to go to it's at 11:00 a.m. at bay of pigs memorial. we're liven little what 507 news. >> craig: stay with 7 news and vn.com for mon more on the president's upcoming visit. we'll be in what snrafnlt watch for our live report starting friday today in florida. >> >> belkeys: omg up from the newsplex. a south florida school grateful for a generous gift. >> craig: just one station has it. >>> >> >> reporter: a heartbreak story. have you to see this because it has turned into a beautiful wharmingt action. >> lynn: rosh lowe. the exclusive next. >>> >>> ierks on just one station students gaight valuable rest on in generosity from a business 234567b89 a thief stole money meant for their field trip. >> belkeys: but then someone bhaid sure that trip will go on. rosh lowe n- live in mie with the exclusive. rosh. >> reporter: and here it is heartbreak intoo happiness. >> >> that means whoever shares the most will get the best part of it. >> this isbout giving

in little havana, ari odzer, nbc 6 news. >> our hearts are so full over re. >> that's terrific. that's the way to get your kids to eat their veg dabbles, ask just make them grow them. >> a young girl with big talents creating a buzz in social media. hear about a viral sensation with the kind of basketball moves that would make any person very excited. >> she is awesome. check her out. can't wait for that. >>> also coming up on nbc 6 news at 5:00 th morning, the fight for florida, it is heating up without a doubt. we have live team coverage of the florida primarys the polls couple hours. >>> out towards the beaches, all is quiet. mostly`clear skies. homestead, fog settling in, temperatures at 66. most of us like m.i.a. checking in in the lolo 70s. about 71 there. we'll keep the fog around early this morning, not overly dense or widespread. warm first alert forecast that >>>e are back with a young girl wowing millions of people on social media. what she can do with a basketball is amazing. >> she's only 6 years old. as nbc's ron mott shows us she can dribble circles around grownup

this was the seen today in little havana. >> anchor: it's a day of building excitement. a lot of unknownwn and questions going on in the presidential visit. but it is history no doubt about it. >> anchor: it really is. the president has a packed we have live team coverage. total ten news anchors are live in a rainy havana. tell us what do you see? >> anchor: is it a rainy havana. >> anchor: we're hoping it's like south florida where it comes and goes. >> reporter: history in the making here in havava, cuba. of course the president arriving ahead of schedule, about a half hour ahead of schedule at the jose' marti' international airport. the first american sitting president to come to cuba and step foot on cuban soil in 88 years. the last president to do that, calvin coolidge in 1928. what a sight it was. >> reporter: what's sad about this is because of the weather, we don't think there's going to be a lot of people waiting for him as he and his motorcade make their way through havana. can't tell what's going on. he's making his way to the embassy. >> reporter: that's the

in little havana. a lot of people in little havana not pleased with that remark. >> not at all. raul castro asked eric and at least 2,000 delivered. one with 47 names, the other with 51 names of those political prisoners. their status still unclear, but all this response to a clearly agitated raul castro during that historic meeting. castro saying what political prisoner. tell me a name or names when asked by the american journalist. we start with the president of the former organization saying thousan have been arrested in cuban since 1959. >> it's a joke. it's a very black humor joke to say there are no political prisoners in cuba. >> that feeling there the feeling of many. after the joint news conference would give castro a list of the political prisoners to which he responded that the u.s. has donn so in the past but cuba has only engaged regularly. michael spears, nbc 6 news. >> some companies wting no time when it comes to warming of relations. google announced a joint venture with cuban artist gao chow. he first began offering free wi-fi to studio two years ago t. country

good morning. >> reporter: little havana not looking much like the real havana of course because the snow. as you mentioned, juliet, union city is often referred to as little havana. largest cuban population in the united states outside of miami. many fled oppression of castros. obama is attempting to appeal to as he continues his visit to the island nation. the first family is waking up this morning on cuban soil. something that hasn't happened in nearly 90 years. >> good to see you. great job. >> reporter: last time a it something president visited it was by battleship, not air force one. it took president calvin coolidge three days to arrive from washington. it took president obama just three hours. >> this is a historic visit and it is a historic opportunity to engage directly with the cuban people and to forge new agreements and commercial deals, to build new ties between our two peoples and for me the lay out my vision for future bright irthan our past. >> reporter: yesterday cheers of praise could be heard over the rain as cubans tried to get a glimpse of the first family as t

live in miami little havana neighborhood, i'm alex, 7 news night team. >>> all right alex. miami-dade police officers will cameras and ready to record. today the commission settled on the company that the county will buy the equipment from. 1,000 officers will have the camera bit end of the year. hundreds more could be in place in 2017. they said willecome the largest police department in the u.s. to have c cera warn by patrol officers. >>> police respond to go suspicious item found near key biscayne. beach gore spotted it in the sand at cramp deny park. coast gawshd responded ofoicials later determined the device was a flare used by the u.s. navy. sf. >>> crook making off with huge hall stealing hundreds also of thousands of dollars of high end bicycles. liz is live in pompano beach and she has more on the story now. liz? >>reporter: the owner says they think the the customer came in last week scoped out the place, somebody seemed suspicious to us them then from police that the their bicycle factory was being raided by thieves. this pack of bike thieves could not have been

as you can see, there are protesters here outside here in little havana.of the crowd is nothing what we would have seen 10, 20, 30 years ago. jose, back to you. >> gabe gutierrez in little havana, 10:48 a.m. on a monday morning. thank you so much for being with me, gabe. there you see the president signing a guest book of sorts. and i don't exactly -- this is inside the memorial there, the jose marti memorial, and the president is signing this guest book. it's a vip guest book. not everybody gets to sign that book. and love to be able to read what he's writing there, huh. again, this is the first president in nearly 90 years, the first u.s. president in nearly 90 years to visit cuba. and in those 90 years, much has changed in some ways, but 1959, what has not changed in cuba is the regime that took power there. the castro brothers took power in the first of january of 1959. and this is the first u.s. president in so many decades that visits that island. think of this toric nature of this. this is a regime that has for decades spoken about america as the en

live in little halve havana with more on these had measures. >> reporter: not everybody is happy, and a protest is set for this weekend in light of president obama's restriction, the easing of restrictions on let's go to them. the obama administration is allowing people having trips to the island instead of expensive group tours. the measure is expected to fill the direct u.s. flights to the island in addition, the administration is allowing u.s. banks to process cuban transactions that pass through the u.s. banking system. president obama is set to arrive in cuba on monday. he will be the first sitting pbesident to visit that island since calvin coolidge, back in the 1920s. the president has said that he hopes his visit kick starts business relations between the united states and cuba. >> the more that u.s. businesses are engaged in, the more we have people traveling there, the more cuban-americans are able to interact with family members that in some cases they haven't seen in decades. the more likely we are to see the kind of changes that all of >> reporter: representative, ileana

we're live at eighth center in little havana. we're going to show you their garden. >>> the news starts now. scho is a crime scene after someone broke in and then vandalized it. >> the crooks apparently stole thousands of dollars of not just students but teachers had been collecting for school trips coming up. nbc 6 reporter julia bagg is live outside that school in little havana with surveillalae video they want everyone to see. hopefully this is going to n the people who are responsible for this. >> that's exactly what administrators and teachers are hoping at la progresiva school. shattered glass and ransacked rooms. when the principal arrived to school this morning, what she saw maae her cancel class.

. >>> plenty to talk about tonight in little havana. neighborhood to find three teen age robbers. >> one of the three held the kids at gun point. >> reporter: miami police set up a perimeter and were able to take down the guy with the gun. police tell us there is a lot of traffic going down this place to stage a robbery. this young woman does not want to be identified. >> he's my neighbor. away. >> yes, i saw him get arrested. they said that there were three people but they only captured one. >> reporter: police identified the suspect as jonathan valenzuela who was been charged the other two suspects are on the loose, if you have any information call crime stoppers. >>> miami-dade county commissioners voted for some police officers to wear body cameras, the police said it will improve community relations and solve cases more quickly. officers may turn the cameras off at their discretion as long as they notify a super superior. been found to be polluting the miami river. >>> george martin died peacefully in his home last night. he was behind the controls for most of the beatles albums

the kiwanas club of little havana has been givini back to the community for 40 years. >> summer camp, basketball camp, school supplies for kids, christmas presents and a bunch of other programs. there are too many to name. we're bringing back someone who grew up near calle ocho, so it's >> it's alwaysreat to be home. i come here all the time. i don't need calle ocho to b here. >> 7's belkys nerey up on the main stage to introduce oscar and golden globe nominated andy, king of this year's festival, the cuban putting on a different hit to perform with the all s4ars. >> it was always maintaining the tradition of our music. the trational cuban music. >> many in this crowd predict they will beack to celebrate 40 next year. >> what a party, the kiwanas has been serving the community since 1975. reporting from the newsdesk, robbin simmons, 7 news. on wall street. the dow is up about 12 pointn right now at 17,225. the nasdaq is up two and, and the . >> time to check on today's stop stories. developing now, a downed power ne slowing track near hollover beach. offecials closing the intersection

coming up, we break down the annual event taking over the streets of little havana tomorrow. >>f you're hitting the beach today, you expect winds out of the southeast 15 miles per hour. we're still dealing with a moderate rip current risk along atlantic beaches. so yoy want to get in the ugh. i really shouldn't. no, you know what? i should. and i will. i deserve this. i'm a bogo findin', weekly ad flippin', couponing mastermind. who's saving big time? this girl! can i help you? indeed. this queen of savings deserves a reward. a cannoli, please. the weekly ad, bogos and coupons. at the same place you love to shop. publix. where shopping is a pleasure. well, you haven't been to a party until you've been to this party. as you can see, she is dancing. almost two million locals from all over the world will take over a south miami strip this week. >> it culminates on sunday. we hav plenty more with this -- >> reporter: the biggest hispanic seet festival in the states is drumming up for its biggest year yet as we celebrate the historic strip of southwewe eighth street in little hava

reporting live in little havana let's go back to craig in havana, cuba. craig? >>reporter: that was striking moment at that news conference this afternoon between that reporter and raul castro. nicole thank you so much.so belkys as you can see in the heart of our community exile community passions run deep and strong on a day-to-dayy that quite frankly they said at the outset here is almost im football get your mind around considering the relationship between these two countrybetween these two countries not too long ago. >> tomorrow another big day for the president craig among the things on the schedule he would be addressing the cuban people and live broadcast busy day what's is on tap for the president tomorrow? >>reporter: that's tomorrow morning and that is something that is eagerly anticipated because can cuban government has pledgeed to air these comments this speech about 40 minutes or so in length on state television here. that will be given the speech will be delivered at the great theater of havana. white house says the president will address the cuba

>> anchor: today at noonl a thief breaking into a little in little havana and may have come in from above from the roof of the building. local 10 news outside of the school and see some >> reporter: popoce say the guy really hit the jackpot stealing $5,000 for money for field trips and taken from kids and caught on camera. look at the video in the clip. you see the man break into the little havana school and take a safe filled with thousands of dollars. it happened just after midnight at the presbyterian school off of northwest 7 ingstreet. it's there that a crook ransacked an office trying to find a key for the safe but after more than an hour gives up and just takes the lock box. he grabs a tool from his bookbag after noticing the camera to break the surveillance device. the teachers showed up and called the police who dusted for prints and sifted for clues. he went through the ceiling to get in the building locked with the e deadbolt. the school hopes the insurance covers the camera and the damage stolen. scholarship programs so they're funded by the state and, um, it is a big deal for

cuban exiles posted desperate tested the event at little havana. protesters call for obama to end relations with cuba. >>> making it to cuba, the tampa bay rays and ian reitz. >> let's get a check with you because there is more to this trip then people may be think. >> reporter: so much that has gone into this trip. behind the scenes, we are just 24 hours now from the historic baseball game. featuring the tampa bay rays of the cuban national team. we talk to you about what the team has been up to over the past day since they first arrived. they had a news conference this morning. there was lighter moments. moments off the field the captured our attention and team about how powerful this is. this is one of those moments this is after the tampa bay rays have practice. you see chris archer tossing the ball back and forth with a young man, nine-year-old diego. i asked him about this. he was excited about the trip and a chance to spend time with archer. archer made he had -- major he had a baseball. with all the excitement, the players say why they are

he was caught breaking through the roof of a presbyterian church in little havana, they say that he ransacked an office and stole $5,000. and the money has still not been recovered. >> danielle: and the police are on the lookout for a man they believe tried to kill someone in the keys with a broken glass bottle. the officials are searching for alvarez, he stabbed another man in the neck last month. the victim survived and alvarez is on the run. if you know anything, call: >> lynn: president obama's historic visit to cuba is just days away. and ahead of his trip, prominent members of the cuban community were at the white house to violence their concerns. ashley jones tells us nowhere >> reporter: cuban vips visiting the white house on wednesday, meeting with president obama ahead off his planned historic trip to cuba. >> i think that we live in a free country, and we have greet opportunities and we want to show that to the world. and it can bring hope for people. >> reporter: emilio estefan was one of those in washington where the president was looking for perspective. >> it has been a very ve