nbc 6's stephanie bertini is live with more. >> reporter: keith, march 9th will mark nine years. and the family says they are not giving up. they want this man home. those who support the family join them today in a gathering right here that wrapped up just about an hour ago. >> my husband is the bravest man i've ever known. >> reporter: for those who call robert levinson dad, ittill hurts. >> he's the most kind, generous, decent human being you'll ever meet. >> reporter: in march of 2007, levinson went missing o` the other side of the world. >> we're reminding people he'll still not home. behind the family, who is from coral springs. they call him bob. >> we want to help get him hope. >> reporter: levinson was repopoedly working as a paid contractor for the cia when he went missing. >> we served together here in miami. and so my heart is aching, given the circumstances. i hope and pray and continue to hope and pray that h will be released and returned to his family. >> reporter: hope is something the famqly is holding on to. >> i'll be graduating from college with a degree. >> r

. >> stephanie bertini i# at the ultra music festival itself, but we begin with erica dellgadodelgado. >> we've had a wonderful workweek. the whole month of march has been very dry for us. e'll take a look at our live first alert radar. things looking pretty good. dry conditions from ft. lauderdale all the way down into miami-dade. it's a nice end to the workweek, albeit it has been relatively warm, but a cold front is on its way. rain chances definitely increasing saturday into sunday. we are still thatdealing with some little cooler in broward. temperatures in pompano beach degrees. things will begin to change. as you can see, plenty of cloud cover all over the gulf of mexico. i'll have more on your weekend forecast coming up in just a little bit. >>> all right. right now on social view 6, the number one trending hashtag on twitter in miami, ultra 2016. dade front park transformed as thousands converge for a weekend of electronic music. live coverage continues now with stephanie bertini. >> reporter: the park is full of people and music. it also runs parallel to biscayne boulevard.

stephanie busier stephanie bertini is in the middle of that. >> reporter: well, i can barely hear you, that is how loud it is here, you can see them in the area of downtown miami, there is the potentialal for lots of things that is why the city officials and ultramusic festival heads are here. this is the place to be if you're into this kind of scene. ultra has grown over the years. >> some of the very first. when it was a lot smaller, the production was not as big. but still, incredible parties. so it's fantastic to see over the years, more production, bigger stages. >> reporter: the lights, music and crowds transform miami's downtown core. road closures and detours are in place. he park is blocked off unless you purchased a pricey ticket. city officials say have fun but make the right choices. >> no drug activity, no sales, if somebody is involved in that they will suffer thth consequences. security. >> reporter: police and the private security team ready. this man arrested along this and the problems associated with controlling this size of a crowd are all around. >> yeah, look, it

reporting live, stephanie bertini, nbc 6 news. >>> the florida coast guard searching for passenger who fell over. >>> south florida family pleading for thea man who disappeared in iran nine years ago. robbt still hasn't come on. on march 9th, 2007, he disappeared while o o a cia mission. his family says he's still alive which would make him the longest held civilian hostage. he case drew renewed attention in january when he was not part of a prisoner swamp. iran has long denied knowing where he is. >>> an emotional day for a victim of a victim killed in a wrong way crash. she was killed in 2013. just today her family met the woman who has indicatekatelin's heart, literally. >> reporter: it was a special day. she fed her granddaughter to fight some of that back. she cleaead her house. today she prepared to meet the woman who has her daughter's heart, literally. >> she is beating in someone she's still living. >> reporter: then the doorbell rang. she walked to the door and opened it. this was a moment two years in the making. she has her heartbeating inside her. christine wanted to hear

nbc 6 reporter stephanie bertini is outside the store with more. >> reporter: an elderly man walking through a publix. police say the 94-year-old was pickpocketed by 56-year-old derrick hope. >> this is from a publix in p pne crest. >> reporter: hope stood before a judge months after police arted looking for him. surveillance cameras in the store caught this man who police say is hope, walking in arorod 2:40 in the afternoon. police s that was right after the elderly victim. in the video you can see this man trailing behind the 94-year-old and then follow him down an aisle. police say that's when the pickpocketing occurred. >> sir, d you have any money to pay for a private lawyer? >> no, ma'am. >>>i will appoint the public defender's office for you. >> reporter: police say hope victim's wallet with $65 in cash and credit cards, afterwards charging more than $6,000 on the cards. missing.g. people who shop at this public regularly say pickpocketing is not something they would expect. >> there's always a lot of pele here. it's kind of scary. >> reporter: police say hope is linked to sim

our team coverage conditions with stephanie bertini, live in fort lauderdalele hi, stephanie. >> reporter: we found some damage left behind on the beach. we've learned from people this is what's left over from a small boat after the intense rains hours ago. this is video sent to nbc 6 news from a lifeguard working on the beach. you can see a possible water spout, you see how intense the water is. you can see some wind in that cellphone video that was sent to us here in fort lauderdale. as erika mentioned, a severe thunderstorm watch in place until 9:00 p.m. however, right now, back out here live, you're looking at people, my,y, people, hi, guys, walking along the beach. it is overcast but people say that won't affect them being outside because it's warm, not we'll be out here throughout the evening to see if intense weather comes down in this area. stephanier about ber tintinibertini, nbc 6 news. >> check out our nbc 6 weather app for the latest news and weather. >>> police are on the hunt for a person who shot someone on the corner of northwest 14th street and 28th avenue. family identif

nbc 6 reporter stephanie bertini is outside the store with more. >> reporter: an elderly man walking through a publix. police say the 94-year-old was pickpocketed by 56-year-old derrick hope. >> this is from a publix in pinecrest. >> reporter: hope stood before a judge months after police startelooking for him. surveillance cameras in the store caught this man who police say is hope, walking in around 2:40 in the afternoon. police say that was right after the elderly victim. in the video you can see this man trailing behind the 94-year-old and then follow him down an aisle. police say that's when the pickpocketing occurred. >> si do you have any money to pay for a private lawyer? >> no, ma'am. >> i will appoint the public defender's office for you. >> reporter: no money for a lawyer, but police say hope victim's wallet with $65 cash and credit cardsds police say he charged more than $6,000 on the cards. after the alleged crime occurred, the victim noticed his wallet missing when he went to pay for his groceries. people who shop at this publix regularly say pickpocketing is not someth

i'm reporting live, stephanie bertini, nbc 6 news. >> indee it is, stephanie, thank you. >>> we go up north to ft. lauderdale, this is the beach where a waterspout spun along the coast. a lifeguard sent us this video. strong winds and rain from that system hit the area, damaged a sailboat. that string of storms now off the atlantic ocean but we'renot yet in the clear, chief meteorologist john morales in the forecast center with what we >> there's still a chance of thunderstorms tomorrow, especially tards the late morning, midday and early afternoon hours and as you said we still have some weather going on right now. one last brief note about that tornado. it struck ground f frst at the 600 block of sea breeze boulevard and then that's when it movedffshore addss a waterspout. area. tonight we have rain as you can see going on here mainly along florida bay here between the southern tip of the florida peninsula and the keys. but the keys at risk of eing some rain tonight and as we look at the forecast for the overnight hours, hours by hour, i have some widely scattered showers through 1:

. >> let's get out to stephanie bertini. she is live at the scene. >> reporter: at 42nd and 7th where this all went down, a vehicle lost control according to first responders and officials, hitting a pillar just off the sidewalkhere. you can see the damage now. that yellow tapearks where that pillar was. some cleanup under way here. take a look at how this all went down. you're watching that surveillance video that we got from the owner of the heart that owner tells us she is absolutely shaken because this could have been major. this could have been a huge accident hurting a l of people. first responders say it is that pillar that was able to protect people inside the clinic. a woman in a wheelchair was hurt,t,ut she is oakkay. she was released. >> somebody panicked and tn obviously accelerating and losing control of the vehicle, but this is what we deal with a lot of times. we're happy this didn't turn into a mass casualty incident. >> reporter: back out here live. rather, you're lookingt that video again. this is the surve

stephanie bertini isive with more. >> reporter: take a look at the the owners say they've seen this type of tng more than once. today first responders say a vehicle lost control hit a pillar that looked like that. you can see what's left of it now. nothing but yellow tape by these cones. then this is all what led to what was caught on camera. from a busy street to the sidewalk through the window of this het clinic. >> it's a medical practice. we're working. next thing you know there's screaming and windows smashing. it's crazy. the city needs to do something. they need to move that bus sp from there. >> reporter: the owner is graraful no one inside or around her business was hurt. surveillance video caught the incident. the driver of the red jeep lost control while tryingg to avoid a wreck with anototr vehicle. >> we're just happy this did not turn into a mass casualty incident. >> repter: minutes before the incident, first responders say a group of people we at the bus stop right by the curb where the vehicle lost control. those people got on the bus. when this happened, only one this w

. >> stephanie bertini spoke with a woman earlier toy. she is live at the broward county j jl with the exclusive. >> reporter: this is where mayweather is behind bars without bond tonight and a deerfield mother says although the reason he's here is different from the crime that took her son, she's hoping this could be a reason why detectives question him once again. the barbershop his family ownsowns. >> i continue to get up and continue to fight as a mother because i lovey son. >> it has to come from the criminal justice system. we're trying to be faithful and trying to believe they will eventually do what needs to be done. >> reporter: it's been five year since broward county sheriff's deputies say he was shot dead while golfing at what used to be the deerfield country club. this is where two armed and masked men approached him as he was on the course with his kus cousin. >> reporter: chaes were dropped by the state attorney's office. he's now accused of sexually abusing a little girl. >> nobody have done anything about my son's death.

reporting live, stephanie bertini, "nbc 6 news." >>> a lakeland family came home to find an unsuspecting guest in their pool. a nine-foot alligator. his wife and 6-month-old baby werer inside the home at the time. the patio reen to enter the property. the family called a trapper who removed the algator from the popol. >>> emergency in the operating room. when you head to the hospital to go under theeknife, you have a lot of concerns. >> but catching on fire usually isn't one of those concerns. a south from man ys that's what happened to him. and investigators found out that it happens more often than you think. >> dan crouch shows you this unknown danger. >>>>eporter: in a matter of seconds, this is what could happen in the operating room when the wrong combination of oxygen and surgical tools are used around your face. thth is a demonstration. vince anthony lived it. i wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. >> reporter: what was supposed be a routine surgery led to his face covered in second and third degree burns. >> it's been hell, you know. army veteran went in to get a cyst removed fro

. >> stephanie bertini is live on scene. one person was transported, correct? >> reporter: that is correct. we're still working to get more details on exactly what happened here, but let me give you a look at the scene. still a very active situation here. first responders from pembroke pines and hollywood here at the scene. some sort of hazmat situation going on officials say. they're working to assess exactly what's going on. some sort of white powder was the bank. again, one employee from the bank transported to the hospital. no word on extly what the injuries were or the conditions. you're looking at some aerial shots and video we shot from chopper 6. you can see when this story kind of broke how intense it was here. a lot of people around here in the area in this busy parking lot. a lot of businesses around here and people wondering exactly what's going on. still a lot of questions. back out here live, we can see first responders starting to clear the area. although it is still active, they are starting to clear the area. we're going to zoom in to the atm m

stephanie bertini, nbc 6 news. the road closures, you can check out the tagnbc 6 news and weather app. we have them posted there just for you. >>> south florida, 6:17 on this friday evening. things looking pretty good so far. you won't need those umbrellas as you head out the door tonight because you can see our live first alert radar looking pretty good. it's been quiet all workweek long, but some weekend changes are headed our way. let's jump right in so we can get your weekend started. temperatures, that's going to remain well above average just like we have seen the past few days, but there is a cold fnt that is on its way. once that cold front does swing through and clears south florida for the start of this upcoming workweek, many changes will be coming through much of our sunshine state. let's take a look at what we're dealing with right now as far as temperatures. 85 degrees sill in miami. even down into the keys 80s. today. we were in the mid 80s in ft. lauderdale. did not tie the record of 90 degrees in b

stephanie bertini live from downtown with a preview for us. >> reporter: well, from your safety to h h to manage large crow, the logistics are all happening right here in downtown miami. preparations are under way for a major dance music festival based in the heart of miami. >> we've been waiting so long for this moment to final enter. it's our first time, yes. it's a big city. it's very exciting. >> reporter: the annual ultra music festival attracts people from around the world like these men from switzerland, excited for the three days of music and fun to ck off. >> tomorrow is a great day. >> reporter: tens of thousands are expected each day here at bay front park transformed t accommodate the coming crowds. >> we have extra fencing, which you can see, which magskes it difficult for people to try to jump over the fence. surrounding the event and 350 private security inside the event. >> we have undercover officers on the exterior and interior of the park. >> reporter: firstt responders are on stand by. >> you have some drinking. you have some people as a result of a heat they get

reporting in miami, stephanie bertini, nbc 6 news. >> have fun and be safe. hank you, stephanie. >>> the case involving hulk hogan could soononbe handed over to a jury. closing arguments start today. yesterday it was an effort to discredit the former pro wrestler's claim. lawyers for gawker showed video of hulk hogan in underwear impersonating miley cyrus's "wrecking ball" video. hogan is suing gawker for $100 million for posting a sex video of him and the wife of his best friend. both hogan and the woman say theyidn't know they were being filmed. >>> a little courtroom music from a convicted felon who may adele before putting away. i'm sorry for the things've done and i try and be stronger in this life i chose >> man's got skills. you can't deny that. in this minute-long performance -- we just showed ten seconds. this man apologized to his mom and victim and acknowledged it was a life he chose. ality though the chigan judge recognized he's got skills, the musical apology didn't do him any good. he'll be spending 17 years in prison for unlawful imprisonment a

stephanie bertini has more on that story. >> about that big? >> yes. >> green -- >> this is baby, a parrot that's been by alvia nassco's child for 33 years. >> like my child. >> reporter: she says the animal was stolen from her back yard overnight. >> the cage was wide open. >> reporter: she says her dog started barking around 4:00 a.m. her husband went outside to find out what was going on. they soon found out baby the parrot, two cockatiels and two parakeets were missing. the family called police. find o who targeted this miami home. just six blocks away miami police working a similar case here at southwest 43rd avenue and southwest 2nd street, thieves targeted this home over night and maa away with three birds. the homeowner says the two birds, two parakeets and a messenger pion belong to her mother-in-law. she says the whole thing h her feeling unsecure. this chain is what the cage was hanging for. the family says the messenger pigeon found herer way home. she came close to a reunion with her pet. it turns out this wasn't baby. >> a neighbo

reporting in plantion, stephanie bertini, nbc 6 news. >>> another update from the health departmt. it shows zika keeps spreading here in south floorrida bringing tt number of florida cases to 47. we're talking up from 44. the good news all of those are travel r rated and none were contracted locally. the bad news here is that four pregnant women in the state have tested positive for the virus which has been linked to birth defects in newborns. they recommend that women consider extra ultrasounds and >>> in a name calling, sometimes even angry debate in deroit, marco rubio and ted cruz tried to take down the donald. >> this on the same day that mitt romney called trump a phony and a a fraud. nbc's steve handelsman is in detroit with the highlights. >> reporter:pit got nasty fast, trump versus rubio. >> this little guy has lied so much. >> reporter: marco rubio defended calling donald trump's anatomy smsmll. >> anyone who has ever deserved to be attacked that way is donald trump. >> and he referred to my hands, if they're small something else must be small. i guarantee there's no pro