WPB Dispatcher Left Her Headset — and Talked Her Friend Back to Safety
A $566M waterfront deal is in play; Brightline crash victims are identified; two new restaurants are coming.
WPB Dispatcher Left Her Headset — and Talked Her Friend Back to Safety
Andrea Baptiste was dispatching a 911 call when she recognized the voice. What happened next led to a Telecommunications Officer of the Year nomination.
West Palm Beach Police telecommunicator Andrea Baptiste was at her console on March 2, 2025 when an incoming call turned personal: the caller was a close friend in a postpartum mental health crisis, locked in a bathroom with a knife, WPTV reported. Baptiste stayed on the call while coordinating an officer response. When officers arrived and the woman inside said she would only speak to Baptiste, they asked Baptiste to leave her post and come to the scene. She went. Standing outside with no field training and no script, Baptiste talked to her friend about her children and staying strong until the woman opened the door and came out peacefully. "It felt good to see her calm down or come outside to me," Baptiste said. Co-worker Khristian Bryan subsequently nominated Baptiste for the LEO Awards' Telecommunications Officer of the Year. "I've always been very proud of how she handled it," Bryan said.
Stet News: A $566 Million Waterfront Deal Is in the Works
A major waterfront development is moving through approval channels in Palm Beach County.
Stet News reported a $566 million waterfront deal in their May 26 newsletter. Earlier Stet coverage of the Riviera Beach Forest development describes a winning plan that includes a convention center, a Marriott, waterfront dining, and a culinary school. The May 26 newsletter subject line signals a deal milestone. The governing body, timeline, and specific project involved were not confirmed in the inbox summary.
The next useful details are the project, jurisdiction, vote path, and how any deal would affect waterfront access, traffic, taxes, or nearby development pressure.
Family Identifies Two People Killed in West Palm Beach Brightline Crash
A memorial has grown near the site as the community mourns the two victims.
Family members have identified the two people killed in a Brightline train crash in West Palm Beach, WFLX reported. One victim was identified as Catalina Gabriel Lopez, 56. A memorial has grown at the crash site. The second victim's full name was partially obscured in the headline capture.
The memorial adds a community dimension to the crash. Further details on the crash circumstances and any safety response should come from WFLX, police, Brightline, or family statements.
Two Notable Restaurants Are Coming to West Palm Beach
Naked Farmer and David Chang's Fuku both have West Palm Beach locations in the works.
Naked Farmer, the farm-to-table restaurant, is planning a West Palm Beach location, as is Fuku, the chicken sandwich concept from chef David Chang, according to What Now Miami. Specific addresses and opening timelines were not confirmed in the listings.
The next useful details are addresses, opening dates, hiring plans, and whether either restaurant lands downtown or in a neighborhood corridor.
Vineland Place at Palm Beach Dramaworks — May 27 and May 28
Vineland Place, described as an intimate thriller filled with surprises, plays at Palm Beach Dramaworks on May 27 at 2 p.m. and May 28 at 7:30 p.m., among upcoming performances. Tickets are available at the Palm Beach Dramaworks box office.