Dental Assisting School Near Boca Raton, FL

The Rice Owls are set to continue their Florida road trip with a matchup against the Florida Atlantic Owls on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. CT. The game will take place at the Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena in Boca Raton, Florida. Fans can catch the action through video and radio streams, alongside live statistics and updates on social media via @RiceWBB.

The Owls from Rice enter this game with a record of 11 wins and 3 losses overall, and a solid 1-0 in American Conference play, following their thrilling 70-68 victory over South Florida. The game featured an intense finish, and standout performances came from Aniah Alexis, who scored 19 points and grabbed six rebounds, and Dominique Ennis, who contributed 17 points alongside four rebounds and three steals.

In the lead-up to this game, Rice received notable recognition as freshman guard Mylee Guinn earned her first career conference honor as the American Conference Freshman of the Week. Guinn impressed with a strong performance against HCU, where she scored 10 points and showcased her shooting skills with three three-pointers. Senior center Shelby Hayes also garnered attention, earning an Honorable Mention for her contributions.

Dominique Ennis has made headlines for her achievements as well, becoming the all-time three-point leader at Rice with a total of 202 career three-pointers, surpassing Nicole Iademarco’s previous record. Additionally, she recently became the 27th player in the program’s history to surpass 1,000 career points during an overtime win against Illinois State, solidifying her legacy as one of the top players in Owls’ history.

Victoria Flores also had a record-breaking performance, making 16 consecutive free throws during a recent 70-56 win over Houston. This performance ranks third in the school’s history for most free throws made in a single game.

Historically, Rice has faced Florida Atlantic 12 times, leading the series 8-4. While Rice won their last encounter 72-39 in Houston, Florida Atlantic has secured victories in the last two matchups held in Boca Raton.

Rice’s challenging non-conference schedule earlier this season included matchups against seven teams that participated in postseason play last year, highlighting the strength of their competition. The Owls were also recognized in the preseason, with three players named to All-Conference teams and a third-place prediction in the American Conference Preseason Coaches Poll.

Additionally, Hailey Adams received the prestigious Kay Yow Servant Leader Award, acknowledging her leadership and service qualities among student-athletes nationally.

Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds, now in her fifth year, has already made a significant impact, recently leading Rice to back-to-back appearances in the American Conference Championship game, and claiming the title in 2024. With the Owls looking to maintain their strong start and build on their recent successes, the upcoming game against Florida Atlantic promises excitement and potential for further achievements down the road.

Amid President Donald Trump’s holiday celebrations and international diplomacy at his Mar-a-Lago estate, the skies have gotten crowded over Palm Beach County, all the way to Boca Raton Airport.

In a statement Tuesday, the airport authority announced the Federal Aviation Administration has issued temporary flight restrictions for the Palm Beach area until Sunday.

As a result, the airport “is experiencing a significant and temporary increase in aircraft activity” because of its location within an “outer 30-nautical mile ring” and near an “inner 10-nautical mile restricted area.”

“We appreciate the community’s understanding as we experience these increases in traffic due to the TFRs,” Clara Bennett, the airport authority’s executive director, said in a statement.

She said the authority “understands that these changes in flight paths can be disruptive, and we appreciate the community’s patience.”

Bennett did not immediately respond to a voicemail request for comment Tuesday.

During the latter part of this month, Mar-a-Lago has been the stage for Trump’s high-level meetings with world leaders including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The airspace above Palm Beach International Airport, which is where Air Force One lands when the president comes to town, is also under tight restrictions with overwatch duty conducted by military aircraft. Last month, the FAA established a year-round restriction zone over the estate itself. As recently as Nov. 30, fighter jets intercepted a civilian aircraft that flew through temporarily restricted airspace over Palm Beach, according to CBS News.

The Boca Raton Airport, which lies about 25 miles south of the town of Palm Beach and is adjacent to Interstate 95 and the main campus of Florida Atlantic University, offers a main asphalt runway 6,276 feet in length for general aviation interests such as business jets, small recreational aircraft and flight training.

Rerouted traffic, no training

The airport authority’s statement said traffic “is being rerouted around the restricted airspace and diverted to alternate airports,” including Boca Raton.

All flight training including “pattern work and practice approaches, are prohibited while the TFRs are in effect,” the statement added.

The FAA also has adjusted departure routes for aircraft leaving the airport “to safely navigate around the restricted 10 [nautical mile] airspace.”

“These adjustments may result in flight activity over communities that do not typically experience higher levels of aircraft traffic,” the statement added.

NEW DETAILS: Undercover Buy at FAU Housing Led to Boca Raton Teen’s Fentanyl Trafficking Case

BOCA RATON, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2025) — A Palm Beach County judge has set bond for a Boca Raton teen charged with trafficking fentanyl, as newly filed court records and a probable-cause affidavit outline an undercover drug buy near Florida Atlantic University housing and an arrest days later in Highland Beach.

Alexander Zheleznyak, 19, appeared in court Tuesday, where a judge granted a motion to set bond and denied the state’s request for pretrial detention, according to docket entries dated Dec. 16. Bond was set at $100,000.

The ruling followed an earlier posture in the case in which court records reflected probable cause found, a granted state motion for pretrial detention, and bond listed as none after Zheleznyak’s Dec. 11 arrest by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, as first reported by Boca Post last week.

Zheleznyak is charged with trafficking in fentanyl or fentanyl analogues over four grams, a first-degree felony under Florida Statute 893.135(1)(c)1a. The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court.

According to the probable-cause affidavit, Zheleznyak’s occupation was listed as “drug dealer” at the time of arrest.

The affidavit states investigators began looking into Zheleznyak in August after receiving information that he was selling illegal narcotics in Palm Beach County using a specific phone number.

The investigation led to an undercover operation in early October.

On Oct. 8, an undercover agent contacted Zheleznyak by text message asking if he had “Percs” available, according to the affidavit. Zheleznyak responded and told the agent to follow up the next day.

Text messages and phone calls continued on Oct. 9, the affidavit states, and the two agreed to a deal involving 15 pills in exchange for $300. Investigators say the meeting location was set for 1880 E. University Drive in Boca Raton, an address associated with FAU-affiliated student housing.

The transaction took place Oct. 10, according to the affidavit. After briefing with other PBSO Narcotics Unit personnel, the undercover agent drove an unmarked vehicle to the parking area outside Building 58 at the East University Drive address.

Once on scene, the undercover agent called Zheleznyak, who directed the agent to pull in front of the building, the affidavit states. Zheleznyak then walked out from the front walkway and entered the front passenger seat of the undercover vehicle.

Investigators say the undercover agent handed Zheleznyak $300 in prerecorded investigative funds. Zheleznyak allegedly provided a clear plastic bag containing multiple white pills with a circular imprint on one side.

After a brief conversation about potential future transactions, Zheleznyak exited the vehicle and walked back toward the building, according to the affidavit.

The pills were later taken to PBSO’s District 7 substation in West Boca Raton. Investigators identified them as oxycodone pills based on markings and weighed them at approximately 5.9 grams. A presumptive field test returned a positive result for fentanyl, the affidavit states. The pills were submitted for additional laboratory testing.

The affidavit notes the undercover agent was equipped with covert recording equipment during the transaction and that text messages and video evidence were uploaded into a law enforcement evidence system.

Zheleznyak was arrested Dec. 11 in Highland Beach, according to the affidavit, on South Ocean Boulevard.

Jail and court records list an East University Drive address in Boca Raton. Court records do not identify Zheleznyak as a Florida Atlantic University student.

During Tuesday’s hearing, the court imposed multiple release conditions. In addition to the $100,000 bond, Zheleznyak was ordered to surrender his passport to his attorney, who will then turn it over to the clerk’s office within 48 hours of release. The judge also ordered that he remain at home with his parents, call in to supervision once per week, and have no contact with Florida Atlantic University.

Zheleznyak is represented by private counsel, according to the docket.

The case remains assigned in circuit court, with a 30-day return date scheduled for January and an initial case conference set for early February. No plea has been entered in the publicly available record.

This story is part of our ongoing coverage.

BOCA RATON, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2025) — A Boca Raton man is facing multiple felony cruelty charges after detectives discovered horses in worsening physical condition on a rural property in unincorporated Boca Raton, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

The investigation began on October 28, 2025, when a complaint reported that several horses on a property in the 12200 block of 200th Street South appeared severely underweight or injured. Detectives executed search warrants the following day and located ten horses on-site, most described as thin, malnourished, or injured. Stalls inside the barns were found in filthy, unsanitary conditions, investigators said.

Eight of the ten horses were secured and transported to Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control for emergency veterinary care. Veterinarians later documented malnutrition, dehydration, dental disease, overgrown hooves, rain rot, and multiple untreated injuries, including one horse with a large maggot-infested wound requiring surgery. These findings were consistent with long-term neglect, according to the case report.

A petition filed by Palm Beach County described the seized horses in detail, including a 4–5-year-old white and brown Appaloosa stallion, a more than 20-year-old paint stallion, and additional stallions and mares ranging in age from 4 to more than 20 years old. The petition alleges that the property lacked adequate shelter, safe pasture conditions, and sufficient grazing and was contaminated with excessive feces.

Based on the investigation, detectives say they established probable cause to charge James Marinakis with five counts of Unlawful Abandonment or Confinement of an Animal (F.S.S. 828.13(2)(a)) and three counts of Aggravated Animal Cruelty (F.S.S. 828.12(2)).

Marinakis was arrested on November 21, 2025, and the case was cleared by arrest. County attorneys have also petitioned the court for an emergency hearing to determine continuing custody of the eight seized horses and to seek reimbursement for the costs of veterinary treatment and care 502025CC018018XXXAMB_3.

The current status of the remaining two unseized horses has not yet been publicly updated. Boca Post has reached out to Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control for comment and will report any additional developments, including upcoming court hearing dates.

Jail records show that Marinakis was booked by PBSO on Nov. 21, 2025, on two animal-cruelty charges — one misdemeanor for allegedly confining an animal without sufficient food or water and one felony count of aggravated animal cruelty. He was held on $6,000 total bond and released early the next morning.