Latest News: Broward leads the region in high school grads in the NFL
It's Friday, Sep. 13, 2024.
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On the WLRN website today:
- Education: Donning chef coats and gowns, Camillus House hospitality program students celebrate graduation day
⬇️ Scroll down for the latest news in South Florida
From Monday, Sept. 16, you can get the latest South Florida news in the new section News In Brief, bringing in the most important reports from WLRN's Morning Edition and All Things Considered coverage. As always, you can go to WLRN News for our team's in-depth reporting from South Florida and Florida news.
Reproductive freedom rally to be held Saturday at the Bayfront Park Amphitheater
Several organizations are coming together this weekend to advocate for reproductive freedom in the state of Florida. The Our Bodies Our Lives Rally supports the passing of Amendment 4, which would enshrine the right to an abortion in the state constitution.
Anna Hochkammer is the executive director of the Florida Women’s Freedom Coalition, one of the rally’s organizers.
"We want to elevate the voices of women who've been affected by the ban," said Hochkammer. "Elevate the voices of elected officials who support the ban and elevate the voices of real voters out in the streets of Florida who don't want to see their wives and daughters and girlfriends and mothers hurt by prehistoric non modern medical care."
The Our Bodies Our Lives Rally is 11 a.m. tomorrow at the Bayfront Park Amphitheater. Florida voters will decide the fate of Amendment 4 in the November election.
READ MORE: Lawsuit targets state website advocating against abortion ballot measure
Hispanic voters in Florida name economy, jobs, affordable housing as top priorities
Inflation. Jobs. Affordable housing.
Hispanic voters in Florida say these are their top issues in the upcoming November election.
The results come from a statewide poll released Friday by UnidosUS, a national Hispanic civil rights group.
The poll found that these pocketbook issues were among the biggest concerns for Hispanic voters. Immigration and healthcare ranked lower on their list of priority issues.
“Our poll shows that economic concerns loom large for Hispanic Floridians, including the cost of basic necessities, wages, housing and healthcare costs," said Jared Nordlund, UnidosUS’s Florida state director, in a .
Latino voters also expressed strong opinions on abortion, with nearly 70% opposed to making it illegal or taking that decision away from others, he said.
Democrat Kamala Harris held a 5-point lead over Republican Donald Trump in the race for the White House, 47% to 42%.
In the U.S. Senate race, Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell holds a 4-point edge among Hispanic voters over Republican incumbent Sen. Rick Scott, 41% to 37% .
Florida is home to more than 2.4 million Hispanic voters. They represent about 18% of all voters. The poll results was based on a sample of 400 Hispanic voters in Florida.
READ MORE: Inflation falls to its lowest level in more than 3 years. Here’s what that means
Heat to unveil statue of Dwyane Wade at Kaseya Center West Plaza
A statue celebrating Dwyane Wade, one of the Miami Heat’s most legendary icons, will soon be unveiled.
The team announced the bronze statue will take its rightful place on the Kaseya Center West Plaza, the Heat's home arena, on Oct. 27.
The day after, Wade will be honored during a halftime celebration when the Heat host the Detroit Pistons. The recognition follows 21 years to the day after his regular-season debut.
Wade played 14 seasons with the Heat and won three championships with the team. Last year, he was inducted into the 2023 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
READ MORE: Calls grow for Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa to retire as he sustains another concussion
Broward leads the region in most high school grads in the NFL
During the National Football League’s opening weekend, Broward County again led with the most South Florida high school graduates participating in the league.
According to the South Florida Sun Sentinel, Broward had 50 players lined up during the NFL’s first week of games.
Meanwhile, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties had about 40 players combined.
Two private schools in Broward produced the most players this year: American Heritage Schools in Plantation and St.Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale.
READ MORE: Dolphins' Tyreek Hill says he could have handled some elements of traffic stop better
CEO of Memorial Healthcare System resigns after negative board review
The chief executive officer of one of South Florida’s largest hospital networks has resigned following a negative review from the board.
The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports that Scott Wester was hired in 2022 under a three-year contract to run Memorial Healthcare System, which includes six hospitals in Broward County and a new free-standing cancer center.
The board was not in agreement with the strategic plan Wester had presented for the future of the healthcare system.
The Memorial Healthcare System board voted unanimously on Thursday to terminate its contract with Wester.
A top leader with Memorial Healthcare will take on the role of interim CEO until the board finds a permanent replacement.
READ MORE: Synthetic opioid more deadly than fentanyl becomes public health threat in South Florida
Community redevelopment expansion raises tensions on Miami City Commission
Tensions flared at Miami City hall on Thursday as an argument about community redevelopment pitted commissioners against each other.
The commission wants to extend the life of the OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency — or CRA — into 2047. The agency collects special taxes to address slum and blight in the OMNI area of downtown Miami.
Commissioner Miguel Gabela wants to expand the agency’s borders to include the Allapattah neighborhood. When agency leadership pushed back, he got angry.
"Don’t tell us that we haven’t been on top of this. I’ve been very on top of this. But what you guys wanna do is you guys wanna go ahead and ram this through and then you get your way and then we go bye bye," Gabela said.
Before things boiled over, the commission voted to table the conversation, with chairwoman Christine King trying to keep the peace.
"We should start working it out," King said. "And that’s the message that I’m trying to send now. Work it out."
The CRA expansion will be discussed at the Oct. 10 city commission meeting.
READ MORE: Arrests of Miami-Dade's homeless residents skyrockets since new law
Key Biscayne changes policies amid a gym coach's sexual assault case
Allegations of sexual assault against a once trusted gymnastics coach have led to policy changes in the village of Key Biscayne.
The Miami Herald reports that employees and volunteers of the parks department can no longer be left alone with a child without another adult being present or notified.
From now on, coaches and volunteers are also forbidden from having private conversations by phone or social media with a child in their charge or even giving a child a ride home.
This comes more than six months after a Key Biscayne gymnastics coach was arrested over allegations of sex crimes involving two of his former students. He has pleaded not guilty.
READ MORE: Police reopen sex investigation into Key Biscayne gymnastics coach
Federal investigators give update on Surfside collapse
Federal investigators say they continue working to determine what caused the catastrophic partial collapse of Champlain Towers South in Surfside that killed 98 people in June 2021.
In an update today they said some of the work that remains includes simulations of computer collapse models and interviews with eyewitnesses.
Judith Mitrani-Reiser with the National Institute of Standards and Technology is the lead investigator.
"If you have been hesitant to share with our investigation in the past and you are listening now, I urge you to please reconsider and send any of your photos, videos, records – anything that you may have related to Champlain Towers South," said Mitrani-Reiser.
A draft report for public comment is now slated for a spring 2026 release, about a year behind schedule
People can reach investigators at disaster@nist.gov
READ MORE: A look at Florida condo reforms, three years after the Surfside collapse
Inflation continues slow drop in South Florida
Inflation keeps slowing in South Florida. Consumer prices rose 2.6% in August, the slowest annual increase in three years.
Inflation in South Florida was running much hotter than the rest of the country. It was driven by housing, the cost of homes, condos and escalating rent.
But as those hikes have slowed and the annual comparison have gotten easier, Miami's price increases are now about the same as the nation overall.
Housing costs continue underpinning regional inflation. If you take housing out, prices for everything else were up 0.6% from a year ago.
READ MORE: Because of DeSantis’ arts funding cuts, Miami Beach will give $500k to local arts groups
9 students arrested since August over threats against Broward schools
“Frustrating. Disheartening. Disgusting." Those are the words that one Broward County school board member is using to describe online threats to South Florida schools made by students in recent weeks.
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that nine local students have been arrested since August for allegedly posting threats against Broward County schools online.
According to investigators, the students are between the ages of 11 and 15 and the threats were often posted on social media platforms including Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok.
Several students said they intended the threats as a joke.
But whether it's a prank or not, making a written threat to kill, inflict bodily injury or conduct a mass shooting, is a felony in Florida.
READ MORE:
Miami Beach considers renovating the Fillmore at Jackie Gleason Theater.
The city of Miami Beach will not tear down the Fillmore at Jackie Gleason Theater.
During a public meeting yesterday, commissioners agreed to consider renovation costs and rehabbing the theater with Live Nation. That’s the entertainment company that operates the Fillmore.
So far, the city has $29 million taxpayer dollars for this purpose. The money comes from a nearly $160 million-dollar general obligation bond program for arts and culture. City residents approved it two years ago.
READ MORE: Miami Beach to search for new fire station site, rejects community center option
The Shops at Sunset Place are getting a long-awaited makeover
The Shops at Sunset Place are getting a long-awaited makeover after the city of South Miami’s planning board approved a resolution to redevelop the mall this week.
The Shops at Sunset Place opened in 1990, offering shopping, dining and entertainment. In recent years, it’s sat mostly empty, with a few storefronts open.
According to NBC 6, the renovation plan includes building a parking garage, a revamped movie theater, hotel rooms, more than 1,000 residential units and 350,000 square feet of retail stores and offices.
READ MORE: Miami Beach to search for new fire station site, rejects community center option
Miami Beach suspends water taxi service
Miami Beach’s water taxis are being suspended, about two months after they started to embark on trips across Biscayne Bay.
In a unanimous vote, the city commission decided to cut the service’s funding. Back in June, the city agreed to subsidize the program at $50,000 per month.
According to the Miami Herald, the Poseidon Ferry, which ran the service, had been experiencing maintenance issues. The Herald also reports that the ferry experienced low ridership, air conditioning issues and mechanical failures.
While the ferry service, which was meant to relieve traffic congestion, is losing its funding, city officials say they may reconsider other versions of the program at a different location.
READ MORE: Arrests of Miami-Dade's homeless residents skyrockets since new law
Heat advisory issued in South Florida amid three-digit temperatures
Today, it's important to spend as little time outdoors as possible.
The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory with some of the highest heat indexes we've seen so far this summer.
The so-called feels-like temperatures will be between 107 and 112 degrees throughout all of South Florida.
And that raises the risk for heat stroke which can be deadly.
READ MORE: How climate change is contributing to the home insurance crisis in Florida and across the country
Bankrupt healthcare company that runs five South Florida hospitals announces new owner
Five South Florida hospitals that are run by a healthcare company in bankruptcy, will soon be under new ownership.
According to the Miami Herald, Steward Health Care will be handing over its Broward and Miami-Dade hospitals to its landlord, Medical Properties Trust.
The Trust is then partnering with Healthcare Systems of America to run day-to-day operations.
The plan will include Palmetto General Hospital, Coral Gables Hospital, Hialeah Hospital, North Shore Medical Center and Florida Medical Center, in Lauderdale Lakes.
A final hearing on the plan is set for Sept. 17.
READ MORE: Why hospitals across South Florida are investing in robotic machines for surgeries
Palm Beach County lawyer sues the state over its criticism against Amendment 4
A Palm Beach County lawyer is suing state officials over efforts to blast the abortion access initiative known as Amendment 4.
According to Politico, last week the Agency for Health Care Administration launched a website criticizing the amendment, saying it threatens women’s safety.
Now, South Florida lawyer Adam Richardson is asking the state Supreme Court to block the actions of the AHCA. The lawsuit, filed yesterday, argues state officials overstepped their legal authority.
Meanwhile Gov. Ron DeSantis, an outspoken critic of the abortion proposal, has defended the agency for getting involved.
READ MORE: Police are questioning Florida voters about signing an abortion rights ballot petition
Miramar remembers 9/11 at memorial featuring World Trade Center wreckage
All across South Florida today, memorials were held in remembrance of 9/11. In the City of Miramar, that memorial also comes with a piece of history.
At Miramar’s 9/11 memorial, two steel beams from the wreckage of the World Trade Center again stand like the buildings they were once a part of.
"This should be a memorial that can easily be placed in Washington D.C.," said Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam. He was among the first responders, citizens and elected officials who attended a ceremony held at the city's memorial in Miramar Regional Park.
Messam looked on at the presentation of colors from students at Everglades High School. None of those students were alive on 9/11. And it's for those students he thinks today is especially important.
"A generation has been born since then and to see our young students participating, it's great to say we’re teaching them about our history and the importance of freedom."
It's his goal that even those who weren’t there, never forget.
READ MORE: The mayor who worries condo reforms could lead to an economic catastrophe
CDC report identifies three factors to prevent suicide
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a new report out that suggests three factors may help with preventing suicide. Those factors are access to health insurance coverage, broadband internet and higher household income.
According to the CDC, men have higher suicide rates than women. The report also finds that American Indian and white people have higher rates than other racial and ethnic groups.
In Florida, 3,445 people died by suicide in 2022, according to the state’s Department of Health. And in South Florida, a higher percentage of people died by suicide that year in Monroe County, followed by Palm Beach, Broward then Miami-Dade.
Lifeline counselors are available around the clock by calling or texting 988.
READ MORE: Synthetic opioid more deadly than fentanyl becomes public health threat in South Florida
A South Florida firefighter will receive special honors for his bravery
Today, the entire country is remembering the lives lost 23 years ago during the 9-11 terrorist attacks. And the anniversary always calls to mind the bravery of America's first responders.
Today, one South Florida firefighter will be receiving a special honor from his peers.
According to WSVN Channel 7 news, last December, North Lauderdale Fire Rescue Lieutenant Houston Holcombe and his team responded to a call of a house fire where a mother and her toddler were trapped inside.
After firefighters removed the pair from the home, Holcombe performed CPR on the 2 year old, saving her life. He is now being honored as the National Association of EMT’s Paramedic of the Year.
"Super humbling but without my partners on the rescue and everyone on the fire scene, it’s just not one person, it all comes together as a team effort. It really is super gratifying and humbling," he told WSVN.
Holcombe said the mother and her toddler have made full recoveries. The firefighter is set to receive the award today in Las Vegas, Nevada.
READ MORE: Broward Sheriff's Office and county commissioners inch closer to a budget deal
Federal funding for Palm Beach State College for careers as automotive technicians
New federal funding for Palm Beach State College could attract people seeking careers as automotive technicians and mechanics, as the U.S. tries to combat a national shortage.
Palm Beach State College will receive $4 million in federal funding to expand its Transportation Technology Workforce Training Program. The funding will pay for a 12,000 square foot training center with modern labs and classrooms, aimed at preparing students for a career as automotive technicians. These refer to professionals who typically work on the electrical side of cars.
The investment is part of an effort to address growing demand in the industry. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 67,000 openings for automotive technicians and mechanics across the country.
READ MORE: A Vanderbilt University campus in West Palm Beach could rain billions on local economy
Miamians share their priorities for City of Miami budget
The City of Miami has a budget of $3.5 billion, but how should they spend it? The city administration has its plans. Like a new economic innovation department and a big boost for housing and community development.
Residents came out in full force for the first budget hearing of the year with a list of their own ideas on how they want their tax dollars spent.
“More money for community outreach for the climate action plan and the extreme heat action plan,” said Camilo Mejia.
Other Miamians urged city leaders to funnel money toward park upkeep, infrastructure and marine patrol units.
“I urge the City of Miami commissioners to increase the budget for marine patrol to add a minimum of four additional full-time marine patrol officers to the unit,” said Majie Ramos.
“The City of Miami Building Department I think is overlooked,” said David Ward.
“I’m here to ask basically for you all to consider in your budget the funding for the parks in Overtown, which include Reeves Park, Gibson Park, Dorsey and Williams Park," said Dedria Davis.
If you’re a City of Miami resident, you’ll have another chance to speak to the commissioners at the next budget hearing on Sept. 26.
READ MORE: City of Miami to create new 'innovation' office, discuss $3.5 billion budget
Broward County School Board passes list of resolutions, including LGBTQ+ items
The Broward School Board met on Tuesday to pass its yearly resolutions.
In all, the board voted on 95 resolutions. Among the list was support for National Dyslexia Awareness Month, No Name-Calling Week, and National PI Day. But three of the items related to the LGBTQ+ community incited tense discussions.
After hearing from both pro and anti LGBTQ+ speakers, school board member Brenda Fam made her opinion known.
"I am against transgendering, or transitioning children in secret behind parents backs. This is not really about being gay. I think what it's about is transgenderism and whether or not that's acceptable," Fam said.
The resolutions did not mention anything about transitioning children in the school district.
The board voted on the list of 95 items at once. It passed 6 to 3, Fam was joined in dissenting by fellow school board members Torey Alston and Daniel Foganholi. Alston and Foganholi both lost re-election campaigns in August. Fam was not up for re-election.
READ MORE: Top book publishers file suit challenging Florida's ‘unconstitutional’ book ban law
12-year-old student arrested for making mass shooting threats
A fourth student has been arrested within the past week for allegedly making threats against Broward County Public Schools.
A 12-year-old girl was arrested last night after posting threats on social media against schools across Broward County.
BCPS Superintendent Howard Hepburn addressed the recent arrests at this morning’s school board meeting.
"Unfortunately, we have already witnessed the devastating consequences for four students who have made these poor decisions are irrevocably altered the course of their lives," said Hepburn.
According to reporting from NBC6, the student is facing multiple charges including making written threats to conduct a mass shooting.
READ MORE: Rift between Parkland massacre survivor and some families of the dead erupts in court
Miami's controversial former City Attorney named partner at a law firm.
City of Miami’s former attorney who was effectively fired earlier this year after accusations of abuse of power, has been named partner of a prestigious local firm.
According to the Miami Herald, the law firm Shutts & Bowen announced this week that Victoria Méndez has joined their Miami office as a partner.
Mendez served as Miami City Attorney for 10 years, but came under scrutiny after a WLRN Investigation. She was accused of abusing her position to orchestrate a house-flipping scheme with her husband.
Mendez has denied the claims, but is currently under investigation by the Florida Bar.
In a statement, a chairperson with the firm said they were “thrilled” to welcome Méndez to the team.
READ MORE: 'We need to move on': Victoria Méndez removed as Miami City Attorney
Monroe County names new administrator amid drug theft scheme
As Monroe County continues to grapple with the alleged cover-up of a drug theft scheme, commissioners recently moved to hire a new County Administrator.
The board of commissioners announced last week that Christine Hurley, the current county Land Authority Executive Director will be moving up into the county’s top leadership position.
Hurley has worked for the county since 2009.
She is set to replace former county administrator Roman Gastesi who planned to return to the role after a 6-month retirement. But his recent indictment for official misconduct in a stolen narcotics investigation has derailed those plans.
Hurley is expected to begin her new role midway through the month.
READ MORE: Florida Keys PR director facing perjury, false statement charges turns himself in
Broward teachers respond to student arrest for threats against several schools
Last week following a school shooting in Georgia, a Broward County student also made threats against several schools here in South Florida.
The 14-year-old student was arrested on Saturday after she posted threatening messages online against elementary, middle and high schools in Broward.
School officials started the week reminding students that making these kinds of threats is a crime and will be treated as such.
"We plan to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law for any issues of threatening our schools, be it in person or online," said BCPS Superintendent Dr. Howard Hepburn.
She spoke alongside school board chair Lori Alhadeff said that students can be arrested and expelled for these threats.
"Parents, please have the tough conversations with your children about the seriousness of their words and actions," Alhadeff said.
If you do hear or see a threat, you can submit tips at .
READ MORE: Broward School Board sues drug manufacturers, pharmacies over insulin prices
Delray Beach pedestrian struck and killed by Brightline train
A Brightline train struck and killed a pedestrian in Delray Beach earlier today, according to police.
The crash happened at Atlantic and Railroad Avenues, just east of the Florida East Coast Railway tracks.
The police have not identified the victim.
Since Brightline began service in 2018, there have been more than 30 pedestrian and driver deaths involving trains in Palm Beach County.
READ MORE: Miami-Dade voters want the county to expand rapid mass transit
Hollywood breaks ground on new police headquarters
The City of Hollywood is breaking ground today on its new police headquarters.
The existing headquarters were built in 1974. Today, it lacks the space and technology needed for a modern police department. More importantly, the building isn’t properly rated to withstand hurricanes.
In 2019, voters approved a general obligation bond measure that included this project. The new 100,000 square foot state-of-the-art building will cost around $72 million.
City Mayor Josh Levy said it sends an important message to his community.
"It represents our unwavering investment in the safety and security of our community, grounded in the belief that everyone deserves to feel safe in their homes on our streets and throughout our neighborhoods," Levy said.
Construction is expected to be completed in June of 2026.
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READ MORE: 'Mount Trashmore' landfill in Coconut Creek plans to expand
Heat advisory in effect in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties
A heat advisory is in effect today until 6 P.M. for Broward and Miami-Dade Counties. That's because the 'feels like’ temperature outside ranges from 105 to 110 degrees.
In Monroe County, the heat advisory is in effect until 7 P.M. with temperatures feeling like 112 degrees.
READ MORE: Buyer beware: Lemon car sales on the rise in Florida after hurricanes, floods
Sep 9 @ 6 AM - Another hot day with increasing shower & storm chances by the afternoon. A Heat Advisory will be in effect from 10 AM to 6 PM for Miami-Dade, Broward, Collier, & mainland Monroe Counties.
— NWS Miami (@NWSMiami)
Teen girl arrested for making online threats against Broward schools
A teenage girl has been arrested for allegedly making online threats of violence against multiple schools in Broward County.
The Broward Sheriff's Office says the 14-year-old high school student from Lauderdale Lakes posted several threats of a school shooting and other violence on Saturday.
The student was arrested later on Saturday. Detectives say she confessed to making the threats and intended them as a joke.
In Florida, a threat to commit violence against schools is punishable as a second degree felony.
READ MORE: Two student protesters arrested at UF accept plea deals in criminal cases
Harris is leading Trump by 5 points among Latino voters in Florida, new poll says
Kamala Harris is leading Donald Trump by 5 points among Latino eligible voters in Florida, according to a new survey from Unidos U.S., a Latino civil rights organization.
Forty-seven percent of Florida Latinos surveyed said they support Harris — compared to 42% who support Trump — and that's a much closer margin than what pollsters found in the seven other states surveyed.
“Since becoming the party’s nominee just a month ago, Vice President Harris has measurably increased Latino support, and her candidacy seems to be resonating with greater numbers in our community," said president and CEO of the organization Janet Murguía.
Nationally, Harris is up over Trump 59% to 31% among Latino eligible voters.
“Neither party can ignore or take for granted the Latino vote," said Murguía.
The survey also found that 68% of Latino voters in Florida agree that “it is wrong to make abortion illegal,” regardless of their personal beliefs.
The survey was conducted in August with a sample of 3,000 Latino voters nationally, including 400 in Florida.
READ MORE: Democrats launch text message campaign in Florida Senate race to reach Latino voters
Pembroke Park officials accused of using taxpayer dollars for a town holiday party
It might have been the most wonderful time of the year, but that was no excuse to spend thousands of taxpayer dollars on a holiday party.
That's what Broward watchdogs say happened in Pembroke Park nearly two years ago. They're taking two officials to task for renting a yacht for the town's holiday party that year.
According to the South Florida Sun Sentinel, Broward County’s Inspector General says a Pembroke Park commissioner, who was mayor at the time, improperly paid for the yacht charter with his city-issued credit card. The total cost was over $10,000
Twenty-four guests attended the party, making the charter bill roughly $440 per person.
READ MORE: Civilian police watchdog group sues City of Miami to stay in existence
Single car crash shuts down Palmetto Expressway
The Palmetto Expressway was closed in both directions near Northwest 17th Avenue earlier today. That was after a serious single car crash.
The Florida Highway Patrol says the crash happened just before noon when the driver of a gray Honda swerved to avoid striking some debris on the road. The motorist then crashed into a tree.
One passenger died. Three other people were flown to Jackson North Medical Center.
The crash forced police to close eastbound and westbound traffic for several hours.
READ MORE: Miami-Dade voters want the county to expand rapid mass transit
Palm Beach State College receives funding to train automotive technicians
New federal funding for Palm Beach State College could attract people seeking careers as automotive technicians and mechanics as the U.S. tries to combat a national shortage.
Palm Beach State College will receive $4 million in federal funding to expand its Transportation Technology Workforce Training Program.
The funding will pay for a 12,000 square-foot training center with modern labs and classrooms, aimed at preparing students for a career as automotive technicians, professionals who typically work on the electrical side of cars.
The investment is part of an effort to address growing demand in the industry. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 67,000 openings for automotive technicians and mechanics across the country.
READ MORE: More Palm Beach County homes fall into flood zone
Doral offers Miami-Dade County $20M to relocated trash incinerator
The city of Doral is offering $20 million to Miami-Dade County to relocate its waste plant, according to the Miami Herald. Doral's city council has agreed to start negotiations with the county to set the terms.
Miami-Dade County's trash incinerator caught fire in February of last year at its longtime site within Doral city limits.
Since then, there have been debates about whether the new incinerator should be placed at the same site or somewhere else.
READ MORE: Floridians saved hundreds of millions of dollars in renewable tax credits for 2023
Broward County receives $25M grant for electric bus plans
Broward County Commissioners just got handed a giant check. Literally. The $25 million award is the largest grant the county has ever received from the Federal Transit Administration.
The money will help replace aging diesel buses with a new electric fleet, which is an important objective in the county’s Climate Action Plan.
Democrat Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz offered congratulations at Thursday's county commission meeting.
"Global warming and climate change are not a someday thing for us, they are a right now thing," said Wasserman-Schultz.
The grant also includes money for more chargers along bus routes and a new solar canopy that will provide renewable energy to the fleet.
READ MORE: Florida falls short on EV chargers. So why is state sitting on millions to install them?
New Florida law bans civilian police oversight
Civilian oversight of police conduct is coming to an end across Florida. A new state law bans municipalities from creating independent bodies to investigate complaints against law enforcement officers.
The county's Police and Criminal Justice Review Board has been suspended, not because county commissioners don't believe in its mission, but because they're worried it could get them sued.
The board met in late July to try to comply with the new state law, but was unable to come up with a solution that allowed them to continue their work.
The County Commission was forced to vote to suspend the board. The vote was unanimous.
READ MORE: Two student protesters arrested at UF accept plea deals in criminal cases
Broward police immune from liability for injuring BLM protestor
A jury will decide if the city of Fort Lauderdale is at fault for the injuries a woman sustained during a Black Lives Matter protest in 2020.
During the demonstration, LaToya Ratlieff's eye socket was fractured when she was shot in the face with a rubber bullet by a Fort Lauderdale Police officer.
The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports a Miami federal judge has ruled that the police officers cannot be held responsible, and that a jury must decide if the city is liable for allegedly failing to adequately train its officers.
READ MORE: Florida urges appeals court to uphold gun age law
Broward County to install carbon monoxide detectors in schools
Broward County schools will soon have carbon monoxide detectors installed, following a series of gas leaks that led to evacuations and several people being taken to the hospital.
Carbon monoxide detectors are required in many buildings where people sleep, like hospitals and assisted living facilities, but state law does not require them for schools.
The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports the Broward County School Board has unanimously voted to ask the Superintendent to seek bids for the detection system.
The carbon monoxide detectors would cover school cafeterias and classrooms where cooking equipment is installed.
The system is expected to cost $55,000.
READ MORE: Florida falls short on EV chargers. So why is state sitting on millions to install them?
Heat advisory issued in South Florida
South Florida is looking at another potentially dangerously hot day.
The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for all South Florida counties.
The so-called "feels-like" temperature could go as high as 112 degrees -- and that raises the risk for heat stroke. So please try to limit the time you spend outdoors, take it slow, take it easy and drink plenty of water.
READ MORE: What is it about stalled fronts? What risks do they bring?
DeSantis admin looks for fraud in abortion amendment signatures
Florida’s Department of State is examining thousands of petition signatures that were used to get an abortion amendment on November ballots, saying it’s looking for fraud.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, Governor Ron DeSantis’s deputy-secretary of state has asked election supervisors in Hillsborough, Orange, Osceola and Palm Beach Counties to gather roughly 36,000 signatures for the state to review.
The signatures were among the nearly 1 million collected to permit Amendment 4 to appear before Florida voters in November.
The amendment would protect abortion access and undo the state’s six-week abortion ban that DeSantis championed.
Museum demands refund after Florida state website removes LGBTQ+ page
One South Florida LGBTQ+ institution wants its money back.
That’s after the state’s tourism marketing agency quietly removed the "LGBTQ Travel" section from its website at some point in the past few months.
Leaders of the Stonewall National Museum, Archives and Library in Fort Lauderdale say the institution pays Visit Florida a membership fee for help promoting the museum, which is one of the largest LGBTQ+ archives in the world.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has defended the tourism agency’s decision, claiming the state is the best place to visit–but that the state will not be “segregating people.”
READ MORE: Florida quietly removes LGBTQ+ travel info from state website
Spate of Fort Lauderdale shootings prompt city police to expand investigations into gun violence
Local officials gathered in Fort Lauderdale today to address a string of shootings impacting the northwestern section of the city.
According to Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, more than 11 people have died as a result of gun violence in the area over the summer.
Two victims mentioned were under the age of 5. As a result, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis has announced the city’s police force will expand its focus on investigating gun violence to create a new gun intelligence center, that’s according to WPLG.
"The revamped unit prioritizes our fight against gun violence by combining forces and intensifying our investigative focus," Trantalis said at the press conference.
Authorities urge anyone who may have information on any of the cases to call Broward Crime Stoppers.
READ MORE: Florida urges appeals court to uphold gun age law
Local olympians honored with keys to Miami-Dade County
The Miami-Dade County Board of Commissioners honored South Florida Olympians with honorary keys to the county today.
Six athletes who represented Team USA at the Paris Olympics this summer were present at the Stephen P. Clark Center this morning.
"We thank you for your dedication, your hard work," said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said. "As I say, the world was watching, but mostly we're watching and we just are excited that you are showcasing the greatness in our community."
The athletes honored were Bam Adebayo,Daniella Ramirez, Twanisha "Tee Tee" Terry, Sarah Newberry Moore, Russell Robinson and Angelica Delgado.
READ MORE: Inter Miami now says long-awaited, oft-delayed new stadium will open in 2026
Former doctor found liable for botched circumcision has been tied to multiple patient deaths
A former Palm Beach County doctor found liable for botching baby's circumcision has been tied to six patient deaths.
Berto Lopez was found liable for $100 million last week in a medical malpractice case centered on the 2021 circumcision, which the infant's family said led to severe injuries to the baby.
Lopez performed the procedure 10 days after the Florida Board of Medicine voted to revoke his medical license.
Over the 33 years that Lopez practiced medicine as an OBGYN in Palm Beach County, records examined by The Palm Beach Post link him to 14 serious injuries of women and children, including six deaths.
The Post reports that many of those deaths and injuries went undetected by the state of Florida, never generating a complaint or disciplinary action.
READ MORE: Florida urges appeals court to uphold gun age law
Miami Beach officials propose changes to sea turtle ordinance
A number of threatened or endangered sea turtles nest and lay their eggs on Miami Beach.
Officials are proposing changes to the city’s sea turtle ordinance from 2006 to reduce how often hatchlings are led away from the ocean after becoming disoriented by artificial lights. If they get lost, they’re likely to become dehydrated or preyed upon.
Amy Knowles, the city’s chief resilience officer, said some of the proposals would require window treatments for certain condos near the beach to reduce interior light brightness.
"This would allow our code enforcement team to make a visit to give the education and to hopefully change that behavior," Knowles said. "If it doesn't change over time, then, then yes, that person could potentially have to go to the special magistrate."
A magistrate enforces city codes.
Miami Beach commissioners will have a first reading of the amended ordinance on Sept. 11. Sea turtle season lasts through the end of Oct. 31st.
READ MORE: New protections for the Rice’s Whale in the Gulf of Mexico delayed until December
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City of Miami budget talks start this week
It’s budget season once again. Maybe not for your household but for local governments throughout South Florida.
In September, counties and cities set their tax rates and budgets for the next fiscal year.
City residents are invited to speak this weekend on how they think the city should spend its more than $1 billion budget in 2025. The city is looking to lower its property tax rate and plans to defund an independent police oversight board.
Miami’s first budget hearing is at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7.
READ MORE: Civilian police watchdog group sues City of Miami to stay in existence
Florida Keys man sentenced to 45 months in prison for Jan. 6 attacks
A Florida Keys man who pleaded guilty to taking part in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol will spend 45 months in prison.
that Bryan Roger Bishop, 52, of Marathon, will also have to pay $2,000 in restitution and spend 36 months under supervised release after his prison term.
Justice officials say Bishop sprayed a chemical irritant at two police officers during the attack on the Capitol. He then walked throughout various rooms of the Capitol, joining hundreds of other rioters.
Bishop is one of nearly 1,500 people arrested in connection with the attack on the Capitol. That number includes about 130 Floridians, , which tracks the arrests of those involved in the riot, At least one person has been arrested from every state and the District of Columbia.
READ MORE: Harris says Trump’s ‘Project 2025 agenda’ would raise mortgage costs by $1,200. What’s that about?
Meteorologists scale back forecasts for hurricane season
Meteorologists for at least two trusted weather prediction teams are scaling back their forecasts for this hurricane season, but with the same caveat: Florida cannot let its guard down.
The Atlantic Ocean was relatively quiet over the Labor Day weekend and had “limited” tropical activity in August.
AccuWeather is still predicting an above-average season but is now forecasting 16 to 20 named storms, as opposed to its March prediction of 20 to 25.
Experts at Colorado State University last month also slightly revised their forecast for the season from 25 named storms to 23.
The Atlantic Hurricane season so far has had five named storms, with three reaching hurricane strength and one becoming a major storm.
They included the Cat. 1 Hurricane Debby, which made landfall last month in Taylor County before crossing parts of North Florida.
The National Hurricane Center right now is watching three weather systems that show very low chances of forming into tropical storms.
The hurricane season started June 1 and will end Nov. 30.
READ MORE: Labor Day Weekend sets new hurricane seasonal record
Florida state parks whistleblower fired after exposing development plans
The whistleblower who released information of the state’s plans to put golf courses, pickleball courts and hotels in Florida State parks says he’s been fired.
James Gaddis received a dismissal letter over the weekend. Prior to his firing, he had been a cartographer with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for two years. That’s according to the Tampa Bay Times.
Gaddis told The Times that the agency traced the origin of the document back to him. Which he admitted to drafting on his work laptop.
He says his actions weren’t politically motivated, instead citing his uneasiness of the plan’s secrecy and potential for vast environmental destruction.
Gaddis told the Times he believes the plan originated from Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office.
READ MORE: DeSantis blames 'left-wing group' for stirring controversy over state park plans
Democrats rally in Trump's backyard to launch 'Reproductive Freedom Bus Tour'
The Democratic campaign of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz kicked off its “Reproductive Freedom Bus Tour” on Tuesday in former President Donald Trump’s home county of Palm Beach to contrast his stance on the hot-button issue of abortion.
“You can’t trust a damn word out of that liar’s mouth, no matter what he says,” U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston told Harris-Walz supporters at the rally. “Florida is ground zero for his extreme, anti-reproductive freedom agenda, and he wants to keep it that way.”
Trump has expressed mixed opinions on abortion. Last week, the Republican presidential candidate said he would vote no on a Florida ballot measure that would repeal the state’s six-week abortion ban — coming just the day after he seemed to indicate he would vote in favor of it.
Harris and Walz want to restore abortion rights nationwide.
The bus tour will make 50 stops in key states through the fall. The next stop is Jacksonville.
Along with Wasserman Schultz, the rally included Democratic Senate candidate Debbie Murcasel Powell, who is running for the U.S. Senate in Florida against Republican incumbent Sen. Rick Scott, U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus McCormick, D-Miramar, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. CNN political analyst and longtime Republican Ana Navarro also joined the rally in condemning Trump’s abortion position, saying “has had more positions on reproductive rights than he has wives.”