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It's Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
🌡️ Check here for today's weather forecast.
On the WLRN website today:
- Sports: Boca Raton swimmer, 14, will represent Haitian heritage at Paris Olympics
- Development: Coconut Grove groups accuse City of Miami of housing discrimination against Black residents
⬇️ Scroll down for the latest news in South Florida:
Heat advisory issued for Broward and Miami-Dade
A heat advisory is in effect for Broward and Miami-Dade counties until this evening.
The National Weather Service says hot temperatures and high humidity will produce feels-like temperatures of 105 to 107 degrees.
These hot temperatures may cause heat illness, so it’s important to stay inside an air-conditioned space – if possible. If outdoors, stay hydrated and take breaks under the shade.
The heat advisory is in effect until 7 p.m.
READ MORE: Heat guidelines are in place to help protect Florida high school athletes
Florida social media ban faces possible First Amendment challenge
The state of Florida is facing potential First Amendment challenges to a new law aimed at keeping children off social-media platforms and blocking minors from accessing online pornography.
Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office has published three proposed rules that include addressing one of the most closely watched issues in the law: age verification.
The law, which will take effect January 1st, seeks to prevent children under age 16 from opening social-media accounts on at least some platforms — although it would allow parents to give consent for 14- and 15-year-olds to have accounts.
It also requires age verification to try to prevent minors under age 18 from having access to online pornographic sites.
The law largely puts the onus on platforms to verify the ages of users. It says that “knowing or reckless” violations could lead to the attorney general’s office filing lawsuits against platforms for unfair and deceptive trade practices.
Renewable energy projects in Florida rose by over 30% in 2023
Florida saw a 31% jump in renewable energy projects at homes and businesses last year, according to a report released this week by the Public Service Commission.
Florida’s increase is on track with national trends showing more solar panels being installed on homes and businesses in recent years, according to Politico.
The state Public Service Commission’s report says this is partially a result of the state’s net-metering and interconnection rule. That rule requires utilities to credit customers for the energy they produce.
In 2023, home and business owners in Florida delivered more than 1 million kilowatt hours of electricity production to the grid. While using over 4 million kilowatt hours.
This comes just two years after Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a bill that would have reduced payments for future rooftop solar owners.
READ MORE: 'No longer necessary': Florida begins repealing renewable energy goals
Broward County school board passes further restrictions on cell phone use
The Broward County School Board has passed a measure that further restricts students' cell-phone usage in public schools. The motion prohibits cellphone use during most of the school day even during class changes and lunch.
Board member Allen Zeman says this is a step in the right direction.
"It's about us saying to students that we care so much about you," said Zeman. "We don't want you to use these devices with these addictive tools on them which cause you mental health problems."
Currently, students are banned from using their phones during class time unless authorized by a teacher.
The superintendent of Broward Schools says he plans to meet with school principals to figure out how each campus will implement this policy during the upcoming school year.
READ MORE: Is a statewide ban on cell phones in schools realistic?
Free health screenings offered in the Keys this week
Also in the Florida Keys, the Department of Health in Monroe County is hosting a community event to provide free health services and supplies.
This is taking place tomorrow afternoon at the Murray Nelson Government Cultural Center in Key Largo from noon to 4 p.m.
Along with doing health screenings, staffers with the department of health will also be handing out school supplies and Narcan nasal spray, which is used to reverse the effects of opioid overdoses.
READ MORE: New drug gives hope to South Floridians affected by Alzheimer’s
The Southernmost home in the U.S. is on sale for $18.5 million
The Southernmost residential home in the continental U.S. is now on sale for a hefty price.
The house on 400 South Street stands just next to the iconic Southernmost Point Buoy in Key West.
It’s the farthest south residential home in the continental North American states right where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Gulf of Mexico.
The property is owned by the family of Seward Johnson, who is the acclaimed sculptor and grandson of the founder of the pharmaceutical giant, Johnson & Johnson.
However, it’s not unlike other homes in the Florida Keys. It’s listed as having "extreme" wind and flood risks and, according to the listing agent, has already sustained minor wind and water damage.
The 5-bed, 5-and-a-half-bath is listed for a whopping $18.5 million, making it the city’s most expensive listing.
READ MORE: Half the households in Florida struggle to make financial ends meet, major report shows
Broward Schools passes stricter rules on cell phone usage in schools
The Broward County School Board has passed a measure that further restricts students' cell-phone usage in public schools.
The motion prohibits cellphone use during most of the school day even during class changes and lunch.
Board member Allen Zeman said this is a step in the right direction.
"It's about us saying to students that we care so much about you, we don't want you to use these harmful devices with these addictive tools on them which cause you mental health problems," he said.
Currently, students are banned from using their phones during class time unless authorized by a teacher.
The superintendent said he plans to meet with school principals to figure out how each campus will implement this policy during the upcoming school year.
READ MORE: Broward Schools unlikely to fire mom whose trans daughter played on girls volleyball team
Trump named keynote speaker for Turning Point Action event in West Palm Beach
Former president Donald Trump plans to headline an event in West Palm Beach this week.
The Miami Herald reports that Trump is set to deliver the keynote address this Friday at the Believer's Summit — a Christian conservative gathering held by the right-wing group Turning Point Action.
Trump's appearance comes days after he formally accepted the GOP presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee and less than two weeks after an attempt on his life during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
READ MORE: Secret Service director resigns in wake of Trump assassination attempt
Doral councilwoman uses position to boost her side gig, ethics report says
An ethics watchdog group says a Doral city councilwoman used her position to benefit her side gig.
According to the Miami Herald, the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust found that Councilwoman Digna Cabral encouraged city business owners to join CAMACOL Doral, short for The Latin Chamber of Commerce of the United States.
She was CEO of the organization from June 2022 to November 2023.
The ethics report also said Cabral used the city of Doral seal and city staff time to discredit the Doral Chamber of Commerce, which is a competitor of CAMACOL Doral.
The allegations stem from when Cabral was vice mayor of Doral, about two years ago.
READ MORE: Hialeah's 'Wolf of Airbnb' sentenced to over 4 years in prison for defrauding landlords
Florida reports over 3,000 COVID-related deaths
So far this year, over 3,000 Florida resident deaths have been linked to COVID-19.
That's according to data on the state Department of Health website. This year’s pace of deaths is lower than during the past four years. Between 2020 and last year, Florida reported a total of nearly 93,000 COVID-related deaths.
READ MORE: Extreme heat and some medicines can be a risky combo. Here's what to know
South Florida congressman calls for resignation of Secret Service Director
A Democratic U.S congressman from South Florida is among those calling for the ouster of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle in the wake of the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.
U.S. representative Jared Moskowitz represents parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties. He's also a member of the House Oversight Committee looking into the agency's missteps in the shooting during a Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
During yesterday's committee hearing, Moskowitz cited the aftermath of the 2018 Parkland massacre as an example of what happens when top law enforcement officials refuse to take accountability for serious security breaches on their watch.
"That very day the school resource officer, a police officer, did not run into the building, he hid in the stairwell while the shooter was in the building. He stayed outside, never helped. He also directed other officers who showed up on the scene not to go into the building," said Moskowitz, an alumnus of Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school. "When it was determined that the failures in response and training and that the sheriff fired nobody in his agency, Gov. DeSantis then removed that sheriff, I supported the removal."
Trump was wounded in the ear, a man attending the rally was killed and two other rallygoers were wounded when the 20-year-old suspected gunman opened fired with an assault rifle after Trump started speaking. The gunman was killed moments later by Secret Service counter-snipers.
Cheatle acknowledged that the Secret Service was told about a suspicious person two to five times before the shooting.
READ MORE: Secret Service director, grilled by lawmakers on the Trump assassination attempt
Flooding shuts down emergency rooms in West Broward County hospitals
A sudden torrential downpour in South Florida yesterday led to street flooding that temporarily closed West Broward County hospital emergency rooms.
The Sun-Sentinel reports that ambulances had to be diverted from HCA Woodmont in Tamarac and Florida Medical Center on West Oakland Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale.
A spokesman for Tamarac Fire Rescue said that in some areas there was a foot-and-a-half of standing water.
The National Weather Service said a weak tropical wave passed near South Florida yesterday and the rainfall gave our region a break from excessive heat.
The so-called feels-like temperature in recent days have at times veered close to 110 degrees.
READ MORE: Frozen treats, cold showers and a lot of ice helps Palm Beach Zoo protect animals from heat
Coral Gables Police offers self defense classes after woman was attacked on Miami Beach
The Coral Gables Police Department is offering self-defense courses to women in the wake of a brazen attack on Miami Beach that was captured on surveillance footage.
Last week, a woman was rollerblading on the Beachwalk around 1 a.m. when a man grabbed her from behind and wrestled her off the path before sexually assaulting her.
The man suspected of the attack is in police custody.
Now, police in Coral Gables are teaching a self-defense course called “Fight Like a Girl” that teaches and reinforces defensive hand-to-hand combat skills.
Sergeant Alex Escobar, who runs the class, advises women to always be alert, and if something doesn’t feel right. Follow your gut, get somewhere safe and seek help.
READ MORE: Will Florida's new trafficking hotline clash with the established national hotline?
South Florida unemployment jumps to highest level in over two years
The South Florida unemployment jumped a half percent in June – to its highest level in almost two and a half years.
The regional unemployment rate rose to 3.1% last month. There were about 19,000 fewer jobs compared to May, according to data released last week by the Florida Commerce Department.
The unemployment rate has been trending slowly higher in recent months but it is coming off a historically low number.
This year began with only 2.5% of people in South Florida available to work but going without a job, which was about the same as before the COVID-19 pandemic began.
The regional jobless rate remains below both the statewide and national unemployment rates.
READ MORE:Inflation slowing, but still elevated. 'We hear you,' says Biden's top economist
South Florida airlines still grapple with fallout of Crowdstrike outage
Airline travelers across South Florida are still feeling the effects of last week’s Crowdstrike outage.
Air travel has yet to fully return to normal after last week’s Microsoft Windows outage caused by a flawed computer update from cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike.
More than 100 flights so far today have been canceled across South Florida's three major airports.
Delta Air Lines was the air carrier most impacted by the outage, canceling more than 700 flights today nation-wide. According to the South Florida Sun Sentinel, lines at Delta’s ticket counters stretched outside the entrance of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
READ MORE: Florida lawsuit alleges misleading ads part of schemes to raise unauthorized ACA sign-ups
Arson charges dropped for man behind last month's Miami apartment fire
Arson and firearm charges have been dropped against a man accused of igniting a fire last month in an apartment building in Miami and shooting a building worker.
More than 120 firefighters worked to extinguish the flames and dozens of people were left displaced. What remains of the building is being demolished.
The Miami Herald reports state prosecutors did not say why the charges of first-degree arson and use of a firearm to commit a crime have been dropped.
But Juan Figueroa, 73, is still facing an attempted murder charge.
READ MORE: Hialeah's 'Wolf of Airbnb' sentenced to over 4 years in prison for defrauding landlords
Man accused of stabbing a teen at MIA faces murder charges
A man accused of stabbing a teenager at Miami International Airport yesterday remains in custody after being denied bond.
Alexander Love, 29, is charged with attempted first-degree murder and attempted premeditated murder after attacking a 17-year-old girl at the airport. According to NBC 6, Love stabbed the teenager about 18 times. She later underwent emergency surgery after being rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center. Her condition is not immediately known.
Police have yet to confirm if Love and the girl knew each other, though Miami-Dade County officials told the Miami Herald that Love and the teen were living at the airport.
Today, a judge denied Love's bond and ordered him to have no contact with the 17-year-old victim.
READ MORE: Hialeah's 'Wolf of Airbnb' sentenced to over 4 years in prison for defrauding landlords
City of Miami says Trump endorsement on its official Instagram was "an accident"
With President Joe Biden’s bombshell announcement over the weekend, many took to social media to sound off. But one post from the Miami government has a city official backpedaling.
City of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez was quick to respond on social media. So quick in fact, that he posted a draft statement where he blamed Democrats for what he called a political crisis and endorsed Republican nominee Donald Trump.
Suarez quickly deleted that post and followed up with . It didn’t mention a political crisis, but still endorsed the former president.
Suarez’s endorsement of Trump was reposted on the City of Miami’s official Instagram page, which is meant to remain politically impartial under county ethics guidance. Kenia Fallat, the city’s communications director, said this was a mistake. She accidentally reposted the statement without fully reading it.
READ MORE: Top South Florida Democrats laud President Biden, coalesce around VP Kamala Harris
In a since-deleted tweet, amiami Mayor commented on President Joe Biden's announcement that he's bowing out of the race.
— Joshua Ceballos (@JoshCeb)
Suarez endorsed former President Donald Trump, his former opponent in his short-lived presidential bid.
Doctors advise caution as COVID-19 rates spike across South Florida
COVID-19 infection rates are once again spiking across South Florida.
Memorial Healthcare System has seen twice as many patients testing positive in June and July, compared to the positivity rate in April and May.
Doctor Randy Katz is the district medical director of emergency services in Hollywood for Memorial Healthcare System.
He reminds anyone not feeling well to keep hydrated and stay home while contagious.
"Although you may be young and healthy and get better in a few days, there are people out there that when they contract this virus have a response that's different," he said.
"It’s best to stay home to protect the general public from acquiring the virus from you."
The coronavirus continues to mutate, becoming increasingly easier for it to attach to human cells, contributing to rapid spread.
Katz recommends people 65 and older with a chronic disease get a booster shot if they haven’t gotten one in the past six months.
READ MORE: Latinos fight a small COVID booster rate — and big misinformation
Transgender athlete's mom could lose job over school team controversy
The mother of a transgender high school athlete could soon lose her job with the Broward School District after being accused of violating a state law that bans anyone born male from playing on girls' sports teams.
The 2021 law states that trans student athletes may only join school teams associated with their assigned sex at birth.
The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports that Broward Schools Superintendent Howard Hepburn is recommending the firing of Jessica Norton. She's an information management specialist at Monarch High in Coconut Creek.
Broward school district investigators say Norton changed personal information about her child's gender and name in the school’s computer system — allowing the student to play girls’ volleyball.
The Broward School Board is scheduled to vote on whether to terminate Norton’s employment on Tuesday.
READ MORE: State official wants 'serious consequences' for letting transgender athlete play on Broward team
Vote by mail requests in Florida are down significantly
Florida is seeing significantly fewer requests from voters for mail ballots. A 2021 state law made it so voters had to request new ballots every election cycle – instead of every two cycles.
Politico reports that just over 2 million voters have asked for absentee ballots for this year’s elections – a nearly 50 percent drop from just before the 2022 primary. That’s after any standing ballot requests expired because of the law.
For this year’s primary, the deadline to request an absentee ballot is August 8th and October 24th for the general election.
READ MORE: State seeks to end South Florida redistricting lawsuit
Global internet outage blamed on faulty system update
Travelers going through Miami International, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood and Palm Beach international airports experienced long waits and lines.
That was after both airports announced that numerous delays and cancellations were expected resulting from tech outages.
The global fallout is being blamed on a system update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. The company offers anti-hacking software that uses a Microsoft Windows operating system – used across numerous industries.
Computers using the system crashed Friday, affecting airports, deliveries and even virtual banking.
CBS News reports that FedEx and the United Postal Service are facing shipping delays because of the outage.
In prepared statements, FedEx said packages with a delivery date of July 19 will likely be delayed, while UPS did not provide additional information.
READ MORE: What we know about the computer update glitch disrupting systems around the world
Florida unemployment rate remains steady
Florida’s unemployment rate held steady in June for a third consecutive month.
The Florida Department of Commerce on Friday released a report that said the state’s June unemployment rate was 3.3 percent, unchanged from April and May. The estimated number of people out of work remained at 361,000 in June.
"We are seeing really encouraging numbers when we look at, kind of the core labor force statistics, of prime age workers that are participating in the labor force at near record highs," said Jimmy Heckman, chief economist for the Department of Commerce.
The overall labor force grew by 66,000 people from June 2023. In June, the largest employment drop was in the category of leisure and hospitality, which lost 14,700 positions. The majority lost involved jobs in hotels and food services.
READ MORE: Politifact FL: Black poverty, unemployment set record lows on Trump’s watch — and on Biden’s
South Ocean Blvd. near Mar-a-Lago to close for several months
Following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, Palm Beach police are going to shut down a key road near his Mar-a-Lago Club until AFTER the November elections to boost security.
Trump was shot over the weekend while he spoke at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. Two others were injured and one person died. The gunman was shot and killed by the Secret Service.
The Palm Beach Post reports South Ocean Boulevard, which Mar-a-Lago faces, will be closed starting tomorrow at 4 PM.
The Palm Beach town manager says the town plans to explore options next week to alleviate over-burdened roads as a result of the shut down.
READ MORE: How Mar-a-Lago became the center of gravity for the hard right
Saharan dust to reach South Florida this weekend
A large plume of Saharan Dust will overspread South Florida this weekend. Although this will reduce chances of rain and tropical activity in the Atlantic, it may also result in reduced air quality and hazy skies.
The National Weather Service says it may also lead to higher temperatures. A heat advisory remains in effect for Miami-Dade and Broward Counties until 6 p.m. today.
Chances of showers and thunderstorms may increase early next week.
READ MORE: Saharan dust arrives in Florida, with potential air quality impacts and more
South Florida airports affected by Microsoft outage
South Florida airports are feeling the effects of a global Microsoft system outage.
The outage is in connection with the cybersecurity firm — Crowdstrike. The company says the issue is NOT a security incident or cyberattack — and that it has been isolated and will be fixed soon.
Miami International Airport says the outage has affected the airlines and is delaying departures and arrivals.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport says the technology issue is also affecting their processing operations and flight delays are expected.
Palm Beach International Airport is urging passengers to check in with the airlines before heading to the airport to confirm flight status and avoid delays.
READ MORE:
System errors drown Miami Springs residents in water bill payments
Miami Springs residents have been complaining for a while about water bills that swing widely from month to month. One bill might be as low as $50 dollars, then the next would shoot up to over $1,000 dollars.
Miami-Dade County’s Water and Sewer Department plans to address the issue at a townhall meeting at the Miami Springs Aquatic Center.
The county says the erratic bills are due to a problem with a new automated water meter. The new meters aren’t syncing up with the Department’s billing system, so residents’ water bills are all over the place.
Miami Springs Mayor Maria Mitchell says she asked county officials to come tell residents what Water and Sewer is doing to fix the problem.
READ MORE: Condos on Jungle Island? Miami commission moves toward island development
Health officials issue alert for toxic algae in Lake Okeechobee
Local health officials are cautioning the public about the presence of blue-green algae in parts of Lake Okeechobee.
The Department of Health in Palm Beach County says it’s in response to water samples taken on July 11th in south and southeast portions of the lake.
Blue-green algae can produce toxins that can be harmful to humans and pets. Officials are recommending not to swim or use personal watercraft in the affected areas. Drinking water is not affected.
READ MORE:Extreme heat and some medicines can be a risky combo. Here's what to know
Deadline approaches for Florida voters to register for next month's primary election
Voters in Florida face a Monday, July 22nd deadline to register to vote in next month’s Primary Election. The Aug. 20th ballot will include partisan primary races for the US Senate and some Congressional and legislative races.
There are also several nonpartisan city, county and judicial races across the state open to all voters, regardless of political affiliation.
In addition to new Florida voters, those who wish to switch their political party affiliation must also make changes by Monday for the update to take effect.
“We have quite a few races that will be decided in this primary," said Mark Earley, supervisor of elections in Leon County. "If you wait and vote in November only, thinking that is the big election, you won’t get a chance to vote in some of these city commission, county commission or school board races.”
As of June 30th, there were more than 13.4 million registered voters in the state of Florida.
READ MORE: Ballot question to gauge voter support for expanding rapid transit in Miami-Dade County
Monroe County eyes increase in budget and property taxes
Monroe County commissioners met this week to discuss the proposed budget for the 2025 fiscal year. If passed, the county’s proposed budget would total about $716 million dollars – 48.4 million dollars more than last year.
But according to the acting county administrator, less than 5% of budget increases are being covered by property taxes. Property values in the Keys are still on the rise, with the total taxable value reaching a record high of 46.2 billion dollars.
Property owners will see increases in their monthly property taxes. Homesteaded properties with an average taxable value of about $500 thousand will see a monthly increase of 2 dollars and 54 cents, while that increase for non-homesteaded owners is $17.
The first public hearing for adopting the budget is set for September 4th in Key West.
READ MORE: Half the households in Florida struggle to make financial ends meet, major report shows
Florida places 36th in the nation for health system performance
Florida ranked 36th in the nation last year when it comes to health system performance, according to a new report out today from the Commonwealth Fund, which focuses on healthcare equity. The report’s authors are calling on Florida to expand Medicaid eligibility.
One of the authors is Sara Collins. She said people who lack health insurance skip necessary medical care, compared to those who are insured.
"You’re sicker over your lifetime and have lower life expectancy as a result of it. Single most important thing Florida could do is work on expanding insurance coverage," said Collins.
The study shows 29% of women in Florida did not receive early prenatal care. David Radley worked with Collins on the report.
"In Florida, reproductive-age women are less likely than in other states to have a usual source of care," said Radley. "They’re more likely to avoid skipping care when they need it because of its cost.
The group also says Florida has improved in reducing avoidable emergency department visits and hospital readmission rates for adults.
READ MORE: New drug gives hope to South Floridians affected by Alzheimer’s
Parts of South Florida under heat advisory once again
Parts of South Florida are under a heat advisory today. The advisory is in effect for Miami-Dade and Broward counties from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
We will see maximum heat indices of up to 107 degrees. The heat index is also called the "feels like" temperature. It measures how hot it feels when air temperature and relative humidity are factored in.
Showers and thunderstorms are expected to be limited.
READ MORE: An urban heat islands analysis shows four Florida cities are hot spots
Lauderdale Art Week ends after a seven-year run.
Lauderdale Art Week is shutting down after a seven-year run.
Founders Evan Snow and Andrew Martineau made the announcement last week. Martineau told WLRN the event had become too much for the pair to host and produce alone.
"Our time has become a lot more limited with some of the other programs that we have going on," said Martineau. "There's not a ton of funding for the week."
With more than 30 Broward cities participating, including Fort Lauderdale, the events highlighted different multi-medium exhibits throughout the county.
"We didn't want to do what everybody else did. The art week, we also positioned it as being, so not just visual, which you'll traditionally find on most art weeks, but there was also performing arts and spoken word and improv," said Snow.
Snow and Martineau even managed to keep it going during the pandemic with virtual events and bike tours.
Though they can’t keep doing art week, the pair are still finding ways to support the arts through other endeavors like Zero Empty Spaces. That's an effort to make vacant spaces into affordable studio space for artists.
READ MORE: As director resigns, City of Miami is accused of neglecting the Little Haiti Cultural Complex
Florida Registered Republicans lead Democrats by nearly 1 million voters
The voter-registration gap between Florida’s Republican Party and Democratic Party continues to widen.
According to new data by the state Division of Elections, the GOP had over 5.2 million registered voters at the end of June. Meanwhile the Democratic Party had over 4.3 million.
That gives Republicans an over 956,000 lead in registered voters.
Democrats historically led in voter registration in Florida, but Republicans overtook them in 2021. Republicans hold all statewide offices and dominate the Legislature and the Florida congressional delegation.
READ MORE:State seeks to end South Florida redistricting lawsuit
Miami-Dade receives federal funding to replace Venetian Causeway Bridges
Miami-Dade County is getting over $100 million in federal funding to replace 11 of the Venetian Causeway Bridges.
The funding was awarded by the Federal Highway Administration. Some of the funding also came from the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The Venetian Causeway Bridges were constructed in 1927 to connect the City of Miami Beach and City of Miami.
The replacement project will bring modern safety features, like widening the bridges by 16 feet. It will also provide infrastructure improvements, while still keeping some of the original appearance of the historic bridges.
Construction is estimated to begin in early 2026.
READ MORE:Iconic Seven Mile Bridge likely to be fully replaced, as officials reject continuous repair
Miami-Dade County raises garbage collection fees
Miami-Dade County is raising its garbage collection fees.
According to NBC 6, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava told commissioners to decide between increasing fees by 21% or borrowing $39 million dollars to fill the current budget hole.
While she recommended the borrowing option, commissioners decided on rate increases after lengthy discussions.
That means the county waste collection fee goes up from $547 per household to $697 dollars per household. A $150 dollar increase.
Commissioners say the move will also help protect bonding capacity, as the county plans to build a new waste energy facility soon.
READ MORE: Miami ‘climate tech hub’ gets $19.5 million from feds. Focus will be reinforcing coast
Heat advisory in effect for Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties
Most of South Florida is under another heat advisory today.
The National Weather Service has put out an advisory for Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties until 6 p.m.
We will see maximum heat indices of up to 109 degrees.
The heat index is also known as the "feels like" temperature. It measures how hot it feels when air temperature and relative humidity are factored in.
. has issued an Excessive Heat Advisory in from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. today.
— Miami-Dade County EM (@MiamiDadeEM)
As a result, has initiated the Excessive Heat Policy and Procedure.
Select locations have been designated as cooling sites:
READ MORE: A Miami ER doctor on why you should take those 'extreme heat' warnings seriously
Former Boynton Beach police officer denied reinstatement for violating city's pursuit policy
In the case of a former police officer trying to get his job back, the city of Boynton Beach still says "No!"
That former officer was involved in an on-duty chase that killed a 13-year-old dirt-bike rider in 2021.
The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports the city attorney will appeal an arbitrator's recent decision that Mark Sohn should get his job back.
The arbitrator had concluded that Sohn did violate Boynton Beach's pursuit policy, but that the city did not have just cause to fire him.
On the day after Christmas, 2021, Sohn began a pursuit of 13-year-old Stanley Davis after he tried to pull the teenager over at a gas station. Davis fled on his dirt-bike and died in the ensuing crash.
READ MORE: Dismissal of Trump documents case brings new scrutiny to Miami judge
Hialeah City Council temporarily fills empty seat after councilwoman Angelica Pacheco's arrest
The Hialeah City Council has temporarily filled a vacancy left open by the suspension of a councilperson who has been arrested on federal healthcare fraud charges.
Gov. Ron DeSantis removed Councilwoman Angelica Pacheco, 37, from her role last month after the arrest.
The Hialeah council voted last night to appoint Melinda De La Vega as Pacheco's interim replacement.
De La Vega has no prior political experience, but some council members said her background in community service makes her a valuable asset to the team.
De La Vega currently serves as vice president of the Hialeah Lions Club, a nonprofit that offers support for senior citizens, people with special needs and impoverished families.
De La Vega will hold the council seat until November 2025 when a special election will determine a permanent replacement.
READ MORE: As director resigns, City of Miami is accused of neglecting the Little Haiti Cultural Complex
Parkland nonprofit seeks public input on three designs for memorial
A foundation that will build a memorial to honor the 17 students and staff killed during the Parkland school shooting in 2018 is now asking for the public's input.
The Parkland 17 Memorial Foundation has decided on for the memorial that will be built at the former Heron Bay Golf Club. It's located at the border of Parkland and Coral Springs.
One design features 17 sculptures with a curtain of water flowing into a reservoir. Another features a central fountain surrounded by 17 limestone columns. The third features a reflection pool with 17 private gardens.
The foundation's spokesman told the South Florida Sun Sentinel that the voting process will take between four to six weeks. The final decision is expected to be made by the end of the year.
The School Board in Broward County is also still considering a memorial for the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School campus.
You can give fill out a survey .
READ MORE: 'Love ultimately always wins': Parkland residents gather to remember and heal
Miami reopens senior rental assistance program for District 5
Seniors ages 62 and up in Miami can qualify for help with their monthly housing costs starting this week.
The City of Miami has recently reopened its Senior Rental Assistance Program. The city will provide up to $500 per month to residents who meet the program’s criteria based on need.
Miami’s Senior Rental Assistance program used to be for residents who lived anywhere in the city. But this round of funding is just for seniors who live in District 5. That means neighborhoods like Wynwood, Overtown, Little Haiti and the upper east side. To pick up a paper application, go to any of Commissioner Christine King’s offices throughout District 5.
Applications for senior rental assistance close on Aug. 5.
READ MORE: Renters in Florida call out 'unlivable conditions' under corporate landlords
Palm Beach County’s public bus system announces new leader
Palm Beach County’s public bus system has announced its new executive director months after the untimely death of the previous leader.
Palm Tran has named Ivan Maldonado as the new leader for the county's public transportation system. He’s the first Hispanic person in the job and is the fourth-ever executive director.
With two decades’ experience, Maldonado previously held leadership roles in the Tampa Bay area and Tallahassee among others. He formally succeeds Clinton B. Forbes who died last winter after an apparent heart attack. He was 55 years old. An interim director has led operations since.
Palm Tran serves about 28,000 daily riders with more than 30 bus routes.
READ MORE: Brightline brings more passengers not profits, while push continues for commuter rail
Friction over Miami Beach shortlist for new city manager
Miami Beach commissioners might go back to the drawing board just two weeks before they’re supposed to vote on a new city manager.
After the previous city manager Aliana Hudak resigned in March, the city hired a recruitment firm to conduct a national search to find her replacement.
But now, according to Axios Miami, some commissioners are voicing displeasure at the four-person shortlist and debated whether to reopen the application process.
For now, the candidates will go through final interviews before the July 24 vote.
READ MORE:As director resigns, City of Miami is accused of neglecting the Little Haiti Cultural Complex
At least 60 people displaced after Fort Lauderdale rehab fire
At least 60 people are now displaced after a fire broke out at a Fort Lauderdale medical facility.
The fire broke out early yesterday morning in front of the two-story, U-shaped building known as TLC Recovery Center South, just east of I-95 near Broward Boulevard. The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports that the fire also spread to some people’s units.
Firefighters were able to evacuate all residents from the building and the flames were put out quickly. There were no injuries.
Authorities still don’t know the cause of the fire. Residents are temporarily living in other associated facilities.
READ MORE:Chaos at Hard Rock Stadium as fans breach security gates ahead of Copa America final
Miami developer dies by apparent suicide amid FBI investigation
Developer Sergio Pino died in an apparent suicide this morning. FBI agents arrived at his Cocoplum home today amid an investigation related to threats made against his estranged wife, according to the Miami Herald.
The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s office confirmed to the Herald that Pino died inside his home around 10:20 a.m.
Pino’s death comes weeks after the FBI raided his waterfront home in Coral Gables. Authorities were investigating reported assaults against Tatiana Pino and her relatives that led to the arrests of four men, including a household employee of Sergio Pino.
Pino denied any involvement in the alleged assaults. He was 67 years old.
READ MORE: Colombia's soccer federation president and son among 27 arrested in chaos at Copa America final
Jupiter unveils plans for two new fire stations
The town of Jupiter has unveiled construction plans for two new fire stations.
This comes ahead of the launch of Jupiter forming its own department in 2026.
Last year, the town decided to end its relationship with Palm Beach County Fire Rescue. Town officials cited concerns over rising costs and said they wanted more control over the services it receives and the way its tax dollars are spent, according to the Palm Beach Post.
One station is proposed on 3 acres at Cinquez Park and the other on 5 acres at Piatt Place.
The town council will hear the plans at a meeting tonight at 7 p.m.
READ MORE: Why the first and only Latina on the Palm Beach County school board won't seek reelection
Broward school board member accused of leveraging position for private gain
A Broward School Board member is being accused of leveraging his position for private gain.
Allen Zeman alleges that his fellow board member Torey Alston advocated for the district to pay Broward charter schools roughly $120 million multiple times. That's before recusing himself from voting on the issue, according to NBC6.
Alston reportedly owned a company that received revenue from at least one Broward charter school.
Alston, an appointee of Gove. Ron DeSantis, argues this is politically motivated. He is currently running for the District 2 seat against Rebecca Thompson. She is Zeman’s former executive secretary at the District.
The complaint with the Florida Ethics Commission has not yet been made public.
READ MORE: South Florida schools protected from paying personal-injury insurance, ruling says
Broward County Sheriffs to conduct training for large-scale terrorist attacks
If you live in Broward County and tomorrow afternoon you're seeing more police officers than usual — don't panic.
In all probability, it's a training exercise that's been planned for a long time now.
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that more than a dozen agencies will practice their response to potential large-scale terrorist attacks.
The Broward Sheriff's Office training is called “Operation Heat Shield Five” in which hundreds of local officers, deputies, first responders and volunteers will be taking part.
The first training scenario will start at 4 p.m. tomorrow at Port Everglades.
The training will end at 6 a.m. Thursday morning.
READ MORE:
Miami-Dade mayor proposed flat property tax rate coming year
After two years of tax rate cuts, the Miami-Dade mayor is proposing a new budget that will keep property tax rates the same as last year. That’s because mayor Daniella Levine Cava said the county will have to spend about $30 million creating fully independent offices for the county sheriff, tax collector and supervisor of elections.
Elections for those offices are a new requirement under the state constitution and will take place this November.
"We must set ourselves and these offices up for success. And we must ensure that our residents receive the same level of efficient and effective service without interruptions or delays," she said. "This is a top priority."
Even with a flat tax rate, the county expects to collect 8% more in taxes, because of exploding property values.
READ MORE: State seeks to end South Florida redistricting lawsuit
Metrorail debuts new UHealth Jackson station to encourage more ridership
The Civic Center Metrorail stop has a new name after 40 years. Now, riders can get on or off at what’s called the UHealth Jackson station.
This comes as a partnership among Miami-Dade County, Jackson Health System and the University of Miami Health System with an aim to motivate people to use public transit to the healthcare hub near downtown.
"Rapid access to healthcare is critically important, and that’s why this partnership makes so much sense," said chief operating officer of UHealth Dipen Parekh
UHealth will deploy mobile clinics along Metrorail stations over the next month to provide services like children’s vaccines and health screenings.
READ MORE: Brightline brings more passengers not profits, while push continues for commuter rail
Hialeah Council will choose interim member to fill vacancy
Hialeah council members today will select an interim member to fill its vacant seat.
Councilwoman Angelica Pacheco was on June 25. That was after she was charged in connection with an alleged multimillion-dollar healthcare fraud scheme at her rehab clinic.
The interim council member will hold the seat until November 2025 when a special election will determine Pacheco’s successor.
Tonight's meeting is set for 5:30 p.m. at Hialeah City Hall.
READ MORE: State seeks to end South Florida redistricting lawsuit
Lessons learned from Copa America gate-crashing chaos
The Copa America, the hemisphere’s marquee soccer tournament, ended last night with Argentina triumphant. But critics say the Copa itself was less than a triumph.
The championship game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens was delayed 82 minutes due to dangerous crowd behavior. To many Copa critics, that was a fitting finale to a tournament plagued by security issues, substandard playing turf and refereeing, awkward TV camera feeds and exorbitant ticket prices. They point mainly at the South American soccer federation in charge of tournament operations, known as CONMEBOL.
CONMEBOL’s high ticket costs, in fact, were a factor in the chaos at Hard Rock Stadium. Many tickets for earlier Copa matches reportedly went unsold. That led CONMEBOL to slash prices at the last minute in order to fill seats. That ultimately made thousands of Colombian and Argentine fans believe they could get into Sunday’s final without tickets. And that helped result in the riotous gate-crashing.
The Copa final was supposed to be a dress rehearsal for the seven World Cup games Miami will host in 2026. There will be lots of lessons to learn from.
READ MORE: Chaos at Hard Rock Stadium as fans breach security gates ahead of Copa America final
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Dozens evacuated after a fire broke out at a Fort Lauderdale rehab facility
Dozens of people were evacuated from a rehab facility in Fort Lauderdale after a fire broke out early this morning.
Around 2 a.m. this morning, the blaze engulfed the north side of TLC Recovery Center South, just east of I-95 near Broward Boulevard, that's according to WSVN.
The flames spread into the parking lot, consuming at least one car before firefighters were able to contain the fire.
At least 60 people were inside when the fire started, and all were evacuated to another property owned by the rehab facility.
READ MORE: As final debris of shooting site is cleared, Parkland teacher feels a 'weight lifted off'
Miami-Dade investigating Copa America security failure in preparation for World Cup
Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava addressed a security breakdown at the Copa America Final on Sunday night in Miami Gardens that resulted in fans storming the gates and scaling fences. At one point the gates were opened, letting crowds in with no security check.
Many fans that had tickets were kept out after it was determined the stadium was filled past capacity.
Hard Rock Stadium is scheduled to host seven World Cup games two years from now.
"What happened last night was truly unprecedented. And we did obviously try very hard to make sure people would not come if they were not ticketed. Unfortunately many did show up nonetheless," Levine Cava said. "And we are doing a very thorough deep dive into everything that happened so that we can learn from it for the future."
The mayor said over 800 county police officers were at the event – more than double the amount used for Super Bowls. The event also featured security from other police departments and hired stadium security.
The mayor was unable to say who made the decision to open the stadium gates.
READ MORE: 'This is how the game is': Colombian soccer fans remain positive after Copa America heartbreak
We are outraged by the events at tonight’s Copa America final. My joint statement with here:
— Daniella Levine Cava (@MayorDaniella)
South Florida counties send out mail ballots ahead of primaries
South Florida counties have begun sending out Vote-by-Mail ballots for the August Primary.
Voters in Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach counties have until Aug. 8 to request a vote-by-mail ballot for the Aug. 20 election.
The early voting period runs from Aug. 10 through the 17. Additional information for anyone casting a mail-in ballot can find more information through their county supervisor of elections office.
READ MORE: A lawsuit over Florida's felon voting restrictions has been dropped
Trump staffers told to avoid offices in West Palm Beach and D.C. after shooting
An internal Donald Trump campaign memo has directed campaign staffers to avoid the offices in West Palm Beach and Washington, D.C.
The memo was sent out to staff hours after the attempted assassination of the former president during a campaign rally Saturday in Pennsylvania.
The memo states staff should stay away from campaign offices as new security measures are implemented.
One rally spectator was killed, two others "critically injured" and Trump was wounded in the right ear when the suspected shooter opened fire with an assault rifle from a rooftop about 400 ft. outside the rally.
The suspect was killed by at least one Secret Service sharpshooter.
READ MORE: Authorities hunt for clues, as motive behind Trump's assassination attempt remains elusive
Certain condo buildings with aging roofs could qualify for Citizens insurance
Condo buildings with roofs that are too old or damaged to qualify for insurance are getting some relief from the state’s Citizens Property Insurance under certain conditions.
Condos used to be able to get insurance through the commercial insurance market for these risks. But the market standards have left some properties uninsurable. That’s according to the Palm Beach Post.
Citizens Insurance proposed these high-risk buildings be offered coverage, but only if a roof-replacement contract is already in place with a paid deposit.
That way, they can provide them with insurance during the transition period, making it more likely the buildings will be able to re-enter the commercial market.
Citizens’ action comes at a time when older condo buildings are receiving increased criticism and having to adhere to new requirements to pass building inspections.
READ MORE: Condos on Jungle Island? Miami commission moves toward island development
Another heat advisory forecast for South Florida
It's gonna be another be hot day in South Florida.
The National Weather Service has put out a heat advisory today for the entire region.
The maximum heat indices are forecast on average between 105 and 110 degrees for most areas, but some parts could exceed 110.
The heat index is also known as the "feels like" temperature. It's a measure of how hot it feels when you factor in air temperature and relative humidity.
READ MORE: A beginner’s guide to hurricane season in South Florida
A Heat Advisory has been issued again today across South Florida as heat index values continue to soar and reach the 105-110 degree range for most areas. Please continue to take necessary precautions to stay protected from the heat. Rain showers will provide relief at times.
— NWS Miami (@NWSMiami)
Argentina wins the Copa America, defeating Colombia 1-0
Argentina is once again the Copa America champion.
The Albiceleste, or blue-and-whites as the Argentine team is known, defeated Colombia 1-to-0 last night here in Miami at Hard Rock Stadium to win the hemispheric soccer tournament for a record 16th time.
The winning goal came in extra time after Argentine legend Lionel Messi left the game because of an injury.
The evening was marred, however, by unruly fan behavior. The start of the game was delayed almost an hour-and-a-half because many tried to crash the stadium gates and enter without tickets.
This was also the first loss for the Colombian team, known as Los Cafeteros, since February of 2022.
READ MORE: As Messi seeks another trophy, soccer fears for a future without him