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By Joshua Ceballos
While much of South Florida was dealing with flooded streets after a night of torrential rains, environmental experts gathered on Miami Beach precisely because of severe weather.
Government leaders and climate scientists came together for the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summit on Thursday.
Miami-Dade County’s Chief Resilience Officer Jim Murley was at the Summit. He told WLRN the county expects more flooding events in the future as sea level rise contributes to higher tides.
“Sea level rise alone is not causing flooding; it’s making the flooding of a high tide event with a rainstorm worse, and that’s what we just had in the last 24 hours,” Murley said.
Benjamin Kirtman, a climate scientist with the University of Miami, said at the summit that people will have to learn to live with the warming climate and its effects.
“We’ve committed to a significant amount of warming over the next 30 years, and we’re gonna have to figure out how to adapt to that, and I believe we can do that,” he had.
Even if the world got CO2 emissions down to zero, he said, the planet is locked in for higher temperatures.
READ MORE: Designing coastal waterfronts for South Florida’s wet future
Sign up for WLRN’s environment newsletter Field Notes to receive our insider’s guide for living in South Florida’s changing landscape. Subscribe here.
By Tom Hudson
Miami-Dade County workers would get protections when working in extreme heat under an administrative action that Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said she’ll take.
The move comes after the full county commission failed to act earlier this month. The commission delayed a vote until March, but any local decision in the spring may be moot.
A bill filed in the state house would strip local governments of being able to pass extreme heat workplace rules.
“It hasn’t passed yet, but it certainly sends a very clear message. You want to try it and we will shut you down,” she said.
READ MORE: Long-awaited Miami-Dade vote on heat protections for workers gets pushed back to 2024
Sign up for WLRN’s environment newsletter Field Notes to receive our insider’s guide for living in South Florida’s changing landscape. Subscribe here.
By Gerard Albert
Now that this week’s heavy rains have subsided, people in Hollywood are advised to avoid sitting water where a wastewater pipe leaked out.
Repairs are underway at the water treatment plant. Drinking water is not affected. Still, residents are being asked to reduce their water usage.
The affected areas include Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Dania Beach, Hallandale Beach, Miramar, Pembroke Park and southern parts of Broward County.
Residents there should avoid swimming, fishing or interacting with the waters around the Treatment Plant. That includes West Lake Park and the intracoastal.
READ MORE: Here’s why heavy rain in Florida has little to do with hurricane season
By Sherrilyn Cabrera
It’s flu season and cases of the highly contagious influenza viruses in Florida have started to rise. And state health data shows it seems to be impacting children the most.
According to the South Florida Sun Sentinel, most influenza outbreaks in Florida this season have taken place in childcare facilities.
The state Department of Health has also reported one child death this season from the flu. Last year, there were 12 deaths.
Flu season in Florida runs from September to March, with the peak typically being in January and February. Health experts stress that it’s not too late to get a flu shot.
READ MORE: The typical peak for Florida’s flu season comes in February, which means there’s still time to get one
By Sherrilyn Cabrera
Almost 900 people in Florida will be left without insurance at the end of the year after Positive Healthcare announced it is leaving the state.
Positive Healthcare is a Medicare Advantage health plan and includes prescription drug coverage for people who have HIV or AIDS. The plan is backed by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.
According to the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the insurer said it will no longer offer coverage in Florida after Dec, 31. The provider has said the state has become too costly after changes to Medicare reimbursement.
For 15 years, Positive Healthcare has offered coverage in Broward, Miami-Dade and Duval counties.
READ MORE: Health care providers worry judge ruling imperils preventive HIV drug
By Ammy Sanchez
The mayor of Miami-Dade is asking county commissioners to rescind an agreement with developers to build a water park outside of Zoo Miami.
Mayor Daniella Levine-Cava issued a memo this week, asking county commissioners to cancel the lease on Miami Wilds. In her memo, she stated she wants to “best safeguard the county’s interests and our community’s needs and objectives.”
The mayor added that the park had failed to fulfill multiple contractual obligations, which includes neglecting to provide the County with a land survey, being late on rent payments and not submitting the final draft site plan in a timely manner.
Levine-Cava also requested to withdraw an agenda item for a Dec. 12 County Commission meeting, which would have considered approving extended deadlines for the Miami Wilds project.
The current deadlines are set to expire at the end of this year.
READ MORE: Zoo Miami created an oasis for bonneted bats. It’s getting in the way of a water park
Sign up for WLRN’s environment newsletter Field Notes to receive our insider’s guide for living in South Florida’s changing landscape. Subscribe here.
By Ammy Sanchez
Early voting begins today in the runoff elections for the mayor of Miami Beach and to fill two City of Miami commission seats.
None of the candidates in those races received enough votes to win last week’s elections.
For Miami Beach mayor, current Vice Mayor Steven Meiner and former commissioner Michael Gongora will face off against each other. Locations include Miami Beach City Hall and the North Shore Branch Library.
In Miami’s District 1, suspended Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla will go to a runoff against opponent Miguel Gabela. In Miami’s District 2, incumbent Sabina Covo will face off against runner-up Damian Pardo.
The early voting sites in Miami are the Allapattah Branch Library, Lemon City Library, Miami City Hall, Stephen P. Clark Government Center, and the West Flagler Library.
Early voting lasts through Sunday. Election day is on Tuesday.
READ MORE: Runoff elections slated for Nov. 21 in Miami Beach, city of Miami. Who’s running?
By Julia Cooper
Two developing low pressure systems over the Gulf and Caribbean waters dumped inches of rain over South Florida yesterday. The downpours caused widespread flash flooding and even broke several records in the Keys.
The Marathon International Airport broke its daily and monthly records for rainfall, according to the National Weather Service station in Key West.
ASOS, a rainfall observation device at the airport clocked a whopping 6.54 inches of rain. That number obliterated the previous daily record of just 1.99 inches of rain, set in 1994.
These heavy rains flooded streets, cut power lines and downed trees.
Monroe County officials say four parks in the Upper Keys are closed today as debris like seaweed and dislodged coral rock are being cleared from pathways.
Closures include:
The Weather Service has the Upper Keys under a coastal flood advisory through the rest of today.
READ MORE: South Florida rain, flooding. What’s open? What’s closed?
Marathon International Airport broke the daily and monthly record for rainfall! So far for today the ASOS at MTH has received 6.54 inches! #FLwx #FLKeys #FloridaKeys #MarathonFL pic.twitter.com/3kOe3LLi28
By Gerard Albert
Fort Lauderdale continued to deal with minor flooding today after over a foot of rain fell on the coastal city this week.
The city deployed pump trucks to low lying neighborhoods to get rid of standing water. Fire rescue crews responded to 15 calls for service last night. That’s a far cry from the hundreds of calls from the April flooding, which caused widespread damage.
City facilities were closed today but are expected to open tomorrow.
READ MORE: South Florida rain, flooding. What’s open? What’s closed?
Broward County officials plan to reopen schools tomorrow after cleaning up from this week’s torrential rains.
District staff said a number of campuses are dealing with power outages, flood damage and downed trees. But schools Superintendent Peter Licata said it’s nothing that can’t be fixed in a matter of hours.
“Pompano Beach Middle has some flooding, but it also has some trees down, as well as Northside Elementary. Piper High’s got a parking lot issue of flooding, so does Northeast High. Western did have some rain inside their auditorium. They do have some flooding on their fields,” Licata said.
As of noon Thursday, more than 80,000 customers were without power across South Florida.
For many in Broward, the flooding rains were a stressful reminder of the historic storm that inundated the area in April.
READ MORE: South Florida rain, flooding. What’s open? What’s closed?
pic.twitter.com/JsGS8MoMbT
By Verónica Zaragovia
Federal data shows that the number of people 65 and older who have Alzheimer’s Disease will nearly triple by the year 2060, reaching almost 14 million.
Now, primary caregivers can learn skills to care for people with dementia through a new Florida Atlantic University online certificate program.
Louise Aurélien-Buie, an assistant dean at FAU’s College of Nursing, said attendees can learn how to speak with a frustrated patient or loved one with Alzheimer’s .
“You can actually say, ‘O.K., well, let’s look at this photo album. Remember your loved one from the past?’ And it’s never, never, never tell someone, ‘Well, don’t you remember what I just mentioned to you just a few minutes ago,’” she said.
The course costs $300 and can be taken online over six weeks. For more information, visit the admissions tab on the FAU college of nursing website.
READ MORE: Florida Senate President Passidomo puts her focus on health care
By Wilkine Brutus
At the 40th annual Miami Book Fair, a Palm Beach County author’s debut novel brings family drama in the small town of Loxahatchee to the forefront.
Set in the early 90s, Beth Raymer’s Fireworks Every Nightis a coming-of-age story about a young Florida woman as she navigates life with her dysfunctional, working class family.
The novel is “a rags to riches to rags,” Raymer said.
“If you’ve grown up in Florida, you’d recognize everything about the issues within the public school system about, growing up lower class but being so close to wealth,” Raymer said.
Raymer, who grew up in Wellington, described her work as “largely autobiographical,” where the protagonist navigates family issues from her mother’s mental health breakdowns to her father’s mental and financial abuse of her mother.
The novel also explores her mother’s involuntary institutionalization under the Baker Act law. Raymer said even members of her own family stigmatized her mother’s mental health challenges, creating even more tension and conflict.
“Did my mom have some issues at that time? Definitely. Were there guns in the house? Definitely. Could my mom have gone off the deep end by being pushed and pushed. Definitely. These things happen all the time,” Raymer said.
Raymer will discuss the Palm Beach-inspired work at 2 p.m. on Nov. 19 at the Miami Book Fair.
READ MORE: Award-winning author Edwidge Danticat on life in Haiti, Miami and the stories that made her
By Kate Payne
Declining enrollments will force big changes in Broward County Public Schools.
There are some 60,000 extra seats in Broward schools right now, according to Superintendent Peter Licata. He called that level of under-enrollment unsustainable.
“We’re going to be facing some challenges. We know that we can’t budget for the size we used to be,” Licata said. “And we are going to be working on that … as a large landowner … that our budget is going to require us probably to maybe sell those lands.”
Licata said the district will be looking at a slate of options for “repurposing” schools, including changing attendance boundaries, adding grades and magnet programs or turning schools into affordable housing.
He said closing campuses outright will be a last resort.
READ MORE: Two years after roof collapse at Broward school, students and staff are still in portables
By Julia Cooper
On Miami Beach, revelers can dance in the moonlight all night long — except at South Pointe Park.
Citing disturbances to nearby condo residents, city officials moved to shut down the recurring drum circle and related activities there.
The drum circle convenes every Sunday at sunset. The outdoor events surged in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, public notices have been distributed, warning that performances will be banned as of Sunday.
As of Wednesday, participants will be allowed to relocate activities to the 10th Street beach.
READ MORE: Drum circle upsets nearby condo dwellers, city might step in
By Julia Cooper
The Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center recently updated its exhibits to be more interactive and accessible. And it appears to be paying off.
The Discovery Center operates as the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary’s free, public museum. Like most attractions during the pandemic’s early days, it was forced to temporarily close its doors.
“It was really important that we take that time to invest and use some science backed educational and interpretive techniques in the center, as well as improving our accessibility and design,” said science and outreach coordinator for the Keys Marine Sanctuary Lindsey Crews. “That way we are serving more people through the center.”
Now, the Discovery Center is this year’s National Marine Sanctuary award-winner for Excellence in Interpretation and Education.
They introduced audio-visual and tactile aspects that are updated with current scientific findings and museum research. Staff also translated exhibit text into five other languages and the center is certified as a quote “sensory inclusive space.”
READ MORE: South Florida’s cruise business is, well, cruising again
By Alyssa Ramos
Heavy rainfall and reports of flooding in South Florida have prompted school closures this evening.
Broward College announced on social media that they are canceling on-campus classes as well as online ones. Broward County schools already canceled all after-school activities earlier today. That included field trips, sporting events and evening classes.
A virtual town hall meeting on disparities and inequities impacting children that was slated for this evening has also been canceled due to the inclement weather.
As of Wednesday evening, the Broward County school district said classes will resume Thursday.
READ MORE: Mayor: Fort Lauderdale to invest $500m in flood prevention project
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By Daniel Rivero
Two months after being charged with over a dozen criminal counts of corruption, a suspended city of Miami commissioner is up for reelection next week.
Alex Diaz de la Portilla faced yet another setback on Wednesday — this time in his personal life.
The private home of Alex Diaz de la Portilla was sold at a foreclosure auction on Wednesday morning. The bank Wells Fargo purchased the house for $310,000. Records show De La Portilla bought the house in the Shenandoah neighborhood in 2001 for just $92,000.
It’s just the latest in a series of setbacks for the embattled suspended commissioner and former Republican state senator. A probe ordered by Gov. Ron DeSantis resulted in over a dozen charges of corruption in September linked to alleged bribery and to the governor suspending the commissioner, who says the criminal charges are bogus.
But de la Portilla is back on the city ballot next week in a runoff election for the District One seat. He will face challenger Miguel Gabela.
READ MORE: Runoff elections slated for Nov. 21 in Miami Beach, city of Miami. Who’s running?
By Gerard Albert
With nearly a foot of rain expected to fall across South Florida today and tomorrow, Fort Lauderdale is on track to record its historically wettest year.
In anticipation of both king tides and heavy rainfall this week, Broward County and the city of Fort Lauderdale are bracing for heavy flooding.
Fort Lauderdale has sent resources to low-lying neighborhoods. The city deployed high-water vehicles and three temporary pumps in Edgewood and River Oaks neighborhoods.
It’s a sign the city is taking precautionary measures, especially after the April storm when more than 25 inches of rain flooded the area and even ravaged city hall.
Just this year, Fort Lauderdale has recorded at least 101 inches of total rainfall, creeping up on the record set in 1947, at over 102 inches.
According to the city, there was only one flood rescue call overnight for a stranded motorist. That’s a stark difference from the hundreds of calls received in April.
The weather has also prompted Broward County schools to cancel all after-school activities today. Meanwhile, Brightline has temporarily suspended fixed route shuttles to the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Miami International Airport and the Aventura Mall.
READ MORE: Fort Lauderdale unveils new plan to curb flooding after ‘wake-up call’ April deluge
Due to heavy flooding and wind gusts, all @ride_circuit neighborhood electric vehicles at MIA, BOC, FLL, and WPB + fixed route shuttles to @FLLFlyer, @iflymia, and @AventuraMall have been temporarily suspended.
A new study on hurricane evacuation times in the Florida Keys could dictate how much future development may be allowed there.
State officials arranged for two conference calls this week to present the findings of the study.
According to the news outlet Keys News, these findings could eventually determine how many state-issued Rate of Growth Ordinances and building permits are issued in the coming years.
Environmental groups have raised concerns about over-development on the islands, claiming the region has reached capacity.
Hurricane evacuation modeling simulates how the current population can evacuate before a disaster. Those models are based on data from the U.S. Census.
Right now, residents in the Florida Keys have to start evacuating 24 hours before a hurricane is set to make landfall. Those who live in mobile homes have to be out 48 hours before.
Now, the Florida Commerce agency said it wants feedback from Keys residents. The next teleconference call will be held tomorrow at 2 p.m. For more information, you can visit https://flrules.org/.
READ MORE: Monroe County passes nearly $700M budget
By Sergio R. Bustos
U.S. Rep. Frederica S. Wilson, D-Miami, is hosting a congressional briefing today to explore strategies and public policies to reduce crime in the Black community.
The briefing, being held in Washington and being livestreamed on her congressional Facebook page, will feature members of Congress, historians, community-based activists and others to look at the root causes of crime and violence in the U.S., and prevention efforts.
Among those scheduled to speak are U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Orlando, and Dr. Elizabeth Hinton, a historian and Yale Professor, and Joshua Rover, Director of Youth Justice with The Sentencing Project.
The event begins at 4 p.m. and is being held at U.S. Capitol Building, North Congressional Meeting Room, CVC 268, Washington, D.C.
You can watch the livestream on Congresswoman Wilson’s Facebook page, beginning at 4 p.m.
By FPREN Meteorologists
Gulf low spinning out there, bringing rainy and gusty conditions to the FL peninsula. #flwx pic.twitter.com/GKYREi3ECn
Two developing areas of low pressure will continue to produce heavy rain and gusty winds across Florida today, including in South Florida.
Meteorologist Megan Borowski from the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network said there’s a dynamic situation unfolding over the state. A low over the Gulf is producing strong winds, thunderstorms heavy rain over the Central Gulf Coast, the Panhandle and near the Suwannee Valley and Big Bend of North Florida, she said.
“At the same time, there’s an upper disturbance that’s pushing through the Caribbean and approaching the straights of Florida,” Borowski said. “Both of these systems are expected to help produce widespread heavy rain and potentially damaging wind gusts today from Pensacola all the way down to the Keys.”
Rainfall accumulations today could range between 3 to 6 inches, with local accumulations over 7 inches, Borowski said.
There is also an elevated risk for flooding across eastern South Florida and that a Flood Watch is in effect.
If flooding does occur, Borowski reminds people to seek higher ground and to avoid driving through flooded streets.
READ MORE: Two systems to produce heavy rain, strong winds over Florida this week
By Joshua Ceballos
Hialeah residents will soon be driving down “President Donald J. Trump Avenue.”
That’s after Hialeah council members voted unanimously Tuesday night to designate one of the city’s main roads, Palm Avenue, after the criminally indicted former president.
Last year, the city’s Historic Preservation Board voted against designating the road after Trump.
He recently held a rally in the majority Cuban-American city, where he drew thousands more attendees than the GOP debate in downtown Miami. Hialeah overwhelmingly voted for Trump in the 2020 election.
Mayor Esteban “Steve” Bovo said Trump Avenue can also still be referred to as Palm Avenue.
READ MORE: Fact-checking the third GOP presidential debate in Miami
By Gerard Albert
Broward County government employees will soon have a new home-base after the county voted yesterday to build a new government center.
With a $332 million price tag, the new building will be located on land just down the road from the current building in Downtown Fort Lauderdale, right next to the Brightline station.
The county’s current building was constructed in the 1940s. The government center took over the space in 1985 and houses 40 county agencies. The new building is expected to open in 2026.
READ MORE: Florida housing leader: Solving local affordability crisis must include developers
By Tom Hudson
South Florida’s inflation rate has cooled a little over the past two months, but it remains among the highest in the nation.
Consumer prices were up 7.4% in October in Miami compared to a year ago, down slightly from August. Yet inflation here continues to far outpace other major metropolitan areas. The national inflation rate fell to 3.2% year-over-year in October down from a generational high of almost 9% in the summer of 2022.
WLRN’s Senior Economics Editor Tom Hudson said one thing continues to keep South Florida’s inflation rate high.
“Housing or shelter as the economic data calls it,” he said. “If it weren’t for the housing gauge, the regional inflation rate would be much closer to the national rate — still higher but still below 4%.”
The prices of food, electricity and clothes also added to the higher inflation rate in South Florida in October.
While the inflation barometer reflects the high cost of housing in South Florida, it doesn’t capture home prices, per se, or what homeowners may be paying for their mortgages. The inflation survey asks homeowners what it would cost now to rent their homes. That can vary widely compared to what a homeowner is paying for their mortgage, if they have one.
READ MORE: In push to remove homeowners from Citizens, the state-run insurer uses unlicensed inspectors
By Sherrilyn Cabrera
Former Miami-Dade Police Director Freddy Ramirez has spent months recovering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
In a recent interview with NBC 6, the county’s former top cop offered his first public statements after the July incident.
Investigators said Ramirez shot himself in the head with his department-issued gun while traveling with his wife in Tampa. That’s just hours after an encounter with law enforcement there.
In an exclusive interview, Ramirez told NBC 6 that he was experiencing mental health challenges at the time.
“Doing this job for 30 years, even though I always encourage wellness and stuff, I used to tell people jokingly, ‘oh, I’ll pay for it later.’ Like all the pressures and things like that. I’ll pay for it later. Well the bill came sooner than I expected,” Ramirez said.
Ramirez is returning to Miami-Dade Police in January as a senior advisor for policing and transition. He will help prepare the department for its first elected sheriff in over 60 years.
“All I could do is tell them, take a look at my track record. Like, I fell down carrying a whole bunch of stuff, and I slipped and fell. But I learned from that moment,” he said.
Ramirez told NBC 6 that he will continue to focus on his recovery, physically and mentally.
If you or someone you know needs help, you can call the suicide prevention hotline at 988.
READ MORE: Miami-Dade’s former top cop Ramirez to return as advisor following suicide attempt
By Sherrilyn Cabrera
The Florida Department of Commerce has launched an online portal to help enforce a new law requiring registration of land by certain foreign owners.
According to the governor’s office, the SecureFlorida Portal launched yesterday.
The new law restricts land ownership by people from China and other “countries of concern,” including Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela and Syria.
Foreign nationals from those countries who own land within 10 miles of military installations or so-called critical infrastructure must register their property with the commerce department.
Those who don’t face civil penalties of $1,000 a day.
READ MORE: DeSantis signs legislation to sanction Iran and protect Jewish institutions
By Daniel Rivero
A WLRN investigation has found that Citizens Property Insurance is using unlicensed inspectors as it cranks up the number of home inspections it’s ordering.
Citizens is owned by Florida taxpayers, and the company is trying to shrink how many homes it covers because it says taxpayers could be on the hook for major losses.
Some residents like Melissa Marro in Pinellas County have reported serious errors on the unlicensed inspections.
“That’s really bad business. Whether you want to be or not, you’re a well known homeowners insurance company in the state of Florida,” Marro said. “You would think they would be required by law to only hire licensed contractors or licensed inspectors.”
The company told WLRN that while field inspectors are not licensed, all final decisions about insurability are made by licensed inspectors.
The company said only a small number of home inspections have received complaints of errors.
READ MORE: In push to remove homeowners from Citizens, the state-run insurer uses unlicensed inspectors
By Ammy Sanchez
International pop star Pink will be giving out thousands of copies of banned books at her concerts this week in South Florida.
She teamed up with the education advocacy group PEN America and the local bookseller Books and Books.
Pink announced the partnership over the weekend during an Instagram livestream.
In the past school year, more books were pulled from shelves in Florida public schools than in any other state, according to a PEN America report released in September.
The Miami Herald reports that the singer will hand out copies of four books that appeared on PEN America’s index of banned books.
The giveaways will take place today at the Kaseya Center in Downtown Miami and tomorrow at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise.
READ MORE: Miami now has a Banned Books Club – founded by a 16-year-old
A post shared by P!NK (@pink)
By Christine DiMattei
King Tides plus rain in the forecast equals coastal flooding for some parts of South Florida this week.
The National Weather Service said that minor coastal flooding is expected around periods of high tide beginning today and lasting through at least mid week.
The weather service has also issued a high rip current warning and a high surf advisory. Both of those alerts are in effect until the end of this week.
Forecasters and emergency officials are reminding everyone that rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water.
Inexperienced swimmers should stay out of the ocean water whenever dangerous surf conditions are forecast.
READ MORE: Fort Lauderdale unveils new plan to curb flooding after ‘wake-up call’ April deluge
Good morning!
The main show in terms of heavy rainfall will be tomorrow, but that doesn't mean today will be dry. In fact heavy rainfall will be possible over portions of the east coast metro this afternoon and this could result in localized flooding in prone urban areas.#Flwx pic.twitter.com/Xn22eYJpUa
By Tim Padgett
Small Caribbean countries argue that they suffer the brunt of a climate change crisis caused by larger countries.
A new study indicates their complaint appears to be well founded, especially when it comes to Jamaica.
Research by the New Jersey-based nonprofit Climate Central confirms that the period from November 2022 to last month, October 2023, was the hottest year ever recorded on the planet. The findings conclude that the heat is a result of human-caused climate change, such as greenhouse gasses.
The findings are especially grim for the Americas. In the past year, Jamaica showed the highest average climate-shift index of any country in the world. The Caribbean island nation experienced higher temperatures made four times more likely by climate change.
Guatemala’s climate-shift index was right behind Jamaica’s. Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, saw the most days of extreme heat of any large city anywhere with 79 days.
READ MORE: The Everglades is dying. Our new podcast looks at the struggle to save it — and the costs of failure
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By Kate Payne
For almost a year, an interim president has been in charge at Florida Atlantic University, but there’s a possibility that Stacy Volnick’s tenure could last even longer.
WLRN education reporter Kate Payne said the school’s Board of Trustees is expected to discuss Volnick’s contract in a meeting today.
Board members will discuss Volnick’s work as interim president thus far and whether to extend her appointment.
The chair of the Board of Trustees, Brad Levine, has given Volnick a glowing job review. He rated her job performance at the highest level, calling it “exceptional.”
The FAU Faculty Senate has already recommended extending Volnick’s contract. Faculty see it as a way to sidestep the politics of the presidential search process that state officials halted earlier this year.
READ MORE: As the suspension of FAU’s presidential search continues, support grows for interim president
By Sherrilyn Cabrera
Beginning today, the public now has access to the new temporary headquarters of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department.
Officials had announced in September that the department would move into its temporary location in the Kaplan University building. Staff and officers will work from the West Cypress Creek Road building until its new permanent facility is built.
People can now report incidents, file complaints, obtain records and speak with police department personnel in person. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.
A permanent headquarters is expected to open in the summer of 2025.
READ MORE: Fort Lauderdale names new police chief to replace fired former police chief Larry Scirotto
By Sherrilyn Cabrera
The average price for gas in Florida continues to decline after it rose unexpectedly last week.
According to Triple A, the average price of regular unleaded gas today is $3.18 per gallon. That’s 19 cents lower than a month ago.
Experts said gas prices should remain low through the holidays.
The most expensive gas in the state can be found in the West Palm Beach and Boca Raton areas.
READ MORE: Florida speeds up work on 20 highway projects, per DeSantis’ request
By Sherrilyn Cabrera
The Bay of Pigs Veterans Association has endorsed Republican U.S. Senator Rick Scott’s for his reelection bid.
The endorsement was announced at a Miami press conference today. The group was founded to maintain and strengthen the unity of soldiers who fought against Cuba’s communist dictatorship.
In a statement about the endorsement, Scott also praised former president Donald Trump’s policies on Cuba. Earlier this month, Scott announced he was endorsing the former president in the GOP primary.
READ MORE: Florida congressman on avoiding government shutdown, supporting Donald Trump
By Sherrilyn Cabrera
People living and working in the Glades region of Palm Beach County are once again raising concerns over sugarcane harvesting — particularly in regards to the smoke and ash that comes from it.
The pre-harvest burning season in the western part of the county began in October and runs through April. Farmers set fire to nearly 400,000 acres of sugarcane fields to strip the plant down to the stalk, which makes it easier to harvest.
But a Florida State University study released earlier this year concluded that air pollution from the burns can cause premature deaths.
Palm Beach Post reporter Antigone Barton was at a recent protest outside of the county health department in West Palm Beach.
“The health department issued an alert because smoke from the Canadian wildfires was hanging over southern Florida. And they said if you’ve got breathing problems, stay indoors,” Barton said. “So why not a warning for the people who are living with a blazing fire in their backyard that research has shown is life threatening.”
Some protestors are calling on the federal government and the sugar industry to focus on greener methods of harvesting. This includes using mechanical harvesting machines instead of burning.
READ MORE: ‘There’s no safe level’: Glades sugarcane burns continue despite link to tenfold mortality increase
By WLRN News Staff
Dozens of Miami-Dade arts organizations will have more money to spend on new projects thanks to a foundation run by a prominent South Florida developer.
The Jorge M. Perez Family Foundation has distributed $5 million to 39 arts organizations across the county. It’s part of the Foundation’s CreARTE program, which offers individual grants of up to $300,000 to fund local projects.
The program awards grants in three main areas of focus: providing access to the arts, promoting arts education and supporting artists through fellowships and residencies. Jorge M. Perez is the Chairman and CEO of The Related Group, a Miami-based real estate company.
READ MORE: Miami Book Fair celebrates 40 years as beacon for authors, readers
By Sherrilyn Cabrera
Florida Atlantic University has received a $400,000 grant that will help expand research looking at early-life stress as well as post-traumatic stress disorder in veterans.
The grant was awarded by the Community Foundation of Broward and will be used over the next four years.
One project aims to identify early life stress triggers among those who experience extreme adversity like abandonment, abuse and poverty.
The study will also look at how the body’s immune system can positively and negatively affect an individual’s brain function.
A separate research project will focus on veterans who exhibit post-traumatic stress symptoms that may be related to traumatic brain injury.
Beyond research, the grant will also help expand a so-called MobileMinds program with the FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute.
The program brings STEM education through brain science and health lessons to Title 1 classrooms in Broward County.
READ MORE: This veteran is studying war poetry while writing his own
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