On the latest episode of The South Florida Roundup, we reviewed Tuesday night’s nasty Miami mayoral debate — and asked whether this crowded and cacophonous race can improve before the Nov. 4 election. (We’re not counting on it.) (1:09) We also spoke to a Florida International University alum about the late activist Charlie Kirk and how his Turning Point USA has galvanized campus conservatives (18:37). And we looked at West Palm Beach’s latest win in its campaign to become Wall Street South (34:37).
On this week's episode of The South Florida Roundup, we discussed United Way’s discouraging new revelation that half or most residents in Broward and Miami-Dade counties are living paycheck to paycheck [01:11]. We also looked at the vote Miami Dade College's Board made this week to transfer a downtown lot to the state, which Gov. Ron DeSantis says it will be the space for the future Trump Presidential Library [24:47]. And South Miami Mayor Javier Fernandez discussed the less-than-clear end to his city’s suit challenging immigration enforcement cooperation [34:41].
On this week's episode of The South Florida Roundup, we looked at the free-speech debate raging after Charlie Kirk’s death — specifically in Palmetto Bay, whose mayor, Karyn Cunningham, talked about ousting Councilman Steve Cody after a social media post he made on the matter (01:20). We also talked with Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine-Cava about how a county budget that looked wrecked got repaired, and approved (14:15). And we discussed why a Broward County judge just let a police officer off in a deadly shooting case (26:59).
On this episode of The South Florida Roundup — whether or not that really is Donald Trump’s signature — we examined all the still unanswered questions in the Epstein sex-trafficking atrocity that still traumatizes South Florida [01:20]. We also looked at next week’s centennial re-opening of Miami’s Freedom Tower — but also at why Miami’s Cubans may be feeling more ambivalent than exultant at the ribbon-cutting [14:15]. And we said farewell to one popular hip music venue — but welcomed back another [27:08].
On this episode of The South Florida Roundup, we examined the standoff between Broward County’s major hospital systems, Memorial Healthcare and Broward Health, and its largest healthcare insurer, Florida Blue — which has stranded some 50,000 patients (01:09). We also looked at more Conch Republic controversy after Key West’s planning director resigned this week, adding to the ugly city hall optics there (21:31). And we discussed this week’s U.S. military strike on a Venezuelan drug boat — and what it portends (33:36).
On the latest episode of the South Florida Roundup, we devoted the whole show to the realities — and myths — of our undocumented migrant workers. President Trump is out to demonize them and expel them for good. It’s not likely he can do that — but even if he could, what then? Especially in Florida, a state where today there are only 53 available workers for every 100 available jobs, and a state where undocumented migrants pay some $2 billion in taxes. Should we evict these folks, or embrace them?
On this week's episode of The South Florida Roundup, we discussed why a federal judge Thursday night gave the controversial migrant detention center known as Alligator Alcatraz 60 days to close down and allow no new detainees (01:10). We also asked why Florida and Gov. Ron DeSantis seem obsessed with eradicating any public tribute to the LGBTQ community (20:56). And we examined President Trump’s urge to send the U.S. military into Latin America to battle the region’s drug cartels (35:40).
On the latest episode of the South Florida Roundup, we discuss why the state legislature yanked two-thirds of funding from one of South Florida’s most popular transit services, Tri-Rail (0:10). We also looked at a new federal investigation into a possible pill mill resurgence in Florida and questions surrounding the state laws that were supposed to prevent it (19:05). And we listened to why even reggaeton superstars like Bad Bunny are hopping into the salsa music revival (33:05).
On the latest episode of The South Florida, we devoted the whole hour to pick the brains of the superintendents of South Florida’s three largest schools systems: Miami-Dade County Public Schools (1:09), Broward County Public Schools (21:12) and Palm Beach County School District (39:09). And while they’re all feeling pretty good about receiving A-grades, they’ve got challenges ahead in the new school year that starts next week. Among them: stiff competition from private and charter schools, budget cuts and this new thing called A.I.
On The South Florida Roundup, we examined Monday’s traumatic collision between a barge and a sailboat in Biscayne Bay that left two children dead — and again reminded us how chaotic our local waters seem to be (01:08). We also looked at a controversial immigration arrest in Palm Beach County that mistakenly collared a young U.S. citizen — who was told he “had no rights” (19:24). And we talked with former CBS chairman and Palm Beach resident Gene Jankowski about his new media memoir (36:09).
On The South Florida Roundup, we examined a scathing new study that calls conditions in South Florida’s migrant detention centers “dehumanizing” — and getting worse as the Trump administration keeps filling them up [01:09]. We also spoke with the mayor of Broward County, whose budget is being targeted by Governor Ron DeSantis’ state version of DOGE [20:04]. And our WLRN reporters mark the centennial anniversaries of South Florida’s cities — and their rich stories, from Pearl City to Al Capone [35:27].
On this week's episode of The South Florida Roundup, we spoke with Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava about her proposed budget for the new fiscal year [1:09]. We also talked to two reporters behind Killer Train, WLRN and the Miami Herald’s new podcast and reporting series on Brightline [22:36]. And we asked how the Trump administration’s immigration agenda is affecting a South Florida assisted-living facility [37:18].
On this week's South Florida Roundup episode, we talked with the reporters who’ve heard from the first inmates at Florida’s controversial new migrant detention center out in the Everglades, Alligator Alcatraz — a place Miami-Dade County’s mayor says “is not who we are” (1:08). We also discussed how Haitians and other migrants here are coping with President Trump’s efforts to strip them of their deportation protections (20:50). And we looked at why Key West did a 180 on partnering with the feds on immigration (35:45).
On The South Florida Roundup for this Fourth of July weekend, we revisited our Memorial Day weekend conversation with Miami native Edda Fields-Black about her Pulitzer Prize-winning history of Harriet Tubman and a pivotal Civil War raid (01:08). We also examined Lucy’s Law, which strengthens the state’s boating codes after Luciana Fernandez’s tragic death (19:34). And we looked at how we measure patriotism — and why Florida keeps finishing near the bottom in one patriotism survey (34:18).
On The South Florida Roundup, we looked at Alligator Alcatraz which has gone from out-there idea to reality in less than a week. Miami-Dade County is pushing back and so are environmental groups as construction begins in the Everglades [01:09]. We also headed to Fort Lauderdale, where Sistrunk Boulevard, a historically Black neighborhood in the city’s downtown, is hailed as a development darling, but is all that new growth hurting the people who live there [19:19]? And, we discussed a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that may have a chilling effect on gender affirming care nationwide. How does that impact the community in South Florida [37:11]?
On the South Florida Roundup, we assessed another week of immigration controversy — from Miami’s vote to partner with the feds to Florida’s plan to build a migrant detention center in the Everglades that’s being called Alligator Alcatraz [1:08]. We also spoke to a South Florida journalist who’s recording what the last surviving witnesses of the Holocaust have to tell us — here, today [20:38]. And we saluted our repeat Stanley Cup champs, the Florida Panthers, who’ve made us the hottest thing on ice [35:51].
On the South Florida Roundup, we unpacked a tumultuous week — and what may be a tumultuous weekend — involving America’s and South Florida’s angry dispute over President Trump’s migrant deportation crusade (0:09). We also examined why a new poll shows the denizens of Miami Beach favor a Metromover connection to Miami — even if their mayor and city commissioners don’t (20:44). And we previewed the soccer Club World Cup kicking off in Miami and around the U.S. Saturday (35:07).
On The South Florida Roundup, we looked at President Trump’s new travel bans and restrictions — and the impact, if not the insult, it’s registering in our Haitian, Venezuelan and Cuban communities (01:08). We also talked with acclaimed NBC 6 meteorologist John Morales about his concerns that Trump’s budget cuts could have weathermen like him “flying blind” this hurricane season (20:02). And we heard from South Miami Mayor Javier Fernandez about his suit to keep his cops out of immigration enforcement(35:40).
On The South Florida Roundup, we said hello to another hurricane season. Forecasters — the ones still employed — again expect an above-average roster of named storms, from Andrea to Wendy, including as many as five major hurricanes (01:08). But here are two big questions if one of them hits us: Will your overpriced windstorm policy actually cover the damage anymore (19:05)? And with FEMA funding and staffing on the ropes, what will storm response look like in storm-prone places like the Keys (34:51)?
On the South Florida Roundup, we talked with the Miami native Edda Fields-Black — winner of the Pulitzer Prize for her history of Harriet Tubman and the pivotal Civil War raid on the Combahee River (01:08). We also examined Lucy’s Law — a bill that was just passed by the Florida Legislature to strengthen the state’s boating codes after Luciana Fernandez’s tragic death (19:34). And we looked at how we measure patriotism — and why Florida keeps finishing near the bottom in one patriotism survey (34:18).