Kelley Mitchell

Venezuela's Future Impact On Latin America, Cuba

Kelley Mitchell and Tim Padgett — Fri, 10 May 2013 22:16:04 +0000

The late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez had an impact on more than his own country. Now it remains to be some what his successor, Nicolas Maduro, will do or not to maintain those ties. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos patched up fractured relations with Venezuela before Chavez died.

How Haiti And Venezuela Became So Close

Kelley Mitchell and Tim Padgett — Fri, 10 May 2013 22:12:33 +0000

The history between Haiti and Venezuela dates all the way back to liberator Simon Bolivar and is a big reason why Haiti's second-largest airport was just named for the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

A Love Letter To Boston By Way Of Miami

Kelley Mitchell — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:21:49 +0000

April 19th, 1995

My Louisville-born husband wakes up from a dream he just can't seem to shake. He knows, of course, that I'm an Oklahoma City girl, though many years removed.

It's April. It's a tornado, he thinks. Oklahoma City has been hit, he thinks. I'll turn on the TV, he thinks.

That something is wrong, he knows.

"KELLLLLLLEY!!!!!"'

Maps: How Sea Level Rise Could Impact Miami-Dade County

Kelley Mitchell — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:32:52 +0000

Miami-Dade County is grappling with how to repair and replace parts of its aging sewage system, under pressure from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The Water and Sewer Department has drawn up a $1.5 billion plan.

However, the clean-water advocacy group Biscayne Bay Waterkeeper says the plan doesn’t take into account the potential for sea level rise at its three coastal treatment plants on Virginia Key and in North Miami and South Miami-Dade.

How Chocolate Is Sweetening Ecuador's Economy

Kelley Mitchell — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 16:42:31 +0000

There's a chocolatier in Quito, Ecuador, who is trying to sweeten the economic history of South America.

Santiago Peralta was tired of watching his country's prized cacao beans being shipped around the world so others could create prize-winning chocolate.

He was also weary of the low wages that simply exporting raw goods produced in his country.

So he had an idea. Start his own chocolate-making company and send ready-made Ecuadorian chocolate bars around the world instead.

A Date With Diane Rehm, South Florida-Style

Kelley Mitchell — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 18:00:00 +0000

Saying Goodbye To My High School: A Personal Farewell

Kelley Mitchell — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 16:30:00 +0000

I just had one of those "When Life Kicks You In The Teeth" moments.

No, nobody's dying, and, yes, it could be worse, but I'm still reeling a bit.

I've found out that my high school is being torn down.

John Marshall High School in Oklahoma City.

The school we all couldn't wait to follow our brothers and sisters to, even if I had neither.

The school where I took driver's ed and learned from the wrestling coach who was required to be the instructor one hour a day to 'Don't never 'ccelerate during a turn.'

A Swan Song For Spec's Music Stores

Kelley Mitchell — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 11:49:19 +0000

In 1973, future Miami Herald music critic Howard Cohen burst into the Spec's Music store on South Dixie Highway in Coral Gables with of all the energy of a 10-year-old about to begin a 40-year habit.

That's because he was.

He and his mother had piled into their 1971 yellow Ford Pinto for the express purpose of taking home Helen Reddy.

At least in the form of her hit single, "Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)."

How Music Is Coming Back To Overtown

Kelley Mitchell — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 12:30:00 +0000

The Overtown section of Miami was the heart and soul of music during the early to mid-1960’s.

It developed as Southern and Bahamian blacks relocated to Miami area to work on Henry Flagler’s railroad.

As they prospered, so did the club and performing arts scene.

Other venues included the Rockland, Palace, the Harlem Square Club, the Cotton Club, the Ritz Theater, the Mary Elizabeth Hotel and the Sir John, to name a few.

The 'Key' To Being A Successful Writer

Kelley Mitchell — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 20:00:00 +0000

If you think writers from all around the world have been descending upon Key West for 31 years to escape cruddy winter weather while knocking back a rum runner or two and discussing their work, you probably won’t get an argument from them.

The Key West Literary Seminar attracts some of the finest authors – and their fans – for two consecutive weekends.

What Happened in ArtsYear 2012

Kelley Mitchell — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 16:23:53 +0000

A bustling Art Basel Miami Beach, the 1,000^th Random Act of Culture, a vote of popularity for Delray Beach’s Arts Garage and major change for the Miami City Ballet.

All this and more took place in 2012.

WLRN is seriously committed to covering the arts and a lot of our staff was in the thick of the arts world.

We asked some voices you may just know to identify a few of the influential happenings.

So here are thoughts from Alicia Zuckerman, Arianna Prothero and Christine DiMattei in what we like to call “ArtsYear 2012.”

NEWSCAST: Scott Vs. Crist

Kelley Mitchell — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 23:21:44 +0000

Borscht Film Festival Begins

Kelley Mitchell — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 18:33:44 +0000

The homegrown Borscht Film Festival is underway and in its eighth incarnation now.

It started as a group of New World of the Arts high school students who shared a common love of film. They stayed in touch,

even as they scattered across the country to hone their skills.

NEWSCAST: 'Bright Futures' Could Be Changed

Kelley Mitchell — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 23:30:53 +0000

NEWSCAST: Meet Florida's New Education Chief

Kelley Mitchell — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 22:46:55 +0000

Obama: Why The 'Fiscal Cliff' Hurts Latin Families

Kelley Mitchell — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 19:37:11 +0000

White House Domestic Policy Council Director Cecilia Munoz voices

President Barack Obama’s concerns about what the impact of a failure to reach a budget agreement could mean for Latin families.

NEWSCAST: Unemployment Benefits Threatened

Kelley Mitchell — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 23:09:02 +0000

NEWSCAST: Miami Herald Building Not 'Historic'

Kelley Mitchell — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 23:46:27 +0000

LATE-BREAKING STORY:

The Miami Herald Building will not be designated historic, paving the way for demolition by casino giant Genting.

Absentee Ballot Tally For South Florida

NEWSCAST: Casino Giant Drops Gambling Ballot Bid

Kelley Mitchell — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 22:28:38 +0000

NEWSCAST: Miami-Dade Commissioners OK Prayer

Kelley Mitchell — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 23:41:40 +0000

NEWSCAST: Former Indiana Education Chief Applies Here

Kelley Mitchell — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 23:02:15 +0000

Indiana's ousted education chief says he's applied for the Sunshine State's top schools job.

NEWSCAST: How Miami Reps Helped Pass STEM Act

Kelley Mitchell — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 21:48:20 +0000

Miami-area Republicans helped the U.S. House pass legislation to give out more high skilled visas.

Viter Juste, founder of 'Little Haiti,' Dies at 87

Kelley Mitchell — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 16:08:52 +0000

"Little Haiti" has lost perhaps the man who could be called its father and the man who is credited for the name.

Viter Juste has died at the age of 87.

He was born in La Gonaive, Haiti in 1924 and after first going to New York, he and his family made their way to Miami in 1973.

He started with a house in Buena Vista and a record store in downtown Miami, "Les Cousins."

That led to creating the first Haitian newspaper for the growing community, Haitian Florida, and the Haitian American Community Association of Dade.

How Your Art Can Really Take Off

Kelley Mitchell — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 15:23:31 +0000

Lots of us would rather steer clear of construction, but Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is actually embracing it.

The new runway and terminal expansion project will not only allow for more flights, it also creates more space for art.

So, the Broward County Public Art and Design Committee is looking for an artist, or perhaps artists, in residence.

And the art is supposed to be about the airport construction project itself.

NEWSCAST: Consumer Confidence Drops This Month

Kelley Mitchell — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 23:20:20 +0000

Consumer confidence in Florida dropped this month, but retailers were busy over the Thanksgiving shopping weekend.

Hear from an economist who isn't concerned about the decline in confidence… at least not yet.

How Cell Phones Are Fighting Poverty In Latin America

Kelley Mitchell — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 21:54:46 +0000

The stated goal of the Grameen Foundation is to help the world’s poorest improve their lives and escape poverty by helping to provide access to financial services , such as small loans and savings account, to find new ways to generate income and obtain important information about their health, crops and finances.

Grameen Foundation is a nonprofit founded in 1997 by friends of Grameen Bank to help microfinance practitioners spread the Grameen philosophy worldwide.

NEWSCAST: FPL Gets Nuclear Cost Approval

Kelley Mitchell — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 22:45:20 +0000

The Florida Public Service Commission today approved $151 million dollars in advance nuclear costs for Florida Power & Light.

Weston Resident TV's 'Mr. Food' Dies

Kelley Mitchell — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 22:14:43 +0000

Long before there were TV cooking networks, there were cooking segments and Art Ginsberg as "Mr. Food" was arguably the most popular one in the country.

NEWSCAST: Allen West, Over And Out

Kelley Mitchell — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 23:31:28 +0000

NEWSCAST: Allen West Loses Recount Hearing

Kelley Mitchell — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 22:46:44 +0000