Douglas Hanks

Dave Hart lives in a flood-prone neighborhood of Biscayne Shores. Hart and area residents are fighting a proposal to tear down houses and replace them with a residential building. The residents claim it will worsen flooding by paving over the ground east of Biscayne Boulevard NE 108 Street in Miami on Wednesday, April 26, 2023.

Fears of more flooding arise in a Miami-Dade housing project

Some residents of Biscayne Shores are worried that a new planned development will send stormwater pouring down low-lying neighborhoods.

Dalip, an elephant who lived at Zoo Miami and its predecessor in Key Biscayne for decades, died on Nov. 24, 2022, at age 56.

Dalip the elephant, a Zoo Miami staple for decades, has died at age 56

Douglas Hanks

Miami-Dade Commissioner Joe Martinez walks out of the Miami-Dade Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Doral on Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 30, 2022, after he surrendered to face criminal charges. He was suspended from office on Sept. 20, 2022, by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Politics

DeSantis picks supporter to take Joe Martinez' former Miami-Dade County Commission seat

Douglas Hanks

Roberto Gonzalez, a lawyer and former Republican candidate for the Florida House, was named a Miami-Dade County commissioner on Wednesday by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, two months after the governor suspended fellow Republican Joe Martinez from the District 11 seat over the commissioner’s felony arrest.

Vice Chairman Oliver Gilbert, left, and Chairman Jose “Pepe” Diaz listen to speakers during the final Miami-Dade Budget Hearing before a vote on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022, at the Stephen P Clark Center in Downtown Miami

Politics

Miami-Dade commissioners double their own pay, but kill 'ambassadors' plan

Douglas Hanks

Miami-Dade County commissioners narrowly voted to more than double their compensation early Wednesday morning but killed a plan to pay former members $25,000 a year to serve as ceremonial “county ambassadors” at public events.

Police officers escort Miami-Dade Commissioner Joe Martinez, into the Miami-Dade Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Doral

Gov. DeSantis hints at possible removal of Miami-Dade Commissioner Joe Martinez

Douglas Hanks

Gov.Ron DeSantis hinted that he will soon suspend Miami-Dade Commissioner Joe Martinez — who is facing corruption charges.

Miami-Dade commissioner surrenders to face criminal charges in corruption probe

David Ovalle

Joe Martinez, who denies the charges, surrendered at jail on Tuesday, as an arrest warrant reveals he is being accused of accepting $15,000 in exchange for sponsoring a law five years ago to help a shopping plaza that had been repeatedly slapped with fines for code violations.

Miami-Dade Commissioner hits out at 'false' criminal charges

Douglas Hanks

Joe Martinez, who is facing a criminal charge and is expected to surrender to authorities early this week, is blaming the county’s prosecutor for “false” charges that are politically motivated ahead of his possible run for sheriff in 2024.

Inmates owe millions as Miami-Dade jails charge for room and board

Douglas Hanks

Miami-Dade County jails charge inmates $2 a day for room and board, a fee that’s rarely paid and creates a shadow economy behind bars that administrators want to eliminate.

Commissioner Ken Russell speaks during a special meeting at Miami City Hall in Coconut Grove, Florida on Thursday, April 28, 2022. The meeting was held to discuss the Miami Freedom Park proposal.

Two Miami-Dade Democrats run for District 27 against Republican Maria Elvira Salazar

Douglas Hanks

Two Democrats in Miami-Dade County have announced last-minute runs for District 27 to challenge Republican Maria Elvira Salazar.

Closed restaurants and bars on Ocean Drive after the City of Miami Beach imposed a curfew.

Miami Beach vacations upended by city's curfew rules

Douglas Hanks

"This was a bust," said one tourist from Maryland. She spent $1,700 for four nights in town. "I'm totally disappointed."

Picture of the Miami skyline, including Bayfront Park and Bayside Market place.

Miami-Dade County requires landlords to provide a minimum two-month notice of rent hikes

Douglas Hanks

Tenants in Miami-Dade County must receive at least two months notice before a rent increase of more than 5% under legislation approved by county commissioners on Tuesday.

Miami-Dade County Commissioner Javier Souto faced backlash for his push to form the city of Westchester in western Miami-Dade. Now he’s dropped that plan, asking county lawyers for legislation to rescind the incorporation committee the commission formed in January.

Miami-Dade commissioner drops plan to create city of Westchester

Douglas Hanks

Miami-Dade County Commissioner Javier Souto faced backlash for his push to form the city of Westchester in western Miami-Dade.