Tom Hudson

Public high schools in South Florida start before 8 a.m. — they have for years. But research finds a later beginning is better for teenagers and their sleep cycle.

Miami-Dade schools are considering changing school start times and having the first bell ring later at high schools.

Several southern states including Georgia and Mississippi have enacted similar laws requiring employers to check the immigration status of new hires. The state laws have become part of the national debate over immigration.

Previous efforts to get an E-Verify bill through the Florida Legislature failed, and leading Republican lawmakers were not fully behind the governor's position as the 2020 session began earlier this week.

Days before the beginning of the legislative session, Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez said DeSantis is "trying to fulfill one of his campaign promises."

Being in an autonomous vehicle can be a lot of work. 

It takes two people — one in the driver’s seat, a second in the passenger seat — each describing what they are seeing and what the car will be doing, and confirming it.

The rent is just too high for a lot of people living in South Florida. In Miami, many renters spend at least half of their paychecks on housing.  And consider this: The median household income for people in the city of Miami is $34,000. The average rent is around $1,800 across apartment sizes. That would cost someone making an average income two-thirds of their paycheck before taxes.

The City of Miami ordered a study about a year ago to  help solve its housing affordability crisis, and that plan was released this week by the Jorge M. Perez Metropolitan Center at FIU.

Four months after Hurricane Dorian devastated parts of the northern Bahamas, the government’s new head of reconstruction says they need to speed up recovery efforts. 

“One of the big priorities is this debris cleanup in Abaco,” says Katherine Smith, managing director of the Bahamas Disaster Reconstruction Authority during a bus tour Tuesday of parts of Great Abaco Island. “It’s really a big problem because of the scale of the hurricane and the damage it did in Abaco.”

Randolph Watts has had tough times. He was a drug addict. He spent time in jail. But he’s been sober for more than 20 years and has had a steady job for the past decade at a deli in North Miami Beach. He considers himself "blessed."

Still, he's worried.

"What worries me? No health insurance and retirement, because we don't have any retirement. And I'm getting older."

Among the news that will likely dominate headlines in 2020 is the upcoming presidential election — and ever the swing state, Florida typically plays a crucial role on Election Day.

Voters will first cast their ballots in March during the presidential primary. Several Democratic candidates began rallying in South Florida last year — especially during the first debate held in Miami.

Hurricane Dorian stands out as one of the biggest news stories of 2019.

The ominous Category 5 storm threatened South Florida for days. While the region escaped its destruction, the storm stalled over the northern Bahamas, scouring the islands with high winds and storm surge.

The next hearing in the case of the confessed Parkland shooter is scheduled for Thursday.

Broward Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer is expected to consider a defense motion to delay the trial of Nikolas Cruz, who faces 17 charges of first degree murder and 17 charges of attempted murder for the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

The trial is currently slated to begin with jury selection on Jan. 27.

Federal and state officials are trying to strike a balance between conservation and public access to South Florida waters.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission agreed Thursday to back tighter fishing limits in Biscayne National Park, where fish populations have dwindled.

New sea level rise projections for South Florida show an alarming trend: higher waters are coming faster than previously expected.

According to the Southeast Florida Climate Compact, seas could rise between one foot and two-and-a-half feet by 2060 – two to five inches more than 2015 projections.

Tomas Esson's giant paintings will not be at Art Basel Miami Beach this year, yet he's hopeful this could be his break out year. "I have been close to that breaking point, but I never have made that crossover yet. So maybe this is my time. I am ready," he said.

Florida's economy is booming by most economic metrics. The unemployment rate is near a record low. Over 125 million tourists will visit the state this year. And property values are still growing, even though the pace has slowed.

The story of South Florida’s economy is more than statistics. Behind the well-known data on income disparity, housing affordability, and low average pay are the voices of people grappling with its adversities and those thriving from its opportunities. These stories are from people who are struggling to make ends meet, and the experiences of others enjoying prosperity. These are personal portraits of real people sharing the role money plays in their lives in South Florida.

Bolivia has been dealing with political unrest since the resignation of former president Evo Morales earlier this week.

Morales, who was elected the country’s first indigenous president, is now in exile in Mexico City. He stepped down amid allegations of fraud in thee most recent presidential election.