South Florida Roundup

On The Florida Roundup: Our state's leadership goes through more upheaval, this time with the resignation of Education Commissioner Tony Bennett. He will be the fifth education head (including interims) to depart in the 31 months since Governor Rick Scott took office.

Why has there been so much turnover? What impact does the latest change have on students and teachers? 

Plus: the Hialeah shooting drew national attention again to gun deaths in our state.  We look at what factors - or at least correlations - can be gleaned about violence and gun ownership. 

The U.S. Department of Justice charges that Florida denies fragile, disabled children any option but nursing homes.

Days after the jury’s decision, South Florida – and the nation – still struggles to understand the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the killing of Trayvon Martin. 

Was it Stand Your Ground or other self-defense laws that determined the outcome?  One juror who spoke with CNN said:

Today on the Florida Roundup at noon on 91.3 FM:

We’re bracing for a verdict in the Zimmerman case, a trial that has the state on edge. Does Florida’s Stand Your Ground law make it an open-and-shut case for the defense? And is too much being made of the possible reaction if Trayvon Martin’s killer is set free?

The U.S. Justice Department finds - for the second time in a decade - that City of Miami police used excessive force in a spate of shootings, seven resulting in the deaths of black residents of the city.

On The Florida Roundup, we focus on the impacts of sea-level rise on our very vulnerable region.   

Rolling Stone magazine says Miami - and much of South Florida - is doomed to drown.  You wouldn’t know it based on what you hear from state leaders.  While county and local officials say they are working on solutions, are they pursuing the right ones? 

On The Florida Roundup, we take a look at three big decisions out of Washington, D.C. this week: the U.S. Supreme Court decisions on gay marriage and the Voting Rights Act as well as the U.S. Senate's vote on the immigration bill.

Our panel of journalists will tackle two four-letter words: Heat and jobs.

The Miami Heat won back-to-back NBA Championships after defeating the San Antonio Spurs Thursday night, 95-88.

Meanwhile, team owner Micky Arison wants to extend the team's lease on American Airlines Arena with the help of public money.

Florida's job market has been improving with unemployment falling to levels not seen in nearly five years.

But joblessness in Miami-Dade County remains well above the rest of the state. 

In a special edition of The Florida Roundup, we focus on our broader region, Latin America and the Caribbean. 

China's President Xi Jinping recently concluded a visit to Mexico, Costa Rica and Trinidad, shortly after President Obama and Vice President Biden paid visits there.

We discuss if Obama's second term will include stronger Latin American relations and China's ambitions in the Western hemisphere. 

Plus: why Venezuelans are buying suitcases of toilet paper and other basic goods in South Florida.

On today's edition of The Florida Roundup... 

Immigration: 

Immigration reform is stalled in Congress.

Is Marco Rubio backing away from own bill?

When will there be resolution?

Has the issue been a net loser for the freshman senator, and when will there will a resolution in Washington?

Governor Scott vetoes a law that would have allowed illegal immigrants drivers licenses.

Which way is he heading this time as we approach his re-reelection campaign?

Is he heading back to his tea party roots?

  On The Florida Roundup today at noon:

Dolphins Stadium

The Florida Legislature balked on proposed renovations to Miami Dolphins stadium. A  public referendum (already in progress) on the renovations was called off. And to make matters worse, the NFL denied South Florida a Super Bowl.

Oklahoma Tragedy

Join us for The Florida Roundup today at noon for a special look back at the 2013 state legislative session and a follow-up with participants from our WLRN-Miami Herald Town Hall in February.

Below you can be part of a live, online discussion curated by our social media editor, Danny Rivero.

Click here for The Seven Most Important Things You Should Know About Florida's Legislative Session