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It’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment in South Florida history.A century ago, the region experienced a land boom when investors and developers from around the country came down on trains and automobiles and started building cities where once there was swampland, farms and small settlements. Cities sprang up almost overnight. Thanks to a burgeoning post-war economy, entrepreneurial spirit and good old fashioned Florida glamour, the area’s population shot up to the hundreds of thousands.Now, 11 cities from Palm Beach County to Miami-Dade are celebrating their centennials in 2025 and 2026. In honor of this milestone, WLRN News will be bringing together stories from each of these communities that peer through history to give us a better understanding of the present and our shared future.The series History We Call Home: 100 Years of South Florida aired through 2025 and highlights locales across the region. Our reporters spotlight the moments, ideas and people that made these cities part of our community's fabric over the past century. We hope you'll join us on this journey.

One of Coral Gables’ earliest buildings still stands — but its future is uncertain. As the city marks its centennial, we explore the history of a church at the center of a preservation fight — and how it’s redefining its mission for the community today.Also in this episode: Before the Venetian Pool became a landmark, it was a coral rock quarry. We uncover the often-overlooked role of Bahamian workers who helped build Coral Gables — and laid the foundation for one of South Florida’s most iconic cities.From Palm Beach County to Miami-Dade, 11 cities are celebrating their centennials in 2025 and 2026. WLRN News' series "History We Call Home" spotlights the moments, ideas and people that made these cities part of our community's fabric over the past century.

As Boca Raton celebrates 100 years, we turn to Pearl City — its oldest Black neighborhood. Sisters in their 90s share memories of growing up in a segregated farming community — and of building a life in a city that often overlooked them.From Palm Beach County to Miami-Dade, 11 cities are celebrating their centennials in 2025 and 2026. WLRN News' series History We Call Home spotlights the moments, ideas, and people that made these cities part of our community's fabric over the past century.

For Cuban exiles fleeing the 1959 revolution, Freedom Tower was a first stop — and a symbol of hope.The tower celebrated its centennial anniversary in 2025, marking 100 years as a symbol of resilience in its various functions for the people of Miami. In this episode, we revisit the Freedom Tower’s history and how it went from newspaper headquarters to refugee processing center — and what it represents to South Floridians today.From Palm Beach County to Miami-Dade, 11 cities are celebrating their centennials in 2025 and 2026. WLRN News' series "History We Call Home" spotlights the moments, ideas and people that made these cities part of our community's fabric over the past century.

Deerfield Beach, now home to nearly 90-thousand people, is the tenth-largest city in Broward County. But in the early 1900s, it was a quiet farming village with dirt roads, small wooden houses, and little over a thousand residents who were fiercely defensive of their seaside home.In this episode of History We Call Home: 100 Years of South Florida, we look back at Deerfield Beach’s journey from deer-grazing territory — to infamous mobster haven — to a thriving community.From Palm Beach County to Miami-Dade, 11 cities are celebrating their centennials in 2025 and 2026. WLRN News' series "History We Call Home" spotlights the moments, ideas and people that made these cities part of our community's fabric over the past century.

In the 1920s, the Hialeah Racetrack helped put the city on the map. As Hialeah turns 100, we trace how the racetrack shaped the city — and the labor of Black migrants who helped build it.Also in this episode: Before Hialeah was officially incorporated, Black migrant workers had already established a community called Seminola. This episode explores that neighborhood’s origins — and the fight by descendants to have their history recognized as the city marks its centennial.From Palm Beach County to Miami-Dade, 11 cities are celebrating their centennials in 2025 and 2026. WLRN News' series "History We Call Home" spotlights the moments, ideas and people that made these cities part of our community's fabric over the past century.

Long before the Town of Davie became known for its horses and rodeos, it was miles of wild, untamed Everglades. In the early 1900s, after the wetlands were drained, settlers came looking for new opportunities… to farm, to build, to start fresh. Those early pioneers learned to work the land and build a community from the ground up. At the center of it all was the Davie School, now known as the Old Davie School Museum.From Palm Beach County to Miami-Dade, 11 cities are celebrating their centennials in 2025 and 2026. WLRN News' series "History We Call Home" spotlights the moments, ideas and people that made these cities part of our community's fabric over the past century.

On The South Florida Roundup, we looked at the Miami-Dade County Commission’s decision to delay its vote on a new, $1.5 billion waste incinerator – so it can find a site where it’s actually welcome (01:23). We also discussed how a new state law has led to a sudden and controversial spike in the arrests of people experiencing homelessness (14:27). And, like many football fans, we asked if Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s concussion crisis means he should leave the sport – and how unsafe that sport is (26:49).

On The South Florida Roundup, we discussed the so-called ghost candidate scandal of 2020, which rocked South Florida politics with a fake candidate siphoning votes away from a Democrat and helping the Republican win. That trial wrapped up this week and we have all the details (01:06). With election season in full swing, we looked at all the nuts and bolts of casting a ballot for the Nov. 5 elections. From ballot drop boxes to early voting dates, we got you covered (18:42). And, we discussed a new effort by Miami artists to better advocate for themselves with data (37:45).

This week on The Florida Roundup, we look at recovery efforts a week after Hurricane Helene's landfall. First, we spoke to Florida Rep. Christine Hunschofsky (3:10), then we spoke with David Jolly, former Republican representative who penned a recent op-ed (10:42). Next we turned to Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections, Christina White, to discuss all the ways to vote in the upcoming Nov. 5 election (20:05). And also University of Florida Professor Michael McDonald, from the UF elections Lab (24:00). We also checked in with our partner PolitiFact for a claims check about social media and Hurricane Helene (33:25). Finally, we look at a few other stories from across the state including a look at how the state's ports are moving forward following a longshoreman strike earlier this week, and peanut farmers (37:22).

This week on The Florida Roundup, we look at the widespread damage and the loss of life from Hurricane Milton. First, we checked in with NPR’s Greg Allen from Clearwater (02:18), then we heard from WUSF’s Kerry Sheridan about the impact in Sarasota (08:47) before turning to CFPM’s Molly Duerig to look at flooding in Central Florida (10:58). Later, we spoke with WQCS’ Chris Puorro about the deadly tornadoes Milton produced that touched down in Port St. Lucie (17:00) and Rep. Toby Overdorf whose district includes areas of St. Lucie and Martin counties (21:37). Plus, we heard from Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis about filing claims in the wake of Helene and Milton (28:23). We also checked some recent claims related to FEMA funding with PolitiFact’s Katie Sanders (33:23) and heard the story of one St. Petersburg resident as they evacuated ahead of Milton (37:09).

On the South Florida Roundup, we focus on the Hispanic vote — one of the most important in this region and this state. We reviewed Vice President Kamala Harris’ televised Hispanic town hall in Las Vegas Thursday and preview the one that former President Donald Trump will hold Wednesday in Miami (01:10). A panel of Hispanic journalists and experts helped us examine why election disinformation is so rampant in Spanish-language media (19:23) — and what, if anything, can be done about it (35:40).

On the South Florida Roundup we looked at the spate of deadly tornadoes spawned by Hurricane Milton last week — 26 of them — which made Florida feel more like Kansas (01:10). We also discussed WLRN’s new series “Culture of Neglect,” which looks at efforts to restore Miami’s important but too often uncared for cultural institutions (19:15). And we examined the violent Venezuelan gang known as Tren de Aragua that’s now at the center of the presidential election’s immigration debate (34:50).

The tab for Hurricanes Helene and Milton will be in the billions of dollars. Some will be covered by insurance. And some won’t. The storms are just the latest reminders of the high cost of insurance. We speak with Michael Yaworsky, Florida Office of Insurance Regulation Commissioner (2:36). Plus, early voting starts in just days. What you need to know now to cast your vote (26:15). Hurricane Milton Recovery efforts (33:59). And, how Florida is just inescapable these days in our video and music streams (41:40).

This week on The Florida Roundup, we checked in with reporters and officials across the state to begin assessing the impact of Hurricane Helene. First, we heard from Lynn Hatter, news director for WFSU in Tallahassee (02:56), then we spoke with Megan Borowski, meteorologist for Florida Public Radio Emergency Network (07:07). Afterwards, we heard from Stephanie Colombini with WUSF in Tampa (09:17) and Craig Fugate, former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (19:56). Next, we turned to Áine Pennello with WUFT in Gainesville (25:44) and later, WUSF’s news director Mary Shedden (33:07). We also checked in with our partner PolitiFact for a claims check about NOAA (28:34). Finally, we look at a few other stories from across the state including a look at how communities are planning for future storms (37:16).

On The South Florida Roundup, we discussed a major leadership merger of Broward County’s taxpayer-funded north and south health systems. Can Shane Strum pull off this double duty (01:21)? We also looked at how arts institutions in Miami-Dade County are finding ways to overcome Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ elimination of state funding – because, well, the show must go on (14:32). And, we asked why it took hurricane-prone Monroe County so long to get a hurricane emergency center (25:36).

Hear the stories of three people who lost their lives on the tracks, in the words of the loved ones they left behind.

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].

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke with Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward about the state’s plans to audit the city in addition to other local municipalities as part of its effort to reduce unnecessary government spending (00:00). We also spoke about those efforts with the Miami Herald’s Alexandra Glorioso (09:22), who stuck around for our conversation about how Florida is once again at the center of the Epstein case (14:02). Then, we looked at how federal and state cuts to public broadcasting will impact public media in Florida with Paul Grove, president and CEO of WEDU — West Central Florida’s PBS station — and Judith Smelser, president and general manager of Central Florida Public Media, based in Orlando (19:32). Plus, a roundup of immigration news from across the state (37:24).

Taxpayers are on the hook for hundreds of millions in costs related to Brightline, despite the company’s initial claims that the train would be fully funded by private investment.