The South Florida Roundup

On the South Florida Roundup, we updated listeners on the worsening crisis in Haiti: Powerful gangs making a violent bid for political clout; political bosses holding up a new transitional government; the deeper suffering of Haitians themselves (01:02). We also looked at the legal battle raging in Broward County over how much money public schools are required to give charter schools (08:20). And we examined whether Florida’s draconian new abortion law may steer women here toward Latin America (21:38).

On the South Florida Roundup, we talked about a lawsuit filed by two FIU students from China and a UF professor that challenges a Florida law blocking some foreign research recruitment (00:04). We also discussed Miami-Dade County’s new tourism district in the Redland and what it could mean for the area (16:58). And the economic engine of pornography in South Florida (32:23).

On the South Florida Roundup, we speak to the president of Stand with Parkland, Tony Montalto, ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris’ scheduled tour of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (01:02). We discuss elections in Palm Beach County and spoke to the youngest person ever voted into the Pembroke Pines city commission (16:53). And we hear the latest on Miami City Manager Art Noriega's controversial furniture business dealings from the WLRN Investigations team (34:04).

On the South Florida Roundup, we spoke to Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried about her decision to suspend two of the party’s South Florida chairpersons, amid fears that Democrats could lose once reliable Miami-Dade County (01:01). We also discussed Miami-Dade’s decision to scrap the Seaquarium — and what a more 21st-century use for that site is (19:25). And we examined whether Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ prep for more Haitian boat people is just more political grandstanding (35:13).

On The South Florida Roundup, we examine a disturbing maritime mystery: sawfish deaths in the waters off the Lower Keys, and bizarre behavior from other fish species (01:02). We also talked to a Haitian-American leader in South Florida who, like most Haitian expats, is urging President Biden to change course in Haiti before it’s too late (18:37). And we heard from Cuban exile and Hialeah son Edel Rodriguez about his new graphic memoir, Worm (35:05).

On the South Florida Roundup we spoke to the mayors of Miami Beach and Hollywood about why we’ve come to dread the month of March here, and whether some efforts to block the spring break crowds are crossing a line (01:03). We took a look at whether Miami International and Florida-Hollywood International Airports have fixed their nagging problems in time for the spring break wave (19:08). And we examined whether throwing more sand at the problem is really the way to save our beaches (35:29).

On The South Florida Roundup, we discussed our latest history education controversy and we asked, "if we teach the evils of communism, shouldn’t we include fascism?" (01:03) We also talked (or vented) about how unaffordable many South Florida events have become for average South Floridians (19:17). Plus we examined how the left and the right are taking Latin American human rights back to the bad old days (35:33).

On The South Florida Roundup, we discussed the age and competency anxieties that are gripping this year’s presidential election, because if South Florida – America’s Senior Citizen Central – can’t address them, who can? (01:03) We also looked at the animal welfare and other concerns swirling around the Miami Seaquarium (19:01). And we talked with the daughter of the late Jamaican reggae legend Bob Marley, Sharon Marley, about the new biopic Bob Marley: One Love (34:35).

On The South Florida Roundup, we spoke to Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Peter Licata about how he’s adjusting to dramatically declining enrollment – and the growing competition that’s driving it (01:02). We also looked at the state legislature’s efforts to get sorely needed tourism workforce housing built in the Florida Keys (19:04). And we examined the case of Guatemalan migrant farmworker Virgilio Aguilar-Mendez, who community leaders insist was unjustly charged with a Florida police officer’s death (34:32).

On the South Florida Roundup, we looked at widening ethics investigations into Miami Mayor Francis Suarez’s lucrative moonlighting – and Democrats telling him to resign as he proposes city reforms (00:05). We also discussed an exclusive WLRN report about Florida’s anti-'woke' government finding something positive about diversity, equity and inclusion (17:50). And we examined Haiti’s new struggles against violent gang government as its real government faces a deadline to step down next week (33:36).