WEATHER ALERT
Videos show panic after 2 fatal shootings prompt spring break curfew in South Beach
Read full article: Videos show panic after 2 fatal shootings prompt spring break curfew in South BeachWitnesses share videos of the panic that ensued after two fatal shootings left tourists feeling afraid for their safety during spring break in South Beach, according to our partners at WPLG Local 10 News.
Miami Beach, after shootings, extends spring break curfew
Read full article: Miami Beach, after shootings, extends spring break curfewMiami Beach city commissioners have voted to extend a curfew, a day after it was announced by the city manager in response to violent incidents surrounding spring break.
1 dead, 6 hurt when woman trying to parallel park drives into Florida cafe, police say
Read full article: 1 dead, 6 hurt when woman trying to parallel park drives into Florida cafe, police sayAuthorities say one person has died and another six people, including a child, were taken to the hospital after an older woman drove her Bentley into the outdoor seating area at a Miami Beach restaurant.
Voters say ‘yes’ to early closing time for South Beach bars
Read full article: Voters say ‘yes’ to early closing time for South Beach barsLast call could come three hours earlier in Miami Beach, where voters fed up with nighttime violence chose yes to rolling back the 5 a.m. closing time for alcohol sales.
Judge: $150M initially for victims in Florida condo collapse
Read full article: Judge: $150M initially for victims in Florida condo collapseA judge says victims and families who suffered losses in the collapse of a 12-story oceanfront Florida condominium will get a minimum of $150 million in compensation initially.
Judge: All options on table for site of collapsed building
Read full article: Judge: All options on table for site of collapsed buildingA South Florida judge says all options remain on the table as a decision is made over what to do with the property where a 12-story condominium tower collapsed last month.
WATCH LIVE: Officials provide update on Florida condo collapse
Read full article: WATCH LIVE: Officials provide update on Florida condo collapseThe Fourth of July holiday is being marked with somber tones in South Florida, where a collapsed building has left at least 24 dead and more than 120 missing under rubble.
Florida judge favors pre-dawn partying in rowdy South Beach
Read full article: Florida judge favors pre-dawn partying in rowdy South BeachA South Florida judge has sided with the Clevelander hotel in a lawsuit over a new Miami Beach law that sets a 2 a.m. closing time in the South Beach entertainment district.
Officers fire pepper balls at spring break partygoers breaking curfew in Miami Beach
Read full article: Officers fire pepper balls at spring break partygoers breaking curfew in Miami BeachMIAMI BEACH, Fla. – WPLG reports the City of Miami Beach has declared an emergency as police and elected officials react to large crowds and lawlessness during Spring Break. Pepper balls were used to control crowds of people on South Beach Saturday night as law enforcement attempted to enforce a newly imposed curfew. Several roads were also closed in Miami Beach as officials hoped to stem the rise in crime. Pepper balls were fired into the crowds of hundreds of Spring Break partygoers on South Beach after multiple attempts by police to disburse them. “Quite frankly, I am concerned that the behavior is getting more for us to be able to handle,” said Miami Beach Police Chief Richard Clements.
Trump Casino Miami? Florida gambling bill raises possibility
Read full article: Trump Casino Miami? Florida gambling bill raises possibilityTrump doesn’t own any of those, but could buy one and move the license to his Trump National Doral property. Even though Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are close allies, any bill would face opposition from other tourism and gambling interests. Armando Codina said gambling revenue would be siphoned to Tallahassee, while leaving Doral, Miami Beach and Miami to deal with the increased crime and social problems casinos would bring. “When it comes to my opposition to casino gambling, there are no parties,” Codina said.
‘We’re failing pretty horribly:’ Florida mayors plead with governor to take action on virus
Read full article: ‘We’re failing pretty horribly:’ Florida mayors plead with governor to take action on virusST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Five Florida mayors on Wednesday said they were extremely concerned about the rising number of coronavirus cases in the state, and begged Gov. Ron DeSantis to change his approach to the virus in hopes of slowing the spread. Following a monthslong decline from its huge summer spike in the outbreak, Florida has seen a mid-autumn climb in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. Still, the governor has resisted a return to statewide restrictions in place earlier in the year. “What Florida is doing right now isn’t working,” said Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber, during a sharply worded news conference on Zoom.
Coronavirus: Florida mayor accuses governor of pursuing herd immunity
Read full article: Coronavirus: Florida mayor accuses governor of pursuing herd immunityMIAMI – As coronavirus cases surge throughout the country, Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber is calling out Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, accusing him of pursuing so-called herd immunity. “The governor seems to be following this concept of allowing the virus to spread in the community, on purpose almost,” Gelber said in an interview with News 6 partner Local 10 News. Florida has posted statewide positivity rates above 8% in three of the past four days. And the promise of a vaccine is on the horizon, as American drug maker Pfizer and a German partner are saying studies show their COVID-19 vaccine is 90% effective.
In Miami Beach, live theater returns — in vacant storefronts
Read full article: In Miami Beach, live theater returns — in vacant storefrontsNEW YORK – This fall, the seven deadly sins will be found all along an iconic Miami Beach thoroughfare — but they'll be socially distanced, thankfully. “This pandemic has shown in stark light the fragility of our world,” said Miami New Drama Artistic Director Michel Hausmann. The Miami City Ballet recently took over a vacant storefront. The move by Miami New Drama is just the latest attempt by theatermakers to offer their art to the public despite the ongoing pandemic, which has stuttered traditional theater venues. The Public Theater in New York City has turned to audio plays, while the Vineyard Theatre plans digital and outdoor productions.
Florida lawmaker questions company providing contact tracing
Read full article: Florida lawmaker questions company providing contact tracingORLANDO, Fla. A Central Florida Congressman is demanding answers from one of the companies the state of Florida pays to provide contact tracing. Contact tracing is tracking down everyone a person positive with a virus has come in contact with. His staff also contacted the president of Favorite Healthcare Staffing with specific questions about the states contact tracing program. The Florida Department of Health has given few details about the state's contact tracing program. In Miami-Dade County, contact tracing has been effectively non-existent.Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said after weeks of asking, the Department of Health shared contact tracing data for a 14-day period.
Pandemic becomes politically fraught for Florida governor
Read full article: Pandemic becomes politically fraught for Florida governorFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis, center, arrives for a roundtable discussion with Miami-Dade County mayors during the coronavirus pandemic, Tuesday, July 14, 2020, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)If you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000.
Pandemic becomes politically fraught for Florida governor
Read full article: Pandemic becomes politically fraught for Florida governorRon DeSantis, center, arrives for a roundtable discussion with Miami-Dade County mayors during the coronavirus pandemic, Tuesday, July 14, 2020, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)TALLAHASSEE, Fla. The coronavirus pandemic has become politically fraught for Florida Gov. The video ends with the governor declaring, "I'm a hundred percent confident we're going to get through this." Susan MacManus, a professor emeritus of political science at the University of South Florida, said the governor struck the right message of unity in turbulent times. Another Republican, state Rep. Rene Plasencia, called reopening campuses potentially catastrophic" in a letter earlier this week addressed to school board members.
South Florida mayor asks governor for statewide mask mandate
Read full article: South Florida mayor asks governor for statewide mask mandateMIAMI, Fla. Among the requests from Miami-Dade County mayors when it comes to Floridas coronavirus response is a statewide mask mandate. Miami Mayor Francis X. Suarez said if things dont improve within the next few weeks, its possible that some of the reopenings could be rolled back. As the efforts continue, Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said consistency in messaging is key, which is why he implored DeSantis to issue a statewide mask mandate. The only reason I thought its important, is I think it will tell people, You have to do this.' Making sure the data provided by the Florida Department of Health is consistent with numbers provided by local health departments.
The Latest: S. Korea baseball fans will have to wear masks
Read full article: The Latest: S. Korea baseball fans will have to wear masksResidents wearing masks to curb the spread of the coronavirus line up for COVID-19 test outside the Worker's Stadium in Beijing on Tuesday, June 30, 2020. Test sites have sprung up through the Chinese capital as test have become a daily normal after the latest outbreak of the coronavirus, (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
The Latest: S. Korea baseball fans will have to wear masks
Read full article: The Latest: S. Korea baseball fans will have to wear masks(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)SEOUL, South Korea -- South Koreas professional baseball league says it will require fans to wear masks, sit at least a seat apart and prohibit them from eating food in the stands as it prepares to bring back spectators in the coming weeks amid the coronavirus epidemic. The Korea Baseball Organization said Tuesday that teams will be initially allowed to sell only 30% of the seats for each game. South Korea has been actively tracing the contacts of virus carriers using credit card information, cellphone location data and surveillance camera footage. Virus cases worldwide hit 10 million and deaths have surpassed 500,000. Kansas health officials reported on Monday at least 14,443 confirmed coronavirus cases, an increase of 905 since Friday.
‘Very challenging:’ Florida city issues 652 face mask warnings 1st day back in parks
Read full article: ‘Very challenging:’ Florida city issues 652 face mask warnings 1st day back in parksCity Manager Jimmy Morales called Wednesday's reopening a “very challenging Day One.”“If we continue to experience people refusing to comply with the city’s emergency orders, including wearing face coverings where required (parks, beachwalks, baywalks, etc. ), we will need to close certain areas,” Morales said in a tweet Thursday. Miami Beach police Chief Richard Clements presented a report to the city administration Thursday with the violations that park rangers found Wednesday at open spaces across the city, the Miami Herald reported. Commissioner Ricky Arriola, who has called for the city to be reopened more quickly, called the mask rule “silly” and said it was implemented for political “optics," the Herald reported. “If people are maintaining social distance, I don’t see how a mask is going to do much good,” he said.