Education · Broward County
At an Oct. 6 workshop, Broward County Public Schools staff presented proposals to consolidate or repurpose 10 schools across Miramar, Hollywood, Coral Springs, Oakland Park, Sunrise, Pembroke Pines and Fort Lauderdale, citing more than 61,000 empty student seats and a decade-long enrollment loss of over 48,000 students. The district estimates annual savings between $7.36 million and $7.74 million if the plans proceed, with changes taking effect for the 2027-28 school year. No vote was taken; the board's final decision is scheduled for Dec. 15, following a Nov. 4 workshop and a School Boundary Advisory Committee deliberation meeting on Oct. 26. Community feedback gathered at seven meetings in September reflected concern over neighborhood schools while acknowledging enrollment pressures.
Local Politics · Broward County
Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony and the Broward County Commission are in an escalating dispute over the sheriff's $875 million budget, with commissioners demanding performance audits of spending and Tony resisting what he calls attempts to control his office. Mayor Mark Bogen announced a county investigation into the sheriff's spending practices and attempted a Monday site visit to the sheriff's $73 million training center, which Tony declined to host. The commission has moved to end contracts for fire-rescue, 911, and port law enforcement services, while Deerfield Beach voted earlier this year to leave BSO by 2027. County officials say full funding of the sheriff's requests would reduce money for public health, housing, parks, and other services funded from the $1.7 billion property-tax budget.
Education · Broward County
Broward County School Board members are set to vote Tuesday, Oct. 14, on partial reimbursements for 1,623 non-classroom teachers excluded from the Florida Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Program after a 2023 state law restricted eligibility to classroom teachers only. Affected teachers—including reading coaches, speech-language pathologists and social workers—received no advance notice until a Sept. 17 email, five weeks into the school year. Superintendent Howard Hepburn proposed using $250,000 from school speed-zone ticket revenues and $50,000 in reserves to provide $185 per teacher instead of the full $300. Board members criticized the district's handling as 'patently unfair' and 'demoralizing.'
Local Business · Fort Lauderdale, FL
ABA Centers of America, headquartered at 110 E. Broward Blvd in Fort Lauderdale, has acknowledged a federal investigation by the U.S. DOJ and U.S. Attorney's Office in Concord, New Hampshire, into alleged healthcare fraud including false billing of medically unnecessary services across multiple states. The company, founded in 2020 with over 2,000 employees in 10+ states, faces civil suits from Publix Super Markets (approximately $15 million) and Harvard Pilgrim/Point32Health (over $19 million) alleging inflated insurance claims; the Publix case was moved to U.S. District Court in Fort Lauderdale before Judge Raag Singhal. No criminal charges have been filed as of the article's publication. Founder Christopher M. Barnett, who leased a waterfront home in Fort Lauderdale, had a $55 million pledge to Temple University terminated in September after the investigation became known.
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Crime · Tamarac, FL
Broward Sheriff's Office homicide detectives arrested Manuel Farfan-Cabello, accused of fatally stabbing his mother, Ylda Cabello-Ynocente, at 5301 N.W. 28th Ave in Tamarac on the evening of Oct. 9. Broward County Regional Communications received the call at approximately 7:45 p.m., and Tamarac District deputies and Tamarac Fire Rescue responded; Cabello-Ynocente was pronounced deceased on scene. Farfan-Cabello, who was also present when deputies arrived, faces one count of first-degree murder and is being held at Broward County Main Jail while the BSO Homicide Unit continues its investigation.
Local Politics · Pembroke Park, FL
Pembroke Park Mayor Geoffrey Jacobs took the witness stand in a civil court hearing to prove he resides within town limits, as commissioners seek his removal from office under the town charter's permanent-residency requirement. The town's attorney argues Jacobs actually lives about 100 miles away in Fort Pierce (St. Lucie County), citing vehicle registrations and homestead-exemption filings tied to a home he owns there. Jacobs contends the Fort Pierce property was purchased as a safe residence for his wife and children after a stalker vandalized their Pembroke Park home, and maintains he has lived exclusively in town since 2016. The judge has not yet issued a ruling.
Public Safety · Fort Lauderdale, FL
The Broward County Mosquito Control Section will conduct truck-mounted larvicide spraying in District 8 of Fort Lauderdale from Wednesday, October 14 through Wednesday, October 21, 2026, between 10 PM and 6 AM. The proactive measure targets Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquito larvae, species capable of spreading dengue, yellow fever, and chikungunya. The larvicide used, VectoBac WDG (Bti strain AM6552), is EPA-registered and WHO-recommended, and officials state it does not harm humans, pets, bees, or aquatic habitats. Residents are encouraged to remove standing water from containers, planters, birdbaths, and tires on their property, and can request mosquito service by calling 311.
Crime · Tamarac, FL
A 28-year-old Tamarac man was arrested Friday on suspicion of stabbing his mother, 58-year-old Ylda Cabello-Ynocente, to death at their shared home on Northwest 28th Avenue. Tamarac Fire-Rescue and Broward Sheriff's deputies responded to a 911 call at 7:45 p.m. Friday and found the victim with multiple stab wounds; she was pronounced dead at the scene. Manuel Farfan-Cabello appeared in court Monday on one count of first-degree murder, was held without bond, and was ordered to undergo a mental health screening.
