Crime · North Miami Beach, FL
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a death warrant Friday, Oct. 30, for inmate Ricardo Gonzalez, 56, who killed North Miami Beach Police Officer Steven Bauer during a Jan. 3, 1992, robbery at Kislak National Bank. Gonzalez is set to die by lethal injection Dec. 1 at Florida State Prison and would be the 21st inmate executed by Florida this year. He was convicted of first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer, armed robbery, aggravated assault, grand theft, and burglary, and sentenced to death in September 1998. Two codefendants remain on Florida's death row.
Local Politics · Miami Beach, FL
State Representative Fabián Basabe confronted his opponent Lucia Baez-Geller, her volunteers, and other politicians at the Miami Beach City Hall voting location on Oct. 30, 2026, according to video posts by immigrant advocate Thomas Kennedy. Miami Beach police intervened twice during the encounter, telling Basabe he would be ticketed for yelling into a microphone while people were voting, per Kennedy's social media posts. Basabe also approached Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniela Levine Cava at a Miami Beach diner; her advisor described the interaction as an attempt to intimidate her, while Basabe said she was at a publicly announced political appearance. In a separate Oct. 26 Facebook video, Basabe demanded Baez-Geller and her husband denounce connections to CAIR and Emgage. Basabe told New Times he was exercising free speech and criticized orders from city leadership.
Local Politics · Miami, FL
Gubernatorial candidates David Jolly and Byron Donalds held final rallies Sunday in Coral Gables and Tampa, respectively, ahead of Election Day on Tuesday. Miami voters will decide Referendum 3, a proposed long-term marina lease at Virginia Key, with opponents citing potential environmental damage from dredging. Polls are open Tuesday from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m., and voters must cast ballots at their assigned precinct with valid photo identification. Mail-in ballots must be received by the Elections Office by 7 p.m. Tuesday; drop-off locations include two in Miami-Dade County, seven in Broward County, and three in Monroe County.
Local Politics · Coral Gables, FL
At a Coral Gables city commission meeting on Oct. 27, Mayor Vince Lago and City Manager Carolina Vester told commissioners they discovered the Coral Gables Firefighters Benevolent Association had misrepresented how proceeds from its annual Christmas tree farm were shared with the community. The association's application for a zoning variance to sell trees in the parking lot of Coral Gables Baptist Church on Granada Boulevard was withdrawn Tuesday, ending a more than 30-year tradition. Commissioner Ariel Fernandez noted the farm was one of few places residents could obtain a holiday tree, while other commissioners said the agreement terms were unacceptable and needed to change. Commissioner Castro questioned the timing during an election period, noting the union had not endorsed Lago.
Want tomorrow's Miami-Dade County edition in your inbox? It's free.
Subscribe free
Housing & Development · Cutler Bay, FL
A former hotel in Cutler Bay has been transformed into Hideaway Bay, a 130-unit affordable housing facility for formerly homeless adults ages 55 and older. Furnished studio apartments are rented at approximately $300 per month, based on 30% of residents' income, with one-year leases assigned through referrals. The project was developed in 2023 by the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust to address housing needs for older adults on fixed incomes amid a county-wide rise in homelessness. Residents have access to onsite laundry, shared dining areas, kitchenettes, transportation, educational resources, and financial services.
Public Safety · Miami-Dade County
The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office is seeking public assistance in locating 89-year-old Silvino Suarez, last seen on Monday in the 1800 block of Northwest 112th Street in Northwest Miami-Dade. Officials describe Suarez as 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing 160 pounds, with brown eyes and gray/bald hair; his clothing at the time is unknown. He was last seen driving a white 2022 Honda CRV with Florida tag FVWK32.
Community brief · Coral Gables, FL
La Pecora Bianca, a Manhattan Italian restaurant founded by Mark Barak, opened its first location outside New York City on November 2 at The Shops at Merrick Park in Coral Gables. The 300-seat restaurant, designed with Miami-based firm Urban Robot, features more than ten housemade pastas, Neapolitan-style pizzas, and several dishes created exclusively for the South Florida location. Culinary director Ed Scarpone developed the menu, which…
