Education · Broward County
School districts in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties are urging voters to approve a one-mill property tax renewal on the Nov. 3 ballot, warning that rejection would eliminate hundreds of millions in funding for teacher pay, school safety personnel, and mental health services. District leaders fear voter confusion with Amendment 3, a separate measure that would reduce property taxes used for public services. Miami-Dade officials estimate a $500 million loss could drop teacher salaries from $73,030 to $57,814; Broward faces a roughly $358 million annual shortfall affecting about 13,400 teachers receiving supplements; Palm Beach warns approximately 900 choice-program teachers would lose jobs and pay would fall $8,000 annually. The one-mill levy costs homeowners about $418 per year in Broward County. State law requires these referendums every four years, with the current authorization running through mid-2031.
Community News · Broward County
Florida leads the nation in Medicare Advantage plan discontinuations for 2027, with about 81,000 enrollees across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties affected by plans ending or merging. In Broward County, available plans drop from 119 to 106, while Palm Beach County falls from 121 to 111; Aetna PPO plans are being terminated in Palm Beach County, and HealthSpring is exiting all three South Florida counties entirely. Enrollees whose plans end must select a replacement by Dec. 31 or automatically fall into Original Medicare without prescription drug coverage or a Medigap supplement. Insurers including Humana and UnitedHealthcare are shifting from PPOs to HMOs, trimming supplemental benefits like dental, vision and gym memberships, while Special Needs Plans grow to about two-thirds of Florida offerings.
Public Safety · Miami, FL
Jennifer Arias, 29, of New York died August 13 after liposuction and a Brazilian Butt Lift at New Life Plastic Surgery in Miami, according to the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner's Office, which ruled her death an accident caused by bilateral pulmonary fat emboli. NBC6 Investigates found Arias is at least the sixth patient to die following surgery at the clinic since 2018, including Naimy Sucetz, who died in 2022 after procedures performed by the same surgeon, Dr. Julio Clavijo-Alvarez. The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office confirmed its Homicide Bureau has an open investigation into Arias's death. Civil lawsuits related to prior deaths show New Life has denied responsibility, arguing physicians were independent contractors rather than employees.
Local Politics · Miami, FL
A proposal to install two 1,800-square-foot digital billboards 120 feet above Biscayne Boulevard near Interstate 395 outside the Adrienne Arsht Center has pitted Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins against Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, reversing their prior joint opposition in 2024. Because the county owns the Arsht Center property, Levine Cava is directing approval through the county commission process rather than city zoning, potentially bypassing Miami's authority. The signs could generate at least $1 million annually for the nonprofit performing arts center; opponents cite light pollution and visual clutter along Biscayne Boulevard. A county hearing was briefly scheduled for October 6 but canceled without a publicly stated reason, and the proposal remains unapproved pending county commission action.
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Education · Miami-Dade County
In Miami-Dade County, Florida's Empowerment Scholarship (voucher) program received approximately $766 million this school year, surpassing the $737 million allocated to public and charter schools. The state provides roughly $8,000 per voucher student compared to less than $3,000 per public school student, while about 300,000 children attend public and charter schools versus approximately 82,000 in private schools statewide figures show over 500,000 students using vouchers at a cost exceeding $4 billion. Miami-Dade School Board member Roberto Alonso supports the program but called for adjusting the state's public school funding formula to current economic realities, while teacher and Eduvoter Action Network founder Crystal Etienne questioned accountability for voucher spending. The article notes declining enrollment due to families leaving South Florida, immigration drops, and lower birth rates may prompt legislative review of education funding.
Crime · Miami, FL
Jamar Jenkins, 39, was arrested by U.S. Marshals and charged with second-degree murder with a weapon in connection to the Oct. 10, 2025 fatal shooting of community activist Dwight Wells in Liberty City, Miami. Wells, 40, was shot multiple times while playing dominoes in front of his restaurant along the 5000 block of Northwest 17th Avenue and later died at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Jenkins appeared in bond court Thursday morning and was denied bond; investigators credited cellular device activity, geolocation data, and witness accounts for locating him. Wells was known locally for his "Wheels Up, Guns Down" initiative aimed at reducing gun violence among young people.
Crime · Miami, FL
Jose Llerena, 49, of Miami pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiracy to distribute over 87,000 oxycodone pills, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida announced. Prosecutors said Llerena acted as a patient recruiter, paying individuals to pose as patients and obtain illegal prescriptions from South Florida clinics, then reselling the pills on the street. He worked with pharmacist Olushola Yusuf, who was convicted in July after allegedly dispensing over 300,000 oxycodone pills. Llerena faces up to 20 years in prison at sentencing.
Social Events · Miami-Dade County
For the first time in six years, NASCAR's Championship Races across all three series return to Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 8, marking the venue's 19th hosting of a championship event. The Cup Series main race will cover 267 laps around the mile-and-a-half track for a 400-mile event, with organizers expecting more than 40,000 fans in attendance. Speedway president Guillermo Santa Cruz said the track's unique design makes it special for drivers, while playoff driver Ryan Preece noted the multiple racing lines and chaotic restarts that make Homestead exciting. A media day was held ahead of race weekend to build excitement.
Community News · Miami, FL
Wynwood Walls, the outdoor street art museum at 2516 NW Second Ave. in Miami, now offers free admission to Miami-Dade County residents with a valid photo ID showing a county address, a partnership arrangement tied to Rockstar Games' GTA VI promotion that runs through 2028. The attraction originally opened free in 2009 but adopted a paid timed-ticket model in January 2021 after closing during the pandemic, charging $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, and $5 for youth ages 13–17. Children 12 and under remain free for all visitors. The admission fees support operations, mural preservation, educational programs, and staffing.
