Public Safety · Fort Lauderdale, FL
South Florida experienced what scientists call the highest king tide ever recorded, with Miami and Fort Lauderdale registering about 2.5 feet of water above high tide—classified as "major" flooding by the National Weather Service. The surge submerged major thoroughfares, forced closure of the Las Olas Bridge in Fort Lauderdale, flooded coastal businesses in Miami Beach, and overwhelmed South Florida Water Management District flood-control barriers that failed to prevent backflow into canals. The event peaked Tuesday, Oct. 27, and was set to continue through at least Wednesday, Oct. 28. Miami's Virginia Key tide gauge recorded its highest non-hurricane water level since installation in 1994, while Port Everglades broke a record set just months earlier in September.
Local Politics · Broward County
Broward County Supervisor of Elections Joe Scott reported Tuesday that some residents are experiencing unusually long Postal Service delays returning vote-by-mail ballots, with some taking 12 to 14 days even locally. Florida law requires mail ballots to arrive at the supervisor's office by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3; ballots received after that deadline are not counted. Scott urged voters to check their ballot status online and vote in person if they believe their mailed ballot will not arrive in time. He also noted that Hallandale Beach residents experienced nine-to-11-day delays receiving their initial mail ballots. Palm Beach County and Miami-Dade County elections offices reported no similar issues.
Local Politics · Miami-Dade County
Officials urge voters to approve renewal referendums for supplemental school funding in Miami-Dade and Broward counties on November 3. The measures, appearing as Question 268 in Miami-Dade and School Board Question #1 in Broward, extend existing property tax levies for teacher pay, safety, and mental health services. Approval would prevent the expiration of current funding streams, with Miami-Dade's extension running through June 2031 and Broward's through December 2030.
Local Politics · Broward County
Broward County Supervisor of Elections Joe Scott is recommending voters use in-person early voting rather than vote-by-mail ballots due to reported U.S. Postal Service delays affecting ballot delivery and return. Voters have complained about never receiving requested mail ballots, while tracking information shows completed ballots sitting at postal facilities instead of reaching the elections office. A large batch of ballots from Hallandale Beach was recently discovered stuck at a postal facility for approximately one week. Similar concerns were raised in Monroe County, where Supervisor of Elections Sherri Hodies reported problems with vote-by-mail ballots being returned from multiple states including Missouri, Minnesota, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Virginia.
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Crime · Pembroke Pines, FL
A 17-year-old boy faces a second-degree felony charge after the Pembroke Pines Police Threat Assessment Team found a written threat to "blow up" Pembroke Pines Charter High School in his belongings, according to a Tuesday news release. The team was notified about noon Monday of concerning posts the student made expressing hatred toward two female classmates, who told police they feared he might cause them harm. The teen was detained and taken to a hospital for a mental health evaluation. Police did not identify the student or provide details about the posts. Authorities noted that at least nine Broward students ages 11 to 15 were arrested for making school threats within a month of the start of the 2024-25 school year.
Local Politics · Broward County
Broward County Supervisor of Elections Joe Scott reported that some voters' mail-in ballots have taken up to two weeks to arrive at election headquarters, calling the delays "totally unacceptable." Voters concerned their ballots may not arrive in time are advised to vote at an early voting site or at a precinct on Election Day. Scott confirmed safeguards are in place to ensure each vote is registered only once in the final tally.
Local Politics · Miami-Dade County
A Florida International University poll found that 76% of Cuban Americans in South Florida disapprove of the Trump administration's increased deportations of Cubans with no criminal record over the first two years of his second term, yet 68% intend to support Republicans in the upcoming midterm election. In Florida's Senate race, 51% backed Republican Sen. Ashley Moody versus 26% for Democrat Angie Nixon, with 44% undecided. For governor, 60% supported Republican Rep. Byron Donalds and 24% backed Democrat David Jolly. Early voting is underway in Miami-Dade and Broward counties until Nov. 1 at 7 p.m., with Election Day on Nov. 3.
Local Politics · Broward County
Broward County polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, for the 2026 general election. Voters must cast ballots at their assigned precinct and are permitted to vote if in line by 7 p.m. The office of Broward County Supervisor of Elections Joe Scott provides an online list of polling locations based on registered address.
Nearby · Public Safety · Fort Lauderdale, FL
South Florida experienced its highest king tide ever recorded outside a hurricane on Tuesday, Oct. 27, with Fort Lauderdale and Miami registering about 2.5 feet of water above high tide, classified as "major" flooding by the National Weather Service. The Las Olas Bridge in Fort Lauderdale was shut down due to flooding, and Port Everglades broke its own flood record set in September 2025. In Miami-Dade County, flood control barriers at Miami Shores, Little River, and North Miami Beach failed as water flowed backward into canals, while Crespi Boulevard in Miami Beach was completely submerged. The king tide event began Friday and is set to continue through at least Wednesday, Oct. 28. Scientists attribute worsening tides to sea level rise, with Miami having recorded about 8 inches of rise since its gauge was installed in 1994.
Nearby · Local Politics · Hollywood, FL
Voters in western Hollywood will elect a new District 5 commissioner on Nov. 3 to replace term-limited Commissioner Kevin Biederman, who served 14 years. Real estate broker Erin Marvasti, 46, and arts nonprofit executive director Adam Roberti, 30, are competing for the seat. Both candidates oppose Amendment 3, the statewide property tax cut proposal, though they frame their concerns differently. The race is shaped by a July 2025 commission vote to raise commissioner salaries from roughly $52,000 to $70,000, which was presented rather than listed as a resolution on the agenda. Marvasti has endorsements from city unions, Mayor Josh Levy, and Vice Mayor Traci Callari; Roberti is backed by Commissioner Caryl Shuham, state Sen. Shevrin Jones, and others.
