David Fischer

Miami voters are set to decide whether the city can enter a management agreement with a private firm to restore the abandoned Miami Marine Stadium on Virginia Key. The landmark, designed by Cuban refugee architect Hilario Candela, has been closed since Hurricane Andrew damaged it in 1992 but remains structurally sound and historically significant. Supporters, including Jimmy Buffett’s family and preservation advocates, say restoration would revive an iconic cultural venue without transferring city ownership or relying on taxpayers. The proposed operator would fund upgrades through event revenue, while opponents favor a green park and warn that concerts could create traffic, noise and wildlife problems.

U.S. prosecutors are asking a Miami federal court to keep Andrew and Tristan Tate detained while they contest extradition to the United Kingdom. Prosecutors argue that the brothers pose a flight risk and a danger to the public because of the seriousness of the UK allegations, their wealth, multiple passports and identities, and refusal to voluntarily return. Their attorneys seek release, arguing that their public profiles, social-media activity and compliance with Romanian restrictions make flight unlikely. The UK is expected to submit supporting evidence by mid-September, potentially leaving the brothers in custody for months. They deny wrongdoing and are also facing unresolved allegations in Romania.

Florida carried out two executions on the same day for the first time in nearly a decade, putting former police officer James Aren Duckett and 80-year-old Dominick Anthony Occhicone to death by lethal injection. Duckett was convicted of raping and drowning 11-year-old Teresa McAbee in 1987, while Occhicone was convicted of fatally shooting his former girlfriend’s parents in 1986. Governor Ron DeSantis has accelerated executions during his final term, making Florida the nation’s most active state for capital punishment. Victims’ families described decades of suffering and said the executions closed a painful chapter, while the U.S. Supreme Court rejected both men’s final appeals.

Florida carried out two executions on the same day for the first time in nearly a decade, putting former police officer James Aren Duckett and 80-year-old Dominick Anthony Occhicone to death by lethal injection. Duckett was convicted of raping and drowning 11-year-old Teresa McAbee in 1987, while Occhicone was convicted of fatally shooting his former girlfriend’s parents in 1986. The executions occurred amid Florida’s sharply increased execution rate under Governor Ron DeSantis, who has cited justice for victims’ families. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected both men’s final appeals, and another Florida execution is scheduled for August.

Florida is preparing to execute James Aren Duckett and 80-year-old Dominick Anthony Occhicone on the same day, which would make Occhicone the oldest prisoner executed in Florida's modern history and the second-oldest in modern U.S. history. Duckett was convicted of raping and drowning an 11-year-old girl, while Occhicone was convicted of killing his former girlfriend's parents. Their attorneys continue to challenge the executions, citing inconclusive DNA evidence in Duckett's case and age-related health problems in Occhicone's. The executions would mark an unprecedented recent acceleration of capital punishment under Governor Ron DeSantis, prompting renewed criticism from death-penalty opponents.

Andrew and Tristan Tate’s lawyers are due to meet federal prosecutors in Miami to establish a timetable for the brothers’ challenge to extradition to the United Kingdom, including possible dates for a bond hearing, filings and a formal extradition hearing. The brothers face allegations from multiple accusers involving rape, assault, human trafficking, prostitution-related offenses and illegal sexual imagery. Their lawyer Joseph McBride says they are innocent and argues the extradition effort is politically motivated, while U.K. prosecutors say new charges followed evidence from Bedfordshire police. The Tates remain in federal detention in the United States and have denied all wrongdoing; their broader legal saga also includes a stalled case in Romania.

The United States sent a cargo plane from Miami carrying 700 packages of food and hygiene supplies for Cuban residents, with Catholic organizations distributing the aid directly to bypass the Cuban government. The shipment represents the first $60 million tranche of a promised $100 million assistance package and follows a separate $9 million program after Hurricane Melissa. The aid comes amid intensified U.S. sanctions and an energy and oil blockade that have severely worsened conditions in Cuba. U.S. officials say direct distribution will limit government interference, while Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez argues that the assistance is small compared with the damage caused by the blockade. The initiative reflects Washington’s effort to combine humanitarian support for Cubans with continued pressure for political change.

Andrew and Tristan Tate are being held in Miami and plan to contest extradition to the United Kingdom, where they face allegations including rape, assault, sex trafficking and offenses involving indecent images of a child dating from 2010 to 2017. Their lawyer, Joseph McBride, says the brothers are innocent and that the proceedings are politically motivated. A US district judge is expected to assess the extradition request, with the next hearing scheduled for 27 July. The brothers deny the allegations, as well as earlier abuse and human-trafficking accusations in Romania.

Andrew and Tristan Tate are being held in U.S. federal detention after arrest in Miami on a British extradition request involving allegations of rape, assault, human trafficking, and offenses involving indecent images and extreme pornography. Their lawyer Joseph McBride says the brothers are innocent and claims the extradition effort is politically motivated, though he provided no supporting evidence. A U.S. magistrate has scheduled a further hearing for 27 July, while the brothers also face unresolved criminal proceedings in Romania and deny all wrongdoing.

Florida plans to execute James Aren Duckett and Dominick Anthony Occhicone on July 28, marking the state's first scheduled double execution in more than 60 years. Duckett's execution was delayed for DNA testing, but the results were inconclusive and the stay was lifted; his attorney maintains that doubts about his guilt make the execution unjustified. If carried out, the executions would bring Florida's total for the year to 12, amid an aggressive death-penalty policy under Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Florida executed 74-year-old Dennis Sochor, making him the state’s oldest inmate to be put to death, after he apologized to the victim’s family. His execution is part of a recent surge in scheduled deaths among older prisoners, highlighting an aging death row population. The victim’s sister expressed bittersweet closure due to the continued absence of her sister’s remains. The article outlines Sochor’s crime, his conviction history, the rejection of his final appeal, and upcoming executions, while noting that Florida’s governor holds broad discretion over execution scheduling.

Florida is preparing to execute 74-year-old Dennis Sochor, who has been on death row since his 1987 conviction for murdering and kidnapping Patricia Gifford in 1982. If carried out, the execution would make Sochor the oldest inmate executed in Florida, surpassing Dusty Ray Spencer by one week in age. The state is also scheduled to execute an 80-year-old prisoner, highlighting the aging U.S. death row population and Florida’s unusually high execution rate. Sochor’s state appeals have been rejected, while a final appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court remains pending; his attorneys challenge both the disclosure of evidence and the effectiveness of the execution drugs.

Florida is preparing to execute two elderly death-row inmates after executing 74-year-old Dusty Ray Spencer, intensifying debate over whether advanced age and serious medical conditions should affect capital punishment. Dennis Sochor, 74, is scheduled to be executed for killing Patricia Gifford, while Dominick Anthony Occhicone, 80, is scheduled to die on 28 July and could become the second-oldest person executed in modern U.S. history. Advocates opposing the death penalty argue that executing frail inmates is cruel, while victims’ families and supporters of Governor Ron DeSantis’s execution policy say decades of appeals have delayed justice. Florida’s governor has unusual control over scheduling death warrants, and lengthy appeals have contributed to an increasingly elderly death-row population.

Dusty Ray Spencer, 74, was executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison after being convicted of fatally stabbing his wife, Karen Spencer, in 1992. In his final statement, he apologized to the victim’s family and quoted Christian scripture. His attorneys argued that his liver disease and advanced age made the execution unconstitutionally painful, but the Florida and U.S. Supreme Courts rejected his appeals. Spencer became Florida’s oldest executed inmate, as the state carried out its ninth execution of the year following a record 19 executions in 2025.

Three-year-old giraffe Gracie has been missing for nearly two weeks after escaping her enclosure at Cedar Hollow Ranch in remote Real County, Texas. Owner Vic Jones has used helicopters, followed reported sightings and offered a $5,000 reward, but the rugged, wooded terrain has made the search difficult. Local residents have been asked to watch for her, although officials say she poses little danger to people and should have enough vegetation to survive.

Three-year-old giraffe Gracie escaped from her enclosure at Cedar Hollow Ranch in rural Real County, Texas, and had been missing for nearly two weeks. Ranch owner Vic Jones deployed helicopters to search roughly 7,500 acres, but difficult wooded and rocky terrain and delayed sightings have hindered the effort. A $5,000 reward is being offered for her safe return, while local residents have been alerted. Officials say Gracie is unlikely to threaten people and should have enough vegetation to survive temporarily.

A semitrailer carrying 408 beehives overturned in an Orange County, Texas, neighborhood after the driver took a wrong turn and struggled with a narrow corner. Millions of bees escaped, prompting officials to close roads and advise residents to stay indoors while beekeepers worked to recover the hives. Local beekeeper Chris Moore estimated that only about a quarter of the colonies might survive, potentially causing substantial financial losses for the owner, whose identity was not immediately known.

Remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur brought torrential rain, flash-flood and tornado warnings, and widespread power outages across the Gulf states, with Louisiana and Mississippi facing particularly heavy rainfall and flooding risks. Meanwhile, severe storms and possible tornadoes damaged homes, businesses, utilities and vehicles across Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and neighboring Midwestern states, though no deaths or life-threatening injuries were initially reported. Authorities urged residents to prepare for prolonged flooding while emergency crews responded to structural damage, blocked roads and downed power lines.

Screwworms, the flesh-eating larvae of a parasitic fly, have re-emerged in the U.S. Southwest for the first time since the 1970s. The infestation threatens livestock, wildlife and pets, particularly near the U.S.-Mexico border. Veterinarians advise immediate professional treatment for swollen, oozing or foul-smelling wounds, while the U.S. Department of Agriculture is using sterile flies, surveillance and movement restrictions to contain the spread, despite concerns that production capacity is insufficient.

The remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur are expected to bring prolonged, potentially life-threatening rainfall and flash flooding across Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and the Florida Panhandle. Forecast rainfall totals range from 5 to 10 inches, with isolated amounts near 20 inches. Authorities are distributing sandbags, clearing drainage systems, preparing emergency responders and deploying boats and barricades in flood-prone areas. Additional hazards include dangerous surf, rip currents and possible tornadoes, while parts of Mississippi and Texas are already affected by earlier heavy rain and flooding.

Timothy Hudson, accused of sexually assaulting and killing his 18-year-old stepsister Anna Kepner aboard the Carnival Horizon in November, surrendered after a federal judge revoked his pretrial release following his transfer from juvenile to adult court. Hudson pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse. Prosecutors argued that the alleged violence, potential life sentence, and increased flight risk justified detention, while his public defender cited his compliance with prior electronic-monitoring conditions. He will be held in an approved juvenile facility while awaiting trial.

A Florida police investigation has concluded that professional wrestler Hulk Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, died of natural causes on 24 July at age 71. Investigators found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing, while medical examinations attributed his death to a heart attack rather than surgical complications. Family members said he had recently suffered from leukaemia, an irregular heart rhythm, pneumonia and kidney failure; his wife, Sky Daily Hogan, and an occupational therapist performed CPR before paramedics arrived.

A Florida police investigation concluded that professional wrestling star Hulk Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, died of natural causes at age 71. Investigators found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing after reviewing statements, medical records, surveillance footage and the circumstances surrounding his death. The medical examiner and a private autopsy attributed the death to a heart attack, while family members reported that Hogan had suffered from leukemia, an irregular heart rhythm, pneumonia and kidney failure. The report formally closes the case as solved and non-criminal.

A federal judge allowed 16-year-old Timothy Hudson to remain free under existing electronic monitoring while considering prosecutors’ request to detain him in the adult case involving the alleged rape and killing of his 18-year-old stepsister, Anna Kepner, aboard Carnival Horizon. Prosecutors argued that the alleged violence and Hudson’s potential life sentence make him a danger to the community and a flight risk, while his public defenders pointed to his compliance with release conditions and his age. The judge viewed Hudson as a low flight risk but has not yet decided whether restrictions can adequately protect the public or where he should be held pending trial.

A Florida jury convicted Arcangel Pretel Ortiz, Antonio Intriago, Walter Veintemilla and James Solages of conspiring to kill or kidnap Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, supporting the plot and violating the U.S. Neutrality Act. Prosecutors said South Florida-based businesses and individuals helped plan and finance the 2021 operation, which involved Colombian mercenaries and was intended to replace Moïse with Christian Sanon. The defendants could face life sentences; Sanon will be tried separately, while at least five other conspirators have pleaded guilty and received life sentences. The assassination intensified Haiti’s political crisis and gang violence.

Big Dog Ranch Rescue and the Center for a Humane Economy reached a confidential agreement to purchase 1,500 beagles from Ridglan Farms, a Wisconsin breeding and research facility that faced protests and allegations of animal mistreatment. The dogs are being vaccinated, microchipped, sterilized and prepared for transport, with about 1,000 expected to be placed through Big Dog Ranch Rescue and the remainder handled by the Center for a Humane Economy. Hundreds of adoption applications have already been submitted, though the dogs will require screening, training and adjustment before placement. The rescue follows April protests in which police used tear gas, rubber bullets and pepper spray, resulting in arrests and potential criminal charges; activists have sued, while Ridglan has denied mistreating animals and characterized the protesters as a violent mob.

Chadwick Scott Willacy, 58, is scheduled to be executed at Florida State Prison for the 1990 murder of Marlys Sather, whom prosecutors said he attacked, bound, strangled and set on fire during a burglary. After being sentenced to death in 1991 and resentenced in 1995 following a Florida Supreme Court order, Willacy’s execution would be Florida’s fifth in 2026, after the state carried out a record 19 executions the previous year under Governor Ron DeSantis.

Chadwick Scott Willacy, 58, was scheduled to be executed in Florida for the 1990 murder of Marlys Sather, whom prosecutors said he attacked, bound, doused with gasoline and set on fire during a burglary. He was sentenced to death again in 1995 after the Florida Supreme Court ordered a new sentencing proceeding. The execution would be Florida's fifth in 2026, following a record 19 executions in the state in 2025 under Governor Ron DeSantis. Willacy's appeals, including challenges involving execution-related public records, were pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.

A Miami federal jury ordered Carnival Cruise Line to pay $300,000 to Diana Sanders after finding the company negligent for serving her at least 14 tequila shots aboard the Carnival Radiance before she fell and suffered a concussion and other injuries. Sanders' attorney cited excessive-drinking incentives and missing surveillance footage, while Carnival said it disagreed with the verdict and would seek a new trial and appeal. The report also notes a separate wrongful-death lawsuit against Royal Caribbean involving alleged alcohol overservice.

Bay of Pigs veterans are reopening the expanded Brigade 2506 Museum and Library in Miami to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the failed 1961 invasion and preserve the exiles’ account of Cuba’s history. Veterans remain divided over how to achieve political change: some support Donald Trump’s pressure on Havana and favor a U.S.-backed uprising, while others reject an American invasion because of the likely civilian and military casualties. The museum’s reopening reflects the aging group’s effort to pass on its anti-Communist legacy, even as veterans question whether a liberated Cuba will emerge during their lifetimes.

Alen Zheng and his sister Ann Mary Zheng have been federally charged after an explosive device was found outside MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa. Prosecutors allege that Alen planted the device, made a false bomb report, and fled to China with Ann Mary, who allegedly helped sell the vehicle used in the incident. Investigators linked the siblings to the device through phone data, surveillance footage, vehicle residue and evidence found at their home. The device did not detonate, and authorities said they have found no evidence that Alen was acting for the Chinese government or another country.

A 35-year-old Florida man has been charged with making threatening phone calls to MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa on March 18, two days after a suspicious package was found outside a base gate. The base was locked down and personnel were ordered to shelter in place while authorities investigated. Investigators traced the calls using phone and cell-site data, and said the man had a history of similar threats, but they have not accused him of planting the package. The FBI said the package contained possible energetic materials, with further analysis ongoing.

Martine Moïse testified at the U.S. federal trial of four men accused of conspiring in South Florida to kidnap or assassinate Haitian President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. She described hiding beside her husband during an armed attack, being wounded and later fleeing Haiti because she believes those responsible now hold power. Prosecutors say the defendants planned and financed a plot to remove Moïse and install Christian Sanon, while defense attorneys argue they were manipulated and believed they were participating in a lawful arrest. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty and face possible life sentences amid a stalled Haitian investigation and escalating gang violence.

Opening statements began in Miami in the trial of Arcangel Pretel Ortiz, Antonio Intriago, Walter Veintemilla and James Solages over the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse. Prosecutors allege the men sought to seize power and profit by replacing Moïse, with South Florida companies helping finance, recruit and equip the operation. Defense attorneys argue that a chaotic Haitian investigation misidentified their clients, who believed they were participating in a lawful arrest and were manipulated into taking responsibility for an internal coup. Three defendants face possible life sentences and have pleaded not guilty; other conspirators have already received life sentences after pleading guilty.

Jury selection is set to begin in Miami for five men accused of conspiring to kidnap or kill Haitian President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. The defendants, who have pleaded not guilty, allegedly planned and financed the operation from South Florida, initially intending to install Christian Sanon and later backing former judge Wendelle Coq Thélot. Prosecutors allege that CTU recruited Colombian former soldiers and that Worldwide Capital provided financing. Five other conspirators have pleaded guilty and received life sentences, while a separate defendant received nine years for supplying body armor. Moïse was killed during an attack near Port-au-Prince, and continuing violence and a weakened judicial system have impeded Haiti’s parallel investigation.

Florida executed 65-year-old Melvin Trotter by lethal injection for the 1986 murder of grocery store owner Virgie Langford. Trotter declined to make a final statement and requested fish, cornbread, cake and soda as his last meal. His attorneys’ appeals, including arguments about his age and the risk of a botched execution, were rejected by the Florida and U.S. Supreme Courts, although Justice Sonia Sotomayor questioned Florida’s lethal-injection procedures. The execution followed Florida’s record 19 executions in 2025 and was the state’s second in 2026.

A wild southern white rhino named Thuza in Zimbabwe was treated for a potentially life-threatening parasitic eye infection through a behavioral approach developed by Precision Behavior and the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society. By using food rewards and gradual desensitization to human contact, animal behaviorists administered eyedrops within a week, protecting Thuza’s eyesight. The success supports the Community Rhino Conservation Initiative’s efforts to reintroduce southern white rhinos to communal lands in Zimbabwe.

Animal behaviorists from Florida’s Palm Beach Zoo and Precision Behavior helped conservationists in Zimbabwe train Thuza, a southern white rhino, to accept daily eyedrops for a severe parasitic eye infection. The technique involved gradually acclimating him to confinement, human touch and water being sprayed near his face, allowing local guards to continue treatment. Thuza’s eyesight has been preserved, protecting a key animal in the Community Rhino Conservation Initiative, which is reintroducing southern white rhinos to communal lands in Zimbabwe.

Ronald Palmer Heath, 64, is scheduled to become Florida’s first executed prisoner of 2026 after being convicted of murdering traveling salesman Michael Sheridan during a 1989 robbery. Prosecutors said Heath and his brother Kenneth shot, stabbed and robbed Sheridan before using his credit cards. Kenneth Heath received a life sentence through a plea agreement, while Ronald Heath’s appeals challenging Florida’s execution procedures, clemency process and sentencing remain pending in the U.S. Supreme Court after the Florida Supreme Court rejected recent appeals. Florida carried out a record 19 executions in 2025 under Governor Ron DeSantis, and two additional executions are scheduled for February and March 2026.

Miami International Airport is expected to process about 990 million cut-flower stems before Valentine's Day, with roughly 90% of U.S. fresh flower imports passing through the airport. Most shipments come from Colombia and Ecuador, and Avianca Cargo is increasing capacity to about 19,000 tons across 320 cargo flights. Tariffs imposed on imports from the two countries and Colombia's new minimum wage are expected to raise bouquet prices. U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspectors also examine shipments for pests and diseases, finding about 40 to 50 plant pests daily and referring them to the Department of Agriculture for risk assessment.

A major winter weather system is expected to bring unusually cold temperatures to Florida, with South Florida potentially reaching the 20s and Tampa facing a small chance of snow flurries. Residents are advised to layer clothing and limit time outdoors, while zoos protect vulnerable animals and farmers use irrigation, harvesting, planting adjustments and other methods to shield crops. Tourist attractions will largely remain open, although water parks are expected to close. The cold snap is part of a broader arctic blast affecting the southeastern and eastern United States, where blizzard conditions and power outages are also possible.

Detainees were pepper-sprayed during two incidents at Florida’s Baker Correctional Institution, known as “Deportation Depot,” including a Christmas Eve confrontation in which officials said one detainee struck an officer. The facility is part of Florida’s effort under Gov. Ron DeSantis to expand immigration detention capacity in support of the Trump administration’s deportation campaign. Attorneys and detainees have challenged conditions and the legality of state-operated immigration facilities in three federal lawsuits, including claims involving flooding, pressure to sign removal orders, attorney access and environmental review. An appellate court has temporarily allowed the Everglades detention center to remain open despite a lower-court order to wind down operations.

A free water taxi service has launched between Miami and Miami Beach, offering 20-minute rides across Biscayne Bay on 40-foot boats carrying up to 55 passengers. The weekday service will run at varying intervals from docks at Maurice Gibb Memorial Park and the Venetian Marina and Yacht Club, with connections to Miami Beach’s free trolley. Officials hope the service will ease congestion on the area’s three causeways and may add north-south routes in the future. Operating costs are estimated at $1.2 million annually, funded equally by Miami Beach and a state grant.

A federal judge in Miami postponed Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick’s arraignment by two weeks to allow her defense team to resolve questions about legal counsel. The Democrat has pleaded not guilty to 15 federal counts alleging that she and associates retained a mistaken $5 million payment made to her family’s healthcare company for COVID-19 vaccination staffing. Prosecutors allege the money was distributed to relatives and associates, used for personal purchases including a diamond ring, and funneled into campaign donations. Cherfilus-McCormick was released on bond with travel restrictions and continues to deny wrongdoing.

Forty-five wounded veterans and supporters are cycling through the Florida Keys for the annual Soldier Ride organized by the Wounded Warrior Project. The event includes adaptive bicycles for veterans with limb loss and aims to support physical rehabilitation, mental health, peer mentoring and veterans’ independence. Participants traveled across the Overseas Highway and Seven Mile Bridge, receiving encouragement from local residents and students, before continuing toward Key West and a planned dolphin-swimming activity.

Frank Athen Walls, 58, is scheduled to be lethally injected in Florida for the 1987 murders of Edward Alger and Ann Peterson during a home invasion. Walls was convicted and sentenced to death twice after his first conviction was overturned, and later admitted to three additional killings, including the rape and murder of Audrey Gygi. His attorneys argued that intellectual disability and medical conditions made him ineligible for execution, but the Florida Supreme Court rejected those claims; appeals remained pending before the U.S. Supreme Court. The execution would be Florida’s 19th of 2025, extending the state’s record for executions in a single year.

Richard Barry Randolph, 63, was scheduled to receive a lethal injection at Florida State Prison for the 1988 murder, rape and robbery of convenience-store manager Minnie Ruth McCollum in Palatka. McCollum died six days after the attack from severe brain injuries. Randolph was convicted in 1989, and the Florida Supreme Court recently rejected his appeals while a final U.S. Supreme Court appeal remained pending. The execution would be Florida’s 17th in 2025, extending the state’s record for executions in a single year, with two additional executions scheduled for December.

The nearly 1,000-foot SS United States is expected to be scuttled in early 2026 about 22 nautical miles southwest of Destin, Florida, becoming the world’s largest artificial reef. Okaloosa County’s $10.1 million project includes relocating and cleaning the ship, sinking it in waters accessible to divers, and funding an onshore museum and marketing campaign. Pensacola tourism officials and the Coastal Conservation Association Florida are contributing financially, citing tourism and marine-habitat benefits. Preservationists, including the New York Coalition, have challenged the plan in court, while county officials argue that blocking the reef project would likely leave the historically significant vessel destined for scrap. The ship will retain its trans-Atlantic speed record after sinking.

REEFLINE has submerged 22 concrete cars about 800 feet off Miami Beach as the first phase of Concrete Coral, an underwater sculpture park designed to support coral restoration and marine biodiversity. Some 2,200 lab-grown native corals will be attached to the sculptures, which are intended to become habitats for marine life and a testing ground for artificial reef techniques. The project has received $5 million in city bond funding, while REEFLINE is seeking $40 million to expand it along Miami Beach’s coastline. Organizers and city officials also expect the installation to promote environmental education, ecotourism and local jobs, while acknowledging that it cannot by itself resolve broader threats such as climate change and sea-level rise.

Fort Lauderdale plans to replace long-standing beachside basketball courts with pickleball courts as part of improvements connected to the $2 billion St. Regis Resort & Residences Bahia Mar development. Community members organized as the Fort Lauderdale Beach Ballers argue that the change could make the public park more exclusive and displace a diverse, working-class basketball community. City officials say the basketball courts are being moved—not removed—and that new courts, fitness equipment and other amenities will be added elsewhere in the park. Developer Jimmy Tate says he would prefer to keep the existing courts but is constrained by condo presales and marketing materials depicting the pickleball courts. The dispute also intersects with efforts to designate the park as historically significant.

A Palm Beach County jury awarded golf legend Jack Nicklaus $50 million in a defamation case against Nicklaus Companies, finding that the company damaged his reputation. Nicklaus alleged that executives circulated false claims that he was considering a $750 million deal with Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf and was suffering from dementia. Company executives denied attempting to defame him and characterized the case as a business dispute. The jury did not hold company owner Howard Milstein or executive Andrew O’Brien personally liable. The verdict follows a separate New York ruling allowing Nicklaus to use his name, image and likeness for his golf-course design business, while Nicklaus Companies retains rights to sell branded clothing and equipment.

Samuel Lee Smithers, 72, is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison after being convicted of murdering Christy Cowan and Denise Roach in 1996. His attorneys argued that his age made execution unconstitutional, but the Florida Supreme Court rejected that claim; a U.S. Supreme Court appeal remained pending. The execution would be Florida’s 14th in 2025, extending the state’s record for executions in a single year, with two additional executions already scheduled.

Florida transportation officials removed Miami Beach’s rainbow crosswalk on Ocean Drive after the city lost its appeal against a state order requiring street art to be removed. The crosswalk, installed in 2018 to honor LGBTQ+ history and contributions, was replaced with asphalt despite city officials saying it followed federal safety guidelines and had a strong crash-safety record. Critics characterize the order as part of Governor Ron DeSantis’s broader restrictions affecting LGBTQ+ communities, while DeSantis says streets and crosswalks should be used for their intended transportation purposes. The policy has also led to the removal of other murals, including a tribute to victims of the Pulse nightclub massacre.

Miami Street Medicine provides free mobile healthcare to homeless people in Miami through street-based visits, follow-up care and specialist referrals. Founded by Dan Bergholz and connected with Dade County Street Response, the program aims to build trust, manage chronic illnesses and prevent avoidable emergency-room visits. Organizers say homelessness criminalization, housing instability, stagnant wages and expanded immigration enforcement make continuity of care difficult, while emphasizing that reliable housing—not the availability of services—is what ultimately ends homelessness.

Victor Tony Jones, 64, is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison for the 1990 robbery killings of Miami-Dade business owners Matilda and Jacob Nestor. Jones was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and armed robbery after police found him wounded at the scene with the victims' property. The Florida Supreme Court rejected his claims of intellectual disability and abuse at a state reform school, while the U.S. Supreme Court had not yet ruled on a final appeal. The execution would be Florida's 13th of 2025, extending the state's record annual total.

Ryan Routh is set to deliver his closing argument while representing himself in federal court on charges that he tried to assassinate Donald Trump at the president’s Florida golf club in September 2024. Judge Aileen Cannon warned that his argument must remain tied to trial evidence and cannot serve as unsworn testimony, after she previously cut short his opening statement for going off topic. Prosecutors presented 38 witnesses over seven days, while Routh called only three witnesses and did not testify. A Secret Service agent said Routh aimed a rifle at him before fleeing, and a witness later helped authorities identify and arrest him. Routh has pleaded not guilty to the federal charges and faces separate state terrorism and attempted-murder charges.

Ryan Routh, who is representing himself in federal court, is expected to call only three witnesses in his defense against charges that he tried to assassinate Donald Trump at the former president’s Florida golf course in September 2024. Prosecutors rested after presenting 38 witnesses over seven days, including a Secret Service agent who said Routh aimed a rifle at him before fleeing. Routh has pleaded not guilty to federal charges including attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate and assaulting a federal officer, and he also faces separate state charges. Closing arguments are scheduled for Tuesday, after which the jury will deliberate.

An FBI sniper testified that the concealed position near the sixth hole of Donald Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course was close, unobstructed and within the effective range of the SKS rifle allegedly recovered from Ryan Routh. Prosecutors say Routh spent weeks planning to kill Trump in September 2024, but a Secret Service agent spotted him and opened fire before he could shoot. Additional testimony described Routh’s alleged surveillance of Trump’s plane at Palm Beach International Airport. Routh, who is representing himself and has pleaded not guilty, is expected to begin presenting his defense after prosecutors rest their case.

Samuel and Lazaro Plata testified that Ryan Routh left a box containing pipes, bullets, wires and other items at their North Carolina home months before he allegedly targeted Donald Trump at a Florida golf course. An FBI agent said the box contained a letter in which Routh acknowledged an assassination attempt and offered $150,000 to anyone who could complete the job, though Judge Aileen Cannon limited the portion admitted as evidence. Prosecutors are nearing the end of their case, while Routh has pleaded not guilty and plans to present a firearms expert and character witnesses. A weapons seller also testified against him under a plea agreement, and evidence described how a Secret Service agent intervened before Routh could fire.

An FBI analyst testified that DNA from an SKS rifle and more than two dozen other items found near Donald Trump’s South Florida golf club was consistent with Ryan Routh, who is accused of attempting to assassinate Trump on 15 September 2024. Prosecutors also presented evidence involving metal plates allegedly intended as cover, digital location data from Routh’s phones and accounts, and eyewitness testimony about his arrest. Routh has pleaded not guilty and is expected to call a firearms expert and character witnesses.

An FBI analyst testified in Ryan Routh’s federal trial that his fingerprint was found on the scope of an SKS rifle recovered near the Trump International Golf Club, where prosecutors say Routh aimed at Donald Trump on 15 September 2024. Other testimony covered evidence from Routh’s SUV, including phones, license plates, a bullet casing and travel notes, while a weapons expert said the rifle was functional. Routh, who is representing himself and has pleaded not guilty, is expected to present a firearms expert and character witnesses as the trial may conclude sooner than initially scheduled.

Witnesses from the FBI and Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office testified about the law enforcement response and evidence collected after Ryan Routh allegedly positioned an SKS rifle near the sixth hole of Donald Trump's Florida golf club on 15 September 2024. Prosecutors say Routh planned the attack for weeks, but a Secret Service agent spotted him before he could fire, prompting him to flee. Judge Aileen Cannon cut short Routh's opening statement after repeated warnings that it was irrelevant. The trial timeline may be shorter than expected because Routh, who is representing himself, has conducted brief cross-examinations. He may call a firearms expert and character witnesses, and could testify himself, though he has not decided whether to do so.

A federal jury of 12 people and four alternates was selected in Fort Pierce, Florida, for Ryan Routh’s trial over allegations that he attempted to assassinate Donald Trump while Trump was playing golf. Routh has pleaded not guilty to attempted assassination, assaulting a federal officer and firearm charges. He is representing himself after Judge Aileen Cannon allowed him to dismiss his appointed lawyers, who remain available in court. Opening statements were tentatively expected to begin Thursday.

Potential jurors returned for a second day of screening in Ryan Routh’s federal trial over allegations that he tried to assassinate Donald Trump at a West Palm Beach golf club in September 2024. Routh, who has pleaded not guilty to attempted assassination, assaulting a federal officer and firearms violations, has been permitted to represent himself with court-appointed standby counsel. Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed 20 prospective jurors, including one who said her support for Trump and the MAGA movement made it difficult to presume Routh innocent. Prosecutors allege that Routh planned the attack for weeks and aimed a rifle through shrubbery before a Secret Service agent spotted him and opened fire, prompting him to flee without shooting.

Jury selection begins in the federal trial of Ryan Routh, who is accused of trying to assassinate Donald Trump at his West Palm Beach golf club on 15 September 2024. Secret Service agents allegedly spotted Routh hiding in shrubbery and fired at him, prompting him to flee before his arrest. Routh has pleaded not guilty to attempted assassination, assaulting a federal officer and firearm offenses, while also facing separate state terrorism and attempted-murder charges. He is representing himself with standby counsel, and prosecutors may present photographs linking him to the rifle found at the golf course. The case follows a separate assassination attempt against Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.

A federal trial is scheduled for Ryan Routh, who is accused of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump while Trump played golf in West Palm Beach, Florida, in September 2024. Routh faces five federal felony charges and separate state charges, and has pleaded not guilty to the state case. Judge Aileen Cannon has allowed him to represent himself with standby counsel despite warning him about the risks. Prosecutors say a Secret Service agent spotted an AK-style rifle near the golf course, fired at the suspect and prompted his escape; Trump was not injured and there is no evidence Routh fired the weapon. The trial is expected to begin with jury selection and opening statements over a period of up to four weeks.