It’s time for YNW Melly to face a jury, a Broward judge has ruled. Not for the two murders that have him facing the possibility of a death sentence, but for allegedly trying to manipulate behind the scenes to block witnesses from telling a jury and investigators what they know about the rising star and the fellow rappers he’s accused of killing. Broward Circuit Judge Martin Fein set a trial date of Jan. 21, 2026, for the counts of witness tampering and related charges filed by... Read More
3 dead rodents, hundreds of rodent droppings (including in frying pan): 11 South Florida restaurants shut
State inspectors discovered dead rodents or signs of rodents at more than half of the 11 South Florida restaurants temporarily ordered closed last week. At one eatery, an employee was seen cleaning rat droppings with their bare hands, then touching a food prep counter. The Sun Sentinel typically highlights restaurant inspections conducted by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation in Broward and Palm Beach counties. We cull through inspections that happen weekly and... Read More
Ready to terminate your HOA? New bill aims to simplify process
A South Florida legislator is offering homeowners a solution if they’re fed up with their HOAs: He wants to make it easier for them to dissolve their governing associations. More and more Florida homeowners believe that trouble caused by their HOA and condo boards overshadow the benefits they provide, according to state Rep. Juan Carlos Porras, a Republican representing part of Miami-Dade County. Making it easier to terminate such associations is one of several eyebrow-raising ideas in a... Read More
A horrific, needless bear hunt | Letters to the editor
The tragedy of the Florida bear hunt is that it is so horrific and unnecessary. As in the Western U.S. and suburban Orlando’s Seminole County, there are ways of peacefully living with these magnificent creatures. I don’t know what’s behind the cruel decisions of the Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and why they persist, despite the public outcry. It would be nice to see behind the curtain as to why they don’t listen or transparently communicate their reasons. They should... Read More
Florida Democrats improve fortunes in December elections. Future trouble for MAGA?
Florida’s final elections of 2025 delivered a resounding rebuke to Republicans, with Democratic candidates outperforming President Donald Trump’s 2024 margins by double digits. The swing gives Democrats a glimmer of hope for next year, a sharp contrast to the despair many felt a year ago in the aftermath of Trump’s win. “This has big implications,” said Democratic strategist Eric Johnson, who’s managed federal, statewide and local campaigns in Florida. “Florida is tracking with... Read More
Public outcry in Hollywood doesn’t stop proposed beachfront condo from clearing another hurdle
Critics of a plan that would see a sleek condo tower rise on a quiet stretch of public beach in Hollywood are fighting to save what they call a little patch of paradise. So far, they’re losing. Hollywood commissioners said yes to the deal in 2002, signing off on a comprehensive development agreement with the Related Group that calls for a 99-year lease of the land. Another blow to the critics came Wednesday night, when the commission approved the developer’s request for a land-use change... Read More
UF lures UCF DBs coach Brandon Harris away from FSU to join Gators
GAINESVILLE — UCF defensive backs coach Brandon Harris reportedly will join new UF coach Jon Sumrall’s staff instead of heading to Florida State. According to Matt Zenitz of CBSSports, Harris is headed to Gainesville after the 35-year-old appeared bound for Tallahassee to replace Patrick Surtain Sr. Harris is the younger brother of former UCF offensive coordinator Tim Harris Jr., who also coached the Knights’ receivers in 2024 under former head coach Gus Malzahn. Tim Harris Sr. was a... Read More
Two minors arrested after fight, shooting in Plantation left 1 hospitalized, police say
Two minors were arrested this week after a fight near a Plantation school ended with one person shot in the shoulder, the police department said Friday. On Monday afternoon, officers were called about a group of minors fighting near the intersection of Northwest 70th Avenue and Northwest 16th Street, which is across the street from Plantation High School. When they arrived, officers saw multiple minors running away and one who had been shot in the shoulder, Plantation Police said in a news... Read More
New York is the 8th state found to have improperly issued commercial driver’s licenses to immigrants
By JOSH FUNK New York is the eighth state found to routinely issue commercial driver’s licenses to immigrants that are valid long after they are no longer legally authorized to be in the country, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Friday, and he threatened to withhold $73 million in highway funds unless the system is fixed and any flawed licenses are revoked. New York was the fourth state run by a Democratic governor called out publicly by Duffy in his effort to make sure truck... Read More
TSA renews push to end collective bargaining agreement for airport security screeners
The Transportation Security Administration is renewing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s push to end a collective bargaining agreement with airport screening officers — the second such attempt this year and one that comes just a month after the longest government shutdown on record. The agency said Friday the move is based on a September memo from Noem that says TSA screeners “have a primary function of national security” and therefore should not engage in collective... Read More