News

How Costumes Are Saving One Palm Beach Theater

Christine DiMattei — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:40:38 +0000

A Broward County costume company is breathing new life into a Palm Beach County theater that fell victim to financial hard times.

The owners of Costume World are renovating the 30,000-square-foot former home of the Caldwell Theatre in Boca Raton and will operate the theater themselves under a new name.

Last year, the Caldwell closed down under the weight of $7 million in debt.

The Final Days Of One Herald Plaza In Pictures

Eric Barton — Fri, 24 May 2013 11:41:14 +0000

Last week, the Miami Herald shuttered its building on the bay.

Located at One Herald Plaza, the beige box on the water is affectionately known as 1HP. Conference room meetings were interrupted by someone spotting dolphins. Water spouts could be seen forming from the cafeteria windows. Depending on the person, the building was either a testament to architecture done without aesthetics in mind, or an ideal place to do journalism.

Why Miami Is Now A Hub For Latino TV

Karen Burkett — Fri, 24 May 2013 11:00:00 +0000

If you had to guess where most of the TV programming for Latinos is being produced these days, where would you guess? L.A., New York, Texas? How about Miami? A recent deal has solidified Miami as a major television hub.

In Orlando, FBI Kills Man Linked To Boston Bombing

Mark Memmott — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:55:53 +0000

In Orlando, Fla., early Wednesday "an FBI agent was involved in a deadly shooting connected to the Boston Marathon bombing case," NBC News is reporting. A man who was being questioned by the agent is dead.

South Florida Offers Help, Hope To Oklahoma Tornado Victims

Daniel Rivero — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:00:00 +0000

When devastation on the scale of what we are seeing in Oklahoma City hits, the whole world feels the pain.

Especially in Miami, where we have had our city leveled and destroyed at various times in our history, notably Hurricane Andrew in August of 1992, which we recently revisited in a radio documentary.

Lutherans Help Urban Farm Take Root In Fort Lauderdale

Daniel Hicks — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:51:38 +0000

Like many young professionals, 30-year-old Chad Scott had second thoughts about his job.

He was a CPA with accounting giant Ernest & Young for more than six years before becoming an internal auditor with Miami-based Burger King International. But something was missing.

"I wanted a life I could live without anxiety," said the Pembroke Pines native, recalling all the times he was chained to a desk during tax season and wouldn't see the sun for days.

Gov. Scott Vetoes Student Tuition Hike

Mon, 20 May 2013 00:02:57 +0000

Gov.

Old Miami Arena Site Gets New Plans; Here's A Timeline Of The Property

Daniel Rivero — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:07:08 +0000

Did you know that if you dig deep enough into the property records of any piece of real estate in the state of Florida you will find that all the land originally belonged to the Spanish Crown?

But ever since the Adams-Onis Treaty of 1821, land ownership has been like a hot potato, changing hands incessantly. Indeed, taking a deep look into any one piece of property (likely where you live, included) will reveal a surreal story for the ages.

How Social Media Changed High School's Biggest Night

Marva Hinton — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:36:22 +0000

Earlier this spring, a typical school day turned into something a lot more memorable for one student at Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School near Aventura.

It’s April. Natalie Hoberman was sitting in her advanced placement government class.

“It was one of my hardest classes," she said.

Two Visions Of New Miami Beach Convention Center Emerge

Christina Veiga and Andres Viglucci — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:44:39 +0000

In their first fully fleshed-out presentations on Tuesday, the developers competing to redevelop the Miami Beach Convention Center area described a vibrant new urban district of interconnected green spaces and cultural opportunities anchored by cutting-edge designs — even as they crossed swords over which plan would yield more benefits to the city at a better cos

What FPL's President Thinks About Nukes, Renewables

Phil Latzman — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:27:36 +0000

In a wide-ranging interview back in February, Florida Power & Light President Eric Silagy addressed a number of issues facing the state's largest utility.

The responses prompted a slew of feedback on topics ranging from storm preparedness and climate change to renewable energy sources.

Nuclear Power

FAU President Resigns After 'Significant Controversies'

Gina Jordan — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:06:14 +0000

Mary Jane Saunders has quit.

The president of Florida Atlantic University says bad publicity splashed across national headlines was too much.

Is The Swimming Hall Of Fame In Broward Moving To California?

Arianna Prothero — Wed, 15 May 2013 11:20:17 +0000

If the city of Santa Clara has its way, the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale may move to California.

That's right, Santa Clara, the city that just built a new stadium for the San Francisco 49ers and is neck-n-neck with South Florida in a bid for Super Bowl L.

Santa Clara says it plans to raise $2 million for an endowment to support the swimming hall as well as $10 million to move it to the West Coast.

Why The 'World's Weirdest Bird' Is Ditching South Florida And Heading North

Tricia Woolfenden — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:16:04 +0000

The roseate spoonbill -- often mistaken by confused tourists for the non-native flamingo -- is one of Florida's great iconic species. Dubbed "one of the most breathtaking of the world's weirdest birds" by naturalist Roger Tory Peterson, the gangly creatures are an increasingly rare sight in South Florida.

According to a feature in the May-June issue of Audubon Magazine, spoonbills have been vacating South Florida in droves, heading north to more hospitable (read: often less developed) lands.

WLRN Adds Latin America Correspondent In Collaboration With NPR And The Herald

Christine DiMattei — Mon, 13 May 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Journalist Tim Padgett spent nearly a quarter of a century covering Latin America and the Caribbean for TIME and Newsweek magazines.

But he's always been envious of the way foreign correspondents deliver the news for NPR.

"They're giving listeners a richer sense of the sounds and the colors than perhaps I'm able to do as a print reporter," he says.

Venezuela's Future Impact On Latin America, Cuba

Kelley Mitchell and Tim Padgett — Fri, 10 May 2013 22:16:04 +0000

The late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez had an impact on more than his own country. Now it remains to be some what his successor, Nicolas Maduro, will do or not to maintain those ties. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos patched up fractured relations with Venezuela before Chavez died.

How Haiti And Venezuela Became So Close

Kelley Mitchell and Tim Padgett — Fri, 10 May 2013 22:12:33 +0000

The history between Haiti and Venezuela dates all the way back to liberator Simon Bolivar and is a big reason why Haiti's second-largest airport was just named for the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Why Florida Has The Most Invasive Species

Arianna Prothero and Kaylois Henry — Fri, 10 May 2013 18:36:54 +0000

Florida has a big problem with invasive species, and the idea of chowing down on the pests has been gaining in popularity. So far, there’s a cookbook dedicated to lionfish, an invasive species cooking contest and even an invasive species sampler tent at The Grassroots Festival on Virginia Key this past February.

Fort Lauderdale Mayor: 'The Onion Did Not Make Me Cry'

Eric Barton — Fri, 10 May 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Chances are you have a friend who forces you to make excuses for him. He’s just not good in big crowds. Or he’s like that because of the tough boss he has at work. He’s late all the time, but then, he’s just from Miami.

Living in Fort Lauderdale is like having one of those friends. It’s a city that’s often the punch line of a joke in a state that just can’t seem to stay out of late-night monologues.

10 Things Miami's Terrible Drivers Need to Learn

Kyle Munzenrieder — Thu, 09 May 2013 16:40:01 +0000

Miami is notorious for its bad drivers.

Enjoy Florida's Wetlands Before They Disappear

Tricia Woolfenden — Thu, 09 May 2013 11:03:00 +0000

The recently-wrapped 2013 Florida Legislative session was an active one for those who track environmental issues in the Sunshine State.

Simulator Offers Crash Course On Dangers Of Texting

Christine DiMattei — Wed, 08 May 2013 19:40:28 +0000

Sixteen-year-old Webster Jean is driving around on city streets, left hand on the wheel, right hand holding a smartphone. As he reads and responds to his text messages, he repeatedly veers across the double-yellow lines.

And then -- wham.

"I crashed," says Jean with a chuckle.

Jean tee-bones another car – but he’s fine. The teenager is just taking a spin in a texting-while-driving simulator brought to Park Vista High School by wireless carrier AT&T.

Negotiation Is Key For Women Seeking Equal Pay

Christine DiMattei — Sat, 04 May 2013 16:59:37 +0000

The woman whose name is synonymous with the fight for equal pay for women brought her message to South Florida this week. And Lilly Ledbetter has some advice for working women at any stage of their careers: learn how to negotiate.

Therapists, Patients Find Stress Relief On Skateboards

Patricia Sagastume — Thu, 02 May 2013 14:24:29 +0000

Move over, Freud. Your couch is being replaced by a piece of wood on wheels.

On the shady slopes of pavement in Greynolds Park in North Miami Beach, a therapy counseling session is in progress.

What To Do About The Rising Cost Of College Tuition

Christine DiMattei — Thu, 02 May 2013 11:30:00 +0000

Throughout the 2013 legislative session, we've been posing questions to Tallahassee lawmakers that were raised at a WLRN-Miami Herald News Town Hall last February.

Among the topics is the rising cost of higher education in Florida.

Key Largo Honors Humphrey Bogart With Film Festival

Christine DiMattei — Thu, 02 May 2013 10:30:00 +0000

Here's lookin' at YOU, Bogie fans.

Starting today, fans of Humphrey Bogart will be flocking to Key Largo for a film festival celebrating one of Hollywood's most beloved tough guys.

As Youth Crime Spikes, Brazil Struggles For Answers

Lourdes Garcia-Navarro — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 21:38:20 +0000

In Rio de Janeiro, tourists are drawn to Copacabana for its wide beach and foliage-covered cliffs. But a month ago, not far from the tourist hub, an American woman and her French male companion were abducted. She was brutally gang-raped; he was beaten.

Perhaps what was most shocking to Brazilians, though, was the age of one of the alleged accomplices: He was barely in his teens.

"Why? That's what you ask yourself," says Sylvia Rumpoldt, who is walking with a friend at dusk by the sea in Rio. "It's horrible. It's criminal energy."

Her friend, Maria de Paula, agrees.

A Short List Of Journalism Awards Given To WLRN

Laura Coburn — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:26:11 +0000

WLRN-Miami Herald News has garnered an impressive array of journalism awards nationally and within the Southeast region recently. We decided to share some of this professional recognition we received from our peers with you, our readers.

Below are some of the highlights from March-April:

Stadium Issues Dog Brazil Ahead Of 2014 World Cup

Lourdes Garcia-Navarro — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:32:50 +0000

Soccer isn't just a sport in Brazil, it's a religion, and the main temple is the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro.

The venue is not only the biggest stadium in Brazil but the biggest in South America. Over the weekend, the newly renovated complex reopened to great fanfare, with stirring musical numbers, a light show and dignitaries including Brazil's president.

The headlines in the local media, however, focused not on the fanfare but on the many problems, from flooding in the VIP area to malfunctioning seats and turnstiles.

County Sees Ripple Effect From New Ft. Lauderdale Streetcar

Daniel Hicks — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 11:00:00 +0000

More than four years ago, when Congress passed the Obama stimulus, nobody in Fort Lauderdale would have imagined that a ripple effect from the legislation might become a "Wave" for Broward County commuters and businesses.

"This is the beginning," said Diana Alarcon, director of the city's transportation and mobility department, smiling as she described the new Wave streetcar project for downtown Fort Lauderdale during a recent public workshop in Oakland Park.