Wednesdays on WLRN, we take time out for discussions and stories concerning our hemispheric neighbors in Latin American and the Caribbean.

In the Marketplace Morning Report's second Wednesday segment, host Jeremy Hobson wonders if home ownership is still part of the American Dream. He speaks with Miami's billionaire condo king, chairman George Perez of the Related Group, and introduces WLRN's Karen Burkett with a story about the challenges that home buying poses to normal-income people competing with investors for the same properties.

Florida's gambling future won’t be settled  in the 2013 session of the Florida Legislature -- and maybe not even in the one after that.

The divide between competing stakeholder visions remains very wide. And, at a hearing before the Florida Senate Gaming Committee on Tuesday, chairman Garrett Richter, R-Naples, said it could be 18 months before the work on developing legislation even begins.

"I want to do something deliberative and thoughtful," Richter told reporters after the meeting.

TALLAHASSEE -- Gov. Rick Scott will unveil a proposal for an across-the-board teacher pay increase today, a spokeswoman for the governor confirms.

Scott is to formally announce his proposal at an event at an Orlando-area school, Scott spokeswoman Jackie Schutz told the News Service of Florida, though she said his office won't disclose details until then.

The proposal was being met a day ahead with cautious optimism by public education stakeholders who said the governor's education push dovetails neatly with his mantra of economic development and job growth.

Poets are melancholy and morose, right?

“I’m so happy,” says a beaming 23-year-old Marci Calabretta of Hallandale Beach.

People who write poetry can’t relate to others, correct?

“I love people.  I adore people,” says 23-year-old Jose Villar of South Miami.

Most poetic souls are lonely and live in dusty attic rooms in ancient houses.

“I live in one of those over-55 ‘active’ communities,” laughs 64-year-old Adele Alexandre of Coconut Creek.

As Miami-Dade commissioners sit down to talk about the public's role for the first time today, the National Football League is offering its support to help Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross pay for improvements to Sun Life Stadium.

The Dolphins have been reluctant to talk about the idea but are hinting that the NFL's contribution is contingent upon public help first. The Miami Herald reports today the amount is unclear, but could be in the tens of millions of dollars.

Nathalie Nahas Cortas has a master’s degree in international business, is fluent in several different languages and has had years of work experience. An employer’s dream, right?

“Once they know they have to work with you a little more on paperwork, they don’t want to deal with it. Why not have an American do the same thing you do without me working on your paperwork?”

And all that paperwork is required because Cortas is an immigrant.