Miami-Dade Democrats have called for County Supervisor of Elections Alina Garcia to recuse herself from this November's midterm canvassing board, following Garcia's public endorsement of Florida's Amendment 3 property tax proposal. Garcia, a registered Republican with ties to the local GOP, recently encouraged voters during a press conference to vote "yes" on Amendment 3, which will increase Florida's homestead property tax exemption and limit how local governments can use ad valorem taxes.

Despite regulations requiring it, an air traffic controller failed to tell the pilots of an Amazon cargo plane about the potential for strong tail winds as they landed in Miami, careening off the runway and killing five people last month, according to a preliminary report Thursday from the National Transportation Safety Board. Just four minutes before clearing the plane for landing, an air traffic controller had provided a wind advisory to a different flight, noting gusts of up to 25 mph (40 kph) from the south.

Carnegie Mellon University announced Wednesday that hedge fund CEO Ken Griffin is donating $3 billion, with the bulk of the money for a new campus in Miami focused on societal challenges. The Pittsburgh-based private research university said the gift is the largest ever single gift to a U.S. university. Other donations topping the billion-dollar mark include $1.8 billion from former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to Johns Hopkins University in 2018.

The Miami orthopedic surgeon who was struck by an SUV while riding his bicycle over the Rickenbacker Causeway last month remains in intensive care, but doctors tell family that he is paralyzed from mid-chest down. Gilbert Beauperthuy, 63, was riding across the causeway at about 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 29, when he was struck by an SUV while riding in the designated green bike pathway.

It is suddenly a different kind of midterm election for U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Miami. who represents the Congressional District covering Key Biscayne. Instead of just running for another term in Congress against her Democratic opponent, Eliott Rodriguez, Salazar now finds herself under assault from a most unusual source - her own party's President in the White House. In a series of critical social media posts, President Donald Trump skewered Salazar over her recent criticism of Trump's immigration crackdown in South Florida and around the nation – as Trump made clear his displeasure with Salazar in the wake of her 30-second campaign advertisement that she recorded just outside the White House fence.

THE BIG DIG. The Rickenbacker. E-Bikes. The K-8 School. All of these issues on voters minds as Key Biscayne elects three people to the Village Council in November. With mail ballots just arriving in mailboxes, the four candidates vying for for a seat on the Council appeared on the Anti-Social podcast. Listen here or subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify, or the podcast platform of your choice. Luis de la Cruz Oscar Sardiñas Silvia Tarafa Fernando Vazquez

BOSTON — A powerful nor’easter battered the Northeast again on Sunday, flooding coastal communities and leaving tens of thousands of homes and businesses without power as forecasters warned that another round of high tides could inundate vulnerable shorelines. The slow-moving storm, which killed a New York City housing authority worker when a tree fell Saturday, was expected to linger through Sunday with heavy rain, strong winds and dangerous surf from New Jersey to New England.

The largest Lutheran denomination in the United States shouldn’t be dragged into a lawsuit among church groups fighting over valuable property in downtown Miami, an attorney for the denomination argued Friday during a court hearing. There is no legal relationship between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Inc. (ELCA) and the church groups battling over the $30 million property, said Daniel Becka, an attorney for ELCA, during an online hearing over whether the denomination should be included in the lawsuit.

Claire London dropped out of the Key Bicscayne Village Council race on Friday, saying she wanted to nts to prioritize her husband Ed London, who has faced health concerns. “His health always comes first,” she told the Key Biscayne Independent. “I would be putting 110% of my time into ,” she said. “My husband hasn't been that well over the last — everybody knows that here — over the last year.

Democrats accused the Village of Key Biscayne of raising “real ethical questions” after  official government Instagram posts publicized  two Republican lawmakers 40 days before the Nov. 3 election.  The Key Biscayne government operates multiple social media accounts at taxpayer expense. The Village’s main Instagram account featured a joint post with U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, who was standing next to  Key Biscayne Mayor Joe Rasco and Vice Mayor Oscar Sardiñas  holding a $2 million check on Sept.

The Key Biscayne Village Council adopted a $119 million budget for fiscal year 2027 Tuesday night during their second budget hearing that included an unexpected $100,000 allocation toward the island’s K-8 school. The budget raises taxes 4.6% on average and sets aside $29 million in a pivot to burying power lines -- delayed for years -- as the top capital spend.

ROME — Pope Leo XIV will retrace his steps as a missionary priest when he returns home to Peru in November in his longest trip to date that will also take him to Uruguay and Argentina, where his Argentine predecessor Pope Francis never returned. The Vatican on Monday published the detailed itinerary for Leo’s first visit to Latin America as pope.

Brendan Farrington, a veteran news reporter who covered Florida politics, hurricanes and quirkiness for The Associated Press for more than 25 years, has died. He was 60. Farrington died Friday at his home in Tallahassee following a brief illness, said Steve Schale, a close friend of the family. Based in the state capital, he was regarded as well-sourced, fair and kind, with a good sense of humor.

In a shift that makes burying the island’s power lines a priority, Key Biscayne’s Village Council is set to vote on a $119 million budget for 2027 next Tuesday.  Property taxes would rise about 4.6% on average. It’s another year where the island’s wealth and rising home values are allowing officials to increase tax revenue while boasting of a low tax rate.

A church-versus-church legal battle over a valuable property in downtown Miami is widening, with new court documents containing blistering allegations of fraud and conspiracy allegedly engineered by Crossbridge Church’s lead pastor, Rev. Carter Brown.  The legal fight pits the largest Lutheran denomination in the U.S., the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) against Crossbridge, a network of Miami churches that broke away from the Presbyterian Church in America a few years ago.

At a Village Council meeting Thursday, residents challenged a redevelopment proposal in the Garden District, arguing it would circumvent existing zoning rules in Key Biscayne and change the character of the neighborhood. After listening to the developers and the public, the Council referred the matter to a committee. The existing property located at 303 Galen Drive is three stories with 51 residential units and approximately 46,209 square feet.

MIAMI — Amazon said Sunday that it has suspended its partnership with 21 Air after one of the cargo carrier's planes loaded with Amazon packages careened off a Miami runway last week and killed five people. The Boeing 767 came in fast on Sept. 6 and then barreled roughly 1,300 feet (396 meters) past the end of the runway and smashed into a van carrying workers at a plane cleaning company.

On an average day, a primary care pediatrician cycles through room after room treating anything from an allergic reaction, to a fever, to conducting a routine school physical. It’s a field that requires a dizzying amount of knowledge, spanning from newborns to 18-year-olds. And Miami pediatrician Dr. Leah Utset absolutely loves it. “There's so much I love about medicine,” she said.

LAS MINAS, Cuba— Liexer De La Cruz took a deep breath as he entered a federal courtroom in Miami, where life as he knew it would end. It was Jan. 9, and he thought he was attending a routine immigration hearing — not deciding on the rest of his life in just seconds, having to choose between returning to Cuba or risking deportation at any moment.

NEW YORK — Americans commemorated the 25th anniversary of 9/11 on Friday, remembering the shock, the dead and the sweeping consequences of the al-Qaida attacks on symbols of U.S. might and prosperity. The milestone anniversary brought memorial rituals — wreath-laying, flag-flying, moments of silence, vigils and readings of victims' names — and volunteer projects in tribute to a day that about half of U.S.

For nearly two minutes, one of the pilots of the Amazon cargo plane that careened off a Miami runway and killed five people repeatedly warned his counterpart they were going too fast as they approached for landing and after touchdown, according to flight information released Wednesday. A summary of cockpit voice recordings compiled by the National Transportation Safety Board said the fellow pilot never gave “a consistent verbal response” to the warnings.

Five members of a crew killed when an Amazon cargo jet smashed into their van were wrapping up their eight-hour shift cleaning planes at the Miami airport when the crash happened, lawyers for one of the victims said on Wednesday. Two other workers in the van were in the hospital for days after their Econoline van was crushed by the speeding jet that investigators said appeared to be…

Social media influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate must remain in custody as they fight extradition to the United Kingdom, where the brothers are accused of rape and sex trafficking, a federal judge in Miami ruled Wednesday. U.S. Magistrate Lauren Louis denied a defense motion for release, meaning the Tates will remain jailed during what could be a monthslong extradition process. The Tates failed to demonstrate that they do not present a flight risk or danger to the community or that special circumstances warrant their release, Louis said in her ruling.

Labor Day is arriving in Key Biscayne with deep disagreement between the Village and the union representing its police officers, with demands for improved pension contribution the main sticking point.  “We are too far apart on the big ticket items,” said Andrew Axlerad, the chief negotiator for the South Florida Police Benevolent Association. At a meeting with the Village Wednesday, he said it’s the union may declare impasse after the Village Council didn’t agree to pension and wage improvements. 

MIAMI— An Amazon cargo plane barreled off a runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday, killing at least five people as it struck vehicles and burst into flames, authorities said. The aircraft overran the runway around 2 p.m. after arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Five people were killed, three critically injured and two others hospitalized with less severe injuries, Miami-Dade County officials told a news conference.

MIAMI — An Amazon cargo plane barreled off a runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday, striking multiple vehicles and bursting into flames in a crash that sent thick black smoke billowing into the sky and forced the closure of all runways at one of the nation’s busiest airports. The Federal Aviation Administration said the aircraft overran the runway at around 2 p.m.

Vin Cherwoo, a trusted editor and writer for The Associated Press sports desk for more than three decades and the president of the News Media Guild, has died. He was 56. Cherwoo died early Friday in Tampa, Florida, following a long illness, said his wife, Stacy. He had been hospitalized since May. Known affectionately as “Woo” by many colleagues and friends, Cherwoo was a reliable mainstay of the sports department’s night editing crew.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Argentine President Javier Milei escalated his country’s dispute with Britain over the Falkland Islands on Thursday, vowing new measures to halt an oil project near the British-controlled archipelago and praising U.S. President Donald Trump for saying Washington could reconsider its neutral stance on the islands’ sovereignty. Milei cast Trump’s comments as proof that his close relationship with the U.S.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Soccer teams across Argentina will pay tribute to Lionel Messi with a mid-game minute of applause during their next match following his decision to retire from international duty. Referees will pause play at the 10-minute mark of every match in the upcoming round of the Clausura tournament, as well as in other men's and women's leagues in Argentina, in appreciation of Messi’s career with the national team, the Argentine Football Association said late Wednesday.

NEW YORK — Oil giant Chevron confirmed that it will expand operations in Venezuela after President Donald Trump announced an ambitious deal to develop the nation’s oil reserves and give the Pentagon a stake in the profits. Chevron, the only U.S. oil company with a major presence in Venezuela, said Wednesday that it has been assigned additional acreage in the Orinoco Belt, where it has active operations.

On the first day of the new job, Miami-Dade County Schools Superintendent Rafael Villalobos pauses the process examining potential closures and consolidations for more than two dozen schools. Last week, the district’s Attendance Boundary Committee released a document naming 12 schools that are being “reassessed” and 15 that are “under review.” The document didn’t mention closures, but with the closure of nine schools this school year and a drop of another 19,000 fewer students districtwide, the list could foreshadow that potential move.

BUENOS AIRES — Lionel Messi has ended his career as a player for the Argentine national team at 39 years old, after nearly two decades representing the national side. Messi, who played in six World Cups, won the tournament in Qatar in 2022 and led Argentina to the final in 2026 losing to Spain. “It was a decision that hurt — and still hurts deeply — but I understand that the time has come,” Messi said on his official Instagram account.

A Miami orthopedic surgeon was in critical condition Sunday at Jackson Memorial Hospital after being hit while riding his bicycle across the Rickenbacker Causeway.  At about 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Miami police arrived at the scene of the crash in the 3500 block of Rickenbacker, according to Public Information Officer Kiara Delva. By the time officers had arrived, the victim, identified by family as Gilbert Beauperthuy, had already been rushed to Jackson Memorial.

MIAMI — Tropical Storms Karina and Lowell formed Thursday in the Pacific Ocean, both of which were expected to become hurricanes in the next few days, the National Hurricane Center said.Tropical Storm Karina was located about 825 miles (1,330 kilometers) south of the southern tip of Baja California, with maximum sustained winds of around 45 mph (75 kph), according to an advisory from the Miami-based hurricane center.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested nearly 50,000 people during July, the highest single monthly arrest total during the second Trump administration, according to new figures. The spike in immigration arrests shows that the administration has continued to advance its mass deportations agenda despite a shift in approach earlier this year from high-profile operations in large American cities that sparked a public outcry to arrests that have garnered less attention but have nonetheless been disruptive.

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is preparing to revoke the business and tourism visas of up to 200,000 foreigners who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum status in the United States. If it happens, the move would be the largest single mass revocation of visas in U.S. history and would likely face legal challenges. Unless challenged or revised, the State Department is expected to announce in the coming weeks the revocation of so-called B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 whose holders have sought asylum or are now seeking asylum, according to State Department documents obtained by The Associated Press and two U.S.

In a sharp rebuke to Florida International University, a federal judge has ruled that the school likely violated the First Amendment rights of students who staged a silent protest against the university’s voluntary collaboration with federal immigration authorities in March. She ordered the school to immediately stop enforcing a policy against any "expressive activities" taking place, as well temporarily blocking any disciplinary actions against the students.

A Key Biscayne educator has joined a list of well-known local leaders who are vying for seats on the Village Council this fall. A total of five candidates filed. Silvia Tarafa filed her candidacy papers on Wednesday, joining a group of community leaders who are running for three open Council positions. The candidate qualifying deadline was Thursday Tarafa has been the principal of Motivating Minds Academy, which touts a nontraditional and individualized way of learning.

MIAMI — The family of a Miami restaurateur say they are “devastated and heartbroken” after he and six others were killed by a safari helicopter crash in a remote part of northern Kenya. A helicopter crashed Wednesday morning while flying from the Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro area in Samburu County, according to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority. Roger Duarte, founder and owner of George Stone Crab, was identified by family members as a passenger.

As the long, contentious primary season nears its end, Democratic voters elevated another progressive Senate candidate in Florida, while President Donald Trump 's chosen candidate in his adopted home state, Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, won the nomination to be the state's first Black governor. It was a mixed bag for incumbents in the state, where Republican-led redistricting efforts scrambled congressional maps.

The Village of Key Biscayne is exploring integrating AI into its workflow to improve customer service, as AI becomes more embedded in everyday use.  Benjamin Nussbaum, the Village’s chief financial officer, reported during a June 30 meeting that the Village was beginning to use AI to maximize staff efficiency. By assigning AI to tasks like organizing data and other chores that could be automated, the Village hopes to allocate more time towards assisting residents and other customer service-related tasks.

The more things change, the more they stay the same, as it appears that a group of well-known community figures are headed into the election season for Key Biscayne Village Council. For the three open Council positions, incumbent Vice Mayor Oscar Sardiñas , former Council Member Luis de la Cruz, and Claire London have filed. The deadline is noon Thursday. 

TAMARAC, Fla. — Sporting red-white-and-blue sneakers and a matching bedazzled manicure ahead of Florida's primaries on Tuesday, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz smiles and tells voters she is “running for reelection to Congress.” That’s true — with a caveat. Wasserman Schultz is seeking her 12th term by running in a new district after Republicans scrambled the state’s congressional map earlier this year.

The Miami Marine Stadium, considered a masterpiece of midcentury Brutalist architecture with its massive cantilevered roof and a stunning view of the city, opened in 1963 as the nation’s only race venue for powerboats, a major symbol of South Florida. The historic gem designed by a Cuban refugee was the backdrop of Elvis Presley’s 1967 film “Clambake” and a beloved venue of Gloria Estefan and the late Jimmy Buffett, who performed on a movable, floating stage.

A recent settlement of an e-bike lawsuit in Key Biscayne is underscoring growing national concern and the question of parental responsibility. After 10 months of litigation, the family of a 12-year-old boy reached a settlement in June with the family of Megan Andrews, court records show. Andrews, a beloved local educator, died on Valentine’s Day 2024 while riding her regular bike in a collision with an e-bike.

MIAMI — Lionel Messi shared a tribute to his late father, Jorge, on social media on Wednesday, opening up about how difficult it was to lead Argentina to the World Cup final and expressing uncertainty about whether he will continue playing soccer. “I don't know what I'm going to do without you,” the post said in Spanish, shared on Messi's Instagram.

PEREIRA, Colombia— The search for survivors in the rubble of Colombia’s powerful earthquake grew more desperate on Wednesday, two days after the quake brought down buildings, buckled roads and crushed cars. The devastation has tested Colombia’s new President Abelardo de la Espriella and his government as it scrambles to respond to the natural disaster and civil society as it pushes to provide aid to the vulnerable communities most affected by the quake.

BOGOTA, Colombia — A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 79 people, trapping residents under debris of collapsed buildings and forcing people to evacuate their homes as far as the capital of Bogotá. The epicenter was in San Jose Del Palmar, a community of about 4,800 people in the Choco region about 250 miles (400 kilometers) west of Bogota, the U.S.

UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC believe that FIFA president Gianni Infantino's recent plan to sell an interest in the World Cup was a “fundamental breach of trust” with the institutions world soccer's governing body serves. In an “open letter to the football family” revealed on Monday, UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC also said that “when trust is broken through deception, when an individual places himself above the collective that entrusted him with authority, that duty has been abandoned.”

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Thursday that he is once more trying to limit the number of people who are born in the country who can become American citizens, in a sign that even after his first attempt at limiting birthright citizenship was rejected by the Supreme Court, he's ready to try again. The president said he was signing two executive actions on immigration, including one limiting the number of people eligible for U.S.