Florida

The Real Florida Is No Longer the Real Florida

Eric Green

In spaces where the traffic eased on I-95, we followed the speed limit of 70 mph. But it seemed we were crawling along, compared with other drivers who apparently thought this was the Indianapolis 500-mile race as they roared past us going at least 80 -90 mph. Many cars had darkened windows, as if they were exhibiting the stereotypical Miami Vice drug dealer or convicted felons escaping from the law.  Conversely, Florida – as a well-known retirement haven --  also has its share of slower drivers, going 30 to 35 mph, well under the minimum speed limit.

Top Trends to Watch This Travel Season

BPT

When it comes to air travel, hotel stays and car rentals, Americans are prioritizing warm, tropical and entertainment-focused destinations, such as Hawaii, Las Vegas, Mexico and Orlando. Florida, in particular, is a traveler favorite right now. The Sunshine State dominates the top-10 destinations across all three categories with at least four cities on each list.

Award-Winning Writer Portrays a Moving Family Saga in ‘Someone to Watch Over’

William Schreiber

William Schreiber earned the 2019 Rising Star Award from the Women’s Fiction Writers Association for his novel, Someone to Watch Over. The book was adapted from his original screenplay, which has won or been nominated for many competition awards, including the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ prestigious Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting, as well as numerous Best Screenplay awards at film festivals throughout the country.

Photographer Gary Monroe’s Bygone Era of South Beach

The Editors

Influenced by photographers such as Garry Winogrand and Henri Cartier-Bresson, Monroe traversed South Beach capturing candid moments, daily activities, religious services, and community gatherings. Many of the Jewish residents during this time had retired from factory jobs in the Northeast. Some had survived the Holocaust and had immigrated to the U.S. from Europe decades earlier. They came to South Beach where, even on a modest retirement income, one could enjoy an active Jewish cultural and religious life as well as Miami’s warm sunshine, therapeutic ocean, and welcoming beaches.

‘Since Parkland’: Young Journalists Tell the Story of Their Generation

Cali Dickerson

"I think there are many pressing issues of our time, and gun violence is one of them,” said Ofori-Atta, who has lost loved ones to gun violence. “As a journalist, I was looking for a place where I could devote my time, and resources, and talents to an issue of grave importance — one that is consequential, one that we grapple with, and something that is just a fact of American life.”

Florida Leads U.S. in Identity Theft

Andrea Robinson

The Federal Trade Commission, based in Washington, D.C., traditionally monitors businesses to protect consumers and other companies from unfair practices. In more recent years, however, the agency increasingly investigates and prosecutes businesses and individuals based on a variety of complaints. Cindy Liebes, a regional director with the FTC, said South Florida is the epicenter for complaints of identify theft, especially income tax fraud. 

Fla. Task Force Gives Surprising Vote of Confidence to ‘Stand Your Ground’ Law

Jamilah King

Critics, including Martin’s parents, have called Stand Your Ground laws (contained in Section 776 of Florida Statutes) an invitation for vigilante violence and civilian racial profiling. Despite widespread outrage over Martin’s slaying, a 19-member task force assembled by Florida Governor Rick Scott (R) has found no grounds to overturn the law. The findings of the Task Force on Citizen Safety and Protection report released on February 22nd boil down to this: The problem doesn’t lay with the law but with some people who have tried to use it. 

Miami Vice: Injection Drug Use in the Deep South

Erin N. Marcus

Hansel Tookes, age 30, is an expert at identifying the detritus of injection drug use. As a public health student on hiatus from medical school, he led a group of researchers who walked the streets of Miami for four months, methodically counting discarded syringes in neighborhoods with high rates of drug arrests. As they crisscrossed more than 800 city blocks, the team spotted 328 used syringes, in parks, lots, and along sidewalks.

Judge Strikes Down “Harsh and Impractical” Florida Voting Laws

Cynthia Gordy

On Thursday, a federal judge issued an injunction barring the state of Florida from enforcing the 48-hour-deadline provision of its new election law, calling the requirement "harsh and impractical." Tallahassee federal Judge Robert Hinkle wrote in his strongly worded ruling: "The short deadline, coupled with substantial penalties for noncompliance, make voter-registration drives a risky business....If the goal is to further the state's legitimate interests without unduly burdening the rights of voters and voter registration organizations, 48 hours is a bad choice."

Why did Prosecutor Norm Wolfinger allow George Zimmerman to Walk Free?

Raj Jayadev

As the tragedy of Trayvon Martin's death calls the country to examine the racial inequities of the criminal justice system, it must go beyond our common, and justified, focus on the racist zealots or inept police officers. It has to go where the real power lies – with the prosecutors – the ones who control the levers of the system in counties and states across the country. In Martin’s case, it was prosecutor Norm Wolfinger who allowed his killer to walk free. 

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