BROWARD

Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties are now in the CDC's high COVID community level category, even though data earlier this week showed the region at lower levels. The CDC blamed a "processing error" for the incomplete Florida data.

Broward Sheriff's Office Deputy Jorge Sobrino, 24, has been charged with one count of misdemeanor battery for punching an inmate who was handcuffed to a hospital bed at Broward Health North, Broward County State Attorney Mike Satz announced Friday.

A reorganization plan, which Superintendent Vickie Cartwright says would save $2.3 million, also overhauls the duties of administrators.

The million dollar question: Will Superintendent Cartwright right her cart by selecting an African American for the newest top executive position that has come about? I don’t want to be accused of teaching CRT in Broward County Schools. Instead, I marvel at the quick departure of the newly appointed Deputy Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, Dr. Carmen Balgobin. Superintendent Cartwright lured Balgobin to Broward into one of two newly added executive level positions in the organization chart. Balgobin’s name is on the Volusia County Board meeting agenda to discuss her return as superintendent.

Broward Commissioner Mark Bogen said he didn’t know how bad the issues at the 911 call centers were until he read about it in the newspaper.

Broward’s emergency 911 system is broken, county commissioners agreed Tuesday. Immediate pay raises looked likely, but commissioners said that's just the beginning of reforms that will be needed to ensure public safety.

Parents are scrambling to find infant formula, but experts warn to not take shortcuts.

The 2 Alpha, 2 Bravo and L39 fires west of Sunrise and west of Boca Raton burned a combined total of 35,600 acres between Wednesday and Monday afternoon, when they were no longer burning.

Wildfire relief could come in the form of rain Saturday. The three wildfires burning in Broward and Palm Beach counties have consumed more than 20,000 acres, but rains ahead of an approaching cold front could lend a hand.

Former Broward Sheriff Scott Israel, who had been removed from office by Florida’s governor in the aftermath of the mass shooting at a Parkland high school, has been picked as the new police chief in Opa-locka, a city with a history of turnover and turmoil in its police department.

Police officers detained a driver at gunpoint after a chase on Wednesday in Miramar.

Broward sheriff's deputies responded to a report of shots fired at a vehicle Monday night, possibly on Interstate 95.

On the latest episode of This Week in South Florida, host Glenna Milberg is joined by Inter Miami CF co-owner Jorge Mas, Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. and Broward Elections Supervisor Joe Scott.

Memorial Healthcare System, with six hospitals in South Broward, has chosen a top candidate to become its new leader.

The COVID picture is shifting in Florida: Test positivity in all three South Florida counties climbed above 10% for the first time since the omicron wave receded.

Broward prosecutors will not be allowed to use the testimony of Polk County resident Jeanne Avsenew, who died earlier this month, against her son, Peter Avsenew, who is set to be retried in May for the 2010 murders of a Wilton Manors couple.

State Sen. Gary Farmer, a prominent Broward Democrat, delivered a blistering attack on the way his fellow Democrats conduct themselves in Tallahassee, charging that they have “no guts” and are “enabling” Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republicans. Hours later, he said he wants to go into a new line of work, filing to run for circuit court judge.

Broward Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer’s willingness to strike more than 200 jurors from consideration in the Parkland mass shooting trial was an error so significant, according to lawyers for the defendant, that the state should no longer be permitted to seek the death penalty.

However, it is highly apropos for the situation at hand in the actions of the superintendent of the Broward County School Board. On Tuesday, April 19, the Broward school board approved the superintendent’s recommendation for two executive level positions. Phillip Dunn, former Chief Information Officer and a Black male, left the school district shortly after Dr. Vickie Cartwright joined as interim superintendent. A 25-year Broward schools veteran, Dr. Leo Nesmith, became the acting Chief Safety Officer after Brian Katz departed faster than a rain drop in the Sierra Desert. Humm, “something, something just ain’t right.”Nicole Mancini, a white female, became the Acting Chief Academic Officer six months ago and has been approved for another six months as acting.

A convicted felon — who has been in and out of prison for years — was a fugitive for about 10 days. On the day the U.S. Marshals caught him, the victim of the shooting he was arrested for died in the hospital.

Jury selection in the murder trial of Jamell Demons was postponed for a week, and maybe more, as lawyers and a Broward Circuit Judge work their way through a flurry of last-minute motions and hearings.

The School Board plans to ask voters to increase a special school tax from $50 for every $100,000 of assessed value to $100. If it fails, the entire tax, which pays for salary supplements, safety and mental health, would go away.

Get ready for a hoppin’ good time with the family as Easter egg hunts are being held throughout South Florida this week.

Broward School Board members are discussing a possible legal challenge to cuts in funding related to their previous mask mandates.

The battle royal over Florida’s congressional redistricting is focused on northern areas, but new maps could also impact who wins two Broward-Palm Beach county congressional districts.

Florida health officials reported 11,337 new COVID cases for the week ending April 7. The count represents a nearly 30% rise from only four weeks ago, new cases for the week ending March 11 had dropped as low as 8,037.

The penalty trial of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter is expected to last months, starting on Monday with the first phase of jury selection and continuing at least into the summer. Throughout the process, readers and television viewers will be introduced to a host of faces.

The American dream turned into a nightmare for a Ukrainian family who has lived in Pompano Beach since 2016 after they were accused of crimes their loved ones say they didn’t commit.

Thomas Shaquan Lowery, 30, was arrested and appeared in Broward bond court on Monday in relation to an accident that took place a year ago leaving two people dead, and now he’s facing 16 charges.

Flying bugs and a soiled surface area were some of the issues recently found inside one South Florida Dunkin’.

Chad Klitzman, who was exploring a run for the congressional seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, has decided not to run.

After a cold front on Sunday morning, South Florida will experience a breezy day along with a slow temperature rise.

A Broward judge appeared to balk at the idea of allowing jurors in an upcoming attempted murder trial to use virtual reality goggles to immerse themselves in a 3-D animation showing the defendant’s perspective.

South Florida students hold protests against Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill Thursday, which lawmakers passed earlier this week and which the governor is expected to sign into law.

According to state records, only one restaurant in Miami-Dade, Monroe and Broward counties was ordered shut last week.

As spring break gets going this week in South Florida, the National Weather Service has extended the high rip current risk warning for the waters off Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties to 7 p.m. Wednesday.

John Longo didn’t have to die in jail, his defense lawyer says. But the judge who sent him there may not have had much choice after Longo was found guilty of cheating a boat seller out of a $75,000 vessel.

Despite most key statistics dropping across Florida, the state still added 528 deaths from the weekend, bringing the 7-day average for deaths to 161 based on date of reported death, according to Sun Sentinel calculations of the CDC data. Here are the latest key coronavirus statistics for Florida.

Early voting is underway for special state legislative elections in Broward and Palm Beach counties. Because of those state races, early voting is also available for the city, town and village elections set for March 2022. Few people used in person early voting on the first day. Many more are voting by mail.

The number of patients with the virus in Florida hospitals dropped to 3,145 on Friday, a 28.5% decline in a week. In Broward and Miami-Dade counties, 5.4% of hospital beds are used by COVID patients; in Palm Beach County, the rate was lower at 4.8%.. Here are the latest key coronavirus statistics for Florida.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Saturday Miami-Dade and Broward counties have a medium community-level risk on COVID-19.

About 200 people have been arrested during a years-long investigation into a violent gang that is based in Deerfield Beach, 24 of whom were arrested on Tuesday, Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony announced during a news conference Thursday.

Beginning Monday, the use of facial coverings is optional at Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission sent out a reminder on Saturday that when temperatures drop closer to freezing, some iguanas become cold-stunned.

A storm system off the East Coast will send temperatures in the 30s as far south as Miami Sunday morning.

Two Broward Sheriff’s deputies were injured in a late-night pursuit of a reckless driver in Lauderhill, authorities said.

A few more ingredients have come together in South Florida, bringing the coldest weather of the season Monday morning.

The coldest temperatures of the season are expected to push into the region late this weekend, meaning Broward and Palm Beach residents could see temperatures in the lows 40s, and wind chills, in the most extreme realistic cases, in the mid 30s.

Social media posts are calling for a student walkout of schools on Monday. The Broward school district sent parents a letter urging them to talk to their children.

“In Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, hospitals have already experienced their peak,” said Mary Mayhew, president and CEO of the Florida Hospital Association.

Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick was sworn in as the newest member of the House on Tuesday, filling the seat last held by Alcee Hastings.

Parts of South Florida are expected to feel temperatures in the upper-40s Tuesday morning, which would be the coolest air of the season so far.

Sunrise police say that rapper Kodak Black was not having sex with a woman in a video from Tuesday night’s Florida Panthers game that went viral on social media.

The school districts in Broward and Miami-Dade counties are each looking for a new superintendent, but their processes differ.

Broward schools are asking for a tax increase, while Palm Beach County schools want to continue an existing tax.

Early voting ends Sunday in Broward and Palm Beach Counties in the race for congress in the 20th District.

Voting is underway in four South Florida special elections, but so far one thing is largely missing: actual voters.

A South Florida appeals court dismissed a legal fight about school mask requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic, after both sides agreed the arguments were moot.

Broward courts, in a small but significant bid to slow the spread of the latest COVID variant, are putting a stop to in-person hearings for first appearance court, every defendant’s first step into the justice system after arrest.

After days of record-breaking COVID-19 cases in the Sunshine State, Florida reported 56,865 new cases on Saturday and the positivity rates in South Florida continue to soar.

Florida on Friday reported 56,865 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Here are the updated statistics on COVID-19 in Florida including new cases, deaths, hospitalizations, testing positivity and vaccinations.

South Florida’s first baby of the new year will have some competition this Saturday: Someone in Broward or Palm Beach County will cast the first vote anywhere in the country in a 2022 election for Congress.

With COVID-19 cases continuing to rise, Miami-Dade and Broward counties are adjusting, trying to stay ahead of the spread as we head into the New Year.

The mad dash for coronavirus testing continued to lead to long lines and problems, so lab companies and clinics are setting up tents to offer tests on Monday in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

Despite the challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic, several South Florida charities are stepping up and working hard to help the homeless this holiday season.

Florida set a record on Dec. 24 for the most newly reported COVID-19 cases in one day, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Here are the updated statistics on COVID-19 in Florida including new cases, deaths, hospitalizations, testing positivity and vaccinations.

The Broward Sheriff’s Office is looking to get its hands on more than $1 million in proceeds from an illegal sports gambling and money laundering ring that operated out of South Florida, even though the people accused of running it have not yet been charged with a crime.

AARP on Thursday released the Nursing Home COVID-19 Dashboard, which shows Florida ranks the third-worst state in the nation with only 24% of nursing home residents receiving boosters – well behind the national average of 39%, as of Nov. 21.

Community Foundation of Broward Awards a Total of $2 Million in Capital Campaign Grants from its Mary N. Porter Legacy FundSubmitted by Alina QuintanaFORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. — (December 2, 2021) – Henderson Behavioral Health and YMCA of South Florida have each been awarded a $1 million capital campaign grant from Community Foundation of Broward and its Mary N. Porter Legacy Fund. The Mary N. Porter Legacy Fund grant to Henderson Behavioral Health will support the completion of Henderson’s new, state-of-the-art 32,000-square-foot Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) to accommodate the growing number of people experiencing a mental health crisis in our community. The Mary N. Porter Legacy Fund grant to YMCA of South Florida will support the completion of the new L.A. Lee YMCA / Mizell Community Center in Fort Lauderdale. Mary Porter wanted her philanthropy to support building efforts for crucial community pro-grams, long after she was gone. “All across Broward, you can find examples of Mary’s commitment to building a better future for the com-munity she loved.

Monday, Dec. 13, is the deadline to register to vote in the January elections to finalize the next South Florida member of Congress and choose three members of the Florida Legislature.

Comcast has awarded $1 million in grants to 100 small businesses owned by people of color, including Black, Hispanic, Asian American and Indigenous owners, among others, in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties, through the Comcast RISE Investment Fund. These recipients were chosen from among thousands of small business owners in South Florida that applied for the $10,000 grants in early October. The Investment Fund is an extension of Comcast RISE and to date, has awarded $11 million in grants. Comcast RISE stands for “Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment.”The 100 South Florida’s Comcast RISE Investment Fund grant recipients are a diverse group including every type of company from accounting, human resources and IT consulting firms to restaurants and caterings companies to health and wellness businesses and more. Comcast today also revealed that 191 Florida small businesses were selected to receive Marketing & Technology Services through the Comcast RISE program for this round.

Comcast has awarded $1 million in grants to 100 small businesses owned by people of color, including Black, Hispanic, Asian American and Indigenous owners, among others, in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties, through the Comcast RISE Investment Fund. These recipients were chosen from among thousands of small business owners in South Florida that applied for the $10,000 grants in early October. The Investment Fund is an extension of Comcast RISE and to date, has awarded $11 million in grants. Comcast RISE stands for “Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment.”The 100 South Florida’s Comcast RISE Investment Fund grant recipients are a diverse group including every type of company from accounting, human resources and IT consulting firms to restaurants and caterings companies to health and wellness businesses and more. Comcast today also revealed that 191 Florida small businesses were selected to receive Marketing & Technology Services through the Comcast RISE program for this round.

Comcast has awarded $1 million in grants to 100 small businesses owned by people of color, including Black, Hispanic, Asian American and Indigenous owners, among others, in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties, through the Comcast RISE Investment Fund. These recipients were chosen from among thousands of small business owners in South Florida that applied for the $10,000 grants in early October. The Investment Fund is an extension of Comcast RISE and to date, has awarded $11 million in grants. Comcast RISE stands for “Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment.”The 100 South Florida’s Comcast RISE Investment Fund grant recipients are a diverse group including every type of company from accounting, human resources and IT consulting firms to restaurants and caterings companies to health and wellness businesses and more. Comcast today also revealed that 191 Florida small businesses were selected to receive Marketing & Technology Services through the Comcast RISE program for this round.

Comcast has awarded $1 million in grants to 100 small businesses owned by people of color, including Black, Hispanic, Asian American and Indigenous owners, among others, in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties, through the Comcast RISE Investment Fund. These recipients were chosen from among thousands of small business owners in South Florida that applied for the $10,000 grants in early October. The Investment Fund is an extension of Comcast RISE and to date, has awarded $11 million in grants. Comcast RISE stands for “Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment.”The 100 South Florida’s Comcast RISE Investment Fund grant recipients are a diverse group including every type of company from accounting, human resources and IT consulting firms to restaurants and caterings companies to health and wellness businesses and more. Comcast today also revealed that 191 Florida small businesses were selected to receive Marketing & Technology Services through the Comcast RISE program for this round.

People who live near the coast in Miami-Dade and Broward counties will be in the mid-upper 50s, while those further inland will feel a chill in the mid to even low 50s.

A woman is facing charges after she slashed a man in the arm at a bus stop and then, according to police, took off.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Two familiar faces in Broward are becoming county commissioners. Jared Moskowitz and Torey Alston will be appointed to open commission seats by Ron DeSantis, the governor announced at a news conference Tuesday morning in Fort Lauderdale. They take those positions on Jan. 11, replacing Dale Holness and Barbara Sharief, who resigned to run for Congress. “Let’s just hope that this appointment is nowhere near as eventful as the last job you gave me,” Moskowitz joked to DeSantis after the announcement. His term will run through November 2022.

Renaissance Charter School in Pembroke Pines was temporarily placed on Code Yellow on Friday after being notified of the threat made by the 13-year-old.

Broward County schools are now following Miami-Dade in saying students are encouraged to wear masks but it is not mandatory after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis put a new law about mask mandates into effect.

The Florida Highway Patrol has launched “Operation Safe Highways,” which will have more troopers monitoring the roadway in Miami-Dade and Broward counties “in an effort to keep Florida’s highways safe during the upcoming busy holiday travel period.”

Politics is very much like the game of chess in that both are a struggle. Each requires good strategy and skillful tactics as a formula for triumph. The Scandinavian Defense, also called the Center-Counter Defense, is a set of opening moves many beginners employ because it puts black in an immediate attacking position. It is why Broward voters are scratching their heads in disbelief after six strategically placed elected pawns surrendered their position to engage in a free-for-all Hunger Games-like contest for two vacant seats. Heading into the upcoming elections in 2022, Broward voters would be wise to consider the words of Savielly Tartakower, the first chess International Grandmaster, “Nobody ever won a chess game by resigning.”

Broward County has a new mayor who’ll be front and center as the public face of the community during hurricanes, emergencies and important events.

The dramatic slowdown in mail delivery, combined with the ultra-close election to pick Florida’s next member of Congress, is dramatically illustrating a controversial aspect of state election law: Mail ballots don’t get counted even if they’re postmarked before Election Day. In the Broward-Palm Beach County 20th Congressional District special primary, there are hundreds of ballots that have gone uncounted — far more than enough to change the outcome.

By Joel Waldman,Miami NewsFORT LAUDERDALE — (CBSMiami) – Broward School Board Chair Dr. Rosalind Osgood has her sights set on higher ambitions. Osgood has submitted her letter of resignation to the school board so she can run for a state Senate seat. Since returning to in-person learning, masks, ironically, unmasked a very tense, ongoing political battle between the Broward County School Board and Gov. “Leaving the school board was an extremely difficult decision,” she said. “Tallahassee needs someone with experience on the school board that can give a different perspective, a set of expertise,” she said.

By Cindy SchuttApproximately 80 children who are blind or visually impaired – including beautiful princesses, impressive Power Rangers, adorable Minions, scary skeletons, jammin’ rock stars, and an army of superheroes – recently enjoyed a special Fall Festival celebration at the Lighthouse of Broward. Children, ages 3 to 12, and their families had a great time interacting with the animals at the petting zoo, navigating an inflatable petting zoo, riding ponies, scaling the rock-climbing wall, decorating cookies, enjoying cotton candy, and playing games. “Parents were so grateful to have a safe space for their blind and visually impaired child to play, socialize and have a blast,” said Ellyn Drotzer, Lighthouse of Broward president and CEO. “This year’s Fall Festival truly was the best ever, thanks to our many volunteers, strong staff support and, of course, our fabulous sponsors.”The Lighthouse of Broward is extremely grateful for its Fall Festival sponsors, including American National Bank, Century Metal & Supplies, Sajdera Law Firm and Toothacker.org. American Heritage School pre-med and pre-engineering students as well as Broward College students came out to volunteer at the event.

South Florida will be getting a taste of the coldest air of the season so far starting Saturday night. Temperatures are forecast to dip to the 50s by Sunday morning.

Florida’s ban on coronavirus mask mandates in the state’s schools will stay in effect after a judge on Friday dismissed a challenge to the rule from several school districts.

Flooding has made for some transportation nightmares Friday in South Florida, from Fort Lauderdale down to Miami.

Sunday is the final day of early voting for residents of District 20, which stretches across Broward and Palm Beach County neighborhoods.

The public school districts in Miami-Dade and Broward counties will be revisiting their rules on face coverings. In Broward, that could happen Tuesday.

Judge Elizabeth Scherer has denied a motion from Nikolas Cruz’s defense team seeking to add specific language to jury instructions in his upcoming jail battery case.

On the latest episode of This Week in South Florida, hosts Michael Putney and Glenna Milberg are joined by state Rep. Michael Grieco, former Miami Beach Mayor Phillip Levine, Miami-Dade School Board member Lucia Baez-Geller and Broward School Board member Sarah Leonardi.

Florida is set to move forward with docking salaries and withholding funding from local school districts that defy Gov. Ron DeSantis’ ban on pandemic mask mandates in classrooms.

Under more threats of sanctions, superintendents in Broward and Miami-Dade counties are sticking to their guns, telling the state Board of Education they believe they’re complying with state law and meeting their constitutional responsibility when it comes to mask and quarantine policy.

Florida’s education chief is threatening to withhold nearly half a million dollars in additional funding from Broward County Public Schools as the district continues face mask and quarantine policies that go against the state’s orders.

A Tik Tok "slap a teacher" challenge has school districts in Miami-Dade and Broward county warning students and parents there will be serious consequences for anyone who breaks the law.

Cruz’s defense argued that surveillance video prior to the scuffle was not preserved, denying him a fair trial. Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer ruled that there was no due process violation.

ABC News’ Special Report “9/11 Twenty Years Later: America Remembers” airs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Facing serious charges, including carjacking, false imprisonment and interfering with the custody of a minor, is 19-year-old Lavincent Fisher.

A South Florida family shares their experience, waiting to hear from their son during last week’s evacuations in Kabul, Afghanistan.