KEY BISCAYNE

The midterm elections are getting closer and closer.

From Broward to Miami-Dade counties, Kurt Kaminer said although drivers need to learn how to share the road, there is also a need for infrastructure improvements.

The night was perfect, a few days after a full moon. Balmy air. Calm water. All the conditioned aligned for staghorn coral to mingle their eggs and sperm on the gentle incoming tide. But these weren't just any staghorn coral. They were lab babies bred by researchers at the University of Miami in an effort to find the "Lionel Messi" of the reef: corals more resistant to climate change.

Scientists and students from the University of Miami dove into the dark waters a few miles off the shores of Miami as part of an effort to develop hybrid reefs.

A controversial proposal to create pop-up communities for the homeless across Miami, including on Virginia Key, was approved by commissioners last week.

After some storms cleared, Wednesday became a busy day for boaters and divers taking advantage of Florida’s 2-day spiny lobster season.

U.S. Border Patrol Agents from the Miami sector patrolling the waters off Key Biscayne noticed something unusual floating in the water Thursday afternoon.

Authorities have detained a group of migrants who arrived on a boat Tuesday morning in Key Biscayne.

New details are emerging about a deadly boat crash off the coast of Key Biscayne that left two people dead and nearly a dozen others hurt.

Officials say two people were killed and 10 others had to be rescued after a nighttime boat collision near Key Biscayne, Florida.

The two boats collided at around 10:30 p.m. in an area near the Nixon Beach Sandbar, one mile west of Key Biscayne, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Seven people were one boat, five on the other.

The collision occurred near Key Biscayne, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Authorities recovered the bodies of two people following a boat crash off the coast of Key Biscayne that left 10 others injured, according to a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard Saturday afternoon.

The much-awaited independent assessment of Lolita's health says the beloved 56-year-old orca is doing much better.

New bike safety measures were implemented on the Rickenbacker Causeway, in hopes to prevent future accidents.

Cyclist and cycling activist Eli Stiers joined the ride, calling attention to the deadly dangers along the Rickenbacker Causeway.

The cycling community unloaded at the Miami-Dade County Commission on Tuesday, demanding more protection, and saying that painted unprotected lanes are not enough

The causeway was built as a highway, but it is now an iconic but dangerous mix of vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians.

Two cyclists were killed Sunday afternoon after being struck on Miami, Florida's Rickenbacker Causeway, partially shutting down the only access to Key Biscayne.

The fun begins at 7 p.m. and will honor long time Lori Brener Scholarship Fund supporter, Norma Jean Abraham. This year’s event which will benefit the scholarship fund is co-chaired by Betty Barrios, Sonia Gibson, Neyda Raola, and Miriam Salazar (mother of Lori Brener for whom the scholarship fund was named). For more information on the organization, visit https://womensfundmiami.org/Finally, right in our backyard, we have the UM Frost School of Music. The UM Frost School of Music faculty and its students are remarkably gifted and shows like this are a resource not to be overlooked. Until next time, keep making each day count and share an act of kindness every day.

Earth Day in South Florida continues throughout the weekend and there's plenty to do to celebrate Mother Earth.

The first "Keys on the Key" Piano Festival is taking place on April 1-3.

Miami-Dade County announced that with the Miami Seaquarium under new ownership, third party veterinarians will be allowed onto the property to examine the health of the famed Orca.

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.

USDA inspectors were back at the Miami Seaquarium Tuesday following last June's scathing 17-page report citing numerous serious animal welfare violations.

There are conflicting reports about the health of Lolita, the 56-year-old orca that lives at the Miami Seaquarium.

The rescue happened in the waters off Key Biscayne near Crandon Park.

Family members and loved ones took part in a memorial service off the South Florida coast.

Miami differentiates its communities: Wynwood, Mimo, Little Haiti, Doral, Allapattah, Downtown Dadeland, Hialeah, Little River, Coral Gables, South Beach, Brickell, Calle Ocho, Lincoln Road, Design District, Sunset Harbor, South Miami, Key Biscayne, etc. So let’s explore one area at a time over the next few months starting with Coconut Grove. Old timers spoke of the old Grove or West Grove, young folks know the new Grove and Cocowalk, but with the effects of our blessed developers and beloved gentrifiers, let’s just leave it with the Grove. Jaguar, Strada, Ariete, Bombay Darbar, Glass & Vine, Peacock Garden, Lulu, Kush, Atchana’s, Mister 01, Harry’s and Sapore di Mare all bring cred. The Barnacle, Kennedy Park and Peacock Park are spacious and busy.

Heavy rain and severe thunderstorms caused power outages and flooded roads on Thursday evening in areas of Miami-Dade County.

Key Biscayne’s big victory in coastal risk areas by at MiamiTodayNews.com.

The Home Team, a nonprofit organization founded by former University of Miami Offensive Lineman Alex Pou, will host its 3rd annual golf tournament on Oct. 21 in the Crandon Golf at Key Biscayne.

Key Biscayne beach efforts for federal funding look better by at MiamiTodayNews.com.

Key Biscayne looks for better way to handle Rickenbacker Causeway by at MiamiTodayNews.com.

A Miami-Dade judge has ruled Adel Piedrahita continue to be held on no bond following his arrest for second-degree murder.

Older adults who are childless in the U.S. are more likely to be college educated, working and white than those with children.

U.S. Border Patrol and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were among the responding agencies.

Sunday morning’s thick smoke over downtown Miami that was visible over Biscayne Bay from Miami Beach and Key Biscayne came from a house fire in Little Havana that Miami Fire Rescue battled for three hours.

Causeways deal or not, Bear Cut Bridge must be replaced by at MiamiTodayNews.com.

The tragedy in Miami-Dade County’s town of Surfside had a ripple effect on residents of condominium buildings in south Florida who had safety concerns that actually turned out to be unfounded.

Troy Vincent wrapped up the NFL’s three-day General Manager Forum and Quarterback Coaching Summit with a passionate plea to anyone who still thinks there aren’t worthy Black candidates for head coaching positions.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill to help protect Biscayne Bay on Thursday at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park in Key Biscayne. It allocates $20 million for projects.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is holding a news conference Thursday morning at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park in Key Biscayne.

May is one of the most dangerous times in Florida for boaters. Authorites that patrol South Florida waters are urging people to be responsible and safe this Memorial Day weekend.

The driver of a Mercedes-Benz nearly hit a Miami-Dade Police Department motorman on Wednesday on the Rickenbacker Causeway in Miami and sped away to a parking building in Dania Beach.

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. – Two people from a capsized boat were rescued early Thursday morning from Biscayne Bay and brought to No Name Harbor. They were floating in the water for quite some time, though it’s not confirmed how long. Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue received a call at about 4:30 a.m. of a hazardous situation involving two people in the water. Coast Guard officials say the two people were rescued from a 17-foot boat that capsized after a good Samaritan found them floating. One was seen by Local 10 News cameras being brought in on a stretcher.

BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – A 25-year-old man from Minnesota was arrested Tuesday in South Florida after he was accused of being involved in an aggravated assault on a Key Biscayne police officer and fleeing from authorities. According to Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Yanko Reyes, Musab Mohamed Salih Alhussein assaulted the officer on Monday and then fled the scene. Key Biscayne police were able to obtain the license plate number on the Nissan Pathfinder that Alhussein was driving, which came back to a rental company. Alhussein was eventually taken into custody after troopers conducted a Precision Intervention Technique (PIT maneuver) in the northbound lanes of U.S. 27 near the 46 mile post. AdAlhussein was arrested on charges of aggravated assault on an officer and fleeing and eluding.

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. – The Miami Seaquarium has released two sea turtles back into the ocean after being rescued over a year ago. According to the Miami Seaquarium, the two male sea turtles, Yule and Buoyance, were rescued off the coast of South Florida after suffering nearly fatal injuries over a year ago. The larger sea turtle, Yule, was rescued from Black Point Marina in Dec. 2019 when he was discovered in dire shape. “He came with hooks, fishing hooks lol over his body,” says Julie Heyde, who is part of the Miami Seaquarium team who took care of the two sea turtles. “Floating on his back end just bobbing around from impaction.”According to Heyde, they’ve already rescued at least 12 sea turtles this year alone.

Florida is moving to restrict 16 invasive reptile species that have wreaked havoc in the Everglades and across the state. “Breeding invasive species in Florida is like playing with matches in a tinder box,” said Julie Wraithmell, vice president and executive director of Audubon Florida. “I'm very sensitive to the people in the pet trade and enthusiasts,” said Robert Spottswood, a member of the Florida commission. “But this action is a result of the invasive species that continue to get in the wild. Some kill native Florida wildlife as well as pets, while others dig burrows and become a threat to human constructions such as manmade fountains and gardens.

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. – A typical day playing on the beach took a turn for the worst for a South Florida pet owner and her rescue dog. Miami Veterinary Services told Local 10 News the dog’s owner was playing with her at Darwin Beach on Virginia Key, a recurring activity at a regular spot for the two. The dog’s owner ran to the beach and was able to pull Boobie out of the sharks mouth. Boobie the rescue dog is recovering after being attacked by a shark off Key Biscayne. (WPLG)Boobie was rushed to a veterinarians office on Key Biscayne, where doctors were able to stitch up the dogs wound.

The newspaper reported that McKoy called families who had students in the school telling them that MAST was the No. 1 Miami-Dade County School in the central region for the most COVID-19 positive cases, and blamed the cases on students having parties, get-togethers and sleepovers without masks. According to the school’s dashboard, MAST Academy has a total of 46 cases, which is the tenth most of schools in Miami-Dade County. Email from MAST Academy Principal Derick McKoy:This is Dr. McKoy, principal of MAST Academy calling with a very important message. MAST Academy is the number one school in Central Region with the most number of COVID positive cases.

City of Miami firefighters were seen spraying the home, known as the Leshaw House, with water and Coral Gables police boats and Key Biscayne police boats were also at the scene. Historic home in Stiltsville destroyed in fireAccording to the National Park Service, Stiltsville dates back to the 1930s and at its peak in the 1960s, Stiltsville was home to 27 structures out on the water. Branton spoke off camera to one of the owners of the Leshaw House, who said she is upset by what occurred and just hopes to find out what happened. The Stiltsville Trust was established in 2003, giving those who have usage rights the opportunity to rehabilitate the structure, but not rebuild. Owners who spoke with Branton Monday said the Leshaw House will not be approved for rebuilding given that it is a total loss.

The U.S. Coast Guard announced Thursday evening that the search for a 33-year-old man who vanished after a Jan. 4 boat crash off Key Biscayne has ended. Florida Fish and Wildlife reported divers found human remains belonging to the man identified as Spencer Sheridan, according to the Coast Guard. It was near the Bear Cut Bridge, which connects Virginia Key with Key Biscayne. Man, 33, vanishes at sea after boats crash off Key BiscayneFour were injured and Sheridan vanished at sea prompting a massive search involving three police departments, a state agency, and a federal agency. FWC investigators found Sheridan and the other six people were in an unlicensed charter boat.

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. – The search for a 33-year-old man continued on Tuesday in Biscayne Bay. He vanished after two Open Fisherman, a 19-foot boat and a 21-foot boat, collided on Monday evening off Key Biscayne. The man who vanished was in the Open Fisherman that was carrying seven people when it capsized after the collision near the Bear Cut Bridge, which connects Virginia Key with Key Biscayne. Two Open Fisherman boats collided on Monday evening off Key Biscayne. This is a photo of the man who was involved in a Monday night boat collision off Key Biscayne.

Ron DeSantis said Florida is receiving more than 480,000 COVID-19 vaccines this week — including about 361,000 from Moderna and more than 120,000 from Pfizer. DeSantis said Florida received 61,000 vaccines from Moderna on Monday and will receive 300,000 more on Tuesday. Pfizer’s delivery of 120,000 more COVID-19 vaccines, he said, will arrive either on Monday or Tuesday. DeSantis, 42, said he will eventually get the vaccine, but not before those in the vulnerable groups that he is prioritizing receive the vaccine. Each state has the authority to direct its COVID-19 vaccine distribution.

Ron DeSantis announced Monday that $20 million will be invested in protecting Biscayne Bay, with $10 million of that funding coming from the state and $10 million coming from Miami-Dade County. DeSantis made the announcement during a news conference at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, where he was joined by Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Lt. Gov. The state’s portion of the funding comes as part of DeSantis’ planned $625 million to be spent on water resources projects. Ron DeSantis is in South Florida on Monday and will be holding a news conference about Biscayne Bay resiliency. Posted by WPLG Local 10 on Monday, December 21, 2020ALSO SEESaving Biscayne Bay: New county mayor outlines ‘very costly’ plan to get rid of septic tanksSaving Biscayne Bay: Miami-Dade’s septic tanks have to go, scientist saysThis is a developing news story.

Bicycle sales were in high gear in pandemic – then supplies dried upAdvertisementThe Miami Beach Bicycle Center on Fifth Street is a South Beach institution. “There wasn’t enough product coming in.”Since the coronavirus hit, bike shops from Florida City to Aventura have been overrun. “I have never seen as many people enjoying the outdoors as I have during the pandemic,” he said. The Miami Bike Shop on Biscayne Boulevard is among the most handy for the thousands of young people who have moved to Midtown and the Omni in recent years. So, it has been repairs that have been the backbone of the business.”The Miami Bike Shop is expecting a large shipment of bicycles within the next few weeks, but inventory won’t match pre-Covid-19 levels.

Some of the wealthiest areas in eastern Miami-Dade sided with Trump and agricultural areas in western Miami-Dade sided with Biden. 86.60%: 138 - North Miami Elementary School86.60%: 128 - Oak Grove Park at 680 NE 159 St., in Golden Glades. 86.52%: 141 - North Miami Public Library86.52%: 226 - Golden Glades Elementary School at 16520 NW 28 Ave., in Miami Gardens. 83.99%: 137 - North Miami Jaycees83.97%: 136 - Miami Union Academy at 12600 NW 4 Ave., in North Miami. 80.68%: 143 - First Church of North Miami80.57%: 133 - Miami-Dade County Fire Station #19 at 650 NW 131 St., in North Miami.

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. – Officers arrested two suspects after stealing a car in Key Biscayne and crashing on Thursday afternoon in the Crandon Park area, police said. The suspects stole a car in the Village of Key Biscayne and were traveling northbound on Crandon Boulevard when they crashed, police said. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel responded to the scene of the crash. Officers near the scene said the officer who was also involved in the crash was not seriously injured. 5 PM TRAFFIC ALERT

Ahead of today’s forum hosted by the Miami-Dade League of Cities, the Daniella Levine Cava for Miami-Dade Mayor campaign announces additional endorsements from local elected leaders including Key Biscayne Mayor Michael Davey, Bay Harbor Mayor Stephanie Bruder, and Aventura Commissioner Denise Landman. Key Biscayne Mayor Michael Davey shared, “During this moment of uncertainty, one thing is clear: Daniella Levine Cava is the right choice to lead Miami-Dade County. Daniella has earned her reputation for cooperation, transparency, and respect through decades of dedicated work with local leaders like myself on some of our biggest issues. As climate change and an economic crisis threaten our homes and families, we need people like Daniella to fight back. I’m supporting Daniella Levine Cava because I know that she is that leader who will work with us, not against us, to bring our residents up and to invest in the next generation.

We have a right to call her home,” said Squil-Le-He-Le Raynell Morris of the Lummi Nation. Lummi Nation tribe members traveled from the Pacific coast to Miami to demand that the Miami Seaquarium free their sister Tokitae. (Local 10 News)The Lummi Nation has vowed to bring her home as their sacred obligation and they believe after 50 years, it’s time for her to retire. Lummi Nation members and their supporters continue their efforts to save Lolita from confinement at the Miami Seaquarium. Lummi Nation members and supporters continue to visit the Miami Seaquarium to demand they free Tokitae.

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. – Sergio Mendoza vividly remembers the day he first laid eyes on his wife, Sarah Fernandez, at a book store in Coral Gables. “And then we had our first child, my son Sergio Michael, who’s now 8 in 2012 and my daughter, Anais, in 2015 and she’s now 5,” Mendoza said. But the pregnancy and their first child turned bittersweet when Fernandez-Mendoza was diagnosed with breast cancer. Mendoza designed a pink sea urchin shaped cocktail ring to honor his wife and all the important women in his life. “It’s really been amazing to support Komen in something that I believe so strongly through my designs,” he said.

The Rome Program, with the participation of the School of Architecture, held a Golf Tournament at Crandon Golf in Key Biscayne to fund its study abroad program, Friday, Oct. 11. Undergraduate students can register during the last two years to study design, drawing, history, the theory of architecture and urban design. One hundred twenty players registered a record for the golf tournament. At the end of the afternoon, the school held a networking reception, an auction and a raffle. For questions about the Rome program go to https://www.arc.miami.edu/academics/umsoa-in-rome/index.html or contact Carmen Guerrero by email carmeng@miami.edu.

Miami looks at luxury Virginia Key hotel at civil rights museumWritten by Gabriel Poblete on September 17, 2019AdvertisementTo help revitalize Virginia Key Beach and create a stable funding stream for a civil rights museum to rise there, Commissioner Keon Hardemon proposed a potential source of revenue: a luxury hotel. As the Miami City Commission discussed the Virginia Key Trusts proposed budget last week, Mr. Hardemon floated the idea to mixed reviews. In the past it was pretty simple; it was called segregation, Mr. Hardemon told Guy Forchion, executive director of the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust. He cited Virginia Keys tenuous ecology and said a Virginia Key masterplan that the public has approved does not contemplate a hotel. Though the commission passed the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust budget on first reading, the trusts and the citys proposed budgets werent the same.

Piedrahita is known among the bicyclists as being friendly to them sometimes riding his motorcycle alongside the riders to help with traffic control, videotaping them and posting about their rides on Facebook, the Miami Herald reported.