Email Author Francisco Alvarado

Awards

• 2011 - The Green Eyeshade Excellence in Journalism Awards/Atlanta SPJ, published July 8, 2010

  "Death Row"

• 2010 - Better Weekly Newspaper Awards/Florida Press Association, published September 3, 2009

  "On the Level"

• 2010 - Better Weekly Newspaper Awards/Florida Press Association, published October 15, 2009

  "Work It, Jerry!"

• 2010 - Better Weekly Newspaper Awards/Florida Press Association, published September 17, 2009

  "Baby Got Fatback!"

• 2010 - Sunshine State Awards/South Florida Society of Professional Journalists, published September 3, 2009

  "On the Level"

• 2009 - The Green Eyeshade Excellence in Journalism Awards/Atlanta SPJ, published May 1, 2008

  "The F-School Bomb"

• 2009 - Better Weekly Newspaper Awards/Florida Press Association, published May 1, 2008

  "The F-School Bomb"

• 2009 - Sunshine State Awards/South Florida Society of Professional Journalists, published September 11, 2008

  "Missing Peace"

• 2009 - Sunshine State Awards/South Florida Society of Professional Journalists, published December 11, 2008

  "No Fear"

• 2009 - Education Reporting Awards/National Education Writers Association, published May 1, 2008

  "F-School Bomb"

• 2009 - AAN AltWeekly Awards, published October 30, 2008

  "Voter Fraud Ahead"

• 2009 - AAN AltWeekly Awards, published May 22, 2008

  "Burn, Baby, Burn"

• 2009 - AAN AltWeekly Awards, published May 8, 2008

  "Killers in the Can"

• 2009 - The Green Eyeshade Excellence in Journalism Awards/Atlanta SPJ, published January 10, 2008

  "Wet Foot, Dusty Foot"

• 2009 - The Green Eyeshade Excellence in Journalism Awards/Atlanta SPJ, published October 23, 2008

  "Dead Weight"

• 2008 - Better Weekly Newspaper Awards/Florida Press Association, published August 2, 2007

  "Bad Apple"

• 2006 - The Green Eyeshade Excellence in Journalism Awards/Atlanta SPJ, published January 27, 2005

  "Crack Kills"

More

2011 Stories by Francisco Alvarado

• Gambling Industry Fueling Next Year's Election Season

  published Dec 30, 2011

  In the past year, parimutuel and casino companies have contributed over a million dollars to state legislators and Republican political action committees as the gambling industry gears up for a combat... More >>

• Carlos Gimenez Is No Longer Looking Out For Akerman Senterfitt, Lobbyists Who Funded His Campaign

  published Dec 29, 2011

  Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez has vetoed a controversial lobbying contract that included a law firm that has generously supported his political campaign for the county's top elected position. Citing... More >>

• Miami locals' New Year's resolutions

  published December 29, 2011

  Miami locals' New Year's resolutions More >>

• 

  FEATURED STORY

  Five Sports Stories This Year So Bizarre They Must Have Happened in Miami

  published Dec 28, 2011

  2011 sucked for the average Miami sports fan. The Big 3 and the Miami Heat were bitched-slapped by the most annoying guest star on Entourage, a German white walker, a Puerto Rican hobbit, and the most... More >>

• 

  FEATURED STORY

  2012 Resolutions: From Hank Adorno to Donna Shalala to Sid Rosenberg

  published Dec 27, 2011

  Let's face it. For most of us, keeping a New Year's resolution is as likely as the Miami Dolphins finally finding Dan Marino's successor in the draft.And some locals should look back on the past year ... More >>

• Blowfeezy for Sheezy

  published December 22, 2011

  Long before Luther Campbell and 2 Live Crew spewed their raunchy, explicit lyrics on America, there was Blowfly. Born Clarence Reid in 1939 in... More >>

• 

  FEATURED STORY

  Marc Sarnoff Uses Taxpayer-Funded Lawyer For Personal Battle

  published Dec 22, 2011

  On Dec. 14, Miami Police officers hauled off Reid Welch to jail because he sent his nemesis, Miami city Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, an email. According to his arrest report, Welch violated a temporary ... More >>

• Carlos Gimenez and Akerman Senterfitt Are Looking Out for Each Other

  published Dec 21, 2011

  A local law firm that raised at least $30,000 in campaign funds for Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez is seeing its investment pay off. On Monday, the county commission approved Gimenez's request to spl... More >>

• Richard Pulido and His Miami Lakes Town Council Buddies Hide From The Sunshine

  published Dec 20, 2011

  This past December 13 around 10:30 p.m., three Miami Lakes councilmen -- Tim Daubert, Nelson Hernandez, and Richard Pulido -- huddled inside the Miami Lakes Ale House, a sports bar a couple of blocks ... More >>

• Miami Lakes councilmen allegedly broke Sunshine Law

  published December 22, 2011

  Miami Lakes councilmen allegedly broke Sunshine Law More >>

• Kevin Burns, North Miami's Ex-Mayor, Returns To Reclaim His Christmas Tree Crown

  published Dec 15, 2011

  Nothing spreads holiday cheer like a feud involving the sale of Christmas trees. Entering his 35th season selling firs and spruces on Biscayne Boulevard in northeast Miami-Dade, former North Miami May... More >>

• Deede Weithorn Denounces FP&L's Monopoly On Miami Beach

  published Dec 14, 2011

  After having a conversation about Florida Power & Light with Commissioner Deede Weithorn, Banana Republican is convinced it's time for an Occupy Turkey Point rally. It's bad enough the Florida Pub... More >>

• 

  Miami food truck disappears, a 25-year-old is killed

  published December 15, 2011

  Miami food truck disappears, a 25-year-old is killed Rolling Stove Yamil Rosaly Jr. Nagib Castillo Miami More >>

• 

  FEATURED STORY

  Lincoln Diaz-Balart Lies While Shilling for Genting In Herald Op-Ed Piece

  published Dec 13, 2011

  In Saturday's edition of the Miami Herald, former U.S. Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart penned an opinion letter shilling for his client, Genting, the Malaysian-based gaming conglomerate that wants to ... More >>

• Jeffrey Godfrey Gets His Release From the University of Central Florida

  published Dec 12, 2011

  The former star quarterback from Miami Central Senior High who broke Jacory Harris' passing record, is leaving the University of Central Florida after following his breakout freshman season with a sop... More >>

• Veldora Arthur, Miami Fire Department Fraudster, Could Go Away For A Long Time

  published Dec 08, 2011

  Veldora Arthur, the disgraced Miami assistant fire chief who collected $120,000 in pay while she sat at home for seven months awaiting trial, could face a longer prison sentence if federal prosecutors... More >>

• Vanessa Brito Sued For Defamation By Seijas Supporter Who Took 'Miami Voice' Name

  published Dec 08, 2011

  Anyone who followed the recall movement versus former Miami-Dade County Commissioner Natacha Seijas knows the group that sought her ouster calls itself Miami Voice and is chaired by activist Vanessa B... More >>

• Rep. Erik Fresen's IRS debt and alleged nepotism

  published December 8, 2011

  Rep. Erik Fresen's IRS debt and alleged nepotism More >>

• Rep. Erik Fresen, Pro-Gambling Lawmaker, Owes Thousands To The IRS

  published Dec 05, 2011

  Over the past six months, state Rep. Erik Fresen has established himself as the go-to-politician for the gambling industry tycoons who want to bring gargantuan casino resorts to the Magic City. The la... More >>

• Andy Warhol's Iconic Banana, Tea Party Bashing, And A Lot Of Arte Povera At NADA

  published Dec 02, 2011

  A dozen rows of 220 upright empty toilet paper rolls are lined up neatly against one another on a wood table. The center of the cardboard cylinders are stuffed with crumpled up pieces of even more emp... More >>

• Max Rameau and Umoja Village Invade Art Basel

  published Dec 01, 2011

  You can say Max Rameau is a social activist trendsetter. Long before the Occupy Wall Street movement was even an idea, Rameau was leading the charge for the disenfranchised 99 percent with his Take Ba... More >>

• Pitbull Makes GQ's "Least Influential" List, But Not Ours; Meet Miami's Five Least Influential

  published Dec 01, 2011

  rIn the December issue of GQ magazine, our hometown boy Pitbull is the only Miamian to make the list of the "25 Least Influential People Alive." Tim Pawlenty claimed the top spot and others on th... More >>

• Santa's Enchanted Forest's Owner Offends Limo Workers

  published December 1, 2011

  'Twas one Friday night in January last year when the owner of Miami's longest-running holiday festival failed miserably in his attempt to mack... More >>

• Brian Shectman, Santa's Enchanted Forest Owner, Insults Limo Workers

  published Nov 28, 2011

  'Twas one Friday night in January last year when the owner of Miami's longest-running holiday festival failed miserably in his attempt to mack on a woman at a limo company.Brian Shechtman, who along w... More >>

• Judith Thompson's Vote Was Stolen By Unknown Ballot Bandits

  published Nov 25, 2011

  A recent Miami-Dade ethics commission probe concluded three women residing at an assisted living facility in North Miami Beach were victims of absentee ballot voter fraud. The commission's executive d... More >>