Killer Mold in Miami Court

Once an active skier and runner, U.S. Magistrate Theodore Klein could hardly breathe. His face was swollen from steroids. And he had to wheel around a portable oxygen canister. He knew his killer long before he perished in September 2006. “Ted strongly believed it was the mold in the courthouse…

Miami PD Deputy Chief Frank Fernandez to Replace Timoney?

It might be wishful thinking, but vociferous Miami Police union boss Armando Aguilar is still cheered by the rumors. “I’ve heard he’s supposed to be leaving soon,” he says. “Maybe by next week.” He speaks of the resignation of Chief John Timoney, nemesis of the officers’ union. Timoney has been…

Topless Protesters on South Beach

A couple of Saturdays ago, Donna Newman was walking the Miami Beach shoreline when she noticed a pretty ponytailed gal in a tight bikini and waved at her. “Free yourself, lady!” the tan, middle-age Newman hollered into a microphone. On cue, a troupe of topless female protesters behind her added,…

Conflict of Interest for School Board Chair Agustin Barrera?

Last October, Miami-Dade School Board chairman Agustin Barrera hired Howard Diston to work on his house. The job: add a storage room and renovate the terrace, a closet, and the master bathroom of the chairman’s $415,000 three-bedroom residence in South Miami. There might have been more to this than meets…

Neighbors Battle in Cutler Bay

Gripping a 12-gauge shotgun by the stock, Steven Robbins stormed out of a single-story home on Martinque Drive in Cutler Bay late in the evening of March 4. The tall, burly ex-Miami Beach cop, whose long, silvery mane and scruffy salt-and-pepper beard augment his imposing demeanor, marched toward the circular…

Florida Supreme Court Takes Three Amendments Off the Ballot

With nine proposed amendments to the State constitution set for a vote this November, the ballot was looking a little crowded. The Florida Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, gave the ballot a little bit of breathing room by removing three. Two of the barred amendments would have allowed state…

Babies Beware

via Anvari Looking to take a non-pregnant pause from all that Palin news? Well, unless you want to obsessively dwell on hurricanes, the best the local news has to offer is stories about more babies. And unfortunately they’re not of the “Breaking: This Totally Cute Baby Just Did The Most…

Please Believe That Grouper is Grouper

Kyle Munzenrieder What ends up on your plate won’t be a grab bag. Some people open their mouths and enjoy anything that goes in. But more discerning types worry that grouper advertised on the menu may actually be Mrs. Paul’s Fish Sticks. Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum announced today that…

Marlins Upgraded to a Category 5 Shitstorm

Seems like only yesterday the Marlins were coming back against teams, overcoming seemingly insurmountable deficits and generally making life miserable for the Mets and Phillies while making a run at history. The Marlins were within grasp of the NL East. Now, they’re a walking disaster. Coming out of the All-Star…

Sarah Palin, Abstinence Only, and Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood is holding a panel discussion September 16th at FIU called “Sex, Lies, and Stereotypes: The Harm of Abstinence Only Policies at Home and Abroad.” Gee, I wonder what name will constantly be brought up again at again at that. Hmmmm… They didn’t slap this discussion together over night,…

Get Ready For Even More Hurricanes

Hurricane Gustav Gustav, Hanna, Ike and Josephine are the biggest names in the news right now who don’t have pregnant teenage daughters, but get ready for Kyle, Laura, Marco, and even the bone-chillingly named Nana too. Hurricane forecasters are predicting that September could be an unusually busy month for storms,…

Lots of Surrogates, but Where’s Obama?

Obama Former Rhode Island Sen. Lincoln Chafee, an Ex-Republican, is stumping around Florida for Obama this week. Vice Presidential nominee Joe Biden is here this week too. Hillary Clinton made he first stump speach for Obama two weeks ago. But where’s Barack? Well, the Obameister was in Orlando on August…

Listen up McCain! Nix Palin Before It’s Too Late.

Palin If John McCain wanted to pick a running mate who would dominate the national dialogue, he sure made the right choice. Whereas Barack Obama’s choice of Joe Biden was met with muffled refrains of “oh, what a safe, smart choice”, the reaction to Sarah Palin has been one that…

Downtown Miami Caught In Time Warp!

Miami Night Sky: Time Lapse from Lonny Paul on Vimeo. Two Vimeo users recently pointed their time-lapse cameras on Miami and achieved some pretty stunning results. The above video by Lonny Paul shows downtown at dawn. Paul also caught a storm in process. Click on the “more” button to get…

Ugly Shirts Keep Florida Delegates Safe

via eBay Apparently you can buy these things. Last week during the Democratic National Convention the Herald’s political reporters were so bored they took to incessantly blogging about the hotel arrangements of the Florida delegation. The Republicans have — thank goodness — spiced things up. Besides the little matter of…

More Storms! And Geraldo! Sweet Lord Help Us All

Sure, the TV types certainly enjoyed their time with Gustav last weekend. But other than a crappy Labor Day weekend of spitting rain and vicious rip-currents, South Florida pretty much ignored Gustav once the cone of concern migrated well to the west. But what better way to welcome back in…

Blogging Bristol Palin’s Baby Bump

We’re treading on new turf here. As my esteemed colleague points out the McCain campaign announced Bristol Palin’s pregnancy in response to dirt-digging bloggers, certainly the first time the blogosphere has caused a ripple in a presidential campaign. So why are bloggers acting like such effete pussies about it?…

Everyone Is Power Hungry at City Hall

Barreiro Miami-Dade County Commission Chairman Bruno Barreiro was one of the strongest voices against last year’s strong mayor referendum. But apparently he’s not against the idea of concentrating too much power in one public official. Now, he’s proposing that the duties of his job be expanded as well. Hypocritical? Oh,…

That’s Mr. Ocho Cinco To You

via Sportaphile 86’d Johnson for 85 With 99 to 1 odds that the Dolphins will win the Super Bowl, it’s just too depressing to think about them. Until they improve I’ll keep my attention on a certain Cinicinati Bengal’s wide receiver from Liberty City who makes my head hurt too,…