Miami Herald • 30th June 2021

Condo collapse exposes weakness in state and county building inspections, experts say

The collapse of the condo in Surfside exposed flaws in Florida's building inspection laws. Structural engineers and architects say the tragedy should serve as a catalyst to update them — especially in coastal communities where rising water tables pose increasing threats.

Miami Herald • 28th June 2021

Surfside official was sent disturbing report. He told board condo was ‘in good shape’

A month after an engineer’s report flagged “major structural damage” at Champlain Towers South, the chief building official for the town of Surfside told residents the condominium was “in very good shape,” according to minutes from a November 2018 board meeting obtained by the Miami Herald.

Miami Herald • 9th March 2021

‘ ’22 is right around the corner.’ DeSantis’ optics were focus of Lakewood Ranch vaccine organizers

Organizers of the three-day vaccine distribution event last month in Lakewood Ranch in Manatee County were focused on more than shots, text messages between them and the governor’s office show. They were also keenly aware of the political optics of bringing Gov. Ron DeSantis into town to promote vaccines in their Republican-rich neighborhood. Rather than rely on a random selection of vaccine-eligible residents, the governor’s staff wanted them to create a list of who would get a vaccine.

Miami Herald • 4th March 2021

Wealthy Keys enclave received COVID vaccines in January before much of the state

As Florida’s eldest residents struggled to sign up to receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, nearly all those aged 65 years and older in a wealthy gated enclave in the Florida Keys had been vaccinated by mid-January, according to an emailed newsletter obtained by the Miami Herald.

Miami Herald • 1st April 2021

After sugar’s $11 million investment, a bipartisan push to protect industry

A bill moving quickly through the Florida Legislature could prevent people from suing the sugar industry when the black ash from sugarcane burning causes health problems.

Miami Herald • 17th March 2021

Tom Brady and a superyacht: How a mogul pitched Florida leaders on Miami Beach casino

Miami Beach real estate mogul Jeff Soffer used his superyacht, and his friendship with Tom Brady, to get renewed attention from Florida legislators to his long-sought bid for a Miami Beach casino.

Miami Herald • 2nd March 2021

Legislating in the time of COVID-19 means putting protections over public access

Located on the tallest hill in the highest part of the state, halfway between Pensacola and Jacksonville, Florida’s Capitol is hard to reach for most Floridians during the annual legislative session.But this year, as legislators opened their 60-day session Tuesday trying to navigate a global pandemic and stay healthy enough to avoid disrupting their activities, access to elected government is even more distant.

Miami Herald • 1st March 2021

As governor cherry-picked data, the pandemic took a toll on Florida Sunshine laws

Open government advocates say the state of Florida’s Sunshine laws is darker this year because of the governor’s selective release of information and his attempt at times to actively shield critical details about the depths of the crisis from becoming public.

Miami Herald • 1st March 2021

Timeline: Florida’s dark year for its Sunshine Law

A year ago on March 1, 2020, Florida announced its first two cases of the novel coronavirus, and declared a public health emergency recognizing the emergence of the novel coronavirus. Only later did we learn that the spread of COVID-19 in Florida likely began in January, if not earlier, but as late as March 11, as the White House downplayed the virus, Gov. Ron DeSantis denied that community spread was taking place in Florida. Here is a summary of the state of transparency in Florida over the last year:

Miami Herald • 2nd October 2020

An ALF tragedy: COVID didn’t kill Rita at age 95, despair and loneliness did

An outgoing and healthy 95-year-old mother decided to stop eating after isolation in a Florida ALF left her lonely and confused. Her daughters blame flawed and inconsistent COVID restrictions.

Miami Herald • 23rd July 2020

COVID is leaking into Florida nursing homes as regulators allow exceptions

More than 6,700 staff and residents at nursing homes and assisted living facilities have been infected with COVID-19 in the month of July, a 129% rise that regulators blame on vendors and staff who unwittingly bring in the virus. But the state also played a role.

Miami Herald • 11th October 2020

Florida’s seniors, the state’s most reliable voters, are shifting away from Trump

Florida’s seniors who traditionally vote at higher rates than any other age group, shifted in significant numbers away from President Donald Trump to former Vice President Joe Biden. The trend was happening as more of Florida's Hispanic voters shifted away from Democrats.

Miami Herald • 7th April 2020

Inside Florida’s frenzied, failed dash to dole out $600 million in no-bid mask deals

With its stockpile of protective masks low, Florida embarked on a buying frenzy three weeks into the state emergency. More than $600 million in deals have resulted in virtually no product.

Miami Herald • 12th June 2020

The Florida COVID-19 data said one thing while Gov. DeSantis sometimes said another

When Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that most of the state would reopen for business on May 4, he cited his administration’s “data-driven strategy” and success at achieving “critical benchmarks in flattening the curve” to contain COVID-19. But a review of the data the governor was using shows his public pronouncements were often in conflict with real-time facts. He either wasn’t aware the data showed that community spread, regional outbreaks and death tolls were worse than he was telling Floridians, or he selectively focused on outdated statistics to make his case.

Miami Herald • 9th November 2020

Experts wonder and warn: Is Florida the nation’s test case for COVID-19 herd immunity?

Whether Floridians know it or not, Gov. Ron DeSantis is pursuing a policy that will allow the virus to spread freely in the state until most of the population becomes infected — or is vaccinated vaccine — while attempting to protect those thought to be most vulnerable. Critics say it is an irresponsible herd immunity policy. Advocates call it "focused protection."

Miami Herald • 17th July 2020

DeSantis’ COVID strategy: Talk about the good, avoid talking about how to prevent the bad

Since the onset of COVID, even as infections and deaths have soared, Florida Gov. DeSantis has delivered a shifting narrative focused on defending his actions.

Miami Herald • 13th January 2021

Rosa Zamanillo hadn’t left her elder-care home in 3 years. COVID-19 got her anyway

In four days, Rosa Zamanillo went from singing Cuban ballads and eating well at the Residential Plaza assisted living facility in Miami, to being unrecognizable by her youngest son. They told her she didn't have COVID-19.

Miami Herald • 16th June 2020

Florida’s testing program offers snapshot of COVID-19’s deadly toll in long-term care

Gov. Ron DeSantis reversed course and ordered universal testing at nursing homes and assisted living facilities, revealing the devastation COVID-19 has wrought on facilities in Florida.

Miami Herald • 26th June 2020

Are legislators AWOL? State faces massive budget hole and no role for Legislature

Is the Florida Legislature ceding its oversight of the growing budget deficit and public health crisis over the coronavirus to the governor? Democrats say it is but the leaders of Florida’s Republican-controlled state House and Senate disagree. Florida’s elected leaders say they have no plans to return to Tallahassee until after the election.

Miami Herald • 22nd April 2020

Shark Tank investor among those who tried to sell N95 masks at a high price to state

A hefty offer, a special arrangement with a law firm, and a promise of 1 million N95 masks got Florida emergency management officials into a Shark Tank-style deal for the precious pieces of protective equipment.