Support the Show. Subscribe to the Key Biscayne Independent todayBy Tony Winton, John Pacenti

Support the Show. Subscribe to the Key Biscayne Independent todayBy Tony Winton, John Pacenti

Support the Show. Subscribe to the Key Biscayne Independent todayBy Tony Winton, John Pacenti

Support the Show. Subscribe to the Key Biscayne Independent todayBy Tony Winton, John Pacenti

Support the Show. Subscribe to the Key Biscayne Independent todayBy Tony Winton, John Pacenti

MIAMI will have a new, powerful elected sheriff in a few months, and this summer. voters will pick the Democratic and Republican candidates for the job. It's a post with a big budget and responsibilities ranging from traffic to homicide. We talked to six of the of 13 Republican candidates and one of four Democrats. BONUS ***** Here are the full int…

Support the Show. Subscribe to the Key Biscayne Independent todayBy Tony Winton, John Pacenti

Support the Show. Subscribe to the Key Biscayne Independent todayBy Tony Winton, John Pacenti

LAST YEAR, ocean temperatures set records. And this year, it's looking even more extreme. What will that mean for the Atlantic Hurricane Season, just two months away? We welcome back meteorologist Brian McNoldy from the University of Miami's Rosenstiel Schoo, who has been blogging about extraordinary ocean temperature changes. Plus, our regular new…

His name is RETRO BILL and he goes around the country with a sometimes zany message for kids - and he's passionate about stopping bullying. Retro Bill just wrapped up a series of shows in Key Biscayne -- and he has a message for parents and kids. After you've listened to his show -- check him out here Support the Show. Subscribe to the Key Biscayne…

CONDO SALES ARE PLUMMETING in Sough Florida, but is it a crisis? Our guest is KEN JOHNSON from Florida Atlantic University, a real estate economist, who talks about the effect of the Surfside condo collapse on the market. "Condos are the canary in the coal mine." We also discuss the Olea sex abuse case, where a police detective's recorded comments …

TWO MAJOR SEX CRIME cases are now top of mind for many Key Biscayne residents, with defendants facing potential life sentences. Our guest is a former state and federal prosecutor who now is one of Miami's top defense lawyers -- David S, Weinstein. We ask hin how these cases are likely to play out and how they will proceed in court, We also discuss …

SEX ABUSE ALLEGATIONS and a fatal crash involving an e-bike collision. Idyllic Key Biscayne has been dealing with a series of serious problems that would challenge any town. Our guest is former Anti-Social host THOM MOZLOOM, an expert in crisis communications and marketing. How can a government better communicate with its citizens? We also discuss …

A series of sexual misconduct cases have roiled the "Island Paradise" of Key Biscayne. Our guests are two reporters from the Miami Herald -- Clara-Sophia Daly and Ana Claudia Chacin whose stories about accusations against gymnastic coach Oscar Olea have led police to consider reopening an investigation. Some of the accusations are more than a decad…

WALT DISNEY WORLD is Florida's largest private employer, but few know that it's also a heavily unionized workforce. Contracts at Disney influence the entire state. Our guest is Mike Schneider, an AP correspondent and author of the book "MICKEY AND THE TEAMSTERS: A fight for fair unions at Disney" which looks at a years-long battle involving the "ca…

WITH CONDO COMPLAINTS rising all over Florida, State Rep. Vicky Lopez has filed sweeping legislation that would add new criminal penalties for wayward condo boards. She talks about why the legislation is needed -- and the support she expects to get when the Florida Legislature convenes January 9th. We also discuss the arrest of a Key Biscayne attor…

WE CLOSE 2023 with something every Key Biscayne motorist sees every day -- the big new electronic sign welcoming people to the Island Paradise. But a local group wants to add some cheery messages to the sign to boost spirits and promote the sense of community. Our guest Oscar Sardiñas, a member of the Village Council, talks about this idea to promo…

$300 Million, $200 Million, $100 Million? Next month, the Key Biscayne Village Council is expected to revise just how much flood water it needs to pump as sea level rise threatens the barrier island. Our guest is Council Member Oscar Sardiñas, who is serving his first term and will be one of seven making this monumental decision And we have a BIG A…

It's not Sundance yet, but Key Biscayne is getting its own film festival. Our guests Isabel Custer and Maite Garrado Thornton talk about the first event in January and how the festival uniquely connects with the Island Paradise. You can learn more about the festival here Support the Show. Subscribe to the Key Biscayne Independent today…

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE is the leading cause of injury to women in the U.S. Every year, more than 3 million children witness domestic violence in their homes. Our Guest is Miami's top prosecutor, Katherine Fernandez Rundle, who has worked for years to improve the criminal justice system's response to these family-destroying problems. The hotline for dome…

IT WILL COST HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS -- making Key Biscayne hardened against sea level rise, increasing rains, and hurricanes. But protecting one of Miami's most scenic barrier islands is facing a big vote in the coming weeks -- a final decision on just how dry the streets should be, and whether there is the political will to borrow, spend,…

Once a year, Miami-Dade County comes together to support hundreds of nonprofits working to strengthen our community and is people. It's called Give Miami Day and Our guest is Rebecca Fishman Lipsey, the leader of the Miami Foundation to talk about how the entire community can benefit when it works to support worthy causes We also talk about how Key…

With the horror of the Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel by the terrorist group Hamas and the subsequent air strikes on the Gaza Strip, we asked Middle East expert Eric Lob to break down the complex issues that led to the massacre and the perils of the conflict for the United States. Lob is an associate professor at Florida International University…

Thom Mozloom returns to host this episode. Miami-Dade Raquel Regalado talks about plans to refurbish Crandon Park golf course, those "bad trees" cut down on the side of the Rickenbacker Causeway and an issue close to her heart: employing the neurodivergent. She also addresses rumors whether she would toss her hat in the ring to become Miami-Dade Co…

RON MAGILL says known to a worldwide audience for his passion about animals, his wildlife photography, and his job as spokesman for Zoo Miami. But he's speaking out forcefully about a plan to put a water park at the Zoo, a move he says will endanger wildlife. He says he's ready to put his job on the line. In Segment 2, we talk about opposition to t…

KEY BISCAYNE families with special needs people recently succeeded in getting funding to enhance services on the island, but they're not done yet. Our guest is Dominique Breard, a member of the group "It Takes a Village KB." We ask her about how local families organized, their challenges, and the future of special needs help for both kids and adult…

The sudden death of Lolita, the "killer whale" at the Miami Seaquarium, saddened animal lovers everywhere. But trainers had long warned of problems. Our guest is Mark Simmons, a former trainer and author of the book Killing Keiko talks about the orca's death and the what he thinks must be done in the future for marine parks Support the Show. Subscr…

An arrest in a months-long investigation of fraud rattled residents at a posh Key Biscayne condominium this week. We start our show with the latest news in the scandal and audio of police interviews. Our guest is nationally respected journalist Sergio Bustos , who leads the newsroom at WLRN. Sergio tells us about the state of local journalism and h…

SOUTH FLORIDA is in the grips of an affordable housing crisis, with a combination of high rents, high values, and high interest rates making it difficult for many to make ends meet -- even though some values have leveled off in Key Biscayne Our guest is Ron Shuffield, president and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty, a market veteran…

THIS WEEK, we turn the microphone over to our summer intern at the Key Biscayne Independent about her real-world journalism experience covering big stories. But ANASTASIA IVANOVA has a story of her own - her family, refugees from Ukraine, is dealing daily with the ongoing invasion of their country. Her powerful first-person column is about what it'…

JOE RASCO IS 233 DAYS into his term as mayor of Key Biscayne, and is fresh off some big wins. This week, after months of delay, the Village Council restarted a stalled $250 million project to protect the island from sea level rise. And the Village Council achieved a rare 7-0 vote on a potential tax increase for the 2024 budget -- but some 'wish lis…

THIS JULY, record temperatures around the world are setting records in the oceans and in cities. Miami has had days of excessive, unprecedented heat. And scientists say the record surface temperatures could endanger corals and make hurricane forecasting unpredictable. Our guest is BRIAN McNOLDY, a meteorologist at the University of Miami's Rosensti…

RACISM ALLEGATIONS are in the news almost nonstop. Accusations of racial slurs at MAST Academy, a prestigious Miami magnet school. A Supreme Court ruling striking down affirmative action. And other court rulings involving racial unfairness in the election system. Our guest is Harold Ford, the head of the South Dade Chapter of the NAACP. An educator…

IN FLORIDA and across the nation, legislatures have passed restrictive laws that many in the LGTBQ+ community feel are targeting their right to exist. In Florida, the "Don't Say Gay" law was expanded, and some teachers feel a chilling effect. Our guest is Orlando Gonzalez, executive director of SAVE/LGBTQ. We ask him about the challenges the commun…

SOME KEY BISCAYNE residents are up in arms over a proposal to mandate flood barriers on private property in Key Biscayne. And some members of council have delayed the next big step in advancing the island's $250 million dollar plan to fight sea level rise and increase resiliency. Village Manager Steve Williamson, a former Army Corps of Engineers Co…

THE TRAGIC COLLAPSE OF THE CHAMPLAIN TOWERS SOUTH in Surfside two years ago this month had huge impacts on condominiums where millions of Floridians live. New inspections and new costs are coming at a time when insurance rates are skyrocketing and buildings are confronting deferred maintenance. In Key Biscayne, the largest complex is the news, with…

FEW VOTERS KNOW that a mammoth change in law enforcement is coming to Miami-Dade County. That's because for the first time in decades, voters will elect a sheriff who will run the nation's sixth-largest police agency. It means that the job - currently non-political - will become a political office with Republicans and Democrats competing. The curre…

THE RECENTLY CONCLUDED LEGISLATIVE SESSION was one for the books with contentious votes on abortion, immigration, guns, and a fight with Disney. It also brought a million dollars to Key Biscayne -- but the island didn't get everything it wanted. Our guest is State House Representative Vicki Lopez who talks about her votes, how the system is working…

A RECENT REPORT CARD gave Biscayne Bay another set of poor ratings for water quality. And despite increased attention and new regulation in recent years, the bay is getting worse, not better. It's at a "tipping point," scientists say OUR guest is Audrey Siu, the policy director for Miami Waterkeeper, a nonprofit group working to restore health to M…

A conversation with U.K artist Luke Jerram about an illuminated globe installed for Earth Day weekend in Key Biscayne. Measuring nearly 23 feet in diameter, this installation is a scale replica of Earth, created using detailed NASA imagery of the planet’s surface. Support the Show. Subscribe to the Key Biscayne Independent today…

AFTER YEARS, a plan meant to meet future challenges for Miami's "Island Paradise" had a raucous final public meeting before coming to a vote. Critics have organized against it, claiming it will promote density. Village leaders pushed back as they defended the lengthy document. Our guest is former Council Member Luis de la Cruz, a member of the pane…

THE KEY BISCAYNE Rib Off is a charity event in honor of abeloved local physician that has expanded to more than 20 teams, drawing an ever growing audience. Details here Our guest is York Flik, one of the organizers of the competition who gives the history, some insights on what makes a winning rib, and the impact that the charity has had on on medi…

Lolita has been at the Miami Seaquarium for decades, but an unlikely partnership this week announced a plan to return her to her home waters in the Pacific Northwest after five decades in captivity. Our guest is Charles Vinick, the co-founder of Friends of Lolita, who describes how a plan to privately fund her preparation and transport came about. …

Major criminal cases are daily work in America's fourth-biggest prosecutor's office, but Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle says pay is so low, she lost 100 lawyers in the past year. She's pleading with the Florida Legislature to fund law enforcement offices so criminal cases can go forward as pandemic backlogs are straining resou…

It's 20 MONTHS before Election Day, but DANIELLA LEVINE CAVA announced her re-election campaign for the top job in Miami March 1. Why so early? And what is the state of play as the 2024 presidential race gets closer? Our guest is Fernand Amandi, who is one of Florida's leading pollsters and analysts, who shares his views of what could one of the bi…

Governor Ron DeSantis thinks it should be easier to sue for libel, and a bill in the Florida Legislature would to exactly that. Our guest is veteran newsroom leader Bobby Block, the head of Florida's First Amendment Foundation, to talk about how this proposed law would chill speech -- whether it's from the right or left, and whether it's a newspape…

OUR GUEST Sofia Schott has devoted her life to teaching people good manners, and her business is now taking off. Our world may be politically polarized, but that's no reason to ignore the social rules that just make life more pleasant for you -- and everyone else. Join us -- so you won't be Anti-Social. Support the Show. Subscribe to the Key Biscay…

Former Florida Agirculture Commissioner Nikki Fried wants to be the chair of the Florida Democratic party, which took a drubbing in November's election. What is her plan to turn the party around in the Sunshine State. And the Chat GPT artificial intelligence software has exploded into all kinds of fields, what about education? We talk with a Sofia …

Are schools back from the pandemic? Out guest is Anne Rothe, the director of the Key Biscayne Presbyterian School, which is celebrating 25 years of service. Also joining us: Miami-Dade Commissioner Raquel Regalado with updates on e-bikes, scooters, and the Rickenbacker Causeway We also discuss a big battle in the largest condo complex in Key Biscay…

Key Biscayne is about to start a crackdown on e-bikes and electric scooters, while state officials consider granting local communities more tools to promote safe ridershi Police Chief Frank Sousa joins us on our OUR 100th SHOW! We also ask the chief about some serious local crimes, his reaction to the police beating of Tyre Nichols, and a proposal …