South #Florida city manager denies conflict of interest
-- but stops making furniture purchases from wife's company wlrn.org/government-pol… via Joshua Ceballos

NEW: How a viral ad campaign and ‘draconian’ crackdown changed Miami Beach spring break
miamiherald.com/news/local/com…

Her tenure ended with a shot at the two commissioners who wanted her out.

Victoria Méndez has been removed. George Wysong will replace her for two weeks. She will remain on as an advisor until June.

wlrn.org/government-pol…

'It looks really bad.'

Commissioners came down on Miami City Manager Art Noriega for allowing his office to purchase furniture from his wife's family business. Noriega contends he did nothing wrong and sees no conflict.

wlrn.org/government-pol…

It's official: Victoria Mendez has been voted out as City Attorney, effective immediately. She will serve in an advisory role until June 11.

She gave a tearful goodbye, and accused the commissioners who pushed for her termination of being backed by 'serial litigators'

Commissioners Miguel Gabela and Damian Pardo are in a heated back and forth with City Attorney Victoria Mendez, who they're looking to terminate today. Lots of talking over each other and accusations being thrown

City Manager Art Noriega said that it was 'never reported' that the furniture purchases were approved under a state contract, which the city was allowed to use by way of a 2006 resolution.

But that was in our original story. Find it here:

wlrn.org/wlrn-investiga…

In the middle of the discussion about City Manager Art Noriega and his wife's family furniture company, Commissioner Joe Carollo is now presenting issues he had with a Miami Herald article about Union Beer.

You can't make this up.

Noriega and Commissioner Joe Carollo have repeatedly attacked a corrected headline in the Miami Herald multiple times, but have so far not mentioned WLRN's reporting or addressed the discrepancy between the numbers they've presented and the numbers we reported.

As of this morning, we've joined our Miami Herald colleagues in requesting the supporting data for this presentation.

Miami city attorney helped steer $10M meant for citywide projects to Carollo’s district

✍️ w/Tess Riski, Sarah Blaskey & Susan Merriam

miamiherald.com/news/local/com…

Breaking news:

ACLU of Florida and local groups win gerrymandering trial against the City of Miami. Judge ruled that the city's five districts violate the U.S. Constitution.

'Today, the Court permanently prevents the City from racial gerrymandering any longer'
wlrn.org/government-pol…

NEW from me: As the population grows in Downtown West Palm Beach, people are getting to know their neighbors in “third places” — thanks to a successful community engagement program aimed at repurposing public spaces. Favorite third place?

LISTEN/READ:

wlrn.org/arts-culture/2…

can't find a good list of new all-in costs for all colleges — but the University of Miami now costs $93,000. that's more than the most expensive Ivy wlrn.org/education/2024…

'The celestial event drew curious children like 8-year-old twins Bernardo and Franco Canedo. It's their first eclipse. Franco said he was a little frightened because he doesn't know how the moon is going to cover the sun.' 🥹🌖 WLRN Public Media

wlrn.org/science-techno…

A roundup of Eclipse festivities from Palm Beach to Miami and Key Largo!

From myself and my fabulous colleagues WLRN Public Media
wlrn.org/science-techno…