MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – A local group of high school students spent their Spring break touring some of the most Civil Rights landmarks through the south.

Louisiana was at the heart of the Civil Rights Movement as Blacks and whites clashed over equality including voting rights and diversity in the sheriff’s department.

Miami-Dade County Commissioner Oliver G. Gilbert III sponsored the tour to give students an eye-opening journey through Louisiana to explore the state’s rich, deep-rooted history and last impact on the Civil Rights Movement.

Throughout the week, students visited historic landmarks, engaged in meaningful discussions, and connected with the powerful stories of civil rights leaders and communities.

The tour provided a hands-on learning experience that brought history to life, encouraging students to think critically about social justice, civic responsibility, and their role in shaping the future.

“Seeing history up close and learning from these powerful stories gives our students a perspective they simply cannot get in a classroom,” said Gilbert. “I am proud of each student for embracing this experience, and I hope it inspires them to become leaders in their own communities.” The Spring Break Expedition Civil Rights Tour 2.0 reflects the Commissioner’s ongoing commitment to youth development, education, empowering, and exposing students to experiences that broaden their perspectives.

Racial tension was at an all-time high in Louisiana during the 1960s after the 1964 Voting Rights Act was passed.

According to historians, a motorcade of members of the Klu Klux Klan rode through Black neighborhoods, shouting racial slurs, threatening violence and throwing objects at Black people’s homes and cars.

Blacks in the area had enough and then came the birth of the Deacons for Defense and Justice in Louisiana, a group of African Americans who took turns guarding their neighbors’ homes with shotguns.

The Klan never returned to the neighborhood.

In 1965, the Klan allegedly struck again but this time it was the death of a Black law enforcement officer.

Oneal Moore, who was 34 at the time, was the first Black deputy sheriff for the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office in Varnado, Louisiana when he and his partner were ambushed by a group of white men in a pick up truck.

Moore was shot dead and his partner survived the attack but lost sight in one of his eyes.

No one was ever arrested in connection with Moore’s murder though the FBI received tips the KKK was responsible, which the group denied.

Picture courtesy of Miami-Dade County

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – A vision years in the making took shape as Miami-Dade County Vice Chairman Commissioner Kionne L. McGhee joined community leaders, global sports icons, and project partners for the official groundbreaking of the $275 million Sports Performance Hub (SPH) at Homestead Regional Park — a landmark moment for South Dade and District 9.

“This is a dream realized for the economic development of South Dade,” said McGhee. “From the very beginning, I believed in the vision of building a world-class sports and wellness campus right here in District 9. Today, that vision becomes reality.”

The Sports Performance Hub is privately financed, multi-use campus that seamlessly integrates elite athletics, education, sports medicine, hospitality, and community recreation, at zero cost to taxpayers.

The master plan includes a professional training academy, youth boarding school, public recreation facilities, a sports-themed hotel, a 10,000-seat multi-purpose stadium, and a state-of-the-art sports medicine and surgery center.

McGhee was instrumental in advancing the project from its earliest stages, working alongside SPH co-founder Dario Sala and project partners to identify and secure the ideal location, while forging a critical alliance with Homestead Mayor Steven D. Losner and the City Council to bring the vision to life.

“This project is a perfect example of what public-private partnership can achieve,” McGhee said. “It demonstrates how strategic collaboration — paired with 100 percent private capital — can deliver generational impact for our community. Thank you, Mayor Losner, for seeing the vision, embracing its value, and making it your personal mission to bring it to fruition in the City of Homestead.”

The groundbreaking drew an impressive gathering of global sports luminaries and community stakeholders, including NBA legend Emanuel Ginóbili, tennis star Juan Mónaco, sports entrepreneur Riccardo Silva, SPH co-founder Dario Sala, and NFL champion Martín Gramática.

The future 10,000-seat stadium is slated to serve as the training home and primary competition venue for Miami FC, while continuing to host beloved South Dade traditions including the Homestead Championship Rodeo and other regional events. Beyond the field, SPH is projected to generate significant economic activity, create hundreds of jobs, and establish Homestead as a premier destination for sports tourism and youth development.

“For decades, South Dade has deserved transformative investment,” McGhee added. “Today’s groundbreaking sends a clear and powerful message: District 9 is open for opportunity, innovation, and growth. This campus will create pathways for our youth, energize our local economy, and solidify South Dade as a global hub for sports performance and community excellence.”

Photo courtesy of istock.com

MIAMI – Miami Dade College has launched its first-ever program designed for to help neurodivergent children.

The EmpowerU Summer Camp aims to provide a structured, supportive environment for children with autism, ADHD, dyslexia and other learning challenging issues.

The initiative is spearheaded by the MDC School of Continuing Education and Professional Development with a partnership wit the Supreme Twins
Foundation, a Miami-based nonprofit dedicated to neurodivergent advocacy.

Unlike standard recreational camps, EmpowerU is designed to be an “innovative initiative” that prioritizes the holistic development of its attendees.

According to the college, the curriculum focuses on social and emotional development, essential life skills and inclusive community building.

In a statement, MDC President Madeline Pumariega said the program is a natural extension of the college’s core values.

“At Miami Dade College, we reaffirm our commitment to inclusion, equity and access to educational opportunities for all,” she said. “The EmpowerU Summer Camp represents an important step in our mission to create spaces where every student can thrive and reach their full potential.”

The collaboration with the Supreme Twins Foundation — a Miami-based nonprofit dedicated to neurodivergent advocacy — ensures the program remains grounded in the lived experiences of local families.

Ilieva Valdés, president of the Supreme Twins Foundation, said the MDC partnership was born out of a pressing community need for specialized resources.

“For us, this collaboration is very special,” she said. “It comes from the heart and from the real needs of our families.”

The camp joins a suite of broader summer offerings at MDC, signaling the college’s intent to lead in “community-responsive programs” that champion lifelong learning for all types of learners.

Parents interested in enrollment in the EmpowerU Summer Camp or seeking more details can contact MDC by phone at 305-237-2161 or visit the EmpowerU Summer Camp website.

Photo courtesy of Detvch.com

MIAMI – The City of Opa-Locka and the Miami-Dade Elections Department are hosting a special voter education workshop set for Tuesday, May 5, at 5 p.m. at the Sherbondy Village Community Center, 215 Perviz Avenue.

The staff for Miami Dade Supervisor of Elections Alina Garcia will be on hand to offer educational tips of voting, voter registration, vote by mails requests and giveaways.

Staff will also bring and showcase voting equipment, including privacy booths, EViD pollbooks, an ExpressVote ballot marking device and the DS300 tabulator, to get existing and prospective voters familiar with and excited about the voting process.

“Voter outreach is a top priority, and we are pleased to join our friends from Opa-Locka on this educational effort,” said Garcia. “The more people who vote, the healthier and more vibrant our community is. We thank Commissioner Santiago for spearheading this innovative and impactful event.”

Opa-Locka Commissioner Luis B. Santiago, who is sponsoring the event, said it’s crucial that city residents understand the voting process.

“Making voting accessible and easy to understand is important for our community,” said Santiago. “This workshop is an opportunity to help residents, especially those who are new to the area—learn how to register, understand the process, and feel confident participating and staying engaged in our community.”

Registered voters are preparing for the upcoming 2026 midterm elections, with the Primary in August and the general election in November.

During the special voter education workshop in Opa-Locka residents will also learn about new voter restrictions passed by state lawmakers called Florida’s SAVES Act.

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis recently signed the Act into law which now requires voters to provide several forms of ID with proof of U.S. citizenships if it is not automatically verified by the state.

And if a person’s name was legally changed, they also have to provide that proof.

Opponents, including voting rights advocates and Democrats, see the changes as burdensome paperwork that could disenfranchise or discourage hundreds of thousands of eligible voters from casting ballots.

Voting rights advocates have filed a lawsuit challenging Florida’s new law.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The City of Miami Gardens is hosting the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Fair on Monday, June 15, 2026 at 9 a.m. at the Betty T. Ferguson Recreational Complex, 3000 N.W. 199th Street.

The event is designed to provide vital resources and programs that support and protect senior citizens from elder abuse.

According to the 2020 Census, Miami Gardens has about 18,107 residents aged 65 and older, which represents roughly 16.6 percent of the city’s 116,173 population.

Elder abuse is any act or lack of action that harms or causes distress to an older person, often occurring within relationships of trust.

The abuse involves mistreatment, neglect, exploitation or manipulation of individuals 60 years and older, where the trust is broken by family members, caregivers and friends.

Most victims remain silent due to fear, shame or dependency on the abuser.

According to Florida Courts, in Florida, about one in ten older adults. about 10 percent, experiences elder abuse in their lifetime.

Most of the victims are women.

Furthermore, elder abuse has a high mortality rate as victims have a 300 percent higher risk of death compared to seniors living in safe environments.

For more information on the Miami Gardens Elder Abuse Awareness Fair, email at astuart@miamigardens-fl.gov, or DTorres@miamigardens-fl.gov.

Photo courtesy of ar.inspiredpencil.com

By David L. Snelling

A GOP lawmaker is intensifying the debate over Temporary Protection Status, proposing to repeal the policy and send holders back to their home countries.

U.S. Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Georgia) has introduced the Territorial Protection and Sovereignty Act, to completely end TPS after the House extended deportation protection for 350,000 Haitians nationwide.

The United States Supreme Court will weigh the issue with oral arguments set for April 29, 2026 in the case of Lesly Moit versus Trump which also includes TPS for 3,000 people from Syria.

Clyde’s legislation would give TPS holders 60 days to leave the U.S. or face deportation.

He argues TPS has been misused for decades, turning into what he calls ‘permanent amnesty’ and an ‘amnesty loophole’ that Congress should close.

Clyde said a rift is growing among his party when House Republicans joined Democrats to extend TPS for three years for Haitians, indicating the GOP split was a slap in the face to President Trump who has made several attempts to end Haitians’ stay in the U.S.

Now, Haitians and Syrians’ TPS hangs in the balance with the highest court in the nation.

In voting to extend TPS, House Republicans including Maria Salazar and Mike Lawler broke ranks and sided with Democrats, citing economic needs and humanitarian concerns, such as the loss of healthcare workers in their districts.

According to political analysts, the vote marks a significant public split over immigration policy within the Republican caucus, challenging party unity on a high-profile issue.

Even if Clyde’s bill advances in the House, it faces steep odds in the Senate, where 60 votes are needed to overcome a filibuster.

TPS, which was the cornerstone for former President Biden’s immigration policy, has been at the center of debate since Trump’s return to the White House in 2025.

In February 2027, a federal court in Boston stymied the Trump administration’s bid to immediately end TPS, which was originally set to expire in February 2026.

Instead, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes extended TPS for Haitians due to the concerns that the termination process was motivated by racial animus and they face imminent danger if they return to the gang-torn nation.

Reyes, who reportedly received death threats following her decision, ruled that ending TPS was likely influenced by hostility towards nonwhite immigrants, which she deemed unlawful.

TPS allows Haitians to flee their home country due to humanitarian crises, natural disasters and political turmoil, and live and work in the U.S. until the conditions improve.

Former President Barack Obama approved TPS for Haitians, who were illegally in the U.S., and those devastated by the 2010 earthquake which killed an estimated 300,000 people and caused $8.1 billion in damages.

The Biden administration also granted TPS to Haitian nationals who were caught in the crossfire of gang violence and extended their time in the U.S. right before he left office.

Haiti’s rebuilding stages after the earthquake hit a snag when Haitian President Jovenal Moise was assassinated and the subsequent gang violence spiraled out of control.

According to the United Nations, since the gang violence erupted, especially in the capital of Port-au-Prince, more than 2,000 people have been murdered and 1,114 kidnappings have been reported, according to the Borgen Project, a nonprofit organization that advocates for U.S. policies and programs to reduce global poverty, hunger and violence.

Photo courtesy of Facebook

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Broward County is launching a new outreach program designed to help local businesses tap into international trade advantages through the Foreign Trade Zone initiative.

It all starts on May 5, 2026 at 10 a.m. at the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center, where the county will host an in-person session for its FTZ Educational Campaign.

Local businesses will learn how they can benefit from Foreign Trade Zone No. 25, a federal program which allows companies to reduce costs, streamline operations and improve global competitiveness.

The program also offers opportunities for companies to boost their revenues and operational efficiency, particularly for importers such as manufacturers and distributors.

Businesses that are not yet engaged in importing or exporting are also being encouraged to attend to explore how the program could support future growth.

Participants will also receive information on additional economic development incentives available at the federal, state and local levels.

Registration for the event is being facilitated through Eventbrite.

Photo courtesy of usrxcare.com

By David L. Snelling

Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law a bill which now bans local city and county governments from promoting and funding Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives which include celebrating Black History and Caribbean cultural heritage events.

Senate Bill 1134 also gives DeSantis the power to remove local government officials from office if they violate the new law, which was passed along party lines during the final hours of the 2026 Florida Legislative Session.

In signing the bill, DeSantis said DEI initiatives discriminated against groups like white men.
“I would think with DEI ⁠the disfavored groups, number one obviously, would be white males and I think ​they’ve been discriminated against,” DeSantis said on Wednesday.

During the Legislative Session, Florida Democrats said the bill’s language was too vague and would cause a lot of confusion among government officials who face termination even if they support their own cultural heritages or LGBTQ events.

According to the bill filed by Republican Senator Clay Yarborough, local governments found in violation could also face lawsuits from any resident who chooses to sue, and the measure prohibits municipalities in Florida from issuing even resolutions that reference DEI.

It also bars cities and counties from establishing a DEI office or employing a DEI officer.

Yarborough said promoting race, cultural heritage events, gender and LGBTQ initiatives is prohibited under the new law.
“The term does not include the use of equal opportunity or equal employment opportunity materials designed to inform a person about the prohibition against discrimination based on protected status under state or federal law,” said Yarborough.

Yarborough said the law doesn’t ban organizations from promoting heritage cultural events and LGBTQ parades in Florida cities, but only local governments are barred from promoting and funding them.

Rep. Ashley Gantt, a Democrat from Miami, said there were now about 12 carve outs for local governments in the bill, but that didn’t mean officials would be able to understand them.

She introduced an amendment providing a clear description of the DEI bill including what is allowed under the legislation but House Republicans rejected it.

Democratic Rep. Christine Hunschofsky from Parkland said the bill needed an amendment because the language is too vague and could cause an uproar.

For example, she said local governments could be prohibited from issuing a proclamation for Jamaican Independence Day.
“But it could mean that you couldn’t have an immigrant heritage month,” she said. “It could mean you can’t have a proclamation for Jamaican Independence Day or you could be removed from office. It could mean that you couldn’t celebrate Women’s History Month or Women’s Equality Day or Diwali or Chinese New Year or Easter.”

State Rep. Marie Woodson (D-Hollywood), a Haitian American, said the bill would create major problems and draw lawsuits.
“It tells our marginalized communities that their struggles do not matter,” she said. “By banning DEI initiatives we are closing the door on understanding and compassion, and those are crucial elements for a thriving society.”

The bill does allow local governments to recognize federal and state holidays and special observances; recognizing the individuals and groups honored by state monuments, memorials, and museums, or national monuments and memorials, including recognizing the events and individuals forming the basis for such monuments and memorials.

Equal rights advocates and supporters of the LGBTQ+ community condemned the bill.
“Once again, Governor DeSantis and Florida lawmakers are advancing one of the most sweeping and extreme bills in the country, this time threatening decades of local progress supporting diverse communities, including the LGBTQ community,” Joe Saunders, senior political director for the state LGBTQ rights group Equality Florida, said in a statement. “This legislation is a sledgehammer aimed at cities and counties that dare to recognize and address the diversity of the people they serve.”

Florida Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, the first openly LGBTQ Latino lawmaker said the bill is an affront to supporters of equal rights.
“This bill is rotten to its core,” he said during a Senate hearing on the legislation.

The bill is part of a broader push by Florida to eliminate DEI initiatives in schools, colleges and workplaces.

The new law takes effect on January 1, 2027.

Former U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (Photo courtesy of Facebook)

By David L. Snelling

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Florida Democratic Congressional candidates are calling for a special election to replace former U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick.

Cherfilus-McCormick resigned from Congress amid an investigation that found she committed 25 violations of House rules and ethics standards.

Congressional candidates running in the Democratic Primary for District 20, community activist Elijah Manley, rap pioneer Luther Campbell and former Broward County Mayor Dale Holness, says Cherfilus-McComick’s resignation leaves constituents without representation until November’s election.

The new elected official will be sworn into political office in January 2027.

Florida Republican Gov. DeSantis has yet to call a special election despite growing calls from Democratic Primary challengers who said it’s crucial the seat is filled before Congress recess in August.

Congressional District 20 covers portions of Broward and Palm Beach counties, a Democratic stronghold.
“I am calling on Governor Ron DeSantis to move quickly and set up a Special Election so the families of this district have representation during this critical period. Every day without a representative is another day working people in South Florida are pushed aside,” Manley said in a statement.

Reports suggest DeSantis might not call a special election because of his push for redistricting during a special session this month which might target Congressional District 20 and seats represented by Broward County Democrats, U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Shultz and Jared Moskowitz.

In addition, keeping the seat vacant would give Republicans an advantage in the House until the election.

Democrats Luther Campbell, Dale Holness, doctor/attorney Rudolph Moise, Maisha Williams Mark Douglas also filed paperwork to challenge Cherfilus-McCormick in the Primary before she resigned.

Holness is also calling for a special election despite being a slim chance since it’s closer to the Primary election in August.
“The state usually doesn’t when they’re so close to a regular election, but if we were to be fair, would have a special election now and then follow up with the General Election,” he said.

Holness, a former Broward County mayor, lost to Cherfilus-McCormick in a special election just by five votes in 2021 to replace Alcee Hastings who died of pancreatic cancer.

Broward Supervisor of Elections Joe Scott told the Orlando Sentinel that a special primary and general election could be held quickly, and a replacement could be on the job in Washington in just a few months.

Scott said he was preparing a letter to state officials outlining a timetable for a special primary election, and then a special general election to be held on Aug. 18, the date Florida is scheduled to hold primary elections for state and federal offices, including Congress.

Under his timetable, he said a member of Congress could take office shortly after that voting.
“I don’t think it’s appropriate for a congressional district to go without representation. This district has already done without adequate representation for a bit now,” Scott said.

Cherfilus-McCormick resigned from Congress on April 21, 2027, just hours before a House committee was scheduled to hand down sanctions, possibly expulsion from Congress.

The Committee in March found that she committed 25 violations of House rules and ethics standards, including campaign finance infractions.

At the center of the investigation was Cherfilus-McCormick allegedly stole $5 million in federal COVID-19 disaster relief funds for her family’s healthcare company and funneled some of the money to fund her campaign.

She was also accused of purchasing a diamond carat ring worth $100,000.

Cherfilus-McCormick is awaiting trial on 15 federal counts related to the alleged theft including conspiracy to steal funds that were mistakenly overpaid to her family’s Trinity Healthcare Services during the pandemic.

She has pleaded not guilty and her trial was pushed back to 2027 after a federal judge approved her attorneys’ request.

If convicted, she faces up to 50 years in prison.

Campbell, the frontman for rap group Two Live Crew, said Cherfilus McCormick’s House ethics violations and subsequent resignation is a dark day for Congressional District 20 constituents.

He’s said he’s seeking to fill the void and tackle the issues left abandoned.
“Hundreds of workers losing their jobs while families are already struggling is unacceptable,” he shared on social media. “But let’s be real, this didn’t just happen. This is the result of bad leadership and a system designed to fail our public schools.”

Manley, who attended Cherfilus-McCormick’s House committee hearing in March, said Broward County is in turmoil and needs an overhaul.
“We’re going to clean up Broward County too, because it is a mess,” he said on social media. “Bluest county in the state and zero infrastructure. I walk into rooms and stare at the same five 70-year-olds time after time. The days of mediocre Democratic politics here are numbered.”

Republicans Sendra Dorce and Joseph Rodenay are seeking the GOP nomination for November’s midterm elections.

Independent candidate Kedner Maxime and write-in candidate Kevin McClellan are running for Congressional District 20.

TAMARAC, Fla. – As part of Haitian Heritage Month, the City of Tamarac will honor two Haitian-born siblings for their work in the music industry and community and humanitarian service.

On Friday, May 1, 2026 at 12 noon, renowned recording artist and political activist Wyclef Jean and singer, humanitarian champion and entrepreneur Melky Jean will receive the Key to the City during a ceremony at Tamarac City Hall.

The event is hosted by Vice Mayor Marlon D. Bolton and Broward County Commissioners Hazelle P. Rogers and Alexandra P. Davis will issue a similar proclamation and present the honorees with the Key to Broward County.

The ceremony will also feature proclamations from state and county officials. Florida State Representative Lisa Dunkley is expected to declare May 1, 2026, as Wyclef and Melky Jean Day across the state.

Jean, a founder member of the Grammy-award winning group the Fugees with Lauren Hill, is a staple in the music business including producing and performing songs for Colombian superstar Shakira and Santana.

He launched a successful solo career and engaged in philanthropy and Haitian politics.

Jean, 56, filed paperwork to run for President of Haiti in 2010 but his candidacy was rejected by Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council because he did not meet the constitutional residency requirement of having lived in Haiti for five years before the November election.

In addition to being nominated for a Grammy award, Melky Jean is known for her humanitarian work.

As founder of the Carma Foundation, she has spearheaded initiatives focused on food security, healthcare access, housing, education and women’s empowerment across several regions, including Haiti, South America and Africa.

Her efforts have earned international recognition, including the Memeluca Beacon of Hope Award presented by Sean Penn, along with honors from the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Global Heart Award.

She also serves as founder and CEO of Saint Sauveur Haitian Heritage Rum, a company that promotes Haitian culture and economic empowerment through entrepreneurship.

Melky Jean has collaborated with a range of international artists and contributed to recordings, film scores and live performances.