Copy of Playing fields, union contract, Winterfest

With the dearth of playing fields on Key Biscayne in mind, the Village held meetings with the city of Miami and the Historic Virginia Key Beach Park to develop two pieces of land for youth athletics.“Both locations look promising but do face certain challenges,” Village Manager Steve Williamson informed Mayor Joe Rasco and council members in an Oct. 23 email.Williamson told theIndependentthat discussions centered on Key Biscayne helping turn the plots into playing fields. Read more.

Key Biscayne police union members voted down a tentative labor agreement with Village bargainers, telling managers Tuesday that the rank-and-file were unhappy with provisions that would change promotion procedures, holiday pay, and eliminate extra pay for dozens of officers with rifle training.The Village reached tentative agreements with firefighters and civilian workers that call for a 5.5% wage increase in the first year and cost-of-living increases matching inflation for years two and three, capped at 4%.But the bargaining unit covering officers and sergeants – about 35 employees – overwhelmingly rejected terms hammered out earlier this month. Read more.

Editor’s note: This story updates a previous version with further information about Rocha’s Key Biscayne ties and additional reporting by the Associated Press A former American diplomat with Key Biscayne… Read more.

Key Biscayne’s 26th annual Winterfest appeared to be a big hit Sunday night as a large crowd enjoyed the rides, the Christmas tree lighting and – of course – a visit from Santa.Parks Director Todd Hofferberth said the main difference this year is Paradise Park that is lit up for the holiday season. “And it allows us to get more rides and spread out more,” he said.The Village is more festive this year thanks to an additional $15,000 that allowed nearby Village Hall to be decked out in holiday cheer with wreaths and other adornments, Hofferberth said. Read more.

In a unanimous ruling welcomed by civil liberties groups, the Florida Supreme Court ruled last week police cannot grant blanket anonymity to alleged crime victims under a victim’s rights provision known as “Marsy’s Law.”The court said the Florida and U.S. Constitution’s guarantee that an accused has a right to confront their accuser, along with Sunshine provisions of Florida’s Constitution, mean that the 2018 voter-approved amendment cannot be used to always hide the names of victims.The ruling could affect the way many police departments operate, including Key Biscayne.“Marsy’s Law does not guarantee to crime victims a generalized right of anonymity,” said Justice John Daniel Couriel, an appointee of Gov. Ron DeSantis. Read more.

A team of scientists from the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School found carbon dioxide doubles down in potency as the amount of the gas increases in our atmosphere because of industrial pollution, thus exacerbating global warming.The new study, published in Science, comes as world leaders meet in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, this week for the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP28.“It is yet further confirmation that carbon emissions must be curbed sooner rather than later to avoid the most severe impacts of climate change,” said Brian Soden, a professor of atmospheric sciences at the Rosenstiel School in a UM news release that quoted the researchers. He is the study’s senior author. Read more.

The membership of Crossbridge Church Key Biscayne, the Presbyterian congregation on the island, voted overwhelmingly on Sunday to leave the denomination associated with the church for half a century over the issue of women serving in the pulpit and other leadership roles.Rev. Felipe Assis told members that the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) had become even more restrictive on women serving in leadership roles, adopting a policy banning them from even administering communion.“That’s why we feel it’s not a good fit for us,” Assis said. Read more.

Karen Rundlet, a force in journalism philanthropy for nearly a decade, will take the helm as the new CEO of the Institute for Nonprofit News,the network looking to shape the future of local reporting.“Across the country, we are experiencing a renaissance in newsmaking, with INN members driving that shift,” Rundlet said.Rundlet grew up in Miami after her family immigrated from Jamaica. She joined the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation in 2015 and served as senior director for the Knight Foundation’sjournalism program. Read more.

It’s well-known that companies and big-name investors moved to Florida during the pandemic. Ken Griffin was one of those. He moved his investment empire called Citadel from Chicago to Miami.In mid-November he told Bloomberg that Miami could replace New York as the global financial capital.“Let’s cut to the chase. New York is the financial capital of America today, and it’s New York’s to lose,” he said at a conference in Miami. “Now, having said that, Miami, I think, represents the future of America.” Read more.

Riding a bike can be one of the joys of childhood, a chance for kids to feel the wind in their hair and to taste the freedom that comes with exploring the world under their own steam.But for many — especially in South Florida— biking just isn’t safe.Florida ranks as one of the deadliest places in the country to ride a bike, including for children. Read more.