South Florida’s commercial and construction lending market has remained healthy and fluid, local commercial lenders say.
The commercial lending market is currently seeing plenty of capital in the system, said Greg Freedman, co-founder and co-CEO of BH3 Management.
“It’s a very liquid environment in terms of providers of debt, capital for credit, and that market has remained fluid,” he said. “There are still great deals with great sponsors on good real estate that are still getting done at a very efficient pace that continues to be in line with the market.”
The market is still seeing – which is nothing new – how equity capital has been harder to come by, he said: “That theme has remained consistent for the better part now of going on a year and a half or two years. We think that with the cost of capital coming down, and the expected rate cuts that had been expected for some time, there seems to be some clear line of sight on that.”
Mr. Freedman said he expects activity to increase over the next one to four quarters in terms of equity capital coming back into the market.
The markets have improved and never got really weak, added Anthony Scavo, president and managing partner of Basis Industrial.
“But generally, in the broader market, there has been a lot of movement from banks and larger banks, regional banks to more debt funds just because the debt funds are so flush with cash right now,” he explained. “There’s a lot of money that’s ready to go out and be loaned to people.”
The presence of debt funds and private lenders with significant capital can also make lending easier in certain regions, he said.
“I think you’re going to see more and more money come in, actually. Loans are going to get easier to get in the next year or so. I think they may not be as high a leverage as they used to be,” Mr. Scavo continued. “A bank might only own 50% to 60% when they used to own 55% to 65%. I think they’re going to be opening up and lending more than they have been.”
Lenders are more willing to finance projects that are considered safe and have stable cash flow, he said. Highly speculative projects – those with uncertain outcomes – are much harder to finance, regardless of the region.
“However, in markets with more optimism and economic growth, even less conventional projects, like Miami, may find funding more easily,” he said. “Miami is one of the best markets to borrow in the country right now because people still have a good, optimistic view of the future in certain parts of the country.”
The optimism about the local economy and lending outlook is driven by several factors, said Brian Barroso, head of commercial real estate and corporate banking manager at Banesco USA.
“The Florida commercial real estate market is outperforming the national average with strong construction activity,” he said, “There is healthy demand for industrial, retail, hospitality and multifamily properties. Rent growth, while moderating, remains healthy, and occupancy rates are also healthy. Moving forward, we continue to be bullish on our local economy.”
TRANSIT SCHEDULING WHIZ: New transit-scheduling software would save Miami-Dade County 5% of annual bus operations costs, cutting $14.8 million a year, and kick in by next March if a contract with a Montreal provider is approved in October, the county’s Appropriations Committee was told last week. Software from GIRO Inc. would save the county $866,330 a year on annual costs compared with the 16-year-old deal with a different provider that expires June 30 next year, the committee was told before recommending the contract to the entire county commission for final action. The current scheduling software is outdated, “cumbersome, counter-intuitive and time-consuming,” said a memo from Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. The system would link in fixed-route buses, on-demand transit, Metrorail and Metromover.
AIRPORT RECERTIFICATIONS: Miami-Dade’s Airport Committee last week recommended by a 4-0 vote spending $57 million to use three firms to study and upgrade the structural conditions of 76 of the 110 airport buildings, which include the Miami International Airport terminal and its concourses and any other airport buildings that will soon hit the 30-year recertification threshold. There was no discussion. The firms are top-ranked San Francisco firm T.Y. Lin International; Miami-based DDA Engineers PA, which ranked second for the professional service agreements; and Miami-based E Plus Engineering and Construction LLC, which ranked third.
TRUE NORTH FUNDS: County commissioners cleared the way for the Arizona Industrial Development Authority to issue bonds to benefit charter schools, including three campuses of the True North Classical Academy in Miami-Dade. The academy would use $13 million in receipts to refund bonds issued by the Miami-Dade County Industrial Development Authority in 2020. The new bonds would benefit True North Classical Academy Sunset at 9393 Sunset Drive; True North Classical Academy at Gateway at 6500 SW 97th Ave., and True North Classical Academy at Dadeland at 7900 SW 86th St.
FLYING FAMILIES: The county’s Aviation Committee last week voted 4-0 to direct Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava to work with the federal government to offer families dedicated screening lanes and discounted PreCheck fees. The Department of Homeland Security is rolling out a “Families on the Fly” program to do that in a test at airports in Charleston, Jacksonville, Rhode Island, San Juan and Tampa, and plans to add more. The resolution asks the mayor to seek to add Miami to the group and report on progress within 90 days.
These are some of the FYIs in this week’s edition. The entire content of this week’s FYIs and Insider sections is available by subscription only. To subscribe click here.
An international cybercrime group is claiming responsibility for hacking the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office and holding its tech system for ransom.
Hackers breached the office’s system about three weeks ago, according to a source close to the sheriff’s office, and Louisiana and New Orleans cybersecurity specialists have been in the city trying to resolve the problem.
The source tells CBS News the office and state are refusing to pay the ransom. There was no word on how much the group is demanding.
In a post on the dark web obtained by the CBS News Confirmed team the group, called Qilin, says it carried out the ransomware attack.
According to screenshots from the group’s post, Qilin hackers have obtained contracts, inmate intake documents and expense information. The information posted so far doesn’t appear to be sensitive, and the OSPO stresses that no jail security operations have been impacted.
The CBS News Confirmed team found the total volume of the alleged hack is 842 gigabytes — enough to hold 42,000 average-sized 20mb pdfs.
The sheriff’s office says the attack has affected its “DocketMaster” system, which manages inmate transfers to and from jail for court appearances and manages inmate releases on bail.
One woman in New Orleans, who didn’t want her name published, told CBS New Orleans affiliate WWL-TV she was frustrated after her husband wasn’t released from jail last week even though she paid his bond.
“I have two sons, four and six (years old). They miss their dad,” she said. “I did everything on my end to ensure that he comes home, so I feel like once everything is paid, everything is done, it shouldn’t be no hold up.”
OPSO officials say they’re using a manual workaround of the DocketMaster system outage.
“Out of an abundance of caution and to ensure continuity of service, OPSO has developed a temporary workaround,” a spokesperson wrote in a news release Monday. “Anyone needing information normally accessed through DocketMaster should call Jail Communications at (504) 202-9386 for assistance.”
The source close to the sheriff’s office said the attack stems from malware it got from another law enforcement agency via email.
Kati Weis is a Murrow Award-winning reporter for CBS News based in New Orleans, covering the Southeast. She previously worked as an investigative reporter at CBS News Colorado in their Denver newsroom.
7Investigates has obtained newly released videos and jail phone calls in the case of a Miami-Dade inmate who got pregnant behind bars.
For the first time, we are seeing video of a pregnant Daisy Link and her baby’s father Joan Depaz — behind bars.
Miami-Dade Corrections officer: “What happened, tell me exactly what happened?”
Joan Depaz: “Well…”
It was Christmas Eve, 2023. Police were called to Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center to find out how Link became pregnant while she was an inmate.
Body camera video shows an officer was able to rule out rape after she asked Link if the pregnancy was planned.
Miami-Dade Police officer: “You wanted it to happen, what you did? If it’s OK with you, that’s fine. I just came here to make sure that you’re OK.”
Daisy Link: “Yeah, I’m fine.”
In a separate interview, Depaz was asked to explain how he got Link pregnant, even though they were never physically together.
Joan Depaz: “We was talking, you know, back and forth and[…]”
Officer: “How were you talking to her?”
Joan Depaz: “No, through the vent.”
Officer: “Through the vent?”
Joan Depaz: “Yeah.”
Officer: “OK.”
Joan Depaz: “Through the vents. Anybody would say I’m crazy, ‘Oh, you’re talking to the vent.’ Yeah.”
Then about a minute into the video, the audio on the bodycam is muted and a black box is put over Depaz’s face.
Based on his hand movements, Depaz appears to be showing the officer the strange way they conceived this baby girl.
Daisy Link: “She’s a miracle baby. She’s a blessing.”
In addition to new videos, 7Investigates also obtained jail phone calls — including one where Link and Depaz discuss their plan to get pregnant.
Joan Depaz in jail phone call: “You gonna have my baby?”
Daisy Link (in phone call): “Yeah.”
Joan Depaz (in phone call): “You wanna do it for real?”
Daisy Link (in phone call): “Yeah, send it to me.”
Depaz says he sent his semen through an A/C vent connecting their cells — using a makeshift line made out of mattress string.
Joan Depaz: “I put the semen in saran wrap every day, like five times a day for, like, a month straight.”
Daisy Link: “I had placed it inside of the yeast infection applicators. From there, yeah, I administered it.”
More than a month after that first call — Link and Depaz spoke again.
Joan Depaz (in phone call): “You think that [expletive] worked?”
Daisy Link (in phone call): “I don’t know. It probably could, I’m telling you, I would have, I’m supposed to have my period.”
Then by December, Link called her mom to break the unbelievable news.
Daisy Link (in phone call): “I’m under 24-hour lockdown because I’m pregnant.”
Link’s mother (in phone call): “You’re full of [expletive.]”
Daisy Link (in phone call): “I swear to God.”
Link’s mother (in phone call): “You’re full of [expletive.] This is shocking.”
Shocking, because Link has been locked up with no bond since 2022 awaiting trial for murder.
On the call, Link told her mom she got pregnant to get out of jail.
Link’s mother (in phone call): “Daisy, how could you?”
Daisy Link (in phone call): “What do you mean? I’m gonna sue them and get out. Do you know how much I can sue them for? This was all planned. I can get out now.”
That never happened. Link is still at TGK.
Depaz was transferred to another jail and is now in state prison.
In July, Link told us she was punished for talking to 7Investigates.
Daisy Link: “Well right now, I’m in unit 2-2, it’s a psychiatric unit. I’m basically just sitting in a room with a mattress and a blanket 24 hours a day with the lights that don’t shut off.”
Link believes it was retaliation for saying this:
Daisy Link: “They should actually thank me. I found a huge breach in their security. I haven’t gotten a ‘thank you’ yet.”
Daisy Link: “They’re telling me that I basically made a mockery of corrections. And because of that, they’re mad. That this was inevitable to come.”
Heather: “Like a mockery in what way?”
Daisy Link: “That they didn’t know what they were doing. That they basically allowed all of this to happen.”
The director of Miami-Dade Corrections — Sherea Green — has refused several interview requests.
But it left many questions — including about the flow of contraband in the eighth largest jail system in the country.
Heather Walker, 7News.
Last week, a judge denied Daisy Link’s motion to have her second-degree murder case dismissed based on a self-defense claim. Her trial could begin at the end of the month.
PEMBROKE PINES, FLA. (WSVN) – The assistant head of school at Chaminade–Madonna College Preparatory was arrested after she allegedly stole apparel from a store inside Pembroke Lakes Mall.
Raiza Echemendia, 48, is accused of entering the Pembroke Pines store on Sunday and stealing clothing and shoes, 11 items total, valued at $876.99.
Loss prevention saw Echemendia conceal the stolen goods in her person and in a beige bag—which she entered the store with—and leave without making any attempts to pay, according to an arrest report.
But Echemendia wouldn’t get far.
She was stopped by loss prevention and escorted back to the store, where police were alerted and she was taken into custody.
Echemendia now faces charges related to grand theft of more than $500.
Her bond is set at $2,500.
Echemendia has been working at Chaminade–Madonna for 26 years, and her current employment status remains uncertain.
Copyright 2025 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Thousands of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia amid the country’s ongoing invasion are being forcibly “reeducated” in at least 210 facilities around Russia and Russian-occupied Ukraine, according to a study published Tuesday by the Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab.
The researchers say that Ukrainian children in the eastern regions occupied by Russia since its full-scale invasion began in February 2022 have been sent to the facilities where, “in many cases, (they) are placed in programs of forced militarization that include, though are not limited to, combat and paratrooper training.”
“Children at some facilities have been engaged in the production of military equipment for Russia’s armed forces, including drones,” the Yale study said.
The researchers said their conclusions were based on “publicly available data sources and commercially available satellite imagery,” and that the analysts “evaluated each data source for reliability, veracity, and credibility using assessment criteria derived from the Berkeley Protocol” for open-source research, and an intelligence assessment framework used by NATO.
The Yale researchers do not provide an estimate of the total number of children abducted by Russia. They note that while some have been returned, “other groups of children have been held indefinitely. In some cases, children who have entered this network of camps, so-called family centers, and other facilities have entered Russia’s program of coerced fostering and adoption, eventually being placed with families in Russia and becoming naturalized citizens of the Russian Federation.”
The report details at least eight different types of facilities to which Ukrainian children have been taken, including summer camps, mental health institutions, at least one military base and even a monastery. It said the objective for Russian authorities is to indoctrinate the Ukrainian children with pro-Russian, anti-Ukrainian cultural and patriotic narratives.
Ukraine’s state-run “Bring Kids Back” program, launched by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, says more than 19,500 Ukrainian children have been abducted since Russia’s invasion began. It says only about 1,600 have been returned, including 101 who were bought back in August.
In March 2023, the U.N.’s International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of committing “the war crime of unlawful deportation of population (children) and that of unlawful transfer of population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation.”
The court also issued an arrest warrant for Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, the commissioner for children’s rights in the Office of the President, accusing her of committing the same crimes.
Zelenskyy said last week that he would raise the issue of abducted Ukrainian children during the U.N. General Assembly meeting in New York next week. He said he would host the event along with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and that “many leaders will join us.”
In August, after meeting with Zelenskyy and European leaders in Washington, President Trump said in a social media post that he and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had discussed “the massive Worldwide problem of missing children,” with a goal of “bringing them home to their families.”
Von der Leyen, in her own post, thanked Mr. Trump, and added that “every single Ukrainian child abducted by Russia must be returned to their families.”
Mr. Trump didn’t mention Russia specifically in his own remarks. First lady Melania Trump, several days before the White House meetings, had penned an open letter to Putin pleading with the Russian leader to protect “the innocence of these children,” though not specifying which children she was referring to.
Mr. Trump handed that letter to Putin in person when the two men met in Alaska last month, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Russia’s state-run media did not indicate any response from the Kremlin to the allegations made in the Yale lab’s report. The Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C., didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from CBS News.
Two years ago, in a report published during the Biden administration that was titled “The Kremlin’s War Against Ukraine’s Children,” the State Department noted the ICC arrest warrants, and said Russia’s response included “threats of nuclear strikes, false claims about Western ‘experiments on children’ and anti-Russian ‘hysteria,’” as well as “calls for the arrest of ICC judges, and claims that Ukraine’s children were taken away ‘for their safety.’”
Putin’s government “appears determined to erase Ukraine’s existence as a state by attempting to rob it of its future,” the Biden-era State Department report said, adding that “mounting evidence showsRussia uses forcible relocation, re-education, and, in some cases, adoption of Ukraine’s children as key components of its systematic efforts to suppress Ukraine’s identity, history, and culture.”
CBS News has asked the State Department if it accepts the findings presented by the Yale lab, whether the Trump administration has any new plans to address the matter of abducted Ukrainian children as it continues pushing for a diplomatic resolution to the war in Ukraine, and whether the U.S. will be represented at the meeting hosted by Zelenskyy and Carney during the U.N. General Assembly next week. The State Department did not immediately respond to CBS News’ requests for comment.
Credit: Brian Mulvey- Assistant Photo Editor// Miami players put up four fingers as they prepare for fourth quarter against Notre Dame on Sunday, Aug. 31.
With ESPN’s “College Gameday” arriving on campus, Miami fans are set to flood Hard Rock Stadium in orange and green Saturday night when the Hurricanes host the Florida Gators.
Coming off a lopsided victory against then No.18 ranked South Florida, No. 4 Miami (3-0) welcomes its in-state rival in hopes of going into the bye week undefeated.
The Florida Gators (1-2, 0-1 SEC) on the other hand, is entering this game desperate for a win. After an upset loss at home against USF two weeks ago, UF came into this past weekend with hopes of reclaiming its season by knocking off No. 3 LSU.
That game ended in a disappointing 20-10 loss where sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway threw five interceptions.
“I know there’ll be a lot of dialogue and narrative about DJ,” said Florida head coach Billy Napier. “He’ll take complete ownership of the things that he can do better. We all understand that.”
With both teams aware of their own, as well as the opposition’s situation, this weekend is set up for a fiery matchup between two historic rivals.
With last year’s 41-17 victory for the ‘Canes in the Swamp, Florida looks to return the favor as they make the trip down to South Florida.
Head coach Mario Cristobal introduces senior quarterback Cam Ward to Miami Hurricanes fans after beating the University of Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on August 31, 2024.
Florida is likely game planning for two things: Miami’s dual threat offense and dominant defensive line.
As Mark Fletcher Jr. has established an aggressive run game with Jordan Lyle and CharMar Brown getting their share of touches, Miami quarterback Carson Beck slowly climbs the Heisman ladder as he nears 1,000 passing yards on the season.
Defensively, Miami is reliant on its big men up front, Reuben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor. The duo are leading the team in total tackles and sacks and their relentless rush takes pressure off of an improved, but but not perfect secondary.
Florida, on the other hand, has displayed a lack of confidence in their last two games. Despite the UF defense holding LSU to just one offensive touchdown, its offense has been stifled by opponents, scoring only two touchdowns in its last two losses.
Yet, Miami head coach Mario Cristobal and the Hurricanes are not taking the Gators lightly.
“It’s very clear they’re an extremely talented team,” Cristobal said about the Gators, “They’re well coached. They play hard, and for us a great opportunity.”
Regardless of record and recent play, both teams have a bitter history between one another, guaranteeing an electric environment for College Gameday.
The Hurricanes and the Gators will play their 58th matchup against each other this week at Hard Rock Stadium. Saturday’s kickoff in Miami Gardens is set for 7:30 p.m. and will air on ABC.
In this second episode of The Balance, Andreana Jackson meets with Karina Gonzalez and Ovido Val, Esq. The group discuss the evolution of Miami real estate, trends, challenges, and market opportunities.
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Steve Cody was once a prestigious lawyer who represented plaintiffs in a historic lawsuit that reformed Miami-Dade government to better reflect minority communities. But then, in 2013, his law license was suspended. In 2020, under stress after his wife’s death, his leg was amputated due to an infection, yet he also won election as a councilman of the Village of Palmetto Bay. Now, he is involved in two ongoing, high-profile lawsuits. One of them involves suing his own village hall.
But after an intemperate social media post calling Charlie Kirk’s murder this week a “fitting sacrifice,” dozens are calling for his resignation, including state attorney general James Uthmeier and Miami-Dade County Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins.
“[Cody] revealed that he can no longer be trusted to serve, lead, nor represent this community,” Higgins wrote on Instagram.
Cody refused to resign, but apologized for the comment. On Facebook, he posted, “I want to state unequivocally that this post did not and does not reflect my personal values, my deeply held beliefs, or my solemn responsibilities as an elected official.”
For five years, Cody—who declined to comment despite numerous requests by telephone, email and an in-person visit to a village council meeting—serves on the five-seat council of Palmetto Bay, which has struggled with debates such as land development, construction of the Palmetto Bay Village Center and a bridge on SW 87th Avenue.
Last April, Cody sued Vice Mayor Mark Merwitzer and Palmetto Bay, claiming he had been improperly sworn into his role.
“It’s personal contempt for me and spite,” said Merwitzer about Cody’s lawsuit. The two often vote opposite one another. For example, Cody supported and voted for Tanglewood Park, a planned public area with gardens and pathways, while Merwitzer sided with citizens who preferred to buy the land from the county.
“I’ve seen 8-year-olds handle conflict with more grace,” said Aida Marticorena-Crusan, a Palmetto Bay citizen, about Cody. She, like other citizens, worries that Cody’s actions and public comments about his opponents are “plain embarrassing.”
Cody has said he has Palmetto Bay’s best interests at heart. To WLRN, he stated, “That [Merwitzer being improperly sworn-in] can impose great liability upon everybody on the council.”
Voters have backed Cody twice in elections. One of his supporters is Arjune Singh, a business professor at Miami Dade College.
“He’s better than the alternative,” said Singh about Cody.
Xavier Suarez, a former Miami mayor, who is now running for the job again, says Cody is a knowledgeable and decent man.
“I like the guy,” said Suarez. “He [is] a unifier… simpatico, if I can use the word in Spanish.”
His golden age
Cody was born in Arlington, Massachusetts, and moved to South Florida as an infant. He attended Florida State University and obtained Bachelor of Science degrees in English and Political Science in 1978, graduated with a Juris Doctor degree in 1981 from the University of Florida and then joined the Florida Bar.
Cody then served as an aide to William “Bill” E. Sadowski, a member of the Florida House of Representatives. He moved to Miami in the early 1980s, when the city was in tumult.
The Mariel exodus had driven more than 100,000 Cubans to Miami-Dade. Tens of thousands of Haitians arrived around the same time.
Back then, blacks made up 16% of the population and Hispanics were the majority in Miami-Dade, but only one of the nine county commissioners was black and no more than two Hispanics had ever been elected to the position. Voting and political campaigns were racially polarized.
In 1986 minority plaintiffs, including Suarez, then Miami mayor, sued Metropolitan Dade County, requesting better representation. They hired Cody, then 29, as their attorney.
In 1992, U.S. District Court Judge Donald L. Graham agreed with plaintiffs. His historic ruling redrew voting borders, leading to the modern 13 districts. As of 2025, four of the thirteen city commissioners are Black, another is Jamaican-American, and six are Hispanic.
“You will never have peace in a community unless everyone gets to sit at the table,” Cody reflected in an interview with Miami Community News last November. “Everybody at the table is not going to always get what they want, but the fact that they’re there to debate and to argue, sometimes even yell, means that you’re going to have peace in the community. The yelling will happen there and not out on the streets.”
Suarez added about their time working together, “He was a unifying force, very easy to deal with. And lawyers are not generally easy to deal with. They don’t know how to simplify things.”
The same year the Meek case was decided, 1992, Cody moved to Palmetto Bay with his wife, Rita M. Herrera, and two sons. Their third child, a daughter, was born two years later. They paid $195,000 for a 5-bedroom home.
But then came trouble. Starting in 1999, he was sued six times for missing mortgage payments.
Each time, the same story repeated. Companies sued after payments were missed. He repaid. The case was dropped.
Plaintiffs included IMC Mortgage Co. Chase Manhattan Bank, Truman Capital, JPMorganChase, Bank Of New York Mellon Trust, and Benfam Holdings PR LLC.
In 2000, he not only continued his law practice, but became an author. His first book was a political thriller titled Lying in State. In 2012, he released another political thriller, Soulless, and his first children’s book, “There’s an Elephant Following Me!”
The cover of one of his picture books, released in 2012.
But professional problems ensued. Two cases, one involving bounced checks worth about $2300 and another related to miscommunication with clients, resulted in a one-year suspension of his law license, which was later extended to three.
In 2012, Cody admitted in his guilty plea to the Florida Bar that he had “issued checks that were drawn on a closed personal account, knowing that the account did not have sufficient funds to honor the payment.”
Client funds were not involved, and Cody later paid back the restitution. But the acts reflected on Cody professionally as, per the rules of professional conduct, “a lawyer shall not engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.”
Another time, when Cody was defending Hotel Nash LLC in a lawsuit, Cody served an offer of judgment involving attorney fees, without consulting his client. For that, the Florida Bar demanded Cody pay his client back over $12,000, plus administrative fees.
By early August 2014, almost a year after the suspension, Cody had not paid any of the Hotel Nash restitution and on August 21, a day after the deadline passed, Cody answered that he was unable to pay the restitution, though he eventually paid it all back. Still, the incident caused the one-year sentence to be extended to three.
After suspension ends, delinquent bar members are allowed to reapply for their law licenses. But Cody never regained his. His membership lapsed and Cody remains ineligible to practice law in Florida.
Cody became a widower in 2019, when his wife, Rita M. Herrera, passed away. A contemporary obituary in the Miami Herald stated, “It was [in Florida] that she met the love of her life, Stephen Cody, and what started as a summer fling turned into a magnificent relationship that lasted almost 41 years.”
In his interview with Caplin, Suarez sympathized with Cody and lamented Rita’s death. “My wife is named Rita, so I used to always say that was my second favorite Rita in the world.”
The Miami Herald later reported that “one of the reasons he fell into financial trouble was the death of his wife in July 2019 and an infection in his leg that led to an amputation in June 2020. The combined medical costs totaled about $1 million,’ [Cody] said.”
Public jeers and cheers
Another parody of political opponents. Left-to-right; former vice-mayor candidate Edward Silva, former District 2 councilman David Singer, an unnamed land developer, and former mayor Eugene Flinn. Image by Steve Cody via Facebook
In 2020, Cody defeated incumbent David Singer in a run for Palmetto Bay village council’s district 2.
The next year, Singer sued Cody for defamation, demanding over $1 million in damages, claiming that Cody had sent an email to Singer’s employer at the time claiming Singer had used company resources for personal business, criticizing Cody on his Facebook Live show.
“I don’t practice law anymore, but I was a trial lawyer for 32 years,” said Cody in his email to Singer’s boss. “I’m a widower with time on my hands. I could bring a lawsuit against your company… It won’t cost me a dime.”
In court documents, Singer alleged he had been let go because of Cody’s comments.
Two years after that lawsuit, Cody and Singer became involved in profane and sometimes obscene back-and-forth exchanges through emails and Facebook, painfully recounted in court records and online.
Councilman versus Village Hall
In April 2025, Cody sued Vice-Mayor Merwitzer and Palmetto Bay, claiming that Merwitzer was improperly sworn in after his January election. This would, Cody posited, render all decisions since then legally invalid.
“I live rent-free in his head,” said Merwitzer, who thinks that Cody is motivated by a personal and political grudge, as they often vote on opposite sides of issues that come before the council.
Mayor Cunningham, who formerly supported Cody, declined an interview request and said, “I’m not the mother of the council; everyone there is an adult. Well, almost everyone.”
Cody argues that Merwitzer was not sworn in by an authorized notary. Village Attorney John Dellagloria and Merwitzer contend the process was proper.
An independent legal opinion by Joni Armstrong Coffey, a former county attorney who now works for Akerman LLP law firm, asserts Merwitzer was properly sworn in. Even if he wasn’t, Coffey contends, minor defects in an oath do not legally invalidate service.
Conclusion
The property that Cody and his family purchased at 16610 SW 82 Ct. is now empty, refurbished and for sale.
The former home of Steve Cody, 16610 SW 82 Ct. Photo by Giancarlo Diago Cevallos.
“I am working on getting [mortgage issues] resolved. I am not going anywhere,” said Cody to the Miami Herald in 2021, during a past mortgage lawsuit. “The ground is littered with the bones of people who underestimated me… I am still standing.”
Perhaps the biggest outcry against Cody this week, when he posted online the following image.
A post by Cody on his personal Facebook account.
Before Cody deleted his post, it was reposted and criticized by Mostly Peaceful Latinas, local podcasters. Their critique of the comment went viral, with over 100,000 views.
The following day, September 11, Cody apologized for his statement online. But it was too late. Mayor Cunningham and many others – all the way to Tallahassee – called for him to resign.
In an email sent through the village newsletter, Cunningham stated, “I must call for Councilman Cody to step down. The people of Palmetto Bay deserve leadership that reflects compassion, responsibility, and dignity in moments of crisis.”
This story is part of a collaboration between Miami’s Community Newspapers and the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media at Florida International University.
(left to right) Karina Santin, Amanda Santin, District 6 Representative Natalie Orbis, Elizabeth Santin, Miami Springs Commissioner Jorge Santin
When Elizabeth Santin was a small child, she would climb upon a chair and help her grandmother bake gingerbread cookie men. As soon as her daughters Karina and Amanda were old enough, Elizabeth introduced them to the joys of creating homemade cookies, cakes and brownies. Her love of baking was so intense that she would gather the girls and her husband, Miami Springs Councilman Jorge Santin, to watch the Cake Boss television series.
Before long, Elizabeth’s relatives and friends realized she had a knack for baking and began asking her to provide her sugary confections for birthday parties and school events. In 2015, she took a leap of faith and opened Twice as Sweet bakery in Miami Springs, where she delights customers with both classic favorites and creative confections.
“This year marks the 10th anniversary of Twice as Sweet. I love that it’s Miami Springs’ little hometown bakery,” says Elizabeth, a 35-year employee of American Airlines who hurries home from the airport in time to open at noon Tuesdays through Saturdays.
“Twice as Sweet is my haven and provides me with peace of mind. For the community, it has become a cherished community gathering place. We kept busy baking right through Covid and began offering ‘make your own’ cookie and cake decorating kits to keep kids from getting bored at home,” she adds.
Elizabeth says her bakery began as a small dream on a shoestring budget and that she’s learned a lot about baking by watching YouTube videos and through old-fashioned trial and error. She’s a one-woman show although during busy times additional help is brought in.
Among the bakery’s most popular items are custom-made cookies, cannolis, brownies, cupcakes and cakes for any occasion.
“Birthday cakes can be ready in two days, but wedding cakes are larger and more complicated and we need a couple of months’ notice to create those. We’ve even made divorce cakes,” Elizabeth says with a smile.
Beyond its menu, Twice as Sweet has always been rooted in community. Over the past decade, the bakery has partnered with local schools, churches, and organizations, donating baked goods, supporting fundraisers, and sponsoring neighborhood events. Twice as Sweet is located at 75 N. Royal Poinciana Boulevard in Miami Springs. The bakery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 12 noon to 7 p.m. More information can be found on Instagram at @twiceassweet.
PROVO, Utah (AP) — Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old Utah man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk, was charged on Tuesday with aggravated murder, a prosecutor announced, saying Robinson left behind his DNA on the trigger of the rifle that fired the fatal shot.
The charge means Robinson could face the death penalty if convicted of killing Kirk last week at Utah Valley University in Orem, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) south of Salt Lake City.
“The murder of Charlie Kirk is an American tragedy,” Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said in announcing the charges. He said Robinson’s DNA was found on the trigger of the gun used to kill Kirk.
Kirk was gunned down on Sept. 10 as he spoke with students and died soon after. Prosecutors allege Robinson shot Kirk in the neck with a bolt-action rifle from the roof of a nearby campus building.
A Utah Valley University police officer was watching the university campus crowd from an “elevated position” and identified the roof of the Losee Center as a potential position for a shooter, Gray said. The officer found evidence on the roof immediately, he said, and spurred officers to direct their attention to surveillance video leading to the roof.
Gray said Robinson’s DNA was found on the trigger of the rifle. He said Robinson discarded the rifle and clothing and asked his roommate to conceal evidence.
Robinson left a note under a keyboard saying he planned to kill Kirk and confessed after the shooting, documents show.
Robinson also was charged with felony discharge of a firearm, punishable by up to life in prison, and obstructing justice, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. He was scheduled to appear on camera for a virtual court hearing Tuesday afternoon.
It was unclear whether Robinson had an attorney who could speak on his behalf, and his family has declined to comment to The Associated Press.
Robinson was arrested late Thursday near St. George, the southern Utah community where he grew up.
Investigators have spoken to Robinson’s relatives and carried out a search warrant at his family’s home in Washington, Utah, about 240 miles (390 kilometers) southwest of where the shooting happened.
Kirk, a dominant figure in conservative politics, became a confidant of President Donald Trump after founding Arizona-based Turning Point USA, one of the nation’s largest political organizations. He brought young, conservative evangelical Christians into politics. His shooting raised fears about increasing political violence in a deeply polarized United States.
While authorities say Robinson hasn’t been cooperating with investigators, they say his family and friends have been talking. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said over the weekend that those who know Robinson say his politics shifted left in recent years and he spent a lot of time in the “dark corners of the internet.”
FBI Director Kash Patel said Monday on the Fox News Channel show “Fox & Friends” that DNA evidence has linked Robinson to a towel wrapped around a rifle found near the Utah Valley campus and a screwdriver recovered from the rooftop where the fatal shot was fired.
The FBI also is looking at “anyone and everyone” who was involved in a gaming chatroom on the social media platform Discord with Robinson, Patel said Tuesday during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in Washington. The chatroom involved “a lot more” than 20 people, he said.
“We are investigating Charlie’s assassination fully and completely and running out every lead related to any allegation of broader violence,” Patel said in response to a question about whether the Kirk shooting was being treated as part of a broader trend of violence against religious groups.
Investigators are working on finding a motive for the attack, Utah’s governor said Sunday, adding that more information may come out once Robinson appears for his initial court hearing.
Cox said Robinson’s romantic partner was transgender, which some politicians have pointed to as a sign the suspect was targeting Kirk for his anti-transgender views. But authorities have not said whether that played a role. Kirk was shot while taking a question that touched on mass shootings, gun violence and transgender people.
Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said Monday that Robinson’s partner has been cooperative. He said investigators believe Robinson acted alone during the shooting, but they also are looking at whether anyone knew of his plans beforehand.
In the days since Kirk’s assassination, Americans have found themselves facing questions about rising political violence, the deep divisions that brought the nation here and whether anything can change.
Despite calls for greater civility, some who opposed Kirk’s provocative statements about gender, race and politics criticized him after his death. Many Republicans have led the push to punish anyone they believe dishonored him, causing both public and private workers to lose their jobs or face other consequences at work.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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University of Miami student puts her water bottle on the side of her bag on the way to class. Contributing Photographer// Lorelei DiSanto @loreleis_lens,
Your emotional support water bottle is your best friend. It goes everywhere with you and it’s there when you need it, but when was the last time you actually washed it?
Science has shown that consistently drinking water is the best thing for your body, and in the South Florida heat, it’s especially important to stay hydrated. However, it’s equally important to consistently clean your emotional support water bottle before it becomes a problem.
Ever since the viral “VSCO Girl” aesthetic of 2019, water bottles have been monetized and accessorized into what has now become a fashion statement.. Whether it’s a Hydroflask, a Stanley or an Owala, a girl’s water bottle is her lifeline. It’s used to express your likes, dislikes and interests. It’s a little piece of who you are.
Going to the store, picking out your favorite brand, choosing a color and adding stickers are just the few ways that a girl turns her water bottle into her best friend. If you’re an emotional support water bottle owner, then you know all the late night studying, mental breakdowns and stairmaster sessions it’s gotten you through.
According to a blog post by Owala, the emotional support water bottle “is a practical item that contributes to a healthy lifestyle” and can lead to several health benefits. By tracking how much water you drink, you’re making your body happy and healthy.
UC Davis Health states that water brings nutrients to your body, protects your joints, maintains body temperature and even improves your mental health.
So yes, keep carrying your Stanleys or Owalas with pride. But don’t forget to take care of the thing that’s taking care of you.
Nuvance Health recommends washing your water bottle daily, as this is the easiest way to prevent mold and bacteria. The longer you wait between washes, the more likely you are to start growing a forest underneath the mouthpiece.
You’re probably thinking to yourself, “well a little mold can’t be that bad” but it definitely is. The USDA states that certain molds can have mycotoxins, which are poisonous and can make you extremely sick.
Several other sources also agreed with Nuvance Health’s advice. Peloton even encouraged emotional support water bottle owners to wash them twice a day.
I know it sounds excessive — even I don’t wash my favorite Owala that often. However, if you wanna keep you and those around you happy (and healthy) please do us all a favor and start scrubbing those Stanleys.
New free to list platform lets locals list, share, and monetize all types and sizes of commercial spaces
From Wynwood art lofts to spare desks in Brickell, Miami is full of underused commercial space. A new platform, soCommercial, is turning every square foot into opportunity and it’s completely free to list.
“Modern businesses move fast, but space has stayed stuck in the past,” says Steve Taylor, CEO of soCommercial. “We’re changing that. With soCommercial, space is no longer a fixed cost, it’s a flexible asset that can generate income or fuel growth.”
Space as a Business Opportunity
soCommercial empowers Miami businesses and property owners to unlock value by listing spaces of all shapes and sizes , by the hour, day, week, or longer.
Think:
A desk rented to a freelancer between client meetings
A South Beach restaurant’s rooftop leased for daytime workshops
A Wynwood bar transforming its lounge into a coworking hub midweek
A warehouse corner in Hialeah used for short-term storage
A retail spot in Little Havana reimagined as a weekend art gallery
Even movie theatres hosting live-streaming events
Restaurants, hotels and bars especially benefit. They can quickly monetize unused areas whether it’s a terrace before evening service, a lounge midweek, or a function room sitting empty — turning downtime into new income.
Free, Fast, and Frictionless
Unlike traditional property platforms, soCommercial is completely free to use. Space holders can set flexible terms, run promotions, and stay in control, while businesses get instant access to space on their terms.
To drive even more bookings, space owners can add special offers, incentives, and discounts — from happy-hour pricing on daytime rentals to reduced weekend rates — helping attract the right tenants fast.
For those who want a shortcut, the platform’s “Find Space for Me” feature works like matchmaking: users share their needs, and soCommercial delivers tailored options directly — cutting out wasted time scrolling and searching.
A Marketplace Built for Agility
Miami’s fast-moving economy thrives on adaptability. soCommercial’s marketplace connects space providers and seekers quickly, giving entrepreneurs the agility they need to pivot, scale, and innovate.
“The right space shouldn’t be a burden — it should be a launchpad,” Taylor adds. “In today’s economy, every square foot is a strategic decision. With soCommercial, Miami businesses can finally think of space as an opportunity, not an obstacle.”
About soCommercial
soCommercial is a next-generation platform redefining how businesses find, use, and monetize commercial space. From spare desks to entire buildings and from South Beach rooftops to Wynwood lounges the platform makes every square foot count, free, fast, and flexible.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Kash Patel will confront skeptical Senate Democrats at a congressional hearing Tuesday likely to be dominated by questions about the investigation into Charlie Kirk’s killing as well as the recent firings of senior officials who have accused the FBI director of illegal political retribution.
The appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee represents the first oversight hearing of Patel’s young but tumultuous tenure and provides a high-stakes platform for him to try to reassure wary lawmakers that he is the right person for the job at a time of internal upheaval and mounting concerns about political violence inside the U.S.
Patel will be returning to the committee for the first time since his confirmation hearing in January, when he sought to reassure Democrats that he would not pursue retribution as director. He’ll face questions Tuesday about whether he did exactly that when the FBI last month fired five agents and senior officials in a purge that current and former officials say weakened morale and contributed to unease inside the nation’s premier federal law enforcement agency.
Three of those officials sued last week in a federal complaint that says Patel knew the firings were likely illegal but carried them out anyway to protect his job. One of the officials helped oversee investigations into the Jan. 6 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol and another clashed with Justice Department leadership while serving as acting director in the early days of the Trump administration. The FBI has declined to comment on the lawsuit.
Republican lawmakers who make up the majority in the committee are expected to show solidarity for Patel, a close ally of President Donald Trump, and are likely to praise the director for his focus on violent crime and illegal immigration. They are also likely to try to elicit from Patel fresh details about the investigation into Kirk’s assassination at a Utah college campus last week, which authorities have said was carried out by a 22-year-old man who had grown more political in recent years and ascribed to a “leftist ideology.”
Patel drew scrutiny when, hours after the killing, he posted on social media that “the subject” was in custody even though the actual suspected shooter remained on the loose and was not arrested until he turned himself in late the following night.
Patel has not explained that post but has pointed to his decision to authorize the release of photographs of the suspect, Tyler Robinson, while he was on the run as a key development that helped facilitate an arrest. A Fox News Channel journalist reported Saturday that Trump had told her that Patel and the FBI have “done a great job.”
Robinson is due to make his first court appearance in Utah.
Another line of questioning may involve Democratic concerns that Patel is politicizing the FBI through politically charged investigations, including into longstanding Trump grievances. Agents and prosecutors, for instance, have been seeking interviews and information as they reexamine aspects of the years-old FBI investigation into potential coordination between Russia and Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.
Patel has repeatedly said his predecessors at the FBI and Justice Department who investigated and prosecuted Trump were the ones who weaponized the institutions.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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France flanker Axelle Berthoumieu admitted to biting Ireland’s Aoife Wafer in their Women’s Rugby World Cup quarterfinal but appealed her 12-match suspension on Monday.
France captain Manaé Feleu was also appealing a three-game suspension which also threatens to rule her out of the World Cup semifinal against England and the final or bronze final.
Berthoumieu’s admission occurred in a foul play review hearing. The panel said she accepted her bite was worthy of a red card and the off-field citing was warranted.
Aoife Wafer of Ireland is tackled by Axelle Berthoumieu and Charlotte Escudero of France during the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Quarter Final match between France and Ireland at Sandy Park on September 14, 2025 in Exeter, England.
Alex Davidson – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images
No action was taken against her on the field at the time.
Wafer accused Berthoumieu of biting her arm during France’s 18-13 win on Sunday in Exeter. The referee referred it to the Television Match Official to review footage.
France were trailing 13-0 at the time of the incident, according to BBC News. Footage immediately after the incident showed Wafer looking at her arm, BBC News reported.
World Rugby said in a statement, “In reviewing the matter live, the TMO was unable to determine clear and obvious foul play and did not have the benefit of additional evidential submissions to corroborate.”
Berthoumieu was charged after the match by the citing commissioner.
For a sanction, the panel started the suspension at 18 games and deducted six.
“Although the player acknowledged the foul play and was remorseful, full mitigation was not given due to the seriousness of the player’s actions, and that the player had the opportunity not to continue with the action,” World Rugby said.
Berthoumieu appealed against the length of the 12-game suspension, which would rule her out of the rest of the World Cup and prevent her from playing to March 1.
Her appeal will be heard on Tuesday.
Former England World Cup winner Maggie Alphonsi told the BBC the alleged biting was a “disgrace” and Berthoumieu should be punished if found guilty.
“I hate seeing that in the game,” Alphonsi said.
The 25-year-old Berthoumieu has 27 caps since her 2019 debut, including all four of France’s matches at this World Cup, her first.
Feleu, leading Les Bleues at her second World Cup, was cited for a dangerous tackle that wasn’t sanctioned on the field. At her hearing, she accepted there was foul play but didn’t believe it was worth a citing.
But the panel found her guilty of head-on-head contact at speed with no mitigation.
Her appeal will also be heard on Tuesday against a suspension that threatens to be a major blow to France’s title hopes.
France’s Axelle Berthoumieu during the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Quarter Final match between France and Ireland at Sandy Park on September 14, 2025 in Exeter, England.
EXETER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 14: France’s Axelle Berthoumieu during the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Quarter Final match between France and Ireland at Sandy Park on September 14, 2025 in Exeter, England. (Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images)
