General News about South Florida
Broward County teachers will receive raises this year ranging from 2.6 percent to to 3.51 percent, under a tentative contract between the school district and the teachers’ union.
Read more… http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/education/fl-broward-teacher-contract-2017-story.html
Broward County landlords can no longer refuse to rent to someone simply because that person is a military veteran or domestic violence victim.
Broward commissioners unanimously voted to expand the county’s housing anti-discrimination regulations Tuesday to ensure military personnel and returning veterans have access to housing and that victims of domestic assault aren’t victimized again.
Read more… http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-sb-broward-fair-housing-veterans-20171205-story.html
Mazie Ford is Broward County’s only verified supercentenarian. That’s someone who’s over 110 years old, and Ford is almost 111.5.
She was born on June 28, 1906. That makes her the oldest verified living person in Broward County, and the second oldest in all of Florida.
Read more: http://wlrn.org/post/browards-oldest-resident-donates-her-time-countys-newest
Sorry, kids. If you attend Broward County public schools, summer vacation will end early.
The School Board on Tuesday approved its calendar for the 2018-19 school year, which will start Wednesday, Aug. 15 — six days earlier than last year. It’s also the first midweek start in recent years.
The start of the school year has been a contentious issue over the years. District officials say an earlier start is better for academic purposes. But a number of parents say later starts help avoid conflicts with out-of-state camps, family trips and academic summer programs.
The new calendar:Â http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/education/fl-broward-school-board-calendar-20171205-story.html
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – With temperatures expected to drop this weekend, Broward County has declared a Cold Weather Emergency for Saturday and Sunday.
The National Weather Service is forecasting temperatures to hit the mid-40’s in Broward metro areas when including wind chill.
For more information: https://www.local10.com/news/florida/broward/broward-county-issues-cold-weather-emergency-warning-for-this-weekend
Hard on the heels of the successful war against the designer drug flakka, an opioid epidemic is gripping Broward County.
Last year, opioids killed 582 people, almost two a day, in Broward. Craig Mallack, the county’s chief medical examiner, says that figure will likely exceed 1,000 in 2017.
Read more… http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-sb-opioid-crisis-town-hall-20170513-story.html
Time is running out for the mold-plagued building that served as Broward County’s main courthouse for the past 55 years.
The former main entrance to the county’s judicial complex closed at the beginning of May. The remaining judges and courts still holding session in the 10-story structure will relocate to the new courthouse building at Southeast Sixth Street and First Avenue on May 15.
Read more… http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-sb-broward-courthouse-update-20170503-story.html
Broward Schools hold opportunity event for small business vendors
Small, minority and women-owned businesses offered help in securing contracts
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – The Broward County Public School’s (BCPS) Procurement Warehousing Services Department Supplier Diversity Outreach Program (SDOP) will host a Business Outreach Event on May 8, 2017, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Urban League of Broward County, 560 N.W. 27th Ave., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The event will provide an overview of the new Supplier Diversity Outreach Program Policy 3330 and a 2017 Procurement Opportunities Forecast. It is designed for all businesses in the tri-county area interested in doing business with BCPS and is free to attend. Refreshments will be provided for attendees.
For more info: http://thewestsidegazette.com/broward-schools-hold-opportunity-event-for-small-business-vendors/
This week, Broward County embraced a development vision for the land, a potential playbook created by the Urban Land Institute. The nonprofit real estate consultancy visited the site, studied it and issued the report this month. To carry it out, the County Commission agreed Tuesday to hire two real estate employees, including a director of real estate.
Read more .. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/broward-politics-blog/fl-sb-broward-arena-redevelopment-20170206-story.html
Just like its neighbor Miami-Dade County to the south, a new report shows Broward enjoyed a solid month for home sales during November, upending the downturn seen throughout most of this year.
http://therealdeal.com/miami/2016/12/22/home-sales-pick-back-up-in-broward-for-november/
Imagine hitting nothing but green lights during the morning commute, sailing under perfectly timed traffic signals.
Now, face reality: Broward traffic engineers say that world doesn’t exist, and likely never will.
Read more… http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-light-synchronization-broward-20161030-story.html
Looking for outdoor activities for the last two weeks of summer vacation?
Weekly Naturalist-led Tours of northern Broward County’s natural areas.
The free tours last about one hour each and are organized by the Parks and Recreation Department.
Participants should bring bottled water and wear closed-toe shoes and sunscreen.
The following locations offer tours at least once each month: