-A Fort Lauderdale high school student created quite a stir after traveling to Iraq by himself. Farris Hassan said he wanted to experience the lives of Iraqi people first hand after being inspired by a school project on immersion journalism. His parents had moved to the U.S. from Iraq 35 years before, but Hassan spoke little Arabic and ended up being picked up by the U.S. military in Iraq and sent back home. Hear an MP3 of my reports from January 2006 on Hassan's Trip To Iraq, runs 2:32 (2.31 mb). This montage would win an award for Best Spot News in 2007 from the Florida Associated Press.

-Two consecutive days in January 2007 brought Terrorism Scares at the Port of Miami. One was caused when an Iraqi-born truck driver was found to have two additional people hidden in the cab of his truck at an entrance to the port. The other happened when an explosive detecting sensor went off. The first is my depth report for WLRN-Miami Herald News, the second a quick live report I did on an hourly CBS Radio newscast. MP3 runs 3:14 (2.96 mb).

-As elsewhere in the country, the debate over immigration reform became a hot topic in 2006 in South Florida. During a debate before a civic group in Miami on March 31st, both of Florida's U.S. Senators, a Republican and Democrat, agreed that a hard line approach to immigration would never work. The following month thousands took part in a rally in downtown Miami that coincided with rallies elsewhere in the country. And on July 20, 2006, leading members of the U.S. Senate traveled for a hearing at Miami-Dade College. Download an MP3 of my reports on Immigration, runs 4:43 (4.32 mb).

-Federal Air Marshals on an American Airlines flight boarding at Miami International Airport shot and killed a man on December 7, 2005 who threatened to have a bomb. He didn't. His wife said he was bi-polar and had not taken his medication. Download an MP3 of my report Airline Shooting, runs 1:32 (1.41 mb).

-I had the difficult task of going on the air July 27, 2005 to report that former Miami City Commissioner Art Teele had just committed suicide, shooting himself in the head five floors below me in the lobby of the Miami Herald. He was facing federal and state corruption charges that could have brought him decades in jail. My reports that afternoon would be awarded by the Society of Professional Journalists in Florida first place for Deadline Reporting. You can download an MP3 of my reports for Teele Suicide, runs 14:24 (13.1 mb).

-A Miami man fell 40 feet from an unused bridge, where he would remain injured and unnoticed for two days until a worker at the Port of Miami finally heard his pleas for help. Download an MP3 of my report Man Falls, aired March 2, 2005, runs 1:38 (676 kb). You can also read the front page story I co-wrote for The Miami Herald as a PDF file: Page 1A, jump Page 2A.

-Safe to say Lionel Tate was a troubled young man who threw away second chances he received in life. He became the youngest person in Florida ever sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of beating a six-year-old playmate to death when he was 12. His mother had turned down a plea agreement that would have allowed juvenile detention, then Tate would have been released when he turned 18. His attorney argued that Tate was trying wrestling moves he had seen on TV when he inflicted the fatal injuries. He was convicted at trial and sentenced to a mandatory life in prison. But on December 10, 2003 an appeals court threw out the conviction and ordered a new trial. Download an MP3 of Tate Wins Appeal, runs 2:14 (2.04 mb). He would be released January 29, 2004, a day before his 17th birthday. Download Tate's Release, MP3 runs 2:16 (2.08 mb). But Tate ended up violating probation with a conviction of robbing a pizza deliveryman and is now back in prison.

-Le Tub, a funky old cash-only restaurant along the Intracoastal Waterway in Hollywood, Florida, was named by GQ magazine in June 2005 as having the nation's best burger. With the announcement I visited the restaurant, speaking with regulars about what makes its burger so damn good. Download an MP3 of my report for Le Tub, runs 1:33 (1.42 mb).

 COLORED-ONLY BEACH:

-In the days of segregation, when Miami was not the diverse place it is now, but part of the deep south, African-Americans were not allowed on the beaches. The only exception was Virginia Key Beach, which was designated in the 1940's as Miami's "Colored Only" beach. As color barriers eventually came down, the area, which always had rough, choppy waters, was essentially abandoned. But now it is being restored with a museum to eventually be there, telling the history of race relations in South Florida. A year after work began, I visited the park, speaking with Park Trust Chairwoman M. Athalie Range. Download an MP3 of my report Virginia Key Carousel, which aired November 11, 2004. MP3 runs 1:31 (625 mb).

-The park will include replicas of two rides that were there in the 1950s: a miniature train, which used to carry people around Virginia Key, and a horse carousel. Nearly two years after first meeting her, I again visited with Ms. Range, who showed me a miniature train they had just received from a park in California, which was identical to the one that had once been there. Download an MP3 of my report Virginia Key Train, which was broadcast August 17, 2006. MP3 runs 1:53 (1.73 mb).

-Sadly, three months after I had last spoken with her, M. Athalie Range died on November 14, 2006 at the age of 91. In that final interview she had done such a good job telling the history of Virginia Key Beach and of segregation in South Florida, that we opted to include the whole interview on the Miami Herald's web site to go with her obituary. I've also included audio of that Athalie Range Interview here, recorded August 16, 2006. She was an incredible woman who had been the first African-American to serve on the Miami City Commission in 1966 and was also the first woman to head a state agency in Florida when she was appointed Secretary of the Department of Community Affairs. President Carter would later appoint her to a two year term on the passenger rail service Amtrak's governing board. MP3 runs 13:19 (12.2 mb).

-One of Cuba's top government officials opened himself up for a rare public questioning when he spoke live via satellite with members of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, meeting in Fort Lauderdale. The comments by Ricardo Alarcon, speaker of Cuba's National Assembly, came as many were pondering what life in Cuba would be like after the death of Fidel Castro. His most striking comments were directed at Cuban-Americans who hope to one day return to the island. Download an MP3 of Life After Castro, runs 1:26 (1.31 mb).

ELECTIONS & VOTING WOES:

-A collection of my reports from 2004 looking at Florida's problematic touch screen voting machines. This montage would win a 2005 Florida Associated Press second place award for Best Continuing Coverage. The year started off with a Florida House election that was won by just 12 votes. As it got closer to 2004's presidential election, concerns about the lack of a paper trail prompted U.S. Senator Bill Nelson and civil rights groups to call for an investigation. The controversy got even hotter as filmmaker Michael Moore rallied crowds in Fort Lauderdale on the eve of the Presidential election. In the end there would indeed be some problems, but not like those seen in 2000. Florida's current Governor Charlie Crist has since decided to scrap all the computerized touch screen voting machines. Download an MP3 of my 2004 Election Woes montage, runs 11:15 (4.50 mb).

-In advance of the 2004 presidential election, actor Michael J. Fox, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, visited South Florida to push for expanding Stem Cell Research and to show his support for Senator John Kerry's bid. Report aired September 29, 2004, MP3 runs 1:17 (530 kb).

-After passing a Florida constitutional amendment in 2000 mandating that the state build a High-Speed Rail network linking major cities, a proposal that it be repealed went back to voters four years later. Hear both sides of the debate in my report that aired October 4, 2004. Voters would end up deciding to cancel plans for so-called bullet trains. MP3 runs 1:39 (681 kb).

 GAMBLING:

-Gambling in South Florida reached a new level with the opening of the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood. Local leaders said the massive facility would give a major boost to the economy, employing 6,000 people, while drawing a different breed of tourist to the area. Download an MP3 of my report from May 12, 2004, Seminole Hard Rock, runs 1:16 (520 kb).

-With racetracks and Jai Alai frontons struggling to survive, voters in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties went to the polls March 8, 2005 to decide whether those facilities should be allowed to expand with Las Vegas-style slot machines. Download an MP3 of my Slots Election Day Reports, runs 3:01 (1.20 mb). The measure ended up being approved in Broward, but rejected in Miami-Dade.

HURRICANES:

-Hurricane Wilma plowed through South Florida on October 24, 2005, causing widespread damage and power outages. Because it hit just weeks after Hurricane Katrina decimated New Orleans, the storm got little national attention. But it took quite a toll on residents, with me reporting on this for weeks. Here is a montage of reports on Hurricane Wilma and its aftermath, MP3 runs 21:59 (20.1 mb).

-After heading the National Hurricane Center for several tumultuous years, director Max Mayfield Retired on August 25, 2006, citing the toll of so many storms. Because of his high profile in guiding South Florida through one hurricane after another, I made this the focus of an entire newscast that afternoon, including part of an interview I recorded with him. MP3 runs 3:34 (3.27 mb).

-While repeated hurricane strikes were devastating for many Floridians, the storms of 2004 helped expose a treasure trove for archeologists. A 2000-year-old indian village was discovered under sand dunes at what is today Hutchinson Island near Stuart, Florida. Download an MP3 of Hurricane Artifacts, aired October 11, 2004, runs 1:24 (580 kb).

MUSIC:

-The enduring popularity of reggae legend Bob Marley was evident when a survey in 2004 showed that more than two decades after his death in Miami, he was the ninth most lucrative dead celebrity, ahead of the likes of Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe. My report here coincided with a Miami Herald Business Monday cover story looking at how his estate has managed to expand and diversify his legend. MP3 runs 2:32 (1.36 mb).

-In May 2005 I interviewed country music legend Willie Nelson for a radio version of a story the Miami Herald was doing about his company called BioWillie, selling bio-diesel fuels. I've created a page featuring photos and an MP3 of the interview with Willie Nelson.

-I produced this fun piece with Miami Herald music writer Evelyn McDonnel looking at South Florida hip hop group Mayday. This would end up winning a second place award in the 2007 Florida Associated Press awards for Best Short Light Feature. The report aired May 29, 2006, MP3 runs 1:29 (1.36 mb).

RADIO:

-Having first learned radio in a class in high school, I've always had a soft spot in my heart for other such programs. I had been sent to Piper High School in Sunrise, Florida to get sound for a different story, but before leaving, because I had long heard about the school and its radio station WKPX, asked where the radio facilities were. I was taken to the class and after learning the program would soon be leaving Piper to be part of a district-wide program for Broward schools, thought it would make an interesting story. I wrote a print story for the Miami Herald, while also producing a radio version. Hear an MP3 on my report on WKPX, runs 1:46 (1.62 mb).

-As more stores begin selling HD radios, broadcasters in South Florida are expanding their programming. Read My Article for the Miami Herald's Business section on 3/20/07 or Download An Audio Report that accompanied the story online. MP3 runs 19:19 (17.6 mb).

-In 2003, the Palm Beach County State Attorney's office launched an investigation to determine if conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh was illegally obtaining powerful prescription pain killers. In an effort to keep medical records from being turned over to investigators, his attorney argued that would violate Limbaugh's privacy rights. I covered a court hearing on December 11, 2003 where both sides made arguments to a judge in West Palm Beach. Download an MP3 of Limbaugh Hearing, runs 2:29 (2.28 mb).

SPORTS:

-It was great seeing the Florida Marlins for a second time since I had moved to the area win the World Series in 2003. Here's my report from the Marlins Victory Parade in downtown Miami, aired October 29, 2003. MP3 runs 0:59 (936 kb).

-Shaquille O'Neal was given a heroes welcome as he arrived in Miami to become part of the Miami Heat. He promised on that hot summer day to bring the team a national championship. Download an MP3 of my report Shaq Arrives, from July 21, 2004, runs 1:04 (442 kb). He would eventually deliver on that promise, with the Heat winning the NBA championship. Hear my newscast on the Heat's Return, June 21, 2006, MP3 runs 2:00 (1.83 mb).

-In advance of a NASCAR finale that would draw 100,000 people to Homestead, I spoke to many fans who were already in place. Hear an MP3 of my report on the NASCAR Festivities, aired November 18, 2004, runs 1:20 (552 kb).

-Playing dominoes is certainly a key pastime for many Latin American cultures and drew the attention of ESPN, which filmed a Domino Tournament held in Miami's Little Havana. This report, aired March 9, 2006, would win second place award in the 2007 Florida Associated Press awards for Best Sports Feature . Download an MP3, runs 1:30 (1.38 mb).

TRAINS:

-In June of 2004 I visited the Gold Coast Railroad Museum near Miami expecting to produce a short feature. I was so struck by the collection of vintage rail cars, including the armored car used by four U.S. Presidents, that I produced a nearly half-hour long piece that was aired on WLRN's afternoon talk show "Topical Currents." You can download an MP3 of my piece Touring the Gold Coast Railroad Museum, runs 23:10 (9.30 mb).

-I was able to share my love of riding trains through a large display story I wrote for the Miami Herald's Sunday Travel Section. It included my personal accounts from a trip I made on Amtrak's Texas Eagle from San Antonio, Texas to Little Rock, Arkansas. I included quotes from passengers I spoke with and many photos that I took. You can click on either of the images to the right to see the pages, while I've also created a page on my Travel Story which has easier to read text and many additional photos from my trip.

-To increase the number of trains it runs, South Florida commuter rail service Tri-Rail laid a second set of rails along the existing line between West Palm Beach and Miami, which it shares with CSX and Amtrak. On November 26, 2004 I wrote a story for the Miami Herald updating the double-tracking project, which has since been completed. Read My Article or download an MP3 of my radio report on Tri-Rail, runs 2:08 (876 kb).

-Nearly two years later people living near the tracks in Hollywood finally got their wish as a so-called whistle ban went into effect for trains. I wrote a follow up story for the Miami Herald on October 2, 2006. Read My Article or download an MP3 of Whistle Ban Goes Into Effect, which runs 2:14 (2.05 mb).

Above is a shot of me on the terrace of the Miami Herald building in October 2006 with the downtown skyline in the background. The photo was taken by my old childhood buddy from Arkansas David Scolli who was visiting Florida.

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