Raids Leave Immigrants Living in Fear
By DIANA MONTANO
A federal crackdown on “stash houses” and “places of prostitution” in Florida leads to collateral arrests and ultimately deportation for some undocumented residents.

For Haitian Immigrants, Hurricanes Complicate Deportation Cases
By ERIK MAZA
MIAMI - More than 30,000 Haitians face deportation from the United States. But immigration advocates and government officials in Haiti say that with the country still struggling after a string of hurricanes in September, the immigrants should be given a reprieve.

How Green Is Miami? Not Very, Apparently
By TARYN LUNA
South Florida may be one of the least environmentally conscious urban areas in the country, residents and local officials say.


An Early, Abundant Crop Has Tomato Farmers on Edge
By DAGNY SALAS
KENDALL, Fla. — Good weather has led to an abundance of tomatoes, but the success of the early crop may not be good news for farmers: The cost of bringing so many tomatoes to market could keep them from ever leaving the field.

3 Rival Newspapers Find Sharing Stories Isn’t So Bad
By DAGNY SALAS
With the news industry facing a worsening economic climate, South Florida’s three largest newspapers, The Miami Herald, the Sun Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale and The Palm Beach Post, are sharing content — a decision that might seem sacrilegious to traditionalists, but one that is part of a slowly growing trend.

Student Who Took Gun to School Appears in Court
By LORINDA TOLEDO
A 16-year-old student sneaked the silver Colt handgun into the Dillard High School cafeteria, palmed the weapon beneath a table and threatened two girls, the Fort Lauderdale police said. A police report provided new details of the Wednesday-morning incident.

Police Shoot and Kill Man Suspected of Stealing Car
By LORINDA TOLEDO
PLANTATION, Fla. — The police on Thursday shot and killed a 28-year-old Sunrise man suspected of stealing a sports car, after he attempted to evade arrest.


Powerball Craze Builds as Jackpot Grows
By JOE PANGBURN
Add 23, 31, 33, 38, 52 and Powerball number 24, and get $105 million. But no one played that winning combination on Jan. 7 in Florida, or in any of the other 29 states that offer the game. The jackpot now sits at $120 million for Saturday’s drawing.

New Law Allows Spanish Exiles’ Descendants to Claim Citizenship
By ERIK MAZA
MIAMI — Some 20,000 people are expected at the Spanish Consulate in Miami over the next two years to take advantage of a new Spanish law that grants full citizenship to descendants of Spanish Civil War exiles.

Jeb Bush Won’t Seek Senate Seat in 2010
By ILEANA LLORENS
Former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida announced Tuesday that he would not run to fill Mel Martinez’s Senate seat.

Muslims Mark the New Year in Remembrance With Outdoor Ceremony
By RICARDO LOPEZ
MIAMI — Rather than perform a yearly religious ritual at their mosque in Highland Gardens, members of Florida’s small but growing Shiite Muslim community prayed publicly Sunday for the first time at Bayfront Park, steps from bustling Biscayne Boulevard. Their aim: to make their faith more visible.

Rally Supports Israel’s Action in Gaza
By DAGNY SALAS
MIAMI BEACH, Fla.– As Israel sent ground troops into Gaza for the second day Sunday, several hundred people rallied in Miami Beach to voice their support for the ongoing military campaign.

Richardson Investigation Draws New Mexican Ire
By LORINDA TOLEDO
New Mexicans reacted with disappointment Sunday as word spread that Gov. Bill Richardson would not be heading to Washington as part of the Obama administration.