Miami, FL
Nonstop flights from U.S. to Venezuela resume Thursday at Miami International Airport for first time in seven years
Excitement is building at Miami International Airport as American Airlines is set to resume nonstop flights from the United States to Venezuela for the first time in seven years on Thursday morning.
This comes after the U.S. carrier suspended service to the South American country citing diplomatic fallout between the two nations.
The first flight from MIA to Caracas (CSS) is set to depart at 10:15 a.m. and is being operated by Envoy Air, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines, and a second daily flight between MIA and CSS is expected to begin in less than a month on May 21.
The announcement that these flights would resume is a significant step in the normalization of relations between the United States and Venezuela following the January capture of former president Nicolás Maduro.
The flights to Venezuela were halted in 2019 after the U.S. Department of State issued warnings about crime and the detention of American citizens.
Tickets for the inaugural flight on Thursday morning are sold out, and roundtrip tickets for flights in May are priced between $1,500 to $4,000.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy made comments about the flights at an industry forum on Wednesday.
“I know that there’s a lot of people in Florida who can’t wait to go back to their homeland,” he said. “To go back to see their families. And they couldn’t make that happen. And by way of the President saying, “No, we’re going to fly back to Venezuela,’ and Robert saying, ‘Well, I want American to fly back to Venezuela,’ the meaning that that has for people, the way that you touch people’s hearts, in a profound way, I think, sometimes we don’t realize.”
A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at Miami International Airport before the flight on Thursday morning, with several officials expected to speak about the historic event.
Miami, FL
Braxton Berrios, Bethenny Frankel and more stars hit Gaia Miami’s opening
Dubai has landed in Miami.
Fundamental Hospitality — the UAE-born powerhouse behind hot spots like Shanghai Me, Alaya, and La Maison Ani — quietly previewed its first US outpost in Miami this weekend.
Stars like Bethenny Frankel, Braxton Berrios and Larsa Pippen attended the four-night preview of Gaia Miami last Thursday to Sunday, a source told Page Six.
We’re told partners Evgeny Kuzin and Izu Ani “rolled out the red carpet” for a handpicked group of the coastal-Floridian city’s most influential names for a first look ahead of the official opening later this week.
To kick things off, the Mayor of Miami Beach, Steven Meiner, led a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“Inside, the scene leaned more private members club than restaurant preview,” the source said.
We’re told couples Kevin and Kate Love and David Lee and Caroline Wozniacki dined alongside NBA icon Pat Riley and NFL standout Jon Vilma.
Claire Holt was seen arriving with her fiancé, developer Andrew Joblon, alongside real estate bigwig Alex Witkoff.
Housewives spotted dining throughout the soft launch included Bethenny Frankel, Kiki Barth, Alexia Nepola and Pippen — who wore an eye-catching gold dress for the occasion.
Frankel even took to Instagram to give a rave review for the restaurant, calling it “the best restaurant in Miami.”
The starry guest list included developer Jorge Perez, Major Food Group co-founders Jeff Zalaznick and Mario Carbone, nightlife mainstay Chris Paciello, branding mogul Steve Stoute and architect Kobi Karp.
Influencer Jonathan “Foodgod” Cheban also dined there and took to social media to share his experience at the new eatery, writing in the caption, “Good luck getting in.”
Some of the city’s biggest business heavyweights were also in tow, including Dave Grutman and his wife Isabela, and Pura Vida founders Omer and Jennifer Horev.
The menu includes fresh Mediterranean dishes like tuna with truffle, tuna tartar with caviar, watermelon salad, Greek salad, baked feta cheese, Greek-style meatballs and lobster pasta.
As for desserts, patrons can indulge in fried Greek doughnuts, Gia cheesecake, filo mille feuilles, coconut cake, the “Dirty Cookie” with toasted hazelnut, pralines and tahiti vanilla ice cream.
Miami, FL
Highway 41 fire burns thousands of acres, threatens structures in west Miami-Dade
A wildfire is still burning in the Everglades Wednesday as firefighters work to control the flames threatening structures in western Miami-Dade.
The Highway 41 fire, named for its proximity to U.S. 41, has grown to 5,000 acres and was 0% contained as of Tuesday night, according to the U.S. Forest Service. It broke out at around 5 p.m. Monday.
Eight structures were threatened by the fire, but no evacuation orders were issued and no injuries have been reported, officials said.
The fire is burning further from Tamiami Trail than it was Tuesday, but drivers headed west from Miami will be able to see flames west of the Miccosukee Resort and Casino and Krome Avenue. The roadway remains open.
Fire response
The U.S. Forest Service reports that 48 personnel have been assigned to the blaze, along with five fire engines, four helicopters, and two fixed-wing aircraft. Officials said Tuesday that at least one USDA Forest Service engine from Arkansas supported the initial suppression efforts.
Crews were seen fighting the fire by air, making multiple runs to dump water onto the flames.
Firefighting efforts have cost approximately $750,000 so far.
The cause of the blaze remains undetermined.
Will I see smoke from the Highway 41 fire?
Northeast winds are keeping the smoke away from highly populated areas—for now.
“However, winds are changing here over the next day to two, and that could move the smoke around,” NBC6 meteorologist Adam Berg said.
By Thursday morning, more smoke may be blown east.
The National Weather Service advises residents to:
- exercise caution while driving if smoke reduces visibility
- monitor local air quality
- if sensitive to particle pollution, reduce time outdoors
Miami, FL
2 more Miami Beach Commissioners endorse Vicki Lopez for Miami-Dade Commission
Miami-Dade County Commissioner Vicki Lopez’s campaign to keep her District 5 seat now has support from a majority of the Miami Beach Commission.
This week, Lopez’s campaign announced endorsements from City Commissioners Laura Dominguez and Monica Matteo-Salinas.
They join two other Miami Beach officials — Commissioners Tanya Katzoff Bhatt and Alex Fernandez — backing Lopez.
Dominguez, who handily won re-election alongside Fernandez in early November, called Lopez “a proven partner for Miami Beach who understands what our residents need.”
She cited Lopez’s work as a state lawmaker on condo safety and “real solutions on housing.”
“Vicki is thoughtful, collaborative, and knows how to turn priorities into action,” she said in a statement. “I look forward to continuing to work together to keep Miami Beach safe, resilient, and strong.”
Matteo-Salinas, a former City Hall aide who won her seat in December with 71% of the vote, said Lopez has earned the trust of her constituents “not with words, but with action.”
“Vicki shows up prepared, principled, and genuinely committed to getting it right. She doesn’t lead for the headlines. She leads for the people,” she said in a statement.
“She has been a true partner to our city by being accessible, collaborative, and never too busy to pick up the phone when our residents need answers. Vicki Lopez is the kind of leader our community deserves: experienced, accountable, and deeply rooted in the values that make this county a place we’re proud to call home. I am proud to support her campaign to continue to lead as our county commissioner.”
Lopez, in a statement, expressed gratitude for “the support of leaders who are working every day to serve Miami Beach residents.”
“Our partnership with municipal leaders is essential to tackling the issues that matter most — from housing and safety to infrastructure and quality of life,” she said. “I look forward to continuing that work together.”
Lopez, who was appointed by her County Commission peers last year, raised nearly $589,000 last quarter, far outpacing her lone challenger, Florida Highway Patrol trooper and former Miami Commissioner Joe Sanchez.
Both Lopez and Sanchez are Republicans. Bhatt, Domiguez, Fernandez and Matteo-Salinas are all Democrats.
District 5 includes the cities of Miami and Miami Beach.
All County Commission candidates will be on the Aug. 18 Primary ballot, as those races and others in the county are technically nonpartisan.
If no candidate in a given contest receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two candidates will compete in a Nov. 3 runoff.
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