Miami, FL

Miami Lakes mayor race highlights town’s key issues

Published

1 year ago

October 31, 2024

Press Room

Miami Lakes mayor race highlights town’s key issues

MIAMI LAKES, Fla. – With the current mayor of Miami Lakes term-limited, three candidates are vying for the seat.

All are business owners; two currently serve on the town council, and the third is a political newcomer.

Local 10 News met with all three to get their take on the top issues voters will consider when casting their ballots.

“One of the things I’m most proud of is creating a senior rebate,” Vice Mayor Tony Fernandez, one of the candidates said.

Attorney and council member Josh Dieguez, co-owner of his family’s law firm, said, “I supported a 2-percent reduction in the property tax rate.”

“I’m also a lifelong resident of the town,” Dieguez added.

They are joined by Yuniett Gonzalez, who owns a financial consulting firm.

“Sidewalks and lighting are very poor in our town here today,” Gonzalez noted.

A top issue here continues to be the blasting from nearby rock mining.

Fernandez addressed the issue, “It is an issue that we have been working on for several years. I went to Tallahassee twice this past session to lobby on behalf of our residents. I think one of the things that needs to be explored further is maybe the state working with the miners to come up with ways that are less destructive.”

This local issue is complicated by state control of rock mining operations.

Dieguez explained, “Any claims related to rock blasting have to go through a separate legal process known as the Department of Administrative Hearings, not regular court. So, I am proud to say that one of my proposals from 2018 that I continue to advocate for is to return jurisdiction for those claims back to the regular circuit court.”

“It is a pressing issue here in town,” Gonzalez said, explaining one of the reasons she decided to run for office. “I plan to develop better alliances with county, state, and federal levels that will lead us to finding a solution to the problem.”

A spokesperson from the Miami-Dade Limestone Products Association, Inc. had this to say:

“The Lake Belt Region is Florida’s largest source of aggregate—a critical component for virtually every construction project, from roads and bridges to homes and hospitals. Miami-Dade County’s limestone products industry supports over 10,000 jobs and supplies nearly 50 percent of Florida’s aggregate. Without this supply, housing costs would rise significantly, further exacerbating Florida’s housing affordability challenges.
Decades of independent studies at the local, state, and federal levels confirm that blasting within regulated limits does not harm nearby structures. In fact, a 2018 study commissioned by the Florida Legislature described current limits as “overly restrictive” and concluded: “The current blasting vibration limits in Florida continue to be protective of residential structures.”

Next up is traffic.

Gonzalez discussed specific policy ideas: “That includes synchronization of lights and a new caliber of traffic lights.”

Fernandez added, “Increasing the amount of options that we have to get on and off the highway. There’s an opportunity to I-75 to create on ramps and off ramps.”

Dieguez suggested, “Try to get more highway access at both the easternmost and westernmost ends.”

All three candidates participated in a recent forum. View the video to learn more about them.

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Miami, FL

Miami-Dade lieutenant charged with battery after trying to meet minor in Delray Beach

Published

3 hours ago

February 14, 2026

Press Room

Miami-Dade lieutenant charged with battery after trying to meet minor in Delray Beach

A Miami-Dade deputy accused of trying to meet a minor in Delray Beach was arrested on Friday, records showed.

Christopher Diaz was charged with battery, Palm Beach jail records showed.

According to Delray Beach Police, an officer arrived at the IPIC Theaters after receiving reports of a man who traveled to meet with a minor and engage in lascivious acts.

An arrest report said that a sergeant at the scene detained the man and took his handgun, which was on his waistline.

When the officer spoke with the victim, she said she matched with Diaz on two different dating apps, the report said. The victim then told Diaz to text her, and while they were texting, she told him she was 15 years old.

Diaz, the report said, disregarded the fact that she was a minor and continued talking with her, and their conversations became sexual. The two would also FaceTime.

On Friday, the victim, who was posing as a 15-year-old girl, agreed to meet Diaz at the theater, the report said. When they met, the victim said Diaz started touching her face and her upper chest while she said no.

The two then went outside the theater, and the victim’s group, “561 Predator Catchers,” confronted Diaz, the report said.

561 Predator Catchers will pose as minors and try to meet up with adults.

In a livestream video on the social media platform Kick, three men confronted another man who said he was a police officer in Miami-Dade.

Diaz was then taken into custody.

Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz released the following statement:

“Lieutenant Christopher Diaz of the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office was arrested by Delray Beach Police Department as a result of a criminal investigation.”

“I am outraged by the arrest of one of my deputies on criminal charges involving alleged contact with an individual who posed as a minor.”

This behavior is unacceptable and represents a serious betrayal of the oath we swear and the trust our community places in us to protect our children.”

Upon being notified, I immediately ordered that the deputy be relieved of duty. Our agency has no tolerance for this behavior and we are fully cooperating with the criminal investigation.”

MDSO said they have started termination proceedings for Diaz, and he was relieved of duty without pay.

“After reviewing the law-enforcement information related to this case, I have directed that termination proceedings begin immediately. The deputy has been relieved of duty without pay, effective immediately.”

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Miami, FL

A pedestrian is in

Published

15 hours ago

February 14, 2026

Press Room

Updated on: February 13, 2026 / 11:48 PM EST
/ CBS Miami

A 30-year-old pedestrian is fighting for his life after Miami Police say he was hit by a Brightline train Friday night.

Miami police say that the man was transported to Jackson Memorial’s Ryder Trauma Center in “extremely critical condition.”

At the time of the incident, police said the railroad lights and crossing arms were working properly.

Miami Fire Rescue is treating the man, but authorities said “it doesn’t look good.”

His identity remains unknown, as does the cause of the crash.

CBS News Miami will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.

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Miami, FL

Miami woman accused of pulling knife on supermarket manager after stealing wine

Published

1 day ago

February 13, 2026

Press Room

Miami woman accused of pulling knife on supermarket manager after stealing wine

MIAMI — A Miami woman is facing an armed robbery charge after police said she pulled a knife on a supermarket manager who confronted her for stealing wine.

According to Miami police, the crime happened just before 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Milam’s Market at 3050 SW 37th Ave., next to the Douglas Road Metrorail station.

Authorities said Cherrie Ophelia Adams, 63, of Silver Bluff, walked into the store “and proceeded to the wine section.”

The store manager on duty recognized Adams from “prior incidents” of theft and she had been previously trespassed from the business, an arrest report states.

According to police, the manager saw Adams “place several items in her bag” and leave without paying.

Authorities said the manager confronted her outside of the store and “told her to return the stolen items and to not return” and tried to take the bag of items from her, prompting Adams to pull a knife from her purse and threaten to “kill him if he did not step back.”

The report states that the manager went back to the store and called police.

Authorities said Adams remained near the business and the manager pointed her out to a responding officer, who took her into custody.

Police said they found the stolen items, as well as the knife and “several crack pipes” with suspected cocaine residue.

Besides the armed robbery charge, Adams also faces a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.

As of Friday afternoon, she was being held in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, with a bond listed in online records as “to be set.”

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