Miami Trying to Figure Out How Much Loria Owes Taxpayers Before He Flees Town

As of last week, Jeffrey Loria is $1.2 billion richer and South Florida is officially free of the worst owner in professional sports. But Miami officials aren’t quite done with Loria. Both the city and the county believe the fine print of the Marlins Park deal likely entitles taxpayers to millions from the Marlins sale to Derek Jeter’s group.

As Revenge Over Anthem Protests, Model Outs Dolphins Coach Snorting Coke UPDATED

This past Sunday, Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross abruptly changed his tune on the NFL player protests. Ross, who’d previously supported players kneeling to raise awareness of police violence and racial inequality, told the Miami Herald’s resident Kaepernick-basher, Armando Salguero, that since President Donald Trump had made the protests “about patriotism,” he now disagreed with the move.

Trump-Tied Florida Lobbying Firm Made $5.2 Million Windfall Since the Election

Ballard Partners is a powerhouse lobbying firm in Tallahassee, Miami, and other major Florida cities. Before this year, the firm had never lobbied anyone at the federal level, but Ballard did have one important client: It was the Trump Organization’s go-to lobbying wing when it needed to make deals in Florida. After Donald Trump’s election, the firm swiftly opened New York and D.C. offices.

Amid Vegas Shooting, Florida GOP Lawmakers Want to Weaken Concealed-Carry Laws

Despite what the National Rifle Association claims, gun laws influence gun deaths. For example, it’s completely legal in Las Vegas to walk around town holding a loaded, military-style rifle. No one can stop you, which is likely one reason terrorist Stephen Paddock was able to carry an arsenal of assault weapons into a Mandalay Bay hotel room and use them to murder 59 people and wound more than 500 others over the weekend.

Florida State Rep. Wants Attacking “Political Affiliation” to Be Hate Crime

Florida finally has a champion to fight for the most unfairly treated group of people in America — white, Christian conservatives. Florida Rep. Joe Gruters filed a bill today that would add discrimination against “political affiliation” to the list of infractions Florida classifies as hate crimes, and though he insists the law would apply to both liberals and conservatives, Gruters’ social media posts make it pretty clear which side he’s worried about.

Marco Rubio Demands Trump Send Military to Puerto Rico

More than three million Americans are living through an unprecedented disaster in Puerto Rico, yet so far they’ve apparently ranked far below NFL protests and the concerns of the shipping industry on Donald Trump’s priority list. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio subtweeted Trump straight to Hell this morning, demanding the president immediately send more aid to the battered island.

Can Florida Democrats Actually Win Back a State Senate Seat Today? UPDATED

The Florida Democrats are the Washington Generals. They’re the 1962 Mets. They’re Mike Dukakis, Steve Urkel, and pre-time-travel George McFly rolled into one. Yes, they’ve been steamrolled by gerrymandering and voter suppression, but they also rarely miss a chance to blast off their own feet en route to their latest, all-too-predictable loss.

Michael Grieco Drops Reelection Bid Amid Fundraising Investigation

Even in Miami Beach’s drunken carnival of a political scene, few elected officials have had quite as colorful a term as Commissioner Michael Grieco. The attorney has brawled with the NAACP over civil rights, sprinted down a drug dealer while out on his morning job, called a former opponent a “fucking scumbag” at a debate, and been embroiled in an unseemly fundraising committee now under state investigation.

Trump’s Hotel in Doral Is Making Bank During Hurricane Irma

Over the past few days, hordes of patrons have flocked to Trump’s resort in Doral to escape from the wrath of Hurricane Irma. Just this morning, the front desk announced to hopeful guests that the hotel is booked. But it doesn’t seem right for a president whose policies intend to cut disaster relief budgets to benefit from the panic of Irma.

Miami Beach Mayoral Candidate Has History of Eviction, Debt Cases

After Miami Beach Commissioner Michael Grieco dropped his bid for mayor following a scathing Miami Herald report on his sketchy campaign finances, Beach residents were left with just four candidates to choose from. Two of them haven’t raised any money, while former federal prosecutor Dan Gelber has pulled in close to a half-million bucks.