Using only pencils, Mater Academy Charter High School senior Michael Cano drew such a compelling portrait of a man that it was chosen for display in the U.S. Capitol complex. Cano, 18, of Hialeah, said he was inspired -- by the hard times that some people are living through and the impact of race upon a person’s fortune -- to create the winning work. “As a society, I’m disappointed with how things are right now,”...

U.S. Congress Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. 7400 SW 87th Ave. Suite 270 Miami, Fla. 33166 305-596-4224 Twitter: @SenRubioPress   Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla. 901 Ponce de Leon Blvd. Suite 505 Miami, FL 33134 786-501-7141 Twitter: @SenRickScott   Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami 8669 NW 36th St. Suite 100 Doral, Fla. 33166 305-470-8555 Twitter: @MarioDB   Florida...

They are a bit of beauty sprinkled along Miami Lakes Drive: Five formerly mundane traffic light control boxes are now wrapped in vibrant patterns of South Florida flowers and foliage. The designs are the creation of Miami Lakes artist Barbara Baron, 66, and a project of the Miami Lakes Neighborhood Improvement Committee. “The town was looking for colors that are part of the town’s landscape,” Baron said. “I think...

The Town of Miami Lakes is accepting crytocurrencies for payment of all fees it collects. The town’s credit card merchant, PayPal, implemented the crypto option in March. Customers who have a PayPal crypto account may use it to pay for permits, business licenses, to rent facilities and other purchases, the town said. At checkout, if your crypto account has enough in it to cover a purchase, you can select either Bitcoin,...

Roberto “Robbie” Alonso has taken the first steps toward emulating his grandfather’s career in public service. Roberto Alonso Sr. was the first vice mayor for the Town of Miami Lakes and served on the council from 2001 to 2008. The elder Alonso always made sure to travel to the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee during the annual legislative session to lobby state officials for money for town projects. His grandson...