John Pacenti

2 months ago | kbindependent.org | Tim Padgett |John Pacenti

This week was an ugly snapshot of America’s ugly immigration dysfunction. For starters, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem released a new “warning” video for undocumented migrants in the U.S.“President Trump has a clear message for those who are in our country illegally,” Noem says. “Leave now. If you don’t, we will find you — and we will deport you.

2 months ago | kbindependent.org | John Pacenti |Tony Winton

The Key Biscayne Council devolved into disarray Tuesday about the Big Dig infrastructure plan to combat sea-level rise and climate change. Mayor Joe Rasco and the Village Council members sniped and yelled at each other over the future of the project – and even traded insults with an engineer hired to design the system. In the end, Rasco got the panel to agree to form a three-member ad-hoc committee, while the over-budget project rolls along at $300,000 a month.

2 months ago | kbindependent.org | John Pacenti |Tony Winton

The world’s seas are rising, the population is growing, and America’s coastal communities need to adapt to water management challenges — tasks that will cost as much as $630 billion over the next 20 years, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. With that kind of demand, the business of climate change is booming. Companies and consultants are ready to feed off those dollars Manufacturers, contractors and engineers are all at the trough.

2 months ago | kbindependent.org | Wilkine Brutus |John Pacenti

WEST PALM BEACH — A day after announcing he would kill a “weak” anti-immigration bill passed by the Florida Legislature, Gov. Ron DeSantis slammed the body’s opposition to his proposals and stressed his desire for local law enforcement to be involved in deportation efforts.

2 months ago | kbindependent.org | Tim Padgett |John Pacenti

President Trump’s decision this week to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans is a “devastating” blow to that community, expats tell WLRN — especially since the situation they’d potentially be sent back to in Venezuela looks as repressive as ever. Like almost 600,000 other Venezuelan migrants, Daniela — who asked that her last name not be used to protect her identity — was granted Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, in the spring of 2021.