Miami-Dade, the nation’s fourth-largest school district, is broke in terms of capital dollars, according to its chief financial officer, and has at least $1.7 billion on its books for unmet capital needs and deferred maintenance for its schools and facilities.

The experience begins when you leave behind your car and 21st century Marco Island for a time thousands of years ago when the Calusa built an important religious center on the island.

Renfest, part 20, is a blast from the past — trumpets, wenches and knights in shining armor.

On Saturday, teams in The Big Scramble solved South Beach-centric clues and raised money for Alzheimer’s.

The East will dry out Sunday as wet weather moves across the West. A low pressure trough is advancing eastward over the central Rockies and will produce moderate snow showers over Utah and Colorado. Winter weather advisories have been issued for parts of western Colorado as snowfall accumulations may reach 6 to 8 inches by Sunday evening. Most of Utah, western Wyoming, and northern New Mexico should see lighter snow showers, accumulating about 1 to 2 inches.

The first Oscars of the year have been presented at the Scientific and Technical Awards, the motion picture academy's annual celebration of the geeks and gizmos that make movie magic.

Authorities searching with the help of a convicted serial killer found more human remains Saturday - the first bones discovered at an abandoned well on a cattle ranch where a death row inmate claimed 10 or more victims may be buried, authorities said.

Jennifer Hudson will pay tribute to her idol, Whitney Houston, at Sunday's Grammy Awards.

A dream honeymoon to scuba dive on Australia's Great Barrier Reef turned into a terrible nightmare, and the horror is about to play out years later in a courtroom in Alabama.

With Venezuela's first-ever opposition primary set to begin, allies and adversaries of President Hugo Chavez are focused on one burning question: Will the winner have what it takes to defeat a shrewd and charismatic leader who thrives during election campaigns?

The Maldives' new president expanded his Cabinet on Sunday to strengthen the coalition government that has ruled the Indian Ocean nation since the former leader's resignation last week sparked a political crisis.

Forgive me for being cynical, but I have a hard time believing that the White House and Michelle Obama are really upset by the portrayal of the first lady that emerges in Jodi Kantor’s new look at the president’s marital union. In the annals of irregularities that first ladies have been justly or unjustly accused of, sparring with a chief of staff — particularly one as combative as Rahm Emanuel — hardly registers as shocking or unexpected.

“ <span class="italic">A Good American</span> by Alex George. It takes place over a century. It’s a family story about home and immigration and identity, and it’s beautifully done. Also <span class="italic">Friends Like Us</span> by Lauren Fox is just absolutely killer. It looks like twentysomething chick lit, but it’s a punch in the gut, watching how friendships change as these women move into adulthood.”

It’s a matter of perspective. From aboard a 12-deck cruise liner, the sight of St. Mark’s Square, the Doge’s Palace and Bridge of Sighs gliding past from a cabin balcony is a breathtaking thrill.

South Florida’s children’s hospitals are making a difference in children’s lives with their pioneering pediatric cardiac care.

In West Virginia, one of the nation’s first ‘spa resorts’ has rejuvenated itself for another historic century.

Last fall, the Library of America released two volumes featuring authors who wrote during the Harlem Renaissance, that vague early 20th century era when black novelists, artists, poets, musicians, essayists and even publishers pushed black culture to the forefront.

Denver raced out to a 38-14 halftime lead, and the FIU men’s team couldn’t close the gap in the second half.

Corey Pavin and Peter Senior led the Allianz Championship by one stroke heading into Sunday’s final round.

Heritage couldn’t seal its third championship in four years when it fell apart in penalty kicks against Ponte Vedra.

In Year Two of the Big 3, point guard Mario Chalmers has upped his game and role as a leader.

The sky is the limit for Yoenis Cespedes, but as the Marlins know, the Cuban outfielder comes with risks.

UF lost consecutive games — falling to Tennessee on Saturday — for the first time since 2009-10, and Billy Donovan is concerned.

Rock Lobster! Down, down, down, down!

An operative of a Costa Rica-based website has been in South Florida for two months to try to talk WQAM-560 AM afternoon host <span class="bold">Sid Rosenberg </span>into making good on an alleged $44,500 in gambling debts.

Movie director <span class="bold">Franco Zeffirelli</span> is 89. Sportscaster <span class="bold"> Joe Garagiola</span> is 86. Keyboardist <span class="bold">Ray Manzarek </span>of The Doors is 73. Actor <span class="bold">Cliff DeYoung</span> is 66. Actor <span class="bold">Michael Ironside</span> is 62. Guitarist <span class="bold">Steve Hackett</span> of Genesis is 62. Singer <span class="bold">Michael McDonald</span> of the Doobie Brothers is 60. Actress <span class="bold">Joanna Kerns</span> is 59. Actor-talk-show host <span class="bold">Arsenio Hall </span>is 57. Actor <span class="bold">Josh Brolin</span> is 44. Singer <span class="bold">Chynna Phillips</span> of Wilson Phillips is 44. Actor <span class="bold">Jesse Spencer</span> (“House”) is 33. Actress <span class="bold">Christina Ricci</span> is 32. Actress <span class="bold">Jennifer Stone</span> (“Wizards of Waverly Place”) is 19.

<span class="bold">Andrea Bocelli</span>, the Italian tenor extraordinaire who has brought a little bit of rock star to opera, will be performing Tuesday night at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise. Bocelli, who is legally blind and began singing at the age of 10, has often said, “I don’t think one decides to become a singer. It is decided for you by the reaction of those around you.”

’Tis nearly Valentine’s Day, fellas, when you’re expected to sit down with your gal to see <span class="italic">The Vow</span>, or something like it. Something very dangerous to your relationship, your self-esteem. Starring someone like <span class="bold">Channing Tatum </span>— bigger, better-looking, unafraid of commitment, supplied by screenwriters with an endless supply of cute things to say and do.

<span class="bold">Nicolas Cage</span> was in town promoting his new movie, <span class="italic">Ghost Rider</span>. On Wednesday, he was on Univision’s <span class="italic">Despierta America</span>, on which he was schooled on the true power of Cuban coffee when he sucked down an entire regular-size cup, despite the host’s warnings. “He was shaky and jittery after a few minutes.”

Henrique Capriles, the energetic governor of Venezuela’s Miranda state, is leading the polls for Sunday’s opposition primary election. The winner will face President Chávez in October.

Argentina said Friday it has information that Britain sent a nuclear-armed submarine to the South Atlantic near the disputed Falkland Islands in the latest verbal salvo in a dispute over the territory.

The superstar Spanish judge who won global fame for aggressively taking on international human rights cases was convicted Thursday of overstepping his jurisdiction in a domestic corruption probe and barred from the bench for 11 years, marking a spectacular fall from grace for one of the nation's most prominent citizens.

A lawyer for a Guantánamo prisoner charged in the Sept. 11 attack has filed suit against the prison commander, arguing a new rule subjecting legal mail to a security review is unconstitutional and amounts to illegal “intelligence monitoring” of a U.S. citizen.

The Bernard C. Webber is the Coast Guard’s new Fast Response Cutter, which is going to replace the aging, ’70s-era fleet of 110-foot cutters that are familiar to South Floridians.

Facing domestic political pressures, the Bush and Obama administrations released or transferred 600 terror suspects deemed an acceptable threat from the U.S. prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, only to find that 27 percent re-engaged in terrorist or insurgent activities, according to a report by Republicans on the investigations panel of the House Armed Services Committee.

Democratic and independent voters have diluted GOP voting clout in 3 Miami congressional districts held by Republicans.

Mitt Romney narrowly won Maine's Republican caucuses, state party officials announced Saturday, providing his campaign with a much-needed boost after three straight losses earlier this week. But the former Massachusetts governor won just a plurality of the Maine vote, suggesting he still has work to do to unite GOP voters behind his candidacy.

It was an emotional night for soul singer Bobby Brown as he performed Saturday night before thousands just hours after learning that his ex-wife Whitney Houston had died in Beverly Hills.

It was an emotional night for soul singer Bobby Brown as he performed hours after learning that his ex-wife Whitney Houston had died in Beverly Hills.

Whitney Houston, who ruled as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, died Saturday. She was 48.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists search tons of flowers to make sure no pesky pests and diseases make it into bouquets and arrangements during the annual Valentine’s Day season.

Mitt Romney narrowly won Maine's Republican caucuses, state party officials announced Saturday, providing his campaign with a much-needed boost after three straight losses earlier this week. But the former Massachusetts governor won just a plurality of the Maine vote, suggesting he still has work to do to unite GOP voters behind his candidacy.

When basketball coach Cleve Roberts took a Miami Norland team to play at Miami Jackson Senior High a few years ago, they encountered a new $70 million facility with shiny glass and fresh paint.

Singer found dead Saturday

Cespedes is 'great unknown' for team

Dogs, owners rally at Tropical Park

Race raises money for Alzheimer's Association