PERSONAL FINANCE

Money lessons from Mom

Studies underscore what families already know: mothers are key players when it comes to financial literacy.

Child Care

Parents look to the Internet for child care

Internet companies that connect parents with babysitters and other child-care professionals are luring millions to their websites each month.

U.S. Senate

Sales tax ahead for online buyers?

Under a bill in the U.S Senate, states could force Internet retailers to collect sales taxes. Now, states can only require stores to collect sales taxes if the store has a physical presence in the state.

Legislature 2013 | SCHOOLS

Scott signs bill revamping schools, universities

Gov. Rick Scott signed a sweeping education bill that will overhaul high school graduation requirements and allow the state’s top universities to create new online programs.

2013 Legislature

Florida House passes bill overhauling alimony, awaits Gov. Rick Scott’s signature

A bill that would put an end to permanent alimony, and encourage judges to split custody evenly between divorced parents, is headed to Gov. Rick Scott.

South Floridians in Boston

South Florida family in Boston: ‘We saw everything’

South Florida finishers in the Boston Marathon recount their experiences from Monday’s terror-stricken race

Local Reaction

Doral expects new wave of Venezuelan immigrants

Doral’s mayor said he has already began holding talks with state and federal officials to prepare for an increase in the Venezuelan population after controversial presidential elections.

INCOME TAX

Harried accountants rush to meet IRS deadline

Tax day came on Monday — too soon for some harried certified public accountants.

MIAMI BEACH GAY PRIDE

The year of equality: South Florida LGBT activists, allies describe why they've got pride in 2013

South Florida’s large gay community is celebrating the fifth annual Miami Beach Gay Pride festival at what might be a pivot point in history.

Supreme Court

Same-sex marriage: the debate

Polls show a slow but steady sea-change in the public’s view of same-sex marriage. A sampling of Herald finds a similar phenomenon.

Aging

Mind games: Do memory apps live up to their hype?

Doctors recommend healthy eating and exercising more to keep your memory going

2013 LEGISLATURE

A flurry of proposals for making Florida schools safer

Herald readers offer a mix of opinions on how Florida lawmakers should deal with school security in the wake of last December’s mass shooting at a Connecticut elementary school.

Public responds to Chávez’s death

We asked members of the Public Insight Network, an online community of people who have agreed to share their opinions with The Miami Herald, how Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, who died Tuesday, will be remembered and what's the future for Venezuela. We highlighted some of their answers below. Become a source by going to MiamiHerald.com/Insight.

HIGHER EDUCATION

UCF suspends socials for fraternities, sororities

Concerned about a pattern of student misbehavior, the University of Central Florida has shut down most fraternity and sorority activities.

Ooutdoor Sports

Obstacle course craze has Floridians getting down and very dirty

Florida’s fastest-growing outdoor sport is a test of speed, strength and willingness to get filthy.

Dolphins

Dolphins free agency: You be the GM

NFL free agency starts March 12. Are you ready?

Cuba

Is this really the end of Cuba’s Castro brothers? Exiles say not so fast

Raúl Castro’s announcement that he will step down, ending the Castros’ reign, is not high on some exiles’ truth meter.

Town Hall: What would you tell your legislator?

What would you tell state legislators at tonight’s town hall? Herald readers gave these responses to the Public Insight Network:

Town Hall: What would you tell your legislator?

To RSVP for Session 2013 on Feb. 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts go to wlrn.org and click “Town Hall.” What would you ask state legislators to do in the upcoming session? Herald readers gave these responses to the Public Insight Network:

Readers pick what Florida should address in the 2013 legislative session

For the upcoming session, what would you ask state legislative leaders to do? Herald readers gave these responses to the Public Insight Network.

AVIATION | American Airlines and US Airways

American Airlines CEO: Merger means more Miami business

As aviation industry reacts to the planned American Airlines/US Airways merger, others wonder how passenger service might be affected.

Public Insight Network | Miami Dolphins

Winner named in Miami Dolphins logo design competition

The votes are in — all 27,681 of them — and a winner has been declared by The Miami Herald’s readers.

CATHOLIC CHURCH

Papal transition won’t lead to big changes in South Florida parishes, archbishop says

South Floridians accept, applaud Pope Benedict XVI’s choice to step down for the good of the church.

Public Insight Network | Miami Dolphins

The top 10 Miami Dolphins logo submissions are in: Vote for the best

Elaborate digital mock-ups. Carefully hand-drawn helmets. Even a crude sketch on a paper towel.

IMMIGRATION

Plenty of opinions on fixing the nation’s broken immigration system

How to deal with the nation’s estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants is at the heart of the debate over fixing our nation’s broken immigration system.

VOTE FOR PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD

South Florida Best Block Video Entries

Which videos are your favorite? Vote on YouTube or below

VOTE FOR PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD

South Florida Best Block Photo Entries

Which photo should win People's Choice? Click on photos to 'like' your favorites

South Florida's Best Block Contest

Best Block Photo Entries

The South Florida Best Block Contest asks you to send a photo or video of your favorite block. Cash prizes and a block party are in store. Which one is your favorite?

Citizens Property Insurance | First of three parts

Citizens Insurance: A storm over reinspections, rate hikes

How a statewide reinspection program has made the cap on rate hikes by Citizens all but irrelevant.