U.S. may have paid for Cuban spies case coverage, group says

A group pressing for the release of five convicted Cuban spies claimed Wednesday that the U.S. government might have paid U.S. journalists to slant coverage of the case in an effort to spur community hysteria in Miami and get convictions.

The National Committee to Free the Cuban Five made the claim in a lawsuit in federal court against the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which runs the government's foreign broadcasting programs, including Radio and TV Martí.

The committee admitted it had no evidence for its claim that the journalists -- including two from El Nuevo Herald -- were paid to slant their coverage for the publications they worked for. A BBG spokeswoman called the contention ``absurd.'' El Nuevo Herald's journalists denied the claim.

U.S. official will visit Miami to help expedite TPS filings

A top federal immigration official will visit Miami Wednesday to meet with aid organizations involved in assisting undocumented Haitian immigrants in applying for a program that would allow them to legally remain in the United States.

Alejandro Mayorkas, head of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, will be briefing the organizations on the application process for Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, an immigration benefit approved last week to help Haiti in its earthquake recovery efforts.

Mayorkas' visit is a clear sign that the Obama administration sees South Florida as a focal point in responding to a potential influx of Haitian migrants following the massive earthquake that has so far left an estimated 200,000 dead and 1.5 million homeless.

The Herald recommends

B elow are our recommendations for the runoff elections in Miami and Miami Beach on Tuesday.

MIAMI

City Commission District 4

The Herald recommends

Voters in several cities, including Miami, Miami Beach and Hialeah, go to the polls on Tuesday. These are The Miami Herald's recommendations in those three cities.

MIAMI

Mayor

The Herald recommends

Voters in several cities, including Miami, Miami Beach and Hialeah, go to the polls on Tuesday. These are The Miami Herald's recommendations in those three cities.

MIAMI