For young people dreaming of careers in science, technology and engineering, access to educational opportunities can provide the support that transforms years of hard work into a promising future. For one Hialeah student, that support arrived with balloons, confetti and a surprise his family will not soon forget. Gregory Smith, a recent graduate of MAST Academy who is headed to Columbia University, arrived home to find his family waiting with unexpected news: Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) had awarded him a $20,000 robotics scholarship recognizing his outstanding achievements and involvement in local robotics competitions. The scholarship represents more than an academic honor. Programs like this…
Author: Go Latinos Media
With students back in the classroom, South Florida families are once again settling into their school-year routines and facing an important question: What do children do once the school day ends? For child health experts, those afternoon hours can provide a valuable opportunity to keep kids active, strengthen social skills and complement what they learn during the school day. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) emphasizes the importance of regular physical activity throughout childhood and adolescence. After spending much of the day in the classroom, participating in structured activities that incorporate movement, recreation and social interaction can contribute to children’s physical and emotional…
Miami-Dade County voters will have two weeks to cast their ballots ahead of the August 18, 2026, Primary Election. Early voting begins Monday, August 3, and will continue through Sunday, August 16, at 23 locations across the county. Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections Alina Garcia reminded residents that early voting allows eligible voters to cast a ballot at any participating site, rather than waiting until Election Day to visit their assigned precinct. During the first week, from Monday, August 3, through Friday, August 7, voting sites will operate from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. On Saturday, August 8, and Sunday,…
Miami-Dade County has reached an important environmental milestone by reducing its recycling contamination rate to 36.5%, the lowest level recorded in years and a major improvement from the nearly 50% reported in 2020. The reduction includes a 2.3 percentage-point drop during the past six months and reflects the ongoing work of the Miami-Dade County Department of Solid Waste Management to educate residents, expand recycling opportunities and strengthen enforcement. Recycling contamination occurs when nonaccepted materials, food waste or improperly discarded items are placed inside recycling carts. These mistakes reduce the quality of recyclable materials, increase processing costs and can cause entire…
A team of South Florida students turned years of engineering, teamwork and persistence into a national victory by winning the Classic Division of the 30th annual Solar Car Challenge, one of the country’s most recognized student competitions focused on science and alternative energy. TechGarage, a team affiliated with the Palm Beach County 4-H Association and based in Plantation, captured first place with its solar-powered vehicle, the ALSET Sport GT. The car was designed and built from the ground up by the students. The competition brought more than 325 high school students from across the United States to North Texas. Twenty-four…
Florida’s food manufacturing industry employs 39,361 workers across 2,347 establishments, making it an important part of the supply chain that keeps supermarkets, restaurants and households stocked throughout the state. However, Florida ranks 48th nationwide in food manufacturing employment concentration, according to a new Trace One analysis based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The state has four food manufacturing workers for every 1,000 employees, well below the national average of 11.4. Food manufacturing includes the processes that transform agricultural products and raw ingredients into finished goods for consumers. Every loaf of bread, carton of milk, package of…
What began as an ordinary evening turned into an unforgettable and potentially life-changing moment for Ashley Vanegas-Fonseca, a Miami-Dade County student preparing to begin her college journey. Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) surprised the recent George T. Baker Aviation Technical School graduate, who lives in Miami Beach, with balloons, college gear and unexpected news: she had been selected as the first-ever recipient of FPL’s Drones in School Scholarship. The $5,000 award recognizes Ashley’s academic achievements, dedication and passion for drone technology, robotics and science, technology, engineering and mathematics, commonly known as STEM. “I’m having trouble with my tuition as…
Florida health officials are warning parents, educators and consumers about the serious risks associated with concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine products, commonly known as 7-OH. The substance produces opioid-like effects and is being sold in colorful forms that may resemble candy, supplements or ordinary convenience-store products. The Florida Department of Health issued the warning after identifying the growing availability of these products at gas stations, vape shops and convenience stores across the state. They may be sold as gummies, tablets, powders, drink mixers or small liquid doses commonly marketed as shots. Although some packaging describes the products as natural, safe or risk-free alternatives,…
Screens and social media have become a constant concern for many families. Smartphones, tablets, video games and digital platforms are now part of everyday life, but their growing presence has also raised questions about how they may affect children’s sleep, attention, emotions and relationships. Specialists at the Yale Child Study Center say the conversation should not focus only on how many hours a child spends in front of a screen. Psychologists Jacqueline Britt-Friedman and Tamique Ridgard Peters recommend looking more closely at what children are consuming, why they are using technology and how those experiences affect their overall well-being. Not…
Florida has the highest number of pending family-based green card applications in the United States, according to a new analysis by Manifest Law using data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The report found that USCIS field offices across Florida had 55,512 pending family-based adjustment of status applications in fiscal year 2025, placing the state ahead of California, which ranked second with 48,028 pending cases. Texas followed with 39,183 applications, while New York reported 35,919. The findings are especially significant for immigrant communities in Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Oakland Park and West Palm Beach, where many families are waiting for decisions…