Good morning. What we’re covering in today’s Spotlight:
- King Mango Strut’s 2026 Grand Marshal
- Miami’s Forever Bond Program
- The Mayor’s Choice for City Manager
After 15 years behind the microphone as emcee of the King Mango Strut, longtime Grove activist and jokester Nathan Kurland trades the mic for the backseat of a convertible, honored this year as the parade’s grand marshal.
By Mike Clary

Whether he’s standing in front of a college classroom, addressing the Miami City Commission, or warming up the crowd at the annual King Mango Strut, Nathan Kurland opens every appearance with a joke.
Here’s how he chose to begin this profile:
Miami’s new mayor has raised questions about the city’s $400-million Forever Bond program. Members of the Citizens’ Oversight Board who track program spending say the answers to those questions are hiding in plain sight.
By Charles Rabin & Don Finefrock

Hailed as a fix for Miami’s flooding woes, the $400-million Forever Bond program pitched to voters in November 2017 was supposed to usher in an era of climate-change resiliency.
Yet almost a decade later, the two leading candidates for Miami mayor this year pointed to the program as a prime example of City Hall dysfunction.
Where’s the money, they ask.
Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins nominated a veteran South Florida public safety official this week to replace Art Noriega as city manager.
Her choice for the job – James Reyes, the chief of public safety at Miami-Dade County – will need to be confirmed by the Miami City Commission, which meets next on Thursday, Jan. 8.
In announcing her choice, Higgins said Reyes has shown the sort of “transformational leadership” needed in the City of Miami.
Why has the Barnacle Historic State Park stopped offering its Yoga by the Sea class?
According to the “Friends” of the Barnacle Society, it is not making enough money. And yes, sometimes there are a dozen people, and sometimes just a couple.
But money is NOT the point here.
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Eileen Higgins took the oath of office on Thursday as the City of Miami’s first woman mayor, replacing outgoing Mayor Francis Suarez.
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In his last week in office, Mayor Francis Suarez secured City Commission approval for a grant to a for-profit events company — after organizers warned a venue change could hurt…
Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins nominated a veteran South Florida public safety official this week to replace Art Noriega as city manager. Her choice for the job – James Reyes, the…
To the Editor: Why has the Barnacle State Park stopped offering its Yoga by the Sea class? According to the “Friends” of the Barnacle Society, it is not making enough…
By the morning after Christmas, the wrapping paper is everywhere. Torn. Crumpled. Already on its way out. Somewhere in that mess, it’s easy to miss the one good thing that…
Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins re-appointed Christine King to lead an often-fractious Miami City Commission this week, saying she had shown “thoughtful leadership” as one of five commissioners since first being…
What’s in your stocking? If it rattles, glows, or smells like “seasonal vanilla,” we should talk. The best Grove gifts don’t take up shelf space or require batteries. They quietly…
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