The Florida Roundup | WLRN

Now that smoking hemp is legal across Florida, it's causing problems for local governments who want to prohibit smoking illegal marijuana. The substances are similar enough in chemistry and smell that recently the Miami-Dade County state attorney's office said it will not prosecute minor pot possession cases. In Broward County, the state attorney has a new three gram minimum before his office will prosecute. So lawmakers in Miami Beach are working on their own solution to stop smoking in the streets and on the beach. City commissioners approved an ordinance on its first vote that would have people arrested for smoking hemp or pot in some public spaces. The ordinance still needs to pass a second vote in the city commission chambers next month before it can move forward. If it does, violators could face a fine of up to $500 and possible jail time. WLRN reached out to Miami Beach police to ask if there have been any arrests for smoking in the city's streets. The police department

It’s been more than a week since Hurricane Dorian decimated parts of the Bahamas. The death toll has climbed to at least 50, and according to some news reports , 1,300 people are reported missing — a drop from an initial figure of 2,500. Thousands of Bahamians face a difficult decision in the days, weeks and months ahead: whether they should stay to rebuild, come to the United States for awhile, or aim to start a new life in America. A week ago, a cruise ship of Bahamian evacuees arrived in South Florida, but just a few days later, there was confusion and a lack of clarity about who will be allowed into the U.S. and for how long. Some who wanted to leave Freeport, Grand Bahama, were turned back. The Department of Homeland Security this week also released new guidelines for Bahamians seeking to come to the U.S. On the South Florida Roundup, host Tom Hudson spoke with a panel of journalists about these immigration rules. He was joined by Brian Entin, an investigation reporter with WSVN;

Hurricane Dorian spared South Florida from the worst of the winds, rain and storm surge. There were no mass evacuations. Power outages were few. But there was plenty of anxiety. South Florida Roundup's host Tom Hudson was joined by The Miami Herald’s Nancy Ancrum , the Sun Sentinel’s Rosemary O’Hara and the Palm Beach Post’s Rick Christie. The three publications, along with WLRN, have teamed up to address the threat of higher seas to South Florida in the award-winning Invading Sea project. Here’s an excerpt of their conversation: TOM HUDSON: How did South Florida local emergency management agencies and officials do in preparation? ROSEMARY O'HARA: It was a great exercise that their response was measured. One of the big differences was that there was a hesitation to call for evacuation orders in that this storm was so slow-moving that they really watched closely. With [Hurricane] Irma, we had the largest evacuation in state history. Six million people left their homes and they went to

Hurricane Dorian has been getting stronger, slowing down, and it’s predicted path has been drifting, putting central, and potentially south Florida, increasingly at risk. The 5 p.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center shows Hurricane Dorian has curved slightly north. The hurricane has strengthened into a Category 3 storm. It’s expected to bring lots of rain and storm surge, in addition to the wind. As the storm has slowed down, it will come ashore after the King Tide. How important is that in determining the storm surge, especially given the warm ocean waters fueling the hurricane? The South Florida Water Management District is advising people to make sure drains near your home are clear. "Outside of your homes there are a series of canals and ditches - that should be cleared,” Executive director Drew Bartlett said. “If you see debris or something in those drains go ahead and move them out so water can flow away." Also, the storm comes the same week prosecutors announced

The Melreese golf course that could house David Beckham's soccer stadium will reopen, according to the City of Miami.