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Former Fort Lauderdale Mayor Rob Dressler dies (WPLG10, June 17, 2024 at 3:04 PM)

 Former Fort Lauderdale Mayor Rob Dressler dies Local News Chris Gothner, Digital Journalist Published: June 17, 2024 at 3:04 PM Rob Dressler, who served as Fort Lauderdale’s mayor during the 1980s, has died, current Mayor Dean Trantalis said Monday. (@DeanTrantalis via X) FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Rob Dressler, who served as Fort Lauderdale’s mayor during the 1980s, has died, current Mayor Dean Trantalis said Monday. Trantalis posted to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, that he was “greatly saddened” to learn of Dressler’s death. “A Fort Lauderdale native, Rob was the first elected mayor of the city and served exceptionally with forward-thinking and long-range planning,” Trantalis said. “He led the start of efforts to revitalize the beachfront and develop Las Olas Riverwalk. He also founded the Northwest Advisory Board, amplifying minority voices in city government.” Trantalis said he was “proud to be able to give him the city’s Honored Founder award last Novem...
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Robert Dressler, former mayor of Fort Lauderdale who battled Spring Break, dies at 78 (Sun Sentinel PUBLISHED: June 22, 2024 at 7:00 AM EDT)

 Robert Dressler, former mayor of Fort Lauderdale who battled Spring Break, dies at 78 Robert Dressler, who served as mayor of Fort Lauderdale from 1982 to 1986, died on Monday at age 78. (Walter Michot/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Author By Susannah Bryan | sbryan@sunsentinel.com | South Florida Sun Sentinel PUBLISHED: June 22, 2024 at 7:00 AM EDT | UPDATED: June 22, 2024 at 10:40 AM EDT Robert Dressler, the Fort Lauderdale mayor who led the effort to shut down Spring Break in the mid-1980s, died Monday morning. He was 78. In 1985, Dressler appeared on “Good Morning America” with an urgent message for Spring Breakers around the country: After years of rowdy partying fueled by all-you-can-drink beer and open containers on the beach, they were no longer welcome in Fort Lauderdale. Under his leadership, the commission passed laws banning open alcohol and overnight parking on the beach. Heavy police enforcement resulted in more than 2,500 arrests that year. Fort Lauderdale’s beachfront...
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Broward Judge Faces Suspension, Fine for 'Gross Negligence' (National Day Orlando, Mar. 4, 2026 at 6:49pm)

Broward Judge Faces Suspension, Fine for 'Gross Negligence' Judge Lauren Peffer cited fabricated evidence in bid for newspaper endorsement, now faces 30-day suspension and $10,000 fine. Mar. 4, 2026 at 6:49pm Got story updates? Submit your updates here. › Broward County Judge Lauren Peffer is facing a 30-day suspension, $10,000 fine, and public reprimand from the Florida Supreme Court for her 'tremendously stupid' actions during her 2024 campaign. Peffer cited a self-published book by a fired courts employee and a fabricated recording that included racist references in an effort to portray a crisis of confidence in the courts, but failed to verify the legitimacy of the 'evidence' she presented to the Sun Sentinel editorial board. Why it matters This case highlights ongoing concerns about judicial misconduct and the erosion of public trust in the courts, especially in Broward County which has seen several judges face serious sanctions in recent years. The inciden...
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A 2-year-old girl was killed by her father, police say, despite warnings about violence. What went wrong? (Sun Sentinel PUBLISHED: May 31, 2024 at 7:00 AM EDT)

  NewsCrime and Public Safety A 2-year-old girl was killed by her father, police say, despite warnings about violence. What went wrong? The Broward County Judicial Complex in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Mike Stocker / Sun Sentinel The Broward County Judicial Complex in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Shira Moulten, Sun Sentinel reporter. (Photo/Amy Beth Bennett) By Shira Moolten | smoolten@sunsentinel.com | South Florida Sun Sentinel PUBLISHED: May 31, 2024 at 7:00 AM EDT | UPDATED: May 31, 2024 at 10:39 AM EDT The mother had tried to keep her 2-year-old daughter safe. She told the court in a motion last year that her daughter should not be left in her father’s care unsupervised. That he had been involuntarily committed several times, reported hearing voices, chased her through their Pembroke Pines house, abused the family dog and punched inanimate objects. But somewhere along the way, those concerns fell aside. Months after the mother raised her initial concerns, the parents’ lawyers subm...
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MEDIA ARTICLE: A 2-year-old girl was killed by her father, police say, despite warnings about violence. What went wrong? (Broward.us, 5-31-24)

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 A 2-year-old girl was killed by her father, police say, despite warnings about violence. What went wrong? By Shira Moolten | smoolten@sunsentinel.com | South Florida Sun Sentinel PUBLISHED: May 31, 2024 at 7:00 AM EDT | UPDATED: May 31, 2024 at 10:39 AM EDT The mother had tried to keep her 2-year-old daughter safe. She told the court in a motion last year that her daughter should not be left in her father’s care unsupervised. That he had been involuntarily committed several times, reported hearing voices, chased her through their Pembroke Pines house, abused the family dog and punched inanimate objects. But somewhere along the way, those concerns fell aside. Months after the mother raised her initial concerns, the parents’ lawyers submitted an agreed-upon timesharing plan that a Broward judge approved. The girl would stay with Jeronimo Duran, 33, unsupervised, every other weekend and one night per week. When she entered school, parenting would become 50-50. Then, on Tuesday morni...
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MEDIA ARTICLE: In Ron DeSantis’ power grab, the Legislature helped | Column (Tampa Bay Times, 2-18-26)

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 Tampa Bay Times John Hill, Columnist 2-18-26 In Ron DeSantis’ power grab, the Legislature helped | Column Only gentle pushback now for the termed-out governor. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis delivers his State of the State address as House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, applauds on the opening day of the legislative session Jan. 13 in Tallahassee. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis delivers his State of the State address as House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, applauds on the opening day of the legislative session Jan. 13 in Tallahassee. [ MATIAS J. OCNER | Miami Herald ] Three stories last week captured the graft, deceit and ugliness of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ tenure. The first detailed the governor’s lavish spending from a taxpayer-provided slush fund. The second revealed how his administration spent public money fighting the recreational marijuana campaign (which most Florida voters supported). A third showed how the governor’s health department schemed to cut off life-saving access to affordable...
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ORDER ON CMC HEARING HELD ON JANUARY 20.2026 (CASE NO. FMCE22006123 ; Filing# 240009007 E-Filed 01/21/2026 09:01:51 PM)

 Filing# 240009007 E-Filed 01/21/2026 09:01:51 PM  IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 17TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT  IN AND FOR BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA  CASE NO. FMCE22006123  DIVISION: SCR JUDGE Supreme Court, Reassignment (SCR) Kathryn S Dressler  Plaintiff(s)/ Petitioner(s)  V  Paul Gawor  Defendant(s)/ Respondent(s)  i  ORDER ON CMC HEARING HELD ON JANUARY 20.2026  THIS CAUSE came to be heard on January 20,2026 on Case Management Conference and this Court having reviewed the pleadings,motions and the court file,and the Court notingthat the Respondent appeared,however the Petitioner did not even though providedproper notice,the Court hereby FINDS as follows:  1. On December 29, 2025, the Supreme Court of Florida entered an order assigningthis Broward County case to Judge George Sarduy of the 11 th Judicial Circuit in Miami Dade County. (Orderwas filed on January 5,2026. See docket entry 228).  2. A review of the pleadingsreflects...
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