Jimmy Carter, who died Dec. 29 at the age of 100, spent his life intertwined with America’s and the world’s enduring legacy of slavery.

Ask them about the impact the news media has on democracy, and Americans are likelier to say it's doing more harm than good.

MIAMI Miami-Dade County commissioners voted Monday to move forward with establishing an independent civilian panel for police accountability. The death of George Floyd in Minneapolis brought the civilian panel back into focus. Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez vetoed a previous proposal for the panel in July, urging commissioners to approve a modified plan that would prevent county employees and elected officials from being subpoenaed. The Panel is a critical first step to creating trust, oversight, and transparency between law enforcement and the community, Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava said in a statement. Todays decision is a victory for the coalition of thousands of advocates who worked for so long to ensure the Independent Civilian Panel was restored.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. Miami-Dade County voters will decide who will be the new person filling the county commissioner seat for District 1. Sybrina Fulton, who has turned to a life of activism and service after the death of her teenage son Trayvon Martin, is running against longtime Miami Gardens Mayor Oliver Gilbert. Gilbert, like Jordan, is being forced out of his current job as Miami Gardens mayor due to term limits. Before being elected mayor, Gilbert served on the Miami Gardens City Council from 2008 to 2012. Miami Gardens in the largest city in District 1.

MIAMI The Miami-Dade Commission voted 9-4 Tuesday morning in favor of resurrecting a civilian oversight panel for when police are accused of wrongdoing. After passing that first reading, details including funding and the composition of the panel will need to be ironed out before a second reading and before it could be voted into law. A civilian panel had been in place in the county years ago but was defunded. Its the bad apples that we want to get, Commissioner Barbara Jordan, who is pushing for the panel, said last week. We want to make sure that there are policies in place that ... would hold them accountable.Public comments Tuesday have been largely in favor of civilian oversight, though mindful that Miami-Dade is not Minneapolis, and recognizing the countys police force for its community-minded approach.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. - One more vote from Miami-Dade County commissioners was all that was needed on Tuesday to keep a legislative ban on road closures and potentially keep Formula One racing from going to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. That one vote never came and Formula One is one step closer to a permanent South Florida location. Miami Gardens residents concerned with noise and extra traffic saw their fight take a step in the right direction with the legislative ban. Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Giminez, citing economic impacts and other incentives, vetoed the piece of legislation in early November. Unfortunately for Jordan, and opponents such as Miami Gardens Mayor Oliver Gilbert, the commission fell one vote shy of overturning the veto.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. - Late Tuesday afternoon, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimnez met with Formula 1 representatives, as well as County Commissioners Dennis Moss and Barbara Jordan. The meetings come in the wake of Friday's veto of an Oct. 29 county resolution that would change the process to close roads for racing near residential neighborhoods. In his Friday message about the veto of the resolution, the mayor stated that "this legislation would prohibit the Formula One race in its current configuration from taking place in Miami Gardens." If the veto is overridden, then, actually, that resolution says that street racing is prohibited in Miami Gardens. An Office of the Mayor communications spokesperson said it would require a two-thirds vote by commissioners to override a mayoral veto.

MIAMI - The plan to bring Formula 1 racing to the Hard Rock Stadium was slowed a bit by the Miami-Dade County Commission Tuesday. "I think Formula 1 might be good for Miami, it's just not good for Miami Gardens," said resident Brenda Providence. "Formula 1 will bring about bad health, and an insurance crisis we cannot afford," said Carol Minnie, who said she lives in Lake Lucerne, in the shadow of Hard Rock Stadium. Some mentioned the lineup of football and other sporting events, multiday concerts and festivals currently staged at Hard Rock Stadium, and the resulting economic development around it. "We are held hostage in our homes during every event held at Hard Rock," she said.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. - The Miami Gardens city commission hit the brakes on the idea of the city hosting Formula One Racing at Hard Rock Stadium. "We need peace of mind, not pieces of your money," said Miami Gardens Commissioner Erhabor Ighodaro. "I'm sure one of the questions is going to be, 'Well, how does the city of Miami Gardens feel about it?'" Formula One already inked a deal with Hard Rock Stadium for a race to be held in May 2021, but there are still some residents fighting it. "Ultimately, we look forward to collaborating, cooperating and working with the community since the stadium was built in the mid 1980s," said Marcus Bach, director of government and legal affairs for Hard Rock Stadium.

OPA-LOCKA, Fla. - A company in Miami is using shipping container homes for affordability in the retail market. "Workforce and affordable housing is one of the number one issues here in South Florida," Dr. Pandwe Gibson, with EcoTech Visions, said. We're going to sell these houses for $205,000, well-below market value, so that we can support workforce and affordable housing." Through a partnership with Miami-Dade County and with the support of Commissioner Barbara Jordan, EcoTech is building two homes on a lot in Miami Gardens. They will also feature solar panels, an ecofriendly solution to high electric bills during South Florida summers.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. - The Miami Dolphins are making their case to bring Formula One racing to Miami Gardens. More than 100 people packed into the auditorium at Miami Norland Senior High School for the community meeting, hosted by Miami-Dade County Commissioner Barbara Jordan. A longstanding contract is in place that basically allows the Dolphins to host any event they like. That's the only aspect of hosting the event for which the Dolphins would need to obtain a permit. Jordan said any talk of a race in Miami Gardens is not a done deal.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. - The Miami Dolphins are making their case to bring Formula One racing to Miami Gardens. More than 100 people packed into the auditorium at Miami Norland Senior High School for the community meeting, hosted by Miami-Dade Commissioner Barbara Jordan. However, the team is trying to be a good neighbor by addressing many of the concerns that residents are raising. That's the only aspect of hosting the event that the Dolphins would need to obtain a permit for. This is not a done deal yet, but it would bring in a lot of money if it ends up happening.