🌱 Miami Children's Museum Ukraine Project + Hialeah Man Captured

Good morning, neighbors! It's Thursday in Miami and I'm back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening in town. Let's do this...

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny and pleasant. High: 88 Low: 79.

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Here are the top five stories in Miami today:

1. Venture capitalists poured $5.6 billion into the South Florida area in 2021, according to "Miami’s Tech Entrepreneurship Ecosystem 2012 to 2022," funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. From 2013 to 2020, Miami area software jobs increased faster than in any other metro hub for software employment, the report says. (Miami Today)

2. A former Hialeah Police officer, Armondo Perez, has been acquitted of allegations of writing false tickets that were made against him in 2021. Attorney Michael Grieco said his client was always innocent and that the charges against Perez were out of spite because his department, then under Chief Sergio Velasquez, was angry to learn he accepted a better job with the state to be an investigator. (WSVN)

3. The Miami Children's Museum is allowing students to send messages to Ukrainian refugees living in Poland. It is joining with Stars of HOPE, a non-profit organization focused on therapeutic art, children will be able to write messages on wooden stars. (WPLG Local 10)

4. At least a half-dozen current and former members of the far-right Proud Boys group have managed to secure seats within the Miami-Dade Republican Executive Committee in an push to shape local politics from the inside. The New York Times first reported the takeover earlier this month. (Miami New Times)

5. A Florida man accused of health care fraud tried to flee to Cuba on a jet ski Monday but was caught, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Ernesto Cruz Graveran, 54, of Hialeah allegedly submitted millions of dollars in fraudulent health care claims to Medicare. (Miami Patch)

Today in Miami:

• KB Historical & Heritage Society Pop-up Museum at Key Biscayne Village Hall Suite 200.(10 a.m.)
• Jaguare Lab Is Back Thursday At Jaguar Restaurant With Chef Gabriella Suarez. (4 p.m.)
• Sala'o Free Happy Hour Croquetas. (4 p.m.)
• Food Trucks Thursdays at Highland Oaks Park. (5 p.m.)
• 36th International Hispanic Theatre Festival Poster Unveiling at Miami-Dade County Auditorium. (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• A 9-page document, filed in federal court Wednesday, lays out a plan by the Proud Boys to fill buildings "with patriots and communicate our demands." Its stated goals include maintaining control "over a select few, but crucial buildings in the DC area for a set period of time" and getting as "many people as possible inside these buildings." South Florida's Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the Proud Boys, and four other members were indicted on seditious conspiracy charges this month. (NBC News)
• A former Keys commissioner has been arrested and accused of using campaign funds to pay for Netflix. (Miami Herald)
• City of Miami partnered with Nicklaus Children's Hospital to provide free EKG to children ages 5 to 21. Starting June 22, the screenings will be performed at various City Summer Camp sites. A signed guardian consent form is required. (Twitter)
• Republican Rep. Anthony Rodriguez added more than $120,000 last month towards his bid to succeed longtime Miami-Dade Commissioner Javier Souto on the county’s legislative body. Rodriguez had $968,000 as of May 31 nearly, nearly 100 times his challenger. (Florida Politics)

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Events:

• Coconut Grove Artisanal Market (June 17)
• Miami Museum of Contemporary Art Co-Hosts Creative Conversation Juneteenth Celebration (June 17)
• Free Community Mental Health and Wellness Community Event Set for Saturday, June 18th (June 18)
• Coconut Grove Artisan & Farmers Market (June 19)
• Hire A Pro To Clean Up The Yard For Dad (June 19)
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Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow with your next update!

— Carlos Hernandez

About me: Hello my name is Carlos Hernandez and I am a food writer with over 10 years of experience in the industry. I write the food blog Carlos Eats (http://www.carloseats.com) and also contribute to several newspapers and magazines with food-related blogs and articles.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Miami Daily? Contact me at carlosreportsnews@gmail.com