COLUMNIST

Carl Hiaasen
Carl Hiaasen was born and reared in South Florida. He joined The Herald in 1976 and worked as a general assignment reporter, magazine writer and award-winning investigative reporter before starting his column in 1985. He is also the author of many novels, including Basket Case, Sick Puppy, Tourist Season and Strip Tease, which was made into a feature film starring Demi Moore and Burt Reynolds. Hiaasen's column appears regularly on the Other Views page.
Visit Carl's website at www.carlhiaasen.com.

Top Story

Dream candidate? Only for Democrats

BY CARL HIAASEN

If you’re a Democrat, here’s what you’re thinking two days before the Florida’s Republican primary:

Those big snakes are here to stay

Now that federal regulators have outlawed the importation of humongous, gator-eating pythons, all Floridians can breathe a grateful sigh of relief. Finally we are saved from this insidious reptilian plague!
Haiti: Not trendy, not chic, just real news

BY CARL HIAASEN

The news of the day is burning with big questions:
Mitt wins … unless he blows it

BY CARL HIAASEN

Florida is being overrun by pundits and pollsters in advance of the upcoming Republican presidential primary.
Why some lawmakers are in panic

BY CARL HIAASEN

An absolutely true news item: Having passed a law allowing gun owners to bring their weapons inside the state Capitol building, the Florida Senate has hastily installed panic buttons on the office phone of every senator and staff member.
Only in Miami: Indicted, but on the payroll

BY CARL HIAASEN

More proof that Miami is the worst-run city in America:
In My Opinion

Taxpayers harpooned on stadium

By Carl Hiaasen

The new Miami Marlins stadium is rising to completion in Little Havana, and rising with it is the blood pressure of taxpayers who are learning how much the new ballpark will really cost.
In my opinion

In casino fight, all bets are off

By Carl Hiaasen

An international resort company wants to build a huge casino on the shore of Biscayne Bay, where this newspaper now stands.
IN MY OPINION

Stadium plan a 'bifurcated rip-off'

By CARL HIAASEN

The Dolphins will seek a new state law that could increase bed taxes in both Miami-Dade and Broward, and would allow Broward officials to send its revenues across the county line to help renovate the football stadium. This is what you call a bifurcated rip-off.
We should all have an ex like this one

By CARL HIAASEN

Every divorced guy would love an ex-wife like Barbara Gomez. As the chief of Miami's public housing agency, she helped funnel more than $1 million in city contracts to companies employing one of her former husbands.