Author: Carma Henry

       As the new year begins, nonprofit organizations, governmental entities, employee benefit plans, and the businesses and individuals that support them throughout South Florida are navigating a shifting landscape of accounting standards, regulatory priorities, and tax planning considerations. Proactive awareness and early preparation can help minimize surprises, strengthen compliance, and create meaningful efficiencies in the months ahead.

     Just in time for Black History Month, Latriece Watkins, a longtime Walmart executive, has been named president and chief executive officer of Sam’s Club, effective Feb. 1, in a leadership reshuffle announced by Walmart’s board. The promotion places Watkins, a 28-year veteran of the company, at the helm of one of the nation’s biggest membership retail chains.

     We have cared for families, built communities, powered movements, and carried entire systems on our backs, often while navigating health outcomes that were worse than everyone else’s, with fewer answers as to why. Too often, when it comes to medical research, Black women have been discussed, compared, or referenced, but not meaningfully included.

       Coco Gauff has made a donation to the United Negro College Fund to support student athletes at HBCUs. The tennis player donated $150,000 to the organization. Last year, Gauff had already gifted $100,000 for scholarships to student athletes.

       The Hazelle P. Rogers Multipurpose Center now stands where generations of Broward residents have gathered—seniors, families, youth, immigrants, and longtime homeowners alike. For those of us who have watched Lauderdale Lakes evolve over decades, this moment felt deeply personal.

     Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, a 35-acre subtropical estate and historic museum located in the heart of Fort Lauderdale, welcomes visitors to experience ZimSculpt, its new outdoor exhibit celebrating contemporary Zimbabwean stone sculptures.  ZimSculpt has transformed the historic estate into a global showcase of Zimbabwean art, culture, and craftsmanship.

       Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. warned us that midnight is not just a time on the clock—it is a condition. In his “Knock at Midnight” sermon, he spoke of darkness settling over a nation: confusion, despair, moral drift. If he were standing with us today, I believe he would say plainly—here we go again.

       Last Wednesday, a Broward County Circuit Court judge granted a temporary injunction in a lawsuit filed in mid-September 2025 by approximately 50 members of First Baptist Church Piney Grove, Inc. The court determined that the dispute before it did not involve religious doctrine, but rather church governance and financial authority, placing the matter squarely within the court’s jurisdiction.

   Getting my first car was a huge milestone for me, especially since I already had a lot of driving experience before owning one. My parents spent a lot of time teaching me how to drive and making sure I was fully prepared for the road, which helped me feel confident behind the wheel. I got my first car for Christmas, and it’s a 2003 model, so it doesn’t have all the modern features like a backup camera or autopilot.

      Broward County school officials are pushing back against criticism from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who suggested the state consider taking control of the district due to what he called years of budget mismanagement and favoritism toward entrenched interests.