Mimi Whitefield, Tampa Bay Times

Mimi Whitefield

Tampa Bay Times

Miami, FL, United States

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Recent:
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Past:
  • Tampa Bay Times
  • The Miami Herald
  • Bradenton Herald
  • McClatchyDC
  • TriCityHerald
  • The Fresno Bee
  • The Kansas City Star
  • The Ledger-Enquirer
  • Star-Telegram.com
  • The Sun News
  • and more…

Past articles by Mimi:

I can’t get to my home on Pine Island. But I can see the damage from Hurricane Ian. Here’s how

The images include views of storm-damaged areas in the Naples area, Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, and the barrier islands. → Read More

‘Circulos de Abuelos’ serve Cuba’s rapidly aging population — the oldest in the Americas

Cuba already has the oldest population in the Americas. By 2025, some 30 percent of the population is expected to be age 60 and older. Dealing with Cuba’s aged population is presenting challenges. → Read More

When Latin rhythms met funk, Cuban breakout music star Cimafunk emerged

A former Cuban medical student who mixes his love of funk with Latin beats has Cuba dancing. Now singer, producer and composer Cimafunk is on an international tour that includes stops in the United States. → Read More

Cuba approves new constitution: What are the changes?

Cuba announces that its new constitution was approved by ...... It makes important changes in how the government will be structured, but the Communist Party is still enshrined as the most important political force in Cuba. → Read More

Foreign investment in Cuba at risk if U.S. allows lawsuits over confiscated property

The United States is reviewing whether it will allow U.S. citizens whose properties were confiscated in Cuba after the revolution and are now being used by foreign investors on the island to sue in U.S. courts. → Read More

Survey: U.S. bookings to Cuba expected to increase but Americans still confused about island travel

After a sharp decline in travel to Cuba in the first half of 2018, U.S. tour operators say they expect to see increased American travel to Cuba in 2019. → Read More

Grassroots aid efforts in Cuba and abroad aim to help tornado victims

After an F4 tornado hit Havana, Cuba, private citizens have helped neighbors, and Cuban Americans on Facebook, medical students and Catholic charities also have been delivering supplies like ice, medicine. → Read More

Freedom House report says global democracy under siege, including in the United States

Freedom House’s annual “Freedom in the World” report says 68 countries had net declines in political rights and civil liberties during 2018. In the Americas, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba were places to watch. → Read More

Trump officials say Cuba meddles in Venezuela, but Havana almost ignored in threat report

The most recent “Worldwide Threat Assessment” compiled by the U.S. intelligence community takes aim at Venezuela and Russian and Chinese designs on the Western Hemisphere but barely mentions Cuba. → Read More

Miami: What happens when Cuban rockers and a Cuban-American country singer join forces

In Cuba, the Sweet Lizzy Project was an anomaly: a rock ‘n’ roll band that sang in English. With the help of Miami-born Raúl Malo, lead singer of The Mavericks, the band made the transition from Havana to Nashville. They’ll appear Saturday at Miami’s Olympia Theater. → Read More

Death toll from fierce Cuban tornado climbs

The rare F4 tornado that ripped through eastern Havana, Cuba neighborhoods on Sunday left four dead, 195 injured and more than 1,200 homes damaged or destroyed. Thousands also lost power. → Read More

Rare tornado leaves 3 dead, many injured in Cuba

Overnight Sunday a rare and powerful tornado struck the eastern Havana neighborhoods of Regla, Cerro, 10 de Octubre and Guanaboa. Officials say there were three dead, many injuries and “profound” damages. → Read More

Some airlines want in for flights to Cuba from South Florida. Others opt out

American Airlines and JetBlue both want DOT authority to add an additional flight to Cuba. Meanwhile, other carriers have dropped route requests recently. → Read More

Postcard from Havana: the Malecón, high water and the Cuban city’s 500th anniversary

Havana’s Malecón, the wall and promenade that run along the city’s northern coast facing toward the U.S., has been called both a frontier between two worlds and a vast sofa for Havana’s population to rest, socialize and dream. → Read More

Cuban artist brings message of hope as he lights up Havana neon sign by neon sign

Cuban artist Kadir López Nieves’ Habana Light Neon + Signs project is restoring vintage neon signs that have been dark for decades and bringing some pizazz to Havana after dark. → Read More

Cuba will impose new income tax on players who sign Major League Baseball contracts

In the talks between the MLB, MLB Players Association and the FCB, the taxation of players was discussed at length and MLB negotiators were told the Cuban tax would be in the 3-4 percent range. → Read More

Siri, it seems, doesn’t know everything. Just ask who the president of Cuba is.

Cubans experimenting with new 3G mobile wireless capabilities have found that Siri, the personal assistant for iPhones and iPads, thinks Cuba has two presidents. → Read More

Rubio calls deal to allow Cuban players to sign with MLB ‘a farce,’ vows to overturn it

Sen. Marco Rubio questions whether MLB can sign a deal to bring Cuban baseball players to the Major League, but MLB says its agreement with the Cuban Baseball Federation is perfectly legal. → Read More

This will be a record year for international visitors to Cuba, but barely

The year started out poorly for Cuba’s tourism industry, but the island is still expected to welcome a record 4.75 million visitors in 2018. Canada and the United States are the leading markets. → Read More

MLB, Cuban Baseball Federation sign agreement to limit defections, trafficking of players

MLB and its players Association sign an agreement with the Cuban Baseball Federation that would allow experienced players to come to the U.S. on work visas and sign as free agents to cut down on defection and smuggling. → Read More