Reporter

David Lyons

David Lyons is a business and law writer for the South Florida Sun Sentinel who covers the economy, business development, airline and rail travel, tourism and the federal courts. During a 50-year newspaper career, he served as editor-in-chief of ALM’s Daily Business Review in Miami, wrote legal and business stories for the Miami Herald and Miami News, including the demise of Eastern Airlines, the trial of Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega and the War on Drugs. He also edited stories for the Fort Lauderdale News, Albany (N.Y.) Times-Union and Schenectady Gazette. He holds a degree in political science from Siena College in Loudonville, N.Y.

U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., left, speaks to reporters Monday as one of her lawyers, David Markus, looks on after her arraignment in Miami federal court was postponed until Jan. 20, 2026. (Terry Renna/AP)

Judge sets late January trial date for Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick, co-defendants

December 30, 2025 at 5:26 p.m.

A federal district judge has set a late January trial date for U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and three other defendants accused in the alleged theft of U.S. Government relief funds.

President Donald Trump's extended Mar-a-Lago visit has generated heavy aviation traffic at nearby Boca Raton Airport amid airspace restrictions at Palm Beach International. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Trump’s extended Mar-a-Lago visit makes for crowded skies at Boca Raton’s airport

December 30, 2025 at 2:16 p.m.

President Donald Trump's extended Mar-a-Lago visit has generated heavy aviation traffic at nearby Boca Raton Airport amid airspace restrictions at Palm Beach International.

U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., left, speaks to the media as her lawyer David Markus looks on after a brief hearing in federal court on Monday in Miami. (Terry Renna/AP)

Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick maintains innocence in FEMA theft case as arraignment postponed

December 29, 2025 at 2:53 p.m.

The arraignment of South Florida Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick was postponed until she gets a permanent attorney to defend her on charges of stealing $5 million in federal disaster relief funds.

Brightline passengers wait to board a southbound train in West Palm Beach earlier this year. Although the higher speed train line operating between Miami and Orlando continues to see passenger growth, revenues are not rising fast enough in the opinions of Wall Street bond ratings agencies. (Carline Jean / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Brightline seeks to raise $100 million from lenders; Fort Lauderdale garage placed up for sale

December 29, 2025 at 7:07 a.m.

The higher-speed rail connecting Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Orlando is taking steps to battle a slower-than-forecast pace of revenue and ridership growth.

Foul play is suspected in the death of woman whose body was discovered Friday morning near Cleveland Street on Hollywood beach, police said. (South Florida Sun Sentinel file photo)

Foul play suspected in death of woman found on Hollywood beach, police say

December 27, 2025 at 12:01 p.m.

Police have identified the body, and announced "a person of interest has also been identified, and detectives believe the parties involved are known to one another."

A Deerfield Beach woman is facing multiple charges of fraud and ID theft after allegedly posing as caregiver to senior citizens and stealing money from their bank accounts using their debit cards, according to Broward Sheriff's Office detectives. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Deerfield Beach woman posed as caregiver to steal thousands from seniors, BSO says

December 24, 2025 at 3:41 p.m.

A South Florida woman is accused of stealing "thousands of dollars" from senior citizens while posing as a home caregiver, the Broward Sheriff's Office said.

Against a backdrop of downtown Fort Lauderdale, an Air Canada plane is parked at a gate at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, which has seen a year-over-year decline in passengers from Canada between the spring and fall of this year. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

As winter takes hold, South Florida hotels and businesses hope Canadians come back

December 22, 2025 at 10:13 a.m.

South Florida hoteliers hope for an uptick in visits from Canadian snowbirds, many of whom were offended by harsh rhetoric toward their country from Washington.

Spirit Airlines planes are shown at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International, where the Dania-Beach-based carrier continues to be the leader in passengers served. The airline said Monday it received a fresh round of cash as it continues its efforts to restructure in bankruptcy court. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Spirit gains fresh $100 million to continue flying through bankruptcy

December 15, 2025 at 5:23 p.m.

Spirit Airlines disclosed it received another $100 million in short-term financing to continue flying as it restructures in Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The Disney Dream, left, and the Silver Ray cruise ships docked at Port Everglades on Friday. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Port Everglades blows away records in cruise passengers, cargo and energy in 2025

December 15, 2025 at 10:43 a.m.

Broward County's Port Everglades says it eviscerated traffic records in its three core businesses -- cruise passengers, cargo and energy -- in 2025.

Financially troubled Spirit Airlines, which is headquartered in Dania Beach, says its unionized pilots and flight attendants have agreed to contract concessions to help the airline through its Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel file)

Spirit Airlines gains critical cost cuts from unionized pilots, flight attendants

December 12, 2025 at 3:52 p.m.

Spirit Airlines confirmed it finalized agreements with unionized pilots and flight attendants to cut labor costs as part of its effort to reorganize its finances while in Chapter 11 bankruptcy.