The Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale and the Dallas Morning News have joined CNN and the Associated Press as the only U.S. news companies with bureaus in Cuba. The Sun-Sentinel officially opened up its Havana bureau Jan.10, with Vanessa Bauza its correspondent.

The Dallas Morning News will open its bureau shortly. Kerry Gunnels, the paper's international editor, says its correspondent, Tracy Eaton, has already arrived in Cuba. The international editors for both papers told Weekly Report there is great interest in Cuba among their readers. The Sun-Sentinel's Alina Lambiet told Weekly Report she believes the Cuban government is allowing the additional bureaus to open because it was surprised by how influential the media was in reporting on the Elián González saga. She added that it appeared pleased that the U.S. news media reported the sentiments of the majority of U.S. citizens who believed the boy should return home with his father. Gunnels said Cuba remains a great news story. The paper wants to further its mission of being the nation's dominant paper in coverage of Latin America, he said, adding that there is interest in Dallas because it is home to many businesses that are involved in the international market.