Miami's top headlines, moments from 2024

• OK, sometimes there is good news! We're looking at you, Art Basel elephant herd…nevermind, someone reportedly had sex on that installation.

Let's revisit this year's top storylines:

Miami Beach announced it was "breaking up" with spring break, releasing a viral marketing campaign and imposing new restrictions to prevent the turmoil that had marred previous festivities.

• It seems to have worked. There were no major incidents and crowds seemed smaller.
• Up north, a Fort Lauderdale bartender got famous for selling hurricane shots — liquor chased with a wet smack across the face.

Miami sports fans faced the reality that the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers are the best team in our market — and they're in Broward!

• Lionel Messi and Inter Miami had a historic regular season but lost in the playoffs.
• Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa overcame another scary concussion and speculation over possible retirement. He eventually rejoined the team, but Miami appears likely to miss the playoffs.
• The University of Miami football team got off to a hot start but missed the College Football Playoff.

The internet roasted the new Dwyane Wade statue outside the Heat arena and he handled it with the grace of a Hall of Famer.

In more sports news: The Copa America Final at Hard Rock Stadium ended in elation for Argentina but a swarm of ticketless fans who snuck into the stadium — nearly causing a stampede — took center stage. (Cue the 2026 World Cup prep!)

Investigations into alleged corruption and ethics violations against several Miami politicians were resolved this year — and fresh controversies arose.

• Miami Mayor Francis Suarez was cleared in two state ethics cases regarding Formula 1 tickets and his police detail.
• Ex-Miami Commissioner Alex Díaz de la Portilla, arrested in 2023, had his corruption charges dropped.

Yes, but: Ex-Miami-Dade Commissioner Joe Martinez was convicted on charges that he accepted money to sponsor legislation.

• Former Miami-Dade School Board member Lubby Navarro was also arrested this year for allegedly spending taxpayer money on personal items — like fake pregnancy bellies. (She pleaded not guilty)

More political drama: The city of Doral weighed in on the Israel-Hamas war (and got called out for it) and fired its city manager (Her replacement abruptly resigned, claiming retaliation.)

• Residents sued Miami Beach for canceling a voter referendum on increased homelessness funding mid-election. (The city won but agreed to fund countywide efforts.)

President-elect Donald Trump became the first Republican presidential nominee to flip Miami-Dade red in over thirty years. (South Florida rapper Kodak Black even released a pro-Trump song.)

• Weed and abortion amendments failed to receive enough votes to pass, even though more than 50% of voters supported legalizing weed and enshrining abortion in the constitution.
• Miami-Dade elected its first sheriff in nearly 60 years.

Big transit year: Tri Rail expanded to downtown Miami, Miami Beach said no to Baylink, voters said yes to more transit and the Biden administration gave initial approval to a North Dade rail line.

A new homelessness law banned sleeping in public and forced local governments to develop temporary housing solutions.

Art Basel delighted us. Martin fancied these flexible paper sculptures. Sommer got lost in the convention center. They both saw Magdalena Bay.

• Luckily, a handful of exhibits are still on view.

New condo safety laws are pricing owners out — and making their units harder to sell.

• By the way, coastal high-rises are slowly sinking, per a University of Miami study.

Our brag of the year: We interviewed Jimmy Butler!