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Miami-Dade's school district resolved its monthslong legal battle with the management company that oversees WLRN.

Why it matters: The agreement, approved by the School Board on Wednesday, ensures that WLRN can broadcast for another seven years, with a possible three-year extension.

It also replaces the leadership of South Florida Public Media Group, which oversees the station, ousting former CEO John LaBonia and naming longtime WLRN journalist Tom Hudson as interim CEO.

Between the lines: The school district holds WLRN's broadcast license, which was set to expire in June 2027. 

Zoom in: The agreement allows SFPMG to acquire West Palm Beach radio station "The Flame" 104.7, despite initially opposing the move.

The license of that station and its assets will then be transferred to the district.

Catch up quick: After SFPMG announced the acquisition plans in June, the school district sued, alleging the purchase would draw from funds that were required to be spent to benefit Miami-Dade. (The station disputed this.)

Then-SFPMG chair Richard Rampell fired back, referring to a district official as "small-minded" and a school board member as "a two-faced shamelessly ambitious politician."

In February, most of WLRN's employees signed a letter to the board that detailed their lack of trust in senior leadership and argued Rampell's behavior threatened the station's future.

In April, Rampell claimed the district was attempting "a hostile takeover" after it proposed an agreement that would grant it more control over the station, including a role in naming a CEO and giving the district a second seat on SGPMG's seven-member board.

The bottom line: While SFPMG will "manage, operate and fundraise" for the stations, per the agreement signed this week, the school board will have "ultimate supervision and control." 

Miami-Dade school district settles legal battle with WLRN management

The district holds the station's broadcasting license.

In this illustration, an old fashioned metal radio mic is surrounded by giant red exclamation marks.

Miami-Dade&#x27;s school district resolved <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="its monthslong legal battle" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2025/09/10/miami-dade-schools-lawsuit-wlrn" data-vars-content-id="4453c4cd-c8e8-4956-b5bf-967487ee12be" data-vars-headline="Miami-Dade school district settles legal battle with WLRN management" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2025/09/10/miami-dade-schools-lawsuit-wlrn" target="_self">its monthslong legal battle</a> with the management company that oversees WLRN.Why it matters: The agreement, approved by the School Board on Wednesday, ensures that WLRN can broadcast for another seven years, with a possible three-year extension.

News

Here's the latest round of development news across the South Florida area.

Twenty Sixth & 2nd Wynwood Residences: Two Miami-based developers plan to break ground on a new project backed by Airbnb set to open in 2028, the South Florida Business Journal reported. 

The eight-story building will include 233 "fully finished and furnished units," a mix of studios and one-bedrooms and range from $500,000 to $1 million. All residences will come with a deeded office suite, per the outlet.

The housing platform will allow owners to list units and offices for rent year-round.  

The Arbor Residence: The Coconut Grove condo was recently completed, featuring 45 units, a pool deck, social lounge, fitness center and rooftop terrace. 

1250 West Avenue: The Miami Beach Design Review Board approved the project by Terra and its partners, the Real Deal Reported. 

The unnamed, 330-foot tall tower in South Beach will feature 106 luxury condos. 

It will replace a 15-story, 238-unit condo building constructed in 1964 and will turn what used to be the Bikini Hostel into a city park. 

What's going up: New and completed condos

There's always development news in Miami.

Illustration of a construction crane lifting another crane, which is lifting another crane, which is lifting another crane.

Here&#x27;s the latest round of development news across the South Florida area.

Real Estate

The 2026 hurricane cone of uncertainty will feature a handful of new graphical elements, the National Hurricane Center recently revealed. 

Why it matters: The cone projects the storm's path and intensity, helps determine evacuation zones and guides residents on how to best prepare for what's to come. 

Zoom in: One difference residents can look out for is color coding that shows inland impacts, including storm and hurricane wind watches, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported. 

Previously, hurricane-force winds along the coast were designated in red. Now, that same color will extend as far inland as experts believe the winds will reach, per the outlet. 

Storms that have no chance of developing into a tropical system will be labeled gray, not yellow, as previously shown. 

Zoom out: The NHC is also testing a new experimental cone this season that features a slightly wider cone. 

The new width means the storm will have a 90% chance of tracking inside it, up from 67% with the current width, reported the Sun Sentinel. 

What's next: Hurricane season begins June 1. 

National Hurricane Center updates cone of uncertainty

NOAA hurricane forecast map showing Milton's cone of uncertainty across the Caribbean and Gulf, with projected track and time stamps (1 AM Fri, 1 PM Thu, 1 AM Sun).

This is what the cone graphic for 2024's Hurricane Milton would have looked like with the changes debuting this year. Graphic: National Hurricane Center

The 2026 hurricane cone of uncertainty will feature a handful of new graphical elements, the National Hurricane Center recently revealed. Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cone" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/02/02/national-hurricane-center-new-forecast-map-inland-risk" data-vars-content-id="b84c535b-226c-45c3-9012-a371a7faaf8e" data-vars-headline="National Hurricane Center updates cone of uncertainty" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/02/02/national-hurricane-center-new-forecast-map-inland-risk" target="_self">cone</a> projects the storm&#x27;s path and intensity, helps determine evacuation zones and guides residents on how to best prepare for what&#x27;s to come.

Climate

The health of Biscayne Bay, the shallow estuary that runs along South Florida's east coast, remains grim, according to the 2026 Biscayne Bay Report Card, released Tuesday.

Why it matters: The bay's health is vital for Miami-Dade County, both economically and environmentally, as it's home to a host of species and contributes about $64 billion to the county's economy.

The big picture: The report, conducted annually since 2018 by Miami-Dade County's Department of Environmental Resources Management, analyzes water quality and habitat in an easy-to-understand format.

It's used to identify action items to protect the bay and also serves as a data source to see which initiatives and investments have worked — and which haven't.

State of play: While some coastal areas have improved from previous years, all regions remain in poor or fair health, meaning they have some or considerable water quality and ecological degradation, per the report.

Many areas, particularly in the northern regions of the bay, show "high levels of nutrient and bacteria pollution that exceed established criteria," the report said.

Yes, but: Some areas, including the Oleta Canal, have improved from poor to fair, with water clarity improving or remaining mostly stable.

Moreover, seagrass recovery in some areas around northern Biscayne Bay is underway — "a big deal," Omar Abdelrahman, MDC's senior section manager, water resources, told Axios.

Seagrass not only feeds manatees but reduces the force of waves, especially during storms, and the resulting erosion, he explained.

Between the lines: The top reasons for increased levels of nutrients and bacteria in the bay are rainwater — which often contains fertilizer, trash and animal feces — sediment runoff, and pollution.

Aging infrastructure and leaky septic tanks are also to blame, researchers said.

What they're saying: "The community really needs to continue to step up," DERM director and chief resilience officer Loren Parra told Axios. 

"These waterways are under unprecedented pressures and require sustained and constant focus," she said.

Residents need to remember to scoop their animal's poop, avoid throwing oil down the drain, and avoid using lawn fertilizer during the rainy seasons.

Friction point: Still, a bigger challenge is coordinating improvement efforts across municipalities and state and federal governments.

"All of our cities and municipalities need to be making infrastructure improvements and storm water system [upgrades], but we know that's expensive," Parra said.

The City of Miami recently delayed a vote on Mayor Eileen Higgins' $450 million bond to improve county building infrastructure.

What's next: On Wednesday, local municipalities, businesses, nonprofits and academic institutions will gather at the biannual Biscayne Bay Health Summit to address what is and isn't working.

Biscayne Bay's health shows little improvement, report says

The bay's health is vital for Miami-Dade County, both economically and environmentally.

View of the channel marker no.15, in the intracoastal Waterway on Biscayne Bay.

Biscayne Bay waterway's health hasn't improved much since last week. Photo: Pedro Portal/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

The health of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Biscayne Bay" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/03/31/north-miami-condo-aquatic-playground-biscayne-bay" data-vars-content-id="d9cdb1ba-1220-4c13-90dc-5342a2581e81" data-vars-headline="Biscayne Bay&#x27;s health shows little improvement, report says" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/03/31/north-miami-condo-aquatic-playground-biscayne-bay" target="_self">Biscayne Bay</a>, the shallow estuary that runs along South Florida&#x27;s east coast, remains grim, according to the 2026 Biscayne Bay Report Card, released Tuesday.Why it matters: The bay&#x27;s health is vital for Miami-Dade County, both economically and environmentally, as it&#x27;s home to a host of species and contributes about $64 billion to the county&#x27;s economy.

Environment

Another weekend, another opportunity to get outside and enjoy what the 305 has to offer. 

😊 Final Friday Local Social: Join Engage Miami to close out its Spring Member Leader program at Roots Bookstore and Market with games, food and learning opportunities about local organizing efforts.  

🎨 Oolite Arts On the Move: The inaugural event by the local art organization will celebrate Haitian Heritage Month with an all-ages hands-on art experience. 

Saturday, Little Haiti Cultural Complex, 5pm-7pm. Free, materials provided. 

🚣 Paddletopia: Surfside's two-day wellness event featuring complimentary paddleboarding, fitness classes, live music and more. 

Paddle for Plastic is also part of this year's event, encouraging folks to "set out through the canals" to pick up any floating plastics. 

Saturday, Sunday, 96th Street Park, 10am-2pm. 

🛍️ $25 & Under Market: Magic City Flea is back at Miami Ironside with 35+ vendors, plus food and drink deals. 

🎶 Global Vinyl Sundays: Presented by Miami Is An Island, this once monthly event brings together a vinyl market, Haitian food and cocktails and live music at Lakou Miami. 

Things to do: Art, paddle and more

Illustration of a beach chair made out of a calendar.