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Judge sides with students, says FIU likely violated First Amendment rights

The ruling is a win for free speech advocates.

Education

A group of students was granted a victory over the weekend when a federal judge ruled that Florida International University likely violated their First Amendment rights.Why it matters: The ruling is a win for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="free speech advocates" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/07/23/orwellian-flavor-fiu-disciplines-students-for-silent-protest" data-vars-content-id="93c28fce-128c-4491-bd1d-70ef6d0e08f7" data-vars-headline="Judge sides with students, says FIU likely violated First Amendment rights" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/07/23/orwellian-flavor-fiu-disciplines-students-for-silent-protest" target="_self">free speech advocates</a> and could set a precedent for future cases, as colleges across the country have implemented new rules aiming to limit expression.

Miami-based Freebee ranked among fastest-growing businesses

Freebee's electric cars are all over South Florida.

Transit

Freebee, the Miami-based rideshare company that offers free transportation services across Miami and beyond, is among the fastest-growing private companies in the country.

FDOT investigating tree 'slaughter' near Miami highway

The removals come as activists are trying to protect Miami's tree canopy.

Environment

Miami&#x27;s tree activists are up in arms about the removal of 10 large trees along I-95 near Wynwood.Why it matters: Local activism around preserving and growing the city&#x27;s tree canopy has ramped up in recent years as residents use <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="social media" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/miamicanopywatch/" data-vars-content-id="b817dfdc-188f-44d3-9725-f837e9d8713f" data-vars-headline="FDOT investigating tree &#x27;slaughter&#x27; near Miami highway" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/miamicanopywatch/" target="_blank">social media</a>, WhatsApp and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="city data" data-vars-click-url="https://miamicanopywatch.com/" data-vars-content-id="b817dfdc-188f-44d3-9725-f837e9d8713f" data-vars-headline="FDOT investigating tree &#x27;slaughter&#x27; near Miami highway" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://miamicanopywatch.com/" target="_blank">city data</a> to challenge tree removals.

Surfside changes memorial design chosen by victims' families

A family-led memorial committee suggested one design. Surfside commissioners went in a different direction.

Politics

Surfside is moving forward with a memorial to the victims of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Champlain Towers South" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/06/24/surfside-five-year-champlain-towers-south-collapse" data-vars-content-id="2a5f3dd6-6c5b-4f6c-bcbd-778b99cb270b" data-vars-headline="Surfside changes memorial design chosen by victims&#x27; families" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/06/24/surfside-five-year-champlain-towers-south-collapse" target="_self">Champlain Towers South</a> collapse, but the approved design differs from what a family-led memorial committee proposed.

What's going up: Storm-proofing communities

Development

Here&#x27;s your latest development news around the 305.

Data center backlash spreads in Florida. Here's what to know

There are already dozens of small-scale centers across the region.

This month, Village of Palmetto Bay Vice Mayor Mark Merwitzer announced he’d be introducing legislation to ban <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="data centers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/19/ai-power-data-center-electricity-construction" data-vars-content-id="ff5289e7-cbf9-466b-bc07-74be715d043f" data-vars-headline="Data center backlash spreads in Florida. Here&#x27;s what to know" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/19/ai-power-data-center-electricity-construction" target="_self">data centers</a> in the village.<ul><li>&quot;Palmetto Bay is a village of families, a village of parks and a village of neighborhoods, and we&#x27;re not going to let data centers wreck that,&quot; Merwitzer said in a news release.</li></ul>Why it matters: The move — although from one of the county’s smaller municipalities — highlights the growing tensions between the new data centers being proposed and the residents who live here.

Virginia Key marina redevelopment heads to Miami voters

A judge cleared the way for the referendum to proceed.

A judge has cleared the way for Miami voters to weigh in on a referendum on the proposed redevelopment of the Rickenbacker and Marine Stadium marinas.Why it matters: After voters on Tuesday approved a new management and restoration plan for the neighboring <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Miami Marine Stadium" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nbcmiami.com/video/nbc-6-news/voters-approve-revival-of-miami-marine-stadium/3848440/" data-vars-content-id="0ce8dc86-7fac-4777-adee-e97446e8663b" data-vars-headline="Virginia Key marina redevelopment heads to Miami voters" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nbcmiami.com/video/nbc-6-news/voters-approve-revival-of-miami-marine-stadium/3848440/" target="_blank">Miami Marine Stadium</a>, they are being asked to once again decide the fate of city-owned waterfront land on Virginia Key.

What's going up: Brickell restaurant, affordable housing

The Brickell location has faced pushback from residents.

Here&#x27;s the latest development news around the 305.

What's going up: Workforce, affordable housing projects proposed

The latest development news across the 305.

Here&#x27;s the latest roundup of development news across the county.

What's going up: Affordable housing on school district property

Here&#x27;s the latest development news around the city.

What's going up: Branded condos in Coconut Grove

Here's the latest on new construction across the 305.

Here&#x27;s the latest development news, including proposed projects and those that are already underway.

What's going up: Historic playhouse revamped

The playhouse revamp got the green light after two decades.

Here&#x27;s your latest development news across the 305. Vox on Red: The student housing complex at the University of Miami, proposed by the Miami-based The Treo Group, was given the green light by the county&#x27;s Community Zoning Appeals Board, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the South Florida Business Journal reported" data-vars-click-url="https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2026/07/09/developer-wins-rezoning-for-project-near-um-campus.html" data-vars-content-id="f5d93474-b223-434e-b837-c79cf523012d" data-vars-headline="What&#x27;s going up: Historic playhouse revamped" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2026/07/09/developer-wins-rezoning-for-project-near-um-campus.html" target="_blank">the South Florida Business Journal reported</a>. <ul><li>The project, which sits just west of campus, is set to include more than 100 residential units for about 300 student housing beds, a fitness studio, pool area and study areas. </li><li>The &quot;Howell Resident&quot; a historically designated building, will be preserved and serve as a clubhouse amenity, per the outlet. </li></ul>Coconut Grove Playhouse: Twenty years after closing, the historic playhouse historic will undergo major renovations, despite neighborhood opposition. <ul><li>The more than $58 million project, approved by Miami City commissioners, will have a new performance venue, retail, offices and a parking garage, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the Real Deal reported" data-vars-click-url="https://therealdeal.com/miami/2026/07/10/coconut-grove-playhouse-redevelopment-moves-forward/" data-vars-content-id="f5d93474-b223-434e-b837-c79cf523012d" data-vars-headline="What&#x27;s going up: Historic playhouse revamped" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://therealdeal.com/miami/2026/07/10/coconut-grove-playhouse-redevelopment-moves-forward/" target="_blank">the Real Deal reported</a>. </li></ul>Sense22: The developers behind a 36-story Edgewater building secured a $111 million construction loan for the development, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="per the Real Deal" data-vars-click-url="https://therealdeal.com/miami/2026/07/09/developers-nab-368-million-in-loans-for-sofla-projects/" data-vars-content-id="f5d93474-b223-434e-b837-c79cf523012d" data-vars-headline="What&#x27;s going up: Historic playhouse revamped" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://therealdeal.com/miami/2026/07/09/developers-nab-368-million-in-loans-for-sofla-projects/" target="_blank">per the Real Deal</a>. <ul><li>The project will include more than 300 residential units, with 40% of those designated as affordable housing under the state&#x27;s Live Local Act. </li></ul>

What's going up: E11even condos and affordable housing

Here's the latest news on new and completed projects.

Development never stops in the Magic City. <ul><li>Here&#x27;s the latest news on new and completed projects. </li></ul>

What's going up: Large scale development in Miami Gardens

The latest development news in South Florida.

Real Estate

Here&#x27;s the latest round of development news happening around the 305.

Development 🏗️

What's going up: Storm-proofing communities

Data center backlash spreads in Florida. Here's what to know

Virginia Key marina redevelopment heads to Miami voters

What's going up: Brickell restaurant, affordable housing

What's going up: Workforce, affordable housing projects proposed