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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.

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.

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.

Here are the South Florida races we're watching on primary night

Miami-Dade County voters are heading to the polls.

Today is primary election day in South Florida. Why it matters: Miami-Dade County voters are heading to the polls to elect representatives at the federal, state and local levels.

Big real estate firms and developers fund Vicki Lopez's campaign

Lopez spearheaded the Live Local Act while serving in Florida's House of Representatives.

News

More than 70% of Miami-Dade Commissioner Vicki Lopez&#x27;s District 5 reelection campaign was funded by executives and companies in real estate-related industries, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the Real Deal reported" data-vars-click-url="https://therealdeal.com/miami/2026/08/12/vicki-lopez-raises-big-money-from-miami-billionaires/" data-vars-content-id="1b1f3618-a509-492e-a678-ef525ecf4978" data-vars-headline="Big real estate firms and developers fund Vicki Lopez&#x27;s campaign" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://therealdeal.com/miami/2026/08/12/vicki-lopez-raises-big-money-from-miami-billionaires/" target="_blank">the Real Deal reported</a>. Why it matters: Lopez, who was appointed to succeed now-Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins, spearheaded the Live Local Act, which preempts local zoning for affordable housing, while serving in the state House of Representatives.<ul><li>As a Miami-Dade commissioner, she&#x27;s advocated for more housing options and addressing affordability.</li></ul>

Meet the South Florida primary candidates for state representative

Election

Early voting for primary elections has already begun.Why it matters: Miami-Dade residents will vote in local races, but they&#x27;ll have the opportunity to elect their representatives at the state level, too.

Florida judge orders rewrite of property tax referendum

A judge found the referendum language misleading.

Florida&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="property tax referendum" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/07/09/floridas-property-tax-amendment-lacks-champions" data-vars-content-id="0d8920c1-b215-49c5-9d82-7b56cce22ea2" data-vars-headline="Florida judge orders rewrite of property tax referendum" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/07/09/floridas-property-tax-amendment-lacks-champions" target="_self">property tax referendum</a> needs a rewrite, a judge ruled on Monday.Why it matters: The November ballot question would give homeowners a tax break by increasing the non-schools homestead exemption from $50,000 to $150,000 by 2027 — and then to $250,000 by 2028.

Meet the South Florida primary candidates for U.S. House and Senate

The primary elections are less than one month away.

The primary elections are less than one month away.Why it matters: Miami-Dade residents will vote in local races, but they&#x27;ll have the opportunity to elect their representatives at the federal and state level, too.<ul><li>ICYMI: Here are our election guides for the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="county commission" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/07/29/candidates-miami-dade-commission-election" data-vars-content-id="9a200dde-618d-4fa2-9d50-27b0eec1998d" data-vars-headline="Meet the South Florida primary candidates for U.S. House and Senate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/07/29/candidates-miami-dade-commission-election" target="_self">county commission</a>, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="school board" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/07/29/candidates-running-for-miami-dade-school-board-august-election" data-vars-content-id="9a200dde-618d-4fa2-9d50-27b0eec1998d" data-vars-headline="Meet the South Florida primary candidates for U.S. House and Senate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/07/29/candidates-running-for-miami-dade-school-board-august-election" target="_self">school board</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Miami Gardens" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/07/29/miami-gardens-elections-heres-whos-running-august" data-vars-content-id="9a200dde-618d-4fa2-9d50-27b0eec1998d" data-vars-headline="Meet the South Florida primary candidates for U.S. House and Senate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/07/29/miami-gardens-elections-heres-whos-running-august" target="_self">Miami Gardens</a> races, plus the city of Miami <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Marine Stadium referendum" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/07/29/miami-marine-stadium-referendum-election" data-vars-content-id="9a200dde-618d-4fa2-9d50-27b0eec1998d" data-vars-headline="Meet the South Florida primary candidates for U.S. House and Senate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/07/29/miami-marine-stadium-referendum-election" target="_self">Marine Stadium referendum</a>.</li></ul>

These are the candidates running for Miami-Dade School Board

Two seats are up for grabs to represent public schools in Districts 1 and 8.

A crowded field is vying to represent public schools in Miami-Dade&#x27;s District 1, which includes Miami Gardens and surrounding areas. <ul><li>Three other seats — Districts 2, 4 and 6 — were also up for reelection, but unopposed candidates won their seats by default.</li><li>In District 8, incumbent <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Monica Colucci" data-vars-click-url="https://www.monicacolucci.com/" data-vars-content-id="17f7a88e-8139-4b22-80e4-0b571c8821c6" data-vars-headline="These are the candidates running for Miami-Dade School Board" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.monicacolucci.com/" target="_blank">Monica Colucci</a> will face write-in candidate <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Sam Joseph" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8LrdeQ43IM" data-vars-content-id="17f7a88e-8139-4b22-80e4-0b571c8821c6" data-vars-headline="These are the candidates running for Miami-Dade School Board" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8LrdeQ43IM" target="_blank">Sam Joseph</a>, a political newcomer.</li></ul>

What to know about Miami Marine Stadium referendum

Voters will decide on the fate of the historic venue this August.

City of Miami voters will decide Aug. 18 whether to approve a management agreement to help restore Miami Marine Stadium.Why it matters: The historically designated stadium, which closed in 1992, has been <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="shuttered for longer than it was in operation" data-vars-click-url="https://www.wlrn.org/arts-culture/2024-10-15/miami-marine-stadium" data-vars-content-id="4e42b8fa-7e98-43ab-abb8-ae5a704d96cf" data-vars-headline="What to know about Miami Marine Stadium referendum" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.wlrn.org/arts-culture/2024-10-15/miami-marine-stadium" target="_blank">shuttered for longer than it was in operation</a>, despite numerous efforts to revive it, WLRN has reported.

Miami Gardens elections: Here's who's running

Miami Gardens residents will elect two new City Council members in the August election.

Scoop: How a 2014 election delay could give Broward's mayor an extra term

The county attorney says Bogen can seek another term due to a delayed start to his first term.

A less-than-two-month delay in taking office when he was first elected in 2014 could land <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Broward" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2025/08/20/miami-2026-federal-tax-cuts-trump-savings" data-vars-content-id="eedfd518-8220-4e1e-9134-c4667f88b68b" data-vars-headline="Scoop: How a 2014 election delay could give Broward&#x27;s mayor an extra term" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2025/08/20/miami-2026-federal-tax-cuts-trump-savings" target="_self">Broward</a> Mayor Mark Bogen a fourth, four-year term on the county commission, despite term limits.Why it matters: Bogen&#x27;s candidacy, which is currently unopposed, could trigger legal challenges and test the county&#x27;s interpretation of its charter, which limits commissioners to three consecutive four-year terms.

Coral Gables special election on voting dates divides city

The city could align local voting with federal and state elections.

A proposal to move city elections from April to November has divided <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Coral Gables" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/03/11/coral-gables-city-hall-full-restoration" data-vars-content-id="274cf6db-9926-4fbf-9772-360ff7a6f876" data-vars-headline="Coral Gables special election on voting dates divides city" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/03/11/coral-gables-city-hall-full-restoration" target="_self">Coral Gables</a>&#x27; elected officials and residents.Why it matters: If approved, the ballot measure would change the city&#x27;s charter to align local voting with federal and state elections — a move supporters say would boost turnout, while opponents argue it would cause local issues to be overshadowed.

Election 🗳️

Here are the South Florida races we're watching on primary night

Big real estate firms and developers fund Vicki Lopez's campaign

Meet the South Florida primary candidates for state representative

Florida judge orders rewrite of property tax referendum

Meet the South Florida primary candidates for U.S. House and Senate