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Coral Gables special election on voting dates divides city

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

Election

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.

How film productions are boosting Broward's economy

The county has been busy with TV and movie shoots.

Culture

Hollywood buzz around two set-in-South Florida TV series highlights how busy our area&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="film production industry" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2024/09/24/bad-monkey-florida-keys-vince-vaughn-apple-tv" data-vars-content-id="a8ba1c1c-f49d-4a57-b31b-658a942ed425" data-vars-headline="How film productions are boosting Broward&#x27;s economy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2024/09/24/bad-monkey-florida-keys-vince-vaughn-apple-tv" target="_self">film production industry</a> has been lately.Why it matters: In Broward County alone, the production of shows, movies, commercials and more injected more than $200 million into the local economy in 2025, according to the county&#x27;s film commission, Film Lauderdale.<ul><li>That was up 15% from 2024.</li></ul>What we&#x27;re watching: New Peacock crime drama series &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="M.I.A." data-vars-click-url="https://www.peacocktv.com/blog/peacock-crime-show-mia-premiere-date-cast-plot-cary-elwes-shannon-gisela" data-vars-content-id="a8ba1c1c-f49d-4a57-b31b-658a942ed425" data-vars-headline="How film productions are boosting Broward&#x27;s economy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.peacocktv.com/blog/peacock-crime-show-mia-premiere-date-cast-plot-cary-elwes-shannon-gisela" target="_blank">M.I.A.</a>,&quot; which drops May 7, filmed in both Broward and Miami-Dade counties, according to Film Lauderdale.<ul><li>ABC&#x27;s &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="R.J. Decker" data-vars-click-url="https://deadline.com/2026/03/rj-decker-scheduling-move-scott-speedman-season-2-chances-1236766138/" data-vars-content-id="a8ba1c1c-f49d-4a57-b31b-658a942ed425" data-vars-headline="How film productions are boosting Broward&#x27;s economy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://deadline.com/2026/03/rj-decker-scheduling-move-scott-speedman-season-2-chances-1236766138/" target="_blank">R.J. Decker</a>,&quot; a crime drama based on a Carl Hiaasen novel, premiered this month and is set in Fort Lauderdale and filmed most of its Florida scenes in Broward, per the film office.</li><li>&quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="God of Tides" data-vars-click-url="https://deadline.com/2026/02/grant-gustin-campbell-scott-rainey-qualley-god-of-tides-1236730041/" data-vars-content-id="a8ba1c1c-f49d-4a57-b31b-658a942ed425" data-vars-headline="How film productions are boosting Broward&#x27;s economy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://deadline.com/2026/02/grant-gustin-campbell-scott-rainey-qualley-god-of-tides-1236730041/" target="_blank">God of Tides</a>,&quot; an indie drama starring Grant Gustin about a competitive free diver, also did some filming in Broward. </li></ul><figure><img alt="M.I.A. -- Pictured: Cary Elwes as Kincaid -- (Photo by: Jeff Daly/PEACOCK via Getty Images)
" height="2000" id="809565d2-2567-4955-8661-e5d8017c6852" src="https://images.axios.com/NUEQHdfy6yi2366FDquG4G0K66U=/2026/03/26/1774552707733.jpeg" width="3000"/><figcaption>Cary Elwes stars in &quot;M.I.A.&quot; Photo: Jeff Daly/Peacock via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Follow the money: Broward and Miami-Dade — two counties with a rich TV and film history — are investing government dollars to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="bring back productions" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2024/06/11/film-incentives-florida-bad-boys" data-vars-content-id="a8ba1c1c-f49d-4a57-b31b-658a942ed425" data-vars-headline="How film productions are boosting Broward&#x27;s economy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2024/06/11/film-incentives-florida-bad-boys" target="_self">bring back productions</a> once drawn to Florida&#x27;s defunct incentive program.<ul><li>Since Film Lauderdale launched its incentives in 2022, it has paid out or committed more than $4 million in rebates, resulting in about $20 million in local production spending, the film office tells Axios.</li><li>In 2021, before the program launched, there were about 9,500 crew members hired in Broward for local productions. In 2025, that number grew to more than 16,000, per Film Lauderdale.</li></ul>Miami-Dade launched a $50 million <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="incentive program" data-vars-click-url="https://www.miamidade.gov/global/release.page?Mduid_release=rel1715029328254956" data-vars-content-id="a8ba1c1c-f49d-4a57-b31b-658a942ed425" data-vars-headline="How film productions are boosting Broward&#x27;s economy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.miamidade.gov/global/release.page?Mduid_release=rel1715029328254956" target="_blank">incentive program</a> in 2024 but did not respond to questions about how it&#x27;s faring.What they&#x27;re saying: Sandy Lighterman, film commissioner for Film Lauderdale and president of Film Florida, tells Axios it&#x27;s difficult to attract a production without incentives.<ul><li>Film Lauderdale&#x27;s relatively small incentives make it difficult to land complete productions, but Lighterman says getting pieces of filming still benefits local businesses and residents.</li><li>Lighterman, who previously worked as Miami-Dade&#x27;s film and entertainment commissioner, says South Florida&#x27;s stories also attract crews to film here.</li><li>&quot;The more that those stories get out, people get more interested in it.&quot;</li></ul>What&#x27;s next: Lighterman wants to connect industry professionals with local talent, so she&#x27;s helping host the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="South Florida Film Forum" data-vars-click-url="https://www.southfloridafilmforum.com/" data-vars-content-id="a8ba1c1c-f49d-4a57-b31b-658a942ed425" data-vars-headline="How film productions are boosting Broward&#x27;s economy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.southfloridafilmforum.com/" target="_blank">South Florida Film Forum</a> on Friday and Saturday at MAD Arts.<ul><li>Film Lauderdale is partnering with White Elephant Group, Broward County and MAD Arts to host the educational and networking event.</li><li>&quot;Events like this are critical because they put our crew base and our creatives in the same room as the people hiring for the next big project,&quot; Lighterman said in a press release.</li></ul>

A casual fan's guide to the 2026 Marlins season

Miami begins the season with a new manager and a lot of young players to coach up.

Sports

The Marlins begin the 2026 season with a new manager as they work to develop a collection of young talent.Why it matters: The Marlins tend to lurk near the bottom of the NL East only to periodically — usually, unexpectedly — emerge as a contender. <ul><li>That happening this year would likely require breakout performances from some of Miami&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="collection of 20-somethings" data-vars-click-url="https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/depth-charts/marlins" data-vars-content-id="e47a7ee5-7420-42cc-b127-91bd33c79e60" data-vars-headline="A casual fan&#x27;s guide to the 2026 Marlins season" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/depth-charts/marlins" target="_blank">collection of 20-somethings</a>.</li></ul>

Trump reveals first look at his downtown Miami presidential library

Trump's presidential library design features statues, planes and golden escalators.

News

President Trump&#x27;s foundation released the first images of his planned downtown Miami presidential library this week, depicting a skyscraper that includes a presidential plane and multiple golden statues of Trump.Why it matters: The renderings offer a look at a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="project" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/15/trump-presidential-library-lawsuit-judge-miami" data-vars-content-id="f47ed0d7-3189-46ed-8b19-6b0db752d5ee" data-vars-headline="Trump reveals first look at his downtown Miami presidential library" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/15/trump-presidential-library-lawsuit-judge-miami" target="_self">project</a> that would be Florida&#x27;s first presidential library and a dramatic addition to Miami&#x27;s skyline.

How the 1920s land boom built modern Miami

The boom created a dozen cities and shaped the region we live in today.

One hundred years ago, the Miami land boom led to the creation of cities like Coral Gables and local landmarks like the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Freedom Tower" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2025/06/24/freedom-tower-renovations-reopening" data-vars-content-id="5f1f17ac-6790-47b4-a91b-50465d53d6e2" data-vars-headline="How the 1920s land boom built modern Miami" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2025/06/24/freedom-tower-renovations-reopening" target="_self">Freedom Tower</a>.Why it matters: The boom of the 1920s — about two decades after the city of Miami was incorporated — cemented us as a major metropolitan area.<ul><li>And this year, several local cities are celebrating their centennial with concerts and other community events. </li></ul>

Photos: Look back at 100 years of Miami-Dade history

What some of our landmarks of today looked like a century ago.

History

Let&#x27;s take a walk down memory lane, tracing the histories of our centennial cities.