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What Erika Donalds in the governor's mansion could mean for education

Few spouses have entered the governor's mansion with more influence.

Education

Erika Donalds knows there are few people who have as much expertise or experience as she does when it comes to education and related policy in Florida.<ul><li>A former school board member, Donalds has worked on state and federal policy, founded charter and private schools in Florida and helped further school choice laws across the country.</li></ul>Why it matters: Her husband <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Byron Donalds" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/09/09/donalds-won-t-say-if-he-stands-by-his-record-in-legislature" data-vars-content-id="49644f1c-8a55-49e4-9d71-a1a58114b1af" data-vars-headline="What Erika Donalds in the governor&#x27;s mansion could mean for education" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/09/09/donalds-won-t-say-if-he-stands-by-his-record-in-legislature" target="_self">Byron Donalds</a>&#x27; gubernatorial bid, if successful, could boost her already substantial influence when it comes to education in the state.

How residential development will transform the Design District

Luxury shopping expands to luxury condos.

Development

A residential boom is set to transform the Design District from luxury shopping to upscale condos.Why it matters: As Brickell fills up, buyers are exploring less congested areas that still offer access to downtown, the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Real Deal reports" data-vars-click-url="https://therealdeal.com/miami/2026/04/06/miamis-design-district-has-1000-resi-units-in-the-pipeline/" data-vars-content-id="885536eb-c2fa-41be-998c-48f1327a6754" data-vars-headline="How residential development will transform the Design District" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://therealdeal.com/miami/2026/04/06/miamis-design-district-has-1000-resi-units-in-the-pipeline/" target="_blank">Real Deal reports</a>.

Axios Social Club brings mystery dinners to Miami

Meet fellow locals over dinner at a restaurant we hand-picked.

Things to Do

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Axios Social Club" data-vars-click-url="https://axiossocialclub.dnnr.io/" data-vars-content-id="8b0682d4-cee1-47ec-a208-1ddead9345c7" data-vars-headline="Axios Social Club brings mystery dinners to Miami" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://axiossocialclub.dnnr.io/" target="_blank">Axios Social Club</a> is bringing readers together for dinner in Miami&#x27;s Little River neighborhood on Tuesday, Oct. 6.Why it matters: Your city is full of interesting people you haven&#x27;t met yet. We&#x27;re making it easier to change that.

Governor candidates debate the issues, but not each other, at forum

The two had different stances on Amendment 3.

Politics

Florida&#x27;s gubernatorial candidates&#x27; stances on statewide issues like property taxes, housing and immigration came to a head Wednesday — albeit separately — during an economic forum hosted by WLRN, South Florida&#x27;s public radio station.Why it matters: The candidates <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="won&#x27;t be debating" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/elections/2026/09/20/david-jolly-byron-donalds-florida-debates/?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_tampa&amp;stream=top" data-vars-content-id="a0a9319a-7c81-4634-9d3c-1f55c309c16d" data-vars-headline="Governor candidates debate the issues, but not each other, at forum" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/elections/2026/09/20/david-jolly-byron-donalds-florida-debates/?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_tampa&amp;stream=top" target="_blank">won&#x27;t be debating</a> before the November election.

What's going up: Storm-proofing communities

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

Violent crime keeps falling in Miami, other big U.S. cities

The city's numbers mirror national trends

News

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Violent crime" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/10/violent-crime-us-cities-trump" data-vars-content-id="6ba6b242-c44d-4e4e-a24a-6034c90c1739" data-vars-headline="Violent crime keeps falling in Miami, other big U.S. cities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/10/violent-crime-us-cities-trump" target="_self">Violent crime</a> kept falling across many of the nation&#x27;s largest cities through June — including Miami, where homicides fell by 50% from the first half of 2025, according to preliminary data reviewed by Axios. Why it matters: The decline now spans two presidencies — it began falling under President Biden after the pandemic-era surge, and has kept dropping under President <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Trump" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" data-vars-content-id="6ba6b242-c44d-4e4e-a24a-6034c90c1739" data-vars-headline="Violent crime keeps falling in Miami, other big U.S. cities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_self">Trump</a>.<ul><li>Trump came into office casting America as being overrun by crime at a time when the numbers were already declining dramatically.</li></ul>

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.

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>

How Miamians can help Colombia earthquake relief efforts

Miami is home to a large Colombian diaspora.

More than 250 have died from the 7.4 magnitude earthquake that hit western Colombia on Monday. <ul><li>In the days since, local organizations and governments have organized relief efforts to deliver aid to the country. </li></ul>

South Florida's unemployment rates hold steady

The unchanged figure suggests a solid labor market.

South Florida&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="unemployment" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/23/jobless-claims-unemployment-ai" data-vars-content-id="56c8f7fd-0982-4ac3-b076-054c41b5e2db" data-vars-headline="South Florida&#x27;s unemployment rates hold steady" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/23/jobless-claims-unemployment-ai" target="_self">unemployment</a> rate held steady in June while the national rate edged lower, keeping the metro area&#x27;s jobless rate at a seasonally adjusted 3.9%, new federal data shows.Why it matters: While nearly half of the cities and metro areas tracked in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" jobs report " data-vars-click-url="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/metro.nr0.htm" data-vars-content-id="56c8f7fd-0982-4ac3-b076-054c41b5e2db" data-vars-headline="South Florida&#x27;s unemployment rates hold steady" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/metro.nr0.htm" target="_blank"> jobs report </a>posted higher unemployment rates, South Florida&#x27;s low, unchanged figure suggests its labor market remains solid.By the numbers: South Florida&#x27;s unemployment rate is 0.3 percentage points below the national average and is lower than 55% of the areas surveyed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.The big picture: The lowest rate was Rapid City, South Dakota, which ticked just below 2%<ul><li>The highest was Southern California&#x27;s El Centro at just under 19%, while Visalia, California, also topped 10%.</li></ul>Context: Our area added 5,300 jobs since last June. The state added 41,200 jobs during the same period.What we&#x27;re watching: The Fed&#x27;s policymaking committee appears to be more focused on inflation than the job market. They left their key interest rate <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="unchanged" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/29/fed-warsh-rates-inflation" data-vars-content-id="56c8f7fd-0982-4ac3-b076-054c41b5e2db" data-vars-headline="South Florida&#x27;s unemployment rates hold steady" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/29/fed-warsh-rates-inflation" target="_self">unchanged</a> on Wednesday, leaving interest rates on credit cards and car loans elevated.The bottom line: A stable local employment picture can be welcome news, but it doesn&#x27;t necessarily translate into relief for household budgets.

Bill Baggs is Miami's best beach, Axios readers say

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is Miami&#x27;s best beach, according to you, our readers.Why it matters: Our beaches are why so many of us live in South Florida — and they bring in gobs of tourism money ever year.

"Orwellian flavor": FIU disciplines students for silent protest

Students argue it undermines their protected speech.

Florida International University is doubling down on its decision to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="discipline a group of students" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/05/22/fiu-students-charged-violating-conduct-policies-ice-agreement-desantis" data-vars-content-id="fa5348e0-bdfb-4ec0-b20c-7b0f80dc37dc" data-vars-headline="&quot;Orwellian flavor&quot;: FIU disciplines students for silent protest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/05/22/fiu-students-charged-violating-conduct-policies-ice-agreement-desantis" target="_self">discipline a group of students</a> for participating in a silent protest earlier this year.Why it matters: The ruling, free speech advocates say, goes against the university&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="own values" data-vars-click-url="https://www.fiu.edu/about/mission-and-vision/index.html" data-vars-content-id="fa5348e0-bdfb-4ec0-b20c-7b0f80dc37dc" data-vars-headline="&quot;Orwellian flavor&quot;: FIU disciplines students for silent protest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.fiu.edu/about/mission-and-vision/index.html" target="_blank">own values</a>, which call for upholding freedom of thought and expression.<ul><li>Critics say it also undermines federally protected speech and could set a new precedent for campuses across the country regarding student-led demonstrations.</li></ul>

Miami ranks low among the nation's most fit cities

If you thought year round sunshine, the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="pilates boom" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2025/12/16/miami-pilates-hottest-workout" data-vars-content-id="1e42584c-e336-4d01-b979-f24528c49a30" data-vars-headline="Miami ranks low among the nation&#x27;s most fit cities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2025/12/16/miami-pilates-hottest-workout" target="_self">pilates boom</a>, the growing number of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="padel courts" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2024/04/15/padel-popularity-reserve-club" data-vars-content-id="1e42584c-e336-4d01-b979-f24528c49a30" data-vars-headline="Miami ranks low among the nation&#x27;s most fit cities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2024/04/15/padel-popularity-reserve-club" target="_self">padel courts</a> and even a beach called Muscle Beach would&#x27;ve landed the 305 among the nation&#x27;s fittest cities, think again. State of play: Miami ranked No. 39 overall in the latest <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fitness index" data-vars-click-url="https://acsm.org/about/community-impact-programs/american-fitness-index/" data-vars-content-id="1e42584c-e336-4d01-b979-f24528c49a30" data-vars-headline="Miami ranks low among the nation&#x27;s most fit cities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://acsm.org/about/community-impact-programs/american-fitness-index/" target="_blank">fitness index</a> from the Indy-based American College of Sports Medicine.<ul><li>It ranked No. 47 for personal health and No. 34 for community environment.</li></ul>

Florida falls slightly in CNBC business rankings

Florida fell five spots to No. 8 in CNBC&#x27;s annual <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Top States for Business" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/09/americas-top-states-for-business-full-rankings.html" data-vars-content-id="aee5c7aa-53d8-4266-ae8c-d580cc6aa312" data-vars-headline="Florida falls slightly in CNBC business rankings" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/09/americas-top-states-for-business-full-rankings.html" target="_blank">Top States for Business</a> rankings, released last week.The big picture: Florida lost ground in areas like business friendliness, infrastructure, economy and quality of life — slipping from <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="No. 3" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/10/florida-top-states-for-business-ranking.html" data-vars-content-id="aee5c7aa-53d8-4266-ae8c-d580cc6aa312" data-vars-headline="Florida falls slightly in CNBC business rankings" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/10/florida-top-states-for-business-ranking.html" target="_blank">No. 3</a> last year.<ul><li>CNBC scores all 50 states across 10 weighted categories worth 2,500 points total. Colorado earned 1,459 points.</li></ul>

Axios Latino

A bar chart that shows the largest homicide declines among 66 major U.S. law enforcement agencies from Jan. 1 to June 30, 2025 to 2026. Newark, New Jersey, had the steepest drop at 64.7%, followed by Raleigh, North Carolina, at 63.6%. Memphis had the smallest decline among those shown at 43.7%.

News 🗞

What's going up: Storm-proofing communities

Violent crime keeps falling in Miami, other big U.S. cities

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

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

How Miamians can help Colombia earthquake relief efforts