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Miami airport workers allege wage theft, ask for pay protections

Airport workers rallied Monday for pay protections.

Transit

Cargo workers at Miami International Airport on Monday announced wage-theft complaints against their employer while joining fellow airport workers to demand living wages.The big picture: MIA is one of Florida&#x27;s largest economic engines, generating <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="$212 billion" data-vars-click-url="https://news.miami-airport.com/mias-economic-impact-reaches-new-record-of-212-billion/" data-vars-content-id="66738e12-76f9-466a-bef5-3707280240dc" data-vars-headline="Miami airport workers allege wage theft, ask for pay protections" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://news.miami-airport.com/mias-economic-impact-reaches-new-record-of-212-billion/" target="_blank">$212 billion</a> in statewide business revenue. It&#x27;s also the busiest cargo airport in the U.S.

Where Miami-Dade officials stand on Florida's property tax referendum

Politics

Miami&#x27;s local elected officials are split on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Amendment 3" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/08/14/inside-the-florida-property-tax-amendments-court-ordered-rewrite" data-vars-content-id="45f87014-b9fc-496c-847f-890b0ed52bc3" data-vars-headline="Where Miami-Dade officials stand on Florida&#x27;s 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/2026/08/14/inside-the-florida-property-tax-amendments-court-ordered-rewrite" target="_self">Amendment 3</a>, the ballot measure that would increase the homestead exemption and drastically reduce property taxes across the state.Why it matters: If approved by voters, the measure would bring relief to homeowners&#x27; tax bills — but would <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cost local governments billions" data-vars-click-url="https://www.floridapolicy.org/posts/voter-guide-what-floridians-should-know-about-amendment-3" data-vars-content-id="45f87014-b9fc-496c-847f-890b0ed52bc3" data-vars-headline="Where Miami-Dade officials stand on Florida&#x27;s property tax referendum" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.floridapolicy.org/posts/voter-guide-what-floridians-should-know-about-amendment-3" target="_blank">cost local governments billions</a>.<ul><li>Supporters argue the measure would force local governments to tighten spending, while opponents say it will leave them scrambling to maintain necessary services.</li></ul>

Miami Heat embrace Grand Theft Auto with "Vice City" jerseys

The Heat are hosting a Grand Theft Auto-themed night during their Nov. 18 game.

Sports

The Miami Heat are going all out for the release of &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Grand Theft Auto VI" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/09/17/grand-theft-auto-miami-vice-controversy-debate" data-vars-content-id="b6a1faa0-651f-42c3-ad98-6e48f62b7e40" data-vars-headline="Miami Heat embrace Grand Theft Auto with &quot;Vice City&quot; jerseys" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/09/17/grand-theft-auto-miami-vice-controversy-debate" target="_self">Grand Theft Auto VI</a>&quot; with a special-edition uniform and GTA-themed night at the Kaseya Center.Why it matters: The highly anticipated video game is set in a fictionalized version of Miami called Vice City — and the Heat are capitalizing on the global attention that will bring.

Report: Florida ranks second for school library book removals

Students across the state continue to report some of the country's lowest reading scores.

Education

Florida school districts banned more than 3,000 book titles during the 2025-26 school year, according to PEN America&#x27;s annual &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Index of School Book Bans" data-vars-click-url="https://pen.org/report/book-bans-spotlight-2026/" data-vars-content-id="6f448631-0a35-48fd-8c22-dd8bbac0e387" data-vars-headline="Report: Florida ranks second for school library book removals" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://pen.org/report/book-bans-spotlight-2026/" target="_blank">Index of School Book Bans</a>.&quot;Why it matters: Florida in recent years has gained national attention for its continued effort to limit classroom discussions and for the number of book challenges across the state&#x27;s school districts.

Local artists' bus stop ad challenges Miami's development, gentrification

The piece is part of a national arts organization.

Culture

In a city like Miami, it&#x27;s easy to be overstimulated by visual clutter.<ul><li><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Local artist Motyko Morales" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/motyk0/" data-vars-content-id="c7b4faae-e133-40d3-9a31-5cc8f8afde21" data-vars-headline="Local artists&#x27; bus stop ad challenges Miami&#x27;s development, gentrification" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/motyk0/" target="_blank">Local artist Motyko Morales</a> is hoping to cut through that noise with art — and the message it&#x27;s aiming to convey.</li></ul>State of art: Displayed along <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a bus stop ad" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/p/DdmGLFGEUG9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;vrfl=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" data-vars-content-id="c7b4faae-e133-40d3-9a31-5cc8f8afde21" data-vars-headline="Local artists&#x27; bus stop ad challenges Miami&#x27;s development, gentrification" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DdmGLFGEUG9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;vrfl=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank">a bus stop ad</a> on Calle Ocho, her collage portrays the changing landscape in and around Miami&#x27;s skyline.

Florida voter registration: Republicans still outpace Democrats

The current tally underscores a years-long trend that has reshaped Florida's politics.

Despite recent party gains, Democrats continue to trail Republicans with active registered voters statewide, a new report by <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the Miami Herald shows" data-vars-click-url="https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article317473941.html#storylink=cpy" data-vars-content-id="c251312b-3fa6-4db3-89f3-043675b0747a" data-vars-headline="Florida voter registration: Republicans still outpace Democrats" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article317473941.html#storylink=cpy" target="_blank">the Miami Herald shows</a>.Why it matters: The current tally underscores a years-long trend that has reshaped Florida&#x27;s politics.<ul><li>It could also foreshadow local and statewide race outcomes for next month&#x27;s midterm elections.</li></ul>

Final day to register to vote is Monday

Monday, Oct. 5, is the final day to register to vote if you want to participate in the Nov. 3 midterm elections. Why it matters: Voters will weigh in on several key statewide races, including Florida governor, U.S. Senate, several U.S. House races, as well local seats and referendums.

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

The two had different stances on Amendment 3.

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.

Miami Beach weighs funding for LGBTQ+ programs in 2027 budget

Municipalities are finalizing budgets to comply with state law.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Miami Beach" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/09/04/miami-beach-license-plate-readers-private-property-florida" data-vars-content-id="d8a9f4eb-a6bd-4aa6-a9c5-3de3e6181ee3" data-vars-headline="Miami Beach weighs funding for LGBTQ+ programs in 2027 budget" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/09/04/miami-beach-license-plate-readers-private-property-florida" target="_self">Miami Beach</a> commissioners on Wednesday are set to consider a proposal that would maintain funding for LGBTQ-related programming in the 2027 budget.Why it matters: Initial budget discussions included slashing up to $376,000 for related programming and services in an effort to comply with state law.

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

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

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.

Public school leaders, elected officials push for school tax renewal

If approved, it would extend the 2022 tax rate another four years.

Public school leaders and elected officials across the political spectrum are calling on Miami-Dade voters to renew a property tax that supports teacher pay and school safety.Why it matters: The district is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="facing budget shortfalls" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/08/31/miami-dade-schools-enrollment-drop-15-000-school-closures" data-vars-content-id="a2a90f49-6dbc-45a4-99fd-21514f27cc0a" data-vars-headline="Public school leaders, elected officials push for school tax renewal" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/08/31/miami-dade-schools-enrollment-drop-15-000-school-closures" target="_self">facing budget shortfalls</a>, approving a more than 3% cut to its operating budget last month and initiating conversations about closing schools.

"Grand Theft Auto" revives Miami's decades-old "Vice" debate

"GTA VI" is giving some Miami leaders a familiar case of "Vice" anxiety.

The 1980s TV show &quot;Miami Vice&quot; is credited with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="helping &quot;save South Beach" data-vars-click-url="https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article2266518.html" data-vars-content-id="2ca510dc-ea17-4cb1-a895-0d83db663a8f" data-vars-headline="&quot;Grand Theft Auto&quot; revives Miami&#x27;s decades-old &quot;Vice&quot; debate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article2266518.html" target="_blank">helping &quot;save South Beach</a>,&quot; but at the time, some civic leaders were <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="worried" data-vars-click-url="https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,959822-7,00.html" data-vars-content-id="2ca510dc-ea17-4cb1-a895-0d83db663a8f" data-vars-headline="&quot;Grand Theft Auto&quot; revives Miami&#x27;s decades-old &quot;Vice&quot; debate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,959822-7,00.html" target="_blank">worried</a> the cop show would publicize Miami&#x27;s crime problems.

Politics 🇺🇸

Local artists' bus stop ad challenges Miami's development, gentrification

Florida voter registration: Republicans still outpace Democrats

Where Miami-Dade officials stand on Florida's property tax referendum

Report: Florida ranks second for school library book removals

Final day to register to vote is Monday