Axios Miami

April 24, 2023
Oh, hey. You're lookin' pretty fly for a Monday!
βοΈ Today's weather: Mostly sunny, with high near 81Β° but a 30% chance of the wet stuff.
β½οΈ Situational awareness: The local gas shortage is improving. As of Sunday afternoon, about 38% of gas stations in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area still did not have gas, according to Patrick De Haan of GasBuddy.
Today's newsletter is 814 words β a 3-minute read.
1 big thing: More than a third of Floridians are obese

In Florida, 38.2% of people have a BMI over 30, according to a new analysis from the University of Chicago's NORC.
What's happening: An adult with a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
- Between 25 and 30 is considered overweight.
Why it matters: Obesity is associated with hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke and other conditions that can lead to preventable, premature death, Axios' Arielle Dreher reports.
By the numbers: Around 16.5% of Floridians have a BMI higher than 35, and 6.8% higher than 40, according to NORC.
- Obesity disproportionately impacts Black and Hispanic Americans, the analysis found.
Yes, but: We're a little healthier than our compatriots.
- Nationally, 42.7% of adults have a BMI over 30.
- West Virginia and Mississippi have the country's highest obesity rates at 51%.
Zoom out: The District of Columbia had the lowest rate at 33%.
Between the lines: Obesity rates are determined in part by using Body Mass Index ranges, which have been called into question for correlating weight and health too closely, the New Yorker reports.
Of note: The NORC analysis was produced with funding from Novo Nordisk, a producer of both insulin and popular weight-loss drug Ozempic.
- NORC's analysis and mapping tool used findings through 2021 based on telephone surveys by the CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
2. Where grocery shopping is our pleasure


Publix was the Miami area's most popular grocery chain last year with 44.6% of the market share, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick and Erin Davis report.
- Walmart and Costco were the second- and third-most-popular grocers, with 17.7% and 8.6% of the local market share, respectively.
- That's according to new data from Chain Store Guide, which tracks the retail and food service industries.
By the numbers: The amount Americans spend on groceries is getting crushed by the amount we spend dining out in the post-pandemic era.
- People spent 20.7% more at restaurants than they spent on groceries in 2022 β and that figure rose to 29.5% in the first two months of this year, according to Commerce Department data compiled by JLL and analyzed by Axios' Nathan Bomey.
What we're watching: Amazon β which owns Whole Foods β is looking to dramatically expand the grocery wing of its commerce empire, per Axios Pro's Richard Collings and Kimberly Chin.
- "We need a broader physical store footprint given that most of the grocery shopping still happens in physical venues," Amazon CEO Andy Jassy recently wrote in a letter to shareholders.
3. π₯ The Heat is on
WHITE HOT! Photo: Martin Vassolo/Axios
The Heat play again tonight at the Kaseya Center after beating the Bucks 121-99 on Saturday in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series.
Why it matters: After stealing Game 1 on the road, Miami defended their home-court advantage and showed they can win without the injured Tyler Herro. They now lead the series 2-1.
- Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo missed his second-straight game with a lower back contusion. (He is listed as questionable for tonight's game).
- Miami's Jimmy Butler led with 30 points and Duncan Robinson chipped in with 20 points.
Yes, but: Guard Victor Oladipo left Game 3 with a torn patellar tendon in his left knee and will miss the remainder of the playoffs.
- Butler exited the game with a bruised glute. He is also listed as questionable for tonight.
Martin's thought bubble: I went to the game and it felt like a party inside the arena.
- A percussion band featuring high-heeled dancers in feathered headdresses greeted fans as they entered the front gate.
- Everyone was dressed in white for Miami's "White Hot Playoffs," and fans waved white rally towels left on our seats by the team.
Meanwhile, the Panthers lost both their games over the weekend against the Bruins. Florida is now down 3-1 in the first-round playoff series.
- Game 5 is Wednesday.
4. Cafecito
Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios
π» A new food hall in Brickell, Okeydokey, combines fast-casual dining with formal table service and will soon have a 21+ entertainment venue. (Miami New Times)
π³οΈ Alexander Otaola, a Republican Cuban-American and host of the "Hola Ota-Ola!" show, filed paperwork to challenge Daniella Levine Cava for Miami-Dade County mayor in 2024. (Miami Herald)
π Former University of Miami basketball players Haley and Hanna Cavinder are closer to joining pro wrestling, as their agent says the Tik Tok-famous twins will begin training at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando.
- They've also partnered with Betr, Jake Paul's sports gambling and media company. (The Street, USA Today)
New jobs to check out
πΌ See who's hiring around the city.
- Communications Senior Manager at Coinbase.
- Senior Manager, Sustainability at Subway.
- Director - Partnership Development at Miami Marlins.
Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.
Hiring? Post a job.
5. Do my mangos need motivation?
They look even smaller in person! Photo: Martin Vassolo/Axios
π Martin here. I just moved to a house in Hollywood, and the mango tree in my backyard has me scratching my head.
What's happening: The tree recently started growing fruits, but they're green and small β about the size of a lemon.
- I'm jealous of my neighbors, whose trees have produced beautifully chunky, reddish yellow mangos. So I did some research.
What I found: The local mango season apparently runs from late May - October, and as it turns out, a green mango doesn't always mean it's unripened. Some are just different colors.
Yes, but: Mine are still much smaller than my neighbors' and some of the leaves are looking brownish. Could that be fungus?
π« Are there any gardening experts out there who can tell me what's wrong? Am I the one being overbearing? Please reply with your advice.
- We'll run the best responses soon β and I'll keep sharing my tree's progress.
ποΈ Deirdra has become pretty loyal to Aldi.
π₯ Martin knows that a mangoβs favorite video game is Pokeman-go.
This newsletter was edited by Everett Cook and copy edited by Lisa Hornung.
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