We got a sneak peek at the ongoing renovations at the Freedom Tower ahead of its planned reopening in September.

Why it matters: The national historic landmark, which turns 100 next month, is an iconic part of Miami's skyline and served as a refugee center for hundreds of thousands of Cuban exiles in the 1960s and '70s.

Catch up quick: The Freedom Tower, donated to Miami Dade College in 2005, has been closed since 2023 for structural repairs, exterior restoration, interior renovations, and the development of new historical exhibits.

• The project was funded by $25 million in state funds, $25 million from Miami Dade College, and unspecified private donations, MDC president Madeline Pumariega told Axios.

The latest: When it reopens to the public in September, the tower will feature multiple new exhibits highlighting its historic role as the Cuban Refugee Center and presenting the stories of Miami's immigrant communities.

• "Miami is the melting pot of the world," Pumariega told Axios. "It's got the warm Miami feel that you can come here and through hope and through opportunity, you can recreate your life."

What's inside: In a hard-hat tour of the project on Monday, we saw workers preparing areas for installations like "Libertad."

• The two-story exhibition "captures the spirit of Miami immersive media, personal stories and historic artifacts," officials say.

The Freedom Tower Oral History Archive — a collection of more than 300 interviews with immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and the Bahamas — will present personal stories from Miami's international communities.

• The audio recordings feature interviews with famed musicians Emilio Estefan and Willy Chirino, as well as the father of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Miguel Bezos, who came to Miami as a teenager from Cuba as part of Operation Pedro Pan.
• The recordings will be embedded in digital kiosks, listening stations and other immersive areas at the tower.

"El Refugio in Context" will be a series of exhibits exploring what led to the mass exodus from Cuba and the role of the Cuban Refugee Center, also known as El Refugio.

"Unidad: The World's Game" will be a soccer-themed exhibit developed by the FIFA Museum, as Miami prepares to host the 2026 World Cup.

"We Carry Our Homes With Us" will be an art exhibition exploring the memory and "emotional weight of migration," featuring works from the likes of Ana Mendieta, Félix González-Torres and Tomm El-Saieh.

What's next: There will be a soft launch in August before the September reopening, Pumariega said.

• Entry to the Freedom Tower will be ticketed, although prices haven't been announced.

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Surfside may be required to allow ultra-wealthy Indian Creek Village to build a sewage line under its streets, thanks to a law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis this month.

• Known as "Billionaire Bunker," Indian Creek is home to some of the world's most recognizable millionaires and billionaires, including Jeff Bezos, Tom Brady, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner.

Why it matters: The ultra-wealthy have in recent years encroached into politics ever more forcefully, influencing policy both at the federal and state level, including in Florida.

• The outcome of the Indian Creek sewage debate shows the growing influence even in hyper-local municipal issues, per the New York Times, which first reported on the dispute.

Catch up quick: A 2018 analysis found that the majority of the island's septic systems were "vulnerable to failure," the Times reported. It has been under pressure to prevent them from continuing to leak waste into Biscayne Bay.

• So leaders recently proposed that the island "export waste through the sewer pipes" of Surfside.
• Surfside, though, said it would charge $10 million to accept the waste.
• The island's leaders took the issue to Tallahassee, paying less than $10,000 for a lobbyist to get language into a bill that would favor it, the Times reported.

State of play: Under the new law, Indian Creek would be allowed to run pipes under Surfside, connecting to a line owned by Bay Harbor Islands.

What's next: Preliminary testing to prepare for the eventual connection is set to begin next month, reported the Times.

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⚽ Inter Miami tied with Brazil's Palmeiras last night, 2-2, securing its spot in the Club World Cup's knockout stage. (The Athletic)

• Despite blowing its 2-0 lead, the team became the first MLS team to qualify for the next round.
• Miami will face Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday.

✈️ Jet Blue will soon stop flying out of Miami International Airport but will continue operating at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. (Miami Herald)

🌮 The Wolf of Tacos opened its first physical location inside Brightline's MiamiCentral Station. (Miami New Times)

Florida's uninsured rate fell by 13.4 percentage points between 2013 and 2023 — the fifth largest drop in the nation.

• In 2013, the uninsured rate was 28.9%. In 2023, it was 15.5%.

Why it matters: Uninsured rates hit record lows in all U.S. states by 2023, driven by coverage expansions under the Affordable Care Act and related policy changes.

• Although a greater share of people now have some form of health insurance, many remain uninsured — particularly in states that haven't expanded Medicaid access.

By the numbers: The uninsured rate for working-age U.S. adults dropped from 20.4% in 2013 to 11% in 2023, according to an analysis of census data from the Commonwealth Fund, a health care foundation.

What we're watching: Congressional Republicans have been pushing for significant Medicaid cuts and changes that could result in millions of Americans losing their coverage.

Keep reading: National outlook

🌇 Margie enjoyed the sunset and a lobster roll from this Key Biscayne favorite.

• Hit reply to guess her location and we'll give you a shout out in the newsletter!