The race to lead the Miami-Dade Democratic Party has been marked by infighting and finger pointing.Why it matters: Whoever is elected chair will take the reins of a county party losing ground to Republicans, who have been turning Miami-Dade red in recent years.The former chairman, Robert Dempster, was removed from office by the Florida Democratic Party last month for alleged violations of state party rules.The election, open to Democratic Executive Committee members, is scheduled for Friday evening.Catch up fast: State Sen. Shevrin Jones, a rumored 2026 gubernatorial hopeful, was the first candidate to file for the position last week.Soon after,...

The second phase of the Underline, an urban trail and linear park that runs under the elevated Metrorail track, is set to open Wednesday. Why it matters: The $16.5 million project, dubbed Vizcaya Station, is the latest of county efforts to improve safety for people walking or riding bikes, boost native vegetation and encourage community.

From designer shoes to gilded grills, Miamians leave behind a lot of random stuff in Ubers.Driving the news: Uber's 2024 Lost & Found Index shows that Miami is the most "forgetful" city in America, with passengers here losing more personal items in Ubers than residents anywhere else.Why it matters: It's not just that we lose a lot of stuff, but the weird crap we're leaving behind, like:A pair of new Gucci loafersGold teethPersonal goldCPAP machineA blowtorchAn ice cream cone made of siliconeA Buddha statueExpensive tequilaPlayStation 5Lottery ticketsKitchen bowlsThe big picture: The most common items Miamians left behind were luggage, clothing, headphones, phones and wallets.

From designer shoes to gilded grills, Miamians leave behind a lot of random stuff in Ubers.Driving the news: Uber's 2024 Lost & Found Index shows that Miami is the most "forgetful" city in America, with passengers here losing more personal items in Ubers than residents anywhere else.Why it matters: It's not just that we lose a lot of stuff, but the weird crap we're leaving behind, like:A pair of new Gucci loafersGold teethPersonal goldCPAP machineA blowtorchAn ice cream cone made of siliconeA Buddha statueExpensive tequilaPlayStation 5Lottery ticketsKitchen bowlsThe big picture: The most common items Miamians left behind were luggage, clothing, headphones, phones and wallets.

A new artificial reef program led by Monroe County that aims to preserve fish populations and resources in the Florida Keys' marine ecosystem is now underway, according to WLRN.Why it matters: Though artificial reefs aren't new in Florida — the oldest dating back to 1945 — this is the first official county-led program focused on man-made marine habitat, the outlet reported.The program's launch about 16 miles north of Key West in federal waters comes after last summer's massive coral bleaching event.The big picture: The project aims to serve as a "proof of method" that could lay the groundwork for future artificial reef projects, which have faced concerns including material failures and over-harvesting, per the outlet.The first phase likely includes 37 concrete poles, each about 55 feet long.By the numbers: A $10 million Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission grant is supporting the project.Another $5 million was recently added, pending Gov. Ron DeSantis' approval.What's next: The project is expected to run through 2028, but additional funding could extend it through 2029.

Friends visiting from out of town? You could send them on a self-guided surprise road trip around Miami.Guess Where Trips, which operates across the country, began offering Miami-specific outings last year and currently has three South Florida packages, including a "Mysteries of Miami" trip.How it works: For $65, the company will mail your group five sealed envelopes with a "Before You Go" tip sheet and four surprise stops. (The PDF version is $39, but may ruin the surprise.)Those stops, which are revealed to you throughout the journey, make up your day's itinerary, with recommended stops for food or attractions along the way.Each trip takes about six to eight hours to complete, including driving time.

Miami Heat All-Star Jimmy Butler is expected to miss several weeks following a knee injury sustained in Wednesday's Play-In Tournament loss, ESPN reports.The latest: Butler has been ruled out for Friday's Play-In game against Chicago, which will determine whether Miami makes the NBA Playoffs or goes home for the summer.An MRI on Butler's knee found a right MCL sprain, the Heat announced Thursday.What we're watching: The Heat take on the Bulls Friday (7pm, ESPN) to decide the eighth and final seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.The winner will advance to the playoffs and face the No. 1 seed Boston Celtics...

It's looking like a beautiful weekend in Miami. Take in the sunny skies and clear nights with these events around town.🎵 Celebrate independent record stores at Record Store Day, a one-day event featuring exclusive releases and live music.Participating stores include Lucky Records, Technique Records, Yesterday & Today Records and Sweat Records in Miami-Dade and Radio-Active Records in Fort Lauderdale.🎣 Help catch invasive Everglades fish at the 5th annual Removal of the Swamp Invaders Fishing Tournament organized by the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida."Wildlife Nation" TV host Jeff Corwin will emcee the event, which coincides with an Earth Day festival...

Miami is ground zero for sea-level rise. A coalition of community groups, local governments and universities hope to combat climate change by supporting local startups developing green technologies.Why it matters: The South Florida ClimateReady Tech Hub — led by Miami-Dade County — is seeking a $70 million federal grant to make the region a global leader in climate tech.How it works: The Tech Hub, led by Miami-Dade's Office of Innovation and Economic Development, aims to provide technical assistance to 500 startups and connect them to investors.Over 10 years, the Hub seeks to create 23,000 green jobs across South Florida.Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe counties and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida are members of the program.Follow the money: The Hub is focused on three climate tech subgroups — energy efficiency, infrastructure and coastal structures — that could comprise a $3-trillion global market by 2030.Local companies involved in the program are building energy-efficient air conditioning systems, carbon-absorbing concrete and artificial reef structures, among other technologies.Of note: Martin will be moderating a panel on the Tech Hub this afternoon at the eMerge Americas conference.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law this week a flurry of education bills, including a mandate that kids learn the "dangers and evils" of communism starting in kindergarten.Why it matters: Reshaping the state's public education system — including by directing what can and can't be discussed in classrooms — has defined DeSantis' tenure as governor and laid the groundwork for his failed presidential campaign.Between the lines: This week's signings indicate the governor continues to push for changes that some say undermine the public school system in favor of charter and private schools.But the governor also sought to clean up a...

Data: AH Datalytics; Chart: Axios VisualsThe Miami-Dade Police Department is reporting a 33% drop in murders so far this year compared to 2023.Why it matters: Most large U.S. cities are starting to see drops in violence after sharp increases during the pandemic.The number of homicides in 204 cities dropped 20% in the first three months of this year, compared to the same time last year, per an AH Datalytics report reviewed by Axios.By the numbers: MDPD reported 18 murders in the first three months of 2024 compared to 27 during the same timespan in 2024, according to an internal report.The department saw a 31% drop in overall violent crime in the same period.Yes, but: MDPD's Homicide Bureau is only responsible for investigating deaths that occur in unincorporated Dade County and in 27 of the county's 35 municipalities.Cities like Hialeah, Miami Gardens, Miami Beach and North Miami have their own homicide bureaus, per the Miami Herald.What they're saying: MDPD detective Angel Rodriguez tells Axios that gun violence programs like the Youth Outreach Unit and Operation Community Shield have contributed to the decrease.

Last year, Miami Heat reporter Brady Hawk asked star forward Jimmy Butler about "Playoff Jimmy" — a nickname Butler earned for his heroics in the run-up to an NBA Finals appearance. Butler said, "It's not a thing."Why it matters: Now, the NBA is rolling out a promo video for the playoffs featuring language that is strikingly similar: "Playoff mode. It's a thing."The only difference? Butler isn't featured in it — and some Heat fans have taken to social media to call the organization out.What they're saying: Within an hour of the NBA posting the video to X, dozens of users...

For some Miamians, living here means melting in the humidity, rejecting our city's materialism or somehow finding yourself in Broward County.State of play: As part of the O, Miami Poetry Festival, local residents have submitted personal poems inspired by their ZIP codes.The original poetry style, called a Zip Ode, is a five-line poem made with a person's ZIP code, where each number determines how many words per line the poet can use. The style was invented by O, Miami and WLRN, who partner each year to recognize their favorite submissions.The latest: Here is a selection of Zip Odes that O, Miami shared with us. (Residents are encouraged to write their own and submit it to WLRN for a chance to be featured on a billboard!)Monica S. (33013):I know whereyou are fromjustbyyour pet chickenMatt J. (33155):An unknown citybetween two giants:West.Donde escuchas susurros españoles yel calor ralentiza el tiempo...Leslie O. (33025):I'm new here.Three oh fivetill I…got marriedto a Broward guy. Fin.Hazel S. (33040):Desperately, money viesto redefine us.But we define wealth.

I'm here to tell you that Happy Hour at Phuc Yea is a must!. State of plate: The P.Y. noodles ($10) are the ultimate comfort food. The signature house noodles are bathed in garlic butter, oyster sauce and parmesan. Add on the edamame tostones with hummus ($10) and wash it...

Data: CoreLogic analysis; Map: Axios VisualsMedian property taxes for single-family homes in Florida have swelled about 35% over the last five years.Why it matters: The state's property tax spike is 10 percentage points higher than the U.S. average, adding to the rising cost of homeownership.Zoom in: Florida's median property tax increased from $2,226 in 2019 to $3,003 in 2023.Property taxes on U.S. single-family homes rose to $2,877 in 2023, up from $2,367 in 2019, according to data CoreLogic shared with Axios.Between the lines: Property taxes, which are based on a home's assessed value and the local tax rate, typically climb as home values rise, according to Yanling Mayer, an economist and principal with CoreLogic.Miami-Dade's effective tax rate was 0.60% in 2023, per a new analysis from Attom, a real estate data firm. Broward's was 0.99%.Property tax bills are steep nationwide after U.S. home prices surged nearly 40% during the pandemic, according to a recent report by CoreLogic..

Less than 24 hours after the flyover bridge leaving the Rickenbacker Causeway closed for maintenance, the northbound lane was back open, with the southbound lane expected to fully reopen by Wednesday morning.Why it matters: Sunday's closure of the flyover bridge connecting westbound traffic to US-1 and I-95 caused a bottleneck of hundreds of cars attempting to leave the island Sunday afternoon that dragged on well into the evening.Many drivers and residents took to social media Sunday to complain about the hourslong delays and lack of communication.Catch up fast: The Florida Department of Transportation announced the closures on March 28 and...

One of the trendiest sports in Miami is a tennis-like pastime that most locals probably haven't played yet. Why it matters: Padel, a racquet sport with widespread international appeal that has begun spreading to America, is "the new golf," according to a former tennis pro-turned-Miami luxury real estate agent who conducts business on the court.

The Heat weren't good enough this year to automatically qualify for the NBA Playoffs, but Miami can still earn one of the final two spots in the playoffs by winning the Play-In Tournament. Why it matters: The Heat haven't missed the playoffs since 2019. After trading for Jimmy Butler before...

Miami homes listed in early June sold for almost $13,000 more than during other times of the year, per a Zillow analysis of 2023 home sales. The big picture: Nationally, May has long been the best month to list your house, but in 2023, sellers made the highest profits in the first two weeks of June, a Zillow study shows.

The weekend is here. Let's celebrate with these events around town.🏳️‍🌈 Miami Beach Pride Festival: The final weekend of Miami Beach Pride includes a two-day festival at Lummus Park and a parade on Sunday.Both events are free and begin at noon.🐟 18th annual Deering Seafood Festival: The festival is back with fresh seafood, live demos, entertainment and kids' activities.The event at Deering Estate in Palmetto Bay is from 10am to 6pmTickets range from $10 to $30.🎉 The River Cities Festival: The annual event is back for its 51st year in Miami Springs, highlighting South Florida's culture and featuring art, music...