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Coconut Grove, Miami’s oldest continuously inhabited neighborhood, continues to anchor its identity in the bohemian spirit, Bahamian heritage and waterfront natural landscape that have defined the area since Bahamian immigrants and Northern settlers first established the community along Biscayne Bay in the 1870s. The 62nd annual Coconut Grove Arts Festival drew an estimated 100,000 visitors over Presidents Day weekend in February 2026, while ongoing heritage preservation efforts in the recently renamed Little Bahamas district are documenting and protecting the neighborhood’s Black Bahamian roots amid rapid development pressure across Miami. Key Takeaways Coconut Grove was established in the 1870s by Bahamian immigrants and Northern American settlers, making it Miami’s oldest continuously inhabited neighborhood. The 62nd annual Coconut Grove Arts Festival took place February 14 through 16, 2026, featuring more than 275 jury selected artists across a dozen mediums along the Biscayne Bay waterfront. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens has led a multi

Florida does not impose a personal income tax on its residents, and the state constitution prohibits one from being enacted without a constitutional amendment approved by at least 60 percent of voters. That prohibition has been in place since 1924 and was reinforced by a 2018 amendment that requires a two-thirds legislative supermajority to impose any new state taxes or fees. For Miami residents, the absence of a state income tax creates real savings compared to peers in New York, California, or Illinois — but it does not mean Florida is a low-tax state. The money comes from somewhere, and understanding where reveals a tax structure that hits consumption, property ownership, and real estate transactions harder than most newcomers expect. How Does Florida Fund Its Government Without Income Tax Revenue? Florida’s general revenue depends heavily on its 6 percent state sales and use tax, which accounts for roughly three-quarters of

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1,645 confirmed domestic cases of cyclosporiasis as of July 13, with more than 5,100 additional cases awaiting further analysis across more than 30 states. In Florida, the Department of Health has confirmed at least 60 cases across 25 counties, with Miami-Dade County reporting six infections and Broward County reporting five — the second and third highest concentrations in the state behind Lee County’s eight. Michigan health officials announced on July 14 that interviews with more than 1,000 confirmed patients identified lettuce and salad greens as a potential source of the outbreak, though no specific type of produce, grower, or supplier has been confirmed. No deaths have been reported nationally, but the 2026 outbreak has already quadrupled the case count recorded during the same period last year.   Key Takeaways The CDC has confirmed 1,645 domestic cyclosporiasis cases as of July 13, with

Marine biologists in the Florida Keys have begun physically relocating endangered coral species to deeper water and land-based facilities as ocean temperatures climb faster than the catastrophic 2023 season, while a dense Saharan dust plume settled over Miami-Dade and Broward counties on July 8, triggering heat advisories with “feels-like” temperatures reaching 108 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Key Takeaways NOAA raised its coral bleaching alert level on July 7 as water temperatures around Florida climbed faster than during the record 2023 marine heat wave. Reef Renewal USA staff began labeling and organizing elkhorn coral for transfer to a deepwater nursery and land-based tanks on July 8, prioritizing the preservation of 100 unique genotypes. A heat advisory took effect across metro Broward and Miami-Dade counties from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on July 8, with heat index values expected around 108 degrees. The Saharan Air Layer carries roughly 50% less moisture than

South Florida residents face another dangerous stretch of heat this week, with the heat index climbing toward 108°F (42°C) in the Miami area as scattered afternoon thunderstorms move through the region. “Feels like” temperatures are expected to reach as high as 108 degrees, while daytime storms help keep conditions just below official heat advisory criteria. Key Takeaways The heat index across metro Miami-Dade and Broward counties is forecast to reach 106 to 108°F, driven by air temperatures in the low 90s combined with heavy humidity. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to hold heat readings just under heat advisory thresholds through early in the workweek. A new plume of Saharan dust arriving by midweek is set to suppress rain and push feel-like conditions into the low triple digits. Forecasters warn that more serious extreme heat concerns are likely to arrive by the end of the workweek and into the weekend.

Miami-Dade County commissioners voted unanimously on June 17 to open the Miami Center for Mental Health and Recovery, a seven-story, 181,000-square-foot facility that had been fully built and certified for occupancy since 2023 but sat empty for years amid disputes over long-term funding. The decision clears the way for a facility designed to divert people with serious mental illness from the county jail into treatment. Key Takeaways The Miami-Dade County Commission voted unanimously on June 17, 2026, to open the Miami Center for Mental Health and Recovery. The seven-story, 181,000-square-foot facility was completed and certified for occupancy in 2023 but sat empty over funding concerns. The center will divert people with serious mental illness from the county jail, the largest psychiatric institution in Florida. The approval added oversight, transparency, and financial-accountability measures to the original plan. Retired Judge Steve Leifman, who spent decades driving the project, received a standing ovation

The tension between rapid urban expansion and coastal preservation has reached a critical juncture in South Florida, as local environmental agencies navigate unprecedented climate dynamics. The Miami-Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM) has officially issued the 2026 Biscayne Bay Report Card, offering a data-driven evaluation of the region’s primary marine ecosystem. Released amidst a record-breaking summer heat wave at the commencement of the Atlantic hurricane season, this annual ecological audit delivers a comprehensive assessment of water quality trends, seagrass density, and localized pollutant runoff levels across twelve distinct marine zones. The document functions as both an environmental baseline and a policy roadmap, providing empirical data that regional compliance officers state will directly influence upcoming municipal zoning revisions and stormwater infrastructure capital allocations. The Stoplight Evaluation Framework and Baseline Ecological Metrics To synthesize complex biochemical data into actionable civic policy, the annual report utilizes an established “stoplight” methodology, categorizing

A fast-moving Everglades wildfire has burned approximately 11,000 acres just outside the Miami metropolitan area, straddling the line between Miami-Dade and Broward counties and forcing local officials to issue dangerous-smoke warnings for nearby residents. The Max Road Miramar Fire is the most significant blaze of an active and stressful Florida wildfire season, and its proximity to densely populated suburbs has made the response especially urgent. As of Monday afternoon, the Florida Forest Service reported the fire at 50% containment, up sharply from 20% earlier in the day. Containment has improved as firefighting crews continue to work the perimeter, though the size of the burn and conditions on the ground mean the situation remains fluid. What Is Burning and Where The Max Road Miramar Fire is centered in the Everglades west of US-27, in a stretch of wetland and sawgrass terrain that runs along the boundary of Miami-Dade and Broward counties.