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Today is Monday, June 30, the 181st day of 2025. There are 184 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On June 30, 1934, Adolf Hitler launched his “blood purge” of political and military rivals in Germany in what came to be known as the “Night of the Long Knives.”

Also on this date:

In 1918, labor activist and socialist Eugene V. Debs was arrested in Cleveland, charged under the Espionage Act of 1917 for a speech he had made two weeks earlier in which he denounced U.S. involvement in World War I. (Debs was sentenced to prison and disenfranchised for life.)

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In 1921, President Warren G. Harding nominated former President William Howard Taft to be chief justice of the United States, succeeding the late Edward Douglass White.

In 1936, Margaret Mitchell’s novel “Gone With the Wind” was released.

In 1958, the U.S. Senate passed the Alaska statehood bill.

In 1971, the Supreme Court ruled, 6-3, that the government could not prevent The New York Times or The Washington Post from publishing the Pentagon Papers.

In 1971, A Soviet space mission ended in tragedy when three cosmonauts aboard Soyuz 11 were found dead of asphyxiation inside their capsule after it had returned to Earth.

In 1985, 39 American hostages from a hijacked TWA jetliner were freed in Beirut after being held for 17 days.

In 1994, the U.S. Figure Skating Association stripped Tonya Harding of the national championship and banned her for life for her role in the attack on rival Nancy Kerrigan.

In 2009, American soldier Pfc. Bowe R. Bergdahl went missing from his base in eastern Afghanistan, and was later confirmed to have been captured by insurgents after walking away from his post. (Bergdahl was released on May 31, 2014, in exchange for five Taliban detainees; he pleaded guilty to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy, but was spared a prison sentence by a military judge.)

In 2012, Islamist Mohammed Morsi was sworn in as Egypt’s first freely elected president during a pair of ceremonies.

In 2016, then-Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced that transgender people would be allowed to serve openly in the U.S. military, ending one of the last bans on service in the armed forces.

In 2019, Donald Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to set foot in North Korea, meeting Kim Jong-un at the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea.

In 2020, then-Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves signed a landmark bill retiring the last state flag bearing the Confederate battle emblem. Boston’s arts commission voted unanimously to remove a statue depicting a freed slave kneeling at Abraham Lincoln’s feet.

In 2022, Ketanji Brown Jackson was sworn in to the U.S. Supreme Court, shattering a glass ceiling as the first Black woman on the nation’s highest court.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Actor Lea Massari (“L’Avventura”) is 92.
• Actor Nancy Dussault (doo-SOH’) is 89.
• Olympic track champion Billy Mills is 87.
• Oceanographer Robert Ballard is 83.
• Singer-songwriter Glenn Shorrock (Little River Band) is 81.
• Jazz musician Stanley Clarke is 74.
• Actor David Garrison (“Married…with Children) is 73.
• Actor-comedian David Alan Grier is 69.
• Conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen is 67.
• Actor Vincent D’Onofrio is 66.
• Actor Deirdre Lovejoy (“The Wire”) is 63.
• Actor Rupert Graves is 62.
• Boxer Mike Tyson is 59.
• Actor Monica Potter is 54.
• Actor Rick Gonzalez is 46.
• Actor Lizzy Caplan is 43.
• Country music singer-songwriter Cole Swindell is 42.
• Singer and actress Fantasia is 41.
• Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps is 40.
• Baseball player Trea Turner is 32.

General Daily Insight for June 30, 2025

The month is wrapping up on a helpful note. The Sun isn’t even halfway through its tour of Cancer, and yet the last week has already brought one pivotal angle our way after another! Today should be a terrific opportunity to catch our collective breath and take stock of our situation. The Moon is in capable, no-nonsense Virgo, so we finally have a chance to make sense of any big moments we’ve dealt with recently. A little careful analysis should make everything seem worlds simpler.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Take time to check in with your body. The Moon is in your wellness sector, so it couldn’t hurt to focus on nurturing yourself and making sure you are getting proper rest and relaxation tonight. You don’t need to completely overhaul your routine. In fact, it would be wise to avoid trying to accomplish too much at once. Instead, listen to what your body needs, such as more sleep, greens, exercise, or something else entirely. Don’t put off giving it a proper dose.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Go on and enjoy yourself, Taurus. You aren’t going to be in the mood to focus on serious topics while the Moon is dancing its way through your fun-loving 5th house, so there’s little point in attempting to roll up your sleeves when you’d rather go kick up your heels. There’s no need to crowdsource any opinions about what you should do or how you should spend your time. That’s entirely up to you right now, so pursue your pleasures without fear!

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Settle into your domestic side, Gemini. There is no need to go running out the door first thing, thanks to the Moon gently spinning through your 4th House of Comfort. Even if you do find that you can’t entirely ignore the outside world, you will likely want to set aside time this evening to chill out on the couch, enjoying the company of loved ones or a bit of well-deserved solitude, if that’s more your thing. It’s your place — you make the rules.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

There is no need to rush today. The Moon is in your busy 3rd house, but just because you’re busy doesn’t mean you must get overwhelmed or have no time for fun. Take things one at a time, making a point not to force yourself to hurry through anything. That way, you should be able to maintain a gentle equilibrium without causing yourself undue stress. If others attempt to rush you, feel free to firmly (but politely) let them know where your boundaries are.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Being productive shouldn’t require working yourself to the bone. You can make adequate progress without burning the midnight oil while the Moon is in your money sector, where it is upping your focus on the work that matters most. Keep in mind that this sector also loves to indulge your senses, so there isn’t any reason you can’t treat yourself for a job well done come the end of the day. If you’ve earned a reward, then by all means, give yourself one!

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Turn your attention inward. The Moon is currently in the midst of its monthly tour of your motivated sign, pointing out the benefits of checking in with yourself and making sure that all your internals are on the up-and-up. As June comes to an end, this would be an ideal moment to think about what you want July to look like. Consider listing what you would like to achieve by the time the Moon arrives in your sign again in four weeks.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Easy does it, Libra. You are being given the cosmic green light to take it easy and move at a glacial pace while the Moon is in your quiet 12th house. This sector does not encourage action or radical change — it’s more like an opportunity to detox anything from your life which no longer serves you. Call it an early night and get your fair eight hours, perhaps even longer, so you’ll be fully energized when the Moon enters your sign soon enough.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Check in with the people in your life. The Moon’s presence in your 11th House of Networking sets the stage for socialization, helping you touch base with old friends while also making new acquaintances along the way. This sector puts a real emphasis on working together in any capacity, for a big group project or simply a communal aim to have fun. Remember that many hands make light work; there has rarely been a better time to be your friendliest self.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Accomplish what you want within your desired timeframe. The Moon is in your 10th House of Success, so you are more than happy to let your ambitions guide you. Still, the Moon won’t be making any major aspects today, so there is no need to try and move mountains when the process won’t be any easier than usual. Wait for the planets to give you a bit more oomph before attempting anything major. For the moment, keep your concentration bound to any tasks at hand.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Being adventurous is not the same as being reckless. It is absolutely natural if you want to dive into life and swim around more than normal while the Moon is in your curious 9th house, but you should make sure it’s safe to jump before you do so. This doesn’t mean you need to be overly cautious or wrap yourself up in red tape. Simply do your best to consider any important moves before you make them, and not after.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Today is covered in a layer of fog. It is tempting to think you need to read between the lines while the Moon is undercover in your secretive 8th house. That being said, the Moon is void-of-course, so won’t be making any angles, be they useful or otherwise. With that knowledge in your pocket, hold off on making any important decisions or attempting to crack open any major issues. The results likely won’t pan out in a way that is favorable for anyone, including you.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Life isn’t meant to be faced alone. The stars are reminding you of the benefit of forming partnerships as the Moon moves along through your one-on-one sector. They’re guiding you to align yourself with people who are on the same page as you, or at least want to be. The nature of the connection is not all that important. All that matters is coming together to pursue a shared objective, regardless of whether you’re chasing fun, finances, or something else entirely.

By DAVID BRANDT

PHOENIX — Otto Lopez hit a go-ahead, two-run single and Kyle Stowers added a three-run double during an eighth-inning rally and the Miami Marlins completed a three-game sweep by beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-4 on Sunday.

The streaking Marlins have won seven in a row.

The Diamondbacks took a 2-1 lead into the eighth inning, but lefty Jalen Beeks walked the bases loaded with two outs. Lopez then hit a line drive into left that scored Liam Hicks and Dane Myers for a 3-2 lead. Agustin Ramirez was intentionally walked to load the bases again and Stowers hit a bases-clearing double to push the advantage to 6-2.

Arizona’s pitchers walked 10 batters and the team dropped its fourth straight game to fall below .500 at 41-42.

Beeks (2-1) gave up five earned runs and recorded just two outs, one day after giving up three earned runs and recording one out in an 8-7 loss.

D-backs lefty Eduardo Rodríguez had another good outing, giving up one run on four hits and three walks over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out five. The 32-year-old had a 1.98 ERA over 27 1/3 innings in June.

Miami’s Cal Quantrill gave up two runs on three hits and a walk over five innings, striking out five. Lake Bachar (4-0) pitched two scoreless innings of relief and Ronny Henriquez handled the ninth for his third save.

Ketel Marte’s solo homer in the third put the D-backs up 2-1. It was his 17th homer of the season.

Key moment

The D-backs cut it to 6-4 in the bottom of the eighth, but Calvin Faucher struck out Jake McCarthy with runners on first and second to end the threat.

Key stat

Arizona’s bullpen is one of the worst in baseball with a 5.22 ERA coming into Sunday’s game.

Up next

The Marlins return home to face the Minnesota Twins and RHP Joe Ryan (8-3, 2.86 ERA) on Tuesday.

The D-backs continue their homestand on Monday when RHP Ryne Nelson (4-2, 3.71) takes the mound against the San Francisco Giants and RHP Logan Webb (7-5, 2.52).

MIAMI GARDENS — Despite a loud crowd of Flamengo supporters that made Hard Rock Stadium sound like it had moved to Rio de Janeiro, German powerhouse club Bayern Munich survived its Round of 16 bout with the Brazilian side and advanced to the Club World Cup quarterfinals with a 4-2 win on Sunday.

Bayern will face reigning Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain, which eliminated Inter Miami on Sunday, in the quarterfinals in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday.

Superstar forward Harry Kane scored Bayern’s second and fourth goals of the match, giving his club an insurance goal each time. His second goal put Bayern ahead 4-2 and took the wind out of Flamengo’s sails when it was attempting a comeback.

“It was a tough game, for sure,” Kane said. “I think it was a great experience to play against these type of teams. The game can be very physical at times. Every ball is contested, every draw is a big challenge, and you have to be ready to fight and to try and help the team in many different ways. So they were a good side today. They had some really dangerous players. They had some fast players. So we had to be focused the whole game.”

Bayern Munich secured a quick lead, scoring on a sixth-minute corner when Flamengo’s Erick accidentally headed the kick past his own keeper.

It would not be long before Bayern got a goal on its own merits, though. Kane, fresh off his first-ever trophy, extended Bayern’s lead to two with a strike from just outside the 18-yard box in the game’s 10th minute.

Flamengo nearly got a goal back about 15 minutes into the match, but Bayern’s long-time star keeper Manuel Neuer denied the shot from Flamengo forward Luiz Araujo.

After sustaining pressure on Bayern’s defense, Flamengo got on the board in the 33rd minute with a shot from inside the penalty box by midfielder Gerson, cutting the German club’s lead to one and sending the large section of Flamengo fans into raucous cheers.

Bayern midfielder Leon Goretzka put his team back ahead, scoring a long-range goal in the 41st minute to push his squad ahead 3-1.

However, Flamengo came out strong in the second half. After a Bayern handball in the penalty box, Flamengo star Jorginho scored a penalty to put the Brazilian side within a goal again.

Kane scored his second goal in the 73rd minute, halting Flamengo’s momentum and securing the win for Bayern.

“It’s the hardest thing to coach,” Bayern manager Vincent Kompany said. “It really is. I’ve been a player myself. In these moments, you take responsibility. It doesn’t matter how good your coach is. … The main thing is you have to stay calm. So it’s something that the players did. It’s the experience, as well, but it’s also something we talk about. It’s like we know if it happens, we can’t lose the game in five minutes because we have a bad period.”

One Thing HGTV's Mike Holmes Insists On For Passing A Home Inspection  Yahoo

By PAUL NEWBERRY

ATLANTA — João Neves scored a pair of goals for Paris Saint-Germain and the world’s best team overwhelmed one of the game’s greatest players, embarrassing Lionel Messi and Inter Miami 4-0 in the round of 16 at the Club World Cup on Sunday.

With Messi facing the team where he spent two seasons before moving to Major League Soccer in the twilight of his stellar career, the European champions quickly erased the Herons’ hopes of pulling off a monumental upset before a crowd of 65,574 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Neves scored his first goal just six minutes into the match, converting a header at the back post off a free kick. The Portuguese midfielder added another in the 39th minute before Inter Miami totally fell apart in the closing stages of the first half, surrendering an own-goal and then watching helplessly as Achraf Hakimi tacked on another in stoppage time to send PSG to the locker room with a four-goal cushion.

It was reminiscent of PSG’s historic 5-0 rout of Inter Milan a month ago in the Champions League final, when the Paris club won its first European title and established itself as the clear favorite heading into the expanded Club World Cup.

The pink-clad fans tried to stir No. 10 with occasional chants of “Messi! Messi! Messi!” but it did little good. The Argentine star spent most of the first half just lingering in the midfield, surrounded by PSG players and barely getting a chance to touch the ball.

Inter Miami’s best chance came early in the second half. A pass to Luis Suárez sent him clear at the side of the net, but the ball slid harmlessly off his foot without a shot. The 38-year-old striker kicked a water bottle over the barrier in frustration, summing up the day for the Herons.

Messi finally connected with Inter Miami’s first shot on goal in the 63rd minute, but it was easily scooped up by goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Messi had another chance on a header with about 10 minutes remaining, forcing Donnarumma to make a diving save in the only real threat to his third shutout of the tournament.

PSG advanced to a quarterfinal match next Saturday, also in Atlanta, against either Flamengo or Bayern Munich.

Key moment

The European powerhouses came into this tournament showing little enthusiasm for the added workload at the end of a grueling season. But, right from the opening kick, PSG played like a team that appears intent on capping its already brilliant campaign with a Club World Cup title.

Takeaways

Even with aging international stars such as Messi and Suarez, the MLS club wasn’t in the same league with the European champs.

Facing fierce pressure from PSG, Inter Miami struggled simply to get the ball out of its own half.

PSG held 73% possession in the first half and outshot the Herons 10-0, including six attempts on goal.

Two more property insurers have been approved to serve Florida’s beleaguered homeowner market, the state Office of Insurance Regulation announced.

The office on Friday identified the two new companies in a news release as Incline National Insurance Company, headquartered in Texas, and Florida Insurance and Reinsurance Company, a Florida-domiciled company that Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworsky said will primarily offer coverage for condominiums and condo associations.

More companies will be announced in the “near future,” Yaworsky was quoted in the release as saying.

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The two new carriers are the 13th and 14th to enter Florida’s market since lawmakers enacted reforms in 2022 and 2023 that have decreased financial incentives for policyholders, repair contractors, roofing companies and plaintiffs attorneys to file what insurers contend are “frivolous lawsuits.”

The others are Apex Star Reciprocal Exchange, Mangrove Property Insurance Company, ASI Select Insurance Corp., Trident Reciprocal Exchange, Ovation Home Insurance Exchange, Manatee Insurance Exchange, Condo Owners Reciprocal Exchange, Orange Insurance Exchange, Orion180 Select Insurance Company, Orion180 Insurance Company, Mainsail Insurance Company, and Tailrow Insurance Exchange

New companies, even those formed by existing insurers, start out with clean slates, unburdened by claims and lawsuits that predate the reforms. Many of the new companies build their initial books of business by participating in depopulation of state-owned Citizens Property Insurance Corp. because there are no initial acquisition costs.

As of Sunday, a database of depopulation approvals on the office’s website does not include either of the new companies announced on Friday.

Incline National has been approved to write coverage in Florida for homeowners multi-peril, allied lines, inline marine, workers compensation and private passenger auto. The company, in business for more than 75 years, intends to offer policies statewide, the release said.

In addition to condominiums, Florida Insurance and Reinsurance plans to offer coverage for smaller, multi-tenant office buildings, according to the release. A specialist in reinsurance, or insurance that insurers must buy, the company will offer reinsurance products designed to provide exposure management support, enhance underwriting capacity and optimize capital efficiency, the release added.

The news release also included several statistics that point to stabilization of rates and a return to profitability across the Florida industry.

Companies incorporated and headquartered in the state reported $944 million in net income in 2024, up from $292 million in 2023 and a $741 million net loss in 2022, the release said.

Since January 2024, 27 companies filed for a rate decrease and 41 requested no change or a 0% increase, according to the release. While many states throughout the nation are experiencing rate increases similar to those that have bedeviled Florida homeowners in recent years, Florida led the nation with the nation’s lowest increase of just 1% in 2024, S&P Global reported.

The news release also invited more companies to apply to sell insurance in the state.

“Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and (the Office of Insurance Regulation) strives to conclude the review process of all complete applications within 60 days of submission,” it said.

Companies can be approved to state insurance companies by raising $2.5 million to $5 million, the office’s website states.

Ron Hurtibise covers business and consumer issues for the South Florida Sun Sentinel. He can be reached by phone at 954-356-4071 or by email at rhurtibise@sunsentinel.com.

 

MIAMI — In a somewhat surprising but also likely strategic move, Miami Heat guard Duncan Robinson on Sunday invoked the early termination clause on his contract, moving into NBA free agency.

The immediate ramification is Robinson’s $20 million salary for 2025-26 being removed from the Heat books.

In essence, Robinson effectively opted out of the $10 million guaranteed money for 2025-26, with the second half of his 2025-26 salary non-guaranteed until July 8.

With the move, it positions Robinson to move on to another contract with the Heat, one that would replace the $10 million bypassed by opting out, plus allow for additional seasons to be added to his Heat tenure.

Sunday’s move also leaves open the possibility of a sign-and-trade deal moving Robinson elsewhere, perhaps to a team in need of shooting that then could compensate the Heat with assets.

As part of the five-year, $90 million contract signed by the 3-point specialist in the 2021 offseason, Robinson negotiated the right to terminate his contract ahead of the $20 million salary deadline on the final year, with that deadline at 5 p.m. Sunday.

With Robinson invoking his termination option, it allowed the Heat to move below the luxury tax for next season, even with the two-year, $24 agreement reached Saturday with guard Davion Mitchell.

It is against the backdrop of Robinson’s move that the Heat will enter Monday’s 6 p.m. start of NBA free agency, standing as a team more likely to trade than outright sign a free agent.

When it comes to trade capital, the Heat’s primary asset at the moment appears to be Andrew Wiggins, the forward acquired along with Mitchell and Kyle Anderson in the Feb. 6 deal at the NBA trade deadline that sent forward Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors.

Already Wiggins has been linked to numerous potential trade possibilities, including ones for Sacramento Kings guard DeMar DeRozan, Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal and Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, a restricted free agent who is expected to be on the move in a sign-and-trade agreement.

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While teams can open negotiations with outside free agents Monday, such deals cannot become official until the July 6 close of the NBA offseason signing moratorium.

That nonetheless will have Monday as the starting point of a busy offseason stretch, with Tuesday the first day the Heat can negotiate an extension with forward Nikola Jovic and Saturday the start of Heat summer-league play.

The Heat got ahead of free agency on several levels, with teams allowed to negotiate with their own free agents in advance of Monday’s start of the leaguewide period. That not only had the team reaching the agreement with Mitchell that will be finalized on July 6, but also guaranteeing the salary of 2024 undrafted forward Keshad Johnson and extending a qualifying offer to Dru Smith, the guard who spent last season on a two-way contract.

Among the incumbent free agents from the Heat’s season-ending roster eligible to be signed elsewhere beginning on Monday are Alec Burks, Josh Christopher and Isaiah Stevens, with the latter two finishing last season on two-way deals.

While the NBA utilizes the upcoming week to finalize the 2025-26 salary cap, certain agreements are allowed to be consummated in the interim starting Tuesday, including agreements with first-round picks on the pre-set rookie scale, minimum-scale contacts and the extending of offer sheets to restricted free agents.

For the Heat, factoring into any moves will be a standard roster already at 14 players against the NBA regular-season limit of 15 players under standard contract: Mitchell, Wiggins, Anderson, Jovic, Johnson, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Haywood Highsmith, Kevin Love, Terry Rozier, Pelle Larsson and Wednesday night’s first-round pick Kasparas Jakucionis. A Robinson return would make that total 15, as would a return by Burks.

Teams also are allowed to carry up to three players under two-way contracts during the regular season, with former Florida Atlantic University center Vlad Goldin agreeing to such a Heat deal after going undrafted out of Michigan on Thursday. Smith also is expected to return on such a deal once his qualifying offer is converted into a contract.

Teams are allowed to carry a maximum of 20 players under contract during the offseason, a total that does not include those on summer tryout deals, such as a significant portion of the roster the Heat will take into summer-league play.

Tropical Storm Barry formed off the east coast of Mexico on Sunday, becoming the second named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season.

On Sunday evening, Barry was 35 miles east-southeast of Tuxpan, Mexico, with maximum sustained winds at 45 mph. The storm is expected to bring heavy rainfall, life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in area of steep terrain.

Here’s the updated forecast cone:

A 57-year-old Central Florida woman was arrested for aggravated animal cruelty after the discovery of dead pets in an abandoned home on Friday, according to a release from the Edgewater Police Department.

Officers responded to a call in the 3100 block of Pine Tree Drive in the southeast Volusia County city following a report related to possible animal abuse, the release stated. Access to the property had been granted to stakeholders of the home after a long-standing civil dispute. The residence had been vacated over a year ago by Danielle McGinnis, police said.

Upon entering the home, officers found remains of two dogs, two cats and three birds all in advanced stages of decomposition. Police said there was no sign of food or water for the animals, and investigators believe the animals died from prolonged starvation or dehydration, according to the release.

Police said they also found deplorable living conditions such as widespread animal feces and severe disrepair, rendering the property uninhabitable.

Neighbors confirmed they had not seen McGinnis at the residence in nearly a year, police said.

McGinnis was later located in Daytona Beach and was interviewed by officers, the release stated. During the interview, she admitted to leaving the animals inside of the home when she moved out a year ago. She claimed to have asked a friend to look over the animals but couldn’t provide a name or contact information.

McGinnis was arrested and charged Saturday with seven counts of aggravated animal cruelty resulting in death, the release said. She was transported to the Volusia County Branch Jail with a bond set to $70,000.

Edgewater Animal Control removed the dead animals from the property for respectful handling and appropriate final disposition.

By Amanda Hernández, Stateline.org

After years of pressure over lost or untested sexual assault kits, a growing number of states are adopting systems to track the kits — giving survivors a way to follow their evidence through the justice process.

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But despite nearly $400 million in federal support since 2015, backlogs persist, and some states still lack basic oversight. And now, advocates fear such financial support is on shaky ground.

There are an estimated 49,248 untested kits across the country, according to data collected by the Joyful Heart Foundation, a nonprofit advocacy group. Although the exact number of backlogged kits nationwide is unknown, a 2022 report from the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service that summarized existing research found backlog estimates ranging from 90,000 to 400,000 kits.

After a sexual assault, a survivor may choose to undergo a forensic exam, during which a trained health care professional collects evidence over the course of several hours.

That evidence — which may include clothing, photos of injuries, blood, urine and DNA samples — is compiled into what’s commonly known as a rape kit or sexual assault kit. The kit is then sent to a crime lab for further testing.

Test results are sometimes returned to investigators who check for DNA matches in national or state databases. A match could connect the case to other sexual assaults or link a suspect to another crime.

But processing a single kit can take days, months or even years, depending on when they are submitted and how much other work crime labs have. In some states, there are no laws requiring law enforcement to send rape kits to a lab within a specific time frame or mandating how quickly those kits must be tested.

Survivors are often left in the dark. They may not know if their kit was tested, whether a suspect was identified, or if their case is moving forward.

That silence — the uncertainty about what happened to the kit — has long been the norm in many parts of the country.

“We have betrayed at least a generation of survivors in the way that the criminal justice system and the larger public have responded to sexual assault,” said Rachel Lovell, an associate professor of criminology and the director of the Criminology Research Center at Cleveland State University. Lovell has conducted extensive research on the impact of untested rape kits in Ohio.

The goal of tracking systems is straightforward: bring transparency to a process that for decades left survivors without answers. These systems allow victims to log in and track the status of their kits — from collection to testing to storage — and offer law enforcement agencies a tool to identify and prevent testing backlogs, and strengthen criminal investigations.

At least 37 states and Washington, D.C., have established or committed to establishing a rape kit tracking system, according to the End the Backlog website run by the Joyful Heart Foundation. The foundation supports survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse.

Two more states — New Jersey and Pennsylvania — announced plans this year to build their own tracking systems. In New Jersey, a new law gives the attorney general’s office until Aug. 1 to set up the tracking system. Pennsylvania officials are preparing to launch a statewide inventory of kits to better understand the scope of the backlog before developing their system.

A handful of other states have also enacted or are considering legislation to support their sexual assault kit tracking programs.

In Arizona, for example, Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs signed a bill into law in May requiring all police departments in the state to use a system called “Track-Kit.” The new law primarily affects the Phoenix Police Department, which opted out of using the system in 2016. That department is expected to launch the platform later this year.

At the federal level, support for kit testing and tracking has often come from the National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, or SAKI, which has awarded nearly $400 million to 96 grantees, including local and state agencies, across 44 states since 2015.

But the program’s future has not always been certain.

In January, the federal Office of Management and Budget had listed the National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative as a program whose funding would be frozen, before walking back the widespread freeze amid legal challenges.

President Donald Trump’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 would maintain funding for the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative at $51.5 million, according to a new report from the nonpartisan think tank Council on Criminal Justice.

But a separate round of federal Department of Justice grant cuts in April has raised concerns about the stability of broader support services for survivors. That round of cuts affected a variety of grant programs, including domestic violence shelters, trauma counseling, legal assistance and hospital advocacy.

The timing is especially concerning, advocates say, as victims of crime face growing obstacles to accessing state-provided support. In many states, victims seeking financial compensation encounter long delays, burdensome paperwork or are disqualified entirely by narrow eligibility rules.

Police investigations and funding

In jurisdictions that have worked to clear their backlogs, testing sexual assault kits has helped identify serial offenders, solve cold cases and connect assaults or other crimes to the same perpetrator.

Nationwide, testing supported by the federal Sexual Assault Kit Initiative has contributed to at least 1,538 convictions. Still, these types of crimes are vastly underreported to police.

Rapes and sexual assaults are notoriously difficult to investigate and prosecute, said Lovell, of Cleveland State University. But testing all rape kits can reveal patterns of criminal behavior over time and provide deeper insight into how, when and to whom these crimes are happening — ultimately helping improve support and case outcomes for survivors.

“By prosecuting sex offenders, you can also work to address violent crime more generally and solve past or future crimes with the addition of evidence and DNA,” Lovell told Stateline.

In her research on untested rape kits in Ohio, Lovell has found that since 2015 — when the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative launched — cases overseen by the Cleveland Police Department have been more likely to move forward in the investigative and prosecutorial process, with fewer being labeled as unfounded. Police reports, she said, also have become more detailed and trauma informed.

The initiative itself may not be the sole reason for these changes, Lovell said. Other factors, such as departmental policy changes or officer training, may also have played a role.

Although SAKI grants remain one of the primary sources of support for testing backlogged kits and building tracking systems, communities may face challenges sustaining progress once the federal dollars run out.

Capt. Tim Hegarty, division commander of the Office of Professional Standards at the Glynn County Police Department in Georgia, said local agencies must push through potential funding cuts.

“It falls back on agencies to do the job that they say they’re going to do, even when the money has dried up,” Hegarty said in an interview. “Doesn’t matter who’s in the (presidential) administration.”

Hegarty added that many departments across the country are still catching up when it comes to interviewing victims with sensitivity and investigating sex crimes.

“Law enforcement really has not advanced a great deal when it comes to dealing with these types of crimes,” Hegarty said. “It’s not the universal language when it comes to policing across the country.”

New statewide tracking systems

Other states are looking to strengthen existing programs through new oversight measures and stricter processing timelines.

Maine is one of the 11 states without a statewide rape kit tracking system. But state lawmakers are considering a bill that would create one and require law enforcement agencies and the state’s crime lab to inventory and test backlogged kits. The bill passed the House in mid-June and is currently under consideration by the Senate Appropriations Committee.

In Colorado, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill in early June aimed at improving the state’s capacity to process sexual assault kits. The new law establishes the Colorado Sexual Assault Forensic Medical Evidence Review Board, which will evaluate the state’s medical, legal and criminal responses to sexual assault.

The governor and attorney general have until Aug. 1 to appoint board members. A preliminary report is due to lawmakers by Dec. 15.

The law also strengthens oversight of kit processing timelines. Law enforcement agencies must now provide survivors with updates on the status of their kits every 90 days. It also sets a new 60-day goal for crime labs to process forensic medical evidence, shortening the current 90-day goal.

As of May 31, 1,324 kits were backlogged, with an estimated testing turnaround time of about a year and a half, according to the state’s dashboard.

Alaska, which launched its statewide rape kit tracking system in 2023, considered a bill this year that would have expedited processing timelines for sexual assault kits. The bill passed the House without opposition but failed to advance through the Senate before the legislative session ended in May.

Although the number of untested kits has significantly declined since the state began inventorying them in 2017, 254 kits remained untested at the state’s crime lab in 2024 — up from 113 the previous year but well below the 3,484 recorded in 2017.

In Georgia, lawmakers considered a similar bill that would have established new rules for collecting, testing and tracking evidence from sexual assault kits. The bill did not advance before the legislature adjourned in April.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation reported in December that 2,298 kits were tested between July 2023 and June 2024, with 480 kits still awaiting testing. Another 1,612 older cases submitted before 1999 were flagged for DNA testing, of which 837 had been tested as of June 2024.

©2025 States Newsroom. Visit at stateline.org. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

General Daily Insight for June 29, 2025

Everything seems more extreme than usual under today’s stars. Mercury in proud Leo is shooting arrows across the sky as it opposes nefarious Pluto in egalitarian Aquarius at 2:10 am EDT, making it only too easy for tempers to flare and sharp words to be exchanged. The Moon will move on to analytical Virgo, reminding us to proofread our knee-jerk responses to ensure they’re actually reasonable. As the Moon embraces fiery Mars, we must think twice before blurting out any angry remarks!

Aries

March 21 – April 19

People may not respond well to any showboating today. You are undoubtedly ready to put yourself out there while Mercury is winging its way through your fame-seeking 5th house. That “pick-me” energy could cause some trouble when gossipy Mercury opposes Pluto in your group-oriented 11th house! People might feel like you aren’t being a team player — they won’t be happy to let you get away with taking the spotlight for yourself. Make sure that there’s room for everyone to be included.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Beware of emotional outbursts. Your feelings are almost unavoidable while communicator Mercury is in your sensitive 4th house, but fights won’t reflect well on you when Mercury snaps at Pluto in your determined 10th house. A VIP or other supervisor could notice you being a bit reactive and view you less-than-favorably as a result, or perhaps you’re a little too honest when it comes to expressing your opinions in a professional setting. Take time in private to decompress before you get overwhelmed in public.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

It isn’t easy to gauge your limitations right now. Your mind is bubbling over with possibilities and ideas while Mercury is in your 3rd House of Conversation, but you may not know how far to take your thoughts as Mercury opposes Pluto in your 9th House of Extension. Practically anything may seem possible at first glance, but that doesn’t mean it will be quite so simple in practice. Think before you act, or you could set yourself up for difficulties you never even considered.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

A “simple” approach isn’t going to be easy at a time like this. A frantic opposition between Mercury in your 2nd House of Earned Income and Pluto in your 8th House of Intense Links is going to have you pinging back and forth between basic essentials and much more intense topics. You might want to check off chores on your to-do list, but Pluto will likely bring a few heavier matters to your door that require careful consideration. Handle things one at a time.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

You can push someone’s buttons as quickly as they can push yours. Everything may look unusually extreme or dire as Mercury in your leonine sign opposes transformational Pluto in your alliance sector. They’re stirring up potential conflicts, one after another! Getting wrapped up in drama can happen with little warning, whether it’s your own fuss or someone else’s. Strive to maintain a sense of calm in even the most heated debate. Staying level-headed and keeping your cool will be essential.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Today can feel like a bit of a jolt — one it’ll be nigh impossible to see coming. It wouldn’t be all that shocking if you’re somewhat out of it, what with distractible Mercury in your disconnected 12th house at the moment. On the other hand, Mercury also pushes Pluto in your practical 6th house, reminding you of all the work to be done here and now. You can’t avoid it any longer! Snap out of it and attend to matters at hand as required.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

It won’t be easy to ignore your desires, no matter how hard you try. Spending time with all kinds of people should be quite fun while Mercury is in your 11th House of Society, but that energy becomes exponentially more personal when the cosmic communicator opposes Pluto in your 5th House of Personal Pleasure. You may decide to break off from the herd to go do your own thing, which is totally valid. Just make sure you do so in a diplomatic fashion.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Something under your roof is demanding your attention. You can happily focus on professional matters while Mercury is in your 10th House of Business, but your energy will be yanked back home when that planet opposes Pluto in your 4th House of Family. A relative or roommate could stir up drama. A sudden issue could strike involving your abode that requires you to drop everything in order to attend to it. Avoid reacting to any issues in an overly emotional manner.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

You can only fly so far before you need to come back down to earth. The skies are hosting a tense opposition between Mercury in your colorful 9th house and Pluto in your local 3rd house. This could feel like there’s a ball and chain dragging you down, when you’d rather soar off beyond the horizon. Potential adventures will have to wait while you deal with real issues. Once you’ve checked those off, you can get back to more exciting expeditions.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Questions of ownership may arise today. Your mind is aligned with rather complicated matters while Mercury is in your 8th House of Joint Property. Well, at least until Mercury snaps at Pluto in your 2nd House of Material Security, pressuring you to stand your ground and defend your position. Someone may expect something from you that you aren’t entirely prepared to give, but that doesn’t automatically mean that they’re being unreasonable. Choose your words wisely before you go telling anyone anything.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

People may not respond to you the way that you’re expecting them to. Mercury in your competitive 7th house is grumbling at extreme Pluto in your unconventional sign, so your peers can ruffle your feathers by barely lifting a finger. If someone says something foolish or idiotic, try not to bite their head off for it. Of course, if they’re being offensive, that’s another matter entirely. Pick your battles wisely, because you don’t want to waste time and energy where it isn’t required.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Even the most responsible Pisces can drop the ball today. You have plenty of things to deal with while Mercury is in your 6th House of Chores, putting you in an efficient state of mind. Watch out! That energy gets turned on its head when Mercury pounces on Pluto in your 12th House of the Subconscious. Issues may crop up unexpectedly, or maybe you forgot about an outstanding matter requiring your attention. Prepare for the day ASAP to avoid getting overwhelmed.

By JOHN MARSHALL

PHOENIX  — Agustín Ramírez hit a run-scoring single in the 10th inning, Heriberto Hernández had a tying sacrifice fly in the ninth and the Miami Marlins stretched their winning streak to six games with an 8-7 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday.

Arizona led 7-3 entering the eighth inning, but Miami’s Otto Lopez hit a two-run homer off Jalen Beeks and Liam Hicks followed with a run-scoring single to pull Miami to 7-6. Hernández tied it in ninth on a sacrifice fly off Shelby Miller after Dane Myers singled and stole two bases.

Ramírez lined a run-scoring single off Juan Morillo (0-2) in the 10th. Anthony Bender (2-5) was perfect over the final two innings to close out Miami’s comeback.

Arizona’s Ketel Marte homered and had four RBIs in his second home game since an emotional road trip to Chicago.

Arizona starter Brandon Pfaadt got off to shaky start, allowing two runs in the first inning — one on shortstop Geraldo Perdomo’s fielding error.

Pfaadt struck out the next three batters and allowed three runs — two earned — on five hits and struck out seven in five innings.

Alcantara gave up a run on Pavin Smith’s sacrifice fly in the first inning and five more in the fourth, capped by Marte’s three-run homer that put Arizona up 6-3.

Alcantara allowed seven runs on 10 hits in six innings.

Key moment

Myers was initially called out on his steal of third in the ninth, but it was overturned upon review. He scored easily on Hernandez’s sacrifice fly to right.

Key stat

Marte became the third Arizona player with 500 career RBIs, joining Luis Gonzalez (774) and Paul Goldschmidt (710).

Up next

Miami RHP Cal Quantrill (3-7, 5.56 ERA) faces RHP Eduardo Rodriguez (3-4, 5.40) on Sunday in the series finale.

GAINESVILLE — The ninth in a position-by-position preview of the UF football team leading up to the opening of fall camp.

TODAY: CORNERBACK

What to expect

The Gators’ longstanding claim to DBU, the fictional Defensive Backs University, has become empty words. A program that churned out three NFL first-rounders at cornerback and four second-rounders from 2016-22 has sent one to the NFL in three years — fifth-rounder Jason Marshall Jr. in 2025.

UF corners did make some statistical strides in 2024, finishing with 4 interceptions after managing just one in ’23 and cutting the average yards per completion to 7 yards, down from an SEC-worst 8.3. To become an elite unit again, the Gators will need to stay healthy and receives contributions from talented, unproven players. Florida aims to do it while welcoming back former analyst Deron Wilson to replace Walt Harris, who returned to the NFL.

Senior Devin Moore has All-SEC caliber tools but battled injuries since his 2022 arrival, limiting him to 19 of 38 games while at UF. Long, instinctive and athletic, the 6-foot-2 ¾, 198-pound Moore had built up his body and was poised for a breakthrough season when a shoulder injury against Georgia ended 2024 with career-highs of 17 tackles, 2 interceptions and 4 defended passes. During his career, 247Sports states Moore had yielded just 18 catches on 36 targets for an impressive 50% clip.

Junior Dijon Johnson is a former top-100 recruit who changed his commitment from Ohio State. Yet, the 6-foot-1, 196-pound  Tampa product had not been much of a factor until Marshall’s season-ending shoulder injury put Johnson in the starting line, where he recorded 27 tackles, 2 of them for loss, 2 pass breakups and a 52% completion percentage in 25 targets.

A January shoulder surgery and his May 2 arrest in his hometown have complicated his offseason. Tampa Police charged with Johnson with two felonies and two misdemeanors, but prosecutors have yet to proceed, the 21-year-old’s attorney Tim Taylor told the Orlando Sentinel June 26.

Florida Gators defensive back Ben Hanks III (12) knocks the ball away from wide receiver Dallas Wilson (6) in the end zone during the Orange and Blue spring football game April 12 in Gainesville. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)

Coach Billy Napier said Johnson remained with the team. Meanwhile, some promising young Gators push for bigger roles.

Most intriguing is redshirt sophomore Cormani McClain, a former 5-star prospect from Lakeland who transferred in the spring of 2024 after playing a season at Colorado. The 6-foot-1 ½ McClain possesses length, is up to 182 pounds from the 165 he weighed upon his arrival and was a ballhawk in Lake Gibson High. He recorded 9 interceptions as a sophomore in 2021 and added 6 picks in 2022.

During mop-up duty last season in the Swamp against Kentucky, he had a 29-yard pick-six. But it was a rare highlight in an otherwise lackluster season showing both McClain’s promise and exposing his shortcomings.

Moore, Johnson and McClain are UF’s top options among returners.

Redshirt freshman Jamroc Grimsley was an Alabama transfer in 2024 who arrived with high hopes. Yet he logged just 37 defensive snaps and had offseason knee surgery. Sophomore Teddy Foster, a 3-star prospect from Sarasota, managed 4 tackles and allowed a 24-yard reception on the only target he faced.

Highly touted freshman Ben Hanks III could capitalize on the injuries and a lack of proven cornerback depth. The son of a former UF linebacker in the 1990s, the 6-foot-1, 180-pound Hanks set a Miami-Dade County last season at Booker T. Washington High with 13 interceptions. In 2023, he had 3 pick-sixes.

Southern Miss transfer Micheal Caraway Jr. brings five years experience, including two at the junior college level, to a group lacking veterans. The Gators hope for production, too. The 6-foot-1, 184-pound Caraway totaled 70 tackles, 7 passes defended passes and a fumble recovery in 35 games, including 15 starts at Southern Miss.

UF also picked up 4-star cornerback Onis Konanbanny, a former Tennessee commitment, on the eve of February’s National Signing Day. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Konanbanny did not join the Gators until this summer, taking a unique path to Gainesville. He was born in France, grew up in London, England, and spent the past two seasons at Heathwood Hall Episcopal School in Columbia, S.C., where he had 56 solo tackles, 3 fumble recoveries, 2 pass breakups and an interception in 2024.

What they’re saying

“We have a really good problem in the room: Whoever goes out there, it doesn’t matter. We have a standard, which the standard, no matter who it is, is to go out there and take care of business.” — first-year position coach Deron Wilson.

Mississippi State wide receiver Jordan Mosley (6) catches a touchdown pass against Florida defensive back Devin Moore (28) during the Gators win Sept. 21 in Starkville, Miss.,against the Bulldogs. (AP Photo/James Pugh)

Returnees

Teddy FosterJamroc GrimsleyDijon JohnsonCormani McClainDevin Moore

Departures

Ja’Keem JacksonJason Marshall Jr.

New arrivals

Micheal Carraway Jr. (Southern Miss), redshirt seniorBen Hanks (Miami), true freshmanOnis Konanbanny (Columbia, S.C.), true freshman

Projected depth chart

QB1 — Devin Moore | Cormani McClainQB2 — Dijon Johnson | Micheal Carraway Jr.

Previous

QuarterbackRunning backTight endReceiverOffensive lineInterior defensive lineEdge rusherLinebacker

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

GAINESVILLE — The ninth in a position-by-position preview of the UF football team leading up to the opening of fall camp.

TODAY: CORNERBACK

What to expect

The Gators’ longstanding claim to DBU, the fictional Defensive Backs University, has become empty words. A program that churned out three NFL first-rounders at cornerback and four second-rounders from 2016-22 has sent one to the NFL in three years — fifth-rounder Jason Marshall Jr. in 2025.

UF corners did make some statistical strides in 2024, finishing with 4 interceptions after managing just one in ’23 and cutting the average yards per completion to 7 yards, down from an SEC-worst 8.3. To become an elite unit again, the Gators will need to stay healthy and receives contributions from talented, unproven players. Florida aims to do it while welcoming back former analyst Deron Wilson to replace Walt Harris, who returned to the NFL.

Senior Devin Moore has All-SEC caliber tools but battled injuries since his 2022 arrival, limiting him to 19 of 38 games while at UF. Long, instinctive and athletic, the 6-foot-2 ¾, 198-pound Moore had built up his body and was poised for a breakthrough season when a shoulder injury against Georgia ended 2024 with career-highs of 17 tackles, 2 interceptions and 4 defended passes. During his career, 247Sports states Moore had yielded just 18 catches on 36 targets for an impressive 50% clip.

Junior Dijon Johnson is a former top-100 recruit who changed his commitment from Ohio State. Yet, the 6-foot-1, 196-pound  Tampa product had not been much of a factor until Marshall’s season-ending shoulder injury put Johnson in the starting line, where he recorded 27 tackles, 2 of them for loss, 2 pass breakups and a 52% completion percentage in 25 targets.

A January shoulder surgery and his May 2 arrest in his hometown have complicated his offseason. Tampa Police charged with Johnson with two felonies and two misdemeanors, but prosecutors have yet to proceed, the 21-year-old’s attorney Tim Taylor told the Orlando Sentinel June 26.

Florida Gators defensive back Ben Hanks III (12) knocks the ball away from wide receiver Dallas Wilson (6) in the end zone during the Orange and Blue spring football game April 12 in Gainesville. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)

Coach Billy Napier said Johnson remained with the team. Meanwhile, some promising young Gators push for bigger roles.

Most intriguing is redshirt sophomore Cormani McClain, a former 5-star prospect from Lakeland who transferred in the spring of 2024 after playing a season at Colorado. The 6-foot-1 ½ McClain possesses length, is up to 182 pounds from the 165 he weighed upon his arrival and was a ballhawk in Lake Gibson High. He recorded 9 interceptions as a sophomore in 2021 and added 6 picks in 2022.

During mop-up duty last season in the Swamp against Kentucky, he had a 29-yard pick-six. But it was a rare highlight in an otherwise lackluster season showing both McClain’s promise and exposing his shortcomings.

Moore, Johnson and McClain are UF’s top options among returners.

Redshirt freshman Jamroc Grimsley was an Alabama transfer in 2024 who arrived with high hopes. Yet he logged just 37 defensive snaps and had offseason knee surgery. Sophomore Teddy Foster, a 3-star prospect from Sarasota, managed 4 tackles and allowed a 24-yard reception on the only target he faced.

Highly touted freshman Ben Hanks III could capitalize on the injuries and a lack of proven cornerback depth. The son of a former UF linebacker in the 1990s, the 6-foot-1, 180-pound Hanks set a Miami-Dade County last season at Booker T. Washington High with 13 interceptions. In 2023, he had 3 pick-sixes.

Southern Miss transfer Micheal Caraway Jr. brings five years experience, including two at the junior college level, to a group lacking veterans. The Gators hope for production, too. The 6-foot-1, 184-pound Caraway totaled 70 tackles, 7 passes defended passes and a fumble recovery in 35 games, including 15 starts at Southern Miss.

UF also picked up 4-star cornerback Onis Konanbanny, a former Tennessee commitment, on the eve of February’s National Signing Day. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Konanbanny did not join the Gators until this summer, taking a unique path to Gainesville. He was born in France, grew up in London, England, and spent the past two seasons at Heathwood Hall Episcopal School in Columbia, S.C., where he had 56 solo tackles, 3 fumble recoveries, 2 pass breakups and an interception in 2024.

What they’re saying

“We have a really good problem in the room: Whoever goes out there, it doesn’t matter. We have a standard, which the standard, no matter who it is, is to go out there and take care of business.” — first-year position coach Deron Wilson.

Mississippi State wide receiver Jordan Mosley (6) catches a touchdown pass against Florida defensive back Devin Moore (28) during the Gators win Sept. 21 in Starkville, Miss.,against the Bulldogs. (AP Photo/James Pugh)

Returnees

Teddy FosterJamroc GrimsleyDijon JohnsonCormani McClainDevin Moore

Departures

Ja’Keem JacksonJason Marshall Jr.

New arrivals

Micheal Carraway Jr. (Southern Miss), redshirt seniorBen Hanks (Miami), true freshmanOnis Konanbanny (Columbia, S.C.), true freshman

Projected depth chart

QB1 — Devin Moore | Cormani McClainQB2 — Dijon Johnson | Micheal Carraway Jr.

Previous

QuarterbackRunning backTight endReceiverOffensive lineInterior defensive lineEdge rusherLinebacker

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

After sitting out the first three rounds of the draft, the Florida Panthers used the late rounds to load up on backend talent at several positions.

The back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Panthers selected Mads Kongsbak Klyvo — a left winger from Frederikshavn, Denmark — with the No. 112 pick in the NHL draft on Sunday. Just 18 years old, Klyvo scored 14 goals and 29 points last season in the J20 Nationell — a Swedish junior hockey league.

Later in the same fourth round, the Panthers also picked up another left winger, grabbing Shea Busch, an 18-year-old committed to Penn State University, with the No. 128 pick. Florida was back on the clock a pick later at No.129, and added Shamar Moses, a right-winger from Scarborough, Canada. They then made the final pick of the sixth round, selecting Arvid Drott — a Swedish right winger — with the No. 192 pick. Like Klyvo, Drott played in the Swedish J20 Nationell and scored 36 points in 40 games played this past season.

The Panthers added an extra pick midway through the final round, trading their 2026 seventh-round pick to the Chicago Blackhawks for their seventh-rounder this year, the 197th pick, which Florida used to select Brendan Dunphy. Dunphy, a defenseman from San Diego, was committed to the University of Connecticut before being drafted by the Panthers on Saturday.

“There were two players that we had identified that we thought we had a chance to get,” Panthers general manager Bill Zito said of the trade. “So we thought we could get an extra pick.”

Florida made the final selection of the draft, taking Yegor Midlak, a Russian goaltender, with the No. 224 pick.

“Sometimes you don’t have those high picks,” Zito said. “But you’re still able to add quality players who all the guys think are quality people as well.”

They were originally slated to go into the draft with six picks in hand until Thursday, when the Panthers traded a fifth-round pick, the 160th, to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for goaltender Daniil Tarasov.

“(Tarasov) will solidify the backend of the goaltending,” Zito said. “He’s a great, big guy with a lot of potential and we really think that working with our people will be a great oppurtunity for him.”

Florida’s picks in the first three rounds had long been dealt away in a set of maneuvers that culminated in their consecutive Stanley Cups.

Their first-round pick (No. 32) was sent to the Calgary Flames in the 2022 trade that landed the Panthers Matthew Tkachuk.

Their second-rounder (No. 64) belongs to Toronto, after the trade during last year’s draft swapped Florida’s 2024 seventh-round and 2025 second-round picks for the Maple Leafs’ 2024 second-round pick. Florida selected Linus Eriksson at No. 58 with that pick.

The Panthers’ third-round pick (No. 96) was dealt to the Ottawa Senators in 2024 in exchange for Vladimir Tarasenko.

The infusion of youth through the draft comes at the same time as Florida’s front office is working to bring back several of the veterans that led their run over the past two years before free agents can sign with new teams on July 1.

“Someone asked me if I’m negotiating,” Zito said. “I’m mediating, because we’re spending it all. We’re trying to get everybody happy.”

Star center Sam Bennett, the Conn Smythe winner as the MVP of the playoffs, on Friday signed an eight-year contract worth $8 million per year, keeping him with the Panthers for the foreseeable future.

Florida — now with $11 million to spend in free agency after re-signing Bennett — has also been in negotiations this week with forward Brad Marchand and defenseman Aaron Ekblad, both of whom become free agents on Tuesday.

“When you spend to the cap, and you do it for as many years as we have and commit to as many players we have, the wiggle room on little things is really, really difficult,” Zito said. “So sometimes you just have to keep at it so that you can fit everybody and keep the corpus of the team together.”

MIAMI — There will be no waiting game for the Miami Heat when it comes to the free agency of guard Davion Mitchell. That is because Mitchell will not be entering NBA free agency.

Having received an $8.7 million qualifying offer from the Heat that would have had him as a restricted free agent at Monday’s 6 p.m. start of NBA free agency, Mitchell instead agreed to a two-year,  $24 million contract to continue with the team with which he had a breakthrough after being acquired at midseason from the Toronto Raptors.

The type of defensive point-of-attack presence the Heat had lacked, Mitchell, 26, revitalized his career through unexpectedly solid shooting and the type of defensive deterrence that long has stood as a Heat trademark.

With the agreement on the two-year deal, the Heat now have 15 players under standard contract for next season, which is the NBA limit.

That total could be adjusted Sunday or thereafter, depending on the approach with guard Duncan Robinson.

Robinson has a Sunday 5 p.m. deadline to invoke an early-termination clause on what otherwise would be a $20 million salary for next season on the final year of his five-year, $90 million contract. However, only $10 million of that 2025-26 salary is guaranteed, with the Heat with a July 8 deadline to guarantee the other $10 million.

Among the options with Robinson would be for the 3-point specialist to bypass the $20 million salary on the books and instead restructure a contract that would start closer to his $10 million guarantee.

With the agreement with Mitchell, the Heat currently stand above the punitive NBA luxury tax, but would be able to skirt that penalty by reducing the money owed to Robinson or by waiving him.

Had Mitchell reached the open market, the Heat would have  had the right to match outside offers, offers that would have been more for the two-year term that the Heat agreed upon.

Until arriving to the Heat, it had been an uneven NBA ride for Mitchell, who was drafted No. 9 by the Sacramento Kings in 2021 out of Baylor. Mitchell spent three inconsistent seasons with the Kings before being dealt last summer to the Raptors.

Mitchell, who earned $6.5 million this past season on the final year of his rookie-scale contract, elevated his play in his 30 regular-season appearances with the Heat, averaging 10.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting .504 from the field and .447 on 3-pointers. He almost singlehandedly put the Heat in the playoffs by converting three overtime 3-pointers in the play-in victory that pushed the Heat in the postseason, when a loss that night to the Atlanta Hawks otherwise would have dropped the Heat into the lottery.

At the moment, this largely leaves the Heat with a similar roster to the one that closed last season at 37-45, advancing to the playoffs after finishing in 10th place in the Eastern Conference. The Heat then were blown out by the Cleveland Cavaliers in a 4-0 first round playoff sweep that was the most lopsided playoff-series margin in NBA history.

Up next for the Heat will be a study into the possibilities of the trade market. Such speculation includes the future of forward Andrew Wiggins.

Mitchell and Wiggins were acquired at the Feb.  6 NBA trading deadline, in the move that sent Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors.

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At the moment, the only significant change from the Heat’s season-ending roster is first-round addition of No. 20 pick draft pick Kasparas Jakucionis,  the playmaking guard from Illinois.

With the Heat standard roster now at 15, the question of a potential return of 3-point specialist Alec Burks  likely will come down to the Heat approach with Robinson.

Burks said earlier this summer at an appearance at the Heat youth camp at Cooper City High School that his goal was to return, with a desire to get such an agreement completed as soon as possible.

The Heat were able to negotiate with Mitchell ahead of Monday’s 6 p.m.  start of free agency because he was their own free agent. Any contact with outside free agents has to wait until 6 p.m. Monday.

While the Heat have resources to pursue free agents, including salary-cap exceptions, their current position against the luxury tax makes free-agency moves on Monday unlikely, with a greater focus now on the trade market.

Hundreds of people, including indigenous groups, environmentalists and immigration advocates gathered outside Gov Ron DeSantis’ planned ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ detention facility in the middle of the Everglades Saturday, the second protest there in a week.

About 1,000 stood in the heat along Tamiami Trail near Mile Marker 50 as of early Saturday afternoon, outside the gates of the little-used airfield that is now set to become an immigration detention center. Cars lined the road for miles in each direction. Members of the Miccosukee and Seminole Indian tribes beat drums and led ceremonies with sage to cleanse the area while others carried signs, chanted and wore anti-ICE T-shirts.

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All the while, streams of trucks carrying building materials, industrial lights, generators and portable toilets made their way past the throngs of protesters and into the facility, which sits near the border between Collier County and Miami-Dade. Florida Highway Patrol troopers, Collier County Sheriff’s deputies and other law enforcement personnel stood at the gates and attempted to direct traffic.

The DeSantis administration has made quick work of transforming the Miami-Dade County-owned airfield into what state officials see as an ideal location for detained immigrants, surrounded by alligators and swamp. But the plans have also led to widespread protests over environmental concerns, the site’s location on indigenous land and the living conditions that detainees will face in a makeshift facility in the middle of a hot Florida summer.

Environmental advocates and protesters at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport on Tamiami Trail E, Ochopee, on Saturday, June 28, 2025, object to the “Alligator Alcatraz” being built at the facility. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

One of the protest speakers was Betty Osceola, a Miccosukee environmental activist, who says that the planned detention center will disrupt her tribe’s way of life. The land the airstrip sits on is considered sacred, home to Miccosukee and Seminole Indians. Osceola said her tribe uses the surrounding area for ceremonial purposes as well as to forage and fish.

“Now, all day long I hear noise from the big trucks,” Osceola told reporters. She worried that the detention facility would open the door for further development around the airstrip.

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Speaking to the protesters through a loudspeaker, Osceola said that the people behind the facility have forgotten their humanity.

“Find it in your heart to pray for these people,” she said. “That they can be human beings again. If they’re human beings again, this will stop.”

Betty Osceola with the Miccosukee tribe of Indians addresses environmental advocates and other protesters at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport on Tamiami Trail E, Ochopee, on Saturday, June 28, 2025 as they object to the “Alligator Alcatraz” being built at the facility. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Protesters came from far and wide to join Saturday’s demonstration, the second outside the airstrip in a week.

Jamie DeRoin, 45, traveled three hours from Port St. Lucie to Collier County just to protest. She had previously joined statewide protests over Florida’s controversial plans to build golf courses and pickleball courts in state parks. Now, she sees the detention facility as another threat to Florida’s natural environment.

“It’s important to come out here and stand up for the last wild places,” DeRoin said, “because once they’re gone, they’re gone.”

DeRoin added that having a detention facility in the middle of the Everglades was “inhumane.”

“I got bombarded by mosquitoes just coming out here,” she said. “It’s hot, it’s humid, it’s hurricane season. It’s just not the place, really.”

Nearby, Jessica Perez, 23, carried a sign reading “just following orders is not a defense” and wore an anti-ICE T-shirt. She worries for her friends and family, who are immigrants, as well as for the environment.

“I’m protesting because it’s an intersectional issue,” said Perez. “I care about the environment and I also care about my family.”

Environmental groups filed a lawsuit Friday seeking to halt construction of the facility, saying it “threatens the Everglades ecosystem that state and federal taxpayers have spent billions to protect.”

DeSantis has dismissed the environmental concerns, saying there will be “zero” impact and that critics are using the Everglades “as a pretext just for the fact that they oppose immigration enforcement.”

Information from the Orlando Sentinel was used in this report.

DAVIE — Jeremiah Smith’s plan when he got to Ohio State was work hard and see what happens.

“The thought process with us was pretty much get in, get your feet wet, whatever playing time you get, do what you got to do,” Smith’s father, Chris Smith, told the Sun Sentinel. “I guess he had his own mindset, so he went there and did what he needed to do to get him a spot.”

Smith did not just earn a spot on a talented Buckeyes roster. He established himself as a starter, a star and arguably the best player in college football entering his sophomore year.

“It’s been surreal,” Chris Smith said. “You know, the expectation was high, but I knew he could be able to go do what he needed to do. So it’s a surreal moment, but also it’s a grinding moment, too.”

Smith’s success feels almost preordained. He was always among the most talented players in his age group, his seven-on-seven coach, South Florida Express founder Brett Goetz, said.

“Everybody kept talking about this JJ Smith kid,” Goetz said. “I think we were in Houston. … But I finally got to see him, and he was as advertised. He was great. And watching him kind of go up our ladder of seven-on-seven teams, age-wise, and he’s every bit what everybody says.”

Smith starred everywhere he played in South Florida. At Chaminade-Madonna, he racked up 3,043 receiving yards and 45 touchdown catches from his sophomore season through his senior year. He was the Sun Sentinel Broward County small schools offensive player of the year as a senior.

When it came time to pick a college, Smith — who was listed as the top high school player in the nation — stuck with his long-time Ohio State commitment over a push from hometown Miami.

The decision paid off. Smith racked up 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns as a freshman, helping lead the Buckeyes to a College Football Playoff title.

“He’s just hungry to do it over again,” Chris Smith said.

But all the success has not changed him, Chris Smith and Goetz said.

“He’s still JJ,” Chris Smith said.

Said Goetz: “(He) shakes everybody’s hand, signs everything, takes pictures with every kid. And I saw him a couple weeks ago at Ohio State practice, and all these people came up to him, these kids, and they wanted to have a catch with him. So watching that, and he never said no to anybody. So, I think, he’s handled it really well.”

The elder Smith said his son does not want to come home often, which he takes as a good sign.

“That means you feel at home,” Chris Smith said.

Smith has taken on the role of superstar (being named one of EA Sports’ College Football 26 cover athletes, among other honors), but has not changed who he is.

On the field, the sky remains the limit.

“I’ve seen Amari Cooper, I’ve seen a lot of these great ones come through South Florida,” Goetz said. “And he has a chance to be the best out of all of them. Time will tell. But at this point, he’s unreal.”

He said what you said.

“I believe I could’ve had success elsewhere, but why take that chance?” Sam Bennett asked.

He saw what you saw.

“We really have the chance to make this team a dynasty,’’ he said.

The Florida Panthers center signing an eight-year, $64-million deal makes you ask the next question, too. Who’s next? Brad Marchand? Aaron Ekblad?

These three days before NHL free agency begins with these three players might look like the 12 Days of Christmas by the time the announcements stop. Do the Panthers pull off the triple play?

“It sounds like it’s happening,’’ a hockey agent said Friday night.

This isn’t negotiation as much as mediation, as Panthers general manger Bill Zito has said. The team entered free agency having $19 million to spend and three prime players to spend it on. Bennett, at 29, the Conn Smythe winner as the playoffs’ top performer, is the first guy this team needed back with his mix of fury and finishing.

Now, who’s next?

“This scares the league,” the agent said.

It’s not just the Panthers have eight core players signed for the next five years. It’s that Seth Jones, at 30, is the oldest. Anton Lundell is the youngest at 23. When’s the last time two-time champions had such a developed roster sitting in the prime of their careers?

“This is the core that’s been here for the last three, four years, and we’ve had so much success I don’t see why it can’t continue,’’ Bennett said. “We’re all so committed to the same goal of winning and doing whatever it takes and putting in the hard hours to do what it takes to win.

“It’s really the dream situation. I couldn’t pass up signing for another eight years.”

Sports is full of filthy-rich decisions made that seems just filthy. LIV golfers selling their souls to a Saudi league came with a game-changing odor. The Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler, signed for $112 million, sabotaging a season over a contract two seasons away.

Then there’s the ongoing saga of Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey. He signed a position-high deal two years ago. He demanded it be redone to make him the highest-paid cornerback last year, and the Dolphins relented. He now wants out of town because something else isn’t right.

Players should get whatever they can, just like you or I should. But is it too much to ask they care about the team in return? Or at least pretend to care?

Bennett got his money. The $8 million is roughly $1 million more than the Panthers were offering a year ago. He also could have gotten more elsewhere, as anyone on the open market usually can. But Bennett’s list of priorities seemed to follow Matthew Tkachuk’s reasoning, when he picked the Panthers a few years ago.

“No. 1, where can I win?” Tkachuk said. “No. 2, where can I make the most money? No. 3 was like, outside of the rink, where was the best place to be? That was pretty obvious. This was the best place to be.”

The Panthers don’t keep everyone. They can’t. Last summer, defensemen Brandon Montour and Oliver Ekman-Larsson and forward Ryan Lomberg signed life-setting contracts elsewhere. Sometimes money wins out.

So, Jones, Nate Schmidt and A.J. Greer filled those spots. Each had career seasons, too. That says something about what’s happening here.

Bennett had five coaches in six Calgary seasons and his career was floundering before coming to the Panthers. Part of that was him, no doubt. Part of his success now is that coach Paul Maurice’s idea of hockey mirrors his physical talents.

“My game didn’t change, but I changed how I looked at the game,’’ he said. “I played a little different style. It helped me so much playing a little harder hockey, more defensive minded.’’

Marchand’s game was rejuvenated, too. At 38 next year, he’d be an outlier on this team. So was the manner he played in the Stanley Cup Final with six goals.

“I told him, ‘We’re following you — you’re leading us,’” Bennett said.

Ekblad, a lifelong Panther, was part of the layered defense that held down Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov, Toronto’s Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner and Edmonton’s Connor McDavid these playoffs.

It’s rare when the front office, coach and players are in harmony like the Panthers — as rare as winning two titles and thinking of more. A dream, as Bennett said. A nightmare for the league, as the agent said.

One big free agent down.

Two to go?