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“The past is strewn with the ruins of the empires of tyranny, and each is a monument not merely to man’s blunders, but to his capacity to overcome them,” wrote Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his final book, “A Testament of Hope.”

Our annual celebration of his life has passed, but his words of hope and strength still resonate.

As we feel the growing despair surrounding the tyrannical actions of our current government, we must remember Dr. King’s words and come together to remain strong. The daily chaotic flood of bad news and unfathomable actions cause us all to feel depressed, defeated and hopeless.

Yet giving up is exactly what they want.

If each American who cares about our democracy took one tiny step each day, we can succeed in pushing back the imperialism that haunts us. A few ideas to consider:

Write letters to the editor, like this one (send to letters@sun-sentinel.com). Join an advocacy group like Move On. Attend local meetings. Help get out the vote. Support your local elected officials. Join protests. Call your congressional representatives (there is an app, 5 Calls, that makes it seamless with auto-dial numbers and scripts).

These are dark days. They demand that each of us lights a single candle to save the world.

Ellen Crane, Lighthouse Point

Our long national nightmare

Republicans who loathe America are willing to look the other way or hide behind hate groups and propaganda organizations such as MAGA, Turning Point USA or Fox News.

They do it whenever the felonious Donald Trump endlessly breaks the law, defies the Constitution, ignores Congress, pardons lawfully convicted criminals who have had due process, authorizes random unwarranted murders of alleged drug smugglers and peaceful unarmed protesters, weaponizes the DOJ, FBI, Pentagon and soon the independent Federal Reserve, kidnaps foreign leaders at will, appallingly accepts a re-gifted Nobel Peace Prize, plasters his name on anything that doesn’t move, threatens longtime allies, or accuses anyone who doesn’t kowtow to his disgraceful wicked agenda of being a paid agitator or domestic terrorist.

When will this contemptible national nightmare end (or is it too late)?

Trump is destroying 250 years of a democratic republic before our eyes.

My immigrant World War II veteran father is spinning in his grave at Arlington National Cemetery.

Steve Rask, Fort Lauderdale

Hey, you, up in Montpelier

Here’s a sign that global climate change is not a hoax: South Florida locals shiver in near-freezing temperatures in January.

Snowbirds, if you’re smart, winterize your RV before you drive it from Vermont to Florida.

Rob Curran, Lauderdale Lakes

Research Charlie Kirk

It baffles me that people praise and honor Charlie Kirk. His final book, “Stop in the Name of God: Why Honoring The Sabbath Will Transform Your Life” is near the top of the New York Times bestseller list.

How is that possible, when he has been so outspoken on subjects that are racist, homophobic, transphobic, xenophobic and more, including bashing Martin Luther King Jr., and stating that “empathy” is a lame word made up by the woke left?

Are folks buying this book really aware of who Charlie Kirk was at his core? His outrageous views can be seen in his own words on his own podcast or in various interviews by searching YouTube.

Another way to research the real Kirk is to visit snopes.com, where they have researched his quotes. If you’re inclined, it’s best to investigate Kirk before you order his book.

Jack Bloomfield, Coral Springs

Please submit a letter to the editor by email to letterstotheeditor@sunsentinel.com or fill out the online form below. Letters may be up to 200 words and must be signed with your email address, city of residence and daytime phone number for verification. Letters will be edited for clarity and length. 

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DEAR MISS MANNERS: It seems that more people are now issuing invitations to “come for drinks” in the early evening, with no plans for dinner to follow.

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We have come to enjoy this type of socializing, and have extended similar invitations.

I would like Miss Manners to clarify the proper amount of time these get-togethers should last.

I have always assumed an hour, or 90 minutes at most. However, as hosts, we have had people stay beyond that, and as guests, we have been urged to remain longer, as well.

I never want to overstay my welcome, nor do I want my dinner in the warming drawer to dry out. At the same time, I do not want to appear to “drink and run” by leaving too soon.

If it were a cocktail party, the invitation would likely say “Come for cocktails from 5:30 to 7,” but that feels a bit awkward when inviting just one couple. I would appreciate your guidance to being both a better host and guest!

GENTLE READER: In the heyday of cocktail parties, it was no secret that guests who went after the munchies could skip dinner. There was always a soft murmur going on, with one half of a couple telling the other half not to expect a meal at home after the party.

To avoid excessive lingering, the closing hour — not a standard feature of other invitations — was, as you note, stated explicitly.

So the first rule for just one couple is not to spoil their dinner appetites. No heavy hors d’oeuvres! Maybe bowls of nuts?

Ninety minutes to two hours, the expected time to linger at a cocktail party, is also reasonable for “just drinks.” In any case, one should not stay beyond the common dinner hour of 7 p.m., even if urged otherwise — unless it is in the form of, “Let’s all go somewhere for dinner.”

All but the terminally obtuse should note that when food and drinks are no longer being offered, it is time to go. But you seem to have encountered such folks.

The next step is to stand up while talking to them. Eventually, they will have to pull themselves up. And you may thank them for having come. In stubborn cases, you could add, “We hope to see you again soon” while moving slowly toward the door.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: You must be really happy that the secretary of transportation has told us poor wretches who fly economy to dress up for the privilege. Hats and gloves, naturally. I have my grandfather’s old fedora, but my wife might have to buy new white gloves.

But why stop at the Perfect 1950s? Shouldn’t red-eye flights require tuxedos and evening gowns, like in the time of the great ships?

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GENTLE READER: Yes, let’s use those ships for comparison rather than the 1950s, to which Miss Manners ascribes considerably less charm and glamour than you seem to.

Those who dressed up were traveling in opulent settings, with luxurious food and entertainment. But the great ocean liners also had steerage class, in which passengers were kept in crowded, primitive accommodations with minimal rations. They were not expected to dress up.

Which part of the ship most resembles today’s air travel?

Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, gentlereader@missmanners.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Today is Monday, Feb. 2, the 33rd day of 2026. There are 332 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Feb. 2, 2013, former Navy SEAL and “American Sniper” author Chris Kyle was fatally shot along with a friend at a gun range west of Glen Rose, Texas; Eddie Ray Routh was later convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Also on this date:

In 1536, present-day Buenos Aires, Argentina, was founded by Spanish explorer Pedro de Mendoza.

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In 1653, New Amsterdam — now New York City — was incorporated as a city.

In 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, officially ending the Mexican-American War.

In 1925, the legendary Alaska Serum Run ended as the last of a series of dog mushers brought life-saving medication to Nome, the scene of a diphtheria epidemic, traveling 674 miles in just six days.

In 1943, the remainder of Nazi forces at the Battle of Stalingrad surrendered in a major victory for the Soviets in World War II.

In 1990, in a dramatic concession to South Africa’s Black majority, President F.W. de Klerk lifted a ban on the African National Congress and promised to free Nelson Mandela.

In 1992, Václav Havel, the dissident playwright who led an anti-communist revolution, became the first president of the independent Czech Republic, after Czechoslovakia’s split. He previously served as the first democratically elected president of Czechoslovakia after the fall of communism.

In 2014, Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, widely considered one of the greatest actors of his generation, was found dead in his New York apartment from an accidental drug overdose.

In 2022, four men were charged with being part of the drug distribution crew that supplied a deadly mix of narcotics to actor Michael K. Williams of “The Wire,” who had overdosed five months earlier.

Today’s birthdays:

• Rock singer-guitarist Graham Nash is 84.
• Television executive Barry Diller is 84.
• TV chef Ina Garten is 78.
• Actor Brent Spiner is 77.
• Football Hall of Famer Dave Casper is 74.
• Model Christie Brinkley is 72.
• Singer Shakira is 49.
• Republican Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama is 44.
• Actor Gemma Arterton is 40.
• Actor Zosia Mamet is 38.
• Actor Paul Mescal is 30.
• Actor Ellie Bamber is 29.

Here are the top stories for Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. Get the weather forecast for today here.

SUBSCRIBE NOW: Get our free Morning Update email. Sign up here.

Coldest daily record lows in over a century hit Miami-Dade, Palm Beach on Sunday, NWS says

Fort Lauderdale eyes federal courthouse for charter school or housing

Will they or won’t they? Pompano Beach is next to consider ditching Broward Sheriff’s Office

A year later, new Broward schools watchdog hasn’t yet released findings of investigations

Black History Month 2026: Mark 100 years of celebrations with parades, festivals & more in South Florida

Jo Ann Bass, matriarch of Miami Beach landmark Joe’s Stone Crab, dies at 94

Trump says US is ‘starting to talk to Cuba’ as he moves to cut its oil supplies

Asking Eric: I miss my friend, but I can’t be her ‘grief counselor’ anymore

‘Frozen’ iguanas everywhere: Florida roads, sidewalks, yards

Bad Bunny wins album of the year at the 2026 Grammy Awards, a first for a Spanish-language album

By REGINA GARCIA CANO

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Time in Venezuela feels like it’s moving both too fast and too slow. The pillars of the country’s self-proclaimed socialist government are falling at a dizzying pace or not quickly enough. Economic relief is finally on the horizon or already too late.

Thirty days after the U.S. raid and capture of then-President Nicolás Maduro upended Venezuela, adults and children alike are still unsure of what exactly is happening around them. And as the initial shock gives way to a mix of uncertainty, hope and disappointment, a pervasive fear of another attack or more government repression continues to hang over them.

In the capital, Caracas, where government-sponsored billboards and graffiti demand that the U.S. free Maduro, many residents wonder whether his successor, acting President Delcy Rodríguez has any autonomy or is capitulating to White House demands; whether she is Maduro by another name, and — crucial to their immediate needs — whether to believe, as indicated by her, that a long-sought wage increase is on the horizon. Meanwhile, long-silent opposition leaders have finally emerged to speak publicly.

“It’s an important change, certainly, but everything is the same, everything,” retiree Julio Castillo, 74, said of the removal of Maduro from office. “I feel as if nothing much has happened.”

‘We are acting under coercion’

Venezuela’s government and its supporters consider the capture of Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores a kidnapping. Rodríguez and senior officials have pledged to fight for the couple’s freedom since U.S. President Donald Trump first announced their seizure in the early hours of Jan. 3.

The ruling party has organized demonstrations to show their loyalty to Maduro, whom the fiery Hugo Chávez anointed as his self-proclaimed socialist revolution’s torchbearer before dying in 2013. It has also adjusted its messaging from threatening a Vietnam-like war with the U.S. to admitting being militarily outmatched and needing to transform the relationship with Goliath.

Supporters — a minority compared to the crowds during Chávez’s presidency — see Rodríguez as lacking free will but trust that she can carry Chavismo, their political movement, through the next diplomatic battle.

“The Venezuelan state, and Venezuelans, are accepting this new situation in which we are acting under coercion,” José Vivens, a Maduro loyalist, said of Rodríguez’s decision to allow the Trump administration to control Venezuela’s oil money, the country’s engine. “They kidnapped our commander. And we have to give in because we have to live for another battle.”

Vivens, a justice of the peace, was in his apartment’s parking lot in Caracas when he heard a loud whistle, then a deafening explosion the night of the attack. He ducked behind his car, and when he looked up, helicopters were flying unnervingly close to his building.

“They’ve invaded us,” was Vivens’ immediate thought. Not exactly, but he would learn a few hours later that the U.S. military’s elite had captured Maduro at a nearby compound and loaded him onto a helicopter.

Abandoning a pillar of Chavismo

Rodríguez has used public events and gatherings with Venezuela’s private sector to assure anyone listening that she, not the Trump administration, is governing the South American country, even if she later acknowledges having a mutual agenda with the U.S., which was unthinkable weeks earlier.

“The people of Venezuela do not accept orders from any external factor,” she said during a meeting with oil executives to discuss an overhaul of the country’s energy law. “The people of Venezuela have a government, and this government obeys the people.”

Her proposed overhaul, which lawmakers swiftly approved and she signed into law Thursday, opens the nation’s oil sector to privatization, abandoning a pillar of Chavismo.

She introduced it following Trump’s assertion that his administration would take control of Venezuela’s oil exports and revitalize the ailing industry by luring foreign investment.

Testing the waters

Many within the opposition had long expected that Maduro’s ouster, especially if led by Trump, would immediately result in one of their own taking the reins of the country. Trump’s decision to work with Rodríguez, instead of opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado, continues to leave them baffled.

But as Machado’s supporters keep looking for signs that the White House will incorporate her meaningfully into its plans for their country, Venezuelans have begun testing Rodríguez’s commitment to what she has called “a new political moment” for Venezuela.

For days, dozens of people have kept vigil outside prisons demanding the release of loved ones they believe were detained for political reasons, including journalists, human rights advocates and members of the military. A handful of opposition leaders who had not been seen in public in Venezuela or made any statements for more than a year have spoken out.

“I believe that Venezuela’s destiny cannot be an oil agreement and a dictatorship headed by Delcy Rodríguez, because we could simply define that as a continuation of the dictatorship,” opposition leader Andrés Velásquez told reporters, reemerging after more than a year in hiding.

A privately owned television channel with national reach on Wednesday even aired a clip of Machado addressing reporters in Washington. Neither public nor private media outlets had shown a similar segment in years.

Still, many Venezuelans continue to self-censor as they remain deeply fearful of government repression. Their social media posts make no mention of politics. Written or audio messages on WhatsApp do not criticize the government. Some video calls involve writing and erasing information on whiteboards as an extra layer of protection.

There have been no large demonstrations calling for a new government or a presidential election. Nor has anyone dared to publicly celebrate Maduro’s capture — even if many had long hoped to see him handcuffed.

Many opposition leaders remain in exile. Wanted posters of Edmundo González, the opposition’s candidate during the 2024 presidential election, are still on display at airports and government offices.

Balancing hope and fear

Margaret García’s son could not sleep for days after Jan.3. He also did not want to go back to school fearful of not knowing what to do if another attack happened.

“We thought we were going to die,” she said of the moment her family heard a helicopter open fire near their 15-story apartment building near where Maduro was captured.

Her son’s fear was far from unique. Some Venezuelans still fear a second attack if Rodríguez’s government does not meet U.S. expectations — even as Washington has indicated it has no plans for further escalation.

“I can tell you right now with full certainty, we are not postured to nor do we intend or expect to have to take any military action in Venezuela at any time,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told a U.S. Senate committee on Wednesday.

García, a teacher, said she could not understand how anyone could find satisfaction in the U.S. operation that killed dozens. Still, she said she believes that under Rodríguez’s watch, the country could see the lasting economic improvements that workers have hoped for more than a decade.

Like García, many public sector workers survive on roughly $160 per month, while the average private sector employee earned about $237 a month last year. Venezuela’s monthly minimum wage of 130 bolivars, or $0.35, has not increased since 2022, putting it well below the United Nations’ measure of extreme poverty of $2.15 a day.

“We see that a negative moment has brought us positive things,” she said of the potential changes that Rodríguez has signaled will come with an envisioned oil boom.

___

Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

By OLIVIA DIAZ, Associated Press

Olivia Dean clinched the Grammy for best new artist Sunday in a milestone moment for the British pop singer-songwriter known for her soulful voice and timeless sound.

Dean, who is part of a growing class of young U.K.-born vocalists, made waves last year with her romantic sophomore album “The Art of Loving,” with tracks including “Man I Need,” “A Couple Minutes” and “So Easy (To Fall In Love).”

“I want to say I’m up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant,” Dean said in her acceptance speech. “I’m a product of bravery, and I think those people deserve to be celebrated.”

Celebrities in the audience were wearing pins protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the celebration.

In being crowned best new artist, Dean bested KATSEYE, The Marías, Addison Rae, sombr, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren and Lola Young for the award.

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She joins past best new artist winners such as The Beatles, Carly Simon, Bette Midler, Culture Club, Mariah Carey, Toni Braxton, Christina Aguilera, John Legend, Adele, Dua Lipa and Chance the Rapper.

Lauryn Hill, a favorite of her parents to whom Dean’s middle name pays homage, also won the award in 1999.

The Grammy is designed for artists who achieve “a breakthrough into the public consciousness.” Eligible artists must have released at least five singles or one album, though there is no maximum.

The best new artist category is constantly evolving as the Grammys try to keep up with ever-complicated measures of fame. A screening committee determines whether artists have attained the necessary “breakthrough or prominence” required for nomination.

But there’s a new exception this year: acts featured on previous album of the year nominees are now considered new enough for eligibility. Their contributions just have to fall below 20% of the album’s playing time.

Olivia Diaz is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

MIAMI — Perhaps it was the return of Davion Mitchell. Perhaps it was the humiliation of falling 18 hours earlier to a team that scheduled it as a day of rest. Or perhaps there is rekindled hope of the move into February leading to a move out of nearly permanent residence in the play-in bracket.

Looking far more cohesive and connected than in either of the previous two games in this unusual three-game head-to-head series, the Miami Heat made quick work of the Chicago Bulls on Sunday night at Kaseya Center in a 134-91 victory, tying for the third-most-lopsided victory in the Heat’s 38 seasons.

This was not having to survive a potential game-tying 3-pointer in Thursday night’s three-point victory over the Bulls at the United Center. This was not lacking answers in Saturday night’s humbling seven-point loss to a Bulls team that rested its regulars.

This was more to what coach Erik Spoelstra has stressed yet could come from this middling season that has the Heat at 27-24 with one game remaining before Thursday’s 3 p.m. NBA trading deadline.

“The one thing I told our group is that we definitely have something,” Spoelstra said afterward. “We have some toughness and guys really care and they want to. It was a good response.”

There was an initial push to a 22-5 lead, the type of third-quarter resolve that previously had been lacking, and Mitchell back to settle things on both ends.

So with 20 points apiece, Bam Adebayo and Pelle Larsson were able to sit out the fourth quarter, with Mitchell returning with 13 points and six assists in his 27 minutes.

“We played the right way and it was great to see,” Spoelstra said. “We know what we need to work on. We need to work on our consistency and we’ll continue to forge ahead until we get there.”

The Heat again were without Tyler Herro (ribs) and Norman Powell (personal reasons), with Nikola Jovic (hip) also out.

The Bulls remained without Josh Giddey (hamstring) and Jalen Smith (calf), with Kevin Huerter (back) also out.

“For us,” Adebayo said, “it’s jut how can we sustain this type of how we are playing? After we lose, we normally respond like that.”

Five Degrees of Heat from Sunday night’s game:

1. Game flow: The Heat led 34-13 after the first quarter, the most the Heat have outscored an opponent by in an opening quarter this season. For the Bulls, it was their lowest-scoring quarter of the season, one that featured 4-of-21 shooting and seven turnovers by Chicago.

The Heat then moved up 27 in the second period, as the Bull fell to 1 of 18 on 3-pointers, with a 62-40 lead at halftime.

And this time, no letdown in the third period, with the Heat instead moving to a 101-62 lead entering the fourth quarter, affording the primary rotation players time off at the end of the run of four games in five nights.

“We just want to keep the momentum going,” forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. said after his 14-point performance. “I think everyone here’s, you know, tired of being sick and tired. And I think that’s kind of the mentality that we had going into this game.”

2. Mitchell returns: Mitchell was back in the mix after missing the previous six games, and eight of the previous 10, with a shoulder sprain.

“D-Mitch brings us that pace,” Spoelstra said. “There’s something about the way he pushes the ball and delivers it.”

Mitchell’s return had first-round pick Kasparas Jakucionis again playing off the bench, after starting the previous six games.

There nonetheless still was a twist with the starting lineup, with Simone Fontecchio getting his second start of the season. That left the Heat with their 16th starting lineup, with the opening unit with Mitchell and Fontecchio rounded out by Adebayo, Larsson and Andrew Wiggins.

“I’m feel good, kind of was tired after that first wind,” Mitchell said of his return. “After that first wind I was good.

“I tried to go out there and just be aggressive.”

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3. Larsson sizzles: Shifted from starting forward to starting guard, Larsson came out firing, with 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting.

That came a night after Larsson scored a career-high 22 points.

Larsson now has scored in double figures in five of his last six games, this time closing at 8 of 11 from the field, with four rebounds and four assists.

“It was very important just for our own heads,” Larsson said of the bounceback victory. “I think just to show that to ourselves that that wasn’t us yesterday and in the future trying to limit those performances.”

Larsson said there was no specific story behind the back-to-back 20-point performances.

“Just got good looks and made them,” Larsson said. “That’s kind of our offense. Sometimes you’re gonna get some good looks and just gotta be ready to shoot.”

4. Ware’s world: A night after playing 3:11 in Saturday’s loss, Kel’el Ware this time played as the primary backup big man, with Jovic sidelined by a hip impingement sustained in Saturday night’s loss.

This time Ware’s initial stint was 8:45, a run that included four points and four rebounds.

From there, there was ample action and opportunity, as the Bulls emptied their bench.

He closed with 17 points and six rebounds, needed for just 18:24.

“It’s good to have him get some extended minutes tonight,” Spoelstra said.

Spoelstra said he also would work more to make it work with his younger players going forward.

“I want to take that challenge,” he said. “And I want to be better with that,”

5. Tiebreaker achieved: With the victory, the Heat won the season series 3-1.

So, yes, potential play-in seeding was at stake.

“What we do have is an opportunity to win the season series,” Spoelstra said pregame. “When you have an opportunity like that, you want to take it.”

The Heat and Bulls have met in the pre-playoff round for conference seeds Nos. 7-10 in each of the past three seasons.

MIAMI — Observations and other notes of interest from Sunday night’s 134-91 victory over the Chicago Bulls:

– So Pelle Larsson for Giannis Antetokounmpo straight up?

– Of course not.

– Because the Heat also would have to add salary to make the trade work.

– Not, not  a suggestion of Larsson as any sort of make-or-break addition to a potential Heat bid for Giannis.

– But when considering the Heat’s young players, including the travails of Kel’el Ware, the real story might be what the Heat have made out of Larsson.

– At this point, too efficient and effective to seemingly be moved out of the starting lineup.

– On Saturday, 22 points to keep the Heat afloat.

– On Sunday, a sizzling start to get the Heat going.

– For those unfamiliar with Larsson’s pathway to this moment, he wasn’t even the Heat’s own selection in the second round of the 2024 draft, when he arrived out of Arizona..

– Instead, he actually was part of a three-team trade with the Rockets and Hawks.

– In that deal, the Heat acquired the draft rights to Larsson (selected No.  44 overall) and cash considerations from the Hawks in exchange for the draft rights to Nikola Djurisic (No. 43 overall) in a three-team trade in which Atlanta sent AJ Griffin to Houston for the No. 44 pick in the draft.

– So a roundabout arrival.

– But nothing roundabout about this rise to more than draft afterthought.

– Only effort, energy and a few whacks in the face along the way.

– At the moment, Larsson very much looks like a rotation player for a play-in team.

– The next question, when it comes to how he is valued going forward, is whether he can be more.

– The past two games, and essentially, this season, have indicated there is something there.

– Even from the depths of the second round.

– At the moment, there no longer is a debate when it comes to Larsson or Nikola Jovic.

– Which, on one hand, is a concern.

– But also, on the other hand, an unexpected gain.

– With Davion Mitchell back but Norman Powell still out, the Heat opened with a lineup of Larsson, Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, Simone Fontrecchio and Mitchell.

– Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Dru Smith entered together as the Heat’s first two reserves.

– Kasparas Jakucionis, who had been starting in place of Mitchell, was next off the Heat bench.

– Ware then entered for Adebayo with 5:13 left in the opening period.

– Three early Jakucionis fouls then had Myron Gardner back in the rotation a night after his first NBA start.

– Even with it being the third consecutive game against the Bulls, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said it felt like three different scenarios, with so many different player permutations in the three games.

– ‘Well, it’s a different team, right?” he said of Sunday’s matchup. “Like each team that we faced in the Bulls is going to be different and we’re a little bit different in each of these games, as well. It’s unique. I love all the different challenges that are presented in this Association.”

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– Of losing Saturday night to the Bulls, Spoelstra said. “We need to have a response.”

– They did.

– If any aspect of the unique scheduling was an issue, Spoelstra pointed to having an 8 p.m. game Saturday and then a 6 p.m. start Sunday.

– “In terms of the three in a row, I don’t think it’s that particularly, like, crazy in my mind,” he said. “I think it is a quick turnaround for both teams. So we’re both on an even playing field. But when we finish an 8 o’clock game and all of a sudden you see guys warming up right now, that feels a little bit unique.”

– The cold reality of the NBA is that Jevon Carter helped boost the Bulls over the Heat on Saturday night and then was released after the game, as part of Chicago’s acquisition of Dario Saric.

– ”I’m hopeful that something will break for him,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said pregame. “But I couldn’t be any more grateful to him, thankful for him, just the way he handled himself, the way he worked, the way he always kept himself ready.”

– Donovan added, “Sometimes the timing of these things are difficult because you don’t know when it’s going to happen.”

– Donovan said players stressing over Thursday’s NBA trading deadline misses the point.

– “In my opinion, you waste a lot of time worrying or thinking about what may or may not happen, you know,” Donovan said. “And these guys work really, really hard. They get a chance to do something they have always done since they’ve been kids. They’ve just been really good at it and worked really hard at it and became professionals. So what we’ve got control over is how we play, how we treat each other, how we play together.”

General Daily Insight for February 02, 2026

Conversations can mend old misunderstandings. With studious Mercury sextiling convalescent Chiron at 7:32 pm EST, cooperative talks are the best way to soothe long-lasting aches — especially when we own our part and engage respectfully, speaking from care rather than blame. We may guard ourselves fiercely this morning, yet by evening, we can bridge divides more easily. As the Moon glides into Virgo, practical steps and tidy routines keep up the peace we just created. Sympathetic words make solutions stick longer.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Truth is key to today’s success. Chatty Mercury in your 11th House of Friendship sextiles wounded Chiron in your sign, motivating you to speak up for your needs in a group setting. No circle of friends can fulfill all your wants, but your central group should be able to handle your social needs. Don’t simmer over perceived slights — just talk to whoever hurt you (or apologize to someone you may have hurt). This initiative inspires mutual honesty. Courage speaks for itself!

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

There’s no need to be shy, Taurus! It’s time to get in touch with your creative side as the Moon trots into your artsy 5th house, and there’s plenty of room to enjoy yourself here. Exploring what brings you bliss can power real progress. If plans feel fussy or costly, choose low-key fun close to home and treat your senses to something delicious. Such creature comforts are the best way to settle a nervous mind. Choose pleasure on purpose — you’ve earned it.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

An idea may be begging for you to speak it into existence. Today’s Mercury-Chiron sextile beams across your adventure zone and your network sector, setting the stage for thoughtful conversations that can decide the tone of your next big question. You could also connect with a teacher or mentor. Pitch your pipe-dream plan to someone who believes in you, and don’t ignore their feedback! It might be just what you need to hear. Keep sharing your progress with those willing to engage at your level.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Be patient with yourself. You may feel like a hermit crab in the midst of changing shells today, uncomfortably exposed by Chiron in your public 10th house. Thankfully, Mercury reaches from your intimate 8th house to sextile Chiron, empowering you to take charge of those anxieties and handle them with care. You may propose a budget talk or timeline adjustment with someone you love, but don’t rush into those discussions. The people who care about you should give you time to think through such things.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

There’s no rushing through this. Messenger Mercury stretches from your loving 7th house to sextile tender Chiron in your 9th House of Differences, encouraging heartfelt conversations that bridge potentially clashing points of view with patience, curiosity, and generosity. Little snags, like incorrect timing or missed connections, could actually lead to something even better than your original plans. Whatever’s happening, your warmth sets the tone and keeps everyone on the same team. No stress necessary — just be your friendly self.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

You may be moving a bit too fast. Adjusting your pace should feel wonderfully satisfying as the emotional Moon enters your sign, turning your attention to your body and the small habits that make everything run smoother. You might reorganize your desk, wipe down the kitchen, or tidy your favorite space. Once that’s out of the way, you can relax all evening. Putting your living area in order should make tomorrow much easier. Tend small things, and let simple care nurture your soul.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

When honest words meet brave hearts, healing begins. Your 5th House of Charm and your 7th House of Connections are blessed by Mercury and Chiron’s sextile. Having fun together is a great way to begin repairing a damaged relationship. You could plan a friendly gathering at one of your homes or go out to eat together. Pick somewhere you’ll be comfortable. Not up to having company? Make an effort to spend your solo time engaged in something creative to get the most out of today.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Something in your home is tugging at your psyche. Practical plans should feel more doable as mental Mercury (currently in your domestic zone) uplifts healing Chiron in your 6th House of Health. If you notice any schedule discrepancies, do your best to iron them out. You could divide chores for the week or, if you live alone, reward yourself with something special for tackling your least favorite task. At work, keep in mind that a co-worker’s problem doesn’t necessarily need to be yours!

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Keep your focus simple. Your 10th House of Career steadies as the instinctive Moon enters, encouraging focused effort on a presentation for a project that carries your name, which satisfies your spirit without scattering your energy. You could also post your pitch online — just make sure to check your grammar first! Proper sentence structure will make it easier for your audience to understand your message. Polish the basics to ensure that others see the time and effort that went into your ideas.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Keep your feet on the ground for the time being. Cerebral Mercury and aching Chiron are comforting one another from your 2nd House of Funds and your 4th House of Foundations. Their collaboration can guide you through discussing repair bills or DIY projects. Lay out the numbers, and whether or not you’re splitting the cost with any housemates, be sure to stick to your budget. Consider the purpose of any changes before putting them into action. Clarify numbers in advance to avoid stress at home.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Your words can reshape the room — and yourself. Fresh thinking meets healing with clever Mercury in your sign, sextiling Chiron in your 3rd House of Communication. They’re helping you state your needs without sounding distant, especially when introducing yourself (potentially to a neighbor or online forum). In any circumstances, your statements will probably land best when worded succinctly. If feedback surprises you, make an effort to analyze it before rejecting it. When you respect advice from others, they’re more likely to respect yours.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Certain truths cannot be heard unless you’re willing to sit in silence for a while. With verbose Mercury quieted by your shadowy 12th house, its sextile to Chiron in your motivational 2nd house is asking you to listen to your soul. Is the way you spend your days satisfying you? Even if it isn’t, perhaps the money it supplies is necessary to chase your true desires. It’s okay if you don’t love your work, as long as it serves your long-term life journey.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Sunday he will move to close Washington’s Kennedy Center performing arts venue for two years starting in July for construction.

Trump’s announcement on social media Sunday night follows a wave of cancellations since Trump ousted the previous leadership and added his name to the building. Trump made no mention in his post of the recent cancellations.

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Trump announced his plan days after the premiere of “Melania” a documentary of the first lady was shown at the storied venue. The proposal, he said, is subject to approval by the board of the Kennedy Center, which has been stocked with his hand-picked allies. Trump himself chairs the center’s board of trustees.

“This important decision, based on input from many Highly Respected Experts, will take a tired, broken, and dilapidated Center, one that has been in bad condition, both financially and structurally for many years, and turn it into a World Class Bastion of Arts, Music, and Entertainment,” Trump wrote in his post.

Leading performing arts groups have pulled out of appearances, most recently, composer Philip Glass, who announced his decision to withdraw his Symphony No. 15 “Lincoln” because he said the values of the center today are in “direct conflict” with the message of the piece.

Earlier this month, the Washington National Opera announced that it will move performances away from the Kennedy Center in another high-profile departure following Trump’s takeover of the U.S. capital’s leading performing arts venue.

A spokesperson for the Kennedy Center did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

GAINESVILLE — Florida’s frontcourt nullified Alabama’s controversial 7-footer Charles Bediako and continued to dominate the Crimson Tide, making statement entering the heart of SEC play.

With Dick Vitale courtside, a national TV audience tuned in and 10 NBA scouts on hand, the No. 19 Gators (16-6, 7-2 SEC) turned in one their complete performance this season during a 100-74 rout of No. 23 Alabama (14-7- 4-4).

Florida’s fifth straight win against Nate Oats’ team came on the heels of Bediako’s return after two seasons in the NBA’s G-League, a move drawing criticism but expected to bolster the Crimson Tide’s front court. Yet, Bediako did little slow down one of the nation’s top front courts before fouling out after totaling six points and seven rebounds.

The Gators outscored the Crimson Tide 72-26 in the paint behind a SEC season-best 23 points by power forward Alex Condon and finished with a 44-33 rebounding advantage. Once again, Rueben Chinyelu led the way, finishing with 17 boards — the 16th time the 6-foot-11, 265-pound junior has led the Gators.

Chinyelu, Condon and Thomas Haugh, who scored 22 points, did not have shoulder the load Sunday before a sellout crowd of 10,627 in the O’Dome.

Sophomore point guard Boogie Fland turned in a nearly flawless floor game, finishing with 13 points, seven assists and just one turnovers, along with a career-high eight steals — two leading to first-half dunks with the game still in the balance. The Gators committed just two turnovers, the first when Haugh lost the ball with 16:40 remaining in the second half.

Behind Haugh and Condon, Florida closed the first half with a flourish. With the game tied 28-28, a Condon dunk ignited a 13-2 run capped by a Haugh 3-pointer. The Gators led 46-36 at halftime, with Condon and Haugh combining for 27 points.

The Gators immediately extended the advantage with a 12-0 run after intermission and never looked back during their latest rout of Bama, losers by an average of 17.3 points during the streak.

The 17th win in 18 home games for Todd Golden’s team came eight days after Florida came out flat during a 76-67 loss to Auburn, a performance the Gators vowed not to repeat against the Crimson Tide.

Flroida’s 7-foot-9 redshirt freshman Olivier Rioux scored the Gators’ final points on a putback of his own miss with 30 seconds to go, putting an exclamation point on another Alabama beatdown.

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

The lengthy wait for the Miami Dolphins’ defensive coordinator hire is now complete.

The Dolphins are moving forward with Green Bay Packers linebackers coach Sean Duggan for the job, according to a league source Sunday afternoon.

The news came minutes after the Arizona Cardinals decided on Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur to be their next head coach, rounding out the 2026 hiring cycle’s head coaching jobs. The LaFleur hire occurred about an hour after the Las Vegas Raiders chose Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak to lead them.

With the Cardinals opting against hiring former Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, who was a finalist for the job, Miami will not receive compensatory third-round picks in the next two drafts for having a minority assistant leaving for a head role elsewhere.

But it allowed the Dolphins to move forward with Duggan, 32, who has longstanding ties new Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley.

Duggan was most recently linebackers coach last season while Hafley was defensive coordinator with the Packers. He followed him to Green Bay in 2024 as a defensive assistant after being with him at Boston College the four years Hafley was head coach there.

Duggan was linebackers coach at BC from 2020 through 2023, while adding co-defensive coordinator to his title in his last season in Chestnnut Hill.

Also a BC alum, where he played linebacker from 2011 until 2014, Duggan was first with Hafley at Ohio State in 2019, as a graduate assistant.

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Hafley, who has a defensive background, said he will call defensive plays for the Dolphins, so Duggan’s role as defensive coordinator will be somewhat limited.

The Duggan news finally surfaced after initial Wisconsin-based reports a week ago that he was leaving the Packers and following Hafley.

In the meantime, the Dolphins have agreed to terms with lower-level defensive assistants, including defensive backs coach Ryan Downard, cornerbacks coach Jahmile Addae and linebackers coach Al Washington. Hafley had also filled in most of his offensive and special teams staff.

Earlier Sunday, the Dolphins agreed to bring on Georgia Tech linebackers coach Darius Eubanks as assistant special teams coach, under special teams coordinator Chris Tabor.

SoundGround Homes Enhances Home Inspection Services in Northern California  Sarasota Herald-Tribune

By LISA MASCARO, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Mike Johnson said Sunday it will be a few days before a government funding package comes up for a vote, all but ensuring the partial federal shutdown will drag into the week as Democrats and Republicans debate reining in the Trump administration’s sweeping immigration enforcement operations.

Johnson signaled he is relying on help from President Donald Trump to ensure passage. Trump struck a deal with senators to separate out funding for the Department of Homeland Security from a broader package after public outrage over two shooting deaths during protests in Minneapolis against Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The measure approved Friday by the Senate would fund DHS temporarily, for two weeks, setting up a deadline for Congress to debate and vote on new restrictions on ICE operations.

“The president is leading this,” Johnson, R-La., told “Fox News Sunday.”

“It’s his play call to do it this way,” the speaker said, adding that the Republican president has “already conceded that he wants to turn down the volume” on federal immigration operations.

Johnson faces a daunting challenge ahead, trying to muscle the funding legislation through the House while Democrats are refusing to provide the votes for speedy passage. They are demanding restraints on ICE that go beyond $20 million for body cameras that already is in the bill. They want to require that federal immigration agents unmask and identify themselves and are pressing for an end to roving patrols, amid other changes.

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Democrats dig in on ICE changes

“What is clear is that the Department of Homeland Security needs to be dramatically reformed,” said House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said on ABC’s “This Week.”

Jeffries said the administration needs to begin negotiations now, not over the next two weeks, on changes to immigration enforcement operations.

“Masks should come off,” he said. “Judicial warrants should absolutely be required consistent with the Constitution, in our view, before DHS agents or ICE agents are breaking into the homes of the American people or ripping people out of their cars.”

It’s all forcing Johnson to rely on his slim House GOP majority in a series of procedural votes, starting in committee on Monday and pushing a potential House floor vote on the package until at least Tuesday, he said.

House Democrats planned a private caucus call Sunday evening to assess the next steps.

Partial government shutdown drags on

Meanwhile, a number of other federal agencies are snared in the funding standoff as the government went into a partial shutdown over the weekend.

Defense, health, transportation and housing are among those that were given shutdown guidance by the administration, though many operations are deemed essential and services are not necessarily interrupted. Workers could go without pay if the impasse drags on. Some could be furloughed.

This is the second time in a matter of months that federal operations have been disrupted as Congress digs in, using the annual funding process as leverage to extract policy changes. Last fall, Democrats sparked what became the longest federal shutdown in history, 43 days, as they protested the expiration of health insurance tax breaks.

That shutdown ended with a promise to vote on proposals to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits. But the legislation did not advance and Democrats were unable to achieve their goal of keeping the subsidies in place. Insurance premiums spiked in the new year for millions of people.

Trump wants quick end to shutdown

This time, the administration has signaled its interest in more quickly resolving the shutdown.

Johnson said he was in the Oval Office last week when Trump, along with border czar Tom Homan, spoke with Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York to work out the deal.

“I think we’re on the path to get agreement,” Johnson said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Body cameras, which are already provided for in the package, and an end to the roving patrols by immigration agents are areas of potential agreement, Johnson said.

But he said taking the masks off and putting names on agents’ uniforms could lead to problems for law enforcement officers as they are being targeted by the protesters and their personal information is posted online.

“I don’t think the president would approve it — and he shouldn’t,” Johnson said on Fox.

Democrats, however, said the immigration operations are out of control, and it is an emergency situation that must end in Minneapolis and other cities.

Growing numbers of lawmakers are calling for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to be fired or impeached.

“What is happening in Minnesota right now is a dystopia,” said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., who led efforts to hold the line for more changes.

“ICE is making this country less safe, not more safe today,” Murphy said on “Fox News Sunday.”

South Floridians awoke Sunday to find “frozen” iguanas in their yards, streets, sidewalks and driveways after record low temperatures stunned the invasive reptiles.

At 8:50 a.m., 10 minutes before the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission opened its Sunrise drop-off location Sunday morning, John Bridgman and his wife, Lindsey, waited with a trash bag filled with two dozen iguanas.

The FWC opened five designated drop-off offices in the South and Southwest regions on Sunday and Monday to temporarily allow people to remove live, cold-stunned green iguanas from the wild without a permit.

When temperatures drop and sustain to near-freezing or below, reptiles and amphibians, including nonnative green iguanas, can go into a state of torpor, where they temporarily lose muscle control and appear “frozen,” according to the FWC.

“We got a few babies … one was pretty big,” John Bridgman said. “We went around our yard, and the rest had just fallen in the road or onto sidewalks in our community.”

Bridgman, a native New Yorker, said over his 24 years in Florida, he typically places “frozen” iguanas in the sun to defrost. This year, he saw the FWC notice about the drop-off locations. “Our HOA usually hires someone to catch them and get rid of them because of issues with them and the pool. I’m an outdoorsman and figured this is a way to help the state.”

While the Bridgmans were among the first iguana drop-offs, hundreds more followed. South Floridians brought cold-stunned iguanas in trash bags, plastic tubs and garbage pails.

A cold-stunned Cuban Knight Anole is surrendered to the Florida Wildlife Commission, Sunday, Feb.1, 2026, at the field office in Sunrise. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Sunday’s cold snap provided an opportunity to capture and transport iguanas which have invaded South Florida communities, eating landscaping and pooping in swimming pools. The FWC’s executive order provided a unique opportunity for the public to remove green iguanas from their property and bring them to the FWC, without a permit, “for humane killing or, in some cases, transfer to permittees for live-animal sales.”

Tyler Dawson, originally from Canada, brought five “frozen” green iguanas in a milk crate to the Sunrise location. He had collected them from along Orange Drive in Davie, an area abundant with the green iguanas that typically scatter across the bike path.

A "frozen" iguana on the pavement in South Florida early Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Brayden Carr, of the FWC, placed the captured reptiles into cloth sacks.

Across the tri-county area on Sunday, South Florida residents posted photos and videos on social media showing “frozen” iguanas in their driveways, streets and yards, some having fallen from trees. Some posts included curious dogs encountering them.

South Florida Sun Sentinel reporter Cindy Goodman can be reached at cgoodman@sunsentinel.com.

Drop-off locations include:
FWC South Florida Regional Lab, 2796 Overseas Highway 119, Marathon, FL 33050
FWC Office, 10052 NW 53rd Street , Sunrise, FL 33351
FWC Tequesta Field Lab, 19100 SE Federal Highway (US 1), Tequesta, FL 33469
FWC Law Enforcement Office, 2423 Edwards Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33901
FWC Southwest Regional Office, 3900 Drane Field Road, Lakeland, FL 33811

By MARIA SHERMAN, Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The 68th annual Grammy Awards will take place Sunday with a dramatically different tone than last year.

The 2025 award show was completely reimagined and refocused to relief efforts following the devastating Los Angeles-area wildfires. In 2026, focus has been placed once again on the music, where Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Bad Bunny and more will go head-to-head.

Comedian Trevor Noah will host for a sixth and final year and history could be made when some of the biggest names in music gather. Here’s some key things to know ahead of Sunday’s show at the Crypto.com Arena.

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How to watch the show and red carpet

The main show will air live on CBS beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern on Feb. 1.

The Grammys can also be watched through live TV streaming services that include CBS in their lineup, like Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV and FuboTV.

Paramount+ premium plan subscribers will be able to stream the Grammys live; Paramount+ essential subscribers will have on-demand access the next day.

The premiere ceremony will take place just ahead of the Grammys’ ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Eastern, 12:30 p.m. Pacific at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. It can be streamed at the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel and on live.GRAMMY.com.

The Associated Press will stream a four-hour red carpet show with interviews and fashion footage. It will be streamed on YouTube and APNews.com ahead of the Grammys on Sunday.

Who’s nominated at the 2025 Grammys

Kendrick Lamar leads the 2026 Grammy Award nominations with nine. Lady Gaga, Jack Antonoff and Canadian record producer/songwriter Cirkut follow with seven nominations each.

Sabrina Carpenter, Bad Bunny, Leon Thomas and Serban Ghenea all boast six nominations. Andrew Watt, Clipse, Doechii, Sounwave, SZA, Turnstile and Tyler, the Creator have five each.

This combination of photos show Jack Antonoff, left, Kendrick Lamar, center, and Lady Gaga. (AP Photo) Who’s attending and performing at the Grammys

Doechii, Harry Styles, Carole King, Chappell Roan, Charli xcx, Jeff Goldblum, Karol G, Lainey Wilson, Marcello Hernández, Nikki Glaser, Q-Tip, Queen Latifah and Teyana Taylor will present at the 2026 Grammys.

Performers include Justin Bieber, Clipse, Pharrell Williams, Sabrina Carpenter Bruno Mars, Rosé, Tyler, the Creator, Lady Gaga and all eight of this year’s best new artist nominees: Leon Thomas, Olivia Dean, global girl group Katseye, The Marías, Addison Rae, sombr, Alex Warren and Lola Young.

Reba McEntire, Brandy Clark and Lukas Nelson will take the stage for the in memoriam. Ms. Lauryn Hill will pay tribute to D’Angelo and Roberta Flack. Post Malone, Andrew Watt, Chad Smith, Duff McKagan and Slash will honor Ozzy Osbourne.

Karol G arrives at the Pre-Grammy Gala on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

By MARIA SHERMAN, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Sunday’s Grammys mark a return to normalcy after the 2025 show was altered to focus on Los Angeles-area wildfire relief efforts.

“I think we will see some history-making moments,” Recording Academy CEO and President Harvey Mason jr. told The Associated Press. “With artists being nominated in categories they haven’t been previously nominated in, and a new crop of talent coming through the system this year — I think we’re going to see some really exciting results.”

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Here’s how to watch the 2026 Grammys, including how to stream and where you can see music’s biggest stars walking the red carpet.

How do I watch the Grammys?

The main show will air live from LA’s Crypto.com Arena on CBS beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern. Paramount+ premium plan subscribers will be able to stream the telecast live, too. (Paramount+ essential subscribers will have on-demand access the next day.)

The Grammys can also be watched through live TV streaming services that include CBS in their lineup, like Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV and FuboTV.

The Premiere Ceremony will take place ahead of the Grammys telecast, at 3:30 p.m. Eastern from the Peacock Theater. It can be streamed at the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel and on live.GRAMMY.com.

How can I watch the red carpet?

The Associated Press will stream a four-hour red carpet show with interviews and fashion footage. It will be streamed on YouTube and APNews.com.

Parts of South Florida awoke Sunday to record low daily temperatures, the coldest in more than a century, according to the National Weather Service in Miami.

At the national weather station near Miami International Airport, a preliminary report showed the temperature at 35 degrees Fahrenheit at 6:53 a.m. That’s a degree lower than the daily record set in 1909 at 36 degrees. Similarly, at Palm Beach International Airport, the temperature recorded by the National Weather Service at 6:53 a.m. was 31 degrees, well below the daily record set in 1909 of 36 degrees.

In Fort Lauderdale, the temperature at the national weather station near Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport at 6:53 a.m. was a chilly 35 degrees, just slightly above the daily record low of 33 degrees recorded in 1966.

Tyler Dawson hands over iguanas to Brayden Carr of the Florida Wildlife Commission, Feb.1, 2026, at the field office in Sunrise. The FWC said it received hundreds of cold-stunned iguanas as temperatures dipped into the 30s in Broward County on Sunday. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

“Overall, this was our coldest snap since 2010,” said Ana Torres-Vazquez, a spokesperson for the National Weather Service in Miami.

A strong cold front crossed South Florida overnight Saturday into Sunday, with gusty northwesterly winds that affected western portions of the metro zones in the tri-county area. Freeze warnings had been issued for much of the area, and a few far inland areas did reach the freezing mark of 32 degrees.

By 11 a.m., temperatures at the weather stations were at 40 degrees — still cold enough for South Florida residents to don winter jackets and photograph frozen iguanas in their yards.

Along Las Olas in Fort Lauderdale, restaurants brought out heaters for outside diners on Sunday, Feb. 1. 2026. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

On Sunday, South Floridians were in full winter mode. Along Las Olas in Fort Lauderdale, restaurants brought out heaters for outside diners. At the Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop, Maria Morales sold heavy winter coats as the morning temperature there hovered around 40 degrees. And, at Flamingo Gardens in Davie, animal caretakers brought heat lamps in to keep the parrots warm and the flamingos buried their heads under their wings.

The forecast shows another near-freezing night ahead, with temperatures dropping to the mid-30s by Monday morning. The wind chill is expected to make it feel like the 20s. Another cold front is expected next weekend.

Sun Sentinel reporter Cindy Goodman can be reached at cgoodman@sunsentinel.com.

Before I tell you why you should watch the new documentary about Mel Brooks, I will tell you that 25 years ago, he told me, “You may be right. I have done everything there is to do in show business. … Everything except to be tall. That’s the one thing I’ve never accomplished, being tall. But I’m looking forward to that.”

He was a relative youngster then, 74 years old, but at a very important point in his life. He was generally regarded as a comedic giant, and why not? He had spent his life making people laugh, first as a Catskills comic and then as part of a glittering writing team (along with Woody Allen and Neil Simon) for Sid Caesar’s pioneering TV programs “Your Show of Shows” and “Caesar’s Hour”; as the co-creator of “Get Smart”; as the 2000 Year Old Man on a series of best-selling comedy albums with pal Carl Reiner; as movie writer, director, producer and actor in such films as “The Producers,” “Young Frankenstein” and “Blazing Saddles.”

But he had not had a critical or box-office hit since his 1977 Hitchcock spoof “High Anxiety.” And there he sat on a cold December day in 2000 in New York, taking a big risk, for many believed that the success or failure of the musical version of “The Producers” he was overseeing would provide the final sentence to his career.

Well, we all know what happened. “The Producers” would open in Chicago, move to Broadway and win a record 12 Tony Awards. The career carried on, and now here is Brooks, as charming, smart and, of course, funny as ever, as the centerpiece of a thoughtfully thrilling documentary now airing on HBO Max. “Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!,” exclamation point more than justified.

It may be a bit long at almost four hours (in two episodes, now streaming), but it is impossible not to enjoy. Its length is forgivable since one can sense the excitement and affection of filmmaker Judd Apatow, who interviews Brooks at length. Apatow, along with co-director Michael Bonfiglio, has previously also captured in documentary form George Carlin and Garry Shandling.

Drawing on ample archival footage and candid interviews, he and Bonfiglio take us back to the beginning with Brooks (born Melvin Kaminsky), the youngest of four boys of a widowed mother in Brooklyn, all of them off to World War II, all safely returned, with Brooks telling Apatow, “War changed me. If you don’t get killed in the Army, you can learn a lot.”

Antonio Perez / Chicago TribuneCustomer Ronnie Holloway looks over Panini American Trading Card Co. cards featuring everyone from American presidents to golf legends at Elite Sports Cards and Comics in Chicago on March 28, 2018.

His career moves to the raucous Sid Caesar writers’ room and we do also hear, rather wistfully, from Brooks’ three children and his first wife, former Broadway dancer Florence Baum, before he was off to moviemaking in California in the early 1960s. His granddaughter Samantha is charming.

You will hear Brooks tell a terrific Cary Grant story (one he has told many times over the years on the various late-night talk shows where he has been a frequent guest) but, more tenderly, tales of his courtship and marriage to actress Anne Bancroft. Gene Wilder shares feelings that go far deeper than director and star. And we get details of Brooks’ long friendship with writer-director Reiner, from the early 1960s to their sharing dinners together as widowers every night watching “Jeopardy” on TV.

Bancroft died in 2005; their son, novelist Max, is tender in interviews. Reiner’s wife Estelle died in 2008 and Reiner in 2020. Hearing Reiner’s son, filmmaker Rob, talk about his father and Brooks gives one a chill, knowing this was one of the final conversations before he and his wife Michele Singer Reiner’s December murders.

The number of people with whom Brooks has shared his creative life will impress and perhaps surprise you. There’s Richard Pryor, who did a bit of writing for “Blazing Saddles,” who says, “He’s a loving man. It’s about love with him.”

The late director David Lynch credits Brooks with saving his career by hiring him to direct “The Elephant Man” after seeing Lynch’s “Eraserhead.” In addition to his own movies, Brooks produced such films, through his Brooksfilms, as “The Fly,” “My Favorite Year,” “Frances” and others, taking a rare low profile lest his name lead moviegoers to think they would be seeing comedies.

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Naturally, we hear from a large crowd of showbiz folks and all of them — Ben Stiller, Jerry Seinfeld, Dave Chappelle, Sarah Silverman, Conan O’Brien, Josh Gad, Robert Townsend, Matthew Broderick, Nathan Lane and others — are complimentary. There must be someone in that backbiting swamp that is Hollywood who isn’t a Brooks fan, but such a person is not to be found here.

Whatever your relationship with Brooks beforehand, this film will enrich it. Will you understand what makes him tick? I don’t know, and you won’t care. Just spending time with him is satisfying enough.

His famously quick wit has not lost a step. When Apatow asks, “You lost your father at an early age?” Brooks quickly replies, “No, no. My father died.”

His ability to recall names and places and laughs is, frankly, astonishing. He is not only able to remember but to enjoy, to savor. We should all be so lucky.

In the film, he says, “Sometimes my comedy is just to celebrate the joy of being alive.” And as he has said many times in his many years, he has always used humor as “a defense against the universe.” Few, if any, have done it better.

rkogan@chicagotribune.com

By MARK KENNEDY, AP Entertainment Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Some people see the glass as half full and some as half empty. Marc Shaiman is something else entirely.

“I’m not even happy with the glass,” he says with a laugh.

The award-winning Hollywood and Broadway composer and lyricist cheerfully likes to call himself an “Eeyore” and “a card-carrying pessimist” despite many of his biggest dreams coming true.

“Just as soon as something good happens, something bad’s going to happen,” he tells The Associated Press. “I am always waiting for that other shoe to drop, and it inevitably drops.”

His career and personal ups and downs are on full display this winter with Tuesday’s publication of his memoir, “Never Mind the Happy: Showbiz Stories from a Sore Winner,” which is filled with funny stories from a man who has helped fuel popular movies and musicals for decades.

“I’ve been lucky enough to do a lot and I’ve been lucky enough to have an outrageous longevity. I thought, ‘Let me write it down, finally,’” he says.

This cover image released by Regalo Press shows “Never Mind the Happy: Showbiz Stories from a Sore Winner,” a memoir by Marc Shaiman. (Regalo Press via AP) Tales of Bette Midler, Stephen Sondheim and the ‘South Park’ guys

The memoir charts the New Jersey-born musical prodigy’s rise from Bette Midler’s musical director in his teens to scoring such films as “Sleepless in Seattle” and “Mary Poppins Returns” and Broadway shows like “Hairspray” and “Catch Me If You Can.”

He’s worked with Billy Crystal, Martin Short, Luther Vandross, Raquel Welch and Rob Reiner, sparred with producer Scott Rudin and had a spat with Nora Ephron (“I’m certain she’s in heaven, telling all the angels she doesn’t like harps,” he writes). He also played at the White House and was a force in the early days of “Saturday Night Live.”

There was the time in 1999 that he got legendary composer Stephen Sondheim so high on pot at a party in his apartment that the iconic composer collapsed three times. “I’ve killed Stephen Sondheim,” he thought to himself. (Sondheim asked him to tell the story only after he died.)

He tells the story of hearing Meryl Streep repeatedly working on a song for “Mary Poppins Returns.” Moved, he and his writing partner, Scott Williams, knocked on her door to say how impressed they were by her dedication to rehearse. “Well, guys, fear can be a powerful motivator,” she told them.

“I’m mostly just trying to show how human everyone is — even these bold-faced names,” Shaiman, a two-time Grammy winner and two-time Emmy winner, says in the interview.

Shaiman isn’t above mocking himself, as he does for becoming an inveterate pothead and cocaine user. “I should go into the Guinness Book of World Records for being the only person who put on weight while being a cocaine addict,” he writes.

There are stories about how a misunderstanding over an unpaid bill with Barbra Streisand left him shaken for days and the time he insulted Harry Connick Jr. (Both would later reconcile.)

Then there was the time he found himself dressed in an ostentatious powder-blue suit and feather boa alongside Matt Stone and Trey Parker on a red carpet for “South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut” — they were dressed as Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Lopez.

One lesson from Shaiman: ‘Show up’

One lesson Shaiman hopes to teach aspiring artists is to go for it: “What you can do is show up. Show up to everything. Say yes to everything because I’m a good example of that.”

He tells the story of Midler organizing a world tour and offering his services but being told she was only hiring local Los Angeles people. So he withdrew all his money from the bank, hopped on a flight from New York and called her from a phone booth: “I’m in L.A. Where’s rehearsal?”

“Even if you don’t get the job, keep your spirit up because someone in that room is going to remember you for another thing. That’s the thing I think to really learn from the book,” he says.

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As a sign of Shaiman’s pull on Broadway, the audiobook will feature performances by Crystal, Short, Matthew Broderick, Megan Hilty, Nathan Lane, Katharine McPhee and Ben Whishaw, among others.

“I had included a lot of lyrics in the book and then I suddenly realized, ‘What, am I going to sing them all or speak them all?’ So I started calling friends, some who had sung those songs and some who had sung the demos,” he says.

Crystal met Shaiman at “Saturday Night Live” and quickly hit it off. In a separate interview, Crystal called his friend funny and quick to improvise, with an almost photographic memory of music.

“Look at his range: From ‘Misery’ to the beautiful score from ‘The American President.’ And I brought him in on ‘61(asterisk)’ and then the ‘Mr. Saturday Night’ score,” Crystal says. “He’s just so uniquely talented as an artist.”

Despite being a Tony Award winner in 2003 with “Hairspray” and earning two other nominations for “Catch Me If You Can” in 2011 and “Some Like It Hot” in 2023, Shaiman is flustered by Broadway.

His last two shows — “Smash” and “Some Like It Hot” — earned great reviews but closed early, a victim of high costs and fickle audiences.

“I wish the shows kind of stunk and I could go, ‘Oh, man, that really stunk. People are really not liking this,’” he says. “But when they’re enjoying it?”

Shaiman really has nothing else to prove and yet he laughs that his skin has gotten thinner — not thicker — over the years. He’d like to take it easy, but that’s not what Eeyores do.

“I don’t know how well I’ll actually do with retirement, but I’d like to give it a try.”