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Today is Tuesday, Feb. 3, the 34th day of 2026. There are 331 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Feb. 3, 2015, a Metro-North Railroad commuter train slammed into an SUV stuck on the tracks at a suburban rail crossing 20 miles north of New York City, killing five train passengers and the SUV driver and injuring about 30 others.

Also on this date:

In 1870, the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, granting Black American men the right to vote, was ratified.

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In 1913, the 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, providing for a federal income tax, was ratified.

In 1917, the United States broke off diplomatic relations with Germany, the same day an American cargo ship, the SS Housatonic, was sunk by a U-boat off Britain (after the crew was allowed to board lifeboats).

In 1943, during World War II, the U.S. transport ship SS Dorchester, which was carrying troops to Greenland, sank after being hit by a German torpedo in the Labrador Sea; only some 230 of the 900 aboard survived.

In 1959, which would become known as “the day the music died,” rock ‘n roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson died in a small plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa.

In 1966, the Soviet probe Luna 9 became the first man-made object to make a soft landing on the moon.

In 1998, a U.S. Marine jet sliced through the cable of a ski gondola near Cavalese, Italy, causing the car to plunge hundreds of feet, killing all 20 people inside.

In 2006, an Egyptian passenger ferry sank in the Red Sea during bad weather, killing more than 1,000 people.

In 2007, a truck bomb exploded in a busy street market in Baghdad, killing more than 100 people in one of the deadliest single attacks in the Iraqi capital.

In 2023, more than three dozen freight cars of a train carrying hazardous materials derailed near East Palestine, Ohio, close to the Pennsylvania line. The derailment prompted an immediate evacuation and the intentional burning of toxic vinyl chloride three days later that sent flames and acrid smoke in the air.

Today’s birthdays:

• Football Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton is 86.
• Actor Blythe Danner is 83.
• Football Hall of Famer Bob Griese is 81.
• Singer-guitarist Dave Davies (The Kinks) is 79.
• Actor Morgan Fairchild is 76.
• Actor Nathan Lane is 70.
• Actor Maura Tierney is 61.
• Basketball Hall of Famer Vlade Divac is 58.
• Golf Hall of Famer Retief Goosen is 57.
• Actor Warwick Davis is 56.
• Actor Isla Fisher is 50.
• Reggaeton singer Daddy Yankee is 49.
• Actor Aimee Lou Wood is 32.

Re: Stop DeSantis from spending too much money, Editorial, Feb. 1

You should stick to reporting the news rather than your editorial garbage. Your hatred of our governor has blinded your ability to be balanced, fair or accurate.

Florida has grown exponentially since Ron DeSantis was elected. Almost 1,000 people per day move to our great state. His ability to not only balance our budget but to turn a surplus while adding so many citizens is a model that should be applauded and envied.

The governor is going to reduce property taxes, if he gets his way, to make home ownership more accessible and affordable. Under his leadership, for the first time in decades, property insurance rates are falling by double digits.

Those of us who have subscribed to your newspaper for decades realize that the truth and facts no longer fit your political agenda. Frankly, I think your entire editorial board should be replaced.

I do love your sportswriters. That is the only reason that I still subscribe to your once-proud newspaper.

Brian Samberg, Delray Beach

ICE must leave Minnesota

America has benefited from its history of welcoming immigrants.

This does not mean that in the modern era that the U.S. should have open borders. Congress and the executive branch must finally come up with an effective and humane plan for the settlement of the many people all over the globe who want to live here.

We expect properly trained law enforcement to control our borders and to deport the criminals who are here illegally. Unfortunately, the Trump administration has crafted ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) into a poorly trained, aggressive military-style force that violates many provisions of the Bill of Rights.

The Florida Democratic Party Jewish Caucus calls on the Trump adminstration to remove ICE from Minnesota until a plan of cooperation between federal and state officials can be agreed upon and the deaths of innocent citizens are investigated transparently by local, state and federal law enforcement departments.

Leviticus 19:34: “The stranger who sojourns with you shall be as a native from among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. I am the lord your G-d.”

Richard Stark, Boynton Beach

The writer is president of the Florida Democratic Party Jewish Caucus and is a former Broward County legislator.

When will it end?

Venezuela, Greenland, Canada, Mexico, NATO.

Pete Hegseth, RFK Jr., Kristi Noem, Kash Patel, Stephen Miller.

Minneapolis, Portland, Chicago, Washington, Los Angeles.

Jerome Powell, James Comey, Letitia Jones, Mark Kelley, Lisa Cook.

The Trump-Kennedy Center, Donald J. Trump U.S. Institute of Peace, Board of Peace.

ICE, Renee Good, Alex Pretti.

Can’t anyone stop him?

Joel Speiser, Delray Beach

‘This cannot be America’

It has been a very sad nightmare to watch, day after day, the news where ICE agents drag, torture, arrest and kill innocent citizens without daring to ask them for their IDs. My heart cannot continue seeing this.

We have never been in such a disastrous, disgraceful and shameful chaotic situation.

The world is watching. Are we cursed? We do not deserve it.

I hope that protests against ICE won’t end soon and, on the contrary, they extend stronger nationwide until ICE agents are prosecuted. I feel like we’re living in wartime under a Nazi regime where innocent citizens were treated that way.

This cannot be America. Shame on you, ICE!

Sarina Eliyakim, Fort Lauderdale

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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Here are the top stories for Tuesday, Feb. 3. 2026. Get the weather forecast for today here.

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By KEVIN FREKING

WASHINGTON (AP) — Speaker Mike Johnson’s ability to carry out President Donald Trump’s “play call” for funding the government will be put to the test Tuesday as the House holds a procedural vote on a bill to end the partial shutdown.

Johnson will need near-unanimous support from his Republican conference to proceed. He can afford to lose only one Republican on party-line votes with perfect attendance, but some lawmakers are threatening to tank the effort if their priorities are not included. Trump weighed in with a social media post, telling them “There can be NO CHANGES at this time.”

“We will work together in good faith to address the issues that have been raised, but we cannot have another long, pointless, and destructive Shutdown that will hurt our Country so badly — One that will not benefit Republicans or Democrats. I hope everyone will vote, YES!,” Trump wrote on his social media site.

The measure would end the partial government shutdown that began Saturday, funding most of the federal government through Sept. 30 and the Department of Homeland Security for two weeks as lawmakers negotiate potential changes for the agency that enforces the nation’s immigration laws — United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.

Running Trump’s ‘play call’

Johnson said on “Fox News Sunday” it was Trump’s “play call to do it this way. He had already conceded he wants to turn down the volume, so to speak.” But GOP leaders sounded like they still had work to do in convincing the rank-and-file to join them as House lawmakers returned to the Capitol Monday after a week back in their congressional districts.

“We always work till the midnight hour to get the votes,” said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La. “You never start the process with everybody on board. You work through it, and you could say that about every major bill we’ve passed.”

The funding package passed the Senate on Friday. Trump says he’ll sign it immediately if it passes the House. Some Democrats are expected to vote for the final bill, but not for the initial procedural measure setting the terms for the House debate, making it the tougher test for Johnson and the White House.

Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries has made clear that Democrats wouldn’t help Republicans out of their procedural jam, even though Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer helped negotiate the funding bill.

Jeffries noted that the procedural vote covers a variety of issues that most Democrats oppose, including resolutions to hold former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress over the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.

“If they have some massive mandate,” Jeffries said of Republicans, “then go pass your rule, which includes toxic bills that we don’t support.”

Key differences from the last shutdown

The path to the current partial shutdown differs from the fall impasse, which affected more agencies and lasted a record 43 days.

Then, the debate was over extending temporary, COVID-era subsidies for those who get health coverage through the Affordable Care Act. Democrats were unsuccessful in getting those subsidies included as part of a package to end the shutdown.

Congress has made important progress since then, passing six of the 12 annual appropriations bills that fund federal agencies and programs. That includes important programs such as nutrition assistance and fully operating national parks and historic sites. They are funded through Sept. 30.

But the remaining unpassed bills represent roughly three-quarters of federal spending, including the Department of Defense. Service members and federal workers could miss paychecks depending upon the length of the current funding lapse.

Voting bill becomes last-minute obstacle

Some House Republicans have demanded that the funding package include legislation requiring voters to show proof of citizenship before they are eligible to participate in elections. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., had said the legislation, known as the SAVE Act, must be included in the appropriations package.

But Luna appeared to drop her objections late Monday, writing on social media that she had spoken with Trump about a “pathway forward” for the voting bill in the Senate that would keep the government open.

The Brennan Center for Justice, a think tank focused on democracy and voting rights issues, said the voting bill’s passage would mean that Americans would need to produce a passport or birth certificate to register to vote, and that at least 21 million votes lack ready access to those papers.

“If House Republicans add the SAVE Act to the bipartisan appropriations package it will lead to another prolonged Trump government shutdown,” Schumer said. “Let’s be clear, the SAVE Act is not about securing our elections. It is about suppressing voters.”

Johnson has operated with a thin majority throughout his tenure as speaker. But with Saturday’s special election in Texas, the Republican majority stands at a threadbare 218-214, shrinking the GOP’s ability to withstand defections.

___

Associated Press video journalist Nathan Ellgren contributed to this report.

SUNRISE — Jason Zucker broke a tie on a power play at 5:31 of the third period and he Buffalo Sabres beat the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers 5-3 on Monday night.

The Sabres have won six of seven and took over the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference standings. They hold a 10-point lead over the Panthers. Florida, which has lost four straight, trails Boston by nine for the final playoff position with 27 games remaining.

Peyton Krebs had a goal and an two assists for the Sabres. Tage Thompson, Zach Benson, and Josh Doan also scored for Buffalo, with Rasmus Dahlin had two assists. Alex Lyon, who has won 11 of his past 12 starts, made 38 saves.

Sandis Vilmanis, Evan Rodrigues, and Uvis Balinskis scored for Florida. Sergei Bobrovsky made 15 saves.

The Panthers took a 2-0 lead early in the first period, but the Sabres scored the next three.

Florida, already playing without a number of its top forwards including captain Aleksander Barkov and Brad Marchand, lost center Sam Bennett to an upper-body injury.

Bennett left the game after the first and did not return.

The Panthers scored 37 seconds in on a goal from Vilmanis, with Rodrigues making it 2-0 at 5:56 of the period.

Buffalo scored the next two to tie the score going into the second, first off a long wrist shot from Thompson, then off a goal from Kreps in front off the rush.

The Sabres led 3-2 at 5:44 of the second when Bobrovsky came 15 feet out to play the puck. Only Ryan McLeod beat the Florida goalie to it, and he found Benson in the slot for the easy goal.

The Panthers tied it late in the second on a power-play goal from Balinskis, but Buffalo took the lead back on a power-play of its own at 5:31 of the third when Zucker scored off a blind feed from Doan. Doan ended the scoring with a goal off a pass from Krebs with 2:1:9 remaining.

Up next

Panthers: Host Boston on Wednesday night.

By DAVID KLEPPER

WASHINGTON (AP) — Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has withheld a complaint made about her conduct from members of Congress for eight months, claiming the delay is needed for a legal review, an attorney for the person making the allegations said Monday.

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The complaint was reviewed by the office of the intelligence community’s inspector general, which deemed it not credible, Gabbard’s office said. The person then sought to have the complaint referred to members of Congress’ intelligence committees, as is permitted by federal law, but that has not occurred.

Andrew Bakaj, the attorney for the person who made the complaint, said he could not identify his client, their employer or offer specifics about the allegations because of the nature of their work. But he said there’s no justification for keeping the complaint from Congress since last spring.

There was no delay in getting the complaint to members of the intelligence committees, Gabbard’s press secretary Olivia Coleman said, though she added that the number of classified details in the complaint made the review process “substantially more difficult.”

Gabbard’s office disputed the claims, which were first reported by The Wall Street Journal. Coleman noted that the inspector general who deemed the complaint non-credible wasn’t selected by Gabbard and began their work during then-President Joe Biden’s administration.

“Director Gabbard has always and will continue to support whistleblower’s and their right, under the law, to submit complaints to Congress, even if they are completely baseless like this one,” Coleman wrote in a post on X.

Gabbard coordinates the work of the nation’s 18 intelligence agencies. In an unusual role for a spy chief, she was on site last week when the FBI served a search warrant on election offices in Georgia central to Trump’s disproven claims about fraud in the 2020 election, raising questions from Democrats on the House and Senate intelligence committees.

Bakaj, meanwhile, has asked Congress to investigate the handling of the complaint.

A spokesperson for Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Gabbard pledged under oath during her confirmation hearing that she would protect whistleblowers and make sure Congress was kept informed.

“We expect her to honor those commitments and comply with both the letter and the spirit of the law,” Warner’s office said in a statement.

The inspector general’s office, which is tasked with providing independent oversight of the intelligence community, did not immediately respond to questions about the complaint.

A former intelligence officer with the CIA, Bakaj previously represented an intelligence community whistleblower whose account of a phone call between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy helped initiate the first of two impeachment cases against the Republican leader during his first team.

Trump was impeached by the House but acquitted by the Senate in February 2020 over the call during which he asked the Ukrainian president for a “favor” — to announce he was investigating Democrats including 2020 rival Joe Biden.

Associated Press writer Eric Tucker contributed to this report.

By MELISSA GOLDIN

Multiple AI-generated photos falsely claiming to show New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as a child and his mother, filmmaker Mira Nair, with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and his confidant Ghislaine Maxwell, along with other high-profile public figures, were shared widely on social media Monday.

The images originated on an X account labeled as parody after a huge tranche of new Epstein files was released by the Justice Department on Friday. They are clearly watermarked as AI and other elements they contain do not add up.

Here’s a closer look at the facts.

CLAIM: Images show Mamdani as a child and his mother with Jeffrey Epstein and other public figures linked to the disgraced financier.

THE FACTS: The images were created with artificial intelligence. They all contain a digital watermark identifying them as such and first appeared on a parody X account that says it creates “high quality AI videos and memes.”

In one of the images, Mamdani and Nair appear in the front of a group photo with Maxwell, Epstein, former President Bill Clinton, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Microsoft founder Bill Gates. They seem to be posing at night on a crowded city street. Mamdani looks to be a preteen or young teenager.

Another supposedly shows the same group of people, minus Nair, in what appears to be a tropical setting. Epstein is pictured holding Clinton sitting in his arms, while Maxwell has her arm around Mamdani, who appears slightly younger.

Other AI-generated images circulating online depict Mamdani as a baby being held by Nair while she poses with Epstein, Clinton, Maxwell and Bezos. None of Epstein’s victims have publicly accused Clinton, Gates or Bezos of being involved in his crimes.

Google’s Gemini app detected SynthID, a digital watermarking tool for identifying content that has been generated or altered with AI, in all the images described above. This means they were created or edited, either entirely or in part, by Google’s AI models.

The X account that first posted the images describes itself as “an AI-powered meme engine” that uses “AI to create memes, songs, stories, and visuals that call things exactly how they are — fast, loud, and impossible to ignore.”

An inquiry sent to the account went unanswered. However, a post by the account seems to acknowledge that it created the images.

“Damn you guys failed,” it reads. “I purposely made him a baby which would technically make this pic 34 years old. Yikes.”

The photos began circulating after an email emerged in which a publicist, Peggy Siegal, wrote to Epstein about seeing a variety of luminaries, including Clinton, Bezos and Nair, an award-winning Indian filmmaker, at 2009 afterparty for a film held at Maxwell’s townhouse.

While Mamdani appears as a baby or young child in all of the images, he was 18 in 2009, when Nair is said to have attended the party.

The images have led to related falsehoods that have spread online in their wake. For example, one claims that Epstein is Mamdani’s father. This is not true — Mamdani’s father is Mahmood Mamdani, an anthropology professor at Columbia University.

The NYC Mayor’s Office did not respond to a request for comment.

Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck.

General Daily Insight for February 03, 2026

Two steps forward and one step back is still progress! At 9:33 pm EST, the cosmic rebel Uranus ends its retrograde and moves ahead through steady Taurus. Stalled changes around resources and stability should finally regain momentum. We may begin the day cautiously, yet by evening the urge to upgrade our tools, budgets, or habits grows. We must pay attention to find updates that are both useful and realistic. Outsized expectations risk causing a lot of stress! Picking a single main project would be wise.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Money, money, money! Your finances are the focus as unpredictable Uranus stations direct in your 2nd House of Resources, stalled money moves unstick, so a raise chat or subscription cleanup suddenly looks worth action. Your bold streak helps you negotiate fairly, while steady pacing keeps nerves calm if an invoice or shared bill surprises you. Your 2nd House of Resources rewards clean tracking, so check banking alerts and receipts to stop small leaks before they spread. Clear numbers calm nerves and protect your energy well today.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Comfort isn’t frivolous at this time. Radical Uranus is shifting ahead while stationed in your sign, powering up your 1st house — the sector that rules your character and style. You might be craving a wardrobe update or an appearance modification (anything from painting your nails to getting a tattoo is on the table here). You deserve to live a life you enjoy! On top of that, even if others don’t understand your total depth, their first impression of you should be very positive.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Quiet time brings behind-the-scenes breakthroughs. As the innovation planet Uranus stations direct in your 12th House of Secrets, solutions are more likely to appear when you step back and rest. If you’ve lost something, take a break and then double-check with fresh eyes. Maybe you’re struggling to remember some information that could fly into your mind almost as soon as you stop trying so hard to think of it. Jot down any more vivid dreams ASAP, because their symbolism may point to your next step.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Friends could currently respond best to kind, steady leadership. With unconventional Uranus stationing direct in your 11th House of Socialization, a group “plan” might seem more like a collection of unrelated ideas with conflicting schedules. You can step up and suggest less polarizing activities, massage the timeline, or redistribute roles — whatever’s necessary to reduce friction and increase joy. To be the best possible leader, make sure to get everyone’s input and check in with them along the way. Take charge with empathy.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Trust your instincts! Your generosity and creativity are in charge as surprising Uranus shifts direct in your 10th House of Authority. You’ve got real leadership potential right now, and even if you’d rather not be in charge, managers or mentors are more inclined to view you positively. This is a great time to polish your professional portfolio or apply for jobs — you might even feel inspired to look up auditions for local theater performances! Your presence can turn curveballs into home runs.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Fixing tiny missteps has massive benefits at present. Your 9th House of Growth welcomes Uranus as it begins moving ahead — now’s your chance to follow up on applications, book trips, or contemplate education opportunities. These things might have seemed intimidatingly complex, but asking a few thoughtful questions could make a huge difference. Someone might respond with a workaround that saves money without lowering quality. Once today’s tasks are checked off, consider setting up some structures to assist your future self in similar endeavors.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

This afternoon invites fair judgment — even if that isn’t the outcome you’d prefer. As freedom-seeking Uranus stations direct in your 8th House of Shared Resources, tangled arrangements loosen, and a more just split or cleaner agreement becomes easier to reach. If money, knowledge, or labor feel uneven, propose simple rules and choose transparency, because trust strengthens when everyone sees the same numbers. If there’s too much to handle at once, try to arrange a friendly follow-up to revise details without blame if anything changes.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Your needs are valid, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Relationship dynamics (platonic or otherwise) may shift abruptly as shocking Uranus spins direct in your 7th House of Alignments. Your friends have a deep impact on your character, and this is a great time to think about that impact. If it’s positive, all is well, but it might not be positive. Address any negative shifts directly, but not confrontationally. Being open with one another is the best way to meet everyone’s needs.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

A flexible routine will be much easier to keep up today than a strict one. Uranus wakes up in your 6th House of Practice, invigorating your efforts to streamline your day-to-day activities. You might switch up your commute, try a new snack, or reorganize your everyday bag. As each small update stacks up, you could regain a lot of time and energy. Don’t jump into things too quickly, though. Tweak your set-up gradually and celebrate each win along the way. Consistency is crucial!

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

The stars are calling for some silliness! Nothing too dramatic, just a little dose of laughter to lighten up your day. With reactive Uranus stationing direct in your 5th House of Creativity, a passion project or date idea gets a jolt, inviting you to try something new on a whim. Tell a lame joke, paint a blob, or sing along with a song even when you can’t hit the high notes. Indulging in happiness renews your energy, allowing you to commit to bigger goals.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Your home may start feeling different in a good way. As unruly Uranus stations direct in your tender 4th house, domestic changes are afoot. Seize this opening to design a home set-up that actually fits your daily life. Your living room isn’t in an interior design magazine — it’s in your life! Moving furniture to let in more light or designing a chore chart (yes, even if you live alone) could greatly improve your home’s energy. When you’re comfortable there, your guests will be, too.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

A simple message could send you down a helpful path. Honest inquiries, in particular, can travel far. With erratic Uranus stationing direct in your 3rd House of Communication, a favor, errand, or repair should happen much faster when you’re willing to start the conversation. Speak and be concrete about needs, because clear words bridge gaps with siblings, neighbors, classmates, or co-workers. Be wary of misbehaving devices — in-person chats are more reliable than texts or emails. When you need something to happen, say so!

By FATIMA HUSSEIN

WASHINGTON (AP) — Legal experts say President Donald Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax information raises a plethora of legal and ethical questions, including the propriety of the leader of the executive branch pursuing scorched-earth litigation against the very government he is in charge of.

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The lawsuit, filed Thursday in federal court in Florida, includes the president’s sons Donald Jr. and Eric as plaintiffs. It alleges that the leak of Trump’s and the Trump Organization’s confidential tax records caused “reputational and financial harm, public embarrassment, unfairly tarnished their business reputations, portrayed them in a false light, and negatively affected President Trump, and the other Plaintiffs’ public standing.”

In 2024, former IRS contractor Charles Edward Littlejohn, of Washington, D.C. — who worked for Booz Allen Hamilton, a defense and national security tech firm — was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to leaking tax information about Trump and others to two news outlets between 2018 and 2020.

The outlets were not named in the charging documents, but the description and time frame align with stories about Trump’s tax returns in The New York Times and reporting about wealthy Americans’ taxes in the nonprofit investigative journalism organization ProPublica. The 2020 New York Times report found Trump paid $750 in federal income tax the year he first entered the White House and no income tax at all some years thanks to reported colossal losses.

Legal analysts say that Trump does have a legitimate claim against the IRS but question the amount he is seeking as well as his decision to pursue the case at all. The disclosure violated IRS Code 6103, one of the strictest confidentiality laws in federal statute, which provides a legal remedy for individuals whose tax information is leaked, including a minimum of $1,000 per disclosure.

Since Littlejohn stole tax records of other billionaires, including Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, there is a possibility the case sets a precedent for other high-wealth earners to seek compensation from the government over the leak.

David Gair, a tax attorney with Troutman Pepper Locke in Dallas who represents individuals whose tax information was included in the Littlejohn leak, told The Associated Press that several clients have already reached out about bringing a potential claim against the government.

“People are saying, well, if he can do it, then why can’t I do it? And so I think you will have a lot more people filing similar lawsuits, thinking that they might be able to piggyback on what he’s doing.”

Amy Hanauer, executive director at the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, says a legal remedy has already been provided for the leak.

“The contractor who leaked this information has been imprisoned, the Trump administration’s Treasury Department canceled its contracts with the company that employed the leaker, and the IRS issued a rare public apology to taxpayers affected by the leak,” and the IRS has pledged to strengthen its data protection procedures as a result, Hanauer said.

She adds that “even if an unbiased judge rightly rejects Trump’s demands as preposterous, there is a great danger that the IRS would ‘agree’ to settle and pay out an enormous sum of taxpayer dollars to Trump.”

Trump, when asked by a reporter over the weekend how he will manage being on both sides of the lawsuit, referred to a previous complaint he filed against the Department of Justice seeking roughly $230 million in damages over investigations into his 2016 campaign’s Russia ties and the 2022 Mar-a-Lago classified documents case.

He added that he’s supposed to “work out a settlement with myself.”

“I think what we’ll do is do something for charity,” Trump said Saturday. “We could make it a substantial amount. Nobody would care because it’s going to go to numerous very good charities.”

A White House representative did not offer details on what organizations might receive any settlement money.

Individuals whose tax information has been leaked don’t have to prove compensatory damages, Gair noted, though Trump is also seeking punitive damages, changing the stakes.

Referring to the deals that Trump’s family business has inked since he won reelection, Gair said Trump may have a hard time showing real harm.

“It’s hard for me to believe that he really had any losses, but maybe,” Gair said.

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Monday that he won’t tear down the Kennedy Center but said it needs to be closed for about two years for work that cannot be done with patrons coming and going for shows and other performances.

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• Trump administration cuts number of sites for testing the 2030 census, focusing on the South
• Every Homeland Security officer in Minneapolis is now being issued a body-worn camera, Noem says

Trump’s comments, though, suggested that the interior of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will be gutted as part of the process.

“I’m not ripping it down,” the Republican president told reporters following an unrelated announcement in the Oval Office. “I’ll be using the steel. So we’re using the structure.”

Such a project would mark Trump’s latest effort to put his stamp on a cultural institution that Congress designated as a living memorial to President Kennedy, a Democrat, in addition to attempting to leave his mark on Washington through other projects, the most prominent of which is adding a ballroom to the White House.

Trump announced Sunday on social media that he intends to close the performing arts venue on July 4 for about two years, subject to approval by a board led by many of his allies. Trump is also the board’s chairman.

The announcement followed a wave of cancellations by leading performers, musicians and groups since the president ousted the previous leadership and his name was added to the building.

Recalling his past career in construction and real estate, Trump said, “you want to sit with something for a little while before you decide on what you want to do.”

Speaking of the Kennedy Center, he said: “We sat with it. We ran it. It’s in very bad shape,” asserting that the building is “run down,” “dilapidated” and “sort of dangerous.”

“You can’t do any work because people are coming in and out.”

He pegged the cost at about $200 million, including the use of “the highest-grade marbles, the highest-grade everything.”

“We’re fully financed and so we’re going to close it and we’re going to make it unbelievable, far better than it ever was, and we’ll be able to do it properly,” Trump said.

He had said last October, also on social media, that the venue would remain open during construction. But on Monday he said that plan was not feasible.

Tarps are installed in front of the sign on the Kennedy Center on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

“I was thinking maybe there’s a way of doing it simultaneously but there really isn’t, and we’re going to have something that when it opens it’s going to be brand new, beautiful,” Trump said.

“The steel will all be checked out because it’ll be fully exposed,” he said. “It’s been up for a long time, but as anybody knows it was in very bad shape. Wasn’t kept well, before I got there,” he said. “So we’re going to make it, I think there won’t be anything like it in the country.”

Trump promised brand new heating and air conditioning systems as part of his latest construction projects. Since he returned to the presidency, the Kennedy Center is one of many Washington landmarks that he has sought to overhaul in his second term.

He demolished the East Wing of the White House and launched a massive $400 million ballroom project, is actively pursuing building a triumphal arch on the other side the Arlington Bridge from the Lincoln Memorial, and has plans for Washington Dulles International Airport.

“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. 

[contact-form]

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.