South Florida Local News

Today is Monday, Jan. 13, the 13th day of 2025. There are 352 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Jan. 13, 2021, President Donald Trump was impeached by the U.S. House over the violent Jan. 6 siege of the Capitol, becoming the only president to be twice impeached; ten Republicans joined Democrats in voting to impeach Trump on a charge of “incitement of insurrection.” (Trump would again be acquitted by the Senate in a vote after his term was over.)

Also on this date:

In 1733, James Oglethorpe and some 120 English colonists arrived at Charleston, South Carolina, while en route to settle in present-day Georgia.

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In 1794, President George Washington approved a measure adding two stars and two stripes to the American flag, following the admission of Vermont and Kentucky to the Union. (The number of stripes was later reduced to the original 13.)

In 1941, a new law went into effect granting Puerto Ricans U.S. birthright citizenship.

In 1979, singer Donny Hathaway died in a fall from a hotel window in New York. He was 34. Hathaway was known for his duets with Roberta Flack and the holiday song “This Christmas.”

In 1982, an Air Florida 737 crashed into Washington, D.C.’s 14th Street Bridge and fell into the Potomac River while trying to take off during a snowstorm, killing a total of 78 people, including four motorists on the bridge; four passengers and a flight attendant survived.

In 1990, L. Douglas Wilder of Virginia became the nation’s first elected Black governor as he took the oath of office in Richmond.

In 1992, Japan apologized for forcing tens of thousands of Korean women to serve as sex slaves for its soldiers during World War II, citing newly uncovered documents that showed the Japanese army had a role in abducting the so-called “comfort women.”

Today’s birthdays:

• Golf Hall of Famer Mark O’Meara is 68.
• Actor Julia Louis-Dreyfus is 64.
• Country singer Trace Adkins is 63.
• Actor Patrick Dempsey is 59.
• TV producer-writer Shonda Rhimes is 55.
• Actor Orlando Bloom is 48.
• Actor Liam Hemsworth is 35.
• Actor Natalia Dyer is 30.
• NHL center Connor McDavid is 28.

Delray Medical Center cut the ribbon on its newest high-tech machine last week that targets brain areas to treat movement disorders such as essential tremor and tremor-dominant Parkinson’s disease.

The machine can stop the involuntary trembling of the heat and hands experienced by people with neurological disorders in one treatment using focused ultrasound guided by MRI.

Neurosurgeons at Delray Medical Center already have been treating patients with uncontrollable tremors or stiffness with the earlier version of the machine developed by Insightec. During treatment, ultrasound waves enter a patient’s skull to precisely heat and destroy specific regions deep inside the brain that generate tremors.

Typically, the tremor is gone immediately and the patients go home the same day with minimal complications, said Dr. Lloyd Zucker, chief of neurosurgery at Delray Medical Center. Neurosurgeons at Delray began using the original machine 10 years ago as an alternative to surgery.

A video shown at the Thursday ribbon-cutting for the new, modernized machine highlighted a patient with Parkinson’s Disease whose hand went from shaking to still in a matter of minutes. As the patient readied to go home, he teared up seeing the difference.

Lloyd Zucker, medical director of neurosurgery at Delray Medical Center, and neurologist Arif Dalvi introduce the Exablate Prime system, a state-of-the-art technology that offers incisionless treatment for movement disorders such as essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease. This advanced platform utilizes focused ultrasound guided by MRI to precisely target and remove affected areas in the brain, providing patients with a non-invasive surgery option. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Zucker said the next generation of the Insightec machine, called the Exablate Prime, will get even better results. It uses algorithms, data management, and a higher resolution monitor.  “The amount of imaging and style of imaging has improved … There are things we couldn’t do with the original machine that they have given us the ability to do now,” Zucker said.

With improvements, this new version can treat more patients in a day than the previous one. Rather than surgery, the Exablate Prime system sends 1024 beams of ultrasound to pass through the skull and focus on a point in the brain, Zucker explained.  At first, low-energy ultrasound is applied to the targeted area, allowing the patient to provide feedback so the neurosurgeon can adjust the treatment before applying high-energy ultrasound to destroy a lesion causing the tremor.

“What you are seeing is the next step, and the next step ensures patient safety, improves patient outcomes, and gives us the opportunity to treat diseases we only dreamed about treating … not just Alzheimer’s, not just movement disorders,” he said. “I am talking about chronic pain, addiction, neurooncology, and things we all know reside in the brain.”

At Delray Medical Center on Thursday, Dr. Arif Dalvi introduces the Exablate Prime system, which offers incisionless treatment for movement disorders such as essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Zucker said the hospital has a wait list of about a year for patients with essential tremor or tremor-dominant Parkinson’s to be treated with focused ultrasound. The new machine allows his team to complete a few more patients daily, requiring less downtime in between.

Delray Medical Center also has been treating Alzheimer’s patients using focused ultrasound technology as part of a study done in collaboration with Florida Atlantic University’s  Institute for Human Health and Disease Intervention.

Dr. Arif Dalvi,  physician chief of the movement disorder program at Delray Medical Center, says for Azheimer’s patients, the ultrasound shakes up the blood-brain barrier enough to allow the amyloid plaque that builds up in the brain to leak out. He gives the patients three treatments with the machine and plans to monitor them over five years.

“I think this, in some ways, is the most exciting time for Alzheimer’s,” Dalvi said. “I think we have some infusion drugs, we have focused ultrasound, and we have drugs that address non-amyloid pathways. Once you put the three together, you will have a cocktail that really helps. I think we are right at the beginning of that now.”

Dr. Augusto Grinspan, chief medical officer for Insightec, said the need for his machines is increasing.

“About 500,000 people have tried medication and found it ineffective. They are desperate to find a solution,” he said.

Nationally, 79 treatment centers use Insightec’s focused ultrasound machines, including nine Florida locations. Each machine costs about $2 million and must be integrated with an MRI.

Medicare covers focused ultrasound in Florida for essential tremor patients. Some private insurers will cover it, too.

At the ribbon-cutting Thursday, Heather Havericak, CEO of Delray Medical Center, said the administration saw a benefit in the investment.  “We’ve already been able to touch so many lives, and we’re going to be able to touch so many more with this new technology.”

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

If Florida ever allows the open carrying of firearms in the state, Broward Supervisor of Elections Joe Scott wants to make sure guns won’t be allowed in or near polling places.

Legalization to allow open carry appears unlikely in Florida to become law in the foreseeable future. Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, said in November he sides with law enforcement, which opposes allowing people to openly carry firearms in the state.

“I stand with them today in opposition,” he said.

But Scott told Broward’s senators and representatives that he wants to make sure that if open carry legislation becomes a possibility, it would include a polling place exception.

Scott said he was “not coming from a position of being somebody who’s anti-gun.”

He said and his wife are both gun owners “and did very well in marksmanship when we were in the Army.” But, he told the Broward Legislative Delegation, people openly carrying guns around polling places would be a terrible idea.

“We’ve seen in other parts of the country where you have open carry laws that people will do things like dress in fatigues and carry an AR-15 outside of polling places and election offices,” he said.

If open carry ever advances in the state, Scott said, it should include “some sort of provision that makes it clear that you cannot use your right to open carry to intimidate voters.”

He said it would need to be wider than the current 150-foot zone outside polling places, inside of which people are prohibited from campaigning. “The 150-foot mark is great for protecting people’s First Amendment rights, giving people an opportunity to communicate with voters outside the polling place, but if you would like to carry a firearm openly, you need to be much further away from our polling places than 150 feet.”

He said it would be essential to ensure that all pathways to polling places, including nearby sidewalks and parking lots, would be areas “where people cannot open carry and stand in the way and intimidate voters and keep people from getting to a polling place.”

When Florida allowed people to carry concealed weapons without a permit starting on July 1, 2023, the law did not allow weapons at polling places.

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Other proposals

Scott also presented two other issues to Broward senators and representatives at their meeting on Jan. 7, both of which he said are priorities of the state association of election supervisors.

Supervisors want an exemption to the state’s public records law that would prevent the release of personal information about poll workers and elections office employees, he said.

Election workers in some parts of the country have been “harassed and intimidated, contacted at their homes, and treated very badly, and we want to make sure nothing like that happens in Florida. So we need some better protection in the state law to protect our poll workers, to make sure that we don’t ever have to disclose information that would help people to harass and intimidate our poll workers.”

Scott’s spokeswoman said later that the statewide supervisors’ association was still working on legislative language, so the exact scope of the exemption they’re seeking isn’t clear. Elections supervisors also would like to see creation of a statewide database that elections offices could access to see if felons who have served their sentences and want to register to vote have actually completed all the terms of their sentences.

Currently, Scott said, it’s difficult to figure out if someone has completed every element of the sentence, including paying off all fines and fees. Advocates for people who have served their sentences have cited that as an impediment to knowing if the felons are actually eligible to vote.

“We want to make that just very, very clear so that people can feel confident, when they go to register to vote and they can feel confident that they won’t be arrested later on if it runs out to be a fine that wasn’t paid in the past,” he said.

Right now, Scott said, when someone asks if they’re eligible to vote they are supposed to be told they can request an advisory opinion from the Florida Secretary of State’s Office.

Scott said that isn’t workable.

“Put yourselves in the shoes of the average person who just recently completed a sentence or some time in prison or something like that and imagine what they hear when you’re telling them that they need to get an advisory opinion from the Secretary of State. It just probably sounds like nonsense,” he said.

Prospects for such legislation aren’t clear.

State Rep. Felicia Robinson, a Broward/Miami-Dade County Democrat, and state Sen. Geraldine Thompson, D-Oconee, introduced legislation in 2023 to create such a database. It never gained traction.

Last year they introduced a measure that would order a study of how to create such a database, but it also didn’t go anywhere.

Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com and can be found @browardpolitics on Bluesky, Threads, Facebook and Mastodon.

As electric cars get more popular, South Florida cities say they’ll be the ones paying the price.

Westlake Mayor JohnPaul O’Connor has urged the Palm Beach County Legislative Delegation to push for a new state bill to find an alternative to pay for transportation funding as electric cars evade the gas tax, and the idea has the attention of Tallahassee politicians.

(Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)Electric vehicles being charged at a Tesla charging station in Plantation on Friday. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Floridians pay 38.6 cents on each gallon of gas, according to the Tax Foundation in Washington, DC., which is the 12th highest in the country. The gas tax is meant to function as a user fee, charging drivers to fund the construction and maintenance of the roads where they drive, according to the nonprofit.

“From a state perspective, this is the largest issue in transportation funding going into 2025,” Adam Hoffer, director of Excise Tax Policy for the Tax Foundation, told the South Florida Sun Sentinel on Friday.

“Every state has recognized the gas tax has done a pretty good job of funding road construction. It was a great user fee,” he said.

But the gas tax has performed poorly over time, he said, attributed to vehicles becoming more fuel efficient, “but more pronounced, EV (electric vehicles) don’t pay gas taxes at all.”

To combat this, 24 of the 50 states have a higher annual registration fees for electric cars; Florida is not one of them. The annual registration fees for electric cars include $50 in Hawaii and South Dakota, and $200 in Ohio, West Virginia and Wyoming, he said. Six states have a charging station fee; Georgia started theirs this month.

(Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)Jerry Preston of Miami charges his Tesla at a Wawa charging station along Broward Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale on Friday. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

The tax on gas is big money for South Florida government.

Broward County is planning for an estimated $81.7 million in gas tax revenues for road and bridge maintenance and rehabilitation, transit, and traffic engineering projects, such as lights. That’s $800,000 less than last year, according to a spokesman.

The decrease is attributed to use of mass transit, people working from home, carpooling and electric cars. “There are a lot of variables,” said Broward County spokesman Gregory Meyer. The decline has been growing; two decades ago, in 2005, the county received $91.2 million in gas taxes, he said.

Palm Beach County expects to receive $54 million in local gas taxes in this fiscal year, according to a spokesman. Of that, $20 million will be used for roads and bridges and $34 million for Palm Tran service, the spokesman said. Losses could not be immediately calculated, a spokesman said.

Westlake’s O’Connor said “creative legislation” is needed to curb the losses.

“It’s a major, major problem,” he said. “It’s a major issue. More and more electric vehicles (are) sold every single day. I have one ordered. But yet we don’t contribute at all towards the maintenance and the gas taxes.”

People charging their electric vehicles at a charging station along Broward Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale on Friday. Cities say they are losing money on gas taxes. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

It’s an issue that should be addressed nationally because of interstate travel, State Sen. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart told the Palm Beach County Legislative Delegation. Tourists come to Florida in electric vehicles and are not participating in paying for the roads they are using, she said.

“We’re seeing this across the country, but Florida is probably other than California the most impacted by it,” she said.

Other state leaders said there was no reason to wait. State Rep. Kelly Skidmore, D-Boca Raton, suggested a charging station fee: “I don’t see why we can’t capture money that way.” She also suggested a registration fee for Florida residents.

“There’s opportunities here,” she said. “I do think Florida should take care of its own destiny and not wait for the federal government to fix this problem.”

O’Connor agreed, saying  “why not a couple cents per kilowatt tax at the charging station at least to stop the bleeding for now. I truly think that Florida should do something at the state level. Something, whatever that might be, but we need to do something.”

But a bill for extra fees on electric cars and plug-in hybrids already failed in 2024. According to the bill analysis, the Florida Department of Transportation’s master plan determined that “negative impacts to motor-fuel based revenue streams in Florida could range between 5.6 percent and 20 percent by the year 2040, depending on the rate of growth of EV sales.”

“A perceived inequity may exist, in that electric vehicles do not require motor fuel to operate,” according to the bill that was filed in 2023. “The assertion is that EV owners may not be fairly contributing to the cost of constructing and maintaining public roads through payment of ‘traditional’ registration fees.”

But opponents to the bill which would have meant electric car owners would pay $200 registration fees had argued the proposal could result in electric vehicle owners being “double taxed,” the News Service of Florida reported.

Lisa J. Huriash can be reached at lhuriash@sunsentinel.com. Follow on X, formerly Twitter, @LisaHuriash

Despite the large numbers of rail safety improvement programs spearheaded by federal and state governments over the years, “rules of the road” for local police and fire rescue agencies appear to overlook the vagaries of operating in and around local railroad corridors.

A case in point is a list of Standard Operating Guidelines for vehicle operations issued in 2022 by the Delray Beach Fire Rescue Department, which had one of its trucks demolished by a Brightline train at a Florida East Coast Railway crossing in late December. The city’s fire rescue crew had been answering an emergency call at a local residence when the crash occurred.

“The use of sirens and warning lights does not automatically grant the right-of-way to emergency vehicles,” the policy statement says. “The driver of an emergency vehicle shall drive defensively and make every possible effort to make their presence and intended actions known to other drivers. The driver of any emergency vehicle is responsible for ensuring that all passengers are transported safely.”

Drivers should know and choose “the best, most direct route to the address of an emergency before leaving quarters or beginning the response,” the guidelines say, and the person should obey all state traffic laws and  “avoid taking unnecessary chances.”

“Stop at all red lights and stop signs when responding Code 3,” the guidelines also advise. “Drivers may proceed through a red light or past a stop sign after determining that other traffic and pedestrians have yielded the right-of-way, at a speed no greater than the posted speed limit.”

While the guidelines do direct other crew members to help a driver when approaching an intersection or “other congested areas by checking for on-coming traffic,” there is no specific reference to how a driver and crew should react when they are confronted by a railroad crossing with an oncoming train.

A Brightline train that collided with a fire truck in Delray Beach in late December had a camera that recorded the truck going around a lowered crossing gate. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

It is unclear how the Delray crew members aboard the ill-fated truck communicated with each other when they were confronted by lowered crossing gates.

But video of the incident released by Brightline, which had a camera rolling from the train’s cab, appear to show the fire truck skirting around a lowered crossing gate as the passenger train approached. The ensuing crash sent a dozen people to the hospital, including Brightline passengers and fire rescue personnel aboard the truck.

The National Transportation Safety Board’s Office of Highway Safety and the Federal Railroad Administration are investigating the crash, along with local authorities.

Major investments, aggressive outreach

From Miami to Jacksonville, police and fire rescue departments along the Florida East Coast Railway corridor face the same challenge: When the trains pass through their downtowns, vehicles must stop at rail crossings for Brightline trains and freight trains operated by the FEC Railway. That would include, state laws suggest, emergency vehicles operated by public safety agencies.

The same circumstances apply to cities where Tri-Rail, the publicly funded commuter line, as well as Amtrak, the national passenger service, operate along a state-run rail corridor west of Interstate 95.

Prompted by a large number of deaths and injuries that occurred along the FEC line after Brightline inaugurated service in 2018, the railroad invested millions in new safety measures to keep pedestrians off the tracks and vehicles out of harm’s way at crossings.

It has teamed with local communities to apply for federal grant money designed to fund crossing safety upgrades along the FEC corridor.

In 2022, the Broward Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with local police agencies and Brightline, spearheaded a rolling program called Operation Crossing Guard, which saw police write traffic citations for drivers who circumvented closed crossing gates, and for pedestrians who traversed railroad tracks on foot.

As a result, authorities said, vehicle-train incidents at crossings in Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties declined in frequency. However, no numbers were available.

During the course of the Biden administration, which leaves office on Jan. 20, roughly $2 billion has been distributed to phase out crossings, improve safety devices and conduct various programs, said Warren Flatau, deputy director of communications at the FRA, which has distributed much of the federal grant money for “all types of rail safety improvements.”

The FRA, an arm of the U.S. Department of Transportation, said it awarded more than $5.8 million in a Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program for rail safety projects in eastern Florida. Up to $1 million went to Broward County to replace a crossing with a pedestrian overpass on Northeast 36th Street in Oakland Park. Brevard County got up to $4.88 million to upgrade seven crossings along a 40-mile stretch of the FEC corridor in Cocoa and Melbourne.

“The funding is part of a $1.1 billion outlay to improve and study more than 1,000 highway rail crossings nationwide, and it is the largest single investment in grade crossing safety in FRA’s history,” the agency said in a statement Friday. “Combined with previous rail investments announced under the Biden-Harris Administration, FRA has now invested a historic $48.5 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding in more than 445 rail projects across the country and (for) Amtrak.”

As deaths and other rail incidents rose involving Brightline, the FRA in 2022 spearheaded a number of community meetings in South Florida,  in collaboration with Brightline and other rail operators, as well as local law enforcement and fire rescue agencies from a variety of cities. The goal: Help raise public awareness about the hazards of operating cars and trucks at rail crossings. The discussion points also included concerns about trespassers walking along and across railroad tracks in unauthorized areas.

“There’s always outreach going on,” Fratau said.

Rail safety and incident courses available

Operation Lifesaver, the Washington-based nonprofit advocacy organization for rail safety, says it offers training for responders on how to address “complex and unique safety concerns” when operating around rail crossings.

Train-related incidents, the organization notes, “occur approximately every three hours in the United States.”

Late last month, the organization unveiled an announcement about the existence of an Emergency Notification System sign, “which is found at or near all railroad crossings.”

“These rectangular Blue and White signs display a unique phone number and a unique crossing ID, providing a direct line to the railroad in case of emergencies,” the organization said in a statement. “If a vehicle is stuck or stalled on the tracks, debris is spotted, or any other hazard arises, calling the number on the ENS sign can alert the railroad to stop oncoming trains and potentially help prevent incidents.”

In the meantime, the group is offering safety programs for police and fire agencies, offering “instruction on how to manage train-related incidents safely and maintain on-scene safety.”

As we move toward the transition of power, we must continue to shine our light by expressing and sharing our own unique talents and passions in ways that positively impact others.

It’s no time for despair. It’s a time to look within to find our own light and to share it by being kind, showing compassion and looking out for each other. We must remember our own humanity and not lose sight of who we are and what we value.

Being gracious toward everyone we meet can help us to learn, understand and help spread joy.

To solve the tough problems facing our country, we have to come together and not view those who voted differently as the enemy. We can only move forward if we re-humanize each other.

So be gentle and kind with yourself and others. Never forget that no matter what political party you align with, we’re all human. Take time to listen to those you don’t agree with and empathize with those you don’t understand. What the world needs is more love and healing and less hate. So don’t hesitate to shine your light in the darkness.

As the poet Amanda Gorman said:

“For there is always light,

      if only we’re brave enough to see it.

      If only we’re brave enough to be it.”  

Rosemary Blumberg, Plantation

Free speech has its limits

University administrators have a duty to uphold fundamental individual freedoms while safeguarding academic and business operations.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t pro-Palestinian protests on campuses across the U.S. that captured the public’s attention, but rather the antisemitism and blatant support for terrorism that shocked the nation.

We saw terrorist flags and slogans flown on campuses and calls for mass murder of Israelis and Jews shouted at American students. Students were blocked from classes, libraries and campus facilities, and campus buildings were damaged by protestors.

In years past, teachers were warned about microaggressions and to protect student sensitivities, but when Jews and Israelis were targeted, there were minimal, if any, protections for them.

The First Amendment does not override Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Violations can include derogatory language, intimidation, threats, physical contact or physical violence.

The Justice Department has finally begun enforcing a law intended to prevent behavior so serious that it interferes with students’ ability to participate in school activities or benefit from services. Because Florida was proactive in curbing this offensive behavior, our universities have mostly been spared enforcement actions by DOJ, unlike those in the California system.

Holly Rothkopf, Boynton Beach

Jimmy Carter, under pressure

Jimmy Carter was sent to Ontario, Canada, to fix the damaged Chalk River nuclear reactor in 1952.

Adm. Hyman Rickover, known as “the Father of the American nuclear navy,” said Carter was “one of a few in the world who could do the job.”

It was the stuff of movies. A future American president, 28 years old at the time, masterminded a nuclear rescue with unflinching courage, skill, knowledge and uncommon leadership.

Realizing the danger, Carter had his team work in 90-second bursts inside a malfunctioning reactor.

Leading by example, his team did what only “one of the few could do,” as they fixed a ticking danger. To this day, most are unaware of Carter’s actions. His story was left in the shadows. His reward was radioactive urine, for months.

When the American hostages were seized by Iran, the nation wanted action. President Carter favored the arduous work, patience and tenacity that conflict resolution requires, forsaking action for a cooperative, peaceful settlement.

The mark of heroism is putting others before self, and being “one of a few who could do the job.”

Phil Beasley, Plantation

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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Q: So with the message and rally of “focus on who we have with us,” isn’t it extremely difficult to then, as a team, mentally welcome back and include such a polarizing player as Jimmy Butler? Do you think there is any intention on Jimmy’s part to come back and give it his all? – Dim.

A: One lesson learned about Jimmy Butler over these five-plus seasons with the Heat is that you never know, game to game, at least during the regular season, which Jimmy Butler you might get. That’s just the reality from a player who clearly has prioritized the postseason, at times to the detriment of his team’s regular season. But, yes, depending on how the remainder of the western swing goes – situation in Los Angeles permitting – it will be interesting to see how Erik Spoelstra and the players navigate a Butler return. This, for all the consternation about equitable return, is why it still would seem prudent for the Heat to act on a trade . . . if they truly are playing to win this season. Jimmy Butler at his best and most committed makes any team better. But, as stated, you just don’t know what you’re going to get in his box of chocolates.

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Q: It seems like we’re doing just fine without Jimmy Butler. – Kat.

A: It is important to keep in mind the level of competition during this three-game winning streak.The Warriors have shown to be little more than a middling team this season, lacking Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski and Gary Payton II when the Heat faced them. The Jazz played the Heat in the absences of Jordan Clarkson, John Collins and Keyonte George. And the Trail Blazers on Saturday night were without Jerami Grant, Deandre Ayton, Robert Williams III and Matisse Thybulle. Against those teams and those available rosters, any loss would be considered a bad loss.

Q: We beat the Rockets without Jimmy. – U.D.

A: Yes, this is not saying that the Heat can’t be successful in the void of Jimmy Butler. And the Heat also beat the Timberwolves, Pacers and Magic without Jimmy this season. So, yes, the rest of the roster certainly is capable. But with or without Jimmy, this still remains a roster that appears unlikely to stack up favorably in a playoff series against the top of the East.

General Daily Insight for January 13, 2025

Expect dynamic change! The confident Sun trines inventive Uranus, supporting personal change and providing eureka moments that change our outlooks. The Full Moon rises in sensitive Cancer at 5:27 pm EST, improving our work/life balance and magnifying our emotional connections, highlighting the paths we’re on and how we’re affecting them. Soon after, the Moon connects with fiery Mars to add a dose of passion and courage to the mix, though it can inspire us to act rashly as well. Think before acting today, but think quick!

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Restoring order may be your next step. You might be noticing where you’ve been spending a little too much time and energy on your career or responsibilities, or you could have felt stagnant, not making progress toward your goals. Be wary of any increasing conflict with family, particularly if tension has been building for some time. The more time that you have devoted to striking a balance that works for you, the fewer challenges you should have right now. Find the sweet spot.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

You could be changing in ways you weren’t expecting. There may be more support for your mindset or your ideas, increasing your confidence and providing you with opportunities for growth — especially when it comes to travel and higher education. You might suddenly feel called to go back to school, or feel the need to explore a familiar culture. Make sure that you are balancing the information you’re giving out with the information that you’re taking in to build the best results.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

The ground beneath your feet could currently feel shaky. You might be less sure of what’s going to happen. This is not a bad thing — though it might be a little nerve-racking. This provides you with room to start new ventures, especially when it comes to creating security or abundance for yourself and others. Watch out for the temptation to make rash decisions when it comes to investing, whether money, time, or energy, so don’t jump in with both feet. Take your time deciding.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

People can offer you the inspiration that you’ve been looking for. You might see the most progress taking place today when you’re working with others without shying away from their suggestions. It can be hard to let go of the reins at times, but letting them collaborate with you rather than trying to do it all yourself should work out better in the long run. Don’t feel like you have to be an island — reach out to those who care about you.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Your responsibilities might give you a clue as to what needs to change. Check in with yourself when you feel overwhelmed with the work of three people instead of one, or if you think you can do more and need to be given the opportunity. Whichever you’re experiencing, do what you can to close the gap and bring yourself to a more balanced standpoint. Then you can show up as your best self! You know how you can best contribute, so speak up for yourself.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Inspiration is the highest form of flattery at the moment. Think of someone who’s your hero, someone that you aspire to be like, whether they’re someone close to you or someone famous. Now is a good time to put this influence into action by creating something of your own inspired by them, such as a wardrobe that is closer to expressing your true self or fresh decorations for your home that reflect your inner spark. Don’t just copy, make it your own.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

You’re being supported by those who have stuck around. Maybe they’ve been backing you from behind the scenes and are only now making themselves known. Assistance could also arrive from people who have stood behind you for a long time. You might find that, if you’ve allowed your career to get in the way of your personal connections, some tensions may appear. Do your best to alleviate these worries and make things right by reminding them of how much they mean to you.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Who is supporting your personal changes at this time? This person may be a friend, a mentor, or a family member. Whoever they are, their good intentions don’t mean they’ll always know the best way to boost you forward. This is where you come in, communicating your needs and letting your loved ones help you in the best way possible — allowing you to give back. When you know what you want and you can express it, the world is your oyster.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Organization may affect abundance today. There might be a literal document or key that you need to find, something that is essential to make progress toward a goal — it’ll be harder to find if a lack of organization is plaguing you. If you’ve procrastinated when it comes to figuring out a place for everything, that will come back to bite you! Alternatively, if you have all your ducks in a row, everything is more likely to work out smoothly. Find order in the chaos.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

The younger generation may have wisdom for you. It’s a good time to highlight your connections with others in general, but it’s especially important to nourish your links to the younger people in your life right now. Even though they have less life experience, they might be privy to information that you aren’t. Letting them know that you respect their ideas will encourage them to open up even further. Let them teach you about their world — it should strengthen a powerful bond.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Embrace the mundane! You might have tried to understand your family or loved ones in the past to no avail. Even if grasping their true motivation seems impossible, you care about them and want to connect, and that matters. Consider trying to talk about your personal lives and avoiding more incendiary topics, Why not ask them about their funniest jokes, their favorite movies, or their pets? Even asking them what they made for dinner last week works — whatever connects you on a personal level.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

What inspires you can draw people to you. You could be working on creative projects, embracing a sense of style that’s wholly true to you, or working in an environment that better reflects who you are inside. This may pull certain peers your way, as they see a connection with you through how you’re expressing yourself wordlessly. It’s important — today, in particular — to show up as the most YOU that you can be. You can be an inspiration to like-minded individuals!

A Fort Lauderdale man who allegedly staged a home invasion against a 75-year-old Central Beach resident spent his second day in jail on Sunday, suspected by police of beating, robbing and attempting to strangle his victim before stealing his car and $4,000 in cash.

Joseph Soini, 48, was arrested on North Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale early Saturday in the condo resident’s stolen auto, Fort Lauderdale Police said in a statement. He faces cocaine possession and grand theft auto charges and is being held in the Broward County Main Jail.

Police used a Grappler to intercept a home invasion suspect who allegedly stole his elderly victim’s car. (Fort Lauderdale Police Department/Courtesy)

But police indicated Soini could be charged as the person who attacked the elderly victim, who has not been identified.

According to the statement, police responded to a home invasion call around 10:25 p.m. on Friday in the 2900 block of Banyan Street. The scene of the attack is a six-story condo building within walking distance of Fort Lauderdale Beach, slightly to the north of East Las Olas Boulevard.

“Upon arrival, officers discovered a 75-year-old male victim who had been severely beaten,” police said. The city’s fire rescue department took the resident to Broward Health Medical Center “with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.”

Surprise attack

The victim was attacked after he had taken out the trash, the statement said, and when he returned to the building, found “an unknown suspect inside his apartment rummaging through his belongings. The victim confronted the suspect, who then attacked him, striking him with a trophy and attempting to strangle him.”

According to court records, Soini, who also resides in Fort Lauderdale, stands 6 feet, 2 inches tall and weighs 225 pounds.

“The suspect fled the scene in the victim’s vehicle after also stealing his bicycle and approximately $4,000 in cash,” the police statement said.

Early Saturday morning, with the aid of a Broward Sheriff’s Office helicopter, police located Soini near 330 North Federal Highway. Officers used a Grappler to immobilize the stolen car, and arrested Soini in the 100 block of North Federal.

“The investigation into the home invasion remains ongoing and additional charges may be forthcoming,” the statement said.

Today is Sunday, Jan. 12, the 12th day of 2025. There are 353 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Jan. 12, 2010, Haiti was struck by a magnitude 7.0 earthquake that the Haitian government estimated killed some 300,000 people.

Also on this date:

In 1915, the U.S. House of Representatives rejected, 204-174, a proposed constitutional amendment to give women nationwide the right to vote.

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In 1932, Hattie W. Caraway of Arkansas became the first woman to win election to the U.S. Senate after initially being appointed to serve out the remainder of the term of her late husband, Thaddeus.

In 1935, aviator Amelia Earhart completed an 18-hour trip from Honolulu to Oakland, California, making her the first person to fly solo across any part of the Pacific Ocean.

In 1948, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Sipuel v. Board of Regents of University of Oklahoma, unanimously ruled that state law schools could not discriminate against applicants on the basis of race.

In 1959, Berry Gordy Jr. founded Motown Records (originally Tamla Records) in Detroit.

In 1966, “Batman” premiered on ABC, starring Adam West and Burt Ward.

In 1969, the biggest upset in Super Bowl history occurred as the New York Jets of the American Football League defeated the Baltimore Colts of the National Football League 16-7 in Super Bowl III, played at the Orange Bowl in Miami.

Today’s birthdays:

• Author Haruki Murakami is 76.
• Filmmaker Wayne Wang is 76.
• Football Hall of Famer Drew Pearson is 74.
• Writer Walter Mosley is 73.
• Media personality Howard Stern is 71.
• Filmmaker John Lasseter is 68.
• Broadcast journalist Christiane Amanpour is 67.
• Actor Oliver Platt is 65.
• Basketball Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins is 65.
• Entrepreneur Jeff Bezos is 61.
• Musician-filmmaker Rob Zombie is 60.
• Rock singer Zack de la Rocha (Rage Against the Machine) is 55.
• Rapper Raekwon (Wu Tang Clan) is 55.
• Singer Melanie Chisholm (Spice Girls) is 51.
• Hockey Hall of Famer Marián Hossa is 46.
• Actor Issa Rae is 40.
• Singer Zayn Malik is 32.

Observations and other notes of interest from Saturday night’s 119-98 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers:

– What now, Joe Cronin?

– With each Heat trip to Portland come the questions of what might have been had the Trail Blazers and their general manager taken Heat calls when Damian Lillard said in the 2023 offseason he wanted to be dealt to the Heat.

– Instead, Cronin ghosted Pat Riley and wound up dealing with the Bucks, Suns and Celtics.

– At the time, the Blazers saw no need for Tyler Herro since they had Shaedon Sharpe, Anfernee Simons and Scoot Henderson.

– Now there is little doubt about how Herro stacks up (although Simons did have his moments in Saturday’s third period).

– As for the rest of the Blazers’ haul? Yes they turned part of it into Deni Avdija.

– There still are picks coming from the Bucks.

– Something still could be mined for Robert Williams III.

– And perhaps Deandre Ayton turns into more than empty statistical calories.

– But then look at what Jaime Jaquez Jr. did last season and again recently.

– And what Nikola Jovic has developed into.

– Losing out on Lillard certainly was painful at the time for the Heat.

– But perhaps Cronin should have taken the Heat’s call?

– Heat coach Erik Spoelstra for the fourth consecutive game opened with Herro, Jaquez, Bam Adebayo, Terry Rozier and Haywood Highsmith.

– That was with Jimmy Butler serving the fifth game of his seven-game suspension.

– Kel’el Ware and Jovic entered together as the first two off the Heat bench.

– Duncan Robinson and Alec Burks then followed together.

– With the appearance, Robinson tied Chris Bosh at 384 for 13th place on the Heat all-time regular-season games list.

– With two early fouls on Jaquez, Pelle Larsson then received his substantive first minutes in three weeks, making it 10 deep for the Heat in the first period.

– Spoelstra went in talking about consistency, with the Heat having won their previous two.

– “Look,” Spoelstra said, “we can’t relax at any time. You try to build that muscle (memory), that habit, particularly when you’re on the road.”

– Of the rebuilding Blazers, Spoelstra said before the game, “They have a lot of high draft picks. They are the biggest team in the league. And they have a lot of youth, speed, athleticism.”

– A good deal of that height was missing with Ayton and Williams sidelined.

– Herro was asked pregame of the previous game breaking Robinson’s Heat record for most consecutive games with a 3-pointer, which had been 69.

– “Just trying to be as consistent as possible,” Herro said.

– Of taking Robinson’s record, he added, “Honestly, we haven’t even spoken about it. But it’s cool I guess. I’ll keep going.”

– Herro extended his career-best streak of games scoring in double figures to 66. His previous high was 38 in a row.

– Herro also has now converted a 3-pointer in the season’s first 37 games, having previously broken the longest such Heat 3-pointer streak to open a season, of 28 set in 1998-99 by Tim Hardaway.

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– Herro’s second 3-point attempt was the 2,250th of his career.

– It was the 400th double-digit scoring regular-season game in Adebayo’s career.

– Saturday was the Trail Blazers’ annual Celebration of Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage.

– It came with Spoelstra, of Filipino ancestry, as one of the first and one of the few of that lineage coaching in American pro sports.

– “I feel a sense of pride of my heritage and I’ve hoped that it can inspire others to dream big,” Spoelstra said before the game. “I definitely used to feel that when I first became head coach, that it didn’t feel like I fit the mode of what a head coach looks like. So I probably had some imposter syndrome from that. Eventually I got to a point where I just embraced it. And I’m grateful for that.”

– He added, “It’s exciting to the Asians to be recognized.”

– As part of his annual trip home, Spoelstra paid a visit to the Chiles Center, the basketball home of Spoelstra’s University of Portland Pilots.

– “I haven’t been to the Chiles Center for 20 years,” Spoelstra said pregame. “I’ve been to the new practice facility; we’ve had practices there.”

– He added, “It was good just to connect. And I want to support the program and the school as much as possible. It’s dear to my heart.”

– And, of course, back to his parents’ home, as well.

– “And more important,” he said, “I was able to go back home and had some time to break some bread with my parents.”

PORTLAND, Ore. — Heat coach Erik Spoelstra got what he wanted, practically forecasting the evening ahead.

“We’ve faced a good amount of adversity on this road trip,” he said at the morning shootaround. “I mean that’s great for a basketball team to go through all those emotions.”

Saturday night, more emotions, while still finding a way to a 119-98 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center.

“This,” guard Tyler Herro said, “is just what we wanted, to get out on the road and get out of all the chaos.”

Continuing to play amid the team suspension of Jimmy Butler, having left for this six-game trip after a 36-point home loss to the Utah Jazz, and then having lost a double-overtime game against the Sacramento Kings to start the trip, the Heat now have won three in a row.

“We’re just rallying around each other,” Herro said, “making it about the guys that are here.”

And again, doing it the hard way.

This time, after a 20-point lead late in the second quarter almost completely evaporated at the start of the third, the Heat came together to improve to 3-1 on the trip and 20-17 on the season.

“What we talked about this road trip was wrapping our minds and our spirits around an identity,” Spoelstra said of improving to 11-0 when holding the opposition below 100 points. “Holding them to 15 in the fourth is the most important thing.”

Herro again led the way, this time with 32 points, with the Heat also getting 21 points from Nikola Jovic and 14 from Haywood Highsmith. In addition, center Bam Adebayo filled the box score with 13 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.

Conditions allowing in Los Angeles, the Heat are scheduled to close out their trip Monday night against the Clippers and Wednesday night against the Lakers.

Five Degrees of Heat from Saturday night’s game:

1. Game flow: The Heat led 29-23 after the first period and 66-48 at halftime.

Portland then opened the second half with a 16-2 run, with the Heat’s lone points during that stretch coming when Portland center Donovan Clingan accidentally tipped the ball into his own basket.

Adebayo, who was credited with the two points on Clingan’s gaffe, then converted a 3-pointer to help quell the Portland rally.

“It’s not easy in this league,” Jovic said. “You can see how fast they came back.”

From there, the Heat took a 94-83 lead into the fourth, later pushing to a 17-point lead with 9:45 to play.

That was the fourth-quarter lead the Heat blew in the loss in Sacramento and this time Portland closed within 100-94 with 4:43 remaining.

Herro then stepped up with a 3-pointer to quiet the rally, just as he did in the fourth quarter of Thursday night’s victory in Utah. He later drew a three-shot foul to put it away.

“We weathered the storm,” Herro said.

With, Spoelstra said, plenty of heart from Herro.

“In moments of truth,” Spoelstra said, “he’s stepping up for us.”

2. Herro, again: Showing another element of his growing maturity, Herro did not allow a 1-of-6 start from the field to get him down, continuing to play in attack mode.

Instead, he was up to 7 of 13 for 18 points by the intermission and then 26 through three quarters.

Herro’s fifth point was the 6,000th of his career.

He closed 11 of 22 from the field, including 7 of 14 on 3-pointers, with five rebounds and five assists.

“It’s reaching a level,” Spoelstra said of Herro’s performances, “that it’s becoming a consistency, it’s becoming an expectation, that’s what all great players do in this league.”

3. Jovic again: Jovic again provided a spark off the bench, again entering early alongside first-round pick Kel’el Ware.

While Ware’s night was uneven, Jovic was up to 12 points by halftime, at a stage when Portland’s entire bench had eight points. He then went into the fourth quarter at 18 points.

Jovic again showed the diversity of his offense, including his upgraded 3-point shooting.

He closed 8 of 12 from the field, including 4 of 7 on 3-pointers, with eight rebounds and five assists.

“Now,” Jovic said, “especially from the bench I feel comfortable.”

4. Highsmith over the top: The night began with Highsmith catching as much as possible of his beloved Baltimore Ravens on his phone in the locker room.

Good night for the Ravens, topping the Pittsburgh Steelers 28-14 in the playoffs; good night for Highsmith.

“It’s a great day,” Highsmith afterward, dressed in a Ravens jersey.

Highsmith opened 4 of 5 on 3-pointers. At that stage the rest of the Heat were 6 of 19 from beyond the arc, with Herro 1 of 5 at that juncture.

“It’s just about confidence with me,” he said of his season-long success from beyond the arc.

But it not only was on that end for Highsmith, who also was up to three steals when he converted the fourth 3-pointer, closing with a season-best five.

“Right now,” Highsmith said, “we’re just riding this momentum we’re on.”

5. Less than whole: Not only were the Heat without Butler, who served the fifth game of his seven-game team suspension for “conduct detrimental to the team,” but the Trail Blazers also were far less than whole.

Missing for Portland were Deandre Ayton  (sore calf), Jerami  Grant (facial contusion), Matisse Thybulle (ankle sprain) and Robert Williams III (illness).

Also out for the Heat was guard Josh Richardson, due to his ongoing heel inflammation. Richardson was active for Thursday night’s victory over the Utah Jazz but did not play and has not played since Nov. 18.

Jaime Jaquez Jr. started in place of Butler for the fourth consecutive game.

General Daily Insight for January 12, 2025

Don’t let rash words burn bridges! With the sensitive Moon at odds with talkative Mercury, we may find ourselves wounding one another with words that emerge harsher than we meant. Whether we’re on the giving or receiving ends of these words, bold Mars soothing creative Neptune at 4:16 pm EST is encouraging us to overcome any awkwardness or hurt to find understanding with each other. Later, the Moon harmonizes with Venus to bring us together and laugh it all off. Search for common ground.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Family members may unintentionally cause hurt feelings. They might be saying something that you hadn’t realized they believed, and it could feel insulting to you. On the other hand, their perspective may simply not match with yours regarding the topic — perhaps they even meant it as a compliment rather than an insult. Your values are likely to be different, so it is worth it to try and see that they meant well, while still educating them from your point of view.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Corrections may interrupt your efforts to share information. Even if you were convinced this was true, interesting knowledge, it might turn out to be misinformation! Someone else will potentially bring this up quickly. Instead of feeling offended that they were so quick to correct you, try to see it as them looking out for you and wanting you to have the right story. Even if they are wrong in their correction, which is possible, hear them out and keep the conversation moving.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Insecurities may be triggered — but not directly. Criticisms of others might be taken personally, by you or by those that you’re speaking with, as generalized critique could feel particularly pointed. Instead of taking things personally, try to keep an open mind and stop the gossip train before it leaves the station. They may have been attempting to grow closer with you by criticizing someone else, but you can make it clear that this is not the way to forge a friendship with anyone.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Brace yourself to eat your words! You might find that you say something that is either actually too blunt or simply misinterpreted — regardless, making amends for what was said would be wise. You may not have meant to hurt anyone’s feelings, but it’s still worth acknowledging that their feelings were hurt by your actions. They are most likely not demonizing you or trying to end their friendship with you, they just want their feelings to be heard. Wouldn’t you want the same?

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Rumors will spark conflict. These rumors are unlikely to be true and are likely spreading through someone who doesn’t have your best interests in mind (or the best interests of those that they are gossiping about, if not you). If you end up on the receiving end of gossip about someone else, take it with a grain of salt, as it’s probably wholly false. If it is about you, avoid giving it life by proving with your actions that it is not true.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

People may try to tear down your style. You could feel misunderstood when you try to express yourself or even while merely talking about your interests. The people that you’re chatting with might not have ears to hear what you have to say, meaning that they do not have the same connection to or knowledge about your interests, leading to their ignorant or rude responses. Instead of taking this as a personal attack, see it for what it is — a lack of understanding.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

You may come across more intense than you mean to. Normally, you may have a very balanced mindset — even if you still feel that way, the excitement behind your words may lead others to believe that you want to control them or change their mind. Avoid being bossy or demanding at present, because it can hurt your chances of getting what you need in the future. Being understanding, but clear and firm in your requests should help you get where you’re going.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

A teacher or mentor could say something that stings. It may be that if someone else said this to you, you wouldn’t take it seriously, but because you trust this person’s judgment, what they have to say is taken to heart. Unfortunately, they might not have meant it with as much gravity — make an effort to step back and see that they are human, too. Sometimes, they say things that aren’t quite worded right, and you can ask for clarification or ignore unhelpful statements.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Deep conversations require extra thought and care. You may be handling a delicate subject with someone else in your life, and it’s probably hard to talk about. It likely requires a lot of sensitivity and understanding for both parties. While you can’t control how the other person reacts, you can control how you react. Finding an outcome that works for both of you might not be plausible, but you won’t know unless you try to find that compromise as a team.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Someone may say something that you weren’t expecting. No matter how long they’ve been thinking about it, being presented with it right now could feel like quite the ambush. Despite how shocking it may seem to you, if you care about this person, they deserve a reasonable response. Rather than jumping to conclusions, it would be wiser to talk things through calmly and figure out a timeline for this situation. The more that you can understand their POV, the better you can respond.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

A hidden enemy might make themselves known without warning. You may have thought that this person was on your side, but when they say something that makes it clear that they’re not in your corner, it can be difficult to know what to do next. They could pretend that you’re making a big deal out of nothing, but tearing you down when you are on an upward trajectory is definitely not friendship behavior! There’s no need for revenge — just move on and keep growing.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Risky statements might fall flat. You might make a joke that’s a bit too edgy or bring up a touchy subject from the past that doesn’t go over well with the people you’re currently around. It’s understandable that you might be surprised by this reaction, as you may have brought it up to others without receiving a negative response, but different people have unique sensitivities that ought to be taken into account. Take accountability and try to move forward without any animosity.

The Hurricanes found their new defensive coordinator.

Minnesota defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman is in line to take the same position at Miami, according to multiple reports. Hetherman replaces Lance Guidry, who Miami fired in December. 

Hetherman spent only one season as the Gophers’ defensive coordinator, but his was one of the nation’s best. Minnesota ranked ninth in the nation in points allowed per game (16.9) and fifth in the nation in yards allowed per game (285.7). The Gophers had the No. 12 rush defense and No. 9 pass defense. Pro Football Focus gave Minnesota the No. 22 defensive grade among FBS schools.

Hetherman signed an extension to stay at Minnesota that would pay him more than $1 million per year, according to the Pioneer Press. Miami will pay Minnesota a six-figure buyout, the Pioneer Press reported.

Prior to his tenure at Minnesota, Hetherman spent two seasons as Rutgers’ linebackers coach. He worked under Scarlet Knights coach Greg Schiano, for whom UM coach Mario Cristobal also once worked.

Hetherman also spent three seasons as James Madison’s defensive coordinator and three seasons as Maine’s defensive coordinator. He also has experience at several smaller schools.

Hetherman will have the chance to remake at least part of Miami’s defensive staff. Defensive line coach Joe Salave’a left UM to take the same position at his alma mater, Arizona. Cornerbacks coach Chevis Jackson is being targeted for a position on Wake Forest’s staff, according to 247Sports.

Hetherman takes over a Miami defense that struggled in 2024 and likely cost the team a chance at the playoffs. The Hurricanes finished 2024 tied for 68th in the nation in points allowed per game. They allowed 30.8 points per game in conference play, including 34 points to Virginia Tech, 38 points to Cal, 45 points to Louisville and 41 points to Syracuse.

The Hurricanes have already started addressing their defensive deficiencies, adding defensive backs Charles Brantley (Michigan State), Emmanuel Karnley (Arizona), Ethan O’Connor (Washington State) and Zechariah Poyser (Jacksonville State).

SUNRISE — David Pastrnak scored a power-play goal with 2 seconds left in overtime and the Boston Bruins snapped a six-game losing streak with a 4-3 win over the Florida Panthers on Saturday.

It was the second goal of the day for Pastrnak, who has six in his last five games. He also had an assist. Morgan Geekie also had a goal and assist, and Jeremy Swayman stopped 39 shots for the Bruins, who entered having scoring one goal or fewer in four of their past six games.

Sam Reinhart scored twice for Florida, including the tying goal with just 2 seconds left in regulation.

Oliver Wahlstrom had given Boston a 3-2 lead with his first goal for the Bruins, just a couple minutes after Reinhart’s tying goal 43 seconds into the third.

Evan Rodrigues got a power-play goal for Florida in the first that snapped his 15-game goal drought. Sergei Bobrovsky made 14 saves.

Takeaways

Despite the OT loss, Florida remains the only team in the league that hasn’t lost a one-goal regulation game.

Key moment

There were several. Wahlstrom fired a loose puck past Bobrovsky on his go-ahead goal — a strong response to Reinhart’s tying goal less than two minutes earlier. Pastrnak’s goal was deflected on the way into the net 4:58 into overtime.

Key stat

It was the third meeting of the season between the rivals, who have met in the playoffs the past two years — Florida eliminated Boston both times. The Panthers won the previous two matchups while scoring 10 combined goals.

Up next

Panthers: Visit Philadelphia on Monday.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL

Ricky Barber heard his name echo throughout the Bounce House one last time.

It had been over a month since the former UCF defensive tackle last stepped onto the field at FBC Mortgage Stadium during his final game with the Knights. However, he returned to participate in the Caribe Royale Orlando Hula Bowl on Saturday.

Barber went out in style, recording 2 tackles, 3 pressures and a sack, drawing a huge cheer from the crowd.

“I heard the Bounce House [announcer] go, ‘Ricky Barber,’ and it was just one of those moments,” Barber said of his sack of former Elon quarterback Matthew Downing in the second half. “I knew they were passing, so I baited [the blocker] to go upfield and I spun back inside, and it was wide open [to the quarterback], so I made the play.”

Barber was among a handful of former UCF players participating in the annual all-star game along with receiver Kobe Hudson, running back Peny Boone, offensive tackle Amari Kight and long-snapper Gage King.

Memphis running back Mario Anderson’s 3-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter helped lift Team Akai to a 10-3 win over Team Kia. Anderson finished with 6 carries for 26 yards, earning him Most Valuable Player honors for his team.

All of the points came in the second quarter.

All five UCF players suited up for Team Kai.

Former UCF running back Peny Boone finished with 34 yards on 10 carries as the top rusher for Team Kai in Saturday’s Hula Bowl at FBC Mortgage Stadium. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)

Team Kai quarterback Brady Cook (Missouri) was picked off by Team Aina safety Kitan Crawford (Nevada), stalling a drive in the second quarter. Team Aina drove down the field, setting up a 36-yard field goal by Dragan Kesich (Minnesota) for the game’s first points.

Team Kai tied the game late in the half thanks to a 25-yard field goal by Arizona’s Tyler Loop.

Team Aina wasn’t done as safety Major Williams (Carson-Newman) intercepted a pass from Hunter Dekkers (Iowa Western). That set up Anderson’s game-winning plunge, giving Team Aina a 10-3 halftime advantage.

Central Arkansas running back Shunderrick Powell led Team Aina with 24 yards on four carries while Team Kai quarterback Connor Bazelak (Bowling Green) finished with a game-high 38 yards on 5-of-10 passing.

Boone, meanwhile, finished with 34 yards on 10 carries while Hudson was targeted four times but failed to make a catch. Kight played the majority of the game at right tackle.

“Despite having a bad season, I told them it wasn’t the end goal,” said Boone, who rushed for 208 yards and 2 touchdowns on 34 carries this season for the Knights. “I want to make it to the NFL. So I have to make that happen.”

The Detroit native spent much of this week trying to showcase himself to NFL scouts, meeting with more than a dozen on various occasions to discuss his goals.

“The whole week, I’ve been putting my name out there, showing good things, pass blocking, catching, inside zone, the whole thing,” Boone said afterward. “I’m taking care of business.”

Boone has been training in Lake Nona and hopes to land another opportunity at an all-star game heading into the NFL draft in April.

Barber spoke with representatives from all 32 NFL teams this week as he plans to move to Fort Myers to continue his training for the upcoming draft.

Matt Murschel can be reached at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com

PORTLAND, Ore. — In the wake of recent postponed NBA games in Los Angeles, the Miami Heat as of Saturday remained on schedule to travel and play there on Monday night against the Los Angeles Clippers and Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Amid that schedule, coach Erik Spoelstra said ahead of Saturday night’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center that concerns about his team’s preparations pale in comparison to the fires that have burned communities to the ground and displaced tens of thousands.

“We’ll be able to handle whatever we need to handle,” Spoelstra said after his team’s morning shootaround. “Really, the thoughts are just about everybody that’s going through it right now. Our hearts and prayers are for everybody that’s managing the devastation. I can’t even imagine having an entire community gone. You leave and you come back and it’s gone. So many people are affected by that.

“The game, if we can provide some inspiration and entertainment for the city, then that’s our obligation. But in terms of the logistics for us? Like that’s the last thing. We know what to do.”

Players said they will follow the team’s lead, with Monday night’s game against the Clippers at the new Intuit Dome scheduled to be among the first sporting events in the area since the firestorms.

“First,” guard Tyler Herro said, “my prayers are to the city, the community, everyone there that’s going through that. That’s obviously tragic and very unfortunate for anyone in that area. But I mean, the NBA doesn’t stop, as we all know.”

Related Articles

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• Miami Heat | ASK IRA: Could/would Heat show required patience with kid stuff if Butler is allowed to bolt?
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Monday night’s Los Angeles Rams home playoff game already has been moved to the Phoenix area from the SoFi Stadium, which is about a mile from the Intuit Dome. Concerns for that move included air quality in the area that as of Saturday was listed as unhealthy.

“I think it’s dangerous for us to go there if that’s how bad it is,” Herro said, “but we’ll see.”

The Heat had planned to hold practices on the UCLA campus, which had been placed under a fire warning.

“It’s scary. It’s really scary to see our beautiful campus being in danger,” said second-year forward Jaime Jaquez Jr., who played at UCLA. “It’s something that you never thought it can happen. But it’s something I’ve seen before in college. I’ve seen the fires throughout the hills and the mountains of the 405.”

Asked about air quality, Jaquez said, “If we can play a game, we’re going to definitely try to play a game.”

Butler workouts

With assistant coach Octavio De La Grana remaining behind during this six-game trip to work with suspended forward Jimmy Butler, Spoelstra was asked at Saturday’s shootaround about De La Grana’s work during those sessions.

“Of course I’ve talked to him. I’m very close to Coach O,” Spoelstra said. “I talk to him, but that’s between me and Coach O, with all due respect.”

Saturday marked the fifth game of the seven-game suspension due to “conduct detrimental to the team.”

Several staffers have been working with Butler at Kaseya Center during the suspension, workouts that remain required, even amid suspensions, according to the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Stevens back

Despite the crosscountry flight from Friday night’s G League game in New York, Spoelstra said he felt it meaningful to have guard Isaiah Stevens rejoin the Heat for Saturday night’s game.

“We want to get these guys with us as much as possible, and we like what he’s doing just in terms of getting a team organized,” Spoelstra said, with Stevens recently signed to a two-way contract. “Whether we play him or not, it’s another guy to have available.

“There were a couple of points on this trip that I felt we could have used another ballhandler. It’s also just to get him around us.”

Stevens on Friday night closed 21 points and 10 assists for the Heat’s affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, in a 152-102 roach victory over the New York Knicks’ G League affiliate, the Westchester Knicks.

In that game, Heat summer-league prospect Bryson Warren closed with 40 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.

• Segundo Cuesta helps take down an orchid during the Orchid Renaissance at the Charles F. Dodge City Center, in Pembroke Pines on Saturday Jan. 11, 2025. It is the 65th annual orchid show for Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society, and will continue Sunday 1/12/25 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Plants are on display, and for sale during the Orchid Renaissance at the Charles F. Dodge City Center, in Pembroke Pines on Saturday January 11, 2025. It is the 65th annual orchid show for Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society, and will continue Sunday 1/12/25 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Plants are on display, and for sale during the Orchid Renaissance at the Charles F. Dodge City Center, in Pembroke Pines on Saturday Jan. 11, 2025. It is the 65th annual orchid show for Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society, and will continue Sunday 1/12/25 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Plants are on display, and for sale during the Orchid Renaissance at the Charles F. Dodge City Center, in Pembroke Pines on Saturday Jan. 11, 2025. It is the 65th annual orchid show for Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society, and will continue Sunday 1/12/25 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Crowds gather for the Orchid Renaissance at the Charles F. Dodge City Center, in Pembroke Pines on Saturday Jan. 11, 2025. It is the 65th annual orchid show for Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society, and will continue Sunday 1/12/25 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Plants are on display, and for sale during the Orchid Renaissance at the Charles F. Dodge City Center, in Pembroke Pines on Saturday January 11, 2025. It is the 65th annual orchid show for Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society, and will continue Sunday 1/12/25 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Crowrds gather for the Orchid Renaissance at the Charles F. Dodge City Center, in Pembroke Pines on Saturday Jan. 11, 2025. It is the 65th annual orchid show for Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society, and will continue Sunday 1/12/25 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Plants are on display, and for sale during the Orchid Renaissance at the Charles F. Dodge City Center, in Pembroke Pines on Saturday January 11, 2025. It is the 65th annual orchid show for Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society, and will continue Sunday 1/12/25 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Plants are on display, and for sale during the Orchid Renaissance at the Charles F. Dodge City Center, in Pembroke Pines on Saturday Jan. 11, 2025. It is the 65th annual orchid show for Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society, and will continue Sunday 1/12/25 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Many of the orchids are extremely fragrant at the Orchid Renaissance at the Charles F. Dodge City Center, in Pembroke Pines on Saturday January 11, 2025. It is the 65th annual orchid show for Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society, and will continue Sunday 1/12/25 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Plants are on display, and for sale during the Orchid Renaissance at the Charles F. Dodge City Center, in Pembroke Pines on Saturday Jan. 11, 2025. It is the 65th annual orchid show for Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society, and will continue Sunday 1/12/25 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Crowds gather for the Orchid Renaissance at the Charles F. Dodge City Center, in Pembroke Pines on Saturday Jan. 11, 2025. It is the 65th annual orchid show for Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society, and will continue Sunday 1/12/25 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Plants are on display, and for sale during the Orchid Renaissance at the Charles F. Dodge City Center, in Pembroke Pines on Saturday January 11, 2025. It is the 65th annual orchid show for Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society, and will continue Sunday 1/12/25 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Plants are on display, and for sale during the Orchid Renaissance at the Charles F. Dodge City Center, in Pembroke Pines on Saturday January 11, 2025. It is the 65th annual orchid show for Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society, and will continue Sunday 1/12/25 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Show Caption1 of 14

Segundo Cuesta helps take down an orchid during the Orchid Renaissance at the Charles F. Dodge City Center, in Pembroke Pines on Saturday Jan. 11, 2025. It is the 65th annual orchid show for Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society, and will continue Sunday 1/12/25 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

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WELLINGTON — Near the polo fields that give Wellington its international fame, Jon Bostic is hoping to turn the village into another type of sports hub.

The Palm Beach Central alumnus and former Florida Gators and NFL linebacker unveiled plans for an athletics center in his hometown last year, breaking ground in September. But now his plans extend further. He wants Wellington Sports Academy to become a hub for South Florida athletes where they can go to school and hone their sports skills, similar to Bradenton’s renowned IMG Academy.

“(A school) was always the plan,” Bostic said. “We just kept everything kind of close to the vest. When we released this aspect, we wanted it to come out of our mouths instead of somebody else’s. It was a lot of work that needed to be done to be able to accomplish it. It takes time, and it doesn’t happen overtime. This is what these kids deserve in this community. It’s what this community deserves. We just want to help these kids.”

The academy’s baseball program is the first to come together, boasting a who’s-who of Wellington baseball history. Former MLB infielder Devon Travis, who has been involved with the project from the start, is the program’s president of baseball operations and general manager. Former MLB players Sean Burnett, Brad Peacock, Logan Morrison, Luis Alicea and Jarrod Saltalamacchia are also on the coaching staff.

“You look at our baseball staff, there’s not a guy out there that has to be here,” Bostic said. “A lot of these guys have made enough money where they could ride into the sunset. But these guys want to be in the building 10, 12 hours a day because they want to help these kids.”

Bostic said the focus of the athletic programs is to develop players so they are ready to play in college, not winning. He said Wellington Sports Academy will not compete for FHSAA state championships.

“If we say we want to help these kids, being part of that’s not going to help these kids,” “Everybody’s competitive. We all want to go and win state championships and all that stuff. But if I’m being honest, we told our staff, ‘I don’t care about winning. I don’t care about winning state championships and everything.’

“We’re all competitive. We would love to do that. But its about exposing these kids, right? And if we know that they’re recruiting from other academies, we need to go play those academies. We need to make sure we put a schedule together where it’s competitive, where we’re going to have coaches at our games that are checking out our kids, that are coming and grabbing our kids every year. Us going 25-0 and winning a state championship and sending — if you’ve got 20 seniors — and sending one kid to college is a failed year. I’d rather go 0-25 and have 20 seniors and send all 20 seniors to college.”

Bostic said the plan was to pay the school’s coaches more than public school stipends. The 2024-25 stipend for Palm Beach County football coaches is up to $7,000; football has the highest supplement of any sport.

“We’re going to show our coaches that we appreciate them,” Bostic said. “We’re going to show our coaches that we respect them and their time. You spend a lot of time away from your family. For us, I’m not going to come and ask a coach to be here this many hours and put in this amount of time without compensating them for that amount of time.”

The school, which is located at 3400 120th Ave. in Wellington, is being built now. The school’s foundations have already been laid.

“Concrete’s already been poured, the walls are getting ready to go up; the walls will probably be up at the (end) of this month or the beginning of next month,” Bostic said. “They’re moving right now.”

Bostic said it was “a lot of work” to get the educational foundation of the school going. Wellington Sports Academy is not yet listed on the Florida Department of Education’s directory of private schools, but Bostic said the school does not plan to open until the 2025-26 school year.

“We talk about wanting to be able to put more of these kids in college and put more of these kids in college at a high rate because this used to be hopping,” Bostic said. “When I was coming out of high school back in the day, the amount of guys that were getting signed year in and year out was ridiculous. Right now, it’s not like that.”

Today is Saturday, Jan. 11, the 11th day of 2025. There are 354 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Jan. 11, 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt leveraged the Antiquities Act of 1906 to proclaim the Grand Canyon as a national monument; it would become a national park in 1919.

Also on this date:

In 1861, Alabama became the fourth state to declare its secession from the Union.

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In 1964, U.S. Surgeon General Luther Terry issued “Smoking and Health,” a report that concluded that “cigarette smoking contributes substantially to mortality from certain specific diseases and to the overall death rate.”

In 2002, the first al-Qaida prisoners from Afghanistan arrived at the U.S. military’s Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba.

In 2010, Mark McGwire admitted to The Associated Press that he’d used steroids and human growth hormone when he broke baseball’s home run record in 1998.

In 2021, House Democrats introduced an article of impeachment against then-President Donald Trump, charging him with “incitement of insurrection” in the wake of the attack on the U.S. Capitol building five days prior.

Today’s birthdays:

• Filmmaker Alfonso Arau is 93.
• Golf Hall of Famer Ben Crenshaw is 73.
• Jazz guitarist Lee Ritenour is 73.
• Olympic swimming gold medalist Tracy Caulkins is 62.
• Filmmaker Malcolm D. Lee is 55.
• Singer Mary J. Blige is 54.
• Actor Amanda Peet is 53.