South Florida Local News

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I prepared some hand-dipped chocolate goodies and delivered them to a couple of ladies in my neighborhood.

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A few days later, one of the ladies called me to tell me she is diabetic and couldn’t eat them.

I was sad that “it’s the thought that counts” must not come into play anymore. I felt her phone call was rude and unnecessary.

Am I being petty, or was she being rude?

It will make me think twice next time I try to be thoughtful. This friend certainly won’t see goodies from me again.

GENTLE READER: Then you will not want to hear that this lady spent the intervening time fuming over the thoughtlessness displayed in putting her health at risk — as if, instead of trying to brighten her day, you had attempted to force-feed her.

Miss Manners recommends saying, “I’m sorry to hear that. Thanks for letting me know” — and then tossing the conversation in the memory dustbin and, as was your plan, not repeating the gesture. This is also an approximation of what Miss Manners would have counseled the lady with diabetes, had she been asked.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My parents decided to throw us a housewarming party — the day after we moved our family of five into a new home.

They invited some people around town who’d known me as a kid. They also invited my friends, and then asked them to invite more people. And they brought their own snacks.

We had been cleaning the apartment we had moved out of and still needed to put up curtains and assemble beds in the new place.

The guests were polite, but did not help us unpack, except for my brother, who helped me with my daughter’s bed.

Was there a polite way I could have asked these unexpected guests to leave so we could continue working?

GENTLE READER: Trying to explain to guests that, while it is true they were invited to your new home, you are not responsible for making them feel welcome because you were unaware an invitation had been sent is a bit like trying to explain to the police that, although you admit to driving the getaway car, you had no idea your friend intended to rob the bank.

Your audience will be skeptical — if not outright hostile — and you cannot rely on the people who know the truth to back up your story.

Miss Manners says this to encourage you to pay greater attention to your parents’ plans in the future, in case you missed an earlier opportunity to squelch this one.

By the time everyone had arrived, the most you could do politely was look so tired and overwhelmed that the guests decamped voluntarily — or pitched in.

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DEAR MISS MANNERS: I often hear someone say something along the lines of “We politely ask that you refrain from …” or “We politely decline to accept …”

Silly question, but this doesn’t make sense to me: If you’re asking or doing something politely, should you actually say you are doing that thing politely?

GENTLE READER: The correct form is, “We respectfully ask (or decline),” which Miss Manners would normally agree is silly, except that it is not easy to convey respect in very few words.

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 Wednesday, July 9, the 190th day of 2024. There are 175 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On July 9, 1868, the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution was ratified, granting citizenship and “equal protection under the laws” to anyone “born or naturalized in the United States,” including formerly enslaved people.

Also on this date:

In 1850, President Zachary Taylor died of gastrointestinal illness after consuming a large amount of cherries and iced milk on a hot day five days earlier; Vice President Millard Fillmore was sworn in as president the following day.

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In 1896, William Jennings Bryant delivered his famous “Cross of Gold” speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

In 1918, 101 people were killed in a train collision in Nashville, Tennessee in the deadliest US rail disaster in history.

In 1937, a fire at 20th Century Fox’s storage facility in Little Ferry, New Jersey, destroyed most of the studio’s silent films.

In 1943, during World War II, the Allies launched Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily.

In 1944, during World War II, American forces secured Saipan as the last Japanese defenses fell.

In 1947, the engagement of Britain’s Princess Elizabeth to Lt. Philip Mountbatten was announced.

In 1965, the Sonny & Cher single “I Got You Babe” was released by ATCO Records.

In 1982, Pan Am Flight 759, a Boeing 727, crashed in Kenner, Louisiana, shortly after takeoff from New Orleans International Airport, killing all 145 people aboard and eight people on the ground.

In 2004, a Senate Intelligence Committee report concluded the CIA had provided unfounded assessments of the threat posed by Iraq that the Bush administration had relied on to justify going to war.

In 2010, the largest U.S.-Russia spy swap since the Cold War was completed on a remote stretch of Vienna airport tarmac as planes from New York and Moscow arrived within minutes of each other with 10 Russian sleeper agents and four prisoners accused by Russia of spying for the West.

In 2011, South Sudan officially became an independent nation.

In 2018, President Donald Trump nominated Brett Kavanaugh to fill the seat left vacant by the retirement of Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Artist David Hockney is 88.
• Author Dean Koontz is 80.
• Actor Chris Cooper is 74.
• Musician and TV personality John Tesh is 73.
• Country singer David Ball is 72.
• Business executive/TV personality Kevin O’Leary (TV: “Shark Tank”) is 71.
• Singer Debbie Sledge (Sister Sledge) is 71.
• Actor Jimmy Smits is 70.
• US Senator Lindsey Graham is 70.
• Actor Tom Hanks is 69.
• Singer Marc Almond is 68.
• Actor Kelly McGillis is 68.
• Rock singer Jim Kerr (Simple Minds) is 66.
• Actor-rock singer Courtney Love is 61.
• Actor Pamela Adlon is 59.
• Actor Scott Grimes is 54.
• Actor Enrique Murciano (TV: “Without a Trace”) is 52.
• Musician/producer Jack White is 50.
• Rock singer-musician Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse) is 50.
• Actor-director Fred Savage is 49.
• Actor Linda Park (TV: “Star Trek: Enterprise”) is 47.
• Actor Megan Parlen is 45.
• Animator/writer/producer Rebecca Sugar is 38.
• Actor Mitchel Musso is 34.
• Actor Georgie Henley (Film: “The Chronicles of Narnia”) is 30.

Q: Duncan Robinson scored more 3 -pointers (190) than Norman Powell (179) last season and is making less money. Are we sure Powell is an upgrade? – Harvey.

A: Yes, a far more diverse scorer than a 3-point specialist. As one scout told me, his reference point to Norman Powell is that he is a scorer not just a shooter.  And at one point earlier in his career, Norman was a far superior defender than Duncan Robinson even on Duncan’s best defensive days. That did slip noticeably last season with the Clippers, with the question of whether the Heat can get him back up to a workable level. But, yes, with all due respect to Duncan, an upgrade. The bottom line was that the Heat were not going to be able to retain Duncan at much less than $20 million, which makes the actual price points for the Heat relatively equal.

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Q: Hi, Ira. The Norman Powell trade seems too good to be true, am I missing something? I hope that, unlike the case with Terry Rozier, his offensive numbers will translate to the Heat’s slow-paced offense. – Ray, Deerfield Beach.

A: The difference is that Norman Powell has shown he can score on a team that valued winning. Terry Rozier’s scoring with the Hornets came on the team with little such direction. Norman Powell has done it when it has mattered. That matters. A lot. Further, the Clippers were 22nd in pace last season, not far off the Heat’s No. 27. So Norman has already shown an ability to play amid a slow go.

Q: Ira, I am cautiously optimistic for next year. While I agree with you that there is a chance for another trade move, even a Pat Riley out-of-the-blue blockbuster, I think this team, as constituted, could be a mid-40s-win team. IMHO, it is not a 37-win team adding Norman Powell. It is a 37-win team not having the sturm und drang of the Jimmy Butler situation and adding Andrew Wiggins, Davion Mitchell and Norman Powell. Even with no growth from the young guys, that could be seven or eight  more wins. – Howard, Hallandale Beach.

A: Agree that if not for the Jimmy Butler contretemps last season, something closer to .500 could be achieved. But there remain so many unknowns, including the young players. Erik Spoelstra had ample pieces. But do they fit? The East will afford an opportunity for improvement, but most every team at the top of the conference has a better player than the Heat’s best player.

With the 2025 NFL season fast approaching, the South Florida Sun Sentinel takes a look at 10 storylines to watch for in a 10-part series ahead of the Miami Dolphins’ first day of training camp, which is set for July 22.

It’s the biggest “if” surrounding the Miami Dolphins’ season — “If quarterback Tua Tagovailoa can stay healthy … ”

You can finish the sentence almost any way you’d like. The possibilities are seemingly endless: 

— If Tagovailoa can stay healthy, the Dolphins should be a playoff team;

— If Tagovailoa can stay healthy, Dolphins general manager Chris Grier and coach Mike McDaniel will almost certainly return for the 2026 season;

— If Tagovailoa can stay healthy, wide receiver Tyreek Hill has a shot at 2,000 yards receiving.

The list goes on and on.

Tagovailoa’s health is the No. 1 key to the Dolphins having a successful season. And for Tagovailoa to stay healthy, the Dolphins maintain he must play smarter.

“He needs to know how to protect himself,” Grier said in a season-ending news confernece session. “You’re going to get hit at times, it’s always going to happen, but he needs to control what he can control. He understands that. Not being available for taking chances and risk is unacceptable to us, and he knows that.”

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It seems Tagovailoa has received the message. He knows what must be his point of emphasis in 2025.

“It’s knowing when is the time to give up on a play,” he said. “I would say the longevity for me to be on the field with my guys is more important than whatever that one play is.”

Granted, the Dolphins were only 6-5 last year in Tagovailoa’s starts.

But they were 11-6 in 2023 (11-7 including the playoffs), and 8-5 in 2022.

So, all told the Dolphins are 25-17 (.595) in Tagovailoa’s starts under McDaniel, who revitalized his career in 2022.

If that winning percentage holds in 2025, the Dolphins will go 10-7 (.588).

They key is Tagovailoa playing smarter. 

Playing smarter means getting rid of the ball — throwing it out of bounds or into the ground — instead of holding it for that extra half second in hopes the receiver gets open. Playing smarter means sliding instead of taking on a would-be tackler, such as against Buffalo last year, or it means sliding to avoid a hit, such as he should have done against Houston last year. Playing smarter means not diving at the knees of the defender who intercepted his pass in an effort to make a tackle, such as Tagovailoa did against the Los Angeles Rams linebacker Christian Rozeboom last season.

Dolphins Deep Dive: What is Miami’s goal for the 2025 season? | VIDEO

In a sense, Tagovailoa must control his competitiveness for the good of the team.

“It just comes natural to me to compete in that sense, and that’s just the thing I fight with every time,” he said.

From the sound of things, that message hasn’t simply been relayed to Tagovailoa, it’s been emphasized. 

“And again,” Grier said, “it’s his availability of controlling what he can control, like throw the ball away, you don’t have to run around and be Superman, live for the next play.”

Tagovailoa joined the Dolphins with an injury history. His final season at Alabama in 2020 ended with a combination hip injury, broken nose and concussion against Mississippi State.

His first two seasons with the Dolphins included missed games for a finger injury in 2020 (one game) and a rib injury in 2021 (three games).

The bigger problems started in 2022. Tagovailoa sustained a high-profile concussion at Cincinnati in a nationally televised Thursday night game. He struck the so-called “fencing pose,” meaning, in layman’s terms, his hands and fingers froze in an unnatural position. He spent part of the night in a hospital before flying home with the team. He missed the next four games.

The previous week against Buffalo, Tagovailoa’s head hit the ground after a hit and he wobbled noticeably while trying to get to the line of scrimmage for the next play. The NFL and NFL Players Association took notice and the league eventually changed its head injury policy.

Tagovailoa sustained another concussion later in the 2022 season in a Christmas game against Green Bay, forcing him to miss the finale and the team’s wild-card playoff game. That concussion wasn’t diagnosed until the day after the game.

In 2024, Tagovailoa sustained a concussion against Buffalo after running head-first into safety Damar Hamlin while trying to get a first down. He missed the required four games after being placed on the injured reserve list.

Later in the season he sustained a hip injury while running the ball against Houston. He missed the final two games.

The Dolphins are 3-8 (.273) in games Tagovailoa has missed in the McDaniel era.

Clearly, his ability to stay on the field is important.

McDaniel said Tagovailoa started the offseason knowing his ability to stay on the field in 2025 is paramount. So when McDaniel was asked whether there were teaching reinforcements used with Tagovailoa during the offseason intended to keep him healthy during the regular season, his answer was predictable.

“Come on, every rep this dude has that is an opportunity to reinforce something paramount, I’m probably going to over-reinforce paramount,” McDaniel said, “so yes.”

Previously addressed

Chris Grier, Mike McDaniel or both? Who’s on Dolphins’ hot seat entering 2025 season?

Is this Tyreek Hill’s final season with the Dolphins?

Here are the top stories for Wednesday, July 9, 2025. Get the weather forecast for today here.

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By NADIA LATHAN and JOHN SEEWER

HUNT, Texas (AP) — As the search in Texas continued Wednesday for more than 160 people believed to be missing days after a destructive wall of water killed over 100 people, the full extent of the catastrophe had yet to be revealed as officials warned that unaccounted victims could still be found amid the massive piles of debris that stretch for miles.

“Know this: We will not stop until every missing person is accounted for. Know this also: There very likely could be more added to that list,” Gov. Greg Abbott said during a news conference Tuesday.

Abbot said officials have been seeking more information about those who were in the state’s Hill Country during the Fourth of July holiday but did not register at a camp or a hotel and may have been in the area without many people knowing.

The lowlands of Kerr County along the Guadalupe River, where most of the victims of the flash flooding have been recovered so far, are filled with youth camps and campgrounds, including Camp Mystic, the century-old all-girls Christian summer camp where at least 27 campers and counselors died. Officials said Tuesday that five campers and one counselor have still not been found.

Crews in airboats, helicopters and on horseback along with hundreds of volunteers are part of one of the largest search operations in Texas history.

The flash flood is the deadliest from inland flooding in the U.S. since Colorado’s Big Thompson Canyon flood on July 31, 1976, killed 144 people, said Bob Henson, a meteorologist with Yale Climate Connections. That flood surged through a narrow canyon packed with people on a holiday weekend, Colorado’s centennial celebration.

Public officials in charge of locating the victims are facing intensifying questions about who was in charge of monitoring the weather and warning that floodwaters were barreling toward camps and homes.

Abbott promised that the search for victims will not stop until everyone is found. He also said President Donald Trump has pledged to provide whatever relief Texas needs to recover. Trump plans to visit the state Friday.

Scenes of devastation at Camp Mystic

Outside the cabins at Camp Mystic where the girls had slept, mud-splattered blankets and pillows were scattered on a grassy hill that slopes toward the river. Also in the debris were pink, purple and blue luggage decorated with stickers.

Among those who died at the camp were a second grader who loved pink sparkles and bows, a 19-year-old counselor who enjoyed mentoring young girls and the camp’s 75-year-old director.

The flash floods erupted before daybreak Friday after massive rains sent water speeding down hills into the Guadalupe River, causing it to rise 26 feet (8 meters) in less than an hour. Some campers had to swim out of cabin windows to safety while others held onto a rope as they made their way to higher ground.

Just two days before the flooding, Texas inspectors had signed off on the camp’s emergency planning. But five years of inspection reports released to The Associated Press don’t provide any details about how the camp would instruct campers about evacuating and specific duties each staff member and counselor would be assigned.

Although it’s difficult to attribute a single weather event to climate change, experts say a warming atmosphere and oceans make catastrophic storms more likely.

Where were the warnings?

Questions mounted about what, if any, actions local officials took to warn campers and residents who were in the scenic area long known to locals as “flash flood alley.”

Leaders in Kerr county, where searchers have found about 90 bodies, said their first priority is recovering victims, not reviewing what happened in the moments before the flash floods.

Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the county’s chief elected official, said the county does not have a warning system.

Generations of families in the Hill Country have known the dangers. A 1987 flood forced the evacuation of a youth camp in the town of Comfort and swamped buses and vans. Ten teenagers were killed.

Local leaders have talked for years about the need for a warning system. Kerr County sought a nearly $1 million grant eight years ago for such a system, but the request was turned down by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Local residents balked at footing the bill themselves, Kelly said.

Recovery and cleanup goes on

The bodies of 30 children were among those that have been recovered in the county, which is home to Camp Mystic and several other summer camps, the sheriff said.

The devastation spread across several hundred miles in central Texas all the way to just outside the capital of Austin.

Aidan Duncan escaped just in time after hearing the muffled blare of a megaphone urging residents to evacuate Riverside RV Park in the Hill Country town of Ingram.

All his belongings — a mattress, sports cards, his pet parakeet’s bird cage — now sit caked in mud in front of his home.

“What’s going on right now, it hurts,” the 17-year-old said. “I literally cried so hard.”

___

Seewer reported from Toledo, Ohio. Associated Press writers Joshua A. Bickel in Kerrville, Texas, Jim Vertuno in Austin, Texas, and John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, contributed to this report.

CINCINNATI — The Miami Marlins extended their franchise-record road winning streak to 11 with a 12-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night.

It’s the longest road winning streak in the major leagues since the Phillies won 13 straight away from home in 2023.

Eury Pérez (2-2) made his sixth start for the Marlins since returning this season from Tommy John surgery and only two hits including Matt McLain’s solo homer, his 10th, in the first inning. Pérez struck out eight and didn’t walk a batter.

After Nick Martinez (6-9) retired the first six batters he faced, the Marlins collected six consecutive hits off him in the third, including a two-run double by Xavier Edwards to take a 7-1 lead.

Martinez, who made his first start at Great American Ball Park since taking a no-hitter into the ninth against the Padres, allowed a career-high 10 earned runs on seven hits.

Key moment

The Marlins caught a break in the seven-run third inning when Agustín Ramírez’s high-hopper went just over the head of Reds’ third baseman Noelvi Marte to drive home another run and keep the rally going.

Key stat

During the road winning streak, the Marlins have outscored their opponents 82-47.

Up next

Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott (7-1, 2.15 ERA) will make his first start since being named to the NL All-Star team and will face Marlins RHP Sandy Alcantra (4-8, 7.01) on Wednesday.

They arrived as two of a kind, played that way as rookies, and were at it again Tuesday night for the Miami Heat at summer league.

Having both joined the Heat a year ago after playing as teammates at Arizona, Pelle Larsson and Keshad Johnson again showed the aggressive promise they potentially can offer beyond meaningless games such as these.

In the Heat’s finale of the California Classic at Chase Center, Larsson and Johnson each went for points in a 93-79 victory over the Golden State Warriors’ summer roster.

Those efforts came with Heat summer-league coach Eric Glass giving 2024 first-round pick Kel’el Ware the night off, on night 2025 first-round pick Kasparas Jakucionis again struggled with his shooting, closing 0 for 5 from the field,  leaving late in the fourth quarter after knee to knee contact.

The prime positive takeaway Tuesday was the energy injected into the equation by Larsson and Johnson, as the Heat completed a weeklong stay in the Bay Area, closing the California Classic at 2-1.

“It’s the example that the other guys that are a little bit newer to this, that are still learning our system, they see those guys doing all the right things and competing at a high level and setting that pace for the rest of the group,” Glass said of Larsson and Johnson. “So I couldn’t ask for anything more when it comes to that.”

Larsson, a second-round pick a year ago, and Johnson, who went undrafted a year ago, both are under contract for the coming season.

“We were all just moving, moving the ball,” Johnson said of Tuesday’s effort.

Then there was Jakucionis, who shot a combined 1 of 15 in the three games in the event.

“This is a process. He’s 19 years old. This is just what it is,” Glass said.

The Heat next move on to the larger Las Vegas NBA Summer League, which features rosters from all 30 teams.

The Heat will open defense Friday of their Vegas championship with a 4:30 p.m. Eastern game (ESPN2) against the Atlanta Hawks’ summer roster.

That will be the first of at least five games for the Heat on the UNLV campus, as they close out their summer schedule.

Five Degrees of Heat from Tuesday night’s game:

1. For starters: Ware was given the game off after a pair of uneven starts in the first two of three games at Chase Center, replaced in the starting lineup Tuesday by former FAU center Vlad Goldin, who went undrafted out of Michigan. Goldin was given Sunday’s game off.

In addition to Goldin being back, also back after a game off and in the starting lineup were Larsson, Johnson and Kira Lewis, the 2020 first-round pick of the New Orleans Pelicans.

Lewis closed with 16 points and four assists.

Jakucionis was in the Heat starting lineup for the third time, the lone starter in all three California Classic games for the Heat.

2. Goldin touch: The extended look at Goldin could be part of the Heat evaluating their limited regular-season depth at center beyond Ware and Bam Adebayo, now that Kevin Love was dealt Monday in the trade that delivered Norman Powell from the Los Angeles Clippers.

Golden closed with 10 points and five rebounds in 20 minutes, shooting 4 of 5.

Should Goldin not be deemed sufficient roster depth in the middle on his two-way contract, the remaining options for the Heat on the free-agent market are somewhat limited.

Among remaining free-agent centers at the moment are former Heat big men Thomas Bryant, Orlando Robinson and Cody Zeller.

An option was lost Tuesday night when former Heat center Kelly Olynyk was dealt from the Washington Wizards to the San Antonio Spurs.

3. Attack mode: Larsson continued to play in attack mode, up to 12 points by the intermission.

He closed 5 of 10 from the field, with five rebounds and four assists.

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“He’s just a really steadying presence out there,” Glass said of Larsson.

4. Highlight moments: Johnson offered one of his trademark flying transition dunks in the third period off a steal and feed from Lewis.

While Johnson has yet to consistently show the 3-point touch to make him a 3-and-D power forward in the mold of P.J. Tucker, he did convert a pair Tuesday night and his athleticism continues to stand out on a Heat roster somewhat lacking in that regard.

Johnson, who had his 2025-26 contract fully guaranteed a week ago, closed 6 of 9 from the field, with four rebounds.

“We love what he’s been bringing for us,” Glass said.

While play was closed to the public on Tuesday’s final day of the California Classic, Johnson was able to have his Oakland-based family on hand.

“My family came out,” he said with a smile, requesting the ESPN camera pan to his family. “They always come out. I love my family to death.”

5. Still searching: After shooting 1 of 7 in his Heat debut in Saturday’s opening victory of the California Classic against the Spurs and then 0 for 3 in Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers’ summer roster, Jakucionis this time was limited to five points.

“I think I need to just settle in more, play at my own pace, don’t get sped up too much as I was these three games,” he said, also with four turnovers in his 22 minutes.

On the flip side, at least on summer-league level, Jakucionis has shown better defensive chops than forecast, although he did close with eight fouls. Players have a 10-foul limit during summer league, despite the 40-minute summer games being eight minutes shorted than during the regular season.

The Trump administration’s top diplomat, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, was overseeing a deal to free several Americans and dozens of political prisoners held in Venezuela in exchange for sending home about 250 Venezuelan migrants the United States had deported to El Salvador.

But the deal never happened.

Part of the reason: President Donald Trump’s envoy to Venezuela was working on his own deal, one with terms that Venezuela deemed more attractive. In exchange for American prisoners, he was offering to allow Chevron to continue its oil operations in Venezuela, a vital source of revenue for its authoritarian government.

The discussions, which included the release of about 80 Venezuelan political prisoners, and the two different deals were described by two U.S. officials and two other people who are familiar with the talks and sought anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the issue.

The State Department never sealed the deal. The top U.S. officials did not appear to be communicating with each other and ended up at cross purposes. The approximately 250 people expelled from the United States are still being held in a maximum-security prison in El Salvador. And it became clear that while Trump’s White House once said that it had no control over the detainees in El Salvador, it was willing to use them as bargaining chips.

Both U.S. tracks — one managed by Rubio and the other led by the envoy, Richard Grenell — involved speaking with the same Venezuelan representative, Jorge Rodríguez, president of Venezuela’s National Assembly, one U.S. official and the two other people said.

The conflicting diplomatic efforts signaled a monthslong divide over how to approach Venezuela and resembled the chaos that permeated Trump’s first term, when competing officials vied for influence with the president. But the lack of coordination left Venezuelan officials unclear about who spoke for Trump and, ultimately, left both American and Venezuelan detainees imprisoned.

The offer to swap Venezuelan migrants in El Salvador for prisoners remains on the table, one of the U.S. officials said. The White House is not willing, for now, to extend Chevron’s license in Venezuela.

Grenell declined an interview request but said in an email that The New York Times’ account about the separate deals was bogus.

A person close to Grenell who is familiar with the talks with Venezuela said Grenell did not believe that a swap involving the Venezuelan migrants was going to happen because he believed that Trump would never have authorized the release of accused gang members. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect the sensitive nature of the ongoing negotiations.

Trump’s aides said that there was no tension between any of the diplomats.

“There is no fraction or division,” Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said in a statement. “The president has one team, and everyone knows he is the ultimate decision-maker.”

The United States is paying the Salvadoran government millions of dollars to detain migrants who the Trump administration claims are all members of a Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, and who it said had come to the United States to commit crimes.

But the Trump administration has provided little proof that the men are gang members, and their lawyers argue that their detentions are illegal and took place without due process.

The negotiations over the swap, which were led by the State Department and John McNamara, the chargé d’affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá, Colombia, who also oversees Venezuelan affairs, had advanced to the point where in May, Venezuela was set to send a state plane to El Salvador to retrieve the men, one of the two people said.

At the same time, the United States planned to send a plane normally used for deportations to Caracas, the Venezuelan capital, to pick up the political prisoners and the Americans. McNamara planned to fly to Caracas to oversee the handover.

The Venezuelan political prisoners, many of whom were arrested while protesting fraudulent elections held last year, would have been given the choice of staying in Venezuela or going to live in El Salvador, according to one of the people close to the talks.

The swap would have included a range of people who protested the 2024 election results in Venezuela, including a man jailed for criticizing President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela on TikTok and a former mayor arrested in August.

The deal would have freed 11 Americans and U.S. citizens, including Lucas Hunter, who was arrested in January, and Jonathan Pagan Gonzalez, who was arrested last year.

El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, first hinted at such a deal in late April. He suggested on social media that a “humanitarian agreement” would exchange all the Venezuelan migrants for Americans in Venezuelan custody and some Venezuelans. At the time, Venezuelan officials publicly dismissed the proposal and demanded that their “kidnapped” countrymen be returned.

While Rubio and McNamara focused on the prisoner swap, Grenell worked on a deal of his own. Before pitching it to the Venezuelans, Grenell called the president to tell him about the offer and believed he had the president’s support. But Grenell had not actually received the president’s final approval, according to one of the U.S. officials.

The White House had already heard from a group of Florida Republicans, Cuban Americans, who threatened not to support Trump’s tax and domestic policy bill if the administration eased oil sanctions against Venezuela. Trump’s aides believed that allowing Chevron to export oil from Venezuela would jeopardize Trump’s domestic policy agenda. Now that the bill has passed, it is unclear if administration officials will change their minds on the Chevron license.

The exchange arranged by the State Department was set to take place in late May. That month, Grenell went to Venezuela on a separate mission in which he won the release of Joseph St. Clair, an Air Force veteran held in Venezuela.

Senior Trump administration officials still view Grenell as a valuable player in the administration, even though some say they believe that he moved too fast — and without the necessary buy-in — in the episode.

Grenell, the person close to him said, was surprised to learn about the swap, and is the only authorized negotiator on any deals with Venezuela. But since the episode, Rubio has taken the lead in talking to the Venezuelans, one of the U.S. officials said.

The Venezuelan and Salvadoran governments did not provide comment for this article.

The relatives of some Americans detained in Venezuela expressed frustration over the failure of the efforts to win their freedom.

“The sense that we parents had was that you had various people talking, but they weren’t working together — one negotiator would say one thing, and another would say something else,” said Petra Castañeda, whose son, Wilbert Castañeda, 37, a Navy SEAL, was arrested last year in Venezuela. “You would think they would be duly coordinated.”

In Trump’s first term, U.S. officials tried to oust Maduro through sanctions, diplomatic isolation and the support of an alternative president, a young legislator. Rubio and other Cuban American Republicans continue to support sanctions and an isolationist approach.

But in the second term, Grenell has expressed a willingness to work with the Venezuelan government. He made his first trip to Caracas in January, and got several Americans released.

The Maduro government has spent the past year or so rounding up foreigners in its territory and imprisoning them to use in negotiations with foreign governments, according to security analysts and human rights groups.

The Venezuelan watchdog group Foro Penal says there are now 85 people with foreign citizenship wrongfully detained in Venezuela, the largest number the group has ever counted.

While Grenell was able to secure the release of six Americans in January, and then St. Clair in May, many more U.S. citizens and permanent residents remained in Venezuelan custody or were recently captured.

The State Department deal that had been in the works with Venezuela included stern warnings that suggested severe consequences if more prisoners were taken after the swap, one of the people said.

Jetzy Arteaga, whose son, Carlos Cañizales Arteaga, has been held in El Salvador since March after migrating to North Carolina, said she was eager to see the deal revived.

“At first, when we heard that our sons were being used as bargaining chips, this offended us a lot,” Arteaga said. “Our sons are not bargaining chips. But now we realize there is no other option.”

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

By WILL WEISSERT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Turns out Donald Trump gauges his esteem for presidential predecessors by how well their portraits fit into his White House redecorating scheme. Or sometimes how well the frames around those portraits do.

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“I’m a frame person,” Trump said Tuesday during a meeting with his Cabinet. “Sometimes I like frames more than I like the pictures.”

Trump wrapped up a 90-plus-minute session by explaining how he personally worked to redecorate the Cabinet Room, seeming to take real joy in choosing which portraits were hung. The president also said he helped choose the room’s drapes and polled those present about whether he should repaint the room in gold leaf. (Cabinet members think he should.)

“I actually spent time in the vaults. The vaults are where we have a lot of great pictures and artwork. And I picked it all myself,” Trump said. “I’m very proud of it.”

The president said that meant “a lot of time, effort” and “very little money.” He even recounted having gone to Secretary of State Marco Rubio ‘s office and directing that a grandfather clock there be moved to the White House.

“As president, you have the power — if I go into the State Department, or Department of Commerce or Treasury — if I see anything that I like, I’m allowed to take it,” Trump said, drawing laughs. He offered the anecdote despite there not being any record of Trump having paid a public visit to the State Department during Rubio’s tenure.

Trump also pointed out each portrait and shared what he thought of each ex-president depicted. He started by indicating “the great Andrew Jackson ” and went from there — renewing his frequent praise for William McKinley and getting in a dig about how Bill Clinton once offered donors overnight stays in the Lincoln bedroom in exchange for campaign contributions.

• WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 08: A painting of former President Abraham Lincoln is visible on the wall as U.S. President Donald Trump talks about redecorating the Cabinet Room during a cabinet meeting at the White House on July 08, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump discussed the recent flash flooding tragedy in Central Texas where at least 109 people have died, and other topics during the portion of the meeting that was open to members of the media. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
• WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 08: A portrait of former President James Polk is visible on the wall as U.S. President Donald Trump talks about redecorating the Cabinet Room during a cabinet meeting at the White House on July 08, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump discussed the recent flash flooding tragedy in Central Texas where at least 109 people have died, and other topics during the portion of the meeting that was open to members of the media. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
• WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 08: A clock, that U.S. President Donald Trump said he took from the State Department is visible as Trump talks about redecorating the Cabinet Room during a cabinet meeting at the White House on July 08, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump discussed the recent flash flooding tragedy in Central Texas where at least 109 people have died, and other topics during the portion of the meeting that was open to members of the media. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
• WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 08: U.S. President Donald Trump, accompanied by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (R), discusses his decorating of the Cabinet Room during a cabinet meeting at the White House on July 08, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump discussed the recent flash flooding tragedy in Central Texas where at least 109 people have died, and other topics during the portion of the meeting that was open to members of the media. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
• WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 08: A portrait of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower is visible on the wall as U.S. President Donald Trump talks about redecorating the Cabinet Room during a cabinet meeting at the White House on July 08, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump discussed the recent flash flooding tragedy in Central Texas where at least 109 people have died, and other topics during the portion of the meeting that was open to members of the media. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
• WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 08: A painting of former President Abraham Lincoln is visible on the wall as U.S. President Donald Trump talks about redecorating the Cabinet Room during a cabinet meeting at the White House on July 08, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump discussed the recent flash flooding tragedy in Central Texas where at least 109 people have died, and other topics during the portion of the meeting that was open to members of the media. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
• WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 08: A painting of former President Abraham Lincoln is visible on the wall as U.S. President Donald Trump talks about redecorating the Cabinet Room during a cabinet meeting at the White House on July 08, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump discussed the recent flash flooding tragedy in Central Texas where at least 109 people have died, and other topics during the portion of the meeting that was open to members of the media. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
• President Donald Trump, right seated, speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Show Caption1 of 8WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 08: A painting of former President Abraham Lincoln is visible on the wall as U.S. President Donald Trump talks about redecorating the Cabinet Room during a cabinet meeting at the White House on July 08, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump discussed the recent flash flooding tragedy in Central Texas where at least 109 people have died, and other topics during the portion of the meeting that was open to members of the media. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) Expand

Here’s what Trump said about some past presidents:

James K. Polk (1845-49):

“That’s a gentleman named — and we call him — President Polk. He was sort of a real-estate guy. He was — people don’t realize — he was a one-termer. But he was a very good president. But, and I’m not sure I should be doing this, he actually gave us the state of California.”

Then Trump revealed that his choice of Polk’s picture might have had more do with the portrait’s frame being almost the same size as the frame surrounding Jackson’s portrait, which he suggested was especially aesthetically pleasing: “Polk is actually a very good president who’s got the same frame that I needed, OK.”

Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-61):

“A very underrated president. Built the Interstate (Highway) System. And he was the toughest president, I guess, until we came along. But I don’t mind giving up that crown, because, I don’t want to be too tough on it. But we want to be humane. But he was the toughest president on immigration. He was very strong at the borders. Very, very strong. And, sometimes you can be too strong. He was strong at the borders and, during a certain period of time, there was so strong that almost every farmer in California went bankrupt. And we have to remember that. We have to work together. We have to remember that. But he was a very good president, and a very good general and a very good president and I thought he deserved a position somewhere on this floor.”

Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-45):

“He was not a Republican, to put it mildly. But he was, you know, a four-termer. He was Franklin Delano Roosevelt. And, if you notice, we have a lot of ramps outside. You have a ramp. People say, ‘It’s an unusual place for a ramp.’ It was because of him. He was wheelchair bound. But he was an amazing man.”

Abraham Lincoln (1861-65):

“Over there is ‘Honest’ Abe Lincoln. And that picture was in his, ugh, in his bedroom. And we thought this would be a very important place because this is where wars are ended. I’m not going to say wars are declared. I’m going to say wars are ended. OK? We’ll be positive. And, that’s the picture of Abe Lincoln from his bedroom, sat in the bedroom for many, many years. That was his favorite picture of himself. And the Lincoln Bedroom’s very famous. You remember when Bill Clinton had it and he rented it out to people. We don’t do that.”

John Adams (1797-1801):

“They were the first occupants of the White House. 1800. And John Quincy Adams, Mrs. Adams, they were the first occupants. So we have them looking at each other and, in between their stares is Abraham Lincoln trying to make peace.”

(Trump is correct that John Adams, the nation’s second president, and his wife Abigail, were the first first couple to move into the White House in 1800. But he was mistaken about John Quincy Adams, who was John and Abigail’s son and the sixth president. He served from 1825 to 1829).

William McKinley (1897-1901):

“McKinley was a great president who never got credit. In fact, they changed the name of Mount McKinley and I changed it back because he should have been — the people of Ohio, he was the governor of Ohio — the people of Ohio were very happy when I did that. I heard they were very insulted. They took the name of Mount McKinley off. That was done by Obama a little while ago and I had to change it back. I changed it back. He actually was a great president. He was a president. He was the tariff, the most, I guess since me — I think I’m gonna outdo him — but he was a tariff president. He believed that other countries should pay for the privilege of coming into our country and taking our jobs and taking our treasure. That’s the way he explained it. They took our jobs and they took our treasure. And for that he should pay. And he made them pay. And he built a tremendous fortune.”

Will Weissert covers the White House for The Associated Press.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I live in a place where many cultures and nationalities abound.

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When I was at a restaurant with friends the other day, we were served by a comely waitress. My friend commented on the beauty of the “Asian waitress,” but I thought she was Latina.

Is there a tactful and proper way to ask? Or are we better off not asking such a question at all? None of us wishes to offend anyone.

GENTLE READER: Then please just order your food. Miss Manners reminds you that the waitress is not a menu item of whom you may inquire the ingredients. She has work to do and may not want to explain her background to you.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I inherited a 1920s-era diamond ring and earrings.

I remember my grandmother saying that with the exception of an engagement ring, it’s inappropriate to wear this type of flashy jewelry during the day.

I am going to a reunion luncheon for my all-girls school, to be held at a lovely “Old South”-style tearoom. Frankly, I would love to wear these pieces to the event. The ring could pass for an engagement ring, but the sizable solitaire earrings are definitely just “bling.”

Does this rule still hold? Would sticking to pearls be more appropriate?

GENTLE READER: Hold with whom?

Even if Miss Manners had inherited the crown jewels, she, like your grandmother, would never wear them during the day. But she has noticed that people who actually have inherited crown jewels are among those who are either ignorant or contemptuous of the rule.

However, the rule was well-known and observed in what you are calling the Old South. As your classmates have chosen this venue, perhaps they would consider your wearing the earrings to be a vulgar case of showing off. Or not.

You do know that your grandmother would not approve. Gratitude and respect should stop you from going against her sense of decorum — especially if she is the relative from whom you inherited the jewelry.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My fiance and I sent out wedding invitations. Our wedding is still 12 weeks away, but will-be attendees have already begun sending gifts to our house.

What is the proper etiquette for the timing of thank-you notes? Should we wait until the wedding takes place, or should we start sending thank-you notes now to acknowledge receipt of these gifts?

GENTLE READER: NOW!

Sorry; Miss Manners did not mean to shout at you. But she knows what happens when brides postpone thanking people who give them presents.

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Right now, you are busy getting ready for the wedding. Then, you will be on your wedding trip. After that, you will be catching up at work after having been away. At that point, you won’t be able to bear to look at the list of who gave what — which will be on your desk, giving you dirty looks.

Then you will decide that it is too late.

The time to thank someone for giving you a present is when you receive that present.

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.

More than a dozen development projects in Boca Raton are under review, which could mean hundreds more residences and thousands of square feet of new shops, restaurants and office space in the city.

Some of the projects propose only 20 residential units — such as Briskel Pointe at 6800 N. Federal Hwy. — while others, such as the Modera Boca along Dixie Highway, pitch a more than 300-unit building, according to city documents.

When talking about Briskel Pointe during a recent public planning and zoning board meeting, Peter Begovich, a senior planner with the city, said the development promotes the “public health, safety, comfort, order, appearance, convenience and general welfare of the city.”

He also said that the development “answers the growing demand for housing of all types of designs” and offers a greater variety of layouts than is normally possible via conventional zoning.

Similar statements have been made about some of the other projects in the city’s development pipeline in recent months, and with Mayor Scott Singer welcoming more people and businesses to Boca Raton, perhaps the “significant opportunities for housing” may be more necessary.

Included in the growing list of projects in review before the city officials are:

— The Oval, a 10-unit residential development with about 2,000-square-feet of retail at 501 East Palmetto Park Road.

— The Boca Raton Residential, a 76-unit residential development at 501 East Camino Real.

— Atrium Residential, an eight-story, 222-unit multi-family residential building with 15% of the units designated as affordable and workforce housing, at 6111 NW Broken Sound Parkway.

— North Park Villas, a 10-unit project at 5910 NW 2nd Ave.

— Ibis Row, which has been proposed as four, two-story townhomes at 1700 Juana Road. This project in particular has gained negative traction from people who live in the nearby neighborhoods who believe this project would disrupt the single-family pattern.

A residence near the former Life Center Boca Raton displays signs opposing a potential townhome development on the site at 2 SW 12th Ave. in Boca Raton on Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Just because a project is under review, though, does not mean it automatically gets approved. Each project has to go through the city’s approval process, which could ultimately mean being rejected by the City Council.

Some projects go entirely unnoticed by residents. Others are criticized, like Ibis Row. Others are even praised.

When Briskel Pointe was discussed at the most recent planning and zoning board meeting, one person brought up how the project could bring more traffic to Federal Highway. That concern was followed up by praise from Villas at Berkeley Condominium president Michael Speizman. The Villas Berkeley is directly south of where Briskel Pointe could rise.

“It’s replacing a kind of rundown, vacant lot that, I don’t want to think what’s going on in it, but it’d be better if it was housing,” he said.

A vacant lot at 6800 N Federal Hwy, in Boca Raton is shown on Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Attorneys from the law firm Miskel Backman who are representing Briskel Pointe argued in documents that the city’s population “is steadily growing, particularly post-pandemic with many moving to the city from out of state,” which also leads to higher housing costs. Thus, more residences may continue to rise, whether current residents want them to or not.

As Zohran Mamdani, the socialist democratic candidate for mayor of New York City put it: “I don’t think that we should have billionaires because, frankly, it is so much money in a moment of such inequality.”

The remark — made during a recent network news interview — has hardly gone unnoticed by South Florida politicians and economic development promoters who would welcome another major round of business relocations from New York — the most recent being triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now, some in South Florida have come to believe that Mamdani, 33, whose campaign is touting rent freezes, free buses, city-owned grocery stores and a $30-an-hour minimum wage — funded by the city’s top 1% earners — could be a one-man trigger of another Florida-bound corporate migration movement.

For the record, the 2025 billionaires list published by Forbes places New York at the top with 123. Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties are each home to 23 billionaires. Broward has four.

All three counties appear on a different worldwide list of “hot spots” for centi-millionaires compiled by New World Wealth, a South Africa-based intelligence firm.

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“We’ll have to have more direct flights from New York to Fort Lauderdale,” Bob Swindell, CEO and president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, said by phone Thursday.

In the wake of Mamdani’s remarks, the alliance issued a statement noting that it has leveraged Florida’s business-friendly climate to draw large numbers of businesses to the county from elsewhere over the years, helping to position them all for success.

“Greater Fort Lauderdale is the new frontier for business expansion, with all the right elements to prosper both in business and in life,” Swindell said. “We’ve cultivated one of the most business-friendly climates in the nation, offering public-private partnership opportunities, collaborative support, and an innovative spirit that catapults businesses to the next level.”

“We’ve helped countless business leaders seamlessly relocate and expand in Broward,” he added, “and the majority have only one regret: that they didn’t do it sooner.”

Geographically, the chief sources of the wealth transfers are hardly surprising: New York, Connecticut and New Jersey.

A new capital of capitalism?

Recently, Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer scored some national publicity for his city in an interview with the New York Post, saying his city’s doors are open to those corporations that are tired of New York’s high taxes. He said he’s already conducted phone conversations with interested business leaders. “New York is not going to be the capital of capitalism anymore,” he asserted.

Swindell said he and David Coddington, senior vice president of business development at the alliance, recently traveled to New York to meet with various corporate operatives.

The prevailing pivot points for deciding whether to move or stay are the policies a city chooses to adopt for their local economies.

“The way policymakers position themselves and the stances they take … the whole tenor of their conversation helps people form their impressions,” Swindell said.

NBC News host Kristen Welker on June 29 asked Mamdani, “Do you think billionaires have a right to exist?” Mamdani reacted to the question by first laughing, then replied he didn’t think “we should have billionaires.” He added, “It is so much money, in a moment of such inequality. And ultimately, what we need more of is equality across our city, and across our state, and across our country. And I look forward to work with everyone, including billionaires, to make a city that is fairer for all of them.”

Talking against the idea of a monied class won’t impress everyone: Swindell noted that Mamdani “didn’t correct himself. That’s the way he feels.” Swindell said, “That attitude that (billionaires) shouldn’t exist is so short-sighted.”

In South Florida, he noted that the prominently rich have stepped up over the years with significant contributions to the community.

He cited Florida Panthers owner Vinnie Viola, the family of the late auto dealership entrepreneur Jim Moran and the late Fort Lauderdale billionaire H. Wayne Huizenga, founder of AutoNation and onetime owner of the Florida Marlins, Miami Dolphins and the Panthers.

“They have been so incredibly generous to this community,” Swindell said.

“We realize the strength of our region,” he added. “There is no question about who we are or where we are.”

Bob Venero, CEO of Future Tech Enterprise Inc., and an inveterate Florida Panthers fan, moved his company from Long Island, N.Y., to downtown Fort Lauderdale nearly four years ago.

“A lot of it was tied to the business environment,” he said when recalling the reasons for the move.

“In New York, from a political perspective, they did not believe in the trickle-down effect,” he said, where profitable businesses generate economic benefits for the community.

In Florida, it’s been different, he said.

“Everybody I have met from a business perspective — it’s not combative,” Venero said. “It’s the opposite: ‘Show us your value and when we see your value we’ll do business.'”

Now Future Tech has doubled in size. It occupies the top floor of the Broward Financial Center as well as the 14th floor — the latter for use as a briefing center with customers from around the country.

“We’re extremely happy to be there and to grow,” Venero said. Each year, hundreds of customers travel to Fort Lauderdale for visits.

One frequent customer request about the timing: “Oh, by the way, can we do it in the winter?”

With the 2025 NFL season fast approaching, the South Florida Sun Sentinel takes a look at 10 storylines to watch for in a 10-part series ahead of the Miami Dolphins’ first day of training camp, which is set for July 22.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill, a likely future Hall of Fame selection, will cost the Dolphins $51.8 million on the salary cap in 2026, according to Overthecap.com.

You can be fairly sure Hill, a five-time All Pro and eight-time Pro Bowl selection, won’t be playing for the Dolphins at that price.

The Dolphins will either release Hill or amend his contract to lower the cap hit.

Or they could trade him this year before the November trade deadline depending on how the season goes.

But as the Dolphins seem to be moving toward trying to win with youth and draftees, and being more fiscally responsible, you wonder where that leaves Hill’s future with the team.

If they cut Hill before June 1, 2026, it would cost them $15.5 million in dead money but save them $36.3 million against the cap.

If they designate Hill as a post-June 1 cut, he would cost them $12.7 million in dead money but save them $39.1 million against the cap.

Hill, however, has been essential personnel for the Dolphins.

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Over the past two years the Dolphins are 11-0 and average 35 points per game when Hill gets 100 yards or more receiving. When Hill has 99 or fewer yards receiving, the Dolphins are 7-16 (.304) and average 18 points per game.

“I think one of the things that was very clear,” coach Mike McDaniel said regarding the 2024 season, “is that defenses had spent their time figuring out how to make us perform in all facets.”

The Dolphins began adapting to life without Hill during this offseason’s organized team activities and minicamp. Hill missed both while recovering from right wrist surgery, so quarterback Tua Tagovailoa worked mostly with wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, his college teammate at Alabama.

“We’re continuing to grow our chemistry with one another,” Tagovailoa said. “For the past year, for the past two years, it’s really been me and ’Reek kind of getting on that same page.

“But if me and Waddle can get together and continue to make strides throughout these last few days of minicamp, I think it’s going to lead into some pretty good things preparing us for training camp.”

Hill has been amazingly durable during the previous three seasons. He’s only missed one game, the 30-0 victory over the New York Jets in 2023.

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He’s also been amazingly good.

Hill had a career-best 1,799 yards receiving in 2023. He did it on 119 receptions with 13 touchdowns.

In 2022, he had 1,710 yards and seven touchdowns.

Last season his production slipped. He had just 959 yards on 81 receptions with six touchdowns as he battled through the wrist injury.

The Hard Rock Bet sports app has set Hill’s over/under yardage total for this season at 975 yards.

If Hill has another season such as his 2024 performance, it’ll likely cost the Dolphins severely. They slumped to an 8-9 record last season although part of that was due to their 2-4 record when Tagovailoa was sidelined.

From the outside, Hill appears poised for a great season. He ran blazing fast 100-meter dashes of 10.15 seconds and 10.1 seconds at track meets near California and Texas this summer.

And Hill seems recovered from the offseason surgery on his right wrist.

Hill also seems to have mended fences with his teammates after his infamous “I’m out” remark after last season’s finale. Hill at the time hinted he wanted to depart from the Dolphins for the 2025 season.

“It was tough,” Hill said of making up with teammates. “Obviously, emotions were high then, but at the end of the day I’m just looking to move forward from that. Hoping that I can prove myself and prove to my teammates I’m still one of them ones who’s chasing 2k, one of those ones chasing playoff dreams and all of that great stuff.”

Oh, yeah, that’s the other thing. Hill, who came close to 2,000 receiving yards in 2023, said he’d like to reach that threshold this season.

If he gets it, most likely the Dolphins will reach the playoffs, and that would make it extremely tough for the Dolphins not to have Hill on the roster in 2026.

Q: Can we all agree that “leaning into their youth” is a euphemism for tanking? – Harvey.

A: No, because if your youth is what you believe it can be, then winning still can be the result. The Heat did not draft Kasparas Jakucioinis, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic with an eye on defeat. In fact, if such a “lean into youth” is the plan, then it is one predicated on winning with those aforementioned first-round picks. What leaning into youth means is not falling into the trap of taking the known from the likes of Kevin Love, Terry Rozier or, if he returns, Alec Burks. It means playing through the learning curves of the young players, but with expectations of growth from those young players. The reality is that if the Heat get what they think they can get out of Jakucionis, Ware, Jaquez and Jovic, they will be, at minimum, a play-in team. So, no, not the same as tanking and lining up alongside the Wizards and Nets.

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Q: Kasparas Jakučionis looks completely lost.  It seems like it’s going to be a long time, if ever, before he’d be ready to contribute in an NBA game. This is not a player ready to play in the NBA this season. Are you concerned with what you’ve seen in the first two summer games?  Do you expect him to spend the season in the G League? – Brian.

A: Because you always judge an entire career arc based on the initial two summer appearances. Kiddingly, when I spoke after the summer opener to Eric Glass, the assistant coach who is guiding the Heat summer roster, I joked about how Kasparas Jakučionis’ career clearly is headed nowhere after Saturday’s struggle. Um, perhaps we wait at least a week . . . or two . . . or for the start of training camp . . . or for the preseason? When you draft a player at 19, there is plenty of time for growth. It will get better. With time. And only with time.

Q:  So is it panic time for the Heat? Unless I am mistaken, the only guards on the roster are Tyler Herro, Davion Mitchell, Terry Rozier and Kasparas Jakucionis (who will probably spend most of his time in the G League). They better hope that Rozier has a comeback year or pick someone else up, or they are in a heap of trouble. That protected lottery pick is looking huge for them. – Joel, Fort Lauderdale.

A: So we’re really doing this a week into July? Really? For years, the Heat did not draft young because it was all about being ready for the moment, in the moment. Times have changed. You bank on growth and development. Kasparas Jakučionis will be just fine. Seriously. But perhaps we give him more than a week? Also, don’t count out Pelle Larsson when considering Heat backcourt options this coming season. There is something real there.

 

Today is Monday, July 7, the 188th day of 2024. There are 177 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On July 7, 1981, President Ronald Reagan announced he was nominating Arizona Judge Sandra Day O’Connor to become the first female justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Also on this date:

In 1865, four people were hanged in Washington, D.C. for conspiring with John Wilkes Booth to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln: Lewis Powell, David Herold, George Atzerodt and Mary Surratt, the first woman to be executed by the federal government.

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In 1898, President William McKinley signed the Newlands Resolution, approving the annexation of the Republic of Hawaii.

In 1930, construction began on Boulder Dam (known today as Hoover Dam).

In 1976, the United States Military Academy at West Point included female cadets for the first time as 119 women joined the Class of 1980.

In 1990, the first “Three Tenors” concert took place as opera stars Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras performed amid the brick ruins of Rome’s Baths of Caracalla on the eve of the FIFA World Cup final.

In 2005, terrorist bombings in three Underground stations and a double-decker bus killed 52 people and four bombers in the worst attack on London since World War II.

In 2010, Los Angeles police arrested and charged Lonnie Franklin Jr. in the city’s “Grim Sleeper” serial killings. (Franklin, who was sentenced to death for the killings of nine women and a teenage girl, died in prison in March 2020 at the age of 67.)

In 2013, Andy Murray became the first British man in 77 years to win the Wimbledon title, beating Novak Djokovic in the final.

In 2016, Micah Johnson, a Black Army veteran who served in Afghanistan, opened fire on Dallas police, killing five officers in an act of vengeance for the fatal police shootings of Black men; the attack ended with Johnson being killed by a bomb delivered by a police robot.

In 2021, a squad of gunmen assassinated Haitian President Jovenel Moïse and wounded his wife in an overnight raid on their home.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Musician-conductor Doc Severinsen is 98.
• Former Beatle Ringo Starr is 85.
• World Golf Hall of Famer Tony Jacklin is 81.
• Actor Joe Spano is 79.
• Actor Roz Ryan is 74.
• Actor Billy Campbell is 66.
• Basketball Hall of Famer Ralph Sampson is 65.
• Singer-songwriter Vonda Shepard is 62.
• Actor-comedian Jim Gaffigan is 59.
• Actor Amy Carlson is 57.
• Actor Jorja Fox is 57.
• Actor Robin Weigert is 56.
• Basketball Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie is 53.
• Actor Kirsten Vangsness (“Criminal Minds”) is 53.
• Actor Berenice Bejo (BEH’-ruh-nees BAY’-hoh) (Film: “The Artist”) is 49.
• Actor Hamish Linklater is 49.
• Olympic figure skating medalist Michelle Kwan is 45.
• Guitarist Synyster Gates (Avenged Sevenfold) is 44.
• Pop singer Ally Brooke (Fifth Harmony) (TV: “The X Factor”) is 32.
• Pop musician Ashton Irwin (5 Seconds to Summer) is 31.
• Country singer Maddie Font (Maddie and Tae) is 30.

Here are the top stories for Monday, July 7, 2025. Get the weather forecast for today here.

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

Did the president drop an f-bomb? Yes, and Democrats are doing it too

‘A really exciting game’: Major League Cricket comes to Broward County

Plantation man dies in head-on crash

Death toll in central Texas flash floods rises to 82 as sheriff says 10 campers remain missing

US tariffs on European goods threaten to shake up the world’s largest trade relationship

Condo blacklists will reshape the future of housing | Opinion

Coral bleaching is happening now in Trump’s front yard | Opinion

Asking Eric: My daughter says she’s a minimalist and won’t take my heirlooms

Musk says he’s forming a new political party after split with Trump over tax cuts law

Ware uneven, Jakucionis limited as Heat fall 103-83 to Lakers in summer league

 

General Daily Insight for July 07, 2025

Let’s shake it up, everyone! Zany Uranus enters Gemini today at 3:45 am EDT, shifting dynamics and bringing an inventive, restless energy to the collective until November 8, when it will dip back into Taurus once more. Venus then uplifts magnetic Pluto, transforming us for the better with balance, creativity, and compassion. Things settle down once the Moon trines communicative Mercury, making it easier to express ourselves to the world and get our thoughts and feelings aligned. Brush off the cobwebs and speak from the heart.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Passion can propel you forward. Your manner of expressing yourself might become more excited during this time, and other people may find you to be full of energy or all over the place. Instead of talking a mile a minute, search for a balance in the conversation that allows the other person to express themselves as well. As you continually build a balance between following your passion and connecting to your community, you’re simultaneously setting yourself up for future success.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Abundance may mean something different today. It’s possible that you’ve set aside a career-focused or goal-oriented mindset in favor of a more family-focused or relationship-centered mindset. This can be a sudden shift that you don’t expect. Others could also be surprised when you want to spend more time with them, or when you become more involved in family matters. No matter how removed you were in the past, you can dive in headfirst. Focus on those who mean the most to you.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

You may notice a personal change taking place. You could feel as though you’re changing on a molecular level. Maybe you feel pulled to dye your hair, alter your wardrobe, or make another significant change that would affect your appearance. This is likely to take place at the same time as you notice more people approaching you to get to know you better, and you might feel conflicted regarding how to introduce yourself. It’s okay to show off the new you to new people.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

The changes in your life might be obscured. When incremental changes occur, it can be difficult to tell if you’re genuinely making a lasting impact. It may be that you are unaware of a change that’s going on within you, but others are still noticing. There’s also the chance that there are changes going on behind closed doors that will affect you for the better. Instead of worrying that your shifts aren’t occurring, trust that they have yet to reveal themselves.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

The people around you may be tugging your interpersonal dynamics in unknown directions. This could be quite beneficial, as they might be committed to creating a more balanced relationship that’s healthier for both you and them. If you’ve noticed any issues with communication, in person or online, take time today to make an effort to sit down and talk things out. When you better understand each other, it’ll be much easier to strike that balance. Allow yourself to enjoy your connections with others.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

You may be keeping your thoughts to yourself. There could be an opportunity to further your career goals or complete some longstanding goals that you were forced to put off. Because of this, you may find that there are many people who reach out to you, wondering if you’re free to spend more time together — potentially because of how your life is going. Remind yourself that there is a difference between consistent friends and fair-weather friends, and enjoy today with your true companions.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

You’re finding creative ways to branch out. It’s time to give yourself the chance to develop any interests that you’ve been forced to repress — there’s no need to judge yourself for your cravings. You might feel like it’s too big of a change for other people to accept, but it’s very likely that the people around you will be more accepting than you expect them to be. Don’t be afraid of engaging with what makes you happy! Embrace it and move forward.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

You might be seeing new partnerships form. It can be hard to understand where this connection came from, since it may be with someone that you’ve clashed with in the past. Still, now that you know them a bit more, it should become easier to express yourself. You’re able to create more equity with the people in your life, and as such, talking to this person to work through your differences can boost you both to amazing heights. Don’t shut them out — reach out.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

The other people in your life are going through transformations. You could notice that friends are moving, changing their relationship status, going back to school, or getting a new pet, inspiring you to rethink how you’re approaching your life. With their drive for life influencing you, you can consider following their lead and permitting their bravery to spark your own sense of courage. Don’t merely copy them, but reexamine where you are and see if you could take it a step further.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Habits can take on new forms throughout the day. You may realize that a schedule you were committed to is no longer working for you, causing you to rethink how you live your life. A good way to reinvent your daily routine is to look at how someone you admire lives their life. Investigate the ideas that help them feel inspired, get organized, and avoid burning out. Life is meant to change as it goes on, so let your daily life change, too.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Your creativity can take you to new heights. Even if you don’t think of yourself as an artistic person, you’re likely to want to create more than usual, while concurrently paying attention to where you are and how you can make a difference there. There might be needs others aren’t seeing that you can fill, or you could have a eureka moment that brings in more people to your life. Don’t let yourself be distracted — make something great out of it.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

How you used to imagine yourself might have radically changed. You may no longer identify with a strongly held belief from your past, potentially one heavily associated with your sense of self. This natural shift can cause you to feel lost as you move through the world. The pursuits that you used to enjoy might not call to you as much, but that’s okay. Seek out some fresh hobbies at home to fill your time — take a little staycation to try them, if possible!

At 21, this hardly is men among boys for Ke’lel Ware. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t oversized expectations for the Miami Heat 7-footer in this, his second NBA summer league.

Back in the starting lineup for Sunday’s 103-83 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in the California Classic in San Francisco, Ware closed with 12 points on 4-of-10 shooting and three rebounds in his 28 minutes at Chase Center.

While there was a spinning step-back 3-point conversion early and several quality finishes at the rim from the No. 15 pick out of Indiana in the 2024 NBA draft, it was not exactly the domination sought from summer coach Erik Glass, the Erik Spoelstra assistant.

On an afternoon when Glass gave the day off to returning players Pelle Larsson and Keshad Johnson, the Heat focus largely was on Ware and 2025 first-round pick Kasparas Jakucionis.

With Ware, the expectations remain ongoing.

“We’re not just going to dump it into the post with him 10 times,” Glass said of the summer approach with Ware. “But we’re just looking for him to dominate. When you’re protecting the rim … dominate. When you’re going for every rebound … dominate. There’s no one-click button for it all.”

Ware said it’s a matter of getting back up to speed.

“I’m just getting back into the flow of it. It’s been a little while from game-time play. It’s about fitting into game-time situations,” he said.

As for that step-back 3-pointer, he said, “I mean that’s something that showed up in the moment. But playing around at the gym, you just do certain things, so it’s something I’ve gotten used to doing. So it’s nothing brand new for me.”

For the second consecutive game, Jakucionis struggled to create space for his trademark attacking game, closing with four points on 0-for-3 shooting, along with five turnovers.

Five Degree of Heat from Sunday’s game:

1. For starters: With the game concluding a back-to-back set that opened with Saturday’s victory over the summer roster of the San Antonio Spurs, Glass gave the day off to Larsson, Johnson and Kira Lewis Jr. after their solid showings a day earlier.

Remaining in the starting lineup were Ware and Jakucionis.

Sunday’s Heat starting lineup was rounded out by Javonte Cooke, the guard who went undrafted out of Winston-Salem in 2023 and has played the past two seasons in the G League; Myron Gardner, the forward who went undrafted out of Little Rock in 2023, who also has played the past two seasons in the G League; and Bryson Warren, the guard who was on the Heat’s summer roster last year and then played this past season with the Heat G League affiliate.

Warren paced the Heat with 18 points, with Cooke adding a team-high seven rebounds.

Also held out by Glass was Vlad Goldin, the massive 7-footer out of FAU and Michigan who has been signed to a two-way contract.

2. Quality opposition: The Lakers played with some of their Sunday best, their starting lineup featuring Bronny James, son of LeBron James; Dalton Knecht, the 2024 first-round pick who received minutes last season with the Lakers; and Cole Swider, the 3-point specialist who was with the Heat two seasons ago on a two-way contract.

Also in the Lakers’ Sunday starting lineup was Trey Jemison III, the well-traveled center who has had stints with the Washington Wizards, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans and Lakers.

Swider led the Lakers with 20 points. James closed with 10 points, Knecht with four.

3. Still limited: A day after being limited to three points on 1-of-7 shooting in his debut, Jakucionis, the No. 20 pick out of Illinois, this time took just one shot in the first half, closing the opening two periods with two points.

After opening at shooting guard on Saturday, Jakucionis this time opened at point guard, again limited by teammates’ wayward shooting and his own miscues.

“We’ll continue to watch film with him and coach him up,” Glass said. “There’s a learning curve for him and we’ll help him with that process so we can get those turnovers down.”

He closed with two assists and two rebounds in his 20 minutes.

“We’re not going to overwhelm him, put a bunch of pressure on him,” Glass said of expectations with Jakucionis. “Right now, it’s about him learning us and us learning him, him feeling comfortable in our system. We’re not just going to throw him into the water with a bunch of sharks. We’re going to set it up hopefully for some success and we just want him to learn our system and learn how to compete and learn how to do all of those kind of things.”

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4. Free throws: A rule that has been in play in the G League and since has been adopted for this year’s summer leagues came into play at the end of the first two periods.

That’s when the Heat’s Erik Stevenson and the Lakers’ James were off with heaves and not credited with missed field-goal attempts.

Under the rule that yet could be adopted for the coming NBA season:

“An unsuccessful end-of-period ‘heave’ will be recorded as a team – not individual – missed field-goal attempt when all of the following criteria are met:

“The missed field goal attempt took place within the final three seconds of the first three periods of a game.

“The missed field goal attempt was shot from beyond the outer edge of the center circle extended (approximately 36 feet from the basket).

“The play originated in the backcourt.”

Instead, the official play-by-play for both shots simply read, “Heave,” with no mention of the players attempting the shots, which would have been scored as a shot and a 3-point conversion if successful.

5. Up next: The Heat conclude their three-game schedule in San Francisco on Tuesday at 7 p.m. against the Golden State Warriors’ summer roster, one that features Will Richard, the guard drafted out of Florida in the second round of the NBA draft two weeks ago.

The Heat then will move on to the larger Las Vegas NBA Summer League, where they will open play Friday at 4:30 p.m. Eastern against the summer roster of the Atlanta Hawks.

By RONALD BLUM

NEW YORK (AP) — Marlins third baseman Kyle Stowers, in the midst of a torrid 13-game stretch, was named as the team’s lone representative at the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, to be played in Atlanta on July 15.

The 27-year-old Stowers, who is in his fourth season in the bigs, had seen his on-base-plus-slugging percentage (OPS) dwindle to .797 on June 21, has gone 15 for 45 in the 13 games since then, drilling six home runs, driving in 12 runs and seeing that OPS vault to .868.

Meanwhile, Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw was picked for his 11th All-Star Game and Paul Skenes, James Wood and Elly De La Cruz boosted the 23-and-under group to five when they were picked Sunday for the July 15 showcase at Atlanta’s Truist Park.

Wood at 22 is the youngest of the 65 All-Stars, while Skenes, De La Cruz and fan-elected starters Pete Crow-Armstrong and Jacob Wilson are all 23.

Cal Raleigh and Yoshinobu Yamamoto joined Wood, Wilson and Crow-Armstrong among 19 first-time All-Stars. Wood was acquired by Washington in the August 2022 trade that sent outfielder Juan Soto to San Diego.

“It’ll just be cool being around some of the best players in the game,” Wood said.

Kershaw last week became the 20th pitcher to reach 3,000 strikeouts and Commissioner Rob Manfred made the left-hander the 65th All-Star as a so-called Legend Pick, his first since selecting Miguel Cabrera and Albert Pujols in 2022 under a provision in the then-new collective bargaining agreement.

Kershaw gives the Dodgers at least five All-Stars for the sixth straight season. The oldest NL All-Star at 37 and most senior All-Star with 11 selections, Kershaw is joined by Yamamoto and fan-elected starters Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith.

Atlanta, Detroit and Seattle will have four players each at the game.

Starting pitchers Hunter Brown of Houston, Garrett Crochet of Boston, Jacob deGrom of Texas, Max Fried of the New York Yankees and Tarik Skubal of Detroit were voted to the AL staff by players, managers and coaches along with relievers Aroldis Chapman of Boston, Josh Hader of Houston and Andrés Muñoz of Seattle.

Chapman is the oldest All-Star, born 19 days before Kershaw.

AL reserves picked by players included Toronto catcher Alejandro Kirk, Tampa Bay first baseman Jonathan Aranda and second baseman Brandon Lowe, Houston shortstop Jeremy Peña, Boston third baseman Alex Bregman, Athletics designated hitter Brent Rooker and outfielders Byron Buxton of Minnesota, Steven Kwan of Cleveland and Julio Rodríguez of Seattle.

MLB used its six picks on pitchers Kris Bubic of Kansas City, Yusei Kikuchi of the Los Angeles Angels, Shane Smith of the Chicago White Sox and Bryan Woo of Seattle along with Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.

Smith became the second player since 2000 to become an All-Star in the season after he was selected in the Rule 5 draft, following Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla in 2006, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Smith was left unprotected by Milwaukee and joined Wilson (Athletics) as the only rookies on the All-Star rosters.

Pittsburgh’s Skenes, Washington’s MacKenzie Gore, Atlanta’s Chris Sale, San Francisco’s Logan Webb and Philadelphia’s Zack Wheeler were elected to the starting rotation by players along with relievers Jason Adam of San Diego, Edwin Díaz of the New York Mets and Randy Rodríguez of San Francisco.

Skeenes started last year’s All-Star Game just 66 days his major league debut, pitching a hitless inning in the NL’s 5-3 loss at Arlington, Texas.

Player-elected NL reserves were Colorado catcher Hunter Goodman, Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, St. Louis second baseman Brendan Donovan, Cincinnati’s De La Cruz at shortstop, Arizona third baseman Eugenio Suárez, Philadelphia DH Kyle Schwarber and Wood, Arizona’s Corbin Carroll and the Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. in the outfield.

MLB’s NL picks were Yamamoto, the Cubs’ Matthew Boyd, Milwaukee’s Freddy Peralta and the Giants’ Robbie Ray for the pitching staff along with Atlanta first baseman Matt Olson and Miami outfielder Kyle Stowers.

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AP freelance writer Patrick Stevens in Washington contributed to this report.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb