News

FLORENCE, Ky. (AP) — Four people were killed and three others were wounded in an early Saturday shooting during a party at a home in northern Kentucky, police said.

The shooting suspect later died after fleeing the home and leading police on a vehicle pursuit that ended with the suspect’s car falling into a ditch, police said.

Police heard shots being fired when they arrived at a home in Florence at about 2:50 a.m., said Jeff Mallery, the city’s police chief. Police found seven shooting victims at the home, Mallery told media during a news conference.

Four people were found dead, police said. Three people were taken to a hospital in Cincinnati in critical condition. They were expected to recover, Mallery said.

The suspect led police on a chase that ended after his vehicle went off a road and fell into a ditch. The suspect had a self-inflicted gunshot wound and died at a hospital, police said.

Police said the suspect acted alone, and there was no ongoing threat to the public.

People had gathered at the home for a birthday party for the 21-year-old son of the homeowner, Mallery said. The homeowner died in the shooting, the police chief said. It appeared that the 20-year-old suspect knew people at the party but he had not been invited, Mallery said.

A motive was under investigation.

“I know what’s going on throughout the nation, but this is the first time that we’ve had a mass shooting in Florence,” Mallery said. “Yeah, it is very emotional. My emotions are for the victims, their families, the officers that responded, everybody that was touched by this situation.”

Florence is located about 12 miles (19 kilometers) south of Cincinnati, Ohio.

The fourth in a position-by-position look at the 2024 UCF heading into the summer:

TIGHT ENDS

What to expect

The emergence of Randy Pittman Jr. (215 yards, TD) has solidified his status as the perfect replacement for Alec Holler, who had 244 yards and 2 touchdowns. Pittman’s versatility to play in various positions, including the wideout, slot and traditional tight end, has quickly made him a go-to option.

Grant Stevens and Jordan Davis have been limited by injuries during their careers but could find larger roles in an offense that isn’t afraid to use multiple tight-end packages. Transfers Evan Morris and Reece Adkins bring excellent blocking skills while providing depth. Kylan Fox, a 6-foot-4 freshman, turned a few heads in spring camp and could see time at receiver.

Pittman has embraced his expanded leadership role.

“I’m just trying to be there for them and teach them some of the things that I’ve learned from previous players we’ve had here,” he said during spring camp.

On the roster

Randy Pittman Jr.Grant Stevens, RS-So.Jordan Davis, RS-Sr.Thomas Wadsworth, RS-So.

Departures

Alec Holler (eligibility)Max Holler (eligibility)Zach Marsh-Wojan (eligibility)Garrett French

Arrivals

Evan Morris, Fifth year (transfer from Michigan State)Reece Adkins, RS-Sr. (transfer from E. Kentucky)Kylan Fox, Fr. (signee)

Projected depth chart

TE1 — Randy Pittman Jr.TE2 — Grant StevensTE3 — Evan MorrisTE4 — Kylan FoxTE5 — Reece Adkins

Previous: Quarterback, running back, wide receiver

Matt Murschel can be reached at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com

The One Question You’ll Regret Not Asking After a Home Inspection (Even If It’s Awkward)  Apartment Therapy

The One Question You’ll Regret Not Asking After a Home Inspection (Even If It’s Awkward)  Apartment Therapy

General Daily Insight for July 06, 2024

Emotional struggles can stop us in our tracks. Jealous Venus jabs sore Chiron at 2:33 am EDT, which can incite disagreements with the people we care about. The emotional Moon also squares off with Chiron, sparking further struggles where everyone’s feelings may play increasingly dramatic roles. The Moon conjoins Venus in their combined battle with Chiron, supporting each other and providing inner emotional comfort, right before the Moon moves into passionate Leo. We might not be able to handle this without getting a little bruised!

Aries

March 21 – April 19

People who care about each other don’t always see eye to eye. You might find yourself deep in a debate with someone close to you on a subject that strikes a chord deep inside for you — it’ll be tough to contain your emotions. Ignore any temptation to rant about just how wrong they are! Doing so is extremely unlikely to bring them to your side of the debate. Stand in your truth while doing your best not to let stubbornness ruin your connection.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Disharmony can begin with just a few words. Conversations will be trickier to navigate, as the emotional struggles that you have with another can play on your mind. Memories of past complicated or painful conversations could distract you in the present. Feeling misunderstood or lonely because of something you said out of anger or due to unkind words from someone else is never easy, but try to remember that words can heal, too. Stay open to a future conversation that will bring that positivity.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Your future plans might get challenged at any moment. Big dreams need work to achieve them, and you may not have ironed out the finer details when it comes to getting to the finish line. Someone may bring up harsh aspects of reality that would impact your ambitions. Though you may not have considered your answers to these questions before, you could be forced to defend yourself. Instead of seeing it as an attack, use their questions to refine your overall plan.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Someone may make a public display of disagreeing with you. It’s possible that you and a stranger will be on opposite sides of a hot-button issue on social media, or you and a peer fall on opposite sides of a debate in the classroom. Debates will probably have an audience! Gossip about a private argument could be another way to publicize a lack of harmony between you and someone else. Stay calm and collected and it’s hard to go wrong.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Loved ones might misunderstand what you’re trying to tell them. You could be attempting to explain larger issues going on to educate them, or talking about who you are as a person in order to connect more on a human level. Whatever conversation is occurring, it possibly seems like they’re almost unable to see the point, or even willfully misunderstanding your intentions. You’re allowed to be frustrated! All you can do is share your truth — you can’t control how they receive it.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Stress could be overwhelming you. You might feel like you’re struggling to reach your dreams, with multiple obstacles in your way, leading to creeping anxiety as responsibilities pile up and up. Just letting the pot continue to simmer will eventually lead to an explosion, so it’s important to channel this energy somewhere positive. Activities as simple as going for a walk, meditating, or listening to your favorite song are great ways to release tension. Let go of your stress, and then keep going.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Someone close to you might say something that you weren’t expecting. Words can hurt, particularly if a peer or authority figure’s unexpected criticism or comment hits a nerve for you. Although they probably didn’t mean to wound a delicate area, they may still have awakened some uncomfortable or stressful feelings that you weren’t expecting to have to address. Keep calm if you can, and try to remember that they likely haven’t gone through the same experiences that you have, and vice versa.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Issues with understanding someone else could create tension. What you meant to say and what someone else heard might be completely different things, and this could become obvious when you see their reaction to your words. While you may become defensive initially, you’d be wise to keep an open mind and look at things from their perspective before responding. Additionally, there’s no point in mentally beating yourself up over a mistake, especially if you make sure to learn from it then and there.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Risks might not pay off the way you hope. Someone may pressure you to take a deal that might not put you in the best position for success, or you could rush yourself into a decision that isn’t necessarily guaranteed to work out, either due to excitement or rashness. Your eagerness could get you in trouble! Watch out — you may see all the positives in your head right away, while the negatives remain hidden from you. Do a little more investigation before saying yes.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Two people in your life might not be seeing things eye-to-eye. You may want everyone to get along, but they could be staunchly shoving to defend their positions in a deadlocked argument, or even holding competitions between the two of them to get an advantage on the other one. Resist the urge to get between them and shout, “Enough!” It’s important to let the people you care about work things out for themselves. Sometimes the wisest thing you can do is mind your business.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Your words might be used against you. Something that you said in the past is likely being brought up or twisted in order to question your motives. It can be hard to handle misrepresentation of you or your intentions. No matter how hard you struggle to prove yourself correct at any cost, you may not be able to get a peer to admit you’re in the right. Whether any naysayers are sincere or not, it’s not your job to convince them who you are.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Someone that you trust could surprise you. This person might be acting out of character, leading you to feel blindsided or unsure of them, but it’s likely that they’re just having a rough moment. While it may be something that you have to work through and have a heart-to-heart about, no one is perfect. Offer them the safe space that you’d want to atone for any tension caused. How they fix their mistake will have an impact on the two of you moving forward.

MIAMI (AP) — Drew Thorpe threw 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball, Nicky López doubled twice and drove in two runs and the Chicago White Sox beat the Miami Marlins 3-2 on Friday night.

Luis Robert Jr. had two hits, two walks and two stolen bases for the White Sox, who won their first opening game of a road series this season. They were 0-14 before Friday.

“I thought we hit the ball extremely well,” White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. “We had some good at-bats. They just made some pitches when they needed to keep the runs down. Good baseball game all the way around.”

The Marlins lost their fifth straight and dropped to an NL worst 30-58.

In his fifth major league start, Thorpe (3-1) pitched into the seventh for the first time since being promoted from the minor leagues June 11. The rookie scattered three hits, walked two and struck out five.

“I felt everything was working, mixing the speeds,” Thorpe said. “I just stuck to the game plan and tried not to do too much.”

Thorpe also considered it an important career milestone extending his outing into the seventh.

“It means a lot,” Thorpe said. “We had a bullpen day the other day and you get to save them. I just tried to extend as much as possible. That’s what I needed to do coming in. I wanted to finish (the seventh), but it is what it is.”

The White Sox struck quickly against Marlins starter Bryan Hoeing on López’s run-scoring double in the second.

Martín Maldonado’s RBI double against reliever Roddery Muñoz in the fourth made it 2-0 before López hit another run-scoring double in the fifth.

John Brebbia relieved Thorpe after Dane Myers’ one-out double in the seventh and allowed a run scoring single by Xavier Edwards. Miami loaded the bases against Brebbia with two out when center fielder Robert tracked down Bryan De La Cruz’s drive at the wall to end the threat.

“Not many guys can make that play,” Grifol said. “I don’t know what the catch probability on that is.”

The Marlins rallied against closer Michael Kopech in the ninth. Vidal Bruján reached on a fielder’s choice, advanced to third on Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s two-out single and scored on De La Cruz’s single. But Kopech retired Josh Bell on a groundout for his eighth save.

“Tough day offensively,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “Thorpe was good. We couldn’t get to the changeup even when we sat on it. We couldn’t hit it. Just a lot of weak contact. I thought we had some really good at-bats against their bullpen.”

Hoeing (0-1), recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville on Friday, gave up one run, five hits and struck out four in three innings.

TRAINER’S ROOM

White Sox: INF Yoán Moncada (left adductor strain) will be used as designated hitter in games at the club’s rookie complex in Arizona next week.

Marlins: Optioned Kyle Tyler to Triple-A Jacksonville for Hoeing’s spot on the roster. …RHP Sixto Sánchez (right shoulder inflammation) threw a bullpen session at the club’s spring training complex in Jupiter.

UP NEXT

LHP Garrett Crochet (6-6, 3.02) will start for the White Sox on Saturday against Marlins’ RHP Yonny Chirinos (0-0, 3.77).

By CLAIRE RUSH, REBECCA BOONE and SCOTT SONNER

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Records tumbled across the West as a slow-moving heat wave of potentially historic proportions tightened its grip from the Pacific Northwest to Arizona on Friday, sending many residents in search of a cool haven from the dangerously high temperatures.

The Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S. were also sweltering, with oppressive heat and humidity expected to last through Saturday or beyond.

One of the hottest places on Earth, California’s Death Valley, shattered the previous record high for the date by 5 degrees — with the mercury climbing to 127 Fahrenheit (52.8 Celsius). The old mark of 122 (50 C) last was tied in 2013.

There was also a record high for the date of 118 (47.7 C) in Phoenix, where highs of 115 (46.1 C) or hotter were forecast through Wednesday. In Needles, California, where the National Weather Service has records dating to 1888, the high of 122 (50 C) edged the old mark of 121 (49.4 C) set in 2007. It was 124 (51.1) in Palm Springs, California.

The worst was yet to come across much of the West, with triple-digit temperatures likely — between 15 and 30 degrees (8 and 16 degrees Celsius) higher than average into next week, the National Weather Service said.

“The duration of this heat is also concerning as scorching above average temperatures are forecast to linger into next week,” the weather service in Phoenix said.

“This type of heat is dangerous to all without adequate cooling or hydration,” the service said Friday night in Las Vegas, which saw a high of 113 (45 C). “Numerous climate sites face high probabilities of breaking daily as well as all-time temperature records.”

In Gresham, Oregon, a Portland suburb that also tied a previous record, of 98 (36.6 C), Sherri Thompson, 52, was waiting in her car with her 14-year-old chihuahua Kiwani for a cooling center to open in the late morning.

Thompson has lived in her car for three years and can only run its air conditioning for about 20 minutes at a time or else the engine overheats. She said she has been hospitalized for heat stroke in the past.

“I have anxiety and panic attacks, and I get worried. I don’t want to have another heat stroke, and everything just triggers my anxiety a lot,” she said.

In Arizona’s Maricopa County, which encompasses Phoenix, there have been at least 13 confirmed heat-related deaths this year, along with more than 160 other suspected heat deaths are still under investigation, according to the county’s most recent report.

That does not include the death of a 10-year-old boy earlier this week in Phoenix who suffered a “heat-related medical event” while hiking with family at South Mountain Park and Preserve, according to police.

More extreme highs are in the near forecast, including 129 (53.8 degrees C) on Sunday at Furnace Creek in Death Valley National Park, and then around 130 (54.44 C) through Wednesday. The hottest temperature ever officially recorded on Earth was 134 degrees (56.67 C) in Death Valley in July 1913, though some experts dispute that measurement and say the real record was 130 recorded there in July 2021.

In Bullhead City, Arizona, the temperature had already reached 111 degrees (44.4 C) by 11 a.m. Friday on its way to a high of 118 (47.7 C)., and officials opened a pair of cooling centers for older adults and others.

“While this is a heat wave and we urge everyone to be cautious, we typically don’t see large attendance at our cooling centers unless there are power outages,” city spokesperson Mackenzie Covert said. “Our community is hot every summer. Our residents are kind of aware of it. They all tend to have working air conditioners.”

Figure skaters were out at the Reno Ice Rink in Nevada starting at 6 a.m. before the high topped out at 102 (38.8 C), general manager Kevin Sunde said. By the time the rink was to close at 10:30 p.m., Sunde expected nearly 300 people would have visited, with more parents hanging around to watch kids’ hockey practice than usual.

“They may not be getting on the ice themselves, but enjoying the cool,” Sunde said. “We’re the only sheet of ice within about an hour’s drive.”

In Norfolk, Virginia, Kristin Weisenborn set up her table at an outdoor farmer’s market to sell sourdough bread. The air was hovering just below the triple digits, but the 58% humidity made it feel more like 114 (46 C), according to the National Weather Service.

“It’s so hot, I just hope there’s a lot of people here that can buy my bread,” said Weisenborn, 42, whose Krid’s Crumbs bakery is based in Virginia Beach.

“Otherwise we’re just standing here sweating,” she said, adding that unsold bread will be donated or frozen.

Despite the sweltering air, people were already buying her loaves as the market got underway.

“It’s hot, but it’s July,” Weisenborn added. “Better than snow, I guess.”

___

Boone reported from Boise, Idaho, and Sonner reported from Reno, Nevada. Associated Press journalists Jonathan Drew in Raleigh, North Carolina; John Antczak in Los Angeles; Rio Yamat in Las Vegas; Denise Lavoie in Richmond, Virginia; and Ben Finely in Norfolk, Virginia, contributed.

Now that Hurricane Beryl has traveled across the Atlantic and broken numerous records, such as being the earliest Category 5 storm in recorded history, what’s next for hurricane development in the Atlantic?

The good news is that powerful hurricanes such as Beryl often consume heat energy, and can create upwellings of cool water. That cooler water then curbs storm formation.

But Beryl may not play out that way, said climate researcher Brian McNoldy with the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science.

McNoldy checked his data points and said that sea-surface temperatures had cooled slightly in the southern Caribbean, but that he had not seen any significant cooling in Beryl’s wake just yet.

“My hunch, because of where it tracked, and because it was moving quickly, I don’t think it will leave much of a cold wake,” he said.

McNoldy cited four factors that go into creating a nice, cold wake: Storms should be wide, slow moving, very intense, and travel over water where the surface is hot, but the deeper water is cold.

“Even though Beryl was certainly very strong, it wasn’t especially large, it was moving pretty quickly, and the warm water (in the Main Development Region for hurricanes) is really deep,” he said.

There may not be much of a cool wake, but there is an abundance of something else that could cripple storm formation — dry Saharan dust.

Dust blowing off the desert areas of North Africa and traveling over the tropical Atlantic, where hurricanes often form, is a pretty regular occurrence every June and July, said Cameron Pine, of the National Weather Service. “As the African Monsoon comes into full swing, we get these big plumes of dust that come off Africa and they can extend over a great swath of the Atlantic Ocean,” he said.

Related Articles

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The plumes usually travel at an altitude of around 18,000 feet, and can hamper storm development.

“For tropical development, one of the main ingredients is ample moisture in the atmosphere. If you have an increase in the Saharan air layer, that creates dry conditions that are a negative for tropical development,” Pine said.

“Dust can put a brake on things for a while,” McNoldy said.

After checking the latest satellite imagery of the current dust plume, McNoldy said, “It’s really substantial out there now.”

He said, not only does the dry air curtail hurricane formation, but if it’s a fairly thick plume, it actually absorbs a decent fraction of the sun’s energy before that energy reaches the ocean and heats it. In other words, the dust, if thick enough, can help the oceans cool a bit, and make hurricanes in the remainder of July less likely.

“That’s fine by me,” said McNoldy.

The Florida Panthers announced their 39-man roster and schedule for its Development Camp, which takes place July 8-11 and culminates in a scrimmage open to the public.

The open scrimmage will be from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday at Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale.

Florida’s roster of prospects is made up of 22 forwards, 11 defensemen and six goaltenders. It features selections from the Panthers’ last five NHL drafts and additional invitees ranging from ages 18-25. The prospects are getting their first taste of practice in a NHL facility coming from the NCAA, junior leagues and Florida’s minor-league organizations.

Gracyn Sawchyn, the Panthers’ most recent first-round draft selection in 2023, will attend camp after spending last season in the Western Hockey League. Joining him is forward Jack Devine, a two-time NCAA Champion who just finished his senior season at the University of Denver. Kai Schwindt rounds out the top end of the roster after scoring 23 points in 33 games this season in the Ontario Hockey League.

Maybe the most notable aspect of the roster is who’s excluded: 21-year-old forward Mackie Samsokevich. He’s expected to play his first full season with Florida this year after the Panthers’ look to fill gaps in their lower lines. Bypassing development camp could be a sign of confidence from the team.

Development camp doesn’t indicate who will make Florida’s roster in the fall, but could earn young players an invite to training camp with the full team. It will also serve as a chance for hockey-hungry fans to see potential future Panthers on the ice.

Textbook authors were told last month that some references to “climate change” must be removed from science books before they could be accepted for use in Florida’s public schools, according to two of those authors.

A high school biology book also had to add citations to back up statements that “human activity” caused climate change and cut a “political statement” urging governments to take action to stop climate change, said Ken Miller, the co-author of that textbook and a professor emeritus of biology at Brown University.

Both Miller and a second author who asked not to be identified told the Orlando Sentinel they learned of the state-directed changes from their publishers, who received phone calls in June from state officials.

Miller, also president of the board of the National Center for Science Education, said the phrase “climate change” was not removed from his high school biology text, which he assumed happened because climate change is mentioned in Florida’s academic standards for biology courses.

But according to his publisher, a 90-page section on climate change was removed from its high school chemistry textbook and the phrase was removed from middle school science books, he said.

The other author said he was told Florida wanted publishers to remove “extraneous information” not listed in state standards. “They asked to take out phrases such as climate change,” he added.

The actions seemed to echo Florida’s previous rejection of math and social studies textbooks that state officials claimed include passages of “indoctrination” and “ideological rhetoric.” And they fall in line with the views of many GOP leaders, who question both the existence of climate change and the contributions of human activities to the problem, despite a broad scientific consensus that human-caused climate change is transforming the earth’s environment.

In May, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that stripped the phrase “climate change” from much of Florida law, reversing 16 years of state policy and, critics said, undermining Florida’s support of renewable and clean energy.

The bill did not address public education nor the state’s science standards, which were adopted in 2008 and spell out what students should learn in science instruction from kindergarten through 12th grade. But SB 1645 altered Florida’s energy policy, removing the goal of recognizing and addressing “the potential of global climate change,” Senate staff wrote in an analysis of the bill.

DeSantis has said the new legislation, passed by Florida’s Republican-dominated Legislature, was “restoring sanity in our approach to energy and rejecting the agenda of the radical green zealots.”

The Florida Department of Education did not respond this week to a request for comment about the science books nor to earlier questions in May and June about when its approved list of science textbooks for elementary, middle and high school science classes would be released. Florida’s school districts use the list to purchase books for their schools and had been told the state would release the science list in April.

Late Tuesday, the department posted the list on its website. Miller’s and the other author’s books were among those approved. The texts have not yet been printed so the Sentinel was unable to review them.

But there are no textbooks for high school environmental science classes on the approved list, though three companies submitted bids to supply books for that class, according to documents on the department’s website. Course material for that subject typically includes significant discussion of climate change.

“How do you write an environmental science book to appease people who are opposed to climate change?” asked a school district science supervisor, who is involved in science textbook adoption for her district. She asked not to be identified for fear of job repercussions.

She and other educators, the textbook authors and science advocates said the state’s actions will rob students of a deeper understanding of global warming even as it impacts their state and communities through longer and hotter heat waves, more ferocious storms and sea level rise.

Florida had already earned a D — and was among the five lowest-ranked states in the country — in a 2020 study that graded the states on how their public school science standards addressed climate change, said Glenn Branch, deputy director of the center for science education, which was a partner in the study.

Excising the phrase from science textbooks  will “make Florida climate education even worse than it is,” Branch said. “These ill-considered actions are going to cheat Florida students.”

Branch said it was especially troubling the decision seemed based on “ideological grounds” and ignored the “rock solid” science that has documented climate change and its impacts.

Brandon Haught teaches environmental science at a Volusia County high school and was active in efforts to include evolution — another controversial science topic — in the standards adopted 16 years ago.

His ninth graders know almost nothing about climate change because it is not taught in the lower grades, he said. He spends at least a week on the topic but is covering only “the basics,” he said.

Florida students need more information on the subject not less, he added. “Florida is one of the most impacted by the impacts of climate change, and oh my goodness Gov DeSantis, why?”

The state’s push to get publishers to remove “climate change” from some science books seems similar to its actions in 2022 and 2023 when it rejected some math and social studies textbooks publishers wanted to sell in Florida.

In those cases, the department announced it had rejected textbooks in press releases that claimed the books contained “critical race theory” and “social justice” topics, which were prohibited by state laws and rules. Some of those textbooks were later approved after the publishers made changes.

In contrast, the list of approved science books was posted to the department’s website without an accompanying press release. Judging from past practice, science textbooks that were rejected, such as those for environmental science, could later be approved if they were altered to meet Florida’s requirements.

Some school districts, including those in Orange and Seminole counties, were poised to buy new science books as soon as the state list was released. But districts can continue to use older books for a while, and some districts now may not purchase new science books immediately because the list was released months later than expected.

There were 146 textbooks submitted for consideration. About 75 books from a total of about 10 publishers were approved for middle and high school classes, with four publishers also approved to provide science books for kindergarten-to-fifth-grade classes, according to documents on the department’s website.

Textbooks can be rejected for failing to match Florida’s standards or failing to provide content that is accurate, among many other issues.

Science textbook publishers were told in advance to keep “critical race theory,” “social emotional learning” and other “unsolicited strategies” out of their textbooks. However, the “rubric” used to evaluate the books made no mention of “climate change.”

The Sentinel could not reach for comment the three publishers — Cengage Learning, McGraw Hill and Savvas Learning Company — that submitted environmental science books that did not make the approved list posted Tuesday.

 

 

 

 

 

MIAMI — The early instructions have been rather rudimentary for Miami Heat first-round pick Kel’el Ware: fill out and fit in.

If nothing else, it allows the 7-footer taken last week at No. 15 out of Indiana to appreciate where he stands.

No sooner was Ware drafted than the 20-year-old himself noted the need to bulk up to NBA standards, with his college coach, Mike Woodson, in agreement.

“At Indiana, that’s when I started taking it serious, getting more in the weight room,” Ware said Friday of his second collegiate season, after playing as a freshman at Oregon. “I’ve already been in contact with the strength coaches here, telling me that I’m going to be in the weight room with them a lot. So basically just trying to get my upper body strong.”

It is a process that is ongoing, with Ware three days into training in San Francisco with a Heat summer roster that opens play Saturday against a similar roster of rookies, draft picks and young free agents from the Golden State Warriors at 6:30 p.m. Eastern (ESPN) at Chase Center.

“My draft weight I think was at 230,” he said. “I think the weight that they want me to be at is more of just where I’m comfortable at, but I would say like 240, 245.”

Then there is the matter of another adjustment.

The last Heat first-round pick to start on a regular basis from the outset was Dwyane Wade in 2003. Since then, it has been wait and watch for the likes of Justise Winslow, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Precious Achiuwa, Nikola Jovic and Jaime Jaquez Jr.

“Oregon was my first year of coming off the bench, just because I was coming in as a freshman,” the Arkansas native said of what sets up as an adjustment. “Even if I did that this year, it would be the same thing, I’d be coming in as a rookie.”

While the Heat hardly are loaded in their power rotation, Adebayo, Jovic, Kevin Love and Thomas Bryant all are returning.

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“So it’s just adapting and learning,” Ware said, “and trying to learn everything I can.”

After the opening session of summer camp, returning Heat forward Cole Swider called Ware a “physical monster.”

That has the guards on the summer roster with a plug-and-play dunk threat.

“Having that kind of threat on the floor just opens up everything,” said undrafted Florida guard Zyon Pullin, who is on a two-way contract. “I think it’s going to make us a great team just having that threat.”

Guard Alondes Williams, who is back with the Heat after closing last season on a two-way contract with the team, offered a further take Friday on the fury of the Heat first-rounder.

“He talks big while he be dunking on everybody,” Williams said with a smile. “He’s aggressive. He’s knocked down open shots. So it’s been great.”

Such talk drew a smile Friday from Ware.

“I don’t think it’s much of like trying to prove myself,” he said. “It’s just going out there and playing the basketball I’ve been playing and just keeping up with what I’ve been doing.”

For now, Ware said, it’s mostly been summer schooling.

“Right now,” he said, “we’re just trying to figure out the team and figure out what role everybody’s going to be playing. So trying to go through the system.

“Some of it is the same being at Indiana, but the play calls are different.”

Waiting game

Like Swider, Williams arrived to summer camp with a qualifying offer for a Heat two-way contract but also aware that all three such spots currently are filled.

Like Swider, Williams said he would leave the math to others as he again attempts to prove himself.

“I’m trying to work toward getting a contract, getting that solidified spot in the NBA,” he said. “They just want to see me keep playing hard-nosed defense, like the culture is, just keep making the right reads, getting the turnovers down a little bit, just keep being me.

“And whatever happens, happens.”

As legal observers predicted, Donald Trump’s lawyers have asked U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon for a partial pause of the government’s classified documents case against the former president so she can weigh how it might be impacted by the Supreme Court’s fresh ruling on presidential immunity.

Trump has argued that his decision to move documents to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach before he left the White House in January 2021 was effectively an “official act” he undertook as president and falls under the broadened immunity umbrella against prosecution that the U.S. Supreme Court now says exists for past, present and future presidents.

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon was asked Friday by lawyers representing Donald Trump to partially pause the government’s classified documents case against the former president so she can decide how the U.S. Supreme Court’s new ruling on presidential immunity might apply to the proceedings. (Southern District of Florida via The New York Times)

In a filing with Cannon’s court in Florida on Friday, the defense requests that the court pause all proceedings in the case except for a motion by Special Counsel Jack Smith to change the conditions of Trump’s pretrial release by restricting his public remarks about federal agents and their search for documents at Mar-a-Lago.

The defense wants Cannon to set hearings for the two sides to argue over the application of the high court’s 6-3 decision, which was rendered on Monday.  They want deadlines for filings that would extend into September, and also asked a halt in months-long arguments over how sensitive papers in the case should be handled under the Classified Information Procedures Act.

The 10-page filing on Friday also seizes on the concurring opinion by Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Clarence Thomas, who wrote that lower federal courts should closely examine the validity of the appointments of special counsels such as Smith. It was a timely opinion that squares neatly with Trump’s argument that Smith’s appointment was illegal because he was not confirmed by the U.S. Senate. The issue was the subject of two days of hearing before Cannon in late June. She has yet to rule.

“Resolution of these threshold questions is necessary to minimize the adverse consequences to the institution of the Presidency arising from this unconstitutional investigation and prosecution,” wrote Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Christopher Kise.

Trump faces 40 counts of improperly handling classified documents and then obstructing government efforts to retrieve them  Two of his employees, Waltine Nauta, a personal valet, and Carlos De Oliveira, a Mar-a-Lago property manager, are accused of assisting the former president in his efforts. All three have pleaded not guilty.

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon was asked Friday by lawyers representing Donald Trump to partially pause the government’s classified documents case against the former president. At issue is the appointment of Special Counsel Jack Smith. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP file)

The former president’s lawyers already have succeeded in leveraging the Supreme Court ruling to delay Trump’s sentencing for his conviction in a New York State court for falsifying business records in the so-called “hush money” case. New York State Justice Juan Merchan has agreed to consider a defense motion to overturn the verdict and rule by Sept. 6. If necessary, sentencing would be rendered Sept. 18.

U.S. response pending

In their filing, Blanche and Kise told Cannon they “conferred in a good faith effort to resolve the issues herein, but were unable to do so with respect to President Trump’s stay motion.”

They said Smith’s office requested that the defense include the following statement in the filing “The Government objects to a stay and requests an opportunity to respond to any stay motion within the time the Local Rules provide.”

David Rivera, a former Miami-Dade congressman who built his reputation on bashing the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro, wants to travel to Venezuela for work as a consultant for an opposition candidate challenging Venezuela’s socialist president in the upcoming election.

But the Republican has a slight problem.

Rivera has been indicted in Miami on charges of being an unregistered foreign agent for President Nicolas Maduro’s government, stemming from his work as a consultant to help the U.S. subsidiary of Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, PDVSA, improve its tarnished image in the United States. A Miami federal judge now will have to decide whether Rivera can make the trip, a request that prosecutors will strongly oppose.

Go to Herald.com for the full report.

By Craig Joseph | NerdWallet

The most avid travel hackers often shoot me a skeptical glare when I utter the words “timeshare presentation” as a way to get discounted hotel stays and piles of points to use toward future travel.

The deal is pretty simple: receive a heavily discounted hotel or resort stay and other perks in exchange for attending a timeshare presentation — better known as a sales pitch.

The last email offer I received was in March 2023 from Hilton Grand Vacations. It dangled a three-night stay in Las Vegas plus 50,000 Hilton Honors points in exchange for $149 and sitting through a 90-minute talk.

Having attended four timeshare presentations over the last decade, I find that the discounted hotel stay and extra perks — like hotel points and discounted spa treatments or amusement park tickets — are worth my time. All you have to do is attend the presentation and say “no” (sometimes several times) if the timeshare is not right for you.

Here’s how to get nearly free vacations with timeshare presentations.

Determine the value of the promotion, then negotiate

I’ve successfully negotiated the terms of a timeshare presentation in the past, so I called Hilton to see if it could sweeten the deal with upgrades like more travel rewards points or food and beverage credits.

After reviewing the terms of my promotion — and with some very polite back and forth — I requested an increase to 100,000 points and a waiver on the additional resort fees of $34 per night. After a long wait, the sales representative’s supervisor approved the deal if I accepted it on the spot, which I did.

According to NerdWallet’s valuation, Hilton points are generally worth about 0.5 cent each, giving the 100,000 points an approximate value of $500. The nightly room rate over my travel dates was $249, plus $34 per night in resort fees. That gives this deal a value of over $1,300 in exchange for 90-minutes of my time and the $149 I paid for the package.

Understand the restrictions and limitations

Certain hotels require attending the presentation with a spouse, while others may have specific income requirements. Ask about blackout dates, package expiration dates and any other hidden fees (like those pesky resort fees).

For Hilton, I had to verbally confirm my income was above a certain threshold and attest that I hadn’t participated in another Hilton-based timeshare presentation over the past six months.

Once I purchased the package, Hilton gave me 12 months to use it. After my reservation in Las Vegas was booked, Hilton assigned a set date and time for the timeshare presentation. If you miss it, the company can charge the full cash rate for the stay and revoke any perks offered.

Also be aware that you won’t earn hotel points or elite night credits with the host brand for the promotional stay.

Know what to expect at the sales pitch

The pitch usually starts with an introduction to your salesperson and a general video or presentation about the company’s timeshare program. You’ll then be whisked away to an office, where the salesperson asks about your finances and travel habits. You’ll be introduced to a rubric of costs to stay at different tiers of properties — costs that may fluctuate seasonally or during periods of high demand.

Many timeshare companies, even Disney, have transitioned to a points-based system, where you buy points used to make reservations after you’re an “owner,” but be aware these points are independent of the chain’s loyalty program.

Once the salesperson estimates the cost required to live your best timeshare life, they’ll take you on a tour of a model property. You’ll then return to the office and be introduced to the “closer” — the person who ran the numbers and tries to pressure you into signing.

The sales professionals will tug at your emotions with aspirational travel fantasies while making you feel like family. Remember, they are incentivized by commissions to make you buy a timeshare through signing a contract that can last the rest of your life.

Timing the pitch using my phone allowed me to politely tell the salesperson their time was up once the required duration under the promotion elapsed (usually 90 to 120 minutes).

Be in the ‘no’

Timeshares are big business, with $10.6 billion in domestic sales in 2023, according to a 2024 study by the American Resort Development Association (ARDA), a trade association for the timeshare industry. For comparison, that’s similar to the annual revenue of Major League Baseball in 2023.

Hospitality companies wouldn’t offer these lucrative promotions unless enough people were buying what they’re selling.

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Jason Gamel, president and CEO of ARDA, says that approximately 2 in 10 people decide to buy after a sales presentation. And that purchase, of course, comes with a financial commitment. The average purchase transaction was $24,170 in 2023, according to the ARDA study, with average annual interest rates near 15%.

This amount covers the initial cost to join the timeshare and the financing of the balance but does not include ongoing costs such as membership dues, maintenance fees or other required resort operation expenses.

If you’re not in the market for a timeshare, no sales pitch should persuade you to get one. Before the pitch, think (or talk) through the process of saying “no,” and if you have a spouse who’ll be attending, include them in the conversation.

Later, if you change your mind and decide to sign a contract, a state’s rescission laws could allow the contract to be canceled within a certain window after signing — usually between five and 10 business days.

“I think that’s important because it does help people evaluate whether they’re making the right decision for them, and it gives them a very easy way to say no after everything is said and done,” says Gamel.

Simply pack up and go

Despite skepticism from my travel-hacking cohorts, timeshare promotions allow me to save money on travel now and earn rewards to use for free travel in the future. The process won’t be for everyone, but if you’re willing to sacrifice a couple of hours and know the power of saying “no,” it could do the same for you.

More From NerdWallet

• Turo Flips Car-Rental Script: Pick the Car, Then the Destination
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Craig Joseph writes for NerdWallet. Email: cjoseph@nerdwallet.com.

The article How Timeshare Presentations Earn Me Cheap Travel originally appeared on NerdWallet.

General Daily Insight for July 05, 2024

A newfound emotional equilibrium opens doors for everyone. The nurturing Moon supports disciplined Saturn, encouraging us to embrace dedication and stay grounded, as well as advising us on making long-term decisions for ourselves without feeling rushed or uncertain. The New Moon then rises in Cancer at 6:57 pm EDT, as the Moon joins with the confident Sun to build a scaffolding for new beginnings, one where we can see the possibilities of expanding comfort zones and healing hearts. Create space for inner renewal.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

You can manifest something that lasts, but you can’t do everything at once. Be aware of your potential to spread yourself too thin attempting to keep up with everything, without giving much of yourself to any one person or project. It’s important to recognize where your energy is going at this time, because the more that you can extend your energy to the parts of your life that are really meaningful to you, the more likely you are to find success there.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Your passions are coming to the forefront. You might have felt like you had to set aside past dreams in order to achieve some more down-to-earth responsibilities. Thankfully, once you get more time to yourself and the New Moon offers you inspiration, you can take those dusty dreams off the shelf for the attention they deserve! You can also get others excited about the projects that bring you joy, so don’t be afraid to announce your ideas. Walk proudly into this new era.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

The progress that you’re making might remain underground. The positive steps that you’re taking won’t always be immediately obvious, which can be frustrating when you want to analyze the results of your hard work. Even if your finish line is pretty subtle, if you take a closer look, the effort you’ve put into making beneficial changes should become clear. Have faith in what you’re trying to do, because some of the best things in life take time to come to fruition.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

You’re outgrowing your shell, Cancer, but don’t worry. The universe is offering you a better one that’s perfectly suited to this new and improved you. It doesn’t have to be too different from the old you, but you need space to grow. You might be invited to learn through a book, class, or mentorship, and there may even be opportunities to travel to places you’ve always wanted to see. This growth period could feel awkward, but becoming your best self will be worth it.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Making decisions with the future in mind is easier in theory than in practice. You may not feel totally sure about what you want from this time in your life, especially if your intuition is pulling you in opposing directions. Rather than giving up and going with the flow, turn your attention to things that will increase in value over time. This could be an investment of your time or money, a personal commitment, or a significant career decision. Be intentional about your choices.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

The great unknown is calling your name. You might be worried that you’re not prepared or savvy enough to take the next step in your journey, but what you’re not able to do yourself, you can probably do with a little support from the people around you. This doesn’t just have to be people who are already in your life. It can refer to the greater community, or even people around the world. Reach out — you never know who might reach back!

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Your direction might feel more solid than it has in a while. An uncertain chapter in your life may be coming to a close, opening up a chapter where you’re not simply interested in a person or project — you’re all but magnetized toward the object of your attention. Since it can feel strange to have such a clear knowledge of what you want, it could be tempting to self-sabotage to avoid rejection or failure. Go to what’s calling you, don’t run away from it!

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

You could be the support that someone needs. You might have a loved one who hasn’t yet quite reached the heights that you know they can. Take up the cause of being there to offer them a helping hand, whenever they reach out for it. This could be the start of a beautiful friendship or business partnership, especially if you are willing to be a mentor as well as a supporter. The encouragement and kindness you show now should return to you someday.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Road work ahead — and you’re on the construction crew. While the road to the success you’re seeking looks daunting, the easy road would have its own pitfalls. They’re simply not as obvious at the beginning. You may have even taken the simple path in the past and realized that it just didn’t take you where you needed to go. Buckle down, find the grit that you need to work past the hardest parts, and go from there. You’ll likely be glad you did!

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Speak up, Capricorn! You deserve to be heard. You might often act as the responsible “mom friend” who sacrifices so that others can run wild, but it’s your time to have some fun of your own. This chapter of your life is full of exhilarating potential for you to be fruitful and full of creativity — as long as you tell others that that’s what you want. The more that you communicate your desires, the more likely you are to manifest them into reality.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Your heart is driving you through the day. You might usually lead with your head, trusting in the combination of logic and experience to get you where you’re trying to go, but your heart is calling out with painful clarity. Seize this moment to trust that what feels right actually is the right path to take, and have faith that you can rely on another person or trust your intuition. Doing so is easier said than done, but it’ll be worth it.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

You can be the authority figure you need. At times, you might feel like you’re waiting for someone with more power than you to tell you what to do with your life, potentially by looking to see what your parents or grandparents did when they were your age. You are meant to step into your Piscean power and follow your soul’s directions. This is the time for you to be creative, take risks, and speak your truth with authority, so no self-minimizing!

MIAMI (AP) — Automatic runner Romy Gonzalez scored a go-ahead run on David Hamilton’s RBI groundout in the 12th inning, Tyler O’Neill added an RBI double and the Boston Red Sox beat the Miami Marlins 6-5 on Thursday for a sweep of the three-game series.

Gonzalez advanced to third on Ceddanne Rafaela’s single against Matt Andriese (0-1) and then raced home on Hamilton’s grounder to third. O’Neill followed with a shot to the warning track in center field that scored Rafaela.

Red Sox starter Nick Pivetta took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning. It was broken up by a two-out triple from Jesús Sánchez, who missed the cycle by a single.

Zack Kelly (3-1) threw two innings of relief. Greg Weissert closed, holding the Marlins to Jonah Bride’s sacrifice fly in the 12th for his first major league save.

The Red Sox squandered two leads before securing their fifth road sweep this season.

“We did a good job, they did a good job,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “Baserunning today was outstanding. We grinded with them and never stopped playing.”

Run scoring singles from O’Neill and Enmanuel Valdez in the top of the 11th put the Red Sox ahead 4-2. But Sánchez tied it in the bottom half with a two-run homer on the first pitch by Kelly.

“It’s an extremely hard sport to play. Guys get on base,” Pivetta said. “Sanchez — he took a good swing on a fastball and hats off to him. I think more important today is that we pulled off a win as a team and I think that was really good.”

After Sánchez’s triple off the wall in center, Pivetta ended his outing by striking out Jake Burger. Pivetta walked two and struck out 10, matching his longest start of the season.

“He was really good,” Cora said. “Pounding the strike zone, had a good fastball. The sweeper was good. He was in command. Gave us what we needed.”

Rafael Devers drove in two runs and had three walks while Hamilton singled, walked and stole two bases for the Red Sox, who won their fourth straight.

Boston’s Connor Wong went 0 for 2, ending his hitting streak at 17.

Burger struck out five times and became the third Marlins player to do that in a game.

The Marlins had a chance to win it in the ninth but Red Sox center fielder Jarren Duran threw Sánchez out at the plate as he attempted to score from second on Xavier Edwards’ single. The throw and catcher Reese McGuire’s tag at the plate prevented the Marlins from their ninth walk-off this season.

“I just tried to make sure to stay smooth to the ball and not try to rush it too much,” Duran said. “I knew that if I put a good throw on it that I was going to have a chance to get him.”

The Marlins unsuccessfully challenged that McGuire blocked Sánchez’s path to the plate.

“If he was not blocking the plate there, I could have had more possibility to make it and score,” Sánchez said. “It’s part of the game. We didn’t feel frustration because we understand the game, but you’ve got to keep going and try to win the game and that’s our mentality.”

Kyle Tyler limited Boston to two runs and three hits over 5 1/3 innings. In his third major league start, Tyler walked three and struck out three.

“It was a good come from behind – I wish I could say win – but a really good comeback,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “Fun baseball game. Just unfortunate we couldn’t come away with the win.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins: Placed INF Otto López (lower back inflammation) on the 10-day injured list and recalled Bride from Triple-A Jacksonville. … Optioned RHP Anthony Maldonado to Jacksonville and selected Andriese from the same minor league club.

UP NEXT

Marlins: Have not announced a starter for the opener of their three-game home series against the Chicago White Sox on Friday. RHP Drew Thorpe (2-1, 4.43) will go for the White Sox.

By GABRIELA SÁ PESSOA and MAURICIO SAVARESE

SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s Federal Police have indicted former President Jair Bolsonaro for money laundering and criminal association in connection with undeclared diamonds the far-right leader received from Saudi Arabia during his time in office, according to a source with knowledge of the accusations.

A second source confirmed the indictment, although not for which specific crimes. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly.

Brazil’s Supreme Court has yet to receive the police report with the indictment. Once it does, the country’s prosecutor-general, Paulo Gonet, will analyze the document and decide whether to file charges and force Bolsonaro to stand trial.

This is Bolsonaro’s second indictment since leaving office, following another in May for allegedly falsifying his COVID-19 vaccination certificate. But this indictment dramatically raises the legal threats facing the divisive ex-leader that are applauded by his opponents but denounced as political persecution by his supporters.

Bolsonaro did not immediately comment, but he and his lawyers have previously denied any wrongdoing in both those cases, as well as other investigations into the former president. One is probing his possible involvement in inciting an uprising in capital Brasilia on Jan. 8, 2023 that sought to oust his successor from power.

Last year, Federal Police accused Bolsonaro of attempting to sneak in diamond jewelry reportedly worth $3 million and selling two luxury watches.

Police said in August that Bolsonaro received cash from the nearly $70,000 sale of two luxury watches he received as gifts from Saudi Arabia. Brazil requires its citizens arriving by plane from abroad to declare goods worth more than $1,000 and, for any amount above that exemption, pay a tax equal to 50% of their value.

The jewelry would have been exempt from tax had it been a gift from Saudi Arabia to Brazil, but not Bolsonaro’s to keep for himself. Rather, it would have been added to the presidential collection.

The investigation showed that Mauro Cid, Bolsonaro’s former aide-de-camp who allegedly falsified his COVID-19 records, in June 2022 sold a Rolex watch and a Patek Philippe watch to a store in the U.S for a total $68,000. They were gifted by Saudi Arabia’s government in 2019. Cid later signed a plea bargain with authorities and confirmed it all.

Flávio Bolsonaro, the former president’s eldest son and a sitting senator, said on X after Thursday’s indictment that persecution against his father was “blatant and shameless.”

In addition to Bolsonaro, police indicted 10 others, including Cid and two of his lawyers, Frederick Wassef and Fábio Wajngarten, according to one of the sources. Wassef said in a statement that he didn’t have access to the final report of the investigation, and decried selective leaks to the press of an investigation that is supposed to be proceeding under seal.

“I am going through all of this solely for practicing law in defense of Jair Bolsonaro,” he wrote.

On X, Wajngarten said police have found no evidence implicating him. “The Federal Police knows I did nothing related to what they are investigating, but they still want to punish me because I provide unwavering and permanent defense for former President Bolsonaro,” he said.

Bolsonaro retains staunch allegiance among his political base, as shown by an outpouring of support in February, when an estimated 185,000 people clogged Sao Paulo’s main boulevard to protest what the former president calls political persecution.

His critics, particularly members of his rival President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s political party, have cheered every advance of investigations and repeatedly called for his arrest.

Psychologist Deborah Santos watched news of Bolsonaro’s indictment in a bakery in Sao Paulo’s up-market Vila Madalena neighborhood.

“This is great, because it breaks a pattern. Bolsonaro supporters love to say how honest he is; everyone else is dishonest, but them,” said Santos, 52. “There you have it: the police think he steals diamonds. That should end any politician’s career.”

The 69-year-old former army captain started his political career as a staunch advocate of Brazil’s military dictatorship, and was a lawmaker for nearly three decades. When he bid for the presidency for the first time, in 2018, he was widely dismissed as an outsider and too radically conservative. But he surprised analysts with a decisive victory, in no small part due to his self-portrayal as an upstanding citizen in the years following a sprawling corruption probe that ensnared hundreds of politicians and executives.

Bolsonaro insulted adversaries since his earliest days in office while garnering critics with his divisive policies, attacks on the Supreme Court and efforts to undermine health restrictions during the pandemic. He lost his reelection bid in the closest finish since Brazil’s return to democracy in 1985.

Carlos Melo, a political science professor at the Insper University in Sao Paulo, believes Brazil’s Supreme Court and the justice overseeing several investigations targeting Bolsonaro, Alexandre de Moraes, will not risk sending the former president to prison or imposing other harsh measures with any haste. The objective, he said, is to avoid instigating supporters of the far-right leader and so make cases against him more politically sensitive to prosecute.

“This is a year of mayoral elections. Moraes and his fellow justices know that prosecuting a former president who remains a popular man would be even tougher in a year like this,” Melo said. “This indictment is another piece of the puzzle. It gives one more problem to Bolsonaro. There will be more.”

Last year, Brazil’s top electoral court ruled that Bolsonaro abused his presidential powers during his 2022 reelection bid, which rendered him ineligible for any elections until 2030. The case focused on a meeting during which Bolsonaro used government staffers, the state television channel and the presidential palace in Brasilia to tell foreign ambassadors that the country’s electronic voting system was rigged.

Bolsonaro is expected to meet Argentinian President Javier Milei this weekend at a conservative conference in Balneario Camboriu, in Brazil’s south.

MIAMI — This is about as simple as math gets in the NBA:

— The league allows teams to have up to three players under two-way contracts at a time.

— The Heat have three players already under such contracts at the moment.

— Forward Cole Swider is coming off a two-way contract and has a qualifying offer in place for another Heat two-way contact, even with a no-vacancy sign out when it comes to such a Heat opportunity.

So, no, the math doesn’t feel quite right, with the Heat essentially extending a promissory note to the second-year shooting specialist for something that doesn’t quite exist at the moment.

“I’m just worried about just developing,” Swider said Thursday after completing the first practice of the Heat’s summer program, “I can’t control what contract I’m going to sign or not going to sign. Obviously the Heat have my rights as a restricted free agent. I want to be here. But, at the same time, it’s all about the things that I can control.”

What makes two-way contracts unique, beyond paying half the standard NBA minimum scale and limiting players to 50 games on the active roster over the 82-game regular-season schedule, is that they can be swapped out at any time.

Swider also is aware of that, having played summer league a year ago with the Los Angeles Lakers on a two-way contract only to be stripped of that deal in the middle of the summer.

For now, the Heat’s two-way contracts are held by Dru Smith, Zyon Pullen and Keshad Johnson, the latter two a pair of undrafted prospects.

In addition to Swider, the Heat also have a two-way qualifying offer in place to guard Alondes Williams, who also finished this past season on a Heat two-way contract.

Ultimately, clarity for Swider could come with a shift to a standard contract, a move that Heat can make at any time, as they can with Williams or any of the players on two-way contracts.

For now, instead of sweating the math or a contract, Swider is in the midst of attempting to make an impression in the Heat’s workouts in San Francisco ahead of Saturday’s summer-league opener at the California Classic on the court of the Golden State Warriors.

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“I try just to focus on my daily progression,” said Swider, who appeared in 18 games last season with the Heat, otherwise spending time and thriving with the team’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. “When you start worrying about all the other things that might be going on around you, it’s tough. I definitely learned the business the hard way last year getting cut. So I’m able to understand teams are going to do the best things that they think are for themselves.

“I think the next step for me is just to continue that development. And if that leads to a contract, that leads to a contract. If that leads to a two-way opportunity here or somewhere else, then that’s the path that it’s going to be. But as of right now, I’m just focused on helping this team and continuing my development during the summer league.”

Two of a kind

The Heat’s opening practice Thursday at Chase Center created a reunion of Arizona teammates Pelle Larsson and Johnson. Larsson was drafted at No. 44 by the Heat, with Johnson signed in the immediate wake of the draft.

“Me and Keshad, we got here in camp, we kind of talked about it a little bit and had some conversations about just how far we’ve come,” Larsson said. “I got some texts about it on draft night, so I was really happy when they told me. Me and Keshad had a really good year together at Arizona. So I’m really happy that he’s here. It’s a really cool thing.”

Strong impressions

Swider offered positive reviews about the opening practice with Larsson and Kel’el Ware, the center taken out of Indiana at No. 15 in the first round of the draft.

“Those guys are super talented, super athletic. Both have a good basketball IQ,” Swider said. “They seem like they’re hungry and eager to learn, which is always good for first-year players. So I’m excited.

“Kel’el is a physical monster. You can throw the ball anywhere, he’s going to catch the ball and finish. He reminds me a lot of (Mavericks center) Dereck Lively and what he was able to do this year. He has all the measurables and definitely wants to learn and get better.

“And Pelle has unbelievable talent. You can tell he has a great nose for the basketball. And he’s deceivingly athletic. When he was throwing down some dunks today, I was like, ‘Wow, this guy is underratedly athletic.'”

Days after Hurricane Beryl left a path of widespread destruction in Jamaica and other islands in the Caribbean and left at least seven people in the southeast Caribbean dead, Lauderhill and Miramar officials are collecting donations for victims in the coming days.

Lauderhill Mayor Ken Thurston and commissioners, one of who was born in Jamaica, are asking residents in the city and surrounding areas to drop off the following supplies at John Mullin Park, located at 2000 NW 55 Ave., between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. through Sunday. The city has a strong Jamaican and Caribbean presence.

Needed items include:

• New blankets, sheets, sleeping bags and cots
• Yard waste bags and work gloves
• Unexpired canned and non-perishable foods
• Industrial sponges
• Solar-powered lights and flashlights
• Tarps
• Personal hygiene kits
• Professional first-aid kits
• Wash clothes
• Diapers and baby wipes

Miramar officials are asking residents to donate the following items at four different fire stations. They will not accept clothes or linen.

• Tarps and trash bags
• Sleeping bags
• Work gloves and boots
• Non-perishable food
• Personal hygiene items and toiletries
• First-aid kits

The fire stations collecting donations are:

• 6700 Miramar Parkway
• 9001 Miramar Parkway
• 11811 Miramar Parkway
• 14801 SW 27th St.
• 2800 SW 184th Ave.

Beryl’s eye wall brushed by Jamaica’s southern coast Wednesday afternoon knocking out power and ripping roofs off homes. Prime Minister Andrew Holness said on Wednesday afternoon that nearly 500 people were placed in shelters.

By evening, he said that Jamaica has not seen the “worst of what could possibly happen.”

Several roadways in Jamaica’s interior settlements were impacted by fallen trees and utility poles, while some communities in the northern section were without electricity, according to the government’s Information Service.

Hurricane Beryl to make landfall in Mexico, reach Texas Gulf coast next week

Jon Porter, chief meteorologist at AccuWeather, told the Associated Press said Beryl was “the strongest and most dangerous hurricane threat that Jamaica has faced, probably, in decades.”

Jamaica was under a state of emergency as the island was declared a disaster zone hours before the impact of Hurricane Beryl. Holness said that the disaster zone declaration will remain for the next seven days.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.