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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Friday wrote to the leaders of Egypt and Qatar, calling on them to press Hamas for a hostage deal with Israel, according to a senior administration official, one day after Biden called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to redouble efforts to reach a cease-fire in the six-month-old war in Gaza.

The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private letters, said Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, will meet Monday with family members of some of the estimated 100 hostages who are believed to still be in Gaza.

The letters to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Qatar’s ruling emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, come as Biden has deployed CIA Director William Burns to Cairo for talks this weekend about the hostage crisis.

David Barnea, the head of Mossad, Israel’s spy agency, and negotiators from Egypt and Qatar are expected to attend. The Hamas side of the talks is indirect, with proposals relayed through third parties to Hamas leaders sheltering in tunnels beneath Gaza.

White House officials say negotiating a pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas to facilitate the exchange of hostages held in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel is the only way to put a temporary cease-fire into effect and boost the flow of badly humanitarian aid into the territory.

Biden, in his conversation with Netanyahu, “made clear that everything must be done to secure the release of hostages, including American citizens,” and discussed “the importance of fully empowering Israeli negotiators to reach a deal,” according to the official. The first phase of the proposed deal would secure the release of women and elderly, sick and wounded hostages.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said earlier Friday that Biden underscored the need to get a hostage deal done during the Thursday conversation with Netanyahu that largely focused on Israeli airstrikes that killed seven aid workers with World Central Kitchen.

“We are coming up on six months — six months that these people have been held hostage. And what we have to consider is just the abhorrent conditions” the hostages are being held in, Kirby said. “They need to be home with their families.”

Biden had expressed optimism for a temporary cease-fire and a hostage deal during the runup to the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, but an agreement never materialized.

The White House said in a statement Thursday following Biden’s call with Netanyahu that the U.S. president said reaching an “immediate cease-fire” in exchange for hostages was “essential” and urged Israel to reach such an accord “without delay.”

White House officials acknowledge that Biden has become increasingly frustrated with Israel’s prosecution of a grinding war that has killed more than 33,000 Palestinians.

The war in Gaza began when Hamas stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 people hostage. Hamas has been designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., Canada, and EU.

The Israeli military campaign in Gaza, experts say, is among the deadliest and most destructive in recent history. Within two months, researchers say, the offensive already has wreaked more destruction than the razing of Syria’s Aleppo between 2012 and 2016, Ukraine’s Mariupol or, proportionally, the Allied bombing of Germany in World War II. It has killed more civilians than the U.S.-led coalition did in its three-year campaign against the Islamic State group.

The White House has maintained its support for Israel amid growing domestic and international wariness with Israel’s prosecution of the war, and repeatedly said that a temporary cease-fire could have already come had Hamas agreed to release the sick, the wounded, the elderly, and young women.

But the pressure on Biden has only mounted since this week’s airstrikes that killed the World Central Kitchen workers.

The Israeli government acknowledged “mistakes” and announced some disciplinary measures against officers involved in ordering the strikes. Israel also approved a series of steps aimed at increasing the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, including the reopening of a key crossing that was destroyed in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Friday that the World Central Kitchen incident is part of a broader problem with how the Israeli military is carrying out the war. Nearly 200 humanitarian aid workers have been killed since the start of the conflict.

“But the essential problem is not who made the mistakes, it is the military strategy and procedures in place that allow for those mistakes to multiply time and time again,” he said. “Fixing those failures requires independent investigations and meaningful and measurable change on the ground.”

Florida football is amid a two-week stretch Billy Napier calls “critical” to his program’s turnaround. The Gators have two scrimmages, including the spring game, to sharpen their focus entering the offseason. Meanwhile, the biggest weekend in college basketball takes center stage, with UConn looking to become the first back-to-back champion since the 2006-07 Gators. But Iowa’s Caitlin Clark has stolen the show during March Madness and helped elevate the women’s games to new heights. During the latest Swamp Things, Edgar and Mark try to bring their A game ahead of a big sports weekend.

• UF Football: Critical 2-week stretch (1:02)
• DJ Lagway vs Graham Mertz (4:04)
• Billy Napier needs to get fans excited (15:54)
• Ricky Pearsall replacement? (19:56)
• Chimere Dike’s role (25:14)
• Mr. Intensity (30:45)
• Biggest weekend college basketball (33:37)
• Women’s sports (51:23)
• Baseball (59:00)
• Jeremy Foley’s Corner (1:02:00)

Florida’s high-speed Brightline train has partnered with Princess Cruises for a “Rail & Sail” program that includes one of its trains made over with the iconic imagery of the brand with ties to “The Love Boat.”

Most Princess ships call Port Everglades home in Fort Lauderdale, including the debut later this year of its newest and largest ship, the Sun Princess. The line is expanding with its first ship to be based out of Port Canaveral this fall when Caribbean Princess arrives.

The nearly 113,000-gross-ton vessel began sailing in 2004, christened by Jill Whelan who played Vicki Stubing on “The Love Boat.” Princess ships were featured during the show’s run in the 1970s and 1980s.

Brightline runs from Miami to Orlando with several stops in South Florida, including Fort Lauderdale and a northern terminus at Orlando International Airport. The line has future stops planned that include Cocoa, near Port Canaveral.

The deal between the train and cruise companies aims to offer passengers hassle-free travel to the two port destinations that includes an optional express baggage checking service at $35 per bag that people can use so their luggage is checked at the train station and will make its way to their staterooms.

The deals include complimentary motorcoach travel from the Brightline station to the cruise port terminal to board the ships. The Orlando-to-Port Canaveral service will begin once Caribbean Princess begins sailing in November.

“A Princess cruise is already the best value in travel and this new partnership with Brightline makes it even easier and more enjoyable to sail with us from the top-rated ports in South and Central Florida,” said cruise line president John Padgett in a news release. “Our guests can just sit back, relax, and let us do the rest, including delivering their luggage directly to their stateroom.”

The partnership also offers discounts of up to 15% on packages booked through the Brightline website. For those who book through May 5, an extra credit for up to $150 per person for certain packages is available.

The Princess theme design adorns four cars that include the Princess “seawitch” logo and depictions of popular ports of call. Princess branding will also be on display at Brightline terminals.

“Brightline has been connecting travelers to South Florida ports since we began operations in 2018 and cruisers from the beginning have found our train to be the easiest way to start their vacation,” said Brightline President Patrick Goddard in the release. “Today’s partnership with Princess Cruises and this train wrap with the iconic Love Boat branding is yet another example of the connection between cruisers and Brightline.

By ADITHI RAMAKRISHNAN (AP Science Writer)

DALLAS (AP) — East Coast residents were jolted Friday by a 4.8-magnitude earthquake centered near Lebanon, New Jersey, with weak rumblings felt as far away as Baltimore and the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border. No life-threatening injuries or major damage have been reported.

Here’s what to know about earthquakes on the East Coast.

Earthquakes large enough to be felt by a lot of people are relatively uncommon on the East Coast. Since 1950 there have been about 20 quakes with a magnitude above 4.5, according to the United States Geological Survey. That’s compared with over 1,000 on the West Coast.

That said, East Coast quakes like the one experienced Friday do happen.

“There’s a history of similar-sized earthquakes in the New York region over the last few hundred years,” said Jessica Thompson Jobe from the USGS’ Earthquake Hazards Program.

In 2011, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake near Mineral, Virginia, shook East Coast residents over a wide swath from Georgia to Maine and even southeastern Canada. The USGS called it one of the most widely felt quakes in North American history.

The quake cost $200 to $300 million in property damages, including to the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.

The West Coast lies on a boundary where sections of Earth’s crust rub together, causing stress and slippage along fault lines that generate earthquakes relatively often.

East Coast quakes like Friday’s are caused by compression over time of hard, brittle rock deep underground, according to Robert Thorson, an earth sciences professor at the University of Connecticut. “It’s like having a big block of ice in a vise and you are just slowly cranking up the vise,” he said. “Eventually, you’re going to get some crackling on it.”

These East Coast quakes can be harder to pinpoint. And they tend to affect a broader area. That’s because colder, harder East Coast rocks are better at spreading the rattling energy from an earthquake.

The distribution of cities across the East Coast also means that more people are around to experience the effects of a quake.

“We also have population centers over a large part of the northeast,” said Leslie Sonder, a geophysicist at Dartmouth College, “So a lot of people around here feel the earthquake.”

USGS experts say there is a risk of aftershocks for weeks to months, which are expected after any earthquake. They recommend paying attention to emergency messaging from local officials.

To keep safe from shakes while sleeping, remove any furniture or objects that could fall and injure you or others.

If you feel shaking, drop where you are. Cover your head and neck with one arm, crawl under a table for shelter and hold on. If there’s no shelter nearby, grasp your head and neck with both hands until the shaking stops.

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AP writer Pat Eaton-Robb contributed to this report from Storrs, Connecticut.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — Police in Vermont are seeking a suspect who allegedly started a fire Friday outside the office of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders. The small blaze caused minor damages but no injuries.

Authorities say an unknown male suspect sprayed what they described as a possible accelerant on the office door, set it on fire and fled. They said the suspect remained at large and no motive had been established.

“A significant fire engulfed the door and part of the vestibule, impeding the egress of staff members who were working in the office and endangering their lives,” Burlington police said in a statement. “The sprinkler system then engaged and largely extinguished the fire.”

Earlier in the day, the Burlington Fire Department said it responded to a call Friday morning and found a fire between the vestibule, the elevator and the entrance door of Sanders’ third-floor office in Burlington. The office door suffered moderate fire damage and much of the third floor sustained significant water damage. The offices of Sanders and those nearby were evacuated.

A spokesperson for Sanders did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Sanders was not at the office.

NEW YORK (AP) — The scheduled start time for Monday’s game between the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins has been changed because of the total solar eclipse.

New York was initially set to host the Marlins at 2:05 p.m. The start was pushed back four hours.

“After reconsidering the challenges of playing through Monday’s solar eclipse, including potential in-game delays, Major League Baseball and the Yankees have rescheduled the start time of the Yankees-Marlins game on April 8 at Yankee Stadium from 2:05 p.m. to 6:05 p.m.,” the team said in a statement Thursday.

Ballpark gates will open at 3 p.m. As previously planned, the first 15,000 fans to arrive will receive a Yankees Solar Eclipse T-Shirt, the club said.

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

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Sergei Bobrovsky made 30 saves for his fifth shutout of the season, Matthew Tkachuk had a goal and two assists and the Florida Panthers routed the Ottawa Senators 6-0 on Thursday night.

Nick Cousins, Dmitry Kulikov, Anton Lundell, Sam Bennett and Sam Reinhart also scored to help Florida improve to 48-24-5. Panthers coach Paul Maurice moved into sole possession of fourth place on the NHL victory list with 865.

Joonas Korpisalo allowed four goals on 17 shots for Ottawa. Anton Forsberg gave up two on 14 shots in relief.

With Florida up 5-0 to start the third, Tkachuk scored a power-play goal by tipping in Aleksander Barkov shot in front.

Florida padded its 2-0 lead by scoring three times in the second period.

Lundell, who was below the goal line, banked a shot off Korpisalo’s shoulder to make it 3-0 at 2:35. Less than two minutes later Tkachuk dropped a pass to a trailing Bennett, who beat Korpisalo to end the goalie’s night.

Forsberg came on in relief but, with just over two minutes remaining in the period, Reinhart scored his 53rd of the season.

The Panthers opened the scoring 1:02 into the game, with Cousins taking a pass in the slot and beating Korpisalo Kulikov made it 2-0 35 seconds later with a shot from just inside the blue line.

UP NEXT

Panthers: At Boston on Saturday.

MIAMI – Observations and other notes of interest from Thursday night’s 109-105 loss to  the Philadelphia 76ers:

– Ahead of the game, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra spoke about how it already felt like the playoffs.

– That it did.

– What it didn’t feel like was enough from Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.
– While the 76ers got plenty from their leading men, the same could not be said for the Heat.

– Essentially, Butler and Adebayo did not measure up to Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid.

– So for all the contributions elsewhere for the Heat, it wasn’t enough.

– Yes, Butler came on late.

– But wasn’t strong enough at moments of truth.

– And Adebayo didn’t measure up.

– With a possible play-in rematch looming.

– Which has to be concerning.

– For all that Kevin Love, Terry Rozier and Haywood Highsmith mustered in support, this has to be about Butler and Adebayo.

– On this night it wasn’t.

– So, instead, a disappointing L.

– Amid the ongoing absence of Tyler Herro, the Heat remained with a starting lineup of Adebayo, Nikola Jovic, Butler, Duncan Robinson and Rozier.

– That lineup is now 6-6.

– Is such mediocrity good enough?.

– Spoelstra would not bite when asked pregame about the status of Herro, who has been out since Feb. 23, deadline with foot pain.

– “He’s making progress,” Spoelstra said.

– Asked if Herro would return before the April 14 end of the regular season, Spoelstra said, “We will let you know.”

–  Caleb Martin was first off the Heat bench, followed by Highsmith, Love and then Jaime Jaquez Jr.

– And that basically was it, nine deep, even on the first night of a back-to-back, with the Heat in Houston on Friday night.

– Spoelstra said the Heat’s rise in defensive ranking has come hand in hand with a return to the basics.

– “We tried to simplify several weeks ago, actually a few months ago,” he said pregame. “and just really tried to rally around that, just to stabilize things while we had moving parts. It’s also what we really take pride in as an organization.”

– But Spoelstra added, “You do have to do things as well on both sides of the floor, as we know. We’ve been making some strides offensively, as well, and we still have some room for growth there.”

– Thursday marked Kyle Lowry’s first game back at Kaseya Center since his January trade for Rozier.

– “We had a lot of wins. And we had a lot of playoff success, and that’s why Kyle is a throwback,” Spoelstra said when asked to reflect on Lowry’s Heat tenure. “You can’t just look at his numbers or his points per game, or whatever. It’s the impact that he has on winning. And he did that.”

– Spoelstra added, “The relationships that we created, it’ll transcend these times.”

– Lowry was introduced last among the 76ers, to a warm ovation,

– Lowry opened defensively against Butler.

– On starting the day No. 6 in the East, Spoelstra said, “We’re aware of things. We’re in hunt mode, chase mode right now. We’re not in obsession mode of looking at the standings. We see opportunity in front of us, but that old adage, you have to live in the present moment. That’s where we are right now.”

– Spoelstra did not discount Joel Embiid’s second game back with the 76ers, after being sidelined since January with a knee ailment.

– “He’s still a major challenge,” Spoelstra said. “He puts a tremendous amount of pressure on your defense, to contain him, to disrupt him and to do all of these things without fouling.”

– But Spoelstra also welcomed the challenge.

– “At this point of the season, and what we’re trying to do, you can’t expect it to be easy,” he said.

– Thursday’s double-double gave Adebayo 40 for the season, matching his best such year (2019-20)

MIAMI — The fight was there, just not enough fight at the finish.

Unable to close despite earlier pushing back from a 16-point deficit, the Miami Heat fell 109-105 Thursday night to the Philadelphia 76ers at Kaseya Center in a costly loss in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

It is a loss that could have the Heat and 76ers back at it in a play-in game in two weeks, possibly next time in Philadelphia.

“It’s devastating for us to come up short,” guard Terry Rozier said, after the Heat blew an eight-point fourth-quarter lead.

Positioned for a critical victory, the Heat instead ground to an offensive halt at the close, outscored 15-3 in the final six minutes, the only basket a desperation, self-created 3-pointer from Rozier.

“We played stagnant all game,” forward Jimmy Butler said.

With the loss, the Heat-76ers series ended tied 2-2, with conference record possibly to settle a potential tiebreaker, Philadelphia closing with a far softer schedule.

The Heat got 22 points from Rozier, 20 from Butler, as well as 14 points and 11 rebounds from Bam Adebayo and 11 points and 16 rebounds from Kevin Love. There also were 12 points from Haywood Highsmith and 11 from Nikola Jovic.

From the 76ers, there were 37 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds from Tyrese Maxey and 29 points from Joel Embiid.

It was a game of wild, lopsided runs, including 17-2 and 20-1 by the 76ers and 25-6 and 17-0 by the Heat.

“They made the final run,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “That’s what was disappointing about this. In the last three minutes, they made more plays.”

The 76ers were without Tobias Harris (knee), with the Heat remaining without Tyler Herro (foot).

The Heat next head out on a three-game trip that opens Friday night against the Houston Rockets, continues with a Sunday showdown against the Indiana Pacers and concludes Tuesday against the Atlanta Hawks.

“Get on to Houston and we’ll figure this out,” Spoelstra said. “You just have to love how intense and competitive these games are for regular-season games.”

Five Degrees of Heat from Thursday night’s game:

1. Game flow: The Heat fell behind 12-0 at the outset and trailed by 16 later in that first quarter, before closing within 39-29 at the end of the opening period.

The Heat then took a three-point lead in the second period, only to see the 76ers roar back with a 20-1 run to eventually move to a 63-55 halftime lead.

The Heat then bounced back yet again, taking an 88-87 lead into the fourth quarter, closing the third period on a 17-6 run.

2. Closing time: A 3-pointer by Love with 10:40 to play gave the Heat their largest lead, at 95-87.

“We had opportunities,” Spoelstra said. “When we got it up to eight, I felt we had opportunities to get it to 10 to 12.”

But five consecutive points by Kelly Oubre Jr., a driving layup and then a 3-pointer, later moved the 76ers to a 103-102 lead with 3:30 to play.

Amid misses by Rozier and Adebayo and a Caleb Martin turnover, the 76ers then pushed to 107-102 lead on an Oubre layup.

A Rozier 3-pointer with 45 seconds left got the Heat within 107-105, but even after getting a stop, the best the Heat could do was a wayward Butler 3-point attempt with 5.2 seconds to play.

“I felt like we were going to get a good look there after the stop. And Jimmy’s look was clean,” Spoelstra said.

3. Highsmith again: Highsmith again proved to be instant energy, supercharging the pressure defense that got the Heat back with reach late in the first quarter.

On the other end, Highsmith continued his torrid 3-pointer shooting, making his first two attempts, albeit banking in the second attempt. He later converted a driving double-pump reverse layup against Embiid and then scored immediately afterward on a dunk that tied it 43-43.

He played in the Heat closing lineup in place of Duncan Robinson.

4. Still rolling: Rozier remained on a 3-point roll of his own, including a 28-footer to beat the buzzer at the intermission.

In a game the Heat were at their best when playing at speed, Rozier provided that speed, with a team-high 19 points going into the fourth.

Rozier closed 7 of 20 from the field, including 6 of 13 on 3-pointers.

But he also bumped knees on the Heat’s final possession, limping to the finish.

“We’ll just have to see when we get on to Houston,” Spoelstra said. “He’s tough.”

5. Standings reset: With the loss, the Heat (42-34) dropped behind idle Indiana (43-34) and back down to No. 7 in the Eastern Conference, a half-game ahead of the No. 8 76ers (42-35).

The top six in each conference advance directly to the best-of-seven first round of the playoffs, with No. 7 hosting No. 8 in a play-in game for the No. 7 playoff seed.

The loser of that Nos. 7-8 game will host the winner of the Nos. 9-10 Chicago Bulls-Atlanta Hawks game for the No. 8 seed.

If the Heat win out, with six games to play, they would finish No. 6.

“We know where we stand.” Butler said. “Win and everything else will take care of itself.”

NEW YORK (AP) — Rudy Giuliani will be allowed to remain in his Palm Beach condo for now after a New York bankruptcy judge on Thursday declined to rule on a motion filed by his creditors that would’ve forced him to sell it.

At a hearing, Judge Sean Lane acknowledged the “significant” concern that Giuliani was sinking money into the condo that is owed to his numerous creditors, but said he would hold off on compelling a sale of the roughly $3.5 million property.

Giuliani declared bankruptcy in December after he was ordered to pay $148 million to two former Georgia election workers for spreading lies about their role in the 2020 election.

He has agreed to list his Manhattan apartment for roughly $5 million, but argues he should continue living in the Florida condo, citing the need to record his podcast there and the “prohibitive” cost of finding a new home in New York.

Rudy Giuliani files for bankruptcy days after being ordered to pay $148 million in defamation case

“If the court compels the sale of the Florida condominium, then the debtor will be forced to incur expenses for alternative housing,” his lawyers wrote in a March 28 motion. “Surely the committee does not intend the debtor to join the ranks of the homeless?”

The bankruptcy has brought forth a diverse coalition of creditors who say they are owed money by Giuliani, including a supermarket employee who was thrown in jail for patting him on the back, two elections technology companies that he spread conspiracies about, a woman who says he coerced her into sex, several of his former attorneys, the IRS and Hunter Biden, who claims Giuliani illegally shared his personal data.

An attorney representing many of those creditors, Rachel Biblo Block, said Thursday that Giuliani had spent at least $160,000 on maintenance fees and taxes for the Florida condo since the bankruptcy, far more than the $8,000 in monthly payments that his lawyers previously estimated.

Those payments, she added, were “rapidly depleting” Giuliani’s limited assets, which include about $15,000 in cash and $1 million in a retirement account.

“We don’t want to be left with our creditors holding the bag while he gets to be living in his luxurious condo,” she said, adding that Giuliani had “shown an inclination to stall” as he seeks to appeal the judgment in the Georgia election workers case.

While the judge suggested he was unlikely to force a sale of the property, he hinted at more “draconian” measures if Giuliani does not comply with information requests about his spending habits — including the possible appointment of a trustee to oversee his finances.

The next hearing is scheduled for May 14th.

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Eury Perez throws during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the New York Mets Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Jupiter, Fla. Pérez will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the 2024 season, the team announced Thursday, April 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)

MIAMI — Marlins right-hander Eury Pérez will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the 2024 season, the team announced Thursday before spitting up a 4-1 lead against the Cardinals in St. Louis to drop to 0-8.

Pérez had previously been diagnosed with mild inflammation after experiencing discomfort in his right elbow late in the spring. He met with Dr. Keith Meister, according to Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix, and surgery was not recommended then.

Pérez made four spring training appearances but opened the season on the injured list. As of Tuesday, the team said he had been playing catch with the anticipation of progressing to a bullpen session soon.

Bendix told reporters ahead of Thursday’s game against St. Louis that the decision came after a second meeting with Dr. Meister.

The 20-year-old Pérez debuted last May as Miami’s youngest starting pitcher. Over his first 11 major league starts, he had a 5-3 record with a 2.36 ERA and 61 strikeouts.

The Marlins were careful with Pérez’s workload, managing his pitches and innings when he was first called up on May 12. He finished the 2023 season 5-6 with a 3.15 ERA over 91 1/3 innings.

Pérez’s injury adds to an already depleted rotation for the Marlins.

Their ace Sandy Alcantara remains sidelined for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in October. Right-hander Edward Cabrera is on the injured list with a right shoulder impingement but began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Jacksonville on March 31. Left-hander Braxton Garrett is also sidelined with a left shoulder impingement.

Marlins spit up 4-1 lead in St. Louis, skid to 0-8

Nolan Gorman hit a go-ahead two-run double in the seventh inning and the St. Louis Cardinals won their home opener, 8-5 on Thursday over the winless Miami Marlins, who are off to the worst start in the 33-year history of the franchise.

Jake Burger hit a pair of homers for Miami (0-8), which is off to the worst start in the majors since Atlanta and Minnesota each lost their first nine games in 2016.

The Marlins are the only winless team in baseball after the New York Mets got their first win Thursday, beating Detroit.

Gorman, who had three hits, highlighted a five-run seventh-inning rally with a double on the first pitch from reliever Andrew Nardi to give St. Louis a 6-5 lead. Alec Burleson followed with a single and Masyn Winn added a run-scoring triple.

Paul Goldschmidt reached on a one-out error against Sixto Sanchez (0-1) to begin the outburst. Sanchez then gave up back-to-back singles, including an RBI knock by Ivan Herrera, before being lifted.

Herrera hit his first major league homer leading off the second. He is replacing regular Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras, who was hit on the hand by a pitch in Wednesday’s loss at San Diego.

Lance Lynn, making his first start for St. Louis since Sept. 28, 2017, allowed three homers and was charged with four runs on eight hits over 4 2/3 innings.

Josh Bell snapped a 1-all tie with a two-run drive in the fifth. Burger followed with his second homer; he also went deep leading off the fourth. The St. Louis native reached base four times in front of a contingent of relatives and friends.

Giovanny Gallegos (1-0) got the last out in the seventh. Ryan Helsley worked the ninth for his second save in three opportunities.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: INF/OF Matt Carpenter was placed on the 10-day Injured with a right oblique strain. The move is retroactive to Tuesday. Carpenter was 3-for-9 and appeared in three games. INF/OF Brendan Dovovan sat out with an elbow injury.

UP NEXT

Miami LHP Trevor Rogers (0-0, 7.20 ERA) will face LHP Steven Matz (0-0, 3.38) when the three-game series resumes Saturday.

A construction worker was killed and two people were taken to the hospital after a portion of a crane dropped onto the Southeast Third Avenue bridge over the New River in downtown Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, April 4, 2024.

Here’s the latest installment of our Miami Dolphins Q&A, where South Florida Sun Sentinel writers David Furones and Chris Perkins answer questions from readers.

Q: Dave, saw your tweet about how disappointing it would be if the Dolphins don’t win the AFC East now that the Bills traded Stefon Diggs. I don’t know, once they make moves to replace Diggs as WR1, I still see Buffalo as the favorite. Besides, Diggs was phased out of the offense over there once they started finding success second half of the season. — Anthony B., via email

My feeling on this is more so an extension of how disappointing it already was to blow a three-game lead with five games remaining in the division last year than just a knee-jerk reaction to Diggs being traded from Buffalo.

It cannot happen again.

Let’s set some expectations for the Dolphins.

Stop being content to make the playoffs as a wild-card team that gets swept by the Bills and, instead of playing at home in the first round, has to go on the road against the defending and eventual repeat Super Bowl champs in the fourth-coldest kickoff temperature in league history.

We’re currently in a stretch of the most talented rosters the Dolphins have had in two decades — and maybe more than that.

I already felt it would be a disappointment if it played out the same way in 2024, and now, the opportunity is only more tailor-made for Miami to win the division for the first time since 2008 and set itself up for a playoff win for the first time since 2000.

There’s no way to talk around it anymore.

If the Dolphins don’t win the AFC East now, it would be a complete disappointment and epic failure.

— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) April 3, 2024

Yes, Diggs was less and less of the Bills offense as their 2023 turned around midseason, but his presence was still vital to everything else that opened up for Buffalo. It will be a huge difference when opposing defenses no longer have to game plan for him.

Plus, Gabe Davis isn’t there anymore either. They have Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox at tight end. At receiver, it’s Khalil Shakir, Mack Hollins, Curtis Samuel and whoever else they add in the draft or free agency.

If Miami can’t get over the hump of the Bills this year or if the Jets pass up the Dolphins, yes, serious questions have to start being asked.

Q: Do you think Miami stays at pick 21 or do they trade out? — Eric on X

If the right scenario presents itself, I could absolutely see the Dolphins trading down from the No. 21 pick.

Let’s say Miami is torn between a number of available prospects when their selection comes up. Maybe it’s UCLA edge defender Laiatu Latu, Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson, Duke interior offensive lineman Graham Barton, Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy and some others all still on the board.

If Dolphins decision-makers don’t feel greatly about one over the others, make some calls to see if teams lower in the first round are willing to move up.

Especially since Miami is without a third- or fourth-round pick, it can add an extra pick or two in the movement while still getting one of the guys the team wanted.

Q: Who will be Miami’s RB1? Is it still Mostert? Or Achane? — @JSportsNetwork on X

When you have a rookie that averaged 7.8 yards per carry on 103 rushing attempts, you want to give him every opportunity to get the ball even more in his second season.

So De’Von Achane should definitely see an expanded role in the Dolphins offense. Who starts isn’t so important as who gets what portion of the workload. At this point, I could see the game plan being to make sure each gets double-digit carries every game, with the ability to adjust depending on the game plan against a given opponent or to keep feeding a hot hand.

Ron Brewer, forever Young Ron in the hearts of a generation of South Florida commuters as cohost of the top-rated, morning-drive “Paul and Young Ron Show,” died on Wednesday in Ocala. He was 68. 

Brewer spent more than a quarter-century on local radio playing beloved straight man to prankster Paul Castronovo, most recently on classic-rock station Big 105.9 (WBGG-FM). He retired in 2016 with a celebrity-packed final show that drew an overflow, early-morning audience at the Fort Lauderdale Improv.

Brewer, whose legal name was Ron Bates, and his wife moved recently to Ocala after nearly three decades living in the Parkland-Coral Springs area. There are as yet no plans for funeral services. 

The partnership between zany DJ Castronovo and the deadpan news reader Brewer began in 1990 on WSHE (103.5-FM), moving to WZTA (Zeta 94.9-FM) in 1995 and, in 2004, to Big 105.9. 

Famously private, Brewer played the role right up until he decided to quit the show, which he announced abruptly on-air without warning Castronovo. 

• A fixture on South Florida radio for more than 25 years, Ron Brewer of Big 105.9's "Paul and Young Ron Show" died on Wednesday. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Ron Brewer of the Paul and Young Ron show is seen wearing the crown of the 2009 celebrity smackdown on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009, at the station studio in Miramar. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Ron Brewer, left, and Paul Castronovo of the Paul and Young Ron show is seen wearing the crown of the 2009 celebrity smackdown on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009, at the station studio in Miramar. (Joe Cavaretta, South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Paul Castronovo and Ron Brewer, aired the final edition of the "Paul and Young Ron Show" broadcast from the Fort Lauderdale Improv at Seminole Paradise. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Paul Castronovo and Ron Brewer, aired the final edition of the "Paul and Young Ron Show" broadcast from the Fort Lauderdale Improv at Seminole Paradise. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Paul Castronovo and Ron Brewer, aired the final edition of the "Paul and Young Ron Show" broadcast from the Fort Lauderdale Improv at Seminole Paradise. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Paul Castronovo and Ron Brewer, aired the final edition of the "Paul and Young Ron Show" broadcast from the Fort Lauderdale Improv at Seminole Paradise. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

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The retirement show in 2016 was the last time Castronovo saw Brewer or spoke with him. They shared a hug that night and exchanged a few text messages over the years, but that was it.

There were no hard feelings, according to Castronovo, who said Brewer’s agent told him he had “just moved on with that part of his life.”

Castronovo held out hope for a reunion show, issuing an open invitation to Brewer in a 2021 interview with the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Reached by phone on Thursday, Castronovo was emotional. 

“I’m angry that we haven’t spoken. I’m thinking about all the hilarious stuff we did. And I’m heartbroken,” he said, his voice breaking.  

“I kept trying to put it back together. After … years together in a tiny room, it was odd. But he just turned the page,” Castronovo said. 

Friday morning’s 6 a.m.-10 a.m. edition of “The Paul Castronovo Show” on Big 105.9 will be dedicated to old clips and stories about Brewer. Castronovo said it would definitely include a retelling of the infamous moment when Brewer fell into the stingray tank at the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas after sampling some product by show sponsor Patrón.

The show’s Instagram account filled with messages of shock and sorrow from fans on Thursday afternoon. 

Castronovo said he is preparing for Friday’s show by reaching out to old friends from Brewer’s heyday, including Miami Dolphins great Dan Marino, filmmakers Billy Corben and Wil Shriner, Zoo Miami’s Ron Magill. 

Magill called Brewer “the greatest straight man I could ever have worked with.”

“Paul and I were always ribbing each other, that was part of our shtick, but Ron was just a super nice guy. He was a very warm guy, who was very private away from the radio,” Magill said. 

Magill’s wife, Rita, the “Mrs. Magill” often referenced on the show, said she would call Brewer on his birthday. Each time he would give her an update on his two sons, Rita Magill said. 

“He was probably one of the proudest dads of his boys. His heart always got so big and full whenever he mentioned his boys,” she said. 

NBC6 anchor Kelly Craig was a longtime contributor to the “Paul and Young Ron Show,” but admits that she was a fan before that.  

“Listen, everybody in South Florida gets stuck in traffic. Listening to them made the ride bearable,” she said.  

Craig said the “uber intelligent” Brewer was a key part of the show’s success. 

“On the air, he had the most obtuse and spontaneous wit that I had ever heard. Put that together with Paul and you had one of those lightning-in-a-bottle pairings,” she said. “As a person, he was very kind and caring, which wasn’t his role on the show. He was one of those guys that to know him is to love him.”

Paul Castronovo, left, and Ron Brewer during the final edition of the “Paul and Young Ron Show” broadcast from the Fort Lauderdale Improv. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Magill, Marino, Corben, comedian Bert Kreischer and others attended Brewer’s farewell show in 2016, which ended with a handshake with Castronovo and standing ovation for Brewer to the tune of Supertramp’s “Goodbye Stranger.” Fans who had begun lining up for the show at 4 a.m. formed another line for autographs outside the club.

Brewer described himself as “relieved and overwhelmed.”

“Until something like this happens, you don’t realize how many people you’ve touched,” Brewer said.

Staff writer Ben Crandell can be reached at bcrandell@sunsentinel.com. Follow on Instagram @BenCrandell and Twitter @BenCrandell.

Construction continues for a new 43-court pickleball complex at Snyder Park on Thursday April 4, 2024. The state-of-the-art facility and public-private partnership called The Fort will be home to a pickleball club featuring 43 professional courts and a dedicated pickleball stadium along with a fitness-recovery center, locker rooms, pro shop, and 14 weatherproof courts for casual and competitive play. The site will also be the new permanent home of the Association of Pickleball Players (APP), the first pickleball association to establish an official headquarters and training center.

By ALANIS THAMES (AP Sports Writer)

FORT LAUDERDALE — Lionel Messi remained sidelined with a hamstring injury Wednesday night as his Inter Miami team built a one-goal lead against Mexico’s Monterrey then came unraveled in the second half, losing 2-1 in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal.

Messi, who missed his fourth straight game because of a right hamstring injury, has not played since March 13, and also missed Argentina’s exhibitions last month against El Salvador and Costa Rica.

It isn’t yet clear when the 36-year-old Messi will return. Inter Miami and Monterrey are scheduled to play the second leg of the quarterfinal in Mexico on April 10. Inter Miami will also play an MLS match against Colorado on Saturday.

“Every day he’s feeling better. It would have been too much of a risk today,” Inter Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino said through an interpreter after the match. He added that Messi will continue to be game-to-game.

Monterrey’s Jorge Rodríguez broke a 1-1 tie in the 89th minute Wednesday when he sent a shot into the top right corner past goalkeeper Drake Callender after a sloppy pass by Miami’s Diego Gómez, spoiling a strong first half from Inter Miami in its toughest match of the season.

Tomas Avilés tapped in Miami’s only goal off a corner kick by Julian Gressel in the 19th minute. It was the 19-year-old Avilés’ first goal of the season and came during a stout first-half defensive effort that held Monterrey at bay.

But Inter Miami came unraveled after David Ruíz received a second yellow card and was sent off for unnecessary contact in the 65th minute. Miami played the final 25 minutes of the match down a man.

Monterrey quickly took advantage, tying the score less than five minutes later on a goal from Maximiliano Meza, who shot past Callender on a second attempt after a corner kick by Sergio Canales.

“The first thing is that we didn’t have enough legs to do the last 20 minutes,” Martino said. “And playing against a team like Monterrey, you have to be in very good physical shape. … It seemed that we were going to have moments in the game in which we would be dominated, we didn’t suffer it as much as I thought, but when you have to do the last 20 minutes with one player short, that became a problem.”

Callender had seven saves, while Monterrey’s Esteban Andrada had one.

Miami’s Robert Taylor left with an injury after going down and grabbing his leg in pain in the 36th minute.

Cypress Bay High School and adjacent Falcon Cove Middle School in Weston will be closed Thursday due to a water main break, which has left the buildings without water, School District spokesperson John Sullivan said Wednesday night.

The city’s Public Works Department is repairing the break and classes are expected to resume Friday, Cypress Bay High Principal Kassandra Fried said in a message to parents Wednesday night. The school will provide parents updates when available, the principal’s message said.

The schools were not damaged, Sullivan said. School District officials said no other schools are affected.

Nearly 5,000 students are enrolled at Cypress Bay in the 2023-24 year, while more than 2,000 students are enrolled at Falcon Cove.

A Fort Lauderdale man died Monday morning after crashing his car into a canal near a residential area in Parkland, which was discovered hours later, law enforcement officials said.

Dilton Florezel Lai, 51, was driving a 2021 Honda Accord northwest on Pine Island Road shortly before 5 a.m. and did not stop at the T-shaped intersection of Nob Hill Road, the Broward Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday. He drove over a curb, into the grass and into the water, for unknown reasons.

The Sheriff’s Office was notified about the car in the water about 11 a.m.  Sheriff’s Office’s and Coral Springs Fire Rescue’s divers found the car fully underwater near the 10900 block of Northwest 78th Place.

Coral Springs Fire Rescue’s Dive Team found the car and Lai inside, and the Sheriff’s Office Dive Team recovered them. The Sheriff’s Office said its investigation is continuing.

Body found in submerged car in Parkland canal

Lauded for its vibrant culture, beautiful beaches, and thriving economy, Miami has also been making strides toward becoming a world-recognized smart city.

Recent initiatives like an urban planning conference hosted by the University of Miami have showcased the community’s commitment to leveraging technology to promote sustainable urban development and improve quality of life. However, the transit challenges of today remain a barrier between the present and a better tomorrow.

The conference brought together experts, policymakers and innovators to discuss how technology can help address urban issues ranging from transportation to public safety. Discussions centered on leveraging data and advanced analytics to optimize city operations, enhance sustainability, and foster innovation. It was a beacon of hope for a city striving to be at the forefront of the smart city movement.

Yet, in the middle of all of this future-gazing, Miami is left grappling with the fallout from recent changes to its public transit system. The implementation of the Better Bus System has sparked criticism and frustration among riders, with many reporting increased delays and disruptions. While the intentions behind the overhaul were undoubtedly noble — to improve efficiency and accessibility — the execution has left much to be desired.

One of the key challenges straining Miami’s transit system is congestion, exacerbated by outdated infrastructure and inefficient traffic management. However, there is hope on the horizon. Innovative solutions, such as smart traffic monitoring technologies, offer a glimmer of promise in alleviating gridlock and improving transit times.

Enter Miovision, a leading provider of smart traffic solutions, whose recent acquisition of Global Traffic Technologies (GTT) and their Opticom solution has expanded their capabilities in transit signal priority (TSP) technology. TSP enables transit vehicles to communicate with traffic signals, granting them priority at intersections and minimizing delays.

Michael Duench, vice president of marketing at Miovision, explains, “Transit Signal Priority technology works by giving transit vehicles priority at traffic signals, reducing delays and improving overall efficiency. By investing in these solutions, cities can significantly enhance their transit systems and provide faster, more reliable service to commuters.”

From Duench’s point of view, TSP technology could address the woes plaguing its transit network. By strategically deploying smart traffic management solutions, the city can not only reduce transit times but also enhance emergency response capabilities and curb greenhouse gas emissions — both critical components of a sustainable and resilient urban future.

The benefits of investing in smart transit solutions extend beyond Miami’s borders. Cities worldwide grappling with similar traffic challenges stand to gain from embracing innovative technologies like TSP. With urbanization on the rise and congestion becoming an increasingly pressing issue, the need for efficient and sustainable transit solutions has never been greater.

As Miami charts its course toward becoming a global smart city hub, it should strike a delicate balance between ambition and pragmatism. While future-forward initiatives showcase the city’s commitment to innovation, they should be complemented by tangible improvements in everyday urban life. The recent setbacks with the Better Bus System serve as a stark reminder that progress must be inclusive and responsive to the needs of all residents.

Decision-makers should consider a holistic approach to urban development that prioritizes the well-being and mobility of its citizens. This involves investing in cutting-edge technologies, as well as fostering collaboration between government, academia and industry stakeholders. By harnessing the collective expertise and resources available, Miami can navigate the complexities of urbanization and emerge as a model smart city.

While recent strides in technology and innovation are commendable, they should be complemented by improvements in transit and urban mobility. By leveraging smart traffic solutions, communities across South Florida can address pressing transit challenges and pave the way for a more sustainable and resilient future.

The news and editorial staffs of the Sun Sentinel had no role in this post’s preparation.

MIAMI — Once again, sketchy pitching was supported by sketchy defense.

Once again, Miami Marlins hitters looked armed with Waterpiks.

Once again, too, manager Skip Schumaker perfectly summed up an another imperfect day.

“We got our butts kicked,’’ he said after Wednesday’s 10-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels to stretch the Marlins’ start to 0-7.

Baseball has numerous ways to slump. But this is The Slump, because of that zero in the wins column and because it’s across-the-board bad baseball. Then what did anyone expect? The Marlins hired more help in the front office this offseason than to its troubled roster.

Yep, the Marlins are back in Tank-for-Tua mode under first-year vice president of baseball operations Peter Bendix , except there’s no catchy phrase to hope on, no quick fix like all the other times the Marlins tried this and no reason to think this start doesn’t represent the coming season.

“The season, I know, feels long already in that clubhouse because of seven games and no wins,’’ Schumaker said. “It is really early. However, these games count. Playoff teams get in by one or two games every year. And we’ve got to figure it out.”

Poor Schumaker. He forged together an improbable team last year and helped it to the playoffs to win Manager of the Year. Now his team is the first in baseball history to start 0-7 after making the playoffs.

What’s happened? Nothing happened this offseason. And everything’s happened on this first homestand. Boils. Droughts. Pestilence. The Marlins’ starters averaged the scant four innings J.J. Puk threw Wednesday. The bullpen has squandered 5-2 and 6-4 leads.

The league’s second-worst defense last year picked right back up there as third baseman Vidal Brujan’s error Wednesday allowed two third-inning runs to score.

Finally, the lineup that scored the fewest runs in the league last year has looked how you’d expect after not bringing back its one dynamic hitter in Jorge Soler.

“It’s just trying to find our groove, not do too much,’’ said Jake Burger, who was designated hitter on Wednesday. “I think that’s what you do when you get in a little scuffle you try to hit an eight-run home run and it’s not possible.”

Are players pressing like that?

“I know I am,’’ Burger said. “There were two big situations earlier in the series where I grounded into double plays that kind of killed our momentum. In those situations, I just have to take what they’re giving me and try not to force anything.”

It’s not like the opening opponents, Pittsburgh and the Angels, are in some bigger weight class.

“Maybe a change-of-scenery will help,’’ Burger said.

They got St. Louis’ home opener next followed by trips to the New York Yankees and the Atlanta Braves. That’s an itinerary for more trouble. The prime hope is for some starting pitching to get healthy later in April.

“I would be upset if it was a lack of effort, lack of preparation, all that stuff,’’ Schumaker said. “It’s really not that way. They’re going about it the right way It’s tough. I mean, they’re not happy in there. We’re not happy as a staff.

“We’re here to help them get better and help them win games and we’re not doing that. Obviously, we’ve got to figure how to get them on track.”

Try a team meeting? Why not? The Angels had one themselves after two season-opening losses in Baltimore. They’ve won four straight since then. Of course, three were against the Marlins.

““I don’t see panic,’’ Schumaker said. “There’s still positivity in there, talking, trying to guys going. They came in super positive, laughing, joking around, as you should because it’s a new day. That’s why it’s a little disappointing to come out with a 10-2 loss today. I felt good about coming in today.”

The Marlins, for all their historical follies, hadn’t started 0-4 since 2001.

They’d never started 0-5.

They’re 0-7 now, and the get-well thought of it being a long season comes out another way. It really looks like long season.