South Florida Local News

MIAMI GARDENS – A sun-splashed weekend of fun, star-gazing and Formula One racing culminated Sunday in a stunning finish at the Miami Grand Prix.

In a F1 shocker, Lando Norris, the 24-year-old British-Belgian driver for McLaren, won Miami Grand Prix 2024 at the International Miami Autodrome (Hard Rock Stadium) for his first-ever title.

“What a race,” Norris said. “Finally, I managed to do it; I did for my whole team.”

And in showing there’s something for everyone at this Miami event, there was even some pre-race news for Miami Dolphins fans.

It was presumed that Max Verstappen, the Belgian-Dutch driver who is the dominant F1 driver, would win in his third consecutive Miami Grand Prix on Sunday.

Verstappen, the 26-year-old three-time defending world champion, won 19 of 21 races last year, and had won four of this year’s five races.

Ferarri’s Carlos Sainz was the only other driver to win a race this year, winning in Australia.

But Verstappen, who won the pole position for the Miami Grand Prix, lost his lead due to a crash between Logan Sageant and Kevin Magnussen and never recovered.

With 10 laps to go, Norris had a 10-second lead on Verstappen, the second-place finisher who found himself holding off a hard-charging third-place Charles LeClerc.

Norris won by 7.6 seconds.

“You win, you lose,” Verstappen said. “I think we’re all used to that in racing.”

Sargeant, the 23-year-old Fort Lauderdale native and the only American F1 driver, collided with Magnussen on Lap 28 and was out of his hometown race, in which he finished last a year ago.

Sargeant was the only driver who didn’t finish the race.

Magnussen was judged to be at fault in the collision.

But that doesn’t help Sargeant, in his second year as a F1 driver, is rumored to be in jeopardy of losing his spot on the Williams Racing team.

It made for a tough weekend for Sargeant.

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But the winners this weekend — aside from Miami Dolphins owner Steve Ross and Dolphins CEO and president Tom Garfinkel, the hosts of Grand Prix Miami, and FIA, the governing body of Formula One – might have been South Florida residents, who, according to reports, could have nearly $1 billion pumped into its economy.

Grand Prix Miami, with all of its high-profile celebrities and the publicity that goes along with their appearances, is almost a two-day commercial for South Florida.

There was a diverse group of Who’s Whos.

Former president and current presidential candidate Donald Trump was in attendance.

So was musician/entertainer will.i.am. And movie producer Jerry Bruckheimer.

International soccer star Zinedine Zidane was there. So was reality TV star and media personality Kendall Jenner.

New Dolphins wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. took a photo with driver Lewis Hamilton right after Marc Anthony sang the national anthem.

For hardcore, homegrown South Florida sports fans, perhaps no sports star at Grand Prix Miami was bigger than ex-Miami Heat star Udonis Haslem.

Speaking of local sports, Garfinkel, president and CEO of the Dolphins, and managing partner for Grand Prix Miami, reiterated Sunday the team isn’t for sale.

There’s been chatter that Ross wants to sell a piece of the Dolphins so he can use the money to finance other business ventures.

A USA Today report last week said Ross was approached about controlling interest in the Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium and the F1 race for $10 billion.

Garfinkel said he “can’t talk about discussions that took place on that topic.”

But he said controlling interest in the Dolphins isn’t for sale.

“What I can say is that I know, unequivocally, that the team is not for sale, the control piece of the team,” he said.

“I think the price could be much higher than $10 million, the team wouldn’t sell. So the team’s not for sale, the control, the team’s not for sale.”

Garfinkel said Ross still plans on handing the team to his daughters, Jennifer and Kimberly.

As for the race weekend, Grand Prix Miami was a sellout even though there were midweek concerns.

“We’ll be over 275,000 for the three days,” said Garfinkel, whose racing background includes time with Chip Ganassi Racing.

There are still wrinkles that must be ironed out every year.

After the inaugural Miami Grand Prix in 2022, it was the track, which was considered inferior.

After fixing issues such as smoothing out the corner between turns 15 and 16, the track seems to be up to F1 standards.

One of next year’s issues to be improved upon is opening the gates sooner on Saturday. There was a logjam of fans for the Sprint Race.

“We should have opened the gates earlier with the Sprint Race starting at noon,” Garfinkel said.

Regardless, business owners were happy.

Troy Tingling, a classically trained chef and Jamaican American owner of Soulfly Chicken, which is located in Miami’s Wynwood area, is making his third Miami Grand Prix appearance. It’s opened doors that he’s kicked in.

Through the Miami Grand Prix, Tingling, a former private chef for ex-NBA and Miami Heat player Amar’e Stoudemire, got to work events at Hard Rock Stadium. He said Dolphins players ask for him.

More importantly, word of his food is spreading. 

“Formula One has been a blessing for me,” Tingling said. “This year it’s been great because now people know us and they’re coming to us. They’re saying they see us all over social media. They never had it. They come to try it, they love it. So it helps. It just makes me know that business is growing organically,”

Fans were happy, too.

Andrew Hardwick came over from England to attend the Miami Grand Prix. It’s his second F1 race. He attended the Italian Grand Prix last year.

He said it was more traditional, more classic.

“We thought we’d go a bit more crazy and do Miami,” he said.

Hardwick said it was a “sporting spectacle,” and he meant it in a good way.

“You could come and enjoy the experience even if you didn’t like sport,” he said.

Garfinkel likes to hear that.

It fits his criteria for a successful Miami Grand Prix.

“What we’re trying to do is bring people together to experience life and have great moments and bring the greatest talent in the world here to Hard Rock Stadium into this campus, and whether that’s (tennis stars) Roger Federer and Serena Williams, whether that’s (soccer stars) Messi and Neymar, whether that’s (entertainers) Jay Z and Beyonce’ and Taylor Swift, or whether that’s the Super Bowls, college football championships, the World Cup, Formula One’s no exception,” he said.

“So if we can bring that kind of talent here, if we have a great race today, we’re sold out, and everybody has a great time, I would say that’s success.”

 

SUNRISE — All practice long, you could watch Aleksander Barkov work with Matthew Tkachuk. Man, it was beautiful. They didn’t talk much. A head nod from Barkov. A word, maybe two, from Tkachuk as they skated by each other before working on the power play.

What’s to be said by now, even among new linemates? Tkachuk planted himself in front of the net and tipped a pass from Barkov into the goal. A minute later, Barkov sped to the net from the side and tipped in a shot.

“Man, I was right there!” Tkachuk shouted once, almost to himself, when he couldn’t get the puck in the net.

Yes, it was something to watch the biggest names on the Florida Panthers marquee, Barkov and Tkachuk, work on the same line Sunday on the eve of Game 1 against the Boston Bruins.

That’s because it’s something you only saw this year in the previous game, the Game 5 finale against Tampa Bay.

“This is something new for both of us,’’ Tkachuk said. “I know we played together with (Carter Verhaeghe) at the beginning of last year and had a lot of success. Maybe this is some they’ve been saving for now. Hopefully, we can have some games like in Game 5.”

So, what’s old is new again as last year’s most emotional and violent playoff series on the Panthers’ run to the Stanley Cup Final begins Monday night in Sunrise. Panthers coach Paul Maurice kept saying during the Tampa Bay series that it wasn’t as physical as others framed it. Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper called the opening games a, “pillow fight.”

There will be no pillows Monday night in Sunrise for Game 1. No questions about what’s at stake, too. Boston, coming off a Game 7 win against Toronto on Saturday, remembers the Panthers broke their historically strong season last year in the opening round last year.

The Panthers remember coming back from a 3-1 deficit to define this team in a way that resonates today.

“It showed we could beat anyone,’’ Tkachuk said. “It gave us a lot of confidence no matter who we played, no matter what building we’re in, no matter what the atmosphere was that we have a chance to win.

“It brought us super close together, that series.  The effects are still being shown now.”

The roles are switched this time. The Panthers are the favorites, the deeper team with stars in their prime who have rested for a week. The Bruins have a player who can steal the series in goalie Jeremy Swayman, who gave up 1.49 goals with a 95 percent save percentage in winning four of six games against Toronto.

“He was our best player in the series and it’s not close,’’ Boston coach Jim Montgomery said. “I think his confidence and swagger permeated the group.”

That underlines the importance of the Panthers line changes. Sports is about matchups, and Maurice had two lineup cards in his suit pocket before that Tampa Bay finale. Some of that was fallout of center Sam Bennett’s injury in the first game of that series (he’s still out for Monday).

Some of it was Tampa Bay switching its top stars to one line and Maurice answering with a speedy line of Sam Reinhart, Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen (who will remain together against Boston).

The decision involved separating Barkov and Reinhart, considering Reinhart has 60 goals between the regular season and playoffs. Then again, Reinhart led the league in power-play goals where he’ll still be with Barkov and Verhaeghe (and Tkachuk).

Barkov’s strength was rewarded Sunday when he was named a finalist with Toronto’s Auston Matthews and Carolina’s Jordan Stahl for the Selke Trophy as the league’s top defensive forward. The defining stat there how the Panthers outscored opponents 53-23 when Barkov was on the ice in five-on-five situations.

Barkov, like Tkachuk, saw no concerns with the line change.

“(Tkachuk) is one of those players that when you want to get the puck to him because he’s going to make the deciding play, gonna make those big plays that open things up so much and create a lot of good chances,’’ Barkov said. “You know where he’s going to be at all times. That’s why it’s easy to play with that type of player.”

Come Monday night, nothing will come easy. Boston beat the Panthers in all four regular-season games, for whatever that means. Three were one-goal wins.

“They definitely got us in the regular season,’’ Tkachuk said. “I think if you ask them they’re probably using it for confidence going into the season. We’re like, ‘Regular season doesn’t matter, we got to the playoffs.”’

No pillows necessary.

 

 

 

 

A Broward County sheriff’s deputy driving fast through through an intersection caused the four-vehicle crash that sent 10 to the hospital late Saturday morning, a passenger in one of the vehicles said Sunday.

Deborah Rolle said she was sitting at a red light in the left-turn lane of 27th Avenue, preparing to turn east onto West Sunrise Boulevard, when two Broward County Sheriff’s Office vehicles showed up in the intersection “speeding toward us.”

One of the deputies, driving a Chevy Tahoe SUV, struck a black SUV that was driving through the intersection on Sunrise, then crossed the median and struck the grey Hyundai Elantra in which Rolle was a passenger, pushing it back several feet, Rolle said.

Rolle gave the South Florida Sun Sentinel a copy of an incident report that identifies the four vehicles involved in the crash and their drivers, but says nothing about the cause of the crash or how it unfolded. She said the single page was given to her husband in the hospital.

It identifies the deputy involved in the crash as Jake F. Rodriguez, age 26.

After the crash, the other deputy stopped his vehicle and got out and waited for help to arrive, Rolle said.

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• Local News | Ten hospitalized, including pregnant woman, child, and BSO deputy, after four-vehicle crash on Sunrise Boulevard

An initial news release by a Broward County sheriff’s spokeswoman on Saturday stated that a Broward Sheriff’s Office unit was one of four vehicles involved in a multi-vehicle crash just after 10:45 a.m. near the 2700 block of Sunrise Boulevard.

WSVN-TV’s website quoted a witness as saying she heard sirens before the wreck took place. CBS News Miami interviewed the same witness, who said a police officer “must have lost control of his car” and ran into “like, three other cars.”

A story on NBC 6’s website said that “witnesses told cameras that it seemed the deputy was on the way to a call when the crash occurred.” It added, “Further details have not been released to confirm these accounts.”

Rolle, a Clearwater resident, said she was in town visiting her husband, who lives in Miami.

She was one of four people in the gray Hyundai, and all sustained injuries, including her mom, who suffered bruises to her knee and shoulder; her daughter, whose neck was injured; and her husband, who was driving the car.

The deputy struck their car on the driver side, causing Rolle’s husband to suffer injuries to his neck, shoulders, head and chest, Rolle said.

Rolle said she didn’t know what happened to the people injured in the other vehicles.

“I didn’t realize it was 10 people involved until I was in the back of the emergency vehicle being rushed to the hospital,” she said.

Rolle, who was in the passenger seat, said she has two knots on her stomach from where the safety belt restrained her and has a big knot on her elbow.

She was rushed to the hospital by ambulance because she is seven months pregnant and emergency workers didn’t know whether the crash would cause her to deliver prematurely.

She was kept in the hospital longer than her family members so the hospital could monitor her baby’s condition, she said. The baby, tests confirmed, was unharmed, Rolle said.

Asked about statements by Rolle and witnesses that the crash was caused by a speeding deputy, sheriff’s spokeswoman Miranda Grossman said that “detectives with the Broward Sheriff’s Office V.I.P.E.R. (Violence Intervention Proactive Enforcement Response) Unit were responding to an incident when the crash occurred.”

She added, “The crash remains under investigation.”

Ron Hurtibise covers business and consumer issues for the South Florida Sun Sentinel. He can be reached by phone at 954-356-4071, on Twitter @ronhurtibise or by email at rhurtibise@sunsentinel.com.

 

I believe the nationwide student protests at colleges and universities were instigated by external anti-Israel, antisemitic forces.

Where is the FBI in all of this? Where are the college administrators who should demand photo IDs from the real students and separate them from non-students? And what about students who should have peaceful surroundings to study and graduate from their colleges?

Those who trespass on private property should be arrested.

This includes those who virtually destroyed Hamilton Hall at Columbia University. Freedom of expression is a First Amendment right. But this situation has become a sad time for our country. When will it stop?

Michael Paschkes, Boynton Beach

Questions for protesters

College and university presidents and administrators have failed our children.

They have failed to enforce their campus conduct rules, end the harassment of Jewish students, hold classes as scheduled, ensure that peaceful graduation ceremonies take place, and invest in a safe campus environment for all students.

We know there has been coordination from groups outside the universities. At UCLA, a woman supporting Israel was beaten unconscious and parents called the police, but police and campus security refused to intervene until two hours after a brawl began.

Earlier, we learned from Arizona State University officials that most of the people who were arrested there for setting up an encampment at the campus in Tempe were not students, staff or faculty.

Why and how were outside agitators permitted to do this on campuses across the country? Why have professors been permitted to indoctrinate students in hateful ideology?

Why are the students holding Israel singularly responsible for continuation of the Israel-Palestinian conflict? Why aren’t they equally condemning the terrorists who use the civilian populations of both Israel and Gaza for cover?

Why aren’t they demanding the release of the hostages?

Holly Rothkopf, Boynton Beach

Biden, Muslims and Michigan

President Biden continued to walk on eggshells as he finally broke his silence regarding the antisemitism and anarchy on college campuses.

Of course, his weak sentiments have come too little and too late (by 10 days). But in the meantime, someone ought to tell Biden that there have been no incidents of Islamophobia as he likes to insist as he tries to cozy up to Muslims.

Then again, his meaningless address is all about the election and winning the swing state of Michigan (with its large Muslim voting population). Biden’s major concern is not to offend the Muslim community, even though he already has.

Doesn’t Biden know? Some are calling him ‘Genocide Joe.’

JoAnn Lee Frank, Clearwater

A lack of mercy

Does Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have any mercy? This is the epitome of an oxymoron question.

Would a person who has an ounce of pity approve the following: Remove lunches for school children during summer months. Take away women’s reproductive rights in the middle of the night. Deny relief for migrant workers. Remove sickly children from receiving Medicaid.

Hence, I will answer my own question: No.

Angelina Cimmino, Delray Beach

General Daily Insight for May 05, 2024

Emotional tension could find a fortuitous outlet at this time. As the sensitive Moon transits itchy Aries, our feelings are closer to the surface than normal. What emerges might not be well thought out! On the other hand, as Luna unites with the fated North Node at 5:53 pm EDT, our impulsive reactions may land on a problem that genuinely needs to be addressed. Perhaps taking action in a slightly messy way beats waiting around for perfect circumstances that aren’t guaranteed to arrive.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

You’re potentially eager to take a stand for an important cause. On the other hand, maybe you’re also a little too sensitive to any perceived provocation. As the perceptive Moon meets the potent North Node in your sign, some situations that stir up your emotions today genuinely could be related to your true purpose in life. Others, however, are probably not. Pick your battles wisely — knowing which frustrations to shake off will let you save your energy for the struggles that really matter.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

The sense that others are plotting against you behind your back could be hard to shake. The intuitive Moon is transiting your 12th House of Hidden Enemies, raising your suspicions. A particular person who looks like they’re up to no good may or may not be guilty as charged. Even if they are, there’s probably not a lot you can do about it. You might as well focus on what you can control — and that’s learning to get out of your own way.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Your social media feeds could be hopping today. While the impulsive Moon blazes through your 11th House of Networking, you’ll possibly encounter content from the outside world that arouses your emotions. You might feel obligated to show others where you stand by quickly weighing in on a growing controversy, but it’s okay to read or watch something that challenges you without commenting on it right away. Take some time to think about why you found that content upsetting before you respond.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Power struggles are possible in your immediate future. While the desirous Moon passes through your 10th House of Authority, you probably won’t be content to defer to others — you’d be happier having a project that’s yours to direct. Although this impulse shouldn’t be dumped on every little thing that crosses your path, it’s not wrong to notice all the possibilities before you commit to a course of action. Acknowledging what isn’t worth your time might be necessary to clarify what is!

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Taking a break from your usual routine could be especially rewarding at present. As the passionate Moon bounds through your 9th House of Adventure, getting out and doing something exciting will be more than merely fun — it’ll potentially have a protective effect. Without a healthy outlet, your pent-up energy might lure you into petty arguments. Soaking up fresh sights can give you a lot to think about and remind you that the world is much bigger than your personal frustrations.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Building a profound connection with someone else is possible now. You may feel both deeply understood and hungry to learn all you can about this person. Even so, there could be limits to a promising dialogue that opens an exciting frontier of emotional intimacy. If your companion declines to answer a particular question, you’re better off respecting that instead of pushing further. They might eventually offer other insights you wouldn’t have thought to seek out on your own, so avoid lingering on any uncomfortable topics.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

A confrontation in a close relationship could be extra painful. Receiving criticism from someone else can be especially hurtful when you know it contains a grain of truth. Even if that’s the case, you have the right to defend yourself against a dig that goes too far. Perhaps the other person needs to hear some honest pushback as much as you needed to hear whatever they just had to tell you. Their appetite for risk doesn’t guarantee them a tidy reward.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

You’re equipped to work hard and get a lot done today. Others won’t necessarily be as passionate about this quest as you are, though — and that’s their right. Even when you are a little aggravated by the way they fail to live up to your beliefs concerning the importance of productivity and duty, try to focus on what you can accomplish by yourself for the time being. If you start to achieve appealing results, you may eventually attract the collaborators you crave!

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Your own desires are likely at the top of your mind now. With the nourishing Moon in your 5th House of Bliss, you’re in touch with what makes you feel good and ready to aggressively pursue getting it. Is this selfish? It depends on the circumstances. Taking care of yourself is a necessary part of life, but there’s no need to be thoughtless about the impact you have on others. Have all the fun you can, but stay in your lane.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Accomplishing a lot at home is feasible at the moment. The attentive Moon is in your domestic 4th house, sharpening your awareness of what’s comfortable — and what’s not — in your surroundings. This equips you to identify which changes are most urgent for you to pursue. You should start feeling more energetic once you start taking action, confirming you’re on the right track. Get the ball rolling with whatever catches your attention first, and then one thing will probably lead to another.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Figuring out which uncomfortable things truly need to be said could be crucial today. It makes sense to avoid conflict that isn’t really necessary. Contrastingly, as the intimate Moon unites with the future-focused North Node in your 3rd House of Communication, some fights are potentially worth having. Giving others advice “for their own good” often ends badly, but you have the right to be clear about what does and doesn’t work for you. Know what you hope to get out of the conversation.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Money could be burning a hole in your pocket at the moment. That being said, your desire to spend isn’t necessarily all bad. When the comfort-craving Moon meets the karmic North Node in your 2nd House of Possessions, you have the ability to buy something that will stick with you for a long time. It’s not necessarily possible to tell such a fateful acquisition apart from less significant impulse purchases in advance, though. Give yourself room to be a little spontaneous for now.

By KYLE HIGHTOWER (AP Sports Writer)

BOSTON — David Pastrnak scored on a feed from Hampus Lindholm 1:54 into overtime and the Boston Bruins beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 in Game 7 on Saturday night to clinch their first-round series and advance to play the Florida Panthers.

Jeremy Swayman finished with 30 saves and Lindholm had the tying goal in regulation to help the Bruins avoid losing their second straight first-round series after holding a 3-1 lead. They have now defeated the rival Maple Leafs in Game 7 of the first round of the playoffs three times in the last seven years.

Boston will meet the Panthers, who upset the Bruins in seven games in the first round last year and spoiled a season in which they posted records for the most wins and points in a season in NHL history. Game 1 is set for Monday night in Sunrise. The Panthers have been resting since Monday, when they eliminated Tampa Bay in five games.

William Nylander scored and Auston Matthews had an assist in his return from a two-game absence for the Maple Leafs, who are now 0-6 in Game 7s since the 2013 conference quarterfinals. They are 0-4 on the road in those games – all in Boston. Matthews missed Games 5 and 6 with an undisclosed ailment.

Ilya Samsonov started in goal for the first time since Game 4 and finished with 29 saves.

 

By MICHAEL WAGAMAN (Associated Press)

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Brent Rooker became the first Oakland player in nearly 30 years to homer twice in an inning, accomplishing the feat in the third inning to help the Athletics pound the Miami Marlins 20-4 on Saturday for their sixth consecutive victory.

The Athletics only All-Star a year ago, Rooker drilled a two-run drive off Marlins starter Trevor Rogers (0-5), then added a three-run shot off Darren McCaughan in the 10-run inning.

“That’s Rook, we (saw) it last year,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said. “He gets hot and he hits mistakes. He got a couple today.”

Oakland set season highs for runs and hits with 21.

The rout came less than 24 hours after the Marlins shipped two-time defending batting champion Luis Arraez to the San Diego Padres for four minor leaguers. Arraez went 4 for 6 in his Padres debut.

Rooker, who also singled in the sixth, is the 60th player in major league history to homer twice in an inning. Trea Turner of Philadelphia was the most recent to do it, reaching the milestone Aug. 19. The last A’s player to do it was Mark McGwire against Seattle on Sept. 22, 1996.

“I grew up in Memphis a big (St. Louis) Cardinals fan so he was kind of one of the first players I remember watching during his time there,” Rooker said. “Being able to do anything the same as him is a huge accomplishment and something that’s really cool for me.”

Brett Harris also homered twice for Oakland, a day after making his major league debut. The home runs were Harris’ first hits in the majors and came with his parents and fiancee among those in attendance. JJ Bleday and Shea Langeliers added three-run home runs in the game delayed nearly 3 1/2 hours by rain.

Paul Blackburn (3-1) benefited from all the offense, though he hardly needed it. He retired the first 10 batters and allowed one run and four hits over seven innings.

“Just trying to create some early contact and get those bats back in the dugout,” Blackburn said.

The Athletics (17-17) have been one of the best stories in baseball after losing 112 games in 2023. Oakland — which didn’t win its 17th game last season until June 12 — reached .500 after beginning the year 1-7.

“You’re seeing a group that has some confidence right now,” Kotsay said. “Those are all things that I really I felt this group could accomplish. Maybe it’s come together a little bit sooner but those are good signs.”

Bryan De La Cruz and Nick Fortes homered for the Marlins. Rogers allowed seven runs and eight hits in 2 1/3 innings.

At 9-26, the Marlins are on pace to lose 120 games. The last team to lose that many games in a season were the expansion New York Mets of 1962, who went 40-120. The only team in MLB history to sustain more than 120 losses in a season were the 1899 Cleveland Spiders (20-134).

TRAINER’S ROOM

Athletics: Left fielder Esteury Ruiz was shaken up and left the game with a left wrist injury after making a diving catch to rob Bryan De La Cruz of a hit in the sixth inning.

UP NEXT

Athletics RHP Joe Boyle (2-4, 6.08 ERA) was set to start the series finale Sunday against RHP Sixto Sánchez (0-1, 8.36).

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

FORT LAUDERDALE — Lionel Messi scored a goal and had five assists as Inter Miami trounced the New York Red Bulls with the club-record six goals on Saturday night.

Messi, who earned the MLS Player of the Month Award for April, has now scored and assisted in six consecutive league matches.

Luis Suárez scored a hat trick and Matias Rojas scored twice as Inter Miami got six unanswered goals to come back from a 1-0 deficit at halftime. Messi and Suárez now have a league-leading 10 goals each, helping keep Inter Miami (7-2-3, 24 points) atop the Eastern Conference.

Inter Miami’s previous scoring high in a game had been five goals against Cincinnati in October of 2021.

The win extended Miami’s unbeaten string to six. The streak began after a 4-0 loss at New York on April 20, in which Messi did not play because of an injury.

Miami began the rout with Rojas’ equalizer in the 48th minute. Messi centered a pass to Rojas whose left-footed shot landed under the crossbar.

Suárez then fed a charging Messi with a touch pass to beat New York goalkeeper Carlos Coronel with a shot from 15 yards.

Rojas made it 3-1 with his second goal in the 62nd minute on an assist from Messi.

Messi then contributed on former Barcelona teammate Suárez’s first goal in the 69th minute.

Suárez also struck in the 75th and 81st minutes before the Red Bulls (4-2-5, 17 points) closed the scoring on Emil Forsberg’s penalty kick in stoppage time.

New York controlled possession early and eventually capitalized on a Miami defensive breakdown that resulted on Dante Vanzeir’s goal in the 30th minute. José Carmona ran deep into the right wing of the large area and blasted a shot that bounced off the far post. An unmarked Vanzeir retrieved the deflection and converted from 15 yards.

Messi had his only scoring opportunity of the first half in the 24th minute, when Coronel stopped his shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Messi’s former Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba missed his third straight game because of a hamstring injury.

Both clubs will continue MLS play next Saturday. Inter Miami will visit CF Montreal while the Red Bulls will host New England.

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

BOCA RATON — St. Andrew’s senior Dylan Faison scored five goals and added four assists as the host Scots crushed St. John Paul Academy II 25-6 in a Class 1A regional final on Saturday afternoon.

The Scots (22-1) ranked No. 1 in the country by MaxPreps and winners of a dozen straight games since its lone loss of the season against Boys Latin (Baltimore, Md.),  will head to the state semifinals in Paradise Coast Sports Complex (Naples) on Thursday as they look to win their fourth consecutive state championship.

St. Andrew’s, 55-6 during their three-year title run and 77-7 in the past four seasons, will play Community School at 2 p.m. Benjamin, who pounded Lake Highland Prep 16-5, will play Jacksonville Bolles at noon in the other 1A state semifinal.

In 2A action, visiting St. Thomas Aquinas upended Jupiter 11-4 and will play top-seeded Lake Mary at 7:30 on Thursday.

St. Andrew’s has been dominant in the postseason as they have outscored opponents 70-11 in their three regional games. They have won 10 straight against St. John Paul II Academy dating back to 2017, and this was the most lopsided result.

“Every game is good,” said St. Andrew’s coach Tony Seaman. “We’ve played everybody in the state, and we have to keep going for another two games. These kids know, three (state championships) in a row, everyone wants a piece of you. This is probably the best group of kids I have had here in nine years.”

St. Andrew’s captured the first three state titles from 2008-2010 when the sport was first sanctioned. The Scots also won in 2012.

The Scots controlled the game from start to finish, starting with two goals by Faison in the first three minutes as they built a 10-4 halftime lead and coasted to the victory.

Sophomore Nick Testa also contributed four goals and three assists, while the Scots got three goals from senior Connor Hofbauer as the Scots picked up their second win this season over the Eagles. The Scots prevailed in the third game of the year, 19-10.

“I think what is different between this team and the teams we have had over the years is the chemistry and the skill,” Testa said. “In the past, there have been a couple of guys with skill and this team has amazing depth at every position.”

“It is definitely special,” Hofbauer said of his final home game at St. Andrew’s. “We come out here every day and I have so many good memories from lacrosse and football here.”

Fellow senior Jackson Parke also has great memories as a standout in football and lacrosse at the school.

“It’s always a good rivalry between us and (St. John Paul II Academy),” Parke said. “Our defense, I think is the core of the team. I think we have this great bond and chemistry on the backside of the field.”

Scots’ senior goalie Andrew Pozo will be playing in his first Final Four, after transferring from Miami Columbus High School.

“I thought I did great, but I have to give it to my defense,” Pozo said. “They were allowing shots that I like to see. The atmosphere was so unreal. You see it in football games…playing a rival brings some nerves, but it makes you play better. This is my first time going to Naples. I can’t put it into words. I am so excited for it.”

St. John Paul II Academy (16-6) got two goals from Peter Johnson, and one each from Travis Cheristin, Zach Throne, and Michael Polgar.

“They have a really good team,” said Eagles coach Andrew Bulger. “Ours comes together organically and theirs is a little differently put together. The season was fantastic, and I told my guys I couldn’t be prouder of how they played and did. It’s a bittersweet ending, we have a lot of guys coming back and we have a few guys leaving. We are going to miss those guys, but obviously, we have some work to do.”

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Mystik Dan won a three-way photo finish over Sierra Leone and Forever Young in a historic 150th edition of the Grade 1, $5 million Kentucky Derby from a full field of 20 horses on Saturday night beneath the Twin Spires at Churchill Downs in Louisville.

Mystik Dan, saddled by Lexington-based trainer Kenny McPeek and ridden by jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., provided the first combination Oaks-Derby double since 1952 with their narrow win.

The McPeek-Hernandez duo teamed up to win the Kentucky Oaks with Thorpedo Anna on Friday evening at Churchill. The last jockey to do the Oaks-Derby double was Calvin Borel in 2009 with Rachel Alexandra and Mine That Bird. The last trainer to do the double was Ben Jones in 1952 with Real Delight and Hill Gail.

McPeek is only the fourth-ever trainer to do the Oaks-Derby double in the same year.

After Friday’s Kentucky Oaks was contested over a sloppy track and rain threatened throughout Saturday, the Derby was run over a fast main track at Churchill.

It didn’t matter. McPeek and Hernandez won in both conditions at Churchill Downs this weekend.

Catching Freedom finished in fourth. T O Password (JPN) finished in fifth. Both of the Japenese horses in this year’s race placed in the top five.

A $2 exacta in the Derby with Mystik Dan and Sierra Leone paid $258.56. A $1 trifecta with Mystik Dan, Sierra Leone and Forever Young (JPN) paid $1,113.84.

McPeek was previously 0 for 9 in the Derby, with his best finish being second with Tejano Run in 1995.

Hernandez had been 0 for 4 in the Derby, with his best finish being eighth with McCraken in 2017.

“Brian just did an amazing job,” McPeek said post-race on NBC, praising the jockey, Hernandez, multiple times.

Mystik Dan (who broke from post position 3) is owned by Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing (Brent Gasaway and Daniel Hamby. This was the first Kentucky Derby for all of Mystik Dan’s owners.

The horse went off at 18-1 odds in the Derby.

Mystik Dan had accrued 46 Derby qualifying points, which included a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on March 30 at Oaklawn Park and a win in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes in early February at Oaklawn Park.

Mystik Dan had 20-1 morning-line odds following last week’s post position draw, before he was bet down to the 18-1 odds he went off at.

The horse is now 3-1-1 in seven career starts. He entered the Derby with career earnings of $641,360, a total that will significantly increase after Saturday’s result.

The bay-colored horse was bred in Kentucky and was sired by Goldencents. Mystik Dan’s dam was Ma’am, by Colonel John.

A homebred, Mystik Dan earned his first career win at Churchill Downs last November.

Fierceness, the dominant Florida Derby winner and morning-line favorite and 3-1 post-time favorite, finished in 15th.

The 2024 Derby Day attendance was 156,710 spectators at Churchill Downs, an increase of more than 6,000 fans from the crowd of 150,335 people that gathered for last year’s race.

Irad Ortiz Jr. dominates Derby undercard races

As always, several high-quality stakes races took place on the Derby undercard Saturday at Churchill Downs.

The early undercard races were dominated by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., who won each of the Grade 2, $600,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes, Grade 1, $1 million Derby City Distaff Stakes and Grade 2, $665,000 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes.

Ortiz won each of those races for a different trainer: Ortiz was aboard Cogburn for Steve Asmussen in a 2 1/4-length victory in the Turf Sprint, Vahva for Cherie DeVaux in a 2-length victory in the Derby City Distaff and Chili Flag (FR) for Chad Brown in a win that came by a neck in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile.

The 88-year-old trainer D. Wayne Lukas teamed up with jockey Jaime Torres to win the Grade 2, $600,000 Pat Day Mile Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths with Seize the Grey, and trainer H. Graham Motion paired with jockey Umberto Rispoli to win the Grade 2, $600,000 American Turf Stakes with 47-1 long shot Trikari.

Asmussen also won the Grade 1, $1 million Churchill Downs by 2 1/2 lengths with Gun Pilot, who was ridden by Cristian Torres.

©2024 Lexington Herald-Leader. Visit at kentucky.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The girls lacrosse teams of Stoneman Douglas and American Heritage-Delray cruised in the regional final matchups on Friday to reach the state semifinals in Naples next week.

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The top-seeded Stallions breezed by St. Andrew’s 18-4 in 1A in Delray Beach, while the 2A Eagles got past Martin County 15-8 in Parkland.

According to FHSAA.com, American Heritage-Delray will take on Episcopal School of Jacksonville at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, while Douglas will take on Plant at 7:30 p.m. that night.

Meanwhile, on Saturday in the boys’ side in the regional finals, St. Thomas Aquinas travels to Jupiter for a 7 p.m. matchup in 2A, while, in 1A, St. John Paul II heads a few miles to the west to battle St. Andrew’s at 4 p.m., and Benjamin hosts Lake Highland Prep at 5.

General Daily Insight for May 04, 2024

We have an opportunity for a fresh start. As the temperamental Moon begins the day in foggy Pisces and unites with mysterious Neptune, answers and energy might seem elusive. Once Luna bursts into vibrant Aries at 4:41 pm EDT, we should all get a second wind. There, the Moon sextiles thoughtful Pluto and conjoins motivated Mars, empowering us to pursue meaningful change. Noticing what rubs us the wrong way isn’t petty or shallow — it can reveal opportunities for improvement worth pursuing.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Fantasizing may actually be an effective use of your time. While the emotional Moon meets idealistic Neptune in your dreamy 12th house, letting your imagination run wild can give you an opportunity to discover a goal that really inspires you. Even if it seems unrealistic, there’s probably at least a portion of it that’s practically possible. Once your passionate nature is awakened, you’ll likely be eager to do whatever’s necessary to bring your vision into reality. If you can dream it, you can do it!

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

You’re likely to pick up a lot of emotions from the people around you today. It’s possible that they’re telling you about valid problems that rightly deserve your attention and concern. Still, figuring out a reasonable path forward won’t be easy while you’re in that impressionable state. After the sensitive Moon shifts into your 12th House of Contemplation, you may need to go off by yourself to sort through all the information you’ve taken in. Space should give you a clearer perspective.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

A lack of clarity surrounding who has the authority to make a big decision could be totally frustrating now. An influential person may want to retain their power without getting stuck with responsibility for an unpopular choice. Can you go around them in some way? If you come together with peers on your own level, you might be able to work something out amongst yourselves for the time being. It may not be perfect, but it’s probably better than twiddling your thumbs!

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Persistent fantasies of the grass being greener somewhere else might be acting as an important message for you. It’s normal to be curious sometimes about how your life would be different in another location. As the observant Moon pokes into your 10th House of Authority, however, you might look at whether gaining more control over your present surroundings would give you room to be happier in them. Solve what you can where you are for now — wherever you go, you’ll bring yourself with you.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

A personal relationship could be too close for comfort at the moment. As the empathic Moon fuses with unlimited Neptune in your 8th House of Intimacy, you and the other person may be way too caught up in each other’s emotions. A solo journey, even a small one, might be necessary for you to reset an unhealthy dynamic. Collect a few interesting stories while you’re out and about — it’ll give you fresh material to discuss when you reunite with your companion!

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Getting to know someone better could challenge you at the moment. Have you fallen into the habit of idealizing this person in an ungrounded way? Although they may legitimately have qualities that deserve your admiration, you might happen upon a less flattering side to them after the delicate Moon moves into your sharing sector. Don’t let your initial discomfort with any surprising revelations drive you away too soon — instead, look for what they’ve learned from those experiences. Maybe you can learn, too!

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Your responsibilities may seem endless at present. Consider the possibility of a lack of definition between you and another person regarding who’s supposed to do what. When the connection-craving Moon enters your 7th House of Relationships, clearing the air with this individual has a real chance of benefiting both of you. To get the most out of the discussion, you’ll have to be honest about your real needs. If you haven’t yet figured out what those are, it’s a great time to do so!

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Embracing whatever you find fun could be especially rewarding today. While the intuitive Moon unites with imaginative Neptune in your 5th House of Pleasure, you may strike astoundingly creative insights. You might not be motivated to do anything productive with them right away, though — this energy is more about living in the moment. Soaking up this vibe ought to leave you refreshed whenever you finally do get back to work, so don’t feel guilty for enjoying it as long as you can.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Your longing to be nurtured could be overwhelming at the moment. While the hungry Moon conjoins sentimental Neptune in your 4th House of Roots, you might be painfully aware of the ways in which others have failed to take care of you, both past and present. You may not be able to control whether or not you get what you feel you are owed, now or ever. Thankfully, you likely have room to pursue an activity that brings you joy in the meantime. Choose wisely.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Getting the truth out of someone you’re talking with could seem impossible. Perhaps it seems like they’re just telling you what they think you want to hear. After the perceptive Moon shifts into your grounded 4th house, simply paying attention to how this person acts when they think no one’s looking can tell you everything you need to know. Your immediate gut reaction is probably on target. Even if it seems a little harsh, cutting through the haze has to happen eventually.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Seeing your present finances accurately could be difficult. You might feel sorry for yourself in a way that’s not totally warranted — you may be contributing to your problems in a way that you’d rather not admit. If you’re not willing to mount your own challenge to the idea that you’re a blameless victim, someone else might seize the opportunity to do it for you. However it ultimately happens, you can genuinely learn something useful from the brewing confrontation. Try to tolerate the discomfort.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

You could have your heart set on getting people to see you in a certain way. If they don’t follow the script you have in your head for them, you might impulsively lash out. You technically always have the right to take your ball and go home. You may want to think about how realistic your expectations are in this moment, though. You can’t control what others do, no matter what incentives you provide them. Only give what you can offer without strings attached.

By JANIE McCAULEY (AP Baseball Writer)

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Miami Marlins are working on a trade that would send second baseman and reigning NL batting champion Luis Arraez to the San Diego Padres.

The Marlins said Friday that the deal was pending a review of medical information before it could be finalized and formally announced.

“When a guy like that is taken out of the lineup or potentially traded, you feel it, because he’s such a good kid and one of the leaders in that clubhouse,” manager Skip Schumaker said, “so there’s definitely a shock value.”

There was also some shock in the Padres’ clubhouse after their 7-1 victory over the Diamondbacks on Friday night, though it was for happier reasons.

“It’s really amazing — that guy is a baller,” San Diego slugger Fernando Tatis Jr. said about Arraez. “He’s probably the closest to Tony Gwynn right now, so looking forward to seeing him in our lineup. … The guy’s a pure hitter and I can’t wait for him to help us.”

Gwynn won eight batting titles for the Padres during his Hall of Fame career from 1982 to 2001.

Miami changed its lineup minutes before first pitch in Oakland, pulling the 27-year-old Arraez out of the leadoff spot.

Instead, he made his way through the visitor’s dugout at the Coliseum shaking hands and offering hugs and goodbyes with his now-former teammates, coaches and staff.

“Great teammate,” Schumaker said. “So of course, yeah, I think that it’s human nature that there’s an initial shock value when it happens. Again, nothing’s official, but when he gets pulled out of the lineup these guys aren’t dumb, they know what’s going on. I think that the initial shock factor is definitely real and hopefully it goes away in a couple days or tomorrow or whatever it is because we know it’s a business and you’re paid here to come here and win games and be professional.”

Arraez — who was gone by the end of Miami’s 3-1 loss and his locker empty — should provide an instant spark to the Padres’ lineup. San Diego trails the first-place Dodgers in the talented NL West.

Arraez was hitting .299 with five RBIs and had scored 22 runs with a .347 on-base percentage over 16 games during Miami’s 9-24 start. A two-time All-Star, he also won an AL batting title for the Minnesota Twins in 2022 before they traded him to Miami for Pablo Lopez in January 2023.

A’s manager Mark Kotsay appreciated the heads up from Schumaker before the game.

“It can be disruptive, but I think Skip handled it very, very well,” Kotsay said. “He’s been in the game a long time. Delivering those messages is never easy, but it was nice to see his teammates get a chance to say what they needed to. In terms of preparation, we’re all professional here. Those things happen. I’m sure it didn’t distract them from the game.”

The Marlins were reportedly expected to receive four players: reliever Woo-Suk Go and prospects Dillon Head, Jakob Marsee, and Nathan Martorella.

Martorella was playing in a Double-A game for San Antonio and at second base when he was traded and removed from the game, confused initially before saying his goodbyes.

ESPN first reported the trade Friday.

___

AP Baseball Writer David Brandt in Phoenix contributed to this report.

___

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

Say this for Odell Beckham Jr.: He makes everything more interesting. He gives this Miami Dolphins offense added options.

He doesn’t have the electricity of his New York Giants youth. Nor does he come with the burdened payday he had last year in Baltimore. But his no-risk signing Friday with the Dolphins provides some interesting thoughts toward solving their primary problems last season:

1. Having a Plan B against good defenses.

2. Managing Tyreek Hill’s workload so he’s healthy in December and January.

There’s Beckham Jr.’s role. There’s how he succeeds as a third receiver. There’s what he can do for no-risk rate of a $3 million contract ($8.5 million with incentives) that’s a success simply by reproducing the modest 35 catches, 565 yards and three touchdowns he did last year in Baltimore for the staggering price of $15 million.

Everyone knows Plan A for the Dolphins offense. It’s the speed of Hill and Jaylen Waddle. It’s quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s quick throws as designed by coach Mike McDaniel. No offense produced more yards last year. Only Dallas scored more points.

It was fun, even titillating, and also a bit overstated on its good days, as everyone came to realize. The Dolphins bullied non-playoff teams in scoring 35.4 points and having a 10-1 record.  They averaged 16.1 points in going 1-6 against playoff teams.

When teams took away the Dolphins’ Plan A, they had no Plan B. That’s where Beckham Jr. can help. So can free-agent signee Jonnu Smith, considering no Dolphins tight end had a touchdown last year. So might the lower-round picks in the draft, from running back Jaylen Wright to receiver Malik Washington and Tahj Washington.

The point is the Dolphins need some role-playing options to help this offense have some new wrinkles and added firepower. Take Beckham’s role as a third receiver. It’s been more an idea than an actual option the past two years in McDaniel’s offense.

They had three receivers on the field 47 percent of the time last year, third-least in the league, according to analyst Warren Sharp. Tight end Durham Smythe’s 35 catches were the most in either of the past two seasons after Hill and Waddle.

Bad defenses were outwitted with play design, then outrun by footspeed. Good defenses had the smarts and talent to stop that Plan A, even when these defenses were hurt in December like Baltimore and  Buffalo.

“We were trying to take advantage of it,’’ Hill said after losing to Baltimore. “But just like every team we play, they seem to find their way to Cover 2 (coverage).”

Kansas City cornerback L’Jarius Sneed threw Hill to the ground at the line in the playoff game. Or it had two cornerbacks at the line to rough him up.

“Jammed my ahh to Cancun,’’ Hill tweeted after the game.

McDaniel was asked the day after the season how much he’d think about those disparate numbers between playoff and non-playoff opponents.

“A fair amount,’’ he said.

Beckham is the latest thought toward that.  He’s not who he once was. But, look in the mirror, who is with a little age? Still, to repeat, did you see what the Dolphins are paying him?

Beckham Jr. or any other receiver who steps up can give this offense options while also organically taking some of the load off Hill. There’s the other way this signing works.

Hill is the focal point of the offense for obvious reason. He’s the best playmaker in the game. That’s why he was targeted 170 and 171 times the past two years. Only Vegas receiver Davante Adams had the ball thrown toward him more.

That’s also why Hill was hurting the past two Decembers when the Dolphins season needed him most.  He’s no fragile package. But he turned 30 in March and has a lot of wear and tear on his body. Taking some off his plate so he’s healthy at the end of seasons should be baked into this offense’s goals.

Enter Beckham, who is just a year older than Hill at 31. It tells how some age naturally in the NFL and some age in dog years.  This can be either a humbling or a wonderful time for a star like Beckham in the twilight of his career. And no one’s pretending this isn’t the twilight. Look at his contract. Look how he’s not just the third Dolphins receiver at best — he’s the lesser Beckham in town.

But there’s a good role waiting for him in a fun offense as he should see it. There’s a no-risk price tag as the Dolphins see it. Even if this doesn’t work exactly as planned, it should work out just fine.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday objected to a proposal by the U.S. Air Force that would transfer a Florida Air National Guard squadron to the U.S. Space Force.

DeSantis sent a letter to leaders of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, the U.S. House Armed Services Committee and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and said such proposals need the approval of governors.

“If adopted, the proposal would flout more than a century of precedent and undermine federal law protections for state control of their National Guard,” DeSantis wrote.

The Air Force’s legislative proposal has raised questions since it was submitted on March 19.

The proposal also came as state lawmakers have requested that Congress increase the allowed size of the Florida National Guard from 12,000 members, the cap in place for several decades.

In addition to National Guard members providing assistance with hurricanes and being deployed overseas, about 1,000 guard members were deployed by DeSantis this year to assist Texas at the southern border. Also, about 300 guard members have been helping make up for vacant positions in the state prison system.

The Hurricanes added another talented interior defensive line transfer Friday evening.

Former Michigan State defensive tackle Simeon Barrow Jr. committed to UM, sharing his decision to join the Hurricanes on his Instagram page.

Barrow, who is entering his redshirt senior season, was a solid defensive tackle for the Spartans last year. He notched 36 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks last year. Pro Football Focus gave Barrow a 72.2 defensive grade last season. However, he earned a low tackling grade, 29.6.

Barrow, a 6-foot-3, 290-pound lineman, has 110 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks in three seasons.

Miami needed to shore up its defensive line after losing nine defensive line transfers since the season ended: Collins Acheampong, Jamil Burroughs, Jared Harrison-Hunte, Thomas Gore, Jahfari Harvey, Nyjalik Kelly, Cyrus Moss, Jayden Wayne and Chantz Williams. Of those nine players, Gore, Harrison-Hunte, Harvey, Kelly, Wayne and Williams played 100 or more snaps last year.

The Hurricanes have turned to the transfer portal to add defensive linemen, bringing in Elijah Alston, Barrow, C.J Clark and Marley Cook. They also signed eight defensive linemen in the 2024 recruiting class: Armondo Blount, Artavius Jones, Marquise Lightfoot, Cole McConathy II, Booker Pickett Jr., Elias Rudolph, Daylen Russell and Justin Scott.

By ANITA SNOW (Associated Press)

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona’s new heat officer said Friday that he is working with local governments and nonprofit groups to open more cooling centers and ensure homes have working air conditioners this summer in a more unified effort to prevent another ghastly toll of heat-related deaths, which topped 900 statewide last year.

“We don’t want to see that happen again,” Dr. Eugene Livar said of last year’s deaths. “We cannot control it, even though we can control our preparation in response. And that’s what we’ve been focusing on.”

Livar, a physician with the Arizona State Department of Health Services, was named to his post by Gov. Katie Hobbs earlier this year, making him the first heat officer of a U.S. state in the nation. The new position recognizes the serious public health risks posed by climate-fueled extreme heat, which has increased in recent years.

Livar was joined at a news conference to kick off Arizona Heat Awareness Week May 6-10 by officials from governments including the neighboring cities of Phoenix and Tempe and Maricopa County, Arizona’s largest county that saw a record 645 heat-related deaths last year. In attendance was climate scientist David Hondula, who will see his third summer as the first heat officer in Phoenix, America’s hottest city.

The increased coordination comes as federal agencies seek better ways to protect human beings from the dangerous heat waves that are arriving earlier, lasting longer and increasing in intensity.

The National Weather Service and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last month presented a new online heat-risk system that combines meteorological and medical risk factors with a seven-day forecast that is simplified and color-coded for a warming world of worsening heat waves.

Last summer, Phoenix experienced the hottest three months since record-keeping began in 1895, including the hottest July and the second-hottest August. The daily average temperature of 97 F (36.1 C) in June, July and August passed the previous record of 96.7 F (35.9 C) set in 2020. Phoenix also set a record in July with a 31-day streak of highs at or above 110 F (43.3 C).

This year’s hot season began Wednesday in Maricopa County, where it runs from May 1 through Sept. 30.

Hobbs this year proclaimed May 6-10 as Arizona Heat Awareness Week to draw attention to the dangers of the summer in this arid Southwest state and work on ways to better protect people. Arizona for the first time this year also has an Extreme Heat Preparedness Plan.

Among the new measures the state is introducing are at least a half dozen mobile cooling centers made with shipping containers that are solar powered and can be moved to wherever they may be needed.

The City of Phoenix for the first time this summer is opening two 24-hour cooling centers, one in a downtown public library and the other in a senior center.

Maricopa County has set aside nearly $4 million to expand evening and weekend hours of cooling and respite centers where people can escape the outdoor heat, rest in an air-conditioned space and drink plenty of water. It is also working to help people with limited resources to get help paying their utilities and to have their air conditioners repaired or replaced.

MIAMI — Amid speculation of what might come next with the Miami Heat and Jimmy Butler — with Butler eligible for an extension and also in the midst of media speculation about his future with the team — coach Erik Spoelstra spoke Friday of an enduring relationship.

“It goes by fast,” Spoelstra said of the partnership that began with the Heat’s acquisition of Butler from the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2019 offseason. “I remember my first meeting with him and now we’ll be heading into our sixth year working together. I think that’s a beautiful thing. It’s not something I take for granted. I can’t wait. I can’t wait for training camp.”

Spoelstra’s comments came in the wake of Butler missing the Heat’s playoff series against the Boston Celtics due to an MCL sprain in his right knee. The comments also came two months before Butler, 34, is eligible to seek a two-year contract extension.

While Butler declined to speak with the media during Friday’s optional interview session at Kaseya Center, he did meet earlier in the day with Spoelstra and the Heat front office.

That session apparently went well enough for Spoelstra to emerge with optimism about what might come next in the partnership with Butler that has produced three trips to the Eastern Conference finals and two to the NBA Finals.

“He’ll be extremely motivated,” Spoelstra said in looking ahead to next season. “You know Jimmy views things like us, also, and doesn’t want to have our season over early in May.

“My expectation is that at this place in his career and his age that he’ll come into training camp in the best shape of his career. I think that’s the goal, particularly when you get to that stage.”

While Butler can evoke tensions with an abrasive approach, Spoelstra spoke of the relationship in terms of one that has evolved, even if perhaps not as the same Spoelstra enjoyed with Heat icon Dwyane Wade.

“I think from the head coach to the star player going into whatever chapter this is, one of the later chapters in his career — I don’t want to say the final chapter, because of the kind of condition that he’s in, he can play for a long, long time. I don’t want to put a ceiling on that — but this is like the sweet spot, the beauty, when you actually get an opportunity to coach and work with somebody together for six years,” Spoelstra said.

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“It’s different than one year, two years. It’s something that most coaches and players don’t get to experience. And certainly not any more. But it was an amazing, beautiful thing when Dwyane and I got past a handful of years. Our relationship, our perspective, everything was way different and way more in unison. And when you’re working with that kind of intuitive togetherness, and not to say that we weren’t, it’s just my experience that when you get to those later years, it just happens. That’s a symbiotic relationship. You’re pushing in the same direction intuitively, and I’m looking forward to that.”

Robinson reflects

Guard Duncan Robinson, severely limited during the playoffs by a back ailment listed as left facet syndrome, said Friday the only treatment option both then and now is extended rest.

“I don’t want to get too much into it, because just having a conversion leans into it being an excuse,” he said. “I was just going to try to do whatever I could to be available.”

Robinson said he would have had more regrets if he did not attempt to play, even with his diminished state.

“I didn’t want to rest,” he said. “I wanted to give it whatever I could to the team.”

Market value

Several of the Heat’s impending free agents on Friday discussed the offseason.

On potentially leaving in free agency because of the Heat’s cap issues, forward Caleb Martin said, “Yeah, I think about that. But some things, you have to see as it goes.”

Of his free agency plans, forward Haywood Highsmith said, “When that time comes to figure out where I’ll be playing next season, I’ll go through it slowly.” He said the goal would be to remain with the Heat. “I love it here. It matches me.”

Of possibly returning, guard Delon Wright said, “I would definitely love to come back. But it’s a business, so you never know what the future holds.” Asked if he would be disappointed not to return, Wright said, “I definitely would like to come back.”