ASK IRA: Time for a chill pill from Heat star speculation?

Q: I see you receiving a great amount of mail from people who feel the Heat are not doing enough to improve their roster.  People are clamoring for a blockbuster trade or a free-agent signing. My perspective on this is that the Heat are taking a mature, calculated look at their roster, their draft assets, as well as their cap status, and have realized that the resources for a trade or a free-agent signing that would bring them to a championship level are not available to them. Recent... Read More

Alcantara’s horrid season sputters on as Brewers beat Marlins

MIAMI (AP) — Christian Yelich scored the go-ahead run all the way from first on a double by Jackson Chourio in the eighth inning and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Miami Marlins 6-5 on Friday night. Yelich singled leading off the eighth against Cade Gibson (2-4) and Chourio followed with his hit to help the Brewers win for the 10th time in 14 games. Aaron Ashby (1-0) retired all seven batters he faced for the win. Trevor Megill gave up a two-out single to Xavier Edwards before issuing a... Read More

Which prospects stood out this week at the Panthers’ player development camp?

FORT LAUDERDALE — The Florida Panthers solidified the current core of the franchise earlier this week, re-signing a trio of veterans that were key in their run to back-to-back titles. Meanwhile, what very well may be the future of the franchise was on the ice in Fort Lauderdale. The Panthers wrapped up their player development camp with a scrimmage on Thursday, pitting two teams against each other that were composed of some of the top prospects in Florida’s organization — including... Read More

Chris Perkins: Dolphins’ Zach Sieler deserves new contract, but how much and how long?

Dolphins defensive tackle Zach Sieler stands on the threshold of something this franchise hasn’t seen since 2007. Sieler, who has back-to-back 10-sack seasons, could record a third consecutive double-digit sack season, matching the streak established by Hall of Famer Jason Taylor from 2005-07. But first, Sieler has to work out details of a contract extension. The Dolphins need to pay Sieler. He’s essential personnel. He’s outplayed his contract. He deserves a raise. How much should he... Read More

Recipes: Chocolate and peanut butter go great together in these treats

I’d never considered the pairing as one of the best on the planet. But when my grandson Jacob was 5, he offered his opinion in a confident tone. He looked me in the eye and proclaimed that peanut butter and chocolate are the best combination of flavors. Some might argue, offering up different sets of two ingredients that work together harmoniously. My father always sang the praises of strawberries and cream; my mother would weigh in with apples and cinnamon. For me, my palate wavers, but my... Read More

Roaches ‘on duct tape attached to wall,’ spider colony above door: 3 South Florida restaurants shut

A spider colony hanging out above an exit door, live and dead roaches in dining-room areas, and more than 60 flies landing on seasonings and bags of flour, onions and rice — these were among the violations that led the state to temporarily shut three Broward County restaurants last week. No restaurants were ordered to close in Palm Beach County. The South Florida Sun Sentinel typically highlights restaurant inspections conducted by the Florida Department of Business and Professional... Read More

UCF mailbag: Why didn’t Knights bring a quarterback to Big 12 Media Days?

The seventh UCF mailbag of the offseason addresses questions about which players the Knights are taking with them to Big 12 Media Days, which non-quarterback position could help lead the team to a bowl game and which video games I grew up on. What do you make of the player selection for UCF for Big 12 Media Days? Is there a message in the fact that it doesn’t include a QB? — @2letters2words “It isn’t surprising that the four players UCF chose to bring with them to Texas next week are... Read More

Daily Horoscope for July 04, 2025

General Daily Insight for July 04, 2025 A reality check demands change. As perfectionist Venus joins innovative Uranus in connection-centered Taurus, we’re being asked to take leaps of faith, as well as opening ourselves to sudden opportunities for new connections. As Venus leaves its home sign of Taurus at 11:31 am EDT, it enters intellectual Gemini, creating conversations about feelings that we once didn’t have words for. Lastly, dreamy Neptune begins its retrograde motion through... Read More