Amid trade intrigue, a stealth search for Heat for a draft choice that might prove illusory

MIAMI – There is clandestine and there is stealth. For the Miami Heat, both came into play as they prepared for the NBA Draft and what they might do with their No. 18 pick on Thursday night . . . if they retain it. As has been the case during the franchise’s best of times, particularly during the team’s Big Three era at the start of the previous decade with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, recent weeks meant juggling workouts with prospects and the playoff schedule. While the... Read More

Arrested? Not guilty? Workshop offers help getting records sealed

Broward prosecutors are looking to help hundreds of residents who were arrested and charged with a crime only to later be found not guilty. Those arrests can still be found by investigators conducting routine background checks, which could be bad news for anyone applying for a job, a professional or state license, and even an apartment. The Broward State Attorney’s Office is holding a free workshop on Thursday for those looking to have their arrest records sealed or expunged. Hundreds of... Read More

Are Florida’s insurance regulators stretched too thin?

As insurers project how a pile of new laws will affect profits and losses, regulators in Tallahassee are falling behind in their efforts to review and approve rate hike requests. Though the shortcomings are not immediately affecting consumers, if not repaired, policyholders could find themselves paying more than they should for insurance coverage or, if they move or buy insurance from another company, difficult to be tracked down if regulators determine they are owed refunds. The backlog... Read More

‘A huge crisis’: How spending millions will add affordable housing in South Florida

Broward County could use taxpayer money to pay as much as $20 million in the upcoming year to encourage developers to build affordable housing. It’s among the latest multimillion-dollar initiatives in South Florida aimed at addressing the housing crisis. In Palm Beach County, voters have approved spending $200 million toward adding affordable housing. The money in Broward is considered the “gap financing” and pays the difference between what the developer has to spend on construction... Read More

Grease frying food at Miami eateries recycled into biodiesel fuel to slow climate change

Between sips of craft beer at Cerveceria La Tropical in Wynwood, diners and drinkers scarf down a seemingly endless array of fried foods: tostones, croquetas, empanadas, french fries, yuca fries, … Click to Continue » ... Read More

Broward 5A-1A baseball first team, second team, honorable mention, coach of the year

FIRST TEAM Spencer Butt, American Heritage, Baseball. Spring all county sports on Tuesday, May 30, 2023. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Spencer Butt, IF, American Heritage senior: Butt was a key cog in the Patriots’ state title-winning lineup, batting .342 with five home runs — including one in the title game — and 32 RBIs. He had a 1.051 OPS and five steals. Brad Dunn, Cardinal Gibbons, Baseball. In Deerfield Beach on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. Spring All County sports photos,... Read More

Palm Beach 7A-6A baseball player of the year: Ethan Mattison, Park Vista junior

Park Vista left-handed pitcher Ethan Mattison had a solid sophomore season, but he added a new pitch to his repertoire for his junior year, and it turned him into one of South Florida’s top hurlers. Integrating a slider into his pitch mix helped him improve his ERA by more than a run, and the junior southpaw dominated his opponents. After helping lead the Cobras to the state semifinals, Mattison is the Sun Sentinel Palm Beach County Class 7A-6A player of the year. “I didn’t really have... Read More