Ask Ira: Have Jimmy Butler’s Absences Changed The Heat’s Equation?

Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn saw his first start and offensive snaps of the 2024 season about 14 months after his 2023 season was cut short. Wynn was the first right guard in last Sunday’s win over the San Francisco 49ers, but he was in a rotation with Liam Eichenberg, who started the first 14 games at that spot.

MIAMI — The sense of dread proved all too real Tuesday, with the Miami Heat announcing that guard Dru Smith sustained a season-ending torn left Achilles tendon in Monday night’s victory over the Brooklyn Nets. Having recently emerged as a prime rotation component in his comeback from his season-ending knee injury a year ago, Smith was helped off the court with 8:18 left in Monday night’s second quarter, a collective shudder enveloping Kaseya Center. For his coach and teammates, this was more than a player on a two-way contract going down.

Amanda Hernández | (TNS) Stateline.org CHICAGO — Shoplifting rates in the three largest U. S. cities — New York, Los Angeles and Chicago — remain higher than they were before the pandemic, according to a report last month from the nonpartisan research group Council on Criminal Justice. Related Articles National News | Nicotine pouches are selling fast — and falling into minors’ hands National News | NORAD’s Santa tracker was a Cold War morale boost.

TALLAHASSEE — Major publishing companies and authors have argued that a federal judge should deny Florida’s request to dismiss a lawsuit over the removal of school library books, saying a controversial state law violates First Amendment rights. Attorneys for the publishing companies, authors and other plaintiffs filed a document Friday that, in part, disputed a state position that selection of school library books is “government speech” and, as a result, is not subject to the First Amendment. “First, school libraries have not historically communicated messages from the state.

Sabah Meddings | (TNS) Bloomberg News Just a year after he became chief executive officer of Philip Morris International Inc., Jacek Olczak swooped on rival nicotine pouch maker Swedish Match in a $16 billion deal. Related Articles National News | New shoplifting data explains why they’re locking up the toothpaste National News | NORAD’s Santa tracker was a Cold War morale boost.

Dana Hull | (TNS) Bloomberg News Jared Birchall, Elon Musk’s money manager and the head of his family office, is listed as the chief executive officer. Jehn Balajadia, a longtime Musk aide who has worked at SpaceX and the Boring Co., is named as an official contact. Related Articles National Politics | Trump’s picks for top health jobs not just team of rivals but ‘team of opponents’ National Politics | Bill Clinton is out of the hospital after being treated for the flu National Politics | Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus National Politics | Biden vetoes once-bipartisan effort to add 66 federal judgeships, citing ‘hurried’ House action National Politics | A history of the Panama Canal — and why Trump can’t take it back on his own But they’re not connected to Musk’s new technology venture, or the political operation that’s endeared him to Donald Trump.