Comment on Putin fast-tracks effort to extend his rule in Russia

Observations and other notes of interest from Saturday night’s 119-98 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers: – What now, Joe Cronin? – With each Heat trip to Portland come the questions of what might have been had the Trail Blazers and their general manager taken Heat calls when Damian Lillard said in the 2023 offseason he wanted to be dealt to the Heat. – Instead, Cronin ghosted Pat Riley and wound up dealing with the Bucks, Suns and Celtics. – At the time, the Blazers saw no need for Tyler Herro since they had Shaedon Sharpe, Anfernee Simons and Scoot Henderson. – Now there is little doubt about how Herro stacks up (although Simons did have his moments in Saturday’s third period). – As for the rest of the Blazers’ haul?

PORTLAND, Ore. – Heat coach Erik Spoelstra got what he wanted, practically forecasting the evening ahead. “We’ve faced a good amount of adversity on this road trip,” he said at the morning shootaround. “I mean that’s great for a basketball team to go through all those emotions.” Saturday night, more emotions, while still finding a way to a 119-98 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center. Continuing to play amid the team suspension of Jimmy Butler, having left for this six-game trip after a 36-point home loss to the Utah Jazz, and then having lost a double-overtime game against the Sacramento Kings to start the trip, the Heat now have won three in a row. Again, doing it the hard way. This time, after a 20-point lead late in the second quarter almost completely evaporated at the start of the third, the Heat came together to improve to 3-1 on the trip and 20-17 on the season. Guard Tyler Herro again led the way, this time with 32 points, with the Heat also getting 21 points from Nikola Jovic and 14 from Haywood Highsmith.

General Daily Insight for January 12, 2025 Don’t let rash words burn bridges! With the sensitive Moon at odds with talkative Mercury, we may find ourselves wounding one another with words that emerge harsher than we meant. Whether we’re on the giving or receiving ends of these words, bold Mars soothing creative Neptune at 4:16 pm EST is encouraging us to overcome any awkwardness or hurt to find understanding with each other.

Segundo Cuesta helps take down an orchid during the Orchid Renaissance at the Charles F. Dodge City Center, in Pembroke Pines on Saturday Jan. 11, 2025. It is the 65th annual orchid show for Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society, and will continue Sunday 1/12/25 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)Plants are on display, and for sale during the Orchid Renaissance at the Charles F.

WELLINGTON — Near the polo fields that give Wellington its international fame, Jon Bostic is hoping to turn the village into another type of sports hub. The Palm Beach Central alumnus and former Florida Gators and NFL linebacker unveiled plans for an athletics center in his hometown last year, breaking ground in September.

If Tyreek Hill wants out, there’s the door. If the Miami Dolphins receiver wants to be traded, find a trade. There’s a plane leaving town every few minutes. Nobody’s going to miss him too much if he’s on one. Two personally good years don’t give Hill carte blanche to be a constant off-field headache in his third year: Arriving late for meetings; blaming the coach for his dropped catches; quitting on his team by refusing to re-enter a game; throwing a diva tantrum in wanting to be traded — “I’m out, bro”; and contributing to his position coach, Wes Welker, being fired on Friday. Forgiving media and his agent say Hill doesn’t really want to be traded.