Morning Update: South Florida’s Top Stories For Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025

A manatee was spotted in the Intracoastal in Pompano Beach with a bike tire stuck around its torso on Dec. 27, but it swam away before Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission  biologists could rescue it. Brisk temperatures caused a surge in Broward County manatee sightings as they moved south towards warm water.

I’m all for fact-checking, but it isn’t practical or possible to fact-check everything everyone says or writes, particularly on such a large scale as social media. Unfortunately, many people believe what they want to believe without checking it out. Letters to the editor of this newspaper do not always seem to be fact-checked.

Dear Eric: “Jim” and I had a daughter, “Helena,” who was 12 years old when her father died of cancer. Related Articles Advice | Asking Eric: Our more modest gifts drew a distressing response Advice | Asking Eric: A neighbor sees something dangerous going on next door and wants to report it Advice | Asking Eric: My (now former) bestie is consumed by his bad relationships Advice | Asking Eric: My husband wants to be the center of attention, not the grandpa Advice | Asking Eric: My friend’s wife wanted a kiss on the lips and now I’m uncomfortable around them Jim and Helena were very close, and she knew that she would receive a letter from her father on every birthday until she turned 18. When she graduated college, I surprised her with another letter.

Q: Jimmy Butler and the fans wanted another star on the Heat. Is Tyler Herro close enough to count as that third star? Now we have the arrival of Herro and Jimmy is almost out the door. Looking at Herro’s numbers they are close to Damian Lillard. Damian is probably an A+ player, but Herro moved up to at least A/1A.

Here are the top stories for Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. Get the weather forecast for today here. SUBSCRIBE NOW: Get our free Morning Update email. Sign up here. Palm Beach County aims to enforce new condo regulations. Here’s the latest. Two years after reforms, lawmakers share insurance horror stories 2025 will likely be a ‘major’ seaweed year, experts say  New restaurant alert: See what ex-Joe’s Stone Crab chef is cooking up in Fort Lauderdale Brightline train attendants reportedly vote to join Transport Workers Union, labor group says ‘Imagine the Future’ at 2025 South Florida Fair with sci-fi exhibits, out-of-this-world food tour Florida bill would ban students in the US without legal permission from some public universities Health care company says it didn’t refuse to return $5.8 million demanded by state Should the flamingo become the new state bird in Florida? Miss Manners: I get a lot of vacation time, but my condo neighbors imply I’m lazy

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My neighbor, with whom I have friendly chats, sent a group text to several women, including me, inviting us all to meet for dinner at a restaurant, followed by a yoga class. Related Articles Advice | Miss Manners: I get a lot of vacation time, but my condo neighbors imply I’m lazy Advice | Miss Manners: Please don’t talk about your pet’s untimely demise while admiring my dog Advice | Miss Manners: A restaurant diner faces a balancing act over a precariously stacked plate of food Advice | Miss Manners: Should the practice of shaking hands with strangers be abandoned forever? Advice | Miss Manners: It is rude to open an umbrella in a crowd of unprepared people? I responded that I would love to come to dinner.