Miami, FL
Free swim lessons for children offered in Miami-Dade area
MIAMI – We are about a month away from the first official day of summer and the heat is already on.
So many of us will spend our time in the pool or at the beach. According to the American Red Cross drowning is still the leading cause of death for children one to four years old, besides birth defects, but swim lessons can be expensive. So we went to find out where to learn how to swim for free!
“I love to get in the water,” said seven-year-old Kaliyah Readon, who plans to spend her summer doing tricks in the pool. “I love to swim because every time I get in the pool I do front flips.”
Kaliyah’s comfort around the water is all thanks to Dr. Bridget McKinney, the principal at Miami Carol City Senior High School and the founder of P-SWAP in Opa-locka.
“We teach kids to learn to swim to prevent unintentional injuries or death,” Dr. McKinney said.
Dr. McKinney teaches about 400 children how to swim each summer, at no charge, all with the help of the American Red Cross and The Children’s Trust.
“This gives me a platform to continue these efforts. Not just teach them to swim but to train them to be safe around bodies of water,” says Dr. McKinney.
For the last ten years, she has volunteered her time to make sure children in her community know what to do in a water emergency and the parents are grateful.
“Our Black and brown children have the highest death rates when it comes to drowning. As a parent knowing that my baby can swim and he will forever be able to take that skill,” said Opa-locka Commissioner Veronica Williams, whose son took the lessons.
The children really are learning the importance of these lessons.
“If I don’t know how to swim I could drown but if I do know how to swim I will not drown,” said Veronica’s son, Jaylen.
Kayliah agrees.
“I have a teacher so I don’t drown,” she said.
In Miami Gardens, swim lessons are also free for all residents starting at just six months old.
“The earlier you can get them involved in it, teach them how not to fear water but how to respect water I think it will carry them for a long time in their lives,” said Miami Gardens Mayor Rodney Harris.
The mayor says offering life-saving skills for free is important in his community and all over South Florida.
“We’re giving opportunities to our residents and our younger residents to be in a position to save their lives or somebody else’s lives,” said the mayor.
With water surrounding us, knowing what to do and how to do it can save lives.
“We have pools. People have pools in their backyards, we have canals that surround us so it’s important that we teach our kids how to swim,” said Harris.
“Our swim lessons are free. Completely free. So there is no excuse,” said Karla Smith, the Aquatic Facilities manager for Miami Gardens.
Miami Gardens residents can find more information about the program here.
Miami, FL
alaïa clads first miami boutique in pink mosaic tiles, from interior to facade
pink mosaic wraps alaïa’s miami boutique inside and out
Alaïa opens its first boutique in Miami’s Design District, continuing its long-running collaboration with Swedish architecture studio Halleroed. Set within one of the city’s most design-conscious neighborhoods, the boutique also nods to Miami’s Art Deco legacy, establishing a more tactile architectural identity.
Pink mosaic tiles define almost every surface, wrapping the facade, floors, walls, and bespoke furnishings in a continuous skin. Halleroed uses the material to link architecture and interior, allowing curved geometries and rounded volumes to emerge from a single surface. At the center of the ground floor, the mosaic appears to peel away from the ceiling before descending into a suspended lantern that anchors the lounge below, giving the boutique the atmosphere of an inhabitable installation.
all images courtesy of Alaïa
halleroed reinterprets art deco through materiality
A circular opening punctures the pink mosaic facade, framing an organically shaped planter designed by French botanist Patrick Blanc. Known for pioneering vertical gardens, Blanc has collaborated with Alaïa for decades, from the living wall of the maison’s Paris flagship to the artificial river created for Azzedine Alaïa’s apartment. In Miami, climbing plants become part of the architecture, softening the building.
The retail experience, designed by Halleroed’s Swedish team, follows a series of distinct environments. Circular rooms dedicated to footwear echo the recurring geometry of the building, while the upper floor, reserved for ready-to-wear, adopts a more intimate atmosphere. Folding mirrored screens multiply reflections and perspectives, expanding the relatively compact spaces through light.
The pink mosaic carries visitors through almost every room. Then, darker materials begin to appear. Black leather softens the seating, brushed metal catches the light, and glass reflects flashes of pink back into the space. The change is subtle, but it gives each room its own rhythm without breaking the flow.
pink mosaic continues across the facade
furniture becomes part of the architecture
The furniture feels like another layer of the architecture. Martin Brûlé has assembled a collection that brings together rare twentieth-century pieces with contemporary designs, allowing different generations to share the same room. Reinhard Müller’s Chambre à Air shelving stands near François Arnal’s Formule 1 lounge chair, while Vladimir Kagan’s sofas meet Brûlé’s own sculptural tables.
Elsewhere, Philippe Starck, Ron Arad, Tom Dixon, Philippe Malouin, and Gerard Kuijpers each make an appearance. The pieces seem to acknowledge one another through their rounded forms, unexpected silhouettes, and shared sense of sculpture.
The same shapes and materials keep reappearing, making one room feel connected to the next. The mosaic continues onto the facade, plants climb through the circular opening, furniture echoes the curves of the walls, and the clothes become one more layer within the space.
the suspended tiled lantern anchors the boutique’s central lounge
suspended tiled lantern anchors the central lounge beneath
Reinhard Müller’s Chambre à Air shelving stands within the open retail space
Vladimir Kagan sofas and sculptural furniture soften the central lounge
a planter designed by Patrick Blanc introduces greenery into the circular footwear gallery
curved display shelves emerge from the mosaic-clad walls
pink mosaic clads the fitting rooms
mirrored folding screens multiply the red look from different angles
project info:
name: Alaïa Miami Design District Boutique
architect: Halleroed | @halleroed
fashion house: Alaïa | @maisonalaia
location: Miami Design District, Miami, Florida, USA
landscape design: Patrick Blanc
interior design & furniture curation: Martin Brûlé | @martinbrulestudio
Miami, FL
Reports: Heat add potent bench scorer in Tim Hardaway Jr.
Tim Hardaway Jr. averaged 13.5 points and shot 40.7% on 3-pointers last year in his first season with the Denver Nuggets.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has a new wingman in Miami.
ESPN, NBA on Prime and The Athletic reported Tuesday that Tim Hardaway Jr. will sign with the Miami Heat. ESPN reported that the deal is for one year and $6.5 million for Hardaway Jr., one of the league’s most dangerous long-range shooters.
Hardaway agreed to a one-year, $6.5 million deal with the Heat, sources said. Miami officials finalized the deal with Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports tonight. https://t.co/c47Tx4D1KX
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2026
Hardaway Jr. averaged 13.5 points per game and shot 40.7% on 3-pointers last year in his first season with the Denver Nuggets. He led all reserves with 205 3-pointers made last year and was awarded a third-place finish in the league’s 6th Man of the Year Award.
The 34-year-old swingman, son of Hall of Fame point guard Tim Hardaway, has played for five teams in his 13-year career. Hardaway Jr. is a career 36.5% shooter on 3-pointers, and he’s averaged 2.3 3s made per game in 893 career games.
Miami, FL
Every Dolphins head coach’s start in Miami from worst to best
Jeff Hafley became the 12th full-time head coach in Miami Dolphins history following the firing of Mike McDaniel in January.
Most of the previous coaches began their careers with a decent roster to work with. That isn’t the case for Hafley, who, like Brian Flores, will begin his NFL career with a gutted roster full of question marks but a better hope for the future.
Hafley will be safe in his job for at least three seasons, barring something unforeseen. Stephen Ross likes the direction the team is heading, and he understands that patience is needed. In 2019, his patience with Flores was quickly lost for many reasons.
Hafley will face one of the toughest schedules in the NFL this year. He isn’t likely to get off to a quick start in his coaching career. Looking at other former Dolphins’ coaches, it will be interesting to see how he stacks up, despite the roster.
Jeff Hafley has a tough road to make a first year impact as the Miami Dolphins head coach
Cam Cameron – 0-13
To be fair to Cameron, he did open his first and only season as the Dolphins’ HC with an overtime loss to the then Washington Redskins. Cameron started with 13 consecutive losses before beating the Ravens two weeks before the end of the season. Six of his losses were by three points.
Brian Flores – 0-7
Flores and the Dolphins’ management team gutted the roster. The epic 2019 rebuild never materialized on the field, but the Dolphins were not expected to do much that season. Flores’ hardliner decisions were a huge change to the previous coaching staff, eventually wearing thin.
The Dolphins managed to finish the year with five wins, which was a bigger accomplishment than many had believed possible. This is the season that Hafley will be compared to the most. He is inheriting the same level of roster experience, with a tough schedule. Five wins would be an exceptional start.
George Wilson – 0-5
Wilson spent the majority of his career coaching the NFL’s Detroit Lions before switching to the AFL’s Dolphins. He would spend three years coaching the Dolphins, but his first season wouldn’t see a victory until week six against the Broncos. Wilson lost his first five games, with the closest being a 5-point loss in week two to the Jets. Miami would beat the Broncos and Oilers in back-to-back weeks, then beat the Oilers again in the final game of the season, to finish 3-11.
Tony Sparano – 0-2
In what remains one of the best turnarounds in NFL history, Sparano inherited Cameron’s 1-11 roster. He led the Dolphins to an AFC East title and the playoffs in his first season, but he didn’t get off to a great start early.
Sparano’s Dolphins lost their first two games, but the implementation and debut of the WildCat would change their fortunes. Miami won nine of its final 10 games to finish 11-5.
Adam Gase – 0-2
Gase was supposed to be the next offensive genius. For a short time, he appeared to be heading in the direction of proving everyone right. The Dolphins got off to a slow start in his first season, eventually finishing 10-6. Miami took second place in the AFC East and earned a playoff spot, but the Dolphins lost in the Wild Card round to the Steelers.
Joe Philibin – 0-1
The start of Joe Philbin’s career in Miami was much like his final year, uninspiring. Miami lost their first game, but managed to turn the season into something promising. They finished 7-9, but had opportunities. Philbin wasn’t a bad coach; he just wasn’t a good one either.
Dave Wannstedt – 0-1
Wannstedt had the rare privilege of taking over a well-built roster. After spending a season working under Johnson as a Dolphins coach, he took over after Johnson abruptly retired from the league. He would win his first game, lose his second, and then run off four consecutive wins. Miami won the AFC East in 2000 and advanced to the playoffs, where they lost to the Raiders. They finished 11-5.
Don Shula – 0-1
Shula got off to a fast start after leading the Colts to Super Bowl III. The loss to the Jets was the catalyst for his departure. In Miami, Shula would become a legend. Taking over for Wilson, Shula lost his first game as the Dolphins’ HC.
The 27-14 drubbing of the Boston Patriots would lead to a four-game winning streak, followed by a three-game losing streak. In traditional Shula fashion, the Dolphins would turn it all around and run off six straight victories, earning them their first playoff appearance in franchise history with a 10-4 record.
Jimmy Johnson – 3-0
Many fans believed it was time for a coaching change, and so did owner Wayne Huizenga. Shula retired, and Johnson was the big-name hire. Johnson wasn’t able to develop the Dolphins into a dynasty as he did with the Cowboys; in fact, he couldn’t get them deep into the playoffs.
To a lesser degree, Johnson began making wholesale changes to the Dolphins roster to build it in his own vision. His first season was an average .500 at 8-8, but his quick start had fans believing the right decision was made. Johnson’s team won three straight to kick off the coach’s career in Miami, but they would only win five games the rest of the year.
Mike McDaniel – 3-0
McDaniel was the complete opposite of Flores. He inherited a good football team in need of direction. He was another offensive guru who didn’t come in kicking down doors like Flores, but instead brought a youthful energy that the players immediately gravitated toward.
Under McDaniel, the Dolphins would rattle off 9 wins and squeak into the playoffs, where they lost to the Bills by three, without their starting quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa. McDaniel’s exuberance was greatly needed, but as the seasons continued, his energy wasn’t enough to win games when the players needed more discipline. McDaniel couldn’t find the right balance between the two.
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