🏠 News From Your Neighborhood
Miami, FL
Could Dolphins Go for Jaelan Phillips 2.0?
Could it be déjà vu all over again for the Miami Dolphins in the 2024 NFL draft?
Could they spend a first-round pick on a star college pass rusher whose career was stopped by medical concerns before it restarted? Whose college career included a stop at UCLA? And lastly who wore number 15 during that stint with the Bruins?
Yeah, the similarities between Jaelan Phillips and Laiatu Latu are pretty fascinating, and it just so happens the Dolphins could use a pass rusher in the 2024 draft — in large part because of Phillips’ current health status, more specifically his recovery from a torn Achilles tendon he sustained last November.
LATU’S COLLEGE JOURNEY
Before he ended up at UCLA, Latu began his collegiate career at the University of Washington, but he sustained a neck injury during fall practices before his sophomore season in 2020 and would miss the next two seasons after UW doctors red-flagged him.
With Phillips, it was a couple of concussions that led to him quitting football after playing at UCLA and before transferring to the University of Miami.
Latu played the past two seasons at UCLA and in 2023 he was a unanimous All-American selection and won the Ted Hendricks and Lombardi awards. He also was the collegiate Polynesian Football Player of the Year on defense, while the offensive award when to Tua Tagovailoa’s younger brother, Taulia (Tua won that award in 2018 and 2019, along with winning the professional award in 2022 for offense and 2023 overall).
WHY LATU WOULD BE A GREAT CHOICE FOR THE DOLPHINS
There is zero question that Latu would be a great fit for the Dolphins, but he would be a great fit for many teams, which is why it’s questionable whether he’ll be available with the 21st overall selection where the Dolphins have their first pick.
The Dolphins not only have to worry about Phillips’ recovery, but also those of fellow edge defenders Bradley Chubb and Cameron Goode from severe knee injuries sustained late in the season.
Latu’s NFL.com draft profile includes a quote from an anonymous AFC executive calling him “easily the most skilled (pass) rusher in the draft,” but perhaps concerns about his neck injury could cause him to slide.
If he does end up being available at 21, the Dolphins could do worse than going for Jaelan Phillips 2.0.
Miami, FL
Sebastian Korda stuns world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz at 2026 Miami Open | Tennis.com
Korda threatened to run away with the second set when he won three games in a row and earned a chance for a double-break lead. Alcaraz held on until it came time for Korda to serve for the match.
Keeping the pressure on, Alcaraz secured a love-break and reeled off five straight games to force a final set.
Undaunted, Korda snapped the streak to get back on the board and weathered some stellar play from Alcaraz to score the first break of the decider.
Down 3-5 for a third straight set, Alcaraz made another brave last stand to force Korda to serve for the match. Korda made no mistake this time, putting away a backhand to set up two match points. Alcaraz saved the first but Korda claimed the second with one last well-struck serve.
Standing between Korda and a return trip to the quarterfinals will be either No. 14 seed Karen Khachanov or Spanish qualifier Martín Landaluce.
Miami, FL
Fire tears through longtime Miami Gardens home of retired teacher
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — A longtime Miami Gardens resident watched a fire tore through his home Friday evening.
Edward Brown Jr., known in the community as “Mr. Brown,” embraced friends and family as he watched the aftermath of the flames that destroyed the house he’s lived in for more than 50 years.
“I don’t have anything right now,” Brown said.
Video from Sky 10 showed heavy smoke pouring out of the home as fire ripped through the property.
Brown, a retired teacher, said the fire started shortly after he had been cooking.
“Well, I thought I had turned the burner off, but when I went to the door, there was too much smoke,” he said.
He explained that he had just finished frying fish and was outside talking with his son when they realized something was wrong.
“I wasn’t really scared. Thank God I wasn’t scared,” he said.
Already outside, Brown and others tried to use a garden hose to control the flames as firefighters rushed into the neighborhood. The chaotic scene temporarily shut down the street.
Neighbors gathered nearby, many concerned as crews worked to put out the fire.
“Everybody was concerned, and I want to apologize to them,” Brown said. “I didn’t mean to disturb the neighborhood like this.”
Mr. Brown will stay with friends and family while he decides to do with his home.
Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.
Miami, FL
Teenage suspects of 12-year-old girl’s 2025 rape in Miami appear in court again after being charged as adults
Grim testimony was presented Thursday in a Miami courtroom during a bond hearing for two teenagers charged as adults in the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl at an Overtown apartment building last summer.
The testimony happened as attorneys for 13-year-old Nelson Nuñez and 12-year-old Jusiah Jones requested that the youngsters be released on bond. The case is being heard by Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Richard Herschel.
Detective Louis Joseph testified that the suspects “held her down” and that the attack “went on for 30 minutes.” He said rocks were placed in her mouth to silence her during the attack and that Jones was accused of doing that.
“The victim had rocks in her mouth and spat out the rocks. The victim did not tell her father because she was afraid she would get into trouble,” Joseph stated.
Jones’s attorney argued that his client was forced by the others involved to place the rocks in the girl’s mouth and claimed Jones never participated in the sexual assault or held the girl down. The attorney said the suspects threatened to punch Jones if he did not participate and that Jones actually tried to stop the attack.
Nelson Nuñez’s brother, father, and mother testified through a translator, saying Nuñez would be well supervised if allowed out on bond, was not a danger to the community, and would not flee. They also said he had no prior criminal history. Nuñez’s soccer coach, a family member, said, “He’s a very good kid. I would say he is a follower. He does not fight or curse.”
Nuñez is being represented by defense attorney Bijan Parwaresch, a former prosecutor.
Judge Herschel said he wanted to hear more testimony before ruling on the bond and scheduled the hearing to continue at 9 a.m. Monday.
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