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Miami Gardens community rallies to help retired teacher rebuild after a fire tore through his home

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Miami Gardens community rallies to help retired teacher rebuild after a fire tore through his home


A longtime Miami-Dade physical education teacher is working to rebuild his life after a fire destroyed the only home he has known for decades.

Edward Brown Jr., who spent 35 years teaching physical education and mentoring students, lost his home to a fire last week. Flames tore through the house, leaving it uninhabitable and forcing Brown to move in with his adult son.

“It’s hard not to think about it,” Brown said. “Even if I’m not there, I think about what was burned. But I know that’s material stuff. It can be replaced.”

Rebuilding, however, will not be easy. Brown said he does not have homeowners’ insurance to help cover the costs. He paid off the home last year and decided not to renew his insurance policy because of rising costs on a fixed income.

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“Just like in life, it’s a chance you take,” Brown said. “I knew before I made the final decision. I didn’t do it in haste.”

Now, the financial burden of rebuilding falls largely on Brown and the community he has supported for years. Known by neighbors as someone who was always willing to help, Brown has received an outpouring of support in the days following the fire. Friends, former colleagues, and community members have dropped off care packages and shared words of encouragement.

An online fundraiser has also been launched by Brown’s family and friends to help cover rebuilding expenses. When told about the effort, Brown became emotional, pausing before expressing his gratitude. He said the support he has received has helped him stay focused on moving forward.

Brown acknowledged the road ahead will be challenging but said he remains hopeful. “I think about it,” he said. “But I need some help. I can tell you that.”

Those hoping to support Brown’s recovery can find information about the fundraiser through family and community organizers.

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As Ultra Music Festival kicks off, Miami residents living nearby are expressing concerns about traffic, noise

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As Ultra Music Festival kicks off, Miami residents living nearby are expressing concerns about traffic, noise


As tens of thousands of electronic music fans descend on downtown Miami for the Ultra Music Festival this weekend, some residents living near Bayfront Park say the celebration comes at a cost they bear year after year.

Visitors from more than 100 countries are expected to attend the three-day festival. While organizers and city leaders tout the economic and cultural impact of the event, nearby residents say road closures, limited park access, and high noise levels disrupt daily life in an area that has grown increasingly residential.

“It’s kind of stressful, and it’s definitely an imposition,” said Laura Okamura, who lives along Biscayne Boulevard near the festival grounds. “The people who suffer the most are the people who live at 50 Biscayne.”

Newer residential towers now surround Bayfront Park, a shift neighbors say city leaders and festival organizers must account for as Ultra negotiates its next contract with Miami.

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A Miami commissioner visited residents to hear their concerns

District 2 Commissioner Damian Pardo visited Okamura’s building Friday night to hear concerns from residents firsthand. He said a public meeting scheduled for April 2 will allow surrounding neighbors to voice their grievances as the city considers the festival’s future.

“It seems doable,” Pardo said. “People really like this event. People in this building, people on the street, enjoy the event, but they also want to be heard. And they want to be sure their basic needs are met.”

Noise remains one of the biggest issues for nearby residents. Colby Leider, a sound engineer, said early-evening readings near the festival hovered between 80 and 85 decibels. Historically, neighbors say volumes increase as the night goes on.

“Eighty-five is a very important number in human hearing,” Leider said. “It’s the level above which exposure begins to potentially cause hearing loss.”

Residents say they want stricter noise controls and traffic mitigation plans written into Ultra’s new agreement with the city. They stress they are not pushing to cancel the festival, but want accommodations that reflect how downtown Miami has changed since Ultra began in the city.

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“It’s about understanding how a neighborhood has grown and how an event that has existed for 26 years can harmonize over time,” Pardo said.

Okamura echoed that sentiment, saying neighbors are asking festival organizers to act responsibly. “We are not asking Ultra not to have the concert,” she said. “We are asking them to be a good neighbor. This is our home. This is where we live.”

Representatives from Ultra Music Festival and the Bayfront Park Management Trust are expected to attend the April 2 meeting at 6 p.m. to discuss potential changes to the festival’s contract with the city. The meeting will take place at Live Arts Lab Theater, building 1, room 1101. Ultra Music Festival runs through the weekend at Bayfront Park, with road closures and traffic expected throughout downtown Miami.



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Norwegian Cruise Line offers a first look at Luna, new cruise ship setting sail from PortMiami – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale

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Norwegian Cruise Line offers a first look at Luna, new cruise ship setting sail from PortMiami – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale


MIAMI (WSVN) – There’s a new cruise ship in town, and it is almost ready to set sail.

Luna, Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship, welcomed people aboard for the very first time on Tuesday.

Luna is the 21st ship in the company’s fleet. From April to October, she’ll set sail from PortMiami to the Caribbean, with room for over 3,000 guests.

“We do a seven-day Caribbean cruise, it’s out of Miami, and then we do have Dominican Republic,” said Cruise Director Alvin Oliva. “After that, we visit St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Island, and then Tortola, and then we spend days at sea, and of course the prime, a lot of people are looking forward to visiting Great Stirrup Cay, which is Norwegian’s very own private island,”

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On this voyage, there is plenty to do for the whole family — fom obstacle courses and games for the children, to a luxurious two-story spa.

“There is a bi-level waterfall right there; we offer a lot of different kinds of relaxation,” said Oliva.

At the Mandara Spa, guests can get hot stone and deep tissue massages, facials, body wraps and then lounge at the thermal suite, complete with relaxing steam rooms, saunas and heated loungers.

Once you’re done relaxing, guests can enjoy a drink at the poolside bar.

For those who are feeing adventurous, one of the highlights of the ship is its Aqua Slidecoaster. It’s a water slide/roller coaster hybrid, and Norweigan said it’s the fastest and longest water slide at sea.

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“It was the best thing of my life, the best part of my day. It was amazing, 10 out of 10, I recommend,” said Ely, who rode the coaster.

People have traveled from all over to Miami to get on the new ship.

“We love it. I’s so clean, it’s so chic, our room looks amazing,” said Christina Guttuso.

“We’re excited, we’re ready to go,” said Nick Mangiaracina.

It’s a busy spring break, but well worth it for these cruisers.

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“Go cruising. Even if you’re from Minnesota like me, it’s worthwhile,” said Justin Sunbrig.

The Luna’s maiden seven-day voyage is scheduled to set sail out of PortMiami on April 4.

Copyright 2026 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Jannik Sinner’s Girlfriend Laila Hasanovic Stuns in Ab-Revealing Post Amid Miami Open

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Jannik Sinner’s Girlfriend Laila Hasanovic Stuns in Ab-Revealing Post Amid Miami Open


24-year-old Italian tennis superstar Jannik Sinner is set to face 28-year-old United States tennis star Frances Tiafoe (who is the No. 20-ranked player in the world right now, according to the ATP) in the Quarterfinal of the 2026 Miami Open on Thursday.

The stakes are high for both men. While Tiafoe finding a way to defeat Sinner (who is the No. 2-ranked player, only behind Carlos Alcaraz) would likely make for the biggest victory of his career to this point, both men will still have to win two more games before being crowned the Miami Open champion. The winner of this match will face the winner of Alexander Zverev and Francisco Cerundolo, who also face off on March 26.

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Jannik Sinner (ITA) | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Both Sinner and Tiafoe have influencer girlfriends. Tiafoe has been dating Canadian former professional tennis player turned social media influencer Ayan Broomfield, who follows him to his various tennis tournaments and is always a vocal supporter in the stands.

Sinner has been dating Danish model and influencer Laila Hasanovic since at least the summer of 2025, although there’s no official indication of when their relationship began. What’s for sure is that Sinner and Hasanovic brought their dog, Snoopy, to the ATP Tennis Finals in Turin, Italy, last November, which made for several wholesome photos of the trio.

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Laila Hasanovic, Jannik Sinner, and Snoopy | IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire

While Hasanovic was present at that tournament last year, she hasn’t been at the Indian Wells Open in California earlier this month, nor the Miami Open.

The reason for this is surely because these events are across the Atlantic Ocean, and Hasanovic has pressing matters to attend to in her own life.

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Laila Hasanovic | IMAGO / ABACAPRESS

Laila Hasanovic Turns Heads in Workout Fit Post During Jannik Sinner’s Miami Open Run

One example of what Hasanovic has going on is her NRD55 brand, which is a line of skin care and self-tanning products that she has created.

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Hasanovic typically relies on herself to promote her new company. An example of this came on March 26, when the @nrd.55 account posted several photos of Hasanovic posing with a new product. She can be seen wearing a black sports bro and applying the product in several different places on her body.

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Hasanovic posted this to her Instagram story on Thursday morning, showing that she’s behind the beauty product.

While she might not be there in person, one would imagine that Hasanovic will be watching her boyfriend compete against Tiafoe on TV.





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