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Miami Heat honoring president, ex-coach Pat Riley by naming court after him

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Miami Heat honoring president, ex-coach Pat Riley by naming court after him


The Miami Heat have found a new way to honor longtime team president Pat Riley.

When they open the season later this month, they’ll do so by playing on the new Pat Riley Court at the Kaseya Center. The team announced this week that it will be officially dedicating the floor at their arena in Riley’s honor.

“This has been one hell of a journey that [owner] Micky [Arison] and I have taken together over the last 30 years,” Riley said in a statement. “The goal from day one was to win, and win big. We did. We won championships, sprayed each other with champagne, had parades, celebrated on this floor, in this arena, in the streets with our great fans and hung the names of our greatest players from the rafters.

“Naming the court after me would have made my parents very proud. It is a great, great honor for myself, [wife] Chris and my family.”

Riley is entering his 30th season running the Heat this fall. After a long run with both the Los Angeles Lakers, where he won four championships, and the New York Knicks, Riley was hired as the Heat’s head coach ahead of the 1995-96 campaign. He compiled a 454-395 record over the next 11 seasons and helped lead the franchise to a championship in 2006 with Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal.

He transitioned into the front office in 2008, where he helped land LeBron James and lead the Heat to another pair of NBA titles and four consecutive NBA Finals appearances. Riley was named to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008, too.

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The Heat went 46-36 last season and made the playoffs for a fifth straight year under coach Erik Spoelstra, who took over for Riley in 2008. They will officially open the regular season on Oct. 23 against the Orlando Magic.



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Miami, FL

1 dead, 9 injured in 3-vehicle crash in southwest Miami-Dade

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1 dead, 9 injured in 3-vehicle crash in southwest Miami-Dade


WPLG WPLG

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — A three-vehicle crash in southwest Miami-Dade triggered a large emergency response Saturday night, leaving 10 people injured, according to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.

MDFR units responded around 8:03 p.m. to the area of Southwest 28th Street and Southwest 107th Avenue after receiving reports of a massive crash.

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Officials said 13 units arrived on scene and found a total of 10 adult patients.

Three people were taken to a local hospital with injuries. One of the passengers, a woman, was pronounced dead at the hospital.

No additional details have been released.

Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.

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Pablo Hernandez

Pablo Hernandez

Pablo Hernandez is a Digital Journalist at WPLG. He was born in Cuba and has lived in Miami, Florida since 2002.



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Mock Draft Roundup: Miami Defensive End Is Popular Pick For Lions

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Mock Draft Roundup: Miami Defensive End Is Popular Pick For Lions


It’s time for the 13th Detroit Lions OnSI mock draft roundup for the 2026 NFL Draft.

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Over the last week, the Lions have increasingly prioritized finding an EDGE to complement Aidan Hutchinson at No. 17 overall.

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Let’s take a look now at who the draft pundits have Lions general manager Brad Holmes selecting in the first round.

Offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa, Miami (Fla.)

Mauigoa is presently being projected by the following: 

Pro Football Network (Alec Elijah)

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EDGE Akheem Mesidor, Miami (Fla.)

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Mesidor is presently being mocked by the following: 

A to Z Sports (Mike Payton; Lions trade down to No. 26 overall); NFL.com (Bucky Brooks); Pro Football Focus (Jordan Plocher); CBS Sports (Garrett Podell)

As Plocher pens, “The Lions are finally able to add a consistent pass-rush threat opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Only one time since Hutchinson has been in Detroit has another Lions defender topped 50 hurries in a season, and that was Al-Quadin Muhammad in 2025 (53), but he left in free agency.

Mesidor was one of the most productive pass rushers in college football in 2025, amassing 13 sacks, four quarterback hits and 50 hurries on 445 pass-rush snaps. He finished the 2025 season with a 94.2 PFF pass-rushing grade against true pass sets, the second-best mark in the draft class.”

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EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (Fla.)

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Bain is presently being selected by the following: 

FOX Sports (Joel Klatt)

As Klatt pens, “I think the Lions could really use another pass rusher, even if they already have Aidan Hutchinson. Putting Bain with Hutchinson would give Detroit two members on the All-Motor Team. They would wear offensive tackles out. How would opposing teams shift their protections? One of them would get a one-on-one matchup that they would win.”

Offensive tackle Caleb Lomu, Utah 

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Lomu is presently being selected by the following: 

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Pro Football Network (Jacob Infante); Pro Football Network (T.J. Randall)

As Infante explains, “Few expected the level of regression the Detroit Lions experienced in 2025. After the release of long-time starting left tackle Taylor Decker, they find themselves with a big hole along an offensive line that already took a step back after key departures the previous offseason.

Caleb Lomu is a smooth, polished left tackle who didn’t allow a single sack in 382 pass-blocking reps during the 2025 regular season. His hand timing, balance, and range in pass protection make him a top offensive tackle prospect and a worthy first-round selection in this 2026 NFL Mock Draft.”

Offensive tackle Monroe Freeling, Georgia 

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Freeling is currently being mocked by the following: 

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Detroit Lions On SI (Christian Booher); FOX Sports (Ben Arthur); Sports Illustrated (Daniel Flick)

As Flick writes, “The Lions released starting left tackle Taylor Decker and now need a replacement in the draft. Freeling, who’s risen from unheralded to likely first-round pick, is an athletic mover with plenty of bend and agility. He needs to keep getting stronger, but Freeling could be a tremendous blindside blocker at the next level.”

Offensive tackle Blake Miller, Clemson

Miller is presently being mocked by the following: 

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The Detroit News (Nolan Bianchi); NFL.com (Mike Band); The Draft Network (Jaime Eisner)

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As Eisner opines, “The Taylor Decker era is over in Detroit and a new left tackle is needed. Enter Blake Miller, a name that is rising up draft boards as we inch closer to April. Miller has a phenomenal college resume with good size and a ton of power. He’s played mostly right tackle, but he should have no issues moving over to the left side if needed or sticking at right tackle with Penei Sewell moving over. Miller and Sewell can form a formidable bookend tandem in Detroit.”

Offensive tackle Spencer Fano, Utah

Fano is presently being selected by the following: 

CBS Sports (Pete Prisco)

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Offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor, Alabama

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Proctor is presently being selected by the following: 

ESPN (Field Yates); NFL.com (Charles Davis); USA Today (Google Gemini); CBS Sports (Josh Edwards); WalterFootball (Charlie Campbell)

As Yates opines, “Left tackle is a sizable need for Detroit with the departure of Taylor Decker after 10 seasons. Proctor is a sizable answer to the problem — literally — at 6-7, 352 pounds. He has power when he gets his hands on defenders in the running game as well.

Proctor’s tape had up-and-down moments during his final college season, as sometimes his foot quickness was overmatched by edge rushers. But the upside is immense for the 20-year-old left tackle, who started all 40 games he appeared in at Alabama.”

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EDGE Keldric Faulk, Auburn 

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Faulk is currently being mocked by the following: 

USA Today/Touchdown Wire (Alyssa Barbieri)



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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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