Miami, FL
Miami International Airport hosts children with disabilities to help them overcome any fear of flying
MIAMI – More than two dozen families are now ready to take flight. In recognition of Autism Acceptance Month, Miami International Airport hosted their MIA Air Tour. Their goal is for children with disabilities and their families to overcome any fears of flying.
Little Alexander couldn’t be more excited. He is boarding a plane for the very first time.
“I’m a little nervous but excited at the same time,” said Lavinia Ana’s mother.
Alexander and his mom Lavinia will be traveling to Romania next week, but on Wednesday, they took a mock flight along with more than two dozen children with special needs and their families to take in the whole experience.
From checking in at the ticket counter to passing through security — which as we know can be stressful — then walking to the gate and onto the plane.
This is all part of Miami International Airport’s latest MIA Airport Instruction and Readiness Program for children with special abilities and their families to rehearse the air travel experience from start to finish in a controlled environment.
“Our goal by having this program is for anyone, regardless of their disability, to be able to experience the magic and wonder of flight like everyone else can,” said MIA Director Ralph Cutie.
“We want our families in the spectrum and all of our families with disabilities to be able to enjoy what everyone else enjoys and that includes traveling so this is a huge part of living in Miami is being able to come to MIA and see the world and we want to make sure that it is a beautiful and wonderful experience,” said Commissioner Raquel Regalado.
A wonderful experience Lavinia and all these families hope to have and are asking their fellow passengers to please understand.
“I hope everybody is understanding and kind and prepared a t-shirt for him, so we will be aware,” said Ana.
Not only was this a learning experience for the families and the children, but also for airline and TSA employees. Aside from the rehearsal and tours, there are also two multi-sensory rooms at MIA for children with special needs.
The Miami Heat have already made the move of the offseason by acquiring Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo in one of the biggest blockbuster deals of the decade. The move limits them financially and there are many holes on the roster at the moment due to the Heat having to part with Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kasparas Jakucionis in the trade. However, there are plenty of players out there on the trade market and in free agency who could be strong contributors for the Heat this coming season without having to spend a lot of money. In fact, a former Heat player is reportedly on the trade block.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Cleveland Cavaliers wing Max Strus is a name to keep an eye on in the trade market.
Strus, 30, had a notable tenure with Miami prior to joining Cleveland. He originally went undrafted in the 2019 draft but was picked up as an undrafted free agent by the Boston Celtics, where he played in the Summer League that year. However, he was waived prior to the season and picked up by his hometown Chicago Bulls, where he only appeared in two games before tearing his ACL and being waived again.
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After the COVID bubble, Strus joined the Heat in November 2020 on a training camp contract, which would then be converted to a two-way deal. He appeared in 39 games throughout the 2020-21 season but none of his shooting splits were particularly impressive. In the 2021-22 season, his role enlarged, starting 33 games and he shot a career-high 41 percent from three-point range. The most notable moments of Strus’ tenure, however, occurred in the 2023 Play-In tournament, where he helped the team get the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference, beginning their magical playoff run.
After that impressive playoff stretch, he signed a four-year, $63 million contract to join the Cavaliers. In Cleveland, Strus has been the total run-of-the-mill sharpshooter many expected him to be but his injuries have plagued his tenure, only playing 62 games over the last two seasons combined. Now, with the Cavaliers’ potential roster switch-up, Strus is a good candidate to be moved.
Since losing Duncan Robinson to the Detroit Pistons as part of a sign-and-trade in the 2025 offseason, the Heat have been lacking a true perimeter shooter. Although Strus showed some inconsistencies with Cleveland along with his injury woes, he is still somewhat reliable from beyond the arc. The Heat could use someone like Strus. The financials may be hard to work with but the idea is there.
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Miami, FL
Where to watch Miami Marlins vs St. Louis Cardinals: TV channel, start time, streaming for June 28
What to know about MLB’s ABS robot umpire strike zone system
MLB launches ABS challenge system as players test robot umpire calls in a groundbreaking season.
The 2026 MLB season has surpassed the quarter mark, and after each team’s first 40 games, there’s plenty of reasons to tune in all summer long.
Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami has already proven doubters wrong by launching 17 home runs, Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes consistently looks like the best version of himself on the mound and Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski is throwing harder than any starter in the majors.
The MLB action continues on Sunday as the Miami Marlins visit the St. Louis Cardinals.
Here’s everything you need to know to tune in for the first pitch.
See USA TODAY’s sortable MLB schedule to filter by team or division.
What time is Miami Marlins vs St. Louis Cardinals?
First pitch between the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, June 28.
How to watch Miami Marlins vs St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday
All times Eastern and accurate as of Sunday, June 28, 2026, at 6:34 a.m.
- Matchup: MIA at STL
- Date: Sunday, June 28
- Time: 2:15 p.m. (ET)
- Venue: Busch Stadium
- Location: St. Louis, Missouri
- TV: Cardinals.TV and Marlins.TV
- Streaming: MLB.TV on Fubo
Watch MLB all season long with Fubo
MLB regional blackout restrictions apply
MLB scores, results
MLB scores for June 28 games are available on usatoday.com . Here’s how to access today’s results:
See scores, results for all of today’s games.
Miami, FL
Colombia wins Group K after 0-0 draw with Portugal in Miami Stadium; both teams advance to World Cup knockouts
Colombia finished the World Cup ‘s opening round as the Group K winner after playing Portugal to a scoreless draw Saturday night.
Both squads had already secured spots in the knockout stage before the match, needing only to learn their opponents for the next round.
Colombia will play Ghana, which lost 2-1 to Croatia earlier Saturday. Portugal, which entered the expanded 48-team tournament as a favorite, will face Croatia as the Group K runner-up.
Both squads put forth lively efforts. Bruno Fernandez came close to putting Portugal ahead in the first half, but was denied by Camilo Vargas. Portugal’s Diogo Costo had six saves, more than in the team’s first two matches combined.
The match played at the home stadium of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins took place in front of a sellout crowd of 64,478 that included former Colombia soccer star Carlos Valderrama, FIFA President Gianni Infantino — who sat in a suite with FBI director Kash Patel and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio — NFL quarterback Jameis Winston, NBA player Jimmy Butler, actor Matt Damon and former NFL receiver Chad Johnson.
Multiple watch parties held across South Florida to accommodate those who couldn’t secure tickets to the high-demand match, including one with thousands in attendance at the home arena of the NHL’s Florida Panthers.
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See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here
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