Miami, FL
Proposal for Miami-Dade County public buses raises concerns among riders
MIAMI – If budgets reflect values, people pushing for better transit think Metrobus riders should shift their focus to a series of meetings starting Thursday.
Miami-Dade County Commissioners will host a public hearing on the budget proposal for the 2024-25 fiscal year submitted by Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.
Part of the plan moves $11.2 million away from the transit operations and maintenance budget. Nearly $11 million of those dollars, along with 36 jobs, would be absorbed by the county infrastructure department.
Mayor Levine Cava’s office did respond to emails or calls seeking comment. However, the mayor’s budget proposal said reorganizing bolsters “preventative maintenance functions.”
“What we’re concerned about with the budget is that we need more resources to address those concerns that the community has addressed to us directly,” Mark Merwitzer, Associate Director for Transit Alliance Miami, said.
The non-profit works to secure faster, more reliable transit. Over the last six months, as the county rolled out its “Better Bus Network,” which aims to deliver more routes to more people, Transit Alliance Miami surveyed 1000 passengers. On-time delivery is a problem for them, Merwitzer said.
“It’s not just with this administration, but it’s been suffering for very, very long for our bus passengers,” Merwitzer said. “Buses getting delayed equipment challenges; a lot of operators are calling out sick and also just in general when there’s a shortage of both buses, parts, and operators (demonstrates that) the county needs more.”
Ashley Betancourt lost her car in a crash two months ago. While she works downtown to earn and save money for repairs, the Miami-Dade College biology student dreaming of becoming a doctor depends on Metrobuses to carry her to class on time. She is 30 minutes too late too often, Betancourt said.
“It’s awful,” she said. “Sometimes my mom comes and picks me up. The other times I have to wait.”
Merwitzer encouraged riders who feel the same to share their concern during the Miami-Dade County Commission Public Budget Hearing Thursday.
Continue Reading
Miami, FL
Miami Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill Breaks His Silence After Police Detainment
Miami Dolphins’ star Tyreek Hill has broken his silence after being detained by police outside the Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium three hours prior to Sunday’s game.
In a statement obtained by Us Weekly on the evening of Sunday, September 8, the athlete’s agent Drew Rosenhaus revealed Hill’s legal team may consider taking legal action against law enforcement authorities.
“What happened today to Tyreek at the stadium is completely unacceptable. Tyreek did not deserve to be treated that way by the police involved,” Rosenhaus said in the statement. “Tyreek’s legal team will be pursuing this matter on Tyreek’s behalf and I’m sure they will consider taking legal action.”
Hill, 30, was pulled over and put into handcuffs by police officers on Sunday morning right outside the stadium after what was described by the Dolphins as a “traffic incident.” According to NBC Miami, Hill received a ticket for “reckless driving.”
“This morning, WR Tyreek Hill was pulled over for a traffic incident about one block from the stadium and briefly detained by police,” the team said in a statement to NFL on CBS sportscaster Jonathan Jones. “He has since been released. Several teammates saw the incident and stopped to offer support.”
Hill played in Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, which saw the Dolphins defeat the Jaguars 20-17.
During a post-game press conference, Hill, who was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2016 and traded to the Dolphins in 2022, said he was still processing the morning’s events.
“Right now I’m still trying to put it all together. I still don’t know what happened,” Hill was seen telling reporters in a TikTok video posted by ESPN on Sunday night. “But I do want to be able to use this platform to say, what if I wasn’t Tyreek Hill? Like, worst case scenario. It’s crazy. I’ve got a lot of respect for cops [but] everybody has bad apples, in every situation.”
@espn Tyreek Hill discusses being detained on his way to the Dolphins game. (🎥: UFLORIDAJOE/X) #tyreekhill #dolphins #nfl #football
♬ original sound – ESPN
Hill went on to explain that he did not provoke law enforcement officials, telling the room he “wasn’t disrespectful” and “didn’t curse.” He added that he was grateful for the support of his Dolphins teammates.
“I’m just glad that my team mates were there to, like, support me in that situation because I felt alone,” Hill said. “When they showed up, it made me realise that we’ve got a good team this year. For them to put their life on the line. It was amazing to see.”
During Sunday’s game, Hill poked fun at the morning’s incident after scoring a touchdown. To celebrate his 80-yard catch-and-run triumph, Hill walked up to fans with Dolphins wideout Jaylen Waddle who came from behind and pretended to handcuff Hill.
The Dolphins superstar was named a captain for both the 2023-2024 and 2024–2025 NFL seasons.
Sunday’s game was the team’s official season opener, of which Hill had previously said had everybody “on the edge of their seat.”
“We all excited man. We got a lot of weapons [and] a lot of playmakers on this team,” he said in the lead-up to Sunday’s debut. “Everybody’s on the very edge of their seat just waiting for this moment. I think these three days that we had off, all I could think about was lining up, playing alongside the guys on offense. Every year is another opportunity to win games and create memories.”
Miami, FL
Jaguars vs. Dolphins: Halftime Thoughts
The Jacksonville Jaguars are entering halftime with a 17-5 lead over the Miami Dolphins.
So, what did we see in the first half of Jaguars vs. Dolphins? We break it down below.
The offense rebounded from a bad start
It was just one drive, but the opening drive of the 2024 season was the epitome of what the Jaguars struggled with in 2023. The Jaguars lost 13 yards on the first play after leaving veteran defensive lineman Calais Campbell unblocked.
Campbell is the largest human being in the stadium, so it is hard to believe the Jaguars dialed up the right scheme. The next two plays included a run for negative yards and an overthrown pass on 3rd-and-long.
The Jaguars’ next drive, however, was a masterpiece. Tank Bigsby ran hard and gained 25 yards on his first two carries, while Gabe Davis’ first target was a 20-yard gain and the first shot to Brian Thomas Jr. resulted in a 41-yard defensive pass interference on Jalen Ramsey.
Travis Etienne then hit paydirt from one-yard out to complete a 96-yard scoring drive and a statement.
Running games were biggest discrepancy
The Dolphins offense simply looked claustrophobic for most of the first-half, and this was largely because the Jaguars forced them to look one-dimensional. The Dolphins gained just three yards on their first six carries, with the Jaguars’ defensive line living behind the line of scrimmage.
The Dolphins attempted to get to the edge, but Travon Walker dominated in the running game to prevent it.
Meanwhile, the Jaguars picked up 50 yards on their first 12 carries. The rushing attack was led by Tank Bigsby, who was out-carried by Travis Etienne but gained 31 yards on his first four carries, giving him a 7.8 yards per carry average compared to Etienne’s seven carries for 11 yards.
The Jaguars’ offense stayed balance in large part due to the running game.
Jaguars have the quarterback advantage
Other than a 39-yard screen pass that saw De’Von Achane do all of the work, the Jaguars handled Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa early in the first half. Tagovailoa was 5-of-10 for 32 yards outside of the screen pass on the first three drives of the game, which led to a turnover on downs and a punt.
Tagovailoa missed an open Tyreek Hill for a touchdown on the second drive as well.
Trevor Lawrence wasn’t perfect in his start with a poor throw on 3rd-and-long on the first drive, but his second drive saw him pick up yards with his legs and hit Gabe Davis with a well-placed 20-yard throw.
His throw to Brian Thomas Jr. ensured it would either be a touchdown or a pass interference, too. Lawrence then hit a 30-yard throw to Christian Kirk and a 14-yard touchdown to Thomas Jr. for legit big-time throw moments, which the Dolphins didn’t get.
Ensure you follow on X (Twitter) @JaguarsOnSI and @_John_Shipley and never miss another breaking news story again.
Please let us know your thoughts when you like our Facebook page WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.
Miami, FL
Cam Ward and Miami offense keeps rolling with big win over FAMU
Cam Ward continued his elite play on Saturday completing 20 passes in 26 attempts with 304 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions as Miami beat Florida A&M 56-9 on Saturday. Miami scored TDs on its first three drives and a field goal on its fourth drive to take a 25-3 lead in the second quarter.
FAMU added a second field goal later in the second quarter to trail 25-6 at halftime. Miami scored TDs on seven drives, added two field goals and turned it over on downs in FAMU territory on their other two drives. Miami outgained FAMU 548-194 in their second consecutive dominant win.
Xavier Restrepo led the Miami receivers for a consecutive game with four receptions, 104 yards and one TD. Sam Brown and Isaiah Horton also contributed four receptions for Miami on Saturday. Damiez Martinez continued to give Miami offensive balance with 10 carries for 90 yards and a TD and added one reception for 15 yards.
Miami continued rolling with starting left tackle Jalen Rivers and left guard Ryan Rodriguez out with injuries on Saturday. Markel Bell started in place of Rivers and Matthew McCoy started for Rodriguez. Dyoni Hill got his first start for Miami at defensive back on Saturday after transferring from Marshall during the off-season.
Miami ran for 224 yards on 37 carries and scored four TDs on the ground. Mark Fletcher had his third rushing TD in two games and finished with five carries for 42 yards and a TD. Twelve receivers caught passes for Miami on Saturday. Tight end Elijah Arroyo and running back Chris Johnson reached the end zone in addition to Restrepo.
Linebacker Franciso Mauigoa, edge rusher Tyler Baron and safety Jaden Harris led Miami with five tackles each. Baron continued to be dominant with 3.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. Miami was dominant on the defensive line as expected with 10 TFLs and five sacks.
Miami will play the second of two non-conference home games on Saturday versus Ball State. South Florida will host Miami on September 21 in the Hurricanes’ last 2024 non-conference home game. Miami will begin ACC play on Friday, September 27 versus Virginia Tech.
-
Politics1 week ago
Trump impersonates Elon Musk talking about rockets: ‘I’m doing a new stainless steel hub’
-
World1 week ago
Brussels, my love? Is France becoming the sick man of Europe?
-
Politics1 week ago
Harris says no regrets about defending Biden fitness for office
-
World1 week ago
Locals survey damage after flooding in eastern Romania
-
World1 week ago
Why is Belgium struggling to name a European Commissioner?
-
Movie Reviews1 week ago
'Maria' Reviews: What Critics Are Saying About Angelina Jolie's Transformation and Singing as the Opera Diva
-
World7 days ago
Taiwan court orders release of ex-Taipei mayor arrested in corruption probe
-
Politics1 week ago
'For election purposes': Critics balk at Harris' claim she will 'enforce our laws' at southern border