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SNAP uncertainty leaves South Florida seniors scrambling for food aid

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SNAP uncertainty leaves South Florida seniors scrambling for food aid


Many people are unsure whether their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will be replenished on Saturday.

With so much uncertainty, local food organizations are preparing for an influx of need throughout communities.

Senior citizens face rising food insecurity

One of the most vulnerable groups — and a significant portion of SNAP recipients — is senior citizens.

The Pantry of Broward County and Meals on Wheels South Florida told CBS News Miami they are being inundated with calls from elderly people who are terrified of what’s to come.

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“We are hearing horror stories on a daily basis of folks just cannot make ends meet,” said Wendy Bourgault, executive director of Meals on Wheels South Florida.

Bourgault said that at the beginning of the week, her Broward County office was swamped with calls from people whose SNAP benefits would be ending.

She said one morning, they were hit with 20 calls looking for help with food.

“They have to choose, ‘Do I run electricity? Do I go to the doctor? Do I buy food?’” said Bourgault.

New relief program targets homebound seniors

After noticing a rise in the cry for help, Meals on Wheels South Florida established the Senior SNAP Relief Program.

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“Over 60, homebound, and in need who have lost their SNAP benefits, we will kick in immediately two weeks’ worth of food. Maybe by then it will be ended. If it isn’t, you’ll immediately get another two weeks,” said Bourgault.

Empty shelf after empty shelf is becoming a trend at the Pantry of Broward County.

Pantry prepares for disaster-level demand

With the ending of SNAP benefits, staff said they are preparing for a natural disaster, like it’s a hurricane.

“It’s all hands on deck for the staff. It’s trying to get as many volunteers in as possible,” said Warren Lubow, chief operating officer of the Pantry of Broward County.

Lubow said the phones have been nonstop with calls from seniors seeking help.

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Ninety percent of their clients receive SNAP.

“You take away those SNAP benefits — that’s less money in their pockets for rent, for food. For electric bills, water bills,” said Lubow.

Already serving 600 seniors across Broward County, the pantry is trying its hardest to serve everyone.

“We have been getting a lot more requests for new clients. We have a waitlist of over 150 people,” said Lubow.

Volunteers urgently needed to meet demand

Both organizations say there’s a great need for volunteers during this time.

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Miami, FL

Dolphins OC fuels breakout buzz for underused second-year playmaker

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Dolphins OC fuels breakout buzz for underused second-year playmaker


Few would disagree that the Miami Dolphins’ best overall player, pound-for-pound, is running back De’Von Achane. There’ll be no argument from me on that front. A player who could get some votes from defensive-minded fans might be linebacker Jordyn Brooks — another fantastic contributor who’s been the heart and soul of the defense for the past two seasons.

Ahead of the 2025 season, linebacker Willie Gay Jr. was consistently drawing rave reviews from reporters covering practice sessions. He made good on that billing by excelling in the team’s exhibition games. While fans lamented his lack of playing time, the reality was he was buried behind Brooks and the rock-solid Tyrel Dodson on the depth chart. The situation was painfully similar for second-year running back Ollie Gordon II.

Despite showing some flashes early in the season in short-yardage situations, Gordon’s usage was sporadic. He only reached double-digit carries once, in the Week 8 demolition of the Atlanta Falcons. On one hand, it’s a fantastic thing that De’Von Achane was healthy for 16 of 17 games — on the other, Gordon represents a perfect complement to the diminutive and speedy Achane, and increased usage could make good on that potential.

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The Dolphins’ new offensive coordinator, Bobby Slowik, used evocative language that forecasts a bigger role for Gordon in 2026, should he seize the opportunity.

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“The biggest thing with Ollie is not only is he big — he runs big. When we have pads on, you’re going to hear him run. It’s not one where he’s just going to silently kind of sneak through the line of scrimmage. Everyone’s going to feel — it’s going to sound like trash cans are banging back there. There’s something to that. The O-Line gets energy from that when they feel the physicality from a runner.”

The Achane–Gordon pairing at running back is oozing with potential — as long as the Miami Dolphins are willing to commit to it

De’Von Achane is listed officially at 5’9″ and 191 pounds, while Gordon II clocks in at 6’2″ and 225 pounds. The pairing is a perfect recipe to keep a defense as off-balance as possible. Achane is quick enough to dodge raindrops — for a defense to go from trying to catch a rabbit to bracing for a runaway train from one play to the next is the kind of offensive strategy that could pay huge dividends.

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Gordon’s body of work in the NFL doesn’t jump off the page. His 70 carries for 199 yards (2.8 per-carry-average) with three TDs don’t necessarily scream superstar in the making. It’s important to note, though, that he often got the call in short-yardage situations.

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Gordon had 25 rushes on downs where the line to gain was one, two, or three yards. After converting on eight of his first 10 attempts (80%), he only converted eight of the final 15 (53.3%). For the season, he converted on 64% of his short-yardage attempts. Among 68 running backs who had at least 10 attempts in short-yardage last season, Gordon’s 64% ranked 29th.

While hardly a comparison to these backs’ overall body of work, respected and proven stars such as Bijan Robinson (60.87%, 43rd), Saquon Barkley (59.38%, 47th), and Derrick Henry (55%, 55th) are prime examples that it’s not all on the RB. Anyone out there who chooses to label Derrick Henry a liability in short yardage should do so at their own risk. Once again, not a comparison. Just an observation.

The hope is that with first-round pick Kadyn Proctor joining the team, the Dolphins may see a surge from their interior offensive line. At 6’7″ and 352 pounds, Proctor will never fail due to a lack of size or athletic ability. This is truly a rare athlete with a unique build — he’ll go as far as his work ethic takes him. If you’ve started to notice a “largeness” theme emanating from South Florida, it’s intentional.

Jon-Eric Sullivan discussed the concept in one of his introductory press conferences, stating: “There’s a saying in our business, fast gets slow but big doesn’t get small.” Well, sir, we heard you, but after the draft and free agency, now we see you. We’ll have to wait to see how it translates, but no one can say Sullivan wasn’t about what he said.

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Ollie Gordon II — Dolphins fans hope you’re listening. The marriage between Gordon’s playstyle and the new coaching staff’s tenets is a match made in heaven. If he makes good on his own athletic gifts and untapped potential, the Dolphins may well have their next Ricky Williams in the building.

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Miami, FL

Miami Dolphins Discussion: Could He Be The One

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Miami Dolphins Discussion: Could He Be The One


In one of Kdog’s (Kevin Dolney, for the newer folks) recent editions of the Splash Zone, he pointed to an article by A to Z Sports. In the article, A to Z Sports points to Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane and how he could be the first player for the team and only the fourth player in NFL history to reach a thousand yards in both rushing and receiving. The only other players to ever accomplish this rare feat were the San Francisco 49ers’ Roger Craig in 1985, the St Louis Rams’ Marshall Faulk in 1999, and the Carolina Panthers’ Christian McCaffrey in 2019.

Achane, if you believe the reports or maybe just in the fact that he’s easily the most talented player on offense, will be, or at least should be, much of the focus on offense this coming season. Achane, if nothing else, has proven dependable and downright electric at times. What he lacks in size, he seems to make up for in durability and pure speed. Besides being clearly the best all-around running back on the team, he has also shown that he is one of the most dependable receivers on the roster. With the loss of Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill, he might be at this point the best receiver on the team, although I hope that title eventually goes to rookie Chris Bell once he returns from the injury that he suffered in his SR year at Louisville.

So this evening’s Phinsider Question Of The Day is:

Do you believe that Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane will enter the very exclusive club of players who have hit both 1,000 yards in both receiving and rushing for the 2026-2027 NFL season?

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Please share your thoughts and answers in the comments section below-



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‘Won’t tolerate it’: Officials warn of trafficking risks as World Cup crowds head to Miami

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‘Won’t tolerate it’: Officials warn of trafficking risks as World Cup crowds head to Miami


With hundreds of thousands of visitors expected for the upcoming World Cup, Miami law enforcement has made combating human trafficking a priority.

On Friday, Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said officials are preparing for an unprecedented surge in international tourism and criminal exploitation risks tied to the historic event.

“We are now expecting hundreds of thousands of visitors that we’ve never really experienced as a community,” Fernandez Rundle said. “We have ramped up our efforts even more.”

She said authorities have already conducted multiple proactive undercover operations targeting sex traffickers and buyers, with more planned in the months leading up to the tournament. Officials said six operations were carried out just this week, with roughly two dozen more expected before the World Cup concludes in Miami.

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See also: ‘Remove Trump’ sign turns heads above I-95 in Riviera Beach

“You may remember just a few weeks ago, we arrested 15 predators,” she said, describing an operation in which suspects allegedly paid in advance for sex with minors. “What they didn’t know was they were never going to get to those minors. Instead, we got them.”

The State Attorney’s Office said the broader effort includes expanded human trafficking awareness campaigns across Miami-Dade County, involving local governments, universities, and private-sector partners.

Companies and organizations participating in the outreach include American Airlines, Uber, and hospitality and tourism groups such as the Florida Hotel and Restaurant Association, along with other corporate and civic partners contributing billboard space, kiosks, and educational materials.

Officials also plan a visible presence at FANFest events and increased messaging at Miami International Airport and seaport facilities, including flyers, QR-code hotline information, and digital billboard campaigns similar to those used during major events in 2020.

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“We want everyone to come, enjoy our beautiful community, enjoy themselves,” Fernandez Rundle said. “But don’t even think about buying or selling our children, our youth, or young adults.”



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