Miami, FL
South Florida cities take proactive measures ahead of Helene
MIAMI – Helene may not be impacting South Florida directly, but some cities are being proactive ahead of expected heavy rains and possible flooding.
The City of Hollywood is managing water levels, with a backup plan to redirect excess water and Miami is clearing storm drains to prevent flooding. Additionally, sandbags are being made available for free in select cities.
Michael Sloan lives off North 14th Avenue in Hollywood, an area known for flooding.
“I don’t rely on other people to get things done for me. I rely on myself first,” he said.
He knows when we get a big rain, he could be facing rising water and he’s ready.
“All my sandbags are all sitting back here if I decide to use them,” Sloan said.
He also constructed homemade flood barriers to block potential flood water from getting into his home.
Just steps away from his home, Hollywood is working on a project to pump water off the road and into nearby Eco golf course. They’ve been cleaning out and expanding trenches and swales.
“We’ve seen tremendous success with the levels of water coming in for storms. So, we already know that what we’re doing is working. So, we just want to make sure it continues to stay in that direction,” said Hollywood spokesperson Arlene Borenstein.
With the ground already saturated from recent rain, there’s a backup plan if needed.
“We’ve had a lot of water the last couple of days. So, what we might do if need be is shift and redirect the water onto the golf course,” Borenstein said.
In Miami, like many cities, crews are clearing out storm drains, making sure they can handle heavy rain if it comes our way.
“It’s obvious that there are some debris that keeps falling into there, and that’s what we do just to clean it up. And it is extremely important so that then the water can flow and avoid those big floodings that we have seen in the past,” said Miami Spokeswoman Kenia Fallat.
And they’re paying close attention to areas known for flooding.
“We have areas in Miami that tend to flood along the Biscayne Boulevard corridor. So in anticipation of that, we have our temporary and our permanent pumps already on standby, in the event that we do see some flooding,” Fallat said.
Hollywood, Dania Beach and Fort Lauderdale are offering free sandbags to residents.
Hollywood is also allowing residents to park in city garages for free if they’re concerned about flooding.
Miami, FL
College football player transferred from Miami to Indiana before national championship
A player who spent most of the 2025 season with College Football Playoff finalist Miami has now joined the Indiana program ahead of the national championship game.
Tight end Brock Schott was with the Hurricanes until Jan. 2 when he entered the NCAA transfer portal as Miami was still in the playoff.
Last week, he committed to the Hoosiers, before they went on to make the national title game, too.
Schott announced on Jan. 5 that he was joining the Indiana program.
The addition of Schott could give the Hoosiers an advantage as the freshman from Indiana knows the Miami playbook, as well as the team’s signals.
Brock Schott appeared in two games for Miami this season, catching a pair of passes for 24 yards. Both of his catches came in a 45-3 win over Bethune-Cookman.
Prior to joining the Miami program, Schott was a four-star recruit who was one of the top tight end prospects in the country.
The 6-foot-3, 245-pound player caught 28 passes for 462 yards and five touchdowns as a senior at Leo High School. He also played defense, recording 52 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles in 11 games.
Schott had an even better season as a junior, catching 35 passes for 743 yards and six touchdowns. Defensively, he had 32 tackles for loss and 19 sacks as a junior.
Miami and Indiana are set to meet in the national championship game on Monday, Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Miami, FL
Three Kings Festival brings business, big crowds to Little Havana
Miami, FL
NBA Mock Trade: Miami Heat Go All-In For LaMelo Ball In Deal With Charlotte Hornets
Rumors have swirled around Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball for several seasons, recently heating up ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season. Despite coming into the season with a promising young core, headlined by the All-Star guard, Charlotte’s struggles have persisted.
Ball has been largely inefficient in a new-look rotation, shooting just 41% from the field, tying the second-lowest mark of his career thus far. Monitoring teams around the league, several suitors could offer enticing returns for Ball, but one Eastern Conference club is one of the more sensible destinations for the Hornets guard: the Miami Heat. Here’s a mock trade that sees Ball moved to South Beach:
Charlotte Hornets-Miami Heat Mock Trade & Fantasy Basketball Impact
Charlotte Hornets receive Andrew Wiggins, Simone Fontecchio, 2029 first-round pick, 2031 first-round pick
Miami Heat receive LaMelo Ball
A trade to a consistent playoff contender could help Ball overcome lasting narratives that have surrounded the star point guard. Fans, media personnel and coaches alike have speculated over Ball’s commitment and ability to buy in throughout his career, something that could be overcome with a trade to the Heat.
In Miami, Ball could contribute to a winning culture for a team prepared to re-enter title contention after moving on from Jimmy Butler last season. The Heat would roll out a big-three consisting of Ball, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, a trio that has the potential to emerge as one of the top in the NBA.
From a fantasy basketball standpoint, his stock could take a noticeable leap in an improved situation. Ball would take on greater scoring responsibility, while retaining his role as the offense’s primary ball-handler. With two co-stars and a plethora of perimeter shooters, he could overcome an inconsistent start to the season and hit his stride down the stretch of the year.
Why The Hornets Make The Trade
While Ball has brought his stardom to the Hornets, the team has struggled throughout his career, failing to reach the postseason in his first six seasons. Charlotte has pieced together a promising young wing duo of Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel, two key contributors for the Hornets to build around as they establish an improved culture over the next several seasons. While he’s just 24 years old, I’m not confident Ball fits alongside this hypothetical new-look Hornets club, considering previous frustrations with the team.
Why The Heat Make The Trade
Miami has sought a trade for a star player to help the team return to title contention, a billing that Ball fits perfectly. He presents a consistent floor general to help the Heat’s offense overcome a slow start to the season, ranking 20th in the NBA in defensive rating to this point of the season (114.8). I love Ball’s fit alongside the likes of Herro and Adebayo, taking pressure off the two All-Stars with consistent playmaking and versatile scoring ability. The Ball-led Heat would be set up for title contention over the next several years.
Read More Fantasy On SI News
-
Detroit, MI1 week ago2 hospitalized after shooting on Lodge Freeway in Detroit
-
Technology6 days agoPower bank feature creep is out of control
-
Dallas, TX4 days agoAnti-ICE protest outside Dallas City Hall follows deadly shooting in Minneapolis
-
Delaware3 days agoMERR responds to dead humpback whale washed up near Bethany Beach
-
Dallas, TX1 week agoDefensive coordinator candidates who could improve Cowboys’ brutal secondary in 2026
-
Montana2 days agoService door of Crans-Montana bar where 40 died in fire was locked from inside, owner says
-
Iowa6 days agoPat McAfee praises Audi Crooks, plays hype song for Iowa State star
-
Health1 week agoViral New Year reset routine is helping people adopt healthier habits