Miami commit Waden Charles spoke with Marcus Benjamin during the Battle of Broward tournament at St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale.
His team, Palm Beach Central, was eliminated in the tournament’s semifinals by Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood).
Miami, FL
UGASports – Video: Miami 2025 WR commit Waden Charles Interview
A wildfire is still burning in the Everglades Wednesday as firefighters work to control the flames threatening structures in western Miami-Dade.
The Highway 41 fire, named for its proximity to U.S. 41, has grown to 5,000 acres and was 0% contained as of Tuesday night, according to the U.S. Forest Service. It broke out at around 5 p.m. Monday.
Eight structures were threatened by the fire, but no evacuation orders were issued and no injuries have been reported, officials said.
The fire is burning further from Tamiami Trail than it was Tuesday, but drivers headed west from Miami will be able to see flames west of the Miccosukee Resort and Casino and Krome Avenue. The roadway remains open.
Fire response
The U.S. Forest Service reports that 48 personnel have been assigned to the blaze, along with five fire engines, four helicopters, and two fixed-wing aircraft. Officials said Tuesday that at least one USDA Forest Service engine from Arkansas supported the initial suppression efforts.
Crews were seen fighting the fire by air, making multiple runs to dump water onto the flames.
Firefighting efforts have cost approximately $750,000 so far.
The cause of the blaze remains undetermined.
Will I see smoke from the Highway 41 fire?
Northeast winds are keeping the smoke away from highly populated areas—for now.
“However, winds are changing here over the next day to two, and that could move the smoke around,” NBC6 meteorologist Adam Berg said.
By Thursday morning, more smoke may be blown east.
The National Weather Service advises residents to:
- exercise caution while driving if smoke reduces visibility
- monitor local air quality
- if sensitive to particle pollution, reduce time outdoors
Miami-Dade County Commissioner Vicki Lopez’s campaign to keep her District 5 seat now has support from a majority of the Miami Beach Commission.
This week, Lopez’s campaign announced endorsements from City Commissioners Laura Dominguez and Monica Matteo-Salinas.
They join two other Miami Beach officials — Commissioners Tanya Katzoff Bhatt and Alex Fernandez — backing Lopez.
Dominguez, who handily won re-election alongside Fernandez in early November, called Lopez “a proven partner for Miami Beach who understands what our residents need.”
She cited Lopez’s work as a state lawmaker on condo safety and “real solutions on housing.”
“Vicki is thoughtful, collaborative, and knows how to turn priorities into action,” she said in a statement. “I look forward to continuing to work together to keep Miami Beach safe, resilient, and strong.”
Matteo-Salinas, a former City Hall aide who won her seat in December with 71% of the vote, said Lopez has earned the trust of her constituents “not with words, but with action.”
“Vicki shows up prepared, principled, and genuinely committed to getting it right. She doesn’t lead for the headlines. She leads for the people,” she said in a statement.
“She has been a true partner to our city by being accessible, collaborative, and never too busy to pick up the phone when our residents need answers. Vicki Lopez is the kind of leader our community deserves: experienced, accountable, and deeply rooted in the values that make this county a place we’re proud to call home. I am proud to support her campaign to continue to lead as our county commissioner.”
Lopez, in a statement, expressed gratitude for “the support of leaders who are working every day to serve Miami Beach residents.”
“Our partnership with municipal leaders is essential to tackling the issues that matter most — from housing and safety to infrastructure and quality of life,” she said. “I look forward to continuing that work together.”
Lopez, who was appointed by her County Commission peers last year, raised nearly $589,000 last quarter, far outpacing her lone challenger, Florida Highway Patrol trooper and former Miami Commissioner Joe Sanchez.
Both Lopez and Sanchez are Republicans. Bhatt, Domiguez, Fernandez and Matteo-Salinas are all Democrats.
District 5 includes the cities of Miami and Miami Beach.
All County Commission candidates will be on the Aug. 18 Primary ballot, as those races and others in the county are technically nonpartisan.
If no candidate in a given contest receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two candidates will compete in a Nov. 3 runoff.
Once a year, leaders in transportation and trade come together to discuss the “State of the Ports” and what the future holds.
Could a second airport be coming to Miami-Dade?
Last week, the county commission moved forward with studying the possibility, warning that Miami International Airport could reach capacity within the next 15 years.
“We are working through that right now. It is a long process that takes anywhere from 15 to 20 years,” said Ralph Cutie, Director and CEO of Miami International Airport.
As for expanding PortMiami, Director and CEO Hydi Webb says building outward isn’t an option.
“We really can’t build on our island and make it bigger, but what we are doing is building vertically,” Webb said.
These are just some of the discussions highlighted at this year’s “State of the Ports” event, which examines how the industry is adapting to growing demand, population increases, and rising tourism.
Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava emphasized the need to stay ahead.
“We have to make sure that we stay not only current, but that we get ahead—that’s why we call it ‘future-ready,’” she said.
Cutie says the airport’s Capital Improvement Plan now totals $14 billion. The plan will roll out over the next 15 years to accommodate an estimated 77 million passengers and 4.2 million tons of cargo by 2040.
That includes major upgrades across the airport.
“From replacing all of our passenger loading bridges to upgrading elevators, escalators, moving walkways, and renovating all of our restrooms,” Cutie said.
There are also improvements planned for concourses and terminals.
“We have a new Concourse K under construction—a $750 million project expected to be completed by 2029. Concourse D60, a $1.1 billion project, will break ground in 2027 and be completed by 2030,” he added.
Another major focus is cargo. Cutie says volume has grown for six consecutive years.
“We are finalizing our cargo development master plan, which will add a few million square feet to our cargo facilities,” he said.
At PortMiami, the strategy is similar—grow upward and operate more efficiently.
“We are stacking containers higher with modern infrastructure. We’re also building garages and facilities that can include parking, intermodal areas, and even office space,” Webb said.
She added that future plans could include shifting some operations off-site.
“We are studying the concept of an inland port—looking at what functions we can move off the port, like empty container storage,” Webb explained.
It’s important to note that these projects are expected to be funded through public-private partnerships, not taxpayer dollars, according to Tax Collector Dariel Fernández.
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