Latest news with #SouthFloridian
Miami Herald
27-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Climate risk is real. Companies must be free to consider it, especially in Florida
More than 60 years ago, my parents fled Cuba for the United States, seeking freedom from an oppressive regime that dictated what businesses produced and how products were priced. They knew that a country without free markets could not offer the economic prospects and individual liberties they wanted for their family. In America, they found a land of opportunity, where hard work and entrepreneurial spirit were rewarded. Because of their brave decision, they were able to buy a home and provide a better life for our family in Miami-Dade. Our country has long been a beacon of freedom for people like my parents — people who believe in free-market principles, where business owners and their shareholders, not the government, make business decisions. That's why it is deeply troubling to see champions of free enterprise now working to undermine the very market principles they once defended — by opposing responsible, risk-based business decisions, including those that factor in the clear and growing economic impacts of climate change. As a long-time South Floridian, I know firsthand that the impact of extreme weather events on our state cannot be ignored. In the past five years alone, Florida has faced 34 weather-related disasters, each causing losses exceeding $1 billion. The total economic cost of these disasters is estimated at $200 billion. And the trend is intensifying — in 2024 alone, there were 11 weather events with total economic losses approaching $100 billion. These events are wreaking havoc on Florida homeowners. In 2023, 53,648 Florida households lost their insurance coverage — the same year eight billion-dollar disasters struck the state. That means 3% of all property insurance policyholders lost their coverage in a single year — triple the national average non-renewal rate. For those who have maintained coverage, the costs are staggering. According to NerdWallet, homeowners insurance in Florida now averages $2,625 per year for $300,000 in dwelling coverage — far higher than the national average of $1,915. The unique challenges of climate risk underscore why investors and companies must be able to consider these risks in decision-making. By 2050 — just 25 years away — the global economy could lose about 10% (or $23 trillion annually) of its total economic value due to the warming climate. These risks could increase the federal debt, cause sudden and chaotic changes in asset prices, or destabilize the financial system if markets fail to adapt to changes in policy, technology and consumer behavior. Despite these growing concerns, recent legislative efforts seek to limit the consideration of climate risk in financial decision-making. Some congressional Republicans have introduced restrictive policies that would prevent investors and companies from accounting for these very real economic threats. If enacted, such legislation would undermine two core American strengths — free markets and individual liberty. Since July 2023, more than 10 bills have been introduced in Congress, along with a dozen committee hearings targeting investor freedom, proxy voting rights, and the ability of banks and credit unions to consider climate risks in lending. Similar legislation passed in state legislatures has already cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars through higher interest rates on municipal bonds and imposed unreasonable burdens on financial institutions. Ironically, these Republican-led efforts mirror longstanding efforts from the far left to dictate how individuals and companies should invest, operate and spend. If we want America to continue leading the world in innovation and economic growth, our companies must have the freedom to invest responsibly and account for climate risk. I don't want my daughters to live in a country or a state where businesses' inability to adapt to climate change has undermined their safety, limited their opportunities, or damaged their quality of life. We have a responsibility to encourage — rather than stifle — the innovation needed to mitigate these risks and create a sustainable future for the next generation. Our strength as a nation lies in our free and thriving capital markets. If we want to secure our future and the future of our children, we must continue to uphold the free-market system that makes our country home to one of the strongest economies on Earth. Carlos Curbelo, a Republican, represented Florida's 26th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2015-2019.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rankings Roundtable: Which 2027 prospect is the most likely five-star?
The national analyst team has been out on the road all offseason checking on top prospects, updating evaluations and finding new prospects who will rise up the rankings. Which player in the 2027 class is most likely to end up as a five-star? Our national analyst team – Adam Friedman, John Garcia Jr., Adam Gorney, Greg Smith and Sam Spiegelman – give their takes below. MORE: How did we rank CFB's top QBs as high school prospects? CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State TRANSFER PORTAL: Full coverage | Player ranking | Team ranking | Transfer search | Transfer Tracker FRIEDMAN: David Jacobs There's so much to like about Jacobs at this point in the process. The 6-foot-5, 215-pound defensive end out of Georgia is a force against the run and holds up well at the point of attack. He has sky-high potential as a pass rusher but still needs to refine his hand techniques a bit. Advertisement Still, Jacobs was very productive as a sophomore, posting more than 100 tackles, 12 sacks and more than 30 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. He also boasts high-end athletic traits, which can be seen on the basketball court during the winter. We just saw five defensive end/edge defenders go in the first round of the NFL Draft and it isn't a stretch to think Jacobs could develop into that type of player. GARCIA: Mark Matthews The long and rangy offensive tackle has improved his game as much as any prospect over the last 12 months or so, making the switch not only from basketball, but from working primarily as a defensive lineman. He flashed at the end of St. Thomas' state title run as a blocker and has blossomed further this offseason against stout competition. Advertisement Matthews has a plus wingspan and athleticism, not to mention a frame that will carry more good muscle as he inches closer to playing on Saturdays. His current state, however, is much further along than one would expect given his lack of experience. That department will take care of itself, but there is also a willing competitiveness that the South Floridian brings to the table that may help push his growth that much more forward in the years to come. Combine it all, at a premium position like the blindside protector, and the trajectory points to a five-star ceiling. GORNEY: Zyron Forstall When I see Forstall on tape, I see an Abdul Carter-like player who is so versatile in the front seven of the defense that he can rip off the edge and beat any offensive tackle or he can overpower people and run right through them. Advertisement What is also special about the New Orleans (La.) Jesuit defensive end is that he can stand up and play linebacker – like Carter did in high school – and blitz like a madman. I love his frame, his intensity, his aggressiveness and I don't see any way Forstall doesn't end up as a five-star with two more years of high school football left. SMITH: Trae Taylor The Nebraska commit has all the makings of a future five-star quarterback. Standing at 6-3 and 190 pounds already, he's still growing into his frame and will likely be bigger when he enters college. Taylor sees the field well and processes information quickly to make decisions. Advertisement The Illinois native has a strong arm but he can also layer the football to make intermediate throws. Barring major regression he'll end up reaching five-star status. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH NEBRASKA FANS AT SPIEGELMAN: Kennedy Brown Brown is set to be one of the biggest risers in the new Rivals250 for the 2027 class. We believe the versatile offensive lineman can play tackle but we already know he can also slide inside and play multiple positions upfront. He is extremely strong with excellent feet, plays well with leverage and is a finisher at the point of attack. After multiple live evaluations, Brown has proven to be the cream of the crop in a star-studded group of offensive linemen in the 2027 class. We view his upside potentially as the best of any we've seen so far in this rankings cycle.
Miami Herald
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Mason Taylor, son of Dolphins' legend Jason Taylor, selected 42nd by Jets in NFL Draft
As if there was ever a doubt that the son of Jason Taylor and nephew of Zach Thomas would turn into a great player, Mason Taylor put those questions to bed early in his career with the LSU Tigers. In only his ninth game in college, Taylor hauled in a game-winning two-point conversion to stun Alabama in overtime. Taylor wasn't known for much more than his famous name — he was, after all, only a three-star prospect coming out of St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale — and yet it wound up being just the start of a spectacular career, that is now continuing into the NFL after the New York Jets selected Taylor with the 42nd overall selection in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday. Taylor was the third tight end and third South Floridian picked in the NFL Draft, and the 38th former Raider to be drafted into the NFL in the program's illustrious history. He also follows Dallas Turner as the second St. Thomas Aquinas alumnus picked in the first round of the NFL Draft in as many years, after Turner went to the Vikings in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft last year. Taylor, 20, was the first player from Broward County picked in the 2025 Draft, as well. Like so many Raiders, Taylor waited his turn at St. Thomas Aquinas, only to blossom into a star as an upperclassman. The tight end did not record any stats as a freshman or sophomore, then was a first-team All-Broward County selection as a junior and senior. He won state championships in each of his final three years at St. Thomas Aquinas. Taylor's athletic pedigree is particularly impressive. His father was a six-time Pro Bowl edge rusher and four-time All-Pro for the Dolphins, and is now the defensive ends coach at Miami, and his uncle was a seven-time All-Pro linebacker for the Dolphins, as well. At LSU, Taylor did not have to do any of the waiting he did with the Raiders. Even though the 247Sports composite rankings only pegged him as a three-star recruit, Taylor became an immediate contributor for the Tigers with 414 receiving yards as a freshman. As a junior last season Taylor set setting single-season marks at LSU with 55 catches and 546 yards, plus two touchdowns, to earn a third-team All-Southeastern Conference nod. He finished his career with program records for tight ends with 129 catches and 1,308 receiving yards.
Miami Herald
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Former Westminster Christian star Jayden Higgins selected 34th by the Texans in NFL Draft
Jayden Higgins wasn't even sure if he was going to play football when he got to Miami's Westminster Christian for his junior year of high school in 2019. He didn't play football as a sophomore at Miami Gulliver Prep, instead choosing to focus on basketball and he planned to do the same as an upperclassman for the Warriors, but decided a fresh start might be a good time to try football again. Almost six years later, Higgins is glad he did. Although he flew under the radar at Westminster Christian, Higgins did enough to pick up a handful of FCS scholarship offers and start himself on an unlikely path to Friday, when the Houston Texans selected the wide receiver with the second pick in the second round—No. 34 overall—in the 2025 NFL Draft. Higgins, 22, is the first former Warrior to ever be picked in the NFL Draft and is now poised to become the first Westminster Christian alumnus to appear in an NFL game. Although unranked as a recruit, Higgins quietly put up a pair of productive seasons in Miami before heading to college. Higgins piled up 920 receiving yards in his two years as a Warrior, despite his senior season lasting only five games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. From Westminster Christian, Higgins headed to FCS Eastern Kentucky and turned two strong seasons with the Colonels into an opportunity with the Iowa State Cyclones, who almost immediately helped turn Higgins into a star. The 6-foot-4, 214-pound receiver had 53 catches for 983 yards and six touchdowns as a junior to earn a Big Ten Conference honorable mention, then 87 catches for 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns to earn second-team All-Big Ten honors as a senior last year. Despite his limited time at Iowa State, Higgins still finished his career as the seventh-leading receiver in school history. Higgins is the second South Floridian picked so far in the 2025 Draft. Draft picks from the Miami metropolitan area aren't unusual, but still Higgins, as his school's first draft pick, has managed to make history.
CBS News
16-04-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Friday Night Baseball, CW33 to broadcast 15 Miami Marlins games free to South Florida viewers
To increase accessibility to local fans, CW Miami 33 and FanDuel Sports Network have teamed up to simulcast up to 15 Miami Marlins games on the over-the-air channel during the 2025 season, the MLB team announced. Viewers can now watch games on either CW33, FanDuel Sports Network Florida, the FanDuel Sports Network app and . According to the Marlins, the simulcasts will mirror everything seen on the FanDuel Sports Network, featuring the same hometown announcers who will call the action throughout the season. Also, CW33 will also air FanDuel Sports Network's pregame and postgame coverage around those games. Kim Voet, the president and general manager for CBS News Miami, which owns CW33, said it's an honor for the station to air the games. "Airing these Marlins games on WBFS-TV feels like a homecoming, as the games used to air on the station back in the 90s, and we are ecstatic about their return," she said. "We are honored to be able to offer these games over the air to South Floridian baseball fans. It is representative of our commitment to providing the best content to the communities we serve." Caroline O'Connor, the president of business for the Marlins, shared her excitement about the partnership, calling it an "exciting start to the 2025 season." "For many years, FanDuel Sports Network has been a great partner of the Marlins, sharing a commitment to give Marlins fans the best content and bring them closer to the team," she said. "These simulcasts offer an exciting chance for more fans to experience our games and learn about the exciting activities and events awaiting them at loanDepot Park all season long." Additionally, CW33 will feature key Marlins players and storylines throughout the season by using the station's cutting-edge AR/VR technology-driven studio . As of now, these a scheduled simulcast games:
