Special projects at area schools that ranged from gardening, robotics and mental health awareness to theater and cheerleading received grants from the town of Miami Lakes’ Education Advisory Board and the Miami Lakes Town Foundation. The Education Advisory Board’s academic enrichment grants are designed to develop programs to improve learning and are funded by taxpayers, the town said. Bob Graham Education Center won three...

Florida International University senior linebacker Sage Lewis was among nine from the squad named to the Conference USA Second Team for the 2019 season. Lewis, a standout at Monsignor Edward Pace High School, had a busy final college season, racking up 80 tackles and three interceptions. He helped FIU pull off a 30-24 upset victory over the University of Miami on Nov. 23, when he recorded 10 tackles and forced a fumble which the Panthers...

Let’s talk about balance. More than one out of four people ages 65 and older fall each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Falls can lead to broken bones and head injuries and are the leading cause of injury-related deaths for this age group, the CDC says. Falls can happen because of weakness in the lower body, or from difficulty walking and maintaining balance, among other causes. But balance can be...

Florida International University diver Maha Gouda is headed to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo this summer. The sophomore qualified to represent her home country of Egypt in the Olympics 10-meter platform diving event after she won a gold medal in the 2019 African Games in Rabat, Morocco, FIU said. Gouda won one of the two gold medals for her country. Along with qualifying for the Olympics, Gouda won gold in the 3-meter mixed synchro and...

Girls wrestling is getting bigger at the Florida high school level, and Carolyna Bellon is one of the state’s success stories. Bellon, a junior at Mater Lakes Academy, is off to a fierce start this season. She’s the state’s top-ranked girl in the 128-pound division, based on polling done by the Orlando Sentinel. Among her highlights this season: A 4-0 record to win her weight class at the Clash of the Titans tournament...