The Betsy – South Beach, an internationally recognized boutique Michelin Key hotel, has launched a permanent, year-round digital public art program on its iconic architectural landmark, "The Betsy Orb." Transforming the structure into a dynamic canvas, the new initiative will showcase commissioned digital works by global contemporary artists 365 days a year. A Technological and Architectural Marvel Designed by architect Allan T. Shulman and Betsy co-owner Jonathan Plutzik during the hotel's 2016 expansion, the egg-shaped Orb functions as a sculptural installation, an interior gallery space, and a functional bridge connecting the historic Betsy Ross and former Carlton hotels. Tucked away in the restored alleyway at 14th Place between Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue, the structure now features a state-of-the-art immersive digital projection system. The newly installed Christie Jazz Series 1DLP laser projector delivers 17,800 lumens of high-contrast, deeply saturated color. Precisely calibrated to the Orb’s spherical geometry, the technology ensures that the immersive artworks conform seamlessly to its curvature without spilling over onto the adjacent buildings. “The Orb presents a remarkable curatorial opportunity, allowing The Betsy to champion the emerging power of digital immersive art and move the hotel’s longtime gallery program outside into the light,” said Lesley Goldwasser, co-owner and art curator of The Betsy. Upcoming 2026 Programming Lineup As with all exhibitions and cultural programming at The Betsy, the Orb projections are free and open to the public. Debuting next is “The Gooooaaaaal is Love,” a monumental cinematic work by local transmedia artist dNASAb. On view throughout June and July, the immersive installation is inspired by the upcoming FIFA World Cup games in Miami. Presented in partnership with the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and Jorge M. Perez Family Foundation CreARTE program, the piece merges live-action filmmaking, generative media, and immersive storytelling to explore the passion behind the world’s most beloved sport. “We are excited to work with our local foundation partners... commissioning one of the region’s outstanding emerging visionaries in this space to celebrate the FIFA World Cup — on a canvas shaped like a soccer ball!” added Plutzik. The confirmed artist lineup for the remainder of 2026 includes: August: Digital artist and curator Carl Phillipe Juste collaborates with Miami-based, internationally acclaimed artist Edouard Duval-Carrié to create a projection inspired by the ‘Global/Borderless Caribbean’ exhibition. October: RISD-trained motion designer Laura Paresky Gould, the creator of Miami Color Theory, will debut a new work. November: Filmmaker and video artist Juan Carlos Zaldivar will present a new piece based on Hummingbird. December: The Betsy will partner with the City of Miami Beach’s No Vacancy program to commission a final new work for the year. Culinary Pairings Guests and visitors inspired by the digital art can extend their experience at The Betsy’s highly regarded dining destinations located just steps from the installation. The Alley offers a trattoria-style pizzeria led by acclaimed Chef Laurent Tourondel, alongside La Ventanita, a walk-up window serving freshly brewed coffee, house-made gelato, and crepes. For a more refined dining experience, LT South Beach presents a casually elegant New American menu. Diners can even finish their meal with an artistic nod to the installation by ordering ‘The Dessert Orb,’ a delicately crafted chocolate confection. For more information on “The Betsy Orb,” visit The Betsy Hotel. By ML Staff. Photos: The Betsy - South Beach

On April 16, 2026, the Jackson Health Foundation celebrated its third annual day of giving, known as "One Day for Jackson." The community-wide fundraising initiative invited individuals across Miami-Dade County to come together and make a difference in support of Jackson Health System, South Florida’s largest public healthcare system. A Legacy of Community Impact Since its inception in 2024, the initiative has successfully raised more than $1.5 million in its first two years alone. The funds raised during the 2026 event were dedicated to supporting one of the largest emergency rooms in the nation, alongside vital programs that provide world-class, life-saving care to the local community. By supporting One Day for Jackson, Miami-Dade residents directly helped the health system deliver care to patients with remarkable stories of survival and recovery. Highlighted patient stories included Dylan, an 8-year-old who made a miraculous recovery after a near-drowning; Richard Vargas, who rebuilt his strength to go from a rehab patient to a kickboxing coach; and Tangela, a beloved kindergarten teacher who survived a major heart attack thanks to the swift actions of her colleagues and the Jackson medical team. Local Business Partnerships To amplify the day of giving, the Foundation partnered with several popular restaurants and retailers across the county. Businesses such as Five Guys, Chick-fil-A, Raising Cane’s, The Brightside Restaurant, BLOW Pilates, Glow Pilates Reformer, and CKO Boxing participated by offering specific promotions and committing a portion of their proceeds to the cause. “Everyone has a connection to Jackson, whether you know someone who was treated here, works here, or have heard about the incredible care our teams provide,” said Flavia Llizo, CEO of Jackson Health Foundation. “Every dollar raised and every donor inspired helps Jackson deliver hope, healing, and cutting-edge care to those who need it most.” While the official day of giving has passed, those interested in contributing to the Jackson Health Foundation's ongoing mission can still learn more or donate by visiting OneDayForJackson.org, calling 305-585-GIVE (4483), or texting JACKSON to 41444. By ML Staff. Photos: Jackson Health Foundation

It’s a familiar feeling: You start a text message, and your phone’s auto-complete function suggests several choices for the next word, ranging from banal to hilarious. “I love…” you, or coffee? Or you’re finishing an email, and merely typing the word “Let” prompts your app to suggest “Let me know if you have any questions” in light gray text. Predictive language technologies are making prose less distinct. echo1/iStock via Getty Images Predictive language technologies have become so routine – baked into smartphones, email services and chatbots – that we barely notice them anymore. But they raise a difficult question: What happens to a writer’s unique voice when AI routinely completes their thoughts – or generates them altogether from scratch? As the chair of a large English department – and as a scholar who researches the effects of predictive writing – I’ve witnessed firsthand the challenges that generative AI systems such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude pose for individual expression. This technology has been incorporated into the writing process so fully that it’s almost impossible to imagine encountering a scene from the not-so-distant past: a writer, alone, with a pen and a piece of paper, wrestling with how to best translate their ideas, arguments and stories into something legible and interesting. Predictive text leads to predictive writing As many scholars have noted, though, this vision of writing was never fully accurate. Essays have always incorporated guidance from teachers, professors or writing tutors. A friend might give feedback, or your favorite novelist’s turn of phrase might offer inspiration. The language we use is never fully “ours,” but draws on millions of sources absorbed over the course of our lives. Just as it’s a myth to imagine that writers compose in a vacuum, there has never been a clear line between genuine human expression versus machine-generated text. As scholars have pointed out, we have been using machines to communicate for a long time. Every technological development – from the quill pen and the typewriter to the word processor – has brought with it changes in how humans express themselves. However, the ubiquity of predictive language technologies directly threatens human creativity – or, as one study put it, “Predictive Text Encourages Predictive Writing.” Because generative AI composes and suggests text in highly standardized, predictable patterns, its outputs can read as if they’re dressed-up versions of what linguists call “phatic expression.” These are the overly common phrases that function as social glue more than as conveyors of sentiment: “How are you?”, “Have a good day” or “See you soon.” But this glue can lose its hold if the technology is used in the wrong situations. Using artificial intelligence to compose a social media post in the wake of a tragedy, or using it to write a fan letter to an Olympic athlete, comes off as insincere. People are starting to catch on to generative AI’s prose, not because it’s clunky or poorly written, but because it all sounds the same. That’s because large language models are trained on gigantic masses of examples of human writing, and they predict text based on probabilities and commonalities. Those predictive outputs often end up producing a singular, recognizable voice. Or, as Sam Kriss explained in a recent essay for The New York Times Magazine, “Once, there were many writers, and many different styles. Now, increasingly, one uncredited author turns out essentially everything.” Slouching toward a cultural mean Generative AI is accelerating the types of cultural convergence and uniform expression that were already happening. For example, linguists have shown that regional accents in the U.S. are fading and becoming homogenized due to a mix of migration, urbanization, mass media and social media. Meanwhile, American English continues supplanting many other forms internationally due to the global predominance of U.S.-based media, TV, film and more. Are we all destined to write and speak alike? Generative AI doesn’t know in advance whether you call soft drinks “soda,” “pop” or “coke.” If you let it choose, it will simply select “soda” for you, since that’s the most common term in its training data. By contrast, what people typically value in a personal essay, novel, poem or message to a grieving friend is the ability of the human author to demonstrate – clearly and distinctly – something powerful and singular. Making chatbots less appealing So how can teachers compel students to craft their own voices? How is that task different today than it was even a decade ago? It helps to think here about where generative AI struggles, and why. Chatbots are great at creating relatively bland, highly readable prose, since that’s what is omnipresent in their training data. But they struggle to create the kinds of radically unexpected shifts that appear in novels like James Joyce’s “Ulysses” or songs like Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Several techniques exist to encourage these types of stylistic leaps among student writers. Teachers can bake unpredictability into the assignment. Creative writing instructors have used techniques for decades to encourage out-of-the-box thinking. They might ask students to draft a poem and then rewrite it while avoiding the letter “E,” or limit themselves to two adjectives at most. Another tactic involves having students draw from distinctly personal experiences. Teaching students how to explore connections between characters and conflicts in a novel to people and situations in their own lives makes resorting to chatbots less appealing, if not altogether useless. By contrast, impersonal assignments – “Discuss the symbolism of the color green in ‘The Great Gatsby’” – will likely produce generic, predictable results. Teachers can also ensure the work of their students has a range of readers. If it’s just the professor, students may be less likely to invest time into cultivating their own voice. But if they have to write an essay or story for, say, their friends or their grandparents, they might have more of an incentive to sound like themselves. Many other strategies exist, from being forced to reverse the argument of an essay to favor the other side, to interviewing strangers for an assignment and including their quotes. The bottom line: Writers have access to sources – and language – that machines cannot access or generate. Having students wrestle with unconventional modes of composition and revision lies at the heart of ensuring that the technology is more of a helpful thought partner, but not a substitute for their voice. Words by Gayle Rogers, Professor of English, University of Pittsburgh. Special thanks for The Conversation. Support and donate today.

With all the talk of busted brackets, game-winning shots, point spreads and Cinderellas, it was easy to miss the eye-popping offer University of Michigan star forward Yaxel Lendeborg claimed to have received during the first weekend of March Madness. University of Michigan star forward Yaxel Lendeborg revealed that he’d been offered millions of dollars to transfer to another school. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images Lendeborg told The Associated Press that the University of Kentucky had dangled between US$7 million and $9 million to entice him to transfer there in 2025. Though University of Kentucky head coach Mark Pope called it “100% false” in a subsequent interview, the numbers being thrown around show just how big a business college sports have become. CBS and Turner are paying the NCAA about $1.1 billion annually through 2032 to air March Madness games. Recent court decisions, settlements and NCAA policy changes have opened the door for top college athletes like Lendeborg to earn millions of dollars. Yet athletic departments are still operating as tax-exempt nonprofits, even as a growing chorus of voices, from academia to politics, is wondering whether this designation should be reevaluated. The nonprofit mission Most private universities operate as 501(c)(3) organizations under the tax code. This IRS designation means it is a nonprofit that serves a public or charitable mission. These nonprofits don’t have to pay federal taxes and can receive tax-deductible donations. Because public universities are already government entities, they don’t need to apply for 501(c)(3) status. However, their affiliated fundraising arms – including those supporting athletics – are set up as separate nonprofit foundations and typically need to apply for and receive that designation. According to the IRS, nonprofits can receive this tax-exempt status if they advance the following missions: “religious, educational, charitable, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition (as long as it doesn’t provide athletic facilities or equipment), or the prevention of cruelty to children or animals.” This designation means that universities will reinvest any leftover funds after expenses – they don’t use the word “profit” – into programs that advance the university’s mission. These include facilities, research, academic departments and scholarships. Donors to a university are able to receive tax deductions for their support. They can usually direct their donations toward funding a specific mission – perhaps in memory of a favorite professor, supporting cancer research or to support extracurricular activities such as sports. In March 2025, for example, philanthropists Maurice and Carolyn Cunniffe gave $100 million to Fordham University to support STEM education, and in December 2025, Acrisure CEO Greg Williams and his wife, Dawn, gave $401 million to Michigan State University, designating over 70% of their historic donation to Michigan State athletics. A windfall for some college athletes I want to return to one phrase from the IRS’ requirements for being designated as a tax-exempt nonprofit: “fostering national or international amateur sports competition.” In 2026, there’s very little about college basketball and football – and, increasingly, sports such as golf and ice hockey – that could be considered “amateur,” which technically means that athletes are not paid salaries or wages for playing and do not compete as their primary profession. In recent years, the NCAA has allowed athletes to earn money through endorsements and sponsorships. Meanwhile, the recently approved settlement in House v. NCAA allows schools to share roughly 20% to 22% of its revenue from licensing, media rights and ticket sales directly with athletes, further complicating the traditional definition of amateurism. The compensation college athletes can receive happens on top of a five-year scholarship that covers the full cost of attendance for some athletes. At the University of Denver, where I teach, five years of attendance is valued at over $435,000. Greg and Dawn Williams made a historic $401 million donation to Michigan State University, $290 million of which was earmarked for athletics. Schools argue that athletics are part of their educational mission, with revenue from football and basketball funding sports that make far less money, such as swimming and gymnastics. But it’s gotten to the point where playing certain college sports can be as lucrative – if not more so – than being a professional athlete. Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams reportedly had to take a pay cut as a rookie after leaving the University of Southern California. Former Notre Dame women’s basketball standout Olivia Miles passed up likely being the second pick in the WNBA draft and instead transferred to Texas Christian University, where, according to a recent ESPN E60 report, she is earning over 10 times what she would have been paid in the WNBA, through a mix of sponsorships and direct payments. Eligibility extensions Some college athletes, such as quarterback Diego Pavia, who most recently played for Vanderbilt University, have sued the NCAA to extend their eligibility beyond the current limit of four seasons and five calendar years. It isn’t unheard of for a player to get seventh, eighth and ninth years of eligibility. Meanwhile, student athletes are routinely playing for two, three or four different schools during their collegiate years. The so-called “transfer portal” – a period when college athletes make it known that they are willing to switch schools – operates like a free agent market in pro sports leagues. This is a far cry from college sports in the 1970s and ’80s, when student athletes were expected to earn their degrees in four years. Until 1968 – and 1972 for football and basketball – freshmen weren’t even allowed to play at the varsity level. The thinking went that they needed a year of adjustment to get a handle on their coursework. For some of today’s college athletes, school isn’t in the picture. Before the 2026 College Football Playoff national championship, a reporter asked University of Miami quarterback Carson Beck, a transfer from Georgia, whether he had to worry about class that week. His response? “No class. I graduated two years ago.” A business separate from the university? This isn’t to say college athletes definitely don’t deserve to be compensated beyond the value of their scholarships. Perhaps they do. But the idea that athletic departments and their associated fundraising arms should be classified as tax-exempt nonprofits promoting education and amateur sports strains credulity. In November 2025, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell submitted a letter to the chief of staff for the U.S. Congress Joint Committee on Taxation. “Given the evolving market dynamics of college sports,” she wrote, “legitimate questions have been raised about whether it is time to rethink the tax-exempt regime under which college sports currently operates.” At this point, college sports strike me as a business only loosely tied to the university. Education scholar John R. Thelin has pointed out how athletics can function like a separate corporation, tied to the university only through scholarships, logo licensing and marketing. So what might happen if athletic departments lost their tax-exempt, charitable status? For one, the government would treat them as businesses, and businesses pay taxes. And their donors and boosters would no longer be eligible to receive tax deductions for gifting money to a program, just like a regular customer at a restaurant doesn’t receive a tax break for regularly dining there. This isn’t unheard of: Some universities already have taxable, for-profit arms, whether it’s in real estate development, hospitality or startup incubators. To some donors, their love for their alma mater may outweigh any tax benefit. But others may find themselves more willing to fund other causes – in or outside a university – that more closely align with the nonprofit mission. Words by Andrew Urbaczewski, Professor of Business Information and Analytics, University of Denver. Special thanks for The Conversation. Support and donate today.

The Shows is set to return to Miami Beach from Thursday, May 28 through Sunday, May 31, 2026, bringing four days of runway presentations, emerging designers, resort fashion, and industry events to the Mondrian South Beach. Recognized as one of the world’s leading swim and resort wear fashion platforms, Miami Swim Week® – The Shows continues to spotlight both established and up-and-coming designers from around the globe, while attracting fashion insiders, media, influencers, buyers, and style enthusiasts to South Florida each year. This year’s event will feature a packed lineup of runway showcases across four evenings, highlighting an international mix of swimwear, resort wear, and lifestyle brands. Featured designers and brands throughout the week include Oisri Swim, Cocora Shop, Hannah Del Mar Swimwear, Bay Swimwear, Belletage Swimwear, Atelier Martinez, Jackie Vera Swimsuit, ADG Swimwear, Lila Nikole, Hera Sea Swimwear, Smart Swimsuits, Luxe Living Fashion, Italian Riviera by Italian Trade Agency, Infamous Swim, Sunburst Swimwear, and many more. Runway Schedule Highlights: Thursday, May 28: Designers featured include Oisri Swim, Chemo Club x Post Swim, Mars the Label, Cocora Shop, Hannah Del Mar Swimwear, Sabana Swim, Bay Swimwear, Blue Body Brazil, and Belletage Swimwear. Friday, May 29: Featured presentations include Beachside Bikinis, Ci Swimwear, Blk Vanilla Collection, Atelier Martinez, Enez Swimwear, Jackie Vera Swimsuit, Southern Saints VI, Spice Market, ADG Swimwear, Space Camp Studios, and Autty Simone. Saturday, May 30: Designers include Body By Apyx, House of Barretti, Harti Swim, Lila Nikole, Clarisse Celeste, Hera Sea Swimwear, Solmare Swimwear, Aluj Swim, Smart Swimsuits, Nur Karaata, Luxe Living Fashion, and Unicas Boutique. Sunday, May 31: The final evening will feature Badi Swim, Relleciga, Italian Riviera by Italian Trade Agency, Vilena Swim, Element of Elodie, Cioccolato Couture, Star Mother Swimwear, Infamous Swim, and Sunburst Swimwear. Miami Swim Week® – The Shows is owned and produced by the DCSW Group, a luxury fashion show production company specializing in innovative runway concepts, technology integration, and large-scale fashion experiences. For more information and event updates, visit the official Miami Swim Week® – The Shows website here and follow @miamiswimweekshows on Instagram. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Miami Swim Week® – The Shows

Miami Children’s Museum will host its Explorers Summer Camp from June 8 to July 31, offering weekly themed programs in nature, performing arts, and hands-on innovation for children ages 3 to 14. The camp is organized into three sessions, each highlighting a different focus. Session I, Wild Miami: Discovery & Nature, runs from June 8 to 26 and features themes such as wildlife exploration, the science of movement, and storytelling through modern myths. Session II, Backstage Pass: Broadway & Beats, runs from June 29 to July 10 and includes activities in performance, stagecraft, and creative science. Session III, Maker City: Build, Invent & Play, runs from July 13 to 31 and centers on engineering challenges, archaeology-inspired discovery, and game design logic. Camp hours are 9 am to 3 pm, with before and after care available. Weekly field trips and lunch are included. Families can learn more and register online through Miami Children’s Museum. For additional details on enrollment and availability, families may contact camp staff by phone or email as listed on the museum’s website. By ML. Photo(s)/Miami Children’s Museum

Versace has launched a new summer accessories selection featuring bags, sunglasses, and beachwear that draw on Mediterranean style and design. The collection focuses on refined seasonal staples, including handbags and eyewear, intended for warm-weather dressing and resort settings. The accessories are available at Versace boutiques and online at versace.com for worldwide purchase. By ML. Photo(s)/Versace

Chanel has expanded its Hydra Beauty Micro Sérum Lèvres collection with the release of two limited-edition scented versions of the hydrating lip serum, alongside a set that combines the new options with the original formula. The Hydra Beauty Micro Sérum Lèvres formula is enriched with hyaluronic acid and White Camellia Extract to help soothe, plump and protect lips, preparing them for makeup application. The original version retains the signature Hydra Beauty fragrance, while the new editions introduce distinct aromatic profiles. Tendre features a blend of raspberry, blackcurrant and a subtle rose facet, and Frais offers fresh green apple notes. Both are presented as limited editions of the lip serum, which is designed to deliver intense hydration and a smooth base for color. Chanel has also introduced a limited-edition Hydra Beauty Lip Care Trio that includes Tendre, Frais and the original Hydra Beauty Micro Sérum Lèvres, giving customers multiple options for daily lip care. Explore the collection on Chanel’s website By ML. Photo(s)/Chanel

Sotheby’s has concluded its latest marquee auction series in New York with total sales of $908.6 million, achieving what the auction house describes as its highest sell-through rate for a major season. The New York Sales brought together works by leading postwar and contemporary artists, including Mark Rothko, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Helen Frankenthaler, and were marked by competitive bidding and several record prices. The series featured strong demand across categories, contributing to what Sotheby’s reports as white-glove results in key sessions and a sell-through rate that surpassed previous marquee seasons. A detailed review of highlights and results from The New York Sales is available on Sotheby’s website, where collectors and observers can read more about the auctions and individual works sold. By ML. Photo(s)/Sotheby’s

Prada has introduced a new selection of women's small leather goods and tech accessories, designed to carry everyday essentials with practicality. Inspired by the brand's iconic designs, the pieces feature lightweight and multifunctional shapes that aim to combine elegance with freedom of movement. The collection is available in Prada's women's accessories section, which also highlights new arrivals in small leather goods and high-tech items. Furthermore, the brand directs customers to the men's and women's new arrivals areas on its website, in addition to offering customer service channels and a physical store locator. By ML. Photo(s)/Prada

Sotheby’s is emphasizing its role in the luxury market as a quicker option than consumer brands and a more secure choice than traditional jewelers for clients looking to buy or sell high-value items. The auction house is directing clients to its official digital channels, including Sotheby’s website and its social media presence, as it promotes streamlined and secure transactions for jewelry and other luxury goods. Clients are encouraged to use the official Sotheby’s mobile app on iOS and Android to manage preferences, follow sales, and access services that aim to provide faster processing and enhanced safety for high-value pieces. By ML. Photo(s)/Sotheby’s

After operating in a temporary Miami location, Score Academy’s new campus opens this fall in a building specified for the school’s teaching model; opening night scheduled for June 18 Score Academy, the South Florida private school network, with almost four decades of history and more than 25 years of continuous Cognia accreditation, is moving its Miami program from a temporary location into a permanent, purpose-built campus at 2900 SW 28th Lane in Coconut Grove. The new campus will serve students in grades 6 through 12 beginning in the 2026–27 academic year. An opening night event is scheduled for Thursday, June 18. The Coconut Grove campus is Score Academy’s fifth in South Florida, joining the network’s established campuses in Boca Raton, Coral Springs, Palm Beach Gardens, and Wellington. It is the network’s most significant investment in a single location to date. The campus was designed from the inside out for the way Score Academy teaches. Classrooms are sized for cohorts of six students working closely with a subject teacher, with acoustics, sightlines, and natural light specified around that model. Classroom technology is integrated into the architecture from the start of the build, supporting the teaching rather than substituting for it. Quiet study spaces, faculty offices designed for one-on-one parent meetings, and common areas sized for the whole school community sit alongside the academic spaces. The campus serves a deliberately small student body across grades 6 through 12, with individual academic attention as the operating condition of the program. The Miami campus operates within Score Academy’s network-wide academic framework. The school is accredited by Cognia and teaches AP and Honors coursework. Transcripts transfer formally between Score Academy’s five South Florida campuses, allowing families to move between locations across the network without academic disruption. “Our Miami families have been with us in a temporary space. The Coconut Grove campus is the permanent home they asked us to build,” said Jason Robinovitz, COO of Score Academy. “Every classroom and space was designed around the way our teachers actually teach, in small cohorts with direct academic attention. We carefully designed and built a school from a blank site, around our program. The opening night on June 18 is for the families who made this campus necessary.” The opening night will be held Thursday, June 18, 2026, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at 2900 SW 28th Lane. Families will be able to walk the new campus before students arrive in the fall. The Miami head of school, Mike Rombola, and members of Score Academy’s founding faculty and admissions team will attend. Families may RSVP at score-academy.com/miami. By ML Staff. Image courtesy of Score Academy Miami