South Florida Local News
Daily Horoscope for October 23, 2024
Healing isn’t always a straight line. With the sensitive Moon squaring cautious Chiron, emotional wounds may be harder to heal and easier to feel. Luna tumbles on to enable intense Mars at 5:20 pm EDT, pushing passion or frustration to overtake us and encourage rash decisions. Don’t worry — once the Moon trines sensitive Neptune, compassion will be more accessible and we can appreciate the silver lining to any clouds. Let’s look past our first impulses and make an effort to act with kindness.
AriesMarch 21 – April 19
You might be more sensitive than normal. Vague comments that usually would have barely registered on your inner scale are likely continuing to ring in your ears after you hear them. You may even be trying to figure out exactly how someone’s feeling based on how they’re acting toward you. Trying to read someone’s mind or adjust what you’re doing to make yourself more digestible is not the way to go! Be kind as you respond, but be kind to yourself, too.
TaurusApril 20 – May 20
Old memories could come out of nowhere. Whether someone from the past returns, a song or a movie reminds you of them, or a memory just strikes out of the blue, it might be emotional to revisit a phase from your history. You might wonder why you’re being made to think about this time again. It’s likely so that you can find inner closure and heal an emotional wound a little more. Acknowledge the memory, and let it go back into the past.
GeminiMay 21 – June 20
Lost connections may be making you doubt yourself. Insecurities that are connected to people who used to be a bigger part of your life, but have since moved on, may be playing on your mind and bringing on worries that you did something wrong. In truth, people grow in different directions, and what is for you will always find you. It may be that you simply grew apart. Regardless, it’s time that you seek out friends who align with who you are today.
CancerJune 21 – July 22
Show the world who you are, Cancer. While this may sound intense, you’ve potentially been shying away from showing everyone what you are truly capable of — maybe even refusing to acknowledge this inner power yourself. You may have capabilities that you’ve never tapped into because you feel that it would be too much responsibility or that you wouldn’t be able to handle the pressure, but you’re meant to start growing in the direction of what challenges you. Step up to the plate!
LeoJuly 23 – August 22
There’s a difference between running away and moving on. You might feel as if you should talk with someone directly to find closure, or make a dramatic gesture to prove to others that you didn’t let their lack of faith stop you. In reality, you likely need to put these people out of your mind and remind yourself that you can’t force anyone to apologize or to feel the way you do. What you feel is valid, even without their acknowledgment.
VirgoAugust 23 – September 22
Which obstacles are holding you back from pursuing first place? You might feel as though you are trapped where you are, unable to move from your place and go after what you want. Factors that may be working against you possibly seem overwhelming. Perhaps pessimism insists that you’ll never overcome them, so why bother? The truth is that this phase really is about the journey rather than the destination, so don’t worry about becoming the best of the best. Just be your best.
LibraSeptember 23 – October 22
What you show might not be what others see. Everyone views the world through unique lenses based on their past, their culture, and a myriad of other filters. This can make it feel as though you’re not being heard, or like they are purposely misunderstanding you, but things like that are unlikely to be the case. All you can do is express yourself as clearly as you can, and if they don’t get it yet, maybe it will sink in for them later.
ScorpioOctober 23 – November 21
A balance may need to be struck. You could be overly optimistic about what you can reasonably do — be wary of overburdening yourself with tasks that you might not be able to complete. Making such unfulfillable promises risks letting everyone down — including yourself. Still, this doesn’t mean that you should refuse to assist anyone or isolate yourself. What’s most important is to know your limits, communicate them, and respect the fact that you’re just one person. You can only do so much!
SagittariusNovember 22 – December 21
Take a chance! There could be an opportunity to be spontaneous today, but you might snub it in order to hide yourself from risk. You might be feeling low or discouraged, or just not up to the effort to get out of the house and do something fun and exciting. While you could be tempted to tell them no, you won’t be accepting that free concert ticket or party invite, think twice. Letting life lead you somewhere unexpected may pay off in major ways.
CapricornDecember 22 – January 19
Someone might be trying to force you down the path that they took. Be aware of those in your life, likely older family members or friends, who will attempt to give you advice unfit for your life. You may or may not have asked for it! Either way, you’re capable of recognizing that when they’re critiquing your chosen course, they’re talking about what would have been best for them, not necessarily what would work for you. Feel free to listen, but choose your own direction.
AquariusJanuary 20 – February 18
Chaos is currently hindering your efforts to show up for yourself. You might not be in the right frame of mind to stay consistent or stick with your routine. Frustration can arise quickly, despite your best efforts. If you’re overwhelmed and feel like every box on your to-do list is going unchecked, hit the pause button. Taking a moment to regroup will be worth it. Meditate, breathe, take a walk — whatever you need to find your center and try again.
PiscesFebruary 19 – March 20
Insecurities may threaten today’s entertainment. There might be something that’s always seemed like a lot of fun to you, but your self-doubt keeps halting your attempts to have a good time. Even when your confidence isn’t at an all-time high, you can hype yourself up and be your own mental cheerleader. There might not be someone around to boost your mood, but you’ll probably enjoy motivating yourself. Don’t let your fear of what could go wrong prevent what could go right.
Arrest made in July shooting that killed woman outside North Lauderdale apartment complex
A 23-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a shooting in July that killed a woman outside of a North Lauderdale apartment complex, but authorities have not yet released a motive or said whether the woman was targeted or a random victim.
On July 15, Bryanna Nina was standing outside of the complex in the 1000 block of Southwest 76th Avenue shortly before 7 p.m. when multiple people got out of a dark-colored car and started shooting, the Broward Sheriff’s Office said.
Nina was shot multiple times and was pronounced dead at Broward Health North in Pompano Beach. The Sheriff’s Office has not released her age or the city she was from, citing Marsy’s Law, a voter-approved constitutional amendment that allows crime victims and their families to prevent identifying information from being released publicly.
Tyler Mobley, 23, of Sunrise, was arrested on a warrant Monday on one count of first-degree murder. The Sheriff’s Office did not provide details about the investigation leading to Mobley’s arrest. Court records were not available Tuesday night.
Mobley is actively on felony probation that was scheduled to end in March 2025 for multiple offenses in 2022 and 2023, including a weapon-related charge, fleeing and eluding and burglary, Florida Department of Corrections records show.
Woman shot to death outside apartment complex in North Lauderdale, deputies say
Court records show he was arrested by Broward Sheriff’s deputies in August, nearly a month after the shooting, after he was found with two fake driver’s licenses. That case remains pending.
In June, about a month before the shooting, Mobley was arrested on a warrant for a September 2023 grand theft of a motor vehicle offense. He was released after posting bail, court records show. That case remains pending.
Filip Gustavsson, Minnesota Wild roll past Florida Panthers
By TIM REYNOLDS
SUNRISE — Filip Gustavsson continued his sizzling start to the season by making 24 saves, Jake Middleton tied a career-best with three assists and the Minnesota Wild beat the Florida Panthers 5-1 on Tuesday night.
Mats Zuccarello had his team-leading fourth goal of the season for the Wild, who also got goals from Marcus Johansson, Marco Rossi, Matt Boldy and Joel Eriksson Ek. Rossi and Johansson scored 22 seconds apart in the first period for a 2-0 lead, and it was 5-1 by the end of the second.
Sam Bennett got his fifth goal of the season for Florida, with Matthew Tkachuk — back from a five-game absence because of illness — getting one of the assists. The Panthers announced a contract extension for coach Paul Maurice before the game.
TakeawaysWild: Gustavsson (4-0-1) has allowed seven goals on 145 shots so far this season. That means he’s allowed only six more goals than he’s scored.
Panthers: Sergei Bobrovsky gave up five goals on 16 shots and was pulled after the second period, replaced by Spencer Knight. Bobrovsky remained one win shy of becoming the 14th goaltender with 400 victories.
Key momentEriksson Ek’s goal with 3:55 left in the second made it 5-1. It was Minnesota’s biggest lead in Sunrise since a 6-2 edge on Oct. 16, 2008.
Key statThe Wild (4-0-2, 10 points) have gotten at least one point in each of their first six games. The last time that happened was 2008-09 (5-0-1, 11 points).
Up nextMinnesota plays the fifth game of its seven-game road swing Thursday at Tampa Bay. Florida visits the New York Rangers on Thursday, the start of a three-game trip to the Empire State — one that’ll be followed by games in Finland Nov. 1 and 2 against Dallas. The Panthers next play in Sunrise on Nov. 7.
Driver accused in deadly Pompano Beach hit-and-run crash arrested week later
The driver of a Nissan Rogue accused of hitting a man in Pompano Beach and leaving him dead in the road was arrested Sunday, a week after the crash, authorities said.
Willian Eduardo Beltran Velasquez, 31, of Coral Springs, was held in the Broward Main Jail as of Tuesday night on one count of leaving the scene of an accident involving death and one count of tampering with physical evidence.
Someone called authorities shortly after 4 a.m. Oct. 13 to report a person was lying in the middle of the road near the 1700 block of North Dixie Highway, the Broward Sheriff’s Office said. The victim, an adult man, was pronounced dead there, and pieces from the front of a 2008 to 2013 silver Nissan Rogue were found at the scene.
Detectives found a Nissan Rogue with damage in Coral Springs on Sunday and matched it with pieces that were left at the crash scene, the Sheriff’s Office said. The Sheriff’s Office did not provide additional details about their investigation leading to the arrest. Court records were not available Tuesday night.
Man killed in early morning hit-and-run crash in Pompano Beach
Harris says she’s ready if Trump tries to prematurely declare victory, isn’t worried about sexism
By COLLEEN LONG and ZEKE MILLER
WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris said Tuesday that her team is prepared to challenge Donald Trump if he tries to prematurely declare victory in the 2024 election — but she’s first focused on beating the Republican nominee.
Harris spoke to NBC News just two weeks before Election Day, as part of a media blitz meant to deliver her closing argument before as many persuadable voters as possible. She said she was not concerned about the role sexism could play in the election, as she stands to be the first woman elected to the White House, and again defended President Joe Biden’s fitness for office.
Harris said the Democrats “have the resources and the expertise” should Trump try to subvert the election.
“This is a person, Donald Trump, who tried to undo the — a free and fair election, who still denies the will of the people, who incited a violent mob to attack the United States Capitol and some 140 law enforcement officers were attacked. Some — were killed. This is a very serious matter,” she said.
Trump has been criminally charged with trying to overturn the 2020 election, and refuses to admit he lost to President Joe Biden. After a failed legal effort to overturn the results, a mob of Trump supporters rioted at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, attacking law enforcement in an effort to stop the certification of the race.
At Harris’ rallies, some of her supporters chant “Lock him up,” something Trump often said about his former Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton. Harris often replies: “The courts will take care of that. We’ll take care of November.”
At a campaign stop Tuesday, Biden said, “We’ve got to lock him up,” but Biden quickly added: “Politically lock him up. Lock him out, that’s what we have to do.”
“No president has ever been like this guy,” Biden said. “He’s a genuine threat to our democracy.”
Speaking to supporters Tuesday, Trump criticized Harris for spending the day conducting interviews, appearing to try to sow distrust in the election. “She knows something that we don’t know,” he said. “I think she knows some kind of result that we don’t know.”
While partisan battles over voting rules have long been part of presidential campaigns, election litigation has soared in recent years. With money pouring in for legal fights and the number of outside groups involved in election litigation proliferating, the disputes are not likely slow down anytime soon.
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Harris told NBC that she’s not focused on pointing out the historic nature of her candidacy, saying, “I’m clearly a woman, I don’t need to point that out to anyone.”
She added that she’s not worried about sexism harming her candidacy, saying she’s focused on speaking to all voters.
“I will never assume that anyone in our country should elect a leader based on their gender or their race, instead that that leader needs to earn the vote based on substance and what they will do to address challenges and to inspire people,” she said.
The vice president also defended Biden, whose disastrous debate against Trump forced him to abandon his reelection campaign and cleared the way for her to become the Democratic nominee for president.
Harris said she still believes Biden is “capable in every way” to be president, saying “you’d have to ask him if that’s the only reason why” he dropped out of the race, but she has “no reluctance” in saying he’s up for the job.
Border arrests fall in September in last monthly gauge before US elections
By ELLIOT SPAGAT
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Arrests for illegally crossing the border from Mexico fell 7% in September to a more than four-year low, authorities said Tuesday. It was likely the last monthly gauge during a presidential campaign in which Republican nominee Donald Trump has made immigration a signature issue.
The Border Patrol made 53,858 arrests, down from 58,009 in August and the lowest tally since August 2020, when arrests totaled 47,283, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Mexicans accounted for nearly half of arrests, becoming a greater part of the mix. In December, when arrests reached an all-time high of 250,000, Mexicans made up fewer than 1 in 4. Arrests for other major nationalities seen at the border, including Guatemalans, Hondurans, Colombians and Ecuadoreans, have plunged this year.
San Diego was again the busiest corridor for illegal crossings in September, followed by El Paso, Texas, and Tucson, Arizona.
For the government’s fiscal year ended Sept. 30, the Border Patrol made 1.53 million arrests after topping 2 million in each of the previous two years for the first time.
The White House touted the numbers as proof that severe asylum restrictions introduced in June were having the intended effect, and blamed congressional Republicans for opposing a border security bill that failed in February. Vice President Kamala Harris has used that line of attack against Trump to try to blunt criticism that the Biden administration has been weak on immigration enforcement.
“The Biden Harris Administration has taken effective action, and Republican officials continue to do nothing,” said White House spokesman Angelo Fernández Hernández.
The Federation for American Immigration Reform, a frequent administration critic and advocate for immigration restrictions, attributed recent declines to more enforcement by Mexican officials within their own borders, saying the White House “essentially outsourced U.S. border security to Mexico in advance of the 2024 election — policies that can be reversed at any time that the government of Mexico chooses.”
Arrests fell sharply after Mexico increased enforcement in December, and took a steeper dive after the U.S. asylum restrictions took effect in June. U.S. officials haven’t been shy about highlighting Mexico’s role.
Mexican authorities are encountering more migrants this year while deportations remain relatively low, creating a bottleneck. Panamanian authorities reported an increase in migrants walking through the notorious Darien Gap during September, though numbers are still well below last year.
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“We continue to be concerned about any bottlenecks, we continue to look at those, we continue to address them with our partners,” Miller said at a news conference in San Diego.
The Biden administration has promoted new and expanded legal pathways to enter the country in an effort to discourage illegal crossings. In September, CBP allowed more than 44,600 people to enter with appointments on an online system called CBP One, bringing the total to 852,000 since it was introduced in January 2023.
Another Biden policy allows up to 30,000 people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela with financial sponsors to enter monthly through airports. More than 531,000 people from those four countries have entered that way up through September.
Associated Press writer Maria Verza in Mexico City contributed.
‘This is going to happen’: Mom delivers baby girl in back of rescue truck on way to hospital
Jenesis Turner entered the world at 8:35 a.m. Tuesday — a few days later and about 2 miles short of her mom’s plan.
Jade Turner, 26, and her sister were driving from Deerfield Beach to Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday morning when it became apparent Turner was not going to make it to the hospital in time to deliver her second baby.
Turner’s sister got off Interstate 95 and was met with morning rush-hour traffic, then pulled over in a residential area near Southwest 17th Avenue and Southwest 12th Court off of Davie Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue officials told the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue received the call of a woman in labor about 8:20 a.m., said Lt. Evelio Manso. As the Rescue 247 crew and the Engine 47 crew headed to where Turner and her sister had parked, they, too, were fighting through morning traffic.
Engineer Anthony Schutzer said Davie Boulevard was a “parking lot” as they were on their way, and the address they first received — Southwest 17th Avenue and Davie Boulevard — wasn’t quite right, which added a bit of confusion. Once they got an updated location, they found the car within seconds, Schutzer said.
“Everyone was a little amped up … We already know what we’re about to walk into, but your adrenaline starts pumping,” Schutzer said.
Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue crews arrived in the area of Southwest 17th Avenue and Southwest 12th Court shortly before 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, where Jade Turner was actively in labor in the passenger seat of a parked car. (Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue/Courtesy)Manso said when they arrived, Turner was actively in labor in the passenger seat of the car. Still, Turner and her sister “were both pretty cool,” Manso said.
Turner, who was 40 weeks pregnant, told the rescue crews her due date was Oct. 19.
It was evident: “This is going to happen,” Manso said.
Turner was transferred from the car into the back of Rescue 247, and as they were on the way to Broward Health Medical Center, Jenesis made her debut. Firefighter EMT Sean Horan, who assisted with the delivery, said by the time the truck crossed the bridge on Davie Boulevard, the 7-pound, 1-ounce girl had been born.
Less than five minutes had passed since they transferred Turner into the rescue truck, Horan said.
Jenesis was “nice and healthy and crying” when she arrived, Manso said. The crew cut the umbilical cord, cleaned and wrapped her and “everything was fine,” he said.
Horan has been on the job for less than a year. Tuesday’s call was a first for him. Just about a month ago, Horan said he sat down with a lieutenant in the back of a rescue truck and went over what to do on a call like Tuesday’s. He cut the umbilical cord after delivery.
Jade Turner arrives at Broward Health Medical Center with her newborn baby, Jenesis Turner. Turner gave birth in the back of a Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue truck at 8:35 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, while on the way to Broward Health Medical Center. (Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue/Courtesy)“It’s very exciting. My wife is pregnant, too, so it was good practice for me,” Horan said. “I’m a rookie here … so this is a big call for me, and the fact that everything went smoothly — I’m just very grateful for the mom and the baby. I’ll never forget this day for the rest of my career.”
It was Schutzer’s first delivery, too, after seven years on the job. He said his father was a captain with Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue and in his 28 years on the job had never delivered a baby.
“To actually go through the whole process — coach mom through pushing, cutting the cord and everything, was a very low frequency call for us,” he said.
The fire rescue crews brought Turner balloons and flowers at Broward Health on Tuesday afternoon.
“I’m happy to be here. I’m happy to have this experience. This experience is like once in a lifetime,” Turner told WPLG-Ch. 10 from the hospital. “I mean, I have a daughter, but it didn’t happen how her birth happened. It’s like you see these type of things happen on the TV.”
Horan said Turner told them that her 3-year-old daughter has aspirations to be a firefighter some day.
“Maybe her daughter that’s 3 or the one that we delivered will choose this career path one day … You never know. The circle of life,” Horan said.
Pizzo challenge to Florida DOT’s marijuana ad is dismissed
A Leon County circuit judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by incoming Senate Minority Leader Jason Pizzo, D-Sunny Isles Beach, that alleged the Florida Department of Transportation improperly spent state money to oppose a ballot measure that would allow recreational use of marijuana.
In a two-page order issued Monday, Circuit Judge Angela Dempsey granted a request by the department to dismiss the lawsuit, which stemmed from a television ad the agency has recently sponsored about dangers of driving after using marijuana.
Pizzo filed the lawsuit Oct. 4 and sought an injunction, contending that the department “does not have the unilateral authority to pick sides and spend tax dollars to advocate against Amendment 3 (the ballot proposal).”
The lawsuit said the ad “specifically warns that ‘DUI crashes increase in states with legalized marijuana putting everyone at risk.”
But Dempsey wrote, in part, that state law gives the department “budgetary authority to spend funds on public service commercials, and the commercial in question does not mention Amendment 3, voting or the election.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis is helping lead efforts to defeat the proposed amendment during the Nov. 5 election. His administration also has spurred controversy by running ads that critics contend improperly are designed to defeat a separate ballot proposal on abortion rights.
Russia and Iran may fuel violent post-election protests in the US, intelligence officials warn
By DAVID KLEPPER
WASHINGTON (AP) — Russia and Iran may try to encourage violent protests in the U.S. after next month’s election, senior intelligence officials warned Tuesday, citing two recent examples of foreign intelligence agencies seeking to sow discord ahead of the vote.
The officials, with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, said both countries could support violent protests either by covertly organizing events themselves or by encouraging participation in those planned by domestic groups. The aim, the officials said, would be to increase division, cast doubt on election results and complicate the transfer of presidential power.
In January, Russian military intelligence tried to recruit an American to organize protests in the U.S., according to a declassified national intelligence memo released publicly Tuesday. The American was “probably unwitting” and did not know he was in contact with Russian agents, the memo said.
The U.S. first accused the Iranian government of covertly supporting protests against American support for Israel during the war in Gaza. Individuals linked to Iran offered to cover the cost of travel to protests this year in Washington, the memo said.
The risk that one of America’s adversaries could encourage political violence after the election is greater this year, officials said, because officials in both nations now have a better understanding of the complicated process the U.S. uses to certify the vote. The Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters also highlighted just how easily false and misleading claims about election results can trigger deadly real-world action.
The period between Election Day and the inauguration of the new president poses special risks as foreign adversaries and domestic extremists could seek to disrupt election certification by exploiting misleading claims or innocent irregularities. Concerns about safety already have prompted election workers in some communities to install bulletproof glass and panic buttons because of the risk of election-related incidents.
Fears of political violence have grown amid concerns about widening polarization and growing distrust, a trend America’s adversaries have tried to accelerate by using online disinformation and propaganda. Besides hoping to shape the outcome of the election, officials say Russia and Iran — as well as China — want to undermine American unity by spreading false and misleading claims about elections, voting and hot-button issues like immigration, the economy or the federal response to recent hurricanes.
For Russia, which aims to erode support for Ukraine, that means favoring former President Donald Trump, who has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and criticized the NATO alliance. Iran, meanwhile, has sought to hurt Trump’s campaign through disinformation and by hacking into its campaign emails.
Trump’s administration ended a nuclear deal with Iran, reimposed sanctions and ordered the killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, an act that prompted Iran’s leaders to vow revenge.
Russia will likely try to foment protests in the U.S. regardless of who wins the White House, according to an official with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, who briefed reporters Tuesday on the condition of anonymity under rules set out by the office of the director. Officials said they expect Russia’s response will be more aggressive, however, if Harris defeats Trump.
China also has spread disinformation seemingly designed to mislead and confuse Americans, but intelligence officials say they have no indication that Beijing will seek to encourage violent protests. While China has sought to meddle in down-ballot races for Congress or state and local office, U.S. intelligence officials and private analysts agree that Beijing has expressed no meaningful preference in the presidential race.
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Voting advocacy organizations and civil rights groups have responded to concerns of election violence with public outreach initiatives aimed at increasing resilience to disinformation and at reminding them that Americans agree on more than the current political climate suggests.
“In 2024, voters must know that they will decide the outcome of the election — not a political party, extremist groups or purveyors of disinformation,” said Maya Wiley, president and CEO of the Leadership Conference for Civil and Human Rights, which has launched its own efforts to fight election misinformation and the political violence it could spur. “Democracy requires passionate persistence.”
Russia, China and Iran have all rejected claims that they seek to meddle with the U.S. election. On Tuesday, a spokesperson for Iran’s U.N. mission pointed to past statements denying an intention to interfere in American politics. A spokesperson for China’s Embassy in Washington told The Associated Press that U.S. officials’ claims about Chinese disinformation are “full of malicious speculations against China.”
A message left with Russia’s embassy was not immediately returned Tuesday.
FACT FOCUS: Inactive voters on Michigan’s rolls are misrepresented in suggestions of fraud
BY MELISSA GOLDIN
Less than two weeks from Election Day, posts circulating on social media claim that Michigan has 500,000 more registered voters than it has people eligible to vote, a point used to suggest possible fraud in the system. But the claim misrepresents Michigan’s voter registration data, adding inactive voters to the total of those registered to make it appear there is an issue in the crucial swing state.
Here’s a closer look at the facts.
CLAIM: Michigan has 500,000 more registered voters than people eligible to vote, which creates the potential for widespread fraud.
THE FACTS: This is missing context. While the state does have more total voter registrations than eligible voters, that number includes voters who are inactive but cannot yet be removed from voter rolls under federal and state laws. The number of active voters is far less than those who are eligible to vote, and experts say there is no reason to believe that widespread fraud will result.
Still, numerous social media users have suggested these numbers are proof that Michigan is trying to cheat in the 2024 election. Among them is billionaire X owner Elon Musk, who has committed at least $70 million in support of former President Donald Trump.
“Jocelyn Michelle Benson, shame on you for blatantly lying to the public!” Musk wrote in an X post directed at Michigan’s secretary of state. “You only plan to remove ineligible voters AFTER this election. That necessarily means that there are far more people registered to vote than there eligible voters.”
The post had been liked and shared approximately 218,400 times as of Tuesday.
Benson responded on X, stating: “Let’s be clear: @elonmusk is spreading dangerous disinformation. Here are the facts: There aren’t more voters than citizens in Michigan. There are 7.2 million active registered voters and 7.9 citizens of voting age in our state. Musk is pushing a misleading number that includes 1.2 million inactive records slated for removal in accordance with the law.”
Musk did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press.
There were approximately 7.9 million people of voting age in Michigan as of July 1, 2023. This figure is 500,000 fewer than the total registered voters — approximately 8.4 million. But that’s because the total registered voters include 1.2 million voters who are inactive. Those labeled inactive have not voted for six consecutive years or have not responded to a notice confirming their residency. Inactive voters are still eligible to vote.
Under state and federal law, voters are only removed from voter rolls after they have been sent a notice that their registration is subject to cancellation and two subsequent federal election cycles have passed without any response or voting activity. Voter registration cannot be canceled only because of a failure to vote.
This waiting period is why there are more total registered voters than eligible ones in the state.
More than 339,000 voter registrations are slated for cancellation in 2025 and more than 257,000 in 2027. As of March 2024, Michigan had canceled more than 800,000 voter registrations since 2019, including 273,609 for possible changes of residency, 532,513 for deaths and 16,716 at the request of the voter, according to its Department of State.
The Republican National Committee and two individual voters filed a federal lawsuit in March against Benson and Michigan Bureau of Elections Director Jonathan Brater for allegedly failing to “maintain clean and accurate voter registration records.” The suit was dismissed on Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Jane Beckering, who said the plaintiffs lacked legal standing and, regardless, did not state a plausible claim.
Michigan is hardly the only state with large numbers of inactive voters on its rolls. Every state — aside from the six which are exempt from the National Voter Registration Act — must send voters a cancellation notice and wait two federal election cycles before removing inactive voters.
The large numbers of inactive voters is a sign of robust list maintenance, according to David Becker, the founder and executive director of The Center for Election Innovation and Research, who served as a co-chair on Michigan’s Election Security Advisory Commission.
“You can only have a voter be inactive if you’re really engaged in list maintenance,” he said.
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Election experts say it can be difficult for officials to keep track of voters who have moved out of state since there is no federal voter registration database. The Electronic Registration Information System, or ERIC, lets states share data that helps them keep accurate voter rolls and can identify potential illegal voting. But membership is voluntary — ERIC is currently made up of 24 states, including Michigan, and the District of Columbia.
It is unlikely that voters who are on voter rolls in more than one state will try to vote twice, experts say. Becker, who spearheaded ERIC’s development, said “double voting happens extremely rarely.” ERIC is among the safeguards that helps detect such fraud.
Christopher Thomas, who served as Michigan’s director of elections from 1981 to 2017, said that “most people would view voting twice as probably a pretty stiff felony” and therefore not worth the risk.
“Based on attempting to be a rational person and having been in the field for 50 years now and having never seen anybody prove any massive fraud in a presidential election in that time period, I think a rational person would conclude that it’s not going to be a present issue,” he said.
Dolphins Q&A: To prevent injury, what does Tua Tagovailoa need to change about his playing style?
Here’s the latest installment of our Miami Dolphins Q&A, where South Florida Sun Sentinel writers David Furones and Chris Perkins answer questions from readers.
Q: Perk, I heard you ask Tua yesterday if he’s going to change his play style to protect himself. I heard his answer, but what do you think he needs to change? — Sam on Dolphins Deep Dive w/Perk
I think Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa needs to change his competitive nature. That’s who got him injured against Buffalo a few weeks ago when he ran head-first into Bills safety Damar Hamlin.
He also needs to continue keep the back of his head from hitting the ground, which isn’t easy because it happens to football players frequently. It happened to Tagovailoa in his two previous diagnosed concussions in 2022, a head trauma incident against Buffalo in 2022, and this recent concussion against Buffalo (re-watch the video).
It’ll be interesting to see if Tagovailoa can harness his competitive nature. I think it’ll be fairly easy against Arizona on Sunday. It’s the first game back and such wise decisions will be forefront in his mind.
But as the schedule turns to December and you really need those yards and that victory, I’m not sure Tagovailoa will play on the conservative side.
I hope he does. But it’s very hard to get such a competitive nature under control in game-time situations.
Q: Tua is back, our schedule is weak. — Dana Buice on Dolphins Deep Dive w/Perk
Yes, Tagovailoa is scheduled to practice Wednesday and play Sunday against Arizona after missing the last four games with a concussion, a stretch that saw the Dolphins go 1-3.
According to my esteemed and trusted colleague, David Furones, the Dolphins’ 11 remaining opponents have a combined record of 31-45 (.408).
The Dolphins have gone 2-4 against their previous opponents, who have a combined record of 17-26 (.395).
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The difference is negligible.
I don’t like to speak in absolutes. So I’ll soften this by saying that the Dolphins “possibly” have three certain losses on the schedule — at Buffalo (Nov. 3), at Green Bay (Nov. 28) and at Houston (Dec. 15). Those are quality opponents and road games. That’s been a bad combination for the Dolphins in the coach Mike McDaniel era.
If you do the math you realize if the Dolphins go 8-3 the rest of the way, they finish 10-7 and they almost certainly make the playoffs, and possibly get a home playoff game.
If the Dolphins go 7-4 the rest of the way they finish 9-8 and possibly make the playoffs.
If you assume the three loshttps://www.sun-sentinel.com/2024/10/21/grading-miami-dolphins-16-10-loss-to-the-indianapolis-colts/ses to Buffalo, Green Bay and Houston, then the Dolphins’ toughest remaining games would be at the Los Angeles Rams (Nov. 11, Monday night), against San Francisco (Dec. 22), at Cleveland (Dec. 29) and at the New York Jets (Jan. 5).
That’s a road game (Rams), a quality home opponent (49ers), and two potential cold-weather road games (Browns and Jets).
You can only lose one of those four games and still make the playoffs.
Q: Dolphins are the weak part of everyone’s schedule. — Billy Batson on Dolphins Deep Dive w/Perk
This is an interesting contrast to the above statement.
But certainly that’s the way the Dolphins’ opponents are viewing things.
The Dolphins are last in scoring offense (11.7 points per game) and 22nd in total offense (308.2 yards per game).
They also lead the league in penalties per game (8.2).
And consider this…
The Dolphins are 3-5 in Tagovailoa’s last eight starts. He has eight touchdowns and eight interceptions, and the Dolphins average 18.4 ppg.
In the bigger picture, the Dolphins are 8-9 in their last 17 games (including playoffs), 3-7 in their last 10 games (including playoffs), and 1-4 in their last five games.
McDaniel, including playoffs, has a 22-20 (.524) career record with the Dolphins.
No one fears the Dolphins at the moment.
Q: Any GM that gets a QB off the Jets roster should be fired just for that. — I GOTGAME “AJ” NJ on Dolphins Deep Dive w/Perk
That’s an obvious shot at Dolphins general manager Chris Grier for signing quarterback Tim Boyle. This might be a bad time to remind you that Mike White, last year’s backup quarterback, previously played for the New York Jets.
I don’t think they should have released White. But I digress …
This is all the result of a bad backup quarterback plan.
The Dolphins should have kept White.
This is an extremely difficult offense for quarterbacks. You can’t just insert someone in this system after a couple of weeks. They need months. Tagovailoa has basically said that, and Boyle basically said that.
The Dolphins blew it, but McDaniel shares responsibility with Grier.
Q: The Dolphins can’t beat good teams. Nothing has changed until they (including Tua) prove they can do it. — Matt Newton on Dolphins Deep Dive w/Perk
You’re exactly right about that.
They got smoked by Buffalo (31-10).
The Dolphins were 1-6 against playoff teams last season and they only averaged 16 ppg.
Their opponents averaged 32 ppg.
None of that is good.
Q: McDaniel and Tua are gonna hear it if we don’t win this Sunday. They both tied to the hip. — CAP 4 LIFE on Dolphins Deep Dive w/Perk
Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.
A loss on Sunday almost eliminates the Dolphins (2-4) from the playoffs.
A loss on Sunday would drop the Dolphins to 2-5, meaning they’d have to go at least 7-2 the rest of the season to have a realistic shot at the playoffs.
And, yeah, whether fair or not, McDaniel and Tagovailoa would probably get the vast majority of the blame.
Listen to Dolphins Deep Dive with Perk: The Miami Dolphins Podcast
South Florida Sun Sentinel columnist Chris Perkins is joined by Dave Hyde and David Furones to go head-to-head over the ups and downs of the Miami Dolphins in their live show, now available as a free podcast. Shows include game analysis, predictions, player moves, rumors and more.
Season 9, Episode 9: Dolphins vs. Cardinals | Chris Perkins and David Furones break down the Miami Dolphins’ abysmal loss to the Titans on Sunday and tackle the planned return of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Plus, a preview of next Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. Kickoff is 1 p.m.
Listen below or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or iHeartRadio.
Dolphins Deep Dive: Prediction time — will Tua’s return spark a win over Cardinals? | VIDEO
In this Dolphins Deep Dive video, the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Chris Perkins and David Furones discuss if the return of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will lead Miami (2-4) to a win at home this Sunday vs. the Arizona Cardinals (3-4).
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Federal regulators gave a strong push to electric-powered air taxis Wednesday by issuing a final rule for operating the aircraft and how pilots will be trained to fly them.
The head of the Federal Aviation Administration, Mike Whitaker, said the rule recognizes air taxis as an entirely new type of aircraft that will soon join airplanes and helicopters in the sky.
These aircraft take off and land vertically, like helicopters, but fly like fixed-wing planes. Many companies are working to get them on the market, but they have been held back by the lack of clarity over regulations to govern their use.
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Whitaker said the FAA is stressing safety as it works to fold the new aircraft into the nation’s airspace. He said “powered-lift aircraft” are the first new category of aircraft in nearly 80 years, since the dawn of helicopters, and the rule will allow for their widespread operation.
Air taxi supporters call them a cleaner alternative to passenger planes that burn jet fuel. So far, however, current technology limits their size and likely means that they will be used most often in urban areas. Companies envision carrying people and cargo.
One of the companies in the new field, California-based Joby Aviation, praised the FAA regulation. CEO JoeBen Bevirt said the rules “will ensure the U.S. continues to play a global leadership role in the development and adoption of clean flight.”
Airlines see air taxis as a way to deliver passengers to airports. Delta Air Lines said in 2022 it would invest $60 million in Joby, and this month Toyota announced a $500 million investment. United Airlines is backing another California-based company, Archer Aviation, with an order for 200 aircraft that Archer said could be worth $1 billion with an option for $500 million more.
Dolphins Deep Dive: Who has most impactful return from injury in local sports history? | VIDEO
In this Dolphins Deep Dive video, the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Chris Perkins and David Furones discuss the most impactful returns from injury in South Florida sports history and how this may fare for Tua Tagovailoa’s return.
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Finally back from shoulder surgery, Heat’s Josh Richardson now sidelined by heel ailment
MIAMI — Just when Josh Richardson finally could shoulder the burden, the veteran Miami Heat guard now finds himself on uneven footing.
Having been held out the entire preseason as he recovered from last season’s shoulder surgery, Richardson was cleared just in time to now be sidelined by an inflamed left heel.
“Tweaked it, got some inflammation in it,” Richardson said after Tuesday’s practice at Kaseya Center, ahead of Wednesday’s 7:30 p.m. season opener against the visiting Orlando Magic. “After not running for six months, getting back into it is going to be tough on the lower body, as well.
“So I came back, and it’s kind of like up and down. Now it’s down for the last few days, but hopefully get back up soon.”
Having signed a two-year deal at the NBA veteran minimum in the 2023 offseason to return to the team that selected him in the second round of the 2015 draft out of Tennessee, Richardson in June picked up his player option for this season, unable due to the shoulder surgery to again test the waters in free agency.
Now the waiting game continues, with offseason free-agent acquisition Alec Burks in place to pick up any minutes potentially available in the wing rotation.
“They said it’s just comfort level,” Richardson, 31, said, when asked about a potential return date. “So I’m just working trying to stack good days.”
Still, Richardson said he is heartened with the clearance for the shoulder.
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“Maybe just a little range you got to work on to get out,” he said of residual discomfort, “but it’s pretty much close enough.”
The only other player on the Heat injury report is guard Josh Christopher, who continues to deal with a toe contusion, as he settles in with his two-way contact.
Timing elementHalftime for Wednesday night’s game will be extended by 10 minutes for the ceremony honoring the naming of the Kaseya Center court for Heat president Pat Riley.
“It’s just a really, really cool thing we’re all getting to be a part of,” coach Erik Spoelstra said Tuesday. “We get to make him uncomfortable for a night.
“He doesn’t really like all this attention. He’s pushed us in so many ways out of our comfort zones over the years, we get to flip the tables on him, shine the light on him, celebrate him. I can’t wait for that.”
From the startHaving missed 40 games last season, guard Tyler Herro did not mince words Tuesday about his goal for this season.
“Being healthy,” Herro said. “That’s my main goal for the season, just being healthy and being on the court for my teammates, coaches, the whole organization.
“I owe it to them to be on the court as much as possible. Unless I can’t walk or I can’t do something, I’m gonna be on the court.”
What Herro said he won’t be doing nearly as much, nor will teammates, is shooting as many midrange shots as previously, with the Heat’s increased focus only on shots at the rim or from the 3-point arc.
“Honestly,” Herro said, “I don’t remember the last person who shot a midrange shot in a practice or scrimmage or anything. We haven’t shot those all preseason or training camp.
“There’s been a lot of focus on getting to the rim, putting pressure on the paint, getting open threes, finding ways to create advantages for our attackers, our spacers, guys who can score.”
From the outsetSpoelstra hinted he would not shy from utilizing the three players under two-way contract — Christopher, Keshad Johnson and Dru Smith — early and often, if needed.
“We love our two-way contracts, with their upside, the ability to develop them, but also playable now,” he said. “That just gives us a lot of depth and versatility.”
Players under two-way contracts are limited to 50 games on the active roster over the 82-game regular season, but no more than a combined total of 90 such games as long as the standard roster is at 14 players, one below the NBA regular-season limit, as it is now.
Dolphins Deep Dive: Did Miami overcorrect in loss to Colts? Where did the targets go for receivers? | VIDEO
In this Dolphins Deep Dive video, the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Chris Perkins and David Furones discuss the lack of a passing game in Miami’s ugly loss to the Indianapolis Colts and answer viewer questions concerning the offense with Tua Tagovailoa back.
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In this Dolphins Deep Dive video, the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Chris Perkins and David Furones discuss if head coach, and offensive play-caller, Mike McDaniel has a handle of Miami’s offense as clear problems have cropped up in Tua Tagovailoa’s absence.
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From Tiki to Eternity: The Mai-Kai shook up South Florida supperclub scene when it opened nearly 70 years ago. It’s doing it again
In 2020, after a devastating roof collapse in a pounding rainstorm, Fort Lauderdale’s landmark supperclub seemed finished. For those who had enjoyed its pleasures over the years, the exotic Polynesian dance revues, the gardens and waterfalls, the South Pacific masks and artifacts, the tropical Asian dishes, the world-renowned Tiki Bar – the question was, would the Mai-Kai ever reopen?
The answer, years in the making, is yes. The return is scheduled for Nov. 1, and by all signs, this special place will be as spectacular as ever. Three years of planning and construction have endowed the tropical retreat with a new and rethatched A-frame roof; a rebuilt Molokai bar; a new entrance way to reduce congestion (running over a wooden bridge to a roundabout); a new outdoor patio bar in a nautical setting; and an interior replicating all of the original bewitching Mai-Kai features. Patrons are likely to find the “new” Mai-Kai both fresh and familiar.
***
Looking back, it’s hard to appreciate what a seismic culinary and atmospheric upgrade the original Mai-Kai was to 1956 Fort Lauderdale. In previous decades here’s what was on diners’ menus:
*At the Hotel Gilbert on Brickell Avenue, circa 1918, the menu featured roast beef or turkey, asparagus on toast and English Plum Pudding with Hard Sauce.
*A decade later barbecue and chili made an appearance at Joe’s Bar-B-Q on Las Olas Boulevard.
*In the early 1930s, a floating restaurant called The Amphitrite, named after a Greek goddess, sailed in and featured broiled lobster dinners going for $2.50.
*Of course there were others, but early movers and shakers downtown lunched at Brown’s Restaurant. Lawyers and businessmen sat at the circular, 20-seat “Pot Roast Table” – reserved for men only. The menu included “fresh-fried Spanish mackerel,” fried oysters and roast pork with fried apples. If the cook fried it, they would eat it.
*And finally, in the 1940s, a New Yorker visiting Gene Harvey at his home on Griffin Road lamented that he couldn’t find a “good steak” in town. Not long after, Harvey converted his rustic house into an 1,800-square-foot restaurant. When it opened in 1949, Tropical Acres Steak House in what was then called Dania had 15 employees and 90 seats and provided premium steaks in a family atmosphere. Today it seats almost 500, has a staff of 70 and boasts seven times the original space.
Then came the Mai-Kai.
It opened famously on what was previously a cow pasture alongside U.S. 1, on Dec. 28, 1956. Dazzled diners discovered Polynesians gardens. Five dining rooms. Garden pathways strewn with orchids and palms. A high-end Tiki Bar featuring exotic rum concoctions. South Asian and Chinese dishes like pupu platters and Peking duck.
Stepping out locally would never be the same.
The Mai-Kai’s stunning A-frame design came from the desk of mid-century modern architect Charles F. McKirahan Sr. Built at a cost of $350,000, it was the most expensive U.S. restaurant constructed that year.
***
Give a nod for all this inspiration to Tropical Acres. A young Californian studying at Stanford came here on a sailing visit, and went out for a steak there. Robert Thornton loved the steak, but more than that he could not believe the long lines he witnessed.
An original neon sign on U.S. Highway 1 points west toward Tropical Acres in Fort Lauderdale. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)A fire was lit. The kindling was gathered earlier as two young boys, Robert and his brother Jack, visited the South Seas-styled Don the Beachcomber franchise in Chicago. Even then the young men dreamed they would open something similar. The place was the vision of an American adventurer and rum connoisseur who later called himself Donn Beach.
Years later, while the Thornton brothers were studying at Stanford, they made frequent visits to another Polynesian inspired restaurant called Trader Vic’s in San Francisco. Vic “The Trader” Bergeron built a cozy little saloon in Oakland called Hinky Dink’s as he explored rums from around the world. He then elevated his game with the far more sophisticated Trader Vic’s.
Not skipping a beat, Robert Thornton incorporated study of every aspect of the Trader Vic’s franchise as part of his undergraduate studies in management. He and Jack even persuaded the San Francisco owners to let them come into their kitchen and take detailed notes.
Now for the Thornton brothers, it would apparently only be a matter of when and where they would make their big move. Military service was ahead – and that fateful visit to Tropical Acres.
Fort Lauderdale was a familiar destination for Robert. He had come down on high school spring break from his native Chicago, and on spring breaks from Stanford. When he was discharged from the Army, he and four buddies came to live here, and invested in a 42-foot fishing boat that they docked at Bahia Mar and rented out for day trips. To make ends meet and save money, they also worked in bars and saloons.
Less than two years later the Thornton brothers, both still under 30, had settled here and picked that cow pasture for their venture.
Their mountain of research worked – and did it. The Mai-Kai made a million dollars in profit in its first year and later notched records as one of the top restaurant destinations in the country, as well as a perennial state and national top seller in rum.
Early lore about the restaurant centers around Robert Thornton’s attention to detail. It carried over into every aspect of the restaurant, including the masterstroke of hiring away a slew of talented folks from Don the Beachcomber in Chicago.
The Mai-Kai hired the number two chef Lin Ark Lee; the number two bartender Mariano Licudine; the maitre d’ Andy Tanato; and purchasing agent Robert Van Dorpe. Van Dorpe became the first general manager of the Mai-Kai.
One of the Mai-Kai’s general managers, Kern Mattei, an employee for 25 years, credits Robert’s business sense and his ability to generate employee loyalty for the restaurant’s long run.
“Certainly everything I learned in business was from him,” Mattei told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “He was more a businessman than a restaurateur. He had a number of experts in different parts of the restaurant … and he was an expert at keeping people together.”
A prime example comes immediately to mind, one chapter in the Mai-Kai story that is almost cinematic.
Observing a Tahitian dancer named Mireille in the Polynesian Islander Revue – added in the early 1960s – Robert had a conversation with the choreographer.
“She’s very nice,” he said. “But she can’t dance.” She was let go.
Mireille told the story herself to the Sun Sentinel in 2005.
In a photo at the Mai-Kai Restaurant from (from left) Andree, Mireille Thornton (wife of owner Robert Thornton), and Liva.“When I first started, Bob was in Europe,” Mireille said. “When he came back and saw me a week later he realized I wasn’t a dancer and had me replaced. Fortunately, I had a good friend in town who was a professional dancer in Tahiti. ‘You have potential,’ she said, ‘I’ll train you.’
“In two weeks when he saw me dance he couldn’t believe it was the same person.”
This young Tahitian dancer not only got her job back, but in time would become chief choreographer.
But the story is not over. Eight years later, she became Mrs. Robert Thornton.
Like her husband Robert, who passed away in 1989, Mireille has a reputation for being meticulous. The Mai-Kai dancers come from across the South Pacific – from Tahiti, Samoa, Hawaii and elsewhere. When a new dance is added to the revue’s repertoire, Mireille has already visited the island where the dance originated to verify its authenticity.
Carline Jean/South Florida Sun SentinelA sneak peek of the renovations at Mai-Kai Restaurant and Polynesian Show.Over the years, the Mai-Kai underwent periodic renovations. When Jack Thornton sold his interest to Robert after suffering an aneurysm in 1970, Robert expanded the restaurant, more than doubling its capacity.
When Bob died in 1989, the Thornton family carried on, with Mireille and her two grown children.
After the 2020 disaster, the Thornton family, reluctantly, was forced to sell. The millions it would take to rebuild – and today that total stands at $17.5 million – did not seem within reach.
But up stepped a partner that would work with the family to resurrect the Mai-Kai to its legendary glory. A new managing partner committed to investing the millions was led by Bill Fuller, cofounder of the Barlington Group (Miami nightclub Ball & Chain).
In 2023, Fuller told New Times that “what everyone remembers about the Mai-Kai is still here, and the new elements only serve to heighten that nostalgia.”
The nostalgia will also be embodied, according to New Times, by Mireille Thornton. Now in her 80s, she will continue her legacy of leadership by directing and choreographing the live dancing. Two nightly 45-minute performances will accompany two reservation-only dinner seatings each night.
Fuller told the South Florida Sun Sentinel on Tuesday that the Mai-Kai’s opening-night Polynesian dinner show is sold out, and most of the upcoming performances are reserved for friends and family, https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2024/10/22/breaking-mai-kai-restaurant-announces-opening-date-after-four-year-closure/ The restaurant’s rebuilt Molokai bar, meanwhile, will be open.
“We want to make the Mai-Kai one of the best and biggest Polynesian venues in the world,” Fuller said. “This is a cultural place we took extreme care to restore, while also honoring the Thornton family and showing great respect to history.”
The Mai-Kai Restaurant and Polynesian Show is located 3599 N. Federal Highway, Oakland Park. Call 954-563-3272 or go to MaiKai.com.
Should Broward landfill grow bigger? County could decide this year
Waste Management’s northern Broward landfill could be a step closer to going taller and wider.
Broward commissioners voted Tuesday to set a future hearing for a vote that would allow the Monarch Hill landfill to grow to as much as 325 feet tall. A second county vote would be on Monarch Hill’s request to turn the former waste-to-energy incinerator’s 24.2-acre site there to become landfill space so it can expand at its base.
Waste Management has previously warned that if its expansion plans don’t go through, it will be forced to truck garbage elsewhere, which will come at a price increase for residents.
“If Waste Management is not allowed to maximize horizontal and vertical capacity at the landfill, in late 2024 we’re going to have to start diverting construction debris and bulk waste to Okeechobee,” a spokeswoman warned earlier this year, which could mean an increased cost to Broward customers of $40 million annually for gas, hauling and cost for tractor-trailers to make the trek.
Nearby cities have previously opposed the plans, citing “great health and safety” concerns.
But county commissioners on Tuesday said they had little choice. “It has to go somewhere,” Broward Mayor Nan Rich said of the garbage. “And that responsibility is ours to determine.”
Growth over the yearsThe landfill at the Monarch Hill Renewable Energy Park, located at 2700 Wiles Road, is a 1965-era landmark that can be seen from miles away, sitting in an unincorporated part of Broward County near Coconut Creek. It has been given several height variances over the years. It currently stands at 212 feet tall.
The hearing considering further growth could come in November, to address the expansion.
Bill Laystrom, Waste Management’s attorney, said at Tuesday’s meeting that a decision has been put off for long enough already. “You’ve asked me to delay this for the last two and a half to three years,” Laystrom told county commissioners. “It’s time to consider this one.”
“Let’s get this thing going,” he said.
County Commissioner Mark Bogen cast the lone vote against moving the plans to a public hearing.
“Ten years ago, Waste Management promised they would not seek expansion if they would be granted one more expansion,” he said after the hearing. “Here we are 10 years later where they have continued to seek expansion.”
Coconut Creek Commissioner Joshua Rydell, who has long opposed the landfill’s expansion, attended Tuesday’s county discussions. “It’s a two-fer,” Rydell said of Waste Management’s request after the vote. “These two items working together will make a monstrosity of a landfill. And it’s not necessary.”
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The landfill is constructed like a pyramid with a wide base, and so the maximum height is only at the very top, said Waste Management spokeswoman Dawn McCormick.
Household garbage makes up about 10% of the landfill, the remaining 90% is generally construction debris and bulk waste including “post-recycled concrete.” Storm debris also makes up much of the landfill content, McCormick said.
Miami-Dade’s trash incineratorThe issue of how to manage trash remains a regional one.
Miami-Dade County commissioners could vote on a placement of a new incinerator as early as Nov. 6.
It has drawn the ire of Miramar because one of the sites being considered for the incinerator is less than a mile from the city, the site of a decommissioned airfield, near Krome Avenue and U.S. 27 in Miami-Dade.
The new plant would replace the 1982 site in Doral that was destroyed in a February 2023 fire.
Miramar has urged residents to show up in “full force” to help stop Miami-Dade’s plans. The city has also organized a community meeting scheduled for Wednesday night for a “logistics meeting” to get ready.
Other efforts in BrowardIn other Broward business Tuesday, the County Commission:
— Agreed to spend $5 million for a flooding study that will help secure federal funds to pay for drainage improvements. Commissioner Steve Geller called it a “small investment” to help get billions of dollars’ worth of help. “It’s a really, really, really significant issue.”
— Agreed to waive bus fares and paratransit fares on Nov. 2 and Nov. 3, which are the last Saturday and Sunday of early voting for the 2024 presidential election, and on Nov. 5, which is Election Day. The goal: to “encourage voter turnout.”
— Approved a plat application for Mainstreet in Coconut Creek, that would create 2,360 new residences, as well as shops and parks. The new homes would be built on former farmland where tomatoes once grew aplenty.
— Noted how it was recently announced that actor and singer Jack Wagner, known to fans of TV’s “General Hospital,” will be the grand marshal of this year’s Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade. Last year’s parade was canceled because of safety concerns due to gusty, perilous weather.
Lisa J. Huriash can be reached at lhuriash@sunsentinel.com. Follow on X, formerly Twitter, @LisaHuriash
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