South Florida Local News

RUNNEMEDE, N.J. (AP) — The baseball that Shohei Ohtani hit for his 50th home run, which gave him 50 homers and 50 stolen bases in the same season, is going up for auction on Friday.

Ohtani became the first player in Major League history in the 50-50 club. The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar accomplished the feat last week in Miami.

The fan who caught the milestone ball is working with Goldin, a New Jersey-based auction house specializing in trading cards, collectibles and memorabilia.

The opening bid for the ball is $500,000. There is black scuffing and abrasions on the white leather ball, which was authenticated by Major League Baseball.

Potential buyers will also have a chance to buy the ball outright for $4.5 million between Friday and Oct. 9. If bidding reaches $3 million before Oct. 9, the option to purchase the ball privately will no longer be available and buyers must bid for it. Extended bidding will begin on Oct. 16.

“Ohtani is truly one-of-a-kind, and the 50-50 record may be his crowning achievement,” said Ken Goldin, founder and CEO of the auction house. “This is a piece of baseball history that fans and historians around the world will remember for decades to come.”

 

By JAKE OFFENHARTZ, LARRY NEUMEISTER and ANTHONY IZAGUIRRE Associated Press

NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted by a grand jury on federal criminal charges, according to two people familiar with the matter.

The indictment detailing the charges against Adams, a Democrat, was still sealed late Wednesday, according to the people, who spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

The U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan declined to comment. The indictment was first reported by The New York Times.

“I always knew that If I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target — and a target I became,” Adams said in a statement that implied he hadn’t been informed of the indictment. “If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit.”

In a speech recorded at his official residence, Adams acknowledged that some New Yorkers would question his ability to manage the city while he fights the charges, but he vowed to stay in office.

“I have been facing these lies for months … yet the city has continued to improve,” Adams said. “Make no mistake. You elected me to lead this city and lead it I will.”

It was not immediately clear when the charges would be made public or when Adams might have to appear in court.

The indictment marks a stunning turn for Adams, a former police captain who won election nearly three years ago to become the second Black mayor of the nation’s largest city on a platform that promised a law-and-order approach to reducing crime.

For much of the last year, Adams has faced growing legal peril, with multiple federal investigations into top advisers producing a drumbeat of subpoenas, searches and high-level departures that has thrust City Hall into crisis. In the last two weeks alone, the police chief who oversees the country’s largest police force and the schools chancellor who is in charge of the nation’s biggest school district both announced their resignations.

He had repeatedly said he wasn’t aware of any wrongdoing and vowed as recently as Wednesday afternoon to stay in office.

Adams, who is expecting a tough primary election next year, faced immediate calls to resign from many of his declared or expected Democratic challengers.

Brad Lander, the city’s comptroller, said the indictment marked “a sad day for New Yorkers.” Sen. Zellnor Myrie also called the indictment “sad” and added that it was “especially painful for so many Black New Yorkers who put our hope and faith in this Mayor.”

Scott Stringer, a former city comptroller who is expected to run against Adams, said: “The mayor needs to resign for the good of the city.”

“Eric Adams is indicted. There is simply zero chance that the wheels of government will move forward from this full steam ahead. Instead, we are left with a broken down trainwreck of a municipal government,” Stringer said.

Adams is the first mayor in New York City history to be indicted while in office. If he were to resign, he would be replaced by the city’s public advocate, Jumaane Williams, who would then schedule a special election.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has the power to remove Adams from office. Hochul’s office did not immediately return a request for comment Wednesday night.

Hours before the charges were announced, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called on Adams to resign, the first nationally prominent Democrat to do so. She cited the federal criminal investigations into the mayor’s administration and the string of unexpected departures of top city officials.

“I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote on the social platform X.

Adams reacted with scorn, dismissing Ocasio-Cortez as self-righteous.

The federal investigations into Adams administration first emerged publicly on Nov. 2, 2023, when FBI agents conducted an early morning raid on the Brooklyn home of Adams’ chief fundraiser, Brianna Suggs.

At the time, Adams insisted he followed the law and said he would be “shocked” if anyone on his campaign had acted illegally. “I cannot tell you how much I start the day with telling my team we’ve got to follow the law,” he told reporters at the time.

Days later, FBI agents seized the mayor’s phones and iPad as he was leaving an event in Manhattan. The interaction was disclosed several days later by the mayor’s attorney.

Then on Sept. 4, federal investigators seized electronic devices from the city’s police commissioner, schools chancellor, deputy mayor of public safety, first deputy mayor and other trusted confidantes of Adams both in and out of City Hall.

Federal prosecutors declined to discuss the investigations but people familiar with elements of the cases described multiple, separate inquiries involving senior Adams aides, relatives of those aides, campaign fundraising and possible influence peddling of the police and fire departments.

A week after the searches, Police Commissioner Edward Caban announced his resignation, telling officers that he didn’t want the investigations “to create a distraction.” About two weeks later, Schools Chancellor David Banks announced that he would retire at the end of the year.

Adams himself insisted he would keep doing the city’s business and allow the investigations to run their course.

Over the summer, federal prosecutors subpoenaed Adams, his campaign arm and City Hall, requesting information about the mayor’s schedule, his overseas travel and potential connections to the Turkish government.

Adams spent 22 years in New York City’s police department before going into politics, first as a state senator and then as Brooklyn borough president, a largely ceremonial position.

He was elected mayor in 2021, defeating a diverse field of Democrats in the primary and then easily beating Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa, a Republican, in the general election.

After more than two years in office, Adams’ popularity has declined. While the city has seen an increase in jobs and a drop in certain categories of crime, the administration has been preoccupied with efforts to find housing for tens of thousands of international migrants who overwhelmed the city’s homeless shelters.

There has also been a steady drip of accusations and a swirl of suspicion around people close to the mayor.

The Manhattan District Attorney brought charges against six people — including a former police captain long close with Adams — over an alleged scheme to funnel tens of thousands of dollars to the mayor’s campaign by manipulating the public matching funds programs in the hopes of receiving preferential treatment from the city. Adams was not accused of wrongdoing in that case.

Adams’ former top building-safety official, Eric Ulrich, was charged last year with accepting $150,000 in bribes and improper gifts in exchange for political favors, including providing access to the mayor. Ulrich pleaded not guilty and is fighting the charges.

In February, federal investigators searched two properties owned by one of Adams’ close aides, Winnie Greco, who had raised thousands of dollars in campaign donations from the city’s Chinese American communities and later became his director of Asian affairs. Greco hasn’t commented publicly on the FBI searches of her properties and continues to work for the city.

When agents seized electronic devices from Caban, the former police commissioner, in early September, they also visited his twin brother, James Caban, a former police officer who runs a nightlife consulting business.

Agents also took devices from the schools chancellor; his brother Philip Banks, formerly a top NYPD chief who is now deputy mayor for public safety; their brother Terence Banks, who ran a consulting firm that promised to connect businesses to government stakeholders; and from First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, who is David Banks’ domestic partner.

All denied any wrongdoing.

While those investigations swirled, federal authorities also searched the homes of newly named interim police commissioner, Thomas Donlan, and seized materials unrelated to his police work. Donlon confirmed the search and said it involved materials that had been in his possession for 20 years.

He did not address what the investigation was about, but a person familiar with the investigation said it had to do with classified documents dating from the years when Donlon worked for the FBI. The person spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly about that investigation.

Name: Dean Trantalis

Campaign website: mayordean2024.com

Date and place of birth: October 14, 1953, Norwich, CT

List in order of importance the three most important issues in your community and briefly explain what you would do about each.
Managing growth- Fort Lauderdale has become a popular destination, not just for tourists, but for folks who are looking to establish themselves with an opportunity to build a career and maybe even start a family. We see people, especially young people, flocking to our city, and in many cases working remotely, wanting to take advantage of the quality of life so many of us have enjoyed over the years. Even children who grew up here are returning home, seeing how life means so much more here. And that includes many of the empty nesters who are giving up their estate homes and are enjoying the great urban experience we have now created. We have done more than any other city in the county to encourage affordable housing and must continue to do that. If we don’t the cost of housing will skyrocket. Still, we must be smart and strategic about growth and ensure our wonderful neighborhoods are maintained.

As we build to accommodate the growth and keep up with the pace, we must continue to invest in our infrastructure. During my tenure, we have committed to investing $1.6 billion in infrastructure. Fortify Lauderdale is a program intended to shore up our water and sewer systems, as well as to promote our storm water mitigation initiatives. We must continue with our seawall replacement program, in order to fight back against climate change. We also should pursue a living seawall program that will help nourish our waterways. Infrastructure also means seeking solutions to traffic issues, such as supporting commuter rail and promoting alternative transportation methods such as Circuit and bicycling. And we can do all this without raising the millage rate, which we have held steady now going on 18 years.

Panhandling and homelessness. Since I was elected mayor, the city for the first time joined a coalition of county, business and civic leaders to address the impact of homelessness, not just on the community but on the individuals who suffer from it. We were able to eliminate the downtown encampment. We established a community court to help connect homeless individuals with social services. And, we expanded three-fold our community outreach efforts by hiring additional police and civilian personnel. We also enacted an anti-panhandling ordinance, first struck down by a federal court, but then re-established, to get people off the streets.

But these efforts alone have not been able to reduce the amount of homelessness we still are experiencing. We must expand our initiatives and get tougher on addressing the significant issues of public health and safety.

That is why I have begun efforts with the sheriff to change discharge protocols so that inmates are not automatically released onto our streets regardless of where they were first picked up. And the same with Broward General, where all health issues are addressed and patients again discharged onto our streets. That has got to end.

But at the end of the day, it all comes down to enforcement. With the new state statute against encampments in public places, being homeless is no longer a lifestyle choice. I have been working with the chief judge, the sheriff, and other agency officials to prepare to establish a facility within our county jail, and to hold persons up to 60 days. This would give us time and space to connect homeless folks with social services, such as addiction treatment and mental health services, and to help get people back on their feet. It will also shelter them in a safe place as we seek to separate them from the criminal element in the facility.

What most distinguishes you from your opponent(s) and why?
To start, I am the only candidate with experience serving on the city commission. I have served as District 2 Commissioner for 8 years, and now as mayor for almost 7 years. But equally as important, I bring to the table a vision which has set the city on a path never before experienced in our community. These past several years, Fort Lauderdale has experienced a true renaissance in opportunities in job creation, exciting choices in entertainment and recreation that the whole family can enjoy. Many of these could not happen without the courage to engage in public-private partnerships, leveraging city assets with private investment.

I’ve also brought greater national and international attention to our city, joining county, state and national organizations to create our unique brand and to promote it throughout the world. Dealing with climate change and improving the condition of our waterways has always been my mission, and I stand apart from the others in taking steps to address these issues. I believe that my experience, my goals and my accomplishments distinguish me from my opponents, and this is why I am the best candidate to choose from.

Is overdevelopment a major problem in Fort Lauderdale, yes or no? Please elaborate.
Yes, overdevelopment is a problem in any city. That is why we continue to engage in smart growth efforts to embrace the popularity that we are now experiencing and to ensure that new developments are appropriately integrated into our existing fabric. No new development should compromise the integrity of our single-family home neighborhoods.

Is the city investing enough money in infrastructure improvements, and what would you do differently?
The city is investing almost $2 billion dollars in infrastructure projects over the next ten years, almost unheard of for a city of this size anywhere in America. We are building a long-overdue water treatment plant to replace the deteriorated Fiveash facility. We have committed to spending over $500 million in stormwater mitigation projects, to address at least 17 neighborhoods whose drainage systems never existed or have deteriorated over the years. This does not include funds to be spent on infill and infiltration remediation, upgrades to our sewer treatment plant, road and sidewalk repair and replacement, commuter rail, and completing our fire station and EMS building programs we started over 20 years ago. In addition, we have committed to rebuilding our public safety building and many of our parks and recreation areas through voter-approved bond issues.

City voters approved a 2019 bond issue that included $100 million for a new police headquarters. How has the city handled the project, and what would you have done differently?
While this project began with the best of intentions, it was poorly executed, mainly because the commission was provided inaccurate or wrong information upon which it made its decisions.

To begin with, it was decided that a new facility should be built at or near the same location because the expense to move the communication tower would be prohibitively expensive. As it turns out, we don’t own the tower, the state owns it, we just rent it.

Because of this, in order to accommodate the design, we were required to acquire additional land, which we did to the east adjacent to the site. Unfortunately, it didn’t come easy or cheap, and after two years of litigation, we finally purchased it for just over $1 million.

Finally, we were told that the new facility could be built while still occupying the existing police station. Once construction began, this proved to be impossible, and the city had to find emergency space elsewhere, costing many millions of dollars we had not intended to spend.

With the delay caused in acquiring the additional land and the material and labor shortages caused by COVID, the cost of the project went up another 50%. Thus, the decisions made early on were only exacerbated by the consequences of COVID. Now, with structural defects being discovered, we are hopeful that there will be no further delay and we can soon secure the facility for our public safety personnel as soon as possible.

Please answer yes or no as to whether you support city approval of these projects, or would have if you held office, and briefly elaborate.
Lockhart Stadium, pro soccer venue
This has been a tremendous opportunity for our city. The original stadium fell into hopeless decay. We had no team, and we had no money. Every estimate to rehabilitate the site ran into the many millions, and to what end? When InterMiami came knocking at our door, they promised a brand new stadium, a football field for high schools that had none, practice fields, and a training academy for young people to learn and star in the growing interest of competitive soccer. And they delivered. They spent over $170 million to build all these facilities which the city now owns.

And, they are doing even more. We are now in the final stages of designing and building a public space, where pickleball can be played, open fields can be enjoyed, a community center, and even two dog parks for people and their loved ones can enjoy the outdoors. With our championship team being housed there until 2026, we will continue to see our players, especially Leo Messi, practice and remain as residents in a city they have come to love.

One Stop Shop, entertainment venue
When city management finally heeded the request of the commission to tear down the former city hall/building department, many proposals were presented to the city commission to reimagine the site. It is approximately 3.25 acres. The commission ultimately settled on partnering with a developer who will bring world-class dining and entertainment, and a gathering place for people in the neighborhood to enjoy. What will result is 2.75 acres of open space, a multi-level gourmet food hall, and an entertainment venue to answer the demand for more and better options in an urban environment that is growing in both size and expectations. And since the entire site will be managed by a private entity, it will no longer be a vestige for vagrants and homeless people. Another neighborhood triumph.

Snyder Park, 43 pickleball courts
The demand for pickleball courts has never been greater. When an offer by a private citizen came to us to build more courts, the commission chose a former compost site, right next to I-595 and the international airport to best avoid neighborhood intrusion. With the grand opening rapidly approaching, the city will soon enjoy a facility capable of hosting national and international events and competitions, a clubhouse, and an artificial beach soon to be safe enough for kids and families. And all of this is open to the public for everyone to enjoy. We do not touch the precious natural areas of the park. This plan preserves over 80 acres of open space for neighbors who have come to enjoy the park over these many years.

808 SE 4th St., a 14-story condo tower
This is a classic case of overdevelopment and I voted against it. The proposed building was too big for the site, and it was going to be built within spitting distance of the adjacent building. This was not smart growth. It did not fit in with the fabric of the neighborhood and would be a burden to those that would live around it.

List in reverse chronological order, colleges or universities attended with years of attendance and degrees.
Stetson University School of Law 1977-1979 (Juris Doctor)
University of Warsaw 1979 (Summer program)
London School of Economics 1979 (Summer program)
Boston University 1971-75 (Bachelor of Arts)

List in reverse chronological order your work history for the past 15 years.
Attorney at Law
Mayor
City Commissioner

Have you ever been a party to a lawsuit including bankruptcy or foreclosure? If so, provide details of the case and disposition.
No

Have you ever been charged or convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, including an adjudication of guilt withheld? If so, provide charges, dates and terms of sentence.
No

Why should voters elect you instead of your opponent(s)?
Voters should elect me in order to continue the momentum that has been created in order to make Fort Lauderdale a sustainable, resilient city. These past several years, our city has experienced both sobering tragedies as well as great triumphs. We have made achievements that few thought we could accomplish. After more than 20 years, we finally were able to completely redefine our aquatic complex, now hosting numerous competitions, shepherding great athletic talent, all while being open to the public for children and families. We partnered with the Florida Panthers, and we now enjoy the Iceplex in Holiday Park, another great sporting venue for everyone to enjoy, especially when we are witnessing our team win the Stanley Cup! This, along with Chase Stadium, the pickleball courts, the soon-to-be enhanced Jimmy Evert tennis courts, Carter Park improvements, the new YMCA center, the list goes on and on.

And then there is our infrastructure program, water, sewer, wastewater and seawalls. Cleaning our waterways and promoting new technologies to keep them healthy and support marine life. More and better park space, enhancing the tree canopy by committing to planting 10,000 more trees in our city by the end of the decade. And I am the champion against overdevelopment, as I fought back the plan to overtake the Bahia Mar site, displacing our wonderful International Boat Show, and was able to work with the developers to now bring us a more scaled down and more realistic opportunity, opening itself up to everyday families who both live and visit our great city.

So what does all that prove? It shows that I am committed to progress, I am committed to results, and I am committed to providing the kind of leadership that gets things done. There is no better candidate that has shown their experience and devotion as I have over these many years. No better candidate that has exhibited the vision and the measure to ensure that our city continues to move in the right direction. And, there is no better candidate that best promotes the best interests of our neighbors and neighborhoods, as we find ourselves reaching into the 21st century, with only our fears to hold us back.

Name: Barbra Anne Stern

Campaign website: sternformayor.com

Date and place of birth: November 3, 1973. Mt. Sinai Hospital- Miami Beach, Florida

List in order of importance the three most important issues in your community and briefly explain what you would do about each.
⦁ Public Safety. We need to make sure our public safety is adequately staffed, and that vacant positions are being filled. To attract and retain quality individuals, we need to have sufficient workforce housing for our city employees. As an advocate for workforce housing, I will ensure that there are policies in place to accomplish this goal. I will improve community policing and develop relationships within our community to reduce crime and improve the quality of life. This is called connecting while protecting. I will also ensure that our fire and EMS personnel have the proper equipment to safely serve our community. The increase in public safety staffing will allow us to better address the homeless crisis in our city as well.

⦁ Flooding. We need a regional emergency response plan that is collaborative, proactive and not reactive. I will work with our County and affected stakeholders to make this happen, instead of playing the blame game. I will ensure that our long-term plan is expedited and that the neighborhoods with critical needs are prioritized.

⦁ Infrastructure. I will request that the city manager have a critical needs assessment completed to include all neighborhoods and address the unmet needs. Our long-term plans need to be expedited to ease the burdens on our neighborhoods and improve their quality of life.

What most distinguishes you from your opponent(s) and why?
I am the candidate most capable of leading our city into the future in an inclusive and fiscally responsible manner.

What distinguishes me the most from my opponents is that I currently have positive relationships with members of the County Commission, County Administrator’s Office and members of the County Attorney’s Office. I also have excellent relationships with our city staff and other candidates seeking to be elected and/or reelected to the city commission. Many of our problems are regional in nature and we need the assistance of our counterparts at the local and state level to solve them. By profession, I am a certified mediator and skilled at utilizing a collaborative approach for problem solving. Because of my positive relationships, I can be a catalyst for change.

I do not support public land giveaways. We need to protect our green spaces and use public lands for public purposes. Public land should not be used for commercial gain.

The hiring of a new City Manager will be one of the most important decisions the future commission will make. I support the hiring of a professional and experienced City Manager to serve as the administrator, something that had been lacking for quite some time. In addition, with the amount of construction for city projects underway, I support the creation of an in-house design and construction management team so that we can stop paying millions of dollars in consulting fees to outside companies. This will help ensure that our skilled in-house professionals are protecting the city and not protecting the interests of third parties.

Our public safety professionals (Fort Lauderdale FOP, Lodge 31, Fort Lauderdale and Professional Fire Fighters IAFF Local 765, and IUPA Local 6020) have supported my candidacy because they know protecting and improving our community is my top priority.

Is overdevelopment a major problem in Fort Lauderdale, yes or no? Please elaborate.
Rapid development is a problem in the immediate downtown area that is encroaching on our surrounding neighborhoods. Creating a high density of mixed use residential and commercial properties within the downtown area was part of the master plan adopted by the city nearly 20 years ago. New development is clearly needed to keep up with the growth in the population and to have a thriving economic community; however, we needed smart and sustainable growth. The city is not properly equipped to keep up with the rapid development. As evidenced by the recurrent water line and sewage breaks, flooding, and traffic congestion, we put the cart before the horse. We need to slow development until the infrastructure needs are addressed.

Is the city investing enough money in infrastructure improvements, and what would you do differently?
The city is investing a collective 1.6 billion dollars in infrastructure repairs over the course of the next ten years. Unfortunately, the repairs are not being done at a quick enough pace. The repairs currently underway do not address the maintenance and repairs for our sidewalks and roadways.

I will request that the city manager have a critical needs assessment completed to include all neighborhoods and address the unmet needs. There is no reason that communities such as Melrose Park in District 3 have not had any infrastructure improvements started in their neighborhoods. We are failing our residents who need us the most.

City voters approved a 2019 bond issue that included $100 million for a new police headquarters. How has the city handled the project, and what would you have done differently?
This project has not been handled properly. The cost of the project skyrocketed to over $140,000,000 because a decision was made to change the design so that the city could have an “iconic” public safety building. We did not need an “iconic” design, we needed a functional building. This was not the proper use of taxpayer funds. The last-minute decision to change the façade of the building resulted in significant construction defects. AECOM Technical Services, Inc., the professionals hired by the city to design the police headquarters project, was forced to admit that “human errors” caused the construction defects. According to Thornton Tomasetti, the project’s engineering firm of record, the weight of the precast panels for the “iconic” building was not factored into the structural analysis model. As a result, support beams cracked, the roof is bending, and the building is sinking. Had I been on the commission, I would have voted for functionality over an “iconic” design, saving tens of millions of taxpayer dollars. I would have also insisted on the use of an outside independent peer review firm to monitor the project through the entire design phase to minimize the risk of errors, similar to what was done in the City of Hollywood.

Please answer yes or no as to whether you support city approval of these projects, or would have if you held office, and briefly elaborate.
⦁ Lockhart Stadium, pro soccer venue
No. I do not support public land giveaways that result in financial gains to private developers. It is unconscionable that a team that can spend hundreds of millions of dollars to recruit players to join the team, is paying only $1.00 per year for the use of the land, plus a portion of parking fees, for their stadium. The fact that they built the stadium is irrelevant. The team needed a stadium and therefore they should pay for it. The city gets to use it free of charge a mere 4 times per year. InterMiami is building a stadium in Miami and is paying fair market value for the use of the land. They should be paying fair market value for use of the Fort Lauderdale property as well. Moreover, the contract approved by the commission was poorly drafted and provided minimal protections in favor of the city.

⦁ One Stop Shop, entertainment venue.
No. The city did not need another “entertainment venue” nor was this an appropriate use of public land. Within a 1.5-mile radius of the One Stop property is Revolution (the developers existing entertainment venue); The Parker (formerly known as Parker Playhouse); War Memorial Auditorium; the Panthers Ice Rink and the Broward Center for Performing Arts. The city owns the Parker property which is managed by our partners at the Performing Arts Center Authority (“PACA”). The city also owns the War Memorial Auditorium and will manage various entertainment genres upon its reopening after reconstruction is completed. There is sufficient capacity in any one of these venues to support any entertainment needs. The city did not need to partner with a private developer for another entertainment venue.

Under the proposal, the city was supposed to receive an annual “licensing” fee that would rise gradually from $250,000 the first year to $1.5 million the seventh year of the initial 50-year term of the agreement. As of this date, there is still no funding for the project, there has been no money paid, and there has been no noticeable progress. The amount to be paid to the city is far less than fair market value for 3.3 acres of land in the middle of downtown Fort Lauderdale. Public land should not be used for private gain. In this scenario, the only one who will financially benefit from the project is the developer. The community was promised a public park, and the space should have been maintained by the city to be transformed into an open urban park. In the alternative, had the city not given away this parcel of land, it could have been used for the construction of the new city hall that is needed as a result of the April 13, 2023, flood.

⦁ Snyder Park, 43 pickleball courts.
No. This is another bad public land giveaway, and the commercial use goes against the intent of the gift of land that was deeded to the city. More importantly, the neighboring community immediately adjacent to the park is being negatively impacted and they wholeheartedly did not support the project. We should not sacrifice the private rights of our residents to the quiet enjoyment of their homes for financial gain that goes into the pockets of the developers and not the city.

⦁ 808 SE 4th St., a 14-story condo tower.
No. This project was approved as a 12-story condo tower. While the project met the requirements of the zoning codes, the size of the multi-family development is clearly not compatible with the neighborhood. The project was proposed with zero setbacks between the new building and the adjacent neighbors. This design encroaches on the single-family homes that have been there for decades and infringes upon their quiet enjoyment. This is one of the many examples of why the code must be reviewed and revised.

List in reverse chronological order, colleges or universities attended with years of attendance and degrees.
1998 – 2021, Nova Southern University Shepard Broad Law Center, Juris Doctor.
1991 – 1996, University of Florida, Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration.

List in reverse chronological order your work history for the past 15 years.
January 2017 – Present, Law Office of Barbra Stern, PA (owner/managing attorney).
September 2015 – December 2016, Dwyer Law Group
January 2017 – Present, Dwyer Law Group (of counsel relationship)
July 2003 – August 2015, Law Office of Bohdan Neswiacheny, senior attorney/managing attorney for Fort Lauderdale office.

Have you ever been a party to a lawsuit including bankruptcy or foreclosure? If so, provide details of the case and disposition.
No.

Have you ever been charged or convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, including an adjudication of guilt withheld? If so, provide charges, dates and terms of sentence.
No.

Why should voters elect you instead of your opponent(s)?
The city is ready for a strong woman to lead us into the future, someone who will restore professionalism on the dais, someone who will bring unity to the city, and someone who is not afraid to say no. I am that woman.

Name: Jim Lewis

Campaign website: jimlewisformayor.com

Date and place of birth: August 3, 1957 – Havre-de-Grace, Maryland

List in order of importance the three most important issues in your community and briefly explain what you would do about each.
⦁ Gross Mismanagement of our city
Our city government gets it wrong almost every time. Whether it’s no City Hall because we didn’t maintain it or it’s a lack in planning for new building years ago. Worst yet we cannot work out an arrangement with the County for a joint government comply to save the taxpayers millions. We waste millions of dollars on ridiculous projects like the tunnel top, which I refused to call a park.
We put a city manager in charge who defies the law by not even living in the city. A city manager who is so close to the engineer firm that has botched the new police department and that is going to cost us millions to fix.  A city government that failed to properly fund sewer and flood mitigation infrastructure until it becomes an absolute crisis.

A city that gives away city land with little to show in return. A city commission that takes sides and cannot work together for the city.

You fix this issue by replacing Mayor Trantalis and Commissioner Glassman with people who make decisions to better our neighborhoods, instead of pleasing developers and special interests that provide large political contributions.

⦁ Wasteful spending of Taxpayer Dollars
An independent study found that Fort Lauderdale is the worst run major city in Florida, and one of the worst run in the entire United States (Wallet Hub). We spent more money per capita on our city services than any other major city in Florida. We get millions of new dollars every year because property values are skyrocketing and have a little to nothing to show for it. We are late on fixing the sewer crisis, late on infrastructure for flood mitigation. We try to play catch-up with municipal bonds that have high interest rates that the taxpayers are ultimately going to be responsible for. We spent tons of money on studies that go nowhere and come up with dumb ideas like removing the trees from Las Olas. Once again, you fix the problem by replacing a mayor that loves to spend money on cute things that make some people happy instead of necessary things that make our city healthy and safe.

⦁ Homeless Crisis
The October 1, 2024 state Statue banning public camping is almost here. The city has no plan except to blame the county for not doing anything. The homeless problem is a Fort Lauderdale problem because most of the homeless are located in Downtown, the beach, and more and more homeless are ending up in our neighborhoods. We have seen this coming for a while and our mayor does nothing. A homeless encampment is inevitable in the short run, and the vacant parking lot at the Chase Stadium is perfectly suited. The soccer team is dragging its feet building the promised city park adjacent to the soccer stadium. Maybe the prospect of a homeless camp might help move the impasse.

In the long run we have to find a more permanent solution that could be abandoned schools or the jail stockade on Powerline. We are going to have to put some money into this for mental health, addiction, and helping those who want to work find work.

What most distinguishes you from your opponent(s) and why?
I’m just an old Fort Lauderdale guy who loves this city and wants to defend it from the developers and special interests that want Fort Lauderdale to be a concrete jungle.

I’m not a mayor who is for sale, as Mayor Trantalis’s political contributions would suggest. I’m not a lobbyist like Barbara Stern and I’m not friendly with those who see Fort Lauderdale as a gold mine to make money while neighborhoods get the shaft.

I see Ken Cooper and Chris Nelson as well-meaning, but not as capable of turning the city around as I think I could be. I know how to solve problems, work with other governments to everybody’s benefit, and fight in court or the court of public opinion to achieve the city’s goals.

Is overdevelopment a major problem in Fort Lauderdale, yes or no? Please elaborate.
Yes, overdevelopment is a major problem in Fort Lauderdale. The downtown density plan is a disaster and we need to slow it down until we get our infrastructure up to speed.

The beach development plan also needs to slow down. We do not need more high-rises that only out-of-state wealthy people can afford.

We need affordable housing everywhere in our city and we simply aren’t doing enough. We need to protect our neighborhoods and their individual identities which make Fort Lauderdale great.

Is the city investing enough money in infrastructure improvements, and what would you do differently?
We need to invest more in fixing our sewer, water, and flood mitigation infrastructure. However, more and more municipal bonds to bail us out will only bankrupt the city. We have to cut out some unnecessary expenses to pay for basic essentials. I would also suggest a pay cut for the mayor, city, commissioners, and the city manager.

City voters approved a 2019 bond issue that included $100 million for a new police headquarters. How has the city handled the project, and what would you have done differently?
The botching of the construction of the new Police headquarters is unforgivable, and is reason enough to replace the mayor who had handpicked the former city manager who supervised this project. This mismanagement of this project is going to cost millions of taxpayer dollars to fix and I am sure investigations are ongoing as to how this could have happened and who is responsible. This kind of mismanagement means the mayor is asleep at the wheel and cannot be trusted to properly oversee the city.

Please answer yes or no as to whether you support city approval of these projects, or would have if you held office, and briefly elaborate.
⦁ Lockhart Stadium, pro soccer venue
I support the stadium, but we gave away too much control and got snookered on the promise to build a city park, which the city richly deserves. The soccer team will likely be here until 2027 and we cannot wait for their promised park. A temporary homeless encampment might be necessary to get this deal done.

⦁ One Stop Shop, entertainment venue
I believe this project has a great potential to revitalize entertainment value of our city. We need something to compete with the Delray Beach district and entertainment venues in Miami-Dade County.

⦁ Snyder Park, 43 pickleball courts
I strongly oppose this project; we need to preserve our natural habitats like Snyder Park. We need nature and nature needs us. Pickle ball will likely be a fad and what do you do with unused concrete courts? You can tear it up, but it’s hard to get back to its natural habitat.

⦁ 808 SE 4th St., a 14-story condo tower
I do not believe that this project is compatible with the neighborhood. We don’t need more density, we need less. Single-family homes should be our priority.

List in reverse chronological order, colleges or universities attended with years of attendance and degrees.
Stetson University College of Law, Law degree (Law Degree 1978-1980)
University of Central Florida, B.A. in public administration and criminal justice (1975-1978)

List in reverse chronological order your work history for the past 15 years.
1993-Present Law offices of James S. Lewis
1990-2022 Adjunct Law Professor, Nova Southeastern University
1987-1992 Assistant Statewide Prosecutor
1985-1986 Special Prosecutor, Governor Bob Graham
1981-1985 Assistant State Attorney, Orlando, Florida

Have you ever been a party to a lawsuit including bankruptcy or foreclosure? If so, provide details of the case and disposition.
No

Have you ever been charged or convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, including an adjudication of guilt withheld? If so, provide charges, dates and terms of sentence.
No

Why should voters elect you instead of your opponent(s)?
I’m in this race for one reason, because I love our city and it causes me great pain to watch it being abused. The only agenda I bring to the race is the want to protect our city from the greedy and the ignorant. I’m not influenced by big donors, special interests, or lobbyists. I will put the neighborhoods and the residents of this city back in control. Yes we can take our city back from the developers who would make Fort Lauderdale a concrete jungle. Fort Lauderdale is “our city” and we the residents should have “our way”. I know this city well as a resident, not an insider looking to use Fort Lauderdale for financial gain. I can work with the County government to solve problems instead of constant feuding that resolves nothing.

As mayor, when making tough decisions, I will always be guided by “What is best for our city and its residents.”

I respect each of my four opponents, but I believe my experience, temperament, and work ethic will serve the city well. I will give up my law practice if I am elected to be a full-time mayor.
I pledge my very best efforts to keep our Fort Lauderdale home safe, healthy, prosperous, and green.

Thank you for the opportunity to be considered as a public servant for our beautiful city, and for our generous caring residents.

Name: Ken Cooper

Campaign website: cooperformayor.com

Date and place of birth: January 8, 1953, Miami, Florida.

List in order of importance the three most important issues in your community and briefly explain what you would do about each:
– Sustainable Development: Standing firm against unchecked development, I fight for a city that belongs to its people, not corporations.
– Protecting Waterways: Fort Lauderdale’s soul flows through its canals, and I fight to restore them, undoing privatization and reintroducing nature to heal what’s been lost.
– Affordable Housing and Gentrification: Committed to a city where long-time residents aren’t displaced, I champion affordable housing.

What most distinguishes you from your opponent(s) and why?
What separates me from my opponents is my unwavering commitment to protecting Fort Lauderdale’s future by opposing reckless privatization and overdevelopment, while ensuring transparency and accountability—qualities absent in their record.

Is overdevelopment a major problem in Fort Lauderdale yes or no? Please elaborate:
Overdevelopment is an undeniable problem in Fort Lauderdale, driven by decisions that have disregarded environmental risks and affordable housing, while I stand for smarter, community-centered growth that prioritizes green spaces and flood protection.

Is the city investing enough money in infrastructure improvements and what would you do differently?
While the city has allocated funds for infrastructure, it has done so reactively. My approach would focus on proactive, sustainable infrastructure improvements, prioritizing long-term resilience, flood mitigation, and public accountability​

City voters approved a 2019 bond issue that included $100 million for a new police headquarters. How has the city handled the project and what would you have done differently?
The Fort Lauderdale Police Headquarters, originally approved with a $100 million bond in 2019, has ballooned to $150 million due to mismanagement, construction delays, and rising material costs. Structural issues, including cracks in the concrete roof slab, further complicate the project, raising concerns about long-term safety. Despite these alarming setbacks, the administration has failed to properly control costs, exhausting the contingency budget and potentially burdening taxpayers with additional expenses. If elected, I would enforce strict oversight with third-party reviews, ensuring contractors—not the city—are liable for costly mistakes. I would also incorporate sustainable building practices to safeguard the city’s financial and environmental future

Please answer yes or no as to whether you support city approval of these projects or would have if you held office and briefly elaborate:
– Lockhart Stadium pro soccer venue:
The current $60 million investment for Lockhart Stadium, locked into a 50-year deal, hands over too much control to private interests, with little flexibility for the city to adjust as needs evolve​. As mayor, I would renegotiate a shorter lease to ensure Fort Lauderdale retains control over this vital public asset, while increasing transparency and community oversight through a dedicated board. We must also prioritize sustainable water conservation practices within the redevelopment, aligning with my commitment to protecting our waterways​. A model like FXE Futbol’s proposal, which included public fields and amenities, serves as a better framework for balancing development with community needs​.

– One Stop Shop entertainment venue:
The One Stop Shop project exemplifies how public land has been handed over to private developers under the current administration. Although the city owns the 3.3-acre site, Damn Good Hospitality has been given a 50-year lease to develop it into a concert venue, collecting all profits while paying the city a licensing fee that starts at $250,000 and rises to $1.5 million by year seven. This deal undervalues the land and neglects the original community vision of turning the property into a public park. Furthermore, private meetings and opaque dealings have raised concerns about transparency​. As mayor, I would renegotiate this agreement to ensure a more equitable revenue-sharing model that directly benefits Fort Lauderdale’s residents. I would also ensure the integration of green spaces and water conservation systems, using public land to serve both community and environmental needs​.

– Snyder Park 43 pickleball courts:
The Snyder Park pickleball project stands as a stark violation of the park’s original deed restriction. When Byron Snyder sold the land to Fort Lauderdale in 1966, it came with the clear stipulation that the land “shall not be used for commercial purposes, but shall forever be used and maintained as a public park.” Yet, this administration has pushed through a public-private partnership to commercialize eight acres of the park with a 43-court pickleball complex, including restaurants and fee-based facilities​. If elected, I would immediately halt the project to honor the park’s history and ensure legal and ethical boundaries are respected. Development should be about preserving the public good, not serving corporate interests, and I would lead a reassessment of the project to align it with Snyder’s original vision—keeping the park accessible and sustainable for all.

– 808 SE 4th St. a 14-story condo tower:
The 14-story condo at 808 SE 4th St, while technically fitting within zoning limits, is another glaring example of this administration approving oversized developments that strain the New River and exacerbate flood risks. Despite acknowledging the project’s excessive scale, the administration moved forward without addressing its environmental impact. As mayor, I would mandate comprehensive environmental reviews and flood mitigation for all waterfront developments. Moreover, I would ensure luxury projects incorporate affordable housing, making developments serve the broader community, not just the wealthy

List in reverse chronological order colleges or universities attended with years of attendance and degrees:
– Nova Law School (JD, 1979-1982)
– University of Florida (BSBA, 1973-1975)
– Broward Community College (AA, 1971-1973).

List in reverse chronological order your work history for the past 15 years:
– Lawyer: Lead counsel in over 1000 cases
– Community Leader: President of the Las Olas Homeowners Association, member of the Budget Advisory Board.

Have you ever been a party to a lawsuit including bankruptcy or foreclosure? If so, provide details of the case and disposition:
Yes, it is encompassed within my work as an attorney.

Have you ever been charged or convicted of a felony or misdemeanor including an adjudication of guilt withheld? If so, provide charges, dates, and terms of sentence:
No.

Why should voters elect you instead of your opponent(s)?
Voters should choose me because I bring integrity, vision, and a commitment to sustainable development, ensuring that Fort Lauderdale’s growth benefits all its residents, not just the wealthy few, while safeguarding our natural resources for future generations

TALLAHASSEE — Campus was closed on Wednesday with Hurricane Helene building steam and heading toward the Florida Panhandle, but it was a busy day for the Florida State football team.

The Seminoles are seeking to build momentum off their 14-9 home win over Cal as they prepare for Saturday’s game at SMU. FSU’s coaching staff and administrators also have been tracking Helene while not on the field, and the plan for the time is to ride out the storm in Tallahassee and depart for Dallas on Friday.

“We get the opportunity and the blessing to play this game, to be able to be at this great place,” FSU coach Mike Norvell said. “We have so much focus on the game. But there are going to be lives that are absolutely impacted for a lifetime. Praying that everything goes as smooth and as easy as possible for all that will be affected.”

As difficult as it is, the Seminoles (1-3, 1-2 ACC) will try to compartmentalize concerns about the storm in the coming days as they practice and prepare for SMU (3-1, 0-0):

What are realistic expectations for offensive improvements?

As much as quarterback DJ Uiagalelei is the focal point of attention for his struggles, FSU’s offense will revolve around the health of its offensive line and the effectiveness of the run game. The injury outlook remains uncertain as the Seminoles move forward without tailbacks Roydell Williams, who Norvell said is out an “extended” amount of time, and Jaylin Lucas (out for the season).

Lawrance Toafili was criticized for not being a good runner between the tackles early in his career, but he racked up 80 yards on 17 carries in the win over Cal. Who will be his wing men moving forward? It needs to be 224-pound freshman Kam Davis, who has just 15 carries for 49 yards but will continue to see more playing time. Caziah Holmes and Sam Singleton are in the mix while true freshman Micahi Danzy could make his FSU debut.

FSU’s line against Cal was short starting tackles Robert Scott and Jeremiah Byers, although both have returned to practice. If the line can stay healthy, the Seminoles should be able to score more than the 15 points per game they are averaging (which ranks 126th among 134 FBS teams).

How will FSU fare vs. another mobile quarterback?

FSU’s defensive line has played with increased tenacity, and the results have been evident the last few weeks. Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza tried to run but was often tripped up or caught near the line of scrimmage.

The Seminoles are weeks removed from allowing 263 rushing yards against Boston College when former UCF quarterback Thomas Castellanos picked up 73 rushing yards.

New SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings had just 41 rushing yards in a win over TCU last week. But it’s the threat of Jennings as a runner that should be concerning.

Could the SMU game be pivotal for FSU’s season?

Yes, all games are significant. But FSU sits at 1-3 and needs to continue to build confidence among younger Seminoles who have earned playing time. A loss to SMU could prompt players to question their resolve to keep learning and improving.

A win would have FSU at 2-3 going into a rivalry game against Clemson, which opened with a loss to Georgia before shredding Appalachian State and NC State. The Seminoles would likely be a heavy home underdog against Clemson but could be riding momentum into the first of their three rivalry games.

Up next …

FSU at SMU

When: Saturday, Gerald J. Ford Stadium, 8

TV: ACCN

As a U.S. senator in 2022, Rick Scott proposed his plan to “Rescue America” and sunset (or renew) federal programs every five years. Scott’s plan threatened Social Security and Medicare. His moral compass should focus on preserving these programs, not ending them. (He later eliminated the idea.)

These programs are not just about people in their 60s and older. They are about adults in their 40s and 50s who pay for them. Social Security is critical income for many people. The Medicare health benefit helps cover medical bills and prescription drugs. Medicaid offers financial help to cover the overwhelming cost of long-term disabilities. Rick Scott had a plan to defund these programs — not make them stronger.

Scott was a failure as CEO of Columbia-HCA and once pleaded the Fifth Amendment 75 times in a lawsuit. He wants to shut down the U.S. Department of Education, which coordinates our national education standards. He said if he were still governor he would have signed the six-week abortion ban. He voted against contraception birth control as an infringement on religious liberties of some Americans.

Even more threatening, if he’s re-elected, he wants to be Senate Republican leader, giving him more power to implement his intentions.

Scott has failed to show reasonable, rational and responsible understanding of how to govern in our best interests. Stop Scott: Vote No in November.

Bill Summerfield, Ocala

A vote for Warren Sturman

While reviewing the Sun Sentinel Election 2024 Guide, I noticed that Ben Sorensen is running for Fort Lauderdale District 4 commissioner.

Didn’t he once see greener pastures, resign from that office and abandon his constituents?

How do we know some other office won’t catch his eye and he’ll do it again?

The District 4 incumbent, Warren Sturman, has been here for us and deserves another term.

Miles McGrane, Fort Lauderdale

The writer is a former president of the Florida Bar. 

In praise of Mark Gauert

Mark Gauert’s recent article in the Sunday Sun Sentinel’s City & Shore Magazine, along with its wonderful pictures, was great! (I especially liked the photo of him and his sons, hamming it up.)

Mark Gauert, editor of City & Shore Magazine.

Thanks, Mark, for bringing back some fond memories of Broward County.

I moved there in 1973 and lived and worked there until 2012, and I now live in Boynton Beach.

Thanks, too, for your wise words at the end of the article.

“Don’t hold onto memories just to hold onto them, I thought, emptying the rest down the drain. Some things don’t get better with age. Open your bottles, take a long drink while you can, and move on.”

Keep up the great work.

Pat Schifini, Boynton Beach

Remembering Mercury Morris Donn Gould / Sun SentinelMiami Dolphins #22 Mercury Morris has the ball and goes for long. STAFF PHOTO/Donn Gould

I’m deeply saddened by the death of Dolphins great Mercury Morris, a two-time Super Bowl champ and beloved member of the Perfect Team of 1972.

A dynamic player, he left a lasting impact through his personality and record-breaking performances. He loved the Dolphins, their fans, and the community of South Florida and will forever be remembered as one of the greatest players to don aqua and orange.

RIP, Eugene “Mercury” Morris.

Paul Bacon, Hallandale Beach

Submit a letter to the editor by email to letterstotheeditor@sunsentinel.com or by filling out the form below. Letters are limited to less than 150 words and must be signed with your email address, city of residence and your daytime phone number for verification. Letters are subject to editing for clarity and length. 

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Today is Wednesday, Sept. 25, the 269th day of 2024. There are 97 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Sept. 25, 2018, Bill Cosby was sentenced to three-to-10 years in prison for drugging and molesting a woman at his suburban Philadelphia home. (After serving nearly three years, Cosby went free in June 2021 after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned his conviction.)

Also on this date:

In 1513, Spanish explorer Vasco Nunez de Balboa crossed the Isthmus of Panama and sighted the Pacific Ocean.

In 1789, the first United States Congress adopted 12 amendments to the Constitution and sent them to the states for ratification. (Ten of the amendments became the Bill of Rights.)

In 1956, the first trans-Atlantic telephone cable officially went into service with a three-way ceremonial call between New York, Ottawa and London.

In 1957, nine Black students who had been forced to withdraw from Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, because of unruly white crowds were escorted to class by members of the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division and the National Guard.

In 1978, 144 people were killed when a Pacific Southwest Airlines Boeing 727 and a private plane collided over San Diego.

In 2005, in the presence of disarmament observers, the Irish Republican Army decommissioned its arsenal of weapons, officially ending a 36-year armed campaign for a unified Irish state.

In 2012, President Barack Obama, speaking to the U.N. General Assembly, pledged U.S. support for Syrians trying to oust President Bashar Assad, calling him “a dictator who massacres his own people.”

In 2013, skipper Jimmy Spithill and Oracle Team USA won the America’s Cup with one of the greatest comebacks in sports history, speeding past Dean Barker and Emirates Team New Zealand in the winner-take-all Race 19 on San Francisco Bay.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Basketball Hall of Famer Hubie Brown is 91.
• Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates is 81.
• Actor-producer Michael Douglas is 80.
• Model Cheryl Tiegs is 77.
• Actor Mimi Kennedy is 76.
• Film director Pedro Almodovar is 75.
• Actor-director Anson Williams is 75.
• Actor Mark Hamill is 73.
• Basketball Hall of Famer Bob McAdoo is 73.
• Actor Michael Madsen is 66.
• Actor Heather Locklear is 63.
• Actor Aida Turturro is 62.
• Actor Tate Donovan is 61.
• Actor Maria Doyle Kennedy is 60.
• Basketball Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen is 59.
• Actor Will Smith is 56.
• Actor Catherine Zeta-Jones is 55.
• Football Hall of Famer John Lynch is 53.
• Basketball Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups is 48.
• Actor Clea DuVall is 47.
• Rapper T.I. is 44.
• Actor-rapper Donald Glover (Childish Gambino) is 41.
• Actor Zach Woods is 40.
• Actor Jordan Gavaris is 35.
• Actor Leah Jeffries is 15.

By DAVE CAMPBELL

MINNEAPOLIS — The cratering Minnesota Twins took another step backward in the American League wild-card race, as Jonah Bride homered to spark a four-run second inning off Bailey Ober for the 99-loss Miami Marlins in a 4-1 victory on Tuesday night.

Bride had three hits, while Nick Fortes and Xavier Edwards each had two and helped fuel the defining rally in the second against Ober (12-8), who failed to finish six innings for just the second time in his last 17 starts.

The Twins (81-76), who have lost 23 of their last 34 games and 14 of 20, dropped to two games below the postseason cut behind both Detroit and Kansas City. The Tigers and Royals occupy the last two of the three wild-card spots, tied at 83-74. The Twins hold the tiebreakers after winning the season series against both of them, but there are only five games to go.

The surging Tigers added a win to the column — their 28th in their last 39 games — even before the Twins took batting practice, with their game against Tampa Bay moved up to beat the rain.

The defending AL Central champion Twins were within two games of division-leading Cleveland in a tie for second place with Kansas City as late as Aug. 24, even after several bullpen collapses in the preceding week. But as they stumbled into the final month of the season their offense — which had been one of the most productive in baseball all summer — inconveniently went dark.

After trudging home from a 2-5 road trip, the Twins arrived at Target Field for their final homestand with two potential sources of a real spark. The opposing Marlins have the second-worst record in the major leagues, ahead of only the historically futile Chicago White Sox. Then there’s the commanding and comforting presence of Ober, the 6-foot-9 right-hander who’s had a breakout season and conveniently is scheduled to pitch again in the finale on Sunday.

Neither of those avenues panned out.

Bride hit a 104.3 mph rocket off a full-count fastball that reached the second deck beyond left field to put the Marlins, who lost 10 of their last 13 games entering this series, on the board. With two outs, Ober hit Derek Hill with a pitch and gave up an RBI single to Fortes two batters later.

Then Edwards drilled a two-run double to left field for a four-run lead that might well have been double that with the way the Twins have been playing. They went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position, leaving 10 runners on base.

Royce Lewis had an RBI single in the third off Marlins starter Ryan Weathers (4-6), but the left-hander finished five innings for his first win since May 26. He was on the injured list for 2½ months.

Ober pitched to one batter in the sixth. He’s 0-3 with five no-decisions in his last eight starts.

No running

Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers threw out two runners trying to steal second base, including Edwards in the fourth. He has 30 stolen bases in 65 games and has only been caught four times.

Kepler’s farewell?

Twins right fielder Max Kepler is not expected to return this week, having missed the last 20 games with an injury initially diagnosed as patellar tendinitis in his left knee that has since been broadened to include a hip problem that could require offseason surgery.

If Minnesota makes the playoffs, there’s a possibility of him rejoining the active roster in October, but with his contract expiring this fall it’s likely he has played his last game with an organization that signed him in 2009 as a 16-year-old out of Germany. Kepler’s best season came in 2019, when he hit 36 home runs with 90 RBIs and an .855 on-base-plus-slugging percentage.

“I don’t think I could have done much more as a kid from Berlin,” he said.

Up next

RHP Edward Cabrera (4-8, 5.12 ERA) pitches for the Marlins in the middle game of the series on Wednesday night. RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (5-5, 4.00 ERA) starts for the Twins.

By DAVE COLLINS, Associated Press

Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones ‘ Infowars media platform and its assets will be sold off piece by piece in auctions this fall to help pay the more than $1 billion he owes relatives of victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, under an order expected to be approved by a federal judge.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez in Houston said during a court hearing Tuesday that he will approve the auctions that start in November. But he said he first must change a previous order to make it clear that the trustee overseeing Jones’ personal bankruptcy case controls all the assets of Infowars parent company Free Speech Systems, which is owned 100% by Jones.

Despite the pending loss of his company, Jones vows to continue his talk shows through other means, possibly including a new website and his personal social media accounts. He also has suggested that Infowars’ assets could be bought by his supporters, allowing him to continue hosting his show as an employee under the Infowars brand in their home city of Austin, Texas.

“It’s very cut and dry that the assets of Free Speech Systems, the website, the equipment, the shopping cart, all that, can be sold,” Jones said on a recent show. “And they know full well that there are a bunch of patriot buyers, and then the operation can ease on.”

Jones and his company both filed for bankruptcy protection in 2022 — the same year Sandy Hook families won nearly $1.5 billion in defamation and emotional distress lawsuits against Jones for his repeatedly calling the 2012 school shooting a hoax staged by “crisis actors” to get more gun control legislation passed. Twenty first graders and six educators were killed in the Newtown, Connecticut shooting.

During two civil trials in Texas and Connecticut, parents and children of many of the victims testified that they were traumatized by Jones’ hoax conspiracies and his followers’ actions. They said they were harassed and threatened by Jones’ believers, some of whom confronted the grieving families in person saying the shooting never happened and their children never existed. One parent said someone threatened to dig up his dead son’s grave.

Jones is appealing the civil jury verdicts, citing free speech rights and questioning whether the families proved any connection between his comments, and the people who harassed and threatened the relatives. He has since acknowledged that the shooting did happen.

In June, Lopez converted Jones’ personal bankruptcy reorganization case into a liquidation, meaning many of his assets will be sold off to pay creditors except for his main home and other exempt property. The same day, Lopez also dismissed Free Speech Systems’ bankruptcy case after Jones and the families could not reach agreement on a final plan.

The sell-off order Lopez intends to approve would put Infowars’ intellectual property up for auction on Nov. 13 including its trademarks, copyrighted material, social media accounts and websites. Jones’ personal social media sites, including his account on the social platform X, which has 2.8 million followers, would not be included.

However, the trustee overseeing Jones’ bankruptcy case, Christopher Murray, said Tuesday that he may soon seek court permission to also liquidate Jones’ personal social media accounts and his other intellectual property — which Jones’ attorneys have opposed. That issue could develop into another court fight in the bankruptcy case. Murray also is expected to sell many of Jones’ personal assets.

The Sandy Hook families who won the Connecticut lawsuit want Jones to lose his personal social media accounts. Their lawyers further contend that the families should get a chunk of all of Jones’ future earnings to help pay off his more than $1 billion debt.

Christopher Mattei, a lawyer for the Sandy Hook families in the Connecticut lawsuit, said the judge’s signing of the auction order will be “a significant step forward” in the family’s efforts to make Jones pay for his hoax lies.

“Alex Jones will no longer own or control the company he built,” Mattei said in a statement Tuesday. “This brings the families closer to their goal of holding him accountable for the harm he has caused.”

The rest of Infowars’ assets, including computers, video cameras and other studio equipment, would be sold at a different auction on Dec. 10.

Jones has made millions of dollars over the years selling dietary supplements, apparel, survival gear, books and other items he promotes on his shows, which air on the internet and dozens of radio stations. It’s unclear how much money would be raised by selling Infowars and Jones’ assets, and how much money the Sandy Hook families would get.

Jones has about $9 million in personal assets, according to court filings. Free Speech Systems has about $6 million in cash on hand and about $1.2 million worth of inventory, according to previous court testimony.

Lawyers, financial experts and others who worked on Jones’ bankruptcy cases — who have racked up millions of dollars in fees and expenses — are expected to be paid first.

A remaining legal dispute in the bankruptcy case is whether Free Speech Systems owes more than $50 million to another Jones-owned company, PQPR Holdings Limited. Free Speech Systems buys dietary supplements from PQPR to sell on the Infowars website. PQPR said it wasn’t paid for many of the supplements and filed liens. Sandy Hook lawyers allege the debt is bogus.

If the debt is found to be valid, that could reduce any amount the Sandy Hook families ultimately get from the liquidations.

Use a former hotel to serve as temporary housing.

Build small cottage homes, or even use shipping containers.

Designate “safe parking lots,” where people living in their cars could park.

These and many more ideas to help the homeless were raised for consideration in Palm Beach County on Tuesday as county officials brainstormed for much-needed solutions. Homelessness has remained a key issue ahead of a new state law kicking in.

The law, which takes effect Oct. 1, will ban Florida’s homeless from sleeping in public spaces such as in parks, bus stops, on the beach and on sidewalks.

“We as a county are faced with some daunting challenges,” Palm Beach County Mayor Maria Sachs said during a workshop Tuesday.

While the law takes effect next week, there’s still one more key date next year: Beginning on Jan. 1, noncompliance could mean that a county or municipality risks legal action from residents, businesses, or the attorney general who could make a written complaint.

The bill, signed in March by Gov. Ron DeSantis, also was touted as a way to provide the homeless greater access to services. According to a news release from DeSantis’ office this year, the law “requires counties to ensure that homeless individuals receive the mental health and drug addiction services they need.” It also keeps homeless encampments from intruding on the state’s “citizens or undermine their quality of life,” the news release said.

In recent months, many cities and counties in Florida have taken steps to try to comply with the law, while many local elected officials have complained it has brought on a burden.

“So we send our money up to Tallahassee, and they don’t send it back to help us with this,” Palm Beach County Commissioner Gregg Weiss said during Tuesday’s workshop. “And yet they created legislation, maybe rightfully so, but they created legislation that’s going to impact us and basically tell you, ‘You’re on your own?'”

Officials from the Palm Beach County Community Services department discussed how the state distributed $10 million to each of Florida’s 67 counties toward the “unsheltered,” and the county’s share is a little more than $600,000.

For example, the potential plan for the county to buy a 114-bed former La Quinta Inn on Okeechobee Boulevard and use it as a housing opportunity could cost the county about $15 million if the plan were to advance, though Mayor Sachs said she needed more time to consider the deal.

The county is considering other ideas as well, including to:

— Maximize the use of 30 available Salvation Army beds at the Center of Hope along Military Trail, which costs $100 per day or $18,250 for six months, according to Salvation Army Maj. Leisa Hall, the area commander.

— Increase capacity at the Phillip D. Lewis Center, which is a homeless resource center.

— Collaborate with the West Palm Beach Housing Authority to operate the Prosperity Village Cottage Homes Project, which will be 17 single-family homes and one community building ranging from 950 to 1,200 square feet in Lake Worth Beach. It is set for completion before the end of the year, according to the county.

— Work with faith-based organizations to identify any available land to build more affordable housing or designating a parking lot belonging to an entity of that nature as a safe place for people to park and sleep overnight.

During the workshop, county officials also discussed the possibility of communal living spaces, the encouragement of room sharing and reusing shipping containers for housing. Prior to the meeting, Sachs had distributed a memo discussing the benefits of tiny houses, which are often faster and cheaper in comparison to construction of housing or shelters, according to the memo.

A 2024 point-in-time count, which determines how many people are experiencing homelessness on a single day, found that more than 2,000 people were unhoused in Palm Beach County. This is a nearly 15% increase from the 2023 point-in-time count, according to the county’s community services.

“The cure for homelessness is very simple,” said Ezra Krieg, who is part of the county’s Homeless and Housing Alliance, during the meeting’s public comment. “It’s getting heads in beds.”

But how that happens is where Palm Beach County officials and others around the state are getting stuck.

“This is not just Palm Beach, it is not just Florida, this is the entire country,” Sachs said. “Go to any great American city and you’ll find people sleeping under bridges, families huddled in cars. This is an issue. It’s a crisis.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — A man who authorities say staked out Donald Trump for 12 hours on his West Palm Beach golf course and wrote of a desire to kill him was indicted Tuesday on an attempted assassination charge.

Ryan Wesley Routh had been initially charged with two federal firearms offenses. The upgraded charges contained in a five-count indictment reflect the Justice Department’s assessment that he methodically plotted to kill the Republican nominee, aiming a rifle through the shrubbery surrounding Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course on an afternoon Trump was playing on it. Routh left behind a note in which he described his intention, prosecutors said.

Court records show the case has been assigned to Aileen Cannon, a Trump-appointed federal judge who generated intense scrutiny for her handling of a criminal case charging Trump with illegally hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. She dismissed that case in July, a decision now being appealed by special counsel Jack Smith’s team.

The attempted assassination indictment had been foreshadowed during a court hearing Monday in which prosecutors successfully argued for the 58-year-old Routh to remain behind bars as a flight risk and a threat to public safety.

They alleged that he had written of his plans to kill Trump in a handwritten note months before his Sept. 15 arrest in which he referred to his actions as a failed “assassination attempt on Donald Trump” and offered $150,000 for anyone who could “finish the job.” That note was in a box that Routh had apparently dropped off at the home of an unidentified witness months before his arrest.

The person opened the letter, took a photograph of the front page of the letter, addressed “Dear World,” and contacted law enforcement after the attempted assassination.

Prosecutors also said Routh kept in his car a handwritten list of venues in August, September and October at which Trump had appeared or was expected to be present.

The charge of attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate carries a potential life sentence in the event of a conviction. Other charges in the indictment include assaulting a federal officer, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and the two original firearms charges he faced last week.

The potential shooting was thwarted when a member of Trump’s Secret Service protective detail spotted a partially obscured man’s face and a rifle barrel protruding through the golf course fence line, ahead of where Trump was playing. The agent fired in the direction of Routh, who sped away and was stopped by law enforcement in a neighboring county.

Routh did not fire any rounds and did not have Trump in his line of sight, officials have said, but he left behind a digital camera, a backpack, a loaded SKS-style rifle with a scope and a plastic bag containing food.

US seeking attempted assassination charge for man accused in Trump golf course stakeout

The arrest came two months after Trump was shot and wounded in the ear in an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. The Secret Service has acknowledged failings leading up to that shooting but has said that security worked as it should have to thwart a potential attack in Florida.

The initial charges Routh faced in a criminal complaint accused him of illegally possessing his gun in spite of multiple felony convictions and with possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. It is common for prosecutors to bring preliminary and easily provable charges upon an arrest and then add more serious offenses later as the investigation develops.

The FBI had said at the outset that it was investigating the episode as an apparent assassination attempt, but the absence of an immediate charge to that effect opened the door for Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to announce his own state-level investigation that he said could produce more serious charges.

Trump, seeking to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the investigation and the Justice Department more broadly, complained Monday — before the attempted assassination charge was brought — that federal prosecutors were “mishandling and downplaying” the case by bringing charges that were a “slap on the wrist.”

Asked at an unrelated press conference about Trump’s criticism Monday, Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Justice Department “would spare no resources to ensure accountability” in the case.

“All of our top priority should be ensuring that accountability occurs in this case and that those who run for office and their families are safe and protected,” Garland said.

The Justice Department also said Monday that authorities who searched Routh’s car found six cellphones, including one that showed a Google search of how to travel from Palm Beach County to Mexico.

A notebook found in his car was filled with criticism of the Russian and Chinese governments and notes about how to join the war on behalf of Ukraine.

In addition, prosecutors have cited a book authored by Routh last year in which he lambasted Trump’s approach to foreign policy, including in Ukraine. In the book, he wrote that Iran was “free to assassinate Trump” for having left the nuclear deal.

Associated Press writers Alanna Durkin Richer and Curt Anderson contributed to this report.

By LARRY NEUMEISTER, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Caroline Ellison, a former top executive in Sam Bankman-Fried ’s fallen FTX cryptocurrency empire, was sentenced to two years in prison on Tuesday after she apologized to everyone hurt by a fraud that stole billions of dollars from investors, lenders and customers.

Ellison, 29, could have faced a much tougher sentence, but both the judge and prosecutors said she deserved credit for talking extensively with federal investigators, pleading guilty and ultimately testifying against Bankman-Fried for three days at his trial last November.

U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan said Ellison’s cooperation was “very, very substantial” and “remarkable.”

But he said a prison sentence was necessary because she had participated in what might be the “greatest financial fraud ever perpetrated in this country and probably anywhere else” or at least close to it.

Ellison was ordered to report to prison Nov. 7.

FTX was one of the world’s most popular cryptocurrency exchanges, known for its Superbowl TV ad and its extensive lobbying campaign in Washington, before it collapsed in 2022.

U.S. prosecutors accused Bankman-Fried and other top executives of looting customer accounts on the exchange to make risky investments, make millions of dollars of illegal political donations, bribe Chinese officials and buy luxury real estate in the Caribbean.

Ellison was chief executive at Alameda Research, a cryptocurrency hedge fund controlled by Bankman-Fried.

“I’m deeply ashamed with what I’ve done,” she said at the sentencing hearing, fighting through tears to say she was “so so sorry” to everyone she had harmed directly or indirectly.

She did not speak as she left Manhattan federal court, surrounded by lawyers.

In court Tuesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon called for leniency, saying Ellison’s testimony was “devastating and powerful proof” against Bankman-Fried, 32, who was found guilty of fraud and sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Attorney Anjan Sahni asked the judge to spare his client from prison, citing “unusual circumstances,” including her off-and-on romantic relationship with Bankman-Fried and the damage caused when her “whole professional and personal life came to revolve” around him.

Judge Kaplan agreed that Ellison’s willingness to work with prosecutors was extraordinary.

“I’ve seen a lot of cooperators in 30 years here. I’ve never seen one quite like Ms. Ellison,” he said.

But he said that in such a serious case, he could not let cooperation be a get-out-of-jail-free card, even when it was clear that Bankman-Fried had become “your kryptonite.”

Bankman-Fried also testified at the trial, portraying himself to the jury as inexperienced and bumbling but not a criminal. He acknowledged making mistakes, but said he didn’t defraud anyone and wasn’t aware that Alameda Research had amassed billions of dollars in debt.

Sassoon, the prosecutor, described that testimony in court Tuesday as “evasive, even contemptuous.”

As the business began to falter, Ellison divulged the massive fraud to employees who worked for her even before FTX filed for bankruptcy, trial evidence showed.

Ultimately, she also spoke extensively with criminal and civil U.S. investigators.

Sassoon said prosecutors were impressed that Ellison did not “jump into the lifeboat” to escape her crimes but instead spent nearly two years fully cooperating.

Since testifying at Bankman-Fried’s trial, Ellison has engaged in extensive charity work, written a novel and worked with her parents on a math enrichment textbook for advanced high school students, according to her lawyers.

They said she also now has a healthy romantic relationship and has reconnected with high school friends she had lost touch with while she worked for and sometimes dated Bankman-Fried from 2017 until late 2022.

By ANDREW DALTON, AP Entertainment Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Another woman sued Sean “Diddy” Combs on Tuesday, alleging that the music mogul and his head of security raped her and recorded it on video at his New York recording studio in 2001.

The lawsuit filed in federal court in New York, the latest of several similar suits against Combs, comes a week after he was was arrested and a federal sex trafficking indictment against him was unsealed.

Thalia Graves alleges that when she was 25 and dating an executive who worked for Combs in the summer of 2001, Combs and Joseph Sherman lured her to a meeting at Bad Boy Recording Studios. She said they picked her up in an SUV and during the ride gave her a drink “likely laced with a drug.”

According to the lawsuit, Graves lost consciousness and awoke to find herself bound inside Combs’ office and lounge at the studio. The two men raped her, slapped her, slammed her head against a pool table and ignored her screams and cries for help, the lawsuit alleges.

At a news conference in Los Angeles with one of her attorneys, Gloria Allred, Graves said she has suffered from “flashbacks, nightmares and intrusive thoughts” in the years since.

“It has been hard for me to trust others to form healthy relationships or even feel safe in my own skin,” Graves said, crying as she read from a statement.

She said it is “a pain that reaches into your very core of who you are and leaves emotional scars that may never fully heal.”

Combs remains jailed without bail in New York on federal charges alleging that he ran a vast network that facilitated sexual crimes and committed shocking acts of violence, using blackmail and other tactics to protect Combs and those close to him.

He pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. His attorney said he is innocent and will fight to clear his name. His representatives did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on the latest lawsuit. There was no immediate indication from the lawsuit or from Combs’ representatives whether Sherman had a separate attorney who could comment on the allegations.

The lawsuit was filed under the New York City Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act, and comes during a two-year window that suspends legal deadlines and allows sexual assault victims to sue over abuse that might otherwise be too old to pursue.

Allred declined to say whether her client had spoken to investigators in Combs’ criminal case. The indictment in that case mentions only allegations since 2008.

Graves’ lawsuit also alleges that late last year, after Combs’ former singing protege and girlfriend Cassie filed a lawsuit that began the surge of allegations against him, Graves learned through her former boyfriend that Combs had recorded her rape, shown it to others and sold it as pornography.

The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they have been sexually abused, unless they come forward publicly as Graves and Cassie, whose legal name is Casandra Ventura, have done.

Graves’ lawsuit says both Combs and Sherman contacted her multiple times in the years after the assault, threatening repercussions if she told anyone what had happened to her. She was in a divorce and custody fight at the time and feared losing her young son if she revealed anything, the suit says.

Graves said at the news conference that the guilt and shame attached “often made me feel worthless, isolated and sometimes responsible for what happened to me.”

The lawsuit seeks damages to be determined at trial and for all copies of the video to be accounted for and destroyed.

The lawsuit also names as defendants several companies owned by Combs, the three-time Grammy winner and founder of Bad Boy Records who was among the most influential hip-hop producers and executives of the past three decades.

This year has had a little something for everyone when it comes to books — fans of romantasy, science fiction, horror, and young adult fiction have plenty to choose from every time they visit their local bookstores.

But mystery readers are really in for a treat. There has been a bumper crop of whodunits, thrillers, and crime novels for those who prefer to read on the edge of their seat. And the year’s not over yet — high-profile books from crime fiction titans Michael Connelly, Attica Locke, Richard Price, and Paula Hawkins are all on the horizon.

We’ve collected 20 promising books covering all types of mysteries and thrillers — some out now, some coming soon. If you’re looking for an engrossing read that might just scare you a little, check these out — just remember to lock your door if you’re reading at night.

Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, “Angel of Vengeance”

Preston and Child have collaborated on more than 30 books ever since their debut novel, “Relic,” was published in 1995. Their latest sees the return of their popular character Aloysius Pendergast, an FBI agent who this time is on the trail of a New York serial killer — who happens to be Pendergast’s ancestor.

Scott Phillips, “The Devil Raises His Own”

Phillips is best known for his historical noir fiction set in the American West, and his latest novel finds him training his eye on the Silent Era of Hollywood. The book follows an L.A. photographer in 1916 who finds himself entangled in the nascent porn industry; a series of murders complicates his life as well as that of his granddaughter, who has moved to the city from Kansas after killing her abusive husband.

Seishi Yokomizo, translated by Bryan Karetnyk, “The Little Sparrow Murders”

The British publisher Pushkin Press puts out some of the highest-quality crime fiction under its Pushkin Vertigo imprint. One of their latest comes from the late Japanese author Yokomizo, and tells the story of a detective summoned to a remote mountain town to investigate a (very) cold case, and who stays once he learns that a new series of slayings is taking place.

Hansen Shi, “The Expat”

Readers who love a good spy novel might want to reach for this one by venture capitalist Shi — it follows Michael Wang, a young Princeton graduate working a tech job at General Motors, who is headhunted by Vivian, a woman who invites him to come work in China. When Michael travels to Beijing, Vivian is nowhere to be found, and he realizes he might be entangled in something much bigger than he bargained for.

M.T. Anderson, “Nicked”

Anderson is best known for his novels for younger readers (“Feed,” “The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party”), but he has a grown-up audience in mind for this one. His latest book is a heist story, set in the 11th century and follows Nicephorus, a naive Italian monk who is talked into joining a plot to steal the bones of St. Nicholas.

P.J. Tracy, “City of Secrets”

Crime fiction fans have fallen for Margaret Nolan, the LAPD detective who starred in Tracy’s novels “Deep Into the Dark,” “Desolation Canyon,” and “The Devil You Know.” She returns in Tracy’s latest, which finds the detective investigating what looks to be a carjacking-turned-murder — but that’s just the tip of a very dark iceberg.

Leonie Swann, translated by Amy Bojang, “Agnes Sharp and the Trip of a Lifetime”

German author Swann brings the cozy in this follow-up to her mystery novel “The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp.” This one sees the return of the titular woman and her fellow elderly housemates as they attempt to solve a possible murder in a fancy Cornwall hotel.

Kate Atkinson, “Death at the Sign of the Rook”

Literary novelist Atkinson is hard to pin down when it comes to genre, but her books featuring detective Jackson Brodie are unabashedly mysteries — and undeniably fun. In her latest, something of an homage to Agatha Christie, Brodie uncovers a series of art thefts in Yorkshire that leads him to something even more sinister.  

Kwei Quartey, “The Whitewashed Tombs”

Emma Djan, the Ghanaian private investigator featured in three of Quartey’s previous novels, returns in his latest. This time, she’s investigating the murder of an LGBTQ+ activist in Accra; her investigation leads her to a group that is trying to make homosexuality illegal in several African countries.

Richard Osman, “We Solve Murders”

British author Osman scored a series of bestsellers with his cozy “Thursday Murder Club” series of novels (the first of which is headed to the big screen, courtesy of Steven Spielberg). He’s kicking off a new series with this novel, about a retired detective who works with his security officer daughter-in-law after she learns that she’s been targeted for murder.

M. Waggoner, “The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society” (Sept. 24)

Readers who enjoy a little paranormal mixed in with their mysteries should take a look at this novel, which follows a small-town librarian who realizes that a string of murders in her village might be the result of something demonic. (The possession of her cat, Lord Thomas Crowell, also clues her into the malevolent spirits.) She enlists a priest and a group of townspeople to investigate what’s really going on

Marissa Stapley, “The Lightning Bottles” (Sept. 24)

The latest from “The Last Resort” and “Lucky” author takes readers back to the 1990s grunge era. The novel follows Jane Pyre, who founded the titular band with her then partner Elijah Hart, who has since disappeared. Jane moves to Germany, where a teenage fan insists that Elijah is still alive and waiting to be found. Mystery fans who also love Taylor Jenkins Reid’s “Daisy Jones & the Six” will find much to admire here.

Ramona Emerson, “Exposure” (Oct. 1)

Emerson was longlisted for the National Book Award for her debut “Shutter,” which introduced readers to the New Mexico forensic photographer Rita Todacheene. In this follow-up, Rita is called in to help with the investigation of a serial killer who is targeting Native victims in the city of Gallup.

Lauren Ling Brown, “Society of Lies” (Oct. 1)

Brown, a film editor living in L.A., makes her literary debut with this suspense novel about Maya, who returns to her alma mater of Princeton to see Naomi, her little sister, graduate. When Naomi turns up dead, Maya suspects a secret society at the Ivy League school might have something to do with it.

Sarah Sawyer, “The Undercurrent” (Oct. 8)

In Sawyer’s debut novel, a Maine woman named Bee is trying to navigate her postpartum depression when a childhood friend makes a reappearance and leads her to travel back to her Texas home, where she becomes obsessed with the disappearance of a girl from her town. “Gone Girl” author Gillian Flynn calls this one “stunning.”

Delilah S. Dawson, “It Will Only Hurt for a Moment” (Oct. 22)

Arriving just in time for Halloween — yes, spooky season is coming soon — Dawson’s novel follows Sarah Carpenter, a woman who leaves behind her ex-boyfriend and mother to make pottery at an artists’ colony. Things get dicey when she discovers a body of a young woman, and her fellow artists start acting unusually.

Sydney Graves, “The Arizona Triangle” (Oct. 22)

Kate Christensen is well known to literary fiction fans as the author of well-received novels like “In the Drink” and “The Great Man.” Now she’s turning her talents to crime fiction — her new novel, written under the pseudonym Sydney Graves, follows a Tucson, Arizona, detective looking for her missing, estranged best friend from childhood.

Tod Goldberg, editor, “Eight Very Bad Nights: A Collection of Hanukkah Noir” (Oct. 29)

Indio-based author Goldberg is one of the best (and funniest) crime writers working today, so it makes sense that publisher Soho put him in charge of this Hanukkah-themed short story anthology. Contributors include authors Ivy Pochoda, David L. Ulin, Jim Ruland, Gabino Iglesias, Liska Jacobs and Goldberg’s novelist brother Lee, all of whom are likely to serve up thrills alongside your latkes.

Christina Lynch, “Pony Confidential” (Nov. 5)

Champing at the bit for a mystery with an equine hero? Look no further than the latest from College of the Sequoias professor Lynch, which tells the story of a pony determined to prove that her old (human) friend Penny didn’t commit a murder that she’s been accused of. With Penny languishing in jail, Pony can’t afford to horse around.

Lou Berney, “Double Barrel Bluff” (Nov. 5)

The sixth book from award-winning author Berney (“Gutshot Straight,” “November Road,” “Dark Ride”) brings back his character Shake Bouchon. In this latest one, the former L.A. mob wheelman has moved to Indiana, but he agrees to travel to Cambodia to track down a mob boss who also happens to be his ex-girlfriend.

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TALLAHASSEE — Attorneys for people with disabilities have filed a federal lawsuit alleging the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration has not provided adequate oversight of Medicaid managed-care plans that care for people in their homes.

The 79-page lawsuit, filed Monday in Tallahassee, centers on part of Florida’s Medicaid system that contracts with managed-care plans to provide what are known as home- and community-based services for people who need long-term care. The services are aimed at helping people avoid going into nursing homes or other institutions.

Filed on behalf of five adults with disabilities such as quadriplegia, Alzheimer’s disease and debilitating genetic disorders, the lawsuit contends that managed-care plans have not provided adequate information about decisions to reduce or deny services. Also, it contends an Agency for Health Care Administration hearing process for appeals does not hold the plans accountable.

“Plaintiffs have been harmed by AHCA’s failure to require that plans provide them with adequate and timely written notice of denial, reduction, or termination of services and other information needed to meaningfully challenge plan decisions,” the lawsuit said. “This harm will continue until AHCA institutes corrective action.”

The lawsuit alleges violations of constitutional due-process rights, the Americans with Disabilities Act and other federal laws. To operate the home- and community-based services program, Florida needed to obtain what is known as a “waiver” from certain requirements in federal Medicaid laws.

While services can include nursing care, they also can involve help with personal care such as bathing, dressing, eating and going to the bathroom and assistance with such things as laundry and housekeeping. The lawsuit said the state contracts with seven managed-care plans to provide the long-term care services.

The lawsuit names as a defendant Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Jason Weida, but not the managed-care plans. In part, it seeks an injunction to require the agency to ensure that managed-care plans provide “timely and adequate notice before denial, reduction or termination” of services and to prevent plans from “placing arbitrary limits on services.”

Also, it seeks an injunction to ensure the agency’s “hearing process provides a meaningful review of managed care plan decision-making, including but not limited to all issues pertaining to requested services, adequacy of notices, continuation of services that are reduced or terminated, information needed to meaningfully challenge adverse decisions, and the appropriate array of services or amounts of services that would meet the enrollee’s stated needs.”

The lawsuit, which was filed by Gainesville attorney Nancy Wright and lawyers from Southern Legal Counsel and Legal Services of Greater Miami, has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle, according to a court docket.

Here are the top stories for Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. Get the weather forecast for today here.

SUBSCRIBE NOW: Get our free Morning Update email. Sign up here.

Helene to become major hurricane aimed at Florida’s Gulf Coast

Broward Health CEO takes over as top executive at Memorial Healthcare System

After Boca Raton double killing, police reveal how suspect was quickly arrested

From ideas to cash: South Florida’s innovation industry taking hold and expanding

Critics see DeSantis double-standard in Florida abortion petition case

Taste of the Gardens returns to Pembroke Pines with food, fun & philanthropy

‘This show just keeps getting better and better’: Gordon Ramsay’s ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ season 23 debuts this week with 3 SoFlo chefs

Poll: Who or what is most to blame for the Dolphins’ 24-3 loss in Seattle?

Big restaurant deal: Hallandale Eats dine-out promotion extended through October

Miss Manners: The Bridezilla attitude has gotten out of control

Re: Donald Trump, in a speech on antisemitism on Sept. 19, said, as reported by NPR: “Anybody who’s Jewish and loves being Jewish and loves Israel is a fool if they vote for a Democrat … You should have your heads examined.”

I see letters to the editor from women and fellow Jews and shake my head when I see them promote Trump.

I can’t understand how Trumpers can vote for a convicted felon, a traitor, a white supremacist and a self-serving liar. It would take up most of the newspaper to list all of his transgressions. I’ve never voted for anyone strictly based on character and moral qualities, but in this situation, I think it’s imperative.

Do you want a president who’s so incredibly divisive?

Trump refers to Kamala Harris as “the enemy.” Who talks like that about an opponent? Just like when he lost to Biden, he has set the stage for contesting the results if he loses. If he wins, it was accurate. If he loses, it must be fraud.

I’ve heard Trump say that Jews who don’t vote for him should have their heads examined. I therefore need to call my doctor ASAP, as the line will be very long.

Bill Marvin, Delray Beach

Trump and Jewish voters

The mainstream media is trying its best to undermine Trump’s unwavering support of Jews and Israel by making a big deal about his speech where he said if he loses, it could be partly blamed on Jewish voters not voting for him.

That’s obviously true, but he might have worded it differently.

Trump said that in 2020, his share of the Jewish vote improved from 25% to 29%. He said he is now at 40% (among Jews) in recent polls. That’s another 35% improvement. Trump really should be getting about 60% of the Jewish vote.

To put it another way, if Trump had exactly the same policies and did what he did for Israel but was a Democrat, he would probably get 80% of the Jewish vote. So if my fellow Jews want more half-hearted support of Israel, they should vote for Harris. She supports Israel less than Biden.

Mark Goldstein, Boca Raton

How abstinence is dangerous

I write this letter in response to the news article, “‘Emphasize abstinence’ in sex-ed, Florida tells schools, skip lessons on contraception.”

We live in a truly sick society if we deem abstinence-only sex education to be acceptable. It’s a form of fundamentalist indoctrination that should be vehemently opposed by any decent person.

Encouraging the virtues of abstinence is fine, but teaching it as the only option is dangerous. Broward schools banning the teaching of contraception or consent will encourage the spread of lies or encourage teachers themselves to spread them (something still legal in many states).

That this is still being debated shows what a stranglehold the anti-sex and frankly, anti-human fundamentalist Christian right has over our culture. There’s no “two sides” to this issue, just the right way and a dangerous way, that should be made illegal nationwide, and no considerations should be made for religious viewpoints if they force dangerous falsehoods upon others.

Thomas Staggenborg, Deerfield Beach

A lack of family values

In Florida, your teenage son can sit in his bedroom and watch videos of people having sex, but he can’t sit in his classroom and be taught by a professional about human reproduction. How does this uphold family values?

Michael Sweeten, Deerfield Beach

Submit a letter to the editor by email to letterstotheeditor@sunsentinel.com or by filling out the form below. Please include your full name, email address, city of residence and daytime phone number for verification. Letters are subject to editing for clarity and length. 

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MIAMI — A year after announcing Micky Arison’s Carnival Cruise Line as the sponsor for the team’s jersey patch, the Miami Heat announced Tuesday a multiyear agreement for the uniform placement with Robinhood, a financial-services platform.

The Robinhood patch will be featured on all versions of the Heat’s 2024-25 jerseys, as well as the jersey of the team’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

While the Heat have not released details yet on their 2024-25 City Edition jersey, multiple reports have the team continuing with a “Culture” theme for those jerseys, this year to be featured in a red jersey after last season’s black “Culture” jerseys.

Robinhood patches are seen on the Miami Heat 2024-25 jersey. (Miami Heat/Courtesy)

The agreement with Robinhood is for three years, with an option to continue forward thereafter.

Robinhood also is a patch sponsor for the Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards.

“Robinhood is really passionate about the NBA,” said John Vidalin, the Heat’s chief commercial officer. “They began with the Wizards and they had a plan to add multiple teams.”

Among the intriguing elements of the agreement for the uniform patch is the Heat announcing that the partnership was facilitated by Klutch Sports Group’s Global Partnerships division.

Klutch is the agency founded in 2012 by LeBron James business partner Rich Paul.

The Heat for years had a seemingly icy relationship with Klutch Sports, one that became particularly frosty when James left the Heat in 2014 NBA free agency to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Paul is James’ agent.

But now, in addition to the marketing agreement reached through Klutch, the Heat’s lone veteran free-agency addition this offseason was veteran forward Alec Burks, a client who is represented by Klutch.

Robinhood patches are seen on the Miami Heat 2024-25 jersey. (Miami Heat/Courtesy)

“In terms of the business side, we keep basketball involved obviously in all the major decisions, but Klutch Sports has a representation arm, a sports-marketing arm, and we worked with them,” Vidalin said.

“They brought the deal to us and we took it from there.”

In a statement, Klutch Head of Global Partnerships Andrew Feinberg said: “Robinhood’s mission to make finance accessible was a strong fit with the Miami Heat’s dedication to community, culture, and excellence, making this partnership a natural choice.”

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The partnership with the fintech brand will include Robinhood exposure on Heat communication channels and social media platforms.

Jerseys with the new Robinhood sponsor patch will be available, according to the team, only at Heat outlets.

In addition to Carnival, UKG had been a previous Heat patch sponsor,  a company that was the result of a merger in April 2020 between Ultimate Software and Kronos Incorporated. Ultimate also previously was a patch sponsor.

The NBA’s jersey-patch program began in 2017, allowing for one such patch on the left front shoulder of uniforms.

According to a Front Office Sports report in 2021, jersey sponsors in the NBA typically range from $7 million to $10 million per year. The Lakers, who signed a deal with Bibigo in 2021, have a five-year contract worth over $100 million.

Of this latest Heat patch agreement, Vidalin said: “The numbers, they’re proprietary, but we’re happy with where we landed.”

The agreement again ties the Heat to a financial platform with cryptocurrency involvement, after a previous failed relationship with FTX as the title sponsor of what is now Kaseya Center.

“Their category with us is trading and investment brokerage,” Vidalin said of Robinhood. “So they have many things in their portfolio and that’s one of them. But we’re always conscious of relationships. And in terms of them as our partner, that’s the category we’re under, is investment brokerage.”

The Heat will hold their annual media day on Sept. 30, followed by training camp that starts the next day at the Baha Mar resort in the Bahamas.

The Heat open their exhibition schedule Oct. 8 on the road against the Charlotte Hornets, with the 37th season in the franchise’s history opening Oct. 23 against the visiting Orlando Magic.

Tickets for the Oct. 7 Red, White & Pink open scrimmage presented by Miami Cancer Institute at Baptist Health already are on sale, as are tickets for the Heat’s exhibition and regular-season games.