South Florida Local News

Florida has long boomed economically from three revenue sources — farming, real estate, tourism. Now, local leaders would like to add the ocean to that list.

Florida is launching a new Office of Ocean Economy, which aims to make the state a major contender in a “blue economy” race that is well underway in other states and countries.

Some of that development is already happening here in South Florida, and backers hope the initiative will make the Sunshine State a global leader in water-driven innovation.

State Rep. Kelly Skidmore, D-Boca Raton, who co-sponsored the bill that created the office with state Rep. Chip LaMarca, R-Lighthouse Point, and state Sen. Jason Pizzo, D-Sunny Isles Beach, said that the goal is to connect the dots of the blue economy in Florida so everyone can benefit.

Those dots include academic research, innovation, technology, funding, branding, and the ocean itself.

According to the bill, the office is charged with:

— Connecting the state’s ocean resources to economic development with a focus on sustainable practices.
— Connecting the state’s universities and transforming innovative technology into functional businesses.
— Developing a pipeline for innovation to be commercialized and financed.
— Branding the state globally as a leader in the ocean economy.
— Reporting the economic benefits the office has generated, as well as emerging ocean economy innovations, each August.

“We need the next Gatorade to come out of the ocean,” said LaMarca at a recent Florida Ocean Alliance event at the Coral Ridge Yacht Club in Fort Lauderdale.

LaMarca’s Gatorade reference was a nod to researchers at the University of Florida, who in 1965 developed the sports drink — and created an industry — because they were concerned that UF athletes were sweating out too many electrolytes in the Florida heat.

“There’s plenty of great research being done now,” LaMarca said. “What we want to do is take what’s in a research project and what is on the shelf and bring possible products to market.”

Funding for the initiative will come from the state, and the office will be housed at Florida Atlantic University and led by Colin Polsky, founding director of FAU’s School of Environmental, Coastal, and Ocean Sustainability.

Polsky said that some current examples of the ocean economy include aquaculture, commercial fishing and recreation (SCUBA businesses, fishing guides). But given that Florida has 8,436-mile coastline, high-level research institutions seeking solutions to climate change, and access to the power of tides and the Gulf Stream, there’s much more that can be done.

Central to the initiative is the fact that Florida is on the front lines of climate change and sea-level rise. As the region develops solutions, and those solutions can be turned into businesses that the rest of the world can use.

Polsky said that startups could emerge around topics such as hydroelectric power from both tides and the Gulf Stream, innovative ways to protect shorelines through both designed structures and developing coral reefs that are better adapted to high heat conditions.

He used other regions as examples of blue economy leadership. “Denmark is the global leader in offshore wind technology development,” Polsky said. China has ramped up production, but the know-how came from a place — Denmark, Polsky said.

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“Same thing with the Netherlands with flood control. They’ve been doing that for 500 years. Humanity has always been trying to manage risk in coastal zones. Places that do it well, export it.”

Polsky said that efforts in this first fiscal year would start with a statewide listening tour to ascertain what ocean economy ventures have been attempted, what needs to continue and not to continue.

His team will also develop reports on local gross domestic product associated with different parts of the ocean economy, and map that analysis across the state.

They will then look at employment trends, define the status quo and model how local economies might perform under different economic forces.

“Then we can incorporate ideas from all around the state about different opportunities, avenues, levers, mechanisms for improving the ocean economy,” he said.

Florida is not alone in the blue economy race. Skidmore said the Sunshine State is competing with Rhode Island, San Diego, Mississippi and several institutes around Boston.

Globally she said Portugal, Scotland, Norway and others are making headway.

“They’re really killing it in this space. So we do have some catch up we need to do,” she said. “But if Florida can lead the U.S. … then we can compete around the world.”

Kind Designs’ 3D-printed living seawalls can replace old flat seawall. Their texture both breaks up wave energy and provides habitat for inshore marine animals such as crabs, shrimp and young fish. (Courtesy Kind Designs)

In 10 years, LaMarca envisions an intellectual pipeline.

“My hope is that every smart young research student that’s doing work at our universities has the opportunity to take something … to bring a project to market and be able to monetize that,” he said.

LaMarca previously worked on legislation in Florida that allowed student athletes to profit from the use of their name, image and likeness, and said he thinks there’s a parallel to students in science fields.

“They should be able to take what they’re learning, and if they can bring something to market, benefit off of it, not only for themselves, but for the universities.”

Though the Office of Ocean Economy is new, water-focused businesses and research in South Florida is well underway.

Here are some examples:

Reef deployment: The Ocean Rescue Alliance International, a nonprofit that works with cities such as Hollywood, deploys artificial coral reefs that protect the shoreline, provide habitat for marine life and offer diving opportunities. ORAI has developed a Coral Lok system to make planting coral more efficient. Their base structures have slots for screws. Divers can simply screw in corals growing on threaded plugs.

International’s Coral Lok modules with threaded mounts and several mock corals attached. The system allows for easy out-planting of live corals on artificial reefs. (Courtesy Ocean Rescue Alliance International)

Reefs as protection: The University of Miami’s X-REEFS project, funded in part by the Department of Defense, is developing hybrid reefs that both protect the human world from waves and reap the ecological benefits of a coral reef. Key to building the artificial reefs are modular structures called SEAHIVEs, hexagonal concrete pieces designed with holes that optimally disrupt wave energy and invite marine life to make a home. UM is also attempting to breed corals that can withstand marine heat waves and disease. These corals could be planted on the artificial reef structures and add mass to the reef over time, even as seas rise.

This artificial reef is covered in coral growth and attracts sea life. It is part of the University of Miami’s X-REEFS initiative, which uses modular, interlinked hexagonal concrete pieces called SEAHIVEs. Each SEAHIVE has holes optimized for wave energy dissipation and stability. (Courtesy University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science)

Aquaculture: New aquaculture ventures are launching. This month, Everglades Oysters seeded their first batch of oysters. The farm sits just north of Chokoloskee near the 10,000 Islands and Everglades National Park. They plan to eventually harvest with a new technology called FlipFarm, which allows farmers to easily flip oyster cages, keeping the bivalves healthy.

Building better seawalls: Miami-based Kind Designs, backed in part by Mark Cuban, uses 3D printing to produce what they call Living Seawalls, which replace flat seawalls with a rippled wall that emulates the nooks and crannies of a coral reef or mangrove roots. Sea life thrives, and the walls break up wave energy instead of reflecting it back into the estuary, where it can damage shorelines. They also offer Kind Tiles, that do much the same thing.

Finding a southern seaweed: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently gave a $250,000 grant to the University of Florida to investigate seaweed aquaculture in Florida’s tropical waters. Though most seaweed aquaculture is done in cold water, UF hopes to identify warm-water seaweed species and kick-start an industry that both boosts Florida’s economy and benefits its environment. Potential uses include seaweed as a replacement for some plastic packaging, nutritional supplements, animal feed, cosmetics and biofuels

Seagrass and oyster restoration: Winter Garden-based Sea & Shoreline restores ecosystems. Much of their business is a reaction to harmful algae blooms that snuff out seagrass meadows and pummel ecosystems. They replant and maintain seagrass areas to boost local economies via ecotourism and fishing opportunities. They also build living shorelines to help marine life and protect human properties, and restore oyster reefs, which filter pollutants. Climate change and nutrient runoff make each of these a growth industry.

Harnessing the Gulf Stream: The United States Department of Energy recently awarded FAU an $800,000 grant to study how to harness the vast power of the Gulf Stream, which flows a few miles off shore. DOE studies have previously calculated that the Florida section of this immense ocean current could produces as much energy as three nuclear power plants. The FUA feasibility study will conduct ocean current tests off of Palm Beach County, where the Gulf Stream cuts close to land.

Bill Kearney covers the environment, the outdoors and tropical weather. He can be reached at bkearney@sunsentinel.com. Follow him on Instagram @billkearney or on X @billkearney6. 

Fort Lauderdale, ground zero for Broward’s homeless population, was hoping the county would take the lead on coming up with an emergency plan for housing the homeless in light of a statewide crackdown that bans sleeping or camping in public places.

As of today, Fort Lauderdale commissioners are still waiting for the county to approve a plan.

“They don’t seem to share the same sense of urgency that the city of Fort Lauderdale is laboring under,” Mayor Dean Trantalis told the South Florida Sun Sentinel on Friday. “I think that’s a false sense of complacency. The law is already in effect and the enforcement of the law is just a few weeks away. When they start getting hit with huge attorney’s fees that’s going to be a huge wakeup call for the county and all of the cities.”

On Nov. 12, county commissioners voted 4-4 to reject a proposal to build 100 tiny homes for what was estimated to potentially cost $14 million. The homes likely would not be in place for two years.

Two years is a long time to wait, considering the fact that cities who fail to enforce the anti-camping ban can be sued starting on Jan. 1.

County Commissioner Michael Udine said he is well aware of the deadline.

“I would like to see the county do something immediate,” Udine told the Sun Sentinel. “We need to come up with an answer of what we’re doing after Jan. 1 when we run out of shelter space. We need enough space to place homeless people in emergencies. The law doesn’t require us to spend tens of millions of dollars to build homeless encampments. It’s a complicated issue.”

Complicated or not, Fort Lauderdale Vice Mayor Steve Glassman said he was disappointed to see the county deadlock on the issue two weeks ago.

“I’ve been waiting to see the county take the lead on this,” Glassman said. “We were hoping the county was going to step up. We just can’t keep kicking the can down the road. Jan. 1 will be here very shortly. We on the city side are doing everything we can. We have got to figure this out.”

After hearing the cost estimate of building 100 tiny homes, Glassman said he understood the county’s reticence with moving forward.

“The cost the county was coming up with was absolutely insane,” he said. “But this should not just be falling on the shoulders of the city of Fort Lauderdale. I don’t understand why all of the cities are not in this together. We should all be meeting and hashing this out and getting on the same page and that is simply not happening.”

A man sits on the sidewalk Tuesday while beachgoers take selfies at the corner of A1A and Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel) One plan: Buy a motel

On Nov. 12, County Commissioner Steve Geller cast one of the four “no” votes on moving forward with the county’s plan for a village of tiny homes.

But the issue is not dead, Geller said Friday.

“The problem is we had a lot of questions and we didn’t have answers,” Geller told the Sun Sentinel.

Geller said he believes the county will eventually move forward with a two-pronged plan to buy a motel and also build a village of tiny homes.

“If we could buy a motel and rehab it quickly, we could get people in there in six months instead of two years,” Geller said. “We could start doing something now. I think the tiny homes are a good idea once we figure out how to get the price down and get them faster. If it’s going to take two years maybe we should look at motels in the meantime. The tiny homes are going to take a lot longer to build.”

The county is expected to revisit the issue again in December or January, Geller said.

“The reason we need to do something is we don’t want to have 8,000 homeless people on the street,” Geller said. “We have about 6,500 people who lost their job or their rent increased and they ended up on the street. Then you have around 1,500 people who are chronically homeless. Those are a much more difficult population to find housing for. But we have to take care of these people. We need to get all the homeless people off the street as best as we can.”

People gather with their belongings at Las Olas Oceanside Park in Fort Lauderdale on April 25. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Shelter beds in short supply

In the meantime, Fort Lauderdale wants to spread the word about the statewide crackdown on the homeless: How to make a complaint and what initiatives the city is taking to stay out of court and comply with the law.

Fort Lauderdale is holding town hall meetings to inform residents on what to expect in the coming weeks and how they can help.

The next town hall meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Beach Community Center, 3351 NE Third Ave.

On Thursday night, a crowd of more than 30 gathered for a town hall meeting held at the United Way headquarters in Fort Lauderdale.

Attendees were given details about the new state law and how the city was moving forward to address the homeless crisis.

Residents and business owners were encouraged to file complaints on the city’s FixIt FTL app (select “Camping or Sleeping on Public Property – HB 1365.”) You can also file a report online by visiting fortlauderdale.gov/fixitftl and following the same process.

At the town hall meeting, one woman expressed concern about the lack of shelter beds in Broward County to serve an estimated 8,000 homeless people.

“There’s no doubt we’re at a deficit when it comes to shelter beds,” said Chris Cooper, acting assistant city manager. “There are efforts underway to increase that number.”

One of the attendees asked if the city was willing to fast-track workable solutions, including allowing local churches to build hurricane-rated tiny homes for the homeless.

That’s already under discussion, Cooper said.

“We’ve been looking at our code to see if we could cut through that red tape,” Cooper said. “We’re on that track.”

Not in my neighborhood

Another woman asked how telling a homeless person to move on will solve the problem when they’ll likely return at some point after the officer leaves.

Officer Brian Blount, one of six officers on the police department’s Homeless Outreach Team, had the answer.

“What we do first is ask if they want help or need assistance,” he said. “If they say no, we ask them to move on. If they come back, we start over. A lot of them don’t want to go to the shelter. They’re allowed to live. It’s not a crime to be homeless.”

Another attendee warned that many neighborhoods are not going to want a tiny home village for the homeless anywhere nearby.

“Nobody wants it in their neighborhood,” he said. “The neighborhood is going to be your Number One obstacle because everyone wants it somewhere else.”

Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com. Follow me on X @Susannah_Bryan

Donald Trump has selected Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who practice deception, misinformation, and disinformation in public health.

The safety and health of all Americans is the most important role of any administration, and HHS will play a big role in ensuring that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to the overwhelming health crisis in this country.

Kennedy Jr. will restore these agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard scientific research, and beacons of transparency, to end the chronic disease epidemic and make America great and healthy again.

Paul Bacon, Hallandale Beach

Liberal blinders

Your continued use of the phrase “anti-vaccine fantasies” or similar pejorative descriptors when discussing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is irresponsible and shameful journalism.

Just what fantasies are you referencing? By requiring Big Pharma to subject any vaccine to rigorous study and proof of safety and efficacy before going to the mass market?

By acknowledging that COVID vaccines are not vaccines? Why do we need to take six or more if they are so effective?

Stop the brazen falsehoods and listen to what Kennedy has said. He’s neither anti-vaccine nor living any fantasy. The poisoning of our population and especially our children by big agriculture and big pharma must end. Remove your liberal blinders and wake up.

Douglas M. McIntosh, Esq., Plantation

Dark clouds overhead

The election is over. Democracy, decency, truth, and the environment have taken a hit.

Vladimir Putin, Steve Bannon, and the criminals who attacked our Capitol are celebrating this overwhelming win by a convicted felon.

Aesop said, “ A man is known by the company he keeps.” Look at Trump’s early nominees: Matt Gaetz for Attorney General. Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense. Imagine Tulsi Gabbard, a pro-Russian sympathizer, as Director of National Intelligence.

I’m waiting for Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert to run a Department of Culture. Like a dark cloud overhead, RFK Jr. and Elon Musk are about to destroy healthcare and reasonable science.

Dr. Howard Olarsch, Boynton Beach

Time is running out

America will either keep Trump out of the White House by properly applying Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, or protest in the streets four years from now after he and his allies try to forcefully keep him in power, as all dictators do.

Section 3 demands that “no person,” having participated in or encouraged an insurrection, and having sworn an oath to the Constitution, shall occupy any office in the country ever again. Can anyone deny that the presidency is an office, or that he is not an insurrectionist? That would be a sorry sight, reflective of this emotionally-driven time.

A lawyer for the president-elect told the Supreme Court that states cannot use Section 3 to bar Trump from running because Section 3 also leaves open the possibility that Congress, by a two-thirds vote, could lift the ban that Section 3 would otherwise impose after Trump is elected and before he takes office. Only the media can effectively spread the word of this constitutional provision.

Rick Soskis, Havana, Fla.

You can submit a letter to the editor by senting it 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 (no pseudonyms nor initials).You must include your email address, address with city and daytime phone number for verification. Letters are subject to editing for clarity and length. 

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The phrase “Latino vote” has become increasingly common in political discourse, yet it oversimplifies the rich complexity of America’s Latino communities. Far from being a monolithic voting bloc, Latino Americans represent a tapestry of political viewpoints, cultural experiences and generational perspectives that defy easy categorization.

While many embrace traditional Catholic and Christian principles and support law enforcement, their political perspectives vary significantly based on their country of origin, whether they’re U.S.-born or legal immigrants from countries like Puerto Rico, Cuba, Mexico or Venezuela. Legal Latino residents typically prefer not to be associated with unauthorized immigration, as it can negatively impact the community’s overall image. Despite this, Latino attitudes toward immigration issues are complex, with varying levels of concern for migrants’ challenges.

Phil Colón is co-founder of Voto Latino, Project 2050 and The Supremo Agency. (courtesy, Phil Colón)

At the heart of Latino communities lies a strong foundation of shared cultural values. Family remains a cornerstone of Latino life, while religious traditions, particularly those rooted in Catholic and Christian faith, continue to shape both domestic and worldviews. However, these common threads don’t necessarily lead to uniform political positions.

National origin plays a crucial role in shaping political perspectives. Cuban Americans, many of whom fled a socialist regime, often approach political issues differently than Mexican Americans or Puerto Ricans. Venezuelan immigrants who recently escaped political turmoil bring their unique perspectives to American democracy. These varied backgrounds create distinct political priorities and viewpoints that reflect each group’s historical experiences.

Immigration stands as a particularly nuanced issue within Latino communities. Legal immigrants frequently emphasize the importance of lawful immigration processes, with many supporting strong border policies while advocating for humanitarian treatment. This stance reflects a complex balance between maintaining order and showing compassion for those seeking better opportunities.

Law enforcement and public safety represent another area where Latino perspectives challenge conventional assumptions. Many in the community support strong law enforcement measures, viewing them as essential to community well-being. However, this support doesn’t automatically translate into alignment with any particular political party.

Generational differences add another layer of complexity. While first-generation immigrants might prioritize issues related to integration and economic stability, their American-born children often focus on education, climate change and social justice. Language preferences between generations can also influence political engagement and information access, creating distinct political perspectives within the same families.

Economic concerns unite many Latino voters, though approaches to addressing them vary widely. The community’s high rate of small business ownership influences views on regulation and taxation. Economic mobility and opportunity often serve as key voting issues, though preferred solutions span the political spectrum.

The shift in Latino political alignment has puzzled Washington insiders, while those closer to Latino communities saw it coming. Despite the rise of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, many Latinos feel they’ve been overlooked in both corporate advancement and startup capital opportunities. This is particularly true for Latino men working in trades or running small businesses, who have seen little benefit from DEI programs. Their growing sense of exclusion has led many to support Republican candidates who appear more attuned to their concerns.

This exclusion has created a complex dynamic in which many Latinos, despite being a significant minority group, feel left behind by mainstream DEI efforts. The resulting frustration has begun to reshape political alignments and could continue to influence voting patterns in future elections. Given demographic projections showing continued Latino population growth, the Republican National Committee could strategically capitalize on this sentiment to expand their base with this important cohort.

Across all generations, certain trends emerge that highlight the evolving nature of Latino identity in America. Each successive generation generally demonstrates more progressive views on social issues such as LGBTQ+ rights and gender roles. Religious practices often shift from strict adherence to cultural Catholicism to a more flexible spiritual identity. Educational achievement typically increases with each generation, leading to greater economic opportunities and social mobility.

Political participation also evolves significantly across generations. While first-generation immigrants might focus on specific issues directly affecting their communities, later generations tend to engage with a broader spectrum of political concerns. This shift reflects not only greater integration into American society but also the complex nature of Latino political identity in the modern United States.

These generational changes paint a picture of a dynamic community that continues to evolve while maintaining connections to its cultural heritage. The Latino experience in America demonstrates how immigration, assimilation and cultural preservation create a rich tapestry of identities that contribute to the nation’s diverse social fabric.

Phil Colón is co-founder of Voto Latino, Project 2050 and The Supremo Agency. He previously served on the executive board of the Eagle Academy for Young Men and on the board of trustees for Ballet Hispanico. He also served as a member of the Directorship 100 and the Council on Foreign Relations.

Imagine a thriving community in the near future. What does it look like?

Perhaps it has green spaces like parks and a rich tree canopy. It promotes social engagement, fosters dialogue among neighbors and is economically diverse. This future community has also adapted to the adverse effects of climate change, managing extreme heat, sea-level rise and intense weather events while mitigating their environmental impact.

This vision is not only possible but achievable — thanks to proper planning. The Museum of Discovery and Science (MODS) and the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization (Broward MPO) are collaborating to bring this vision to life with a new educational initiative: Think Like a Planner.

Lance Cutrer is the director of environmental sustainability at the Museum of Discovery and Science. (Courtesy, Invading Sea)

Think Like a Planner is a program for students in third grade and up, focused on teaching the principles of sustainable urban planning. This approach to city and community design seeks to promote environmental health, social equity and long-term economic success. By fostering a better understanding of these principles, the program aims to inspire the next generation of city planners and community leaders to think critically about how to build resilient and thriving communities.

Think Like a Planner helps students explore real-world urban challenges and solutions through fun, hands-on lessons offered through MODS’ STEMobile program. The STEMobile is a community-based, mobile Makerspace for ages 3 and up, bringing cutting-edge equipment and experiences often unavailable to youth — especially youth residing in underserved communities. The STEMobile program has grown to a fleet of five vehicles, delivering programs to 100,000 youth annually.

Ninety percent of all programs are delivered free, serving youth at Title 1 schools, early learning centers, libraries and nonprofit agencies from the lowest-income zip codes in Broward County, where families are most affected by intergenerational poverty and the lowest educational attainment levels. These lessons are available to educators across South Florida, often at no cost.

The Think Like a Planner program covers various aspects of sustainable urban development, each contributing to the overarching goal of building communities that are more environmentally friendly, socially equitable and economically viable. Some of the core lessons include:

• Complete Streets: This lesson introduces the concept of streets designed for all modes of transportation — not just cars. Sustainable urban planning embraces alternative modes of travel, such as walking, biking and public transportation.
• Build-A-Better Bus Stop: Public transportation is a cornerstone of sustainable communities. The Build-A-Better Bus Stop lesson highlights how improvements in public transportation infrastructure, such as well-designed bus stops, can encourage people to use public transit more frequently. This reduces the number of cars on the road, decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Community Builders: Delving into the broader concept of sustainable urban development, Community Builders emphasizes the triple bottom line of people, planet and prosperity. For communities vulnerable to climate change and rising sea levels, balancing these three elements is essential for long-term survival. An essential part of building resilient communities is engaging a wide range of stakeholders, including residents, business owners and local officials. The Community Builders lesson emphasizes the importance of stakeholder engagement in the urban planning process.

Communities thrive when diverse voices are heard and everyone is involved in making decisions that shape the future. MODS and the Broward MPO encourage community members to take action by participating in local planning meetings, advocating for resilient infrastructure and supporting sustainable building initiatives.

By offering students and the community a chance to explore these critical urban planning concepts, Think Like a Planner fosters the knowledge and skills necessary to create resilient, sustainable communities. To learn more about these initiatives and how you can get involved, visit mods.org and join the movement toward a thriving, sustainable future.

Lance Cutrer is the director of environmental sustainability at the Museum of Discovery and Science. This opinion piece was distributed by The Invading Sea website (theinvadingsea.com), which posts news and commentary on climate change and other environmental issues affecting Florida.

Q: Ira, Kel’el Ware has been put through the spin cycle already, but let’s be honest, Jaime Jaquez Jr. has plateaued and does anyone know what to make of Nikola Jovic’s future? – Allan.

A: Exactly. Just as there is uncertainty with Nikola Jovic three years in, there is nothing unusual about uncertainty about Kel’el Ware one month in. If you start comparing him to others drafted in his range, also compare the need for those players on those teams at their positions. It hardly should come as a surprise that at least at the moment that the Heat have preferred to ride with Bam Adebayo, Kevin Love and plenty of their preferred smaller-ball lineups. As for Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic – exactly. You don’t stop assessing draft picks based solely on their first seasons. It is why more is now expected from Jaime and why there remains ongoing evaluation of Nikola. It sounds so simplistic, but it is a process with NBA rookies. This league is replete with stories of players who went from draft question marks or even draft busts to enduring talents. That is the ongoing hope with Kel’el, just as it was and is with Jaime and Nikola.

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Q: Ira, when I read your columns regarding the Heat’s decisions on  rotations. it’s almost as if you are reciting song and verse of Erik Spoelstra’s mind. The randomness of suggesting Kel’el Ware is not ready is absurd when the current power rotation lacks length, scoring/shooting ability. In limited play, it’s obvious Ware is a better run defender, shooter and scorer than anyone currently playing up front. His body is no less developed than Victor Wembanyama,  who last I checked is doing serious damage when he’s on the court. The absurdity of waiting for Bam Adebayo to become a star and a centerpiece of any team’s effort to ascend to the top of the league is utter fantasy. Bam is 27 years old, in his eighth year. He is who he is: a good defender, distributor and decent rebounder, who has severe offensive deficiencies. No team without additional scoring punch up front is going to be a real contender with a 6-9 center who can’t shoot and has a limited offensive game. – Curtis.

A: Yes, a lot of it probably is song and verse from Erik Spoelstra, because Erik Spoelstra sees Kel’el Ware in practice every day, at shootarounds, and dives deeper into video than any outsider possibly could. And while Kel’el has had his moments, it has not been nearly good enough defensively, an end of the court where the Heat, as currently built, have no option but to hang their hat. Again, this is a 20-year-old with only a single truly productive college season. Against summer-league talent and preseason rosters, he has shown more than capable. But this is a different level. This was not drafting Jaime Jaquez Jr. as a ready-to-go prospect. This was drafting while taking the long view. And the long view is not one month into a career. In the end, the hope seemingly is that Kel’el can complement Bam Adebayo, make both players better. That is an end game, not an in-the-moment game. Patience can be hard; it also can be necessary.

Q: How crazy will the Heat’s court look for the NBA Cup. I was watching with my wife last night, and she said it was hard to see the ball. – Jeffrey.

A: Put it this way, it certainly will provide a wake-up call. The NBA clearly is looking for statements. The Heat’s Cup court will produce just that, albeit not in as stark a way as last year’s red court.

Today is Sunday, Nov. 24, the 329th day of 2024. There are 37 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Nov. 24, 1963, Jack Ruby shot and mortally wounded Lee Harvey Oswald, the accused assassin of President John F. Kennedy, in a scene captured on live television.

Also on this date:

In 1859, British naturalist Charles Darwin published “On the Origin of Species,” which explained his theory of evolution by means of natural selection.

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In 1865, Mississippi became the first Southern state to enact laws that came to be known as “Black Codes” aimed at limiting the rights of newly freed Blacks; other states of the former Confederacy soon followed.

In 1947, a group of writers, producers and directors, who would become known as the “Hollywood Ten,” was cited for contempt of Congress for refusing to answer questions about alleged Communist influence in the movie industry.

In 1971, a hijacker calling himself “Dan Cooper” (but who became popularly known as “D.B. Cooper”) parachuted from a Northwest Orient Airlines 727 over the Pacific Northwest after receiving $200,000 in ransom; his fate remains unknown.

In 1974, the bone fragments of a 3.2 million-year-old hominid were discovered by scientists in Ethiopia; the skeletal remains were nicknamed “Lucy.”

In 1991, Queen singer Freddie Mercury died in London at age 45 of AIDS-related pneumonia.

In 2012, fire raced through a garment factory in Bangladesh that supplied major retailers in the West, killing 112 people; an official said many of the victims were trapped because the eight-story building lacked emergency exits.

In 2014, it was announced that a grand jury in St. Louis County, Missouri, had decided against indicting Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in the death of Michael Brown; the decision enraged protesters who set fire to buildings and cars and looted businesses in the area where Brown had been fatally shot.

In 2021, three white men were convicted of murder in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, the Black man who was running through a Georgia subdivision in February 2020 when they chased and shot him.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Basketball Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson is 86.
• Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue (TAG’-lee-uh-boo) is 84.
• Rock drummer Pete Best is 83.
• Actor-comedian Billy Connolly is 82.
• Basketball Hall of Famer Dave Bing is 81.
• Basketball Hall of Fame coach Rudy Tomjanovich is 76.
• Filmmaker Emir Kusturica is 70.
• Author Arundhati Roy is 63.
• Actor Colin Hanks is 47.
• Actor Katherine Heigl (HY’-guhl) is 46.
• Actor Sarah Hyland is 34.

General Daily Insight for November 24, 2024

Overthinking things might be impossible to resist at the moment. As the neurotic Virgo Moon tangles with grandiose Jupiter and touchy Chiron, we probably shouldn’t take any dramatic statements we hear at face value — there’s a good chance that they’re covering up wounded egos. Still, as Luna squares brainy Mercury at 3:10 pm EST, falling down a rabbit hole of analysis isn’t healthy either. Once the Moon goes on to trine unencumbered Uranus, letting petty slights go should be a big relief!

Aries

March 21 – April 19

You may be putting a lot of effort into going somewhere and doing something exciting today. To be honest, though, the grand plan might be getting a little overwhelming. As the busy Moon in your 6th House of Wellness struggles with proud Chiron in your sign, you’d be wise to scale back your agenda if you start to realize that it has become more tiring than fun. Having physical limits is a normal part of being human and nothing to be ashamed of!

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Getting carried away with spending money may be easy today. When the spontaneous Moon in your 5th House of Pleasure goads exuberant Jupiter in your finance zone, you might believe you have funds to spare. Under the circumstances, why not go for a fun impulse buy? Before you seize the opportunity, don’t forget about any legitimate financial obligations you have to other people or institutions. Make sure you’ve properly accounted for such expenses in your spur-of-the-moment calculations, and then see what’s left.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Stepping back from a contentious situation would be a wise move at present. The other person might seem convinced that throwing more and more information at you will finally prove their point. That said, when egos are involved, it probably isn’t that simple. Seeking validation from your friends won’t necessarily produce the results you want either. While the nurturing Moon passes through your grounded 4th house, focus on taking care of yourself. Whatever happens next, you can control what you bring to the equation.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

A crucial conversation risks getting bogged down in details that ultimately won’t matter. As the delicate Moon in your communication sector clashes with supersized Jupiter in your 12th House of Secrets, the real problem is probably that you’re dancing around the elephant in the corner of the room. Openly confronting something like that is never easy. If you just can’t bring yourself to do it, at least don’t pretend that having a few more facts and figures would solve the problem.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Proving yourself to your peers could seem urgent right now. As the vulnerable Moon in your self-worth sector eyes inflated Jupiter in your social 11th house, you might feel like everyone else is somehow much better off than you are. Although you may have well-articulated reasons for why you’ve handled certain things differently, that’s not always satisfying when the counterexample is right in front of you. You’re probably more interested in their status than they are in yours — this is primarily an internal battle.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Balancing career and family concerns may be a challenge throughout your day. While the anxious Moon in your sign winds up fretful Mercury in your domestic zone, you might hold yourself to high standards on the home front. Ask yourself if the prospect of achieving perfection there truly justifies diverting your energy away from a promising professional opportunity. Be realistic about what your loved ones need from you — don’t ramp up your hypothetical importance by exaggerating your obligations to them.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Keeping a secret could presently strain you. While the candid Moon moves through your private 12th house, information you’re not supposed to share with others is probably close to the surface. As you engage in conversations, you may be tempted to let something slip. However, truth isn’t necessarily just a collection of facts. If you can distill the lessons you’ve learned from a tough experience without going into details that aren’t yours to share, you might have a valid story to tell!

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Being jealous of your peers could lure you toward extravagant financial decisions at this time. As the impressionable Moon in your social sector contradicts calculating Mercury in your budget zone, you may want to spend money you don’t have in order to keep up with others. Even when taking on debt is an option, you might become resentful when you have to work extra hard to pay it off later. If this is just a momentary whim, try to let it pass.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Your moment of recognition may come today — and it’ll potentially happen in a way you never could have planned for. While the visible Moon in your public 10th house pushes back against scheming Mercury in your sign, your efforts to shape the narrative probably won’t go anywhere. On the plus side, anyone you’re currently battling against might not have any more success in promoting their version of the story. Perhaps onlookers will end up seeing enough to draw their own conclusions!

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Your search for meaning could be consuming your attention at this moment. While the sentimental Moon in your philosophical 9th house conflicts with detail-oriented Mercury in your contemplation sector, you might dig deeper and deeper into the weeds of some metaphysical text — only to find that all this analytical effort isn’t scratching your basic emotional itch. You need a more human kind of care, and acknowledging that doesn’t make you shallow or overly materialistic. Your spiritual nature includes all of you!

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Sharing something personal with your current peers may be hard to resist. As the passionate Moon in your 8th House of Intimacy provokes broadcaster Mercury in your community zone, you won’t necessarily be able to control what happens to your story after it leaves your lips. This certainly has the potential to leave an awkward aftertaste. On the other hand, maybe you’ll always wonder what might have been if you didn’t start the conversation. Choose the regret you can live with.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Your commitment to a close relationship could seemingly hold you back from a personal goal. While the needy Moon in your partnership sector disagrees with brilliant Mercury in your ambitious 10th house, you may be afraid that a loved one can’t live without a constant supply of your attention. The obsession with emotional security probably goes both ways in this connection — you crave them as much as they crave you! Own your part — and consider talking about what comes next for you both.

By TIM REYNOLDS

SUNRISE — Jonathan Drouin got his first two goals of the season, Mikko Rantanen had a goal and three assists and the Colorado Avalanche beat the slumping Florida Panthers 7-4 on Saturday night.

Drouin was playing for only the fifth time this season. He missed 16 games with an upper-body injury.

Valeri Nichushkin had a goal and two assists for Colorado, which got a four-goal second period — with scores from Drouin, Rantanen, Logan O’Connor and Samuel Girard. Oliver Kylington also scored for the Avalanche, who improved to 3-0-0 on their four-game road trip.

Cale Makar and Devon Toews had two assists apiece for Colorado.

Sam Reinhart, Aleksander Barkov, Carter Verhaeghe and Anton Lundell scored for Florida, which has dropped five of its last six games. Matthew Tkachuk and Mackie Samoskevich each had two assists for the Panthers.

The Panthers have allowed 26 goals in their past six games (4.5 goals per game), and that includes a shutout of the Winnipeg Jets in the middle of the 1-5 skid.

Takeaways

Avalanche: Nathan MacKinnon played in his 812th game, one shy of matching Michel Goulet for the fourth-most in franchise history. Joe Sakic (1,378), Milan Hejduk (1,020) and Adam Foote (967) are the only players with more for the franchise (which started as the Quebec Nordiques).

Panthers: Reinhart now has a point in 13 consecutive games, tying himself, Jonathan Huberdeau and Pavel Bure for the second-longest streak in Florida history. Mike Hoffman had a 17-game streak for the Panthers in the 2018-19 season.

Key moment

Florida got 56 seconds of five-on-three hockey after Josh Manson was called for hooking Barkov with 15:54 left. Florida appeared to score 11 seconds later, only to have it waved off for goaltender interference against Tkachuk. Florida challenged the call, lost and Samoskevich went to the box for the ensuing delay penalty.

Key stat

Makar now has 100 multi-point games in his career.

Up next

Avalanche: Visit Tampa Bay on Monday.

Panthers: Host Washington on Monday.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

MORGANTOWN, W.V. — Somewhere deep in West Virginia’s hollers under a cold and dismal gray sky, UCF’s season ended.

Sure, the Knights have one game remaining against Utah on Friday, but any hope of salvaging something positive from the unbelievably frustrating season quietly ended in Saturday’s 31-21 loss to West Virginia.

UCF’s slim hopes of making a postseason bowl were squashed after the Mountaineers rushed for 200 yards. This means the Knights are guaranteed to finish with a losing record for the second consecutive year and snap a streak of eight straight bowl appearances.

“You look at the game, and it came down to third down. We had trouble getting off the field,” coach Gus Malzahn said. “… Bottom line is we didn’t do what it took to win and give those guys credit.”

Running back RJ Harvey, the only bright spot in an otherwise horrendous season, finished with a team-high 130 yards and two touchdowns. His 2-yard touchdown run out of a wildcat formation with 8:37 remaining in the second quarter got the Knights their first points.

Quarterback Dylan Rizk struggled early in his third start of the season, missing his first two throws and later fumbling a handoff between to running back Myles Montgomery that ended with West Virginia’s Dontez Fagan recovering and ending a scoring opportunity.

The Mountaineers (6-5, 5-3 Big 12) showcased why they are one of the top rushing teams in the Big 12, gashing the Knights for more than 7 yards per carry. CJ Donaldson Jr.’s 1-yard touchdown run started the scoring for WVU.

West Virginia added a second score when sophomore running back Jahiem White plowed in for a 3-yard touchdown that pushed the lead to 14-0 with 1:47 to go in the first quarter.

“The defense played like crap,” said sophomore linebacker Xe’Ree Alexander. “It was hard for us to get a third-down stop. We’ve all got to do better and improve.”

The Mountaineers converted on 44% (8 of 18) of their third-down opportunities and were 4 for 4 on fourth downs.

Harvey’s touchdown sliced the lead in half with 8:37 left in the second quarter. It was his 20th rushing touchdown of the season and the 22nd overall.

But WVU put together a 12-play drive, capped by a Garrett Greene pass to receiver Rodney Gallagher III for an over-the-shoulder grab on a 12-yard touchdown catch with 15 seconds left in the half.

It was the Knights’ fourth straight game in which they surrendered points in the final minute of the first half.

“It has happened too many times,” Malzahn said of the trend.

West Virginia took the opening kick in the second half and drove 55 yards before Donaldson burst through the line for his second touchdown to push the advantage to 28-7 with 12:10 left in the third quarter.

Donaldson finished with 96 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries, White added 54 rushing yards and Greene 49.

UCF (4-7, 2-6 Big 12) cut the lead to 28-14 midway through the third quarter when Rizk double-pumped and found a wide-open Kobe Hudson for a 45-yard touchdown.

Rizk finished 11 of 21 for 172 yards with a touchdown.

However, the Mountaineers put the game away when kicker Michael Haynes II connected on a 35-yard field goal at the start of the fourth quarter.

UCF made one final push, driving 82 yards in less than two minutes as Harvey added his second touchdown — a 9-yard score with 5:20 left. But that’s as close as it would get.

The Knights finished with the second-lowest offensive output of the season (348 yards) and converted just 33% (3 of 9) of their third-down opportunities.

Malzahn said the focus heading into Friday’s game against Utah would be to finish strong for the seniors.

“We’ve got one game left and we got to send the seniors out,” he said. “That’s what we discussed in the locker room [after the loss].”

Malzahn, 59, quickly shot down several online reports earlier this week that he planned to retire at the end of the season.

“I don’t know where that came from; I’m not retiring,” Malzahn said.

“It’s a tough pill to swallow,” he added when asked about back-to-back losing seasons. “I’m really disappointed. This has been a tough season; everybody knows we had high expectations. We lost some close games that I felt like we should have won. It’s been tough.”

Matt Murschel can be reached at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com

Today is Saturday, Nov. 23, the 328th day of 2024. There are 38 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Nov. 23, 2006, former KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko (leet-vee-NYEN’-koh) died in London from radiation poisoning after making a deathbed statement blaming Russian President Vladimir Putin.

 Also on this date:

In 1963, President Lyndon B. Johnson proclaimed Nov. 25 a day of national mourning following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

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In 1971, the People’s Republic of China was seated in the United Nations Security Council.

In 1980, an estimated 2,500-3,000 people were killed by a series of earthquakes that devastated southern Italy.

In 1984, Boston College quarterback Doug Flutie completed one of the most famous passes in college football history, connecting with Gerald Phelan for a 48-yard touchdown with no time left on the clock as Boston College defeated the Miami Hurricanes 47-45.

In 1996, a commandeered Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 767 crashed into the water off the Comoro Islands, killing 125 of the 175 people on board, including all three hijackers.

In 2005, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was elected president of Liberia, becoming the first woman to lead an African country.

In 2008, the U.S. government unveiled a bold plan to rescue Citigroup, injecting a fresh $20 billion into the troubled firm as well as guaranteeing hundreds of billions of dollars in risky assets.

In 2011, Yemen’s authoritarian President Ali Abdullah Saleh (AH’-lee ahb-DUH’-luh sah-LEH’) agreed to step down amid a fierce uprising to oust him after 33 years in power.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is 74.
• Singer Bruce Hornsby is 70.
• TV journalist Robin Roberts (“Good Morning America”) is 64.
• Olympic gold medal sprinter Asafa Powell is 42.
• NHL center Nicklas Bäckström is 37.
• Singer-actor Miley Cyrus is 32.

PLANTATION — Byron Louis’ two late touchdowns rallied host American Heritage to a come-from-behind 24-14 victory over Dillard in the Class 4A regional semifinal on Friday night.

Louis scored on runs of 24 and 3 yards as the Patriots scored the game’s final 24 points to move to Friday’s regional final, hosting rival Miami Norland. Louis, an FSU commit, finished the game with 21 carries for 185 yards.

The victory proved costly for American Heritage, though, as it lost starting quarterback and Texas commit Dia Bell to a leg injury with 10:20 remaining in the third quarter.

“Honestly since my freshman year, we have battled through adversity,” Louis said. “We had (QB) Blake Murphy go down and I watched (UM running back) Mark (Fletcher) carry the load. When Dia went down, I just had to put my big-boy pants on and just go play my game…without Mali (Malachi Toney) and the O-line, there are no touchdowns.

“We knew this game wasn’t over because we play all four quarters,” Louis added. “We just had to go out and do what we do.”

Dillard junior quarterback Javarius Robinson had tossed two first-half touchdowns to stake the Panthers (9-3) to a 14-0 lead early in the third quarter before the Patriots (9-2), the nation’s 30th-ranked team, rallied.

“This group keeps battling,” American Heritage coach Mike Smith said. “All year long we’ve battled adversity and came up short. Against St. Thomas Aquinas, we were down 10 in the fourth quarter, and they battled back in that game. You lose your quarterback tonight, and Malachi (Toney) hadn’t taken a snap since little league, but he’s a baller.”

With home run hitter Toney, a UM commit, sidelined in the first half with a sprained ankle from last week’s win, the Patriots struggled offensively with a Dillard interception and a fumble recovery in the early going. He suited up for the second half and helped lead the Patriots to the win.

“It was really a group decision,” Toney said of suiting up. He asked the trainer if he could play and after conferring with the coaches, he went in. “I saw that my team needed me at the most critical moment.”

The Panthers (9-3) scored on a 47-yard TD pass from Robinson to Christopher Tillman that capped a quick, four-play 68-yard drive on their first series.

Dillard then capitalized on a fumble recovery by Quyis Daley on the American Heritage 41. They extended the lead to 14-0 with 8:35 left in the first half when Robinson found Tyophi Clay from 27 yards out.

American Heritage came out on fire in the second half. Bell hit Brandon Bennett on the first play for a 60-yard gain to the 22. After a 2-yard run by Louis, Bell hit Brandon Bennett again for 12 yards to the Dillard 8 . Then disaster struck: Bell injured his right leg on a 1-yard run and had to have it immobilized, and he was transported to the hospital.

Toney relieved Bell and hit Brandon Bennett for a 4-yard TD pass to cut the deficit in half at 14-7 with 9:31 left in the third quarter.

“When Dia went down, I knew I was going to have to be the quarterback and I had to step up,” added Toney, who last played quarterback at Washington Park when he was 13. “I know I can’t be the next him (Bell), but I had to do something. When you lose a brother like that, who plays the biggest role on this team, you just have to keep going.”

On Dillard’s next possession, Dylan Bennett intercepted a Robinson pass, and it led to a 29-yard field goal by Nate Millen with 8:06 left in the third to cut the deficit to 14-10.

In the fourth quarter, American Heritage drove 89 yards in 9 plays to grab a 17-14 advantage on a 24-yard scoring run by Louis with 8:10 remaining in the contest. Louis sealed the game on a 3-yard run with 4:10 left.

The American Heritage defense was stout, allowing just 121 total yards and no points in the second half.

“It was hard when our quarterback went down but me and the guys had to step up,” said junior defensive tackle Cory Simon, who had four tackles for loss and a key sack. “We had to take control of the game. I told myself I had to make big plays tonight and I went out and did it.

“A lot of people thought we were the weak link of the team,” Simon added. “They doubted us, but we came together as one, as a family.”

Dillard left some points on the field as the Panthers were wide right on a 38-yard field goal attempt on the final play of the first quarter with Dillard leading 7-0. Dillard then opted to go for a TD on a fourth-and-1 from the Patriots’ 4 yard line with 2:31 remaining in the third quarter, but running back Anthony Carey was stopped for a 1-yard loss by senior defensive lineman Omarian Abraham.

“We went down 14-0 and the D-Line just got together and dominated,” he said. “We got sack after sack after sack. Their O-Line couldn’t block us. Coach Mike gave us a motivational speech at halftime and said they weren’t going to lay down for us.”

Robinson finished 17 of 24 for 265 yards to lead Dillard.

“It came down to finishing and execution,” said Dillard coach Demitris Mincey as the Panthers saw their streak of five wins in a row end. “We were playing with confidence and executing plays at the end of the season. We knew it was going to be a hostile environment, and we were ready for it. We gave them a good three quarters. We just didn’t finish.”

DELRAY BEACH — Atlantic senior quarterback Lincoln Graf passed for 258 yards and accounted for four touchdowns to lift the host Eagles past Miramar 35-29 in a Class 5A regional semifinal on Friday night.

Atlantic (11-1) will host five-time defending state champion St. Thomas Aquinas in a regional final next Friday.

Graf had three passing touchdowns and rushed for another score. He also had 63 rushing yards  in the victory.

Atlantic led 14-8 at halftime. The Eagles offense stepped up with three scoring drives in the third quarter.

“It’s huge for our offense and the momentum that we are able to create,” Graf said. “I am trying my hardest for my teammates and good things happen. It’s a blessing to be practicing over Thanksgiving break. I am looking forward to it.”

Atlantic had a 35-15 advantage entering the fourth quarter and held off a late Miramar rally.

“Lincoln continues to be a leader and it shows how he can bounce back and lead the team in the right place,” Atlantic coach Jamelle Murray said. “That was good for our energy and morale to see the plays being executed and the points going up on the board. We had drives stall out in the early part of the game. We need to be more consistent and finish drives. We need to do better with tackling on defense. We need to execute on all cylinders against St. Thomas next week. We have to do our job. We can’t be giving them opportunities and need to make them earn it.”

Atlantic senior wide receiver Teddy Hoffmann had five catches for 80 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter.

“I have been motivated all year,” Hoffmann said. “My quarterback works hard so I have to work hard for him. I understand the assignment. We have great coaches so they have put me in a great position. It’s been very special. Right now, we are on the right track. Everyone has bought in. We have to keep working hard. It’s going to be the best team we have played all year next week. We have to make it happen and play a great game to beat them.”

Miramar junior quarterback Jayvin Smart had three touchdown passes in the second half to senior wide receiver Edrick Bush.

“I am proud of my team,” Miramar coach A.J. Scott said. “Atlantic is a great team and program. We got knocked down and they gave me everything they had. These kids fought all the way to the end.  We had a lot go down this year. I know my kids gave me 110 percent.”

Atlantic failed to convert on their opening drive on fourth-and-4 at the Miramar 5-yard line as Graf was stopped short after scrambling for a 3-yard gain.

Atlantic started their next possession on offense at the Miramar 36. On third-and-13, Graf connected with senior running back Deandre Desinor for a 27-yard scoring pass to make it 7-0 with two seconds left in the first.

Miramar stepped up on defense with a fumble recovery at their own 36 early in the second quarter. On the first play after the turnover, Miramar junior running back Alex Jackson raced up the middle of the field for a 66-yard touchdown run. Jackson added a two-point conversion run as the Patriots jumped ahead 8-7 with 9:31 left in the second.

Atlantic responded on the ensuing possession. Graf rolled out to his right and fired a 30-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver James Jones to make it 14-8.

The Eagles failed to convert on fourth-and-1 at the Patriots 10 with 1:05 left in the first half.

Hoffmann had a 25-yard touchdown catch on the final play of the first half, but it was called back as Graf had been ruled past the line of the scrimmage on the passing attempt.

Graf rushed for a 3-yard touchdown on the opening drive in the third quarter to make it 21-8.

Graf connected with Hoffmann for a 13-yard touchdown catch to push the lead to 28-8 with 4:38 remaining in the third.

Smart fired a 50-yard scoring pass to Bush to cut the deficit to 28-15 with 2:21 left in the third.

Senior running back Dylan Elie rushed for a 1-yard touchdown to make it 35-15 with 49 seconds left in the third.

On fourth-and-10, Smart connected with Bush for an 11-yard touchdown in the right corner of the end zone. Senior Dajion Young recorded a two-point conversion catch to make it 35-23 with 8:39 left.

Smart then had a 33-yard scoring pass to Bush to cut the deficit to 35-29 with 4:22 left.

Atlantic sealed the victory late in the fourth on Graf’s run on third down.

“That’s our coaching and we have been built for those situations with our 4-minute and 2-minute offense,” Graf said.

General Daily Insight for November 23, 2024

We might not get everything we want today, but we’ll probably get whatever we truly need. When the nervous Virgo Moon opposes limit-conscious Saturn at 7:24 pm EST, we’ll potentially tell ourselves no before anyone else has a chance to do so. Of course, that’s not always a problem. Releasing ideas that aren’t quite right can free up space for better plans to emerge as Luna goes on to trine idealistic Venus. A little pruning every so often is a healthy part of the process!

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Taking care of a challenging task may currently put you in contact with your inhibitions and anxieties. When you’re working near the upper limit of your skills, you might be painfully conscious of everything that could go wrong. Remind yourself that this isn’t necessarily what everyone else sees. When the devoted Moon in your productive 6th house harmonizes with favorable Venus in your 10th House of Reputation, you’ll potentially receive praise from an onlooker for your efforts. Feel free to eat it up!

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Following a passion of yours may seem to put you at odds with your present community. Don’t forget that there are more people in the world than the ones around you right now! While the individualistic Moon in your 5th House of Pleasure aligns with relaxed Venus in your travel sector, look into the possibility that you might find more favorable turf elsewhere. Even if you can’t physically go there immediately, just knowing it’s an option has the potential to be comforting.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Feeling judged by a harsh authority figure might cloud your day. Although this person may legitimately have an ability to restrict your path forward, their view of the situation probably isn’t universally shared. While the sensitive Moon in your vulnerable 4th house aligns with helpful Venus in your intimacy zone, try to confide in someone who’s likely to take your side. Whether or not they’re able to change the outcome on your behalf, it should be nice to get some validation!

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Explaining a complicated topic to others could be necessary now. While the impressionable Moon in your 3rd House of Communication tangles with tough Saturn in your philosophy sector, you may feel obligated to make sure your audience accurately understands every minor detail. At this stage of the process, though, that’s not likely to hold their attention. Make it more like you’re talking to a friend. Lead with the main points, then see if there’s really a reason to get into anything else.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

You may currently be frustrated about a financial situation that didn’t go your way. As the anxious Moon in your money sector disputes stern Saturn in your 8th House of Shared Resources, perhaps some person or institution is not helping you in the way you believe they should. Whether or not your expectations are realistic, you’re likely to have more satisfaction focusing on what you can control. An opportunity to earn additional funds is potentially within your grasp, so keep an eye out for that.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

A close relationship of yours could feel tired and boring at this time. Finding a way to have fun together might get you out of your rut. As the spontaneous Moon in your sign encourages sensual Venus in your pleasure sector, you’ll probably need to be the one to initiate this activity. Your companion may have the impression that their role in the dynamic doesn’t allow for that. The fastest way to correct any false assumptions is to stand up and do something unexpected.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

You may be torn between duty and dreams today. While the receptive Moon in your 12th House of the Subconscious clashes with taskmaster Saturn in your responsible 6th house, you’re probably aware that an insight you’ve been seeking for some time is not far from you — if you could only escape the tyranny of your to-do list long enough to let it come. Relaxing your expectations for what must be done at home can provide extra room in your schedule. Take it!

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Turning down an idea that your friends are excited about could be necessary. Although you may not enjoy raining on everyone else’s parade, you’re probably not saying no without a good reason. While the impulsive Moon in your social sector listens to pleasing Venus in your communication zone, take the opportunity to share your side of the story. You might have information that others would benefit from knowing, and they’ll likely understand that — even if it wasn’t what they initially wanted to hear.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

An opportunity to advance your career could now be available. While the attentive Moon in your ambitious 10th house pulls away from restrictive Saturn in your nourishment zone, you may need to sacrifice some comfort, at least in the short term, in order to take advantage of what’s on offer — which probably includes the potential for financial gain. You’ll be happier with the outcome if you feel like you chose it freely, so do your own calculation of all the pros and cons.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Small talk may seem unappealing to you today. If this is inhibiting your ability to connect with someone you’d actually like to know better, you might consider giving them another option. As the passionate Moon in your philosophical 9th house encourages social Venus in your sign, talking about your intellectual interests could make you come alive. Bring up the topic you most want to discuss, because your companion probably won’t guess it independently. They’ll potentially enjoy it once you both get going!

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Someone else may be asking you for money at the moment. Your process of deciding how to proceed might take in factors beyond the specific issue they’re raising — you’re potentially more worried about setting a precedent that will encourage others to make similar requests. If you’re truly conflicted, maybe there’s a way for you to help this individual without the rest of the world finding out. Even valid rules sometimes have legitimate exceptions, so don’t box yourself in unnecessarily.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Close connections could seem threatening at present. While the candid Moon in your partnership zone provokes touchy Saturn in your sign, you might not even want someone else to open up to you about their concerns — you’d then feel pressured to reciprocate, and you’re just not in the mood. On the other hand, socializing in a bigger group where less is expected from you on a personal level may lift you out of your funk. Give it a try!

GAINESVILLE — Florida shooting guard Alijah Martin knows a Final Four team when he sees one.

The FAU transfer recognizes something familiar in the No. 21 Gators, 93-68 winners Friday night against Southern Illinois in the O’Connell Center.

While it’s too early to tell, Martin said Todd Golden’s unbeaten squad (6-0) might be even better than the 2023 Owls Martin helped to a stunning postseason run.

Florida guard Alijah Martin came 2 point sshy of his career-high with a 32-point night against Southern Illinois Nov. 22 in Gainesville (AP Photo/Alan Youngblood)

“We’re bigger, more athletic,” Martin said. “No discredit to my old team, but I really like this group. I think we can do something special.”

Martin had a special night against the Salukis (2-3). The 6-foot-2, 215-pound fifth-year senior finished with 32 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and just 1 turnover.

Martin’s 8 3s — on 13 attempts — tied his season total after 5 games.

“He was nuclear tonight,” Golden said. “Really happy for him. He’s putting in a lot of work, a lot of extra time, and he treats this like a professional.”

Martin finished 2 points shy of his career high set as an FAU sophomore on March 5, 2022, against FIU. As a junior, he was pivotal in the Owls’ historic season, a stunning run that included a 76-74 win in Gainesville during Golden’s third game with the Gators.

When FAU coach Dustin May left for Michigan in March, Martin headed four hours north to give the Gators an explosive and veteran perimeter presence along with a suffocating defender.

A dozen steals in the first three games showcased his defensive prowess. Against Southern Illinois, Martin took over on the offensive end, scoring 7 straight points during a 16-0 run that broke open a 19-15 game.

“We started getting in a flow,” sophomore forward Thomas Haugh said. “Our team’s just super deep, and everybody plays super hard and is really unselfish. That helped us build that lead.”

Florida led by as many 30 points at 76-46 as Martin continued his scoring assault, highlighted by four consecutive 3s in the second half.

The 22-year-old Mississippi native said a lot of hard work and his teammates’ support helped him get into the zone.

“They poured life into me these past couple of weeks, having me shooting the ball,” he said. “Everybody told me to stay confident, stay ready.”

Florida guard Alijah Martin (15) drives past Southern Illinois guard Davion Sykes, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Alan Youngblood)

He was ready Friday night as a reported crowd of 9,533 looked on.

Martin is the new kid on the block, but showed he can be the leading man in a well-entrenched backcourt led by seniors Walter Clayton Jr. and Will Richard, who combined for 33 points during Tuesday night’s win against Florida A&M.

With Clayton and Richard a combined 5-of-18 shooting for 12 points, Martin picked up the slack. Haugh added 19 points, along with 4 blocked shots, as the Gators’ depth shined during their sixth straight win by at least 15 points.

“Pumped the way we played,” Golden said. “Really thought our guys did a good job start to finish tonight.”

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

Up next …

Florida vs. Wake Forest

When: 2:30, Thursday, ESPN Events Invitational in Kissimmee

TV: ESPN

By FATIMA HUSSEIN, CHRIS RUGABER, JOSH BOAK and CHRIS MEGERIAN, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump announced Friday that he’ll nominate hedge fund manager Scott Bessent, an advocate for deficit reduction, to serve as his next treasury secretary.

Trump also said he would nominate Russell Vought to lead the Office of Management and Budget, a position Vought held during Trump’s first presidency. Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign.

The announcements showed how Trump was fleshing out the financial side of his new administration. Although Bessent is closely aligned with Wall Street and could earn bipartisan support, Vought is known as a Republican hardliner.

Trump said Bessent would “help me usher in a new Golden Age for the United States,” while Vought “knows exactly how to dismantle the Deep State and end Weaponized Government.”

Bessent and Vought were only two of several personnel decisions that Trump disclosed Friday evening.

Trump said he chose Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, an Oregon Republican, as his labor secretary, and Scott Turner, a former football player who worked in Trump’s first administration, as his housing secretary.

FILE – Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Ore., accompanied by Majority Whip Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., left, and House Majority Leader Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., right, speaks at a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Jan. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

In addition, Trump rounded out his health team. He chose Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, a general practitioner and Fox News contributor, to be surgeon general; Dr. Dave Weldon, a former Republican congressman from Florida, to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and Dr. Marty Makary, a Johns Hopkins surgeon, as head of the Food and Drug Administration. Trump previously said he would nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime spreader of conspiracy theories about vaccines, as health secretary.

Alex Wong was named as principal deputy national security adviser, while Sebastian Gorka will serve as senior director for counterterrorism. Wong worked on issues involving Asia during Trump’s first term, and Gorka is a conservative commentator who spent less than a year in Trump’s White House.

Bessent, 62, is the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary.

He told Bloomberg in August that attacking the U.S. national debt should be a priority, which includes slashing government programs and other spending.

“This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then.

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As of Nov. 8, the national debt stands at $35.94 trillion, with both the Trump and Biden administrations having added to it. Trump’s policies added $8.4 trillion to the national debt, while the Biden administration increased the national debt by $4.3 trillion, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a fiscal watchdog.

Even as he pushes to lower the national debt by stopping spending, Bessent has backed extending provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which Trump signed into law in his first year in office. Estimates from various economic analyses of the costs of the various tax cuts range between nearly $6 trillion and $10 trillion over 10 years. Nearly all of the law’s provisions are set to expire at the end of 2025.

Before becoming a Trump donor and adviser, Bessent donated to various Democratic causes in the early 2000s, notably Al Gore’s presidential run. He also worked for George Soros, a major supporter of Democrats. Bessent had an influential role in Soros’ London operations, including his famous 1992 bet against the pound, which generated huge profits on “Black Wednesday,” when the pound was de-linked from European currencies.

Bessent’s selection wasn’t surprising; he had been among the names floated for the treasury secretary role. At an October Detroit Economic Club event, Trump called Bessent “one of the top analysts on Wall Street.”

Bessent told Bloomberg in August that he views tariffs as a “one time price adjustment” and “not inflationary,” and tariffs imposed during a second Trump administration would be directed primarily at China. And he wrote in a Fox News op-ed this week that tariffs are “a useful tool for achieving the president’s foreign policy objectives,” such as encouraging allies to spend more on defense or deterring military aggression.

Bessent has also floated ideas for how the Trump administration could put pressure on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, whose term expires in May 2026. Last month, Bessent suggested Trump could name a replacement chair early, and let that person function as a “shadow” chair, with the goal of essentially sidelining Powell.

But after the election, Bessent reportedly backed away from that plan. Powell, for his part, has said he wouldn’t step down if Trump asked him to do so, and added that Trump, as president, doesn’t have the authority to fire him.

Trump repeatedly attacked Powell during his first term as president for raising the Fed’s key rate in 2017 and 2018. During the 2024 campaign, he said that as president he should have a “say” in the central bank’s interest rate decisions. Presidents traditionally avoid commenting on the Fed’s policies.

Vought, 48, was the head of the Office of Management and Budget from mid-2020 to the end of Trump’s first term in 2021, having previously served as the acting director and deputy director. A graduate of Wheaton College and George Washington University Law School, he had a deep knowledge of government finances that has been paired with his own Christian faith.

HECTOR MATA/AFP via Getty ImagesFILE – President Donald Trump, left, listens as acting director of the Office of Management and Budget Russel Vought speaks during an event on “transparency in Federal guidance and enforcement” in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Oct. 9, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

A

After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as renewing “a consensus of America as a nation under God.”

The Center for Renewing America released its own 2023 budget proposal entitled “A Commitment to End Work and Weaponized Government.” The proposal envisioned $11.3 trillion worth of spending reductions over 10 years and about $2 trillion in income tax cuts in order to bring the budget into surplus by 2032.

“The immediate threat facing the nation is the fact that the people no longer govern the country; instead, the government itself is increasingly weaponized against the people it is meant to serve,” Vought wrote in the introduction.

Vought’s proposed budget plan would cut spending on food aid through the Agriculture Department. There would be $3.3 trillion in spending reductions in the Health and Human Services Department in large part through how Medicaid and Medicare funds are distributed. It also contains about $642 billion in cuts to Affordable Care Act. The budgets for the Housing and Urban Development and Education departments would also be cut.

Vought’s budget ideas were independent of Trump, who has not entirely spelled out the details of his economic plans, other than to campaign on income tax cuts and tariff hikes.

Trump’s choice for labor secretary, Chavez-DeRemer, 56, narrowly lost her reelection bid earlier this month. She received strong backing from union members in her district.

Chavez-DeRemer is one of a few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act that would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment.

Trump said in a statement that she would help “ensure that the Labor Department can unite Americans of all backgrounds behind our Agenda for unprecedented National Success.”

Regional semifinals

Friday
7A

Vero Beach 21, Palm Beach Central 20

Orlando Dr. Phillips 35, Jupiter 0

Western 42, Boca Raton 0

6A

West Boca Raton 38, Mitchell 7

Miami Southridge 20, Monarch 14

West Broward 35, Piper 16

5A

Atlantic 35, Miramar 29

St. Thomas Aquinas 53, Blanche Ely 32

4A

American Heritage 24, Dillard 14

2A

Sarasota Cardinal Mooney 56, King’s Academy 28

1A

Cardinal Newman 42, Naples Community School 0

Naples First Baptist 34, Benjamin 20

Chaminade-Madonna 70, St. Andrew’s 0

Rural

Union County 28, Pahokee 18

Thursday

4A

Miami Norland 31, Archbishop McCarthy 0

2A

Miami Booker T. Washington 47, Cardinal Gibbons 0

 

Regional finals

Times TBA; check FHSAA.com

7A

Western (7) at Miami Columbus (1)

6A

Wiregrass Ranch (3) at West Boca Raton (1)

West Broward (3) at Miami Southridge (1)

5A

St. Thomas Aquinas (2) at Atlantic (1)

4A

Miami Norland (2) at American Heritage (1)

1A

Naples First Baptist (2) at Cardinal Newman (1)

Miami Edison (3) at Chaminade-Madonna (1)

Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo issued guidance Friday recommending that communities throughout the state stop adding fluoride to their water supply, citing “neuropsychiatric risk.”

In a post on X Friday afternoon, Ladapo said the naturally-occurring chemical compound “increases the risk of neuropsychiatric disease in children and reduces their IQ.”

Water fluoridation has been a topic of debate in recent months around the country, including in several Florida cities in the past few weeks. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who President-elect Donald Trump has tapped to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, said earlier this month that Trump’s administration will call for fluoride to be removed from water systems nationwide. In September, a federal judge ruled that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency needs to further regulate the amount in water due to potential risks.

Fluoride is added to all 27 public water systems in Broward County, according to a list maintained by the Florida Department of Health. Water is fluoridated in about a third of the water systems in Palm Beach County, according to data maintained by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Boynton Beach, Delray Beach and West Palm Beach are among those that are fluoridated while Boca Raton’s is not.

More than 70% of Floridians who are supplied by community water systems are getting fluoridated water, according to Ladapo’s guidance.

The CDC says that studies continue to show water fluoridation has widely and significantly prevented cavities since it began being added to water supplies in 1945. The practice has been considered “one of 10 great public health interventions of the 20th century,” according to the agency. The American Dental Association is one of many health organizations that supports the practice and considers it safe.

But Ladapo cited in a news release Friday a “neuropsychiatric risk” from being exposed to fluoride, “particularly in pregnant women and children.” He linked to studies and reports that say there are risks of ADHD, reduced IQ and cognitive issues in children linked to fluoride exposure, as well as prenatal concerns, sleep, thyroid and bone issues and the possibility of causing girls to enter puberty early.

“It is clear more research is necessary to address safety and efficacy concerns regarding community water fluoridation,” Ladapo wrote in the release. “The previously considered benefit of community water fluoridation does not outweigh the current known risks, especially for special populations like pregnant women and children.”

US towns plunge into debates about fluoride in water

But fluoride isn’t just in water. Through the years it became common in toothpaste, mouthwash and other products. And data began to emerge that there could be too much of a good thing: In 2011, officials reported that 2 out of 5 U.S. adolescents had at least mild tooth streaking or spottiness because of too much fluoride.

In 2015, the CDC recommended that communities revisit how much they were putting in the water. Beginning in 1962, the government recommended a range of 0.7 milligrams per liter for warmer climates where people drink more water to 1.2 milligrams in cooler areas. The new standard became 0.7 everywhere.

Mark Darmanin, operations director for Broward County Water and Wastewater Services, said the fluoride levels locally are kept at the federally-recommended 0.7 or less. The naturally-occurring level is about .15 to .18, he said.

“There’s a small (contingent) that believes that additional fluoride was harmful, and the research on small amounts of fluoride seem to outweigh the others. So, it’s been recommended for years to fluoridate the water. It seems there’s a shift in philosophy recently,” Darmanin said.

By the late 1980s, most cities in Broward had fluoridated drinking water. Pembroke Pines, Cooper City, Pompano Beach and Deerfield Beach were among the last to consider it.

Ladapo’s guidance cites an August report by the National Toxicology Program, part of the Department of Health and Human Services, that says there is “moderate confidence” of a connection between high levels of fluoride and lower IQ in children. That report says it reviewed “total fluoride exposure from all sources,” not just from drinking water, and that there was “insufficient data” about whether the .07 level in community water has any negative effect on IQ in children.

Elected officials in Winter Haven, east of Tampa, voted earlier this month to stop fluoridating its water by Jan. 1, 2025, citing RFK Jr.’s stances, according to Axios. City officials in Naples are also on a path to soon stop the practice, the Naples Daily News reported.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

By MICHAEL R. SISAK

NEW YORK (AP) — Lawyers for Sean “Diddy” Combs tried for a third time Friday to persuade a judge to let him leave jail while he awaits his sex trafficking trial, but a decision won’t come until next week.

Judge Arun Subramanian said at a hearing that he will release his decision on Combs’ latest request for bail after Combs’ lawyers and federal prosecutors file letters addressing outstanding issues. Those letters are due at noon on Monday, Subramanian said.

Combs’ lawyers pitched having him await trial under around-the-clock surveillance either his mansion on an island near Miami Beach or — after the judge scoffed at that location — an apartment on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

Their plan essentially amounts to putting Combs on house arrest, with strict limits on who he has contact with. But prosecutors argue that Combs has routinely flouted jail rules and can’t be trusted not to interfere with witnesses or the judicial process.

“The argument that he’s a lawless person who doesn’t follow instructions isn’t factually accurate,” Combs lawyer Anthony Ricco argued. “The idea that he’s an out-of-control individual who has to be detained isn’t factually accurate.”

Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to charges that he coerced and abused women for years with help from a network of associates and employees while silencing victims through blackmail and violence, including kidnapping, arson and physical beatings. His trial is slated to begin May 5.

The Bad Boy Records founder remains locked up at a Brooklyn federal jail, where he spent his Nov. 4 birthday.

Two other judges previously concluded that Combs would be a danger to the community if he is released and an appeals court judge last month denied Combs’ immediate release while a three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals weighs his bail request.

Friday’s hearing was the second time Combs was in court this week. On Tuesday, a judge blocked prosecutors from using as evidence papers that were seized from his cell during jail-wide sweep for contraband and weapons at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

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As he entered through a side door, Combs waved to relatives including his mother and several of his children in the courtroom gallery, tapping his hand to his heart and blowing kisses at them. He then hugged his lead attorney, Marc Agnifilo, before taking a seat at the defense table.

He was not handcuffed or shackled and wore a beige jail uniform, occasionally pulling a pair of reading glasses from his pocket as he peered at papers in front of him.

Prosecutors maintain that no bail conditions will mitigate the “risk of obstruction and dangerousness to others” of releasing Combs from jail.

Prosecutors contend that while locked up the “I’ll Be Missing You” artist has orchestrated social media campaigns aimed at tainting the jury pool. They allege that he has also attempted to publicly leak materials he thinks would be helpful to his case and is contacting potential witnesses via third parties.

“Simply put, the defendant cannot be trusted,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik argued.

Combs’ lawyer Teny Geragos countered that, given the strict release conditions proposed, “it would be impossible for him not to follow rules.”

By JILL COLVIN and STEPHEN GROVES

WASHINGTON (AP) — After several weeks working mostly behind closed doors, Vice President-elect JD Vance returned to Capitol Hill this week in a new, more visible role: Helping Donald Trump try to get his most contentious Cabinet picks to confirmation in the Senate, where Vance has served for the last two years.

Vance arrived at the Capitol on Wednesday with former Rep. Matt Gaetz and spent the morning sitting in on meetings between Trump’s choice for attorney general and key Republicans, including members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The effort was for naught: Gaetz announced a day later that he was withdrawing his name amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations and the reality that he was unlikely to be confirmed.

Thursday morning Vance was back, this time accompanying Pete Hegseth, the “Fox & Friends Weekend” host whom Trump has tapped to be the next secretary of defense. Hegseth also has faced allegations of sexual assault that he denies.

Vance is expected to accompany other nominees for meetings in coming weeks as he tries to leverage the two years he has spent in the Senate to help push through Trump’s picks.

• Vice President-elect JD Vance, still a Republican senator from Ohio, walks from a private meeting with President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

• President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., center, and Vice President-elect JD Vance, left, walk out of a meeting with Republican Senate Judiciary Committee members, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

• FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, departs the chamber at the Capitol in Washington, March 15, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

• FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, center speaks during a Senate Banking Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, March 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

• FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, right, speaks with Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, before testifying at a hearing, March 9, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File)

• FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, arrives for a classified briefing on China, at the Capitol in Washington, Feb. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

• FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, arrives for a vote on Capitol Hill, Sept. 12, 2023 in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

• FILE – Sen. JD Vance R-Ohio speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Feb. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

Show Caption1 of 8

Vice President-elect JD Vance, still a Republican senator from Ohio, walks from a private meeting with President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Expand Vance is taking on an atypical role as Senate guide for Trump nominees

The role of introducing nominees around Capitol Hill is an unusual one for a vice president-elect. Usually the job goes to a former senator who has close relationships on the Hill, or a more junior aide.

But this time the role fits Vance, said Marc Short, who served as Trump’s first director of legislative affairs as well as chief of staff to Trump’s first vice president, Mike Pence, who spent more than a decade in Congress and led the former president’s transition ahead of his first term.

”JD probably has a lot of current allies in the Senate and so it makes sense to have him utilized in that capacity,” Short said.

Unlike the first Trump transition, which played out before cameras at Trump Tower in New York and at the president-elect’s golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, this one has largely happened behind closed doors in Palm Beach, Florida.

There, a small group of officials and aides meet daily at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort to run through possible contenders and interview job candidates. The group includes Elon Musk, the billionaire who has spent so much time at the club that Trump has joked he can’t get rid of him.

Vance has been a constant presence, even as he’s kept a lower profile. The Ohio senator has spent much of the last two weeks in Palm Beach, according to people familiar with his plans, playing an active role in the transition, on which he serves as honorary chair.

Mar-a-Lago scene is a far cry from Vance’s hardscrabble upbringing

Vance has been staying at a cottage on the property of the gilded club, where rooms are adorned with cherubs, oriental rugs and intricate golden inlays. It’s a world away from the famously hardscrabble upbringing that Vance documented in the memoir that made him famous, “Hillbilly Elegy.”

His young children have also joined him at Mar-a-Lago, at times. Vance was photographed in shorts and a polo shirt playing with his kids on the seawall of the property with a large palm frond, a U.S. Secret Service robotic security dog in the distance.

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On the rare days when he is not in Palm Beach, Vance has been joining the sessions remotely via Zoom.

Though he has taken a break from TV interviews after months of constant appearances, Vance has been active in the meetings, which began immediately after the election and include interviews and as well as presentations on candidates’ pluses and minuses.

Among those interviewed: Contenders to replace FBI Director Christopher Wray, as Vance wrote in a since-deleted social media post.

Defending himself from criticism that he’d missed a Senate vote in which one of President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees was confirmed, Vance wrote that he was meeting at the time “with President Trump to interview multiple positions for our government, including for FBI Director.”

“I tend to think it’s more important to get an FBI director who will dismantle the deep state than it is for Republicans to lose a vote 49-46 rather than 49-45,” Vance added on X. “But that’s just me.”

Vance is making his voice heard as Trump stocks his Cabinet

While Vance did not come in to the transition with a list of people he wanted to see in specific roles, he and his friend, Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., who is also a member of the transition team, were eager to see former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. find roles in the administration.

Trump ended up selecting Gabbard as the next director of national intelligence, a powerful position that sits atop the nation’s spy agencies and acts as the president’s top intelligence adviser. And he chose Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, a massive agency that oversees everything from drug and food safety to Medicare and Medicaid.

Vance was also a big booster of Tom Homan, the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who will serve as Trump’s “border czar.”

In another sign of Vance’s influence, James Braid, a top aide to the senator, is expected to serve as Trump’s legislative affairs director.

Allies say it’s too early to discuss what portfolio Vance might take on in the White House. While he gravitates to issues like trade, immigration and tech policy, Vance sees his role as doing whatever Trump needs.

Vance was spotted days after the election giving his son’s Boy Scout troop a tour of the Capitol and was there the day of leadership elections. He returned in earnest this week, first with Gaetz — arguably Trump’s most divisive pick — and then Hegseth, who has was been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2017, according to an investigative report made public this week. Hegseth told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing.

Vance hosted Hegseth in his Senate office as GOP senators, including those who sit on the Senate Armed Services Committee, filtered in to meet with the nominee for defense secretary.

While a president’s nominees usually visit individual senators’ offices, meeting them on their own turf, the freshman senator — who is accompanied everywhere by a large Secret Service detail that makes moving around more unwieldy — instead brought Gaetz to a room in the Capitol on Wednesday and Hegseth to his office on Thursday. Senators came to them.

Vance made it to votes Wednesday and Thursday, but missed others on Thursday afternoon.

Vance will draw on his Senate background going forward

Vance is expected to continue to leverage his relationships in the Senate after Trump takes office. But many Republicans there have longer relationships with Trump himself.

Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, said that Trump was often the first person to call him back when he was trying to reach high-level White House officials during Trump’s first term.

“He has the most active Rolodex of just about anybody I’ve ever known,” Cramer said, adding that Vance would make a good addition.

“They’ll divide names up by who has the most persuasion here,” Cramer said, but added, “Whoever his liaison is will not work as hard at it as he will.”

Cramer was complimentary of the Ohio senator, saying he was “pleasant” and ” interesting” to be around.

″He doesn’t have the long relationships,” he said. “But we all like people that have done what we’ve done. I mean, that’s sort of a natural kinship, just probably not as personally tied.”

Under the Constitution, Vance will also have a role presiding over the Senate and breaking tie votes. But he’s not likely to be needed for that as often as was Kamala Harris, who broke a record number of ties for Democrats as vice president, since Republicans will have a bigger cushion in the chamber next year.

Colvin reported from New York. Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.