South Florida Local News

General Daily Insight for September 14, 2024

Healing is possible — if we take the necessary steps. The Moon in Capricorn starts with a sextile to gentle Neptune in Pisces, though a cosmic wind picks up once the Moon conjoins alchemical Pluto. We can focus on coming together when the Moon enters communal Aquarius, but the most important moment of the day arrives at 4:22 pm EDT, when the Sun in Virgo stumbles into a quincunx with Chiron in Aries. We’re ready to build the most efficient path toward a happier, healthier life.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

There’s no need to overthink things. Thanks to an angle between the Sun in your resourceful 6th house and Chiron in your lively sign, you can find an unusual peace in taking care of basic tasks and everyday essentials. Clean your house, do some decent exercise, and treat your body right with nourishing food. These simple functions should make you feel worlds better. The best way to heal yourself, inside and out, is with tender love and care — so do just that.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

A creative outlet is absolutely necessary. The Sun in your animated 5th house is connecting with Chiron in your subconscious sector, putting an emphasis on releasing old drama and baggage by filling your life with wonderful, beautiful things instead. Think of this day like a cosmically mandated session of art therapy, and give yourself permission to create without purpose. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by what comes out of you in the process, both artistically and emotionally. Let your Muse out to play!

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Friendships without emotional connections are really just surface acquaintances. Fortunately, you can certify that you’re surrounding yourself with quality people and relationships as the Sun in your sensitive 4th house aligns with Chiron in your social 11th house. Under this angle, you won’t be interested in casual conversations or interactions — you’re braced to hold up the added weights of quality and empathy. That said, consider sticking to interactions with people you know play for Team Gemini. Everyone else can stay on the bench.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

You can mix casual and capable more easily than usual. There is a rare angle between the Sun in your chatty 3rd house and Chiron in your career sector that supports internal balance. Instead of bouncing back and forth between playful and professional, you can blend these aspects of yourself to accomplish things without compromising your soul. A bit of personal flare may be just the thing to convince higher-ups that you’ve got exactly what they’re looking for! Don’t be scared to speak up.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Window shopping will reveal all sorts of cosmic goodies, but they’ll each have a unique cost. Watch out for painful sticker shock as the Sun in your income sector aligns with sensitive Chiron in your expansion sector! Yes, the idea of adventure is very tempting, but neglecting your budget would be a major mistake. Be wary of giving up your security in exchange for excitement. You can only waiver for so long before choosing a path — make sure it’s one you can afford.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

This isn’t a day for selling yourself short. The Sun is currently visiting your sign, making this one of the most important times of the year for you, but its quincunx to Chiron in your 8th House of Split Resources could leave you concerned that you ought to put your needs on the back burner to assist others. Don’t turn yourself into knots for someone or something that isn’t going to return the favor or benefit you fairly in turn!

Libra

September 23 – October 22

People may prove unreliable or unreadable to you at this time. It’s a little too easy to miss the forest for the trees while the Sun is in your hidden 12th house, obscuring the path forward. Plus, the Sun’s tough angle to Chiron in your connection sector could leave you feeling especially alone in your journey. The more you expect from others, or even hope from them, the more likely disappointment becomes. Remember that expectations often breed resentment, rather than any kind of satisfaction.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Finding time for both work and play is not going to be easily done, no matter how hard you try. There is an odd angle overhead between the Sun in your friendship sector and Chiron in your work sector. No matter how much you’d like to go frolic with your favorite people, you’ll probably need to tend to something more pressing and less exciting. You may also feel a bit under the weather during this stressful aspect, so be sure to go easy on yourself.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

There’s nothing to be gained from making yourself smaller. You’re in one of your most productive times of the year while the Sun tours your work sector, but the Sun’s quincunx to Chiron in your creativity sector could make you feel as though you must compromise certain aspects of yourself in order to get ahead. Chances are, however, that this isn’t really the case! If you feel limited, it should only be a temporary issue or a misunderstanding. Maintain your authenticity.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

The world is chock full of possibilities, but they may not be particularly accessible at the moment. Thanks to an unusual angle between the Sun in your expansion sector and Chiron in your domestic sector, it wouldn’t be at all shocking if your plans or desires to go off on a great adventure get stymied by issues closer to home. This needn’t be a permanent roadblock, so if you deal with these issues in a timely fashion, you can then fly far and wide!

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

No one seems to be on the same page, no matter how hard you try to get there. Focusing on the serious side of life probably feels natural while the Sun moves through your enigmatic 8th house, but its quincunx to Chiron in your distractible 3rd house could have everyone else begging you to come out and play. If you aren’t in the mood, try to be polite with your refusal so no one feels put out — really, a little fun couldn’t hurt.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Mundane matters are demanding your attention, for better or for worse. An awkward angle between the Sun in your partnership sector and Chiron in your income sector could put some basic business issues in the way of you enjoying yourself with the most important people in your life. You may need to do some juggling to make sure that everyone’s needs are met, including yours! Be careful to avoid burning yourself out in the process, though, or no one’s needs will be met.

By PATRICK STEVENS

WASHINGTON (AP) — Luis García Jr. homered, DJ Herz allowed just one run in five innings and the Washington Nationals defeated the Miami Marlins 4-1 on Friday night.

Jacob Young added an RBI single as the Nationals scored three unearned runs on three Miami errors.

Otto Lopez homered for Miami, which has dropped four of five.

Washington mustered only one hit in six innings against Marlins starter Edward Cabrera — Dylan Crews’ infield single to lead off the first — but quickly took advantage once he left the game.

García ripped reliever Anthony Veneziano’s second pitch into the seats in right field to lead off the seventh inning for his 16th home run of the year to make it 3-1. It was his first homer in 101 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers this season.

“That was a big moment for us,” Washington manager Dave Martinez said.

Two batters later, Drew Millas reached on shortstop Xavier Edwards’ fielding error and stole second when he took off on Veneziano’s pickoff attempt and first baseman Jake Burger made an errant throw. Millas scored on Young’s single to right.

Herz (4-7) won back-to-back starts for the first time in his career, allowing a run on four hits while striking out five. The rookie left-hander improved to 2-0 with an 0.82 ERA in two starts against the Marlins this season.

“I wasn’t sharp today and I didn’t have my best stuff, but I fought,” Herz said. “I found ways to get out of it and I had some great plays behind me today.”

Herz has a 2.76 ERA with 57 strikeouts over 49 innings in 10 starts since returning to the majors July 23. In that span, he’s dropped his season ERA from 5.17 to 3.70.

“For him, it’s all about attacking the zone and staying on the plate,” Martinez said. “When he does that, he’s really good.”

Lopez hit his fifth homer of the year with a one-out shot into the visitor’s bullpen in left in the fourth.

Kyle Finnegan pitched the ninth for his 37th save in 42 opportunities.

The Nationals had two men in scoring position in the first inning when Burger made a diving stop of García Jr.’s two-out grounder. Burger made a smooth underhanded toss to Cabrera (4-7), who dropped the ball and permitted Crews and José Tena to score.

Cabrera allowed only two more baserunners, hitting Young with a pitch in the second and committing a fielding error to allow Nasim Nuñez to reach in the fifth. The right-hander struck out nine.

“That was the most dominant outing of his season, and might have been of his career,” Miami manager Skip Schumaker said. “A lot of first-pitch strikes, 80 percent on the ground, strikeouts, swing and miss. We just didn’t play clean behind him. He didn’t play clean himself, honestly. But there was a lot to be proud of with the last couple starts and the way he’s trending toward the end of the season.”

Reliever Michael Petersen, who was claimed on waivers Tuesday from the Los Angeles Dodgers, worked the eighth for Miami. He became the 70th player used by the Marlins this season, breaking the major league record of 69 they previously shared with the 2021 Chicago Cubs.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins: LHP Ryan Weathers (index finger strain) pitched five shutout innings in a rehabilitation appearance Friday for Triple-A Jacksonville. He struck out eight while allowing two hits and walking three.

Nationals: SS CJ Abrams was scratched from the lineup with a sore left shoulder.

UP NEXT

Miami RHP Valente Bellozo (2-3, 3.57 ERA), who pitched six scoreless innings against Washington on Sept. 4, faces Nationals LHP Patrick Corbin (5-13, 5.60) as the four-game series continues.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Miami Dolphins owner Steve Ross is again in talks to sell a minority stake in the team and other assets.

Ross is in discussions with private equity firms and individuals to sell as much as a 15 percent stake in the Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium and F1 Miami, according to a New York Times report Friday evening.

A team spokesperson did not immediately return request for comment.

Ross, last November, courted talks with fellow billionaire Ken Griffin, but those discussions fell through in April.

The Dolphins are valuated at more than $7.5 billion. Ross’ combination of the stadium and F1 grand prix race held at the venue could potentially lift valuations of other NFL franchises.

According to the report talks with Griffin halted because Griffin wanted a path to eventually control the Dolphins, while Ross wanted to keep majority ownership within his family.

Last month, the NFL adopted new rules that allowed certain private equity firms to buy up to 10 percent of a team. One of the firms involved is reportedly Arctos Partners.

Ross, who has not sold anything yet, was looking to raise additional capital to further invest in real estate and sports, according to a source when talks with Griffin surfaced.

MIAMI BEACH — Miami Beach residents and visitors can feel it coming in the air tonight — and the rest of the weekend — as “Miami Vice” cast and crew gather to celebrate the iconic television series’ 40th anniversary.

The show premiered on NBC on Sept. 16, 1984, and ran for five seasons. The “cocaine cowboy”-era crime drama, featuring Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas as undercover cops, was revolutionary in its use of pop culture, style and music and spawned a film reboot in 2006. And by filming the show primarily in South Florida, the series helped transform the image of Miami and Miami Beach in a way that would reverberate for decades.

Former cast members, including Edward James Olmos and Michael Madsen, met with fans Friday at the Royal Palm South Beach and were set to return Saturday. Also attending were Saundra Santiago, Olivia Brown, Bruce McGill, Joaquim De Almeida, Bill Smitrovich, Pepe Serna and Ismael East Carlo.

“It was not ‘Hill Street Blues.’ It was not ‘Police Story,’ ” Olmos said on Friday. “It was way different in artistic endeavor on all levels. The creativity, as far as music, writing, production value. The production value was so overwhelming. We spared nothing. I mean, these people were serious, and they spent a lot of time and money for each episode, and it shows.”

Olmos said that the show had a profound effect on introducing Miami to the world and creating an idealized version of South Beach that would later become a reality.

“When we were here, when we started the show in 1984, there was no South Beach,” Olmos said. “There was a South Beach, but it was dilapidated. The buildings were all literally falling into disrepair.”

Years before serious restoration efforts would transform South Beach into a center of fashion, music and tourism, Olmos said productions crews were painting the exteriors of the neighborhood’s historic Art Deco buildings themselves to make them look good on camera.

“We would paint the facades and put out tables, and we did what now became the reality of South Beach,” Olmos said.

While most television production was still being done in Los Angeles or New York in the 1980s, Olmos doubts the show would have been as successful if they had tried to fake South Florida in California.

“They could have never shot this anywhere else in the world,” Olmos said. “Look at the show from the very first episode, and as it went on, the beauty of Miami is unprecedented.”

Premiering just a few years after the launch of MTV, “Miami Vice” embraced contemporary style and music. Besides Jan Hammer’s original scoring, the producers regularly included songs from popular artists like Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Dire Straits and Foreigner.

Fred Lyle, an associate producer and music coordinator for “Miami Vice,” said the importance of music was evident from the first episode, as “In the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins plays while Johnson and Thomas cruise the streets of Miami in their Ferrari convertible.

“And that’s when ‘Miami Vice’ became different musically than anything else,” Lyle said. “Music was going over this scene, that scene. One song was helping to stitch the fabric of the narrative together.”

Aside from the show’s style, the stories and characters also had substance. Veteran television actor Bruce McGill has played countless cops, coaches and other authority figures over several decades, but he said his guest role as a burnt-out former detective in the second season of “Miami Vice” stands out compared to the straight-laced characters that comprise most of his career.

“It was a very good part that they allowed me to make better, to enhance, to ham it up a little,” McGill said. “And it was very satisfying.”

“Miami Vice” fan Matt Lechliter, 39, traveled all the way to Miami Beach from Oxnard, California, to celebrate the show’s anniversary.

“I wasn’t alive when it premiered, but it’s a part of me,” Lechliter said.

Lechliter said he remembers watching the later seasons and reruns with his parents as a child but really became a fan when he rediscovered the show about five years ago.

“I binge-watched it,” Lechliter said. “I was like, ‘Wow, this really is amazing.’ When I heard about this event, I said, ‘I’ve gotta go.’ ”

The anniversary celebration will continue through the weekend with career discussions, as well as bus and walking tours of filming locations.

The Miami Vice Museum is open to the public from Friday to Sunday, featuring a wide range of items never before displayed together since the show’s conclusion in 1989. The exhibit is being hosted at the Wilzig Erotic Art Museum.

And to kick off the celebration on Thursday, Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner met with cast and crew at the Avalon Hotel in South Beach to present a proclamation declaring Sept. 16, 2024, as “Miami Vice Day.”

Friday

Atlantic 42, Blanche Ely 13

American Heritage 23, Naples 3

Cardinal Newman 43, Pahokee 8

FSU High 27, South Broward 6

True North Classical Academy 13, Archbishop McCarthy 7

Inlet Grove 28, Somerset Academy Canyons 20

St. Thomas Aquinas 23, Western 15

Jupiter 28, Spanish River 13

Glades Central 43, Moore Haven 6

West Broward 43, Cardinal Gibbons 39

Dr. Joaquin Garcia 30, John I. Leonard 0

Seminole 30, Monarch 26

Somerset Academy Key 44, Avant Garde Academy 12

Piper 41, Coral Springs 0

Pine Crest 16, Westminster Christian 9

Oxbridge Academy 35, Glades Day 0

Forest Hill 49, Olympic Heights 0

Jupiter Christian 39, Santa Fe Catholic 13

St. John Paul II Academy 49, Boca Raton Christian 13

West Boca 42, Seminole Ridge 8

Palm Beach Central 23, Santaluces 8

 

Thursday

Miami Central 67, Pompano Beach 0

Chaminade-Madonna 56, Miami Edison 19

North Miami 48, Pembroke Pines Charter 12

Nova 33, South Plantation 22

University School 16, St. Andrew’s 14

Boynton Beach 28, Suncoast 0

Dwyer 21, Royal Palm Beach 6

The Miami-Dade Police officer who is on administrative duty after a heated traffic stop with Miami Dolphins star Tyreek Hill last weekend previously had been investigated for complaints of excessive force, conduct unbecoming and body-worn camera violations, according to department records.

Officer Danny Torres, a 27-year veteran, was the officer who forcefully removed Hill from his car during the traffic stop and handcuffed him as he was lying on the road, body-worn camera video released Monday shows. He was placed on administrative assignment after the stop.

Torres has been suspended six times in his career and received multiple written reprimands. He’s also received many commendations for his service, according to a personnel record released by the department Friday evening.

Torres was one of several officers who responded to the traffic stop involving Hill near Hard Rock Stadium before the team’s season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 8. Officers initially pulled Hill over for speeding in his McLaren, and the stop quickly escalated after Hill did not follow orders to keep his window open during the stop.

Torres, who is seeking re-instatement, was hired in October 1996. In his decades-long career, he earned more than 30 commendations for his service for safe driving, assisting other agencies, team work, dedication to duty and professionalism, among others, the police department record shows.

Police release body-cam video of Tyreek Hill being handcuffed

 

Torres was first disciplined with a written reprimand two years into his career, the report shows. In total, he was suspended six different times between 2004 and 2018, the longest being for 20 days in 2018. He was suspended for 10 days in 2019. The remaining four suspensions, between 2014 and 2016, were all for five days, the report shows.

Torres has been the subject of at least six Internal Affairs investigations between 2004 and 2018, the personnel record shows. His discipline history also includes multiple written reprimands.

In October 2014, Torres was investigated for complaints of conduct unbecoming, force violations and discourtesy. All five allegations in that complaint were sustained after the Internal Affairs investigation, the personnel record shows.

A little more than a year later, Torres was again alleged to have made a force violation, but the complaint was not sustained during the investigation. However, a discourtesy allegation was sustained.

Torres in 2018 was investigated for allegations of improper procedure, conduct unbecoming and improper body-worn camera procedure. He was found to have violated the body-worn camera procedure in that investigation, the record showed.

The personnel record does not provide additional details on the individual complaints and cases.

Officer in Tyreek Hill cuffing traffic stop wants to get back to work. Were his actions justified?

At least 13 use-of-force instances are also listed in Torres’s report from 2002 to 2022. Further details on the individual cases were not included in the personnel report.

The report shows Torres in 2022 had received “informal counseling” for a complaint of improper body-worn camera procedure and several other written reprimands in the last nine years.

The first officer to approach Hill’s window asked Hill why he was not wearing a seatbelt, the video showed.

“Don’t knock on my window like that,” Hill immediately said and handed the officer his identification. He repeatedly said not to knock on his window “like that,” the video showed.

Hill said to the initial officer, “Give me my ticket, bro, so I can go.” “I’m finna be late … Do what you gotta do.”

He closed his window and did not comply when the officer told him multiple times to keep it open. At one point, Hill cracked his window but did not completely open it, the video showed. Then things escalated.

“As a matter of fact, get out of the car,” the initial officer told Hill. Another officer in the background said something about him breaking “that freakin’ window” as the first officer repeatedly told Hill to get out. Hill, still inside, said he was going to comply.

Torres then flung Hill’s door open while shouting, “Get out!” and yanked Hill out of the car. He appeared to place his hand on the back of Hill’s neck as he pulled him outside, repeatedly shouting for him to “get out.”

“When we tell you to do something, you do it,” Torres said while they handcuffed Hill, lying on his stomach on the road. “You understand? You understand? Not what you want, but what we tell you! You’re a little f—— confused.”

During the stop with Hill, officers also briefly handcuffed his teammate Calais Campbell after ordering him to move away from the scene.

The police officers who briefly detained Hill were “overzealous” during the encounter, Hill’s lawyer said Monday afternoon, while the position of the city’s police union was that Hill was “uncooperative.”

The Miami Dolphins released a statement after the body-worn camera footage was released, calling the officers’ actions “overly aggressive and violent.”

Hill said at a news conference earlier this week that he “could’ve been better” during the encounter.

“But at the end of the day I’m human. I’ve got to follow rules, I’ve got to do what everyone else would do. Now, does that give them the right to literally beat the dog out of me? Absolutely not. But at the end of the day, I wish I could go back and do things a bit differently,” he said.

Earlier this week, Torres’s attorney Ignacio Alvarez said: “We urge all parties to refrain from making public statements that may misrepresent our client’s actions and mislead the public about Mr. Hill’s detainment. We call for our client’s immediate reinstatement.”

The names of the other officers involved had not been released as of Friday night.

By MELISSA GOLDIN

In a press conference from his Los Angeles-area golf club, former President Donald Trump revisited several topics from Tuesday night’s debate, repeating several false and misleading claims on issues including crime, the economy and immigration.

Here’s are the facts:

Trump again falsely claims crime skyrocketed under the Biden administration

CLAIM: New numbers show that crime has skyrocketed under the Biden administration.

THE FACTS: Violent crime surged during the pandemic, with homicides increasing nearly 30% in 2020 over the previous year — the largest one-year jump since the FBI began keeping records.

But FBI data released in June shows that the overall violent crime rate declined 15% in the first three months of 2024 compared to the same period last year. One expert has cautioned, however, that those figures are preliminary and may overstate the actual reduction in crime.

On Friday, Trump cited numbers he said were from the “bureau of justice statistics” to claim crime was up. This appears to be a reference to the National Crime Victimization Survey recently released by the Justice Department, which shows that the number of times people were victims of violent crime increased by about 40% from 2020 to 2023. The report notes, however, that while the rate of violent victimizations in 2023 was higher than it was in 2020 and 2021, it was not statistically different from the rate in 2019, when Trump was president.

That survey aims to capture both crimes reported to police and crimes that are not reported to police and is conducted annually through interviews with about 150,000 households. It doesn’t include murders or crimes against people under the age of 12.

No basis for claims that violent crime has spiked as a result of the influx of migrants

CLAIM: Thousands of people are being killed by “illegal migrants” in the U.S.

THE FACTS: This is not supported by evidence. FBI statistics do not separate crimes by the immigration status of the assailant, nor is there any evidence of a spike in crime perpetrated by migrants, either along the U.S.-Mexico border or in cities seeing the greatest influx of migrants, like New York. In fact, national statistics show violent crime is on the way down.

Inflation has not reached record levels

CLAIM: Prices have gone up “like no one’s ever seen before.”

THE FACTS: That’s not accurate. Inflation did soar in 2021-22, though it rose by much more in 1980 when inflation topped 14%. It peaked at 9.1% in June 2022.

Economists largely blame the inflation spike on the pandemic’s disruptions to global supply chains, which reduced the supply of semiconductors, cars and other goods. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine also pushed up gas and food prices. And Biden’s stimulus checks and other spending contributed by turbocharging spending coming out of the pandemic.

Inflation has now fallen to 2.5%, not far from the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. Prices are still about 19% higher than they were before the pandemic, but the Census Bureau reported Tuesday that household incomes have risen by a similar amount, leaving inflation-adjusted incomes at roughly the same level as they were in 2019.

Trump raises false claims to suggest voting systems are fraudulent

CLAIM: The voting system isn’t honest. Millions and millions of ballots are sent out “all over the place. Some people get two, three, four or five.”

THE FACTS: Election officials have procedures in place to ensure that only one mail ballot is issued to each eligible voter. When a voter requests a mail ballot, election officials will verify that person’s eligibility by checking voter registration records — looking to match the voter’s information to what’s on file and, in some cases, checking that the voter’s signature matches as well.

When a ballot is sent out by an election office, that ballot is assigned to that specific voter. If someone else tries to use that ballot, the voter’s information will not match the office’s records for that ballot and it will be rejected. Election officials constantly update their voter lists to ensure they are accurate, removing dead people, those who have moved out of state or are not eligible.

In some cases, ballots are canceled — if a voter makes a mistake and requests a new ballot or decides to vote in person instead of using a mail ballot. In those cases, the original ballot is marked in such a way that if that original ballot were to show up at the election office it would be flagged and rejected.

At one point in his remarks, Trump singled out California, where all voters receive a ballot in the mail. He suggested he would win if votes were counted honestly. He has made this claim before and it is a reach. Just 23% of California voters are registered as Republican while 46% are registered as Democrats. He lost to Hillary Clinton in 2016 in California by 4.2 million votes, and he lost the state to Biden in 2020 by 5.1 million votes.

Trump misrepresents a revision of U.S. job numbers

CLAIM: A whistleblower forced the government’s recent downward revision of job gains by 818,000.

THE FACTS: That’s false. The preliminary revision occurred as part of a normal annual process and was released on a previously disclosed date. Every year the Labor Department issues a revision of the number of jobs added during a 12-month period from April through March in the previous year.

The adjustment is made because the government’s initial job counts are based on surveys of businesses. The revision is then based on actual job counts from unemployment insurance files that are compiled later. The revision is compiled by career government employees with little involvement by politically appointed officials.

The Biden administration is not secretly flying hundreds of thousands of migrants into the country

CLAIM: Harris and the Biden administration are secretly flying in hundreds of thousands of “illegal immigrants.”

THE FACTS: Migrants are not secretly being flown into the U.S. by the government. Under a Biden policy in effect since January 2023, up to 30,000 people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela can enter the country monthly if they apply online with a financial sponsor and arrive at a specified airport, paying their own way. Biden exercised his “parole” authority, which, under a 1952 law, allows him to admit people “only on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.”

Associated Press writers Alanna Durkin Richer, Chris Rugaber, Christina Almeida Cassidy and Elliot Spagat contributed to this story.

 

By ADRIAN SAINZ

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Three former Memphis police officers broke department rules when they failed to say that they punched and kicked Tyre Nichols on required forms submitted after the January 2023 fatal beating, a police lieutenant testified Friday.

Larnce Wright, who trained the officers, testified about the the reports written and submitted by the officers, whose federal criminal trial began Monday. The reports, known as response-to-resistance forms, must include complete and accurate statements about what type of force was used, Wright said under questioning by a prosecutor, Kathryn Gilbert.

Jurors were shown the forms submitted by the three officers, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith. The three have pleaded not guilty to charges that they deprived the Nichols of his rights through excessive force and failure to intervene, and obstructed justice through witness tampering. None of the forms described punching or kicking Nichols. Omitting those details violates department policies and opens the officers up to internal discipline and possible criminal charges.

Nichols, who was Black, died Jan. 10, 2023, three days after the beating. Police video shows five officers, who also are Black, beating Nichols as he yells for his mother about a block from her home. Video also shows the officers milling about and talking as Nichols struggles with his injuries.

Wright said the three officers’ reports were not accurate when compared with what was seen in the video.

“They didn’t tell actually what force they used,” Wright said.

Wright also trained the officers’ two former colleagues, Emmitt Martin and Desmond Mills Jr., who already have pleaded guilty to civil rights violations in Nichols’ death. Martin and Mills are expected to testify for prosecutors.

Bean and Smith wrote in their reports that they used “soft hand techniques” with closed hands. Wright said such a technique does not exist in department policies.

Haley’s report did not even say that he was present for the beating, only that he was at the traffic stop.

Earlier Friday, defense attorneys argued that the response-to-resistance forms are a type of protected statements that should not be admitted as evidence at trial. The judge ruled they could be used.

Kevin Whitmore, a lawyer for Bean, questioned Wright about the difference between active and passive resistance. Wright said active resistance means a subject is fighting officers. Defense attorneys have argued that Nichols did not comply with their orders and was fighting them during the arrest.

Wright began testifying Thursday, when he said the officers instead should have used armbars, wrist locks and other soft hands tactics to handcuff Nichols. He also testified that officers have a duty to physically intervene or call a supervisor to the scene if the officer sees another officer using more force than necessary.

Prosecutor Elizabeth Rogers said Wednesday that the officers were punishing Nichols for fleeing a traffic stop and that they just stood around during “crucial” minutes when Nichols’ heart stopped, when they could have helped him. Nichols had no pulse for 25 minutes until it was restored at the hospital, according to testimony from Rachael Love, a nurse practitioner.

An autopsy report shows Nichols died from blows to the head. The report describes brain injuries, and cuts and bruises on his head and other areas.

All five officers belonged to the now disbanded Scorpion Unit crime suppression team and were fired for violating Memphis Police Department policies.

They were also charged with second-degree murder in state court, where they pleaded not guilty, although Mills and Martin are expected to change their pleas. A trial date in state court has not been set.

Wells told reporters Wednesday that she hope for three guilty verdicts and for the world to know her son “wasn’t the criminal that they’re trying to make him out to be.”

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Associated Press reporter Jonathan Mattise contributed from Nashville, Tennessee.

By COLLEEN SLEVIN and MEAD GRUVER

DENVER (AP) — A Colorado paramedic convicted in the death of Elijah McClain, a Black man whose name became part of the rallying cries for social justice that swept the U.S. in 2020, is being released from prison after a judge reduced his sentence to four years of probation Friday.

Judge Mark Warner said during his ruling that Peter Cichuniec had to make quick decision the night of the arrest as the highest-ranking paramedic at the scene, the Denver Post reported. He also noted a background of no previous criminal history and good character for Cichuniec, who had an 18-year-career as a firefighter and paramedic before he was convicted.

Warner held that the case had “unusual and extenuating circumstances,” in reference to a part of Colorado’s mandatory sentencing law, which allows a court to modify a sentence after a defendant has served least 119 days in prison if the judge finds such circumstances.

McClain was walking down the street in a Denver suburb in 2019 when police responding to a suspicious person report forcibly restrained him and put him in a neck hold. His final words — “I can’t breathe” — foreshadowed those of George Floyd a year later in Minneapolis.

Cichuniec and a fellow paramedic were convicted in December of criminally negligent homicide for injecting McClain with ketamine, a powerful sedative blamed for killing the 23-year-old massage therapist. Cichuniec also was convicted on a more serious charge of second-degree assault for giving a drug without consent or a legitimate medical purpose. The other paramedic avoided prison time, sentenced instead to 14 months in jail with work release and probation.

McClain’s death and others have raised questions about the use of ketamine to subdue struggling suspects, and the prosecution sent shock waves through the ranks of paramedics across the U.S.

The case has already achieved a “deterrence effect” to discourage similar crimes, Warner said in the hearing in Denver.

“Pete is coming home!” Cichuniec’s supporters cried out after Warner reduced the sentence at the hearing, according to the Post. They declined to comment to the newspaper.

Colorado Attorney General Philip Weiser said in a statement that he was disappointed in the reduced sentence but respected the court’s decision.

The ruling by Warner, the same judge who handed down the prison sentence in March, will release Cichuniec from a prison on the northeastern Colorado plains, though exactly when was not immediately clear.

The president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, which had warned that Cichuniec’s conviction would set a chilling precedent for paramedics and firefighters, said it was relieved by the ruling.

“Pete Cichuniec did not belong behind bars,” Edward Kelly said in a statement. “We will always prioritize and advocate for the public’s safety and our members’ ability to do their jobs without fear of ill-conceived criminal prosecutions.”

McClain’s mother, Sheneen McClain, declined via email to comment Friday. In March she celebrated the original sentence handed down by the judge as she left the courtroom that day, raising her fist in the air.

___

Gruver reported from Cheyenne, Wyoming. Amy Beth Hanson contributed from Helena, Montana.

When UCF travels to TCU to open Big 12 play, it will be its first nationally televised game of the year. A primetime window featuring two undefeated teams could go a long way in setting the early tone for the season.

“This is a big year for our program,” said UCF coach Gus Malzahn. “It’s the second year in the Big 12, and we’re growing and trending, but you’ve got to get it done on the field. There’s no doubt that it’s a big game in many different ways.”

Said TCU coach Sonny Dykes: “Most casual football fans probably view UCF and TCU the same way. We’re not logo schools. We haven’t always been in big conferences. The logo schools get so much attention. You turn on college sports right now and they will talk about the same three or four programs.

“They will discuss the same three or four programs in October, November, December and January, whether they’re good or not.”

If Gators fire Billy Napier, DJ Lagway might be quarterbacking FSU, UCF or Miami next year | Commentary

There are a lot of similarities between these programs, particularly in football.

TCU (2-0) joined the Big 12 in 2012 after being in the Western Athletic Conference, Conference USA and Mountain West. UCF (2-0) joined the Big 12 last season after being a member of the Mid-American Conference, CUSA and American Athletic Conference.

Both programs have felt success, with the Horned Frogs going 13-0 in 2010 and 13-2 in ’22 when they lost to Georgia in the National Championship Game. The Knights went 12-1 in ’13, 13-0 in ’17 and 12-1 in ’18, winning 25 consecutive games.

“UCF has been good for a long time. Look at Scott Frost when he was there and they went undefeated,” said Dykes. “They had some really good teams before Scott Frost, and they’ve had some really good teams since. There’s a reason why the Big 12 added them because the program has a ton of potential.

“We feel like we’re the same way at TCU, but the people aren’t going to talk about these schools much. Certainly not us, with 10,000 students and 100,000 alumni. They will talk about the schools with a million alumni, which is how it is. They’re trying to sell newspapers and magazines and subscriptions.”

Coaches: Malzahn, 4th season at UCF, 26-16 (103-54 overall); Dykes, 3rd season at TCU, 20-9 (91-72 overall).

Quick slant: This is the first meeting between these two programs. … UCF has started 2-0 for the third time under Malzahn. … Former Boise State coach Andy Avalos is TCU’s new defensive coordinator. The Knights were 2-0 against Avalos’ Broncos team, with a 36-31 win in 2021 and an 18-16 win two years later. … With its 45-14 victory over Sam Houston last week, UCF has won 200 games.

Has UCF found a defensive identity? | Analysis

About UCF: Running back RJ Harvey is second in the Big 12 in runs of 10 or more yards (9). His 60-yard run against New Hampshire is the league’s second-longest run. … Receiver Xavier Townsend leads the team in all-purpose yards (287) and is seventh overall in the Big 12. … Defensive tackle Ricky Barber and edge rusher Malachi Lawrence have 10 of UCF’s 25 pressures.

About TCU: Linebacker Johnny Hodges has picked up where he left off in 2022, leading the Horned Frogs with 16 tackles through the first two games. The junior missed most of last season with an injury but has returned to form. … Edge rushers Devean Deal and NaNa Osafo-Mensah have combined for 12 of TCU’s 43 pressures and 10 quarterback hurries. … Wideout Savion Williams is the third-most targeted receiver in the Big 12 (22).

3 things to watch

Slow down TCU’s pass attack: A strong start by quarterback Josh Hoover has helped the Horned Frogs rank 16th in the nation in passing offense (325.5 yards per game). The sophomore has thrown for at least 300 yards in six of his first eight career starts, including 353 yards in last week’s win against Long Island. The Knights rank seventh in the Big 12 in pass defense but first in interceptions (4).

Knights ready to embrace challenge of first trip

Protect the quarterback: According to Pro Football Focus, TCU has pressured opposing quarterbacks 43 times, and the defense has recorded 6 sacks and 15 tackles for loss. Meanwhile, KJ Jefferson has only been pressured 14 times and sacked 3 times in the first two games.

Stick to the run: The Knights have rushed for 838 yards — the most in the country — with 11 touchdowns through the first two games. Their average of 419 yards per game leads the nation and the team has averaged at least 140 yards in the last 15 games dating to last season. TCU, meanwhile, hasn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher.

Matt Murschel can be reached at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com

Up next …

UCF at TCU

When: Saturday, Amon G. Carter Stadium, 7:30

TV/radio: WOFL-35; AM 740/FM 96.9 The Game, Sirius/XM 386

Weather: 74 degrees, 4% chance of rain

Favorite: UCF by 2.5 points

Online: orlandosentinel.com/knights; @osmattmurschel on X.

By Sally French | NerdWallet

When traveling, packing less makes it easier to experience more. When you’re not weighed down by bulky bags, you have more freedom to jump on public transit or walk long distances without tiring. You’ll have fewer worries about repacking or losing items. With carry-ons only, you’ll avoid checked bag fees, waiting at the luggage carousel and the risk of lost luggage.

If you travel backpack-only, you’ll be forced me to leave even more at home than you otherwise would with a full suitcase. It means sacrificing just-in-case items.

And that’s where my 10-$10 rule comes in.

What is the 10-$10 rule?

The 10-$10 rule is a packing strategy that helps you decide what to bring and what to leave behind. The premise is straightforward: If you can acquire a just-in-case item upon arrival for less than $10 and within 10 minutes, don’t pack it.

For cheap, small items that you’ll absolutely use — say a toothbrush, deodorant or underwear — pack them regardless. But for large or just-in-case items, buy them upon arrival, granted they cost less than about $10 and are easily purchasable within 10 minutes.

Under the 10-$10 rule, items you generally shouldn’t pack include:

• Books (perhaps pack one, but will you really read that second one?).
• First-aid kits.
• Over-the-counter medications that you only sometimes use (e.g. antacid tablets or ibuprofen).
• Weather-contingent items like ponchos and umbrellas (particularly if it’s not even rainy season).

Of course, the 10 minutes is key. There probably aren’t drugstores in the wilderness, in which case packing something like a first-aid kit for a camping trip can make sense.

I’ve come up with this rule over the years of traveling carry-on only, and then progressing to backpack-only. When all your possessions are on your back, overpacking is not just unnecessary weight, but it makes it especially tough to sift through the items you really need.

Make the 10-$10 rule your own

The 10-$10 is more of a guideline than a rigid, one-size-fits-all rule. Embrace its spirit, and adjust the timing and dollar figure to your liking. Factors you consider might include:

Group type

A single, able-bodied adult might easily pop into a store and make a quick purchase. Others who are less mobile, or families with kids, might find that a single convenience store run exceeds 10 minutes, in which case packing more from home makes sense.

Item size

I sometimes make exceptions for an item’s size depending on the likelihood of using it.

Antihistamine cream is small and easy to pack, but I’ll never know whether I need it for a bug bite until it happens. Though such an item might never get used, I’ll more likely use it on a lakefront vacation in Florida than a trip in downtown Denver, where high elevations make it relatively bug-free.

Meanwhile, bulky items like beach towels never make the cut.

Budget

For budget-conscious travelers who can’t afford inflated hotel gift shop prices, the $10 threshold might be too high. Adjust it according to the flexibility of your budget.

As my own savings account has grown, I’m more willing to push the $10 rule higher. But in my younger years, my $10 rule was more like a $3 rule. Back then, I was more likely to pack a just-in-case umbrella, because the thought of forking over cash amidst a downpour felt wasteful. These days, I’m usually willing to gamble that it won’t rain.

Your own flexibility

If you’re picky, realize that it might take more than 10 minutes to find the item you want, in which case the 10-$10 rule doesn’t apply. I’m generally okay using any sort of skincare products. But if you demand a specific brand, pack your own.

And in some situations, like traveling with babies, taking 10 minutes to track down something like diaper cream might not be worth it when you could have packed it from home. The 10-$10 rule isn’t for you.

Location

Items that make the 10-$10 cut on one trip might not on another. In New York City, where there’s no shortage of retailers, I’m more willing to underpack. That’s less often the case on trips to small towns or national parks where storefronts are limited.

Don’t overpack, but don’t overshop either

It’s usually okay to spend a little more than you would to buy the same things at home. I don’t mind paying the markup for sunscreen sold on the beach versus dealing with checked luggage to pack sunscreen from home.

On the other hand, watch out for wasteful spending. Once you’ve found a cheap souvenir stall, it can be tempting to buy anything under $10 — like fanny packs, sunglasses and hats. Don’t overlook the minimalist spirit of the 10-$10 rule, which is not only packing what you absolutely need — but also only buying what you absolutely need.

Benefits of the 10-$10 rule

Packing light taught me that I often don’t even need stuff I thought I did.

Hotels often supply items you might’ve packed anyway

Many hotels these days are tightening up on the free toiletries left on your bathroom counter, presumably to mitigate waste. But often, hotels still offer those freebies — you just have to ask.

On a recent stay at the Hotel Virginia Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, Calif., the lobby attendant gave me complimentary toiletries like toothpaste and razors. I was delighted by the complimentary sunscreen at the Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani in Honolulu.

Even at Disneyland, I’ve picked up free bandages for my blistered feet at a first aid station in the park.

Most hotels and vacation rentals provide irons, hairdryers and towels, so definitely don’t pack those bulky items. Some also offer items like robes and umbrellas.

You net a great souvenir

On a trip to Thailand, I intentionally under-packed. Buying a sundress, shirts, sandals and floppy hat from vendors who lined the beach was all part of the experience. Plus, they’re functional souvenirs that I truly love.

More From NerdWallet

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Sally French writes for NerdWallet. Email: sfrench@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @SAFmedia.

The article My Travel Secret For Not Overpacking? The 10-$10 Rule originally appeared on NerdWallet.

Nikki Ekstein | (TNS) Bloomberg News

No matter what’s trending in fashion, the New York City uniform has remained constant — any cut, any style, but make it black. And the same has long been true of Manhattan hotels, with slick onyx, creamy white and neutral linens serving as reliable antidotes to the city’s sensory overload.

Not anymore.

“If you think about what the consumer wants today, they don’t want beige,” says Elizabeth Mullins, managing director of the Fifth Avenue Hotel and chief operating officer of its parent company, Flâneur Hospitality. “They want a hotel with soul.”

Mullins, a veteran of Ritz-Carlton and the Walt Disney Co., says this has been true ever since the pandemic left people wanting to reawaken their senses and “feel something” along their travels. Most commonly, they want to feel a sense of place. “But it’s hard to evoke much of anything when you’re beige.”

The good news is that with New York hotels suddenly awash in saturated hues, there’s no more room for a sleepy hotel stay. Here’s a look at the brightest, splashiest openings from Tribeca to Union Square and NoMad.

The Fifth Avenue Hotel

This former Gilded Age mansion on 28th Street and Fifth Avenue is a shockingly rare example of low-rise opulence smack in the middle of the NoMad neighborhood, just down the street from the Ned, Ace and Ritz-Carlton hotels. But this is less the preserved home of a turn-of-the-century tycoon and more of a fun-filled portal into Manhattan’s modern wonderland.

If you don’t like judging a book by its cover, don’t judge this hotel by its traditionally styled lobby, with its elegantly draped double-height windows and crystal chandeliers. But if you must, form your opinion from the contents of two vintage hutches against the back wall: The cheeky curiosities include a single goldfish cracker in a “plastic baggie” made from crystal.

That sense of humor is a through line for this kaleidoscopic hotel, fashioned with all sorts of winks and nods by the ever-whimsical designer Martin Brudnizki. In one hallway is a gallery wall of framed eyes — some painted, some drawn, some googly. Its 153 rooms feature martini carts piled high with full-size spirits and fresh-baked lemon cookies, all from chef Andrew Carmellini, who runs the excellent Café Carmellini restaurant downstairs. Mercury glass panels behind the headboards create a brilliant optical illusion: they reflect the twinkle of star-shaped ceiling lights, making each room feel twice its actual size.

Don’t miss a nightcap at the ground-floor Portrait Bar. Now that the Library Bar at the former NoMad hotel is a members-only space for the Ned, this is the neighborhood’s “it” spot for throwback glamour, complete with coffered ceilings and white-tuxedoed barkeeps. Rooms from $709

The Warren Street Hotel

Designer Kit Kemp is the OG preacher of “anything but beige,” and her third New York City property for Firmdale Hotels is every bit as hypersaturated and pattern-happy as its predecessors, the Whitby and Crosby Street. The lobby can cure jet lag with its bursts of mustard yellow, kelly green and royal blue. Yet the double-paned, floor-to-ceiling windows in the rooms — with spectacular downtown vantages toward One World Trade or Herzog & de Meuron’s “Jenga building” — make for pin-drop-quiet sleep when you need it.

For fans of the U.K.-based brand (and there are many), the overall look will be familiar: dramatically oversize headboards and upholstered dress forms in mix-and-match patterns are Kemp’s indispensable signatures. The same is growing true about other design tropes she’s adapted here, such as long displays of white porcelain pots adorned with mushrooms and fairies in glowing, red-painted nooks, or the color-block leather stools at the bar. If it’s slightly formulaic by now, there’s a reason for that: the effect is still mesmerizing.

But now, Kemp is adding her daughters’ stamps to the mix. The cheekiest rooms are the work of Minnie Kemp: They include throw pillows with a textile featuring strands of spaghetti threaded through the tines of a fork — a bright blue-and-yellow pattern with tiny red-sauce splotches. Tossed against a zany floral headboard, it’s as bold as design statements get. In true Firmdale fashion, it works spectacularly. Rooms from $745

Fouquet’s New York

Another Brudnizki special is this French-inflected 97-room gem on Greenwich Street, which has already earned two Michelin Keys and whose pink-and-green color palette was inspired by a dainty box of macarons. But that doesn’t mean the hotel is entirely demure. By one central staircase you’ll find a giant, bedazzled sculpture of a gorilla wearing a Team USA-inspired hat and holding the Eiffel Tower in its clenched fist. Custom toile wallpaper in the rooms sport New York street scenes interspersed with cheeky drawings of pigeons snatching croissants. (It’s a permanent installation by France-based contemporary sculptor Eddy Maniez.)

Thoughtful details abound, including green marble luggage benches built into little foyers. Ditto on the amenity side: The hotel has thought of all sorts of clever perks, such as a full cinema in the basement (with velvet chaise seats!) that can be used for kids’ movie screenings on rainy days.

Don’t miss a spritz on the frilly French rooftop space, Le Vaux, which is otherwise only accessible to locals who’ve joined Fouquet’s members club. And try to poke your head into the lobby speakeasy bar, which opens after 4 p.m. on days it’s not booked for private events. (Look between the gilded bookcases; the door looks like any of the other wooden wall panels at first glance.) Rooms from $900

Virgin Hotel NoMad

The most eye-catching space at the Virgin Hotel is hidden away on the third floor, around the corner from a coffee bar that feels almost as long as a football field. Do a little exploring, though, and you’ll wonder how Everdene restaurant has stayed a New York secret. The food is solid— mostly American classics with a twist, delicious if not exactly star-worthy — but the space itself feels like a rarefied haven. On one side, rainbowlike bookshelves dramatically arch from floor to ceiling, filled with tomes in bright corresponding colors; on the other are swooping blue banquettes that face walls of windows and two massive outdoor terraces. One floor up, in a separate oasis, is a rooftop pool decked out with black-and-white striped loungers, all with killer views of the Empire State Building.

That’s a lot of amenities for a hotel with shockingly well-priced rooms, though there are 460 of them — a big number by New York standards. Even the entry-level ones have separated, suitelike foyers, a brand standard designed to give solo female travelers extra privacy. (We love not having to say hi to room service staff while wearing a bathrobe.)

Also standard at all Virgin hotels are a handful of supersmart, space-saving design tricks. There’s always a very comfortable bed that includes a built-in cushion in one corner: You can sit against it if you want to work with your computer on your lap. In most rooms here the upholstered gray headboards stretch a few extra feet to one side, forming bench seating to go with a small round table — a functional dining space. Elsewhere, splashes of red abound; it’s the Richard Branson signature.

One more notable amenity: the Halo Salt Journey, which is a quick, 30-minute whirl in the Exhale spa’s Himalayan salt chamber. Staffers set you up with thigh-high Theragun compression boots and an LED face mask that stimulates collagen production while you recline in a zero-gravity chair; it’s a wellness boost that makes you feel like you’ve gone straight to outer space. Rooms from $305

W Union Square

Nothing stays cool for 20 years, not even the original downtown New York location of the world’s first hip hotel brand. But as W’s devotees have grown older and more sophisticated, so, too, have its properties. Nowhere will that be more visible than at this fully redesigned global flagship, slated to wrap its four-year-long renovation in November after numerous lengthy delays. (The hotel has been open continuously throughout construction.)

“We’ve really moved from being this original lifestyle hospitality disrupter to being firmly rooted in the luxury lifestyle portfolio for Marriott,” says George Fleck, senior vice president and global brand leader for W Hotels. “But we don’t want to lose the playfulness and sense of style that we’ve been known for,” he says. “It’s an evolution, not a revolution.”

Part of that is simply shifting the colors to richer and more saturated tones, such as the forest green carpeting and orange leather headboards that stretch all the way to the ceiling in many of the hotel’s 256 rooms. Downstairs, a sizable gym with a Peloton “studio space” is done in minty green-and-yellow checkerboard tile; on the second floor, a Beaux Arts “Living Room” replete with ornamental plaster work gets a dose of fun from a mod, ochre-toned fireplace shaped like a giant rainbow (similar to the Virgin Hotel bookshelves). It’s refined and smart but with a cheeky edge— a little like New York itself. Rooms from $550

_____

©2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Glenn Whipp | Los Angeles Times (TNS)

LOS ANGELES — The Emmys these last few years have been a model of all or almost nothing at all.

To follow the last ceremony, held in January after the writers’ and actors’ strikes postponed the event for a few months, you really needed to be aware of only three shows — “Succession,” “The Bear” and “Beef.” They won Emmys for series, writing and directing in their respective categories, and their casts took eight of the 12 acting awards. While the winners were (mostly) worthy, it made for an evening almost entirely devoid of drama, unless you were worried that Matty Matheson might pass out onstage during that long kiss Ebon Moss-Bachrach planted on him after “The Bear” won comedy series.

This year, if you’ve watched “Shōgun,” “Baby Reindeer” and “The Bear,” you’re pretty much set.

Here are my final predictions for the 76th Primetime Emmys on Sept. 15, airing at 8 p.m. Eastern on ABC.

COMEDY SERIES

“Abbott Elementary”

“The Bear”

“Curb Your Enthusiasm”

“Hacks”

“Only Murders in the Building”

“Palm Royale”

“Reservation Dogs”

“What We Do in the Shadows”

Winner: “The Bear”

“The Bear” drops its new seasons in June, putting it in a weird place for the Emmys. Its third season, which premiered a couple months ago to some complaints that the show was inconsistent and a little light on plot, will be eligible next year, as the Emmy eligibility cutoff date is May 31. What will be celebrated at this year’s ceremony is the faultless second season — the one with the classic episodes “Fishes” (the Jamie Lee Curtis Christmas hour) and “Forks” (the culmination of the Richie redemption arc). If all that feels like a chaos menu, take it up with the Television Academy.

COMEDY ACTRESS

Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary”

Ayo Edebiri, “The Bear”

Selena Gomez, “Only Murders in the Building”

Maya Rudolph, “Loot”

Jean Smart, “Hacks”

Kristen Wiig, “Palm Royale”

Winner: Smart

Smart won this Emmy for the first two seasons of “Hacks.” Then, because of the strikes and a heart procedure Smart had in February 2023, the show’s third season was delayed a year. But it was worth the wait, as “Hacks” really burrowed into the complicated relationship between Deborah Vance, Smart’s showbiz legend, and Ava, Deborah’s progressive young writing partner, played by Hannah Einbinder. Edebiri won an Emmy for supporting actress last time out and could now win lead. She’s great! But “Hacks” gave Smart more to do and a better character arc. And voters clearly adore her.

COMEDY ACTOR

Matt Berry, “What We Do in the Shadows”

Larry David, “Curb Your Enthusiasm”

Steve Martin, “Only Murders in the Building”

Martin Short, “Only Murders in the Building”

Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear”

D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, “Reservation Dogs”

Winner: White

This category boasts three comedy legends (Short, Martin and David), two first-time nominees (Berry for the fifth season of “What We Do in the Shadows” and Woon-A-Tai for the third and final year of “Reservation Dogs”) and White, who won at the delayed 2023 ceremony and will prevail again for the season that ended with Carmy melting down while locked inside the restaurant’s walk-in fridge. “No amount of good is worth how terrible this feels,” he says, a vibe that won’t ever be used as evidence that “The Bear” belongs in the comedy categories.

COMEDY SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Carol Burnett, “Palm Royale”

Liza Colón-Zayas, “The Bear”

Hannah Einbinder, “Hacks”

Janelle James, “Abbott Elementary”

Sheryl Lee Ralph, “Abbott Elementary”

Meryl Streep, “Only Murders in the Building”

Winner: Einbinder

OK, maybe you need to watch “Hacks” too for this year’s Emmys. With the third season’s focus on the shifting power dynamics between Ava and Deborah, “Hacks” gave Einbinder room to play a character growing as confident and ambitious as her mentor. Like Smart, Einbinder has the meatiest role among the nominees. This is her third nomination, and it’s time for her to join her co-star as an Emmy winner. (And in case you were wondering: Yes, Streep has an Emmy. Three, in fact.)

COMEDY SUPPORTING ACTOR

Lionel Boyce, “The Bear”

Paul W. Downs, “Hacks”

Ebon Moss-Bachrach, “The Bear”

Paul Rudd, “Only Murders in the Building”

Tyler James Williams, “Abbott Elementary”

Bowen Yang, “Saturday Night Live”

Winner: Moss-Bachrach

Moss-Bachrach won for “The Bear’s” first season, where he spent most of his time screaming at people, although you didn’t have to look all that closely to see Richie’s pain and vulnerability. Season 2 saw Richie wearing suits, acting like a grown-up and celebrating his personal growth by singing along to Taylor Swift. When everything clicked for Richie in the series’ best episode, “Forks,” you wanted to cry for joy. I can’t wait to see whom he kisses onstage this year.

LIMITED SERIES

“Baby Reindeer”

“Fargo”

“Lessons in Chemistry”

“Ripley”

“True Detective: Night Country”

Winner: “Baby Reindeer”

All five of the nominees earned at least 10 nominations each with “True Detective” leading the field with 19. But “Baby Reindeer” became a viewing phenomenon when it landed on Netflix in April. There has been controversy, with the woman who identified herself as the inspiration for the show’s stalker character suing the streamer, accusing Netflix of defamation. But I don’t see that derailing the show’s chances, although the gorgeous, meticulously crafted “Ripley” could be a spoiler.

LIMITED SERIES ACTRESS

Jodie Foster, “True Detective: Night Country”

Brie Larson, “Lessons in Chemistry”

Juno Temple, “Fargo”

Sofía Vergara, “Griselda”

Naomi Watts, “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans”

Winner: Foster

All the goodwill Jodie Foster earned while campaigning for her Oscar-nominated turn in “Nyad” should carry over here, particularly for a role that saw her returning to eerie, atmospheric crime-solving horror. Foster has picked up many honors over the years — two Oscars, four Golden Globes, a SAG Award, plus career tributes — but never an Emmy. In fact, this is her first nomination. Expect a big ovation when she wins.

LIMITED SERIES ACTOR

Matt Bomer, “Fellow Travelers”

Richard Gadd, “Baby Reindeer”

Jon Hamm, “Fargo”

Tom Hollander, “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans”

Andrew Scott, “Ripley”

Winner: Gadd

Gadd earned three nominations for “Baby Reindeer” — lead actor, writer and executive producer. Unlike the Oscars, where members choose the winners in all categories, the Emmys are decided by peer groups within each field. Actors vote for actors, writers vote for writing and everyone decides series. So it’s not like a member of the actors branch looks at Gadd on the ballot and thinks, “OK, I can check off his name for writing ‘Baby Reindeer’ and vote for the series, but I’m going to go with Andrew Scott for ‘Ripley.’”

Personally, I’d go with Scott for his masterful turn as the antihero in “Ripley” in a heartbeat. And it wouldn’t be surprising if Emmy voters finally gave this great actor his due. But I’m leaning toward Gadd for his raw portrait of a flawed man consumed by shame. He’ll get bonus points from his peers for writing himself such a powerful part.

LIMITED SERIES SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Dakota Fanning, “Ripley”

Lily Gladstone, “Under the Bridge”

Jessica Gunning, “Baby Reindeer”

Aja Naomi King, “Lessons in Chemistry”

Diane Lane, “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans”

Nava Mau, “Baby Reindeer”

Kali Reis, “True Detective: Night Country”

Winner: Gunning

I’d love to see Reis holding an Emmy alongside her “True Detective” co-star Foster after the ceremony. The former world champion boxer brought such a raw intensity and presence to her portrayal of Iñupiat state trooper Evangeline Navarro. But I suspect Gunning will be hard to beat here for the way she invested such empathy into the stalker on “Baby Reindeer.” The series is unimaginable without her.

LIMITED SERIES SUPPORTING ACTOR

Jonathan Bailey, “Fellow Travelers”

Robert Downey Jr., “The Sympathizer”

Tom Goodman-Hill, “Baby Reindeer”

John Hawkes, “True Detective: North Country”

Lamorne Morris, “Fargo”

Lewis Pullman, “Lessons in Chemistry”

Treat Williams, “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans”

Winner: Bailey

There was a time when Downey winning for his showy, multi-role performance in “The Sympathizer” seemed a sure thing. But his nomination was the series’ only recognition, which doesn’t indicate much enthusiasm for “The Sympathizer.” It’s a tough category to predict, but I’ll go with Bailey, the English actor who has been wowing us for more than a decade in shows like “Broadchurch,” “Crashing” and “Bridgerton.” It looks like he’s focusing on film now, with major roles in “Wicked” and the next “Jurassic Park” movie, so Emmy voters should send him out in style for his beautiful work in the heartfelt “Fellow Travelers.”

DRAMA SERIES

“The Crown”

“Fallout”

“The Gilded Age”

“The Morning Show”

“Mr. & Mrs. Smith”

“Shōgun”

“Slow Horses”

“3 Body Problem”

Winner: “Shōgun”

The new season of “Slow Horses” just landed with all the attendant acclaim you’d expect for this celebrated spy series, which finally broke through with Emmy voters this year for its third season. It’s one of two shows nominated that actually deserves awards recognition, the other, of course, being “Shōgun.” With a whopping 25 nominations, “Shōgun” is the overwhelming favorite to sweep through most of the drama categories, including the two lead acting awards, directing and probably writing — though it wouldn’t be a shock if “Slow Horses” prevails in that latter category.

DRAMA ACTRESS

Jennifer Aniston, “The Morning Show”

Carrie Coon, “The Gilded Age”

Maya Erskine, “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”

Anna Sawai, “Shōgun”

Imelda Staunton, “The Crown”

Reese Witherspoon, “The Morning Show”

Winner: Sawai

Before the nominations, it felt like the only person who could take this Emmy over Sawai was Emma Stone, who won her second Oscar earlier this year for “Poor Things” and might have been even better in “The Curse,” in which she and Nathan Fielder played hosts of a home renovation show. But then Stone wasn’t nominated. And neither was “The Curse” — for anything. That shutout feels more cringe-inducing than anything this weird, disquieting show offered. So that leaves Sawai, who probably would have won easily anyway. (She’s also great in “Pachinko,” which just returned for its second season.)

DRAMA ACTOR

Donald Glover, “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”

Walton Goggins, “Fallout”

Gary Oldman, “Slow Horses”

Hiroyuki Sanada, “Shōgun”

Dominic West, “The Crown”

Idris Elba, “Hijack”

Winner: Sanada

How about an early prediction for the 2025 Emmys: Oldman wins this award for the fourth season of “Slow Horses.” In a career studded with brilliant work, his portrayal of the foul-mouthed, flatulent, booze-soaked veteran secret agent Jackson Lamb might be the best thing he has ever done. But Sanada carried “Shōgun” playing the pragmatic, charismatic tactician always two steps ahead of his enemies (and allies).

DRAMA SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Christine Baranski, “The Gilded Age”

Nicole Beharie, “The Morning Show”

Elizabeth Debicki, “The Crown”

Greta Lee, “The Morning Show”

Lesley Manville, “The Crown”

Karen Pittman, “The Morning Show”

Holland Taylor, “The Morning Show”

Winner: Debicki

Debicki stands as the overwhelming favorite for her sensitive portrayal of a melancholy Diana on “The Crown,” but castmate Manville might be more deserving. You know this if you saw Manville’s showcase episode, “Ritz,” the gorgeous, devastating highlight of “The Crown’s” final season. It’s Manville’s first Emmy nomination. Debicki was recognized last year, ultimately losing to Jennifer Coolidge for “The White Lotus.” Voters likely will elevate her this year.

DRAMA SUPPORTING ACTOR

Tadanobu Asano, “Shōgun”

Billy Crudup, “The Morning Show”

Mark Duplass, “The Morning Show”

Jon Hamm, “The Morning Show”

Takehiro Hira, “Shōgun”

Jack Lowden, “Slow Horses”

Jonathan Pryce, “The Crown”

Winner: Crudup

The soapy “The Morning Show” would have been a better fit for the Daytime Emmys, but in a soft year it pulled in 16 nominations, including nine for acting. But even the people who watch it to complain about how bad it is have nothing but love for Crudup and his charming, chaotic Cory Ellison. For many, Crudup, who won an Emmy for the series’ first season, is the only reason they still tune in. The man can utter a line like “Alex Levy is Lazarus… which I guess makes me Jesus” and somehow keep a straight face.

©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The football community Friday reacted to Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s concussion suffered Thursday night in the 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Tagovailoa has a history with concussions, experiencing at least two during the 2022 season. On one of those, sustained in Cincinnati that fall, Tagovailoa went into the same fencing response, with arms extended and fingers curling, as he exhibited when he went down Thursday night after ramming his head into Bills safety Damar Hamlin’s shoulder while scrambling for a first down.

Like in 2022 — and against the wishes of coach Mike McDaniel — ample national sports talk surrounded whether Tagovailoa should retire after yet another case of head trauma.

Nick Saban, Tagovailoa’s college coach at Alabama who has since retired and been in the media, said on ESPN’s “Pat McAfee Show,” any decision should be based on medical advice.

“Tua’s such a great competitor, but I think this has to be a medical decision,” Saban said. “You have to let medical people who understand the circumstances around these injuries, these concussions — and when you have multiple concussions, that’s not a good sign. I think Tua, his family and everyone else should listen to all the medical evidence to make sure you’re not compromising your future health-wise by continuing to play football.”

Raiders coach Antonio Pierce implored Tagovailoa to retire.

“He’s going to live longer than he’s going to play football,” Pierce told Las Vegas reporters Friday. “Take care of your family.”

Manti Te’o, the former NFL and Notre Dame linebacker who is friends with Tagovailoa, said on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football,” he wanted to see the quarterback call it quits two years ago.

“After he suffered the one against the Bengals, I wanted him to walk. When I saw him have to be carted off the field, I wanted him to walk,” Te’o said. “That was hard… What people have to understand is that, it’s just a game, and then there’s life.

“Is it hard for me? Yeah. But I can’t imagine how it is for Uncle Galu and Auntie Diane (Tagovailoa’s parents) to watch their son, again, go down.

“I want the best for Tua, the man, the father. He’s a father of two now. I want him to be able — not today — but 10, 15, 20 years down the line, to be able to raise his children, to be able to walk his daughter down the aisle.”

On ESPN’s “Get Up,” former NFL linebacker Bart Scott revealed what once led him away from the game.

“I started seeing spots and lights. I had light sensitivity,” Scott said. “I never really shared this with anybody, but I feel inclined to do this in this intimate setting that we have. I didn’t know what to do, and I said — you know what? — it’s time to fold it up.

“It’s about the people that are around Tua. Because it’s hard not to make an emotional decision. That’s why you put people around you, your team, that you trust with your life and to make lifelong decisions.”

On the “Rich Eisen Show,” Eisen posed the question of how does Tagovailoa play with the added caution he needs to take in order to play football.

“If you’re sitting here saying, ‘Well, Tua should just remind himself to be more careful,’ I mean, how do you play quarterback that way?” he asked. “Which is another reason why, if that’s the way you got to play quarterback, maybe you shouldn’t play quarterback anymore? I know Mike McDaniel asked for this conversation not to be had, but this is the conversation (Friday), 100 percent.”

Dolphins players also had emotional responses Thursday night.

“It makes me sick. I think anyone, for the human eye, like, it sucks,” said quarterback Skylar Thompson, who entered for Tagovailoa and may be counted on to start coming games. “You care about the person more than the player. Everybody in the organization would say the same thing. So, just really praying for Tua, and hopefully everything will come out all right.”

Said veteran defensive tackle Calais Campbell: “Tua’s such a great guy and, given his history, it makes it a little tougher. He’s tough. He’s resilient. It’s the worst part of the game. I’m hoping he’s OK. I’m definitely going to reach out to him and pray for him and go out there and continue to fight for him.”

Armstead update

Dolphins left tackle Terron Armstead appears to be in a good spot after he left Thursday’s game early with a shoulder injury.

“I think, so far, with the information, I’m optimistic that it will be something where he’ll be playing here sooner than later,” McDaniel said Friday, “but realistically, I don’t totally know besides the fact that it doesn’t look like it’s the worst-case scenario where you’re worried about the season and stuff. It’s not in that realm.

“If we would have allowed his competitive nature to kind of overtake the process, I could see where he would go back in the game in a situation if he was fighting for it; however, he knew something was wrong.”

McDaniel opted for veteran backup Kendall Lamm over rookie second-round pick Patrick Paul to enter for Armstead. He said Friday he didn’t want to put the rookie in a difficult predicament against a tough opponent as the result wasn’t going well for Miami.

The Dolphins also had injuries to guard Robert Jones (shoulder) and running back Jeff Wilson Jr. (oblique) Thursday.

TALLAHASSEE — Florida State’s passing game was erratic for much of the spring and preseason. Through two games? Some good moments, but mostly inconsistent play all around from the quarterback to the receivers to the offensive linemen.

After an 0-2 start and a long break between the loss to Boston College and facing Memphis, there has been plenty of time for the Seminoles to make corrections on the practice field as well as learn and grow. There’s also been plenty of time for media and fans to contemplate changes, including benching transfer quarterback DJ Uiagalelei.

If Gators fire Billy Napier, DJ Lagway might be quarterbacking FSU, UCF or Miami next year | Commentary

But the problems of a failing passing attack extend beyond the quarterback. It’s evident in seven drops, and not just by receivers but by tight end Kyle Morlock (three) and running back Lawrance Toafili (two). And it’s reflected in a veteran offensive line that often isn’t giving Uiagalelei enough time to throw.

“There’s not much that did click,” coach Mike Norvell said of the loss to Boston College. “We struggled to win one-on-ones early. There were times where we were giving up, getting pressure. There were times where we missed a throw or missed an opportunity for a catch.”

Uiagalelei went from completing 19 of 27 passes (70.4%) for 193 yards in the loss to Georgia Tech, mostly on short routes, to hitting just 21 of 42 passes (50%) for 272 yards with a touchdown and an interception against Boston College. The fourth-down interception was returned to set up a short BC touchdown.

And while the Seminoles had seven drops, it’s easy to find seven passes where Uiagalelei missed a would-be receiver by a yard or two. His pass into the end zone to a wide-open Darion Williamson also wasn’t close, a potential touchdown that could have shifted momentum.

It’s not as easy for FSU’s coaches as inserting the most popular guy on campus, which when teams are losing is the talented backup quarterback, redshirt freshman in Brock Glenn. It’s a nuanced problem and one where coaches have to contemplate a bottom-line question: Who can make the right decisions that build drives, which result in a touchdown or field goal?

It’s a question that will define not just the matchup with Memphis (2-0) but potentially this season. Do the coaches, and players, have confidence in Uiagalelei to guide them? Should the coaches see what Glenn can do, designating a drive or two ahead of time and trying it out? Or do they move on to Glenn as the starter?

Norvell has quite the decision to make, an unfortunate one this early in the year. And one ahead of a game against his former school in Memphis. A home loss, or a sluggish win, could result in deafening boos from an already antsy fan base.

What Glenn offers is a quarterback with more speed and agility. He could open up a dimension of the run game. And he does process faster than Uiagalelei, who has struggled with his decision-making. But starting Glenn means FSU has punted on Uiagalelei. Are coaches ready to do that?

Regardless of how it plays out, the Seminoles must play better around the quarterback. Drops are part of the game, but seven is excessive. Few linemen are perfect in pass protection, but they can admit they should have blocked far better and can do so moving forward.

FSU likely looked at the luxury of an early bye week over the summer as a time to rest and recharge. Instead, the coaches are recalibrating the passing attack.

Coaches: Norvell, 5th season at FSU, 31-19 (69-34 overall); Ryan Silverfield, 5th season at Memphis, 33-19.

Quick slant: The Seminoles are 5-2 after a bye since Norvell was hired in 2020, but they have won their last five. … FSU is paying Memphis, Norvell’s old school, a $1.3 million guarantee for this game. … Memphis played two Power 5 schools in 2023, losing 34-27 to Missouri at St. Louis and defeating Iowa State 36-26 in the Liberty Bowl.

About FSU: FSU’s schedule was viewed as challenging, although not among the toughest nationally. Still, the Seminoles are the only P4 team to open with a pair of conference games. … FSU will induct Lamarcus Joyner, a member of the 2013 national title team, as well as Anquan Boldin into its athletics hall of fame Friday … FSU doesn’t rank all that well among the FBS teams, although special teams has been a bright spot. Ryan Fitzgerald is 4 of 4 on field-goal attempts, making a 59-yarder, while Alex Mastromanno averages 49.9 yards per punt.

About Memphis: Silverfield was Norvell’s offensive line coach at Memphis from 2016-19 before he was elevated to head coach. … Memphis can run but the offense runs through QB Seth Henigan, a four-year starter who owns the school record for passing yards (11,233). He has thrown a touchdown pass in 39 straight games … WR Roc Taylor had 1,083 receiving yards last year, and the senior has 9 catches for 114 yards to start 2024.

3 things to watch

Leadership, anyone?: When a top-10 team opens as a double-digit favorite yet loses both games, it’s reasonable to question taking an opponent lightly and leadership. It’s clear there is a lack of leadership on offense and defense. One sophomore who has earned more playing time, LB Justin Cryer, has been cited as learning to speak up. The Seminoles need more of that.

The defensive front: This area has been a major disappointment, failing to generate pressure (albeit against two mobile QBs in Thomas Castellanos and Haynes King) or limit the run. FSU now gets a chance to apply pressure to a drop-back passer as Henigan runs just a few times per game. Do the Seminoles get back in the groove? If Henigan can deliver quick strikes to receivers, it’s an indicator of what could be a long year at FSU.

Can FSU run?: FSU will miss Jaylin Lucas, a scatback runner and pass-catcher who could have been a playmaker. The Seminoles have talented options in Toafili, Roydell Williams and freshman Kam Davis (who is 224 pounds). Defenses are crowding the box and making it tough to run, so it is critical to be more effective and explosive in the pass game. If FSU can find rhythm in the passing attack, a veteran line’s job gets easier. But the Seminoles can’t abandon a game plan that must revolve around the run.

Up next …

FSU vs. Memphis

When: Saturday, at Doak Campbell Stadium, noon

TV/radio: ESPN; Radio: 810 AM in Orlando; SiriusXM Ch. 119 or 193.

Weather: 83 degrees, 50% rain chance

Favorite: FSU 6.5 points

 

 

 

Here are the top stories for Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. Get the weather forecast for today here.

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

Schools chief seeks external review of police officer’s bullying complaint

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Boca Raton’s new residential project rises as the city experiences continued growth

Dwyane Wade statue at Kaseya Center to be unveiled Oct. 27, with a halftime ceremony the following night vs. Pistons

Timing of huge pay hikes to police union bosses draws scrutiny in Fort Lauderdale

Woman arrested in murder of her octogenarian grandparents in Fort Lauderdale

Memorial Healthcare System board severs contract with its CEO

DeSantis’ congressional redistricting plan lands at Florida Supreme Court

Miss Manners: Can I ask my friend why her husband disappeared from social media posts?

If the Federal Reserve moves ahead with an anticipated interest rate cut next week, tepid South Florida homebuyers are likely to vacate the sidelines and start shopping, observers say.

But Sheila Bair, the former chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., is not so sure a reduction is advisable.

The onetime FDIC leader who helped steer the U.S. banking system through the housing crisis of 2008 told a virtual conference sponsored by Optimum Bank of Fort Lauderdale on Thursday that Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell should dial back recent dovish comments on inflation. She also said the central bank should “stand pat next week” when the Federal Open Market Committee is scheduled to discuss its next move.

“Most importantly, it is still too soon to declare victory over inflation,” Bair told an online audience of several thousand people.

“The worst-case scenario for both banking and the U.S. economy is a stagflation scenario where the economy slows but inflation and interest rates have to remain high,” she asserted. “You must avoid this scenario at all costs.”

Bair’s remarks came after rates for 30-year fixed rate home mortgages fell again for the sixth straight week, this time to a low of 6.29% in the week ended Sept. 6, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

In addition, the U.S. Labor Department reported the consumer price index for August rose 2.5% from the year before, dropping from 2.9% in July. The latter adds up to a potential rate cut when the Fed meets next week.

“Yes, commodity prices came down providing a headline CPI rate of 2.5%,” Bair acknowledged. But, she added, commodity prices remain “highly volatile, particularly energy,” core inflation remains above 3%, housing inflation has been “persistent” and “lower mortgage rates will only exacerbate supply-demand imbalances.”

She added that a recession does not appear to be imminent as the labor market, while slowing, “still appears to be in pretty good shape.”

“This looks like a soft landing to me and I suggest caution against the Fed doing anything too drastic,” she said. ” And clearly while lower rates will give a boost to Wall Street, will the benefits trickle down to Main Street?”

High central bank interest rates have aggravated housing affordability problems in Florida and around the nation, a byproduct of central bank efforts to tame rapid inflation. The effect of higher central bank rates, while not having an immediate impact on mortgage rates, eventually made it more expensive for people to borrow to buy a home and for builders to finance construction.

Bair said any cut should be by a quarter point at the most, adding that Powell, the Fed chair, should respond to what economic data shows, not to financial market pressures.

“His rate cutting finger may be a bit itchy but it’s better to under promise and over deliver later on rate cuts if the data supports it,” she said.

‘For every win, a loss’

Rebel Cole, a finance professor at Florida Atlantic University’s College of Business who served as one of the Optimum Bank panelists, acknowledged in a post-conference interview that when borrowing, rate cuts give many homebuyers the ability to afford a bigger house.

“A 1% drop has a massive impact on the monthly payment,” he said. “That’s a good thing for everybody, especially for people in fancy house like me.”

“But for every win there is a loss,” Cole said. “As more people come back into the market that’s going to put more pressure on housing prices.”

It is also unclear whether a quarter-point cut next week and another later this year “is really going to move the needle that far,” he said.

Cole worries that profligate spending by the U.S. government, which is now more than $335 trillion in debt, will neutralize any monetary moves.  .

“It’s really a tight wire the Fed has to walk,” Cole said. “You can’t run monetary policy in isolation from fiscal policy.”

Inflation still hurts small business

Bill Herrle, executive director of the 10,000-member National Independent Business Federation — Florida, said the chief concern for his members is inflation, followed by the tight labor market.

“Inflation impacts them in energy costs, costs of goods sold and raw materials,” he said. “Generally does it leave less capital to invest in the business? Absolutely. That doesn’t mean they fill the gap with loans. Typically it has a suppressing effect on a business owner’s desire to expand.”

Businesses are still competing for talent that’s in short supply, Herrle added.

“We’re trying to hire workers. What do we do when they’re not available? We increase wages,” he said. “For small buisness owners, wages have been increasing at a 30-year record-setting pace.”

Avoiding a regional slowdown

In separate interviews, real estate analysts, economists, brokers and small business advocates all said there is an appetite for more economic expansion in Florida that is being sourced through a continuing flow of relocations by out-of-state businesses and residents.

Brokers are also seeing ownership turnovers in existing businesses and the start of new ones.

“Florida is slowing, but it’s still very strong and the labor market is extremely tight in Florida relative to the national market,” said Sean Snaith, director of an economic research center at the University of Central Florida in Orlando.

Mike Pappas, CEO of the The Keyes Family of Companies, said South Florida’s supply of single-family homes is improving.

“There is more selection and more opportunities today and a more balanced market,” he said. “There has actually been more listings on the market with price reductions. You’re seeing people become more reasonable. We’re not seeing the double-digit price appreciation we saw during the COVID surge. We’re back to a more normal single digit appreciation.

“We are seeing first time homebuyers are coming back into the market at a greater percentage,” he added.

But Ken Johnson, a longtime South Florida real estate economist who recently moved from FAU to the University of Mississippi, predicts a cyclical action of slowly declining mortgage rates that will trigger buying activity, which will warm up the housing market and, in turn, inflation.

“The Fed will get hawkish,” he said. “You will have this saw-tooth movement in rates going down.”

“We’ll work our way back to 4.5% to 5.5% 30-year mortgage rates,” he said. But buyers shouldn’t expect a return to 3% as “it doesn’t make sense.”

And, in fact, the recent downward trend in rates is generating interest among people who have been on the sidelines, said Diane Mastay, mortgage director at Tropical Financial Credit Union.

“Maybe it’s just been all the talk and expectations,” she said. “It always piques people’s interest when the Fed cuts the rates. If people were looking to purchase and wait on the sidelines, we get a lot more inquiries when this happens. That’s a good thing. We want to see the market get to where it used to be — people buying. We are starting to get an uptick in applications.”

Tropical, though, is not hearing from people seeking to refinance as many customers are holding mortgages at rates that are much lower than they are now.

Timothy Terry, president and CEO of Optimum Bank Holdings, said the Fort Lauderdale institution has been “pretty active on the lending front” particularly with entrepreneurs who are seeking loans supported by the Small Business Administration.

“They are eternal optimists,” he said. “For us, probably the main SBA loans we see right now are people buying franchises. These are people currently working and acquired some net worth and they want to borrow some money.”

Andrew Cagnetta, CEO of Transworld Business Advisors, said his South Florida brokerage firm has seen a rebound in the sale of businesses since COVID slowed activity.

“We do see things picking up now,” he said. “I think everybody feels better. The SBA loan program has been very helpful for small business.”

Deals are capped at $5 million.

“No. 1 always for us is the hospitality industry” such as restaurants, Cagnetta said. Then comes construction businesses, and then service business such as landscaping, hair salons or pool services. Healthcare businesses such as physician practices, laboratories and home care agencies are also in demand.

In the commercial real estate and construction fields, lending continues to be a conservative proposition, according to a South Florida broker and lender.

“I know in the multi-family sector, many developers are sitting on terrific sites,” said Tere Blanca, founder, chairman and CEO of  Blanca Commercial Real Estate. “There seems to be a wait-and-see approach.”

The office sector “is very challenging to underwrite because of the cost of construction and the high interest rate environment.”

Although there are  “pockets here and there” containing substantial office vacancies, South Florida is continuing to benefit from inbound migration and stable businesses occupying the majority of spaces.

But loans on many commercial properties are coming due this year and next and are in line to be financed at higher rates. And banks are being more “choosey” about what projects they will finance to build, said Ben Jacobson, principal of Forman Capital in Boynton Beach.

“There are banks that are still active,” he said. “What will banks do once these rates change? I don’t think anyone knows. Does that solve all of the problem loans on their balance sheets? No, not really. They still have to contend with that.”

As for any change in interest rates, he said. “I don’t know you are going to see meaningful change yet. It’ll be more of a Pyrrhic victory.”

Concerning the presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, there’s a clear winner.

The debate revealed one person to be thin-skinned, ill-prepared and untethered to the truth, and the other person to be well-informed, extremely confident and strong enough to stand up to a bully.

If lies about migrants eating cats and dogs or praising world dictators or acting like a schoolyard bully, or being worried about crowd size are things you want in a president, then Trump is your man. But if having someone who will stand up to dictators, who actually cares about people in need, will protect a woman’s right to control her body, and will not spread baseless conspiracy theories, the choice is clear.

Harris showed herself to be a competent, compassionate, highly intelligent, strong woman who will be a president for all people.

Steven T. Hoover, Margate

Read about Project 2025

For a bunch of old dudes in wigs who didn’t have Internet access, our founding fathers were pretty smart.

Having fought a war to escape the tyranny of autocratic rule, they created a government with three equal parts, each with oversight of the other. Like a three-legged stool, our democracy is solid, no matter its footing. But cut off one leg, and the whole thing comes tumbling down.

Some will dismiss as fear-mongering our cries of the end of democracy should Donald Trump be reelected. But don’t listen to me; listen to your leaders. Read Project 2025, the blueprint for the first 180 days of a new Trump administration.

Disband the Department of Education. Eliminate the Department of Homeland Security. Replace experienced, nonpartisan career civil servants with Trump loyalists who will be terminated if they don’t do his bidding. Weaponize the Justice Department to wreak revenge on his detractors.

Consolidate all power in the executive branch — e.g., Trump.

Don’t take my word for it. Read Project 2025.  If that’s the democracy you want then, by all means, vote for Trump.

Joel Speiser, Delray Beach

A test of character

In Donald Trump’s first campaign, he said Barack Obama wasn’t born in the U.S. Trump claimed to have sent private investigators to Hawaii and that they couldn’t believe what they found. What did they find? He was lying, of course, and he continues to lie. What does that say about his character?

The 2020 election lie was far worse. Trump tried to overthrow the government. In all our history, there has never been as treasonous or shameful act by anyone in power.

Why is that alone not disqualifying? I am also curious to know why so many Americans would have been OK with Trump remaining in power, when he clearly and decisively lost the election.

John Musinsky, Boca Raton

Backing the blue (ticket)

In a letter to the editor published 0n Aug. 27 is an outstanding statement from Dr. Howard Olarsch that succinctly sums up the Trump effect: “His legacy is an untrustworthy Supreme Court, a dysfunctional Congress and an inability to deal with truth.”

The second is from Neal Bluestein, to whom you give valuable space. About the Harris-Walz ticket, he states: “I guess liberals believe ‘any blue will do, even these two.'” In keeping with that theme, I would personally vote for the Blues Brothers before I would vote for Trump.

Dick Dann, Tamarac

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

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Today is Friday, Sept. 13, the 257th day of 2024. There are 109 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Sept. 13, 2008, crews rescued people from their homes in an all-out search for thousands of Texans who had stayed behind overnight to face Hurricane Ike.

Also on this date:

In 1788, the Congress of the Confederation authorized the first national election and declared New York City the temporary national capital.

In 1948, Republican Margaret Chase Smith of Maine was elected to the U.S. Senate; she became the first woman to serve in both houses of Congress.

In 1971, a four-day inmate rebellion at the Attica Correctional Facility in western New York ended as police and guards stormed the prison; the ordeal and final assault claimed the lives of 32 inmates and 11 hostages.

In 1997, a funeral was held in Calcutta, India, for Nobel peace laureate Mother Teresa.

In 1993, at the White House, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO chairman Yasser Arafat shook hands after signing an accord granting limited Palestinian autonomy.

In 2010, Rafael Nadal beat Novak Djokovic to win his first U.S. Open title and complete a career Grand Slam.

In 2021, school resumed for New York City public school students in the nation’s largest experiment of in-person learning during the coronavirus pandemic.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Actor Barbara Bain is 93.
• Nobel Peace Prize laureate Óscar Arias is 84.
• Rock singer David Clayton-Thomas (Blood, Sweat & Tears) is 83.
• Actor Jacqueline Bisset is 80.
• Singer Peter Cetera is 80.
• Actor Jean Smart is 73.
• Record producer Don Was is 72.
• Chef Alain Ducasse is 68.
• Rock singer-musician Dave Mustaine (Megadeth) is 63.
• Olympic gold medal sprinter Michael Johnson is 57.
• Filmmaker Tyler Perry is 55.
• Fashion designer Stella McCartney is 53.
• Former tennis player Goran Ivanisevic (ee-van-EE’-seh-vihch) is 53.
• Country musician Joe Don Rooney (Rascal Flatts) is 49.
• Singer-songwriter Fiona Apple is 47.
• Actor Ben Savage is 44.
• Soccer player Thomas Müller is 35.
• Rock singer Niall Horan (One Direction) is 31.
• Actor Lili Reinhart (TV: “Riverdale”) is 28.

MIAMI GARDENS — The night the Miami Dolphins pretended could never happen ended with Damar Hamlin relating he saw Tua Tagovailoa move his limbs on the field and so wasn’t overly concerned. The Buffalo safety then said he’d pray for the Miami Dolphins quarterback.

“No one likes to witness that,’’ said Hamlin, who knows all about the dangers of football, nearly dying himself on a field two years ago. “He’s my brother. We’re playing. You don’t want the worst of the worst to happen.”

As stood at his locker late Thursday night, all solemn and sincere, there was an Old Testament quality to his words, like the prophet Jeremiah lamenting the evil, decay and disaster he saw around him. Except Hamlin was on the winning side, as usual in this meeting, and all around him were smiles.

“Great night,’’ he said.

It was the Dolphins lamenting the decay, disaster and infernal decision-making that put them in this spot. Again. Or at least the spot as those of us watching, lo these many Old-Testamnt years.

It wasn’t just the Dolphins team that got ripped by Buffalo, 31-10. It was the full Dolphins organization that looks shredded. Do we need to go chapter and verse?

There were roster details like the lack of a third receiver – remember, they signed Odell Beckham Jr. to a one-year contract knowing he’d be hurt at season’s start – played directly into Tua’s first two interceptions. The third receiver in each question, Grant Dubos and Robbie Chosen, came into camp in late August and ran the kind of pattern that showed a communication issue with Tagovailoa.

Their left tackle, Terron Armstead, who they held out of practice all summer for fear of injury, was injured. Again.

Buffalo ran at will, once for a 49-yard touchdown, over what you can call the Christian Wilkins Hole for the middle of the Dolphins defense. He’s gone. And couldn’t be replaced.

Then there was Tua’s injury, as painful as it was to watch again. The splayed fingers? The medics around him? The players taking knees on the field? It was the kind of sad scene that’s hung over this organization like Banquo’s Ghost for the past couple of years even if they pretended it didn’t exst.

The good news is Tagovailoa walked off the field, wobbly as he was. Coach Mike McDaniel kissed him on the forehead in a wonderful touch of humanity. The human condition matters. Always.

It’s the colder, more corporate condition you have to consider in the sober light of a violent game and fragile body. This was a night the foundation of the Dolphins plan collapsed, the nuts and bolts broke, coiled springs shot in all directions and the question became afterward if Humpty Dumpty can be put together again.

Everyone got new contracts with the Dolphins, starting with Tagovailoa. Good or him. Who isn’t for players making more money?

But was anyone watching out for the larger organization’s future in this? Wasn’t anyone – like General Manager Chris Grier – concerned another concussion on top of his need-a-next-step game meant there’s no rush to sign him to a four-year, $212 million contract?

This isn’t some second guess. This was the first guess for months leading up to the contract. But here they are, still losing to Buffalo, still wondering if Tagovialoa can stay healthy, much less if he can become a top quarterback.

Forget his first interceptions. You can explain those as third-receiver problems. But that third interception was as bad an NFL pass as you’ll see. An attempt to throw out of bounds under pressure even reach out of bounds. It was instead intercepted and returned 49 easy yards for a game-sealing touchdown.

And then he suffered the concussion when he ran head-first into Hamlin’s shoulder. And where does it go now?

If this debacle against Buffalo is indicative of where the Dolphins are in Week Two, it’s going to be the longest of seasons. We’re not there yet. But you can see it from here if they don’t tighten their screws.

Meanwhile, they’re in the hole against AFC East king Buffalo. It’s 12-2 against the Dolphins of late. It cracked the code to hold Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle to 67 yards combined receiving Thursday. It’s held this praised Dolphins offense to 20, 14 and 10 points in their last three meetings. It had a minimalist game from quarterback Josh Allen. It still dominated.

Tagovailoa went around the locker room talking to players, McDaniel related. That’s the lone good news of this night.

“A gut check for this team early in the season,’’ McDaniel said.

It’s beyond that. It’s a check of this organization. Buffalo found this organization’s problems – a third receiver, a weakened defense, age-and-injury concerns and, yes, the quarterback. Thursday was a defining game considering how much Dolphins’ hope was put into it.

The question of the Dolphins season is if that definition can be changed.