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Dolphins Deep Dive: Hyde and Furones on Tua suffering another concussion; ugly loss to Bills | VIDEO
In this Dolphins Deep Dive video, the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Dave Hyde and David Furones discuss quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffering another concussion and break down Miami’s disastrous loss to the Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football.
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Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa exits with concussion as Buffalo pounds Miami in AFC East showdown
MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins lost a key game to their division rival and, even worse, lost their quarterback to another case of head trauma.
Tua Tagovailoa exited the Dolphins’ 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills with a concussion on Thursday night.
Tagovailoa was scrambling for a first down on fourth-and-4 deep into the third quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. As he charged forward, he collided head-first with Bills safety Damar Hamlin. Tagovailoa dipped his helmet into Hamlin’s shoulder.
Tagovailoa was down for minutes and went into a fencing posture with his right hand up and fingers curly with the left grabbing at his head while he lied on the turf. Teammates gestured immediately for assistance from the sideline.
Tagovailoa got up and walking on his own with trainers alongside him, escorting him into the tunnel.
He was ruled out for the remainder of the game moments later. He went 17 of 25 for 145 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions before exiting.
Before the conclusion of Thursday’s game, the Amazon Prime Video broadcast reported Tagovailoa had full movement in his extremities.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said his quarterback was in good spirits after the game.
Related Articles- Miami Dolphins | Things we learned in Miami Dolphins’ 31-10 loss vs. the Buffalo Bills
- Miami Dolphins | Hyde: Bills dominate, Tua hurt, Hill shut down — 10 thoughts on Dolphins’ 31-10 loss to Buffalo
- Miami Dolphins | Instant Analysis: Buffalo Bills 31, Miami Dolphins 10
- Miami Dolphins | Dolphins Deep Dive: Hyde and Furones on Tua suffering another concussion; ugly loss to Bills | VIDEO
“My thought was concern and I was just worried about my guy,” McDaniel said of his immediate reaction. “It’s not something that you ever want to be a part of.”
“It makes me sick. I think anyone, for the human eye, like, it sucks,” said backup quarterback Skylar Thompson, who entered for Tagovailoa. “In my position, you never want to have your opportunity come with something like that, and (I) have a lot of love for Tua. Built a great relationship with him.
“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.”
The irony with Hamlin being the defender on the tackle is that he once went into cardiac arrest on the field at Cincinnati toward the end of the 2022 season, in January 2023. One of Tagovailoa’s concussions that season also took place in Cincinnati against the Bengals.
“My love and prayers with @Tua,” Hamlin posted on X after the game. “Sending you strength and healing for a speedy recovery.”
Said Bills quarterback Josh Allen on the Prime Video post-game show of Tagovailoa: “You can’t help but feel for him. He’s a great football player but an even better human being.”
In the 2022 season, Tagovailoa suffered multiple concussions, causing him to miss five and half games. He made it through his first full season healthy in 2023.
Dolphins Deep Dive: Hyde and Furones on Tua suffering another concussion; ugly loss to Bills | VIDEO
Tagovailoa said, between the 2022 and 2023 seasons, he considered retirement before returning last season. Ahead of this season, the Dolphins signed Tagovailoa to a four-year contract extension worth $212.4 million.
Thompson entered for Tagovailoa after Miami’s starter took the hit. He went 8 of 14 for 80 yards in the spot duty, and he may now be counted on as the Dolphins starter, unless the team looks for an outside passer.
“I’m confident,” said Thompson. “I feel like I’m ready for whatever is to come.”
McDaniel’s mind was far from thinking of any potential plan at quarterback in the coming weeks after witnessing another case of head trauma for Tagovailoa.
“Right now, it’s more about getting a proper procedural evaluation (Friday) and taking it one day at a time,” the Dolphins coach said. “The furthest thing from my mind is what is the timeline. We just need to evaluate, and I’m just worried about my teammate, like the rest of the guys are.”
McDaniel also stayed away from the topic of Tagovailoa’s future in football.
Tagovailoa’s head injury added to an awful Thursday night for the franchise, solidifying the Dolphins (1-1) are still behind the Bills, who have won the past four division titles, in the AFC East.
Buffalo (2-0) continues to dominate Miami, earning a fifth consecutive win in the AFC East rivalry, with wins in 12 of the past 13 meetings.
The Dolphins turned the ball over three times, on Tagovailoa’s interceptions, and had four turnovers on downs.
“That’s the main thing that the football team is feeling, is supreme disappointment, because they’ve put a lot into it,” McDaniel said. “They have high expectations. And you can’t even evaluate appropriately when you’re playing football that way and giving it to the opponent, giving them extra possessions.”
Buffalo running back James Cook scorched his hometown team for three total touchdowns — two rushing — while going for 78 yards on the ground and a 17-yard touchdown reception. Allen went 13 of 19 for 139 yards and the touchdown pass to Cook.
On a night when star wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle were held to 65 combined receiving yards, running back De’Von Achane, after entering questionable with an ankle injury, had 22 carries for 96 yards and seven receptions for another 69 yards and a touchdown through the air.
The night immediately started in Buffalo’s favor as Miami’s opening drive resulted in an interception, and that turnover resulted in a Bills touchdown.
Tagovailoa threw to wide receiver Grant DuBose for his first regular season target in the NFL. The third-and-13 pass deflected off Dubose’s shoulder pad as he didn’t turn around on his route and was intercepted by cornerback Ja’Marcus Ingram.
With DuBose, Robbie Chosen and Braxton Berrios the three wide receivers in the formation, McDaniel said the team was trying to reinsert Waddle into the lineup, but they were late in the play clock.
His 25-yard return gave Allen a short field, and on fourth-and-3 from the 17-yard line, he found Cook wide open. Linebacker David Long Jr. got tied up in traffic from wide receivers on the left side crossing over the middle, which freed up Cook, the Miami product from Central High.
The Dolphins responded with a 10-play, 70-yard touchdown drive. Achane scored out of the right flat, with Tagovailoa finding him and fullback Alec Ingold out to block for him.
Late in the first quarter, Tagovailoa threw his second interception, targeting Chosen this time. It appeared to be a miscommunication on the route, as Chosen pulled up and Tagovailoa threw over him. The pass was intercepted by Christian Benford.
That turnover gifted Buffalo 3 points on a 43-yard field goal for Tyler Bass.
With a 10-7 lead, the Bills got back to scoring touchdowns. Cook had a 1-yard rushing score after Allen threw to running back Ty Johnson, beating cornerback Jalen Ramsey on a wheel route, for 33 yards to get to the 1-yard line. Miami safety Jordan Poyer, the former Bill, got hit for a personal foul for a helmet-to-helmet hit on former teammate, wide receiver Khalil Shakir, on the series.
After the Dolphins turned it over on downs on a fourth-down sack in which Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver beat left guard Robert Jones, Cook scored his third touchdown on the following play from scrimmage, scampering 49 yards to the end zone.
Miami took a 24-10 deficit into halftime after kicking a field goal before intermission.
In the third period, Tagovailoa was facing pressure and trying to throw a pass away to the Buffalo sideline, but he didn’t quite get it there. Ingram took his second interception 31 yards for a touchdown that put the Bills ahead, 31-10.
Along with Tagovailoa, Dolphins left tackle Terron Armstead and left guard Robert Jones left early with shoulder injuries.
The Dolphins, coming off the Thursday night game, get the weekend off before they travel to Seattle for a Week 3 game against the Seahawks on Sept. 22.
Show Caption1 of 19ExpandDaily Horoscope for September 13, 2024
General Daily Insight for September 13, 2024
We can be our most capable selves today. The Moon is in Capricorn, igniting our inner ambition. This bonfire is stoked even higher by our desires when the Moon squares Venus in Libra at 7:30 am EDT. The Moon will be busy throughout the day, forming a trine to the Sun in Virgo before squaring Chiron in Aries, so we can find satisfaction in repetition. Contrastingly, we will potentially crave change when the Moon makes one more trine to rebellious Uranus in Taurus.
AriesMarch 21 – April 19
Professional partnerships are the order of the day. The Moon in your 10th House of Success is zeroing your focus in on your ambitions, but you can loop others into those ambitions when the Moon squares Venus in your 7th House of Relationships. These people may prove very valuable, but the one danger here is overly relying on them or expecting too much without giving in return. Make sure that your connections remain equal, allowing everyone to benefit without feeling taken advantage of.
TaurusApril 20 – May 20
There’s nothing wrong with a few extra bells and whistles! A compelling square between the Moon in your worldly 9th house and aesthetic Venus in your routine 6th house is reminding you that life should be a rich sensory experience. Take some time to come up with ways to make your usual daily habits more enjoyable or even glamorous. You can plausibly reshape your life into something much more luxurious with just a couple of small changes. Let yourself live your best life.
GeminiMay 21 – June 20
There’s an undeniably dramatic vibration coming your way. It’s natural to feel rather tense and brooding while the Moon shivers in your secretive 8th house. Still, you may be lured out from the shadows when the Moon squares Venus in your vivid 5th house, giving you the impetus to show yourself off. It’s alright if you feel a bit out of sorts between these two opposing forces — instead of overthinking it, let yourself follow your whims, from the wings to the spotlight.
CancerJune 21 – July 22
This is a day for creature comforts. You want to spend time with people who matter to you while the Moon curls up in your relationship sector. Staying home and inviting them over is a great idea as Luna settles things with pleasant Venus in your domestic 4th house. Even if it is a rather last-minute affair with simple snacks or even takeout, you and a few of your closest connections can have a really lovely night all huddled together under your roof.
LeoJuly 23 – August 22
The mundane feels unusually magical at this time. You’re primed to get your life in proper order while the Moon is marching through your efficient 6th house. Those essential nuts and bolts get a nice dose of fairy dust as the Moon bumps up against Venus in your busy 3rd house, showing you how to view everything through rose-colored glasses. As long as you don’t get too carried away, there’s no reason you can’t waltz through the day to whatever special destination you choose.
VirgoAugust 23 – September 22
No matter how disciplined you are, you deserve to spoil yourself today. Life is all about having a nice time as the Moon parties in your joyous 5th house. This upbeat aura also encompasses the more materialistic aspects of your life when the Moon squares aesthetic Venus in your deluxe 2nd house. If you’ve been mulling over a big purchase or other indulgence, you may finally splash out on it. To avoid buyer’s remorse, just be sure to go for quality over quantity.
LibraSeptember 23 – October 22
Your feelings are undeniably powerful. You’ll have a tough time ignoring them while the Moon moves through your 4th House of Emotions, but its square to your ruler Venus in your friendly sign will invite you to spread joy and love everywhere you go. There’s nothing wrong with this in theory, and your peers should respond well to your outpouring of kindness. Even so, beware of generosity when it isn’t deserved, or when others might take advantage of your giving spirit.
ScorpioOctober 23 – November 21
Life is taking on a fantastical hue. There is a magnetic alignment overhead between the Moon in your 3rd House of Neighborhoods and Venus in your 12th House of Visions, blurring the lines between your reality and your imagination. It’ll be nigh impossible to see anything but loveliness on offer! Noticing the optimistic aspects of the world is wonderful, but don’t leap at the first thing you spot — it may turn out to be a mirage that evaporates as soon as you reach out.
SagittariusNovember 22 – December 21
Others may pull you away from the work in front of you. You’re in an efficient frame of mind while the Moon works in your 2nd House of Income, inspiring you to roll up your sleeves. The Moon’s square to Venus in your 11th House of Humanity opposes this, demanding that you leave a personal project in favor of gathering with your chosen people. You’ll have to decide between delaying whatever you were putting together versus risking missing out on a fun group activity.
CapricornDecember 22 – January 19
You can shine brightly, provided you choose the best place to do so. The Moon in your determined sign is motivating you to tap into your emotions and intuition more freely. Plus, a potent angle to Venus in your reputation sector can simplify the process of doing this to your advantage. A well-chosen interaction at the right time with the right people could reflect wonderfully upon you, and people will be very likely to remember it down the line. Being open is being wise.
AquariusJanuary 20 – February 18
Sticking to your typical boundaries simply isn’t plausible at present. You could float along like a cloud while the Moon moves through your subconscious sector, but that may not satisfy you once the Moon complains to Venus in your vast 9th house. You may experience a desire for change or for something different, so by all means go looking for some ways to spice up your life — just don’t dive so deep that you can’t get back to where you started.
PiscesFebruary 19 – March 20
How much do you have in your cup, Pisces? It might be almost impossible to keep a lid on your giving tendencies as the Moon in your altruistic 11th house burdens Venus in your transformational 8th house, so brace yourself for all sorts of appeals that tug on your heartstrings everywhere you go. You can support as many people as you choose in whatever manner you want, but remember to give to yourself too! Remember: you can’t pour from an empty cup.
Things we learned in Miami Dolphins’ 31-10 loss vs. the Buffalo Bills
MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who threw three interceptions, including a pick-6, left Thursday’s 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the third quarter with a concussion.
That was soon after left tackle Terron Armstead and left guard Robert Jones both left the game with shoulder injuries.
Wow.
Thursday night games are never easy. And when the Dolphins face Buffalo, which entered having beaten Miami 13 of the previous 15 times they’ve played, well, things become much more complicated.
Here are some more takeaways from Thursday night’s game:
The contract extension/restructure moves taking a big early hitDolphins owner Steve Ross, who entertained NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Thursday, saw some of his offseason money take a hit Thursday night.
Tagovailoa, who signed a four-year, $212.4 million extension, left the game with yet another concussion. He had two diagnosed concussions in 2022, and one other situation of suspected head trauma (vs. Buffalo).
Wide receiver Tyreek Hill, whose contract was restructured with $65 million guaranteed, had a rough start to the week with his police detainment before Sunday’s game.
At least coach Mike McDaniel, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who also got offseason contract extensions, are OK. — Chris Perkins
Related Articles- Miami Dolphins | Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa exits with concussion as Buffalo pounds Miami in AFC East showdown
- Miami Dolphins | Hyde: Bills dominate, Tua hurt, Hill shut down — 10 thoughts on Dolphins’ 31-10 loss to Buffalo
- Miami Dolphins | Dolphins Deep Dive: Hyde and Furones on Tua suffering another concussion; ugly loss to Bills | VIDEO
- Miami Dolphins | Instant Analysis: Buffalo Bills 31, Miami Dolphins 10
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- Miami Dolphins | Chris Perkins: Why am I writing my third Dolphins column in eight months about Tyreek Hill’s off-the-field life?
Tagovailoa had a pass deflect off wide receiver Grant DuBose and be intercepted by cornerback Ja’Marcus Ingram. But that wasn’t the amazing part.
Buffalo scored a 17-yard touchdown on fourth-and-3 on a pass from quarterback Josh Allen to running back James Cook to take a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
In the second quarter Tagovailoa had an interception by cornerback Christian Benford while targeting wide receiver Robbie Chosen. Buffalo turned that into a 43-yard field goal.
Cook’s 1-yard run gave the Bills a 17-7 lead in the second quarter.
It marked the second consecutive game the Dolphins faced a 17-7 second quarter deficit. The Jaguars opened the same lead last Sunday in the Dolphins’ 20-17 victory.
Tagovailoa’s third interception was a third-quarter pick-6 on a pass it appeared he was trying to throw out of bounds while avoiding a pass rush.
Ingram returned it 31 yards for a touchdown, streaking down Buffalo’s sideline.
Tagovailoa had a career-high 14 interceptions last season, the first year he played every game.
Dolphins’ 30-somethings extend their rough startIt’s been a rough start for the Dolphins and their 30-somethings. Let’s take a quick look:
— Edge rusher Shaq Barrett (31) suddenly retired shortly before training camp;
— WR Odell Beckham Jr. (31) is on the physically-unable-to-perform list;
— RB Raheem Mostert (32) missed Buffalo game with chest injury;
— Armstead (33) had a strong opener vs. Jacksonville but sustained right shoulder injury in third quarter vs. Buffalo and left the game;
— Hill (30) had his pregame detainment on Sunday became a national news story before he had seven receptions for 130 yards and one touchdown. He had three receptions for 24 yards Thursday;
— DL Calais Campbell (38) got off to a good start in Week 1 with three tackles, including one sack. He had one tackle Thursday;
— S Jordan Poyer (33) was good in opener vs. Jacksonville, but had an unsportsmanlike conduct Thursday.
CB Jalen Ramsey (29), who is battling a hamstring injury, joins the 30-something club in six weeks (Oct. 24).
Dolphins Deep Dive: Hyde and Furones on Tua suffering another concussion; ugly loss to Bills | VIDEO
Buffalo takeover at Hard Rock Stadium is understatedThe Bills fans had a huge presence in the 2023 season finale at Hard Rock Stadium, a 21-14 Buffalo victory.
Thursday’s crowd was a little less Buffalo-centric than many of the past few meetings.
Bills fans travel well, and they especially love coming to South Florida and the Elbo Room on Fort Lauderdale beach.
Fourth downs not kind to Dolphins so farTagovailoa was sacked on fourth-and-2 in the second quarter, dropping the Dolphins to 0 for 3 on fourth-down attempts on the season. Tagovailoa was sacked Thursday by Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver.
Against Jacksonville, the Dolphins failed on fourth-and-8 and fourth-and-3.
Tagovailoa scrambled on fourth-and-4 in the third quarter for a first down on the play he was hurt.
Strangely, Tagovailoa ran into Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin, whose on-field trauma two seasons ago saw him getting chest compressions on the field.
Big boy play-calling continuesMcDaniel is expanding the offense. Fullback Alec Ingold had a three-yard carry on third-and-1 in the first quarter and tight end Jonnu Smith had four receptions for 40 yards in the first quarter. Ingold ended with two carries for two yards. Smith ended with six receptions for 53 yards.
It’s modest totals. But it’s nice to see McDaniel utilizing some of the Dolphins’ most physical offensive players early in the game.
Jalen Ramsey a full go, but going slowlyIt didn’t seem as though Ramsey, who has been battling a hamstring injury, was on a snap count Thursday. Ramsey, who was beaten for a 33-yard gain by running back Ty Johnson against Buffalo and flagged for a 40-yard pass interference against Jacksonville rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., is off to a slow start this season.
Left side of OL halted by shoulder injuriesThe left side of the offensive line is in question due to shoulder injuries to Armstead and Jones. Veteran Kendall Lamm replaced Armstead at left tackle and Lester Cotton replaced Jones at left guard.
It’ll likely be that way for the Seattle game in Week 3 if Armstead and Jones are sidelined.
It’s doubtful that rookie tackle Patrick Paul would get the start over Lamm, who has been a strong backup in two seasons.
Jaelan Phillips has quiet gameEdge rusher Jaelan Phillips, who had a good comeback last Sunday after sustaining that season-ending Achilles injury in November, had a quiet game Thursday.
Phillips showed speed but didn’t necessarily make any plays. He had a crucial late-game sack against Jacksonville.
Phillips ended with no tackles Thursday.
Buffalo dominanceAllen improved to 12-2 against the Dolphins with Thursday’s victory.
Buffalo has now defeated the Dolphins 14 of the past 16 times they’ve played.
McDaniel fell to 1-5 against Buffalo.
The Dolphins, by the way, were money in September under McDaniel entering Thursday.
Miami is now 7-2 in September games under McDaniel, and 4-1 in September home games under McDaniel.
Don’t play Josh Allen if you’re the Dolphins, or on Thursday, and definitely don’t do bothSince Christmas Day of 2018, Josh Allen is 18-1 against the Dolphins OR on Thursdays. In those 19 games, Allen is 441 of 642 for 5,171 yards, 49 TD passes and 13 interceptions for a 109.9 passer rating, with a tacked-on 828 rushing yards on 115 non-kneeldown carries (7.2 yards per run) with 9 TDs. — Steve Svekis
Dolphins have seen the tackles for loss pile upA game after the Dolphins, for the first time in almost five years, allowing as many as eight members of an opposing team to register at least one tackle for loss (a sack for a loss of yardage or a tackle of a ball-carrier for negative yardage), the Dolphins saw nine Bills pile up 10 more TFLs. The Dolphins hadn’t seen eight players register at least a one TFL in a game since Nov. 17, 2019, also against the Bills, when the Dolphins, after having shipped Pro Bowl tackle Laremy Tunsil to Houston in the offseason, started an offensive line of tackles Julie’n Davenport and Jesse Davis, guards Michael Deiter and Evan Boehm and center Daniel Kilgore.
Kicking on third down from Bills’ 16 with EIGHT seconds left in the half?With a top-echelon-paid quarterback. There must be trust that if a play isn’t immediately open he will toss the ball away with time on the clock. That was gobsmacking.
When the lights have been brightest, Tua has suffered in the McDaniel eraWith his completing 17-of-25 passes for 145 yards with one TD and three INTs (a 56.7 passer rating) against the Bills on Thursday night, Tua Tagovailoa’s statistics in 13 career nationally broadcast games with Mike McDaniel as coach are 235 of 382, 2,718, 12 TDs, 14 INTs with seven fumbles, a purely mediocre 78.2 passer rating. The Dolphins have gone 3-10 in those games.
Dolphins almost always have issues with running quarterbacksWhile it is easy to fixate on Josh Allen’s dominance of the Dolphins, it must be noted that Miami has gotten piled up on by ANY legit mobile QB, certainly in recent years. Since 2018 (the start of Allen’s career) vs. QBs under 30 who own a career 5.40 yards per carry (non-kneeldowns), the Dolphins now have played 24 games against such passers. The average yardage allowed has been 414.3 per game (9,942 total), while the median has been 423.5. Their average net offensive points per game (offensive points scored minus touchdowns by interception or QB fumble or safeties via sacks or QB penalty) is now 29.9 per game (717 total). Worth mentioning with remaining games against Allen, Kyler Murray and Anthony Richardson.
Dolphins’ durability questions are as evident at running back as anywhereWith Raheem Mostert missing Week 2 and De’Von Achane having limped into the Bills matchup, it should be noted that the Dolphins’ running back room came into this year with little proof of durability, with Mostert’s 234 touches last season by far the most in a season for any of Miami’s backs. The room having entered the season with Mostert, Achane and Jeff Wilson having averaged 93 touches per NFL season, and Achane, the electric second-year runner, missed starts on three separate occasions due to injury in his rookie season.
Phillips or Rousseau?In the 2021 draft, the Dolphins were looking for an edge rusher and snapped up the Miami Hurricanes’ Jaelan Phillips with the 18th selection. Twelve picks later, the Bills grabbed Phillips’ UM teammate, Gregory Rousseau. After Game 2 of the 2024 season, here are a few stats to compare the rising standouts: Games played: Rousseau 48, Phillips 44. Sacks: Phillips 23, Rousseau 20. Forced fumbles: Rousseau 4, Phillips 1. Tackles for loss: Rousseau 34, Phillips 25. Quarterback hits: Phillips 53, Rousseau 44.
On deck: At Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 22, 4:05 p.m., Lumen FieldSeattle is one of three teams the Dolphins have won a road playoff game against, along with the Chiefs and Steelers. Interestingly, Miami also has won a home playoff game against each of those franchises. … The Seahawks are quarterbacked by Miramar High School star Geno Smith.
Show Caption1 of 19ExpandToday in History: September 12, Voyager 1 leaves the solar system
Today is Thursday, Sept. 12, the 256th day of 2024. There are 110 days left in the year.
Today in history:On Sept. 12, 2013, Voyager 1, launched 36 years earlier, became the first man-made spacecraft ever to leave the solar system.
Also on this date:In 1857, the S.S. Central America (also known as the “Ship of Gold”) sank off the coast of South Carolina after sailing into a hurricane in one of the worst maritime disasters in American history; 425 people were killed and thousands of pounds of gold sank with the ship to the bottom of the ocean.
In 1940, the Lascaux cave paintings, estimated to be 17,000 years old, were discovered in southwestern France.
In 1958, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Cooper v. Aaron, unanimously ruled that Arkansas officials who were resisting public school desegregation orders could not disregard the high court’s rulings.
In 1959, the Soviet Union launched its Luna 2 space probe, which made a crash landing on the moon.
In 1962, in a speech at Rice University in Houston, President John F. Kennedy reaffirmed his support for the manned space program, declaring: “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.”
In 1977, South African Black student leader and anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko, 30, died while in police custody, triggering an international outcry.
In 1994, truck driver Frank Eugene Corder piloted a stolen single-engine Cessna airplane into restricted airspace in Washington, D.C., and crashed it into the South Lawn of the White House.
In 2003, in the Iraqi city of Fallujah, U.S. forces mistakenly opened fire on vehicles carrying police, killing eight of them.
In 2008, a Metrolink commuter train struck a freight train head-on in Los Angeles, killing 25 people.
In 2011, Novak Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal to win his first U.S. Open championship.
Today’s Birthdays:- Actor Linda Gray is 84.
- Singer Maria Muldaur is 82.
- Author Michael Ondaatje is 81.
- Actor Joe Pantoliano is 73.
- Photographer Nan Goldin is 71.
- Composer Hans Zimmer is 67.
- Actor Rachel Ward is 67.
- TV host-commentator Greg Gutfeld is 60.
- Actor-comedian Louis (loo-ee) C.K. is 57.
- Golfer Angel Cabrera is 55.
- Country singer Jennifer Nettles (Sugarland) is 50.
- Rapper 2 Chainz is 47.
- Singer Ruben Studdard is 46.
- Basketball Hall of Famer Yao Ming is 44.
- Singer-actor Jennifer Hudson is 43.
- Actor Alfie Allen is 38.
- Actor Emmy Rossum is 38.
- Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman is 35.
- Country singer-songwriter Kelsea Ballerini is 31.
- Actor Sydney Sweeney is 27.
Miami-Dade high school alumni’s NFL population slightly decreases on 2024’s opening weekend
Miami-Dade County basically held steady in 2024 as it pertains to the presence of its high school alumni on NFL teams’ opening-week rosters, but again are lagging far behind their neighbors to the north in Broward County.
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The 2024 first-week NFL population for Miami-Dade ticked downward slightly, from 2023’s 30 to 28, still well ahead of its stunningly low 23 in 2022.
While the southernmost chunk of the tri-county area had closed the Broward County lead to 48-30 last year (after 2022’s 55-23 rout), the margin opened up again in 2024, with Broward owning a 50-28 edge.
Here are Miami-Dade County’s NFL players (by alphabetical order of last name, by high school and by NFL team):
Yasir Abdullah, Jaguars, Miami Carol City
Tutu Atwell, Rams, Miami Northwestern
Tatum Bethune, 49ers, Miami Central
Jarvis Brownlee Jr., Titans, Miami Carol City
Artie Burns, Seahawks, Miami Northwestern
Deon Bush, Chiefs, Miami Columbus
Dalvin Cook, Cowboys, Miami Central
James Cook, Bills, Miami Central
Amari Cooper, Browns, Miami Northwestern
Lavonte David, Buccaneers, Miami Northwestern
Carlton Davis III, Lions, Miami Norland
Denzel Daxon, Cowboys, Miami Carol City
Frank Gore Jr., Bills, Miami Killian
D.J. Ivey, Bengals, Homestead South Dade
Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, Chargers, Homestead South Dade
Calijah Kancey, Buccaneers, Miami Northwestern
Kamren Kinchens, Rams, Miami Northwestern
Denzel Perryman, Chargers, Coral Gables
Eddy Pineiro, Panthers, Miami Sunset
Gregory Rousseau, Bills, Hialeah Champagnat
Tyrique Stevenson, Bears, Miami Southridge
Leonard Taylor III, Jets, Miami Palmetto
Kadeem Telfort, Packers, Miami Booker T. Washington
Keir Thomas, Rams, Miami Central
Tyquan Thornton, Patriots, Miami Booker T. Washington
Joshua Uche, Patriots, Miami Columbus
Anthony Walker Jr., Dolphins, Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace
Divaad Wilson, Cardinals, Miami Northwestern
BY SCHOOLMIAMI NORTHWESTERN (7): Tutu Atwell, Rams; Artie Burns, Seahawks; Amari Cooper, Browns; Lavonte David, Buccaneers; Calijah Kancey, Buccaneers; Kamren Kinchens, Rams; Divaad Wilson, Cardinals
MIAMI CENTRAL (4): Tatum Bethune, 49ers; Dalvin Cook, Cowboys; James Cook, Bills; Keir Thomas, Rams
MIAMI CAROL CITY (3): Yasir Abdullah, Jaguars; Jarvis Brownlee Jr., Titans; Denzel Daxon, Cowboys
HOMESTEAD SOUTH DADE (2): D.J. Ivey, Bengals; Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, Chargers
MIAMI BOOKER T. WASHINGTON (2): Kadeem Telfort, Packers; Tyquan Thornton, Patriots
MIAMI COLUMBUS (2): Deon Bush, Chiefs; Joshua Uche, Patriots
CORAL GABLES (1): Denzel Perryman, Chargers
HIALEAH CHAMPAGNAT (1): Gregory Rousseau, Bills
MIAMI GARDENS MONSIGNOR PACE (1): Anthony Walker Jr., Dolphins
MIAMI KILLIAN (1): Frank Gore Jr., Bills
MIAMI NORLAND (1): Carlton Davis III, Lions
MIAMI PALMETTO (1): Leonard Taylor III, Jets
MIAMI SOUTHRIDGE (1): Tyrique Stevenson, Bears
MIAMI SUNSET (1): Eddy Pineiro, Panthers
BY TEAM
BILLS (3): James Cook, Miami Central; Frank Gore Jr., Miami Killian; Gregory Rousseau, Hialeah Champagnat
RAMS (3): Tutu Atwell, Rams, Miami Northwestern; Kamren Kinchens, Miami Northwestern; Keir Thomas, Miami Central
BUCCANEERS (2): Lavonte David, Miami Northwestern; Calijah Kancey, Miami Northwestern
CHARGERS (2): Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, Homestead South Dade; Denzel Perryman, Coral Gables
COWBOYS (2): Dalvin Cook, Miami Central; Denzel Daxon, Miami Carol City
PATRIOTS (2): Tyquan Thornton, Miami Booker T. Washington; Joshua Uche, Miami Columbus
49ERS (1): Tatum Bethune, Miami Central
BEARS (1): Tyrique Stevenson, Miami Southridge
BENGALS (1): D.J. Ivey, South Dade
BROWNS (1): Amari Cooper, Miami Northwestern
CARDINALS (1): Divaad Wilson, Miami Northwestern
CHIEFS (1): Deon Bush, Miami Columbus
DOLPHINS (1): Anthony Walker Jr., Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace
JAGUARS (1): Yasir Abdullah, Miami Carol City
JETS (1): Leonard Taylor III, Miami Palmetto
LIONS (1): Carlton Davis III, Miami Norland
PACKERS (1): Kadeem Telfort, Miami Booker T. Washington
PANTHERS (1): Eddy Pineiro, Miami Sunset
SEAHAWKS (1): Artie Burns, Miami Northwestern
TITANS (1): Jarvis Brownlee Jr., Miami Carol City
TEAM REPRESENTATION (THREE COUNTIES)
BILLS (6): James Cook, Miami Central; Te’Cory Couch, Chaminade-Madonna; Kaiir Elam, Benjamin; Frank Gore Jr., Miami Killian; Gregory Rousseau, Hialeah Champagnat; Mike White, University School
BROWNS (5): Devin Bush Jr., Flanagan; Amari Cooper, Miami Northwestern; Myles Harden, Miramar; Jerry Jeudy, Deerfield Beach; Elijah Moore, St. Thomas Aquinas
CHARGERS (5): Joey Bosa, St. Thomas Aquinas; Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, Homestead South Dade; Joshua Palmer, St. Thomas Aquinas; Denzel Perryman, Coral Gables; Asante Samuel Jr., St. Thomas Aquinas
RAVENS (5): Zay Flowers, University School; Tyler Huntley, Hallandale; Eddie Jackson, Boyd Anderson; Lamar Jackson, Boynton Beach; Trayvon Mullen, Coconut Creek
SEAHAWKS (5): Artie Burns, Miami Northwestern; Faion Hicks, Flanagan; Kenny McIntosh, University School; Mike Morris, American Heritage-Delray; Geno Smith, Miramar
VIKINGS (5): Josh Metellus, Flanagan; Fabian Moreau, Western; Brandon Powell, Deerfield Beach; Sammis Reyes, North Broward Prep; Dallas Turner, St. Thomas Aquinas
49ERS (4): Tatum Bethune, Miami Central; Nick Bosa, St. Thomas Aquinas; Jon Feliciano, Western; Jonathan Garvin, Lake Worth
BUCCANEERS (4): Lavonte David, Miami Northwestern; Calijah Kancey, Miami Northwestern; Shaun Peterson Jr., Nova; Michael Pratt, Deerfield Beach
PACKERS (4): Deslin Alexandre, Deerfield Beach; Jonathan Ford, Dillard; Tedarrell Slaton Jr., American Heritage; Kadeem Telfort, Miami Booker T. Washington
PATRIOTS (4): Jacoby Brissett, Dwyer; Tyquan Thornton, Miami Booker T. Washington; Joshua Uche, Miami Columbus; Marco Wilson, American Heritage
BEARS (3): Khalil Herbert, American Heritage; Travis Homer, Oxbridge Academy; Tyrique Stevenson, Miami Southridge
BENGALS (3): Jordan Battle, St. Thomas Aquinas; D.J. Ivey, South Dade; Zack Moss, Hallandale
BRONCOS (3): Nik Bonitto, St. Thomas Aquinas; Keidron Smith, Oxbridge Academy; Pat Surtain II, American Heritage
DOLPHINS (3): Robbie Chosen, South Plantation; Anthony Schwartz, American Heritage; Anthony Walker Jr., Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace
EAGLES (3): Fred Johnson, Royal Palm Beach; Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, St. Thomas Aquinas; Tyler Steen, St. Thomas Aquinas
LIONS (3): Carlton Davis III, Miami Norland; James Houston IV, American Heritage; Tre’Quan Smith, Village Academy
RAMS (3): Tutu Atwell, Miami Northwestern; Kamren Kinchens, Miami Northwestern; Keir Thomas, Miami Central
TITANS (3): Jarvis Brownlee Jr., Miami Carol City; Calvin Ridley, Monarch; James Williams, American Heritage
CARDINALS (2): Jaden Davis, St. Thomas Aquinas; Divaad Wilson, Miami Northwestern
COWBOYS (2): Dalvin Cook, Miami Central; Denzel Daxon, Miami Carol City
GIANTS (2): Brian Burns, American Heritage; Devin Singletary, American Heritage-Delray
JAGUARS (2): Yasir Abdullah, Miami Carol City; Tyson Campbell, American Heritage
JETS (2): Leonard Taylor III, Miami Palmetto; Jordan Travis, Benjamin
SAINTS (2): Kevin Austin Jr., North Broward Prep; A.T. Perry, Park Vista
CHIEFS (2): Marquise Brown, Chaminade-Madonna; Deon Bush, Miami Columbus
COLTS (1): Chris Lammons, Plantation
FALCONS (1): Brandon Dorlus, Deerfield Beach
PANTHERS (1): Eddy Pineiro, Miami Sunset
RAIDERS (1): Nesta Jade Silvera, American Heritage
STEELERS (1): Brandon Johnson, American Heritage
COMMANDERS (0)
TEXANS (0)
It’s Lamar Jackson, and not too much else, when it comes to Palm Beach County high school grads in the NFL
For the second year in a row, Palm Beach County had a mere 12 of its high school alumni on NFL opening-weekend rosters, a 33% reduction from the county’s number (18) of only three years ago.
Related Articles- High School Sports | Broward County again leads the way with most South Florida high school graduates in the NFL on opening weekend
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Of course, one of those players, Boynton Beach graduate Lamar Jackson, won his second NFL MVP for the Baltimore Ravens in the 2023 season.
Here is the list, in alphabetical order by last name of the players, who were either on the 53-man roster, the practice squad or on an injured list. At the end, there is a listing of how many come from each school and are on each NFL team.
Jacoby Brissett, Patriots, Dwyer
Kaiir Elam, Bills, Benjamin
Jonathan Garvin, 49ers, Lake Worth
Travis Homer, Bears, Oxbridge Academy
Lamar Jackson, Ravens, Boynton Beach
Fred Johnson, Eagles, Royal Palm Beach
Mike Morris, Seahawks, American Heritage-Delray
A.T. Perry, Saints, Park Vista
Devin Singletary, Giants, American Heritage-Delray
Keidron Smith, Broncos, Oxbridge Academy
Tre’Quan Smith, Lions, Village Academy
Jordan Travis, Jets, Benjamin
BY SCHOOLAMERICAN HERITAGE-DELRAY (2): Mike Morris, Seahawks; Devin Singletary, Giants
BENJAMIN (2): Kaiir Elam, Bills; Jordan Travis, Jets
OXBRIDGE ACADEMY (2): Travis Homer, Bears; Keidron Smith, Broncos
BOYNTON BEACH (1): Lamar Jackson, Ravens
DWYER (1): Jacoby Brissett, Patriots
LAKE WORTH (1): Jonathan Garvin, 49ers
PARK VISTA (1): A.T. Perry, Saints
ROYAL PALM BEACH (1): Fred Johnson, Eagles
VILLAGE ACADEMY (1): Tre’Quan Smith, Lions
BY TEAM
49ERS (1): Jonathan Garvin, Lake Worth
BEARS (1): Travis Homer, Oxbridge Academy
BILLS (1): Kaiir Elam, Benjamin
BRONCOS (1): Keidron Smith, Oxbridge Academy
EAGLES (1): Fred Johnson, Royal Palm Beach
GIANTS (1): Devin Singletary, American Heritage-Delray
JETS (1): Jordan Travis, Benjamin
LIONS (1): Tre’Quan Smith, Village Academy
PATRIOTS (1): Jacoby Brissett, Dwyer
RAVENS (1): Lamar Jackson, Boynton Beach
SAINTS (1): A.T. Perry, Park Vista
SEAHAWKS (1): Mike Morris, American Heritage-Delray
TEAM REPRESENTATION (THREE COUNTIES)
BILLS (6): James Cook, Miami Central; Te’Cory Couch, Chaminade-Madonna; Kaiir Elam, Benjamin; Frank Gore Jr., Miami Killian; Gregory Rousseau, Hialeah Champagnat; Mike White, University School
BROWNS (5): Devin Bush Jr., Flanagan; Amari Cooper, Miami Northwestern; Myles Harden, Miramar; Jerry Jeudy, Deerfield Beach; Elijah Moore, St. Thomas Aquinas
CHARGERS (5): Joey Bosa, St. Thomas Aquinas; Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, Homestead South Dade; Joshua Palmer, St. Thomas Aquinas; Denzel Perryman, Coral Gables; Asante Samuel Jr., St. Thomas Aquinas
RAVENS (5): Zay Flowers, University School; Tyler Huntley, Hallandale; Eddie Jackson, Boyd Anderson; Lamar Jackson, Boynton Beach; Trayvon Mullen, Coconut Creek
SEAHAWKS (5): Artie Burns, Miami Northwestern; Faion Hicks, Flanagan; Kenny McIntosh, University School; Mike Morris, American Heritage-Delray; Geno Smith, Miramar
VIKINGS (5): Josh Metellus, Flanagan; Fabian Moreau, Western; Brandon Powell, Deerfield Beach; Sammis Reyes, North Broward Prep; Dallas Turner, St. Thomas Aquinas
49ERS (4): Tatum Bethune, Miami Central; Nick Bosa, St. Thomas Aquinas; Jon Feliciano, Western; Jonathan Garvin, Lake Worth
BUCCANEERS (4): Lavonte David, Miami Northwestern; Calijah Kancey, Miami Northwestern; Shaun Peterson Jr., Nova; Michael Pratt, Deerfield Beach
PACKERS (4): Deslin Alexandre, Deerfield Beach; Jonathan Ford, Dillard; Tedarrell Slaton Jr., American Heritage; Kadeem Telfort, Miami Booker T. Washington
PATRIOTS (4): Jacoby Brissett, Dwyer; Tyquan Thornton, Miami Booker T. Washington; Joshua Uche, Miami Columbus; Marco Wilson, American Heritage
BEARS (3): Khalil Herbert, American Heritage; Travis Homer, Oxbridge Academy; Tyrique Stevenson, Miami Southridge
BENGALS (3): Jordan Battle, St. Thomas Aquinas; D.J. Ivey, South Dade; Zack Moss, Hallandale
BRONCOS (3): Nik Bonitto, St. Thomas Aquinas; Keidron Smith, Oxbridge Academy; Pat Surtain II, American Heritage
DOLPHINS (3): Robbie Chosen, South Plantation; Anthony Schwartz, American Heritage; Anthony Walker Jr., Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace
EAGLES (3): Fred Johnson, Royal Palm Beach; Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, St. Thomas Aquinas; Tyler Steen, St. Thomas Aquinas
LIONS (3): Carlton Davis III, Miami Norland; James Houston IV, American Heritage; Tre’Quan Smith, Village Academy
RAMS (3): Tutu Atwell, Miami Northwestern; Kamren Kinchens, Miami Northwestern; Keir Thomas, Miami Central
TITANS (3): Jarvis Brownlee Jr., Miami Carol City; Calvin Ridley, Monarch; James Williams, American Heritage
CARDINALS (2): Jaden Davis, St. Thomas Aquinas; Divaad Wilson, Miami Northwestern
COWBOYS (2): Dalvin Cook, Miami Central; Denzel Daxon, Miami Carol City
GIANTS (2): Brian Burns, American Heritage; Devin Singletary, American Heritage-Delray
JAGUARS (2): Yasir Abdullah, Miami Carol City; Tyson Campbell, American Heritage
JETS (2): Leonard Taylor III, Miami Palmetto; Jordan Travis, Benjamin
SAINTS (2): Kevin Austin Jr., North Broward Prep; A.T. Perry, Park Vista
CHIEFS (2): Marquise Brown, Chaminade-Madonna; Deon Bush, Miami Columbus
COLTS (1): Chris Lammons, Plantation
FALCONS (1): Brandon Dorlus, Deerfield Beach
PANTHERS (1): Eddy Pineiro, Miami Sunset
RAIDERS (1): Nesta Jade Silvera, American Heritage
STEELERS (1): Brandon Johnson, American Heritage
COMMANDERS (0)
TEXANS (0)
Broward County again leads the way with most South Florida high school graduates in the NFL on opening weekend
Broward County, after experiencing a dip last season, saw its high schools’ graduates populating NFL rosters on opening weekend inch back upward, again being well ahead of Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties’ presence combined.
Related Articles- High School Sports | Miami-Dade high school alumni’s NFL population slightly decreases on 2024’s opening weekend
- High School Sports | It’s Lamar Jackson, and not too much else, when it comes to Palm Beach County high school grads in the NFL
Broward had 50 players on Week 1’s 53-man active rosters, practice squads or reserve lists, up from 2023’s 48. The number still is well behind the massive 62 of 2021, but up from last year’s 48, which had been a decrease from 2022’s 55.
Miami-Dade County (28) and Palm Beach County boasted a combined 40 players in Week 1.
Miami-Dade had 30 in 2023.
In 2021, Broward led Miami-Dade 62-36. In 2022, a sharp 305 downturn had the 954 ahead by a whopping 55-23, while last year had the gap closed to 48-30.
A year after, for the first time, American Heritage taking over the top Broward spot by itself, with a 11-10 lead over perennial No. 1 representative St. Thomas Aquinas, the schools were deadlocked again at the top this season, with 11 alumni each.
Here are the three counties’ NFL players (by alphabetical order of last name, by high school and by NFL team):
BY COUNTYBROWARD
Deslin Alexandre, Packers, Deerfield Beach
Kevin Austin Jr., Saints, North Broward Prep
Jordan Battle, Bengals, St. Thomas Aquinas
Nik Bonitto, Broncos, St. Thomas Aquinas
Joey Bosa, Chargers, St. Thomas Aquinas
Nick Bosa, 49ers, St. Thomas Aquinas
Marquise Brown, Chiefs, Chaminade-Madonna
Brian Burns, Giants, American Heritage
Devin Bush Jr., Browns, Flanagan
Tyson Campbell, Jaguars, American Heritage
Robbie Chosen, Dolphins, South Plantation
Te’Cory Couch, Bills, Chaminade-Madonna
Jaden Davis, Cardinals, St. Thomas Aquinas
Brandon Dorlus, Falcons, Deerfield Beach
Jon Feliciano, 49ers, Western
Zay Flowers, Ravens, University School
Jonathan Ford, Packers, Dillard
Myles Harden, Browns, Miramar
Khalil Herbert, Bears, American Heritage
Faion Hicks, Seahawks, Flanagan
James Houston IV, Lions, American Heritage
Tyler Huntley, Ravens, Hallandale
Eddie Jackson, Ravens, Boyd Anderson
Jerry Jeudy, Browns, Deerfield Beach
Brandon Johnson, Steelers, American Heritage
Chris Lammons, Colts, Plantation
Kenny McIntosh, Seahawks, University School
Josh Metellus, Vikings, Flanagan
Elijah Moore, Browns, St. Thomas Aquinas
Fabian Moreau, Vikings, Western
Zack Moss, Bengals, Hallandale
Trayvon Mullen, Ravens, Coconut Creek
Joshua Palmer, Chargers, St. Thomas Aquinas
Shaun Peterson Jr., Buccaneers, Nova
Brandon Powell, Vikings, Deerfield Beach
Michael Pratt, Buccaneers, Deerfield Beach
Sammis Reyes, Vikings, North Broward Prep
Calvin Ridley, Titans, Monarch
Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, Eagles, St. Thomas Aquinas
Asante Samuel Jr., Chargers, St. Thomas Aquinas
Anthony Schwartz, Dolphins, American Heritage
Nesta Jade Silvera, Raiders, American Heritage
Tedarrell Slaton Jr., Packers, American Heritage
Geno Smith, Seahawks, Miramar
Tyler Steen, Eagles, St. Thomas Aquinas
Pat Surtain II, Broncos, American Heritage
Dallas Turner, Vikings, St. Thomas Aquinas
Mike White, Bills, University School
James Williams, Titans, American Heritage
Marco Wilson, Patriots, American Heritage
BY SCHOOLST. THOMAS AQUINAS (11): Jordan Battle, Bengals; Nik Bonitto, Broncos; Joey Bosa, Chargers; Nick Bosa, 49ers; Jaden Davis, Cardinals; Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, Eagles; Elijah Moore, Browns; Joshua Palmer, Chargers; Asante Samuel Jr., Chargers; Tyler Steen, Eagles; Dallas Turner, Vikings
AMERICAN HERITAGE (11): Brian Burns, Giants; Tyson Campbell, Jaguars; Khalil Herbert, Bears; James Houston IV, Lions; Brandon Johnson, Steelers; Anthony Schwartz, Dolphins; Nesta Jade Silvera, Raiders; Tedarrell Slaton Jr., Packers; Pat Surtain II, Broncos; James Williams, Titans; Marco Wilson, Patriots
DEERFIELD BEACH (5): Deslin Alexandre, Packers; Brandon Dorlus, Falcons; Jerry Jeudy, Browns; Brandon Powell, Vikings; Michael Pratt, Buccaneers
FLANAGAN (3): Devin Bush Jr., Browns; Faion Hicks, Seahawks; Josh Metellus, Vikings
UNIVERSITY SCHOOL (3): Zay Flowers, Ravens; Kenny McIntosh, Seahawks; Mike White, Bills
CHAMINADE-MADONNA (2): Marquise Brown, Chiefs; Te’Cory Couch, Bills
HALLANDALE (2): Tyler Huntley, Ravens; Zack Moss, Bengals
MIRAMAR (2): Myles Harden, Browns; Geno Smith, Seahawks
NORTH BROWARD PREP (2): Kevin Austin Jr., Saints; Sammis Reyes, Vikings
WESTERN (2): Jon Feliciano, 49ers; Fabian Moreau, Vikings
BOYD ANDERSON (1): Eddie Jackson, Ravens
COCONUT CREEK (1): Trayvon Mullen, Ravens
DILLARD (1): Jonathan Ford, Packers
MONARCH (1): Calvin Ridley, Titans
NOVA (1): Shaun Peterson Jr., Buccaneers
PLANTATION (1): Chris Lammons, Colts
SOUTH PLANTATION (1): Robbie Chosen, Dolphins
BY TEAM
BROWARD
VIKINGS (5): Josh Metellus, Flanagan; Fabian Moreau, Western; Brandon Powell, Deerfield Beach; Sammis Reyes, North Broward Prep; Dallas Turner, St. Thomas Aquinas
BROWNS (4): Devin Bush Jr., Flanagan; Myles Harden, Miramar; Jerry Jeudy, Deerfield Beach; Elijah Moore, St. Thomas Aquinas
RAVENS (4): Zay Flowers, University School; Tyler Huntley, Hallandale; Eddie Jackson, Boyd Anderson; Trayvon Mullen, Coconut Creek
CHARGERS (3): Joey Bosa, St. Thomas Aquinas; Joshua Palmer, St. Thomas Aquinas; Asante Samuel Jr., St. Thomas Aquinas
PACKERS (3): Deslin Alexandre, Deerfield Beach; Jonathan Ford, Dillard; Tedarrell Slaton Jr., American Heritage
SEAHAWKS (3): Faion Hicks, Flanagan; Kenny McIntosh, University School; Geno Smith, Miramar
49ERS (2): Nick Bosa, St. Thomas Aquinas; Jon Feliciano, Western
BENGALS (2): Jordan Battle, St. Thomas Aquinas; Zack Moss, Hallandale
BILLS (2): Te’Cory Couch, Chaminade-Madonna; Mike White, University School
BRONCOS (2): Nik Bonitto, St. Thomas Aquinas; Pat Surtain II, American Heritage
BUCCANEERS (2): Shaun Peterson Jr., Nova; Michael Pratt, Deerfield Beach
DOLPHINS (2): Robbie Chosen, South Plantation; Anthony Schwartz, American Heritage
EAGLES (2): Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, St. Thomas Aquinas; Tyler Steen, St. Thomas Aquinas
TITANS (2): Calvin Ridley, Monarch; James Williams, American Heritage
BEARS (1): Khalil Herbert, American Heritage
CARDINALS (1): Jaden Davis, St. Thomas Aquinas
CHIEFS (1): Marquise Brown, Chaminade-Madonna
COLTS (1): Chris Lammons, Plantation
FALCONS (1): Brandon Dorlus, Deerfield Beach
GIANTS (1): Brian Burns, American Heritage
JAGUARS (1): Tyson Campbell, American Heritage
LIONS (1): James Houston IV, American Heritage
PATRIOTS (1): Marco Wilson, American Heritage
RAIDERS (1): Nesta Jade Silvera, American Heritage
SAINTS (1): Kevin Austin Jr., North Broward Prep
STEELERS (1): Brandon Johnson, American Heritage
ALL THREE COUNTIES
BILLS (6): James Cook, Miami Central; Te’Cory Couch, Chaminade-Madonna; Kaiir Elam, Benjamin; Frank Gore Jr., Miami Killian; Gregory Rousseau, Hialeah Champagnat; Mike White, University School
BROWNS (5): Devin Bush Jr., Flanagan; Amari Cooper, Miami Northwestern; Myles Harden, Miramar; Jerry Jeudy, Deerfield Beach; Elijah Moore, St. Thomas Aquinas
CHARGERS (5): Joey Bosa, St. Thomas Aquinas; Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, Homestead South Dade; Joshua Palmer, St. Thomas Aquinas; Denzel Perryman, Coral Gables; Asante Samuel Jr., St. Thomas Aquinas
RAVENS (5): Zay Flowers, University School; Tyler Huntley, Hallandale; Eddie Jackson, Boyd Anderson; Lamar Jackson, Boynton Beach; Trayvon Mullen, Coconut Creek
SEAHAWKS (5): Artie Burns, Miami Northwestern; Faion Hicks, Flanagan; Kenny McIntosh, University School; Mike Morris, American Heritage-Delray; Geno Smith, Miramar
VIKINGS (5): Josh Metellus, Flanagan; Fabian Moreau, Western; Brandon Powell, Deerfield Beach; Sammis Reyes, North Broward Prep; Dallas Turner, St. Thomas Aquinas
49ERS (4): Tatum Bethune, Miami Central; Nick Bosa, St. Thomas Aquinas; Jon Feliciano, Western; Jonathan Garvin, Lake Worth
BUCCANEERS (4): Lavonte David, Miami Northwestern; Calijah Kancey, Miami Northwestern; Shaun Peterson Jr., Nova; Michael Pratt, Deerfield Beach
PACKERS (4): Deslin Alexandre, Deerfield Beach; Jonathan Ford, Dillard; Tedarrell Slaton Jr., American Heritage; Kadeem Telfort, Miami Booker T. Washington
PATRIOTS (4): Jacoby Brissett, Dwyer; Tyquan Thornton, Miami Booker T. Washington; Joshua Uche, Miami Columbus; Marco Wilson, American Heritage
BEARS (3): Khalil Herbert, American Heritage; Travis Homer, Oxbridge Academy; Tyrique Stevenson, Miami Southridge
BENGALS (3): Jordan Battle, St. Thomas Aquinas; D.J. Ivey, South Dade; Zack Moss, Hallandale
BRONCOS (3): Nik Bonitto, St. Thomas Aquinas; Keidron Smith, Oxbridge Academy; Pat Surtain II, American Heritage
DOLPHINS (3): Robbie Chosen, South Plantation; Anthony Schwartz, American Heritage; Anthony Walker Jr., Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace
EAGLES (3): Fred Johnson, Royal Palm Beach; Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, St. Thomas Aquinas; Tyler Steen, St. Thomas Aquinas
LIONS (3): Carlton Davis III, Miami Norland; James Houston IV, American Heritage; Tre’Quan Smith, Village Academy
RAMS (3): Tutu Atwell, Miami Northwestern; Kamren Kinchens, Miami Northwestern; Keir Thomas, Miami Central
TITANS (3): Jarvis Brownlee Jr., Miami Carol City; Calvin Ridley, Monarch; James Williams, American Heritage
CARDINALS (2): Jaden Davis, St. Thomas Aquinas; Divaad Wilson, Miami Northwestern
COWBOYS (2): Dalvin Cook, Miami Central; Denzel Daxon, Miami Carol City
GIANTS (2): Brian Burns, American Heritage; Devin Singletary, American Heritage-Delray
JAGUARS (2): Yasir Abdullah, Miami Carol City; Tyson Campbell, American Heritage
JETS (2): Leonard Taylor III, Miami Palmetto; Jordan Travis, Benjamin
SAINTS (2): Kevin Austin Jr., North Broward Prep; A.T. Perry, Park Vista
CHIEFS (2): Marquise Brown, Chaminade-Madonna; Deon Bush, Miami Columbus
COLTS (1): Chris Lammons, Plantation
FALCONS (1): Brandon Dorlus, Deerfield Beach
PANTHERS (1): Eddy Pineiro, Miami Sunset
RAIDERS (1): Nesta Jade Silvera, American Heritage
STEELERS (1): Brandon Johnson, American Heritage
Daily Horoscope for September 12, 2024
General Daily Insight for September 12, 2024
The energy of the cosmos is positively through the roof today! The Sun in efficient Virgo is making a potent square to lucky Jupiter in Gemini at 6:53 am EDT, encouraging us to take a gamble on ourselves, albeit a well-considered gamble. The Moon in competent Capricorn will then oppose Mars in Cancer, inspiring us to follow our feelings to the finish line. A final lunar trine to Mercury in Virgo should make it easy to wrap things up on an effective note.
AriesMarch 21 – April 19
Speaking up for yourself isn’t typically something Rams struggle with, but you may need a reminder to do so at present. The vivacious Sun’s square to Jupiter in your talkative 3rd house could result in you uncovering a unique opportunity, but not if you keep quiet. Be willing to ask around if anyone knows about anything that might be up your alley. Someone could have just the thing to make the effort totally worth it. The squeaky wheel gets the grease!
TaurusApril 20 – May 20
You shouldn’t have to refuse yourself anything today. Your heart is set on enjoying yourself while the Sun moves through your 5th House of Pleasure, but enjoying yourself might require a bit of spending when the Sun squares Jupiter in your 2nd House of Wealth. Something shiny may catch your eye! It could be all but impossible to keep from throwing your money at it. That’s technically alright, but be sure you don’t break the bank in the process, or you’ll regret it.
GeminiMay 21 – June 20
Your feelings are larger than life at the moment. Your emotions are already amplified while the Sun visits your sensitive 4th house, and a shocking event could set off major reactions when the Sun shoves boundless Jupiter in your personal 1st house. This doesn’t mean you’ll react in a bad way or be overwhelmed, but you may surprise yourself with how strong your feelings are, perhaps far stronger than you ever realized. There’s nothing wrong with being honest regarding your emotions.
CancerJune 21 – July 22
Your current life may seem a bit all over the place. You’re probably busier than usual while the Sun visits your chatty 3rd house, but there’s no guarantee you can stay focused when the Sun squares Jupiter in your dreamy 12th house. One minute you’re running around town taking care of business, the next you’ve tumbled down a rabbit hole to some fantasy land. This isn’t very productive energy, but if you focus on going with the flow, then you can certainly have fun.
LeoJuly 23 – August 22
Fun times are calling your name, Leo! You’re in an efficient frame of mind while the Sun toils in your 2nd House of Earnings, making this a good time to roll up your sleeves and get to work. Contrastingly, the Sun will jab Jupiter in your 11th House of Group Activities, so people may start clamoring for your attention, even begging for you to come out and play. Work should be able to wait for now. Don’t feel any guilt about enjoying yourself!
VirgoAugust 23 – September 22
You have all the power you need to succeed. A special cosmic vitality emboldens you as the Sun vibes in your logical sign, filling you up with positive energy. These blessings take a specific turn for the professional when the Sun squares lucky Jupiter in your 10th House of Reputation. You can make leaps and bounds up the professional ladder. That said, remember that Jupiter can bring out your inner gambler — so if you’re betting on anything, do it wisely.
LibraSeptember 23 – October 22
Anything and everything could seem possible on a day like this! Life has taken on a fantastical hue with the Sun shimmering in your magical 12th house, enticing you to go wandering through a dreamland. This transit draws you out into the world as the Sun dazzles Jupiter in your boundless 9th house, giving you reason after reason to charge off in search of adventure. You can fly far as you like, but don’t lose sight of where you’ve come from.
ScorpioOctober 23 – November 21
It’s alright if you feel pulled in multiple directions. The Sun is in your idealistic 11th house, driving you to connect with others and play your part in group dynamics. Even so, it might be tough to continually go along with everyone when the Sun squares Jupiter in your private 8th house. One minute you’re happy to come together, the next you want to follow your single-player program. Search for a balance between the two extremes, and you should feel much better.
SagittariusNovember 22 – December 21
Someone might be about to boost you when you need it most. Thanks to the potent square between the Sun in your career sector and lucky Jupiter in your connection sector, a particular person is potentially going to be the perfect catalyst to push you forward like never before! This can be especially relevant if you’re already working with a professional partner on a goal. If you normally handle things on your own, consider exchanging the program for something more group-oriented.
CapricornDecember 22 – January 19
Excitement is one thing, but productivity is quite another. Fortunately, under today’s stars, you have the rare chance to bring these two together as the Sun in your expansion sector jolts Jupiter with energy in your daily work sector. This offers you a big dose of can-do possibilities for tasks that might otherwise feel quite mundane. Think outside your usual boxes and you could come up with some very impressive results! There’s no need to follow outdated ways of doing things.
AquariusJanuary 20 – February 18
Pleasure can look like a lot of different things to you right now. The Sun is in your intimate 8th house, but it’s picking a fight with Jupiter in your expressive 5th house. This may leave you pinging back and forth between keeping your circle small and showing off to as many people as possible. It’s not about the audience, but about how much of yourself you’re willing to share. Even if you normally prefer to keep things small, let yourself live large.
PiscesFebruary 19 – March 20
Your emotions are burning brightly! Due to a square between the Sun in your partnership sector and Jupiter in your feelings quadrant, there’s an increased risk that other people can push your buttons more easily than usual. Thankfully, these buttons could put you on track for positive outcomes — you’ll just need to let your guard down and accept the conversations that take place. The more you try to keep others out, the more stressful it will be, so focus on the bright side.
Alberto Fujimori, a former president of Peru who was convicted for human rights abuses, dies at 86
By FRANKLIN BRICEÑO
LIMA, Peru (AP) — Alberto Fujimori, whose decade-long presidency began with triumphs righting Peru’s economy and defeating a brutal insurgency only to end in autocratic excess that later sent him to prison, has died. He was 86.
His death Wednesday in the capital, Lima, was announced by his daughter Keiko Fujimori in a post on X.
Fujimori, who governed with an increasingly authoritarian hand in 1990-2000, was pardoned in December from his convictions for corruption and responsibility for the murder of 25 people. His daughter said in July that he was planning to run for Peru’s presidency for the fourth time in 2026.
The former university president and mathematics professor was the consummate political outsider when he emerged from obscurity to win Peru’s 1990 election over writer Mario Vargas Llosa. Over a tumultuous political career, he repeatedly made risky, go-for-broke decisions that alternately earned him adoration and reproach.
He took over a country ravaged by runaway inflation and guerrilla violence, mending the economy with bold actions including mass privatizations of state industries. Defeating fanatical Shining Path rebels took a little longer but also won him broad-based support.
His presidency, however, collapsed just as dramatically.
After briefly shutting down Congress and elbowing himself into a controversial third term, he fled the country in disgrace in 2000 when leaked videotapes showed his spy chief, Vladimiro Montesinos, bribing lawmakers. The president went to Japan, the land of his parents, and famously faxed in his resignation.
He stunned supporters and foes alike five years later when he landed in neighboring Chile, where he was arrested and then extradited to Peru. He had hoped to run for Peru’s presidency in 2006, but instead wound up in court facing charges of abuse of power.
The high-stakes political gambler would lose miserably. He became the first former president in the world to be tried and convicted in his own country for human rights violations. He was not found to have personally ordered the 25 death-squad killings for which he was convicted, but he was deemed responsible because the crimes were committed in his government’s name.
His 25-year sentence did not stop Fujimori from seeking political revindication, which he planned from a prison built in a police academy on the outskirts of Lima, the capital.
His congresswoman daughter Keiko tried in 2011 to restore the family dynasty by running for the presidency but was narrowly defeated in a runoff. She ran again in 2016 and 2021, when she lost by just 44,000 votes after a campaign in which she promised to free her father.
“After a long battle with cancer, our father, Alberto Fujimori, has just departed to meet the Lord,” she said on X Wednesday. “We ask those who loved him to accompany us with a prayer for the eternal rest of his soul.”
Fujimori’s presidency was, in fact, a brash display of outright authoritarianism, known locally as “caudillismo,” in a region shakily stepping away from dictatorships toward democracy.
He is survived by his four children. The oldest, Keiko, became first lady in 1996 when his father divorced his mother, Susana Higuchi, in a bitter battle in which she accused Fujimori of having her tortured. The youngest child, Kenji, was elected a congressman.
Fujimori was born July 28, 1938, Peruvian Independence Day, and his immigrant parents picked cotton until they could open a tailor’s shop in downtown Lima.
He earned a degree in agricultural engineering in 1956, and then studied in France and the United States, where he received a graduate degree in mathematics from the University of Wisconsin in 1972.
In 1984 he became rector of the Agricultural University in Lima, and six years later, he ran for president without ever having held political office, billing himself as a clean alternative to Peru’s corrupt, discredited political class.
He soared from 6% in the polls a month before the 1990 election to finish second out of nine in the balloting. He went on to beat Vargas Llosa in a runoff.
The victory, he later said, came from the same frustration that fueled the Shining Path.
“My government is the product of rejection, of being fed up with Peru because of the frivolity, corruption and nonfunctioning of the traditional political class and the bureaucracy,” he said.
Once in office, Fujimori’s tough talk and hands-on style at first won him only plaudits, as car bombings still ripped through the capital and annual inflation approached 8,000 percent.
He applied the same economic shock therapy that Vargas Llosa had advocated but he had argued against in the campaign.
Privatizing state-owned industries, Fujimori slashed public spending and attracted record foreign investment.
Known affectionately as “El chino,” due to his Asian ancestry, Fujimori often donned peasant garb to visit jungle Indigenous communities and highland farmers, while delivering electricity and drinking water to dirt-poor villages. That distinguished him from the patrician, white politicians who typically lacked his commoner’s touch.
Fujimori also gave Peru’s security forces free rein to take on the Shining Path.
In September 1992, police captured rebel leader Abimael Guzmán. Deservedly or not, Fujimori took credit.
Taking power just years after much of the region had shed dictatorships, the former university professor ultimately represented a step back. He developed a growing taste for power and resorted to increasingly anti-democratic means to amass more of it.
In April 1992, he shut down Congress and the courts, accusing them of shackling his efforts to defeat the Shining Path and spur economic reforms.
International pressure forced him to call elections for an assembly to replace the Congress. The new legislative body, dominated by his supporters, changed Peru’s constitution to allow the president to serve two consecutive five-year terms. Fujimori was swept back into office in 1995, after a brief border war with Ecuador, in an election landslide.
Human rights advocates at home and abroad blasted him for pushing through a general amnesty law forgiving human rights abuses committed by security forces during Peru’s “anti-subversive” campaign between 1980 and 1995.
The conflict would claim nearly 70,000 lives, a truth commission found, with the military responsible for more than a third of the deaths. Journalists and businessmen were kidnapped, students disappeared and at least 2,000 highland peasant women were forcibly sterilized.
In 1996, Fujimori’s majority bloc in Congress put him on the path for a third term when it approved a law that determined his first five years as president didn’t count because the new constitution was not yet in place when he was elected.
A year later, Fujimori’s Congress fired three Constitutional Tribunal judges who tried to overturn the legislation, and his foes accused him of imposing a democratically elected dictatorship.
By then, almost daily revelations were showing the monumental scale of corruption around Fujimori. About 1,500 people connected to his government were prosecuted on corruption and other charges, including eight former Cabinet ministers, three former military commanders, an attorney general and a former chief of the Supreme Court.
The accusations against Fujimori led to years of legal wrangling. In December, Peru’s Constitutional Court ruled in favor of a humanitarian pardon granted to Fujimori on Christmas Eve in 2017 by then-President Pablo Kuczynski. Wearing a face mask and getting supplemental oxygen, Fujimori walked out of the prison door and got in a sport utility vehicle driven by his daughter-in-law.
The last time he was seen in public was on Sept. 4, leaving a private hospital in a wheelchair. He told the press that he had undergone a CT scan and when asked if his presidential candidacy was still going ahead, he smiled and said “We’ll see, we’ll see.”
___
Frank Bajak, the principal writer of this obituary, retired from The Associated Press in 2024. Associated Press writer Regina Garcia Cano in Mexico City contributed.
BurgerFi files for bankruptcy protection, plans to keep all locations open
Fort Lauderdale-based BurgerFi has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection but plans to keep all of its stores open while it figures out how to climb out of its debt.
The company, known for high-quality burgers, hot dogs and craft beer and wine, acquired Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza & Wings in 2021 but has been signaling possible financial trouble for months as it coped with rising food prices and declining sales.
In May it announced it was undergoing a “strategic review process” and offered no assurance that the process would result in an outcome “favorable to the Company or its shareholders.”
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In August, it warned it had just $4.4 million on hand and expected to report a loss of $18.4 million for the second quarter. It also said then that it might have to file for bankruptcy.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the company said the filing in United States Bankruptcy Court in Delaware affected only its 67 corporate-owned locations of both brands and excluded 77 franchisee-owned locations in the United States, Puerto Rico and Saudi Arabia.
Jimmy Rosenthal, chief restructuring officer of BurgerFi International Inc. was quoted in the statement as saying, “BurgerFi and Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza & Wings are dynamic and beloved brands, and in the face of a drastic decline in post-pandemic consumer spending amidst sustained inflation and increasing food and labor costs, we need to stabilize the business in a structured process.”
Rosenthal added, “We are confident that this process will allow us to protect and grow our brands and to continue the operational turnaround started less than 12 months ago and secure additional capital.”
The brand has been undergoing a top-to-bottom evaluation of its operations as part of turnaround efforts that began in 2023 to address what it called “foundational issues including declining same store sales, high employee turnover and a stale menu.”
The company recently closed 19 underperforming corporate-owned locations. Its statement said its “current platform is primed for success.”
In June, the industry website Restaurant Business Online reported that Jeff Crivello, founder of TREW Capital Management, might be planning to leverage TREW’s purchase of BurgerFi debt into a takeover of the company. TREW and L Catterton, another private equity firm, had each agreed to lend BurgerFi $2 million during the strategic review process.
Crivello is known as a “fixer” who had recently turned around Minneapolis-based barbecue chain Famous Dave’s. On Wednesday, he told the South Florida Sun Sentinel that he planned to make a bid to purchase the chain during a sales process that will take place as the bankruptcy unfolds.
The company grew out of a single location in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea that was founded in 2011 by David Manero, creator of two Vic & Angelo locations. It is headquartered on Cypress Creek Road.
Ron Hurtibise covers business and consumer issues for the South Florida Sun Sentinel. He can be reached by phone at 954-356-4071, on Twitter @ronhurtibise or by email at rhurtibise@sunsentinel.com.
Union feud escalates to a Broward schools investigation
Broward Schools Superintendent Howard Hepburn has agreed to conduct a “thorough investigation” into how an internal spat within the Broward Teachers Union nearly resulted in a school employee getting suspended.
The dispute between Jimmy Witherspoon, a steward for the Broward Teachers Union, and union President Anna Fusco made its way up the School Board and superintendent’s office, resulting in a lengthy discussion during Tuesday’s School Board meeting.
Witherspoon, a college and career adviser at Dillard 6-12 in Fort Lauderdale, told the School Board on Tuesday that Broward sheriff’s deputies came to his house about 11 p.m. Aug. 29 to question him, citing a complaint from Fusco, who had alleged he’d made an online threat against her.
The incident report wasn’t available on Wednesday. Witherspoon said the deputies questioned him that night whether he had any intention of harming Fusco, and he told them no. They didn’t take any further action.
The next morning, on Aug. 30, his principal called to say not to come to work because he was being investigated, Witherspoon said. But that action appeared to get reversed after Witherspoon said he reached out to several School Board members.
Before he was even due into work, he said he got a call from Ernie Lozano, interim chief of safety and security, saying there had been a mistake, that he wasn’t under investigation, and that he could return to work.
“The president of the union, in an overreach of her authority, has turned a BTU matter into a public Broward County Schools issue, weaponizing her position in ways that are not only improper but deeply alarming,” Witherspoon told the School Board on Tuesday.
Board member Torey Alston, a fierce critic of Fusco, questioned whether this was a case of “political harassment” by the union president.
“I want a full thorough investigation done because this stinks,” Alston said at Tuesday’s meeting.
“There will be a thorough investigation. That process has already started,” Hepburn told Alston. “I’ve already had conversations with several involved, including Mr. Witherspoon. I want to really understand the sequence of events and what led us here today.”
Fusco denies doing anything improper. She told the South Florida Sun Sentinel she reported the incident to district administrators and the Broward Sheriff’s Office after being alerted of a video that Witherspoon made on the Dillard campus and posted on Facebook.
In the video, he expressed his anger at having just gotten removed from a virtual meeting for Broward Teachers Union stewards. In that meeting, he had voiced concerns that the union had only gotten raises for teachers, not educational support professionals, the bargaining group he was in.
“I am furious, upset and, and I promise you this is just the beginning,” he said in the Facebook video. “This will not go away. They have woken up a beast, and I’m not standing for it. It’s on. ”
Fusco said multiple union members were alarmed by the video and reported it to Fortify Florida, an app to report suspicious activity or safety concerns, so she contacted the Broward Sheriff’s Office.
“I just wanted to document it because, this is a day and time where people can do whatever they want, act however they want, and I don’t want to be hurt. So I did file a police complaint. Yes, I did.”
She said she also alerted Lozano and Deputy Superintendent Angela Fulton in the district. She said this became a district issue because Witherspoon shot the video on campus at Dillard.
“I did not say fire him, take his job. I’ve never done that,” Fusco said. “But somebody needs to address it. That’s not an image we want for our school district. That’s where his students are. Now it’s on Facebook saying he’s angry and coming after someone?”
Witherspoon said the video was shot at 5 p.m., well after school hours. He said his message was that he wanted to hold Fusco accountable.
“At no point did I issue threats of harm or violence,” he told the board. “My message was clear: I was determined to seek justice for the toxic environment she has created, both in the union and within Broward County Public Schools.”
Exactly who will be the subject of this investigation is unclear. Board member Debbi Hixon said the investigation should focus only on why Witherspoon was told he needed to stay home due to an investigation, not the dispute between Witherspoon and Fusco.
“BTU is not part of the school district,” Hixon said during Tuesday’s board meeting.
But Alston argued that Fusco is a “contracted employee” with the district and falls under the district’s bullying and harassment policy.
District spokeswoman Keyla Concepcion said Wednesday that Hepburn or a designee would handle the investigation, but she would not say who would be the target.
“It will be an investigation into the complaint,” she said.
Google’s AI model faces European Union scrutiny from privacy watchdog
By KELVIN CHAN
LONDON (AP) — European Union regulators said Thursday they’re looking into one of Google’s artificial intelligence models over concerns about its compliance with the bloc’s strict data privacy rules.
Ireland’s Data Protection Commission said it has opened an inquiry into Google’s Pathways Language Model 2, also known as PaLM2. It’s part of wider efforts, including by other national watchdogs across the 27-nation bloc, to scrutinize how AI systems handle personal data.
Google’s European headquarters are based in Dublin, so the Irish watchdog acts as the company’s lead regulator for the bloc’s privacy rulebook, known as the General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR.
The commission said its inquiry is examining whether Google has assessed whether PaLM2’s data processing would likely result in a “high risk to the rights and freedoms of individuals” in the EU.
Large language models like PaLM2 are vast troves of data that act as building blocks for artificial intelligence systems. Google uses PaLM2 to power a range of generative AI services including email summarizing. The company did not respond to a request for comment.
The Irish watchdog said earlier this month that Elon Musk’s social media platform X has agreed to permanently stop processing user data for its AI chatbot Grok. The platform did so only after the watchdog took it to court the month before, filing an urgent High Court application to get X to “suspend, restrict or prohibit” processing of personal data contained in public posts by its users.
Meta Platforms paused its plans to use content posted by European users to train the latest version of its large language model after apparent pressure from the Irish regulators. The decision “followed intensive engagement” between the two, the watchdog said in June.
Italy’s data privacy regulator last year temporarily banned ChatGPT because of data privacy breaches and demanded the chatbot’s maker OpenAI meet a set of demands to resolve its concerns.
Nine Broward students arrested for online threats since August, deputies say
Nine South Florida children have been arrested since August, accused of posting threats against Broward County schools online.
The threats prompt large, sometimes expensive, responses from law enforcement, breed fear in parents and students and potentially leave lasting effects on the children who allegedly made the posts — often as a joke with no way to actually carry out a violent act.
Online threats against schools have been an ongoing issue in South Florida, and across the country, for years. Police said months after the Feb. 14, 2018, mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that such threats were on the rise. When students returned to in-person classrooms in 2021 after the pandemic, police once again said they were seeing an uptick. And so far, only in the second month of the 2024-25 school year, the online threats and subsequent arrests have continued.
Between Aug. 10 and Tuesday, a total of nine Broward County students ages 11 to 15 have been arrested for making threats against schools, the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Wednesday. The threats were often posted on Snapchat, Instagram or TikTok, and after their arrests, the Sheriff’s Office said several students said they intended them as a joke.
It was unclear Wednesday evening whether any students have been arrested on similar charges in Palm Beach County and in Miami-Dade County.
Girl, 14, arrested for making online threats of violence at multiple Broward schools, officials say
Six of the nine Broward students have been arrested since Sept. 4, when two teachers and two students were killed in a shooting at a Georgia high school. Superintendent Howard Hepburn at a news conference Tuesday said he was “in shock that students are making these types of threats” after the latest school shooting.
Sheriff Gregory Tony emphasized just before the start of the school year: “None of this stuff is a joking or laughing matter … We are going to track you down and arrest you.”
School Board member Debbi Hixon told the Sun Sentinel on Sunday that the number of threats are a serious problem.
“Frustrating is not even the right word. It’s disheartening. It’s maddening. It’s disgusting that our students, our staff, our community in general have to live with this anxiety on this constant basis,” said Hixon, whose husband was killed the Parkland school shooting. “How will you ever feel safe and comfortable in your school if [threats] are made every day?”
Recent arrestsThe first arrest came two days before school began. By the end of the first week of school, two 13-year-old students were arrested for posts they allegedly made on Snapchat.
On Sept. 4, an 11-year-old boy in sixth grade was arrested for making a false bomb threat at Somerset Academy Key Middle and High School in Deerfield Beach. Then last Friday, a 14-year-old Blanche Ely High School student was arrested after allegedly writing, “… Im shooting this school up…” on Snapchat, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Three students were arrested over this past weekend — a 14-year-old girl on Saturday and two on Sunday. An 11-year-old boy allegedly posted on Instagram a threat of a school shooting at Central Charter school in Lauderdale Lakes on Sunday, the Sheriff’s Office said, and a 15-year-old boy threatened to shoot one of his classmates at Cooper City High School in a message on WhatsApp.
Most recently, a 12-year-old girl in Lauderhill was arrested late Monday for allegedly making online threats against multiple schools, and on Tuesday, the FBI tipped off the Sheriff’s Office about a threat of a shooting at North Broward Preparatory School that was shared on TikTok. A 13-year-old Parkland girl who “said she did it in response to a dare from friends” was arrested, BSO said.
‘Students aren’t getting the message’ on school threats, superintendent says after another arrest
ConsequencesA charge of making written threats to kill, do bodily injury or conduct a mass shooting is a felony in Florida.
Broward State Attorney Harold Pryor in a statement this week said each case is handled on an individual basis and that a panel of senior prosecutors reviews evidence in each case to decide whether to file charges or refer them to programs for help. Prosecutors review each student’s behavioral history and needs, the statement said.
In a prepared video statement, Judge Elijah Williams, assigned to the Juvenile Delinquency Division, warned students that if they are charged and found guilty, they will be facing a maximum of up to three years in “a lockdown facility.”
South Florida criminal defense attorneys Lawrence Meltzer and Stephan Dobrinsky, of Meltzer & Bell, P.A., routinely represent students who are accused of making written threats. Speaking generally and not about a specific case, they said while law enforcement and school officials should and do treat cases seriously and with sensitivity, oftentimes the lives of young children are being upended over baseless posts, when they had no actual access to weapons and were not truly a danger to others.
“It’s almost like a scarlet letter,” Meltzer said. “When you are accused of this written threat to kill based on a flippant remark, where it’s not serious, and it’s jokingly said … everything gets blown out of proportion. Good kids’ lives are turned upside down.”
Defense attorneys Meltzer and Dobrinsky said children accused of making these threats are generally expelled. Meltzer said sometimes children have to go to alternative schools where their educational needs may not be met. Many end up in diversion programs, Dobrinsky said.
Sun Sentinel staff writer Anthony Man contributed to this report.
Do not to take Harris lightly | Letters to the editor
Donald Trump remains a dominant force. But there are several reasons why he should be wary of Kamala Harris. Here are 10 things that could make Trump nervous.
Harris’ background as a prosecutor and attorney general gives her formidable legal acumen. She’s adept at making compelling arguments and presenting her points clearly. Harris has shown a strong commitment to healthcare, climate change and social justice.
No. 4: Harris’ popularity among progressive and moderate Democrats could unify a crucial segment of the electorate against Trump. As vice president, she has maintained a high public profile. Her experience as a U.S. senator and vice president equips her with a deep understanding of government operations.
No. 7: Her diverse background as African-American and South Asian allows her to connect with a wide range of voters. Her strategies include modern, data-driven approaches and grassroots organizing. During her career, she has demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity. Finally, Harris has advocated for transparency and accountability in government.
Kurt Hanson, Pembroke Pines
Hear out the homelessI have a partial solution to homelessness as it relates to the new law forbidding public sleeping. How about asking the homeless what they want?
I know it’s complex, and not everyone is in the same situation. However, a large segment of the homeless population is aware of what’s going on and may have some ideas. They may even be open to ideas that those in charge would never accept. Try chipping away with multiple ideas based on individual needs.
Charles Ternosky, Pompano Beach
A senator for allDebbie Mucarsel-Powell will be a senator for all Floridians.
The cost of living is skyrocketing in Florida. As an immigrant who worked her way through school at minimum-wage jobs, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell understands daily financial struggles. By contrast, Sen. Rick Scott is a billionaire who will cut Social Security and Medicare and give additional tax cuts to the very wealthy.
Mucarsel-Powell knows that the decision to have an abortion must be among a woman, her family and her doctor. She will protect every woman’s right to make that decision. Extremist Rick Scott co-sponsored a national abortion ban and enthusiastically supports Florida’s six-week abortion ban, in which abortion is illegal before most women even know they are pregnant.
As associate dean of FIU’s Medical School, she worked hard to expand health care access to Floridians. In Congress, she sponsored legislation to expand Medicare and reduce the cost of medication. Scott wrote the plan to cut Medicare and recently said he would support repealing the Affordable Care Act, ripping affordable health care away from over 3 million Floridians. He opposed the Inflation Reduction Act, which stops drug companies from jacking up prices for life-saving medications like insulin.
Dennis Raube, Fort Myers
Cheers for ACC footballThere are great reasons to watch ACC football this season. First, the ACC is undeniably the conference of quarterbacks, a title held by the former PAC-12 last year.
Miami is one of four ACC teams ranked in the top 25 in the AP Poll. Six or more ACC teams arguably are in contention for the 12-team playoff. Finally, some of us are sick and tired of the revenue grabs by the SEC and Big Ten. Have they forgotten the SEC nearly got shut out of the 2023 playoffs? I may be biased because I grew up watching Miami in the Big East. But count me in this season.
Adam Silbert, New York, N.Y.
Submit a letter to the editor by email to letterstotheeditor@sunsentinel.com or fill out the form below. Letters are limited to less than 150 words and must be signed. You must include your email address, address with city and daytime phone for verification. Letters are subject to editing for clarity and length.
[contact-form]Today in History: September 11, al-Qaeda attacks the United States
Today is Wednesday, Sept. 11, the 255th day of 2024. There are 111 days left in the year.
Today in history:On Sept. 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 people were killed as 19 al-Qaida hijackers seized control of four jetliners, sending two of the planes into New York’s World Trade Center, one into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and the fourth into a field in western Pennsylvania. It remains the deadliest terror attack in history.
Also on this date:In 1789, Alexander Hamilton was appointed the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury.
In 1814, an American fleet scored a decisive victory over the British in the Battle of Lake Champlain in the War of 1812.
In 1936, Boulder Dam — later renamed the Hoover Dam — began operation as President Franklin D. Roosevelt pressed a button in Washington to signal the startup of the dam’s first hydroelectric generator.
In 1941, groundbreaking took place for the Pentagon.
In 1954, the Miss America pageant made its network TV debut on ABC.
In 1973, Chilean President Salvador Allende (ah-YEN’-day) died during a violent military coup led by General Augusto Pinochet.
In 1985, Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds broke Ty Cobb’s MLB career hits record with his 4,192nd hit.
In 2008, presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama put aside politics as they visited ground zero together on the anniversary of 9/11 to honor its victims.
In 2012, a mob armed with guns and grenades launched a fiery nightlong attack on a U.S. diplomatic outpost and a CIA annex in Benghazi, Libya, killing U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans.
In 2023, over 4,000 people died and thousands more were missing after heavy rain from Storm Daniel caused two dams to collapse, flooding the city of Derna, Libya.
Today’s Birthdays:- Composer Arvo Pärt is 89.
- Film director Brian De Palma is 84.
- Singer-actor-dancer Lola Falana is 82.
- Musician Mickey Hart is 81.
- Guitarist Leo Kottke is 78.
- Actor Amy Madigan is 74.
- Rock musician Tommy Shaw (Styx) is 71.
- Sportscaster Lesley Visser is 71.
- Actor Scott Patterson is 66.
- Actor/director Roxann Dawson is 66.
- Actor John Hawkes is 65.
- Actor Virginia Madsen is 63.
- Musician-composer Moby is 59.
- Singer Harry Connick Jr. is 57.
- Actor Taraji (tuh-RAH’-jee) P. Henson is 54.
- Rapper Ludacris is 47.
- Football Hall of Famer Ed Reed is 46.
- Country singer Charles Kelley (Lady A) is 43.
- Actor Elizabeth Henstridge is 37.
- Actor Tyler Hoechlin (HEK’-lihn) is 37.
To pumped-up Democrats, Harris was everything Biden was not in confronting Trump in debate
By CALVIN WOODWARD
WASHINGTON (AP) — To many Democrats, Kamala Harris was everything Joe Biden was not in confronting Donald Trump on the debate stage: forceful, fleet of foot, relentless in going after her opponent.
In a pivot from Biden’s debate meltdown in June, Democrats who gathered in bars, watch parties and other venues Tuesday night found lots to cheer in her drive to rattle the Republican.
In a race for the White House that surveys say is exceptionally close, with both sides looking for an edge, it was the Democrats who came away more exuberant after the nationally televised debate.
“She prosecuted Donald Trump tonight,” said Alina Taylor, 51, a high school special education teacher who joined hundreds of people on a football field of the historically Black Salem Baptist Church of Abington in a suburb of Philadelphia, where people watched on a 33-foot (10 meter) screen.
As for Trump, she said, “I was appalled” by his performance. “People were laughing at him because he wasn’t making very much sense.”
People watch the ABC News presidential debate between Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump at a debate watch party at The Abbey on September 10, 2024 in West Hollywood, California. Harris and Trump are facing off in their first presidential debate of the 2024 presidential cycle. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)In Seattle, people gathered at Massive, a queer nightclub where scores watched the debate on a projector set up in front of the club’s large disco ball. The crowd laughed and cheered when Trump branded Harris a Marxist. More cheers when the debate moderator called out Trump’s false claim that some states legalize the killing of babies after birth.
“He’s getting smoked,” one said.
But in Brentwood, Tennessee, Sarah Frances Morris heard nothing at her watch party to shake her support of Trump.
“I think he beat her on the border,” she said. “I think he also beat her on actually having plans and letting the American people know what those are. And I think that Kamala Harris likes to mention that she has plans for things, but she doesn’t actually ever elaborate on what those plans are.”
Morris conceded she was watching history being made, “because we have our first Black woman running for president.” But, she added, “I don’t think she delivered to get her to that place she needed to be.”
Harris supporter Dushant Puri, 19, a UC Berkeley student, said the vice president took command before the first words were spoken — when she crossed the stage to shake Trump’s hand. “I thought that was pretty significant,” Puri said. “It was their first interaction, and I thought Harris was asserting herself.”
At the same watch party, fellow student Angel Aldaco, 21, said that unlike Biden, Harris “came in with a plan and was more concise.”
People watch the presidential debate during a debate watch party at Penn Social on September 10, 2024 in Washington, DC. Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump face off in their first debate Tuesday evening at The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)Aldaco was struck by one of the night’s oddest moments, when Trump “went on that rampage about eating pets.” That’s when Trump endorsed a baseless conspiracy theory that immigrants were stealing and eating people’s dogs ands cats. Harris was incredulous. “That was good,” the student said.
It’s questionable how much viewers learned about what Harris would do as president or whether she won over independents or wavering Republicans. But for some Democrats, despondent if not panicked after Biden’s fumbling debate performance, it was enough to see a Democratic candidate getting seriously under Trump’s skin.
“He is pretty incapable when he is riled up,” said Ikenna Amilo, an accountant at a Democratic watch party in a small concert venue in downtown Portland, Maine.
People watch the presidential debate during a debate watch party at Penn Social on September 10, 2024 in Washington, DC. Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump face off in their first debate Tuesday evening at The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)“When you poke him, he is really reactive and he doesn’t show the temperament you want in a president, so I think Kamala has shown she’s doing a good job.”
Annetta Clark, 50, a Harris supporter from Vallejo, California, watched at a house party hosted by the Oakland Bay Area chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. To her, the second presidential debate was a mighty relief from the one in June.
“I couldn’t stomach the first one, if I’m being honest,” Clark said. “I tried to watch it and it was a little too much. This one I was able to enjoy.” On Trump’s performance: “It was almost like talking to a child with him.” Harris? “Fabulous job.”
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Democrat Natasha Salas, 63, of Highland, Indiana, saw the debate from an Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority watch party at a bistro in Markham, Illinois, and welcomed Harris’ call to cool the political temperature — even as the vice president denounced Trump at every turn.
“We all want the same things, Democrats and Republicans,” Salas said. “We are more alike than different. I want to see the country move forward and less divisiveness.”
Interest in the debate transcended national borders. From a shelter for migrants in Tijuana, Mexico, where dozens watched a translated version of the debates on a television, Rakan al Muhana, 40, an asylum-seeker from Gaza, became animated when the candidates discussed Israel and Palestine.
“We are running from the war,” he said. “We are running from the Israeli bombs. He (Trump) doesn’t see us as human. My daughter, who is four months — for him, she’s a terrorist.”
Al Muhana has been on a four-month journey from Gaza to this border city, with his wife and four children. They left when both his mother and father were killed in a bombing.
Associated Press journalists Michael Rubinkam in Philadelphia; George Walker in Nashville; Robert Bukaty in Portland, Maine; Lindsey Wasson in Seattle; Godofredo Vasquez in Berkeley, California; and Gregory Bull in Tijuana, Mexico, contributed to this report.
Daily Horoscope for September 11, 2024
General Daily Insight for September 11, 2024
It’s simpler than usual to make productive progress. The day begins with an eye-opening opposition between the Moon in Sagittarius and Jupiter in Gemini, followed by a quincunx between Venus and Saturn. The Moon will then enter capable Capricorn, but the most potent alignment arrives at 11:42 pm EDT, when Mercury in Virgo sextiles Mars in Cancer. We’ll be able to make the most of our energy and use it as wisely as possible, ensuring we don’t get too carried away.
AriesMarch 21 – April 19
Your emotions and your productivity are more aligned than you might realize. There is a beneficial sextile overhead between Mercury in your 6th House of Standards and your ruler Mars in your 4th House of Security, and together they will be giving you all the drive you need to accomplish everything in front of you. While this may play out in a professional setting, you can also turn this energy on to your homestead, and take care of any outstanding chores.
TaurusApril 20 – May 20
All sorts of fun interactions are on offer at present! Mercury in your 5th House of Delight is sextiling Mars in your 3rd House of Interactions, so you likely won’t need to go far to deliver a healthy dose of excitement. There is a very social vibration to this alignment, so there’s no need to shy away from connecting with people. Whether you’re reaching out to old friends or new acquaintances, appreciating your connections is the surest way to make the most of this energy.
GeminiMay 21 – June 20
A current domestic matter could turn out to be a financial one as well. Fortunately, this will likely be a positive development, as your ruler Mercury in your 4th House of Domesticity makes a supportive angle to action planet Mars in your 2nd House of Income. A conversation with a relative could result in a great idea for a money-making venture, or perhaps you’ll finally convert that extra bedroom into a home office. Selling off some old possessions could also prove very lucrative.
CancerJune 21 – July 22
Your energy is at an all-time high! Mercury in your verbose 3rd house is sextiling fiery Mars in your sign, strengthening you to channel your willpower in a manner that is both productive and exciting. This is a great moment to pursue your goals, whatever they might be. Since the 3rd house is a very communicative sector, try voicing your ambitions and talking to others about them as you progress forward. You never know who could turn out to be your next big supporter.
LeoJuly 23 – August 22
Sometimes it’s best to work behind the scenes. This is one of those times, as Mercury in your productive 2nd house sextiles Mars in your hidden 12th house, encouraging you to keep your projects under wraps and temporarily hold off on any big reveals. This supports the detail work required by most ideas — you’ll also be able to troubleshoot any problems that might require your attention. Don’t worry about outward effort. Instead, keep your agenda to yourself for the time being.
VirgoAugust 23 – September 22
Everyone wants a piece of you today. There is a fabulous alignment between Mercury in your focused sign and Mars in your 11th House of Friendship, making you one of the most popular signs of the zodiac. Even if you normally prefer your own company, this is not the time to play the wallflower. Go round up the crew for a day of whatever-you-like! You can use this to simply pursue fun or to achieve an impressive feat you couldn’t manage alone.
LibraSeptember 23 – October 22
Epiphanies and magical thinking abound! Mercury in your 12th House of the Subconscious is collaborating with motivator Mars in your 10th House of Career, so the best way forward is by letting your mind coast until it reaches the finish line. Such a roundabout method may sound ineffective, but it’s an ideal way to connect with your intuition. The planets are encouraging you to use your imagination and jump into the pool of ideas. The less you push, the more progress you can make.
ScorpioOctober 23 – November 21
Working together is a terrific way to expand your horizons. Thanks to a special sextile between Mercury in your group-oriented 11th house and Mars in your daring 9th house, there’s a planetary emphasis on going further together. This could be as simple as you and some buddies deciding to take a trip together, but it could also be more official. Maybe you’ll join an organization or a program with far-reaching scope that will totally change your worldview. Be open to the possibilities.
SagittariusNovember 22 – December 21
Conversations can lead to major windfalls. Mercury in your career sector is zoning in on what you want and what you must do in order to achieve it. You can back that up with even more impressive firepower when Mercury boosts Mars in your 8th House of Major Finances. Seemingly typical talks could result in a big payout. That being said, it will likely be a one-time deal, like a bonus or prize. Still, projects begun under this alignment should prove especially lucrative.
CapricornDecember 22 – January 19
One specific person can help you see the world in a whole new fashion. Messenger Mercury is flying through your 9th House of Development, where it is sextiling action planet Mars in your 7th House of Partnerships. A loved one may act as a catalyst for you getting out into the world. Whether you leap at the chance to travel, decide to return to school, or even explore a unique spiritual practice, it’s clear that you’ll enjoy the process more with another person.
AquariusJanuary 20 – February 18
Today may be a little intense, but that doesn’t mean it will be difficult. A positive angle between Mercury in your 8th House of Power and Mars in your 6th House of Determination is offering you extra fuel for your inner flame. This is the kind of ammunition you can use to your advantage when it comes to finalizing some impressive achievements. Get to work first thing — you just might wow everyone with how much you’re able to check off your list.
PiscesFebruary 19 – March 20
Open communication can lead to a truly lovely day. You’re potentially in the mood to partner up while energetic Mercury dances through your relationship sector. The good vibes keep coming when Mercury syncs up with Mars in your fun-loving 5th house! The urge to pursue your pleasures will be all but impossible to ignore, so feel free to leave less exciting nonurgent tasks for another time. Keep in mind that you’ll enjoy yourself even more if you double up, so avoid flying solo.
Taylor Swift endorses Kamala Harris for president
WASHINGTON (AP) — Taylor Swift, one of the music industry’s biggest stars, endorsed Kamala Harris for president shortly after the debate ended on Tuesday night.
“I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos,” Swift wrote in an Instagram post, which included a link to a voter registration website.
Swift has a dedicated following among young women, a key demographic in the November election, and her latest tour has generated more than $1 billion in ticket sales. In a half hour, the post received more than 2.3 million likes.
She included a picture of herself holding her cat Benjamin Button, and she signed the message “Childless Cat Lady.” The remark is a reference to three-year-old comments made by JD Vance, Donald Trump’s running mate, about women without children not having an equal stake in the country’s future.
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Swift wrote that her endorsement was partially prompted by Trump’s decision to post AI-generated pictures suggesting that she had endorsed him. One showed Swift dressed as Uncle Sam, and the text said “Taylor wants YOU to VOTE for DONALD TRUMP.”
Trump’s posts “brought me to the conclusion that I need to be very transparent about my actual plans for this election as a voter,” Swift wrote. She added that “I’ve done my research, and I’ve made my choice.”
The Trump campaign dismissed Swift’s endorsement.
“This is further evidence that the Democrat Party has unfortunately become a party of the wealthy elites,” said spokesperson Karoline Leavitt.
“There’s many Swifties for Trump out there in America,” she said, herself included.
Swift’s endorsement was not exactly a surprise. In 2020, she supported President Joe Biden, and she cheered for Harris in her debate against then-Vice President Mike Pence. She also was openly critical of Trump, saying he had stoked “the fires of white supremacy and racism.”
Swift is a popular figure nationwide, but especially among Democrats. An October 2023 Fox News poll found that 55% of voters overall, including 68% of Democrats, said they had a favorable view of Swift. Republicans were divided, with 43% having a favorable opinion and 45% an unfavorable one.
AP VoteCast suggests that a partisan divide on Swift was apparent as early as 2018. That’s the year Swift made her first political endorsement, supporting Tennessee Democrat Phil Bredesen for Senate over Republican Marsha Blackburn.
VoteCast found that among Tennessee voters that year, 55% of Democrats and just 19% of Republicans said they had a favorable opinion of Swift. Blackburn won by a comfortable margin in the deep red state.
Associated Press writer Jill Colvin in Philadelphia contributed to this report.
Key takeaways from a debate that featured tense clashes and closed with a Taylor Swift endorsement
By STEVE PEOPLES, JONATHAN J. COOPER and NICHOLAS RICCARDI
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump and Kamala Harris faced each other on the debate stage Tuesday night for the first — and possibly the last — time.
The Democratic vice president opened the faceoff with a power move, marching across the stage to Trump’s lectern to shake his hand.
“Kamala Harris,” she said, introducing herself as the pair met for the first time ever. “Let’s have a good debate.”
“Nice to see you. Have fun,” the former Republican president responded.
The exchange set the tone for the 90-minute debate to come: Harris controlled the conversation at times, baiting Trump with jabs at his economic policy, his refusal to concede his 2020 election loss and even his performance at his rallies.
Trump, while measured early on, grew more annoyed as the night went on. And one significant moment played out after the two candidates left the stage, when megastar Taylor Swift said she’ll vote for Harris.
Some takeaways on a historic debate:
From the opening handshake, Harris took the fight to Trump in a way that Biden could notIn her first answer, the former prosecutor said Trump’s tariffs would effectively create a sales tax on the middle class. She soon accused Trump of presiding over the worst attack on American democracy since the Civil War — the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. She charged him with telling women what they could do with their bodies. And she mocked Trump’s praise of dictators “who would eat you for lunch.”
Harris effectively controlled much of the conversation with such attacks and baited Trump into responses that were at times vents, and at others, reminders of his wild rhetoric and fixation on the past.
“You did in fact lose that election,” Harris said of the 2020 race that Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden but still insists he won. “Donald Trump was fired by 81 million people,” she said, referring to Biden’s winning vote total.
Show Caption1 of 13ExpandBut Harris may have got under her opponent’s skin the most when she went after his performance at his rallies, noting that people often leave early.
Growing visibly irritated, Trump insisted that his rallies were larger than hers.
A smiling Harris frequently shifted her message from Trump back to the American people.
“You will not hear him talk about your needs, your dreams and your needs and your desires,” Harris said. “And I’ll tell you, I believe you deserve a president who actually puts you first.”
Trump had a label for Harris: ‘She is Biden’Trump was often on defense, but he did drive the core message of his campaign: inflation and immigration are hammering Americans.
Immigrants, Trump said, have “destroyed the fabric of our country.”
He repeatedly tied Harris to Biden.
“She is Biden,” he said.
“The worst inflation we’ve ever had,” Trump added. “A horrible economy because inflation has made it so bad. And she can’t get away with that.”
Harris responded: “Clearly, I am not Joe Biden and I am certainly not Donald Trump. And what I do offer is a new generation of leadership for our country.”
Trump also went after Harris for moving away from some of the progressive positions she took in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, urging voters not to believe the more moderate tone she’s striking in this campaign.
“She’s going to my philosophy now. In fact, I was going to send her a MAGA hat,” he said, referring to the red “Make America Great Again” baseball caps that many of his supporters wear. “But if she ever got elected, she’d change it.”
Swift gets off the sidelineOne of the most consequential moments came in a post on one of the most-followed accounts on Instagram moments after the debate ended.
Swift has a loyal following among young women, a demographic that Harris needs to turn out in big numbers. She called Harris a “gifted leader,” telling her fans to do their research and make their own decisions, but “I’ve done my research, and I’ve made my choice.”
Trump on race and Harris on the attackABC moderator David Muir asked Trump point blank about his allegation last month that Harris had belatedly “ turned Black.” Harris is Black and South Asian and a graduate of Howard University a historically Black school in Washington.
Trump tried to play down the matter. “I don’t care what she is, you make a big deal out of something, I couldn’t care less,” Trump said.
Harris, however, had her opening and she rattled off a long list of Trump’s racial controversies: his legal settlement for discrimination against prospective Black tenants at his New York apartment buildings in the 1970s; his ad calling for the execution of Black and Latino teenagers — who were wrongly arrested — in the Central Park jogger case in the 1980s; and his false claims that former President Barack Obama was not born in the United States.
“I think the American people want something better than that, want better than this,” Harris said.
Trump accused Harris of trying to “divide” people and dismissed her claims as dated and irrelevant.
“This is a person that has to stretch back 40, 50 years ago because there’s nothing now,” he said.
Harris and Trump dug in on abortion positionsHarris came out swinging in defense of abortion rights, perhaps the strongest issue for Democrats since Trump’s nominees created a Supreme Court majority to overturn the constitutional right to an abortion. Her sharp arguments provided a vivid contrast to President Joe Biden’s rambling comments on the issue during his June debate with Trump.
“The government, and Donald Trump, certainly should not be telling a woman what to do with her body,” Harris said. She painted a vivid picture of women facing medical complications, gut-wrenching decisions and having travel out of state for an abortion.
Trump was just as fierce in defense, saying he returned the issue to the states, an outcome he said many Americans wanted. He struggled with accuracy, however, repeating the false claim that Democrats support abortion even after babies are born. He stuck to that even after he was corrected by moderator Lynsey Davis.
“I did a great service in doing that. It took courage to do it,” Trump said of the overturning of Roe v. Wade and its constitutional protections for abortion. “And the Supreme Court had great courage in doing it. And I give tremendous credit to those six justices.”
Polls has shown significant opposition to overturning Roe and voters have punished Republicans in recent elections for it.
Who’s talking now?Trump took a Harris talking point and directed it right back at her. It happened when he objected after Harris interrupted him.
“Wait a minute, I’m talking now,” Trump said. “Sound familiar?”
He was putting his own spin on a line Harris used famously against Mike Pence in the 2020 vice presidential debate when she rebuked Pence for interrupting, saying: “Mr. Vice President, I’m speaking.”
A message to the middleIn a divided nation, the election will ultimately be decided by a small slice of swing voters in only a handful of states. And in a nod toward that fact, Harris made an explicit appeal to voters across the political spectrum — including Republicans.
She noted that she is a gun owner. She cited the “late, great John McCain,” a reference to the Arizona Republican senator and war hero whom Trump criticized for being captured by enemy soldiers. And she listed the many Republicans who formerly served in the Trump administration who have now endorsed her campaign.
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Trump, meanwhile, offered little outreach to voters in the middle, ignoring the calls for unity that framed his summertime convention speech.
Harris seized on the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol to make another explicit appeal to undecided voters.
“It’s time to turn the page,” she said. “And if that was a bridge too far for you, well, there is a place in our campaign for you.”
A restrained Trump — except when he wasn’tDemocrats hoped and Republicans feared that Trump would lose his cool on stage. At first he didn’t, but as Harris increasingly got under his skin, he went to some dark places.
Trump amplified false rumors that Haitian immigrants in Ohio are eating pets — ABC’s Muir noted that local officials say that is not happening — as he argued that the Biden-Harris administration was admitting dangerous immigrants.
When Harris pressed him on the array of criminal and civil cases against him, Trump similarly fumed. He accused Harris and Biden of planting all the cases.
“I probably took a bullet to the head because of the things they said about me,” Trump said, referencing the assassination attempt in July by a gunman whose motives are unknown.
When pressed on whether he had any responsibility for Capitol riot, Trump raised his voice, blaming both Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, who was the House speaker at the time, and the Democratic mayor of Washington. He said the rioters have “been treated so badly” and once again denied he lost the 2020 election.
Harris replied: “Donald Trump was fired by 81 million people, let’s be clear about that, and clearly he’s having a very difficult time processing that.”
An early skirmish on the economyThe debate opened with an unexpectedly wonky exchange on the economy: Harris took on Trump for his plan to put in place sweeping tariffs and for the trade deficit he ran as president; Trump slammed Harris for inflation that he incorrectly said was the worst in the country’s history.
Trump said people look back on his presidency’s economy fondly. “I created one of the greatest economies in the history of our country,” he said. Harris flatly told viewers: “Donald Trump has no plan for you.”
Americans are slightly more likely to trust Trump over Harris when it comes to handling the economy, according to an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs poll from August.
Gender an afterthoughtHarris would be the nation’s first female president. But her gender was an afterthought during the debate.
She made no references to the historic nature of her candidacy. Neither did Trump.
And there were no performative moments in which gender was an issue. Who could forget Trump’s decision to stand behind his last female opponent, Hillary Clinton, during a 2016 debate? He also called Clinton a “nasty woman.” Afterward, Clinton said she was creeped out.
But on Tuesday night, both candidates stayed behind their podiums as instructed and there were no explicit jabs regarding gender.
Riccardi reported from Denver.
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