South Florida Local News

Today is Thursday, Sept. 5, the 249th day of 2024. There are 117 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Sept. 5, 1972, Palestinian militants attacked the Israeli Olympic delegation at the Munich Games, killing two and taking nine others hostage; five of the militants, a German police officer and all nine hostages were killed in the following 24 hours.

Also on this date:

In 1774, the first Continental Congress assembled in Philadelphia.

In 1836, Sam Houston won the first presidential election in the newly established Republic of Texas.

In 1905, the Treaty of Portsmouth was signed, ending the Russo-Japanese war; for his efforts in mediating the peace negotiations, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt was awarded the Noble Peace Prize the following year.

In 1957, Jack Kerouac’s novel “On the Road” was published.

In 1960, Muhammad Ali (as Cassius Clay) won the gold medal in the light heavyweight boxing division at the Olympic Games in Rome.

In 1975, President Gerald R. Ford survived an assassination attempt by Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, a disciple of Charles Manson, in Sacramento, California.

In 1986, four hijackers who had seized a Pan Am jumbo jet on the ground in Karachi, Pakistan, opened fire on the jet’s passengers; a total of 20 passengers and crew members were killed before Pakistani commandos stormed the jetliner.

In 1991, the 35th annual Naval Aviation Symposium held by the Tailhook Association opened in Las Vegas; during the four-day gathering, there were reports that as many as 90 people, most of them women, were sexually assaulted or otherwise harassed. (The episode triggered the resignation of Navy Secretary Henry L. Garrett III.)

Today’s Birthdays:

• Actor Lucille Soong (TV: “Fresh Off the Boat”) is 89.
• Baseball Hall of Hamer Bill Mazeroski is 88.
• Actor William Devane is 85.
• Actor George Lazenby is 85.
• Film director Werner Herzog is 82.
• Singer Al Stewart is 79.
• “Cathy” cartoonist Cathy Guisewite (GYZ’-wyt) is 74.
• Actor Michael Keaton is 73.
• Actor Rose McGowan is 51.
• Olympic gold medal gymnast Tatiana Gutsu is 48.
• Actor Carice Van Houten is 48.
• Mixed martial artist Francis Ngannou is 38.
• Olympic gold medal figure skater Yuna Kim is 34.
• Soccer player Bukayo Saka is 23.

General Daily Insight for September 05, 2024

We can all be our best selves today — without making it a chore. The Moon is sailing through pleasant Libra, encouraging us to be fair-minded and amiable. This congeniality will be further amplified when the Moon conjoins magnetic Venus at 5:12 am EDT, adding a huge dose of positivity. We can let our feelings guide us forward under this energy. Listening to our intuition should be even easier when the Moon nudges Saturn in Pisces later on in the day. We’ve got this!

Aries

March 21 – April 19

People should have your back today. The Moon and Venus are coming together at the same degree in your 7th House of Partnerships, benefitting many kinds of dynamic duos. This applies to all sorts of relationships, be they platonic, romantic, or professional, as long as they exist on an equal footing. This is also an excellent day for working out any contractual matters, as Venus will sharpen your ability to analyze any documentation so you can ensure you’re treated quite well in the process.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Even the most mundane tasks could fly by today. Your 6th House of Daily Work is wonderfully lit up as the Moon conjoins Venus, easing tensions and making your tasks evaporate in the blink of an eye. Other people might be especially helpful, so don’t be shy about asking for help or letting others step in when they offer. This sector also rules your health, so make a point to move your body in whatever way most appeals to you — dancing, yoga, hiking, anything!

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

This is a day to enjoy yourself without reserve. Fabulous energy abounds as the Moon aligns with beautifying Venus in your blissful 5th house, giving you cosmic clearance to follow your heart in whatever direction it leads. This sector is also very creative, so don’t shy away from art. Even if you don’t consider yourself a “true” artist, you can mess around with whatever supplies you happen to have on hand — even just a pen and paper. Let yourself play and see what happens!

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Your home is the stage for a lovely day. The Moon and Venus are coordinating in your domestic 4th house, so this is the perfect time to bring some beauty and pleasure to your abode. This may look like you finally getting your ducks in a row to DIY a redecoration project — or maybe you’ll invite friends and family to an impulsive get-together at your place. Regardless, things will probably come together more easily than usual. Let any guests bring drinks or dessert!

Leo

July 23 – August 22

This is no day to leave stones unturned. Lovely energy permeates the skies as the Moon and Venus come together in a beautiful conjunction in your 3rd House of Local Community, drawing your eyes toward all sorts of buried treasure in your area. You may discover some unique shops or restaurants that could speedily become favorite spots or meet someone while out running errands who already feels like a friend you’ve always known. Make a point to get out and see what’s happening!

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

A spoonful of indulgence can’t hurt on a day like this. You’ve got cosmic clearance to treat yourself as the Moon aligns with Venus in your luxury-loving 2nd house. It can indeed be easy to throw your money around during this aspect, so set a realistic budget without feeling like you’re depriving yourself. If you are going to splurge, be sure to splurge on something that will pay for itself over a long time. Quality, not quantity, is the name of the game.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

You’re positively glowing, Libra! This undeniable allure is all thanks to the Moon flying through your charming sign. While Luna is in this personal territory, it will conjoin your ruler, Venus — also known as the planet of pleasure. You can use this energy in just about any way you want as you lean into the lovely side of life. That being said, make sure you’re using it responsibly, or you could leave a trail of disappointed friends behind you without even realizing it.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Your dreams may feel more real than whatever is in front of you at the moment. You’re prone to meandering along at a gentle pace while the Moon floats through your sleepy 12th house — thankfully, you’re allowed to indulge in this flowing energy as the Moon conjoins alluring Venus in the same sector. Venus wants you to enjoy yourself, so let your daydreams carry you wherever they might, and don’t worry about any non-urgent work or responsibilities. Return to them under more serious skies.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Everyone wants to get along today! The Moon in your social 11th house conjoins pleasure-loving Venus, reminding you of all the best parts of friendship. The perfect way to put this energy to good use is to get the gang together for an adventure! On the other hand, this is also a great time to open yourself up to new connections as well. A friend-of-a-friend or an acquaintance could have a really positive impact on you, and you wouldn’t want to miss that.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Your reputation is positively gleaming. The Moon is coming together with Venus in your professional 10th house, inspiring other people to see the best in you and bask in your glow. This is the perfect time for a big reveal if you’ve been working on a project, because it will probably be very well received. If you’ve been hoping for a raise or other recognition, now is the right moment to ask your supervisor. They should be ready to listen to reasonable requests.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

The world can be a scary place, but right now, it’s a truly beautiful one. You can dive into the wonderful side of life as the Moon conjoins Venus in your 9th House of Expansion, encouraging you to sample a few extra servings of the spice of life. Maybe you’ll try an exotic cuisine you’ve never tasted before, take in a foreign film, or book a trip abroad — just look beyond your usual routines for satisfaction. You can be sure you’ll find it.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Keep your eyes peeled, Pisces, because windfalls are on offer. The Moon and Venus are forming a lucrative conjunction in your 8th House of Shared Resources, which could result in a financial coup of one kind or another. This is all about money involving other people, so you may receive a helpful loan or line of credit, or perhaps someone will repay an outstanding debt that you’ve been waiting on for some time now. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth!

MIAMI (AP) — Xavier Edwards hit an RBI single in the 10th inning and the Miami Marlins beat the Washington Nationals 4-3 on Wednesday night.

Automatic runner Griffin Conine advanced to third on Nick Fortes’ groundout. Edwards followed with a soft line drive off Derek Law (7-3) that bounced into left field for Miami’s first win of the season against Washington after eight losses.

It was also Edwards’ first career walk-off hit and he was doused with a bucket of ice water in the post-game celebration.

“I will remember the bucket of ice water,” Edwards said. “It was cold, like getting out of a cold tub. Felt similar.”

Edwards singled in his last two at-bats after going hitless in his first eight plate appearances since returning from the injured list on Tuesday. With two bases open, Edwards thought he would be walked intentionally to create a force out situation.

“I’m glad that they pitched to me,” Edwards said. “The goal was just to get the run in any way that I could. So I’m glad that I did.”

John McMillon (1-1) pitched the top of the 10th for the win in a game that attracted a season low 6,156 at LoanDepot Park.

The Marlins overcame a no-hit bid by Nationals starter MacKenzie Gore and later trailed 3-2 before Jake Burger’s tying single in the eighth. Edwards and Connor Norby hit two-out singles against Nationals reliever Jose Ferrer. Kyle Finnegan relieved Ferrer and allowed Burger’s line drive to left.

“I thought we were going to get no-hit there for a minute the way Gore was throwing the baseball,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “To come out of that with a win is awesome.”

The Nationals erased a 2-0 deficit with a three-run eighth against relievers Mike Baumann and Calvin Faucher.

Keibert Ruiz drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on Jacob Young’s single. Dylan Crews walked to load the bases.

Faucher relieved Baumann and walked José Tena to force in a run. Andrés Chaparro’s RBI fielder’s choice tied it at 2-2 and James Wood’s run-scoring double put Washington ahead.

Gore retired the first 16 before Conine walked on a 3-2 count with one out in the sixth. Fortes then broke up Gore’s no-hit bid with an RBI double for the first run of the game. Fortes’ line drive rolled toward the left field wall, scoring Conine from first.

“It’s something you don’t really try to think about,” Gore said of his no-hit attempt. “It’s a one pitch at a time thing. I just try to build from the approach we’ve had the last few outings. I felt good going in and I tried to execute pitches.”

Otto López’s run-scoring double off reliever Jacob Barnes in the seventh made it 2-0.

Gore struck out nine over six innings. After allowing Fortes’ double, Gore fanned Edwards and Norby to complete his 93-pitch outing.

Miami starter Valente Bellozo limited Washington to three hits in six-plus innings. The right-hander walked two and struck out one.

“My last couple of outings we weren’t able to attack the zone and today that was the plan — to throw strikes,” Bellozo said in Spanish.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins: OF Jesús Sánchez (mild back muscle spasm) pinch hit in the ninth and reached on a two-out infield single. … LHP Ryan Weathers (left index finger strain) threw three scoreless innings in a rehab outing with Single-A Jupiter on Tuesday.

UP NEXT

Nationals: RHP Jake Irvin (9-11, 4.08) will start the opener of a four-game series at Pittsburgh on Thursday. LHP Bailey Falter (6-7, 4.41) will start for the Pirates.

Marlins: RHP Adam Oller (1-1, 3.31) gets the start when Miami opens a four-game home series against Philadelphia on Thursday. The Phillies will go with LHP Ranger Suárez (11-6, 3.02).

___

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

Here’s a look at how the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars match up in six key areas ahead of Sunday’s season opener at Hard Rock Stadium (1 p.m., CBS and Paramount+):

When the Dolphins run: Miami returns the No. 6 rushing offense, which was tops in the NFL in 2023 in terms of yards per attempt as the team was in the middle of the pack in terms of rushing attempts. The Jaguars have a top-10 run defense from last season, finishing ninth in that regard.

The Dolphins ground game returns the Raheem Mostert-De’Von Achane combination and added rookie Jaylen Wright out of Tennessee as a fourth-round pick. It’s yet to be determined how coach Mike McDaniel will spread out touches, but in general, one could expect some even distribution between Mostert and Achane with maybe some Wright sprinkled in when all healthy. Miami lost right guard Robert Hunt in free agency and no longer has Connor Williams at center, but Aaron Brewer should be a good scheme fit for the outside zone with his athleticism and Liam Eichenberg and Robert Jones are now in their third seasons in this system.

Jacksonville has a strong linebacker combination in Foyesade Oluokun and Devin Lloyd. It also added veteran defensive lineman Arik Armstead, so it won’t be easy for Miami to get its ground game going, but the Dolphins should still find chunk plays running the football. Edge: Dolphins

When the Jaguars run: Running back Travis Etienne comes off a 1,000-yard season in which he had 11 touchdowns on the ground, while also being a viable receiving threat. The Jaguars only ranked 24th in rushing in 2023 and 30th in yards per attempt, but getting Etienne going could be a way for them to keep the Dolphins’ high-powered offense off the field and control time of possession.

Brandon Scherff at right guard and a familiar face at center in Mitch Morse, formerly of the Buffalo Bills, will help pave the way for Etienne. The Dolphins finished seventh in run defense last season, but they no longer have Christian Wilkins on the defensive line. Zach Sieler is back and now has 38-year-old Calais Campbell with him up front, along with Benito Jones at nose tackle to replace Raekwon Davis. David Long Jr. is great against the run at linebacker, and Jordyn Brooks could be an upgrade over Jerome Baker. Rookie edge rusher Chop Robinson could be someone the Jags try to attack in the ground game, so he’ll need to set the edge or get some help on his side if he becomes a liability as a run defender. Edge: Even

When the Dolphins pass: Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa comes off his first Pro Bowl season in 2023 after leading the NFL in passing yards (4,624), throwing 29 touchdowns and 14 interceptions on a completion percentage of 69.3. He also scored his four-year, $212.4 million contract extension. He and wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle return to last season’s top passing offense, which added tight end Jonnu Smith and can incorporate Mostert and Achane out of the backfield. But Odell Beckham Jr.’s Miami debut will have to wait, as he starts the season on the physically-unable-to-perform list.

Hill, who comes off his career-high of 1,799 receiving yards, may draw the matchup of cornerback and South Florida product Tyson Campbell, who played high school football at American Heritage and then collegiately at Georgia. The Jaguars secondary, which already ranked 26th against the pass last season, lost safety Rayshawn Jenkins, the former Miami Hurricane, in the offseason. They enter with a new scheme in 2024 after bringing in defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen.

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Where Jacksonville is dangerous is with the pass rush on the edge. Josh Hines-Allen (17 1/2 sacks) and Travon Walker (10 sacks) will have to be contained in matchups that will belong to respective tackles Terron Armstead and Austin Jackson. They should be fairly reliable on the ends, even against the high-end pass rushers, but Hines-Allen and Walker coming around up the middle on twists and stunts could put Tagovailoa in a predicament against Miami’s interior offensive line. Nonetheless, Tua knows how to get the ball out quickly. Edge: Dolphins

When the Jaguars pass: Also getting his second contract this offseason was Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. He was granted the trust of the franchise after throwing 21 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in his third NFL season. His ability to scramble is also something Dolphins defenders will have to key in on.

Star Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who first entered the NFL with the Jaguars, has missed practice early in the week with a hamstring injury. If healthy, he may not be needed to necessarily shadow any top Jaguars receiving target. Wide receiver Calvin Ridley is gone, and Jacksonville brought in Gabe Davis, formerly of Buffalo, to go with returning Christian Kirk and rookie Brian Thomas Jr. Tight end Evan Engram is a target to watch, and that responsibility could lie with either safety Jevon Holland or Jordan Poyer. The Miami secondary didn’t spent much time together in training camp, so that’s something to watch as cornerbacks Kendall Fuller and Kader Kohou also factor into coverage plans.

The Dolphins also have questions on how much of a pass rush they can produce Week 1. Jaelan Phillips will be on some type of a snap count. Bradley Chubb, of course, starts the season on PUP list. Emmanuel Ogbah, rookies Robinson and Mohamed Kamara and former practice squad member Quinton Bell could all play key roles in the debut for Anthony Weaver as defensive coordinator. Edge: Jaguars

Special teams: We have no idea what will happen on kick returns given the new rules, but that will be one of the more interesting subplots Sunday afternoon. The Dolphins return their trio of specialists in kicker Jason Sanders, who had a nice comeback season in 2023, punter/holder Jake Bailey and long snapper Blake Ferguson. The Jaguars have a rookie kicker in Cam Little, but new return specialist Devin Duvernay has given Miami problems in the past with Baltimore, returning a kickoff for a touchdown against the Dolphins in 2022. It comes down to adjusting to the new kickoff rules, though. Edge: Even

Intangibles: It’s the start of a new season at home and the Dolphins are usually good at Hard Rock Stadium in early-season 1 p.m. kickoffs. That advantage is a bit diminished against another Florida team, however, but you still give Miami the edge in this circumstance against a team they know is hungry to get back into the playoffs. Edge: Dolphins

PREDICTION: Dolphins 27, Jaguars 20

Dolphins Deep Dive: Prediction time — will Miami get the win vs. Jaguars on Sunday? | VIDEO

A sheriff’s training center that costs $74 million? Seriously?

Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony might not be aware that budgets must be followed. I guess if you’re spending someone else’s money, he doesn’t think he needs to pay close attention.

Tony’s overspending and demanding additional dollars is reckless. I don’t recall the exact amount, but the additional cost to plaster his name all over the center is outrageous.

As Broward taxpayers, we are powerless to do much about this irresponsible behavior, but thankfully, we have County Commissioner Steve Geller there to protect us from those who think they can make up their own rules when spending our money.

Jack Bloomfield, Coral Springs

Gilligan’s Island in space

The Boeing Starliner mission astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams seem to have a similar fate as the crew and passengers of the fictitious SS Minnow 60 years ago.

AP, fileBob Denver, seated at center, played Gilligan.

The two astronauts went on an eight-day mission and now won’t return till February 2025.

The Minnow’s crew and passengers went on a three-hour tour and became castaways for several TV seasons.

This looks like a case of life imitating art, with Boeing cast in the role of Gilligan.

Ed Kessler, Lake Worth Beach

Bad drivers are here now

I was amused by the reader’s claim that passage of Amendment 3 would lead to bad driving and more accidents.

Hardly a day goes by where someone on Broward streets doesn’t zoom past me at 65 mph or more. The antics of drivers making left turns from a right turn lane, speeding through red lights, and making right turns at red lights without slowing down can hardly get any worse. Cannabis supposedly calms people down, so perhaps its legalization would lead to less dangerous driving.

There’s a need to research the effects of the active ingredients of cannabis on motor skills. It clearly does not improve them, but marijuana’s illegal status prevented such research in the past.

After numerous experiments with ethanol, forensic scientists determined that impairment of motor skills takes place when the level is .08% or higher. No such research has been done on what levels of THC cause impairment but, no doubt, South Florida will supply all the test subjects needed. So let’s get on with the research.

John Countryman, Plantation

Consider the alternative

When the Biden-Harris term began, the economy was depressed, unemployment was high and we had just suffered an insurrection by Trump’s allies.

Americans were dying in great numbers from Covid, despite a lifesaving vaccine developed at warp speed. Covid deaths dramatically reduced under Biden-Harris as much of the public was vaccinated.

Under Biden-Harris, our economy, while not perfect, has outperformed the rest of the world. Unemployment is low and prices are too high, but wages are rising faster than inflation.

Inflation, still an issue, has been tamed, and is lower here than in other western democracies. The Fed will shortly begin lowering interest rates, making cars and homes more affordable.

NATO would be in shambles and Ukraine a Russian satellite if Trump had been reelected. For the sake of America and the world, we need to elect the Harris-Walz ticket.

Don Korman, Plantation

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Today is Wednesday, Sept. 4, the 248th day of 2024. There are 118 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Sept. 4, 2018, the Senate Judiciary Committee began confirmation hearings for future Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh on a day that saw rancorous exchanges between Democrats and Republicans.

Also on this date:

In 1781, Los Angeles was founded by Spanish settlers under the leadership of Governor Felipe de Neve.

In 1944, during World War II, British troops liberated Antwerp, Belgium.

In 1949, more than 140 people were injured following a performance by singer Paul Robeson in Peekskill, N.Y. as an anti-Communist mob attacked departing concertgoers.

In 1957, Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus ordered Arkansas National Guardsmen to prevent nine Black students from entering all-white Central High School in Little Rock.

In 1972, U.S. swimmer Mark Spitz became the first to win seven medals at a single Olympic Games, winning a seventh gold at the Munich Olympics in the 400-meter medley relay.

In 1972, the longest-running game show in U.S. history, “The Price is Right,” debuted on CBS.

In 1974, the United States established diplomatic relations with East Germany.

In 1998, Google was founded by Stanford University Ph.D. students Sergey Brin and Larry Page.

In 2016, elevating the “saint of the gutters” to one of the Catholic Church’s highest honors, Pope Francis canonized Mother Teresa, praising her radical dedication to society’s outcasts and her courage in shaming world leaders for the “crimes of poverty they themselves created.”

Today’s Birthdays:

• Actor Mitzi Gaynor is 93.
• Golf Hall of Famer Raymond Floyd is 82.
• Golf Hall of Famer Tom Watson is 75.
• Actor Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs is 71.
• Actor Khandi Alexander is 67.
• Actor-comedian Damon Wayans Sr. is 64.
• Baseball Hall of Famer Mike Piazza is 56.
• DJ-musician-producer Mark Ronson is 49.
• Actor Wes Bentley is 46.
• Actor Max Greenfield is 45.
• Singer-actor Beyoncé is 43.
• Actor-comedian Whitney Cummings is 42.
• Actor-comedian Kyle Mooney (TV: “Saturday Night Live”) is 40.

General Daily Insight for September 04, 2024

This is no time to ignore our emotions. The Moon begins the day in Virgo, where it will oppose mystical Neptune before dancing into fair-minded Libra. Things could get overwhelming when Mars makes an unusual quincunx to Pluto, but we’ll have the energy to handle it once Mars marches into sensitive Cancer at 3:46 pm EDT. During this emotionally charged transit, we’ll all be more inclined to follow our feelings. Still, we are capable of avoiding the temptation to act out.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

The best way to lead is with an open heart. Your ruler, red-hot Mars, is entering your sensitive 4th house, amplifying your emotions and your need for stability and security. This can make you feel somewhat pressurized as Mars exerts itself within one of the more delicate sectors of your chart. Thankfully, if you allow this to occur, rather than trying to fight it, you can make a lot of progress. This progress will likely be more internal, but you should feel worlds better.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

This is no time to rest, Taurus. Action planet Mars is entering your buzzy 3rd house for the first time in two years, so you’re going to have to pick up the pace if you want to keep up with your own popularity. It’s easy to overbook yourself during this cycle, which means that keeping a calendar of some kind will be more helpful than usual, perhaps even necessary. If you don’t drop the ball, you can probably score quite a few points.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Your finances are heating up. Your 2nd House of Income is glowing with power as can-do Mars parades into this financially focused sector, creating windows of opportunity for you to earn more money — but simultaneously showing off many ways to spend it. That’s all well and good, but Mars can also hike your usual expenses while it’s here. Do your best to keep yourself on some sort of budget, or you might wind up blowing all your hard-earned money far too quickly.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Rev your engines and get ready to blast off from the starting line! You’re the special recipient of a mega dose of firepower as Mars arrives in your sign, giving you a special boost that you haven’t felt in roughly two years. You’ll have more energy at your disposal — and it’ll need to be used well. Otherwise, you could wind up overwhelmed by all this fire. Avoid letting it build up, because without proper release, you may just blow your top.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

The best way to reach your preferred destination is by taking your hands off the steering wheel. The cosmos is hyping up the idea of kicking back and going with the flow as Mars enters your 12th House of Release. Sometimes you need to do nothing before you can be active. If things seem irritatingly slow right now, try to look at this as a blessed opportunity to clear out any old and outdated ways of being. Allow yourself to be directionless.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

You can handle just about anything on your own, but that doesn’t mean you must always do so. Right now, much more can be accomplished by working together as make-it-happen Mars energizes your 11th House of Global Communities. Connections with others, near and far, are empowered. Old friends can provide you with new opportunities, but be willing to make fresh connections as well. The planets are supporting your efforts to see how far your network can grow when you make an effort.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

No more taking it easy. It’s time to get serious as Mars advances into your 10th House of Livelihood, encouraging you to chase your goals and do whatever you can to obtain them. This is going to be an especially active phase, as more opportunities arise for you to show your worth. Get your elevator pitch ready to go, since it’ll probably come in handy! A project you’ve been working on behind the scenes may also be ready for its stunning debut.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Life is meant to be an adventure — that’s truer now than ever. This expansive energy is thanks to Mars winging its way into your curious 9th house, stirring up your desire to explore mysterious territory and discover what’s waiting for you out in the great wide world. This is a terrific time to travel, but if you can’t get away for one reason or another, then there’s nothing wrong with being an armchair explorer or making plans for future vacations.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Pressure creates diamonds. It’s good to remember this as Mars moves into your 8th House of Transformation, which is one of the most intense parts of your chart, but also incredibly rewarding. You may feel like you have to put in more work in order to deal with the heavier aspects of life while the red planet visits this sector, but the challenges you encounter at this time are actually opportunities for growth. Change isn’t simple, but the rewards should be worth it.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Doubling up doubles your luck. There’s rarely been a better time to partner up as Mars enters your 7th House of Associations, giving your most important connections an extra dose of fire for the foreseeable future. This can heat up romantic connections, but it’s equally impactful for professional and platonic bonds. Regardless of context, this exciting influence also risks sparking stress or inequality if you aren’t careful. Make sure both people are pulling their weight, no matter the nature of the partnership.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Time to break a sweat! Action planet Mars is jogging into your 6th House of Wellness, making this the perfect moment to jump on the healthy-living bandwagon. Whether you’re already regularly going to the gym or haven’t had a proper workout in ages, this energy can get your body moving more than ever before. The results should be incredibly rewarding! Even so, don’t push yourself too hard, which Mars can entice you to do. If you burn out, you won’t be able to make progress.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

There’s no holding you back now, Pisces! You’re entering a cycle of positivity and excitement as Mars takes command of your fun-loving 5th house for the first time in two years, allowing you to make pleasure your number one priority. This can mean pursuing your heart in romantic directions, but it centers around your self-expression. Maybe you’re picking up an unfamiliar pursuit or delving into a favorite creative hobby. Either way, your creative juices are flowing. Don’t ignore your turn to show off.

MIAMI — Keibert Ruiz was a triple shy of the cycle, Jacob Young also had three hits and the Washington Nationals beat the Miami Marlins 6-2 on Tuesday night.

Patrick Corbin continued his recent stretch of solid starts with 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball and Joey Gallo hit a three-run homer for the Nationals, who are 8-0 against the Marlins this season after going 6-26 against their NL East opponent the previous two seasons.

Corbin (5-12) allowed seven hits and matched a season high with eight strikeouts. The left-hander won his third consecutive start after going 2-12 in his previous 25 outings.

“Just try to continue to do what’s been working and go from there,” Corbin said. “Staying out of the middle of the plate and mixing it up. Continue to do that and keep these hitters off balance and locate pitches.”

Corbin, entering the final month of a six-year deal with Washington, has led the major leagues in losses the past three seasons.

“Patrick Corbin was really good again. That was awesome to see,” Nationals coach Dave Martinez said.

Ruiz continued his success at the Marlins home field, where he has 18 hits, including five for extra bases, over 16 games.

“I got my family here and obviously, it’s a different energy,” said Ruiz, who lives in South Florida during the off-season. “I was swinging at my pitches and not trying to do too much. That’s got to be the plan and to remain consistent.”

Young’s RBI single in the third put the Nationals ahead 1-0. Ruiz hit a leadoff double and raced home after Young’s line drive bounced inside the right-field foul line.

The Nationals padded their lead on Gallo’s home run in the fourth. It was his first homer since June 3 after missing 60 games because of a left hamstring strain.

“That’s the Joey Gallo we’ve seen for years,” Martinez said. “I hope he has a really good month not just for us but for him. He worked really hard to get back and when he starts hitting the ball like that, they usually come in bunches.”

Miami got on the board when Connor Norby hit a run-scoring double in the fifth.

Ruiz’s two-out solo shot in the sixth made it 5-1 and chased Max Meyer (3-5), who allowed five runs and nine hits. The rookie right-hander walked one and struck out five in 5 2/3 innings.

“I thought his stuff was better than his line would suggest,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said of Meyer. “He went away from his changeup after the second or third inning and became a two-pitch pitcher. His pitch to Gallo was a missed spot.”

Cristian Pache narrowed the deficit with an RBI double in the sixth before Washington regained the four-run advantage on Andrés Chaparro’s RBI groundout in the ninth.

Marlins shortstop Xavier Edwards returned from the injured list and went 0 for 5. Before being sidelined because of back soreness on Aug. 24, Edwards took over the leadoff spot, hitting .349 with 22 stolen bases in 47 games.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Nationals: RHP Cade Cavalli (right elbow surgery) threw a 20-pitch bullpen Tuesday, his first since experiencing “dead arm” fatigue during a rehab outing in May. Depending on his progression, Cavalli could face hitters before the end of the season.

Marlins: OF Jesús Sánchez left because of a mild back muscle spasm after successfully stealing a base in the second. … RHP Anthony Bender (right shoulder impingement) threw a scoreless inning in a rehab outing with Triple-A Jacksonville on Tuesday.

UP NEXT

LHP MacKenzie Gore (8-11, 4.45) will start the finale of the two-game set for the Nationals on Wednesday while RHP Valente Bellozo (2-2, 4.32) will go for the Marlins.

By WILL WEISSERT, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris plans to propose on Wednesday a tenfold increase in federal tax incentives for small business startup expenses, from $5,000 to $50,000, hoping to help spur a record 25 million new small business applications over her four-year term should she win the presidency in November.

She’s set to unveil the plan during a campaign stop in the Portsmouth area of New Hampshire — marking a rare deviation from the Midwestern and Sunbelt battlegrounds the Democrat has focused on in her race against former Republican President Donald Trump.

A Harris campaign official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a policy plan that hadn’t been released publicly, said Tuesday the change would cover the $40,000 it costs on average to start a business. The proposal would let new businesses wait to claim that deduction until they first turn a profit, to better maximize its impact lowering their taxes.

Such changes would likely require congressional approval. But a series of tax cuts approved during the Trump administration are set to expire at the end of next year, setting up a scenario where lawmakers may be ready to consider new tax policies. The proposal can help Harris show her support for entrepreneurs even as she’s called for higher corporate tax rates.

Since President Joe Biden dropped his reelection bid and endorsed Harris in July, the vice president has focused on campaigning in the “ blue wall ” states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania that have been the centerpiece of Democratic campaigns that have won the White House in recent decades.

She’s also frequently visited Arizona, Nevada and Georgia, all of which Biden narrowly won in 2020, and North Carolina, which last voted Democratic in a presidential race in 2008 but which she’s still hoping to flip from Trump. Biden won New Hampshire by 7 percentage points in 2020, though Trump came far closer to winning it against Hillary Clinton in 2016.

“The cost of living in New Hampshire is through the roof, their energy bills are some of highest in the country, and their housing market is the most unaffordable in history,” Trump posted last week on his social media platform.

Harris’ team says securing 25 million new business applications in four years if she wins the White House would exceed the roughly 19 million such applications filed since Biden took office. And those were millions more than the previous four years under Trump. The vice president’s goal would be a record for new small business applications — but records only go back about 20 years.

Applications to start a business don’t always translate to small businesses actually being formed. Still, Harris’ plan could keep new small businesses that do come to fruition from otherwise incurring more debt which, at a time of high interest rates, might help them better succeed.

In the weeks since Harris took over the top of the Democratic ticket, she has offered relatively few major policy proposals — attempting to strike a political balance between injecting new energy into the race and continuing to support many of the Biden administration proposals she helped champion as vice president.

Harris’ small business plan follows her announcing last month proposed steps to fight inflation by working to lower grocery prices, and to use tax cuts and other incentives to encourage homeownership. The vice president has also proposed ending federal taxes on tips to service industry workers, an idea Trump proposed first.

The plan she’s introducing Wednesday further calls for developing a standard deduction for small businesses meant to save their owners time when doing their taxes, and making it easier to get occupational licenses — letting people work across state lines and businesses expand into new states. Harris also wants to offer federal incentives so state and local government will ease their regulations.

In an effort to spur business investment outside urban and suburban hubs, Harris is pledging to launch a small business expansion fund to enable community banks and federal entities to cover interest costs while small businesses are expanding or otherwise creating jobs. Her team says those efforts will focus especially on areas that traditionally receive less investment.

Fort Lauderdale leaders struggling to come up with a spot to house the homeless continued the debate Tuesday, well aware that the city might face lawsuits from citizens if they don’t come up with a plan soon.

For months, the Fort Lauderdale commission has been prepping for a statewide law against public camping and sleeping that takes effect Oct. 1. Cities across Florida that fail to enforce the controversial state law — signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in March — can be sued starting Jan. 1.

Now Fort Lauderdale has been hit with a new unexpected wrinkle: Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony is making it clear the county jails will not be accepting homeless people who face arrest under local anti-camping laws.

“In the next few weeks, cities and counties throughout Florida will enact new ordinances to remove homeless persons from public parks, streets and buildings,” Tony wrote in an op-ed published by the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “The jail is not the place to shelter and provide services to the homeless. I have directed our Department of Detention to no longer accept individuals who are brought to the jail for purely municipal ordinance violations. Rounding up the homeless and bringing them to downtown Fort Lauderdale or Pompano Beach to be housed in the county jails is neither a good solution, nor an available one.”

Downtown Fort Lauderdale, home to the county jail and main bus terminal, is a known hot spot for the homeless. In recent years, the homeless have found other havens, including the beach, alleyways and parking lots.

On Sunday, Fort Lauderdale mayoral candidate Jim Lewis shared what he thought was a great idea: Why not set up a homeless encampment next to Chase Stadium near Commercial Boulevard and Interstate 95, where Inter Miami plays?

The lot, currently being used for overflow parking on game day, is slated to become a park but is months away from breaking ground.

“We don’t know if we’re going to have a park in 2025, 2026 or 2027,” Lewis said. “But we know in October we’re going to have a homeless crisis problem where these people are going to have to go. Please find a place. Do it now.”

Commissioner John Herbst, who represents the district, blasted the idea on Tuesday.

“That’s zoned as a park,” he said. “We’re not putting it in a park. We will never have a homeless camp in a park.”

Lewis had this retort: “You go out there and look. It’s not a park. It’s a trash pile.”

Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis listens to critics during a discussion over the city’s homeless crisis during a public meeting on Tuesday. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Another idea put forward by Commissioner Warren Sturman would have the city creating homeless villages in public parking lots for people living out of their cars.

The plan did get enthusiastic support from Herbst, who suggested the city set up a “safe parking zone” on the rooftop of the City Hall parking garage.

But critics, including Mayor Dean Trantalis and Vice Mayor Steve Glassman, are panning the idea as absurd, considering South Florida’s dangerous lightning storms and heat.

Resident Charlie King, a frequent critic of City Hall, suggested Fort Lauderdale bus its homeless people out of town, all the way to California.

“You should be handing out bus tickets,” King told the commission Tuesday. “We have to move these people out.”

Trantalis interjected with a question: “Bus ticket where?”

King was quick with an answer: “Anywhere. Would you like to go to Seattle? Would you like to go to San Diego?”

That idea was also rebuffed by Trantalis, who expressed frustration at the deadline set by the state.

“I’d really love to see the governor come in and suspend this until they work out the kinks,” Trantalis said. “It’s a big burden for both the Democratic and the Republican counties. (We all) need more time to fund this and plan for this.”

Glassman agreed.

“These unfunded mandates are difficult,” Glassman said. “You can’t just have laws passed in Tallahassee and have local governments (be forced to) figure it out and pay for it.”

Herbst’s response drew applause from the audience.

“I think we’ll have a better chance of seeing the governor suspend the sheriff,” he said, prompting claps from the crowd. “I hope Sheriff Tony reconsiders this before Tallahassee steps in and asks him if he’d like to pursue job opportunities elsewhere.”

Sturman defended his plan for “safe parking zones,” an idea borrowed from San Diego.

“Nothing’s perfect,” Sturman said. “It’s a temporary thing. But it’s better than what they (the homeless) have now. We should at least look at it, not shoot it down from the start.”

Trantalis noted that everyone was doing their best to find a solution with a fast-approaching deadline.

“Nothing is in stone,” he said. “These are just ideas we are putting out there. We’ve been talking. Now we have to put this talk into action.”

Glassman shared his concern that the onus was falling on Fort Lauderdale to fix a problem it did not create.

“This is not a Fort Lauderdale problem,” he said. “We can’t shoulder the burden (on our own).”

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

Finding fault in a 57-3 win is like pointing out a missed comma in a bestselling novel — unless that comma happens to be in the book title.

While UCF ran all over New Hampshire to 454 yards in Thursday’s season-opening victory, the Knights struggled to get the passing game off the ground.

Quarterback KJ Jefferson started slowly, missing on six of his first seven pass attempts, with his first completion coming at 2:24 of the first quarter. His second completion came at 3:08 of the second quarter.

Coach Gus Malzahn isn’t concerned about the slow start by his fifth-year senior transfer.

“It’s his first rodeo [here] and anytime you’ve got a new offense with new teammates … plus we didn’t do a great job around him early, either,” said Malzahn. “He didn’t play his best in the first quarter and he knows that and he’ll respond. In the second half, he settled down.”

Pictures: UCF Knights over New Hampshire 57-3!

Jefferson completed five of his next six passes before being replaced in the fourth quarter by backup Jacurri Brown. Five of his seven completions went for double-digit yards, including touchdown passes of 49 and 22 to Myles Montgomery and Johnny Richardson.

“He settled down,” said junior receiver Xavier Townsend. “I think coming out and being his first game [at UCF], everybody has those jitters and wants to make plays so that he might have gotten a little tense, but he calmed down and started playing football like he usually does.”

Added Malzahn: “He will get more comfortable each game out.”

How important is the passing game vs. Sam Houston?

While the Knights figure to lean heavily on their No. 1-ranked rushing attack Saturday, they hope to avoid another slow start in the air.

Still, it all comes down to how the game unfolds, according to Malzahn.

“The bottom line is being able to take what a defense gives you,” he said. “We’re going to be able to run the football, but defenses know that so when they bring extra guys, you’ve got to be able to throw the football. We need to be balanced, there’s no doubt.”

UCF not surprised by ground game, eager to showcase potential

The Bearkats allowed Rice to throw for 227 yards in their 34-14 win last weekend. Owls quarterback E.J. Warner completed seven consecutive passes at one point before finishing 27 of 44.

Jefferson knows it comes down to patience.

“I’m extremely comfortable [in this offense], but the main thing was it was the first game,” he said following the opening win against the Wildcats. “The main thing is me being able to get settled in as quick as possible and understand what coach Gus is going to call, ways that me and him can communicate better and get me going early and get me into a rhythm.”

Will there be more of a pass rush?

UCF held New Hampshire to 162 yards but failed to secure a sack for the first time since last season’s 24-23 loss at Texas Tech.

According to Pro Football Focus, the Knights pressured the Wildcats 14 times, resulting in 8 quarterback hurries and 6 hits.

New UCF quarterback KJ Jefferson is not Cam Newton, but who is? | Commentary

“We did hit the quarterback quite a few times, but give him credit, he was getting the ball out and we had pretty good coverage, too,” said Malzahn.

Fifth-year defensive tackle Ricky Barber, who finished with a team-high 5 pressures, has been impressed with the defensive scheme under new coordinator Ted Roof.

“The defense we’re in is way more aggressive,” said Barber. “It lets the D-line go and be more playmakers.”

Sam Houston quarterback Hunter Watson was pressured 15 times and sacked 7 times by Rice.

“We should just keep doing what we’re doing,” added Barber. “Every week, that ball isn’t going to come out as quick, so we just have to keep hitting the quarterback and eventually we’ll get the ball.”

How has the return game improved?

After a disappointing 2023 season in the return game, UCF got off to a much better start.

The Knights amassed more than 190 return yards, pushing the team into the top three in punt and kick returns in the Big 12.

3 things learned from UCF’s win over New Hampshire

The big reason was Townsend, who finished with 170 combined yards on nine punt and kick returns, ranking him third in the conference in both categories.

“I feel comfortable back there,” said Townsend. “With experience comes comfortability, so I trust the guys holding up on kick and punt returns. Knowing that they’re blocking their guys, it’s a trust factor, so I got to try to do my job.”

The junior receiver has earned the trust of his coaches, too.

“Xavier has a chance to be one of the better returners in all of college football, but we have got to do a great job and that needs to be our strength this year,” said Malzahn.

Matt Murschel can be reached at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com

If you go …

UCF vs. Sam Houston

When: Saturday, FBC Mortgage Stadium, 6:30

TV: ESPN+

 

Florida’s third season under Billy Napier could not have gotten off to a worse start than a 41-17 drubbing in the Swamp by rival Miami. The Gators were beaten on both sides of the ball in every way possible. Napier’s offseason overhaul, optimism and assurances fell as flat. Talk of a much-improved defense proved to be false hopes and empty words. During the latest Swamp Things, Edgar and Mark keep it real discussing Napier’s worst loss and potentially the beginning of the end of his time in Gainesville.

• Billy Napier over sold and under delivered (:00)
• Turning point (7:15)
• Thumbs up (11:45)
• Thumbs down (14:14)
• Second guess(19:53)
• Biggest concern (27:51)
• Reason for optimism (30:20)
• On the spot (32:40)
• Billy’s banter (35:07)
• Defining move (39:49)
• Final thought (42:24)
• Jeremy Foley’s Corner (46:25)

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

By MARK SCOLFORO

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A man arrested last week at a Pennsylvania rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump had hoped to hang a banner to protest Trump’s policies, Johnstown’s police chief said Tuesday.

Authorities announced that misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest were filed against Stephen A. Weiss, 36, of Pittsburgh, who was taken into custody at Friday’s Trump rally.

Johnstown Police Chief Richard Pritchard said investigators do not know what the banner said because arena staff apparently discarded it. He said it was made from a bed sheet and that Weiss told a detective that he does not believe in Trump’s policies.

Pritchard said Weiss faked a foot injury and concealed a tube of glue in a metal crutch.

Weiss declined comment when reached by phone Tuesday, saying he was seeking legal advice.

The arrest affidavit by a Johnstown police detective said Weiss “ran onto the arena floor, jumped onto the media stage (and) began to yell towards the main stage where President Trump was speaking.” Weiss allegedly would not release himself from steel barricade fencing “and force had to be used,” police said in the charging document.

A man who accompanied Weiss to the rally told police he was unaware of Weiss’ plan, Pritchard said. The second man was not charged, the chief said.

Weiss also was charged with disrupting a public meeting, a misdemeanor. The Secret Service questioned Weiss on Friday and he was released later that night. He has a court hearing scheduled for Oct. 9.

A Trump campaign spokesman offered no immediate comment Tuesday.

The disruption occurred shortly after Trump criticized major media outlets for what he said was unfavorable coverage.

As Weiss was led away, the former president told the crowd: “Is there anywhere that’s more fun to be than a Trump rally?”

There has been heightened scrutiny of security at Trump rallies since a gunman fired at him, grazing his ear, during an outdoor rally in July in Butler, Pennsylvania. Security at political events has been noticeably tighter since then.

In this Dolphins Deep Dive video, the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Chris Perkins and David Furones break down Miami’s season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars and make their picks for Week 1.

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By MARK LONG

GAINESVILLE — It sure feels like it’s over for Florida coach Billy Napier.

It might not even be close, but the lack of tangible progress in Napier’s third season seems to be more of a head-scratcher than the Gator’s six-game losing streak and a 41-17 shellacking at the hands of Cam Ward and No.19 Miami in the Swamp.

And the outside noise is deafening.

“You’re going to get criticism when you perform the way we did Saturday in certain parts of our team,” Napier said Monday.

It was merely one, ugly home game. And the Gators insist they have the talent, the time and the conviction to bounce back and turn the season around. They should get a reprieve against lower-division Samford (0-1) on Saturday night.

Then again, that game could be a sign of how far the Florida fan base has swung from enthusiastic to apathetic during Napier’s tenure.

“I think ultimately a loss early can be a blessing if you don’t waste it,” Napier said. “We got to go to work on the football part. I think we got to become a more consistent team, and we have to execute better.

“If we can focus on those things and not necessarily what some guy in his basement is saying in rural central Florida on social media, then we got a chance to get better. I think that’s the key. Sometimes you deserve criticism. I have no excuses. We got to go get it fixed.”

Florida had significant issues on both sides of the ball against Miami — which entered the season with a strikingly similar resume under a third-year head coach — and closely resembled Napier’s previous two versions. And that’s the problem.

Undisciplined penalties? Check. Pushed around on the lines of scrimmage? Check. Inconsistent quarterback play? Check. Throw in Napier’s continued conservativeness — he twice dialed up runs on third-and-5 — and there’s an argument to be made that the Gators have actually regressed from Game 1 (a last-second victory against then-No. 7 Utah) to Game 26 (a lopsided loss to an in-state rival).

Napier is now 11-15 at Florida, including 2-10 against ranked opponents and 1-8 against rivals Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami and Tennessee. There also are those back-to-back, double-digit losses to Kentucky and a 3-11 record in his last 14 games against Power Four teams.

And with seven ranked teams remaining on the schedule, it could get worse.

The Gators are unlikely to fire Napier anytime soon; the last four Florida coaches sent packing lasted until at least late October. Moving on from Napier could be complicated, too.

Florida would be on the hook for more than $25 million to fire him during or after this season, with half of that due almost immediately. However, the school could try to use Georgia quarterback Jaden Rashada’s lawsuit against Napier — the one regarding a failed, $14 million name, image and likeness deal — or the related NCAA investigation to mitigate Napier’s buyout.

And is anyone at Florida really ready to fire Napier? Current Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin hired Napier and has preached patience through the rebuild. Plus, Florida is searching for a new school president after Ben Sasse recently resigned to be closer to his wife, who was diagnosed with epilepsy.

Former school president Kent Fuchs agreed to serve as Florida’s interim. Fuchs hired Stricklin and approved the hiring of Napier.

Napier will get chances to silence some of his critics in the coming weeks. The Gators would need to beat No. 20 Texas A&M next week and then Mississippi State and UCF to create some breathing room.

“It’s only Week 1,” running back Montrell Johnson said. “I’d say we still have time. The message to the team has been just to respond. … It’s not the end of the world. Go out there and fix our mistakes. Look back on this as motivation and use it throughout the whole entire season.”

South Florida’s police oversight boards have been forced to a halt after a state law went into effect in July that bans civilian boards from investigating police misconduct.

Fort Lauderdale’s Citizens’ Review Board no longer has access to internal affairs investigations of excessive force or discrimination, or the ability to tell a city manager what a proper punishment should look like.

Nor will Miami-Dade’s Independent Civilian Panel or the city’s Civilian Investigative Panel, which the city informed last week it could not continue funding.

Broward’s Police and Criminal Justice Review Board, created to study issues in policing after the racial justice protests in 2020, was suspended in June, and a proposed ordinance set to be heard at a commission meeting on Thursday would discontinue it.

Elsewhere in the state, the trend continues. In Tallahassee, the minutes for the Citizens Police Review Board’s final meeting in May simply state, “House Bill 601 will go in effect on July 1, 2024 and the CPRB will be dissolved.” In Orlando, the web page for the board now gives an error. A spokesperson told Orlando Weekly it has been “disassembled for the time being.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis had signed the bill, HB 601, in April, describing the oversight boards at a news conference as “stacked with activists.”

“You have review boards, that’s fine, but it’s got to be done in ways where you have the Sheriff or Chief of Police appointing people,” the governor said. “It can’t be people that have an agenda.”

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The new law forbids civilian boards from overseeing internal affairs cases or use-of-force complaints and prohibits local governments from appointing their members. As an alternative, it allows law enforcement agencies to create their own “civilian oversight” boards composed of three to seven members, all appointed by the chief or sheriff. Those boards can offer opinions only on policies and procedures, not cases of misconduct or internal investigations.

In Fort Lauderdale, after the bill was signed, members of the board awaited instructions from the city attorney as to what would happen next. The city commission then discussed the item at a June meeting.

“It completely eviscerates a longstanding policy and practice we have in our city,” Mayor Dean Trantalis said.

Around the same time, Paul Eichner, who was chair of the board, said he received word from the city essentially saying “this is the end of the board as you know it based on the new state law.”

“The city followed the law, which is what it’s obligated to do,” Eichner said. “And the law eliminated the police review board, which I think is contrary to what the city wanted and what the community wanted, and I think ultimately it’s doing a disservice to community. But the law must be followed.”

Eichner and the board’s vice chair, Marc Dickerman, had tried to raise alarms when the bill was moving through the Legislature, hoping the city would lobby against it. Lobbyists for Florida’s local governments and for Miami’s Civilian Investigative Panel appeared to speak on the bill, state records show, but to no avail.

In June, Fort Lauderdale’s board held a final meeting to review its last cases, one involving officers who overlooked several gunshot wounds in a man they called in as an overdose and another involving an officer calling people the N-word. Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Bill Schultz was there, Dickerman said, and thanked them. So were members of the police union and NAACP Broward president Marsha Ellison.

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Prior to the law, Florida had approximately 21 civilian police oversight boards, according to the LeRoy Collins Institute, a nonpartisan policy organization at Florida State University. Many are now closed or will be soon. Some tried harder to fight it. Earlier this month, Tampa’s city council decided not to scrap its board after hearing Miami had not yet shut its own board down, though the board is suspended until further notice. And Miami’s CIP filed a lawsuit against the city Friday to try to keep its funding.

Supporters of the bill said the boards undermined police officers’ work and were made up of civilians who did not understand policing. The statewide police unions, the Florida Police Benevolent Association and Fraternal Order of Police, openly advocated for it.

“These boards were basically put together to, in my opinion, second-guess some of the police officers’ decisions,” Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, said during a committee meeting about the bill.

Members of the boards argued they did not have such an effect. Many, like Fort Lauderdale’s, served only an advisory role, without the power to issue punishments or subpoena people for investigations. Their recommendations were not always for a harsher punishment; sometimes, they defended officers accused of misconduct and argued for less severe discipline.

Even without much power, members felt their work was vital, serving as a window into the world of policing and the disciplinary process that is often invisible to the public and offering “solace to the community that the right thing is being done,” Eichner said.

Dickerman recalled two times in particular he felt thankful for the board’s existence. Once, when a transgender person complained about being misgendered by an officer, he said he found a video from the Department of Justice with advice for officers dealing with transgender people that officers began to use in their trainings. Another time, an officer open-hand slapped a homeless person. The case went to court, and the officer got a 20-day suspension, but the board recommended a harsher punishment.

In Miami, the CIP had more power, reviewing complaints from civilians and within the police departments themselves. It independently investigated officers accused of misconduct and their histories and issued reports on patterns of abuse of power.

“We were a place where members of the community or even members of the police department could come to us and say: ‘Hey, I was wronged either by a police officer or the department itself, can you help me?’ And we never turned anyone away,” Rodney Jacobs Jr., the CIP’s executive director, told WLRN.

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Now, local police agencies may follow the new law and launch advisory boards with only a policy recommendation role. Some existing boards already appeared to do that and closed down anyway.

Broward County’s board, launched, like many others, in 2020 after the death of George Floyd, a Black man who was killed by a police officer during an arrest in Minnesota. It focused on research and recommendations about “police use of force, police misconduct, and such other matters pertaining to bias in the criminal justice system” and did not analyze specific cases, according to its website. Still, it will likely close its doors. Members met in late July and decided “it would be impracticable to retain the purpose of the Review Board while complying with HB 601,” the proposed ordinance states.

A member of the board told the South Florida Sun Sentinel Friday that the group discussed the matter at length and not everyone wanted to shut down. But they ultimately decided the law was too broad and restrictive to follow while trying to research policing issues like use-of-force and decided that continuing to meet could make Broward County a target of possible retaliation by the state.

The Delray Beach Police Advisory board discusses general issues like the number of crimes or internal affairs cases in a given time frame, meeting minutes show. It is unclear whether that board will remain active. Multiple members did not return voicemails Friday.

Some see a board that only makes policy recommendations as ineffective. Eichner said he had already emailed Schultz and let him know he wasn’t interested, should the police chief create such a board.

“Being in a committee appointed by the police chief to review policy and procedure is sort of like a bite without teeth,” he said. “And it doesn’t do anything to help the community by way of reviewing police cases that we were doing.”

Dickerman does hope to join such a board if it comes into existence, even if it’s a “rubber stamp type of committee.” Regardless, he said, the state of police oversight in Florida has taken a turn.

“There’s going to be less transparency,” he said. “We’re not going to know what officers are doing. We’re not going to know what kind of consequences they face.”

Here are the top stories for Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024. Get the weather forecast for today here.

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

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Omari Maynard thought life was great when his partner Shamony came home from the hospital with a baby boy, their second child.  Shamony died two weeks later from a pulimnary embolism, a pregnancy complication.

Maynard now has two small children to care for and speaks out often to let single fathers whose partners died from childbirth know they are not alone.

Losing a loved one from childbirth complications is more common than many realize.

A five-year average shows 24 women per 100,000 births in Florida died during pregnancy, delivery, or shortly after delivery. Research shows the vast majority of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. Only a year ago, the state’s high death rate triggered the Florida’s Hospital Association to issue a statewide call to action urging hospitals to play a stronger role in reducing the incidence of maternal death in Florida.

Now, more public and private funding is coming to the Sunshine State to keep new mothers alive and healthy.

Last week, the Biden administration announced it is focusing on maternal health in this election year and will provide $568 million in funding to states to make improvements. The U.S. has a growing maternal mortality crisis.

Florida’s Association of Healthy Starts Coalition will receive $12.9 million to support the home visiting program it oversees in 35 counties.

Also last week, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention announced a new $118.5 million five-year investment to build the public health infrastructure to better identify pregnancy-related complications and prevent pregnancy-related deaths. It will do that through funding for states, including Florida, to improve their Maternal Mortality Review Committees. Those groups review deaths that have occurred within one year of the end of a pregnancy, determine if those pregnancy-related deaths were preventable, and recommend ways to prevent them in the future. Florida has a Maternal Mortality Review Committee, but its last updated report on the state website is from 2020.

In April, six Florida organizations secured federal funding through a program sponsored by the Health Resources and Services Administration. The agency gave more than $6 million in funding to Florida organizations, $1 million to each of six programs: North Broward Hospital District (Broward Health); Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition in Jacksonville; University of Miami; Florida Department of Health (Orlando); the Center for Health Equity in Quincy; and Reach Up in Tampa.

Private donors also are recognizing the need for more investment in maternal health in the state. The Florida Blue Foundation announced this month it is accepting grant applications from Florida-based nonprofit organizations that are dedicated to advancing maternal health. Florida Blue spokesman Jorge Martinez said the foundation will give $3 million to groups that address maternal health, each receiving a three- or four-year grant ranging from $270,000 to 400,000.

“Nearly one-fifth of Florida counties are considered maternity care deserts where almost 21% of pregnant women receive inadequate or no maternal care,“ said Susan Towler, executive director of the Florida Blue Foundation. “By working together with nonprofits that are focused on increasing access to quality maternal health care services and support, we can improve health outcomes by ensuring that all mothers, regardless of where they live, have access to the care they need at every stage of their pregnancy and beyond.”

The winners of the Florida Blue grants will be announced in the first quarter of 2025.

After learning about maternal deaths, leaders at the Health Foundation of South Florida also have been investing in improving maternal health. So far in 2024, the foundation has invested $2.6 million dollars in maternal health projects in South Florida. This money has gone towards improving community-based doula access in Miami-Dade County, increasing access to prenatal care in maternity care deserts like Monroe County, and supporting the opening of an OB/GYN clinic and Community Resource Center in Broward.

“South Florida has a health equity crisis, especially when it comes to maternal health,” said Loreen Chant, President and CEO at Health Foundation of South Florida. “Unnecessary deaths and complications are occurring far too frequently.”

Chant said the Health Foundation of South Florida works with community-based organizations, hospital systems and government agencies to remove obstacles to quality maternal care.

The South Florida Sun Sentinel published Born To Die: Florida’s infant mortality crisis earlier this year, a series that offered a deeper look into Florida’s high infant mortality rate. Maternal care experts said a baby’s outcome and a mother’s health are closely tied. Some experts say more funding and training of doulas and midwives will help.

In Florida’s rural areas, the ability to access care is worsening. A report in Becker’s Hospital Review shows that 20 of the 22 rural hospitals in the state have lost their labor and delivery units. That leaves 91% of Florida’s rural hospitals without obstetric services, making it the state with the highest percentage of rural hospitals lacking OB or maternity care.

Sun Sentinel health reporter Cindy Goodman can be reached at cgoodman@sunsentinel.com.

Q: Gotta get guys with born skill and talent, and stop relying on working hard. – Darius.

A: What I have found most interesting amid this slow period of the offseason is the emerging notion that some type of serious revamp in franchise approach is required after the Heat dared fail to qualify for the Eastern Conference finals for the fourth time in five seasons. Granted, consecutive play-in appearances hardly is the desired path to playoff success. But the best way to rework with the type of talent you suggest is to bow out of the playoffs and into the lottery, something that has not happened for the Heat since 2019, when Tyler Herro was drafted. Meanwhile, an argument could be made that with Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware and even Nikola Jovic that the Heat have mined lottery-level talent without falling to lottery-level depths. Yes, talent matters. But so does effort. Through it all, including those three runs to at least the East finals during the Jimmy Butler era, the Heat hardly are void of talent. What they have been void of recently is . . . getting and keeping players on the court. What needs to stop is the attendance issue (moreso, the lack thereof). That starts with Jimmy and Tyler.

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Q: So Jimmy Butler is going to leave the Heat next summer to sign with the Nets? And the Nets are going to stop rebuilding to sign a player who will be 36? Come on. – Orie.

A: Hey, nothing else is going on, so someone is going to throw stuff somewhere. While the Nets will be flush with cap cash next summer, if that is going to be broadcast as Sean Marks’ rebuilding plan in Brooklyn then someone else likely will be rebuilding there. Having cycled through Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving, expect something a bit more sensible, low-key from the Nets. Of course, sensibility hardly has been a Nets touchstone over the past two decades.

Q: Jimmy Butler touring China reminds me of Dwyane Wade there in the offseasons. – Andy.

A: Such are the trappings of the same sneaker deal, an arrangement that started with Dwyane Wade and then became part of the Marquette alumni club. The difference is that with so much more social media these days, Jimmy’s tour comes off more as a travelog. Jimmy’s passport tends to be flush with stamps by the time he returns for training camp.

Today is Tuesday, Sept. 3, the 247th day of 2024. There are 119 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Sept. 3, 1935, Sir Malcolm Campbell became the first person to drive an automobile more than 300 miles-per-hour, speeding across the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.

Also on this date:

In 1861, during the Civil War, Confederate forces invaded the border state of Kentucky, which had declared its neutrality in the conflict.

In 1894, the United States celebrated the first federal Labor Day holiday.

In 1783, representatives of the United States and Britain signed the Treaty of Paris, which officially ended the Revolutionary War and recognized U.S. sovereignty.

In 1939, Britain, France, Australia and New Zealand declared war on Germany, two days after the Nazi invasion of Poland; in a radio address, Britain’s King George VI said, “With God’s help, we shall prevail.”

In 1943, Allied forces invaded Italy during World War II, the same day Italian officials signed a secret armistice with the Allies.

In 1976, America’s Viking 2 lander touched down on Mars to take the first close-up, color photographs of the red planet’s surface.

In 1999, a French judge closed a two-year inquiry into the car crash that killed Princess Diana, dismissing all charges against nine photographers and a press motorcyclist, and concluding the accident was caused by an inebriated driver.

In 2019, Walmart said it would stop selling ammunition for handguns and short-barrel rifles, and the store chain requested that customers not openly carry firearms in its stores; the announcement followed a shooting at a Walmart store in Texas that left 22 people dead.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Singer-musician Al Jardine (The Beach Boys) is 81.
• Actor Valerie Perrine is 81.
• Filmmaker Jean-Pierre Jeunet is 71.
• Rock guitarist Steve Jones (The Sex Pistols) is 69.
• Actor Steve Schirripa (TV: “The Sopranos”) is 66.
• Author Malcolm Gladwell is 61.
• Actor Charlie Sheen is 59.
• Filmmaker Noah Baumbach is 55.
• Dance-rock musician Redfoo (LMFAO) is 49.
• Actor Garrett Hedlund is 40.
• Olympic gold medal snowboarder Shaun White is 38.
• Model-actor Kaia Gerber is 23.
• Actor Jack Dylan Grazer is 21.