South Florida Local News

Former President Donald Trump didn’t exactly say how he would vote on a Florida amendment that would protect abortion access — but on Thursday he said he would “be voting that we need more than six weeks.”

Florida currently bans most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, a change that Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law in 2023. Trump has previously called Florida’s six-week ban a “terrible mistake.”

When an NBC News reporter asked Trump how he would vote on Florida’s abortion amendment, Trump reiterated that he thought the six-week cutoff was too short. When the reporter followed by asking Trump if that meant he would be voting for Amendment 4, that’s when Trump said he would be voting that “we need more than six weeks.”

Amendment 4 says in part that no law should “prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health.” If passed, it would in effect undo Florida’s current six-week ban.

While Trump has skirted around directly addressing the amendment, DeSantis has come out in vocal opposition against Amendment 4, calling it “extremely radical.”

Trump and DeSantis butted heads over abortion when they were both on the presidential campaign trail, with DeSantis accusing Trump of not being truly “pro-life.” DeSantis also said he would sign a federal abortion ban, while Trump has declined to endorse such a move.

Earlier this month, Trump said he would soon officially announce how he plans to vote on the November amendment. It needs 60% of voter support to pass.

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©2024 Tampa Bay Times. Visit tampabay.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By JACK MAGRUDER

DENVER — Derek Hill had three hits and the second two-homer game of his career, Kyle Stowers had three hits and four RBIs, and the Miami Marlins beat the Colorado Rockies 12-8 on Thursday to earn a split of their four-game series.

Ali Sánchez had three hits and stole home, Otto Lopez had three hits, and Connor Norby had two hits to extend his hitting streak to 10 games for the Marlins, who had a season-high 18 hits.

“Eighteen hits, we’ll sign up for that any day of the week,” Marlins manager Skip Schumacher said. “Up and down the lineup, it was just a really good offensive day. This stadium is not easy to win at. No lead is safe.”

Hill, who also homered Wednesday, has four homers and 15 RBIs in 22 games since being acquired by the Marlins off waivers from San Francisco on Aug. 3.

Stowers had eight hits including a double, triple and homer in the series. He was acquired from Baltimore at the trade deadline.

“When he swings at strikes, he hits the ball really hard,” Schumacher said of Stowers. “He has pull-side power when he wants it. He’s a good overall hitter when he is in the strike zone. Still a young guy in this league. Still trying to figure out the league as well. The league adjusted. He adjusted.”

Stowers’ mother and saw him play in a Marlins’ uniform for the first time this series.

“I feel pretty good right now,” Stowers said. “I’ve been working really hard, so it is nice to see some results coming. Super fun series.”

Brendan Rodgers hit two home runs and Brenton Doyle had three hits, including a double and a homer, for the Rockies, who have won or split six of their last seven series at Coors Field.

Eight of the Rockies’ 12 hits went for extra bases. The Marlins, who lost five of six entering the series, had six extra-base hits.

Rodgers has two career multi-homer games, both against Miami. He had three homers and four RBIs in a 13-12 victory over the Marlins in the second game of a June 1 doubleheader at Coors Field.

The scoring started early. Hill homered and the Marlins used two infield hits, one a pop fly lost in the sun, to score another run in the third for a 2-0 lead.

Rodgers and Doyle homered in the bottom of the third to tie it at 2-2.

The Marlins used doubles by Sánchez and Stowers, a double steal with Sánchez scoring from third, a hit batter, an infield single and a fielding error by third baseman Ryan McMahon to score five runs off starter Bradley Blalock (1-1) for a 7-2 lead in the fourth. Stowers drove in two.

“He’s learning through the first couple of starts the difference between facing major league hitters and minor league hitters, and the importance of every pitch counting,” Colorado manager Bud Black said of Blalock, making his fourth major league start after being acquired at the trade deadline from Milwaukee.

The Rockies came back with four in their fourth, capped by Rodgers’ two-run homer off starter Valente Bellozo.

Hill’s two-run homer keyed a three-run fifth for an 11-6 lead. Sánchez also stole second base in the inning. He had his first two career stolen bases. Stowers singled in a run in the ninth.

Jesús Tinoco (1-0) pitched 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for his first career victory.

NEXT UP

For the Marlins, Austin Oller (1-1, 5.23) will oppose San Francisco’s Blake Snell (2-3, 3.76) on Friday night.

(JNS) As the war in Ukraine continues into its third summer, Chabad of Poland hosted more than 200 Jewish Ukrainians, hailing from five communities, for a two-week summer experience focused on allowing children and their parents a break from life in a warzone.

R. Vilenskyi/Chabad of PolandField trips, like this one to the Mandoria Adventure Park, were part of a summer experience in Poland for 200 Jewish Ukrainians from Aug. 15-27, 2024. R. Vilenskyi/Chabad of Poland

The camp includes specialized activities and psycho-trauma counseling designed to support attendees as they navigate their challenging circumstances. Daily activities range from field trips and arts-and-crafts projects to music and baking classes, all within a spiritually enriching environment. The program is staffed by educational and recreational staff all fluent in Ukrainian.

Participants came from Kamianske, Sumy, Kremenchuk, Dniproand and Kyiv.

R. Vilenskyi/Chabad of PolandWomen and girls light candles before Shabbat as part of a summer experience in Poland for 200 Jewish Ukrainians from Aug. 15-27, 2024. R. Vilenskyi/Chabad of Poland

“Growing up, summer was our chance to escape the routine of the rest of the year, and dive into sports, fun and lasting friendships. For our children, summer offers a special opportunity to engage in informal education that emphasizes Jewish identity, heritage, values and customs in a more engaging and comprehensive way,” said Rabbi Sholom Ber Stambler, director of Chabad of Poland.

One-third of this year’s program is funded by Mosaic United, a global nonprofit that supports initiatives to strengthen the connections of young Jews to their identities and Israel, in partnership with Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs. Chabad of Poland is covering the remaining two-thirds of the costs through its network of partners.

To read more content visit www.jns.org

The 18-year-old high school student was ambushed in a stairwell at the Miramar apartment complex where he lived, lured there by classmates with the promise of a sexual encounter.

He was beaten in the face, a sword plunged into his chest. His body was dragged down a flight of stairs, pitched over a railing and hidden in bushes at the complex.

Then, for two days, his anxious family searched for him.

On Thursday, two of the three teenagers accused of the crime were sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges of second-degree murder, evidence tampering and conspiracy to commit murder.

“In 20 days, he would have been 21,” said Madgelyn Emile, whose son, Dwight “D.J.” Grant, was brutally murdered on Oct. 17, 2021. Three of his schoolmates were charged in his death: Christie Parisien, 20, of Miramar; Jaslyn Smith, 19, of Miramar; and Andre Clements, 20, of Pembroke Pines.

Even as minors charged as adults, all three faced the possibility of a life sentence if convicted at trial. The plea agreement prosecutors reached with Parisien and Smith limits their prison time and comes with an additional 10 years of probation.

No agreement has been reached with Clements, and he is scheduled for trial in January. Both Parisien and Smith are expected to take the stand against him, and both said in court Thursday that he was the mastermind of the plot to kill Grant.

Madgelyn Emile is comforted after a Thursday plea hearing for two of the three teens accused of killing her son Dwight “DJ” Grant. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Parisien and Smith cried audibly as Emile described the heartbreak over losing her son, who she described as the kind of kid who avoided trouble and had serious conversations about quantum physics and black holes.

Emile said she spoke to Parisien after he was murdered but before his body was found.

“One of the last things she said to me was ‘I hope you find your son,'” Emile recalled. “‘I hope you find your son!’ Knowing what she did! We will never get over this.”

According to investigators, it was Parisien who lured Grant to the crime scene, a narrative she confirmed on Thursday.

Defendant Christie Parisien appears at the Broward County Courthouse for her plea hearing. The teen was sentenced to 25 years in prison and 10 years of probation. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Part of the attack on Grant was captured on surveillance video that was played in court Thursday. The actual murder was not shown.

According to records filed in the case, Clements targeted Grant because Grand had sex with an ex-girlfriend, though Clements was dating Parisien at the time. Both girls said that while Clements threatened to kill Grant in a series of text messages, they did not take him seriously enough until after the violent assault began.

Prosecutor Kristine Bradley told Broward Circuit Judge Ernest Kollra that the victim’s family members strongly believe all three defendants deserve life sentences, but they were willing to accept the 25 years in the interest of justice.

Defendant Jaslyn Smith appears at the Broward County Courthouse for her plea hearing. The teen was sentenced to 25 years in prison and 10 years of probation. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Eulet Downer-Rose, a co-worker of Emile who showed up Thursday to support her friend, said the incident was a tragedy for four families, but especially for the victim’s.

“I don’t know how sorry they are for what they did, but it doesn’t seem like there was any remorse,” she said outside the courtroom.

Inside, the victim’s aunt, Nadine Dixon, said the defendants may never fully appreciate the seriousness of the crime they committed.

“No words can ever undo the pain that they have caused,” she said. “What can you say to undo the evil they have done? Society may forgive them, but we never will.”

Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4457. Follow him on Threads.net at @rafael.olmeda.

Staff writer Angie DiMichele contributed to this report.

Today is Thursday, Aug. 29, the 242nd day of 2024. There are 124 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Aug. 29, 2008, Republican presidential nominee John McCain picked Sarah Palin, a maverick conservative who had been governor of Alaska for less than two years, to be his running mate.

Also on this date:

In 1814, during the War of 1812, Alexandria, Virginia, formally surrendered to British military forces, which occupied the city until September 3.

In 1825, the Treaty of Rio de Janeiro was signed by Portugal and Brazil, officially ending the Brazilian War of Independence.

In 1862, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing began operations at the United States Treasury.

In 1944, 15,000 American troops of the 28th Infantry Division marched down the Champs Elysees in Paris as the French capital continued to celebrate its liberation from the Nazis.

In 1958, the U.S. Air Force Academy opened in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

In 1966, the Beatles concluded their fourth American tour with their last public concert, held at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.

In 2004, marathoner Vanderlei de Lima was attacked by a spectator during the running of the Olympic marathon in Athens; de Lima, who was leading the race at the time, eventually finished third and received the Pierre de Coubertin medal for sportsmanship in addition to his bronze medal.

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck the U.S. Gulf Coast near Buras-Triumph, Louisiana, breaching levees and spurring floods that devastated New Orleans. The costliest storm in U.S. history, Katrina caused nearly 1,400 deaths and an estimated $200 billion in damage.

In 2013, in a sweeping new policy statement, the Justice Department said it would not stand in the way of states that wanted to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana as long as there were effective controls to keep marijuana away from children, the black market and federal property.

In 2021, Hurricane Ida blasted ashore in Louisiana as one of the most powerful storms ever to hit the U.S., knocking out power to all of New Orleans, blowing roofs off buildings and reversing the flow of the Mississippi River.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Actor Elliott Gould is 86.
• Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin is 86.
• Olympic gold medal sprinter Wyomia Tyus is 79.
• Olympic gold medal long jumper Bob Beamon is 78.
• Animal behaviorist and autism educator Temple Grandin is 77.
• Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew is 69.
• Dancer-choreographer Mark Morris is 68.
• Actor Rebecca De Mornay is 65.
• Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch is 57.
• Singer Me’Shell NdegeOcello (n-DAY’-gay-OH’-chehl-oh) is 56.
• Actor Carla Gugino is 53.
• Actor-singer Lea Michele is 38.
• MLB pitcher Noah Syndergaard (SIHN’-dur-gahrd) is 32.
• Rock singer Liam Payne (One Direction) is 31.

General Daily Insight for August 29, 2024

Making productive agreements is now plausible. Relational Venus enters balanced Libra at 9:23 am EDT and trines insightful Pluto shortly thereafter, guiding us toward the heart of what each party is looking for in any negotiation or disagreement we encounter. We may understand that a few compromises are necessary, even if we aren’t totally thrilled about them, as the sensitive Cancer Moon trines logical Saturn and squares moody Chiron. Things should balance out in the end — and we’ll likely see that!

Aries

March 21 – April 19

You may be ready to start getting to know someone who has been hiding in plain sight. As affable Venus moves into your partnership sector, you’re in a good position to put your best foot forward in any type of relationship. Plus, you don’t necessarily have to go outside your usual network to find fresh connections. Shared surroundings can make it easier to chat up a passing acquaintance. Still, the process won’t always be easy — don’t take awkward moments too hard.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Learning how to work smarter could be key today. With relaxed Venus entering your productive 6th house, you’re probably not in the mood to push yourself too close to the point of discomfort. As feeling good becomes a higher priority than normal, you might reach important insights concerning which tasks are truly relevant to your larger goals. Some activities that take up a lot of time may not have much to show for themselves in the end. Stay focused on your purpose.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Pleasure is likely to be especially important to you now — and all the better if it’s not shallow. While fortunate Venus in your playful 5th house intrigues brooding Pluto in your philosophy zone, digging into a juicy mystery should hit the spot. Although this line of inquiry could eventually lead to financial or professional gain, that doesn’t have to be your top priority at this point. Drop the desire to justify how you spend your time to the people around you.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Your efforts to improve your home environment are likely to be successful at this time. While harmony-craving Venus in your domestic 4th house aligns with penetrating Pluto in your 8th House of Entanglement, you may want to look closely at any existing arrangements surrounding the sharing of resources. You don’t need to completely toss out whatever structure you have, but a few adjustments could make everyone more comfortable. On the other hand, don’t throw your weight around just because you can — think things through.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

A complicated relationship dynamic could probably benefit from a simple solution at present. When beautiful Venus glides into your 3rd House of Communication, you’re equipped to be your most pleasant self in your routine conversations. In particular, if you’ve gotten into a rut of negative interactions with a particular person, this might be exactly what you need to snap out of it. Perhaps you’ll wind up learning something that challenges your preconceived notions. Stay in the moment instead of trying to draw major conclusions.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Feeling more financially abundant than usual is presently possible. While luxurious Venus in your money zone reaches out to entrenched Pluto in your 6th House of Daily Routines, you might need to make some decisions about what you’d do differently if you thought you could afford it. Sometimes comfort and ease are worth a little investment! Your choices won’t necessarily satisfy everyone, but you can find satisfaction in acknowledging the valid limits of your authority and working with any objections that are truly legitimate.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Beauty is more than skin-deep today. When aesthetic Venus in your identity sector harmonizes with profound Pluto in your 5th House of Self-Expression, you have an opportunity to update your appearance in a way that communicates something personally meaningful. Your message is prepared to be seen and understood — people will probably get your point, whether they like it or not! Once this change becomes routine, however, even your detractors should eventually grow accustomed to it. Make an effort to be patient.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Seeking out peace and calm should serve you well today. While the intuitive Moon in your research sector complements focused Saturn in your 5th House of Pleasure, you might seize the chance to learn about a subject you find personally interesting. Results worth reporting to others aren’t guaranteed to come immediately, and that’s the nature of the process. Work for your personal gratification for as long as possible, and let any other benefits flow to you at the universe’s natural pace.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

The deep conversations you crave are within your grasp at the moment. That said, missteps are still dangerous. While the vulnerable Moon in your intimacy zone clashes with touchy Chiron in your 5th House of Self-Expression, try not to take any friction you encounter too personally. Others have sore spots that aren’t necessarily about you! Even a really close connection usually has boundaries somewhere, so you haven’t failed if you don’t manage to uncover every piece of information available regarding your companion.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Recognition now has the potential to bring you financial gain. While beneficial Venus in your visible 10th house encourages magnetic Pluto in your money zone, you could be acknowledged for the work you’ve been quietly putting in. Unfortunately, limiting beliefs you’ve been carrying for a long time might block you from getting the most out of this opportunity. Make a point to avoid confiding in people who are likely to echo your most negative viewpoints — seek out wise but optimistic counsel instead.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Finding the transformative experiences that you long for might require leaving your typical turf. With helpful Venus sashaying into your 9th House of Travel, setting out on a trip is likely to go as well as possible. No matter how much you’re drawn to depth and seriousness, it’s okay to have fun too while you’re at it. To minimize the risk of bickering on the road, be sure to leave room for whatever you need to feel comfortable on a daily basis!

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Confiding in a current companion is likely to be comfortable. Maybe you find disclosure intimidating under other circumstances, but you’re set up to identify a way to share that works for you as social Venus enters your 8th House of Deep Sharing. Shedding an all-or-nothing approach will probably be key. You may decide to merely hint at some touchy issues instead of delving into them directly. That should still leave you feeling more understood than saying nothing at all — embrace reasonable compromise!

By DENNIS GEORGATOS

DENVER (AP) — Kyle Freeland went six innings, Aaron Schunk hit his first major league home run and the Rockies took advantage of four Marlins errors to beat Miami 8-2 on Wednesday night.

Nolan Jones hit a pair of RBI singles and Drew Romo added two hits and an RBI for Colorado. Ezequiel Tovar added a two-run double in the bottom of the eighth.

Derek Hill homered for Miami, which fell to 6-15 in its last 21 games.

Freeland (4-6) allowed two runs on six hits and he struck out five with a walk in his 200th career appearance. After surrendering a homer to Hill in the second, he fanned Hill in the fourth for his third of the night and 800th of his career, ranking fourth in franchise history.

Freeland also earned his 59th career win, snapping a tie with Jason Jennings for fifth most in club history.

With the scored tied at 2-all going into the bottom of the fifth, Schunk connected on the first pitch he saw from Max Meyer, sending it 429 feet into the left-field bleachers.

Colorado scored three more in the sixth, with an assist from the third of Miami’s four errors. Jones hit his second RBI single in the inning then came around to score when shortstop Otto Lopez threw wide of catcher Nick Fortes and the ball rolled to the backstop.

Meyer (3-4) went five-plus innings and allowed five hits and five runs, three earned. He walked four and struck out six.

The teams traded runs over the first four innings, including an unearned run by Colorado that came around due to a pair of errors. Cristian Pache mishandled Romo’s third-inning single to center, allowing Romo to advance to second. He scored when Meyer’s errant pickoff throw careened into right-center field.

Hill connected for a home run leading off the second.

ROSTER MOVES

Marlins: A day after lasting a career-low 1 1/3 innings in Miami’s 9-8 win, RHP Roddery Muñoz was optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville. Also optioned to Jacksonville was LHP Jonathan Bermúdez. RHP Xzavion Curry and LHP Austin Kitchen were recalled from Jacksonville to fill the roster vacancies. Baltimore claimed OF Forrest Wall off waivers from Miami.

UP NEXT

Marlins RHP Valente Bellozo (2-2, 3.35 ERA) is set to make his eighth career start in Thursday’s series finale. The Rockies counter with Bradley Blaylock (1-0, 3.06 ERA), who earned his first career win in his last outing at the New York Yankees.

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

GAINESVILLE — Florida will have veteran tailback Montrell Johnson Jr. back in the lineup to challenge Miami’s talented defensive front when the Gators host the No. 19 Hurricanes Saturday in the Swamp.

Johnson underwent minor knee surgery during the first week of fall camp, jeopardizing the start of his senior season. But the team’s leading rusher in 2022 and 2023 has been taking practice reps and sits atop the team’s depth chart released Wednesday.

“He’s ready to go,” coach Billy Napier said.

The Gators’ depth at tailback provides options, but the 5-foot-11 ¼ 216-pound Johnson offers superior experience and an impressive track record. The New Orleans native, who followed Napier to UF from Louisiana after the 2021 season, has 2,496 career rushing yards and 27 touchdowns in three seasons, including 1,658 and 15 touchdowns at Florida.

Florida running back Montrell Johnson Jr. speaks during July 17 during SEC media days in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)

“This will be his fourth year with us in the system, and obviously he’s been very productive,” Napier said. “Montrell’s a smart player. He’s got poise. He has composure. He’s one of the best practice players that we have, and he has character.

“The players respect him; he has voice on our team.”

Third-year linebacker Shemar James, who along with Johnson and quarterback Graham Mertz represented UF at SEC Media Days, flashed a big smile when discussing Johnson’s recovery and return.

“He’s my guy,” James said. “Just practicing against him each and every day makes me better.We appreciate him as a defensive unit.”

The Gators will need Johnson to earn the respect of Miami’s defense — a unit led by a high-caliber front seven featuring sophomore end Rueben Bain Jr. and senior middle linebacker Francis Mauigoa.

“They’re a pretty talented group throughout,” sophomore left guard Knijeah Harris said. “Their interior guys are very talented. I’m just excited to compete.”

Florida running back Montrell Johnson Jr. led the Gators in rushing the past two seasons and has 2,496 career rushing yards and 27 touchdowns in three college seasons. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Harris will make just his second career start for an offensive line looking for the right combination after taking a step back in 2023. UF averaged 1.24 yards fewer per carry than 2022.

Coaches also are banking on Kam Waites to emerge at right tackle. The 6-foot-8, 343-pound redshirt junior has started just three games, including the final two of 2023, but earned the starting nod over veteran San Diego State transfer Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson who arrived with 37 career starts.

Waites, like Johnson, transferred to join Napier from Louisiana after he accepted the Florida job. Waites, however, has taken a long and winding road to reach this point.

Waites made his first start, at right guard, during a 30-3 loss to Oregon State in the 2022 Las Vegas. He then suffered a torn Achilles tendon during January of 2023 in offseason workouts.

But Waites stayed the course to validate Napier’s decision to sign him in 2021, even though he was a high school basketball player with a size-20 shoe and little-to-no football experience.

Florida head coach Billy Napier directs the Gators during practice on the UF campus in Gainesville. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

“We took a chance on him,” Napier said. “He’s proved us right. He’s had of bumps in the road with injuries. But big men like that are hard to find.

“I’m hopeful that Kam will have a heck of a year here.”

Napier has high hopes for the Gators despite consecutive losing seasons. The embattled coach — 11-14 at UF — believes veterans like Johnson and Mertz, promising young players like Harris and unique talents like Waites position Florida for a turnaround.

“I’m excited to watch this team,” Napier said. “I have a lot of belief in this group. We’ve been working for a long time.

“It’s time to go play; there’s not much more to talk about.”

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

Miami at UF

When: Saturday, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, 3:30 p.m.

TV: ABC

 

A Boca Raton man was sentenced Wednesday to 18 months in federal prison for his participation in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot where he joined a mob in “one of the most violent areas” on the U.S. Capitol grounds, according to federal authorities.

Richard Cook, 38, was found guilty of several felony and misdemeanor charges after a jury trial in May. Evidence at trial showed that Cook joined a mob that “relentlessly attacked” officers in the Lower West Terrace Tunnel, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release. He entered the tunnel twice that afternoon and joined “a collective push” against officers.

“At the front of the tunnel, rioters used stolen police shields to push against and hit officers, sprayed chemical irritants and threw projectiles at the line of officers guarding the doors, and coordinated group pushes into the officers while chanting ‘HEAVE HO!’ and yelling ‘PUSH!’ Almost immediately upon entering the tunnel, Cook joined the collective efforts to push into the police line,” according to a statement of facts in Cook’s court case.

Cook participated in the collective pushing with the mob of rioters, and “one police officer screamed in pain as the weight of the rioters’ pushes pinned him between a shield and a door,” the DOJ said.

Boca Raton man who joined mob in tunnel at U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 found guilty

Officers pushed Cook and other rioters out of the tunnel eventually, the DOJ said, but he stayed near the tunnel’s entrance to watch and cheer on other rioters who were attacking officers inside for several hours.

Nearly 1,500 people have been charged across the country, in almost every state, since the Jan. 6 riot. At least 17 people were arrested in South Florida according to a U.S. Attorney’s Office’s database.

Also on Wednesday, Orlando Proud Boy Arthur Jackman, who is married to an Orange County deputy sheriff, pleaded guilty for his role in the riot.

He followed the crowd of thousands of rioters who pushed past police barricades into the Capitol and entered the Senate gallery, where he and another rioter stole an American flag, the Orlando Sentinel reported. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office investigated Jackman’s wife and determined she did not know about her husband’s involvement before and during the riot.

Federal authorities are still trying to identify other rioters who were seen in photos and videos from that day. Cook was one of those identified through be-on-the-lookout photos. The FBI arrested him in March 2023 in Florida, the DOJ said.

Cook will be on supervised release for three years after his prison sentence. U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton also ordered him to pay $2,000 in restitution.

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE

Cybersecurity specialist CrowdStrike Holdings on Wednesday estimated it absorbed a roughly $60 million blow to its sales pipeline last month after its botched handling of a software update triggered a technology meltdown that stranded thousands of people in airports in addition to other exasperating disruptions.

Although the massive outage spooked customers that had been expected to close deals totaling $60 million during the final few weeks of CrowdStrike’s fiscal second quarter, executives running the Austin, Texas, company predicted it will still be able to cinch those contracts before its fiscal year ends in January 2025 because customers still have faith in its cybersecurity products despite the July 19 gaffe that froze up machines running on Windows software.

“Our mission is alive and well, and I know that CrowdStrike’s very best days are ahead of us,” CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz told analysts during a conference call covering the company’s April-July period. He also apologized for the company’s role in an outage that he said “will never be lost on me, and my commitment is to make sure this never happens again. The days following the incident were among the most challenging in my career because I deeply felt what our customers experienced.”

Kurtz’s reassuring comments, coupled with quarterly earnings that exceeded analysts’ projections, seemed to reassure investors who have been buying up CrowdStrike’s stock in recent weeks after initially dumping the shares in the wake of the havoc that the company blamed on a computer bug. The shares rose slightly in Wednesday’s extended trading, leaving the stock price 13% below its level before the tech outage — a loss of about $10 billion in market value. Earlier this month, CrowdStrike’s shares plunged nearly 25%, knocking off more than $20 billion in market value.

Even if the $60 million in deals that CrowdStrike expected to close before the tech meltdown never happen, that will be a minor price to pay compared to the massive bills those affected by the outage are facing.

Delta Air Lines, for instance, has estimated that it may owe its customers $380 million after the CrowdStrike-induced outage fouled up its computer systems so horribly that it had to cancel about 7,000 flights. Delta has threatened to sue CrowdStrike, which has insisted that the airline is using the tech outage as an excuse for its own bungling.

CrowdStrike didn’t provide an estimate of legal expenses it may face from the outage, but indicated the bills probably won’t be too burdensome.

“Our customer agreements contain provisions limiting our liability, and we maintain insurance policies intended to mitigate the potential impact of certain claims,” Burt Podbere, CrowdStrike’s chief financial officer, said during Wednesday’s conference call.

They were the sun-and-fun team.

That was the reputation the UCF Knights brought with them during their inaugural season in the Big 12 a year ago.

The Knights were perceived as a laid-back team from the sun-soaked beaches and palm trees of Florida; a team that strolls into practice in flip-flops and is worried more about time spent lounging in a seaside hammock than pumping iron in a sweat-soaked weight room.

A team that crumbles like a sand castle whenever it is hit in the mouth.

UCF lived up to that stereotype, finishing last in the conference and 125th in the country in rushing defense, getting steamrolled by conference opponents Kansas (399 rushing yards), West Virginia (286) and Kansas State (281).

“We weren’t really a hard-nosed, physical edge team like I’ve had in the past,” UCF coach Gus Malzahn says. “We’re developing that. It’s a process. It can’t be one or two of us. It’s got to be who we are as a group.”

In other words, UCF needs to be stronger, tougher and meaner, especially on the defensive side of the ball where the Knights were softer than a microwaved marshmallow. To that end, Malzahn went and hired old-school, gravelly voiced defensive coordinator Ted Roof.

Roof is a throwback coach who preaches rugged, physical, swarming, slobber-knocking defense. When asked early in fall drills how he plans to train UCF’s players on how to better stop the run, he offered a Lombardi-like explanation on tenacity and fortitude.

UCF RJ Harvey, breaking a tackle against Houston defensive back Brian George last season, had a stellar 2023. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)

How do you practice stopping the run, coach?

“You rep it over and over and over and over again,” Roof growled. “You rep it when you don’t feel like repping it anymore. You make them thud up when they don’t feel like thudding up. You understand about the constriction of gaps. Space is our enemy. We want to eliminate the space. We do that by constricting gaps, by disengaging and defeating blockers, and by tackling and by hitting.

“When [the opponent] puts our tape on, here’s what I want them to say about us: ‘They are freaking championship strain. They play physically. They hit you. And they don’t bust.’”

It’s one thing to talk tough. It’s another thing to play tough. Then again, Malzahn and UCF’s returning players, after going through the rigors of their inaugural Big 12 season, know that strengthening their mettle and hardening their edge is something that must be done.

Last year was mostly about the giddiness of just going into the Big 12. This year it’s about the willingness to do what it takes to compete in the Big 12. I firmly believe there was a mindset among UCF players, coaches and fans that the Knights would simply step into a Power 5 league (now Power 4) and be immediately competitive.

The Knights quickly got a reality check and rapidly realized they weren’t in the American Athletic Conference anymore. It’s no secret that UCF’s success there was built on outscoring teams, not outmuscling them. In UCF’s back-to-back unbeaten seasons from 2017-18, the offense was top five in each while the defense was barely in the top 100.

The Knights found out from the get-go that the Big 12 was a different beast altogether. The athletes were better, the coaching was better, the level of competition was higher. UCF had its memorable moments, but mostly it was a season filled with teaching moments. The main lesson they learned can be summed up in the old three-word truism: Might makes right.

None of this should have been a surprise. There is always going to be growing pains when you start competing against programs with more money, bigger recruiting budgets, better facilities and more tradition. Don’t forget, TCU was 11-2, 12-1, 13-0 and 11-2 in the four seasons prior to entering the Big 12 more than a decade ago, but then finished 7-6 and 4-8 in its first two seasons in the league.

As Oprah Winfrey once said, “You must turn your wounds into wisdom.”

Or, in UCF’s case, you must turn your bruises into building blocks. There’s no doubt that the physical beating UCF took was a wake-up call for the program, and it became clear that if the Knights expect to compete with the big boys they must toughen up.

The days of being the sun-and-fun team are over.

It’s time for UCF to trade in those flip-flops for some steel-toed work boots and start stomping their way through the Big 12.

Email me at mbianchi@orlandosentinel.com. Hit me up on X (formerly Twitter) @BianchiWrites and listen to my Open Mike radio show every weekday from 6 to 9:30 a.m. on FM 96.9, AM 740 and 969TheGame.com/listen

 

Two Broward Sheriff’s deputies are on administrative assignment after a shootout Tuesday night in Pompano Beach with a man who had previous run-ins with law enforcement.

Scott Simonelli, 51, of Pompano Beach, survived after being shot three times by the two deputies, Sheriff Gregory Tony said at a news conference Wednesday afternoon. He was hospitalized and is expected to recover.

A neighbor in Simonelli’s apartment complex, near the 700 block of Northwest Fifth Avenue, called 911 about 9:30 p.m. and said a neighbor was “firing gunshots up into the ceiling and in through the windows” of that family’s apartment, Tony said. Simonelli first tried to shoot through the roof inside his own apartment before shooting through the windows, the sheriff said.

A deputy who was not at the scene heard about the call and told the responding deputies over radio that he knew of Simonelli and that he was violent and had guns, Tony said.

“We’ve had encounters with him in the past related to Baker Acts and other instability issues and threats of violence within the community. So he was known to us,” Tony said.

Deputies arrived within four minutes, and everything was quiet, Tony said. They did not know immediately where the shooter was.

As deputies were assessing the scene, a light on one of the deputy’s guns flickered, which “gave away” where the deputies were positioned, Tony said. Simonelli, who was hiding behind trash cans, shot about 20 rounds from a semi-automatic rifle at four of the deputies. Two deputies shot back.

Body-worn camera video played at the news conference Wednesday showed Simonelli throw his gun out from his hiding place behind a row of trash cans on the side of the apartment building after the shootout with deputies. They then treated Simonelli until Pompano Beach Fire Rescue arrived and took him to a hospital.

Simonelli had not been booked into jail as of Wednesday night.

Simonelli was arrested in November 2023 on counts of aggravated assault, improper exhibition of a firearm and using a firearm under the influence of alcohol after an argument with his neighbor who lived in the apartment above him because he heard the neighbor’s child crying, according to a probable cause affidavit. Simonelli was pacing in the apartment complex’s common area, yelling about his neighbors being “bad neighbors” while holding a gun, the affidavit said. Prosecutors did not pursue the charges, Broward court records show.

Tony said Simonelli had been admitted to a hospital under the Baker Act in November 2023.

Simonelli faces one count of attempted homicide of a law enforcement officer and two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer in connection with the shootout Tuesday, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will investigate the deputies’ use of force.

The two deputies who shot at Simonelli are now on administrative assignment, as is customary.

FDLE is investigating at least three other instances so far this year where BSO deputies fatally shot someone. In March, three deputies shot and killed Rafael A. Molina, a Broward County Transit employee, who authorities said minutes earlier had shot his colleague Warren Chambers to death.

In February, a deputy shot and killed a man in Weston after he got out of a car while armed with a weapon and “charged” at the deputies, the Sheriff’s Office said at the time. The man, Mario Bonilla, had recently been reported missing.

In January, a man wanted in connection with a domestic violence incident was shot and killed by deputies in Oakland Park during a standoff and “confrontation,” the Sheriff’s Office said previously.

MIAMI GARDENS — You can pick your here-we-go-again moment. For me, it was Chris Grier admitting he signed an injured Odell Beckham Jr. that said some hefty problems inside the Miami Dolphins weren’t solved again this season.

They’re being repeated.

You had other options to consider. You could go with the Dolphins general manager chuckling at media for questioning a questionable offensive line.

You could also wonder how he reduced their 1-6 record and 92-point deficit against playoff teams last season to a dropped pass against Philadelphia, a pass-interference penalty against Kansas City in Germany …

“Situational football,’’ he said.

But I’m going with this odd Beckham Jr., news that Grier signed him despite knowing he’d miss the start of the season for this franchise tripling down on issues that got this team in trouble the past two years.

It continues this team’s rigid pursuit of fragile players. It underlines the lack of vision in a GM job demanding X-ray vision. It suggests a general-manager-for-life comfort level in a season that demands a win-or-else line across it.

This five-year rebuild enters its sixth season with little to show for it. There’s no building left, too. Grier has constructed the league’s oldest roster. The Dolphins’ average player was 26.94 years old when rosters were set Tuesday afternoon.

Green Bay, the Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay and Kansas City — all playoff teams last year — are the four youngest teams entering this season. Young, healthy and talented. That’s how to win in the NFL.

The Dolphins are one-for-three in that department. They’re talented in the sixth year of their five-year rebuild. They need that top-end talent to carry them, too, because their window is closing, as reminded by the losses of defensive tackle Christian Wilkins and guard Rob Hunt.

The bottom-line is their lines aren’t as talented this year. You can hide that for a while. But Grier grew up with Bill Parcells as his mentor. If he knows one thing, it should be the lesson of strong lines especially when seasons turn late and cold.

But back to the signing of Beckham Jr. Sure, as coach Mike McDaniel says, “100 percent of the players get injured,” in football. But that doesn’t mean you run after them like an ambulance chaser — needing an actual ambulance in many cases.

Tackle Terron Armstead can’t practice due to annual injuries. Guard Isaiah Wynn was re-signed despite not practicing this summer and getting hurt as usual last season. One star edge rusher, Bradley Chubb (knee), won’t start the season and the other, Jaelan Phillips (Achilles), is trying to make the opener.

Now Beckham Jr. is hurt to start the year. He’s a third receiver, so the continued philosophy is the issue here. He’s 31. He’s playing on a twice-rebuilt knee. He’s missed almost half the games (33 of 68) in the past four years is the larger question.

And in a win-or-else season you sign him knowing he’ll miss the opening four games to more injury?

“We’re playing the long game,’’ Grier said.

He’s on a one-year contract. There is no long game. And it wouldn’t much matter, but the Dolphins have the same issues through their receiving corps.

The Dolphins kept four receivers on their roster, because they were the only healthy ones. It’s an issue behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle because this offense uses three receivers the majority of the time.

De’Vone Achane lined up as receiver plenty last year as a rookie and probably stretched that idea in offseason work. Erik Ezukanma is back on the practice squad and can be elevated. But can he stay healthy?

The overriding question about Grier isn’t if he can scout (he can) or run a draft (his are generally fine). It’s the vision as this issue shows. It’s the big picture. It’s also standing for something, anything, when this franchise needed the football guy to stand up since the start of the Tank Era.

Brian Flores is back in the news for his dictator ways that extracted every possible win from an awful team in 2019. He was exact coach you shouldn’t hire when your one goal is the top draft pick. Grier either hired him or, worse, didn’t stand up to stop it.

That was just the start of ways the Dolphins needed a football voice to help in ways Grier evidently didn’t. Not signing Ryan Fitzpatrick or just playing Josh Rosen to get the No. 1 pick? Why damage the Dolphins brand by chasing quarterback Deshaun Watson despite his sexual-assault issues?

Watching owner Steve Ross demand that Flores lose? The entire Sean Payton-Tom Brady debacle? Where was Grier in preventing any of this?

Mike McDaniel is a fun hire. He has yet to prove he can win as this era promised, though — as Grier’s job in this rebuild demanded. So here we go into another season where there’s talent on this roster.

There’s also age like no other team.

And injury already.

And so, here we go again, crossing your fingers is part of this team’s plan.

An appeals court is scheduled Tuesday to take up a state challenge to the dismissal of a perjury indictment against former Broward County Superintendent of Schools Robert Runcie.

A panel of the 4th District Court of Appeals will hear arguments about whether a statewide grand jury had the authority to indict Runcie for alleged perjury involving testimony about a technology contract.

The statewide grand jury was impaneled in 2019 to investigate school safety issues after the February 2018 mass shooting at Broward County’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that killed 17 people.

Related Articles

• Local News | Perjury charge dropped against former Broward Superintendent Robert Runcie

A circuit judge ruled that the statewide grand jury did not have authority to indict Runcie because the alleged perjury occurred in only one judicial circuit, where crimes are handled by local prosecutors or grand juries.

Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office appealed, raising a series of arguments, including that statewide grand jury members were drawn from multiple circuits.

But Runcie’s attorneys argued in a brief this year that the dismissal should be upheld, saying, in part, that the “indictment charged Mr. Runcie with perjury premised on testimony that occurred exclusively in one judicial circuit.”

Today is Wednesday, Aug. 28, the 241st day of 2024. There are 125 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Aug. 28, 1963, during the March on Washington, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech before an estimated 250,000 people in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Also on this date:

In 1845, the first issue of “Scientific American” magazine was published; it remains the oldest continuously published magazine in the United States.

In 1862, the Second Battle of Bull Run began in Prince William County, Virginia, during the Civil War; the Union army retreated two days later after suffering 14,000 casualties.

In 1898, pharmacist Caleb Bradham of New Bern, North Carolina changed the name of the carbonated beverage he’d created five years earlier from “Brad’s Drink” to “Pepsi-Cola.”

In 1955, Emmett Till, a Black teenager from Chicago, was abducted from his uncle’s home in Money, Mississippi, by two white men after he had allegedly whistled at a white woman four days prior; he was found brutally slain three days later.

In 1957, U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond (D-S.C.) began what remains the longest speaking filibuster in Senate history (24 hours and 18 minutes) in an effort to stall the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1957.

In 1968, police and anti-war demonstrators clashed in the streets of Chicago as the Democratic National Convention nominated Hubert H. Humphrey for president.

In 1988, 70 people were killed when three Italian Air Force stunt planes collided during an air show at the U.S. Air Base in Ramstein (RAHM’-shtyn), West Germany.

In 2005, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin ordered a mandatory evacuation as Hurricane Katrina approached the city.

In 2013, a military jury sentenced Maj. Nidal Hasan to death for the 2009 shooting rampage at Fort Hood that claimed 13 lives and left 30 people injured.

In 2016, six scientists completed a yearlong Mars simulation on the big island of Hawaii, where they emerged after living in a dome in near isolation on Mauna Loa.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Former Defense Secretary William S. Cohen is 84.
• Actor Ken Jenkins (TV: “Scrubs”) is 84.
• Former MLB manager and player Lou Piniella (pih-NEHL’-uh) is 81.
• Former MLB pitcher Ron Guidry (GIH’-dree) is 74.
• Former U.S. Poet Laureate Rita Dove is 72.
• Artist Ai Weiwei is 67.
• Actor Daniel Stern is 67.
• Olympic gold medal figure skater Scott Hamilton is 66.
• Actor Jennifer Coolidge is 63.
• Film director David Fincher is 62.
• Country singer Shania (shah-NY’-uh) Twain is 59.
• “Pokemon” creator Satoshi Tajiri is 59.
• Actor Billy Boyd is 56.
• Actor Jack Black is 55.
• Hockey Hall of Famer Pierre Turgeon is 55.
• Actor Jason Priestley is 55.
• Technology executive Sheryl Sandberg is 55.
• Olympic gold medal swimmer Janet Evans is 53.
• Actor Carly Pope is 43.
• Country singer Jake Owen is 43.
• Country singer LeAnn Rimes is 42.
• Rock singer Florence Welch (Florence and the Machine) is 38.
• Actor Quvenzhane (kwuh-VEHN’-zhah-nay) Wallis is 21.

General Daily Insight for August 28, 2024

Spacey vibes are likely to linger throughout the day. The scattered Gemini Moon squares diffuse Neptune before passing into sensitive Cancer, setting a tone that’s a little too emotionally open. Then, idealistic Venus opposes Neptune, giving us a better opportunity to see whatever we want to see. Once communication planet Mercury stations direct at 5:14 pm EDT, the fog should begin to clear. There’s value in the slower patches of life, but this is finally the moment to put our thinking caps back on!

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Receiving validation for serving others may currently seem easier than deciding what you want to do. That being said, letting things go on to the point where you’re obviously being taken advantage of might give you some perspective on the situation. When thoughtful Mercury stations direct in your individualistic 5th house, you’ll probably start to have more ideas about your specific preferences. As long as you handle the responsibilities that are genuinely yours, you can step back from those that aren’t.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

You may feel the desire to perform for your current peers. As artistic Venus in your 5th House of Self-Expression opposes unrealistic Neptune in your social sector, you probably have some genuine talent to show off. Even so, allowing that approach to become your basic way of connecting with others has its drawbacks. Reconnecting with your internal sense of security can point you toward a more balanced path. When you’re not hungry for attention, that’s often exactly when you get it!

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Getting an accurate view of a power dynamic in your life could presently seem impossible. With coddled Venus in your 4th House of Nourishment amping up fantastical Neptune in your authority zone, you might not even realize how deferential you are to someone else — after all, they’re probably taking care of you in one way or another! Still, you should listen to what they say. Any sentiments that aren’t quite right are likely to leak out in their speech, so pay close attention.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

You might now see the wisdom in moderating how you express your political or spiritual views to others. While sweet Venus in your communication zone conspires with fuzzy Neptune in your philosophical 9th house, you may try to avoid conflict by being vague about what you truly believe. This approach often works well with people you don’t interact with very often. At some point, though, your core values will emerge. You’re not forbidden from bending on certain details, but decide beforehand what can’t be compromised.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Greed could lure you into a bad financial decision with little warning. While abundant Venus in your resource sector provokes shady Neptune in your 8th House of Big Money, having more than usual might just get you scheming to increase your funds further. Your desire for wealth isn’t necessarily about the currency itself — it’s potentially coming from a deeper longing to be taken seriously. Simply approaching the world with greater confidence is easier than you think, and it’s less likely to backfire!

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Letting someone else idealize you might feel good in the moment. Even when you know their take on you isn’t grounded in the facts, going along with it may seem easier than bursting their bubble. While contemplative Mercury turns direct in your 12th House of the Subconscious, you could at least try to think through why you find this dynamic rewarding or satisfying. Sticking to realistic standards offers more potential for disappointment, but it also gives you the opportunity to experience genuine success.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Figuring out your role in your community is crucial now. As calculating Mercury spins direct in your social 11th house, you might begin to have a clearer idea of where you stand in relation to others. This insight can help you make decisions about which responsibilities are worth your time. No matter how happy you are to support people and groups that matter to you, you need time to rest and relax too. Be watchful of commitments that have crept in without sufficient thought.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Blending in with a group might come more easily to you than normal. As amiable Venus in your community sector pressures foggy Neptune in your self-expression zone, you’re likely to be good at telling people what they want to hear. What do you get out of doing this? Going with the flow can make sense when you don’t have anything else to do, but you may have some compelling alternatives coming to mind throughout the day. Make a point of listening to your inner voice.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Filling a void could be an impossible task weighing on you today. You might throw yourself into achieving impressive conquests recognized by the outside world, but that won’t necessarily touch your internal sense of unease even if you succeed. While articulate Mercury turns direct in your 9th House of Beliefs, you may benefit from investigating the ideas behind your efforts and rooting out any unhelpful misconceptions. Do your best to bring good things into the world for the sake of everyone’s happiness — including yours.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Faking it until you make it is somewhat possible at the moment. If you need to appear more sophisticated than you are, you can accomplish that by keeping your answers vague rather than getting into specific details that you don’t have. Still, that’s only going to work with people you don’t know super well. With perceptive Mercury turning direct in your 8th House of Intimacy, close connections can likely figure out what’s really going on. You might as well come to peace with that!

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

A frustrating relationship issue may begin to unsnarl itself today. As messenger Mercury turns direct in your 7th House of Partnership, you can look forward to your communications with others getting clearer. On the potentially negative side, that means any ambiguity you intentionally brought into the equation — for whatever reason — could get called out as well. Your embarrassment surrounding your financial status is probably creating bigger problems than the facts of the matter themselves. Take a deep breath and power through it!

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

You now have a chance to make progress on a task that has been stalled. With nimble Mercury shaking off a retrograde in your 6th House of Responsibilities, your ongoing effort and attention are potentially ready to pay off in the form of a new way to navigate the situation. Try to avoid getting caught up in conflict over who should receive credit for the accomplishment, though. Just having the job finally done should be enough of a reward for everyone involved!

After months of preparation and speculation, UCF kicks off the 2024 season by hosting New Hampshire on Thursday.

What can fans expect from the Knights when they take the field in the Bounce House against the Wildcats?

“I want to play good team football,” said coach Gus Malzahn. “I want us to be sound on offense without all the penalties and [expletive]. I want to be sound on defense and see some hits where the crowd goes ‘Woo!’

“I want to play good discipline football and return to basics. We talked about the whole fall camp, not having those self-inflicted wounds. That’s the challenge.”

UCF was among the most penalized teams in the Big 12 last season, causing Malzahn to refer to the Knights as undisciplined and soft. Thus, the team’s mantra is toughness and togetherness.

“You’re going to see guys flying around,” said fifth-year linebacker Ethan Barr. “A defense that comes in waves non-stop. We’ve got so many guys and a lot of depth. It will be a relentless defense that comes in waves at teams, no matter who’s in the game. It’s a defense that will step up, force turnovers and get off the field.”

That physicality isn’t limited to the defense.

“When you turn on the film, you’ll see a team that screams physicality,” said fifth-year quarterback KJ Jefferson. “It puts the fear in the opponent. Guys being physical, they’re desperate to win and desperate to win those one-on-ones. That’s the main thing. We want to go out there and prove we’re a dominant football team.”

What did Jacurri Brown do to earn the backup QB job?

From the moment the Miami transfer arrived on campus following the spring transfer window in April, it was assumed Jacurri Brown (6-4, 220 pounds) would have the inside track on the backup job.

The redshirt sophomore spent much of the summer and preseason camp competing with redshirt freshman Dylan Rizk and true freshmen Riley Trujillo and EJ Colson. Ultimately, Brown’s abilities and limited experience won him the job.

“We let him go live a couple of weeks ago in the scrimmage and it was completely different letting a guy like that go live with his playmaking ability,” said Malzahn. “He and KJ have similar skill sets, so you don’t have to change your offense completely.”

Redshirt senior Trent Whittemore is one of three receivers starting for the Knights. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)

Who emerged at 3rd receiver spot?

With Kobe Hudson and Xavier Townsend having locked up the top two receiver spots, the biggest uncertainty heading into the season was who would start as the third receiver.

The group is deep, with Chauncy Magwood and transfers Jacoby Jones and Ja’Varrius Johnson, but veteran Trent Whittemore ultimately received the nod.

“Trent has been one of those guys who has been in the background since he’s been here,” Malzahn said of the redshirt senior. “He’s starting to establish himself as one of our better receivers. He’s always been one of those dirty-work guys. He’ll block, he’s very smart but taking his game to the next level. More than anything, he’s gotten more opportunities.”

Whittemore (6-4, 211), whose father Mark played at UCF in the 1990s, appeared in every game last season and finished with 3 catches for 13 yards.

How did Knights solidify offensive line?

The offensive line was a crucial contributor to UCF finishing fourth in the nation in rushing (228 yards per game) and helping RJ Harvey rush for a career-high 1,416 yards. The unit returned starters Marcellus Marshall, Adrian Kight and Adrian Medley.

The biggest surprise outside the football building was the emergence of redshirt senior tackle Paul Rubelt, who earned the starting nod at right tackle. The coaches have praised his development throughout spring and fall camps.

“Paul has grown as much as any player in one year as I can remember,” said Malzahn. “His knowledge of the game, his mindset, everything that goes with it. He’s starting to come on and is turning into one of our better offensive players.”

“The growth that has taken place in his game has been exponential,” added offensive line coach Herb Hand. “I don’t know if there is a more improved player in our building.”

The 6-11, 300-pound Rubelt won the job over Western Kentucky transfer Wes Dorsey.

UCF linebacker Ethan Barr is one of six transfers on defense to be named to the starting lineup for the Knights’ opener against New Hampshire. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)

Which transfers earned defensive starts?

No unit underwent more of change than the defense, which added a new coordinator in Ted Roof and more than a dozen transfers. Six of those players earned starting spots in the season-opening depth chart.

Defensive end Nyjalik Kelly (Miami), linebackers Deshawn Pace (Cincinnati) and Ethan Barr (Vanderbilt), cornerback Mac McWilliams (UAB) and safeties Sheldon Arnold (East Tennessee State) and Ladarius Tennison (Ole Miss) all earned spots.

“Anybody that has started has earned it,” Malzahn said of the upperclassmen. “In the secondary, we have a lot of guys that could be listed as starters. That’s a good thing. We have some depth back there.”

The unit hopes to improve after finishing the season ranked 81st in the country in total defense and 122nd in rushing defense.

Matt Murschel can be reached at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com

GAINESVILLE — Florida’s visit from No. 19 Miami on Saturday in the Swamp has a make-or-break feel.

A victory would provide season-opening optimism for Billy Napier. A loss would rekindle doomsday scenarios for the third-year coach.

Neither result or reaction might have staying power against a schedule featuring seven subsequent preseason Top-25 foes. But perception is reality when a program is coming consecutive losing seasons featuring just two wins in 11 meetings with ranked opponents.

“We understand,” Napier said. “One of the things about this group of players: They’ve got pretty good awareness. They understand the magnitude of the game.”

UF has won 33 straight home openers, but is a 2.5-point underdog against Miami, which has talent and motivation following a 7-6 season.

In-state rivals coming off disappointing finishes have questions and concerns entering their first meeting in Gainesville since 2008.

In a 2019 matchup, UF linebacker Jonathan Greenard sacks Miami quarterback Jarren Williams at Camping World Stadium. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) How does Miami QB Cam Ward handle the Swamp?

The Gators’ crowd has overwhelmed many talented signal callers.

Future stars Joe Burrow of LSU and Bo Nix of Auburn each threw 3 interceptions during losses in 2018 and ’19. Eight years ago, Missouri’s Drew Locke averaged a league-high 335 passing yards when he arrived, but produced just 39 along with a pair of pick-sixes.

During the Gators’ 29-16 win against Tennessee in September, the Swamp rattled quarterback Joe Milton III and caused five false starts and two wasted timeouts during the Vols’ opening second-half drive.

Next up Ward, one of the top quarterback targets in the transfer portal.

Few have his experience or track record, including 13,874 passing yards and 119 touchdowns during two seasons each at Washington State and FCS Incarnate Word.

“I feel I’ve been watching Cam Ward forever,” Napier said.

Never at either school did the 22-year-old face the hostile environment he will in a sold-out Swamp.

“Gator Nation is going to be on full display Saturday,” Napier said. “We’re going to have 93,000 of our dearest friends out there. It’s critical.

“We want to create a nightmare for the opponent.”

Ward hasn’t been as sharp on the road. He threw 9 of his 16 interceptions at Washington State during 12 away games and 28 of 48 touchdowns in 13 home games.

Miami’s Cam Ward, one of the most coveted quarterbacks in the portal, transferred to Coral Gables out of Washington State. (D.A. Varela/Miami Herald) Who else will test Florida’s defense?

Coach Mario Cristobal made sure Ward won’t have to carry the ‘Canes’ attack.

Miami signed 247Sports’ No. 2 tailback out of the portal, Damien Martinez (Oregon State), and the No. 10 receiver, Sam Brown (Houston). Martinez rushed for 1,185 yards and 9 touchdowns; Brown posted 103 receptions for 1,286 yards and 7 scores the past two seasons.

Meanwhile, slot standout Xavier Restrepo (85 catches, 1,092 yards, 6 TDs) will be Ward’s go-to option.

“They’re going to give him the ball,” UF veteran cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. said.

Marshall and the secondary were allowed 8.3 yards per attempt last season to rank 119th nationally and a 146.29 pass rating (111th); the run defense yielded 4.84 yards per carry (111th); and the Gators’ 22 sacks tied for 101st.

Significant improvement across the board is imperative against Miami’s retooled attack.

Are Austin Barber and Florida’s offensive line ready for DE Rueben Bain Jr. and Co?

The Gators’ biggest question mark goes against the Hurricanes’ biggest strength.

Florida will find out quickly whether the O-line has improved.

The unit remains a work in progress — and a bit of a state secret. Who will take the field first remains undecided.

There are options.

“There’s four tackles on our team that I think we could put out there and play in a game right now,” Napier said.

Miami defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. was a 2023 Freshman All-America after recording 12.5 tackles for loss. (Lynne Sladky/AP)

Whoever lines up will have his hands full with Bain and the Hurricanes’ front seven. The Miami native and middle linebacker Francisco Mauigoa combined for 30.5 tackles for losses, including 7.5 sacks each.

On the other side from Bain, veteran end Akheem Mesidor returns after missing last season with surgeries on both feet after he tallied 10.5 TFLs in 2022.

Everything begins with the 6-foot-3, 275-pound Bain as the focal point.

“He’s just really unique,” Napier said. “Loose-hipped, twitchy power. He’s instinctive. We anticipate him even being better in Year 2.”

Barber’s growth at left tackle is key. The redshirt junior was a Freshman All-America on the right side in 2022, but struggled with injuries and the position switch last season as UF allowed 39 sacks.

Can Mertz capitalize on UF’s speed at receiver?

Sophomore Aidan Mizell of Orlando and true freshmen Tank Hawkins are track stars in cleats, topping 23 mph on GPS tracking. Wisconsin transfer Chimere Dike’s topped his personal best each time he tested this offseason. Sophomore Tre Wilson is quicker than a hiccup.

They’re not alone.

The Gators have speed to burn on the outside. It can be hard to keep up.

“It doesn’t really make me feel like I’m slow,” redshirt junior Kahleil Jackson said. “But it definitely motivates me to get a little bit faster.”

Mertz aims to play a little bolder and push the ball down field. An SEC-leading completion rate of 72.9% and just 3 interceptions in 2023 belied his reputation as being reckless at Wisconsin.

But his average depth of target (ADOT) was 6.8 yards, or about 3 yards below the top QBs.

“We are trying to get Graham to be more aggressive without being careless,” Napier said. “He proved that he could play clean ball. Now, let’s try to be aggressive.”

Mertz is ready to silence his skeptics of his downfield passing. Last year, UF managed just 14 completions of 30 yards or longer, tied for 104th nationally.

“One thing the guys are excited for: We want to be explosive,” he said. “We weren’t as explosive as we wanted last year. I like the deep ball, too.”

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

Miami at UF

When: Saturday, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, 3:30 p.m.

TV: ABC

 

Protesters gathered on Tuesday in Miami-Dade and other parts of Florida to voice outrage at the state’s plan to install golf, pickleball, 350-room hotels and other attractions to various state parks.

At Oleta River State Park in North Miami Beach, a crowd of 120 or so people gathered to voice their opposition. Similar protests took place Tuesday at other parks and the state DEP headquarters in Tallahassee.

The plans for Florida’s Great Outdoors Initiative were released last week, instantly drawing a bipartisan public uproar.

Many opponents were left questioning why the Florida Department of Environmental Protection would propose such a bold, specific and organized campaign.

Amid the outcry, a golf course proposal at Jonathan Dickinson State Park was abandoned. The state department originally planned public hearings near the nine affected parks, but those hearings were delayed.

Condo towers loomed in the background in Miami-Dade on Tuesday as the crowd chanted, “Save our parks!” A proposal at Oleta includes plans for up to four pickleball courts, a disc golf course and glamping facilities.

Alexandra Maxwell, born and raised in Florida, moved to Miami a few years ago. “This is one of the last places in Miami-Dade County where you can truly come and see natural Florida as it once was, and as it should be,” she said.

When she and her husband visit the park they like to “get away from people. I don’t want concrete. I don’t want people. I want to go into the trees, I want to feel nature, I want to wade in the mangroves, I want to find peace.”

Community organizer Catalina Lemaitre leads a protest at Oleta River State Park in North Miami Beach on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024. Parkgoers gathered to make art and voice opposition to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Great Outdoors Initiative proposal to add golf courses, hotels, pickleball courts and other developments to nine Florida state parks. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

As for the potential pickleball courts, which would be built in the open field where the protest took place, she said, “We already have so many courts. … I don’t believe we need pickleball, glamping or disc golf here.”

Artist Susan Lee-Chun took her two sons to the rally. She said she loved the park because it gives her the ability “to just disconnect with literally what’s on the perimeter here,” pointing to the condo towers beyond the tree line. “This is an amazing escape. This is what Miami was, prior to all of us being inhabitants, so it’s nice to go back to the history of the land, and to share it with the boys.”

They go mountain biking, hiking and looking for insects on the ground. “They’re invested in the earth, the soil,” she said. “They know the world has more to it than just being an urban dweller.”

She fears greater changes in the park. “They take an inch, and it grows and multiplies. My concern is that the pickleball is one step in the direction of the park moving away from a nature focus. What’s gonna happen next? That’s a concern.”

People enjoy kayaking at Oleta River State Park in North Miami Beach on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Her aptly named son, Ranger, said, “I love going on hikes and seeing nature.” His dream is to become a park ranger.

Yaya Hernandez, who visits the park as an escape, said that adding the amenities would lead to more trash and less serenity. “There would be less preservation of the energy that’s supposed to be in this park. I think the energy would be wrong if there was something like that in here. The park is supposed to be about connecting to nature.”

Sam Van Leer, founder of the Urban Paradise Guild, has spent hundreds of hours there at the park removing invasive plants and planting native species.

He has restored native maritime hammock habitat near where the disc golf course would go, and is thankful that the park removed invasive Australian pines. But he said the area, which was off-limits on the day of the protest, floods in the wet season. He suggested putting disc golf in the open field where the protest occurred.

Though glamping may just seem like a high-end version of camping, it often includes air conditioning and catering.

It’s unclear if that would be the case in Oleta. Either way, he thinks it’s a horrible idea.

“If you’re going to turn it into glamping, you’re essentially saying you want this park to be a resort. … It’s so somebody can make money operating a resort,” he said. “Here, we’re in Miami (with hotels and short-term rentals). Why is the state trying to compete with the local economy?”

“Let’s persevere Oleta as natural as we can. That’s the unique thing. There’s nothing unique about a resort.”

The 1,033-acre park is wilderness within a city. It’s hemmed in by the bustle of Biscayne Boulevard and the condo towers of North Miami Beach and Sunny Isle. It feels, in some places, like a slice of the Everglades smack in the middle of a city.

Martin County protests

In the Stuart area, 150 or so protesters gathered at Flagler Park on the banks of the St. Lucie River to voice outrage over a now-abandoned proposal that would have put three golf courses inside Jonathan Dickinson State Park.

A nonprofit group called the Tuskegee Dunes Foundation said it had teamed up with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to develop the proposal. But immediate and pronounced public outcry prompted it to withdraw the plan last Sunday.

Its one-page website, devoid of information on the group’s history or its board members, ran a statement that said, “We have received clear feedback that Jonathan Dickinson State Park is … not the right location. We did not understand the local community landscape and appreciate the clarity. We will not pursue building in the beloved Jonathan Dickinson State Park.”

Jennifer Parr of Palm City protests against the Great Outdoors Initiative proposal to add golf courses, hotels, pickleball courts, and other developments to nine Florida state parks at Flagler Park in Stuart on Tuesday, August 27, 2024. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

The statement also said it believed the golf courses would be “enhancing the natural beauty of Florida’s beloved environment.”

At the protest Tuesday, Robert Rosa, who is part of the American Indian Movement, addressed a crowd.

“We are all natural beings, and when we lose connection to the grass, to the trees, to the insects, to the four-legged creatures, we lose a piece of ourselves,” he said.

Rosa also called out Gov. Ron DeSantis, asking why he hasn’t yet shut down the proposals.

DeSantis has a reputation for enhancing protection for the Everglades, and helping to add land to the Florida Wildlife Corridor, which is one reason some people find the whole thing so curious. DeSantis has yet to address the initiative and the controversy surrounding it.

DeSantis’ spokesman Jeremy Redfern last week said the proposal was intended to make the parks “more visitor-friendly.”

“No administration has done more than we have to conserve Florida’s natural resources, grow conservation lands, and keep our environment pristine. But it’s high time we made public lands more accessible to the public,” Redfern said Thursday.

The DeSantis administration has not answered additional questions about the initiative.

‘Not getting any answers’

Kathy Moore, 63, said she’s visited Jonathan Dickinson State Park at least a hundred times throughout her life. Though she’s never been much of a protester, she said she’ll demonstrate in opposition to the DEP’s initiative until the public gets confirmation, in writing, that the Great Outdoors Initiative isn’t happening and won’t ever happen again. Moore also said she isn’t convinced the Tuskegee Dunes Foundation’s withdrawal of the golf courses is a done deal.

“We’re not getting any answers,” she said. “Hopefully it can be stopped, and I’ll be out here sweating until they do.”

State Sen. Jason Pizzo, who represents part of Broward and Miami-Dade counties, is in agreement with Republican and Democratic state officials in that the Great Outdoors initiative is “inconsistent with the philosophy and ethos and use” of the state parks, he said.

He pointed out that state park lands would be alluring to developers because they could bypass land-acquisition costs. Currently, it’s unclear if developers are tied to any of these proposals.

Kathy Moore, of Jupiter, protests in front of Jonathan Dickinson State Park on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

About 150 people gathered at a rally outside Honeymoon Island State Park along the central Gulf coast, many carrying signs with slogans such as “Save Don’t Pave” and “Parks Over Profit.”

“It’s just contrary to what our parks are about,” said Democratic state Rep. Lindsey Cross prior to the rally. Plans at Honeymoon Island include pickleball courts to be constructed near its unspoiled sugar-sand beaches. “It’s a place to slow down, to reconnect with nature,” Cross said.

Bonnie Malloy, a senior attorney at the Earthjustice Florida Office, used to work for the DEP as an enforcement attorney and in-house counsel, largely while Rick Scott was the state’s governor.

“There’s a lot of smart, great people (at the DEP) that are trying to help protect the environment, and that doesn’t necessarily make the agenda at the end of the day,” she said, adding: “There’s a lot of direction that comes from the governor’s office.”

Information from The Associated Press was used to supplement this report. 

By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON, Associated Press

Vice President Kamala Harris is sitting down with CNN this week for her first interview since President Joe Biden dropped his reelection bid.

She will be joined by her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz in a joint interview with CNN anchor Dana Bash in Savannah, Georgia.

The interview will air at 9 p.m. Thursday Eastern time.

Harris has been criticized for not holding news conferences or granting interviews with news outlets since Biden stepped aside on July 21.

Donald Trump’s campaign has kept a tally of the days she has gone by as a candidate without giving an interview. On Tuesday, the campaign reacted to the news by noting the interview was joint, saying “she’s not competent enough to do it on her own.”

Earlier this month, Harris had told reporters that she wanted to do her first formal interview before the end of August.