South Florida Local News

Today is Friday, Nov. 22, the 327th day of 2024. There are 39 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Nov. 22, 1963, John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, was shot to death during a motorcade in Dallas; Texas Gov. John B. Connally, riding in the same car as Kennedy, was seriously wounded. Suspected gunman Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as president.

Also on this date:

In 1718, English pirate Edward Teach — better known as “Blackbeard” — was killed during a battle off what is now North Carolina.

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In 1935, a flying boat, the China Clipper, took off from Alameda, California, carrying more than 100,000 pieces of mail on the first trans-Pacific airmail flight.

In 1986, 20-year-old Mike Tyson became the youngest heavyweight boxing champion in history, stopping WBC titleholder Trevor Berbick in the second round of their championship bout in Las Vegas.

In 1990, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, having failed to win reelection to the Conservative Party leadership on the first ballot, announced she would resign.

In 2005, Angela Merkel (AHN’-geh-lah MEHR’-kuhl) took office as Germany’s first female chancellor.

In 2010, a panicked crush at a festival in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh left some 350 dead and hundreds injured in what the prime minister called the country’s biggest tragedy since the 1970s reign of terror by the Khmer Rouge.

In 2017, Ratko Mladić, the Bosnian Serb general whose forces carried out the worst massacre in Europe since World War II, was convicted of genocide and other crimes by the United Nations’ Yugoslav war crimes tribunal and sentenced to life behind bars.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Actor-filmmaker Terry Gilliam is 84.
• Hockey Hall of Famer Jacques Laperrière is 83.
• Astronaut Guion (GEYE’-uhn) Bluford is 82.
• Tennis Hall of Famer Billie Jean King is 81.
• Rock musician-actor Steven Van Zandt is 74.
• Rock musician Tina Weymouth (Talking Heads) is 74.
• Actor Richard Kind is 68.
• Actor Jamie Lee Curtis is 66.
• Actor Mads Mikkelsen is 59.
• Actor Mark Ruffalo is 57.
• Tennis Hall of Famer Boris Becker is 57.
• Actor Scarlett Johansson is 40.
• Actor Alden Ehrenreich is 35.
• Actor Dacre Montgomery is 30.
• Actor Auliʻi Cravalho is 24.

General Daily Insight for November 22, 2024

Our current search for stability may be fruitful — to a point. The lively Leo Moon collaborates with logical Mercury, empowering us to think and converse freely. When harmonious Venus sextiles practical Saturn at 6:55 am EST, we’ll be in the mood to pin down plans that will work for a long time. Once Luna goes on to square chaotic Uranus, however, we’ll likely encounter surprises we didn’t see coming. After the Moon passes into careful Virgo, we can reflect on what we’ve learned.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Looking good in public could be a high priority for you now. As status-conscious Venus in your 10th House of Reputation supports reserved Saturn in your secretive 12th house, you may be aware that you need to keep some things private in order to make this happen. That said, it’s not possible to get rid of your longing for pleasure entirely. Indulging that desire thoughtfully and intentionally can help you prevent the kind of situation where you’d be tempted to impulsively blow your cover.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

You’re potentially interested in travel or learning in a casual way at this moment. When relaxed Venus in your 9th House of Expansion comes in contact with structured Saturn in your social sector, however, a friend might want you to commit to joining them in one of these pursuits. Once the idea solidifies into a group project, you won’t necessarily get to do everything your ideal way. At least something real should then happen, and maybe that’s worth making a few compromises!

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Joining forces with a collaborator can boost your progress toward a major recent goal. On paper, the proposed arrangement probably looks perfect. No matter how reluctant you are to say anything that would potentially threaten that ideal impression, honesty is still the best policy at this point. While the impulsive Moon in your communication zone agitates unruly Uranus in your 12th House of Secrets, whatever information you’re trying to suppress could abruptly come out. You’re better off sharing it on purpose instead.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Clearly understanding the structure of one of your close relationships could be comforting today. Still, what works for you and the other person might differ from how your peers handle similar situations. As the sensitive Moon in your self-worth sector fusses at rebellious Uranus in your 11th House of Community, you may find it unsettling to be an outlier. If whatever you’re doing functions in the real world and honors your values, you probably don’t have anything serious to worry about!

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Sticking to what’s fair in a situation of shared responsibility could be urgently necessary. The key is actually that you’ll have to resist the temptation to pull more than your weight. Although you might like the idea of doing extra work to earn additional glory for yourself, that carries the risk of causing more problems than it solves. Your ego probably is genuinely hungry, so proactively look for a way to feed it that wouldn’t disrupt your equilibrium with anyone else.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Feeling safe and secure in a significant relationship, platonic or otherwise, can be comforting today. Still, you might be afraid to rock the boat. As the vulnerable Moon in your private 12th house jabs at unstable Uranus in your research zone, you’re probably aware that some of your recent intellectual interests aren’t universally popular. Can your companion handle this side of you? Even if they can’t, you’re not required to shed the parts of your connection that genuinely work for you.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Beautifying your home could currently be a high priority for you. While aesthetic Venus in your domestic 4th house aligns with disciplined Saturn in your productivity zone, you’re willing and able to put in the work to make your dreams a reality. Unfortunately, you can’t guarantee that everyone else with a stake in the situation shares your exact vision. Make a point of giving their complaints a fair hearing — perhaps they’ll have a few ideas you want to incorporate into your plan!

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Keeping a conversation pleasant may require you to hold some things back today. Is that a trade-off worth making? As the volatile Moon in your public 10th house provokes disruptive Uranus in your partnership zone, opening up about a situation that upsets you has the potential to transform your relationship in ways you can’t control — remember, that’s not always a bad thing. Consider whether your current reality is satisfying enough to justify throwing your effort into maintaining the status quo.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Being grateful for what you already have could work wonders for your finances at the moment. While abundant Venus in your money zone supports restrained Saturn in your security sector, choosing to be content with less means you have more! You can still seek to fill your life with engaging adventures and exciting experiences, but you don’t have to spend a lot to achieve that goal. Working for your pipe dreams in unconventional ways might spare you the need to open your wallet.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

You’re likely interested in looking good throughout your day. To that end, you might prefer to keep quiet — if you don’t say much, you won’t give people opportunities to get offended. That doesn’t mean you don’t have a few opinions that are on the spicy side! While the passionate Moon in your intimacy zone stimulates bold Uranus in your self-expression sector, airing those views to a carefully chosen confidant can be especially liberating. You can’t hold them all the way in forever.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Your longing for privacy is probably strong at present. While desirous Venus in your 12th House of Seclusion engages with results-oriented Saturn in your finance sector, you may admit that you need to spend some money to obtain the outcome you want. Perhaps you’re working toward an arrangement that involves an unconventional approach to relationships or domestic life. If it works for you, though, you might as well go for it! Your peers could end up being more understanding than you think.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Staying quiet can be good for your popularity at this time. While the perceptive Moon in your 6th House of Wellness winds up wild Uranus in your communication sector, you may be aware that you hold some unusual opinions regarding health. Even when you’re potentially thrilled with the results you’ve obtained from a particular treatment or routine, the whole world isn’t necessarily in the mood to hear about it — let alone try it themselves. You might have to accept that it’s their loss!

By JAY COHEN

CHICAGO (AP) — Petr Mrazek made 32 saves and Teuvo Teravainen scored, helping the Chicago Blackhawks top the Florida Panthers 3-1 on Thursday night.

Craig Smith and Nick Foligno also scored as Chicago stopped a three-game slide. The Blackhawks also improved to 3-5-0 at home this season.

Mrazek returned to Chicago’s lineup after he missed Tuesday’s 3-2 loss to Florida because of a personal matter.

Sam Reinhart scored his 15th goal for Florida, which lost for the fourth time in five games. Spencer Knight stopped 17 shots for the Stanley Cup champions.

Teravainen put Chicago in front with a power-play goal 2:46 into the first period. It was his second goal in his last 17 games.

Smith made it 2-0 when he got a pass from Pat Maroon and went to his backhand to convert a breakaway 10:07 into the second. It was his fifth goal of the season.

Reinhart responded 34 seconds later, beating a screened Mrazek for his fourth goal in his last five games.

Florida pressed for the tying goal in the final minutes, but Foligno put it away with an empty-netter with 1:00 left.

Takeaways

Panthers: Came up empty on a couple of prime scoring opportunities.

Blackhawks: Coach Luke Richardson was looking for more fight from his team after it blew a 2-1 lead in the third period of the loss to the Ducks. The Blackhawks responded, especially in the last part of the game.

Key moment

Chicago defenseman Wyatt Kaiser was sent off for delay of game 12:22 into the third, but the Blackhawks killed off the penalty. Florida went 0 for 2 on the power play.

Key stat

Foligno has 10 goals and 14 assists in his career against Florida.

Up next

Florida opens a three-game homestand on Saturday night against Colorado. Chicago visits Philadelphia on Saturday.

___

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

By MARC LEVY

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Democratic Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania conceded his reelection bid to Republican David McCormick on Thursday, as a statewide recount showed no signs of closing the gap and his campaign suffered repeated blows in court in its effort to get potentially favorable ballots counted.

Casey’s concession comes more than two weeks after Election Day, as a grindingly slow ballot-counting process became a spectacle of hours-long election board meetings, social media outrage, lawsuits and accusations that some county officials were openly flouting the law.

Republicans had been claiming that Democrats were trying to steal McCormick’s seat by counting “illegal votes.” Casey’s campaign had accused of Republicans of trying to block enough votes to prevent him from pulling ahead and winning.

In a statement, Casey said he had just called McCormick to congratulate him.

“As the first count of ballots is completed, Pennsylvanians can move forward with the knowledge that their voices were heard, whether their vote was the first to be counted or the last,” Casey said.

The Associated Press called the race for McCormick on Nov. 7, concluding that not enough ballots remained to be counted in areas Casey was winning for him to take the lead.

As of Thursday, McCormick led by about 16,000 votes out of almost 7 million ballots counted.

That was well within the 0.5% margin threshold to trigger an automatic statewide recount under Pennsylvania law.

But no election official expected a recount to change more than a couple hundred votes or so, and Pennsylvania’s highest court dealt him a blow when it refused entreaties to allow counties to count mail-in ballots that lacked a correct handwritten date on the return envelope.

Republicans will have a 53-47 majority next year in the U.S. Senate.

Follow Marc Levy at twitter.com/timelywriter

The high percentage of Citizens Property Insurance Corp. policies within Florida’s riskiest coastal regions is a major reason the company denies payment for half of all claims submitted compared to private-market insurers, a Citizens executive told the company’s Claims Committee on Thursday.

Jay Adams, Citizens’ chief insurance officer, spent several minutes responding to a news article from earlier this week based on findings by Weiss Ratings, a Palm Beach Gardens-based financial analysis firm.

The news article, which appeared in nearly all of Florida’s largest newspapers, reported Weiss’ findings that Citizens denied nearly 17,000 claims, or 50.4% of all claims submitted in 2023. The story reported that Weiss obtained its Citizens data from the company’s own annual report.

Weiss compared that data with percentages compiled for other Florida insurers and concluded that Citizens’ denial rate was higher than those of Florida-based subsidiaries State Farm or Allstate, which closed about 46% of claims without payment during the same period.

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Although he called the finding “very factual,” Adams said the reason stems from Citizens’ creation as the “insurer of last resort.”

“We are writing the most risky policies in the state. We are the ones that are writing the coastal homes. We are the ones that are writing the wind-only coverage.” Deductibles for the “all-other-perils” portions of the policies are “probably” higher than other insurers, he said, and would result in a higher percentage of non-hurricane claims not reaching the deductible.

The story backed up Weiss’ findings by citing another news story, by an independent news source called NOTUS, highlighting that Citizens closed 77% of claims from this year’s Hurricane Debby without payment.

But it did not mention that a spreadsheet posted on Weiss Ratings’ website states that American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida had a no-payment rate in 2023 even higher than Citizens’ — 51.2% of 93,814 closed claims.

Weiss Ratings’ founder, Martin D. Weiss, was quoted calling Citizens’ high denial rates “unforgivable” and calling for “a thorough investigation.”

But Adams did not defend Citizens’ claims handling practices in 2023, the source of the report’s data and a year that saw just one minor hurricane, Idalia, strike the Panhandle. He focused his comments on how the state-owned company adjusted claims after this year’s storms, which resulted in heavy damage from storm surge not covered by property insurers.

Adams said he voiced concerns during the September meeting of Citizens’ Board of Governors that the company would be closing a large number of claims without making payments. And those predictions have come true, though not all claims from this year’s three storms have been closed.

After Hurricane Debby, 74% of claims were closed without payment, Adams said. Hurricane Helene resulted in 68.5% of claims closed with no payment, while 44% of Hurricane Milton claims were closed with no payment.

Data obtained from Citizens after the meeting showed that the company received 3,033 claims from Debby, 14,267 claims from Helene and 54,643 after Milton.

Adams provided several reasons Citizens customers might receive no payment for their claims:

— Some homeowners whose policies were transferred through the company’s depopulation process might have mistakenly filed claims with Citizens when actually they should have filed the claim with their new company.

— Citizens’ hurricane deductibles are “probably more substantial” — 2% to 10% — than those of other companies.

— While property insurance does not pay for flooding damage from storm surge, the National Flood Insurance Program, the nation’s primary flood insurance provider, requires homeowners to submit claims with their property insurers and obtain written denials of coverage before considering flood claims. On Jan. 1, Citizens began requiring all policies insuring properties valued at $600,000 or more to purchase flood insurance.

Scott Thomas, a Claims Committee member, pointed out that deductibles accrue throughout individual calendar years. That means if damage that does not reach a deductible in one storm, it counts toward that deductible for claims filed after a second or third storm. That’s one of the reasons insurers encourage storm victims to file claims, even if they know it won’t meet their deductible.

A Weiss spokesperson responded to Adams’ remarks by pointing out that he did not break down reasons for claims denials from this year’s storms.

“We based our analysis on Citizens’ own annual report, which is available on their website,” the spokesperson said. “We believe it’s important to analyze the claims data and it appears that Citizens does not currently understand precisely why each claim was denied for this season’s storms.

“We would hope that Citizens would do the necessary analysis rather than focus on headlines they don’t like.”

Ron Hurtibise covers business and consumer issues for the South Florida Sun Sentinel. He can be reached by phone at 954-356-4071, on Twitter @ronhurtibise or by email at rhurtibise@sunsentinel.com.

By KEVIN FREKING

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate won’t hold votes on four of President Joe Biden’s appellate court nominees as part of a deal with Republicans to allow for speedier consideration of other judicial nominations and bring Biden within striking distance of the 234 total judicial confirmations that occurred during President-elect Donald Trump’s first term.

Currently, the number of judges confirmed under Biden totals 221. Republicans forced numerous procedural votes this week and late-night sessions as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., attempted to move ahead in getting more of Biden’s nominees confirmed before Congress adjourns and Republicans take control of the chamber in January.

A Senate Democratic leadership aide said Thursday a time agreement had been reached to allow for consideration of seven district court judges the week following Thanksgiving. Plus, another six district judges would be placed on the Senate executive calendar, making it possible for them to be considered on the Senate floor in December.

Excluded from that list were four circuit judge nominations awaiting a floor vote: Adeel Abdullah Mangi of New Jersey, nominated for the Third Circuit Court of Appeals; Karla M. Campbell of Tennessee, nominated for the Sixth Circuit; Julia M. Lipez of Maine, First Circuit; and Ryan Young Park of North Carolina, Fourth Circuit.

Mangi would have been the first Muslim American to serve as a federal appellate court judge if he had been confirmed. Mangi received law degrees from Oxford and Harvard. He works in a prestigious law firm and has secured significant legal victories. But his limited volunteer work with two outside groups has imperiled his nomination. He faced opposition from some Democrats as well.

The confirmation battles over circuit court judges are generally much harder fights given their role in hearing appeals from district courts and often having the last word on legal matters.

Schumer’s office said the four circuit nominees lacked the support to be confirmed, and that they received more than triple the amount of other judges moving forward as part of the agreement.

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Liberal groups in recent weeks have been pressuring Senate Democrats to do what it takes to get all of Biden’s judicial nominees confirmed before Trump takes office again. And some expressed disappointment with the deal.

“Reports that there is a deal that would leave behind critical circuit court nominees are unacceptable. All of these nominees must be confirmed expeditiously before the end of the 118th Congress,” said Lena Zwarensteyn, an advisor at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.

“When senators return from the holiday break, Leader Schumer and senators must do whatever it takes — for as long as it takes — to confirm every single pending judicial nominee, including all circuit court nominees, to provide an important guardrail for our democracy. No matter what, this must get done,” Zwarensteyn said.

Schumer has dedicated much of the Senate schedule to getting Biden’s judicial nominees confirmed. He called it a basic responsibility of the Senate.

“We’ll take that responsibility very seriously between now and the end of the year,” Schumer said on the Senate floor.

By WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS

NEW YORK (AP) — Sneaking a little ahead of line to get on that plane faster? American Airlines might stop you.

In an apparent effort to reduce the headaches caused by airport line cutting, American has rolled out boarding technology that alerts gate agents with an audible sound if a passenger tries to scan a ticket ahead of their assigned group. This new software won’t accept a boarding pass before the group it’s assigned to is called, so customers who get to the gate prematurely will be asked to go back and wait their turn.

As of Wednesday, the airline announced, the technology is now being used in more than 100 U.S. airports that American flies out of. The official expansion arrives after successful tests in three of these locations — Albuquerque International Sunport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Tucson International Airport.

The initial response from customers and American employees “has exceeded our expectations,” Julie Rath, American’s senior vice president of airport operations, reservations and service recovery, said in a statement. She added that the airline is “thrilled” to have the technology up and running ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.

American got lots of attention when it unveiled its gate-control testing last month. Analysts say that isn’t surprising.

It’s no secret that line cutting in airports hits a nerve. Whether intentional or not, just about every air traveler has witnessed it, noted Henry Harteveldt, an airline industry analyst with Atmosphere Research Group. It can add to frustrations in what can already be a tense environment, with particular anxiety around passengers wanting to sit together or rushing for some overhead bin space.

Harteveldt doesn’t see American’s recent move as “shaming” customers who cut the line. “What it is intended to do is bring order out of chaos,” he said. “And I hope it will defuse any potential flare ups of anger (from) people who simply think they’re entitled to board out of turn …. It’s just not fair.”

Harteveldt added that he thinks this change will enhance the experiences of both customers and gate agents. Others say more time will tell.

Seth Miller, editor and founder of air travel experience analysis site PaxEx.aero, said he can see the benefits of more orderly and universal gate-control enforcement, particularly for airlines. But he said he isn’t “100% convinced this is perfect for passengers” just yet.

Families, for example, might be booked on several different reservations across more than one group, he said. Airlines typically have workarounds for that, and American noted Wednesday that customers traveling with a companion in an earlier group can simply have a gate agent “override the alert” to continue boarding. Still, Miller said, “you have to go through the extra hoops.”

And a difficult customer still might choose to hold up the line and argue when they’re not allowed to board, he added.

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Another question is whether customers who encounter a beep will walk away feeling embarrassed. But Harteveldt said he was happy to learn that American’s alert is “not a bellowing sound that can be heard throughout the terminal,” or accompanied by your name read over a loudspeaker, noting that this is important to avoid feelings of shame.

Expanding this technology just a week before peak Thanksgiving travel could be “both good and bad,” Harteveldt adds. On one hand, the tech could help significantly improve the boarding process during such a busy time, he said, but airport employees might also have appreciated more time to prepare.

Both Miller and Harteveldt said they wouldn’t be surprised if other carriers soon follow American’s lead. Headaches over airport line cutting are far from new. While maybe not to the extent of American’s new tech, Miller noted he’s seen gate agents from other airlines ask people to leave a line and wait for their group. Harteveldt added that he’s been to some airports in Asia and Europe with “sliding doors” that ensure passengers are in the right group before boarding a plane.

The more than 100 airports that American is now using its gate-control technology in are all spoke, or non-hub, locations — including Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The airline says it expects to further expand to its hubs and other airports in the coming months.

The Mai-Kai is once again ready to rum, baby, rum.

Four years after a burst sprinkler pipe tore a hole in the ceiling in October 2020 — and three weeks after its original reopening date — Oakland Park’s tiki icon has marked its long-awaited rebirth with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday and started taking reservations for service to begin on Friday.

“The Mai-Kai’s legacy is iconic,” new managing partner Bill Fuller said in a company statement. “I remember visiting Mai-Kai as a child, teen and adult, each time more memorable than the last.”

Fuller is cofounder of the Barlington Group, the Miami-based commercial developer whose stable of food and beverage tenants include Toasted Bagelry & Deli, Blackbird Ordinary, 8 Burger, Little Havana Cigar Factory and Ball & Chain.

The restaurant has also partnered with Fuller’s Mad Room Hospitality (Ball & Chain, Los Altos, Taquerias el Mexicano, Snappers Oceanfront Restaurant & Bar), as well as Oakland Park’s American National Bank and investors Richard Oneslager, Jeff Roschman and Mark Macek.

Developers are promising that the more than $20-million-dollar major makeover features a redesigned exterior/interior, revamped stage show and renewed food/cocktail menu.

Carline Jean/South Florida Sun SentinelDancers perform during the re-opening ribbon cutting ceremony of Mai-Kai restaurant in Oakland Park on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Driving onto the property from U.S. Highway 1, guests cross over a new wooden bridge and see refreshed landscaping, including a pseudo rainforest of subtropical plants as well as a volcano caldera sculpture.
• The main dining room evokes eight South Sea Islands, ranging from Lanai to Tahiti, and has a new waterfall feature along with the centerpiece stage, where new dinner shows will feature fire-knife dancing and Polynesian music.
• The Mai-Kai’s A-frame roof has been replaced and rethatched. There are state-of-the-art kitchens and new air-conditioning systems. Jade terrazzo tile now lines the entrance walkway. And the new 220-space parking lot is framed by 8-foot-tall bamboo plants.
• The world-renowned Molokai Bar has been rebuilt but retains its bar top and ship riggings, both salvaged from “Mutiny on the Bounty,” the 1962 Marlon Brando movie.
• There is also a new patio bar beneath the Mai-Kai’s porte-cochere.
• The new Mai-Kai Trading Post gift shop is lined with California-imported gold tile and Polynesian and Tahitian lamps (restored and retrofitted with new lighting). The Trading Post also has a porthole, allowing guests to watch bartenders mix cocktails.
• The hurricane-damaged Bora Bora building, which served as a banquet hall, has been razed in favor of new meeting/banquet spaces.

Carline Jean/South Florida Sun SentinelMai-Kai restaurant in Oakland Park on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Brothers and tiki-life enthusiasts Bob and Jack Thornton opened the Mai-Kai on Dec. 28, 1956. It was the most expensive restaurant opened in the United States that year, costing $350,000. The popular Polynesian show started in 1962.

“Partnering with the Thornton family on the restoration of Mai-Kai isn’t just business for me, it’s a passion,” Fuller added. “I’m here to honor the family’s hard work preparing Mai-Kai for the next generation of guests. The brand they’ve built will have a bright future and continue to develop, never losing sight of what they have created back in 1956. Each guest that walks through the door will feel the energy that Bob and Jack Thornton originally created.”

In 2014, the restaurant was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 2015, the Mai-Kai was first named the world’s best tiki bar by CriTiki.com’s 6,000 members, an honor repeated in 2016.

Also in 2016, the restaurant was the subject of the book “Mai-Kai: History and Mystery of the Iconic Tiki Restaurant” (Schiffer Publishing).

The Mai-Kai Restaurant and Polynesian Show is located at 3599 N. Federal Highway, Oakland Park. Call 954-563-3272 or go to MaiKai.com.

Staff writer Phillip Valys contributed to this report. 

Carline Jean/South Florida Sun SentinelThe re-opening ribbon cutting ceremony of Mai-Kai restaurant in Oakland Park on Thursday, November 21, 2024. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Carline Jean/South Florida Sun SentinelMai-Kai owner Bill Fuller, dances with a Mai-Kai performer during re-opening ribbon cutting ceremony of Mai-Kai restaurant in Oakland Park on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Carline Jean/South Florida Sun SentinelPeople drinking during the re-opening ribbon cutting ceremony of Mai-Kai restaurant in Oakland Park on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Carline Jean/South Florida Sun SentinelPeople during the re-opening ribbon cutting ceremony of Mai-Kai restaurant in Oakland Park on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins second-year running back De’Von Achane continues to be one of the NFL’s most electric, exciting players to watch.

And better yet, he is seen with the ball in his hands more and more as he handles his increased workload in Year 2 without issue.

Achane has stormed past last year’s total touches, 168 in 10 games this year after having 130 in 11 games in 2023. He surpassed his rookie-year carry total two games ago — now at 122 after having 103 attempts last season. And after catching 27 passes last year, his 46 thus far as a second-year pro have him within reach of doubling that mark by Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots.

The best part about it all, as Achane has been productive at 4.3 yards per carry along with being more active catching passes, is he hasn’t brushed up with any injury concerns. This after the 5-foot-9, 188-pound speedster had a pair of knee issues in 2023, one which placed him on injured reserve to miss four games.

“I feel good,” Achane said this week. “I’m just glad I’m 100 percent healthy. I didn’t have any injuries like I did last season, so I’m just trying to keep that up, just make sure my body is maintained for the rest of the season.”

The concussion that took him out early in the first meeting with the Patriots, Oct. 6 in Foxborough, Massachusetts, didn’t even cost him the next game as he recovered over the bye week. He did return to action with a Guardian cap over his helmet, but Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders was the first one he played without it.

In that 34-19 win against the Raiders, he had 17 carries for 73 yards and a touchdown, adding four catches for 32 yards. He had 21 touches, while rookie Jaylen Wright had six and veteran Raheem Mostert had three.

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Coach Mike McDaniel went into the game expecting to distribute opportunities more among his three running backs, but Achane’s productivity again couldn’t be kept off the field.

“De’Von’s play merited some extra snaps that we were kind of anticipating being a little more level,” he said. “He was really playing well, so in those situations we kind of lean on the hot hand, so to speak, and I think he’s really made it difficult in in-game situations, the last two in particular, to take him off the field. But we try to leave that room for guys to decide for us during the game on how much play time they’ll get and respond appropriately.”

Achane hasn’t broken off as many long runs that led to his absurd modern-era record of 7.8 yards per attempt as a rookie, but McDaniel noted how Achane has been more consistent in the run game, turning plays that could go for loss of yards into significant gains.

Catching passes was an emphasis for Achane this offseason, and he has a reception on all but five of his targets this season as he has become a go-to for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa while defenses focus in so much on wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

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“We basically just take what the defense gives us,” said Achane, feeling at some point defenses will adjust to open things back up for Hill and Waddle. “We’ve been doing it pretty much all season, so you expect for the defense to try to cover it.”

Said offensive coordinator Frank Smith of Achane: “Whatever the game requires, he’s ready for it, and he’s done a great job with everything just making sure he’s ready to go for the season.

“He handles everything like a professional, and he’s been helping us win. So, excited for everything he’s done.”

Then, there’s the other side of Achane’s uptick in work. The other half of last year’s backfield duo, Mostert, isn’t seeing nearly as much action.

“He’s doing a good job,” Mostert said of Achane. “He’s hot right now, and it’s good to see. He’s very impressive.

“I’ve dealt with a lot, but I’m here to play a role. And that’s just to get myself better, get everybody else around me better. If my opportunity knocks, I just got to answer the door.”

Mostert recently had a sit-down with McDaniel, with whom he goes back to time together in San Francisco, before either of them arrived in Miami.

“We just try to see eye to eye. That’s the best thing we can do,” Mostert said. “We had a good conversation, and we see eye to eye now. Moving forward, I told him, he can always come to me, and I’m going to come to (him), as well. We have a lot in common, and a lot of things that we discussed. It was beneficial.”

By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER

WASHINGTON (AP) — A high-ranking leader of a Mexican drug cartel who lived in the U.S. under a phony identity after faking his own death has been arrested on federal charges, the Justice Department said Thursday.

Cristian Fernando Gutierrez Ochoa — the son-in-law of the fugitive Jalisco New Generation cartel boss known as “El Mencho” — was arrested this week on drug trafficking and money laundering offenses in Riverside, California, where he had been living using a fake name after fleeing Mexico, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors say Gutierrez Ochoa, 37, faked his own death and fled to the U.S. to avoid Mexican authorities after kidnapping two members of the Mexican Navy in 2021. His father-in-law, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes or “El Mencho,” told associates he killed Gutierrez Ochoa for lying, helping the man escape to the U.S. to be with “El Mencho’s” daughter, the Justice Department said.

Gutierrez Ochoa is accused of conspiring to import thousands of kilograms of methamphetamine and cocaine into the U.S., and using violence to further the cartel’s illegal activities. He’s accused of kidnapping the two Mexican Navy members in 2021 in the hopes of securing the release of “El Mencho’s” wife after she had been arrested by Mexican authorities, according to the Justice Department.

“The Jalisco Cartel — one of the world’s most violent and prolific drug trafficking organizations — is weaker today because of the tenacious efforts of law enforcement to track down and arrest a cartel leader who allegedly faked his own death and assumed a false identity to evade justice and live a life of luxury in California,” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a statement.

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An email seeking comment was sent to an attorney appointed to represent Gutierrez Ochoa.

The U.S. State Department has offered a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the arrest of “El Mencho,” an alias that is a play on his first name.

“El Mencho’s” son was convicted in a U.S. federal court in September of charges that he used violence, including the deadly downing of a military helicopter, to help his father operate one of the country’s largest and most dangerous narcotics trafficking organizations.

Rubén Oseguera, known as “El Menchito,” was convicted after a trial in Washington’s federal court of conspiring to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine for U.S. importation and using a firearm in a drug conspiracy.

General Daily Insight for November 21, 2024

Anchoring our curiosity to something substantial should let us get the most out of it today. The upbeat Sun moves into adventurous Sagittarius at 2:56 pm EST, encouraging us to roam far and wide. If we settle on a specific subject to explore in depth, we can make serious progress as the Sun sextiles insightful Pluto. The passionate Leo Moon sextiles buoyant Jupiter and trines wise Chiron, boosting our capacity to find personal meaning in what we’re learning. We can even have fun with it too!

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Your intellectual energy needs an outlet today. As the vibrant Sun in your 9th House of Expansion leans on penetrating Pluto in your friendship sector, you’re potentially looking for more than the usual small talk in your social interactions — and you might be tempted to stir up drama if you don’t get the intensity you crave. Fortunately, the right companions can show you healthy ways to dig deeper into fascinating topics. Tell your pals what’s on your mind and tackle it together.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Committing to work with someone else can help you move closer to a recent major goal. As the optimistic Sun in your collaboration sector aligns with powerful Pluto in your 10th House of Purpose, you likely have your sights set on accomplishing something significant. Admitting that you can’t do it all by yourself may be necessary. Nevertheless, you aren’t required to share this realization with the whole world. Feel free to keep your public image as intimidatingly mysterious as you prefer.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Relationships are likely to demand your attention all day long. While the illuminating Sun in your partnership zone nudges unconscious Pluto in your 9th House of Beliefs, any frustrations you experience could indicate that it’s time to look at the unspoken expectations you carry into your close connections. Some of them may sound reasonable when you say them out loud. However, you might also hold entrenched assumptions that are holding you back unnecessarily. Do what’s necessary to give yourself room to grow.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Your practical side is likely to be especially strong at present. With the energetic Sun moving into your responsible and grounded 6th house, you’ll probably find it easier to dive into getting things done instead of spending a lot of time concocting the perfect plan before you start. Others who have a stake in the situation could be impressed by your motivation and effort. When they have visible proof that you’re on their side, they may be inspired to do more themselves!

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Going further than usual to be creative and have fun could be rewarding at this time. While the boisterous Sun in your 5th House of Pleasure supports secretive Pluto in your relationship sector, you might be surprised to see who joins you in this pursuit. Perhaps the companionship you crave has been hiding in plain sight all along — someone you already know but wouldn’t think of in that way may share your passion. Your boldness can embolden others in turn, so let it out!

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Improving your present home environment could be especially rewarding. Look around — you’ll probably identify plenty of things you’d like to fix. While the confident Sun in your domestic 4th house collaborates with potent Pluto in your hardworking 6th house, you have the potential to achieve lasting results. Dealing with areas of clutter or damage that outsiders don’t generally see can nonetheless make a big difference in your personal comfort. Start with the task that most appeals to you, whatever that means in your life.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Explaining what brings you pleasure is possible now. Good — that’s likely what you’ll need to do to get your friends on board. While the cheerful Sun in your communication zone harmonizes with intense Pluto in your 5th House of Self-Expression, you’re probably interested in having things your own way to some extent. If others agree that you have an appealing idea, though, it won’t just be your idea anymore. Your companions can honestly state that it’s what they want too!

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Paying close attention to your finances should now be quite rewarding. You probably need a perspective bigger than this moment! As the dynamic Sun in your money sector sextiles profound Pluto in your 4th House of Roots, you’ll potentially find yourself craving security on a deep level. You might as well go for that instead of settling for a superficial solution. Accepting delayed gratification may be necessary overall, but see if you can achieve a few small wins in the meantime.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Knowing your limits is crucial. No matter how tempting it sounds to lay out a belief system describing how the whole world should live, that’s probably not what your duties call for. While the attention-getting Sun in your sign works things out with thoughtful Pluto in your 3rd House of Communication, you’d be wise to put your effort into speaking for yourself. Do your best to describe the personal experiences that shaped you, and give others room to draw their own conclusions.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Figuring out what you no longer need to carry could be necessary right now. As the piercing Sun shifts into your contemplative 12th house, you might be ready to sift through some of your mental baggage. If you’re not getting anywhere, don’t be afraid to turn the effort physical. Decluttering any unneeded possessions would be an easy way to open up your living space. It may also stir up more emotional energy than you expect, so try to be patient with whatever unfolds.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

You may currently appear mysterious and magnetic without making an effort. Still, as the warm Sun in your social 11th house engages with brooding Pluto in your sign, your peers might pick up more information than you intend to reveal. This isn’t automatically a bad thing. Remember, a big conversation where all the facts are clearly laid out isn’t the only way to make something known. If you’re comfortable simply having an open secret for the time being, go ahead and stay the course.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Your current goal-oriented attitude could lead you into a few dark corners at the moment. As the forward-moving Sun in your ambitious 10th house checks in with entrenched Pluto in your 12th House of Self-Undoing, perhaps you’re ready to look critically at your inhibitions. Some are potentially protecting you from legitimate danger. Others, however, are probably lingering from past situations that are no longer relevant. Work carefully to discern the difference — and feel free to shed whatever no longer serves you.

Marcellus Marshall grew up five minutes from the West Virginia campus and Milan Puskar Stadium.

His family used to park cars during the Mountaineers football games, which allowed him to catch a game or two occasionally. It’s where he developed his passion for football, which took him to Kent State and now UCF.

But for the 6-foot-5, 310-pound offensive lineman, a return home is nothing more than a game to him.

“I look at it as just another football game,” said Marshall, a fifth-year senior. “Obviously, it’s a unique experience to go back to Morgantown and play. I grew up playing football there.”

Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-30s with possible snow or rain, presenting a unique challenge for UCF (4-6, 2-5 Big 12).

“We’ve got to be able to adjust,” said coach Gus Malzahn. “From my standpoint, it’s the ball not carrying as far. We just have to make sure we’re protecting the football. Our guys will be ready, but it’s not like we can turn on the air conditioner to simulate 30 degrees.”

UCF set to dissolve The Kingdom and bring NIL operation in-house

“My whole life, I’ve been used to playing in the cold, which we’re going to experience a little bit this week,” said Marshall.

Senior linebacker Ethan Barr has played in a few cold-weather games while at Vanderbilt.

“It’s all about the mindset you take to the game and the confidence you have that you don’t let the weather affect you,” said Barr. “The game is the game and whatever is outside of the game, you can’t control.”

Coaches: Malzahn, 4th season at UCF, 28-22 (105-60 overall); Neal Brown, 6th season at West Virginia, 36-34 (71-50 overall).

Quick slant: This is the fourth meeting in the series, with West Virginia holding a 3-0 advantage. Last season, the Mountaineers jumped out to a 17-7 lead over UCF before cruising to a 41-28 victory. Quarterback Garrett Greene had three of WVU’s five rushing touchdowns and the defense forced three John Rhys Plumlee interceptions. … This is the second time UCF has traveled to Morgantown, with the first coming in 2003 when the Knights lost 36-18.

About UCF (4-6, 2-5 Big 12): Running back RJ Harvey leads the Big 12 in rushing yards (1,328) and rushing touchdowns (19). The fifth-year senior and two-time Doak Walker Award semifinalist has 40 career rushing touchdowns and is five scores away from tying Kevin Smith for the school record. … Quarterback Dylan Rizk has completed 75% (44 of 59) of his passes for 523 yards with 3 touchdowns and an interception in his two starts. The redshirt freshman has the third-highest passer rating (162.43) in the conference this month. …UCF has 17 tackles for loss over the past two games, led by tackle Ricky Barber (2.5) and safety Quadric Bullard (2.5).

How does UCF plan to slow down West Virginia’s ground game? | Analysis

About West Virginia (5-5, 4-3 Big 12): The Mountaineers have three players with over 500 rushing yards this season, led by running back Jahiem White (639 yards), Greene (600) and running back CJ Donaldson Jr. (525). Greene is coming off a season-high 129 rushing yards in the WVU’s 49-35 loss to Baylor last week. … Defensive lineman TJ Jackson II leads the Big 12 in tackles for loss (12) and is fourth in the conference in sacks (5.5). … WVU has recorded multiple sacks in 12 of its last 15 games.

3 things to watch

Pressure the quarterback. After registering just 3 sacks in the first four games of the season, UCF has turned things around with 14 sacks over the past six games. That includes multiple sacks in five straight games. Greene was sacked a season-high 4 times by Baylor in last week’s loss.

Eliminate penalties. The Knights were flagged nine times, including five false-start penalties, in their loss at Arizona State two weeks ago. Some of that can be credited to having a young quarterback playing in his first road game, but Malzahn wants his team to play more disciplined in those situations.

Get off to a fast start. UCF scored on eight of its first 12 possessions in the first half of the past two games (Arizona and  Arizona State) with Rizk as quarterback. During the previous 4 games (BYU, Iowa State, Cincinnati and Florida), the Knights scored on just 6 of 24 first-half opportunities.

Matt Murschel can be reached at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com

UP NEXT

UCF at West Virginia

Where: Milan Puskar Stadium (Morgantown, West Virginia)

When: 3:30 p.m. Saturday

TV: ESPNU; Radio: AM 740/FM 96.9 The Game, Sirius/XM 385

Weather: 46 degrees with a 15% chance of precipitation, possibly 1-3 inches of snow.

Favorite: UCF by 3 points

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

Here’s a look at how the Miami Dolphins (4-6) and New England Patriots (3-8) match up in six key areas ahead of Sunday’s Week 12 game at Hard Rock Stadium (1 p.m., CBS):

When the Dolphins run: It’s not so much a three-headed monster at running back for the Dolphins, but more so De’Von Achane handling the big workload. He did it again in last Sunday’s 34-19 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, with 17 carries for 73 yards and a touchdown. The second-year tailback has already stormed past his rookie year carry total (101), with 122, while also leading the team in receptions (46).

As he rushes for 4.3 yards per carry this season for Miami’s 11th-ranked rushing offense, it would be a welcome return if fullback Alec Ingold can play through his calf injury. There’s a direct correlation between his absence and the lack of a 100-yard team rushing output in back-to-back games. This after easily hitting that mark in four consecutive outings. Nonetheless, left tackle Terron Armstead and center Aaron Brewer are exceptional run blockers, while guards Robert Jones and Liam Eichenberg have been serviceable since the opening month of the season.

New England’s run defense ranks No. 20 in the NFL. Linebacker Jahlani Tavai leads the Patriots in tackles, and former Dolphins defensive tackle Davon Godchaux is key for coach Jerod Mayo’s defense in the middle. The Patriots were the team that got Miami going on the ground on Oct. 6, even as Achane left early that afternoon with a concussion, and they have allowed 100 yards rushing in eight of their past nine games. But Raheem Mostert said this week they have incorporated new schemes in run defense. Edge: Dolphins

When the Patriots run: When you face New England, you face a heavy dose of Rhamondre Stevenson. He already has a whopping 154 carries in 10 games and is averaging 3.8 yards per attempt, with 585 on the year and six touchdowns. It’s been no different of late, as the power runner got his 20 carries.

The Dolphins didn’t do a good job of stopping him nor Antonio Gibson in their first meeting. Stevenson went for 7.4 yards per carry (89 yards on 12 attempts), and Gibson had six carries for 52 yards (8.7 average). A big change for the Dolphins defense up front, though, has come in the demotion — and eventual cut — of linebacker David Long Jr., inserting Anthony Walker Jr. in his place. Since that move three games ago, the Dolphins have not allowed a 100-yard team rushing performance against them. This once-struggling run defense now ranks No. 10 in the league, and the defensive front has also benefited the past two games from the return of defensive tackle Zach Sieler. Edge: Dolphins

When the Dolphins pass: With quarterback Tua Tagovailoa back the past four games, Miami’s pass game has been incredibly efficient. He has thrown seven touchdowns to one interception and has been above 70 percent on completions every time out, including 89.3 percent against the stout Buffalo Bills defense. He also has the Dolphins as the NFL’s top team in converting third and fourth downs over the past four weeks.

So this area of Sunday’s game takes on a different outlook than Oct. 6 in Foxborough, when Tyler “Snoop” Huntley started at quarterback. The Dolphins could stand to start hitting the big plays more like they have in the past, but Tagovailoa has been taking what the defense gives him, and it led to methodical drives throughout the win over the Raiders, before eventually hitting the big play downfield to tight end Jonnu Smith. With Smith’s effectiveness, it could lead Mayo to instruct his secondary, led by cornerback Christian Gonzalez and safety Kyle Dugger, to play more honestly against star wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Under Bill Belichick, the Patriots were always known to create a focus on stopping that duo.

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New England’s 20th-ranked pass defense also has to worry about Achane getting his touches in the pass game. The Patriots’ pass rush isn’t too intimidating. Defensive ends Keion White and Deatrich Wise have five sacks apiece this season, but the Miami offensive line is coming off an effort in which it held stellar Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby at bay, between right tackle Kendall Lamm’s play and some effective chips from tight ends. Tagovailoa can continue to get the ball out on time, while using some of his newfound mobility when needed. Edge: Dolphins

When the Patriots pass: And on the New England side, it’s also a new look than the first pairing of these two teams. After the Dolphins sank the Patriots in Week 5, Mayo sat veteran Jacoby Brissett in favor of rookie No. 3 pick Drake Maye. In six starts, Maye is 2-4 and has completed 66.8 percent of passes for 1,236 yards, nine touchdowns and six interceptions. The youngster can make plays in the pocket and on off-schedule throws, but he may be a little more susceptible to turning it over than Brissett, who had just one interception in his time as New England starter.

As the Dolphins have struggled in recent weeks covering talented tight ends like the Raiders’ Brock Bowers and Cardinals’ Trey McBride, it may behoove defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver to deploy a different strategy. As safety Jordan Poyer has struggled, maybe allow cornerback Jalen Ramsey to play in the box and cover Patriots tight end Hunter Henry, who leads the team in receptions and receiving yards? New England isn’t particularly scary on the outside, with Demario Douglas the only wide receiver with more than 300 receiving yards for the team’s passing offense ranked last in the NFL. With fellow cornerback Kendall Fuller expected to miss a second game due to his latest concussion, it could be either Storm Duck or Cam Smith who play as third up at the position behind Ramsey and Kader Kohou.

Maye can be elusive at times, but the Dolphins will have opportunities to get to him, as New England ranks 29th in the league, giving up 35 sacks. Rookie edge rusher Chop Robinson can build on his high pass rush win rate against Las Vegas and sacks in each of the two previous games, as he and Emmanuel Ogbah look to attack tackles Vederian Lowe and Mike Onwenu. Sieler and Calais Campbell should create an interior pass rush, or get their hands up to deflect Maye passes when they can’t get to him. Edge: Dolphins

Special teams: It’s a special teams disaster nearly every time the Dolphins play the Patriots. There’s no other way to put it. New England special teams ace Brenden Schooler blocked a punt when these two teams met earlier this season, and last year, he got the Dolphins for a blocked field goal. What will happen this time, as long snapper Blake Ferguson, who had a bad snap in the first Patriots matchup, remains on the non-football illness list and Tucker Addington handles those duties?

That said, Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders has made all his kicks over the past four weeks. And Jake Bailey didn’t even have to punt against the Raiders. You just never know what can happen in this phase of the game when Miami plays New England. Edge: Patriots

Intangibles: Miami comes in on two-game winning streak and has an opportunity at home to complete a season sweep of the Patriots in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1999-2000. The Dolphins know every week is pivotal toward their playoff hopes, so they won’t overlook New England and its young combination of rookie coach Mayo and rookie quarterback Maye. Tagovailoa, by the way, is 6-0 in his career against the Patriots. Edge: Dolphins

PREDICTION: Dolphins 31, Patriots 17

Dolphins Deep Dive: Prediction time — will Miami use Patriots game to open up offense? | VIDEO

A Coral Springs man was arrested Wednesday after an eight-month investigation where multiple undercover FBI employees posed as members of a “militia” and the suspect successfully built a piece for an explosive that he was allegedly planning to detonate at the New York Stock Exchange, according to federal court records.

Harun Abdul-Malik Yener, 30, faces one count of attempted use of an explosive to damage or destroy a building used in interstate or foreign commerce, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court.

The investigation began in February after the FBI received a tip that Yener kept “bombmaking schematics” in a storage unit in Coral Springs, the criminal complaint said. He consented to the FBI searching the unit, where they found sketches and materials that could be used to make an improvised explosive. As the investigation continued, undercover FBI employees and a confidential source communicated with Yener, according to the criminal complaint.

Throughout the investigation, Yener told undercover FBI employees that the U.S. government needed a “reset”, that he wanted to join “an anti-government militia” and that he planned to target the New York Stock Exchange building on Wall Street the week of Thanksgiving, the criminal complaint said.

Last week, after he successfully built a remote trigger, Yener recorded a video statement he said he would send to news media after the attack was carried out, explaining that the attack was “just the beginning of a new era” and encouraging others to join his cause, the criminal complaint said.

Yener, who is unhoused, kept his belongings in an unlocked storage unit in Coral Springs, according to the criminal complaint. He allowed law enforcement to search the unit in March, where they found numerous notebooks of drawings and diagrams of explosives, missiles and other improvised explosive devices. In some notebooks, he had written things about “preparing for combat” and how a “battle” was impending, the complaint said.

He told FBI agents in March that people who claimed to be members of ISIS messaged him on Facebook in 2015, attempting to recruit him but that he was waiting for a chance to “act” within the U.S. He said he knew how to build “rockets” and “bombs,” the complaint said, and his internet history showed he had been researching how to make explosives since at least 2017.

Yener was fired in July 2023 from a Coconut Creek restaurant where he worked after he threatened to bring guns to the restaurant because he believed his coworkers stole money from him, his former supervisor told law enforcement, according to the criminal complaint. He had made references to the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland and the gunman.

A confidential source for the FBI began communicating with Yener in June. Yener told the source that he previously tried to join the Proud Boys and a separate group who subscribes to the “boogaloo” concept, a term which some violent extremists have rallied around and use to refer to “a violent uprising or impending civil war,” according to the complaint. He said the groups denied him because he “expressed a desire to pursue martyrdom.”

In the days afterward, the confidential source recorded multiple phone calls with Yener where he discussed having most of the supplies he would need to make an explosive and possible targets, including a power plant, retail stores, stadiums or schools, according to the complaint. In one call, Yener said he went to a shopping mall to find a drone capable of carrying a device like a grenade, but none were big enough.

“Yener told the (confidential source) any of the aforementioned targets would be good targets because they would all be full of densely packed crowds of people, which would ensure maximum casualties,” the criminal complaint said.

Yener and the confidential source met in person in August, where Yener talked about needing to be prepared for “civil unrest” after the presidential election in November, the complaint said. He told the confidential source he was preparing by gathering supplies to build an explosive.

Yener met with an undercover FBI employee in late September where he talked about wanting to join a militia and wanting to build an explosive for the militia, according to the complaint, because the country needs “a revolution,” he said. He told the undercover employee that he needed a place to build and store the device and that he would have a mental “list” of targets for their next meeting.

Yener then started keeping bombmaking supplies in a “secure location” that the undercover FBI employee said was part of the “militia” but was really controlled by authorities, the complaint said. In early October, Yener told the undercover employee that he decided the New York Stock Exchange would be the target, and on Oct. 30, he started building and testing an improvised explosive.

“There is one place that would be hella easy … the stock exchange, that would be a great hit,” Yener allegedly told the undercover employee on Oct. 3, the criminal complaint said. “Tons of people would support it. They would see it and think dude, this guy makes sense, they are [profanity] robbing us. So that’s perfect.”

He also claimed to have done research on the building’s security and would further research the best place to leave the explosive and how to disguise it, the criminal complaint said. He said he would travel to New York to carry out the attack.

Multiple undercover FBI employees met in Sunrise with Yener on Oct. 23. He was told that it was a meeting of “leaders of various like-minded groups” to discuss their “upcoming plots” and how they might coordinate them. At that meeting, Yener told the group how he would build and detonate an improvised explosive outside of the New York Stock Exchange the week before Thanksgiving, the criminal complaint said.

“The Stock Exchange, we want to hit that, because it will wake people up,” Yener allegedly said at the meeting, according to the complaint.

He repeatedly said news outlets should receive a statement explaining his motive for the attack and that the envelope the statement arrived in should have “a predetermined symbol or signature that would also be used during future attacks,” the complaint said.

Believing it was a site belonging to “the militia,” Yener traveled to law enforcement’s secured location and worked on his explosive on three separate dates in late October and early November while monitored by an undercover agent, the complaint said. On Nov. 4, he successfully created a remote trigger device. A few days later, he worked for several hours to try to “amplify the voltage” the remote trigger device generated.

In early November, the days leading up to his arrest, Yener texted one of the undercover agents a list of demands from the government after the attack that included mass deportation of “illegal and undocumented immigrants” and “programs intended to curb inflation,” among other things, the complaint said. He also made an audio recording of the demands that Yener wanted to be played by news outlets after the attack.

Federal prosecutors said in a news release Wednesday evening that Yener made his initial appearance in court earlier in the day and remains in custody.

Yener’s attorney information was not available Wednesday. His arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 4 in Miami.

TALLAHASSEE — Florida education leaders want parents to be reminded annually that they can face consequences if their children report false threats of violence.

The State Board of Education on Wednesday approved a rule change that will require school districts to make training available to parents and guardians on the use of FortifyFL, an app where anonymous tips can be submitted about suspicious activities. Students already receive such training.

The training outlines potential fallout for students who make threats or false reports.

“Parents need to understand that all threats will be taken seriously and will result in severe consequences, including for parents,” Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. said during a state board meeting at the Caribe Royale Orlando.

Board Chairman Ben Gibson said it’s important parents and guardians understand the potential repercussions of false threats.

“False threats will not be tolerated,” Gibson said. “School safety is (our) number one priority. And anything that interferes with that and interferes with the safety of our students, we’re going to get to the bottom of and make sure that that’s not going to be tolerated.”

Under the new rule, the “training must explain the potential consequences for anyone making a threat or false report concerning school or school personnel’s property, school transportation, or a school sponsored activity, including disciplinary actions that may occur at school and possible criminal charges.”

When the board met at Tallahassee State College in October, member Ryan Petty suggested parental accountability when threats are involved “may be something that the Legislature needs to take up next year.”

The rule change is tied to a new state law (HB 1473) that included safety training provided to students in the first five days of the school year. Part of the training includes instructions on FortifyFL.

Office of Safe Schools Vice Chancellor Darren Norris said since the initial training sessions this year, “we have seen a tremendous uptick in the number of tips to FortifyFL, predominantly false tips.”

In September, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood pointed to a rash of false tips made through FortifyFL. Chitwood also followed through with a threat to publicly embarrass minors who made school-violence threats, releasing the mugshot of an 11-year-old accused of making threats at a middle school.

“Since parents, you don’t want to raise your kids, I’m going to start raising them,” Chitwood said during a Sept. 14 news conference. “Every time we make an arrest, your kid’s photo is going to be put out there. And if I could do it, I’m going to perp walk your kid so that everybody can see what your kid is up to.”

Chitwood added if he could prove parents knew what was going on and didn’t do anything, they would “get perp walked with (their child.)”

MIAMI GARDENS — Spirits are high around the Miami Dolphins right now because they’re riding the wave of back-to-back victories for the first time since December when they defeated the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys in consecutive games.

Playoff hopes are still alive for the Dolphins (4-6), and they’ll rise even higher if they defeat the New England Patriots (3-8) at 1 p.m. Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium.

Coach Mike McDaniel has re-tooled the offense, going from a big-play passing game to a ball control run game with a short passing game.

The Dolphins hope to awaken the deep passing game led by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

But until then, they seem content to utilize the new offense led by Tagovailoa, running back De’Von Achane and tight end Jonnu Smith.

The Dolphins likely need to win five of their remaining seven games to earn a playoff berth, and most have the Patriots game penciled in as a victory.

Here are some keys to the game: 

Dolphins’ new offense fits historical trend

The Dolphins’ revamped offense still bears watching. It’s in its infancy stage.

But the Dolphins have been here before as an organization. The offense is floundering. The record is disappointing. Then, out of nowhere, a midseason offensive re-birth leads to a playoff berth.

We saw it in 2008 with the unexpected emergence of the Wildcat offense.

We saw it in 2016, eight years later, with the unexpected emergence of running back Jay Ajayi.

Now, in 2024, eight years after that, we might see it again with the unexpected emergence of a ball-control offense.

We’ll see if history repeats.

Ingold, and his effect on the run game

Pro Bowl fullback Alec Ingold has missed the past two games with a calf injury and it’s shown in the rushing results.

After a five-game stretch of rushing for at least 100 yards, and a four-game stretch of rushing for at least 149 yards, the Dolphins have rushed for 67 yards (vs. Los Angeles Rams) and 82 yards (vs. Las Vegas).

Ingold usually takes care of the defender nearest the line of scrimmage so that running backs De’Von Achane, Raheem Mostert and Jaylen Wright have some room to maneuver. 

The confusing thing is the Dolphins won both of the past two games but went 1-4 during the stretch of 100-yard rushing games and 1-3 in the games rushing for 149 or more yards.

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Re-establishing home field advantage

The Dolphins must win Sunday to re-establish home field advantage.

The Dolphins are 2-3 at home this season and 3-6 in their past nine home games, including two losses to Tennessee.

After New England, the Dolphins have home games remaining against the New York Jets (Dec. 8) and San Francisco (Dec. 22).

The Dolphins’ road to the playoffs will be much easier if they win their three remaining home games. 

After all, the Dolphins are 9-15 (.375) on the road under McDaniel. They won’t want to be required to win both of their final two games, at Cleveland and at the New York Jets, to make the playoffs.

Defense stopping Maye

The Dolphins defense is No. 9 in the league (308 yards allowed per game) – No. 10 against the pass (199 ypg allowed), No. 10 against the run (109 ypg allowed), and No. 15 in points allowed (22.1 per game).

The job this week is stopping New England rookie quarterback Drake Maye (nine touchdowns, six interceptions, 87.5 passer rating).

Maye is aided by running back Rhamondre Stevenson (585 yards rushing, 3.8 yards per carry, six touchdowns) and tight end Hunter Henry (46 receptions, 491 yards, one touchdown).

Miami’s defensive game plan will likely begin with stopping the run to make the Patriots one dimensional. And then they’ll attack Maye, perhaps with early blitzes to test his response.

McDaniel’s play-calling

McDaniel has done well as a play-caller in recent weeks. He has resisted the temptation to force the deep passes to Hill and Waddle. Instead he’s taken advantage of the underneath space created from the two-high safety scheme opposing defenses are utilizing in the passing game to use Smith and he’s taken advantage of the seven-man fronts in the run game to run the ball.

If McDaniel stays patient, and at some point re-discovers how to hit Hill and Waddle deep, this becomes a dangerous offense.

Dolphins Deep Dive: Prediction time — will Miami use Patriots game to open up offense? | VIDEO

By ELLEN KNICKMEYER

WASHINGTON (AP) — Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders forced an effort in the Senate on Wednesday to block the sale of some offensive weapons to Israel for its war in Gaza over mounting civilian deaths there.

The Vermont lawmaker and a small group of Democrats put legislation up for a Senate vote that would block the transfer of some tank and mortar rounds, as well as kits that convert bombs into more precisely targeted weapons, to Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government “has not simply waged war against against Hamas. It has waged an all-out war against the Palestinian people,” Sanders told lawmakers from the Senate floor.

Known as joint resolutions of disapproval, the measure would have to pass both houses of Congress and withstand any presidential veto to become binding. Congress has never succeeded in blocking arms sales with the joint resolutions. But the vote served as a test of broader frustration among Democrats at the war and President Joe Biden’s handling of relations with Israel.

Lawmakers’ move comes after a 30-day Biden administration deadline came and went earlier this month for Netanyahu to meet specific U.S. targets to improve its treatment of Palestinian civilians in Gaza trapped in the war. U.S. demands included that Israel lift a near-total ban on delivery of aid to hard-hit north Gaza for starving civilians there.

Leading global aid organizations say Israel — which is heavily dependent on U.S. arms and military aid — fell far short of meeting the U.S. demand to allow in an adequate number of aid trucks, and in some other ways worsened conditions for civilians.

That includes Israeli lawmakers newly banning the main U.N. agency that provides aid to Palestinians.

U.N. officials said as the end of the U.S. deadline neared that the entire population of north Gaza is now at imminent risk of dying from famine, airstrikes or other threats.

“We would expect that there be some consequences when things get even worse,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland said in the run-up to the vote on the measures. Fellow Democratic Sens. Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Peter Welch of Vermont also joined Sanders in the appeal.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on the Senate floor that he will “strongly oppose” the measures.

“Israel needs to protect itself not just today, but also tomorrow and next year and beyond,” Schumer said. “It has been a cornerstone of American policy to give Israel the resources it needs to defend against its enemies. We should not stray from that policy today.”

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham also argued for defeat of the bills. “This signal will be seen as the enemies of Israel, and the enemies of peace, that if they just stick with it they will win,” he said.

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Centrist and progressive Democratic lawmakers and Sanders have made repeated runs during the more than 1-year-old war at convincing the White House and Congress to condition U.S. arms shipments to Israel on improved treatment of Palestinian civilians in the offensive.

The Biden administration has increased its warnings and appeals to Netanyahu to do more to spare civilians in airstrikes and other attacks, and to allow more aid to reach Gaza. The Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks that started the war killed about 1,200. The death toll of Gazans killed since then was nearing 44,000 on Wednesday.

Hamas has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States, Canada, and European Union.

Other than pausing one planned shipment of 2,000-pound bombs, Biden — at 82, a lifetime stalwart supporter of Israel since its modern founding — has rejected calls to limit military support to Israel.

Republicans have stood firmly behind Netanyahu and will control both chambers of Congress next year as President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

The U.S.’s roughly $18 billion in military support for Israel during the war was a politically divisive issue in the U.S. presidential campaign, with Republicans vowing to keep up undiminished backing for Israel.

Trump has vowed strong support for Israel and has called on Netanyahu to bring the Gaza war to a quick close. He has offered few specifics on his plans on that.

By FARNOUSH AMIRI

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Mike Johnson declared Wednesday that lawmakers and staff will have to use the restroom corresponding with their biological sex, a statement directed at Sarah McBride, the first transgender person to be elected to Congress, months before she is set to arrive on Capitol Hill.

“All single-sex facilities in the Capitol and House Office Buildings — such as restrooms, changing rooms, and locker rooms — are reserved for individuals of that biological sex,” the Louisiana Republican said. “Women deserve women’s only spaces.”

The statement comes a day after Johnson was questioned on the issue and emphasized the need to “treat all persons with dignity and respect.” He also acknowledged that ”this is an issue that Congress has never had to address before, and we’re going to do that in deliberate fashion with member consensus on it.”

A resolution to restrict McBride’s access to women’s restrooms was introduced Monday by GOP Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, who pledged to fight to “keep men out of women’s spaces.” Mace said the bill was aimed specifically at McBride, who was elected to the House this month from Delaware.

In response, McBride called the effort a way to “distract from the real issues facing this country.”

“I’m not here to fight about bathrooms. I’m here to fight for Delawareans and to bring down costs facing families,” the incoming member said.

She added, “Like all members, I will follow the rules outlined by Speaker Johnson, even if I disagree with them.”

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Referring to transgender people by the sex they were assigned at birth rather than by the gender they identify as is a tactic often used by opponents of transgender rights. The larger debate over whether transgender people should be allowed to use the bathrooms that align with their gender identity has been prevalent across the U.S. and became a focal point of President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign.

At least 11 states have adopted laws barring transgender girls and women from girls and women’s bathrooms at public schools, and in some cases other government facilities.

Democrats have called the GOP campaign against McBride as bullying. Rep. Eric Sorensen, D-Ill., said Tuesday that Mace’s comments are “absolutely ignorant.”

“There’s no statistic anywhere that any trans person commits any crimes at any higher rates that anyone else, so I don’t know where her worry is from,” Sorenson, who is gay, said.

McBride is coming to Congress next year after spending years building a national profile as an LGBTQ+ activist and raising more than $3 million in campaign contributions from around the country. She became the first openly transgender person to address a major party convention in the United States in 2016, when she spoke at the Democratic National Convention.

Associated Press writer Kevin Freking contributed to this report.

TALLAHASSEE — Florida has agreed to pay $725,000 in legal fees and costs for businesses that successfully challenged part of a 2022 law that Gov. Ron DeSantis dubbed the “Stop WOKE Act.”

A court filing Tuesday said the state and the plaintiffs reached a settlement Nov. 4 on attorney fees and other legal costs. Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker quickly issued an order Tuesday directing the parties to comply with the settlement.

The filings came after attorneys for the businesses filed a motion Sept. 27 seeking $749,642 in fees and $41,144 in additional costs related to the lengthy legal battle.

The underlying lawsuit involved a challenge to part of the law that placed restrictions on addressing race-related issues in workplace training. Walker in 2022 issued a preliminary injunction against the restrictions on free-speech grounds. A panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in March upheld the preliminary injunction, and Walker followed in July by issuing a permanent injunction.

Walker in August ruled that the plaintiffs were entitled to seek attorney fees, leading to the Sept. 27 motion.

Attorneys from the international law firm Ropes & Gray LLP and the non-profit group Protect Democracy represented the plaintiffs — Primo Tampa, LLC, a Ben & Jerry’s ice-cream franchisee; Honeyfund.com, Inc., a Clearwater-based technology company that provides wedding registries; and Chevara Orrin and her company, Collective Concepts, LLC. Orrin and her company provide consulting and training to employers about issues such as diversity, equity and inclusion.

Tuesday’s filing about the settlement said attorneys for the plaintiffs had provided to the state’s lawyers “all information necessary for the state to issue payment of $725,000.00 divided between Ropes & Gray LLP and Protect Democracy Project as instructed once all required authorizations have been obtained.”

The filing did not provide a more-detailed breakdown, but the plaintiffs’ Sept. 27 motion sought $458,676 in legal fees and $32,128 in costs for Ropes & Gray and $290,966 in legal fees and $2,641 in costs for Protect Democracy. It also sought $6,375 in expert fees.

The state was represented in the case by the Washington, D.C.-based firm Cooper & Kirk PLLC and Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office. It was not immediately clear Wednesday how much the state paid to Cooper & Kirk, but the plaintiffs’ Sept. 27 motion cited state data and said Florida paid a “blended rate” of $725 an hour for each Cooper & Kirk lawyer who worked on the case.

The Stop WOKE Act — short for what DeSantis called the “Stop Wrongs To Our Kids and Employees Act” — drew fierce debate in 2022 before being approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature. Part of the law put restrictions on workplace training, while another part included restrictions for the education system.

The workplace-training part listed eight race-related concepts and said that a required training program or other activity that “espouses, promotes, advances, inculcates, or compels such individual (an employee) to believe any of the following concepts constitutes discrimination based on race, color, sex, or national origin.”

As an example of the concepts, the law targeted compelling employees to believe that an “individual, by virtue of his or her race, color, sex, or national origin, bears personal responsibility for and must feel guilt, anguish, or other forms of psychological distress because of actions, in which the individual played no part, committed in the past by other members of the same race, color, sex, or national origin.”

In court documents, the state disputed that the law violated speech rights, saying that it regulated “conduct.” It said businesses could still address the targeted concepts in workplace training — but couldn’t force employees to take part.

But, for example, the appeals court described the law as the “latest attempt to control speech by recharacterizing it as conduct. Florida may be exactly right about the nature of the ideas it targets. Or it may not. Either way, the merits of these views will be decided in the clanging marketplace of ideas rather than a codebook or a courtroom.”

Walker also separately issued a preliminary injunction against the law’s restrictions on the way race-related concepts can be taught in universities. A panel of the appeals court held a hearing in that case in June but has not issued a ruling.

Federal investigators established a trail of payments from Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to be attorney general, to women including some who testified that Gaetz hired them for sex, according to a document obtained by The New York Times and a lawyer representing some of the women.

The document, assembled by investigators during a three-year sex-trafficking investigation into Gaetz, is a chart that shows a web of thousands of dollars in Venmo payments between Gaetz and a group of his friends, associates and women who had drug-fueled sex parties between 2017 and 2020, according to testimony that participants are said to have given to federal and congressional investigators.

At the parties, women, and a girl who was 17 at the time, were paid for sex, according to accounts of the participants’ testimony from people briefed on what they said.

The document bolsters recent claims by a lawyer for two of the women who say they had sex with Gaetz for money. It shows thousands of dollars in payments Gaetz made to both of the lawyer’s clients.

Gaetz, 42, represented Florida in Congress from 2017 until last week. He has vehemently denied their accounts, and the federal investigation was closed by the Justice Department without any charges against him. Vice President-elect JD Vance accompanied Gaetz to Capitol Hill on Wednesday in an effort to build support for his nomination from Republican senators, some of whom have expressed doubt that he is confirmable.

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The document was obtained by the House Ethics Committee, which met Wednesday amid growing pressure to release a report it has compiled on Gaetz but deadlocked on whether to do so.

Titled “VENMO TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN ALL INDIVIDUALS AS OF 09/14/20,” the document uses thumbnail photos of Gaetz, dozens of women and several other men to show how payments flowed between them. Lines with arrows connect the men and the women, showing, among other things, how much Gaetz and his associates paid the women.

Because the department declined to charge Gaetz with a crime, the documents amassed during the investigation have remained secret, as the department almost never releases materials that law enforcement agencies develop in investigations in which no charges are brought. But a copy of the chart was obtained by the House Ethics Committee during its own wide-ranging investigation into Gaetz’s conduct, including whether he had sex with the then-17-year-old.

Steven Cheung, the communications director for Trump, blamed the Justice Department for disclosure of the document, which he claimed was classified even though it has no classified markings and does not relate to national security.

“This purposeful leaking of classified investigative materials is the sort of politicized DOJ weaponization that Matt Gaetz will end,” Cheung said. “The Justice Department investigated Gaetz for years, failed to find a crime and are now leaking material with false information to smear the next attorney general.”

The chart does not say what the payments were for, nor does it show that Gaetz made a payment to the 17-year-old girl. But the chart shows payments the authorities believed Gaetz and his associates made to other women, including the two whose lawyer has said they testified to the House Ethics Committee that they had sex with Gaetz in exchange for money.

It has been publicly known for several years that women have claimed that Gaetz paid them for sex. Shortly after the Times revealed the existence of the federal sex trafficking investigation into Gaetz in 2021, it reported that investigators were focusing on Gaetz’s involvement with multiple women who were recruited online for sex and how they received payments.

The Times reported at the time that it had reviewed receipts from Cash App, a mobile payments app, and Apple Pay showing how Gaetz and Joel Greenberg, his associate and friend, had paid one of the women for sex with them.

The charts show different payments, all through Venmo, and provide the first documentary evidence from inside the federal investigation, showing how investigators examined Gaetz’s activities in meticulous detail, tracking not just his payments but also those of a large network of people said to have been involved in the parties.

The lawyer, Joel Leppard, said that two women he represents testified before the House committee that Gaetz had paid them in exchange for sex. One of the women said that she had witnessed Gaetz having sex with the 17-year-old but that she did not believe Gaetz thought the girl was younger than 18, according to Leppard.

The chart shows that one of Leppard’s clients received $4,025.27 and the other $3,500. It does not show the dates of the payments. Those amounts appear to be figures that combine several payments the women received from Gaetz; Leppard said that the women were typically paid $200 to $500 for each encounter with Gaetz.

Leppard confirmed in a telephone interview that his clients had received Venmo payments from Gaetz. Some of his remarks about the payments were reported earlier by ABC News.

Leppard said that along with Venmo payments, his clients had received money from Gaetz on PayPal. He said that he initially thought that his clients had received the amounts listed in the chart but said that when his clients were interviewed by the House committee, it turned out that the panel had obtained other evidence that showed additional payments.

Records the committee had, he said, showed payments from Gaetz to one of his clients totaling around $6,000, and showed payments to the other of $4,000.

He said he believed the committee had obtained the payment information by sending subpoenas to Venmo and PayPal.

The chart also helps to solidify the testimony of Gaetz’s chief accuser, Greenberg, a former local tax collector from Florida. He cooperated with the Justice Department in the federal investigation, telling authorities about how he and Gaetz both had sex with the 17-year-old, although he said they believed she was older than 18. Greenberg pleaded guilty in 2021 to an array of charges — including sex trafficking — and agreed to cooperate against Gaetz. He was later sentenced to 11 years in prison.

The chart shows that Greenberg paid the 17-year-old girl $450.

And it demonstrates that despite an unwillingness by the Justice Department to hand over to the House committee much of the evidence it developed about Gaetz during its investigation, the panel was able to obtain some of the information that investigators gathered as prosecutors weighed whether to charge Gaetz.

The House committee sought a range of information from the Justice Department about Gaetz but was repeatedly rebuffed.

Devlin Barrett contributed reporting.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.