South Florida Local News

Today is Saturday, Nov. 16, the 321st day of 2024. There are 45 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Nov. 16, 1973, President Richard Nixon signed the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act into law, authorizing the construction of an 800-mile (1,290-kilometer) oil pipeline from the Alaska North Slope to the port city of Valdez.

Also on this date:

In 1907, Oklahoma became the 46th state of the union.

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In 1914, the newly created Federal Reserve Banks opened in 12 cities.

In 1982, an agreement was announced in the 57th day of a strike by National Football League players.

In 1988, Benazir Bhutto was voted prime minister of Pakistan, the first woman to be elected to lead a Muslim-majority country.

In 1989, six Jesuit priests, a housekeeper and her daughter were slain by army troops at the University of Central America José Simeón Cañas in El Salvador.

In 2001, investigators found a letter addressed to Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont containing anthrax; it was the second letter bearing the deadly germ known to have been sent to Capitol Hill.

In 2001, the first film in the Harry Potter series, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” (U.S. title: “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”) debuted in theaters around the world.

In 2006, after midterm elections that saw Democrats take control of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi was nominated by the Democratic caucus to become speaker of the House. (Pelosi would officially become speaker by House vote the following January, becoming the first woman to serve in the role.)

In 2018, a U.S. official said intelligence officials had concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi (jah-MAHL’ khahr-SHOHK’-jee).

Today’s Birthdays:

• Actor Miguel Sandoval is 73.
• Video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto is 72.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Terry Labonte is 68.
• Actor Marg Helgenberger is 66.
• Former MLB All-Star pitcher Dwight Gooden is 60.
• Jazz singer Diana Krall is 60.
• Actor Lisa Bonet is 57.
• Actor Martha Plimpton is 54.
• Olympic figure skating gold medalist Oksana Baiul (ahk-SAH’-nah by-OOL’) is 47.
• Actor Maggie Gyllenhaal (JIHL’-ehn-hahl) is 47.
• Actor-comedian Pete Davidson is 31.

BOCA RATON — Boca Raton junior running back Adon Elmon rushed for a game-winning 10-yard touchdown in overtime as the host Bobcats rallied from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit for a thrilling 27-21 victory against Goleman in a Class 7A regional quarterfinal on Friday night.

The Bobcats struggled on offense in the first half and trailed 21-7 at halftime, but junior quarterback Mason Chapman stepped up in the fourth quarter to help lead two scoring drives to force overtime.

“Everyone knew that this could be the last game so we all came together and it was just a team effort,” Chapman said. “It was a dogfight to the end. It was not the first half we wanted, but the second half was a really great game. Hats off to our defense. They didn’t let them score in the second half. It was a really satisfying team victory all around.”

Boca Raton (10-1) won a regional quarterfinal playoff contest for the second straight season.

“We just challenged our kids,” Boca Raton coach Alex Savakinas said. “We set a standard and in the first half, we did not step up to that standard. We went into halftime and we ripped into them. We expected them to come out here and change the way they played. The difference is they came out ready to play in the second half. It was to step up and play our version of football and we didn’t do that in the first half. We set the tone in the second half. I think our conditioning and how well in shape we were really showed in the second half. We do not let up ever. We worked all year long for these type of moments and they stepped up.”

Boca Raton seized momentum after Goleman (6-5) lost a fumble at their own 27-yard line late in the third.

The Gators defense had a defensive stand at the 1, but an offside penalty extended the drive. The Bobcats capitalized on the next play as  Chapman scored on a quarterback sneak on fourth-and-goal to cut the deficit to 21-14 with 11:22 left.

Boca Raton scored again on their next possession to tie the score with just less than six minutes remaining. Chapman connected with senior wide receiver Tristan Johnson on a deep pass over the middle for a 64-yard gain to the Goleman 20. On third-and-12, Champan fired a 20-yard completion to senior wide receiver Jordan Davis. Senior running back Ryan Platten rushed for a 2-yard score to make it 21-21.

Boca Raton had a 46-yard field goal attempt blocked with 20 seconds left, but sophomore Luisito Rojas recorded an interception on the final play of regulation for the Bobcats.

Goleman had the first possession on offense in overtime. The Boca Raton defense made a stop on fourth-and-goal at the 6.

The Bobcats offense scored on the first play as Elmon went untouched up the middle into the end zone.

“In the first half, I was really frustrated,” Elmon said. “I went into the locker room and said this is not how you want the last game to go. Our coaches told us to get right. We wanted it and were motivated.”

The game was scoreless at the end of the first quarter.

Goleman jumped ahead in the second quarter. On fourth-and-15, sophomore quarterback Timothy Potts fired a 20-yard completion to junior wide receiver Julian Prieto. Senior running back Matthew Negron rushed up the middle for a 5-yard touchdown to make it 7-0.

Boca Raton senior Markeece Johnson had a 30-yard interception return for a touchdown to tie the game with 6:25 left in the first half.

However, Negron powered into the end zone for an 8-yard touchdown run to make it 14-7 with 2:24 left in the second.

Freshman Keny Belamour Jr. recorded an interception for the Gators deep in Bobcats territory, and then Potts connected with Prieto on a 13-yard scoring pass to extend the lead to 21-7 with 1:16 left in the first half.

Boca Raton was led on defense in the second half by several impact players, including senior Brody Costolo and junior Travis Jackson.

“That is what our defense has done all year,” Savakinas said. “They are flying around and making plays. I couldn’t be more proud. I am really excited for these kids.”

COCONUT CREEK — It was just another day at the office for Monarch’s Samari Reed.

The senior Ole Miss commit had an interception, two pass breakups, a 23-yard scoring run, 47 yards rushing, and 43 receiving yards. Still, sophomore Jack Spaeder’s 8-yard TD run with 1:22 remaining gave Monarch a come-from-behind 28-21 victory over Homestead in the Class 6A regional quarterfinal on Friday night at Coconut Creek High School.

“The guys need me on the field, so I am going to do whatever I have to,” said Reed, who sat out only 10 plays the entire night. “I’m going to put everything on the line. We came out swinging and scored first, but then we had too many opportunities inside the 20 and didn’t score. I’m not a player that is going to beg for the ball. At the end of the day, I just want to win. I never beat a team from Miami in the playoffs in my three years here, so this is great.”

Jack Spaeder of Monarch (18) scores the game-winning TD with 1:22 left in the game to give Monarch a 28-21 over Homestead in the 6A regional quarterfinal high school football game at Coconut Creek High School. Friday, Nov. 15, 2024 (Gary Curreri/Contributor)

Spaeder engineered an 11-play, 80-yard drive after the Broncos had seized a 21-20 advantage just two minutes earlier. Monarch, ranked No. 4 in Region 4, will now travel to Miami Southridge on Friday for the 6A regional semifinal.

“It is probably the biggest touchdown I have scored in my whole life, so far,” Spaeder said. “When he (quarterback Florentino Lopez) went down, I knew I had to step up and be that guy. Big players make big plays in big-time games.”

Homestead got the ball back on its 40 with 1:08 remaining, but Monarch’s Makhi Miller sacked Broncos quarterback Malachi Lewis for an 8-yard loss. Lewis then misfired on its next three passes and Monarch won.

The loss was the first this season for the Broncos when scoring 14 points or more in a game.

Lopez, who carried 21 times for 151 yards, gave Monarch a 6-0 lead with 11:30 remaining in the first half with a 16-yard run to cap a nine-play, 95-yard drive. Lopez, who transferred from Miami Northwestern two games into the season, injured his left shoulder midway through the fourth quarter and was relieved by Spaeder. He also battled cramps throughout the game.

“Coach (Calvin) Davis said we were going to run the ball all day until they stopped it,” Lopez said. “When they stopped it, we would go to the pass. I got to pray and hopefully be back next week.”

It appeared the Knights (7-3) would take that lead into the locker room at halftime, however, Davis gambled and lost to let Homestead (4-5) back into the game.

Monarch had the ball on their own 25 with 46 seconds remaining and opted to try for more points. Spaeder’s pass was intercepted by Kamari Morrison and returned to the Monarch 23. The Broncos wasted little time in scoring as Lewis found Cortez Mills for the TD from 8 yards out with 27 seconds left in the half. Adrian Lima added the extra point for a 7-6 lead at halftime.

“Those two (interceptions) are on me,” Davis said. “I made some coaching mistakes that I normally don’t make. We were a little too aggressive trying to put them away. We won’t make those mistakes again.”

“This is huge,” Davis said. “We have been talking about finishing and preparing for this moment. We talked about it all week that when your opportunity comes, you have to step up and make a play — no matter if it is one play, two plays, or three plays — and that’s what those guys did tonight.”

The Knights seized a 12-7 lead on another 16-yard run by Lopez as they took the second-half kickoff and matched 70 yards for the score with 5:44 left in the period.

Reed scored on a 23-yard run which came after his 53-yard pick-six was wiped out by a holding penalty. The Knights took over on the Homestead 23 and needed just three plays to make it 20-7. Reed also scored on the two-point conversion.

“We figured we could run the ball and with our quarterbacks being able to run, it opens up our passing game because we have such great wide receivers,” Davis added. “It’s an added dimension that we didn’t have early in the season. We are getting there. We are trying to catch our stride.”

The Broncos, who were state runners-up the past two seasons, took the ensuing kickoff and moved 80 yards in just 4 plays capped by a Lewis  15-yard pass to Kevin Cascudo with 9:13 left in the game.

Morrison, who also had a strip sack for a fumble recovery, made a highlight-reel, one-handed interception of a throw by running back Renaldo Farrington to set up the Broncos for a 22-yard TD throw from Lewis to Mills with 3:59 left in the game and Lima made 21-20 with the extra point.

No. 5 Homestead hadn’t played a game since a 27-12 win over Miami Edison on Oct. 24.

Regional quarterfinal results

Friday

7A

Palm Beach Central (1) 38, Fort Pierce Central (8) 0

Jupiter (3) 27, Treasure Coast (6) 0

Miami Columbus (1) 56, Spanish River (8) 8

South Dade (5) 48, Santaluces (4) 13

Western (7) 26, Miami Palmetto (2) 10

Boca Raton (3) 27, Miami Goleman (6) 21 (OT)

6A

West Boca Raton (1) 42, George Steinbrenner (8) 7

Wesley Chapel Wiregrass Ranch (3) 42, Royal Palm Beach (6) 7

Miami Southridge (1) 37, South Broward (8) 6

Monarch (4) 28, Homestead (5) 21

Piper (2) 33, Doral Academy (7) 14

West Broward (3) 34, Flanagan (6) 7

5A

Atlantic (1) 49, Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy (8) 13

St. Thomas Aquinas (2) 58, North Miami (7) 0

Blanche Ely (3) 34, Coconut Creek (6) 27

Miramar (4) 32, Heritage (5) 10

4A

American Heritage (1) 40, Jensen Beach (8) 7

Dillard (5) 43, Fort Pierce John Carroll (4) 20

Archbishop McCarthy (6) 7, Plantation (3) 0

3A

Fort Myers Cypress Lake (6) 27, Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy (3) 7

2A

Sarasota Cardinal Mooney (1) 55, Somerset Academy Canyons (8) 27

King’s Academy (5) 28, Calvary Christian Academy (4) 26

St. Petersburg Lakewood (6) 14, Glades Central (3) 7

Cardinal Gibbons (4) 17, Miami Carol City (5) 14

1A

Cardinal Newman (1) 51, Fort Myers Evangelical Christian (8) 0

Benjamin (3) 42, St. Petersburg Northside Christian (6) 0

Chaminade-Madonna (1) 63, St. John Paul II Academy (8) 0

St. Andrew’s (4) 31, Archbishop Carroll (5) 20

Miami Edison (3) 42, Deerfield Beach Somerset Key (6) 0

Rural

Pahokee (6) 42, Chipley (11) 0

Regional semifinal matchups

Friday, Nov. 22

7A

Vero Beach (4) at Palm Beach Central (1)

Jupiter (3) at Orlando Dr. Phillips (2)

Western (7) at Boca Raton (3)

6A

Mitchell (4) at West Boca Raton (1)

Monarch (4) at Miami Columbus (1)

West Broward (3) at Piper (2)

5A

Miramar (4) at Atlantic (1)

Blanche Ely (3) at St. Thomas Aquinas (2)

4A

Dillard (5) at American Heritage (1)

Archbishop McCarthy (6) at Miami Norland (2)

2A

King’s Academy (5) at Sarasota Cardinal Mooney (1)

Cardinal Gibbons (4) at Miami Booker T. Washington (1)

1A

Neumann (5)-Naples Community School (4) winner at Cardinal Newman (1)

Benjamin (3) vs. Southwest Florida Christian (7)-Naples First Baptist (2) winner

St. Andrew’s (4) at Chaminade-Madonna (1)

Rural

Pahokee (6) vs. Union County (3)-Holmes County (14) winner

Observations and other notes of interest from Friday night’s 124-111 victory over the Indiana Pacers:

— Who was that masked man?

— Well, actually, those masked men?

— The difference is Jimmy Butler, sidelined again by his ankle sprain, was wearing a mask on the bench in solidarity.

— Nikola Jovic was wearing it out of necessity.

— And put together his best half of the season over Friday night’s opening two periods.

— Requiring the additional protection after breaking his nose in a blood mess in the first quarter of Tuesday night’s overtime loss in Detroit, Jovic arguably was as aggressive as he has been all season in the first half.

— Arguably even more so.

— Uncertain of the fit of the specially molded protection, Jovic fiddled with it in the pregame locker room.

— The 6-foot-10 first-round pick in 2022 then played as if he had no concern in the world.

— For as much as he struggled as a starter, Jovic’s versatility paid dividends off the bench.

— From there, Kevin Love took over with his offense at the start of the second half.

— Love-followed-by-Jovic seems like the way to go going forward.

— Even when Butler returns.

— Which could be as soon as Sunday.

— Butler will be back without a mask for that one.

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— But after this one, the question is whether Jovic can be convinced to eventually part with his empowering protection.

— With Butler again out, the Heat opened for a third consecutive game with a lineup of Love, Bam Adebayo, Haywood Highsmith, Tyler Herro and Terry Rozier.

— The game was Adebayo’s 500th career regular-season appearance.

— Jaime Jaquez Jr. again played as Heat sixth man, entering for Love.

— With Kel’el Ware then again the first Heat big man off the bench.

— And then Josh Richardson and Duncan Robinson..

— Asked pregame about Richardson’s role to this stage, which has largely been limited, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said, “Well, he’s out there playing, that’s a good thing. The game will dictate.”

— Richardson was sidelined the second half of last season and through most of the offseason following shoulder surgery,

— Spoelstra added, “It’s not like Josh is a new player to us. We know what brings. I know what he brings. His teammates know what he brings.”

— Nikola Jovic and the mask to protect his broken nose then made it 10 deep.

— That had Pelle Larsson out of the rotation mix.

— Herro extended his streak of scoring in double figures to 41 dating to last season. His previous longest such streak had been 38 games in 2021-22.

— Herro extended his streak of games with at least one 3-pointer to 50, three games off the longest such streak of his career.

— Herro also now has converted multiple 3-pointers in every game this season.

— Again going against Rick Carlisle, Spoelstra before the game reflected on playing, and losing to, Carlisle’s Mavericks in the 2010 NBA Finals, in the first Big Three season with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

— “I can’t believe how long ago that was,” Spoelstra said. “But that series made that group just a whole lot better. We had a lot of time to reflect on everything and figure out what we needed to do better.”

— And then there was Carlisle speaking pregame about his team’s uneven start.

— “It’s been tough,” he said. “Everybody’s going through tough stretches right now. We’ve got to stay energetic and enthusiastic.”

— For all of the Heat’s defensive issues, Adebayo said it starts on the defensive glass.

— “Limit second-chance points, that’s really the thing,” he said ahead of Friday night’s game. “We get them to take a tough shot, they miss it and they get a relief basket – we don’t box out, or we miss a box out, we fall asleep.”

— He added, “You change that, I feel like we’re a top-five defense.”

— Although not the breakneck team they were last season, Spoelstra went in with ample concern about the Pacers’ pace.

— “You still have to expect the pace they play with, the pitch aheads, the fastbreaks, the early offense,” he said. “So much of it is generated with Haliburton. He has a great way of getting people involved, the court vision, getting off the ball early.”

— As in Tyrese Haliburton, who Spoelstra helped coach to Paris Olympic gold as a Team USA assistant to Steve Kerr.

— “He reads defenses really well,” Spoelstra said. “He can dominate a game without scoring. He can also dominate a game by having to score.”

— With Myles Turner in his 10th season, only Reggie Miller (18), Jeff Foster (13), Rik Smith (12) and Vern Fleming (11) have played more with the Pacers during their NBA era.

— The game marked the first of three times the Heat will play the same opponent in consecutive games this season, with the teams also to play Sunday on the Pacers’ court.

— The other two instances will be split between one game on the road and one game at home (vs. Toronto on Nov. 29 and at Toronto on Dec. 1; and at Atlanta on Feb. 24 and vs. Atlanta on Feb. 26).

INDIANAPOLIS — This time it didn’t matter whether Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra had a timeout left at the end (he did).

In need of bounceback after Tuesday night’s horrendous overtime loss in Detroit — decided on a technical foul for Spoelstra calling a timeout he did not have — the Heat got exactly that with a 124-111 victory Friday night over the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

“Our response,” veteran big man Kevin Love said, “was very high level.”

Spoelstra agreed.

“I really commend our group,” he said. “It was tough; it was deflating walking on that plane coming to Indiana. But what you absolutely have to love is the competition.”

Again playing in the injury absence of Jimmy Butler, the Heat got contributions across the board in moving to 2-3 on the six-game trip that ends with a Sunday rematch back on the Pacers’ court.

A game after Tyler Herro nearly singlehandedly carried the Heat to victory in a 40-point performance, the Heat got something from just about everyone.

Herro closed with 20 points, with the Heat also getting 30 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists from center Bam Adebayo, 15 points from Love, 14 from Haywood Highsmith, as well as double-figure scoring from Terry Rozier, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic.

“We had a very good 24 hours that led to a win,” Spoelstra said. “Now we have to go back to our caves, rest up, get ready for another great game on Sunday.”

With the victory, the Heat improved to 1-1 in NBA Cup stage play, likely needing victories in their final two games of stage play, at home in two weeks against the Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors, to advance to the event’s quarterfinals. Results in the event also count in the regular-season standings.

With margin of victory a tiebreaker in the in-season tournament, Spoelstra had Adebayo and Herro on the court almost to the finish.

Five Degrees of Heat from Friday night’s game:

1. Closing time: The Heat shot 0 for 7 on 3-pointers in the first quarter and went into the second down 29-26. They then came around to go into halftime up 61-55.

The Heat then went up 22 midway through the third period, saw the Pacers close within 10, and took a 98-85 lead into the fourth.

The Pacers kept it within that range through the midpoint of the fourth, before Adebayo stepped up with a pair of 3-pointers, his aggressive play helping put it away for the Heat.

Adebayo closed 10 of 17 from the field, including 2 of 3 on 3-pointers, and 8 of 9 from the line.

Factor in his five steals, and Adebayo became the first player in the Heat’s 37 seasons to reach at least 30 points, 22 rebounds, seven assists and five steals in the same game.

“He was making the right plays,” Spoelstra said. “He could have easily had a triple-double tonight.”

2. Love story: After his scoreless first half, Love scored all 15 of his points in the first five minutes of the third quarter, shooting 6 of 7 from the field, including 3 of 4 on 3-pointers.

Twice during Love’s surge, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle called timeout, the second time, with 7:02 left in the third quarter, subbing out all five starters.

At that point, Love had turned the Heat’s six-point halftime edge to an 81-64 advantage.

“I was looking for me shots, and they were finding me,” Love said.

Love eventually went to the bench with 5:18 to play in the third period, with the Heat up 86-67. At that point, he already had tied his career high of four steals.

“What he did in basically in 12 minutes and change is pretty amazing,” Spoelstra said of Love’s 12:17 of action. “But he’s about the right things.”

3. The game after: A game after scoring his 40 in Tuesday night’s overtime loss in Detroit, Herro this time struggled to 1-of-5 shooting on 3-pointers in the first half, but otherwise was in attack mode often enough to stand with a team-high 14 points at halftime.

Herro stood at 5 of 5 from the foul line at halftime, already having matched his high for points from the line this season.

Herro tied the Heat franchise record for 3-pointers Tuesday when he closed 10 of 17 from beyond the arc.

The time he closed 6 of 16 from the field, 2 of 9 on 3-pointers and 6 of 6 from the line.

4. Masked man: Back after being forced out in the first quarter of Tuesday night’s loss in Detroit with a broken nose, Jovic came out in attack mode, with nine points in his first six minutes on 4-of-5 shooting.

Jovic said the custom mask that arrived Friday made all the difference.

“Thank God I got that custom mask,” he said. “That’s what I really needed.”

As Jovic spoke, Highsmith chimed in, “Yeah, Batman!”

Concerned pregame about taking a blow to the form-fitted mask, the 6-foot-10 big man showed no lack of aggression, twice scoring early on attacking drives.

Then, after he converted a second-period 3-pointer, he tugged at the nose of his mask toward Butler, who playfully had donned a mask as he watched from the bench.

“He’s just trying to be like me,” Jovic said with a smile. “It’s hard.”

Having started the season’s first eight games, Jovic played for the third consecutive game as a reserve, on the floor as the Heat put it away late.

5. Butler back?: All signs Friday pointed to a Sunday return for Butler.

After teammates completed their pregame shooting, Butler took to the court with assistant coaches Octavio De La Grana and Remy Ndiaye for an extensive shooting cycle, continuing to work through a pregame dancers’ performance.

Spoelstra declined to comment on the possibility of Butler returning in Sunday night’s rematch against the Pacers.

“I do not have an update, but he’s putting in a lot of work,” Spoelstra said. “That part his coach likes to see. He’s putting in a lot of work, and I like that.”

Butler sat on the bench Friday, unlike during his absences earlier in the week in Minnesota and Detroit.

By MICHELLE L. PRICE

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Friday named Karoline Leavitt, his campaign press secretary, to serve as his White House press secretary.

Leavitt, 27, currently a spokesperson for Trump’s transition, would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. Previously that distinction went to Ronald Ziegler, who was 29 when he took the position in 1969 in Richard Nixon’s administration.

“Karoline Leavitt did a phenomenal job as the National Press Secretary on my Historic Campaign, and I am pleased to announce she will serve as White House Press Secretary,” Trump said in a statement. “Karoline is smart, tough, and has proven to be a highly effective communicator. I have the utmost confidence she will excel at the podium, and help deliver our message to the American People as we Make America Great Again.”

The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps.

Trump disrupted those norms in his first term, preferring to serve as his own chief spokesperson. While he was president from 2017 to 2021, Trump had four press secretaries but frequently preferred to engage directly with the public, from his rallies, social media posts and his own briefings.

At a news conference this past August, Trump was asked if he’d have regular press briefings in his new administration. He told reporters, “I will give you total access and you’ll have a lot of press briefings and you’ll have, uh, from me.”

When it came to a press secretary, he said: “Probably they’ll do something. If it’s not daily, it’s going to be a lot. You’ll have more than you want.”

Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, is seen as a staunch and camera-ready advocate for Trump who is quick on her feet and delivers aggressive defenses of the Republican in television interviews.

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She worked as a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to incumbent Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas.

During Trump’s first term in office, Leavitt worked in the White House press office. She then became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, whom Trump has tapped to serve as his U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

Trump’s first press secretaries, Sean Spicer and Sarah Huckabee Sanders, were known for quarreling with reporters. Another, Stephanie Grisham, never held a briefing. Her successor, Kayleigh McEnany, often lectured the news media during her appearances in the White House press briefing room.

Aldi has confirmed that four of its South Florida Winn-Dixie stores will be closing for renovations by January and will reopen later as Aldi stores.

They are among 50 Winn-Dixies and Harveys Supermarket locations that Aldi promised to convert after finalizing its purchase of Winn-Dixie parent Southeastern Grocers in March. The company also announced plans to open 800 new stores nationwide over five years.

In August, Aldi confirmed the first stores undergoing the conversion would be in Panama City, Deltona, Pensacola and Lakeland.

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But the company is typically tightlipped about its plans, so fans like the creators of My Florida Retail Blog took it upon themselves to compile a list of the next likely converts by sniffing out official building permits, news stories, Aldi’s website and construction plans listed on bid sites.

Four South Florida locations turned up on the list:

— Fort Lauderdale: 941 SW 24th St.
— Boynton Beach: 8855 Boynton Beach Blvd.
— Westlake: 5060 Seminole Pratt Whitney Road.
— Aventura: 20417 Biscayne Blvd.

On Friday, an Aldi spokesperson confirmed that all four locations will close and undergo remodeling as Aldi stores. The Boynton Beach store is scheduled to close this month while the other three will close in January.

“The stores will reopen to the community as an Aldi over the next several months,” the spokesperson said, adding, “Associates at these locations have the opportunity to be the first to apply to newly converted Aldi stores. In addition, Aldi is committed to doing its best to minimize the impact and provide support and opportunities to associates at converting stores, including the option to remain with Winn-Dixie and transfer to a neighboring store.”

The company has also said that not all Winn-Dixie and Harvey’s stores will be converted to Aldi. Some will remain in operation under their original names.

The German-owned chain opened its first South Florida stores in 2010. Now there are more than 40 in the tricounty region.

As many shoppers know, Aldi stores differ from traditional supermarkets in distinct ways.

Shoppers who want to use carts must insert a quarter that they’ll get back when the cart is returned. Aldi stocks fewer items and relies on their own brands. The stores are smaller and laid out with no frills. Shoppers are encouraged to bring their own bags or purchase bags from Aldi.

And at least one aisle features rotating items called “Aldi Finds” that aren’t found in typical supermarkets.

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 WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge in Texas has blocked a new rule from the Biden administration that would have expanded access to overtime pay to millions more salaried workers across the U.S.

In a Friday ruling, U.S. District Judge Sean Jordan sided with the state of Texas and a group of business organizations that argued the Labor Department exceeded its authority when it finalized a rule earlier this year to significantly expand federal overtime eligibility for salaried workers.

Under the federal law, nearly all hourly workers in the U.S. are entitled to overtime pay after 40 hours a week. But many salaried workers are exempt from that requirement — unless they earn below a certain level.

The Labor Department’s now-scuttled rule would have marked the biggest increase to that cap in decades. Employers were required pay overtime to salaried workers who make less than $43,888 a year in certain executive, administrative and professional roles as of July 1 — and that was set to rise to $58,656 next year.

The Labor Department estimated that an additional 4 million lower-paid salary workers would become eligible for overtime protections in the first year under the new rule. An additional 292,900 higher-compensated workers were also expected to get overtime entitlements through separate threshold increases.

Now, the previous threshold of $35,568 — which was set in 2019 under the Trump administration — is poised to go back into effect.

A spokesperson for the Labor Department did not immediately comment when reached by The Associated Press Friday.

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At the time of the rule’s finalization in April, acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su stated that the administration was “following through on our promise to raise the bar” — noting that it was “unacceptable” for lower-paid salaried workers to do the same job as their hourly counterparts with no additional pay.

Following the finalization of this year’s rule, legal challenges bubbled up. A handful of trade groups argued the move would harm businesses and lead to costs that would potentially result in employers’ needing to cut jobs or limit their workers’ hours.

This isn’t the first time an overtime pay expansion has been struck down in court. In 2016, an Obama-era effort to similarly expand overtime pay eligibility was ultimately shot down in court after facing pushback from some business leaders and Republican politicians.

By AMANDA SEITZ, MATTHEW PERRONE and JONEL ALECCIA

WASHINGTON (AP) — Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine activist and environmentalist, for years gained a loyal and fierce following with his biting condemnations of how the nation’s public health agencies do business.

And that’s put him on a direct collision course with some of the 80,000 scientists, researchers, doctors and other officials who work for the Department of Health and Human Services, especially with President-elect Donald Trump tapping him to head the agency.

If confirmed, Kennedy will control the world’s largest public health agency, and its $1.7 trillion budget.

The agency’s reach is massive. It provides health insurance for nearly half of the country — poor, disabled and older Americans. It oversees research of vaccines, diseases and cures. It regulates the medications found in medicine cabinets and inspects the foods that end up in cupboards.

A look at Kennedy’s comments about some of the agencies that fall within the HHS arena, and how he has said he plans to shake them up:

Food and Drug Administration

— “FDA’s war on public health is about to end,” he wrote on X in late October. “If you work for the FDA and are part of this corrupt system, I have two messages for you: 1. Preserve your records, and 2. Pack your bags.”

The FDA’s 18,000 staffers include career scientists, researchers, and inspectors responsible for the safety and effectiveness of prescription drugs, vaccines and other medical products. The agency also has broad oversight of a swath of consumer goods, including cosmetics, electronic cigarettes and most foods.

HHS has legal authority to reorganize the agency without congressional approval to maintain the safety of food, drugs, medical devices and other products.

And Kennedy has long railed against the FDA’s work on vaccines. During the COVID-19 epidemic, his nonprofit group, Children’s Health Defense, petitioned the FDA to halt the use of all COVID vaccines. The group has alleged that FDA is beholden to “big pharma” because it receives much of its budget from industry fees and some employees who have departed the agency have gone on to work for drugmakers.

His attacks have grown more sweeping, with Kennedy suggesting he will clear out “entire departments” at FDA, including the agency’s food and nutrition center. The program is responsible for preventing foodborne illness, promoting health and wellness, reducing diet-related chronic disease and ensuring chemicals in food are safe.

Last month, Kennedy threatened on social media to fire FDA employees for “aggressive suppression” of a host of unsubstantiated products and therapies, including stem cells, raw milk, psychedelics and discredited COVID-era treatments like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine.

In the case of hydroxychloroquine, for example, the agency halted its emergency use after determining it wasn’t effective in treating COVID and raised the risk of potentially fatal heart events.

Consuming raw milk has long been regarded as risky by the FDA because it contains a host of bacteria that can make people sick and has been linked to hundreds of illness outbreaks.

If confirmed, Kennedy in principle could overturn almost any FDA decision. There have been rare cases of such decisions in previous administrations. Under both George W. Bush and Barack Obama, HHS overruled FDA approval decisions on the availability of emergency contraceptives.

Unwinding FDA regulations or revoking approval of longstanding vaccines and drugs would likely be more challenging. FDA has lengthy requirements for removing medicines from the market, which are based on federal laws passed by Congress. If the process is not followed, drugmakers could bring lawsuits that would need to work their way through the courts.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

— “On January 20, the Trump White House will advise all U.S. water systems to remove fluoride from public water,” Kennedy wrote on social media in November.

The CDC’s fluoride guidance is just one recommendation the agency has made as part of its mission to protect Americans from disease outbreaks and public health threats.

The agency has a $9.2 billion core budget and more than 13,000 employees

Days before Trump’s victory, Kennedy said he would reverse the agency’s recommendations around fluoride in drinking water, which the CDC currently recommends be at 0.7 milligrams per liter of water.

The recommendations have strengthened teeth and reduced cavities by replacing minerals lost during normal wear and tear. Splotchy teeth patterns have occurred with higher levels of fluoride, prompting the U.S. government to lower its recommendations from 1.2 milligrams per liter of water in 2015.

Local and state governments control the water supply, with some states mandating fluoride levels through state law.

Kennedy, who has said “there’s no vaccine that is safe and effective,” would be in charge of appointments to the committee of influential panel experts who help set vaccine recommendations to doctors and the general public. Those include polio and measles given to infants and toddlers to protect against debilitating diseases to inoculations given to older adults to protect against threats like shingles and bacterial pneumonia as well as shots against more exotic dangers for international travelers or laboratory workers.

National Institutes of Health

— “We need to act fast,” Kennedy was reported to have said during an a Scottsdale, Arizona event over the weekend. “So that on Jan. 21, 600 people are going to walk into offices at NIH and 600 people are going to leave.”

The agency’s $48 billion budget funds medical research on cancers, vaccines and other diseases through competitive grants to researchers at institutions throughout the nation. The agency also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at NIH labs in Bethesda, Maryland.

Among advances that were supported by NIH money are a medication for opioid addiction, a vaccine to prevent cervical cancer, many new cancer drugs and the speedy development of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.

In the past, Kennedy has criticized NIH for not doing enough to study the role of vaccines in autism.

Kennedy wants half of the NIH budget to go toward “preventive, alternative and holistic approaches to health,” he wrote in the Wall Street Journal in September. “In the current system, researchers don’t have enough incentive to study generic drugs and root-cause therapies that look at things like diet.”

Kennedy wants to prevent NIH from funding researchers with financial conflicts of interest, citing a 2019 ProPublica investigation that found more than 8,000 federally funded health researchers reported significant conflicts such as taking equity stakes in biotech companies or licensing patents to drugmakers.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

— “If a doctor’s patient has diabetes or obesity, the doctor ought to be able to say, I’m going to recommend gym membership, and I’m going to recommend, good food and Medicaid ought to be able to finance those things the same as they would Ozempic,” Kennedy said during a Sept. 30 town hall in Philadelphia.

Kennedy has not focused as much on the agency that spends more than $1.5 trillion yearly to provide health care coverage for more than half of the country through Medicaid, Medicare or the Affordable Care Act.

Even as Trump and other Republicans have threatened some of that coverage, Kennedy has remained mum.

Instead, he’s been an outspoken opponent of Medicare or Medicaid covering expensive drugs that were developed to treat diabetes, like Ozempic, now also sold for weight loss as Wegovy. Those drugs are not widely covered by either program, but there’s some bipartisan support in Congress to change that.

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Speaking during a congressional roundtable in September, Kennedy admonished some for supporting that effort, noting it could cost the U.S. government trillions of dollars. An exact price tag for the U.S. government to cover those drugs has not been determined.

Kennedy has said Medicare and Medicaid should, instead, provide gym memberships and pay for healthier foods for those enrollees.

“For half the price of Ozempic, we could purchase regeneratively raised, organic food for every American, three meals a day and a gym membership, for every obese American,” Kennedy said.

Associated Press writers Carla K. Johnson in Seattle and Mike Stobbe in New York contributed to this report.

Today is Friday, Nov. 15, the 320th day of 2024. There are 46 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Nov. 15, 2019, Roger Stone, a longtime friend and ally of President Donald Trump, was convicted of all seven counts in a federal indictment accusing him of lying to Congress, tampering with a witness and obstructing the House investigation of whether Trump coordinated with Russia during the 2016 campaign. The president commuted Stone’s 40-month sentence days before he was to report to prison.

Also on this date:

In 1777, the Second Continental Congress approved the Articles of Confederation.

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In 1806, explorer Zebulon Pike sighted the mountaintop now known as Pikes Peak in present-day Colorado.

In 1864, late in the U.S. Civil War, Union forces led by Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh (teh-KUM’-seh) Sherman began their “March to the Sea” from Atlanta; the campaign ended with the capture of Savannah, Georgia on Dec. 21.

In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt laid the cornerstone of the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C.

In 1959, four members of the Clutter family of Holcomb, Kansas, were found murdered in their home. (Richard Hickock and Perry Smith were later convicted of the killings and hanged in a case made famous by the Truman Capote book “In Cold Blood.”)

In 1966, the flight of Gemini 12, the final mission of the Gemini program, ended successfully as astronauts James A. Lovell and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Jr. splashed down safely in the Atlantic after spending four days in orbit.

In 1969, a quarter of a million protesters staged a peaceful demonstration in Washington against the Vietnam War.

In 2012, the Justice Department announced that BP had agreed to plead guilty to a raft of charges in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill and pay a record $4.5 billion, including nearly $1.3 billion in criminal fines.

In 2022, the world population reached 8 billion, based on United Nations projections.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Singer Petula Clark is 92.
• Actor Sam Waterston is 84.
• Classical conductor Daniel Barenboim is 82.
• Pop singer Anni-Frid “Frida” Lyngstad (ABBA) is 79.
• Fashion designer Jimmy Choo is 76.
• Actor Beverly D’Angelo is 73.
• News correspondent John Roberts is 68.
• Former “Tonight Show” bandleader Kevin Eubanks is 67.
• Actor Jonny Lee Miller is 52.
• Actor Sean Murray is 47.
• Golf Hall of Famer Lorena Ochoa is 43.
• Actor Shailene Woodley is 33.
• NBA All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns is 29.

General Daily Insight for November 15, 2024

We’re likely to receive the information we need to make wise decisions at the moment. Discerning Saturn turns direct in spacey Pisces, helping us sort fact from fiction. The eye-opening Full Moon in grounded Taurus then strikes at 4:28 pm EST, potentially revealing that answers we’ve long sought were right in front of us the whole time. Luna goes on to conjoin innovative Uranus and sextile idealistic Neptune, so we’re probably dealing with big-picture issues. We should savor this opportunity to exercise our mental muscles.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Understanding the ways you hold yourself back may be possible right now. Perhaps you’re obsessively competing against a more powerful person. To whatever extent you also depend on them, you probably resent them. For the time being, staying in your own league might be a healthier option than repeatedly knocking your head against a disparity in status that isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. See how far you can get relying on your personal resources instead. What’s achievable on that level could surprise you!

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Your commitment to an organization could start to pay off at any moment. You might need to renegotiate your place in it, though. No matter what you intend, a key player may feel threatened by your efforts. If it’s actually true that you’re challenging them on some things, you probably won’t succeed in hiding that. Basically, you’d better have valid reasons on hand to support the choices you’ve made. Be sure you’re truly serving the community and not just feeding your ego.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Moving ahead toward your goals is presently possible, but the difficult part is likely in the details. Once you settle into your tasks, you may be derailed by an obstacle you didn’t see coming. With the unstable Full Moon in your anxious 12th house, this could send you down the path of catastrophizing. The truth is that you can’t plan for everything — no matter how competent you are. Try to make your workflow resilient enough to handle the disruptions you’ll inevitably face.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

You might currently be ready to let your friends know about an interesting subject you’ve been studying lately. Watch out — you’re not guaranteed to like everything you hear in response! Still, as logical Saturn turns direct in your 9th House of Research, this could be a useful reality check. Despite any ignorant comments you receive, there are also potentially a few legitimate questions you ought to answer. Sweeping them under the rug now may only cause bigger problems for you later.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Clarifying your boundaries with another person may be necessary at this time. Perhaps you’ve drifted into a parental or familial dynamic that isn’t appropriate for the current situation. Once you see something like this happening, you can’t unsee it! Unfortunately, explaining the problem to your companion in these accurate but colorful terms might accidentally inflame the drama further. Look for specific changes that would put the two of you on a level playing field, then ask for those without derailing into potentially distracting commentary.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

You may currently need to think critically about your commitment to a significant relationship. While the illuminating Full Moon strikes in your 9th House of Beliefs, it could become too obvious to ignore that you and your companion don’t see an important issue the same way. Does this difference of opinion truly have a direct impact on whatever major task you’re trying to accomplish together? Do what you must, but realistically think through all the costs and benefits of a potential separation first.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Looking clearly at the responsibilities you’ve taken on could serve you well today. As the revelatory Full Moon lights up your 8th House of Shared Resources, you might have to acknowledge that you’ve been letting someone pay you less than you deserve because you feel sorry for them. Even if they’re legitimately vulnerable or disadvantaged in some way, things should ultimately pencil out for you too. You don’t have to cut them off entirely, but something probably needs to change to balance the equation.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Being restrained in your self-expression could seem to make sense for the moment. Sometimes this is a wise strategy. That being said, if you start unloading resentment on others who are more open about their emotional needs, it’s not working out. With the provocative Full Moon in your relationship sector, it may be easier for you to see the parts of yourself you wish you didn’t have in someone else. You can’t hide them forever, so you might as well try to accept them!

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Your ongoing efforts to put down roots could be finding some success. With the basics starting to solidify, you have a good chance to start working on the details as the potent Full Moon emphasizes your responsible 6th house. What you need is a comfortable and nourishing space where you can rest. When you take this side of yourself seriously, you’ll have more energy to invest in the kinds of adventures your sign is famous for. It isn’t a waste of time!

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Making a statement to your peers could be required at this time. You potentially have strong emotions about the subject in question, and that’s likely to come through no matter what you say. Even so, as decisive Saturn turns direct in your 3rd House of Communication, you’re equipped to identify any details that should be left out because they’ll lead your listeners away from your main point. Your basic problem is probably pretty simple, so keep your message focused on the target.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Developing financial discipline may help you escape an unhealthy power dynamic ASAP. With the dramatic Full Moon in your vulnerable 4th house, perhaps you’re realizing that someone is exploiting your secret desire to be taken care of. You can at least do something about your end of that equation. Sticking to what you’re able to afford with only your resources alone might mean you have to sacrifice some creature comforts, but putting an end to the problem could be worth it!

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Becoming more certain of your identity is now likely. As defining Saturn turns direct in your sign, you’ll probably have a clearer sense of what does and doesn’t belong to you. This process might especially be focused on certain beliefs or worldviews in your sphere of influence. Sharing your decisions with the people around you could provoke some conflict in the short term. You may not be able to agree with each other today, but you’ll at least know for sure where everybody stands.

SUNRISE — Jesper Bratt got his second career hat trick, Stefan Noesen scored twice and the New Jersey Devils beat the Florida Panthers 6-2 on Thursday night to sweep a two-game series with the Stanley Cup champions.

Jack Hughes had a goal and two assists for the Devils, who also won 4-1 in Florida on Tuesday. Jake Allen stopped 25 shots for New Jersey, which got three power-play scores — along with a short-handed empty-netter with 5:12 left, Bratt’s third of the night — and is now 7-2-0 in its last nine games.

Sam Reinhart — the first player with 13 goals this season — and Jesper Boqvist scored for Florida, which hadn’t dropped two straight since Oct. 10 and 12. Sergei Bobrovsky made 23 saves.

Takeaways

Devils: New Jersey became the first team this season to get two goals in the final 12 seconds of periods. Both were power-play tallies; Bratt scored with two seconds left in the first, Noesen with 11 seconds left in the second.

Panthers: Florida got Sam Bennett back Thursday after he missed Tuesday’s game with a minor upper-body issue. Bennett had an assist on Boqvist’s goal.

Key moment

The Panthers, down 4-2, opened the third period on a power play but it was wiped out 22 seconds later when Carter Verhaeghe was called for tripping — one of many calls that Florida wasn’t thrilled about during the evening.

Key stat

The Devils already have two games with three power-play goals this season. They had five in the last six regular seasons combined.

Up next

The Devils visit Tampa Bay on Saturday and will try to go 3-0-0 in Florida this season; they haven’t had a perfect record in the Sunshine State (excluding COVID-affected seasons) since going 4-0-0 at Florida and Tampa Bay in 2000-01.

The Panthers host NHL-leading Winnipeg on Saturday.

GAINESVILLE — Florida quarterback DJ Lagway will return to the field when the Gators host LSU Saturday in the Swamp.

Lagway did not appear on Thursday’s SEC availability report a day after he was listed as questionable with a hamstring injury but getting “closer and closer” to being medically cleared, according coach Billy Napier.

Gators QB DJ Lagway was injured in a loss to Georgia earlier this month. (Sentinel file photo)

The Gators have not thrown a touchdown since Lagway, 19 and a true freshman, went down during the second quarter of a Nov. 2 loss to Georgia. Walk-on Aidan Warner of Winter Park was forced into to action as the SEC’s top program following by his first career start at No. 5 Texas, a 49-17 UF loss.

Lagway is 27 of 45 for 762 yards 4 touchdowns and an interception during starts against Samford, Kentucky and Georgia. He has 11 completions of at least 40 yards in those games.

When fully healthy, the 6-foot-3, 239-pound Lagway provides a dual-threat option, but likely will be limited running the football against LSU. He was injured on a 3-yard run against Georgia and will be limited running the football against LSU.

UF also will get back receiver Elijhah Badger, who missed the Texas game. He also is no longer on the SEC report a day after he was listed as questionable.

Badger, a transfer from Arizona State, averages 23.3 yards on 24 catches, 6 of them from Lagway for 20 yards or longer.

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

While QR codes have become gateways to convenience for countless shoppers and people in a rush, the city of Fort Lauderdale has discovered they are potentially a tool for scammers who want to steal your bank information.

The city issued a public alert Thursday to residents and visitors that a parking payment scam involving stickers with fake QR codes is now in play on municipal meters and “Pay by Phone” signs.

“These stickers with counterfeit QR codes, which may display the logo of a legitimate mobile app, are redirecting users to fraudulent websites that attempt to steal sensitive banking information,” the city said in a statement.

Parking staff members first encountered the stickers with fake codes Wednesday during routine inspections of municipal parking areas and alerted police, said city media relations and outreach manager Christine Portela in an email.

She said stickers were initially found along Breakers Avenue and Bayshore Drive, as well as in the North Beach area north of Sunrise Boulevard along State Road A1A.

On Thursday morning, others were found in lots outside the city’s Transportation and Mobility office on Northeast Third Avenue.

“We don’t have any information as of right now on any victims,” Portela said.

The city’s warning was accompanied by photos of stickers that appear to be haphazardly slapped onto the city’s pay-by-phone signage and parking meters.

“We urge anyone using city parking to pay only through the official parking meters or by downloading the official payment app marked on the official city signage, NOT the sticker,” according to the warning.

Recommended precautions

— Use QR codes that are clearly displayed and printed on the official city signs – not a sticker.

— Mindfulness is important: The city says most parking locations use the “Pay By Phone” app. “The only locations using the ‘ParkMobile’ app are our EV charging stations and the Arts & Science District Garage,” the statement said.

— Use city parking meters: “Always pay directly at the meter or through the official mobile payment application, not via QR code on a sticker. The City does not use GooglePay QR codes,” the city advised.

Report suspicious activity

Thus far, the police have not identified the person or persons behind the sticker scheme.

Suspected fake codes should be reported to the city by calling a customer service line at 954-828-8000, or by visiting fortlauderdale.gov/fixitftl or the FixItFTL app.

People who believe they have been scammed are urged to contact the Fort Lauderdale Police Department non-emergency line at 954-764-4357.

MIAMI GARDENS — What happened for linebacker Tyrel Dodson to be waived from the Seattle Seahawks is still unclear.

And Dodson himself, whom the Miami Dolphins claimed off waivers this week, doesn’t have the answer either.

“We’re still trying to figure that out,” Dodson said Thursday, after his first practice with the Dolphins, of why his time in Seattle ended abruptly.

“Emotionally, I’m still going through ups and downs of it. I’m pissed off. I’m very pissed off, and I’m going to probably stay pissed off until my career ends, years down the road. I’m pissed off. That’s the word.”

Will that added fuel carry over on the field?

“Nah, I’m always pissed off when I step on the field,” he quickly replied. “That’s just how I play.”

As shocking as it was to see the Dolphins cut ties with linebacker David Long Jr. on Wednesday, it may be even more surprising that Dodson became available after starting all nine games he played with the Seahawks and leading the team in tackles (71).

“I think I played pretty well,” said Dodson, who had five tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble. “Led the team in tackles. There’s a new culture over there. A lot of the guys leaned on me. I leaned on them. I was a leader.

“(One) man’s trash is another man’s treasure. It is what it is.”

Indeed, that perspective reflects coach Mike McDaniel’s first comments about the pickup of Dodson, a former AFC East foe with the Buffalo Bills, as McDaniel spoke with reporters Tuesday in Miami Gardens as the news broke.

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“He was in our division, going against him, and was a surprise that he was out there,” McDaniel said. “(General manager) Chris Grier is always trying to make the team better.”

Dodson’s initial interactions with his new coach surely make him feel welcome in Miami.

“He said they had to snatch me up,” Dodson said. “I guess that shows that Seattle is losing one. Because I’m a baller, at the end of the day.”

Dodson still might have a little of that Buffalo mentality left in him, after spending the first four seasons of his career, from 2020 through 2023, with the Bills. He humorously stumbled over the name of the Dolphins’ home venue before recalling it was Hard Rock Stadium and flipped it into a jab at his new team.

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“I should know, because I beat them all the time,” he quipped.

It’s an accurate assessment. He was 7-1 against the Dolphins as a Bill, and added an eighth victory earlier this season when Miami lost in Seattle, 24-3, in September.

But Dodson was still complimentary of the Dolphins from playing against them all those years.

“Fast,” he said. “A lot of speed. A lot of guys who can make plays. A lot of talent. We just got to put it together. All the pieces are here.”

As Dodson gets acclimated to his new surroundings amid such a hectic turnaround, he’s sleeping at former Bills teammate Jordan Poyer’s house. Meanwhile, Dodson’s girlfriend is taking care of the move out of their home in Seattle.

“That’s my guy,” Dodson said of now-Dolphins safety Poyer. “He’s the reason why — one of the reasons why — I’m here. Not only in Miami, but going to my sixth year in the NFL. He’s helped me a lot. Everything he has accomplished in his life, that’s like a big brother to me.”

Dodson, an undrafted 26-year-old out of Texas A&M, said it has been communicated to him he will be backing up Anthony Walker Jr. at one of the inside linebacker spots next to Jordyn Brooks. Walker supplanted Long in the weeks before Long’s sudden cut. The newcomer Dodson can play inside and outside linebacker and contribute on special teams.

The system he was running under new Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald is also similar to what Miami defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver is doing with the Dolphins, as both Macdonald and Weaver came from the Baltimore Ravens’ staff.

“The first thing is that he has scheme familiarity coming from Seattle, with the defense that Mike installed,” Weaver said Thursday. “And he’s a playmaker. You’ve seen it on tape. He flies around, he hunts the football, and he can contribute on special teams, too.”

The same intensity Dodson exhibited in his first media interview with the Dolphins was present when he introduced himself to the defense in his first days in Miami.

“You could feel his energy and his passion,” Weaver said. “Anytime you get fired or released or cut from a job, I imagine you have a chip. I don’t care what profession you’re in. I imagine he wished Seattle was still on our schedule and we hadn’t played them already.”

Dodson summed up the cross-country transition: “I’m blessed to be here, and I’m here to turn things around and just help as much as I can.”

Customers of the Deerfield Beach Cafe may need to say goodbye to the beachfront restaurant that’s right next to the city’s pier.

The eatery, which is in a prominent area frequented by tourists and beachgoers, could soon close and move out of the city-owned spot it has long occupied, at 202 NE 21st Ave., according to the restaurant’s owner and attorney. The news comes after the restaurant sparred with the city in a long-running legal battle.

(Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)Owner Panagiota “Toula” Lazarou-Amanna stands at her restaurant, the Deerfield Beach Cafe on Thursday. The restaurant could soon close. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

An eviction notice could soon be the consequence of the owner “not being able to post the $700,000 in back rent,” and that notice is “expected any day,” said Fred Schwartz, an attorney representing Panagiota “Toula” Lazarou-Amanna, the restaurant owner.

The city’s attorney and manager could not be reached for comment Thursday. Deerfield Beach Mayor Bill Ganz said he was “looking forward to having this resolved.” He declined further comment, citing the pending litigation.

A recent legal decision came just a few weeks ago: A Broward Circuit Court judge adopted a magistrate’s recommendation that Class Act Restaurant Group LLC, the company behind Deerfield Beach Cafe, owes the city $726,000 in back rent from last November 2023 through this past August, and nearly $70,000 a month from Sept. 1 going forward, records show.

Legal proceedings

In September, Deerfield Beach city officials told the South Florida Sun Sentinel they were getting closer to an eviction although it was “taking longer than expected.” The city has “been successful with the hearings we’ve had thus far, we’ve won every single one,” City Attorney Anthony Soroka said at the time.

Former City Manager Dave Santucci said in September, “The legal process unfortunately takes longer than we anticipated.”

In an interview with the Sun Sentinel on Thursday, Amanna said that $70,000 a month was more than the $67,000 she has made recently in monthly sales. She argued that has been happening ever since the city restricted access to the building by putting fencing in the parking lot and barricades in the patio.

“No doubt that the city let me down,” she said. “Honestly, I did not expect it,” she said of the city’s treatment. “My passion for that place was incredible.”

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Serving customers

The Deerfield Beach Cafe in 2012 became the first tenant of the city-owned building, which is right next to the city’s International Fishing Pier.

The restaurant’s original 10-year lease agreement was up in April 2023, but the restaurant has still remained there.

If the Deerfield Beach Cafe closes, Amanna said she hopes to relocate her employees there to one of her restaurants in other cities so they don’t miss a paycheck.

She owns Chicks and Brews in Davie, which is under construction and expected to open in December, and the Sweet Alchemy Confectionery in Davie, she said.

Amanna also owns two diners each named the Flashback Diner, in Hallandale Beach and Davie, she said.

A third Flashback Diner location, in Boca Raton, is closed and might go up for sale to help her raise revenue, she said.

The Deerfield Beach Cafe in Deerfield Beach on Thursday. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Discussions over rent

Amanna’s lawyer said the restaurant argues that the rent shouldn’t have been increased as high as it was.

Once that eviction order is filed in the courts, he said he will appeal and “we’ll ask the Broward court to allow her to stay until we litigate the propriety of raising the rent from $13,000 a month to $70,000 a month.”

Federal proceedings also remain underway.

There’s a separate federal lawsuit that alleges the city violated the restaurant’s rights in the city’s process for picking a new, different restaurateur for the city-owned location.

That lawsuit is pending, and if Amanna were to vacate, the case would continue in an effort to seek damages from Deerfield Beach City Hall, according to her lawyer.

The city has made a motion to have that case dismissed, and a ruling is pending, records show.

Amanna’s lawyers filed a motion to withdraw a second federal court case, a bankruptcy protection filing, which sought to delay the decision on whether the restaurant should be evicted. Her lawyers are awaiting a hearing on that motion.

Amanna said she is “highly encouraged” she’ll still get justice in the courts.

A new restaurant?

The city of Deerfield Beach has chosen a different vendor to occupy the restaurant space, restaurateur Danielle Rosse, city officials said.

The lease was supposed to start Nov. 1, 2023, with the new tenant, city officials said. But that didn’t happen amid the legal challenge.

Rosse proposed “The Palm House,” envisioning it as a modern beachside eatery “that balances simplistic friendly neighborhood charm with a relaxed feel and sophisticated beach vibes,” according to records submitted to the city.

Lisa J. Huriash can be reached at lhuriash@sunsentinel.com. Follow on X, formerly Twitter, @LisaHuriash

TALLAHASSEE — Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has filed a lawsuit alleging that the Federal Emergency Management Agency violated the civil rights of supporters of President-elect Donald Trump in the aftermath of hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Moody filed the lawsuit Wednesday in federal court in Fort Pierce, after reports that a FEMA supervisor directed aid workers to avoid going to homes in Lake Placid that had yard signs supporting Trump.

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell issued a statement last week that said the supervisor had been fired, calling the direction to avoid homes with Trump yard signs “reprehensible.”

But Moody’s lawsuit, which names as defendants Criswell and the fired supervisor, Marn’i Washington, alleges that a conspiracy existed that violated the rights of Trump supporters. Citing a story in the Washington Examiner, the lawsuit quotes Washington as saying she was a “patsy” and was made a “scapegoat” by FEMA.

“While the facts will continue to come out over the weeks and months, it is already clear that defendant Washington conspired with senior FEMA officials, as well as those carrying out her orders, to violate the civil rights of Florida citizens,” the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit seeks damages and a declaration that the defendants “conspired to interfere with the civil rights of Trump supporters in Florida” in violation of a federal law.

In the statement last week, Criswell said agency employees “adhere to FEMA’s core values and are dedicated to helping people before, during and after disasters, often sacrificing time with their own families to help disaster survivors.”

“Recently, one FEMA employee departed from these values to advise her survivor assistance team to not go to homes with yard signs supporting President-elect Trump,” the statement said. “This is a clear violation of FEMA’s core values and principles to help people regardless of their political affiliation. This was reprehensible. I want to be clear to all of my employees and the American people, this type of behavior and action will not be tolerated at FEMA and we will hold people accountable if they violate these standards of conduct.”

The Washington Examiner story cited in the lawsuit included an interview with Washington, who said she and other workers went to homes with Trump signs and provided resources. She indicated some streets were avoided for safety reasons.

Washington said she “let her supervisors ‘know specific streets we could not do because of hostile political encounters,’ and according to communications obtained by the Washington Examiner, she was encouraged and supported in her decision to avoid certain streets ‘to keep the team safe,’” according to the story.

In addition to Moody’s lawsuit, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., on Thursday led a letter co-signed by 54 U.S. House members that posed a series of questions to Criswell. The letter said workers skipped at least 20 homes with Trump signs or flags, preventing residents from getting FEMA assistance.

“Such blatant discrimination is a severe breach of FEMA’s duty to serve all Americans impartially, especially in times of disaster when people’s lives and livelihoods are at stake,” the letter said. “It is alarming and unacceptable that a federal agency would exhibit such blatant and politically charged bias, disregarding residents based on their political beliefs.”

MIAMI GARDENS — The NFL’s top-ranked player has two touchdowns this season. He’s tied for 48th in yards per catch. He has roughly half the catches, half the targets and half the first downs per game from his previous two Miami Dolphins seasons.

How did Tyreek Hill get turned into Braxton Berrios?

It’s not the wrist injury, his coaches say. It not some allergic reaction to turning 30. Have all defenses caught on to this Dolphins passing game like only the good defenses did last season?

Answer this riddle before Sunday’s game against Las Vegas and you’ll answer why the Dolphins offense that felt like a carnival ride some Sundays last season is last in plays more than 20 yards this season. Sure, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa missed four games. But last?

When big plays were coach Mike McDaniel’s offensive trademark the two previous years?

When Hill’s speed and talent changed how everyone looked at this team?

When their four biggest salary-cap hits — Hill, receiver Jaylen Waddle, Tua, tackle Terron Armstead — all play directly into this go-deep passing game?

They don’t go deep anymore. It’s an issue. Maybe it’s not as much an issue when you grind out long, run-based drives and score 27, 27 and 25 points, as the Dolphins have since Tagovailoa returned from injury.

But they lost two of those games — both against winning Buffalo and Arizona. And they’re 3-6. And, again, Hill is the top talent on the team.

So, it is an issue. Free Tyreek. This season needs him to be more than a high-priced decoy. This desire is framed against the Dolphins’ facing the two-deep safety formation that defenses constantly throw at them to guard against the deep pass against Hill and Waddle. How to confront it? It’s mid-November and the search goes on.

There are layers to this defense, too. Like: Teams will press Hill at the line, as the Los Angeles Rams did regularly with Darious Williams on Monday night. That slows Hill’s release from the line and disrupts his timing in getting deep, coupled with Tua’s desire to release the ball quickly. It worked. Hill had three catches for 16 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown.

“I think in the past with some of the looks we got we didn’t exactly have to be perfect,’’ Dolphins receivers coach Wes Welker said. “But now I think they’re starting to realize how perfect we have to be in order to try and (attack these defenses) and how hard we have to work to get those opportunities.”

Hill’s wrist, training-camp thumb or offseason knee issues aren’t affecting his production, Welker said. Something is. Hill was an MVP candidate last season until the Dolphins went south in December. He and Waddle combined for 17 touchdowns last season and were considered the NFL’s unstoppable receiving package.

Their three touchdowns combined for far this season once was just a good Sunday. They haven’t had a 100-yard receiving game since both did in the Jacksonville opener.

Against Hill’s 16 yards, Waddle had 55 yards on two catches on the opening drive Monday night against the Los Angeles Rams. It looked like the start of something. He finished with three catches for 57 yards, including a costly third-down drop in the fourth quarter.

Hill says he’s improved as a blocker, route runner and overall receiver. That’s nice. But it’s not why he’s paid $30 million a year. The question wrapped in a riddle draped in two-safety-high coverages what this offense does next. Their running game is better. The production of tight end Jonnu Smith is better.

“There are plays you can build to go deep,’’ Hill said. “Whenever that times comes, it’ll come. If we got to run the ball 40 times to make teams believe we’re going to run the ball, then I’m gonna block my tail off.”

The Dolphins’ schemes keep trying to shake him loose. He’s moved everywhere a receiver can — in motion and not, left side of the formation to right, in the close and out on the end, alone to one side to in the backfield to in the middle of two other receivers.

“You’ve just got to read the play out and whoever’s open within that progression, you’ve just got to give it to them,’’ Tagovailoa said.

McDaniel has made a proper comparison to a basketball defense’s double-team on a star player. The smart move is to find the open player. It’s true. It’s a good analogy. But the star still has to be a star in his moments.

Look around the league. Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase caught 245 yards and three touchdowns from Joe Burrow last week against Baltimore despite the absence of second receiver Tee Higgins. Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson and Washington’s Terry McLaurin are getting their numbers.

The prime issue for a receiver is typically the quarterback. But something changed from last year to this year for this Dolphins offense. Everything changed for Hill.

He was voted the top player in the league by his playing peers off his 2023 season. He’s still a top talent. But if something doesn’t change, and fast, he’ll finish in that voting close to his yards-per-catch average. Again, that’s tied for 48th.

Feeling stuffy and ready to reach for NyQuil, Benadryl, or Sudafed PE?

Not so fast.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed ending the use of oral phenylephrine, a common ingredient found in many cold and allergy medicines — and some pharmacies already are yanking the popular products off shelves.

Florida researchers have been studying the effectiveness of oral phenylephrine for two decades. As far back as 2005, researchers at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy had suspected that this ingredient doesn’t relieve nasal congestion, even though it has been widely used for that purpose. The researchers evaluated multiple studies done on oral phenylephrine and combined them into a meta-analysis. They concluded that medications with the ingredient work no better than placebo pills in patients with cold and allergy congestion.

“For 20 years, we have been telling everyone who will listen that oral phenylephrine doesn’t work,” said Dr. Randy Hatton, a University of Florida College of Pharmacy professor. “We have been teaching pharmacy students that it doesn’t work. We hear from pharmacists who know it doesn’t work. And we actually did something about it.”

Hatton and UF professor, Dr. Leslie Hendeles, took their findings to the FDA, more than once. Finally, in September 2023, the federal agency convened a committee and issued a proposed order.

“They looked at all the evidence we looked at and did an in-depth evaluation of what we had been looking at for years,” Hatton said.

The FDA is allowing the public to comment for the next six months before it decides whether to pull medications with oral phenylephrine from shelves. But some retail pharmacies aren’t waiting. CVS stopped selling products with phenylephrine last year. Other major pharmacies, including Walgreens and Rite Aid, still stock products containing the drug, but say they are monitoring the FDA’s actions.

So, what are some options for Floridians suffering from congestion without their go-to medicines?

Hatton said nasal sprays with phenylephrine are an option.

“In spray form, phenylephrine causes nasal constriction and opens up passages,” he said. “But only use the sprays for three to five days. People who keep taking them get rebound congestion.”

Doctors and pharmacists also recommend other options:

• Intranasal steroids like Flonase and Nasonex, or over-the-counter nasal sprays with oxymetazoline such as Afrin and Zicam
• Saline irrigation devices, like a neti pot, that help wash sinuses out (but only use distilled water, not tap)
• Nasal saline sprays, like Sinex or Simply Saline, which also use a saltwater solution to irrigate sinuses
• Products with pseudoephedrine, the ingredient in Sudafed, which can be found behind the pharmacy counter
• Oral antihistamines like Zyrtec, Allegra and Claritin, which clear nasal congestion associated with allergies

“If you have questions, talk to the pharmacists. They are trained in nonprescription drugs. Just ask, does this work for congestion?” Hatton advises.

Those seeking non-medication options may try:

• Spicy foods, which can create a burning sensation from a chemical called capsaicin, causing a runny nose that drains mucus from sinuses
• Steam from a hot shower or a warm compress placed over the nose
• Humidifiers

Photographer Lucas MartinezPatient Audrey Burke prepares to undergo a stroke recovery treatment. (Lucas Martinez/Courtesy) New treatment available in South Florida for stroke survivors

Patients recovering from a stroke have a new treatment option in South Florida.

Neurosurgeons at The Florida BrainLink Initiative in Delray Beach, which just opened this month, are using a new, noninvasive treatment to improve recovery for post-stroke patients. Through brain-mapping technology, neurosurgeons pinpoint damaged pathways within the brain, and then use magnetic pulses to stimulate the nerve cells. This process, called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), has been mostly used to treat depression until now, and is done without surgery or cutting the skin.

“We set out to utilize existing treatments in a new and innovative way. This is an off-label application of an established, FDA-approved technology,” said Dr. Lloyd Zucker, a neurosurgeon who consults and treats patients with The Florida BrainLink Initiative. “This approach offers new hope for post-stroke patients who have plateaued in their recovery and failed traditional methods of treatment and therapies.”

The NICU at Broward Health Coral Springs has received a Level III designation indicating a higher level of ability to treat preterm babies. (Broward Health/Courtesy) Higher level of care for preemies in West Broward

Broward Health Coral Springs has recently been designated a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), which means it is equipped to care for preterm infants born before 30 weeks or who weigh less than 3.3 pounds at birth.

The hospital, which previously had a Level II NICU, received this new designation from the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration after investing more than $500,000 in equipment and medical interventions to increase support for preterm babies.

Broward County now has six hospitals with Level III NICUs. Palm Beach County has five.

Parents and guardians of preterm babies now have the option to stay overnight with their newborns. Each room is equipped with central monitoring managed by a team of clinical experts.

“We’re able to ensure our newborns who require extra care receive the support they need from highly skilled staff in a healing environment that caters to both the parent and baby,” said Kristen Bowman, Broward Health Coral Springs CEO.

Courtesy of Palm Beach Health NetworkA ribbon cutting for the new Palm Court Women’s Imaging Center in Delray Beach. (Palm Beach Health Network/Courtesy) A new Women’s Imaging Center

The Palm Beach Health Network has debuted a Palm Court Women’s Imaging Center in Delray Beach.

The center, at 5130 Linton Blvd., offers advanced breast imaging services, including 3D digital and diagnostic mammography, breast MRI and ultrasound, on-site radiologists, and advanced stereotactic, ultrasound and MRI-guided breast biopsies. It also offers screenings for bone density and CT scans. It is open Mondays through Saturdays and offers same-day appointments.

Others in the Palm Beach Health Network include Good Samaritan Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Imaging Center at Palm Beach Gardens, Imaging Center at Royal Palm Beach, and Comprehensive Breast Center at Good Samaritan Medical Center.

Early cancer detection technology for women with dense breast tissue coming to Boca Raton

MICA AI, a leader in early breast cancer detection, has partnered with Baptist Health South Florida to improve the evaluation of mammograms for women with dense breast tissue. Forty percent of women have dense breast tissue, which makes their mammograms much harder to interpret.

Using an AI decision-support system, radiologists can diagnose suspicious findings in dense breast mammograms before a tumor develops. It can also enhance mammogram images that are difficult to read due to dense breast tissue. The goal is to help doctors detect breast cancer earlier and more accurately.

The MICA AI technology will first be introduced at the Christine E. Lynn Women’s Health & Wellness Institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital, part of Baptist Health South Florida. Baptist Health has plans to eventually roll out the technology to the other hospitals in its network.

Weston researchers recruiting for epilepsy clinical trial

Encore Medical Research of Weston is recruiting patients for a clinical trial to study an investigational oral therapy for epilepsy called BHV-7000. Researchers are specifically seeking people who have focal onset epilepsy, a subset of epilepsy.

The study is called “Rise” and is part of a clinical trial underway at 95 sites nationwide. The Rise trials will evaluate the safety, efficacy and patient tolerability of BHV-7000.

Dr. Carlos Escasena, study investigator and director of neurology research at Encore Medical Research of Weston, said BHV-7000 has been shown in early research to successfully control seizures, with a low incidence of side effects typically seen in traditional forms of treatment.

“We are hopeful for a positive outcome of these trials and believe they represent a beacon of progress towards improving the quality of life for those affected by epilepsy,” Escasena said.

Got health ideas, tips or comments? South Florida Sun Sentinel health reporter Cindy Goodman can be reached at cgoodman@sunsentinel.com.