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What You Need to Know about Home Inspections  KATU

What You Need to Know about Home Inspections  KATU

General Daily Insight for August 21, 2024

A longing to live large could lead us into some strange places today. When the passionate Leo Sun forms an awkward quincunx with transcendent Neptune in Pisces at 5:29 pm EDT, we may be certain that we want experiences grander than our usual routines. As the melodramatic Pisces Moon conjoins Neptune and challenges the Sun, this emotional intensity might become uncomfortable. Once Luna passes into decisive Aries, starting to take action in reality can give us ways to identify which upsets are worth worrying about.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Deciding on the best way to have a good time might require extra thought today. A boisterous and energetic activity may be the most obvious option on offer. That said, while the blazing Sun in your pleasure sector is on a different wavelength than the sensitive Moon and dreamy Neptune in your contemplative 12th house, perhaps you feel drawn to a quieter pursuit. There shouldn’t be any shame in enjoying something that sounds boring to others — find what works for you.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Energy is likely to find a very direct path through your home and family life at the moment. You’ll probably be relieved to experience flow and movement, especially if you’ve been frustrated by a sticky situation for some time. Be careful — the solution might not look the way you’d expect. Judgment from your peers could be a concern as the impressionable Moon merges with unrealistic Neptune in your social sector. Keep in mind that they don’t have to live with the outcome.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

You may currently have a strong intuitive grasp on the power dynamics that shape a situation in your life. Still, you might long to hear your impressions validated out loud. As the illuminating Sun in your communication zone misreads hazy Neptune in your authority sector, pursuing that desire probably won’t provide the results you seek. Watching what people do should tell you all you need to know — just don’t give anyone the opportunity to say stuff that lures you off track.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Your beliefs about the way the world ought to run could be front and center at this moment. While the sentimental Moon conjoins idealistic Neptune in your philosophical 9th house, you’re potentially very much in favor of helping someone who’s seemingly in need. Once you realize your personal funds are on the line, however, you might have a few questions. Trying to ensure funds are being used productively doesn’t make you heartless — after all, a good outcome should be what everyone wants!

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Looking for attention could be risky at this time. It’s potentially fun to be seen, but knowing when to stop is going to be key. As the connection-craving Moon fuses with unlimited Neptune in your 8th House of Intimacy, you might be tempted to spill personal information in an attempt to keep the focus on yourself just a little bit longer. That may be more than your audience is ready for! Use discretion, and remember — you’ll probably have other chances to share.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Getting a bit of space from an emotionally intense relationship may be crucial now. Perhaps the other person seems to really need you. While being seemingly indispensable might make you feel powerful and important, becoming burned out and resentful is a risk as the individualistic Sun in your 12th House of Rest disagrees with self-sacrificing Neptune in your partnership sector. Taking some time to do your own thing can restore your energy. When you’re ready to return, you’ll likely have a brighter attitude.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

You’re potentially torn between pursuing a promising opportunity to socialize and honoring your commitment to your ongoing responsibilities. Both ends of this equation are important. However, it’s also necessary to look at them both realistically. As the anxious Moon falls down the rabbit hole of overwhelming Neptune in your 6th House of Work, you might be seeing some items on your to-do list as bigger or more urgent than they really are. Consider the situation from multiple angles before making any decisions.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

A current opportunity to move forward in the world may not be exactly what your inner child had in mind. As the powerful Sun in your 10th House of Career pulls away from imaginative Neptune in your expressive 5th house, you could realize that taking this step toward stability will require you to shed a few cherished fantasies about the way things were supposed to look. The plan might need to bend more than you thought, but it can succeed when you stay flexible.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Feeding your brain is possible now. However, what you find out on a deep research dig might challenge beliefs that you’ve held for most of your life. As the forthright Sun in your 9th House of Higher Education agrees to disagree with unconscious Neptune in your 4th House of Roots, you aren’t required to follow an upsetting line of inquiry to the bitter end. Opposingly, your longing for comfort can’t suppress the facts forever. Don’t try to force something that truly isn’t working.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Words might seem to fail you right now. While the vulnerable Moon in your verbal 3rd house gets overwhelmed by the intense Sun in your 8th House of Intimacy, you may be worried that your attempts to communicate your feelings to a loved one, platonic or not, aren’t landing the way you want them to. What you say isn’t everything, so don’t invest too much effort in planning out the “perfect” message. Solely spending time together can strengthen your bond. When in doubt, listen.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Money issues have the potential to drag down one of your close relationships with little warning. The candid Sun in your partnership zone is on a hunt for the absolute truth about things, but fuzzy Neptune in your finance sector might argue that that’s doing more harm than good. Figure out which pieces of information are truly relevant within the scope of your current connection, then answer those questions as accurately as possible. Beyond that, you aren’t required to indulge every single passing curiosity.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Keeping yourself busy with lots of responsibilities can be satisfying today. That being said, you might not want to admit too loudly that you’re having a good time. As the nurturing Moon unites with oceanic Neptune in your sign, there’s a risk that you’ll start to crave recognition for your epic martyrdom. It’s true that seeing your present activities on a grand scale can help you stay motivated. If the theatrical production starts to upset people, though, you probably ought to take a step back.

By JOSH BOAK

CHICAGO (AP) — Convention roll call votes can be staid and cheesy, but Democrats turned theirs into the ultimate dance party on Tuesday.

DJ Cassidy stood onstage in what appeared to be a double-breasted satin suit of royal blue, spinning a special song for each state and territory awarding their delegates to Vice President Kamala Harris at the Democratic National Convention. What America got was a mashup of an elite karaoke night: Detroit native Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” for Michigan, Dropkick Murphys’ “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” for Massachusetts and Tupac Shakur’s “California Love” for California.

Georgia brought out one of its natives in person: Atlanta’s Lil Jon striding through Chicago’s United Center to the beats of “Turn Down for What,” his song with DJ Snake.

DJ Cassidy speaks during Roll Call at the Democratic National Convention Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

In short, Democrats were determined to put the party in political party, part of their broader effort to project joy and positive energy even as they issue dire warnings about the need to beat Republican nominee Donald Trump.

The party last used a video roll call during the pandemic -restricted 2020 convention that famously had Rhode Island featuring its state dish, calamari, creating the pressure to do something bigger this year. (The chef holding that iconic tray of calamari later turned out to be a Trump supporter.)

This year’s roll call vote featured the party’s emerging political stars like Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. Movie director Spike Lee was there for New York, while the actor Sean Astin, who starred in the Notre Dame-set football movie “Rudy,” was with the Indiana delegation.

Ohio casts their votes for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris during the Democratic National Convention Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

The musical choices were something of a risk. The 1996 Democratic convention in Chicago infamously featured delegates gyrating awkwardly to “Macarena (Bayside Boys Remix)” by the Spanish pop duo Los del Río. Video of the Macarena still circulates among political diehards nearly three decades later.

Florida’s delegation played Tom Petty’s anthem to hard-headedness, “I Won’t Back Down,” in casting its delegates for Harris — a not-too-subtle jab at the state’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. Petty was born in the Florida city of Gainesville. DeSantis used the song as the theme of his failed Republican presidential primary this cycle, and it was part of the name of a super PAC that spent lavishly in his losing cause.

“Florida is worth fighting for,” state Democratic chairwoman Nikki Fried declared, arguing that her state is worth national Democrats campaigning for despite it moving hard to the right and likely to go for Trump in November.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed attends the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Tuesday Aug. 20, 2024. (Gabrielle Lurie/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Alabama, obviously, got “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Alaska announced their backing of Vice President Kamala Harris to “Feel It Still” by Portugal. The Man, a band from Wasilla, where Republican Sarah Palin was once mayor.

Minnesota went with “1999” by Paisley Park’s own Prince. Indiana, with Astin by the microphone, went with Gary native Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough.” Nevada played “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers, the synth pop band from Las Vegas. Kansas went with “Carry On My Wayward Son” by the rock band Kansas. New Jersey went with Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA.”

“Under one groove nothing can stop us now,” DJ Cassidy said over Springsteen’s anthem.

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Despite the festive mood, the roll call announcements did contain some serious moments. Texas’ Kate Cox had her request for an abortion during a troubled pregnancy rejected by that state’s supreme court, forcing her to go to another state for the procedure. But Cox announced on the floor that she was again pregnant and the baby was due in January.

Under Democratic Party rules, only Harris garnered enough signatures to be entered into nomination. Votes for any other person or uncommitted votes were tallied as “present” during the virtual roll call earlier this month. Tuesday night’s “celebratory” vote is following that earlier roll call’s vote total.

Republican Joseph “Joe” Kaufman on Tuesday won the primary election to advance to November to challenge the incumbent Democratic Congressman Jared Moskowitz.

Kaufman is among six Republican candidates who ran for U.S. House, District 23. The other Republicans in the contest were Gary Barve, Darlene Cerezo Swaffar, Carla Spalding, Joe Thelusca and Robert S. Weinroth.

Moskowitz is in his first term in Congress after holding multiple elected and appointed jobs in Broward and Tallahassee. He faced no Democratic challenger for the primary.

The 23rd District takes in northern Broward and much of the coast extending south through most of Fort Lauderdale and a share of southern Palm Beach County.

Staff writer Anthony Man contributed to this news article. 

The winners of the Palm Beach County School Board races are still undetermined after Tuesday night’s election, with no automatic winners in either race as no candidate received more than 50% of the vote.

As of Tuesday night, there was a slim margin between candidates Gloria Branch and Mindy Koch in the District 5 race. State law requires a recount when the margin is less than or equal to 0.5% of the total votes. The results of a recount could likely occur in the coming days, unless the candidate with the lesser votes requests for the recount not to happen.

But a recount would likely not change the outcome of Branch and Koch being the top two vote-getters, meaning they will compete in the Nov. 5. general election, as neither received more than 50% of the vote.

Branch, 56, is a more than 40-year Boca Raton resident and current substitute teacher with a desire to “shed the remnants of equity and woke ideology,” according to her Sun Sentinel questionnaire, and invest resources in teacher pay and the classroom.

“I am looking forward to the November runoff,” Branch said in an interview with the Sun Sentinel on Tuesday night. “I have a ton of support from Republicans, Democrats and Independents. I feel very confident.”

Koch, 71, has spent more than 40 years either in teaching, administration or as a special education coordinator. According to her Sun Sentinel questionnaire, she wants the district to hone in on reading and math for pre-K through third-grade students.

“I think it’s great, I’m very excited,” Koch said in an interview with the Sun Sentinel on Tuesday night. “I am looking forward to the second half of the race.”

Similarly, in the District 1 race, none of the candidate received more than 50% of the vote as of Tuesday night, with 150 out of 174 precincts reporting. Candidates Matthew Jay Lane and Page Lewis received the two highest number of votes out of the three candidates, and will likely compete for the school board spot.

Lane, 69, is a former Palm Beach Gardens city councilmember with a law firm specializing in family and divorce law. According to his Sun Sentinel questionnaire, his priorities are ensuring teachers get paid enough and that students learn “the fundamentals.”

“This is an incredibly important job; it’s something I believe I can really make a difference in the lives of a generation of children,” Lane said in an interview on Tuesday night. “I really hope I have this opportunity. I may not have won yet but I am going to win.”

Lewis, 57, is a former real estate broker who also used to work with people recovering from addiction. She is currently the director of literacy at Urban Youth Impact and believes the district’s success relies on students having a firm grasp on the essentials of reading, writing and arithmetic, according to her questionnaire.

Lewis could not be immediately reached on Tuesday night.

District 1 represents the northern part of the county, with cities including Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter and Tequesta, and is currently represented by Barbara McQuinn. District 5 includes all the schools in Boca Raton and West Boca and is currently represented by Frank Barbieri Jr.

Because the School Board elections are nonpartisan, registered voters in said districts can voted for one of the candidates, regardless of political party affiliation. The same rule will apply during the November election for the races.

The two new board members will serve four-year terms and receive a salary of $53,407.

Issues that bubbled to the surface during campaigning include school safety measures, such metal detectors, teacher pay, the state’s new law mandating later start times and how to maintain an A-rating.

Broward County voters chose three of its constitutional officers Tuesday, including the incumbents for elections office supervisor and clerk of courts as well as the first person to the newly created job of tax collector.

Tax collector

Broward voters chose a political newcomer for the first ever elected tax collector. The new tax collector, Abbey Ajayi, will perform duties that were previously handled by county employees.

Ajayi held various banking positions before she joined the county tax office in 2015, first as a special project coordinator, and worked her way up to operations manager of the division.

Ajayi beat two opponents in a tight race — political newcomer Dwight Forrest and Perry E. Thurston, an attorney who served 16 years in the Florida Legislature. Forrest runs the accounting section of the county’s Records, Tax & Treasury Division, where he said he supervises 14 employees.

Broward’s tax collector will issue car, truck and boat registration tags and titles, renew and update driver’s licenses, and collect property taxes and other tax payments. The job pays $215,501, with annual increases calculated in part based on population growth.

Broward County now must have an elected tax collector because of a change that was pushed by a statewide Constitution Revision Commission and approved by voters in the 2018 general election. Amendment 10 requires all counties to have an elected sheriff, tax collector, property appraiser, supervisor of elections and clerk of court.

The Broward tax collector race was open to all voters because the only three candidates are all Democrats.

“I am very excited to get started doing the work of the people,” Ajayi said late Tuesday. She said she has ideas for improvements for the office “that will benefit the community.”

Elections supervisor

Incumbent Joe Scott won a second term as elections supervisor. Scott last won four years ago by 607 votes — a slim margin — but Tuesday’s vote was a larger victory.

Scott’s challenger was Russell Roberto Bathulia, 62, a Democrat from Sunrise, whose campaign website describes him as a native of Trinidad who operates Top Jewels Yachts, a yacht service and sales company.

Among Scott’s credits is revamping the elections website, and he oversaw a relocation of the elections office from the Lauderhill Mall to a new headquarters, at 4650 NW 21st Ave. in Fort Lauderdale, earlier this month. The $103 million facility, funded by the County Commission, includes modern voting technology, increased office space, and enhanced security measures to prevent a replay of the 2018 protest outside the elections office where dozens of police officers showed up to “protect the ballots at all costs.”

After the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, security became the new focus for the new building.

The position pays $215,501, a rate set by the state.

“I am more fired up than ever,” he said by text Tuesday night. “With newfound experience and the same unwavering passion for this role, I am confident that the next four years will be nothing short of extraordinary.”

Clerk of courts

In the three-way race for clerk of courts, two political newcomers sought to unseat Broward Clerk of Courts Brenda D. Forman.

Forman won a third term to the administrative position.

The clerk of courts, whose salary is $215,501, manages all court records, including child-support payments, traffic fines, marriages, divorces and lawsuits. The Broward clerk manages jury selection for the state’s second-largest court system.

Forman, who was first elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2020, was challenged by two former employees: Annette Daniels and Charles F. Hall.

Forman fired Daniels, a clerk’s administrative assistant, when Daniels announced that she would run for the job. Hall, who worked there through 2021, said he resigned after a dispute with Forman over a potential reassignment.

“I thank all of the people who have trusted me over the last eight years who trusted me to do my job and thank them very, very much for voting me back into my seat to give me that trust one more time,” Forman told the South Florida Sun Sentinel on Tuesday evening by phone, as her supporters rejoiced in the background.

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

MIAMI — Corbin Carroll and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. homered to help Eduardo Rodriguez and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Miami Marlins 3-1 on Tuesday night.

Arizona, which finished with four hits, improved to a major league-best 30-13 since July 1. Carroll also singled and scored on Joc Pederson’s base hit, and Geraldo Perdomo walked twice.

The Diamondbacks have won the first two in their three-game set against Miami after they were swept at Tampa Bay over the weekend.

“I think the little things we do inside of a game that helps us win the edge and those margins in a very uncommon way — that’s what we’re all about,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “Sometimes you get it done ugly and have to grind a little bit and today was one of those days. We slugged when we needed to.”

Rodriguez allowed one run and six hits over 5 1/3 innings in his third start since being activated from the injured list on Aug. 6. Rodriguez (2-0) struck out five and walked one.

“I’m starting to feel good. I feel like my velocity is starting to get back,” said Rodriguez, who missed the first four months of the season because of a left shoulder strain. “I can’t complain about the start today.”

Ryan Thompson, A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez combined for 3 2/3 innings of one-hit ball after Rodriguez departed. Martinez worked a perfect ninth for his fourth save in five opportunities.

The Marlins hit five doubles, but they went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position.

Rookie third baseman Connor Norby hit two doubles in his second game since he was brought up by Miami on Monday. Norby and outfielder Kyle Stowers were acquired in a trade with Baltimore for pitcher Trevor Rogers on July 30.

“He got two extra-base hits, and his defense looks good,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “He is probably surprising himself making the plays look so routine. He’s making it look easy.”

Carroll helped Arizona get off to a fast start. He hit a leadoff single in the first and advanced on a balk by Edward Cabrera. After Perdomo popped out, Carroll scampered home on Pederson’s grounder into center field.

Carroll connected in the fifth for his third homer in five games and No. 14 on the season overall. He drove a sinker from Cabrera (2-5) over the wall in left.

The Marlins got their only run on Xavier Edwards’ RBI single in the bottom of the fifth, but Gurriel responded with a 414-foot drive to left in the sixth for his 15th homer.

Carroll also made a running catch on a drive to right by Jesús Sánchez with two runners on that ended the fifth.

“Very engaged and the right guy doing the right thing and the right time,” Lovullo said of Carroll. “It was a great play. He got a great break on it. Saved the game.”

Cabrera allowed four hits in six innings. The right-hander walked three and struck out three.

“As a starter, you always try to stay in the game as much as you can,” Cabrera said through a translator. “That’s what I did out there.”

The Diamondbacks signed veteran infielder Luis Guillorme to a minor league contract and optioned infielder Blaze Alexander to Triple-A Reno. The club also designated right-hander Gavin Hollowell for assignment.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins: RHP Anthony Bender (shoulder impingement) is doing rehab activities at the club’s spring training complex in Jupiter, Florida.

UP NEXT

LHP Jordan Montgomery (8-6, 6.25) will start the series finale for the Diamondbacks on Wednesday and RHP Roddery Muñoz (2-7, 5.88 ERA) gets the start for the Marlins.

The Miami Marlins’ Cristian Pache, left, scores past Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Jose Herrera on a single hit by Xavier Edwards during the fifth inning Tuesday in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Two appointees of Gov. Ron DeSantis lost their bids for election on the Broward School Board Tuesday night, solidifying the board’s liberal majority.

Daniel Foganholi and Torey Alston hoped a bipartisan group of backers would help them maintain their south Broward seats.

But Foganholi placed third in a three-way race for the District 1 seat. Lawyer Maura Bulman won the seat with a majority of votes and educator Chris Canter placing second.

Alston lost to Rebecca Thompson, a former social worker and aide to School Board member Allen Zeman in the District 2 seat in the southwest part of the county.

“I am excited, overwhelmed and honored by all the support from everyone in District 2,” Thompson told the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

She said she believes she defeated Alston because “I’m from our community and have a fresh perspective. Everyone’s voice is going to be represented on the board, and I think that resonates in a district whose voice has been taken away in the last couple of years.”

Alston said, “Thank you to the nearly 10,000 voters in southwest Broward! When I jumped into this nonpartisan race, I knew that the odds were against me but I’m a strong man of faith. I pray for the new board seated in November and wish all the best for the district and our children.”

Foganholi said he wishes his “heartfelt congratulations” to Bulman.

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“While I’m disappointed with the turnout across our county, I remain deeply appreciative of the democratic process that allows for such opportunities,” he said in a text. “As a first-generation American, seeing my name FOGANHOLI on the ballot is a moment of profound pride.

“I am honored by the Governor’s trust in allowing me to serve, and I am proud of the progress we made on the board,” he said. “Democracy is indeed a beautiful thing, whether in victory or defeat. We still have a lot of work to do.”

Three Democratic incumbents were reelected. Sarah Leonardi defeated Jason Loring in the District 3 seat in the east Fort Lauderdale, Oakland Park and Wilton Manors area. Jeff Holness defeated Windsor Ferguson for the District 5 seat in the west Fort Lauderdale, Sunrise and Plantation areas. Debbie Hixon defeated Thomas Vasquez in the countywide Seat 9.

Debbi Hixon greets Tony Montalto, the President of Stand With Parkland, during her election celebration at Shenanigan’s East Side Pub in Dania on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. Incumbent Debbi Hixon won re-election for the Broward County School Board countywide at-large, Seat 9. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)(Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

The new School Board terms begins in November. The elections of the two newcomers are expected to shift the political direction of the board.

All three Democratic incumbents won by margins surpassing 70%.

“I think with 76% of the vote, it’s clear that people appreciate what I’m doing on the board,” Holness said. “We’re going to continue to work diligently for the interest of children of District 5 and the county.”

Right now, the School Board has three conservative Republicans, five liberal Democrats and Lori Alhadeff, a Democrat who sometimes votes with the Republicans. After the new members take office in November, Brenda Fam will be the only Republican on the nine-member board.

Leonardi faced criticism from many conservatives, including Loring, who is openly gay, for chaperoning a Wilton Manors Elementary field trip in 2021 to Rosie’s Bar & Grill, a restaurant popular with the local gay community. The state launched an investigation but ultimately found no violations.

On Tuesday night, Leonardi held her victory party at Rosie’s.

“Rosie’s has been an institution in Broward County for nearly two decades,” Leonardi told the Sun Sentinel prior to the party. “Their wings can’t be beat and I can’t think of a better place to watch the results come in with all my incredible volunteers and supporters.”

Reached Tuesday night, she said she was grateful to be reelected.

Maura Bulman, candidate for Broward County School Board District 1, is greeted by supporter Clay Miller during her election gathering at the The Tipsy Boar in Hollywood on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

“There are amazing people around me who really care about public education and we all worked very, very hard to reach out to voters and reach out to families to talk about our mission to preserve public education and make it better for Broward.”

Although the races are non-partisan, Democratic and Republican groups took clear sides on which candidates they supported.

For years, the School Board was made up of Democrats and a few moderate Republicans who tended be in alignment in support of racial equity and LGBTQ issues, their criticism of charter schools and their opposition to private school vouchers.

That changed in August 2022, after a grand jury report recommended DeSantis remove five School Board members. One of those, Rosalind Osgood, stepped down to run for state Senate before the report was released and DeSantis removed the four other Democratic members. Desantis replaced all five with Republicans, giving Republicans a brief three-month control of the board.

Although Democrats regained the majority in November 2022, voters in the Weston, Davie and Cooper City area elected the socially conservative Brenda Fam to the board. Alston remained on the board, and Foganholi was appointed for a second time after a winning candidate was deemed ineligible.

In the past two years, board members have been divided on major culture war issues.

The 2024 campaigns furthered the left-right divide due to the involvement of Moms for Liberty, a right-wing group known for its efforts to ban books from school libraries.

Last month, the Broward chapter held a forum, identifying five candidates who were scheduled to speak. Four showed up: Foganholi, Loring, Vasquez and Ferguson. Alston didn’t show up, but his name on the flier ended up costing him support of Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz.

Alston told the Sun Sentinel last month he had broad bipartisan support, and “any comments to the contrary are clearly political and an attempt to add partisanship into the School Board races. There should be no partisanship on the School Board, and I have been very clear about that.”

Ferguson, who is a Democrat, initially embraced the support of Moms for Liberty, but later distanced himself from them in a video and in interviews. He said his agreement with the group was limited to the belief that children shouldn’t have access to sexually inappropriate books.

Another major campaign issue that was contentious but less partisan was the district’s efforts to close or repurpose schools as a way to deal with declining enrollment.

Most of the candidates running in geographical districts voiced concerns about schools closing in their areas.

In District 1, Foganholi has supported the need to close schools but has criticized the proposals released so far, including one that would close two schools in District 1. Canter and Bulman are also critical of the effort, with Canter saying the process appears to be arbitrary and without proper data and Bulman saying the district spends too much time “bemoaning financial shortfalls rather than finding effective ways” to attract students.

In District 2, Alston had voiced strong support for the concept of closing schools, but then objected once specific schools were suggested, especially ones in his district.

“Our School Board member Torey Alston is fighting against school closures in our community that unfairly target Black and Hispanic majority schools,” a campaign text said.

Thompson said she supports closing schools only as a last resort, in contrast to her boss, Zeman, who has voiced support for closing dozens of schools to save money and provide more resources to other schools.

The challengers and incumbents in Districts 3 and 5 also voiced skepticism about the district’s school closure plan.

The candidates who were most open to the idea were those running for the countywide seat, Hixon and Vasquez.

The Broward School District, “like many other school districts nationwide, is dealing with decreasing student enrollment and a surplus of underused facilities,” Hixon told the Sun Sentinel. “By closing some schools, we can consolidate students into fewer buildings, which will help better use available resources and create dynamic classrooms.”

More than two dozen judges were up for re-election this year in Broward County, but voters can be forgiven if they were unaware of it, considering the overwhelming majority ran unopposed and did not appear on Tuesday’s primary ballot.

Of the 27 judges seeking re-election, only three drew opponents this year: County Court Judge Kathleen McHugh and Circuit Court Judges Carol-Lisa Phillips and Stefanie Moon. With most votes counted, all three appeared to easily defeat their challengers.

Judicial races are often among the most difficult for voters to weigh, largely because the rules limit how candidates can criticize each other and outright prohibit partisan appeals. Candidates are left to discuss their personal histories and commitments to civic causes, though sometimes an incumbent’s conduct on the bench can become a campaign issue.

Defense lawyer Johnny Weekes, ex-husband of former Circuit Judge Mariya Weekes, tried to do that in his campaign to unseat Moon, who was first elected six years ago. Weekes criticized Moon’s record of reversals by appeals courts as well as her treatment of the lawyers who appear before her.

Moon’s supporters painted her as professional and reliable, leaving the outcome of the race up to the campaign that did a better job communicating its message to the primary voting electorate. Moon had a 47,000 vote lead with 98% of ballots counted.

For Phillips, the campaign came as something of a surprise. Phillips is highly regarded in the county and has been floated as a candidate for chief administrative judge when Jack Tuter’s term ends next year.

Her opponent, Christina Grace Arguelles, is an Orange County resident who never lived or worked in Broward County and barely campaigned. Arguelles candidacy was seen by Phillips’ supporters as a back-door way of forcing the judge to recuse herself from a civil case litigated by Arguelles’ parents, who are also attorneys.

Phillips complied with the rules and recused herself from the case. Late Tuesday, she led by more than 74,000 votes with 98% counted.

McHugh was surprised to learn she was being challenged for re-election by civil lawyer Scott R. Shapiro, who said in an interview with the Sun Sentinel editorial board that he wanted to serve on the civil court bench but did not target the incumbent for opposition. McHugh’s lead was over 79,000 votes.

Other court races in Broward and Palm Beach did not feature incumbents. In races with three or more candidates, the top two vote-getters will face each other in a November runoff unless one candidate gets more than 50% of the vote. A first-place primary win does not guarantee victory in November, when voter turnout is significantly higher.

In races with no incumbent, Lourdes Casanova, Douglas Leifert and Jean Marie Middleton ran to replace retiring Judge Ted Booras in Palm Beach’s only county court race. Casanova and Middleton appeared to be headed for a runoff, with neither cracking more than 40% of the vote.

In Broward County, Alex Arreaza, Woody Clermont and Samuel Ford Stark competed to replace retiring County Court Judge Robert Diaz. Stark had a double-digit lead early in the counting, but it was unclear whether his support would hold strong enough to avoid a runoff. He was just under 50% as of 9 p.m., with just 2% of ballots remaining to be counted. Clermont was a distant second with 26% of the vote.

Corey Brian Freidman was holding a slight lead against Tamar Hamilton to replace retiring County Court Judge Robert Lee, with the race still too close to call.

Kathleen Elaine Angione was poised to defeat Joseph Zager in the race to replace County Court Judge Louis Schiff by a large margin.

And Childnet founder Emilio Benitez was trailing animal rights lawyer Lauren Peffer by more than 8,600 votes in the race to succeed County Court Judge Terri Ann Miller.

Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4457.

Incumbent Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, running as a Democrat, and Michael Gauger, running as a Republican, appeared to win their respective primaries Tuesday in the race for Palm Beach County Sheriff and will likely face each other on Nov. 5.

Due to technical issues with the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections website, the results were delayed over an hour. With the website still down, the office eventually sent out a report with close to all precincts reporting.

Gauger was shocked by the news that he was the presumptive victor Tuesday evening; due to all of the problems accessing the results, he had only seen numbers from about half the precincts.

“Really?” he told the South Florida Sun Sentinel incredulously. “Oh my God.”

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office is one of the most powerful departments in the county, overseeing a budget of close to $1 billion. The elected sheriff would oversee over 3,400 employees. As a Democrat in a county where Democrats outnumber Republicans and an incumbent who has far outraised his opponents so far, Bradshaw will have an advantage heading into the November election.

Democrats

Ric Bradshaw, 76, is seeking his sixth term as Palm Beach County sheriff, already the longest serving sheriff in the county. With a campaign war chest of over $800,000, he is the favorite to win, citing his decades of experience overseeing one of the biggest law enforcement agencies in the state and working on the Domestic Security Task Force. He is endorsed by the Police Benevolent Association, But he also faces opposition from some within his own department, who say he has been at the helm too long.

Alex Freeman, 55, served as a major in the Riviera Beach Police Department and chief of the Midway Police Department outside of Tallahassee. He ran unsuccessfully against Bradshaw twice previously. Freeman had received endorsements from Ben Crump, a nationally renowned civil rights lawyer, as well as the Service Employees International Union.

Bradshaw was leading against Freeman with a significant portion of the vote with nearly all precincts reporting Tuesday evening. He said the margin of victory was evidence of his support in the community.

“When you have an absolute landslide, which this is, that is the community saying back to you, ‘we like what you do, you keep us safe, you’ve had our backs for 20 years’ and now I’m gonna show you we’ve got your back,” Bradshaw told the South Florida Sun Sentinel Tuesday night. “That’s what that means.”

Now, he will have to turn his attention to November, where he faces Gauger, a challenger he once worked with and has not faced in an election before; he had defeated Diaz in 2020.

“It really doesn’t matter to me who the person is I’m gonna face,” Bradshaw said when asked how he felt facing Gauger. “We’re gonna talk about our qualifications, we’re gonna talk about what we’ve done.”

The sheriff’s primary race was hotly contentious, largely between Gauger and Diaz but also fueled by the Palm Beach County Police Benevolent Association, the union composed of sheriff’s office deputies which supported Diaz as well as Bradshaw. Gauger has accused Bradshaw’s campaign of participating in the mudslinging. However the sheriff said Tuesday he plans to keep the race “professional” heading into November.

“I’ve always run a professional, very clean campaign,” Bradshaw said. “I don’t get in the gutter with anybody. That’s usually a sign you don’t have a lot to offer. We have a lot to offer.”

Republicans

The bitterness of the race between Michael Gauger, 76, and Lauro Diaz, 62, made Gauger’s victory Tuesday feel that much harder fought.

Even in the days leading up to the primary election, Gauger said, his opponents had sent out texts and emails to voters with what he said was “misinformation” about him.

“They have been brutal,” he said.

Gauger, 76, was once Bradshaw’s second-in-command. He served in the Sheriff’s Office for 51 years, retiring as chief deputy in 2021. Gauger has promised to rein in spending within the Sheriff’s Office and to bring back community policing programs including the Drug Farm, which helped treat inmates suffering from addiction before it shuttered in 2010. The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 50, an alternative union to the PBA, has endorsed Gauger, as have the editorial boards of the South Florida Sun Sentinel and the Palm Beach Post.

Diaz, 62, served in the Sheriff’s Office for 27 years, reaching the rank of captain. He later served in the Highlands Sheriff’s Office as a SWAT Commander before joining the Bartow Police Department in 2021 and serving as deputy chief. Diaz resigned in 2023 to run for Sheriff. Diaz has promised to serve as a “law and order” sheriff with less of an emphasis on community programs. He is endorsed by the PBA and the Republican Liberty Caucus.

The race between Gauger and Diaz was more of a nail-biter, particularly on election day, where the vote difference was in the single digits in the latest report, but Gauger took home substantially more mail-in votes.

He will face an uphill battle as he seeks to oust Bradshaw, who has already raised hundreds of thousands more dollars in a county where Democrats outnumber Republicans and where he has served as sheriff for 20 years.

“I’m looking forward to my race with Ric Bradshaw,” Gauger said. “I feel bad that it’s come to this, but he’s not the same man that I helped.”

While Bradshaw described his victory as a landslide, Gauger interpreted the amount of votes Freeman received was evidence that the people were not entirely pleased with the current administration. He looks forward to the possibility of being in charge himself.

“I put my heart in this county,” he said. “Not only in police work but all the city organizations and all the community stuff. I love this county and I just want to get this county back on track.”

I commend the students at the University of Florida newspaper for their intrepid investigation and revealing reporting about former President Ben Sasse’s greed, graft and dishonesty.

This is a perfect example of why newspapers are needed, at every level. I’m sure some of the students involved in this investigation will become well-known journalists. Another DeSantis crony is exposed, and now DeSantis says, “Investigate this!”

He knew the type of man he chose for this role, and he knew what he would have done with free rein to spend money on unneeded cronies, who did little or nothing for the university while they collected huge paychecks. Between Sasse and Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony (also appointed by DeSantis, and eager to put his name on everything he can find in Broward), Florida taxpayers don’t stand a chance.

Penny Morey, Boca Raton

(Editor’s Note: The student who broke the Sasse story, Garrett Shanley, is a fourth-year UF journalism student and a graduate of Coral Springs Charter School.)

A political cesspool

Reading about the former University of Florida president was eye-opening.

Another typical DeSantis garbage person, like putting his friend in at New College of Florida in Sarasota and more than doubling his salary.

Sasse was well-thought-of as a senator, but he should not be allowed to even teach at UF going forward. Let him use his wife’s illness as an excuse for withdrawing from Gainesville.

He’s the poster boy for the political cesspool that all the Republicans complain about while being a perfect example of Washington and Florida political leadership.

But you won’t hear that from Gov. Ron DeSantis or Sens. Marco Rubio or Rick Scott. They perpetuate the corrupt bull that permeates our “freedom” state.

That doesn’t include the wonderful golf club champion we all know.

Roberto Poli, Boynton Beach

Highway robbery

What has come out in the University of Florida student newspaper, The Independent Florida Alligator, regarding the spending of former UF president Ben Sasse, looks like highway robbery.

Are there no checks and balances here?

Giving $300,000 and $400,000 appointments to out of state associates en masse? Hiring his  political cronies for hundreds of thousands, only one of whom actually lives in our state?

If this is all true, there needs to be an additional judicial inquiry and some responsibility taken by Sasse for doing something so devastating to the University of Florida. It was just a free-for-all ransacking of university funds. Florida was taken for fools once again.

Diane Miller, Plantation

Cronyism on campus

Ben Sasse, a political appointee as president to the University of Florida, restrained talent by hiring his political allies and paying them outrageous salaries for their willingness to politicize one of the nation’s finest public universities.

Because of Sasse’s political hires, the university is having difficulty attracting nonpartisan professors and staff.

Sasse was uncommunicative and sometimes unresponsive to the university’s students and staff. He expelled pro-Palestinian protesters, opposed LGBTQ rights and curtailed the teaching of humanities — the conscience of a university.

Education is not a commodity that can be purchased. It must be earned in a process that frees the mind from indoctrination and opens windows to inquiry.

Hiring an ideologue to run a public university and not anticipating the outcome forfeits the predictive nature of intelligence — especially from a former U.S. senator who attended the finest universities.

Sasse scaled those ivy walls (Harvard, Yale, Oxford) without being transformed by his journey.

Phil Beasley, Plantation

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Today is Tuesday, Aug. 20, the 233rd day of 2024. There are 133 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Aug. 20, 1968, the Soviet Union and other Warsaw Pact nations invaded Czechoslovakia to crush the “Prague Spring” liberalization movement.

Also on this date:

In 1858, Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution was first published, in the “Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society”.

In 1862, the New York Tribune published an open letter by editor Horace Greeley calling on President Abraham Lincoln to take more aggressive measures to free enslaved people and end the South’s rebellion.

In 1866, President Andrew Johnson declared the official end of the Civil War.

In 1882, Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” had its premiere in Moscow.

In 1910, a series of wildfires swept through parts of Idaho, Montana and Washington, killing at least 85 people and burning some 3 million acres.

In 1920, the American Professional Football Conference was established by representatives of four professional football teams; two years later, with 18 teams, it would be renamed the National Football League.

In 1940, exiled Communist revolutionary Leon Trotsky was attacked in Coyoacan, Mexico by assassin Ramon Mercader. (Trotsky died the next day.)

In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Economic Opportunity Act, a nearly $1 billion anti-poverty measure.

In 1986, postal employee Patrick Henry Sherrill went on a deadly rampage at a post office in Edmond, Oklahoma, shooting 14 fellow workers to death before killing himself.

In 1989, 51 people died when the pleasure boat Marchioness sank in the River Thames (tehmz) in London after being struck by a dredger.

In 2012, after 80 years in existence, Georgia’s Augusta National golf club (home to the Masters Tournament) invited former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina financier Darla Moore to become its first female members; both accepted.

In 2023, Tropical Storm Hilary struck Baja California, killing three and causing $15 million in damage.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Boxing promoter Don King is 93.
• Former U.S. Senator and diplomat George Mitchell is 91.
• Former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, is 89.
• Broadcast journalist Connie Chung is 78.
• Rock singer Robert Plant is 76.
• Country singer Rudy Gatlin is 72.
• Singer-songwriter John Hiatt is 72.
• Actor-director Peter Horton is 71.
• TV weather presenter Al Roker is 70.
• Actor Joan Allen is 68.
• Movie director David O. Russell is 66.
• Rapper KRS-One (Boogie Down Productions) is 59.
• Actor Colin Cunningham is 57.
• Actor Billy Gardell is 55.
• Rock singer Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit) is 54.
• Actor Ke Huy Quan is 53.
• Baseball Hall of Famer Todd Helton is 51.
• Actor Amy Adams is 50.
• Actor Misha Collins (TV: “Supernatural”) is 50.
• Actor Ben Barnes is 43.
• Actor Andrew Garfield is 41.
• Actor-singer Demi Lovato is 32.

Can You Get Homeowners Insurance Without an Inspection?  Insurify

By WILL WEISSERT and NICHOLAS RICCARDI, Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — The Democratic National Convention set up its first night to feature speeches from the last Democrat to lose to Donald Trump and the last one to beat him.

Hillary Clinton spoke about finally breaking the “glass ceiling” to elect a female president. Joe Biden was the final speaker in Chicago on Monday night, even as protesters against the war in Gaza churned a few blocks from the convention hall.

US President Joe Biden delivers the keynote address on the first day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on August 19, 2024. Vice President Kamala Harris will formally accept the party’s nomination for president at the DNC which runs from August 19-22 in Chicago. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Here are some takeaways from the first night of the convention.

A surprise Harris appearance to pay tribute to Biden

The vice president made an unscheduled appearance onstage to pay tribute to Biden ahead of his own address to the convention. She told the president, “Thank you for your historic leadership, for your lifetime of service to our nation, and for all you’ll continue to do.”

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during the Democratic National Convention Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

On a night meant to honor the president who stepped aside to make way for Harris, the vice president added, “We are forever grateful to you.” Her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and her husband, Doug Emhoff, were in the stands to cheer her message.

Harris, in her brief remarks, said that looking out on the crowd, “I see the beauty of our great nation,” stressing the importance of promoting diversity and embracing optimism.

Hillary Clinton revives talk of breaking that ‘glass ceiling’

Clinton was greeted with wild and sustained applause that lasted for more than two minutes before she quieted the crowd. She delivered a fiery speech hoping that Harris could do what she could not –- become the first woman president by beating Trump.

Clinton evoked her 2016 concession speech by referencing all the “cracks in the glass ceiling” that she and her voters had achieved. And she painted a vision of Harris “on the other side of that glass ceiling” taking the oath of office as president.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks during the Democratic National Convention Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

She closed her speech with a striking desire for someone who’s stood at the pinnacle of American politics and power: “I want my grandchildren and their grandchildren to know I was here at this moment. That we were here and that we were with Kamala Harris every step of the way.”

Clinton dipped into traditional political attacks in her speech, including mocking Trump’s criminal record. That led to chants of “lock him up” — mirroring the ones that Trump’s supporters directed at Clinton in 2016.

Tracing a line from Jesse Jackson to Kamala Harris

An early theme of the evening was celebrating the Rev. Jesse Jackson, a longtime civil rights leader in Chicago and former presidential candidate in 1984 and 1988. Many Democrats credit him with blazing a trail that helped Barack Obama win the White House in 2008 and Kamala Harris become the first woman of color nominated for the presidency.

Rev. Jesse Jackson gestures during the Democratic National Convention Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Jackson was saluted from the stage by several speakers, including Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and California Rep. Maxine Waters. There was a video montage of Jackson’s career and legacy that played before the 82-year-old Jackson himself came to the stage in a wheelchair, thrusting his arms skyward and grinning. Jackson has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

During the 1984 Democratic convention in San Francisco, Jackson gave a speech declaring that America is “like a quilt: Many patches, many pieces, many colors, many sizes, all woven and held together by a common thread.” The address became known as the “Rainbow Coalition” speech, and Jackson used momentum from it to seek the Democratic nomination again in 1988.

Harris has called Jackson “one of America’s greatest patriots.”

Remember COVID? Democrats don’t want voters — or Trump — to forget

Democrats opted to shine the convention spotlight on the harrowing subject of the coronavirus pandemic.

It was a reflection of Democratic frustration at how Trump has portrayed his tenure in office as a golden age for the country, even though hundreds of thousands of Americans died of COVID-19 during the last year of his term.

There are plenty of risks for Democrats in hammering the pandemic. Even more people died of the virus during Biden’s presidency than during Trump’s, voters have shown an eagerness to move on and some preventative measures championed by Democrats — like school closures and masking — are not popular in retrospect.

Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz laughs as he arrives at the Democratic National Convention Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Still, the lineup of early speakers focused on Trump’s performance during the pandemic. Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan recalled how her brother was the second person in Tennessee to die of the disease and how she couldn’t visit him or hold a memorial service. Rep. Lauren Underwood of Illinois, a nurse, said of Trump: “He took the COVID crisis and turned it into a catastrophe. We can never ever let him be our president again.”

Rep. Robert Garcia, whose mother and stepfather died of the disease in 2020, recalled Trump’s missteps and concluded with one of the slogans of Harris’ young campaign: “We are not going back.”

Democrats one-up Republicans on labor

Trump’s convention last month featured a rare appearance from a union leader at such a GOP event: Teamsters President Sean O’Brien. That’s reflective of how Trump’s populism has cut into Democrats’ advantage with union households.

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In that speech, O’Brien did not endorse Trump. But he criticized both major political parties for not doing enough to help working people.

Democrats didn’t invite O’Brien to their convention, but they countered with a half-dozen other union leaders onstage Monday. And then Shawn Fain, head of the United Auto Workers, led a blistering chant of “Trump’s a scab!” while wearing a red T-shirt emblazoned with those words.

Fain noted that Biden visited a UAW picket line last year and, when autoworkers struck in 2019, Harris, not Trump, walked the picket lines. “Donald Trump is all talk and Kamala Harris walks the walk,” Fain said.

West Boca football coach Dylan Potts watched from the sideline as his team warmed up at the beginning of its fall practice Aug. 5. With the start of the 2024 season less than three weeks away, he and every other Palm Beach County head coach hope to find success in the new season.

The Bulls finished 9-3 last season, tied for the most wins in school history, edging Atlantic 23-22 in the regional quarterfinals before falling to Coconut Creek. This year, Potts and West Boca, who had their first playoff berth in 10 years, are aiming even higher.

“The expectations are a lot higher,” he said. “This year we’re poised. It’s state championship or bust.”

While state championship dreams might be lofty for some coaches entering their third year, like Potts is, this year’s iteration of West Boca’s football team may have the talent for it. The Mallory cousins, Javian and Mason, seem primed for big years with the Bulls.

Both players already made names for themselves last season. Mason Mallory led the team with 25 passing touchdowns, while Javian Mallory scored 24 touchdowns, including three scores and 345 yards in a win over Blanche Ely. Both players accomplished the feats as sophomores, and enter their first season as upperclassmen ready to lead the West Boca offense.

Missing from West Boca’s roster is leading receiver Branden Hoch, who made the switch to St. Thomas Aquinas this offseason. But Potts believes his group has enough talent to find success even without Hoch’s services.

“I feel that’s one of our most improved groups, that wide receiver room,” he said.

West Boca Raton sophomore running back Javian Mallory scores on a 63-yard run in the first quarter of the Bulls’ 21-7 District 3M victory over visiting Blanche Ely on Thursday night. Mallory finished the game with both a career-best, and school record, 330 yards on 30 carries and three touchdowns, upping his season total to 23 TDs. (Gary Curreri/Contributor) Cardinal Newman: Over the regionals hump?

The Crusaders had a strong 2023 season, finishing the regular season schedule with just one loss and cruising past Benjamin in the first round of the playoffs. However, coach Jack Daniels and company ran into a buzzsaw in the regional final, falling to Chaminade-Madonna 40-0 en route to the Lions’ third straight state championship.

This year, the Crusaders, despite the transfer of four-star recruit Nae’shaun Montgomery to Miami Central, will look to advance further into the postseason. And they have talent to do so.

Returning to Cardinal Newman for his senior year is last season’s leading rusher, running back Jaylin Brown. He ran for 894 yards and eight touchdowns last season, and those figures could improve even more in 2024.

“It’s gonna really kick off our season, and we’ll see how our season could go,” Brown said.

Cardinal Newman running back Jaylin Brown reacts after a run against Benjamin during the first half on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023 in West Palm Beach. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Atlantic: Loaded offense with addition of Hoffmann?

Atlantic finished last season with a loss in the postseason to West Boca. Although the 13-7 loss was the lowest-scoring game for the Eagles all season, the rest of the 2023 slate showed Atlantic’s offensive prowess.

The Eagles averaged over 230 yards and 22 points per game. Those numbers could improve even more with addition of wide receiver Teddy Hoffmann from St. Andrew’s. The Appalachian State commit brought in 51 catches for 927 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. He’ll be catching passes from four-year starter Lincoln Graf, who just received his first offer from Atlantis University.

Atlantic coach Jamelle Murray is excited to see what his offense can do with the new passing attack of Graf and Hoffmann.

“A lot of new faces and a lot of talent,” Murray said. “That connection to Graf and Hoffmann has been rolling… it’s gonna give a defense a lot of trouble.”

Atlantic quarterback Lincoln Graf celebrates with teammates after a touchdown against Seminole Ridge during the first half on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023 in Loxahatchee. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Palm Beach Central: Best receiver duo in the country?

After finishing 10-3 and falling to Monarch in the playoffs, the Palm Beach Central Broncos are back and ready for a new season. They’ll have the privilege of being armed with possibly the best wide receiver duo in the country.

Four-star wideout and UCF commit Waden Charles is geared up for his second season with the Broncos after transferring in for 2023. He finished last season with 1,063 yards and nine touchdowns. With a year under his belt at Palm Beach Central, it’s not far-fetched to think those numbers could improve.

He’s joined by three-star Arkansas commit Kamare Williams. The senior put up 695 yards and six touchdowns through the air for the Broncos last season. Williams and Charles looks to once again give opposing defenses fits during the 2024 season.

“I think we have a great outlook for our year,” head coach Kevin Thompson said. “It’s cool to make it all the way to the regional title every year, but we’ve got to get over that hump and get to the next level.”

Palm Beach Central wide receiver Kamare Williams reacts after scoring a touchdown against Benjamin during the second half on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 in Wellington. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Benjamin: What’s in store after offseason losses?

The Buccaneers had a solid output last season, finishing 8-3 and bowing out to Cardinal Newman in the first round of the playoffs. This year, the question of how Benjamin can take the next step arises following key losses in the offseason.

Chauncey Bowens, the team’s leader in rushing yards and total touchdowns is at Georgia. Jacob Crosby-Mosley, receiving touchdowns and interceptions leader, is at Wake Forest. But coach Eric Kresser seems confident his team is up to the challenge and thinks there’s enough talent to step up for his team.

“Maybe people didn’t think about them being here last year,” he said. “We’re not really in that much of a different situation as last year.”

Senior quarterback Jayden Vega will be crucial for the Buccaneers offense in 2024. The Brown commit led the team with 19 passing touchdowns last season, and will likely be asked to produce even more on offense with fewer pieces around him.

Benjamin quarterback Jayden Vega throws against Palm Beach Central during the second half on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 in Wellington. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Across the state of Florida and the country, St. Thomas Aquinas has cemented itself as a football powerhouse.

No other team has been able to accomplish what coach Roger Harriott has with the Raiders, with the team’s record-setting five consecutive state championships setting the standard for every other program in Broward County and South Florida as a whole.

But the past is the past, and St. Thomas has its eyes set on winning a sixth straight title and writing more history this season, while other Broward teams focus on cementing their own legacies in-state and nationwide.

“Every single team has a different type of character,” Harriott said. “Although we have a great tradition and culture of excellence and representing championships, we realize that it takes a tremendous amount of work and dedication. This particular group takes it extremely personal.”

The mentality of taking things personally could stem from the lack of recognition the Raiders’ roster has received nationally thus far. The highest ranked recruit in Florida from St. Thomas, defensive back Tavius Horne, comes in at No. 99 on 247Sports’ recruitment rankings. The East Carolina commit is one of just eight St. Thomas players on the list.

Linebacker Travares Daniels and defensive lineman Richard Scott will join Horne as the trio of seniors leading the Raiders defense, joined by junior Super 11 selection Justice Fitzpatrick. On the offensive end, St. Thomas returns its starting quarterback, Andrew Indorf, and also should get a boost from the addition of West Boca transfer Branden Hoch. The junior wideout caught 22 passes for 485 yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore. The Raiders also boast a Super 11 selection at tackle in senior Caleb Harris.

While St. Thomas’ players may not be the most highly touted as individuals, the team as a collective still ranks 11th nationally. However, with a schedule featuring three national top-25 teams, the road to another state title will be far from easy.

Head Coach Roger Harriott celebrates after St. Thomas Aquinas defeats Homestead 31-28 for the 3M Football State Championship on Saturday, December 9, 2023 at Florida A&M’s Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, FL. (Glenn Beil/Contributor) Chaminade-Madonna: Still a powerhouse despite losses?

Chaminade-Madonna has been arguably as dominant as St. Thomas in recent seasons, and now rank higher than any South Florida team nationally headed into the 2024 season. The Lions sit at ninth in the national rankings and aren’t shying away from the challenge. They have the ninth-hardest schedule nationwide according to MaxPreps.

The Lions will have to deal with the loss of Cedrick Bailey, who will begin his college career at NC State this fall. The quarterback threw for over 3,000 yards and nearly 50 touchdowns as he led the team to its third straight title last season. They also lost No. 1-ranked recruit Jeremiah Smith to Ohio State.

“We’re starting over,” Lions coach Dameon Jones said. “These guys have to create their own identity moving forward.”

Jones’ group certainly has the talent to continue moving in the right direction. Expected to grab the lion’s share of the rushing attempts is senior Super 11 pick Derrek Cooper, while Jabari Brady, the fifth-ranked receiver in the class of 2026 and another Super 11 selection, will look to replace Smith as the team’s receiving leader. Penn State commit Koby Howard and Georgia State commit Kyle Washington, as well as top 2026 wideouts Denairius Gray and Jasen Lopez should set up a dangerous passing attack.

On defense, the Lions have senior Super 11s Donta Simpson, a defensive lineman, and defensive back Chris Ewald, who are both Miami Hurricanes commits.

Player, Derrek Cooper runs drill during football practice at Chaminade-Madonna Prep School in Hollywood on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) South Broward: Seeking success after a superstar’s graduation

Chris Wheatley-Humphrey led the Bulldogs to an 8-3 record, a 3-0 district record and a playoff berth on his way to being named the Broward County large-schools offensive player of the year. He is now enrolled at the University of Miami, and Bulldogs coach Charles McCrea will have to make up for the 2,076 yards Wheatley-Humphrey produced last year.

Even with the loss, McCrea believes his team is set up for a big year.

“Expectations are very high,” he said. “Hopefully we can make a pretty good run in the playoffs this year.”

Those high expectations could be warranted with a surplus of younger talent filling the South Broward locker room. Leading the pack is Jayden Johnson, who is the likely candidate to step in for Wheatley-Humphrey despite only entering his sophomore year.

As a freshman, Johnson rushed for 1,183 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. With more touches coming his way, the Bulldogs will look to ride Johnson’s production to an even deeper playoff run, as they did with Wheatley-Humphrey in 2023.

Senior tight end Sean Burke will also look to carve out a bigger role offensively after leading receiver Markal Roberson graduated in the spring. Burke caught 45 passes for 709 yards and a touchdown last season. He’ll be catching passes from senior quarterback Randy Phillips.

South Broward begins life after Chris Wheatley-Humphrey, with the star running back’s graduation and move to Miami. (Gary Curreri/Contributor) Western: A new QB, and a gauntlet of an early schedule

Western found success last year, falling in the regional finals against eventual state champion Columbus. But with the loss of Davi Belfort at quarterback, it’s hard to say if the Wildcats will be able to repeat last year’s performance.

Belfort finished last season with 2,598 yards and 20 touchdowns through the air. However, he’s now enrolled as a freshman at Virginia Tech.

The answer at quarterback now that Belfort is gone is Sebastian Circo, who is a transfer from Omaha, Nebraska. His challenge to begin the season is monumental. Western will take on St. Thomas Aquinas, Chaminade-Madonna and American Heritage in the first five weeks of the season.

“I don’t know if there’s a public school with a tougher schedule in America,” coach Adam Ratkevich said.

Western will rely on its defense, led by senior linebackers Martin Rhyne and Julian Mendez, to find continued success in 2024. The unit held opponents to just 10 points per game last season.

Michael Laughlin/South Florida Sun SentinelWestern coach Adam Ratkevich during a game against St. Thomas Aquinas (Michael Laughlin/South Florida Sun Sentinel).

General Daily Insight for August 20, 2024

Finding emotional equilibrium could be challenging now. When the compassionate Pisces Moon conjoins restrained Saturn at 10:45 pm EDT, we might try to channel our intense feelings toward a productive outlet. True, motivation must come from somewhere. That being said, as Luna goes on to square theatrical Jupiter, sometimes we just need to vent before we can focus on anything else. We should make an effort to avoid getting totally stuck at one extreme or the other — both approaches have their place.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

The gift of gab could be a complicated blessing for you at the moment. You’re likely to attract a lot of interesting conversations. And yet, as the intimate Moon in your 12th House of Secrets conflicts with gregarious Jupiter in your communication sector, you may be acutely aware of all the things you can’t say without consequences. Although it might be refreshing to have another take on some of this stuff, valid constraints exist. At least you can think it through on your own later.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

You may currently see the value in maintaining social relationships you’ve had for a long time. Stability and shared history are often good things to have. Still, perhaps you’ve changed lately, making it hard for you to fit into your old role. Maybe your financial status has shifted — or maybe you’ve just grown more confident. Is there room for the new you? A dramatic announcement of your developments might be too jarring, but see what slips out when you act as naturally as possible.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Your inner critic could be a force to contend with at this time. While part of you might be eager to embrace a more confident way of being in the world, you probably have a few inhibitions holding you back too. It’s easy to suspect that these negative messages are coming from other people in your life — and maybe some are. Still, consider the possibility that your internal set of checks and balances is trying to protect you. Take its questions seriously.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Approaching the world with a rigid attitude could give you a sense of comfort at present. As the sentimental Moon cuddles with strict Saturn in your 9th House of Beliefs, you might be emotionally attached to doing things by the book. Even if you’re aware that more freedom is available to you, pursuing it openly could be too intimidating. Only you know how much upheaval you’re personally prepared to handle. Try to acknowledge that others have the right to hold different priorities as well.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Finding comfortable boundaries in a developing relationship could require effort now. Maybe you’ll meet someone interesting in a big group setting and you’re eager to get to know them better. The dream of instantly connecting and being totally understood isn’t quite how it always goes in reality! Point being, if you experience some awkwardness at this step, that doesn’t have to be the end of the road. Don’t let your worries about what “should” be happening block you from living in the moment.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

You’re likely to realize that one of your current close relationships gives you the strength to achieve things you probably wouldn’t be capable of on your own. That doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you — it’s normal to have limits! It does mean that the other person’s needs and preferences will need to be taken into account as you plan your path forward. Although this may seem to slow you down, try to remember all the rewards your connection has brought you already.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Having a grand adventure on today’s schedule could be exciting. Still, the prep work necessary to make it happen might seem daunting. As the dreamy Moon in your 6th House of Responsibilities engages with exuberant Jupiter in your travel sector, looking forward to getting out can motivate you to push through it. Perhaps you’ll discover what it’s like to successfully avoid distractions like favorite websites and mobile apps — when you’ve got places to go, you can tell what’s really important!

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Putting a serious spin on pleasure could now be rewarding. As the perceptive Moon joins forces with melancholy Saturn in your playful 5th house, games don’t have to be frivolous — they can give you an opportunity to play out deep issues in a non-threatening way. You won’t necessarily be able to keep these insights to yourself, since whoever you’re playing with might see the same stuff you’re seeing and want to discuss it. As long as you’re open to that, go for it!

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Getting cozy might be appealing today. While the sensitive Moon unites with reliable Saturn in your nurturing 4th house, you deserve a break from the frenetic pace of activity all around you. Staying home and doing whatever you find most comfortable is probably the simplest way to calm down. Should you invite anyone else to join you? It depends on their vibe. A companion in a more adventurous mood would probably get frustrating, but someone who wants what you want could be fine!

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Watching what you say is critical today. As the emotional Moon conjoins focused Saturn in your 3rd House of Communication, perhaps you’re not in the mood to have a long conversation — you might have plenty of other tasks on your agenda. Even so, you may need to let someone else know about a serious situation. You don’t have to let your feelings drip all over every word. The facts alone should be enough to convey that you’re dealing with something significant.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Looking at what really makes you feel good could lead you to a surprising conclusion. When the comfort-craving Moon encounters disciplined Saturn in your 2nd House of Resources, you might realize that delayed gratification isn’t inevitably a cruel and unusual punishment. Knowing that you’re on track to meet a significant goal in the foreseeable future can help you resist the lure of lower-hanging fruit in the present. You’re not rejecting fun entirely — you’re throwing yourself wholeheartedly into the unique pleasure of anticipation.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Allowing others to think you’re stricter than you really intend to be might serve you well now. As the caring Moon in your sign provokes abundant Jupiter in your 4th House of Nourishment, you have room to permit a few exceptions to the rules if you determine that’s truly necessary. On the other hand, the process of making too many of those decisions can strain you mentally. Don’t act in a way that invites questions, but answer them honestly when they come to you.

MIAMI — Rookie Adrian Del Castillo hit his first career grand slam and drove in six runs to help the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Miami Marlins 9-6 on Monday night.

The Miami native homered for the third time since he was brought up from the minors on Aug. 6. Del Castillo, who played collegiately at the University of Miami, also hit a two-run single and had his first career stolen base. He is hitting .333 with 14 RBIs in nine games with Arizona.

“Just trying to keep having fun with these guys and have to keep winning for sure,” Del Castillo said.

According to STATS, Del Castillo is the third major league catcher to record at least six RBIs and a stolen base in a single game, joining Jerry Grote in 1981 and Johnny Bench in 1974.

Joc Pederson and Jake McCarthy also went deep for the Diamondbacks, who are a major league-best 29-13 since July 1 despite getting swept in a three-game series at Tampa Bay over the weekend.

Arizona starter Brandon Pfaadt allowed four runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings. Pfaadt (8-6) struck out four and walked two.

“Our stuff wasn’t as sharp as we expected,” Pfaadt said. “We got through it and got the team win. That’s all you can really ask for.”

On the second pitch of his at-bat against Adam Oller in the third inning, Del Castillo hit a drive that curved foul near the upper-deck stands in right field. Del Castillo then drove a 3-1 fastball over the wall in center for a 4-0 lead.

“That’s usually not a good thing — home run foul — they say strikeout comes after that,” Del Castillo said. “Definitely was not trying to strike out there. Just adjust my sights and thinking bigger part of the field on the next pitches.”

The Diamondbacks loaded the bases without a hit after Oller (0-1) plunked McCarthy and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and walked Pavin Smith.

Del Castillo said he lost count of the amount of his family and friends in attendance, but there was a noticeable ovation after his drive.

“He had an army of people here supporting him,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “We were with him in celebration. We needed every bit of his offensive support tonight.”

Nick Fortes homered in the third for Miami, but Pederson connected for a solo drive in the fifth for his 20th homer.

The Marlins chased Pfaadt on Connor Norby’s RBI fielder’s choice and Kyle Stowers’ run-scoring single that narrowed the deficit to 5-4. Kevin Ginkel relieved Pfaadt and induced a double-play grounder by Fortes, ending the threat.

Del Castillo singled home two more runs for Arizona in the seventh, and McCarthy added a two-run shot in the eighth.

“We’re about creating traffic, giving ourselves opportunities and having the right people in the right spot coming up and slug,” Lovullo said.

Oller gave up five runs and three hits in 4 2/3 innings. The 29-year-old Oller walked four, hit two batters and struck out two in his Marlins debut.

“Oller has good stuff, good breaking ball,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “They only got three hits off him. But when you give up six free passes, that will cost you at the big league level.”

Before the game, Arizona placed All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte on the 10-day injured list because of a sprained left ankle and recalled Smith from Triple-A Reno.

Miami recalled Norby from Triple-A Jacksonville and designated infielder Emmanuel Rivera for assignment.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Diamondbacks: 1B Christian Walker (strained left oblique) hit off the tee and soft toss. He also did some light running.

Marlins: LHP Josh Simpson (left elbow ulnar neuritis) is scheduled to move his rehab schedule to Triple-A this week after two appearances each in Single-A and Double-A.

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (1-0, 5.06 ERA) will start the second game of the series on Tuesday. RHP Edward Cabrera (2-4, 5.76 ERA) will go for the Marlins.

By WILL WEISSERT and ALI SWENSON

CHICAGO (AP) — Delegates at the Democratic National Convention voted Monday night to approve their 2024 party platform, which lays out familiar priorities for the party but wasn’t updated to reflect that President Joe Biden is no longer running for reelection.

The largely ceremonial vote at Chicago’s convention signaled the party coalescing around a singular vision for the next four years — though a somewhat outdated one, as Vice President Kamala Harris has only outlined a few of her own specific policy positions since she took over the Democratic presidential ticket last month. The platform makes repeated reference to Biden’s “second term” despite the president’s decision a month ago to no longer seek one.

The Democratic National Committee said the more than 90-page document “makes a strong statement about the historic work that President Biden and Vice President Harris have accomplished hand-in-hand, and offers a vision for a progressive agenda that we can build on as a nation and as a Party as we head into the next four years.”

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Regina Romero, the mayor of Tucson, Arizona, and co-chair of the convention platform committee, told delegates that the platform was passed “prior to the president passing the torch in an act of love and patriotism.” She said that the platform nonetheless included input from all corners of the party and has a “forward-looking vision for our party that echoes the voice of all.”

“Vice President Harris is now carrying the torch,” Romero said.

Mitch Landrieu, a former Biden senior adviser for infrastructure projects and another platform committee co-chair, said it “makes a strong statement about the historic work that President Biden and Vice President Harris have accomplished” while also representing ”a bold vision for our future.”

The platform was approved on the floor by a voice vote.

The convention’s platform committee voted to approve the platform on July 16, days before Biden bowed out of the race and endorsed Harris on July 21. As a result, the document repeatedly refers to Biden’s second term and his administration’s accomplishments. It mentions Harris’ work as vice president but does not describe her candidacy or go into detail on her views on key issues.

“President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Democrats are running to finish the job,” it states, a sentiment that is now out of date.

Republican former President Donald Trump’s campaign has sought to tie Harris to Biden, arguing that his policies on the economy and other key issues are deeply unpopular. In a statement released shortly before the convention vote, it said, “There is no daylight between Kamala Harris and Joe Biden. The proof? The DNC just released Kamala’s party platform, and it includes at least (asterisk)nineteen(asterisk) mentions of ‘Biden’s second term.’”

Harris has indeed talked generally about supporting the Biden administration’s key goals, which are more or less endorsed in the platform as written. It calls for restoring abortion rights nationwide, continuing to advance green energy initiatives that can create jobs and help slow climate change, capping low-income families’ child care costs and urging Congress to approve a pathway to U.S. citizenship for “long-term” people in the country illegally.

The platform also says Israel’s right to defend itself is “ironclad” while endorsing the Biden administration’s efforts to broker a lasting cease-fire deal that could suspend the fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Harris laid out a string of new economic proposals last week but otherwise hasn’t released a detailed list of her policy positions since taking over the top of the Democratic ticket. Her campaign aides have suggested she no longer adheres to some of the more liberal positions she took during her first run for president in 2020, including endorsing a ban on hydraulic fracturing.

In any event, candidates are not bound to adhere to their party’s platform and often don’t. What the platforms spell out usually has little effect on the race and is unlikely to have much impact on Election Day this cycle.

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