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Today in History: August 18, 19th Amendment gives women the vote
Today is Sunday, Aug. 18, the 231st day of 2024. There are 135 days left in the year.
Today in history:On Aug. 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, guaranteeing American women’s right to vote, was ratified as Tennessee became the 36th state to approve it.
Also on this date:In 1590, John White, the governor of the Roanoke Island colony (in present-day North Carolina), returned to Roanoke after nearly three years abroad only to find the settlement deserted; the fate of the “Lost Colony” remains a mystery.
In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson issued his Proclamation of Neutrality, aimed at keeping the United States out of World War I.
In 1958 , Vladimir Nabokov’s novel Lolita was published in the United States.
In 1963, James Meredith became the first Black student to graduate from the University of Mississippi.
In 1969, the Woodstock Music and Art Fair in Bethel, New York, wound to a close after three nights with a mid-morning set by Jimi Hendrix.
In 1983, Hurricane Alicia slammed into the Texas coast, leaving 21 dead and causing more than a billion dollars’ worth of damage.
In 2004, in Athens, Paul Hamm (hahm) won the men’s gymnastics all-around Olympic gold medal by the closest margin ever in the event; controversy followed after it was discovered a scoring error cost Yang Tae-young of South Korea the title.
In 2005, a judge in Wichita, Kansas, sentenced BTK serial killer Dennis Rader to 10 consecutive life terms, the maximum the law would allow.
In 2014, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon ordered the National Guard to Ferguson, a suburb of St. Louis convulsed by protests over the fatal shooting of a Black 18-year-old, Michael Brown.
Today’s Birthdays:- Actor-director Robert Redford is 88.
- Actor Carole Bouquet is 67.
- Actor Denis Leary is 67.
- Actor Madeleine Stowe is 66.
- ABC News reporter Bob Woodruff is 63.
- Actor Edward Norton is 55.
- Actor Christian Slater is 55.
- Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner is 54.
- Actor Kaitlin Olson is 49.
- Actor-comedian Andy Samberg is 46.
- Artist-model Frances Bean Cobain is 32.
- Actor-singer Maia Mitchell is 31.
- Actor Madelaine Petsch is 30.
- Olympic gold medal swimmer Summer McIntosh is 18.
Dolphins Deep Dive: Chris Perkins and David Furones break down Tua, Miami’s preseason win over Commanders | VIDEO
In this Dolphins Deep Dive video, the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Chris Perkins and David Furones discuss who stood out and who struggled during Miami’s preseason victory over the Washington Commanders and other observations from the game.
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Mental energy has the risk of becoming a little too much today. When communication planet Mercury, still retrograde, crosses wires with unstable Uranus, things that should be simple may not be. The blazing Sun then conjoins Mercury at 9:58 pm EDT, adding a sense of urgency. In spite of any frustrations, we could come up with a few genuinely intelligent ideas. The thoughtful Aquarius Moon harmonizes with confident Jupiter, encouraging us to maintain a positive attitude. Sometimes creativity comes with its share of chaos!
AriesMarch 21 – April 19
Spending big on having a good time might be hard to resist today. As the vital Sun meets verbal Mercury in your 5th House of Pleasure, you’re equipped to identify and articulate your desires — there’s no vague sense of unease troubling you! In terms of deciding what to do about these longings, your inhibitions are probably lower than usual. This may disrupt some of your financial plans, but perhaps a reasonable bit of upheaval will be worth it in the end.
TaurusApril 20 – May 20
Figuring out what really works for you could be a challenge now. Your family or other loved ones might expect you to join them in their elaborate plans for the day. However, as whirring Mercury in your domestic zone overwhelms independent Uranus in your sign, you may sense resistance brewing within you. If you feel uncomfortable, step back for a minute and dig deeper into that sensation. You probably don’t need to abandon the whole agenda — look for reasonable adjustments.
GeminiMay 21 – June 20
Keeping small talk light could be difficult for you at present. You’re likely to find it easy to strike up conversations with the people around you — they might even come to you first! As chatty Mercury in your 3rd House of Communication stirs up quirky Uranus in your private 12th house, you’ll potentially let out some of the weirder thoughts you’ve been chewing on lately. There’s no guarantee that your audience will agree with your take, but at least no one will be bored!
CancerJune 21 – July 22
Getting to the bottom of a recent or ongoing financial matter will require focus. You’re capable of understanding a complicated problem if you go through it piece by piece. Although asking others for advice might be tempting, that has the potential to send you on a very wild goose chase. Someone who doesn’t quite understand what you’re trying to do may nonetheless be very confident about their predictions and recommendations. As long as you can clearly hear your own thoughts, you’re probably golden.
LeoJuly 23 – August 22
Deciding how to present yourself to the world could call for some thought today. Perhaps you’re ready for a significant change. In that case, as the dynamic Sun and detail-oriented Mercury unite in your 1st House of Identity, you’ll need to identify all the pieces necessary for a successful shift. Maybe it’s not as simple as just setting up a new social media handle, for example — you might have to update business cards and other paperwork too. It’s tedious, but probably worth the trouble!
VirgoAugust 23 – September 22
Learning new information could be stressing you out more than you realize at this time. You may be genuinely interested in studying a topic that’s very different from anything you’ve been involved with before. Even so, as the vibrant Sun conjoins frenetic Mercury in your anxious 12th house, it’ll potentially require lots of effort to figure out how these fresh findings mesh with your previous knowledge. Some answers won’t come quickly, but there’s no shame in taking a break if you need one.
LibraSeptember 23 – October 22
Having an active social life could be stimulating for you now. Once an exciting group activity gets going, however, it’ll be increasingly tough to tell where to draw the line. Releasing the burden of a personal secret you’ve been holding inside may be tempting. It might also seem like a good way to build your bond with new friends quickly. You can’t necessarily control what will happen next if you go this route, though. Do your best to give things time to unfold naturally.
ScorpioOctober 23 – November 21
Seeing your goals more clearly may be possible now. That said, this knowledge might come to you through a disappointing experience. While calculating Mercury in your ambitious 10th house clashes with unpredictable Uranus in your relationship zone, a collaborator you were relying on could let you down. Although this is potentially inconvenient in the short term, perhaps you already had some sense you were drifting apart. Learn from whatever went wrong, and use that to figure out what you’d rather have going forward.
SagittariusNovember 22 – December 21
You may currently be interested in improving your health. As the illuminating Sun joins forces with inquisitive Mercury in your research sector, learning from the experiences of others makes a lot of sense. Some might have more education and training than you do, and that’s certainly worth taking into consideration. Even so, no one is infallible. If whatever you’re being told doesn’t mesh with your experience living in your body, you don’t have to defer to it. You know a few things too!
CapricornDecember 22 – January 19
A relationship could be too close for comfort at the moment. As the intense Sun meets anxious Mercury in your 8th House of Intimacy, you and your companion might spend a lot of time talking out your issues, yet fail to get very far. Maybe the real problem stems from unrealistic assumptions — you may be expecting each other to meet certain needs that individuals can only truly address for themselves. Take some space to do your own things before deciding where you stand.
AquariusJanuary 20 – February 18
Receiving reassurance from a loved one may currently seem like an urgent priority. Unfortunately, the way you doggedly pursue the issue might be pushing them further away. You can’t really control what anyone else does. Even if you could, that wouldn’t automatically calm you down! While nervous Mercury in your partnership zone aggravates chaotic Uranus in your security sector, you’re potentially focusing on the other person because that seems easier than dealing with your internal issues. For the time being, look within.
PiscesFebruary 19 – March 20
An especially efficient approach to errands is on the table. As the energetic Sun conjoins busy Mercury in your 6th House of Responsibilities, you likely have an accurate view of what needs to be done in your sphere. Some tasks might involve leaving your home and taking short trips within your city. Planning the best route can be seriously satisfying! Still, try to keep a flexible attitude if you encounter an unexpected detour. Good surprises could be just around every corner.
Hurricanes land commitment from local four-star Bryce Fitzgerald
The Miami Hurricanes landed their second commitment in as many days on Saturday night.
Four-star defensive back Bryce Fitzgerald committed to Miami, announcing his choice on social media.
Fitzgerald, a star at Miami Columbus High (UM coach Mario Cristobal’s alma mater), chose the Hurricanes over Florida, Florida State, LSU and USC.
Fitzgerald is listed as the No. 12 safety and No. 130 player in the 2025 class by 247Sports’ composite rankings.
The Explorers standout had 10 interceptions last season as Columbus won the Class 4M state title.
The local star has been to Miami several times, taking several unofficial visits over the past two years and taking an official visit to UM in June.
Miami has five other defensive backs committed in the 2025 class, including several other South Florida stars. UM has pledges from four-stars Hylton Stubbs, Jaboree Antoine, Amari Wallace (Miami Central High) and Chris Ewald Jr. (Chaminade-Madonna High), and three-star Timothy Merritt.
Hyde5: Tua’s strong opening drive, Thompson looks like backup — five thoughts on Dolphins’ preseason game
Five thoughts on the Miami Dolphins’ preseason night against the Washington Commanders:
1. You couldn’t ask for a better opening drive for the Dolphins’ starting offense behind quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. There was no Tyreek Hill or Jaylen Waddle. But this offense still checked plenty of boxes:
A. The first play was a signature quick strike from Tagovailoa to River Cracraft on the left side for 13 yards. Timing? Anticipation? Accuracy? All what you’d expect after watching this offense work last year;
B. The second play went 5 yards to tight end Jonnu Smith, a sampling of what was to come at the position with the most chance for improvement on this offense. Smith then took basically an end-around — officially a pass — for 9 yards. Then Julian Hill for 8 yards on second-and-10. No big plays. But you see signs of an expanding offense to involve the tight end;
C. Some short-yardage work. Raheem Mostert couldn’t get a third-and-1 up the middle on the first try. He got 2 yards and the first down on fourth down. A few plays later, on third-an-2, Mostert gained 1 up the middle. The short-yardage offense was a problem last season. You saw some good, some bad this night. But it got work;
D. After Mostert was held on third-and-2, Tua lofted a perfect, pretty-as-you-please touchdown pass to Cracraft, who had made a nice move for a 13-yard touchdown.
So, in an 11-play, 61-yard drive that took six minutes and 31 seconds, the Dolphins got some good work and good production. That was enough, too, as Tua and the first team left the night. He completed all five passes for 51 yards on the drive.
2. Skylar Thompson came on the second drive and led the second team on a nine-play, 46-yard drive for a field goal. It’s clear for all the talk of an even competition with Mike White that Thompson has the edge here. You don’t waste these reps. Thompson started the first preseason game. He played into the third quarter on Saturday, 8-of-15 passes for 61 yards this second game with a 63.5 rating. White, meanwhile, threw a perfect pass to Erik Ezukanma late in the third quarter for a nice 35-yard again. He later hit Ezukanma for a 24-yard gain. Not sure how White can win with this group, but it’s Thompson’s job behind Tua now.
3. The education of first-round pick Chop Robinson continued with some good, some bad on the night. The threat of his edge-rushing speed drew a false start from Washington tackle Andrew Wylie. He made good tackle on a Washington rush behind the line of scrimmage. But he also missed a tackle for a 11-yard Washington run followed by quarterback Jayden Daniels running by Robinson on an unset edge for 13 yards. No surprise here. Robinson has speed. He also has to learn the importance of the stopping the run. The education continues.
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4. Quick hits:
* Linebacker David Long Jr., Cracraft, running back Chris Brooks, offensive lineman Chris Harlow and cornerback Cam Smith suffered injuries serious enough to be pulled from the game;
* There were some ups and downs for Smith before he went off early in the fourth quarter holding a hamstring after being involved in punt coverage. The 2023 second-round pick is trying to establish a role in the secondary. Terry McLaurin beat him for an 8-yard catch, followed by McLaurin gaining 20 yards after eluding Smith on a catch. Hey, McLaurin is one of the league’s top receivers. Later, against veteran Olamide Zaccheaus, Smith played it perfectly to bat away a pass in the end zone. But now he appears to have a hamstring issue so we’ll see.
* Fifth-round pick Mo Kamara made a strong upfield move and sack of Washington backup QB Jeff Driskel;
* Yes, that was former Dolphins’ first-round pick Noah Igbinoghene making a nice tackle for Washington in the third quarter;
* Let’s slow the fascination on rookie tackle Patrick Paul. You see the talent. You also see the inconsistency at this level. He looks like a scholarship pick. Work hard. Learn more. And, if all goes well, check back next season.
5. Washington rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels had a nice night against the Dolphins defense. Read another way: The Dolphins secondary held out three starters, so let’s not blow a fuse here. Still, Daniels looked good in completing 10-of-12 passes for 78 yards. He led two field-goal drives where the field goals were missed. Caleb Williams, the top pick in the draft by Chicago, showed his talent earlier Saturday against Buffalo. Daniel did as well. Both should have impact. After that — who knows?
Show Caption1 of 18ExpandChris Perkins: Observations from Dolphins-Commanders; Tua is nearly perfect, offense shows toughness
MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was nearly perfect Saturday night in his preseason debut against the Washington Commanders as the offense showed some of that toughness the team has been talking about throughout training camp.
It was a good start for Miami, which took a 10-6 halftime lead in its second preseason game of the year on the way to a 13-6 victory.
The Dolphins were aided by two missed first-half field goals by Washington, but things were still looking pretty good for Miami offensively to start the game while the defense might have some wrinkles to iron out.
Here are some of the takeaways from Saturday:
Tua has nice debutTagovailoa was sharp in his only possession against Washington, going 5 for 5 for 51 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions and a 148.8 passer rating (a perfect rating is 158.3).
On first down, Tagovailoa rifled an accurate 13-yard pass to wide receiver River Cracraft.
Tagovailoa showed comfort in the pocket as the Dolphins used a balanced offensive attack to drive down the field for an 11-play, 61-yard touchdown drive.
Quarterback Skylar Thompson came in for Miami’s second possession.
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Among those players who weren’t in uniform Saturday: WR Tyreek Hill, LT Terron Armstead, C Aaron Brewer, TE Jody Fortson Jr., TE Tanner Conner, RB Jeff Wilson Jr., RB Salvon Ahmed, RB Jaylen Wright, WR Jaylen Waddle, WR Anthony Schwartz, DT Benito Jones, Edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, LB Anthony Walker Jr., CB Ethan Bonner, S Jevon Holland and S Jordan Poyer.
Smith comes in for nickel packageCornerback Cam Smith, the 2023 second-round pick who is still looking to establish a role, entered the game for the nickel defense, playing right cornerback. Kader Kohou, who started at right cornerback opposite cornerback Kendall Fuller, moved to the slot.
Smith, who has had an understated training camp, was the closest defender on a 20-yard reception to Washington wide receiver Terry McLaurin when he missed a tackle after the short reception. Smith came back late in the second quarter with a nice pass breakup on a deep pass. He later left the game with an apparent leg injury.
Dolphins make tough, aggressive offensive callsThe Dolphins’ first possession saw them run the ball on third-and-1, fourth-and-1, second-and-1, and third-and-2.
Those were aggressive, tough calls; the type of calls you’d like to see continue if the Dolphins, as they say, want to be tougher this season.
On the third-and-1, running back Raheem Mostert (five carries, seven yards) went up the middle and was denied.
On the fourth-and-1, coach Mike McDaniel called another run and this time Mostert got the first down by going up the middle again and this time he got the first down following the blocks of center Liam Eichenberg and left guard Robert Jones.
It was nice to see aggressive football from an offense regarded as a finesse unit.
Allen, Payne, Newton don’t play; Dolphins interior OL misses big testThe Dolphins’ interior offensive line didn’t get the test Saturday that many thought they’d get, or needed, because Commanders defensive tackles Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne and Jer’Zhan Newton, basically the main interior players, didn’t play.
Allen and Payne had pretty good success during Thursday’s joint practice working against a Miami interior offensive line that mainly consisted of Eichenberg, right guard Lester Cotton and Jones.
The Dolphins’ interior offensive line was OK on run plays in Thursday’s joint practice but struggled in pass protection.
Dolphins’ pass rush has room for growthThe Dolphins started edge rushers Emmanuel Ogbah and Quinton Bell, and while they weren’t bad, they also weren’t noticeable.
Edge rushers Chop Robinson, the first-round pick, Mohamed Kamara, the fifth-round pick, and Wyatt Ray, the newly-signed former St. Thomas Aquinas High player, rotated in for pass rush duties later in the game.
Cracraft goes locker room after TDCracraft (two receptions, 29 yards) went to the locker room after his 13-yard touchdown reception. Cracraft, who had a 16-yard reception on the first play of the game, might have been the best wide receiver to play considering Hill and Waddle didn’t.
Wide receiver Braxton Berrios played along with wide receivers Malik Washington, Braylon Sanders, Willie Snead IV and Mike Harley.
There was no word on Cracraft’s ailment.
Linebacker David Long Jr. also left the game after going down following a tackle. Trainers came out to look at Long but he walked off the field on his own.
Show Caption1 of 18Expand Thompson gets first look againThompson entered the game after Tagovailoa, meaning Thompson, who has probably had a better training camp than Mike White, last season’s No. 2 quarterback, got to play with the top backups for the second consecutive game.
Thompson started 7 of 14 for 64 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions and a 62.8 passer rating.
Needham at backup slot, probably on 53-man rosterDefensive back Nik Needham got the nod at backup slot after Kohou left the game. Needham, who also plays special teams, will most likely make the 53-man regular-season roster.
Nothing is guaranteed for Needham, and the secondary remains crowded among starters Ramsey, Fuller, Holland, Poyer and Kohou. The prime backups are likely safeties Elijah Campbell and Marcus Maye at safeties and Needham at nickel.
The backup cornerback jobs are still up for grabs after Smith.
Cornerback Siran Neal is almost certainly on the 53-man roster because of his special teams duties.
Those in contention for the other backup cornerback jobs include Storm Duck, Bonner, Isaiah Johnson and Jason Maitre.
Rookie review … they did OK, not greatThe 2024 draft class had a good outing last week vs. Atlanta, but their performance leveled off a bit Saturday.
Robinson, was so-so in limited action. He had two tackles, one for a loss.
Patrick Paul, the second-round pick, was also so-so, the lowlight being he got beaten badly on a pass rush and allowed a strip sack to White on a play that got guard Sean Harlow injured when White was thrown into Harlow’s knee on the sack.
Running back Jaylen Wright, the fourth-round pick, didn’t play. No reason was given but it’s likely injury-related.
Kamara, the fifth-round pick, had two tackles, one for a loss.
Safety Patrick McMorris, the sixth-round pick who tied for the team high with eight tackles last week, was active.
Wide receiver Malik Washington, the sixth-round pick who electrified with his punt returns and a reception last week, was relatively quiet with one receptions for four yards, one kickoff return for 20 yards and three punt returns for 35 yards.
Interior DL does better than edge rushersThe interior defensive line, which was led by Zach Seiler and Calais Campbell, but also included Isaiah Mack, Brandon Pili, Neville Gallimore and Leonard Payne, had a good showing.
In fact, the interior defensive line played better than the edge rushers, which included Ogbah, Bell, Robinson and Kamara.
Mack, Gallimore and Pili produced three of Miami’s four sacks. The remaining sack was split between linebacker Channing Tindall and safety Mark Perry.
Mack ended with two tackles while Gallimore and Pili had one apiece.
Among edge rushers Robinson, Bell and Kamara had two tackles apiece while Ogbah had one.
White puts together respectable outingWhite started rough but finished well, going 11 of 20 for 116 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions and a 72.1 passer rating.
White again played with lots of newcomers and guys who likely won’t make the 53-man roster. It showed.
White was sacked three times and faced pressure numerous other times. He also had to battle through at least two holding calls by wide receivers.
Still, he made some good throws and moved the offense reasonably well.
You’d think White will get the start in Friday’s preseason finale at Tampa Bay.
Perry has nice showingPerry, the undrafted rookie safety from TCU, had four tackles, and interception and a half sack. Perry lost a fumble on the interception return but he still turned in a strong night.
Perry is on the outside for a spot on the 53-man roster but the practice squad is very realistic as a fallback option.
Dolphins’ Tua throws touchdown in lone series of preseason win vs. Commanders
MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa got his preseason start, and even without his top three wide receivers, he led a touchdown drive Saturday night.
The Dolphins starter faced fourth-and-1 from the Washington Commanders’ 13-yard line, and with the defense stacking up against the run, Tagovailoa floated a perfect pass on a fade route to the back corner of the end zone to wide receiver River Cracraft for the touchdown.
In leading the 11-play, 61-yard scoring drive, the touchdown pass capped a 5-for-5 series for 51 yards for Tagovailoa in his first preseason action in 2024.
“I was happy that we were able to operate together,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said of the lone series Tagovailoa led. “For the most part, I thought we played to our standard, which I was pumped about.”
Said Tagovailoa: “Jitters will always be there going into the first series, first plays, but other than that, we executed the way we wanted to.”
The Dolphins beat the Commanders, 13-6, in the exhibition at Hard Rock Stadium.
Tagovailoa started quickly, immediately finding Cracraft on a slant for 16 yards. His next completion went to new tight end Jonnu Smith, and after running back Raheem Mostert’s first carry, the Dolphins were swiftly put into their first short-yardage situation, which has been a predicament in coach Mike McDaniel’s first two years at the helm in Miami.
Mostert was stuffed on an initial third-and-1 rush up the middle, but he picked up the necessary yardage on fourth-and-1 to extend the series.
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Next time the Miami offense was in a fourth-and-1, McDaniel let Tagovailoa go to the air and find Cracraft for the touchdown.
McDaniel and Tagovailoa then showed the creative ways in which they can get the ball to their new tight end, having him come around the line in the backfield to take a quick forward flip pass to Smith that went for 9 yards.
“I was feeling pretty good about the offensive line. I probably would’ve run the ball the second time,” the Dolphins coach said, “but I kind of figured that it would be Tua’s last play because it was such a long drive.
“I wanted to give him the opportunity to make a play, and I thought that was a good time for him to take control and put the ball where it needed to go.”
“Mike just trusted us that we’d get it done,” Tagovailoa said. “Very proud of River.”
The opening Miami drive also came against a Commanders defense that was sitting out half its starters, specifically in the defensive front, on the line and at linebacker.
The first backup quarterback to come in after Tagovailoa was Skylar Thompson, who also started the preseason opener against the Atlanta Falcons last week. Thompson went 8 of 15 for 61 yards before Mike White replaced him in the middle of the third quarter.
Thompson delivered a throw to the end zone to Braxton Berrios in the second quarter that appeared to be barely deflected by Commanders safety Percy Butler, altering the trajectory of the ball as it ricocheted off Berrios’ shoulder pad.
Dolphins rookie first-round pick, edge defender Chop Robinson, made a huge tackle for loss blowing up a handoff immediately as it occurred deep into the second half.
On the same series, fellow edge rusher and fifth-round pick Mohamed Kamara picked up a sack against Commanders backup quarterback Jeff Driskel.
Dolphins second-year cornerback Cam Smith, although not starting as Kendall Fuller and Kader Kohou were the first cornerbacks on the field, then entered in the nickel package.
He was on the boundary and gave up a pair of catches to standout Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin. On one, he missed a tackle after the short completion to give up a 20-yard play.
Smith later redeemed himself in the second quarter, with a pass breakup in deep single coverage against Washington’s Olamide Zaccheaus. Smith exited in the fourth quarter covering a punt, limping off the field and holding the back of his right leg.
Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, the No. 2 pick of the past draft, was 10 of 12 in two drives, compiling 78 yards. He got into field goal range both times, with Washington kicker Riley Patterson only converting one of those two kicks on a 2-for-4 night.
In the third quarter, second-year running back Chris Brooks exploded for a 59-yard scamper that was opened up by a Jack Driscoll block at the line of scrimmage. Brooks took another carry on the very next play and went down, taking a hard hit as he slipped to the turf. Without any other active running backs after Mostert and Achane called it a night, Je’Quan Burton, the undrafted wide receiver out of FAU, went in at running back.
Deeper into the third period, second-year nose tackle Brandon Pili, who got a start Saturday, picked up a sack. On the preceding play, undrafted rookie cornerback Storm Duck broke up a pass deep over the middle.
Defensive tackle Neville Gallimore also registered a sack deep in the third, after an initial pressure from former St. Thomas Aquinas outside linebacker Wyatt Ray. Linebacker Channing Tindall had a fourth-quarter sack.
Once White was in the game, he delivered a deep pass for 35 yards down the right sideline to Erik Ezukanma. The third-year wide receiver and 2022 fourth-round pick also had a gain of 6 earlier on a play where he started left, broke a tackle behind the line of scrimmage and made something out of nothing flipping fields to the right.
White was stripped on a blindside sack that rookie left tackle Patrick Paul allowed. Washington’s Jamin Davis beat Paul on an outside-in move to force the fumble that the Commanders recovered.
White went 11 of 20 for 116 yards. Ezukanma had five catches for 65 yards to lead Miami.
The Dolphins created a takeaway in the fourth quarter with undrafted rookie safety Jordan Colbert forcing a fumble and sixth-round rookie safety Patrick McMorris recovering it.
Safety Mark Perry had an interception that would’ve completed the exhibition deep in the final period, but instead of going down with the ball, he tried to return it and lost a fumble. The Miami defense then got the final stop on a pass that went through a receiver’s hands at the goal line.
Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders converted field goals of 39 and 33 yards but missed from 49.
After his early touchdown, Cracraft went into the locker room with trainers.
Linebacker David Long Jr. was also injured in the first quarter, appearing to have his left hand/wrist checked out.
Show Caption1 of 18ExpandSeverino throws shutout, Mets get homers from Lindor and Alonso in win over Marlins
By CHARLES O’BRIEN
NEW YORK — Luis Severino pitched a four-hitter for his second career shutout, and the New York Mets got home runs from Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso in a 4-0 victory Saturday over the Miami Marlins.
After losing his previous three starts, Severino (8-6) was in complete control against the last-place Marlins on a rainy afternoon at Citi Field. He struck out eight and walked one in the first shutout by a Mets starter since Jacob deGrom blanked Washington in April 2021.
“It was amazing,” Severino said. “That was really fun to go out and compete for this fan base.”
Severino’s only other complete game in the majors was a five-hit shutout for the New York Yankees at Houston in May 2018.
The right-hander plunked Jake Burger with his first pitch of the ninth inning, bringing a visit from manager Carlos Mendoza. But after a discussion on the mound, Mendoza left Severino in the game to loud cheers from the crowd of 34,744.
He retired the next three batters and finished with a flourish, screaming and pumping his fist after striking out Derek Hill to end it with his 113th pitch — most by a member of the Mets this season.
“Special feeling,” Mendoza said. “The crowd was behind him. Special day.”
Mendoza spent five seasons with Severino as a coach for the Yankees and has known the right-hander since he was a teenager.
“I’m proud of him because it hasn’t been easy,” Mendoza said. “I knew he was staring at me, and I know that once he stares at me like that, he wants one more. It was an easy decision for me.”
Severino threw three pitches in the third inning and four in the sixth, becoming the first pitcher in at least 25 years with two innings that lasted four pitches or fewer.
“I feel really good,” he said. “I feel healthy. I haven’t felt like that in a little bit.”
New York won consecutive games for just the second time this month. The Mets began the day a game behind Atlanta for the final National League wild card.
Lindor drove the seventh pitch from Miami starter Max Meyer (3-3) to right-center for his second leadoff homer this year and the 20th of his career. Alonso homered leading off the second and the Mets scored once in each of the first four innings for the first time since May 1995 against San Francisco.
With his 100th home run at Citi Field, Alonso joined Darryl Strawberry and Mike Piazza as the only Mets with 100 or more homers in Queens.
Brandon Nimmo tripled in the third and scored when Jesse Winker delivered a two-out RBI single on his 31st birthday. Lindor walked with two outs in the fourth and scored on Mark Vientos’ double.
Severino was helped when the Marlins ran themselves into an unusual double play in the third.
“They practiced that before BP,” Severino joked about his infielders.
Miami has dropped six of eight.
Meyer allowed four runs and six hits in four innings. He has a 7.99 ERA in 23 1/3 innings since being recalled from the minors on July 27.
“He’s still developing,” Miami manager Skip Schumaker said. “This is really his first full year at this level so he’s still trying to figure some stuff out as well.”
WEB GEM
Nimmo tracked down Kyle Stowers’ sinking liner in the seventh, making a sliding catch in left field. Severino stood with his hands in the air, acknowledging the grab, and remained near the mound until Nimmo reached him so he could say something directly to the outfielder.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mets: OF Starling Marte (right knee bone bruise) remains on track to be activated from the injured list Sunday. Mendoza said there’s a good chance Marte will be in the lineup. … Rookie RHP Christian Scott (elbow) continues to play catch at 90 feet.
Marlins: RHP Sandy Alcántara (elbow) threw his seventh bullpen as he recovers from 2023 Tommy John surgery. He hopes to progress to throwing batting practice soon.
UP NEXT
Miami RHP Valente Bellozo (2-1, 2.28 ERA) makes his sixth major league start when he faces RHP Paul Blackburn (5-3, 4.43) in the series finale Sunday.
UF practice report: WR Eugene Wilson III brings added speed for Gators’ 2nd scrimmage
GAINESVILLE — Two weeks from Florida’s Aug. 31 opener against Miami, the Gators took the field at the Swamp for their second scrimmage of fall camp.
The Gators’ 14th practice in 18 days provided coaches a final look at players in a game-like setting as they fine-tune their craft, position battles heat up and decisions loom.
Coach Billy Napier said this past week he noticed during last Saturday’s scrimmage the Gators has progressed as a program relative to scrimmages during his first two fall camps in Gainesville.
“It was just much more intense, much faster, more physical, less loafs, the film’s cleaner,” he said. “We’re just deeper.”
Florida head coach Billy Napier is wrapped up the third week of Gators’ fall camp Aug. 17 in Gainesville. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Napier will meet with reporters Monday to discuss whether the Gators maintained positive trajectory.
More than 200 people, including family, former players and donors of Florida Victorious, spread out in the stadium’s southwest corner and south end zone to watch the scrimmage.
UF provided an 18-minute window for reporters to observe warm-ups and some individual drills.
Top takeaway: Wisconsin transfer receiver Chimere Dike said new teammate Eugene “Tre” Wilson III possesses a gear you don’t see every day — if ever.
Wilson is ready to leave defenders in the dust. The 5-foot-10, 183-pound sophomore has the letters “YAC” — yards after catch — bracketed by exclamation points and written on white tape covering his lumbar pad. Other players sport a Gator head logo on the pad to protect their lower back.
Florida wide receiver Eugene Wilson III (3) catches a touchdown pass as Missouri defensive back Joseph Charleston (28) defends during the Gators’ last-second 33-31 loss Nov. 18, 2023, in Columbia. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)“I’ve been around some special dudes, but when you get a special athlete like Tre, they’re unique,” Dike said Aug. 9. “The thing that I’ve never been around is his ability to accelerate. I’ve never seen that before.
“It’s incredible — honestly.”
Wilson clearly aims to improve on his average of 8.82 yards on 61 receptions in 2023.
Step forward: Florida offensive lineman Bryce Lovett returned to full contact after wearing a black non-contact jersey for several practices. Coaches and teammates are high on the 6-foot-5, 317-pound redshirt freshman who can play every position on the line.
Defensive tackle Joey Slackman returned to the field after missing two practices to rehabilitate a minor injury. 247Sports reported it was a knee ailment, and that he did not scrimmage.
The 6-foot-3 ½, 300-pound Slackman was the 2023 Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year at Penn and is a potential starter, but he also has an injury history. This includes a knee injury in 2020.
UF cornerback Devin Moore is expected to be a Gators’ starter but has been limited to 12 games, including seven in 2023, by injuries. (UF’s University Athletic Association Communications/Mallory Peak)Step back: Florida cornerback Devin Moore was not on the field during the viewing period as defensive backs warmed up.
Moore wore a non-contact jersey Friday, a cause for concern for a likely starter who has appeared in just 12 games. On Aug. 7, Napier said Moore wore a black jersey a day earlier because he had an abscess on a tonsil.
A junior from Naples, Moore appeared poised for a breakout season after a productive offseason. The 6-foot-2 ¾ Moore is listed at 197 pounds and is noticeably thicker.
“He made a significant change in his body,” said senior four-year starting cornerback Jason Marshall Jr..
Wilson has high hopes for Moore.
“I expect him to go first round this year,” said Wilson, whose father was an NFL defensive back for eight seasons. “Every rep I take against him, I look at him as a future NFL player.”
University of Florida quarterback DJ Lagway is pictured during practice on the UF campus in Gainesville on Tuesday, August 13, 2024.(Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Given Moore’s history, his future could hinge on whether he can get on the field.
Trainer’s room: Beside Moore, safety Bryce Thornton continued to wear a black jersey. Joining them was nickel back Aaron Gates and tight end Tony Livingston, though like Thornton each participated in individual drills. Wearing a non-contact jersey, tailback Montrell Johnson Jr. did not participate in drills.
Florida fifth-year senior receiver Ja’Quavion Fraziars was on crutches for the second straight day. 247Sports reported the 6-3 ½, 218-pound Fraziars suffered a non-contact lower-body injury on Wednesday.
A week after suffering a broken ankle during the team’s first scrimmage, defensive tackle Jamari Lyons was in the Swamp on crutches and his left lower leg heavily wrapped.
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
Severino throws shutout and Mets get homers from Lindor and Alonso in 4-0 win over Marlins
By CHARLES O’BRIEN
NEW YORK (AP) — Luis Severino pitched a four-hitter for his second career shutout, and the New York Mets got home runs from Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso in a 4-0 victory Saturday over the Miami Marlins.
After losing his previous three starts, Severino (8-6) was in complete control against the last-place Marlins on a rainy afternoon at Citi Field. He struck out eight and walked one in the first shutout by a Mets starter since Jacob deGrom blanked Washington in April 2021.
Severino’s only other complete game in the majors was a five-hit shutout for the New York Yankees at Houston in May 2018.
The right-hander plunked Jake Burger with his first pitch of the ninth inning, bringing a visit from manager Carlos Mendoza. But after a discussion on the mound, Mendoza left Severino in the game to loud cheers from the crowd of 34,744.
He retired the next three batters and finished with a flourish, screaming and pumping his fist after striking out Derek Hill to end it with his 113th pitch — most by a member of the Mets this season.
New York won consecutive games for just the second time this month. The Mets began the day a game behind Atlanta for the final National League wild card.
Lindor drove the sixth pitch from Miami starter Max Meyer (3-3) to right-center for his second leadoff homer this year and the 20th of his career. Alonso homered leading off the second and the Mets scored once in each of the first four innings for the first time since May 26, 1995, against San Francisco.
Brandon Nimmo tripled in the third and scored when Jesse Winker delivered a two-out RBI single on his 31st birthday. Lindor walked with two outs in the fourth and scored on Mark Vientos’ double.
Severino was helped when the Marlins ran themselves into an unusual double play in the third. Miami has dropped six of eight.
Meyer allowed four runs and six hits in four innings. He has a 7.99 ERA in 23 1/3 innings since being recalled from the minors on July 27.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Today in History: August 17, Clinton admits to Lewinsky affair
Today is Saturday, Aug. 17, the 230th day of 2024. There are 136 days left in the year.
Today in history:On August 17, 1998, President Bill Clinton gave grand jury testimony via closed-circuit television from the White House concerning his relationship with Monica Lewinsky; he then delivered a TV address in which he admitted his relationship with Lewinsky was “wrong” but denied previously committing perjury (Clinton was subsequently impeached by the House of Representatives, but acquitted in the Senate).
Also on this date:In 1807, Robert Fulton’s North River Steamboat made its first voyage, heading up the Hudson River on a successful round trip between New York City and Albany.
In 1863, federal batteries and ships began bombarding Fort Sumter in Charleston harbor during the Civil War, but the Confederates managed to hold on despite several days of shelling.
In 1915, a mob in Cobb County, Georgia, lynched Jewish businessman Leo Frank, 31, whose death sentence for the murder of 13-year-old Mary Phagan had been commuted to life imprisonment. (Frank, who’d maintained his innocence, was pardoned by the state of Georgia in 1986.)
In 1945, Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta proclaimed independence for Indonesia, setting off the Indonesian National Revolution against Dutch rule.
In 1945, the George Orwell novel “Animal Farm,” an allegorical satire of Soviet Communism, was first published in London by Martin Secker & Warburg.
In 1959, trumpeter Miles Davis released “Kind of Blue,” regarded as one of the most influential jazz albums of all time.
In 1978, the first successful trans-Atlantic balloon flight ended as Maxie Anderson, Ben Abruzzo and Larry Newman landed their Double Eagle II outside Paris.
In 1988, Pakistani President Mohammad Zia ul-Haq and U.S. Ambassador Arnold Raphel (RAY’-fehl) were killed in a mysterious plane crash.
In 1999, more than 17,000 people were killed when a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the Kocaeli Province of Turkey.
Today’s Birthdays:- Computer scientist Margaret Hamilton is 88.
- Actor Robert DeNiro is 81.
- Businessman Larry Ellison is 80.
- Film director Martha Coolidge is 78.
- Filmmaker/author Julian Fellowes is 75.
- Tennis Hall of Famer Guillermo Vilas is 72.
- Singer Belinda Carlisle is 66.
- Author Jonathan Franzen is 65.
- Actor Sean Penn is 64.
- Singer/actor Donnie Wahlberg is 55.
- College Basketball Hall of Famer and retired NBA All-Star Christian Laettner is 55.
- Rapper Posdnuos (PAHS’-deh-noos) (De La Soul) is 55.
- Tennis Hall of Famer Jim Courier is 54.
- Soccer great Thierry Henry is 47.
- Rock climber Alex Honnold is 39.
- Actor Austin Butler is 33.
- Singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers is 30.
Daily Horoscope for August 17, 2024
We’re currently equipped to find out what works on a practical level, but dealing with all the egos involved might be another story. While the earthy Capricorn Moon trines clever Uranus, we can identify useful opportunities for change lurking right in front of us. Even so, once the Moon shifts into idealistic Aquarius at 5:45 pm EDT, enacting improvements could step on a few toes. As Luna conjoins manipulative Pluto, grievances may not be what they seem. We should avoid getting sucked into unnecessary drama.
AriesMarch 21 – April 19
Listening to your soul’s wisdom could be key at the moment. You likely have a strong intuitive sense concerning the best way to use the resources available to you. However, you’re better off not talking about this too openly. When the impressionable Moon encounters domineering Pluto in your 11th House of Community, you might be easily swayed by others’ opinions regarding your choices. Whatever you hear may not be objectively wrong, but it’s not necessarily right for you. Don’t open the door to doubt.
TaurusApril 20 – May 20
Exploring intellectual frontiers could have its challenges at this time. You’re probably totally interested in whatever you’re learning. Still, you might be ahead of the curve in terms of what the people around are ready for. Once the sentimental Moon meets pushy Pluto in your authority zone, you may be tempted to wield emotional arguments as leverage to get others on your side. Unfortunately, this approach is likely to breed resentment. It’s hard to be a pioneer, but maybe you’ll receive your due eventually!
GeminiMay 21 – June 20
Throwing your curiosity into the hidden side of life could be rewarding now. It also has the potential to be unsettling. As the passionate Moon drifts toward profound Pluto in your 9th House of Beliefs, you might realize that a recent finding of yours contradicts the way you thought the world was supposed to work. Don’t blame the messenger — if an idea you’ve held for a long time simply isn’t true, getting upset with whoever told you that won’t change the outcome.
CancerJune 21 – July 22
The flow of social activity could be especially stimulating for you today. As you put yourself out there beyond your usual circle, you might find someone you’d like to get to know better one-on-one. While the connection-craving Moon unites with intense Pluto in your 8th House of Intimacy, a close emotional encounter is possible (as long as you’re both up for it). Don’t throw caution to the wind entirely — stay in touch with your intuition to make sure you’re comfortable.
LeoJuly 23 – August 22
Figuring out a sustainable path to a major goal of yours is presently possible. Although your project might have some unusual qualities that tend to grab attention, what you need to deal with now is the boring side. Committing to a schedule, or at least regular deadlines, may be useful. If a charismatic potential collaborator starts spouting off about a quicker and easier way to succeed, they’re probably not the helper you want. Stay grounded in reality, even when it’s not glamorous.
VirgoAugust 23 – September 22
Your beliefs regarding pleasure and duty have the unfortunate potential to increase your anxiety. While the spontaneous Moon in your playful 5th house aligns with rebellious Uranus in your adventure sector, you might genuinely enjoy an opportunity to do something outside your typical routine. Be careful, because once the fun ends, you could wind up all the more worried about your piled-up responsibilities. Some of these tasks may not be as urgent as you think, so try to keep a realistic lens.
LibraSeptember 23 – October 22
You may currently have an especially keen eye for shaping an arrangement that allows you to share space with others peacefully. As the intuitive Moon in your grounded 4th house supports innovative Uranus in your collaboration zone, you’re equipped to identify what people truly need. You can also think outside the box to help them get it. That said, even the best compromise possible is still a compromise. After you solve all the world’s problems, do something fun that’s just for you!
ScorpioOctober 23 – November 21
Figuring out what you really need in a relationship could be particularly challenging. While the perceptive Moon in your communication zone eggs on independent Uranus in your partnership sector, you might tell the other person what you think they want to hear — of course, you’re totally happy to give them all the freedom they desire! In reality, part of you may crave more security. Instead of attempting to manipulate them into giving it to you, be honest about your potentially conflicting preferences.
SagittariusNovember 22 – December 21
Your practical side is sharp in more ways than one today. While the attentive Moon in your 2nd House of Resources complements creative Uranus in your responsible 6th house, you’re capable of accurately assessing your current financial status and figuring out what you need to do to fill any glaring gaps. Still, this isn’t necessarily a fun problem to solve. If you must talk to others about it, make an effort to avoid taking out your resentment on them — that probably won’t help.
CapricornDecember 22 – January 19
Asserting your independence could be tempting today. You probably won’t face a lot of resistance — and that might be a little disconcerting. Perhaps you were secretly hoping for someone to make a critical comment so that you’d be able to blame them for shooting down your idea! Instead, it’s simply between you and your ability to support your ideas. Admitting you’re short of money or time can be disappointing, but at least it will give you a specific goal to work toward.
AquariusJanuary 20 – February 18
Coming on strong is likely today. While the tempestuous Moon and transformative Pluto join forces in your sign, you can present a powerful case for any cause dear to your heart. You’d be wise to use this opportunity as intentionally as possible. You wouldn’t want to squander it on a petty frustration that doesn’t really matter to you, which could easily happen if this intense energy doesn’t otherwise have an outlet! Take the time to figure out what’s truly worth fighting for.
PiscesFebruary 19 – March 20
An exciting piece of intel from your social network could be just around the corner! Deciding what to do with it might be the hard part once the intimate Moon shifts into your 12th House of Secrets. There’s clearly something interesting going on, but it may be obvious that you don’t have the whole story yet. Before you rush to compare notes with others, stop and think for a while about why you’re drawn to this. That should let you focus your search.
Mets pile up six runs in fourth inning to vault past Marlins
By JERRY BEACH
NEW YORK (AP) — Brandon Nimmo broke out of his slump with a three-run homer and Jeff McNeil launched a two-run shot, powering the New York Mets to a 7-3 win over the Miami Marlins on Friday night.
McNeil and Nimmo both went deep in a six-run fourth that included an RBI triple by Francisco Lindor. Sean Manaea (9-5) pitched seven effective innings for his third victory in four starts.
Nimmo’s 390-foot line drive into the second deck in right field ended an 0-for-17 skid and was his first home run since July 10. The 31-year-old outfielder, who missed Thursday’s 7-6 loss to Oakland with a stomach virus, hit just .139 (15 for 108) with four extra-base hits and 37 strikeouts between homers.
The shot capped a six-run outburst for the Mets, who began the day two games behind Atlanta for the third NL wild card. McNeil connected for a go-ahead homer and Lindor delivered an RBI triple earlier in the inning against starter Roddery Muñoz (2-7).
Jesse Winker also singled in the fourth for the Mets, who hadn’t hit for the cycle in an inning since July 6, 2023, against Arizona.
“It’s just tough to come back after that six-run fourth,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said.
J.D. Martinez opened the scoring for the Mets on Fireworks Night at Citi Field with a first-inning RBI single.
Manaea, who allowed three runs, has lasted seven innings in three of his last four starts after doing so just twice in his first 20 starts.
Derek Hill had an RBI double for the Marlins, and Jake Burger stayed hot with a fifth-inning homer. Burger has seven homers while hitting .438 during an eight-game hitting streak and has 15 long balls in his past 107 at-bats (a home run every 7.13 at-bats).
“Burger’s on a heater,” Schumaker said. “Just an incredible run that he’s on.”
Muñoz gave up five runs (four earned) in 3 1/3 innings. He allowed just one run over 11 innings in his first two starts against the Mets.
TRAINER’S ROOMMarlins: C Nick Fortes (right quad) was activated from the 10-day injured list but didn’t play. C Jhonny Perada was optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville. … RHP Anthony Bender (shoulder impingement) was placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday, retroactive to Monday. Manager Skip Schumaker said he was hopeful Bender could return as soon as he’s eligible. To replace Bender on the roster, RHP Emmanuel Ramírez was recalled from Jacksonville.
Mets: OF Starling Marte (right knee) went 0 for 3 with a sacrifice fly while playing nine innings for a second straight game at Triple-A Syracuse. Marte is scheduled to return to New York on Saturday and could be activated as soon as Sunday. … RHP Dedniel Núñez (right pronator strain) threw 20 pitches of live batting practice and could begin a rehab assignment early next week.
UP NEXTThe three-game series continues Saturday, when Marlins RHP Max Meyer (3-2, 5.20 ERA) is scheduled to pitch against RHP Luis Severino (7-6, 4.17).
Broward schools safety chief resigns, days after metal detector chaos
Jaime Alberti resigned Friday as chief of safety and security for Broward schools, four days after a troubled rollout of high school metal detectors created chaos on the first day of school.
Alberti, 53, wrote in a letter of resignation to Superintendent Howard Hepburn that his last day will be Nov. 4, although he will use accrued leave time until then, district spokesman John Sullivan told the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
“Thank you for the support and opportunities provided to me at Broward County Public Schools and I wish everyone continued success,” Alberti wrote.
Hepburn said in a Friday afternoon email to School Board members that he was assigning district administrator Ernie Lozano to temporarily handle Alberti’s duties.
“A national search will be conducted to fill the position. I thank Chief Alberti for his service to BCPS,” Hepburn wrote.
Lozano, who has served as a principal and a director overseeing behavioral threat assessments for students, was appointed in June to lead a new district professional standards department. The new department was created to replace the employee investigation function of the Broward Schools Police Department, formerly known as the Special Investigative Unit.
Alberti couldn’t be reached for comment Friday night. Sullivan wouldn’t say whether Alberti’s departure was related to the district’s troubled metal detector implementation.
“All I can say is Mr. Alberti submitted his resignation to Dr. Hepburn, and he accepted it,” Sullivan said.
Alberti initially had proposed phasing in metal detectors at different schools over a two-year period, but School Board members decided in the spring they’d prefer the devices be available for all high school students at or near the start of the school year.
The district piloted the devices in two schools over the summer without incident, but on Monday, the first day of school for the fall semester, they created major logjams as students constantly set them off with their binders, water bottles, tablets and eyelash curlers. Many students waited in packed lines for more than an hour, and by 8:30 a.m., 50 minutes after the first bell rang, the district scrapped metal detectors for the day and let everyone in.
Alberti told the Sun Sentinel on Monday afternoon he expected the process to get smoother.
“We’re improving our processes. Look at TSA. It took them almost two years to get the process right,” he said Monday. “We’re going to make some adjustments overnight, and we’ll look to recalibrate.
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“This is training for our staff, students and parents. We’re taking the journey together,” Alberti continued. “We’re not looking back. We’re looking forward to make sure every school is as safe as it can be.”
On Tuesday morning, the lines were much shorter, after the district adjusted the sensitivity settings on the devices and placed more security staff on campus to remind students which items to take out of their bags.
But there were more problems reported on Friday, as rainy conditions caused some schools to suspend the use of walk-through detectors.
“At those schools, we are conducting the screening of randomly selected classrooms with metal-detecting devices to continue ensuring the safety and security of everyone on campus,” Sullivan said in an email Friday morning.
Alberti took over as safety and security chief in May 2022, having been recruited by then-Superintendent Vickie Cartwright. He had served the prior six years as a police commander for the Orange County School District, where Cartwright had previously worked as an administrator.
As part of his duties, Alberti supervised the Broward district’s police department, which has faced criticism over the past year. In October, a police detective arrested a longtime volunteer for reasons a consultant said were unwarranted. More recently, three police detectives posed in uniform for photos announcing their union’s endorsement of School Board candidates.
Alberti’s future with the district first looked uncertain in December, when then-Superintendent Peter Licata proposed a major expansion of the district’s police department, with a newly recruited police chief to oversee a 370-member department. Under that model, district police would have replaced the school resource officers that are now supplied by city police departments and the Broward Sheriff’s Office.
The School Board rejected that proposal in January. Then in June, Hepburn shrunk the district’s police department, moving employee investigations into the new professional standards department overseen by Lozano.
Alberti is the latest in a string of high-profile resignations in the district in 2024. Since March, the district has lost its superintendent, its chief strategy and innovation officer, the police chief, the chief facilities officer, the chief information officer, the chief financial officer and the deputy superintendent for operations.
Hepburn, who started in April, addressed the high turnover in a recent interview with the Sun Sentinel.
“I can’t speak for the people that have left, but in any organization when there’s new leadership that comes in, there’s some level of uncertainty that may cause people to make different decisions and take advantage of different opportunities,” he said.
He said the district has lost leaders who “contributed greatly” to the district, but “it’s also an opportunity to bring in better talent, a different type of talent.”
Sasse stepped down. Donors and top officials say he was forced out.
Former UF President Ben Sasse stepped down unexpectedly in July, citing concerns about his wife’s health. But nine current and former administrators and top donors say there was more to the story.
After 17 months on the job, his working relationship with the UF Board of Trustees chairman, Morteza “Mori” Hosseini, became untenable, they say. Hosseini, a strong-willed top political appointee of Gov. Ron DeSantis and a developer, has served as head of the school’s board of trustees since 2018.
Out of public view, tensions escalated to a breaking point between Hosseini and Sasse, the former Republican U.S. senator from Nebraska who had started a process to overhaul Florida’s flagship public university.
Specifically, Hosseini sought to impose restrictions on Sasse’s communications and outreach with the governor’s office, Florida’s higher education oversight agency and the Legislature — where Sasse’s popularity was strong and growing. The new rule would require all those communications be routed through Hosseini, said one administrator, describing what Sasse had personally confided to this person.
Sasse also asked Hosseini for latitude to deal with the worsening health condition of his wife, Melissa, and Hosseini said no, because the university’s presidency required his full attention, this administrator said.
The situation was made to look like a voluntary resignation and friendly departure, one former administrator said.
Behind the scenesOne day after the Board of Trustees met by phone July 18 to accept Sasse’s surprise resignation, Sasse publicly announced he was leaving effective July 31 with a note on X, formerly Twitter. He said that Melissa Sasse, who suffered a stroke in 2007, had been diagnosed with epilepsy and was suffering from new memory issues.
The administrators and donors confirmed that Melissa Sasse’s health concerns were genuine and had worsened. Melissa Sasse, who is 55, was deeply involved in homeschooling the couple’s three children, including two who are now college aged, and she was forced to stop with their youngest son, Breck, 13.
All the administrators and donors spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive collision of interests involving the most powerful officials at Florida’s flagship public university. The donors are among those who have given millions to the university and enjoy close relationships and regular briefings with top UF officials.
Hosseini and Sasse, through a university spokesman, Steve Orlando, disputed that personal conflicts led to Sasse’s resignation. In a statement, Orlando said, “those claims are completely unfounded,” and Orlando said any insiders discussing with journalists what happened should do so on the record, by name.
The other 12 trustees have declined to discuss the matter or did not return the Alligator’s messages.
Minutes from the 19-minute board phone call on July 18, which was convened so quickly that no journalist monitored it, showed that Sasse cited his wife’s health as his reason for stepping down, and that Hosseini and other trustees “applauded him for putting his family first and extended prayers to him and his family.” All the trustees were on the call except James W. Heavener, who had an excused absence. The board later said no one recorded the call.
“Gator Nation needs a president who can keep charging hard, Melissa deserves a husband who can pull his weight, and my kids need a dad who can be home many more nights,” Sasse wrote the next evening on social media.
Sensitivity surrounding reasons behind the hasty departure of the university president implicates the search for the next one, if the perception were that a seasoned politician like Sasse was unable to successfully navigate the politics of higher education in Florida. The trustees will be responsible for attracting top-caliber applicants in the next search, which was expected to continue into 2025.
Sasse’s spending scandalSince Sasse’s resignation, he has since faced bipartisan scrutiny after The Alligator first reported Monday that he had tripled his office’s spending — a majority of which was for lucrative consulting contracts and high-paid, remote positions for GOP allies.
He spent $17.3 million in his first year in office. The figure was far higher than the $5.6 million in spending during the final year of the previous president, Kent Fuchs, who has agreed to return as interim president through 2025.
In a new statement Friday, Sasse disputed reports of any inappropriate spending but acknowledged there have been spending increases by his office.
“Now, it is true that there was substantial funding for a number of important new initiatives,” Sasse wrote. “I am very happy to defend each and every one of these initiatives…”
This week, the DeSantis administration urged the Board of Governors, which oversees Florida’s public universities, to conduct an audit of what the state’s chief financial officer, Jimmy Patronis, called “reports of UF’s exorbitant spending by Ben Sasse’s office.” Patronis, a member of the governor’s Florida Cabinet, said his agency specializes in investigating fraud, waste and abuse, and would offer support in such an audit.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) who represents the congressional district in Florida’s Panhandle, called it “this widening Ben Sasse scandal” and said DeSantis wants no part of it.
Florida attorney John Morgan, a leading Democratic fundraiser who graduated from UF’s law school, said he gave the university $1 million but would cease donating until he was reassured with the results of an investigation.’
“I won’t give one penny more until an investigation is completed to tell us how this happened and most importantly, is it criminal?” he said on social media. “Makes donors like me feel stupid. Every donor, past and future, need to be interested in this gross grifting.”
The aftermathSasse has indicated he intends to become a president emeritus and continue to teach college classes at the Hamilton Center, the university’s new, GOP-mandated civic program devoted to research and teaching about Western civilization and the principles of a free society. Those plans — and the issue of how much of his $1 million base salary he would continue to be paid — are subject to approval by the trustees, including Hosseini.
Sasse had other disagreements with Hosseini during his tenure, the administrators and donors said. Hosseini is sensitive to the university’s national rankings in higher education and believes a prestigious ranking helps attract donors and research grants.
Sasse has openly disdained the importance of rankings, such as those in U.S. News & World Report. He has said each ranking organization’s methodology can change suddenly, affecting a school’s arbitrary score.
Florida fell one position last year to No. 6 among public universities in the U.S. News rankings, even as it climbed one spot to No. 28 in the magazine’s rankings of top public and private universities overall. The Wall Street Journal last year scored UF as the No. 1 public university in the country and No. 15 among all universities. UF touted it by hanging No. 1 banners across campus, despite what Sasse said he felt about rankings.
Sasse also has drawn private criticism from administrators and donors over perceptions that he was insufficiently attentive to seven- and eight-figure donors to the university. At least two multi-million-dollar donors said Sasse did not return their email messages or accept meeting invitations.
Sasse was a controversial selection whose hiring in November 2022 came after a search process shielded from public view under a new state law. He started the job in Gainesville in February 2023 after he resigned from the U.S. Senate. Sasse had been president for four years until 2014 at tiny Midland University in Fremont, Nebraska, a far cry from UF’s sprawling statewide footprint, more than 58,000 students and $1 billion in research.
The presidential search happened secretly under a new Florida law intended to encourage applicants who can be considered confidentially until they are finalists for the job. Sasse’s political positions — including his opposition to abortion rights and same-sex marriages — were troubling to some students and faculty on campus in one of Florida’s most progressive cities. He was the only finalist.
Early in his tenure, Sasse commissioned a $4.7 million report from a consulting firm, McKinsey & Company, to help him develop a strategic plan for the university, which included expanding non-traditional teaching that wouldn’t require students to meet regularly inside classrooms in Gainesville, increasing interdisciplinary work across the university’s colleges and eliminating what he described as unproductive professors.
Sasse also spent $2.5 million in other consulting expenses, the Alligator reported. Sasse spent some of the $17.3 million on high-salaried, remote positions for Sasse’s former U.S. Senate staff and Republican officials.
They included James Wegmann, Sasse’s former Senate spokesman, who was paid $432,000 and allowed to continue living in Washington D.C. to become UF’s vice president of communications, and Raymond Sass, Sasse’s former chief of staff, who was paid $396,000 and also allowed to continue living in Maryland for a newly created role, UF’s vice president for innovation and partnerships.
The university has declined to clarify whether all Sasse’s appointees remained working at the university.
Citing what it said were “questionable financial choices and the lack of transparency,” the university’s faculty union this week said it was asking the Board of Trustees for an audit of spending in Sasse’s office.
“Accountability for public money is the very least that Florida students, parents, and citizens should demand from a BoT that was responsible for the coronation of Ben Sasse after a secretive, unilateral, and apparently whimsical and capricious selection process,” the union’s president, Meera Sitharam, said in a statement.
Garrett Shanley contributed to this report.
This story was produced by the Independent Florida Alligator, a student-led newsroom financially independent from the University of Florida. Vivienne Serret can be reached at vserret@alligator.org. To support the Alligator, you can donate here.
Hurricanes flip defensive lineman Mykah Newton from ACC rival
The Hurricanes flipped a standout defensive end from ACC rival N.C. State on Friday night.
Three-star defensive lineman Mykah Newton flipped from the Wolfpack to the Hurricanes, announcing his decision on social media.
“A dream come true,” Newton wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Newton, a 6-foot-2 and 255-pound defensive end from Newberry, also held offers from UCF and Michigan State, among others. He is listed as the No. 63 defensive end and No. 822 player in the 2025 class in 247Sports’ composite rankings.
Newton, who visited UM at the end of July, had 62 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 13 sacks and three forced fumbles in his junior year.
The Hurricanes plan to move Newton from the edge to defensive tackle, a source told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. The coaching staff likes his motor, his ability to stop the run, his pass rushing, his academics and his ability to gain size, the source said.
Miami has two other defensive linemen committed in their class: four-star defensive end Herbert Scroggins and three-star interior lineman Donta Simpson.
THE UUUUUUUU!!
Pharmacist blamed for deaths in US meningitis outbreak will plead no contest in Michigan case
By ED WHITE
DETROIT (AP) — A Massachusetts pharmacist charged with murder in the deaths of 11 Michigan residents from a 2012 U.S. meningitis outbreak has agreed to plead no contest to involuntary manslaughter, according to an email sent to families and obtained Friday by The Associated Press.
The deal with Glenn Chin calls for a 7 1/2-year prison sentence, with credit for his current longer sentence for federal crimes, Johanna Delp of the state attorney general’s office said in the email.
She said Chin will appear in Livingston County court next Thursday. A trial planned for November will be scratched.
Michigan is the only state to charge Chin and Barry Cadden, an executive at the New England Compounding Center in Framingham, Massachusetts, for deaths related to the outbreak.
More than 700 people in 20 states were sickened with fungal meningitis or other debilitating illnesses, and dozens died as a result of tainted steroids shipped to pain clinics, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The laboratory’s “clean room,” where steroids were prepared, was rife with mold, insects and cracks, investigators said. Chin supervised production.
He is currently serving a 10 1/2-year federal sentence for racketeering, fraud and other crimes connected to the outbreak, following a 2017 trial in Boston. Because of the credit for his federal sentence, Chin is unlikely to serve additional time in Michigan’s custody.
“I am truly sorry that this ever occurred,” Chin, now 56, said in the Boston court.
A phone message and emails seeking comment from Chin’s attorney weren’t immediately returned Friday.
Cadden, 57, pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter in Michigan earlier this year and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Second-degree murder charges were dropped.
Cadden’s state sentence is running at the same time as his 14 1/2-year federal sentence, and he has been getting credit for time in custody since 2018.
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Follow Ed White at https://twitter.com/edwritez
Dirt track racer Scott Bloomquist, known for winning and swagger, dies in plane crash
By BEN FINLEY
Scott Bloomquist, a dirt track race car driver who was known for his bravado and for being one of the sport’s best, died Friday in a plane crash on his family’s farm in Mooresburg, Tennessee, friends and local officials said.
Bloomquist, 60, stood out with his long hair and a race car that was emblazoned with the number zero and a skull and crossbones. He was also known for winning.
Jerry Caldwell, president and manager of Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee, said Friday that Bloomquist was “arguably the greatest dirt late model racer in the sport’s history.”
In another tribute, fellow racer Tony Stewart said Bloomquist was “probably the smartest guy I’ve ever been around when it comes to dirt racing.”
“What he could do behind the wheel of a racecar was matched by the ingenuity he put into building his racecars,” Stewart wrote on social media. “He was a force on the track and off, with a personality as big as his list of accomplishments.”
The plane that Bloomquist was flying crashed into a barn, and the remains of its sole occupant are believed to be that of Bloomquist, the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. The National Transportation Safety Board said in its own statement that it is coordinating with the Federal Aviation Administration to investigate the crash of the Piper J3C-65.
Reid Millard, a fellow race car driver and a funeral home director in Missouri, stated on Facebook that Bloomquist’s mother asked him to announce the death. “Along with Scott’s daughter Ariel his parents his sister and along with all of you who knew and loved Scott – you are in our hearts and prayers,” Millard wrote.
In dirt-track racing, drivers have to steer right for the car to go left. Going through turns, the front left tire comes off the track and the left rear tire provides traction.
The cars weigh about 2,300 pounds and supply 800-plus horsepower. At Eldora Speedway, the Ohio racetrack owned by Stewart, the cars reach top speeds of about 150 mph.
The vehicles have two-speed transmissions and no windshields, only short plastic shields to protect drivers from rocks. It can be a rough, contact sport.
“Rubbing is racing,” said Gerald Newton, president of the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame, in a phone interview with The Associated Press. “It’s door to door. You’re slinging it sideways and slinging dirt.”
Bloomquist was in the 2002 class of the hall of fame. Newton said Bloomquist was like an older brother to him and had known the racer for nearly 40 years. He also designed Bloomquist’s official merchandize as senior vice president at Arizona Sport Shirts.
Bloomquist was born in Iowa and later lived in California, where his father worked as an airline pilot, Newton said. The family wanted to move east and purchased the farm in Tennessee.
Newtown said Bloomquist got into racing through a car that his father bought but soon lost interest in, passing it along to his son.
“He would do work for people, make a little bit of money to buy a tire, go win a race,” Newton said. “He’d take that money, reinvest in the team. The rest is history.”
Besides winning, Bloomquist became known for being cocky and kind of a bad boy, Newton said. His persona was somewhat built around the skull that was painted inside the zero on his race car.
In the year 2000, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote Bloomquist “looks like Tom Cruise, drives like Dale Earnhardt and speaks out like Darrell Waltrip.”
Waltrip was a NASCAR driver who aggravated his competitors by beating them on the track and then running his mouth out of the car.
“He always told me it’s not boasting or bragging if it’s fact and you can back it up,” Newton said of Bloomquist. “And he did.”
Newtown said Bloomquist’s accolades “will never be exceeded.”
“The world has lost a great racer, a great friend, a great dad,” Newton said. “And heaven has gained a great angel.”
Like a lot of drivers in the sport, Bloomquist suffered various injuries over the years. But he was still racing and planned to compete in next month’s World 100 at Eldora Speedway.
“He still felt like he could win a race,” Newton said.
Lies, damn lies and Donald Trump | Editorial
Donald Trump may have set an unenviable world record during his recent Mar-a- Lago news conference. National Public Radio documented 162 untruths, half-truths and distortions during the 64 minutes he spoke.
Among them was his insistence that he had once shared a harrowing helicopter ride with Willie Brown, former House speaker in California. Brown said it never happened. Trump’s actual companion in the 1990 incident was another California politician, Nate Holden, who remembers it well, and who resembles Brown only in that both are Black.
“But, as they say, we all look the same,” Holden remarked sarcastically.
If the question is whether Trump lied deliberately, maybe it’s appropriate to give him some benefit of the doubt. An aging mind can easily conflate memories. Moreover, his public remarks, often nonsensical, increasingly suggest serious cognitive issues.
He’s not all thereThe torrent of falsehoods should trouble even Trump’s most devoted admirers. It’s the future of the world as well as of the nation that they would submit to someone who doesn’t seem to be all there.
One important issue Trump failed to mention or misrepresent that day had to with his knowledge of Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation’s 922-page blueprint for transforming America into a far-right paradise.
Trump has persistently denied knowing how it came to be and posted on social media last month, “Have no idea who is in charge of it.”
The Washington Post has reported on a 45-minute flight Trump took in April 2022 with Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts. The article came with a photograph taken on the flight to a Heritage conference where Trump spoke warmly of Project 2025.
“They’re going to lay the groundwork and detail plans for exactly what our movement will do,” Trump said.
According to the Post, Roberts told the newspaper in April that “I personally have talked to President Trump about Project 2025, because my role in the project has been to make sure that all of the candidates who have responded to our offer for a briefing on Project 2025 get one from me.”
Trump’s campaign denied that he was briefed. But it’s clear that he knows just enough about Project 2025 to recognize its toxicity.
A Trump blueprintWhether he’s forgotten or chooses not to remember, many of its authors are people who worked for Trump in prominent positions. Others are regulars in the Republican Party’s government-in-waiting. Its prescriptions are meant for a Republican Congress as well as for another Trump presidency. Throughout, they call for restoring Trump administration executive orders and policies that President Joe Biden repealed.
Heritage, bankrolled from the start by personal and corporate fortunes, is what Jane Mayer, the author of “Dark Money,” defined as a think tank-disguised political weapon. Heritage claims that less than 2% of its supporters are corporate, but won’t disclose them.
Project 2025 incorporates virtually every current Republican economic and cultural trope, from mocking climate change, critical race theory and diversity programs to abolishing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to replacing career public servants with political operatives throughout the government.
Although there’s too much in the book for a single serving here, a vivid example is Project 2025’s prescriptions for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
“HHS should return to being known as the Department of Life,” states the preface to that chapter, “by explicitly rejecting the notion that abortion is health care.”
Author Roger Severino worked in the HHS under Trump where he distinguished himself by opposing mask and vaccine mandates on health workers.
Project 2025 proposes to eventually withdraw federal approval of the abortion drug mifepristone.
Dismantling Medicaid“The Secretary,” Severino writes, “should pursue a robust agenda to protect the fundamental right to life, protect conscience rights, and uphold bodily integrity rooted in biological realities, not ideology. From the moment of conception every human being possesses inherent dignity and worth, and our humanity does not depend on our age, stage of development, race or abilities.”
The chapter calls for converting Medicaid, the health insurance program for some 75 million low-income and disabled people, into block grants that would allow state governments to cripple it. It envisions scrapping rules that protect LGBTQ+ citizens because “Families comprised of a married mother, father and their children are the foundation of a well-ordered nation and healthy society.”
Project 2025 is fair warning of what a second Trump administration would do. Voters who cherish a different vision of America know what to do on Nov. 5.
The Sun Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Opinion Editor Steve Bousquet, Deputy Opinion Editor Dan Sweeney, editorial writers Pat Beall and Martin Dyckman and Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson. Editorials are the opinion of the Board and written by one of its members or a designee. To contact us, email at letters@sun-sentinel.com.
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