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Today in History: November 25, John F. Kennedy laid to rest at Arlington
Today is Monday, Nov. 25, the 330th day of 2024. There are 36 days left in the year.
Today in history:On Nov. 25, 1963, the body of President John F. Kennedy was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery after a funeral procession through Washington; an estimated 1 million people lined the procession route.
Also on this date:In 1783, following the conclusion of the Revolutionary War, the last remaining British troops in the United States were evacuated from New York City.
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In 1986, the Iran-Contra affair erupted as President Ronald Reagan and Attorney General Edwin Meese revealed that profits from secret arms sales to Iran had been diverted to Nicaraguan rebels.
In 1999, Elian Gonzalez, a 5-year-old Cuban boy, was rescued by a pair of sport fishermen off the coast of Florida, setting off an international custody battle.
In 2001, as the war in Afghanistan entered its eighth week, CIA officer Johnny “Mike” Spann was killed during a prison uprising in Mazar-e-Sharif, becoming America’s first combat casualty of the conflict.
In 2016, Fidel Castro, who led his rebels to a victorious revolution in 1959, embraced Soviet-style communism and defied the power of 10 U.S. presidents during his half-century of rule in Cuba, died at age 90.
Today’s Birthdays:- Football Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs is 84.
- Actor John Larroquette is 77.
- Dance judge Bruno Tonioli (TV: “Dancing with the Stars”) is 69.
- Musician Amy Grant is 64.
- Football Hall of Famer Cris Carter is 59.
- Rapper-producer Erick Sermon is 56.
- Actor Jill Hennessy is 56.
- Actor Christina Applegate is 53.
- Former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb is 48.
- Former first daughter Barbara Pierce Bush is 43.
- Former first daughter Jenna Bush Hager is 43.
- Soccer manager and former player Xabi Alonso is 43.
- Actor Stephanie Hsu is 34.
Daily Horoscope for November 25, 2024
General Daily Insight for November 25, 2024
Matters of the mind are likely to be frustrating at present. When the nervous Virgo Moon opposes nebulous Neptune, we may believe that having more information would increase our emotional security. Luna then shifts into social Libra and trines profound Pluto, so answers could be available if we have the patience to ask around. Even so, as intellectual Mercury turns retrograde at 9:42 pm EST, it probably won’t be a quick or easy process. In the meantime, we might try listening to our intuition.
AriesMarch 21 – April 19
Getting stuff done could currently be harder than you’d think. You’re at risk of biting bite off way more than you can chew — at some point, you might just run out of energy! That doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve failed. As logical Mercury turns retrograde in your 9th House of Beliefs, look closely at the expectations you hold for yourself. It’s totally normal to have physical limits and need to rest. A worldview that doesn’t have room for that isn’t likely to succeed.
TaurusApril 20 – May 20
Unsnarling a money matter could seem tedious now. What you’re able to find out from friends or social media might not be the whole story. While fact-finding Mercury covers old ground in your 8th House of Shared Resources, answers are probably available, but they won’t just be handed to you. As much as possible, hold off on making any decisions until you can get information from someone who knows what they’re talking about — even if this takes more time and effort.
GeminiMay 21 – June 20
A relationship conflict may have more to it than meets the eye. Perhaps you’re unwittingly reliving a family dynamic from your childhood. If you expect a current companion to take care of you in the way a parent would nurture a child, you’re likely to wind up disappointed. That said, your longing is a guide to what you need — and learning how to nourish yourself is possible. That’s a piece of the problem you can control, but it’s not necessarily the only piece.
CancerJune 21 – July 22
Communicating accurately could presently be a challenge. You may be putting down typos or details that aren’t quite right. Perhaps you’d be better off just waiting until later! While busy Mercury takes a slower pace in your 6th House of Responsibilities, you’ll potentially feel like others are dragging their feet on paperwork you want to quickly finish. If a given task isn’t a priority for someone else with a stake in the situation, maybe it’s not actually that urgent. Look for perspective.
LeoJuly 23 – August 22
An investment opportunity available to you could currently get your hopes high. Unfortunately, your expectations for it may not be entirely realistic. While calculating Mercury turns retrograde in your speculative 5th house, you’d be wiser to walk, not run, toward your goals. Feeling pressured to act right away is a reliable sign that whatever you’re considering probably isn’t that great. Ask someone you trust for guidance, but don’t necessarily limit yourself to the financial side of the issue — look at what’s really motivating you.
VirgoAugust 23 – September 22
A family relationship may abruptly turn out to be different from what you’d thought. Even though inquisitive Mercury is turning retrograde in your 4th House of Roots, you’re not required to stir up trouble for its own sake. In some situations, letting people see what they want to see is less destructive than pushing them to confront the naked truth at any cost. Contrastingly, a financial or practical question might need the actual facts to move forward. Know what’s worth pushing for.
LibraSeptember 23 – October 22
Telling part of the truth might be more trouble than it’s worth at the moment. Perhaps you’re trying to describe a situation in vague terms so that you don’t reveal a specific piece of private information. However, the story may not make sense without that crucial detail. Putting a muddled message into circulation is a quick way to inflame any confusion further. If you can’t speak freely enough to speak clearly, consider thinking through the problem by yourself for the time being.
ScorpioOctober 23 – November 21
Backtracking on your budget isn’t a crime. Your friends might have an idea for a fun activity that involves spending money you hadn’t planned on — and going with the flow could genuinely sound worth it. Still, as thoughtful Mercury spins retrograde in your 2nd House of Resources, you’ll probably have to reconfigure things to make this change work. If socializing is a reliable source of temptation to run up a big bill, getting more comfortable with your own company may be necessary.
SagittariusNovember 22 – December 21
You may currently be embroiled in a frustrating power struggle. Maybe someone else is jerking you around by being vague about what they want — you’d like to satisfy them, but you don’t know how! As analytical Mercury turns inward and reflective in your sign, you might need to look at how you’re contributing to this dynamic. Your strong desire to work things out could be working against you. By giving this person’s fluctuating grievances more attention than they deserve, you’re increasing their influence.
CapricornDecember 22 – January 19
Your dream life could be especially active today. As articulate Mercury digs deeper into your 12th House of the Subconscious, the images and scenes you encounter might speak more clearly than your actual words. It’s okay to admit that you know some things intuitively rather than through a totally logical thought process. Each tool is suited to its task, so do your best to spend your time on the types of activities that would be a good fit for this energy.
AquariusJanuary 20 – February 18
Reconnecting with friends you haven’t heard from in a while could be exciting today. Still, you’ll have to be realistic about any changes that have taken place since you last met. If they have the idea, accurate or not, that you’ve gotten richer lately, they might be hoping that you’ll share the wealth. Take time before connecting to think through the circumstances under which you would be comfortable helping out. You don’t have to say no, but you should know why you’re saying yes.
PiscesFebruary 19 – March 20
The truth could come out in public at any moment! Whether this is a good or bad thing depends on what you’ve been up to lately. If different people have heard conflicting stories, they may start to compare notes. With observant Mercury turning retrograde in your 10th House of Reputation, any narrative that doesn’t add up is at risk. On the plus side, if you’ve been keeping your charitable efforts to yourself, you might get recognition for that — try not to blush!
Florida Atlantic misses 3-pointer at buzzer, falls in Charleston Classic third-place game
By The Associated Press
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Chaunce Jenkins’ 15 points helped Seton Hall defeat Florida Atlantic 63-61 on Sunday night in the third-place game at the Charleston Classic.
Jenkins went 5 of 15 from the field (3 for 8 from 3-point range) for the Pirates (4-3). Scotty Middleton scored 10 points while finishing 4 of 4 from the floor. Yacine Toumi went 4 of 7 from the field (1 for 4 from 3-point range) to finish with nine points.
The Owls (4-4) were led by Leland Walker, who posted 16 points and six rebounds. Florida Atlantic also got 10 points and nine rebounds from Matas Vokietaitis. Kaleb Glenn had nine points.
Jenkins put up 10 points in the first half for Seton Hall, who led 34-22 at halftime. Toumi led Seton Hall with six points in the second half as his team was outscored by 10 points over the final half but hung on for the victory.
Walker missed a potential winning 3-pointer at the buzzer.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Winderman’s view: Heat get it done at closing time against Dallas
Observations and other notes of interest from Sunday night’s 123-118 overtime victory over the Dallas Mavericks:
– This was the game the Heat couldn’t close out against the Kings at home.
– The game they couldn’t close out against the Suns on the road.
– This time, the endgame was the Heat’s game.
– Closer to what happened in Minnesota.
– Which means something.
– Because it’s not as if this team has much when it comes to margin for error.
– It requires the best of Jimmy Butler.
– Check.
– Bam Adebayo stepping up.
– Such as the late defensive stop on Kyrie Irving and then the 3-pointer.
– (We’ll forget the other 3-pointer that hit the side of the backboard).
– And a play call from Erik Spoelstra executed to perfection.
– In this case, Butler’s basket at the end of regulation.
– So a step forward.
– And a move to .500.
– Needed.
– Because it didn’t get easier when Terry Rozier was out with a recurring foot issue.
– When Haywood Highsmith left in the second half due to illness.
– When Duncan Robinson was called for a foul seemingly at every turn.
– The Heat could not have been handed a better break than Luka Doncic being sidelined.
– Of course they also were handed ample open shots from point blank.
– And ample free throws.
– Off.
– And clank.
– Still, found a way.
– With Rozier out again, the Heat again opened with a lineup of Bam Adebayo, Highsmith, Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro and Robinson.
– Of lineup continuity or the lack thereof, Spoelstra said ahead of the game, “I think the most important thing right now is whatever’s working for us, we’ve got to look into that right now. We’re not where we want to be. And that doesn’t mean that we shut the door on anything else.”
– He added, “We’re trying to find some consistency, some sustainability in our game, just like every other team in the East except for the two top teams.”
– Kevin Love and Alec Burks entered first together off the Heat bench.
– Then Pelle Larsson.
– And then Jaime Jaquez Jr.
– With Nikola Jovic in at the start of the second period to make it 10 deep.
– But Jovic also only playing a cameo role.
– And Josh Richardson no role at all.
– Herro extended his streak of games with at least one 3-pointer to 53, tying the longest such streak of his career.
– Herro extended his streak of scoring in double figures to 44 dating to last season. His previous longest such streak had been 38 games in 2021-22.
– Herro’s fourth field goal was the 2,000th of his career.
– The double-digit-scoring effort moved Butler past Grant Long for 12th on the Heat’s such all-time list.
– Burks’ third 3-pointer was the 900th of his career.
– Butler’s first steal tied Eddie Jones for seventh on the Heat all-time list.
– Keshad Johnson made it to Miami at 2:30 p.m., after waking at 5 a.m. in Sioux Falls, S.D., and connecting through Chicago from his G League game the night before.
– “It’s been fun to watch the games and the highlights of the ones we haven’t been able to catch live,” Spoelstra said of Johnson’s Skyforce games. “He’s played well on both ends of the court.”
– Johnson did not play.
– The Heat entered coming off a five-day break.
– “If you have an opportunity like this, you do want to move the needle,” coach Erik Spoelstra said going in. “Hopefully we did that, but it’s also good to get back on the routine of playing games.”
Jimmy Butler seizes control as Heat hold off Mavericks 123-118 in overtime
MIAMI — Jimmy Butler was back in attack mode.
Luka Doncic was missing for the opposition.
It was an advantage the Miami Heat needed.
It was an advantage the Heat seized.
With Butler scoring 33, including the tying basket at the end of regulation and a key basket in overtime, the Heat outlasted the Dallas Mavericks 123-118 in overtime Sunday night at Kaseya Center.
“The efforts are starting to get a little bit more consistent,” coach Erik Spoelstra said.
With the victory, the Heat moved back to .500, at 7-7, and ultimately had enough to offset 27 points from Dallas guard Kyrie Irving.
“I feel like I’ve got to start attacking more often,” Butler said of his aggression. “If I can spearhead that part of the offense, we’re good.”
Beyond Butler’s effort that was built on 11-of-16 foul shooting and also included nine rebounds and six assists, the Heat also got 19 points and 10 rebounds from Bam Adebayo and 18 points and 11 rebounds from Tyler Herro.
Perhaps just as significant, there also were 15 points and 14 points, respectively, off the bench from Alec Burks and Pelle Larsson.
“I mentioned that in the locker room,” Spoelstra said of his team’s bench play. “It really gave us a boost again.”
Five Degrees of Heat from Sunday night’s game:
1. Regulation: The Heat led 33-28 after the first quarter, pushed their lead to 10 in the second, went into halftime up 56-51, and were up 89-84 going into the fourth.
Then, with 63 seconds to play in regulation, Butler went into attack mode, took on the length of Mavericks center Dereck Lively II at the rim and converted a driving, spinning layup for a 112-111 Heat lead.
Irving countered with an 8-foot jumper on the other end for a 113-112 Dallas lead. Then, down by that margin, the Heat put Irving on the line with 8.2 seconds to play in regulation, where he was off with his first attempt and true with the second for a 114-112 Dallas lead.
Off a timeout and a Dallas foul, Butler broke free for a tying layup off a Duncan Robinson assist to close the regulation scoring at 114-114.
The Heat thought Butler was fouled on the attempt.
“These are really tough to get any kind of freedom on sideline-out-of-bounds,” Spoelstra said. “Jimmy made a hell of a cut. And Duncan again with a great pass. It seemed like it was a foul.”
2. Overtime: After falling to 10 of 15 from the line, Butler gave the Heat a one-point lead early in overtime, with Adebayo’s third 3-pointer of the night later putting the Heat up 120-118.
After a defensive stop by Adebayo and a wayward 3-point attempt by Adebayo, Butler scored on a driving layup for a 122-118 Heat lead with 1:38 to play.
Adebayo made it five consecutive games with at least one 3-pointer and the third game in the last five with multiple 3-pointers.
Adebayo had converted 3-pointers in only two games prior to the current streak, taking advantage Sunday night of the Mavericks’ paint-based big men.
He closed 3 of 6 on 3-pointers.
“Stay with the preparation,” Adebayo said of his 3-point shooting. “Keep working behind the scenes.”
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3. Toeing the line: A game after going 13 of 13 from the line, Butler again was in attack mode.
Butler was 8 of 12 from the line at halftime, with the Heat just 13 of 21 on free throws over the first two periods.
“That’s what I want to see,” Spoelstra said of the volume of the attempts. “Our guys work on free throws. We’re a good free-throw shooting team. Sometimes you get into these deals during the season.
“The difficult thing is getting to the line.”
Butler’s previous performance came after nine days off, following an ankle sprain, this one after the Heat’s five-day break.
The next question is the performance on shorter rest, with a back-to-back set up next on Tuesday night against the visiting Milwaukee Bucks in an NBA Cup game, and then Wednesday at the Charlotte Hornets.
“He has the highest percentile of processing speed,” Spoelstra said of the way Butler crafted Sunday’s effort. “He’s not just putting his head down and crashing into people, three yards and a cloud of dust.”
4. Rotation reshuffle: The Heat again had to realign with guard Terry Rozier missing his second consecutive game due to foot pain.
Rozier had been expected to return after the Heat’s five-day break, having sat out last Monday night’s victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Instead, the team said Rozier awoke Sunday with recurring foot pain.
That had the Heat again opening with a lineup of Butler, Adebayo, Herro, Haywood Highsmith and Duncan Robinson.
In addition, Burks remained in the rotation after his solid effort against the 76ers.
5. Pelle time: With Highsmith and Robinson both with four fouls by the opening ticks of the third period, and then Highsmith dealing with an illness, Pelle Larsson wound up getting an extended run.
Rather than going with veteran Josh Richardson, Spoelstra instead turned to the second-round pick out of Arizona, whose energy was needed on a night the Heat offense largely was a series of wayward shots.
Larsson closed with 14 points and five rebounds.
“It’s really going to be hard for Spo taking him off the floor,” Butler said of Larsson. “He reminds me of myself, when I was younger in this league.”
Chris Perkins: This is the best I’ve felt about the Dolphins in the McDaniel era
MIAMI GARDENS — Calais Campbell, the wildly productive and amazingly insightful defensive lineman, didn’t want to leave the Miami Dolphins earlier this month at the trade deadline.
I don’t blame him.
I like what this Dolphins team has shown during this three-game winning streak that continued with Sunday’s 34-15 victory over the New England Patriots.
This winning streak has featured good offense. It’s featured good defense. It’s featured good special teams. It’s a solid winning streak.
This is the second-best winning streak the Dolphins have had under coach Mike McDaniel.
And this is the best I’ve felt about the Dolphins under McDaniel.
What they’re doing is real, it’s reliable.
What they’re doing isn’t gimmicky.
That’s the difference between this winning streak and previous winning streaks.
I know that sounds strange to say about a 5-6 team.
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But suddenly this Dolphins team seems to have a solid foundation and a somewhat encouraging future.
Yes, this team has its limits.
Mostly this team must show it can beat a good team (the Los Angeles Rams were 5-5 heading into Sunday night’s game).
It could happen.
Again, this is the best I’ve felt about this Dolphins offense under McDaniel.
And I think this team, with its three-game winning streak and 5-6 season record, could be ready to make a move.
But we’ll see.
Campbell and McDaniel think the Dolphins are definitely ready to make a move.
That’s why Campbell didn’t want to leave.
Campbell, the former University of Miami standout and likely future Hall of Fame member, said “a lot of teams” were interested in him around the Nov. 5 trade deadline.
But Campbell, the sage veteran who has become a heart-and-soul defensive player as well as a team captain, had an influential conversation with McDaniel.
“Me and Mike talked about where we are as a team,” Campbell said from the postgame locker room after Sunday’s victory, “and we came to the conclusion that this team still has a lot of fight left and we got a chance to do something special and we just agreed that we were going to fight for it.”
We’ll see if these good vibrations can turn into a victory against a quality opponent, or a road victory against a quality opponent.
I don’t buy into the cold weather thing; the problem is the opponent and location, not the temperature.
The Dolphins, of course, visit Green Bay (8-3) on Thanksgiving.
This winning streak, the second-best of the McDaniel era, is good.
The best winning streak of the McDaniel era was undoubtedly the three-game winning streak to open the 2022 season.
They were the first three games of McDaniel’s career — a 20-7 win over New England (and coach Bill Belichick), that rousing 42-38 come-from-behind win at Baltimore, and the sun-splashed 21-19 win over Buffalo.
The Dolphins would be hard-pressed to have better back-to-back wins than those over Baltimore and Buffalo.
Even the five-game winning streak that came midway through the 2022 season — Pittsburgh (16-10), Detroit (31-27), Chicago (35-32), Cleveland (39-17) and Houston (30-15) — wasn’t as good as what we’re witnessing now.
The three-game season-opening winning streak in 2023 that included wins over the Los Angeles Chargers (36-34) and New England (24-17) and was capped by that 70-20 win over Denver?
Nah.
The other three-game winning streak last season that included Las Vegas (20-13), the New York Jets (34-13) and Washington (45-15)?
No way.
This winning streak is big because of where the Dolphins came (records of 1-3 and 2-6) and where they could potentially go (a third consecutive playoff berth).
The Rams game, which ended a three-game losing streak, was big.
The Las Vegas game, which gave the Dolphins back-to-back wins for the first time this season, was big.
The Patriots, which gave the Dolphins their current three-game winning streak, was big.
The Packers game dwarfs them all.
Campbell said his decision to stay with the Dolphins didn’t just come down to a conversation with McDaniel.
“It was a lot more than that,” he said.
But rest assured playing in a game such as Thursday’s game, with a chance to extend this winning streak to four games and climb back to .500, and get firmly into the AFC playoff race, is a big reason Campbell is still here.
“This next one’s the big one,” Campbell said. “That’s the next big one. And so Thursday night game, it’s gonna show a lot about our mental toughness. It’s gonna be huge.”
I can’t say for certain the Dolphins will win at Green Bay on Thanksgiving, but I’m certain that I’ve never felt better about his team under McDaniel.
Show Caption1 of 33ExpandDave Hyde: Dolphins blitz Patriots, now have second chance to define season
MIAMI GARDENS — Mike McDaniel is forever acting unlike any NFL coach, and there he was again after Sunday’s game, propping his young daughter in a chair at the back of the interview room before mentioning to media, “Be nice with your questions.”
It was a light touch after a good day of work. There are harder days ahead, he knows, but he’ll never be known for steely-eyed stares or the stone-serious way of so many NFL coaches, including predecessor Brian Flores, who even when he did make a joke, “No one knew whether to laugh or not,” as one Miami Dolphins player said.
But McDaniel did something as important as any hard-edged NFL coach over this past month. He made some hard decisions, kept the compass pointed north and gave this season a second chance after Sunday’s 34-15 win against the New England Patriots.
That’s all the further you can go with these Dolphins at 5-6. A second chance. A second act. It’s all the further they’re going with it, too.
“We’re still in this hole,” as Tua Tagovailoa said after leading the way to Sunday’s early 24-0 lead and ending with four touchdown passes.
They’ve dug out just enough to be within sight of a playoff spot now. It’s not just that they’ve won these past three games. It’s how they’ve done it, which is with Tua and McDaniel again forming a partnership that makes this offense hum on its best days.
On Sunday, Tua ran through his progressions in a scoreless game to find his fourth option as he later counted them, tight end Jonnu Smith, wide open for a 7-yard touchdown.
“I think that’s where we’ve taken a step forward in this offense in retrospect to last year, is if one and two (options) are there we’re able to flip our feet and work through the progressions,’’ Tagovailoa said.
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This was back to the good ol’ days of last season when the Dolphins spanked bad offenses with creative designs and snappy reads. De’Von Achane caught one touchdown on a simple receiver screen where a picket-fence of blocking was before him and another where he was left uncovered out of the backfield.
So, undressing the Patriots’ designed defense is part of how they got back to 5-6. And while you don’t need to overpraise beating bad teams, you don’t dismiss it, either. Houston lost to previously 2-8 Tennessee on Sunday. Denver struggled with the Las Vegas team the Dolphins just dispatched easily.
But the other part of the Dolphins and this long climb out of their hole started way back at 2-6.
“Guys chose to believe,” McDaniel said. “That’s hard when everyone is telling you the opposite. They chose believe.”
That’s was in a three-game losing streak that felt, “like an eternity, and we’ve had two of those this season,” McDaniel said. “Like I explained to the team when we were 2-6, it is feast or famine, because if you can stay together through all that adversity, generally the season has great things in store because, like life, it’s not about avoiding adversity, it’s about flourishing within it.
“Or you can lose another game and you can have issues left.”
As much as play designs, McDaniel made the kind of hard decisions football coaches make in sinking seasons. He effectively benched last year’s leading rusher and a player he has extended history with Raheem Mostert after the running back fumbled twice in key moments during that three-game losing streak.
He also signed off on defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver benching a team captain, linebacker David Long Jr. He then released Long when something soured after that benching.
Penalties? The team that had the second-most penalties in the league the first five weeks and the most pre-snap penalties changed its ways. It found some discipline.
They had three penalties for 18 yards on Sunday. Not much. They had four for 23 yards the previous week against Las Vegas, and one for 15 yards against the Los Angeles Rams.
You see how good things happen when problems vanish?
Every Dolphins fan wants to think this team is better than the overpromising, underachieving editions of too many of the past two decades.
Well, now they’ve given themselves a chance to decide that. At 2-6, the world looked bleak. At 5-6 after Sunday’s win, it looks decidedly less bleak as they head to Green Bay for Thursday’s game.
“You find out who really believes in what you’re doing, who really believes in each other, and there’s nothing more powerful than us against the world,” McDaniel said. “Sometimes fate allows you to be in those situation.”
“Where does that leave us? Our record now is 5-6, and the Packers aren’t going to care about our three-game win streak.”
A chance. A maybe. That’s a lot better than a month ago. We’ll see where it is in another month.
Show Caption1 of 33ExpandDolphins Deep Dive: Win sets up huge game vs. Packers. Perkins, Hyde break down victory over Patriots | VIDEO
In this Dolphins Deep Dive video, the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Chris Perkins and Dave Hyde discuss Miami’s “complete victory” on Sunday over the New England Patriots and look ahead to the Dolphins’ big prime-time matchup with the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving.
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Big game from Jaylen Waddle vs. Patriots offers added hope Dolphins offense can reach full potential
MIAMI GARDENS — It became evident as the first half of Sunday’s 34-15 win over the New England Patriots went on for the Miami Dolphins (5-6) that it was going to be the Jaylen Waddle Game.
This was when, after just 33 catches for 404 yards in his first 10 games, he was breaking through to show he still has plenty to offer this Dolphins offense in his first season after getting his contract extended.
Waddle erupted for eight catches, 144 yards and a touchdown in a dominant win for Miami that sends the team into Green Bay on Thanksgiving with a shot at an even .500 record.
“Always feels good after a win, having a good game,” the once-struggling Waddle said after his season-best performance. “Having an individually good game don’t mean nothing without a win, so that’s always good.”
Even as Waddle had three different games of two catches or fewer and hadn’t surpassed 57 receiving yards since the season-opening win against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Waddle said he was never frustrated over his statistical output.
“I was more frustrated from the losses than (anything) individual, me having individual goals or anything. That’s more like a media thing, really,” he said.
For Waddle, this was a culmination of consistent work he invested into his craft through all the weeks of minimal production, according to coach Mike McDaniel.
“Waddle has been taking his route-running, his release work, the nuances of the receiver position,” McDaniel said, “and he’s had so much growth over the last month and a half while also fielding questions left and right, whether it’s in the media or even at home, like ‘Where is the production, where is the production, where is the production?’
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“To get better when the ball isn’t coming your way so that you’re aptly prepared when the ball does, it’s everything that I believe in.”
Waddle’s big game comes after tight end Jonnu Smith had his career game in last Sunday’s win over the Las Vegas Raiders, and that might’ve created some benefit for Waddle on Sunday.
“Having the defense worry about him might take someone off of (Tyreek Hill), might take someone off me, opening up in the run game,” Waddle said. “It’s great having all these playmakers on the team and on the field.”
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who had his best game since his return from concussion, said Waddle’s extra activity was all in the flow of the offense Sunday.
“Jaylen had his opportunities and he made use of those opportunities,” Tagovailoa said.
While CBS cameras caught Dolphins owner Steve Ross doing Waddle’s penguin waddle celebration, Waddle himself has put it on pause and hasn’t been doing it.
“I don’t know if it’s retiring. It needs a break for a little minute,” he said.
Armstead plays — and gets restThe Dolphins had left tackle Terron Armstead and fullback Alec Ingold were both active for Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots.
Armstead entered questionable for the second consecutive week as he nursed a knee injury without practicing in the buildup to game day. Ingold, who also entered questionable, made his return from a two-game absence with a calf injury.
Neither was listed among Dolphins inactives announced 90 minutes before kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium. McDaniel expressed optimism Friday that both would be available.
With the convincing victory settled early, Armstead sat in the fourth quarter, and rookie Patrick Paul entered for him at left tackle.
The only starter on the active roster Miami had inactive was cornerback Kendall Fuller, who was ruled out Friday for a second week with his second concussion of the season.
Healthy inactives for the Dolphins were running back Jeff Wilson Jr., cornerback Ethan Bonner, outside linebacker Mohamed Kamara, offensive lineman Andrew Meyer, tight end Jack Stoll and wide receiver Dee Eskridge.
For the Patriots, they were without defensive end Deatrich Wise, but defensive starters active after entering questionable were: cornerback Christian Gonzalez, safety Kyle Dugger, defensive tackle Christian Barmore, linebacker Anfernee Jennings and edge rusher Keion White.
Campbell trade was in place?An NFL Network report Sunday morning said the Dolphins were close on a trade with the Baltimore Ravens to send them veteran defensive tackle Calais Campbell at the deadline.
The deal, however, was nixed by McDaniel, according to the report, as he cited to Miami’s front office that Campbell was too vital to the team and the Dolphins were still in contention, even at 2-6.
McDaniel confirmed the report after the game and noted his reaction.
“I may or may not have thrown an adult temper tantrum,” he said, while acknowledging it wasn’t necessarily a scenario of his wishes versus those of general manager Chris Grier.
Dealing Campbell could’ve been conceivable given he’s a 38-year-old veteran vying for a Super Bowl at the end of his career, and Miami wasn’t in prime position to make a run. Since the deadline, the Dolphins have now won three straight games.
The trade would’ve reportedly been for a fifth-round pick in the 2026 draft.
Walker hurtDolphins linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. left Sunday’s game in the second quarter with a hamstring injury.
Walker was down on the field for several moments, helped up to walk slowly, first to the sideline injury tent and then into the locker room. After his return was initially deemed questionable, he was ruled out at the start of the second half.
Walker made his fourth consecutive start Sunday, after supplanting former Miami linebacker David Long Jr. in the starting lineup.
Backup linebacker Tyrel Dodson entered for Walker, and Dodson secured his first interception with the Dolphins in the fourth quarter, off a tipped ball by cornerback Jalen Ramsey on a blitz.
Long was waived by the Dolphins after Dodson was claimed off waivers from the Seattle Seahawks two weeks ago.
Show Caption1 of 33ExpandThings we learned in Miami Dolphins’ 34-15 win over the New England Patriots
MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins played their game of the season for the second consecutive week.
And this one was better than the previous one.
The Dolphins easily dispatched New England, 34-15, on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium, extending their winning streak to a season-best three games.
The win sets up a monster matchup at Green Bay on Thursday for the Dolphins (5-6), who are clawing their way back into the AFC playoff picture.
A win on Thursday and it’s a brand new season.
Here are some more takeaways from Sunday’s game:
Festive Hard Rock StadiumFans at Hard Rock Stadium partied like they hadn’t all season Sunday during the Patriots game.
This was the Dolphins’ best all-around home performance since their 30-0 victory over the New York Jets on Dec. 17, and their best home win since defeating Dallas, 22-20, on Christmas Eve to secure a playoff berth.
The Dolphins defeated Jacksonville to open the season, 20-17, but the game had fans on edge. The Dolphins won on a Jason Sanders field goal as time expired.
The Dolphins’ other home win prior to Sunday was a 34-19 win over Las Vegas last week.
The Dolphins have won back-to-back home games for the first time since the Jets-Cowboys wins late last season. — Chris Perkins
Dolphins find their offenseThe Dolphins scored 34 points, meaning they’ve scored more than 30 points in back-to-back games for the first time since winning at the New York Jets (34-13) and Washington (45-15) on Nov. 24 and Dec. 3, respectively, last season.
The Dolphins defeated Las Vegas, 34-19, last week.
The Dolphins are now averaging 29 points per game in the five games since quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (29 of 40, 317 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions, 128.9 passer rating) has returned from his concussion. The Dolphins are 3-2 in those games.
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Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (eight receptions, 144 yards, one touchdown) had his most productive game of the season in the first half Sunday. Waddle totaled six receptions for 118 yards in the first half.
Waddle entered the game with 33 receptions for 404 yards and one touchdown for the season.
Waddle has eclipsed 1,000 yard receiving in each of his first three seasons. He’s unlikely to reach that total this year.
But his involvement in the offense Sunday after being limited earlier this season by the two-high safety scheme opposing defenses are using and being pressed at the line of scrimmage is a promising sign.
Wide receiver Tyreek Hill ended with five receptions for 48 yards.
Smith continues being go-to manTight end Jonnu Smith (nine receptions, 87 yards, one touchdown) had a 7-yard touchdown reception early in the second quarter and generally sparked the offense, which is what he’s been doing for the past seven games.
Smith, who had a career bests of 50 receptions for 582 yards last season with Atlanta, has 46 receptions for 519 yards this season.
It’s been a remarkable escalation for Smith, who totaled a mere nine receptions for 78 yards through four games this season.
It’s as though once the Dolphins discovered what Smith could do, they decided to utilize his skills.
Tua and Terron take time off … OK, brieflyTagovailoa and left tackle Terron Armstead exited the game in the fourth quarter after the Dolphins had a 31-7 lead because coach Mike McDaniel wisely took both out of the game.
Both have a history of injuries so removing them from the game was the smart thing, especially with the Green Bay game in four days.
Of course, Tagovailoa’s respite only lasted two plays.
Rookie running back Jaylen Wright’s fumble with Skylar Thompson at quarterback was returned 62 yards for a touchdown. The ensuing two-point conversion cut the Dolphins’ lead to 31-15 and Tagovailoa re-entered the game after sitting out those two plays.
McDaniel wasn’t taking any chances with this victory.
Chop beginning to flourishRookie edge rusher Chop Robinson, who finished with 1.5 sacks, had a sack in the second quarter. And even better, there was a coordinated celebration effort as numerous defenders got in on the celebratory “chop.”
Robinson, the first-round pick from Penn State, has been lined up wider in recent games, giving him a better option to go inside or outside.
On his sack, Robinson blew past right tackle Demontry Jacobs to take down quarterback Drake Maye.
It was Robinson’s third sack in the past four games. He has 3.0 sacks for the season.
Since Week 9, one rookie, Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Braden Fiske, has more sacks (4.0).
On the celebratory chop, Robinson gathered his teammates and in unison, they each took an imaginary ax and struck a downward blow.
Achane no Guardian cap againRunning back De’Von Achane, who sustained a concussion in the first game against New England earlier this season, didn’t wear a Guardian cap for the second consecutive game.
Achane (10 carries, 32 yards; three receptions, 24 yards, two touchdowns) said he wore the device, which is basically a cushion that fits over the helmet, on the advice of his mother. Players routinely wear Guardian caps during training camp and during the week in practice.
Research says they only minimally reduce concussion risks.
Tagovailoa opted to not wear the Guardian cap upon his return from a four-game absence due to a concussion.
Patriots’ terrible first quarterNew England had four penalties for 25 yards and a missed 45-yard field goal attempt in the first quarter. The Patriots had the ball for 10:04 of the 15-minute quarter and ran 14 plays for a total of 94 yards.
The Dolphins had nine plays for 72 yards.
The Patriots never recovered. They fell behind 14-0 in the second quarter and the game was over.
By the way, New England (10 penalties, 75 yards) might be the worst team the Dolphins faced this season. It’s close, but they probably edge Las Vegas for worst opponent.
Duck and Smith rotate on nickel packageRookie cornerback Storm Duck played the first quarter as the boundary cornerback in the nickel package while cornerback Cam Smith played a couple of series in the second quarter.
Veteran cornerback Kendall Fuller missed his second consecutive game due to a concussion, opening a spot in the nickel package. Kader Kohou, the usual slot/nickel cornerback, is starting on the boundary in Fuller place. Kohou stays at his normal slot position in the nickel package and Duck or Smith plays the boundary opposite cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
Both Duck and Smith continue to show promise.
Mostert and SmytheRunning back Raheem Mostert (two carries, five yards; one reception, minus-3 yards) and tight end Durham Smythe (one reception, eight yards) continued seeing their playing time get reduced. Mostert, a Pro Bowl selection last season after amassing a franchise-record 21 touchdowns, didn’t play from scrimmage until the second quarter. He’s had his playing time cut since he lost fumbles at Indianapolis and Buffalo.
Smythe, who has had his playing time reduced due to the emergence of tight ends Smith, the receiver, and Julian Hill, the blocker, also got his first snap from scrimmage in the second quarter.
Robinson had the most impact in a game by a Dolphins defensive rookie in yearsYes, his second-quarter 9-yard sack of Drake Maye is what everyone can see on his record, but just as impactful in the first half of the game (as the Dolphins ripped control from the Patriots) with no statistical compartment were his drawn holding call on Demontrey Jacobs that created a first-quarter, drive hobbling second-and-16, then his blowing past Patriots tight end Austin Hooper, blowing up a Rhamondre Stevenson sweep, with Jordyn Brooks cleaning it up by logging the tackle, and finally the apparent sack and forced fumble that was reviewed into an incomplete pass. He then shared a sack with Emmanual Ogbah late in the first half.
In the second half, Chop crushed Maye on an incompletion, a contact from which a worn-out Maye was slow to rise and later batted his second pass of the day. I can’t recall a higher-impact performance by a rookie Dolphins draftee on defense in a long time. Maybe Olivier Vernon’s tour de force in 2012 against the Rams. — Steve Svekis
It makes sense that Waddle emerged statistically against the PatriotsIn each of his four games he has played against the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium, Jaylen Waddle has scored a touchdown. His numbers in that quartet of contests in Miami Gardens? He has 24 receptions for 361 yards and those four TDs.
No 400 clubs against this Dolphins defenseThe game against New England made the Dolphins 11 for 11 in not allowing at least 400 yards to an opposing offense. The last time a Miami team went the full season without allowing at least 400 yards was in 2006, in the 16-game era.
The defense’s second quarter was a perfect (minus-) 10The Patriots, despite getting crushed by four penalties for 25 yards, still had fine work done, gaining 94 yards in the first quarter. However, Miami’s defense basically ended the suspense in the second quarter, propelled by three tackle-for-loss plays that went for at least minus-5-yards each on non-kneeldowns (Ogbah 5-yard sack, Brooks minus-6-yard tackle of Rhamondre Stevenson and Robinson’s 9-yard sack). In those second 15 minutes, the Pats lost 10 yards.
We haven’t seen such a fine high-point catch by a Dolphins No. 11 in a few yearsTyrel Dodson’s spectacular drama-ending interception (hello … what an in-season waiver pickup) was reminiscent of the best vertical work of DeVante Parker from 2015-21.
The offensive line was absolutely a wall in pass protectionWhile Tua Tagovailoa has had some sparkling recent highlights of him climbing up past a deep edge rush, leaking outside of the tackle box and finding a target for a big pass play, he barely had to move off the last step of his dropback against the Patriots as Aaron Brewer, Terron Armstead and company eradicated any semblance of a New England pass rush.
On deck: Green Bay Packers, Lambeau Field, Thursday, 8:15 p.m.The Dolphins will face temperatures possibly as low as the teens at Lambeau Field on Thanksgiving night. The last time the Dolphins played in a temperature that cold was the minus-4-degree debacle in Kansas City in January when Miami lost 26-7 in the wild-card playoff game. The most recent Dolphins’ regular-season game with a kickoff temperature below 22 degrees was in 2008 when Miami beat 2-14 Kansas City at Arrowhead 38-31 with a kickoff temperature of 10 degrees. The Dolphins have never beaten a team with a winning record in a game that had a kickoff temperature below 23 degrees.
Show Caption1 of 33ExpandFlorida’s next economic boom: Ocean takes stage for state’s new business strategy
Florida has long boomed economically from three revenue sources — farming, real estate, tourism. Now, local leaders would like to add the ocean to that list.
Florida is launching a new Office of Ocean Economy, which aims to make the state a major contender in a “blue economy” race that is well underway in other states and countries.
Some of that development is already happening here in South Florida, and backers hope the initiative will make the Sunshine State a global leader in water-driven innovation.
State Rep. Kelly Skidmore, D-Boca Raton, who co-sponsored the bill that created the office with state Rep. Chip LaMarca, R-Lighthouse Point, and state Sen. Jason Pizzo, D-Sunny Isles Beach, said that the goal is to connect the dots of the blue economy in Florida so everyone can benefit.
Those dots include academic research, innovation, technology, funding, branding, and the ocean itself.
According to the bill, the office is charged with:
— Connecting the state’s ocean resources to economic development with a focus on sustainable practices.
— Connecting the state’s universities and transforming innovative technology into functional businesses.
— Developing a pipeline for innovation to be commercialized and financed.
— Branding the state globally as a leader in the ocean economy.
— Reporting the economic benefits the office has generated, as well as emerging ocean economy innovations, each August.
“We need the next Gatorade to come out of the ocean,” said LaMarca at a recent Florida Ocean Alliance event at the Coral Ridge Yacht Club in Fort Lauderdale.
LaMarca’s Gatorade reference was a nod to researchers at the University of Florida, who in 1965 developed the sports drink — and created an industry — because they were concerned that UF athletes were sweating out too many electrolytes in the Florida heat.
“There’s plenty of great research being done now,” LaMarca said. “What we want to do is take what’s in a research project and what is on the shelf and bring possible products to market.”
Funding for the initiative will come from the state, and the office will be housed at Florida Atlantic University and led by Colin Polsky, founding director of FAU’s School of Environmental, Coastal, and Ocean Sustainability.
Polsky said that some current examples of the ocean economy include aquaculture, commercial fishing and recreation (SCUBA businesses, fishing guides). But given that Florida has 8,436-mile coastline, high-level research institutions seeking solutions to climate change, and access to the power of tides and the Gulf Stream, there’s much more that can be done.
Central to the initiative is the fact that Florida is on the front lines of climate change and sea-level rise. As the region develops solutions, and those solutions can be turned into businesses that the rest of the world can use.
Polsky said that startups could emerge around topics such as hydroelectric power from both tides and the Gulf Stream, innovative ways to protect shorelines through both designed structures and developing coral reefs that are better adapted to high heat conditions.
He used other regions as examples of blue economy leadership. “Denmark is the global leader in offshore wind technology development,” Polsky said. China has ramped up production, but the know-how came from a place — Denmark, Polsky said.
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“Same thing with the Netherlands with flood control. They’ve been doing that for 500 years. Humanity has always been trying to manage risk in coastal zones. Places that do it well, export it.”
Polsky said that efforts in this first fiscal year would start with a statewide listening tour to ascertain what ocean economy ventures have been attempted, what needs to continue and not to continue.
His team will also develop reports on local gross domestic product associated with different parts of the ocean economy, and map that analysis across the state.
They will then look at employment trends, define the status quo and model how local economies might perform under different economic forces.
“Then we can incorporate ideas from all around the state about different opportunities, avenues, levers, mechanisms for improving the ocean economy,” he said.
Florida is not alone in the blue economy race. Skidmore said the Sunshine State is competing with Rhode Island, San Diego, Mississippi and several institutes around Boston.
Globally she said Portugal, Scotland, Norway and others are making headway.
“They’re really killing it in this space. So we do have some catch up we need to do,” she said. “But if Florida can lead the U.S. … then we can compete around the world.”
Kind Designs’ 3D-printed living seawalls can replace old flat seawall. Their texture both breaks up wave energy and provides habitat for inshore marine animals such as crabs, shrimp and young fish. (Courtesy Kind Designs)In 10 years, LaMarca envisions an intellectual pipeline.
“My hope is that every smart young research student that’s doing work at our universities has the opportunity to take something … to bring a project to market and be able to monetize that,” he said.
LaMarca previously worked on legislation in Florida that allowed student athletes to profit from the use of their name, image and likeness, and said he thinks there’s a parallel to students in science fields.
“They should be able to take what they’re learning, and if they can bring something to market, benefit off of it, not only for themselves, but for the universities.”
Though the Office of Ocean Economy is new, water-focused businesses and research in South Florida is well underway.
Here are some examples:
Reef deployment: The Ocean Rescue Alliance International, a nonprofit that works with cities such as Hollywood, deploys artificial coral reefs that protect the shoreline, provide habitat for marine life and offer diving opportunities. ORAI has developed a Coral Lok system to make planting coral more efficient. Their base structures have slots for screws. Divers can simply screw in corals growing on threaded plugs.
International’s Coral Lok modules with threaded mounts and several mock corals attached. The system allows for easy out-planting of live corals on artificial reefs. (Courtesy Ocean Rescue Alliance International)Reefs as protection: The University of Miami’s X-REEFS project, funded in part by the Department of Defense, is developing hybrid reefs that both protect the human world from waves and reap the ecological benefits of a coral reef. Key to building the artificial reefs are modular structures called SEAHIVEs, hexagonal concrete pieces designed with holes that optimally disrupt wave energy and invite marine life to make a home. UM is also attempting to breed corals that can withstand marine heat waves and disease. These corals could be planted on the artificial reef structures and add mass to the reef over time, even as seas rise.
This artificial reef is covered in coral growth and attracts sea life. It is part of the University of Miami’s X-REEFS initiative, which uses modular, interlinked hexagonal concrete pieces called SEAHIVEs. Each SEAHIVE has holes optimized for wave energy dissipation and stability. (Courtesy University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science)Aquaculture: New aquaculture ventures are launching. This month, Everglades Oysters seeded their first batch of oysters. The farm sits just north of Chokoloskee near the 10,000 Islands and Everglades National Park. They plan to eventually harvest with a new technology called FlipFarm, which allows farmers to easily flip oyster cages, keeping the bivalves healthy.
Building better seawalls: Miami-based Kind Designs, backed in part by Mark Cuban, uses 3D printing to produce what they call Living Seawalls, which replace flat seawalls with a rippled wall that emulates the nooks and crannies of a coral reef or mangrove roots. Sea life thrives, and the walls break up wave energy instead of reflecting it back into the estuary, where it can damage shorelines. They also offer Kind Tiles, that do much the same thing.
Finding a southern seaweed: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently gave a $250,000 grant to the University of Florida to investigate seaweed aquaculture in Florida’s tropical waters. Though most seaweed aquaculture is done in cold water, UF hopes to identify warm-water seaweed species and kick-start an industry that both boosts Florida’s economy and benefits its environment. Potential uses include seaweed as a replacement for some plastic packaging, nutritional supplements, animal feed, cosmetics and biofuels
Seagrass and oyster restoration: Winter Garden-based Sea & Shoreline restores ecosystems. Much of their business is a reaction to harmful algae blooms that snuff out seagrass meadows and pummel ecosystems. They replant and maintain seagrass areas to boost local economies via ecotourism and fishing opportunities. They also build living shorelines to help marine life and protect human properties, and restore oyster reefs, which filter pollutants. Climate change and nutrient runoff make each of these a growth industry.
Harnessing the Gulf Stream: The United States Department of Energy recently awarded FAU an $800,000 grant to study how to harness the vast power of the Gulf Stream, which flows a few miles off shore. DOE studies have previously calculated that the Florida section of this immense ocean current could produces as much energy as three nuclear power plants. The FUA feasibility study will conduct ocean current tests off of Palm Beach County, where the Gulf Stream cuts close to land.
Bill Kearney covers the environment, the outdoors and tropical weather. He can be reached at bkearney@sunsentinel.com. Follow him on Instagram @billkearney or on X @billkearney6.
Fort Lauderdale worries time’s running out to come up with homeless plan
Fort Lauderdale, ground zero for Broward’s homeless population, was hoping the county would take the lead on coming up with an emergency plan for housing the homeless in light of a statewide crackdown that bans sleeping or camping in public places.
As of today, Fort Lauderdale commissioners are still waiting for the county to approve a plan.
“They don’t seem to share the same sense of urgency that the city of Fort Lauderdale is laboring under,” Mayor Dean Trantalis told the South Florida Sun Sentinel on Friday. “I think that’s a false sense of complacency. The law is already in effect and the enforcement of the law is just a few weeks away. When they start getting hit with huge attorney’s fees that’s going to be a huge wakeup call for the county and all of the cities.”
On Nov. 12, county commissioners voted 4-4 to reject a proposal to build 100 tiny homes for what was estimated to potentially cost $14 million. The homes likely would not be in place for two years.
Two years is a long time to wait, considering the fact that cities who fail to enforce the anti-camping ban can be sued starting on Jan. 1.
County Commissioner Michael Udine said he is well aware of the deadline.
“I would like to see the county do something immediate,” Udine told the Sun Sentinel. “We need to come up with an answer of what we’re doing after Jan. 1 when we run out of shelter space. We need enough space to place homeless people in emergencies. The law doesn’t require us to spend tens of millions of dollars to build homeless encampments. It’s a complicated issue.”
Complicated or not, Fort Lauderdale Vice Mayor Steve Glassman said he was disappointed to see the county deadlock on the issue two weeks ago.
“I’ve been waiting to see the county take the lead on this,” Glassman said. “We were hoping the county was going to step up. We just can’t keep kicking the can down the road. Jan. 1 will be here very shortly. We on the city side are doing everything we can. We have got to figure this out.”
After hearing the cost estimate of building 100 tiny homes, Glassman said he understood the county’s reticence with moving forward.
“The cost the county was coming up with was absolutely insane,” he said. “But this should not just be falling on the shoulders of the city of Fort Lauderdale. I don’t understand why all of the cities are not in this together. We should all be meeting and hashing this out and getting on the same page and that is simply not happening.”
A man sits on the sidewalk Tuesday while beachgoers take selfies at the corner of A1A and Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel) One plan: Buy a motelOn Nov. 12, County Commissioner Steve Geller cast one of the four “no” votes on moving forward with the county’s plan for a village of tiny homes.
But the issue is not dead, Geller said Friday.
“The problem is we had a lot of questions and we didn’t have answers,” Geller told the Sun Sentinel.
Geller said he believes the county will eventually move forward with a two-pronged plan to buy a motel and also build a village of tiny homes.
“If we could buy a motel and rehab it quickly, we could get people in there in six months instead of two years,” Geller said. “We could start doing something now. I think the tiny homes are a good idea once we figure out how to get the price down and get them faster. If it’s going to take two years maybe we should look at motels in the meantime. The tiny homes are going to take a lot longer to build.”
The county is expected to revisit the issue again in December or January, Geller said.
“The reason we need to do something is we don’t want to have 8,000 homeless people on the street,” Geller said. “We have about 6,500 people who lost their job or their rent increased and they ended up on the street. Then you have around 1,500 people who are chronically homeless. Those are a much more difficult population to find housing for. But we have to take care of these people. We need to get all the homeless people off the street as best as we can.”
People gather with their belongings at Las Olas Oceanside Park in Fort Lauderdale on April 25. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Shelter beds in short supplyIn the meantime, Fort Lauderdale wants to spread the word about the statewide crackdown on the homeless: How to make a complaint and what initiatives the city is taking to stay out of court and comply with the law.
Fort Lauderdale is holding town hall meetings to inform residents on what to expect in the coming weeks and how they can help.
The next town hall meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Beach Community Center, 3351 NE Third Ave.
On Thursday night, a crowd of more than 30 gathered for a town hall meeting held at the United Way headquarters in Fort Lauderdale.
Attendees were given details about the new state law and how the city was moving forward to address the homeless crisis.
Residents and business owners were encouraged to file complaints on the city’s FixIt FTL app (select “Camping or Sleeping on Public Property – HB 1365.”) You can also file a report online by visiting fortlauderdale.gov/fixitftl and following the same process.
At the town hall meeting, one woman expressed concern about the lack of shelter beds in Broward County to serve an estimated 8,000 homeless people.
“There’s no doubt we’re at a deficit when it comes to shelter beds,” said Chris Cooper, acting assistant city manager. “There are efforts underway to increase that number.”
One of the attendees asked if the city was willing to fast-track workable solutions, including allowing local churches to build hurricane-rated tiny homes for the homeless.
That’s already under discussion, Cooper said.
“We’ve been looking at our code to see if we could cut through that red tape,” Cooper said. “We’re on that track.”
Not in my neighborhoodAnother woman asked how telling a homeless person to move on will solve the problem when they’ll likely return at some point after the officer leaves.
Officer Brian Blount, one of six officers on the police department’s Homeless Outreach Team, had the answer.
“What we do first is ask if they want help or need assistance,” he said. “If they say no, we ask them to move on. If they come back, we start over. A lot of them don’t want to go to the shelter. They’re allowed to live. It’s not a crime to be homeless.”
Another attendee warned that many neighborhoods are not going to want a tiny home village for the homeless anywhere nearby.
“Nobody wants it in their neighborhood,” he said. “The neighborhood is going to be your Number One obstacle because everyone wants it somewhere else.”
Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com. Follow me on X @Susannah_Bryan
RFK Jr. will make America healthy again | Letters to the editor
Donald Trump has selected Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who practice deception, misinformation, and disinformation in public health.
The safety and health of all Americans is the most important role of any administration, and HHS will play a big role in ensuring that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to the overwhelming health crisis in this country.
Kennedy Jr. will restore these agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard scientific research, and beacons of transparency, to end the chronic disease epidemic and make America great and healthy again.
Paul Bacon, Hallandale Beach
Liberal blindersYour continued use of the phrase “anti-vaccine fantasies” or similar pejorative descriptors when discussing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is irresponsible and shameful journalism.
Just what fantasies are you referencing? By requiring Big Pharma to subject any vaccine to rigorous study and proof of safety and efficacy before going to the mass market?
By acknowledging that COVID vaccines are not vaccines? Why do we need to take six or more if they are so effective?
Stop the brazen falsehoods and listen to what Kennedy has said. He’s neither anti-vaccine nor living any fantasy. The poisoning of our population and especially our children by big agriculture and big pharma must end. Remove your liberal blinders and wake up.
Douglas M. McIntosh, Esq., Plantation
Dark clouds overheadThe election is over. Democracy, decency, truth, and the environment have taken a hit.
Vladimir Putin, Steve Bannon, and the criminals who attacked our Capitol are celebrating this overwhelming win by a convicted felon.
Aesop said, “ A man is known by the company he keeps.” Look at Trump’s early nominees: Matt Gaetz for Attorney General. Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense. Imagine Tulsi Gabbard, a pro-Russian sympathizer, as Director of National Intelligence.
I’m waiting for Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert to run a Department of Culture. Like a dark cloud overhead, RFK Jr. and Elon Musk are about to destroy healthcare and reasonable science.
Dr. Howard Olarsch, Boynton Beach
Time is running outAmerica will either keep Trump out of the White House by properly applying Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, or protest in the streets four years from now after he and his allies try to forcefully keep him in power, as all dictators do.
Section 3 demands that “no person,” having participated in or encouraged an insurrection, and having sworn an oath to the Constitution, shall occupy any office in the country ever again. Can anyone deny that the presidency is an office, or that he is not an insurrectionist? That would be a sorry sight, reflective of this emotionally-driven time.
A lawyer for the president-elect told the Supreme Court that states cannot use Section 3 to bar Trump from running because Section 3 also leaves open the possibility that Congress, by a two-thirds vote, could lift the ban that Section 3 would otherwise impose after Trump is elected and before he takes office. Only the media can effectively spread the word of this constitutional provision.
Rick Soskis, Havana, Fla.
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[contact-form]This election showed the Latino vote is not a monolith | Opinion
The phrase “Latino vote” has become increasingly common in political discourse, yet it oversimplifies the rich complexity of America’s Latino communities. Far from being a monolithic voting bloc, Latino Americans represent a tapestry of political viewpoints, cultural experiences and generational perspectives that defy easy categorization.
While many embrace traditional Catholic and Christian principles and support law enforcement, their political perspectives vary significantly based on their country of origin, whether they’re U.S.-born or legal immigrants from countries like Puerto Rico, Cuba, Mexico or Venezuela. Legal Latino residents typically prefer not to be associated with unauthorized immigration, as it can negatively impact the community’s overall image. Despite this, Latino attitudes toward immigration issues are complex, with varying levels of concern for migrants’ challenges.
Phil Colón is co-founder of Voto Latino, Project 2050 and The Supremo Agency. (courtesy, Phil Colón)At the heart of Latino communities lies a strong foundation of shared cultural values. Family remains a cornerstone of Latino life, while religious traditions, particularly those rooted in Catholic and Christian faith, continue to shape both domestic and worldviews. However, these common threads don’t necessarily lead to uniform political positions.
National origin plays a crucial role in shaping political perspectives. Cuban Americans, many of whom fled a socialist regime, often approach political issues differently than Mexican Americans or Puerto Ricans. Venezuelan immigrants who recently escaped political turmoil bring their unique perspectives to American democracy. These varied backgrounds create distinct political priorities and viewpoints that reflect each group’s historical experiences.
Immigration stands as a particularly nuanced issue within Latino communities. Legal immigrants frequently emphasize the importance of lawful immigration processes, with many supporting strong border policies while advocating for humanitarian treatment. This stance reflects a complex balance between maintaining order and showing compassion for those seeking better opportunities.
Law enforcement and public safety represent another area where Latino perspectives challenge conventional assumptions. Many in the community support strong law enforcement measures, viewing them as essential to community well-being. However, this support doesn’t automatically translate into alignment with any particular political party.
Generational differences add another layer of complexity. While first-generation immigrants might prioritize issues related to integration and economic stability, their American-born children often focus on education, climate change and social justice. Language preferences between generations can also influence political engagement and information access, creating distinct political perspectives within the same families.
Economic concerns unite many Latino voters, though approaches to addressing them vary widely. The community’s high rate of small business ownership influences views on regulation and taxation. Economic mobility and opportunity often serve as key voting issues, though preferred solutions span the political spectrum.
The shift in Latino political alignment has puzzled Washington insiders, while those closer to Latino communities saw it coming. Despite the rise of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, many Latinos feel they’ve been overlooked in both corporate advancement and startup capital opportunities. This is particularly true for Latino men working in trades or running small businesses, who have seen little benefit from DEI programs. Their growing sense of exclusion has led many to support Republican candidates who appear more attuned to their concerns.
This exclusion has created a complex dynamic in which many Latinos, despite being a significant minority group, feel left behind by mainstream DEI efforts. The resulting frustration has begun to reshape political alignments and could continue to influence voting patterns in future elections. Given demographic projections showing continued Latino population growth, the Republican National Committee could strategically capitalize on this sentiment to expand their base with this important cohort.
Across all generations, certain trends emerge that highlight the evolving nature of Latino identity in America. Each successive generation generally demonstrates more progressive views on social issues such as LGBTQ+ rights and gender roles. Religious practices often shift from strict adherence to cultural Catholicism to a more flexible spiritual identity. Educational achievement typically increases with each generation, leading to greater economic opportunities and social mobility.
Political participation also evolves significantly across generations. While first-generation immigrants might focus on specific issues directly affecting their communities, later generations tend to engage with a broader spectrum of political concerns. This shift reflects not only greater integration into American society but also the complex nature of Latino political identity in the modern United States.
These generational changes paint a picture of a dynamic community that continues to evolve while maintaining connections to its cultural heritage. The Latino experience in America demonstrates how immigration, assimilation and cultural preservation create a rich tapestry of identities that contribute to the nation’s diverse social fabric.
Phil Colón is co-founder of Voto Latino, Project 2050 and The Supremo Agency. He previously served on the executive board of the Eagle Academy for Young Men and on the board of trustees for Ballet Hispanico. He also served as a member of the Directorship 100 and the Council on Foreign Relations.
Building resilient communities with MODS and Broward MPO | Opinion
Imagine a thriving community in the near future. What does it look like?
Perhaps it has green spaces like parks and a rich tree canopy. It promotes social engagement, fosters dialogue among neighbors and is economically diverse. This future community has also adapted to the adverse effects of climate change, managing extreme heat, sea-level rise and intense weather events while mitigating their environmental impact.
This vision is not only possible but achievable — thanks to proper planning. The Museum of Discovery and Science (MODS) and the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization (Broward MPO) are collaborating to bring this vision to life with a new educational initiative: Think Like a Planner.
Lance Cutrer is the director of environmental sustainability at the Museum of Discovery and Science. (Courtesy, Invading Sea)Think Like a Planner is a program for students in third grade and up, focused on teaching the principles of sustainable urban planning. This approach to city and community design seeks to promote environmental health, social equity and long-term economic success. By fostering a better understanding of these principles, the program aims to inspire the next generation of city planners and community leaders to think critically about how to build resilient and thriving communities.
Think Like a Planner helps students explore real-world urban challenges and solutions through fun, hands-on lessons offered through MODS’ STEMobile program. The STEMobile is a community-based, mobile Makerspace for ages 3 and up, bringing cutting-edge equipment and experiences often unavailable to youth — especially youth residing in underserved communities. The STEMobile program has grown to a fleet of five vehicles, delivering programs to 100,000 youth annually.
Ninety percent of all programs are delivered free, serving youth at Title 1 schools, early learning centers, libraries and nonprofit agencies from the lowest-income zip codes in Broward County, where families are most affected by intergenerational poverty and the lowest educational attainment levels. These lessons are available to educators across South Florida, often at no cost.
The Think Like a Planner program covers various aspects of sustainable urban development, each contributing to the overarching goal of building communities that are more environmentally friendly, socially equitable and economically viable. Some of the core lessons include:
- Complete Streets: This lesson introduces the concept of streets designed for all modes of transportation — not just cars. Sustainable urban planning embraces alternative modes of travel, such as walking, biking and public transportation.
- Build-A-Better Bus Stop: Public transportation is a cornerstone of sustainable communities. The Build-A-Better Bus Stop lesson highlights how improvements in public transportation infrastructure, such as well-designed bus stops, can encourage people to use public transit more frequently. This reduces the number of cars on the road, decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.
- Community Builders: Delving into the broader concept of sustainable urban development, Community Builders emphasizes the triple bottom line of people, planet and prosperity. For communities vulnerable to climate change and rising sea levels, balancing these three elements is essential for long-term survival. An essential part of building resilient communities is engaging a wide range of stakeholders, including residents, business owners and local officials. The Community Builders lesson emphasizes the importance of stakeholder engagement in the urban planning process.
Communities thrive when diverse voices are heard and everyone is involved in making decisions that shape the future. MODS and the Broward MPO encourage community members to take action by participating in local planning meetings, advocating for resilient infrastructure and supporting sustainable building initiatives.
By offering students and the community a chance to explore these critical urban planning concepts, Think Like a Planner fosters the knowledge and skills necessary to create resilient, sustainable communities. To learn more about these initiatives and how you can get involved, visit mods.org and join the movement toward a thriving, sustainable future.
Lance Cutrer is the director of environmental sustainability at the Museum of Discovery and Science. This opinion piece was distributed by The Invading Sea website (theinvadingsea.com), which posts news and commentary on climate change and other environmental issues affecting Florida.
ASK IRA: Does there remain a needed growth curve for Heat with Jaquez, Jovic?
Q: Ira, Kel’el Ware has been put through the spin cycle already, but let’s be honest, Jaime Jaquez Jr. has plateaued and does anyone know what to make of Nikola Jovic’s future? – Allan.
A: Exactly. Just as there is uncertainty with Nikola Jovic three years in, there is nothing unusual about uncertainty about Kel’el Ware one month in. If you start comparing him to others drafted in his range, also compare the need for those players on those teams at their positions. It hardly should come as a surprise that at least at the moment that the Heat have preferred to ride with Bam Adebayo, Kevin Love and plenty of their preferred smaller-ball lineups. As for Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic – exactly. You don’t stop assessing draft picks based solely on their first seasons. It is why more is now expected from Jaime and why there remains ongoing evaluation of Nikola. It sounds so simplistic, but it is a process with NBA rookies. This league is replete with stories of players who went from draft question marks or even draft busts to enduring talents. That is the ongoing hope with Kel’el, just as it was and is with Jaime and Nikola.
Related ArticlesQ: Ira, when I read your columns regarding the Heat’s decisions on rotations. it’s almost as if you are reciting song and verse of Erik Spoelstra’s mind. The randomness of suggesting Kel’el Ware is not ready is absurd when the current power rotation lacks length, scoring/shooting ability. In limited play, it’s obvious Ware is a better run defender, shooter and scorer than anyone currently playing up front. His body is no less developed than Victor Wembanyama, who last I checked is doing serious damage when he’s on the court. The absurdity of waiting for Bam Adebayo to become a star and a centerpiece of any team’s effort to ascend to the top of the league is utter fantasy. Bam is 27 years old, in his eighth year. He is who he is: a good defender, distributor and decent rebounder, who has severe offensive deficiencies. No team without additional scoring punch up front is going to be a real contender with a 6-9 center who can’t shoot and has a limited offensive game. – Curtis.
A: Yes, a lot of it probably is song and verse from Erik Spoelstra, because Erik Spoelstra sees Kel’el Ware in practice every day, at shootarounds, and dives deeper into video than any outsider possibly could. And while Kel’el has had his moments, it has not been nearly good enough defensively, an end of the court where the Heat, as currently built, have no option but to hang their hat. Again, this is a 20-year-old with only a single truly productive college season. Against summer-league talent and preseason rosters, he has shown more than capable. But this is a different level. This was not drafting Jaime Jaquez Jr. as a ready-to-go prospect. This was drafting while taking the long view. And the long view is not one month into a career. In the end, the hope seemingly is that Kel’el can complement Bam Adebayo, make both players better. That is an end game, not an in-the-moment game. Patience can be hard; it also can be necessary.
Q: How crazy will the Heat’s court look for the NBA Cup. I was watching with my wife last night, and she said it was hard to see the ball. – Jeffrey.
A: Put it this way, it certainly will provide a wake-up call. The NBA clearly is looking for statements. The Heat’s Cup court will produce just that, albeit not in as stark a way as last year’s red court.
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