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By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN (Associated Press)

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico’s top prosecutor announced charges Wednesday against three men who are accused of using Meta’s social media platforms to target and solicit sex with underage children.

The arrests are the result of a monthslong undercover operation in which the suspects connected with decoy accounts that were set up by the state Department of Justice. The investigation began in December around the time the state filed a civil lawsuit against the social media giant, claiming Meta was failing to take basic precautionary measures to ensure children were safe on its platforms.

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez said during a news conference Wednesday that the suspects communicated and exchanged explicit sexual content through Facebook’s messenger app and were clear in expressing a sexual interest in children.

“It’s extraordinarily concerning to us just how easily these individuals found the undercover personas that were created,” Torrez said. “And it is, frankly, I think a wakeup call for all of us to understand just how serious these kinds of threats are.”

He placed blame on Meta executives, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and suggested that the company was putting profits above the interests of parents and children.

“For those of us who are engaged in this work, we are simply tired of the rhetoric,” he said. “We are tired of the assurances that have been given to members of our communities, to members of Congress, to policymakers that all reasonable steps have been taken to ensure that this type of behavior doesn’t occur.”

Meta disputed the allegations and reiterated Wednesday that it uses technology to prevent suspicious adults from finding or interacting with children and teens on its apps and that it works with law enforcement in investigating and prosecuting offenders.

The company also said it has hired child safety experts, reports content to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and shares information and tools with others to help root out predators.

“This is an ongoing fight, where determined criminals evolve their tactics across platforms to try and evade protections,” Meta said in an emailed statement.

While the state attorney general’s office will continue working to identify predators who are targeting children, Torrez said it’s too early to say whether that work will have a bearing on the civil litigation.

As part of that lawsuit, New Mexico prosecutors say they have uncovered internal documents in which Meta employees estimate about 100,000 children every day are subjected to sexual harassment on the company’s platforms.

The three defendants in the criminal case were identified as Fernando Clyde, Marlon Kellywood and Christopher Reynolds. Prosecutors are seeking to detain them pending trial on charges that include child solicitation by an electronic communication device.

Hearings have yet to be scheduled, and court records did not list attorneys who could speak on behalf of Clyde and Kellywood. A message was left with the public defender’s office, which is representing Reynolds.

By WAFAA SHURAFA, SARAH EL DEEB and LEE KEATH (Associated Press)

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Tens of thousands of displaced and exhausted Palestinians have packed up their tents and other belongings from Rafah, dragging families on a new exodus.

The main hospital has shut down, leaving little care for people suffering from malnutrition, illnesses and wounds.

And with fuel and other supplies cut off, aid workers have been scrambling to help a population desperate after seven months of war.

As the possibility of a full-scale invasion looms, Gaza’s overcrowded southernmost city has been thrown into panic and chaos by Israel’s seizure of the nearby border crossing with Egypt.

Families uprooted multiple times by the war were uncertain where to go: to the half-destroyed city of Khan Younis, to points even farther north, or to an Israeli-declared “humanitarian zone” in Gaza already teeming with people with little water or supplies?

The past three days, streams of people on foot or in vehicles have jammed the roads out of Rafah in a confused evacuation, their belongings piled high in cars, trucks and donkey carts. All the while, Israeli bombardment has boomed and raised palls of smoke.

“The war has caught up with us even in schools. There is no safe place at all,” said Nuzhat Jarjer. Her family packed on Wednesday to leave a U.N. school-turned-shelter in Rafah that was rapidly emptying of the hundreds who had lived there for months.

Rafah had 250,000 residents before the war. Its population had ballooned to some 1.4 million as people from across Gaza fled there. Nearly every empty space was blanketed with tent camps, and families crammed into schools or homes with relatives. Like the rest of Gaza’s population, they have been largely reliant on aid groups for food and other basics of life.

Israel on Monday issued evacuation orders for eastern parts of the city, home to some 100,000. It then sent tanks to seize the nearby Rafah crossing with Egypt, shutting it down.

It remains uncertain whether Israel will launch an all-out invasion of Rafah as international efforts continue for a cease-fire. Israel has said an assault on Rafah is crucial to its goal of destroying Hamas after the group’s Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel that left 1,200 dead and 250 as hostages in Gaza.

The United States, which opposes a Rafah invasion, has said Israel has not provided a credible plan for evacuating and protecting civilians. The war has killed over 34,800 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, and has driven some 80% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million Palestinians from their homes.

For now, confusion has reigned. Fearing a greater assault, Palestinians fled districts other than the eastern areas they were ordered to leave. Tens of thousands are estimated to have left, according to a U.N. official who spoke on condition of anonymity because agencies were still trying to determine precise figures.

Tent camps in some parts of Rafah have vanished, springing up again further north along main roads. New camps have filled streets, cemeteries and the beach in the central Gaza town of Deir al-Balah, 15 kilometers (10 miles) north, as people flowed in, said Ghada Alhaddad, who works there with the aid group Oxfam, speaking to a briefing by several humanitarian workers.

Others made their way to Khan Younis, much of which was destroyed in a months-long Israeli ground assault.

Suze van Meegen, head of operations for the Norwegian Refugee Council in Palestine, said the Rafah district where she is based “feels like a ghost town.”

The Israeli military told those evacuating to go to a “humanitarian zone” it declared in Muwasi, a nearby rural area on the Mediterranean coast. The zone is already packed with some 450,000 people, according to the U.N. Few new facilities appear to be prepared, despite the military’s announcements that tents, medical centers and food would be present.

The ground is covered in many places with sewage and solid waste, since there are few sanitation facilities, aid workers say. Clean water is lacking and dehydration is a major problem, with temperatures some days already reaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius).

The water quality is “horrifically bad. We tested some of the water and the fecal content … is incredibly high,” said James Smith, a British emergency doctor volunteering at the European General Hospital in nearby Khan Younis. Acute jaundice is rampant — and probably caused by hepatitis, but there’s no capabilities to test, he said.

The newly arrived struggle to find tents because of an extreme shortage among aid groups.

Before his family left Rafah to the zone, Iyad al-Masry said he had to sell food received from aid groups to buy a tent for the equivalent of nearly $400.

His family set up their tent in Muwasi, smoothing the dirt ground before setting down a cradle to rock an infant in. Al-Masri said he has been searching for water and can’t afford the three shekels — a little less than $1 — that sellers charge for a gallon of drinking water.

“We want to eat … We are just waiting for God’s mercy,” he said.

Nick Maynard, a surgeon with Medical Aid for Palestinians who left Gaza on Monday, said two teenage girls who had survivable injuries died last week because of complications from malnutrition.

“They get this vicious cycle of malnutrition, infection, wounds breaking down, more infection, more malnutrition,” said Maynard.

The number of children in Rafah who have lost one or more limbs is “staggering,” said Alexandra Saieh from Save The Children. “These people cannot just pick up and relocate.”

Rafah’s main Youssef al-Najjar Hospital evacuated on Tuesday. Smith said staff and patients rushed out even though they weren’t under evacuation orders because they feared Israeli troops would raid, just as they did hospitals in northern Gaza and Khan Younis, which were left decimated.

Israel claims Hamas used the hospitals for military purposes, an accusation Hamas and Gaza health officials deny.

Israeli tank shells Wednesday hit about 300 meters (yards) from the Kuwaiti Hospital, one of the few facilities still operating, and wounded several children, according to hospital officials.

The closure of Rafah crossing and the nearby Kerem Shalom crossing from Israel has cut off the entry of food, supplies, and fuel for aid trucks and generators. Aid groups warn they have only a few days of fuel before humanitarian operations and hospitals around Gaza begin to shut down.

Israel said Wednesday it reopened Kerem Shalom, which was shut after Hamas mortars killed four Israeli soldiers nearby, but aid groups said no trucks were entering the Gaza side. Trucks let through from Israel must be unloaded and the cargo reloaded onto trucks in Gaza, but no workers in Gaza can get to the facility to do so because it is too dangerous, the U.N. says.

Palestinian workers trying to reach the border crossing Wednesday were shot at, and several were wounded, the Israeli military said. It did not specify who opened fire but said it was investigating. Hamas also shelled in the area of Kerem Shalom on Wednesday, saying it was targeting nearby troops.

The U.N.’s World Food Program has been cut off from its Gaza food warehouse near the Rafah crossing, its deputy executive director Carl Skau said. It procured another warehouse in Deir al-Balah, but it’s empty until crossings reopen, he said.

Van Meegen, of the Norwegian Refugee Council, said without more supplies, “how do we even begin to prioritize the dribble of humanitarian aid we have here when almost every single person is being forced to depend on it?”

——

El Deeb and Keath reported from Cairo. Associated Press correspondents Sam Mednick in Jerusalem and Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut contributed.

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General Daily Insight for May 08, 2024

Today’s energy is basically positive, although it might seem chaotic at first. The sensual Taurus Moon conjoins erratic Uranus and indulgent Jupiter, heightening our attraction to anything that promises pleasure. We’ll probably act first and start asking questions later — after Luna shifts into brainy Gemini at 7:20 pm EDT. The Moon also trines profound Pluto, giving us an opportunity to discover that even apparently strange decisions often have some sort of underlying logic. Our needs will find ways to be met!

Aries

March 21 – April 19

An impulse purchase could have you excited at the moment. When the thoughtful Moon in your communication zone reaches out to entrenched Pluto in your social sector, you might want to tell your friends what you just bought. The point isn’t to brag about how cool you are. Rather, it’s that you’ve potentially found a solution to a problem that has been dragging one of your pals down for a long time. Sometimes it’s truly possible to buy your way out of trouble!

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

You’re likely eager to assert yourself and make your mark in a distinctive way at present. In your passion, you run the risk of being a little unfocused. Once the security-seeking Moon moves into your money zone, getting real about the financial side of an idea you’re considering could rein you in. Although you may feel like you must do something big to impress others, you probably have more than you think going for you just the way you are. Live within your means.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

A big idea may be burning a hole in you at the moment. After the impulsive Moon bursts into your sign, perhaps you’ll finally be ready to make it public. You won’t be able to predict or control everything about the way this interaction goes. However, if you go into it with some idea of what you hope to get out of your disclosure, you’re more likely to be happy with the outcome. Look for a comfortable blend of planning and spontaneity.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Your social life has the ability to offer a potentially exhausting amount of stimulation now. To keep up with the flow of events, you may need to let the crowd sweep you along at times. Once you get a quiet moment or two, however, you’ll probably want to think through everything you’ve seen and heard. A companion might have noticed meaningful details that flew right over your head, so consider a joint processing session. Your insights could be valuable to them too!

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Telling your peers about an innovative project you’re working on could bring you a flood of feedback. Perhaps inspiration came to you like a bolt from the blue, and you haven’t thought through the details in an organized and methodical way yet. That’s not inevitably wrong, but it’s likely to attract responses that feel critical. Make an effort to tell the difference between naysayers and people who might be interested in joining you if they got their questions answered. Good help is hard to find!

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Exotic ideas might grab your attention at any moment! While the inquisitive Moon rumbles with edgy Uranus and extravagant Jupiter in your adventurous 9th house, throwing yourself into a wild story could be an appealing way to escape the boredom of your everyday life. This is especially true if you’ve been feeling walled in by routines and responsibilities that you can’t avoid. To get grounded in a good way, look for something you do have control over, even if it seems small.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

An atmosphere of secrecy could currently make something seem bigger than it really needs to be. While the emotional Moon stirs up outrageous Uranus and sensational Jupiter in your mysterious 8th house, you might thoroughly enjoy feeling titillated by a good drama full of complicated intrigue. Even so, there’s a high chance that you’ll eventually need to separate your longing for excitement from your other priorities. Whenever you’re ready, stepping back and thinking things through rationally ought to lead you to surprisingly straightforward answers.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

A recent companion could be wild and zany in a way that draws you in. On the other hand, you might find them rather overwhelming. They may have a calmer, deeper side that they’re afraid to show — maybe they feel like they need to put on a show to hold your interest. Calling them out on this dynamic directly would probably scare them even more. Being secure in your peace, however, should give them room to gently drift in that direction.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

You may genuinely enjoy being busy today. While the grounded Moon vibes with unconventional Uranus and joyful Jupiter in your 6th House of Responsibilities, routine tasks may deepen into something quite engrossing. You can take pride in learning a new skill! There’s probably still a repetitive side to your duties, though, so consider sharing the work with a companion. While you’re committed to finishing the job, you’re not going anywhere else — you might as well sink into a deep conversation!

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Letting your creativity flow freely can speedily lead you to an interesting idea. Sure, it could seem to be just for fun at first, but it doesn’t have to end there. Once the nurturing Moon moves into your practical 6th house, you can start thinking about how you might bring your brainstorm into reality. Investing in yourself in this way may or may not get you rich quickly. Regardless, finding out what you’re capable of should, at minimum, increase your self-worth.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Your home may be more stimulating than relaxing at the moment. As long as you’re having fun, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Knowing you have a safe place to let your freak flag fly should be wonderfully liberating! After the expressive Moon shifts into your individualistic 5th house, you might be ready to take a small step toward sharing this side of yourself with a wider audience. It’s okay for change to happen in small amounts at a time.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Hot gossip could currently command your interest. Once you get hold of a juicy tidbit, it’ll probably be hard to resist the urge to look for more where that came from. Curiosity is only human! Still, at some point, you might need to know what’s actually true. After the impressionable Moon pivots into your rooted 4th house, you’re likely to feel a little calmer. This frame of mind may seem boring by comparison, but prioritizing reality should reduce your risk of getting in trouble.

A 26-year-old man was arrested Monday in connection with a crash in Coral Springs on Sunday afternoon that killed a 6-year-old girl, police said.

Chevon Graham, of Sunrise, was driving a 2023 Mercedes-Benz with two passengers shortly after 5 p.m., and an officer on patrol attempted to pull the car over for a traffic violation near the 8500 block of West Sample Road, the police department said in a news release shared on social media. Police did not say what traffic violation Graham was being pulled over for.

The Mercedes sped off when the officer turned on his emergency lights and sirens, and the police department said the officer “discontinued the traffic stop by immediately shutting off his emergency lights and siren,” in accordance with their pursuit policy.

Pursuits are not to be initiated for any traffic offenses, the police department’s policy says, and if a driver flees and the offense does not meet the criteria for a chase, officers must turn off their lights and sirens, notify dispatch and either turn away from the fleeing car or stop driving. The policy says officers are not to follow the path of the fleeing car unless they hear of or are informed of a crash.

The Mercedes driver continued speeding away from the officer, heading west on Sample Road and crashed into a 2018 Chevrolet Traverse, police said. The force ejected the 6-year-old girl from the Chevrolet, who was “secured” in a car seat, the police department said.

She was pronounced dead at Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale. The driver of the Chevrolet was taken to Broward Health North in Deerfield Beach and was expected to recover. Their identities were not released.

Graham, who was identified at the scene as the driver of the Mercedes-Benz, and the two passengers in his car were taken to Broward Health North. They were expected to recover, Coral Springs Police said.

Broward County jail records show Graham was being held in the North Broward Bureau as of Tuesday night on charges of vehicular homicide, fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer causing injury or death, second offense driving with a suspended license, reckless driving causing serious bodily injury and reckless driving causing property damage.

Court records and Graham’s attorney information were not available Tuesday night.

UCF softball is embarking on another milestone.

It is entering this week’s Big 12 softball tournament and is looking to significantly impact its inaugural season in the conference.

The Knights (30-22, 12-15 Big 12) earned the fifth seed and a first-round bye and will face No. 4 Baylor (31-19, 14-13 Big 12) in the quarterfinals on Thursday (8:30 p.m., ESPN+) at Oklahoma City’s OGE Field at Devon Park.

The winner of this crucial match advances to Friday’s semifinals (7:30 p.m., ESPN+), where they would face No. 1 Texas (45-6, 23-4) vs. Iowa State/Texas Tech winner, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown.

The championship is set for Saturday at 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2), and the winner will earn the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division I softball championship.

UCF, EA Sports create a partnership built for the future

UCF has won at least 30 games in the past four seasons and five of the six years under coach Cindy Ball-Malone. The Knights have qualified for the NCAA Tournament in the past three seasons, advancing to the Super Regional in 2022.

While the program enjoyed success in the American Athletic Conference, capped with conference championships in 2015 and ’22, this first season in the Big 12 has certainly had its ups and downs.

The team suffered through a seven-game losing streak in mid-March, and the Knights dropped back-to-back series to then-No. 4 Oklahoma State and then-No. 2 Texas.

UCF bounced back to win 12 of its next 13 games, taking series from Texas Tech, BYU and Houston.

The Knights faced big moments and outfielder Chloe Evans was one of those players who understood Power 5 pressure first hand.

Evans, a seasoned player who hails from Wisconsin, played two seasons in the Big Ten while at Minnesota.

“I knew what those big moments felt like, playing in those big games, those big rivalry games,” said Evans. “I feel like the Big 12 was a little bit different. It felt like every game was a rivalry game. You had this intense competition between every single team, no matter who you were playing.”

UCF adds future home-and-home series with Northwestern, Pittsburgh

Evans, who is in her final season, batted .315 with 7 home runs and 37 RBI in 52 games.

“We did a good job of trying to play at teams all year,” she said. “We remembered to play within ourselves and remembered that all the games are really big and really important.”

Pitcher Sarah Willis wrapped up her second and final season with the Knights, finishing with a 2.39 ERA and a 9-9 record in 20 starts.

“Moving from the AAC to the Big 12, it’s been a big jump,” said Willis. “I feel like I’ve been preparing myself for it. I came in and did way better than people thought I would do. I’m proud of myself and the team.

“We’ve had some ups and downs, but we’ve kept our fight and given people a run for their money.”

Baylor swept its three-game series with UCF on April 19-20, 2-1, 1-0, and 1-0. In the losses, the Knights were 12-for-73 (.164) with 17 strikeouts. Evans went 2-for-8 (.250) with a home run, while Willis went winless in two complete games, giving up 3 runs on 7 hits, 3 walks and 8 strikeouts.

“We’ve not reached our potential as a team,” said Willis. “We’ve had moments where our pitching was great, our defense was great and our offense was great, but if we can bring it all together and have a solid seven innings then we’re just as good as any team in the Big 12.”

Added Evans: “We can’t make things bigger than they are, and we have to stay within ourselves whoever is on the other side.”

Matt Murschel can be reached at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com

Big 12 softball tournament

FIRST ROUND (Wednesday)

Game 1: No. 7 Kansas vs. No. 10 Houston, 6 p.m., ESPN+

Game 2: No. 8 Texas Tech vs. No. 9 Iowa State, 8:30 p.m., ESPN+

QUARTERFINALS [Thursday]

Game 3: No. 6 BYU vs. No. 3 Oklahoma State, Noon, ESPN+

Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. No. 2 Oklahoma, 2:30 p.m., ESPN+

Game 5: Game 2 winner vs. No. 1 Texas, 6 p.m., ESPN+

Game 6: No. 4 Baylor vs. No. 5 UCF, 8:30 p.m., ESPN+

SEMIFINALS [Friday]

Game 7: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 6 p.m., ESPN+

Game 8: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 8:30 p.m., ESPN+

CHAMPIONSHIP [Saturday]

Game 9: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 7:30 p.m., ESPN2

By HANNAH SCHOENBAUM (Associated Press)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Transgender activists have flooded a Utah tip line created to alert state officials to possible violations of a new bathroom law with thousands of hoax reports in an effort to shield trans residents and their allies from any legitimate complaints that could threaten their safety.

The onslaught has led the state official tasked by the law with managing the tip line, Utah Auditor John Dougall, to bemoan getting stuck with the cumbersome task of filtering through fake complaints while also facing backlash for enforcing a law he had no role in passing.

“No auditor goes into auditing so they can be the bathroom monitors,” Dougall said Tuesday. “I think there were much better ways for the Legislature to go about addressing their concerns, rather than this ham-handed approach.”

In the week since it launched, the online tip line already has received more than 10,000 submissions, none of which seem legitimate, he said. The form asks people to report public school employees who knowingly allow someone to use a gender-designated facility in the presence of the opposite sex.

Utah residents and visitors are required by law to use bathrooms and changing rooms in government-owned buildings that correspond with their birth sex. As of last Wednesday, schools and agencies found not enforcing the new restrictions can be fined up to $10,000 per day for each violation.

Although their advocacy efforts failed to stop Republican lawmakers in many states from passing restrictions for trans people, the community has found success in interfering with the often ill-conceived enforcement plans attached to those laws.

Within hours of its publication Wednesday night, trans activists and community members from across the U.S. already had spread the Utah tip line widely on social media. Many shared the spam they had submitted and encouraged others to follow suit.

Their efforts mark the latest attempt by advocates to shut down or render unusable a government tip line that they argue sows division by encouraging residents to snitch on each other. Similar portals in at least five other states also have been inundated with hoax reports, leading state officials to shut some down.

In Virginia, Indiana, Arizona and Louisiana, activists flooded tip lines created to field complaints about teachers, librarians and school administrators who may have spoken to students about race, LGBTQ+ identities or other topics lawmakers argued were inappropriate for children. The Virginia tip line was taken down within a year, as was a tip line introduced in Missouri to report gender-affirming health care clinics.

Erin Reed, a prominent trans activist and legislative researcher, said there is a collective understanding in the trans community that submitting these hoax reports is an effective way of protesting the law and protecting trans people who might be targeted.

“There will be people who are trans that go into bathrooms that are potentially reported by these sorts of forms, and so the community is taking on a protective role,” Reed said. “If there are 4,000, 5,000, 6,000 form responses that are entered in, it’s going to be much harder for the auditor’s office to sift through every one of them and find the one legitimate trans person who was caught using a bathroom.”

The auditor’s office has encountered many reports that Dougall described as “total nonsense,” and others that he said appear credible at first glance and take much longer to filter out. His staff has spent the last week sorting through thousands of well-crafted complaints citing fake names or locations.

Despite efforts to clog the enforcement tool they had outlined in the bill, the Republican sponsors, Rep. Kera Birkeland and Sen. Dan McCay, said they remain confident in the tip line and the auditor’s ability filter out fake complaints.

“It’s not surprising that activists are taking the time to send false reports,” Birkeland said. “But that isn’t a distraction from the importance of the legislation and the protection it provides women across Utah.”

The Morgan Republican had pitched the policy as a safety measure to protect the privacy of women and girls without citing evidence of threats or assaults by trans people against them.

McCay said he hadn’t realized activists were responsible for flooding the tip line. The Salt Lake City senator said he does not plan to change how the law is being enforced.

LGBTQ+ rights advocates also have warned the law and the accompanying tip line give people license to question anyone’s gender in community spaces, which they argue could even affect people who are not trans.

Their warnings were amplified earlier this year when a Utah school board member came under fire — and later lost her reelection bid — for publicly questioning the gender of a high school basketball player she wrongly assumed was transgender.

By ISABELLA O’MALLEY (Associated Press)

Billions of people are using different kinds of energy each day and 2023 was a record-breaking year for renewable energy sources — ones that don’t emit planet-warming pollutants like carbon dioxide and methane — according to a report published Wednesday by Ember, a think tank based in London.

For the first time, 30% of electricity produced worldwide was from clean energy sources as the number of solar and wind farms continued to grow fast.

Of the types of clean energy generated last year, hydroelectric dams produced the most. That’s the same as in most years. Yet droughts in India, China, North America and Mexico meant hydropower hit a five-year low. Research shows climate change is causing droughts to develop more quickly and be more severe.

People used more electricity than ever last year, about 2% more, an increase of about as much as Canada uses in a year. Some of this new demand was for heat pumps, which are an efficient way to both heat and cool buildings, and for electric vehicles. It was also for electrolyzers, special machines used to get hydrogen out of water, for energy. These are all technologies that provide solutions to climate change.

Other increased demand was for electricity to feed new data centers and for air conditioning as places around the world become hotter.

Solar made up the biggest share of new clean energy last year. More than twice as much solar power was added as coal power. It was the 19th year in a row that solar was the fastest-growing source of electricity generation. A surge in solar installations happened at the end of the year and the report predicts 2024 will see an even larger jump.

China added more renewable energy than any other country last year — 51% of the new solar power and 60% of the new wind power globally. China, the European Union, the United States and Brazil together accounted for 81% of new solar generation in 2023.

Yet China was also responsible for 55% of coal generation globally and 60% of China’s electricity generation came from coal. The International Energy Agency says coal is the most carbon-intensive of the fossil fuels.

Scientists say emissions from burning fuels like coal must ramp steeply down to protect Earth’s climate, yet there was an increase in electricity made from burning fossil fuels. China, India, Vietnam and Mexico were responsible for nearly all of the rise.

The report said some countries burned coal to make up for the loss of hydroelectric power they experienced when drought caused their reservoirs to dry up. This is an example of a vicious cycle — when climate change prompts the use of more of the substances that cause climate change in the first place.

Despite all the growth in clean energy, fossil fuels still made up the majority of global electricity generated last year, causing a 1% rise in global power sector emissions. Scientists say even if we slashed all greenhouse gas emissions today, the planet would continue to warm for years because of the amount of pollutants already added to the atmosphere.

Analysts expect the world to use even more electricity in 2024. But renewable energy generation is forecast to grow even faster. That could mean a 2% drop (333 terawatt-hours) in energy generated from fossil fuels.

____

The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

By SARA CLINE (Associated Press)

Despite pleas from Democrats and gut-wrenching testimony from doctors and rape survivors, a GOP-controlled legislative committee rejected a bill Tuesday that would have added cases of rape and incest as exceptions to Louisiana’s abortion ban.

In the reliably red state, which is firmly ensconced in the Bible Belt and where even some Democrats oppose abortions, adding exceptions to Louisiana’s strict law has been an ongoing battle for advocates — with a similar measure failing last year. Currently, of the 14 states with abortion bans at all stages of pregnancy, six have exceptions in cases of rape and five have exceptions for incest.

“I will beg (committee) members to come to common sense,” Democratic state Rep. Alonzo Knox said to fellow lawmakers ahead of the vote, urging them to give approval to the exceptions. “I’m begging now.”

Lawmakers voted against the bill along party lines, with the measure failing 4-7.

A nearly identical bill met the same fate last year, effectively dying in the same committee. In the hopes of advancing the legislation out of committee and to the House floor for full debate, bill sponsor Democratic state Rep. Delisha Boyd added an amendment to the measure so that the exceptions would only apply to those who are younger than 17. However, the change was still not enough to sway opponents.

“We have cases here in Louisiana with children being raped and then subjected to carrying a child to term,” Boyd, a Democrat who has told her own mother’s story in an effort to fight for passage of the bil l. “I hope we take a look at the fact that this is to protect the most vulnerable, our children.”

Boyd said she will continue to try to get the bill onto the floor, possibly asking the House chamber to vote to bypass the committee. However, the technique is rarely successful for Democrats in the Legislature where Republicans hold a supermajority.

While most of those who voted against the bill did not give a reason for their vote, GOP state Rep. Dodie Horton offered her thoughts, saying that while she believes convicted rapists should receive the maximum penalty possible, she can’t in good conscience allow for abortions. She described the fetuses as “innocent children.”

“I think we should punish the perpetrator to the nth degree, I’d love to hang them from the high street if it was in my power to do so. But I cannot condone killing the innocent,” Horton said.

As in multiple other Republican states, Louisiana’s abortion law went into effect in 2022 following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, ending a half-century of the nationwide right to abortion. The only exceptions to the ban are if there is substantial risk of death or impairment to the mother if she continues the pregnancy or in the case of “medically futile” pregnancies — when the fetus has a fatal abnormality.

Democrats have repeatedly fought — and failed — to loosen the law by clarifying vague language, abolishing jail time for doctors who perform illegal abortions and adding exceptions.

“It’s disgusting to me that we have a society where we can’t make exceptions in a situation where a young girl’s innocence has been taken away in the most vile way… and now she’s impregnated and somebody, somewhere, wants to force a nine, 10, 11, 12, 13-year-old child to have a baby for the monster that took away her innocence?” Knox said.

The bill attracted dozens of people to testify, including rape survivors who shared their own stories and doctors who argued that their hands are tied by the current law.

OB-GYN Dr. Neelima Sukhavasi told lawmakers that since the abortion ban has gone into effect, she and other colleagues have delivered babies who are birthed by teenagers who have been raped.

“One of these teenagers delivered a baby while clutching a Teddy Bear — and that’s an image that once you see that, you can’t unsee it,” Sukhavasi said.

In 2021, there were 7,444 reported abortions in Louisiana, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of those, 27 were obtained by people younger than 15. Nationwide, 1,338 pregnant patients under 15 received abortions, according to the CDC.

A study released by the Journal of the American Medical Association found that between July 2022 and January 2024, there were more than 64,000 pregnancies resulting from rape in states where abortion has been banned in all or most cases.

By LARRY NEUMEISTER (Associated Press)

NEW YORK (AP) — One-time movie mogul Harvey Weinstein was returned to a New York City jail in what his publicist said Tuesday was the result from a published report claiming he was getting VIP treatment during his 10-day stay at a hospital.

The publicist, Juda Engelmeyer, said Weinstein was moved late Monday from Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan to an infirmary at the city’s Rikers Island jail complex.

The move came hours after The City, a nonprofit news outlet, reported that Weinstein was housed in a private room in the hospital’s intensive care unit with a television, phone and a bathroom rather than a separate floor where inmates normally reside.

Engelmeyer disputed the account, saying Weinstein “wasn’t getting preferential or VIP treatment” and wasn’t housed in what could be characterized as a hospital suite. Engelmeyer said he’d been housed on the floor for inmates where everyone has access to a room with phones and a television room.

“He’s been moved back to Rikers largely due to pressure, I believe, due to pressure because of the news about what somebody thought was VIP treatment,” he said.

Weinstein was brought to Bellevue Hospital only hours after he was transferred on April 26 from the Mohawk Correctional Facility, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) northwest of Albany, to Rikers less than a day after the New York Court of Appeals vacated his conviction.

The appeals court ruled that a Manhattan trial judge permitted jurors to see and hear too much evidence not directly related to the charges he faced, and it ordered a new trial, negating his 23-year prison sentence. However, he remained jailed because he was convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 of another rape and was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

While prosecutors have asked for a September retrial on charges that he forcibly performed oral sex on a TV and film production assistant in 2006 and raped an aspiring actor in 2013, it was unclear if key trial witnesses would return for a new trial. Weinstein has disputed the allegations.

Frank Dwyer, a New York City Department of Correction spokesperson, said Weinstein was originally taken to Bellevue for medical care and was returned to the West Facility, a Rikers Island jail in Queens, when the treatment was completed.

The West Facility houses 140 specially air-controlled housing units for inmates with contagious diseases such as tuberculosis, according to a city website, though the jail has reportedly also been used for inmates that need to be isolated from the general jail population for other reasons.

Craig Rothfeld, a jail consultant working with Weinstein attorneys, responded to an email sent to a Weinstein lawyer by saying the decision to return Weinstein to Rikers was made by medical staff “who are more than qualified to make these medical decisions.”

He said there are no more updates to provide regarding Weinstein’s health, and all of his health conditions continue to be closely monitored by city jail and health officials.

“We have every confidence in their decision-making ability regarding Mr. Weinstein’s safety and well-being and are grateful for their continued communication,” Rothfeld said.

Engelmeyer said Weinstein had been treated at the hospital for pneumonia, a recurring issue related to his heart troubles, along with his other medical issues, including diabetes.

“He appreciates the care he was getting in Bellevue,” he said.

Engelmeyer said Weinstein was “disappointed” at his return to Rikers and was “uncomfortable” there, where the spokesperson described Weinstein’s housing as “more like an infirmary.”

He said Weinstein was regularly speaking by phone with his lawyers when he was at the hospital as other inmates awaiting trial are allowed to do.

“He didn’t get any treatment different from others. He wasn’t talking to his friends and buddies and having a good time,” Engelmeyer said.

Engelmeyer said Weinstein gained some “relief and hope” from the appeals ruling, but he knows he faces a long prison term from the California case and an appeal of that conviction won’t be heard for another year.

“His spirits are up, but he also knows he has a long, long trip ahead of him,” Engelmeyer said. “He knows that he won’t be getting out soon.

UCF football season tickets have been snapped up by fans, with the athletics department selling out its 2024 allotment in record time.

It’s a monumental achievement for the Knights, marking the earliest sellout of their ticket allotment in school history. This is the fourth consecutive season and fifth overall since 2019 in which the school has achieved a sellout, a testament to the passionate fan base.

UCF athletics director Terry Mohajir celebrated the accomplishment on social media Tuesday.

“Fastest @UCF_Football season-ticket sellout & fifth one since 2019!! Can’t wait for more Power 4 football in Orlando this fall! GO KNIGHTS!!” Mohajir wrote in a post on X.

Fastest @UCF_Football season-ticket sellout & fifth one since 2019!!

Can't wait for more Power 4 football in Orlando this fall! GO KNIGHTS!! pic.twitter.com/Th9EcxxKvm

— Terry Mohajir (@TerryMohajirAD) May 7, 2024

According to the latest NCAA attendance figures, UCF’s six home games in 2023 — its first season in the Big 12 — averaged 44,015 fans, 99% of the capacity of the 44,206-seat FBC Mortgage Stadium. The Knights have averaged 42,758 fans during the past six seasons, minus the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic season, when attendance was limited to 25% capacity.

UCF’s home schedule begins with the season-opener against New Hampshire (Aug. 29), followed by Sam Houston (Sept. 7), Colorado (Sept. 28), Cincinnati (Oct. 12), BYU (Oct. 26), Arizona (Nov. 2) and Utah (Nov. 29).

“It’s a good schedule,” coach Gus Malzahn said in February. We have eight games in state, and that’s important. There are going to be some really good home games that our fans are going to enjoy so we’re looking forward to that.”

Matt Murschel can be reached at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com

Former Superintendent Peter Licata would continue to work for Broward Schools as an employee until July 1 and another nine weeks as a consultant under a tentative $138,000 separation package he negotiated Tuesday.

The proposed agreement also includes a provision that neither Licata nor district leadership can disparage the other for a year. A non-disparagement clause in previous Superintendent Vickie Cartwright’s contract has proved challenging for the district, as she has filed complaints with the district alleging it has been violated multiple times.

The School Board is scheduled to vote on the agreement at a meeting at 4 p.m. May 14 at Plantation High.

Licata, who just started in July, announced April 16 he was stepping down on Dec. 31 due to health reasons. The School Board voted to terminate his contract immediately, replace him with Howard Hepburn, who had been deputy superintendent for teaching and learning, and negotiate separation details with Licata.

School Board Chairwoman Lori Alhadeff and General Counsel Marylin Batista held the negotiations virtually Tuesday with Licata and his lawyer, Glen Torcivia.

A major sticking point was whether Licata’s separation should be considered a retirement or a termination without cause, the latter of which provides more lucrative benefits, including a required 60 days’ notice and 20 weeks of severance pay.

Batista said Licata appeared ready to step down April 16, so his exit should be treated as a retirement. Torcivia argued the opposite.

“His retirement date was Dec. 31. The board took action,” Torcivia said during negotiations. “I listened to that meeting. I never heard him say, ‘I want to resign. I want to leave now.’ It was the board that said, ‘I want to hire someone else.'”

At the April 16 meeting, which is available online, Licata encouraged the School Board to immediately replace him with Hepburn to ensure “the smoothest transition” for the district.

“This allows us to potentially lock in an incredible talent, as well as make sure we do have some stability as we move forward,” Licata told the board that day, adding that he wouldn’t predict whether he would even be well enough to work until Dec. 31.

School Board members have publicly voiced concern about giving 20 weeks of severance to Licata, who made $350,000 a year, since he’d worked for the district less than a year and his exit was voluntary.

So in lieu of severance, Torcivia first offered that Licata be given 60 days’ notice at full pay and benefits, and then allow him to do 14 weeks of consulting at $6,731 per week, the same pay as being superintendent but without any benefits.

Batista initially offered 30 days’ notice but then agreed to keep him as an employee until July 1, saying the benefits department told her that’s when he’d be fully vested within the Florida Retirement System for 30 years of service. Licata started as a teacher in Palm Beach County in 1994.

Licata said during negotiations that retirement milestone was wrong but refused to provide the correct date, saying it was immaterial to the discussions.

However, Licata ultimately agreed to the July 1 end date as an employee, nine weeks of consulting, $3,000 for lawyer fees and a one-year non-disparagement clause. The total package is $137,615, not including benefits.

The non-disparagement clause, lasting a year, would apply if Licata were to make any disparaging comments about the superintendent or School Board, or if the School Board were to make any such comments about Licata.

“I can’t imagine anything negative. Everything I’ve heard is positive, but you never know,” Torcivia said during negotiations.

The proposed language comes three weeks after former Superintendent Cartwright alleged violations in a non-disparagement clause in her February 2023 separation agreement, putting the district in potential legal jeopardy.

The non-disparagement agreement involving Cartwright has no expiration date, district spokesman John Sullivan told the Sun Sentinel in an email from Feb. 16, 2023.

I heard back from @Johnjsully on who non-disparagement clause for frmr Supt. Cartwright’s separation agreement applies to. Looks like School Board members & top administrators but not other employees. As is common w/ @browardschools inquiries, many questions aren’t answered. https://t.co/qEeGGnzRjV pic.twitter.com/KbJ9KEbgv0

— Scott Travis (@smtravis) February 16, 2023

Cartwright sent a cease-and-desist email April 16 to Batista and Alhadeff, alleging Board member Torey Alston violated the agreement, including in an April 13 post on the social media site X where he commented on a Sun Sentinel opinion column that was critical of him and another board member.

“Nice political ‘hit job.’ Blame everyone else for high millage rates, dropping general fund reserves, Supt w/ no exp (VC) that destroyed the district, daily board interference with staff and hiding a $80M liability, board with no fiscal restraint,” Alston posted on the social media site X. “Who did this? (The People Know).”

Nice political “hit job”. Blame everyone else for high millage rates, dropping general fund reserves, Supt w/ no exp (VC) that destroyed the district, daily board interference with staff and hiding a $80M liability, board with no fiscal restraint. Who did this? (The People Know)

— Torey Alston (@ToreyAlston) April 13, 2024

“I am requesting that Mr. Alston cease making defamatory comments about me. Though he only uses my initials, a reasonable person would be able to determine that he is talking about me,” Cartwright wrote to Batista and Alhadeff, adding that violations by board members are “clearly now a pattern of ongoing behavior.”

Batista sent an email marked “confidential” to board members April 19 saying “no employee of the District, including any board members, should make any false, defamatory, or disparaging comments about or in reference to Dr. Cartwright.”

“It is imperative that all employees abide by the terms of the Agreement in order to protect the District from civil liability and/or allegations of breach of the Agreement,” Batista wrote in the email, which the Sun Sentinel obtained through a public records request.

Alston, reached Tuesday, denied violating the agreement.

“As I have said publicly, I respect the mutually separated leader as a person,” he said. “The board went in a different direction.”

He said Cartwright had contacted him in a call that “truly caught me off guard” in the weeks after the Feb. 7, 2023, separation agreement was approved. He sent a letter to Batista on Feb. 21, 2023, documenting his concerns. He wrote to Batista that Cartwright had called him “very cryptically on my personal cell,” in which he said she mentioned “please tell them to leave me alone,” to which Alston replied he didn’t know what she was referring to.

Alston told the Sun Sentinel, “I wish her well and we need to move on.”

I know what chaos & disruption looks like (& I know who it’s not) Picking the right Supt matters. Removing rotten

By JESSE BEDAYN (Associated Press/Report for America)

DENVER (AP) — A bill to ban the sale and transfer of semi-automatic firearms was nixed in Colorado’s Democratic-controlled Legislature on Tuesday as lawmakers pressed forward with a slew of other gun control bills on the 25th anniversary year of the Columbine High School massacre.

The western state has a deep history with firearms that is pockmarked by some of the most high-profile mass shootings nationwide. Both factors loom large over gun control debates in the Legislature, complicating attempts at such bans that nine other Democratic-controlled states have in place, including California and New York.

The Colorado House passed the ban in a historic first and what proponents see as a “tremendous achievement” after roughly the same proposal was swiftly nixed last year. But some Senate Democrats are wary of the efficacy and breadth of the ban, which prohibits the sale, transfer and manufacture of semi-automatic firearms.

Colorado’s blue shift is evident in part by a number of successful gun control measures passed last year, including raising the buying age for a gun from 18 to 21. Some half-dozen proposals are nearing passage this year, including a bill to put a measure on the November 2024 ballot to tax sales of guns and ammunition. Another would give the Colorado Bureau of Investigation more power to investigate gun sales that are already illegal.

The state’s purple roots have frustrated attempts at a broader ban.

A decade ago, two lawmakers were ousted in the state’s first recall elections over their support for bills that set limits on ammunition magazines and expanded background checks.

“That history, I think, lingers,” said Democratic state Sen. Julie Gonzales, one of the semi-automatic ban bill’s sponsors. She added that the proposal’s success in the House “signals that there is a new space for us to have different conversations.”

But for now, at a sparsely attended committee hearing Tuesday, Gonzales asked that the legislation be put to rest in the face of opposition from Senate Democrats.

On that committee sits Democratic state Sen. Tom Sullivan, who would have been a “no” vote, along with Republican lawmakers who have decried the bill as an encroachment on Second Amendment rights.

Sullivan’s son, Alex, was one of 12 killed in the 2012 Aurora theater shooting at a midnight screening of “The Dark Knight Rises.” The tragedy catapulted Sullivan into activism around gun control and then public office, where he has spearheaded many bills on the issue.

Sullivan said the weapons that the bill seeks to curtail are involved in only a small fraction of gun deaths and injuries. Those firearms include a long list of semi-automatic rifles, along with some pistols and shotguns, with certain characteristics, such as a threaded barrel or detachable stock.

Their prohibition wouldn’t make much of a dent in gun violence, Sullivan argued, and the proposal takes up immense political oxygen in the state capitol — energizing the opposition and detracting from more effective and less controversial gun control measures.

“The narrative is all wrong,” Sullivan said. “That’s what they want you to believe, that it’s assault weapons and schools. It’s not. … It’s suicides and it’s domestic violence.”

Democratic state Rep. Tim Hernández, one of the bill’s sponsors, said he’d had many discussions with Sullivan in the preceding months.

“We both agree that an assault weapons ban is not a silver bullet to the epidemic of gun violence,” Hernández said. “For us to get to a place where we are interrogating all the ways that gun violence shows up, we have to run policies for all the ways it manifests itself.”

The proposal is expected to be revived next year.

Meanwhile, other bills nearing the governor’s desk include a proposal to require more rigorous safety training for someone seeking a concealed carry permit. And one would require firearm dealers to obtain a state permit, not just a federal one, to give regulators greater power to enforce state gun laws.

General Daily Insight for May 07, 2024

Growth within reasonable limits is possible at this time. The Sun and the Moon both align harmoniously with realistic Saturn before coming together for the New Moon in practical Taurus at 11:22 pm EDT. Although any New Moon provides a strong foundation from which to push forward, the connection with Saturn will give this one extra staying power. We might have to abandon certain cherished fantasies, but in the end, what we’ll get done in the material world should be worth the effort!

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Your financial decisions might be more complex than they appear today. Perhaps it looks like you’re spending lavishly and indulging yourself, and you’re apprehensive that others will think less of you for this. You probably know something they don’t about the situation! You’re allowed to spend some extra cash for valid reasons, such as anticipating you won’t be able to get an item in the future. You’re the one who must live with the outcome, so just stay confident in your judgment.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

You’re primed to look and feel your best at the moment. With the invigorating New Moon in your 1st House of Body, putting in a little effort to take care of yourself can genuinely bring you immensely rewarding results. There’s nothing wrong with accepting advice from friends or doing online research if you’re trying to learn a specific technique. In the end, you’ll have to muster the confidence to make the final call — and that might pump you up more than anything else!

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Pursuing your ambitions might require discretion at present. While the potent New Moon galvanizes your 12th House of Secrets, keeping your ear to the ground could alert you to a professional opportunity that isn’t quite public yet. You may not be able to ask anyone else for guidance without blowing your cover, so you’ll probably have to trust your intuition to determine how to proceed. Do what you must to get calm and relaxed enough to see the situation clearly.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Observing a favorite tradition together could strengthen your commitment to your current community. As the sentimental New Moon in your social sector complements structured Saturn in your intellectual 9th house, knowing what to expect can help you feel comfortable as you spend time with others. When the basic questions about the day’s activities are answered by an established plan, you’ll have the opportunity to lean into the emotional side of the experience. Don’t be afraid to let your companions know you value them!

Leo

July 23 – August 22

You may currently be excited about a major goal of yours. With the refreshing New Moon in your public 10th house, you might as well say so! Plus, bringing your passion out into the open could nudge a potential collaborator to stop stringing you along and be honest regarding their limitations. Their news probably isn’t what you wanted to hear, but it doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Knowing what isn’t presently possible will free you to find out what is.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Getting out of the house could be a pressing priority for you now. With the high-energy New Moon in your adventure sector, however, you might be so full of exciting ideas that you find it impossible to commit to just one — or any number that’s manageable. Bringing a companion along and taking their preferences into consideration is a good way to narrow down the options. Once you embark on your journey, you’ll probably get to know each other better away from your usual turf!

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Your hard work could begin to pay off at any moment. Over time, the effort you put in on a daily basis can add up to transformative results that make your life more comfortable. Beyond that, as the generative New Moon empowers your 8th House of Collaboration, others may take notice of your accomplishments and reach out to you with exciting opportunities. When it’s clear that you’re willing to pull your own weight, you’re a desirable addition to any winning team!

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

A well-meaning companion may encourage you to come out of your shell today. While the connection-craving Moon in your relationship sector engages with reticent Saturn in your pleasure zone, you’re not likely to be moved by an effort that seems overly fake, superficial, or pushy. Opening up could ultimately be worth it, but your discernment needs to have a place at the table. Don’t try to move faster than you find comfortable — the right person should be willing to wait.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

The flaws in your home environment could be especially obvious to you now. It might be tempting to blame others for putting you in a bad situation. On the plus side, as the vital New Moon energizes your productive 6th house, you’ll probably be able to come up with strategies to fix whatever isn’t working. The self-esteem you’ll gain from this effort may actually be more rewarding than digging deeper into the roots of the problem. Stay focused on the present.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

You can say a lot with a little today. While the passionate Moon in your expressive 5th house balances reserved Saturn in your communication zone, you’re equipped to get to the heart of any matter quickly. Adding your personal observations can make your comments more relatable and compelling. That being said, it’s possible to show your human side without allowing your audience to become distracted with details that aren’t crucial to your main point. Concise is the way to go!

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Balancing your budget may presently require zooming out a bit. As the perceptive Moon in your 4th House of Nurturing harmonizes with limit-conscious Saturn in your money zone, you might realize that a frustrating tendency to overspend is coming from a lack of emotional security. Even if you don’t yet possess everything you want, you likely have more than you recognize. Taking time to notice and appreciate what you already have can tame your desire to acquire more. Get to know your true needs.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Your reserved exterior might be a little misleading today. The people around you potentially tend to leave you alone because they get the idea you don’t want to talk. While you are capable of enjoying solitary activities at the moment, it’s possible that you’d also be willing to set those pursuits aside to take part in a conversation that really grabbed your interest. Feel free to start the dialogue you crave yourself — that way, you’ll be more likely to receive it!

SUNRISE — Last time the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers faced off in the postseason, Florida was the scrappy underdog — the eighth seed who came back from a 3-1 deficit to send Boston — which notched a record-setting 135 points in the regular season — home earlier than anticipated.

This season, the Panthers are the No. 3 team in the Eastern Conference, one spot ahead of Boston. That made no difference on the ice Monday as the Bruins started this series the way they began last year’s — with a series-opening victory. Boston took a series lead with a 5-1 win at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise.

“We’ve just got to work harder, ” Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov said. “Not just offensively. We’ve got to work hard in all parts.”

Neither team found the back of the net in the first period despite several Florida mistakes. Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky turned the puck over twice near his net, and defenseman Aaron Ekblad gave the puck away for a mini-breakway — a Bobrovsky save bailed out the defender.

Matthew Tkachuk, moved to the first line with Carter Verhaeghe and Barkov, opened the scoring more than halfway through the second period. Boston turned the puck over in its own zone, Barkov got his stick on the puck and dished it to a wide-open Tkachuk. The second-year Panther’s wrist shot got past Boston standout goalie Jeremy Swayman to put Florida ahead.

But after both teams went more than 30 minutes without a goal, Tkachuk’s score opened the lid on both nets. After an Ekblad turnover, Bruins center Morgan Geekie put the puck past Bobrovsky less than two minutes after the Panthers’ goal, tying the game back up at one.

Shortly after killing a Panthers power play, the Bruins took a 2-1 lead on a close-range shot by defenseman Mason Lohrei. Fellow defenseman Brandon Carlo, who arrived in South Florida late after his wife had their second child, gave Boston insurance with a late second-period score.

“(Carlo’s goal) was a big goal for them at a big time,” Tkachuk said.

Winger Justin Brazeau sealed the game for the Bruins with a breakaway goal 7:13 into the third period, and winger Jake DeBrusk scored an empty-net goal late in the third period.

While the Bruins netted five on Monday, the Panthers struggled to beat the 25-year-old Swayman, who had 38 saves on 39 shot attempts.

“Well you’re not getting a bad goalie,” Maurice said. “… It’s not, if you do it right, you get seven. It doesn’t work like that. He made some really nice saves. We missed some things around the net. I think we had some opportunity to generate more with a different mindset, perhaps. But you’re going to find an elite goalie in every net in all the playoff series.”

The Panthers face the Bruins in Game 2 at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday in Sunrise.

“It’s a different team than we played in the first round,” Tkachuk said. “Style, kind of everything. But for the most part, we had a pretty solid start. We were able to get the first goal, which is always big. Then, I don’t know, even know if it was take the foot off the gas, but we just made some mistakes.”

• Florida Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe moves the puck against the Boston Bruins during the first period of Game 1 of the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Monday, May 6, 2024. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell takes a shot on net against the Boston Bruins during the first period of Game 1 of the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Monday, May 6, 2024. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky stops a shot against the Boston Bruins during the first period of Game 1 of the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Monday, May 6, 2024. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk looks on during a timeout against the Boston Bruins during the first period of Game 1 of the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Monday, May 6, 2024. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky grabs a loose puck against the Boston Bruins during the first period of Game 1 of the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Monday, May 6, 2024. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice shouts against the Boston Bruins during the first period of Game 1 of the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Monday, May 6, 2024. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk moves the puck against the Boston Bruins during the second period of Game 1 of the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Monday, May 6, 2024. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Florida Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe celebrates after a goal by left wing Matthew Tkachuk against the Boston Bruins during the second period of Game 1 of the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Monday, May 6, 2024. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Boston Bruins during the second period of Game 1 of the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Monday, May 6, 2024. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk reacts after scoring a goal against the Boston Bruins during the second period of Game 1 of the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Monday, May 6, 2024. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky is scored on by the Boston Bruins during the second period of Game 1 of the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Monday, May 6, 2024. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Player from the Boston Bruins celebrate after scoring a goal against the Florida Panthers during the second period of Game 1 of the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Monday, May 6, 2024. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky is scored on by Boston Bruins center Morgan Geekie during the second period of Game 1 of the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Monday, May 6, 2024. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Players from the Boston Bruins celebrate after scoring a goal against the Florida Panthers during the second period of Game 1 of the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Monday, May 6, 2024. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Fans cheer as the Boston Bruins score against the Florida Panthers during the second period of Game 1 of the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Monday, May 6, 2024. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Boston Bruins defenseman Mason Lohrei celebrates after scoring a goal against the Florida Panthers during the second period of Game 1 of the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Monday, May 6, 2024. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky is scored on by Boston Bruins right wing Justin Brazeau during the third period of Game 1 of the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Monday, May 6, 2024. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Boston Bruins right wing Justin Brazeau celebrates after scoring a goal against the Florida Panthers during the third period of Game 1 of the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Monday, May 6, 2024. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• A scuffle breaks out between the Boston Bruins and the Florida Panthers during the third period of Game 1 of the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Monday, May 6, 2024. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Boston Bruins goalies Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark celebrate after beating the Florida Panthers in Game 1 of the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Monday, May 6, 2024. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov looks on after losing to the Boston Bruins in Game 1 of the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Monday, May 6, 2024. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

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Judith Marte is retiring early as deputy superintendent of operations for Broward Schools, the latest in a string of high-profile departures from the school district.

Marte, who has worked for the district during two stints since 2017, sent a letter to Superintendent Howard Hepburn on Monday saying she planned to retire June 30.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve our students, families and community,” Marte wrote Hepburn in a letter dated Monday. “It has been an honor to serve alongside such talented colleagues, and a privilege to lead an amazing group of hardworking professionals in Finance and Operations.”

Marte, 65, has been enrolled in a state deferred retirement program since 2020 and had planned to retire June 30, 2025, according to district records. It’s unclear why she decided to retire a year early. She couldn’t be reached Monday by the South Florida Sun Sentinel, despite attempts by phone.

Her departure follows a number of other top-level leaders who have left the district in recent months.

The highest profile one was Superintendent Peter Licata, who told the School Board on April 16, barely nine months on the job, that he planned to retire Dec. 31 for health reasons. The School Board voted to immediately replace him with Hepburn, who had served as deputy superintendent for teaching and learning since August.

Licata’s separation negotiations with Board Chairwoman Lori Alhadeff are scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday.

A few days after Licata’s announcement, Deborah Czubkowski, who was hired in October as chief facilities officer, submitted her resignation. She has accepted a job as vice president for facilities at Broward College, where she worked for 15 years, most recently as associate vice president for facilities. She called the college “an incredible place to work,” in an interview Monday with the Sun Sentinel.

When the Broward College vice president job opened, Czubkowski wasn’t going to apply for it, because she’d made a commitment to the school district, she said.

“But then when Dr. Licata resigned, I said, ‘sometimes you have to listen to the signs,'” she said. “I took it as a sign.”

Zoie Saunders, who served only three months as chief strategy and innovation officer, resigned in late March after Vermont Gov. Phil Scott nominated her to be the state’s education secretary. The Senate voted last week not to confirm her for the permanent job, but Scott has still placed her in the job on an interim basis.

Two Broward schools directors also have recently resigned: Jill Young, who headed enrollment and demographics, and Mary Coker, who oversaw procurement and warehousing services. Coker took a job as general services director for Pompano Beach. Young couldn’t be reached for comment.

Marte, who was a longtime administrator for the Miami-Dade School District, was hired by former Broward Superintendent Robert Runcie as chief financial officer in 2017. Shortly after Runcie announced his resignation in the spring of 2021, Marte left to accept a job as chief financial officer for Florida Virtual School.

When Vickie Cartwright was hired as permanent superintendent in early 2022, she recruited Marte for one of two newly created deputy superintendent positions.

But Marte’s future appeared uncertain later that year when a statewide grand jury report was released. She was one of four administrators still working with the district who was named unfavorably in the report.

Cartwright forced out the other three, amid pressure from the state. But she saved Marte, who was accused of making statements related to the $800 million bond program for school construction that the grand jury found problematic.

The grand jury said Marte misled the School Board related to an $800 million bond for school construction, by saying it would not create an additional tax burden for the public if the district took out more bonds beyond what was voter-approved. The grand jury said she failed to mention that the action meant there would be less money for maintenance work.

Cartwright argued Marte’s statement was accurate and told state officials she reached out to a financial adviser and a school financing lawyer, who both agreed with Marte’s comments about no additional tax burden.

It’s unclear whether Marte’s position will remain on the superintendent’s organization chart, which Hepburn plans to present to the School Board on May 14.

“We wish Mrs. Marte well in the next phase of her life,” Hepburn wrote to School Board members Monday. “She has truly been an asset to staff, families and students of Broward County Public Schools.”

South Florida events celebrating the life of Bob Graham, the legendary late U.S. senator and governor, are planned for Saturday.

He will be remembered at a public celebration-of-life service at Miami Lakes United Church of Christ, 6701 Miami Lakeway South in Miami Lakes. The service starts at 1 p.m.

A public reception follows, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the Miami Lakes Hotel, 6842 Main St., in Miami Lakes.

Seating and parking is limited at the celebration of life, and the family advised people to arrive early and to consider parking at the nearby Miami Lakes K-8 Center, 14250 NW 67th Ave.

People attending the reception were advised to park on Main Street or in lots directly behind Main Street.

The Graham family developed Miami Lakes.

The celebration of life will be livestreamed by WPLG-Ch. 10 at local10.com/live. The Graham family owned WPLG for decades and the station’s call letters stand for the late Philip L. Graham, who was Bob Graham’s brother.

Bob Graham, 87, died on April 16. He was buried in Tallahassee on April 26, after lying in state at the historic Old State Capitol.

Graham, who served 12 years in the Florida Legislature, eight as governor and 18 years in the U.S. Senate, was seen by his fellow Democrats — and many Republicans — as a political giant.

Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com and can be found @browardpolitics on Bluesky, Threads, Facebook and Post.news.

MIAMI — While the focus of Pat Riley’s season-ending media session Monday at Kaseya Center largely centered on Jimmy Butler and the time missed this past season by the team’s leading man, the Heat president also offered thoughts about several others from the roster bounced by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

In perhaps his most pointed comment beyond those about Butler, Riley mentioned the time missed by guard Tyler Herro in recent seasons, including this past season.

“He’s been fragile, a little bit,” Riley said, with Herro missing 40 games this season, after missing almost all of last season’s playoffs. “He broke his hand last year in the playoffs. He had some injuries earlier in his career. And there isn’t anybody that works harder at his game. He works. He puts the time in, in the weight room. So how does he keep his calorie intake?

“So he might have to go to another level nutritionally. He’s gotten stronger. But as the season progresses, you lose some of that. So he’s got to make some adjustments, definitely.”

Riley said there already have been discussions about Herro getting stronger.

“His major injuries are real,” Riley said. “And so, we’re just hoping we can get through a season where he’s playing in that 72- to 82-game basis. Maybe one year he will surprise and play every game.”

Riley also addressed the thought of the Heat being their best when Herro plays as sixth man, a notion former Heat captain Udonis Haslem raised during an ESPN appearance last week.

“That’s a narrative that’s out there, that everybody who has that narrative knows more than I do. They must know more than I do, to say that about Tyler,” Riley said. “Tyler’s a star.”

Rozier update

Riley offered additional clarity on Rozier, who missed the postseason with what the Heat had been listing as neck spasms.

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“I see him in a neck brace, so obviously he’s doing everything that he’s supposed to do,” Riley said. “I met with him the other day, and he said he felt good. But this is a process by which it takes time.

“When you’re dealing with the spine, you don’t mess around. We’re not going to mess around with Terry. And he wanted to play, desperately.”

Riley said there is no expectation of long-term impact.

“It’s going to heal,” Riley said. “The doctors convinced us, in time this thing will heal.”

As for trading for Rozier, Riley said the benefit remains apparent.

“He had some games where it was all right there,” Riley said of Rozier’s streak scoring, an element largely otherwise lacking on the roster. “But I do think after the trade, it took a while for him to settle in.

“Our offense, we felt we needed more firepower. He felt he could give it to us, and he did. Terry is everything I expected.”

Youth impresses

While much of Riley’s focus Monday was on his veteran core, he did express optimism about the gains this season of 2022 first-round pick Nikola Jovic and 2023 first-round pick Jaime Jaquez Jr.

“They’re two great pieces for us,” Riley said.

“It all happened like that (snaps fingers) for Niko. I think last year he went through back issues. The learning curve was off the charts. So we saw something this year when we put him in the game, I think you could see this guy is going to have some talent. So it’s all about repetitions and IQ and learning and learning and learning more, a new way of conditioning for a 20-year-old guy, I think cardio more than anything else. He’s a great athlete. He’s got great instincts. He’s unself. He’s a rebounder. A coast-to-coast guy.

“And Jaime, if he had not gotten hurt, with the groin earlier in the season, he would have played 82 games. He ended up playing 75 games. And believe me, he was hurting when he missed those games. But he’s a proud young warrior and will play every night for you.”