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Today in History: January 11, Mark McGwire admits to steroids use

South Florida Local News - 11 hours 16 min ago

Today is Sunday, Jan. 11, the 11th day of 2026. There are 354 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Jan. 11, 2010, Mark McGwire admitted to The Associated Press that he’d used steroids and human growth hormone when he broke baseball’s home run record in 1998.

Also on this date:

In 1861, Alabama became the fourth state to declare its secession from the Union.

Related Articles

In 1908, the Grand Canyon was established as a national monument by President Theodore Roosevelt. The move protected it from mining and other activities until it became a national park in 1919.

In 1935, aviator Amelia Earhart began what would be the first solo flight from Hawaii to California, completing the 2,400-mile flight across the Pacific to Oakland in just under 19 hours.

In 1964, U.S. Surgeon General Luther Terry issued “Smoking and Health,” a report that concluded that “cigarette smoking contributes substantially to mortality from certain specific diseases and to the overall death rate.”

In 2002, the first al-Qaida prisoners from Afghanistan arrived at the U.S. military’s Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba.

In 2021, House Democrats introduced an article of impeachment against President Donald Trump, charging him with “incitement of insurrection” after the attack on the U.S. Capitol building five days earlier.

In 2024, U.S. and British forces bombed more than dozen sites used by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen, in a massive retaliatory strike for the militant group’s attacks on international cargo ships and other targets in the Red Sea.

Today’s birthdays:
  • Filmmaker Alfonso Arau is 94.
  • Golf Hall of Famer Ben Crenshaw is 74.
  • Jazz guitarist Lee Ritenour is 74.
  • Olympic swimming gold medalist Tracy Caulkins is 63.
  • Filmmaker Malcolm D. Lee is 56.
  • Singer Mary J. Blige is 55.
  • Actor Amanda Peet is 54.
  • Actor Devin Ratray is 49.
  • Actor Aja Naomi King is 41.
  • Singer and former competitive swimmer Cody Simpson is 29.

Meet the new Knights players from transfer portal

South Florida Local News - Sat, 01/10/2026 - 20:54

It took a few days, but UCF is making a big splash in the transfer window as the Knights signed former James Madison quarterback Alonza Barnett III.

Barnett is the first of what should be a slew of signings over the next two weeks as the Knights look to fill out their roster for the 2026 season.

Here is a look at the transfer signings so far:

LB RASHAD HENRY

Vitals: 6-2, 230 pounds

Resume: Henry signed with UMass after spending time at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in South Florida, where he played middle linebacker and defensive end for the Raiders. He totaled 74 tackles, including 3 for a loss, a sack, 6 hurries and 2 interceptions his senior year.

Role: The Miami native appeared in 17 games (3 starts) over three seasons with the Minutemen, totaling 68 tackles.

Outlook: Henry becomes the third linebacker to sign in the 2026 transfer class, joining Tackett Curtis and Jahleel Culbreath.

RB DUKE WATSON

Vitals: 6-0, 180 pounds

Resume: Watson was a 3-star prospect from Mary Persons High School in Forsyth, Ga., when he signed with Louisville as part of its 2024 recruiting class. He rushed for 5,541 yards with 71 touchdowns while averaging 7.7 yards per carry in 40 varsity games for the Bulldogs.

Role: The Georgia native spent two seasons with the Cardinals, appearing in 19 games (1 start) while totaling 755 yards on 116 carries with 8 touchdowns.

Outlook: With the departures of Myles Montgomery and Jaden Nixon, the Knights needed to boost the depth at running back. Watson’s signing gives UCF a pair of veteran backs, teaming him up with Landon Chambers.

LB JAHLEEL CULBREATH

Vitals: 6-4, 222 pounds

Resume: Culbreath signed with Old Dominion out of Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach, Va., as part of the Monarchs’ 2022 recruiting class.

Role: Culbreath spent four seasons at ODU, the past two as the Monarchs’ starting middle linebacker. He totaled 149 tackles, including 17.5 for a loss and 3 sacks.

Outlook: The Knights continue rebuilding the linebacker unit, with starter Lewis Carter serving as the anchor. Culbreath gives UCF another veteran for the group, which was one of the defense’s strong suits last season.

DT THOMAS COLLINS

Vitals: 6-1, 275 pounds

Resume: Collins was a 3-star prospect from RIG Academy, a school specializing in American football in Sweden. He signed with Oregon State in 2023.

Role: The redshirt sophomore appeared in 24 games (16 starts) in three seasons for the Beavers, totaling 44 tackles, including 7 for loss, a sack, a pass defended and a fumble recovery.

Outlook: The return of Horace Lockett Jr. and RJ Jackson Jr. gives the Knights a solid foundation at the tackle spot, particularly with the loss of John Walker. Collins provides much-needed depth at the position.

S MATT IRWIN

Vitals: 5-11, 180 pounds

Resume: Irwin played quarterback at Owyee High School in Meridian, ID., before making the switch to safety when he signed at Idaho in 2024.

Role: Irwin appeared in 19 games in two seasons with the Vandals, starting 2 games while totaling 49 tackles, an interception, 3 passes defended and a fumble recovery.

Outlook: The Idaho native becomes the fourth safety to join the roster this transfer cycle.

DL BRUNO DALL

Vitals: 6-7, 260 pounds

Resume: Dall grew up in Hamburg, Germany, before moving to Missouri to play at St. Stanislaus in St. Louis. He recorded 81 tackles, including 16 for a loss and 5 sacks as a senior, while leading the Rock-a-Chaws to a 7-5 record.

Role: Dall signed with Akron as part of their 2023 recruiting class. He appeared in 23 games (11 starts) for the Zips, totaling 53 tackles, including 10.5 for a loss with 5 sacks, an interception, 8 passes defended and a forced fumble.

Outlook: The Knights are looking to replace starters Nyjalik Kelly and Malachi Lawrence on the edge, making the addition of Dall crucial in building the rotation for 2026.

S TY BARTRUM

Vitals: 6-1, 200 pounds

Resume: Bartrum began his high school career at Miegs High in Meigs County, Ohio, before transferring to Cherokee High in Marlton, N.J., where he appeared in 29 games for the Chiefs, totaling 256 tackles with 4 interceptions and 6 passes defended. He finished his prep career at Spring Valley High in West Virginia before signing at Harvard.

Role: Bartrum spent four seasons with the Crimson, appearing in 31 games, while totaling 244 tackles with 8 tackles for loss, 5 interceptions and 13 passes defended. He earned a spot on the first team, All-Ivy League and was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, which is given to the top defensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision.

Outlook: Bartrum provides another veteran to the safety spot for the Knights.

K WILL STONE

Vitals: 6-0, 195 pounds

Resume: Stone was a 2-star prospect from Regents School in Austin, Texas, where he was the 6th-overall ranked kicker in the nation for the 2022 recruiting class according to 247Sports’ composite rankings.

Role: Stone spent five seasons at Texas, where he was used primarily on kickoffs, averaging 63.2 yards on 300 kicks.

Outlook: The Knights ranked second in the Big 12 last season in kickoffs, thanks to Noe Ruelas. His departure left the team searching for someone to step up in his absence.

P ATTICUS BERTRAMS

Vitals: 6-3, 215 pounds

Resume: Bertrams previously studied at ProKick Australia, the same group that former UCF kicker Mitch McCarthy worked out at, before signing with Wisconsin.

Role: The junior spent three seasons with the Badgers, appearing in 37 games, while averaging 42.8 yards per kick during his career. He was on the Ray Guy Award watchlist at the start of the 2025 season.

Outlook: Bertrams joins a special teams unit that ranked 15th in the Big 12 in punting last season, averaging 40.67 yards per kick.

WR JONATHAN BIBBS

Vitals: 6-2, 170 pounds

Resume: Bibbs was a 3-star product out of Spain Park High School in Birmingham, Ala., who played receiver for the Jaguars. He was ranked the No. 186 overall wide receiver in the 2024 recruiting cycle according to 247Sports’ composite rankings.

Role: The Alabama native appeared in four games before redshirting his freshman season at Louisiana-Monroe. Bibbs totaled 383 yards on 26 receptions with 3 touchdowns in 11 games (3 starts) for the Warhawks.

Outlook: Bibbs arrives with multiple years of eligibility, giving the Knights another veteran to pair with a young core of receivers.

QB ALONZA BARNETT III

Vitals: 6-0, 216 pounds

Resume: Barnett was a 3-star prospect from Grimsley High School in Greensboro, N.C., when he signed with James Madison as part of its 2022 recruiting class. He was the No. 179 overall quarterback in the class according to 247Sports’ composite rankings.

Role: Barnett recently completed his fourth season with the Dukes, finishing with 5,433 passing yards and 49 touchdowns with 13 interceptions while adding 1,075 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns. He was named the 2025 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year after accounting for 3,395 yards of total offense and 38 total touchdowns. He also earned first-team honors for the first time in his career.

Outlook: He’s a dual-threat option with tremendous speed and a quick-release that gives him the ability to make explosive plays in the passing game. Barnett led James Madison to a 21-6 record while also guiding the team to the College Football Playoff this season.

DB KAHMEL JOHNSON

Vitals: 6-2, 200 pounds

Resume: Johnson was a multi-sport standout at Riverside High School, having played track and field and football for the Generals. He was credited with 14 tackles, 4 passes defended with one interception and one fumble recovery in his senior season, before signing with Wayne State College in 2024.

Role: The Jacksonville native appeared in 13 games in his two seasons with the Wildcats. He totaled 37 tackles and 3 interceptions this season, earning a spot on the first team, All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

Outlook: Johnson joins a secondary that is already returning starters Demari Henderson and Braeden Marshall.

Show Caption1 of 4James Madison quarterback Alonza Barnett III (14) celebrates after a touchdown against Troy during the first half of the Sun Belt championship NCAA college football game, on Dec. 5, 2025, in Harrisonburg, Virginia. (Robert Simmons/Associated press) Expand RB LANDEN CHAMBERS

Vitals: 5-11, 215 pounds

Resume: Chambers was a 3-star prospect out of Fossil Ridge High School in Keller, Texas, when he signed with Central Arkansas as part of its 2024 recruiting class. He was a multi-sport athlete who also competed in track and field.

Role: Chambers appeared in 8 games for the Bears as a freshman, rushing for 176 yards with a touchdown. This past season, he led the team in rushing with 1,313 yards on 242 carries with 10 rushing touchdowns. He was also fourth on the team in receiving with 238 yards on 27 catches.

Outlook: The departures of Myles Montgomery, Jaden Nixon and Stacey Gage left the backfield thin on experience. Chambers gives the Knights a legitimate starter to couple with Taevion Swint and Agyeman Addae.

OL COOPER TERPSTRA

Vitals: 6-4, 313 pounds

Resume: Terpstra signed with Michigan State in 2023 as a 2-star prospect out of West Ottawa High School in Holland, Michigan.

Role: He played sparingly in 2024 and 2025, taking part in nearly 190 offensive snaps, mainly on special teams.

Outlook: New offensive line coach AJ Blazek didn’t stray far from his roots in the Big Ten to find his first offensive lineman. Terpstra brings multiple years of eligibility and can help add depth to the unit.

OL BRADY WAYBURN

Vitals: 6-5, 300 pounds

Resume: Wayburn spent his early years in North Carolina before relocating to Windsor, Connecticut, to attend The Loomis Chaffee School. There, he excelled in multiple sports, particularly in track and field and football.

Role: Wayburn spent the past four seasons at UConn, but didn’t see any real playing time until the 2024 campaign, when he appeared in 8 games. He appeared in 12 games in 2025, starting four games at right guard.

Outlook: Wayburn brings more than 740 offensive snaps to a roster that needs to replace a handful of starters in Paul Rubelt, Jabari Brooks and Carter Miller.

S CALEB FLAGG

Vitals: 5-10, 202 pounds

Resume: Flagg kicked off his career at North Shore High School in Houston before making his mark at Houston Christian, where he earned letters for two years. Over the span of 21 games, he racked up 101 tackles, snatched 2 interceptions, and defended 11 passes. In 2024, he decided to transfer to Missouri to continue his journey.

Role: The junior appeared in 14 games in two seasons with the Tigers, recording 24 tackles with 2 passes defended and a forced fumble.

Outlook: Flagg joins a secondary that already features returning starters Demari Henderson and Braeden Marshall.

OL TYLER GIBSON

Vitals: 6-5, 310 pounds

Resume: Gibson was a 3-star prospect from Johns Creek High School in Alpharetta, Ga., who helped lead the team to more than 4,500 yards his senior season. He signed with Georgia Tech in 2022 and spent two seasons with the Yellow Jackets, appearing in 4 games, before transferring to Charlotte.

Role: The Georgia native appeared in all 16 games for the 49ers, starting five times at the right tackle spot. He took part in 484 offensive snaps during his time in Charlotte.

Outlook: Gibson’s presence helps strengthen the Knights’ offensive line, providing the group with an experienced veteran.

LB TACKETT CURTIS

Vitals: 6-2, 235 pounds

Resume: Curtis was a 4-star prospect out of Many (La.) High School, where he helped guide the Tigers to a state championship, earning MVP honors. He was also named the 2022 MaxPreps Louisiana High School Player of the Year before signing with USC. Curtis spent one season with the Trojans, starting 8 games before transferring to Wisconsin.

Role: The Louisiana native spent two seasons with the Badgers, briefly working with current UCF defensive coordinator Alex Grinch in 2024. The junior appeared in 24 games over two seasons, totaling 56 tackles with 2.5 for a loss, one sack and 3 passes defended.

Outlook: Curtis, who reunites with Grinch, helps fill a significant void for the Knights, who need to replace starters Cole Kozlowski and Keli Lawson.

OL HENRY TABANSI

Vitals: 6-5, 310 pounds

Resume: Tabansi was a three-year starter at Moore Catholic High School on Staten Island, earning an all-state selection before signing with Buffalo in 2023.

Role: The New York native was a two-starter at left tackle for the Bulls, participating in more than 1,600 offensive snaps for a team that totaled 4,330 yards of total offense in 2025.

Outlook: The redshirt sophomore is the latest player to join new offensive line coach AJ Blazek at UCF.

CB JAILEN DUFFIE

Vitals: 5-11, 175 pounds

Resume: Duffie was a 3-star recruit at Warren Township High School in Gurnee, Ill., where he earned first-team all-conference honors while playing both cornerback and wide receiver for the Blue Devils. He finished with 47 tackles and 5 interceptions in 20 games before signing with North Dakota State as part of its 2023 recruiting class.

Role: The sophomore appeared in 25 games at NDSU, totaling 42 tackles and 5 passes defended with one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Outlook: A three-year starter, Duffie is reunited with new UCF defensive backs coach Will Johnson, who coached him with the Bisons. He’ll step into a cornerbacks group that returns starters Antione Jackson and Jayden Bellamy.

WR JOSH DERRY

Vitals: 5-9, 180 pounds

Resume: Derry was a two-way standout at Concordia Prep School in Towson, Md., where he played wide receiver and defensive back for the Saints. He accounted for 883 receiving yards with 11 touchdowns in 16 varsity games over three seasons before signing with Monmouth University, a Division I school in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Role: Derry spent three seasons with the Hawks, appearing in 30 games, with 12 career starts, while totaling 2,076 receiving yards on 139 catches with 19 touchdowns.

Outlook: The senior gives UCF another experienced receiver to add to a young group that includes Day Day Farmer and Duane Thomas Jr.

Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Sign up for the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.

Forsling, Verhaeghe each have goal, assist as Panthers beat Senators

South Florida Local News - Sat, 01/10/2026 - 20:27

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Gustav Forsling and Carter Verhaeghe each had a goal and an assist, and the Florida Panthers beat the Ottawa Senators 3-2 on Saturday night.

Evan Rodrigues also scored for the Panthers, and Sergei Bobrovsky had 18 saves. Florida snapped a two-game skid and got its second win in six games (2-3-1).

Fabian Zetterlund and Claude Giroux scored for Ottawa, which has lost four straight. Leevi Merilainen finished with 18 saves while allowing three goals for the fourth straight game.

The Panthers took a 3-1 lead at 3:43 of the third when Forsling stepped into the faceoff circle and wired a shot high glove side.

Giroux pulled the Senators back within one as he scored from a sharp angle with 1:42 remaining. Ottawa couldn’t beat Bobrovsky again.

Ottawa opened the scoring 4:03 into the game when Zetterlund took the puck behind the net, curled and put a shot on Bobrovsky from a sharp angle. The puck bounced off his blocker and rolled down his back across the goal line.

The Panthers answered with a power-play goal with 8:26 remaining in the first. Rodrigues took advantage of a poor defensive play by Tim Stutzle and beat Merilainen far side.

Both teams had a number of chances in the second period, but the Panthers eventually got the go-ahead goal.

Florida’s power play capitalized with Verhaeghe using Nick Jensen, who had fallen, as a screen to beat Merilainen glove side with 6:47 remaining.

Verhaeghe then earned the ire of fans late in the second for pushing Artem Zub from behind into the boards. The initial call on the play was a five-minute major but upon review reduced to a minor for boarding.

Sandis Vilmanis made his NHL debut for the Panthers.

Up next

Panthers: Visit Buffalo on Monday night.

Senators: Host Vancouver on Tuesday night.

___

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/nhl

Meet the new Gators players from transfer portal

South Florida Local News - Sat, 01/10/2026 - 20:00

GAINESVILLE — New Gators coach Jon Sumrall inherited a four-win team with a roster in need of a massive overhaul.

The transfer portal, which opened Friday, allows programs to accelerate the rebuilding process and replace departing players — more than 20 in Florida’s case.

After signing a 2026 recruiting class ranked 16th nationally while he still coached the Green Wave to a CFP berth, Sumrall and his staff turned their attention to the 15-day transfer portal window Jan. 2-16.

Here’s a look at whom the Gators have signed:

WR Eric Singleton, Auburn (committed Jan. 10)

Vitals: 5-10, 180 pounds

Resumé: Singleton was a 3-star prospect out of Alexander in Douglasville, Georgia, rated the nation’s No. 73 wide receiver in the 2023 class. He had 65 catches for 1,115 yards and 12 scores as a senior in 2022 before signing at Georgia Tech.

Role: Singleton produced immediately for the Yellow Jackets. He had 48 catches for 714 yards and six touchdowns as a true freshman, followed by 56 grabs for 754 yards and three scores as a sophomore before transferring to Auburn. Paired with elite sophomore receiver Cam Coleman and catching passes from Jackson Arnold, the SEC’s lowest-rated quarterback, Singleton produced 58 receptions for 534 yards and three touchdowns in 2025.

Outlook: The Gators have vast potential on the perimeter. Leading receiver Vernell Brown III and 6-foot-3, 213-pound Dallas Wilson return for their sophomore season while redshirt sophomore TJ Abrams looks build on a his November contributions (nine catches, 105 yards). The Gators also welcome Davian Groce, rated the nation’s No. 4 “athlete” and No. 47 overall recruit, out of Frisco, Texas.

C Harrison Moore, Georgia Tech (Jan. 9)

Vitals: 6-5, 300 pounds

Resumé: Moore was a 3-star prospect rated the nation’s No. 83 interior offensive line prospect in the 2024 class.

Role: Moore did not allow a sack on 866 snaps during two seasons and 21 appearances, including 10 starts (nine in 2025).

Outlook: The Gators’ offensive line must replace 2024 All-America center Jake Slaughter, left tackle Austin Barber and right guard Damion George after they completed their eligibility. The trio, which combined for 102 starts at UF, was expected to anchor one of the nation’s top O-lines. UF will return three players with starting experience: left guard Knijeah Harris, who started 25 games the past two seasons, right tackle Caden Jones, who started 10 games in 2025, and five-game starter Bryce Lovett.

OL Emeka Ugorji, Stanford (Jan. 9)

Vitals: 6-5, 300 pounds

Resumé: Ugorji was a 3-star prospect out of South Oak Cliff in Dallas rated the nation’s No. 71 offensive line prospect in the 2025 class.

Role: Ugorji stepped in as a true freshman to appear in 10 games, including eight starts — seven of them at right guard. He led the ACC in offensive guard snaps with 523 while committing just two penalties.

Outlook: Ugorji is a promising young player who could step in and challenge for a starting role at a position in flux during a massive overhaul up front. Harris, who started 25 games the past two seasons, should handle the left side, but George’s departure leaves a hole at right guard. Ugorji also can play right tackle, where Jones was a solid performer and Lovett struggled.

RB London Montgomery, East Carolina (Jan. 8)

Vitals: 5-11, 197 pounds

Resumé: Montgomery was a 3-star prospect out of Scranton (Pennsylvania) Prep rated the nation’s No. 35 running back in the 2023 class by 247Sports who signed with Penn State out of high school. 

Role: Montgomery transferred after one season to East Carolina, where he rushed for 1,001 yards and nine touchdowns in two seasons, including a team-leading 742 yards and seven scores on 156 carries in 2005.

Outlook: Montgomery joins Cincinnati transfer Evan Pryor to provide returning 1,000-yard rusher Jadan Baugh experienced, proven backups, while Duke Clark and Byron Louis will push for bigger roles as redshirt freshmen in 2026.

S Cam Dooley, Kentucky (Jan. 8)

Vitals: 6-2, 208 pounds

Resumé: Dooley was a 4-star prospect rated as the nation’s No. 8 athlete and No. 195 overall recruiting in the 2024 class.

Role: Playing for Florida’s new safeties coach Chris Collins, Dooley recorded 30 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble as a sophomore in 2025.

Outlook: Dooley would play safety or move to the nickel position after Sharif Denson’s departure for Ole Miss and Aaron Gates entered in the portal. Lagonza Hayward saw some action there as a true freshman. At safety, the Gators lost three-year starter Jordan Castell but will return senior Bryce Thornton and sophomore Drake Stubbs of Jacksonville. UF signed 2025 Under Armour All-American Kaiden “KD” Hall of Milton, on the Florida Panhandle, and Dylan Purter of Alabama, who flipped his commitment from LSU.

Long snapper Carter Milliron, Louisiana (Jan. 8)

Vitals: 6-0, 257 pounds

Resumé: Milliron was an unranked prospect out of Hoover, Alabama, but established himself at the 2022 Kohl’s National Scholarship Camp, where he had the ninth-highest score among 200 snappers.  

Role: Milliron appeared in 44 games for the Ragin’ Cajuns.

Outlook: Milliron will replace Rocco Underwood, who appeared in 49 games in four seasons. A former Lake Mary standout, Underwood won the 2024 Mannelly Award for the nation’s top long snapper. In 2025, he was a semifinalist for the award and named third-team All-SEC.

S Elijah Owens, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (Jan. 7)

Vitals: 6-3, 210 pounds

Resumé: Owens was unrated out of Citronelle High on the northern border of Mobile, Alabama, where he recorded 84 tackles, four interceptions and three forced fumbles during the 2023-24 seasons.

Role: Owens spent 2025 at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, tallying 65 tackles, an interception and three passes defended last season..

Outlook: Owens will provide much-needed depth at safety, where Thornton is the only veteran, Owens will vie with Stubbs, Hall and Purter for snaps.

WR Micah Mays Jr., Wake Forest (Jan. 7)

Vitals: 6-2, 196 pounds

Resumé: Mays was a 4-star from The Benjamin School in North Palm Beach rated the nation’s No. 25 receiver and No. 177 overall prospect in the 2023 class.

Role: recorded Mays caught 34 passes for 520 yards and four sscores during 22 games the past two seasons with the Demon Deacons.

Outlook: Mays will push to carve out a role as the Gators’ receiving corps continues to improve with Singleton’s signing, the return of Brown, Wilson and TJ Abrams, and the addition of Groce.

QB Aaron Philo, Georgia Tech (Jan. 6)

Vitals: 6-2, 220 pounds

Resumé: Philo was a 3-star prospect out of Prince Avenue Christian School in Bogart, Georgia, rated the nation’s No. 47 quarterback in the 2024 class by 247Sports. Philo threw for a state record 13,922 passing yards to break Jacksonville Jaguars’ quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s mark. As a senior in 2023, Philo passed for a single-season state-record 56 touchdowns.

Role: Philo served as backup to Haynes King in 2024 and 2025, while appearing in eight games. During his only start for the Yellow Jackets, Philo was 21-of-28 for 373 yards, with a touchdown and interception Sept. 6 against Gardner Webb. Overall, Philo completed 59 of 102 throws (57.8%) for 938 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. He rushed for 95 yards and a score on 16 carries.

Outlook: Philo arrives to help new Gators’ offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner to replace DJ Lagway. Lagway started 19 games in two seasons but transferred after a disappointing sophomore season featuring an SEC-leading 14 interceptions and 16 touchdowns. Redshirt freshman Tramell Jones Jr., a 19-year-old former 4-star prospect from Jacksonville who appeared in two games at UF in 2025. Also in the mix is true freshman Will Griffin, a 4-star prospect who set records at Tampa Jesuit.

DE Emmanuel Oyebadejo, Jacksonville State (Jan. 6)

Vitals: 6-7, 295 pounds

Resumé: Oyebadejo was an unrated prospect out of Loreto College Manchester, England, who in 2024 landed at Jacksonville State, an FCS school in Alabama.

Role: Oyebadejo recorded 41 tackles, including 6.5 for loss (4.5 sacks), in 2025. He also had six quarterback hurries, five pass breakups and two forced fumbles.

Outlook: The Gators re-signed edge rusher Kam James of Orlando for his senior season after he recorded 44 tackles, including 4.5 sacks, in 2025 and overshadowed fifth-year senior Tyreak Sapp (34 tackles, one sack). Veteran George Gumbs Jr. (31 tackles, 2.5 sacks) also was disappointing off the edge. Meanwhile, promising true freshman Jayden Woods (28 stops, 3.5 sacks) was a top target for Sumrall.

G TJ Shanahan Jr., Penn State (Jan. 6)

Vitals: 6-4, 330 pounds

Resumé: Shanahan, the cousin of former Gators’ guard Jon Halapio, was a 4-star prospect out of Austin (Texas) Westlake High rated the nation’s No. 21 interior offensive lineman in the 2023 class by 247Sports.

Role: Shanahan appeared in five games in 13 appearances after he transferred from Texas A&M, where he started five games and played 419 snaps during 10 appearances in 2024.

Outlook: Sumrall aimed to overhauls a Gators’ offensive line expected to be one of the nation’s best, but too often was inconsistent. Slaughter and Barber are the key losses, but Shanahan, Boyer, Moore and Ugorji offer plenty of options while Harris, Jones and Lovett return with a combined 40 starts. Keep an eye on 6-foot-5, 321-pound redshirt freshman Jahari Medlock, and 2024 USC transfer center Jason Zandamela, a redshirt sophomore.

OT Eagan Boyer, Penn State (Jan. 6)

Vitals: 6-8, 302 pounds

Resumé: Boyer was a 3-star prospect rated the nation’s No. 49 offensive tackle prospect in the 2024 class.

Role: Boyer appeared in 12 games during two seasons at Penn State, including eight in 2025. His only starter was  during the Nittany Lions’ 22-10 win against Clemson Dec. 27 in the Pinstripe Bowl.

Outlook: Boyer built himself from a 240-pound prospect to become a solid rotational player at Penn State. He’ll have to continue to develop to earn a key role on a unit that has been a focal point in the portal.

RB Evan Pryor, Cincinnati (Jan. 6)

Vitals: 5-9, 195 pounds

Resumé: Pryor was a 4-star prospect at Hough High School in Cornelius, N.C., who signed at Ohio State as the nation’s No. 7 running back in the 2021 class. He played two seasons and appeared in eight games during seasons in Columbus (2021-22).

Role: Pryor rushed for 522 yards, averaging 6.9 yards per carry, and scored three times for 2025 the Bearcats after totaling 418 yards and six scores on 56 carries in 2024.

Outlook: Jadan Baugh’s 266-yard day during UF’s 40-21 season-ending win against FSU made him the school’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 2015 and cemented the sophomore’s place the Gators’ key offensive weapon entering 2026. The departures of veterans Ja’Kobi Jackson, who played just four games because of injury, and Treyaun Webb, who did not play in 2025, put redshirt freshman Duke Clark and Byron Louis behind Baugh. Clark produced 58 yards on 14 carries, along with two catches for 14 yards in four appearances. Louis is a former Plantation American Heritage standout and a 4-star prospect in 2025 who did not appeared last season, but rushed 2,943 yards and 34 scores during his final two high school seasons.

K Patrick Durkin, Tulane (Jan. 6)

Vitals: 5-10, 175 pounds

Resumé: Durkin, native of Plainfield, Illinois, played at Joliet Catholic Academy where he was considered a developmental player at the college level needing to increase leg strength and explosiveness.

Role: Durkin put to rest any doubts in 2025. He was named the American Conference’s Special Teams Player of the Year after making 25-of-28 field goals attempt, with a long of 52 yards. As a redshirt freshman, Durkin tied second nationally in made field goals while also he ranked fifth with 66 touchbacks (on 77 kicks).

Outlook: Record-setter Trey Smack’s graduation and redshirt freshman Evan Noel’s departure leave the Gators in search of a kicker. Noel was rated the No. 1 kicker in the 2025 class by 247Sports.

P Alec Clark, Tulane (Jan. 6)

Vitals: 6-foot-1, 184 pounds

Resumé: Clark hails from Swan View, Australia, where he wasn’t rated among those in the 2023 class.

Role: Clark led the AAC with an average of 46.5 yards on 48 attempts, including 16 inside the 20-yard line. Clark followed new special teams coach Johathan Galante from Marshall and has two seasons of remaining eligibility. In 2024, Clark 42.4 yards on 55 punts.

Outlook: Redshirt freshman Hayden Craig, rated the No. 5 punter in the 2025 class, moved on despite Michigan transfer Tommy Doman leaving after he was a serviceable replacement for Jeremy Crawshaw, who averaged a school-record 46.4 yards per punt, including the single-season mark of 48.9 in 2023.

WR Bailey Stockton, Georgia Tech (Jan. 5)

Vitals: 5-11, 185 pounds

Resumé: Stockton was a 3-star prospect in the 2023 class who attened the Prince Avenue Christian School with Philo.

Role: Stockton 38 receptions for 439 yards and a touchdown in two seasons, including 21 catches for 233 yards during 11 appearances in 2025.

Outlook: Stockton and Mays will supplement of receiving corps built around Brown, Wilson and Singleton, Stockton’s former teammate at Georgia Tech. Groce will be a wild card as a first-year freshman.

DT DK Kalu, Baylor (Jan. 5)

Vitals: 6-4, 309 pounds

Resumé: Kala was a 3-star prospect out of Fort Bend Ridge Point in Missouri City, Texas, rated the nation’s No. 99 defensive tackle prospects in the 2023 class.

Role: Kalu recorded 11 tackles, including .5 for loss, and a quarterback hurry during nine games as a redshirt sophomore in 2025.

Outlook: The Gators lost Caleb Banks to the NFL and nose tackle Michai Boireau to the transfer portal. Baylor transfer Brendan Bett stepped in to produce (40 tackles, three sacks), while the emergence of true freshman Jeremiah McCloud (13 tackles) and Joseph Mbatchou (11) offer the Gators interior defenders to build around. UF also signed Kendall Guervil, a 4-star prospect out of Fort Myers, where he tallied 88 stops, including 12 for loss, in 2024.

TE Lacota Dippre, James Madison (Jan. 5)

Vitals: 6-3, 252 pounds

Resumé: Dippre was an unrated prospect out of Lakeland High in Jermyn, Pennsylvania, who spent 2023-24 at Charlotte, his final season on the defensive line.

Role: Dippre caught 17 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns in 2025 during 13 appearances with a CFP qualifier.

Outlook: The departure of two-year starter Hayden Hansen leaves UF with only two experienced scholarship tight ends, senior Tony Livingston and redshirt sophomore Amir Jackson, who decided not to enter the portal. True freshman tight end Micah Jones, out of Madison, Miss., returns, but 3-star 2025 signee Cameron Kossman transferred. UF has yet to sign a tight end for the 2026 class. Kekua Aumua of Hawaii changed his commitment to Washington during the early signing period.

S DJ Coleman, Baylor (Jan. 4)

Vitals: 6-1, 210 pounds

Resumé: Coleman was a 3-star prospect out of Mesquite (Texas) Horn High School rated the nation’s No. 88 safety in the 2023 class.

Role: Coleman recorded 46 tackles, including 6.5 for loss, two interceptions, four pass breakups and two quarterbacks hurries during 12 games in 2025. He had 89 tackles and 13 pass breakups during 35 games in three seasons with the Bears.

Outlook: The Gators lost Castell but re-signed Thornton and return Stubbs, a Jacksonville native rated the nation’s No. 6 safety prospect in the 2025 class who managed just three tackles in eight appearances at Florida in 2025. Hall and Purter are a pair 4-star safeties in the 2026 class looking to get in the mix.

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

Heat dreadful in 123-99 loss to dreadful Pacers amid rocky road trip

South Florida Local News - Sat, 01/10/2026 - 19:25

INDIANAPOLIS – In theory, this should have been the best version of the Miami Heat.

It was anything but.

With Erik Spoelstra’s primary rotation whole for just the fourth time this season, what set up as a welcomed reunion became anything but.

Instead, a 123-99 loss Saturday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse to the NBA-worst Indiana Pacers.

With Spoelstra moving to a starting lineup seemingly as talented as any started by the team this season, the response was an early 25-point deficit and a rally that fell short to the degree that the bench was emptied with eight minutes remaining and the Heat down 25.

And this was supposed to be the easy part, with the Heat’s next four games against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics and then Thunder again.

So make it two losses and a postponed game to start this trip, Thursday night’s two-hour delay before postponement at Chicago United Center no longer the most annoying aspect of the week away from Kaseya Center.

“It felt like emotionally, mentally, physically, we were really ramped up and ready to play in Chicago,” Spoelstra said. “Tonight, I don’t know if I had that feeling, particularly to start this game. And they made us pay for it.”

Tuesday night’s trip-opening loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves was one thing; the Timberwolves are contenders. The only thing the Pacers are contending for is the No. 1 pick in June’s draft.

“Everybody else is trying to figure out the consistency,” Spoelstra said of such a bad loss. “And we’re in that boat, too. We’re trying to figure it out.”

Tyler Herro led the Heat with 21 points in his return to the starting lineup, but there were just 13 points from Bam Adebayo and only six from Norman Powell, whose career-best streak of double-figure games ended at 35.

“I just think we didn’t come out fully ready to play,” Powell said, “and then just started snowballing after that.”

Five Degrees of Heat from Saturday night’s game:

1. Game flow: The Heat went down 24 early and trailed 36-18 after the first period, their second fewest points in a period this season. The deficit then stood at 61-45 at halftime.

“It started out with turnover, score, turnover, and then foul, foul, foul,” Spoelstra said of the outset. ” And then we were playing from behind and in the mud, you know, the rest of the way.”

The Heat then climbed within seven early in the third quarter, before it quickly went south again, falling behind  by 29 in the quarter and going into the fourth down 99-72.

In many ways the tone was set at the outset, when Herro and Adebayo each airballed 3-point attempts.

As starting unit we had to come out with a better disposition, (0:19) better focus to get this team off to a good start.

“It’s unacceptable for all of us to be down 20 before the first time out,” Herro said.

2. Full house: With a full complement of rotation players, it led to adjustments beyond the starting lineup.

With Herro returning to the starting lineup for the first time since Dec. 9 after dealing with a toe contusion, a move into the starting lineup that was supposed to come in Thursday night’s postponed game in Chicago, Spoelstra rounded out his starting lineup with Powell, Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell.

Spoelstra then went with a bench cast of Jaime Jaquez Jr., Pelle Larsson, Nikola Jovic and Kel’el Ware.

The approach shuffled Dru Smith out of the mix until garbage time and left Kasparas Jakucionis and Simone Fontecchio out of the mix until the waning stages, as well.

“Forget about the starting lineup,” Spoelstra said. “It wasn’t like it got better when we went into the second unit. We were just on our heels the entire night.”

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3. Drought from deep: The Heat opened 0 for 11 on 3-pointers, with their breakthrough from behind the arc not coming until Powell converted the Heat’s first 3-pointer with 10.3 seconds left in the half, ironically his 100th 3-pointer of the season.

That also was Powell’s first basket, after he opened 0 for 8 from the field. Powell was 1 of 6 on 3-pointers in the first half, Herro 0 for 3.

From there, bad went to worse. At one point midway through the third period, the Heat stood 2 of 19 on 3-pointers, while, at the same time, former Heat summer-league and G League prospect Micah Potter was 3 for 3 from beyond the arc.

“We got great looks,” Adebayo said. “We just missed them.”

Powell closed 2 of 12 from the field, 1 of 7 on 3-pointers, the Heat 4 of 30 as a team.

“Some of those were makeable shots,” Spoelstra said. “But guys were not in rhythm for sure. And then it just snowballed from there.”

4. Herro ball: Herro had his moments offensively, up to 19 points by the end of the third period. But that also included 1-of-7 3-point shooting to that stage.

He closed 8 of 19 from the field, including 1 of 8 on 3-pointers, although he did add seven rebounds and four assists.

The Heat were outscored by 14 during his minutes.

“I think we just got to keep working at it,” Herro said of the lineup change that got him back in the first unit. “It’s only our third or fourth game, I believe, as a full unit. We all want to make it work, we just got to make it work.”

5. Lots of Thunder: The Heat not only get the unenviable task of having to play the second night of this back-to-back set on Sunday against the rested Thunder, but it will be one of two games this week against the defending NBA champions.

In addition to Sunday’s game at Paycom Center against the league-leading 32-7 Thunder, the Heat will host the Thunder on Saturday night at Kaseya Center.

The Heat have been swept 2-0 by the Thunder each of the past two seasons.

While the Thunder sat reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (ankle) and emerging big man Chet Holmgren (shin) in Friday night’s 117-116 victory in Memphis, neither is on Oklahoma City’s injury report for Sunday, with only center Isaiah Hartenstein (leg), among rotation players, listed as out.

“Hopefully we can stay healthy and get through this bump and get back to winning some games,” Adebayo said.

Winderman’s view: Heat whole but wholly unacceptable in loss to Pacers

South Florida Local News - Sat, 01/10/2026 - 19:23

INDIANAPOLIS — Observations and other notes of interest from Saturday night’s 123-99 loss to the Indiana Pacers:

– Based on Saturday night’s start, the debate remains whether your best lineup means starting your best players.

– An early 25-point deficit will do that.

– No, it did not look good.

– And it was about more than the early 3-point misses.

– It was about how off Norman Powell was.

– As in the leading scorer who had kept the Heat afloat amid Tyler Herro’s absences.

– Erik Spoelstra often talks about how you have to make the opposition play your game.

– But with Kel’el Ware out of the Heat first five, it allowed the Pacers to comfortably play small.

– Including playing Pascal Siakam defensively against Bam Adebayo.

– No, the Adebayo-Ware pairing was not optimal.

– And, yes, this got more Heat talent on the court at the outset.

– But we’re approaching midseason this week.

– Getting to what works has to be sooner rather than later.

– With Saturday’s starters looking better at the start of the second half.

– Briefly.

– So good enough against what is to follow this coming week?

– As in the Thunder, Suns, Celtics and Thunder?

– So here we sit in January.

– Wondering what works for the Heat.

– And if it ultimately adds up to play-in.

– Again.

– For the fifth time this season, Heat opened with a lineup of Powell, Herro, Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, and Davion Mitchell.

– That unit entered 2-2.

– So it was Ware to the second unit, his 11th bench appearance of the season.

– The game was Wiggins’ 800th regular-season NBA appearance.

– Adebayo is now three games from 600 career Heat regular-season appearances.

– With the Heat going smaller, the Pacers opened with a lineup of Andrew Nembhard, Quenton Jackson, Aaron Nesmith, Johnny Furphy and Pascal Siakam.

– With Mitchell called for his second foul with 7:22 left in the opening period, Jaime Jaquez Jr. entered earlier than usual.

– Jaquez had been listed as questionable earlier in the day with a stomach illness.

– With Wiggins then called for his second foul with 6:17 left in the opening period, Pelle Larsson followed as the Heat’s second reserve.

– Nikola Jovic followed.

– Then Ware as ninth man.

– Leaving Dru Smith out of that mix.

– Smith did not enter for the first time until 11:43 remained, when the Heat were down 28.

– By the time Smith entered, Myron Gardner already was on the court for the Heat.

– With depth in the backcourt to the degree that Kasparas Jakucionis soon could be headed to the G League for playing time.

– And Simone Fontecchio now buried deep on the bench.

– With Jaquez cleared just prior to the game from the stomach illness that had him questionable earlier in the day, it left the Heat with their primary rotation for only the fourth time this season.

– “Injuries, missed games really are part of this league right now,” Spoelstra said. “So we’re no different than anybody else. So we actually probably have had less of it.”

– That, of course, was prior to a game against a team that in last season’s playoffs lost Tyrese Haliburton with an Achilles tear.

– Haliburton watched in street clothes from Indiana’s bench.

– In addition, the Pacers also were without Benedict Mathurin and Obi Toppin.

– On the return of Jaquez from a two-game absence with an ankle sprain, Spoelstra was asked how it could spark the second unit.

– “Yeah, not just for the second unit, but particularly how we play right now,” Spoelstra said. “We really do need his attacking nature, his ability to get into the paint. When he’s not there, our paint numbers went way down. And that’s not a coincidence. But he’s really improved a lot of the aspects of his game.”

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– Spoelstra added, “But more so than just like the specifics of the game, it’s his competitive spirit and nature and toughness that just fits right in with us.”

– At the morning shootaround, Spoelstra reflected on the scheduled Thursday game in Chicago that was postponed due to condensation on the court at the United Center.

– “It was an unfortunate situation,” Spoelstra said. “Our guys had really prepared and I felt like emotionally we were geared up and ready to compete. Everybody’s really looking forward to it and it’s just an odd situation to be in like that and then there’s no game and you’re trying to wind down. We were back at the hotel and you normally have some kind of emotion, either a win or a loss, and there was no emotion.”

– Adebayo said he agreed with the postponement in Chicago, rather than attempting to gear back up to game readiness after such a lengthy delay.

– “After an hour of just sitting there, it kind of starts to die down,” he said of the preparedness. “So, I’m glad they rescheduled it.”

– With his first steal, Herro tied Sherman Douglas for 20th on the Heat all-time regular-season list.

Grateful Dead founding member Bob Weir dies at 78

South Florida Local News - Sat, 01/10/2026 - 17:27

By ANDREW DALTON

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Bob Weir, guitarist, singer and founding member of the Grateful Dead, has died at age 78.

Weir’s death was announced Saturday in a statement on his Instagram page.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Bobby Weir,” the statement said. “He transitioned peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, after courageously beating cancer as only Bobby could. Unfortunately, he succumbed to underlying lung issues.”

Weir joined the Grateful Dead — originally the Warlocks — in 1965 in San Francisco at just 17 years old. He’d spend the next 30 years playing on endless tours with the Grateful Dead alongside fellow singer and guitarist Jerry Garcia, who died in 1995.

Weir wrote or co-wrote and sang lead vocals on Dead classics including “Sugar Magnolia,” “One More Saturday Night” and “Mexicali Blues.”

In the decades since he kept playing with other projects including Dead and Company.

“For over sixty years, Bobby took to the road,” the Instagram statement said. A guitarist, vocalist, storyteller, and founding member of the Grateful Dead. Bobby will forever be a guiding force whose unique artistry reshaped American music.”

Weir’s death leaves drummer Bill Kreutzmann as the only surviving original member. Founding bassist Phil Lesh died in 2024.

Dead and Company played a series of concert’s for the Grateful Dead’s 60th anniversary in July at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.

Born in San Francisco and raised in nearby Atherton, Weir was the Dead’s youngest member and looked like a fresh-faced high-schooler in its early years. He was generally less shaggy than the rest of the band, but had a long beard like Garcia’s in later years.

The band would survive long past the hippie moment of its birth, with its fans known as Deadheads often following them on the road in a virtually non-stop tour.

“Longevity was never a major concern of ours,” Weir said when the Dead got the Grammys’ Musicares Person of the Year honor last year. “Spreading joy through the music was all we ever really had in mind and we got plenty of that done.”

Daily Horoscope for January 11, 2026

South Florida Local News - Sat, 01/10/2026 - 17:00
General Daily Insight for January 11, 2026

Don’t jump to conclusions! As romantic Venus squares tender Chiron at 11:13 AM EST, we’re braced to navigate friction between comfort and growth. Honest discussions of sensitive topics may pinch before they heal. We can name our sore spots and protect trust with gentle boundaries, because doing these small repairs prevents bigger hurts down the line. Later, the emotional Moon squares transformative Pluto, which invites us to breathe through power struggles and rebuild care. Gentle honesty strengthens bonds and protects our tender hearts.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Aries, your focus sharpens around meaningful goals. Values-driven Venus squares wounded healer Chiron in your 10th House of Career and your very own sign, bringing a test in recognition or pay that asks for courage over defensiveness. While you could feel somewhat over-exposed, you can handle feedback like a pro by setting clear limits and proposing workable next steps. If someone attempts to rush you, stand firm! You know what you can handle, and you can avoid stress by being honest about your capacity.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

This morning invites a wider look around. Your 9th House of Higher Learning awakens as Venus squares vulnerable Chiron, with Chiron in your subtler 12th house. This asks you to challenge a limiting belief, which could come through in discussions of educational plans or travel budgets. Whatever you’re talking about, it deserves cautious patience — not rushed judgments. You can potentially gain supporters of your opinions by sharing your thought process clearly. Ask questions kindly, because curiosity opens doors and hearts.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Read your message drafts twice before clicking send. In particular, any talks about money or shared secrets deserve thoughtful responses — especially as loving Venus squares healing Chiron across your vulnerable 8th house and your 11th House of Friendship. For instance, someone might not be coming through on their half of a shared subscription, but you can ask them about it kindly rather than accusingly. Right now, open discussions of everyone’s expectations are the best way to stop conflict before it starts.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Understanding grows as you ask for the care you need. Partnership conversations shift as Venus (in your 7th House of Collaborations) nudges aching Chiron, encouraging clear requests and brave listening across family or professional bonds. If a companion delays plans, state what works for you and propose a simple solution that respects both sides. Even as Chiron in your 10th House of Status brings public pressure, grace can strengthen the bridge between needs and duties. Ask gently yet clearly, because knowledge nourishes affection.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Watch out — complications ahead! It’s likely time to tap the brakes, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop completely. When planets collide, patience protects your progress. Your 6th House of Health is entangled with your lofty 9th house as beauty-focused Venus squares moody Chiron, nudging you to adjust schedules and self-care routines with steady compassion. At this time, lasting progress is more attainable through small wins and tidy follow-through. Steady pacing should build beautiful results that actually last.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Quiet confidence arrives as you make thoughtful choices throughout the day. Venus is in your upbeat 5th house, where she’ll square therapeutic Chiron in your committed 8th house. Perfection isn’t possible, but that doesn’t mean you can’t strive to improve every day. The universe values lifelong learners, and the best way to be one is to stay curious. You’re allowed to make mistakes — it’s a natural part of refining your process. Favor small improvements, because consistent work supports personal confidence and social connections.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Libra, grace emerges through honest answers. Home dynamics ask for care as harmony-seeking Venus squares pensive Chiron, with Venus in your 4th House of Family and Chiron in your 7th House of Alliances. This is a reminder to value clear structure around chores or privacy. If a roommate leaves dishes for days, you’re allowed to point that out! Just do so calmly, or they might avoid the issue even more. Clear, polite requests should make home life smoother and kinder for all.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Deeper feelings are shaping even casual conversations. Your 3rd House of Communication comes forward as desire-driven Venus squares clumsy Chiron, encouraging you to use simple language and slow pacing to ensure everyone can keep up. If a sibling or long-time friend pushes your buttons, do your best to avoid snapping back (unless that’s the kind of playful banter you enjoy having). In more serious discussions, be willing to ask follow-up questions, even if they slow things down. Rushing ahead is a fast path to drama!

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

The truth can be complicated — today, though, it’s more likely to simplify things. Money-minded Venus is squaring curative Chiron, pushing you to match your spending habits with your values (without shaming yourself or others). This may look like turning down an outing you could technically afford, but it would inhibit the rest of the month’s budget. Stay strong! Little treats aren’t worth an empty bank account. Thoughtful spending can’t solve everything, but it’s one of the easiest ways to support your financial freedom.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Self-respect rises when you speak plainly. Encouraging Venus squares ruminative Chiron, highlighting your sense of identity and asking you to honor needs without apology — especially regarding how you act and present yourself. If a colleague doubts your timeline on a deliverable, you hold firm and keep it respectful while staying open to feedback. Personal issues could impede your plans as well, but you can weather any storm with patience. Aggression isn’t necessary to stand up for yourself. Trust your soul to anchor your choices.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

When tenderness meets truth, healing begins. Your 12th House of Closure asks for quiet as connection-focused Venus squares edgy Chiron, encouraging rest, journaling, or other ways of communicating with your inner self. Old thoughts may swirl, especially during otherwise mindless activities, like driving or doing the dishes. That might not be the time to ponder such things! You might need to step back or even pull over if you can’t get past aches off your mind. It’s okay to need a break now and then.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Soft encouragement helps friendships feel safe again. Compassionate Venus squares cosmic medic Chiron, involving your 11th House of Connections and your 2nd House of Manifestation. Your groups are the universe’s focus, whether they’re professional or personal, online or off. Try to be aware of how much time and money you spend with different circles. You may need to suggest a less expensive method of hanging out together! Don’t worry — with a little creative collaboration, you should be able to honor everyone’s desires and budgets.

Dave Hyde: Dolphins — yes, Dolphins! — make all right moves starting next regime

South Florida Local News - Sat, 01/10/2026 - 14:08

Well, the Miami Dolphins did it. They really did it. They started their latest rebuild under owner Steve Ross  — Makeover V? VI? — and gave everyone hope this time could be different.

That’s because it’s actually begun differently. Properly. Ross simultaneously cleaned out the coaching and the personnel offices for once. Every previous rebuild involved a general manager and coach on uneven timetables with no concern over which job was more important. Not this time.

The talent evaluator was given top billing in this rebuild. That’s how it should be. The Dolphins’ search committee stuck to the conviction of their work by momentarily ignoring the popular name of fired coach John Harbaugh. Some (raising my hand) thought Harbaugh could solve all their problems. And maybe he could..

But the committee was sold on former Green Bay assistant Jon-Eric Sullivan, to whom two NFL executives gave thumbs-up on Saturday. Sullivan doesn’t just come from a blue-ribbon franchise where he rose under respected mentors.

He instantly becomes the central figure in this rebuild. He’s going to draft his way out of this roster’s problems, if they ever get out of them, assuming his Green Bay roots are followed.

Talent evaluating has been the Dolphins central problem for these lost two decades. They pass on quarterbacks. Their drafts are pedestrian. And it’s not because of where they draft or what they need. Just look at the either-or decisions fired general manager Chris Grier made with his first picks on recent draft days:

2020: Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with the fifth pick or Los Angeles Chargers star Justin Herbert sixth.

2021: Receiver Jaylen Waddle sixth or three-time All-Pro tackle Penei Sewell seventh.

2022: Linebacker Channing Tindall 102nd or two-year Super Bowl starter Leo Chenal at 103rd.

Do I need to go on about Sullivan’s importance? Because I can with Grier’s drafts:

2024: Either edge rusher Chop Robinson 21st or All-Pro cornerback Quinyon Mitchell 22nd.

Sure, the coach matters. And the Dolphins’ attention has swung that way by interviewing Seattle offensive coordinator Clint Kubiak on Saturday and setting up interviews for Harbaugh, Kevin Stefanski, Robert Saleh and Chris Shula.

That’s right. There’s a next-generation Shula in the mix. This offseason is full of fresh hope, right?

Ross hasn’t decided just how to structure his new management of Sullivan, vice president of salary cap Brandon Shore and the new coach. Will they be equals reporting to Ross or an intermediary like team president Tom Garfinkel? Will Sullivan run the show?

The structure isn’t as important as the people making it work, NFL insiders say. But the new culture starts with some decisions Sullivan will make regarding the roster.

*Does he reward running back De’Von Achane with a new contract or make him play out his rookie deal? No one deserves a new contract more than Achane. But his position and the Dolphins’ previous penchant for unnecessarily reworking all contracts might cause a quick pause on it this offseason.

*What to do at quarterback? Moving on from Tua is a given. Does Sullivan like Green Bay free agent Malik Willis? And at what cost for a Dolphins franchise in salary-cap hell? The last time the Dolphins hired out of Green Bay, the public idea was coach Joe Philbin would bring quarterback Matt Flynn. But Philbin didn’t like Flynn’s game (which proved right). Willis looks more intriguing.

Green Bay might also be looked at for the Dolphins coach. There’s questions of head coach Matt LaFleur’s contract status with the Packers. But defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley could be a practical possibility if Sullivan is considering the Dolphins have to face Buffalo’s Josh Allen and New England’s Drake Maye in the AFC East for years to come.

Look what Seattle general manager John Schneider did in a similar position. Facing offensive minds like San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan and the Los Angeles Rams’ Sean McVay in the NFC West, Seattle hired a top defensive mind as coach in Mike Macdonald.

It worked. Seattle’s the No. 1 seed in the NFC. It primarily worked because Schneider drafted like the star evaluator he is.

It takes talent to find talent. The Dolphins looked outside, cleaned the organizational slate and made the hiring of the talent evaluator the most important move of this offseason. It doesn’t mean it works, of course. It just means they’ve offered the best chance it will.

 

‘Say her name’: Hundreds of protesters gather near Boca Raton after ICE killing of woman in Minneapolis

South Florida Local News - Sat, 01/10/2026 - 13:08

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside of Home Depot in West Boca on Saturday morning to protest ICE following the fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis this past week.

They carried signs reading “ICE: Innocent Citizen Executioners” and chanted “Say her name! Renee Nicole Good!” One man, wearing a Santa costume, walked around chanting, “Ho ho ho, ICE has got to go.”

The protest, which drew over 200 people to the intersection outside the Home Depot in the 9800 block of Glades Road, had been planned prior to the shooting to demand that Home Depot reject ICE raids targeting undocumented workers at its stores. But it quickly shifted focus after Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and legal observer, was shot and killed by an ICE agent on Wednesday, sparking national outrage. Dozens of similar protests were held throughout Florida and the rest of the country Saturday, including one in Wilton Manors; protesters also gathered in Coral Springs Friday evening.

Jennifer Jones, an organizer with Hope and Action Indivisible, which led Saturday’s protest, said only 50 people had signed up before the shooting; afterwards, more than 400 said they planned on attending.

The shooting struck a chord for many attendees, some of whom, like Good, are legal observers and activists who have followed ICE during enforcement operations in South Florida. Legal observers are volunteers who act as witnesses, Jones said, taking down names to ensure that families of those detained know where they are.

“We’re doing exactly what she was doing,” Jones told the South Florida Sun Sentinel, adding that “it definitely hit home. I have a wife; she had a wife. It’s like, oh my gosh, that could be me.”

Protesters along Glades Road outside the Home Depot in Boca Raton on Saturday January 10, 2026, call on Home Depot to take a clear stand against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Good’s shooting has sparked heavy backlash and debate. While critics have described it as an unjustified use of force, the Trump administration and its supporters defended the ICE agent’s actions as justified, saying it appeared that Good was attempting to hit him with her car. Journalists’ video analyses have argued that Good appeared to be attempting to turn her car away from the agents.

As protesters chanted Saturday, many passing drivers honked in support, while a few others gave the middle finger. One man blasted “Ice Ice Baby” from his car. The event was largely peaceful, though a few altercations took place between protesters and a small number of isolated counter-protesters. Pola Rae Leonard, 66, told the Sun Sentinel that a man punched her sign; she reported the incident to Palm Beach County Sheriff’s deputies, who told the two to separate but did not make any arrests.

The majority of Saturday’s attendees were middle-aged or older. Several are members of South Florida’s activist community and have gone to several protests before, such as the “No Kings” anti-Trump rallies.

Many said they were struck by the footage of the shooting, as well as reports that a doctor attempted to render aid to Good but ICE stopped him.

“They’re not law enforcement, they’re just a bunch of guys cosplaying as law enforcement,” said Heidi Rabinowitz, 58, adding that the shooting was just “the top of the list,” and that she was also concerned about the U.S. involvement in Venezuela.

Lori Chops, 62, found out about the protest while celebrating her birthday Saturday morning and decided to join. She has attended other protests in the past, she said, but “today I’m here for Renee Good.”

She was particularly troubled by the fact that people could watch the same video of Good’s shooting that she had, but come away thinking it was justified.

“I’m saddened by the hatred that exists today,” she said, “and the willful blindness.”

Towards the peak of the demonstration, organizers spoke to the crowd and held a moment of silence for Good.

“Renee Good is one of many,” Tessa Petit, executive director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition, said in a speech. “The next day there was another shooting. It is not going to stop until the people of America say, ‘it must stop.'”

Petit encouraged attendees to help immigrants in the community avoid traffic stops by fixing their tail lights or removing illegal license plate covers.

Some attendees said they had not protested the administration before Saturday but felt spurred by recent events.

One of them, Alyssa Cordisco, 43, chose to attend with her 8-year-old daughter, Myla, and their dog, Pickles.

A combination of things brought Cordisco to the protest, including, she said, footage she has seen online of Good’s killing as well as immigrants being beaten or separated from their families. Cordisco also had a friend who was recently taken to the “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center in the Everglades; she was shocked to realize the facility hadn’t been shut down.

“I don’t know how we could possibly not come,” Cordisco said. “It is so out of control right now and appalling.”

Junior, Aly and Chris, best friends who grew up in Boca Raton together, also said Saturday was their first protest. They asked that their last names not be used, citing safety concerns.

“We think it’s gone too far already,” Junior, 28, told the Sun Sentinel. “It’s not the America we grew up in.”

Aly, 30, added that she felt that events like Good’s shooting might have a chilling effect on dissent, something that she wanted to counteract.

“I think showing up became important because it feels like they’re making a concerted effort to discourage people from coming out,” she said, “by making it feel unsafe, by making it feel like they’re watching you, by making it feel like you could die.”

Arrest at Boca Raton protest

At a Home Depot located in the 9800 block of Glades Road in Boca Raton, one criminal incident occurred during the event involving a physical altercation. Thomas Landry, of Boca Raton, was arrested and charged with battery. He was transported to the Palm Beach County Jail, where bond was set at $2,000. If bond is not posted, Landry will appear for first appearance tomorrow morning.

Today in History: January 10, Staten Island workers killed in natural gas explosion

South Florida Local News - Sat, 01/10/2026 - 02:00

Today is Saturday, Jan. 10, the 10th day of 2026. There are 355 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Jan. 10, 2013, a series of bomb blasts in Pakistan killed more than 100 people, including dozens who died in a sectarian attack in the southwest city of Quetta. Hundreds of others were injured.

Also on this date:

In 1776, Thomas Paine anonymously published his influential pamphlet, “Common Sense,” which argued for American independence from British rule.

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In 1860, the Pemberton Mill in Lawrence, Massachusetts, collapsed and caught fire, killing as many as 145 people.

In 1861, Florida became the third state to secede from the Union prior to the Civil War.

In 1863, the London Underground was born when the Metropolitan Railway, the world’s first underground passenger railway, opened to the public with service between Paddington and Farringdon Street.

In 1920, the League of Nations was established as the Treaty of Versailles (vehr-SY’) went into effect.

In 1946, the United Nations convened its first General Assembly session in London with 51 nations represented. The proceedings defined the scope and purpose of the world body.

In 1982, San Francisco 49ers receiver Dwight Clark caught a touchdown pass from Joe Montana with 58 seconds left in the NFC Championship Game; one of the most famous plays in NFL history, “The Catch” led the 49ers to a 28-27 victory over the Dallas Cowboys and a berth in Super Bowl XVI, where they defeated the Cincinnati Bengals for their first Super Bowl victory.

In 2017, President Barack Obama delivered his farewell address in Chicago, in which the two-term Democrat urged national unity and highlighted achievements of his presidency including the Affordable Care Act. Republican Donald Trump took office days later after a 2016 election in which Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Today’s birthdays:
  • Olympic decathlon gold medalist Bill Toomey is 87.
  • Singer Rod Stewart is 81.
  • Rock singer-musician Donald Fagen (Steely Dan) is 78.
  • Singer Pat Benatar is 73.
  • Hall of Fame racing driver and team owner Bobby Rahal is 73.
  • Actor-comedian Jemaine Clement is 52.
  • Actor Sarah Shahi is 46.
  • Business owner Jared Kushner is 45.
  • Actor and singer Reneé Rapp is 26.

Hurricanes will host Miami-raised Heisman winner Mendoza, top-ranked Indiana Hoosiers in national title game

South Florida Local News - Fri, 01/09/2026 - 21:08

The South Florida star will face South Florida’s most popular college team with a national title on the line.

Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback (and Miami native) Fernando Mendoza threw five touchdown passes in leading No. 1-ranked Indiana to a 56-22 annihilation of Oregon in Friday night’s Peach Bowl, securing a spot in the national championship against Miami. The Hurricanes punched their ticket with a 31-27 win Thursday night over Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl. 

Mendoza went 17 for 20 for 177 yards and tacked on 28 rushing yards, and the Hoosiers, who had a first-round bye, have outscored Alabama and Oregon in the College Football Playoff by a combined 94-25.

Mendoza, a Miami Columbus High alumnus, shares an alma mater with UM coach Mario Cristobal. The Hurricanes coach played football with Mendoza’s father in high school.

After the game, Mendoza exclaimed on the TV broadcast: “We’re going back to the 305!”

Mendoza’s Cinderella story has been one of the most talked-about stories in college football this year. An untouted recruit out of high school, Mendoza was originally planning to go to Yale before signing with Cal. After two seasons with the Golden Bears — which included a close 2024 loss to Miami — Mendoza transferred to Indiana. The Hoosiers were coming off a trip to the 2024 College Football Playoff.

Mendoza became a star at Indiana. Entering Friday’s game, he had 3,172 passing yards with 36 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He led the Hoosiers to their first Big Ten title since 1967 with a win over Ohio State in the conference title game.

But Mendoza is not the only standout player the Hoosiers have. Running back Roman Hemby entered Friday’s game with 1,007 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, and fellow running back Kaelon Black had 898 yards and eight scores.

Wide receivers Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper both have double-digit touchdowns, helping the nation’s No. 3 offense go.

The Hoosiers have a strong defense, as well. They entered Friday allowing just 10.3 points per game, which was second in the nation.

Indiana, who had three sacks against the Ducks, entered Friday’s game with 42 sacks, which was fifth in the nation. Linebacker Rolijah Hardy leads the team with eight quarterback takedowns. They also excel at taking the ball away from opponents, and defensive back Louis Moore leads the team with six interceptions.

Heritage Foundation calls for U.S. policy to ‘save and restore the American family’

South Florida Local News - Fri, 01/09/2026 - 17:57

By MEG KINNARD

The Heritage Foundation think tank is urging the federal government “to save and restore the American family,” kicking off the midterm election year with a call for conservatives to focus on domestic issues.

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Among its recommendations? A “marriage bootcamp,” designed to prepare cohabitating couples for marriage; a “universal day of rest” that would build upon blue laws that limit alcohol sales in some municipalities; and discouragement of online dating, in part because of research showing that “couples who meet online are also less likely to get married in the first place.”

The full plan, published Thursday and first reported by The Washington Post, marks the foundation’s evolution from its small government roots to a pillar of the populist right. During President Donald Trump’s second term, Heritage has demonstrated its impact with Project 2025, which has been used as a blueprint to overhaul U.S. policy.

“The government’s primary role is to clear the weeds and prevent its policies and programs from poisoning the ground,” wrote the new report’s authors, led by Roger Severino, Heritage’s vice president of economic and domestic policy. “Unfortunately, except for radically redefining the institution, marriage is not currently a federal priority.”

Last year, Heritage President Kevin Roberts roiled conservative corners when — as Democrats accused Republicans of tolerating antisemitism in their party — he defended prominent conservative commentator Tucker Carlson for his friendly podcast interview with far-right activist Nick Fuentes, known for his antisemitic views. The comments sparked outrage and the resignations of Heritage board members, staffers and executives.

An expanded view of government’s role in lives of Americans

The ultimate guidance in the new Heritage report is that U.S. policy “encourage and protect the formation of families, not mere fertility,” recommending against any policies “that undermine marriage and the formation of families, or reward or encourage needless delay in marriage and out-of-wedlock births.”

Tax codes, Heritage writes, “should not penalize marriage and encourage single parenthood,” and education policy “should not coax young Americans to delay marriage while pursuing needless credentials.”

The report also calls on Trump to issue “a series of executive orders requiring every grant, contract, policy, regulation, research project, and enforcement action involving the federal government to do the following: Explicitly measure how it helps or harms marriage and family, block actions that discriminate against family formation, and give preference to actions that support American families.”

Eric Rosswood, author of “Journey to Parenthood: The Ultimate Guide for Same-Sex Couples,” said he concurs with some of Heritage’s arguments, like the threats posed by food insecurity and the lack of affordable childcare. But he disagreed with the report’s recommendation that subsidies go toward married families, or that children are best-suited to being raised by their biological parents.

“I think what’s due to them is a family that’s going to provide for the children and take care of the children, make sure they have a roof over their head that they have meals, they’re getting to school, parents that support their hobbies and motivate them,” said Rosswood, who is raising two children with his husband.

“I don’t think that those are gender-based. I don’t think that that’s tied to biological genetics. I think that’s what a parent does, regardless of who they are.”

Trump has taken cues from Heritage in the past

During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump distanced himself from Project 2025 — a nearly 900-page guidebook written by many conservatives who worked in or with Trump’s first administration. Still, some of its tenets have become hallmarks of his second term thus far, including the establishment of the Department of Government Efficiency and the dissolution of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

During the 2024 race, it came to light that JD Vance — who by then was Trump’s running mate — had praised Roberts’ vision in the forward of the Heritage chief’s forthcoming book, “Dawn’s Early Light,” calling Heritage “the most influential engine of ideas for Republicans from Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump.”

Now-Vice President Vance, who at times references his personal struggles when describing policies he says would help make parenting easier, has long been clear about making family formation a policy priority, suggesting ideas such as allowing parents to vote on behalf of their children or giving low-interest loans to married couples with children.

What the Heritage report says about IVF

Acknowledging that in vitro fertilization — a medical procedure that helps people facing infertility build their families — has its benefits, the report argues against the practice outside of marriage.

“A babies-at-all-costs mentality would come at too great a cost, and not just financially, but morally and spiritually” and “intentionally denies a right due to every child conceived — to be born and grow in relationship with his or her mother and father bound in marriage,” Heritage writes.

In the first month of his second term, Trump signed an executive order aiming to reduce the costs of IVF, requesting a list of policy recommendations on protecting IVF access and “aggressively reducing out-of-pocket and health plan costs for IVF treatment.” In October, Trump followed that up with new federal guidance he said would allow companies to offer fertility benefits separate from major medical insurance plans. Costs for a common fertility drug would also come down through a deal struck with drugmaker EMD Serono.

IVF became a talking point during the 2024 presidential campaign when Alabama agreed to protect in vitro fertilization providers from legal liability a couple of weeks after the state Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos can be considered children under state law.

Alongside the drug price-related negotiation, Heritage commended Trump for promising “to address the ‘root causes’ of infertility.” The White House did not immediately comment Thursday on the report, or if anyone in the administration had collaborated on it.

Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://x.com/MegKinnardAP

Dispute erupts over who will represent former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in court

South Florida Local News - Fri, 01/09/2026 - 17:54

By MICHAEL R. SISAK and LARRY NEUMEISTER

NEW YORK (AP) — Days after Nicolás Maduro’s arraignment on drug trafficking charges, a squabble has erupted over who gets to represent the former Venezuelan president in the high-stakes case.

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Defense attorney Barry Pollack, who sat with Maduro in court, accused lawyer Bruce Fein of trying to join the case without authorization. Fein, an associate deputy U.S. attorney general during Ronald Reagan’s presidency, said he was asked by a judge on Friday to let Maduro settle the dispute.

Fein told Manhattan federal Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein that “individuals credibly situated” within Maduro’s inner circle or family had sought out Fein’s assistance to help him navigate what the lawyer called the “extraordinary, startling, and viperlike circumstances” of his capture and criminal case.

Fein said in a letter to the judge that he’d had no telephone, video or other direct contact with Maduro, who is being held at a federal jail in Brooklyn. But, Fein wrote, Maduro “had expressed a desire” for his “assistance in this matter.”

The dispute first came to light on Thursday when Pollack asked Hellerstein to rescind his approval for Fein to join Maduro’s legal team. Pollack said that Fein was not Maduro’s lawyer and that he had not authorized Fein to file paperwork telling the judge otherwise.

Pollack was the only lawyer representing Maduro on Monday as the deposed South American leader and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty to charges alleging he worked with drug cartels to facilitate the shipment of thousands of tons of cocaine into the U.S. Two days earlier, U.S. special forces seized Maduro and Flores from their home in Caracas.

In a written declaration to Hellerstein, Pollack said he attempted to contact Fein by telephone and email to ask him on what basis he was seeking to enter his appearance on behalf of Maduro and what authorization he had to do so.

“He has not responded,” Pollack said.

Pollack said he spoke to Maduro by phone on Thursday and confirmed that Maduro “does not know Mr. Fein and has not communicated with Mr. Fein, much less retained him, authorized him to enter an appearance, or otherwise hold himself out as representing Mr. Maduro.”

Pollack said Maduro authorized him to ask Hellerstein to modify the court docket so that it no longer showed Fein as representing Maduro.

Fein, in his response Friday, told the judge he doesn’t dispute or question the accuracy of Pollack’s assertions. Instead, he suggested that Hellerstein question Maduro in private to “definitively ascertain President Maduro’s representation wishes,” including whether he wants to be represented by Pollack, Fein or both.

“Maduro was apprehended under extraordinary, startling, and viperlike circumstances, including deprivation of liberty, custodial restrictions on communications, and immediate immersion in a foreign criminal process in a foreign tongue, fraught with the potential for misunderstandings or miscommunications,” Fein wrote.

Supreme Court will take up Cisco’s bid to shut down lawsuit by Falun Gong

South Florida Local News - Fri, 01/09/2026 - 17:37

By MARK SHERMAN

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court agreed Friday to take up an appeal from tech giant Cisco seeking to shut down a lawsuit claiming that the company’s technology was used to persecute members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement in China.

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The justices, who will hear arguments in the spring, will review an appellate ruling that would allow the lawsuit against Cisco to go forward in U.S. courts.

The court acted after the Trump administration weighed in on Cisco’s behalf to urge the justices to hear the case.

An Associated Press investigation last year showed that American tech companies, to a large degree, designed and built China’s surveillance state, encouraged by Republican and Democratic administrations, even as activists warned such tools were being used to quash dissent, persecute religious groups and target minorities.

In 2008, documents leaked to the press showed Cisco saw the “Golden Shield,” China’s internet censorship effort, as a sales opportunity. The company quoted a Chinese official calling the Falun Gong an “evil cult.” A Cisco presentation reviewed by AP from the same year said its products could identify over 90% of Falun Gong material on the web.

Other presentations reviewed by AP show that Cisco represented Falun Gong material as a “threat” and built out a national information system to track Falun Gong believers. In 2011, Falun Gong members sued Cisco, alleging the company tailored technology for Beijing that it knew would be used to track, detain and torture believers.

The issue before the Supreme Court is whether an American company can be held liable under two separate laws for aiding and abetting human rights violations. Cisco argues it isn’t liable under those laws, the 18th-century Alien Tort Statute (ATS) or the Torture Victim Protection Act (TVPA), first enacted in 1991.

In recent years, the Supreme Court and presidential administrations of both parties have been skeptical of lawsuits seeking to use U.S. courts as a venue to seek justice over the acts of foreign governments, especially those that took place abroad. To try to overcome that skepticism, Falun Gong members have argued that a substantial portion of Cisco’s activities involving China took place in the United States.

A decision is expected by early summer.

DeSantis sets date for Florida’s first execution of 2026

South Florida Local News - Fri, 01/09/2026 - 17:28

TALLAHASSEE — A man convicted of killing a traveling salesman during a robbery is set to become Florida’s first execution of 2026 under a death warrant signed Friday by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who signed off on a record 19 executions last year.

Ronald Palmer Heath, 64, is scheduled to die by lethal injection Feb. 10 at Florida State Prison. DeSantis oversaw more executions in a single year in 2025 than any other Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. The previous record was set in 2014 with eight executions.

Heath was convicted of first-degree murder, robbery with a death weapon and multiple forgery charges in 1990.

According to court records, Heath and his brother, Kenneth Heath, met traveling salesman Michael Sheridan at a Gainesville bar in May 1989. After hanging out at the bar for some time, the three men agreed to go somewhere else to smoke marijuana.

At some point, the brothers plotted to rob the other man, investigators said. Ronald Heath drove the group to a remote area, where Kenneth Heath pulled a handgun on Sheridan. The man initially refused to give the brothers anything, and Kenneth Heath shot Sheridan in the chest.

As Sheridan emptied his pockets, Ronald Heath began kicking the man and stabbing him with a hunting knife, prosecutors said. Kenneth Heath then shot Sheridan twice in the head.

The brothers dumped Sheridan’s body in a wooded area and returned to the Gainesville bar to take items from his rental car. The brothers made multiple purchases with Sheridan’s credit cards the next day at a Gainesville mall.

Ronald Heath was arrested several weeks later at his Douglas, Georgia, home after investigators connected him to the stolen credit cards. Officers recovered clothing purchased with the stolen cards, as well as Sheridan’s watch, according to court records.

Kenneth Heath was also charged with Sheridan’s murder, but he was sentenced to life in prison as part of a plea agreement.

Attorneys for Ronald Heath are expected to file appeals to the Florida Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court.

A total of 47 people were executed in the U.S. in 2025. Florida led the way with a flurry of death warrants signed by DeSantis. The state’s final execution of 2025 was the Dec. 18 lethal injection of Frank Athen Walls, who was convicted of fatally shooting a man and his girlfriend during a home invasion robbery.

Judge says Trump administration can’t block child care, other program money for 5 states for now

South Florida Local News - Fri, 01/09/2026 - 17:21

By GEOFF MULVIHILL

A federal judge ruled Friday that President Donald Trump’s administration cannot block federal money for child care subsidies and other programs aimed at supporting needy children and their families from flowing to five Democratic-led states for now.

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The states of California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York argued that a policy announced Tuesday to freeze funds for three grant programs is having an immediate impact on them and creating “operational chaos.” In court filings and a hearing earlier Friday, the states contended that the government did not have a legal reason for holding back the money from those states.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it was pausing the funding because it had “reason to believe” the states were granting benefits to people in the country illegally, though it did not provide evidence or explain why it was targeting those states and not others.

The programs are the Child Care and Development Fund, which subsidizes child care for children from low-income families; the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, which provides cash assistance and job training; and the Social Services Block Grant, a smaller fund that provides money for a variety of programs.

The five states say they receive a total of more than $10 billion a year from the programs.

The ruling from U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, who was nominated to the bench by former President Joe Biden, is in place until further arguments are made in court.

The government had requested reams of data from the five states, including the names and Social Security numbers of everyone who received benefits from some of the programs since 2022.

The states argue that the effort is unconstitutional and is intended to go after Trump’s political adversaries rather than to stamp out fraud in government programs — something the states say they already do.

Jessica Ranucci, a lawyer in the New York Attorney General’s office, said in the Friday hearing, which was conducted by telephone, that at least four of the states had already had money delayed after requesting it. She said that if the states can’t get child care funds, there will be immediate uncertainty for providers and families who rely on the programs.

A lawyer for the federal government, Kamika Shaw, said it was her understanding that the money had not stopped flowing to states.

Daily Horoscope for January 10, 2026

South Florida Local News - Fri, 01/09/2026 - 17:00
General Daily Insight for January 10, 2026

Opportunity costs have today balancing on a knife’s edge — are the gains of our potential actions worth their price? The Sun opposes grandiose Jupiter at 3:42 AM EST, which spurs us to measure ambition against care in a search for the middle ground. Energetic Mars also faces Jupiter, heightening today’s urgency. Gentleness can return this afternoon, once the nurturing Moon mirrors healing Chiron. We’re allowed to sacrifice our own comforts in pursuit of our goals, but we shouldn’t make that choice for other people.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Take the reins on what matters most. With fiery Mars in your driven 10th house shoving Jupiter in your domestic zone, you’re well-equipped to handle both bold leaps and thoughtful promises. A manager may ask for extra hours while someone you love requests help at home. Aim high professionally, even as your foundational commitments remind you that steadiness and care make success feel worthwhile. Speak clearly about timelines, then commit to a realistic plan. Stay focused to avoid dividing your effort among needless minutiae.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

New ideas are tugging you toward wider horizons. Your 9th House of Travel speaks up as the giving Sun opposes lucky Jupiter, urging you to stretch your mind without venturing onto dangerously shaky ground. You may weigh personal investments against community ones. Don’t worry too much — both options should improve your future. For the time being, focus on setting reasonable goals for growing your mind, then consider sharing them with others. You might get tons of peers interested in learning alongside you!

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Financial discussions shouldn’t be terrifying. Even if they usually intimidate you, today you’ve got the Sun and Jupiter on your side! Their opposition emboldens your resourceful 8th house and your accountable 2nd house, weighing fairness against generosity. You could be renegotiating a loan with a lender or outlining spending limits with a partner. Any money situation can be navigated, as long as you think it through and ask the questions you need answered. Speak plainly — clarity protects the interests of everyone involved.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Today will likely have an easy rhythm — as long as you communicate your needs honestly. The radiant Sun in your partnership sector opposing joyous Jupiter in your fine-tuned sign highlights give-and-take, so you look for promises that feel generous and doable. In any close bond, clear expectations reduce friction and invite more warmth. Consider this a cosmic reminder to honor your needs without overshadowing another’s voice. At the end of the day, make an effort to check in with one another.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Leo, remember that internal progress is still progress, even if no one else can see it just yet. Your productive 6th house and your resolute 12th house are both impacted by the vibrant Sun opposing wise Jupiter. This is an ideal moment to look at any life routines you’d like to update. It also encourages you to look for moments of quiet that stoke your creative fire. Tidy your desk, then focus on a single task until it is complete. Pacing yourself will be crucial.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Just have fun with it, Virgo! Creativity blossoms as the sparkling Sun opposes Jupiter, lining up your friendship zone and your creativity quadrant. Today’s most crucial task: express yourself! Anything works for this, from a movie night to a crafting class. Whatever your plans may be, they’ll benefit most from having your full attention. You don’t need to be “good” at your activity of choice; you just need to be mindful of how you feel along the way. Let play teach you what truly works.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Kindness toward yourself changes every conversation. As the empathetic Moon opposes wary Chiron, your sense of self asks for care. When you follow through on that care, you can present yourself with calm, even when you’re feeling rather wobbly. Your boundaries are reasonable, and you’re allowed to stand up for them! Even as Chiron in your 7th House of Pairings calls for concessions, you can lead with fairness and ensure no one (including you!) has to sacrifice too much. Offer yourself grace.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Say less, but say it with depth. The spitfire Sun opposing auspicious Jupiter revitalizes your 3rd House of Information and your 9th House of Philosophy. This is a superb reminder that the way you talk about things influences your perception of them. Think about the words you use when discussing big topics, like religion or even politics. How might your vocabulary shape your beliefs? The universe is calling you to explore those big ideas in depth. You could also enjoy discussing them with trustworthy peers.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

You can be optimistic without being foolish. Your 2nd House of Finances and your 8th House of Sharing are bolstered by the opposition of Mars and Jupiter. In turn, this boosts your ability to align your purchases with your real priorities. You might skip a flashy gadget to clear a nagging bill — be proud of that! Other people could have requests that strain your budget, but you can negotiate fair terms without losing your generous spirit. A clear budget now protects freedom later.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Own your path — no one can walk it like you. With the Sun and Jupiter colliding across your sign and your partner-focused 7th house, you may notice different aspects of yourself coming forward in different social bonds. You’re a different person when talking to an authority figure versus talking to your best friend, and that’s normal! That said, it may be time to adjust one of those presentations. You could update a profile or refine a title, because first impressions currently carry real weight.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Listen to the universe to access cosmic inspiration. You’d be wise to sequester yourself away from the world’s noise for at least an hour or two today, since the Sun and Jupiter are activating your solitude sector and your practicality zone. If someone tries to intrude upon your peace, consider offering to support them later so you can continue recharging. Your resting periods are essential to prevent mistakes and spark better solutions for everyone involved. Protect your energy so insight can land.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Your circle lights up with caring exchanges. Community ties are strengthened by the sparring session between the Sun and Jupiter, since it strikes your friendly 11th house and your playful 5th house. Consider inviting a friend to a hobby event rather than just getting coffee together — unless coffee is your hobby, of course. You could also lead a volunteer effort or coordinate a simple meetup that lets new faces feel welcome. Kindness paired with practical plans helps every promise land beautifully. Share generously!

Officials say a shark killed an American woman along a beach in the US Virgin Islands

South Florida Local News - Fri, 01/09/2026 - 16:16

By ANSELM GIBBS

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) — A shark attacked and killed an American woman along a beach in St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, officials said Friday.

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Police identified the victim as 56-year-old Arlene Lillis of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.

Authorities said the attack occurred close to shore on western St. Croix on Thursday afternoon.

Police and other emergency crews responded to the beach, where crews worked “swiftly and professionally under very extreme and difficult circumstances” to treat Lillis, said Daryl Jaschen, director of the Virgin Islands’ emergency management agency.

Lillis, who was a frequent visitor to the U.S. territory, was taken to a local hospital for further treatment but died from her injuries, according to Lt. Gov. Tregenza A. Roach.

Police said they were initially told there may have been a second victim, but a perimeter search by authorities did not discover any other victims.

Officials said they have not yet confirmed what type of shark was involved in the attack. They said that while shark sightings are common, attacks in the U.S. Virgin Islands are unusual.

“Encounters that result in a bite are very rare,” said Nicole Angeli of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources at Friday’s news conference.

She said Thursday’s attack was the second such incident in a decade, and that there are plans to put up more signs and share more information at hotels and beaches on how to be safe around wildlife.

Jaschen, of the emergency management agency, said the investigation into the attack is ongoing, and that he could not immediately say what may have caused the shark to come so close to the shore.

Overall, at least 79 unprovoked shark attacks have been reported in the Caribbean since 1749, including four in the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to the Florida-based International Shark Attack File.

Dolphins Deep Dive: What will new GM and coach be able to do at QB? | VIDEO

South Florida Local News - Fri, 01/09/2026 - 16:14

Sun Sentinel Miami Dolphins columnist Chris Perkins and columnist Dave Hyde discuss what new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and an incoming head coach will be able to do with the team’s quarterback options.

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