South Florida Local News

Since Donald Trump is notorious for not fully reading documents, he may not have known all of the specifics of Project 2025, but he lied when he denied knowing that its core objective was to dismantle the U.S. government.

Drafters and proponents of Project 2025 are now Trump’s vice president, Cabinet members and close advisors. That’s no coincidence.

They are violating laws and the Constitution to accomplish their objectives. They appeal to basic instincts: fear, greed, selfishness, bigotry and lawlessness.

They do not have a sense of decency or fair play. They advocate holding back funds approved by Congress, establishing tariffs without good reason, deporting people without trials, firing government employees without adequate investigation, blackmailing law firms, disobeying court orders and withholding funds from educational institutions that do not agree with their agenda.

This is the very definition of tyranny. It is grounds for impeachment, but Republican politicians are too afraid of losing their jobs to vote for it — or even mention it.

Carl Schneider, Delray Beach

They made a big mistake

Before the 2024 presidential election, my letter to the editor was published on the dangers of a Trump presidency.

One of the first signs was his refusal to accept a valid election in 2020. There were so many more signs demonstrating he wasn’t fit to serve, and most important was the danger to a reasonably healthy economy.

Look at the results so far. Inflation and the costs of goods are higher. The average person has lost thousands of dollars in stock market and retirement plans. His revolutionary tariffs will raise costs of materials, hurting the real estate market.

Was it my prescience through years of course work in decision-making, critical thinking and meditation that gave me the edge to see the dangers posed by a Trump presidency?

I believe that the 50% of voters who opted for him based their decision on pure emotion, not facts. The Bible, in Proverbs 4:7, says: “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom.”

Hopefully, those who voted for Trump will realize they made a mistake that is not to be repeated.

Steven Weil, Ph.D., Boynton Beach

Third time’s not the charm

TV commentator Bill Maher and some ordinary citizens believe an antidote to a constitutionally barred third term for President Trump is for Democrats to run Barack Obama again. I’m pretty sure dual illegal actions don’t make it right.

Obama’s civilian market value must be in the hundreds of million dollars for books, speeches and corporate board seats. Why would he subject himself to four more years of battling a dysfunctional Congress?

Keep in mind, Obama’s two terms were marked by the constant effort to replace Obamacare with what turned out to be nothing. He also would have to rebuild a federal government demolished by Trump. Why would he want that?

Sheldon I. Saitlin, Boca Raton

‘Fins need a fresh start

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross should fire the most incompetent general manager in the NFL, Chris Grier. They have great facilities and play in perfect weather, but the G.M. has done so much wrong.

He drafts the wrong players, with Cam Smith, Channing Tindall and Hunter Long the latest misses. Picking Alabama receiver Jaylen Waddle was another blunder.

Coach Mike McDaniel is on the hot seat. He has to take what’s given to him and make it work.

We already have a liability at QB: Tua Tagovailoa is fragile. He’s not mobile, lacks a strong arm and has not shown a capability to play in extreme weather.

Tyreek Hill is a P.R. problem. Jalen Ramsey wants out. This team needs a new GM and preferably a new coach with a new vision.

Mark Walker, Boca Raton

Please submit a letter to the editor by email to letterstotheeditor@sunsentinel.com or fill out the online form below. Letters may be up to 200 words and must be signed with your email address, city of residence and daytime phone number for verification. Letters will be edited for clarity and length. 

 

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Today is Wednesday, April 30, the 120th day of 2025. There are 245 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On April 30, 1993, top-ranked women’s tennis player Monica Seles was stabbed in the back during a match in Hamburg, Germany, by a man who described himself as a fan of second-ranked German player Steffi Graf. (The man was convicted of causing grievous bodily injury, but was given only a two-year suspended sentence.)

Also on this date:

In 1789, George Washington took the oath of office at Federal Hall in New York as the first president of the United States.

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In 1803, the United States completed its purchase of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Territory from France for 60 million francs, the equivalent of about $15 million; the acquisition roughly doubled the size of the United States.

In 1900, engineer John Luther “Casey” Jones of the Illinois Central Railroad died in a train wreck near Vaughan, Mississippi, staying at the controls to slow his passenger train before it struck a stalled train near an approaching station; Jones was the only fatality of the accident.

In 1945, as Soviet troops approached his Berlin bunker, Adolf Hitler took his own life, as did Eva Braun, whom Hitler married the previous day.

In 1973, as the Watergate scandal deepened, President Richard Nixon announced the resignations of top aides H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman, Attorney General Richard G. Kleindienst and White House counsel John Dean (though Dean was actually fired by Nixon).

In 1975, the Vietnam War ended as the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon fell to Communist forces.

In 1993, the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) announced that the World Wide Web, which was invented at CERN four years earlier by Tim Berners-Lee, was free for anyone to use, and released its source code to the public domain.

Today’s Birthdays:

• UN Secretary-General António Guterres is 76.
• Filmmaker Jane Campion is 71.
• Filmmaker Lars von Trier is 69.
• Basketball Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas is 64.
• Actor Johnny Galecki is 50.
• Actor Sam Heughan is 45.
• Actor Kunal Nayyar is 44.
• Rapper Lloyd Banks is 43.
• Actor Kirsten Dunst is 43.
• Basketball Hall of Famer Seimone Augustus is 41.
• Actor Gal Gadot is 40.
• Actor Dianna Agron is 39.
• Actor Ana de Armas is 37.
• Rapper-producer Travis Scott is 34.

By MORIAH BALINGIT, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government has begun shedding new light on a crackdown on international students, spelling out how it targeted thousands of people and laying out the grounds for terminating their legal status.

The new details emerged in lawsuits filed by some of the students who suddenly had their status canceled in recent weeks with little explanation.

In the past month, foreign students around the U.S. have been rattled to learn their records had been removed from a student database maintained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Some went into hiding for fear of being picked up by immigration authorities or abandoned their studies to return home.

On Friday, after mounting court challenges, federal officials said the government was restoring international students’ legal status while it developed a framework to guide future terminations. In a court filing Monday, it shared the new policy: a document issued over the weekend with guidance on a range of reasons students’ status can be canceled, including the revocation of the visas they used to enter the U.S.

Brad Banias, an immigration attorney representing a student whose status was terminated, said the new guidelines vastly expand ICE’s authority beyond previous policy, which did not count visa revocation as grounds for losing legal status.

“This just gave them carte blanche to have the State Department revoke a visa and then deport those students even if they’ve done nothing wrong,” Banias said.

Many of the students who had visas revoked or lost their legal status said they had only minor infractions on their record, including driving infractions. Some did not know why they were targeted at all.

Lawyers for the government provided some explanation at a hearing Tuesday in the case of Banias’ client Akshar Patel, an international student studying information systems in Texas. Patel’s status was terminated — and then reinstated — this month, and he is seeking a preliminary court ruling to keep him from being deported.

In court filings and in the hearing, Department of Homeland Security officials said they ran the names of student visa holders through the National Crime Information Center, an FBI-run database that contains reams of information related to crimes. It includes the names of suspects, missing persons and people who have been arrested, even if they have never been charged with a crime or had charges dropped.

In total, about 6,400 students were identified in the database search, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes said in the hearing Tuesday. One of the students was Patel, who had been pulled over and charged with reckless driving in 2018. The charge was ultimately dropped — information that is also in NCIC.

Patel appears in a spreadsheet with 734 students whose names had come up in NCIC. That spreadsheet was forwarded to a Homeland Security official, who, within 24 hours of receiving it, replied: “Please terminate all in SEVIS.” That’s a different database listing foreigners who have legal status as students in the U.S.

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Reyes said the short time frame suggested that no one had reviewed the records individually to find out why the students’ names came up in NCIC.

“All of this could have been avoided if someone had taken a beat,” said Reyes, who was appointed by President Joe Biden. She said the government had demonstrated “an utter lack of concern for individuals who have come into this country.”

When colleges discovered the students no longer had legal status, it prompted chaos and confusion. In the past, college officials say, legal statuses typically were updated after colleges told the government the students were no longer studying at the school. In some cases, colleges told students to stop working or taking classes and warned them they could be deported.

Still, government attorneys said the change in the database did not mean the students actually lost legal status, even though some of the students were labeled “failure to maintain status.” Instead, lawyers said, it was intended to be an “investigative red flag.”

“Mr. Patel is lawfully present in the U.S.,” Andre Watson of the Department of Homeland Security said. “He is not subject to immediate detention or removal.”

Reyes declined to issue a preliminary injunction and urged lawyers from both sides to come to a settlement to ensure Patel could stay in the U.S.

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

BY MELISSA GOLDIN, Associated Press

In a visit Tuesday to Warren, Michigan, President Donald Trump celebrated his first 100 days back in office by touting his accomplishments, while embellishing some and misrepresenting others.

The speech of about 90 minutes was reminiscent of a campaign rally and covered much of the same ground as he lobbed insults at the previous administration and detractors.

In highlighting his accomplishments, he made a number of false and misleading statements on topics such as the state of the economy and the price of eggs.

Here’s a look at the facts.

Trump exaggerates drop in gas prices

TRUMP: “Gasoline was almost $4 not so long ago. And now, Mike, we just hit $1.98 in a lot of states. Think of it.”

THE FACTS: As of Tuesday, no state had an average gas price of $1.98. Mississippi had the lowest price, at $2.67 per gallon of regular gas. Trump previously made this claim about the level of gas prices on April 16, but they had not fallen as low as $1.98 that day either — or any day in the last two weeks. Mississippi and Tennessee were tied for the lowest average price on April 16, at $2.707 per gallon of regular gas.

National average prices rose under former President Joe Biden to a high of $5.01 in June 2022 before falling to $3.09 in December of that year. Prices rose again to a high of $3.88 in September 2023, but were down to $3.139 in December 2024. They were at $3.13 nationally as of Tuesday. The last time prices surpassed $4 was in August 2022.

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Cost of eggs not as low as Trump says

TRUMP: “Since I took office, the cost of eggs is down 87% now.”

THE FACTS: The retail price of a dozen large eggs decreased in price to $2.07 in September 2023, but has been on the rise since October 2024. As of March, they were up to $6.23.

Wholesale egg prices, on the other hand, fell significantly in March, but not by 87%. They were at a high of $8.17 for a dozen large eggs on March 3 and had dropped to $2.92 by March 26 — a decrease of approximately 64%.

University of Arkansas agricultural economist Jada Thompson told the AP earlier this month that because the wholesale prices did not start dropping until mid-March, there may not have been enough time for the average price for the month to decline. And grocery stores may not have immediately passed on the lower prices.

Inflation was already falling under Biden

TRUMP: “We’re ending the inflation nightmare. The worst that we’ve had, probably in the history of our country.”

THE FACTS: Inflation started falling long before Trump started his second term. Inflation peaked at 9.1% in June 2022 after rising steadily in the first 17 months of Biden’s presidency from a low of 0.1% in May 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of December, it had fallen to 2.9%. The most recent data shows that, as of March, it had fallen to 2.4%. Other historical periods have seen higher inflation, such as a more than 14% rate in 1980, according to the Federal Reserve.

Coal production is cleaner, but it still creates emissions

TRUMP: “We stopped their crusade on coal. Did you see what I did the other day? Clean, beautiful coal.”

THE FACTS: The production of coal is cleaner now than it has been historically, but that doesn’t mean it’s clean.

Planet-warming carbon dioxide emissions from the coal industry have decreased over the past 30 years, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Energy lobbyist Scott Segal told the AP earlier this month that “the relative statement that coal-fired electricity is cleaner than ever before is true, particularly when emissions are measured per unit of electricity produced.”

And yet, coal production worldwide still needs to be reduced sharply to address climate change, according to United Nations-backed research.

Along with carbon dioxide, burning coal emits sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides that contribute to acid rain, smog and respiratory illnesses, according to the EIA.

Trump misleads on Biden-era ‘electric vehicle mandate’

TRUMP: “I terminated Joe Biden’s insane electric vehicle mandate where you were mandated to buy an electric vehicle. You were mandated within just a few years to buy an electric vehicle.”

THE FACTS: It’s misleading to claim that the Biden administration implemented such a mandate. In April 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency announced strict limits on greenhouse gas emissions from passenger vehicles. The agency said these limits could be met if 67% of new-vehicle sales are electric by 2032.

And yet, the new rule did not include a requirement for automakers to boost electric vehicle sales directly. It set emissions limits and allowed automakers to choose how to meet them.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced on March 12 that the agency would reconsider the rule, but it has not yet been terminated.

In 2019, Kamala Harris co-sponsored a bill as a U.S. senator called the Zero-Emission Vehicles Act that would have required 100% of new passenger vehicles sold to be zero-emission by 2040. The bill, which stalled in committee, did not ban ownership of vehicles that produce emissions.

An active tuberculosis case has been reported in a student at Dillard High School, the Florida Department of Health confirmed to Broward County Public School officials on Tuesday.

The person was “recently on campus,” and health department officials in Broward County began notifying students who could have potentially been exposed, John Sullivan, a spokesperson for Broward County Public Schools, said in a statement Tuesday evening. Students and staff who were impacted were directly contacted.

On Wednesday, the health department will offer testing at the Fort Lauderdale school for impacted students with parental consent, Sullivan said.

A spokesperson for the Florida Department of Health did not immediately respond to an email seeking information after business hours Tuesday and could not be reached by phone.

No other information about the student was released.

Tuberculosis, TB, is caused by the germ Mycobacterium tuberculosis and primarily affects the lungs, according to the state health department, but can also affect the brain, kidneys or spine. It is spread when someone with active TB talks, coughs or sings.

Not everyone infected will become sick, leading to two conditions: inactive or latent TB and active TB disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Active TB can almost always be cured with medicine.

Symptoms of TB in the lungs or respiratory tract include a cough lasting at least three weeks, chest pain and coughing up blood or phlegm. Other general symptoms include weakness or fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, chills, fever and night sweats.

Cases of TB had consistently been on the decline in the U.S. for nearly three decades but began to rise in 2021, according to the CDC’s latest data shared in 2024. In 2024, more than 10,300 TB cases were reported, an 8% increase from the year before.

A total of 681 cases were reported in Florida last year, a 9% increase from the previous year, according to the CDC’s data.

The latest data available from the Florida Department of Health, from 2023, shows the number of cases reported that year was the highest reported since 2016. Broward County reported 70 cases that year.

Though anyone can contract TB, the disease disproportionately affects non-U.S.-born people, according to the CDC. And while there is a vaccine for the disease, it is not generally used in the U.S. Many people born outside of the country have received the vaccine.

“Recovery from pandemic-related health care disruptions, increases in post-pandemic travel and migration, and outbreaks in several states have likely contributed to recent TB trends,” the CDC said in its 2024 report.

The Associated Press reported earlier this year that a yearlong TB outbreak in Kansas City, Kansas, killed two people.

Florida Department of Health officials advise people to contact the local department about eligibility requirements for TB testing. “Most” health departments in Florida do not offer TB testing to low-risk individuals; testing is offered to people who meet certain requirements.

Primary care doctors, walk-in clinics and community health centers offer testing and treatment for those with latent TB infections, according to FDOH.

This is a developing story, so check back for updates. Click here to have breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox. 

General Daily Insight for April 30, 2025

Abundance springs forth from joy. The nurturing Moon supports thought-provoking Mercury, combing through our inner chaos so we can find our true feelings. Though Luna’s enablement of optimistic Jupiter risks exaggerating our emotions, it also heightens our ability to find situations. As charming Venus moves into independent Aries at 1:16 pm EDT, we’ll be prepared to tap into our personal charm and fly solo or be bold and live our truth, without fear of what others might think. Follow what feels joyful.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

People ought to start hearing what you’re saying. In the past, you may have struggled to express yourself, or maybe you felt as though your words were going unheard or misunderstood. This time around, however, you’re more likely to see many people who empathize with your struggles, align with your morals, and support your independence while remaining open to collaborating with you. It’s a great time to meet or reconnect with like-minded individuals — that way, you can all share your emotions and ideas.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

You’re becoming more secure with wearing your heart on your sleeve. You could find yourself in situations where you’re feeling deep, overwhelming feelings today, and they might bring you to tears — or move you to burst into uproarious laughter. The more that you allow yourself to express your inner feelings, the more light you may feel by the end of the day. Just make sure that you aren’t allowing your feelings to impose your will on others! Let them express themselves as well.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Understanding each other is the first step to progress. You and another person (or a group of people) may be struggling to get on the same page. Perhaps you remember an event differently from one another, or maybe a disagreement with an unclear cause is wreaking havoc. Your current strength is in advocating for healing and harmony. Even if you have to agree to disagree, it’s important to find a compromise that works for everyone. You can uncover the calm in this storm.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Intuition can benefit you in unpredictable ways. Opportunities to advance in your career, market yourself, or show off your leadership skills may arise, requiring you to make split-second decisions and advocate for yourself while demonstrating your abilities. Don’t let imposter syndrome get in your way as you make waves around you, shaking up what others thought they had a logical handle on. Your innovative and instinctual abilities can take you further than you ever expected! You just have to tap into them.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Fresh dreams are in sight! Someone might have recently told you about an experience that they had while studying, traveling, or working. You likely felt a rush of adrenaline while hearing about it. This is a sign that this type of pursuit deserves your attention. Once you begin researching it, you may unlock a hidden talent — or, at minimum, a pastime you genuinely enjoy. Don’t let your past experiences limit you. After all, you don’t have to be good at something to have fun!

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

You might be undergoing a transformation, both inside and out. You may not have consciously changed anything about your appearance, but people could be commenting on how you seem different or asking you if you’ve done something different with your hair. This is an inner glow-up that you can’t hide — and that’s a good thing! You deserve this sense of inner security, personal confidence, or whatever it may be. Keep letting that positivity flow through you, and watch any haters fade away.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Other people may be encouraging you to step up. You could be given an opportunity to show off your talents, wares, or skills, all because someone believes in the person that you are. They might not have even seen you in your element! Maybe they simply made a positive judgment of who you were when they encountered you, so remember to be kind to everyone you meet. You never know who you might be talking to, or where the conversation might lead in the future.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

You’re thinking long-term. This is the time to think about investments, personal health, and other life choices that will set you on a good path for the future. Slow and steady is definitely the best way to win this race, and it starts today. Making big decisions right now is possible, but there’s no need to rush anything. Take a deep breath and organize any upcoming important choices into a list according to their urgency. You’re setting yourself up for success!

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Indulging yourself can be immensely inspiring, particularly if you have felt stuck in a rut as of late. No matter where you’ve been going in circles, having a day where you allow yourself to do whatever you want can strengthen you to break out of this negative cycle. This will be especially relevant if your days have been ruled by someone else for a while, such as an authority figure or another very present person in your life. Make a decision for yourself today!

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

To understand yourself better, return to your roots. You could be able to trace certain habits that you find yourself repeating back to your childhood or those who raised you, as you realize in retrospect what a powerful effect they had. Once you find the root of these patterns, you’ll be better equipped to set them free and forgive yourself for any time that you may have wasted in self-sabotage or frustration. Today, you deserve to move forward with newfound freedom.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

You’re spreading joy! You may not always see the silver lining on the clouds, but today, you may actually be that silver lining for those around you. Things like a willingness to show up for people when others aren’t doing the same or offering a listening ear when no one else will spare the time can validate and uplift those in need. The little things matter, even if you don’t always see how they affect the people that you do them for.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

The security that you create for yourself can also uplift others. You may have been working on your personal confidence and self-esteem. It could even be a personal mission to learn that it doesn’t matter how other people see you, as long as you’re not hurting yourself or anyone else. When others see you living your truth in this way, they might want to follow in your footsteps and live their truth as well. By being yourself, you can actively share joy.

By Emily Wunderlich, Tampa Bay Times

TAMPA — Attorneys for the driver of the boat that hit a Clearwater Ferry say he did not commit a hit-and-run and that the ferry was not adequately lit at the time of the crash.

In a letter to investigators late Tuesday, Kevin Hayslett, who is representing local businessman Jeff Knight, laid out the most detailed account yet of Knight’s version of events after the collision that killed one person and injured about 10 others Sunday night. Among the letter’s assertions:

— Knight had someone on board call 911 after the crash and stayed on scene and offered help until first responders arrived.

— Knight left the scene because his boat was taking on water and he feared it might sink.

— The ferry was not properly lit and that the crew and passengers were distracted by dolphins just before the crash.

The ferry had been carrying 45 people, including two crew members, from Clearwater Beach when the collision was first reported at 8:43 p.m. Time-stamped video recorded by a city web camera at Coachman Park shows the boat crashing into the back of the ferry at 8:40 p.m. It then pulled away from the ferry and remained in the area as the ferry appeared to drift.

About 10 minutes later, it began to slowly motor away from the scene.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which is investigating the collision, said Knight was cooperative and voluntarily took a Breathalyzer test Sunday night, which registered no alcohol in his system. He is not charged with a crime.

Hayslett’s letter states that immediately after the crash, Knight directed a passenger on his boat to call 911, and that passenger remained on the line with a call taker for nearly 12 minutes.

“During this time, the caller relayed updates and emergency directions, such as telling Mr. Knight to instruct all the ferry passengers to immediately put on a life jacket,” the letter states. “Mr. Knight tied his vessel to the ferry in order to stabilize it and render aid. He used his boat to maneuver the ferry closer to shore so that first responders would have easier access to the passengers.”

While Knight was still on the scene, he noticed that his boat had taken on “a large amount of water and all of his bilge pumps were activated,” the letter states. Additionally, the mother of an 8-week-old child on board “pleaded for immediate transport following the crash” because she was concerned the infant may have been injured.

“However, given the circumstances, including vessel draft, water depth, and the compromised condition of Mr. Knight’s boat, he prudently determined that returning to dock as quickly as possible was the best course of action,” the letter states. “Again, it is important to note that he waited until emergency personnel arrived on scene before he departed.”

As Knight was trying to navigate to shore, the letter states, he was stopped by law enforcement, who conducted a visual inspection of his boat and determined he was able to continue to the Belleair boat ramp. Knight was “towed to the boat ramp on their insistence where fire rescue met the infant to do a medical assessment.”

The letter also says there is “credible concern” that the ferry was not displaying the required navigational lights at the time of the crash.

“Multiple witnesses have reported that the ferry appeared inadequately illuminated, and that in the moments before the collision, the captain and many passengers were distracted by dolphins in the area, diminishing navigational awareness,” the letter states. “It appears that just prior to the accident, someone on the ferry was shining a spotlight in the channel, which would confirm reports that they were looking at dolphins.”

_____

©2025 Tampa Bay Times. Visit tampabay.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

A Boynton Beach woman and her daughter, both originally from Ukraine, are facing federal charges after they allegedly voted in the 2024 presidential election while they were not U.S. citizens.

A criminal complaint was filed in federal court Monday against Svitlana Demydenko, 53, and her daughter, Yelyzaveta Demydenko, 22, who are both facing one count of unlawful voting by an alien in a presidential election. They made their first appearance in federal court in West Palm Beach on Tuesday, federal prosecutors said in a news release.

The mother and daughter entered the U.S. on nonimmigrant visas in April 2021, with Svitlana Demydenko entering on a K1 visa, which allows a foreign citizen to travel to the U.S. to marry their sponsor. They became lawful permanent residents in July 2023, according to the complaint.

Svitlana Demydenko and her daughter both registered to vote in August and voted in October in the presidential election, the complaint said.

In an interview with law enforcement at their home last Friday, Yelyzaveta Demydenko said she registered to vote online and went with her mother and her stepfather to a library in Boynton Beach to vote because “she wanted to make a difference,” according to the complaint.

Svitlana Demydenko told authorities she had also registered online and said she wasn’t aware that she was not allowed to vote, the complaint said.

The women were released from custody Tuesday after posting bail on $25,000 bonds, federal court records show. Their arraignment is scheduled for May 20.

FORT LAUDERDALE — The Florida Panthers will be without one of their top defensemen for Game 5 against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday.

Aaron Ekblad was suspended for two games for his hit on Lightning forward Brandon Hagel in the Panthers’ Game 4 win, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Tuesday evening. Ekblad will miss Game 5 and either Game 6 against the Lightning (if Tampa Bay wins Wednesday) or the first game of the second round (if Florida wins the next game).

The Department of Player Safety said its reasoning was that Ekblad hit Hagel in the head and it caused an injury, but Ekblad has no history of fines or suspensions for player safety.

In a video breakdown of the incident, the Department of Player Safety said Ekblad said he did not intend to hit Hagel in the head.

Additionally, Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola was fined $5,000 for his boarding penalty on Zemgus Girgensons in Game 4. Mikkola received a game misconduct for the penalty and was ejected from the game.

Hagel missed Game 3 of the series for a suspension stemming from his Game 2 hit on Florida captain Aleksander Barkov. This series has had its share of big hits; Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk had a hit on Jake Guentzel in Game 3 that led to a five-minute major penalty but no suspension.

Hagel did not return to the game after the Ekblad hit, and Lightning coach Jon Cooper said Hagel will miss Game 5.

Cooper was clearly frustrated with the hit and the lack of a called penalty on the ice, sparring with a reporter in his postgame press conference.

“It’s getting tiresome answering questions about a hit every single game,” Cooper said. “So I’ll ask you, you asked me the question. Why are you asking me the question? Do you have anything to say about it?”

Panthers coach Paul Maurice did not say much on Ekblad’s hit after the game Monday.

“I want to be consistent with what I’ve said on the Hagel (hit),” Maurice said after the game. “I saw it. I’ve seen it before. Saw it last year. I’ll coach, the players will play, the refs will make the calls, and the league will do what they will. … I don’t want to use this platform to start making my case on this. Everybody’s got a job to do.”

Ekblad was a key player in Florida’s win in Game 4, scoring the game-tying goal late in the third period. But the Panthers have had plenty of experience playing without the veteran defender lately. Ekblad was suspended from March through Game 2 of this series for violating the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program.

When Ekblad was out, the Panthers teamed Seth Jones — who scored the game-winning goal on Monday — with Gustav Forsling as the top defensive pairing.

“You’ve all watched it happen here over the last three years: We will have really important players out for big blocks of time,” Maurice said Tuesday. “If it’s the first time that happens, there’s even questions from the coaching staff about what’s the right adjustment to make in your lineup, and how will that play out? So there’s a lot of unknown.

“Because we’ve been through it so much when Aaron’s out, we know what the (defensive) pairs are, the minutes if he — let’s assume — if he’s out of the lineup. And if he’s not, then we’ll go with what we’ve got.”

Aaron Ekblad will have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety for this hit on Brandon Hagel, according to @FriedgeHNIC pic.twitter.com/Y1wYRBEfnw

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 29, 2025

By REBECCA SANTANA, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge Tuesday expressed skepticism over the Trump administration’s assertions that its decision to declare an invasion at the U.S.-Mexico border and suspend asylum access was not something courts had the authority to review.

U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss heard arguments in a Washington courtroom over a lawsuit brought by immigrants rights organizations, which are challenging a key executive order that banned the ability for migrants crossing the southern border to seek protections in the United States.

In the Jan. 20 order, President Donald Trump declared that the situation at the southern border constitutes an invasion of America and that he was “suspending the physical entry” of migrants.

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Trump’s order asserts that the Immigration and Nationality Act gives presidents the authority to suspend entry of any group that they find “detrimental to the interests of the United States.”

The government has argued in court that the Republican president’s determination that the U.S. is facing an invasion is not subject to court review, calling it “an unreviewable political question” in a filing.

Moss, who was nominated by Democratic President Barack Obama, repeatedly questioned the government’s lawyer on that point.

At one point, he posed a hypothetical question about whether the president — upset with northerners taking up residence in sunny Florida where he has a home — could declare their presence an invasion.

At another point, he asked, “Is there just never any judicial review?”

Advocates say the right to request asylum is enshrined in the country’s immigration laws and that denying migrants that right puts people fleeing war or persecution in grave danger.

Critics say relatively few people coming to America seeking asylum actually end up qualifying and that it takes years for overloaded immigration courts to come to a determination on such requests. People seeking asylum must demonstrate a fear of persecution at home on a fairly narrow grounds of race, religion, nationality or by belonging to a particular social or political group.

In the lawsuit, the migrant rights groups argued that immigration “even at elevated levels” does not constitute an invasion and noted that the number of people entering the country between the ports of entry had fallen to lows not seen since August 2020.

The groups are asking the judge to declare Trump’s order unlawful and keep him from enforcing it. The government has asked the judge to dismiss the organizations’ motion.

Moss asked for more written arguments on specific legal questions before making his ruling.

Dear Eric: My estranged niece has a 9-year-old daughter whom we love very much.

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The father was married to someone else when the girl was born and died a few days afterward.

We strongly feel his parents have a right to know of this fantastic child. Grandniece will eventually seek them out. By letting them know now it should ease the shock of learning later.

I should add that grandniece constantly asks who her father is and if we know him. Value your advice.

– Loving Uncle

Dear Uncle: Your first priority should be navigating what your grandniece knows about her parentage, especially since she’s asking. This is important information for her to receive at the appropriate time and in an appropriate manner.

Her mother, your niece, is a key part of this. It’s not appropriate to overstep by having a conversation with your grandniece that her mother doesn’t know about.

This is complicated by the estrangement. Not knowing the nature of the arrangement (how you’re able to see the grandniece while being estranged from her mom, for instance), my hands are a bit tied. But the first step is talking with your niece about what you’re hearing from her daughter.

Dear Eric: Although I’m six years older than my brother, I had always considered us close. After our parents passed many years ago, that seemed to change.

I’m thankful for holidays and our birthdays as they are now the only time I get a phone call. On every anniversary of our mom and dad’s birth or death day, I have texted a “thinking of” message to my brother. He has always responded.

This year, on our father’s birthday, I didn’t text him as I was sick with COVID and pneumonia. I did receive a quick text of acknowledgment late that night. Within my response, I let him know of my illness. He replied with “Get well soon.”

At 72, this recent illness had me down for more than a month. I expected that he’d phone to check on me but I’ve yet to receive one.

Consequently, I’m re-evaluating my relationship with my brother.

Although he’s an intelligent man, a good father and husband, he’s married to a demanding wife who hasn’t encouraged me and my husband to be close with them nor my nieces and nephews. When my husband and I visit once or twice a year, we feel it’s more of an obligation on their part than a warm connection. I’m tired of it.

From past experience, I know if I address it, regardless of my approach, he’ll become defensive and argumentative.

My only alternative is to continue bumbling along accepting that my life may not be as important to him as I want to believe.

– Lost Relationship

Dear Relationship: One of the benefits of having a sibling is that we get to know them anew at multiple times throughout life. This can also be a challenge.

You and your brother have different communication styles. While his lack of communication doesn’t feel good to you, it may not be an indication that you’re not important to him.

You have expectations and hopes for what the relationship should be, which is fine. For instance, you value calls, especially on significant days or when you’re sick. These aren’t ridiculous asks. But they may not be in your brother’s wheelhouse.

I know this is disappointing and can be hurtful.

It may be helpful to think back on the time when you felt closer to him and try to identify where those feelings were coming from. What were you both doing and saying that signified that closeness to you? Are there ways of adapting some of those things to your lives now?

It won’t be what it was – you write that many years have passed since that time and your family structure is different – but by being proactive about recognizing who your brother is now and managing your expectations of that person, you’ll feel less like you’re bumbling along.

Dear Eric: Regarding “Perplexed Not Pissed,” whose yard had become a toilet for the neighbors’ leashed dogs: Lots of dogs won’t go on their own property and decide on their own how far to travel on a leash before they do their business.

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The letter writer can at least know it’s very unlikely the neighbors are doing this on purpose.

If the neighbors knew it was upsetting to a particular homeowner, they could probably train their dogs to move along a little further.

– Dog Accidents

Dear Dog Accidents: This is helpful context. Hopefully, when informed of the issue, the neighbors will help their dogs make different choices.

Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.

Q: Ira, this is why the Heat should have taken the lottery pick and called it a day. This was going nowhere. We beat a pair of losing teams in the play-in. And what did that get us? Humiliated on national TV (or at least NBA TV). We had two chances to lose to Chicago or Atlanta and we blew it. – Marcus.

A: I’m glad this came in amid Monday night’s blowout. Of all that went wrong for the Heat this season (and there was plenty), missing the lottery and forwarding the No. 15 first-round pick to the Thunder was not one of them. To refresh: Had the Heat dropped into the lottery this year, it would have meant unprotected first-round picks to the Thunder in 2026 and Hornets in 2028, with no escape clauses. You simply cannot have unprotected first-rounders out there, when a seasons-ending injury to a leading man (Adebayo? Herro?) could mean a spot at the top of the draft. Based on the lottery odds, the Heat most likely bypassed No. 11 in June for franchise draft security going forward.

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Q: Have they no pride? – Anderson.

A: Or have they not enough talent? Talent wins in the NBA and the talent disparity in this series was as stark as the 27-game difference between the teams in the standings. There is a reason that leagues do not have 10th-place teams in the playoffs. I’m not sure it would have looked much different if it was Chicago or Atlanta coming out of the play-in to face the Cavaliers, or even the Magic, for that matter. Cavaliers? Very good. Heat? Very not.

Q: What happened to Andrew Wiggins? – Sandy.

A: Shellshock? Yes, there were injuries. Yes. there were the immediate expectations of stepping in for Jimmy Butler. Yes, he has always been somewhat passive by nature. But one would have thought that the 42-point game against the Hornets might have been a takeoff point. It wasn’t. Followed by an ankle injury that still seemed in play in the playoffs. From the start, he seemed like a contract to be moved. It has continued to feel that way. Now the question is whether an outside team looks past these playoffs and remembers the better days of Andrew Wiggins.

One day, the legendary International Swimming Hall of Fame will be reborn, transforming the city-owned peninsula that sits south of Las Olas Boulevard into a bustling tourist attraction, city officials say.

But that has not stopped the rising tide of opposition to the $218 million project.

The developer plans to build two new Hall of Fame buildings that will sit like bookends on either side of the pools at Fort Lauderdale’s Aquatic Center at 501 Seabreeze Blvd.

The west building’s height has been scaled back three times after critics complained that it would eclipse the Aquatic Center’s iconic dive tower, which stands nearly nine stories high. The original design called for a building standing 134 feet high. That was scaled back to 120 feet. And now it’s down to 85 feet.

The six-story west building will be home to a new Hall of Fame museum, theater, aquarium and rooftop restaurant. The east building will go up in the next phase of construction, replacing the current building at the site.

The deal, approved by the commission and signed by the mayor, was made in 2023.

Skeptics now say they are worried about the city losing money on the deal.

Under the comprehensive agreement, Fort Lauderdale will be required to contribute a maximum of $11 million a year over the course of a 30-year lease. The city’s contribution could be offset by revenue generated by the project.

Other critics — some of whom only recently came forward — say the Hall of Fame building is still too tall under the new proposal.

Mario Caprini, CEO of Capital Group P3 of Florida and a partner in the project with Hensel Phelps, recently presented the new plan to city staff who sit on Fort Lauderdale’s Development Review Committee.

“How we pulled this little magic trick, we just made the floor plate bigger,” Caprini told the South Florida Sun Sentinel after the meeting. “So we can fit three floors on one floor. We accomplished what the mayor and the citizens wanted. Now it’s shorter than the dive tower. And we can still accommodate our tenants.”

The Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center, shown on March 14, will be eclipsed by a new International Swimming Hall of Fame building planned to the west, critics say. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Not everyone was impressed with the design team’s so-called magic trick.

Competitive swimmers who use the pools at the Aquatic Center crowded into the conference room to object to a project they say will jeopardize the center’s status as a world-class facility.

The Aquatic Center, which shares the 5-acre peninsula with the Swimming Hall of Fame, recently underwent a major renovation that cost nearly $50 million. The center’s $5 million dive tower, one of the tallest in the world, has become one of the barrier island’s most popular landmarks.

The swimmers had several concerns, saying the west building is still too massive and still too close to the dive tower. They also think the site needs more parking.

The building has undergone a redesign that brings its height from the equivalent of 12 stories to eight.

The second and third floors will feature a 181-space parking garage. Another 76 parking spaces will be reserved at the Las Olas Parking Garage, bringing the total to 257 spaces

Susan Peterson, a former competitive swimmer who is now 82, warned against moving forward with the building as planned.

“I think this building would be a disaster for the whole area,” Peterson said during the meeting. “The peninsula isn’t big enough for it. Please put the swimmers first. This whole place was designed as a swimming facility.”

Debby Eisinger, a former Cooper City mayor who now lives in Fort Lauderdale, said the current plan will only take away from the newly redesigned Aquatic Center and its famous dive tower.

“Fifty million dollars was spent on rebuilding the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center — are they protecting this investment?” she said.

An artist’s rendering shows a new International Swimming Hall of Fame building just west of Fort Lauderdale’s dive tower. (Architectonica/Courtesy)

Mark Richards, another swimmer, argued that the developer should be required to do a wind study and a shadow study even though it’s not required by code.

“When you look at the 85-foot building that’s now proposed, because of prevailing breezes off the southeast, you’re going to get wind eddies,” he said. “I’ve seen no wind studies. Our world competition dive tower is going to be in the shade every afternoon. They can’t dive in the shade. You lose perception. And if you don’t hit the water just right, you’re going to get hurt. If they’re seeing unsafe conditions, they’ll call off competitions.”

Richards also told city staff that the building needs to be set back.

“You’ve got to make a smaller and a lower profile,” Richards said. “You’re going to have headlights, noise, pollution and honking of horns right next to a dive tower. That distracts the divers. Downsize the building and do a bigger setback.”

The Development Review Committee board had a limited time to hear the speakers and reminded them several times to keep their comments short and to focus on the technical aspects of the project. The board did not have the time to respond to the comments, but told the crowd they would have more opportunities to share their concerns in future meetings with the commission and Fort Lauderdale’s Planning and Zoning Board.

The redesign of the west building will need approvals from both boards before the project can break ground.

Glassman and other city officials have wondered why the swimmers didn’t speak up earlier, before the commission approved the deal two years ago.

But Commissioner Ben Sorensen says it’s not too late for the skeptics to speak up and share their concerns.

“I think the swimmers are there day in and day out,” Sorensen said. “I think their perspective and feedback is important. And I think we need to keep working together to design a project everyone can live with. I’m confident we’re going to get there.”

Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com. Follow me on X @Susannah_Bryan

There is a growing prevalence of loneliness, social isolation and lack of meaningful social connection in our society today. Recent studies have found that 85.8% of the population experiences loneliness, and 47% of people say that their relationships with others lack meaning. This deeply concerning trend, which has become known as “the disconnection epidemic,” has garnered widespread awareness, with the Surgeon General declaring it a public health crisis.

We have all experienced how technology, social media, the COVID pandemic and even political divides have been gradually separating us, both physically and emotionally. American adults are spending significantly less time face-to-face than we did even 20 years ago. The situation is even more dire for youth, with digital communication replacing in-person social interaction among teens by 70%.

Jackie Ducci is the founder of the nonprofit Human-Animal Alliance. (courtesy, Jackie Ducci)

Loneliness and disconnection have a significant impact on both physical and mental health. Research links chronic loneliness to increased risk of heart disease, stroke, weakened immune system, dementia, obesity, and premature death — as much as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. A recent study by Harvard Graduate School of Education found that 81% of adults who are lonely also suffer from anxiety or depression.

Something must be done. But what if one of the most effective, affordable and accessible solutions has been right in front of us all along?

Ask any animal lover, and they’ll vouch for the unwavering companionship, judgment-free support and deeply meaningful connection that pets bring to their lives. But beyond anecdotal evidence, science confirms the very real impact animals have on our mental and physical well-being.

A 2022 study from the American Heart Association linked pet ownership to lower blood pressure, reduced stress, improved immune function and increased physical activity — all of which contribute to longer, healthier lives. Another study from Washington State University showed that just 10 minutes of interaction with a dog or cat can significantly lower cortisol levels. Likewise, a meta-analysis in BMC Psychiatry found that animal interactions can reduce symptoms of PTSD, depression and anxiety.

Despite overwhelming evidence of the health benefits that animals provide, countless people are being forced to choose between keeping their pets and accessing housing, safety or care for themselves.

Seniors entering assisted living often must surrender their pets. Domestic violence victims frequently stay in dangerous situations because shelters do not accept pets. People needing long-term medical care avoid hospitals and treatment centers because they worry about what will happen to their pet. Pet owners struggle to find housing that accepts their pets due to breed and size restrictions.

A more pet-inclusive society that properly supports human-animal connections would substantially improve public health and safety.

Florida has one of the largest senior populations, military veteran communities and equestrian industries in the country, along with one of the fastest-rising number of single-person households. We are in a unique position to take a leadership role in embracing human-animal connection as a public health solution:

• Senior living facilities, health care and treatment centers and shelters can and should adopt pet-inclusive policies.
• Property management companies and policymakers can promote pet-inclusive housing by loosening breed and size restrictions.
• Charitable individuals can fund animal-assisted therapy programs and safety net charities to help foster human-animal connections.

Our heightened levels of social isolation create serious health and societal consequences that cannot be ignored. Animals provide meaningful connections in an increasingly disconnected world and are a practical, accessible and scientifically supported solution. When we embrace, honor and support human-animal connections, we become stronger, healthier and more connected — as individuals and as a society.

Jackie Ducci, of Wellington, founded The Human-Animal Alliance, a nonprofit advocating for the power and value of human-animal connection.

On April 17, I watched the heartbreaking news out of Florida State University — another campus turned crime scene, another community shattered by gun violence. As someone who lost her husband in a school shooting, I can tell you: These moments are never just headlines. They reopen wounds that never fully heal.

Chris Hixon, my husband, was murdered on Feb. 14, 2018, during the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre. He was an athletic director, a Navy veteran and, above all, a protector. When the shooting began, he did not hesitate. He ran toward the danger to save students. He was shot and killed while doing everything right.

Debbie Hixon is a Broward County School Board member. (courtesy, Debbie Hixon)

Chris was trained to use a weapon. He served our country with honor. And yes, I have often wondered: If he had been armed that day, would he still be alive? Maybe. I will never stop asking that question. But to suggest that arming every teacher or professor is the answer misses the real issue entirely.

I support the Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis, and Coach Scott Beigel Guardian Program, which places highly trained, carefully screened former military or law enforcement officers on school campuses. These individuals are trained specifically for high-stress response. But that is very different from asking educators or students to carry weapons into classrooms and lecture halls. The idea that a campus filled with civilians armed to the teeth is somehow safer is not only dangerous, but also deeply misguided.

What actually happens when multiple people pull out guns during a mass shooting? More confusion. More chaos. More risk of innocent people being caught in the crossfire. If armed people around the FSU shooter had drawn weapons, it is likely even more lives would have been lost.

And yet, we keep hearing the same tired argument: Gun-free zones make people vulnerable. What really makes us vulnerable is our refusal to look at the full picture.

Why are so many shooters white males from affluent backgrounds with easy access to firearms? Why do we have more guns than people in this country? Why do we treat mental health with stigma and neglect? Why do we allow politicians to turn every tragedy into a culture war instead of taking real action? Why don’t we actually study these shootings to determine how to stop them?

The truth is, there is no single fix for this crisis. It is not just about the guns — but the guns are part of it. And we will never get to real solutions if we cannot even talk about it.

I know this because I live with the consequences of our inaction every single day. My sons lost their father. I lost my husband and life partner. A community lost a leader who gave everything to protect the students he loved.

Chris did not die because the school was a gun-free zone. He died because a dangerous young man had access to a weapon of war. And because we, as a nation, continue to fail at prevention — we only react, mourn and then wait for the next time.

We do not honor heroes like Chris by arming teachers. We honor them by doing the hard work of fixing the systems that keep failing us. That means responsible firearm ownership. That means real mental health support. That means creating school environments that are safe and not accessible to people who come onto campus with the intent of doing harm to students and staff.

So, let’s stop pretending that gun-free zones are the problem. The real problem is our fear — fear of facts, fear of change, fear of upsetting the status quo. It is time we move past that fear.

Our kids, and heroes like Chris, deserve better.

Debbi Hixon is a Broward County School Board member. Her husband, Chris Hixon, was killed in the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Republicans are afraid of the voters — especially women.

In Congress, the SAVE Act (H.R. 22) aims to eliminate voter fraud, which is virtually nonexistent. Instead, it would disenfranchise millions of American women.

The SAVE Act will not allow anyone to register or change their voter registration unless their birth certificate exactly matches their identification. This could affect 69 million women whose married names are different than their birth names. It has passed the House and is now in the Senate.

In Florida, the governor wants to make it harder for citizen-led initiatives to get to the ballot, and of course the Legislature is happy to do his bidding.

Women’s reproductive rights were taken away with the six-week abortion ban, which threatens the life of a woman having a miscarriage, because it’s considered a medical abortion.

Last fall, 57.5% of voters said yes to the citizen-initiated Amendment 4 on reproductive rights, but it didn’t reach the 60% threshold to pass.

Too close for comfort. On April 3, House Republicans passed HB 1205, requiring a $1 million bond for sponsoring a citizen initiative and imposing onerous fines on petition-gatherers for missing tight deadlines. If you care about voting rights, contact your legislators. Make your voices heard!

Diane Johnson, Boca Raton

The writer is a member of the Palm Beach County Voting Rights Coalition.

(Editor’s Note: The SAVE Act, H.R. 22, passed the House, 220-208, on April 10. All 20 Florida Republicans voted yes and all eight Democrats voted no.)

Enough rules and regulations

Health insurance companies and condo management companies have strong similarities.

Both are packed with rules, regulations, approvals and disapprovals. Health insurance companies decide if your meds, procedures, benefits, hospital stays or doctor visits will be approved.

A condo management company decides what you can and cannot do, what you should or should not pay and what benefits you are or are not entitled to.

Both are driven by different objectives, but within both lies a coldness and formality, where individuals become merely numbers.

Mid-level supervisors with titles such as manager or director of something-or-other come across as apathetic. They are less than desirable to deal with.

Unfortunately, we’re at the mercy of their decisions even if they seem unfair. We know that these companies are structured for legal reasons but I, for one, would love to see them vanish into thin air — taking their rules and regulations with them!

Roberta Chaleff, Tamarac

Contemptible actions

The actions of Wisconsin Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan, who’s charged with helping a violent illegal immigrant evade arrest by ICE agents, are contemptible.

This 2016 photo shows Judge Hannah Dugan in Milwaukee. (Lee Matz/Milwaukee Independent via AP)

The judge showed more concern for someone who is here illegally and is accused of battery and domestic abuse and of punching his victim 30 times instead of a concern for the safety and welfare of the community.

That’s not only obstruction of justice, it’s un-American.

I hope the judge gets maximum punishment for her crime, so that others will think twice before pulling the same despicable stunt. But my hunch is that she’ll get only a slap on the wrist.

JoAnn Lee Frank, Clearwater

We are all immigrants

Other than Native Americans, we and all of those who came here before us are immigrants. Some of us just got here before others.

Jeff Light, Coconut Creek

Please submit a letter to the editor by email to letterstotheeditor@sunsentinel.com or fill out the online form below. Letters may be up to 200 words and must be signed with your email address, city of residence and daytime phone number for verification. Letters will be edited for clarity and length. 

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Here are the top stories for Tuesday, April 29, 2025. Get the weather forecast for today here.

SUBSCRIBE NOW: Get our free Morning Update email. Sign up here.

Heat flail to the finish, swept out of playoffs in record 138-83 romp by Cavaliers

Panthers score two goals in 11 seconds to edge Lightning, take 3-1 lead in series

Estranged husband accused in wife’s death in Spain dies by suicide in jail, attorneys say

Fort Lauderdale senior living home tied to infamous New York landlords

DeSantis’ new Broward School Board appointee talks about his big move, strong local ties

It’s an auto racing weekend! The Beachfront Grand Prix Festival to make a pit stop in Fort Lauderdale

Boca Bash 2025 goes smoothly, with few problems reported amid patrols

Travel Troubleshooter: Vail Resorts canceled the season. Where’s my refund?

Book review: Vintage Carl Hiaasen attitude guides his new ‘Fever Beach’ about ‘dumb as a post’ white supremacist

Miss Manners: I’m tired of only talking about food when I’m out with friends

DEAR MISS MANNERS: As a teacher for the past 30 years, I have been fortunate to receive thoughtful gifts of thanks and appreciation from my students and their families during the holiday season and at the end of the school year.

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These gifts often include mugs, chocolates, baked goods or gift cards. (Between us, I will admit that my favorite gifts are notes of appreciation from students and parents.)

In return, I have always taken the time to write careful and personal thank-you notes for each of these gifts. Part of my motivation has been to set an example for my students, demonstrating the importance of expressing gratitude through a handwritten note.

However, this practice is time-consuming, particularly during my breaks, when the sheer volume of letters overwhelms me.

At Christmas this year, the time it took prompted me to pause and reflect: Is it truly necessary to write a thank-you note for a thank-you gift? It feels a bit circular.

I can’t imagine not writing the notes, but I feel compelled to ask: Would a simpler acknowledgment suffice, or is this a tradition I should continue?

GENTLE READER: Yes! Continue!

Let us not risk perpetuating that prevalent, but totally false, idea that a present given in thanks need not be acknowledged — that it would lead to a loop in which the giver and recipient would spend the rest of their lives thanking each other.

Nonsense. A letter of thanks does not require a response; a present, given for whatever reason, does.

Those children were probably somewhat involved in giving you those presents — they may even have chosen them. Do you want to leave them wondering if you even cared?

Children almost never receive letters (well, neither do adults, these days), so these would be special. You appreciate letters from them and their parents, so you ought to understand how much they would appreciate letters from you.

And it will be an additional boon to the parents who are requiring their children to write letters of thanks for their birthday and holiday presents.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am permanently in a wheelchair as a result of an injury. There is nothing wrong with my mind.

Many people assume I cannot speak for myself, and some move my wheelchair in directions I do not wish to go.

What can I say to these strangers to convey that I am capable of speaking for myself and that I do not care to be treated like a piece of furniture?

Some people are considerate — holding doors for me and asking if I would like help. Others are quite rude.

GENTLE READER: “Excuse me, but I am right here” to those who talk above you. And “STOP!” to anyone rude enough to move your wheelchair without your permission.

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DEAR MISS MANNERS: I’m feeling stuck about how to respond to a text message that combines a thank-you and a compliment.

For example, would you respond to a text message that says, “Thank you for the delicious dinner” with a “thank you” (for appreciating the dinner), a “you’re welcome” (for the thank-you), or both?

GENTLE READER: Neither. You’re off free.

Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, gentlereader@missmanners.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Today is Tuesday, April 29, the 119th day of 2025. There are 246 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On April 29, 1992, a jury in Simi Valley, California, acquitted four Los Angeles police officers charged with assault and using excessive force in the videotaped beating of motorist Rodney King; the verdicts were followed by six days of rioting in Los Angeles which destroyed hundreds of businesses and resulted in over 60 deaths.

Also on this date:

In 1916, the Easter Rising in Dublin collapsed as Irish nationalists surrendered to British forces.

Related Articles

• Vehicle smashes through Illinois building, killing 4 young people and injuring others
• The Memphis church pivotal in Martin Luther King Jr.’s final days suffers a devastating fire
• Jack in the Box launches turnaround with plan to close up to 200 locations
• The EPA is allowing the sale of cheaper, higher-ethanol E15 gasoline across the US this summer
• Autopsy confirms Gene Hackman died from heart disease, notes his Alzheimer’s and prolonged fasting

In 1945, during World War II, American soldiers liberated the Dachau concentration camp.

In 1991, a powerful tropical cyclone made landfall in Bangladesh, creating a storm surge that resulted in more than 138,000 deaths.

In 1997, the Chemical Weapons Convention, a worldwide treaty banning the use of chemical weapons and mandating the destruction of existing chemical weapons, went into effect.

In 2008, Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama denounced his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, for what he termed “divisive and destructive” remarks on race.

In 2011, Britain’s Prince William and Kate Middleton were married in an opulent ceremony at London’s Westminster Abbey.

Today’s Birthdays

• Musician Willie Nelson is 92.
• Baseball Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio is 91.
• Conductor Zubin Mehta is 89.
• Singer Tommy James is 78.
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• Pop singer Foxes is 36.
• Golfer Justin Thomas is 32.

On one side of South Florida, the Miami Heat did what they never do Monday night.

They broke.

On the other side of town, the Florida Panthers did what has come to define them playoff after playoff. They kept believing, kept charging, to the point of scoring two goals in 11 seconds in Game 4’s third period to reclaim control of their playoff series in a 4-2 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

If ever there was a moment that underlined where things stand in our sports town, of the torch that’s passed, Monday night was it.

Let’s face it, we love winners in South Florida and covet championships, and the Panthers are all we got right now.

The Dolphins tread water. The Marlins aren’t in the picture. The Heat remain the gold standard of the past few decades, and there’s every reason to think team president Pat Riley will figure how to move on from this season sabotaged by Jimmy Butler’s exit. But there’s no insurance on that.

The Panthers are this stretch of time’s hope for more champagne showers and shared cigars. Monday said why. That chaotic third period showed how.

“It was one of those games that doesn’t have a normal ending,” Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov said.

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The night, and maybe the series, was moving away from them. They gave up two goals to Tampa in 11 seconds to trail 2-1 in the second period. They faced a five-minute Tampa Bay power play after a top defenseman, Niko Mikkola, was ejected for a bad hit early in the third period.

Aaron Ekblad scored a tying goal that was properly overturned by offsides.

“That was a kick in the teeth,” coach Paul Maurice said.

So much was working against them, but Brad Marchand realized something about this team he just joined in March after 17 years in Boston.

“The one thing you notice is the level of calm all around,” said Marchand, who had two assists Monday night. “That’s what you see. These are the moments you embrace and enjoy in playoff times.”

What happened defines these Panthers. Ekblad tied it up — and this one counted. Eleven seconds later — this game had the two quickest scores in NHL playoff history — Seth Jones then threw a shot at the net. It pinged off a Tampa Bay skate, fluttered under the arm of goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy and eased over the goal line for a 3-2 lead.

Just like that, they weren’t losing back-to-back home games and returning to Tampa in a 2-2 series.

They lead 3-1 in the series now. They’re one more win from advancing. They had the kind of night that hardens the idea they can repeat as champions.

“When you play against this team, they had a swagger and a belief where they just kept coming at you,” Marchand said. “It doesn’t matter what happened in the game. They believed in their system, and each other, and kept coming.

“When you get in the room and you see the way they’re coached, and the way they work on an every day basis, it all makes sense. It’s an incredible room to be a part of.”

Two springs ago, the Panthers and the Heat were in their respective final series. Neither won. That didn’t matter. It was a rare, shared moment.

Last spring, Panthers had the stage to themselves after the Heat fell early in the playoffs and won their first Stanley Cup title. That was new and different.

This spring it’s not new or different.

On one side of Monday night, the Heat’s offseason couldn’t start quickly enough. They were mopped up by Cleveland, 138-83, in as humbling a playoff sweep as there is.

“There’s going to be a lot of changes this summer, knowing how the guy with the silver hair works,” center Bam Adebayo said.

How much can Riley do this summer?

The Panthers are the hope now. They’re the organization with everything clicking. They had the kind of win Monday night that great endings have. There’s a long way to go. But chill the champagne and keep the cigars ready. They’re all we got right now.

• Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) during game 4 against Tampa Bay Lightning of the Eastern Conference at Amerant Bank Aren)a in Sunrise on Monday April 28, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
• Panther fans during Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers game 4 of the Eastern Conference at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Monday April 28, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
• Florida Panthers Sam Reinhart during game 4 against Tampa Bay Lightning of the Eastern Conference at Amerant Bank Aren)a in Sunrise on Monday April 28, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
• Florida Panthers Carter Verhaeghe during game 4 against Tampa Bay Lightning of the Eastern Conference at Amerant Bank Aren)a in Sunrise on Monday April 28, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
• Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) during game 4 against Tampa Bay Lightning of the Eastern Conference at Amerant Bank Aren)a in Sunrise on Monday April 28, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
• Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) during game 4 against Tampa Bay Lightning of the Eastern Conference at Amerant Bank Aren)a in Sunrise on Monday April 28, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
• Pre game warm up as Florida Panthers takes on the Tampa Bay Lightning in game 4 of the Eastern Conference at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Monday April 28, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
• Pre game warm up as Florida Panthers takes on the Tampa Bay Lightning in game 4 of the Eastern Conference at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Monday April 28, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
• Panther fans during Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers game 4 of the Eastern Conference at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Monday April 28, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Show Caption1 of 9Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) during game 4 against Tampa Bay Lightning of the Eastern Conference at Amerant Bank Aren)a in Sunrise on Monday April 28, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)Expand