South Florida Local News

By TIM REYNOLDS

MEDLEY — She was a two-time state champion in high school coming out of the Syracuse area. She then was a four-time NCAA champion at UConn. She’s won three WNBA titles, three World Cup gold medals, three Olympic gold medals, even two EuroLeague titles.

And now, add an Unrivaled title to the mix — a league that she co-founded.

Breanna Stewart has won it all.

Stewart and Mist are the queens of Unrivaled for 2026, topping Phantom 80-74 in the championship game Wednesday night to cap the league’s second season. Stewart scored 32 points, setting the tone by scoring Mist’s first 12 points of the second half and her team — which went 0-2 against Phantom in the regular season — wouldn’t trail again.

“What I’ll remember the most about this Mist team is we might not be the loudest, but we’re going to work the hardest,” said Stewart, who was picked as MVP of the final — and whose team will split a $600,000 winners’ pool.

It ended somewhat controversially: an offensive foul on Stewart was overturned to a block on review, giving her a free throw to win the title. Stewart swished the shot, and confetti fell from the roof in celebration.

“Just focused on doing it for my team,” Stewart said.

Kelsey Plum carried Phantom with 40 points on 14-for-21 shooting, along with six rebounds and five assists.

It was a brilliant effort — but Stewart and Mist had just a bit too much.

“It’s hard when it ends like this,” Plum said. “But overall, it was an amazing season.”

Arike Ogunbowale had 19 and Allisha Gray scored 12 for Mist, while Kiki Iriafen scored 13 and Tiffany Hayes had 12 for Phantom.

“There was complete faith in this group,” Mist coach Zach O’Brien said. “I’m just glad we got it done.”

Stewart and Napheesa Collier are credited as the co-founders of the league, one that if nothing else has filled a void on calendar for the women’s pro game.

“I think that there was a space that wasn’t kind of being used as far as what professional women’s basketball players were doing,” Stewart said. “We used to have a seven-month blackout period where you didn’t know what these professional basketball players were doing. And now you know.”

The question is what comes next.

The WNBA and its players do not have a labor agreement for next season, one that is slated — at this point — to start in about two months. The WNBA has told the players’ union that it needs to get a deal in place by this coming Tuesday to start the season on time.

And for now, there’s no indication that’ll happen. That means the Mist-Phantom final could be the last professional women’s game in the U.S. for a while.

Some will point to poor television ratings as a sign of trouble, while others can point to crowds drawn this season in Brooklyn and Philadelphia as signs of potential for Unrivaled. Players say it works, and there’s no plans to stop now.

“People probably doubt us, that we can sustain it,” Unrivaled CEO Alex Bazzell said. “That’s what drives us and that’s also what drives these players They’re all competitors and we are, too.”

Unrivaled — a 3-on-3, full-court game played on a 72-foot floor, shorter than an NBA or college court — sells itself on being fast-paced, with an 18-second shot clock, 7-minute quarters and plenty of open space for players to create.

The title game didn’t disappoint in that regard.

They were the top two seeds entering the playoffs — Phantom 1, Mist 2 — and Wednesday was back and forth. It was 24-24 after one quarter, 43-43 at the half, neither team having led by more than seven at any point.

Mist led 68-62 going to the fourth, an untimed final quarter where 11 points get added to the leading score as the end-of-game target.

To win the title: first team to 79 wins. Mist scored the first six points of the final quarter, going up by 12. Plum answered with five straight points, pushing her total to 35 for the night and getting Phantom within 74-67.

But Mist held the lead the rest of the way, and Stewart — as she has so many times — had a title to savor.

“It was our goal from Day One to be here, to be on this podium,” O’Brien said.

___

AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

By STEPHEN HAWKINS

DALLAS (AP) — Tre Donaldson scored 17 points, Malik Reneau had a double-double and No. 22 Miami beat SMU 77-69 on Wednesday night, ensuring the Hurricanes a double bye in next week’s ACC Tournament.

Reneau had 12 points and 11 rebounds while Tru Washington scored 15 for Miami (24-6, 13-4), which got its seventh win in eight games since the start of February. Freshman guard Noam Dovrat had 12 points on four 3-pointers for the second game in a row.

The Hurricanes played their first game as an AP Top 25 team since December 2023 after getting ranked on Monday. They matched their school record for regular-season wins and increased Division I’s best turnaround to 17 victories more than last season with first-year coach Jai Lucas.

Jaron Pierre Jr. had 27 points with six 3s and Boopie Miller scored 21 for the Mustangs (19-11, 8-9), who have lost three in a row after earlier this season getting double-digit wins at home over Top 25 teams North Carolina and Louisville. They haven’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 2017.

Miami never trailed and there were four ties, the last at 23-all before Dovrat’s 3-pointer with 7:34 left in the first half. Dovrat played only five minutes before halftime, but made all three of his 3-point attempts, including one at the end of the half for a 38-31 lead.

Miami stretched it to 60-44 midway through the second before Pierre hit back-to-back 3s. The Mustangs had a chance to get within six with two minutes left after a turnover by Ernest Udeh Jr., but he responded with his fourth block, denying a shot by SMU big man Samet Yigitouglu, who finished with 12 points. Udeh also had 10 rebounds.

Up next

Miami is home against Louisville on Saturday.

SMU plays at Florida State on Saturday.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

TALLAHASSEE — Small autonomous or remotely operated personal delivery devices, used to carry food and small packages, would be allowed to operate on bike lanes and road shoulders under a transportation package approved by the Florida Senate on Wednesday.

However, those robotic devices would be prohibited under the measure (SB 1220) from making such deliveries in state parks, state forests and wildlife management areas. Additionally, the devices, along with unmanned drones, would be barred from flying over special districts and theme parks without their consent.

And that’s just a small part of multiple wide-ranging transportation packages that will have to be hammered out between the chambers with just over a week remaining in the regular session.

With little comment, the Senate voted 35-1 in support of the bill by Sen. Ralph Massulo, R-Lecanto, that also in part requires seaports to identify and prioritize key supply chain components, increases the percentage of Florida’s Turnpike tolls collected in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties that must be used for turnpike projects in those counties, and makes it a second degree felony to shoot into an unoccupied autonomous vehicle.

The companion measure in the House (HB 1233) awaits action on the chamber’s floor.

Meanwhile, the House on Wednesday also passed a separate transportation package (HB 543) in a 107-1 vote that requires seaports located in counties with spaceport facilities to annually outline steps taken to support the commercial space launch industry.

“This is a really good bill,” said bill sponsor Rep. Fiona McFarland, R-Sarasota. “Most of it isn’t perfect, but nothing that’s on the special calendar today, or tomorrow, or next week will be perfect either. It will just be mostly good, which is all we can hope.”

McFarland’s measure calls for the Florida Department of Transportation to increase by 0.4 seconds the minimum “perception-reaction time” of all steady yellow traffic signals in the state located at an intersection equipped with a red-light cameras.

Another part of the bill allows local governments to approve conditions, including signs, that allow golf carts to cross a highway at an intersection with a traffic signal.

The measure also clarifies a 2025 law regarding the visibility of license plates by stating that frames or drivers with decorative borders do not commit a criminal offense when they do not obscure the numbers and letters or the registration decal.

The measure also allows vehicles displaying valid disabled parking permits or plates to occupy more than one non-handicapped parking space.

Rep. Kelly Skidmore, D-Boca Raton, voted against the bill because she said the disabled parking space measure does not address the impact on handicapped spaces created by a 2025 state law that allowed pregnant women to use parking spaces reserved for people with disabilities.

“I know that this double-parking thing is meant to be helpful, but it is not helpful when we don’t know that those vehicles still won’t be towed,” Skidmore said. “People who are getting ticketed and towed will most likely still be getting ticketed and towed, specifically if they’re in a private lot.”

McFarland, who backed allowing pregnant women to use the handicapped space, said the state needs to address the proliferation of fraudulent handicapped placards, which she put at about 26 percent.

“Whether they’re issued by a doctor that doesn’t exist, or the doctor’s signature has been Xeroxed, or they’re being used by someone who is not the issued recipient, I would rather solve the 26 percent of fraud,” McFarland said.

The House transportation proposals are spread across several bills in the Senate, with less than two weeks remaining in the regular session.

By HANNAH FINGERHUT, KONSTANTIN TOROPIN and REBECCA BOONE

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The last two names of the six U.S. soldiers killed in a Kuwait attack were released Wednesday by the Pentagon, and they are from California and Iowa.

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The soldiers identified Wednesday were Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento and Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa.

The Pentagon said Marzan was at the scene when a drone strike hit the command center in Kuwait and is “believed to be the individual who perished at the scene,” according to the statement. A medical examiner will confirm identification, the Pentagon said.

Four soldiers were previously identified by the Pentagon on Tuesday.

They died Sunday when a drone hit a command center in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, just a day after the U.S. and Israel launched its military campaign against Iran. Iran responded by launching missiles and drones against Israel and several Gulf Arab states that host U.S. armed forces.

The other soldiers identified Tuesday by the Pentagon were: Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa,; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; and Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska.

“Sadly, there will likely be more, before it ends. That’s the way it is,” President Donald Trump said of the deaths. Trump will attend the dignified transfers of the soldiers when they arrive in the U.S., the White House said Wednesday. The ritual honors service members killed in action.

A mother of two who loved gardening This undated photo provided by Joey Amor shows Nicole Amor, left, and Joey Amor smiling for a photo. (Joey Amor via AP)

Amor was just days away from returning to her husband and children.

“She was almost home,” her husband, Joey Amor, said Tuesday. “You don’t go to Kuwait thinking something’s going to happen, and for her to be one of the first — it hurts.”

Amor was an avid gardener who enjoyed making salsa from the peppers and tomatoes she grew with her son, a high school senior. She enjoyed rollerblading and bicycling with her fourth-grade daughter.

A week before the drone attack, Amor was moved off-base to a shipping container-style building that had no defenses, her husband said.

“They were in fear that the base they were on was going to get attacked and they felt it was safer in smaller groups in separate places,” he said.

Childhood friend Natalie Caruso wrote on Facebook that she was “absolutely heartbroken” about Amor’s death.

“Nicole was always up for an adventure and she had such a contagious laugh!” Caruso wrote Wednesday.

‘He loved being a soldier’ This photo provided by Andrew Coady shows his son, Declan Coady, posing for a photo on the day of his graduation at U.S. Army Training Center at Fort Sill, Okla., March 15, 2024. (Andrew Coady via AP)

Coady recently told his father he had been recommended for a promotion from specialist to sergeant, a rank he received posthumously.

He was among the youngest people in his class, trained to troubleshoot military computer systems, but he impressed his instructors, Andrew Coady said Tuesday.

“He trained hard, he worked hard, his physical fitness was important to him. He loved being a soldier,” Coady said. “He was also one of the most kindest people you would ever meet, and he would do anything and everything for anyone.”

Coady, an Eagle Scout, was close to his family and often called, even if for only a few minutes. He was studying cybersecurity at Drake University in Des Moines, and he wanted to become an officer.

“I still don’t fully think it’s real,” his sister Keira Coady said. “I just remember all of our conversations about what he was going to do when he came back.”

A calling to serve his country Andrew Coady and his daughter Keira, right, talk about his son, Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa, outside their home, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in West Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Khork was very patriotic and wanted to serve in the military from childhood, his family said in a statement Tuesday.

He enlisted in the Army Reserve and joined Florida Southern College’s ROTC program.

“That commitment helped shape the course of his life and reflected the deep sense of duty that was always at the core of who he was,” his mother, Donna Burhans; father, James Khork; and stepmother, Stacey Khork; said in a statement.

Khork, who loved history, had a degree in political science.

His family described him as “the life of the party, known for his infectious spirit, generous heart, and deep care for those who served alongside him and for everyone blessed to know him.”

Abbas Jaffer posted Monday on Facebook about his friend of 16 years.

“My best friend, best man, and brother gave his life defending our country overseas,” Jaffer said.

A loving father and husband This combination of images provided by the U.S. Army taken on May 16, 2025 shows, from top left, Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of Des Moines, Iowa, Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minn., Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Lakeland, Fla., and Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Neb. (Sgt. Brent Newton/U.S. Army via AP)

Tietjens, who came from a military family, previously served alongside his father in Kuwait. When he returned home in February 2010, he reunited with his overjoyed wife in a local church’s gym.

“I thought he was going to be the last person in, because he hates all this (hoopla),” his wife, Michelle Tietjens, told the Lincoln Journal Star at the time.

Tietjens’ cousin Kaylyn Golike asked for prayers, especially for Tietjens’ 12-year-old son, wife and parents, as they navigate “unimaginable loss.”

“We lost a brave soldier this weekend and many hearts are broken,” Golike wrote on Facebook Tuesday.

Tietjens earned a black belt in Philippine Combatives and Taekwondo and was “an instructor who gave his time, discipline, and leadership to others,” the Philippine Martial Arts Alliance said on Facebook.

Army Staff Sgt. Jeff Coleman said Tietjens was his mentor.

“You could call him day or night,” Coleman told KETV. “He always took the time, you know, he made you feel important.”

Boone contributed from Boise, Idaho, and Toropin from Washington. Associated Press reporters Sarah Raza in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Josh Funk and Margery Beck in Omaha, Nebraska; Jeff Martin in Atlanta; and David Fischer in Miami contributed.

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump ’s White House ballroom project is way too big and should be scaled back, an architect and member of the board of the National Trust for Historic Preservation said Wednesday — one of a number of changes he has suggested for a project he says could permanently alter the nation’s most recognizable historic home.

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David Scott Parker, a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects whose firm specializes in residential design and historic preservation, shared his views with The Associated Press as a key federal agency, the National Capital Planning Commission, prepared to meet Thursday to vote on whether to approve the 90,000-square-foot project. A separate federal panel, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, approved the project at its February meeting.

“Everything here feels inflated,” said Parker, who has been an architect for more than 35 years. “The net effect of this is to adversely impact what is the most important historic — the most identifiable historic — house in the entire United States. This is permanent, what it will do to the White House.”

Trump announced last summer he would be add a ballroom to the White House, citing the need for space other than a tent on the lawn to entertain important guests. He demolished the East Wing in October with little warning and underground construction to prepare the site has been underway since then. White House officials have said above-ground construction would not start before April, at the earliest.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a private, nonprofit group, asked a federal judge to temporarily halt construction until the White House submitted the construction plans to both federal panels and to Congress for approval, and allowed the public to comment. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon rejected the request last week, and the Trust has said it plans to file an amended lawsuit.

Parker’s architectural analysis was based on renderings and other information the White House submitted to the fine arts commission last month.

President Donald Trump speaks about the new ballroom construction before a Medal of Honor ceremony in the East Room of the White House, Monday, March 2, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

The ballroom itself takes up about 22,000 square feet of the total space, and Parker said that is far larger than needed for the 1,000 guests Trump has said it would accommodate. The industry standard for a ballroom allots 15 square feet per person, Parker said. By that measure, Trump’s ballroom could be 47% smaller — or no bigger than 15,000 square feet, he said.

The proposal includes a 4,000-square-foot, south-facing porch and staircase. Parker said these are unnecessary since they don’t provide guests with direct access to the interior of the building. He said the porch doesn’t comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The White House said Wednesday that the ballroom will comply with the federal law requiring accommodations for people with disabilities, but did not provide further comment on Parker’s critique.

The proposed portico is significantly larger than the portico on the south side of the White House and the south side of the Treasury Department building nearby.

Artist renderings and diagrams of the new White House East Wing and Ballroom, briefly posted on the National Capital Planning Commission’s website ahead of a March 5, hearing, are photographed Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)

Concerns about the project’s size have followed it from the start. At nearly twice the size of the main White House itself, which is 55,000 square feet, critics have argued the addition would overwhelm the mansion and throw off the symmetry of the complex.

Parker said his other main concern is that the addition would stick out just enough so that it impedes the line of sight along Pennsylvania Avenue between the White House and the Capitol as it was purposely designed hundreds of years ago by Pierre L’Enfant, who was hired by George Washington to lay out the U.S. capital.

“It’s hard to fathom that … one addition could have so many adverse impacts, symbolically, architecturally and historically,” Parker said. “This literally violates the Founding Fathers’ intentions.”

Parker is listed among more than 100 people registered to speak at Thursday’s commission meeting, which is scheduled to be conducted online, according to the agency’s website. Thousands of people submitted comments in advance and many were opposed to Trump’s project.

By SARA CLINE and NICHOLAS RICCARDI

It remained unclear Wednesday whether ballots cast during extended polling place hours in Texas’ primary will be counted in two counties that saw mass confusion over voting locations.

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Such votes have been set aside in Dallas County after the Texas Supreme Court stepped in Tuesday night, staying a lower court’s ruling. As of Wednesday afternoon, county election officials were still waiting for direction on whether the ballots should be included in vote totals.

The same issue affected Williamson County, north of Austin, which had hours extended at two polling places and has since had the last-minute ballots set aside.

But for Democrats in deeply blue Dallas County, the state’s second most populous, they say their hopes are dwindling. Terri Burke, executive director of the Texas Democratic Party, said the Supreme Court’s action was expected because it’s hard to get poll hours extended under Texas law.

“In a lot of ways, nobody was surprised by the writ from the Supreme Court last night,” Burke said. She added it’s likely the late ballots won’t be counted.

It is unclear exactly how many ballots were cast during the extended hours. According to data on the Dallas County Elections Department’s website, 2,316 in-person “provisional” ballots were rejected or pending, a number that includes any ballots flagged for a variety of issues as well as those the high court ordered to be segregated. A total of nearly 280,000 people voted in the county’s election, based on unofficial figures from the department.

Of greater concern, Burke said, was the chaos unleashed by the precinct-only voting system that Dallas County was forced to use because of a change by local Republicans, who refused to use a system that allowed voters to cast a ballot anywhere in the county, as they had done since 2019. Voters instead could cast ballots only at their assigned precinct. Under state law, Democrats had to use the same method.

Confused and frustrated, some voters were turned away from polling places on Tuesday and directed to other locations.

“There is a case to be made, and we can document it, there were people who were disenfranchised,” Burke said.

Primary voters line up to cast ballots at a voting center in Dallas, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

She said she will attempt to push the legislature to repeal the 2006 law that requires both parties to hold a joint primary to prevent this sort of chaos: “If one party wants to wreck their primary, they should be able to do that but they should not be able to wreck someone else’s.”

In Dallas County, a judge ordered polls to remain open for two hours past the scheduled 7 p.m. closing time, citing “voter confusion so severe” that it caused the website of the county election office to crash. The judge was acting on a petition filed by the local Democratic Party in a heavily left-leaning county. The extension applied only to Democratic voting precincts.

There was initial concern that it could affect the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate because Dallas is the home base of Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, but she later conceded to James Talarico, a state lawmaker.

The office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who advanced to a runoff Tuesday against Sen. John Cornyn for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, challenged the lower court’s ruling. Shortly after, the state Supreme Court stayed both decisions in Dallas and Williamson counties. Its brief orders said ballots cast by voters in both counties who were not in line by the 7 p.m. scheduled close of polls should be separated.

Emily French, the policy director for Common Cause Texas, a voting advocacy group, said it is standard for ballots that are cast during extended poll hours to be set aside. In El Paso, for example, voting was extended for an hour on Tuesday after problems with voter check-in systems earlier in the day. French said she expects them to ultimately be tallied if no one is contesting the extension.

Anthony Gutierrez, the executive director of Common Cause Texas, said the organization is continuing “to monitor this situation and will be weighing all options to ensure every Texan is able to have their vote counted.”

By MARY CLARE JALONICK

WASHINGTON (AP) — A protester and three U.S. Capitol Police officers were treated for injuries in a Senate office building on Wednesday after the protester resisted arrest for disruptive behavior and grabbed onto a doorway as the officers and a Republican senator tried to drag him out of the room.

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The protester, Brian C. McGinnis of North Carolina, was arrested and faces three counts of assaulting a police officer and three counts of resisting arrest and unlawful demonstration, the Capitol Police said in a statement.

“This afternoon, an unruly man who started to illegally protest during a hearing put everyone in a dangerous position by violently resisting and fighting our officer’s attempts to remove him from the room,” Capitol Police said in a statement.

Multiple videos show that McGinnis stood up and started shouting during the Senate Armed Services hearing and that police officers immediately grabbed him and tried to remove him from the room. McGinnis was protesting the U.S. military campaign in Iran, shouting, “America does not want to send its sons and daughters to war for Israel!”

The officers pulled McGinnis toward the exit as he violently resisted them and grabbed onto a doorway while they were trying to pull him out. Montana Sen. Tim Sheehy, a Republican member of the Armed Services panel who is a former Navy SEAL, ran over to assist and pull the protester’s arm off the door as other protesters yelled that McGinnis’ hand was stuck.

Capitol Police said in the statement that McGinnis “got his own arm stuck in a door to resist our officers and force his way back into the hearing room,” and said he was treated for his injuries.

Sheehy said in a statement on social media that he was trying to de-escalate the situation.

“This gentleman came to the Capitol looking for a confrontation, and he got one,” Sheehy said, “I hope he gets the help he needs without causing further violence.”

A video posted on an X account under the name Brian McGinnis appears to show the same man standing outside the Capitol on Wednesday morning before the hearing. The account’s description says he is a “Green Party Candidate for US Senate.”

He says in the video that he was “here in D.C. trying to speak out against the Senate” to ask them about sending the country into war.

“Anyone who feels disillusioned and betrayed by our government, you are not alone,” he says in the video.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection has opened an internal investigation into whether Gregory Bovino, the one-time architect of President Donald Trump’s large-scale immigration crackdown, made disparaging comments about the Jewish faith of the U.S. attorney for Minnesota.

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“Following a letter from a Congressman inquiring about reporting on anonymous allegations, CBP opened an internal inquiry to determine the full story,” a U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said in an emailed statement Tuesday. “This is standard procedure and does NOT indicate any confirmation of wrongdoing.”

Customs and Border Protection is part of Homeland Security.

The investigation comes after The New York Times and then CBS News reported on remarks Bovino allegedly made during a Jan. 12 phone call held to coordinate a Saturday meeting to discuss the deployment of immigration agents in the Minneapolis area.

During the call, the reports said, Bovino allegedly complained that Attorney for the District of Minnesota Daniel N. Rosen was unreachable for part of the weekend because of the Sabbath, which in Judaism is observed from sunset Friday to nightfall Saturday.

Bovino allegedly used the term “chosen people” in a disparaging way and asked, in a sarcastic tone, whether Rosen understood that some Orthodox Jewish people don’t take the Sabbath off work, the reports said.

“Do Orthodox criminals also take off on Saturday?” he asked, according to CBS.

The Times reported Rosen delegated the call to a deputy and that he himself was not part of the conversation.

The Times first reported on the investigation. It said an investigator with Customs and Border Protection’s office of professional responsibility wrote in an email that he had opened an “official inquiry into the allegation” that Bovino made “unprofessional comments.”

Bovino was the public face of the Trump administration’s city-by-city immigration sweeps until late January. The Border Patrol chief led agents in Los Angeles, Chicago and New Orleans before he headed to Minnesota in December for what Homeland Security called its largest-ever immigration enforcement operation.

The administration removed Bovino from his leading role after federal officers in Minneapolis fatally shot 37-year-old mother Renee Good and 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti on different days, leading to nationwide demonstrations and criticisms of Homeland Security’s use-of-force policies.

On Monday, a Minnesota prosecutor said her office would investigate Bovino and other federal officers for misconduct. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said she would look into an instance in which Bovino threw a smoke canister at protesters on Jan. 21. Homeland Security said in a statement that states cannot prosecute federal officers.

By MEAD GRUVER

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Wednesday approved its first construction permit for a commercial nuclear reactor in eight years, one that will allow a Bill Gates-backed company to build a sodium-cooled reactor in western Wyoming.

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TerraPower filed for the permit in 2024 and construction is now set to begin within weeks. Completion of the up to $4 billion plant is targeted for 2030, according to TerraPower. Microsoft co-founder Gates, who is eyeing nuclear generation as a power source for the electricity-hungry data centers behind artificial intelligence, is a founder of TerraPower and its primary investor.

“We have spent thousands of manpower hours working to achieve this momentous accomplishment,” TerraPower President and CEO Chris Levesque said in a statement.

The TerraPower plant is set to be built near a coal-fired power plant that is being converted to burn natural gas outside Kemmerer, a town of about 2,500 people some 130 miles northeast of Salt Lake City.

Gates and his energy company are seeking to develop a next-generation nuclear plant that would “revolutionize” how power is generated. The 345-megawatt reactor is expected to produce up to 500 megawatts at its peak, enough energy for up to 400,000 homes.

Construction at the TerraPower plant site — though not on the reactor itself — began in 2024.

The reactor construction permit for a TerraPower subsidiary is the NRC’s first approval for a non-light-water commercial reactor in more than 40 years, the NRC said in a statement.

Virtually all of the world’s commercial nuclear reactors use water to control reactions and transfer heat to drive turbines and produce electricity.

The NRC last issued a construction permit for a conventional light-water reactor to Florida Power & Light Company for a power plant south of Miami in 2018. That project has yet to be built.

The TerraPower reactor would use molten sodium, not water, as a coolant.

The last commercial non-light-water reactor in operation in the U.S. was the Fort St. Vrain nuclear plant in northern Colorado. The problem-plagued, helium-cooled plant produced electricity from the mid-1970s until it was shut down in 1989.

In October, Gates told reporters he thinks nuclear power will be a “gigantic contributor” to powering data centers. He had recently met with Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and various members of Congress and said the government was “very involved” in the TerraPower reactor.

“I wish I could deliver nuclear fission like three years earlier than I can, because then we’d have a perfect match to the current demand pattern of these data center guys,” he said.

The plant would use a highly enriched form of uranium that in recent years has been obtainable only from Russia. TerraPower has been lining up other sources to produce the fuel domestically and in South Africa, according to the company.

While the Trump administration pushes toward nuclear power, the federal government has yet to address the thousands of tons of spent fuel that have been piling up for decades at nuclear plants nationwide. New Mexico and Texas have dug in their heels to keep from becoming dumping grounds in the absence of a permanent solution.

In January, the U.S. Department of Energy announced it was taking what it called a first step toward possible partnerships with states to modernize the fuel cycle, including reprocessing spent fuel and disposing of waste. The agency gave states until April 1 to step forward if they’re interested in participating.

The TerraPower reactor would produce relatively less nuclear waste than conventional reactors, according to the company.

Jennifer McDermott in Providence, Rhode Island, and Susan Montoya Bryan in Albuquerque, New Mexico, contributed to this report.

By COLLEEN SLEVIN and NICHOLAS RICCARDI

DENVER (AP) — Colorado’s Democratic governor, facing a pressure campaign from President Donald Trump, is signaling his openness to granting clemency to a former county clerk who was convicted in a scheme that attempted to find proof of fraud in the 2020 presidential election.

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A social post by Gov. Jared Polis brought swift rebuke Wednesday from the state’s attorney general, secretary of state and the association representing local election officials, who said such an action by the governor would send the wrong message to anyone seeking to interfere with elections ahead of this year’s midterms.

In his post on Tuesday, the governor compared the case of former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, who is serving a nine-year prison sentence, to that of a former state lawmaker who was recently sentenced to probation and community service after being convicted of one of the same crimes. Polis was echoing a concern he raised in January that the sentence for Peters, who didn’t have a criminal history, was “harsh.”

“Justice in Colorado and America needs to be applied evenly, you never know when you might need to depend on the rule of law. This is the context I am using as I consider cases like this that have sentencing disparities,” Polis wrote on the social platform X.

Peters’ lawyers welcomed the governor’s comments and hoped they would lead to her sentence being reduced to the nearly 17 months she has already served. They want her to be released from prison while they continue to try to get her convictions overturned in the state appeals court.

“Action takes real courage,” said one of her lawyers, John Case.

He said he could not discuss whether he had any conversations with the governor or his office about clemency because he said the process is confidential.

Governor’s post creates backlash from other Colorado officials

Peters has become a hero to many who support Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him, especially those who have been pushing unfounded conspiracy theories.

Trump threatened “harsh measures” against Colorado unless the state releases Peters, and his administration has cut off funding to the state.

Secretary of State Jena Griswold, a Democrat who is running for state attorney general, said Polis’ comments were “shocking and worrisome” and that he was wrong to make a comparison between the case of Peters and former state Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis. Lewis and Peters were each convicted of attempting to influence a public servant, but also convicted of additional, different crimes.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, whose office helped prosecute Peters, said Peters has not demonstrated any remorse for her actions.

“Clemency should be based on remorse, rehabilitation, and extenuating circumstances — not on political influence, favor, or retribution,” Weiser, a Democrat who is running to succeed the term-limited Polis, said in an emailed statement.

U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, who is hoping to replace Polis as governor, also said Peters shouldn’t be pardoned or have her sentence commuted.

“Donald Trump may be seeking revenge on Colorado, but surrendering to his political pressure will not make our state stronger or safer,” the Democrat said.

Clemency could signal that it’s OK to ‘undermine our elections’

Matt Crane, executive director of the Colorado County Clerks Association, said there are few similarities between Peters’ and Lewis’ cases.

“It seems he’s tying himself in knots trying to find a way to commute her sentence,” he said of the governor.

He also said he worried that an early release would send the wrong message before this year’s midterm elections.

“The signal is it’s OK to work to undermine our elections because, whether it’s President Trump or Jared Polis, you’ll get a get-out-of-jail free card,” Crane said.

In response, a Polis spokesperson, Shelby Wieman, said the governor has been skeptical of Peters’ sentence and was comparing it with the one given to the former state lawmaker who was sentenced Friday.

In contrast to some other Democratic governors, Polis, who prides himself on being a political iconoclast, has taken a sometimes accommodating stance toward Trump. As Trump entered office, Polis praised the idea of the Department of Government Efficiency, then run by billionaire Elon Musk, and the nomination of vaccine critic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to run the Department of Health and Human Services.

He also has criticized Trump’s stance on tariffs and immigration, among other issues.

Two cases with significant differences

Peters and Lewis were both convicted of attempting to influence a public servant, a crime that involves using deception or a threat to try to get a public official to act in a certain way.

Lewis was convicted of one count of that and three counts of forgery. Prosecutors said she forged letters of support in the middle of a legislative ethics investigation over whether she had mistreated her staff. Her attorney, Craig Truman, declined to comment on her case.

Peters was convicted of state crimes for sneaking in an outside computer expert to copy images of her county’s election computer system before and after state officials updated it in 2021. A photo and video of confidential voting system passwords were later posted on social media and a conservative website. She said she had a duty to preserve the information as clerk.

Peters was found guilty of three counts of attempting to influence a public servant and one count each of conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation, first-degree official misconduct, violation of duty and failure to comply with the requirements of the secretary of state.

Peters’ lawyers said the judge violated her First Amendment rights by punishing her with a stiff sentence for making allegations about election fraud. The judge called her a “charlatan” and said she posed a danger to the community for spreading lies about voting and undermining the democratic process.

Appeals court judges seemed sympathetic to the free speech argument during oral arguments in January.

By STEPHEN GROVES, LISA MASCARO and MARY CLARE JALONICK

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Senate is headed towards a vote Wednesday on President Donald Trump’s decision to embark on a war against Iran, an extraordinary test in Congress for a conflict that has rapidly spread across the Middle East with no clear U.S. exit strategy.

The legislation, known as a war powers resolution, gives lawmakers an opportunity to demand congressional approval before any further attacks are carried out. The Senate resolution and a similar bill being voted on in the House later this week face unlikely paths through the Republican-controlled Congress and would almost certainly be vetoed by Trump even if they were to pass.

Nonetheless, the votes marked a weighty moment for lawmakers. Their decisions on the five-day-old war — which Trump entered without congressional approval — could determine the fates of U.S. military members, countless other lives and the future of the region.

“Wars without clear objectives do not remain small. They get bigger, bloodier, longer and more expensive,” said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer at a news conference Tuesday. “This is not a necessary war. It’s a war of choice.”

Trump administration scrambles for congressional support

After launching a surprise attack against Iran on Saturday, Trump has scrambled to win support for a conflict that Americans of all political persuasions were already wary of entering. Trump administration officials have been a frequent presence on Capitol Hill this week as they try to reassure lawmakers that they have the situation under control.

“We are not going to put American troops in harm’s way,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters in a raucous news conference at the Capitol Tuesday.

But six U.S. military members were killed over the weekend in a drone strike in Kuwait.

Trump has also not ruled out deploying U.S. ground troops. He has said he is hoping to end the bombing campaign within a few weeks, but his goals for the war have shifted from regime change to stopping Iran from developing nuclear capabilities to crippling its navy and missile programs.

“I think they are achieving great success with what they’ve done so far,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Tuesday, adding that what happens next in the country will be “largely up to the Iranian people.”

Almost all Republican senators were readying to vote Wednesday against the war powers resolution to halt military action, but a number still expressed hesitation at the idea of deploying troops on the ground in Iran.

“I don’t think the American people want to see troops on the ground,” said Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., as he exited a classified briefing Tuesday. He added that Trump administration officials “left open that possibility,” but it wasn’t an option they were emphasizing.

Lawmakers to go on record

The votes in Congress this week represented potentially consequential markers of just where lawmakers stand on the war as they look ahead to midterm elections and the consequences of the conflict.

“Nobody gets to hide and give the president an easy pass or an end-run around the Constitution,” said Sen. Tim Kaine, the Virginia Democrat leading the war powers resolution. “Everybody’s got to declare whether they’re for this war or against it.”

Republican leaders have successfully, though narrowly, defeated a series of war powers resolutions pertaining to several other conflicts that Trump has entered or threatened to enter. This one, however, is different.

Unlike Trump’s military campaigns against alleged drug boats or even Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, the attack on Iran represents an open-ended conflict that is already ricocheting across the region. For Republicans who are used to operating in a political party dominated by Trump and his promises of keeping the U.S. out of foreign entanglements, the moment represented a bit of whiplash.

“War is ugly, it always has been ugly, but we’re taking out a regime that has been trying to attack us for quite some time,” said Sen. Markwayne Mullin, an Oklahoma Republican.

Meanwhile, Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who has long pushed Trump to engage overseas, argued that the widening conflict represented an opportunity for Arab and European countries to join in the fight against Iran and the militant groups it supports.

“I don’t mind people being on record as to whether or not they think this is a good idea,” he told reporters, but also argued that too much power over the military was ceded to Congress in the War Powers Act, which mandates that presidents must withdraw troops from a conflict within 90 days if there is no congressional authorization.

House vote looms

On the other side of the Capitol, House leaders were also readying for an intense debate over the war followed by a vote Thursday.

“I do believe we have the votes to defeat it, I certainly hope we do,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said after an all-member briefing on Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said he expected a strong showing from Democrats in favor of the war powers resolution.

As lawmakers emerged from a closed-door briefing Tuesday night, Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, implored the Trump administration to “come to Congress” and speak directly to the American people about the rationale for the war.

His voice filled with emotion as he said, “Our young men and women’s lives are on the line.”

MIAMI — Observations and other notes of interest from Tuesday night’s 124-98 victory over the Brooklyn Nets:

– For the Heat, as in recent games against tanking teams Utah (a loss) and Memphis (a win), coach Erik Spoelstra said the emphasis had to be about their own game.

– “We have some experience with it. We know what’s at stake,” Spoelstra said, with the Heat also hosting the Nets on Thursday night.

– As in the Nets who want to lose.

– As in the lottery-chasing Nets who need to lose.

– What time in the NBA, when only one of the two teams shows up wanting to win.

– “Each night is a different challenge,” Spoelstra said. “This is what the league is. You don’t necessarily know who’s going to play, what they’re playing for, whatever.”

– He added, “It doesn’t, it really doesn’t matter at this point.”

– Spoelstra said the motivation has to come from within.

– “We’re trying to compete at a high level, to get as close as we can to our best version and keep on improving that,” he said.

– So, Spoelstra said, against a contender or a team prioritizing the lottery, the touchstones remain the same.

– “You can’t look past anyone, and that’s our focus right now,” he said. “It’s just to try to get to our identity, and the names will change. The prep will be the same. But we got to have a disposition that’s consistent, and we can bank on night in, night out.”

– With Davion Mitchell pushing through his shoulder contusion and Norman Powell (groin) still out, the Heat for the second consecutive game opened with Mitchell, Tyler Herro, Pelle Larsson, Andrew Wiggins and Bam Adebayo.

– Wiggins had been on the injury report earlier in the day with knee tendinitis.

– The Nets opened with a lineup of Nolan Traore, Terance Mann, Michael Porter Jr., Noah Clowney and Nic Claxton.

– Kel’el Ware and Jaime Jaquez Jr. entered together first off the Heat bench.

– With Kasparas Jakucionis and Simone Fontecchio in next.

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– During that substitution, Adebayo returned to play alongside Ware.

– That initial rotation had Dru Smith out of the mix.

–  Herro in the second period was called for a technical foul for the second second game for yapping. This time it was with Clowney, after his Saturday words with the Rockets’ Kevin Durant.

– Nets coach Jordi Fernandez said the goal for his lottery-prioritizing team coming into such a game is, to be, “ready to fight.”

– Fernandez called the Heat “a team that is very physical, that they use their hands very well, that you’re going to have to handle their physicality. And I think that’s good for us. It’s going to help us. It’s going to make us bring the best of ourselves.”

– Fernandez said he had no concerns of potential South Beach flu, with the Nets in Miami for four consecutive days.

– “Work and have fun, and if you have fun together, it’s even better,” he said. “So I think that brings them together. That team chemistry is important. When you travel and you’re on the road is when you spend time together. So I always encourage the guys that if they have to go to dinner, whatever they want to do, I think those things build relationships and chemistry.”

– Former Heat guard Goran Dragic was among those in attendance.

MIAMI — The subset of the standings has begun for the Miami Heat — also known as the fighting chance provided by the NBA.

Over these final six weeks of the season, as the Heat fight to avoid the play-in round for a fourth consecutive season, Erik Spoelstra’s team has been provided with two games against the Brooklyn Nets and three against the Washington Wizards, as in a Nets team now 15-46 and a Wizards team now 16-45.

Step 1 came Tuesday night at Kaseya Center with a 124-98 victory over the Nets, with the teams to meet again Thursday on the Heat’s court.

In no position for a misstep, the Heat took advantage, with a challenging closing schedule that otherwise includes two games remaining apiece against the Cavaliers and Raptors, with all four of those on the road, as well as remaining home games against the Pistons, Lakers, Spurs and Celtics, and then a road rematch in Houston.

“Just to see the approach,” Spoelstra said, “I was pleased with the prep, I was pleased with the practice yesterday, and pretty consistent effort and focus throughout the course of the game.”

All that was required in this one was 23 points from Bam Adebayo, 22 from Tyler Herro and 20 from Jaime Jaquez Jr. against a largely undistinguished opposing cast.

“It was a professional win,” Herro said. “Coach always talks about being professionals coming in and take care of business. We’ve dropped a couple games that we feel like we were supposed to win, not just this year, but the last couple years. So it’s one of those games where we wanna come in and be professional.”

Five Degrees of Heat from Tuesday night’s game:

1. Game flow: Again playing in the injury absence of Norman Powell (groin), the Heat led 34-28 at the end of the opening period and 69-54 at halftime.

The Heat then went up 18 in the third period, saw that lead trimmed to 11, before closing the quarter ahead 91-75, at a stage the Nets were 4 of 21 on 3-pointers.

The Nets trimmed their deficit to 13 90 seconds into the fourth quarter, with the Heat’s lead in the 20s less than 90 seconds later, effectively ending it.

“It’s the second half of the season. We need these wins,” Adebayo said. “We can’t have any more slip-ups. We had enough in the first half of the season.”

Spoelstra credited Herro with providing the spark.

“I think he’s making all of this look a whole lot easier than it actually is,” he said of Herro’s recent return from being out over a month with a rib injury. “He hasn’t played extended time. This is just really a short period of time that he’s been back, but I think each game it’ll get better.”

2. Rebound record: With his fifth defensive rebound, which came early in the third period, Adebayo moved past Udonis Haslem for the Heat’s all-time lead. Haslem’s record was 4,176.

Haslem still retains the Heat all-time lead in total rebounds and offensive rebounds, with Adebayo second on the overall rebound list and fourth on the offensive-rebound list behind Haslem, Alonzo Mourning and Rony Seikaly.

“I’m on the way, man, He knows it,” Adebayo said of the chase of Haslem’s overall rebounding record. “That gap is getting closer and closer.

“At some point it’s going to happen.”

Earlier, he extended his streak of games with at least one 3-pointer to 10, nine games off his career-best streak, competed earlier this season.

Adebayo closed with nine rebounds as well as six steals, but was just 1 of 7 on 3-pointers as part of his 11-of-24 night from the field.

“He wants to get the full rebound record,” Spoelstra said, “but it’s a testament to his consistency. We’d love to see it. That’s what records are there for, to be broken, especially when it’s quality people that are breaking records. Bam is a quality human being, and UD will eventually love it when Bam does eventually pass him.”

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3. More double big: Spoelstra initially prioritized again getting big men Adebayo and Kel’el Ware on the court together.

That had Adebayo’s initial break leaving him off the court for less than three minutes before he returned.

Unlike Saturday, when the Heat almost solely played zone with the two on the court, this time Ware was allowed to work more often in man-to-man defense.

Ware then was forced to the bench with his third foul with 7:25 remaining in the second period, after picking up those three fouls in a 22-second span.

Ware closed with 11 points, 13 rebounds and a career-high five steals.

4. Jaquez from deep: When Jaquez converted his second 3-pointer of the night with 8:45 to play in the second period, it was the first time Jaquez had made multiple 3-pointers in a game since Jan. 19 and only the third time this season. The two at that stage tied his season high.

Jaquez entered 2 of 16 on 3s in his previous six games and .257 on 3-pointers for the season.

He closed 2 of 3 on 3-pointers Tuesday night.

“He works at it all the time,” Spoelstra said of Jaquez’s 3-point shot. “I don’t think that necessarily will affect our offense one way or another. I think we score in bunches when he’s on the court. The most important thing is he is our downhill guy. He’ll be able to keep defenses honest if he knocks down a couple of threes. But by this point, teams play him how they play him.”

5. And another one: This is the fourth of six times the Heat face the same opponent in consecutive games, also hosting the Nets on Thursday night.

The Heat’s two remaining such sets are both on the road, on March 25 and March 27 in Cleveland, and April 7 and April 9 in Toronto.

The Heat exited the victory a half-game out of sixth place in the Eastern Conference, the final direct seed into the best-of-seven opening round of the playoffs.

“I know we have a lot of competitors in our locker room, and I’m banking on that, bringing out a better version of ourselves,” Spoelstra said.

By STEPHEN WHYNO

NEWARK, N.J. — U.S. Olympic golden goal-scorer Jack Hughes extended his points streak to four games since returning from Milan, and the New Jersey Devils dealt the Florida Panthers’ playoff hopes another blow by beating the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions 5-1 on Tuesday night.

Hughes’ shot that went wide banked right to Dougie Hamilton for his goal. Hughes has four assists — one in each game — since the NHL season resumed.

Hamilton, whose name has been involved in trade buzz for several months, also had an assist. It’s unclear if the Devils will be able to move the defenseman before the deadline Friday, given that Hamilton has two years remaining on his contract beyond this season at a $9 million salary cap hit and is owed a $7.4 million roster bonus on July 1.

If New Jersey, which looks out of the race, sells elsewhere, depth forward Cody Glass may have boosted his value by scoring his 14th goal of the season. Arseny Gritsyuk also scored, looking off Hughes on a 2 on 1 before beating Sergei Bobrovsky, who was excellent early and finished with 28 saves on 31 shots.

Florida is in danger of becoming the first Cup-winning team to miss the playoffs the following season since the Los Angeles Kings in 2014-15. The Panthers have lost three of four games since the Olympics ended, all of those coming in regulation.

Combined with Boston’s victory against Pittsburgh, Florida is 10 points back of the second and final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with just 21 games left to play. Coach Paul Maurice said captain Aleksander Barkov, who’s recovering from tearing the ACL and medial collateral ligament in his right knee during training camp, is not expected back until at least late March.

Up next

Panthers: At Columbus on Thursday night.

Nobody said getting to the NCAA Tournament would be easy.

UCF is finding that out the hard way as the Knights dropped a heartbreaker to Oklahoma State in overtime, 111-104, on Tuesday night. It was the second consecutive loss for the Knights, who still remain in the hunt for an elusive berth in the NCAA Tournament.

On Saturday, UCF rallied from 15 points before eventually losing to Baylor on a controversial foul in the final seconds, 87-86.

Themus Fulks scored a team-high 20 points as UCF (20-9, 9-8 Big 12) fell to 13-5 at Addition Financial Arena this season.

“It’s two tough losses, but if we just buy into more on practice, it would really help us … benefit us,” said guard Riley Kugel.

It was especially disappointing considering it was Senior Night, as Jamichael Stillwell, Poopha Warakulnukroh, Devan Cambridge, George Beale Jr., Kugel and Fulks were honored before the game.

Oklahoma State (18-12, 6-11 Big 12) won for the second time in the past three games.

Senior guard Anthony Roy led the Cowboys with 26 points, including 3 for 7 from 3-point range.

“They’re a good offensive team and they have a lot of firepower,” said coach Johnny Dawkins. “We did a good job of building the lead and we got out of character. I thought we took a couple ill-advised shots.”

It was also UCF’s annual Space Game celebration with the Knights’ players proudly wearing their Canaveral Blue uniforms. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to carry the team to a win.

UCF blasted off from the first tip, connecting on six of its first eight field goals, sprinting out to a 13-7 advantage over Oklahoma State. The Knights were hitting on all cylinders, fueled by seven early points by center John Bol.

Everyone was getting into the scoring act for UCF.

Redshirt junior center Elijah Hulsewe, playing in place of an injured Jeremy Foumena, scored six points in a row while grabbing a pair of early rebounds as the Knights built a double-digit lead with 13:54 left in the first half. Hulsewe finished with 9 points and 4 rebounds in 9 minutes.

Oklahoma State, meanwhile, went nearly three minutes without a point before scoring 16 of the next 21 points, cutting the lead to 28-26 with 7:57 in the first half. The Cowboys tied the game at 31 on a 3-pointer by Jaylen Curry at the 5:39 mark before a layup and a 3-pointer by Kugel, which helped the Knights retake the lead.

But a 35-17 run by Oklahoma State over the final 12 minutes helped the Cowboys take a 45-40 lead into halftime.

It was a back-and-forth affair to start the second half, with both teams trading mini-runs as OSU continued to hold a slight advantage.

UCF took its first lead since the 3:24 mark in the first half when Kugel connected on a 3-pointer from the top of the key to make it 56-54.

Oklahoma State retook the lead after back-to-back shooting fouls were called on the Knights. The second foul drew the ire of Dawkins, who was assessed a technical foul after stepping on the court to argue with officials.

“I’m just making sure I’m fighting for my guys,” said Dawkins. “I’ve got to fight for my team and that’s what I was doing out there. The passion may have just gotten a little too high, and I got teed up.”

There were a combined 52 fouls called in the game, with both teams combining for 85 free-throw attempts.

UCF rallied from 5 points down with 58 seconds left to tie the game at 94 thanks to Chris Johnson’s 3-pointer at the top of the key with 11 seconds remaining.

Oklahoma State had a chance to win the game, but Jaylen Curry’s floater rolled off the basket and Anthony Roy’s shot at the buzzer was partially blocked by Bol, sending the game into overtime.

The Knights tied the game again at 100 with 2:31 left in overtime, but failed to get any closer as Oklahoma State would run away with the win.

UCF wraps up the regular season with a road contest at West Virginia on Friday (8 p.m., CBSSN). The Big 12 Tournament begins on March 10 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.

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.

By JEFF AMY

ATLANTA (AP) — More and more states are examining plans to cut property taxes during what’s an election year for governors and legislators in most states. But some states’ tax-cutting zeal is hitting political resistance to slashing local government and public school funding.

National experts say it’s a property tax revolt — comparing it to earlier backlashes, including the one that led to California’s Proposition 13, a 1978 initiative that limited property tax rates and how much local governments could increase property valuations on homes for tax purposes. Like then, rising home values have driven higher property tax bills.

“The overwhelming trend across the states is relief for residential property owners,” said Manish Bhatt of the Tax Foundation, a Washington, D.C., group that studies taxes.

New proposals have been debated in recent weeks to cut taxes in Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wisconsin. In some of those states, the debate is likely to play out for months.

While political pressure from angry homeowners is likely to keep some legislatures on track to cut property taxes, efforts to eliminate property taxes on a homeowner’s primary residence face a difficult path.

Elimination may not be realistic

In Georgia on Tuesday, a state constitutional amendment that could have cut property taxes for homeowners by 75% or more failed when all but one Democrat voted against it. Because such amendments in Georgia require a two-thirds vote by legislators, the plan backed by Republican state House Speaker Jon Burns needed at least 21 Democratic votes.

The Georgia bill could be revived, but House Republicans said they would also begin looking at more limited ways to provide property tax relief that wouldn’t require a constitutional amendment.

In Florida, House lawmakers passed a proposed state constitutional amendment to phase out property taxes for nonschool purposes over 10 years. The proposal, which would cost an estimated $13 billion in forgone revenue, awaits Senate action. But a key state senator has signaled that his chamber is unlikely to agree, instead saying senators favor something less generous and more tailored to the needs of individual counties. Lawmakers have said it may take a special session to reach a deal.

Thomas Brosy, a senior research associate at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, said eliminating property taxes is “very unlikely to happen.”

“Completely slashing them is really unrealistic, since it really is the largest source of on revenues for most local governments in the United States,” Brosy said.

Georgia falls back from total elimination

Even the plan rejected Tuesday in Georgia was a step back from the original plan to phase out homeowner property taxes by 2032. Tuesday’s version would have cut, but not necessarily eliminated, property taxes on a primary residence, while encouraging local governments and schools to instead rely on sales taxes to fund operations. It would also have raised taxes on sales of computers to data centers to offset some revenue losses.

State House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Shaw Blackmon said the measure would have provided “dramatic savings for homeowners.”

“We’ve all received emails from constituents worried their skyrocketing property tax will force them from their homes,” he said in a debate on Tuesday.

But state House Democratic Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley called the bill an election-year “exercise in cold, hard politics.” She and other Democrats said that in many cases, local governments wouldn’t be legally able to raise sales taxes enough to offset the billions in property taxes that would be lost.

“The math’s just not math-ing. It just does not add up,” Hugley said. “And this is not a responsible thing to do.”

Sales tax shifts

Other states are looking at shifting from property taxes to sales taxes as well. South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden proposes letting counties impose a half-percent sales tax and devoting the proceeds to property tax credits for homeowners. Last week, Rhoden, a Republican, launched a website estimating how much homeowners would save annually on property taxes, ranging from $428 to $1,227. However, it doesn’t count how much people would pay from increased sales taxes.

In Michigan, Republican state House Speaker Matt Hall last week proposed raising taxes on currently untaxed services and using the money to erase the state’s share of property taxes, the state real estate transfer tax and Michigan’s personal property tax. Any agreement may not come until lawmakers finalize the state budget in the fall.

One issue with a shift to sales taxes is that it may shift the tax burden from richer to poorer people, Brosy with the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center said.

“They try to get it to the next best thing or the next available thing, which is the sales tax, which in itself is a lot more regressive and tends to fall a lot more on lower-income families compared to the property tax,” he said.

Another issue with shifting to sales taxes is that some local governments have few sources of retail sales to tax.

“Not all locations have the same opportunities to replace that revenue,” Bhatt of the Tax Foundation said. “And that often is missed in the discussions.”

A bill that would expand vaccine exemptions for public K-12 schools is headed to the Senate floor.

The bill (SB 1756) would create a new “conscience” category for parents to opt their children out of immunizations typically required for students to attend public K-12 schools.

It passed through the Senate Rules Committee on Tuesday despite opposition from two Republicans.

Sen. Clay Yarborough, R-Jacksonville, the bill’s sponsor, said he wants to give more opportunities for non-religious individuals to object to vaccinations and have the opportunity to exempt their children as well.

“The legislation is about the values we hold in high regard,” Yarborough said. “Fundamentally, it’s about parents being able to make the best decisions for their children.”

The bill has been a flashpoint between parents’ rights advocates and health care practitioners, who warn the expansion of vaccine exemptions will lead to widespread illness from preventable diseases.

It’s also caused a rift among Senate Republicans. Sen. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, said she would not vote for the bill, especially as the state is currently battling a measles outbreak.

Florida has the third-most measles cases in the country with more than 100 cases.
Sen, Colleen Burton, R-Lakeland, also voted no, arguing the bill doesn’t respect the choices of all parents, including those who want to send their children to a school that requires vaccines.

Burton filed an amendment that would have allowed private schools to implement their own vaccine requirements and refuse admission to students based on their vaccination status but it was voted down.

The bill also requires health care practitioners who administer vaccines to offer parents an alternative vaccine schedule and provide the most recently issued Vaccine Information Statement published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for each vaccine administered. A parent would also have to sign a document acknowledging receipt of the information.

As for parents who choose not to vaccinate, the downloadable exemption form would include materials “relating to the role of immunizations in communicable disease prevention,” and the webpage will link to the CDC’s vaccine information statement.

Yarborough assured senators that the information provided to families, regardless of vaccination choice, would be the same.

Another provision of the bill allows pharmacists to provide ivermectin, an anti-parasitic drug often prescribed for animals, over-the-counter for adults without a prescription.

The drug is seen by some as helpful against COVID-19, but medical professionals have warned against its use to combat the virus. Pharmacists would be given immunity from liability for any ill effects caused by ivermectin under the bill.

Sen. Lori Berman, D-Boynton Beach, questioned why the ivermectin was included in the bill.

“There is no reason we in the state of Florida should be treating it any differently than the federal government treats it now,” said Berman.

The House version of the bill (HB 917), which would require doctors to accept all patients regardless of vaccination status, hasn’t been considered in that chamber this year. That measure has been pushed by first lady Casey DeSantis and Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo.

By MICHAEL R. BLOOD

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Fearful that an election quirk could result in heavily Democratic California installing a Republican as its next governor, a top Democrat on Tuesday sent his party’s lagging candidates a blunt message: Get out of the race.

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California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks warned in a statement that for all the state’s liberal bona fides it was possible that a large Democratic field could carve up the party’s primary vote into small fractions and allow only two Republican candidates to advance to the November election. The all-GOP general election is possible under California’s unusual top-two primary system, which puts all candidates on one ballot and only the top two vote-getters advance to November, regardless of party.

Though a longshot, such an outcome could have major fallout beyond losing the governorship for the first time in 16 years, Hicks said. A Democratic vacancy at the top of the ticket in November could depress turnout at a time when the party is trying to regain control of the U.S. House to blunt President Donald Trump’s agenda in Washington.

“I recognize my suggestions are hard for many to contemplate and may be even viewed as overly harsh,” Hicks wrote. The letter did not name names but it appeared to be targeting a handful of candidates who have hovered in the single digits in polling, including several non-white candidates.

The response from trailing candidates was swift. State schools superintendent Tony Thurmond, who is Black, said the party is “essentially telling every candidate of color … to drop out.” He vowed to stay in the race.

“Aren’t we supposed to be the party who embraces democracy?” he said in a video posted to the social platform X.

California gubernatorial candidate Betty Yee speaks at the 2026 California Democratic Party State Convention in San Francisco, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Another candidate, former state controller Betty Yee, a daughter of Chinese immigrant parents, didn’t mention Hicks’ statement in an announcement that she would be filing paperwork Tuesday to officially set her candidacy in motion. The campaign of San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, another Democrat in the race, said “voters choose the next governor, not political gatekeepers.”

A wide-open field

Hicks’ unusual intervention in the contest comes after weeks of growing Democratic anxiety about the possibility of seeing two Republicans on the top of the ballot in November. The leading GOP candidates are Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and conservative commentator Steve Hilton, both supporters of Trump.

This election marks the first time since voters approved the state’s “ top two ” primary system more than a decade ago that there’s been a governor’s race with no clear frontrunner, luring a flood of Democrats into the contest.

That list includes current and former members of Congress, Katie Porter, Rep. Eric Swalwell and Xavier Becerra, who later served as the Biden administration’s top health official; billionaire Tom Steyer; former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; Ian Calderon, a former majority leader in the state Assembly, along with Thurmond, Yee and Mahan.

California gubernatorial candidate Matt Mahan speaks while being interviewed at the 2026 California Democratic Party State Convention in San Francisco, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Recent polling by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California found the field had split into two distinct groups, with Hilton, Porter, Bianco, Swalwell and Steyer breaking into double digits, and other candidates lagging in lower single digits.

Gov. Newsom, who has not made an endorsement in the race, echoed Hicks’ concern for a potential Democratic disaster. Newsom said of Hicks’ letter, “I’ll be candid with you. My first reaction is: I get why he sent it. There is some concern.”

It also prompted Democratic infighting. Villaraigosa’s campaign issued a statement calling on Becerra to drop out, saying it would reduce the chances of a GOP sweep. Both are Latinos and rivals for support in that community.

Some Democrats agree

Hicks won a nod of support from Democratic strategist Drexel Heard II, former executive director of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, who said in a text that “any party’s role and mission has always been to shepherd the best candidates and then win the race.”

A GOP upset in California would reverberate across the nation’s political landscape. Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by nearly 2-to-1 statewide. Democrats also dominate the legislature, where Republicans have been reduced to powerless spectators.

Alarm for Democrats increased further after Silicon Valley entrepreneur and Republican Jon Slavet withdrew from the race. That will allow conservative support to further consolidate behind the two leading candidates, Bianco and Hilton.

Hicks argued that if Democratic candidates do not see a “viable path” to November, they should drop out.

Democratic strategist Paul Mitchell has been using available polling data to run simulations to assess the likelihood of a twin GOP breakthrough in the June 2 primary. With Slavet out of the race, the chance of an all-GOP ticket in November has reached 25%, he said.

In a primary, the Democrats are expected to divide roughly 60% of the vote, Republicans, 40%.

While the Democratic vote will be scattered in a large field, “Republicans are consolidating their vote behind two candidates,” Mitchell said. Slavet’s withdrawal “just helps clarify the concern Democrats have.”

EL PASO, Texas (AP) — A large immigration detention camp in Texas has been closed to visitors and attorneys due to a measles outbreak, a lawmaker said Tuesday.

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There are 14 active measles cases at the detention center on the Fort Bliss Army base and 112 people are being isolated, said U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, an El Paso Democrat whose district includes the facility, known as Camp East Montana. It will remain closed to visitors and attorneys until March 19 or March 20.

“While on one hand, it is a good thing that the measles outbreak is being taken seriously, on the other hand, I am alarmed that a preventable crisis has created conditions where detainees can only access their lawyers virtually,” Escobar said in a statement.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The camp opened last year after the Trump administration awarded a contract worth up to $1.3 billion to Acquisition Logistics LLC, a Virginia contractor that had previously not operated an ICE facility. Detainees have described a camp where an average of about 3,000 people per day live in loud and unsanitary quarters, diseases spread easily and sleep is a luxury.

General Daily Insight for March 04, 2026

When we add kindness to bravery, we gain opportunities to support each other and ourselves. With confident Venus sextiling innovative Uranus at 11:40 am EST, we can refresh both our routines and our possessions without breaking the bank. That may involve taking some risks! Any consequences shouldn’t be too painful, though, not once the Moon enters Libra to balance things out. We don’t need to overhaul everything, because little shifts can ripple helpfully through our day and steady our mood as we do what’s doable.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

A quiet pause reveals what truly matters. The alignment of Venus (currently in your subtle 12th house) and Uranus (in your motivated 2nd house) encourages you to think about each choice, even minor ones. For example, you don’t have to stress about today’s breakfast or outfit options, but there’s nothing wrong with giving such things a few more seconds of thought than usual. You could discover your new favorite snack or discover some clothes you’d like to donate. In any case, you’ve learned something valuable.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Who truly supports your progress right now? With precarious Uranus in your sign and Venus in your 11th House of Associations, their sextile emphasizes the way identity shifts affect your allies. You’ll probably need to explain the motivations behind any recent changes before getting much else done. The right people should appreciate your candor. While sharing major life updates in a group setting requires more tact, it’s also easier than seeking out every acquaintance to share individual messages. Let your community amplify your voice.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Self-knowledge grows as you try new things. The Love Goddess, Venus, highlights your 10th House of Incentives with her sextile to awakened Uranus, currently in your 12th House of Transcendence. You’re ready to look beyond this present moment to present your ideas for the future. This may involve having to set aside past ambitions, but it’s all in service of moving forward. Though doubt may creep in, keep reminding yourself that any effort spent on those goals wasn’t wasted. You’re learning what brings real satisfaction!

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

This morning invites a wider point of view. Your 9th House of Learning and your 11th House of Groups are uplifted by today’s Venus-Uranus sextile. This stirs up extra curiosity, particularly related to group projects or outings. Consider inviting some friends over to watch a documentary. You could also enjoy simply asking your pals if they’ve learned anything interesting lately. In turn, sharing something you’ve learned recently should be immensely rewarding. Ask questions, and let the road to the answer inspire you.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Generosity is crucial. A supportive sextile between Venus and Uranus empowers your intimate 8th house and your hyped-up 10th house. Shifting expectations can’t keep you down! Give others the benefit of the doubt, and they should do the same for you. For instance, someone may owe you money or an apology — they probably just forgot, and aren’t trying to undercut you. You can politely remind them (and potentially set up some sort of payment plan). Turn tough topics into teamwork opportunities!

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Thoughtful chats forge strong foundations. With independent Venus guiding your 7th House of Partnership and Uranus blessing your 9th House of Exploration, their sextile creates the ideal environment for favorable agreements. When making travel plans, be sure to honor the preferences of everyone sharing the journey as much as possible. Even if you’re stuck at home, you can expand your horizons through genuine discussions with your peers (whether you’re chatting online or in person). The stars are calling you to listen, learn, and share.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

“Blunt” is the best word for the universe’s attitude today — it’s telling it like it is, even if that causes some drama. The Venus-Uranus sextile strikes your sensible 6th house and your delicate 8th house, so be wary of sensitive topics. There’s no need to avoid them entirely, but be aware that they could impact your to-do list. In particular, documentation of a shared resource or reimbursement may shift, so you might have to triple-check some ownership records. If you aren’t sure, check again!

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Play can currently nourish surprising progress on real goals. Creative confidence enjoys a tailwind as loving Venus hones your 5th House of Inspiration, so your talent shines without forcing the moment. With unconventional Uranus highlighting your 7th House of Connections, though, someone close may react differently. Fortunately, that contrast can help you refine your ideas. Share a draft with someone who cheers on honest effort. Your courage to try publicly can spark momentum and goodwill. Keep it fun, and show the heart of it!

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

You deserve a happy home, now as much as always. Comfort grows as sensual Venus softens your 4th House of Family, and its sextile with Venus in your health-focused 6th house supports simple fixes that restore a smoother base. Look into new ways of doing old chores — this may involve some updated technology or more modern devices. Something as small as changing your laundry detergent could refresh your whole vibe! Comfort at home fuels success in all other parts of life.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

You’re making yourself heard, one way or another! A playful twist could make your messages much more memorable. With Venus in your chatty 3rd house sextiling quirky Uranus in your inventive 5th house, there’s no doubt of that. Today may ask you to contact someone over neighborhood situations or investigate other local goings-on. Ask a precise question to confirm understanding before moving ahead. Calm pacing helps tense topics lose their sharp, stubborn edges. Be clear, and let consistency build your reputation.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Values don’t usually change quickly, but today may challenge that. This doesn’t have to be a scary process — not when it’s prompted by an inspirational sextile between Venus in your analytical 2nd house and Uranus in your homeward-bound 4th house. Any updates will probably be due to a renewed sense of inner steadiness and grounded self-worth. You’ve learned what works for you and what doesn’t, and are ready to set aside routines that don’t serve your purposes. Calm steps protect your progress and peace.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Pisces, you set the tone with grace. With Venus, planet of love and money, supporting you through her sextile with Uranus, you’ve got cosmic permission to treat yourself extra kindly. As rebellious Uranus energizes conversations in your 3rd House of Communication, you can share a new introduction or update a bio. Don’t let people treat you like a doormat, even if you want them to like you. Setting kind boundaries protects your energy for what matters and invites supportive replies from good friends.