South Florida Local News

Today is Thursday, Nov. 13, the 317th day of 2025. There are 48 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Nov. 13,1909, 259 men and boys were killed when fire erupted inside a coal mine in Cherry, Illinois.

Also on this date:

In 1775, during the Revolutionary War, American troops captured Montreal under the command of Continental Army Gen. Richard Montgomery.

Related Articles

• Tribes that restored buffalo are killing some to feed people because of the shutdown
• The timeline for SNAP benefits remains uncertain, even as the government is set to reopen
• US bishops officially ban gender-affirming care at Catholic hospitals
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• Jury awards $28M to family of a United Nations consultant killed in Boeing 737 Max crash in Ethiopia

In 1956, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed a lower court ruling which found Alabama bus segregation laws were illegal.

In 1971, the U.S. space probe Mariner 9 went into orbit around Mars, becoming the first spacecraft to orbit another planet.

In 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

In 1985, some 23,000 residents of Armero, Colombia, died when a volcanic mudslide buried the city.

In 2001, U.S.-backed Northern Alliance fighters in Afghanistan entered Kabul as Taliban forces retreated from the capital city.

In 2015, Islamic State militants carried out a set of coordinated attacks in Paris at the national stadium, in a crowded concert hall, in restaurants and on streets, killing 130 people in the worst attack on French soil since World War II.

In 2022, four University of Idaho students were fatally stabbed in their off-campus rental home in Moscow, Idaho. A suspect, Bryan Kohberger, would plead guilty to the murders in 2025 in a deal with prosecutors to avoid the death penalty and was handed four life sentences without parole.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Actor Joe Mantegna is 78.
• Hockey Hall of Famer Gilbert Perreault is 75.
• Actor Frances Conroy is 73.
• Actor Chris Noth is 71.
• Actor-comedian Whoopi Goldberg is 70.
• Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan of Alaska is 61.
• Talk show host Jimmy Kimmel is 58.
• Actor Steve Zahn is 58.
• Actor Gerard Butler is 56.
• Olympic swimming gold medalist Dana Vollmer is 38.
• Actor Devon Bostick is 34.
• Tennis player Emma Raducanu is 23.

MIAMI – Observations and other notes of interest from Wednesday night’s 130-116 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers:

– The Cavaliers had the right to be cavalier.

– They have shown an ability to get to the top of the standings with their roster.

– As they did last season.

– The Heat have not.

– And that’s why no matter who played for Cleveland (or in this case did not), this was a big game for the Heat.

– Because every game, at any point of the season, against any roster combination, is a big game for a team trying to avoid a fourth consecutive trip to the play-in round.

– Can’t take anyone lightly.

– As coach Erik Spoelstra said pregame, “We’re not one of those teams that can overlook anybody. We haven’t proven anything yet.”

– With each of the last three years showing the slightest of margins between playoffs and play-in.

– Yes, the Heat were without Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo.

– But there could be times this season when they are down even more.

– Or when they will have to make their own lineup  decisions when it comes to back-to-back sets of their own.

– What the Heat needed Wednesday night was to seize the moment.

– After a 37-45 season, leave no gift unturned.

– Instead, a regrettable, lamentable loss.

– Too many turnovers.

– Too many fouls.

–  Seemingly too much indifference that it still isn’t easy.

– So, instead, a humbling, humbling moment.

– A bad loss.

– Very bad.

– Borderline unacceptable.

– With Adebayo missing a fourth consecutive game with his toe sprain, the Heat for the fourth consecutive game opened with Kel’el Ware, Andrew Wiggins, Pelle Larsson, Davion Mitchell and Norman Powell.

– Larsson’s nine starts now is one more than he had as a rookie last season.

– Inactive again for the Heat were Adebayo, Herro (ankle), Terry Rozier (not with team), Jahmir Young (G League) and Myron Gardner (G League).

Related Articles

• Heat fail to seize upon shorthanded Cavaliers in 130-116 foul-filled, turnover-plagued loss
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– Amid resting Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley, and with Darius Garland out, the Cavaliers opened with Jarrett Allen, Dean Wade, De’Andre Hunter, Lonzo Ball and Sam Merrill.

– Spoelstra downplayed the shorthanded opponent.

– “We’re trying to establish ourselves, establish our identity, find consistency in our game. It’s really not about the other team,” he said.

– It was Jaime Jaquez Jr. again as Heat sixth man.

– Immediately scoring on a one-on-three transition drive.

– With five points in his first two minutes.

– Nikola Jovic and Simone Fontecchio followed together next off the Heat bench.

– And then Dru Smith for the now-usual nine deep amid the absences of Adebayo and Herro.

– Beyond last season’s playoff sweep by the Cavaliers, the Heat entered having won four of five in the regular season from Cleveland.

– The next time the teams meet, it also will be in consecutive games, on March 25 and March 27 in Cleveland.

– Before the game, lifelong Dodgers fan Jaquez exchanged jerseys with World Series hero Miguel Rojas.

MIAMI — Commit enough turnovers and fouls and sometimes it doesn’t matter who you are playing.

It is a hard reality the Miami Heat learned in Wednesday night’s 130-116 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers at Kaseya Center.

As in a Cavaliers team that gave the night off to Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley and had lost Darius Garland to injury two nights before.

No matter, on a night the Heat too often fouled instead of defended, too often turned the ball over instead of turned up the offense.

“That is a recipe for defeat right there,” Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. said, “a lot of fouls, a lot of turnovers.”

And, with that, much of the edge taken from Monday night’s dramatic overtime victory over the Cavaliers, as the Heat fell at home for the first time in six games at Kaseya Center.

“We didn’t have our normal pop and energy offensively,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We didn’t have our normal energy. There were pockets of the game where you saw the energy, but it was more of a grind.”

Yes, the Heat remained without Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, but by Wednesday had shown they could thrive in such absences.

And then, against a largely anonymous and unknown opposing roster, came a crashing thud after building and squandering double-digit leads in the second and third quarter.

“And this will be a lesson,” Spoelstra said, “having that maturity to be on edge, to really treat it with the same urgency as the other night.”

Instead, 27 points from Norman Powell and not much else of substance.

“That’s a very bad loss,” Powell said. “When they’re sitting their starters, that’s when we’ve got to put our stamp on the game.”

The Heat also got 15 points and 13 rebounds from center Kel’el Ware and 17 points from forward Andrew Wiggins.

Jarrett Allen, one of the few regulars in action for Cleveland, led the Cavaliers with 30 points.

The Heat committed 21 turnovers that led to 29 Cavaliers points, outscored 26-11 from the foul line.

“They did a great job of pressuring,” Spoelstra said. “The fouling potentially could have been a matter of just, not fatigue, but from the other night. And here we were just like a step slow.”

Five Degrees of Heat from Wednesday  night’s game:

1. Closing time: The Heat led 38-29 after the first period and, after going up 12 in the second period, 69-66 at halftime.

It was a similar story in the third period, with the Heat going up 14 in the quarter, only to see the lead reduced to 97-93 going into the fourth.

Foul trouble then continued to be an issue for the Heat, with Cleveland in the bonus with 10:20 remaining, the Cavaliers seven seconds later taking their first lead.

“I think we took our foot off the gas . . . and we gave them life.” Powell said.

Powell then returned with 7:47 left and the Heat down 104-100, with the Cavaliers pushing their lead into double digits from there.

“They took over,” Spoelstra said. “You do have to credit them. Those guys were playing aggressive. And we couldn’t contain it at that point.”

2. Off night: With the game opening a back-to-back set for Cleveland that concludes Thursday night at home against the Toronto Raptors, the Cavaliers had pre-scheduled nights off for Mitchell and Mobley.

That approach did not change even with Darius Garland sidelined with a toe injury and Max Strus still out.

The planning with Mitchell was such that he was back at Louisville on Tuesday night for his former school’s rivalry game against Kentucky.

Instead, Cleveland’s rotation in this one included the likes of Luke Travers, Tyrese Proctor and even former Heat center Thomas Bryant.

“No matter who’s out there, you’ve got to put your best foot forward,” Jaquez said of the Heat not doing that.

Related Articles

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• ASK IRA: What does it say about the NBA with Cavs sitting stars vs. Heat?
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3. Powell again: Powell remained hot with his 3-point shooting, as well as his scoring, continuing to provide offensive consistency amid the absence of Herro.

In addition to now having  made at least one 3-pointer in 23 consecutive games, dating to last season with the Clippers, Powell also now has scored 20 or more in seven in a row, four games shy of the longest such streak of his career.

He closed 10 of 18 from the field and 5 of 10 on 3-pointers.

“We’ve got to be better,” Powell said, “and play our brand of basketball no matter who we’re lining up against.”

4. Tall order: Amid Jaquez’s breakout season and revival from his sophomore slump, the Cavaliers offered up a new twist defensively – by countering with size.

At times, that had 6-11 Jarrett Allen defensively against Jaquez, and at other times 6-10 Bryant.

At times, Jaquez countered with deft ball movement, including passing out of a double-team for a first-half Powell 3-pointer.

Still, it largely was an effective approach, one that figures to be emulated as opponents get a deeper dive into the new Heat approach.

Jaquez closed with 11 points on 4-of-15 shooting.

“I felt like I got some good looks,” Jaquez said. “Just take it to the film room and continue to learn.”

5. And another two: Having completed the two-game Monday-Wednesday set against the Cavaliers, it’s next two games in a row against the New York Knicks.

Friday night’s game at Madison Square Garden will be an NBA Cup game, the second of four in the first round of the in-season tournament for the Heat, available only streamed on Amazon Prime.

“We’ve got to turn the page quickly,” Powell said.

The teams then will meet again Monday at Kaseya Center, in the second and final Knicks visit of the season.

By MATTHEW BROWN and GRAHAM LEE BREWER of The Associated Press and AMELIA SCHAFER of ICT

WOLF POINT, Mont. (AP) — On the open plains of the Fort Peck Reservation, Robert Magnan leaned out the window of his truck, set a rifle against the door frame and then “pop!” — a bison tumbled dead in its tracks.

Magnan and a co-worker shot two more bison, also known as buffalo, and quickly field dressed the animals before carting them off for processing into ground beef and cuts of meat for distribution to members of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes in northern Montana.

Buffalo graze at the Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes Buffalo Ranch near Wolf Point, Mont., on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Mike Clark)

As lawmakers in Washington, D.C., plodded toward resolving the record government shutdown that interrupted food aid for tens of millions of people, tribal leaders on rural reservations across the Great Plains were culling their cherished bison herds to help fill the gap.

About one-third of Fort Peck’s tribal members on the reservation depend on monthly benefit checks, Chairman Floyd Azure said. That’s almost triple the rate for the U.S. as a whole. They’ve received only partial payments in November after President Donald Trump’s administration choked off funds to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during the shutdown.

Fort Peck officials say they anticipated such a moment years ago, when they were bolstering their herd with animals from Yellowstone National Park over objections from cattle ranchers worried about animal disease.

“We were bringing it up with the tribal council: What would happen if the government went bankrupt? How would we feed the people?” said Magnan, the longtime steward of Fort Peck’s bison herds. “It shows we still need buffalo.”

Treaty obligations

In October, the tribal government authorized killing 30 bison — about 12,000 pounds of meat. Half had been shot by Tuesday. A pending deal to end the shutdown comes too late for the rest, Magnan said. With Montana among the states that dispersed only partial SNAP payments, Azure said Fort Peck will keep handing out buffalo meat for the time being.

Tribes including the Blackfeet, the Lower Brule Sioux, the Cheyenne River Sioux and the Crow have done the same in response to Washington’s dysfunction: feeding thousands of people with bison from herds restored over recent decades after the animals were hunted to near extinction in the 1800s.

Carrie Shawl, center, and Natalie Cooper, left, show their SNAP documents at a food distribution site in Frazer, Mont., on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Mike Clark)

Food and nutrition assistance programs are part of the federal government’s trust and treaty responsibilities — its legal and moral obligations to fund tribes’ health and well-being in exchange for land and resources the U.S. took from tribes.

“It’s the obligation they incurred when they took our lands, when they stole our lands, when they cheated us out of our lands,” said Mark Macarro, president of the National Congress of American Indians. “It lacks humanity to do this with SNAP, with food.”

Fort Peck tribal members Miki Astogo and Dillon Jackson-Fisher, who are unemployed, said they borrowed food from Jackson-Fisher’s mother in recent weeks after SNAP payments didn’t come through. On Sunday they got a partial payment — about $196 instead of the usual $298 per month — Agosto said.

With four children to feed, the couple said the money won’t last. So they walked 4 miles into town on Monday to pick up a box of food from the tribes that included 2 pounds of bison.

“Our vehicle’s in the shop, but we have to put food on the table before we pay for the car, you know?” Jackson-Fisher said.

Moose in Maine, deer in Oklahoma

Native American communities elsewhere in the U.S. also are tapping into natural resources to make up for lost federal aid. Members of the Mi’kmaq Nation in Maine stocked a food bank with trout from their hatchery and locally hunted moose meat. In southeastern Oklahoma, the Comanche Nation is accepting deer meat for food banks. And in the southwestern part of the state, the Choctaw Nation set up three meat processing facilities.

A box of food includes buffalo meat, harvested from the Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes Buffalo Ranch, at a food distribution site in Frazer, Mont., on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Mike Clark)

Another program that provides food to eligible Native American households, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, has continued through the shutdown.

Mi’kmaq is among the tribes that don’t have the program, though the tribe is eligible. The Mi’kmaq also get funding for food pantries through the federal Emergency Food Assistance Program, but that money, too, was tied up by the shutdown, tribal Chief Sheila McCormack said.

Roughly 80% of Mi’kmaq tribal members in Aroostook County are SNAP recipients, said Kandi Sock, the tribe’s community services director.

“We have reached out for some extra donations; our farm came through with that, but it will not last long,” Sock said.

The demise of bison, onset of starvation

Buffalo played a central role for Plains tribes for centuries, providing meat for food and hides for clothing and shelter.

That came to an abrupt end when white “hide hunters” arrived in 1879 in the Upper Missouri River basin around Fort Peck, which had some of the last vestiges of herds that once numbered millions of animals, Assiniboine historian Dennis Smith said. By 1883 the animals were virtually exterminated, said Smith, a retired University of Nebraska-Omaha history professor.

Buffalo manager Robert Magnan, center, field dresses a bison at the Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes Buffalo Ranch near Wolf Point, Mont., on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Mike Clark)

With no way to feed themselves and the government denying them food, the buffalo’s demise heralded a time of starvation for the Assiniboine, he said. Many other Plains tribes also suffered hardship.

Hundreds of miles to the west of Fort Peck, the Blackfeet Nation killed 18 buffalo from its herd and held a special elk harvest to distribute meat to tribal members. The tribe already gave out buffalo meat periodically to elders, the sick and for ceremonies and social functions. But it’s never killed so many of the 700 animals at once.

“We can’t do that many all the time. We don’t want to deplete the resource,” said Ervin Carlson, who runs the Blackfeet buffalo program.

In South Dakota, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe has distributed meat from about 20 of its buffalo. The tribe worked to build its capacity to feed people since experiencing shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic. It now has a meat processing plant that can handle 25 to 30 animals a week, said Jayme Murray with the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Buffalo Authority Corp. Tribes from Minnesota to Montana have asked to use the plant, but they’ve had to turn some down, Murray said.

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A former ‘food desert’ leans on its own herds

The Lower Brule Sioux Tribe in central South Dakota recently got its first full-fledged grocery store, ending its decades-long status as a “food desert” where people had to drive 100 miles round trip for groceries. The interruption to SNAP benefits stoked panic, tribal treasurer and secretary Marty Jandreau said.

Benefits for November were reduced to 65% of the usual amount.

But the Lower Brule have buffalo, cattle and elk in abundance across more than 9 square miles. On Sunday, the tribe gave away more than 400 pounds of meat to more than 100 tribal members, council members said.

“It makes me feel very proud that we have things we can give back,” tribal council member Marlo Langdeau said.

Schafer reported from Lower Brule, South Dakota, and Brewer from Oklahoma City.

The Associated Press receives financial support for coverage of Indigenous communities from the Hopper-Dean Family Foundation. 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 GEOFF MULVIHILL, Associated Press

The federal government is reopening, but there’s still uncertainty about when one of the most far-reaching impacts of the closure will be resolved and all 42 million Americans who receive SNAP food aid will have access to their full November benefits.

President Donald Trump signed the reopening measure Wednesday.

One provision calls for restarting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, but it doesn’t resolve when the benefits will be loaded onto the debit cards beneficiaries use to buy groceries.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which runs the program, said in an email Wednesday that funds could be available “upon the government reopening, within 24 hours for most states.” The department didn’t immediately answer questions about where it might take longer — or whether the 24-hour timeline applies to when money would be available to states or loaded onto debit cards used by beneficiaries.

There has been a series of court battles over the fate of the largest government food program, which serves about 1 in 8 Americans.

Here are things to know about how it could go.

When SNAP funds become available could vary by state

Seesawing court rulings and messages from the USDA have meant that beneficiaries in some states already have received their full monthly allocations while in others they have received nothing. Some states have issued partial payments.

States say it’s faster to provide full benefits than it is to do the calculations and computer programming required for partial amounts.

At least 19 states plus the District of Columbia issued full benefits to at least some recipients last week, an Associated Press tally found. Many of them managed to do it in a day or so, in the narrow window between the Nov. 6 court ruling that required the federal government to make full payments and one Nov. 7 by the U.S. Supreme Court that stopped it.

Jessica Garon, a spokesperson for the American Public Human Services Association, said she anticipates most states will be able to issue full benefits within three days after they’re given the go-ahead, but that it might take a week for others.

Experts say the states that have sent no November benefits already, such as South Carolina and West Virginia, will likely be the quickest.

But there’s a complication. Sixteen states have loaded the EBT cards used in SNAP with partial benefits. Carolyn Vega, a policy analyst with the advocacy group Share Our Strength said some of those states might run into technical hurdles to issue the remaining amount.

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Delays in benefits can be a problem for recipients

E

Even if there’s some clarity that benefits are on the way, exactly when they arrive will matter to millions of Americans.

About 42 million lower-income Americans receive SNAP benefits, on average about $190 monthly per person. Many say the benefits don’t and aren’t intended to cover the full cost of groceries in a regular month, even with careful budgeting.

It’s worse when benefits are delayed.

Doretha Washington, 41, of St. Louis, and her husband have themselves and six children to feed and not enough money to cover that cost. Her husband works servicing heating and cooling systems, but the family still needs SNAP to get by. They had received nothing in November, although Missouri said Tuesday that partial benefits would be issued.

“Now it’s making things difficult because we can’t pay our bills in full and keep food in here,” Washington said this week. “I’m down to three days of food and trying to figure out what to do.”

She has been rationing what they have.

Other people have turned to food charities but are sometimes finding long lines and low supplies.

Cutting off funds left state governments scrambling

The USDA told states Oct. 24 that it would not fund the program for November if the shutdown continued. That left states scrambling. Most Democratic-led states sued to have the funding restored.

Some Democratic and Republican-led states launched efforts to pay for SNAP benefits using state money, boost food banks and deploy the National Guard to help with food distribution. Another group of states used their money allotted for SNAP benefits only after a judge ordered the Trump administration to cover the full cost for the month.

The legislation to reopen the government passed by the Senate on Monday calls for states to be reimbursed for spending their funds to run programs usually paid for by the federal government.

It’s not immediately clear, though, which situations might qualify in the case of SNAP.

In the meantime, the USDA told states Tuesday that it would reimburse them for paying out partial SNAP benefits under a system where recipients get up to 65% of their regular allocations — and even states that paid the full amount can receive partial reimbursements. It also said it would not reduce the amount on cards for recipients in states that paid full amounts.

Democratic-led states that sued for benefits to be made available said in a filing Wednesday that the late-arriving information “illustrates the chaos and confusion occasioned by USDA’s multiple, conflicting guidance documents.”

Associated Press reporters Margery A. Beck and David A. Lieb contributed.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Flight reductions at 40 major U.S. airports will remain at 6% instead of rising to 10% by the end of the week because more air traffic controllers are coming to work, the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration announced Wednesday.

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The agencies said the decision follows recommendations from the FAA’s safety team, after a “rapid decline” in controller callouts. The flight disruptions were implemented during the government shutdown, the longest in history.

The 6% limit will stay in place while officials assess whether the air traffic system can safely return to normal operations, the agencies said.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said safety remains their top priority and that all decisions will be guided by data.

Since Friday the restrictions took effect last Friday, more than 10,100 flights have been canceled, according to the flight tracking site FlightAware. The FAA originally planned to ramp up flight cuts from 4% to 10% of flights at the 40 airports.

The FAA said that worrisome safety data showed flight reductions were needed to ease pressure on the aviation system and help manage worsening staffing shortages at its air traffic control facilities as the shutdown entered its second month and flight disruptions began to pile up.

Unpaid for more than a month, some air traffic controllers have begun calling out of work, citing stress and the need to take on second jobs — leaving more control towers and facilities short-staffed.

The FAA’s list of 40 airports spans more than two dozen states and includes large hubs such as New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Chicago. The order requires all commercial airlines to make cuts at those airports.

By JOSH FUNK

California plans to revoke 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses given to immigrants after the Trump administration raised concerns about people in the country illegally improperly receiving licenses to drive a semitruck or a bus. But Gov. Gavin Newsom said that isn’t the reason.

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Newsom said the revocations are for violations of state law, but he didn’t provide specifics.

Both the Democratic governor’s office and the Republican Trump Administration’s Transportation Department agreed that these licenses violated the existing standard that were in place before Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently tightened the rules following a nationwide commercial driver’s license audit launched after a driver in the country illegally made a U-turn and caused a crash in Florida that killed three people.

Fatal truck crashes in Texas and Alabama earlier this year also highlight questions about these licenses. A fiery California crash involving an illegal immigrant truck driver last month that killed three more people only added to the concerns.

California state transportation officials didn’t immediately respond to questions seeking more details about why these licenses are being revoked.

Duffy said Wednesday that California’s action to revoke these licenses is an admission that the state had acted improperly even though the state had previously defended its licensing standards. California launched its review of commercial driver’s licenses the state had issued after Duffy raised concerns.

Duffy previously imposed new restrictions on which immigrants can qualify for one of these commercial driver’s licenses. He said earlier this fall that California and five other states had improperly issued commercial driver’s licenses to noncitizens, but California is the only state Duffy has taken action against because it was the first one where an audit was completed. The reviews in the other states have been delayed by the government shutdown, but the Transportation Department is urging all of them to tighten up their standards.

Duffy revoked $40 million in federal funding because he said California isn’t enforcing English language requirements for truckers, and he reiterated Wednesday that he will take another $160 million from the state over these improperly issued licenses if they don’t invalidate every illegal license and address all the concerns. But revoking these licenses is part of the state’s effort to comply.

″After weeks of claiming they did nothing wrong, Gavin Newsom and California have been caught red-handed. Now that we’ve exposed their lies, 17,000 illegally issued trucking licenses are being revoked,” Duffy said. ”This is just the tip of iceberg. My team will continue to force California to prove they have removed every illegal immigrant from behind the wheel of semitrucks and school buses.”

Newsom’s office said that every one of the drivers whose licenses are being revoked had valid work authorizations from the federal government.

“Once again, the Sean ‘Road Rules’ Duffy fails to share the truth — spreading easily disproven falsehoods in a sad and desperate attempt to please his dear leader,” Newsom’s spokesman Brandon Richards said.

The new rules for commercial driver’s licenses that Duffy announced in September make getting commercial driver’s licenses extremely hard for immigrants because only three specific classes of visa holders will be eligible. States will also have to verify an applicant’s immigration status in a federal database. These licenses will be valid for up to one year unless the applicant’s visa expires sooner than that.

Under the new rules, only 10,000 of the 200,000 noncitizens who have commercial licenses would qualify for them, which would only be available to drivers who have an H-2a, H-2b or E-2 visa. H-2a is for temporary agricultural workers while H-2B is for temporary nonagricultural workers, and E-2 is for people who make substantial investments in a U.S. business. But the rules won’t be enforced retroactively, so those 190,000 drivers will be allowed to keep their commercial licenses at least until they come up for renewal.

Those new requirements were not in place at the time these 17,000 licenses were issued. But these drivers were given notices that their licenses will expire in 60 days.

Duffy said in September that investigators found that one quarter of the 145 licenses they reviewed in California shouldn’t have been issued. He cited four California licenses that remained valid after the driver’s work permit expired — sometimes years after.

Newsom’s office said the state followed guidance it received from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security about issuing these licenses to noncitizens.

Associated Press writer Sophie Austin contributed to this report from Sacramento, California.

By TIFFANY STANLEY

U.S. Catholic bishops voted Wednesday to make official a ban on gender-affirming care for transgender patients at Catholic hospitals. The step formalizes a yearslong process for the U.S. church to address transgender health care.

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From a Baltimore hotel ballroom, the bishops overwhelmingly approved revisions to their ethical and religious directives that guide the nation’s thousands of Catholic health care institutions and providers.

More than one in seven patients in the U.S. are treated each day at Catholic hospitals, according to the Catholic Health Association. Catholic hospitals are the only medical center in some communities.

Major medical groups and health organizations support gender-affirming care for transgender patients.

Most Catholic health care institutions have taken a conservative approach and not offered gender-affirming care, which may involve hormonal, psychological and surgical treatments. The new directives will formalize that mandate. Bishops will have autonomy in making the directives into law for their dioceses.

“With regard to the gender ideology, I think it’s very important the church makes a strong statement here,” said Bishop Robert Barron of Minnesota’s Winona-Rochester diocese during the public discussion of the revised directives.

The Catholic Health Association thanked the bishops for incorporating much of the organization’s feedback into the directives. It said in a statement, “Catholic providers will continue to welcome those who seek medical care from us and identify as transgender. We will continue to treat these individuals with dignity and respect, which is consistent with Catholic social teaching and our moral obligation to serve everyone, particularly those who are marginalized.”

The new guidelines incorporate earlier documents on gender identity from the Vatican in 2024 and the U.S. bishops in 2023.

In the 2023 doctrinal note, titled “Moral Limits to the Technological Manipulation of the Human Body,” the bishops specified: “Catholic health care services must not perform interventions, whether surgical or chemical, that aim to transform the sexual characteristics of a human body into those of the opposite sex, or take part in the development of such procedures.”

Progressive religious voices respond

The Catholic Church is not monolithic when it comes to transgender rights. Some parishes and priests welcome trans Catholics into the fold, while others are not as accepting.

“Catholic teaching upholds the invaluable dignity of every human life, and for many trans people, gender-affirming care is what makes life livable,” said Michael Sennett, a trans man who is active in his Massachusetts parish.

Sennett serves on the board of New Ways Ministry, which advocates for LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Catholic Church. In 2024, the group arranged a meeting with Pope Francis to discuss the need for gender-affirming care.

New Ways Ministry’s executive director, Francis DeBernardo, said that for many transgender Catholics he knows, “the transition process was not just a biological necessity, but a spiritual imperative. That if they were going to be living as authentic people in the way that they believe God made them, then transition becomes a necessary thing.”

On the same day that U.S. Catholic bishops were discussing gender identity, the heads of several major progressive religious denominations issued a statement in support of transgender, intersex and nonbinary people, at a time when many state legislatures and the Trump administration are curtailing their rights.

The 10 signers included the heads of the Unitarian Universalist Association, the Episcopal Church, the Union for Reform Judaism and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

“During a time when our country is placing their lives under increasingly serious threat, there is a disgraceful misconception that all people of faith do not affirm the full spectrum of gender – a great many of us do. Let it be known instead that our beloveds are created in the image of God – Holy and whole,” the religious leaders said in a statement.

U.S. bishops united in their concern for immigrants

The Catholic bishops, wrapping up their conference in Baltimore, overwhelmingly approved a “special message” on immigration Wednesday. Such pastoral statements are rare; the last was in 2013 in response to the Obama administration’s mandate for insurers to provide contraception coverage.

Catholic leaders individually have criticized the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. Fear of immigration enforcement has suppressed Mass attendance at some parishes. Local clerics are fighting to administer sacraments to detained immigrants.

“We are disturbed when we see among our people a climate of fear and anxiety around questions of profiling and immigration enforcement,” the bishops’ statement reads. “We are saddened by the state of contemporary debate and the vilification of immigrants. We are concerned about the conditions in detention centers and the lack of access to pastoral care.”

In a show of unity, multiple bishops stood up to speak in favor of the statement during the final afternoon discussion, including Oklahoma City Archbishop Paul Coakley, the newly elected president of the conference.

“I’m strongly in support of it for the good of our immigrant brothers and sisters, but also to find a nice balance,” Coakley said, noting that they call “upon our lawmakers and our administration to offer us a meaningful path of reform of our immigration system.”

Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich walked to the microphone to recommend stronger language around mass deportation. “That seems to be the central issue we are facing with our people at this time,” he said.

His brother bishops agreed. The updated text now states that U.S. Catholic bishops “oppose the indiscriminate mass deportation of people.”

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Here’s a look at how the Miami Dolphins (3-7) and Washington Commanders (3-7) match up in six key areas ahead of Sunday’s Week 11 game at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid (9:30 a.m. eastern time, NFL Network, CBS Miami):

When the Dolphins run: Miami just had a 174-yard rushing performance from running back De’Von Achane in last Sunday’s impressive 30-13 win over the Buffalo Bills, and the Commanders just surrendered 226 yards on the ground to Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery and the Detroit Lions run game. As Achane is now fourth in the NFL in rushing yards, this seems to be a good formula for the Dolphins that could electrify the international aficionados in Madrid.

Further hurting Washington’s No. 23-ranked run defense is that they will be without former Pro Bowl defensive tackle Daron Payne, who serves his one-game suspension after punching Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. The Commanders have Bobby Wagner roaming the middle of the defense, and the 10-time Pro Bowler is too prideful to have teams running all over his defense. But as he’s second in the NFL in tackles (99) to the Dolphins’ Jordyn Brooks (105), he needs help and may not get it from defensive tackles Eddie Goldman and Javon Kinlaw in front of him.

Achane, even at his size (5-9, 191 pounds), seems to handle a heavy workload just fine. We’ll see if he has another game of 20-plus touches, and if rookie Ollie Gordon II gets back into the mix another week removed from his ankle injury or if Jaylen Wright is second tailback up again. Right tackle Austin Jackson returned to practice this week. It’s unknown if he can be cleared from injured reserve in time to play Sunday, but he would provide a huge boost to Miami’s run-blocking if and when he does return, while left tackle Patrick Paul has been dominant in this facet. Even if tight end Julian Hill is back, Daniel Brunskill should continue getting snaps as a sixth offensive lineman, as the Dolphins found something with that. Edge: Dolphins

When the Commanders run: It may not feel this way, because Washington doesn’t have big names in the backfield, especially with Austin Ekeler out for the season, but the Commanders have the league’s No. 7 rushing offense. As opposed to the Dolphins, who do it nearly exclusively with Achane, it’s a combination of Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez. Croskey-Merritt leads the team with 470 rushing yards. A blow for them comes in that they’ll be without the scrambling threat of starting quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel also knows the threat veteran wide receiver Deebo Samuel can be as a runner, once utilizing him extensively carrying the football as his offensive coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers in 2022. Brooks and Miami’s young defensive line around Zach Sieler will duke it out against an offensive line featuring former Dolphins stalwart Laremy Tunsil at left tackle, right guard Sam Cosmi and left guard Chris Paul, the brother of Miami’s left tackle. Edge: Commanders

When the Dolphins pass: Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa added to his league lead in interceptions (13) with another two against the Bills, but they weren’t nearly detrimental. Both came on deep shots on third-and-long and essentially fast-forwarded the game script to the punt that would follow had Miami merely thrown incomplete on third.

Tagovailoa’s top target, Jaylen Waddle, has 29 receptions for 485 yards and three touchdowns in the six games since Tyreek Hill went down with his season-ending knee injury. He caught another long score against Buffalo. He’ll face a banged-up Commanders secondary, which now has former Dolphins cornerback Noah Igbinoghene getting back into the action after cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore and Trey Amos landed on IR in back-to-back weeks. Tagovailoa will have to be mindful of Mike Sainristil, who leads the team with three interceptions.

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Washington’s pass defense is 31st in the league but can get after the quarterback some between edge rushers Von Miller, Dorance Armstrong and Jacob Martin, but Payne won’t be there to bring the interior pass rush. Paul should be reliable to hold down his side. If Jackson isn’t quite game-ready yet, it’ll again be Larry Borom at right tackle. Tagovailoa gets the ball out fast, regardless. Edge: Dolphins

When the Commanders pass: With Daniels out, Marcus Mariota is in line to make his fifth start this season. He’s 1-3 as a starter, completing 65.5 percent of passes for 852 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions. The 32-year-old who preceded Tagovailoa at Saint Louis High in Honolulu will have a tough task in front of him against a hot Dolphins defense that just held Bills quarterback Josh Allen scoreless through three quarters.

That’s especially true as he’s not expected to have the services of top target Terry McLaurin due to his ailing quadriceps. Beyond that, fellow wide receiver Treylon Burks has already been ruled out. The Dolphins will have to account for Samuel and veteran tight end Zach Ertz, given Miami’s struggles covering tight ends. The Miami secondary has cornerback Rasul Douglas’ status in doubt again, but last game, uncovered JuJu Brents as a potential lockdown corner on his side after being claimed off waivers from the Colts to start the year. Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick is coming off probably his best game this season. Rookie Dante Trader is coming into his own deep into the season, and Ifeatu Melifonwu, coming in for nickel packages, had an interception in the end zone vs. the Bills.

Pressuring Mariota from the blind side will be challenging for Bradley Chubb, with Tunsil protecting him at left tackle. As Chop Robinson is coming back from concussion protocol, he may start for the first time this season in the Dolphins’ second game without Jaelan Phillips. He’ll look to add to his one sack on the year, as Sieler finally got on the board himself from the interior last time out against Buffalo. Edge: Dolphins

Special teams: Dolphins punter Jake Bailey is tied for second in the league in net punting average with the Commanders’ Tress Way. With gunner Elijah Campbell back, that tandem with Bailey is working effectively in unison. Miami’s Malik Washington has returned a punt for a touchdown this season, and so has the Commanders’ Jaylin Lane.

Dolphins kicker Riley Patterson must recover from a bad missed extra point and impress the European audience that knows what it looks like when a player miskicks a ball. Washington kicker Matt Gay has missed four field goals but three are from beyond 50 yards. Edge: Even

Intangibles: The Commanders seem to have a broken-down roster at this stage of the season. Sure, the Dolphins have issues of their own, but it feels like this team is hitting its stride with two ultra-impressive wins its past three times out, especially going abroad coming off a beatdown of the Bills. Miami could have found a spark going into its final game before its bye week. Edge: Dolphins

PREDICTION: Dolphins 24, Commanders 16

Dolphins Deep Dive: Prediction time — will Miami defeat Commanders in Madrid? | VIDEO

By KONSTANTIN TOROPIN

WASHINGTON (AP) — A group of 17 transgender members of the Air Force are suing the U.S. government over what they say is the military’s unlawful revocation of their early retirement pensions and benefits.

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The lawsuit, filed in federal court Monday, comes several months after the Air Force confirmed that it would deny all transgender service members who have served between 15 and 18 years the option to retire early and would instead separate them without retirement benefits.

It is just the latest in a series of legal challenges to the Trump administration’s policies that have sought to push transgender troops out of the military since the early days of his second term. The U.S. Supreme Court in May, however, allowed the ban on trans troops to be enforced while legal challenges proceed.

According to GLAD Law, one of the advocacy groups that helped bring the lawsuit, service members affected by the policy will now face a loss of up to $2 million owed for their service over the course of their lifetimes in addition to the loss of health insurance benefits.

Michael Haley, a staff attorney with the group, said the revocation of the early retirement benefits was part of “the general cruelty in attacking transgender people.” He noted that many of the plaintiffs had received orders allowing their retirements and that some had even begun the process of getting out of the military.

Logan Ireland, a master sergeant in the Air Force with 15 years of service that includes a deployment to Afghanistan, joined the lawsuit after having his early retirement denied. He told The Associated Press that “the military taught me to lead and fight, not retreat.”

“Stripping away my retirement sends the message that those values only apply on the battlefield, not when a service member needs them most,” he added.

“These are folks who are going to move on with their lives, have received the OK to do so, and then have that taken away from them once again,” Haley said.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to comment but has a longstanding policy of not commenting on ongoing litigation.

President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have targeted diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in what they say is an effort to make the military more lethal. Pentagon officials say 4,240 troops have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, which the military is using as an identifier of being transgender.

The Air Force has been unique in implementing policies that have gone beyond just separating troops from military service.

In addition to revoking retirement benefits, the service moved in August to deny transgender members of the Air Force the chance to argue before a board of their peers for the right to continue serving.

The Pentagon rolled out a similar, military-wide version of that policy less than two weeks ago.

What gives those in power the right to eliminate suspected drug transporters in open waters?

What became of due process and the sacred safeguard of innocent until proven guilty?

Summary executions at sea make us no better than the least-democratic banana republic. Suspicion is not proof. If we can annihilate people at sea, then we can apprehend them at sea (and seek worthwhile intelligence).

I and many others put our lives on the line to protect our principles. It’s sad to see them trampled by the current administration. Following the rules is the harder course, but for any nation that calls itself a democracy, it’s the right course. Drug trafficking is a worldwide blight, and so are mass killings. But the accused are entitled to a trial by jury. Our ship of state is in dangerous waters.

Les Schwartz, Boca Raton

‘Live free or die’ Shoppers push carts at Publix at Tavares Crossroads shopping center in Tavares on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025. A manager at this Publix said the store allows open carry. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

I was a certified range officer at my gun club while living in San Francisco.

I specialized in teaching women sport shooting, including proper holster carry and draw techniques.

This is not rocket science. Once they overcame their nervousness and possible fear because of all the bad California propaganda that we are always bombarded with, they usually became regular competition shooters.

I retired to Broward after my career in the federal government because I believed in my original New Hampshire motto, “Live Free or Die.” I enjoy living here. It’s like a breath of fresh air.

I’m a regular shopper at Publix. While I applaud their Second Amendment policy, I’ve yet to see anyone with a gun in either store I frequent.

This sounds like more anti-gun rhetoric by the usual people who preach democracy but are always out to restrict our Constitutional rights. I’m neither a Republican or Democrat but a Lauderdale Libertarian. The U.S. Constitution is my government.

Don Bartone, Fort Lauderdale

On Charlie Kirk Road

In a letter to the editor endorsing naming 40 college and university roads after Charlie Kirk, Frank Pucillo appears to acknowledge that Kirk said racist and antisemitic things, implying that this was OK because Kirk was not a liar.

The writer may be happy at the prospect of driving on Charlie Kirk Road in Davie, but I doubt that any Jewish or African-American student compelled to do so will feel the same way.

Jerry Barkan, Pompano Beach

Kirk and the Klan

Frank Pucillo of Davie (“Kirk deserves the honor,” Nov. 1) writes that Charlie Kirk should be honored for what he said.

Here are a couple of things Kirk said: Some Black women “do not have the brain processing power to otherwise be taken really seriously.” “If I see a Black pilot, I’m going to be like, ‘Boy, I hope he’s qualified.’”

Mr. Pucillo noted that the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board did not call Kirk a liar. He may not have been, but his presentation was dishonest. It was not designed to elevate civil consciousness but to present reprehensible, racist and misogynistic views as legitimate discourse rather than the regressive and oppressive past errors of our efforts to live up to our ideals that should be disavowed by all Americans.

Charlie Kirk did not deserve to be murdered. He also does not deserve more recognition.

I too drive past Broward College in Davie. Naming streets in the area after such a man would be a step into the past as when the Ku Klux Klan paraded openly in Davie. At least then, most of us jeered them rather than celebrate their abhorrent views.

Scot McCluskey, Davie

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, Nov. 12, the 316th day of 2025. There are 49 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Nov. 12, 1954, Ellis Island officially closed as an immigration station and detention center. More than 12 million immigrants arrived in the United States via Ellis Island between 1892 and 1954.

Also on this date:

In 1927, Josef Stalin became the undisputed ruler of the Soviet Union as Leon Trotsky was expelled from the Communist Party.

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In 1936, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge opened as President Franklin D. Roosevelt pressed a telegraph key in Washington, D.C., and gave the green light to traffic.

In 1936, American playwright Eugene O’Neill received the Nobel Prize in Literature.

In 1948, Japanese general and former Prime Minister Hideki Tojo and several other World War II Japanese leaders were sentenced to death by a war crimes tribunal; he was executed in December 1948.

In 1970, the Bhola cyclone struck East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. The deadliest tropical cyclone on record claimed the lives of an estimated 300,000-500,000 people.

In 2001, American Airlines Flight 587, en route to the Dominican Republic, crashed after takeoff from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, killing all 260 people on board and five people on the ground.

In 2019, Venice saw its worst flooding in more than 50 years, with the water reaching 6.14 feet (1.87 meters) above average sea level; damage was estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

In 2021, a judge in Los Angeles ended the conservatorship that had controlled the life and money of pop star Britney Spears for nearly 14 years.

In 2024, a federal judge sentenced Jack Teixeira, a Massachusetts Air National Guard member, to 15 years in prison for leaking classified military documents about the war in Ukraine; Teixeira had pleaded guilty to willful retention and transmission of national defense information under the Espionage Act, nearly a year after his arrest in the most consequential national security breach in years.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Actor-playwright Wallace Shawn is 82.
• Rock musician Booker T. Jones is 81.
• Sportscaster Al Michaels is 81.
• Singer-songwriter Neil Young is 80.
• Author Tracy Kidder is 80.
• Democratic Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island is 76.
• Actor Megan Mullally is 67.
• Olympic gold medal gymnast Nadia Comăneci is 64.
• Olympic gold medal swimmer Jason Lezak is 50.
• Pakistani filmmaker and journalist Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is 47.
• Actor Ryan Gosling is 45.
• Actor Anne Hathaway is 43.
• Golfer Jason Day is 38.
• NBA point guard Russell Westbrook is 37.

GAINESVILLE — Florida forward Thomas Haugh and point guard Boogie Fland joined forces to lead the No. 10 Gators to a come-from-behind win against Florida State.

Haugh, a key to last season’s national championship run, and Fland, the top transfer in a rebuilt backcourt, came together during a dramatic 78-76 win Tuesday night in the O’Connell Center.

Haugh finished with 20 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots in 38 minutes, including the entire second half for the Gators (2-1).

“He’s a winning player,” Golden said. “Doesn’t get tired. I don’t know how else to say it, he’s out there doing things that make the Florida Gators a better team. “

Meanwhile, Fland had a breakout performance with 18 points, with 14 after halftime highlighted by his first two 3-pointers of the season. The 6-foot-3 sophomore also chipped in five rebounds and four steals.

“Played his best half as a Gator,” Golden said. “I’m sure it felt good for him to see the ball in the net.”

Two Fland free throws with 15.8 seconds to go gave UF a 76-73 lead as the Gators held off FSU senior shooting guard Robert McCray V, the Seminoles’ one-man show down the stretch.

Florida forward Thomas Haugh had 20 points and 13 rebounds during the Gators' 78-76 win against Florida State Tuesday night at the O'Connell Center in Gainesville. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

But McCray could not complete his late-game heroics, featuring 15 points in the game’s final 6:11. The 6-foot-4 Jacksonville transfer missed a 3-pointer from the corner to tie the game with seven seconds remaining.

“He’s a beast,” Golden said. ” He’s like a college version of Russell Westbrook. He likes to play downhill, uses physicality. He kept them in it late and  made some big shots.”

McCray’s miss, though, haunted him after the loss.

“He’s very down on himself right now,” FSU first-year coach Luke Loucks said. “But I’d draw up the same play for him again.”

After McCray’s shot missed the mark, UF power forward Alex Condon made two free throws with five seconds to go to effectively ice the game. McCray’s 3 with a second to go gave him a game-high 29 points but was not enough for the Seminoles (2-1) to pull off an upset as 17.5-point underdogs in the O’Connell Center, where the Florida has won nine in a row and are 31-2 since the start of the 2023-24 season.

“I’m not a big moral victory guy,” said Loucks, a 35-year-old former Seminole who came from the Golden State Warriors. “But I was proud of their fight.”

The Gators finished with a 58-36 rebounding advantage, led by center Rueben Chinyelu’s career-high 16 rebounds to go with 10 points, and held the Seminoles to 34% shooting, including 26.5% from 3-point range (9 of 34).

But UF could not gain a foothold against FSU until Haugh and Fland took charge.

FSU built a modest 47-42 lead, but were slowly gaining control until Haugh scored on a driving layup and hit a 3 on consecutive possessions.

Florida guard Boogie Fland (0) shoots over Florida State forward Chauncey Wiggins, left, during the Gators' 78-76 win Tuesday night in Gainesville. (AP Photo/Chris Watkins)

Fland hit his first 3 of the season — on his ninth try in three games — to make it 53-52. After an FSU basket, Fland then hit the first of two free-throw attempts, but grabbed the rebound on his miss. Haugh soon drove to the basket for dunk to tie the game at 55-55, the game’s seventh tie of eight on the night.

A driving layup by Haugh gave UF a 59-57 lead with 9:38 to go, the Gators’ first lead since 7:42 remained in the first half. Haugh then blocked a Seminoles’ shot attempt to ignite a fast break ending with a Fland layup.

After another Gators’ defensive stop, Haugh found Fland in the corner for a 3-pointer and a 64-59 lead. Fland then assisted on a layup to Xavian Lee in transition to complete an 11-0 run.

Florida build its lead to nine points, at 69-60. But McCray’s strong play and sloppiness by the Gators, including three Condon turnovers down the stretch, made for the closest game in the series since Florida’s 73-71 loss in 2015 in Tallahassee.

A 3-pointer from the corner by reserve guard Urban Klavzar off a crosscourt pass by Lee made it 74-70, but McCray answered with another layup. After a missed jumper by Fland, McCray drew a foul on Lee but missed the second of two free throws with a chance to tie the game.

“We didn’t do a very good job the last four minutes of playing with the lead,” Golden said. “We had some really silly, uncharacteristic turnovers. Urb hadn’t been shooting the ball well all year, but he stepped up and hit a huge 3 to take it to four late. We needed each and every one of those to get this win.”

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

By ANDREW DALTON, Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Three paintings from famously chill public television legend Bob Ross sold Tuesday for more than $600,000 at auction. The paintings were the first of 30 Ross works being sold to benefit public TV stations hurt by cuts in federal funding.

At the live auction at Bonhams in Los Angeles, a serene, snow vista called “Winter’s Peace” that Ross painted entirely during a 1993 episode of “The Joy of Painting” went for $318,000 to a bidder on the phone.

“For a good cause — and you get the painting,” auctioneer Aaron Bastian said during the bidding. He invoked a common sentiment of Ross, who died in 1995, during a brief lull. “Bob would remind you that this is your world, and you can do anything you want.”

Another painting done on a 1993 episode, a lush, green landscape called “Home in the Valley,” went for $229,100. A third, “Cliffside,” sold for $114,800.

The final prices include a charge for the auction house added to the final bid known as the buyer’s premium. The identities of the buyers weren’t immediately revealed.

Bids for all three paintings went well past pre-auction estimates of their value, which topped out around $50,000.

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Three more Ross paintings will be up for auction at Bonhams in Marlborough, Massachusetts, on Jan. 27, with others to follow in New York and London.

All profits are pledged to stations that use content from distributor American Public Television.

Ross, a public television staple in the 1980s and ’90s, was known for his dome of hair and warm demeanor.

The special sales seek to help stations in need of licensing fees that allow them to show popular programs that along with Ross’ show include “America’s Test Kitchen,” “Julia Child’s French Chef Classics,” and “This Old House.” Small and rural stations are particularly challenged.

The stations “have been the gateway for generations of viewers to discover not just Bob’s gentle teaching, but the transformative power of the arts,” Joan Kowalski, president of Bob Ross Inc., said in a statement.

As sought by the Trump administration, Congress has eliminated $1.1 billion allocated to public broadcasting, leaving about 330 PBS and 246 NPR stations.

Ross died at age 52 of complications from cancer after 11 years in production with the therapeutic how-to show, “The Joy of Painting.” The former Air Force drill sergeant was a sort of pioneer, known for his calm — and calming — manner and encouraging words.

Ross spoke often as he worked on air about painting happy little clouds and trees, and making no mistakes, only “happy accidents.”

He has only became more popular in the decades since his death, and his shows saw a surge in popularity during the lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic.

If the College Football Playoffs started this week, Miami would qualify for the College Football Playoff — just barely.

Because Miami is currently the top-ranked team in the ACC, the Hurricanes currently project as the No. 11 seed in the playoffs.

The College Football Playoff selection committee moved Miami up to No. 15 in this week’s rankings after putting Miami at No. 18 last week. In the projected bracket, the Hurricanes would travel to play No. 6 Texas Tech in the first round of the playoff.

“We had some teams lose, and again, the conversation with Miami has been about their consistency,” College Football Playoff selection committee chair Mack Rhoades said on ESPN. “Their consistency, especially on offense. They’ve been really, really good on defense. Obviously, the head-to-head with Notre Dame comes up. … All of those things played into it. We’ve got great respect for Miami. When you think about the eye test, they’re really talented, both sides of the ball. Just need to be a little bit more consistent on the offense.”

With two conference losses, the Hurricanes are unlikely to make the ACC title game — though they are not mathematically eliminated yet. Without the bid that would likely come with a conference title, Miami is relying on an at-large spot granted by the committee.

The Hurricanes, who were No. 16 in this week’s Associated Press Top 25 Poll after beating Syracuse, close out the year with a game against one ranked team: No. 22 Pittsburgh.

The Panthers play No. 9 Notre Dame this week. The Fighting Irish, who lost to UM in Week 1, are several spots ahead of Miami despite the head-to-head loss and identical records. Last week, Rhoades cited UM’s lack of consistency as a reason why the Hurricanes were ranked so low.

Here are the complete College Football Playoff rankings this week:

1. Ohio State

2. Indiana

3. Texas A&M

4. Alabama

5. Georgia

6. Texas Tech

7. Ole Miss

8. Oregon

9. Notre Dame

10. Texas

11. Oklahoma

12. BYU

13. Utah

14. Vanderbilt

15. Miami

16. Georgia Tech

17. USC

18. Michigan

19. Virginia

20. Louisville

21. Iowa

22. Pittsburgh

23. Tennessee

24. USF

25. Cincinnati

A woman from Central Florida was arrested Tuesday on a warrant in connection with a fiery crash that killed four people on April 21, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office announced.

Jazmin Shope, 20, of Auburndale in Polk County, is facing four counts of vehicular homicide. She was speeding in a 2013 Ford Taurus shortly before 9 p.m. in the 17900 block of South Military Trail near the entrance to the Polo Club Shops and crashed into the passenger side of a 2017 Genesis G90 as it turned into the shopping plaza, according to a PBSO crash report.

The force of impact forced both cars off the road. The Genesis G90 slammed into a concrete utility pole while the engine compartment of Shope’s Ford caught fire and became engulfed in flames, the report said.

All four people inside the Genesis were pronounced dead at the scene: James Lawrence Rose, 88, of Boca Raton; Arlene Rose, 87, of Boca Raton; Gerald A. Levy, 92, of Boca Raton; and Thelma Illson Levy, 93, of Boca Raton.

Shope and her passenger, Ethan Ryan Litman, 22, of Delray Beach, were both taken to Delray Medical Center with serious injuries, the crash report said.

Shope was booked into the Palm Beach County jail Tuesday afternoon after she was arrested by the Sheriff’s Office’s Fugitive Warrants Unit. The Sheriff’s Office did not provide further information about its investigation or information about where they located Shope on Tuesday.

Court records were not yet available.

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

Jazmin Shope, 20, of Polk County, was booked into the Palm Beach County jail on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025, on charges stemming from a crash in April that killed four people, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office announced. (Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office/Courtesy)

General Daily Insight for November 12, 2025

Big ideas want action, yet patience still helps. Early on, the flighty Moon squares the pushy Sun, pulling comfort and purpose apart, which can make us sensitive and defensive. By 6:15 PM EST, clever Mercury boosts courageous Mars, blending thought and drive so we can secure firm decisions that clarify our paths. When we listen before speaking, conversations land better. Small adjustments are more easily made, allowing teamwork to become even more efficient. Firmness and kindness can coexist to build shared goals.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Your map widens when curiosity meets courage. Intellectual Mercury meets action-oriented Mars in your 9th House of Expansion, inviting you to suggest a bold idea to a mentor. Conversations with a faraway friend could spark adventurous plans, while your courage spurs you to take those first steps with clear purpose. Carefully check travel details, because small oversights can slow momentum. Thankfully, a quick call to confirm plans should keep everything moving smoothly. This is your time, Aries, so use it!

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Shared spaces benefit from softness today. Your 8th House of Joint Resources takes focus as chatterbox Mercury conjoins passionate Mars, encouraging a talk about bills with someone trusted. Security can be built without too much drama. When money is involved, look for reasonable repayment plans that can be signed off in good faith by everyone. If emotions run hot, don’t hesitate to take breaks as needed. This kindness will protect your shared trust while still honoring your needs. Speak plainly, but with care.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Promises land best when said respectfully. Partnerships may need extra discussions at present, since Mercury and Mars are collaborating in your 7th House of Allies. Once a decision is reached, you should be able to get started quickly! On the other hand, you might need to revisit expectations throughout the process. Being clear about everyone’s needs can reduce exhausting anxieties. Stay curious and ask follow-up questions to catch contradictions before they cause issues. As long as you’re willing to talk, you can make it work.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Small habits will shape your day ahead. Messenger Mercury pairs with ambitious Mars in your 6th House of Health, boosting motivation to clean — don’t worry, not clean your house. You’re tidying your schedule till a workable routine emerges! Remember, you’re allowed to say no when someone asks you for a favor. Watch for overcommitment, and choose a sustainable pace over sprinting. Long-term practicality should let your sensitive system thrive without mood dips or stresses. Aim for steady progress to protect your energy.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Play has real purpose at this time. Your 5th House of Bliss lights up as mischievous Mercury meets passionate Mars, ensuring your words sparkle. Think about going out with friends or family — even last-minute invitations will probably be appreciated. Sharing fun with your circle can help you have even more fun! If someone tries to bring the drama, simply ignore them. You deserve better than petty gossip or purposeless arguments. Share your light bravely, because joy grows when expressed openly.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

You deserve a safe home base right now. Let Mercurian logic and Martian strength unite to invigorate your domestic sector — that should make it easier to initiate any repairs that kept getting delayed. Keep an eye out for home issues that need attention, especially in advance of any family gatherings or while discussing issues with roommates. Don’t hurry through it, since changes are more likely to stick when everyone feels included in the process. Lead with patience to craft lasting peace.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Your neighborhood is humming with helpful chatter! Clear messages can do a lot when information-gathering Mercury merges with combative Mars in your 3rd House of Messages. Small talk may turn into big decisions. Whether you’re talking with a roommate or neighbor, direct words can be effective when spoken with grace and calm. If tension rises, make an effort to listen to their complaints genuinely. That should make it easier to meet everyone’s needs. Speak with grace — even if they don’t do the same.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Discussions of money should stay grounded in reality. That fact is highlighted with Mercury and Mars in your financial zone, spurring you to work on a clear plan you can actually maintain. Let them fill you with determination to decide what a project or purchase is worth without losing your head. Don’t let friends tempt you into breaking your budget! They might mean well, but you know what your bank account looks like. When you value your future, you’ll have the strength to resist.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

You feel ready to start something brave. Cerebral Mercury merges with warrior Mars to light up your identity, emboldening you to be your truest self. That doesn’t mean everything will be perfect, of course. It’s more of a reminder to listen to yourself. Avoid scattering your energy across the winds — pick a project and stick to it. You can also share your ideas with someone supportive. They can help you transform excitement into clear, doable action. Start small and work up to bigger ambitions.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Quiet time is the best current way to renew your focus. Alert Mercury blends with action-oriented Mars in your 12th House of Release, shepherding you as you untangle once-hidden worries. Even if you aren’t normally the journaling type, writing down the pros and cons of a tough decision can make it much less intimidating. If spirals of worry impact your process, you’re allowed to stop thinking about it for a while. Look for something calming to distract yourself. Protecting your peace will support your future.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Friendship can make magic. Grouping up is encouraged as quick-witted Mercury conjoins enthusiastic Mars in your 11th House of Community. When was the last time you had all your pals together? Consider volunteering to schedule something that works for everyone — it might not happen today, but you can make it happen! Stay flexible when clashing voices make demands. For instance, if one friend only eats steak and another is a lifelong vegan, a potluck might be the best way to have a meal together.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Your current work can prove your confidence! Your 10th House of Status gets a push as talkative Mercury meets combative Mars, inspiring you to claim credit for your recent results. Just remember to soften your tone as necessary while asking for what you need. Being too brusque could make it hard to gain support from a wider audience. Be honest about the timeline of your process, whether this is a personal project or a professional one. They should know that you’re worth it!

For the third day in a row, the Miami Hurricanes added a new player to their 2026 class. And for the second day in a row, it came at the expense of a team that fired its coach.

One day after UM landed edge rusher DeAnthony Lafayette, a former LSU commit who backed off his commitment when the Tigers fired Brian Kelly, the Hurricanes flipped 2026 defensive tackle Isaac Chukwurah from Penn State, which fired James Franklin last month.

Chukwurah is listed as the No. 60 defensive tackle and No. 506 player in the 2026 class, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings. He is the No. 2 prospect in the state of Delaware.

The standout defensive tackle, who also had offers from N.C. State, Syracuse and West Virginia, among others, is listed at 6 foot 2 and 265 pounds.

Chukwurah has played both offense and defense in high school, and the Hurricanes staff likes his length, motor and ability to play with violence and resilience, a UM source said. He is strong rushing the passer and stopping the run.

Chukwurah is the seventh defensive lineman in the Hurricanes’ 2026 class and the fourth defensive tackle, joining recent four-star Clemson flip Keshawn Stancil and three-star prospects Anthony Kennedy Jr., Tyson Bacon and Frederic Sainteus.

By PAUL WISEMAN, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump boasts that his tariffs protect American industries, lure factories to the United States, raise money for the federal government and give him diplomatic leverage.

Now, he’s claiming they can finance a windfall for American families, too: He’s promising a generous tariff dividend.

The president proposed the idea on his Truth Social media platform Sunday, five days after his Republican Party lost elections in Virginia, New Jersey and elsewhere largely because of voter discontent with his economic stewardship — specifically, the high cost of living.

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The tariffs are bringing in so much money, the president posted, that “a dividend of at least $2000 a person (not including high income people!) will be paid to everyone.’’

Budget experts scoffed at the idea, which conjured memories of the Trump administration’s short-lived plan for DOGE dividend checks financed by billionaire Elon Musk’s federal budget cuts.

“The numbers just don’t check out,″ said Erica York, vice president of federal tax policy at the nonpartisan Tax Foundation.

Details are scarce, including what the income limits would be and whether payments would go to children.

Even Trump’s treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, sounded a bit blindsided by the audacious dividend plan. Appearing Sunday on ABC’s “This Week,” Bessent said he hadn’t discussed the dividend with the president and suggested that it might not mean that Americans would get a check from the government. Instead, Bessent said, the rebate might take the form of tax cuts.

The tariffs are certainly raising money — $195 billion in the budget year that ended Sept. 30, up 153% from $77 billion in fiscal 2024. But they still account for less than 4% of federal revenue and have done little to dent the federal budget deficit — a staggering $1.8 trillion in fiscal 2025.

Budget wonks say Trump’s dividend math doesn’t work.

John Ricco, an analyst with the Budget Lab at Yale University, reckons that Trump’s tariffs will bring in $200 billion to $300 billion a year in revenue. But a $2,000 dividend — if it went to all Americans, including children — would cost $600 billion. “It’s clear that the revenue coming in would not be adequate,” he said.

Ricco also noted that Trump couldn’t just pay the dividends on his own. They would require legislation from Congress.

Moreover, the centerpiece of Trump’s protectionist trade policies — double-digit taxes on imports from almost every country in the world — may not survive a legal challenge that has reached the U.S. Supreme Court.

In a hearing last week, the justices sounded skeptical about the Trump administration’s assertion of sweeping power to declare national emergencies to justify the tariffs. Trump has bypassed Congress, which has authority under the Constitution to levy taxes, including tariffs.

If the court strikes down the tariffs, the Trump administration may be refunding money to the importers who paid them, not sending dividend checks to American families. (Trump could find other ways to impose tariffs, even if he loses at the Supreme Court; but it could be cumbersome and time-consuming.)

Mainstream economists and budget analysts note that tariffs are paid by U.S. importers who then generally try to pass along the cost to their customers through higher prices.

The dividend plan “misses the mark,” the Tax Foundation’s York said. ”If the goal is relief for Americans, just get rid of the tariffs.’’

Paul Tagliabue died this past weekend. The former NFL commissioner was influential and successful in helping America’s favorite league navigate enormous change with profitable leaps and bounds.

It’s necessary to say that here, at the top, because this column isn’t an ode or obituary to Tagliabue. This is about an admittedly trivial, personal and recurring question that comes in the aftermath of some sports figures’ deaths:

Do I keep his name on my phone?

My cell phone is a graveyard as I grow older. Tagliabue is a swipe from “Shula,” the Miami Dolphins legend who also never needed a first name on my phone. Don Shula also is another swipe from a couple of other Dolphins of different eras, safety Jake Scott and coach Tony Sparano.

They’ve all been gone for years, meaning these phone numbers serve no purpose. There are some people’s numbers you haven’t tried in so many years you’re not sure if they’re good anymore. That’s not the case here.

Still, I don’t delete them. I keep them for some reason. And sometimes scrolling through my phone is like strolling through a cemetery.

I see a name and remember sitting with Shula at his home office talking about the alligator that players put in his office shower or sitting beside Scott at a bar in Kauai with two native Hawaiians, who sat in those same seats a few years later for the George Clooney movie, “The Descendants.”

“They didn’t call me for the movie!” Scott said.

Such stories come from the phone. Sparano, who died in 2017, called me a couple years after he left the Dolphins when he was the Oakland Raiders’ line coach.

“Dave, where’s the game film?” he said.

“Tony, what?”

“The game film,’’ he said.

I said who he’d called. He asked once more for the game film. Then it hit him. He typed my name by mistake on the phone

“We had a late game last night,’’ he said, before adding, quietly, “How’re you doing?”

There are 23 numbers I carry around in my phone that can’t be called anymore. Some, like Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez, I never called, because his tragic fatal boat crash came before a call was ever made.

Others, like former Florida Panthers president Bill Torrey or football coach Howard Schnellenberger, lived long and successful lives in the sports they loved and were nice enough to share their wealth of information.

“Let me help educate you …” Torrey would say.

When I was young and just beginning, I figured the sports world would be full of people like Torrey and Schnellenberger and Shula. But you realize at some point they’re the rare ones you were lucky just to pass in the hall.

“You don’t miss someone until it’s too late,’’ my first Sun Sentinel sports editor, Fred Turner, would say.

His lines remain in my head, like his number in my phone nearly 15 years after his death. Same with another former colleague, Juan Rodriguez. It’s not like their names are a daily sight. How often do you have to scroll through your listings to find something? Every few months? Maybe twice a year?

Maybe this is why these names were never deleted. Maybe these occasional walks though the graveyard matter, even if their numbers don’t. It’s not like the phone will light up with their name calling me as they once did, either.

“I’ve got a story for you,’’ Dolphins great Mercury Morris said in one of his final calls. He didn’t just want to clear his name from a drug charge decades earlier. He wanted to expose the legal officials who brought the charges.

He died last year before we talked fully about it. Many were just part of the job, like the number for Tagliabue. I introduced myself after he talked at a Super Bowl. He gave his office number, and we talked a few months later about a project that never happened  about running a sports league.

“Every day behind that desk brings something you didn’t expect,’’ he said at one point.

That’s why I don’t delete his or any names from my phone. It’s an odd and trivial issue with age. But my phone is a cemetery I occasionally visit.