South Florida Local News

Today is Saturday, Oct. 5, the 279th day of 2024. There are 87 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Oct. 5, 2011, Steve Jobs, the Apple founder and former chief executive who invented and master-marketed ever-sleeker gadgets that transformed everyday technology, died in Palo Alto, California, at age 56.

Also on this date:

In 1892, the Dalton Gang, notorious for its train robberies, was practically wiped out while attempting to rob a pair of banks in Coffeyville, Kansas.

In 1947, President Harry S. Truman delivered the first televised White House address as he spoke on the world food crisis.

In 1953, Earl Warren was sworn in as the 14th chief justice of the United States, succeeding Fred M. Vinson.

In 1958, racially desegregated Clinton High School in Clinton, Tennessee, was nearly leveled by an early morning bombing.

In 1983, Solidarity founder Lech Walesa (lek vah-WEN’-sah) was named winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.

In 1986, Nicaraguan Sandinista government soldiers shot down a cargo plane carrying weapons and ammunition bound for Contra rebels; the event exposed a web of illegal arms shipments, leading to the Iran-Contra Scandal.

In 1989, a jury in Charlotte, North Carolina, convicted evangelist Jim Bakker of using his television show to defraud followers. Initially sentenced to 45 years in prison, Bakker was freed in December 1994 after serving 4 1/2 years.

In 2001, tabloid photo editor Robert Stevens died from inhaled anthrax, the first of a series of anthrax cases in Florida, New York, New Jersey and Washington.

In 2018, a jury in Chicago convicted white police officer Jason Van Dyke of second-degree murder in the 2014 shooting of Black teenager Laquan McDonald.

In 2020, President Donald Trump made a dramatic return to the White House after leaving the military hospital where he was being treated for COVID-19.

Today’s Birthdays:

• College Football Hall of Fame coach Barry Switzer is 87.
• Rock musician Steve Miller is 81.
• Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin, D-Md., is 81.
• Rock singer Brian Johnson (AC/DC) is 77.
• Actor Karen Allen is 73.
• Singer-songwriter Bob Geldof is 73.
• Writer-filmmaker Clive Barker is 72.
• Astrophysicist-author Neil deGrasse Tyson is 66.
• Architect-designer Maya Lin is 65.
• Golf Hall of Famer Laura Davies is 61.
• Hockey Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux is 59.
• Hockey Hall of Famer Patrick Roy is 59.
• Actor Guy Pearce is 57.
• Actor Josie Bissett is 54.
• Actor Parminder Nagra (pahr-MIHN’-da NAH’-grah) is 49.
• Actor Kate Winslet is 49.
• Actor Jesse Eisenberg is 41.
• NFL tight end Travis Kelce is 35.
• Actor Jacob Tremblay is 18.

DAVIE — A murder’s row of losses to four nationally ranked opponents set the stage for Western’s improbable, 28-27 homecoming overcoming victory over visiting West Boca Raton on Friday night.

Western (1-4) knocked off previously unbeaten West Boca (5-1) despite not running an offensive play from scrimmage in the first quarter, when they led 8-7 at the end of the first. The Bulls ran 25 plays in the first quarter.

The host Wildcats, who opened the year with losses to 13-time Alabama state champion Hoover, along with American Heritage, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Chaminade-Madonna, rallied from a 14-8 halftime deficit to tie the game at 14, and then again at 21-21 to force overtime.

Delorean Airall (6) of West Boca gathers a blocked field goal to end the third quarter against Western. Friday, Oct.. 4, 2024 (Jim Rassol/Contributor).

“We said we were going to come out tonight and go 1-0,” said Western coach Adam Ratkevich. “That was our mindset as we start to get close to the state playoffs. A lot of people said that was the best team in Palm Beach County and they are a helluva football team. I was very proud of how our team finished.”

Western senior quarterback Sebastian Circo flipped a 10-yard scoring pass to Khamarian Young on the second play of overtime and Gavin Katz converted the extra point to give Western a 28-21 lead.

West Boca pulled to within 28-27 on a sophomore Trey Moran’s 10-yard TD pass to Anderson Gracilien on their second play from the 10. Wildcats’ senior linebacker Julien Mendez sprinted around right end to block West Boca freshman kicker John Farfan’s extra point kick to escape with the win.

“That’s what champions do; they find a way to win right?” Ratkevich continued. “We came up short early against some nationally ranked opponents and we learned baptism by fire early on. We’ve been knocked out by private schools in the state playoffs the last three years, so that is why we had the schedule we did early on to get us ready for the playoffs.”

Quarterback Sebastian Circo (7) of Western drops back to pass against West Boca in the second half. Friday, Oct.. 4, 2024 (Jim Rassol/Contributor).

West Boca took the opening kickoff and drove 67 yards in 16 plays, but were stymied when Mason Mallory threw a pick-6 that Western’s Sherrod Gourdine returned 87 yards for a touchdown. Jacob Joseph took the direct snap on the extra-point attempt and made it 8-0.

The Bulls, who played their fourth straight game without two-time Palm Beach County Super 11 junior running back Javian Mallory, pulled to within 8-7 on a 3-yard TD pass from Moran to Gracilien. Mallory suffered a leg injury in the team’s win over Palm Beach Central and has been held out due to precautionary reasons.

“It’s a lower muscle, hamstring, quad area and we are just being cautious,” said West Boca coach Dylan Potts. “He reaggravated it and we want to think long term for him. We want to do what is right for the kid. He has a long football career ahead of him and we hope that in three games he is full go…we just have to keep rehabbing it until he is healthy.”

“We had three young kids that came up today and did a good job,” Potts said. “They played and ran hard, and we knew it was going to be that type of a ball game.”

Western takes the field to play West Boca. Friday, Oct.. 4, 2024 (Jim Rassol/Contributor).

West Boca pulled ahead 14-8 at halftime when Kyle Andrews scored on an 11-yard end-around.

“I thought we battled back after our opening drive ended in a pick-six,” Potts added. “Our kids battled back to take the lead and Western is a good team with firepower on offense to answer quickly. It really came down to they made one more play than us.”

The teams traded scores in the second half, with West Boca scoring on a 40-yard TD from Moran to Mark Hanniford with 1:04 left in the third and Western forcing overtime on an 18-yard scoring toss from Circo to Young with 4:07 left in regulation. The Wildcats converted a fourth-and-7 with a little more than three minutes left.

Jonathan Bueno (2) of Western looks for running room against West Boca during the fourth quarter. Friday, Oct.. 4, 2024 (Jim Rassol/Contributor).

General Daily Insight for October 05, 2024

We’re getting real with each other. The sensitive Moon trines disciplined Saturn, empowering our ability to be mature and encouraging us to be realistic regarding how we express ourselves. The Moon conjoins balanced Venus in investigative Scorpio at 2:28 pm EDT, giving us the motivation to get to the heart of the matter and deliver the information well. Finally, the Moon and dynamic Mars elevate each other, so fortune favors the brave even more under their energy. Courage and tact will combine especially well.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Deep subjects are likely to be on the horizon for you. You might not have expected to be talking about serious matters or delicate secrets, but someone in your life may bring them to your doorstep at any moment. It’s important to know what your boundaries are and to express them clearly, so that feelings aren’t hurt in the end. The more that you’re able to create healthy expectations together from the beginning, the more likely the conversations are to go smoothly.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

The importance of balancing give and take in your connections with others cannot be overstated. Where they might be struggling, you’re probably capable of taking up the slack and helping them get back up on their feet, and vice versa. Alternatively, if someone is actively showing you that they aren’t willing to show up for you in the same way that you would do for them, it could be time to move on from this connection. Pursue those that make you feel supported.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Your dedicated efforts are presently more likely to be noticed. Working hard to deliver consistent results and being confident in the work that you’ve done is a great way to move up the ladder, and should provide you with an opportunity to impress authorities. Outside of business, this is a good time to spend time with your elders or your mentors, as these people can encourage you or offer advice on how to get wherever you’re trying to go. Stay the course!

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Taking a risk can take you enticingly far. You’re being encouraged to release any unreasonable fears around putting yourself out there, because there’s likely someone looking for someone just like you. Whether they’re looking for a new friend or a wise employee, it’s important for you to step up and make your abilities known. This could happen at a party, a job fair, or when simply out on the town. They’re probably not going to find you at home, so meet them in the middle!

Leo

July 23 – August 22

You might be realizing that home is where your heart is. While it is important to spread your wings and show the world who you are and what you can do, it’s also important to go back home and connect with your roots once in a while. You likely have strong family ties, or people that you are very close with that you haven’t visited in a while. Honor where you come from by showing love to that place and those people.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Learning about who you are may involve the people around you. They say that you become like those who you spend time with — and you should pay attention to who you’re becoming more like. If you’re excited to be like these people, then you’re on the right track. If you’re worried that you’re not able to be your true self or their company feels stagnant, step back. Seek out those who live authentically and encourage you to do so as well.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

You might be setting up a future win. Even if not much happens today specifically, you’re setting up all of the pieces of the puzzle that will eventually ensure your dreams of the future will be able to become real. While it might not all come together to make the big picture that you’re looking for in the present, you’re setting up great things for yourself in the future by making such stabilizing decisions. Plant the acorn that will become the tree.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Allowing yourself to grow always carries some risk with it. There may be people in your life who don’t want you to grow so quickly — maybe they’re worried you’ll outpace and then abandon them. It’s important to let them know that you’re not trying to leave them behind! You likely want your pals to grow with you, but you can’t make that decision for them. You can remain friends without being on the exact same level. Real friends shouldn’t hold you back.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Your best work might be done in the dark. It’s crucial for you to embrace performing behind the scenes, because putting yourself out there could, counterintuitively, cause people to overlook you. If you’re doing an excellent job in the background, someone should notice you putting your head down and doing the work that needs to be done, rather than trying to steal the spotlight. For current success, it’s not about who’s the most noticeable. It’s about who’s doing the best job with focus and dedication.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Say what you’ve been wanting to say, Capricorn. There might be someone in your midst that you’ve been meaning to say something to, but there just has never been the right moment. It understandably can be somewhat daunting to wear your heart on your sleeve, but be honest with yourself and with them. What’s most important is your delivery, so think about how your words would sound from their perspective before you say anything. Regardless of the topic, set yourself up for communicative success.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Take a chance on who you could become. Your beliefs about yourself could be limiting your soul — it’s time to break free from whatever narrative that you tell yourself about yourself! You may be your own main critic at this time. Take a look around and notice any people who are waiting in the wings to cheer for you without you even realizing. Once you finally take a chance and begin constructing your dreams in reality, the support might start flooding in.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Your ideology is growing up with you. You may have followed a belief system up until now, but it’s starting to not make sense with who you are becoming. Instead of trying to shove yourself back into a box that no longer fits you, consider studying alternate mindsets that could allow you to flourish. Whether this is about a religious belief or a personal belief about life in general, it’s important that you analyze it to make sure it’s continuing to work for you.

Friday

Western 28, West Boca Raton 27 (OT final)

Wellington 7, Dr. Joaquin Garcia 0

Boca Raton 9, Royal Palm Beach 7

St. Thomas Aquinas 64, Hollywood Hills 0

Benjamin 49, Seminole Ridge 14

Stranahan 40, South Plantation 21

Coconut Creek 36, Deerfield Beach 8

Coral Glades 21, Stoneman Douglas 14

Cardinal Gibbons 28, Hallandale 6

North Broward Prep 35, St. John Paul II Academy 21

Piper 34, Boyd Anderson 12

Atlantic 47, Treasure Coast 9

Cardinal Newman 21, Goleman 6

Midland (Texas) 56, Santaluces 31

Jupiter 44, Suncoast 13

John Carroll 48, Forest Hill 8

Pembroke Pines Charter 29, Nova 28

Dwyer 35, Palm Beach Lakes 6

Jupiter Christian 56, Avant Garde Academy 12

Inlet Grove 26, ABF Academy 0

King’s Academy 52, Joshua Christian 0

St. Edward’s 36, Boca Raton Christian 27

Thursday

Westminster Academy 27, Glades Day 14

Hurricane Helene’s rampage killed more than 200 people, with the death toll still rising, making it the second-deadliest hurricane to strike the U.S. mainland in the last 50 years.

The National Weather Service and other weather experts have recently released final data on how strong, fast and destructive the storm was.

Here’s a look at some of the harrowing numbers from along Helene’s path of destruction.

Landfall and shocking west coast surge

Helene traveled up through the Gulf of Mexico, growing to an immense width — 690 miles — and traveling at a high speed. Both of those factors would prove deadly.

In Florida’s Big Bend region where the storm made landfall, up through the Tallahassee, there were five direct fatalities and two indirect fatalities.

Devastating storm surge rolled in at ground zero, Apalachee Bay, pushing more than 15 feet of water onto normally dry areas.

The highest rainfall, 14 inches, fell in Sumatra, just north of Apalachicola Bay, which was actually on the weaker left-hand side of the storm.

The storm was moving so fast that it produced a wide swath of wind damage piercing far inland, toppling grand old trees and causing widespread power outages.

The Suwannee Valley, north of Gainesville, Florida, saw winds of 75 mph to 100 mph, and the maximum wind gust of 100 mph was measured farther north, at Alma, Georgia, a whopping 134 miles inland from landfall.

The big story for the area south of landfall was the outlandish amount of storm surge, even in areas such as Tampa, some 180 miles away.

Related Articles

• Storms & Hurricanes | Supplies arrive by plane and by mule in North Carolina as Helene’s death toll tops 130
• Storms & Hurricanes | Forecasts for Hurricane Helene’s path were uncannily accurate. Here’s why.

Cedar Key, 90 miles from landfall, saw a storm surge 10 feet over the expected high tide. Wind was also a factor, with sustained winds of 56 mph and gusts up to 73 mph.

The Tampa area saw record-breaking surges, even though they were not in the hurricane’s path.

The East Bay section of Tampa saw 7.2 feet of surge, and Old Port Tampa, Clearwater Beach and St. Petersburg all saw close to 7 feet.

St. Petersburg Beach (new beach?) post-#Helene. The hurricane swept through with high storm surge. This looks like how the end of Planet of the Apes (the original) started. pic.twitter.com/r5KNVqitQn

— Dylan Raines (@DylanRainesCO) September 28, 2024

Even in Fort Myers, some 280 miles from landfall, there was more than 5 feet of storm surge.

Weather experts said that the surge was driven by the massive width of the storm, and the fact that its path was far out to sea in the Gulf.

That gave its winds more time to push more water. Another factor making the surge worse was the gradual slope of Florida’s Gulf coast.

South Florida got off easy. The highest sustained winds were 38 mph at Turkey Point near Homestead, and the highest gusts were 63 mph at Miami Opa Locka Airport.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport had gusts of 56 mph.

The highest storm surge in southern Florida unsurprisingly occurred on the west coast, in Naples, at 4.02 feet.

By comparison, South Port Everglades’ tide gauge showed waters 1.11 feet above normal tide levels.

Destruction in the mountains

Helene unleashed massive flooding on southern Appalachia. The highest measured total was 30 inches in Busick, North Carolina, atop the Blue Ridge Parkway northeast of Asheville.

For context, Fort Lauderdale was pummeled by 24 inches of rain in April of 2023, leaving cars stranded and people wading up to their waists. But that was on flat ground.

Busick’s elevation is 2,930. Nearby Mount Mitchell is a steep 6,684 feet. Asheville is downstream at 2,134 feet. All that water had to compress into valleys and hollows. From there it shot downhill, wiping roadside hamlets away, and flooding Asheville’s arts district.

A bus pushed by flood waters rests against Laurel Branch Baptist church in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, in Pensacola, N.C. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

NOAA’s National Water Center posted on X that estimated rainfall amounts across the southern Appalachians made Hurricane Helene a 1,000-year storm, meaning “there is less than a 0.1% chance (annual exceedance probability) of that happening in any given year.”

Estimated rainfall amounts from #Helene across the southern Appalachians had an Annual Recurrence Interval greater than 1000-years over a wide area; meaning there is less than a 0.1% chance (annual exceedance probability) of that happening in any given year. pic.twitter.com/bLZgAIJC6v

— National Water Center (@nwsnwc) October 3, 2024

Meteorologist Ben Noll, who specializes in climate science mapping, wrote on X that Helene’s moisture plume “was the most intense on record for parts of six states: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.”

He measured what’s called the integrated vapor transport (IVT) of the storm. IVT is the amount of pounds or kilograms of water vapor that move across a given square meter in one second.

“The integrated vapor transport (IVT) associated with Helene was up to around 1.5 times higher than any previous system in this region since at least 1940,” he wrote.

The final data has confirmed that #Helene's moisture plume was the most intense on record for parts of six states: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

The integrated vapor transport (IVT) associated with Helene was up to around 1.5 times… pic.twitter.com/NL26FkLKmw

— Ben Noll (@BenNollWeather) October 3, 2024

According to AccuWeather, Helene dumped a shocking 42 trillion gallons of rainfall on the Southeast.

That’s enough water to fill Lake Tahoe once, the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium 51,000 times, and enough water to flow over Niagara Falls for almost two years.

Vehicles roll along on a washed up road in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, in Pensacola, N.C. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Preliminary estimates from Moody’s Analytics indicate that Helene did $34 billion worth of damage to the southeastern United States. Other estimates are much higher.

It’s unclear how climate change is affecting the frequency of such storms, but warmer water and warmer air have prompted experts to believe that climate change is causing storms to grow more intense more quickly, and carry more moisture.

MIAMI GARDENS — The South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Miami Dolphins writers are picking out a pair of prop bets each week in the 2024 season.

Dolphins columnist Chris Perkins and Dolphins reporter David Furones, neither of whom condone gambling, will make predictions on player props they believe will occur for every Dolphins matchup.

Each writer will offer their “Best Bet,” a near 50-50 proposition they believe will occur, and a “Longshot,” which has to be given betting odds of at least +300, or 3-to-1 probability.

Odds are according to the Hard Rock Bet app. Also make sure to check out the Sun Sentinel’s game predictions for Monday.

Here are their thoughts on Sunday’s game at the New England Patriots:

Perk’s Best Best: Over 36.5 (-110)

There’s a mathematics rule that says when you multiply or divide two negatives it equals a positive. These are the two lowest-scoring offenses in the NFL, the Dolphins at 11.3 points per game and the Patriots at 13.0 ppg. That’s the negatives. Multiplying and dividing? Not sure. I failed math. But bet the over. Both teams are gonna score, relatively speaking.

Furones’ Best Bet: Jacoby Brissett over 0.5 interceptions (+100)

The former Dwyer High standout and one-time Dolphins backup has taken care of the ball with just one interception in his first four games, but the Dolphins get one against him Sunday.

With Kendall Fuller back off concussion protocol and Jalen Ramsey maybe baiting Brissett into a throw he shouldn’t make, Miami picks off at least one pass, as this defense has each of the past two games.

Both reporters are 2-2 on their best bets after each won last week.

Perk’s Longshot: Tyler Huntley 12+ rushing attempts (+600)

Look at this in a couple of ways: Plays that are called for Huntley to run, and plays in which Huntley must scramble because pass protection breaks down. You don’t want him running this much, but it could be a formula for moving the ball and, ultimately, winning.

Furones’ Longshot: Jaylen Waddle anytime TD (+325)

OK, if my score prediction is 13-12, that doesn’t bode well to pick any individual player to get into the end zone. But I’ll say Waddle gets one.

Patriots coach Jerod Mayo, like Bill Belichick before him, will try to take away an opponent’s best playmaker. That’s Tyreek Hill for the Dolphins. This opens things up for Waddle against a banged-up New England secondary. Plus, Waddle has scored a touchdown in four of his previous six games against the Patriots.

Both reporters are 0-4 on longshots.

Spirit Airlines indicated Friday that it is still focused on recasting the terms of its debt obligations with bondholders, but did not address a nationally published report that it has been discussing a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing with creditors.

The Wall Street Journal reported late Thursday that the low-cost carrier, which is headquartered in Dania Beach and is the busiest passenger airline at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, has been conducting talks with bondholders over the terms of a bankruptcy filing. The newspaper, citing unidentified sources, said that if a filing occurred, it “would not be imminent.”

Bloomberg, meanwhile, reported that talks have hit snags in the airline’s quest for new financing. Also citing unidentified sources, the news service said unresolved terms include the assets that bondholders could claim and the amount of financing to be provided.

Contacted Friday afternoon, the company referred the South Florida Sun Sentinel to a statement made in August by CEO and President Ted Christie during an industry analyst financial call.

“I want to note that we are engaged in productive conversations with the advisors of our bondholders to address the upcoming debt maturities,” Christie said at the time. “Because those conversations are ongoing, we are not going to go into detail or take any questions on this topic or speculate on potential outcomes. Needless to say, it is a priority, and we are focused on securing the best outcome for the business as quickly as possible, while staying focused on driving performance and implementing our new travel options and elevated guest experience.”

In June, Christie forcefully declared the company was not considering bankruptcy.

The company’s long-term debt including finance leases slightly exceeds $3 billion. Spirit has until Oct. 21, or about two weeks, to refinance $1.1 billion in bonds due in 2025.

In an aviation industry report published Friday, Raymond James analyst Savanthi Syth of St. Petersburg said she expects Spirit to work out a deal.

Ted Christie, the president and chief executive officer at Spirit Airlines, has been focused on working with bondholders about revising the terms of the South Florida-based airline’s debt. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel file) Improved bond deal prospects

“An agreement with bondholders appears increasingly likely,” she wrote. “However, while shares are at historic lows, the question will be if Spirit can restructure fixed costs outside of Chapter 11. We believe this is consistent with comments in a recent WSJ article on a filing not being imminent.”

The Wall Street Journal report, which was quickly picked up by other national media, helped drive down Spirit’s common stock in Friday trading to a record low of $1.67. For the year, the shares are off 85%.

The company has been fighting a spectrum of problems since a federal judge in January rejected JetBlue Airways’ proposed $3.8 billion takeover of Spirit on antitrust grounds. The Biden Administration’s Justice Department had sued to stop the deal.

The challenges facing Spirit include a manufacturer’s recall of flawed engines that has required the extended grounding of its Airbus jetliners. The issue forced the furloughs of nearly 200 pilots early last month. 

Late this summer, Spirit revamped its passenger experience, setting up an extensive new menu of fare, seating and service options so it can better compete with other airlines that have invaded its space in the discount market. Management has also extensively reworked Spirit’s route network.

The changes emerged as financial losses mounted for 2024. For the second quarter, Spirit posted a net loss of $192.9 million.

GAINESVILLE — When Florida hosts UCF on Saturday night, in-state bragging rights and midseason momentum on the line and the future of Gators coach Billy Napier in the balance.

The schools’ long-awaited fourth meeting pits UF (2-2) struggling to re-establish SEC relevancy and UCF (3-1) aiming to ascend the Big 12 pecking order, an effort undercut by the Knights recent 48-21 loss to Colorado.

“They are going to come out with a lot of juice,” Florida senior cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. said. “We just have to come out, start fast, take away whatever they’re trying to game plan on us.”

Each team features a 23-year-old quarterback, UF’s Graham Mertz and UCF’s KJ Jefferson, coaches who like to establish the run, Napier and Gus Malzahn, and defenses with issues.

A sold-out Swamp will greet the Knights during their first trip to Gainesville since a 42-0 loss to the Gators’ 2006 national championship team. The teams did square off during the 2021 Gasparilla Bowl, a 29-17 UCF victory to culminate Malzahn’s 9-4 debut season against Florida which was in a coaching transition after Dan Mullen was fired a month earlier.

Napier faces a similar fate barring a seismic turn of events. Malzahn, who signed a contract extension last fall, could use a win himself.

“We are capable of being a good team,” he said. “It’s just one game and we have learned from it. I expect our leadership to step up, do that and be better moving forward.”

UCF coach Gus Malzahn leads his team during last week’s loss to Colorado at FBC Mortgage Stadium. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Coaches: Malzahn 27-17 (104-55 overall); Napier 13-16 (53-28 overall)

Quick slant: Napier is 10-6 in the Swamp, one more loss than Steve Spurrier (68-5) and Urban Meyer (35-5). The schools are scheduled to play again Sept. 14, 2030 in Orlando and Sept. 3, 2033 in Gainesville. The last time Malzahn was at the Swamp was on Oct. 5, 2019, when he was the head coach at Auburn. The Tigers lost 24-13 as Florida picked off Bo Nix three times and La’Mical Perine rushed for 130 yards and a touchdown.

About UCF: The Knights are looking to bounce back behind one of the nation’s top run games. The Knights entered the Colorado game averaging 375 rushing yards but managed just 177, including a season-low 77 by star tailback RJ Harvey. With tailback Myles Montgomery (141 yards, 2 TDs) out for the foreseeable future with a lower leg injury, UCF will lean on Peny Boone (166) and Johnny Richardson (77) to ease Harvey’s workload. Receiver Kobe Hudson is on track for a 1,000-yard receiving season after leading the team with 349 yards and 2 touchdowns. The group, however, lost Xavier Townsend, who opted Thursday to redshirt and enter the transfer portal. Linebacker Deshawn Pace has been one of the bright spots on defense, leading the team with 22 tackles and 2 and interceptions. Former Miami edge rusher Nyjalik Kelly has 2 of the team’s 3 total sacks. Pro Football Focus rated cornerback Bryon Threats as UCF’s top player in coverage for a pass defense ranked 121st of 134 teams nationally, allowing an average of 303.7 yards. Threats, however, also will take a redshirt and transfer when the portal reopens Dec. 9. He’d left Cincinnati for UCF this past offseason.

Florida’s Jack Pyburn had six tackles to establish pressure on the edge against Mississippi State. (Gary McCullough/AP)

About UF: The Gators aim to build on a 503-yard performance at Mississippi State, showcasing the two-quarterback rotation of Mertz and freshman DJ Lagway and depth at the skill positions. Mertz and Lagway were a combined 26 of 28 for 277 yards passing. Mertz accounted for 4 touchdowns. Four tailbacks combined for 226 rushing yards while leading receiver Elijhah Badger led a contingent of pass-catchers with at least 35 yards. The defensive struggles continued, however, with the Bulldogs passing and rushing for 240 yards each. Linebacker play remained strong with Pup Howard and Shemar James combining for 12 stops and true freshman Aaron Chiles recorded his first sack. Meanwhile, Jack Pyburn made 6 tackles to establish a much-needed presence on the edge after his remarkable recovery from a torn ACL last November. Oregon transfer safety Trikweze Bridges, a rare bright spot on the back end, had a career-high 10 tackles.

UCF quarterback KJ Jefferson, taking a sack against New Hampshire as cornerback Noah Stansbury makes the hit, has been turnover prone. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel) 3 things to watch

Pass rush: UF’s pass rush has managed just 4 sacks during three FBS games, fewer than all but Mississippi State in the SEC. Incredibly, UCF has struggled to get to the quarterback even more, registering a Big 12-worst 3 sacks against power conference competition. Whoever can apply some pressure should have an advantage.

Turnovers: The Knights committed 4 against Colorado, including 2 by Jefferson, to give them a minus-2 turnover margin, tied for 94th nationally. The Gators sit at minus-4, or tied for 114th, and have just 3 takeaways despite the emphasis placed on generating them after UF managed just 7 in 2023.

Red zone: UCF has converted just 64% inside FBS opponents’ 20-yard line (9 of 14). The Knights were 2 of 5 against Colorado, with three scoring chances turning into turnovers (2 interceptions, fumble). Florida is 9 of 9 in the red zone with 9 touchdowns against Miami, Texas A&M and Mississippi State.

Up next …

Florida vs. UCF

When: 7:45, Saturday, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

TV: SEC Network; Radio: AM 540/FM 93.1 WFLF, Sirius/XM 132 or 192

Weather: 74 degrees, 42% rain chance

Favorite: UCF by 2.5 points

Online: orlandosentinel.com/gators; @edgarthompson on X; orlandosentinel.com/knights; @osmattmurschel on X.

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

By COLLEEN LONG

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden had terse words for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, and said he didn’t know whether the Israeli leader was holding up a peace deal in order to influence the outcome of the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

“No administration has helped Israel more than I have,” Biden said. “None. None, none. And I think Bibi should remember that. And whether he’s trying to influence the election, I don’t know but I’m not counting on that.”

Biden, in a rare appearance in the White House press briefing room, was responding to comments made by one of his allies, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., who said on CNN this week that he was concerned Netanyahu had little interest in a peace deal in part because of U.S. politics.

The two leaders have long managed a complicated relationship, but they’re running out of space to maneuver as their views on the Gaza war diverge and their political futures hang in the balance.

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The president has long pushed for a cease-fire agreement and he and his aides have indicated several times over the past few months that such an agreement was close. But it never seems to materialize, and in some cases, Netanyahu has publicly resisted the prospect while U.S. and Israeli officials continue to talk in private about eking out a deal.

Meanwhile, Israel has pressed forward on two fronts, pursuing a ground incursion into Lebanon against Hezbollah that left eight Israeli soldiers dead and conducting strikes in Gaza that killed dozens, including children. And the nation has vowed to retaliate for Iran’s ballistic missile attack this week, as the region braced for further escalation.

Biden said there had been no decision yet on what type of response there would be toward Iran, though there has been talk about Israel striking Iran’s oil fields — and “I think if I were in their shoes, I’d be thinking about other alternatives than striking oil fields.”

Biden pushed back against the idea that he was seeking a meeting with Netanyahu to discuss the response to Iran. He isn’t, he said.

“I’m assuming when they make a decision on how they’re going to respond, we will then have a discussion,” he said.

Netanyahu has grown increasingly resistant to Biden’s public charm offensives and private pleading, prompting the president’s more assertive pushback. And Biden has in turn publicly held up delivery of heavy bombs to Israel and increasingly voiced concerns over an all-out war in the Middle East.

“I don’t believe there’s going to be an all-out war,” Biden said Thursday evening. “I think we can avoid it. But there’s a lot to do yet. A lot to do yet.”

Biden has remained consistent in his support for Israel’s defense and security and in the aftermath of the deadly Oct. 7 Hamas attacks in Israel. Since then, with few exceptions, Biden has supported ongoing and enhanced U.S. arms transfers to Israel while cautioning the Israelis to be careful in their responses to avoid civilian casualties.

Biden has also ordered the U.S. military to step up its profile in the region to protect Israel from attacks by Hamas, Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen and Iran itself. In April, and again earlier this week, the U.S. was a leading player in shooting down missiles fired by Iran into Israel.

MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins have sympathized plenty with Jaelan Phillips this week after he had another season end prematurely due to injury.

But now, after Phillips suffered a partial tear in the ACL in his right knee, they must come up with answers to fill his void at the edge defender position.

“You have to prepare numerous people to fill a role like that,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said this week, “and I know the guys have a lot of motivation to accept that challenge because it’s a great one.”

Miami still doesn’t have fellow outside linebacker Bradley Chubb practicing either, while he remains on the physically-unable-to-perform list due to last year’s season-ending knee injury.

It’ll take heightened contributions from a veteran the team released for cap space this offseason before bringing back ahead of training camp in Emmanuel Ogbah, rookies in Chop Robinson and Mohamed Kamara, and former practice squad player Quinton Bell.

It’s a far cry from what one would have imagined Miami’s pass-rushing unit looking like back in March or early April, with ideas of veteran Shaquil Barrett joining the team in free agency before his abrupt retirement and maybe having Phillips and Chubb together off their season-ending injuries from 2023. Before Phillips hurt his knee Friday, his previous campaign was cut short due to a torn Achilles in the same leg.

But the Dolphins must proceed.

“I don’t think I’m going to be getting any sympathy cards from anybody on the Patriots,” Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver said. “It’s our job to collectively, as a group, both coaches and players, to step up our game to fill that void with him not out there, and I think we got the guys that can go out there and do that.”

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Said outside linebackers coach Ryan Crow: “It’s going to take a collective effort to replace (Phillips), and they know that. They’re hungry. They’re chomping at the bit.”

Ogbah figures to continue to start, as he has each of the four games thus far this season. Bell, who has three years of NFL active roster experience out of Prairie View A&M, could be an intriguing option, especially on first and second down, for his ability to stop the run and set the edge. He made some noise in training camp ahead of this season.

“Quinton is very versatile in the fact that he can drop into coverage, you can rush him from multiple spots, he is a firm edge setter,” Weaver said. “I think he’s still trying to refine and figure out who he is as a pass rusher, but he does a lot of things well.”

How about Robinson and Kamara?

Robinson has only played sparingly through his first four NFL games as a first-round pick. He has four tackles, one for loss, and doesn’t have a sack or hit on a quarterback. Kamara, a fifth-round selection out of Colorado State, is yet to be active for a game this season.

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“The two rookies, they’re still trying to feel their way and trying to understand the league a little bit,” Weaver said. “Chop has obviously had more at bats at that, and you see his confidence growing with what we’re asking him to do weekly. Are there ups and downs like the stock market a little bit? Sure.”

Robinson needs to keep himself from being a liability in run defense.

“That’s part of it with every young player, is they’re still developing as we enter the season,” Crow said. “The more reps he gets, the better he’s going to be, and obviously, roles have been accelerated with the loss of Jaelan. I have no problem with him going out there on first and second down and doing what he’s got to do in the run game.”

Kamara could be active for the first time in his career as a rotational player on the edge.

“I see Mohamed like you want him to be an enforcer. He’s a guy that’s rugged, tough,” Weaver said. “He needs to be like your top-flight security of the world. He needs to be the protector and be the enforcer on the field, and I’ve kind of tasked him with that since he’s been here.”

Kamara has maintained his preparation as if he’s playing each week. Now, he may have to step up with Phillips down.

“I’ve always been trying to prepare, trying to get better every week,” he said. “Knowing that it might happen sooner than later because of the tragedy that happened, that’s what football is.”

Ogbah will have to be a leader for the unit until Chubb can return to game action. He has 14 tackles, three for loss, Monday’s interception pinned between his knees, a sack and a pass deflection.

The group added veteran Tyus Bowser, who is familiar with Weaver from time together in Baltimore, off the Seahawks’ practice squad. Bowser has 19½ sacks collected from 2017 to 2022 with the Ravens.

McDaniel noted a player like Bowser will require a shorter learning curve due to commonalities in defensive systems he has been in. Bowser was with the team at Friday’s practice, wearing No. 51 for the Dolphins.

The loss of Phillips has been felt at Dolphins facilities this week, but the edge-rushing unit is rallying to try to piece it together without him.

Said Bell: “Just fired up, and we want to get this one for JP, definitely.”

Nature has already voted.

Hurricane Helene voted against Donald Trump, Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature — all deniers of climate change.

Helene was the strongest storm in wind and storm surge for a Big Bend that is no stranger to hurricanes. It may also be the most expensive hurricane ever for the U.S., ravaging vast sections of the Carolinas, Georgia and Tennessee.

If we want to keep living in Florida, we must rid ourselves of scientific illiterates who bailed out insurance companies while raising home insurance costs and passed a Don’t Say Climate law (HB 7071 in 2024) to hide the simple fact that climate change makes hurricanes bigger, stronger and more costly.

In this election, we can punish the climate deniers. If you vote for them, you own the consequences of the coming storms.

Amb. Frank McNeil (ret.), Boca Raton

Thwarting the will of voters

Why do we in Florida approve constitutional amendments with over 60% approval, only to have them undermined by a Republican governor and legislators? Isn’t it their job to work for us?

We see it again. Gov. Ron DeSantis and his goons are doing all they can to disrupt the vote on Amendment 4 on abortion rights. Abortion is between a woman and man. It’s the choice of a couple, as determined by their doctor.

When Rick Scott was governor in 2014, voters approved Amendment 1 to protect water and land, by a 75% bipartisan margin. It was supported by taxes on real estate transactions. The intent was to protect land and improve Florida’s natural environment. What should have been $300 million per year trickled down to less than 10%, and it took a lawsuit to force the Legislature to spend the money properly.

As Scott’s term as governor was ending and DeSantis was arriving in 2018, voters passed another Amendment 4 with overwhelming bipartisan support, to allow convicted felons to vote if they completed their sentences. Both governors and Republican lawmakers devised ways to thwart the voters.

Now, DeSantis, Scott and Republican legislators oppose abortion rights Amendment 4.

If a 60% supermajority approves the amendment, it would become Florida constitutional law. We can expect our elected leaders will find ways to not abide by it. Voters should decide — not politicians.

The GOP of Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, the Bushes and John McCain is gone. The new, Trumpian party claims election corruption if they don’t win, and supports QAnon’s conspiracy theories.

Are you more at ease with your kids and grandkids being raised with the ethics that raised you, or the world of Donald Trump, Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis? Had enough yet?

Bill Summerfield, Ocala 

Jimmy Carter turns 100

Former President Jimmy Carter will not escape history.

Not only is he the oldest living U.S. president, he is the first one to reach the age of 100 — a tough act to follow.

Whatever Carter lacked in his one term as president (1977-81), he earned in the many accolades in his personal life. A legend in his own time, he has been an exceptional humanitarian and the epitome of a good Christian — an exemplary human being.

Just as he wanted, Carter has made his life count for something. As a humble servant to God, he never stopped loving and caring for others.

God bless America, and God bless Jimmy Carter.

JoAnn Lee Frank, Clearwater

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Today is Friday, Oct. 4, the 278th day of 2024. There are 88 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Oct. 4, 1970, rock singer Janis Joplin was found dead in her Hollywood hotel room at age 27.

Also on this date:

In 1777, Gen. George Washington’s troops launched an assault on the British at Germantown, Pennsylvania, resulting in heavy American casualties.

In 1927, sculptor Gutzon Borglum began construction on what is now Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

In 1957, the Space Age began as the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, into orbit.

In 1965, Pope Paul VI became the first pope to visit the Western Hemisphere as he addressed the U.N. General Assembly.

In 2001, a Russian airliner flying from Israel to Siberia was accidentally downed by a Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile over the Black Sea, killing all 78 people aboard.

In 2002, “American Taliban” John Walker Lindh received a 20-year sentence after a sobbing plea for forgiveness before a federal judge in Alexandria, Virginia. (He was released from prison in May, 2019.)

In 2004, the SpaceShipOne rocket plane broke through Earth’s atmosphere to the edge of space for the second time in five days, capturing the $10 million Ansari X prize aimed at opening the final frontier to tourists.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Baseball Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa is 80.
• Actor Susan Sarandon is 78.
• Actor Armand Assante is 75.
• Actor Christoph Waltz is 68.
• Singer Jon Secada is 63.
• Actor Liev Schreiber is 57.
• Actor Abraham Benrubi is 55.
• Actor Alicia Silverstone is 48.
• Actor Caitríona Balfe is 45.
• Actor Rachael Leigh Cook is 45.
• Actor Melissa Benoist is 36.
• NBA All-Star Derrick Rose is 36.
• Actor Dakota Johnson is 35.

General Daily Insight for October 04, 2024

We might feel like we’re spinning our wheels. Initially, speedy Mercury struggles against methodical Saturn, which can be frustrating when we’re in a hurry to get somewhere. Later on, the emotional Moon squares transformative Pluto right before moving into Pluto’s home sign of Scorpio. We should brace for potential emotional whiplash if we’re not already prepared for it! Finally, perfectionist Venus harmonizes with Saturn at 1:04 pm EDT, allowing us to find a speed that works. Not too fast, not too slow — just right.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Someone else’s confusing communication could get in the way of your progress. You might find that you’re struggling to keep everything running smoothly through their turmoil. Jumping ship to hide yourself from the noise probably sounds pretty enticing. Instead of letting other people get in your head and distract you or make your decisions for you, take a breath and keep going. You’re capable of calling the shots in a clear and concise way. You can make it through the fog!

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

You may see a clear path forward to your dreams — that is, until someone else blocks your view. Rather than showing you a different way to achieve your goals, they might have decided to fully block them. If they’re unwilling to step aside and allow you to follow your heart’s desire, then you may want to rethink certain connections in your life. Someone who supports you shouldn’t stand in the way of your dream (as long as chasing it wasn’t hurting anyone).

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

You might make a snap decision that you end up regretting. Even if you calculated the risk ahead of time, there’s a dangerous chance that the odds simply aren’t in your favor. The situation may go from okay to extremely chaotic in what feels like no time at all! It’s okay — just try and maintain equilibrium for the time being. Sometimes taking a risk pays off, but today is unlikely to be one of those days. Be patient as you think things through.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Your comfort zone could be getting in the way of your progress. Someone may make a comment to you that makes you notice the amount of time you spend at home, rather than out and about connecting with others. Watch out for some FOMO! To combat that, consider taking a leap of faith and reaching out to an acquaintance. Keep in mind that you’ll be able to come back to your comfort zone later. Balancing discomfort and comfort is the best way to grow.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Your words might not be taken the way you meant them. You might have spoken innocently, but someone points their finger and tells you that you should have known better, when you genuinely didn’t. This can be embarrassing, but at the end of the day, your need for reflection shouldn’t require shame. Learn as you go and always treat others how you’d like to be treated. If someone is trying to embarrass you rather than educate you, take their opinion with a grain of salt.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Someone who you thought was a safe person to talk to may accidentally reveal that they’re less than trustworthy. It could be that they’ve changed in the recent past, or you potentially don’t know them as well as you thought you did. Either way, you’re probably trying to pick up the pieces after they’ve disappointed you. They may try to get back into your good graces, but it’s important to maintain your boundaries at this time. You don’t have to be unkind, just firm.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

A lack of routine could be preventing you from getting where you want to go. You might have thought that you were far closer to reaching a goal than you actually are. When faced with your true level of progress at present, you could be discouraged and want to give up. Instead of surrendering, ask yourself where you’d realistically be able to put in more effort and consistency, as those could be the missing ingredients. If you don’t succeed, try, try again!

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Exhaustion may trip you into making decisions that you wouldn’t normally make. Details can slip through the cracks when you’re feeling overwhelmed. You could also be trying to cram too many things into one day’s schedule, leading you to only half-accomplish everything that you’re working on, or ending up with you having to go back and correct mistakes. Instead of beating yourself up for not being able to do more, ask yourself why you feel the need to do so much. You’re only one person!

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Your fear of being tied down may conflict with your dreams. Your sign is known for being a free spirit, but sometimes being able to do whatever you want, whenever you want, isn’t a great structure to support building your dreams in reality. This can be frustrating, particularly if you’ve been longing to realize those ambitions for quite some time. It’s important to be honest with yourself about where your ideal balance between freedom and commitment lies, because that is the key to obtaining both.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

It might be difficult for you to express yourself to others throughout the day. You might feel as if you need to hide what you’re truly feeling to be impressive, but your honesty and your ability to get to the point are potentially some of your most valuable assets. You have the ability to cut right to the chase! Okay, maybe your words can be a bit blunt, but softening too much will lessen your impact. Share your experiences with clear, balanced honesty.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Obstacles that you didn’t anticipate might require you to learn something to overcome them. You may realize that your education is lacking when it comes to a certain subject, and you previously weren’t aware that this topic was so relevant to whatever you’re working on. While it can be daunting to try and learn something on a large scale, try breaking it down into more manageable pieces and create a schedule. That should make the whole process more manageable. Keep going!

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

You might be forced to make some decisions all alone. It could be that you’re desperately seeking someone who will give you clear answers to what you need to do, but the truth is, you’re dealing with something that only you can decide for yourself. Fears or no fears, as long as you are listening to your heart and not making this decision in response to any outside pressures, you’ll probably find yourself on the right track sooner or later. Trust yourself.

By JOSH DUBOW

Four former Miami Dolphins are are among the players who advanced to the next stage in the Seniors category for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

The Hall released a list of 60 players Thursday who remained from the original list of 183 nominees made last month by a newly created Seniors Screening Committee, and among those advancing were three Dolphins championship-era stalwarts, versatile offensive lineman Bob Kuechenberg, defensive end Bill Stanfill and safety Dick Anderson, and one of the Dan Marino-era Marks Brothers, Mark Clayton.

A nine-person Senior Blue Ribbon Committee will now begin the process of reducing that list to the three finalists to be considered by the full selection committee in early 2025. The three seniors will be grouped with one coach and contributor with at least one and no more than three of those finalists getting in based on voting.

Also making the initial cut were ex-Miami Hurricanes running backs Chuck Foreman and Ottis Anderson. Foreman played in three Super Bowls with the 1970s Minnesota Vikings, and Anderson was the MVP of the 1991 Super Bowl between his New York Giants and the Buffalo Bills, won by the Giants 20-19 in Tampa.

Kuechenberg, a versatile offensive lineman who died in 2019, spanned the Dolphins title era and the high-flying Marino days, playing from 1970-83. He started 50 of the Dolphins’ 51 games in their three-consecutive-Super Bowl run from 1971-73, and then finished his career in Marino’s rookie season of 1983 with 16 starts.

Stanfill was a Pro Bowl pick as a rookie in 1969, the year before coach Don Shula’s arrival, and then made it four more times from 1971-74, earning first-team All-Pro honors in The Perfect Season of 1972. In 1973, he piled up 18.5 sacks, though the stat wasn’t officially kept until 1982. Jason Taylor tied that club record in 2002. Stanfill died in 2016.

Anderson, who played from 1968-1977, was the NFL’s defensive player of the year in 1973, one of the three seasons where he hauled in eight interceptions. Amazingly in each of those seasons, he averaged more than 20 yards per interception return. In 1968, he averaged 28.8 yards per return (230 yards), in 1970, that average was (191) in 1968, and in 1973, he had an average of 20.4 per pickoff return (163). Anderson, 78, also had a postseason average length of interception return above 20, with a 21.4-yard average on five picks (107) in his 11 career playoff outings.

Clayton, who was an eighth-round selection in the same 1983 draft that brought the Dolphins Dan Marino, scored a then-record 18 touchdowns in 1984 (since broken by Raheem Mostert in 2023 when the running back piled up 21 scores). Clayton, with co-Marks Brother Mark Duper, were key cogs as Marino set every significant Dolphins passing record and many NFL marks. Clayton, 63, played from 1983-92 with Miami, piling up five 1,000-yard receiving seasons. He closed his career in 1993 in Green Bay.

Among the most decorated of the 60 are versatile San Francisco 49ers running back Roger Craig, former Cincinnati Bengals MVP Ken Anderson and key member of Pittsburgh’s Steel Curtain defense L.C. Greenwood

Craig and Ken Anderson are among the 10 players on this year’s list of nominees who made it to the seminal stage of 12 candidates last year when Steve McMichael and Randy Gradishar were voted in as seniors.

The other returning semifinalists are Maxie Baughan, Joe Jacoby, Albert Lewis, Eddie Meador, Art Powell, Sterling Sharpe, Otis Taylor and Al Wistert. Powell made it to the final cut but didn’t get the 80% threshold needed for induction.

Players eligible for the Seniors category must have finished their playing career by the end of the 1999 season.

Craig was a key part of San Francisco’s dynasty in the 1980s with his ability as a physical runner and as a receiver out of the backfield. Craig was the first player ever to have 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in the same season in 1985, and led the NFL with 2,036 yards from scrimmage in 1988 when he helped the 49ers win the Super Bowl.

Craig was also part of the title-winning teams in San Francisco in the 1984 and 1989 seasons. His 410 yards from scrimmage in those Super Bowl wins are the third-most ever behind only Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Franco Harris.

Ken Anderson was a four-time Pro Bowler for Cincinnati and won the MVP in 1981 when he helped the Bengals reach their first Super Bowl before losing to San Francisco. When Anderson retired after the 1986 season he ranked sixth all time with 32,838 yards passing and 13th with 197 TD passes.

Greenwood is the most prominent member of the Steelers dominant defense that helped the franchise win four Super Bowl titles in a span of six seasons from 1974-79 who is not in the Hall. Joe Greene, Jack Lambert, Jack Ham, Donnie Shell and Mel Blount have already been inducted.

Greenwood was a member of the all-decade team for the 1970s, was a two-time All-Pro and made six Pro Bowls in a 13-year career. He retired a year before sacks became an official stat but research from Pro Football Reference credits him with 78 over his career as a defensive end on those teams, including four in the Steelers’ two Super Bowl wins over the Dallas Cowboys.

Powell was one of the most prolific receivers in the pass-happy AFL. His 81 touchdowns rank second best in AFL history behind Don Maynard, and his 8,015 yards receiving were third behind only Maynard and Hall of Famer Lance Alworth.

The players who remain eligible for election with the Class of 2025 are:

QUARTERBACKS (5): Ken Anderson, Charlie Conerly, Roman Gabriel, Jack Kemp, Jim Plunkett.

RUNNING BACKS (7): Alan Ameche, Ottis Anderson, Larry Brown, Roger Craig, Chuck Foreman, Cecil Isbell, Paul “Tank” Younger.

WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS (10): Mark Clayton, Isaac Curtis, Boyd Dowler, Henry Ellard, Harold Jackson, Billy “White Shoes” Johnson, Stanley Morgan, Art Powell, Sterling Sharpe, Otis Taylor.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (12): Ed Budde, Ox Emerson, Bill Fralic, Chris Hinton, Joe Jacoby, Mike Kenn, Bob Kuechenberg, George Kunz, Ralph Neely, Dick Schafrath, Jim Tyrer, Al Wistert.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (6): L.C. Greenwood, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Jim Marshall, Harvey Martin, Leslie O’Neal, Bill Stanfill.

LINEBACKERS (11): Carl Banks, Maxie Baughan, Bill Bergey, Joe Fortunato, Larry Grantham, Lee Roy Jordan, Clay Matthews Jr., Tommy Nobis, Andy Russell, Pat Swilling, Phil Villapiano.

DEFENSIVE BACKS (8): Dick Anderson, Deron Cherry, Pat Fischer, Lester Hayes, Albert Lewis, Eddie Meador, Lemar Parrish, Everson Walls.

SPECIAL TEAMS (1): Steve Tasker.

Assistant Sports Editor Steve Svekis contributed to this report.

By TOM KRISHER

DETROIT (AP) — The union representing 45,000 striking U.S. dockworkers at East and Gulf coast ports has reached a deal to suspend a three-day strike until Jan. 15 to provide time to negotiate a new contract.

The union, the International Longshoremen’s Association, is to resume working immediately. The temporary end to the strike came after the union and the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies, reached a tentative agreement on wages, the union and ports said in a joint statement Thursday night.

A person briefed on the agreement said the ports sweetened their wage offer from about 50% over six years to 62%. The person didn’t want to be identified because the agreement is tentative. Any wage increase would have to be approved by union members as part of the ratification of a final contract.

The union went on strike early Tuesday after its contract expired in a dispute over pay and the automation of tasks at 36 ports stretching from Maine to Texas. The strike came at the peak of the holiday shopping season at the ports, which handle about half the cargo from ships coming into and out of the United States.

The walkout raised the risk of shortages of goods on store shelves if it lasted more than a few weeks. Most retailers, though, had stocked up or shipped items early in anticipation of the dockworkers’ strike.

“With the grace of God, and the goodwill of neighbors, it’s gonna hold,” President Joe Biden told reporters Thursday night of the agreement.

In a statement later, Biden applauded both sides “for acting patriotically to reopen our ports and ensure the availability of critical supplies for Hurricane Helene recovery and rebuilding.”

Biden said that collective bargaining is “critical to building a stronger economy from the middle out and the bottom up.”

The union’s membership won’t need to vote on the temporary suspension of the strike. Until Jan. 15, the workers will be covered under the old contract, which expired on Sept. 30.

The union has been demanding a complete ban on the use of automation at the ports, which they see as a threat to their jobs. Both sides also have been apart on the issues of pension contributions and the distribution of royalties paid on containers that are moved by workers.

Just before the strike had begun, the Maritime Alliance said both sides had moved off their original wage offers, a tentative sign of progress.

____

AP Writers Darlene Superville in Washington and and Annie Mulligan in Houston contributed to this report.

Florida should reverse course on its “harmful” abstinence-only requirements for public school health classes and allow schools to teach a comprehensive sex education curriculum, according to a letter sent to state leaders Thursday from seven Democrats serving in Congress.

“Abstinence-only programs have been consistently proven ineffective, damaging to students’ health, and discriminatory against the LGBTQ+ community,” read the letter from the Florida congressional members. “This directive is another extremist attack on evidence-based, data-driven policies.”

The letter was sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis and Education Commissioner Manny Diaz from U.S. Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Hollywood, Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Ft. Lauderdale, Lois Frankel, D-West Palm Beach, Maxwell Frost, D-Orlando, Darren Soto, D-Kissimmee and Frederica Wilson, D- Miami.

When asked for comment, the Florida Department of Education pointed to a post by Diaz on social media. On X, Diaz did not respond directly to the letter but criticized the representatives for not contacting his department after Hurricane Helene struck Florida last week.

“While Florida is recovering from Hurricane Helene, Congressional Democrats are focused on pushing their sexual ideology on children,” Diaz wrote Thursday, adding, “The message is clear: Democrats only care about your kids being in school if they can indoctrinate them.”

David Damron, a spokesperson for Wasserman Shultz, called Diaz’s response “another damning non-answer from MAGA extremist Republicans” and said the Republican stance on sex education was “indefensible.”

He also defended congressional Democrats’ response to Hurricane Helene.

“Democrats across our state and country continue to help Floridians and other families still reeling from Helene,” Damron said in an emailed statement. “And those recovery efforts certainly won’t stop, even as we continue to fight for lower prices, defend women’s reproductive freedoms and protect our children in school.”

 Castor, who’s district includes Tampa Bay neighborhoods impacted by the storm, posted on X Thursday about a town hall event she was hosting for hurricane relief.

In recent months, state officials told school districts to “emphasize abstinence” and not to teach teenagers about contraception, show pictures of human reproductive anatomy, or discuss topics such as sexual consent or domestic violence, the Orlando Sentinel reported in September.

The Congressional Democrats argued that while Florida law directs schools to promote sexual abstinence, it does not prohibit districts from also teaching a more comprehensive program.

Because of the state’s directive, Orange County Public schools scrapped its own sex education curriculum for teenagers. The now-defunct 600-page plan stressed abstinence but also provided instruction on birth control, how pregnancy occurs and what consent means. Now, the district plans to use a state-approved textbook focused on abstinence.

The state’s education department told school districts about the required changes during phone calls in recent months. Those came almost a year after school districts submitted their reproductive health lessons to the state for approval, as required by a new state law.

Last September, the education department told school districts they had to send in their plans for review or use state-approved textbooks for those lessons. Previously, local school boards oversaw approval of their own sex education materials.

The letter from the congressional members called the year-long delay an “intentional attempt to sabotage” healthy sex education.

“School districts deserve timely, formal guidance on constructing their curriculum and your actions have created major disruptions to our institutions and the students they serve,” the letter read.

By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and FARNOUSH AMIRI

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump “laid the groundwork for his crimes” well before Election Day in 2020. He said “the details don’t matter” when told his election fraud claims would fail in court. And his response to learning that then-Vice President Mike Pence was taken to a secure location as rioters stormed the Capitol?

“So what?”

That’s according to a 165-page court filing from special counsel Jack Smith’s team that paints a portrait of a president so desperate to cling to power that he “resorted to crimes” after losing the 2020 election to Democrat Joe Biden.

The filing unsealed Wednesday provides a glimpse into the evidence and testimony prosecutors plan to present if the case accusing Trump of an illegal scheme to overturn the 2020 election ever reaches trial.

The Republican presidential nominee has maintained that he did nothing illegal and has characterized the case as an attempt to hurt his bid to reclaim the White House in November. Trump’s lawyers who have pushed to dismiss the case will now get a chance to respond in court to prosecutors’ claims.

Here are some of the key passages from the filing:

Trump laid the groundwork for his scheme early, prosecutors say

Prosecutors allege Trump started laying the foundation for his illegal scheme well before election day, refusing to say in the months leading up to it whether he would accept the results and suggesting he could only lose if there was fraud.

Three days before the election, a Trump political adviser told a group of supporters that the then-president was “going to declare himself the winner” no matter the outcome,” according to prosecutors.

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“That doesn’t mean he’s the winner, he’s just going to say he’s the winner,” the adviser said.

Trump “did exactly that” immediately following the election, prosecutors said. Then, in the days following the election, Trump’s allies “sought to create chaos” at polling places where votes were still being counted, Smith’s team alleges.

When a campaign employee was told about a batch of votes in Detroit that appeared to be heavily in favor of President Joe Biden, the employee told a colleague to “find a reason” that wasn’t right and “give me options to file litigation.”

When the colleague suggested there would be unrest, the campaign employee responded: “Make them riot” and “Do it!!!” according to the filing.

‘The details don’t matter,’ Trump told an adviser

Prosecutors are trying to show that Trump knew his election fraud claims were bogus because many in his circle told him that there was no fraud and that he actually lost the election. Prosecutors say Trump disregarded those assurances just like he disregarded “dozens of court decisions that unanimously rejected his and his allies’ legal claims.”

In one key moment detailed in the filing, prosecutors say a lawyer who represented Trump during his first impeachment trial told Trump that his election fraud claims wouldn’t survive in court. Trump responded: “The details don’t matter,” according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors say they will introduce evidence that shows Trump and his allies “made up figures from whole cloth” about election fraud, detailing how they repeatedly changed their baseless claims on the numbers of noncitizens voting in Arizona.

Details of Trump’s relentless pressure on Pence

One of the most illuminating sections of the filing details the relentless pressure campaign that Trump and his allies enlisted against Pence, beginning well before Election Day and running up to the final minutes of the Jan. 6, 2021, certification of President Joe Biden’s win.

Even as most of the details of the former president’s futile attempts to get his running mate to reject Biden’s electoral votes have been well documented, Smith’s latest brief gives an even more granular look at the breakdown between the two men as prosecutors say one sought desperately to cling on to power and the other fought to maintain his unwavering fidelity to the Constitution.

FILE – Rioters loyal to President Donald Trump rally at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

When news organizations, including The Associated Press, called the election for Biden on Nov. 7, Pence saw it as an opportunity to “encourage” Trump “as a friend,” reminding him that he “took a dying political party and gave it a new lease on life,” prosecutors wrote. A few days later, when Trump and his allies were still strategizing ways to overcome the defeat, Pence again reiterated that the next presidential election in 2024 was “not so far off.”

When Pence refused on Dec. 28 to support the various legal cases being pursued by Trump and his close allies in Congress, the filing states that Trump told his vice president that “hundreds of thousands” of people “are gonna hate your guts” and “people are gonna think you’re stupid.” He added, “You’re too honest.”

This went on for days, until the two men met in person one last time before Jan. 6. The meeting in the Oval Office on the eve of the certification is seen by prosecutors as one of Trump’s last efforts to encourage Pence privately to keep him in power, telling him once again that he had “the power to decertify,” the results. “When Pence was unmoved, the defendant threatened to criticize him publicly,” the filing states. “I’m gonna have to say you did a great disservice,” Trump said. Pence relayed this comment to a member of his team who saw it as a direct threat “to the point that he alerted Pence’s Secret Service detail.

‘So what?’ Trump said when told Pence was rushed to safety

As Trump’s supporters began attacking the Capitol on Jan. 6 to stop the counting of the electoral votes, an aide rushed in to tell Trump that Pence had been taken to a secure location. The aide was hoping Trump would “take action to ensure Pence’s safety,” prosecutors wrote. Instead, Trump’s only response was, “So what?” prosecutors allege.

Prosecutors say they will present “forensic evidence” from Trump’s cellphone and testimony from witnesses to show how Trump spent the afternoon of Jan. 6 on Twitter and watching TV coverage of the riot while his aides pressed him to make a public statement to quell the violence.

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, at Discovery World in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)

“Instead, the defendant refused repeatedly until his advisors gave up and left him alone in the dining room,” prosecutors wrote.

Alone in the dining room, Trump then sent a Tweet attacking Pence for not having the “courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution, giving States a chance to certify a corrected set of facts, not the fraudulent or inaccurate ones which they were asked to previously certify.”

A rioter with a bullhorn read Trump’s Tweet about Pence to the crowd that was trying to enter the Capitol, prosecutors said. It was only after advisers again urged Trump to do something about the riot that he sent a Tweet encouraging his supporters to support law enforcement and “stay peaceful,” prosecutors wrote.

By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER

WASHINGTON (AP) — Special counsel Jack Smith has provided a road map for how prosecutors hope to prove their case charging former President Donald Trump with an illegal scheme to overturn his 2020 election loss — if it ever gets to trial.

In court papers unsealed Wednesday, Smith’s team details new evidence of Trump’s “increasingly desperate” efforts to cling to power even as those close to him sought to convince him that he had lost the presidency.

It comes just over a month before the presidential election that could determine the future of the case.

The Republican presidential nominee, who has railed against the case as politically motivated, slammed the filing in a NewsNation interview, calling it “pure election interference” and “weaponization of the government.”

Here’s a look at what the filing means and what’s next:

Trump committed ‘private crimes,’ prosecutors say

The purpose of the filing is to convince U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan in Washington that allegations against Trump can move forward to trial even after the Supreme Court in July ruled that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution.

While the Supreme Court said former presidents have at least presumptive immunity for actions taken in their official role as president, the justices said they are not shielded from prosecution for things they do in their private capacity.

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Smith’s team is trying to make the case that Trump’s prosecution is not off limits because he was acting as a private candidate for office — not a commander in chief — when he schemed to overturn the will of voters. Prosecutors say Trump “must stand trial for his private crimes as would any other citizen.”

“Although the defendant was the incumbent President during the charged conspiracies, his scheme was fundamentally a private one,” prosecutors wrote.

“Working with a team of private co-conspirators, the defendant acted as a candidate when he pursued multiple criminal means to disrupt, through fraud and deceit, the government function by which votes are collected and counted—a function in which the defendant, as President, had no official role.”

How did we get here? The case’s long and winding road

The case was supposed to go to trial in March in Washington’s federal court but was put on hold last December so Trump could appeal his sweeping claims of presidential immunity. Trump had asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the case entirely, saying it the “Presidency itself cannot retain its vital independence, if the President faces criminal prosecution for official acts once he leaves office.”

While the Supreme Court didn’t dismiss the case, it effectively stripped from the indictment allegations involving Trump’s dealings with the Justice Department. And it sent the case back to Chutkan to determine which of the remaining allegations in the indictment involve official actions for which Trump may be immune from prosecution and which allegations, if any, can move forward to trial.

In August, Smith’s team filed a new indictment that kept the same criminal charges but narrowed the allegations in an attempt to comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling.

So what happens now?

Trump’s lawyers had objected to the filing, accusing prosecutors of wanting to publicize their “politically motivated manifesto” to hurt Trump’s campaign in the final weeks before the election.

The defense will now get a chance to respond to the arguments from Smith’s team. Trump’s response was due later this month, but Chutkan agreed to give the defense until Nov. 7 after they asked for an extension.

Meanwhile, Trump’s lawyers are continuing their efforts to have the case dismissed. The defense on Thursday filed court papers challenging the case on legal grounds, saying prosecutors stretched the laws “beyond their breaking point based on false claims that President Trump is somehow responsible for events at the Capitol.”

Trump’s lawyers have argued that the allegations in the indictment — including conversations with his vice president and pressing state officials on the administration of elections — cut to the core of Trump’s responsibilities as commander in chief. Trump attorney John Lauro told the judge during a hearing last month that the Supreme Court’s opinion required the outright dismissal of the case — a position the judge made clear she did not accept.

Even if the judge agrees with prosecutors, the case isn’t heading to trial anytime soon. Her rulings are expected to be appealed — likely all the way to the Supreme Court.

And if Trump defeats Vice President Kamala Harris, he could appoint an attorney general who would seek the dismissal of this case and the other federal prosecutions he faces. Or Trump could potentially order a pardon for himself.

New material for Democrats, but the political impact is uncertain

The filing gives Democrats new material to use as they campaign against Trump and offers voters a reminder of the allegations just a month out from Election Day, even as voting has already begun in some states.

Trump, too, has seized on the report, casting it as yet another effort by his rivals to try to hobble his campaign — complaints that have proven a powerful motivator for his base and a boon for his fundraising.

It’s unclear, though, what impact it will have on voters, given the wealth of detail about the 2020 campaign that has already been released as well as Trump’s multiple indictments. In polling, concerns about protecting democracy have typically lagged behind concerns about issues like the economy and inflation.

That includes a recent CNN poll that found 4 in 10 likely voters said the economy was their most important issue when deciding how to vote, versus about 2 in 10 who said it was protecting democracy.

The issue of protecting democracy appears to be more important for Democrats and voters already backing Harris. Roughly 4 in 10 voters who support Harris say it is their top issue. For Republicans and Trump supporters, about 6 in 10 name the economy as their top voting issue, followed by immigration. Just 5% of Trump supporters said protecting democracy was their top issue.

Associated Press reporters Jill Colvin in New York and Linley Sanders contributed to this report.

By CHRISTOPHER WEBER and JAIMIE DING

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Prosecutors in Los Angeles are reviewing new evidence in the case of Erik and Lyle Menendez to determine whether they should be serving life sentences for killing their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion more than 35 years ago, the city’s district attorney said Thursday.

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said during a news conference that attorneys for Erik Menendez, 53, and his 56-year-old brother, Lyle Menendez, have asked a court to vacate their conviction.

Gascón said there is no question the brothers committed the murders, but that his office will be reviewing new evidence and will make a decision on whether it warrants a resentencing. A hearing was scheduled for Nov. 29.

“We have not decided on an outcome. We are reviewing information,” Gascón said.

The new evidence presented in a petition includes a letter written by Erik Menendez that his attorneys say corroborates the allegations that he was sexually abused by his father. Gascón said he believes that the topic of sexual assault would have been treated with more sensitivity if the case had happened today.

Gascón said his office did not know the “validity” of what was presented at the trial.

“We will evaluate all of it,” said Gascón, who is seeking reelection and noted that more than 300 people have been resentenced during his term, and only four have gone on to commit a crime again.

Cliff Gardner, an attorney for the brothers, said they are pleased by the district attorney’s decision.

“Given today’s very different understanding of how sexual and physical abuse impacts children — both boys and girls — and the remarkable new evidence, we think resentencing is the appropriate result,” Gardner said in an email Thursday to The Associated Press. “The brothers have served more than 30 years in prison. That is enough.”

The case has gained new attention in recent weeks after Netflix began streaming the true-crime drama “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.”

In a statement on X posted by his wife, Erik Menendez called the show a “dishonest portrayal” of what happened that has taken them back to a time when prosecutors “built a narrative on a belief system that males were not sexually abused, and that males experience rape trauma differently from women.”

The brothers were given life sentences for fatally shooting their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in 1989.

Lyle, who was then 21, and Erik, then 18, admitted they fatally shot-gunned their entertainment executive father and their mother, but said they feared their parents were about to kill them to prevent the disclosure of the father’s long-term sexual molestation of Erik.

Prosecutors contended there was no evidence of any molestation. They said the sons were after their parents’ multimillion-dollar estate.

Jurors rejected a death sentence in favor of life without parole.

___

This story has been updated to correct the name of the Netflix true-crime drama on the Menendez brothers to “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” not “The Menendez Brothers.”

By COLLIN BINKLEY

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s latest attempt at student loan cancellation is free to move ahead — at least temporarily — after a judge in Georgia decided that a legal challenge should be handled by a court in Missouri.

Biden’s plan has been on hold since September after seven Republican-led states challenged it in federal court in Georgia. But on Wednesday, a federal judge decided not to extend the pause and instead dismissed Georgia from the lawsuit, finding that it lacked the legal right, or standing, to sue.

U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall opted to send the suit to Missouri, one of the remaining states in the case. On Thursday, those states filed a request asking the Missouri court to block the plan.

Without a new obstacle, the Biden administration could push the proposal toward the finish line as soon as Friday. The Education Department would be free to finalize a rule paving the way for cancellation, though it would likely take days or weeks to carry out.

Biden’s plan would cancel at least some student loan debt for an estimated 30 million borrowers.

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It would erase up to $20,000 in interest for those who have seen their original balances increase because of runaway interest. It would also provide relief to those who have been repaying their loans for 20 or 25 years, and those who went to college programs that leave graduates with high debt compared to their incomes.

Biden told the Education Department to pursue cancellation through a federal rulemaking process after the Supreme Court rejected an earlier plan using a different legal justification. That plan would have eliminated up to $20,000 for 43 million Americans.

The Supreme Court rejected Biden’s first proposal in a case brought by Republican states including Missouri, which now takes the lead in the latest lawsuit.

In his order Wednesday, Hall said Georgia failed to prove it was significantly harmed by Biden’s new plan. He rejected an argument that the policy would hurt the state’s income tax revenue, but he found that Missouri has “clear standing” to sue.

Missouri is suing on behalf of MOHELA, a student loan servicer that was created by the state and is hired by the federal government to help collect student loans. In the suit, Missouri argues that cancellation would hurt MOHELA’s revenue because it’s paid based on the number of borrowers it serves.

In their lawsuit, the Republican states argue that the Education Department had quietly been telling loan servicers to prepare for loan cancellation as early as Sept. 9, bypassing a typical 60-day waiting period for new federal rules to take effect.

The courts are now asking the Missouri court to act quickly saying the Education Department could “unlawfully mass cancel up to hundreds of billions of dollars in student loans as soon as Monday.”

Also joining the suit are Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, North Dakota and Ohio.

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