South Florida Local News

DETROIT — The shorthanded Miami Heat became even more shorthanded Sunday, with forward Jimmy Butler out against the Detroit Pistons due to a bruised right foot.

That latest news comes in the wake of the Heat ruling out forward Nikola Jovic on Saturday due to a strained right hamstring.

Those absences come with the Heat starting this four-game trip already without guard Tyler Herro and forward Kevin Love. Herro is dealing with ongoing tendinitis in his right foot, and Love is sidelined by a bruised right heel.

In addition to being without those four for Sunday’s matinee against the Pistons at Little Caesars Arena, the Heat also lost guard Josh Richardson earlier this month to season-ending shoulder surgery.

Sunday’s absence is the 20th of the season for Butler. He missed the third game of the season for rest, another game early in the season for personal reasons, two in November for an ankle sprain, four in December for calf strain, seven in January with a toe sprain, three in February for personal reasons, one in late February for a league suspension, and now the foot issue.

Since joining the Heat in the 2019 offseason, Butler, 34, has yet to play more than 64 regular-season games, his total last season.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Butler exited Friday night’s victory over the Pistons shortly after his foot was stepped on.

“Probably three or four minutes after the fact,” he said Sunday. “We’ll treat it day to day. His body will let us know.”

For Herro, Sunday was the 11th consecutive game missed, the last eight with the foot issue. He is expected to miss at least one more week, and possibly longer, after taking an injection to the foot last week.

Spoelstra said the hope was to be able to reintegrate Herro into the rotation before the end of the regular season.

“That’s the hope,” he said. “And he’s been making progress and we’ll treat him day to day, keep on making progress. Again, his body will let us know.”

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Love has missed the past nine games since Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton landed on his foot in the Heat’s Feb. 27 road victory.

For Jovic, Sunday is the first game missed this season due to injury.

“It happened in the second quarter.,” Spoelstra said of Jovic being hurt Friday. “That’s when he went out of the game. He was feeling a little bit better. But his body will let us know. We’re doing treatment pretty much around the clock with all of these guys.”

Lowry reunion

Monday night’s game in Philadelphia on the second night of this back-to-back set will have the Heat facing Kyle Lowry for the first time since the veteran point guard was dealt in January to the Charlotte Hornets for Terry Rozier. Lowry subsequently was bought out by the Hornets and signed by his hometown 76ers.

Lowry’s statistics with the 76ers largely have mirrored his numbers with the Heat this season. He is playing 28.5 minutes per game in his 11 appearances with the 76ers, averaging 7.9 points on .412 shooting from the field and .349 shooting on 3-pointers, with 5.2 assists per game. In his 37 appearances with the Heat, he averaged 8.2 points on .426 shooting from the field and .385 shooting on 3-pointers, with 4.0 assists per game.

Lowry and the 76ers also are scheduled to visit Kaseya Center on April 4 to conclude the four-game season series.

The 76ers continue to play in the injury absence of center Joel Embiid, who underwent knee surgery on Feb. 6, with it uncertain whether he will return this season.

Asked if he believed Embiid would be back before the postseason, 76ers coach Nick Nurse said Saturday, “I’m still hoping so and pretty confident, yes.”

Embiid, who tore the  meniscus in his left knee on Jan. 30, missed the teams’ first two meetings, a pair of Heat victories. The 76ers are 8-13 amid Embiid’s current absence.

Little relief

After the back-to-back set against the Pistons, the schedule largely is challenging for the Heat through the April 14 close of the regular season.

Starting Monday, the Heat’s next five games are against the teams with winning records, against the 76ers (37-30), Cleveland Cavaliers (42-25), New Orleans Pelicans (41-26), Cleveland Cavaliers again (42-25) and Golden State Warriors ((35-31).

In addition, the Heat also have games remaining against the New York Knicks (40-27), 76ers again (37-30) and Indiana Pacers (38-30).

I’ve been greatly concerned about the Dolphins’ pass rush.

As you know, edge rushers Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips are both recovering from season-ending injuries. Without their pass rush, the defense that finished No. 10 in the league and had a franchise-record 54 sacks last season isn’t nearly as effective.

But I have good news, Dolphins fans.

After consulting with a couple of qualified professionals — football players, not doctors — there’s reason to think Chubb and Phillips could both be healthy and in the starting lineup for the Dolphins’ season opener in early September.

Yes, both.

It’s optimistic, but totally possible.

I consulted newly signed tight end Jody Fortson and newly signed linebacker Jordyn Brooks.

Consider this…

— Returning from an Achilles injury generally takes between six and nine months. Fortson, while playing for Kansas City, returned from an Achilles injury in six months;

— Returning from an ACL injury generally takes between nine and 12 months. Brooks, while playing for Seattle, returned from an ACL injury in eight months.

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This is where things take an interesting turn.

If the Dolphins think it’s realistic both Chubb and Phillips are both healthy by opening day, that would mean they only need one more edge rusher, a mid-level guy, in free agency or the draft, someone to go along with recently-signed Shaq Barrett and provide depth. Think of the 2020 version of Andrew Van Ginkel, who had 5 1/2 sacks.

However, if the Dolphins don’t think it’s realistic both will be healthy by opening day, or that one of them won’t be 100% healthy until, say, midseason, that would mean they need a top-level guy, a high-profile free agent or a first- or second-round draft pick to supply additional pass-rushing punch. Think beyond Barrett, to perhaps the 2021 version of Phillips, the rookie who had 8 1/2 sacks. 

If you listen to Fortson and Brooks, the optimistic view of the Chubb and Phillips return is realistic.

Let’s do the math.

Phillips, who had 6 1/2 sacks last season, is recovering from an Achilles tendon injury he sustained at the New York Jets on Nov. 24. 

If Phillips returns in six months he’ll be back in May.

Chubb, who had 11 sacks last season, is recovering from an ACL injury he sustained at Baltimore on Dec. 31. 

If Chubb returns in eight months, he’ll be back in August.

Here’s even better news.

Fortson said he wasn’t just fit to return to practice in a short amount of time, he said he was 100% healthy in a short amount of time.

“I tore my Achilles on Oct. 17 of 2021, and I was back on the field that February, so I kind of felt 100% by OTAs,” he said of the Organized Team Activities that occur in April and proceed through June minicamp.

Brooks, a Christian who was wearing a T-shirt that said “Seek Jesus,” said divine intervention aided his speedy recovery.

“It was just praying, honestly,” he said. “It wasn’t anything I did. I did the normal rehab protocol all week, but I think it was just God, honestly, healing me in the manner that he did.” 

Here’s what really matters.

A study published a year ago in Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine regarding NFL players who sustained ACL injuries between 2013 and 2018 found that “NFL players are severely affected by ACL injury, with only 28.5% still active in the league 3 years after the injury. Running backs, defensive linemen, and linebackers performed the worst after injury.”

Will Chubb and Phillips be the same post-injury as they were pre-injury?

And how long will it take them to get to 100%?

Remember, every game counts for this Dolphins team that, considering its 7-10 road record under coach Mike McDaniel, badly needs a good regular season record to get a home playoff game.

At the same time, you don’t want to rush either Chubb or Phillips back. And that’s been the Dolphins’ trend with injuries, to give the players ample time. They had that lesson reinforced last season when they admittedly allowed center Connor Williams to return too early. He sustained a setback and had to miss more time.

So there’s sufficient evidence the Dolphins need to be conservative on these returns.

Forston doesn’t have any insight into Phillips’ injury or recovery. But he, such as Dolphins fans, is hoping for the best.

“I’m praying for him in his recovery,” Fortson said. “I hope it works for him.

“It didn’t take that long. I was back running in 4 1/2 months. It didn’t really take that long.”

 

By TIA GOLDENBERG and RAVI NESSMAN (Associated Press)

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu railed Sunday against growing criticism from top ally the United States against his leadership amid the devastating war with Hamas, describing calls for a new election as “wholly inappropriate.”

In recent days, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish official in the country and a strong Israel supporter, called on Israel to hold a new election, saying Netanyahu had “lost his way.” President Joe Biden expressed support for Schumer’s “good speech,” and earlier accused Netanyahu of hurting Israel because of the huge civilian death toll in Gaza.

Netanyahu told Fox News that Israel never would have called for a new U.S. election after the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001, and denounced Schumer’s comments as inappropriate.

“We’re not a banana republic,” he said. “The people of Israel will choose when they will have elections, and who they’ll elect, and it’s not something that will be foisted on us.”

When asked by CNN whether he would commit to a new election after the war ends, Netanyahu said that “I think that’s something for the Israeli public to decide.”

The U.S., which has provided key military and diplomatic support to Israel, also has expressed concerns about a planned Israeli assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where about 1.4 million displaced Palestinians are sheltering. The spokesman for the National Security Council, John Kirby, told Fox the U.S. still hasn’t seen an Israeli plan for Rafah.

The U.S. supports a new round of talks aimed at securing a cease-fire in exchange for the return of Israeli hostages taken in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack.

The Israeli delegation to those talks was expected to leave for Qatar after Sunday evening meetings of the Security Cabinet and War Cabinet, which will give directions for negotiations.

Despite the talks, Netanyahu made it clear he would not back down from the fighting that has killed more than 31,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials. More than five months have passed since Hamas’ attack on southern Israel killed 1,200 people and left another 250 hostage.

Earlier Sunday, Netanyahu said that calls for an election now — which polls show he would lose badly — would force Israel to stop fighting and paralyze the country for six months.

Netanyahu also reiterated his determination to attack Hamas in Rafah and said that his government approved military plans for such an operation.

“We will operate in Rafah. This will take several weeks, and it will happen,” he said. The operation is supposed to include the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of civilians, but it is not clear how Israel will do that.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi reiterated his warning that an Israeli ground offensive in Rafah would have “grave repercussions on the whole region.” Egypt says pushing Palestinians into the Sinai Peninsula would jeopardize its peace treaty with Israel, a cornerstone of regional stability.

“We are also very concerned about the risks a full-scale offensive in Rafah would have on the vulnerable civilian population. This needs to be avoided at all costs,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after meeting with el-Sissi.

And German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, after meeting with Netanyahu on Sunday, warned that “the more desperate the situation of people in Gaza becomes, the more this begs the question: No matter how important the goal, can it justify such terribly high costs, or are there other ways to achieve your goal?”

Germany is one of Israel’s closest allies in Europe and, given memories of the Holocaust, often treads carefully when criticizing Israel.

Alon Pinkas, a former Israeli consul-general in New York and an outspoken critic of Netanyahu, said that the prime minister’s comments fit with his efforts to find someone else to blame if Israel doesn’t achieve its goal of destroying Hamas.

“He’s looking on purpose for a conflict with the U.S. so that he can blame Biden,” Pinkas said.

Both sides have something to gain politically from the dispute. The Biden administration is under increasing pressure from progressive Democrats and some Arab-American supporters to restrain Israel’s war against Hamas. Netanyahu, meanwhile, wants to show his nationalist base that he can withstand global pressure, even from Israel’s closest ally.

But pressure also comes from home, with thousands protesting again in Tel Aviv on Saturday night against Netanyahu’s government and calling for a new election and a deal for the release of hostages. Large parts of the Israeli public want a deal, fearing that hostages are held in poor conditions and time is running out to bring them home alive.

Israel’s offensive has driven most of Gaza’s 2.3 million people from their homes. A quarter of Gaza’s population is starving, according to the U.N.

Airdrops by the U.S. and other nations continue, while deliveries on a new sea route have begun, but aid groups say more ground routes and fewer Israeli restrictions on them are needed to meet humanitarian needs in any significant way.

“Of course we should be bringing humanitarian aid by road. Of course by now we should be having at least two, three other entry points into Gaza,” chef José Andrés with World Central Kitchen, which organized the tons of food delivered by sea, told NBC.

The Gaza Health Ministry said at least 31,645 Palestinians have been killed in the war. The ministry doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count, but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead.

Israel says Hamas is responsible for civilian deaths because it operates in dense residential areas.

The Health Ministry on Sunday said that the bodies of 92 people killed in Israel’s bombardment had been brought to hospitals in Gaza in the past 24 hours. Hospitals also received 130 wounded, it said.

At least 11 people from the Thabet family, including five children and one woman, were killed in an airstrike in Deir al-Balah city in central Gaza, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society and an Associated Press journalist. The body of an infant lay among the dead.

___

Nessman reported from Jerusalem. Associated Press writer Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut contributed.

___

Find more of AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

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Whether you’re a seasoned professional, or just interested in grabbing some great shots in your spare time, a reliable tripod is a critical piece of gear that no outdoor photographer can do without. From keeping your camera steady in low-light environments to freeing your hands for fine adjustments, once you experience the benefits of working with a tripod, you’ll immediately understand why choosing the right one is so important.

What to look for in a tripod for outdoor photography

While just about any tripod will do for shoots in controlled indoor spaces with level floors, shooting outside poses unique challenges that require special consideration.

• Leg flexibility. Choose a tripod that lets you configure and lock its legs into as many positions as possible. This will keep your camera level and secure even while shooting on rocky ground or steep hills.
• Durability. Outdoor gear will get exposed to moisture, dust and dirt. Select a tripod made out of aluminum and rugged plastic that can tolerate the bumps and scratches of the field.
• Bag hook. Some tripods include a hook on their center post from which you can hang your camera bag. This lets you keep your hands free and prevents you from having to set your gear on the ground.
• Lightweight. While it’s true that heavier tripods are more stable, shooting outdoors means that you’ll be moving your gear around a lot. A light tripod is easier to hike with and lets you get into a shooting position faster.
• Height. Being unable to set your tripod up how you need it is an annoyance worth avoiding. The higher your tripod can go the better.
• Feet. Look for a tripod that features tough, rubberized feet that won’t get chipped or damaged from rough surfaces.
• Included accessories. To get the most bang for your buck, purchase a tripod that includes a ball head and mounting plates. You’ll need these for attaching your camera or phone.

Tripod types

The sheer amount of tripods available can be overwhelming, but they can be broken down into three main categories to make choosing the one for you easier:

• Professional tripods are the most expensive. They’re often made out of premium aluminum or carbon fiber and built to high standards. Marketed to established shutterbugs, pro-level tripods sometimes don’t include any mounting accessories.
• Hobbyist tripods are the best choice for most photographers. They aren’t built with the same level of quality as professional tripods, but they often include ball heads, mounting plates, storage bags and other equipment for less than half the cost.
• Mini and travel tripods are tiny, inexpensive and usually designed to accommodate a lightweight digital camera or smartphone. Some mini tripods feature flexible legs that you can use to mount them to railings or other objects to make up for their lack of extendable height.

Best tripods for pros

Peak Design Travel Tripod

This aluminum tripod can support up to 20 pounds and its center hook is great for keeping your camera bag or small backpack off the ground while you shoot. Triangular legs that fold up tightly to the diameter of a water bottle and an ultra-compact ball head make it easy to store.

Manfrotto Kit Three-Section Column Tripod

This rugged tripod features an advanced, innovative ball head for secure, flexible tilting and fine-tuning. It can reach up to 72 inches in height and includes an Easy Link attachment for using accessories such as LED lights or a reflector.

Manfrotto Aluminum Four-Section Tripod

You can fully extend this tripod with one hand, thanks to its locking levers that flip into position. With four leg angles, this tripod can adapt to almost any terrain and still keep your shot level.

Best tripods for hobbyists

K and F Concept 67-Inch Camera Tripod

Featuring a quick-release plate for swift assembly, this tripod can hold up to 22 pounds and can be configured for macro photography. Its upper mounting bar lets you swing your camera 360 degrees.

Vanguard Alta Pro 2+

With its multi-angle center column, connections for additional accessories and four individual leg positions, this tripod offers professional flexibility at a reasonable price. It includes a ball head and is made out of light but durable aluminum.

GEEKOTO 77-Inch Tripod

Packed with adjustment options and built for years of use, this tripod is an excellent choice for new photographers interested in buying gear that they can grow with. It can be converted into a monopod for quick shooting and easy hiking.

Best mini, travel and budget tripods

Neewer Mini Tripod for Camera

Small in size but big on configuration possibilities, this aluminum mini tripod is of higher quality than others in its category. Its legs can be extended for normal tripod use but they can also be folded together for using it as a selfie stick.

ULANZI Phone Tripod With Holder

This mini tripod’s flexible, rubberized legs can wrap around signs, trees and railings while maintaining a good grip. It features a built-in phone cradle and a screw on the side opens the door for additional small attachments.

BONFOTO Camera Tripod For Travel

At less than 3 pounds, this anodized aluminum tripod is built for stability without sacrificing portability.  It can extend to 53 inches in height but folds up to just a little over 14 and can even be configured for macro shoots.

Amazon Basics 50-Inch Lightweight Camera Mount Tripod

While lacking in features, this budget tripod is perfect for new photographers eager to get into the hobby without making a big investment. It weighs slightly more than a pound and features a quick-release plate.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

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As if Billy Napier doesn’t have enough to worry about.

Not only does the embattled Florida Gators football coach have to deal with pitchfork-wielding fans who want him fired …

Not only does he have to figure out a way to complete an Everest-like climb to elevate his struggling program to a point where it can somehow compete with colossus SEC rival Georgia …

Not only does he have to try to navigate the toughest schedule in the country in 2024 …

But in recent weeks, he’s had to grapple with UF icon Steve Spurrier questioning the direction of his program, fellow Gators icon Emmitt Smith excoriating UF’s diversity policies, and the NAACP advising Black student-athletes to think twice about signing with programs in Florida.

Let’s start with Spurrier, UF’s most legendary sports figure, recently calling out Napier’s organizational acumen in an interview with Florida Times-Union columnist Gene Frenette.

“There’s a feeling around the Gators of ‘What the heck are we doing?’ ” Spurrier said. “ … There’s a lot of questions that I don’t have the answers to about organization. … Just because you hire the most people doesn’t mean you’re going to win. All these extra people, I question how much that really helps.

“Billy is a good guy who works his tail off,” Spurrier added. “I like Billy, good family man. But we do wish the organization was a little bit more tidy.”

Nobody should be surprised that the tell-it-like-it-is Head Ball Coach gave an honest opinion when asked about Napier’s bloated support staff, but it’s certainly not the type of criticism Napier needs at this point. Besides, bloated support staffs are all the rage now in college football, where multi-million-dollar head coaches have been given a blank check to hire an army of assistants, analysts and quality-control personnel. Coming soon: Napier gets the green light to hire a cleat-cleaning specialist, a high-five consultant, a coffee-making coordinator and a director of cream-and-sugar dispersal.

However, Spurrier’s comments were tame and relatively harmless compared to a much more harsh criticism leveled by Smith and the NAACP, which all but told Black athletes to steer clear of the Gators (and all other state public universities).

The reason I put “and all other state public universities” in parentheses is because UF has seemingly become the sole flag bearer for a new state law championed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis that forced state universities to shut down their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. The legislation is part of DeSantis’ agenda aimed at eliminating “woke” policies in education, including critical race theory and DEI.

No matter where you sit politically on this issue, there’s no question it’s a prickly issue athletically considering the majority of college football and basketball players are Black. The problem for the Gators is the narrative that UF president Ben Sasse, a former Republican senator from Nebraska and a DeSantis ally, gleefully eliminated UF’s DEI program while other state schools like UCF and FSU have done so discreetly.

UF announced in a recent memo that the school had eliminated its chief diversity officer position and terminated 13 staff jobs and 15 administrative appointments. Shortly after UF’s decision was made public, DeSantis bragged on Twitter: “Florida is where DEI goes to die …”

In the aftermath, Smith — UF’s legendary running back, Pro Football Hall of Famer and the NFL’s all-time leading rusher — released a lengthy and emphatic rebuke of his alma mater.

“I’m utterly disgusted by UF’s decision,” Smith wrote. “… Instead of showing courage and leadership, we continue to fail based on systemic issues. With this decision, UF has conformed to the political pressures of today’s time. … To the MANY minority athletes at UF, please be aware and vocal about this decision by the University who is now closing the doors on other minorities without any oversight. And to those who think it’s not your problem and stay on the sidelines and say nothing, you are complicit in supporting systemic issues.”

The NAACP followed up by sending a letter to NCAA president Charlie Baker urging Black student-athletes to reconsider attending public universities in Florida. In addition, NAACP CEO Derrick Johnson released a statement in which he said, “Florida’s rampant anti-Black policies are a direct threat to the advancement of our young people and their ability to compete in a global economy. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are paramount [to] ensuring equitable and effective educational outcomes. The value Black and other college athletes bring to large universities is unmatched. If these institutions are unable to completely invest in those athletes, it’s time they take their talents elsewhere.”

It seems far-fetched to think the elimination of university DEI offices will lessen the commitment that state universities have to Black athletes but, still, the strongly worded NAACP letter and Smith’s denunciation of UF certainly could impact  Napier’s ability to successfully recruit.

Question: Are Sasse and UF more concerned about showing political support for DeSantis than athletic support for Napier?

In contrast, FSU and UCF have handled this politically and racially charged issue much more subtly.

For instance, FSU confirmed to the Tallahassee Democrat earlier this week that it, too, had shut down its DEI program, but said no program administrators or employees lost their jobs. According to the Democrat, FSU disbanded its DEI department “mainly by changing title names and reclassifying positions of employees who were already working in DEI to give them different roles.”

UCF, too, has quietly gone about abiding by the new state law without anybody really even knowing about it. When contacted earlier this week UCF acknowledged that “programs and expenditures not permitted under the law have been discontinued, and for example, we no longer have a Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. A refocused unit, Access and Community Engagement, provides programming while also continuing our efforts to support non-traditional student populations such as first-generation college students, military and veteran students, students with disabilities and varied abilities, and students with limited resources.”

Translation: UCF football coach Gus Malzahn and FSU football coach Mike Norvell  aren’t having to deal with the sea of criticism aimed at UF.

As this storm of political and racial scrutiny brews around the Gators, it sure seems like the challenges facing their football program extend far beyond the playing field.

As if Billy Napier doesn’t have enough to worry about.

Email me at mbianchi@orlandosentinel.com. Hit me up on X (formerly Twitter) @BianchiWrites and listen to my Open Mike radio show every weekday from 6 to 9:30 a.m. on FM 96.9, AM 740 and 969TheGame.com/listen

 

A man who died after being shot by Davie Police during a medical call at a home just after midnight Friday was not the recipient of the medical call, officials said Saturday. The resident of the home, who the call was about, has since been released from the hospital.

Three officers are now on administrative leave while the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigates.

About 12:30 a.m., Davie Police officers responded to a medical call about a resident at a home in the 14500 block of Southwest 24th Street, according to a news release.

When they arrived, they were “confronted” by the unidentified man, “at which time shots were fired and the subject was struck,” the release said. The man was taken to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Children were inside the home at the time but did not witness the shooting, Sgt. Kelvin Urbaez said in an update Saturday. The resident who was the reason police were originally at the home has since been released from the hospital.

It is unclear why the man who was shot was at the home or if he also lived there. Police did not have that information Saturday.

Davie Police Criminal Investigations and Internal Affairs detectives responded to investigate, along with FDLE, the lead agency investigating the shooting.

A man died after falling from a drawbridge in Pompano Beach Saturday afternoon, the Broward Sheriff’s Office confirmed.

No foul play is suspected, the Sheriff’s Office said. The Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy.

The bridge at 3000 Northeast 14th street was stuck in the up position and closed in both directions while BSO’s Homicide and Crime Scene detectives investigated, BSO said in a tweet a little after 5 p.m.

Deputies have not provided further details on how the man ended up falling from the bridge.

The Miami Dolphins were involved in a trade of linebackers.

Well, not technically, but the Dolphins and Seattle Seahawks essentially swapped players at the position this week.

Former Dolphins linebacker Jerome Baker went to the Seahawks as a free agent, according to agents Drew and Jason Rosenhaus on Saturday evening. Seattle is the same team that Miami free agent signing Jordyn Brooks came from.

Baker will play for a professional team other than the Dolphins for the first time in his career after spending the past six seasons in Miami.

The Dolphins released him March 5 for salary cap savings. They moved quickly to address the void in free agency, agreeing to terms with linebackers Brooks and Anthony Walker Jr. on Monday, the first day free agent contact and negotiations could take place per league rules.

Baker had 78 tackles, 1 ½ sacks, two interceptions and one returned for a touchdown in 13 games, 12 starts in 2023 for the Dolphins.

The 2018 third-round pick out of Ohio State collected 587 tackles, 22 ½ sacks, six forced fumbles, five interceptions, two touchdowns and 21 passes defensed in 94 games for the Dolphins.

Baker, although rarely injured in his years with Miami, is coming off missing time late last season with a knee injury and then hurting his wrist in his return for the regular-season finale against the Buffalo Bills, costing him the playoff game in what turned out to be his final season with the Dolphins.

Along with Baker, cornerbacks Xavien Howard and Keion Crossen and defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah were players released this offseason for cap relief.

The Miami defense also had defensive tackle Christian Wilkins go to the Las Vegas Raiders, outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel to the Minnesota Vikings, safety DeShon Elliott to the Pittsburgh Steelers, safety Brandon Jones to the Denver Broncos and nose tackle Raekwon Davis to the Indianapolis Colts in free agency. The Dolphins have filled most of their holes with signings of their own for a revamped defense under new coordinator Anthony Weaver.

The Dolphins are scheduled for a road game in Seattle in 2024.

Anthony Kincy had some big news he needed to share with his family.

After a quick group chat with his brother, two sisters and parents, he gathered everyone on FaceTime and told them he was returning home to Florida.

In a few weeks, he would be the director of football strength and conditioning at UCF.

“They were excited,” Kincy recently told the Orlando Sentinel. “Coming back home is special.”

After living in Arkansas, Alabama, and Tennessee, Kincy is back in the Sunshine State and is reunited with his former coach, Gus Malzahn.

KJ Jefferson out to prove himself to UCF teammates, coaches

The move for his parents, Alex and Alfredia, who live in St. Petersburg, means being closer to their son and grandson. Kincy’s twin brother lives in Portland, Oregon, while his two sisters live in Dallas.

“I think they were more excited that their first grandson is coming closer to home,” Kincy joked.

Sports have always played a significant role in the Kincy family.

Anthony and his brother, Aaron, played multiple sports, including football, while his sisters participated in track and soccer. His parents were also athletes, and his father, Alex, played football at a small college in Iowa.

But Anthony’s path in football wasn’t straightforward.

He broke his hand during his senior year at high school and wound up at Butte College, a junior college in California. With the Roadrunners, the 6-foot, 232-pound tight end earned all-conference honors before transferring to Arkansas State.

Kincy was first introduced to Malzahn when he was hired at Arkansas State in 2012.

Family is an important aspect of Anthony Kincy’s life and as UCF’s new director of football strength and conditioning, he hopes to build more than just muscle but relationships with the players. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

The senior-to-be spent the previous season as a halfback/tight end role for the Red Wolves under coach Hugh Freeze, who left to take the head coaching job at Ole Miss. That opened the door for new athletic director Terry Mohajir to hire Malzahn, who had spent the previous two seasons as offensive coordinator at Auburn.

“We were fortunate to have coach Malzahn come in,” said Kincy. “He just brought that SEC-like mentality. He changed the trajectory of Arkansas State.”

Kincy finished with 11 catches for 98 yards and a touchdown in his final season.

Malzahn would lead Arkansas State to a 9-3 record before leaving to return to Auburn to become the Tigers’ new head coach.

For Kincy, the future was uncertain.

However, a talk with his strength and conditioning coach, Ryan Russell, would put him on his current career path.

“He said, ‘Kincy, what do you plan on doing when you graduate?’” Kincy recalled. “I want to train for Pro Day and go to the NFL. He said, ‘If the NFL doesn’t fall onto your plate, what do you want to do?’”

Knights open spring camp looking to improve in Year 2 of Big 12

Kincy said he would probably return home, follow in his father’s footsteps, and become a fireman. Alex Kincy has spent more than three decades as a firefighter for St. Petersburg.

Russell, who was joining Malzahn’s new coaching staff at Auburn, had other plans.

“What do you think about joining me as a GA [graduate assistant]? Coach Malzahn just offered me the head strength coach job at Auburn and I would love for you to be a part of that program,” Kincy said.

Kincy had not considered a career as a strength coach, but Russell’s impact on his life and the lives of others made the decision easy.

“I would love it if I could impact 18- to 22-year-olds like he did,” he said.

Kincy spent the next eight years at Auburn, working his way into becoming an assistant strength coach. Following Malzahn’s departure at the end of the 2020 season, he was hired at the University of Tennessee.

“The first day I was hired, they let go of Coach [Jeremy] Pruitt,” said Kincy. “And I was thinking, what am I going to do now? But it worked out because [new coach] Josh Heupel met with me and said I would love for you to be a part of our strength staff.”

UCF spring football: How does new QB KJ Jefferson fit in with Knights?

But Kincy always stayed in contact with Malzahn, mainly through text messages.

Eventually, the two would reconnect in person when Kincy was in town as Tennessee prepared to take on Iowa in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Day. The Volunteers happened to be using UCF’s Nicholson Fieldhouse as a practice site.

“He called me while I was on the bus [heading to practice], and he was like, ‘I see all your other strength coaches here. Where are you?’” Kincy said. “I told him I was on the way, and as soon as I got there, he asked me how I was doing. He just wanted to check up on me. I hadn’t seen him since our time at Auburn.”

The pair would trade phone conversations after the bowl season before Malzahn eventually made an offer.

“There’s no doubt he’s a rising star,” said Malzahn. “He played for me, and you could see he differed from many of the guys. He understands what I expect; he understands our philosophy. We’re all on the same page.”

It’s been almost 10 weeks since Kincy arrived in Orlando and while it was a bit overwhelming initially, he’s settled relatively quickly. After establishing a staff, Kincy worked to introduce himself and his philosophy to the players.

“When they first come in, we show them the techniques and walk them through our steps to see what we want and expect from an urgency standpoint to a technique standpoint,” said Kincy. “This year is unique because everybody is new to me. Next year, around this time, I’ll have incoming freshmen, incoming transfers, and the guys who have been here.”

Because of his familiarity with Malzahn and many of the coaches on staff, Kincy would find himself tuning into many of UCF’s games last season, the Knights’ first in the Big 12.

UCF releases 2024 spring football roster, new jersey numbers

While watching the games, something stood out to him.

“They [UCF] were up big and then would lose games at the end,” Kincy said.

UCF finished with a 6-7 record, with three losses decided by two or fewer points. The Knights were tied or leading in the second half of five of those seven games before losing in the fourth quarter.

“So, for me, it is teaching these guys just how to finish and how to have some emotional consistency,” said Kincy. “Don’t get too high on the highs, and don’t get too low on the lows. You’ll be able to finish that out.”

“He’s helping us build the mentality, that toughness that we lacked a little bit in the Big 12 last season,” said defensive tackle Ricky Barber. “He’s from the SEC, bringing that mentality here and making us tougher. We’re finding that second gear, and he’s helping us develop that.”

Players have been raving about Kincy’s impact, not just on the field but in their lives.

“Everybody loves him, and they are connecting well with him,” added receiver Xaviers Townsend. “He also connects with the younger players.”

For Kincy, it all comes down to a simple equation: E+R=O.

“Events happen in your life that you can’t control. That’s the E. The R stands for how you respond. How you respond to things you can’t control equals the outcome. That’s the equation for success,” explains Kincy.

Family always plays a big part in Kincy’s life, and this carries over to his work.

His 12-year-old son, Amaud, is in honors classes and has a 4.0 grade-point average. He also plays baseball, basketball and football. He was on the same sixth-grade football team as Heupel’s son, Jace.

Kincy wants his players to feel they can come to him with whatever issues they face.

“My door is always open; they can come in and talk to me,” he said. “I don’t want them to look at me as a drill sergeant. I want these guys calling me three years down the road, 10 years down the road, ‘Coach, I want you to see my son because I remember you brought your son around the complex.

“I want them to be proud husbands, fathers, and productive citizens of this society,” said Kincy.

Matt Murschel can be reached at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com

The Miami Dolphins are bringing back wide receiver and return specialist Braxton Berrios in 2024, according to multiple league sources.

Berrios’ deal is for one year and $3 million, according to agents Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey on Saturday.

Following his first season back in Miami after a four-year college career with the Hurricanes, Berrios cashes in for another year of handling kicks and punts for the Dolphins while also providing a depth option at wide receiver behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle who can contribute in the slot.

Berrios posted an image on Instagram of him carrying the football in a Dolphins uniform last season with the caption, “Unfinished business… RUN IT BACK.”

Last season, Berrios’ 27 receptions were tied for fourth on the team and his 238 receiving yards were fifth. He also caught a touchdown pass.

In the return game, the sure-handed Berrios (5-9, 185 pounds) averaged 10.2 yards on 23 punt returns and 24.5 yards on 18 kick returns.

Berrios, 28, spent the previous four seasons before joining the Dolphins with the New York Jets. His rookie year, in 2018, was spent as a practice squad member with the New England Patriots, who drafted him in the sixth round that year.

Berrios had 14 touchdowns in his college career at UM, including nine his senior season in 2017.

The Dolphins will need more wide receivers to fill out the unit behind Hill and Waddle after Cedrick Wilson Jr. fled to the New Orleans Saints in free agency. They also have River Cracraft, Chase Claypool and Robbie Chosen as free agents this offseason. Chosen reportedly visited with the team Friday.

They return 2022 fourth-round draft pick Erik Ezukanma, have Anthony Schwartz and Braylon Sanders, practice squad players in 2023, on board and signed Matthew Sexton early in the offseason to compete for a roster spot.

WASHINGTON — Luis Suárez scored the go-ahead goal in the 72nd minute and added a spectacular insurance tally in the 85th minute, lifting Inter-Miami to a 3-1 victory over DC United on Saturday, despite the absence of Lionel Messi.

Messi was held out of Sunday’s 3-2 MLS loss to Montreal and was subbed off early in the second half of Wednesday’s 3-1 victory over Nashville in the Concacaf Champions Cup second leg. Messi is reportedly resting a right leg injury.

Suárez did not start on Saturday but subbed in at the 62nd minute. It took him only 10 minutes to connect on the go-ahead goal, scoring with a left-footed shot from close range to the bottom left corner. The goal was assisted by Leonardo Campana following a fast break.

Suárez struck again in the 85th minute when he left-footed a shot from the center of the box to the high center of the goal, United keeper Alex Bono only able to barely deflect the ball as it landed just beyond the goal line.

With Messi sidelined and Suárez not in the starting lineup, United took an early advantage. Jared Stroud scored when he delivered a right-footed shot from the right side of the box to the top left corner in the 14th minute. The assist went to Mateusz Klich.

Inter Miami countered in the 24th minute on Leonardo Campana’s left-footed shot from the center of the box to the bottom left corner. The assist went to Federico Redondo.

D.C. United’s Pedro Santos drew a red card in the final minute of regular time.

Drake Callender made six saves in goal for first-place Miami (3-1-1), and Bono stopped four for United (1-0-3).

___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

• The Fort Lauderdale St. Patrick’s Parade and Festival heads east on Las Olas Blvd. on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Crowds cheer on the Fort Lauderdale St. Patrick’s Parade and Festival as it heads east on Las Olas Blvd. on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• The crowd dressed up for the Fort Lauderdale St. Patrick’s Parade on Las Olas Blvd. on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• The crowd cheered on the Fort Lauderdale St. Patrick’s Parade on Las Olas Blvd. on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• The crowd cheered on the Fort Lauderdale St. Patrick’s Parade on Las Olas Blvd. on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• The crowd cheered on the Fort Lauderdale St. Patrick’s Parade on Las Olas Blvd. on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• The crowd cheered on the Fort Lauderdale St. Patrick’s Parade on Las Olas Blvd. on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• The crowd cheered on the Fort Lauderdale St. Patrick’s Parade on Las Olas Blvd. on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• The crowd cheered on the Fort Lauderdale St. Patrick’s Parade on Las Olas Blvd. on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• The crowd cheered on the Fort Lauderdale St. Patrick’s Parade on Las Olas Blvd. on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• The crowd cheered on the Fort Lauderdale St. Patrick’s Parade on Las Olas Blvd. on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• The crowd cheered on the Fort Lauderdale St. Patrick’s Parade on Las Olas Blvd. on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• The crowd cheered on the Fort Lauderdale St. Patrick’s Parade on Las Olas Blvd. on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• The crowd cheered on the Fort Lauderdale St. Patrick’s Parade on Las Olas Blvd. on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

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Three people were hospitalized after a triple shooting in Deerfield Beach Friday night, deputies say.

A little after 9:30 p.m., Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies and Broward Fire Rescue responded to reports of a shooting in the 200 block of Northwest Eller Street, according to spokesperson Carey Codd. There, they found three people with gunshot wounds.

All three were taken to a nearby hospital, Codd said. BSO’s Violent Crimes and Crime Scene detectives were investigating Saturday.

Anyone with information should call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.

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

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Reddit said Friday that the Federal Trade Commission has opened an inquiry into the social media platform’s sale, licensing or sharing of its users’ posts and other content to outside organizations for use in training artificial intelligence models.

The company disclosed the inquiry Friday in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that cited a letter from the FTC dated Thursday.

“Given the novel nature of these technologies and commercial arrangements, we are not surprised that the FTC has expressed interest in this area,” Reddit wrote in the filing. “We do not believe that we have engaged in any unfair or deceptive trade practice.”

Like many other social media platforms, Reddit has expressed interest in business deals where AI companies pay to access databases of human-written text that AI models can use to refine their ability to converse, answer questions and produce written work and images on request.

Almost a month ago, Reddit announced a $60 million deal with Google for exactly that purpose. That arrangement will also give Reddit access to Google AI models for improving its internal site search and other features. Reddit declined to comment or answer questions beyond a written statement about the deal.

Friday’s disclosure comes as Reddit prepares to sell shares to the public for the first time. The San Francisco-based company on Monday filed paperwork that projected a price for its initial public offering valuing the 18-year-old platform at up to $6.4 billion.

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE (Associated Press)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris and rapper Fat Joe led a White House discussion Friday on easing marijuana penalties, with Harris saying it’s “absurd” that the federal government classifies marijuana as more dangerous than fentanyl, the synthetic opioid blamed for tens of thousands of deaths annually the United States.

Harris, a former state prosecutor in California, also criticized the federal classification of cannabis as “patently unfair.” The government currently is reviewing how it classifies marijuana, and Harris urged that the process be wrapped up as quickly as possible.

Fat Joe, a Grammy-nominated artist and philanthropist whose real name is Joseph Cartagena, moderated a subsequent closed-door discussion that included Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and individuals who received pardons for prior marijuana convictions.

President Joe Biden has issued pardons to thousands of people for federal marijuana possession and commuted long sentences handed down for nonviolent drug offenses. In 2022, he urged governors to pardon state offenses. Beshear then invited people convicted of simple marijuana possession to apply for pardons in Kentucky. Biden launched the process to review how marijuana is classified in 2022.

A full seven in 10 U.S. adults favor legalizing marijuana, according to Gallup polling. Support for legalization is closer to eight in 10 among 18- to 34-year-olds, a demographic whose support for Biden, who is seeking reelection, has softened since he took office.

“I cannot emphasize enough that they need to get to it as quickly as possible and we need to have a resolution based on their findings and their assessment,” Harris said of the Departments of Health and Human Services and Justice, which are handling the review.

“But this issue is stark when one considers the fact that on the schedule currently marijuana is considered as dangerous as heroin,” she said during the public portion of the meeting. “Marijuana is considered as dangerous as heroin and more dangerous than fentanyl, which is absurd. Not to mention patently unfair.”

“So I’m sure DEA is working as quickly as possible and will continue to do so and we look forward to the product of their work,” the vice president said, referring to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid blamed for tens of thousands of deaths annually in America.

U.S. regulators are studying reclassifying marijuana shifting it from a drug that has “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse,” known as “Schedule I,” to the less tightly regulated “Schedule III.”

Biden mentioned the marijuana classification review during his State of the Union address earlier this month. He said during a campaign appearance in Milwaukee this week that “no one should be jailed for marijuana.”

“If you’re just using, you should have that wiped off your record,” Biden said.

Cartagena opened the roundtable by saying he’s hot on the issue of price transparency in health care “but, today, when the vice president calls me, I stop everything.”

He got a little ahead of himself when he proceeded to dismiss journalists so the closed-door discussion could begin, prompting Harris to tell him to “hold on” because she had a statement to make, too.

The Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office has dropped the charges against all five Palm Beach Central High School staff members accused of failing to report the sexual assault of a student, declaring that a systemic lack of knowledge of the mandatory reporting law throughout the school district has made the case more difficult to prosecute.

The last-minute decision Friday came just days before a jury trial was set to begin. But prosecutors say “recent developments” revealed that the victim could not remember important details, while the staff members accused — including the Wellington school’s principal and two assistant principals, one of whom is the father of the accused assailant — consistently received conflicting information about mandatory reporting laws.

“It is apparent that School Board training has not sufficiently emphasized mandatory reporting requirements,” Marc Freeman, a spokesperson for the State Attorney’s Office, said in a statement Friday. “It appears that not one person up and down the chain of command had knowledge of this law.”

At one point, prosecutors say, a school district administrator, who did not report the assault but wasn’t charged, also gave instructions to the principal that did not include reporting the assault.

The five charged last July were Principal Darren Edgecomb; Assistant Principal Daniel Snider; Assistant Principal Nereyda De Garcia; the school’s behavioral therapist, Priscilla Carter; and the chorus teacher, Scott Houchins.

Snider’s case was dismissed in December by Judge Scott Suskauer, who said that Florida’s mandatory reporting law does not require people to report sexual assault they do not suspect actually occurred. The State Attorney’s Office had appealed the decision but is no longer pursuing the case.

Freeman said in the statement that the victim “is now unable to recall material aspects of the events at issue.”

“Not only does this greatly reduce any reasonable likelihood of success, it would not be in the best interest of the child to be subjected to the rigors of cross-examination during five separate trials,” he said.

Related Articles

• Crime and Public Safety | Palm Beach Central High staff members plead not guilty to failure to report sexual assault
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The alleged assault occurred close to three years ago, in April 2021, according to police records. The girl told detectives that she and a friend had met up with two boys at Lake Worth Beach, one of whom forcibly touched her multiple times that day while she said no.

Her parents had declined to pursue criminal charges against the boy for their daughter’s “emotional health,” the affidavit states.

The five staff members later heard about the assault through various means: Some received a letter written by a classmate whom the victim told; others from a friend who witnessed the assault. The victim spoke to the school counselor and gave a statement to the principal. No one reported it, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Edgecomb later informed the girl’s parents that he had “conducted his own investigation” into the incident and decided it didn’t happen, according to court records.

Carter, the school therapist, had told police during the investigation that Edgecomb had spoken to Karen Whetsell, his supervisor, who had told him to type out the content of the letter. The investigation then went to the school district level.

The ambiguity of the district’s policy on mandatory reporting also lowered the chance of a successful prosecution, Freeman said: “School Board reporting policy is conflicting, ambiguous and unclear regarding allegations of abuse involving only minors.”

Related Articles

• Crime and Public Safety | Palm Beach Central High staff members plead not guilty to failure to report sexual assault
• Crime and Public Safety | Boy accused of assault at Palm Beach Central High was relative of assistant principal, report says
• Crime and Public Safety | ‘Gross miscarriage of justice’? Judge dismisses case against Palm Beach County assistant principal in failure to report sexual assault

In addition to the district administrator, he said, a school district police officer who saw the victim give her statement also did not report it.

“Combined, these factors effectively remove the chance of a successful prosecution at trial,” Freeman wrote. “While we strongly believe that the rights of sexual abuse victims must be protected, the prosecutions in this matter must come to an end. The family of the victim has been consulted and agrees with our decision to end the prosecution.”

Some of the confusion over the law at both the district level and beyond has stemmed from the question of whether people should only report allegations they believe. When Suskauer dismissed Snider’s case, he wrote that the law requires someone who hears about an assault to become “a fact finder of sorts,” determining what accusations are credible. The School Board also requires staff to conduct their own investigation, Edgecomb’s attorney had argued.

Meanwhile, State Sen. Lauren Book, a proponent and lead architect of the law, criticized Suskauer’s analysis, describing it as a “miscarriage of justice.”

“That’s why DCF and law enforcement exist,” she told the Sun Sentinel back in December. “If something comes across my desk and I suspect a child is being harmed in some way, it is my duty and responsibility to report that so proper authorities can go and investigate it. I’m not a child investigator.”

All five staff members were reassigned following their arrests in July to positions that did not have student contact, the district said. It is unclear whether they will now return to their positions; the district did not respond to inquiries after hours Friday.

Snider was working in the district’s Transportation Department as of November, while Edgecomb was placed in the Maintenance and Plant Operations office.

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

By JILL COLVIN (Associated Press)

NEW YORK (AP) — Former Vice President Mike Pence says he will not be backing Donald Trump in the 2024 election.

“It should come as no surprise that I will not be endorsing Donald Trump this year,” Pence said in an interview with Fox News Channel Friday, weighing in for the first time since the former president became the presumptive GOP nominee. Pence ran against Trump for their party’s nomination but dropped his bid before voting began last year.

The decision makes Pence the latest in a series of senior Trump administration officials who have declined to endorse their former boss’s bid to return to the Oval Office. While Republican members of Congress and other GOP officials have largely rallied behind Trump, a vocal minority has continued to oppose his bid.

It also marks the end of a metamorphosis for Pence, who had long been seen as one of Trump’s most loyal defenders but broke with his two-time running mate by refusing to go along with Trump’s unconstitutional scheme to try to remain in power after losing the 2020 election. When Trump’s supporters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, trying to disrupt the certification of Joe Biden’s win, Pence was forced to flee to a Senate loading dock as rioters chanted, “Hang Mike Pence!” outside.

In order to participate in the Republican primary debates, Pence was required to sign a pledge saying that he would support the party’s eventual nominee. And during the first debate in Milwaukee, Pence was among the candidates who raised their hands when asked whether they would support Trump even if he were convicted in one of his four criminal indictments.

But Pence had made clear he had come to harbor serious reservations about Trump’s actions and his policy stances.

“I believe anyone that puts themselves over the Constitution should never be president of the United States and anyone who asks someone else to put them over the Constitution should never be president of the United States again,” he said during his campaign launch speech.

As the campaign progressed, he raised alarms about the party’s resistance to sending aid to Ukraine and called on his fellow Republicans to reject what he called the “siren song of populism” espoused by Trump and his followers.

In the Fox interview, Pence said he was “incredibly proud” of his and Trump’s record in office, but said, “During my presidential campaign I made it clear that there were profound differences between me and President Trump on a range of issues, and not just our difference on my Constitutional duties that I exercised on January the 6th.”

“I mean, as I have watched his candidacy unfold, I’ve seen him walking away from our commitment to confronting the national debt. I’ve seen him starting to shy away from a commitment to the sanctity of human life,” he went on, also referencing what he called Trump’s “reversal on getting tough on China and supporting our administration’s effort to force” the sale of the popular TikTok app.

“In each of these cases, Donald Trump is pursuing and articulating an agenda that is at odds with the conservative agenda that we governed on during our four years. And that’s why I cannot in conscience endorse Donald Trump in this campaign,” he said.

Pence declined to say whom he would be voting for — “I’m going to keep my vote to myself,” he said — but made clear it wouldn’t be Biden.

“I would never vote for Joe Biden,” he said. “I’m a Republican.”

By LINDSAY WHITEHURST (Associated Press)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Trump White House official Peter Navarro appealed to the Supreme Court Friday to allow him to stay out of prison as he appeals his contempt of Congress conviction.

Navarro is due to report to a federal prison next week, after an appeals court ruled that his appeal wasn’t likely to overturn his conviction for refusing to cooperate with a congressional investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Navarro has maintained that he couldn’t cooperate with the committee because former President Donald Trump had invoked executive privilege. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, barred him from making that argument at trial, finding that he didn’t show Trump had actually invoked it.

The emergency application comes as the Supreme Court separately prepares to hear arguments on whether Trump himself has presidential immunity from charges alleging he interfered in the 2020 election.

Navarro was the second Trump aide convicted of misdemeanor contempt of Congress charges. Former White House adviser Steve Bannon previously received a four-month sentence but was allowed to stay free pending appeal by U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, who was appointed by Trump.

Navarro was found guilty of defying a subpoena for documents and a deposition from the House Jan. 6 committee and sentenced to four months in prison. He served as a White House trade adviser under then-President Donald Trump and later promoted the Republican’s baseless claims of mass voter fraud in the 2020 election he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.

UCF has received a verbal commitment for its 2025 recruiting class from four-star defensive back Tony Williams.

Williams, a West Palm Beach native, is the third four-star commitment the Knights have received for their 2025 class. The senior-to-be is the second-highest-ranked player among the five pledges and joins Kendarius Reddick (ATH), Taevion Swint (RB), Jaquez Joiner (OL) and Santonyo Isaac (WR).

The 6-foot-2, 180-pounder played receiver, safety and cornerback for Palm Beach Central. According to MaxPreps, he appeared in 25 games and totaled 47 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, and 8 interceptions. He also had 129 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Williams is the 19th-ranked athlete in the 2025 class and the 55th overall athlete in the state.

He has received offers from Arkansas, Florida State, Kentucky, Penn State, Pittsburgh, USF, and USC.

Before Williams’ commitment, UCF had the No. 25 overall recruiting class, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings.

The Knights are coming off signing their highest-ranked recruiting class in school history. According to 247 Sports’ composite rankings, the 2024 group ranked No. 38 overall. The class was third overall in the Big 12 behind Texas Tech (25) and TCU (34).

All verbal commitments are non-binding but can become official during the early signing period in December.

Matt Murschel can be reached at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com