South Florida Local News

Here are the top stories for Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025. Get the weather forecast for today here.

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Galleria Mall could be replaced by nine 30-story towers, hotel and affordable housing

FAU faculty voice concern about investigations into educators’ Charlie Kirk comments

Dolphins Deep Dive: Perkins, Hyde discuss McDaniel’s possible firing and answer your questions Tuesday at noon

Don’t miss out: Your essential guide to South Florida film festivals this season

Discount airlines changed flying. Now they’re in trouble

Dave Hyde: The ’72 Dolphins win again — and Larry Little shows it’s more than a football story

Broward sheriff removed from prosecutors’ list of witnesses with potential credibility issues

FPL’s high-stakes hearing kicks off: Will customers’ bills go up in the coming years?

Travel Troubleshooter: Help! I canceled a trip, but travel insurance won’t pay my claim

Miss Manners: They get snippy if I don’t give them likes on every little thing

Today is Tuesday, Oct. 7, the 280th day of 2025. There are 85 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Oct. 7, 1998, Matthew Shepard, a gay college student, was beaten and left tied to a wooden fencepost outside of Laramie, Wyoming; he died five days later. Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney are serving life sentences for Shepard’s murder.

Also on this date:

In 1765, the Stamp Act Congress convened in New York to draw up colonial grievances against England.

Related Articles

• Google’s Play Store shake-up looms after Supreme Court refuses to delay overhaul of the monopoly
• Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ lawyers want him sent to a New Jersey federal prison that offers drug treatment
• Authorities shoot and kill black bear believed to have fatally mauled man in Arkansas
• EF5 tornado that killed 3 in North Dakota was the nation’s first in 12 years
• US Treasury sanctions Mexican companies accused of aiding Sinaloa cartel’s fentanyl production

In 1913, the first moving assembly line began operation at the Ford Motor Company factory in Highland Park, Michigan.

In 1916, in the most lopsided victory in college football history, Georgia Tech defeated Cumberland University 222-0 in Atlanta.

In 1985, Palestinian gunmen hijacked the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro (ah-KEE’-leh LOW’-roh) in the Mediterranean Sea. The hijackers shot and killed Leon Klinghoffer, a Jewish American tourist in a wheelchair, and pushed him overboard, before surrendering on Oct. 9.

In 1992, trade representatives of the United States, Canada and Mexico initialed the North American Free Trade Agreement during a ceremony in San Antonio, Texas, in the presence of President George H.W. Bush, Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari.

In 2001, war in Afghanistan started as the United States and Britain launched air attacks against military targets and Osama bin Laden’s training camps in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. The U.S. military completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan to end the 20-year war on Aug. 30, 2021.

In 2003, California voters recalled Gov. Gray Davis and elected Arnold Schwarzenegger their new governor.

In 2023, Hamas launched air and ground attacks on Israel, killing nearly 1,200 and taking more than 250 hostages. The attacks, followed hours later by Israeli counterattacks, marked the beginning of the current Israel-Hamas War.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Author Thomas Keneally is 90.
• Singer John Mellencamp is 74.
• Rock musician Tico Torres (Bon Jovi) is 72.
• Cellist Yo-Yo Ma is 70.
• Recording executive and TV personality Simon Cowell is 66.
• Singer-actor Toni Braxton is 58.
• Rock singer-musician Thom Yorke (Radiohead) is 57.
• Actor Nicole Ari Parker is 55.
• Football Hall of Famer Charles Woodson is 49.
• Singer Taylor Hicks is 49.
• Actor Omar Miller is 47.
• MLB outfielder Mookie Betts is 33.

The Prime Big Deal Days event is Oct. 7-8 this year. It’s like the little brother of Amazon’s actual Prime Day sale (in July), with pages of Prime member-exclusive deals to sift through.

Related Articles

• Google’s Play Store shake-up looms after Supreme Court refuses to delay overhaul of the monopoly
• Solar and wind power has grown faster than electricity demand this year, report says
• Why fears of a trillion-dollar AI bubble are growing
• Transportation Secretary says government shutdown adds stress on air traffic controllers
• Galleria Mall could be replaced by nine 30-story towers, hotel and affordable housing

Amazon bills this as a holiday shopping event, but, for deal-conscious consumers, it’s simply a good time to get a price break on popular products.

“I like to say it’s a buyer’s market around this time of year,” says Trae Bodge, the shopping expert at TrueTrae.com.

That’s because it’s not just Amazon rolling out deals. Target’s Circle Week sale is Oct. 5-11, and the Walmart Deals event is Oct. 7-12. Best Buy’s members-only event runs now through Oct. 5.

As you gear up for deal days, it’s important to think about what you need, check prices and set your shopping budget. We’ll help you consider which categories to buy or skip.

Why big sales matter

“Sale moments like this are more important than ever for consumers on a budget,” says Bodge.

Average consumer prices were up 2.9% year-over-year in August, according to the latest inflation data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but in general, everything feels expensive right now.

In the United States, 43% of consumers reported rising prices as their biggest concern, followed by tariff policies (29%), in the McKinsey ConsumerWise Global Sentiment Survey. The data was collected in April-May 2025 and the list of choices included immigration, political polarization, climate change and other key issues.

While cheaper meat and milk would be great, a good price on a new vacuum may have to tide you over.

Early deals are in effect

On Amazon, we’ve spotted worthy “early deals” on items like the Roku streaming stick, a pack of Crest 3D Whitestrips, a Dyson bladeless fan, a vintage-looking cooler from Coleman and a 75-inch LG QNED TV.

If what you want isn’t on sale yet, save the item in your wish list and note the pre-sale price (take a screenshot, even). Refer to that — or a price tracker — when it’s time to buy.

What to buy on Prime Big Deal Days

There are several categories you can count on for deals as you build your shopping list. Based on our coverage of past Prime Day sales, we have a hunch the ‘product we’re watching’ listed below each category will see a price break. Take note of these current prices now so you’ll be able to spot a good deal when you see one.

Toys

Knocking out toy purchases is a logical way to get ahead of the holiday curve, says Bodge. And according to Amazon’s press materials, you can expect deals on the brands kids love, like Lego, Fisher-Price, Magna-Tiles and Tonies. Kids like bikes, scooters and board games, too. With toys, you can buy now and save for Christmas.

Product we’re watching: Magna-Tiles classic 100-piece set (Amazon price at the time of writing: $119.99).

Name-brand tech (like Apple)

Prime Day sales are known for good deals on gadgets, and Amazon often sells Apple products cheaper than Apple does. The regular price of the just-released AirPods Pro 3 earbuds is $249, for example, but Amazon may take a few bucks off this hot new product for the sale.

Check out AirPods Pro 2 (still available on Amazon at the time of writing) or AirPods 4 for the chance to save more. Look for deals from other popular brands, such as Beats, Sony, Samsung, LG and Sonos. Reputable tech brands would be remiss to skip a sale with this much attention.

Product we’re watching: Apple iPad 11-inch Wi-Fi model with 128GB (price on Amazon at the time of writing: $319).

Small home and kitchen appliances

Need a new air fryer, stand mixer, coffee maker or vacuum cleaner this season? Prime Big Deal Days is a great time to get gadgets that make life easier.

Product we’re watching: Ninja 12-cup programmable coffee brewer in stainless steel (price on Amazon at the time of writing: $89.99).

Everyday essentials

Do you need pet food, shampoo, paper towels, socks or granola bars? Use Prime Big Deal Days, Target Circle Week and Walmart’s sale to replenish the stuff that runs out — at a discount. It could be the most guilt-free way to get in on the October sale action. On Amazon, you can navigate to the “buy it again” tab in your cart, then scroll through past purchases.

Product we’re watching: Larabar cashew cookie pack of 16 bars (price on Amazon at the time of writing: $18.56).

What to skip during Prime Day in October

Some product categories may not be worth your time or money during Prime Big Deal Days. Consider skipping:

• Large appliances, furniture and mattresses: Steer clear of the big household items — like a new bed or refrigerator — you’d typically buy around Labor Day. “Those were just on sale, so I wouldn’t even look at them right now,” says Bodge.
• Off-brand electronics: Gadgets from brands you don’t know well or items without many reviews may lack quality. Plus, a deal on something already priced low may not be as valuable. Take advantage of good discounts from tech brands you trust. Look for items that come with a warranty and good customer service.
• Winter apparel: “You’re not going to find clearance-level deals on apparel,” predicts Bodge. Instead, try for later in October or wait for Black Friday sales in November, when many more clothing brands roll out deals.

How to confirm good deals on Big Deal Days

All the sale activity can be “dizzying for consumers,” Bodge says. A little research can level you out.

You can refer to your screenshot of the product price before the sale. You can also spend a few minutes on a site like Keepa or CamelCamelCamel to check the price of products sold on Amazon over time and confirm the quality of an advertised markdown.

Another price history hack? Ask AI for the ‘going rate’ of a popular product. I tried this on ChatGPT for the 2025 base iPad and got results that say somewhere around $299 is a common price for the 128GB Wi-Fi model among retailers in recent weeks, despite the Apple Store price of $349.

Look for less than that at Amazon and other stores on Prime Big Deal Days, or leave it.

But just because it’s a good time to buy stuff, doesn’t mean a new tech product fits into your budget.

“Slow down, take a breath, and be methodical about what you buy,” advises Bodge.

If you miss the chance to save this time, we have a hunch Black Friday will bring another dizzying set of deals.

More From NerdWallet

• The U.S. Government Has Shut Down — What Now?
• How to Save on Tickets to Live Events in 2025
• How to Fit Charitable Giving Into Your Budget

Tommy Tindall writes for NerdWallet. Email: ttindall@nerdwallet.com.

The article A Buyer’s Market: What To Get During Prime Big Deal Days originally appeared on NerdWallet.

MIAMI — So who scores for the Miami Heat in the early-season absence of Tyler Herro?

Norman Powell stepped forward with the likely answer in Monday night’s 103-93 exhibition loss to the Milwaukee Bucks at Kaseya Center.

Scoring 18 points in his 16 first-half minutes before getting the rest of the night off, the Heat’s prime offseason acquisition stepped up from deep to provide the type of spark that will be needed with Herro expected to miss the first month of the regular season following last month’s ankle surgery.

The 32-year-old veteran appeared far more comfortable with his fit after an uneven Heat debut in Saturday night’s preseason-opening loss to the Orlando Magic in Puerto Rico, when he closed with five points on 2-of-6 shooting.

This time he was the first Heat player to score in double figures, his 10th point coming midway through the second period.

“Just finding my spots,” Powell said, “letting the offense work for me.

“It’s all about getting a rhythm.”

Powell not only converted an early 3-pointer, but also drew an early three-shot foul that he converted into three points from the line. He later added a pair of 3-pointers in the second period.

“You can see his ignitability.” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of Powell’s offense. “I like what he can do on the drive. He can really get hot from three. Guys were finding him. I think we can definitely build on that.”

The Heat’s six-game preseason schedule continues Wednesday night back at Kaseya Center against the San Antonio Spurs.

Five Degrees of Heat from Monday night’s exhibition:

1. Jovic again: Nikola Jovic again was with the starters and Kel’el Ware again was with the reserves.

As with Saturday’s exhibition opener, Spoelstra opened with a lineup of Powell, Jovic, Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins and Jaime Jaquez Jr.

Spoelstra downplayed the lineup being any sort of opening-night tell, but did praise Jovic.

“Niko’s played well,” Spoelstra said pregame. “Does that mean he’s going to start Day 1? I don’t know. But I like what he’s doing right now.”

Of speculation that Jovic might be starting to help compensate for the absence of Herro, Spoelstra said, “It has nothing to do with Tyler being out.”

Jovic closed with nine points, eight rebounds and seven assists (and no turnovers) in a highly productive 23 minutes.

Spoelstra was most impressed with the rebounding.

“He’s capable of rebounding much better than he has,” Spoelstra said. “It has to be a priority for him.

“He had some good stuff tonight.”

2. The next five: Ware then made his entrance late in the first period, when Spoelstra made a five-man substitution, moving to a lineup of Ware, Keshad Johnson, Dru Smith, Myron Gardner and Trevor Keels.

That change came with the Heat not only remaining without sidelined Herro (ankle), but also without fellow guards Pelle Larsson (quadriceps), Davion Mitchell (calf soreness), Terry Rozier (hamstring) and Kasparas Jakucionis (wrist), as well as forward Simone Fontecchio (leg).

Ware started slow but came around to close with 18 points and 13 rebounds in 23 minutes, albeit with the Heat outscored by 20 in his minutes.

“It’s got to impact the game,” Spoelstra said of Ware’s statistics. “And that’s part of him as a young player connecting the dots.

“That’s part of it as a young player.”

Said Ware, “It’s about getting to a point where I’m affecting winning basketball.”

Related Articles

• Heat again down five guards for home preseason opener; Fontecchio also out
• Heat’s Norman Powell in the extension on-deck circle, but it’s all about the timing
• ASK IRA: Will Kel’el Ware vs. Nikola Jovic be a decision deferred by Heat?
• In meaningless exhibition, Heat’s Dru Smith steps up with consequential return
• ASK IRA: Is Nikola Jovic over Kel’el Ware the prudent Heat play by Erik Spoelstra?

3. The Smith factor: Smith again played a meaningful role in his comeback from last season’s Achilles tear.

Even with all of the backcourt injury absences, there remains the possibility that Smith could be the Heat’s opening-night backup point guard.

“Dru’s minutes, they just continue to impact the game,” Spoelstra said. “I just think more people notice it now, but the coaching staff noticed it immediately with him years ago. He just impacts the game. He impacts winning. That’s a hard thing sometimes for people to wrap their minds around.

“He just helps everybody else be who they need to be, because he’s just extremely intelligent.”

Included in Smith’s Monday night effort, even amid the comeback from consecutive years of season-ending injuries (an ACL tear in 2023), was standing in to take a second-period charge.

Smith was limited to eight first-half minutes, as the Heat monitor his return, closing with two points, three rebounds and an assist.

4. The pace race: The Heat’s push for pace continued, even amid the reality that players such as Ware, Powell and Wiggins might be better suited for a less up-tempo approach.

That said, there was an encouraging moment early when the Heat pushed the ball ahead to Powell, who then found a rim-running Wiggins for an alley-oop dunk. Jovic shortly thereafter found Wiggins for a transition 3-pointer.

5. Still quiet: After shooting 0 for 5 from the field against the Magic on Saturday night, Adebayo this time went 1 of 3 from the field, for five points.

Given the second half off along with Powell and Wiggins, Adebayo also had seven rebounds in his 16 minutes.

Wiggins closed with seven points, also playing 16 minutes.

An incident report obtained Monday by the Orlando Sentinel details paramedics’ response after Kevin Rodriguez Zavala lost consciousness while riding the Stardust Racers roller coaster at Universal Orlando Resort’s new Epic Universe theme park last month, leading to him later being pronounced dead.

Orange County Fire Rescue was first dispatched to reports of an unresponsive citizen on Sept. 17 at 9:09 p.m., with the first personnel arriving at Epic Universe about six minutes later. They parked in the closest parking area, which was about 750 feet away from the entrance to Stardust Racers, the report from the agency shows.

Fire rescue personnel made their way to Stardust Racers and saw two Universal paramedics treating Zavala, who was still in one of the ride’s seats with the restraint bar on and had a defibrillator attached to him. The paramedics were holding Zavala up in the seat, the report said.

The paramedics told fire rescue that Zavala was in a state of pulseless electrical activity and that they only needed manpower to get him off the ride, according to the report.

The report said the restraint bar was lifted and Zavala was taken by both the Universal and fire rescue personnel to an open area, where fire rescue performed CPR. Zavala was immobilized with a backboard and placed on a stretcher while CPR continued.

He was rushed to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Zavala, of Kissimmee, was wheelchair-bound and had spinal cord atrophy since birth. When he rode Stardust Racers with his girlfriend that day, he was helped into the ride by Universal employees, according to his family. Attorneys representing Zavala’s family have angrily blasted Universal for statements that they say suggest Zavala’s disability played a role in his death.

He was found slumped over in his seat, and witnesses said that his head kept banging on the headrest. The Orange County medical examiner ruled his death as accidental and the result of “multiple blunt impact injuries.”

Universal reopened Stardust Racers on Saturday and updated its procedures and signs to reinforce existing warnings for “physical eligibility requirements” of riders. Guests using mobility devices, such as wheelchairs, must be able to walk independently. However, the park will continue to use “transfer devices” to assist visitors into the ride.

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to protect Google from a year-old order requiring a major makeover of its Android app store that’s designed to unleash more competition against a system that a jury declared an illegal monopoly.

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The rebuff delivered in a one-sentence decision by the Supreme Court means Google will soon have to start an overhaul of its Play Store for the apps running on the Android software that powers most smartphones that compete against Apple’s iPhone in the U.S.

Among other changes, U.S. District Judge James Donato last October ordered Google to give its competitors access to its entire inventory of Android apps and also make those alternative options available to download from the Play Store.

In a filing last month, Google told the U.S. Supreme Court that Donato’s order would expose the Play Store’s more than 100 million U.S. users to “enormous security and safety risks by enabling stores that stock malicious, deceptive, or pirated content to proliferate.”

Google also said it faced an Oct. 22 deadline to begin complying with the judge’s order if the Supreme Court didn’t grant its request for a stay. The Mountain View, California, company was seeking the protection while pursuing a last-ditch attempt to overturn the December 2023 jury verdict that condemned the Play Store as an abusive monopoly.

In a statement, Google said it will continue its fight in the Supreme Court while submitting to what it believes is a problematic order. “The changes ordered by the U.S. District Court will jeopardize users’ ability to safely download apps,” Google warned.

Google had been insulated from the order while trying to overturn it and the monopoly verdict, but the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected that attempt in a decision issued two months ago.

In its filing with the Supreme Court, Google argued it was being unfairly turned into a supplier and distributor for would-be rivals.

Donato concluded the digital walls shielding the Play Store from competition needed to be torn down to counteract a pattern of abusive behavior. The conduct had enabled Google to to reap billions of dollars in annual profits, primarily from its exclusive control of a payment processing system that collected a 15-30% fee on in-app transactions.

Those commissions were the focal point of an antitrust lawsuit that video game maker Epic Games filed against Google in 2020, setting up a month-long trial in San Francisco federal court that culminated in the jury’s monopoly verdict.

Epic, the maker of the Fortnite game, lost a similar antitrust case targeting Apple’s iPhone app store. Even though U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez-Rodgers concluded the iPhone app store wasn’t an illegal monopoly, she ordered Apple to begin allowing links to alternative payment systems as part of a shake-up that resulted in the company being held in civil contempt of court earlier this year.

In a post, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney applauded the Supreme Court for clearing the way for consumers to choose alternative app payment choices “without fees, scare screens, and friction.”

Although the Play Store changes will likely dent Google’s profit, the company makes most of its money from a digital ad network that’s anchored by its dominant search engine — the pillars of an internet empire that has been under attack on other legal fronts.

As part of cases brought by the U.S. Justice Department, both Google’s search engine and parts of its advertising technology were declared illegal monopolies, too.

A federal judge in the search engine case earlier this year rejected a proposed break-up outlined by the Justice Department i n a decision that was widely seen as a reprieve for Google. The government is now seeking to break up Google in the advertising technology case during proceedings that are scheduled to wrap up with closing arguments on Nov. 17 in Alexandria, Virginia.

By MICHAEL R. SISAK and LARRY NEUMEISTER

NEW YORK (AP) — Sean “Diddy” Combs’ lawyers want the hip-hop mogul sent to a low-security federal prison in New Jersey to serve his four-year, two-month prison sentence, telling a judge Monday that the facility’s drug treatment program will help him stay clean.

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In a letter, Combs’ lawyers urged the judge presiding over his case, Arun Subramanian, to “strongly recommend” that the federal Bureau of Prisons place Combs at FCI Fort Dix, a massive prison located on the grounds of the joint military base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

FCI Fort Dix, one of several dozen federal prisons with a residential drug treatment program, will best allow Combs “to address drug abuse issues and to maximize family visitation and rehabilitative efforts,” Combs lawyer Teny Geragos wrote.

Also Monday, President Donald Trump told reporters that Combs had asked him for a pardon. Trump, referring to Combs by the nickname “Puff Daddy,” did not say if he would grant the request. A message seeking comment on Trump’s remarks was left for Combs’ lawyers and his publicity team.

Combs’ sentencing Friday on charges he transported people across state lines for sexual encounters capped a federal case that featured harrowing testimony about violence, drugs and so-called “freak-offs,” and exposed the sordid private life of one of the most influential figures in music.

The “I’ll Be Missing You” singer was convicted in July under the federal Mann Act, which bans transporting people across state lines for any sexual crime. His trial ended in a split verdict, with acquittals on sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have put him behind bars for life.

Combs has been locked up at a Brooklyn federal jail, the Metropolitan Detention Center, since his arrest in September 2024. That time will be subtracted from his sentence, meaning he could get out in about three years.

Subramanian has not yet acted on the request to place him at FCI Fort Dix.

Judges often make recommendations about where inmates should serve time, but it’s ultimately up to the Bureau of Prisons to decide. Those decisions, the agency has said, are based on a variety of factors, including the severity of the offense, the required security level and an inmate’s programming needs.

FCI Fort Dix, the largest single federal prison by population with just under 3,900 inmates, is about 64 miles southwest of New York City, where Combs was born and rose to fame as a rapper and entrepreneur in an array of businesses, including fashion, television and liquor. An adjacent minimum-security prison camp has 210 inmates.

The facility has been home to a number of high-profile inmates over the years, including mobsters, corrupt politicians and “Pharma Bro” Martin Shkreli. For a time, it was run by the warden who had been in charge of a Manhattan federal jail when financier Jeffrey Epstein killed himself at the jail in 2019. That warden, Lamine N’Diaye, has since retired.

In 2021, a 27-year-old Fort Dix inmate was stabbed in the eyeball by a fellow prisoner.

In 2019, a Fort Dix inmate, a former inmate and two other people were arrested for using a drone to smuggle in contraband including cellphones, tobacco, weight-loss supplements and eyeglasses. The same year, a Fort Dix correctional officer pleaded guilty in a separate case to pocketing bribes to smuggle in contraband.

During his time at Fort Dix, Shkreli ended up in solitary confinement amid allegations he was using a contraband smartphone to run his drug company from behind bars. Inmates are forbidden from conducting business and possessing cellphones.

General Daily Insight for October 07, 2025

Emotional energy can be spent quickly today. Communicative Mercury squares chaotic Pluto at 10:41 am EDT, marking the onset of intense conversations, deep revelations, or dramatic travel interruptions. This trend continues as the temperamental Moon jabs at over-the-top Jupiter, exaggerating our emotional responses and possibly overwhelming us with pulls in opposite in different directions. Finally, the Moon joins with weary asteroid Chiron in Aries, encouraging us to heal rather than to keep pushing ourselves. Know when to step away from a fight.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Pay attention to your words. Throughout the day, speaking out of worry could incite extra concern from those around you — potentially unnecessary extra concern. Normal worries aren’t bad, but spiraling around and into a problem that hasn’t even taken place probably won’t help. Do your best to ground yourself and remember that everything can still turn out okay. Try to stick to the facts and refrain from jumping to conclusions, because that could sprinkle on even more stress. Use your voice carefully.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Be wary of sharing your business with everyone. You may discover that not everyone has your best interests at heart, as sharing your next moves before you’ve taken them leads to unforeseen obstacles. Be wary of unsupportive acquaintances — a naysayer could even be looking to take your idea for themselves. No matter how much they pressure you, don’t feel as though you have to share all the details of your life at this moment. It’s yours to share or not share.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Unexpected issues could cause blockages for you today. You might feel like running away, but there’s no way around it and no way over it — the only way out is through. This is something that you have to face and overcome, even though you might feel stumped. Instead of letting impatience cloud your mind, try to look at it with fresh eyes, or even ask someone else to look at it. You might be too close to see what the source truly is.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Your personal life might not be falling into place. Career and financial growth are now easier to attain, but when it comes to the people you care about most, you may feel as though you’re stuck at odds with each other. This will be especially tough to handle if you don’t know what the problem is, and they seemingly refuse to explain the issue. They might not understand either! Make a point of talking through everyone’s frustrations before trying to solve specific concerns.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

You might not see eye to eye with more traditional people in your life. When one person is ready to move beyond the ways of the past, while the other looks to history for stability, compromising can be tough. There are arguments to be made on both sides, but ultimately, everyone involved will likely have to cede some ground. If one party is unwilling to budge, watch out for a tense stalemate! Brace yourself — you might have to agree to disagree.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Miscommunication can cause mishaps. You may be unhappy with someone’s opinion, or you may feel as though you’re being talked over. Regardless, it can be difficult to find your voice without being too intense. It’s important to be open with the people around you. Even so, if you’re ordering them around or forcing them to walk on eggshells around you, then “openness” can look more like “authoritativeness.” You may need to set boundaries ahead of time so that people know where the line is.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Don’t forget about your budget. Spending money on convenience or entertainment is all too easy at the moment, but your bank account will feel those impulse purchases later! Retail therapy probably isn’t the answer — just think of the bill you’d get after. If you do decide to let loose by going beyond your budget, start by setting a fresh budget that’s slightly larger than your regular budget, instead of abandoning all limits. This should let you have fun without breaking the bank.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Someone may be demanding your time and attention. You’re probably ready to move on from this connection — you may have already withdrawn. Nevertheless, this person could continually try to draw you back into their orbit. This will be especially poignant if you cut things off because they were demanding or controlling. Setting clear boundaries is vital! Steer clear of gray areas or potential opportunities to reconnect if you don’t want to. It’s okay to draw a line in the sand.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Mental shackles are dissolving at last! As you go about your day, let your mind wander. It could come up with solutions to problems that you haven’t thought about in ages, or solve a once-unmanageable issue. Whatever the key is that unlocks the box you’ve been stuck in, you’re likely to receive it at any moment. Ready yourself to utilize unexpected resources to get the job done. Keep your eyes open, and you should be able to check off at least one confusing problem.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

You might want to mind your business at present. As others fall out with each other, it can be difficult to remain neutral. You may side with someone in your heart, but getting involved at this stage probably isn’t wise. There are likely more complex factors at play than you can see at first glance, especially if those already involved don’t even know the details. Let this be their problem to work out. You can listen if they want to talk, but avoid offering advice.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Organized chaos is still chaotic — especially when you’re in charge. This situation likely formed without your input, but now it’s under your authority. It’s difficult to navigate a situation without experience or instructions, but stay in the moment and do what you can to support people. You don’t have to make perfect decisions every time. As long as your instincts are rooted in compassion and making things better, it’ll be hard to go wrong. Don’t freeze when faced with chaos: be a helper.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Understanding your inner self is half the battle at this time. You may feel pulled in different directions — you might not even trust your reactions, because they could be created by hunger, exhaustion, or frustration. Make an effort to calm yourself. Take a deep breath and step away from the heat of the moment, rather than turning up the heat by reacting emotionally. Once you’ve cooled down, you’ll have an opportunity to genuinely express yourself. Don’t let your mood obstruct your meaning.

By VÍCTOR CAIVANO and RAMIRO BARREIRO

PENÍNSULA VALDÉS, Argentina (AP) — After coming back from the brink of extinction, Southern right whales are swimming in greater numbers off the coast of Argentina’s Patagonia this year, delighting tourists seeking to catch a glimpse of their acrobatics.

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Peninsula Valdés, located in the Patagonian province of Chubut, is globally important for the conservation of marine mammals and is home to a key breeding population of Southern right whales — once an endangered species — as well as elephant seals and sea lions.

“I’ve seen whales in Canada and California, but this was the best and probably the largest number of whales I’ve ever seen in my life,” said Tino Ventz, a German tourist who recently visited the peninsula with his girlfriend.

The Southern right whale was nearly exterminated by hunting expeditions up until the last century. Before large-scale whaling began, the population in southern waters was estimated at around 100,000, before it was decimated to about 600. Since then, it has slowly recovered to roughly 4,700 whales around Peninsula Valdés today.

Whale-watching season in the south American country peaks between August and September. This year, more than 2,000 whales have been spotted, though the actual number is likely higher, scientists say.

Ventz, 24, and his partner joined Argentine Andrea Delfino and her children on a boat trip. Southern winds stirred the whales into more acrobatic breaching, a spectacle that leaves an indelible impression on those who witness it.

Other tourists preferred to watch the whales from the shore, as is common in neighboring Brazil or Uruguay.

Watching from the beach, Agustina Guidolín, fulfilled her dream of witnessing “the immensity that borders on the magical and the wild.” The tourists were at El Doradillo Park, a protected natural area in Puerto Madryn, where whales spend time close to shore with their young after giving birth.

In addition to Peninsula Valdés and other points in Patagonia, the whales’ migration route extends along Uruguay’s eastern coast and southern Brazil.

Santiago Fernández, a biologist with Argentina’s National Scientific and Technical Research Council, is part of a project that since 1999 has carried out two to three aerial surveys each year along 400 miles of Patagonian coastline. This year’s count recorded 2,100 whales — 863 of them mothers with calves, and the rest solitary individuals.

A Southern Right Whale breaches off the coast of Puerto Piramides, Argentina, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)

“We’re underestimating the number of whales in the area,” Fernández said of the census, noting that it represents only a snapshot, since whales move in and out of the same region as they migrate.

He explained that in 1999 “about 500 whales were counted along that same route,” and that “we’re currently seeing a 3% annual growth rate.”

Fernández added that another project, “Following Whales,” conducted by several national and international organizations, tracks individual whales via satellite telemetry within the San Matias Gulf to the north, the San Jorge Gulf to the south, and beyond, to better understand their routes.

From that project, which began in 2014, scientists learned that once the calves grow, the mothers lead them deeper into the gulfs — whales that are therefore not included in the aerial census.

The growing population is leading to a dispersal — especially of juveniles and mothers that have already calved — toward the San Matias and San Jorge gulfs, and even as far north as the coast of Buenos Aires province.

This expansion also brings the whales closer to risks posed by human activity, such as fishing nets and boat propellers, researchers have found, based on injuries suffered by whales unable to return to Antarctica at the end and beginning of their natural cycle.

Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

By MATTHEW DALY

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Monday ordered approval of a proposed 211-mile road through an Alaska wilderness to allow mining of copper, cobalt, gold and other minerals.

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The long-debated Ambler Road project was approved in Trump’s first term, but was later blocked by the Biden administration after an analysis determined the project would threaten caribou and other wildlife and harm Alaska Native tribes that rely on hunting and fishing.

The gravel road and mining project, north of Fairbanks, Alaska, “is something that should’ve been long operating and making billions of dollars for our country and supplying a lot of energy and minerals,” Trump said at an Oval Office ceremony. Former President Joe Biden “undid it and wasted a lot of time and a lot of money, a lot of effort. And now we’re starting again. And this time we have plenty of time to get it done,” Trump added.

In a related development, the White House announced it is taking 10% equity stake in Trilogy Metals, a Canadian company that is seeking to develop the Ambler site along with an Australian partner.

The U.S. government said last week it is taking a minority stake in Lithium Americas, another Canadian company that is developing one of the world’s largest lithium mines in Nevada. The Department of Energy will take a 5% equity stake in the company and a 5% stake in the Thacker Pass lithium mining project, a joint venture with General Motors.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said approval of Ambler Road will unlock access to copper, cobalt and other critical minerals “that we need to win the AI arms race against China.”

The Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, where the Ambler Road project would pass through, is visible from Ambler, Alaska, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag)

Supporters, including Alaska’s congressional delegation, have said the road is needed to reach a large copper deposit worth more than $7 billion. Copper is used in production of cars, electronics and even renewable energy technologies such as wind turbines.

Opponents, including a consortium of 40 federally recognized tribes, worry that development allowed by the road would put subsistence harvests at risk because the lands include important habitat for salmon and caribou.

Karmen Monigold, an Inupiaq member of Protect the Kobuk, a Northwest Arctic advocacy group opposed to the access road, said she cried when she first learned of Trump’s actions. “And then I reminded myself of who we are, and who our people are and how far we’ve come,” she said Monday in a telephone interview. “They tried to assimilate us, to wipe us out and yet we’re still here. We still matter.”

Monigold said she hopes Alaska Native groups will file lawsuits, as they’ve done before, to halt the project.

The two-lane gravel road includes about 26 miles that would cut through Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve. The road would also cross 11 rivers and thousands of streams before reaching the site of a future mine.

The Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, where the Ambler Road project would pass through, is visible from Ambler, Alaska, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag)

The Republican-controlled House approved a bill last month that would pave the way for Trump to expand mining and drilling on public lands in Alaska and other states. The vote, largely along party lines, would repeal land management plans adopted in the closing days of Biden’s administration that restricted development in large areas of Alaska, Montana and North Dakota.

Biden’s goal was in part to reduce climate-warming emissions from the burning of fossil fuels extracted from federal land. Under Trump, Republicans are casting aside those concerns as they open more taxpayer-owned land to development, hoping to create more jobs and revenue and boost fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. The administration also has pushed to develop critical minerals, including copper, cobalt, gold and zinc.

While Trump has often said, “drill, baby, drill,” he also supports “mine, baby, mine,” Burgum said. “We’ve got to get back in the mining business.”

Trump’s order finds that the proposed road is in the public interest, given U.S. needs for domestic critical minerals, and says there is no economically feasible alternative route.

The decision directs the federal Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reissue necessary permits to construct the road.

Tristen Pattee, an Inupiaq who serves as an environmental technical supervisor at Red Dog zinc mine near Kotzebue, Alaska, said approval of the road is long overdue.

“I’m excited for the opportunities that are going to be coming in and all the jobs that will be created,” he said. “I look forward to them responsibly building the road and making sure it’s operated as permitted.”

Ambler Metals, a joint venture between Trilogy Metals and Australia-based South32, thanked Trump for jump-starting the Ambler project.

“This road will help secure the critical minerals our country needs for economic competitiveness and national defense, while also delivering meaningful benefits here at home,” said managing director Kaleb Froehlich.

Associated Press writer Annika Hammerschlag in Seattle contributed to this story.

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