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Record 9.5 million visitors push Palm Beach County into full recovery from COVID-19, tourism chief says

Wed, 12/13/2023 - 04:00

Palm Beach County’s once battered tourism industry has not only rebounded, but is in full recovery from COVID-19 as a record 9.5 million visitors poured into the area this year, the county’s top tourism executive said Tuesday.

“We can say the short answer is ‘yes,’ not only as a destination but the South Florida region,” said Milton Segarra, president and CEO of Discover the Palm Beaches. “We’re over COVID-19.”

The agency is forecasting “modest growth” for 2024, despite inflation’s role in keeping room rates high.  And it expects to reach out more to the international market, which has trailed the domestic side during the pandemic recovery.

Speaking in an interview, Segarra said that the visitor numbers, along with a record collection of $82.4 million in bed taxes, provide the basis for the formation of a new strategic plan for the industry that will evolve over the 12 to 18 months.

Those same results, he acknowledged, gave the county commission the confidence to seek developer candidates to build a second headquarters hotel with 600 rooms next to the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach. The first one —  a 400-room Hilton — opened in 2016.

“As we grow, we have been able to maintain the value of the brand and experience,” Segarra said of the county’s tourism community. “Our visitors feel OK with paying those rates because they are enjoying the experience. That’s why we have been able to maintain and surpass the goals for the bed tax.”

More hotels

There are 17 hotels either under construction or on the drawing boards across the county.

One hotel would be in the vicinity of the the convention center. Requests for proposals have been issued to attract a developer and select a site that would be “within walking distance of the convention center.”

“We are looking for a full service hotel operator and brand,” Segarra said. .

He added that the hotel would elevate the county’s ability to draw bigger conventions and business conferences when competing against other cities for the business.

“There are different groups that never look at us because we don’t have the number of rooms they need when they do their type of conventions,” he said. “Those are groups we are not getting right now.”

He said that the business generated by groups, conventions and “transient” corporate travelers is “pretty much close to 2019 levels,” the year before the COVID breakout all but slowed tourism to a halt.

The visitor numbers at non-hotel properties such as Airbnbs were up every month this year.

“I think at this point this is going to be a key in the development of the destination,” Segarra said. “The alternative lodging component is really important.”

Growing airline, train traffic

Palm Beach International Airport is seeing a lift in traffic from more than a dozen airlines that serve West Palm Beach.

Many including United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and low-cost carriers such as Avelo and Breeze have seasonal flights to and from to the Northeast and Midwest. JetBlue went so far as to schedule cross-country flights to Los Angeles for the holidays and into the early part of 2024.

The introduction of inter-city rail service to Orlando by Brightline from South Florida via stations in West Palm Beach and Boca Raton thus far holds promise as another major point of entry for tourists into the county. The rail line is heavily promoting destinations with fare deals and joint marketing programs along its 235-mile route that is anchored in Miami.

Although the agency has no numbers to assess what type of contribution Brightline is making to the tourism pool, Segarra suggested he likes the anecdotal evidence he has seen thus far.

“At least from the people you see on the trains, I think they are dong a good job in promoting the route,” he said.

“One of the most important drivers in any tourism development or area is access,” he added. “We have not only Brightline but Tri-Rail. That’s two different types of services, as well as driving and flying. The fact we have those elements as part of the access formula is very encouraging.”

‘Master plan’ for the future

Segarra said that within the coming year, the agency will be working with others to develop a “master plan for the destination,” which will determine “how we want to develop the industry for the residents and stakeholders.”

Among the questions he said:

  • How much do we need to grow the industry? We don’t know that we want to do that.
  • Are we going to expand tourism to underserved areas? Is that sustainable?
  • What type of visitor management policies will we have in place to avoid over-tourism?”

For years, the Palm Beach County has been known nationally and abroad as a high-end resort destination that caters to luxury travelers. “It’s part of the DNA of our experience,” he said.

But now, he suggested, it’s time to examine how the county can best leverage the broad spectrum of destinations it has to offer, whether its the upscale lodging and shopping district of Boca Raton, the equestrian enclave of Wellington, or the golfing haven of Palm Beach Gardens.

“We have a good mix,” he said. “We have different layers of experience and different layers of options for our visitors. We want to make sure that we (not only) grow the industry, but that we do it in a different way where sustainability is the key.”

Tesla recalls nearly all vehicles sold in US to fix system that monitors drivers using Autopilot

Wed, 12/13/2023 - 03:29

DETROIT (AP) — Tesla is recalling nearly all of the vehicles it sold in the U.S., more than 2 million across its model lineup, to fix a defective system that’s supposed to ensure drivers are paying attention when they use Autopilot.

Documents posted Wednesday by U.S. safety regulators say the company will send out a software update to fix the problems.

The recall comes after a two-year investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration into a series of crashes that happened while the Autopilot partially automated driving system was in use. Some were deadly.

The agency says its investigation found Autopilot’s method of ensuring that drivers are paying attention can be inadequate and can lead to foreseeable misuse of the system.

The recall covers models Y, S, 3 and X produced between Oct. 5, 2012, and Dec. 7 of this year.

The software update includes additional controls and alerts “to further encourage the driver to adhere to their continuous driving responsibility,” the documents said.

The update was to be sent to certain affected vehicles on Tuesday, with the rest getting it at a later date, the documents said.

Autopilot includes features called Autosteer and Traffic Aware Cruise Control, with Autosteer intended for use on limited access freeways when it’s not operating with a more sophisticated feature called Autosteer on City Streets.

The software update apparently will limit where Autosteer can be used.

“If the driver attempts to engage Autosteer when conditions are not met for engagement, the feature will alert the driver it is unavailable through visual and audible alerts, and Autosteer will not engage,” the recall documents said.

Depending on a Tesla’s hardware, the added controls include “increasing prominence” of visual alerts, simplifying how Autosteer is turned on and off, additional checks on whether Autosteer is being used outside of controlled access roads and when approaching traffic control devices, “and eventual suspension from Autosteer use if the driver repeatedly fails to demonstrate continuous and sustained driving responsibility,” the documents say.

Recall documents say that agency investigators met with Tesla starting in October to explain “tentative conclusions” about the fixing the monitoring system. Tesla, it said, did not concur with the agency’s analysis but agreed to the recall on Dec. 5 in an effort to resolve the investigation.

Auto safety advocates for years have been calling for stronger regulation of the driver monitoring system, which mainly detects whether a driver’s hands are on the steering wheel. They have called for cameras to make sure a driver is paying attention, which are used by other automakers with similar systems.

Autopilot can steer, accelerate and brake automatically in its lane, but is a driver-assist system and cannot drive itself despite its name. Independent tests have found that the monitoring system is easy to fool, so much that drivers have been caught while driving drunk or even sitting in the back seat.

In its defect report filed with the safety agency, Tesla said Autopilot’s controls “may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse.”

A message was left early Wednesday seeking further comment from the Austin, Texas, company.

Tesla says on its website that Autopilot and a more sophisticated Full Self Driving system cannot drive autonomously and are meant to help drivers who have to be ready to intervene at all times. Full Self Driving is being tested by Tesla owners on public roads.

In a statement posted Monday on X, formerly Twitter, Tesla said safety is stronger when Autopilot is engaged.

NHTSA has dispatched investigators to 35 Tesla crashes since 2016 in which the agency suspects the vehicles were running on an automated system. At least 17 people have been killed.

The investigations are part of a larger probe by the NHTSA into multiple instances of Teslas using Autopilot crashing into parked emergency vehicles that are tending to other crashes. NHTSA has become more aggressive in pursuing safety problems with Teslas in the past year, announcing multiple recalls and investigations, including a recall of Full Self Driving software.

In May, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, whose department includes NHTSA, said Tesla shouldn’t be calling the system Autopilot because it can’t drive itself.

In its statement Wednesday, NHTSA said the Tesla investigation remains open “as we monitor the efficacy of Tesla’s remedies and continue to work with the automaker to ensure the highest level of safety.”

Biden to meet in person Wednesday with families of Americans taken hostage by Hamas

Wed, 12/13/2023 - 03:04

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday will hold his first in-person meeting with the families of eight Americans still unaccounted for and presumed to be taken captive by Hamas during its brutal attack on Israel on Oct. 7, the White House said.

A senior administration official said family members of all eight would participate in the Biden meeting either in person or virtually. The president has previously met with some family members virtually and spoken to others on the phone. Biden was set to provide an update on American efforts to secure the release of those held by Hamas.

“We’re not going to stop until every hostage is returned home,” Biden told donors in Washington on Tuesday, saying the U.S. commitment to Israel is “unshakable.”

Eight Americans remain unaccounted for after Hamas’ surprise air, sea and land incursion into Israeli towns, where the group killed about 1,200 Israelis — mostly civilians — and took more than 240 people hostage. Four Americans were released as part of a U.S.-negotiated cease-fire in Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza that was brokered with the assistance of Qatar and Egypt. One American woman was supposed to be released by Hamas under the terms of last month’s ceasefire but she remains unaccounted for — a development that contributed to the end of the temporary pause in the fighting.

The White House has said that at least 31 Americans were killed by Hamas and other militant groups on Oct. 7.

Biden will be joined in the meeting by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and deputy national security adviser Jon Finer, the official said.

DeSantis dismisses one endorsement (for Haley) and plays up another (for him)

Wed, 12/13/2023 - 00:26

As Republicans struggle to coalesce around a single rival to former President Donald Trump, the popular governors of Iowa and New Hampshire have also split their ticket.

Gov. Kim Reynolds of Iowa, which votes first in the Republican presidential nominating contest, is backing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Gov. Chris Sununu of New Hampshire, which votes second, is supporting Nikki Haley, the former United Nations ambassador and South Carolina governor.

On Tuesday, DeSantis played up the power of Reynolds’ backing while dismissing the potency of Sununu and calling Haley an avatar of “the old failed Republican establishment of yesteryear.”

“Even a campaigner as good as Chris is not going to be able to paper over Nikki being an establishment candidate,” DeSantis said during a town hall for Iowa voters broadcast by CNN on Tuesday, hours after Sununu announced his endorsement of Haley at an event in New Hampshire. “I mean, she’s getting funded by liberal Democrats from California like the founder of LinkedIn, people on Wall Street like the head of JPMorgan.”

For DeSantis, the town hall was a chance to make his pitch before a national audience without the name-calling and noisy cross-talk of the Republican presidential debates. He had entered the race as the clear favorite to upend Trump. But as frequent missteps have marred his campaign, some influential megadonors have thrown their support behind Haley, whom they see as more moderate.

Among them are the two donors name-checked by DeSantis, Reid Hoffman, the billionaire co-founder of LinkedIn, and Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JPMorgan Chase. (Haley also has the backing of traditional Republican donors.)

DeSantis and Haley trail Trump by wide margins in polls nationally as well in the early-voting states. To close the gap, DeSantis has jumped at every opportunity to appear before Iowa voters, including the town hall hosted by CNN, a news organization that he has frequently derided as “corporate media.”

Many of the questions asked Tuesday, both by the voters in attendance at Grand View University in Des Moines and moderator Jake Tapper, were less than hard-hitting, and DeSantis was able to have a largely easy and confident stage presence.

One voter asked him what food he most enjoyed at the Iowa State Fair. “Pork on a stick,” DeSantis replied with a smile, “but I did not do it in public because they said if they get a picture of it, you know, it’s a really bad thing.”

Tapper asked DeSantis, who often talks about “destroying leftism,” to name his favorite Florida Democrat. He responded with two county sheriffs in South Florida.

But DeSantis was also given the opportunity to detail some of his policy positions. On the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, DeSantis said he opposed a two-state solution. On Ukraine, he expressed support for efforts by Republicans in Congress to tie funding for its war against Russia to U.S. border security. On Social Security, he said seniors should keep their benefits and called for a bipartisan effort to ensure the program’s long-term stability.

“My grandmother lived till 91,” DeSantis said. “Social Security was her sole source of income. So I understand what a lot of people are going through.”

Still, he was sometimes light on specifics.

Pressed by Tapper to say when he would release his plan to replace the Affordable Care Act, DeSantis said, “We’re working on it.”

He added: “You kind of campaign in poetry, then you govern in prose.”

And although he saved his harshest words for Haley, DeSantis also forcefully criticized Trump, something he has rarely done on national television.

In his first answer, DeSantis said that Trump had “dramatically” mishandled the economy during the coronavirus pandemic. He also said that Trump was “flip-flopping” on abortion by criticizing a six-week ban that DeSantis had signed in Florida. And he noted Trump’s failure to build a wall on the United States’ southern border and have Mexico pay for it, as he had pledged to do.

“It’s a different Donald Trump than ’15 and ’16,” he argued. “Back then he was colorful, but it was really America-first about the policies. Now, a lot of it’s about him.”

DeSantis has said that Trump must be beaten in Iowa if Republicans want to stop him elsewhere. He has devoted extensive resources to winning the state, visiting each of its 99 counties and moving roughly one-third of his campaign staff there.

Outside groups are also helping his cause. One allied super PAC has built an extensive ground game to turn out support during the Jan. 15 caucuses. Another is investing heavily in advertisements targeting Haley.

And he has campaigned frequently with Reynolds, who endorsed him last month. In a radio interview Tuesday before the town hall, DeSantis called her “a tremendous help.”

Other candidates are also focusing heavily on Iowa. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy plans to visit a total of 29 counties this week alone, according to his campaign. On Wednesday, Ramaswamy will appear in a similar CNN town hall in Des Moines.

But none of the efforts have seemed to move the polls. DeSantis now trails Trump by more than 30 points among Iowa Republicans, according to a Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom survey released Monday.

And in New Hampshire, where DeSantis has spent far less time, Haley has now pulled into second place. DeSantis has fallen to fourth or fifth.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

15 celebrity-endorsed products with excellent Amazon reviews

Tue, 12/12/2023 - 23:14
What products do celebrities actually use on Amazon?

When a celebrity is spotted wearing an affordable pair of shoes or posts a video of their must-have beauty products, the product often sells out instantaneously. Everyone wants to know the secrets of the rich and famous, so it’s not surprising that brands love working with celebs and influencers. Unfortunately, fans are less enthusiastic about these brand deals because it’s impossible to know whether celebrities genuinely enjoy the product or just a paycheck. While some may only partner with a brand for the money, a ton of products actually are worthy of praise. Here are 15 celebrity-endorsed products with excellent Amazon reviews.

What is a celebrity endorsement?

Celebrity endorsement or branding is a marketing strategy where a brand capitalizes on a famous person’s social status to promote its product. For instance, Jennifer Garner is recognized worldwide for her famous line in Capital One commercials, “What’s in your wallet?” She became a spokesperson for the brand, bringing awareness about Capital One services to her fans, who may never have been exposed to the brand otherwise.

These deals are extremely lucrative and enticing to celebrities, and it’s reported that Beyonce made $50 million for partnering with Pepsi, while David Beckham made over $100 million for endorsing Adidas. When money gets involved, it is difficult to distinguish whether a celebrity honestly uses a product. However, consumers don’t lie, and these Amazon reviews prove which products are worth checking out.

Top celebrity-endorsed products on Amazon

Goli Apple Cider Vinegar Gummy Vitamins ]

Tabitha Brown and Jennifer Lopez are two celebrities that endorse Goli gummy vitamins, but a slew of other famous names also claim to use the product. Since they’re vegan, non-GMO, gluten-free and gelatin-free, they’re ideal for a multitude of lifestyles. Apple cider vinegar is well known for its gut health and digestion benefits.

Truff Black Truffle Hot Sauce ]

Being listed as one of Oprah’s favorite things is a huge compliment, but this hot sauce is able to claim that honor, as well as many compliments from celebrities. This hot sauce is crafted with a blend of black truffle, chili peppers, organic agave nectar and more ingredients for a spicy yet sweet sauce.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Face Moisturizer ]

Ambassador Jennifer Garner is well known as the face of Neutrogena and has given credit to this moisturizer for her radiant complexion. It’s formulated with hyaluronic acid, which provides natural hydration to the skin by attracting moisture and locking it in.

Vaseline Cocoa Butter Deep Conditioning Body Lotion ]

Regina King can be seen on TV endorsing Vaseline, and more specifically, this cocoa butter lotion. It’s formulated with pure cocoa butter and ultra-hydrating lipids to fortify the skin’s barrier and is clinically tested and proven to provide 90% more moisture than untreated skin.

UGG Men’s Ascot Slipper ]

Tom Brady claims he’s been wearing UGG slippers since he was a child and loves stepping into these slippers after a long day playing football. They are designed with 100% leather and feature pure wool lining. Plus, the exterior suede is water-resistant.

Keds Women’s Champion Canvas Sneaker ]

For years, Taylor Swift could be seen in ads for this popular shoe and even had her own collection. While you can no longer get the T-Swift shoes, customers still love Keds for their low profile and comfortable fit. With several color options, they’re versatile enough to match any style.

Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Machine ]

George Clooney is well known as the face of Nespresso and is now a part-owner of the company. This coffee and espresso machine automatically adapts the coffee size, temperature, pressure and brewing time based on each capsule, creating the perfect cup of coffee every time.

Biore Original Blackhead Remover Strips ]

Shay Mitchell is one of the most current celeb faces to endorse these blackhead remover strips. They’re designed to instantly clean and unclog pores in just 10 minutes and can even reduce the size of pores with continual use. As a bonus, this product is cruelty-free and vegan-friendly.

Powerbeats Pro Wireless Earbuds ]

Serena Williams, Lebron James and more celebrities have all been seen in commercials and ads for this popular brand. These earbuds offer up to nine hours of listening time and up to 24 hours with the charging case. The reinforced design is water- and sweat-resistant, making them ideal for tough workouts.

Echo Show 5 ]

Samuel L. Jackson and other celebrities have endorsed Amazon’s Echo devices. In fact, you can even change Alexa to Samuel’s voice and say, “Hey Samuel,” when you give a command. The Echo Show 5 makes any day easier by making a to-do list, playing music or telling you the weather.

Aveeno Sheer Hydration Daily Moisturizing Lotion ]

Jennifer Aniston has been the face of Aveeno for over a decade and says she’s been using this lotion since she was a teenager. The unique formula is lightweight and breathable, yet intensely hydrates the skin for up to 24 hours.

Smartwater Vapor Distilled Premium Water Bottles ]

Comedian and actor Pete Davidson is the new spokesperson for Smart Water, and many have noticed his witty commercials. Smartwater’s process is inspired by cloud cycles to produce purity you can taste.

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day 5-in-1 Styling Treatment ]

“Emily in Paris” star Lily Collins is the newest celebrity to endorse Living Proof. However, many celebrities credit this brand for their smooth hair. This treatment conditions, strengthens, adds shine and acts as a heat protectant.

Crocs Unisex-Adult Crocband Clog ]

Drew Barrymore endorsed everyone’s favorite clog and even came out with her own line of Crocs. They come in a range of colors and designs to suit any style, have a unisex design and are water-friendly.

L’Oreal Paris Excellence Creme Permanent Triple Care Hair Color ]

Eva Longoria made waves when she showed a video of her gray roots and how she uses this hair color to banish any sign of gray. It comes in a variety of colors and offers 100% gray coverage.

Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews.

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Bre Richey writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.

BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Interest in gift cards grows this holiday season; here are the top 10

Tue, 12/12/2023 - 23:10
Holiday gift-giving is becoming increasingly difficult

The holiday season can be stressful, not only because of traveling, indulging and expectations but because finding the perfect gift has become so challenging. You want to show you care and that the people closest to you are in your thoughts, but it can be easy to overthink a gift and get something that doesn’t land the way you think it will. Often, the right gift card is all you need.

Why gift-giving has become so challenging

With such an emphasis being placed on the importance of self-care, people no longer wait to make a purchase. If something new comes out, they buy it immediately…or as soon as their budget allows. That means it can be nearly impossible to get something for someone before they get it for themselves. This can make finding the perfect gift a daunting task.

Why gift cards are a great option

The benefits of giving a gift card go way beyond ensuring the recipient always gets exactly what they want:

Top 10 holiday gift cards

Amazon Gift Card ]

Giving an Amazon gift card lets the recipient choose from a vast selection of items. This means there are virtually no limits to what the gift could be. You can customize an e-gift card with a photo or video to make it even more special.

Best Buy Gift Card ]

Best Buy is known for electronic devices, but that’s not all the retailer carries. A gift card to this store gives the recipient access to everything from appliances and cameras to toys and wellness products.

Target Gift Card ]

Target is a trusted general merchandise retailer that carries an expansive variety of products. The company’s tagline is “Expect More. Pay Less.” You can purchase a Target gift card for any value you desire.

Home Depot Gift Card ]

If your recipient wants to tackle a home improvement project or beautify the space where they live, a Home Depot gift card is the best option. You can purchase either a physical card or a digital one.

Kohl’s Gift Card ]

Since it’s the largest department store chain in the U.S., the savvy shopper can take advantage of Kohl’s benefits with their gift card to get remarkable savings on both popular brands and unique items.

Ulta Beauty Gift Card ]

Ulta gift cards are a thing of beauty. They’re redeemable for in-store and online purchases and never expire. If you have someone on your gift list who craves self-pampering, this is an excellent gift card option.

Dick’s Sporting Goods Gift Card ]

Dick’s Sporting Goods is where you go for all your fitness needs. Whether it’s exercise gear, athletic equipment, apparel or supplements, you can find it here. If you have a fitness enthusiast on your list, they’ll appreciate a Dick’s Sporting Goods gift card.

Sephora Gift Card ]

Besides its own private label, Sephora offers a broad range of personal care and beauty products from well over 300 brands. The French multinational retailer has prestige products in every area, from bath and fragrances to makeup and skincare.

Wayfair Gift Card ]

Be it furniture, decor, appliances, lighting, storage or something else, if it’s for the home, Wayfair has just what you need. For convenience, the company lets you select a gift amount, add a message and select a send date.

Golf Galaxy Gift Card ]

Golfers are a special breed. The gifts they desire can be quite unique. Even if you don’t know the difference between an eagle and a birdie, purchasing a gift card for Golf Galaxy ensures the recipient will get exactly what they want.

Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews.

Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.

Allen Foster writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.

BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

New ‘Hard Knocks’ episode chronicles Dolphins’ collapse against Titans, features Alec Ingold and Duke Riley

Tue, 12/12/2023 - 19:53

The fourth episode of the HBO series “Hard Knocks” following the Miami Dolphins in-season aired Tuesday night, and for the first time, a Dolphins loss was covered.

The stunning 28-27 loss to the Tennessee Titans on “Monday Night Football” left the team in disbelief after blowing a two-touchdown lead with three minutes left.

Although the episode quickly glossed over the collapse in its final minutes without revealing much of what was said between coaches and players, coach Mike McDaniel was shown making candid remarks to the team in the Hard Rock Stadium home team locker room.

“That’s going to really hurt, for multiple reasons. … Let it hurt,” he said, also addressing how his team lost the No. 1 seed in the AFC with the defeat. “If that game forces us to go places and play football not here (in the playoffs), so be it… We are about getting to our best, and that was definitely not it.”

The final narration from the episode, wrapping up a disappointing Monday night in Miami Gardens: “Adversity is opportunity, a chance to grow.”

Chronicling the game against the Titans inevitably had to cover the injuries in the game. Center Connor Williams’s knee injury was shown, which was learned Tuesday afternoon to be a season-ending ACL tear, along with star wide receiver Tyreek Hill’s ankle injury. Hill returned to the game and was in and out of the lineup as Miami eventually fell due to a final fourth-and-2 sack of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa after giving up 15 points on a pair of Tennessee drives.

The week of preparation for the Titans showed an emphasis on bottling up Titans running back Derrick Henry.

With Dolphins linebacker Jerome Baker injured, his backup, Duke Riley, was a focal point for having to step up into his starting role and being a communicator for the defense, in charge of relaying signals to the rest of the defenders.

Fullback Alec Ingold was also prominently featured for earning the team nomination for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award.

Ingold was documented in the buildup to “Monday Night Football,” learning of his nomination and, once the game arrived, opening holes for running back Raheem Mostert and hurdling a defender.

The early scenes of the episode showed some genuine family moments for McDaniel and Mostert.

McDaniel’s young daughter, Ayla, was adorably and genuinely thrilled when she was surprised by McDaniel popping over a booth in the team facility’s cafeteria.

The episode offered a glimpse into what goes into the resodding of the field at Hard Rock Stadium. Tagovailoa took a particular interest into learning about it.

Florida Senate scraps plan to end recess mandate in public schools

Tue, 12/12/2023 - 05:00

The Florida Senate has backed away from plans to end the state’s recess requirement after objections from “recess moms” and other advocates who argue young students need a daily break from academics and a chance to run and play.

But the Senate’s fiscal policy committee is to set to take up three bills at its meeting this morning that scrap key parts of the Republican education agenda that have been in place for more than 20 years, ushered in under former Gov. Jeb Bush. The items the Senate Republicans want to end include requirements that high school students pass two exams to graduate and third graders pass a reading test to move on to fourth grade.

Those changes have prompted objections from Bush and his supporters, and it is not clear yet whether they will have the support of House leaders or Gov. Ron DeSantis. But one Senate committee has already approved them, and they are to get a second vote today.

The GOP lawmaker spearheading the effort — Sen. Corey Simon, R-Tallahassee — last week, however, made a change that made some parents happy, filing an amendment so that the recess mandate would remain unchanged.

In 2017, state lawmakers passed a law requiring elementary schools to provide 20 consecutive minutes of “unstructured, free-play recess” a day.

Simon, in an early version of the bill (SB 7004) filed in November, proposed altering that requirement to give school districts the flexibility to set their own recess rules.

But that prompted lots of objections from those who’d pushed for the state recess law because so many schools had done away with recess, even for their youngest students. Recess advocates, who called themselves “recess moms,” said young children need a chance to run around, and that recess benefits both their academics and mental health.

“It gives them that break they need and allows them to focus better,” said Angie Gallo, an Orange County School Board member who pushed for the recess mandate and urged the Senate not to undo what their colleagues adopted six years ago.

“We’re thrilled that Sen. Simon took the language out of the bill,” Gallo said Monday. “We’re pleased he listened to the recess moms.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

 

 

Most train horns to stay quiet as Feds preserve Broward’s ‘quiet zone’ along FEC corridor

Tue, 12/12/2023 - 04:30

The horns of locomotives along the Florida East Coast Railway line will remain largely silent after the Federal Railway Administration decided that Broward County has done enough to address safety problems along the tracks that carry Brightline passenger and FEC freight trains.

A so-called quiet zone that extends from the Palm Beach County line to Miami-Dade County is safe for now, the FRA said in a Dec. 7 letter to the Broward County Metropolitan Planning Organization, a center of transportation planning for the county. The agency said it has accepted a plan designed to curb incidents involving motorists who try to beat trains across the tracks, and pedestrians who trespass on private railroad property.

“Going forward, FRA will closely monitor Broward MPO’s progress in advancing the improvements set forth in the plan and the safety of the quiet zone corridor,” the letter added. “If the plan is not followed or if risk levels within the quiet zone increase significantly, FRA will initiate a further review of the quiet zone.”

The agency went on to commend the MPO and local agencies for their “commitment to rail safety” and efforts to reduce train-vehicle incidents and “trespassing events” along the FEC corridor in Broward.

An accident-driven review

Last year, the FRA warned it would place the Broward zone under a review after the agency hosted a series of open houses to raise awareness about the train collisions with vehicles along the FEC, as well as trespasser deaths. Earlier this year, the agency started its review.

Last week’s letter to the MPO did not specify what it found, or offer any conclusions as to whether the absence of train horns played a role in a spate of deaths that have plagued the rail corridor over the last several years.

Broward MPO Executive Director Gregory Stuart, in a note last week to mayors and other community leaders who are members, credited the FEC zone’s preservation to a 40-page report that outlined the collective efforts of cities, law enforcement, agencies and Brightline to improve safety along the rail corridor.

“We were able to address their concerns of rail safety,” Stuart said in an interview. “We got that done with all of the cities and the county on the corridor and with Brightline. And we were able to do what we needed to do fast.”

Mike Stocker / Sun SentinelA man walks along the tracks that carry Brightline higher-speed passenger trains near the Fort Lauderdale station. The railroad operators and local agencies intend to introduce more measures to seal off the rail corridor from trespassers. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun-Sentinel file)

The initiatives included more safety hardware at railroad crossings, as well as educational and enforcement programs, the latter of which was spearheaded by the Broward Sheriff’s Office whose deputies started issuing tickets to violators.

The rail line is the main artery for Brightline’s inter-city higher speed train service that started in 2018. The FEC freight line uses it to move its trains between Miami and Jacksonville. There have been dozens of deaths involving Brightline trains since they began service, according to a running count by The Associated Press.

In 2019, most train horns in South Florida went silent as long-sought quiet zones went into effect across the region as development surged and local urban populations grew  The zones, which cut off the horns 24 hours a day unless there is an emergency, were a relief for area residents.

Now, according to a summary of the report the MPO sent to the FRA in Washington, local agencies will work even more to keep the quiet zone intact.

“The Broward region has invested heavily in additional safety measures above and beyond the minimum requirements to mitigate negative and risky behaviors.” the summary said.

In the forthcoming months, it added, “the region will launch a strategic educational campaign, conduct another law enforcement blitz, and with the award of a Railroad Crossing Elimination Program grant, begin work on creating a sealed corridor.”

ASK IRA: Do Heat have fourth-quarter answer other than Jimmy Butler?

Tue, 12/12/2023 - 04:05

Q: A win is a win, obviously. But I remember when the Heat used to own the fourth quarter. They would get stops and as a fan I could depend on them getting stops in the fourth quarter, not giving up 37 points in the fourth quarter. This failure to hold leads in the fourth quarter is very concerning. Maybe when Tyler Herro gets back and Bam Adebayo gets healed up we will see the old Heat. – Roland, Borrego Springs, Calif.

A: While logic would say that when you concede 37 points in a fourth quarter, it is your defense that is proving costly, it actually also has been the lack of offense when Jimmy Butler dares take a rest at the top of the fourth quarter. That generally has been when it starts to go sideways. So, yes, a scorer such as Tyler Herro could help. But for all the talk about the Heat’s depth, that depth also has to step forward at winning time. Yes, an argument could be made for Jimmy sitting earlier, but it’s not as if you are going to ask him to play all 12 minutes of the fourth. It’s all about shot creation.

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Q: Let Nikola Jovic get the reps playing in the G League. Probably a little tough on his ego, but hopefully he’ll go and dominate and continue to get better. It takes a little time for some, but no doubt the kid has talent and the skillset to someday play and contribute in the Association. – Douglas.

A: And that’s what Nikola Jovic needs at this point – playing time. The fact that the Heat attempted to rush RJ Hampton to Charlotte when shorthanded, but didn’t do the same with Nikola in the absences of Bam Adebayo and Haywood Highsmith says plenty about the organizational belief that playing time is what matters most with Nikola. Of course, there also is the element of the upcoming G League Showcase next week in Orlando, where teams also can showcase their young players in front of scouts from the other 29 NBA teams.

Q: With Kyle Lowry already having back issues and we’re not even halfway through the season, shouldn’t Pat Riley have Goran Dragic’s phone number on speed dial?  – Greg, Jacksonville.

A: First, not only do the Heat obviously have it, but Goran was at Kaseya Center last week visiting with players and coaches after a game. But don’t read anything into that,  now that the Heat also have to pay Dru Smith’s salary the balance of his contract for the season because of his season-ending knee injury. The Heat’s view likely is that they also have Josh Richardson, and plenty of other ballhandlers when healthy, with Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo and even Caleb Martin. Beyond that, should the play be signing one 37-year-old as insurance for another?

From a proud FSU grad: ‘Noles were robbed | Letters to the editor

Tue, 12/12/2023 - 04:00

College football has sunk to a sad place when there’s no shame and no penalty for cheating (Michigan) and where one delusional conference (the SEC) conflates its very manhood with manipulating a fixed berth in the playoffs despite losses and iffy field performance. The only worthy team picked by the playoff committee is the University of Washington (13-0). Alabama, which was not on the playoff radar before defeating Georgia by 3, and Texas both have losses. FSU (13-0) has none, despite losing its star quarterback to a severe injury.

Yet a playoff cabal pretends it can rightly decree worthiness with bias and clairvoyance instead of tabulating wins. FSU beat tough teams, including longtime SEC powerhouses LSU and Florida.

Elevating Alabama to playoff relevance is reason enough to quit watching college football. But as an FSU alumna, I could not be prouder of my team for its perseverance, integrity and class. It won the ACC championship and earned a top four slot. Unfortunately, values and undefeated won-loss records didn’t impress the committee, which apparently fears a gifted team that pursues excellence through honest means.

Rebecca Eagan, Winter Park

Trump: Best of them all

I read the drivel from Michael K. Cantwell, the Delray Beach Democratic Club president (“A Trump-Biden rematch is a no-brainer,” Nov. 28) and I found it an utter insult to our intelligence.

On day one, when President Joe Biden, who sold his soul to environmental wackos, canceled oil drilling and leases, he took our economy from the Trump penthouse to the Biden outhouse. The 1.4% inflation he inherited from Trump became 9.1% within a year, highest in 40 years. It has fallen to a still-too-high 3.3%, but the outrageous spike in prices, particularly for food and gas, has not come down. In fact, Bidenomics has become such a laughingstock the administration doesn’t want it mentioned anymore. Don’t tell the average working family they’re better off than they were four years ago. You can’t lie to folks about their own personal finances.

Add in two wars thanks to Biden’s weakness and ineptitude, a porous southern border allowing in millions of illegals and rampant crime, and you realize that all Democrats can do is go negative and spread lies, innuendo and derision about Trump since they have nothing positive to offer. There isn’t one Republican running for president today who wouldn’t improve the nation dramatically in every way, and in my opinion, Trump is the best of them, because he’s already done it.

Neal Bluestein, Boca Raton 

Sanitizing school libraries

The Sun Sentinel editorial “Sanitizing public school libraries,” was well titled because the aim of those against diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) is to eradicate individual thinking by sanitizing citizens’ minds to serve thoughtlessly. Marx’s dream, communism, is based on flawed ideas: collectivize citizens, organize for revolution and have a forever-expanding economy.

The collectivization of citizens is achieved by authoritarian means where a single, sanitized mind is reproduced through censorship and propaganda to create a population that will serve mindlessly, subordinating their thoughts to their leader’s will. The idea of a continuous expanding economy requires an army of workers and soldiers fighting for land and resources to serve a growing industrial base.

It’s interesting that the party of the “Red Scare” bases its philosophy on Marxist ideology. By sanitizing libraries, they seek to create a collective mind, following a single leader, who promises Marx’s utopian dream. No wonder Ashley Moody opposes diversity, equality and inclusion — they excluded voters, sanitize libraries and elevate one leader above all others.

Phil Beasley, Plantation

Too much debt forgiveness

With the government canceling so much student loan debt, where can my husband and I apply for refunds for all the undergraduate and graduate tuition we helped pay for our children and grandchildren? Their parents also contributed hard work, long hours and sacrifice. Certainly we all could have done lots of useful and even pleasurable things with all that money.

I was taught from my earliest years that if you borrow money, you have an obligation to pay it back.

Carol Cooper, Boynton Beach 

Chris Perkins and David Furones break down Miami Dolphins’ surprising loss to the Tennessee Titans | VIDEO

Mon, 12/11/2023 - 23:34

In this video, the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Chris Perkins and David Furones discuss the Miami Dolphins’ 28-27 home loss to the Tennessee Titans (5-8) on “Monday Night Football”. Miami had a chance to reclaim the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoff race with a win, but fell to 9-4 with the loss.

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Fun winter activities to do, solo or with a friend

Mon, 12/11/2023 - 23:17
Which fun winter activities to do solo or with a friend are best?

Snow might be beautiful and majestic, but when too much of it falls, it’s just a pain. Rather than gleefully sledding down your nearest hill, making awesome snowmen and taking part in epic snowball fights, you find yourself snowed in with not much to do.

You can still look on the bright side — there are plenty of activities to engage in when you’re stuck inside. From crafts and baking to simply catching up on some good TV, we’ve come up with a range of fun activities to do either solo or with a friend.

Fun winter activities Play games

If you’re snowed in with a friend, now’s the perfect time to crack out the Scrabble or Monopoly. If you don’t have any board games, you can still play games such as charades or Pictionary with nothing more than a pen and paper. Snowed in alone? That doesn’t mean you can’t play a game. You could play your favorite video game on a computer, console, or smartphone, or you could play a one-person card game such as solitaire.

Watch TV or some movies

Getting snowed in is the ideal excuse to binge-watch that show you’ve been dying to see or to have a movie marathon. Whether you watch new releases or classic flicks is up to you. If Christmas is approaching, you could watch your favorite festive films all day! The great thing about chilling out in front of your television is that you can do it solo or with a pal.

Bake up a storm

A blizzard might be raging outside, but you can bake up your very own storm in the kitchen. A batch of snickerdoodles, a freshly baked loaf, or a sky-high layer cake — you’ve got the time to bake whatever sounds good. Not only is baking a fun activity to do alone or with a friend but you also get something yummy to enjoy at the end of it. Many baked goods freeze well and defrost quickly, so you could whip up a large batch of cookies or muffins, freeze them, then enjoy whenever you please.

Get crafty

Whether you’re an avid knitter, scrapbooker, or fan of macrame, being stuck inside equals plenty of time for your favorite crafts! Either embark on a joint project with a friend or go it alone. If the festive season is approaching, this might be the perfect time to craft some homemade gifts.

Make an epic meal

If there’s ever a time for comfort food, it’s when you’re snowed in your home. You might not usually have a lot of time to cook by the time you get home from work or finish your household chores, but now you have all day, so the sky’s your limit. Maybe you want to dust off that overly ambitious cookbook you haven’t even opened, or you might want to recreate a favorite family recipe. Whatever your fancy, turn on the stove and get cooking! Unless you’ve got a well-stocked pantry, you might have to get creative with some of the ingredients, but it’s usually possible to make some substitutions without too much fuss.

Read a book

Looking for some solo activities to while away a snowy day? It might not be flashy, but reading is a favorite pastime for a reason. Find a cozy corner, snuggle up in a blanket and lose yourself in a book. You might not be able to get very far outside, but reading can take you anywhere! If you’re the sort of person who always has a huge stack of books waiting to be read, now’s the time to make some headway.

Work out

Are you always complaining that it’s tough to find the time to exercise? Well, for the next day or two, you have ample time, so you might want to fit in a few good workouts. Even if you’re not usually the workout type but do plenty of walking in your daily life, suddenly being sedentary can make you feel cooped up, so a gentle workout could be just the thing.

Simply sit and watch the snowfall

Between work, chores, hobbies and other obligations, we’re all so busy that there’s rarely time to just sit and think. Since you’re in no hurry to get anywhere, a snow day is your chance to simply step back and breathe. The snow might be in your bad books for trapping you inside, but it’s still undeniably pretty. So, make yourself a hot chocolate with all the trimmings, pull up a chair by the window, cuddle up and simply watch the still, silent landscape outside.

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Lauren Corona writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.

BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

How to save on electronics this holiday shopping season

Mon, 12/11/2023 - 23:12
 How to shop for electronics

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are over for 2023, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still find great deals on electronics. Whether you’re looking for a great pair of noise-canceling headphones or an Amazon Echo device, there are strategies you can employ to help you find the best deals on electronics throughout the entire holiday shopping season.

6 money-saving tips for buying electronics Do your research

There are two types of research you must do. First, you must educate yourself so you understand what you need in a product and why. Second, you must learn what a good price looks like. This is important because it keeps you from being fooled by inflated prices and large discounts, which don’t translate into true value.

Compare prices

The internet is a buyer-friendly marketplace. You can instantly compare prices to see if a retailer is really giving you the best deal.

Consider older models

Does this year’s upgrade really enhance the product’s overall performance? The upgrades made to electronic devices tend to encourage consumerism, but they don’t offer a substantial increase in the buyer’s quality of life.

Don’t get the bells and whistles

Bells and whistles cost more. If you don’t need them, don’t pay to have them. Often it’s a better value to stick to the mid-range price point.

Buy rebuilt Amazon Certified Refurbished

Amazon Certified Refurbished products have been tested and verified. They look and perform as new. Even better, they come with the same limited warranty as a new product. Best of all? They cost less.

Don’t buy on your first visit to a website

Unless the product is on sale and you’re visiting specifically to purchase that product right away, don’t buy. Retailers need your business, and once they see you’re interested, they may offer a deep discount to close the deal so you don’t purchase elsewhere. As soon as you leave the site, an aggressive retailer will sprinkle your social media feeds, offering the product at a substantial discount.

Put your products in a cart

Put your products in your shopping cart, but don’t check out. This has two benefits. One, the company may offer an immediate discount to get you to check out. Two, it will make it easier to keep tabs on an item’s price so you know the best time to buy it.

Put these electronics in your cart today

Apple AirPods Pro ]

To stay competitive, Apple sometimes discounts its top earbuds. Keep an eye on these so you know when it’s the best time to buy.

Amazon Echo Show 8 ]

This 8-inch Echo Show came out in 2021. It has an incredible amount of features and is often on sale at a deep discount.

Amazon Fire Omni Series 4K Smart TV ]

The price of HD TVs has plummeted over the years. This 65-inch model is a fine example of high quality at a low price.

Meta Quest 2 ]

This extremely popular VR headset needs to be in your cart today so you can get it before it sells out for the holidays. Right now, for instance, Beat Saber is included with purchase.

JBL Flip 5 Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker ]

Bluetooth speakers are another highly competitive market. This trusted brand is currently on sale for a substantial discount.

Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) ]

Amazon seems to always have a sale on its Echo devices, even the latest generation models. Right now, you can save a lot when you buy the newest Echo Dot.

Fitbit Versa 2 ]

This Fitbit came out before the pandemic, but it’s still a hugely popular model. By putting it in your cart today, you can be ready to buy with a click when it goes on sale.

Google Pixel 8 ]

The new Pixel 8 is out now, but the Pixel 7 remains a fine choice. You can get it for much less than it cost when it came out.

Bose QuietComfort 45 Bluetooth Noise-Canceling Headphones ]

Noise-canceling headphones are in such demand that prices on top models, such as these, are often surprisingly low.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 (Renewed) ]

This is an example of how a smart shopper uses Amazon’s refurbished program to get an excellent product at substantial savings.

Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews.

Sign up here receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.

Allen Foster writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.

BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Things we learned in Miami Dolphins’ shocking 28-27 loss to the Tennessee Titans

Mon, 12/11/2023 - 22:28

MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins had a chance to regain the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoff picture with a victory over Tennessee on Monday night. They didn’t.

Miami’s 28-27 loss to Tennessee was a shocker because the offense stalled out against a bad defense, and the Dolphins defense allowed 15 fourth-quarter points to a sub-.500 team.

Complications began early in the game with a lost fumble at the Titans’ 4-yard line after a botched snap and an ensuing strip-sack of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and continued through the first half. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill (left ankle) and center Connor Williams (left knee) went down to injuries

The defense put the Dolphins (9-4) on the scoreboard with a pick-six for the franchise-record third consecutive game.

But the Dolphins had to work hard in this one.

Here are some more takeaways from a surprising Miami loss: 

Playmaking defense establishes franchise record

When Dolphins defensive lineman Zach Sieler picked off a pass by Tennessee quarterback Will Levis and returned it five yards for a touchdown it marked the third consecutive game the Dolphins had an interception return for a touchdown.

Safety Jevon Holland had the 99-yard touchdown return against the New York Jets just before halftime, and linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel had the 33-yard interception return touchdown vs. the Washington Commanders. — Chris Perkins

McDaniel loses yet another challenge, now 2 for 11

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel threw a red challenge flag in the third quarter on a 30-yard reception by Titans running back Tyjae Spears in which he fumbled the ball out of bounds after being tackled. 

McDaniel lost a challenge in Miami’s previous game against Washington.

Related Articles OL without Armstead, Hunt

The offensive line shuffle continued for yet another game.

Miami started Williams, right guard Liam Eichenberg, right tackle Austin Jackson, left guard Lester Connor and left tackle Kendall Lamm. It marked the ninth starting combination the Dolphins have used on the offensive line.

And it didn’t last long.

Williams sustained a knee injury in the first quarter and didn’t return. That meant Eichenberg shifted to center and Robert Jones came in at right guard.

Eichenberg had a holding and a false start in the first half on top of the botched snap with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (it’s unclear who was at fault) in the first quarter.

The Dolphins allowed five sacks vs. the Titans.

Run game reels off yet another 100-yard performance

The Dolphins (158 yards rushing on 31 carries) were able to pound the ball for yet another 100-yard performance. It was the third consecutive and fourth in the past five games. The other game in that stretch was a 99-yard showing against Las Vegas.

Miami entered the game second in the league in rushing at 143.3 yards per game. Baltimore leads the league at 157.1 yards per game.

Third-and-short concerns put aside, kind of

Third-and-short has been troubling for Miami all season but Miami was 3 for 5 on Monday. None of those were on third-and-goal, however.

Miami had third-and-goal at the Tennessee 2-yard line and Tagovailoa threw incomplete for wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr.

Miami had third-and-goal from the Tennessee 3-yard line in the fourth quarter and Tagovailoa slipped and fell while changing direction and looking for an open receiver.

It was a solid showing on third-and-short overall but Miami needed more timely plays.

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Hill (four receptions, 61 yards) hit a bump on his road to the NFL’s first 2,000-yard receiving season. Hill sustained a left ankle injury in the first quarter after a six-yard loss. He returned in the third quarter but wasn’t very effective.

Hill entered Monday’s game with 1,481 yards receiving, which was an average of 123.4 yards per game.

Hill is vying to become the first wide receiver with 2,000 yards in a season. Calvin Johnson has the record with 1,964 yards in 2012.

Defending Henry goes very well

Tennessee running back Derrick Henry did nothing against Miami’s run defense, which was eighth the league at 96.6 yards allowed per game.

Henry ended with 35 yards on 17 carries. His longest run was six yards.

Henry began play Monday second in the NFL in rushing with 841 yards, an average of 4.3 yards per carry.

Turnover margin

The Dolphins won the turnover battle, 3-1, and improved their season total to minus-2.

Miami was even on turnovers in the first quarter after Sieler scored on a 5-yard interception return touchdown.

Miami had a turnover in the first quarter when Tagovailoa and Eichenberg bobbled the snap. The ball hit the ground but Tagovailoa picked it up and attempted to drop back to pass when defensive tackle Jaleel Johnson swatted the ball out of Tagovailoa’s hand.

The Dolphins got other turnovers on edge rusher Bradley Chubb’s fumble recovery on a bad pitch to Henry and safety Elijah Campbell’s fumble recovery on a muffed punt, both in the fourth quarter. 

Miami entered the game minus-4, tied for 20th with Atlanta, Tennessee and Philadelphia. Kansas City, for those keeping track, is at minus-7, tied for 27th.

The Dolphins won the turnover battle in their previous game, 1-0, in its 45-15 victory over Washington.

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Miami’s defense, playing without Holland (knees), edge rusher Jaelan Phillips (season-ending Achilles) and linebacker Jerome Baker (knee injury; on injured reserve) was good most of the game but it had a little bit of leakage in spots.

The fourth quarter was shaky though as Tennessee easily drove down the field.

Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins ended with seven receptions for 124 yards and one touchdown.

Levis (21 of 36, 275 yards, one touchdown, one interception) was only sacked once and made some nice throws.

The Titans only rushed for 75 yards, however, and never got much going offensively.

Because Baker was injured last game, this is the first game the defense has played with the trio of Phillips, Holland and Baker. Phillips and Holland were out of the starting lineup for the Washington victory.

Miami started safety Brandon Jones in Holland’s place, Ginkel started in Phillips’ place and Duke Riley started in Baker’s place.

Dolphins suffer first home loss, lose home supremacy

Miami fell to 5-1 at Hard Rock Stadium this season and 10-3 at Hard Rock under McDaniel.

More importantly, the aura of invincibility at home has fallen for the Dolphins. This could put a whole new light on the finishing stretch of four of the last five at home. Miami has home games remaining against the New York Jets (5-8), Dallas (10-3), and Baltimore (10-3).

Tyreek Hill, the great elevator

When Hill joined the Dolphins, he reminded a podcast audience in June 2022 of how he had torched the Minnesota Vikings in a 2019 game started by ex-Dolphin Matt Moore, who had sat out the 2018 season and hung them up after 2019. He added that current Dolphins passer Tua Tagovailoa was worth “10 Matt Moores.” However, it does get to the main point that Hill has turbocharged the passing numbers of the quarterbacks he has played with.

Here are the With Tyreek/Without Tyreek passer rating splits for the four quarterbacks who have taken the most snaps with Hill on the field since he became a full-time starter in 2017: Patrick Mahomes (3,893 snaps with Hill, 2,259 without): 105.8 passer rating with Hill/101.2 without; Tagovailoa (1,444/1,348): 105.7/88.8; Alex Smith (961/5,416): 104.7/84.9; Moore (170/491): 100.9/81.2. — Steve Svekis

In the final four games, the Dolphins will face QBs who have piled up points against Miami during their careers

The final quartet of games begins against the New York Jets, who will be starting Zach Wilson. Wilson and the Jets have averaged 32.0 points per game against Miami (64 points in two games). The Cowboys’ Dak Prescott put up 31 points in a 2019 25-point Dallas victory. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has seen Baltimore roll up 107 points in his three starts (35.7 points per game), and Josh Allen has started 12 games against Miami, with Buffalo pouring on 408 points (34.0). That equals 18 games and 610 points (33.9 points per game). Another thing all those passers have in common is an ability to hurt teams with their feet. Wilson (93 runs for 498 yards), Prescott (396-1,827), Jackson (850-5,081) and Allen (618-3,461) have combined for a 5.6-yard-per-carry average.

The incredible difference between Hill’s 2023 and Johnson’s record-setting 2012

Calvin Johnson set the NFL receiving-yardage record for a season in 2012 with 1,964 yards. In the first three quarters of his games, MegaTron averaged 431.3 yards in each quarter (1,294 yards) over the full season. But Johnson made massive hay in the fourth quarters and overtime, collecting 670 yards, 34.1% of his total receiving yards. On a 4-12 Lions team, there was a chunk of rally passing and garbage-time opportunity in there (199 yards by my count). But Hill? He already has 1,393 receiving yards in quarters one through three, but a microscopic 88 fourth-quarter yards, 5.9% of his total, as the high-flying Dolphins have usually been shutting down their offense with plenty of time left in the fourth quarter of games. Let’s say that Hill was piling up the fourth-quarter stats as Johnson did in the fourth quarter at the rate of 41.9 yards per final period/overtime. Adding in the net 414 yards, Hill would have entered the Tennessee game with 1,895 receiving yards instead of 1,481. A 16-game pace of 2,526 yards instead of his still-record-setting current 1,974, and a 17-game extrapolation of 2,684 instead of the current 2,098.

The oddity of the Dolphins’ numbers on third- and fourth-and-1

Two weeks ago, the Dolphins’ performance on third-and-1 and fourth-and-1 was a putrid anomaly, their 7 for 20 and 35% success rate far behind even the second-worst team in the NFL in the stat. However, after four consecutive conversions against the Commanders and Titans, that percentage had soared to 45.8%. Despite the streak, Miami still trails the second-worst Jets and Falcons in the stat as those teams each have converted 12 of 21 for a 57.1% success rate with 3 feet to gain. It has been truly baffling.

Take a look at the Miami conversion rates in third/fourth-down situations with more than a yard required (through the Titans tilt): 2 yards: 58.3% (7 for 12); 3 yards: 66.7% (12 for 18); 4 yards: 42.9% (6 for 14); 5 yards: 44.4% (4 for 9); 6 yards: 57.1% (8 for 14); 7 yards: 35.7% (5 for 14); 8 yards: 85.7% (6 for 7) and 9 yards: 50.0% (4 for 8). Even in prayer situations of at least 10 yards to go, the Dolphins have done well, with a 23.4% rate (11 for 47). One would expect that the short-yardage success will rise toward the mean. Miami will need it to as the tough close of the schedule and playoffs beckon.

Last time the Dolphins offense scored zero points in a first half was more than two years ago

Miami hadn’t seen its offense be shut out in the first 30 minutes since Sept. 19, 2021 against the Bills, when Tagovailoa exited in the first half with a ribs injury. The most recent first-half shutout where Tagovailoa played the whole time was on Dec. 20, 2020 against the New England Patriots. All three games were at Hard Rock Stadium.

Tagovailoa still looking for improvement when he is the only show in town

In the 14 games Tua Tagovailoa has played in when the Dolphins have been on a national broadcast, his passer rating has been a mediocre 87.5. Tagovailoa’s national games, in order of passer rating, from best to worst: 104.0, At Bills, 2022, 32-29 loss; 104.0, Ravens, 2021, 22-10 win; 99.4, At Raiders, 2020, 26-25 win; 95.1, Jaguars (London), 2021, 23-20 loss; 92.7, Steelers, 2022, 16-10 win;  92.2, At Patriots, 24-17 win; 91.5, At Saints, 20-3 win; 90.5, Titans, 28-27 loss; 87.5, At Eagles, 2023, 31-17 loss; 87.0: Chiefs (Germany), 21-14 loss; 80.8, Packers, 26-20 loss; 77.5, At Jets, 2023, 27-6 win; 65.3, At Chargers, 2023, 23-17 loss; 52.7, at Bengals, 2022, 27-15 loss. The total numbers are 258-399 for 2,980 yards with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, plus nine fumbles.

What was behind the quarter-long run-game evaporation?

For a span from 10:15 remaining in the third quarter to 10:09 left in the fourth quarter, the only Dolphins run was a 3-yard scramble by Tagovailoa. In this sort of physical game, that was a surprise.

On deck: New York Jets, Hard Rock Stadium, Sunday, 1 p.m.

It looks like it will be Wilson back in the saddle as the Jets starting quarterback. As flawed as he has been, Wilson is leaps and bounds better than the recently released Tim Boyle, who started the Black Friday game for New York vs.Miami, infamously throwing the Hail Mary that was returned 99 yards for a first half-ending touchdown.

Hyde10: Dolphins hand back win, rookie QB beats them, Hill’s injury — 10 thoughts on 28-27 loss to Titans

Mon, 12/11/2023 - 21:57

MIAMI GARDENS — Ugly. Uglier. Ugliest.

That’s the way Monday night progressed for the Miami Dolphins in a 28-27 loss to the Tennessee Titans.

The Titans didn’t just try to give the Dolphins the game in the fourth quarter. They did give it with two unforced blunders. The Dolphins just didn’t keep the win in falling to 9-4.

Here are 10 thoughts on the game:

1. Drive of the Game I: Down 27-13 after back-to-back errors appeared to end the game, Tennessee drove 75 yards in nine plays for a touchdown and scored the two-point conversion to cut the Dolphins lead to 27-21. Will Levis completed 5-of-6 passes for 67 yards and the conversion. The drive only took a minute and 54 seconds. Still there looked to be little hope for Tennessee with 2:40 remaining when …

2. Drive of the game II: After the Dolphins went three-and-out on offense, Tennessee went 64 yards in four plays and just 26 seconds to take the lead, 28-27. Levis completed passes of 36 and 16 on the drive. So for the final two drives, the rookie quarterback completed 7-of-8 passes for 119 yards with the game on the line.

3. What made the ending so brutal is Tennessee gifted them the win. In a span of one minute in the fourth quarter, two Tennessee blunders set up two touchdowns. On the first, Tennessee punt returner Eric Garror appeared to decide not to field a punt before changing his mind, muffing it and the Dolphins’ Elijah Campbell fell on it at the 7-yard line. Two plays later Raheem Mostert scored to make it 20-13 with 5:34 to play. The second blunder: On the first play after that muffed punt, Levis’ pitch to Derrick Henry went off the running back’s shoulder with no Dolphins around. But Bradley Chubb recovered the ball at the Tennessee 12. Mostert ran it in from 5 yards with 4:34 left for his second touchdown in exactly one minute.

4. The worst half of the Dolphins season came in the first half Monday and involved:

A. Tua Tagovailoa fumbling twice on the same play from the Tennessee 2-yard line on the Dolphins’ game-opening drive. The first was a bobbled snap exchange from Liam Eichenberg, who had just been put in at center. The second came when Tennessee tackle Jaleel Johnson knocked the ball from Tagovailoa’s hand and recovered the fumble;

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B. Tyreek Hill and center Connor Williams being injured. Williams appeared to suffer a bad knee injury and didn’t return to the game;

C. Chubb missing a third-down sack in the second quarter and then making a bigger mistake in throwing his helmet near the sideline in frustration after the play. The 15-yard penalty kept Tennessee’s 14-play, 86-yard going to tie the score at 7-7;

D.Jason Sanders having a 44-yard field goal blocked;

E. Tennessee’s plodding offense took over at its 21-yard line with 28-seconds to go, and driven by two DeAndre Hopkins catches for 69 yards, were in position to kick a 28-yard field goal to end the half;

The Dolphins trailed Kansas City at half, 21-0, but all this was against Tennessee.

5. Could Tyreek Hill’s case for MVP actually go up with him standing on the sideline for much of Monday night? Well, maybe. The offense put up three points and looked lost without him after he took a lateral pass in the first quarter and was tackled by cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting by the Tennessee sideline. Hill stayed on the ground for a while as trainers came, then got up and started to limp across the field before jogging in a way that said he might be OK. That hope appeared gone when he stood on the sideline for what was announced as an ankle injury until the second series of the third quarter. He caught passes for 23 and 25 yards — the Dolphins’ two longest plays of the night — to set up first-and-goal at the 6-yard line. That led to another field goal. Hill came on for spot plays after that, but immedately hobbled off the field. He wasn’t in by the final series of the night. He ended with four catches for 61 yards

6. For the fourth time this season and third straight week the defense got a Pick-6. This time, the degree-of-difficulty increased considering it was defensive tackle Zach Sieler who returned the interception 5 yards for the game-opening touchdown in the first quarter. Sieler seemed to read a middle screen and stood right where Levis threw it. In his 72nd NFL game, it was his first interception and first touchdown, which is probably a good percentage for a defensive tackle. The other three pick-6’s were by Jerome Baker, Jevon Holland and Andrew Van Ginkel.

7. Williams’ exit in the first quarter with an knee injury meant right tackle Austin Jackson was the only offensive line starter left from opening day. We’ll have to see the extent of Williams’ injury, but coming up on a part of the schedule where all this is a concern. Left tackle Terron Armstead was questionable Monday and didn’t play. Guard Robert Hunt aggravated a hamstring injury last week against Washington. Throw in guard Isiah Wynn (quadriceps), who still can return this season, and the line could use some healthy news. It didn’t much matter last week against Washington’s defense that had traded its top two pass rushers or Tennessee’s 26th-rated defense was without it best player in defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons. But the next three defenses the Dolphins play rank in the Top 5: The Jets (5), Dallas (3) and Baltimore (2).

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8. In a game with limited scoring chances, you see why Mike McDaniel challenged a 30-yard Tennessee completion that gave it a first-and-goal at the 6 in the third quarter. Tyjae Spears was ruled to have caught the ball before fumbling it out of bounds. That held up on replay, too. That means — here we go again — the Dolphins are 1 for 5 on challenges this season after going 1 for 6 last year. That’s a lost time-out with each miss. No matter how you walk around this, you can’t have that kind of batting percentage.

9. Quick Hits:

Tagovailoa was sacked five times as he had to hold the ball longer without Hill’s quick moves and the line was on so many backups;

* The Dolphins entered Monday leading the league in red-zone offense by scoring touchdowns on 75 percent of their chances, but were 0 for 3 with two field goals to show for it;

* Christian Wilkins got a sack to move to 7.5 on the season;

* Derrick Henry: 31 yards on his first 16 carries. Then 4 yards and two touchdowns on his final two carries.

* Hopkins turned back the clock with seven catches for 124 yards;

* Tennessee might have something in Levis, but it would’ve been more fun to see former Dolphin Ryan Tannehill play.

10. Next week: New York Jets at Dolphins. The Jets broke a four-game losing streak on Sunday with a 30-6 win against Houston. A lost offense came to life in the second half as quarterback Zach Wilson showed some signs of life in passing for 301 yards and two touchdowns. The Jets still average a second-worst 15.5 points a game. Now comes the rematch of a Nov. 24th game where the Dolphins dominated, 34-13. With a 5-8 record, the prime question left is if the Jets can ruin someone else’s season, too.

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ASK IRA: Did NBA tournament provide Heat a lesson about height?

Mon, 12/11/2023 - 04:05

Q: Watching the Pacers be overwhelmed in the paint by the Lakers in the In Season Tournament’s championship game further illustrated to me the need for the Heat to add height and length to this roster. It seems like folly to keep running back an undersized roster just to be stopped by the size of the Lakers in 2020 and Nuggets in 2023, and of course injuries which could be related to being overmatched every night. – Ken.

A: But it’s also about finding the right height. And then that gets into the argument of playing talent vs. playing height. For example, the Heat had height in last year’s NBA Finals, but Cody Zeller wasn’t good enough height against Nikola Jokic (is anyone?). And in the 2020 NBA Finals, the Heat also had Kelly Olynyk and Meyers Leonard in addition to Bam Adebayo (whose injury also was a factor in that loss to Anthony Davis and the Lakers). Even this season, the Heat added Thomas Bryant in a question for additional size, only to find Haywood Highsmith a better option in the power rotation. So do you force an opening lineup of Kevin Love and Bam Adebayo, which did not work at the start of this season? Or do you play your best players? With this roster, the best options at power forward likely are Highsmith or Caleb Martin. It’s not as if more minutes from Orlando Robinson would solve Nikola Jokic or Anthony Davis. And it simply does not seem that Nikola Jovic is an answer on the boards, at a still-developing 20, as a counter to opposing bulk. That’s not to say that your point isn’t valid. It is. But it’s also about finding the right fit. Arguably, alongside Adebayo, the closest fit might have been Olynyk.

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Q: Kyle Lowry last season averaged 12.4 points in October, 15.6  in November and 11.9 in December, at 12 points in 33 minutes per game pre-All-Star break. Then he averaged 7.9 points and 23.1 minutes after the All-Star break. It is very clear that Kyle Lowry’s knees and body broke down the second half of the season. Similar to this season, he had to play a lot of minutes last year while Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro and others were out. Unless we are 100 percent trading him at the All-Star break, isn’t having Kyle Lowry rested for the playoffs the most important? It is clear he might only have one maybe two good months a season and we are wasting it in November and December. How much of a concern is this for us down the road? – Kris, Oceanside, Calif.

A: Well, one element to the Heat’s advantage is that this time Kyle Lowry is in a contract year, so there likely will be greater incentive to persevere. But the injuries also are a factor, and once Bam Adebayo, and especially Tyler Herro return, I think you will see the minutes go down. Another encouraging sign has been the play of Josh Richardson. The problem is the Heat also have needed Josh at shooting guard, which at times has him playing alongside, instead of in place of, Kyle. But, yes, at 37, the minutes do need to be monitored. Because at the moment, Kyle Lowry appears more valuable to the Heat as a contributor than trade asset. There simply is not much else there at point guard.

Q: I enjoy Heat basketball more when Jaime Jaquez Jr. brings the ball up the floor quickly, rather than when they revert to either Jimmy Butler or Kyle Lowry slow-walking it up in the fourth quarter. – Jon.

A: But there also is a time to dial back, particularly when playing with a lead. Part of the Heat’s problem in the fourth quarter has been playing out of control, which is where the pacing of Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry comes into play. That said, Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s energy at other parts of the game does provide juice to an offense that can become moribund in the halfcourt.

A third-party president? There’s a first for everything | Letters to the editor

Mon, 12/11/2023 - 04:00

Although Donald Trump will very likely be the Republican presidential nominee, the odds are against him winning the White House in 2024. But that doesn’t mean Biden couldn’t also lose.

At this early point in the run-up to November 2024, there is a real possibility that a third-party candidate with wide enough popular appeal could win. Everyone says an independent will never win, and that they are spoilers, nothing more. That may have been true in the past, but is it still? Things change. Polls tell us that the two major parties are both losing their appeal to many likely voters.

Imagine this scenario: Voters in America are not forced to choose between two parties that have adopted inflexible and extremist positions on a number of issues, at a time when neither party truly represents a majority of the American people, who tend to be more moderate. Not only would independents have a choice; but so too would disaffected Democrats and Republicans who refuse to toe the party line.

All of this being said, an independent candidate cannot possibly win without an independent first being in the race, and that’s something we haven’t seen yet.

Dave Boraks, Sunrise

Bidenomics is working

Sun Sentinel reader (and letter writer) Barry Godofsky — when he wakes up — will realize that our economy is not nearly as bad as he makes it out to be (letter, “The disaster of Bidenomics,” Dec. 4).

Just last week, gasoline prices in Boca Raton fell below $3 a gallon. That may be good for all those speeders on I-95, but not so good for our climate.

Inflation, which had hit a high of 9.1%, has dropped to 3.2% and is still heading south, and more Americans are employed than ever. Look at what happened over the Thanksgiving holiday, when Americans broke all records for travel, in the air and on the ground (and through the woods to Grandmother’s house).

If we could just get rid of Putin and Hamas, think of how much better times would be. So Bidenomics is working. The president may be humble, and may stumble occasionally, but that’s because he has to work so fast in case Trump tried to run the country from a prison cell. So what if Biden is 81 years old? That’s only a number that tells you where you’ve been. It doesn’t tell you where you’re going.

Marty Reichenthal, Boca Raton

A path to productivity

The devastating interruptions in the education of our youth as the consequence of almost two years of COVID-19, combined with huge increases in the need for skilled workers brought on by the massive influx of new people flocking to our state, has produced a perfect opportunity for Gov. Ron DeSantis. He can work to open free trade schools all over Florida to provide many disenfranchised young people with opportunity while at the same time fulfilling the critical needs of our growing construction, restaurant, landscaping, retail, hospitality and other businesses.

Hopefully we have learned from The National Youth Administration (NYA) of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal during America’s Great Depression and DeSantis will establish free trade schools with no-nonsense courses leading to certifications in fields such as landscaping, carpentry, masonry, plumbing, electrical work and computer science. This would provide many young people with a meaningful route to productive jobs with a future in our economy.

Robert Fox, Lake Worth Beach

At Rick Scott’s expense

I had a nice chuckle on Thursday morning while reading the Viewpoint headline on the opinion page, which said: “Closing a Corruption Loophole in Congress.” And it was co-written by, of all people, Sen Rick Scott. Really!

Michael Spatz, Fort Lauderdale

Will Marsy’s Law ruling prompt South Florida agencies to change policy? Here’s the latest.

Mon, 12/11/2023 - 04:00

A recent ruling by the Florida Supreme Court changed what everyone thought they knew about victims’ privacy rights. But the change will take some time to go into effect, and it may not remain in effect for very long.

“If anyone has a public records request, get it in now,” said Bobby Block, executive director of the First Amendment Foundation, one of the open-government advocacy groups that prevailed in the Supreme Court ruling. “I saw this as more of a temporary reprieve than an overturning of the law. They’ll come up with legislation to restore the restrictions, and there will be a push against it.”

When it originally went into full effect in 2018, Marsy’s Law was seen as a barrier between traumatized crime victims and the public, including the news media, allowing victims to shield their names from release by police agencies.

Police officers accused of excessive force argued that they were entitled to the law’s protections because they acted in self-defense and were therefore crime victims.

Whether the protection extended to police in the line of duty was the issue that the Supreme Court was asked to decide. Instead, the court ruled that Marsy’s Law, a constitutional amendment, never barred police agencies from disclosing victims’ names in the first place.

Most South Florida law enforcement agencies have not implemented the change because although the ruling was issued last week, it doesn’t yet have the force of law.

“Our counsel advised us to continue with Marsy’s Law when victims request it,” said Broward Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Veda Coleman-Wright.

The Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office intends to respond to public records requests by complying with the new ruling immediately, said office spokesman Marc Freeman.

The ruling itself says it does not become “final” until after the police union that brought the case to court has a chance to ask for a rehearing. It’s not clear how long that will be, but in similar cases the deadline is a month after the decision.

At that point legal and political experts are sure that representatives in Tallahassee will introduce legislation to shield the identities of crime victims and, perhaps, explicitly answer whether the law applies to police officers.

Laws intended to protect civilians have been extended to on-duty police officers before.

In 2018, the Florida Supreme Court ruled that law enforcement officers are entitled to the same protection as civilians under the state’s “stand your gound” law, which grants immunity from prosecution to anyone acting in self-defense without imposing a “duty to retreat.”

That ruling came about because of a Broward case involving a sheriff’s deputy who killed an Oakland Park man carrying what turned out to be an air rifle in a busy apartment complex.

Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4457.

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