South Florida Local News

It’s June 2019 shortly after 8 p.m. at the main bus terminal, a homeless gathering spot in downtown Fort Lauderdale at the time known by local police as a high-crime area for drug deals, shootings and violent assaults.

Alexander Paul, a Fort Lauderdale police officer working the evening shift, walks into the men’s restroom to wash his hands and immediately recognizes the guy at the urinal. It’s Melvin Wring III, a suspect with active warrants who cops say goes by the name “Monster” on the street.

The two men cross paths in an encounter that quickly escalates into a police shooting at the crowded bus station, a chain of events that ends up getting the officer fired — then rehired.

The scene, captured on the officer’s body camera, gets ugly fast.

Paul draws his gun, aims at Wring and orders him to get on the floor. Wring turns and sees the 9 mm Sig Sauer pistol pointed at him, then backs away, ignoring Paul’s rapid-fire commands.

“Hey bro, lay on the f—— floor, man!” Paul shouts. “Get on the f—— floor or I’m gonna pop you, bro. Get on the f—— floor.”

Wring, who is unarmed, pushes past Paul and makes a run for it. Paul chases him outside, aims his gun at Wring’s back from just a few feet away and fires. The bullet pierces Wring’s buttocks.

The shooting has been scrutinized by the department’s top brass, Internal Affairs investigators, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, prosecutors and an expert hired by the Broward State Attorney’s Office to review the shooting.

A use-of-force expert, enlisted by prosecutors to review the matter, concluded that Paul’s decision to shoot Wring was unreasonable and inconsistent with generally accepted practices. He noted the fact that several bystanders were nearby when Paul fired his gun. The expert asserted that “no reasonable officer” would shoot at a fleeing suspect with civilians in the line of fire.

But in the end, prosecutors decided against charging Paul, citing a lack of credible witnesses.

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Paul’s actions that day got him fired on Oct. 12, 2023 — four years later. Paul filed a lawsuit two months after his dismissal and was hired back in May on the condition he drop his lawsuit.

Paul is now back at work, while Wring is in jail on a murder charge from an unrelated case.

In June 2023, Paul gave a sworn statement to investigators saying he was “fearful” for his life that day he came face to face with Wring.

“I did what I had to do because I wanted to go home,” Paul told investigators. “Also as well, the occupants of the bus terminal were also in danger from Monster’s actions. Due to his non-compliance in the bathroom, his history, my knowledge of him beforehand, and the fact that he made furtive movements towards his waistband, that’s why I discharged my firearm.”

Paul declined to comment when contacted by the South Florida Sun Sentinel. The police union that fought for the 32-year-old officer to get his job back did not return calls seeking comment.

Crossing paths

Wring, now 35, has a rap sheet that includes charges of drug possession, robbery and domestic violence, police say.

Paul, hired in 2015, believed Wring posed a safety threat based on Wring’s reputation and “the fact he was known to carry a firearm,” Paul’s Internal Affairs file says. “He learned Mr. Wring had two outstanding warrants for violation of probation and grand theft from a query of the (Broward Sheriff’s Office) warrants page.”

Police confirmed Wring had outstanding warrants for the following: Possession of a controlled substance, grand theft of a motor vehicle, possession of cocaine and cannabis with intent to sell, and possession of fentanyl.

Paul fired his gun after shouting at Wring 17 times to get on the ground.

Paul later explained his actions to investigators with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and his own agency’s Internal Affairs unit.

When asked why he fired his weapon, Paul said: “Well, the most important thing is that I generally feared for my life. This subject, Melvin Wring, aka the Monster, he’s a known gang member.” He added, “Dealing with these factors and his non-compliance and the fact that he was staring at the barrel of my gun didn’t even phase him.”

At one point Wring “was cornered in the back of the stall like an animal and he’s looking (for) a way out by any means necessary,” Paul told investigators.

It made him nervous when Wring reached near his waistband while he was still in the bathroom, Paul said.

Paul was questioned about the events after he grabbed Wring by the arm, near the restroom stalls.

“He was able to swing his arm around and find an avenue to escape,” Paul said.

Paul was asked whether he thought Paul was trying to disarm him.

His response: “I don’t know, and I wasn’t trying to find out. I was just, I was damn near afraid that if he got my gun out of my hand or knocked it out, I’ll be in a situation where he was able to disarm me and pull his firearm out and shoot me instead.”

Paul acknowledged he was aware of people standing behind Wring at the moment he shot him.

He was asked if he was aware bullets can pass through one person and hit another.

“Absolutely. However, I’m dealing with a violent subject known to carry a firearm,” he replied. “I’m not going to wait till he pulls out a firearm, especially with other people around. I needed to do what I had to do to protect myself and other civilians around the area as well.”

After Wring ran out of the restroom, Paul said he saw Wring drop his left hand toward his waistband and pull something out. (It turned out to be money.) Paul was asked whether he knew if a firearm was ever found on Wring.

“According to the documents and evidence, no,” Paul replied. “But to me, that didn’t matter at that point.”

After Paul fired his gun that day, chaos ensued at the bus terminal.

“Oh my God! Oh my God! You didn’t have to f—— do that,” a woman screamed. “You shot him! You shot him! You shot him!”

Onlookers heard the loud pop of gunfire and moved in closer, taunting Paul, asking if he wants to shoot anyone else. Some began to chant, “bad cop, bad cop.”

Sirens blared in the background as backup officers arrived at the county’s central bus terminal, at 101 NW First Ave. One officer flipped Wring on his stomach and cuffed him.

“Hey, he started reaching bro,” Paul told the officer as they tended to Wring, trying to stop the bleeding.

Wring survived.

In this screen grab from body camera footage, Fort Lauderdale Officer Alexander Paul is shown holding a suspect at gunpoint in the bathroom at a bus terminal in downtown Fort Lauderdale in June 2019. (Fort Lauderdale Police Department/Courtesy) ‘He knew I was fast’

Wring gave a sworn statement to an FDLE agent investigating the officer who shot him. Wring testified that he knew he had an outstanding warrant. That’s why he ran.

Wring was asked why the officer shot him.

“I was trying to leave out of the bathroom and started running and he shot me in my back, in my butt,” Wring replied. “He shot me because he knew I was fast and he didn’t want me to get away. I guess that’s why he shot me.”

In June 2020, nearly a year after getting shot by Paul, Wring filed a lawsuit against Fort Lauderdale seeking damages.

The city settled the case in August 2023 for $50,000.

The fallout

After the June 2019 incident, Paul was placed on paid administrative leave for eight days — standard protocol after a police shooting, a city spokeswoman said.

Paul returned to work 11 days after the shooting and remained on active duty for several years, becoming a detective in 2021.

During that time, an Internal Affairs investigation was delayed pending the conclusion of an investigation by the State Attorney’s Office.

In March 2023, the Fort Lauderdale Police Department finally received a close-out memo from the State Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors declined to pursue a case, concluding “the facts and evidence do not support a viable prosecution against Paul.”

“Paul knew Wring as a drug dealer who carried a gun, who had multiple outstanding felony warrants, and who was wanted by the Broward Sheriff’s Office,” according to the prosecutors’ close-out memo, dated Feb. 15, 2023. “When Paul encountered Wring, he gave him numerous lawful commands and Wring refused to comply, pulling away from Paul and swiping at him.

“When Wring swung at Paul and turned his body away, going into his pockets as he ran away from Paul and toward civilians, Paul made a split-second decision to stop Paul. Although we have some video of the incident, we do not have a reliable witness to present testimony at trial. Taking all of the facts, evidence and applicable laws into consideration, this office concludes its investigation and will take no further action due to no likelihood of conviction.”

Seth Stoughton, the use-of-force expert hired by the State Attorney’s Office to review the shooting, had problems with the shooting. In his report, he states that Paul’s decision to shoot Wring was “unreasonable and inconsistent with generally accepted practices.”

In this case, there were a number of bystanders standing outside the bathroom when Paul fired his gun.

“Under the circumstances, a reasonable officer in Officer Paul’s position would have known that there were individuals in the immediate area outside the bathroom and that civilians, either pedestrians or vehicle occupants, were highly likely to be in his line of fire as he followed Mr. Wring out of the bathroom,” Stoughton wrote.

He added: “In short, even if a reasonable officer in Ofc. Paul’s position could have reasonably, if mistakenly, believed that Mr. Wring presented an imminent threat of death or great bodily harm, no reasonable officer would have fired with civilians immediately outside the bathroom in the line of fire.”

Stoughton noted that it took Paul more than three minutes after the shooting to check Wring for weapons.

“Officer Paul’s actions after the shooting are inconsistent with those that a reasonable officer who believed that Mr. Wring had been armed with a firearm would take,” Stoughton wrote.

Even though prosecutors opted not to file charges against Paul, the police department placed him on paid administrative leave on March 7, 2023, this time while the agency’s Internal Affairs investigators reviewed the 2019 shooting. At the conclusion of that investigation, the chief at the time, Patrick Lynn, sent a recommendation to then-City Manager Greg Chavarria that Paul be terminated.

Paul remained on paid leave until Oct. 12, 2023, the day he was fired.

His termination came more than four years after the shooting of Wring. Why wait four years? A city spokeswoman had this response: “The Fort Lauderdale Police Department did not get the independent review from the Broward State Attorney’s Office until four years after the incident.”

A screen grab from body camera footage taken in June 2019 shows a crowd gathering after Fort Lauderdale Officer Alexander Paul shot a suspect in the buttocks at the county’s main bus terminal. (Fort Lauderdale Police Department/Courtesy) The lawsuit

Paul, who is Black, filed a federal lawsuit two months after he was fired, claiming racism. The lawsuit makes the claim that Paul suffers from insomnia and requested a new assignment so he would not be on call in the evenings. His request for a new assignment was ignored because he is Black, the lawsuit claims.

“The department has set a precedent of favoritism that has allowed Caucasian detectives the opportunity to laterally transfer these duties with other detectives within the detective bureau when personal circumstances arise,” the lawsuit said.

According to the lawsuit, Paul asserted that his race played a role in being denied an accommodation.

Paul’s lawsuit noted that he was placed on paid administrative leave a month after filing an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint on Feb. 9, 2023. He was terminated eight months later.

In its response to Paul’s lawsuit, Fort Lauderdale filed a document with the court in March 2024 denying the officer’s allegations that his rights had been violated and asserting that all decisions made were based on reasonable factors and were not discriminatory. The city also argued that Paul was fired over the shooting and not qualified to perform the essential functions of the job.

U.S. District Judge Rodney Smith dismissed the lawsuit on May 28 at the request of both parties.

How did he get rehired?

Paul was fired on the recommendation of one chief and hired back on the recommendation of an acting city manager.

Lynn, the chief who made the recommendation that Paul be fired, retired soon afterward.

A few weeks after Paul was fired, Bill Schultz took over as chief on Nov. 6, 2023. But he was not involved in the decision to rehire Paul, a city spokeswoman said.

After reviewing the case, Acting City Manager Susan Grant believed a six-week suspension without pay to be more appropriate than termination.

Under the settlement agreement approved in May, the department hired Paul back under the condition he drop his lawsuit and serve a six-week unpaid suspension. 

As part of the settlement, Fort Lauderdale agreed to pay the officer $10,000 to cover his attorney’s fees.

Fort Lauderdale Officer Alexander Paul, shown in June 2019 confronting a suspect he shot later in the buttocks, was fired in October 2023, only to be rehired months later. (Fort Lauderdale Police Department/Courtesy) Back to work

Before returning to work, Paul was required to serve an unpaid suspension from May 18 through July 1 for careless or reckless use of a firearm and excessive response to resistance. He is also being required to undergo further training.

As part of the deal, Paul also received $62,000 in back wages and credit for sick and vacation time. In addition, his seniority was restored to his original date of hire on Aug. 24, 2015.

Paul was required to undergo training and meet certain conditions before being recertified by FDLE as an officer. He was officially reinstated on Aug. 19.

He was required to undergo several types of training, including a firearms refresher course, use- of-force training and verbal de-escalation training.  

Paul now earns a salary of $102,669 a year.

Jeff Marano, a former union president for several local police agencies, defended Fort Lauderdale’s decision to rehire Paul.

It’s not rare to see an officer fired and later rehired, Marano said.

“If he felt like his life was in danger, I’d say the shooting was justified,” Marano told the Sun Sentinel. “You have to put yourself in the shoes of the officer at the time. Some people’s threat level is different from others. … It’s not all that unusual nowadays for a cop to be hired back. It’s all on a case-by-case basis.”

Suspect in jail

Today, Wring sits in jail on a first-degree murder charge related to a fatal shooting in September 2022 in Fort Lauderdale.

Police say he fired at least two shots at the face and neck of a man coming out of the One Stop Store near the bus terminal on Sept. 10, 2022. He then jumped into the backseat of a waiting car that sped off, police say. The shooting appeared to be unprovoked, according to the arrest report. No mention was made of a possible motive.

Six days later, he was apprehended and taken to jail.

The shooting victim died, prompting prosecutors to upgrade the charges.

Wring now awaits trial on a charge of first-degree murder. He has entered a plea of not guilty.

Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com. Follow me on X @Susannah_Bryan

By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. and ANDREW DALTON

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rich Homie Quan, the Atlanta rapper who gained mainstream fame through the trap singles “Type of Way” and “Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh),” has died. He was 33.

Quan, whose legal name is Dequantes Devontay Lamar, died at an Atlanta hospital, the Fulton County Medical Examiner confirmed to The Associated Press. The medical examiner was informed of his death Thursday, said Jimmy Sadler, senior medical examiner investigator. The cause of death was not immediately available, with an autopsy scheduled for Friday.

Quan was one of the biggest names in hip-hop in the mid-2010s. He released a slew of mixtapes before he broke through in 2013 with the infectious “Type of Way.” The song became such a success that several other rappers jumped on the remix, including Jeezy and Meek Mill. He maintained his momentum, appearing on a YG track with Jeezy and releasing the London on da Track-produced song “Lifestyle” through his Rich Gang rap collective that included Young Thug and Birdman.

Quan followed up with “Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh),” a song produced by DJ Spinz and Nitti Beatz. It became his highest charting solo single at No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. He also featured on Lil Dicky’s viral “$ave Dat Money.”

In 2018, Quan debuted his first and only studio album “Rich as in Spirit,” which mostly went without any features — except for “Think About It,” a single with Rick Ross.

Quavo, Lil Boosie and Playboi Carti are some of the music artists who paid tribute to Quan on social media.

“Rest in Peace my brother Rich Homie Quan,” said singer Jacquees, who also called him a “legend” on X. “I love you for Life.”

Quan spoke with The Associated Press in 2022 about returning to music after an abrupt hiatus. At the time, the rapper said he was going through litigation with independent label T.I.G. (Think It’s a Game Record), but was prepared to make a comeback.

During that time, Quan ended up in a feud with his old collaborator Young Thug — who along with rapper Gunna — were among a group indicted on charges of conspiracy to violate Georgia’s RICO Act and also accused of participation in a criminal street gang.

Quan said there was no beef between him Young Thug and was open to having a conversation with him if the opportunity presented itself. He said he hated to see Young Thug locked up, adding that rappers were being targeted by law enforcement.

“I wouldn’t say unfairly targeted because at the same time, some of these rappers are putting guns in videos and, you know, it’s like social media — it goes back to the social media thing,” he said.

“I think we showing too much, I think they’re showing too much, you know what I mean. Like that’s the difference in my music, I’ma tell a story but I ain’t going to tell you how I did it,” he added. “It’s still Black art, but we’re definitely being targeted. So that’s why I’m mindful of what I say in my music.”

___

Landrum and Dalton reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press writer Gary Gerard Hamilton contributed to this report from New York. ___

This story has been updated to correct Quan’s age to 33 based on information from the medical examiner.

First a few words, before we eat.

It’s a hard time to run a restaurant, all the stories say. Many have closed, many are struggling with expenses or lease increases or to keep staff or customers, or all of the above. Carlos & Pepe’s, La Bonne Crêpe, the Historic Downtowner and Maxwell Room – all institutions – are just some of the recent casualties of the trends.

“Every day, it seems, diners are whiplashed by yet another ‘For Lease’ sign or farewell Facebook post,” Sun Sentinel Entertainment Reporter Phillip Valys wrote in July https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2024/07/16/restaurant-whiplash-why-so-many-south-florida-restaurants-are-closing-all-at-once/. “They take photos of papered-over places or screenshot announcements on their phones and share them online, prompting expressions in comments sections of shocked grief (“heartbroken”; “this one sucks”) and I-told-you-so anger (“This is happening everywhere”).

It not easy to be optimistic in this environment. But we will try.

Our annual issue devoted to all things edible – and drinkable – begins this month with “50 Great Reasons to Eat & Drink in South Florida.” Breakfast, brunch, beer and bread pudding are as much a part of life here as beaches and boats. And there is something delightful for everyone and every appetite on this list, compiled by Lori Capullo Lawrence.

“If the idea of discovering the best of the best boggles your mind,” Lori writes, “check out our list of superlatives we’ve compiled to make your life easier — and your belly happy.”

CourtesyFrom the September Food, Wine & Spirit Issue

We also sidle up to the wine bar with seven people from diverse backgrounds, career choices and community involvement who all agree on one thing: What they’re drinking. We’ll meet the meat purveyors at Sunshine Provisions, which started less than 10 years ago in the back of a burger joint in Deerfield Beach and now has plans to go national.

Kitchens are going high-tech, and we’ll check out some state-of-the-art appliances that are making cooking a breeze in the heart of the home, too. We’ll drive – strike that, walk – to some new food and beverage hotspots out of nowhere redefining the center of Boca Raton.

We’ll also go out to dinner in the Turks and Caicos, a relatively short plane ride from South Florida. Once known mostly for cracked conch and pigeon peas, the islands a little more than an hour from Miami are becoming a culinary destination of their own.

The critics at the Michelin Guide may not be rating restaurants in the Turks and Caicos yet. But they’d probably see some stars.

Mark GauertFrom the September issue of City & Shore magazine

We’ll look into how to invest in wine (without going sideways), round up monthlong dining-out savings events in Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast, Broward and Miami-Dade counties, go shopping for tasteful gadgets and products for epicurean indulgences and sit down for a meal with master artist William Glackens’ family at NSU Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale.

All this – and more – in the September Food, Wine & Spirit Issue of City & Shore magazine, coming this weekend in popular print, online and digital formats, https://www.qgdigitalpublishing.com/publication/?i=829512

 

Cam McCormick was at a crossroads in his football career — a career that has had numerous turning points, setbacks and important moments.

After seven seasons at Oregon — four of which were shortened or wiped out completely due to injuries — McCormick was in the transfer portal, preparing to leave the Ducks. He had heard from several teams, including LSU and Missouri, his mother, Debra, said. But he also heard from an old coach, a father figure: Mario Cristobal. McCormick’s former coach wanted the tight end to join him at Miami.

“I said, ‘Look, do you really want to go somewhere that you have to prove yourself all over again, start at the bottom?'” Debra McCormick said. “‘Or do you want to go to a program where people know you and respect you and you’ve already proven yourself? Where do you want to be?’

“I said, ‘If it were me, I’d want to be with family.’ ”

McCormick took Cristobal up on his offer and became a Miami Hurricane. He played the 2023 season, earning the most playing time of any of UM’s tight ends. Faced with another choice — end his career or take the ACC-granted, unprecedented ninth year of eligibility. After considering his options, McCormick decided to return for one more season. 

“(Cristobal) was just telling me that he would love to have me a part of this team,” McCormick said. “Ultimately, he said the decision’s mine to make, but we would love to have you a part of this team. Obviously, he knows the role that I can play on this team and in the offense, and he just reiterated that with me and where I would stand and how I could help this team.

“Really, I wanted to finish my career with coach Cristobal and I wanted to end it how I wanted to end it. This is how I wanted to end it.”

McCormick, now a 26-year-old whose nine-year career has spanned three presidential administrations, began his final season against the Gators on Saturday, and he caught Miami’s first touchdown of the season: a 9-yard reception from fellow PAC-12 transfer Cam Ward.

“I don’t think anybody expected that,” Cristobal said. “That was the winning ticket in Las Vegas for somebody that Cam was going to score the first touchdown for the Miami Hurricanes this year.”

The play was not particularly complicated. McCormick blocks for a moment, then crosses over the middle. Ward, facing pressure from a Gators pass rush, floated the ball to McCormick at the 6-yard line. McCormick sprinted to the goal line, and UF safety Jordan Castell tackled him low. McCormick lost his footing but fell forward into the end zone.

“I think that the moment was kind of surreal,” McCormick said. “It was an awesome feeling to score the first touchdown of the season in The Swamp. There was a lot of talk about the game, and I’ve never played at Florida or in The Swamp before, so I wasn’t really sure what to expect. Obviously, I’ve been in some hostile environments before, but that one was like everyone says it was — a great atmosphere, a great game. And the moment, it was awesome. The feeling of scoring, since that was my first touchdown as a Miami Hurricane, that’s one for the books.”

McCormick had the attention of the college football world on Saturday, with ESPN’s “College Gameday” airing a feature on McCormick’s unprecedented situation before the day’s slate of games began. The story documented his battle with injuries, which is difficult to keep straight: a knee injury in 2016, rhabdomyolysis before the 2017 season, a torn ankle ligament and broken fibula in 2018, another ankle surgery to fix complications from the previous ankle injury in 2019, more complications and another ankle surgery in 2020 and a torn Achilles tendon in 2021.

Cristobal was with McCormick and his family every step of the way.

“During all of those surgeries he’s had, he was always at the hospital, right there with Cameron when he woke up,” Debra McCormick said. “He’s a good man. He’s a loyal person, and he has our loyalty in return because of the person he is.”

Fortunately, McCormick stayed healthy through the 2022 campaign with Oregon and 2023 with Miami, and he hopes to stay that way through his final college season.

“He’s 100 percent healthy, like better than ever,” Cristobal said. “But to get here, he’s been through a lot. A completely unselfish, hard-working, real-deal human being who shows up every day and brings it. At his age, you don’t get hit over and topple over backwards. I was a little worried about him. But the guy’s awesome, and I’m glad he started off the season that way.”

With all that in mind, when McCormick crossed the goal line later in the afternoon, his family, watching with friends at the Miami sports bar Grails, beamed with pride.

“Everybody went crazy when he scored the touchdown,” Debra McCormick said. “It was absolutely amazing. It came as a complete and total surprise. We went into the game having no expectations, right? And when he scored, at first I was like, ‘Wait, was that Cameron?’ And then I was like, ‘That’s my son! That’s my son!’ ”

McCormick’s touchdown even made a tightly wound Cristobal grin.

“I don’t smile often, but it brings a smile to your face,” Cristobal said. “Imagine your own son going through all that stuff like he did. But to go through it and complain as opposed to go through it and do what he does: bring it every single day and make people around them better. That guy’s going to be successful in everything he does in life. I think he’ll be a great NFL player, as well. He’s just got this super bright future and is a great mentor.”

But not everyone thinks McCormick’s story is such a feel-good tale. People deride him on social media for the length of his career, and McCormick and his family see it. Even the “College Gameday” feature included him visiting a senior living facility.

“These are human beings,” Debra McCormick said. “People don’t see them as that, but they are human beings, and they have families. They have grandmas, they have grandpas, they have aunts, uncles, moms, dads, sisters, brothers reading this stuff.”

Debra McCormick says she takes the negative comments harder than her son. The veteran tight end, who has earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism with an emphasis in advertising and a master’s degree in advertising and brand responsibility, lets them roll off his back. And maybe now that more college football fans have heard his story and seen what he had to fight through to get back on the field, the narrative around his career can switch from jokes about getting a job to congratulations for achieving a dream many would have given up on.

“Honestly, it just kind of goes in one ear and out the other,” McCormick said. “I kind of really don’t pay it no mind anymore. A lot of people are saying the same, recycled jokes. Like I’ve heard that before. You’re not the first person to say that. Get something new.

“But really, at the end of the day, they can say what they want. Who’s really winning over here?”

Tight end Cam McCormick (84) of the Miami Hurricanes scores a touchdown against Jordan Castell (14) of the Florida Gators during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Aug. 31, 2024 in Gainesville. (James Gilbert/Getty Images)

As we all look to find the political horizon in the United States, one proposal looms large and foreboding: Project 2025. This initiative, championed by conservative think tanks and several Trump 2016 administration officials, promises to reshape America’s immigration policies in ways that should concern every Floridian and every American who values fairness, justice and humanity.

I grew up in Florida, a state that has long been a gateway for those fleeing repression, political persecution and life-threatening conditions in other countries, but I hardly recognize it these days. Driven by their own ambitions, conservative politicians have targeted the rich cultural tapestry of Florida as the front line of a project to sow fear and divide families.

Tiffany Hankins is the political director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition and FLIC Votes. (courtesy, Tiffany Hankins)

At its core, Project 2025 represents a dramatic escalation in the enforcement of immigration laws. It seeks to implement draconian measures, including mass deportations, detention camps in cities and towns, and the stripping away of legal protections for millions of people who are searching for their American dream. The project envisions a future where immigration enforcement is not just a priority but an all-consuming crusade — a man, woman and child hunt with the full force of the federal government bearing down on every single community.

In Florida, where nearly one in five residents is an immigrant, the implications are particularly dire. The state’s economy, heavily reliant on agriculture, tourism and construction — sectors that depend on immigrant labor — would be devastated. After last year’s passage of the anti-immigrant Senate Bill 1718, we’ve already started seeing this. However, the economic impact is only the beginning. The human cost of these policies would be incalculable.

Project 2025 is a takeover of government and civil society as we know it. It will fundamentally change the American way of life and the values and freedoms that define us as a nation and as a beacon of hope on the world’s stage.

As the partner of a deported person, the personal pain caused by separation hits close to home for me. We know that the separation and the distance don’t break apart the bond we share, but the pain of having to walk through our daily lives without being there to support each other is ever-present. We wake up in different places, eat dinners together only over a video screen, and plan a life where we can be together again. I know what hard work it is to make that bridge and to keep those connections alive, and I would not wish this experience of having the fabric of your life torn apart on any family.

Can you imagine a Florida where families live in constant fear? Where children come home from school to find their parents have been detained or deported, or where parents learn that their children were taken from school? This is not a dystopian fantasy — these are potential outcomes if the immigration provisions of Project 2025 become reality. The psychological trauma inflicted on children who suddenly lose their caregivers, the erosion of trust between communities and law enforcement, and the overall climate of fear and suspicion are horrors we should not — and must not — accept.

Families, children, pregnant women and the elderly would likely face inhumane treatment in overcrowded detention centers. The United States, once a beacon of hope for those fleeing persecution and seeking a better life, would become a country that punishes the very people it once welcomed. This will be a stain on our country that we will never be able to remove.

This all may sound extreme, but how else do you pull off a mass deportation? Project 2025 lays the foundations for a mass deportation, and recent history shows us exactly what draconian measures would need to be scaled up to get this done.

As Floridians and Americans, we must not stand idly by as the horrors of Project 2025 inch closer to reality. This is a moment for collective action, for communities to come together in defense of the values that truly make America great: compassion, respect for our neighbors and the belief that everyone deserves a chance to pursue their dreams.

The America envisioned by Project 2025 is one of separating families and spreading fear in our communities. But we have the power to choose a different path — a path that embraces the contributions of immigrants, keeps families together, and fosters a society where everyone, regardless of where they come from, has the opportunity to thrive.

Tiffany Hankins is the political director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition and FLIC Votes. She resides in Miami.

We recently took an impromptu trip out of town to a city up in the Carolinas that we had no experience in, and when it came time to look for a drink and a meal one night, we were lost. We didn’t have the patience to “research” (sometimes spouses align on these things easily, sometimes it takes an impact wrench). 

We decided to hunt down a brewery, where our luck has always been good. A brewery kitchen/food truck is more likely to feature regional ingredients and inspiration, and the vibe is less choreographed and a better reflection of what the locals like and how life is lived in a city. Plus, there’s beer, and the crowd always seems happy to be there. 

This weekend, some of South Florida’s most popular breweries and beer rooms are having events that will be filled with locals in a particularly celebratory mood, among them 3 Sons Brewing Co. in Dania Beach, Orchestrated Minds Brewing and Laser Wolf in Fort Lauderdale, and Garden District Tap Room in West Palm Beach. Go there and get local.

THURSDAY

A hand for Glover: Multi-hyphenate star Donald Glover brings his final tour as Childish Gambino to Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise at 8 p.m. Thursday with the spotlight on his new album, “Bando Stone and the New World.” As a farewell to his Grammy-winning alter ego, Glover’s album and tour have left most seasoned critics dazzled. Tickets start at $35+ at SeatGeek.com. Special guest Willow Smith opens. 

The Shorely opens: Marina Village at Bahia Mar, a new open-air hospitality complex, and The Shorely, its stylish lounge created from the former Fisher Island Ferry, are scheduled to debut in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday at 5 p.m., opening a new era of entertainment on the beach. Designed and operated by the visionary hospitality veterans at Knallhart Management Group (Rhythm & Vine, The Wilder, Palm Room, Roxanne’s), the complex will feature The Promenade, featuring eight food kiosks along two blocks of A1A; the Mainland Bar, for casual drinking; and The Shorely, the permanently docked 500-capacity boat where DJs (in the remodeled pilot house), dancing and bottle service will be the vibe. Marina Village at Bahia Mar is on the Intracoastal at 849 Seabreeze Blvd., south of the Bahia Mar Fort Lauderdale Beach hotel. Visit MarinaVillageFTL.com and Instagram.com/theshorely_ftl.

Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun SentinelThe former Fisher Island Ferry docked at Fort Lauderdale’s Bahia Mar Yachting Center in March, before its metamorphosis into The Shorely, a floating lounge opening on Thursday. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

‘Spider-Man’ live: The touring production “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse in Concert” offers a big-screen showing of the 2023 animated film with the score (by Oscar nominee Daniel Pemberton) played live by an orchestra, a DJ on turntables and electronic musicians. The concert will be performed at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach (tickets start at $35+ at Kravis.org) and at 8 p.m. Friday at the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale (tickets start at $45+ at BrowardCenter.org).

That new car smell: The Miami International Auto Show continues its run at the Miami Beach Convention Center through Sunday. Along with the latest models by automakers from around the globe, this year’s show offers the indoor EV Test Track, where attendees can test-drive the new electric vehicles from the likes of Chevrolet, Alfa Romeo, Hummer and Lucid Motors, among others. Tickets cost $15, $6 for children age 6 to 12, 5 and younger free. Hours are 2 to 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Visit MiamiAutoShows.com.

Wait, Wait for it: Some of your favorite panelists from NPR’s weekly news quiz program, “Wait, Wait … Don’t Tell Me!” will offer a night of stand-up comedy when the The Wait Wait Stand-Up Tour stops at The Parker in Fort Lauderdale at 8 p.m. Thursday. Hosted by comedian and series regular Alonzo Bodden, the evening will include performances by Negin Farsad, Josh Gondelman and Dulcé Sloan. Tickets start at $34.50+ at ParkerPlayhouse.com.

Movie night: Irreverently stylish cocktail lounge and restaurant Revelry in Pompano Beach will host a movie-night screening of Tim Burton’s original “Beetlejuice” at 8 p.m. Thursday as the sequel hits theaters around the country. Expect themed drink specials and camaraderie among fans of the cult classic. Admission is free, but seats are limited. Visit Facebook.com/Revelryfla. … The Victory Black Box Theatre at the L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center on Fort Lauderdale’s Sistrunk Boulevard will host a 6 p.m. Thursday screening of the Eddie Murphy comedy “Coming to America.” Tickets cost $5+. Visit Facebook.com/victorybbtymca.

Where the Girls are: It’s opening weekend for “Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue” at the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale. Warning: In this modern spoof of the beloved sitcom with an all-male cast, Sophia, Blanche, Rose and Dorothy may be a bit saucier than you remember. Performances this weekend are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets start at $30 at BrowardCenter.org. The show runs through Sept. 29. 

Emotional rescue: Emo Night brings a night or heart-rending anthems to Kemistry Nightclub in Fort Lauderdale’s Himmarshee District on Thursday beginning at 10 p.m. Tickets cost $14.32, with a dollar from each ticket going to organizations working on mental health, homelessness and other issues. Visit KemistryNightclub.com.

FRIDAY

Weekend laughs: Marlon Wayans went to a different, deeper level in his new Amazon Prime special “Good Grief,” recorded at the iconic Apollo Theater in Harlem, where he used laughs to navigate the emotions of losing both of his parents. It will be interesting to see what Wayan brings to his five weekend performances at the Dania Improv in Dania Beach. Shows are at 7:30 and 10 p.m. Friday, 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. Sunday. Tickets cost $55+. Visit DaniaImprov.com.

Fins up: A season of high hopes officially begins for local fans on Friday with the Miami Dolphins Kickoff Celebration at The Guitar Hotel pool in the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood. The party runs from 8 to 11 p.m. and will include an open bar, live entertainment, Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders, Dolphins alumni, giveaways and photo opportunities. Tickets cost $75+ at MyHRL.com.

More laughs: Nationally touring comedian Jimmy Shubert returns to the Arts Garage in downtown Delray Beach at 8 p.m. Friday with a show called “The Art of Laughter,” joined by familiar Florida funnyman Ricky Cruz. Tickets cost $45+ at ArtsGarage.org.

Indie fresh: One of the defining indie-music events of the fall concert season in South Florida, BumbleFest 8 will set up at Respectable Street in downtown West Palm Beach on Friday (music at 7 p.m.) and Saturday (music at 6:30 p.m.). Curated by veteran scene shaper Steve Rullman of PureHoney Magazine, the bill will feature a broad menu of noisemakers of national, regional and local buzz. Headliners include Dion Lunadon of Brooklyn band A Place to Bury Strangers; New York’s Starcleaner Reunion; Los Angeles-based World Destroyers’ Pleasure Club, along with Dream Phases; Scott Yoder collaborators Fiona Moonchild, from Seattle; Atlanta’s Psychic Death, and too many more. Advance tickets cost $35+ per day or $50+ for a two-day pass. Day-of admission will be $40 at the door. Visit Facebook.com/bumblefest.

Weekend beers: Not that you need another reason to visit Orchestrated Minds Brewing, but the brewery is celebrating five years in downtown Fort Lauderdale’s Dorsey-Riverbend neighborhood with a series of events through next week under the 5 Summers of OMB flag. Head brewer and co-owner Davy Martin is one of beerdom’s more gregarious community builders, so along with new beers and inventive collaborations, anything could happen. OMB officially turns 5 on Friday, when they’ll debut Summertime Pups (9.3% ABV triple dry-hopped double New England IPA), a collaboration with North Park Beer Co. in San Diego, which will have reps on hand at 2 p.m. Visit Instagram.com/orchestratedmindsbrewing.

Carline Jean / South Florida Sun SentinelCo-owner and head brewer Davy Martin behind the bar at Fort Lauderdale’s Orchestrated Minds Brewing, which turns 5 on Friday. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel file)

More new beer: As you may have heard, FemAle Brew Fest 2024 is on its way to Las Olas Oceanside Park in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, Sept. 14, to celebrate the growing influence of women in the beer and brewing industry. But first, on Friday at popular Progresso beer bar Laser Wolf, you can get a sneak taste of Fangs of Time, a pilsner created to honor FemAle festival founder Frances Antonio-Martineau and brewer Amanda Mailey of Magnanimous Brewing (Tampa). Attendees also get access to special discount codes for $15 off general-admission tickets to FemAle, and you may be able to snag free tickets during the evening. The Fangs of Time debut party runs from 6 to 9 p.m. Visit Facebook.com/FemAleBrewFest.

Under their spell: The Buzzed Spelling Bee is back at Garden District Taproom, the self-pour beer bar in downtown West Palm Beach, on Friday at 7:30 p.m. You know the drill: You drink, you spell, your friends laugh. There will be prizes, but everyone’s a winner. Spelling spots are limited, so register at GardenDistrictWPB.com/spelling-bee. 

SATURDAY

Plaid to the bone: Presented by 3 Sons Brewing Co. in Dania Beach, the Lumberjack Day Beer Festival will offer pours by 50 leading breweries and meaderies from 17 countries on Saturday at nearby Mad Arts (a mile south of the brewery). The festival will take place from 3 to 8 p.m., with more than 150 different types of beers, wines and spirits, DJs, food trucks, axe throwing, a cigar lounge, tattooing and more. General-admission tickets start at $75+ for four hours of unlimited pours (4-8 p.m.) and a Lumberjack Day sampling glass. VIP tickets are also available. Visit 3SonsBrewingCo.com/ljd2024.

Peach jam: West Palm Beach art collective The Peach on Saturday will observe the third anniversary of its creation by local culture warriors Rodney Mayo and Craig McInnis in a former auto-body space. The party will run from 5 to 10 p.m., with live music (The People Upstairs will be shooting a music video), a DJ, spoken word, live art, comedy and more. There will be drink specials and food by El Segundo. A suggested $5 entrance donation enters you to win Peach merch and original art. Visit Instagram.com/thepeachwpb.

Michael Laughlin/Sun SentinelRodney Mayo, left, and Craig McInnis turned an empty auto-body shop into art space The Peach in West Palm Beach in 2021. (Michael Laughlin/South Florida Sun Sentinel file)

Feeling crafty: The colorful weekend stroll known as the Downtown Delray Beach Craft Festival on 4th returns for its 29th edition along Northeast Fourth Avenue at East Atlantic Avenue from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Visit ArtFestival.com.

Local listening: Multi-instrumentalist Dion Kerr, a member of two of South Florida’s most entertaining and adventurous jazz-influenced bands (Seafoam Walls and The Smoogies) will share music from debut album “Dialogues with Dion Kerr” at the Arts Garage in downtown Delray Beach at 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets start at $35+ at ArtsGarage.org. … Davie’s true-country singer-songwriter Matt Horan (Dead Bronco) will do a free show at Revelry in Pompano Beach at 8 p.m. Saturday. Visit MattHoranMusic.com. … The Ricca Project will funk things up (maybe throw in one of their crazy hip-hop covers) at Tin Roof Fort Lauderdale at 7 p.m. Saturday. Visit TheRiccaProject.com.

Saturday tributes: Smokin’ & Renegade pay tribute to classic-rock icons Boston and Styx at Galuppi’s in Pompano Beach on Saturday beginning at 7:30 p.m. It’s free, but reservations are recommended for table seating (Galuppis.com) … Bruce Springsteen tribute The Boss Project is at The Funky Biscuit in Boca Raton on Saturday at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $30+ for standing room (FunkyBiscuit.com) … Cars tribute band Touch & Go plays the Boca Black Box Center for the Arts at 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets start at $38+ (BocaBlackBox.com). … Pink Floyd tribute band Dark Side of the Sol will be at Fort Lauderdale brewery LauderAle at 8 p.m. Saturday. (Facebook.com/lauderale).

Black magic: The Cure tribute band Lovesong and locals Ordinary Boys (The Smiths/Morrissey tribute) and New Dawn Fades (Joy Division/New Order) are the headliners for Goth Homecoming presented by The Black Market at Revolution Live in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday. The night will include DJs, drag shows, burlesque, vintage vendors, goth karaoke and, of course, the crowning of the Homecoming King and Queen. Tickets for the 18-and-older event cost $30+. Doors open at 7 p.m. Visit JoinTheRevolution.net. 

Coming to Revolution Live in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, mega-popular Miami-based Smiths tribute band Ordinary Boys includes Craig Rittenhouse, left, Rees Bridges, AJ Navarrete and Byron Lopez. (Blind Beast Photography) SUNDAY

Talking the talk: Conservative British author and journalist Douglas Murray (“The War on the West,” “The Madness of Crowds: Gender, Race and Identity”) will be at The Parker in Fort Lauderdale on his Save the West Tour. Few tickets remain for the 7:30 p.m. Sunday show, but check ParkerPlayhouse.com for updates.  

Take the kids: The Rock and Roll Playhouse band returns to The Studio at Mizner Park in Boca Raton on Sunday with “Music of Taylor Swift for Kids.” The series, aimed at children age 10 and younger, has two performances: A 2 p.m. show has general-admission tickets available for $17.50+, while the noon performance is sold out. Visit TheStudioAtMiznerPark.com.

Staff writer Ben Crandell can be reached at bcrandell@sunsentinel.com. Follow on Instagram @BenCrandell and Twitter @BenCrandell.

Q: Ira, how different do you think Terry Rozier will be after a full camp and this extra time with the Heat? He arrived last season when it was already going south. – Ellis.

A: I’m not sure he has to be much different than he was with the Hornets or even with the Celtics. The Heat acquired Terry in January for the same reason they need him now – to juice the offense of a team that has precious little offensive juice. If anything, all that needs to be made clear is to go get his, without concern about stepping on toes or getting in the way. By contrast, others may have to make concessions to Terry’s game, including players such as Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro looking to better space the floor. There is not another player on this roster, with all due respect to Tyler, who can be, to use Erik Spoelstra’s lexicon, as “ignitable” as Terry. While the comparison might sound harsh, the Heat need Terry to be this roster’s Dion Waiters. When it comes to Terry, this season represents both a fresh start as well as an opportunity to pick up from where he stood with the Hornets, before injuries got in the way after his Heat arrival.

Related Articles

• Submit your “Ask Ira” question here!

Q: Ira, with the WNBA thriving, could you see a return to Miami? – Rog.

A: Based on the WNBA’s expansion plans, I would doubt it. South Florida tends to empty during the summer months when the WNBA plays the majority of its schedule, and it was not an overwhelming run for the Sol when Ruth Riley & Co. played here. But with the success of the league, a compromise could be a series of out-of-market games over the course of the schedule, where perhaps games could be scheduled as featured attractions during the Heat’s offseason at Kaseya Center. That would seem to be a marketing approach that would even further help promote the women’s game.

Q: Ira, my Comcast has Bally Sports Sun back. Will the Heat games again be there? – Hal.

A: The Heat have yet to release their local-television plans, which typically comes with the release of the schedule, something that happened last month. The sense is there will be a status quo as long as there is not a major change regarding the bankruptcy case with the parent company of Bally Sports. That, in essence, is what has created this waiting game, with the latest ruling allowing Bally to move forward with this season’s Heat coverage. One way or another, Eric Reid and John Crotty will be on the call. That said, be poised for some sticker shock, with Bally on a higher pay tier than previously on Xfinity.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has demonstrated for so long, in so many ways, how he’s the anti-Republican. He’s truly the worst governor in Florida history which, after Claude Kirk, is definitely saying something.

DeSantis has clearly demonstrated how the party that has taken control of this state is the “Republican” party in name only.

They bear no true resemblance to the real Republican party.

Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt was a true Republican.

As president, he established approximately 230 million acres of public lands between 1901 and 1909. He promoted what we now know of as the conservation movement, emphasizing efficient use of natural resources.

With the ill-fated proposal to put hotels and golf courses on public lands, someone or some companies clearly would have benefited at a cost to the public.

One can only guess who DeSantis planned to have operate hotels and the golf courses. And what will Florida get out of it? It doesn’t take much imagination.

Further proof that the Republican Party is a fraud.

Lee H. Schillinger, Cooper City

Greed in our state parks

How ironic that the idea (since withdrawn) of putting golf courses at Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Hobe Sound comes from the “Department of Environmental Protection.”

Talk about an oxymoron. I have been hiking and camping there for more than 30 years and the idea is absolutely abhorrent. This is the last piece of scrub habitat left to view of the old Florida.

Don’t let them do to our state parks what happened to the Ag Reserve in Boca Raton. The only explanation that comes to mind is greed.

Linda Rahauser, Boca Raton

Don’t let this happen, Broward

A majority of Broward County commissioners appear to be on a mission to turn Broward into a toxic dumping ground through their efforts to expand the Monarch Hill landfill and a second proposal to build a plastics-burning incinerator west of Pembroke Pines.

Despite the fact that the dump in Coconut Creek releases toxic methane and PFAs, known as forever chemicals, into the groundwater and air in densely populated areas surrounding North Broward, they are relentless in their pursuit to massively expand it.

A plastics-burning incinerator just west of Pembroke Pines would make life hell for the residents of Pembroke Pines and cause irreversible harm to the Everglades and to the wildlife there.

Factor in the bomb trains and trucks, carrying highly explosive LNG from Hialeah to Port Everglades, and in the blink of an eye Southeast Fort Lauderdale could end up like East Palestine, Ohio, site of a disastrous trail derailment, as corporations profit from exporting fracked gas overseas.

Fracked gas, or natural gas, permanently pollutes aquifers and soil in the areas surrounding the fracked wells. There’s nothing natural about this extraction process, which injects highly toxic carcinogenic chemicals into the earth using massive amounts of precious groundwater.

It’s pure madness to risk turning Broward County into a toxic wasteland. A saner option calls for an aggressive Zero Waste plan with these principles: recycle, reuse, reduce, rethink and redesign. The commission has the power to stop this reckless agenda.

Tammy Lettieri, Cooper City

The ride ahead

It’s really sad.

In a country of more than 336 million people, where approximately 160 million are eligible to run for president and meet the three requirements of being a natural born citizen, age 35 or older and have lived in this country for at least 14 years, all we can come up with for candidates are Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.

Get ready for a bumpy ride.

Gino SantaLucia, Plantation

Submit a letter to the editor by sending it by email to letterstotheeditor@sunsentinel.com or by filling out the form below. Letters are limited to less than 150 words and must be signed (no pseudonyms or initials).You must include your email address, address with city and daytime phone for verification. Letters are subject to editing for clarity and length. 

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Here are the top stories for Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. Get the weather forecast for today here.

SUBSCRIBE NOW: Get our free Morning Update email. Sign up here.

Jury to decide if Fort Lauderdale liable for injuries of protester shot in face with rubber bullet

Told to go, families move out of Pembroke Pines community. Some say they have no regrets.

Carbon monoxide detectors supported for Broward schools following gas leaks

‘How many more families have to be heartbroken?’: Federal and local officials decry gun violence in Fort Lauderdale, announce revamped police unit

Brewed by women: What’s on tap for FemAle Brew Fest 2024

Suspect in attempted kidnappings of 2 teens assaulted girl before his arrest, police say

With charges and sanctions, US takes aim at Russian disinformation ahead of November election

Where’s the best steak in SoFlo? Nominate your go-to place

From bad to worse: State parks whistleblower gets fired | Editorial

Miss Manners: Is it my fault that my new neighbors are afraid of my large but harmless dog?

Q: With hurricane season heating up, I am concerned I will not know what to do if a storm damages our house. How can we be prepared and ensure that insurance will pay up? — Maritza

A: From the legal perspective, dealing with hurricanes is similar to other casualty losses, such as fires or floods. To best navigate these tragedies, you must be prepared before the loss and react appropriately after it occurs.

First, you should check your insurance policies to ensure you have all the coverage you need. Because of the rapid increases in housing prices, make your insurance policies cover your home’s current value.

Get electronic copies of your important papers by either asking for them or scanning them yourself, and store them in a secure cloud repository. You should also invest in a fire and flood-resistant lockbox to keep copies and essential originals.

Take lots of photos of your home and possessions and store them as part of your home inventory securely in the cloud so that you can prove what you had if the worst happens. Make a habit of updating this inventory at least annually.

If your home does suffer a casualty, remember that possessions can be replaced while people cannot, so do not endanger yourself over things.

If safe, make emergency repairs, such as covering a broken window, so the damage does not worsen.

While it is tempting to start the cleanup immediately, call your insurance company first to start the claim process and give them a chance to document the loss. Take more photos to help you substantiate your losses, and write everything down, such as who you spoke with and what was said.

Hopefully, legal action will not be necessary, but your attorney will be grateful for the thorough documentation if it is.

In the days after the loss, you will likely be inundated with solicitations for repair and clean-up services. Refrain from signing anything vague or that you do not understand. Carefully vet contractors, ensuring they have a solid history in your local area.

While your insurance company can be a good resource, you should call an experienced attorney to learn your rights.

And it bears repeating, so I will: Never sign anything you do not entirely understand or that does not have everything you were promised in writing.

Board-certified real estate lawyer Gary Singer writes about industry legal matters and the housing market. To ask him a question, email him at gary@garysingerlaw.com, or go to SunSentinel.com/askpro. 

Today is Thursday, Sept. 5, the 249th day of 2024. There are 117 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Sept. 5, 1972, Palestinian militants attacked the Israeli Olympic delegation at the Munich Games, killing two and taking nine others hostage; five of the militants, a German police officer and all nine hostages were killed in the following 24 hours.

Also on this date:

In 1774, the first Continental Congress assembled in Philadelphia.

In 1836, Sam Houston won the first presidential election in the newly established Republic of Texas.

In 1905, the Treaty of Portsmouth was signed, ending the Russo-Japanese war; for his efforts in mediating the peace negotiations, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt was awarded the Noble Peace Prize the following year.

In 1957, Jack Kerouac’s novel “On the Road” was published.

In 1960, Muhammad Ali (as Cassius Clay) won the gold medal in the light heavyweight boxing division at the Olympic Games in Rome.

In 1975, President Gerald R. Ford survived an assassination attempt by Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, a disciple of Charles Manson, in Sacramento, California.

In 1986, four hijackers who had seized a Pan Am jumbo jet on the ground in Karachi, Pakistan, opened fire on the jet’s passengers; a total of 20 passengers and crew members were killed before Pakistani commandos stormed the jetliner.

In 1991, the 35th annual Naval Aviation Symposium held by the Tailhook Association opened in Las Vegas; during the four-day gathering, there were reports that as many as 90 people, most of them women, were sexually assaulted or otherwise harassed. (The episode triggered the resignation of Navy Secretary Henry L. Garrett III.)

Today’s Birthdays:

• Actor Lucille Soong (TV: “Fresh Off the Boat”) is 89.
• Baseball Hall of Hamer Bill Mazeroski is 88.
• Actor William Devane is 85.
• Actor George Lazenby is 85.
• Film director Werner Herzog is 82.
• Singer Al Stewart is 79.
• “Cathy” cartoonist Cathy Guisewite (GYZ’-wyt) is 74.
• Actor Michael Keaton is 73.
• Actor Rose McGowan is 51.
• Olympic gold medal gymnast Tatiana Gutsu is 48.
• Actor Carice Van Houten is 48.
• Mixed martial artist Francis Ngannou is 38.
• Olympic gold medal figure skater Yuna Kim is 34.
• Soccer player Bukayo Saka is 23.

General Daily Insight for September 05, 2024

We can all be our best selves today — without making it a chore. The Moon is sailing through pleasant Libra, encouraging us to be fair-minded and amiable. This congeniality will be further amplified when the Moon conjoins magnetic Venus at 5:12 am EDT, adding a huge dose of positivity. We can let our feelings guide us forward under this energy. Listening to our intuition should be even easier when the Moon nudges Saturn in Pisces later on in the day. We’ve got this!

Aries

March 21 – April 19

People should have your back today. The Moon and Venus are coming together at the same degree in your 7th House of Partnerships, benefitting many kinds of dynamic duos. This applies to all sorts of relationships, be they platonic, romantic, or professional, as long as they exist on an equal footing. This is also an excellent day for working out any contractual matters, as Venus will sharpen your ability to analyze any documentation so you can ensure you’re treated quite well in the process.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Even the most mundane tasks could fly by today. Your 6th House of Daily Work is wonderfully lit up as the Moon conjoins Venus, easing tensions and making your tasks evaporate in the blink of an eye. Other people might be especially helpful, so don’t be shy about asking for help or letting others step in when they offer. This sector also rules your health, so make a point to move your body in whatever way most appeals to you — dancing, yoga, hiking, anything!

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

This is a day to enjoy yourself without reserve. Fabulous energy abounds as the Moon aligns with beautifying Venus in your blissful 5th house, giving you cosmic clearance to follow your heart in whatever direction it leads. This sector is also very creative, so don’t shy away from art. Even if you don’t consider yourself a “true” artist, you can mess around with whatever supplies you happen to have on hand — even just a pen and paper. Let yourself play and see what happens!

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Your home is the stage for a lovely day. The Moon and Venus are coordinating in your domestic 4th house, so this is the perfect time to bring some beauty and pleasure to your abode. This may look like you finally getting your ducks in a row to DIY a redecoration project — or maybe you’ll invite friends and family to an impulsive get-together at your place. Regardless, things will probably come together more easily than usual. Let any guests bring drinks or dessert!

Leo

July 23 – August 22

This is no day to leave stones unturned. Lovely energy permeates the skies as the Moon and Venus come together in a beautiful conjunction in your 3rd House of Local Community, drawing your eyes toward all sorts of buried treasure in your area. You may discover some unique shops or restaurants that could speedily become favorite spots or meet someone while out running errands who already feels like a friend you’ve always known. Make a point to get out and see what’s happening!

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

A spoonful of indulgence can’t hurt on a day like this. You’ve got cosmic clearance to treat yourself as the Moon aligns with Venus in your luxury-loving 2nd house. It can indeed be easy to throw your money around during this aspect, so set a realistic budget without feeling like you’re depriving yourself. If you are going to splurge, be sure to splurge on something that will pay for itself over a long time. Quality, not quantity, is the name of the game.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

You’re positively glowing, Libra! This undeniable allure is all thanks to the Moon flying through your charming sign. While Luna is in this personal territory, it will conjoin your ruler, Venus — also known as the planet of pleasure. You can use this energy in just about any way you want as you lean into the lovely side of life. That being said, make sure you’re using it responsibly, or you could leave a trail of disappointed friends behind you without even realizing it.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Your dreams may feel more real than whatever is in front of you at the moment. You’re prone to meandering along at a gentle pace while the Moon floats through your sleepy 12th house — thankfully, you’re allowed to indulge in this flowing energy as the Moon conjoins alluring Venus in the same sector. Venus wants you to enjoy yourself, so let your daydreams carry you wherever they might, and don’t worry about any non-urgent work or responsibilities. Return to them under more serious skies.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Everyone wants to get along today! The Moon in your social 11th house conjoins pleasure-loving Venus, reminding you of all the best parts of friendship. The perfect way to put this energy to good use is to get the gang together for an adventure! On the other hand, this is also a great time to open yourself up to new connections as well. A friend-of-a-friend or an acquaintance could have a really positive impact on you, and you wouldn’t want to miss that.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Your reputation is positively gleaming. The Moon is coming together with Venus in your professional 10th house, inspiring other people to see the best in you and bask in your glow. This is the perfect time for a big reveal if you’ve been working on a project, because it will probably be very well received. If you’ve been hoping for a raise or other recognition, now is the right moment to ask your supervisor. They should be ready to listen to reasonable requests.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

The world can be a scary place, but right now, it’s a truly beautiful one. You can dive into the wonderful side of life as the Moon conjoins Venus in your 9th House of Expansion, encouraging you to sample a few extra servings of the spice of life. Maybe you’ll try an exotic cuisine you’ve never tasted before, take in a foreign film, or book a trip abroad — just look beyond your usual routines for satisfaction. You can be sure you’ll find it.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Keep your eyes peeled, Pisces, because windfalls are on offer. The Moon and Venus are forming a lucrative conjunction in your 8th House of Shared Resources, which could result in a financial coup of one kind or another. This is all about money involving other people, so you may receive a helpful loan or line of credit, or perhaps someone will repay an outstanding debt that you’ve been waiting on for some time now. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth!

MIAMI (AP) — Xavier Edwards hit an RBI single in the 10th inning and the Miami Marlins beat the Washington Nationals 4-3 on Wednesday night.

Automatic runner Griffin Conine advanced to third on Nick Fortes’ groundout. Edwards followed with a soft line drive off Derek Law (7-3) that bounced into left field for Miami’s first win of the season against Washington after eight losses.

It was also Edwards’ first career walk-off hit and he was doused with a bucket of ice water in the post-game celebration.

“I will remember the bucket of ice water,” Edwards said. “It was cold, like getting out of a cold tub. Felt similar.”

Edwards singled in his last two at-bats after going hitless in his first eight plate appearances since returning from the injured list on Tuesday. With two bases open, Edwards thought he would be walked intentionally to create a force out situation.

“I’m glad that they pitched to me,” Edwards said. “The goal was just to get the run in any way that I could. So I’m glad that I did.”

John McMillon (1-1) pitched the top of the 10th for the win in a game that attracted a season low 6,156 at LoanDepot Park.

The Marlins overcame a no-hit bid by Nationals starter MacKenzie Gore and later trailed 3-2 before Jake Burger’s tying single in the eighth. Edwards and Connor Norby hit two-out singles against Nationals reliever Jose Ferrer. Kyle Finnegan relieved Ferrer and allowed Burger’s line drive to left.

“I thought we were going to get no-hit there for a minute the way Gore was throwing the baseball,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “To come out of that with a win is awesome.”

The Nationals erased a 2-0 deficit with a three-run eighth against relievers Mike Baumann and Calvin Faucher.

Keibert Ruiz drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on Jacob Young’s single. Dylan Crews walked to load the bases.

Faucher relieved Baumann and walked José Tena to force in a run. Andrés Chaparro’s RBI fielder’s choice tied it at 2-2 and James Wood’s run-scoring double put Washington ahead.

Gore retired the first 16 before Conine walked on a 3-2 count with one out in the sixth. Fortes then broke up Gore’s no-hit bid with an RBI double for the first run of the game. Fortes’ line drive rolled toward the left field wall, scoring Conine from first.

“It’s something you don’t really try to think about,” Gore said of his no-hit attempt. “It’s a one pitch at a time thing. I just try to build from the approach we’ve had the last few outings. I felt good going in and I tried to execute pitches.”

Otto López’s run-scoring double off reliever Jacob Barnes in the seventh made it 2-0.

Gore struck out nine over six innings. After allowing Fortes’ double, Gore fanned Edwards and Norby to complete his 93-pitch outing.

Miami starter Valente Bellozo limited Washington to three hits in six-plus innings. The right-hander walked two and struck out one.

“My last couple of outings we weren’t able to attack the zone and today that was the plan — to throw strikes,” Bellozo said in Spanish.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins: OF Jesús Sánchez (mild back muscle spasm) pinch hit in the ninth and reached on a two-out infield single. … LHP Ryan Weathers (left index finger strain) threw three scoreless innings in a rehab outing with Single-A Jupiter on Tuesday.

UP NEXT

Nationals: RHP Jake Irvin (9-11, 4.08) will start the opener of a four-game series at Pittsburgh on Thursday. LHP Bailey Falter (6-7, 4.41) will start for the Pirates.

Marlins: RHP Adam Oller (1-1, 3.31) gets the start when Miami opens a four-game home series against Philadelphia on Thursday. The Phillies will go with LHP Ranger Suárez (11-6, 3.02).

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Here’s a look at how the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars match up in six key areas ahead of Sunday’s season opener at Hard Rock Stadium (1 p.m., CBS and Paramount+):

When the Dolphins run: Miami returns the No. 6 rushing offense, which was tops in the NFL in 2023 in terms of yards per attempt as the team was in the middle of the pack in terms of rushing attempts. The Jaguars have a top-10 run defense from last season, finishing ninth in that regard.

The Dolphins ground game returns the Raheem Mostert-De’Von Achane combination and added rookie Jaylen Wright out of Tennessee as a fourth-round pick. It’s yet to be determined how coach Mike McDaniel will spread out touches, but in general, one could expect some even distribution between Mostert and Achane with maybe some Wright sprinkled in when all healthy. Miami lost right guard Robert Hunt in free agency and no longer has Connor Williams at center, but Aaron Brewer should be a good scheme fit for the outside zone with his athleticism and Liam Eichenberg and Robert Jones are now in their third seasons in this system.

Jacksonville has a strong linebacker combination in Foyesade Oluokun and Devin Lloyd. It also added veteran defensive lineman Arik Armstead, so it won’t be easy for Miami to get its ground game going, but the Dolphins should still find chunk plays running the football. Edge: Dolphins

When the Jaguars run: Running back Travis Etienne comes off a 1,000-yard season in which he had 11 touchdowns on the ground, while also being a viable receiving threat. The Jaguars only ranked 24th in rushing in 2023 and 30th in yards per attempt, but getting Etienne going could be a way for them to keep the Dolphins’ high-powered offense off the field and control time of possession.

Brandon Scherff at right guard and a familiar face at center in Mitch Morse, formerly of the Buffalo Bills, will help pave the way for Etienne. The Dolphins finished seventh in run defense last season, but they no longer have Christian Wilkins on the defensive line. Zach Sieler is back and now has 38-year-old Calais Campbell with him up front, along with Benito Jones at nose tackle to replace Raekwon Davis. David Long Jr. is great against the run at linebacker, and Jordyn Brooks could be an upgrade over Jerome Baker. Rookie edge rusher Chop Robinson could be someone the Jags try to attack in the ground game, so he’ll need to set the edge or get some help on his side if he becomes a liability as a run defender. Edge: Even

When the Dolphins pass: Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa comes off his first Pro Bowl season in 2023 after leading the NFL in passing yards (4,624), throwing 29 touchdowns and 14 interceptions on a completion percentage of 69.3. He also scored his four-year, $212.4 million contract extension. He and wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle return to last season’s top passing offense, which added tight end Jonnu Smith and can incorporate Mostert and Achane out of the backfield. But Odell Beckham Jr.’s Miami debut will have to wait, as he starts the season on the physically-unable-to-perform list.

Hill, who comes off his career-high of 1,799 receiving yards, may draw the matchup of cornerback and South Florida product Tyson Campbell, who played high school football at American Heritage and then collegiately at Georgia. The Jaguars secondary, which already ranked 26th against the pass last season, lost safety Rayshawn Jenkins, the former Miami Hurricane, in the offseason. They enter with a new scheme in 2024 after bringing in defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen.

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Where Jacksonville is dangerous is with the pass rush on the edge. Josh Hines-Allen (17 1/2 sacks) and Travon Walker (10 sacks) will have to be contained in matchups that will belong to respective tackles Terron Armstead and Austin Jackson. They should be fairly reliable on the ends, even against the high-end pass rushers, but Hines-Allen and Walker coming around up the middle on twists and stunts could put Tagovailoa in a predicament against Miami’s interior offensive line. Nonetheless, Tua knows how to get the ball out quickly. Edge: Dolphins

When the Jaguars pass: Also getting his second contract this offseason was Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. He was granted the trust of the franchise after throwing 21 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in his third NFL season. His ability to scramble is also something Dolphins defenders will have to key in on.

Star Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who first entered the NFL with the Jaguars, has missed practice early in the week with a hamstring injury. If healthy, he may not be needed to necessarily shadow any top Jaguars receiving target. Wide receiver Calvin Ridley is gone, and Jacksonville brought in Gabe Davis, formerly of Buffalo, to go with returning Christian Kirk and rookie Brian Thomas Jr. Tight end Evan Engram is a target to watch, and that responsibility could lie with either safety Jevon Holland or Jordan Poyer. The Miami secondary didn’t spent much time together in training camp, so that’s something to watch as cornerbacks Kendall Fuller and Kader Kohou also factor into coverage plans.

The Dolphins also have questions on how much of a pass rush they can produce Week 1. Jaelan Phillips will be on some type of a snap count. Bradley Chubb, of course, starts the season on PUP list. Emmanuel Ogbah, rookies Robinson and Mohamed Kamara and former practice squad member Quinton Bell could all play key roles in the debut for Anthony Weaver as defensive coordinator. Edge: Jaguars

Special teams: We have no idea what will happen on kick returns given the new rules, but that will be one of the more interesting subplots Sunday afternoon. The Dolphins return their trio of specialists in kicker Jason Sanders, who had a nice comeback season in 2023, punter/holder Jake Bailey and long snapper Blake Ferguson. The Jaguars have a rookie kicker in Cam Little, but new return specialist Devin Duvernay has given Miami problems in the past with Baltimore, returning a kickoff for a touchdown against the Dolphins in 2022. It comes down to adjusting to the new kickoff rules, though. Edge: Even

Intangibles: It’s the start of a new season at home and the Dolphins are usually good at Hard Rock Stadium in early-season 1 p.m. kickoffs. That advantage is a bit diminished against another Florida team, however, but you still give Miami the edge in this circumstance against a team they know is hungry to get back into the playoffs. Edge: Dolphins

PREDICTION: Dolphins 27, Jaguars 20

Dolphins Deep Dive: Prediction time — will Miami get the win vs. Jaguars on Sunday? | VIDEO

A sheriff’s training center that costs $74 million? Seriously?

Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony might not be aware that budgets must be followed. I guess if you’re spending someone else’s money, he doesn’t think he needs to pay close attention.

Tony’s overspending and demanding additional dollars is reckless. I don’t recall the exact amount, but the additional cost to plaster his name all over the center is outrageous.

As Broward taxpayers, we are powerless to do much about this irresponsible behavior, but thankfully, we have County Commissioner Steve Geller there to protect us from those who think they can make up their own rules when spending our money.

Jack Bloomfield, Coral Springs

Gilligan’s Island in space

The Boeing Starliner mission astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams seem to have a similar fate as the crew and passengers of the fictitious SS Minnow 60 years ago.

AP, fileBob Denver, seated at center, played Gilligan.

The two astronauts went on an eight-day mission and now won’t return till February 2025.

The Minnow’s crew and passengers went on a three-hour tour and became castaways for several TV seasons.

This looks like a case of life imitating art, with Boeing cast in the role of Gilligan.

Ed Kessler, Lake Worth Beach

Bad drivers are here now

I was amused by the reader’s claim that passage of Amendment 3 would lead to bad driving and more accidents.

Hardly a day goes by where someone on Broward streets doesn’t zoom past me at 65 mph or more. The antics of drivers making left turns from a right turn lane, speeding through red lights, and making right turns at red lights without slowing down can hardly get any worse. Cannabis supposedly calms people down, so perhaps its legalization would lead to less dangerous driving.

There’s a need to research the effects of the active ingredients of cannabis on motor skills. It clearly does not improve them, but marijuana’s illegal status prevented such research in the past.

After numerous experiments with ethanol, forensic scientists determined that impairment of motor skills takes place when the level is .08% or higher. No such research has been done on what levels of THC cause impairment but, no doubt, South Florida will supply all the test subjects needed. So let’s get on with the research.

John Countryman, Plantation

Consider the alternative

When the Biden-Harris term began, the economy was depressed, unemployment was high and we had just suffered an insurrection by Trump’s allies.

Americans were dying in great numbers from Covid, despite a lifesaving vaccine developed at warp speed. Covid deaths dramatically reduced under Biden-Harris as much of the public was vaccinated.

Under Biden-Harris, our economy, while not perfect, has outperformed the rest of the world. Unemployment is low and prices are too high, but wages are rising faster than inflation.

Inflation, still an issue, has been tamed, and is lower here than in other western democracies. The Fed will shortly begin lowering interest rates, making cars and homes more affordable.

NATO would be in shambles and Ukraine a Russian satellite if Trump had been reelected. For the sake of America and the world, we need to elect the Harris-Walz ticket.

Don Korman, Plantation

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Today is Wednesday, Sept. 4, the 248th day of 2024. There are 118 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Sept. 4, 2018, the Senate Judiciary Committee began confirmation hearings for future Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh on a day that saw rancorous exchanges between Democrats and Republicans.

Also on this date:

In 1781, Los Angeles was founded by Spanish settlers under the leadership of Governor Felipe de Neve.

In 1944, during World War II, British troops liberated Antwerp, Belgium.

In 1949, more than 140 people were injured following a performance by singer Paul Robeson in Peekskill, N.Y. as an anti-Communist mob attacked departing concertgoers.

In 1957, Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus ordered Arkansas National Guardsmen to prevent nine Black students from entering all-white Central High School in Little Rock.

In 1972, U.S. swimmer Mark Spitz became the first to win seven medals at a single Olympic Games, winning a seventh gold at the Munich Olympics in the 400-meter medley relay.

In 1972, the longest-running game show in U.S. history, “The Price is Right,” debuted on CBS.

In 1974, the United States established diplomatic relations with East Germany.

In 1998, Google was founded by Stanford University Ph.D. students Sergey Brin and Larry Page.

In 2016, elevating the “saint of the gutters” to one of the Catholic Church’s highest honors, Pope Francis canonized Mother Teresa, praising her radical dedication to society’s outcasts and her courage in shaming world leaders for the “crimes of poverty they themselves created.”

Today’s Birthdays:

• Actor Mitzi Gaynor is 93.
• Golf Hall of Famer Raymond Floyd is 82.
• Golf Hall of Famer Tom Watson is 75.
• Actor Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs is 71.
• Actor Khandi Alexander is 67.
• Actor-comedian Damon Wayans Sr. is 64.
• Baseball Hall of Famer Mike Piazza is 56.
• DJ-musician-producer Mark Ronson is 49.
• Actor Wes Bentley is 46.
• Actor Max Greenfield is 45.
• Singer-actor Beyoncé is 43.
• Actor-comedian Whitney Cummings is 42.
• Actor-comedian Kyle Mooney (TV: “Saturday Night Live”) is 40.

General Daily Insight for September 04, 2024

This is no time to ignore our emotions. The Moon begins the day in Virgo, where it will oppose mystical Neptune before dancing into fair-minded Libra. Things could get overwhelming when Mars makes an unusual quincunx to Pluto, but we’ll have the energy to handle it once Mars marches into sensitive Cancer at 3:46 pm EDT. During this emotionally charged transit, we’ll all be more inclined to follow our feelings. Still, we are capable of avoiding the temptation to act out.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

The best way to lead is with an open heart. Your ruler, red-hot Mars, is entering your sensitive 4th house, amplifying your emotions and your need for stability and security. This can make you feel somewhat pressurized as Mars exerts itself within one of the more delicate sectors of your chart. Thankfully, if you allow this to occur, rather than trying to fight it, you can make a lot of progress. This progress will likely be more internal, but you should feel worlds better.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

This is no time to rest, Taurus. Action planet Mars is entering your buzzy 3rd house for the first time in two years, so you’re going to have to pick up the pace if you want to keep up with your own popularity. It’s easy to overbook yourself during this cycle, which means that keeping a calendar of some kind will be more helpful than usual, perhaps even necessary. If you don’t drop the ball, you can probably score quite a few points.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Your finances are heating up. Your 2nd House of Income is glowing with power as can-do Mars parades into this financially focused sector, creating windows of opportunity for you to earn more money — but simultaneously showing off many ways to spend it. That’s all well and good, but Mars can also hike your usual expenses while it’s here. Do your best to keep yourself on some sort of budget, or you might wind up blowing all your hard-earned money far too quickly.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Rev your engines and get ready to blast off from the starting line! You’re the special recipient of a mega dose of firepower as Mars arrives in your sign, giving you a special boost that you haven’t felt in roughly two years. You’ll have more energy at your disposal — and it’ll need to be used well. Otherwise, you could wind up overwhelmed by all this fire. Avoid letting it build up, because without proper release, you may just blow your top.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

The best way to reach your preferred destination is by taking your hands off the steering wheel. The cosmos is hyping up the idea of kicking back and going with the flow as Mars enters your 12th House of Release. Sometimes you need to do nothing before you can be active. If things seem irritatingly slow right now, try to look at this as a blessed opportunity to clear out any old and outdated ways of being. Allow yourself to be directionless.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

You can handle just about anything on your own, but that doesn’t mean you must always do so. Right now, much more can be accomplished by working together as make-it-happen Mars energizes your 11th House of Global Communities. Connections with others, near and far, are empowered. Old friends can provide you with new opportunities, but be willing to make fresh connections as well. The planets are supporting your efforts to see how far your network can grow when you make an effort.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

No more taking it easy. It’s time to get serious as Mars advances into your 10th House of Livelihood, encouraging you to chase your goals and do whatever you can to obtain them. This is going to be an especially active phase, as more opportunities arise for you to show your worth. Get your elevator pitch ready to go, since it’ll probably come in handy! A project you’ve been working on behind the scenes may also be ready for its stunning debut.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Life is meant to be an adventure — that’s truer now than ever. This expansive energy is thanks to Mars winging its way into your curious 9th house, stirring up your desire to explore mysterious territory and discover what’s waiting for you out in the great wide world. This is a terrific time to travel, but if you can’t get away for one reason or another, then there’s nothing wrong with being an armchair explorer or making plans for future vacations.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Pressure creates diamonds. It’s good to remember this as Mars moves into your 8th House of Transformation, which is one of the most intense parts of your chart, but also incredibly rewarding. You may feel like you have to put in more work in order to deal with the heavier aspects of life while the red planet visits this sector, but the challenges you encounter at this time are actually opportunities for growth. Change isn’t simple, but the rewards should be worth it.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Doubling up doubles your luck. There’s rarely been a better time to partner up as Mars enters your 7th House of Associations, giving your most important connections an extra dose of fire for the foreseeable future. This can heat up romantic connections, but it’s equally impactful for professional and platonic bonds. Regardless of context, this exciting influence also risks sparking stress or inequality if you aren’t careful. Make sure both people are pulling their weight, no matter the nature of the partnership.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Time to break a sweat! Action planet Mars is jogging into your 6th House of Wellness, making this the perfect moment to jump on the healthy-living bandwagon. Whether you’re already regularly going to the gym or haven’t had a proper workout in ages, this energy can get your body moving more than ever before. The results should be incredibly rewarding! Even so, don’t push yourself too hard, which Mars can entice you to do. If you burn out, you won’t be able to make progress.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

There’s no holding you back now, Pisces! You’re entering a cycle of positivity and excitement as Mars takes command of your fun-loving 5th house for the first time in two years, allowing you to make pleasure your number one priority. This can mean pursuing your heart in romantic directions, but it centers around your self-expression. Maybe you’re picking up an unfamiliar pursuit or delving into a favorite creative hobby. Either way, your creative juices are flowing. Don’t ignore your turn to show off.

MIAMI — Keibert Ruiz was a triple shy of the cycle, Jacob Young also had three hits and the Washington Nationals beat the Miami Marlins 6-2 on Tuesday night.

Patrick Corbin continued his recent stretch of solid starts with 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball and Joey Gallo hit a three-run homer for the Nationals, who are 8-0 against the Marlins this season after going 6-26 against their NL East opponent the previous two seasons.

Corbin (5-12) allowed seven hits and matched a season high with eight strikeouts. The left-hander won his third consecutive start after going 2-12 in his previous 25 outings.

“Just try to continue to do what’s been working and go from there,” Corbin said. “Staying out of the middle of the plate and mixing it up. Continue to do that and keep these hitters off balance and locate pitches.”

Corbin, entering the final month of a six-year deal with Washington, has led the major leagues in losses the past three seasons.

“Patrick Corbin was really good again. That was awesome to see,” Nationals coach Dave Martinez said.

Ruiz continued his success at the Marlins home field, where he has 18 hits, including five for extra bases, over 16 games.

“I got my family here and obviously, it’s a different energy,” said Ruiz, who lives in South Florida during the off-season. “I was swinging at my pitches and not trying to do too much. That’s got to be the plan and to remain consistent.”

Young’s RBI single in the third put the Nationals ahead 1-0. Ruiz hit a leadoff double and raced home after Young’s line drive bounced inside the right-field foul line.

The Nationals padded their lead on Gallo’s home run in the fourth. It was his first homer since June 3 after missing 60 games because of a left hamstring strain.

“That’s the Joey Gallo we’ve seen for years,” Martinez said. “I hope he has a really good month not just for us but for him. He worked really hard to get back and when he starts hitting the ball like that, they usually come in bunches.”

Miami got on the board when Connor Norby hit a run-scoring double in the fifth.

Ruiz’s two-out solo shot in the sixth made it 5-1 and chased Max Meyer (3-5), who allowed five runs and nine hits. The rookie right-hander walked one and struck out five in 5 2/3 innings.

“I thought his stuff was better than his line would suggest,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said of Meyer. “He went away from his changeup after the second or third inning and became a two-pitch pitcher. His pitch to Gallo was a missed spot.”

Cristian Pache narrowed the deficit with an RBI double in the sixth before Washington regained the four-run advantage on Andrés Chaparro’s RBI groundout in the ninth.

Marlins shortstop Xavier Edwards returned from the injured list and went 0 for 5. Before being sidelined because of back soreness on Aug. 24, Edwards took over the leadoff spot, hitting .349 with 22 stolen bases in 47 games.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Nationals: RHP Cade Cavalli (right elbow surgery) threw a 20-pitch bullpen Tuesday, his first since experiencing “dead arm” fatigue during a rehab outing in May. Depending on his progression, Cavalli could face hitters before the end of the season.

Marlins: OF Jesús Sánchez left because of a mild back muscle spasm after successfully stealing a base in the second. … RHP Anthony Bender (right shoulder impingement) threw a scoreless inning in a rehab outing with Triple-A Jacksonville on Tuesday.

UP NEXT

LHP MacKenzie Gore (8-11, 4.45) will start the finale of the two-game set for the Nationals on Wednesday while RHP Valente Bellozo (2-2, 4.32) will go for the Marlins.

By WILL WEISSERT, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris plans to propose on Wednesday a tenfold increase in federal tax incentives for small business startup expenses, from $5,000 to $50,000, hoping to help spur a record 25 million new small business applications over her four-year term should she win the presidency in November.

She’s set to unveil the plan during a campaign stop in the Portsmouth area of New Hampshire — marking a rare deviation from the Midwestern and Sunbelt battlegrounds the Democrat has focused on in her race against former Republican President Donald Trump.

A Harris campaign official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a policy plan that hadn’t been released publicly, said Tuesday the change would cover the $40,000 it costs on average to start a business. The proposal would let new businesses wait to claim that deduction until they first turn a profit, to better maximize its impact lowering their taxes.

Such changes would likely require congressional approval. But a series of tax cuts approved during the Trump administration are set to expire at the end of next year, setting up a scenario where lawmakers may be ready to consider new tax policies. The proposal can help Harris show her support for entrepreneurs even as she’s called for higher corporate tax rates.

Since President Joe Biden dropped his reelection bid and endorsed Harris in July, the vice president has focused on campaigning in the “ blue wall ” states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania that have been the centerpiece of Democratic campaigns that have won the White House in recent decades.

She’s also frequently visited Arizona, Nevada and Georgia, all of which Biden narrowly won in 2020, and North Carolina, which last voted Democratic in a presidential race in 2008 but which she’s still hoping to flip from Trump. Biden won New Hampshire by 7 percentage points in 2020, though Trump came far closer to winning it against Hillary Clinton in 2016.

“The cost of living in New Hampshire is through the roof, their energy bills are some of highest in the country, and their housing market is the most unaffordable in history,” Trump posted last week on his social media platform.

Harris’ team says securing 25 million new business applications in four years if she wins the White House would exceed the roughly 19 million such applications filed since Biden took office. And those were millions more than the previous four years under Trump. The vice president’s goal would be a record for new small business applications — but records only go back about 20 years.

Applications to start a business don’t always translate to small businesses actually being formed. Still, Harris’ plan could keep new small businesses that do come to fruition from otherwise incurring more debt which, at a time of high interest rates, might help them better succeed.

In the weeks since Harris took over the top of the Democratic ticket, she has offered relatively few major policy proposals — attempting to strike a political balance between injecting new energy into the race and continuing to support many of the Biden administration proposals she helped champion as vice president.

Harris’ small business plan follows her announcing last month proposed steps to fight inflation by working to lower grocery prices, and to use tax cuts and other incentives to encourage homeownership. The vice president has also proposed ending federal taxes on tips to service industry workers, an idea Trump proposed first.

The plan she’s introducing Wednesday further calls for developing a standard deduction for small businesses meant to save their owners time when doing their taxes, and making it easier to get occupational licenses — letting people work across state lines and businesses expand into new states. Harris also wants to offer federal incentives so state and local government will ease their regulations.

In an effort to spur business investment outside urban and suburban hubs, Harris is pledging to launch a small business expansion fund to enable community banks and federal entities to cover interest costs while small businesses are expanding or otherwise creating jobs. Her team says those efforts will focus especially on areas that traditionally receive less investment.

Fort Lauderdale leaders struggling to come up with a spot to house the homeless continued the debate Tuesday, well aware that the city might face lawsuits from citizens if they don’t come up with a plan soon.

For months, the Fort Lauderdale commission has been prepping for a statewide law against public camping and sleeping that takes effect Oct. 1. Cities across Florida that fail to enforce the controversial state law — signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in March — can be sued starting Jan. 1.

Now Fort Lauderdale has been hit with a new unexpected wrinkle: Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony is making it clear the county jails will not be accepting homeless people who face arrest under local anti-camping laws.

“In the next few weeks, cities and counties throughout Florida will enact new ordinances to remove homeless persons from public parks, streets and buildings,” Tony wrote in an op-ed published by the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “The jail is not the place to shelter and provide services to the homeless. I have directed our Department of Detention to no longer accept individuals who are brought to the jail for purely municipal ordinance violations. Rounding up the homeless and bringing them to downtown Fort Lauderdale or Pompano Beach to be housed in the county jails is neither a good solution, nor an available one.”

Downtown Fort Lauderdale, home to the county jail and main bus terminal, is a known hot spot for the homeless. In recent years, the homeless have found other havens, including the beach, alleyways and parking lots.

On Sunday, Fort Lauderdale mayoral candidate Jim Lewis shared what he thought was a great idea: Why not set up a homeless encampment next to Chase Stadium near Commercial Boulevard and Interstate 95, where Inter Miami plays?

The lot, currently being used for overflow parking on game day, is slated to become a park but is months away from breaking ground.

“We don’t know if we’re going to have a park in 2025, 2026 or 2027,” Lewis said. “But we know in October we’re going to have a homeless crisis problem where these people are going to have to go. Please find a place. Do it now.”

Commissioner John Herbst, who represents the district, blasted the idea on Tuesday.

“That’s zoned as a park,” he said. “We’re not putting it in a park. We will never have a homeless camp in a park.”

Lewis had this retort: “You go out there and look. It’s not a park. It’s a trash pile.”

Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis listens to critics during a discussion over the city’s homeless crisis during a public meeting on Tuesday. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Another idea put forward by Commissioner Warren Sturman would have the city creating homeless villages in public parking lots for people living out of their cars.

The plan did get enthusiastic support from Herbst, who suggested the city set up a “safe parking zone” on the rooftop of the City Hall parking garage.

But critics, including Mayor Dean Trantalis and Vice Mayor Steve Glassman, are panning the idea as absurd, considering South Florida’s dangerous lightning storms and heat.

Resident Charlie King, a frequent critic of City Hall, suggested Fort Lauderdale bus its homeless people out of town, all the way to California.

“You should be handing out bus tickets,” King told the commission Tuesday. “We have to move these people out.”

Trantalis interjected with a question: “Bus ticket where?”

King was quick with an answer: “Anywhere. Would you like to go to Seattle? Would you like to go to San Diego?”

That idea was also rebuffed by Trantalis, who expressed frustration at the deadline set by the state.

“I’d really love to see the governor come in and suspend this until they work out the kinks,” Trantalis said. “It’s a big burden for both the Democratic and the Republican counties. (We all) need more time to fund this and plan for this.”

Glassman agreed.

“These unfunded mandates are difficult,” Glassman said. “You can’t just have laws passed in Tallahassee and have local governments (be forced to) figure it out and pay for it.”

Herbst’s response drew applause from the audience.

“I think we’ll have a better chance of seeing the governor suspend the sheriff,” he said, prompting claps from the crowd. “I hope Sheriff Tony reconsiders this before Tallahassee steps in and asks him if he’d like to pursue job opportunities elsewhere.”

Sturman defended his plan for “safe parking zones,” an idea borrowed from San Diego.

“Nothing’s perfect,” Sturman said. “It’s a temporary thing. But it’s better than what they (the homeless) have now. We should at least look at it, not shoot it down from the start.”

Trantalis noted that everyone was doing their best to find a solution with a fast-approaching deadline.

“Nothing is in stone,” he said. “These are just ideas we are putting out there. We’ve been talking. Now we have to put this talk into action.”

Glassman shared his concern that the onus was falling on Fort Lauderdale to fix a problem it did not create.

“This is not a Fort Lauderdale problem,” he said. “We can’t shoulder the burden (on our own).”

Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com. Follow me on X @Susannah_Bryan