Shielded from Truth at Our Own Expense

Around my sophomore year of college, I approached my African American History professor, Dennis C. Dickerson, to inquire about my performance. Honestly, I was fishing for a compliment. I spoke frequently in class and expected his praise. And since he was one of a limited number of Black professors on campus, I thought he’d flatter me as a show of solidarity given our shared identity.  He did not. In no uncertain terms, Dickerson told me I was a poor communicator and needed to... Read More

God at the Bottom of the Glass

As a child I had no formal religious training. My parents were not opposed to faith, but they did not find it particularly relevant to daily life.  At age five, I was sent to a local Episcopal church to sing in the boys’ choir so that I could learn music. I learned to love the hymns, but the theology washed over me without leaving any discernible residue. I can still play most of those hymns by heart on the piano—yet for the most part, I have trouble remembering the words because... Read More

Today in History: September 18, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg dies

Today is Wednesday, Sept. 18, the 262nd day of 2024. There are 104 days left in the year. Today in history: On Sept. 18, 2020, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a towering champion of women’s rights who became the court’s second female justice, died at her home in Washington at age 87, of complications from pancreatic cancer. Also on this date: In 1793, President George Washington laid the cornerstone of the U.S. Capitol. In 1850, Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act, which... Read More

Daily Horoscope for September 18, 2024

General Daily Insight for September 18, 2024 A few hurdles are ahead on our way to the end of the day. Confusion obscures the starting line as the Moon conjoins mystical Neptune in Pisces. On top of that, the planets will throw more mental roadblocks in front of us when Mercury opposes stoic Saturn at 4:50 am EDT. Satisfying conclusions could seem out of reach, especially once Luna stumbles into Aries and squares Mars in sensitive Cancer. We can push through if we don’t let our emotions... Read More

Forecasters monitor new disturbance in Caribbean Sea; Gordon could form again

Forecasters are watching for development of a new disturbance that emerged Tuesday night in the Caribbean Sea, and the remnants of former Tropical Storm Gordon could form again, possibly into a tropical storm. The new system over the western Caribbean Sea could slowly develop through early next week, the National Hurricane Center said. It is expected to move slowly north or northwest into the northwestern Caribbean. As of 8 p.m. Tuesday, it has been given a 20% chance of developing in the... Read More

Fort Lauderdale man charged with manslaughter in sex trafficking death of teenager

A Fort Lauderdale man finishing up a five-year federal prison sentence on fraud charges will head straight to the Broward Main Jail when he is released to face 13 counts of human trafficking, sex trafficking, profiting from prostitution and one count of aggravated manslaughter of a minor — a teenage girl whose death was explored in the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s “Innocence Sold” series last year. Marina Ralph, 16, was found dead of a cocaine and fentanyl overdose on Oct. 4, 2019,... Read More

The finalists for best steak in South Florida are in! Who will get your vote?

It’s a question that’s been sizzling on the grill for weeks now: Who cooks the most tender, juicy, perfectly seasoned steak in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties? Now it’s time to take it off the flame and let you decide who comes out on top in September’s installment of our Best of South Florida Dining series. Originally Published: September 17, 2024 at 3:27 p.m. ... Read More

5 rivals vying to win Fort Lauderdale mayor’s race clash over development and gridlock

Fort Lauderdale is not perfect. Critics complain about nightmarish gridlock; a homeless crisis that only seems to get worse; and an ongoing development boom that some warn is only going to make the traffic even more unbearable. Who wants to be mayor? Five people, including the incumbent, are in the race. Voters will make their pick in the city’s Nov. 5 elections. Residents got a preview of the rivals during a recent forum hosted by the Fort Lauderdale Council of Civic Associations, where... Read More

Broward sheriff’s budget battle could be ‘finally resolved’ in last-minute deal

The end of the Broward sheriff’s budget battle appears in sight: County commissioners on Tuesday could decide whether to dip even further into money reserves to meet the sheriff’s demands for tens of millions of dollars more. Originally Published: September 17, 2024 at 1:41 p.m. ... Read More