Bakersfield Observed: A Blog About Life, Media, Politics & People

UCF’s women’s basketball program has added three signees, including senior transfers Hannah Gusters, Ally Stedman and incoming freshman Emely Rodriguez. The 6-foot-5 Gusters, a fifth-year senior center, played at Oklahoma State last season, where she led the Cowgirls in scoring, averaging 14.3 points, and 4.1 rebounds in 21 games while shooting 56% from the field.

The Florida Commission on Ethics waived $1,500 in fines levied against one of its members on Friday, finding that unusual circumstances led to a required form not being filed correctly. Ethics Commissioner Freddie Figgers didn’t submit his 2021 financial disclosure statement on time when he served on the Board of Directors of Enterprise Florida, the state’s economic development organization. The commission voted 4-1 to waive the fines.

A solitary voice counts off, the only sound is sneakers squeaking on the gymnasium floor at The Venue on UCF‘s campus. More than 50 students, ranging from high school seniors to graduate students, pair up to work on dance moves they’ve just been taught by two instructors. The only other noise is music from a nearby speaker paired with a smartphone. Michael Callahan wanders between the groups, intently watching the footwork and occasionally scribbling notes onto a clipboard.

A mold-like substance in an ice machine, 36 live flies in the kitchen and other areas, and hundreds of rodent droppings were among the violations that prompted the state to shut five South Florida restaurants last week. The South Florida Sun Sentinel typically highlights restaurant inspections conducted by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

GAINESVILLE — Florida landed 6-foot-11 sophomore Rueben Chinyelu from Washington State to bolster the Gators’ size and frontcourt depth. Chinyelu joins Apopka native Sam Alexis as Gators coach Todd Golden continued to tap the transfer portal to rebuild his 2024-25 roster. Chinyelu (pronounced chin-YAY-loo) averaged 4.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks during 35 appearances, including 12 starts, last season.

Sports writers rarely reveal the philosophy that guides their coverage. Readers assume things — sometimes correctly, sometimes incorrectly — but perhaps that’s because sports writers don’t clearly define the situation. So, as the Dolphins prepare for the NFL draft, and as we take more steps down the path to the regular season, I’m issuing my Journalistic Guiding Light for the 2024 Dolphins. For the record, here’s the backdrop for everything I write or say about this team, and the basis of my coverage: The 2024 Miami Dolphins were assembled to win a Super Bowl, not merely make the playoffs or win one or two playoff games, so the 2024 Dolphins can’t simply be better than last year, when they went 11-6 and failed to win a single playoff game.