Noted anti-trans Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) lost the Republican primary for South Carolina governor in a truly decisive defeat, coming in fifth place. But the pain and policy that she has brought with her rhetoric still remains and can’t be expected to go out the door with her when she leaves Congress in January. We should certainly enjoy Rep. Sarah McBride’s (D-DE) quips about her co-worker’s loss, but there needs to be a fight to restore and improve situations when we have power again. There’s something comforting in seeing Mace burn her entire political career to the ground while embracing the anti-trans platform to an extreme degree. An anti-trans attack has never been far from her lips, including when questioning Gov. Tim Walz (D) about welfare fraud or responding to Trump’s calls for genocide. As her obsession controlled her actions, she claimed to have no friends and clearly alienated the Republican base, even in her home state. Related Governor’s races have never been more important for trans rights than this year There were rumors last year that Mace might try to bow out rather than face another election, following the tactic of her fellow anti-trans Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. Instead, she’s faced a humiliating defeat. That feels like it should be a warning to other politicians who have been voted in to support their constituents, but instead spent their time obsessing over trans people and genitalia. But while Mace lost favor with voters and other Republicans in Congress, the criticism she has faced publicly has not been about her anti-trans crusade, demonstrating their willingness to accept the anti-trans platform. Instead, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy called her one of the “least ethical” and “least respected” members of Congress and went on Fox News to say he hopes she gets “the help she needs.”South Carolina’s Attorney General Alan Wilson called her “an entitled spoiled brat.” And earlier this year, Mace’s own former staffers said she should leave electoral politics and that she was “one of the worst people I’ve ever met.” Dive deeper every day Join our newsletter for thought-provoking commentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ+ issues Subscribe to our Newsletter today While her obsession with trans people might have sparked some of those comments, her party never raised it as a problem. Instead, they relayed anecdotes about requests to bring her liquor, do her housework, and boost her standing in Reddit forums about the “hottest women in Congress.” At the other end of the political and personality spectra is McBride, the Delaware representative who is the first openly trans member of Congress, but who campaigned on family and household issues and worked to avoid being seen as a trans rights candidate purely because of her own gender identity. Mace and her cohort made it clear to everyone early on that ignoring their anti-trans campaign wasn’t going to be viable, and McBride was criticized for not opposing the Capitol bathroom ban introduced by House Speaker Mike Johnson under pressure from Mace. As Mace and McBride continued to face off, McBride clearly started to realize the need to fight back and came a long way. A year and a half in, McBride has come out swinging with social media videos and call-outs of Republicans in front of Congress, while still reaching across the aisle to make deals with Republicans for trans rights. Now her response to Mace’s loss has been pitch-perfect put-downs, calling Mace “Congress’s top bathroom sheriff.” thoughts and prayers https://t.co/NHCCE0DiI0— Sarah McBride (@SarahEMcBride) June 10, 2026 But at the same time, Mace has still claimed a victory of sorts through her rampant transphobia. McBride has had to spend time, money, and energy fighting back against Mace and her Congress-level anti-trans propaganda, rather than devoting her full attention to representing her constituents in the way that she had originally hoped and that politicians are actually supposed to (although it can be easy to forget that that’s their jobs at times). Not only have Congressional Republicans not pushed back on Mace’s transphobia while happily criticizing the South Carolina representative, but under the current president, they have been happy to adopt some version of it into their work. Speaker Johnson’s willingness to bring forward the Capitol bathroom ban was an early sign of that willingness. So, while the zingers from McBride are lovely to see, they’re only a part of what we have ahead of us. If the Democrats retake the House in the fall and end Johnson’s speakership, there are things like the Capitol bathroom ban that could be overturned for a nice little success that would benefit not only McBride but also plenty of staffers and other people who visit the Capitol every day. And that win might be easier to enact without shouts from Mace and Greene about trans people, although Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) will likely still be there. But it will still face Republican noise, and it will be only one small fight in a much larger battle. We have years ahead of the president and his cronies doing all they can to attack trans people in an effort to eradicate us and distract everyone from the very real problems that face Americans. Mace and McBride have become part of a culture war that is pulling focus from addressing the real struggles. It’s no wonder that the people of South Carolina didn’t want to elect Mace to lead their government when she has spent the last two years working on attacking a marginalized community that doesn’t affect most people in the state. But that same problem could also trip up McBride and other Democrats: while McBride isn’t facing a primary challenger at the moment, she’s been in headlines for her responses to transphobes. Successes for her state have been less publicized. That sort of thing, initiated by the Republicans, fuels their own propaganda that Democrats just want to talk about trans people when the reality is the inverse. Mace is headed for the door, but if Democrats take power, we’ll need to fight for more than getting our rights back. We also have to work on improving the country from where it was before, from trans rights to wider issues of inequality. One thing former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said, which received a mixed reaction, is that the goal for 2028 shouldn’t be to put things back to the way they were in 2024: they weren’t right then, and that’s part of why the GOP took power. We’ll need to work to build something better. Congress in 2026 shouldn’t be working to overturn bathroom bans installed by the Republicans, but rather to enshrine trans rights within the Capitol’s Congressional Rules: that approach needs to be applied across the board. Good on McBride for the putdowns, though; they gave us all a much-needed laugh. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Nature, Published online: 15 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01863-4The device has helped a man with motor neuron disease communicate and control his computer for nearly two years.

It can be hard to shake that temporary feeling of a rental home. But when Vartan Antonian and his husband left New York City and Los Angeles a year and a half ago, landing in this 900-square-foot, century-old West Hollywood rental apartment, they wanted to put extra effort into their new home. And they would be starting practically from scratch. Vartan, a self-taught interior decorator, and his husband, admit that they barely brought any furniture with them on the cross-country move. READ MORE...

It’s my favorite decor find. READ MORE...

The Jacksonville Jaguars believe that rookie tight end Nate Boerkircher can change the offense.On the latest episode of 'The Hunt,' which took us inside the Jaguars' draft room, offensive coordinator Grant Udinski said, "Boerkircher is changing the offense."So why do the Jaguars believe that? Head coach Liam Coen provided some insight after Monday's OTA practice."Similar to what Jakobi (Meyers) did in ways, allowing not just himself to get integrated and do what he does well, but also what it allows the other guys to do. As much as we love Brenton Strange blocking and he's so tough, he wants to do it, he's physical, he'll fight ya, he also missed some time last year. And our record, and when you look at when he has production, what our record looks like is kind of interesting to see. Allowing Brenton to continue doing what he does well, but also to maybe take some of that wear and tear, some of the pounding that it takes when you're blocking Travon Walkers of the world and Josh Hines-Allens of the world, getting him matched up more on those linebackers and safeties, and now he's an advantage for us."Coen continued, "Now we have an edge. We always feel good about Strange blocking at the point of attack, but we needed some help there, and being able to provide Strange an option to go maybe split out or go block other people that maybe keep him out of some of those one-on-one big situations, I think that's going to help us tremendously."Although Boerkircher was known more as a blocking tight end during his college career, the Jaguars view him as a player who can impact both the run and passing games at the NFL level. Having another well-rounded skill set like that frees up Brenton Strange to be utilized in a greater variety of ways, as Coen mentioned, along with allowing the Jaguars to be more mindful of Strange's usage.But in addition to that, a do-it-all presence at tight end brings some unpredictability to an offense. It's difficult for a defense to get a bead on what's coming when that player can fill so many roles, and that not only allows Boerkircher to make a greater impact, but it can create opportunities for others.Pairing Strange and Boerkircher on the field together can also put opposing defenses in a bind by forcing them to match heavier personnel, which could give the Jaguars' offense the upper hand, or playing at a size disadvantage.This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Coen details how Nate Boerkircher can have big impact on Jaguars offense

Image Credit: Euan Cherry / Shutterstock.Tyson Fury’s appearance at a White House UFC event has turned into a political argument online.The former heavyweight champion attended UFC Freedom 250 on the White House South Lawn on Sunday, June 14, wearing a cap that read “Donald Trump for Prime Minister,” according to The Independent.Fury later posed for a photo with President Donald Trump, UFC president Dana White and Mark Zuckerberg, then posted the image to Instagram with the caption, “Power pic,” The Sun reported.The photo and hat quickly drew criticism from some followers, with the Daily Mail and Metro reporting that commenters questioned the Furys’ public support for Trump after the White House appearance.Fury Posted the White House Photo After the UFC Event View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tyson Fury (@tysonfury)Fury attended the event in a black-and-yellow suit and the Trump cap, making a showy entrance before posting from the White House grounds. The Sun reported that the boxer thanked Saudi boxing official Turki Alalshikh for helping make the trip happen and described the night as his first return to the United States in nearly five years.The image that drew the most attention showed Fury standing with Trump, White and Zuckerberg. Fury wrote, “Power pic. @realdonaldtrump @danawhite @zuck no words needed!” according to The Sun.Another post on Fury’s Facebook page backed Trump for U.K. prime minister, using the phrase “President Donald J. Trump for uk PM,” adding the hashtag “makebritaingreatagain” and tagging Paris Fury, according to the Daily Mail.Metro reported that some commenters called the posts “disappointing,” while the Daily Mail reported that other followers accused the couple of forgetting their values. Fury and Paris did not appear to have publicly responded to the criticism at the time of those reports.The White House UFC Card Was Already a Political SpectacleUFC Freedom 250 was not a standard sports backdrop. The event was held on the White House South Lawn as part of the United States’ 250th-anniversary celebrations and coincided with Trump’s 80th birthday, according to CBS News.The Associated Press published photos from the event showing the octagon set up on the South Lawn and Trump arriving with White. CBS News reported that mixed martial arts fighters competed on the White House grounds, with Justin Gaethje defeating Ilia Topuria in the main card fight.The event mixed celebrity guests, UFC branding, White House staging and Trump’s birthday celebration, while protests took place outside, according to The Guardian.Fury Also Teased a Boxing AnnouncementThe White House trip also gave boxing fans another reason to watch Fury’s next move. The Sun reported that the visit marked his first time back in the U.S. since his October 2021 knockout win over Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas.Fury teased a “massive” announcement while in Washington, D.C., and Alalshikh hinted at news connected to a possible Fury fight with Anthony Joshua, according to The Sun. Fury’s manager Spencer Brown also said Fury was expected to have a warm-up fight in Ireland on August 1.

“One of the best in the world” – Mbappé hails Bayern defender ahead of France’s World Cup openerWhile many might have expected the Real Madrid forward to be referring to Bayern Munich attacker Michael Olise when discussing French talent at the Bundesliga champions, it was actually fellow Bayern star Dayot Upamecano who earned Mbappé’s admiration in an interview with French newspaper L’Équipe.Boasting an abundance of world-class talent across the pitch, France once again head into a major tournament among the favourites to lift the trophy. Having won the World Cup in 2018 and narrowly missed out on retaining their crown in 2022, Didier Deschamps’ side will be aiming to go one step further this time around, with Upamecano expected to play a pivotal role.The Bayern centre-back arrives at the tournament full of confidence after an impressive campaign in Munich and has firmly established himself as a key figure in Deschamps’ starting XI.Speaking to L’Équipe, Mbappé was glowing in his assessment of the defender.“He is going through one of the best periods of his career. Dayot is currently one of the very best defenders in the world,” said the France captain.Mbappé was particularly keen to highlight the consistency Upamecano has displayed throughout the past season.“He had an excellent campaign, but more importantly, he maintained a very high level throughout and hardly experienced any drop in form,” the forward explained.The praise extended beyond Upamecano’s performances on the pitch. Mbappé also emphasised the defender’s personality and the respect he commands within the French squad.“I really like that mix of shyness and self-confidence. At first glance, he seems reserved, but in reality he’s very sure of himself. He’s a great person to have around,” Mbappé said.Comments such as these underline just how important Upamecano has become to the French national team in recent years.France begin their World Cup campaign against Senegal before taking on Iraq and Norway in their remaining group-stage fixtures.

Tunisia coach Sabri Lamouchi could be fired after their opening 5-1 World Cup thrashing by Sweden (Julio Cesar AGUILAR)Tunisia coach Sabri Lamouchi's job is in the balance as federation chiefs are holding talks following the humiliating 5-1 defeat by Sweden in their opening World Cup match, a source told AFP Monday.Lamouchi has only been in charge since January and could be replaced by Mondher Kebaier, who coached the national side from 2019 to 2022.Kebaier is with the Tunisian World Cup delegation which is based in Monterrey, Mexico."Discussions are underway between members of the federation," the source told AFP on condition of anonymity.He added that a decision "in one sense or the other" should be taken "in the next few hours".Several Tunisian media outlets claimed Lamouchi would be sacked.After Sunday's loss, Tunisia now have a tough task to reach the second stage of a World Cup at the seventh attempt.Their remaining group matches are against Japan in Monterrey next Saturday and the Netherlands in Kansas City on June 25. Japan drew 2-2 with the Dutch in their opening game on Sunday.Former France international Lamouchi, 54, had previous World Cup experience having coached Ivory Coast at the 2014 edition but he resigned after they failed to make the knockout stages.bur-stt/bdx/pi/gj

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — It would have been unthinkable at the start of the 2022 World Cup to suggest Cristiano Ronaldo was anything other than the undisputed leader of the Portugal team.But the Qatar edition went poorly for Portugal’s all-time leading goal scorer. After scoring just once, from the penalty spot, in the group stage, he reacted angrily to being subbed off against South Korea and was promptly dropped to the bench for his team's first knockout-stage match against Switzerland.Then, he didn’t score at all in the 2024 European Championship. It was the first time he had failed to find the net at a major international tournament.Now, in the buildup to what may be Ronaldo’s World Cup swan song, concerns over what the 41-year-old can still bring to the national team are at the forefront of many fans’ minds. Portugal opens play Wednesday against Congo DR in Houston.“I think in some instances they play better without him,” fan Zach Mallias said at the team’s first open World Cup practice at its Florida base camp. “There are other players that fit the system better.”Other fans are worried about the superstar’s ego and whether he would accept relinquishing the spotlight for the good of the team.“He’s a very big player, he’s very loved by a lot of his fans,” Beatrice Mitankin said. “It might get to his head.”There is some recent evidence, however, of Ronaldo still being able to positively influence games. During Portugal’s 2025 UEFA Nations League run, its second title triumph in that competition, he scored eight goals, including an equalizer in the final against Spain.Ronaldo also recently won his first Saudi Pro League title with Al-Nassr, leading his club with 28 goals on the season.His abundant experience and leadership are qualities some supporters say cannot be replicated.“He’s not going to shy away from those moments when it’s the World Cup on the line,” Rob Stickle said. “He’s one of those guys you want kicking the penalty kicks for you, being on the pitch at the end of the game.”Ronaldo, playing in a record-extending sixth World Cup, is the oldest outfield player in the tournament but still projects as Portugal’s starting striker.Although his age has repeatedly been called into question, fan Ernesto Vilar pointed to other examples of older players, like Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Croatia’s Luka Modrić, as veterans who still play significant roles for their team.“Age is just a number,” Vilar said. “He’s still in very peak physical condition.”His teammates and manager would concur.Midfielder Vitinha is still in awe over Ronaldo’s physique.“He’s 41. I’m 26, and I’m not like that,” the Paris Saint-Germain player said through a translator. “It’s something incredible.”Team manager Roberto Martínez has suggested Ronaldo could even appear at the 2030 World Cup, when he would be 45.Removed from the conversation about Ronaldo’s production and effectiveness, however, are a group of fans that will always idolize him: young children. Many showed up to watch Portugal practice.Elizabeth Stiebel, 10, says she admires how Ronaldo has always been there when his team needs a big moment.And 13-year-old Christian Loureiro, whose favorite Ronaldo moment is his overhead-kick goal against Juventus in 2018 while playing for Real Madrid, agrees the superstar forward is still a steadying voice.“A lot of young players on this team need an older figure to help guide them,” Loureiro said.__Zach Pascuzzi is a student in the University of Georgia’s Carmical Sports Media Institute.__AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

The Brendan Sorsby saga has elicited opinions from all corners of the college football world. Recently, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders weighed in on the situation and spoke to how uncomfortable it is for the sport.“Somebody’s gambling on a sport they’re playing? You don’t think something’s wrong with that?” Sanders told the Associated Press before the most recent ruling in the Sorsby case. “Just say that to yourself: This guy on my team is gambling on the sport, in the competition, that we’re about to go out there and have. Something’s wrong with that.”Sanders believes that the product on the field is largely the same, but the situation away from it has changed dramatically, and that has changed the way people behave.“The game is still the game,” Sanders said. “The game is just positioned differently. Money’s involved, and any time money’s involved people tend to migrate to what they think they can get out of it, instead of what they could put into it — and that’s unfortunate.”Colorado will host Texas Tech on October 3 in a game that Sorsby is currently eligible for.Contact/Follow @College_Wire on X and @College_Wires on Threads. Like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of college sports news, notes, and opinions.This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Deion Sanders addresses Brendan Sorsby gambling situation

New York City officials are ramping up preparations for Thursday's historic ticker-tape parade celebrating the Knicks NBA Championship win.Mayor Zohran Mamdani said city agencies have already been working behind the scenes to prepare for what is expected to be one of the largest celebrations in recent city history.He said they chose the day "in consultation with the Knicks organization" to ensure "players and their families will be here, I know there are some who may have wanted a quicker turnaround, we had want to make sure that everyone could bring everyone who meant something to them."Mamdani is encouraging fans to come as early as they possibly can.The mayor also showed off temporary signs that will go up for Thursday's ticker-tape parade for the Knicks, and said the event "may well be the largest parade in New York City history.""Part of the reason we're having this parade on Thursday is to ensure the players have enough time to bring their families, because they've been working their entire life for this," Mamdani said. "There will be performances, there will be New Yorkers, there will be the team, and there will be history."The ticker-tape parade is scheduled for Thursday at 10 a.m. The celebration will begin near Battery Park and travel north along Broadway through the Canyon of Heroes before ending at City Hall.Following the parade, Mamdani will host a championship celebration and Key to the City ceremony on City Hall Plaza.The event is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of fans, making security and crowd management a major focus for city officials in the days leading up to the celebration."I know that there will be some that will be unable to be there, including students taking their Regents," Mamdani said.He said he can't cancel exams or otherwise give student excuses to skip them."My encouragement would be you should be taking the Regents, unlike my executive order for bedtime, this is something I cannot repeal," Mamdani said.Mamdani said he hopes there is no violence at the parade."I am hopeful of both the planning and the preparation we have put in place for Thursday as well, the nature of a parade at 10 a.m. in the morning is slightly different then the nature of impromptu celebration at midnight on a Saturday," Mamdani said.Fans have been celebrating since Saturday night's championship-clinching victory, with thousands gathering at watch parties and filling city streets after the Knicks captured their first title since 1973.The city has also announced plans to illuminate City Hall and several municipal buildings in blue and orange ahead of the celebration.Thursday's event will mark the first ticker-tape parade in Knicks franchise history.Parade. Thursday. Manhattan.— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) June 14, 2026 ----------* Get Eyewitness News Delivered* More New York City news* Send us a news tip* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts* Download our connected TV appSubmit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness NewsHave a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.

After three seasons at the helm of Northwest girls basketball, Vanessa Taylor has been dismissed from her head coaching role.The Raiders announced June 15 that they were in search of a new head coach, despite Taylor leading them to three consecutive trips to the LHSAA playoffs. According to Taylor, tensions within the program cause the two parties to part ways.“Some things happened during the season, and I decided to dismiss one of my assistant coaches and unfortunately, that coach is also the AAU coach of some of my players,” Taylor said. “Her and her fiancé persuaded a few of the parents that I didn’t know what I was doing.“In a meeting, it was said that they didn’t care about my record or being a hall of fame coach and that they felt I wasn’t doing things the way they thought it should be done. So with that said, the principal made the decision that she would take the program in another direction.”Taylor was recently inducted into the Louisiana High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame for the 2024-25 class following her decades-long coaching career. This past season, the Raiders ended with a 17-13 overall record, earning the No. 13 seed in the Division II Non-Select bracket. They beat Abbeville 44-40 in the first round before closing out the year with a second-round loss against eventual state champs, Wossman.During Taylor’s coaching career, which includes her time at North Central, she has amassed a 627-243 overall record. She has led her teams in the past to two LHSAA Class 1A state championships in 2015 and 2020 as well as three state-runner-up finishes. Taylor is also a 20-time District Coach of the Year and a 10-time St. Landry Parish Coach of the Year.With her departure from Northwest, Taylor isn’t sure yet if she’ll take up coaching for another program, but she hopes to have left the Raiders better than she found them.“They have a lot of awesome athletes at Northwest and some of them are willing to put the work in,” Taylor said. “I did work with a few girls who received what I was trying to teach and trying to do. But you still have some that I don’t know if they want to win championships because they just don’t want to put in the work.”The Daily Advertiser reached out to Northwest athletics for further comment, but has not received a response before press time.REQUIRED READING: Louisiana baseball transfer portal, who's in, who's out for 2027 rosterREQUIRED READING: Westgate football is looking for talent to translate to wins in 2026 seasonShannon Belt covers high school sports and the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow her high school and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ShannonBelt3. Got questions regarding HS/UL athletics? Send them to Shannon Belt at sbelt@gannett.com.This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Northwest girls basketball dismisses hall of fame coach Vanessa Taylor

The 2026 U.S. Open begins on Thursday from Shinnecock Hills in New York and a familiar name is atop the oddsboard: World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.Scheffler is a +550 favorite to win the tournament and complete the career grand slam — and at several sportsbooks, he's the only golfer with single-digit odds. Rory McIlroy, the 2026 Masters champion, has the next-best odds at 11-1 at BetMGM, followed by Jon Rahm (12-1). Cameron Young and Xander Schauffele (20-1) lead the next group of players with odds of 20-1 or higher.While you can find the odds for every golfer right here, Scheffler is once again the pivot point for sportsbooks. Scheffler has the most wagers (15.2%) and total dollars wagered (27.2%) of any golfer at BetMGM, and currently represents the worst outcome for the book. It's the 15th straight major in which Scheffler will enter the tournament as either the outright favorite or co-favorite. Scheffler was an overwhelming favorite +275 favorite before last year’s U.S. Open.Young (20-1) has the second-most wagers, which has contributed to him being the third-biggest liability at the sportsbook. McIroy has the third-most wagers to win and is the second-worst result at BetMGM books.Matt Fitzpatrick, who has six top-10 finishes this season including a second-place finish over the weekend at the RBC Canadian Open, has seen a dramatic odds shift from an opening price of 100-1 to his current number at 22-1.Bettors also have the option to bet the field (-900) against Scheffler (+550). Scheffler hasn’t won a major since the 2025 Open Championship.

Josh Hokit is open to fighting Alex Pereira even though “Poatan” lost at the White House. Pereira (13-4) aimed to create history by challenging Ciryl Gane (14-2) for the interim heavyweight title at UFC Freedom 250 on Sunday at the White House. Pereira never got his momentum going before Gane hurt him early in the second round and followed up with a barrage of shots to secure the finish. Meanwhile, Hokit (10-0) earned a lopsided stoppage win in a heavyweight clash against Derrick Lewis (29-14) on the same card. Hokit was watching Pereira getting finished during a post-fight interview. With the new interim champion Gane expected to face the champ Tom Aspinall in a title unifier, Hokit is eyeing a clash against Pereira next.Targeting ‘Poatan’ “I think Pereira gained a little too much weight,” Hokit said in a post-fight interview with the UFC. “I think he weighed in at 251 [pounds], that’s not good. You’ve got to be light, something that you’re used to. Maybe he got caught up in the heavyweight mentality, where I’ve got to be big, got to be powerful. No, you’ve got to be still fast, whatever you’re comfortable with… Maybe Ciryl Gane fights Aspinall. I’ll fight Pereira still.” Hokit started an unprovoked feud with Pereira in the lead-up to the White House card. “The Incredible Hok” told Pereira, ‘I’ll Chama on your mama.’ “The Incredible Hok” used the derogatory phrase in front of Pereira at the fighter hotel and even in his post-fight interview after his win over Lewis. "It's a surreal moment."Josh Hokit (@Josh_HokitUFC) reflects on his knockout win over Derrick Lewis and what it means for him in the heavyweight title picture. [ #UFCWhiteHouse presented by @cryptocom & @ramtrucks ] pic.twitter.com/LjEoyH0r8S— UFC News (@UFCNews) June 15, 2026

The Atlanta Falcons have been quiet regarding edge rusher James Pearce's legal troubles, but they received a positive update ahead of this week's mandatory minicamp. According to NFL insiders Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport, Pearce is in Flowery Branch and expected to participate."Atlanta Falcons defensive end James Pearce Jr. returned to the team’s Flowery Branch training facility today for the first time since being charged with aggravated battery and fleeing law enforcement on Feb. 7," wrote Schefter. "Pearce is expected to take part in this week’s mandatory minicamp, but he is not anticipated to address the media."The Falcons have taken a wait-and-see approach with Pearce, who was arrested over the offseason for stalking his ex-girlfriend.This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons: James Pearce to be present for minicamp

Team USA is gearing up for its second group stage match later this week versus Australia.The fan support is sky high following the United States' 4-1 win over Paraguay on Friday, June 12. And with Australia’s subsequent victory over Türkiye, the two sides’ matchup Friday, June 19 could very well determine who wins the group and seal one of the group’s two guaranteed knockout-round berths.Here’s everything you need to know about Team USA and its upcoming match with Australia:USA vs. Paraguay analysisNothing seemed to go wrong for the United States against Paraguay last Friday. The Americans took a 3-0 lead into halftime, highlighted by an early own goal from Paraguay and two strikes from U.S. forward Folarin Balogun. Though Balogun grew up in England, he was born in Brooklyn. The 24-year-old’s brace came in his first-ever World Cup match, a welcome sight for the squad.Star winger Christian Pulisic was kept out for the second half of the match after he was kicked in the left calf, but the U.S. still cruised to victory. Other starters were also subbed off later as the U.S. never led by fewer than two scores.For extra emphasis, Gio Reyna netted a nifty right-footed goal with just seconds left in the match to hand the U.S. the three-goal win.When is USA vs. Australia in World Cup?Date: Friday, June 19Time: 3 p.m.Channel: FOXThe U.S. will head to Seattle’s Lumen Field for its next game against Australia. It gets a full week off, which should give Pulisic enough time to recover from his injury. Both Pulisic and U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino mentioned that the decision to take him out against Paraguay was precautionary, and they hope it isn’t major.Australia won’t be a pushover, especially after beating Türkiye 2-0 last week. Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe scored for Australia in that game, while it weathered 28 shots from Türkiye and only had possession 37% of the time.If the U.S. wins, it’ll likely advance to the knockout rounds for the second straight World Cup. Its final group match will be against Türkiye on June 25 in Los Angeles.This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: USA soccer World Cup schedule. Date, time, TV channel vs Australia

Jon Jones has reasserted his status as MMA GOAT after Alex Pereira’s loss to Ciryl Gane at UFC White House. Pereira (13-4) looked to win a title in a third weight class when he challenged Gane (14-2) for the interim heavyweight title at UFC Freedom 250 on Sunday at the White House. However, Pereira barely landed any significant damage while Gane’s jab was on point from the opening bell. “Bon Gamin” hurt Pereira early in the second round and unleashed vicious damage on him on the ground before securing a standing technical knockout on the feet. Still the Best in His Own Mind Jones reacted to Pereira’s loss by wearing a necklace of a GOAT in a video posted on social media, signifying the greatest fighter of all time. Jones is currently having a fallout with the UFC since he was denied a spot on the White House card. While Jones retired last year, he started rallying for a spot on the card as soon as it was mentioned. When Jones missed out on a spot at UFC Freedom 250, Dana White said that he was never even considered. “Bones” lashed out at the UFC, hinting that they had been in negotiations. White had said that he would consider Pereira the GOAT if he defeated Gane at the White House. Meanwhile, Gane, who lost to Jones in 2023, recently hailed “Bones” as the GOAT. View this post on InstagramA post shared by Jonny Meat (@jonnybones)

Once a week, I run through the rest-of-season rankings for fantasy baseball. Use them for a fresh draft, use them for self-scouting, use them to evaluate trades and pickups. It's all up to you.UpgradesJames Wood, OF, Nationals: If he can trim his strikeouts a bit, he can be another Yordan Alvarez. Wood covers the entire zone, spits on borderline pitches and doesn't have a problem with left-handed pitching. And unlike Alvarez, he's also a menace on the bases. Wood also has more help than Alvarez these days, as the Nationals have been the best offense in baseball all year.Royce Lewis, 3B, Twins: He's back in the majors and apparently he means business, hitting .379/.424/.759 since his return eight games ago. The category juice is also flowing — he's homered three times in that span and stole a base Sunday. Lewis is also making good contact, with just four strikeouts over 33 plate appearances. I'm trying to stay open-minded here, with Lewis still just 27 and a former No. 1 overall pick.Logan Webb, SP, Giants: We try to be careful with pitcher injuries, but given that Webb hit the injured list in April with a knee problem, the rules are a little different. After all, it's not a shoulder, an elbow or a forearm. Webb's first turn back was a mess against San Diego (six runs) and then he had a choppy Coors Field start, but his last three turns have been vintage: 23 IP, 13 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 18 Ks. Welcome back, ace.Willson Contreras, 1B, Red Sox: Boston management gets criticized for a lot of things, and many of the critiques are legitimate (letting Kyle Harrison go so cheaply looks like a blunder). But the Contreras contract looks like a win, as the new cornerman is slashing .304/.396/.570 with 16 homers. He's been the expected smash in Fenway, where his OPS is a robust 1.059, though he also has eight homers on the road. This might be a career year at age 34.Stephen Kolek, SP, Royals: I realize it can be difficult to trust pitch-to-contact arms, and Kolek only strikes out 6.1 batters per nine. But he still succeeds because of a microscopic walk rate (1.8/9) and a tenable home run rate (less than one per game). Even if we don't take that pretty 2.68 ERA at face value, Kolek would still be a fantasy asset at his expected ERA of 3.41.DowngradesAustin Riley, 3B, Braves: The last two years, it's been injuries holding Riley back — a broken hand, hernia surgery. This year, he's been on the field but compromised, with slowing bat speed and difficulty against breaking pitches. His back-of-card stats represent what he's earned — his expected average is just .208, his expected slugging a puny .387. At some point, you have to let go of the name brand.Dansby Swanson, SS, Cubs: His bat speed has always been below average since those measurements entered the stat world, so that's not an explanation for his puzzling slump. Swanson still hits fastballs well but he's getting crushed on breaking pitches, and his hard-hit numbers are down even when he puts bat on ball. Swanson's contract and excellent defense keep him in the lineup, but he's going to be in the bottom of the order all season. Shortstop is a deep fantasy spot; in many of my leagues, Swanson is a free agent — and I'm not even considering a pickup.Cole Ragans, SP, Royals: He had another setback with his elbow last week, which resulted in more testing. And in one of my deeper mixed leagues, I had to sadly accept that I couldn't hold Ragans any longer. The Royals aren't really a contender this year, so there's no reason to rush Ragans back. And he hasn't pitched like an ace in two years, anyway.Chandler Simpson, OF, Rays: He's sold as a two-trick pony, a good average man who runs literally. Alas, he's in a .163 funk over the past 16 games, and hasn't attempted a steal over that period. Given that Simpson has zero power and mediocre run production to begin with, he's probably over-rostered in Yahoo leagues, still checking in at 56%. Let's get that number where it should be.Updated rest-of-season top-250 rankings (as of June 15)

Marquette wheelchair athlete Gianni Quintero was the winner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Piggly Wiggly high school athlete of the week poll from June 1-6.Quintero etched his name into the history book at the 2026 WIAA state track and field meet. The University of Illinois commit finished his career with state titles in three record-breaking heats in the wheelchair 400 (:56.92), 800 (1:54.75) and 1,600 (3:52.27). His career total of 11 individual state titles eclipsed fellow Hilltopper Joe Schubert (10) to make Quintero the most decorated wheelchair athlete in WIAA history.Quintero received 11,523 of 19,351 total votes cast.Arrowhead senior Payton Eicher was the runner-up in last week’s poll. Arrowhead became the first team in 15 years to win three straight WIAA Division 1 girls state team track titles and Eicher was one of the catalysts to that title charge. The Youngstown State commit was sensational, winning both the long jump (19-9) and the triple jump competitions (39-9.75). Eicher also ran a leg on Arrowhead's title-winning 400-meter relay team (:46.52) and finished fourth in the 100-meter final (:11.62).Other nominees last week included state team and Division 1 800-meter champion Jay Tally from Homestead, Waukesha West’s Cole Zielinski, who broke a six-decade-old record in the boys long jump competition, and D2 state boys tennis doubles champions Brady Latus and Finn Milleman from Catholic Memorial.You can make a nomination for a future player of the week by sending an email with statistics and context on an athlete’s performance to mwhitlow@gannett.com and zbellman@gannett.com. Do not send votes to these addresses.This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Marquette senior Gianni Quintero wins Piggly Wiggly athlete of the week

Dr. John Gartner, a medical professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and psychology expert, says that Donald Trump is in the worst health he has seen in his decades-long career. “In 40 years of clinical practice and almost 30 years of teaching psychiatric residents, I’ve never encountered a patient as sick as Donald Trump,” Dr. Gartner said on The Daily Beast’s podcast. “He’s so many standard deviations away from what we would normally consider normal, and that it’s coming to a head now is in his fantasies of being this military conqueror.” Related Trump’s lesbian niece explains president’s mental decline in just 4 words Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Raw Story notes that Trump has compared himself to military leaders such as Napoleon, Alexander the Great, and Julius Caesar in the past, despite never having served in the military. Dr. Gartner went on to say that he believes Trump is trying to prepare the country for nuclear war. “He’s setting us up. He is grooming us for nuclear war,” he said. “He wants to be the person who pushes the button first, because that would put him in history as the most powerfully destructive military leader in human history. And that is what he gets off on because of his sadism.” Earlier this year, Gartner pointed to signs that Trump’s mind is deteriorating “almost week over week.” “The rate of decline is accelerating,” Gartner said in an interview with iNews. “The main way to diagnose dementia is that we see a deterioration from someone’s own baseline in these four areas: language, memory, behavior, and psychomotor performance.” “That seems to have gotten dramatically worse recently. It may be related to the stroke I think he’s had on the left side of his body.” Last month, Gartner pointed out that Trump may be suffering from frontotemporal dementia, a type of dementia marked by disinhibition and poor judgment. “Not only can you make a valid diagnosis from a distance, you don’t even need to be a doctor,” Gartner said at the time. Trump’s speech has also been getting less coherent. He has frequent trouble staying finishing his thoughts, like when he said “I love the inflation” last week without explaining why. He has also shown an inability to follow conversations or remember what he’s talking about, like when he claimed last week that there are six states that are stealing people’s children in order to force them to transition, in response to a question about voting rights. Gartner, who has never examined Trump, also said that people should be aware of Trump’s possible personality disorder coming into play with his mental decline. “He actually gets incredible gratification from destroying things and hurting people and feeling powerful through that,” Gartner said on the podcast this weekend. “As he’s starting to have more and more problems at home, his poll numbers are in the toilet. The economy is in the toilet. He might lose both houses of Congress. If he does, what’s the one power he has that no one can assail? Even if we have both houses of Congress, he will still be the commander in chief, and he’s going to want to exercise that power in a way that makes him feel powerful.” Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Emergency personnel investigate the site of a plane crash at the Butler Memorial Airport in Butler, Mo., Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)2026-06-15T16:25:20Z BUTLER, Mo. (AP) — Several of the skydivers killed when their plane crashed moments after taking off from a Missouri airfield had jumped before and they belonged to a community with a unique bond, one friend said. The plane carrying a pilot and 11 passengers crashed in a field and burst into flames Sunday, killing all on board, authorities said.Some family members of those who died were at the airport to watch the jump and witnessed the crash, said Bates County Sheriff Chad Anderson.Kevin Payne, who had jumped with seven of the skydivers on the plane, said they were all different in almost every way, except that they were all brought together as a “sky family.”“There is a joy and peace and freedom to what we do. That’s what most people never understand,” Payne, of Parkville, Missouri, wrote in an email. “It’s not about the adrenaline. It’s about really flying together with your family in that brief, exquisite instant that people who live their lives on the ground will never understand.”While the exact cause of the crash won’t be clear for a year or more until the National Transportation Safety Board publishes its final report, weather did not appear to be a factor. Skydiving plane went down soon after taking offWitnesses say the plane was roughly 100 feet (30 meters) from the ground when it made an abrupt left turn before crashing.It appeared to be losing power, and the pilot may have been trying to reach a highway to land when the plane stalled and went down nose first, said Dennis Jacobs, acting airport manager of Butler Memorial Airport.The private plane was operated by Skydive Kansas City, he said. The crash site in the small town of Butler is roughly 65 miles (105 kilometers) south of Kansas City. Plane made multiple flights over the weekendThe Pacific Aerospace 750XL — a single engine turboprop plane — is a popular model in skydiving because it’s designed for the sport and can quickly take parachutists to jumping altitudes while using short runways.This particular plane, which was built in 2010, had made nine successful flights in the days before the crash, including two on Sunday morning, according to FlightAware, a digital flight tracking company. Read More Red flags raised about skydiving oversightFederal investigators have voiced concerns about weak oversight for skydiving operators in past crash investigations, citing the need for stronger aircraft inspections. The NTSB said after a crash killed 11 people in Hawaii that the Federal Aviation Administration’s regulatory system isn’t strong enough to ensure the safety of skydiving flights.The United States Parachute Association, the sport’s governing body, said in a statement after Sunday’s crash that “a loss of this magnitude is felt profoundly across the entire sport.”The group said Skydive Kansas City adheres to the safety standards set by the largest skydiving organization in the world, including all maintenance requirements established by the FAA. The skydiving industry says it has a strong safety record. The association said that last year nearly 3.5 million jumps were completed and that 16 civilians died, the majority from human error. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. ___ Bussewitz reported from New York. Associated Press reporters Rebecca Boone in Boise, Idaho; Josh Funk in Omaha, Nebraska; and Hannah Fingerhut in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed. KRISTIN M. HALL Hall is an Associated Press video journalist based in Nashville, Tennessee. She helps lead the video report in the Mid-South region. CATHY BUSSEWITZ Bussewitz is a national business reporter for The Associated Press. She writes about the workplace, job issues and wellness. twitter mailto

This Aug. 13, 2020 file photo shows a logo for Roku on a remote control in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, file)2026-06-15T11:30:25Z Fox Corp. has agreed to buy the streaming pioneer Roku in a cash-and-stock deal valued at approximately $22 billion, including debt. Roku will continue to be run as an open, partner-friendly platform, the companies said Monday, and there appears to be no immediate changes that customers will see. Fox and Roku said that the combined company will become the third-largest player in U.S. television by share of viewing.Media reports had surfaced on Friday that Roku was looking at its strategic options, including a possible sale. Speculation was rampant as to which companies might be interested in an acquisition. Aside from Fox, names being tossed about as potential buyers included Netflix, Amazon, Comcast and Disney. The deal will give Fox access to more than 100 million global households, along with the Roku channel and its first-party data. Fox oversees a massive sports, news and entertainment network, as well as Tubi, which it acquired in 2020. Roku founder Anthony Wood had initially worked within Netflix in the early 2000s as that company attempted to make the seismic shift from renting DVDs, to streaming. Roku was spun off by Netflix, however, and the company released its first set-top box in 2008.Wood, who is Roku’s chairman and CEO, said his motivation in pursuing the technology was his desire to record and play his favorite show, “Star Trek.”Fox Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch said in a statement that combining the businesses will bring together Fox’s live news and sports content with a streaming platform with large viewership. It will also give Fox more exposure to advertising and streaming subscriptions. Read More “The combination with FOX is an extraordinary opportunity to accelerate our vision, scale faster and innovate more aggressively for viewers, partners and advertisers,” Wood said in prepared remarks.Wood will have an ongoing role at the company and will join the Fox board of directors after the transaction closes. Murdoch said during a conference call that the combined company will be better positioned for the next decade of video than either company would’ve been alone. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. “We are confident this is the right transaction, at the right moment, for all the right reasons,” he said. Fox will pay $96 in cash and 0.9693 shares of its Class A common stock for each Roku Class A and Class B share outstanding. The transaction is valued at $160 per Roku share.Existing Fox shareholders are expected to own approximately 73% of the combined company and Roku shareholders will own about 27%, once the deal closes. The deal is expected to close in the first half of next year. It still needs approval from Fox and Roku shareholders and also regulatory approval.Fox’s shares tumbled 16% Monday and Roku declined slightly.

Editor’s note: We’ll count down the top 10 Commanders players on the 2026 roster regardless of position sporadically over the next few weeks. Before we get to it, here’s how we arrived at the ranking: Our Scott Bair, Scott Jennings and Mark Tyler compiled a top 13 – no ranking was identical — with points assigned to each ranking slot from all three lists. We used these point values to form a consensus top 10 ranking. We’ll write a story on each member of the top 10 and another on others receiving votes at the end. Plus, Mark will probably have a Tyler’s Take with his thoughts. You’ll surely object to some of these rankings, though debate is kind of the point with lists like this. Today we focus on No. 7: Protecting Jayden Daniels by improving the offensive line has been a priority for general manager Adam Peters. The Commanders invested a lot of resources into the OL, and that included locking up one of their own early.Our top 10: Leo Chenal | Chig Okonwko | Nick CrossSam Cosmi was a second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, starting his career at right tackle. After an injury during his second season, Cosmi started playing right guard, and has been at the position ever since. He was one of former head coach/general manager Ron Rivera’s successful draft picks, and he was the first big-money extension that Peters gave out after he got the job in 2024.Why Sam Cosmi is ranked No. 7 There was a wide range for Sam Cosmi, with him not appearing on one of the ranker’s lists. That’s why he’s at No. 7, which, honestly, might be too low. Cosmi is a key part of the Commanders line, and he strengthens everyone around him when he is healthy and playing. He has been a Pro Bowl-level guard, and at only 27, still has years to play for the Commanders.What he has done Cosmi has been a fixture on the offensive line, and his presence was missed at the beginning and end of last season. He has worked with veterans and young players, and he’s been a positive influence on rookie right tackle Josh Conerly. Cosmi started out as a right tackle himself, and has had good communication with them since sliding over to guard. He hasn’t been voted to a Pro Bowl yet, but his play this season could get him his first.Defense & Fumbles TableDef InterceptionsFumblesTacklesSeasonAgeTeamLgPosGGSIntYdsIntTDLngPDFFFmbFRYdsFRTDSkCombSoloAstTFLQBHitsSftyAVAwards202122WASNFLRT9900000001000.00000004202223WASNFLRT14600000000000.00000003202324WASNFLT171700000000000.00000008202425WASNFLRG171700000000000.00000009202526WASNFLOL9900000000000.000000045 Yrs665800000001000.00000002817 Game Avg171500000000000.00000006Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original TableGenerated 6/15/2026.What he’ll do next The Washington Commanders hit the reset button on offense and defense after last season, moving on from both of their coordinators, along with other changes to the coaching staff. Those changes move down to the players as the coaches start to tailor the roster to their new visions for the team.David Blough took over the offense for former OC Kliff Kingsbury, and Sam Cosmi is expected to be a key piece of the offensive line going forward. The line will look different with Nick Allegretti likely taking over at center, and the battle between Brandon Coleman and Chris Paul continuing at LG. Cosmi will continue working next to Josh Conerly Jr, who didn’t miss a snap during his rookie season at right tackle. Laremy Tunsil got his new deal, and will step back into his starting left tackle role.Cosmi is under contract through the 2028 season, but his deal doesn’t have any guaranteed money on it for the final two years. He could be a candidate for a contract restructure/extension after this season if he stays relatively healthy and continues his solid play. Cosmi remains one of the young players on the team with a solid future in front of them.Disappointing season last year for the Commanders.I asked Sam Cosmi if he has noticed a different focus and energy for this upcoming season.Cosmi said, "there's a little bit more fire under our ass. The intensity has definitely ramped up for sure" pic.twitter.com/N4CZCKAW6l— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) May 27, 2026

The Big 12 stages its conference championship in Dallas (sort of). Dallas will be the site of another significant Big 12 skirmish.Via Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports, the conference has sued Texas Tech and various individuals (including Texas attorney general Ken Paxton, but not quarterback Brendan Sorsby) seeking a declaratory judgment and an injunction regarding the Big 12's ability to sanction Texas Tech if it uses Sorsby in a game.The 47-page complaint, which mentions gambling controversies from the Black Sox scandal to Pete Rose and beyond, was filed in federal district court in Dallas. The lawsuit attempts to differentiate the lawsuit filed by Sorsby against the NCAA, treating the application of Big 12 bylaws as a separate issue from the application of NCAA bylaws.As a practical matter, the Big 12 won the race to the courthouse — if Sorsby and/or Texas Tech were considering expanding the existing litigation in Lubbock County for the purposes of preventing the Big 12 from taking its own action as to Sorsby. (Don't be surprised if that's the next move.)A federal judge will be less influenced by the localized pressure that applies to state-court judges. In Sorsby's case, however, the local judge with Texas Tech ties stepped aside. The case was decided by a retired judge from a different county.Still, federal court judges have a lifetime appointment, freeing them completely from the political realities that apply in state court.The Big 12 lawsuit specifically seeks a declaration protecting the conference's ability to enforce its bylaws regarding gambling, a declaration that imposing such sanctions does not violate federal antitrust laws, a declaration that Paxton's threatened litigation against the Big 12 violates the Commerce Clause, and an injunction preventing Texas Tech, Paxton, and the other defendants "from seeking to deter, coerce, prevent, or punish the Big 12 for exercising its rights under its Bylaws to sanction" Texas Tech, if the school uses Sorsby in a game.The lawsuit puts back on the table the possibility of Sorsby accepting his ineligibility, withdrawing his lawsuit, and entering the supplemental draft. With a June 22 deadline looming, Sorsby could miss the window to jump to the NFL — and Texas Tech could lose the new lawsuit, which could (and likely would) prevent Sorsby from playing college football in 2026.He'll need to make an objective, clear-eyed assessment of the risks, and he'll need to make a decision by next Monday as to whether he'll apply for the supplemental draft.

🚨 Tunisia sack their manager in the middle of the World Cup!Thunderclap at the World Cup!Shockwaves at the World Cup! Just a few hours after the heavy 5-1 defeat to Sweden in their opening World Cup match, the Tunisian Football Federation decided to relieve Sabri Lamouchi of his duties!Appointed head of the Tunisian national team after a failed AFCON campaign under Sami Trabelsi, the former French international was unable to get the Eagles of Carthage back on track.Tunisia had already endured a very difficult build-up, with defeats to Austria (1-0) and Belgium (5-1), and this loss, the heaviest in its World Cup history, was the final blow for the coach. Wahbi Khazri is expected to take over on an interim basis until the end of the World Cup. As a reminder, Tunisia still faces a very tough schedule, with Japan and the Netherlands still to come.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.

In-state recruit Dayon Cooper has committed to Tennessee football, he announced on social media on June 15 with a shared Instragram post.Cooper was initially committed to Florida State before reopening his recruitment on June 14.Cooper is a three-star athlete in the 247Sports Composite and is the No. 22 overall player in Tennessee. The South Pittsburg star played all over the field and was named Mr. Football in Class 1A. The 6-foot-1 athlete had 1,252 total yards on offense with 17 touchdowns and recorded 35 tackles on defense.View this post on Instagram

French Open runner-up Flavio Cobolli was beaten by Frances Tiafoe in Halle on Monday in his first match since losing the French Open final to Alexander Zverev just over a week ago.The US's Tiafoe won 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) in western Germany as the sixth seeded Italian failed to get going in the Wimbledon grass warm-up.Second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada - who lost to Cobolli in the last eight in Paris - fared better this time, beating Nuno Borges 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.German top seed Zverev enters the singles fray in Halle on Tuesday in his first solo outing since his maiden Grand Slam triumph. He takes on Czech Vit Kopriva.Zverev has already taken to the Halle courts though and won his doubles opener alongside Brazilian Marcelo Melo. They got past Alexander Bublik and Zizou Bergs 6-4, 6-7 (4-7), 10-5 in a match tie-break.Fellow German Daniel Altmaier outduelled Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili in his singles first-round match and there were also wins for Learner Tien and Terence Atmane.Wimbledon starts on June 29.

The administration’s war on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) has now come for the Department of Veterans Affairs, and it could mean the end of specialized LGBTQ+ programs at the VA. A new internal memo reportedly instructs the VA to remove LGBTQ+ labels from staff and services in a way that will negatively impact resources previously provided specifically for LGBTQ+ veterans. According to The Advocate, which obtained a copy of the memo, it declares that “VHA [Veterans Health Administration] must eliminate all DEI/DEIA programs, gender-identity-based and gender-ideology-based initiatives, and any activities, internal or external, that promote gender identity or gender ideology.” Related The VA is limiting breast cancer care because of Donald Trump Under the new policies laid out in the memo, there are fears that programs focused on LGBTQ+ veterans, such as PRIDE in All Who Served and CBT PRISM, will have to be shut down. “People are worried this will mean loss of programming and services that are uniquely designed for LGBTQ+ veterans,” one unnamed VA medical provider told The Advocate. Those programs are particularly important given that, as VHA’s own documents note, “LGBTQ+ Veterans expect to experience discrimination in VA medical facilities which may impair their engagement in care.” These programs are labeled as being for LGBTQ+ veterans and were part of an effort to overcome the disparities in LGBTQ+ veterans’ healthcare. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The memo was signed on June 12 by the Veterans Health Administration Under Secretary for Health John J. Bartrum. It represents a further push from the administration to pressure departments to comply with the president’s 2025 executive orders against DEI programs and legal recognition of trans and gender diverse people. Much like the administration’s other attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, it relies on a threat to federal funding, insisting federal dollars not be used to cover “facilities, staff time, training, promotional materials, and other government resources may not be used for activities that promote what the administration characterizes as ‘gender ideology’ or ‘gender identity,’” The Advocate reports. While the memo claims that veterans will still be served in return for their service to their country and that programs that were established by Congressional approval won’t be discontinued, those programs are unlikely to be able to function without acknowledging that they were designed for LGBTQ+ veterans. The VA’s LGBTQ+ Veteran Care Coordinators were established as part of a 2016 program intended to address the elevated health risks that LGBTQ+ veterans faced, but those coordinators will now just be called Veteran Care Coordinators. A part of the efficacy of these programs is in making LGBTQ+ veterans feel at home, challenging past discriminatory practices, and advertising that it is a welcoming environment. Under this policy, those signs will be removed, and even if the programs keep running, there is likely to be a drop in participation by LGBTQ+ veterans. This move is only the latest in a series of challenges the VA has faced from this administration. Last year, they were forced to end trans and intersex care directives, were prevented from referring trans veterans to private gender-affirming care providers, and told employees they could not wear rainbow items while at work. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

A person stands in shallow water as cargo and commercial vessels are anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Monday, June 8, 2026. (Amirhosein Khorgooi/ISNA via AP)2026-06-15T16:44:43Z FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The tentative agreement to end the war in Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz would be good news for the global economy. But even as the price of oil dropped Monday, many questions remained about when and how it would start flowing again through the world’s most vital artery for energy shipments.Before the war, the strait carried a fifth of the world’s crude oil. Now, it will take time for hundreds of ships trapped in the Persian Gulf to exit through the narrow strait. And Gulf oil producers that throttled back production will need time to get the oil moving again. Analysts also say ship captains may take their time to decide if passage is safe and that the threat of attack from Iran has truly receded.All told, oil prices, inflation and energy flows simply won’t see an immediate return to what they were before the war — not for weeks or even months. And that’s assuming the deal, set to be signed Friday, proves durable. Details hadn’t been released. When will oil start moving again? Even if the Strait is completely open, it will take time for tankers to enter, load, and make the journey to Asian countries — the chief customers for Gulf oil from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Oman. A trip to Japan and back can take 45 to 50 days. Captains, insurers and owners may take their time in attempting passage, given the volatile situation.“Operationally, the sector is not rushing back,” wrote Richard Meade, editor-in-chief of shipping data and analysis company Lloyd’s List, noting that many warn mine clearance and a return to use of the internationally recognized transit lanes “are prerequisites for safe navigation. ” Ships have been trickling out through an Iranian-run vetting lane in the north of the strait, while others have slipped out with lights and location systems turned off under U.S. forces’ guidance in a southern passage along the coast of Oman. Iran had threatened to attack ships using the internationally established mid-strait transit lanes that keep inbound and outbound ships out of each other’s way. Read More Some 500 commercial vessels remain in the Persian Gulf, according to maritime and energy intelligence firm Kpler, and they can’t all leave through the narrow strait at once. Amena Bakr, head of Middle East energy and OPEC+ insights at Kpler, estimated that clearing mines would take six months, vessels leaving and returning to reload two to three months, and restarting production in some countries to prewar levels another three months. What does an ‘open’ strait mean? It’s not clear that the US and Iran have agreed Iran has demanded the right to collect money from ships using the strait, and in some cases has already exacted payment to let ships leave. Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social that the deal involved a “toll free opening,” but there’s been no confirmation from Iran. The period between the deal’s announcement and signing “gives both sides scope for issuing conflicting statements on the agreement, especially on the extent to which Iran will manage traffic and demand fees,” said Torbjorn Soltvedt, principal Middle East analyst at risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. Paying tolls would present a quandary for ship owners, since the U.S. and EU have designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization, and the U.S. Treasury has sanctioned the entity Iran has announced to run its collections. Unless those sanctions are modified, paying exposes shippers and banks to sanctions. Legal experts say allowing Iran to control passage would violate international law on freedom of navigation as set down in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which requires countries to permit peaceful passage through territorial waters. The strait’s waters are shared by Iran to the north and Oman to the south.Oil producers need time to get operations underway again, tooSome producers in the Middle East paused extracting oil from the ground, known as a shut-in, when they ran out of storage space. Restarting those operations can be a slow process. Countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which were able to export some oil through alternate pipelines or routes besides the Strait of Hormuz, may be among the quickest to resume production, said Alan Gelder, senior vice president of refining, chemicals and oil markets at Wood Mackenzie, an analytics firm. “Places like Iraq could be much more challenged because they’ve had a much bigger shut-in, their fields are more difficult ... it may well take about a year before they get back,” he said.Claudio Galimberti, chief economist at Rystad Energy, noted in an emailed comment that “sentiment has clearly improved. But sentiment is not the same as supply.”“It will take time for production to ramp back up, for logistics to normalize, and for the risk premium embedded in crude prices to dissipate,” he said in an emailed comment. Countries won’t restart until they know there is a durably open strait and that a ceasefire will last more than 30 or 60 days, said Daniel Sternoff, senior fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University.Economists at Capital Economics estimate that energy flows would reach 80% of prewar levels by September. Inflation will not drop immediately Even if the deal reopens the strait immediately, that will not immediately send inflation lower, economists say. Inflation is ”set to stay above target in most major economies throughout this year and the first half of next, even as growth remains relatively weak,” said Neil Shearing, group chief economist at Capital Economics. Inflation could even rise when government measures aimed at easing the energy shock expire, Joachim Nagel, the head of Germany’s Bundesbank central bank said in a speech Monday. That includes Germany’s temporary lowering of fuel taxes by 17 euro cents per liter, which runs through June 30. “It will take months for the oil supply to return to normal,” Nagel said. CATHY BUSSEWITZ Bussewitz is a national business reporter for The Associated Press. She writes about the workplace, job issues and wellness. twitter mailto

The company’s shares jumped on Monday, and executives announced that they had raised even more money in an already record-breaking initial offering.

Elon Musk built a huge complex outside the city of Bastrop, population 14,000. Its residents now wonder what the historic SpaceX initial public offering might mean for them.

The states can hold guilty parties responsible when the federal government will not.

With the NBA offseason finally here, talk will shift to player movement, and there is no bigger name on the market than the one who had a hand in making player movement such a big part of the league: LeBron James.Let's break down the top small forwards in this year's free agent market, including one of the all-time greats.(Note: Positions are determined off Basketball-Reference's positional breakdowns, meaning a player will be listed at the position in which he played the most minutes.)Free-agent position rankings: Point guards | Shooting guards1. LeBron James, Los Angeles LakersStatus: Unrestricted free agent We still don't know if James has interest in returning to the Lakers, or if he has a wandering eye toward greener pastures. Regardless, the fact that he's 41 and is clearly in physical decline could suggest we've seen the last of him being on the receiving end of a max contract. That doesn't mean he doesn't still hold value. It simply means he's not what he used to be, and the fit will have to make sense as the roster will need to be tailored around him. What makes sense: This man is 41 and still averaging over 20/5/5 in the NBA. Nothing makes sense. The Golden State Warriors would be an interesting landing spot. 2. Andrew Wiggins, Miami HeatStatus: Player optionValue of option: $30.1 millionThe 31-year-old wing might not be an All-Star, but he can score at a fairly high level, remains a solid defender and moves the ball well within a team scheme. Furthermore, Wiggins has improved as a shooter, to the point he's far more comfortable spotting up when fed by others. The fact that Wiggins can also swing between off-guard, the wing and even play the four allows him to be a multifaceted player who can help most teams. What makes sense: Turning down over $30 million isn't easy, but at 31, now might be the best time for him to lock up something long term if he wants to squeeze out one last big contract in his career. Would a three-year, $75 million deal be enough? 3. Peyton Watson, Denver Nuggets Status: Restricted free agentWatson broke out for Denver this season and will likely command a hefty paycheck, seeing as he's one of the premier young two-way wings in the NBA. He hit 41.1% from 3-point range and guarded everyone from off-guards to centers.Young teams will undoubtedly have interest in Watson, and with Denver being an expensive team, it could lose him. What makes sense: Denver would love to retain Watson, but would likely have to make moves to free up the money. There's a chance he plays elsewhere next season. 4. Tari Eason, Houston Rockets Status: Restricted free agentEason might be one of the few RFA's an outside team can pry away, seeing as he's likely to become almost too rich for Houston, which is already paying Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. Eason is an energetic wing who can play both forward spots, has 3-point range, rebounds at a high level and can run in transition. He could be gold for the right team.What makes sense: It'd be surprising to see Eason accept less than $20 million per year, yet it'd be especially surprising to see him earn that from the Rockets, unless they plan to move him later. It's a tricky balance. 5. Julian Champagnie, San Antonio Spurs Status: Team optionValue of option: $3 million After starting 68 games this season, Champagnie holds enormous value for the Spurs as a 3&D wing who can slide both up and down the position scale. He'll be 25 when next season tips off, which means he'll likely look to sign through his prime years if the Spurs decline his option with the idea of giving him a raise. They almost assuredly won't risk losing him in free agency. What makes sense: Champagnie is extension-eligible, and a deal averaging between $15 million-18 million per year sounds realistic. Best of the rest6. Bennedict Mathurin, Los Angeles ClippersStatus: Restricted free agentA high-scoring guard with solid rebounding skills who can get to the line with ease is a rare find, especially when said player is only 23 years old. Mathurin will have a market, but the Clippers have the ultimate control.7. Kelly Oubre Jr., Philadelphia 76ersStatus: Unrestricted free agent While he's never been a featured player, Oubre has been solid for a good while now. The 30-year-old has averaged 16 points over his past eight seasons and is usually reliable as a slasher and spontaneous playmaker.8. Ziaire Williams, Brooklyn NetsStatus: Team optionValue of option: $6.2 millionThe 24-year-old has put together two solid seasons. He's a solid shooter and good defender, but his rebounding leaves a lot to be desired. If a team believes he can be worth more than this option, that's a win for him. However, expect a similar level of compensation. 9. Leonard Miller, Chicago BullsStatus: Team optionValue of option: $2.4 million Miller had a tremendous run for the Bulls after landing there from Minnesota before the deadline, which almost assuredly means they'll pick up his option, and he'll find himself on this list again next year.

Ayyoub Bouaddi: Arsenal and Liverpool strike first for Man United targetManchester United are running out of time to strike a deal for Ayyoub Bouaddi as Premier League rivals Arsenal and Liverpool storm ahead in the race for the 18-year-old midfielder, according to new reports.Moroccan MaestroBouaddi is widely considered one of the premier prospects in Europe after a superb campaign at the heart of LOSC Lille’s midfield. Despite beginning last season as a 17-year-old, he is already demonstrating an appetite for the game – both on and off the ball – which belies his age.Bouaddi possesses a 6’1″ frame and an unrelenting engine, racking up the fourth-most minutes out of any teenager in Europe’s top five leagues. But these hard yards are matched by high-level technique as well, with the French-born youngster – who only officially switched his allegiance to Morocco last month – excellent at evading the press and quick interchange.All of this “elite” skillset was on full display in Morocco’s opening match of the World Cup against Brazil, which finished 1-1 despite the Atlas Lions dominating large parts.In the sweltering heat of New York, Bouaddi was the coolest player on the pitch, completely outplaying a Brazilian midfield unit containing both Casemiro and Bruno Guimaraes, with the former United star substituted at half-time by Carlo Ancelotti. It was the type of breakout performance on football’s grandest stage that announces an unknown talent to the world, though the Lille starlet has been firmly on the radar of top clubs for many years now – including the Red Devils.On the hunt for midfield reinforcements this summer, INEOS have identified Bouaddi as a “younger prospect” alongside Greek wonderkid Christos Mouzakitis, though West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes is understood to be the priority target after a £39 million deal was already struck for Ederson.However, the Moroccan maestro looks to be the most gifted midfielder of the bunch, as shown by Arsenal and Liverpool both accelerating their interest in recent weeks.United getting left behindA report relayed by The Peoples Person earlier this month revealed Arsenal had seen a £52m bid for Bouaddi rejected by Lille, though The Times claims the Gunners, fresh from their first English title in 22 years, have only opened talks with Bouaddi’s camp.However, Fabrizio Romano also states Liverpool have initiated contact with his agents, while Paris Saint-Germain “absolutely love” him as well. Lille are understood to prefer to sell abroad rather than to a direct rival, limiting the Ligue 1 and European champions’ chances, while club-to-club negotiations are yet to be formalised by either side.It is believed Les Dogues are content to wait until Morocco’s tournament has concluded, as their asking price will grow accordingly with Bouaddi’s burgeoning reputation in North America. A three-and-a-half-year contract signed in December only strengthens their negotiating position.When asked about his future by The Athletic, Bouaddi maturely responded: “For the moment, I am only focused on the World Cup and I cannot answer to this right now, Of course, I’m really happy to know that some clubs are interested in me. But, for now, I’m only focused on the World Cup with Morocco and we will try to give everything to do our best.”Final ThoughtsUnited maintain an excellent working relationship with Lille, having stolen a march on both Real Madrid and PSG to sign Leny Yoro for £52m in the summer of 2024. Old Trafford’s hierarchy will need to repeat this trick quickly and decisively if they are to fend off their domestic rivals to sign the French club’s next outstanding offering.Feature image Christof Koepsel via Getty Imagesonline pollsThe Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Nov 1, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian talks with quarterback Arch Manning (16) during a timeout in the second half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images With summer conditioning underway on the Forty Acres, SEC Media Days looming next month, and preseason camp set to start in August, the slow grind of the offseason is finally trending towards a college football season with big expectations for the Texas Longhorns.But it is still the offseason, and a Monday interview between Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and Kay Adams on the Up & Adams Show turned towards the future of redshirt junior quarterback Arch Manning, who will be draft eligible after the 2026 season with one year of eligibility remaining.Widely projected as one of the top picks in the 2027 NFL Draft — if not the top pick — Manning is expected to depart Austin to begin his professional career. Attaching a big caveat to the discussing, Sarkisian drew attention to his response in a burgeoning offseason trend.“We haven’t had the discussion, but I will tell you, I would not be surprised,” Sarkisian said of Manning’s potential return. “I think Arch really loves college football. I really do. I think he loves the University of Texas. He does pretty good through NIL, he’s got some pretty good endorsements going right now, which, which is a credit to him, and obviously the lineage of the last name and the brand of the University of Texas, all those things coming together.”In the era of NIL and revenue sharing, those opportunities are a game changer for keeping players in college, especially for Manning, who is arguably the most marketable player in the sport. “On the same token, I won’t be surprised if he declares and decides to go to the draft,” Sarkisian added.“I think some of that is dependent upon how we play as a team this fall, how he plays individually, knock on wood, injury-free football, things like that.”The other factor, given the Manning family history? The fit at the top of the draft with the franchises set to hold the top picks next year — Eli Manning famously forced a trade from the San Diego Chargers after he was taken with the top pick in the 2004 NFL Draft after Manning’s agent told the Chargers that the Ole Miss product wouldn’t play for them. The Chargers told him anyway, and ended up working out a trade with the New York Giants, where Manning spend all 16 years of his career and won two Super Bowls.As the draft order takes shape while Manning contemplates his decision, he’ll have the benefit of another season of eligibility to determine whether he has any remaining goals in college and whether any of the franchises with the top selection look appealing.But those actual considerations are months away, and Texas has a national title on its mind.“That’s not our focus — our focus is on getting ready for the season, getting ready for Texas State in Week 1, and then Ohio State, then UTSA, then Tennessee, so on and so forth,” Sarkisian said. “So we haven’t really had any dialogue about it, but to your point, I wouldn’t be surprised. He loves college, and again, he’s got some pretty good NIL stuff going for himself right now.”

Pierre Sage's first managerial stint came with Chambery in 2013 [Getty Images]Crystal Palace have appointed Lens manager Pierre Sage as their head coach on a three-year contract. The 47-year-old Frenchman replaces Oliver Glasner, who left the Eagles at the end of the 2025-26 season after two and a half years in charge.Sage joined Lens 12 months ago and became Ligue 1's manager of the year, leading Lens to a second-placed finish and the first Coupe de France triumph in the club's 120-year history.He previously spent 14 months as head coach of Lyon, initially on an interim basis, and guided them to Europa League qualification in 2024-25.Palace had been interested in former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, now at Liverpool, with Frank Lampard, Kieran McKenna, and Sean Dyche also reportedly in the mix.Sage has big shoes to fill after Glasner, who said in January he would leave Palace this summer, won three trophies during his time in south London.The Austrian led the Eagles to the first major trophy in their history - the FA Cup in 2025 - and followed up by winning the Community Shield and Conference League last season.Their European triumph means Palace will play Europa League football in Sage's debut campaign.He will be joined at the club by Jamal Alioui, his assistant coach at Lens. Existing Palace coaches Paddy McCarthy and Andy Quy will stay on as part of Sage's backroom staff.What can Palace fans expect from Sage?Sage's Lens side were built on aggressive pressing and a willingness to attack quickly once they won the ball back.The Opta numbers show a team intent on regaining possession high up the pitch. Lens made 426 high turnovers during the 2025-26 season, frequently turning those moments into chances - producing 69 shots and seven goals.The focus was not just on winning the ball, but on doing it in areas where they could immediately threaten. That approach shapes how they attacked.Lens produced 65 direct attacks and 55 fast breaks last season, highlighting a clear preference for moving forward at speed rather than recycling possession.Their overall profile reflects that trade-off.Lens averaged 51.9% possession in 2025-26 - but their game was less about long spells on the ball and more about what happened the moment they won it back.It speaks to a deliberate strategy, rather than a lack of control.The result was the clear identity of a side less concerned about dominating the ball and more focused on controlling games through pressure, regains and rapid transitions.Latest Crystal Palace news, analysis and fan viewsAsk about Crystal Palace - what do you want to know?

Calvin Johnson has held the NFL single-season receiving record for 14 years, but the former Detroit Lions receiver thinks it’s only “a matter of time” before someone breaks it.“If they go to 18 – well, should we say when they go to 18 games?” Johnson said at his fourth annual celebrity golf outing Monday, June 15, at The Cardinal at St. John's. “When they go to 18 games it’s no doubt about it. Hands down.”Johnson caught 122 passes for 1,964 yards in his historic 2012 season to break a record Jerry Rice held for 17 years.Both Johnson and Rice, who had 1,848 yards receiving in 1995 with the San Francisco 49ers, played 16-game schedules, and Johnson said he expected his record to fall when a string of challengers approached it immediately after the NFL went to 17 games in 2021.Cooper Kupp had 1,947 yards with the Los Angeles Rams in 2021, Justin Jefferson went for 1,809 yards in 2022, Tyreek Hill had 1,799 yards in 2023 and Jaxon Smith-Njigba had 1,793 yards last season.Kupp, Jefferson, Hill and Smith-Njigba rank second, sixth, seventh and eighth on the single-season receiving list, respectively.More: Lions' new reclamation project at DE? Ex-first-rounder Payton TurnerThe NFL could go to an 18-game regular season under the next collective bargaining agreement.“Cooper was close. I thought he was going to break it, honestly,” Johnson said. “But yeah, you never know. You got to have a good start. It’s hard to pick it up late in the season. You got to get off to a good start, you got to maintain that good pace and then you got to finish strong. I think that’s the key if you’re going to break the record, you got to start strong. You got to keep it up in the middle. You ain’t got to kill it in the middle, but you got to keep up that pace a little bit but you got to finish strong. You got to have a strong start and strong finish to the season in order to get that record.”More than the record itself, Johnson said he still cherishes the moment he broke it, when he handed the ball to his father, Calvin Johnson Sr., in celebration on the sideline and watched a congratulatory message from Rice play on the scoreboard at Ford Field.Johnson said he’ll send a similar message to whoever breaks his record, if he can’t attend the game in person. And of the receivers at the top of today’s game, he said he thinks Puka Nacua has the best chance to break his record and maybe reach 2,000 yards.“He’s still got Matthew [Stafford] so I think he’s got a shot,” Johnson said of his quarterback with the Lions in his 1,964-yard season. “If he stays healthy, that dude’s a killer out there. He’s a definite No. 1. Who else? Help me out.”Asked if he thought Jefferson still had a chance to pass it, Johnson said, “I thought he could have been one but they messed up his quarterback situation when they brought in my man from Michigan [J.J. McCarthy] when they had [Sam] Darnold just win them 14 games. I hate seeing people get fired but people get fired when stuff like that happens.”“He’s got the talent,” Johnson said of Jefferson. “What year is he in? Like six or seven? I mean, he needs to do it soon. He needs to do it soon, probably.”Johnson was 27 years old when he set the record, the same age Jefferson will be this season.Nacua, 25, is entering his fourth NFL season; Johnson didn’t set the record until Year 6.“That would be kind of dope [if Stafford helped Nacua break my record],” Johnson said. “I’d have to go to that game if he did that, cause I like Puka. He’s getting some crap out of his system that’s just a young guy, just learning, but I think he’s an awesome, dynamic receiver.”Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Calvin Johnson reflects on NFL receiving record, who can break it

The health secretary is trying to restart the work of a panel that advises the government on vaccines, after a judge froze its decisions and prevented it from meeting.

Administration officials have suggested suspending a legal principle that protects against unlawful detention, and struggled to accurately define it.

From the athletes to the Octagon Girls, the Freedom 250 Flag Day event was a fashion show in red, white and blue.

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 14: Ciryl Gane of France looks to strike Alex Pereira of Brazil in the Interim UFC Heavyweight Championship bout during UFC Freedom 250 at the White House on June 14, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images Tom Aspinall was not invited to the UFC White House event last weekend in Washington, DC, so the reigning UFC heavyweight champion watched the “Freedom 250” fight card from the comfort of his couch.Of particular interest was the heavyweight co-main event between Ciryl Gane and Alex Pereira, who were competing for the interim 265-pound strap and the chance to unify the division belts against Aspinall at some point later this year.Gane won by second-round technical knockout.“He looked good,” Aspinall said on his YouTube channel. “I have to watch that again. It looked like there was a lot of illegal elbows going on, illegal punches, but generally, he looked good. [Pereira] just didn’t really seem to get going, did he? He just looked like a bit stiff and reserved from the beginning. I don’t know if he was trying to feel his way into the fight or what, but he just never seemed to … he looked slow, but he’s not a particularly fast light heavyweight. Paris in September, right? I’ll do that. Yeah, I’ll do that. Let me know. I don’t mind. I’ll go to Paris. Let me know.”UFC returns to Paris on Sept. 5 at Accor Arena in France.Aspinall and Gane previously fought at UFC 321 last fall in Abu Dhabi, but the fight was ruled a “No Contest” after an eye poke from the Frenchman nearly left the Brit with permanent vision loss. Fortunately, Aspinall is on the road to a full recovery and will be ready to go in the fall.Assuming his new manager allows him to compete for chump change.

No sex during playoffs? Knicks’ Mikal Bridges addresses odd request by owner James Dolan originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Mikal Bridges is not done celebrating his first NBA championship after the New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in NBA Finals Game 5. He was recently live on Instagram and revealed a lot of behind-the-scenes things with his followers while being intoxicated. One of them was the famous "no sex" rule ordered by Knicks owner James Dolan for 10 weeks in the playoffs. The Knicks' owner asked players to avoid sexual activity during the playoffs, probably to center their attention on only one goal: Deliver New York their first NBA championship in 53 years.A couple of days after Bridges & Co. realized this dream, the Knicks' shooting guard recalled the now-viral "no sex" rule introduced by Dolan."He brought ni**as in, said 10 weeks don't have no sex, lock in -- ni**as are savage," Bridges said. "He could be a bigger savage if you build a practice living in the city, but he's still savage."Mikal addressing the 10 weeks no sex rule Dolan made 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/E0osLNpAIE— amandaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa (@outmycoma) June 15, 2026When reports about the same came out on the internet, many refrained from believing Dolan actually made those remarks. However, it seems, the rumor was true and Dolan, even jokingly, did demand players from engaging in sexual activity.MORE:Knicks’ Jalen Brunson sends message to Swifties amid Monica McNutt-Taylor Swift dramaJalen Brunson gets candid over Mikal Bridges' celebrations running wildMikal Bridges chose to open the bottle of tequila at 10 am this morning as he continues to celebrate the Knicks' NBA championship.Taking it further, Bridges went live on Instagram, opening the floor to several questions and congratulatory comments. However, Bridges may not remember them all.Fellow Knicks guard and NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson saw it and wrote the following on X:"Somebody take Mikal's phone."Somebody take Mikal’s phone— Jalen Brunson (@jalenbrunson1) June 15, 2026Bridges can enjoy this moment with all his heart. He was in the NBA Finals before with the Phoenix Suns some years back when Giannis Antetokounmpo's Milwaukee Bucks defeated them.More Knicks news:Jalen Brunson Game 5 performance: How Knicks star willed New York to first title in 53 years and became living legendOG Anunoby reveals who reached out after his instant Knicks classicPsychic says she contacted Willis Reed — and Knicks fans will love the messageKnicks' Game 4 get-in prices drop to near $3k hours before pivotal Spurs encounterVictor Wembanyama-Jalen Brunson controversy grows as Draymond Green brings Steph Curry into debate

Japanese fans had plenty to celebrate after their 2-2 draw with the Netherlands at the Dallas Stadium in Texas but once again they will make headlines for an incredible gesture after the full-time whistle of the World Cup 2026 clash. As usual in sporting events of this size, the stands of the stadium became littered with rubbish, such as food trays and empty drinks cups, but Japan’s supporters remained behind and cleaned up before departing the stadium. The Japanese have built up a reputation for respecting and tidying up football stadiums having been spotted doing so at the previous World Cups in Qatar (2022), Russia (2018) and even France all the way back in 1998.The fans have performed such duties, not just at World Cups, but at any event they attend even if their team are not playing or performing. In Japanese culture cite there is a proverb: "tatsu tori ato wo nigosazu" which, when translated into English, means "a bird that flies away never leaves dirt behind" meaning travellers should ensure their traces are not unsightly when they leave. Cleaning takes on a spiritual meaning for the Japanese as is explained here. It is also good manners for the Japanese to leave a place as they found it and to clean before they depart. Most supporters are taught these principles as children and take pride in sticking to them throughout their lives. In contrast to Western cultures, the Japanese see this as basic bahaviour and politeness and though it is a common enough practice in events featuring Japan, the gesture from the fans must again be praised and celebrated. On the pitch, Japan kicked off their World Cup campaign with a drawagainst the Netherlands having twice come from behind to rescue a point in Group H. Japan secured a draw against the Netherlands in Group F (Reuters)Virgil van Dijk opened the scoring in the second half before Keito Nakamura pulled Japane back level just six minutes later. Crysencio Summerville slotted the Dutch back in front but Daichi Kamada’s late goal ensured there is nothing to separate the teams in Group F. Yet former Tottenham boss and ITV pundit Ange Postecoglou, who has previously coached in the J1 League, was frustrated by the Japanese team and how they played saying: “It’s my frustration. “Everytime they went a goal down you saw the capabilities they have, [they were] a lot more positive on the ball. “The frustration for me is that they are capable of a lot more than what they showed today and they can be a lot braver than what they put out.”

South Pittsburg's quarterback Dayon Cooper (2) runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown against MASE during Class 1A Championship game on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Finley Stadium, in Chattanooga. | HELEN COMER/The Daily News Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Flip season is in full swing, and Tennessee continues to capitalize on momentum. The Volunteers landed DaYon Cooper on Monday, just one day after he decommitted from Florida State. Tennessee gave Cooper what he was looking for — a chance to play at receiver — which likely proved to be the difference here.Cooper also noted that his recruitment would be shutting down after his decision.Extremely blessed to announce my commitment to The University of Tennessee. My recruitment is now shut down as I prepare for my senior season at THE PITT!🍊🍊 #GBO#VFL@coachjoshheupel@CoachKelseyPope@CoachHalzle@CoachGMcGruder@SPHSPIRATES@SPCoachStone@jared5_59pic.twitter.com/48EUI5nBHt— Dayon“DAYDAY”Cooper⭐️ (@DayonCooper2027) June 15, 2026Cooper, a 3-star prospect, is out of South Pittsburgh, Tennessee. According to 247Sports, he’s the 515th ranked player in the class of 2027 and the 22nd ranked player in the state of Tennessee. Cooper totaled over 1,200 yards and 17 touchdowns last season as a junior. Analysts are split on Cooper, with some believing he could stick as a corner and others thinking he belongs as a slot receiver. From the sound of things, Tennessee thinks receiver is his answer. The 6-1, 183 pound prospect now commits to Tennessee with receivers coach Kelsey Pope serving as his main recruiter. Cooper, who also runs track and won Tennessee’s D-1 Mr. Football award last season, is coming off of his official visit to Knoxville this past weekend. He also took official visits to both Florida State and Oklahoma State. Cooper also held offers from Arkansas, Louisville, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt and several others. Cooper is Tennessee’s 16th commitment of the cycle. He joins 4-star receiver Kesean Bowman, who Cooper has competed against since he was a kid, in the class.View Link

GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) — The Czech Republic started its World Cup campaign by traveling from its base camp in Dallas across the border to Guadalajara in Mexico. The team is now back in Texas preparing for its next game in Atlanta. It will then return to Mexico for its third group match.Newcomer Curacao is expected to travel some 5,300 miles (8,600 kilometers) back-and-forth from its base in Florida to games in Houston, Kansas City and Philadelphia. Bosnia-Herzegovina will rack up nearly 5,200 miles (8,400 kilometers) across Canada and the U.S. while going from its base in Utah to games in Toronto, Los Angeles and Seattle. The biggest World Cup ever has brought some logistics challenges to the 48 teams in the tournament being played across three countries and four time zones.“We just have to live with it because that’s what others planned for us,” Czech Republic coach Miroslav Koubek said through a translator after a 2-1 loss to South Korea in Guadalajara last Thursday. “We're happy to be here and we want to have the best possible results. Our logistics behind the scenes is good, but of course it’s not ideal that we have to travel that much.”Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella said “this is the reality, we have to adapt.” His squad trains in Arizona, about 1,200 miles (1,930 kilometers) from Vancouver, where it opened with a 2-0 loss to Australia.“Of course after the match we’ll be back at 5 o’clock in the morning, and it’s not easy to recover, especially for people my age,” the 51-year-old Montella said through a translator ahead of the match. “After a night out you know it takes a few days to recover. America is big, Canada is very big. Mexico is big. We have to adapt. I know these things you can’t change. You can’t choose. You just have to adapt so you don’t have any excuses.”Host teams on the moveCanada's squad had to fly nearly five hours to cover the more than 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers) between Toronto and Vancouver after its opener. The U.S. team will travel nearly that distance in total while going back-and-forth between its training camp in Irvine, California, and its games in the Los Angeles area and Seattle. Mexico is expected to travel less than 600 miles (965 kilometers) within the country. The England team is set to travel the most among the main title contenders, having its camp in Kansas City and playing games in Dallas, Boston and New York. Spain will have to fly nearly four hours from its base in Atlanta to a match in Guadalajara.Argentina and France, the finalists at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, face fewer travel challenges. Argentina is based in Kansas City, where it will open its title defense before playing two matches in Dallas. France has its camp in Boston. It will play one game there and the other two in Philadelphia and New York. FIFA has long recognized the logistic challenges for the World Cup scattered across North America. It tried to separate teams in geographical clusters where they are based and where they will play most of their matches.Lengthy traveling was a non-issue at the previous World Cup in Qatar, which is roughly the size of Connecticut and is smaller than Switzerland. But teams faced similar travel challenges in 2018 in Russia and 2014 in Brazil.High altitude also a factorSouth Korea's squad doesn’t have to leave Mexico for its group matches, but does have to deal with the high altitude both in Mexico City (about 2,200 meters, 7,200 feet) and Guadalajara (about 1,500 meters, 4,900 feet).The South Koreans did specific training to adjust to the altitude, and coach Hong Myung-bo said it “helped a lot” but still wasn’t enough.“In the second half, I think we could see that everyone was very tired,” Hong said after his team’s come-from-behind win over the Czech Republic.Heat and humidity could also become an issue for many teams training and playing in U.S. cities such as Houston, Dallas, New York and Miami.Brazil forward Vinícius Júnior complained of the conditions after the 1-1 draw with Morocco on Saturday in East Rutherford, New Jersey.“Because of the weather, the heat, the field dries up too quickly and the game gets really stuck and we can’t have game rhythm. That makes it difficult for us because we want to play, we want to move the ball from side to side, and that gets in the way of our game,” he said. “But we’re going to have to adapt because I believe it’s going to be like that for the whole competition where everyone is going to have the same field of play.”___AP Sports Writer Anne M. Peterson contributed from Vancouver.___AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

*This article contains spoilers for Disclosure Day*Disclosure Day a perfectly entertaining, fun blockbuster movie built around the wildly flawed premise that the human race could be brought together by being shown blurry videos of aliens on primetime news programming—or that they would believe it at all.Its core delusional fantasy is not that aliens exist but that human beings would believe the disclosure of them as real, or be moved by their suffering. We live in a cynical age where people believe nothing, where AI videos abound, and empathy is derided by people in power as a destructive force in civilization. Steven Spielberg’s latest summer blockbuster asks the audience to believe a better world is possible.It’s a premise that feels hopelessly naive in 2026 and Disclosure Day ends up feeling like a film calibrated for viewers who believe in the power of Rachel Maddow to change the world. It’s Aaron Sorkin’s Newsroom through a Spielberg lens, complete with a John Williams score.In UFO circles, the idea of “Disclosure” is a powerful one, the idea being that someday a whistleblower or the government will disclose the existence of either advanced technology or aliens to humankind. Imagining how humanity would react to disclosure is perfectly good fodder for a movie, and it’s also what the characters of Disclosure Day spend much of their time discussing. Can humanity handle the truth? Will learning that we’re not alone bring us together, shatter people’s faith in religion, or tear us apart? In the end, Spielberg imagines a world in which all of humanity credulously and serenely watches evidence of aliens. It’s this idea that people would believe these are real videos at all that feels so hopelessly out of touch with our current information ecosystem.“I will say that this film is more about humanity and people and community and the things that divide us and what could be occurring that possibly could bring us a little closer together,” Spielberg told The Daily. “Such as realizing that the thing that we need to preserve in our society more than anything else, which is something which I believe is as fragile as democracy, is empathy.”In the world of Disclosure Day, aliens crashed at Roswell, New Mexico in 1947 and the Pentagon and defense contractors have been covering up their existence as part of a vast conspiracy. The black vehicle driving bad guys exploit alien tech, torture the extraterrestrials, and keep the world in the dark.In the end, an Edward Snowden-type whistleblower and a Kansas City TV meteorologist band together to share footage of the aliens. In the fiction of the film, North Korea and the West are about to begin World War III, but the revelation of alien life stops all that.This being a movie, it’s OK to build a script around a false premise, but the ending sequence where the entire world stops to credulously watch videos of extraterrestrials—on cable news of all places—is so wildly implausible that it deserves to be deconstructed. Based on everything we have seen about human nature and trust in our information ecosystems, it feels so flawed that it undermines Spielberg’s entire point. We can say this because the public has been shown videos similar to the ones shown in Disclosure Day’s ending montage, and they have been met with a collective yawn, conspiracy theories, and the same news fatigue that accompanies other should-be world shifting occurrences. The only plausible response to videos of aliens on television, at this point, would be cries of “that’s AI,” “fake,” and propaganda flowing in all directions. Also funny: the cable news networks run the videos through some AI detector and determine that the videos are real; in practice, deepfake detectors are also AI tools that are often wrong or can be made to portray any narrative you want, depending on the detector.One does not really need to imagine the public response to the type of disclosure shown in Disclosure Day, we’ve already basically seen this play out in real life. Many of the videos shown in the movie are not dissimilar to the UFO videos we’ve gotten from the U.S. military; the tic-tac video in particular is obviously referenced in Disclosure Day. Other videos in the montage are similar to a hoaxed alien autopsy Fox aired in the 1990s and recently declassified Pentagon videos of floating orbs of light.The world didn’t stop then, and in an age in which no one believes anything they see, in which there is zero trust in cable news, and in which we are constantly being barraged with AI-generated video, the idea that even a miniscule percentage of the population would stop what they’re doing to take this disclosure seriously is laughable. Also laughable: That people would be able to instantly stream cable news on their phones without endless popups, ads, paywalls, geoblocking, etc. The idea that literally anything could capture the entire world’s undivided attention feels less realistic than anything else in the movie. Spielberg’s Disclosure Day imagines a utopian information environment and an internet that is not utterly poisoned with all the things we know it’s poisoned with, a noble thought. Spielberg has said in interviews that Disclosure Day was inspired by both Pentagon UFO disclosures and the testimonies of people who claim to have seen UFOs or extraterrestrials. It’s wild, then, that he seems to have not learned anything from the response to any of these videos. The government’s own UFO disclosures have been a mix of genuinely interesting information and videos buried under the not-even-veiled fact that most of these disclosures have been made to advocate for additional funding for the Pentagon, to sow Sinophobia, and have, like everything else, experienced diminishing returns as people see another UFO video and report and collectively say tl;dr.The film’s ending relies on an inciting incident that occurs before the film even begins that also strains credulity. Hacker turned defense contractor Daniel Keller is happy to run cyber operations for the UFO conspiracy until he watches a video of the US government torturing an alien. The audience sees only fleeting glimpses of the torture. The video is obscured and filmed at a bad angle, but we hear the screams of the alien and see the disgust on Kellner’s face. The movie asks us to believe this video of degradation and abuse made Kellner and several other hardened government contractors turn against the project.In the theater all we could think about at that moment was the Ukraine sledgehammer video. In 2022, the mercenary Wagner Group used a sledgehammer to execute a man. They filmed it and published it on Telegram. In the years after the killing, Wagner incorporated the sledgehammer into its brand. The mercenaries sold T-shirts and patches bearing the bloody hammer and the video of the man’s murder was mixed and remixed endlessly across Telegram.Right now humans have access to hundreds of hours of footage of torture and violence committed against other human beings. It’s hard to believe that video of an alien being opened up on camera would move people more than, say, ISIS beheading videos, videos of destruction and suffering in Gaza, or cartel execution footage.Again, the movie is a perfectly fun summer romp. Spielberg films a great action scene and Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, and Colin Firth turn in wonderful performances. But there’s a signature Spielberg naivety to the film that feels more out of touch than ever, the sense that an older generation does not understand the function of the internet, conspiracy, and the concept of truth in the modern world.

What Spain's shocking draw with Cape Verde means for World Cup Group H chances originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.In the country's first-ever World Cup game, Cape Verde made tournament history by drawing against Spain, one of the world's best national soccer teams.The second-smallest country in population and the smallest country by land size in the entire tournament just finished one of the most surprising World Cup games ever by stealing a point from a World Cup trophy threat. After the shocking result, many fans have been asking what this means for Spain's World Cup future. Just how dire is La Roja's next result against Saudi Arabia on Sunday?Here's the latest on Spain's World Cup knockout chances after the juggernauts tied with one of the smallest countries.2026 WORLD CUP HQ:Latest World Cup news | World Cup draw results | World Cup schedule | Buy World Cup ticketsWhat Spain's shocking draw with Cape Verde means for World Cup chancesDespite drawing Cape Verde on Monday afternoon, Spain is far from out of this year's World Cup. Both sides earned a point in a tie, so the effort was not completely lost for the Spanish super team.Heading into this match, Cape Verde was ranked No. 67 in the FIFA rankings. Spain, on the other hand, came into this tournament as the second-best team in the world. The result, rankings-wise, is one of the most shocking finishes in World Cup history. It is important to note that Spain lost their opening match of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa 1-0 to Switzerland, and went on to win every game after that en route to the country's first World Cup trophy.Spain will need to rebound greatly against Saudi Arabia (No. 61 in FIFA rankings) this upcoming Sunday, while Cape Verde looks to continue their Cinderella story against Uruguay (No. 16 in FIFA rankings) later that night.MORE WORLD CUP NEWS:Who are the highest-ranked teams in this year's World Cup?Ranking World Cup groups from hardest to easiest10 World Cup teams with best chance to winRanking 7 best matches of the World CupSpain World Cup scheduleSpain will have matches against Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay in the 2026 World Cup. Here is Spain's schedule against Group H at this year's tournament.DateTime (ET)MatchLocationJune 15—Spain 0-0 Cape VerdeMercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)June 2112 p.m.Spain vs. Saudi ArabiaMercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)June 268 p.m.Uruguay vs. SpainEstadio Akron (Guadalajara)World Cup Group H standingsWith one Group H match in the books so far, here is how the group has shaped up after the shocking draw.TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGDSpain11001000Cape Verde11001000Saudi Arabia00000000Uruguay00000000

Spain's Lamine Yamal mistake might've changed everything for World Cup favorites originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Spain played the first 70 minutes of its opening match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup without Lamine Yamal.The Spanish side likely assumed they'd be running away from Cape Verde by that point, and that whatever injury Yamal could be dealing with could heal a little more before he's called upon at this tournament.But at that point in time, it was 0-0, and so Yamal was brought on.He was electric in the final 20 minutes of the match, not quite creating a goal but looking by far the most dangerous man to have taken the pitch the entire day.It raised the simple question: What was Spain thinking?MORE: Cape Verde pulls off one of craziest results in World Cup historyHow Spain not starting Lamine Yamal could turn out to be a huge mistakeSpain will still expect to advance to the knockout stages and go deep into the tournament. They're still a favorite to win the entire World Cup.But points in the group stage matter, and instead of getting the 3 points for a win they would've expected, Spain instead got 1 point for a draw.Winning the group creates much easier matchups early in the knockout stages.Now, Spain may be in danger of finishing second in the group instead. If that happens, they're looking at a tougher road to the trophy.MORE: Cyle Larin proves all the cliches true for CanadaOf course, if Spain truly is the best team in the world, maybe that won't matter in the end.But as it turns out, all they needed on Monday was one goal. They couldn't even create that.An hour or more of Yamal surely would've made all the difference, and each step of this tournament journey matters.They took a big misstep against Cape Verde, in large part because they opted not to start the best young player on the planet.More FIFA World Cup news:Japan fans clean up the stadium after World Cup gamesLamine Yamal hanging out at a WalmartRef cams are making quite the fashion statementLawrence, Kansas has fallen in love with the Algerian national teamGermany fan Freddy is going viral for his journey through the American South

Shams Charania: Washington Wizards center Alex Sarr underwent surgery to repair a fractured right foot on Monday, sources tell ESPN. Sarr sustained the injury on a contact play during an offseason workout late last week. He is expected to be healthy for the start of the season.TwitterThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Alex Sarr undergoes surgery on fractured right foot

“We will be reaching out to Mitchell and his representatives to discuss potential opportunities to honor him,” reads a statement by the parish government on social media. “As well as coordinating with our partners at the St. Bernard Parish School Board and the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office to ensure everything is properly planned and organized.”Fox8Live.comThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “We will be reaching out to Mitchell and his …