Several right-wing groups sent a letter in September to Stephen Miller, a top aide to President Trump, urging greater scrutiny of the Southern Poverty Law Center.

The United States is putting together bags with a children’s book on so-called reverse racism, and with a document that defends the country’s founding on the basis of slavery.

President Trump has created an exception to his refugee ban for white South Africans, reshaping a program designed for people fleeing persecution and disaster.

The post Tesla Launches New Model Of Explosions appeared first on The Onion.

Thierry Henry has reversed his critical outlook on Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup 2026 performance by hailing a vital change in the 5-0 win over Uzbekistan. The former France international, a World Cup winner in 1998, took aim at the 41-year-old for a perceived selfish approach against DR Congo, with a run blocking a potential chance for Bruno Fernandes. “The team needs to score, not you need to score,” Henry previously said, but Ronaldo stood up in Houston with two goals and an assist to boost Portugal’s hopes of finishing top of Group K.And one particular moment impressed Henry, with Ronaldo stepping aside in the first half to allow Nuno Mendes to take a free-kick, with the Paris Saint-Germain left-back scoring to justify the decision.“It's so important, an offside position, if you cross to him, it can be a tap-in,” Henry said on Fox Sports. “Offside, then you make the team defend the box, then you arrive, not like the other day, he attacks the first post.Cristiano Ronaldo #7 of Portugal applauds fans after the team's 5-0 victory (Getty)“And score. It's what happens when you play like that. Look at him walking, Van Nistelrooy used to do that at Man United, to make sure when the ball comes you're in front of everyone, and maybe you can score, he didn't, but it's a great tactic.“If one thing I wanted to mention, I said, the team has to score, not you, I love what he did at the free-kick, yes, he surprised everybody, it's a team spirit guy, it's how you lead your team and you share. Well done. It's what I like to see, Ronaldo or my Dad.”

Rays trade cash or a player to Cardinals for 15.19 ERA righty reliever originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Tampa Bay Rays have had a knack for getting the most out of pitchers in recent years, and they're taking up a big challenge recently.While the Rays are 2.5 games back in the AL East, they're adding a right-handed reliever in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals.As the Cardinals announced, the Rays are sending cash or a player to be named later in exchange for 15.19 ERA right-handed reliever Chris Roycroft.Rays trade cash or a player to Cardinals for Chris Roycroft"We have traded RHP Chris Roycroft to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for a player to be named later or future considerations," the Cardinals announced.This roster move from the Rays is an interesting one, as Roycroft was recently designated for assignment by the Cardinals, and the Rays are now swooping in nearly a week later to land the right-handed reliever.Roycroft is 29 years old, and in 5.1 innings of work this season, he has a 15.19 ERA with four strikeouts and a ridiculously high 3.94 WHIP.MORE: Red Sox looking likely to trade Aroldis Chapman, Sonny Gray, Jarren Duran, and Willson ContrerasIn his MLB career, he has a 6.41 ERA in 60.1 innings pitched, with his best season coming in 2024 when he posted a 4.19 ERA in 27 appearances for the Cardinals.In Triple-A this season, he had a 5.84 ERA in 23 games, and he had a 4.82 ERA in 35 games the year prior. But, back in 2024, his best season by far, he posted a 2.17 ERA in 36 Triple-A appearances for the Cardinals.If the Rays can get Roycroft back to his 2024 self, they might have a decent reliever on their hands in the 29-year-old veteran right-hander acquired from the Cardinals.More MLB news:Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani might not be able to pitch during MLB All-Star GamePhillies reportedly turn down Bryce Harper's outfield offer to help at trade deadlineGiants are ‘hopeful ‘ they can trade Matt Chapman by MLB deadlineAngles can demand more in trade for Reid Detmers than Tigers can for Tarik SkubalGiants are 'pessimistic' they can trade Rafael Devers or Willy Adames

The IPL has never been short of blockbuster contracts, but history shows that even the biggest stars are not immune to dramatic pay cuts. The latest example is Rishabh Pant, whose return to Delhi Capitals has come with a hefty reduction in salary after a disappointing two-year stint with Lucknow Super Giants.Pant was bought by LSG for a record-breaking Rs 27 crore ahead of IPL 2025, making him the most expensive player in IPL history at the time. However, after two underwhelming seasons as captain and batter, the franchise decided to part ways with him. In a high-profile trade completed ahead of IPL 2027, Pant returned to Delhi Capitals for Rs 15 crore, resulting in a massive Rs 12 crore pay cut.The move highlights a recurring trend in the IPL, where player valuations can fluctuate sharply based on performance, team strategy and auction dynamics. Pant's numbers with LSG never matched expectations. He scored 269 runs in IPL 2025 and followed it up with 312 runs in 2026, while the franchise slipped from seventh place to the bottom of the table under his leadership.While Pant's pay reduction is among the biggest in IPL history, he is far from alone. Venkatesh Iyer saw his salary tumble from Rs 23.75 crore with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2025 to Rs 7 crore with Royal Challengers Bengaluru a year later. Sam Curran endured an even steeper percentage drop, falling from Rs 18.5 crore at Punjab Kings to Rs 2.4 crore after returning to Chennai Super Kings.Fast bowlers Mitchell Starc, Kyle Jamieson and Jhye Richardson have also experienced sharp valuation corrections despite entering auctions with huge reputations. Pant's return to Delhi may offer a fresh start, but his move also serves as a reminder that in the IPL, reputations alone rarely guarantee long-term financial security.Biggest pay-cuts taken by players in IPL historyRishabh Pant (Rs 27 crore to Rs 15 crore | Pay cut: Rs 12 crore)Venkatesh Iyer (Rs 23.75 crore to Rs 7 crore | Pay cut: Rs 16.75 crore)Mitchell Starc (Rs 24.75 crore to Rs 11.75 crore | Pay cut: Rs 13 crore)Sam Curran (Rs 18.5 crore to Rs 2.4 crore | Pay cut: Rs 16.1 crore)Kyle Jamieson (Rs 15 crore to Rs 1 crore | Pay cut: Rs 14 crore)Jhye Richardson (Rs 14 crore to Rs 1.5 crore | Pay cut: Rs 12.5 crore)

Home woes keep the Red Sox stuck near the bottom of the power rankings originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.This certainly was not the season that Boston Red Sox fans thought they'd be seeing. With some momentum over the offseason, they were ice-cold to start the season. That led the organization to part ways with manager Alex Cora and five other coaches, but it has not seemed to work out, as they face the same struggles they did back in April. The offense has hit a low point, and they can't figure out how to win at home. And to make it worse, the pitching staff is doing its job, making these losses tough pills to swallow. MORE: Red Sox sign former Cardinals, Giants, Rangers 31-year-old catcherHome woes keep Red Sox stuck near the bottom of the power rankings The Red Sox welcomed the Toronto Blue Jays, who have been turning their season around as of late, to Fenway. Unsurprisingly, Boston struggled once again at home, getting swept in the three-game series. They would then travel to take on the Seattle Mariners, where they looked like a whole different team. They won the series 2-1, but it didn't help their case in the latest power rankings. Blacher Report's Joel Reuter keeps them ranked No. 27 just like he did last week for their 2-4 effort. "The Red Sox dropped to 12-25 at Fenway Park after getting swept by the Blue Jays last week, the worst home record in baseball. The pitching continues to be rock solid, but they are hitting just .229/.281/.394 as a team and averaging 3.7 runs per game in June."On Monday, they lost the first game of the three-game series on the road against the Colorado Rockies, but will look to respond on Tuesday. After that series, they take on the New York Yankees back at Fenway, which could be ugly if they don't figure out how to be a better team at home. More MLB news:Royals keep up the June fight but stay stuck in the rankings basementNationals' red-hot offense helps push them further up the power rankingsCubs ride Pete Crow-Armstrong hot streak to a higher spot in power rankingsWhite Sox fall out of the top 10 after a disappointing week on the road

Tyler Shough needed seven years of college football to become a starting NFL quarterback. Under the new eligibility model model approved Tuesday, athletes will no longer have that option.Athletes in Division I, the top level of competition, will have five years to complete five seasons of competition, a move the NCAA hopes will add structure to a system stretched into chaos and courtrooms by countless transfers, redshirt decisions, injuries, players seeking more seasons to cash in on NIL opportunities and even pandemic-era complexities. The eligibility clock starts when an athlete enrolls full time or at the beginning of the academic year following their 19th birthday, whichever occurs first. If the new rules withstand potential legal challenges, the development of college athletes will undergo a dramatic shift. There will be no more traditional redshirt years, nor will there be medical or general extension waivers available; the only limited exceptions for going beyond five-in-five would be for military service, religious missions and maternity leave.Tom Loy, a national recruiting analyst for 247Sports, said he believes the change could keep talented players in college for longer.“In addition, I believe this rule change would have coaches putting a significant emphasis on retaining as much of the current roster as possible, especially upperclassmen, while focusing their attention slightly less on the transfer portal,” Loy said in an email. “With the opportunity to play five full seasons, they could have a roster full of 23-year-olds, for example, compared to 18- or 19-year-olds, and beyond that, potentially have a group full of talent they have developed in their system.”The end of the redshirtShough spent two seasons at Oregon and three at Texas Tech before suiting up at Louisville as a seventh-year senior in 2024. Injuries, a redshirt season and the pandemic extended his college career, extra time that helped turn him into a second-round draft pick and, eventually, the starting quarterback for the New Orleans Saints.He believes future college athletes should be given the same opportunities.“I think everybody should have a chance to at least get a medical and then a redshirt,” Shough said. “I know I benefited from that experience, the maturation process, having to compete multiple years. I feel strongly about that.”Detroit Lions rookie defensive lineman Aidan Keanaaina followed a similar path. His six-year college career included an undergraduate stint at Notre Dame and two postgraduate seasons at California following a medical redshirt and pandemic waiver, when the NCAA gave thousands of athletes an extra year.The 5-in-5 rule would have taken away his final college season in 2025, a year that helped him make his case to NFL scouts. Even so, he understands the effort to bring order to a landscape he described as the wild West.“You can’t please everyone in this world, ever, but they’re trying to please as many people as they can and do right by as many people as possible,” said Keanaaina, an undrafted free agent. “As someone who was injured, I think it’s tough to make a one-size-fits-all rule. But I also get that sometimes an older player is taking opportunities away from a younger one.”It could change recruiting or have other ripple effectsWhile Shough and Keanaaina point to what the new model could eliminate, others believe opportunities will be created elsewhere in college sports.“I think it’s the NCAA’s way of keeping college sports as amateur as possible with the chaos that is the NIL era. It will be good for sports like lacrosse where post-grad and redshirt years are less common than in football,” said Kelsey Fee, an assistant women’s lacrosse coach at Dartmouth. “It will open up the portal to a new slew of craziness with kids looking to use their fifth year.” Fee said she also thinks the shift will bring an excitement to recruiting that hasn’t been felt in recent years. Loy, the recruiting analyst, said coaches could be more interested in high school prospects “and getting these guys on the field as quickly as possible.”“Whether it works out or not, everyone would get a glimpse at where each prospect stands compared to others,” he wrote. “The players would get the early playing time, the coaches would see who outperforms who, and then, without the ability to redshirt anyone, a prospect can continue to be developed if they want to stick around and compete. They also wouldn’t just rush to leave and transfer, since they know they have five years to play ball.”Green Bay Packers center and 2022 third-rounder Sean Rhyan predicted stricter eligibility guidelines could change the way athletes think about transferring: Once the clock starts ticking, a case can no longer be made to rectify a misstep.“Five for five, that’s fair. I think NIL is good, but I also think it took away that loyalty aspect that I think sports need,” Rhyan said. “Having that fixed amount of time is going to bring that loyalty.”And then Rhyan added perhaps the most convincing argument of all: “Having like a 27-year-old linebacker or something and then you have a 17-year-old running back ... I think five for five is more than fair.”——AP Sports Writers Larry Lage, Steve Megargee and Brett Martel contributed to this report.___AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports

After a Justice Department official said her office was opening an investigation, Representative Dan Goldman said the department should focus on “other people in the Jewish community who are really scared.”

The Pittsburgh Steelers will have huge decisions to make in order to trim their talented roster down to 53 players, and one insider has made a bold prediction regarding the fate of a fan-favorite rookie.According to a new 53-man roster prediction made by Steelers insider Mark Kaboly, Pittsburgh's own Eli Heidenreich is one of the unfortunate players who won't survive the initial cuts."[Rico] Dowdle and [Jaylen] Warren will take the bulk of the workload on the ground, considering they are very comparable players with comparable salaries," Kaboly wrote. "[Riley] Nowakowski’s ability to play fullback, H-back, tight end, and special teams gets him a roster spot. That leaves [Kaleb] Johnson, Travis Homer, or Eli Heidenreich for one spot. Heidenreich is a local favorite but has a huge hill to climb to make the 53-man. Johnson seems like a popular final cut, but there was a reason why he was a third-round pick last year. He has talent that you can’t give up on this soon, and the Steelers won’t."Despite Johnson having an abysmal rookie season, there's reason to believe he can rebound in Year 2. But Heidenreich, who set records at Navy and has drawn major comparisons to Christian McCaffrey, also deserves a shot.Here's to hoping Heidenreich can wow the Steelers coaching staff during training camp and the preseason in order to secure his spot, as Kaboly's prediction would likely come true if roster cuts were due today.For up-to-date Steelers coverage, including any offseason moves, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers' Eli Heidenreich doesn't make 53-man roster in new prediction

AUBURN HILLS, MI - APRIL 24: Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates a fourth quarter basket with LeBron James #23 in game four of the NBA Eastern Conference quarterfinals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs at the Palace of Auburn Hills on April 24, 2016 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Cleveland won the game 100-98 to win the series. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Cleveland Cavaliers have been partying like it’s the summer of 2016 all over again. LeBron James, Kevin Love, Richard Jefferson, and others have all joined forces in a vacation for the ages that’s been plastered all over social media. But while Matthew Dellavedova gets drunk and sings Australian classics, one crucial member of the 2016 title team has been absent from start to finish. Kyrie Irving. A tiny cloud of drama hung over last week’s events as fans speculated as to why Irving was not included in the festivities. Was he not invited? Did he not want to go? JR Smith’s Instagram comments only added more fuel to the fire, stating that Irving was, in fact, invited but did not RSVP. Irving himself finally took a moment to settle the score. “Me and my brothers, who played on the Cavs, bro, we’re good,” Irving said in a video posted to social media. “We’re more than good… When I get back to the States, imma pop in with them. We’re gonna chop it up. We’re gonna have a great time.”That settles that. Irving is in a different position than most of his peers who went on vacation. He’s one of only two other members from the 2016 team who are still actively playing NBA basketball. He’s also been traveling for various basketball camps and community events. That could explain why he wasn’t able to join the trip. Either way, Irving insists that he and his teammates are on good terms. That’s not for any of us to debate or deny. While we all would have loved to see Kyrie participating in the shenanigans from last weekend, it’s important to remember that these are individual people who can make their own decisions. The fans don’t decide who Irving spends time with.Nonetheless, Irving and the 2016 team represent something. Meaningful to an entire city. It’s understandable why this story became relevant. Especially when Smith and other members commented on it publicly. But now that’s all said and done, I’d say there’s no harm or foul.

The Protect College Sports Act is about the Big 12 and ACC trying to catch up to the Big Ten and SEC originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.For starters, it’s nice to know the president of SMU believes a salary cap system is necessary in baseball. Having advocated for this over more than a dozen years, through scripted video, online columns and podcast appearances, I feel it can help to have more who follow sports on this side of the argument. It probably doesn’t hurt if the person in question has a Ph.D.If only Jay Hartzell had put that education to better use than in his preposterous opinion piece published by the Dallas Morning News on the subject of the Protect College Sports Act of 2026.Employing more than 800 words, Hartzell argues competitive balance is necessary in college sports in the same way it would be beneficial to Major League Baseball. He points out how much, by comparison, it has facilitated the growth of the NFL.And he’s right about all that.Where his analogy disintegrates is the same place it has for Texas Tech donor Cody Campbell and all his minions since he launched his self-serving “Saving College Sports” campaign with a series of televised public service announcements last autumn.What Campbell and Hartzell really want is not parity across all of Division I. Why, that would mean the Mid-American Conference and American Conference and Sun Belt having the opportunity to compete at the same level as the ACC and SEC. They have zero interest in that.What they want is for the Big 12 and ACC to get a share of what the SEC and Big Ten have earned.That’s the only parity they seek.MORE: Ranking Big Ten schedules | SEC schedulesThere are 138 schools playing football at NCAA Division I’s highest classification. There are 68 playing at the power conference level. Those advancing this legislation are not pushing to elevate the 70 below them. They’re seeking elevate themselves to the same level as the 34 above.Hartzell makes for a curious representative of this cause, though perhaps no more so than Campbell, who spends money to air ads complaining about the current system and then donates to assure Texas Tech succeeds under these circumstances.Hartzell, as it happens, was president of the University of Texas when the Longhorns and Oklahoma lobbied the Southeastern Conference to add them as members.It is undeniably true that the decision of the SEC to expand into the Southwest led to a change in how the Big Ten approached the possibility of expansion and subsequently choosing to add both USC and UCLA and, as the Pac-12 approached a self-inflicted implosion, rescue Oregon and Washington from uncertainty.Please let us not pretend this expansion contagion began there. It commenced in the early part of this century, when the ACC abandoned its unique regional history and destroyed Big East football by adding first Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College and subsequently returning to gather up Pitt and Syracuse. The ACC still has not lost a single member to others’ 21st century expansions, but now they’re a victim?If competitive balance is an existential issue in college sports, if it truly matters now to Hartzell, where were all the complaints when the SEC was winning 14 of the 24 national championships contested prior to the expansion of the College Football Playoff? They won seven in a row between 2006 and 2012, and the op/ed pages of major newspapers weren’t asked to publish demands for equity among the major conferences.During the decade of the four-team College Football Playoff, six schools commanded 73 percent of the playoff positions available. That’s roughly 5 percent of the Division I FBS membership and 9 percent of the power conference competitors consuming nearly ¾ of the playoff berths. And now we’re worried about competitive balance?No. Of course not. The members of the ACC and Big 12 are worried it’s costing more money to run athletics programs. And they want someone else to help them pay for it, including the athletes whose compensation they’d like to cap through legislation – without their permission, of course.The reality is Texas Tech, the university to which Campbell makes such generous athletics-centric donations, is more competitive under the current system than ever. The Red Raiders just finished a 12-2 football season that included a Big 12 championship; it was their first league title since 2008 and only their second in the last 30 years. In men’s basketball, they’ve finished third or better in the Big 12 each of the past three years, which had happened only once since they joined their current conference. The women’s softball program reached the past two Women’s College World Series finals.MORE: NFL denies Brendan Sorsby a chance to enter supplemental draftThe Miami Hurricanes of the ACC just completed their most successful season since leaving behind the Big East to join the ACC in 2004. They had only one season of double-digit wins in 20 opportunities during the pre-NIL era. In this system, they reached the College Football Playoff final and gave champion Indiana an extraordinary battle.Competitive balance is less an issue in college sports now than it was a decade ago, or two. Revenue balance is more of one – for some programs. They’re the ones leading the charge for the Protect College Sports Act. If only they’d be more honest about what they’re really protecting.ORDER NOW: The Sporting News 2026 College Football Preview magazine

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 22: Michael King #34 of the San Diego Padres pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the fifth inning at Petco Park on June 22, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images For the Friar Faithful, tonight’s win felt like a massive sigh of relief. Despite the San Diego Padres only scoring one run, it was all they would need as Michael King went seven scoreless innings for the second time this season. King needed a start like this almost as much as the Friars did. He’s had a tough stretch lately, but acted as a stopper for San Diego on Monday night. The Padres will look to win the series in Game 2 against the Atlanta Braves tonight. Taking the moundJR Ritchie (ATL) v. Griffin Canning (SD)Ritchie had an impressive start to his rookie year with Atlanta but has since fallen off a bit. He’s struggled with inconsistency, causing him to post a 4.54 ERA and 1.37 WHIP through 35 2/3 innings. With the injuries that have marred the starting rotation, Ritchie has been thrust into a role he likely wouldn’t be in otherwise. The underlying stuff is tantalizing, but San Diego’s lineup should be able to tag the righty for a few runs. Similar to Ritchie, Canning has had some major problems with consistency. In his last three starts, he’s surrendered one run, seven runs and one run in each. That’s led to him having an overblown 6.64 ERA.That said, he’s been better lately. The Padres have started using an opener for Canning and it’s seemed to help. He had one of his best starts of the season against the St. Louis Cardinals last week, giving up just one run to the Cards. Batter up!The offense did just enough to back up their pitching staff, scoring one run on a Manny Machado homer. Despite the Braves’ pitching staff walking a ridiculous seven batters, including Xander Bogaerts three times, the Padres couldn’t bring any of them to home plate. They’ll need to be better with their situational hitting if they hope to beat Atlanta tonight.Fernando Tatis Jr., 2BSamad Taylor, RFJackson Merrill, CFManny Machado, 3BGavin Sheets, LFXander Bogaerts, SSTy France, 1BWill Wagner, DHRodolfo Durán, CBlake Hunt could start behind the dish, though Durán has worked behind the plate more until Freddy Fermin returns from concussion protocol. That said, with Hunt on the way out soon, the Padres could decide to play him one more time.Taylor batted in the ninth spot in the order for the first time since he pinch-hit for Durán in his Padres debut. He’s looked comfortable batting second and could return there after going 0-for-3 at the bottom of the order. Relief corpsWith King pitching flawlessly, only Adrian Morejon and Mason Miller had to be used in Monday night’s game. Morejon covered a perfect eighth inning before Miller entered in a save situation. He recorded two outs before giving up a single and a walk. He struck out Mike Yastrzemski to end the trouble. That saves the ‘pen for tonight, with Jason Adam, Kyle Hart, Ron Marinaccio, Yuki Matsui, David Morgan and Wandy Peralta all available. Adam has struggled lately, but will look to rebound from a tough series against the Texas Rangers.

AUSTIN, TX - MAY 29: The NCAA logo is displayed field side during the NCAA Division I Regional game between Texas Longhorns and Holy Cross Crusaders on May 29, 2026, at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, TX. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images The NCAA Division I Cabinet has unanimously approved the age-based eligibility rule commonly known as “five-in-five” according to an announcement by the NCAA on Tuesday morning. The rule will not officially be adopted until the end of meetings on Wednesday.The Division I Cabinet has unanimously voted to approve the age-based eligibility model. Additional details to follow. The Cabinet’s decision is not final until its meeting concludes Wednesday.— NCAA News (@NCAA_PR) June 23, 2026The rule eliminates redshirts but allows all players to play for five years. Those years are tied to their age or enrollment in college.The five-year clock starts the academic year after the athlete turns 19 years old or when the athlete enrolls in college, whichever is earlier. There are exceptions for pregnancy, military service, and religious missions.The rule is not retroactive, meaning players who just finished their senior years in college are not eligible to come back next season. Given the onslaught of lawsuits over eligibility in recent years, this may open the door to yet more legal maneuvering by players and lawyers.Attorneys Ryan Downton & Darren Heitner say they are planning to file legal action on behalf of more than 50 basketball players seeking a fifth season in light of the NCAA's new 5-year eligibility rule. Lawsuits will be filed in five different states starting this week. https://t.co/twRxfO60CQ— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) June 23, 2026While the rule may have less of an impact on men’s basketball or other sports where athletes commit later in the recruiting cycle or regularly leave before eligibility runs out, it could have far-reaching impact on sports with earlier commitment timelines at the Power 4 level. Sports like women’s volleyball and gymnastics are currently taking verbal commitments from athletes who will not suit up until the 2028-29 academic year. These athletes will be on campus when current juniors were supposed to have exhausted their eligibility. Coaches must now pivot in mid-air to consider whether those juniors will be coming back for a fifth year and how that affects the roster limits established by the House settlement.

The State Commission on Judicial Conduct in Texas was overruled last week after it disciplined a justice of the peace in Waco for refusing to marry same-sex couples on religious grounds. A Texas county judge ruled the commission cannot investigate, sanction, or discipline McLennan County Justice of the Peace Dianne Hensley for refusing to officiate same-sex weddings because of her Christian beliefs. Hensley was awarded $10,000 in compensatory damages and $630,000 in attorney’s fees after years of litigation. Related Texas will now let judges refuse to marry same-sex couples if it goes against their religion “I think the agency overstepped itself, and what we saw was their bias on the issue and not the law,” Hensley told KERA News in North Texas. The origin of Hensley’s suit dates back to Obergefell v Hodges, the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision granting nationwide marriage equality. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Judges and justices of the peace are allowed, but not required, to officiate weddings in Texas. After previously declining to marry any couples following the decision, Hensley changed her mind in 2016 and said she would marry straight couples only. She advertised that stance in a 2017 interview with the Waco Tribune-Herald, adding that she referred same-sex couples to a different judge and other nearby officiants. The judicial conduct commission launched an investigation soon after and, in 2019, issued a public warning to Hensley that she was in violation of commission rules. With the support of First Liberty Institute, the right-wing Christian nationalist legal organization shepherding other anti-LGBTQ+ cases around the country, Hensley sued. First Liberty argued her decision was protected by the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act, signed into law by then-Gov. George W. Bush (R) in 1999. That law prohibits the government from making restrictions that “substantially burden” an individual’s freedom of religion. “People cannot be made — cannot be forced into participating in things that they have a religious disagreement with,” First Liberty attorney Hiram Sasser said following last week’s verdict. The suit prompted action from the Texas Supreme Court, as well. After agreeing that Hensley’s suit could continue, but not ruling on her religious freedom claims, the court said that judges who decline to perform a wedding ceremony based on a “sincerely held religious belief” won’t violate the state’s rules on judicial impartiality. The court found a grey area where the absence of a requirement to perform wedding ceremonies grants officiants the right to marry whom they choose. That support from the highest levels of the Texas judiciary appears to have emboldened Hensley’s claim that officiants should be allowed to marry whom they choose. In December, Hensley asked a federal court to overturn marriage equality in the U.S. entirely, arguing that marriage for same-sex couples is unconstitutional because it was legalized in a decision that “subordinat[ed] state law to the policy preferences of unelected judges.” Hensley is one among several Christian officiants claiming “religious freedom” in their opposition to marrying same-sex couples in Texas. Jack County Judge Brian Umphress also sued the commission, alleging he was afraid he could face the same punishment as Hensley. The Texas Supreme Court ruled in January that he wouldn’t face discipline for his choice not to marry gay couples, KERA reported. A class-action lawsuit in Tarrant County has been filed on behalf of justices of the peace who are unwilling to perform same-sex marriages. They’re looking to recover damages from the Judicial Conduct Commission because they say they were forced to stop performing weddings altogether in fear of disciplinary action. Like Hensley, Kim Davis, the infamous Kentucky county clerk who refused to sign marriage licenses for same-sex couples immediately following the Supreme Court’s 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision, asked the Supreme Court to overturn its marriage equality ruling. The Court declined to hear her appeal in November. Despite her lawsuit aiming to wipe out marriage equality, Hensley continues to maintain that her right to religious freedom isn’t impacting gay couples in Texas because others are available to marry them. Now, though, she says there isn’t a big demand for her services, and she may stop officiating weddings altogether. “I was just accommodating people who called needing a low-cost wedding, and it’s been long enough now we don’t get many calls anymore,” Hensley said. “So, unless we start getting a lot of demand, I may not.” Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Their split with the Republican Party represents an expansion of a feud with President Trump that could further complicate the party’s midterm prospects.

A few Republicans joined Democrats in favor of a measure instructing President Trump to halt military operations against Iran or seek congressional authorization.

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Henri Veesaar gave up millions from UNC to chase NBA dream ahead of 2026 Draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.When Henri Veesaar hears his name called during the 2026 NBA Draft, it won't just mark the start of his professional career.It will represent one of the most expensive decisions any college basketball player made this offseason. According to multiple reports, Veesaar walked away from a massive financial opportunity to remain in the NBA Draft, choosing the uncertainty of professional basketball over what could have been one of the richest NIL paydays in college sports.A multi-million dollar offer left on the tableVeesaar's breakout season at North Carolina made him one of the most coveted players in college basketball. The 7-footer averaged 17.0 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting an impressive 60.8 percent from the field and 42.6 percent from three-point range. His ability to stretch the floor while protecting the rim helped him earn All-ACC Second Team honors and transformed him into a legitimate NBA prospect.That production also made him incredibly valuable in college basketball's NIL marketplace. CBS Sports insider Matt Norlander reported that North Carolina could have paid Veesaar roughly $4.5 million to return to Chapel Hill for another season. Even more stunning, multiple schools reportedly informed Veesaar's representatives they would be prepared to offer at least $6 million if he entered the transfer portal.In today's college basketball landscape, those numbers are nearly unheard of for a single season.Yet Veesaar still chose the NBA.Why Veesaar walked awayFor many players, turning down guaranteed millions at the college level would seem impossible. But Veesaar's decision reportedly wasn't driven by money.Norlander reported that the Estonian big man was ready to fully embrace professional basketball after spending four years navigating college life between Arizona and North Carolina. The opportunity to focus entirely on basketball, without classes, recruiting pitches and transfer speculation, ultimately outweighed the financial incentives available in college.It's a reminder that while NIL has changed the sport dramatically, not every player views another college season as the preferred path.MORE: How do you pronounce Nate Ament? NBA Draft prospect clears up common questionFrom Arizona reserve to UNC starVeesaar's journey to draft night wasn't a traditional one. After arriving at Arizona Wildcats as a highly regarded international prospect, he spent three seasons developing in Tucson. His final season with the Wildcats showed flashes of potential, but his transfer to North Carolina Tar Heels unlocked another level.Under former coach Hubert Davis, Veesaar became one of the ACC's most productive frontcourt players and emerged as the focal point of North Carolina's offense. By season's end, NBA scouts were viewing him as one of the most intriguing big men in the draft class.Betting on himselfDraft projections remain mixed. Some mock drafts place Veesaar in the late first round, while others have him coming off the board early in the second round. Wherever he lands, his decision carries significant risk.Had he returned to college, Veesaar likely would have entered the 2026-27 season as a preseason All-American candidate while collecting one of the largest NIL packages in the country. Instead, he chose to bet on himself.And when his name is announced on draft night, it will mark the payoff of a decision that cost him millions but moved him one step closer to the NBA dream he has been chasing for years.More NBA news:How do you pronounce Nate Ament? NBA Draft prospect clears up common questionHow do you pronounce AJ Dybantsa? NBA Draft fans are asking the same questionWhy first round of 2026 NBA Draft is taking place on a TuesdayWhy Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards is suddenly in NBA trade rumorsThe same man who built Shaquille O'Neal's empire is helping shape AJ Dybantsa's future

This 22-year-old is Jerry Jones’ best shot to fix his wasted second-round history originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Jerry Jones has built Super Bowl rosters, drafted Hall of Famers, and run one of the most valuable franchises in professional sports. But for two-plus decades, one part of his draft philosophy has quietly undercut everything else: the second round. Since 2000, Dallas has made 26 second-round draft picks. Only five made a Pro Bowl with the Cowboys. Most of the others, including Trysten Hill, Kelvin Joseph, Sam Williams, and Luke Schoonmaker, struggled to overcome the flaws that caused them to slide on draft day.However, they do not have a second-round pick in 2026. Instead, the focus is on Donovan Ezeiruaku, a 22-year-old edge rusher entering his second season. Dallas selected Donovan Ezeiruaku at No. 44 overall in 2025. He led college football with 16.5 sacks in 2024 and won the Ted Hendricks Award as the nation's top defensive end. Though projected as a late first-round talent, he fell to the second round because he is slightly shorter and lighter than a typical NFL edge rusher.As a rookie, Ezeiruaku played 603 defensive snaps—over half of Dallas' total plays on the defensive front. Playing in a struggling defense, he finished with 40 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and two sacks. While his sack total was low, his underlying metrics were strong. Because of this efficiency, Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon named him the team's most important second-year player heading into 2026.His role should be clearer in his second year as the franchise has a new defensive coordinator in Christian Parker, veteran edge rusher Rashan Gary has joined the team, and Micah Parsons is gone.Bradley Locker of PFF put Ezeiruaku on his 2026 All-Breakout Team, while Greg Auman of Fox Sports noted that Ezeiruaku previously tripled his sack production between his freshman and sophomore years at Boston College.So, it appears the second-round draft curse that has followed the 83-year-old owner might finally end because this breakout second-round pick is showing the kind of production that originally made him look like a first-round selection.More NFL news: Cowboys eye 3 late free agents with one classic Jerry Jones move in playJerry Jones faces unwelcome advice as 6× Pro Bowler urges George Pickens to take different routeJerry Jones’ costly CB problem could push Cowboys back to 1st roundDallas Goedert explains decision to remain with Philadelphia Eagles in free agencyJerry Jones will absolutely love the offense vs. defense rivalry brewing in Cowboys practice

Celtics have several blockbuster options after Giannis Antetokounmpo trade to Miami originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Unfortunately for the Boston Celtics, they came up inches short of winning the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes, as he was traded to one of their top rivals in the Eastern Conference, the Miami Heat. Now, the Celtics will have to pivot, as it was rumored Brown has been wanting his own team for a while now. Luckily, there are some stars on the board that could headline a package for Brown, and look good in Boston colors. Alperen Sengun would fill out center nicely © Troy Taormina-Imagn ImagesSengun was pegged by analysts to be one of the best assets a team could get right now, and for good reason. He’s coming off his second All-Star season in a row, and finished the season averaging 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks in 33.3 minutes per game. Sengun in Boston could be a perfect match. He could be the inside presence they need for gravity, and with his great playmaking ability, he could kick out to the open shooters. The connection between Houston and Brown has been there for a while as well, so a package for him makes sense.Domantas Sabonis would work as well © Sergio Estrada-Imagn ImagesSabonis would be another big man option, as he is on the trade block as well. A double-double machine and three-time rebound champ, Sabonis would work perfectly in Boston’s system. He’s coming off a season-ending injury, but that would lower his price. If the Celtics pursue him, they may not even have to offer Brown, and could offer a package around Derrick White. In his last fully healthy season in 2024-25, Sabonis averaged a 19.1 points, a career-high 13.9 rebounds which led the league, six assists, while shooting nearly 42% from deep. For a team that likes to shoot, this is another match made in heaven.Trey Murphy III is a more likely option Apr 3, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III (25) during the second quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images Of the three listed, acquiring Murphy seems the most realistic. Boston has been a fan of him for a while, and for good reason. He would fit perfectly into Mazzulla Ball; he just finished averaging a career-high 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.5 steals while shooting 38% from deep.If the Celtics were to trade Brown for him, they would need to get a haul. Not as big as Giannis’, but somewhere in the ballpark. If not, another White package could be the answer. Hopefully, Boston gets to work, as the NBA Draft starts in just a few hours, and with that, precious assets will be used up.MORE NBA CONTENTRobert Williams III signing could give Celtics the center depth they desperately needDerrick White trade rumors give Celtics another path to improve beyond Giannis Antetokounmpo chaseAlperen Sengun may be Celtics' alternate blockbuster if trade talks for Giannis Antetokounmpo fall apart this offseason

Jun. 23—OTHELLO — The Bass Angler Magazine's Vexus Pro-Am Bass Tournament at the Potholes Reservoir was held over the weekend bringing top anglers from across the west to local waters. The anglers began their competition at 5 a.m. Friday and competed through Sunday afternoon."Everything went good," said Mark Lassagne, CEO and Tournament Director for BAM Tournament Trail. "The weather was nice, fishing was good, it was just altogether a smooth event without any issues."On the pro side of the tournament, Aaron Ecthernkamp from Moses Lake earned the title of Pro Champion for the weekend to earn the grand prize of the $40,000 Mercury-Powered Vexus 1880 fishing boat. Ecthernkamp caught 19.08 lbs the first day, 18.63 lbs the second day and 18.15 lbs the third day for a total weight of 55.86 lbs.The Co-Champion Amateur angler is Adrian Ghione from Oakdale, Calif., and won the top prize of $4,000. Ghione had a top catch of 4.97 lbs the first day to add to his 19.61lbs day one total then caught 14.27 lbs the second day and 13.59 lbs the third day for a total of 47.47 lbs.Full results for the tournament can be found at bamtrail.com.Chris Parks from Eugene, Oregon caught the largest individual fish at the tournament with a weight of 6.25 lbs."No giant ones, but a lot of good quality fish," said Lassagne.Over the course of the weekend, he said the average catch weighed about three pounds."I think it took like a 3.5-lb average to get a check in the event, and it took a 17 or 18-lb average to win the tournament," the director said.Lassagne said the weather and surroundings for the tournament provided variety for the anglers throughout the weekend. The tournament started overcast with still waters Friday, then had full sun and wind Saturday and concluded with a mix of calm waters and wind Sunday.Despite the varying conditions, the competitors had no trouble adjusting and staying persistent in making catches throughout each day."Potholes is just an amazing place with so much vegetation and there's so many things to throw at," said Lassange.The co-anglers had a strong showing at Potholes as it took an average of 14 lbs to make it into the top 10 for the amateurs. For the pro-anglers, the average for top10 placement was 17.19 lbs."Usually there's a big gap between the pro and co, but there was not that big of a gap here," said Lassagne.After the conclusion of the tournament, Lassagne thanked Mardon Resort for hosting, Willie Nelson from Nixon's Marine in Pasco for transporting the prize boat and the help of Grant County for providing a small community marketing grant.The BAM's next event will be a Super 60 invitational June 26-28 at Brownlee Reservoir between Oregon and Idaho with a grand prize of $50,000 on the line. The tournament will feature multiple anglers that competed at Potholes and is open to spectators attending weigh-ins at Memorial Park in downtown Huntington, Ore.This event will be run different from the Pro-AM's format and will be focused mostly on catching smallmouth bass. The Super 60 tournament will feature a keeper count format along with a weight format."Guys can make it into the top 10 by catching multiple keepers or they can make it to the top 10 by catching the top 5 heaviest weight," said Lassagne. "It's kind of a mixed bag and they have to really strategize to figure out how to make a top five either on keeper count or on weight."The boats will launch from Farewell Bend State Park on Friday, June 26, at 5 a.m. and weigh ins will begin at 3 p.m. each day of the tournament.

Iran team pose for a group photo prior to the World Cup Group G soccer match between Belgium and Iran in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Sunday, June 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)2026-06-23T18:15:49Z The U.S. is easing its restrictions on Iran’s World Cup team, allowing the squad to travel into the country two days before its next match, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday.The team will still be required to leave after Friday’s match in Seattle, a department spokesperson said. A spokesperson for the Iran Football Federation confirmed that the team will leave its base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, on Wednesday for Seattle. “This was planned on our end,” Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, told The Associated Press. “We were going to look at how the first two movements went, and if they went smoothly, we would extend the extra day in light of the longer travel time.”The policy change was first reported by NBC News and comes as officials from both countries negotiate over how to end the war in Iran. Iran’s squad has complained about the travel restrictions levied on the team, and the challenges it has faced since the outbreak of war. Iran originally sought to move its group stage matches to Mexico, with whom it has diplomatic ties. The team’s base camp was relocated from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana. Several team officials and members of the support staff have been barred from traveling into the U.S. with the team. For the first two matches, in Los Angeles, the team was not permitted to travel until the day before, which Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei repeatedly said put the team at a disadvantage. The team had less than 24 hours on the ground before its noon match Sunday. “Right now we need recovery more than anything,” Ghalenoei said through a translator after the 0-0 draw against Belgium. “The conditions have been extremely hard for us.” Read More It’s not uncommon for teams to travel a day before the match, and it’s in line with FIFA regulations, which state that “each team shall travel from its team base camp to the match venue one day before matchday (MD‑1) and in exceptional cases on MD‑2, and shall return to their team base camp after the match (on MD/MD+1).” But Iran had asked for more time to acclimate to host cities and recover after matches, especially for the 1,200-mile (1,930-kilometer) trip to Seattle. The team has scheduled a Thursday training at the University of Washington. “We don’t ask for much. We just ask for the same procedure as for all the other 47 teams,” Iran national team player Alireza Jahanbakhsh said Sunday. “Hopefully we can bring everyone who is involved and help us with us.” The Iran team has also said it experienced difficulties entering and exiting the U.S. each time it made the 127-mile (204-kilometer) flight between Tijuana and Los Angeles. The typically short trip took five hours the day before its first match against New Zealand, team captain Mehdi Taremi said. Hours before Sunday’s match against Belgium, U.S. Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin told Fox News the Iranians had “tried to get somebody in yesterday” who had direct ties to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. In a statement, the soccer federation vociferously pushed back, calling the claim “an outright and undeniable lie.” It’s unclear whether Iran’s upcoming opponent, Egypt, will also be allowed to arrive in Seattle two days early. After its 3-1 victory against New Zealand in Vancouver Sunday, Egypt asked to fly directly to Seattle. FIFA denied that request, citing a lack of security resources to accommodate the last-minute demand. Egypt returned to its base camp in Spokane, Washington, a 45-minute flight from Seattle.Egypt’s national team did not immediately respond to a request for comment.___AP Sports Writer John Marshall contributed reporting. AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup GABRIELA AOUN ANGUEIRA Gabriela covers philanthropy’s role in disaster resilience and recovery. She is based in San Diego, California. instagram mailto SEUNG MIN KIM Kim covers the White House for The Associated Press. She joined the AP in 2022 and is based in Washington. Kim is also a political analyst for CNN. twitter mailto

The Portland Trail Blazers hired Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach Micah Nori as their new NBA head coach, the team announced on June 23.Nori, a longtime NBA assistant, is a Middletown, Ohio, native who played baseball at Fenwick High School and for the Middies.After playing baseball at Indiana University, Nori worked as a graduate assistant at Miami University and earned his master's degree from MU.Nori, a Minnesota assistant since 2021, has also been an assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors, Sacramento Kings, Denver Nuggets and Detroit Pistons since 2009.When Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch was injured during the fourth quarter of his team's Game 4 win in the 2024 NBA playoffs against the Phoenix Suns, Nori assumed coaching duties on the Minnesota bench to help the team close out the series and advance.What to know about Nori:Nori was born April 8, 1974, the day Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's Major League Baseball home run recordFour days before Nori's date of birth, Aaron tied Ruth's record in Cincinnati, with a homer off of the Reds' Jack Billingham.Nori played multiple sports in high school but went on to play baseball as a captain and middle infielder for the Hoosiers.Nori told Minnpost.com's Britt Robson that injuries and a self-professed lack of athleticism kept him from pursuing professional baseball after he starred at IU, finishing with a .305 batting average, 20 home runs, 127 RBIs, 116 runs, 35 doubles and 18 stolen bases.He became the Hoosiers' hitting coach in 2005.Fellow Middletown native and former Hoosier Butch Carter helped launch Nori's NBA coaching careerNori went to Oxford, Ohio, after IU and was ready to take a job as a high school athletic director when Carter called.Nori's father, Fred, was Carter's football coach in high school. Fred Nori, a baseball star for the Hoosiers in the 1960s who played in the New York Mets' organization, got his master's degree at Xavier University and later served as an assistant at IU, XU and MU. Fred Nori was a longtime baseball coach for the Middies and Fenwick as well.Micah Nori lived with Carter and sat behind him on the bench for two years in Toronto. He spent about 10 years as an advance scout, and his first job as an NBA assistant was on the Raptors' coaching staff.Like Nori, Timberwolves head coach Finch is from OhioFinch grew up in Cambridge, the same hometown as John Glenn, longtime NFL coach Dom Capers and Stony Brook head coach and former Ohio University great Geno Ford.Finch and Nori met in Denver, when Finch was associate head coach in 2016-17 and Nori was an assistant. They stayed in touch when Finch left to join the New Orleans Pelicans in 2017, and Finch hired Nori as his lead assistant when he became the Timberwolves' head coach in 2021.Micah's younger brother, Brady Nori, starred for the RedHawks' baseball teamBrady, who played for the Middies and graduated from Middletown in 1997, played first base at MU, and led all RedHawks batters at the 2001 Mid-American Conference (MAC) baseball tournament with a .480 batting average.As a senior, Brady also broke the MAC single-season record for at-bats, surpassing the previous record of 235.Brady was a Butler County Sports Hall of Fame class of 2023 inductee.Micah's son, Dante Nori, was a 2024 first-round pick of the Philadelphia PhilliesThrough 236 plate appearances this season for the Phillies' Double-A affiliate in Reading, Dante batted .245 with 12 stolen bases.Dante also played for Italy in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.Micah talked about Dante during a 2024 appearance on MLB Network's "Hot Stove."As a senior outfielder at Michigan's Northville High School, Nori walked twice and struck out once in a 6-2 loss to Moeller in the 2024 PBR Ohio High School Invitational.This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Micah Nori, Middletown, Ohio native, is Trail Blazers' new head coach

France manager Didier Deschamps will miss Friday’s group-stage match against Norway due to the death of his mother, the French Football Federation announced Tuesday. He’ll be making the trip back home to attend the funeral and won’t be in Foxborough, Massachusetts, for a contest that will determine the winner of Group 1.Friday's match between France and Norway will determine the winner of Group I.France manager Didier Deschamps will miss the team’s final group stage match vs. Norway to attend his mother’s funeral in France, the FFF have confirmed. pic.twitter.com/BiLFRdNsxk— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 23, 2026This story is being updated.

The University of Michigan officially addressed the departure of national championship-winning head basketball coach Dusty May on Monday, releasing a statement from Athletic Director Warde Manuel.May is leaving Ann Arbor after just two seasons to become the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks. During his brief but highly successful tenure, May guided the Wolverines to a 64-13 record and delivered Michigan’s first national championship since 1989.In the statement, Manuel thanked May and his family for their contributions to the program while also announcing that assistant coach Mike Boynton will serve as interim head coach as the university begins its search for a permanent replacement.Full Statement from Warde Manuel“While we are disappointed to see Dusty leave Michigan, we are deeply grateful to the May family for the lasting impact they have made on our program and our university.In just two seasons, Dusty restored Michigan Basketball to national prominence and led our Wolverines through one of the greatest chapters in program history, culminating in our first national championship in 37 years. His leadership, vision, and belief in our student-athletes helped create a culture of excellence that made the entire Michigan community proud.We thank Dusty for his commitment to our program and the University of Michigan, and we wish him, Anna, and their family continued success as he begins this next chapter with the Dallas Mavericks.With summer workouts starting this week, Mike Boynton has been appointed head coach in an interim capacity. Mike has been an invaluable member of our staff and a respected leader throughout his career. He knows what Michigan Basketball represents and has earned the trust and respect of our student-athletes and everyone in our program. His experience, character and commitment to our values make him the right person to guide the team during this transition.Michigan Basketball’s tradition is as strong as ever, and our future remains bright. We will move forward with confidence, pride, and an unwavering commitment to the championship standard that defines this program.”Michigan Turns the PageThe statement confirms Michigan’s immediate plan moving forward, with Boynton taking over day-to-day leadership of the program while the Wolverines prepare for summer workouts.The transition comes at a critical time, as players now face a special transfer portal window following the coaching change. However, key players, including Trey McKenney, have already publicly expressed confidence in Boynton and the direction of the program.While Dusty May’s departure marks the end of a remarkable two-year run in Ann Arbor, Manuel’s message made one thing clear: Michigan intends to maintain the championship standard May helped restore.

PREVIEW | Curaçao vs Ivory Coast: team news, lineups, predictions (World Cup 25/06)Curaçao and Ivory Coast face each other this Thursday at the MetLife Stadium of the World Cup. The match will be broadcast live at 21:00 on BBC Two.In their last fixture, Curaçao shared the spoils 0-0 with Ecuador (World Cup 2026). In their last game, Ivory Coast lost 2-1 against Germany (World Cup 2026).UnavailableCuraçaoCosta do MarfimLast starting XIsCuraçao ( vs Ecuador 2026-06-21): Eloy Room, Joshua Brenet, Armando Obispo, Deveron Fonville, Jurien Gaari, Sherell Floranus, Tahith Chong, Leandro Bacuna, Livano Comenencia, Juninho Bacuna, Jurgen LocadiaIvory Coast ( vs Germany 2026-06-20): Yahia Fofana, Wilfried Singo, Emmanuel Agbadou, Odilon Kossounou, Ghislain Konan, Ibrahim Sangaré, Christ Oulaï, Franck Kessié, Amad Diallo, Ange-Yoan Bonny, Yan Diomande

By Ed White and Joe Brock LOS ANGELES, June 23 (Reuters) - Father‑and‑daughter soccer fans Jose Roman and Jacqueline Damian were among a stream of supporters in green Mexico shirts pouring into Los Angeles Stadium for a recent World Cup match, passing Spanish‑speaking vendors selling ‌Mexican beer, flags and hats and grills smoking with bacon‑wrapped street dogs. The only thing missing was the Mexico team - the game was Switzerland ‌versus Bosnia and Herzegovina. Even with Mexico playing all their matches on home soil in a World Cup co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada, their supporters are a constant presence at games ​in Los Angeles, effectively a de facto third team in a county home to nearly 5 million Latinos, the largest such community in the U.S. "It doesn't matter what team is playing here, there are always Mexican fans," said Damian, 26, who lives in Anaheim, home to Disneyland, and works as an analyst at Northgate Market, a U.S.-Mexican grocery store chain. Even at the U.S. team’s opening game, Mexico shirts rivalled Team USA colours at the 70,000-seat stadium, though many Mexico supporters also wore ‌U.S. hats, scarves and other symbols to signal solidarity. The ⁠effect extends across America’s second-largest city, home to generations of Mexico fans, from U.S.-born descendants to Mexican-born immigrants and others living in the U.S., who are determined to play host to all World Cup fans. WATCH PARTY At a Mexico watch party in ⁠Boyle Heights, a historically Latino neighbourhood east of downtown Los Angeles, Mexican fans mingled with dozens of Koreans and Korean Americans. Mexico fans waved small Korean flags, a nod to the 2018 World Cup, when South Korea’s win over Germany helped Mexico advance. "We love the Koreans!" said Andrew Gomez, a 20‑year‑old born in the United States to ​Mexican ​parents. "It's so electrifying. The community! The community! Everyone feels like family," added Gomez, who was ​wearing a green and red Mexican wrestler's mask. Alejandra Garcia, 31, ‌and Carolina Reynoso, 33, stood beside jogging strollers carrying children Elle and Logan, their hair adorned with lace and ribbons in a traditional Mexican style, as they shared a joyful glimpse of their Mexican American heritage with the next generation. "It's very exciting to be able to share this with our kids," said Garcia. 'MEXICO IS FOOTBALL' Many Mexican Americans are quick to point out they also support Team USA, but wear green and red to signal pride in a community that has often faced poverty and periods of anti‑immigrant sentiment in the United States. "I am a proud Mexican and wherever I go I go with my flag ‌and with my Mexican shirt," said Luis Canton, 20, draped in a green flag. ​He lives with his family in Guadalajara and was attending the Switzerland v Bosnia and Herzegovina ​match on a day Mexico were playing in his home city. California ​was part of Mexico until the U.S. seized the West Coast and Southwest in the 1846 to 1848 war, leaving a ‌lasting imprint in place names such as Los Angeles, San ​Francisco and San Diego. Today, Los Angeles ​is home to one of the largest populations of Mexican origin outside Mexico. "Our culture runs deep and we're not afraid to come out and show it," says Alejandra Navarro, a 29‑year‑old nurse from Los Angeles whose parents are from the Mexican state of Michoacan. Damian, her arm draped ​around her 48‑year‑old father, said that passion is rooted ‌in an older generation that grew up playing soccer on the dirt streets of Mexico, like her dad. "Mexico is football," Damian said. "That's ​why anytime you go to a soccer game in Los Angeles, you'll always see someone repping Mexico." (Reporting by Ed White and Joe ​Brock in Los Angeles; Additional reporting by Lili Niesner, editing by Ed Osmond)

Michigan head coach Dusty May, left, is congratulated by athletic director Warde Manuel after 75-72 win over Nebraska at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The college basketball world was rocked on Monday morning when it was reported that Dusty May was leaving Michigan to take the Dallas Maverick’s head coaching job.Michigan athletics director Warde Manuel released a statement on the news on Tuesday afternoon.Below is the full statement from Manuel:“While we are disappointed to see Dusty leave Michigan, we are deeply grateful to the May family for the lasting impact they have made on our program and our university.“In just two seasons, Dusty restored Michigan Basketball to national prominence and led our Wolverines through one of the greatest chapters in program history, culminating in our first national championship in 37 years. His leadership, vision, and belief in our student-athletes helped create a culture of excellence that made the entire Michigan community proud.“We thank Dusty for his commitment to our program and the University of Michigan, and we wish him, Anna, and their family continued success as he begins this next chapter with the Dallas Mavericks.“With summer workouts starting this week, Mike Boynton has been appointed head coach in an interim capacity. Mike has been an invaluable member of our staff and a respected leader throughout his career. He knows what Michigan Basketball represents and has earned the trust and respect of our student-athletes and everyone in our program. His experience, character and commitment to our values make him the right person to guide the team during this transition.“Michigan Basketball’s tradition is as strong as ever, and our future remains bright. We will move forward with confidence, pride, and an unwavering commitment to the championship standard that defines this program.”

An appellate court ruled on Thursday that California cannot enforce its law banning schools from forcibly outing students to their families while a lawsuit against the legislation continues. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals had already ruled in favor of a temporary block on the bill, a decision that the United States Supreme Court later upheld. SCOTUS then sent the case back to the 9th Circuit. Related A school refused to let a gay teen graduate for coming out. Now the school is paying the price. The Circuit Court’s decision mirrored much of the language from the SCOTUS decision and posited that parents “have an affirmative constitutional right” to know everything about their children’s gender expression at school, the LA Times reported. The legislation in question, Assembly Bill 1955 (also known as the SAFETY Act), strengthened existing California law prohibiting school districts from enacting any policy requiring staff to disclose information about a student’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression to anyone without the student’s consent. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today In 2023, at least 10 California school districts adopted policies requiring school staff to out students to their potentially unsupportive parents without the students’ permission, according to the ACLU Northern California. All of these policies seemingly violate longstanding California law and Department of Education guidance. A.B. 1955 was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) in July 2024 amid right-wing opposition. During the Assembly debate at the time, critics of the bill called it a “blanket ban” that infringes on “parental rights.” Several teachers sued, and in 2025, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) opened an investigation into California’s Department of Education (CDE) over the law. The DOE claimed the law violates the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). “The agency launched today’s investigation to vigorously protect parents’ rights and ensure that students do not fall victim to a radical transgender ideology that often leads to family alienation and irreversible medical interventions,” Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in her statement at the time. Mary Ziegler, a parental rights laws expert and a professor at the UC Davis School of Law, told the LA Times that the temporary block is “arguably significantly more extensive than the Supreme Court has spelled out.” “Trans issues are hot-button issues… but this kind of parental rights litigation has much broader ambitions,” Ziegler said, “some of which have nothing to do with LGBTQ people. There’s an ambition to transform parental rights period, and the easiest way to do that is to focus on trans issues.” Ziegler said the final decision on the law’s fate could have massive implications for parental rights in general. “Reasonable people can disagree about what involvement parents should or shouldn’t have in this context,” she said. “But that’s not what this is about. It’s about this complete overhaul of the power parents have. And children are vanishing from the story.”According to The Trevor Project, 28% of LGBTQ+ youth report experience homelessness, with 40% reporting that they were kicked out or abandoned by a parent or guardian due to their LGBTQ+ identity. The National Network for Youth reports similar findings, with 40% of LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness, and familial conflict being the primary cause.A study from the University of Connecticut found that a third of youth who were forcibly outed had a greater likelihood of experiencing major depression as well as low family support. Additionally, more than 65% of youth said being forcibly outed was “highly stressful.” Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

The documents do not indicate that the peeling blue coating and algae blooms were caused intentionally.

Enzo Fernández vs Ayyoub Bouaddi: José Mourinho makes his Real Madrid callIncoming Real Madrid head coach José Mourinho has made a final call on his preferred midfield signing for the 2026/27 campaign.The engine room star in the sights of the Portuguese tactician? Enzo Fernández.It is of course widespread knowledge at this point that Real Madrid are on the hunt for fresh blood in the middle of the park with a view to next season.Amid a search for a profile of player currently missing from the first-team ranks at Valdebebas, Florentino Pérez and co. have drawn up a shortlist of targets from across world football.Two names featuring prominently on this list, it is understood, come in the form of Lille talent Ayyoub Bouaddi, and Chelsea standout Enzo Fernández.And if the latest word stemming from the Spanish media this week is anything to go by, then José Mourinho appears to have a clear favourite in mind when it comes to these two profiles.As per a report from Diario AS:‘Bouaddi isn’t the type of player Mourinho wants. Too young and inexperienced. Enzo Fernández has always been Mourinho’s top priority, and he made that clear to the club.’Conor Laird – GSFN

William Saliba keeps clean sheet as France reach World Cup knockout roundsArsenal defender William Saliba, who recently admitted to managing injury concerns, played the full 90 minutes as France secured their place in the FIFA World Cup knockout stages with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Iraq in Philadelphia.While Kylian Mbappe once again stole the headlines with a brace on his landmark 100th appearance for Les Bleus, Arsenal defender Saliba quietly delivered another assured performance at the heart of the French defence as Didier Deschamps’ side booked their place in the Round of 32.Saliba helps France secure another clean sheetFrance were rarely troubled throughout the contest, with Iraq struggling to create meaningful opportunities despite the match being delayed by a thunderstorm.Saliba completed the full match in central defence and helped France record an important clean sheet as they maintained their perfect start to the tournament.The Arsenal star has become an increasingly important figure for both club and country over the last two years, and his calm display helped ensure Iraq never seriously threatened to get back into the game.With France’s attacking stars grabbing the attention at the other end of the pitch, Saliba’s contribution should not be overlooked as Les Bleus continue to look one of the strongest teams in the competition.Mbappe reaches another World Cup milestoneThe breakthrough arrived after just 14 minutes when Mbappe fired home a powerful strike from outside the box after being set up by Michael Olise.The Real Madrid forward doubled his tally shortly after half-time following a costly defensive error from Iraq, with Ousmane Dembele providing the simple assist after being gifted possession.Dembele then got on the scoresheet himself, finishing off another excellent move involving Olise to seal a comfortable 3-0 victory.Mbappe’s brace took his tournament tally to four goals, leaving him just behind Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot while also moving level with Miroslav Klose’s World Cup scoring record.Saliba set for potential Arsenal showdown with OdegaardFrance’s victory means they join Norway in qualifying from Group I with both nations sitting on six points from their opening two matches.That sets up an intriguing final group game between the two unbeaten sides, with top spot still to be decided.For Arsenal supporters, the fixture offers an added layer of interest as Saliba prepares to face club captain Martin Odegaard. The Norwegian midfielder has already registered an assist and produced a series of impressive performances as his side secured qualification with victories over Iraq and Senegal.With both teams already safely through, it remains to be seen how much either manager rotates. However, a potential meeting between two of Arsenal’s most influential players will certainly be one to watch.France remain among the favourites to lift the trophy, and with Saliba helping provide a solid defensive platform behind a star-studded attack, they continue to look like genuine contenders for World Cup glory.What have you made of Saliba’s performances for France so far, Gooners? _____________________________________________________________________________________________ADMIN COMMENTSo here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us through this link…More Stories / Latest NewsWilliam Saliba keeps clean sheet as France reach World Cup knockout rounds 23 June 2026, 21:21Arsenal’s Calafiori valuation will scare every suitor this summer 23 June 2026, 20:00Odegaard captains Norway to World Cup knockout stages 23 June 2026, 18:45

The Houston Texans might be content with quarterback C.J. Stroud for the 2026 NFL season, but let's say they wanted another passer to compete beyond the upcoming year?Could Cincinnati gunslinger Brendan Sorsby be an option in the upcoming NFL Supplemental Draft?Actually, no. The reason? There is no draft later on next month. The NFL told Sorsby and his camp on Tuesday afternoon that the leauge would not be holding its supplemental draft for the former college quarterback who recently dealt with a legal investigation from the NCAA after he admitted to gambling on games prior to his arrival at Texas Tech. Between his time at Indiana and Cincinnati, Sorsby admitted to betting thousands of times on college and pro sports, bets that totaled upward of $90,000 and included 40 wagers on Indiana football while a member of the program.The NFL has informed teams that it will NOT be holding a Supplemental Draft, meaning Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby will not be eligible to enter the NFL in 2026.The CBA allows the league to decide whether to hold a Supplemental Draft, and this year, it won’t. pic.twitter.com/MU2dZGmokw— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 23, 2026The league's decision came down to its right to decide whether to hold a supplemental draft, per the collective bargaining agreement, as league officials said they believed it would ultimately become a distraction to teams as they begin training camps."The Petition provides no information regarding the basis for, or timing of, the NCAA's decision," the letter states. "Public sources, however, indicate that in May 2026 the NCAA issued a determination declaring you permanently ineligible from participation in college athletics, based on a sustained pattern of improper gambling activity during your collegiate career at three different universities."Sorsby, who had initially been issued a temporary injunction to clear his path to play for Texas Tech in 2026, eventually elected to enter the supplemental draft after the Big 12 filed a motion in federal court to have the league suspend Sorsby internally. According to NFL draft makers, Sorsby was projected to be a third-round talent who would likely cost a fourth- or fifth-round pick to land, given that the league could elect to suspend him once drafted in July. According to ESPN, Sorsby's attorney, Jeffrey Kessler, said that while the NFL could elect not to hold a supplemental draft, but not allowing Sorsby to be signed by an NFL team ahead of the 2026 season is a "violation of the CBA and the law." Kessler said he and Sorsby would pursue this immediately with the NFLPA.The Texans begin training camp starting on July 21. This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans won't have a shot to land QB Brendan Sorsby, NFL supplemental draft canceled

BYU forward AJ Dybantsa is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick by the Washington Wizards in the 2026 NBA draft on Tuesday, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.Dybantsa was a consensus first-team All-American, averaging 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 33.1% from 3-point range. He led the country in scoring after totaling 894 points, the third-most by a freshman in history.The 19-year-old only met with the Wizards and the Utah Jazz (No. 2 pick) throughout the predraft process as a projected top pick. Washington initially narrowed its focus on drafting Dybantsa or Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, but it has made its decision, Charania said on "NBA Today."The league-wide belief that I garner is that the Wizards are locking in on AJ Dybantsa with that No. 1 overall pick. (President) Michael Winger and (general manager) Will Dawkins, the Wizards' executives, have done research on Cam Boozer and on Darryn Peterson, obviously, at that No. 1 slot. They are going to do their due diligence, but when you look at AJ Dybantsa at the wings, they look at him as a natural fit next to Trae Young, who just got a massive $212 million max contract. They got Anthony Davis in the middle, and so a natural wing for them is what they're targeting.Dybantsa revealed last week that he didn't work out for either the Wizards or Jazz and only visited the cities and met with their front offices. Meanwhile, Peterson previously met with the Wizards and just spoke with the Jazz over the weekend.The 6-foot-9 Dybantsa is highly regarded because of his physical tools, athleticism and ability to seemingly score at will from everywhere on the floor. He showcased his athleticism last month at the combine, recording a 42-inch max vertical jump, the fourth-highest mark.Dybantsa entered the season as the front-runner to be the No. 1 overall pick, and it appears that he will soon earn that distinction from the Wizards on Tuesday (8 p.m. EDT; ABC, ESPN).This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Report: Wizards 'locking in' on AJ Dybantsa as the No. 1 overall pick

🎥 World Cup highlights: CR7 blasts away his frustration v UzbekistanSomeone really let off steam and showed his haters. Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in Portugal’s 5–0 win over Uzbekistan. Here you can watch the highlights in the video. That gave Portugal their first win at this World Cup, putting them in a pretty good position to reach the round of 32. This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.