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The "miniature masterpiece" will go on display during an upcoming exhibition focused on the legacy Rome left in the highlands the empire dubbed Caledonia

Ohio State coach Ryan Day talks to his team during NCAA college football practice in Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon, File)2026-08-07T21:13:20Z COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — At the start of his eighth season as Ohio State football head coach, Ryan Day is looking for his eighth consecutive AP top 10 finish, including No. 5 last season when the Buckeyes fell short of defending their 2024 national championship. With those high expectations in mind, he had a relatively long list of concerns after coming off the practice field Thursday for the first time this preseason. “Well, I think we all wanna see how the offensive line shakes out here, that’s for sure,” Day said. “I think the tight end room is an interesting room. I think that we do have some depth there, but who’s actually gonna take the majority of those reps?”He also listed backup quarterback and receiver slots three, four, five and six before wondering about the running back position, where 1,000-yard rusher Bo Jackson is back, and the defensive secondary as a whole. While Day being mostly concerned about backups might illustrate the types of “problems” most coaches would gladly take, the offensive line was a sore point throughout the offseason after getting shoved around in season-ending losses to Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game and Miami (Fla.) in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.Four starters return, but more than one position might have a new starter when the Buckeyes open the season at home against Ball State on Sept. 5. Austin Siereveld, who started at left tackle last season, was at right guard Thursday to allow the team to take a look at Ian Moore at left tackle.They could end up joining center Carson Hinzman, left guard Luke Montgomery and right tackle Phillip Daniels in the starting lineup, but others are also likely to get a look this month, including Joshua Padilla at guard. Read More At tight end, the Buckeyes lost Will Kacmarek and Max Klare to the NFL, but return Bennett Christian and Nate Roberts. Newcomers include transfer Mason Williams (Ohio University) and Hunter Welcing (Northwestern), so the cupboard is not exactly bare.No one is likely to cry for Day when it comes to receiver either, as All-American Jeremiah Smith is back for his junior season along with senior Brandon Inniss, a respected leader who can play inside or out. The choices to fill in the depth chart there include five-star freshman Chris Henry Jr. and transfers Devin McCuin (Texas-San Antonio) and Kyle Parker (LSU).Despite Jackson’s return at running back, the pecking order might not be determined thanks to a strong offseason for classmate Isaiah West’s work in the weight room over the winter and summer.“He had a tremendous offseason, one of the best in the whole building,” Day said of West, who took reps with the first team offense Thursday. “When he was in there last year, he showed some real good things, so we want him to take the next step, just as we do Bo.”Another option at running back, freshman Legend Bey, was not on the practice field Thursday, and Day attributed that to a violation of team rules.“He’s learning, but he’ll be back on the field soon,” Day said. The Buckeyes open the season on Sept. 5 against Ball State before a potential top 10 matchup at Texas the following week. ___Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito attends a meeting in Rome, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File)2026-08-07T20:56:53Z WASHINGTON (AP) — Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito confirmed Friday he’s staying on the nation’s highest court, weeks after a swell of speculation about a possible retirement.“Obviously, I’m here for another term,” Alito, 76, said in an interview published in The Wall Street Journal’s editorial section.Discussion of Alito’s future hit a fever pitch in June, when a mistake by a veteran Supreme Court reporter at National Public Radio resulted in the erroneous publication of a previously prepared retirement story.The story was quickly retracted and the court confirmed it was inaccurate, but that did not stop the talk about what Alito might do. A retirement would likely have given Republican President Donald Trump a chance to name a fourth Supreme Court justice.In a rare interview in his chambers, Alito also discussed the state of the court, rejecting the idea that political partisanship affects his decisions.“I vote in every case the way I think the case should be decided,” he said. “If that means a high correlation with what Trump wants, fine. If it means zero correlation with what Trump wants, fine as well.”

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito attends a meeting in Rome, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File)2026-08-07T21:13:09Z RICHFIELD, Utah (AP) — A heavy-lift helicopter helping battle a Utah wildfire crashed Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration said, with no immediate word on the conditions of the two aboard. The helicopter was one of seven working the fire in central Utah that was caused by lightning on July 27.The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the Sikorsky S64 helicopter crashed in Richfield, Utah.The Sevier County Sheriff did not immediately respond to questions about the crash, and the FAA and wildfire officials didn’t have information on the conditions of the two people who were on board.The National Transportation Safety Board and FAA will investigate the crash, but they may not be able to safely reach the scene immediately if the wildfire is burning nearby.The fire had grown to 165 square miles (427 square kilometers) and was 19% contained by Friday. The helicopter that crashed was one of seven working the blaze.Crews were warned Friday morning that erratic winds, dry fuels and hot temperatures were on tap as well as the potential for dry thunderstorms and lightning. Red Flag warnings were in effect.

Pilgrims attend an outdoor Mass outside the Church of San Cayetano during the annual pilgrimage honoring Saint Cajetan, the patron saint of work, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, Aug. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)2026-08-07T21:07:15Z BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Nearly 40 years after the last papal visit to Argentina, many Catholics received the news of Pope Leo XIV’s trip to the South American country in November as a divine sign during economic hardships that have driven millions of Argentines into debt.The announcement of Leo’s first South American tour comes at a time when the Argentine Catholic Church has been warning of an alarming deterioration in the living conditions of the most marginalized sectors as a consequence of libertarian President Javier Milei’s austerity plan. Since taking office in December 2023, Milei has managed to slow inflation and reduce the fiscal deficit, but at a high social cost.The decline in wages and pensions, coupled with an increase in the cost of public transportation, utilities, rent and food, has forced millions of Argentines to go into debt to survive. “I hope the Pope comes to help the poor like me,” said María Ruíz Díaz, a 70-year-old retiree who, as she does every Aug. 7, went to the Parish of Saint Cajetan in Buenos Aires to pray to the Catholic saint of work.“The country is going through a difficult time; there are many brothers and sisters in need,” said Santiago Olave, 60, among dozens of devotees waiting to enter the sanctuary. “The Pope can open hearts and minds.”Milei has defended his plan, saying this week: “I am not going to engage in populism. I am going to die with my boots on, doing what is right and doing what is proper. If you want populism, you have other alternatives.” A timely visit for Argentina’s Catholic community Coinciding with the announcement of the pope’s visit, the parish placed a cardboard cutout next to the image of the saint, depicting the pope alongside an elderly woman, a woman with a disability in a wheelchair, a homeless man, and a teacher, beneath the inscription “Saint Cajetan, here are your people.” Read More They represent some of the sectors most affected by the Milei administration’s budget cuts to health,education and vulnerable populations. “Saint Cajetan, here are your people, who refuse to accept that work is a commodity and that one must have two or more jobs to make ends meet, or fall into the trap of loans that indebt and suffocate so many families,” said the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Monsignor Jorge García Cuerva, as he led Mass on Friday.“With Pope Leo XIV, we say that economic freedom cannot be absolute and must always be measured in terms of the common good and the dignity of each person,” the archbishop added. 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. During his stay, Leo will visit the shrine of Our Lady of Lujan, the patron saint of Argentina, in that suburb west of the capital, and the province of Cordoba, the Vatican confirmed. Leo will visit Argentina, Uruguay and Peru from Nov. 8-11. The schedule of activities has not yet been announced.The last leader of the Catholic Church to visit Argentina was John Paul II in April 1987. Francis never returned to his native country after assuming the papacy in 2013.The visit is especially significant because of Leo’s longstanding ties to Peru. The first U.S.-born pope spent decades there as a missionary and church leader and served as bishop of Chiclayo from 2015-2023. He also holds Peruvian citizenship. ___Follow AP’s Latin America coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

After two Cornell University students skinned a black bear in a communal kitchen last year to make a meal, the school changed the rules.

Argentine football star Diego Maradona (Dominique FAGET)The soccer ball that Diego Maradona used to score his notorious "Hand of God" goal during Argentina's win over England in the 1986 World Cup is expected to sell for $10 million at a US auction this month.Maradona's goal in the quarter-final match saw him illegally punch the ball into the net -- a foul missed by the referee. After the match, the Argentine star said his goal was scored "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God." His nation went on to win the World Cup. Heritage Auctions, based in Texas, expects the ball will sell for eight figures when it goes under the hammer from August 21 to 23, with a $2.5 million opening bid. The jersey that Maradona, who died in November 2020, wore during the Argentina-England clash currently holds the record for the most expensive soccer shirt -- standing at $9.3 million. Tensions between old foes Argentina and England flared again in a semi-final at this year's World Cup, where the South American side prevailed before losing the final. Politically, the two sides have a long-standing sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands. bjt-pel/md

Andy Burnham has said it "insane" that the UK has hosted only one World Cup, accusing Fifa and Uefa of conspiring against the home nations. The Prime Minister questioned if the organisations had "something against us", with the UK not hosting the World Cup since 1966.Mr Burnham referenced his involvement in England's doomed 2010 bid for the 2018 World Cup, which was awarded to Russia. The controversy around that process, and the 2022 Qatar World Cup, eventually unseated then-Fifa president Sepp Blatter and other senior officials.England’s bid only received two votes from 22 members of the Fifa executive committee, amid claims of bribery.Andy Burnham, pictured during a football match between Labour Party members and journalists in 2016, is an Everton fan (Danny Lawson/PA)Mr Blatter’s replacement, Gianni Infantino, is currently under fire for proposals to sell shares in the World Cup to private investors.Mr Burnham, an Everton fan, was speaking to the Away Days podcast, which showed him looking through classic Everton, England and Liverpool shirts.He had been culture, media and sports secretary in the run-up to the World Cup bid being submitted, when he was part of Gordon Brown’s cabinet.The podcast’s host, Ellis Platten, said to the Prime Minister: “The fact we’ve only ever hosted one World Cup in Britain is insane to me.”Mr Burnham replied: “Definitely. I don’t know, it makes you wonder whether the authorities at the European and global level have something against us, I don’t know.“The country that invented the game, you know, you’d think we would have had a bit more of that attention. I have been part of Governments that have tried to bring the World Cup here, it’s just the voting.“Let’s be honest, some of the practices within football haven’t supported even-handed decision-making. I’m being diplomatic here, but it’s not good, is it?”Despite not hosting the World Cup for 60 years, the UK has hosted games at the men’s European Championships twice and fixtures at the 2028 tournament will be played in the UK and Ireland.Meanwhile, the UK will host the women’s World Cup in 2035. It hosted the 2005 and 2022 women’s European Championships. The latter saw England’s women win the tournament for the first time on home soil.Since entering Downing Street himself, Mr Burnham has called for Mr Infantino to resign, saying he is the “wrong man” to lead Fifa over his bungled attempt to sell off stakes in the World Cup to private investors.He told journalists: “I do not believe that he is the right man to lead football forward on the world stage.“The plan that was put forward was offensive to many people, football people, around the world, and it can’t be the case that we just move on and forget that, it wasn’t acceptable.”

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JULY 31: Shane Drohan #55 of the Milwaukee Brewers looks on during the second inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on July 31, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Ryan Sun/Getty Images) | Getty Images After a 3-1 series victory over the Pirates, the Milwaukee Brewers turn their attention to their western border and welcome the Minnesota Twins to town for a three-day weekend set. The Twins, despite low external expectations before the season, are hanging around in the American League playoff race, but they’re coming off of a series in which they lost two of three to the lowly Kansas City Royals. Minnesota’s lineup is not the issue. This group boasts plenty of punch, even with their central star, Byron Buxton, on the injured list; the Twins are just five runs behind the White Sox for most runs in the American League this season (though the top seven teams in runs scored are all in the NL, so Minnesota is just 10th overall). The Twins’ weakness this season has been on the pitching side, especially in the bullpen, though they made a couple of moves to shore up that unit at the trade deadline with deals that brought in relievers Jeff Hoffman, AJ Minter, Tommy Nance, and starter Dean Kremer.Tonight, the Twins will throw righty Zebby Matthews, freshly recalled from Triple-A St. Paul in the wake of Joe Ryan’s glute injury and subsequent IL placement. Matthews has bounced back and forth between the majors and minors this season, and will be making his 15th start for the Twins; in 81 innings in his previous 14 starts, Matthews is 4-8 with a 5.22 ERA and 5.03 FIP. Matthews doesn’t walk a ton of batters but his home runs are up quite a bit in 2026 while his strikeouts are down quite a bit, an unenviable combination.In response, Milwaukee will pitch Shane Drohan, who makes his 13th start and 23rd appearance for the Brewers. In 88 innings overall this season, Drohan has a 3.48 ERA and impressive 3.03 FIP, but arguably his biggest contribution has been his consistency; in six starts in July, Drohan went at least 5 2/3 innings each time out, and except for one unfortunate game against the Rockies, he allowed three runs or fewer in all of them.Jake Bauers is notably back in the lineup at first base for the Brewers after missing a couple of games with abdominal issues. This does finally enact the “move Christian Yelich down in the lineup” plan that was delayed when Bauers was scratched earlier this week, though Yelich will bat sixth tonight instead of the seventh position he was originally slated for. Also notable is that David Hamilton continues to get starts at third base against right-handed pitchers, while Joey Ortiz is on the bench for the fourth straight game. Cooper Pratt is at shortstop, with Brice Turang in his usual spot at second, while William Contreras catches and the outfield goes Jackson Chourio-Garrett Mitchell-Luis Lara from left to right.A big note about the Twins’ lineup tonight: it’ll be the debut for the team’s #2 prospect via MLB Pipeline and their #29 prospect overall, Kaelen Culpepper. (Kaelen is not, no matter what Google’s AI tells you, related to Daunte.) Culpepper is a 23-year-old who was the Twins’ first-round draft pick in 2024 and boasts solid tools across the board. In 74 games for St. Paul this season, Culpepper hit .271/.367/.478 with 15 doubles, 14 homers, and 17 stolen bases in 20 tries. He’ll start at shorstop and bat seventh tonight, just in front of old friend Victor Caratini.First pitch is at 6:40 p.m. on Brewers TV and the Brewers Radio Network.Friday night at our house 🏠📺: https://t.co/eycfmE2vgm📻: WTMJ pic.twitter.com/sYQw85EXyB— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) August 7, 2026Debut on deck‼️📺 https://t.co/usGFyQCbUxpic.twitter.com/5q09ncXViL— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) August 7, 2026

What WNBA rulebook actually says about Enes Kanter Freedom, other men playing in women's basketball league originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Enes Kanter Freedom is the latest athlete to push back on the suggestion that trans women should be allowed to play women's sports.The NBA journeyman-turned-right wing activist announced that he was declaring for the 2027 WNBA Draft on Friday, claiming that he and his team found a loophole allowing for him to play in the women's league."I know my presence on the court will stir up strong opinions. I am definitely not here to mock, make fun of, or disrespect any community or personal choices," Freedom said. "I’m simply asking that the current rules be applied equally to everyone — the rules that represent the very values many WNBA players and coaches have publicly advocated for."Freedom's declaration had the sports world talking. Here's what you need to know about whether he actually can be considered eligible to play in the WNBA.MORE: Meet France's transgender basketball player getting WNBA buzzCan Enes Kanter Freedom play in the WNBA?Freedom's latest publicity stunt doesn't appear likely to land him in the WNBA.Article 13, Section 1 of the WNBA's collective bargaining agreement states that "only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA."Article 34, Section 6 of the collective bargaining agreement vows to strike out discrimination. Through the edict, the league, its teams and the players union promised to not discriminate against or in favor of any player "because of religion, race, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status or activity or lack of activity."The NBA's collective bargaining agreement features the same clause, outlined in Article 30, Section 5.There has been just one transgender and nonbinary player in WNBA history: Layshia Clarendon, who played for the Fever, Dream, Sun, Liberty, Lynx and Sparks across her 12-year career.Freedom, who played 11 seasons in the NBA, has made trans athletes the target of his scorn before. In 2023, he flirted with "putting on a wig, identifying as a woman" and attempting to embark on a WNBA career during a rant on X."Is that when the outrage will begin? Is that fair to all the women who spent their whole life chasing their goals? Where are all the Women Rights Activists and Feminists?!" Freedom said.Freedom retired from the NBA in 2022 and has not played professional basketball since.MORE:What to know about WNBA transgender rallies, protestsWNBA gender eligibility rulesArticle 13, Section 1 of the WNBA's CBA states “only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA." The league doesn't have a public-facing policy regarding transgender athletes, making no specific reference to their eligibility in the CBA.That's par for course in North American women's sports. Neither the NWSL nor the PWHL's CBAs contain specific references on gender eligibility or transgender participation. As is the case with the WNBA and NBA CBAs, NWSL and PWHL's agreements feature clauses that declare that the treatise will be applied "without discrimination."MORE:Why Sophie Cunningham doubled down on transgender athlete stanceWNBA transgender player policyThe WNBA does not presently have a public-facing policy regarding the eligibility of trans athletes. The league's CBA, signed in March, contains no mention of transgender athletes' eligibility.Proponents for a stricter policy often suggest that athletes should be subjected to "gender verification tests." Former NWSL defender Elizabeth Eddy requested for the league to implement a new process to determine eligibility. Eddy called on the NWSL to require only people born with ovaries to be eligible to play in an op-ed released in 2025. She also suggested the league test players via the SRY gene test, which was used at the World Athletics Championships last year.Such tests can prove faulty and dehumanizing. Zambian soccer star Barbra Banda was left out of the 2022 African Cup of Nations after failing to meet the competition's gender rules due to elevated testosterone levels. Her test wasn't handled properly. She has continued to be subjected to anti-Black and transphobic abuse in the years since the results of her test went public, with transphobe J.K. Rowling calling her a man in a social media post in 2024. Both the NWSL and the Orlando Pride were forced to put out statements denouncing the language directed towards Banda during games.MORE: History of WNBA players who can dunkAre there transgender players in the WNBA?Layshia Clarendon made history as the first active nonbinary and trans player to play in the WNBA. The 12-year veteran, who uses all pronouns, announced they were trans and nonbinary shortly after the end of the 2020 season.A one-time All-Star in 2017, Clarendon averaged 7.6 points, 3.2 assists and 2.7 rebounds across his WNBA career. He became the first active WNBA player to undergo top surgery in 2021.Clarendon retired from the WNBA in 2024.“I want Trans people to know and see that we’ve always existed & no one can erase us!,’ Clarendon wrote on Instagram at the time of their operation. “I want people to remember that my freedom is your freedom because none of us are free until we are all free!!!"In addition to their on-court exploits, Clarendon also served as the WNBPA's first vice president in 2016. They played a pivotal role in helping facilitate the WNBA's collective bargaining agreement in 2020 — a building block for the most recent CBA deal that saw salaries soar.“Existing outside of the binary for me is freedom,” Clarendon wrote on Instagram in 2020. “I know that as Andrea Gibson says, my pronouns haven’t even been invented yet. I know that we all have masculinity and femininity inside of us and mine show up equally and wholly and fully… To the Trans Community, I see you, I love you, I love us. We are whole, we are enough, we are f— badass."MORE: What to know about newly named WNBA expansion team Cleveland SirensWhat WNBA has said about transgender athletesOn Friday, the WNBPA released a statement extolling the virtues of justice, equity and inclusion while saying the union "will not be used as political pawns.""We embrace justice equity, diversity, and inclusion," the statement read. "Those are the values that unite this Union and allow it to protect women's sports while creating transformational change. Hate, abuse, and demonization of any person or group of people, including transgender people, only fuel fear, division, and harm. We will continue to have hard conversations. But we will not be used as political pawns."It was the latest in a string of supportive comments issued by notable WNBA figures towards trans people. Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve, Storm big Stefanie Dolson and Valkyries star Gabby Williams offered backing for trans athletes, who have been subjected to additional vitriol following Cunningham's remarks. “I would welcome a trans athlete on my team or against my team, anytime," Williams said. "I don’t think it’s a problem in the world. It’s just another way to kind of attack trans people. We’ve seen players like Layshia Clarendon, who stepped into that forefront, and have been brave enough, and courageous enough, to step up. So I guess that’s the next battle we have to fight as athletes.”

The clock is ticking on the current session of the United States Senate, and President Donald Trump is urging Senators to remain in Washington, D.C., to pass the Protect College Sports Act.In a social media post Friday, Aug. 7, Trump said the following:"THE PROTECT COLLEGE SPORTS ACT is a great Bill, and the Senate will hopefully stay in D.C. until it passes," Trump posted on his Truth Social account, which also was reposted on X -- the former Twitter platform. "Without this Bill, millions of young Athletes will be hurt, programs will be canceled, Women's and Olympic Sports will go away, the fans will be robbed, and Universities will go broke. Nobody has done more to protect Women Athletes than me — and this Bill CLEARLY protects the Laws in 27 States protecting Women's Sports, and banning Men from Women's Sports. "Anyone who tells you differently is LYING! Stop grandstanding, and try getting this done. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP"The bipartisan bill, which features a host of co-sponsors first organized by Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Eric Schmitt (R-Texas) and Chris Coons (D-Del.), added new co-sponsors late in the week via Colorado's John Hickenlooper (D-Col.) and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.).The final wording on the 171-page bill, a copy of which USA TODAY Sports obtained, was sent to Senators late on Monday, August 3, and into the morning hours of Tuesday, Aug. 4.Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-Wash.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) also recently joined as co-sponsors of the bill.Throughout Friday, Aug. 7, multiple Senators moved to add amendments to the bill during its debate on the floor; also this week, the Congressional Black Caucus voiced its staunch opposition to the proposed legislation.Sen. Cruz, however, late Thursday, Aug. 9, called for his Senate colleagues to carry forth the bill."Momentum continues to grow for the Protect College Sports Act. With the start of the school year around the corner, the time to pass this bill through the Senate and House and send it to President Trump's desk is now," Cruz said in a statement provided to USA TODAY Sports. "The Protect College Sports Act, which notably has the backing of 28 collegiate conferences, is our last best chance to preserve one of America's great unifying traditions for the athletes who compete and the fans who fill the stands. I thank Senators Ricketts and Hickenlooper for co-sponsoring this landmark, bipartisan bill, and I look forward to its overwhelming passage on the Senate floor."This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Present Donald Trump presses Senate to delay recess, pass Protect College Sports Act

Numerous internet commenters pointed out that when President Donald Trump gave a rally speech in Las Vegas, Nevada on Wednesday night, he seemed to have a “dramatically fuller, fluffier, and suspiciously youthful head of blond hair,” the feminist cultural site Jezebel noted. Numerous web commenters subsequently posted side-by-side images of Trump’s hair, allegedly taken just days before his Wednesday night address, to compare its sudden change; and folks seem convinced that he’s now wearing a wig. However, Trump has denied in the past that he wears a toupee. Related Trump is “weakest he’s ever been,” journalist says “Either a chinchilla landed on Trump’s head or he’s workshopping a toupee to see if anyone will notice,” one observer joked. “Trump’s hair has more volume today than his approval ratings,” another quipped. Yet another referred to Trump’s ‘do as a “gender affirming hairpiece.” The speculation about Trump’s possible hairpiece is part of a larger interest in the 80-year-old leader’s overall health. Lesbian MS NOW host Rachel Maddow recently criticized Trump’s health, and Trump’s lesbian niece Mary Trump has called him “deeply unhealthy.” Both have noticed the discoloration on the back of his hands and commented on the fact that Trump has repeatedly visited doctors recently for physical check-ups and metal acuity tests. 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 Here are a collection of web comments about Trump’s conspicuous hairdo: Trump's hair, uh, has a lot more volume than normal pic.twitter.com/0qMw2iL0ud— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 5, 2026 Trump’s hair, 2 days apart pic.twitter.com/fEtg6mVjt4— 𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐔𝐍𝐄𝐒 (@Antunes1) August 6, 2026 This was Trump's hair less than 3 months ago https://t.co/3QhA2gZXEg pic.twitter.com/D65dXM2JPh— Democrats (@TheDemocrats) August 6, 2026 pic.twitter.com/6Rg6QFqqak— Who Was That Masked Man? (@WasMasked) August 6, 2026 Did Trump find his mother's old wig? pic.twitter.com/VHgKdPz7PO— Leia (@TheSWPrincess) August 6, 2026 Breaking News from BBC pic.twitter.com/tDomz2iyLC— DulceBiatch (@BiatchDulce) August 5, 2026 Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

The Korea Aerospace Research Institute captured before-and-after images of the impact site, and a telescope in Chile detected signs of the plume. However, no one was able to watch the collision live

Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke looks on from the bench in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Feb. 3, 2026, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill, File)2026-08-07T21:24:08Z LOS ANGELES (AP) — Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke died in May from the effects of heroin and cocaine, authorities said Friday.The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner said the 29-year-old basketball player’s death was accidental.Clarke was found dead inside a home near Los Angeles on May 11. A person familiar with the terms of the investigation told The Associated Press after the Grizzlies announced Clarke’s passing that drug paraphernalia was found at the residence. The person had spoken on condition of anonymity because those details had not been released publicly.Clarke was under contract to be with the Grizzlies through the 2026-27 season.About six weeks before he died, Clarke was arrested in Arkansas on charges of speeding, reckless driving and possessing a controlled substance. He was with Memphis for all seven of his pro seasons after finishing his college career at Gonzaga.

In many species of wild animals, males have flashier features than females to help them attract mates. But scientists have long noticed that humans seem to be an exception, with women often being considered the "fairer sex"

The palm-size creature was spotted and collected during a research expedition more than a decade ago, but scientists have just identified it as a previously undescribed species

The insects are estimated to be worth up to $141,000, according to Australia's Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water. Exotic cockroaches could harm the country’s wildlife and agriculture

Ice flow modeling and geological analyses suggest it's possible that glaciers carried the stone part of the way during the last Ice Age. However, scientists say that scenario is unlikely

The state attorney general said that her office had issued subpoenas and would investigate whether employees at the migrant detention center had violated civil rights.

In the world of kitchen remodeling, there are entirely DIY projects (like this ‘80s kitchen makeover), while some transformations require professional help (and there’s no shame in that!).However, some unique makeovers are so hands-off, they take place while the homeowner is living in an entirely different country — at least, that was the case for Sonia Blair’s Latin American home. Blair owns a home in Mazatlan, Mexico, but lives in Colorado. READ MORE...

Joe Ofahengaue scored Leigh’s second try [SwPix]Betfred Super LeagueLeigh (12) 22Tries: Charnley, Ofahengaue, Badrock, Armstrong Goals: Cook 3York (10) 14Tries: Bennison 3 Goals: BennisonLeigh scored four tries to beat York and boost their Super League play-off hopes despite Joe Bennison’s hat-trick for the Knights.First-half tries from Josh Charnley and Joe Ofahengaue helped the home side into a 12-10 half-time lead, with Bennison going over twice for York. Further scores from Andy Badrock and David Armstrong stretched the lead to 22-10. Bennison completed his hat-trick with eight minutes remaining, but Leigh comfortably saw out victory. Leeds fight back to beat Wakefield in thrillerHull KR go fourth with huge win at troubled TigersA 14th win of the season keeps Leigh in sixth place, level on points with both Warrington and Hull KR above them, and with a four-point buffer in the play-off spots to seventh-placed St Helens. York stay in 10th having failed to build on last week’s impressive victory over Saints.They took the lead after just four minutes when a break from Ata Hingano led to Bennison’s first try of the night, but Leigh quickly responded as they worked Charnley into the right corner. Ofahengaue powered his way over to put Leigh in front and the goal, followed by a penalty from Adam Cook, pushed the hosts out to a 12-6 lead. But York replied before the break as Bennison took Cody Hunter’s long pass to score his second try. Seven minutes into the second half, Leigh extended their lead as Umyla Hanley almost found the line before Badrock found a soft shoulder to barge over. Lachlan Lam then stepped off his left foot to break the line and send Armstrong under the posts with 16 minutes remaining. York did manage a third try as they worked the ball left from their head and feet and Bennison dived spectacularly to score his hat-trick try. But the missed goal from out wide kept the visitors two scores behind and they never threatened again in the closing minutes. Leigh were there for the taking - reactionLeigh Leopards head coach Adrian Lam told BBC Radio Manchester:"We just did enough tonight. We were probably on a bit of a downer after last week."No disrespect to York but I felt the performance was a bit flat and we need to get up for next week."But we've got the two points in the bag, it puts us four points clear in the top six and now we can focus on trying to climb that ladder."York Knights head coach Mark Applegarth told BBC Radio York:"It's a frustrating night. I thought we played very tough but ultimately we lacked a bit of game management and you invite a team like Leigh on, something is going to give."The start of the second half cost us in the end, we were a little bit loose and invited them back on easy field position."I thought Leigh were there for the taking today. I didn't think they were at their best but how they managed that game is a great lesson for us."Leigh: Armstrong, Senior, Badrock, Hanley, Charnley, Cook, Lam, Ofahengaue, Horne, Mulhern, Trout, Alick-Wiencke, BroganInterchanges: Lui, Davis, O’Brien, IpapeYork: Mata’afa, Galeano, Wood, Williams, Bennison, Hunter, McShane, Martin, Inman, Va’a, Foster, Field, HinganoInterchanges: Balmforth, Vaughan, Thompson, DeeReferee: James Vella.

Betfred Super LeagueWakefield (16) 22Tries: Vagana, Hamlin-Uele, Myers, Sinfield Goals: Sinfield 3Leeds (6) 24Tries: Croft, McDonnell, Smith, Hankinson Goals: Connor 4Leeds Rhinos edged a thrilling top-of-the-table clash against Wakefield Trinity with late drama to go four points clear in Super League.A sell-out crowd at DIY Kitchens Stadium were royally entertained as the top two served up a match worthy of a Grand Final, but it was the Rhinos fans who were celebrating at the death.Despite trailing for all but three minutes of the contest, Leeds held their nerve to land a sucker punch with two moments of skill from the boot of Jake Connor to snatch victory.With 77 minutes on the clock, Connor's grubber-kick was pounced on by Chris Hankinson to level the scores at 22-22. Connor then held his nerve to kick the extras from five yards inside the touchline as the leaders claimed a memorable success and remain on course to win the League Leaders' Shield.This was a match in which Leeds showed grit, discipline and character to hold on to Wakefield's tail as the hosts withstood early pressure before stretching out into a 16-0 lead with three tries all converted by Jack Sinfield.They came from Isaiah Vagana after a clever kick from Sinfield, a bullocking run from Caius Faatili, who broke two tackles and offloaded to Caleb Hamlin-Uele, while Jayden Myers went over in the corner as Wakefield delivered a commanding yet surprising advantage.But Leeds have shown they rarely lie down so far this season and after Brodie Croft's 25th Super League try of the campaign gave them hope, a stunning second-half comeback, in which Cam Smith was irresistible off the bench, helped them grab the win late on.The second half began with Wakefield extending their advantage through Sinfield, who wrestled the ball over the line and then added the extras in an impressive overall display.But in keeping with plenty of his team-mates, they faded as Leeds surged and after Cam Scott and Hamlin-Uele had rescued Wakefield with brilliant last-ditch tackles to deny two tries, the dam burst.James McDonnell bullied his way through the home defence to make it 22-10 with Connor's boot adding another two to put them within 10 points of Wakefield.The excellent Smith - who will join Wakefield next season - was again aided by Connor as he powered through three minutes later as Leeds closed the gap to four points.With the comeback definitely on, Wakefield were creaking under huge pressure, but to their credit they held on to their advantage until three minutes from time.Connor's kick to set up Hankinson out wide pulled the scores level, but last year's Man of Steel is looking as shiny as ever and he produced a nerveless kick from the left flank to seal a remarkable turnaround.Victory delivered a major step towards a top-two finish for Leeds with five games remaining in the regular season, and with a points difference of over 200 points on Wakefield and Wigan Warriors in second and third their lead at the top is effectively five points.A home semi-final looks assured from this point and if they can repeat this sort of form in the post-season a genuine Grand Final appearance could well follow.'It was exactly the game that we needed' - reactionWakefield head coach Daryl Powell told BBC Radio Leeds: "I am obviously disappointed. We had an excellent first half and I didn't think Leeds deserved that at the end but they got it."After we scored that try in the second half we just made too many errors. We gave penalties away and yardage. There are some key lessons in big games [to take away]. But it took until the last three minutes to reel us in and while you could see it coming I still felt we had a fair bit of fight about us."If we improve on that we can be a threat at the back end of the season."The clarity of thought under pressure was not there, but play like we did in the first half, we will take a little bit of dealing with. They have a lot of attacking threats and we dealt with them."Leeds Rhinos head coach Brad Arthur told BBC Radio Leeds:"It was an incredibly tough, gritty and [we showed] plenty of character in the second half. It was not our best performance by any means but it was probably exactly the game, the 80-minute game, that we needed."We have had everything pretty much our way for a long time and that was the first time in a long while we have been properly tested. We had to fight and get put under pressure and we had to get our composure back."We got kicked down, punched to the ground, and we had to get back up on our feet and go again and we did that on several occasions."They are a really good side, they threw everything at us. It is nice to come out on the right side but we still have a fair bit of work to do. Our young blokes stood up well."There might have been some questions at half-time - are these blokes tough enough? We showed that we were."Wakefield: Rourke; Myers, Scott, Hall, Johnstone; Trueman, Sinfield; Lolesio, Smoothy, Rodwell, McMeeken, Vagana, TevagaInterchanges: Pitts, Hamlin-Uele, Faatili, Smith.Leeds: Miller; Edgell, Handley, Bird, Newman; Croft, Connor; Oledzki, O'Connor, Jenkins, Hankinson, McDonnell, Watkins.Interchanges: Smith, Lloyd, Cassell, Holroyd.Referee: Liam Moore.Hull KR go fourth with huge win at troubled TigersLeigh beat York despite Bennison hat-trick

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The Chicago Bears added significant experience to their secondary on Friday by signing safety Xavier Woods, who has 121 starts in nine NFL seasons.The Bears placed defensive back Dallis Flowers on injured reserve following an injury to his right leg in Thursday’s practice.The 31-year-old Woods has 15 career interceptions, including two in 11 games for Tennessee last season. He had 39 tackles for the Titans.Woods played his first four seasons with Dallas, where he started 48 of 60 games. He also has played for Minnesota and Carolina. He set a career high with 119 tackles and matched his high mark with three interceptions for Carolina in 2024.___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Former Memphis Grizzlies player Brandon Clarke died earlier this year from the effects of heroin and cocaine, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office announced on Friday, Aug. 7. The office ruled Clarke's death to be an accident.Clarke was pronounced dead by authorities on May 11 after being found unresponsive in his bedroom, according to Friday's announcement. A deputy medical examiner conducted an examination of Clarke at the DME’s Forensic Science Center on May 12 and the cause and manner of death were certified Aug. 7.The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office stated that its report will be available at a future date. Clarke was 29 years old.Clarke was the No. 21 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Gonzaga and enjoyed initial success in the league, earning all-rookie honors while averaging a career-high 12.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. He signed a four-year, $50 million contract extension with Memphis in 2022.More: Pistons great Richard Hamilton touts benefits of golf for kidsClarke's sudden death happened almost six weeks after he was arrested in Arkansas for improper passing, possession of a controlled substance, fleeing and exceeding the speed limit and trafficking a controlled substance. He had just finished his seventh NBA season, all of which he spent with the Grizzlies.Clarke allegedly led Cross County Sheriff's Office deputies on a miles-long chase on April 1, with speeds reaching over 100 mph, and was found with over 230 grams of kratom in his possession, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by The Memphis Commercial Appeal, part of the USA TODAY Network.Clarke's career had been derailed in recent years by injuries. He played in just six games during the 2023-24 season due to a torn Achilles and missed all but two games this past season due to calf and knee ailments.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brandon Clarke's cause of death revealed: How Memphis Grizzlies star died

Charley Hull turned professional at the age of 16 [Getty Images]PIF London Championship - round two-11 A Huang (Can); -10 C Hull (Eng); -8 L Hall (Wal); -7 K Bennett (Aus), A Donegan (Ire); -6 A Hewson (Eng), A van Dam (Ned), S Tan (Sin) Selected others: -4 E Young (Eng); -2 C McGinty (Eng), C Gainer (Eng)Full leaderboardCharley Hull equalled the lowest round in Ladies European Tour history and broke the course record at the Centurion Club to move within one stroke of the lead at the PIF London Championship.The English golfer fired a bogey-free 62 to climb into second place, a shot behind Canada's 17-year-old Anna Huang and breaking the lowest course mark previously set by compatriot Georgia Hall in 2021.With her 11-under-par round, she also joined Haeran Ryu, Jessica Korda, Alison Lee, and Karrie Webb for the lowest score ever recorded on the tour. After opening with a 74, the 30-year-old Hull made an eagle at the first hole on the second day and added nine birdies to climb up the leaderboard and finish with a 10-under total.She said: "I have been so tired this week, exhausted from the last couple of weeks, especially after the AIG Women's Open last week."I feel pretty tired and my body is in bits. I have got a few ongoing injuries, so I've been having a lot of physio. "I'm quite shocked that I've shot 11-under because I felt so tired this morning. It felt like the easiest 11-under of my life. I'm standing here right now feeling like I left a couple of shots out there and I want to go and see if I can improve it."Hull has had an eventful week in which she defended herself following a prank she played on her caddie and finishing joint sixth in The Open after starting the final day in contention.Wales' Lydia Hall is third on eight-under-par after her round of 67 in Hertfordshire.Huang, who followed up her opening 67 with a 68 on Friday, said: "It was another good round, but it was a little bit more up-and-down than yesterday. I had a couple of bad mistakes here and there, but it's still something to be proud of." Hull looking to get back to 'ruthless' selfLIV Golf secures unnamed lead investor for 2027

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws during NFL football training camp Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, in St. Joseph, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)2026-08-07T21:55:00Z ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Friday that it is unlikely that quarterback Patrick Mahomes will play in their preseason opener against the Rams next week, and it’s possible that the two-time MVP skips the three-game exhibition slate entirely.That’s not necessarily a surprise given Mahomes underwent surgery to repair torn ligaments in his left knee in December.Mahomes has been ahead of schedule in his rehab work ever since the injury, though, participating in the entire offseason program before reporting to training camp on time. He was given the all-clear late last month by Dallas-based surgeon Dr. Dan Cooper, who performed the procedure, to participate in practices without any restrictions.“There’s a pretty good chance I don’t play him,” Reid said. “Percentages are leaning that way. I don’t know if I will play him the second or third game — I don’t know that — but percentages probably lean against doing that.” On one hand, Mahomes hardly needs the work given his experience. On the other hand, the competitive nature of the quarterback may be enough to convince Reid to put him on the field at least for a couple of snaps in the second game against Tampa Bay.Mahomes has said he’s looking forward to taking his first real hit to feel fully back to football. The Chiefs have no shortage of quarterbacks in need of preseason work. They traded with the Jets for veteran Justin Fields to serve as their primary backup, and he could use some game experience in the new offense. So could Garrett Nussmeier, the once-heralded LSU quarterback, whom they chose in the seventh round of the draft as a project.“We’ve got new people ... behind (Mahomes) that need some work,” Reid said. “The more reps they get, the better.” Read More The Chiefs, who have another practice Saturday before taking Sunday off, have a number of players missing due to injuries.The latest to join the list was two-time Pro Bowl offensive guard Trey Smith, who was examined by a hip specialist as a precaution after it started to bother him this week. Reid downplayed the severity of the injury, saying “he’s going to be OK.” In fact, none of the other injuries appear to be long-term problems. Defensive end Ashton Gillotte has a hamstring strain, linebacker Jeffrey Bassa a groin injury, linebacker Drue Tranquill some back pain and wide receiver Xavier Worthy a shoulder issue, while defensive back L’Jarius Sneed continues to manage a knee problem and cornerback Mansoor Delane a shoulder injury.Wide receiver Cyrus Allen, the Chiefs’ fifth-round pick who had been turning some heads, was back at practice for the first time since bruising his shin during Monday’s workout. But he was held out of drills that involved contact with the defense.“He did a good job when he was back in there, so that’s a positive,” Reid said. “He’s at all the meetings. He’s focused in. He wants to get out there. He doesn’t want to miss. He’s been working hard. We’ll just ease him back in, like I said.”___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL DAVE SKRETTA Skretta is a Kansas City-based sports writer for The Associated Press. He covers the Royals, the Chiefs and college sports along with auto racing, the Olympics and other sports.

Haley Stevens and Angie Craig were celebrated by Democrats in 2018. This year, they’ve faced tough primaries.

Also, Trump officials are searching for Cuba’s next leader. Here’s the latest at the end of Friday.

Gianni Infantino was at Uefa for 16 years before joining Fifa in 2016 [Getty Images]Gianni Infantino's alleged lover was given a severance payment over the affair by Uefa while he was its general secretary, according to a Daily Telegraph investigation.A spokesman for the now Fifa president was reported to have told the paper Infantino "strongly denies these categorically untrue allegations".Uefa, for whom Infantino was general secretary from 2009 to 2016, issued a statement confirming "a departure payment was made to the individual in question".The allegations come as Infantino fights for his future as Fifa president following his aborted plans to sell off stakes in the World Cup to private investors.BBC Sport has contacted Fifa and Infantino for comment.The Telegraph reported that Uefa paid a six-figure sum to the woman, who had an alleged relationship with Infantino during his time at European football's governing body."Fifa president Gianni Infantino strongly denies these allegations, and they are categorically untrue. Any insinuation of inappropriate conduct or violation of statutes or regulations is defamatory," a Fifa spokesman told the Telegraph."No employee at Uefa and Fifa has ever raised a complaint regarding Mr Infantino's behaviour because there never was an incident where he was involved."Uefa confirmed a payment was made to the woman in question and that it covered the fees for her to complete an MBA course at a local business school. It said all payments were in line with regulations at the time, but those regulations have since been tightened and "reflect those found in a modern, high-profile organisation".Norway call for Infantino to resign as Mexico and Conmebol chief back presidentPoliticians, private jets and power - the life of a Fifa presidentUefa says boycott may still go ahead as FA withdraws Infantino supportThe claims put further pressure on Infantino, who is facing calls to resign as Fifa president over the World Cup private investment plan.The 56-year-old has apologised for "errors" he made in those controversial proposals, but did not step down after receiving the backing of senior executives in a meeting in Morocco on Wednesday.Infantino joined Uefa in 2000 and became secretary general in 2009, before being appointed Fifa president in 2016.European teams have threatened to boycott Fifa events despite the plans being aborted, saying certain conditions have not been met.But Conmebol - the South American confederation - and the Confederation of African Football (Caf) have backed Infantino, as have the football associations of World Cup co-hosts Mexico and tournament runners-up Argentina.Follow your club with BBC SportListen to the latest Football Daily podcastGet football news sent straight to your phone

MADISON, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 06: Austin Rapp #22 of the Wisconsin Badgers drives to the basket on Ben Gold #12 of the Marquette Golden Eagles during the second half at Kohl Center on December 06, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Wisconsin Badgers revealed their full nonconference schedule for the 2026-27 season, and there are several intriguing matchups on top of the buy games at home.Like last year, the Badgers have a power opponent scheduled for an exhibition game, as they’ll host the Oklahoma State Cowboys on October 27th before their official season opener at the Kohl Center on November 2nd.Then, after four home games against Denver, Fairfield, Coastal Carolina, and Delaware, the Badgers head to the Bahamas for the Baha Mar Championship, where they’ll face Seton Hall and NC State in two other fun non-conference matchups.Two weeks later, they face Marquette in Milwaukee as a part of their annual series before matchups against Villanova and Auburn in mid-December. Their final matchup is another quality one, as Wisconsin faces Colorado State at home on December 30th before Big Ten play starts.Which of those games looks to be the most exciting? In our weekly reacts poll, there were two answers that went neck and neck.Auburn received 37 percent of the vote, slightly edging out Marquette, which received 36 percent. And both answers make sense.Auburn is looking to be much better than they were as a fringe bubble team in 2025-26. They added five transfers in the offseason: George Kimble III, Adam Olsen, Thomas Dowd, Owen Freeman, and Bukky Oboye.Meanwhile, Marquette has made some major moves, landing a pair of four-star freshmen to go with transfer center Sananda Fru and wing Nolan Minnesale.Elsewhere, Villanova received 18 percent of the vote as well. The Badgers faced the Wildcats last season, losing 76-66 in Milwaukee. Now, they’ll face off in Philadelphia as a part of the Philly Hoops Showdown.

TAMPA BAY, - MARCH 16: Henry LaLane #58 of the New York Yankees pitches during the 2024 Spring Breakout Game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Saturday, March 16, 2024 in Tampa Bay, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images Six games for the San Francisco Giants Minor League Baseball affiliates on Thursday. Not all six teams played, though, as AA Richmond had a doubleheader, while the Dominican Summer League Black squad had the day off.Link to the 2026 McCovey Chronicles Community Prospect List (CPL)All listed positions in the roundup are the position played in that particular game.NewsWe officially have a draftee assignment! Outfielder Tanner Mally, the team’s 17th-round pick in last month’s draft, has been assigned to Low-A San Jose. That move bumped outfielder Cam Maldonado (No. 34 CPL) up from San Jose to High-A Eugene, and outfielder Jose Astudillo from Eugene to AA Richmond. That’s extremely exciting for Astudillo, who only just got to Eugene … but fit in sensationally. Also in exciting news, Richmond RHPs Will Bednar (No. 24 CPL) and Christian Alvarado have been promoted to AAA Sacramento! AAA Sacramento (62-46)Sacramento River Cats lost to the Round Rock Express (Rangers) 5-2Box scoreNot the most interesting game for the River Kitties, but some nice performances. Center fielder Jonah Cox continues to fit in just fine at the level he initially skipped, as he hit 3-5 with a double, though he was caught stealing twice. Cox is 7 games into his AAA tenure and he’s been a certified hit machine, going 15-32 with just 6 strikeouts. I’ll be curious to see how long he’s in AAA before the Giants bring him back to the Major; he was obviously promoted way ahead of schedule and his struggles showed that, but if he keeps hitting like this … presumably San Francisco will want to see how he handles some of the pitches he struggled with in the Majors (and even in his blistering AA stint) before making that decision. But seeing him collect hits is a great sign.Speaking of collecting hits, left fielder Turner Hill only went 1-5 with a strikeout and an outfield assist, but that “1” was enough to push his hitting streak to 22 games. Phenomenal work! Second baseman Diego Velasquez (No. 31 CPL) had a strong AAA debut on Wednesday, and he was even better on Thursday, hitting 2-3 with a double and a walk. It’s so great seeing the switch-hitter finally get a chance in AAA, and making the most of it … it’s easy to think of Velasquez as an older prospect because of how long he was in AA, so here’s your reminder that he was nearly 2 years younger than the average player when he was in AA this year. He’s still only 22! Third baseman Parks Harber (No. 17 CPL) hit 1-3 with a double and a walk, boosting his OPS to .949 and his wRC+ to 145 through 18 AAA games. He’s slowed down a little since his blistering start, but my goodness has he taken beautifully to the highest level of the Minors. If you’re clamoring for a debut, I’d push back on it a little bit … not only will the Giants potentially want to keep him off the 40-man roster so he can play Minor League games in the event of a lockout, but Harber, for all his great numbers, is showing a lot to work on in AAA. He’s posting decent exit velocities, but not at the level of what we expect of him, and he’s having a hard time pulling the trigger and swinging as he adjusts to better pitchers: he’s just 5th percentile in in-zone swing rate. He’s perhaps patient to a fault at the moment.Designated hitter Victor Bericoto (No. 35 CPL) made his 2nd rehab appearance and went 0-4 with a walk and 3 strikeouts. Just 2 pitchers were used, and neither was particularly sharp. LHP Seth Lonsway had a nice game from an ERA standpoint, as he gave up just 1 earned run (plus 1 unearned run) in 6 innings … yet, despite that great run suppression, allowed 5 hits (including a home run) and walked 5 batters, while throwing just 48 of his 92 pitches for strikes. Lonsway, a 6th-round pick in 2021 who turns 28 in October, has struggled in AAA this year, with a 6.07 ERA and a 6.27 FIP. He did have 6 strikeouts in this game, though, which was nice to see, as he normally doesn’t get many strikeouts.Then it was RHP Will Bednar (No. 24 CPL), who made his AAA return. Bednar, who was an NRI this year (as well as a 1st-round pick in 2021), started the year with Sacramento but only pitched twice (and well, at that) before being returned to AA, had a re-introduction to AAA. Normally his issue is with walks, yet he didn’t issue a single free pass in 3 innings, and threw 35 of 47 pitches for strikes. Great to see! But living in the zone had its repercussions, as he gave up 6 hits and 3 earned runs, while only striking out 2. Unfortunately, the high-90s velo that Bednar found last year has really abandoned him this season. He sat 94-95 early in this outing, though he found more gas as the appearance went on … but only peaked at 97. AA Richmond (61-42)Game 1: Richmond Flying Squirrels lost to the Reading Fightin Phils (Phillies) 6-4 (7 innings)Game 2: Richmond Flying Squirrels lost to the Reading Fightin Phils 8-3 (7 innings)Game 1 box scoreGame 2 box scoreNot the most exciting doubleheader for the Squirrels, who were playing a makeup of Tuesday’s lost series opener. Across the 14 innings, they only had 1 extra-base hit … but it was an exciting one, as shortstop/DH Gavin Kilen (No. 7 CPL) went yard for the 1st time since getting promoted. Gavin Kilen has left the building! 💪Kilen's first Double-A homer travels 367 feet! pic.twitter.com/A9bNRYLuVJ— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) August 6, 2026Kilen, who hit 2-7 with 3 strikeouts over the pair of games, has cooled down a little bit following a red-hot start to his AA tenure. He set the world on fire when he first got to Richmond, but in his last 7 games is 7-27 with 2 extra-base hits, 1 walk, and 8 strikeouts. On the flip side, if that’s a slump, then you know things are going wonderfully, and things are, indeed, going wonderfully for last year’s 1st-rounder, who has an .860 OPS and a 121 wRC+ through 17 games at the level.His fellow recent promotee, and last year’s 3rd-round pick, center fielder Trevor Cohen (No. 15 CPL), has been hotter than hot lately, but cooled off in this pair of games, as he went 0-8. Left fielder Jack Payton had a nice pair of games, hitting 2-4 with 2 walks, while third baseman/right fielder Jean Carlos Sió (No. 44 CPL) had a painful outing, both literally and figuratively, hitting 1-4 with a strikeout, 2 hit by pitches, and 4 errors. Sió, a 22-year old who has a .732 OPS and an 87 wRC+ since getting promoted, had 0 errors in 45 AA games before this pair of contests and quartet of goofs. So it goes.RHP Trystan Vrieling had a good start in Game 1, giving up just 4 singles and 2 walks in 5 innings, while striking out 8. Vrieling didn’t give up any earned runs, though Sió‘s rough defensive day resulted in 3 unearned runs. Vrieling, a 3rd-round pick by the Yankees in 2022, has struggled with strikeouts this year (he has just 8.1 per 9 innings), so this was nice to see. He’s still walking too many batters (5.6 per 9), but a nice summer has brought his ERA all the way down to 3.99 (it was in the 6s after his 1st 3 starts, and at 5.00 after his 1st June start). His FIP still sits at 5.29, though. I’m curious to see how long the Giants keep the soon-to-turn 26-year old both in AA and in a starting role. RHP Yunior Marte (No. 25 CPL) wasn’t so sharp, ceding 6 hits (including 2 home runs) and 4 walks in 5 innings, while getting tagged for 3 runs and striking out 4. The AA numbers aren’t great for Marte in 11 starts since getting promoted, as he has a 4.56 ERA and a 4.47 FIP. But there’s a lot for the Giants to be thrilled about, notably the 58 strikeouts to 20 walks in 53.1 innings and, quite simply, the sheer electricity and excitement of his pitches. He’ll be a very fascinating Rule 5 decision.RHP Marques Johnson, recently demoted from AAA, had a great showing, throwing 1.1 no-hit innings with 1 walk and 2 strikeouts. A less successful day for RHP Manuel Mercedes, who got rocked to the tune of 6 hits and 4 runs in an inning of work.High-A Eugene (64-41)Eugene Emeralds beat Spokane (Rockies) 15-10 (10 innings)Box scoreA very exciting game for the Emeralds, who used a 5-run 10th inning to win. Eugene did it the old fashioned way: they had no home runs en route to 15 runs, settling instead for a parade of bases: 15 singles, 10 walks, and 3 doubles. But the excitement began on the mound, where a pair of players acquired at the deadline made their organizational debuts. That began in the first inning, when LHP Henry LaLane got the start. LaLane, a 6’7 southpaw who recently turned 22, was the headlining return piece from the New York Yankees in the Heliot Ramos trade. LaLane, who has been having a stellar season, had pretty good results, but it was firmly a case of the process looking way better than the results, even though the results were fine. LaLane finished the day with 4.2 innings pitched, and having allowed 5 hits, 3 runs, and just 1 earned run, with 5 strikeouts against 1 walk. He wasn’t efficient, as he needed 87 pitches, but he was heavy on the strikes, as 59 of those pitches were strikes.That underscores it, though: our highly-esteemed community member HeyDay72 pointed out a whopping 10 called balls that were in the strike zone. This was only LaLane’s 4th start in High-A, after he posted a 2.74 ERA and a 2.60 FIP in 13 Low-A games to start the year, before getting promoted. So far in High-A he has allowed just 17 his in 20.1 innings, with 22 strikeouts against 5 walks. The numbers are really good, but it’s the feel you get from watching him that should make you really excited about this acquisition. It’s extremely early days, but it’s hard not to feel like the Giants nailed the trade deadline, as much as I miss Heliot Ramos.The pitching performance concluded with a dominant performance from another deadline pickup, RHP Marty Gair. The super-power righty faced 4 batters and retired all of them, 3 by way of strikes. Gair, who was acquired in the Luis Arráez deal, has some of the filthiest stuff in the entire organization. The just-turned 23-year old now has a staggering 69 strikeouts in 37.1 innings this year, his 2nd in the pros. He fairly easily hits triple digits, and hasn’t been slowed by his recent promotion to High-A, where he has 11 strikeouts in 4.1 innings. If he can cut back on the walks — he has 22 on the year — he could be a dominant and fast-moving relief option.In between the new guys was RHP Niko Mazza, who served as the piggybacking starter and got lit up, allowing 14 baserunners and 7 earned runs in 4 innings. Sometimes it’s just not your day…But it emphatically was the day for plenty of players on offense, namely a pair of exciting youngsters: shortstop Jhonny Level (No. 3 CPL) and center fielder Lisbel Diaz (No. 32 CPL). Both players had sensational days, with Level hitting 4-5 with 2 walks, and Diaz going 5-6 with a double and a walk. Days to remember!! Level hit a mini slump for a while, but has had a dominant 3-game stretch, hitting 8-11 with a homer, a triple, 6 walks, and 0 strikeouts. My goodness! With that, Level is already up to an .844 OPS and a 122 wRC+ since getting promoted to High-A, and it’s looking more and more likely that he opens the 2027 season in AA … right as he’s celebrating his 20th birthday. Be excited, friends. Be very excited.Jhonny Level didn’t want to miss the party. The SS singles to drive in another run for the Ems! pic.twitter.com/uqD4QhHt2I— Eugene Emeralds (@EugeneEmeralds) August 7, 2026As for Diaz, his numbers are really starting to round into focus. For much of the year the, the just-turned 21-year old had below-average numbers, despite being one of the most prolific home run hitters in the system. Now he’s above water, with an .811 OPS and a 106 wRC+. The wRC+ underscores his talent a bit, since it’s primarily the result of the fact that he never draws walks … he’ll have to be more selective as he climbs the ranks, but I’d hardly call that a concern now, especially since it comes with a very low strikeout rate.Finally, first baseman Hayden Jatczak hit 3-6 with a double and a strikeout. The undrafted free agent, who is in his debut season but is about to turn 25, has an .807 OPS and a 115 wRC+ in 11 games since getting promoted.3-3-3Hayden Jatczak has gone 3 for 3 at the plate with 3 RBIs, including this double to deep center field!Ems up 8-2 in the 4th pic.twitter.com/hEMC8mssN8— Eugene Emeralds (@EugeneEmeralds) August 7, 2026Low-A San Jose (58-47)San Jose Giants lost to the Stockton Ports (A’s) 19-6Box scoreThis was a bad day for the Baby Giants, but it featured a very good moment: a grand slam of the bat of shortstop Josuar González (No. 2 CPL). Sit back and marvel at the top prospect in the organization, and perhaps soon the top prospect in all of baseball. He is special, folks!!A grand slam from Josuar Gonzalez puts the Giants on the board. pic.twitter.com/WafKWfT6Cc— San Jose Giants (@SJGiants) August 7, 2026Injuries are the only thing that have kept González from having a nearly perfect 1st season in the states. He hit 3-5 in this game (albeit with a strikeout and an error), which has brought him up to a .310 batting average in 8 games with San Jose, with a .934 OPS and a 132 wRC+. He’s playing awesome defense, he’s striking out less than 20% of the time, he’s running the bases very well, and, oh yeah … he doesn’t turn 19 until October. González hasn’t just lived up to expectations this year … he’s lived up to dreams.Things have been a little bit slower for third baseman Luis Hernández (No. 6 CPL), which is understandable, given that Hernández is more than a year younger, and is not just in his debut stateside season, but his debut season period. He hit 2-5 in this game with an error, and has just a .190 OPS in San Jose, with a .667 OPS and a 63 wRC+ through 10 games. I gotta say, it’s one of the most exciting and encouraging 63 wRC+ tallies I’ve ever seen!The other great offensive day belonged to catcher Junior Barajas, who hit 3-5 with a solo home run and a strikeout. After an ice cold stretch, last year’s 11th-round selection has hit 6 home runs in the last 7 games. And in his last 8 games he’s hit 14-33 with 6 dingers, 2 doubles, and 2 walks. That’s brought him up to a .794 OPS and a 96 wRC+ in his debut season.A brutal day on the mound, especially for LHP Ricardo Estrada and RHP Evan Gray, the 1st 2 pitchers to appear for San Jose. Each was only able to record 3 outs, with Estrada ceding 9 baserunners and 9 earned runs, and Gray 8 baserunners, 6 runs, and 5 earned runs. But RHP Chen-Hsun Lee continues to perform well since getting promoted, as he allowed 2 hits and 1 walk in 2 shutout innings, with 2 strikeouts. He’s yet to allow an earned run in 10 innings since joining the Baby Giants, though he has just a 4.11 FIP.Dominican Summer League Orange (26-21)DSL Giants Orange beat the DSL Pirates Gold 7-4 (7 innings)Box scoreReally nice pitching performances from RHPs Abraham Utrera and Jhon Leon. Utrera, a 21-year old from Venezuela, struck out 5 batters in 2.2 shutout innings, with just 1 hit and 1 walk. Leon, a 22-year old from Venezuela, struck out 2 in a perfect inning. Utrera has a 4.75 ERA and a 3.58 FIP in his 2nd season, while Leon has a 4.50 ERA and a 4.20 FIP in his 3rd season.Nice games in the batter’s box for left fielder Ricardo Crespo, a 19-year old from Venezuela, and catcher Deivis Colmenarez, a 17-year from Venezuela. Crespo hit 1-2 with a double, 2 walks, and a stolen base, giving him an .878 OPS and a 140 wRC+ in his 3rd season. Colmenarez went 1-1 with a double, a walk, a hit by pitch, a stolen base, and a caught stealing, and now has a .622 OPS and an 85 wRC+ in his debut season. Home run tracker12 — Junior Barajas — [Low-A]10 — Gavin Kilen — [1 in AA; 9 in High-A]4 — Josuar González — [2 in Low-A; 2 in ACL]Friday scheduleSacramento: 6:45 p.m. PT vs. Round Rock (SP: Anthony Molina)Richmond: 4:05 p.m. PT vs. Reading (SP: Charlie McDaniel)Eugene: 6:35 p.m. PT at Spokane (SP: Cade Vernon)San Jose: 7:00 p.m. PT vs. Stockton (SP: TBD)Reminder that almost all MiLB games can be watched on MLB TV.

Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke (R) takes a shot over Dallas Mavericks forward Kristaps Porzingis (L) on Feb. 5, 2020, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. The Los Angeles County Coroner on Friday ruled Clarke died accidentally on May 11 from the effects of heroin and cocaine. File Photo by Larry W. Smith/EPA-EFEAug. 7 (UPI) -- Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke died accidently from the effects of heroin and cocaine, the Los Angeles County Coroner ruled Friday.Clarke, 29, also was taking "multiple prescription medicines" which were listed as a "significant condition" in his May 11 death, according to the coroner's report.County officials said Clarke was found unresponsive in the bedroom of his Los Angeles residence that day. Responding paramedics pronounced death at 5:15 p.m.A deputy medical examiner conducted an examination of Clarke on May 12, with the cause and manner of death being certified on Friday.Clarke entered the league as the No. 21 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. He appeared in 309 games for the Grizzlies, including only two in the 2025-26 season while dealing with knee and calf injuries.He averaged 10.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists over his seven-year NBA career.The Grizzlies issued a tribute to Clarke on May 12 as news of his death was announced, calling him "an outstanding teammate and even better person."pic.twitter.com/RvDXJCxlWQ— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) May 12, 2026When he died, Clarke was working on a four-year, $50 million contract extension signed in 2022.At 6-foot-8 and 215 pounds, Clarke entered the NBA after a stellar collegiate career at San Jose State and Gonzaga, earning first-team All-American honors in 2018-19 with Gonzaga, who advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament that season.

The top 70 players in the FedExCup standings get to tee off at the FedEx St. Jude Championship next week in Memphis. Entering the Wyndham Championship, the bubble was as tight as ever with a little more than 100 points separating the 65th and 80th ranked players. While seemingly arbitrary, this stretch of names on the playoff points list is the proverbial playoff "bubble."Names on the bubble range from Tour veterans, like Keegan Bradley and Jason Day, to a young stars who have already found the winner's circle in their early 20s (see: Aldrich Potgieter and Jackson Koivun).Golf Channel will track how these players are doing at the end of each round at Sedgefield, with a look at their current FedExCup position, where they stand at the Wyndham and their projected FEC ranking.2026 FedExCup standings (as of August 6)FECPLAYERWYNDHAMPROJ. FEC65Aldrich PotgieterT-102 (E)6966Ricky CastilloT-37 (-3)6867Matti SchmidT-5 (-6)6268Jordan SmithT-11 (-5)6569Steven FiskT-122 (+2)7070Jackson KoivunT-37 (-3)7171Mac MeissnerT-54 (-2)7372Keegan BradleyT-102 (E)7473Andrew PutnamT-73 (-1)7674Johnny KeeferT-54 (-2)8075Jason DayT-111 (+1)8276Austin SmothermanT-23 (-4)7877Stephan JaegerT-122 (+2)8378David LipskyT-139 (+4)8479Tom HogeT-11 (-5)7780Matt WallaceT-111 (+1)88Nobody helped their cause more Thursday than first-round leader Beau Hossler, who started the week ranked 122nd and now is projected to finish 52nd.Davis Thompson, along with Koivun, has put himself in position for quite the nerve-wracking ride this week. He started 81st and enjoyed a nice leap after carding an opening round 64 — all the way to No. 72, a spot behind the reigning back-to-back Haskins Award winner.And speaking of young studs, Ben James saw the second highest jump in the standings behind Hossler. The PGA Tour rookie opened 141st in the standings and now projects to be 94th. Still plenty of work to be done on the course.Golf Channel and Golf Channel mobile will be broadcasting and streaming Round 2 coverage of the Wyndham Championship from 3-6 p.m. ET on Friday.FedExCup playoffs 2026: How it works, format, events, points system, money, past winnersHere’s what you need to know ahead of the three-event FedExCup Playoffs on the PGA Tour. Golf Channel Staff, Golf Channel Staff,