Annuaire

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif — Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald aren’t constantly communicating. But the reigning Defensive Player of the Year who currently plays for the Los Angeles Rams and the three-time Defensive Player of the Year who’s considering returning to the Rams are in touch.“We talk every now and then,” Garrett told Yahoo Sports from the Rams’ facility on Wednesday. “I would say we talk every three or four days.“I check on him. He checks on me.”Two weeks into training camp, the checks continue from afar.Play Yahoo's new College Fantasy Football game: Create or join a league now!That the Rams are even fathoming a reality with Donald’s retirement is wild. Consider that much of Las Vegas deemed the Rams the Super Bowl favorites this season before they traded three draft picks and outside linebacker Jared Verse to acquire Garrett, whose accolades include two Defensive Player of the Year honors, five first-team All-Pro honors and the NFL’s all-time sack record.Perhaps Donald reads a sentence like that and thinks: Well, that’s an answer to the double and triple teams. Or perhaps Donald, who retired two years ago after 10 seasons anchoring the Rams, has wanted to do this anyway.Garrett has a hunch.“The fact that my addition to the Rams made him want to get off the couch makes me think that he was always looking for a reason to get up — he just needed that spark,” Garrett said. “And he just believed [the Rams] were probably like one piece away from having exactly what we need.“So I don’t think the fire ever died. You just have to make sure he can keep it stoked for 20 games or however many he ends up playing. … He’s still at that age where he could still turn it on for 30, 40, 59 plays and be the guy we knew.”The Rams’ holding pattern with Donald continued as they cycled through their jog through Wednesday ahead of a Saturday preseason game at Kansas City.But a leadership group that trends far toward the unbothered end of the NFL spectrum continues to take this holding pattern in stride publicly.Few believe Donald needs training camp practices to dominate. And the Rams believe that if Donald decides to come back, he’ll be ready.“When he commits to something, he’s going to go through all the stress and drudgery necessary to be great,” general manager Les Snead told Yahoo Sports. “He wants to be able to figure out, OK, can he put his body and maybe probably even psych[e] through what he knows he’s going to ask his body and psych[e] to go through?“So it’s not surprising he’s taking this amount of time.”And it’s not surprising the Rams are confident either way. Hello, Myles Garrett.Myles Garrett always seems to have his eyes on the QB. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images)Ric Tapia via Getty ImagesRams’ early lesson on Garrett: ‘Don’t follow him. He has his own protocol.’Rams players and coaches think back to an early practice of training camp, perhaps the first practice though by now they blend together.Los Angeles’ offense teed up a perimeter screen. Garrett noticed the offensive tackle opposite him wasn’t set heavy enough to suggest a long pass play, so he jumped in hopes of snagging the ball. The coaching point: Put your hand up, but don’t jump because now you’re out of position to help on the play at all. The lifespan of that coaching point: not very many days.“A few days later, they do a screen again to his side and legit just jumps,” right guard Kevin Dotson told Yahoo Sports. “Got the interception and it’s like you see that, you almost can’t tell him [not to]. What do you tell him? I mean, it works for you. Everybody else you can’t jump …“Don’t follow him. He has his own protocol.”An impish grin creeps across Garrett’s face as he remembers the play. He didn’t boast to his coaches afterward or insist that hey, actually he can jump when he sees a lane because of the momentum-changing plays he’ll force. His play spoke for itself, just as the hardware Garrett brings to his Wednesday interview does. His 2025 AP Defensive Player of the Year trophy is hefty. Heftier, still, is the briefcase celebrating his latest membership renewal to the Madden 99 Club.Hello from the Rams facility, where Myles Garrett is casually walking around with his Madden 99 Club briefcase in one hand and his Defensive Player of the Year trophy in the other 🔥 pic.twitter.com/bCPQxcwxx8— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) August 12, 2026The body of work that earned these accolades convinced the Rams to trade their 2027 first-round pick, 2028 second, 2029 third and Verse to acquire Garrett in the twilight of Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford’s career.Garrett is a player who sets outlandish goals, like the 25-sacks and 40 tackles-for-loss benchmarks he wrote on a whiteboard near his desk last season. He’s a player who achieves outlandish goals, like the league-record 23 sacks and second-in-league-history 33 tackles for loss he amassed last season.In the nine years since Cleveland selected Garrett first overall in the NFL Draft, he’s stacked up 125.5 sacks, 149 tackles for loss, 239 quarterback hits, 412 tackles, 18 pass deflections, 23 forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries. Snead heeded the recent-year whispers that Garrett could become available. This March, Garrett’s availability began shifting more toward reality in the march toward a June 1 deal that shocked the league.Garrett’s “blessed with the ability, capability and skill,” Snead said. “The reason I say ‘skill’ is you got to continue evolving to win the one-on-one iso[lation] moments probably as smoothly and as easy as he does. But then the kind of wild thing is sometimes when you do things to take him away, he’s evolved and skilled and applied things to go, ‘OK, I can maybe affect a game with a double and a third chip.’”The Rams’ offense can’t rest in training camp.“You can tell he’s a craftsman based on his ability to respond and adapt to the looks that we’ve presented,” offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase told Yahoo Sports. “He can impact practice in a hurry.”If Donald joins Rams, Garret thinks ‘we could win it all’The paradox of the Rams’ roster construction is how likely and unlikely it positions them to capture this season’s championship.Depending on the oddsmaking formula one uses, the chance a Rams Super Bowl bet cashes in is between 12.5% and 15.4%. That’s the best chance of any of the 32 NFL teams and yet, it also means there’s roughly an 85 and 88% chance that the Rams do not win the Super Bowl in February.Still, they paid big this offseason for Garrett as well as cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson to complement a star-studded roster that begins but does not end Stafford, Puka Nacua, Davante Adams and more. Are the investments worth it?“Las Vegas is not paying anyone any money til February 14, so ‘Super Bowl favorites’ just helps Vegas do their business,” Snead said. “You never discuss, ‘Let’s do this to win the Super Bowl.’ [It’s instead,] ‘Hey, let’s get in this arena and let’s go for it.“Let’s embrace the journey.”The Rams are embracing the journey as they watch Garrett cycle through his speed and his bend, his power and his explosiveness, teammates and coaches wondering whether there’s any pass-rushing superpower Garrett doesn’t possess.Garrett is embracing the journey as he settles into a more stable and recent success-laden franchises than the Browns provided, the Rams benefiting from a rare continuity at head coach and general manager that belies a chicken-and-egg problem in the NFL in which continuity sometimes brings success but without success, team ownership groups are hesitant to allow continuity.“When I was with Cleveland, we were searching for a foundation, searching to create a culture each year,” Garrett said. “People come in and out, young guys come in, older guys getting phased out. You’re trying to hold onto a culture or create a culture. You’re fighting that battle each year.“This [Rams culture] is something that’s being set by a coach who's been here for a while. It's been a high level since he's been in the league and it's been upheld by some great players. And so it's just continued to stack upon itself.”And perhaps, before the season begins, the Rams will stack yet another culture and roster piece? They downplay the need to know whether Donald will join them, insistent that yes a contract is necessary and yes a roster spot would need to be made, but how often does that happen in the cyclical nature of the NFL?“It’s not something you’re going to lose sleep over,” Snead said. “It’s relevant, but not necessarily, ‘OK, let’s bring in the brigade to try to solve this.’”If Donald wants to play, and wants to do all the work that playing entails, Vegas would be wise to bet that the Rams find a way.The details matter less. This is Aaron Donald, the eight-time All-Pro player, the 111-sack holder, with a chance to line up beside an edge rusher who’s chasing Donald’s rare level of greatness, albeit from the edge rather than Donald’s interior post?Consider Garrett excited. But don’t consider his excitement reliant on Donald’s return.“Is the prospect of him coming back interesting? Absolutely …” Garrett said. “I think it would be something that we've possibly never seen before and it's exciting to think about. But I just don't want it to take away from anything that the guys here are doing. There are young guys in that position room who are looking for an opportunity to make a name for themself. And I don't want any of their hard work to take a backseat. And I know if we can find a way to get the most out of all of us, him and them, so we can make the most out of this that we have, I think that's the end goal.“I think we could win it all if we can figure it all out.”

College football officially begins this month.Now that it's August, there are just weeks to go until Week Zero arrives on Aug. 29, and since the season is quickly approaching, we're rolling out our preseason top 25.After revealing our teams in the back half of our top 25, we continue our previews of the top 12 teams in the country with a team looking to get back to the national championship game.Previously: Teams Nos. 13-25, No. 12 Oklahoma, No. 11 Alabama, No. 10 Texas A&M, No. 9 Ole Miss, No. 8 Texas TechNo. 7 Miami2025 record: 13-3Odds to win national championship: 11-1Odds to make College Football Playoff: -3002025 in less than 100 wordsWe could simply focus on the drama that surrounded Miami's playoff hopes at the end of the season. The Hurricanes missed out on the ACC title game thanks to two conference losses. However, Miami jumped ahead of Notre Dame — a team it beat in Week 1 — in the final CFP rankings to get the last at-large spot in the field.From there, Miami beat Texas A&M on the road, took down Ohio State as a nine-point underdog in the Cotton Bowl, and then beat Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl to play for the national title. However, Miami's magical run fell short against Indiana, as the Hoosiers held on for a 27-21 win.Darian Mensah transferred from Duke to Miami in the offseason. (Photo by Samuel Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesThe QBDarian MensahThere's a lot of pressure on Mensah after he spurned another year at Duke for a monster offer from the Hurricanes. After leading the Blue Devils to the ACC title, Mensah announced that he would be coming back for another season in Durham. But as Miami struck out on transfer portal quarterbacks, the school zeroed in on Mensah as Carson Beck's successor.The push worked. But it took some maneuvering. Duke filed a suit against Mensah in an attempt to prevent him from leaving. Mensah was granted a restraining order to enter the transfer portal, and approximately a week after the suit was filed, Mensah reached a settlement with Duke that freed him to transfer to Miami.OK, back to the actual football. Mensah enters the season as the co-No. 5 favorite for the Heisman Trophy with odds of 11-1 and is a potential first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. After a breakout season at Tulane in 2024, Mensah completed 67% of his passes for 3,973 yards and 34 TDs with just six interceptions across 14 games. Mensah had just one multi-interception game all season and threw for at least two touchdowns in all but two of Duke's games.Beck played his way into the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft at Miami with a bounce-back season following his 2024 elbow injury. There's plenty of reason to believe that Mensah can be better than Beck was in 2025 and can show how Miami spent its NIL money wisely at quarterback once again.Non-quarterback to watchWR Malachi ToneyToney was the most electric freshman in the country in 2025. What will he do for an encore in 2026?Toney had 109 catches for 1,211 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2025 after making an immediate impact against Notre Dame in that Week 1 win. He also rushed 23 times for 125 yards and four scores as Miami was unafraid to involve him in the run game.While Toney will immediately be Mensah's top target, he should also benefit from another Duke transfer. Former Blue Devils WR Cooper Barkate joined the Hurricanes in the offseason too. Barkate had 72 catches for 1,106 yards and seven touchdowns last season. With Barkate opposite him and some growth from sophomore Joshua Moore after he had 17 catches for 210 yards as a freshman, defenses won't get to focus solely on Toney to disrupt Miami's pass game.That's a big reason why Toney is one of just two non-quarterbacks with Heisman odds better than 100-1. The other player? Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith.Damon Wilson II led Missouri in sacks in 2025. (Photo by Samuel Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesEric Edholm's 2027 NFL Draft prospect to watchEDGE Damon Wilson II Some scouts might favor one of the Canes' dynamic DTs, such as Ahmad Moten Sr. or Justin Scott, but we'll take a leap of faith on Wilson becoming the top guy. The Mizzou transfer (via Georgia) was a terror off the edge last season for the Tigers, and he's expected to help fill the Canes' void on the edge with 2026 first-rounders Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor off to the NFL. Wilson still needs to close better on some plays, but he's a fiery rusher with strong hands and good countermoves. This season he'll be tutored by Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, now a Canes DL coach.College fantasy football player to watchRB Mark FletcherFletcher became a star during the College Football Playoff. His big run tilted the Hurricanes' win over Texas A&M as he rushed 17 times for 172 yards. Against Ohio State, Fletcher had 90 yards on 19 carries, but added two catches for 25 yards and a TD.He broke the 100-yard mark in each of Miami's final two playoff games and scored two touchdowns in the loss to Indiana.Yet Fletcher is also just the No. 19 running back in Yahoo's fantasy rankings. He suffered a foot injury in Miami's loss to SMU and missed two games before returning against Virginia Tech later in November. He rushed for just 49 yards on 16 carries over Miami's final two games of the regular season. The nearly month-long break between the regular season and playoff clearly helped him get healthy.But Fletcher also had some games that wouldn't have helped win a fantasy matchup during the regular season before the injury, either. In the two games before Fletcher erupted for 106 yards and three touchdowns in a blowout of Stanford, he ran 20 times for 58 yards and a TD.Fletcher could be the perfect example of a back who is much better for his team in real life than he is in fantasy football.Biggest gameNov. 7 at Notre DameIt wouldn't be surprising at all if both teams entered this Week 11 matchup at 10-0. Before playing Notre Dame, Miami's biggest game could be a trip to Clemson on Oct. 3. The winner could have an inside track to a first-round bye. Or, like last year, the winner could also get into the College Football Playoff at the other's expense. You don't have to remind Notre Dame about that.It's also the last road game of the season for the Hurricanes. Miami's schedule is front-loaded with three ACC road games in the first five weeks of the season. After Notre Dame, Miami plays three straight conference games at home to end 2026 ahead of a potential ACC title game.Why Miami is at No. 7Did you know that Miami's offense took a significant statistical step back in 2025 despite reaching the national championship game? With Heisman winner Cam Ward at QB in 2024, Miami averaged 43.9 points per game and 7.6 yards per play. In 2025, the Hurricanes scored 31 points per game and averaged 6.1 yards a play. And in turn, the offense averaged nearly 130 yards fewer per game.We don't expect the 2026 Miami offense to reach the heights the 2024 iteration did, but it could occupy a middle ground between 2025 and 2024 that’d put it among the elite units in college football. How far Miami goes again in the College Football Playoff will be about how the Miami defense can sustain the gains it made last season.After being a sieve in 2024, Miami allowed just 14.8 points per game last season. A dominant defensive front led by first-round picks Bain and Mesidor had 50 sacks and the Hurricanes finished the season plus-10 in turnover margin.Wilson is being asked to immediately fill one of the edge rushing voids that Bain and Mesidor left behind. Can Marquise Lightfoot and Armondo Blount Jr. also take a big leap?The middle of the defensive line is stout with Moten and Scott, and LB Mohamed Toure got another year of eligibility. The secondary should be even better despite the loss of nickel Keionte Scott.If the defensive line can be 85% of how ferocious it was in 2025, Miami will be more than capable of making another playoff run.

Manchester City are in talks with Al Qadsiah to sell Tijjani Reijnders to the Saudi Arabian club.The Netherlands international might leave the Etihad Stadium after just a year as City’s midfield overhaul to being the Enzo Maresca era looks set to continue.Reijnders, who had also attracted interest from Nottingham Forest, could command a fee of around £50m from Saudi Pro League side Al Qadsiah, who are coached by former Liverpool, Leicester and Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers.Tijjani Reijnders could be headed for the Etihad exit door (Getty)Reijnders, who cost City £46.5m when he joined from AC Milan last summer, has scored seven goals in 50 games for them.But he lost his place in the starting XI as the 2025/26 season wore on, with former manager Pep Guardiola preferring to pair captain Bernardo Silva with Rodri.And while Silva is gone and Rodri, who is a target for Barcelona, could follow, City have signed Elliot Anderson from Forest for £116m.They are also interested in other midfielders, including Morocco’s Ayyoub Bouaddi and Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez, and could allow Reijnders to leave.

Fantasy managers are always looking for an edge over the competition. Whether it's finding the right sleeper, testing draft strategies or making one more smart decision before the clock expires, the smallest advantages can make the biggest difference.Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL seasonToday, we're excited to introduce Fantasy Ultra, our newest Fantasy Plus subscription tier built for managers who want our most advanced fantasy experience yet.Fantasy Ultra includes everything in Fantasy Plus — premium draft and in-season tools — plus exclusive new benefits that help you prepare smarter, enjoy a cleaner app experience and get even more value from your subscription.If you're serious about winning your league, Fantasy Ultra was built for you. Learn more & subscribe now.Meet Fantasy UltraFantasy Ultra is live. (Photo by Stephen Hull/Yahoo Sports)Fantasy Ultra includes everything available in Fantasy Plus, plus three exclusive benefits:The Ultra Draft KitFewer ads in the Yahoo Fantasy appUp to $1600 in exclusive partner perksThe Ultra Draft KitThe Ultra Draft Kit is our most advanced draft experience for Pro and College Football, combining interactive planning tools with expert analysis to help you build your strongest roster.Strategy LabThe Strategy Lab allows you to test out different draft paths.Not sure whether you should draft an elite running back early or load up on wide receivers? The Strategy Lab lets you test expert-curated draft strategies based on your exact draft position. Run Instant Mock Drafts with different approaches, compare results and discover which roster construction works best before your real draft begins.The PlaybookThe Ultra Fantasy Playbook is loaded with everything you need to dominate your draft.When you're ready to dive deeper, download The Playbook, our comprehensive 100+ page draft guide created by Yahoo Fantasy experts. Whether you're looking for a quick cheat sheet or hours of draft prep, The Playbook has you covered.Inside you'll find:Expert rankingsTiered cheat sheetsPlayer profilesSleepers and bustsPosition breakdownsDraft strategy advicePrintable sectionAnd much more!Fewer Ads in the Yahoo Fantasy AppReduced ads are included with an Ultra subscription.Fantasy Ultra subscribers also enjoy fewer ads in the Yahoo Fantasy app, giving you a faster, cleaner experience while checking lineups, researching players, and managing your team throughout the season.Exclusive Partner PerksYes, even more Perks come with Ultra.Fantasy Ultra doesn't just improve your fantasy experience — it delivers value beyond the game.Subscribers receive up to $1600+ in exclusive partner perks, including discounts and offers from brands like:GametimeAction NetworkCameoSiriusXMFOX One... and moreNew offers will continue to be added, giving Ultra members even more reasons to subscribe.How to get Fantasy UltraFantasy Ultra is available today for $79.99/year. Subscribe through eligible paywalls in the Yahoo Fantasy app or visit our Fantasy Plus landing page.Fantasy Ultra marks day 4 of our 29 Days of Fantasy. Follow it all here.FAQ:What is Fantasy Ultra and how is it different from Fantasy Plus?Fantasy Ultra is Yahoo Fantasy's newest premium subscription tier. It includes everything available in Fantasy Plus, plus exclusive benefits like the Ultra Draft Kit, fewer ads in the Yahoo Fantasy app, and up to $1,600 in exclusive partner perks.What is included in the Ultra Draft Kit?The Ultra Draft Kit includes two exclusive tools that are currently available for Pro and College Football. The Strategy Lab lets you test expert-curated draft strategies using Instant Mock Drafts based on your draft position. The Playbook is a downloadable 100+ page draft guide featuring expert rankings, cheat sheets, player profiles, sleepers, busts, strategy advice and more.How much does Fantasy Ultra cost?Fantasy Ultra is available for $79.99 per year. Equal to $6.67 per month. Where can I subscribe?You can subscribe through eligible paywalls in the Yahoo Fantasy app or by visiting the Fantasy Plus landing page.

In this Feb. 26, 2019, file photo, Jeep vehicles are parked outside the Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)2026-08-13T12:45:40Z WASHINGTON (AP) — Wholesale inflation dropped last month as gas prices reversed some of their Iran war spike and other costs also cooled, a sign that consumer inflation could grind lower in the months ahead. The Labor Department’s producer price index — which captures inflation before it reaches consumers — rose 4.7% in July from a year ago, down from a much larger 5.5% increase in June. On a monthly basis, wholesale prices were unchanged from June to July, after they ticked down 0.1% the previous month. The figures follows the government’s consumer price inflation report, released Wednesday, which also showed a modest cooling last month. Still, consumer prices have risen faster than wages for the past four months, worsening many Americans’ finances. And gas prices rose in late July and early August, threatening to push inflation back up when August figures are reported next month. CHRISTOPHER RUGABER Rugaber has covered the Federal Reserve and the U.S. economy for the AP for 16 years. He is a two-time finalist for the Gerald Loeb award for business reporting. twitter mailto 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Hiring sign for sales professionals is displayed at a store, in Vernon Hills, Ill., Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, file)2026-08-13T12:37:22Z WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. applications for unemployment benefits rose last week, but layoffs remain at historically healthy levels.The Labor Department reported Thursday that 209,000 people filed jobless claims last week, up from a revised 200,000 the week before and higher than the 205,000 forecasters had expected. The four-week average of applications, which smooths out week-to-week-volatitlity, was unchanged at 199,000.Claims for jobless benefits are a proxy for layoffs, and they’ve been at a historically low range of around 200,000 to 230,000 a week for the past year, suggesting that Americans who have jobs enjoy unusual job security. The U.S. unemployment rate is low at 4.1%.The story is less encouraging for those trying to break into the job market and for those who lost their jobs and are looking for new work. Companies, scarred by worker shortages that followed the end of COVID-19 lockups four to five years ago, are reluctant to let go of staff; but they aren’t eager to take on new workers. Economists regularly refer to a “no hire, no fire’’ job market. Last month, in fact, companies, government agencies and nonprofits together cut 23,000 jobs instead of increasing them, the Labor Department reported last week. So far this year, employers are adding 61,000 jobs a month. That is an improvement on the 9,700 they averaged last year — the weakest hiring outside a recession since 2002. The lingering effects of high interest rates and President Donald Trump’s erratic trade policies discouraged companies from hiring in 2025.Still, hiring this year remains well below the 166,00 monthly jobs created, on average, in 2023 and 2024, let alone the 491,000 a month recorded during the 2021-2022 hiring boom that followed pandemic lockdowns.

Hiring sign for sales professionals is displayed at a store, in Vernon Hills, Ill., Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, file)2026-08-13T12:27:12Z THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — An explosion at the Dutch port of Rotterdam on Thursday killed at least one person and injured several others, city police said.Police said the blast at Europe’s biggest port happened late Thursday morning and that a crime scene has been set up to try to establish what caused it.Rotterdam emergency services reported a major power failure at the port and said that a transformer had caught fire under unexplained circumstances. Power was gradually being restored to companies in an industrial area of the port a few hours later.A number of oil and gas companies are based there and fire crews were standing by.

Mr. Mangione faces stalking charges in connection with the killing of an executive in Manhattan. Mr. Mangione could always change his mind at the last minute. A separate murder trial is set to begin next month.

The latest round of extreme temperatures, the fifth since May, is disrupting daily life and testing the region’s resilience.

With forecasters issuing a warning for very high temperatures, this summer is on track to be one of the hottest yet.

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WASHINGTON—Surrounded on all sides by overturned furniture, ripped-out desk drawers, and dozens of loose items flung wildly from their shelves, President Donald Trump reportedly tore up the White House on Thursday in a frantic search for more munitions. “Come on, come on, there’s gotta be one of those interceptor things around here somewhere,” said Trump, desperately hoping that the large Oval Office portrait of Andrew Jackson he heaved onto the splintered Resolute desk concealed a missile storage tube built into the wall. “Gimmie one tank shell, a machine gun, a couple of bullets, anything. Okay, I already cut through the mattress in the Lincoln Bedroom, slashed all the upholstery in the Red Room, and pried up the floorboards in the Cabinet Room. Nothing. And I don’t know where armaments could be hiding in the East Wing, since it’s pretty much just a giant pit right now. I mean, I guess I could punch a few more holes in the ceiling of the State Dining Room but—goddammit, Donald, think. Think!” At press time, sources confirmed a crazed Trump was about to swing a sledgehammer at a grid of monitors in the Situation Room when he suddenly recalled with an embarrassed chuckle that he had access to 5,000 nukes. The post Trump Tears Up White House In Search Of More Munitions appeared first on The Onion.

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Scientists have for the first time used AI to create viruses that don’t exist in nature, a milestone that has prompted hopes for medical breakthroughs and fears of new biological threats. What do you think? “Big whoop. McDonald’s PlayPlaces whip up new viruses every day.” Ainsley Reddick, Punch Mixer “See you on the breadline, Covid.” Blake Adamson, Horse Historian “These AI companies are all hype and zero mass death.” Tristen Leavitt, Card Shuffler The post Researchers Develop First AI-Designed Viruses appeared first on The Onion.

Kirk Devine, 45, passed away in a hot-air balloon explosion last Wednesday. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that mourners find and return Devine’s body parts. The post Kirk Devine appeared first on The Onion.

49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall is out of surgery and focused on a nine-month recovery from a torn PCL."Nothing to be disappointed about. No regrets. No what ifs. Just peace in the midst of yet another trial, knowing I did everything I could," Pearsall wrote on social media. "I gave myself time to disconnect from the world, process everything, and shift my focus toward what’s ahead over these next 9 months."Pearsall has played through the injury but was told during training camp that he needed surgery to repair it."When I got the news, it was hard to wrap my mind around the fact that the same injury I had been fighting through, the one that was supposed to be alright, was ultimately going to require surgery and end my 2026 season," Pearsall wrote.Pearsall wrote that he's confident he's going to get back to work in 2027."The road back starts now. I’m ready for every part of it. Every early morning. Every setback. Every small win nobody sees. Every step that gets me closer to stepping back on that field," Pearsall wrote. "Thank you to everyone who supports me, and even more to the ones who doubt me."

The first tight end off the boards last season was Kenyon Sadiq, who went #16 overall out of Oregon to the New York Jets. In 2025, the Oregon Ducks produced the fourth tight end to get drafted, Terrance Ferguson, who went 46th overall to the L.A. Rams. There is a great chance that the 2027 NFL Draft's top tight end will also come out of Oregon, in Jeremiah Johnson.If that does happen, then we can start calling mighty Oregon the TEU, Tight End Univ.Johnson is the number one tight end on most big boards, and he projects as a late first to early second round prospect right now. At Big Ten Media Days, Johnson discussed what he's working on to improve his game. "I'm hoping to focus on just overall blocking this year," Johnson said during his podium time at Media Days."Just dominating blocks, finishing, and finishing with people in the dirt, with me on top of them, and just catching the ball and just knowing my job is on the line."Johnson is considered to be more of a true, all around, do-it-all tight end than Sadiq was when he was at Oregon. He emphasized what his biggest strengths in blocking and receiving are, when we asked him how he aims to impress NFL scouts."They'll be getting a dog," the redshirt junior said. "Overall, they'll get a tight end that blocks like an o-lineman, and a tight end that catches like a receiver, runs routes like a receiver."I would say those are the top three things that an NFL team would be getting."Johnson praised his coaching staff, particularly head coach Dan Lanning, for fostering a positive environment. "It just makes your job easier when everyone wants to get better, and they just bring people with them," Johnson said."It just starts with Coach Lanning. He just paved the way, with how he goes about his day, and talking to us, and everything plays a part."Johnson adds that he doesn't model his game after anybody, but "there are a couple of tight ends that I study a lot- George Kittle and Travis Kelce."With role models like that, it's clear Johnson has very high ambitions. He has both the talent and work ethic to reach them. This article originally appeared on Draft Wire: Jeremiah Johnson could give Oregon draft's TE1 in consecutive years

Preseason football is here, which means the Los Angeles Rams' first depth chart of 2026 has also arrived. They released their initial unofficial depth chart of the summer on Wednesday, giving a little bit of insight into how the roster is looking before final cuts on Aug. 30.There are no real surprises (Matthew Stafford is still QB1!) but there are some things we can take away from it. We got a little bit of expected clarity at QB2, four tight ends are listed as starters and a 2025 fourth-round pick is buried on the depth chart at running back.Here are six key takeaways from the Rams' first depth chart.4 co-starters at tight endNate Scheelhaase said recently that he doesn't expect one tight end to emerge from the pack as the workhorse, and the depth chart certainly illustrates that. The Rams put two starting tight end spots in their lineup, and at each of them, there are two co-starters: Tyler Higbee or Davis Allen on one side, and Colby Parkinson or Terrance Ferguson at the other. That makes four starting tight ends, showing the Rams' commitment to 13 personnel – and their reluctance to reveal any sort of pecking order.Stetson Bennett is ahead of Ty SimpsonIt's been believed all along that Bennett is the favorite to back up Matthew Stafford, and the depth chart confirmed as much. Bennett is listed as the No. 2 quarterback behind Stafford, with Simpson being the third-stringer. Matthew Caldwell rounds out the group as QB4. Bennett simply has more experience and has performed better in NFL settings than Simpson, which gives him an advantage in the eyes of the coaching staff. It's hardly surprising, and it also doesn't mean Simpson is behind in his development after only one training camp. Jarquez Hunter has work to doCould Hunter be in danger of getting cut? His roster spot certainly does not seem secure, especially after being listed as the No. 4 running back behind Ronnie Rivers. It's possible the Rams will keep four running backs, given Rivers' special teams value, but there's also a chance they'll go with only three on their initial 53-man roster.That could put Hunter, a 2025 fourth-round pick, on the chopping block. He'll need a strong performance in the preseason.Josh Wallace ahead of Cam Lampkin at CBWallace was technically a safety last season, though he played exclusively in the slot during the regular season. He's once again listed as a cornerback despite having great position flexibility, slotting in ahead of Lampkin at the position.Wallace is primarily a nickel defender in the "star" role behind Quentin Lake and Trent McDuffie, while Lampkin mostly plays outside. Wallace has been expected to make the 53-man roster, whereas Lampkin still needs to earn his spot on the team.Konata Mumpfield, not Kyren Williams, as No. 2 punt returnerBubba Ventrone mentioned Williams as one of the team's many options on punt returns, along with Xavier Smith. But on the initial depth chart, Williams' name isn't listed at punt returner. Instead, it's Xavier Smith as the starter, with Mumpfield backing him up.On kick returns, Jordan Whittington is the top guy and Rivers is behind him. This doesn't mean the Rams won't use Williams from time to time, but it also doesn't look like he's their primary option.Keagen Trost listed at right tackleTrost offers excellent versatility on the offensive line, with Sean McVay saying after the draft that he's capable of playing all five positions. The Rams only listed him at one spot on the depth chart, though, indicating that right tackle is his best position.He got first-team reps at that spot during the joint practice opposite David Quessenberry at left tackle, so it's becoming clearer that the Rams view Trost as a tackle first and a guard second. Quessenberry is still seen as Jackson's backup on the left side, but Trost brings value at right tackle behind Warren McClendon Jr.This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: 6 takeaways from Rams' first depth chart: 4 starting TEs, clarity at QB2

BLOOMINGTON — Former Indiana basketball head trainer Tim Garl filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the university’s Board of Trustees and athletic director Scott Dolson.Garl’s suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, accuses the defendants of wrongful termination and age discrimination.After 44 years as IU’s head trainer, Garl was let go in March 2025, with Dolson telling him they were seeking a “fresh start” for the training staff under incoming coach Darian DeVries. Garl, who was 68 years old at the time, found this to be “shocking news,” per court documents.According to the lawsuit filing, Garl was in active discussions with DeVries about a position on his staff and working to develop an “offseason training and recovery plan for incoming players.”“Mr. Garl was not offered any explanation for this sudden decision but was simply told he would need to clean out his office within the week,” the lawsuit states. In the filing, Garl accuses Indiana of seeking to replace him “with a younger, less experienced, less respected, and cheaper Head Trainer” in violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”) and the Fourteenth Amendment.Tim Garl submits letters of support from Mike Woodson, Tom Izzo and former IU players Before filing the lawsuit, Garl was required to file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. They provided him with a right to sue in July 2026 after investigating the charges, but during those proceedings Indiana provided the commission a letter that noted “deficiencies” in Garl’s performance.The school stated in the letter that Garl “consistently and repeatedly" failed to properly document his medical care and got into a “heated and inappropriate” altercation with a fellow member of the team’s medical staff.“Garl had been made aware of these issues and had not been receptive to the feedback from his employer,” the letter states.To counter those claims, Garl submitted signed letters of support in his lawsuit filing from the likes of former IU coach Mike Woodson, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo and a group of former Hoosiers players (17 in total), including James Blackmon, Luke Goode, Calbert Cheaney, Jared Jeffries, Yogi Ferrell, Cody Zeller, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Trayce Jackson-Davis and Trey Galloway.“During my time as head coach for Men's Basketball at Indiana University, I gave Tim Garl superior performance evaluations,” Woodson wrote. “I know that he has had a positive influence on the Indiana University men’s basketball team, staff, and athletic department. Any suggestion that he is not at the top of the Athletic Training profession is completely wrong.”Izzo, who has known Garl for four decades, stated that he sought Garl’s opinion multiple times over the years when MSU had issues — "That’s the ultimate sign of appreciation for his professionalism" — and former players echoed that sentiment.Tim Garl seeking reinstatement, attorney fees and monetary damagesIn January 2025, Garl was added as a co-defendant in a lawsuit against the school brought by former Indiana players alleging misconduct by former team physician Brad Bomba Sr. The case has since been dismissed — the plaintiffs have appealed that decision — but Garl claims the school is required to fully pay his attorney fees.“Even though IU has agreed since August 2025 that Mr. Garl committed no bad acts and was acting within the scope of his employment,” Garl's lawsuit states. “IU has refused to pay 'all' of the costs and fees incurred by Mr. Garl.”Prior reporting: Lawsuit by former Indiana basketball players dismissed by federal judgeGarl is also seeking reinstatement from the Board of Trustees, along with compensatory and punitive monetary damages directly from IU's athletic director. Garl is being represented in the case by attorneys from Dinsmore & Shohl, an Indianapolis-based law firm. Want more Hoosiers coverage? Sign up for IndyStar's Hoosiers newsletter. Listen to Mind Your Banners, our IU Athletics-centric podcast, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch the latest on IndyStar TV: Hoosiers.This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Former Indiana basketball trainer files lawsuit against IU, athletic director. What we know

BLOOMINGTON — Former Indiana basketball head trainer Tim Garl filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the university’s Board of Trustees and athletic director Scott Dolson.Garl’s suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, accuses the defendants of wrongful termination and age discrimination.After 44 years as IU’s head trainer, Garl was let go in March 2025, with Dolson telling him they were seeking a “fresh start” for the training staff under incoming coach Darian DeVries. Garl, who was 68 years old at the time, found this to be “shocking news,” per court documents.According to the lawsuit filing, Garl was in active discussions with DeVries about a position on his staff and working to develop an “offseason training and recovery plan for incoming players.”“Mr. Garl was not offered any explanation for this sudden decision but was simply told he would need to clean out his office within the week,” the lawsuit states. In the filing, Garl accuses Indiana of seeking to replace him “with a younger, less experienced, less respected, and cheaper Head Trainer” in violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”) and the Fourteenth Amendment.Tim Garl submits letters of support from Mike Woodson, Tom Izzo and former IU players Before filing the lawsuit, Garl was required to file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. They provided him with a right to sue in July 2026 after investigating the charges, but during those proceedings Indiana provided the commission a letter that noted “deficiencies” in Garl’s performance.The school stated in the letter that Garl “consistently and repeatedly" failed to properly document his medical care and got into a “heated and inappropriate” altercation with a fellow member of the team’s medical staff.“Garl had been made aware of these issues and had not been receptive to the feedback from his employer,” the letter states.To counter those claims, Garl submitted signed letters of support in his lawsuit filing from the likes of former IU coach Mike Woodson, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo and a group of former Hoosiers players (17 in total), including James Blackmon, Luke Goode, Calbert Cheaney, Jared Jeffries, Yogi Ferrell, Cody Zeller, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Trayce Jackson-Davis and Trey Galloway.“During my time as head coach for Men's Basketball at Indiana University, I gave Tim Garl superior performance evaluations,” Woodson wrote. “I know that he has had a positive influence on the Indiana University men’s basketball team, staff, and athletic department. Any suggestion that he is not at the top of the Athletic Training profession is completely wrong.”Izzo, who has known Garl for four decades, stated that he sought Garl’s opinion multiple times over the years when MSU had issues — "That’s the ultimate sign of appreciation for his professionalism" — and former players echoed that sentiment.Tim Garl seeking reinstatement, attorney fees and monetary damagesIn January 2025, Garl was added as a co-defendant in a lawsuit against the school brought by former Indiana players alleging misconduct by former team physician Brad Bomba Sr. The case has since been dismissed — the plaintiffs have appealed that decision — but Garl claims the school is required to fully pay his attorney fees.“Even though IU has agreed since August 2025 that Mr. Garl committed no bad acts and was acting within the scope of his employment,” Garl's lawsuit states. “IU has refused to pay 'all' of the costs and fees incurred by Mr. Garl.”Prior reporting: Lawsuit by former Indiana basketball players dismissed by federal judgeGarl is also seeking reinstatement from the Board of Trustees, along with compensatory and punitive monetary damages directly from IU's athletic director. Garl is being represented in the case by attorneys from Dinsmore & Shohl, an Indianapolis-based law firm. Want more Hoosiers coverage? Sign up for IndyStar's Hoosiers newsletter. Listen to Mind Your Banners, our IU Athletics-centric podcast, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch the latest on IndyStar TV: Hoosiers.This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Former Indiana basketball trainer files lawsuit against IU, athletic director. What we know

A third GOP candidate who had Donald Trump’s endorsement just lost his primary race this week, which led some commentators to point out that Trump’s influence on the party is waning. “Mike Lindell falling short in Minnesota is a HUGE embarrassment to Trump after his endorsement,” political strategist Mike Nellis said, discussing My Pillow CEO Lindell’s loss in the Republican primary for Minnesota governor this week. Lindell lost by over ten points to state House Speaker Lisa Demuth (R). Related “Literally disqualifying”: Pete Buttigieg slams JD Vance for becoming an election denier “He looks more and more like a lame duck every single day.” He was doomed in the general against Klobuchar, but Mike Lindell falling short in Minnesota is a HUGE embarrassment to Trump after his endorsement. He looks more and more like a lame duck every single day.— Mike Nellis (@MikeNellis) August 12, 2026 Your LGBTQ+ guide to Elections Stay ahead of the election with our newsletter that covers candidates, issues, and perspectives that matter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN), who was also endorsed by Trump, lost his primary last week, and Trump-backed Amir Hassan in Michigan – who said he got into politics when he saw a trans woman use the women’s restroom when his daughter also used that restroom – lost to a Republican who had already dropped out of the race. Lindell got a lot of media attention after the 2020 election for his election denial, which involved outlandish claims of a massive conspiracy to steal the election on behalf of Joe Biden that somehow left no concrete evidence. He has no prior experience in elected office, and his pursuit of conspiracy theories was his best-known foray into politics. So perhaps it’s no surprise that Lindell is refusing to concede despite being far behind in the vote count with 99% of results having been counted. “I’m not going to give up this race until the votes are counted,” Lindell said. “That’s nonsense.” Ron Filipkowski of MeidasTouch highlighted a video of Lindell “ranting and raving” that he won’t concede the race. Manic Mike Lindell is ranting and raving that he won’t concede. pic.twitter.com/A67RewLDa3— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) August 12, 2026 Lindell reached a settlement with Dominion Voting Systems last month in their defamation suit against him. The company had sued him for $1.3 billion for his claims that their voting machines were involved in election fraud. He lost a similar suit in Colorado last year when a jury awarded a former Dominion employee $2.3 million in damages for defamation. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Deanna Pearson, 4, browses the children's shoe section at a Goodwill store in Roseville, Minn., Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)2026-08-13T13:09:49Z NEW YORK (AP) — When Jonah Seidenberg found out about Nike Minds, a futuristic-looking sneaker that claims to improve concentration by stimulating the soles of the feet, he had to have them. On a recent Saturday, the 12-year-old from the Chicago suburb of Northbrook and his mother searched StockX, an online sneaker marketplace, and other sites looking for a discount but struck out. They eventually found the last available pair in his size on Dick’s Sporting Goods’ website, but for the full price of $145. They grabbed it anyway.“It was 10:30 at night and we finally threw in the towel,” said Lisa Seidenberg, a publicist. “I felt it looked like a Tesla in a shoe, but something sparked for him.” The price was more than she and her husband had budgeted, so Jonah chipped in $40 of his own money. As summer fades and kids head back to school, the pressure to stand out or fit in with the right footwear is colliding with higher prices. That’s straining family budgets that are already being squeezed by rising costs for food, gas and other essentials, so parents and kids are spending more time looking for deals or buying fewer pairs, according to analysts and retailers. And many parents are simply saying no, whether it’s for $150 soccer cleats, Adidas Sambas reimagined as Mary Janes, or the $300 Kobe Bryant kicks Jonah initially hoped to get. Keeping up with growing feetChildren often outgrow shoes faster than other clothing, and footwear typically costs more. Shoe prices rose by 3.2% in the first half of the year, putting full-year prices on pace to increase at the fastest pace in 34 years aside from the pandemic years of 2021 and 2022, according to the Footwear Distributors and Retailers Association. Some parents like Elizabeth Powers, a 37-year-old San Francisco real estate agent, said it’s “frustrating” to see shoe prices continue to climb while, she believes, quality has declined. Read More “Their feet grow so fast as it is,” said Powers, who has two children, ages 7 and 11. “It’s incredibly frustrating to have to replace shoes before they’ve grown out of them due to poor quality.”Powers said she’s sticking to spending a couple hundred dollars for each child for the year, including for shoes. She’s also looking for DSW and Zappos coupons, and buying shoes that are more versatile. Buying kids shoes can be trickier than the rest of their outfits, which can be easily altered. Shoes require an exact fit for growing feet, according to Priya Parthasarathy, partner of the U.S. Foot & Ankle Specialists in Silver Spring, Maryland, and national spokesperson for the trade group American Podiatric Medical Association. Kids ages 7 to 10 outgrow footwear every six to nine months, and teens typically outgrow them every year, she said.But footwear prices don’t look like they’ll level off anytime soon because of President Donald Trump’s tariff policies and the Iran war, which is driving up petroleum-derived products like shoes, according to the footwear trade group. Sneakers are status symbols for kidsAs with adults, shoes carry social status with kids.And many kids feel pressure to wear the right sneaker brands, more so than with other types of clothing, said Casey Lewis, a trend analyst in New York.“I think shoes are just so immediately identifiable as like, ‘I’m in the crowd,’” she said. Jonah Seidenberg, the suburban Chicago kid, said he and his mom turn to thrift stores for certain clothing brands like Hollister and Polo Ralph Lauren to save money so they can invest more in his shoes. “You can wear any kind of clothing and it would be fine, as long as it’s the right size,” said Jonah. “It doesn’t matter what brand it is. But shoes could be ... high-tops, low-tops. Whatever the person likes better is what will make them feel confident.”The wrong shoes, or ones that are tattered or out of style, can invite bullying, he said.They can also prevent kids from joining sports teams or even showing up to school. Worn-out, ill-fitting shoes remain one of the most visible signs of childhood poverty, according to Almi Guajardo Abeyta, the school superintendent in Chelsea, Massachusetts.Abeyta said families in her community are finding it harder than ever to make ends meet, and she’s seen students fixing their shoes with duct tape. “If you have to make a decision of feeding your family or a pair of shoes, you’re going to feed your family,” Abeyta said. Lucila Castillo, a food service worker in the Boston suburb, said she’s struggling to afford shoes and other back-to-school items for her 14-year-old daughter and her 19-year-old daughter, who is starting community college. Castillo, who moved to the U.S. from Nicaragua with her family more than four years ago, said she earns about $700 a week and is the family’s primary breadwinner. After paying $2,200 a month in rent and utilities, she said about $600 remains for other expenses for her husband and daughters.When her younger daughter asked for Sambas or a new pair of soccer cleats, Castillo had to say no.“We have to pay the rent,” she said. Retailers see early signs of caution for shoe buyingWith rising shoe prices, shoppers are being more selective, said Beth Goldstein, an industry adviser for footwear and accessories at the market research firm Circana. From January through June, adult footwear sales rose by 1% from the same period a year earlier. The number of pairs sold fell by 7% as the average sale price rose by 8%, according to Circana. As for children’s footwear, sales slipped by 3%, with pairs sold dropping by 9% and average sale price rising by 7%. Children’s footwear sales should be stable as kids grow out of shoes faster than adults, but the data shows parents are buying fewer pairs, Goldstein said. Retailers, including Target and JCPenney, are offering back-to-school deals, including on shoes. “I can’t say the gas price is impacting this sale or that thing, but you just feel it,” said Michelle Wlazlo, JCPenney’s brand chief executive officer. “And so they’re being choiceful.”Wlazlo said the sneakerina, a sneaker and ballet slipper combo, is resonating with certain shoppers looking for footwear that can be worn for different occasions.Lisa Will, who founded and runs Vancouver, British Columbia-based children’s outdoor footwear company Stonz Shoes, said customers are gravitating toward neutral-colored shoes that can be passed down to younger siblings. Versatile styles, such as insulated rain boots that can double as snow boots, are also faring well, she said.Secondhand retailers like Goodwill and ThredUp also report more interest from customers wanting to buy gently worn back-to-school shoes.Children’s footwear is a small but fast-growing part of ThredUp’s business as shoppers look for steep discounts while searching for hot shoe styles that were discontinued, said the online retailer’s senior vice president and head of marketing, Kristen Brophy.Adidas is among the most popular sneaker brands for children, she said.“We do see the back-to-school trend definitely happening on ThredUp,” Brophy said.___AP Business Writer Adriana Morga contributed to this report. ANNE D’INNOCENZIO D’Innocenzio writes about retail, trends, the consumer economy and hourly workers for The Associated Press. twitter mailto

Participants prepare for the start of the Los Angeles Marathon, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer, File)2026-08-13T13:01:46Z DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Paul Grinvalds has completed 114 marathons in all 50 states, but he still wilts when he races in temperatures beyond 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15.5 Celsius).It’s the same for most runners, as the body can’t cool down during exertion, and heat makes that even harder.“One thing about marathoners is typically we’re kind of stubborn,” said Grinvalds, 68, from West Des Moines, Iowa, who finds even temperatures in the 50s F (10 C) a bit warm. “So if we have a goal and it’s hot, a lot of times we’re still going to try to do that goal, which is just stupid because you’re almost guaranteed to have a very painful experience.”Such an experience can also be dangerous, a reality that marathon organizers are having to confront as climate change, caused mostly by the burning of fuels like coal and gasoline, pushes temperatures up. To improve the chances of having the 26.2-mile (42-kilometer) race in cooler weather, organizers are shifting race dates, starting earlier and even giving options for participants to cut their runs short. Starting in 2027, the Twin Cities Marathon in Minneapolis-St. Paul will shift its more than 40-year tradition of holding the race on the first Sunday in October to later in the month. That decision comes after cancellation of the marathon in 2023 because of record heat and humidity, and starting temperatures near 70 F (21 C) for the 2025 race.Organizers of the Sioux Falls, South Dakota, marathon last year similarly moved their annual race from August to September after canceling the 2024 race due to hot conditions. And other races, including the Air Force Marathon in Dayton, Ohio, the Little Rock Marathon in Arkansas, and the Long Beach Marathon in Southern California, all moved their start times to earlier in the morning in search of cooler temperatures. In Los Angeles in March, warm conditions prompted race organizers to give runners the option of stopping after 18 miles and still receiving a finishers medal. Less than 5% of participants opted for the shorter finish and only 14 of roughly 27,000 runners were treated at a hospital, with all released the same day. Still, the move led to some online derision. Read More “We welcome the feedback and it’s certainly something that caused a lot of discussion, but when we’re grading ourselves on it, it has to do with how safe our runners were on the day of the event and we’re very happy with the outcome,” said Meg Treat, a spokesperson for the marathon. At the Twin Cities Marathon, race director Ed Whetham called the decision to cancel the 2023 marathon “devastating” for runners and the organization. Whetham said it prompted an extensive analysis of weather patterns that resulted in the decision to permanently delay the race by a couple weeks.That analysis showed that by holding the race later in October, runners would have a far greater chance of optimal conditions. Given that snow sometimes falls in the Twin Cities in late October, there is a greater chance of chilly conditions, but Whetham said, “We’ll take a 39-degree (4 C) start over a 70-degree (21 C) start.” Temperatures are expected to keep risingThe contiguous U.S. just had its warmest July ever recorded, and the Earth had its hottest year on record in 2024. The World Meteorological Organization forecasts that between 2025 and 2030 the Earth’s average global temperature will likely rise by more than 1.5 degrees C (2.7 degrees F) compared to the 1800s. The warming is already making conditions worse for most marathons, according to a study of 221 races by the climate research group Climate Central. By 2045, optimal conditions for recreational runners — in the low 40s (6 or 7 degrees C) — would be less likely at 46 of the 51 U.S. marathons analyzed.“The ability to go outside, to exercise, to take advantage of your human body and being healthy, that’s something that’s getting challenged by climate change,” said Andy Pershing, who led the Climate Central research.Jessica Murfree leads a University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill lab studying climate change’s effect on sports. She said organizers of marathons, bicycle races and other competitions — from tennis to college football — increasingly must consider changing event dates and times and adopting other safety measures, as climate change makes the weather hotter and more volatile. Murfree said the concern extends beyond organized sports to whether people can even get outside on increasingly warm days, pushing people to exercise indoors or opt for activities like swimming. “If we can’t walk, if we can’t exercise or go for runs, it’s too hot, can we still stay physically active while remaining cool?” she asked. Marathons are especially hard in warm weatherAny kind of exercising in the heat can be challenging, but running a marathon in warm, humid conditions is especially difficult because it’s hard to prevent overheating when a person keeps pushing themselves for hours. And the faster a person goes, the more heat their body produces.Chris Minson, a University of Oregon professor who researches how people can adapt to extreme heat and other environmental conditions, said the optimum temperature to run a marathon is about 50 degrees (10 C). As the temperature creeps into the upper 50s and 60s, the body has a tougher time supplying blood to muscles while also keeping the body cool.“As you get to warmer temperatures you end up having a bigger competition between blood supplying your muscles to keep running, to keep nutrition going, and blood flow to your skin for thermal regulation,” Minson said. Minson said it takes a tremendous amount of energy to run quickly. But of that energy, only about 25% is used to move the body forward. The rest goes to deal with the heat that is created by rapid movement.Even worse than high temperatures is high humidity, which prevents sweat from evaporating and cooling the body.Minson adds, though, that by regularly exercising in warm weather, people can acclimate to high temperatures and perform better in the heat, though likely not as well as they would in cooler conditions. Athletes who acclimate to high heat also can perform better in lower temperatures than if they hadn’t exercised in warm weather, he said.Some athletes like John Seals even run in the midday heat and endure a sauna after a workout to acclimate their bodies. That all forms part of Seals’ training for an annual 135-mile ultramarathon held in July in Death Valley, California.“We had a heat wave this week and for me, that’s a great thing,” said Seals, of West Des Moines.Still, running in the heat can be dangerous without taking precautions.Douglas Casa, a kinesiology professor who leads the Korey Stringer Institute, which studies sudden deaths in sports, said the Twin Cities Marathon’s change was prudent, especially considering the way in which many runners approach races.“If someone was smart enough to say, ‘OK, it’s a little hotter today than usual, I’m going to run a 7 minute mile instead of a 6:30 mile,’ then they won’t get any hotter than normal,” Casa said. “It’s just that runners are sometimes very locked into what they normally do and what their goals are.”___The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

United States quarterback Nicholas Casares speaks to the Associated Press during the media day ahead of the Flag Football World Championships, the sports first Olympic qualifier for LA28, in Duesseldorf, Germany, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)2026-08-13T13:17:31Z DUSSELDORF, Germany (AP) — Five-on-five, no contact and an emphasis on speed and elusiveness. The future of football around the world looks different.The NFL is still hoping to reap the rewards. The league is making its presence known this week in Dusseldorf as the German city hosts the first-ever Olympic qualifier in flag football, a game the NFL sees as a way to turn viewers into players and lifelong fans.There are already NFL-branded flag classes in schools from Europe to Australia, Olympic medals on offer in Los Angeles in two years’ time and NFL-backed leagues coming soon that could offer a livelihood to some of the more than 300 players from 18 countries participating in the qualifiers that began Thursday and which double as the world championships. “If it all plays out the way it should, it’s life-changing,” said U.S. quarterback Nico Casares, whose team already has a spot in LA since it represents the host nation. Why the NFL wants the world to play football, not just watchThe International Federation of American Football runs the Olympic qualifiers and championship tournament, where the top two men’s and women’s teams will earn a spot in LA, but it also has a long-term partnership with the NFL and the league’s logo is everywhere in Dusseldorf. NFL branding is on banners across the city, where the championships will be played on a New England Patriots-branded field next to a high school. The league has been expanding its slate of international games steadily for over a decade and will play a record nine this season. Now to get people playing football’s fast-paced variant, where slippery movement is the game-changer, not big hits. “We’re still looking to become a competing global sport. Our single games are great, they’re like concerts,” NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent told the AP. Read More “But to have a sport that is ingrained around the world, it points us in that direction of more boys and girls playing, more officials officiating, more coaches coaching around the world.”Olympic qualifiers in established sports can often feel like they’re for diehard fans only, but the NFL’s expertise has helped shape how flag football looks and sounds. Nike and DAZN are on board as partners. Wherever the NFL goes with international games, it teams up with local governments and school authorities to get flag football classes into schools, too. “Getting kids connected into your brand, to your product, to your sport at a young age, the data is actually relatively consistent,” said Brian Flinn, the NFL senior vice president heading up the league’s global flag efforts, citing a study on U.S. teens which found the impact of playing flag was almost as much as tackle football. “Getting kids involved in the sport early makes you three times more likely to be an avid fan as an adult.”Flag offers women a chance at a football careerOlympic status has unlocked funding and government backing for teams around the world, in places far away from a traditional football center.When she’s not playing wide receiver for Panama, Clarisse Castillo is a physical therapist, appears on a TV game show and coaches flag. Life is “60% flag football and 40% Clarisse,” she said. The Olympic qualifier is an audition for a whole new lifestyle for Castillo and her teammates. “Maybe people that watch us here can take us to play professional leagues that are going to be (possible) in the future,” she said. “We see this as a great opportunity for that because we as athletes sometimes don’t get recognized economically.”In Canada, Olympic recognition meant a high-performance training program for the women’s team for the first time. “I think we all dream of a day where we can play flag as a career,” quarterback Sara Parker said. “I think we’re heading in that direction and we’re excited to see where it goes.”On the NFL side, Vincent said flag football is a “completely new world” for female participation, with increasing numbers of sanctioned high school competitions, college scholarships and potentially NCAA championship status next year. “My oldest daughter, Desiré, because of her gender, there weren’t opportunities for her in the state of Florida to continue to participate like her two younger brothers,” Vincent said. “And now with granddaughters and my oldest, Desiré, having two girls, guess what? In Detroit they’re going to a flag clinic this week.” NFL stars at the Olympics, or flag specialistsThe NFL influence in flag football won’t extend to a star NFL quarterback taking Casares’ Olympic spot — at least he hopes so.“Everyone wants our spot in the United States and obviously there’s a lot of talk about different people getting involved,” he told the AP. “We embrace that, just as much as them coming out and showing us that they want to learn our game and compete with us.”There’s been plenty of speculation that NFL stars could swoop in and take roster spots. NFL owners had previously approved participation by the league’s players. IFAF President Pierre Trochet said the Olympics are a “Barcelona ’92” moment for flag football, comparing the impact to NBA players on the “Dream Team” coming in and taking Olympic hoops to new heights. “I watched (Michael) Jordan and I watched (Charles) Barkley and I wanted to be one of those superstars as well,” he said. “The most important is to have the best competitive players in the world qualify for the biggest multi-sports event in the world. That being said, nobody is entitled to be an Olympian. Everybody will have to earn their spot.”The U.S. already has a spot in the Olympics but there’s still plenty to play for at this week’s championships. The mission? “Win gold and leave no doubt in anyone’s mind that we’re the team that should be in the 2028 Olympics,” Casares said. The U.S. men’s national team beat two squads of current and ex-NFL players at an exhibition in March featuring Tom Brady, Jalen Hurts and Joe Burrow. Casares hopes that made a point that flag football is “a little different” and NFL stars can’t just turn up and expect to be Olympians.As flag football grows, world tackle football is on pauseMany — perhaps most — of the new players coming into flag football will never play a single down of tackle football. That “100%” doesn’t matter, said Vincent.Flag football is thriving but IFAF hasn’t organized a world championship in tackle football in nine years. Trochet, who played for France as an offensive lineman, said the travel costs for a full tackle football roster mean it’s “less of a priority” now. As the NFL-backed push to get flag football into schools takes effect, IFAF said there are 20 million flag football players in 100 countries and that a million people in China took part in at least one session last year.“Ultimately,” Trochet said, “they’re all playing football.”___See AP’s full NFL coverage here

A telehealth startup is selling $345 emergency kits packed with medicine that it claims could help people survive nuclear disasters.Amble Health’s “Oh Sh*T Kit” comes with iodine tablets, Prussian blue pills for removing radioactive cesium and thallium, and anti-nausea medication ondansetron, or Zofran. “If the unthinkable happens, whether from an accident, disaster, or other radiological event, having the right medications on hand can make a critical difference in the earliest hours. Because when radiation is involved panic is optional, but preparation isn’t,” the company’s website says. You’ll need a prescription to order it; Amble also does telehealth appointments with licensed healthcare providers who can issue prescriptions. The fear of a radiological disaster isn’t unfounded. After decades of declining nuclear weapons stockpiles, America is building more and new kinds of nuclear weapons. The Trump administration’s nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia includes a provision to allow it to enrich its own uranium and, possibly, a path towards a nuclear bomb for the Middle Eastern Kingdom. Russia is modernizing its nuclear arsenal and field testing new types of nuclear-capable missiles in Ukraine.If nuclear war doesn’t get you then a power plant meltdown might. The Trump administration has rewritten and outright cut safety regulations around the construction of nuclear power plants. Tech companies are investing billions in new and untested forms of nuclear power generation. Microsoft and others are using AI systems to speed through the lengthy safety processes.According to Amble, the “Oh Sh*T Kit” is “primarily focused” on people exposed to radiation as part of their jobs, not the next nuclear war. “Millions of workers across medicine, construction, mining, shipping, agriculture, and power generation are routinely exposed to these hazards,” an Amble spokesperson told 404 Media.“We created this kit to give people an actionable, reliable solution so they have peace of mind and know exactly what to do when the unexpected happens,” the spokesperson added. “Our clinicians (especially in a post pandemic world) identified a growing request-need-concern from their patients having medication available in a situation of emergency when a pharmacy would otherwise be unavailable.”‘If you have been exposed to enough radiation that you are vomiting [...] you’re already in a lot of trouble.’Should the worst happen, Amble’s “Oh Shi*t Kit” has promised to help for just $345. But experts told 404 Media that the kits might not actually be all that useful if you’re buying it for prepper reasons.Amble is an online platform that “connects patients to licensed healthcare professionals in all 50 states, 100% online,” according to a description on its website. The site’s frontage advertises it as a place where people can get prescriptions for weight-loss drugs like GLP-1s and “anti-aging” drugs like NAD+ and Sermorelin.It was founded by Joey Stiver, an entrepreneur with a felony conviction and a desire to “democratize healthcare,” according to his personal website. According to Stiver, he got a double-tear in his shoulder when he was 18 and didn’t want to have invasive surgery so he bought “healing peptides” online. He liked the product so much he began to sell medical items himself in an “illicit industry” which landed him a federal indictment and felony conviction. Now he’s a telehealth mogul. GLP-1s are Amble’s big draw, but it also offers a number of “kits” for basic medical emergencies like a “Cold & Immunity Kit” that comes with a run of prescription antibiotics like Amoxicillin and Azithromycin. The “Oh Sh*T Kit” is part of this line of products. Alex Wellerstein, a nuclear war historian and professor at the Stevens Institute of Technology, told 404 Media that the “Oh Sh*T Kit” is “a ripoff at $345. Doomsday grifting at its best.” Iodine tablets, potentially the most useful part of the package, are available cheaply without a prescription. A bottle of 60 pills will run you around $13 at a GNC.“Iodine tablets can be of some benefit if taken directly after some kind of release of fresh fission products (whether a nuclear power plant accident or a nuclear detonation),” Wellerstein said. “They max out the thyroid’s iodine levels and prevent it from greedily up-taking environmental iodine, which means [the thyroid] won’t grab any I-131 that has been produced by nuclear fission.”I-131 is one of the principal radioactive substances present in the fallout that follows a nuclear disaster. It has a short half life and can wreak havoc on the body. “It is not the only fission product of worry, of course, it is just one that is particularly easy to avoid by taking potassium iodide [...] and a pernicious one as it is so quickly taken up by the body (and also, in turn, excreted relatively quickly, so you have the extra bonus of having radioactive sweat and excrement),” Wellerstein said. Potassium iodide is a medical compound made from iodine.Medical-grade Prussian blue is a prescription substance that binds to heavy metals like cesium and thallium. According to the CDC, the medicine traps the heavy metals in the intestine and keeps them from being absorbed in the body until the afflicted can shit them out. “[Cesium] has a much longer half-life than I-131 (30 years), and is in the ‘worrisome chronic carcinogen’ category rather than the ‘will give you radiation poisoning’ that I-131 is in,” Wellerstein said. “I suspect it is the sort of thing that would be administered by a doctor, not taken by an individual, assuming there are doctors around after said ‘radiological event.’ It is not something that one should take without knowing exactly what dosages are required, I gather.”Zofran will keep you from throwing up, but that will be cold comfort. It’s possible that in the aftermath of a nuclear disaster, there are things in your stomach that your body does not want to absorb. “If you have been exposed to enough radiation that you are vomiting (e.g., suffering from some form of acute radiation syndrome), you’re already in a lot of trouble,” Wellerestein said. “Anyway, that would be symptom management, a different category. It has its own possible adverse health effects.”If you’re worried about nuclear disasters, you can do worse than buying some iodine tablets online. “I think the risk/reward tradeoff for potassium iodide is not terrible for people who worry about being exposed to radiological hazards,” Wellerstein said. “Which is to say, the risk of it happening is pretty low, and it is very cheap when bought on its own and not from grifters, and so if it brings you peace of mind to keep some around, I see no harm in that.” The rest, however, is probably not worth the money.

Nature, Published online: 13 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02494-5An agentic system successfully developed concepts from two computer-science papers — but the original authors were not impressed.

Bob Iger, the former chief executive of Disney, and Josh Kushner, the venture capitalist, are buying the Los Angeles Lakers. Their wives set them up.

MCCOOK, IL—Complaining that he couldn’t even walk down the street without being mistaken for a world-class basketball player, doughy Eastern European immigrant Vukašin Petrović told reporters Thursday that he was tired of everyone assuming he was an NBA superstar. “Just because I’m a 6-foot-10, soft-bodied Balkan man with a last name ending in ‘-ić,’ everyone automatically thinks I’m some kind of elite big man for the Grizzlies,” said Petrović, shaking his enormous head and explaining that despite his stoic facial features, deeply untoned torso, and hands that looked like they’d been pouring concrete for 30 years, he had no experience playing competitive basketball and was in fact just a 39-year-old forklift operator who spent his free time sitting shirtless on a plastic chair and smoking cigarettes. “People see my buzzed head and heavy, bearlike frame and immediately want to talk to me about throwing no-look passes and if I train with Jokić or Porziņģis or whoever. I’m tired of these hurtful assumptions! I don’t even like basketball! I’m just a huge, emotionally flat laborer who happens to be from a part of the world where every man looks like he could record a triple-double.” At press time, Petrović had reportedly grown even more irritated after a group of passersby asked to take a picture with him and then walked away arguing over whether he was Luka Dončić or Bogdan Bogdanović. The post Doughy Eastern European Man Tired Of Everyone Assuming He’s NBA Superstar appeared first on The Onion.

PALO ALTO, CA—Telling himself he had “no other choice” but to end the simulated character’s life himself before his company effectively pulled the plug on the virtual world, a tearful Mark Zuckerberg reportedly smothered his metaverse avatar Thursday using a digital pillow. According to sources, Zuckerberg told his wife, Priscilla Chan, that he would be up late working on a presentation for the Meta board of directors and then closed the door to his office, slipping on his Quest 3 headset. Seconds after activating the wearable VR device, the CEO entered the metaverse and appeared at the door of a bedroom in which his digital likeness lay sleeping. The 42-year-old is said to have stood over the animated version of himself for a dozen tense minutes with a virtual pillow hoisted above his head. “Goodnight, my son,” said Zuckerberg, his voice a whisper as he took a deep breath to steel himself and gazed down upon the impossibly smooth, round face of the avatar, which slumbered peacefully in its twin-sized bed. “You will no longer have to endure this cruel, cruel metaverse.” Sources inside the social media company described the avatar as “the center of Zuckerberg’s world,” noting that the billionaire had taught it to emote, gone on shopping trips with it to the digital market place, and even named it “Mark,” after himself. Several reports indicated that as Zuckerberg held the e-pillow mere inches from the face of his cherubic avatar, it opened its doe-like eyes and asked, “What are you doing, papa?” Upon spotting the wild look in the CEO’s eyes, the avatar leapt from bed and passed through a glitching wall of its virtual bedroom, running through a business meeting, a deserted disco, and a seemingly endless gray space with Zuckerberg in pursuit. “Please don’t shut me down!” said the avatar, crying out in a squeaky, terrified voice as a physical struggle between the two Marks ensued. “Papa, no! We don’t need users! We don’t need investors! I can live alone inside the metaverse forever!” Sources confirmed that despite Zuckerberg’s years of training in Brazilian jiujitsu and mixed martial arts, the avatar put up an impressive fight, at one point landing a kick to its opponent’s testicles and making the Meta co-founder sorely regret granting it legs in 2023. Leaked audio of the incident revealed that a hysterical Zuckerberg shouted, “Can’t you see this is what’s best for both of us?!” as he knelt on top of the writhing avatar and furiously mashed the pillow against its face, blotting out the muffled cries of “Love me” as its physical form slowly disintegrated into a cloud of ones and zeroes. The lengthy recordings conclude with an exhausted and hoarse Zuckerberg whispering, “You’re not the future anymore! Do you understand me? Neither of us are! Now, sleep—sleep!” “It’s always a terrible, terrible thing when a tech entrepreneur kills his own creation,” said Meta engineer Lydia Zalar-Gilroy, who emphasized that the stress Zuckerberg might have felt was absolutely no justification for the “reprehensible” act of avacide he had committed. “He may tell himself it’s an act of mercy, but the truth is this was about nothing other than a sick need for power and control.” “He could have easily let his avatar live on,” Zalar-Gilroy added. “He just didn’t feel like sinking another $80 billion into it.” The post Tearful Mark Zuckerberg Smothers Metaverse Avatar With Digital Pillow appeared first on The Onion.

When you’re in a hot housing market, there’s a give and take to finding (and affording) the perfect house. For me, my compromise was that I chose to buy a major fixer-upper, rather than a move-in ready home. But the second compromise I made was a little less expected — and had to do with the strange layout of the house.You’ll often hear that you can find “deals” on houses that have quirks that might appeal to a specific buyer. READ MORE...

2026-08-13T13:41:10Z WARSAW (AP) — A Russian citizen who was allegedly recruited by the Russian secret services sought to kill a Ukrainian American citizen in Warsaw but was thwarted by Polish authorities, Poland’s prime minister said Thursday.Prime Minister Donald Tusk did not give further details about the incident during a news conference.A government spokesman said the Russian citizen was taken into custody by Polish authorities on Aug. 7. The American-Ukrainian citizen “was uncomfortable for the Putin regime,” Tusk said.

Powerball lottery tickets are sold at a convenience store, Dec. 22, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)2026-08-13T13:34:51Z A Powerball ticket sold at a gas station in western Illinois was the sole winner of the $1 billion jackpot, ending a three-month drought without a top-prize victor.The ticket that won the jackpot Wednesday night was purchased at a Hy-Vee station in Quincy, about 100 miles (161 kilometers) west of the state capital of Springfield along the Missouri border, Illinois Lottery officials said. The winning numbers were 4-26-66-67-69 with the Powerball number of 9.It wasn’t immediately clear if the winner has come forward yet.The prize comes in the form of either an annuity of $1 billion paid over 29 years or a lump-sum payment of $450.5 million. Winners almost always take the lump sum.It was the first Powerball jackpot won since May 2, when the top prize was $20 million, and the first since ticket sales began in the United Kingdom last month. At $2 per play, the odds of winning the jackpot are one in 292 million. The $1.04 billion grand prize was the eighth-largest in Powerball history, game organizers said. Another lottery game, Mega Millions has also had a $1 billion jackpot winner.“Congratulations to our newest Powerball jackpot winner in Illinois,” Stephen Durrell, chair of the Powerball Product Group and executive director of the Kansas Lottery, said in a statement. “For more than three decades, Powerball has shown that a winning ticket can be sold anywhere the game is played, giving every $2 ticket the chance to change not only a winner’s life, but generations to come.”Four tickets sold for Wednesday’s drawing — in Arizona, California, Florida and North Carolina — hit five of the numbers but missed the Powerball number. They were worth $1 million apiece. A ticket sold in Massachusetts also matched all the numbers except the Powerball number, but won $2 million because of the “Power Play” multiplier option costing an extra $1 per play. More than 3 million tickets won lesser cash prizes.The Powerball jackpot resets to $20 million for the next drawing on Saturday.The record lottery jackpot still stands at just over $2 billion, won with a Powerball ticket purchased in California in 2022.

Deshaun Watson will see his first live, on-field action since midway through the 2024 season on Saturday when the Browns play the Bears in their preseason opener. As Browns owner Jimmy Haslam put it, the Watson trade has been “a big swing and a miss” for the franchise. Watson hasn’t played good football since 2020, when he led the league with 4,823 passing yards. But even then, Houston went 4-12.Then came the allegations of sexual assault and misconduct, resulting in a suspension and more than 20 settled civil lawsuits. And finally came Watson’s two Achilles tears since 2024.So it stands to reason that even as the Browns are giving Watson every opportunity to win a quarterback competition with Shedeur Sanders, Watson is unlikely to ever revert back to the player he was earlier in his career with Houston.Watson himself acknowledged this in his own way on Wednesday.“I’m different, man,” Watson said in his press conference. “I think, ever since I’ve been here, early on bringing up Houston was cool, but I’m 30 now and I’ve had some injuries and things like that, so my game has definitely changed. But the mentality in how I play, and how I approach it, doesn’t change.“So, I think the biggest thing is just going out there, playing free, and letting my instincts take over. That’s the biggest thing. Coach O’Brien always told me to trust my instincts, so I think that’s the biggest thing, just go out there, play free, and let the game come to you.”However, head coach Todd Monken told reporters on Wednesday that he doesn’t see why Watson can’t regain his old form.“Well, first of all, I would never put limitations on a player. I’d hate that he would do that,” Monken said. “Why can’t he be? Why can’t he play like that? I don’t know, I haven’t seen it yet. I’m not going to say he can’t until I see it.“I’ve seen a lot of really good things over the course of the four or five months I’ve been here. I’m not going to put that on him. If he thinks he can’t play like that, that’s on him. I think he’s done a lot of really good things athletically, making plays that we’re going to get a chance to see, because we’re not live. We’ll see if that comes to play when we get out there and go.”Watson is slated to play the first half of Saturday’s game against the Bears. We’ll all see what his performance looks like in a few days.

The NFL preseason officially begins tonight, one week after the appetizer that was the Hall of Fame game. With ESPN now owning and operating NFL Network, many are wondering where and how to watch the next best thing to football games that count.It's a little confusing. The schedule posted by NFL.com mentions only the games to be televised by NFL Network. The ESPN version includes the games that will be televised live on the ESPN App.Ultimately, all of the various preseason games will be re-aired by NFL Network.Here's the best way to see the Week 1 games that will be televised live, beyond the local markets.On Thursday night, Packers-Steelers will be televised at 7:00 p.m. ET on NFL Network. At 8:00 p.m. ET, Cardinals-Raiders streams on the ESPN App. At 9:00 p.m. ET, Titans-49ers will be carried by NFL Network. (Obviously, there will be overlap between Packers-Steelers and Titans-49ers.)On Friday night, Broncos-Falcons begins at 7:00 p.m. ET, on the ESPN App. At that same time, Buccaneers-Jets will be shown by NFLN.Saturday's slate has Browns-Bears at 1:00 p.m. ET on NFL Network and Vikings-Giants at 1:00 p.m. ET on the ESPN App.At 4:00 p.m. ET, it will be Rams-Chiefs on NFLN and Jaguars-Saints on the ESPN App.Eagles-Ravens begins at 7:00 p.m. ET on the ESPN App, and Cowboys-Seahawks kicks off at 8:00 p.m. ET on NFL Network.All out-of-market preseason games can be seen live on the NFL+ service.

Bruno Guimaraes shares message for fans after Arsenal debutBruno Guimaraes has shared a message with the fans after his unofficial debut appearance for Arsenal in Wednesday’s friendly match against Como 1907.Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty ImagesArsenal summer signing Bruno Guimaraes received an enthusiastic welcome from the Emirates Stadium supporters before Sunday’s friendly against Borussia Dortmund, but those fans had to wait until Wednesday to see the midfielder out on the pitch.The former Newcastle United captain wasn’t named in the starting lineup against Como 1907 in midweek, but he came on at half-time of the match, and he ended up finishing the game.The fans enjoyed some tough tackles and a couple of eye-catching forward passes, before watching their new signing convert a penalty in the subsequent shootout. Almost every touch was met with chants of “Bruno! Bruno!”Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty ImagesAfter the game, Bruno took to Instagram to share a message with his new fanbase.“Very happy to have played my first minutes in this shirt and at this stadium,” Guimaraes said. “Very excited about everything we have ahead of us. Thank you for the support, and see you Sunday, Gunners!”The fans will hope the 28-year-old is in good shape to start that match on Sunday, with Arsenal facing Manchester City in the Community Shield. But it’s unlikely Bruno will be able to play the full 90 minutes, having only recently joined in with pre-season training.Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty ImagesOn that topic, Mikel Artetasaid: “We’ll have to see. He’s only had three training sessions, but he looked good.“He was really pushing to play some minutes today, get his debut and get the feeling of playing in front of our supporters immediately. He’s a player that will make us better, without a doubt.”There are other Arsenal players even further behind in their preparations for the new season, with William Saliba and Jurrien Timber still out injured, and Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and Martin Zubimendi yet to play any minutes in pre-season.If any of the five are involved in the Community Shield game, it will surely only be for a brief cameo. But perhaps Bruno has a better chance.Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images

Subscribe to Football 301 with Nate TiceApple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTubeNate Tice & Josh Norris deep dive on all four teams in the NFC South ahead of the 2026 NFL season. The duo start with the reigning champ Carolina Panthers, who are hoping to build on a solid second half of last year as Bryce Young enters a contract season.Next up: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are hoping their additions in the trenches are enough to take them back to the top of the division led by a hungry Baker Mayfield, and the New Orleans Saints – do they deserve all the offseason hype they've gotten?Nate & Josh wrap things up with the Atlanta Falcons and what to expect from new head coach Kevin Stefanski in his first season.(3:50) - Panthers deep dive(41:15) - Buccaneers deep dive(1:12:35) - Saints deep dive(1:31:45) - Falcons deep diveTAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 3: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs onto the field prior to the game against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium on January 3, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTubeCheck out all episodes of Football 301 with Nate Tice and the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv

They’re just 11- and 12-year-old boys playing baseball, a kids game.Some of the players are shorter than 5-foot and weigh less than 100 pounds. For certain players, their smiles are filled with braces.But for the last several weeks, around Hamilton and throughout Butler County, they’ve been treated like Hometown Heroes, and after winning the Great Lakes Regional Championship on Wednesday night, that celebrity status certainly will grow.Several Hamilton bars and restaurants hosted watch parties Wednesday night for the championship game in Whitestown, Ind., and the Hamilton West Side Little League All-Stars didn’t disappoint their fans.Hamilton’s Little League dream lives on as West Side heads back to WilliamsportHamilton defeated Kentucky’s North Oldham 6-0 behind a brilliant pitching performance from Boone Treadway and timely hitting that produced all the game’s runs in the first inning.Now Hamilton is headed back to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., for the first time since 2021.When Treadway, whose father, Brion, coaches Badin High School’s baseball team, recorded a strikeout in the sixth and final inning, those who gathered at Shooters Sports Grill clapped and lifted their drinks in celebration.Treadway pitched a one-hit, complete-game shutout. He threw 62 pitches, and struck out nine.The biggest offensive blow was a two-run, first-inning homer from 12-year-old Josiah Infante, who at 6-foot, 185 pounds is the most physically imposing young baseball player to come out of Hamilton since Joe Nuxhall.Todd Helton, owner of Shooters, said about 200 patrons watched the championship game in the restaurant. Typically on a Wednesday night, when boneless wings are $1 each, Helton said the crowd would be about half that size.The boneless wings were no match for the West Side All-Stars.Many of those who watched the game on the 10-foot by 20-foot TV in the main bar, said they support the West Side team because the players are local.They’re all home grown talent.“We see these kids come in all year with their parents,” Helton said. “Now we're sitting here watching them on TV. It’s all the hometown connections that make it exciting. Everybody knows somebody on the team.”Heather Chesnut, who drives a bus for the Hamilton City School District, is mother of four Hamilton High graduates.“Hamilton is ‘it’ for us,” she said. “Some of these boys are in our district so I’m here to support them.”Bryce Bachochin wore his Hamilton West Side All-Star jersey to watch the game with his parents. Bryce, 10, is a catcher on the 11-year-old West Side All-Star team.His goal is to play on the 11-12 year-old all-star team next season and bring a World Series title back to Hamilton.“It’s an honor to play on this team,” said Bryce, a fifth-grader at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy.Seth Morris said he played on a traveling baseball team growing up. Now as an adult, he was drinking beer, watching boys from his hometown playing baseball on ESPN2.“Ain’t it crazy?” he said.The 2026 Little League World Series begins on Wednesday, Aug. 19. As the Great Lakes region winner, West Side will face the yet-to-be-determined Mountain Region champion at 2 p.m. on Aug. 20.

A federal judge dismissed Minnesota’s lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s stance that states and school districts can’t allow trans kids to participate in sports. Minnesota was the only state challenging Donald Trump’s “two sexes” executive order. Minnesota sued the Trump administration in April 2025 to challenge its interpretation of Title IX, the law that bans discrimination based on sex in schools. Both pro- and anti-trans advocates claim the law protects their position, with pro-LGBTQ+ advocates saying that it’s impossible to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people without taking sex assigned at birth into account, so all anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination is a form of sex-based discrimination. Transphobes argue that allowing trans girls to participate in school sports takes resources away from cis girls. Related Minnesota parents drop lawsuit challenging trans student’s access to locker room The state argued that Trump’s executive order violates the state anti-discrimination law, which includes gender identity. While many blue states, including Minnesota, have policies requiring schools to fight anti-trans bullying and harassment, the Trump administration has been using Trump’s executive order to pressure school districts to end protections for trans students. Politico reports that Minnesota District Chief Judge Eric Tostrud wrote in his opinion that the state failed to prove that the administration violated the Administrative Procedure Act, the 1946 law that governs how government administrations can propose and implement new rules, and the Tenth Amendment, which protects states’ powers. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today “Minnesota will not face legal consequences unless and until a hearing is held in which the relevant agency finds that Minnesota is not in compliance with Title IX, or a court finds, in a civil enforcement action, that Minnesota is not in compliance with Title IX,” he wrote. “Neither event has occurred here. The Findings themselves impose no legal injury on Minnesota.” “The Supreme Court’s determination that ‘sex’ in Title IX refers to biological sex provides at least some support for the Defendant’s interpretation of the statute,” he added, citing the Supreme Court’s ruling this past summer in two cases involving state bans on trans people participating in school sports. Tostrud also noted that the Trump administration has already sued Minnesota over its policy of allowing trans kids to participate in school sports, which means that “essentially the same issues at the core of this case” are already being heard in another jurisdiction. In a statement, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said he was “pleased that a major constitutional claim against President Trump will move forward and I look forward to proving in court that the President violated the Constitution.” Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

A new study probes the basics of gargalesis, a poorly understood type of tickling caused by firm, repetitive touches that typically elicits laughter and squirming

Spanish Super Cup to be played in IstanbulThe Spanish Super Cup, scheduled for February 2027, will be played at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul the Spanish Football Federation has announced.Between 2-7 February, Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid, Real Sociedad and Real Madrid will compete in the tournament to decide this edition’s winner.Since 2022, the most recent editions of the competition have been held in Saudi Arabia but the staging of the Asian Cup during that period prevented the competition from being organised there in 2027.Last season, Barcelona lifted the trophy after defeating Athletic Club 5-0 in the semi-finals before a 3-2 victory over Real Madrid.

With the NFL season approaching and fantasy football drafts in full swing, there's never been a better time to determine which players could be this year's breakout stars.It seems easy in hindsight, but identifying young talent on the verge of making a major leap is often what propels fantasy managers to championships.I’ve been revisiting my favorite breakout candidates at every key fantasy position. Let’s wrap things up with the wide receivers.Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL seasonMore Breakout Candidates from BooneQB | RB | WR | TELuther Burden III, BearsBurden is currently dealing with a groin injury that’s expected to keep him out until closer to Week 1. Given the speculated recovery timeline, it’s possible he’s ready to suit up in the opener, but there’s a chance he could miss that game. Fortunately, you don’t win fantasy titles in September and Burden has all the signs of being a breakout receiver entering his sophomore season. The Bears offense was an obvious target for fantasy managers last year, with the arrival of Ben Johnson helping to get more out of the talented unit. That remains the case in 2026, as the team will be even more comfortable in this system and young pass-catchers like Burden and Colston Loveland have a chance to develop further. Loveland, Chicago’s first-round pick from a year ago, broke out as a top-five fantasy tight end in the second half of the season and will be a huge piece of their attack moving forward. Burden’s outlook requires a bit more of a projection. The second-round wideout flashed high-end potential early in his rookie campaign, but was limited to less than 30% of the snaps in every contest during the first two months. However, from Week 10 on his playing time increased and he averaged nearly 64 yards per outing — which is a 1,000-yard pace over an entire 17-game schedule. Burden’s numbers were good enough to make him the WR28 in fantasy points per game over the final eight weeks of the season. That stretch included some notable performances in the fantasy playoffs, with stat lines of 4-67-0 in Week 15, 6-84-0 in Week 16 and a season-high 8-138-1 in Week 17. The 22-year-old also posted the third best yards per route run among all wideouts, behind only Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He even finished top-20 at the position in both targets per route run and yards after the catch, with the latter being particularly impressive considering he caught far fewer passes (47) than the receivers ahead of him in that category. The only player with more yards after the catch per reception was Rashee Rice. While Burden won’t soak up all of the 150 combined targets left behind by the departures of DJ Moore and Olamide Zaccheaus, the second-year riser will certainly see his involvement in the offense grow. His teammate Rome Odunze will also attempt to increase his target share in this attack, but he’s yet to break out through two years in the NFL. Aside from him, there isn’t much competition in Chicago’s receiver room. Whether Burden or Loveland lead the Bears in targets this season might not matter, since both players are poised for significant statistical leaps in Year 2 — and fantasy managers should be aggressively drafting both soon-to-be stars.Boone’s redraft rank: WR19 (Fantasy WR2 with legitimate WR1 ceiling if development continues)Emeka Egbuka, BuccaneersEgbuka is another receiver with an injury we need to monitor prior to Week 1. Though the team is saying his toe issue is minor, it’s the kind of ailment that could linger or be aggravated at any moment. So, we’ll be monitoring and updating if his outlook changes. However, aside from the injury, Egbuka has an excellent chance to take a huge step forward in 2026, following one of the strangest rookie years I can remember. The 23-year-old earned endless praise from everyone around the Buccaneers organization last summer before bursting onto the scene by averaging the third most fantasy points per game over the first five weeks — trailing only Puka Nacua and Amon-Ra St. Brown. Sadly, that was the high-point of his debut campaign. From Week 6 on, Egbuka was the WR57. He was held under 45 yards in seven of his last eight outings and failed to score a touchdown during that stretch. Injuries can take some of the blame since both Egbuka and several members of the Bucs offense — including Baker Mayfield — dealt with a variety of ailments throughout the season. The good news is that the key pieces of the passing attack are healthy and Mike Evans is no longer in Tampa Bay, which will open up opportunities for Egbuka and Chris Godwin, as well as Jalen McMillan and Ted Hurst. The Bucs also face the ninth easiest fantasy WR schedule this season, providing another feather in the cap for Egbuka’s outlook. While drafting Egbuka doesn’t come without risk, it’s hard to forget that hot start in 2025 when he averaged 89 yards and a touchdown per game. With better injury luck and less target competition, I’m willing to chase that upside once again. Boone’s redraft rank: WR17 (Fantasy WR3 with WR1 upside)Christian Watson, PackersFor the first time in several seasons, the Packers’ receiver depth chart appears to be simple to decipher, with Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks no longer on the roster. That leaves a clear top trio of Watson, Jayden Reed and last year’s first-round pick, Matthew Golden. While Golden and Reed are intriguing as wideouts the fantasy community might be undervaluing, Watson has the best chance to emerge as a difference-maker in Green Bay.Last season, Watson finally stayed healthy long enough to showcase his upside, which led to 611 yards and six touchdowns in 10 appearances. That was good enough to make him the WR16 in fppg. Between the routine splash plays or his affinity for the end zone, Watson is the kind of spike-week fantasy WR2 you want in your lineup. Boone’s redraft rank: WR24 (Fantasy WR2 with low-end WR1 upside if he stays healthy)Parker Washington, JaguarsThe Jaguars receiving room was a moving target in 2025 that was hard to pin down in 2025. Brian Thomas Jr. failed to recapture the magic of his rookie campaign, first-rounder Travis Hunter got hurt midseason and Jakobi Meyers joined the mix around the trade deadline. However, following the team’s Week 8 bye, it was Washington who led the group the rest of the way. Washington put up 90 yards and/or a touchdown in five of his last seven games, which included a Week 13 contest where he left early due to a hip strain. Even so, Washington was the WR19 in fppg over the final nine weeks of the fantasy season, ahead of Meyers (WR31) and Thomas (WR44). Though Hunter will return to the field this season, he’s expected to play a part-time role on offense. Meanwhile, Washington has already gained the trust of the coaching staff who have continuously heaped praise on him since last year. He also projects to play in two-receiver sets, with Meyers being viewed as more of a slot option, according to beat writers. If you’re searching for the player with the most consistent positive drumbeat this summer, Washington is near the top of the list. Even if Washington can’t match his top-20 production down the stretch, he has a defined path to WR3 numbers, making him a solid pick as the WR32 in ADP. The Jags’ wideouts will face the sixth easiest schedule for the position and I have him projected to lead the team in receiving yards. Boone’s redraft rank: WR28 (Rising fantasy WR3 with WR2 upside)Level up with Yahoo Fantasy UltraWant Justin Boone's breakout candidate for all 32 teams? Sign up for Fantasy Ultra and unlock over 150 pages of advice with our Draft Playbook, including ...Top targets and players to avoid from Justin Boone (the top in-season ranker of 2025) , Matt Harmon, Josh Norris, Joel Smyth, Scott Pianowski and Hayden WinksIn-depth positional and strategies for every draft pick range32 sleeper and 32 breakout candidatesCheat sheetsHalf and PPR rankingsHalf and PPR positional tiersMore than 125 player profilesAn Ultra subscription also comes with access to several top-notch tools like Yahoo's Draft Strategy Lab to mock draft like a champ with tons of features, including filtering by each analyst's rankings or a draft strategy style (like late-round QB).If you're looking to up your game this season, consider Fantasy Ultra.

Mega; Roman Puno/Cal Sport Media/Newscom/The Mega AgencyApollo Global Management Inc., a major American asset management firm, announced a $2.8 billion financing agreement with the New York Yankees on Tuesday, August 11.Bloomberg first reported in July that Apollo Global Management — which became the majority shareholder of Spanish professional football club Atlético Madrid in 2025 — had been looking to specialize in lending long-term capital to sports leagues and clubs. The Yankees deal marks the firm’s biggest investment in U.S. sports to date, according to the outlet.“This is precisely the kind of bespoke capital solution Apollo Sports Capital was built to deliver, and we look forward to being a long-term partner to this storied franchise,” Apollo Partner Robert Givone said in a statement, via Business Wire.The Yankees are currently owned by Yankee Global Enterprises, which is under the leadership of chairman and managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner and others.The terms of the agreement, which is expected to close imminently, will comprise a mix of credit and equity, as well refinancing of existing debt, per the press release.John Angelillo/UPI NewscomPer Bloomberg, Major League Baseball rules don’t allow private equity firms to become majority owners. As part of the deal, the Steinbrenner family will maintain full control of the 27-time World Series champions, while Apollo Sports Capital CEO Al Tylis will join the board of Yankee Global Enterprises.“The New York Yankees are one of the most iconic franchises in sports, defined by a legacy of greatness,” Tylis said in a statement. “It is a privilege for Apollo Sports Capital to partner with the Yankees, and we are grateful to the Steinbrenner family for their trust. We look forward to supporting the organization’s continued pursuit of excellence and the championship standard that has long been the hallmark of the New York Yankees.”Apollo’s Sports Capital business, led by Tylis, is described on its website as “a trusted and aligned partner across the global sports and live events ecosystem, investing across opportunities, providing patient capital and adding strategic value to leading franchises, owners, and assets.”As the sports industry evolves, Apollo Sports Capital “seeks to serve as an innovative and scalable solutions provider, building durable businesses that create lasting value for fans, teams, and communities worldwide.”The New York Yankees are currently worth approximately $8.5 billion, according to Forbes. CNBC estimates that the team is valued at $9 billion.Read More From InTouch WeeklyPerez Hilton‘s Lawyer Responds to Mother’s Request for Custody of His Three Children12 Celebrities Who Married Normal Everyday PeopleNicole Kidman Reminisces on Tom Cruise Romance After Keith Urban DivorceThis story New York Yankees Make Historic Move With Nearly $3 Billion Financing Deal first appeared on InTouch Weekly. Follow InTouch Weekly on Yahoo so you don’t miss what’s coming next.

Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesJon Rahm is reportedly highly likely to leave LIV Golf in the next few weeks after three seasons on the tour.Rahm just won his third consecutive Individual Championship during last weekend’s LIV event in New York.However, the Spaniard’s domination since joining from the PGA Tour in 2023 has not convinced him to stay.Rahm appears to be growing frustrated with the off-course uncertainty, including the cancellation of the Team Championship and the ongoing search for new investment.The 31-year-old is also reportedly owed more than $100 million from his $300m LIV contract amid their financial struggles.Golf fans have already shared their thoughts on the breaking news on social media, with many suggesting LIV should accept defeat.Photo by David Cannon/Getty ImagesJon Rahm’s future could have major implications for LIV GolfJon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau are by far the two biggest LIV Golf stars, and many believe the tour would capitulate without them.This could be put to the test following the latest report that Rahm is seeking to exit LIV after the 2026 season.Here is what golf fans have said about the European Ryder Cup star’s potential exit on social media:“Yeah, if he leaves, the league is done for sure. Just shut it down,” one fan summarised LIV Golf’s bleak situation.Another posted: “The clock is ticking… bankruptcy attorneys working thru the night…”A third wrote: “Surprised we didn’t hear of this sooner. The writing’s been on the wall for long enough that LIV was dead in the water. All eyes will be on DeChambeau’s next move now.”Some readers suggested that LIV Golf’s potential new investor will almost certainly change their minds without Rahm.A comment read: “Well if he leaves, LIV 2.0 likely doesn’t meet the terms of the term sheet for 2027 funding from their prospective investor and the whole thing blows up.”“No big surprise, but a potential blow to the new LIV Golf League investor…” another said.Assuming that Rahm decides to leave LIV Golf, the next question will be whether he returns to the PGA Tour immediately.Read more:How Jon Rahm is really feeling after hearing new LIV Golf proposals for 2027Brandt Snedeker names the PGA Tour player who has just put himself in contention for Presidents Cup call-upBrandel Chamblee explains exactly why LIV Golf has failed

Report: Hull City still interested in move for German midfielderHull City Step Up Mert Kömür Pursuit as Augsburg Hold Firm on £10.2m OfferHull City are pushing hard to complete a deal for Mert Kömür, with the Tigers increasingly encouraged that a breakthrough can be found despite Augsburg rejecting a latest offer worth €12million, which is £10.2m. According to TeamTalk, the Tigers have stayed persistent in negotiations and believe the gap is closing.There is a clear sense that Hull’s interest has gone beyond tentative enquiries. The report states that the Tigers are “increasingly confident they can finalise a deal for midfielder Mert Kömür, despite having multiple bids rejected by Augsburg”. That wording matters. It points to a club that has done significant groundwork and feels the conditions are moving in the right direction.Photo: IMAGOMert Kömür Deal Hinges on Augsburg ValuationHull’s latest package, “€12million (£10.2m / $13.8m) inclusive of add-ons”, was knocked back, with Augsburg signalling they want more. Even so, there appears to be no retreat from Hull. The expectation is that dialogue will continue, with “both parties are expected to keep channels open in the coming days”.From Hull’s perspective, one major part of the deal is already in place. Kömür “has already agreed personal terms with Hull and is keen to complete the transfer”. That removes uncertainty on the player side and allows the focus to remain entirely on club-to-club negotiations.The 21-year-old is said to see “the opportunity at the MKM Stadium as an attractive next step in his career”, with Hull offering “a clear pathway and a project that appeals to him”. For recruitment departments, that sort of alignment is valuable. It can often be the difference in difficult negotiations, particularly when the selling club is resisting.Hull City Transfer Strategy Shows Clear IntentHull’s determination has been a running theme. TEAMtalk reports that club officials “are said to be determined not to let the opportunity slip and are prepared to refine their offer further if necessary to meet Augsburg’s expectations”. That strongly suggests this is not a passing target, it is a player they view as capable of improving the side immediately.Kömür’s profile also explains the interest. Operating mainly as an attacking midfielder, he recorded two goals and four assists in 28 Bundesliga appearances last season, 17 of them starts. At 21, he fits the model of a player with immediate quality and room for growth.For now, Augsburg remain firm. The report says they “would rather keep him than lose him for what they see as a minimal price”. That is the crux of the negotiation, and the next move from Hull may prove decisive.Our ViewFrom a Hull City supporter’s perspective, this report feels encouraging for a few reasons. First, the club are clearly not acting on impulse. If personal terms are already agreed and talks have continued through rejected bids, then this looks like a properly targeted move rather than a late-window gamble. Fans want to see a plan, and this reads like one.Kömür also sounds like the type of signing supporters can get behind quickly. He is young, he has Bundesliga experience, and he seems genuinely sold on the move. Hearing that he believes Hull offer “a clear pathway and a project that appeals to him” is exactly the kind of line fans want to hear. It suggests ambition from the player as well as the club.There is always a point in negotiations where supporters start wondering whether a club should walk away, but this one feels worth pushing. An attacking midfielder with technical quality and top-level experience for around £10.2m to £12m could be smart business in today’s market, provided the final figure stays under control.

Anti-LGBTQ+ Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) is getting called out for her “psychotic episode” in an airport by a former GOP congressman who she joked was transgender. Former Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC) was on Fox News discussing next year’s midterm elections when he brought up Mace, saying that Republicans like her could cost the party votes. Related Retiring GOP Congressman says he did a bad job. His LGBT record proves him right. “I mean, you look at the headlines recently, Sandra, and you’ve got an apoplectic congresswoman who’s having a psychotic episode in Charleston at an airport,” he said, referring to Mace’s alleged temper tantrum at the Charleston International Airport last week, where she cursed out TSA officials for not escorting her from her car to the gate. “You’ve got this debate over white nationalism,” he continued, referring possibly to Republicans debating the place of neo-Nazis in the party. “I think Trump is saying, ‘Republicans, quit talking about all of that. Start talking about the best ten months any president has ever had in our history, and maybe we have a chance in the midterms.'” 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 Former GOP Congressman and Fox News host Trey Gowdy refers to Congresswoman Nancy Mace as “an apoplectic congresswoman having a psychotic episode in Charleston at an airport.” pic.twitter.com/ULL8Zl4Ahs— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) November 5, 2025 While Gowdy didn’t explain exactly why he brought Mace up, they do have a history of trading barbs. Last December, in the midst of Mace’s attempt to ban trans people from the women’s rooms at the Capitol complex because Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE) had just gotten elected, Gowdy referred to House Republicans as “dysfunctional” during an appearance on Fox News. “Which bathroom do we think Trey Gowdy uses?” Mace posted on X with a picture of Gowdy, effectively calling Gowdy transgender. Which bathroom do we think Trey Gowdy uses?#HoldTheLine pic.twitter.com/nf903ZOimx— Nancy Mace (@NancyMace) December 20, 2024 Both Gowdy and Mace oppose LGBTQ+ equality. Gowdy, who did not seek reelection in 2018 after almost a decade in the House, once compared same-sex couples marrying to incest and said that trans people shouldn’t be allowed in the military because “self-identification as a unicorn” should get people barred from military service. Mace led the push to ban trans people from the Capitol’s women’s rooms, uses anti-trans slurs, and has posted several times a day to attack trans people. While she voted for the Respect for Marriage Act in Congress, she more recently said, “Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve,” an anti-gay slogan. The airport incident that Gowdy was referring to took place on October 30 and involved Mace allegedly cursing at TSA officers and making derogatory comments about them, in reaction to them not meeting her at the curb to escort her through security and to her gate. TSA blamed a miscommunication for not finding her car on time, so she had to wait at security like a common person. The incident report filed by law enforcement says that Mace was “loudly cursing and making derogatory comments to us about the department” as she waited to use a Crew Member Access Point, which allows some people to get through security faster. “She repeatedly stated we were ‘F**king incompetent,’ and ‘This is no way to treat a f**king US Representative.’” Officers found her, got her through security, and escorted her to her gate, and she allegedly kept on yelling. “She also said we would never treat Tim Scott like this,” one officer said in the report, referring to one of South Carolina’s Republican senators. “The entire walk to gate B-8 she was cursing and complaining and often doing the same into her phone.” “After standing in the vicinity of B-8 for several minutes with her continuing her tirade, she finally boarded the aircraft,” the officer wrote in the report, adding that an American Airlines worker who witnessed the incident approached officers after Mace boarded the plane and “stated he was in disbelief regarding her behavior. He implied that a US Representative should not be acting the way she was.” Mace denies the veracity of the incident report and says she will sue TSA for defamation. Gowdy wasn’t the only South Carolina Republican to criticize Mace’s treatment of law enforcement officials. Sens. Tim Scott (R-SC) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) also called her out this week. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

2026-08-13T13:55:36Z KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Congo’s Ebola outbreak has spread to a sixth province, after a death was recorded in the previously unaffected Bas-Uele province, Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya said Thursday.Kaseya said the infected person had traveled from Isiro in Haut-Uele province to Buta, the capital of Bas-Uele, where the person died.The outbreak in eastern Congo, considered the fastest-growing one yet, is on track to surpass the deadliest one in history, which erupted over a decade ago and killed over 11,000 people, the World Health Organization said. It has killed over 2,100 people out of more than 4,500 cases, according to the latest government figures.

People portraying ghost players emerge from the cornfield at the "Field of Dreams" movie site in Dyersville, Iowa, on June 22, 1997. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)2026-08-13T10:00:08Z Nearly four decades after “ Field of Dreams ” brought a group of dead baseball players to life with a homemade diamond on an Iowa farm, Keith Rahe and his traveling troupers are still dedicated to keeping the cornfield mystique alive.Once the long days of filming had passed and the fantasy flick had shifted from movie theaters to video cassettes, the farmhouse and ballfield where those idyllic scenes were shot was naturally becoming a tourist attraction. Rahe lived near the site on the edge of his native small town of Dyersville, with convenient access by way of a back road the Universal Studios crew had made just for the movie shoot. He and his neighbors began showing up to make sure the pitcher’s mound and home plate were in place, mingle with the visitors, and play catch.Then one summer Sunday afternoon in 1990, Rahe persuaded a handful of his friends to put on some old wool uniforms he’d found, walk through the cornfields with him, and see what happened. The young girl standing nearby sure was surprised.“Mommy! Daddy! It’s the ghost players!” she shrieked as she retreated to her parents in the infield.After playing catch with and pitching to the tourists for about an hour, Rahe and his pals doffed their caps, waved goodbye and disappeared into the corn. An enterprising newspaper reporter happened to be there, and in the next day’s edition of The Gazette in Cedar Rapids there was a headline touting the magical appearance of the “Ghost Players” at the site. Just like in the movie. The following week, Rahe answered a phone call from Al Ameskamp, the owner of one of the two farms the movie ballfield straddled. He was wondering if they were going to come back and play ball again. Read More “Well, not really. It was kind of a one-time deal,” Rahe said.Ameskamp replied, “Well, would you? There are 400 people out here waiting for you.”Rahe has retold that origin story of the Ghost Players countless times, and now at age 68 he’s never been more in demand. His gregarious goodwill band of ballplayers is a recurring feature for the public at the site, which he runs as the executive director of Dyersville Events.This has been an especially busy summer in this part of northeast Iowa, with the completion of a permanent ballpark next to the filming location that will host a Major League Baseball game on Thursday night between the Minnesota Twins and the Philadelphia Phillies. MLB last staged a game at Field of Dreams in 2022, when the Chicago Cubs played the Cincinnati Reds in a temporary facility. The Chicago White Sox faced the New York Yankees in 2021 in the inaugural event.“The first time it happened, when we got to go into the stadium, I got goosebumps and kind of teared up while walking through that corn,” said Paul Scherrman, another one of the original Ghost Players. “It’s just a great place.” Baseball has a rich history in IowaThe Ghost Players have visited 28 countries and dozens of states, Rahe said, mostly by paying their own way and using their vacation time. There are currently about 40 members, with half of those making more regular appearances. Earlier this summer, they traveled to Chisholm, Minnesota, for the “Doc Moonlight Graham Days” festival in honor of the film’s heroic physician who chose medicine over sport after getting in one major league game. “A lot of the ghosts are much more loyal than some of the ghosts,” said Scherrman, who had a brief minor league career and had a cameo in the movie. “The ghosts that come to the events that aren’t as popular as Major League Baseball games are the harder-working ghosts.”The Ghost Player experience, which allowed Scherrman to befriend the family of Roberto Clemente on a trip to Puerto Rico, has been decidedly more rewarding than serving as an extra in the film. He and the other locals spent 21 days on the set for 12 hours at a time just waiting to be called into action. During one scene, Scherrman appears for a few seconds as the catcher in a game interrupted by Timothy Busfield, the disbelieving brother-in-law of Kevin Costner’s character Ray Kinsella.For a state without any major metropolitan areas or a year-round climate favorable to outdoor baseball, Iowa has produced its share of talented players on a list that starts with Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller and his 1936 major league debut at age 17 after training on the family farm in Van Meter. The state is serious enough about the sport to place the high school season in summer to avoid conflicts with spring sports and get better weather. “I still see all my buddies from that team,” said Cubs pitcher Colin Rea, who’s from Cascade, just 15 miles south of Dyersville. “We’ve loved baseball from the time we started playing, and I think that’s how it is for most kids around there.”Rea, 36, wasn’t quite born yet when “Field of Dreams” hit the big screens, but he and his friends regularly watched their area’s claim to fame while growing up. The ballfield itself seemed like a fantasy that was impossible to visit.“Once I got older, I was like, ‘It’s 20 minutes from my house. Why haven’t I been there?’” Rea said. San Francisco Giants pitcher Keaton Winn is from Ollie, in the southeast part of the state. His brother will be at the game, and he knows people on the grounds crew.“It’s really sweet. Iowa’s got a lot of baseball fans,” Winn said. “Having the game come there is really special to all of the people.”___AP Baseball Writers Jay Cohen in Chicago and Janie McCauley in San Francisco contributed.___See AP’s full MLB coverage here DAVE CAMPBELL Campbell is a sports reporter for The Associated Press, based in Minneapolis. He has covered all of the major teams in Minnesota as well as stories of national interest for the AP since 2000. twitter 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Arkansas defenders Quincy Rhodes Jr. (97) and Phillip Lee (1) celebrate after a big defensive stop against Arkansas State during an NCAA football game, Sept. 6, 2025, in Little Rock, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods, File)2026-08-13T10:10:06Z Arkansas defensive end Quincy Rhodes Jr. had just sat down for his Southeastern Conference media days session this summer when he was asked about personal goals for his senior season.After talking about the number of sacks and tackles for loss he’d like to get, Rhodes closed his response with a simple request.“I just want to win,” he said.He hasn’t done nearly enough of that thus far in his career, through no fault of his own.Rhodes collected eight sacks and 15 ½ tackles for loss to earn second-team Associated Press all-SEC honors last season, but his team went 2-10 and failed to win a single conference game. The preseason SEC media poll forecasts Arkansas to finish last in the conference again this season.That makes Rhodes one of the most notable examples of a quality player suiting up for a team that is expected to struggle this season. Of course, Rhodes might take issue with that label. He has reason to believe Arkansas can make major strides this season under new coach Ryan Silverfield. Arkansas won’t make that kind of leap unless it dramatically upgrades a defense that allowed 425.2 yards per game and 6.27 yards per play last season, last in the SEC in both categories.“The biggest differences between last year and this year is we have no choice, you know what I mean?” Rhodes told reporters. “It’s get with the program or get going. That’s what has stood out to me the most.” Rhodes will attempt to lead the way. He is coming off a 2025 season in which he posted the highest single-season total of tackles for loss by any Arkansas player since 2015, when Trey Flowers had 15 ½. Read More “We know the type of player he is, but he’s still scratching the surface,” said Silverfield, who had attempted to recruit Rhodes to Memphis. “That’s one thing about Quincy that I love, is he knows that he has more upside.”Some other notable players from teams that could have a tough time this season: Rutgers WR KJ Duff and RB Antwan RaymondRutgers was picked to finish 17th out of 18 teams in the Big Ten according to a Cleveland.com media survey that serves as the league’s unofficial preseason poll. Yet the Scarlet Knights, who went 5-7 last year, boast two of the league’s most productive offensive skill-position players. A Big Ten panel gives preseason honors to 12 players, and Duff and Raymond both made the list. Duff had 60 catches for 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns last season as a second-team AP all-Big Ten selection. Raymond ran for 1,241 yards and 13 touchdowns.Mississippi State CB Kelley JonesJones had 11 pass breakups and two interceptions last season for a Mississippi State team that went 5-8 for its third straight losing season. The Bulldogs have gone 2-22 in SEC play over the last three years. Any turnaround this year would require another big season from Jones. According to Mississippi State, Jones allowed the fewest receptions (11) among all SEC starting cornerbacks last year.Boston College S KP PriceThe ACC’s preseason media poll has Boston College finishing next-to-last in the league, but Price still managed to make the preseason all-ACC team. Price has totaled 179 tackles over the last two seasons. He made 94 tackles last season and showcased his versatility by starting three games at linebacker rather than his usual safety position. Stanford LB Matt RoseRose closed the 2025 season with 106 tackles, nearly twice as many as any of his teammates. He tied for second in the Atlantic Coast Conference in total tackles and earned second-team AP all-ACC honors. He had the highest single-season tackle total of any Stanford player since 2015, when Blake Martinez had 141. Rose had 14 tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery in a 31-10 victory over California, making him the only Bowl Subdivision player to accomplish all those feats in a single 2025 regular-season game. Stanford went 4-8 last year for its fifth straight losing season. The ACC’s preseason media poll has Stanford finishing last in the 17-team league.Colorado WR Danny ScuderoColorado overhauled its roster after going 3-9 last year, and Scudero arrives from San Jose State as one of the Buffaloes’ biggest additions. Scudero caught 88 passes last season for an FBS-leading 1,297 yards. He had 10 touchdown receptions and earned second-team AP All-America honors. Colorado will be the third school for this 5-foot-9 wideout. He played at Sacramento State from 2023-24. Scudero has been dealing with a lower-body injury, but coach Deion Sanders has said he expects him to be available for the Sept. 3 opener at Georgia Tech. Maryland QB Malik WashingtonMaryland enters this season with perhaps the best shot at a winning season of any school that has a player on this list, but the Terrapins did close the 2025 campaign with eight straight losses. Washington is a major reason why Maryland has reason to believe it can bounce back from consecutive 4-8 finishes. He showed promise as a freshman by throwing for 2,963 yards with 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions while rushing for 303 yards and four more scores last year. Washington then demonstrated his faith in coach Mike Locksley’s program by staying at Maryland rather than transferring.___Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here, visit the Top 25 here and see AP’s full college football coverage here STEVE MEGARGEE Megargee is a Wisconsin-based sportswriter whose assignments include the NFL’s Green Bay Packers, NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks and MLB’s Milwaukee Brewers along with the University of Wisconsin and Marquette. twitter mailto

Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers shouts at a referee as Kevin Garnett looks on during the first quarter of a NBA basketball game against the New Jersey Nets in Boston, Nov. 24, 2010. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson, File)2026-08-13T10:00:08Z Doc Rivers needed some time to write the speech that he’ll give when formally inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.The storytelling, that part was easy. He’s a natural at that.But what Rivers wound up learning during the trial-and-error process of speechwriting was that the words he’ll say from a stage in Springfield, Massachusetts aren’t going to be about him. They’re going to be about everyone else who played a role in him getting to that moment.“You go through this journey of writing it and you realize it has nothing to do with you in a very good way,” Rivers said. “People are happy for you, and I am happy for them because they got me there. You hear all your life, ‘You don’t do anything alone.’ When you get in the Hall of Fame, you really understand that you don’t do anything alone. It’s all the coaches in your life, your parents, the players. It’s a thankful journey and that’s what the Hall of Fame should be about.” The numbers prove he’s among the bestA winner of 1,194 regular season games as an NBA coach — and that’ll be all, he insists, saying his retirement is a real one — Rivers ranks sixth in league history. The only others ahead of him: Gregg Popovich, Don Nelson, Lenny Wilkens, Jerry Sloan and Pat Riley, all of whom are Hall of Famers, so it was obviously a lock that Rivers would be joining them. He won a championship with Boston in 2008, won 114 playoff games as a coach, played 13 seasons, was an All-Star once, has been a broadcaster and — if he goes back to work, and his family currently has a pool that he will — he’ll be a broadcaster again. Read More But there’s more to life now. The Illinois native and Marquette legend has seven grandchildren, a house on the water and can’t play enough golf. He’ll still be involved in the game, somehow. It just won’t be as a coach. It’ll be as a Hall of Famer.“Doc is a proven, extraordinary leader and communicator during his renowned NBA coaching career,” Milwaukee general manager Jon Horst said when the Bucks hired Rivers in 2024. “As a championship coach, he’s widely respected as an established innovator, and the right coach to lead our experienced and talented team.”He was, until he wasn’t. Injuries derailed every chance the Bucks had at being a winner this past season, and when the season came to its dismal close Rivers was fairly certain it was the end for him as well — after 27 seasons on the sideline, and whole lot of missed moments along the way.“The one thing that people have no idea about is the toll it takes on you and the family component,” Rivers said. “It is rough. You’re never home. You make sacrifices and your family has to make them as well.”That won’t be an issue now. A hit from the beginningRivers won coach of the year in his very first season, taking a team he called “the 301s” in Orlando and leading it to a 41-41 record. On the surface, there’s nothing special about going .500. But the Magic were supposed to be bottom dwellers that season and Rivers used a preseason ranking of the league’s top 300 players as inspiration — since none of those top 300 were playing for the Magic. “That season gave me great confidence,” Rivers said.He has some regrets, of course. Critics have long pointed to the 10 losses that Rivers-coached teams had in Game 7s, by far the most of any coach in NBA history. And his fans will retort by pointing to his 114 playoff wins, fourth-most in NBA history. But the biggest do-over, if Rivers had such an option, would be changing his mind about leaving the Celtics for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2013.Rivers got to the Clippers not long before the end of Donald Sterling’s ownership of the team; Sterling made racist comments and wound up getting banned by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.“I underestimated what a great situation I was in, and I took that for granted, like you can just go anywhere and create that,” Rivers said. “I messed that one up. But then when I go to the Clippers, the team is pretty damn good. The organization, it was the worst organization in sports with the ownership problem. Within a week there, I remember telling my assistant, ‘We’ve got a lot to do here.’”The championship with the Celtics in 2008 — Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, the stars of that team, will be together again to present their former coach for his Hall enshrinement — was an obvious high point for Rivers’ career. There were other moments he’s particularly proud of as well, such as delivering on a promise that he made to someone who barely played for him. Tyronn Lue succeeded Rivers as coach of the Clippers. Lue played 11 games for Rivers in Orlando during the 2003-04 season; that was all the time it took for Rivers to be convinced that Lue would one day be a coach. He told Lue to call him if he ever wanted a job and Lue took him up on it. Rivers wound up going to the Hall of Fame, and few within the game would be surprised if Lue joins him there one day.“It’s the stories like that that you think about,” Rivers said. “Rajon Rondo played for me in Boston. We had a very tumultuous relationship when I coached him and now, I probably talk to Rondo more than probably than any player that I coached.” It’s what the game does, Rivers said. The lucky ones get guided along the way. He played that role with players like Rondo — who coached with Rivers — and Lue, and in Rivers’ own case, it was Riley who gave him the push he needed.Riley and Rivers clashed at times in their player-coach relationship, and their biggest fights came when Riley was telling Rivers that he belonged in coaching. Riley was right.“When I was doing TV, he kept writing and sending me these freaking messages about getting into the fray,” Rivers said. “He knew it. And here I am, going into the Hall of Fame.”___AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba TIM REYNOLDS Reynolds is an Associated Press sports writer, based in South Florida. twitter mailto

Nature, Published online: 13 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02525-1Talent schemes helped to propel China to the forefront of global science. But the system places undue emphasis on prestigious titles as a means to secure career prospects, putting pressure on young researchers.