Diretório

A judge has blocked the Trump administration from stripping the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program (TPPP), a bipartisan sex education program that has been running since 2010. Under Donald Trump, the Department of Health and Human Services tried to push an abstinence-only model and strip federal funding from other programs. “This ruling is a positive step for young people across the country to be able to receive honest, medically accurate information to empower their health and their futures – not politically motivated messages,” said the president and CEO of Democracy Forward, Skye Perryman. “The court recognized what we’ve argued: this administration cannot override Congress’s clear demand that this program be guided by evidence, not ideology. We will continue fighting to make sure that directive is honored and look forward to the next steps in the case.” Related Judge to block enforcement of administration’s “don’t say trans” school rule Implementation of abstinence-only programming would have been another blow for LGBTQ+ people, as it tends to assume that all students are cis het and has been known to “ignore or actively degrade LGBTQ students,” according to the advocacy organization Sex Ed for Social Change. Studies have also repeatedly shown that abstinence-only education is not only ineffective, but also puts youth at risk. In June, the Trump administration sent letters to groups across the United States terminating their federal funding for programs intended to reduce the risk of teen pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. The letters accused the groups of “normalizing sexual activity for minors” and pushed for abstinence-only programs. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Some groups, along with an anonymous HHS source, spoke to Politico to raise concerns about how those groups had been identified in the first place. Many that received the termination letters already provided abstinence-only education to minors. Rena Dixon, the CEO of Fact Forward, a South Carolina nonprofit, said she was “thrown for a loop” when programs that had been supported by the state’s Republican legislature were terminated. A letter Dixon received claimed that they were showing children a video that “depicted youth engaging in sexual activity,” but Dixon says the video was “a discussion between two girls on a train, and one of them said that she had sex and her friend pushed back and talked about the consequences.” The HHS source said of the process that, “Either they looked at the curricula and didn’t understand how people modified it to be abstinence-only, or they looked at abstinence-only programs and they thought they weren’t good enough. Or they threw everything in AI. It’s unclear.” Federal Judge Christopher Cooper has now blocked the changes in a lawsuit brought by a nonprofit called Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States, a Planned Parenthood chapter that operates in Iowa and Nebraska, Hennepin County of Minnesota, and King County of Washington state. Because the TPPP grants were allocated by Congress, the judge ruled that the executive branch could not unilaterally make these changes. “[The administration] is perfectly entitled to formulate its own views about how to stem teen pregnancy — or even whether it is worth preventing at all — and to pursue policy initiatives consistent with its viewpoint,” Cooper wrote in his ruling. “But it is not at liberty, under the Administrative Procedure Act (“APA”), to impose conditions on grant recipients that Congress did not intend or that are unreasonable or unexplained.” In addition to challenging the legal aspect of the administration’s actions, the judge also questioned the logic of doing away with the existing and functional system, saying that the HHS policy “fails to consider the seeming logical impossibility of operating an effective pregnancy prevention program without some discussion of sexual activity.” He went on to say, “If the drop in the teen birth rate — a roughly two-thirds reduction over the last two decades — is any indication, the program has been a resounding success.” The ruling also blocks a proposed HHS policy that would have allowed parents to review all sex education materials before their kids took the class and to have the choice to opt their child out. HHS defended that requirement by citing the Supreme Court ruling in Mahmoud v. Taylor, which ruled parents with religious objections to school books could opt their children out of reading them. However, Judge Cooper said that there is a difference between school programming, as discussed in Mahmoud, and the dispersion of a federal grant. This is the Trump administration’s second attempt to implement a major overhaul of sex education programs in the president’s second term. Last year, they insisted that California schools remove all mentions of diverse gender identities from their programs. When they refused, the administration pulled federal funding. It then tried to intimidate 46 states and territories into removing the gender-inclusive education materials. In response, 16 states filed a joint lawsuit against, and the administration’s efforts were blocked. 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During a conversation with right-wing commentator Benny Johnson earlier this week, anti-trans Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) poked fun at the current controversy surrounding trans people in the WNBA. Johnson asked Abbott whether NBA players should be allowed to play in the WNBA and also what Democratic Senate candidate and state Rep. James Talarico would say about the issue. Related Trump says if he coached the WNBA he’d ask Lebron James to transition so his team could dominate He was referring to a transphobic publicity stunt in which two former NBA players declared themselves eligible for the WNBA’s 2027 draft amid attention being drawn to how the league does not have specific eligibility requirements for trans players. Abbott replied that Talarico would be a “deer in the headlights” because he “can’t define what a woman is.” 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 “I got to tell you,” Abbott continued, “the WNBA — it looks like it’s going to be a whole lot more competitive, because there’s a former member of the Houston Rockets, former members of some other men’s basketball teams, they’re putting themselves out there for the draft. We got a 6′ 9″ forward who can palm the ball, who can dunk on anybody, and these games are going to get pretty exciting.” Abbott then joked that since the state’s anti-trans sports ban does not apply to the WNBA, “So there’s a lot of guys who think” they “could make some pretty good money here.” Implying that it’s shameful for men to lose to women in sports, Abbott added that the guys “may get embarrassed going against [Indiana Fever players] Caitlin Clark or Sophie Cunningham” because “those are two very good women basketball players, and if anybody can compete with men, it would be those women.” Johnson then half-joked that he hopes Cunningham – who has spoken out against trans athletes in women’s sports – runs for governor of Indiana, because apparently voicing opposition to trans rights qualifies Republicans to run for office. Cunningham’s views, in fact, are what sparked the WNBA to become the center of the trans sports debate – even though there has never been an out trans player in the league. Last month, Cunningham sparked a national frenzy when she told ESPN that banning trans women from women’s sports is “common sense.” Cunningham then doubled down on her beliefs, claiming that she doesn’t hate trans people but just wants “to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.” Now all eyes are on the league, with both pro- and anti-trans activists rallying to support or protest Cunningham, and players and coaches being pressured to take public stances. Abbott has dedicated his time in office to stripping rights from trans Texans. Last year, he signed one of the most punitive and restrictive anti-trans bathroom bills in the nation and also a so-called “Bill of Parental Rights”, a draconian right-wing wishlist of MAGA priorities banning discussion of LGBTQ+ identity and race in classrooms, shutting down gay-straight student alliances (GSAs) on school campuses, and explicitly prohibiting school staff from supporting trans students, alongside other restrictive measures. He has also been fighting to designate gender-affirming care as a form of child abuse. State child protective service workers have said that Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s (R) crusade has interfered with their ability to help victims of actual abuse by causing unethical secrecy, intradepartmental strife, and staff resignations. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

The Arctic whales are the only known animals with straight tusks, and ones that consistently twist to the left. New research reveals that the inner layer twists to the right and that the opposing spirals provide strength and help the tusks grow straight

No written records mention a fight in this specific part of Vienna at the time of the men's deaths. But the brutal nature of their injuries, particularly to the pelvis area, indicates that these individuals died on the battlefield

The bones were discovered on the Dingle Peninsula more than 30 years ago, but scientists recently decided to take another look at them, this time using modern techniques

A Coast Guard investigation led to the arrest of Manuel Hernandez, who had been charged with misconduct and neglect after the deaths of a mother and her child.

U Min Zin, a scholar who studied Myanmar, is one of two U.S. citizens the department has designated as wrongfully detained in China.

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For the fourth and final time, Royal Delft’s hand-painted trophies will stand on the podium of the Formula 1 Heineken Dutch Grand Prix, and this year’s edition carries an extra spark designed by FashionTech pioneer Anouk Wipprecht and artist-producer Don Diablo. Photo Credit : Royal Delft Where Craft Meets Circuitry Wipprecht designed both the winner’s […] The post Anouk Wipprecht Brings Delft Blue to Life and Light for the Final Dutch Grand Prix appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.

For the fourth and final time, Royal Delft’s hand-painted trophies will stand on the podium of the Formula 1 Heineken Dutch Grand Prix, and this year’s edition carries an extra spark designed by FashionTech pioneer Anouk Wipprecht and artist-producer Don Diablo. Photo Credit : Royal Delft Where Craft Meets Circuitry Wipprecht designed both the winner’s […] The post Anouk Wipprecht Brings Delft Blue to Life and Light for the Final Dutch Grand Prix appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.

Brighton reject £50m Liverpool bid for injured Yankuba MintehBrighton & Hove Albion have rejected an opening Liverpool bid of £50m for Yankuba Minteh.The Athletic reports that the Seagulls star is one of several options the Reds are looking at in the current window following Mo Salah’s exit.PSG’s Ibrahim Mbaye is also understood to be of interest; however, sources close to the club indicate that the Parisians’ asking price is problematic.Brighton reject Liverpool bid for Yankuba MintehIn one of the crazier stories of the window, Brighton have turned down a strong Liverpool bid for their injured right winger.The same injured right winger who will be unavailable for the next eight weeks. Go figure.Want more Empire of the Kop coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trustIf you’re still looking for a sign that everyone has absolutely lost their minds in the current market – look no further.

Dec 31, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse (25) and Boston Bruins center Elias Lindholm (28) are seen out on the ice during the second period at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn ImagesWalter Tychnowicz/IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectNEW YORK — The Boston Bruins and Edmonton Oilers each will play two regular-season games in Germany next year as part of the NHL and NHLPA’s efforts to grow hockey in the country, the league announced.The Bruins are to play two games in Munich, while the Oilers will play two matches in Leon Draisaitl’s native city of Cologne during the 2027-28 NHL season. The opponents have yet to be determined.“These events represent an important step in our commitment to grow the game in Germany. By bringing more NHL games to one of Europe’s most dynamic hockey markets, we hope to continue to deepen engagement amongst our fans, partners and local communities, while at the same time creating a significant opportunity to grow the game throughout the country,” NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said.The Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators already were slated to play two games in Düsseldorf in December. Those Global Series games are the second and third regular-season games the league has staged in Germany after the Buffalo Sabres and Los Angeles Kings played in Berlin in 2011.More are to follow with the NHL and NHLPA committed to bringing regular-season games to Germany for at least the next three seasons.

Motorsport photoAston Martin has sold a minority stake in its Formula 1 team to US billionaire Robert Wood Johnson, who joins the board of directors as vice chairman.Johnson, an heir of the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical empire, also owns the New York Jets NFL team and acquired a major stake in Premier League football team Crystal Palace last year.The 79-year-old is a long-time donor of US president Donald Trump, and served as US ambassador to the UK between 2017 and 2021 following Trump's election.Johnson has now been brought in by Aston owner Lawrence Stroll to advance the Silverstone team's commercial growth in the US, which is an important market for the series. The team stressed Johnson would not be involved in the team's daily management."During my time as US Ambassador to the United Kingdom, I have developed a deep appreciation for Aston Martin's rich history, as well as Lawrence Stroll’s strategic vision and entrepreneurial spirit," Johnson said."I am excited to partner with him and contribute to the continued development of the Team, with the ambition of building an organisation capable of competing at the very highest level of the sport."We also share a commitment to growing the fanbase in the United States and introducing even more fans to the excitement of Formula 1."Stroll added: "I am extremely happy to welcome Woody to the Aston Martin family. His experience, passion and investment further strengthen our position as we enter the next phase of our competitive journey."His deep appreciation for our brand, combined with his commitment to innovation and commercial opportunity, makes him an ideal partner as we look to the future.” Read Also: TWG denies sale of Cadillac F1 team following investigation into Mark Walter Why the Dutch GP is ending despite F1 wanting Zandvoort to stay How the 2027 F1 grid is shaping up after Max Verstappen's Red Bull renewal To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

There have been plenty of fights and skirmishes across NFL training camp and joint practices ahead of the 2026 NFL season.The latest session to get chippy was a joint practice between the New York Giants and Miami Dolphins.During the Aug. 20 practice – which comes two days ahead of the New York vs. Miami preseason game – Giants edge rusher Abdul Carter took a swing at Dolphins left tackle Patrick Paul.Abdul Carter just threw a punch at Patrick Paul 👀👀 pic.twitter.com/onQrQtCErC— TonyH (@TonyH305) August 20, 2026It wasn't immediately clear what precipitated Carter's punch of Paul. However, the Palm Beach Post – part of the USA TODAY Network – noted there had been "a verbal battle" between Carter and Paul during the practice."The linemen from both teams came together, but it was just a lot of trash talking," Joe Schad and Hal Habib wrote of what happened after the confrontation.Carter was permitted to continue practicing despite the punch. Both he, Paul and each of their team's coaches – Jeff Hafley and John Harbaugh – can be expected to be asked about it after the practice concludes.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Abdul Carter throws punch at Patrick Paul in Giants vs Dolphins practice

Yuki Tsunoda has cleared why he is driving for Racing Bulls and not Red Bull in F1 Dutch GP, as he shares how a holiday in Greece was cut short.On paper Tsunoda is a reserve driver at both Red Bull and Racing Bulls F1 teams. But when Isack Hadjar got injured and was ruled out of this weekend’s Dutch GP, the senior team replaced the Frenchman with Liam Lawson, who is to move over from the sister team.They went for the long route of changes at both the F1 teams rather than stick with one. As such, Tsunoda got drafted in at Racing Bulls alongside Arvid Lindblad. But the Japanese driver doesn’t mind really. Having lost his race seat last year, he is more than happy to race again.Tsunoda is happy to race in F1, Red Bull or Racing Bulls doesn’t matterHe already felt home at Racing Bulls when putting the jersey back on. “I don’t know, I mean I don’t really mind which car I’m driving to be honest, I’m already grateful enough to have a seat,” said Tsunoda to media in Dutch GP. “I really didn’t mind which car I’m driving, because both teams are performing well, especially Racing Bulls this year.“Racing Bulls, I’ve been here for a long time, and as soon as I wore this white jersey, I felt really at home. Lots of people are welcoming me, I feel relaxed and comfortable straight away, so for me that’s really good. And having already these opportunities for me, something over the roof, I was dying to have it. I’m very excited to race with Racing Bulls,” summed up Tsunoda.Holiday of Tsunoda in Greece cut shortHis return to F1 came at the cost of his holiday in Greece. When asked where he was when he was told and how it came about, Tsunoda revealed about spending time in Greece when he was suddenly called-up by his manager to return to the United Kingdom. He was alerted on Tuesday of this week.He feels calm about the return, though. Naturally, there is a beaming smile on his face, after getting a rare opportunity to be a replacement driver. “I was with my manager, and also other friends in Greece, spending time together, and I was on the beach,” recalled Tsunoda.“It’s not like I don’t want to make something different narrative, I was just hanging on the beach all the time, and I was still training and everything. At the moment I received a call from my manager at the beach, pretty relaxed, watching the nice beautiful ocean, and I just suddenly got a call, ‘OK, you have to go to the UK’.“Was spending in Greece just 24 hours, and he already wanted me to go to the UK. I said, ‘OK, why?’ He said, ‘maybe you might race this week’, I said ‘OK, that’s fair’. [I heard it on] Tuesday. [But it is] nice. It was a very unexpected thing. I’m just trying to be calm.“I’m actually quite calm and looking forward to tomorrow. I can’t be sad. It was a moment I was waiting for and I was dying to have this kind of moment. Obviously, it always really depends on the current drivers who are competing this year. I was super…it’s not frustrating or stressful, but watching from the screen every race, I was feeling like I really want to be back and driving,” summed up Tsunoda.Tsunoda feels not much has changed steering wheel wiseHe is out to have fun and feels ready for the challenge. Even though the cars are different and racing is different to what he did last time in 2025, he reckons he will be able to get through it. The only tricky aspect will be the starts, especially since he only has one practice session due to F1 sprint weekend.The simulator can give a feel but not the entire picture. After having spent time on the Red Bull simulator, he only got a day in the Racing Bulls simulator and didn’t feel a lot changed in terms of the steering wheel, the switches. For sure, the knowledge of Red Bull car is more, but he will be fine.“Honestly, the Racing Bulls simulator is the first time I’ve done this, like literally yesterday,” continued Tsunoda. “So in terms of car understanding, I’m sure I have more in Red Bull. But in terms of steering, switches and everything, I knew there’s not much difference from last year.“So where to touch the switches and everything, which switch does that, it’s not much different, so I know what’s going to happen. And within that, it’s always the same offset, similar offset, what the racing rules that Red Bull have in terms of those technologies, since the last integration, and I think the offset remains kind of similar.“So yeah, it’s not like so far I’m having a lot of information from this team, but so far I’ve not really been confused or overwhelmed. Most of the things are in the expectation, and I think it will be a pretty smooth transition between Red Bull and Racing Bulls,” summed up Tsunoda.Lindblad waiting to spend time with TsunodaFor Lindblad, in his rookie F1 season, he will get another experienced campaigner to drive against and somewhat prove his mettle. The Brit is looking forward to sharing the team with the Japanese driver. “I mean, Yuki, for sure it’s going to be an interesting weekend for him,” he said.“These cars are very different and it’s going to be a Sprint weekend, not the easiest track, so for sure I’ll try to help him, where I can, to get up to speed. But I think, you know, yeah, I don’t know him super well. We haven’t really crossed paths before, but we’ve always been friendly, so it should be a nice weekend together.”Lindblad understands logics, admits would have too risky with himLindblad was not too fussed about Lawson getting picked to replace Hadjar as well. He understood the logic behind it, as he admits it would have been risky with a rookie. “To be honest, it’s my first time here to Zandvoort,” he continued. “It’s a Sprint weekend. I’m only halfway through my rookie year, so I think it was, let’s say, a more logical decision to go with Liam.“It would have been a bit more of a risk with me. Obviously, as a driver, I would have liked it. You know, I would have liked the opportunity. But at the same time, I understand completely why they did what they did. And I’m very focused now on my own weekend and trying to do as best as I can.”

Manuel Hernandez leaves U.S. district court in Manhattan with his lawyer, Amy Gallicchio, on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, after being charged in the deaths of two people in a boating accident in New York Harbor. (AP Photo/Larry Neumeister)2026-08-20T15:45:38Z NEW YORK (AP) — The pilot of a speedboat that capsized during a tour around the Statue of Liberty, drowning an infant and her mother, has been arrested by U.S. immigration authorities who say he was in the country illegally.Manuel Ernesto Hernandez-Umana, who has a pending federal criminal case in connection with the Aug. 8 crash, lied to a border officer and falsely claimed he was a U.S. citizen when he entered the country in Texas in 2007, the Department of Homeland Security said Monday.Hernandez-Umana, 46, a citizen of El Salvador, is being held at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey, according to online records. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said he will eventually be deported.Immigration authorities arrested him after he was released on bail in his criminal case, where he is charged with causing the deaths of 5-month old Antonella Garcia and 27-year-old Sara Sanchez through misconduct or neglect. According to prosecutors, Hernandez-Umana wasn’t licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard, wasn’t aware of basic safety rules and told investigators he’d borrowed his friend’s personal vessel for the New York Harbor excursion. The boat was illegally chartered and overcrowded, prosecutors said.“Once he faces justice for his crimes, we will make sure that he is swiftly removed from our country,” Mullin said in a statement. A message seeking comment was left for a lawyer representing Hernandez-Umana in his criminal case, Amy Gallicchio. Read More Hernandez, who had been living in Manville, New Jersey, was not required to enter a plea at his initial court appearance in the criminal case on Aug. 10. He wiped his eyes as he arrived to the courtroom, still wearing the T-shirt, swim trunks and water shoes he’d had on during the voyage. He is due back in court on Sept. 9.According to Coast Guard investigators, Hernandez was piloting a 21-foot Yamaha AR210 with 14 people aboard — well over its 10 person capacity — when it swamped and sank as it made a U-turn in choppy waters. The tour began around 7 p.m. and the vessel capsized more than three hours into its journey.The infant wasn’t wearing a life preserver because the boat didn’t have any for small children, prosecutors said. Instead, Hernandez told Sanchez she needed to wear a life vest and hold the infant throughout the hourslong tour, a violation of federal regulations, prosecutors said. The tour was organized through Zeus Luxury Rental Inc., which advertises its services on social media platforms including Instagram and TikTok. A boat chartered by the company caught fire last year during a birthday cruise on Long Island Sound. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. According to his criminal complaint, Hernandez told investigators he had worked for Zeus Luxury on a freelance or contract basis since last year, starting as a limousine driver. He said that twice recently he used his personal boat, a slightly larger Yamaha AR250, but used a friend’s boat on Aug. 8 because his needed repairs, the complaint said.Messages seeking comment were sent to a phone number and email address listed on Zeus Luxury’s website. The phone number’s voicemail was full, according to an automated recording. MICHAEL R. SISAK Sisak is an Associated Press reporter covering law enforcement, courts and prisons. He is based in New York. twitter mailto

The USS George Washington aircraft carrier is pictured off the coast of Argentina, May 30, 2024.(AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano, File)2026-08-20T15:48:32Z WASHINGTON (AP) — The Asia-based USS George Washington aircraft carrier is now operating in the Middle East, the U.S. military said Thursday, relieving a long-deployed carrier following reports of mental health challenges and supply shortages aboard while it was supporting the Iran war.U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, said on social media that the carrier arrived in the region Wednesday. It was not clear when the USS Abraham Lincoln would arrive back in the U.S. or whether it would make a port stop along the way, but the journey takes just over a month.The Washington arrived as concerns have grown about the Lincoln’s lengthy deployment, which has included a record-setting uninterrupted time at sea of more than 250 days, and about reports of crew stress and poor mental health, as well as supply shortages, including food and hygiene products. Several Democratic lawmakers have pressed the Department of Defense for accountability over conditions aboard the Lincoln, which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said were “completely misrepresented.”Hegseth spoke with the Lincoln’s crew last week, and Adm. Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, visited this past weekend. In an editorial published Sunday by The Wall Street Journal, Cooper said the crew “delivered a performance for the ages, and now you are going home.”Extended deployments of carriers wear on service members who are away from home for long periods and increase strain on the ship and its equipment. While renewed hostilities between the U.S. and Iran calmed in recent weeks, the Navy is enforcing a reimposed blockade on Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz, and the Trump administration has offered no clarity on how it intends to wind down the war. Hegseth has said the U.S. can maintain the blockade “indefinitely.” Read More President Donald Trump this week downplayed reports about conditions on the Lincoln, which left its homeport in San Diego in November and arrived in the Middle East in January. Trump called the nearly nine months at sea that the sailors endured a “good period of time” but added that “over the years, we’ve had them out there much longer.”Trump told reporters Monday that he spoke with a retired admiral over the weekend who recounted being on ships for “much longer.” Trump said the admiral assured him that the Lincoln is “beautifully maintained and beautifully taken care of.” Trump did not name the admiral. In a statement Sunday after visiting the Lincoln, Cooper praised the carrier’s leaders for prioritizing mental health and resilience.“History will record this deployment as one of the most operationally intense and consequential of the modern era,” Cooper said.The Washington joins the USS George H.W. Bush in the Middle East, leaving Asia without an American carrier strike group at a time when China has shown more signs of aggression. The lack of a U.S. carrier in the Pacific may be short-lived if the Navy deploys another in the next couple of months. But it shows how the open-ended operations with Iran are running some American sailors ragged, analysts say, while the Trump administration further retreats from the Asia-Pacific region and focuses on the Western Hemisphere.

The USS George Washington aircraft carrier is pictured off the coast of Argentina, May 30, 2024.(AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano, File)2026-08-20T15:38:14Z SOKOTO, Nigeria (AP) — A boat capsized Thursday in a river in Nigeria’s northwestern Sokoto state, leaving at least 47 people dead, officials and residents said. The boat was carrying people who were heading to farms for work in Gorau town in the Goronyo local government area of the state, officials said. Abdulkadir Yusuf, Sokoto state manager at the National Inland Waterways Authority, said the death toll was 47 people “so far.” Resident Samaila Garba, 55, said his 13-year-old granddaughter, Jamila Usman, was among those who died in the capsizing. He said he had counted at least 42 bodies of victims, most of them women and children. “You know, during the rainy season, most women and children go to the farm to work,” he told The Associated Press.

A roadway is washed out by mud on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Naalehu, Hawaii, following heavy rains from Hurricane Lala. (Aina Akamu via AP)2026-08-20T15:25:31Z HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaiian communities still picking up the pieces after last weekend’s hurricane could get pounded again in the coming days.Hurricane Lala tore roofs off houses, uprooted trees, covered roads in mud and rock and left many households without electricity. With nearly 15,000 homes and businesses still dark Thursday, forecasters warned of the likelihood of another tropical cyclone forming southeast of the islands.A depression moving west and northwest could become a tropical storm Thursday and is expected to pass near or south of Hawaii’s Big Island this weekend, according to the National Weather Service’s Central Pacific Hurricane Center. That could mean up to 15 inches of rain across the Big Island and life-threatening flooding, mudslides and rip currents, the hurricane center said.Hawaii Gov. Josh Green and other state officials planned a news conference Thursday afternoon to discuss the potential cyclone as well as the ongoing recovery efforts related to the hurricane, which has been blamed for two deaths in the state. The body of a man in his 60s was located by residents in a pasture Tuesday, a day after police were asked to conduct a welfare check, police said. That followed the discovery Monday of May Doi, 93, whom neighbors said was escaping floodwaters in her home and trying to get to a nearby shelter.Doi was a beloved former kindergarten teacher who taught generations of residents in a small town on Hawaii’s Big Island. “She taught grandkids of her students,” said ʻĀina Akamu, a former student of Doi’s who is now a vice principal at a local school. “She was a fixture in this community.” Your browser does not support the iframe HTML tag. Try viewing this in a modern browser like Chrome, Safari, Firefox or Internet Explorer 9 or later. Now well west of Hawaii’s main islands, Lala reached major Category 3 strength with top sustained winds of 115 mph (185 kph) on Wednesday in what the National Hurricane Center called the first major hurricane of 2026 in the Central Pacific Ocean. Read More The heaviest recorded rainfall, 43.54 inches (1.1 meters), occurred in Laupahoehoe on the northeast coast of the Big Island, the National Weather Service said. Dozens of homes were washed from foundations, bridges were damaged and a collapsed section of a two-lane road had cut off access to the community of Pahala. About 13,200 customers on the Big Island remained without power Thursday, the Hawaiian Electric utility said. Repairs in the heavily damaged areas of the Big Island, including the southern end, could take at least two weeks, the utility said. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. Meanwhile, Lala was moving to the northwest at 9 mph (15 kph) Thursday and was expected to turn toward the north later in the day. It was bearing down on a remote area at the northwestern edge of the Hawaiian Archipelago. Hurricane warnings were posted for portions of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument from Lisianski Island to Maro Reef.Despite the remote area, there were humans in harm’s way. A charter boat with a crew of 16 people dedicated to removing marine plastics and abandoned fishing nets from the shores of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands got out of Lala’s projected path earlier this week.Kevin O’Brien, president of the nonprofit Papahanaumokuakea Marine Debris Project, departed Lisianski Island on Monday and headed 350 miles (563 kilometers) out to sea. “We were ready for it,” O’Brien said. “We keep on our toes out here during hurricane season.”___Ramer reported from Concord, New Hampshire. Associated Press writer John Raby in Charleston, West Virginia, contributed to this report. 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Aryna Sabalenka reacts during a match against Ekaterina Alexandrova at the round of 16 National Bank Open Tennis tournament in Toronto, on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. (Keito Newman/The Canadian Press via AP)2026-08-20T14:43:02Z NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. Open singles champions will earn $5.5 million, the highest winnings in Grand Slam tennis history.Overall compensation for the final major of the year is rising to a record $108 million, a 20% increase from last year and a 44% jump since 2024. The financial details were announced Thursday by the U.S. Tennis Association, with play set to begin next week.Players will earn $140,000, largest in tennis history, just for making it into the 128-player singles main draw. A quarterfinalist earns $780,000, a semifinalist $1.45 million and the runner-up $2.8 million.The champions’ check is up from the $5 million that Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz won last year, when the total player compensation was $90 million. The winning teams in men’s, women’s and mixed doubles will split $1 million, with the runner-up team to earn $500,000. The wheelchair singles champions will earn $104,000. The USTA also announced it would establish a player support program, with an initial commitment of $2 million to be split equally between men’s and women’s players, which will be used to provide benefits and complement existing pension funds. USTA CEO Craig Tiley called the financial commitment to players at all levels a “significant first step in a multiyear investment in athletes as the U.S. Open continues to be the best economic opportunity for players and the most valuable platform in tennis for players, fans and partners.” The program will be designed with guidance from the Grand Slam Player Council, whose creation was announced Thursday in response to players seeking greater input and revenue from the four major tournaments. ___See AP’s full tennis coverage here

Nature, Published online: 20 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02556-8Tests on uncrewed NASA mission showed garment could spare astronauts the worst effects of solar storms.

Nature, Published online: 20 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02455-yStudying a condition after being diagnosed with it can be rewarding but also presents some ethical and psychological challenges.

Nature, Published online: 20 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11043-zDialkyl ether synthesis through heteroatom homolytic substitution

Many Dateability users said they were drawn to the app after negative experiences on mainstream platforms.

A scientific and civilizational horror story.

President Trump appeared to suggest that the United States would impose economic penalties on countries that do business with Iran, though he did not specify what actions he would take.

Seven years and a $60,000 DIY renovation later, this once-neglected New Orleans home is packed with color, vintage finds, and smart budget-friendly ideas. READ MORE...

The ICC has removed the demerit point given to Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium pitch after the third ODI between Pakistan and Australia in June.The decision comes after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Cricket Canada appealed against demerit points awarded for matches played that month.ICC reviews pitch decisionThe ICC Appeals Panel reviewed video footage, match referee reports and comments from the captains before overturning the original decision."The demerit point imposed on Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, following an 'Unsatisfactory' rating for the third Men’s ODI between Pakistan and Australia on 4 June, has been rescinded. The panel noted that while the guidelines of the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process were followed by the Match Referee, 'the pitch did not demonstrate excessive unevenness or spin'," said ICC in a statement.The panel said the pitch used on June 8 was in line with the standard expected from a satisfactory surface.It also found that the wicket “did not demonstrate excessive unevenness, seam movement or spin”, leading to the demerit point being withdrawn.Pakistan had won the three-match ODI series against Australia 2-1. Despite the pitch controversy, spin played a major role throughout the series, with spinners from both teams making an impact in all three matches.

How do you know the Coke Zero Sugar 400 is getting close?Race day, Aug. 29, now appears on the 10-day forecast.So here's another question, one asked every time NASCAR visits Daytona International Speedway: Is it going to rain?Buy our Dale Earnhardt book hereAccuWeather gives this summary: "Mainly cloudy with a little rain."Any Daytona Beach veteran has certainly heard worse. Since 1999, eight of Daytona's 27 summer races have been delayed, shortened or postponed due to uncooperative weather.The Coke Zero Sugar 400, the Cup Series' regular-season finale, is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Here's a look at what next week could look like, according to AccuWeather.AccuWeather forecast for Daytona Beach and the Coke Zero Sugar 400Monday, Aug. 24: Partly sunny with a thunderstorm in the afternoon. High temperature of 90 degrees and low of 78. Southern wind around 6 mph. 55% chance of precipitation.Tuesday, Aug. 25: Partly sunny and humid. High temperature of 92 degrees and low of 77. Southeast wind around 8 mph. 22% chance of precipitation.Wednesday, Aug. 26: Partial sunshine with a thunderstorm in parts of the area; humid. High temperature of 91 degrees and low of 76. Southeast wind around 8 mph. 55% chance of precipitation.Thursday, Aug. 27: Partly sunny; a morning shower in spots followed by a couple of thunderstorms in the afternoon. High temperature of 90 degrees and low of 75. Southeast wind around 6 mph. 62% chance of precipitation.Friday, Aug. 28: Intervals of bright sunshine; a shower in spots in the morning followed by a couple of thunderstorms in the afternoon. High temperature of 89 degrees and low of 76. Southeast wind around 5 mph. 66% chance of precipitation.Saturday, Aug. 29: Mainly cloudy with a little rain. High temperature of 88 degrees and low of 76. Southeast wind around 5 mph. 55% chance of precipitation.Sunday, Aug. 30: Rain most of the time. High temperature of 89 degrees and low of 77. Southeast wind around 4 mph. 60% chance of precipitation.This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Coke Zero Sugar 400 weather update: What's the 10-day forecast for NASCAR at Daytona?Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.

Florida football had five players named to the 2027 Senior Bowl Top 300 list on Thursday morning. Senior defensive lineman Kamran James, wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. and safety Bryce Thornton are joined by junior running back Jadan Baugh and linebacker Myles Graham on the prestigious preseason watch list. James and Thornton both returned to Gainesville for their fourth season with the Gators this fall. Last year, James led the Gators with 3.5 sacks for 24 yards, while tallying 44 tackles (23 solo), 4.5 TFLs, two pass breakups and three QB hurries; Thornton led the team in pass breakups and fumble recoveries and was second on the team in total tackles (56) and third in solo tackles (31), while also logging 56 tackles, two fumble recoveries, seven pass breakups, five QB hurries, an interception and a touchdown.Singleton Jr. enters his first season at Florida after transferring in from Auburn, where he tallied a team-high 58 catches for 534 yards and three touchdowns in 2025. His catch total was tied for eighth-most in the SEC and he currently has a reception in every game of his collegiate career (36) — the sixth-longest streak in the FBS.Baugh and Graham each enter their third year with the Gators, with the former leading the team with 1,170 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns while also catching 21 passes for 185 yards, earning All-SEC Second Team honors in the process. The latter led Florida with 76 tackles (36 solo), also adding eight QB hurries, seven tackles-for-loss and two sacks, becoming one of four players in the SEC to post 75-plus tackles and 7.0-plus tackles-for-loss; Graham's four pass breakups were tied for second most among FBS linebackers.The Panini Senior Bowl is widely regarded as the preeminent college football all-star game and the first stage of the NFL draft process. Each year, the Senior Bowl brings the nation's top prospects to Mobile, Alabama, providing NFL personnel from all 32 teams with an opportunity to evaluate players in a competitive environment. The 2027 Panini Senior Bowl is on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2027, at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile.Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Five Florida football players named to 2027 Senior Bowl Top 300 list

The Jacksonville Jaguars got some welcome news for their battered offensive line. Cole Van Lanen was activated from the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list on Thursday.Van Lanen suffered a knee injury in Week 18 of the 2025 season, the details of which still have not been fully confirmed; it is rumored, though, that he had to undergo surgery for a torn ACL. He did not appear in any offseason training, and was placed on the PUP list ahead of training camp. The timeline for his return to the football field has been unclear, which was particularly concerning as injuries on the offensive line have piled up.Now, the Jaguars have announced that Van Lanen has been activated from the PUP list after having reportedly passed his physical.Sources: The #Jaguars are getting healthy on the offensive line, as Cole Van Lanen is coming off the PUP list today, having passed his physical. He injured his knee in Week 18, and now he is set to return to the field. pic.twitter.com/bQnXc3EHCk— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 20, 2026While this doesn't mean he will jump into a full workload right away, he is cleared to begin practicing again, which will likely be managed carefully as he gets his way back into football shape. The timing is also significant, as activating him means Jacksonville will not be forced to decide whether to carry him onto the active roster or place him on reserve. The Jaguars acquired offensive lineman Daniel Faalele yesterday in a trade with the New York Giants, which added much-needed depth to the offensive line. There have been numerous injuries that have left the unit seriously weakened, as Jacksonville had been without Patrick Mekari, Cole Van Lanen, Chuma Edoga, and Wyatt Milum. Faalele could have potentially been forced to fill in as an immediate starter, but Van Lanen's return means Faalele will now need to compete for a starting role. Regardless of who ends up starting, Van Lanen's activation is a sign that the offensive line is already in better shape than it was just a week ago.This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Jaguars activate OL Cole Van Lanen off PUP list

TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 28: Brian Hendry of the New York Yankees poses for a portrait during the New York Yankees Photo Day at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 28, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images Brian Hendry is thrilled to be back on the mound again. The 26-year-old righthanded pitcher who was taken by the New York Yankees in the 10th round of the 2023 MLB Draft missed all of last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. But he has returned this season and, at three levels, he is a combined 1-0 with two holds, one save and a 3.00 earned-run average in 14 appearances. “Coming off Tommy John to end the 2024 season, it was a long 2025 rehab,” Hendry said. “Coming into 2026, I had to make sure my body was in a good spot. I’m here now, feeling great, so I’m really excited to be competing again. It’s been a while.”This was the second time Hendry underwent Tommy John surgery. The first came in his junior year at St. John’s University in 2022. He went 3-3 with a 6.18 ERA in 20 appearances for the Red Storm (2019-22) with 46 strikeouts in 58.0 innings. Then, he went to Oklahoma State University for his final year of eligibility in 2023 and was 2-1 with a 6.63 ERA in 16 games with 51 strikeouts in 36.2 innings.After being drafted by the Yankees, Hendry spent his first professional season in 2024 with High-A Hudson Valley. He started seven games for the Renegades and was 1-0 with a 0.48 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 18.2 innings. Tonight’s starter Brian Hendry! (Featuring @rocriggio hyping him up) pic.twitter.com/5LLfo6Xujm— Hudson Valley Renegades (@HVRenegades) April 25, 2024However, he started to have arm issues again. “We tried to go the rehab route early on; you don’t want to have to get a second surgery unless it’s deemed necessary,” Hendry said. “So we tried to rehab it and it would have days it was working, days it was not. I did get back to game action from that rehab, which was great. But I got maybe three or four starts in and that same pain came back. Got even worse than it was prior. Imaging revealed it was something we had to do something about at that point.”Having to undergo a second Tommy John surgery was frustrating. Hendry said he felt sorry for himself for about a week, then accepted it.Talk to players who go through that rehab process and they say it is very long, difficult and lonely.“It comes in waves,” Hendry said. “Up until I started throwing, which was about 26 weeks, it’s really slow. Doing the progression of everything I have to do physical therapy-wise and getting my body moving again. What I love doing is throwing and when I can’t do that, it’s tough. After that 26th week, there was a bit of light at the end of the tunnel that I started seeing. That helps continue to press forward. But it’s long. There’s no easy way to put it. You’ve just got to take it day by day. When you start looking a year down the road, it’s too far out. You really just have to be where your feet are at and try to get better that day, knowing in the long run it’s going to add up to something you want.”As he came back this season, Hendry said he was a little more conservative this time than he was after his first surgery.“Making sure I took the right steps and coming back healthy,” he said. “I took it a little slower but in a way to make sure I’m coming back good.”On June 11, he began his rehab assignment, pitching a combined nine games with the Florida Complex League Yankees and Single-A Tampa Tarpons. Then, he was assigned to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders on July 21. That came as a pleasant surprise. “I wasn’t looking out in advance planning where I was going to be,” Hendry said. “I just tried to attack each day at whatever level I was at, whatever team I was facing. Put my best foot forward. I obviously was ecstatic when I came up here, but I wasn’t really planning out too far in advance where I was going to be. I was just trying to attack the guys in front of me and make sure I was in a good spot.”He has made five relief appearances with the RailRiders and has no record and one hold. He has allowed five runs and six hits with three walks and six strikeouts in 4.1 innings. Besides working on his pitches, Hendry also is working on his endurance so he can build up his arm and his body to pitch on consecutive days. “I was a starter in the past, so going to a relief role now, there’s adjustments my body has to make compared to having a five-day or six-day routine,” Hendry said. “That’s the biggest thing I’m working on really: the bounce-back of my arm to be able to throw back-to-back days eventually. I’m working on different pitches as well, see what fits my arsenal. The fastball, the slider, the changeup, those are kind of staples. I had a curveball in the past, I’m toying with that, trying to get that to where that used to be. Toying maybe with a cutter, a sinker. As hitters give me information, I’ll make those adjustments.”Growing up in Medford, New Jersey, about 25 miles from Philadelphia, Hendry was a big Phillies fan. “It’s like South Jersey people are Philly-represent and North Jersey people are New York-represent,” he said. “I’ve always had an admiration for New York sports. It’s a big market, a great fan base. But where I’m at, it’s Eagles, Phillies, Flyers, Philadelphia Union, the whole lot.”He was 10 years old when the Yankees beat the Phillies in six games in the 2009 World Series. “I do remember 2009 pretty well. I would have been rooting for the Phillies,” Hendry said. “I think both franchises are awesome. The Yankees, I’m very happy to be with them.”

Some historians think the 230-foot-long artwork is missing its final panel, which may have once depicted William the Conqueror's coronation. As the tapestry goes on view in London, students will be drafting endings of their own

An Omaha police car drives on Dec. 8, 2007, in Omaha, Neb. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)2026-08-20T16:15:57Z OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police officers at Omaha’s largest public school district will no longer use gloves that can deliver painful electric shocks, after the superintendent asked to halt the program this week, the mayor said.Omaha Public Schools Superintendent Matthew Ray requested Tuesday that police assigned to the schools, known as school resource officers, no longer use the gloves. Ray said in a letter to the public schools community that he’d only learned about the gloves the previous week. The first day of school was Wednesday. The Omaha Police Department held a news conference last week in which it demonstrated the glove, saying it quickly achieved compliance and control with little to no force. The gloves were used twice during the 2025-2026 school year, police said. The decision to stop using the gloves in middle and high schools came after an Associated Press investigation revealed Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s plan to give officers these gloves, which are known as G.L.O.V.E. or Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter. The devices have also been used in recent years by some jails. It was not immediately known if other school districts have used the gloves. Residents and school board members speak out against the glovesAt a school board meeting Monday night, about 30 people spoke out against police using the gloves. Residents and board members alike said they were appalled at the practice. No one spoke in favor of it.“I can’t even imagine walking down the hallway and seeing a peer of mine being electrocuted in a place that is supposed to be a safe space for students,” said Nora Wessel, a senior at Omaha Central High School. “Yet, this is now a very real possibility. These are adults we are supposed to be able to trust, but these weapons create a barrier for our students to turn to resource officers when needed.” Ray said the district recognized long-standing relationships with law enforcement partners and the important role school resource officers have in promoting school safety. Continued use of the gloves “would be counterproductive to our work together,” Ray said. Mayor John Ewing Jr. said police have honored the school district’s decision to “opt out.” The Omaha Police Department said officers will continue to carry tasers, batons, OC spray and firearms. Most school resource officers were trained to use the glovesMost of the Omaha Police Department’s 34 school resource officers had been trained and were allowed to use the gloves, the mayor and Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said in a statement. “We believe it is the safest use-of-force option in the rare times when it is used,” the statement said.In 2025, the city’s police department agreed to pay Compliant Technologies LLC, which manufactures the gloves, about $66,000 for 40 gloves, according to the contract. Read More Officers were expected to give warning before using the gloves and then touch the person for up to 15 seconds while the electric shock was delivered, the statement said.The devices activate when an officer presses a button. The gloves must touch someone’s skin directly to produce voltage that causes pain, which is intended to make people compliant if they are resisting. Unlike Tasers, they do not leave burn or contact marks. In the 2025-2026 school year, an officer used the glove in one case to stop a high school student from another school from trying to escape after fighting with a security guard, according to the statement. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. Omaha Public Schools is the largest district in Nebraska and serves more than 50,000 students, according to its website.

FYI - Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., talks with reporters after holding a town hall meeting in Sacramento, Calif., April 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)2026-08-20T16:15:38Z WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal agents seized electronic devices from former Rep. Eric Swalwell and searched his Washington home as part of an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct by the ex-Democratic congressman from California, according to a person familiar with the matter. Swalwell’s devices were seized at the San Francisco airport on Saturday and federal agents searched his home a day later, said the person, who was not authorized to publicly discuss an ongoing investigation and spoke on the condition of anonymity.A message seeking comment was left Thursday with an attorney for Swalwell. Swalwell announced his resignation from Congress in April following sexual assault and misconduct allegations, which he has denied. The seven-term lawmaker had been seen as one of the leading candidates in California’s gubernatorial race before dropping out after the allegations surfaced. The San Francisco Chronicle, followed by CNN, first reported allegations that Swalwell had sexually assaulted a woman twice, including when she worked for him. CNN also reported that three other women alleged various kinds of sexual misconduct by Swalwell, including sending them unsolicited explicit messages or nude photos. ALANNA DURKIN RICHER Richer covers the Justice Department and federal courts. She joined The AP in 2013 and is based in Washington. twitter

Manfred Honeck, conductor of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, right, appears with his brother Rainer Honeck, concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, as the two worked together on a production of Richard Strauss’ “Ariadne auf Naxos" at the Salzburg Festival in Salzburg, Austria on Aug. 7, 2026. (Marco Borrelli/Salzburg Festival via AP)2026-08-20T16:11:39Z SALZBURG, Austria (AP) — Austrian conductor Manfred Honeck was walking out of a rehearsal with soprano Christina Nilsson and the Vienna Philharmonic at the Haus für Mozart when they passed a violinist who had just been practicing with them.“This is the concertmaster,” Honeck said, “and also my brother.”Among nine siblings, Manfred and Rainer are making a rare joint appearance in the Salzburg Festival’s new production of Richard Strauss’ “Ariadne auf Naxos,” which runs through Aug. 28. Director Ersan Mondtag’s unconventional staging shifts the setting from Vienna to Mars and is available to stream on Medici. Otto, the Honecks’ father, was a postman in Nenzing, Austria, who played the flugelhorn and zither in his spare time.“He wanted us to all play an instrument. I’m not sure whether the Trapp family was somehow in his head,” Manfred said, referencing the musical clan in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “The Sound of Music.” Manfred, who turns 68 next month, became the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s music director in 2008-09 and in June agreed to a contract extension through 2032-33 that will move him past William Steinberg (1952-76) as the orchestra’s longest-serving head.Rainer, 65, joined the Vienna State Opera Orchestra in 1981 and was admitted to the Vienna Philharmonic three years later. He has been a concertmaster — the lead violin — since 1992.A sister, Sibylle, plays cello for the Vienna Volksoper and an older brother, Otto, was a pianist and coach for the Frankfurt Opera. Manfred’s son Matthias is a principal second violin in the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. Family didn’t have much moneyManfred, the seventh sibling, and Rainer, the eighth, both played violin as kids.“Our father was very consistent. He wanted us to practice every day, and he practiced with us,” Rainer said. “So he played on the piano and that was very important for us to get this routine, to have every day only one hour, but every day a practice.” Read More A teacher, Grete Urbanek, gave them fruit yogurt at lessons.“We could not afford to buy yogurt at home. And we had only meat on Sunday. The other seven days we were eating local food, which is called ribel,” Manfred said of a local cornmeal. Their mother, Frieda, died in 1965 after giving birth to her ninth child. A few years later, their father moved the family to Vienna so the children could access better music teachers.“If he would not have done this, I think we would not have this profession,” Manfred said during a joint interview with Rainer. “It always reminds me: One human makes a decision and it changes your whole life.”Seven Honeck siblings lived with their father in a 2 1/2-room apartment, while the two oldest sisters worked to help support the family.Rainer studied with Alfred Staar, a Vienna Philharmonic violinist, and at age 15 he decided to become a professional musician.“I was not good in Latin. I was behind and there was the decision: Do I repeat the class one more year or do I want to be a violin player?” he said. “That was a decision which many of my family members didn’t agree with but my father did.”Rainer plays a Stradivarius from 1725 known as “Chaconne.” He joined Manfred and the Pittsburgh orchestra for concerts at their home hall in 2015 and the Aspen Music Festival the following year, for Beethoven’s “Fidelio” with the Vienna Symphony at the Theater an der Wien in 2020.“He is great in terms of style, of articulation, phrasing,” Vienna Philharmonic General Manager Michael Bladerer said. “When he says something to the section it will sound different after.” Unplanned instrument shiftManfred made a sudden switch from violin to viola in December 1982 when he learned the Vienna Philharmonic had an upcoming opening.“The audition was in April and so I thought, OK, I want to do it,” he said, recalling he practiced every day, from morning to midnight.Manfred won the audition but shifted his focus to conducting in 1987, becoming an assistant to Claudio Abbado at the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester. He conducted regularly at the Zurich Opera from 1991-96, was part of a trio of principal conductors at the MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra from 1996-99.He later served as music director of the Norwegian National Opera, the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Staatsoper Stuttgart. Manfred’s Pittsburgh Symphony is the only American orchestra appearing at this summer’s Salzburg Festival, part of a 13-concert European tour through Sept. 10. He’s become the Pittsburgh orchestra’s face.“We joke sometimes that he probably spends more weeks in Pittsburgh than he does in Altach, his home,” Pittsburgh Symphony CEO Melia Tourangeau said.Nilsson, the soprano, had never worked with Manfred before “Ariadne.”“I have learned from him to really trust the colors and to experiment how far can we go in the pianissimi and the softness,” she said. Kindness from usher to childManfred credits an usher at Vienna’s Musikverein for sparking his interest in conducting when he was a child in the late 1960s or early 1970s. Manfred wanted to see Willi Boskovsky lead the famous New Year’s Day concert and lined up with his father for standing room tickets.“We could not afford any seat places,” Manfred recalled. “There were 200 people around me and I had no chance to see. He saw me and he picked me out and put me in front of all the people who were standing in line for a whole day to get the best standing places. Hearing and seeing Willi Boskovsky, it seems to me that this was one of the occasions where I felt I really wanted to do this.”

Maryland head coach Mike Locksley encourages his players before an NCAA football game against Northern Illinois, Sept. 5, 2025, in College Park, Md. (AP Photo/Mike Buscher, File)2026-08-20T16:09:02Z When a 2021 Supreme Court decision let loose a tidal wave of cash to pay college athletes for endorsement deals, some nonprofit leaders held out hope that charities would benefit. Many of the organizations created to raise money for that compensation — name, image, and likeness collectives — were created as nonprofits.At some institutions, charities did see some gains. In 2021, University of Maryland student athletes receiving NIL payments started serving yearlong mentorships with high school students through a program run by a local nonprofit, the Youth Leadership Foundation, one of the several charities that had relationships with Maryland athletes. About 250 students from colleges in low-income neighborhoods typically participate each year, according to Janaiha Bennett, the nonprofit’s executive director.“Being able to expose students to role models that care about character and care about conducting themselves well as athletes, that’s been a huge plus,” Bennett said. Initially, the visits with student athletes and tours of the university’s athletic facilities were organized by the Blueprint Sports Foundation, a nonprofit that managed payments to NIL collectives nationwide.But the real financial benefits went to college athletes. Five years after the court gave the green light to pay athletes in NCAA v. Alston, payments to quarterbacks, gymnasts, pitchers, and other coveted athletes have reached nearly $2 billion annually. It is unclear how much nonprofits have gained, but any benefits charities receive are minuscule compared with the large sums of cash colleges raise to attract and retain star athletes, according to experts. The idea that charities would benefit turned out to be short-lived rather than baked in to the system, said Jason Kohout, a lawyer who has represented several NIL collectives.“It was kind of a blip,” he said. Read More The rise and fall of NIL collectivesIn the Alston case, the Supreme Court officially turned amateur college sports into a big money game for athletes through these NIL payments. For the first time, companies and nonprofits were allowed to pay athletes to appear at events, wear their apparel, and make social media posts.Shortly after the decision, alumni boosters and businesses rushed to form NIL collectives and registered them as nonprofits. Doing so allowed donations to be tax deductible. But in 2023, the Internal Revenue Service ruled that those collectives did not qualify for a tax-exemption. Their main purpose — compensating students — does not chiefly serve the public, which is typically required to qualify for nonprofit status, the agency found.“This private benefit is not a byproduct but is rather a fundamental part of a nonprofit NIL collective’s activities,” the agency wrote. The collectives received another blow following a 2025 settlement in a massive class action case, House v. NCAA, which pitted former student athletes against the college sports organization. The settlement provided for revenue sharing of television contracts and ticket sales among big conference universities, allowing them to direct $20.5 million per college — indexed for inflation — toward student compensation each year. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. With colleges able to make payments to students directly, several NIL collectives have since closed, including Student Athlete NIL, whose colleges included Georgia Tech, the University of Oklahoma, and Wake Forest University; an NIL fund associated with Texas A&M’s 12th Man Foundation; and Notre Dame’s FUND Foundation.“NIL collectives have basically been in shutdown mode because now you can just give the money to the school,” Kohout said. An opportunity to educate about givingWhen the IRS started taking a dim view of NIL collectives seeking tax exemption, the nonprofit Blueprint Sports Foundation, which paid athletes, including University of Maryland players, disbanded.The university’s in-house NIL program, One Maryland, still works with Blueprint Sports, a related for-profit organization that processes student payments from non-tax-deductible donations. One Maryland did not return calls from the Chronicle. In its last tax filing, in 2024, the Blueprint Sports Foundation indicated it devoted a total of $844,078 to 90 athletes for charitable activities in partnership with about a half dozen nonprofits near campus. Today, Maryland Terrapin athletes are no longer paid to visit with students through the Youth Leadership Foundation program. But Youth Leadership’s Bennett said student athlete involvement hasn’t subsided and the program is “still going strong.”However, the connection between college athletes and nonprofits won’t just run on autopilot, some warn. Roy Kessel, founder of the Sports Philanthropy Network, worries that as universities race to raise funds to pay athletes and remain competitive, charity will become an afterthought. Some athletes did create their own foundations after being introduced to giving through collectives. But if students receiving NIL payments aren’t educated about philanthropy, fewer will give to charity in the future and an opportunity will be lost, he said.In 2022, Kessel launched NIL4Good, a campaign to encourage student athletes to give some of their NIL payments to charity. But raising money for the campaign has been difficult, he said. One reason it’s been hard, he said, is that paying college athletes was such an immense cultural change that institutional practices, including educating students about money management, haven’t caught up. So far, universities have not made significant investments to help students identify what kind of donations they’d like to make and how to use their place in the spotlight for good, Kessel said.What student athletes need, he said, is sound advice on the practice of giving and the freedom to choose how to make an impact that comes from the heart. Many of those students, he said, have not yet developed clear boundaries when friends and acquaintances try to seek a cut.“What we’ve seen evolve over the last few years is that the individual athletes get pulled in a lot of directions,” he said. “Anytime somebody’s got money, that brings more people in.”______Alex Daniels is a senior reporter at the Chronicle of Philanthropy, where you can read the full article. This article was provided to The Associated Press by the Chronicle of Philanthropy as part of a partnership to cover philanthropy and nonprofits supported by the Lilly Endowment. The Chronicle is solely responsible for the content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.

UCLA forward Angela Dugalic, right, shoots over South Carolina guard Ta'Niya Latson, center, and South Carolina forward Joyce Edwards during the first half of the women's National Championship Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament game, April 5, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)2026-08-20T16:05:11Z NEW YORK (AP) — While interest in women’s sports is booming and Olympic sports organizers lock in preparations for the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles, advocates worry that the college athletic programs that feed both those systems may be strained further by increased demands from bigger sports.Olympic sports haven’t had the opportunity to thrive on their own, according to Women’s Sports Foundation CEO Danette Leighton, because the business has centered one product: college football.Leighton is calling on donors to set the agenda. Philanthropy can protect those teams, she said, by endowing scholarships for women’s gymnastics or men’s tennis.“There are a lot of philanthropists that are really passionate about women’s sports or men’s Olympic sports,” she said. “They should make sure that that’s where their funding is going directly.” College sports programs produce around three-quarters of the U.S. Olympians at a typical Summer Games, but some are on uncertain footing in the wake of the $2.8 billion House settlement that allows schools to share more than $20 million in revenue directly with their athletes every year. Most of that money goes to football and basketball. A bill before the Senate would require protections — and funding — for Olympic and women’s sports. Some worry that efforts to commercialize the most lucrative sports are creating a bit of a Catch-22. Schools risk losing the whole athletic department if they fail to keep up with name, image and likeness opportunities, according to Celene Funke. “You lose donors, you lose ticket sales, you lose all those things. Unfortunately, yes, that does have to come first,” said Funke, a former Louisville softball player who helps athletes navigate this new world as a financial adviser. “The problem is there’s not enough guardrails to ensure the back end looks all right as well.” Read More Tennessee Education Lottery CEO Rebecca Paul established a $12 million estate gift last year for Butler University to create an endowed fund for women’s athletics. Paul, who graduated from Butler with a bachelor’s degree in 1970 and later earned her masters, competed as a gymnast before Title IX protections. That was back when she said “girls weren’t supposed to sweat.” She recalled that the women’s gym was “far inferior” to the men’s gym. Very few women her age had the opportunity to participate in organized sports — and develop the leadership skills she believes they provide. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. She and her late husband decided on the gift long before name, image and likeness rights were established, according to Paul. As a Butler trustee, though, she said she hears concern from her peers at other schools about what might be lost as universities shift resources.“I’ve always felt that it was fair that if you could be paid to work in a lab as a student, you should be able to earn money on the basketball court,” she said. “I think maybe how it’s done needs to be reassessed.”___Staff writer Glenn Gamboa contributed reporting from Cleveland._____Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy. JAMES POLLARD Pollard covers philanthropy for The Associated Press with a focus on Gen Z’s giving habits and technology’s uses in charitable work. He is based in New York. twitter mailto

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With star players openly threatening a boycott of the mixed doubles tournament, the U.S. Open has decided to raise its prize pool in 2026. The singles winner of the 2026 U.S. Open will earn $5.5 million, a roughly 20 percent raise over previous years, the U.S. Tennis Association announced Thursday. Overall compensation from the event will jump to $108 million, per the Associated Press. In addition to winners taking home $5.5 million, here’s how some of that money will be distributed:Players will earn $140,000, largest in tennis history, just for making it into the 128-player singles main draw. A quarterfinalist earns $780,000, a semifinalist $1.45 million and the runner-up $2.8 million.Last year, singles winners took home $5 million and the overall prize pool sat at $90 million for the event. For doubles events in 2026, the winners will split $1 million. Runner-up teams will get $500,000. Wheelchair singles champions will take home $104,000, per the AP.The prize purse increase comes amid threats from star players suggesting they would boycott the mixed doubles event at the 2026 U.S. Open unless more prize money was involved. Last April, L’Equipe reported many of the top tennis players sent a joint letter to key members of each Grand Slam asking for more prize money and financial support for player-welfare programs, per Tennis.com. The players who signed that letter represented some of the biggest names in the sport, including Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula — among the women. On the men’s side, Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev were among the big names to also sign the document. With that situation unresolved as the 2026 U.S. Open neared, threats of a boycott were amplified by some of those players. Leading up to the event, Pegula told Front Office Sports players were still waiting to see the U.S. Open prize pool before deciding whether to play in the mixed doubles event. When asked in August about her participation, Sabanlenka said “who knows?”Prior to Thursday’s announcement, there were reports suggesting talks between the players and the U.S. Tennis Association had been positive, per The Athletic, so the higher purse might be enough to get star players back on board. In addition to raising the prize pool, the U.S. Tennis Association also announced the formation of a new player council that can offer advise on Grand Slams. That was well-received by Ben Shelton, who said it was something tennis players “have wanted for some time.” The 2026 U.S. Open is set to begin with the mixed doubles event Tuesday, Aug. 25. If Shelton’s comments represent the norm among other players, it should be well-attended by some of the sport’s biggest stars.

Mikel Arteta provides Arsenal injury update ahead of Coventry City clashMikel Arteta Gives Bruno Guimaraes Injury Update Ahead of Arsenal OpenerArsenal begin the defence of their Premier League title on Friday night, and Mikel Arteta already has an early selection issue to manage.Bruno Guimaraes has emerged as an injury concern ahead of the meeting with newly promoted Coventry City after being seen with ice strapped to his right thigh. It may ultimately prove to be little more than precautionary treatment, but the timing inevitably raises questions given Arsenal’s opening fixture is now so close.For Arteta, the positive is that his midfield options remain considerably stronger than they once were.Guimaraes Fitness Remains UncertainThe sight of Guimaraes receiving treatment understandably caused some concern, particularly given how central the Brazilian has become to Arsenal’s midfield structure.Asked about his availability on Thursday, Mikel Arteta offered encouragement without guaranteeing the midfielder would feature.“Let’s see how he is. He’s evolving really well but let’s see for tomorrow.”Photo: IMAGOThat leaves Arsenal facing a late decision over whether Guimaraes should be risked against Coventry or whether the club can afford to give him additional recovery time.There should be little need for unnecessary gambling at this stage of the season. Arsenal have ambitions across multiple competitions, and keeping Guimaraes available over the long term matters considerably more than squeezing another appearance from him in August.Arsenal Midfield Depth Offers Arteta OptionsGuimaraes missing out would still leave Arteta with several credible alternatives.Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice are both capable of operating alongside Myles Lewis-Skelly, giving Arsenal a range of combinations depending on how Arteta wants his side to approach the match.Rice offers power, defensive security and the ability to carry possession through midfield. Zubimendi provides greater control and positional discipline, particularly when Arsenal are attempting to dominate possession against opponents defending in a compact shape.Arteta has also confirmed that Rice and Bukayo Saka are available.“They are ready to be involved,” the Gunners boss added.That should provide Arsenal with significant reassurance heading into their first Premier League fixture. Any concern surrounding Bruno Guimaraes becomes easier to manage when so many established players remain available.Timber Recovery Still Requires PatienceJurrien Timber represents a longer term concern.The defender has not appeared for Arsenal since coming off the bench during the Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint Germain on penalties in May. Before that appearance, Timber had been out since suffering an injury during the 2-0 victory over Everton on March 14.His rehabilitation remains ongoing.“I said in the next few weeks,” Arteta explained. “He’s not trained with the group yet.”That places further importance on Arsenal’s defensive depth. Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera have already shared responsibilities at right back during Timber’s absence, while Ezri Konsa is expected to provide another option once his £51million transfer from Aston Villa is completed.Squad Strength Reduces Opening Night PressureArsenal’s position ahead of Coventry therefore looks relatively healthy.Guimaraes remains a doubt rather than a confirmed absentee, while Rice and Saka are available and Arteta has genuine alternatives across midfield. Timber’s absence is more substantial, although Arsenal have prepared for that situation through existing options and further recruitment.For a side beginning the season as defending Premier League champions, squad depth will be tested repeatedly.Friday night’s team selection may offer the first indication of how Arteta intends to manage those resources.

Detroit Lions tight end Sam Laporta (87), center, and tight end Tyler Conklin (72) practice during training camp at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Monday August 17, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co On Thursday, Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell offered an injury update on a couple of players, but none were more important than his star tight end, Sam LaPorta. Per Campbell, LaPorta suffered a hip injury in practice recently, and the team is holding him out to let it calm down.“He got hit in the hip, and it just flared up a little bit. It’s aggravated, but we feel good long-term about him,” Campbell said. “We’re just—we’ll rest him for a little bit right here, letting it calm down.”But when asked if the injury could hold him out at the start of the regular season, Campbell was non-committal. “I don’t know,” Campbell said. “I feel like we’ll be okay, but I don’t know.” LaPorta spent the majority of his offseason recovering from back surgery after that injury caused him to miss the final eight games of the 2025 season. The Lions certainly felt his absence then, so it’ll be a tough blow if he misses any time to start the season.“He’s a stud,” quarterback Jared Goff said earlier this training camp. “He had a good play down the field today on third down, and he’s a stud. He’s the same guy every day and continues to get better like they all do and got to find ways to give him the ball.”Elsewhere, Campbell noted that reserve guard Ben Bartch is in concussion protocol, and his ability to contend for the starting left guard job is now in jeopardy. “That window is shrinking right now,” Campbell said. “The most important thing is for him to get to where he feels right again and to where he can go.”Finally, Campbell gave an update on rookie linebacker Jimmy Rolder. While the former Michigan Wolverine expressed optimism that he could practice as soon as next week from his hamstring injury, Campbell wasn’t quite as hopeful.“Probably unlikely,” Campbell said of his chances to practice this training camp. “He’s doing well. He is progressing well, but I think it’ll be hard-pressed to see him next week.”He did say, however, that he sees Rolder being available early in the season.

Aug. 20—NAPOLEON, N.D. — In his first year as head coach, Jamison Fettig led Napoleon/Gackle-Streeter to the playoffs — and he did it with five freshmen starters.The Imperials ended the 2025 season with a 52-8 loss to Hankinson in the 9-man state quarterfinals. Fettig led his crew to an overall record of 8-3. Last season was the first time the Imperials had made the playoffs since 2021."We are feeling good," Fettig said. "We had a lot of young players last year — we were short on older kids, and we lost one of our starters in week three and basically had to play the whole season without him."We started those five freshmen and then ran through seven of the nine in that grade, so the experience of those kids is the big thing for us," he said.The Imperials lost Brody McDowell and Bill Schmidt to graduation. The team is welcoming back senior Andre Doll along with 2025 All-Staters Jackson Piatz and Bryce Schneider. Piatz lined up at receiver and safety while Schneider was the team's quarterback and middle linebacker. Doll will be back at right guard and defensive end this fall.Besides the returning seniors, Fettig said the Imperials will bring back sophomores Carson Piatz and Brooks Grunefelder."They were both massive parts of our team last season, and we are expecting big seasons from the both of them," Fettig said.In total, Fettig is expecting 26 kids out this fall. The Imperials are expecting 18 of their players to be freshmen and sophomores, which will require some different kind of training from Fettig and his coaching staff."For us, it's about the mental game," Fettig said of how to train the young athletes. "Everybody knows you are a freshman, but you can't play like one. We just try to drive that into the kids. We don't have another kid to go to, you just have to step up when we need you."Fettig said typical freshman play involves a lot of second guessing — something he tries to address in practices."They are afraid sometimes of letting down the older kids, but we try to tell them that it's OK if they make a mistake once in a while," Fettig said. "We're just trying to make it so that it doesn't happen over and over again."It takes a little bit longer, we've got to slow some things down in practice to get everyone on the same page, but for the most part it is working pretty well," he said. "Patience will be a big thing, knowing that it takes a little bit of time to get them where we want them."Fettig and his crew of youngsters began practices on Aug. 6, but the team has been preparing for the season for a few months now."Our kids went to a ... NDSU individual camp this past June and learned a lot there," Fettig said. "There have been boys in the weight room all summer, and we have been having open gyms every Sunday for the past two months coming into the season."It's hard to say who will be someone who will go off," he said. "I mean, last year Jackson had 21 receiving touchdowns and Bryce had 3500 yards passing and rushing and 95 tackles on defense and Andre had 12 sacks and six forced fumbles. ... They are the core of our team ... we like to spread the ball around so every one of them could have the opportunity to have a good night."

Aug. 20—STEELE, N.D. — Grady Larson's football career started like any other kid's."I started by playing catch in the backyard with my dad and watching Vikings and NDSU games. Then later (when I was five) I started playing flag football and tackle in Bismarck," Larson said.Larson is entering his third year starting for Kidder County This fall will be his fourth year on the varsity roster.Larson had multiple touchdown passes and ended up tying the school record for the most interceptions in a game on defense in his first official start at quarterback.In just the 2025 season, Larson broke the Kidder County school record for the most interceptions in a career. He intercepted the ball 11 times last fall."It was an amazing experience being able to set multiple schools' records," Larson said. "In order to accomplish it, it required lots of hard work and dedication in the offseason (like) going to lifts and open fields (and) being a smart player."Larson will be returning as the Wolves' starting quarterback and cornerback."Grady last year did a really good job of being the distributor of the football on offense," Kidder County head coach Connor Hill said. "This year, he'll have to take on more of that leading role where he's going to have to produce a lot of that offensive yardage himself. If he can do that, we'll be able to compete with some of those teams who like to throw the ball a little bit."Larson and the Wolves began practices on Aug. 6. The team's first game is scheduled for Aug. 22 against Hettinger County in Mandan."Right now, we are just meeting once a week to run through some plays and run some routes," Hill said. "We went to Valley City's team camp at the beginning of June, and that went really well. We had some guys step up for us because we have to replace quite a few guys from last year."Kidder County is looking to welcome back between 23 and 27 guys this season. The team lost seven seniors to graduation."We definitely lost many key players, but it'll be a great challenge for us," Larson said. "We're very young and will experience growing pains, but we'll definitely do our best to shock other teams and fans."The Wolves recorded an 8-3 record last season. The team lost 56-6 to 9-man state runners-up LaMoure/Litchville-Marion in the state quarterfinals."We've got some confidence after last season, but our guys are aware that we lost our best defensive leader and leading tackler," Hill said. "Two others made up about 60% of our offensive yardage, and they both graduated. But they have realistic expectations. It's not going to be as easy this year. It is going to take a lot of extra work, and a lot of the guys are seeing that and taking that to heart."Larson said he thinks some of the Wolves' strengths will be the size on the line, a decent passing game and an offense that will be challenging for other teams to figure out.Some areas of improvement could be the overall speed of the athletes."We are not as fast or athletic (as last year), so we will have to find different ways to score," Larson said. "We will also just have to learn football more as we have many underclassmen that will be playing."I am very excited," he said. "I know it'll be an interesting but fun season. They'll be many people doubting us because we lost a lot from last season, but we'll be ready for any team that we'll face."The Wolves will need to be ready based on the talent returning to the region."Linton is always kind of the favorite from our region," Hill said. "They are always fighting for that top spot. Napoleon didn't lose a whole lot to graduation and they've got a lot of good players coming back. Grant County is kind of like Linton, always fighting for a top spot."Whether the team nabs a top spot or it proves to be a growing year, Hill's expectations are the same."They have to show up and commit to getting better and competing," Hill said. "They can teach me a little bit more patience. Last year's group was really quick to pick up on some of the concepts that we run offensively and defensively."This group, being all new starters, it is going to take some time to get to the point we were at last year where we can run some of the more technical plays on offense and defense," he said. "I am looking forward to seeing some of the growth. I am hoping those younger guys grow and become better football players. I also want to be successful for those older guys who have put in four years into the program, it would be really special for them to have a successful season like we did last year."

Fox Host Sean Hannity is being called out for blatant hypocrisy after defending Sen. Darline Graham Nordone’s (R-SC) clueless answer to a debate question about Taiwan. Video is making the rounds on social media, comparing Hannity’s attempt to downplay Graham Nordone’s gaffe with his utter outrage at a similar incident in February involving Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). Related Lindsey Graham’s sister uses trans kids to excuse her terrible debate performance “I know people have made a big deal out of it, and I’m like, I wonder how many people around the country, if I gave them a map, could pick out Taiwan,” Hannity said while interviewing Graham Nordone about the viral debate moment. Of course, the hypothetical people he referred to aren’t running for a position that requires them to vote on national security legislation. Hannity on AOC: Wow, she couldn’t answer a question about Taiwan! Hannity on Darline Graham: Why is everyone making a big deal about this question on Taiwan? People can’t event find it on a map! pic.twitter.com/dfD8QK45j5— Acyn (@Acyn) August 20, 2026 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 In contrast, Hannity berated Ocasio-Cortez for stumbling over a very similar question earlier in the year. “Wow, even worse than Hillary, though, radical squad leader AOC simply could not answer basic questions about global affairs,” Hannity ranted at the time. “This is about as close to a Kamala Harris ‘word salad’ as you’ll ever get.” Hannity also posted to social media at the time, “They Want Her to Be President? AOC Can’t Even Answer a Basic Foreign Policy Question Without Short-Circuiting.” Folks on social media are enraged by Hannity’s flagrant double standard, especially considering Graham Nordone only holds her position due to nepotism. Lol shit like this should be illegal. Just paid to spin narratives to the dumbest of the country smh. https://t.co/oZZkWHoskO— Tee Boogie (@Tee__Boogie) August 20, 2026 The double standard is remarkable. Wouldn’t it be nice to return to real journalism and objective commentary? https://t.co/UDVXQgG7kP— Bill Murtagh (@cavendishbill) August 20, 2026 This is pretty bad from Hannity.He knocked AOC for not answering a very similar question to the one Graham got.Here are the transcripts from February vs. last night. https://t.co/DwtLVdGL2S pic.twitter.com/JCSHCbocfy— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) August 20, 2026 Because our representatives should have knowledge over these things relative to the non government population don't you think?— MLP5571 (@lpark1971) August 20, 2026 what a perfect synopsis of how right-wing media (which is now almost all media) covers our politics.— Law Times Daily (@LawTimesDaily) August 20, 2026 Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

UCLA forward Angela Dugalic, right, shoots over South Carolina guard Ta'Niya Latson, center, and South Carolina forward Joyce Edwards during the first half of the women's National Championship Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament game, April 5, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)2026-08-20T16:03:55Z The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate eased for the second week in a row, but remains elevated compared with this time last year.The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate fell to 6.65% from 6.67% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. One year ago, the average rate was 6.58%. Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, often sought by borrowers refinancing a home loan, also eased this week. That average rate dropped to 5.95% from 5.96% last week. However, a year ago, it was at 5.69%.Despite the recent pullback, mortgage rates have been mostly rising this year, limiting homebuyers’ purchasing power. Elevated rates can lead prospective home shoppers to delay buying a home, one reason U.S. home sales have been sluggish this year.Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, including inflation, broader policy rate decisions from the Federal Reserve and expectations from bond market investors for the economy. They generally follow the trajectory of the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans. Both mortgage rates and the bond market have been mostly rising this year due to the U.S. war with Iran, which has fueled expectations for hotter inflation as crude oil prices soared. Despite easing oil prices recently, long-term bond yields remain steeper than they were before the conflict began in late February, pushing mortgage rates to tread higher.With bond yields marching higher in recent months on worries about high inflation, gargantuan government debts and other factors, the U.S. Treasury Department said Wednesday that it would at least double the amount of U.S. government bonds that it planned to buy back over the next few months. The move helped helped pull yields down after the 10-year Treasury’s yield had hit its highest level in more than a year. Read More The 10-year Treasury yield was 4.71% as of midday Thursday on the bond market. Before the war, it was just 3.97% in late February.The U.S. housing market has been in a slump since 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes were essentially flat last year, stuck at a 30-year low. U.S. sales of previously-occupied homes again slowed in July.

Louisville players celebrate beating Miami in an NCAA college football game, Oct. 17, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin, File)2026-08-20T16:02:28Z NEW YORK (AP) — University of Louisville athletic director Josh Heird says there is no “silver bullet” that will help his department’s current revenue race.To compete in the increasingly commercialized world of college sports, programs of its size might spend more than $40 million a year on talent acquisition, revenue sharing and other costs, according to experts. But just five of Louisville’s 23 sports generate any revenue, according to the athletic department. Only football and men’s basketball turn profits.Louisville, like a growing number of major conferences ′ public universities, is trying to narrow that spending gap and its supporters are trying to help by creating a new organization to oversee everything from third-party multimedia deals to hospitality packages.This spring, Louisville launched Cardinal Ventures, a nonprofit designed to help the athletic department leverage its brand to generate new revenue streams, all to keep pace with the multibillion-dollar market around compensating athletes for the use of their name, image and likeness. “We live in a highly, highly competitive environment and industry,” Heird said. “And if there’s anything that anybody can do to try to create even the smallest sort of competitive advantage, then they’re gonna look to do that.”The University of Kentucky also has a revenue-raising nonprofit. The University of North Carolina is actively discussing a limited liability company. So, too, is Louisiana State University. There’s “feverish” interest from higher education in these offshoots, according to Clay Grayson, whose South Carolina law firm designed Clemson University’s in-house venture. There’s also scrutiny from Congress. Widespread privatization could further transform universities into profit-driven businesses resembling professional sports franchises, weaning them off fatigued donors and opening the door to private capital. Read More “Governmental universities don’t do commercial very well,” Grayson said. “Those nonprofits are the ones that kind of can get out into that space.” Record high gifts underscore the spending spree. Virginia Tech touted an “unprecedented” $75 million commitment intended to “ensure a strong start” for its nonprofit Hokie Ventures. Michigan State bolstered its athletic department with a $401 million contribution that included an investment in its own Spartan Ventures. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. Louisville’s Heird said he frequently finds himself discussing these new organizations with peers as they all look to boost their bottom lines.At his school, he has found some “low-hanging fruit” with concerts. Louisville’s 60,000-seat football stadium largely sits dark outside of home games.Country music star Zach Bryan recently lit up the field. The rapper Ludacris headlines an upcoming hip-hop billing. Planning is already underway for next year’s shows — each of which could bring seven-figure profits for the hosts. Athletic directors seek flexibility, control and a ‘commercial engine’These new efforts may not provide a “silver bullet,” but they do offer new revenue and something many athletic directors may value even more — more control. The nonprofits and LLCs offer greater flexibility to crack the financing puzzle than the previous system. Bureaucracy can drag decision-making out for months. Key components of the fan experience — tickets, parking, merchandise, concessions— are often outsourced to vendors they don’t fully run.“There is an unstoppable train that is college sports,” said Jason Belzer, a Sequence Equity partner who advises schools on NIL deals. “The reality is that you need to create new platforms and paradigms to be able to successfully operate a business that no longer really sits with the original mission of college athletics -- at least at the higher levels.”Everything is on the table for Syracuse University. Athletic director Bryan Blair sees an opportunity to corner New York’s college sports market. It’s the state’s only Power Four conference school. And all five ticketed sports play under a 50,000-seat dome that brings what he called a “big state school feel.”The question is how to build a “commercial engine,” Blair said, whether it exists within his department or outside it.“We’re trying to educate young people, give them a great experience. We’re trying win on whatever day of the week it is for whatever competition it is. We’re trying to be great stewards and ambassadors for our university,” Blair said. “But to do a lot of those things requires more revenue than ever before.” Nonprofits join growing number of affiliatesCommercial affiliates aren’t new to higher education. Some universities use them to monetize drug patents or manage copyright.Take the University of Kentucky, believed to be the first school to convert its athletic department into a limited-liability holding company. Trustees already managed separate health systems through a not-for-profit that was primed to take ownership of its athletics offshoot. Athletic director J Batt, who recently joined the Wildcats from Michigan State, expects these formations will become the norm rather than an exception. “And everybody will do the one that’s right for your campus,” he added.Grayson, the legal architect behind many such models, said he mostly hears from members of the Power Four. Those 67 schools tend to be the only ones with large, competitive enough programs to spend beyond the revenue-sharing cap of $21.3 million this year. His firm has helped create affiliated entities at an estimated one in seven schools competing in the Southeastern Conference, the Big Ten, the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Big 12.His model strays from the traditional nonprofit. He proposes smaller, seven-person boards in order to expedite decision-making. Some of the athletic ancillaries even own for-profits that handle taxable activities such as stadium concerts.Another big difference: they’re not registered to fundraise because their focus is programmatic revenue. He recommends aligning these new ventures with existing fundraising organizations — like “two pedals of a bicycle.”“If you get them moving in sync, you’ve got a powerful, powerful motor,” he said.Questions about charitable purpose and donor fatigueIt remains to be seen whether these new entities will alleviate donor pressure to bankroll costly football programs. Moreover, they raise the same question that murky NIL collectives did: what is the charitable purpose of an institution whose main goal is to generate more revenue for athletics?The Internal Revenue Service decided many nonprofit NIL collectives were erroneously given charitable status. They served players, not the public good, so their activities were likely not exempt from taxes.These affiliates are similar, in the view of an NIL tax consultant who previously worked at the IRS. Thad Madden, who studied NIL compliance issues for the agency, said he doesn’t see any “charitable connotation.”“It’s to serve the financial interest of the athletes so that they make the most possible money with the goal of putting the best team on the field,” Madden said.That financial interest has fatigued donors, according to consultants who advise schools on issues of NIL. They’re fielding more athletics solicitations even as universities continue fundraising for student scholarships, research projects and other functions.It used to be that development officers could leverage donor interest in athletics to direct some funds towards academics. That’s not so nowadays, according to University of Pennsylvania professor Karen Weaver, a former athletic administrator who studies the evolving college sports landscape.“Athletics doesn’t have a revenue problem. It has a spending problem,” Weaver said. “So, whatever dollar they bring in is gonna be spent on trying to get an advantage in athletics.”___Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy. JAMES POLLARD Pollard covers philanthropy for The Associated Press with a focus on Gen Z’s giving habits and technology’s uses in charitable work. He is based in New York. twitter mailto