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Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon poses for a photo in a state office in Cheyenne, Wyo., Dec. 18, 2018. (AP Photo/Mead Gruver, File)2026-08-28T19:26:14Z FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — Wyoming’s attorney general is investigating how two U.S. Department of Justice officials monitored poll workers and observed voters in the state’s most populous county during the Aug. 18 primary, a spokesperson for Republican Gov. Mark Gordon said Friday.Gordon called the monitors’ behavior “a bit aggressive” and “irregular” in an otherwise routine meeting to confirm the election results in the mostly rural and Republican state.“I feel very strongly about the federal government coming in and taking our guns. I don’t like that. I don’t like the federal government coming in and taking our votes, either,” Gordon said at the meeting Wednesday.Gordon spokesperson Amy Edmonds on Friday confirmed the investigation by Attorney General Keith Kautz, who was appointed by the governor.Voting rights groups have raised concern about President Donald Trump’s Justice Department shifting priorities away from enforcing civil rights laws with respect to voting. Trump instead has directed federal prosecutors to search for fraud in the 2020 election, which he lost to Democrat Joe Biden. Trump has meanwhile been more assertive about influencing the department, including encouraging investigations of political opponents, in his second term.Approaching the end of his second and final term in office, Gordon has publicly expressed little if any previous criticism of federal polices under Trump. The monitoring happened in southeastern Wyoming’s Laramie County, home to the state capital, Cheyenne. Read More The monitors arrived soon after polls opened at 7 a.m. on primary day and said they intended to interview voters while assessing compliance with federal civil rights and voting rights laws, Laramie County Clerk Debra Lee said in a statement. Sign up for the Ground Game Newsletter: Your guide to the biggest stories in politics, policy and U.S. elections. 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. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Lee said her office didn’t allow interviews to be conducted in polling places and denied the monitors permission to do so. The monitors questioned local officials about “the nature, length and timing of poll worker training,” Lee said.“Monitors requested training guides, asked how our new election equipment was acquired and wanted to examine our tabulators,” Lee said. Wyoming law allows only election observation by certified poll watchers who monitor registration and turnout, Lee said.“This was a poorly managed exercise and one that showed complete disregard for our state laws and administration of our elections,” Lee said in the statement.She said she hadn’t been notified the monitors would be in Laramie County. A Justice Department official in Washington told her the decision to send them was made on short notice and an email was sent to her but “may have gone to the wrong address,” Lee said.The Justice Department routinely sends monitors to observe polling places or election offices, but they are not supposed to interfere with voting or election administration.The DOJ did not answer questions about the monitors Friday but referred to a primary day statement by Darin Smith, the U.S. attorney for Wyoming. He said monitors would be in the state “to ensure transparency, ballot security, and strict compliance with federal voting rights statutes.”“Voters deserve absolute confidence that their ballots are secure and their voices are heard without interference,” Smith said in the statement. “We are working alongside local officials to ensure every lawful vote is protected.” Appointed by the governor, Wyoming’s attorney general works mainly in the service of the executive branch and is not politically independent as in other states.No one, including Gordon, is asserting the monitoring influenced the election outcome, Edmonds said.“It’s really a fact-finding mission just to sort of figure out exactly what did happen,” Edmonds said.Trump’s fraud claims about the 2020 election have been amplified by Wyoming’s Republican secretary of state, Chuck Gray, who successfully ran in 2022 in part by showing a discredited documentary about those claims at campaign rallies across the state.Gray told Gordon at the elections meeting that his office “got an email,” but that was all the communication it had with the Justice Department about the federal officials. Wyoming law allows election observers, Gray said.“Certainly happy to visit with the attorney general,” Gray told the governor during the meeting. “Transparency is so important, and accountability.”Gray is not seeking reelection as secretary of state and won the Republican nomination for Wyoming’s seat in the U.S. House during the primary. 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

This undated photo provided by Juul Labs Inc. on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, shows an updated version of the company's e-cigarette. (Juul Labs Inc. via AP)2026-08-28T19:25:14Z WASHINGTON (AP) — Vaping company Juul Labs on Friday received federal permission to sell an updated version of its e-cigarette, which includes an optional age-verification system designed to prevent underage use.The decision from the Food and Drug Administration allows the company to sell a new version of its top-selling vaping device for the first time since it launched more than a decade ago. In recent years, the company has had to lay off hundreds of employees while paying roughly $3 billion to settle government and private lawsuits over teen use of its products.Juul plans to market the new device under the brand name Juul2, along with updated versions of its tobacco- and menthol-flavored cartridges. In 2019, the company discontinued several flavors, including mango, mint and creme, that drove most of its sales but were favored by teens. In a statement Friday, Juul CEO K.C. Croswaite said the company plans to market its new system with “a portfolio of flavors — beyond tobacco and menthol — that are targeted to adult nicotine consumers.”The latest announcement is not an approval or endorsement, and people who do not smoke should not use Juul or any other e-cigarettes, according to regulators. The FDA determination indicates that smokers who switch completely to Juul can reduce their exposure to deadly carcinogens and other chemicals found in traditional cigarettes.According to company studies reviewed by the FDA, between 20% to 50% of smokers who used Juul products were able to stop smoking at the end of six weeks. The rates of quitting varied based on the flavors and nicotine strengths used. The new device also gives users the option to require age verification via an online app before the e-cigarette can be unlocked. Read More The FDA has authorized a handful of e-cigarettes to help adult smokers quit or cut back on cigarettes. In May, the FDA OK’d the first fruit-flavored electronic cigarettes intended for adult smokers. The approval represented a major policy shift and came after months of appeals to President Donald Trump from the vaping industry.Juul is no longer the top-selling e-cigarette brand in the U.S. and trails Vuse, which is sold by tobacco giant Reynolds American. Reynolds also makes Camel and Newport cigarettes. Teens have shifted away from Juul as part of a wider drop in vaping, according to federal figures. Teens who continue to vape mostly use unauthorized disposable e-cigarettes imported from China, which come in fruit and candy flavors.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. MATTHEW PERRONE Perrone covers the intersection of medicine, business and health policy. He is based in Washington. twitter mailto

Jermall Charlo celebrates his win after his middleweight bout against Jose Benavidez Jr. at Michelob ULTRA Arena on November 25, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (David Becker/Getty Images) Jermall Charlo was supposed to finally return to the ring in July after fighting just twice in the last five years, but visa issues prevented him from traveling to Australia, so his fight with Koen Mazoudier was canceled.The boxer, who grew up in Alief and lives in Sugar Land, will finally get his shot at Mazoudier when the two face each other on the undercard of the super welterweight title fight between reigning champion Sebastian Fundora and Ermal Hadribeaj on Oct. 17 in Las Vegas. The tripleheader, which also includes Weslaco's Brandon Figueroa defending his featherweight title against Tomoki Kameda, will be broadcast on TNT.Charlo (34-0, 23 KOs) is still undefeated, but he's been out of action since he stopped Thomas Lamanna in May 2025.Taking on Mazoudier (16-4-1, 6 KOs), who is a relative unknown outside of Australia, should be a tune-up fight for Charlo, who has his sights set on bigger fights down the road if he can knock off the ring rust that's accumulated from years of little action.The 36-year-old was one of the best boxers in the world, winning the middleweight title in 2015, then successfully defending it three times before moving up to super middleweight and winning that title as well. He won five straight title defenses at super middleweight, but after beating Juan Macias Montiel in front of a raucous hometown crowd at Toyota Center in June 2021, Charlo faced several hurdles outside the ring, including a bout with depression.He has fought just three times since that night, beating José Benavidez Jr., in 2023, then taking out Lamanna two years later.Jermell Charlo, Jermall's twin brother, also could be close to returning after a long layoff. Jermell, who hasn't fought since losing to Canelo Alvarez in 2023, says he will soon be matched up against former light middleweight champion Tim Tszyu. He was supposed to fight Tszyu in January 2023, but Jermell broke his hand in training and then later was given the more lucrative Alvarez fight. Tszyu, who went on to become the light middleweight champion before losing the belt to Fundora, is coming off an impressive victory over Dallas' Errol Spence Jr., who announced his retirement after that fight in July.SubscribeThere’s more to Houston with the Chronicle. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at Jermall Charlo's return to the ring, which was scrapped in July, rescheduled for October.

🎥 Just 22 to go! Al-Nassr stay perfect, Ronaldo decisiveAl-Nassr remain perfect in the Saudi league.And Cristiano Ronaldo helped keep that 100% record intact this Friday (28).They went behind at home, but beat Al-Taawoun 2-1, with the Portuguese star netting his 978th goal.They had to come from behind...After an insane 3-2 win in the previous round, despite conceding twice and going down to 10 men, Al-Nassr struggled again.Al Hurayji put the visitors ahead as early as the 11th minute.The equalizer came before the break after Samu Costa hit it first time from a Mané pass (50').And the comeback was completed when CR7 “stole” Simakan’s goal five minutes into the second half.His second of the season.Leaders Al-Nassr moved to 12 points after four rounds.Al-Taawoun stay on two points in 15th place.Breakdown of CR7’s goals ⚽Real Madrid - 450 goals in 438 games - Average of 1.03Portugal - 146 goals in 233 games - Average of 0.63Manchester United - 118 goals in 292 games - Average of 0.40Al-Nassr - 133 goals in 151 games - Average of 0.88Juventus - 101 goals in 134 games - Average of 0.75Sporting - 5 goals in 33 games - Average of 0.16 This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

News surfaced this spring that the Cleveland Guardians had canceled their $2.8 million agreement with a Dominican prospect known by the name of David Severino. A Friday report from ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez revealed that Major League Baseball has suspended the teenage switch hitter after unearthing an age-fraud plot that included a fake identity and led the Guardians to believe the infielder was years younger than he actually is.David Severino’s real name is Daury David Severino Damaso, according to ESPN’s report, and he’s reportedly 16 years old, not 13 or 14 like the Guardians thought when they agreed to the lucrative pre-deal with him back in December.Cleveland was reportedly under the impression that Severino would be 17 in 2029, at which point the deal would be finalized and he would be eligible to sign.The Guardians, notably, aren’t facing MLB discipline, per ESPN.A Dominican prospect who got a $2.8M pre-deal was found to be two years older, part of an elaborate age-fraud plot that involved a fake identity, a fake death & a fake tombstone. More on his story, a glaring example of a market rife with corruption …https://t.co/ngddDbXy1K— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) August 28, 2026Severino was actually born on April 2, 2010, according to ESPN, which reported that, in 2023, Severino's trainer at the time, Francisco Nieves, allegedly received the approval of the player’s parents to concoct the fake identity of David Severino Damaso.David Severino Damaso was supposed to be the younger brother of Daury Severino Damaso, for whom a fraudulent death certificate was reportedly filed two years later. It read that Daury died at 2 years old due to a respiratory illness, and a fake tombstone was placed in his name in the southeastern part of the Dominican Republic, per ESPN. As for the new, younger Daury, AKA the Severino who became a highly touted prospect, his background was reportedly bolstered by a late-filed birth registration upon his identity’s creation in 2023. That showed a birthdate of Dec. 20, 2011, in other words more than 20 months after his real birthdate. Fabricated medical and school records allegedly factored in as well, as Severino’s handler attempted to legitimize the manufactured persona.Ultimately, Severino performed favorably against 12- and 13-year-olds when, in reality, he should have been in the Dominican Summer League with 16- and 17-year-olds, according to ESPN’s report.Although age and identity fraud unfortunately aren’t new in international baseball, Severino’s case is more extreme, given the measures that were taken to strengthen the ploy.Based on his real age, 16, Severino would have been eligible for the class of 2027; however, per ESPN, the suspension he’s dealing with delay his entry to the international amateur market by a year.

The Atlanta Braves have announced that injured starting pitcher Hurston Waldrep will have to undergo “Tommy John” surgery and fellow starter Spencer Schwellenbach will also have surgery on the same elbow fracture he suffered last year.Waldrep will likely miss all of 2027. No timetable on Schwellenbach is available.This is a developing story.

MUNICH, GERMANY - AUGUST 28: Michael Olise of FC Bayern Muenchen celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Bundesliga 2026/27 match between FC Bayern München and VfB Stuttgart at Allianz Arena on August 28, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Boris Streubel/Getty Images) | Getty Images Bayern Munich are heavy favorites to lift the Bundesliga once again this season and it didn’t take the home side long to show why that is. While there are still new faces here adjusting to the team, the match was the perfect start to the season, with Bayern getting in the win column in front of the Allianz Arena crowd.Jersey Swap: Finn JeltschAfter giving Josha Vagnomann plenty of criticism in the past for his brief appearances for the German national team, the Stuttgart defender came up big for the visitors today. Outside of the goal, the German had a generally strong game and was an impressive player for Stuttgart on the day. That of course changed when the German defender made a comical error of an own goal, sliding into the ball, putting it past his own goalkeeper.While Finn Jeltsch had less memorable moments in the match, his consistency at his age is remarkable, and he is the clear leader of an already strong backline. Jeltsch remains a bright young star to watch out for in the future.Der Kaiser: Alphonso DaviesIt would be easy to give the choice to Upamecano after he opened up Bayern’s account for the Bundesliga season, and had an overall impressive match. However, Upamecano often gets his flowers for how great he has been over the last year.Another player that does deserve their flowers today is Davies. The Canadian was highly criticized for sitting out the majority of the World Cup for his host nation, but the defender looks hungry this season in a way we haven’t seen in some time. While he won’t be credited for any goal contributions today, it was his action that lead to Vagnomann’s own goal. If Davies can keep up this attacking threat all year round, Kompany will have a ridiculous amount of good options at his disposal.Fußballgott: Aleksandar PavlovićThe star of the midfield today wasn’t Pavlović, but being a good midfielder isn’t all about the flashy moments. Pavlović played much better today than he did at the World Cup, and a goal is certainly going to be a massive boost for his confidence. While many are going to be asking for Tom Bischof to get more minutes, Pavlović certainly made his case today.Der Bomber: Michael OliséThe Frenchman has shown just why he captured the world’s attention this summer at the World Cup. While Olisé was already a star in the making when he joined Bayern, he is now a certified global superstar and he showed why he has earned that reputation today. Bayern fans will be hoping their franchise player sticks around for a long time.In his brief but highly memorable appearance on the pitch today, Ismael Saibari looked like an absolute game changer for Bayern. Fans have a lot to be excited about when seeing Saibari in this match.Meister of the Match: Joshua KimmichKimmich looked like a player at the peak of his powers in this match. His first assist on the day was nothing special, but a strong corner which led to Bayern’s first goal of the season. His second assist was incredibly impressive with a strong presence that allowed him to cut into Stuttgart territory and lay off a near-perfect ball for Michael Olisé.Overall, Bayern made an excellent impression in the 2026/27 Bundesliga opener, and fans will expect great things for this team this season.Join the conversation!Sign up for a user account and get:New, improved notifications system!Fewer adsCreate community postsComment on articles, community postsRec comments, community posts

When macOS 27 drops next month, Apple will officially say goodbye to its Intel-based Macs. The only Macs that will be able to update to macOS Golden Gate next month will be the ones with an Apple-made chip (including the A18 Pro on the MacBook Neo). Yet while Apple hasn't sold an Intel Mac in quite some time, there are still plenty of them in existence. You might even still use an Intel Mac as your daily driver.While I can't say enough good things about Apple silicon, I also strongly believe in using your tech as long as it keeps working for you. As such, if you're rocking one of Apple's older Macs, whether that's a MacBook, a Mac mini, or an iMac, you should check out these hacks and tips to get the most out of your machine—and, hopefully, put off having to upgrade it for quite some time. Use OpenCore Legacy Patcher to update to the latest possible OSYour Intel Mac may support Apple's latest software version as of this writing, which is macOS 26. But if you've had it a while, it likely doesn't—in fact, it may not natively support the last two or three macOS versions prior to that. That's where OpenCore Legacy Patcher comes in. This project bypasses Apple's restrictions to install macOS versions on devices the company no longer officially supports. The idea isn't to force an aging Mac to struggle to run a newer version of macOS, either: Many machines are perfectly capable of running macOS versions that Apple doesn't officially support, so users may be pleasantly surprised by their performance. Unfortunately, OpenCore Legacy Patcher is itself becoming a legacy product. Now that Apple has dropped Intel, it might not be possible for a system like OpenCore to hack macOS 27 onto your Mac. At this time, macOS Sequoia is the latest version OpenCore supports, so you can't upgrade to macOS 26 Tahoe or macOS 27 Golden Gate. Still, you can use the platform to get your Mac running something a bit more recent, which may increase both third-party software support as well as your security. Your experience will depend on your specific Mac model, so follow OpenCore's instructions to get started.The good news is, even if you can't run the latest version of macOS on your machine, you may still be able to run the latest versions of the apps that really matter: Apple is still updating the Safari app for older versions of macOS, as are many third-party app developers. What's more, Apple still releases security patches for some older macOS versions, so even if your Intel Mac doesn't have all the latest features, it may still be protected against the latest vulnerabilities. Clean your fans to improve thermal performanceIf your Intel Mac has fans, and if you've never cleaned them, fix that. Your Mac's fans are designed to keep its internal components cool by pushing hot air away from your machine. The longer it can keep components from heating up too much, the longer you can push your Mac without running into performance throttling—or, in other words, the longer your Mac can run at peak performance. Over time, dust works its way inside your fans, reducing their ability to move air properly. After years, your fans might not be able to move hot air efficiently. Luckily, this isn't hard to fix. To clean your Mac's fans, you'll need to open up your machine to access them. How you do this will depend on your specific Mac model. (iMacs can be particularly difficult to open, as you need to remove the display entirely.) To find instructions for your model, look up your specific device on iFixit, as the site will likely have both walkthroughs as well as the tools you'll need to perform the operation. Use Macs Fan Control to push your fans to their limitsOnce they're clean, make sure your fans are cooling your Mac to its fullest. While macOS sets fan speeds on its own based on how you use your Mac, you can install a program like Macs Fan Control to unlock direct control of your Mac's fans. You can push them to their limits if you want maximum cooling, or simply monitor your Mac's overall temperatures. I used to use this program all the time to maintain high performance on my Intel MacBook: Without it, I noticed my Mac slowing down during more intense sessions. With it, I was able to push it much harder. Upgrade the RAM and SSD to give your Mac a new lease on lifeIf your Mac is very old, you might actually be able to "hack" it to make it work better. For the past 14 years or so, Apple has had an obsession with gluing and soldering all its components together, making it impossible to upgrade any of them individually. But older machines used to come with modular parts that users could upgrade themselves. Notably, that included the RAM and the hard drive. If you install extra memory, your Mac may be able to run more programs and processes at once without slowing things down; if your Mac has a physical hard drive, adding an SSD will massively boost startup and loading times. Of course, prices for those components may have increased beyond financial viability thanks to the global memory crisis.Still, if your MacBook or iMac falls into this category, you should definitely look into upgrading it. The newest MacBook that supports upgradable RAM is from 2012, but the latest iMac is only from 2020. You'll find Apple's official instructions at both of those links. The company doesn't appear to have support guides for replacing Mac hard drives these days, but Google your Mac model, and, if one exists, you should find replacement guides from sources like iFixit.Replace your battery to extend the lifespan of your MacBookIf you're rocking an Intel-based MacBook and you've never replaced its battery, it's likely time for an update. Lithium-ion batteries don't last forever, and as they degrade, their overall capacity diminishes. Let's say your battery currently has a maximum capacity of 75%. That means once you charge it up to 100%, it's like you only charged it to 75% relative to when it was new. By replacing your battery, you're giving your MacBook its life back—at least, its battery life. Now, how easy your battery replacement is will depend on your MacBook's model. Again, very old MacBooks are much easier to work on, so your biggest challenge may just be finding a replacement battery. If your old MacBook is on the newer side, you might find a battery more easily, but replacing it may be more difficult. As such, it might make sense to take it to a repair shop—assuming the cost of repair isn't comparable to the cost of a new MacBook. For this hack, search the web for your specific MacBook model and battery replacement—a site like iFixit almost assuredly has a guide, including parts you can purchase. Use TurboBoostSwitcher to save on battery lifeInstalling a new battery isn't the only way to keep your old Mac up and running for longer. Even if your Mac doesn't support an official Low Power Mode, you can download TurboBoostSwitcher to save on power. Here's how it works: Intel chips have what's called "Turbo Boost," which kicks in when the system thinks you need more power than usual. That's great for performance, but bad for your battery life—especially if you prioritize your battery over power. In addition, too much Turbo Boost can cause your Mac to run hot, which may cause the system to throttle performance to cool things down—defeating Turbo Boost's purpose entirely. TurboBoostSwitcher gives you a manual switch to disable Turbo Boost when you want to save on power. When you do, the chip never pushes itself in times of stress—so while you may notice things running a bit more slowly, you should also notice your battery lasting a bit longer. This was my go-to back when my Intel MacBook was my main machine, and I'm happy to see it's still available.Install Windows via Boot Camp for dual OS accessIf you need access to Windows for work or personal use but only have an Intel Mac lying around, you don't need to go out and buy a new PC. Because your Mac has an Intel chip, you can actually install and run Windows natively on your machine, through an official Mac process called Boot Camp. With Boot Camp, you "partition" a selection of your Mac's hard drive for Windows: Perhaps you give it 100GB, enough to install the OS as well as store files on the system itself. Whatever you choose, when you boot up your Mac, you'll be able to select either macOS or Windows, and boot into it. While Apple hasn't sold an Intel Mac for years, it still has an official Boot Camp guide you can follow to get started. Use BetterTouchTool to customize your Touch BarI'll always have a soft spot for the Touch Bar. While I admit the company could have made some better choices with it—including adding a row of physical function keys below it—I always like the Touch Bar, and I enjoyed using it to adjust controls. The few apps that actually took advantage of the Touch Bar's functionality were useful too, but for the most part, the feature felt underbaked or even counterintuitive. Still, if your MacBook has a Touch Bar, there are ways to "hack" it to your advantage. There are system settings to adjust, but you can go further than Apple's own settings (which the company has long moved on from). Using an app called BetterTouchTool, you can customize how your Touch Bar looks and works, and add functions like widgets and gestures. The app lets you customize a host of things on your Mac beyond the Touch Bar, but I was originally introduced to it for the purposes of Touch Bar hacking. If your Mac has a Touch Bar, give it a shot. Use your Mac as an external driveStorage is a precious commodity. Hard drives are more expensive than ever, so taking advantage of any available storage should be a priority. As such, if you don't need to use your old Mac for much these days, treat it like an external drive. Depending on your Mac model, you may have as much storage as you'd buy with a dedicated drive. My old Touch Bar MacBook, for example, has a 512GB drive, so I use it as a backup for some of my important files—especially videos. Sure, you could recycle your old Mac to save on clutter, but if you need an external drive anyway, you may already have one in your machine. Use Plex to turn your old Mac into a media serverIf you don't intend to use your Mac as intended any longer, don't give it away. Instead, you can use it passively to power a home media server. These servers effectively let you customize your own Netflix: You add the digital media you own (movies, shows, music, photos, etc.), then set up the server on your Mac. Done properly, you'll be able to access your content from any device, from anywhere you have an internet connection. You can watch shows on your TV streamed from your Mac, or listen to music while on a trip, remotely connecting back to your machine at home. To get started, you can use a service like Plex. However, Plex is just one of many such platforms; others include Emby, Jellyfin, and Kodi.

With August coming to an end and fall less than a month away, officials are reminding Oregonians that the state’s wildfire season isn’t over yet. Oregon remains severely dry, and dozens of fires are burning throughout the state with the Labor Day holiday weekend approaching. Some of the largest blazes are over 90% contained. State authorities on Friday downgraded their emergency status, allowing some state employees to return to their normal jobs. However, the Oregon Department of Emergency Management noted the change was because of “a reduced need for support and supplemental firefighting resources on the ground — not a reduction in wildfire risk.” “Our team will maintain close situational awareness, remain ready to increase activation if conditions change and stay engaged in both response and long-term recovery efforts,” Alaina Calhoun, manager of the state’s emergency coordination center, said in a news release Friday. Gov. Tina Kotek surveyed the fires and damage during a flight with state leaders between Salem and Pendleton this week. The governor described the wildfire season as “massive” and praised the first responders and roughly 100 Oregon National Guard members working in the state. “It’s been all-hands-on-deck this summer to fight wildfires, and while we’ve made significant progress on containing fires and protecting lives and property, there is still a dangerous part of the season yet to go,” Kotek said in a news release. “September will likely present more wildfire challenges, and we need every Oregonian to do their part to prevent new fires from starting.”State officials say they are shifting toward supporting communities as they begin the process of long-term recovery, including by helping people navigate federal disaster programs, assess damage and more.Here is a list of fires and their status as of Friday, Aug. 28: Mount HoodThe Grasshopper Fire, just east of Mount Hood, has burned nearly 94,000 acres and was 76% contained. The Austin and Narrows Fires, in the Clackamas River Ranger District, have burned more than 10,000 acres and are not contained as of Friday after prompting emergency closures throughout the Mount Hood National Forest the day before. Eastern OregonThe Hagen Fire, which is in the Blue Mountains between Pendleton and La Grande in Umatilla County, has burned more than 60,000 acres and is 33% contained. The Paradise Fire, east of Walla Walla and Milton-Freewater, has burned more than 9,000 acres and is 13% contained. Authorities there are working to protect the Mill Creek Watershed, which supplies most of Walla Walla’s drinking water. Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a state of emergency Friday in Walla Walla County to seek federal assistance to mitigate the impact of the fire on the area. Central OregonThe Rowe Creek Complex Fire in Crook County has burned more than 373,000 acres and is 93% contained. About 105 evacuations remain in place there. Southern OregonThe Wrights Spring Fire, which is north of Klamath Falls, has burned 55,000 acres and was 65% contained. The Big Grass Fire — the largest of several fires east of Burns — has burned nearly 580,000 acres along the Oregon and Idaho border and is 93% contained.

Activist Milo Yiannopoulos speaks during a rally outside of the Baltimore hotel where the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops are holding its Fall General Assembly meeting in Baltimore, Nov. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)2026-08-28T20:21:55Z U.S. Immigration officials arrested controversial British far-right commentator Milo Yiannopoulos on Thursday in New Orleans, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Immigration officials announced on Friday that Yiannopoulos was arrested at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and accused him of overstaying after entering the United States legally in May 2019 through New York City. An immigration judge issued a final order of removal on July 22 after Yiannopoulos failed to show up for his immigration hearing, a DHS spokesperson wrote in an email. “He chose to overstay his welcome in violation of our nation’s laws,” a spokesperson for DHS wrote in an emailed statement. ICE’s online detainee locator doesn’t say where Yiannopoulos is being held but directs family and legal representatives to the agency’s office in Alexandria, Louisiana, a deportation hub for international flights. Representatives of Yiannopoulos did not respond to a request for comment. It is unclear whether he has legal representation.The British national has most recently worked for the rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, who is scheduled to perform in New Orleans on Friday evening. Yiannopoulos is a well-known champion of conservative causes and has frequently taken provocative public positions criticizing feminism, Islam and immigrants. He has been especially supportive of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. “Zero immigration for the next 20 years. No ifs, no buts,” Yiannopoulos wrote on the social platform X last year. Read More Yiannopoulos rose to fame in the early 2010s as an incendiary writer for the conservative website Breitbart News. He resigned from the company in 2017 after a video of him endorsing pedophilia resurfaced online. He later apologized for the remarks and said he himself was a victim of sexual assault as a minor.Yiannopoulos’ arrest Friday comes amid a nationwide uptick in detentions as part of Trump’s immigration crackdown. Far-right conservative activist Laura Loomer swiftly took to social media to applaud Yiannopoulos’ arrest after years of public feuding between the two personalities.“I was the first person to report on the fact that Milo was in the US illegally where he incited violence against President Trump and worked for Marjorie Traitor Greene,” Loomer wrote on X. 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. Controversy around Yiannopoulos ballooned in 2017 when he carried out what he called his “Troll Academy Tour” across college campuses nationwide. Fights broke out when some students protested Yiannopoulos’ appearances and accused him of hate speech, while others celebrated him as a champion of free speech. Around that time, Buzzfeed reported on Yiannopoulos’ cozy relationships with self-proclaimed white nationalists.In recent years, Yiannopoulos continued to work in the orbit of conservative activism. In 2022, he was an intern for former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, according to the Washington Post. He subsequently ran the short-lived 2024 presidential campaign for Ye. Most recently, Yiannopolous has worked as a spokesperson for Ye, who has been beset by controversy of his own following antisemitic comments that the rapper has since apologized for. —This story has been corrected to say Milo Yiannopoulos entered the U.S. legally in 2019, not illegally. SAFIYAH RIDDLE Riddle is a national law enforcement reporter based in Los Angeles, California. mailto

A mockup of President Donald Trump's proposed triumphal arch stands at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall, June 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jen Golbeck, File)2026-08-28T20:23:55Z WASHINGTON (AP) — A new National Park Service report backs President Donald Trump’s proposed arch, despite what it says are adverse effects to the sightline between a host of iconic landmarks in Washington, including the Washington Monument and Lincoln and Jefferson memorials.The report released Friday says the 250-foot-tall (76-meter) memorial arch is likely to disrupt the historical significance of dozens of sites near its planned location adjacent to Memorial Bridge.Many of Washington’s monuments, buildings and sites have been carefully planned over decades to reflect significant moments in the nation’s history and to evoke symbolism through sightlines that connect them to other sites. The arch will disturb the sightline between more iconic Washington landmarks than anticipated, the report said.But the Park Service report says “the same characteristics that make Memorial Circle sensitive from a preservation perspective are also the characteristics that make it the historically appropriate location for the undertaking.” The project’s effects cannot be “fully avoided without either relocating the Arch away from the historically identified site or eliminating the principal commemorative feature, both of which would fail to meet the undertaking’s purpose and need,” the report said.The 133-page report by the Park Service supports Trump’s plans for the controversial arch and could play an important role in bolstering the administration’s case in its fight against a legal challenge filed by three veterans and a group of historians. The proposed towering gilded arch, which last month received initial approval from a key federal commission, would impact the “integrity” of dozens of historic properties because it would change “character-defining visual and spatial relationships” between them. MATTHEW DALY Daly covers climate, environment and energy policy for The Associated Press. He is based in Washington, D.C. twitter mailto

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Steven Butler, charge d'affaires ad interim of the U.S. embassy in Kuwait, attend a flag raising ceremony at the embassy in Kuwait City, Kuwait, June 24, 2026. '(Eric Lee/Pool photo via AP, File)2026-08-28T20:41:40Z WASHINGTON (AP) — American diplomats and at least some of their family members are beginning to return to U.S. embassies in the Middle East after many were ordered to leave their posts during the early days of the war with Iran.Although most embassies are not returning to full strength immediately, starting this week the State Department has begun to lift certain staffing and other restrictions on personnel. The changes are not necessarily reflective of a shift in the Trump administration’s policy toward Iran — now focused on economic rather than kinetic military warfare. Instead, the changes are mainly due to the legalities of human resources policy, which limits the time diplomats may be away from post while still being paid and collecting benefits for themselves and their families.On Friday, the day the Iran war hit its six-month mark, embassies in Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain announced they would allow diplomats’ family members to return, although in Bahrain and Kuwait it applies only to those older than 18. Earlier in the week, all family members of U.S. government employees in Israel, as well as those who are over 21 of those who work in Lebanon, were given the go-ahead to return.These embassies were all placed on “ordered departure” or “authorized departure” status in March as Iran began retaliating for U.S. and Israeli attacks by targeting U.S. interests, including embassies and military facilities, and creating chaotic situations in countries around the region. Ordered departure means that all nonessential personnel and families must leave the country. Authorized departure means that staff deemed nonessential and their families may leave. Read More However, regulations time-limit those statuses, which were beginning to expire six months after being initiated, meaning affected diplomats and their families would be losing their housing and other benefits, creating significant hardships among the workforce. Sign up for the Ground Game Newsletter: Your guide to the biggest stories in politics, policy and U.S. elections. 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. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. To deal with this, the State Department created a new status — that of “restricted operations” — which is designed to allow the embassies to resume normal functions. On a case-by-case basis, each affected embassy will make its own determination on appropriate staffing, the presence of families and pay and benefits. Diplomats and their families were ordered to leave embassies in another five countries in the region early in the war, and changes in status at some of them also were anticipated soon.“We remain committed to supporting our workforce and their families throughout this process and will provide updates through appropriate channels as decisions are made,” the department said. 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Steven Butler, charge d'affaires ad interim of the U.S. embassy in Kuwait, attend a flag raising ceremony at the embassy in Kuwait City, Kuwait, June 24, 2026. '(Eric Lee/Pool photo via AP, File)2026-08-28T20:23:28Z A federal appeals court panel on Friday refused to let prediction market operator Kalshi restart trading on sports and elections events in Nevada while it fights the state’s effort to shut it down until it gets a license from state gambling regulators.A panel of judges from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled that Kalshi didn’t make a persuasive argument that federal commodities trading law preempts Nevada’s state gambling law in determining who should regulate its sporting events business. Instead, the panel said that federal law likely does not preempt Nevada — home to the nation’s biggest commercial casino market — from applying its gambling regulations to Kalshi’s sports event contracts.Nevada’s attorney general’s office called the ruling a “major victory for Nevada and our longstanding authority to regulate gaming in our state.” Kalshi “sought to sidestep” Nevada’s laws, but the 9th Circuit “made clear what we have maintained from the beginning: sports betting does not become something else simply because a company calls it an ‘event contract,’ ” the office said in a statement. The 9th Circuit panel sent the question of Kalshi’s trading on election contracts back to a lower court to consider Nevada’s challenges. Roughly 20 states are involved in litigation over prediction markets like those run by Kalshi, Polymarket and Robin Hood. Friday’s decision raises the likelihood that the U.S. Supreme Court will eventually settle the question as to whether states can regulate them under their gambling laws after the Philadelphia-based 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled earlier this year that New Jersey couldn’t regulate Kalshi. In a statement, Kalshi said it will seek further review of the decision. In the meantime, trading on sports, entertainment and elections contracts are blocked in Nevada, Kalshi has said. Read More Kalshi had sought to resume operating in Nevada while the court case goes on, and argued that it is not a betting platform, but rather a “designated contract market” subject to regulation by the federal Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and not the Nevada Gaming Control Board. As the regulator of commodities, futures and derivatives, the CFTC has historically overseen markets like oil futures, agricultural products, gold, and other financial products. 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. Nevada’s gaming board last year sent a cease-and-desist letter to Kalshi, telling it that trading on sporting events and election outcomes is “unlawful in Nevada” and ordering it to shut down.Kalshi sued in federal court, and a judge initially granted a preliminary injunction preventing Nevada from taking action against it. But the judge later dissolved the injunction, prompting an appeal by Kalshi.___Follow Marc Levy at http://twitter.com/timelywriter. MARC LEVY Levy covers politics and state government for The Associated Press. He is based in Pennsylvania. twitter 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Police carried out searches at the club's ground in May [Stuart Woodward/BBC]A non-league football club that is in dire straits has had its next two league matches postponed.The Isthmian Football League confirmed it was postponing Maldon & Tiptree's matches against Cray Wanderers on Saturday and Brentwood Town on Monday.Fans of the Essex team said the club's representatives had told some supporters they intended to wind up its affairs.Barrie Drewitt-Barlow and husband Scott Drewitt-Barlow bought the club - known as The Jammers - in 2025. But they were charged with multiple offences including rape and sexual assault in May, and are in custody awaiting their next court hearing.Their son, Aspen Drewitt-Barlow, is the sole shareholder and controlling owner. But earlier this week, the Jammers Fans Association (JFA) was told "the current ownership can no longer afford to fund the club from this point onwards".The BBC has asked the club for comment.Barrie Drewitt-Barlow and his husband Scott took over Maldon & Tiptree FC in 2025 [Warren Muggleton/BBC]Supporters' group the JFA also posted on social media on Friday, saying: "We are aware a selection of supporters have today received an email from the club's representatives regarding their intent to liquidate Maldon & Tiptree FC. "We have written to the club and requested information and will provide an update as soon as possible".Fans have also launched an online crowdfunding appeal trying to raise money to go towards a "potential takeover" or to support "a possible phoenix club".Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, 57, and Scott Drewitt-Barlow, 32, of Southwood Chase, Danbury, are due to enter pleas to the various charges in September. A provisional trial date has been fixed for 18 January.Their defence barrister, Oliver Snodin, said the pair "strenuously denied" the allegations.Do you have a story suggestion for Essex? Contact us below.Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. More on this story Fans say owners can no longer fund football clubRival fans abuse football club after pair arrestedBritain's first gay dad buys Maldon & Tiptree FC Related internet links Isthmian League

Barcelona star on the radar of AC MilanA new suitor have this week been credited with an interest in the signature of Barcelona star Alejandro Balde. The outfit in question? AC Milan.Defender Balde has of course seen his name dominate the headlines in Catalunya’s capital over the course of recent days.After reports began to mount that the Spaniard could be on the move before the summer is out, he was left out of Hansi Flick’s squad for Barcelona’s La Liga opener against Elche.From here, Premier League heavyweights Manchester United, amid an ongoing hunt for reinforcements at left-back, were credited with an interest in Balde’s services.The 22-year-old was since afforded a recall to Barcelona’s matchday setup to face Athletic Club on Thursday, but failed to even emerge from the bench en route to a 2-0 Blaugrana triumph.And these developments, it would appear, have not gone unnoticed in the boardroom at Serie A heavyweights AC Milan. As per a report from Diario Sport, citing MilanNews24:‘Milan have established contacts with Barça to find out about Balde’s situation and assess a possible operation.’The talks between the parties remain at a preliminary stage as things stand, with it unclear whether Milan are interested in a permanent deal or only a loan move for the defender.Conor Laird – GSFN

Borussia Dortmund vs Hamburg preview: Runners up versus top half hopefulsBorussia DortmundBorussia Dortmund's seven year high points tally wasn't enough to win the Bundesliga last season but they have reinforced this season with a Greek duo of Konstantinos Karetsas and Giannis Konstantelias. Dortmund also started this season off on a strong foot despite losing 2-1 against Bayern in the super cup as they were a Maximilian Beier golden chance away from making it to extra time.They have a somewhat busy schedule for this early on in the season as their delayed DFB Pokal game is to be played midweek next week against Hamburg-Eimsbütteler from the fifth tier in which they may rest players.Despite this, Dortmund have an amazing record against Hamburg as they haven't lost in 11 years against the side from north Germany.Serhou Guirassy will look to continue where he left off last season as he scored his 17th goal in the Bundesliga on the final matchday to become Dortmund's top scorer in consecutive seasons.Ahead of the game against Hamburg, BVB coach Niko Kovač said: “We will face a team that remains compact and transitions well. They also have quality up front.”Team newsEmre Can is out with a knee injury and key defender Nico Schlotterbeck joins him on the sidelines with an ankle injury.HamburgHamburg started their season off with a comfortable 3-0 win against 3. Liga side Verl in the DFB Pokal to kick off their season on a positive note.Hamburg's new loanee turned permanent this summer Albert Grønbaet scored a brace against Verl to score only his second and third goal for the north German side.However, Hamburg have failed to win any of their previous seven ties against Borussia Dortmund. New summer signing Patson Daka from Leicester will look to fill a hole left by strikers Damion Downs and Davie Selke who both left over the last year. Ahead of the away tie against Dortmund, HSV coach Merlin Polzin said: “We need to deliver from the start. Dortmund have structure and have developed into a more variable side.”Team newsMiro Muheim is out with a muscular injury and Emir Sahiti and Warmed Omari join him. Also, Alexander Røssing-Lelesiit is out with an ankle injury.Click here to find the predicted lineups for Borussia Dortmund vs. Hamburger SV

Bayern Munich's Dayot Upamecano (3rd L) celebrates scoring his side's first goal with teammates during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart at Allianz Arena. (is associated with: «Bayern win league opener 5-1 as Stuttgart's Vagnoman nets at both ends») Sven Hoppe/dpaChampions Bayern Munich began the Bundesliga season with a flattering 5-1 home win over VfB Stuttgart on Friday after Josha Vagnoman scored at both ends.Dayot Upamecano headed home a corner for the hosts in the first half, but Stuttgart - fourth last term - were always in the game and defender Vagnoman struck early in the second period.Clever play from Joshua Kimmich set up Michael Olise just three minutes later on 55 minutes and Vagnoman ended a wild segment of the game by sliding in an own goal almost immediately afterwards. Substitute Ismael Saibari played in Aleksandar Pavlović for the fourth and Luis Díaz grabbed a late fifth.The overwhelming favourites for a third straight title were not at their fluent best of last season, but easily did enough in the Bavarian rain.Double winners Bayern, who beat Stuttgart four times last term including in the German Cup final, extended their run of not losing their league opener since 2011."It was a typical Stuttgart game where it was quite tight for a while," Kimmich told broadcaster Sat1.Stuttgart, with Fabian Bredlow in goal given an injury to new number one Dennis Seimen, kicked off their campaign last weekend with a 4-0 win at Hansa Rostock in the German Cup first round. But this was an altogether different challenge against one of Europe's top teams.Evergreen NeuerBayern, who face VfL Osnabrück in the Cup on Wednesday having beaten Borussia Dortmund in the Super Cup last Saturday, again included new utility signing Nathaniel Brown in midfield. Keeper Manuel Neuer, 40, was starting his 21st Bundesliga season.Neuer said: "We would have taken the result at the start. We tried to give everything and wanted to make a statement in our first home game. We deserved it with our performance."Stuttgart, with Deniz Undav now as captain, hit the woodwork through Tiago Tomás in a good opening spell. New striker Dženan Pejčinović also made a nuisance of himself for the visitors.Olise hit the outside of the post for Bayern with a free-kick soon after and the home faithful did not have to wait long for the breakthrough.Kimmich had a bleeding cut on his ankle but still had the energy to send in a 21st-minute corner, which was glanced into the far corner by France defender Upamecano.The impressive Bredlow then denied Díaz, when put clean through by Harry Kane, and Brown's shot.Pinball in the box at the start of the second half fell for kindly for Stuttgart's Vagnoman, who calmly picked his spot.The away side let their chance slip away though as a lack of concentration at the back allowed man-of-the-match Olise in. The own goal was then unlucky as Vagnoman slipped, while France talisman Olise thought he had made it 4-1 but for technology to spot a tight offside.Pavlović did increase the lead eventually and Díaz added the gloss, again from a Saibari assist on the Morocco World Cup star's Bundesliga debut.Stuttgart's Undav said: "We played well for some of it so it is the way we lost it that hurts. Bayern just don't stop playing, they have brutal quality."The first weekend of the Bundesliga season continues on Saturday with last season's runners-up Borussia Dortmund hosting SV Hamburg in the pick of the matches.

Five stewards and one police officer were injured in clashes during Eintracht Braunschweig's second-division match at home to Hertha Berlin on Friday, German police said.An investigation has been launched into breach of the peace and assault on a police officer.The Braunschweiger Zeitung reported that clashes first broke out in the south stand during half-time before later continuing outside the stadium.The newspaper said the trigger was disputes among fans, some of whom were apparently in the wrong section of the stand. Hertha won 5-3.A riot at last Friday's German Cup first-round game between Waldhof Mannheim and Kaiserslautern left 35 police officers hurt.

Let’s Go Washington, the Republican group behind an anti-trans sports ban that’ll appear on the state’s ballot in November, denied a request from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to remove the academy’s name from the group’s description of its ballot measure, which appears in a voters’ guide sent to 3.6 million people across the state, The Seattle Times reported. Let’s Go Washington mentioned the AAP in its description of Initiative Measure No. IL26-638, a law that would require girl student-athletes statewide to confirm their “biological sex” with genital inspections in order to play sports. In its description, Let’s Go Washington noted that the AAP recommends annual checkups for children. While this is true, the AAP suggests annual health checkups, not sports physicals. Such checkups don’t involve genital inspections, and the academy worries that mentioning its name could confuse Washington voters into thinking the AAP approves of the ballot measure (which it doesn’t). Related Anti-LGBTQ+ & Christian nationalist groups unite to target schools’ anti-outing policies The description in the voter’s guide states, “Students would compete in the category that aligns with their sex, verified during routine, medically necessary primary care recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. During a private, consented visit, a licensed medical professional would verify sex based on the student’s birth records, medical history and/or a standard, non-invasive physical examination.” The AAP is the largest professional association of pediatricians in the United States. The AAP’s Washington chapter contacted the state’s voters’ pamphlet team to request removal of the academy’s name. The team connected the AAP with the Let’s Go Washington committee that wrote the description, but the committee declined the request. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today “There’s nothing actually inaccurate with what we said. So ultimately, we just decided to leave it,” said Hallie Herzberg, a spokesperson for Let’s Go Washington. The pamphlet team and Washington’s secretary of state both say there’s nothing they can do to remove the AAP’s name without a court order. Heather Weiner, a consultant on the No Hate For Washington State campaign (a pro-LGBTQ+ group that opposes the ballot measure), noted that the AAP has neither supported nor opposed the measure. She also noted that over 100 doctors and other medical professionals recently released a statement against the initiative. “Under IL26-638, all girls who want to play on a team at the K-12 level will need a medical certification of her sex defined as a physical ‘reproductive organ exam,’ or costly genetic or hormone testing,” the statement says. The statement also notes, “Washington state sports physicals do not require sex testing because, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians, sports physicals should focus on life-threatening conditions like heart, bone, and lung issues.” “Black, brown, immigrant, low income and rural families who often face barriers to accessing family physicians, frequently depend on free large group sports physicals where girls could face greater embarrassment and harm from invasive genital inspections,” the statement adds. “Physical exams of girls’ reproductive organs may require pelvic exams, which are not only medically unnecessary for sports, they can emotionally and physically harm young girls.” “What Let’s Go Washington has done is use vague language that is a lie,” said Dr. Eloi Hoopman, a family physician who opposes the ballot measure. “They’re using [the AAP’s name] in the context of sports physicals, [but] using [an AAP] wellness guideline that’s related to annual physical exams.” Washington’s anti-trans sports ban is GOP “ballot candy” Let’s Go Washington is run by millionaire Republican megadonor Brian Heywood. He has said, “This is not a partisan issue, this is a common-sense issue. This has broad support.” Opponents of his initiative say it’s invasive, could block poorer students from getting verified for sports, and could meet pushback from medical professionals who refuse to comply. The initiative would require students who want to participate in girls’ sports to provide “a health examination and consent form or other statement signed by the student’s personal health care provider that verifies the student’s biological sex, relying only on one or more of the following: The student’s reproductive anatomy, genetic makeup, or normal endogenously produced testosterone levels.” Hormone and genetic testing aren’t always covered by health insurance plans, making a visual inspection of the child’s genitals the most affordable option. Supporters of the initiative say that kids are already required to undergo verification of their sex assigned at birth, but that’s untrue, KUOW reported. State policy — handled by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), the statewide body that oversees middle and high school sports — has allowed kids to play on sports teams matching their gender identity since 2007. The WIAA said it knows of only 10 or so trans athletes out of more than 200,000 kids currently competing statewide. The WIAA requires students to undergo a sports-related physical exam before they’re allowed to play, but such exams check overall health; they don’t verify sex. In fact, the state-recommended forms for the exams don’t even include a section for verifying sex. Medical providers in Washington who conduct routine health inspections for student-athletes say they often perform these check-ups while the children are clothed and focus only on things like eyesight and cardiovascular health. Some providers have said that they wouldn’t feel comfortable examining a girl’s genitals to ensure they can play sports, nor signing off on a document that could make them liable if the student’s sex assigned at birth turned out to differ from what the provider perceives. A statement issued by WA Families for Freedom, Gender Justice League board member Sophia Lee accused Let’s Go Washington of “playing political games with the lives of vulnerable trans and queer kids.” Anti-trans voting measures are being used as “ballot candy” to get Republican voters to the mid-term polls, according to Chris Melody Fields Figueredo, executive director at the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, who calls them “wedge” issues. “It’s essentially an attempt to distract,” Fields Figueredo said. “These are bad faith attempts to drive potential supporters to the polls at the expense and well-being and belonging of trans students.” Trans journalist Erin Reed noted that even if the measure passes, it could still face constitutional challenges under the longstanding legal precedent of Washington laws protecting trans students. “Washington adopted an Equal Rights Amendment in 1972 declaring that ‘equality of rights and responsibility under the law shall not be denied or abridged on account of sex,'” Reed wrote. “That provision triggers strict scrutiny for claims of sex discrimination, a standard that would likely render a categorical ban on transgender participation in sports unconstitutional — particularly given the state’s more liberal judiciary.” A similar Maine ballot measure was terminated after the state’s secretary of state found that many of the petition signatures were incorrectly collected or forged. A similar measure will face voters this November in Colorado. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Mr. Yiannopoulos, a prominent early supporter of President Trump, was detained at the New Orleans airport. The Trump administration publicized his arrest and shared a mug shot.

Democrats want fighters. A former Republican has ideas.

Our cultural heritage is being sold off for parts.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.Back-to-school month is the busiest time of the year for VPN providers who rely on students for a substantial chunk of their annual subscriptions. Labor Day coincides with this time perfectly, making it a great opportunity to grab low-priced deals from almost every major provider. Once you sign up with a Labor Day promotion, your discounted prices stay locked in for the entire subscription period. That means you can get a two- or three-year VPN subscription for as much as 80% off the usual price—a substantial savings boost for new customers. I put together a list of the best early deals on VPN platforms for this Labor Day. Surfshark, Express VPN, and Nord have some of the most lucrative offers, followed closely by competitors who aren’t ready to be outdone.ExpressVPN is offering 80% off on a two-year contractIf you subscribe to a two-year plan with ExpressVPN right now, you’ll pay just $83.72 for the first two years and even get another four months extra on the Basic plan. You’ll pay slightly more during renewal at $99.95 a month for the next two years, still lower than their usual monthly subscription at $14.99/month. That said, you don’t need to commit to a long-term subscription right away if you don’t want to. ExpressVPN is also offering 66% off on its annual subscription, with an additional three months extra. Discounts also apply to all other ExpressVPN plans, including the Advanced plan and Express Pro. I’ve tested a lot of VPNs throughout my career, and ExpressVPN is my personal preference for bypassing streaming site restrictions when traveling. It’s consistent in its ability to avoid detection by maintaining a lot of server locations in different parts of the world. VPN bypassing is legal in most North American and European nations, but you may want to consult local laws if you’re in a region known for state censorship. You can get 87% off on Surfshark OneSurfshark generally offers some of the best VPN deals in the industry, so it’s unsurprising to see them offer a $67.23 deal on the first 27 months of Surfshark Starter. That said, I’d actually recommend going one tier up for Surfshark One, which is also offering a 27-month subscription for the exact same price of $67.23. It doesn’t cost you anything extra to go for the middle tier, but the catch is that their renewal prices are much higher at $284.25 a year for Surfshark One. In this case, I’d actually recommend getting the 27-month deal on Surfshark One—but disable auto-renewal so you can wait for another promotion or switch providers at renewal. Surfshark’s biggest differentiator is that your subscription is good for unlimited devices with no restrictions on concurrent usage. You also get premium features like split tunneling, rotating IPs, and VPN MultiHop without paying anything extra. Surshark One even lets you generate alternate IDs with masked emails for identity theft protection. You can get NordVPN Complete for $4.39 per monthNordVPN has three tiers: Basic, Complete, and Complete Max. Right now, all NordVPN plans are discounted across the board at 69-75% off their usual 2-year price. NordVPN Complete, which sits right in the middle, gets the most value among the three with 75% off for two years at $118.53, plus an additional three months extra. NordVPN also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, but you’re unlikely to need it since their service is considered industry-leading. Along with multiple VPN servers across the world, you also get antimalware protection for your browser, SSN monitoring, and 1 TB of free cloud storage on the Complete plan. Like ExpressVPN, Nord is known for high speeds and strong privacy protection that evades most VPN detectors that online platforms use. Another great feature is Nord’s Dark Web Monitoring tool, which is included with all plans and lets you monitor up to five emails for dark web leaks. IPVanish has a two-year subscription for less than $60 IPVanish keeps things simple with only two subscription tiers, both of which come with zero restrictions on the number of connections or devices. There’s Essential, which has all your standard VPN features with 3GB of eSIM data, available at $59.76 for the first two-year period. Then there’s the Advanced tier, which throws in 5GB of eSIM data, a secure browser, and 1TB of cloud backups at $86.16 for the first two years. Like with Surfshark, IPVanish places no restrictions on the number of devices or concurrent connections you can have, making it a good buy for individuals and businesses. Unlike Surfshark, IPVanish does not raise prices as sharply on renewal. They also have native support for a wide range of devices and operating systems, including Android, iOS, ChromeOS, visionOS, AppleTV, Fire TV, and Linux. You can even buy an IPVanish-enabled router from the store to have VPN features configured at the router level. Personally, I like IPVanish for the value it offers, even if it isn’t as polished an experience as ExpressVPN on Nord products. As someone who needs to flick between their Android phone, iPad, Macbook, and Windows desktop constantly during work, it also helps to have router-level configuration options to avoid dropping the VPN every time I switch devices. Norton VPN Standard is 50% off for the first yearCompared to other VPNs on this list, and especially the aggressive offers from Surfshark or Nord VPN, Norton’s promotional offer feels pretty conservative. You can get 50-54% off on VPN plans depending on the tier you choose, with support for no more than ten devices per subscription. Norton also includes things like kill switch protection, rotating IPs, ad blocking, and 10-50 GB cloud backup space depending on your plan. I’d say that Norton VPN Plus offers the most value of the three tiers, with 10 GB of cloud storage and AI-powered scam protection added to your VPN plan at $49.99 for the first year. At renewal, your price goes up to $109.99, which is comparable to a provider like IPVanish. Norton has a strong reputation in the cybersecurity world thanks to its antivirus tools, but as a VPN, it doesn’t benefit from the same popularity. But I’d consider it an easy upgrade if I were already using Norton products, which is probably why Norton 360 Deluxe has the same first-year offer price as the VPN but also includes antivirus, malware, and ransomware protection. Even at renewal, the Deluxe plan only sets you back $124.99 a year, which is a much better deal considering the value.

The LSU Tigers have produced a number of college football legends and many of those stars went on to make an impact in the NFL. One of those legends is quarterback Jayden Daniels, who has unfortunately found himself at the center of some drama with his alma mater.The ongoing saga, of course, stems from LSU giving his No. 5 jersey to highly touted recruit DJ Pickett. The backlash has been well documented and even led to a viral meme sensation. However, another LSU legend has now added fuel to the fire.Leonard Fournette recently visited his alma mater and gifted two outstanding LSU Tigers with his former No. 7 jersey. However, he also gave Pickett a No. 5 chain that quickly went viral on social media.MORE: ‘Con man’ Lane Kiffin ripped by FOX Sports radio host for sleazy tactics“Leonard Fournette was back in Baton Rouge this week to honor Trey’Dez Green + Whit Weeks with the coveted No. 7. The #LSU icon also took the time to provide the team with chains – gifting DJ Pickett a No. 5 chain on Wednesday. ‘Gotta bless the 5.'” Zack Nagy of 247Sports reported on X.Fournette showing Daniels how it’s doneJan 16, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette (7) rushes the ball against the Dallas Cowboys in the first half during the wild card game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports Credit: USA TODAY Sports (Reuters)Fournette is one of the most legendary LSU products to ever play college football. He was an All-American and one of the most dominant running backs in the country during his time in Baton Rouge.Instead of taking issue with LSU giving his former number to another player, Fournette embraced the situation. He celebrated two outstanding Tigers and, by giving Pickett a No. 5 chain, appeared to embrace the freshman wearing the number that once belonged to Daniels.That is where the contrast with Daniels becomes notable.Daniels has every right to feel a connection to the No. 5 after establishing himself as one of the greatest quarterbacks in LSU history. However, Fournette’s response shows there is another way to approach the situation. Rather than allowing the jersey number to become a source of division, he turned it into an opportunity to support another player. If anything, Daniels can learn from Fournette. LSU’s history is bigger than any one player and legends have an opportunity to help the next generation create their own legacy.— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —

Betfred Super LeagueSt Helens (0) 6Tries: Welsby Goals: SailorLeeds (18) 34Tries: Hankinson, Smith, Newman, Hall, Handley, Croft Goals: Connor 5Leeds Rhinos moved back to the top of Super League on points difference with a rare and comprehensive away win at St Helens.The Rhinos' first win at Saints since March 2023 means they will secure their first League Leaders' Shield for 11 years if they beat second-placed Wigan in a decider for the trophy next Saturday.Cameron Smith scored the pick of the Rhinos' six tries on the night with a stunning individual effort as they raced into a commanding 18-point lead at the break.Defeat for St Helens signals a damaging blow to their hopes of making this season's play-offs, failing to capitalise on Hull KR's heavy defeat last night by Wigan, staying two points below the sixth-placed Robins with two games remaining.After an impeccably observed minute's silence in honour of the late Sir Billy Boston by everyone inside the Brewdog Stadium, an incisive dash and short ball from Jake Connor allowed Chris Hankinson to crash over from close range to break the deadlock.Leeds momentarily thought they had scored a second try in two minutes as Cooper Jenkins went over under the sticks but Brodie Croft was penalised for a forward pass when attempting to knock the ball backwards.While down to 12 men because of Daniel Suluka-Fifita's hit on Presley Cassell off the ball, Saints thought they were over but Tristan Sailor's lofted pass to Deon Cross was spotted to be forward as the winger dived in at the left corner.Second-rower Smith then broke a tackle from Suluka-Fifita, back on the field, and gave the Saints backline a clean set of heels before getting down low to finish off an outstanding individual score.The match was effectively taken away from Saints when slick hands from Connor set up Ash Handley who in turn found Harry Newman to dive over unopposed as Connor slotted the extras to give Leeds an 18-point lead at the break.Tom Holroyd had a try disallowed a minute after half-time, unable to ground the ball before knocking on under pressure from Saints full-back Sailor.Leeds did get their fourth try soon after though when Jack Bird's beautiful backhanded offload freed up Ryan Hall to dot down his 357th career try.Saints were on the board when Jack Welsby's line break saw him race clear of Leeds' midfield and full-back Lachie Miller for the match's second excellent individual try.But that proved to be just brief respite as Handley got on the scoresheet, latching on to a grubber kick from Connor, and another grubber from Connor found his half-back partner Croft, via the upright, for his 28th Super League try of the season.Connor missed a late kick late on, striking the post, but his kicking game continues to impress with Leeds looking strong going into the upcoming play-offs.Saints, meanwhile, will have to beat Leigh and Hull KR in their final two matches if they are to avoid missing out on the Super League play-offs for the first time.St Helens: Sailor; Douglas, MacDonald, Welsby, Cross; Robertson, Lomax; Suluka-Fifita, Shorrocks, Klemmer, Davies, Wright, Host.Interchanges: Walmsley, Humphreys, Keeley, Evans.Sin-bin: Suluka-Fifita (15 mins)Leeds: Miller; Hall, Bird, Handley, Newman; Croft, Connor; Oledzki, O'Connor, Jenkins, Watkins, Hankinson, Cassell.Interchanges: Holroyd, Smith, Levi, Lodge.Referee: Marcus Griffiths.

The new (soon-to-be) owner of the Seattle Seahawks just got a lesson in how passionate the 12th Man can be about certain topics... especially when it comes to rivalries and historic hatred. Recently, the NFL voted unanimously to approve the sale of the Seahawks from the Paul G. Allen estate to venture capitalize Vinod Khosla and his family for a record-breaking $9.6 billion.During his initial press conference following the approval meeting, Khosla opened up about his history of being an NFL fan... and although he was honest, he definitely shared too much. Khosla explained he came to America in the 1970's when the Pittsburgh Steelers were the reigning force in the league and admitted he was still a fan of theirs. Not just a fan, but one who still watches all the Steelers games. Oh boy... as expected, not many 12's were all that jazzed when they heard the new owner of the Seattle Seahawks is still a Steelers fan of all things. The painful memories of Super Bowl XL are still fresh to many older fans, and to them, the Steelers are just as bad as the Rams or 49ers. But credit where credit is due, Khosla clearly heard the criticism and took to social media to emphasize where his loyalties lie. He even issued an apology. Reporters will make every molehill into a mountain just to get column inches to write or video minutes. What’s wrong with admitting my 1976-78 period in Pittsburgh (CMU) got me excited about the NFL? I still watch their games doesn’t mean I won't unconditionally ALWAYS as… https://t.co/yyWgeJgIts— Vinod Khosla (@vkhosla) August 28, 2026This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: New Seahawks owner Vinod Khosla responds to criticism over his fandom

Haaland And Cherki Get 9 | Manchester City Players Rated In Dominant Win Vs Crystal PalaceManchester City faced off against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park earlier tonight as they hoped to secure a positive result on the road in the Premier League. The Mancunian giants made a quick start to the game and got their noses ahead in the 17th minute thanks to Erling Haaland’s goal. Enzo Maresca’s men went into the half-time break 1-0 up on the scoreline.Rayan Cherki doubled his team’s advantage in the 54th minute. However, Crystal Palace got a goal back due to an unfortunate own goal from Gianluigi Donnarumma just a couple of minutes later. Cherki struck again in the 59th minute before Haaland killed the game off in the 84th minute. The match ended with Man City earning a dominant 4-1 win away from home.Let’s take a look at how each Manchester City player fared during the clash against the Eagles.Donnarumma failed to make a save at the back and couldn’t do much about Yeremy Pino’s free-kick.RB: Abdukodir Khusanov – 7/10He got stuck in with some solid tackles and made one good run with the ball.CB: Ruben Dias – 7.5/10Dias put his foot through the ball when needed and was a good presence on the ball.CB: Josko Gvardiol – 7/10He kept things solid at the back and was lively going forward.LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 28: Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates with teammate Rayan Cherki after scoring his team’s first goal during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Crystal Palace FC and Manchester City at Selhurst Park on August 28, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)LB: Nico O’Reilly – 7/10He made a few decent runs with the ball but failed to make a difference in the final third.CM: Elliot Anderson – 8/10Anderson was a positive influence at both ends of the field.He made some crucial interceptions inside his half and was bright on the ball.RW: Phil Foden – 8/10Foden missed a sitter in the first half and came back strong and secured two assists during the game.CAM: Rayan Cherki – 9/10He caused a lot of problems for the Palace centre-backs and managed to score a brace in the second half, which helped Man City earn a convincing win tonight.LW: Antoine Semenyo – 7.5/10Semenyo used his pace well at times and ended the game with an assist to his name.ST: Erling Haaland – 9/10He was not shy of having a strike a goal and managed to score twice tonight.CM: Mateo Kovacic – 6/10Kovacic added some energy to Man City’s midfield.

MACAU, CHINA - MAY 30: Kai Asakura of Japan prepares to face Cameron Smotherman in a bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Galaxy Arena on May 30, 2026 in Macau, China. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) UFC Shanghai is less than 24 hours away …It all goes down this weekend (Sat., Aug. 29, 2026), inside Shanghai Indoor Stadium in Shanghai, China. In the main event, No. 6-ranked Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Bantamweight contender Song Yadong returns to action against former title challenger Umar Nurmagomedov with big implications.We have a weekly series at MMAmania.com called “Weekend Lock,” where we share one bet that we predict will slap in China when the chaotic dust settles. We also want to hear what our readers think (that’s you!), so please tell us your most confident UFC Shanghai betting lock in the comments section below (see full UFC Shanghai odds here).Last week’s recap: And just like that, the streak has ended … Anthony Wint won at UFC Sacramento but did not win by knockout; instead, he submitted his opponent (watch highlights).Let’s keep rolling below (spoiler — I’m chasing the knockout again):In the ‘Featured bout’ of UFC Shanghai, former RIZIN Bantamweight championKai Asakura collides with China’s Aoriqileng in a fight that should be absolute violence for however long it lasts.This week, I’m locking in Asakura to win by KO/TKO (-185).Here’s why:It took Asakura a little while, but I think he finally found his footing in UFC.After a rocky start to his Octagon career, Asakura looked much more like the fighter who terrorized opponents in Japan when he knocked out Cameron Smotherman in his last outing (watch highlights). More importantly, he’s back at Bantamweight, where he no longer has to drain himself getting down to 125 pounds.And that could be huge for his power.Asakura is one of the most dangerous and creative strikers at 135 pounds when he gets rolling. He’s ultra-aggressive, attacks from strange angles and possesses legitimate knockout power in both hands. His striking isn’t just wild aggression, either — he’s technically sharp, mixes up his attacks well and can suddenly explode into combinations before opponents have time to react.That feels like bad news for Aoriqileng.To his credit, “The Mongolian Murderer” is also aggressive and carries respectable power. He’s more than willing to stand in the pocket and trade, which should make this fight entertaining as hell.Unfortunately, I think that’s exactly what Asakura wants.Aoriqileng simply isn’t as technical or dynamic on the feet. He’s also coming off a technical knockout loss (watch it) and has now been knocked out twice during his UFC run. Against someone as fast, powerful and unpredictable as Asakura, those durability concerns are impossible to ignore.I expect Aoriqileng to feed off the Chinese crowd and come forward early, which should create plenty of exchanges. But the longer he stands directly in front of Asakura, the more opportunities he’s giving the Japanese knockout artist to find his chin.This should be violent for as long as it lasts.And when the smoke clears, I’m expecting Japan to spoil China’s night.What could go wrong?Asakura’s aggression can work against him. He takes risks, leaves openings, and Aoriqileng absolutely has enough power to make him pay if he gets reckless. Fighting a hometown opponent in Shanghai also adds another wrinkle if the fight somehow reaches the judges.I don’t think it will.Give me Kai Asakura by KO/TKO (-185) as this week’s “Weekend Lock.”Kai Asakura via TKO/KO/DQ: -185Kai Asakura via submission: +1800Kai Asakura via decision: +400Aoriqileng via TKO/KO/DQ: +800Aoriqileng via submission: +2500Aoriqileng via decision: +800To checkout the latest and greatest UFC Shanghai: “Nurmagomedov vs. Song” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.

The war has deteriorated over the past six months into Mr. Trump’s own version of a “forever war,” with no clear goals and no end in sight.

An FBI seal is displayed on a podium before a news conference at the field office in Portland, Ore., Jan. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)2026-08-28T21:20:44Z WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI is dropping a categorical hiring ban on applicants who have had sexual encounters with prostitutes and will instead consider in a more holistic manner at least some candidates who have engaged in the practice in the past, according to people familiar with the matter.The move away from an automatic disqualification falls along a continuum of evolving recruitment standards within federal law enforcement and at the buttoned-up bureau, which several years ago relaxed its approach to candidates’ past marijuana use and has drawn more recent concern by current and former agents about a perceived loosening of recruitment requirements as it seeks to replenish its ranks.The bureau still intends to dismiss applicants who are revealed during the vetting process to have engaged in prostitution within the last 10 years, three or more times overall or while in a position of trust, according to guidance issued this past spring and described by a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to discuss internal decision-making and spoke on condition of anonymity. For others, it will allow for consideration of the context of the conduct rather than treat it as grounds for an automatic rejection from the FBI’s hiring process. The practical impact is not immediately clear since many who have engaged in prostitution may still be either immediately disqualified or weeded out upon further scrutiny from FBI polygraphers and security officials.The FBI said the change was meant to account for the fact that some otherwise suitable candidates, including service members, may have engaged in the practice in places where it is legal and to accommodate applicants who themselves may have been victims of sexual abuse. “It is false to suggest criminal behavior like this is no longer disqualifying at the FBI. Any applicant who has engaged in criminal sexual acts like those referenced would of course not be eligible for employment, and it is ridiculous to suggest otherwise,” the FBI said in a statement that described the background check process as “wide-ranging and extensive.”“The FBI has and always will maintain some of the highest suitability standards for its applicants and employees in the US Government,” the statement added. Read More Justice Department is easing recruitment requirements in generalEven so, the shift is being made at a time when current and former officials worry that the FBI, and the Justice Department more generally, have eased recruitment requirements while facing a mass personnel exodus brought on by retirements, voluntary resignations and firings. The bureau, for instance, has taken steps to make it easier for its own professional staff to become agents and has offered truncated training academies for applicants from other federal law enforcement agencies. Sign up for the Ground Game Newsletter: Your guide to the biggest stories in politics, policy and U.S. elections. 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. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. “If they’re moving the bar for sexual encounters to include prostitution, what is that saying about the applicant pool? They’re trying to bring in more people, which to me indicates that the applicant pool is extremely shallow right now,” said Daniel Brunner, a retired FBI agent who spent more than 20 years in the bureau.In 2015, then-Attorney General Eric Holder issued a memo reiterating that all Justice Department employees were prohibited from soliciting or accepting prostitution, including in places where it was legal. But both before and since that directive, the FBI and other federal law enforcement agencies have confronted periodic episodes in which agents serving abroad have been accused of sexual encounters with prostitutes. As recently as last year, for instance, the Justice Department inspector general substantiated allegations that a supervisory special agent solicited and used prostitutes on multiple occasions while overseas and used a bureau-issued cellphone for the transactions. Chris Piehota, a retired top FBI executive, said he would be more troubled if the bureau were to loosen its standards for current employees who require periodic renewals of their security clearances. But he said he could understand the FBI leaning “toward leniency” for actions as a teenager or college student.“I don’t think you get a better or worse candidate from something you did in your college years,” Piehota said. “That’s why they have the screening process, that’s why they have the vetting process. And the people who do the recruiting and hiring, they look at all those things.” Background checks, polygraph tests and moreApplicants to the FBI undergo a multi-step application and vetting process that includes, among other things, a background check, a detailed questionnaire, credit checks, interviews with neighbors and colleagues and a polygraph test. The comprehensive regimen is meant to uncover any prior criminal conduct in an applicant’s past as well as embarrassing personal information that could make an employee vulnerable to blackmail.Felony convictions, domestic violence convictions, failure of a urinalysis and the bureau’s drug policies are among factors treated as automatic disqualifiers. Though the new guidance will allow for a broader and more contextual evaluation of applicants who disclose past experience with prostitution during their polygraph admission, such an admission was typically regarded as a “death knell” for potential employees at agencies including the FBI, CIA and NSA, said Daniel Meyer, a Washington lawyer who specializes in the background check and security clearance process. “When young people come to me and they say, where should I look for a job, I say if you’ve got anything in the past about hookers or drugs, stay away from those three,” Meyer said. “If you’re coming right off the street, and you’ve got extensive drug issues or prostitution issues, those three agencies — those are a death knell on the application.” ERIC TUCKER Tucker covers national security in Washington for The Associated Press, with a focus on the FBI and Justice Department. twitter mailto

An Air Canada Jet sits on the runway at LaGuardia Airport, Monday, March 23, 2026, after colliding with a Port Authority aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle after landing in New York. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy, File)2026-08-28T21:42:44Z Two air traffic controllers could be fired for leaving the tower at New York’s LaGuardia Airport about an hour early on the night that an Air Canada jet smashed into a fire truck crossing the runway, killing both pilots, according to a government official familiar with the investigation.The official was not authorized to publicly discuss the matter due to the ongoing National Transportation Safety Board investigation of the March 22 crash and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity Friday.Because the two controllers left work early that night, there were only two people left in the tower to direct an unusual flurry of flights while dealing with an emergency on another plane on the ground. The controllers who left could have provided crucial backup when the tower got busy if they had remained at the airport until the end of their shifts because they were scheduled to be there past when the crash happened, the official said. The Federal Aviation Administration is pursuing disciplinary action against the two controllers who left early — up to firing the pair, the government official said.The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said in a statement the union “is actively discussing these allegations with FAA leadership.” Experts and retired officials said leaving the airport early when a required break falls at the end of a shift is a common practice nationwide known as an “early shove.” The FAA said in a statement that the agency “is committed to holding employees accountable, and we will not compromise the safety or efficiency of the national airspace system.” Read More Transportation Secretary calls early departures timecard fraudTom Linter saw early departures repeatedly during his decades-long career at the FAA that included a stint as a LaGuardia controller before going on to oversee all air traffic control investigations, but he said it shouldn’t be allowed to continue.“None of that excuses the issue about when you get paid for eight hours, you’re supposed to be there for eight hours. Seven and a half doesn’t count,” Linter said. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said this amounts to timecard fraud that won’t be tolerated. 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. “The vast majority of air-traffic controllers are great patriots — they show up for work, complete their full shift, and come back and do it all again,” Duffy said in a statement. “But when a small percentage of individuals take advantage of the American taxpayer, unfairly add additional work to their fellow controllers, and impact the airspace — we have no choice but to act.”The Wall Street Journal first reported Thursday that the two controllers are facing disciplinary action after leaving early.Crash investigation will likely continue into next yearThe NTSB declined to comment on the news about the controllers leaving early. The agency expects every organization involved in an investigation to remain silent while experts work to determine what caused the crash and how to prevent similar tragedies in the future. Air Canada and union officials across the industry did not respond to questions.Right away, investigators had questions about staffing in the tower, but they have also identified a number of other factors that likely contributed to the crash. The official cause won’t be clear until the NTSB publishes its final report, likely sometime next year. The firefighters whose truck collided with the plane heard an air traffic controller say “stop, stop, stop” but didn’t know who the warning was for, according to a preliminary report by the NTSB released in April.Just seconds earlier, a controller had cleared the fire truck to cross the runway, but the truck started moving while warning lights that act as a stop sign for crossing traffic were still lit. Emergency trucks were trying to reach plane that declared emergencyBecause the truck lacked a transponder, a surface monitoring system in the control tower was unable to reliably determine its position, “did not predict a potential conflict” with the landing plane and did not generate an audio or visual alert, the April NTSB report said.After the air traffic controller’s initial stop warning, the fire truck’s turret operator heard the controller say, “Truck 1, stop, stop, stop,” and realized he was telling the truck to halt, the report said. By then, the truck was already on the runway as Air Canada Express Flight 8646 was landing and speeding toward it.The fire truck was leading a convoy of vehicles, including four other fire trucks, a police car and a stair truck, responding to an emergency involving a strong odor that was making flight attendants feel ill aboard a departing United Airlines jet. Two Air Canada pilots were the only deaths in the crashThe Air Canada plane, a CRJ900 regional jet from Montreal, was carrying 76 people. Pilots Antoine Forest, 30, and Mackenzie Gunther, 24, were killed. It was the first deadly crash at LaGuardia in 34 years.In addition, 39 people were taken to hospitals, including six described as seriously injured. The two fire truck crew members recovered at home after being released from the hospital.A flight attendant still strapped in her seat survived after being thrown onto the tarmac. Airport was extra busy because of weather delaysLaGuardia was busier than usual the night of the crash because weather-related flight delays pushed the number of arrivals and departures after 10 p.m. to more than double what was scheduled, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. Two air traffic controllers were on duty when the crash happened around 11:45 p.m. That level of staffing is common on the overnight shift that begins at midnight.Planes were landing every few minutes, with a dozen flights arriving between 11 p.m. and when the crash happened less than 40 minutes later. At the same time, the controllers had to shuffle their duties because of the emergency response to the odor issue on the United plane.___Associated Press writers Chris Weber and Rio Yamat contributed to this story. JOSH FUNK Funk covers transportation including aviation safety, trucking and airlines along with the major freight railroads. Funk also covers Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, drones, the effort to break China’s stranglehold on rare earth elements and agriculture. twitter mailto

This image taken from a WRIC video shows workers attaching straps to a Confederate statue as they prepare to remove it from Capitol Square in Richmond, Va., on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (Courtesy WRIC)2026-08-28T20:57:27Z Years into efforts to purge Richmond, Virginia — a former Confederate Capital — of memorials honoring the Confederacy, the Commonwealth of Virginia began removing three more Confederate memorials in the city on Friday. Statues honoring Confederate Generals Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson and Gov. William “Extra Billy” Smith, as well as Confederate Dr. Hunter Holmes McGuire, had been displayed in Capitol Square, a public park and civic campus near the state Capitol, for more than 100 years.The Virginia legislature ordered the statues’ removal during its 2026 session.“This doesn’t change the history of the Civil War,” said former Democratic State Sen. Adam Ebbin, who sponsored the legislation. “It changes who we choose to venerate on the Capitol lawn.” Efforts to remove Confederate statues from prominent places of honor in Richmond began in 2018, estimated Democratic state Sen. Mike Jones. “They’re symbols,” Jones said of the monuments. “Is this what the Commonwealth is about? Is this where we want to direct people to?” “It’s not.” The monuments will be preserved by the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation, which said in a statement the statues will be relocated to battlefield sites within the Shenandoah Valley. “These monuments were intended to serve as tributes to valor, sacrifice and community heritage during a difficult chapter in American history,” the Virginia division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy wrote in a statement. “Our desire is that memorials and works of art should be displayed in the manner in which donors intended, so that the public may continue to learn from them, think deeply about them and come to their own conclusions.”

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar skates with the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars, March 6, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)2026-08-28T21:45:14Z DENVER (AP) — Cale Makar and the Colorado Avalanche agreed to a $163.2 million, eight-year extension on Friday that will make him the highest paid player in league history.The deal was confirmed by a person with knowledge of the negotiations. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team did not announce terms of the contract.Makar’s extension is set to be the the richest in NHL history, surpassing eight-year, $136 million extension signed by Minnesota forward Kirill Kaprizov last September. The 27-year-old Makar is coming off a season in which he had 20 goals and 59 assists. He finished second to Zach Werenski of Columbus in the Norris Trophy voting, an award that goes to the league’s top defenseman. Makar has won the award twice over his career.___AP Hockey Writer John Wawrow contributed to this report.___AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Manchester City's Rayan Cherki, right, celebrates with Erling Haaland after scoring his side's third goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Manchester City in London, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)2026-08-28T21:17:48Z LONDON (AP) — Rayan Cherki scored two goals in five minutes and Erling Haaland also got a brace as Manchester City won at Crystal Palace 4-1 to maintain its perfect start to the Premier League on Friday.Haaland, the league top goal-scorer last season, opened his account after 17 minutes with a neat header.Cherki doubled the visitor’s lead early in the second half when he danced through a nest of players and poked the ball home from close range.However, Palace reduced the deficit almost immediately when Yeremy Pino’s superb free kick hit the bar and then rebounded into the net off the despairing back of goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.Cherki, though, was in devastating form and restored City’s two-goal advantage two minutes later when his deflected shot from just outside the box wrong-footed keeper Dean Henderson.It was the first brace of his Premier League career.Haaland rounded off the scoring with a left-footed strike six minutes from time and City was on top of the league with six points from its first two games.___See AP’s full soccer coverage here

The Denver Broncos will add a new alternate look to their uniform wardrobe in 2027. The NFL debuted new "Rivalries" uniforms in 2025, starting with the AFC East and NFC West. Two divisions will be featured in the "Rivalries" series over the next three years — 2026, 2027, 2028 — covering all 32 teams. This year, the AFC South and NFC North are getting alternate designs. Next year, the Broncos (and the entire AFC West) will join the fun, plus the NFC East. The new alternate will not replace the team's existing throwback or navy alternate. Rather, the "Rivalries" look will be added to the rotation. "Following their reveal, these Rivalries uniforms will be included in their team’s uniform lineup for three years after introduction, in addition to existing alternate uniforms," the NFL said in a statement.The league also said the "Rivalries" designs are "born from local community insights." They will, as the name suggests, be worn for a select home game against a division rival. So, mark your calendars, uniform enthusiasts. The Broncos should have a new look by this time next year. Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Broncos will add a new alternate uniform for 2027 NFL season

Week 2 of OHSAA high school football is here, and we find ourselves in Stow for a game against Barberton.Will Dan Larlham get his first win as coach of the Bulldogs or will Pyrce Taylor stay undefeated with the Magics?Watch Ohio High School Football Live on NFHS Network all year Follow along here for live updates of the game:What time is the game and where can I listen?The game begins at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28. Listen on AM-WHLO 640 and FM-WNCR 106.9.Barberton Magics starting lineupJerseyNamePositionOffense3 Jackson Hanlin QB8Rantonio ThomasRB2Celophus ThompsonWR0Vernon ReynoldsWR5Noah WrightWR11Mareon PetersWR62Logan MurreyLT70Avry TurnerLG79Jacob OsbourneC55Ricco VarnerRG50Jason ModiRTDefense7 Logan Cunningham E55Rico VarnerDT56Jacob AndersDT31Jamil JohnsonDE6Malachi RobinsonLB25Ayden NixonLB9Dantwone BrownOLB5Noah WrightCB4Reginald WyattCB8Rantonio ThomasS20Demarjhai ClarkSSpecial teams0Vernon ReynoldsKR0Vernon ReynoldsKR15Nemanja JovanovicK20Raymond OlsenLS28AJ McMullenPWhat to know about Barberton footballThe Magics beat Firestone 41-6 at home in coach Taylor’s debut last week. … Jackson Hanlin sparkled in his debut at quarterback for Barberton, throwing for five touchdown and running for another to account for 36 of the Magics’ 41 points. Mareon Peters (two TDs) was his main target, with Cleophus Thompson, Vernon Reynolds Jr and Noah Wright also connecting on scores through the air. Stow Bulldogs starting lineupJerseyNamePositionOffense8Giedeon LarlhamQB2Israel PurkissRB6Caden BoydRB5Jack MillerH1Thomas Shaw IIIWR4Carson FleishourWR7Colten BarkerWR56Gavin Colbert-GreeneLT72Jacob SmithLG65Nick ContiniC50Brayden DujanovicRG78Thomas AukemanRTDefense27Michael EmmonsDE75Tantrell HardinDT99CJ AuguadoDT25Kash LeeDE0Laurence StevensonLB6Caden BoydLB2Israel PurkissCB3Ramahn RichmondCB5Jack MillerCB7Colten BarkerS10Hayden MangiraS10Special teamsRonan De St. Aubin/Evan DoyleK12/8Taige Boston/Gideon LarlhamP5Jack MillerKR/PR7Colten BarkerKR/PR10Hayden MangiraKR/PR1Thomas Shaw IIIKR/PRWhat to know about Stow footballThe Bulldogs have a 15-12 all-time record against the Magics, have won the last two meetings and have been victorious in seven of the last nine meetings. … Should Stow win, it would match its longest win streak (2019-21, 1999-2001, 1988-90) in the series. Barberton won three times in a row (2002-04). ... The Bulldogs narrowly lost 36-34 to Aurora on the road in Larlham's coaching debut. … Stow quarterback Gideon Larlham looked sharp in his debut, guiding the Bulldogs to 321 yards total offense with touchdown passes to Caden Boyd and Colten Barker. Gideon Larlham also had a rushing touchdown and Barker caught a touchdown pass from Boyd. … Jack Miller scored a touchdown on defense with a 35-yard fumble return.Brad Bournival can be reached by email at bbournival@usatodayco.com and is on X at @bbournival.This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: OHSAA football scores, Stow vs. Barberton High School live updatesOur 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.

Tickets for São Paulo v Boca Juniors in the CONMEBOL Sul-AmericanaSÃO PAULO x BOCA JUNIORS-ARGCONMEBOL SUDAMERICANA09/15/2026, at 9:30 PMMORUMBISSÃO PAULOTICKETSFREE ADMISSION: As provided in Article 1 of State Law 18,159 of June 27, 2025, “Free access to sporting events held in stadiums, gyms, and similar venues throughout the State is guaranteed for lap children up to 2 (two) years old, not yet having reached their second birthday, when accompanied by a guardian.”To comply with the Law, São Paulo FC will register and wristband lap children under 2 years old at fan service points set up next to ticket offices 1, 3, 4, 5, and 7 and at other strategic points in the Stadium on matchday.BIOMETRICSThe General Sports Law provides that, as of June 14, 2025, all stadiums with a capacity of more than 20,000 people must adopt a facial recognition system. This rule applies to matches in all competitions, and São Paulo has adopted it in all sections of MorumBIS.THEREFORE, FACIAL REGISTRATION WILL BE MANDATORY TO PURCHASE TICKETS AND ENTER THE STADIUM.Register at: sao-paulo.bepass.com.br> MEMBERSHIP SUPPORTERSOnline sales only at spfcticket.netSales opening dates, by priority:Priority 1 (7 stars): 10:00 AM on 09/02;Priority 2 (6 stars): 10:00 AM on 09/03;Priority 3 (5 stars): 10:00 AM on 09/04;Priority 4 (4 stars): 10:00 AM on 09/05;Priority 5 (3 stars): 10:00 AM on 09/06;Priority 6 (2 stars): 10:00 PM on 09/06;Priority 7 (1 star): 10:00 AM on 09/07;Priority 8 (0 stars): 10:00 PM on 09/07.New Plans – Membership Supporter> SALES FOR ALL SÃO PAULO SUPPORTERS: Important: Facial recognition will be used for entry to this section on matchday. Click here for more information.Sales start at 10:00 AM on 09/13 at spfcticket.net.Ticket sales are exclusively through the website. There will be no ticket sales at ticket offices.STANDSImportant: Facial recognition will be used for entry to this section on matchday. Click here for more information.Online sales only at spfcticket.netNorth Stand Oreo (Popular Section) > R$ 40 / R$ 20 half-priceSouth Stand Diamante Negro > R$ 80 / R$ 40 half-priceEast Stand Lacta > R$ 100 / R$ 50 half-priceWest Stand Ouro Branco > R$ 100 / R$ 50 half-priceUPPER SEATSImportant: Facial recognition will be used for entry to this section on matchday. Click here for more information.Online sales only at spfcticket.netNorth Upper Seat Oreo “Popular Section” > R$ 80 / R$ 40half-priceSouth Upper Seat Diamante Negro > R$ 200 / R$ 100 half-price East Special Seat Lacta > R$ 300 / R$ 150 half-priceWest Special Seat Ouro Branco > R$ 300 / R$ 150 half-priceLOWER SEATSImportant: Facial recognition will be used for entry to this section on matchday. Click here for more information.Online sales only at spfcticket.netEast Lower Seat Lacta > R$ 200 / R$ 100 half-priceWest Lower Seat Ouro Branco > R$ 200 / R$ 100BOXESPurchases must be made directly with the boxes (contacts at the end of this notice).Important: Facial recognition will be used for entry to this section on matchday. Click here for more information.LEGENDS BOXTickets for the Legends Box will be sold directly on the Box platform.Important: Facial recognition will be used for entry to this section on matchday. Click here for more information.SPFC CORPORATE BOXFrom 10:00 AM on 08/31 until 3:30 PM on 09/15 at spfcticket.net > R$ 500Important: Facial recognition will be used for entry to this section on matchday. Click here for more information.> SEASON SEAT HOLDERS:Ticket sales for the East or West Season Seat section will be exclusively online.Important: Facial recognition will be used for entry to this section on matchday. Click here for more information.The holder must be up to date with the maintenance fee payment.Online sales from 10:00 AM on 09/13 until 10:15 PM on 09/15 at spfcticket.net > R$ 50There will be no in-person ticket sales at the Stadium for these sections.To purchase tickets online, it is extremely important that the holder’s email registered on the sales portal https://www.spfcticket.com.br/ is the same email kept in the São Paulo Futebol Clube registration system.> CLUB MEMBERSImportant: Facial recognition will be used for entry to this section on matchday. Click here for more information.Tickets available for members:Tickets available for Club Members from 10:00 AM on 09/13 until 6 hours before kickoff (3:30 PM):Tickets for Club Members at the price of R$ 40, with a limit of 1 ticket for each Member, including the holder and their dependents.The section is shared with the general public and will remain available until 6 hours before kickoff.TICKET FOR THE MEMBER (West Lower Seat Ouro Branco – Member, Gate 18, in front of Box 19A2 – InovaSAO)There will be no in-person ticket sales at the Club or the Stadium for this section.To purchase tickets online, it is extremely important that the holder’s email registered on the sales portal https://www.spfcticket.net is the same email kept in the São Paulo Futebol Clube registration system.> PWD (PERSON WITH DISABILITY)Important: Facial recognition will be used for entry to this section on matchday. Click here for more information.Priority ticket sales for PWD supporters begin at 10:00 AM on 08/31 at spfcticket.netPWD Companion Section* > R$ 40*The ticket for the Person With Disability is free, with the amount of R$ 1 charged only to enable the online transaction. All tickets are subject to availability and may sell out. The amount was changed from R$ 0.35 to R$ 1 so that payment by PIX can be enabled. This makes it possible to purchase in advance with PIX payment.São Paulo Futebol Clube reaffirms its commitment to the safety and inclusion of its supporters at MorumBIS. Since 04/04/25, facial registration has become mandatory for PWD supporters and their companions when purchasing tickets. The new rule began to be enforced for the match between São Paulo Futebol Clube x Cruzeiro (04/13/25) and will be mandatory for all other matches from this date onward.Check the step-by-step guide on how to complete facial registration:Facial RegistrationFrom your cellphone, access sao-paulo.bepass.com.br and complete facial registration before purchasing the ticket.The registration will be valid for all future purchases.PWDs (Persons With Disabilities) must1) Access the website spfcticket.net in the “PWD, REGISTER HERE” area to complete registration and upload documents proving the disability. This registration is done only once.2) Sending (uploading) the mandatory documents (photo ID / benefit card or current-year medical report) will be essential for approval of the benefit in the registration system. For temporary disabilities, a validity period of 1 (one) year will be considered, subject to renewal upon presentation of a new medical report dated in the current year or an updated benefit card.3) A response will be sent to the registered email within up to 03 (three) business days and, if approved, the applicant may enter São Paulo FC’s official sales website (spfcticket.net), select the match they wish to attend, and enter in the DISCOUNT COUPON field the CPF registered as PWD so that their discount and that of their Companion can be enabled, as mentioned below in the item.4) The Person With Disability will be entitled to 1 (one) PWD ticket for R$ 1.00 + 1 (one) paying companion (if necessary) at the same price as the popular section. If more supporters come with the person with disability (in addition to the companion) and wish to stay in the same section, the tickets must be purchased at the general public sale price, in the West or East lower seat sections. Tickets will be available on the website spfcticket.net from 10:00 AM on 05/08/2026 and will be subject to sellout.5) When selecting the desired tickets, the Person With Disability must enter their CPF in the COUPON field so that the ticket can be purchased at the prices mentioned in item 4.6) It will no longer be necessary (or possible) to pick up the ticket at the physical box office. Entry to the stadium will be through Gate 17B using the credit card used for the purchase or a voucher in the case of PIX payment, along with presentation of the Person With Disability’s identification document.> TICKET SALES FOR AWAY FANSFrom 10:00 AM on 09/13 until 10:15 PM on 09/15 at spfcticket.net > R$ 80Ticket sales for the away section will take place online only. Before starting the ticket purchase, away fans must register their facial biometrics.All supporters can complete their registration:From your cellphone, access sao-paulo.bepass.com.br and complete facial registration before purchasing the ticket.The registration will be valid for all future purchases.Foreign away fans may identify themselves in the “Passport” field using the number of their country’s identification document or their passport number, if they have one.Once facial registration is complete, the away fan will be able to purchase tickets.The supporter may purchase up to five tickets; if they wish to purchase more than one, they must ask their companion to complete facial registration, and after that is completed, they must enter their CPF number (or their country’s identification document number if foreign) and the ticket user’s name so that it can be validated.> PAYMENT METHODSOn the website: Credit card (Visa, Master, Elo, or Dinners brands) and Pix.At the box office: Debit card or cash (R$ – Real).> HALF-PRICE TICKETSOne purchase per CPF/card is allowed. Entry will be granted upon presentation of the card used for the purchase and identification documents for the half-price beneficiary.All cases provided by law are entitled to half-price tickets, according to the Fan Statute: children aged 2 to 12, students, retirees, seniors, teachers, low-income citizens.“Art. 1. The Statute of the Elderly is hereby established, intended to regulate the rights guaranteed to persons aged 60 (sixty) years or older.”“Art. 23. The participation of elderly persons in cultural and leisure activities shall be provided through discounts of at least 50% (fifty percent) on tickets for artistic, cultural, sporting, and leisure events, as well as preferential access to the respective venues.”ATTENTION: the half-price ticket is for personal use only and non-transferable, and may only be purchased and used by the beneficiary of the discount. Exceptions: parents and children may purchase tickets for one another upon presentation of documents proving the degree of kinship. Failure to present documentation proving the beneficiary will require purchase of the half-price difference at the box office in order to enter the stadium.BOXESCheck ticket availability.Important: Facial recognition will be used for entry to this section on matchday. Click here for more information.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

The Dallas Cowboys have a chance to go undefeated in the preseason for the first time in two decades if they can defeat the New Orleans Saints on Friday night. Given the culture forged by head coach Brian Schottenheimer, the team wants to make it happen. While preseason results don’t matter in regards to the regular season and playoffs, for some on the bottom of the roster fighting for a spot, it’s everything.The Cowboys might not know who’s making the team at the end of the depth chart at receiver, offensive line, defensive line, linebacker, cornerback, or safety. It’s rare, but occasionally a great showing in the final preseason game can be the thing that pushes someone onto the 53-man roster over someone else who doesn’t have a good showing. Who’s the defensive tackle depth?The Cowboys have one of the best defensive tackle combos in the NFL. If Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark aren’t the best, they’re definitely top tier. Otito Ogbonnia is an impactful veteran run stopper, and then the cupboard looks bare. Jonathan Bullard should be a good veteran, but he has been out all camp and could be a cut candidate who goes to the practice squad and then is called up once he is completely healthy. In 326 snaps last season, he had a run defense grade of 63.9, average at best.The other three in the group include 2025 draft pick Jay Toia and undrafted free agent (UDFA) rookies D.J. Withers and Tommy Dunn. Through two preseason games, Toia's run defense grade dropped from 65.9 against the Seattle Seahawks to 23.1 against the Cardinals. Dunn was consistent with a PFF run grade of 66.8 in both contests, and Withers had a run grade of 70.2 in game one and 68.2 in game two. Can anybody show out and cement themselves as the best option to make the 53-man roster? The Cowboys need one more option who could play NFL snaps, but who steps up?Do the Cowboys have an offensive line depth issue?The Cowboys' interior offensive line looks pretty good. The starters have All-Pro Tyler Smith, first-round pick Tyler Booker, and center Cooper Beebe, with known-quality backup T.J. Bass, and Ajani Cornelius seems to have taken a leap moving from offensive tackle to guard. His PFF grades have gone from 63.1 overall and 63.1 run blocking to 84.2 and 84.1. That’s the development a team wants to see. The issues come at offensive tackle, where their only quality option is moving out their All-Pro left guard.Rookie Drew Shelton is unplayable, with a PFF pass-blocking grade of 13.5. He will be inactive if he makes the 53-man roster. Nate Thomas was in a competition for both starting tackle spots last season and to begin training camp, and now he is not even guaranteed to make the team. The other backups at OT aren’t even in a competition to make the team. Cornelius might need to take snaps at right tackle, or Nate Thomas needs a resurgence in the final preseason game.Who are the final cornerbacks on the 53?Dallas is looking into veteran corners like Adoree Jackson for a reason. The options behind DaRon Bland, Cobie Durant, Shavon Revel Jr., and Caleb Downs are uninspiring. Trikweze Bridges and Zion Childress seem to have little chance of making the 53-man roster regardless of their play in the final preseason game. Josh Butler is a long shot returning from a major injury. Caelen Carson, Deron Kendrick, and Ameer Speed could be battling for one spot on the team. Carson was highly thought of before an injury in his rookie season. He plays hard, has no issues with physicality, but gets penalized too often and is beaten regularly by the backups of other teams.Carson had a solid jump in PFF grades, both overall and in coverage. Another good game could land him on the team. Kendrick had PFF grades in the 70s last season, and Dallas would take that as the fourth corner right now. Unfortunately, the free agent has been inconsistent. Against Seattle, his overall PFF grade was 30.7 and his coverage grade was 34.2, but against Arizona, they jumped to 64.1 and 67.6, respectively. Kendrick needs another high-quality game to show some consistency. Speed is the traits guy who has played well enough to be considered. He is 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds. He started with the first team some and, in preseason, has grades of 62 overall, 78 tackling, and 70 in coverage. If he can play well early on against better competition, he could steal a final spot on the team.You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or on YouTube at Across the Cowboys podcastThis article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Who makes the final roster could depend on the final preseason game

MACEDONIA — Week 2 of OHSAA high school football pits two Akron-area 2025 playoffs team against each other.Nordonia (1-0) plays host to East (1-0) at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, at Boliantz Stadium. The Knights opened the season with a 49-7 win over St. Vincent-St. Mary, and Dragons pulled out a 12-7 win over Bedford in Week 1.Nordonia defeated East 39-7 last year in Week 2.Check here for live updates from Boliantz Stadium.Watch Ohio High School Football Live on NFHS Network all year Who are the key players for Nordonia?Nordonia quarterback Steve Fakult had a huge Week 1, throwing for 346 yards and five TDs against St. Vincent-St. Mary. Fakult has numerous weapons at wide receiver, as Collin Atha, Dominck Jackson, Karsen Fisher and Brock Barwidi each caught a TD pass in Week 1. Fisher, a Toledo recruit, leads the Nordonia defense from his linebacker position. The Knights return all but two starters from 2025.Who are the key players for East?East has an All-Ohioan in RB-CB Marcus Council, who returned to East after playing at Streetsboro the last two seasons. Council scored a rushing TD in Week 1. Fellow All-Ohioan Terrel "Diesel" Karim Jr., who has committed to Bowling Green, also scored in Week 1 and will anchor East's defense, which held Bedford to a single touchdown in its opener.Who are the head coaches for East and Nordonia?East coach Marques Hayes is in his 15th year leading the Dragons, and has a record of 84-67.Nordonia' Scott Barwidi is in his first year as the Knights head coach.Michael Leonard can be reached at mleonard@recordpub.com.This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Nordonia vs. Akron East high school football score, live updatesOur 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.

Hunter Biden, the son of former President Joe Biden, joked that he is “48.6% gay” in an interview with gay progressive political broadcaster Luke Beasley, published August 17. During their conversation, Beasley asked Hunter Biden whether he was gay like him. Hunter Biden replied, “Only a little bit.” Beasley then asked, “More or less than 50%?” Biden answered, “48.6.” Related Milo Yiannopoulos detained by ICE & Laura Loomer is taking credit for reporting him Beasley then asked, if Hunter Biden were gay, whether Beasley would be his type. “No,” Hunter Biden replied. “I think a little bit more masculine would be my type, if I were gay.” Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Beasley then handed Hunter Biden a photo of the two men hugging at a political event and asked, “If I’m not your type, then why did you embrace me like this?” Hunter Biden then noted that the photo was from 2019, before he became sober. “So when you were an addict, I was more attractive?” Beasley asked. “Much,” Hunter Biden responded. Beasley then asked if Hunter Biden was a painter. When Hunter Biden said yes, Beasley quickly responded, “Gay,” and then acted confused when Hunter Biden asked, “What?” Beasley then said, “So you like lots of, very colorful.” Hunter Biden replied, “I do.” Beasley added, “Rainbow colors.” Hunter Biden later stated that their conversation caused his “gaydom” to go down one percentage point, though later in the interview, he said that his percentage rose back to 48.5%. Beasley later compiled these moments into a brief video entitled “Tracking Hunter Biden’s gayness throughout our interview,” which included a gay gauge at the bottom of the screen. Hunter Biden’s joking comments come about a month after his appearance on The Don Lemon Show with gay host Don Lemon, in which he claimed there are many closeted Republican politicians living in DC, though he refused to name any. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.Amazon has launched its early Labor Day sale, just a day after Wayfair and Home Depot kicked off their own. The sale will run through Monday, Sept. 7, and features deals on appliances, tech, sporting goods, and more. I've already spent a few hours sifting through the deals on offer, and below I've collected the best I've found so far.The best headphone deals during Amazon's early Labor Day sale Sonos Ace Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Over-Ear Headphones $299.00 at Amazon $399.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Get Deal $299.00 at Amazon $399.00 Save $100.00 Looking for a pair of premium headphones at a less-than-premium price? These Sonos Ace over-ear headphones are a good choice, especially if you're already in the Sonos ecosystem. Even if you're not, they are great headphones for Android and Apple users alike. You can get them for $100 off right now (originally $399). Read more about them in PCMag's "excellent" review.Other headphone deals:Bose QuietComfort Headphones $199 (originally $359)Sennheiser Momentum 4 $229.95 (originally $299)Sony WH-1000XM5 $248 (originally $278)Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 $169.99 (originally $239.99)Skullcandy Crusher 540 $119 (originally $209.99)The best TV deals during Amazon's early Labor Day sale 65" LG C6 Series OLED Evo AI 4K Smart TV (2026 Model) $1,499.99 at Amazon $2,699.99 Save $1,200.00 Get Deal Get Deal $1,499.99 at Amazon $2,699.99 Save $1,200.00 OLEDs are among the best quality TVs around right now, and if you're able to splurge a little, the LG C6 65-inch OLED is currently $1,200 off. Now $1,499.99, this is its lowest price ever. Even better: Amazon will automatically drop a $150 credit into your account after your purchase. (You have to wait up to 30 days for the credit, and the credit will expire 120 days after you get it.)Other TV deals:Insignia 50" Class F50 Series Smart Fire TV $159 (originally $299.99)Samsung 65-Inch Class S90H Series OLED TV $1,497.99 (originally $2,697.99)Hisense 55" E6 Cinema Series Hi-QLED Fire TV $297.97 ($429.99)Amazon Fire TV 55" Omni QLED Fire TV $309.99 (originally $499.99)TCL 65 Inch Class QM7L Series QLED TV $897.99 (originally $1,499.99)Hisense 55" U6 Pro Series Fire TV $499.99 (originally $849.99)The best gaming deals during Amazon's early Labor Day sale Samsung 57" Odyssey Neo G9 (G95NC) Dual 4K UHD 1000R Curved Gaming Monitor $1,449.99 at Amazon $2,099.99 Save $650.00 Get Deal Get Deal $1,449.99 at Amazon $2,099.99 Save $650.00 An ultra-wide curved gaming monitor with ridiculous specs is every gamer's dream, but they (usually) don't come cheap. But the 57-inch Samsung Odyssey Neo G9, one of the best ultra-wide gaming monitors on the market, is currently on sale for $1,449.99 ($2,499.99 at launch). That's its second-best discount, according to price-checking tools—and when you consider the fact that you'll also get a $120 Amazon gift card when you buy it, it looks even better.Other monitor deals:LG 27GX700A-B 27-inch Ultragear OLED Gaming Monitor $499.99 (originally $599.99)LG ‎27GS93QE 27-inch Ultragear OLED Gaming Monitor $551.82 (originally $899.99)Samsung 49-inch Odyssey G9 $879.99 (originally $999.99)The best soundbar deals during Amazon's early Labor Day sale Sonos Beam Gen 2 5.0ch Dolby Atmos Smart Soundbar (Black) $399.00 at Amazon $499.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Get Deal $399.00 at Amazon $499.00 Save $100.00 The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a compact soundbar perfect for those who don't have a lot of space but don't want to sacrifice booming sound. It's going for $399 right now, which is a $100 discount. It offers Atmos compatibility, eARC and NFC connectivity, and a better processor when compared to the Gen 1, according to CNET's review, and after the release of the more powerful Sonos Arc Ultra, the Beam Gen 2 is no longer Sonos' flagship soundbar, which means it's a good time to get one for less. Other audio deals:Sonos Arc Ultra Soundbar $899 (originally $1,099)JBL Bar 800-5.1.2-Channel soundbar with Detachable Surround Speakers $599.99 (originally $849.95)Bose Smart Ultra Dolby Atmos Soundbar $679.99 (originally $999.99)Samsung HW-B650F 3.1ch Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer $269.99 (originally $299.99)The best Amazon's early Labor Day deals on household appliances DREO Bedroom Ceiling Fan with Lights, Quiet DC Motor, 22db,Quick-Install, Powerful Airflow, 6 Speeds with Remote, Reversible, 6-Level Dimmable, 5CCT, Black,42" Indoor/Outdoor $69.97 at Amazon $89.99 Save $20.02 Get Deal Get Deal $69.97 at Amazon $89.99 Save $20.02 Labor Day is also a good time to upgrade your home decor and appliances. I own four of these Dreo ceiling fans myself, and I've been very pleased by how well they perform for such affordable, design-forward devices. You can change their light temperature, control the direction of the blades to push or pull air, and the light is dimmable with the controller. They are $20 off right now, bringing them down to around $70.Other home and appliance deals:Upstreman 7.1 Cu.Ft Refrigerator $339.99 (originally $399.99)Aeocky 5500 Sq.Ft Dehumidifier $229.99 (originally $299.99)Roborock Qrevo S Pro Robot Vacuum and Mop $429.99 (originally $699.99)Ninja DZ201 Foodi 2-Basket Air Fryer $159.94 (originally $199.99)Govee Torchiere Floor Lamp $79.99 (originally $149.99)Amazon Labor Day Deals FAQsWhen do Labor Day sales start?Early Labor Day sales have already started. More retailers are likely to start their own sales leading up to the holiday on Monday, Sept. 7. Are Labor Day sales worth it?Labor Day has traditionally been a good time to find deals in many categories, but whether they're worth it or not depends entirely on what you're looking for. 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The sweet, jammy garlic cloves are only half the story—don’t sleep on the deeply savory oil.

MUNICH, GERMANY - AUGUST 28: Michael Olise of FC Bayern Muenchen arrives at the stadium prior to the Bundesliga 2026/27 match between FC Bayern München and VfB Stuttgart at Allianz Arena on August 28, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by F. Noever/FC Bayern via Getty Images) | FC Bayern via Getty Images Michael Olise has picked up right where he left off this summer, scoring a cool-as-you-like goal in Bayern Munich’s league opener against VfB Stuttgart and having an even slicker finish cancelled by a narrow offside ruling in review.The Frenchman, who was the subject of some summer transfer rumors, is one of Vincent Kompany’s key men in a formidable and multi-faceted attack — and he’s well on his way to a third Bundesliga season with outstanding production. But it’s too early for talks of an extension, according to Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen in comments captured by Sky Germany journalist Kerry Hau (via @iMiaSanMia).“We’re not currently in [contract] talks,” Dreesen noted after the match — a runaway 5-1 winner after Olise’s second-half goal restored a Bayern lead that had only just slipped away. “He’s under contract until 2029, so there’s no reason to rush into anything.”BFW CommentaryOkay…but maybe there is a little bit of a reason?Olise is 24, turning 25 this season, and flying just about as high as any footballer in the world today after two explosive, breakout seasons at Bayern Munich and a sensational World Cup with France. His value has skyrocketed beyond the €60M fee that brought him to Germany from Crystal Palace and consequently, so too has he outgrown his initial contract. All the biggest clubs in the world should be after him, and any club that can’t fit him in at right wing can probably find a place for him in the center, where he may even prefer playing.Bayern has a few options in attack, particularly if Lennart Karl continues his emergence this season, but let’s be real: no one up in the rotation behind him is touching Olise right now. If Bayern doesn’t lock down Olise soon, it is going to be a real battle to hold onto him. And can the Bavarians really afford that?Join the conversation!Sign up for a user account and get:New, improved notifications system!Fewer adsCreate community postsComment on articles, community postsRec comments, community posts

It's Moving Day at the Tour Championship, where 36-hole co-leaders Ryan Gerard and Viktor Hovland are looking to hold off a slew of contenders at East Lake Golf Club.Gerard and Hovland will be the final pairing out of the clubhouse on Saturday, with Collin Morikawa and Chris Gotterup preceding them as the penultimate duo off the tee. In total, 19 players are within five shots of the lead at 10 under. One of those names is Scottie Scheffler, who sits just two back after going 65-67 to open his tournament. Golf Channel's live third round begins 1 p.m., with CBS set to take over the late afternoon broadcast.TOUR Championship - Rd 3The TOUR Championship brings this season’s top players to East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta to crown the 2026 FedExCup champion.Round 3 tee times for 2026 Tour Championship (all times in ET)TimePlayers11:55 AMEDTRobert MacIntyre12:07 PMEDTKristoffer ReitanHideki Matsuyama12:19 PMEDTPatrick CantlayXander Schauffele12:31 PMEDTSi Woo KimRory McIlroy12:43 PMEDTWyndham ClarkTommy Fleetwood1:01 PMEDTMin Woo LeeAlex Fitzpatrick1:13 PMEDTAlex SmalleyTom Kim1:25 PMEDTRussell HenleyJacob Bridgeman1:37 PMEDTRyan FoxAkshay Bhatia1:49 PMEDTSam BurnsGary Woodland2:07 PMEDTAdam ScottLudvig Åberg2:19 PMEDTJustin RoseMatt Fitzpatrick2:31 PMEDTCameron YoungScottie Scheffler2:43 PMEDTCollin MorikawaChris Gotterup2:55 PMEDTRyan GerardViktor Hovland

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 25: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain reacts with partner Serena Williams of the United States in their mixed doubles match against Erin Routliffe of New Zealand and Lloyd Glasspool of the United Kingdom during Fan Week at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 25, 2026 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)Getty ImagesThe 2026 U.S. Open will be held from Sunday, Aug. 30, to Sunday, September 13, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadows in New York.The first rounds of the men’s and women’s singles will be played on the opening three days from Sunday to Tuesday.World No. 1 Jannik Sinner is absent from the tournament with a knee issue, while defending champion Carlos Alcaraz is playing his first competitive event since suffering a wrist injury in April. Alcaraz remains the betting favorite despite a tricky draw, and is followed by French Open champ and No. 1 seed Alexander Zverev, 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic, who is bidding for a record 25th major, and top-ranked American man Ben Shelton.On the women’s side, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is the two-time defending champion and remains the favorite to win a third straight title. Yet many experts are picking No. 4 seed Coco Gauff to win the title after her victory at the Cincinnati Open. Iga Swiatek, the 6-time major champ, is the third favorite, followed by four-time major champion Naomi Osaka.NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 01: Naomi Osaka of Japan (L) and Coco Gauff of the United States embrace following their Women's Singles Fourth Round match on Day Nine of the 2025 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 1, 2025 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)Getty ImagesESPN platforms will present 15 days of exclusive coverage of the US Open beginning on Aug. 30. Streaming on the ESPN App begins at 11 a.m. ET until the end of play each day. Daily marathon coverage from all courts – first ball to last ball – will culminate with the Women’s Singles Final on 12, at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN, ESPN+, and ESPN Deportes and the Men’s Singles Final on Sept. 13 at 2 p.m. ET on ABC, ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes.What is the schedule?*All times EasternSunday to Sept. 411 a.m. to 6 p.m.: RedZone at the US Open in the ESPN AppSunday11 a.m.: "SportsCenter" at the US Open on ESPN2noon: Day 1 coverage on ABC3 p.m.: Day 1 coverage on ESPN2 and Disney+4:30 p.m.: Day 1 coverage on ESPN and Disney+5:30 p.m.: First-round coverage in Spanish on ESPN Deportes6 p.m.: "2026 US Open Match Point Presented by American Express" on ESPN and Disney+7 p.m.: "Primetime at the US Open Presented by IBM" on ESPN and Disney+7 p.m.: First-round coverage in Spanish on ESPN DeportesMonday11 a.m.: First-round coverage in Spanish on ESPN Deportes11:30 a.m.: Day 2 coverage on ESPN5:30 p.m.: First-round coverage in Spanish on ESPN Deportes6 p.m.: "2026 US Open Match Point Presented by American Express" on ESPN7 p.m.: "Primetime at the US Open Presented by IBM" on ESPN and ESPN27 p.m.: First-round coverage in Spanish on ESPN DeportesTuesday11 a.m.: First-round coverage in Spanish on ESPN Deportes11:30 a.m.: Day 3 coverage on ESPN6 p.m.: "2026 US Open Match Point Presented by American Express" on ESPN7 p.m.: "Primetime at the US Open Presented by IBM" on ESPN and ESPN27 p.m.: First-round coverage in Spanish on ESPN DeportesWednesday11 a.m.: Second-round coverage in Spanish on ESPN Deportes11:30 a.m.: Day 4 coverage on ESPN6 p.m.: "2026 US Open Match Point Presented by American Express" on ESPN7 p.m.: "Primetime at the US Open Presented by IBM" on ESPN7 p.m.: Second-round coverage in Spanish on ESPN DeportesThursday11 a.m.: Second-round coverage in Spanish on ESPN Deportes11:30 a.m.: Day 5 coverage on ESPN6 p.m.: "2026 US Open Match Point Presented by American Express" on ESPN27 p.m.: "Primetime at the US Open Presented by IBM" on ESPN27 p.m.: Second-round coverage in Spanish on ESPN DeportesFriday11 a.m.: Third-round coverage in Spanish on ESPN Deportes11:30 a.m.: Day 6 coverage on ESPN5 p.m.: Third-round coverage in Spanish on ESPN Deportes6 p.m.: "2026 US Open Match Point Presented by American Express" on ESPN27 p.m.: "Primetime at the US Open Presented by IBM" on ESPN27 p.m.: Third-round coverage in Spanish on ESPN DeportesSaturday11 a.m.: Day 7 coverage on ESPN2 and in the ESPN App5 p.m.: Third-round coverage in Spanish on ESPN Deportes6 p.m.: "2026 US Open Match Point Presented by American Express" on ESPN27 p.m.: "Primetime at the US Open Presented by IBM" on ESPN27 p.m.: Third-round coverage in Spanish on ESPN DeportesSept. 611 a.m.: Day 8 coverage on ESPN and in the ESPN App3 p.m.: Round of 16 on ABC5 p.m.: Round of 16 in Spanish on ESPN Deportes6 p.m.: "2026 US Open Match Point Presented by American Express" on ESPN7 p.m.: "Primetime at the US Open Presented by IBM" on ESPN7 p.m.: Round of 16 in Spanish on ESPN DeportesSept. 711 a.m.: Day 9 coverage on ESPN and in the ESPN App11:30 a.m.: Round of 16 in Spanish on ESPN Deportes6 p.m.: "2026 US Open Match Point Presented by American Express" on ESPN27 p.m.: "Primetime at the US Open Presented by IBM" on ESPN27 p.m.: Round of 16 in Spanish on ESPN DeportesSept. 811:30 a.m.: Day 10 coverage (men's and women's quarterfinals) on ESPN and ESPN Deportes7 p.m.: "Primetime at the US Open Presented by IBM" on ESPN7 p.m.: Men's and women's quarterfinals in Spanish on ESPN DeportesSept. 911:30 a.m.: Day 11 coverage (men's and women's quarterfinals) on ESPN and ESPN Deportes7:30 p.m.: "Primetime at the US Open Presented by IBM" on ESPN7:30 p.m.: Men's and women's quarterfinals in Spanish on ESPN DeportesSept. 107 p.m.: Women's semifinals on ESPN and ESPN DeportesSept. 11noon: Women's doubles championship on ESPN23 p.m.: Men's semifinal No. 1 on ESPN and ESPN Deportes7 p.m.: Men's semifinal No. 2 on ESPN and ESPN DeportesSept. 12noon: Men's doubles championship in the ESPN App3:30 p.m.: Women's championship pre-show in Spanish on ESPN Deportes4 p.m.: Women's championship on ESPN and ESPN DeportesSept. 131 p.m.: Men's championship preview on ABC1:30 p.m.: Men's championship pre-show in Spanish on ESPN Deportes2 p.m.: Men's championship on ABC and ESPN Deportes9 p.m.: Men's championship (encore presentation) on ESPN2This article was originally published on Forbes.com

SOUTH BEND — Notre Dame football has named its four permanent captains for the 2026 season, and two of those selections already know the role.In addition to a pair of returning captains on defense, linebacker Drayk Bowen and safety Adon Shuler, the Irish on Friday, Aug. 28 announced wide receiver Jordan Faison and quarterback CJ Carr as the other two captains.On a team filled with leaders across the position groups, some of the notable omissions from this list include star cornerback Leonard Moore, left guard Anthonie Knapp and defensive tackle Jason Onye. Jordan Faison: Notre Dame wide receiver has elite playmaking abilityHere’s a player-by-player look at this year’s corps of captains.CJ Carr, quarterbackA junior from Saline, MI, Carr is Notre Dame’s first returning starter at quarterback since Ian Book handled those chores from 2018-20. Carr bonded with many of his receivers during a training trip to the Jacksonville area back in May, and he built on those connections during player-led workouts over the summer.“You saw the leadership of CJ come out,” Bowen said on Aug. 4, “the command of the offense, the knowledge of the offense, of what he wanted people to do vs. certain coverages. That was the biggest thing, seeing him command the offense, being able to take control of the team and when things needed to talked about, he was one that could talk about it.”Drayk Bowen, linebackerA senior from St. John, IN, Bowen joins former Irish linebackers JD Bertrand (2022-23) and Drue Tranquill (2017-18) among recent two-time captains at his position.“(Bertrand) taught me a lot of lessons about football but also just being a leader,” Bowen said in early August. “When to get into somebody, when not to. Learning how to talk to different people, but also not having to say something all the time. Just let your actions speak for themselves. That’s something I want to teach to our younger guys.”Adon Shuler, safetyA senior from Irvington, NJ, Shuler joins Bowen to make it 25 two-time captains for the Irish over the past century. A dozen of those repeat honors have been bestowed in the past decade and a half.The others were Book (2019-20); receiver Avery Davis (2021-22); offensive linemen Jarrett Patterson (2021-22), Robert Hainsey (2019-20), Mike McGlinchey (2016-17), Nick Martin (2014-15) and Zack Martin (2012-13); and defensive lineman Sheldon Day (2014-15).“Adon, he means everything,” junior safety Brauntae Johnson said. “He's the fire starter for our defense. Once Adon gets going, that gives a spark to the whole defense. When he makes plays, we make plays. …“He's a captain. He's a vocal leader. If he needs to get on you, he will, and that's what we need as a defense. He's played in the national championship, he’s gone to the playoffs and done all of that.”Jordan Faison, wide receiverA former walk-on known primarily for lacrosse upon his arrival, Faison is a senior with a 2024 lacrosse national title already in hand. The Weston, FL product follows Wisconsin transfer Will Pauling (2025), Davis (2021-22), Chris Finke (2018), Austin Webster (2017) Torii Hunter Jr. (2016), T.J. Jones (2013) and David Grimes (2008) as Irish receivers to serve as captains since 2005.Finke and Webster were former walk-ons as well.“The challenge to (Faison) is you’ve never done this before; you’ve never only focused on football,” receivers coach Mike Brown said in the spring. “We collectively put together a plan for him. He’s a rock star. He’s awesome.”Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for the South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com. Follow him on social media @MikeBerardino.This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: See who Notre Dame football elected as team captains for 2026 season

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 06: Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Jacksonville Jaguars celebrates during the fourth quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at EverBank Stadium on October 06, 2024 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Courtney Culbreath/Getty Images) Courtney CulbreathQB 1 is going to be in the house on your Official Jaguars Station on Monday.Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence will be our guest Monday night for the return of “Jaguars All Access” and “Jags Report Live.”>>> STREAM ACTION SPORTS JAX 24/7 LIVE

Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, returns the ball during a mixed doubles match at the U.S. Open tennis championships, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)2026-08-28T22:03:52Z NEW YORK (AP) — Aryna Sabalenka has appeared to be having fun everywhere but the tennis court lately.Her Instagram account is filled with photos where she is fashionably dressed in beautiful settings, or lounging in a bikini in relaxing ones. Life looks great.On the court, it’s as bad as it’s been in a while.The top-ranked women’s player hasn’t even gotten past the fourth round of her last few tournaments, and she hardly looks ready to become the first player to win three straight U.S. Open titles since Serena Williams from 2012-14. Sabalenka doesn’t sound concerned. She sounds defiant.Her response to those wondering what’s wrong with her game: “Maybe there’s something wrong with people,” she said.To those who don’t like the black mesh-covered outfit she’s wearing on the court in New York: “Who cares about people, right? All matters for me is that I love it,” Sabalenka responded. Sabalenka looked headed for a superb season at the start of the year. She lost in the Australian Open final to Elena Rybakina, but then won back-to-back hard-court titles at Indian Wells and Miami. Even after she was knocked out by Naomi Osaka in the fourth round at Wimbledon, it was assumed Sabalenka would quickly return to form when she came back to North America and the hard courts where her power is so tough to handle. Then she was upset by Ekaterina Alexandrova in the fourth round in Toronto and blew leads in both sets and was ousted by Sara Bejlek in Cincinnati, appearing frustrated at times with her game the way she used to earlier in her career. She won’t specify what was wrong, but hinted that everything wasn’t right. Read More “It wasn’t the best period. I don’t want to defend myself, but obviously I just don’t want to talk about that period. I’ve been dealing with several things,” Sabalenka said.“But who cares, right? Yeah, I didn’t perform my best. These tough lessons are definitely going to make me way, way stronger and working even harder. I work on my mental side of the game. I was trying to reset my mind and to come back stronger, so it’s only going to make me stronger. It’s only a matter of time for me to come back.”It wouldn’t be a surprise if it was in New York, where she won the title for the first time in 2024 by beating Jessica Pegula in the final. She defended it last year by topping Amanda Anisimova. Reaching the top has given the 28-year-old from Belarus plenty of benefits off the court. Endorsement deals and photo shoots. Vacations during the season to Greece with her fiance. It gives critics who see Sabalenka detail all of that on social media the opportunity to question whether it’s too much fun and not enough work.“She’s still No. 1 in the world. So I think the results are there,” said Paula Badosa, Sabalenka’s friend on tour who has been pictured in some of those photos with her. “Of course, everyone is going to expect for her to win every tournament. That’s very, very difficult. And at the moment, that one player is not winning what they expected. Of course, they’re saying that it’s because of the photo shoots or the TikToks and all this stuff, and I’m not going to lie, she’s been doing that since she was maybe out of the top 100. And when she was winning, nobody says anything, you know? And when she loses a couple of matches, it’s because of that. I think it’s none of it.”The No. 1 ranking is in jeopardy after Sabalenka’s summer swoon. She may need to make a deep run in New York with the likes of Rybakina and Pegula gaining on her. Sabalenka has done it before. She may be down now but doesn’t sound like she plans to stay there.“Well, that’s the beauty of the sport,” she said. “Throw tough challenges at me, I will come back only stronger.”___See AP’s full tennis coverage here BRIAN MAHONEY Mahoney is an editor on the AP Sports desk. He also is a pro basketball writer, primarily covering the two NBA teams in New York. twitter mailto

The U.S. Border Patrol keeps watch along the US-Mexico border Thursday, April 3, 2025, in Douglas, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin,File)2026-08-28T22:05:10Z WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal government agreed in court on Friday to extend a pause on border related construction in Big Bend National Park until mid September, a move welcomed by those challenging the contentious project in the area.Customs and Border Protection already paused activity after CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott visited the park last week to consult with local officials. His visit came after bulldozers started plowing through parts of the park in the far south of Texas, sparking widespread outrage.The Department of Homeland Security said at the time that the bulldozers were not launching into full construction but were part of initial design and survey work. Scott’s pause was slated to expire on Monday. In Big Bend National Park, the government’s plans have included building a new road, installing detection technology and barriers to stop vehicles from crossing the border, although an attorney for the government emphasized Friday that no final plans have been decided for what will be built in the park. U.S. District Judge Orlando L. Garcia said during the court hearing in San Antonio that he hoped the two sides would use the extra time to come together to work out what could be done to address both sides’ concerns. The pause applies to both the national park and a section of land upriver and west of the park, a Justice Department lawyer said during Friday’s hearing.The work in Big Bend National Park is part of a $46 billion plan by the Trump administration to cover the length of the 2,000-mile border from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico in a combination of 30-foot tall steel bollard walls, vehicle barriers and detection technology to stop illegal immigration and smugglers. As construction has ramped into high gear, the administration has increasingly run into opposition from a combination of landowners, environmental groups, and Native Americans. Read More But the government argued Friday that Customs and Border Protection’s authorities when it comes to building the wall or other border infrastructure comes from Congress. “Congress gave them the authority,” said government lawyer Pamela Amaechi. “Congress has spoken.” 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. The lawsuit in Friday’s case alleges that the government overstretched its authority in seeking to build border infrastructure in a national park established by Congress. And the lawsuit alleges the slated construction violates the religious freedoms and cultural practices of Native Americans for whom access to burial sites or areas where they conduct specific ceremonies are central to their religious practices.The government has argued that it has the authority given by Congress to build the wall and other border security infrastructure and waive certain regulations to do so swiftly. They’ve also argued that the plaintiffs haven’t shown that the construction projects will in fact restrict anyone’s ability to practice their religion and that the construction plans in the park are limited.Roland Gutierrez, a Democrat state senator in Texas who also argued the case Friday against the government, called the outcome a “win” for their side even though the pause is temporary. Gutierrez said anything that slows the government down until midterm elections in November is a good thing with the hope that a change in control of Congress might result in a rethinking of the border wall plans. REBECCA SANTANA Santana reports on the Department of Homeland Security, immigration policy and the federal agencies that touch on immigration. She’s reported on refugee resettlement, ICE operations and employment-based immigration and is reachable on Signal at RebeccaSantana.51. twitter mailto

The U.S. Border Patrol keeps watch along the US-Mexico border Thursday, April 3, 2025, in Douglas, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin,File)2026-08-28T21:55:40Z Hoping to make sure high school students don’t waste time earning career credentials that won’t help them find jobs, Ohio is slashing the credentials counted towards graduation, axing easy ones that thousands of students earn, but don’t lead anywhere.High schools nationally are increasingly encouraging students, especially those who don’t plan on going to college, to earn certificates and licenses in trades or office skills so they have a chance to earn a living after graduating. Ohio, since 2019, has made earning a credential that’s recognized by employers a key path to earning a diploma.But concerns have grown in recent years over a mismatch nationally between what schools offer and businesses want, with one study estimating that only 18 percent of credentials earned by high school students matter to employers.Criticism has increased in Ohio of schools helping students with poor academic skills use weak credentials that aren’t sought by employers as a “workaround” or “shortcut” to graduate, but give them little chance of making even $30,000 a year. In response and at the direction of the state legislature, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce this summer cut its list of credentials that qualify students to graduate from 164 to 70.The list notably drops two groups of credentials — one for retail sales and one for government management of emergencies — that several thousand students use each year to graduate despite little demand from employers. In the most extreme case, about 9,000 students earned credentials wanted for just three jobs. “This is a little bit of a game changer when we think about workforce readiness and kids coming out of K-12,” said Steve Dackin, director of the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. Read More Dackin said too many students are skipping college without having a plan to make a good salary. The state needs to help these students before leaving high school, he said.“It’s really, really important that while we have them, that they are earning the kind of credentials and skills that are going to make them employable right away,” he said. Ohio is also tightening how students can combine more than 700 approved, but lesser, credentials to earn enough credential “points” to graduate, a tactic that one expert described as “random acts of credentialing.” That loophole let students seek easy and basic credentials scattered across different fields, such as drivers licenses, CPR and OSHA safety classes, without learning any skills deeply enough to matter to employers.Ohio has cut that list from more than 700 credentials to 126, available only as part of 21 pre-determined “bundles” of specific credentials in five fields — agriculture, business, construction, health care and manufacturing. Each bundle includes “foundational” credentials such as OSHA safety training, but only as first steps toward more advanced training.Adriana Harrington, managing director of policy for ExcelinEd, a national education advocacy non-profit, said including credentials as a way to earn a diploma is a “slippery slope” that can lead to states approving too many low-value credentials.“Ohio is a kind of cautionary tale,” Harrington said. “The intent was very strong a few years ago…but then their list ballooned to over 700 that students could earn. I think we’re just seeing the reckoning and the pendulum shift back.” Ohio Excels, a nonprofit created by the state’s major chambers of commerce, helped create the new list along with a way to evaluate each credential by how many students find jobs within a year, how much money they earn, whether a field is growing, and if the classes can count toward earning a college degree.“Grappling with divining exactly what value is for an industry-recognized credential is something that the country has been asking questions about for the last 10 plus years,” said Cassandra Palsgrove, Ohio Excels’ vice president of strategic partnerships and government affairs. “Ohio is really going to take the lead on that.”Collecting wage and hiring data to fully analyze the value of credentials are important steps all states should take, said Emily Passias, deputy executive Director of Advance CTE, the association for state directors of career technical education. She had previously helped create Ohio’s early list when working at the since-renamed Ohio Department of Education and is glad the state is one of just a few aggressively using better data available now to refine it.“We have to move from essentially identifying credentials based on vibes, which is what many, many, many states are doing,” said Passias. “Things would get on the list and then never come off again, and they just led to these enormous lists of credentials that were divorced from actual impact.”“What Ohio is trying to do here is sort of right the ship and really focus on credentials that are going to create impact both for learners and for the employer community,” Passias added.The Fordham Institute, a non-profit education advocacy group active in Ohio, also praised the changes. Fordham has reported multiple times the last few years on ways some districts, notably urban, high-poverty ones where some students struggle to graduate, have large numbers of students earning low-value credentials just to earn a diploma. “Credentials are intended to signify students’ acquisition of technical skills and help them gain an edge in the labor market, not simply be a workaround to a diploma,” wrote Fordham’s Aaron Churchhill. “Ohio schools have discovered the easiest ones to attain and used them to get students to the finish line (and inflate their graduation rates as well as report card ratings ).”That system, Churchill and Fordham’s Jessica Poiner reported, had more than 9,000 students earning RISE UP retail sales and customer service credentials in 2023 — credentials that, combined, allow students to graduate — but were sought by employers for just three jobs statewide that year.In addition, more than 4,000 students earned a series of National Incident Management Systems credentials sought for fewer than 300 jobs that year.In announcing the list, Dackin conceded, “we know this is going to have a large impact on graduation rates.” He and the department declined to elaborate on an issue at the heart of any debate over graduation requirements — how to balance making diplomas hard enough that they carry meaning vs. making them so hard it shuts out students and leaves them with no diploma and chance to find a job.The department would say only that the requirements would start with freshmen entering high school this fall, so schools have time to adjust, and that schools can apply to include other credentials, though they should meet standards for pay and employer demand.The Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati school districts, all flagged by Fordham as having large numbers of students using weak credentials, also declined to address that question directly, other than to say they support having credentials that matter and that other credentials could be added later.Adding new credentials to the list is the likely next battleground, since districts and businesses are open to apply to include any they can show have value. Fordham’s Churchill said the state’s decision to include cosmetology licenses on the new list of standalone credentials despite low pay raises concerns for him. He hopes the state will stand its ground, stick to its standards and keep a “clean” list.“Vendors and industry groups with financial interests and schools looking to maintain sky-high graduation rates could urge the committee to approve their favored credential or pressure it to set a low bar,” he wrote. “If cosmetology is in, what about others?” ___This story was originally published by The 74 and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.