INDIANAPOLIS — Felix Rosenqvist had 2.5 miles to get from third to first to win the Indianapolis 500, and the only thing that mattered was instinct.Rosenqvist put no thought into how dangerous it was to spend the final lap on the high side at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He was going to keep his line. No matter what.“I've never had that feeling before where I just want to win this so bad that I literally don't care about crashing,” Rosenqvist told IndyStar on Monday. “It's cool that you can get to that point where you kind of lose your sense of thinking in a way.”Throughout Rosenqvist’s IndyCar career, closing races and race weekends hasn’t been a skill of his. He called himself a “Saturday man” because of his tendency to qualify well but not follow through on race day. Rosenqvist entered Sunday with seven career poles, yet just one win. Going back to 2022, he had five straight years qualifying on the front three rows of the Indy 500, but he never had a podium finish in the race (or on any oval).But that changed when Rosenqvist outdueled Marcus Armstrong in Turn 4 and barely snuck by David Malukas — crossing the finish line 0.0233 seconds before Malukas, the closest margin the Indy 500 has ever seen. Rosenqvist claims he blacked out on the final lap, which is potentially the best in the history of IMS, and relied on muscle memory to take the checkered flag.“Adrenaline takes over and you're also willing to risk a lot at that point,” he said. “I think Indy is the only place that can get that out of you in that sense, where you just don't care about the aftermath of your actions. So it was pretty easy for me. I just kind of let the adrenaline do its thing and yeah, it was a really cool moment.”Rosenqvist, who said he didn’t think he listened to his spotter at all in the final lap, knew that the high line was his only option to get his No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing Honda to the bricks first.Outside of the obvious magnitude of winning the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, Rosenqvist needed to get his first win since 2020 for validation. The win proves that, although Rosenqvist’s IndyCar career has been unstable — including having just two top-10 finishes in the first seven races of this year — he and this MSR team are capable of competing for wins on their strongest days.“I kind of needed just to prove to myself that I can win on an oval, I can win a race again after being very close many times,” Rosenqvist said. “I don’t think we — either the team or me — stopped believing, but we were really sure that we can get this done, at any track, really. And it was just a matter of time. It took long, it was definitely overdue, but we've just been in such a good rhythm after Long Beach, and we feel like we unlocked something new on the 60 car.”Over the last five weeks, Rosenqvist — who’s now in seventh in the IndyCar standings — has had the most impressive showing.It began with a pole and second-place finish at the Grand Prix of Long Beach that could’ve been a win if not for an “unfortunate” caution. He then parlayed that into starting on the second row in the Sonsio Grand Prix at the IMS road course, but he caused a multiple-car crash on the first turn of the race and placed 23rd after eventually crashing again later in the race. Last weekend, Rosenqvist qualified on the inside of Row 2 of the Indy 500, which set up his triumph.For much of the race’s final 50 laps, it appeared that Rosenqvist’s victory was going to come largely uncontested. He and his crew, led by strategist Adam Rovazzini, perfected their fuel-saving approach, which got him comfortably in the lead with another fuel to take it home. But the strategy, which Rosenqvist said was “like playing chess,” got thrown out the window when rookie driver Caio Collet crashed and caused a caution with eight laps to go.In a situation similar to what lost Rosenqvist the race in Long Beach, Rosenqvist no longer had the upper hand.“At first, you’re annoyed,” he said. “You’re controlling the race, biggest race in the world, and everything just kind of falls on its face.”Rosenqvist felt that, by being in first, he was in a disadvantageous position because those behind him could work off his car’s draft and find space to pass. The race’s leader was passed within two laps of the sixth of Sunday’s seven restarts in a race that set the Indy 500 record with 70 total lead changes. Rosenqvist gave up the lead on the penultimate restart, with Armstrong and Malukas passing while Rosenqvist went down to third.But another rookie mistake (this one much less severe) by Mick Schumacher opened a window for Rosenqvist to strike again. Schumacher grazed the outside wall in Turn 1 on Lap 197, which led to race control deploying another caution, despite Schumacher remaining in the race. This time, Rosenqvist didn’t allow the pattern of previous mishaps, at IMS and elsewhere, to continue.“I tried to not really let the negative thoughts take over,” Rosenqvist said. “And I tried to convince myself third might actually be exactly where you want to be, because it normally allows you to get a really good run when the two leading cars go side by side and basically have to punch a hole in the air, both of them. And the third guy always gets a good slingshot.”Rosenqvist received that slingshot and took advantage of it to win the Lap 200 shootout over Malukas and Armstrong. Originally believing it’d be a two-lap shootout, Rosenqvist made it stick on the outside, staying two-wide with Armstrong on all four turns of the final lap after Malukas took the lead from Armstrong heading into Turn 1.“I was like, ‘Oh, we’re gonna have to make some quick work here if this is gonna be ours,’” Rosenqvist said. “And I felt like we ran out of time, but the last run was just perfect enough to get it.”Rosenqvist drove in his eighth Indy 500 start with more confidence than he did in any of his first seven. His refusal to second-guess himself and instead rely on instincts for the entirety of the shootout has immortalized Rosenqvist in Indy 500 lore.Zion Brown is IndyStar's motorsports reporter. Follow him at @z10nbr0wn. Get IndyStar's motor sports coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Motor Sports newsletter. Subscribe to the YouTube channel IndyStar TV: IndyCar for a behind-the-scenes look at IndyCar and expert analysis.This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Felix Rosenqvist, the 'Saturday man,' was a different driver on Indy 500's last lap

WEST LAFAYETTE − The chess club for Ridgewood Local Schools recently had its year-end chess tournament.Eli Smoulder was the champion for fourth and fifth grade students with Kyler Osbourn in second place, Bryon Poindexter in third place and Luke Lafferty in fourth place, according to a community announcement. Jackson Grimmett was the winner for sixth and seventh grades with Alister Chiapetta in second place, Gavin Phillips in third place and Deakon Demeo in fourth place. Smoulder was also the overall champion for the 2025 to 2025 school year and will have his name engraved on chess club champions' plaque. Eli's brother, Jadon, was overall winner in 2021 and and his brother, Noah, was champion in 2024. They are the only three siblings to be on the champions' plaque. This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Eli Smoulder wins Ridgewood chess tournament, continues family legacy

FORT WORTH, TEXAS - APRIL 16: KJ Kindler, head coach of the University of Oklahoma, talks with the team during the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championship at Dickies Arena on April 16, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Alicia Malnati/Getty Images)Getty ImagesIt's no secret: the Oklahoma Women's Gymnastics program has ruled the sport for the better part of the last decade. In April, the Sooners clinched their eighth NCAA title — and second straight — narrowly edging out the second-ranked LSU Tigers.From 2014 to 2026, five programs won the coveted NCAA team title. The Florida Gators clinched two (2014 and 2015), and UCLA, Michigan, and LSU each collected one trophy. The Sooners won eight times across 12 postseasons. 66.7%. While the sunny campuses of Florida, UCLA, and NIL-haven LSU often attract Olympic and international talent, the Sooners remain unfazed by their opponents. Whether facing a Florida Gators ‘superteam’ or Olympic gold medalists, K.J. Kindler’s squads do what they do best: win. The Sooners’ uncanny postseason successes leave many baffled. How do they contend for the title year after year, championship after championship? The answer is also no secret.K.J. Kindler discussed the Sooner difference with Taylor Davis and Jason Campbell on Bleav’s SEC State of Mind. The conversation revealed telling insights into Kindler’s path to the pinnacle of her sport. Why Sooner Recruits Come to WinKindler’s process differs from the start. While she admits the recruitment process is “cutthroat” for both teams and recruits, the coach stresses authenticity and transparency. There’s no sugar-coating: athletes come to Norman to win. “I’m very candid in the recruiting process,” Kindler says. “I’m less glitz and glam, and a little more substance.” This substance often includes discussions of the athlete’s mentality and championship aspirations. Eight national titles shine bright in Oklahoma’s new state-of-the-art facility, but the leotard needs to fit. “I’d like to think those championships give you an edge… but you have to want this," Kindler adds. Those who do, go OU. The result is often highly successful, both in championship output and athlete retention. “We’ve got it all going on,” she smiles. Building Champions in NormanAs soon as their new pupil dons the crimson and cream, their Sooner transformation begins. When asked about athlete development, Kindler doesn’t hesitate. The coach declares her team’s strategies as the best and most comprehensive in the country. Alongside associate head coaches Lou Ball and Tom Haley, Kindler’s team cultivates an athlete’s mental, physical, and technical strengths.Despite their recent successes, their strategy stems from a historical disadvantage. In her early years at the helm in Norman, Kindler’s recruiting options paled in comparison to today’s.Back in 2006, the new head coach couldn’t attract the nation’s top names. That didn’t matter. After years of studying her sport, Kindler focused on the opinions that mattered: the judges’. Rather than overhauling her program to entice recruits, Kindler molded the talent she attracted into clean, top-scoring machines. Safe to say, that strategy worked. FORBES | By Caroline PriceWorld Champion Joscelyn Roberson Announces Transfer To GeorgiaThe Coaches Who Shaped Kindler’s FormulaThe coach draws inspiration from a handful of coaching icons. Kindler credits former Alabama head coach Sarah Patterson for inspiring her execution-forward strategy. “That’s definitely something that resonated with me when I couldn’t recruit as high of a level athlete,” Kindler said.Patterson is just one of many coaching “greats” that Kindler credits as coaching influences. “I try to pick and choose little things from each one of them,” she says.Valorie Kondos Field (UCLA): choreography and the mental aspect of gymnastics.Greg Marsden (Utah): program marketing and promotion.Suzanne Yoculan (Georgia): risk-taking in the “big moments.” Kindler also cited Mary Jane Olson, former head coach of Hamline University gymnastics, as a formative coaching mentor. Olson took the helm for Hamline in 1974, when female coaches were a rarity. Across her archives of hall-of-fame coaches and female trailblazers, Kindler describes her strategy as "a bunch of different ingredients."FORT WORTH, TX - APRIL 20: Head coach Valorie Kondos Field of the UCLA Bruins, left, speaks with Oklahoma Sooners head coach K.J. Kindler during the Division I Women's Gymnastics Championship held at the Fort Worth Convention Center Arena on April 20, 2019 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Timothy Nwachukwu/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)NCAA Photos via Getty ImagesThe third-winningest coach in NCAA women’s gymnastics history hails her former college coach, Amy Pyle, as her greatest inspiration. “[Pyle] allowed me to make mistakes. She didn’t tell me what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. She just let me do it. I failed over and over,” Kindler says.Had she not been allowed to fail, Kindler insists she “never would have learned.” She carried this mentality from her competitive days to her coaching years. In 2024, she and her program learned by failing under the brightest of lights. Learning to Fail in Fort WorthAfter scoring the highest total in NCAA Gymnastics history and sweeping the Big 12 regular-season and championship titles, the 2024 Sooners squad wasn’t just expected to soar to the program’s third-straight title – they were perhaps the greatest NCAA team ever.Instead of tumbling into history, the team collapsed in the first rotation of the semifinal round, committing major errors on half of their vaults. After a season-low score, the team’s postseason dreams ended on night one in Fort Worth. For a roster known for unparalleled consistency and competitive resilience, the result was shocking. Kindler quickly turned that shock into fuel.“2024 was one of our most challenging years on record, but I would say we learned more in that year, staff and team included, than any other year in the last decade,” she reflects. Since 2024, the Sooners have won two straight national titles.In Kindler’s eyes, this year’s championship team embodied the spirit she inherited while competing for Iowa State. Though the 2026 squad was slow to find its identity, Kindler resisted the urge to intervene and manufacture leadership. “Instead, I let it develop," Kindler reflected, smiling. The result feels "brilliant.”FORT WORTH, TEXAS - APRIL 18: University of Oklahoma head coach K.J. Kindler celebrates during the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championship at Dickies Arena on April 18, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Alicia Malnati/Getty Images)Getty ImagesOklahoma Gymnastics’ Winning CultureDespite eight titles and counting, Kindler and the Sooners stay hungry. In Kindler’s mind, every team enters the season with a renewed drive for the title. Last season’s winning team is just that: last season’s team. “I always tell the seniors: your number one job is to maintain the culture and keep these guys hungry,” Kindler says. "They need to get [the] freshmen on board and win that next national championship."Kindler wants each and every team to chase their title. "It's about creating that experience for them and wanting them to have that same exhilarating feeling," she says. Win or lose — hunger is hereditary in Norman.Even after eight titles in just over a decade, Kindler and her staff maintain unyielding focus on the task at hand: another title. “We are not complacent," Kindler asserts. On to 2027.If Kindler can clinch two more titles, she’ll match the all-time record set by one of her idols, Georgia’s Suzanne Yoculan… and knowing Kindler, she won’t stop there. Odds are, the hunger sticks around.FORBES | By Caroline PriceOlympic Gold Medalist Jade Carey Announces Elite Gymnastics ComebackThis article was originally published on Forbes.com

Milan Part Ways with Allegri and Their Whole ManagementEveryone but Zlatan Ibrahimovic will pay the price for Milan missing out on a top-four finish, as owner Gerry Cardinale fired coach Massimiliano Allegri, CEO Igli Tare and director Geoffrey Moncada and Igli Tare in one fell swoop, citing that the final results made the season an unequivocal failure.The collective ousting will cost €22M, unless the boss finds a new landing spot soon. According to Gianluca Di Marzio, the tycoon didn’t like the constant infighting and ultimately decided not to pick sides.Milan have been in touch with Andoni Iraola, while Ibrahimovic is pushing for Xavi. The search is in early stages. In any case, the Rossoneri won’t hire Antonio Conte and won’t bring back Adriano Galliani as the apical director. Board member Massimo Calvelli is heavily contributing to the decisions, but he won’t lead the next front office.Cardinale is aiming for a gaffer with a proactive playing style, moving away from 3-5-2. As for the execs, the most recent names to land on their radar are Fiorentina’s Fabio Paratici, who dismissed the notion not too long ago, former Barcelona and Manchester City Txiki Begiristain, and Toulouse’s Viktor Bezhani, La Gazzetta dello Sport informs.Our Take on MilanThe progressive decline in the second half of the season amply justifies the call, but it’s still pretty bold to sack such a decorated manager after just one season. Plus, they hadn’t exactly qualified for the UEFA Champions League as consistently as Juventus in recent years. They have to nail the hirings now, and should go in order to avoid the same issues, picking the director first and letting him decide the boss, or choosing a pair who has already collaborated.

NEW DELHI: A funny moment between Riyan Parag and teenage Rajasthan Royals star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has gone viral on social media.In a video taken at an airport, paparazzi asked the two players for a photo together. Responding casually, Parag said, “(Hum nahi hai flim star.) We're not film stars!”After hearing the comment, Vaibhav gave Parag an awkward and funny stare, which quickly became a talking point online.Watch:— ChotaNewsApp (@ChotaNewsApp) The viral clip arrived at a time when Rajasthan Royals secured a playoff spot in IPL 2026 after defeating Mumbai Indians by 30 runs.The team had faced criticism earlier in the season after losing several matches in the middle phase of the tournament, with many fans questioning Parag’s captaincy.Despite the criticism, Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara strongly defended Parag’s leadership.He said, “When we decided to offer Riyan the captaincy, he is the absolute right guy to lead this franchise.”Sangakkara praised Parag’s confidence, maturity, and the respect he has earned inside the dressing room. He also spoke about the trolling Parag has faced over the years, saying, “I think I've seen very few players who have been criticised like Riyan has for about seven years now.” Sangakkara added that Parag is misunderstood publicly and described him as “a lovely, soft, gentle, really determined, smart young man.”Meanwhile, 15-year-old Vaibhav continues to impress with a record-breaking season. Speaking on Kevin Pietersen’s YouTube show, the young batter revealed his huge ambitions.“I want to score 200 in T20s. I want to break Gayle's record,” he said, referring to Chris Gayle’s famous unbeaten 175 in IPL history.Vaibhav has already scored over 580 runs this season with an explosive strike rate, becoming one of IPL 2026’s breakout stars. 131323617

We must use our leverage to end Israel’s occupation and establish two states with full political and legal rights for all.

Roma will earn €11.3 million for finishing third in Serie ARoma finished the season third in the league with 73 points, their best result since 2018-19. The last season in which the Giallorossi team performed better was in 2017-18 under Eusebio Di Francesco (77). Final league placement is also important for increasingly important economic aspects for football clubs: it determines whether they earn more or less based on the distribution of revenue from television rights. As Calcio e Finanza reports, position directly impacts approximately 11% of total revenue. This year, a budget of approximately €100 million has been estimated, distributed among the 20 Serie A teams. How much will Roma earn by finishing third?The Friedkins are smiling, seeing a significant increase in revenue. Indeed, thanks to the performance of Gasperini’s team, Roma will earn significantly more this year than in previous seasons, when they consistently missed out on the Champions League. The Giallorossi will receive €11.3 million for finishing third in the league. Inter, who won the league, will receive €15.7 million, while Napoli, second, will receive €13.2 million.

Augsburg eye Ducksch as Birmingham non-promotion clause becomes activeAfter just one year at Birmingham City, Marvin Ducksch is being linked with a return to the Bundesliga.According to Sky Germany, FC Augsburg are considering a move for the 32-year-old striker.The report adds that Ducksch is available for just €1 million, as a non-promotion clause has become active after Birmingham failed to go up to the Premier League.Ducksch scored 11 goals in 36 appearances in his debut season in England. He joined Birmingham from SV Werder Bremen last summer for a reported fee of €2 million.

Imminent Juventus meeting with Spalletti as changes loom for ComolliJuventus owner John Elkann is scheduled to meet with Luciano Spalletti and Damien Comolli to reshape responsibilities within the club and grant the coach greater decision-making authority in the transfer market.Juventus are preparing for next season, but, contrary to Milan, the Bianconeri are expected to make no major personnel changes.Juventus changes loomingGazzetta dello Sport reports that Elkann is set to meet with coach Spalletti and CEO Comolli shortly, probably even today, to revisit the club’s organisation after the team failed to qualify for the Champions League this season.Spalletti has demanded more authority over transfer decisions, and according to both Gazzetta and Tuttosport, Elkann feels the coach’s request is legitimate, so Comolli will be asked to cooperate more with the Italian tactician on new signings and departures.Tuttosport highlights that Elkann will require more ‘flexibility’ from Comolli, delegating to Spalletti ‘the choices that concern his sphere of influence, especially in the transfer market.’LECCE, ITALY – MAY 09: Head coach of Juventus FC Luciano Spalletti during the Serie A match between US Lecce and Juventus FC at Stadio Via del Mare on May 09, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)‘Comolli has already hinted that algorithmic choices will be scaled back, in favour of a vision that satisfies the coach through and through,’ wrote Tuttosport.Previous reports claimed that Comolli and Spalletti have had multiple disagreements over transfer decisions and the club management.SASSUOLO, ITALY – JANUARY 06: (L-R) François Modesto, Juventus Technical Director, Marco Ottolini, Sporting Director of Juventus and Damien Comolli, General Manager of Juventus talk prior to the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and Juventus FC at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on January 06, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)According to Tuttosport, Juventus are also considering the return of Matteo Tognozzi, currently the sporting director of Rio Ave, who previously worked at the Allianz Stadium as Head of Scouting. Giorgio Chiellini is reportedly backing Tognozzi’s return, but not all club components feel the same.The Juventus management has already changed drastically over the last year, first with the appointment of Damien Comolli, first as General Manager and then as CEO, but also with the appointment of François Modesto as Technical Director and Marco Ottolini as sporting director.

Michael Clay played linebacker at Oregon, worked in defensive coaching roles earlier in his career, and has spent 13 seasons coaching in the NFL, but the Eagles' special teams coordinator has no interest in pivoting away from the role that helped build his reputation. Asked whether he views special teams as a stepping stone or has considered moving back to defense, Clay made it clear Thursday that he sees long-term value in remaining where he is."People ask me that question all the time," Clay said. "Do you always want to be a special teams coordinator? Do you want to go for more for that?"Clay enters his sixth season running Philadelphia's special teams unit and believes the role offers something few positions on an NFL coaching staff can provide."The beauty of special teams coaches, you're the closest thing to being a head coach because you get to talk to everybody," Clay said. "Vic probably doesn't get to talk to the offense. Sean probably won't be able to talk to the defense. In special teams, you get to talk to everybody."That perspective reflects Clay's coaching path. Before returning to Philadelphia in 2021 as special teams coordinator, he spent five seasons with San Francisco in multiple roles, including assistant special teams coach and assistant strength and conditioning coach. He also worked in Philadelphia as a defensive quality-control coach in 2014 before moving into an assistant special-teams role.Clay's units have produced results.The Eagles blocked an NFL-high four kicks in 2025, including game-changing plays from Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter that helped swing outcomes during the regular season. Punter Braden Mann tied for the league lead with 14 punts of at least 60 yards while posting the highest gross punting average in franchise history at 49.9 yards per punt.Philadelphia's special teams group also played a major role during the Eagles' Super Bowl LIX championship season in 2024. Jake Elliott set franchise postseason records for kicking points, field goals, and total kicks during the playoff run, while Britain Covey developed into one of the league's top return specialists under Clay's direction. Covey led the NFL in punt return yards during the 2023 season and earned Pro Bowl alternate recognition after emerging as one of the NFL's most dangerous returners.Clay's coaching foundation extends beyond Philadelphia. During San Francisco's run to Super Bowl LIV following the 2019 season, the 49ers ranked near the top of the league in field position metrics while kicker Robbie Gould continued one of the most efficient stretches of his career. Clay played four seasons at Oregon from 2009-12 and earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors as a senior after recording 101 tackles and three sacks. The San Jose native later signed with Miami as an undrafted free agent before transitioning into coaching.For now, Clay is comfortable where he is."If I could do this for another quarter century, then hit the deuces like Brad Seely did in Houston, then I'll be very happy with my life and how it turned out," Clay said.After more than a decade coaching in the NFL, Clay does not appear interested in chasing another title. He already believes he has found the right one.This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles coordinator Michael Clay is not eyeing defensive switch

MANCHESTER, England, May 26 (Reuters) - Scotland's long-awaited World Cup return is being marked in unique fashion, with ‌an image of Scott McTominay's goal for the ages ‌appearing on a limited-edition £20 banknote. The Bank of Scotland has unveiled the note ​featuring McTominay's jaw-dropping overhead kick in a 4-2 victory over Denmark that sealed Scotland's place at next month's finals, their first appearance since 1998. Only 100 of the commemorative notes have ‌been produced, with fans ⁠able to win them through a series of charity events in the coming weeks. McTominay's acrobatic ⁠opener at Hampden Park in November quickly entered Scottish football folklore as one of the national team's greatest goals, and ​now takes ​pride of place alongside an ​image of the Forth ‌Rail Bridge on the new design. The Napoli midfielder said it felt surreal. "Things like that don't happen often, so to have the opportunity to put obviously a great goal on top of a banknote is something that is a bit ‌surreal to be honest and I'm ​just extremely proud," McTominay told the ​BBC. "I want to go ​to the World Cup and give a ‌great account of ourselves and ​show everybody that ​Scotland is a really good team." Scotland are in Group C with Haiti, Morocco and Brazil at the World ​Cup, which kicks ‌off on June 11 and is being played in ​the United States, Mexico and Canada. (Reporting by Lori ​Ewing; Editing by David Holmes)

Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández Rivera, a Democrat Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call Inc. via Getty Images Puerto Rico’s representative in Congress and four other members of the House of Representatives have asked the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General to investigate why a federal probe into a prison drugs-for-votes scheme was abandoned after the 2024 elections. “Credible allegations of election fraud uncovered through federal investigative work warrant serious scrutiny and transparent explanation,” the members of Congress wrote in the May 20 letter, adding that it was essential for “public confidence in democratic institutions” that such claims are handled consistently, “regardless of the political actors involved.” The letter was signed by Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández Rivera, a Democrat and member of Puerto Rico’s Popular Democratic Party, as well as Reps. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., ranking member of the House Oversight Committee; Nydia Velázquez, D-N.Y.; Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y., chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus; and Jesús “Chuy” García, D-Ill., a member of the House Judiciary Committee. Their request follows a ProPublica investigation that published earlier this month detailing how prosecutors had uncovered a drugs-for-votes scheme being run by a violent gang in Puerto Rican prisons and were deep into looking at whether now-Gov. Jenniffer González-Colón or her campaign were involved. In the days following President Donald Trump’s election in 2024, as prosecutors prepared the indictment, they were told by supervisors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico to exclude the voting-related charges against inmates and prison staff, four sources with knowledge of the investigation told ProPublica. Then, once Trump took office, they were told to abandon the probe into potential political ties entirely, the sources said. In their letter, the members of Congress urged the inspector general to examine the Justice Department’s decision to not pursue charges related to election fraud “despite reported findings and evidence.” They added that the failure to further investigate contradicts the Trump administration’s “repeated emphasis on prioritizing election integrity and election security as federal enforcement priorities,” in addition to deeming drug traffickers threats to public safety and democratic institutions. Initially, Hernández Rivera sought a House Judiciary Committee investigation into the issue but then decided the inspector general’s office would be a better avenue. “This has always been about following the facts and ensuring there is accountability,” he said in an email to ProPublica. “Given the concerns raised about the DOJ’s handling of the investigation and prosecutorial decisions, we believe an Inspector General review is the appropriate mechanism to independently examine what occurred and whether standards were applied consistently.” The letter was addressed to Don Berthiaume, who had been serving as acting inspector general and has been nominated for the position. While his confirmation is pending, William Blier, the deputy inspector general, is leading the office. The inspector general’s office has jurisdiction over misconduct by Justice Department employees, including the Bureau of Prisons, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration. However, it does not oversee allegations of attorney misconduct, which are handled by the Office of Professional Responsibility, unless the allegations include criminal behavior. The inspector general’s office declined to comment on the letter. González-Colón, a longtime Republican and member of the pro-statehood New Progressive Party, has declined repeated requests for interviews by ProPublica. In a previous statement, she denied any wrongdoing and said she “has stood firmly against corruption” throughout her career and political campaigns. “I categorically reject any attempt to link me to unlawful conduct,” she said. She also told local news outlets she didn’t think any investigation into the matter is warranted. González-Colón has not been charged with any crime. Read More Prosecutors Had a Drugs-for-Votes Scheme “Locked Up.” Under Trump, They Were Told Not to Pursue Charges. An indictment filed in December 2024, while Joe Biden was still president, charged 34 members of a gang, known as Group 31 or Los Tiburones, and associates with crimes including drug distribution resulting in at least four overdose deaths. The indictment also alleged that the gang connected with government officials “for the purpose of reducing prison sentences” and told inmates “who to vote for in primary and general elections.” But the indictment included no charges related to the drugs-for-votes scheme. Sources familiar with the investigation said gang leaders forced inmates to vote for González-Colón or face brutal beatings, or be cut off from the drugs they were addicted to. Prosecutors said they had evidence that González-Colón had spoken with one of the prison gang leaders on WhatsApp during the primary campaign and were pursuing other potential ties when they were instructed not to look any further, people with knowledge of the investigation told ProPublica. W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, said his office does not comment on open cases. While a couple of defendants have made plea agreements, most of the cases are still pending. A spokesperson for his office, Lymarie Llovet-Ayala, told ProPublica in a previous email that charging corrupt public officials “has always been and remains a top priority” of the office. The post Lawmakers Ask DOJ Watchdog to Investigate Alleged Drugs-for-Votes Scheme After ProPublica Report appeared first on ProPublica.

NEWARK - The Licking Valley softball team proved unmatched during its run through the Licking County League, and the Panthers continue to receive recognition for its perfect regular season.Sophomore Emory Whisner has been named Player of the Year for the Buckeye Division by the LCL coaches. Valley’s Chad Dennis was named Coach of the Year.Johnstown senior Addy Zak led the Johnnies to the Cardinal Division championship, and she was named Co-Player of the Year, sharing the honor with Newark Catholic senior Joanna Bailey. NC’s Mike Justice was named Coach of the Year. Below are the full honors.Buckeye DivisionLicking ValleyEmory Whisner, Player of Year; first teamD’Neya Dennis, first teamAlexa Gilliam, first teamTori Baughman, first teamChloe Cooperrider, second teamEmma Flowers, second teamHailey Mueller, honorable mentionChad Dennis, Coach of the YearMount VernonJocelyn Scarbury, first teamHailey Rudrick, first teamKeely Pollard, first teamGabby Beck, second teamHarley Styndl, second teamLexi Ringwalt, second teamLayla Joyner, honorable mentionWatkins MemorialGracie Gerhardt, first teamAva Bailey, first teamEmma Jellison, second teamBryna Davis, second teamAlli Langwasser, second teamSierra Fuchs, honorable mentionLicking HeightsNatalie Mahoney, first teamLily Reich, second teamHailey Anderson, second teamHayley Stout, second teamJadyn Ribbing, honorable mentionGranvilleAvary King, first teamAubrey Lackey, first teamSydney Cottrill, second teamCarly Wollenberg, honorable mentionZanesvilleCyaria Wallace, honorable mentionCardinal DivisionJohnstownAddy Zak, Co-Player of Year; first teamJenna Hochanadel, first teamLucia Kuhn, first teamViolet Wentzel, first teamAbigail Wood, second teamRiley Stefanick, second teamBrooklyn Wood, second teamEmma McGeehan, honorable mentionLakewoodAverie Adams, first teamAllie Stimmel, first teamCora Redman, second teamAshlyn Carder, second teamJaycie Montie, second teamAnna Crist, honorable mentionNewark CatholicJoanna Bailey, Co-Player of Year; first teamVeronica Bailey, first teamBrooklyn Kurtz, second teamAly Rothweiler, second teamJahni Whitney, honorable mentionMike Justice, Coach of the YearUtica Kiersten Hull, first teamKaitlin Evans, first teamKenzie Fletcher, second teamEmily Meyers, second teamMakena Wilson, honorable mentionNorthridgeEllie Reese, first teamCheyann Severance, second teamKadance Adkins, honorable mentionHeathKate Zarins, first team Lexi Purington, second teamAddison Purdy, honorable mentionThis article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Licking County League honors top softball players, coaches

PARIS — Don’t watch Coco Gauff’s shots during her first-round match at the French Open against Taylor Townsend to figure out how her day is going.Watch her eyes. Watch her shoulders. Watch her racket. She hit herself on the head with it in the middle of the Italian Open final against Elina Svitolina two Sundays ago.“It didn’t hurt,” she said Friday in a news conference, as she prepares to defend her title at Roland Garros. “I had big braids.”It’s been that kind of nine months for Gauff, a two-time Grand Slam champion and at 22, the biggest star in the women’s game. According to Sportico, Gauff was the highest-paid female athlete last year, earning $31 million in prize money and sponsorships.After her quarterfinal loss to Svitolina at the Australian Open, cameras caught Gauff underneath the stadium, smashing her racket to bits. She thought she had found a private spot. She hadn’t. Her annoyance about that has led tennis tournaments to consider their strategy for the behind-the-scenes video that serves as catnip for fans.Gauff has had a different strategy for handling her emotions lately, too, although that is not by design.For most of her career, Gauff has rarely displayed anything close to a meltdown, rarely appeared to wrestle with the emotional demons that so often undo tennis players. She has an uncanny ability to ride the wave, fist-pumping and screaming with elation on her biggest and best shots to raise her level, without succumbing to the spirals that can accompany and usually accelerate dips in performance.That has grown more challenging for Gauff in recent months. She has referenced off-court difficulties that have made staying in the moment on court harder. They have arrived as she has tried to maintain her lofty status among the sport’s elite, while remaking the two most important shots in the game, her serve and her forehand. That process, too, has nagged at her confidence and her resolve.It has been a lot. Of late, the results have been going pretty well, even if getting to them has been all kinds of challenging.Gauff is a perfectionist who is never truly satisfied unless she is lifting trophies. Still, since January, she has made two WTA 1000 finals, losing both in three hard-fought sets. Through it all, there has been plenty of harrumphing and thigh-slapping, a good bit of griping at her box. She will miss shots and raise her hand close to her face, shaking her head and talking to herself in that “how-can-you-make-that-mistake” fashion all tennis players know.She would prefer it not be that way.“I have a therapist that I have been going to for a long time, and also, just journaling,” she said in a French Open news conference Friday. She knows how wearing negativity can be, especially in a sport where even the best players lose nearly half the points.“When I’m playing the matches, I just want to win literally every point in the most perfect way. Obviously, it just doesn’t always happen for me like that all the time.“I think I can see where I want to be, and I want to be there so bad. But I’m just trying now to focus on the process: The ups and downs of the journey of tennis. It’s something that I can hone in on and do well at times, and other times I cannot do so well.”Anger and frustration are occupational hazards in tennis, a lonely sport in which players fight mostly on their own for hours on a big court. Failure — all those lost points — is inevitable even on a good day. Figuring out how to hold it together is as important as having a sturdy backhand.“I had a pretty bad attitude when I was younger, and my dad had a stern talk to me about it,” said Naomi Osaka, the four-time Grand Slam champion, in a news conference in Paris.“I actually curse a lot,” she said. “I say it so softly you can’t hear it, and I’m really glad, because I don’t want to get fined for that.”There are only a handful of players who can survive temperamental eruptions and win matches, seemingly using that eruption to clear the brain and create a hinge moment. Novak Djokovic is a master of it.Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1, thought she was, too. Then, late last year, she realized she wasn’t. Opponents could sense that Sabalenka’s demeanor signified a collapse was underway. Gauff was one of them, standing across the net in last year’s French Open final. When it was over and Gauff had lifted the trophy, Sabalenka blamed the conditions, her poor play and Gauff’s fortune for the loss. She later apologized for not giving sufficient credit to Gauff. They have moved past it.“I think my emotions were destroying my game, and my level was dropping dramatically when I would just, like, start overreacting on everything,” Sabalenka said during a news conference Friday. “My opponents would see that and they would step in and play better.”Staying bottled up was impossible, but there was a middle ground. Her mindset and fitness guru, Jason Stacy, gave her a six-word mantra: “Don’t fight it. Don’t feed it.”Sabalenka has learned to breathe her way through the anger, controlling her emotions by controlling her breath. She still loses, but only rarely does she beat herself. It’s been a win-win.“Making sure that my opponent doesn’t see what’s going on in my head, and at the same time, to perform better and to stay in the zone,” she said. “It was a huge improvement over the years in my career and really helped me to level up.”How well Gauff manages her emotions could go a long way toward determining whether she will successfully defend her title. She has been open about the process ever since the earliest stages of her career. In 2020, she wrote about it in a post for Behind The Racquet, sharing that she nearly walked away from tennis just before she broke out with her run to the fourth round of Wimbledon in 2019 at age 15.“Going back to around 2017-18, I was struggling to figure out if this was really what I wanted. I always had the results, so that wasn’t the issue. I just found myself not enjoying what I loved,” Gauff wrote.“I am trying to be transparent but also not, like, give the whole world my business, too,” she said after an early three-set comeback win over Solana Sierra at the Italian Open. It was filled with joyless body language, caused by Gauff losing touch with the relaxation routines, like going to her towel and breathing or eating some fruit.“I want to be transparent and vulnerable, I want people to know we show up when we’re not always 100 percent perfect. It’s a fine balance,” she said.Two matches later, Gauff found herself locked in a quarterfinal duel with Mirra Andreeva. With Andreeva up a set, Gauff was teetering as the Russian teenager tried to seize a second-set lead.Gauff kept going, through the match and through the negative emotions. In the final set, she frittered away what was nearly a 5-1 lead, becoming too passive when the match appeared to be over, rather than forcing it to its conclusion.When Andreeva saved a series of match points, something new happened. Gauff started pumping her fist after errors, reminding herself that she could lose points but still be playing great tennis against a terrific opponent.Two matches later, in the final against Svitolina, the new habits were back. The smack on the head with the racket. The frustrated toss after she lost the first set, when she had been on the verge of winning it.When it was over, after Svitolina had surged to the finish line, Gauff reflected on a long 10 days and the title defense that looms.“This week, I experienced all the ups and downs of a tournament,” she said. “I’ve been down, had the lead, lost the lead, I’ve been in the final, been down match point. I think I’ve experienced every scenario. That can prepare me for Roland Garros. Hopefully, I can actually learn from each scenario and do better.”This article originally appeared in The Athletic.Tennis, Peak, Women's Tennis2026 The Athletic Media Company

📸 Memories of 94: Spain and Adidas reissue an iconic shirtWhat were you doing in the summer of ’94? Spain had us dreaming of doing something great at the World Cup until Italy crossed our path, and now Adidas and the RFEF have chosen to pay tribute to that moment with a reissue of the jersey from that World Cup in the USA. The deep red, the geometric lines, and the embroidered crest on the chest are back in our lives to remind us of Salinas and Baggio, but also of Hierro’s authority, Caminero’s class, and that Goikoetxea goal against Germany.The reissue of the ’94 jersey is now on sale through the usual channels.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

Inacio, Reggiani and Mane called up to the Italian national teamSamuele Inacio made his professional debut at the end of February in the home match against Bayern Munich and played a total of seven Bundesliga matches in the 2025/26 season. From matchday 29 onwards, the midfielder featured in every game – including four consecutive starts – and scored his first Bundesliga goal against Eintracht Frankfurt. A week later, the 18-year-old signed his first professional contract.Luca Reggiani (18) made his professional debut in February and has since played eight Bundesliga matches and one in the UEFA Champions League. In March, the centre-back scored his first Bundesliga goal against FC Augsburg and was awarded his first professional contract at the end of the same month.Filippo Mane has been part of the extended first-team squad for some time and signed a professional contract in 2025. In the first match of the 2025/26 season against FC St. Pauli, he not only made his first-team debut but also his Bundesliga debut, though he was shown a red card towards the end of the match. At the start of the year, the 21-year-old had to sit out due to injury. In total, the centre-back has played four Bundesliga matches to date.All three players have previously represented Italian youth teams, with Inacio and Reggiani reaching the semi-finals of the U17 World Cup in November 2025. They are now set to make their debuts for the senior national team.

Lamine Yamal of Spain participates in a pre-game Muslim prayer reflection during the international friendly match between Spain and Egypt prior to the FIFA World Cup, at RCD Stadium on March 31, 2026, in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Gongora/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images Spain boss Luis de la Fuente has been talking up Lamine Yamal ahead of World Cup 2026 and has urged the Barcelona star to seize the moment.Yamal heads into the tournament as the most exciting young player on the planet. He’s part of a strong Spain team that will arrive at the World Cup as one of the favorites, and De la Fuente says Yamal can’t wait to get going.“He’s incredibly excited. He’s incredibly eager. He’s very young but very mature. And he knows this is his moment. And in life, you have to seize your opportunities. You never know how you’ll be at the next World Cup,” he told EFE’s ‘ Los Desayunos program.“And this is Lamine Yamal’s moment . He’s very good, and he’ll only get better as his teammates help him perform at his best. In my opinion, we have the best players in the world in many positions, and that will help him perform even better.”Yamal will also arrive at World Cup 2026 after several weeks on the sidelines through injury. There’s speculation already that he could sit out Spain’s early group games in the hope that he’s eased back carefully.

Nature, Published online: 26 May 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01620-7Countries that want successful innovation systems must invest in science education and science teachers.

Nature, Published online: 26 May 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01665-8Conservation gains should not be at the mercy of political changes

Nature, Published online: 26 May 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01666-7Iran’s Internet blackout: a scholar’s month in the dark

Nature, Published online: 26 May 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01663-wA cautious voice on the closure of China’s journal ranking list

Nature, Published online: 26 May 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01664-9Poland’s economy is thriving, but its science is dying

DHARAMSHALA: Beneath the snow-capped peaks of the Dhauladhar range, the scenic HPCA Stadium is bracing itself for a classic contest for the purists as Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 of the IPL on Tuesday. Amid the power-oriented batting mayhem of the IPL, perfectionists like Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan have shown that class, timing and aggression can not only coexist but thrive in a high-intensity tournament.The trio may appear conventional in approach but have risen to the demands of the ultra-aggressive T20 format and adapted to its ever-growing needs. The Titans’ opening combination of Sudharsan and Gill has produced the tournament’s two leading run-getters, while veteran Kohli is not far behind. He leads the run charts for RCB and is ninth overall in the list of scorers.At 37, Kohli has positioned himself as the foundation of RCB’s batting. Though his opening partners have kept changing, it hasn’t deterred the former India captain. He has scored 557 runs from 14 games at a strike rate of 163.82 and an average of 50.63 this season, including a century against Kolkata Knight Riders. He has added more intent to his game and has dominated match-ups in the Powerplay.However, Kohli will be challenged on a track that may offer early movement by Titans’ new-ball duo of Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj, who have forged a potent combination.On the other hand, Gill and Sudharsan have transformed themselves into one of the most successful opening pairs in IPL history and have equalled the record for most century stands for the first wicket. Despite struggling for form in T20 Internationals, Gill has been consistency personified in the IPL. The 26-year-old has expanded his scoring areas and looked more adept at shifting gears. The runs have flowed from his bat: 616 from 13 matches at an average of 47.38 and an impressive strike-rate of 161.67.Sudharsan may not yet be in the same league as Kohli and Gill in stature, but he has outscored his senior pros this season and is the tournament’s leading run-getter with 638 runs from 14 games at 49.08. 131322383Without compromising on his technique, the southpaw has scored at a fair clip and boasts a strike-rate of 157.92. However, the dynamic duo will run into RCB’s pace pairing of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood and will have their task cut out.

Can another Day 3 Washington Commanders' draft pick land a starring role in 2026?In 2025, the Commanders spent a seventh-round pick on Arizona running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, aka Bill. All Bill did was play in every game for Washington, making seven starts and leading the team with 805 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Not bad for a seventh-round pick who began his college career at Alabama State after being a zero-star recruit out of high school. Could lightning strike twice for the Commanders? In the 2026 NFL Draft, Washington selected Penn State running back Kaytron "Fatman" Allen in the sixth round. The 2026 class was not considered nearly as deep as the 2025 class, so many believed the Commanders landed a steal at pick No. 187.The 5-foot-11, 216-pound Allen is Penn State's all-time leading rusher, an impressive feat when you consider some of the all-time greats who have toted the rock for the Nittany Lions. Allen ran for 4,180 yards and 39 touchdowns during his college career. And despite lasting until the sixth round, Allen did something that no other running back in the 2026 draft class did, but Jeremiyah Love, who went No. 3 overall. Kaytron Allen was 1 of 2 RB’s in the entire 2026 Class to record:- 1,300+ Rushing Yards- 15+ Rushing TD’s- 6.0+ YPCThe only other RB to accomplish this?Jeremiyah Love..I would argue that Kaytron Allen also has such a clear path to becoming the Washington Commanders RB1 pic.twitter.com/f1sSoVh83J— Austin Abbott (@AustinAbbott) April 28, 2026Does Allen have a clear path to becoming Washington's starting running back? I would not go that far, but Allen was an intriguing pick for the Commanders. It was clear this offseason that Washington loves Croskey-Merritt, but wasn't 100% convinced he could be the unquestioned RB1. The Commanders brought back veteran Jeremy McNichols, who plays a variety of roles, and signed veterans Rachaad White and Jerome Ford to one-year deals in free agency. Allen does have a clear path to immediate playing time. Croskey-Merritt is going nowhere and has the higher upside. However, Allen is consistent, gets the tough yards, is patient, and, most importantly, does not fumble. There's certainly a path for Allen to become a significant part of a timeshare situation in the Commanders' backfield in 2026. This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Can lightning strike twice in 2026?

Transfer rumour roundup: Liverpool target Diomande; De Zerbi’s Spurs reboot; Roma plan spree on Zirkzee and SummervilleTuesday's transfer rumours feature Roberto De Zerbi's plan to rebuild Spurs, and Liverpool's trio of targets to replace Mohamed Salah.Mohamed Salah bid his emotional farewell to Liverpool at the weekend with the club icon heading for the Anfield exit. Arne Slot faces a huge task to replace the Egyptian's output, but has whittled down his shortlist to three top targets. RB Leipzig teenager Yan Diomande is the current focus, and has an £86m release clause, while the Telegraph report that Anthony Gordon and Bradley Barcola are also both options.Gordon also remains a transfer target for Bayern Munich. BILD report that the German giants are reportedly ready to offer goalkeeper Alexander Nubel as a sweetener in the deal, with Newcastle's current asking price considered too costly.After Spurs survivedPremier League relegation by the skin of their teeth, Roberto De Zerbi is moving quickly to ensure reinforcements arrive. The North Londoners are ready to rekindle their interest in Manchester City winger Savinho, while Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney also of interest. Nottingham Forest are ready to rival that interest in Hackney, who's considered an potential replacement for Manchester City target Elliot Anderson.Roma are returning to the Champions League next season and have their sights set on two English-based options to strengthen their squad.La Gazzetta dello Sport say that the Serie A side have a €100m war-chest and plan on signing out-of-favour Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee and West Ham winger Crysencio Summerville.Staying in Italy,Juventus have made a late bid to 'hijack' Tottenham's move for Andy Robertson. The left-back is leaving Liverpool as a free agent and had been expected to sign for Spurs. However, Sky Italy say Juventus have thrown their hat into the ring to sign the Scot, while the Bianconeri retain interest in Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker.

Birmingham City’s Marvin Ducksch is attracting interest from the BundesligaMarvin Ducksch (32) scored 10 goals and provided two assists across 33 games in the Championship for Birmingham City in 2025/26, but the German’s goalscoring exploits were unable to secure a Premier League return for the West Midlands club, which could see Ducksch return to Germany, where he scored 105 goals in 268 appearances in Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga.Sky Germany report that Ducksch holds a contract with Birmingham City until 2028, but it includes a non-promotion release clause, reportedly set at €1m, which has become active. As a result, Augsburg, among other unnamed clubs, are showing interest in signing Ducksch, who moved to England for €2m last summer.Augsburg scored 45 goals in 34 Bundesliga games in 2025/26 with Michael Gregoritsch, Anton Kade and Fabian Rieder each contributing six, as the club’s leading scorers in the Bundesliga.GGFN | Daniel Pinder

The playoffs are here, which means it’s time to try and figure out who is going to win titles.While there can only be one state champion, three other teams will leave Brown University with division championship trophies. While the boys’ brackets might be chalkier than a second grade classroom (when chalkboards were still a thing), there are plenty of upsets brewing in all four divisions.So who will compete for and win titles? Here’s a quick look at who we’re taking to win each game this postseason.🥍State Championship PredictionsThe most intriguing part of the Division I bracket is how the matchups played out. While we might not see a single upset, there’s plenty of opportunity for one.It’s not easy to beat a team three times in one season, which is what No. 4 La Salle is going to try and do against No. 5 Prout. Injuries forced the Crusaders to play shorthanded this season and while the Rams are the pick, two close matchups during the regular season show that Prout will have a shot.The other quarterfinal is more intriguing as No. 6 North Kingstown travels to play No. 3 Barrington. The Skippers beat the Eagles in their first matchup, with Barrington getting its revenge in the second. Homefield plays a role in this one so we’ll give the nod to the Eagles.La Salle might make things interesting against Moses Brown, but that’s as close as it’ll get to pulling an upset. East Greenwich’s firepower is too much for Barrington, so we’ll send the Avengers to the final.Defense wins championships and there’s no question about which team has done that the best in 2026.STATE CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION: Moses Brown over East Greenwich🥍Division II PredictionsThere’s one team nobody wants to play in the D-II playoffs and it’s No. 5 Narragansett, which comes in red hot and might be the only upset in any bracket this spring. We’ll take the Mariners over No. 4 Cranston West, with No. 3 Burrillville cruising to a win over No. 6 Lincoln School.The season showed us this is a two-horse race and that’s how the semifinals play out. Westerly ends Narragansett’s terrific late-season spurt and Cumberland’s offense is too much for Burrillville.There are going to be some boring finals at Brown University. This will not be one of them. Westerly has the better team, but Cumberland might have three of the best four players on the field. The Clippers are primed for an upset, but that might be tough against a team that lost in a final last spring.DIVISION II CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION: Westerly over Cumberland🥍Division III PredictionsGirls lacrosse is generally a goal-scoring bonanza, but the D-III quarterfinals are going to be grinds in both matchups. No. 4 Pilgrim got the draw is wanted and is the pick over No. 5 Providence Country Day. No. 3 Ponaganset beat No. 6 East Providence in EP, but the defending D-III champs beat the Chieftains in Glocester and having the best player on the field in Alyssa Karalekas will help them do it again.Don’t expect No. 1 Smithfield to slip up in the semifinals. The Sentinels are locked and loaded after losing last year’s title game and are hungry for revenge. They’ll get a chance, because if East Providence gets past Ponaganset, it won’t be stopped in the semifinals. We’ll take the Townies over No. 2 Toll Gate.A rematch of the D-III final will be a blast, but this East Providence team isn’t the same one that won last year – and the same could be said about Smithfield.DIVISION III CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION: Smithfield over East Providence🥍Division IV PredictionsThere’s one team that can win in D-I. There are two teams that can win in D-II. There’s one team that can win in D-III. As for Division IV? Well, it’s anyone’s game.No. 5 Classical could end up in the final, but No. 4 Tiverton won’t let it get past the quarterfinal round. No. 3 Coventry – the defending D-IV champs – will handle business against No. 6 Rogers.Based off what No. 1 Lincoln did against No. 4 Tiverton in the regular season, the Lions seem like the obvious pick. Not the matchup the Tigers wanted in the semifinals. No. 2 Scituate’s game against Coventry would make for a great championship bout, but it’ll have to stand as the best semifinal we’ll see. The Oakers beat Scituate in the regular season, but this one sees the Spartans open up the offense a little more and get a tough win.Lincoln and Scituate will be a strength vs. strength battle. The Lions are more talented offensively, the Spartans are better on defense and in goal. Something has to give. My only goal is to not get a hernia before the final for the second straight season.DIVISION IV CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION: Lincoln over ScituateThis article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: 2026 RIIL Girls Lacrosse Playoff Predictions for Division I II III IV

President Donald Trump walks down the stairs of Air Force One upon his arrival at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Friday, Nov. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)2026-05-26T09:32:16Z WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is scheduled to get a medical exam on Tuesday, putting his health under renewed public scrutiny after he has worked to dismiss concerns over his age and stamina.The 79-year-old president is scheduled to visit Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for what the White House described as annual preventative medical and dental checkups. It will be Trump’s fourth publicly disclosed medical exam since he returned to office for a second term, and comes as he tries to project strength ahead of midterm elections that will test his sway with voters.For decades, administrations have released selected results from presidential physicals, offering the public a glimpse at the commander-in-chief’s health. But the results are filtered through the White House and must be approved by the president, raising questions about what the public does and doesn’t get to see. Trump turns 80 next month and was the oldest person elected U.S. president. His predecessor, former President Joe Biden, was 82 when he left office, dropping out of the 2024 presidential race because of widespread concerns he was too old for the job. A Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll conducted in April found that less than half of U.S. adults think Trump has the mental sharpness or physical health to serve effectively as president. “I think concern for the president’s physical health is probably at an all-time high, and I think advanced physical age is the No. 1 concern,” said Dr. Jeffrey Kuhlman, who served as a White House physician for more than a decade under former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Read More For a president of Trump’s age, a complete physical would be expected to include advanced heart testing, screening for common cancers and a cognitive assessment, along with basics like height, weight and blood pressure, Kuhlman said. The White House has not disclosed what the visit will entail, but expressed confidence in what it will show.“President Trump is the sharpest and most accessible President in American history who is working nonstop to solve problems and deliver on his promises, and he remains in excellent health,” White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said in a statement.No law requiring presidents to disclose their medical recordsIn the weeks leading up to his visit, Trump has been saying he feels as good as he did five decades ago — even as he jokes about his fondness for fast food and his minimal exercise regimen. Yet he’s also sensitive to perceptions about his age, noting that he takes extra caution descending the steps from Air Force One to avoid headlines about a stumble.There is no formal law requiring presidents to publicize their health records, and the degree of transparency has varied by administration. Trump’s past reports have been criticized for offering scant detail and reporting statistics that some medical experts eyed with skepticism.At public appearances, Trump is often seen wearing makeup to conceal bruising on his hands, which the White House attributes to handshaking and regular aspirin use. He has sometimes appeared drowsy during meetings and closed his eyes for long stretches, though he denies having fallen asleep. Trump often boasts of having “aced” cognitive tests while frequently deriding Biden, who faced questions about his mental acuity. Some of Trump’s previous physicals have included the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, used to screen for dementia and cognitive impairment. His physicians reported a score of 30 out of 30 for Trump at 2018 and 2025 checkups.Yet critics have pointed to Trump’s meandering speeches and sometimes bellicose rhetoric as evidence of cognitive decline.Last month, a statement from more than 30 neurologists, psychiatrists and other medical experts — who acknowledged they’ve never examined him — said Trump was mentally unfit to serve and warned of an “increasingly dangerous decline” in his behavior based on what they called “objectively observable signs of serious medical concern.″ “Any so-called medical professionals engaging in armchair diagnosis or false speculation for political purposes are clearly breaking the Hippocratic Oath they’ve sworn to,” Ingle said. Just like any other patient, presidents get to choose what’s disclosed about their health, said Sara Rosenthal, a bioethicist at the University of Kentucky who studies presidential health. Questions about transparency have become more acute as America elects aging presidents like Trump and Biden, she said.“I think we can expect very little disclosure about the true health status of any president unless they’re in perfect health,” said Rosenthal, who has suggested an independent medical organization to review and report on the health of the president and those in the line of succession. ‘Nothing should be hidden’Trump’s first medical report in his second term was released last April. In July, he was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a common condition in older adults that causes blood to pool in his veins. Photographs have shown the president with swollen feet, ankles, and calves, described by the White House as a symptom of chronic venous insufficiency leading to “mild swelling” in his lower legs.Following his last publicly disclosed exam, described as a routine follow-up last October, Trump’s physician issued a one-page summary saying the president was in “exceptional health” without divulging many specific results.The frequency of Trump’s medical checkups is not uncommon for someone his age, according to S. Jay Olshansky of the University of Illinois-Chicago, who has studied the health of past presidents. It’s part of a strategy to catch problems while they’re still treatable, Olshansky said.Olshansky says the public deserves to see more than White House medical summaries that “may be subject to editorial discretion.” Full, unredacted medical records should be made public, he said: “Nothing should be hidden.”The White House has not said whether Trump’s visit will include any procedures that may require anesthesia. Trump’s last colon exam was in 2024 and recommended a follow-up in three years. If Trump were given anesthesia, Vice President JD Vance would be expected to assume temporary control of the office under the 25th Amendment. That last happened in 2021 when Vice President Kamala Harris was briefly sworn in while Biden had a colonoscopy. Former President George W. Bush twice turned over power to Vice President Dick Cheney. COLLIN BINKLEY Binkley covers the White House and education policy for The Associated Press. He is based in Washington and joined the AP in 2015. twitter mailto

People tend to their pets outside Freedom Hall, an evacuation center in Fountain Valley, Calif., on Monday, May 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)2026-05-26T04:15:52Z Emergency officials lifted an evacuation order for some of the people who live near a damaged tank containing a hazardous chemical in Southern California after temperatures inside the tank fell enough to eliminate the risk of a catastrophic explosion.While there’s no longer a risk of a major explosion at the GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems plant in Garden Grove, there’s still a chance for a smaller blast or a fire, Orange County Fire Authority division chief Craig Covey said during a news conference on Monday.An overnight evaluation of the tank containing 6,000 to 7,000 gallons (22,700 to 26,500 liters) of methyl methacrylate, which is highly flammable, showed a reduction of pressure inside the tank thanks to a crack that was discovered Sunday. About two-thirds — roughly 34,000 — of the evacuated residents can go home as a result, Covey said. “It’s not over yet. We still have work to do,” Covey said. “We still have to mitigate a fire and very small explosion concern, and also a spill potential.” Officials began ordering residents of Garden Grove, near Los Angeles, to evacuate their homes on Thursday after the tank overheated, and by the weekend about 50,000 residents had been told to leave. Officials said they needed to cool the tank to prevent a toxic leak or explosion. The tank’s interior had cooled to 93 degrees F (33.9 degrees C), Covey said Monday, down from 100 degrees (37.7 degrees C) a day earlier. Read More Orange County Health Director Regina Chinsio-Kwong said she wanted to reassure everyone who is returning home that they can feel safe. Exposure to methyl methacrylate can cause serious respiratory problems, neurological problems and irritation to the skin, eyes and throat, according to the federal Environmental Protection Agency.“There was no contamination. There were no fumes. There were not vapors that came from this incident,” she said at the news conference. “There was not a leak. So it should be, you should feel comfortable going home even if you’re across the street from that new zone line.” Environmental risks remainThe tank might eventually cool enough for crews to safely stabilize and drain the remaining material without triggering a spark or ignition, said Andrew Whelton, a Purdue University engineering professor who has studied environmental contamination.Whelton cautioned there is still some risk of an explosion while the chemical inside the tank remains hot and reactive. He said temperatures need to fall closer to ambient levels — roughly 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (15.6 to 21.1 degrees C) — before conditions are considered significantly safer.As the interior temperature of the tank increased, methyl methacrylate — which is used to make plastics — converted from liquid to gas, ramping up the pressure and risk of explosion, Whelton said.Some of the methyl methacrylate may already have hardened into a stable plastic similar to plexiglass, reducing the risk inside the tank, he said.Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen said the South Coast Air Quality Management District will be monitoring the air for several months and the EPA will be checking the sewer and storm drains.County health officials have said the chemical is easy to smell and people may notice it over a large area without being harmed. Relief among residents after hearing the latest updateAuthorities have not defined what a catastrophic explosion might mean, but said Monday the worst-case scenario is off the table. Kim Yen, a retiree who had to evacuate her Garden Grove home, said she has been closely following the news and is relieved to learn that the worst has passed.“I am happy and many of us are happy but, still, we are still on our evacuation,” she said.Yen, who lives two blocks from the plant, said she’s ready to return home but first wants to be sure it’s safe. And, she said, she’s been worried about the emergency crews.“They are really our heroes,” Yen said.The parking lot was full Monday at a large park in Fountain Valley, just southwest of Garden Grove, as people sought refuge in an ad hoc shelter there or pitched tents outside. Other people gathered in the park to enjoy Memorial Day. GKN is a British company that supplies aircraft manufacturers GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems, which owns the plant, is a British company that makes cockpit windows, canopies and windshields for military and commercial aircraft. GKN Aerospace technical specialists and the Orange County Fire Authority removed external insulation material from the tank to help cool its contents, according to a GKN Aerospace statement released Monday. “We apologize for the ongoing disruption this incident is causing and our priority remains its safe resolution, so that residents can return to their homes as quickly as possible,” the statement said. GKN Aerospace says on its website that it employs about 16,000 people across 32 manufacturing sites in 12 countries and supplies technologies and components used by major commercial and military aircraft manufacturers worldwide. It remained unknown when the operation would reopen. GKN Aerospace agreed in 2025 to pay state regulators more than $900,000 to settle violations involving recordkeeping, permitting issues and nitrogen oxide emissions, according to a report on the South Coast Air Quality Management District website.Aircraft manufacturing vulnerable to supply chain disruptionsDisruptions at facilities producing specialized aircraft components can be difficult for the global aerospace industry to absorb because supply chains are highly concentrated and already strained, said Richard Aboulafia, managing director of the aerospace consulting firm AeroDynamic Advisory. Aboulafia said aerospace manufacturing differs from many other industries because aircraft production rates are relatively low, leaving only a small number of suppliers for many specialized parts and systems.“There’s just not a lot of margin in the system,” he said.___Willingham reported from Boston. Stengle reported from Dallas. Associated Press journalist Ethan Swope in Garden Grove, California, contributed to this report.

At the prestigious garden show, attendees jockeyed to buy prizewinning blooms and debated the role of whimsy as a ban on garden gnomes was temporarily lifted.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s new housing plan will include measures to improve New York City’s crumbling public housing system.

A man, who was not a guest at the Miami Beach hotel, was accused of assaulting the girl in the hotel’s outdoor pool.

Judges and grand juries have increasingly lost faith in the Justice Department as the president uses it to reward his friends and go after his opponents.

The co-founder of a prominent A.I. company was nearby as the pope implored A.I. leaders to slow down and consider the technology’s possible perils.

CLEVELAND — In the wake of the Cavaliers' playoff-ending, season-ending, dream-ending loss May 25 to the New York Knicks, there was only one thing Donovan Mitchell found funny.The Cavs lost 130-93 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals to the Knicks, who completed a four-game sweep to advance to the NBA Finals.The left the Cavs somewhat on both sides of the fence when evaluating their playoff run. They did accomplish some major goals for the franchise, but they also fell short of their ultimate goal, an NBA title.This summer, the organization will have a number of questions to answer and decisions to make, some that could impact the makeup of the front office, the coach's office and/or the roster. In the NBA, the head coach often takes a good chunk of the blame, warranted or not, and the coaches carousel goes round and round each summer.When asked about the idea that Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson would take heavy criticism for Cleveland's playoff demise, Mitchell said, before making an impassioned defense of Atkinson, "It's just hilarious.""We've done something that we haven't done since 2018 … there's going to be criticism everywhere on Kenny, right? But why?" Mitchell said. "We got here. … We didn't just go out there and coach ourselves. People are going to be people. People probably criticize me just as much, and then James [Harden], but I love Kenny. We love Kenny. We ride with Kenny and, ultimately, that's all that matters, right?"Such is life in the NBA. One needs to only look at the other bench, and the team celebrating an Eastern Conference championship at Rocket Arena, to see a recent example. Last year, the Knicks reached the conference finals for the first time in more than two decades with coach Tom Thibodeau. But as the franchise evaluated its path forward, it still decided to move on from Thibodeau and hire Mike Brown in his place, feeling the latter was a better fit.NBA head coaches, at times, receive the brunt of the blame regardless of the context that led them there."I know for a fact he's from Long Island, he don't give a damn [about the outside criticism]," Mitchell said, as he and Atkinson have New York ties. "But it's just the world we live in. We could have made it to the Finals and got swept, somebody was going to say something. I told you out there, even if we won, there's going to be something. 'Can we do it?' It's always going to be something for people to say, but ultimately, we're in the thick of it, we're in it together and that's my biggest thing."Cavaliers playoff history with Kenny Atkinson, Donovan MitchellIf the Cavaliers' leadership believes the conference finals sweep at the hands of those same Knicks went sideways enough to warrant a change, they might go that route. That isn't to say it is endorsed, but very little can be entirely ruled out, as it isn't yet clear what is on the table and what isn't. Then again, Atkinson led the Cavs to the conference finals with a roster that didn't include LeBron James for the first time since 1992, and had them as one of four teams left competing for a championship.Mitchell certainly endorsed Atkinson after the Game 4 loss. Harden, too, echoed that sentiment, and put the conference finals loss more on the Cavs' shooting woes than anything else."Ultimate players coach. Like, he gets it," Harden said. "He understands the team. And, yeah, of course, somebody's gonna have to take the criticism, whether it's myself or Kenny, the entire team, whoever. They're gonna put it on somebody. But I think for Kenny, he did an unbelievable job of getting me acclimated as fast as possible to understanding what I was supposed to be doing out there. And it's just an unfortunate situation."Any team coming off of the tough two series against two defensive monsters, it would have been challenging. … Other than [the third quarter of Game 1], I don't necessarily remember a quarter where we actually made shots, like as a group, which is like, you're not gonna win against any team."Michell and Harden both made it clear that, at least publicly, they believe Atkinson is the right coach moving forward. Atkinson's response about the team's future revolved around his belief they're all trending in the right direction as a unit."Listen, I have confidence — confidence in myself, first of all, confidence in the group. The roster talk, that's for down the line," Atkinson said. "Our front office has done a phenomenal job giving us a great roster. Obviously, there'll be decisions to be made like every summer, but I think we're doing pretty well with those decisions since I've been here. So, just keep trusting, trusting our process, trusting our collaboration."Ryan Lewis cover the Cavaliers for the Akron Beacon Journal. He can be reached at rlewis1@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: After Knicks loss, Donovan Mitchell, James Harden back Kenny Atkinson

CLEVELAND — With the Cavaliers swept out of the Eastern Conference Finals with a humiliating 130-93 Game 4 loss to the New York Knicks, coach Kenny Atkinson said he “absolutely” considers the 2025-26 Cavs season a success.All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell rode the fence.“Yeah and no,” Mitchell said. “I mean, the ultimate goal is a championship, right? So, in that perspective we failed. But we were 17-16 at one point.“Seeing the growth from a lot of individuals in this locker room, I'm very proud of the locker room for that. But a lot of the young guys, man, they don't get enough credit. They held us afloat. We had injuries upon injuries upon adversity.”Cavs playoffs: Cavaliers vs. Knicks Game 4 instant reactionsAtkinson’s case?“That was the task, right?” Atkinson said. “Take another step, and we know the Knicks were in the conference finals last year, right? This is how you have to [progress]. There are barriers, right? And we jumped a barrier that we were stuck on. Second round, second round, second round — stuck on that. You make a jump. It's hard. Not easy to do in a really competitive East.”Hang on. No, no, no, no.The Cavs advanced beyond the second round and thereby made the conference finals for the first time since 2018 and the first time without LeBron James since 1992. But the Cavs should not be let off the hook for how they squandered the opportunity.The Cavs did not have a successful season. Don’t let them convince you otherwise. They’re apt to spin this out of self-preservation.Since the Cavs traded for Mitchell in 2022, they became a team judged on postseason performance. Their record in the 2026 playoffs was 8-10. Remember, the Cavs had the NBA's most expensive roster this season and were its only team in the second apron.And, in February, when the Cavs traded Darius Garland for James Harden, a deal aging the team’s starting point guard spot by 10 years, Cleveland entered NBA Finals-or-bust mode. With a chance to go to the Finals, the Cavs were not competitive with the Knicks.The Cavs folded toward the end, too. Their 4-0 series defeat was sealed with a 37-point loss in Game 4 on Monday, May 25. It ranks second for the largest margin of defeat in Cavs playoff history. Further twisting the knife into Cleveland sports fans, Knicks enthusiasts invaded Rocket Arena for the second consecutive game and took control as New York dominated.Mitchell even felt the need to apologize to Cleveland and its fans during his postgame news conference.Yet, Atkinson, Mitchell and Harden also gave major run-it-back vibes.Mitchell and Harden defended Atkinson. His postseason coaching is receiving rampant criticism, giving rise to questions about whether he’ll be fired.Harden said he wants to return to the Cavs and expects to be back. He has a player option on his contract for next season at $42.3 million, with only $13.3 million guaranteed. “It’s tough not ending how we wanted to, but I think we found something,” Harden said.Mitchell offered a similar sentiment when he was asked about his contractual situation. He is under contract for next season at $50.1 million, but he will become eligible to sign an extension on July 7. He has a player option for the 2027-28 season worth $53.8 million.“I love it here,” Mitchell said. “I don't know how else to say it. I've said it before I signed the other extension [with the Cavs in July 2024]. I love it here, and I have no doubt this group can get there.“We have unfinished business. It's great energy to see the city when we got to the conference finals, just to feel that, like, that's amazing. And that's why getting swept like this sucks. … The city deserves a ring, and we've just got to keep going.”Cavs playoffs: New York Knicks knock out Cleveland Cavaliers and head to NBA FinalsThe status quo isn’t going to produce the ring Mitchell referenced.The Knicks extended their playoff winning streak to 11 games and proved they’re in a different class than the Cavs. The East won’t be weaker next season, either. The Knicks, Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors are set up for a large degree of continuity. The Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers will benefit from Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton, respectively, being more than a year removed from torn Achilles tendons.The Cavs dived deeper into win-now mode with the Harden trade, and they need to double down on it in the offseason.Trade for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo or acquire LeBron James in free agency. Who’s saying no to the ultra-aggressive power play of landing both?When Mitchell was asked whether he would like to see Akron native James return to the Cavs, Mitchell said he’ll leave the question to president of basketball operations Koby Altman and general manager Mike Gansey.Well, what about owner Dan Gilbert? Is he eyeing a splash?Atkinson said he believes ownership and the front office agree with him and Cavs players about the season being a success.We took a step ahead this spring, but we are nowhere near where we need to be. I can’t thank the fans enough for the support this year. We will dig in all summer and do everything we possibly can to take the next step. We will grind until we get there.Congrats to the @nyknicks,…— Dan Gilbert (@cavsdan) May 26, 2026Gilbert’s definition of a successful season matters more than anyone else’s in the Cavs universe.“We took a step ahead this spring, but we are nowhere near where we need to be,” Gilbert tweeted after the dreaded sweep. “I can’t thank the fans enough for the support this year. We will dig in all summer and do everything we possibly can to take the next step. We will grind until we get there. Congrats to the [Knicks], and best of luck in the Finals.”A step? Yes. Nowhere near where the Cavs need to be? Yes.A success? No.The boss seems to concur.Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs season not a success with sweep vs. Knicks in conference finals

DHARAMSHALA: If not for the IPL, Bhuvneshwar Kumar may have quietly slipped from the spotlight after serving India for more than a decade. In the batting-dominated world of the league, however, the veteran seamer has held his own and forced everyone to take note of his bowling exploits.With 24 wickets from 14 matches, the 36-year-old sits at the top of the wicket-takers’ chart this season along with Kagiso Rabada. His wickets have come at an economy of 8.07 and a strike rate of 13.75. Last year wasn’t bad either. He played a crucial role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s maiden IPL triumph, claiming 17 wickets from 14 games.Bhuvneshwar sounds like a man who has made peace with his time in international cricket, having last played for India in a T20I against New Zealand in Napier in 2022. But that hasn’t stopped the India veteran from delivering. He looks supremely fit for a 36-year-old. He has cut down on domestic cricket and uses the UP T20 league to get himself into the best physical shape for the rigours of the IPL. Swing has never been a problem for the UP veteran from the day he first held the ball in his hand. What Bhuvneshwar has done remarkably well over the years is adjust his length. His international experience helps him read the surface early, and he pitches the ball up only when the track offers initial movement. If the surface doesn’t assist, he keeps batters guessing with subtle variations in length. This season, he has claimed 15 of his 24 wickets in the Powerplay.Where Bhuvneshwar has improved dramatically is in the death overs. He mixes his lengths, nails the yorker and has added a useful knuckleball to his armoury. He has also formed a potent combination with Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood and acts as a mentor to the likes of Rasikh Dar in the side.“He is an experienced bowler. He knows about his strengths. His presence in the team is very important as he talks to the junior players often and guides them,” said RCB captain Rajat Patidar.His journey this season, however, hasn’t been without blips. He was carted around the park in RCB’s previous game against Sunrisers Hyderabad, conceding 51 from his four without claiming a wicket.

As far as position battles and competitions go, the biggest question mark for the Tennessee Titans as they make their way through summer OTAs and minicamp practices will be how coaches plug the holes at center and right guard.These are big holes. Replacing Lloyd Cushenberry III and Kevin Zeitler is a make-or-break necessity as quarterback Cam Ward develops in Year 2. Coach Robert Saleh knows this. So does offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. Veterans Austin Schlottmann and Cordell Volson are in position to compete, as are homegrown youngsters Jackson Slater, Fernando Carmona Jr. and Pat Coogan. None of these options are proven commodities, so whichever players win the jobs, they'll have to outplay their reputations.But more importantly, it's difficult to prove how good of an offensive lineman you are without hitting or getting hit. It's fatalistic to say nothing the Titans do on the field will matter until training camp starts in late July, but it's probably fair to say there's not much Coogan, Carmona and Slater can do to separate themselves from Schlottmann and Volson before training camp when there won't be many opportunities to do any real blocking.That's the problem with talking about OTAs and minicamp, especially in the trenches. Good performance or bad, no one can escape the "it's not real football" caveat.Every coach has a different relationship with the value of padless on-field work. Saleh, in his first year leading the Titans, shared his perspective with The Tennessean. Here's how Saleh watches practices this time of year, a good window into how fans and readers should think from what they're seeing, hearing and learning about Titans offseason practices."There's a difference between the classroom and then the post-snap cognitive aspect with regards to being able to play football, and you can see it in the way guys move and the way they respond to different post-snap activity," Saleh said. "Like when the picture changes, how does a player respond? You can get a lot information with regards to OTAs. "Now, no one's ever made a team in OTAs because that cognitive part, as freely as it moves in OTAs, changes when pads come on and the speed gets a little bit faster and it gets a little more violent. You'll find a lot of players who shine in OTAs, not usually, but a lot of players will disappear once pads come on, versus guys who didn't show well in OTAs kind of appear once the pads came on. So it gives you kind of an idea, but you never want to pass a stamped judgment until pads come on."As May gives way to June and then July, keep Saleh's perspective in mind. These practices won't be ignored, but they're more about establishing a baseline than they are for settling any debates.Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X @nicksuss. Subscribe to the Talkin’ Titans newsletter for updates sent directly to your inbox.This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What to look for from Titans practices, the way Robert Saleh does

As far as position battles and competitions go, the biggest question mark for the Tennessee Titans as they make their way through summer OTAs and minicamp practices will be how coaches plug the holes at center and right guard.These are big holes. Replacing Lloyd Cushenberry III and Kevin Zeitler is a make-or-break necessity as quarterback Cam Ward develops in Year 2. Coach Robert Saleh knows this. So does offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. Veterans Austin Schlottmann and Cordell Volson are in position to compete, as are homegrown youngsters Jackson Slater, Fernando Carmona Jr. and Pat Coogan. None of these options are proven commodities, so whichever players win the jobs, they'll have to outplay their reputations.But more importantly, it's difficult to prove how good of an offensive lineman you are without hitting or getting hit. It's fatalistic to say nothing the Titans do on the field will matter until training camp starts in late July, but it's probably fair to say there's not much Coogan, Carmona and Slater can do to separate themselves from Schlottmann and Volson before training camp when there won't be many opportunities to do any real blocking.That's the problem with talking about OTAs and minicamp, especially in the trenches. Good performance or bad, no one can escape the "it's not real football" caveat.Every coach has a different relationship with the value of padless on-field work. Saleh, in his first year leading the Titans, shared his perspective with The Tennessean. Here's how Saleh watches practices this time of year, a good window into how fans and readers should think from what they're seeing, hearing and learning about Titans offseason practices."There's a difference between the classroom and then the post-snap cognitive aspect with regards to being able to play football, and you can see it in the way guys move and the way they respond to different post-snap activity," Saleh said. "Like when the picture changes, how does a player respond? You can get a lot information with regards to OTAs. "Now, no one's ever made a team in OTAs because that cognitive part, as freely as it moves in OTAs, changes when pads come on and the speed gets a little bit faster and it gets a little more violent. You'll find a lot of players who shine in OTAs, not usually, but a lot of players will disappear once pads come on, versus guys who didn't show well in OTAs kind of appear once the pads came on. So it gives you kind of an idea, but you never want to pass a stamped judgment until pads come on."As May gives way to June and then July, keep Saleh's perspective in mind. These practices won't be ignored, but they're more about establishing a baseline than they are for settling any debates.Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X @nicksuss. Subscribe to the Talkin’ Titans newsletter for updates sent directly to your inbox.This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What to look for from Titans practices, the way Robert Saleh does

The Metropolitan Detention Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where ProPublica found that the jail population of people marked “transient” or homeless surged to 12,000 in 2025 from 3,670 in 2022 Ramsay de Give for ProPublica Judges, state public defenders and city officials in Albuquerque, New Mexico, are taking steps to curb a cycle of missed court dates and arrest warrants for crimes related to living outside that has led to a county jail population that’s about half homeless. Eighteen months ago, judges in Bernalillo County, which includes Albuquerque, noticed an increase in charges related to homelessness — including for obstructing a sidewalk, unlawful camping and unlawful storage of personal property. They said they also saw that some people who received the citations didn’t have an address and were missing court dates. People living on the street often lack cellphones and permanent addresses, making it difficult for them to know when to appear in court. Missed court appearances can lead to warrants that — if the person encounters officers again — can land them in jail. Starting July 1, when Albuquerque police issue citations for nine offenses associated with homelessness, they will schedule related court appearances for Fridays, according to a memo issued by Presiding Criminal Division Judge Michelle Castillo Dowler. The judges anticipate that having a specific day each week for the city ordinance cases will lead to fewer people missing court dates and fewer warrants for failing to appear. Officials will also use the set hearings to attempt to address the problem in other ways. A caseworker and an attorney from the New Mexico Law Offices of the Public Defender will attend the Friday hearings. The public defender’s office is also working to have local treatment and service providers available outside the courtroom, said Dennica Torres, the district defender for the public defender’s office. “It’s like a one-stop shop on Fridays,” she said. Her office, the district attorney’s office and the courts have been working since last year to address the homelessness-related caseload. The city of Albuquerque has also set aside $200,000 for a city attorney or paralegal to assist with the Friday effort, Torres said. “We can’t simply just cycle vulnerable individuals through jail and back out on the street,” Mayor Tim Keller said at a recent news conference. “Both of those are not the right answer.” The changes come after ProPublica reported in March that under Keller’s tenure, charges have skyrocketed for ordinances related to living on the street. In 2025, people were charged 1,256 times for obstructing sidewalks, nearly six times the number of cases in the previous eight years combined; more than 3,000 trespassing charges were handed out, the highest for any year since 2017; and cases of unlawful camping increased to 704 from 113 the year before, according to previously unreported county data. Read More Albuquerque’s Mayor Said Arrests Were “Not the Solution” to Homelessness. Yet Jail Bookings Have Skyrocketed. Court data shows that charges for the nine offenses that will be part of the court’s Friday hearings continue to rise — from 579 between January and April of 2025 to 2,072 during the same period this year. (Judges did not include trespassing in the charges scheduled for Fridays.) ProPublica found the number of people at Bernalillo County’s Metropolitan Detention Center who are designated as “transient” or homeless has soared in recent years, to nearly 12,000 in 2025, from 3,670 in 2022. Last week, nearly 53% of people booked at the jail were recorded as homeless. Keller did not respond to ProPublica’s questions or requests for comment. But he previously told the news organization that arrests and citations are not a solution to homelessness, which is a contentious issue in Albuquerque. While the city’s homeless population more than doubled from 2022 to 2025, the increase in homeless people jailed by the county more than tripled. Keller, who has been mayor since 2017, has responded by increasingly deploying city crews to clear encampments and also by ramping up enforcement of crimes related to being homeless. Keller previously defended the Albuquerque Police Department’s actions. “What we’re doing is following the letter of the law,” he said. “There are much more punitive things that I’m sure a lot of people would want, that we don’t do because they’re inappropriate.” The post Albuquerque Officials Take Steps to Curb Surge in Citations, Jail Stays Related to Homelessness appeared first on ProPublica.

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Burt Jones, the leading G.O.P. candidate for governor, worked with Trump allies to try to overturn the election, and even talked to the president himself.

Michael Bay wasn’t remotely worried about the science in his 1998 science-fiction action hit that launched an elite ensemble cast to space.

Early season pregame cold.. Leads to mid-Spring excitement | John Schneider - SB Nation The Hokies travel a long way for an opening round double elimination tournament regional effort in Los Angeles, CA. Though potentially facing #1 seeded UCLA, Tech gets a #2 seed in in the regional. The Hokies keep their season alive with a solid opportunity to advance. This is the second selection in Coach John Szefc’s tenure.Tech’s Late Season Charge Nets Them an InvitationThough the Hokies did win one game in the ACC Tournament to sweeten their record to 30 wins and 24 losses for the season, they did run into a serious late game punch in the chops by North Carolina. They did, however, score 4 runs and hold on to until the very late innings. It’s really amazing how baseball plays out during the long seasons that the programs play. In April, Tech was faced with a sub .500 record, and several ACC series losses. It was never smooth and easy for the team, and the Hokie Hammers were sometimes a bit on the quiet side, but the starting pitching and enough of the bull pen began getting some traction to balance out the ups and downs at the plate to win the final four ACC series weekends, and grab enough non-conference wins to close the regular season with 29 in the bag and a positive win/loss rato. The end result of the Hokies’ hard charge in the second half was an ACC bye, and Division I Tournament bid as an at-large team. “We finished 7th and had a first-round bye in one of the best conferences in the country." ✅@HokiesBaseball has undoubtedly earned a spot in the postseason. pic.twitter.com/ydR6xpj69E— ACC Baseball (@ACCBaseball) May 25, 2026It’s a Long Trip but Nobody will be ComplainingThe west coast regional isn’t optimal on the travel count, but given the team’s standing in April, and the ups and downs in the bull pen, this was a masterful coaching job by John Szefc. He and his staff worked with the players and especially the bull pen to refocus and buckle down on fundamentals. Batting averages rose, pitching improved, and most notably starting pitcher Brett Renfrow turned his season around.𝘽𝙖𝙘𝙠, 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙩𝙤 𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙞, 𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙞 🌴#Hokies 🦃⚾️ pic.twitter.com/fc8YILmAEE— Virginia Tech Baseball (@HokiesBaseball) May 25, 2026The Hokies will face off in the double elimination regional against California Polytechnic Institute (Cal Poly), Saint Mary’s College, and finally tournament host UCLA. It’s not going to be easy against two potential home crowd teams in UCLA and Cal Poly, but the Hokies have done well against home teams this season.VPI vs. CPI, FirstTech will face off against Cal Poly on May 29th at 8:00 PM Eastern time. Then the Hokies will take on Saint Mary’s (also a California university) on May 30th. UCLA will be waiting.𝘽𝙖𝙜𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧 🧳We've already traveled more than 𝟔,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬 this season … what's a little more, #HokieNation?!Next stop – Los Angeles!#Hokies 🦃⚾️ pic.twitter.com/RJfzjlqTYD— Virginia Tech Baseball (@HokiesBaseball) May 25, 2026The entire NCAA Bracket for the Tournament is available, here.2026 Division I Baseball Official Bracket | NCAA.comIt’s Going to Be a Long Happy Trip!GO HOKIES!!!

Bournemouth’s Romain Faivre could stay at AuxerreRomain Faivre (27) could stay at AJ Auxerre beyond his current loan spell, as per a report from L’Équipe. Faivre spent the 2025/26 season on loan at Auxerre from AFC Bournemouth. In that time, he made 10 Ligue 1 appearances for L’AJA, registering two assists in that time. It is sufficient for Auxerre to attempt to renew his loan deal. L’Équipe understands that there is an agreement in place between all parties for a new loan for the 2026/27 season. Faivre’s contract at Bournemouth runs until 2028, meaning that by the end of the new loan, he would have just one year remaining on his deal with the Premier League side.However, the deal could be complicated by the situation regarding Christophe Pélissier. It was reported – but not confirmed – that Pélissier had been sacked. Club president Baptiste Malherbe is attempting to get owner James Zhou to go back on his decision. Should he succeed, the future of sporting director David Wantier would be compromised and so, perhaps, the Faivre deal.GFFN | Luke Entwistle

When Oleksandr Usyk debuted in the heavyweight division, it felt like the game had changed. The former undisputed cruiserweight champion was attacking the division in a way not seen in this generation: new angles, new speed, new thought – and when the Russia-Ukraine conflict ignited in 2022, a unique motivation. But on Saturday, the game changed for Usyk himself, and for the first time, he is in a no-win situation. Usyk’s reputation has always felt untouchable, through a combination of his bewitching boxing, his refreshingly-upstanding personal nature, and that drive to give his beleaguered Ukraine something to celebrate in the face of inconceivable horrors. Oleksandr Usyk during his tough clash with Rico Verhoeven (Reuters)So, when the unified champion opted for a voluntary title defence against Rico Verhoeven, a kickboxing icon with just one pro boxing match to his name, it would have felt harsh to even bat an eyelid. Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua both boxed UFC star Francis Ngannou over the last three years, and “AJ” even fought a YouTuber in Jake Paul six months ago. It was unexpected that Usyk would tread similar terrain, but after beating Fury, Joshua and Daniel Dubois twice each, he had earned a supposedly-easier outing.That brought him to Saturday and to the pyramids of Giza, whose very existence have often raised unanswerable questions about invention and labour. And against Verhoeven, Usyk laboured in a way we have not seen before, with his usual invention distinctly lacking.Yes, Verhoeven was bigger. Yes, as a non-boxer – but with the great Peter Fury in his corner – he approached this fight without the pressure that has consumed many of Usyk's opponents. As Chris Algieri put it: he fought like a big man on the inside, and a small man on the outside.But those aspects alone do not account for Verhoeven’s impressive display in Egypt, where this writer had him 97-93 up after 10 rounds, before Usyk’s late, controversial KO win. For as good as Verhoeven was, Usyk fought sluggishly and agitatedly. You could argue there’s an element of chicken and egg to this: was Usyk sluggish because he was struggling with Verhoeven’s application of weight, and was he agitated by the Dutchman’s movement – those twitchy feet and the constant circling away from Usyk’s southpaw power hand? To give Usyk his due credit, he eventually found his timing, range and rhythm, with uppercuts proving decisive as a tiring Verhoeven reverted to a higher, closer guard. It was one such shot that dropped Verhoeven, 37, in round 11. And while much of the ensuing controversy (rightly) centred on the referee stopping the fight after the bell, there is an imperfect counter-argument that Verhoeven was given extra time to recover from the initial knockdown, as he was allowed to re-insert his mouthguard while in his corner. Two wrongs don’t make a right, of course, so have a third anyway: the scores were 95-95, 95-95, and 96-94 in Verhoeven’s favour after 10 rounds.Usyk dropped Verhoeven late in round 11 before a controversial finish (Getty)In any case, as Steve Bunce wrote in these pages: “The first thing Usyk said when he was interviewed in the ring was not about the fight, but about a conversation he had with his daughter that very day. ‘She is in a bomb shelter,’ he said. Have we become so immune to human disaster that we hear that and still question why a man did not look and fight like he normally does?”The problem for Usyk is that fans are fickle and unforgiving.If the 39-year-old opts for a rematch with Verhoeven, his almost-impenetrable reputation will degrade slightly from two successive bouts with a kickboxer, at the expense of his mandatory challenger, Agit Kabayel, getting his rightful shot. Yet if Usyk chooses to face Kabayel, a sour taste will be left in many a mouth, with Verhoeven hard done by.For what it’s worth, Kabayel’s promoter Frank Warren said “we’re not going to stand for” Usyk vs Rico 2, and Usyk vs Kabayel (perhaps in the latter’s native Germany) would be a strong match-up. On paper, it would be a tougher test for Usyk than the first Verhoeven fight, or even a rematch, in which the Ukrainian would likely figure out the kickboxer more quickly.Agit Kabayel is the WBC’s mandatory challenger to Usyk (Getty)But boxing matches aren’t won on paper, if you’ll pardon a cliche. Verhoeven gave Usyk a tougher test than Joshua, Dubois and Fury, and with the multiple controversies that muddied the end of Saturday’s main event, the Dutchman deserves another shot at Usyk. Yes, Verhoeven will likely get a big-name opponent in his next boxing match – because he will stay in the sport – but we saw how that went for Ngannou. He dropped Fury and was unlucky not to be awarded a points win over the “Gypsy King”, but he was annihilated by Joshua a few months later. Styles make fights, if you’ll pardon a second cliche. Perhaps a solution is for Usyk to box Verhoeven again, and to vacate his WBC title so Kabayel can fight another contender for that belt. Usyk could then face Kabayel, if the latter is victorious, in 2027. At that point, Usyk will be 40 years old with just one fight left in his plan for three final bouts, the first of which was his duel with Verhoeven. Yet based on Saturday, there is an argument that Usyk should get out sooner rather than later. He did have nothing left to prove, yet all of a sudden that has changed. All of a sudden, he is in a no-win situation for the first time.

Tranmere Rovers have appointed Darrell Clarke as their new manager.Clarke has signed a two-year contract to take over at the League Two club, who only avoided relegation to National League on the last day of the season.Rovers will be the seventh club for the 48-year-old, who was most recently in charge at Bristol Rovers."I'm thrilled to be joining Tranmere Rovers," Clarke told the club website."This is a club with real history, a passionate fanbase and huge potential, and I can't wait to get started.More to follow.

Wolves midfielder Rodrigo Gomes says he "will do everything" he can to help the club return to the Premier League if he stays, but did not confirm whether he would remain for their Championship fight."I feel the love from the fans and I really appreciate that," he told BBC Radio WM."I promise them that if I stay here I will do everything to help the club get back into the Premier League because it is a big club."It has very good people inside the club and very good fans and they deserve to be in the Premier League. "It's been a difficult season for us and the fans. The fans are really good for us and hopefully next season we will give them more to be happy and to be with us."Listen to the full chat below or on BBC Sounds here