The city council of Madison Heights, Michigan, voted 4-3 on Monday to cancel a drag queen story time that was slated to be a part of the city’s Arts & Pride festival. The vote took place less than a week before the festival was scheduled to take place in the city’s Civic Center Park. The council convened a special meeting on Monday just to discuss whether a drag story time was appropriate for the event, WXYZ Detroit reported. Related Support for marriage equality drops again as Republican anti-LGBTQ+ attitudes increase Jadein Black, the drag queen who was supposed to host the story time, had been thoroughly vetted by the festival’s planning committee and the Madison Heights Arts Board, with her book and outfit already preapproved. “I feel like my drag is my armor,” Black told WXYZ. “And I feel like all of these people really don’t understand or have even been to an experience with myself or any other drag queens before, so it hurts really bad.” Rae Stoloff, a volunteer for the event, said a drag story hour feels “no different than having a magician come in.” Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today “You have a magician that performs one way for kids and one way for adults,” Stoloff said. “Hearing from our elected officials, it almost takes on its own home within us of hearing we are also a danger, or we aren’t appropriate to be around kids,” Stoloff added. “Ultimately, I think it’s just hurtful.” Former City Councilman Mark Bliss, who also founded the Madison Heights Arts Board, said the decision sets a dangerous precedent; “What they’re telling me with this ruling is, yeah, you could run a concert in the park, but not this band, we have an issue with this band. To do this at the 11th hour without any planning, public communication, and without any discussion with the two boards that are affected is offensive.” A statement from Councilwoman Toya Aaron, who voted to cancel drag story time, said that the City Council had “received several emails and concerns from residents” and that their discussion leading up to the vote “focused on ensuring that all programming aligns with the expectations of a public, family‑friendly space—especially since we were unaware of the performance’s content.” Aaron claimed the council was “unaware of what the performer had in mind” and thus could not “ensure total confidence that the performance would be family-friendly.” This, despite the fact that the content had been pre-approved. In a social media post reacting to the cancellation, Black said she was seeking a venue to donate space so she could still host the event on Sunday, as originally scheduled. “Let me be clear: Drag performers are not groomers,” she said. “We are educators, neighbors, friends, community members, and human beings. We show up to create spaces where children can learn about kindness, literacy, acceptance, and self-expression.” “This decision doesn’t stop us—it only reminds us why this work matters.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jadein Black (@jadeinblack1) Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Nature, Published online: 03 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01583-9Structures called plastoglobules organize the enzymes that turn nitrogen into compounds needed for plant growth, offering lessons for sustainable agriculture.

Nature, Published online: 03 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10727-wEditorial Expression of Concern: Functional proteomic identification of DNA replication proteins by induced proteolysis in vivo

With the World Cup approaching and games scheduled almost every day between June 11 and July 19, it’s safe to say that millions of people will be watching a lot of soccer over the next six weeks. While many of the 2026 World Cup games will be broadcast on Fox, 34 games will air on FS1, and Spanish coverage will be on Telemundo and Universo, which means some folks might need to upgrade their streaming service to catch every match. Luckily, many streaming platforms are running some pretty significant sales just in time for the World Cup, so fans can tune in without breaking the bank. Right now, you can get a great deal on YouTube TV that will save you $75 over the course of your first five months, and both Fubo and DirecTV are offering discounts of up to $30 off your first month. Planning to watch games in Spanish? If you sign up for a Walmart+ subscription (which you can currently get for just $1), you’ll get Peacock for free, which means you can catch every single game of the tournament (and access free shipping and delivery on Walmart purchases for almost nothing). These great streaming deals and many more are outlined below — what are you waiting for?!Save $15/month for your first 5 months of YouTube TVGet DirecTV for $30 off your first monthSave $30 on your first month of Fubo TVBundle ESPN and FOX One and save $10/monthGet Peacock for free with Walmart+, which is now just $1Get Peacock for less with a Peacock/Apple TV bundle

Andoni Iraola is set to become the next Liverpool head coach [Getty Images]Andoni Iraola is set to be announced as the Liverpool head coach this week - but what is the feeling around the city to his impending arrival?Liverpool took the decision to part ways with Arne Slot on Saturday and have moved quickly to secure his replacement - reaching a verbal agreement with the Spaniard on Tuesday.Iraola is set to move to Anfield after an impressive season in which he led Bournemouth to sixth in the Premier League, securing European football for the first time in the club's history.But there are some reservations about his lack of 'big club' and European experience.Why do managers struggle after stepping up to 'big-six' clubs?Liverpool agree deal with Iraola to succeed SlotFormer Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy feels the Reds will be in a much better position next season than they were under Slot."I'm quite excited because after watching Bournemouth play, there's no reason to think he's not going to try and play the same way - in terms of being courageous and on the front foot and trying to press teams with high energy and play attacking football," Murphy said."When a fanbase becomes disillusioned with a manager and his style of play - and then start turning on him - you're delaying the inevitable. I do believe Liverpool are better placed now and that's not all down to Slot."Bringing in Iraola was the best option because the fans go into a new campaign with hope and excitement, rather than fear. You do not want to start the season where the players are feeling the anxiety from the outset, and this was the best way for Liverpool to do it."Managers have often struggled to make the step up in the Premier League in the past, the most recent example when Thomas Frank joined Tottenham from Brentford. But will Iraola - who joined Bournemouth from Rayo Vallecano in Spain - succeed where others have not?"I do have a couple of reservations because he's never managed a club of this size before and he will be a little bit surprised at how intrusive it will be on his life, when you manage Liverpool," added Murphy, who is a Match of the Day pundit and BBC Sport columnist. "Even as a player, that changes overnight because it's one of the biggest clubs in the world and everything you do will be scrutinised and talked about, locally and globally."The only other reservation is whether he will be able to play high-intensity football every few days because that will require a certain level of fitness - which we saw with Jurgen Klopp's teams with the flying full-backs, the midfield dynamism and the work-rate of the attackers."It's difficult to see how to create that with what he's got at the moment so the summer transfer window is huge for Liverpool in that respect. The current squad lacks legs and dynamism and isn't filled with brilliant players off the ball."'Mixed feelings but excited' - Liverpool fan viewsSo is Murphy right? Will Iraola's appointment bring hope and excitement rather than the fear of another underwhelming campaign? Peter Bolster - from the Spion Kop podcast - told BBC Radio Merseyside: "I'm very excited and I'm a little bit surprised with how excited I am. "Large parts of last season I wasn't excited to watch Liverpool. I wasn't excited to go to Anfield and I certainly wasn't excited for pre-season or the start of next season. And whatever happens from this point onwards, I am excited. "Iraola might be the perfect replacement. We might be sitting in this situation in two years, saying it didn't really work, but I'm excited with the project and that's what all fans want to be."Following Slot's departure, Liverpool were keen to make an appointment at the earliest possible opportunity and wanted a manager who fits their preferred playing style, which is to deliver front-foot, aggressive football. A style more aligned to how they played under former boss Jurgen Klopp.Liverpool fan Ian Walker said: "I have mixed feelings. That awful style of play [under Slot last season] had to be turned around as soon as possible, but the role has proved to be too much for some, both in terms of consistently securing results or in coping with the expectations and pressures of the media and the fanbase. "I can still see Roy Hodgson tearing at his face on the bench when things weren't going well. Even Jurgen Klopp - adored by the fans, the players and the club - had to stop after great success and an exciting style of football. Good luck to Iraola."The Redmen TV's Ste Plunkett told BBC Radio Merseyside: "Of the talent pool that was out there and the managers that were available, it seems an obvious fit in terms of what he does with his team and what we really want a Liverpool manager to do with our team. "I think the construction of the squad last summer - and potentially with the additions we do this year - we have to find a manager for the squad and I very much think we didn't have that last season."You would have liked to have seen [Iraola] have some experience in Europe, but then he's never really worried about reputation or who he's playing against."That doesn't seem to bother him, so I think the fact that he's fresh to all of that, he'll go into it invigorated and there won't be a hangover over previous campaigns where things have gone wrong."Latest Liverpool news, analysis and fan viewsAsk about Liverpool - what do you want to know?

Real American Freestyle (RAF) is taking its mats overseas for the first time.The upstart wrestling promotion announced Wednesday a July 11 show at the Tbilisi Sport Palace in Tbilisi, Georgia — the first RAF event to be held outside of the United States. Headlining the bill is a rebooked matchup between former UFC champions Merab Dvalishvili and Henry Cejudo, the former of whom is a native of Georgia.Dvalishvili and Cejudo were previously set to compete on April 18 at RAF 8, however the matchup was canceled the morning of the event due to an injury to Cejudo. The two men locked horns with one another in the UFC in 2024, with Dvalishvili out-grappling the Olympic champion Cejudo en route to a unanimous decision win.Dvalishvili made his successful RAF debut this past Saturday with a victory over another former UFC champion, Frankie Edgar, at RAF 9. Cejudo is also 1-0 in RAF, having picked up a shoutout win over UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber at RAF 6.Also appearing on the July 11 card in Georgia is Kyle Snyder’s latest light heavyweight title defense against Olympic champion Abdulrashid Sadulaev, Geno Petriashvili vs. Steve Mocco, Givi Matcharashvili vs. Zach Elam, and the return of UFC contender Arman Tsarukyan, the latter of whom has competed on every RAF event of 2026.Following the announcement, Tsarukyan now has three scheduled RAF matches listed on the promotion’s upcoming schedule: Against Tony Ferguson on June 13 at RAF 10, against an opponent to be determined on the July 11 debut in Georgia, and against Colby Covington one week later on July 18 at RAF 11.

Reds finally option struggling outfielder, recall .984 OPS prospect originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Cincinnati Reds are 31-29, sitting in last place in the NL Central, and 7.0 games back of the division lead. But, they're still very much in the playoff hunt this season.In order to make the postseason from their current position, the Reds need to get better, and they're doing so by making a roster move ahead of their series finale against the Kansas City Royals.The Reds announced on Wednesday that they are calling up a prospect who has a .984 OPS in Noelvi Marte, and to make room, they're optioning TJ Friedl to Triple-A amid his massive struggles.Reds option TJ Friedl, recall Noelvi Marte"The Reds today recalled from Triple-A Louisville OF Noelvi Marte and optioned to Louisville OF TJ Friedl (post-game 6/2)," the Reds announced.This roster move from the Reds was a long-time coming. Friedl, one year removed from posting a 103 OPS+ and 2.4 bWAR in 152 games, has been struggling mightily.Across 47 games and 156 at-bats in 2026, Friedl has a brutal -0.6 bWAR to go with a 43 OPS+. He has a .515 OPS, which is the worst of his big league career by far.His .179 batting average is also in a terrible spot, and overall, his struggles have made him one of the least valuable players in the sport this season.MORE: Chase Burns becomes first Reds pitcher with elite stat line since 1922After such a rough start to the season, the Reds are finally making a switch, turning to Marte, the 24-year-old outfielder who's been tearing it up at Triple-A this season.In 160 at-bats, he has a .369 batting average, eight home runs, 27 RBIs, nine stolen bases, and a ridiculous .984 OPS.While he hit .138 earlier this year in the Majors with a .332 OPS, his .748 OPS last season with 14 homers in 339 at-bats is something to be optimistic about.Adding Marte is worth a try, as Friedl wasn't giving the Reds any positives this season. Marte has some potential and will likely be a better option than Friedl going forward this season.More MLB news:Ex-MLB GM projects White Sox to sell at trade deadline despite 2026 successTarik Skubal being traded by Tigers would help him in free agencyCubs’ cost to trade for Tarik Skubal from Tigers revealed by ex-MLB GMYankees’ Ryan McMahon problem has a $25 million release solution Phillies extending Cristopher Sanchez to his $107 million deal was genius

Aryna SabalenkaCredit: Ian MacNicol/GettyNEED TO KNOWAryna Sabalenka was eliminated from the French Open on Wednesday, June 3, after a loss to No. 25 seed Diana Shnaider of RussiaSabalenka said she wants to "quit tennis right now" during her press conference after the loss"I guess mentally, I got into a very deep, deep dark hole over there, and I just couldn't get back on track mentally," Sabalenka said of the lossAryna Sabalenka has been eliminated from the French Open.After the world No. 1 fell to No. 25 Diana Shnaider of Russia in the quarterfinals, 3-6, 7-5, 6-0, on Wednesday, June 3, Sabalenka told reporters she wanted to "quit tennis right now" during an emotional press conference."No thoughts, no emotions. I want to quit tennis right now. We’ll see in a few days if I’m back on track mentally," Sabalenka, 28, said, admitting she "screwed up" during the match while Shnaider, 22, "played great."Aryna SabalenkaCredit: Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu via GettyThe Belarusian tennis star said, "I guess mentally, I got into a very deep, deep dark hole over there, and I just couldn't get back on track mentally."Sabalenka said she felt "really great" going into the match before expressing frustration over the conditions, noting that it was "crazy windy" and the roof was kept open during play."But how can I complain if for almost the whole match everything was working okay for me, and then it just slipped away?" she said. "I feel like it was getting crazy maybe just because mentally I wasn’t really okay.""I think it’s a combination of everything. You overthink, then you make easy mistakes, then you miss opportunities — and on the other side she’s stepping in and starting to play more aggressively, more free, kind of fearless," she continued. "Sometimes it’s really tough to hold the pressure and put it back on her."When asked how she can bounce back from the defeat, Sabalenka admitted, "I honestly don’t know. I guess I don’t know. I don’t know.""No thoughts, no emotions. Just want to quit tennis right now..." Aryna Sabalenka after her loss to No. 25 Diana Shnaider 💔 #RolandGarrospic.twitter.com/C87w8mf6XM— TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) June 3, 2026Follow your favorite athletes on and off the field with PEOPLE's free sports newsletter — sign up now!But despite the stunning loss, Sabalenka said she will bounce back — and maybe take out her anger by "destroying stuff.""Well, what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger, I guess," she told reporters. "At some point, I’ll figure out the situation and we’ll get back tougher. By the way, I just figured out how I can overcome it — one of those rooms where you go in and smash everything. Probably I’ll spend a whole day tomorrow over there destroying stuff. Maybe it’ll help, maybe not."Read the original article on People

Vote signs are seen outside a vote center in La Habra, Calif., Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)2026-06-03T16:49:47Z A no-holds-barred bout of partisan redistricting has been won by Republicans. Now it’s up to voters to decide whether it matters for control of Congress. Republicans could net about 10 additional U.S. House seats in the November elections if redrawn voting districts perform as they were intended. The question is whether that’s enough for the GOP to hold on to a majority in the chamber, where Democrats need to gain only a few seats to take control. Political trends and historic patterns favor Democrats. President Donald Trump’s approval ratings are negative. And the incumbent’s party has lost House seats in every midterm election over the past two decades. This election season already has been unusual. Voting districts typically are redrawn only after a census at the start of each decade. But Trump urged Republicans last summer to redraw congressional districts to their advantage to try to prevent losses in the 2026 midterms. Since then, Republicans think they could win as many as 16 additional seats from new House maps enacted in eight states — Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Florida, Tennessee, Louisiana and Alabama. Democrats, whose counterattack faced several setbacks, think they could win up to six additional seats from new districts in California and Utah. Nearly 145 million people — about two of every five U.S. residents — live in states with new congressional districts for this election. Read More Yet the mid-decade redistricting battle didn’t go as far as it could have. Republicans in Kansas and Democrats in Illinois both rebuffed party pushes to take up redistricting. In Republican-led Indiana and South Carolina and Democratic-led Maryland, new congressional districts passed the state House but ultimately died in the state Senate. The Virginia Supreme Court invalidated new voter-approved districts that could have helped Democrats win up to four additional seats. And the U.S. Supreme Court set aside a lower court order that could have helped Democrats gain a congressional seat in New York. Here’s a look at the states with new U.S. House maps: TexasCurrent map: 13 Democrats, 25 RepublicansNew map: Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed a revised House map into law last August that could help Republicans win five additional seats. Democrats think they could still win some of those seats.MissouriCurrent map: two Democrats, six RepublicansNew map: Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe signed a revised House map into law last September that could help Republicans win an additional seat by reshaping a Democratic-held district based in Kansas City. Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins has until Aug. 4 — the date of Missouri’s primaries — to decide whether to reject an initiative petition seeking a statewide vote on the map.North CarolinaCurrent map: four Democrats, 10 RepublicansNew map: The Republican-led General Assembly gave final approval in October to revised districts that could help Republicans win an additional seat.OhioCurrent map: five Democrats, 10 RepublicansNew map: A bipartisan panel composed primarily of Republicans voted in October to approve revised House districts that improve Republicans’ chances of winning two additional seats. Democrats think they could still win those seats. CaliforniaCurrent map: 43 Democrats, nine RepublicansNew map: Voters in November approved revised House districts drawn by the Democratic-led Legislature that could help Democrats win five additional seats. UtahCurrent map: no Democrats, four RepublicansNew map: A judge in November imposed revised House districts that could help Democrats win a seat in the Salt Lake City area. FloridaCurrent map: eight Democrats, 20 RepublicansNew map: Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed revised House districts in May that improve the GOP’s chances of winning four additional seats. Legal challenges are pending. TennesseeCurrent map: one Democrat, eight RepublicansNew map: Republican Gov. Bill Lee signed new House districts in May that improve the GOP’s chances of winning an additional seat by carving up the lone Democratic-held seat, a majority-Black district based in Memphis. Legal challenges are pending. LouisianaCurrent map: two Democrats, four RepublicansNew map: Republican Gov. Jeff Landry signed off on new House districts in May that improve Republican chances of winning an additional seat by eliminating a majority-Black district held by a Democrat that the U.S. Supreme Court struck down as an illegal racial gerrymander. AlabamaCurrent map: two Democrats, five RepublicansNew map: The U.S. Supreme Court in June allowed the state to use a congressional map approved by Republican state lawmakers that improves the GOP’s chances of winning an additional seat by reshaping a Democratic-held district that has a large number of Black voters. DAVID A. LIEB Lieb covers issues and trends in state governments across the U.S. He’s reported about government and politics for The Associated Press for 30 years. twitter mailto

Demonstrations outside the Delaney Hall immigrant detention center have at times turned violent, with the authorities deploying tear gas and wielding batons as protesters resisted calls to disperse.

The administration has settled on a more legally and politically durable way to impose tariffs, but some say the focus on forced labor is merely a pretext for protectionism.

DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) — The PGA Tour is making what CEO Brian Rolapp called substantial progress on a revamped model that would restore 36-hole cuts to all the top tournaments.He said Wednesday the finished product probably won't be ready until 2028 and would be a system "that outlives any player.”The tour is moving toward a model of two tracks that Rolapp first mentioned in March. The top track for the top performers would be roughly 16 tournaments, not including the majors or postseason. Track 1 would have around 120 to 130 players.Track 2 would be for those aspiring to get to Track 1. The purses would be smaller and the title sponsors would pay less, though Rolapp sounded confident there would be sponsors willing to spend less for such tournaments. Still under discussion is whether players could move up to Track 1 in the middle of the season depending on their performance, such as winning multiple times.Key to a new model, Rolapp said, was bringing back the 36-hole cut, which would make sense if the fields are going from 72 players to 120 players or more. The tour now has “signature events” with 72 players and a 36-hole cut at only three such events hosted by golf greats.“At the end of the day, sports is about how good the athletes are and what the competitive consequences are,” he said. “I think you’ll see that in Track 2. And I think you’ll see people fighting to stay on Track 1. And I think we have lost a lot of that with the smaller field, no-cut events.”He said the tour wants to get back to the competitive meritocracy that makes golf unique.Rolapp has leaned on the pillars of scarcity, simplicity and parity since he first appointed a Future Competition Committee in August, leading to speculation that tour would go to a smaller, more streamlined schedule that would create fewer opportunities.Rolapp painted a different picture Wednesday while meeting with a small group of reporters.“I think when you see where we land, you’re not going to see that,” he said. "But what you are going to see is an elevation of tournaments. And you’re going to have a collection of Track 1 that are special, that are bigger. I think what we have found as we’ve talked to sponsors both for Track 1 and Track 2, there’s a lot of demand for both. And the price points will be different.“The bigger events ... not everyone can afford and may not be sort of consistent with their business goals,” he said. “That's great. There’s other price points too for it, and I think there’s plenty of demand for both Track 1 and Track 2 in that regard because there’s definitely people who want to invest different amounts in these events.”The postseason format also is being revamped. Rolapp said he invited all the PGA Tour's broadcast partners and even those with whom the PGA Tour does not have contracts, such as streaming services, to provide insight into the tour's thinking toward a new media rights deal.Rolapp has pointed toward June 23 — a day after the next board meeting — for a full update.“I feel good where we are, but I also had expectations that it wasn’t going to be easy,” Rolapp said. “You don't have a good process if there’s not tension. That means you’re not asking the right questions.”Still under discussion are details that include which tournaments are going on Track 1 and Track 2, the courses they play and perhaps going to bigger markets the tour is not in, such as New York, Chicago, Boston, Denver and Philadelphia, for example.There also is the issue of players who defected to LIV Golf, a rival league that has its own set of issues now that the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia will stop paying for it after this year.Brooks Koepka ended his LIV contract and took advantage of a program the PGA Tour created that allowed him to return immediately with financial stipulations, such as a $5 million charity donation and no access to PGA Tour equity for five years.Patrick Reed also is on his way back through his play on the European tour, though he is not eligible for PGA Tour events for one year since his last LIV appearance.Bryson DeChambeau is a little more complicated, mainly because DeChambeau was among those who kept his name on an antitrust lawsuit against the tour.Rolapp repeated his view that he would not concern himself with LIV players until it was time.“All fans want the best golfers in the world together. I think we have most of them, pretty close to all of them. And we're building a tour that attracts the best players in the world,” Rolapp said. "I think this new model will even improve upon that.“But we do have to account for whatever lingering discipline is left, or rules that have been broken,” he said. “There’s scar tissue, and that has to be accounted for. That’s not to say we’re going to be punitive, it’s just that we’re a membership organization of rules.”___AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Katie Taylor will look to become a three-time undisputed champion when she enters a boxing ring for the final time in a historic setting this September.Taylor, Ireland’s greatest-ever boxer, is set to her retirement fight at her dream venue of Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland on Sept. 5. Taylor’s longtime promoters, Matchroom Boxing, will officially announce the event at the 82,000-capacity national stadium during a launch press conference scheduled for Friday. Taylor, who holds the WBA, IBF and WBO super lightweight belts, will be looking to win back the WBC title she never lost in the ring and once again become an undisputed champion. Uncrowned’s No. 2 pound-for-pound boxer will face France’s Flora Pili for the vacant WBC championship after Sandy Ryan was made champion in recess due to her impending pregnancy, sources close to the situation told Uncrowned.It will be the first boxing match at Croke Park since Muhammad Ali graced Irish shores in 1972, stopping Alvin Levis in a non-title bout.The event at Ireland’s national stadium has been a long time coming. Multiple attempts have been made in recent years to stage a Taylor fight at the venue, however promoter Eddie Hearn has cited an inability to reach a fair deal with the Gaelic Athletic Association, which owns the venue, as the stumbling block until now.View this post on InstagramPili (12-0, 2 KOs) is the reigning IBO champion, and also Taylor’s mandatory challenger for her IBF crown. She recorded a career-best win this past December, defeating Serbia’s Jelena Janicijevic by majority decision. Taylor (25-1, 6 KOs) was last in action when she beat Amanda Serrano in their historic trilogy, which hit Netflix screens last July. She has reigned supreme at lightweight and super lightweight, and will look to once again achieve boxing’s pinnacle when she steps through the ropes one last time in September.

Justin Gaethje is willing to risk taking damage to execute his game plan against Ilia Topuria. Interim champion Gaethje (27-5) challenges Topuria (17-0) for the lightweight title in the main event at UFC White House on June 14. Gaethje believes the most important thing he needs to avoid against Topuria is compromising his position. Topuria is coming off consecutive knockouts over Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira. Gaethje believes all three fellow legends made the mistake of going on their back foot against Topuria. With Topuria being known for his long combinations, Gaethje saw his opponents retreating after the first couple of punches. However, Gaethje is absolutely adamant about going forward against Topuria. “The Highlight” says he is even willing to risk taking some damage to avoid going backwards.Forward at All Costs “It’s position,” Gaethje told

Good news as electric No9 is coming to LiverpoolLiverpool will be heading into the 2026/27 season with problems at centre-forward. Alexander Isak was the big-money signing last season - arriving on a British record deal from Newcastle. But the £125m man has had troubles settling into life at Anfield - scoring four goals across an injury-ravaged first season.Given the 26-year-old’s previous fitness record - and upcoming summer of activity at the FIFA World Cup - it would be a mistake to predict that the Sweden international will be available all season.And he’s got no senior back-up either.Hugo Ekitike, 23, came in for £69m from Eintracht Frankfurt. The France international has been an immediate hit in his rookie season - scoring 17 times - but he too has been struck down by injury.Ekitike isn’t expected to play again until perhaps 2027 owing to a damaging achilles injury. And that means Richard Hughes and likely new coach Andoni Iraola are short of options at centre-forward.'Electric' Koumas plays at No9 for WalesBut one choice they could make is to blood a youngster from the academy. And in the eyes of Craig Bellamy - the Wales head coach - Liverpool have on their books a Wales No9 of the future.Lewis Koumas, 20, spent last season out on loan - first at Birmingham before joining Hull City for the second half of their promotion campaign from the Championship to the Premier League.The versatile attacker scored his first international goal on Tuesday night as Bellamy’s side secured a hard-fought draw against World Cup-bound Ghana in Cardiff.And given the options the former Liverpool striker has at his disposal on the wings - including Sorba Thomas, Dan James and Brennan Johnson, Bellamy foresees Koumas becoming a centre-forward for his team."[He is a] nine because we don't really have any nines coming through and we do have a lot of wingers, brilliant wingers," Bellamy told BBC Sport."He could definitely be a huge asset for us on the wing but, due to our lack of nines coming through the system, we've used him a lot in training that way and he's really been electric."There's a lot to like about Koomy. He's such a young player and I'm over the moon he got his goal because he's deserved it."Koumas could be an option for IraolaKoumas netted three strikes for Hull as they achieved an unlikely promotion and will return to the AXA Training Centre with his future up in the air."We started him [as a centre-forward] against Northern Ireland [friendly draw in March], I thought he was OK," Bellamy said."When he came on today, he needs to be a little bit tidier but that's normal."I see him as a real future player for Wales who's going to have a big say. I'm delighted for him."He has already played - and scored - for the Liverpool first team and has even sat on the bench for a handful of matches under Jurgen Klopp.Koumas therefore could be ready to provide an option for Iraola if he needs one up top - to give Isak a rest or else legislate for the loss of Ekitike.

The 2026 French Open has been a truly wild ride filled with upsets, and the one thing we know for certain is that a brand-new women’s champion will be crowned this Saturday. But before that final happens, we’ve got the women’s semifinals to get through. On Thursday at 9 a.m. ET, the first women’s semi, between No. 8 Mirra Andreeva and No. 15 Marta Kostyuk will take place at Roland-Garros. A little later in the day, Diana Shnaider and Maja Chwalinska will also face off for a spot in the women’s final. In a shocking upset, Shnaider, ranked No. 25, knocked world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka out of the tournament in the quarterfinals on Wednesday to advance. Thursday’s 2026 French Open match between Andreeva and Kostyuk will air on TNT, with all the action also streaming on HBO Max. Here’s what to know about watching the 2026 French Open live, including the full schedule, where to stream for less in the U.S., and more. How to watch Mirra Andreeva vs. Marta Kostyuk at the 2026 French Open: Date: June 4Time: 9 a.m. ET/6 a.m. PTLocation: Stade Roland-Garros, ParisTV channel: TNTStreaming: HBO MaxWhen is the Mirra Andreeva vs. Marta Kostyuk match at the 2026 French Open? The semifinal match between Mirra Andreeva and Marta Kostyuk is on Thursday, June 4 and is expected to start at 9 a.m. ET.What channel is the Mirra Andreeva vs. Marta Kostyuk match at the 2026 French Open on? Thursday’s match will air on TNT. Every match of the tournament will also stream on HBO Max. Where to watch the French Open without cable: How to watch the 2026 French Open for less with a VPN: If you want to catch every match of the French Open and don't subscribe to HBO Max or a live TV streaming service, in Australia, a majority of the action is streaming free with ads on 9Now, and in France, france.tv will have all-day sessions through quarter-finals (and co-broadcast for semis and finals)Don’t live in either of those places? Don't worry: You can still stream using a VPN (virtual private network). A VPN helps protect your data, masks your IP address, and is perhaps most popular for its usefulness in the age of streaming.Looking to try a VPN for the first time? This guide breaks down the best VPN options for every kind of user.Who is playing in the 2026 French Open? With defending champion Carlos Alcaraz out of the tournament (and the upcoming Wimbledon) and Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic out after shocking losses, the men’s field will welcome a first time champion this year, could it be No. 2 seed Alexander Zverev?On the women’s side, the remaining competitors are Mirra Andreeva, Diana Shnaider, Marta Kostyuk, and Maja Chwalinska.2026 French Open schedule: All times EasternWednesday, June 3Women's and men's singles quarter-finals + Women's and men's doubles quarter-finals + Mixed doubles semi-finals + Wheelchair tennis first and second rounds + Junior singles third round + Junior doubles second round + Trophée des Légendes by Emirates: 5 a.m. ETThursday, June 4Women's singles semi-finals (not before 9 a.m. ET) + Mixed doubles final + Men's doubles semi-finals + Wheelchair tennis second round and semi-finals + Junior singles and doubles quarter-finals + Trophée des Légendes by Emirates: 5 a.m. ETFriday, June 5Men's singles semi-finals (not before 8:30 a.m. ET, then not before 1 p.m. ET) + Women's doubles semi-finals + Wheelchair tennis semi-finals + Junior singles and doubles semi-finals + Trophée des Légendes by Emirates: 5 a.m. ETSaturday, June 6Women's singles final (not before 9 a.m. ET) + Men's doubles final + Wheelchair tennis finals + Junior singles and doubles finals + Trophée des Légendes by Emirates: 5 a.m. ETSunday, June 7Men's singles final (not before 9 a.m. ET) + Women's doubles final + Trophée des Légendes by Emirates: 5 a.m. ET

Trans patients and their families filed a federal class action lawsuit this week aimed at preventing hospitals from handing trans kids’ medical records over to the Trump administration. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has been fighting a nationwide campaign to acquire the medical records from hospitals providing gender-affirming care to trans youth. “The Trump Administration has been clear that it will use every tool it has to harass and intimidate hospitals into shutting down necessary and, at times, lifesaving care for transgender youth,” said Karen Loewy, Lambda Legal’s Senior Counsel and Director of Constitutional Law Practice, in a statement. “But we will not allow the privacy rights of those youth and their families to be sacrificed as DOJ abuses its authority.” Related DOJ ramps up pressure on hospitals for trans data, getting grand jury subpoenas & “judge-shopping” The lawsuit, brought by Lambda Legal, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) on behalf of five plaintiffs, is a response to the grand jury subpoena that was issued last month against NYU Langone Health, which has been ordered to turn over the personal information for trans youth who received gender-affirming care at the hospital from 2020 to 2026. Of the five plaintiffs, three are the families of trans minors who received care before Langone suspended their program. The other two are young adults who received treatment when they were minors during those years and whose records would still be required by the DOJ’s subpoena. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today However, the lawsuit asks the court to recognize a class of plaintiffs that includes all minors who received gender-affirming care at any New York City hospital between 2020 and 2026. This means that any action would protect not only the plaintiffs, but also any other trans youth patients from these hospitals. These grand jury subpoenas are only the latest part of the DOJ’s efforts against gender-affirming care for trans youth. The DOJ claims that the documents, including identifiable information attached to the health records of minors, are required for their investigations into off-label use of medications for gender-affirming care, and new claims that they are looking into the fraudulent billing practices used to get gender-affirming care covered by insurance companies. The first of these is not actually a crime. Off-label use of medications – that is, when they are prescribed for a reason that has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – is a common practice. Taking aspirin, for example, to reduce the risk of heart attacks or strokes is an off-label use that is common but hasn’t resulted in a federal investigation. The DOJ’s subpoenas have been repeatedly quashed by judges across the country who have called the attempts to use them to gather data on trans people “fishing expeditions” and an attempt to “intimidate” and “harass” trans people and their health care providers in an attempt to stop what is legal, best practice health care. More recently, the DOJ has tried to circumvent those judges’ decisions by obtaining grand jury subpoenas, which are issued in secret and are significantly harder for judges to quash. Those subpoenas are what this lawsuit is targeting. The lawsuit against the DOJ claims that the grand jury subpoenas violate the patient’s Fifth Amendment right to informational privacy, flout the Fourth Amendment’s prohibition against “unreasonable searches and seizures” of papers without probable cause, and breach New York state’s physician-patient confidentiality rules, which prevent the disclosure of “any information … acquired in attending a patient in a professional capacity.” The plaintiffs are seeking both temporary and permanent injunctions against the DOJ and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to prevent them from “seeking, receiving, using, retaining, or disseminating” the requested personal information as part of their “claimed investigations into healthcare offenses related to gender-affirming care.” They are also looking for the same to prevent “NYU defendants from disclosing or producing any identifying or sensitive health information of Plaintiffs and members of the proposed Class.” This lawsuit has the scope to set an important precedent and show other hospitals that they can fight these grand jury subpoenas. Because of the way that grand juries work, subpoenas are filed under seal and not available to the public, which means it is unclear how many hospitals have been targeted with such subpoenas. The subpoena against NYU Langone is only known because a New York shield law requires the hospital to inform patients of any requests for personal medical data at least 30 days before producing the files. The DOJ has confirmed it has already received documents from hospitals, which means those people may not even be aware that their data has been collected. Various reports and court filings have suggested that New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital, Lucile Salter Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford in California, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Michigan Medicine, and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia may all have received such subpoenas. Speaking to the New York Times, Melissa Combs, whose trans teenager received care at Yale New Haven Health until they suspended their gender-affirming care practice, pointed to the real aim of all of this. “It’s really the providers they’re going after, and that is what we worry about. If there are no people left to provide this care, then it’s gone.” Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Who will run California? Can Democrats win Iowa? Here’s what happened, and what might be next.

Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers reacts during the Premier League match at Villa Park, Birmingham. Picture date: Sunday May 3, 2026. (Photo by Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images) | PA Images via Getty Images Chelsea will likely need to be more of a selling club this summer after failing to secure any sort of European football for next season — not to mention our continuing lack of front-of-shirt sponsorship (even the new home shirt with its giant badge watermarked is practically designed with that gaping void in mind now) — but because we also have to justify the salaries of five sporting directors, we of course also have to have a shortlist of potential acquisitions as well.May be more of a shortlist of pipedreams.The Athletic report in their most recent rundown of our situation that we have “at least 10 names” on the that shortlist, with Morgan Rogers specifically called out as a player of interest, just as he was this time last year. Will we more successful this year? Doubtful.Villa had no desire to deal last year, and considering their excellent season, that stance surely hasn’t changed. And it’s hard to see Rogers wanting to drop down to midtable when he could be playing Champions League football with Villa instead. And it’s not like we’re paying the highest-tier wages these days.(UPDATE: A follow-up, also from The Athletic, claims that “missing out on Champions League qualification is unlikely to be a major stumbling block”, apparently because our long-term prospects are shinier, or some such.)The 23-year-old winger matched his career-high with 14 goals in all competitions, including a career-best ten in the league. He has five years left on the extension he signed at the start of the season.Let’s hope there are more attainable targets among the remaining nine names on the shortlist as we look for one attacking and one defensive signing.

Kentucky Basketball never really flirted with Flory Bidunga when he decided to leave Kansas, but Louisville shelled out quite a bit of money to land the talented big man. Part of Kentucky’s reasoning was that they were going to return Malachi Moreno, even though he flirted with the NBA.Thankfully, Moreno eventually came back, and now, he could be one of the best big men in college basketball next season.One analyst thinks Moreno may end up being better than Bidunga.When discussing Moreno on the Field of 68, Rob Dauster said, “I’m gonna plant my flag on Moreno island and say he’ll be better this season than Flory Bidunga. I’m betting on a Malachi Moreno breakout season.” Looking at the stats, he may be right.Malachi Moreno may have a breakout yearAs a freshman, Moreno struggled at times with the physicality of the game. To be fair, he probably wasn’t planning on playing such a key role yet. Jayden Quaintance and Brandon Garrison should have gobbled up most of the minutes, and Moreno could have developed his body to adjust to the college game. But Garrison was ineffective too often, and Quaintance only played in 4 games.All told, Moreno tallied 7.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.3 turnovers a game on 58.2% shooting. Not huge numbers, especially compared to Bidunga.Bidunga averaged 13.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, 1.5 assists, and 1.5 turnovers a game on 64% shooting. But looking back at his freshman season, Flory averaged 5.9 points and 5.4 rebounds a night. Actually worse than what Moreno put up as a freshman.Also, Moreno only logged 22.6 minutes per game last season compared to 31.6 for Bidunga.Where can Malachi Moreno improve?The biggest areas for improvement are Moreno’s body, strength, and hands. As a freshman, Moreno was put in the wash a couple of times against physical centers on the defensive end. He came to Kentucky weighing 250 pounds, but at the NBA Combine, that was down to 242. You may think that’s a net negative, but dropping fat while building muscle is something that a lot of players do once they get on a college weight program.For Malachi to have lost 8 pounds is actually a sign that he is taking his body seriously, and I suspect his physicality will improve quite a bit.His hands have to get better after struggling with a lot of catchers as a freshman. That can be taught, and I suspect he is working on that now and will do so all summer long. If just those two things improve, Moreno will see a drastic improvement. But that’s not the only area where he can get a lot better.Malachi turned the ball over too much in a Mark Pope offense. Pope loves playing an inverted center at the top of the key and letting him make passes to cutters off different actions. Last season, when it worked, it often led to wins. When Moreno had more than 4 assists, Kentucky was 3-2, and those two losses were a combined 8 points to Auburn and Florida.If Moreno can pass even halfway like Amari Williams did, you have 4 shooters who all shot over 38% from deep (Kam Williams, Justin McBride, Milan Momcilovic, and Jerone Morton), and two guards in Alex Wilkins and Zoom Diallo who are great in the paint. If he can get to 3.5 assists a game, that would be huge for this team.Now, all we can do is wait to see how big a jump Moreno makes in year 2, but he already has some fans out there. What do you think? Will we see a big jump from Malachi?

Periodically, I like to take a global look at the MLB landscape, see how the teams rank as fantasy assets. Here are your MLB fantasy power ranks as we work into the first week of June.Fantasy Power Ranking MLB teams, 30-1 (June edition)30. Colorado Rockies: They have five hitters currently in the top 152 for banked value, which is more than I would have guessed. Alas, Mickey Moniak is hurt now, and as much as we love Troy Johnston’s .316 average, it’s tied to just two homers. You can never trust the pitchers here — it’s just too hard to beat the elements long term.29. Los Angeles Angels: Mike Trout’s comeback is fun and Zach Neto is still productive, though he’s striking out a bunch and hitting just .231. The rest of the offense is mostly a miss, and only José Soriano has done anything valuable on the mound. Angels Stadium is only 39 miles from Dodger Stadium, but these teams live in two different worlds.28. Detroit Tigers: Riley Greene, Kevin McGonigle and Dillon Dingler are all top-110 players, but the Tigers don’t have any other hitters in the top 400. Tarik Skubal is a near-certainty to get traded, so long as he can show he’s healthy.27. Minnesota Twins: Joe Ryan and Taj Bradley are the only right answers on the pitching staff, and the Twins show no interest in picking a closer. A healthy Byron Buxton is a beautiful thing, but Minnesota seems to have given up on another pedigree pick, Royce Lewis (top choice in the 2017 draft, demoted after a .163/.261/.279 start.26. Miami Marlins: Liam Hicks is a raking catcher and Xavier Edwards and Otto Lopez are crushing in the middle infield, but everything else in this offense has been a miss. The Marlins would love to sell Sandy Alcantara to a contender, but they need something to market — he’s sitting on a 4.59 ERA and 1.30 WHIP.25. The Athletics: Despite a hitter-friendly park and some batters we already trust, this offense has been a disappointment, with just two batters in the top 200 (Nick Kurtz, Shea Langeliers).At least Jacob Wilson is closing in on a return, and Brent Rooker can’t be this bad. The pitching staff is hard to trust, as the starters need to beat the park and the Athletics continue to distribute their saves to multiple players.24. New York Mets: Juan Soto has been fine since getting healthy and Carson Benge is another outstanding 2026 rookie, but the rest of this offense is a wasteland (the third-ranked New York bat is Marcus Semien, fantasy’s No. 299 player this far). Stick it out with Nolan McLean — when ERA and WHIP don’t tell the same story, trust the WHIP.23. San Francisco Giants: At least Willy Adames and Rafael Devers have started to hit after slow starts, but you always expect this big park to mute offense. And forget steals with these guys, they rank dead last in that category. No one from the pitching staff has earned top-200 value thus far, though a healthy Logan Webb is back and hopefully ready to do his thing. I’d like to see Trevor McDonald stick in the rotation, and Casey Schmitt is welcome on all of my teams.22. Baltimore Orioles: The rotation has blown up and the closer got hurt, but at least a top 10 offense has kept the team in the Wild Card discussion. Adley Rutschman’s comeback season is a nice story, but catcher-eligible bat Samuel Basallo is having a better year (.282, nine homers).21. Cincinnati Reds: They rank just 18th in runs despite Elly De La Cruz busting out; now Elly is hurt, so help is needed. Sal Stewart has been a positive and he covers three infield positions, but I wonder if the team is close to pulling the plug on Matt McLain (.196). What does Noelvi Marte have to do for another shot? He has a .369/.409/.575 slash at Triple-A, with eight homers and nine steals over 40 games.20. Houston Astros: The loss of Hunter Brown was the first domino in a collapsing rotation — only the Rockies have a worse ERA. At least Yordan Alvarez is having a revival season, and Josh Hader is about to come back. Maybe Brown can be a factor for the final 3-4 months.19. Kansas City Royals: These guys excel in finding surprise pitchers, and this year it’s been Stephen Kolek joining the group. Michael Wacha has been another right answer, and Seth Lugo at least deserves streaming consideration. Bobby Witt Jr. is a one-man band on offense, the only KC hitter currently in the top 200. I’m shocked to see Vinnie Pasquantino hitting just .208.18. San Diego Padres: The Fernando Tatís Jr. power drought has been the big story, but there are plenty of underachievers here — the Padres rank dead last in scoring and don’t have any hitters ranked among the top 140 players. The story is a little happier on the pitching side, where Mason Miller remains unhittable, Michael King is back to ace status and Randy Vásquez has been serviceable all year.17. Toronto Blue Jays: After assembling a top-four offense last year, they’ve fallen to 22nd in runs this year, in part because they don’t hit home runs (also 22nd). Vladimir Guerrero Jr. continues to have a ground-ball problem, and his hard-hit rate is also down.16. Cleveland Guardians: Although the Guardians are a modest 19th in runs, they have a handful of useful fantasy bats — Brayan Rocchio, Angel Martinez, Chase DeLauter and Travis Bazzana are supporting José Ramírez nicely. Gavin Williams and Parker Messick are having breakout years on the mound, and Cade Smith has been a knockout closer, as expected.15. Chicago White Sox: I had no idea these guys were going to be so much fun. Loft has turned Miguel Vargas into a fantasy star and the White Sox stole Munetaka Murakami in the free-agent market. There are other useful pieces in this offense, like Chase Meidroth and Sam Antonacci. Davis Martin (2.61/1.11) and closer Seranthony Dominguez (11 saves) are the big winners on the mound. This team has a lot of swagger, and it’s well deserved.14. Seattle Mariners: The dream about rostering their entire starting rotation turned into a nightmare, as Luis Castillo hit a cliff season and the defense has been leaky all year. Julio Rodríguez’s slow start was to be expected — he’s been back to first-round value once we hit May. Josh Naylor is a yearly reminder that stolen bases are more about will than skill — he’s just about the slowest guy in baseball and yet he has 12 bags on the year.13. Texas Rangers: Given the names on this offense, it’s not a surprise to see three hits in the top 125. But no one figured those guys would be Josh Jung, Ezequiel Duran and Jake Burger. Jacob deGrom has managed to stay healthy, but he needs help — Nathan Eovaldi, MacKenzie Gore and Jack Leiter are all capable of climbing a level.Play 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world's biggest soccer tournament12. Boston Red Sox: The outfield has been excellent, the infield (other than Willson Contreras) a mess. The Kyle Harrison deal is going to haunt the Red Sox — Boston ranks 23rd in ERA. At least Aroldis Chapman remains untouchable in the night. The Red Sox have more fantasy value than real-life value these days; the team will likely be a deadline seller.11. Arizona Diamondbacks: It feels like Corbin Carroll has a level to climb, but he’s still an asset in all five categories — not many hitters can say that. Geraldo Perdomo should get the average fixed, but last year’s power spike was likely a mirage. Closer Paul Sewald and righty Michael Soroka appear legit, but I don’t expect Eduardo Rodriguez to keep fooling hitters.10. Washington Nationals: Although they’ve been the top scoring team in baseball for a while, the story is a little top-heavy — only James Wood and CJ Abrams rank among the top 100 players.Curtis Mead is starting to play to his pedigree, and he covers three infield positions in Yahoo. The Nats need to outscore teams, as they rank 26th in ERA. They’ve spread out their 19 saves among eight players — no one has more than four.9. St. Louis Cardinals: The offense is a little top-heavy but at least it has three screaming right answers in JJ Wetherholt, Alec Burleson and post-hype star, Jordan Walker. Michael McGreevy has turned into a staff ace, though he’s getting away with a modest strikeout rate.8. Tampa Bay Rays: Somehow, they have the best record in the American League despite a plus-10 run differential and an ordinary 13th ranking in both runs scored and ERA. There’s luck baked in there. You always expect these guys to find pitching stars out of nowhere — this season, it’s Bryan Baker (16 saves, knockout ratios) and Nick Martinez (1.62 ERA).7. Chicago Cubs: The team ranks just 17th in ERA and that’s despite pitching in front of a metric-approved defense. Ben Brown’s reinvention in the rotation has been one of the stories of the year. Of their top-seven hitters, only Ian Happ has outkicked his spring ADP.6. Pittsburgh Pirates: They’re one of the fun stories of the year, ranking fourth in runs and third in steals, a nifty mix of ascending talents and useful veterans. Paul Skenes is the eternal ace here, but Braxton Ashcraft has settled in nicely as the No. 2 guy (2.77/1.03).5. Philadelphia Phillies: I expected Justin Crawford to be a little better and Trea Turner hitting .227 is a shock, but most of the primary Phillies are doing about what you’d expect. Kyle Schwarber is headed for another 50 home runs, and Cristopher Sánchez didn’t allow a run in May. I will never understand why fantasy managers continue to roster Aaron Nola (5.55 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, on 55% of Yahoo teams).4. New York Yankees: They’re fifth in runs but everyone is holding their breath while Aaron Judge gets his ribs examined. Cam Schittler and Will Warren have surpassed expectations on the mound, and Gerrit Cole looked sharp in his first two starts back.3. Milwaukee Brewers: We wish all of our teams had drafted Jacob Misiorowski, Kyle Harrison and Aaron Ashby (nine relief wins), and Brice Turang remains one of baseball’s best-kept secrets. The health of Christian Yelich and Jackson Chourio will determine how high the offense can fly.2. Atlanta Braves: The Drake Baldwin injury was a kick in the stomach and Austin Riley has not found his form, but seven of the nine regulars in this offense have above-average metrics. It’s hard to trust Spencer Strider these days, but Chris Sale continues to defy the aging curve, and Bryce Elder and Martin Pérez have been useful1. Los Angeles Dodgers: Sometimes it feels like they’re just messing around, and yet here they are, first in batting average, OBP and slugging. They’ve shifted away from the stolen base, though — they were 10th in that category two seasons ago, they rank 26th now. And then there’s the pitching, which ranks first in ERA. Some things never change.

It’s official. Lamont Roach and William Zepeda have officially been scheduled for a vacant WBC lightweight title fight to take place on August 1 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, streaming live on DAZN (the main eventwill also be available on TNT & truTV). Roach (25-1-3, 10 KOs) is coming off of back-to-back draws against Gervonta Davis and Isaac Cruz, but due to the controversial scores in those fights he’s been positioned for another deserved bite at the apple here. “This is my fourth consecutive world title fight coming up in a different weight class,” said Roach. “No doubt, I am bringing boxing back, and I’m coming for the top spot. I want the P4P belt layer.” Meanwhile Zepeda (33-1, 27 KOs) was most recently dominated by Shakur Stevenson last summer, but looks to bounce back in this outing. “We’ve been working hard since my last fight. We’re at the forefront of the lightweight division, and we know every opponent at this level presents a serious challenge,” said Zepeda. “Once again, we’ve been given the opportunity to fight for a world championship, and we’re ready to show the world exactly who ‘El Camarón’ Zepeda is. I hope Lamont comes fully prepared, because we’re going to put on a great show for the fans.”General on-sale tickets go live on June 5.

Allegri and Napoli must wait a little longer for Milan terminationMax Allegri and Milan met today to discuss the termination of his contract, but Napoli will have to wait a while longer for the final details to be resolved.The coach was sacked the day after a home defeat to Cagliari saw them miss out on Champions League qualification.He was dismissed in a single statement along with director of sport Igli Tare, CEO Giorgio Furlani and technical director Geoffrey Moncada.Napoli waiting for AllegriSASSUOLO, ITALY – MAY 03: Massimiliano Allegri, Head Coach of AC Milan looks on during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and AC Milan at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on May 03, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)Allegri has already lined up a new job at Napoli, where he is replacing the departing Antonio Conte, ready to sign a two-year contract.However, before he does that, he must first terminate the existing agreement in place with Milan and that is proving to be tricky.Although the initial fear of a protracted legal battle seems to have waned, it is also fair to say that yesterday’s reports a deal would be signed today were also too optimistic.It is a laborious process and will require a little more patience to work out the kinks, but the various lawyers and representatives are hard at work and will continue discussions on Thursday.

Terry Koeller inspects cannons, which sunk to the bottom of the Savannah River during the American Revolution, on a rack at the Savannah History Museum in Savannah, Ga., on Wednesday, June 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Russ Bynum)2026-06-03T17:37:30Z SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — A museum in Georgia’s oldest city on Wednesday welcomed a truckload of treasures from the earliest period of U.S. history — 17 cannons that experts believe sank to the bottom of the Savannah River during the American Revolution and remained undiscovered for nearly 240 years.Workers carefully hoisted the big guns one-by-one from the back of a truck and wheeled them inside their new home at the Savannah History Museum, which will put them on display just in time for the Fourth of July celebration of America’s 250th birthday.“They look brand new,” said Andrea Farmer, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers archaeologist who was part of the team that researched and preserved the cannons. “They could pretty much be fired if someone wanted to.”The artifacts were discovered in 2021 when a dredge scooping sediment from the riverbed as part of an Army Corps project to deepen Savannah’s shipping channel pulled up a cannon in its metal jaws. The crew soon dug up two more. In the course of just over a year, a total of 19 cannons were hoisted from the location just downstream from Savannah, which is where Georgia was founded in 1733 as the last of Britain’s 13 American colonies.After being pulled from the river, most of the cannons left Georgia for several years to undergo cleaning and preservation work at a Texas lab. One of the Revolution’s bloodiest battles was fought in SavannahArchaeologists initially assumed the cannons likely dated to the Civil War. But further research indicated they’re likely almost a century older and sank during the buildup to the American Revolution’s bloody siege of Savannah.Savannah was under British occupation in the fall of 1779, when colonists planned an attack to retake the city with help from French allies.When French ships carrying troops were spotted off the Georgia coast, British forces scuttled at least six ships in the Savannah River downstream from the city to block the French vessels. Read More The land battle that followed was one of the bloodiest of the war. British forces killed nearly 300 colonial fighters and their allies, and wounded hundreds more. The Savannah History Museum sits right next to the battlefield. Its staff on Wednesday hoisted the cannons, weighing up to 1500 pounds (680 kilograms) apiece, onto custom display mounts that staffers likened to giant wine racks. The cannons will be part of a new exhibit on Savannah’s role in the American Revolution, which is scheduled to open Fourth of July weekend, said Samantha Moss, the museum’s curator.“Our great team has been prepping for months -- building mounts and planning how we can safely display these very large, very special artifacts,” she said.Cleaning the crusty cannons took yearsEach of the iron cannons emerged from the river covered by a thick crust of mud and minerals. Two were left in that raw state and put on display at the museum. The other 17 were sent to Texas A&M University, which has a lab that specializes in preserving underwater artifacts. Its staff spent years painstakingly cleaning the big guns and coating them in paint and wax to prevent rusting and corrosion. “A lot of them have scour marks on the side from anchors or dredging, so there’s some scarring on the cannons,” said Chris Dostal, a professor of nautical archaeology who leads Texas A&M’s Conservation Research Lab. “But most of them look pretty exceptional.”Most of the cannons arrived with wooden plugs still sealing their bores, which remained packed with cannonballs and gunpowder charges. Dostal said radiocarbon dating of the wooden stoppers placed them roughly in the late 1700s. His team shared the cannons’ measurements and other details with experts in London, who concluded three of them were very likely forged by the British military.The rest appeared to be of French design but bore no telltale markings. Dostal said he suspects those guns may have been cast in America around the time of the war. Other artifacts found with the cannons included pieces of anchors and a portion of a ship’s bronze bell. Like the cannons, none of them bore engravings indicating which ship they came from. That means many details of the cannons’ origins remain a mystery.“You don’t have all of the information,” Farmer said. “You’re trying to piece it together as best as you can.” 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

An arrest warrant has reportedly been issued for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk in Northern California, per the California Post. The warrant is for a “misdemeanor charge of exhibition of speed.” The charge stems from a video Aiyuk himself posted to his YouTube channel in December 2025, showing him speeding past Levi’s Stadium. The video was taken from the wide receiver’s position in the driver’s seat and shows the speedometer. During the video, Aiyuk traveled more than 100 mph past the stadium. When the video was released, the public reacted with a stark backlash over the lack of safety in it. The wide receiver apologized on social media for the video and said that any future car content wouldn’t feature any more speeding. According to the California Post, even after Aiyuk’s public apology for the incident, the Santa Clara Police Department still conducted an investigation into the video. The office chose to forward the case to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office on January 15. Nearly five months later, a warrant has been issued for Aiyuk on a misdemeanor speeding charge.

The summer program is about to begin for Iowa football and men's and women's basketball, and it is a really big summer for all three.The Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman start with football's biggest summer story lines, including, of course, the quarterback situation between Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski. Oh, and highly acclaimed QB recruit Tradon Bessinger arrives soon, too.Chad recaps his recent conversation with Iowa women's coach Jan Jensen, while Tyler unpacks a lot of the top story lines for Ben McCollum and the Iowa men.Programming note: Hawk Central radio will take a few weeks off with Chad on vacation, but we will return with our next show on June 24.For a direct link to today's podcast, click here.This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Summer boxes that Iowa football, basketball need to check

It felt like the roller-coaster ride had come to an end. Turns out, there’s one more loop-the-loop.Michele Hackett, the Gig Harbor High School basketball coach who was fired, then re-hired, announced Tuesday in an email to parents that she’s leaving and taking the Stadium High School girls basketball coaching job.In the email, Hackett called it a “bittersweet” decision.“I recognize that this news is a sudden pivot,” she said. “I want to reassure you all that this decision is not about running away from a difficult situation, nor is it a concession to outside pressures or critics. The Tides are strong, and the program is in a great place. Rather, this choice is entirely about where I am in my coaching career and the specific purpose that drives me at this stage of my life.”Hackett said rebuilding struggling programs is her passion.“Last year, Stadium High School was winless in league play,” Hackett said. “They are a young program hungry to learn, eager to grow, and in need of the specific kind of mentorship and culture-building that I feel called to provide right now.”Hackett was released from her contract on April 23 after a meeting with Gig Harbor High School athletic director Blair Suek, during which Hackett was told the “general consensus was that I wasn’t the best fit for this particular program and community” after postseason discussions with players.In a rare reversal, the Peninsula School District stepped in less than two weeks later and announced Hackett would be returning.“The district would like to clarify that this decision to end Coach Hackett’s tenure was made without consulting district administration, and proper administrative protocols were not followed,” district officials wrote in an email/ParentSquare post to parents in early May.Hackett replaced Tim Olson, who was placed on administrative leave — alongside two assistants — after a district investigation found the coaches allegedly consumed alcohol during a team trip to Florida. Hackett was hired in the fall of 2025 and took over for the 2025-26 season.A source told The News Tribune many of the team’s parents remained firmly in Olson’s corner and that Hackett was never given a fair chance. The source also said some of the parents weren’t fans of Hackett’s laid-back, hands-off coaching style during games.By any reasonable standard, Gig Harbor had a successful season under Hackett, who was hired late in the cycle and wasn’t able to coach the team during the summer, a critical team-development period for any coach, but especially a first-year coach.Gig Harbor posted a 19-6 record in the 2025-26 season and was one win away from playing in the Class 3A state tournament at the Tacoma Dome, falling 44-43 to the Maggee Schmitz-led White River Hornets in a state tournament regional round game at the University of Puget Sound Logger Memorial Fieldhouse on Feb. 28.Hackett was named the 3A Puget Sound League Narrows Division coach of the year in 2025-26. Two Tides — senior Kaliyah Miller and junior Willow Bonnici — were named first-team all-league selections, while junior Ashlyn Pierce and sophomore Anika Jones were second-team selections.Miller, a team captain and one of the first-team selections, wrote an email to Peninsula School District leadership expressing her frustration with Hackett’s coaching style. The email, obtained by The News Tribune, detailed her grievances.“Before the season, Coach Hackett presented herself as a coach who emphasized physicality, defensive intensity, pressing, and fast-paced basketball,” Miller wrote. “However, once practices started, that philosophy did not translate into reality. Most practices were spent listening to instructions rather than actually playing or getting reps.“For the first time in my basketball career, I found myself dreading practice. It didn’t feel competitive or productive, and honestly, it didn’t feel like we were getting better.”The email continues with other concerns.“She RARELY coached during games,” Miller wrote. “When times got rough while playing, we would look to our coaches for guidance and help but there was no coach to be found. Ours just sat on the bench like two spectators. There was no coaching going on. I had to call timeouts for our team during games.”In her farewell email, Hackett wished the team well in the future.“Thank you again for your trust, your passion and the unforgettable support and friendship you have shown me,” she said. “I will always be cheering for the growth and success of these young women, and I can’t wait to see where your skills and talents take you next season! Roll Tides!”The Peninsula School District now has a tight window to fill the position before the summer basketball season begins.

Nyan Brown and Mallard Creek High School earned vindication.Following an appeal from the school, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association ruled on Tuesday, June 3, that the boys' track team for the Charlotte-based high school will be recognized as Class 8A co-state champions and co-winners of the 4x400-meter relay. The Mavericks lost out on the state championship when Brown was disqualified for raising his hand before crossing the finish line in the NCHSA 8A Track and Field State Championships on Saturday, May 16, in Greensboro, North Carolina.REQUIRED READING: North Carolina high school appeals controversial disqualification in state meet“We are grateful for the decision and appreciate the opportunity to fully participate in the appeals process as it was intended,” Mallard Creek principal Jared Thompson said in a statement. “We are grateful for the opportunity to advocate on behalf of our student-athletes through a process that allowed for careful review and consideration of this matter.”After the Mallard Creek's relay team was disqualified following the final event of the state championship, the school filed an appeal to the NCHSAA Board of Directors and Commissioner Que Tucker.Tucker acknowledged the difficulty Mallard Creek and the community endured after an official decided to DQ Brown. The Mavericks will share the state championship with C.E. Jordan High School (Durham, North Carolina).“At the center of the matter are young people who have invested countless hours into their sport and their team,” Tucker said. “We appreciate the work of the Independent Interscholastic Appeals Board and respect the process that led to today’s outcome. We are pleased that this matter has reached a resolution and that the accomplishments of the student-athletes involved can be recognized.”The appeal was heard by a three-member Independent Interscholastic Athletics Appeals Board run by the N.C. State Board of Education: Dr. Rodney Shotwell (retired Superintendent, Rockingham County Schools), Robert Logan (retired Superintendent, Scotland County Schools) and Alice Lyons (Retired Principal, Heritage Collegiate Leadership Academy).The panel met for two hours, listening to statements and evidence presented by the NCHSAA and officials from Mallard Creek.Ultimately, the board ruled that Mallard Creek "had presented clear and convincing evidence that the student-athlete did not engage in unsporting or unacceptable conduct as defined in the track and field competition rules of the National Federation of State High School Associations."On Tuesday, the NCHSAA Board held an emergency meeting and decided to make Mallard Creek a co-champion in the relay, which helped it earn the co-state championship.Brown is slated to run for North Carolina State University next season.“I want to thank my family, coaches, and everyone across the globe who has shown so much love and support for me and my teammates over the last few weeks,” Brown said. “It has been incredible. Although I have gotten a lot of attention, this decision isn’t about me. It is about our team. We knew a fifth state team championship was possible coming into the season, and we earned it. We did it y’all."He signed off with “Nyan Brown, 10x state champion.” This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mallard Creek wins appeal of disqualification during state track title

Florida State is currently hosting prospects for official visits and is working to add a few commitments to its 2027 recruiting class. They now have a new visitor who will be on campus next weekend.2027 four-star cornerback Kamil Loud is fresh off a visit with the Washington Huskies. He's also announced two more official visits during the month of June. He'll visit the California Bears on June 12, and then FSU on June 19, which will be his final visit before making his decision in early July, per Greg Biggins of Rivals.Loud received his offer from the Seminoles in January, and he took an unofficial visit back in April. It's been his only trip to Tallahassee so far, but they left a great impression on him.I loved it at Florida State,” Loud said. “That was a huge offer for me because FSU is a big time program with incredible tradition.I loved the campus and the coaches have been great with me. I’m excited to get back for an official visit so I can spent a lot more time with everyone and get a better feel for the school.Loud is the No. 359 player in the country and the No. 39 cornerback per Rivals' industry rankings. In the state of Nevada, he's the 3 recruit. He played in nine games as a junior at Bishop Gorman High School. He recorded 18 tackles and three pass breakups.Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman DB Kamil Loud breaks down his weekend visit to Washington, lines up two more trips and talks commitment timeframe"I loved it at Washington, everyone has one common goal and you can feel it."Intel: https://t.co/jcuW40ZniWpic.twitter.com/gl9ajKn0sN— Greg Biggins (@GregBiggins) June 3, 2026Contact/Follow us @FSUWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida State news, notes and opinions. You can also follow Matthew on X @StarConscienceThis article originally appeared on FSU Wire: FSU Football: Kamil Loud sets official visit with Florida State

A conservative Christian man is suing Los Angeles County and the L.A. Department of Public Works for making him come to work during Pride Month. Department of Public Works employee Eric Batman claims that having to see a Progress Pride flag flying outside the department’s Alhambra, California, headquarters during the month of June effectively forces him to “celebrate, recognize, and solemnize conduct and actions that he views as sin” in conflict with his sincerely held Christian religious beliefs, according to a lawsuit filed in March by anti-LGBTQ+ evangelical nonprofit the Liberty Counsel. Related GOP candidate struggles to burn rainbow flag on top of U-Haul truck while screaming at 2 people As the complaint notes, Batman has worked for the department for 24 years, and at its Alhambra headquarters since 2003. Since 2023, L.A. County has required all county departments to fly the Progress Pride flag during the month of June. In 2024 and 2025, Batman formally requested a religious accommodation allowing him to work remotely in June, claiming that requiring him to be present in the office “for the County’s explicit and overt celebration of so-called Pride Month” conflicts with his Christian beliefs. Both requests were denied, as were follow-up grievance forms Batman filed with the Department of Employee Relations. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today In his 2024 grievance, Batman wrote that having to see the Progress Pride flag each time he enters and exits the building “negatively impacts my ability [to] perform my work and results in a hostile work environment.” In both 2024 and 2025, the department suggested Batman use the building’s rear entrance to avoid seeing the flag and that he seek counseling for any distress he might experience. According to the complaint, the department’s recommendations “suggested to Batman that his religious beliefs required mental health counseling rather than accommodation” and “relegate him to ‘separate but equal’ facilities.” The lawsuit also compares Batman’s request for religious accommodation to others approved by the department that allow Muslim employees to work remotely during Ramadan. In a May 30 fundraising message, Liberty Counsel claimed that in suggesting Batman seek counseling, the department had declared “his Christian beliefs to be a mental illness,” a claim made nowhere in the lawsuit. The anti-LGBTQ+ group also claimed that “the County required its employees to participate in overt workplace LGBTQ ‘Pride’ celebrations during the month of June.” However, the lawsuit cites no instance in which Batman was forced to do anything other than come to work while a Pride flag flew outside department headquarters. Batman’s lawsuit accuses L.A. County and the Department of Public Works of religious discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the First Amendment’s Free Exercise and Free Speech clauses, and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. “The Constitution does not allow the government — or a government employer — to put citizens in the impossible position of choosing between their conscience and their livelihood,” Liberty Counsel chairman Mat Staver said in a statement, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. Batman is seeking a court order declaring that the county violated his rights, along with unspecified damages, according to the outlet. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

The secondary market for decades old, low-tech John Deere tractors has been booming for years as farmers have sought reliable tractors that they can actually fix without having to deal with John Deere’s repair monopoly. A Canadian company has seen that demand and came up with a radical thought: What if they made a new, repairable, “no-tech” tractor to solve what has become a gigantic pain point for farmers?Alberta’s Ursa Ag says that it has been inundated with demand after announcing its tractor, which costs roughly half as much as a Deere and has the benefit of not being a repair nightmare. We have for years covered the frustration that farmers have felt as they have been locked out of their Deere tractors with digital rights management systems that prevent them from fixing their machinery, tractors that won’t run because of minor sensor failures, and crops that literally die on the vine as they wait for an “authorized” repair person to fix tractors during critical harvesting periods. Ursa Ag markets its tractors as “no frills” and “built to last.” Ursa Ag’s Doug Wilson told me that the company designed the tractor because of a need in the marketplace for a new machine that isn’t loaded with tech and is easy to maintain. The company follows in the footsteps of consumer electronics companies like Fairphone, which makes a repairable smartphone and Framework, which makes modular, repairable laptops. The demand Ursa Ag has seen is part of the backlash to manufacturer repair monopolies and the injection of technology and internet-connected sensors and terms of use into even the most basic of gadgets. “I talk to farmers every day and I hear from farmers every day about how they went out and bought machinery from 1987 so that it wouldn’t have a computer on it,” Wilson said. “All of this came from a simple discussion with a customer who wanted to be able to turn [the tractor] on at the start of the day, to use it, and shut it off at the end of the day. It needed to work, so that’s what we built.”Ursa Ag’s tractor has been hyped in agriculture circles after Wilson showed the tractor off at a Canadian farm show and it was featured by Farms.com. Wilson said more than a thousand farmers have contacted him after that show, from roughly 30 countries. “I got a handwritten letter from a farmer in France who doesn’t own a computer and wanted us to mail him information about the tractors,” he said. He said the company has thus far made a couple fewer than 100 tractors but is working on tripling its production capacity and has seen a lot of demand over the last few months. For years, people who don’t understand the repair monopoly issue—that John Deere controls the parts production and distribution for its tractors, the software that runs its tractors, the diagnostics for its tractors, and the repair guides for its tractors—have said that farmers should simply vote with their wallets and buy tractors from a different company. The problem has been that, until now, there hasn’t really been an alternative company that doesn’t have similar repair practices. Ursa Ag is filling that niche. Perhaps other companies will pop up to sell low- or no-tech, repairable appliances and gadgets.“Given the number of my customers that carry flip phones, I would say there is consumer pressure to back away from some of the technology that is unnecessary to perform everyday tasks,” Wilson said. “So that is definitely transferable to dishwashers and washing machines, refrigerators. Refrigerators that have screens on them that'll tell you what's inside. It's a little crazy.”“That high-tech stuff, the million-dollar John Deere tractor has a place. It has technology that is well worth the money,” Wilson said. “But that technology is needed for 5 percent of what a farm does. There are so many applications for tractors on farms that don’t require technology. The technology that goes into even a calculator is not required for most farming applications.”

Browns' Todd Monken avoids Myles Garrett questions with ridiculous stance originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Todd Monken doesn't want to talk about Myles Garrett."I thought (GM) Andrew (Berry) addressed it yesterday," the Cleveland Browns' new head coach told reporters on Wednesday. "... I don't think there's anything more that needs to be said. We're excited about Jared (Verse) for now and our team's future."Come on, now. That's not how this works.You're the new head coach of a team that just traded away the best player to play for the franchise since it was reborn in 1999.Sure, Monken would love to not have to talk about it, but that shouldn't be how this works.Garrett is gone. That has to be addressed by the man that will be leading the team from the sideline.Normally, you'd at least see something diplomatic, wishing Garrett luck or recognizing what he meant to the Browns. Garrett just set the single-season sacks record last season, and while Monken wasn't his head coach then, he was the offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens. He got to see Garrett in action plenty.No, he doesn't have to wax poetic for an hour. But a head coach should be able to speak about such a major move for his roster. It's silly for him to pretend otherwise.There's a decent chance that there isn't a more significant story with the Browns in the rest of the 2026 calendar year. Monken might as well just not show up at the press conferences if he just decides he's not going to talk about things.Garrett is gone, and Monken wants to move forward. That's how football folks are wired.But not commenting at all? That's just silly.

The Manchester United recent success has allowed the club to finish in the third position in the Premier League table and thereby qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season.The Manchester United recent success under Michael Carrick has given the Englishman a two-year contract as the club’s permanent manager.However, what have been the ingredients of the Manchester United recent success, and what has Carrick changed exactly to make the club’s supporters dream big again?It is primarily Manchester United’s tendency to play a more aggressive brand of football that helped them reverse the tide.Manchester United Recent Success: Switch From Passive To AggressiveRuben Amorim made his team play with a 3-4-3, with Bruno Fernandes playing in the double-pivot alongside Casemiro.Essentially, a number 10 and a 34-year-old were playing in the midfield, which meant that there were not enough players tracking back and venturing forward at the same time.There simply were not the legs required for all of this in the midfield.Carrick switched to a 4-2-3-1, with Fernandes moving to the role of a number 10 and Kobbie Mainoo, who was sidelined by Amorim, partnering Casemiro.Hence, there was a spike in the number of assists provided by Fernandes, as the Portuguese’s record tally of 21 league assists this season contributed significantly towards the Manchester United recent success.In addition to that, there were the likes of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, each of whom reached double digits in terms of goals scored this season. Thus, the reinforcements the Red Devils made in their attack paid dividends handsomely.YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Denzel Dumfries To Real Madrid: How The Dutch Wing-Back Could Transform Los Blancos’ Right FlankZEIST – Netherlands player Denzel Dumfries during Dutch national team, Nationalteam training at the KNVB Campus on March 22, 2026 in Zeist, the Netherlands. (Photo by DeFodi Images) – *** ZEIST Netherlands player Denzel Dumfries during Dutch National Team training at the KNVB Campus on March 22, 2026 in Zeist, the Netherlands Photo by DeFodi ImagesManchester United Recent Success: The Mentality SwitchIn simple terms, Carrick has made United more adventurous.One massive example of this is the game against Liverpool at Old Trafford. The Reds were the defending champions, and despite their underwhelming form this season, United had every reason to go into the match with a bit of caution.However, Fernandes, Mbeumo and Sesko ran riot in the shape of a triangle that left the Liverpool defence in shambles during the initial 20 minutes.United took a 2-0 lead quite early in the match, and despite Liverpool’s comeback in the second half, they were able to win it 3-2 following a Mainoo winner.That is the change Carrick has been able to inculcate into the Red Devils. The team is not afraid to go for a win any longer, which should always be the case for a team that is one of the most successful clubs in EnglandUnited earned a very impressive 39 points in 17 matches in Carrick’s interim spell as manager. That tally is among the highest in the league, and the Manchester United recent success has been a thing of pride for their supporters.However, the next season will be more challenging as it will consist of UEFA Champions League football, as the Red Devils gear up to return to Europe’s elite competition once more.Carrick will need his bench to perform as well and might need a few reinforcements. It remains to be seen whether the Manchester United recent success can pave the way for a better 2026/27 season for them.Main PhotoCredit: IMAGO / Sportimage

A trip to the NBA Finals is hard enough to come by in the NBA, let alone twice. For the Knicks’ Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby, the 2026 NBA Finals are a second opportunity to make right on hauntings from the past.Learning From a LossBoth Bridges and Anunoby have reached the NBA Finals before, in 2021 and 2019, respectively. Mikal Bridges’ Phoenix Suns lost in six games to the Milwaukee Bucks after going up 2-0. Looking back on the series, he admits that he may have celebrated too early after taking the advantage. “I remember going up 2-0; I’m ready,” he recalled on the Roomates Show podcast. “I was like ‘we about to win the chip’ cause – especially in the West, especially then…You know, I thought the West was tougher than the East.”Bridges was quickly humbled after the Bucks stormed back to capture the NBA title. “They ran off four straight…I just couldn’t believe it,” he said incredulously. The Spurs are in the West, the conference Bridges considers to be the tougher of the two. It is unlikely he will underestimate his opponent again this time. The reminder to remain even-keeled and stay in attack mode no matter what is a lesson his Knicks can carry into their showdown with the Spurs. Bridges has improved his game from that year’s playoff run. In the 2021 postseason, he averaged 11.1 points on 48.4% from the field. Through the first three rounds of the 2026 playoffs, he has averaged 14.6 points while shooting 58.6% overall. He has guarded some of the opposing teams’ best players while remaining an offensive threat.For Bridges, his advice to his teammates who haven’t been in the Finals before is simple. He saw firsthand the media circus that surrounds the Finals and understands the importance of blocking out all the noise. “Just worry about being ourselves, stay locked in and go win,” he said."Lot of questions, lot of talk about how great we are, how great we've been. All that doesn't matter. We've got to stay locked in and go win."Mikal Bridges on advice he'll give his teammates entering The Finals: pic.twitter.com/kLWdLzEXdK— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) May 28, 2026 OG is Finally Healthy for the FinalsAnunoby’s experience in the NBA Finals was different from Bridges’. His Toronto Raptors completed the ultimate mission, defeating the Warriors in six games to win the championship.Although his squad won the Finals, Anunoby was unable to make an impact. He missed the entire postseason recovering from an appendectomy. The 28-year-old is looking forward to being able to participate in this year’s Finals after watching from the sidelines the last time his team arrived there.“Grown a lot on and off the court,” he said of how he’s evolved since the Raptors’ championship season. “The first time it was really cool, but it wasn’t the way I would have wanted it. This time, happy to be here, happy to be healthy.”OG Anunoby on playing in the NBA Finals:"Grown a lot on and off the court. The first time, it was really cool, but it wasn't the way I would've wanted it. This time, happy to be here, happy to be healthy – excited for the games to start." pic.twitter.com/1JffCMm6Nx— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) June 2, 2026 Anunoby has arguably made a bigger leap than Bridges since the last time each was in the Finals. He started just six games that season as a second-year player, averaging seven points in 20 minutes. This season, he was a starter for the third-best team in the East, averaging 16.7 points. The largest improvement in his game has come in his shooting from behind the arc. In 2018-19, he shot 33.2% from three; this season, that number has leaped to 38.6%. Because Anunoby couldn’t partake in the playoff action, he spent the postseason soaking up knowledge. That roster was loaded with All-Star talent, from Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Lowry to emerging players like Norman Powell, Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam. For Anunoby, what has stuck the most with him from the title run is the difficulty of reaching the biggest stage in basketball."I was younger back then, I didn't realize how hard it [was] to get back…getting back is amazing, takes a lot – I'm really excited"OG Anunoby, who made the NBA Finals as a member of the Raptors in 2019 but did not play, on being there with the Knicks: pic.twitter.com/F8NbQG8Tyk— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) May 29, 2026 “Getting back is amazing,” he said. “Takes a lot, and I’m really excited.”Ready for RedemptionThe experience of Anunoby and Bridges – whether from playing or watching from the bench – will prove valuable in the Finals. The Knicks have players who have been there before – unlike the Spurs, who feature a roster primarily constructed of guys playing in their first postseason.Experience isn’t always conducive to winning. But against a loaded, tough-minded team like the Spurs, the Knicks will take every advantage they can get.The post This Year’s Finals Are a Second Chance for Anunoby and Bridges appeared first on The Lead.

AUBURN — There will be at least more than one trip north during Auburn basketball's nonconference slate in the 2026-27 season, as the Tigers announced Wednesday, June 3, they'd be returning to the Rocket City Classic in Huntsville for a game against Middle Tennessee.Auburn last played in Huntsvile during the 2023-24 campaign, facing UNC Asheville in the same multi-team event. The upcoming contest with the Blue Raiders is scheduled for Dec. 15 at VBC Propst Arena.“We are excited to return to Huntsville and play in front of the Auburn family,” head coach Steven Pearl said in a release. “This is a tremendous opportunity to compete at a neutral site against a perennially competitive program in Middle Tennessee."Here's a look at the rest of Auburn's announced scheduled:Auburn basketball's 2026-27 nonconference schedule so farNov. 17: West Virginia (Players Era) Nov. 18: Kansas or UNLV (Players Era)Nov. 19: TBD (Players Era)Dec. 15: Middle Tennessee (Rocket City Classic)Dec. 19: Wisconsin (Nashville)Adam Cole is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at acole@gannett.com or on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @colereporter.To support Adam's work, please subscribe to the Montgomery Advertiser.This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn basketball playing Middle Tennessee in Huntsville next season

The New York Knicks have the Empire State buzzing after reaching the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.Ahead of the championship series against the San Antonio Spurs, bakeries, delis and small businesses across New York and New Jersey are rolling out blue-and-orange-themed specials to celebrate the team’s run. National chains, including Dunkin’ and Duck Donuts, are also offering Knicks-inspired items at select locations.Here’s a look at where fans can find Knicks-themed treats and deals.Long Island dealsButtercooky Bakery (Huntington): Blue and orange Italian rainbow cookies; Knicks rainbow cookie ice cream sandwichesFront Street Bakery (Rockville Centre): Knicks cookies, cupcakes, dot cakes and thumbprint cookiesWhisk and Down Diner (Farmingdale): Knicks rainbow cookie donutDortoni Bakery Co. (multiple locations): Basketball sandwich cookies, Knicks cupcakes, blue and orange donuts, jersey cookies, Italian rainbow cookies and cake popsTown Bagel (multiple locations): Blue and orange frosted cookiesLong Island Bagel Cafe (multiple locations): Blue and orange bagelsGlenn Wayne Bakery (Bohemia): Basketball donutsSeaqua Deli (Massapequa): Sandwiches including “Hart of the City,” “The OG” and “The Brunson Burner”Piazzetta (East Farmingdale): Blue and orange zeppolesMy Three Sons Bagel Cafe (Stewart Manor, Garden City): Blue and orange bagelsView this post on Instagram

Nature, Published online: 03 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01779-zThe Trump administration’s proposal aims to improve transparency in federal funding, but critics fear the proposed rules would politicize research

The Western Big 6 Conference recently released all-conference teams for baseball, softball and girls soccer. Sterling had multiple players selected in each sport.For baseball, Sterling senior catcher Wyatt Cassens and junior infielder Cale Nettleton were second-team all-conference selections. Senior infielder Adrian Monarrez and senior Eli Penne (utility) were honorable mentions. Sterling finished 12-18 overall and 3-11 in conference, taking eighth.Sterling senior infielder Mya Lira and senior outfielder Lily Cantu were named second-team all-conference softball players. Senior pitcher Lily Martinez, junior outfielder Layla Wright and junior catcher Rosie Cantu were honorable mentions. Sterling finished 17-16 overall and 7-7 in conference, taking fourth.Senior soccer forward Delia Block was named second-team all-conference. Sophomore forward Sofia Georgieva and sophomore keeper Caylee White were honorable mentions.

The date for the annual Florida Classic has been set.Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M will meet for the 47th time in the Florida Classic on Nov. 21 at 3:30 p.m. at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, according to a press release from Florida Citrus Sports and the Florida Classic Consortium on June 3.The last 29 Classics since 1997 have been played at Camping World Stadium, but the venue will look a little different in its 30th hosting of the event. It’s currently undergoing a $400 million renovation set for completion in the summer of 2027.As a result, the traditional 60,219-seat capacity is expected to be impacted for the 2026 Florida Classic and 71st all-time meeting between the two schools. Nonetheless, it'll still take place in the same place it's been played since 1997.“The Florida Classic is one of the most meaningful traditions in HBCU athletics, and we are excited to once again take the field at Camping World Stadium in Downtown Orlando,” Bethune-Cookman president Dr. Albert Mosley said in the release. “With renovations expected to continue well into the season, Bethune-Cookman is collaborating with Florida A&M and Florida Citrus Sports to ensure fans have the outstanding experience they’ve come to expect.” As usual, it will be Bethune-Cookman’s final game of the regular season, and the Wildcats will look to pick up a consecutive victory over the Rattlers after a 38-34 victory in the 2025 edition of the rivalry game.This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida Classic date set for Bethune-Cookman vs. Florida A&M in 2026

Photo by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty ImagesScottie Scheffler is looking to become only the second player to win the Memorial Tournament three years in a row this week at Muirfield Village. The world number one triumphed at Jack’s Place in 2024 and 2025. And while he is not playing quite as well this year, it would still be no surprise to see him retain his title.He would become just the third player to register at least three wins at the event, while he would join Tiger Woods in securing those first three victories in successive years.Scottie Scheffler says what he loves most about the Memorial TournamentThe Memorial Tournament is one of the most iconic events on the calendar. You will struggle to find many stronger fields this year on the PGA Tour. This week sees Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy tee it up in the same signature event for the first time since early March.Jack Nicklaus has used all of his experience to ensure that Muirfield Village has absolutely everything that any player could want. So it is not difficult to see why the stars enjoy the event each year.And speaking to the media ahead of Thursday’s opening round, Scheffler explained what he loves most about the tournament.Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images“I think one of my favourite parts is probably the crowds. Every year here the crowds are amazing. They make a lot of noise, they’re very passionate about this tournament. And the community, I think really rallies around this tournament and Mr. Nicklaus,” he said.“And I think any time you can play a tournament that has his name on it is something that’s really special. He’s a guy that I look up to, not just from being a great golfer, but he was a great family man as well. And you see it through his tournament, you see his sons here, you see his wife here, you see his grandchildren everywhere.“Mr. Nicklaus is a part of the fabric of this tournament and his family is as well. It’s not just about him. This is a special place for us to be able to come and compete, not only from the challenge of the golf course, but being able to play in front of the fans and carrying on Mr. Nicklaus’ legacy. This is a really cool tournament for us.”The claim Jack Nicklaus made about Scottie Scheffler after his 2025 Memorial winScheffler is certainly the game’s most dominant player since Tiger Woods was at something like his peak. He has been so impressive over the last few years. It was almost inevitable that he would see the number of victories somewhat dry up.But it is clear that he is an exceptional player, as Jack Nicklaus explained following Scheffler’s victory at his tournament this time last year.“He reminds me so much of the way I like to play,” he said, as reported by Sky Sports.“I don’t think I played nearly as well as he played. He’s playing better than I played and more consistent. He’s just been playing fantastic, and I love watching him.”Scheffler will surely be in the mix in the coming days, with the 29-year-old already registering seven top 10 finishes on the PGA Tour.Certainly, anyone who finishes above Scheffler this week will fancy their chances of having the opportunity to shake Nicklaus’ hand as the latest champion of his event on Sunday afternoon.

An official visit to Clemson was all three-star cornerback Bryant Robinson needed to know where he wants to play college football.A few short days after his trip to Death Valley, Robinson committed to the Tigers on Wednesday over Texas Tech, Arizona and Arizona State. “They’re just different,” Robinson told Rivals’ Sam Spiegelman last month. “The culture they have built and what coach (Dabo) Swinney is continuing to build is different. The relationships I have built with Coach (Mike) Reed and the rest of the coaching staff have been great.”The Frisco (Texas) Lone Star standout also took a visit to Arizona State in May, but is instead locked in with Clemson as the Tigers ride a recruiting hot streak.Bryant was initially offered back in September after attending the season-opener against LSU, and Clemson’s staff stayed on the gas ever since. A visit during spring practices, combined with his official visit over the weekend, reinforced what the program is about — and what he wants to be part of. “That’s what a lot of the staff, especially the former players, were saying: ‘Dabo Swinney will change your life,’ he told TigerIllustrated this spring. “You saw and heard how genuine and honest a person he is. Good, bad or the other, he’s going to be honest with you. That was great.”Tigers add another to big run of commitmentsAs a junior, Bryant finished his season with 46 tackles and a pair of interceptions. That followed a standout sophomore campaign where he was named the Texas District 5-5A D-I Defensive Newcomer of That reason, he recorded 21 tackles and 10 pass breakups for Lone Star. The No. 60 cornerback in the class according to Rivals, he is the 15th commitment for the Tigers over the past month. On Monday alone, Jacksonville (Fla.) Atlantic Coast four-star EDGE Desmond Malpress, Kindred (N.D.) four-star interior offensive lineman Luke Starcevic and Lilburn (Ga.) Parkview four-star offensive tackle JJ Brown each went public with their pledges to the ACC program.The Tigers have added eight blue-chippers during that span and currently hold the nation’s No. 11 class in the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

Photo by Rich Storry/Getty ImagesAryna Sabalenka gave a frank explanation of her quarter-final defeat to Diana Shnaider at Roland-Garros, admitting it was as much a mental battle as a technical one.The world No.1 looked in control when she led 6-3, 4-1, but Shnaider turned the match around to win 3-6, 7-5, 6-0.Sabalenka did not shy away from the mental side of the collapse, offering a clear assessment of what went wrong.Aryna Sabalenka admits mental struggle after losing 10 straight gamesPhoto by Clive Brunskill/Getty ImagesSabalenka admitted the collapse was hard to process after she lost the final 10 games of the match.“I don’t know when was the last time that happened to me, that I lost 10 games in a row,” she said.“I guess mentally I got into a very deep, dark hole over there, and I just couldn’t get back mentally on track.”In a clip shared by ESPN Brasil, Sabalenka said: “No thoughts, no emotions, today I just wanted to quit tennis. But let’s see in the next few days. I hope to get back to normal mentally.”Sabalenka said she started to overthink, make simple mistakes, and miss opportunities, while Shnaider played with growing freedom.“Sometimes it’s really tough to hold the pressure and put it back on the opponent,” she said.Sabalenka faces a test of resilience after rare Grand Slam setbackThe defeat was unusual for Sabalenka, who has been a consistent performer at this stage. Roland-Garros noted it was only her second Grand Slam quarter-final defeat in 15 appearances.That gives the result extra weight, but her response was measured. Sabalenka said she needs to “figure out that little thing” that stops working in tough moments.The scoreline will sting, given the lead she held. But her comments highlighted how quickly momentum can shift, even for a world No.1.Read more:Aryna Sabalenka defeat creates rare French Open first since 1977Jakub Mensik reacts after passing Ivan Lendl with historic Roland Garros win over Joao FonsecaJoao Fonseca reacted after defeat to Jakub Mensik at Roland Garros

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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 20: Brandon Aiyuk #11 of the San Francisco 49ers drops a pass in front of Trent McDuffie #22 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the second quarter at Levi's Stadium on October 20, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images In late December, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver posted a video of himself speeding past Levi’s Stadium:View this post on InstagramIt was bizarre at the time. Why are you, especially after everything that had transpired, posting something like that? Unsurprisingly, the social media clip that went viral caught up to Aiyuk.The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office issued a warrant for Aiyuk’s arrest on a misdemeanor charge of exhibition of speed on Wednesday.In the video, you can see Aiyuk reaching as high as 111 miles per hour. The following Saturday after he posted the video, Aiyuk apologized, saying: “Sorry y’all. My car content won’t come with speeding anymore! Was Praying with my son tonight and wouldn’t want anybody else to miss out on an opportunity to do the same with their loved ones!My apologies.”The police said they were aware of the incident at the time. Now, after several months have passed, they have decided to issue a warrant for Aiyuk’s arrest.Aiyuk could face a fine of up to $500 before any fees are added. He’d also likely be placed on probation or ordered to perform community service. The penalties can be as severe as serving 90 days in county jail.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Why Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemovic is a man to watch out forTarik Muharemovic was crucial in taking Bosnia back to the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 12 years. With days to go for the tournament to start, the defender will be a key man to watch out for.It was rather ironic that the centre-back’s standout performance came against Italy in the playoff final two months ago. He stood tall, despite the demands of the occassion and that simply defines his character.The 23-year-old was key to the Neroverdi in the 2025/26 campaign too, establishing himself as one of the best defenders in the Italian top-flight. He played 32 times, also finding the net twice in what was his first-ever full experience in the Serie A.A product of the Juventus youth academy, the defender was never quite handed a fair chance by the Bianconeri. His development at their Next Gen academy was deemed to be complete in 2024, when Sassuolo first roped him in on loan in an attempt to seek promotion back to the top-flight.He left no one disappointed in the second division too, featuring as many as 28 times in rather reliable fashion. That convinced Sassuolo into a permanent deal and it has clearly paid off.Surprisingly enough, Muharemovic made his Bosnia debut well before he had joined Sassuolo on loan. But his prominence has only grown over time, becoming a leader at the back, despite being rather young.Playing styleMuharemovic boasts impressive ball-playing ability and being left-footed probably helps him at that. Despite a tall frame, he thrives in building play from the back and off the ball, he is very focused on staying deeper, picking up a sweeper role.He isn’t someone who is aggressively tackling opposition attackers and hunting them down. He is someone who relies very much on his positioning and reading of the game to win the ball back and circulate it forward with venom. His frame allows him to do that, as his reach stands out when operating the deepest in the backline.Moreover, he has shown keenness to play in a back three and in a back four, which helps club and country.Bosnia suit MuharemovicSergej Barbarez’s side play a deep to mid-block in a 4-4-2 and this brings the best out of Muharemovic. He can use his physical traits perfectly and he also adds a significant set-piece threat, which has also helped Sassuolo across the season.The World Cup is a tournament where managing game-state is vital and Muharemovic offers that net positive of being dominant in various phases of play. This tournament will be massive for him, as it will help him earn a major move in the summer.Kaustubh Pandey I GIFN

Here are the USA TODAY Sports/AVCAregional volleyball rankings after Week 13 of the 2026 season.From these four regions, the best of the best will represent the Super 25 national boys volleyball rankings.National scoreboard from ScoreStream: Live in-game results around the nation as they happenWest Region(Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming)1. Mira Costa High School (Manhattan Beach, CA)Record: 37-22. Loyola High School (Los Angeles, CA)Record: 25-53. Huntington Beach High School (CA)Record: 23-64. Redondo Union High School (CA)Record: 28-55. The Bishop's School (San Diego, CA)Record: 37-46. Perry High School (Gilbert, AZ)Record: 38-2-17. Corona Del Mar High School (CA)Record: 26-78. Torrey Pines High School (CA)Record: 32-99. Santa Margarita High School (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA)Record: 29-1110. Mountain View High School (Mesa, AZ)Record: 33-8-111. Sandra Day O'Connor High School (Phoenix, AZ)Record: 28-312. Arbor View High School (Las Vegas, NV)Record: 25-13-113. Grandview High School (Aurora, CO)Record: 23-714. Eaglecrest High School (Centennial, CO)Record: 28-115. Wasatch High School (Heber, UT)Record: 25-2Midwest Region(Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, West Virginia, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota)1. Saint Xavier High School (Louisville, KY)Record: 30-02. Glenbard West High School (Glen Ellyn, IL)Record: 35-23. Oak Park River Forest High School (Oak Park, IL)Record: 30-5-14. Roncalli (Indianapolis, IN)Record: 33-35. De Smet Jesuit High School (St. Louis, MO)Record: 31-46. O'Fallon High School (IL)Record: 31-3-17. Grand Haven High School (MI)Record: 35-18. St. Louis University High School (MO)Record: 23-4-19. Marist High School (Chicago, IL)Record: 28-710. Eastview High School (Apple Valley, MN)Record: 30-011. Archbishop Moeller High School (Cincinnati, OH)Record: 22-412. Jenison High School (Hudsonville, MI)Record: 30-4-113. Lindbergh High School (St. Louis, MO)Record: 25-414. Libertyville High School (IL)Record: 30-315. Wheaton Warrenville South (Wheaton, IL)Record: 30-3Northeast Region(Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia)1. Meadville High School (PA)Record: 10-12. North Allegheny High School (Wexford, PA)Record: 17-13. York Suburban High School (PA)Record: 16-14. Monroe Township High School (NJ)Record: 27-15. Shelton High School (CT)Record: 20-06. New Canaan High School (CT)Record: 20-17. Wayland High School (MA)Record: 19-28. Cumberland Valley High School (Mechanicsburg, PA)Record: 17-19. Needham High School (MA)Record: 19-410. Farmington High School (CT)Record: 19-2South Region(Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas)1. Columbus High School (Miami, FL)Record: 27-52. Horizon High School (Winter Garden, FL)Record: 27-43. Lake Brantley High School (Altamonte Springs, FL)Record: 26-44. Freedom High School (Orlando, FL)Record: 27-35. West Forsyth High School (Clemmons, NC)Record: 27-06. Belen Jesuit High School (Miami, FL)Record: 25-77. Sports Leadership and Management Academy (Tampa, FL)Record: 24-38. Lake Howell High School (Winter Park, FL)Record: 27-59. Jonathan Edwards Classical Academy (Whites Creek, TN)Record: 18-110. Smyrna High School (TN)Record: 22-6-1This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: High school boys volleyball regional rankings Week 13

When the Green Bay Packers first acquired Micah Parsons via trade ahead of the 2025 NFL season, it created a high level of expectations for the defensive side of the ball. After all, Parsons had been an All-Pro at his position, and was again last year in his first season with the Packers. However, the rest of the pass rush around him failed to step up.This was especially true when Parsons went down with a torn ACL late in the year. With him shelved, Green Bay could not generate consistent pressure on the quarterback. Former Pro Bowler Rashan Gary didn’t record a single sack in the final 10 games of the season, prompting the Packers to trade him to Dallas this off-season.As the 2026 season nears, the hope is that Green Bay will have an improved pass rush this year. But Parsons is not going to be ready for the start of the year.Green Bay Packers All-Pro Micah Parsons had his meniscus repaired as wellJan 28, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Green Bay Packers linebacker Micah Parsons walks to his seat during the first quarter of the game between the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images Parsons is present in Green Bay as organized team activities (OTA’s) are underway. However, he is not practicing. Rather, he is working out with the rehab group as he continues to come back from his knee injury.On Wednesday, he talked to reporters for the first time since returning to Green Bay, and revealed that he also had some work done on his meniscus while getting his ACL repaired:In addition to repairing his ACL, Micah Parsons said he also had a procedure to “clean up” his meniscus. He says it’s a hard 9-month rule before he even considers coming back, prioritizing longevity of his career. So mid-October circled on the calendar.— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) June 3, 2026He also said, “We have a pretty strong 9-month rule. It’s just all about just do the research and the data. There’s no good outcomes with players coming back early from an ACL, especially if you’re having other things getting fixed up.”But there’s also this, “The goal has always been not right now, but longevity with my career here.” Emphasis on here, being Green Bay. Parsons also said he is extremely happy with how well his rehab is going.So taking a look at the timeline, the All-Pro said he is on a strict nine-month rule. The surgery took place on December 29. This means that he would be ideally be cleared to return to football activities at or around September 29, which would be in between Weeks Three and Four of the Packers’ schedule. Parsons would need a couple of weeks of practice before returning to game action.Previously, there was some optimism that he would make his season debut on October 11, which is Green Bay’s Week Five game against the Chicago Bears. However, a more conservative timeline would make his first game Week Six when the Packers host the Cowboys.This all being said, as Parsons indicated, the goal is to be available for the late season games and NFL Playoffs, and for years beyond 2026. They are not going to rush him back.More Green Bay Packers news from Wisconsin Sports HeroicsPackers insider pours cold water on Josh Sweat trade rumorsPackers could be preparing to make blockbuster trade for pass rusherPackers reportedly working on trade for 1x Pro BowlerFor More Great Wisconsin Sports ContentFollow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19 and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!

A.J. Brown Shot Down This Request From Patriots Coaches In First Practice originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.A.J. Brown apparently put his best foot forward during his first practice with the New England Patriots.The star receiver practiced with his new teammates on Tuesday, a day after being acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles for a pair of draft picks. And CLNS Media's Taylor Kyles, who was at the practice, shared an interesting observation."Patriots coaches wanted AJ Brown (wearing pink cleats below) at the front of the line during position drills, but the veteran declined, saying he wants to earn that spot," Kyles wrote in an X post, which included a video you can view below.#Patriots coaches wanted AJ Brown (wearing pink cleats below) at the front of the line during position drills, but the veteran declined, saying he wants to earn that spot pic.twitter.com/a0YfW6Divt— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) June 2, 2026With Brown now in the fold, he and Drake Maye can get to work on forming a connection that will need to be strong for New England to overcome a daunting 2026 schedule. And although Brown might not be as great as he once was, he undoubtedly will improve a Patriots offense that was good enough last season to earn a spot in the Super Bowl.However, New England's receiver room might shrink in the coming weeks, as Kayshon Boutte reportedly wants to be traded.More NFL: Kayshon Boutte Reportedly Seeking Patriots Trade After A.J. Brown Acquisition

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., joined from left by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., speaks to reporters after a closed-door meeting with fellow Republicans, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)2026-06-03T18:33:38Z WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican-led Senate will start voting Wednesday on legislation to fund immigration enforcement agencies after forcing the White House to drop its settlement fund for political allies and stripping a separate proposal for White House security from the bill. The roughly $70 billion bill to fund U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol was delayed for weeks as Republican senators navigated the various obstacles to passage created by President Donald Trump and the White House. They say they are now ready to move forward with the legislation, which is pared back to its original form. “Right now, the goal is to get the base bill across the finish line,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D.Still, Republicans will need to find enough votes to beat back multiple amendments that Democrats — and potentially some Republicans — say they will offer. Republicans are using a process called budget reconciliation that enables them to pass the legislation without any Democratic votes, but they must first wade through a long series of amendment votes that could pose problems for the bill. Amendment votes will test GOP unityThe primary threat during voting on the amendments that could begin as soon as Wednesday night is a series of expected Democratic proposals on Trump’s $1.776 billion settlement fund, which his administration scrapped on Tuesday after fierce Republican pushback. While acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told Congress that “we are not moving forward with the fund, period,” Democrats say they want it written into the law. “It is only a matter of time before Blanche and Trump go back on their word,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.Thune said Blanche’s comments were “extremely helpful” and he thinks most GOP senators were satisfied by the decision. “We’ll find out,” he said.Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., has said he may offer an amendment to block any attempt at resurrecting that fund, which was part of a settlement resolving Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax returns. Thune said he is working with Tillis and others who have discussed amendments as he tries to ensure he has enough votes for a simple majority in the 53-47 Senate. “Keep in mind, we’ve got to keep them all together, make sure we’ve got 50 votes for it,” Thune said. Read More Money has been dropped for Trump’s ballroomThe legislation was also delayed by the opposition to $1 billion in security funding for the White House, including for Trump’s new ballroom, that was added to the original bill. Democrats and some Republicans questioned using taxpayer money for the massive project in a time of economic hardship for many voters. Democrats had planned amendments to strip that language, as well. As various side issues temporarily derailed the legislation, Republicans have said their top priority is passing the ICE and Border Patrol funding that Democrats have blocked for months in protest of the administration’s immigration enforcement crackdown. But success requires GOP unity in the Senate and the House before it can reach Trump.___Associated Press writers Joey Cappelletti and Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.

Critics say it is unseemly for retired judges to trade on the prestige of their former positions.