• Republican state Sen. Randy Fine wins special election for Floridas 6th Congressional District
    apnews.com
    Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay, answers a question about his House Bill 3-C: Independent Special Districts in the House of Representatives April 20, 2022, at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Phil Sears, File)2025-04-01T04:01:47Z ORMOND BEACH, Fla. (AP) Republican state Sen. Randy Fine won a special election Tuesday to represent Floridas 6th Congressional District, defeating Democratic challenger Josh Weil and squashing efforts by national Democrats who spent millions of dollars on the race.Fine had faced growing pressure during the races final days as some Republicans publicly criticized his campaign and fundraising efforts. His victory ends Democratic hopes to score a huge upset in a district that was heavily supportive of President Donald Trump in November. The race to fill the seat vacated by Mike Waltz when he was tapped to become Trumps national security adviser received national attention. Democrats poured money into Weils campaign to outraise Fine by nearly tenfold, attempting to flip a seat where the president won by more than 30 points. Fine, a self-described conservative firebrand, ran with Trumps endorsement. Fines struggles came in the last few weeks as national Republican operatives worried that he needed more money to combat Weils eye-popping $9 million compared to Fines $1 million, which drew national attention from political operatives questioning whether this race would embarrass Republicans less than 100 days into Trumps administration. Yet that wasnt the case for Democrats. For weeks, national leaders have attributed Weils fundraising success to what they characterized as widespread outrage about the Trump administrations overhaul of the federal government. That outrage failed to materialize in large enough numbers to overturn the outcome in the reliably Republican district, foiling Democrats hope to pull off a huge upset that would have buoyed their party.Fine was first elected to the Florida House in 2016 and ran each year as a representative until 2024 when he successfully won his election to the Florida Senate. He is known for his support of Israel and his efforts to restrict LGBTQ+ rights. STEPHANY MATAT Matat is an Associated Press general assignment reporter with a focus on politics and South Florida issues. twitter instagram mailto KATE PAYNE Payne writes about state government and education and is based in Tallahassee, FL. She is a Report for America corps member. twitter mailto
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  • Naval Academy removes nearly 400 books from library in new DEI purge ordered by Hegseths office
    apnews.com
    An entrance to the U.S. Naval Academy campus in Annapolis, Md., is seen Jan. 9, 2014. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)2025-04-01T23:11:21Z WASHINGTON (AP) The U.S. Naval Academy has removed nearly 400 books from its library after being told by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths office to review and get rid of ones that promote diversity, equity and inclusion, U.S officials said Tuesday.Academy officials were told to review the library late last week, and an initial search had identified about 900 books for a closer look. They decided on nearly 400 to remove and began doing so Monday, finishing before Hegseth arrived for a visit Tuesday that had already been planned and was not connected to the library purge, officials said. A list of the books has not yet been made available.Pulling the books off the shelves is another step in the Trump administrations far-reaching effort to eliminate so-called DEI content from federal agencies, including policies, programs, online and social media postings and curriculum at schools. The Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, the Air Force Academy near Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York, had not been included in President Donald Trumps executive order in January that banned DEI instruction, programs or curriculum in kindergarten through 12th grade schools that receive federal funding. That is because the academies are colleges. Pentagon leaders, however, suddenly turned their attention to the Naval Academy last week when a media report noted that the school had not removed books that promoted DEI. A U.S. official said the academy was told late last week to conduct the review and removal. It isnt clear if the order was directed by Hegseth or someone else on his staff. A West Point official confirmed that the school had completed a review of its curriculum and was prepared to review library content if directed by the Army. The Air Force and Naval academies had also done curriculum reviews as had been required. An Air Force Academy official said the school continually reviews its curriculum, coursework and other materials to ensure it all complies with executive orders and Defense Department policies. Last week, Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, the Air Force Academy superintendent, told Congress that the school was in the middle of its course review, but there was no mention of books.The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss academy policies.Hegseth has aggressively pushed the department to erase DEI programs and online content, but the campaign has been met with questions from angry lawmakers, local leaders and citizens over the removal of military heroes and historic mentions from Defense Department websites and social media pages. In response, the department has scrambled to restore some of those posts as their removals have come to light. The confusion about how to interpret the DEI policy was underscored Monday as Naval Academy personnel mistakenly removed some photos of distinguished female Jewish graduates from a display case as they prepared for Hegseths visit. The photos were put back.In a statement, the Navy said it is aware that photos were mistakenly removed from the Naval Academy Jewish Center. It said U.S. Naval Academy leadership was immediately taking steps to review and correct the unauthorized removal.Hegseth spoke with students and had lunch at the academy Tuesday, but media were not invited or allowed to cover the visit. LOLITA C. BALDOR Baldor has covered the Pentagon and national security issues for The Associated Press since 2005. She has reported from all over the world including warzones in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria. twitter mailto
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  • Ranking NWSL teams by how gay the name is
    www.pride.com
    The NWSL is one of the gayest sports leagues in the world, with legends like Megan Rapinoe, Ali Krieger, Tobin Heath, and Quinn helping establish the league, and current stars like Christen Press, Marta, Debinha, and Tierna Davidson continuing to lead the way.The league's games are also a haven for queer people, with pride flags, butches, queer kids, and trans support everywhere the eye can see! Going to an NWSL game is basically like going to lesbian heaven.But what fans really want to know is, what team name is the gayest? That's where we come in with our expert analysis!So without further ado, these are all the currently named NWSL teams ranked in ascending order by how gay the club name sounds.15. Chicago StarsSee on InstagramAccording to a social media rumor, the team name was changed from the Red Stars in 2024 due to "new ownership's belief that the team's name had a political connotation they didn't like." We don't know if there's any truth to that rumor, but there is nothing gay about trying to distance yourself from communism.14. Gotham FCSee on InstagramNew York City is pretty gay, but when we hear this nickname we think of Batman, who unfortunately, is very straight.13. Racing LouisvilleSee on InstagramWhile walking fast is definitely gay, we don't know about running. Gay rights aren't a race, we're all trying to get to the finish line together.12. Houston DashSee on InstagramSimilar to Racing, the Houston Dash implies a lot of running and racing, something we're not sure gays are that into.11. Boston LegacySee on InstagramBoston Legacy is definitely gayer than the club's original name, Bos Nation. While Bos Nation was an anagram of "Bostonian," the new name Boston Legacy is an anagram of "Bent Cool Gays."10. Angel City FCSee on InstagramAngels are pretty gay, with most depictions of them traditionally looking like twinks, muscle daddies, gorgeous femmes, or if you're into the biblically accurate type the kind of unspeakable horror that kinky queers love to put on a "hear me out" cake.9. Portland ThornsSee on InstagramFlowers have long been used as a symbol for women's sexuality, and by invoking the "thorns" of a rose, Portland promises its sexuality and womanhood comes with an edge to it. If that's not gay, we don't know what is.8. KC CurrentSee on InstagramThere's nothing more current and now than queerness. The current generation is always the queerest, and so is this team name.7. San Diego WaveSee on InstagramWho doesn't love a nice day at the beach? We know gays sure do!6. Seattle ReignSee on InstagramReign invokes both images of queens and female rulers, and a nice stormy day, two things queer women are known to love. Plus, queers can't resist a good pun!5. Utah RoyalsSee on InstagramGays love Royals! Whether it's the Lorde song, drag queens and kings, pillow princesses, the band Queen, or King Princess, we love our royalty!4. Bay FCSee on InstagramThe Bay Area has been a haven for queers for decades. All you need to do is say the area's name and immediately most people will think of gay culture.3. North Carolina CourageSee on InstagramFor better or worse, it takes a lot of courage to be gay. From fighting for our rights in the '60s and '70s to the battle for marriage equality, to the current attacks on trans youth, we've always needed plenty of courage to keep us going.2. Washington SpiritSee on InstagramOn the original Gilbert Baker Pride flag, the color violet represents "Spirit," so naturally, the Washington Spirit would be one of the gayest team names in the league.1. Orlando PrideSee on InstagramOf course, nothing is gayer than Pride! We name our month after it, it's the flag we wave around, it's what we have in spades. Plus, with those gorgeous purple kits, the Orlando Pride is about as gay as a sports team name can get.
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  • Troye Sivan Responds to FDA Crackdown on Poppers and Calls it the End of the Poppers Party
    gayety.co
    Troye Sivans latest Instagram post speaks volumes about his reaction to the FDAs increasing scrutiny of poppers, a popular recreational drug in the LGBTQ+ community. The gay singer and actor, known for his hit song Rush, shared his thoughts with followers in a playful yet somber way, acknowledging the shift in the landscape of poppers availability and use. On Sunday, Sivan posted a photo ofSource
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  • Everything we heard at NFL league meetings: QB options, draft maneuvers, roster holes
    www.espn.com
    Annual NFL owners meetings wrapped up Tuesday, and more than 20 of our reporters on the ground had all the buzz from Palm Beach.
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  • Transfer rumors, news: Man Utd eye 40m move for Liam Delap
    www.espn.com
    Is Ipswich's Liam Delap the one to solve Manchester United's goal-scoring woes? Transfer Talk has the latest news, gossip and rumors.
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  • Suns hopeful KD back before regular season's end
    www.espn.com
    Kevin Durant isn't expected to join the Suns on their three-game road trip after spraining his left ankle Sunday, coach Mike Budenholzer said Tuesday, adding that he's hopeful the 11-time all-NBA forward will return before the end of the regular season.
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  • Ovechkin nets No. 891, trails Gretzky mark by 3
    www.espn.com
    Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is just three goals away from tying Wayne Gretzky's record for career goals after scoring No. 891 against the Bruins.
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  • Canucks center Chytil could miss rest of season
    www.espn.com
    Vancouver Canucks center Filip Chytil, 25, may miss the rest of the season after experiencing a setback in his attempt to return from a concussion, coach Rick Tocchet said on Tuesday, adding the veteran has experienced good and bad days trying to recover.
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  • How to watch 2025 F1 Japanese Grand Prix: ESPN+ schedule
    www.espn.com
    It's time for the Japanese Grand Prix! Max Verstappen won the race in 2024. Check out how to watch this year's action on ESPN+.
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  • Transfer rumors, news: Man Utd eye 40m move for Liam Delap
    www.espn.com
    Is Ipswich's Liam Delap the one to solve Manchester United's goal-scoring woes? Transfer Talk has the latest news, gossip and rumors.
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  • Carlo: Madrid made final despite 'a lot of mistakes'
    www.espn.com
    Carlo Ancelotti admitted Real Madrid made "a lot of mistakes" but also did "a lot of good things" in a 4-4 draw with Real Sociedad on Tuesday, which saw them reach the Copa del Rey final 5-4 on aggregate.
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  • Transfer rumors, news: Man Utd eye 40m move for Liam Delap
    www.espn.com
    Is Ipswich's Liam Delap the one to solve Manchester United's goal-scoring woes? Transfer Talk has the latest news, gossip and rumors.
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  • Flagg, Broome headline Wooden Award final five
    www.espn.com
    Cooper Flagg and Johni Broome headlined the Wooden Award finalists. They were joined on the list by Walter Clayton Jr., Mark Sears and Braden Smith.
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  • What if human blood were toxic to mosquitoes? A drug can make it so
    www.nature.com
    Nature, Published online: 02 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00973-9A single dose of the drug nitisinone could render a persons blood lethal to mosquitoes for five days, modelling suggests.
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  • Flagg, Broome headline Wooden Award final five
    www.espn.com
    Cooper Flagg and Johni Broome headlined the Wooden Award finalists. They were joined on the list by Walter Clayton Jr., Mark Sears and Braden Smith.
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  • Bueckers, Betts, Booker among Wooden finalists
    www.espn.com
    UConn's Paige Bueckers, UCLA's Lauren Betts, Texas' Madison Booker, Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo and USC's JuJu Watkins are the finalists for the Wooden Award.
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  • Mets shut down Manaea after setback with oblique
    www.espn.com
    Mets lefty Sean Manaea had a setback in his recovery from a right oblique strain and won't throw for two weeks.
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  • Freeman details slip, fall: '0-for-1 on that shower'
    www.espn.com
    Freddie Freeman is hearing it after he slipped and fell in the shower, injuring his surgically repaired right ankle and missing his second straight game for the Dodgers.
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  • Messi fit as Miami eyes 'big step' into semifinals
    www.espn.com
    Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano recognized the importance of reaching the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals as a young club, but warned against taking the quarterfinal series against LAFC for granted.
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  • Anthony Elanga is proof of how Man United desperately need to improve transfer strategy
    www.espn.com
    Man United have seen more players leave and find success than those still at the club now: Elanga, Rashford and Antony, to name a few. That must change.
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  • New coach Pitino says he couldn't pass up Xavier
    www.espn.com
    Richard Pitino said he needed the right situation to come along for him to leave New Mexico and Xavier presented that opportunity.
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  • Bueckers, Betts, Booker among Wooden finalists
    www.espn.com
    UConn's Paige Bueckers, UCLA's Lauren Betts, Texas' Madison Booker, Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo and USC's JuJu Watkins are the finalists for the Wooden Award.
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  • Goodell: NFL players eye '28 Games participation
    www.espn.com
    NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Tuesday said the idea of NFL players competing in flag football in the 2028 Olympic Games has been a popular topic among the league's players and suggested it was likely to happen.
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  • Wisconsin votes to enshrine voter ID requirement in state constitution
    apnews.com
    Maximillian Marquez, left, walks to a voting booth at the Milwaukee Academy of Chinese Language to cast a ballot in the state's Supreme Court election, Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)2025-04-01T05:00:25Z MADISON, Wis. (AP) Wisconsin voters decided Tuesday to enshrine a voter ID law in the state constitution. The state was also electing its top education official, who will guide policies affecting K-12 schools during President Donald Trumps second term, will be elected Tuesday in a race between the teachers union-backed incumbent and a Republican-supported critic.Both contests had sharp partisan divisions, though they have drawn far less spending and national attention than the race for control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Polls closed at 8 p.m. CDT.Heres a look at the two contests: Longtime voter ID law enshrined in the state constitution Wisconsins photo ID requirement for voting will be elevated from state law to constitutional amendment under a proposal approved by voters.The Republican-controlled Legislature placed the measure on the ballot and pitched it as a way to bolster election security and protect the law from being overturned in court.Democratic opponents argued that photo ID requirements are often enforced unfairly, making voting more difficult for people of color, disabled people and poor people.Wisconsin voters will not notice any change when they go to the polls. They will still have to present a valid photo ID just as they have under the state law, which was passed in 2011 and went into effect permanently in 2016 after a series of unsuccessful lawsuits. Placing the photo ID requirement in the constitution makes it more difficult for a future Legislature controlled by Democrats to change the law. Any constitutional amendment must be approved in two consecutive legislative sessions and by a statewide popular vote. Wisconsin is one of nine states where people must present photo ID to vote, and its requirement is the nations strictest, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Thirty-six states have laws requiring or requesting that voters show some sort of identification, according to the NCSL. Union-backed incumbent faces GOP-backed voucher advocateThe race to lead the state Department of Public Instruction pits incumbent Jill Underly, who is backed by Democrats and the teachers union, against consultant Brittany Kinser, a supporter of the private school voucher program who is endorsed by Republicans but calls herself a moderate.Wisconsin is the only state where voters elect the top education official but there is no state board of education. That gives the superintendent broad authority to oversee education policy, from dispersing school funding to managing teacher licensing.The winner will take office at a time when test scores are still recovering from the pandemic, the achievement gap between white and Black students remains the worst in the country and more schools are asking voters to raise property taxes to pay for operations.Underlys education career began in 1999 as a high school social studies teacher in Indiana. She moved to Wisconsin in 2005 and worked for five years at the state education department. She also was principal of Pecatonica Elementary School for a year before becoming district administrator.Underly, 47, was elected state superintendent in 2021 and was endorsed by the union, the Wisconsin Education Association Council, as well as the Wisconsin Democratic Party and numerous Democratic officeholders. Kinser, whose backers include the Wisconsin Republican Party and former Republican Govs. Tommy Thompson and Scott Walker, is vying to become the first GOP-affiliated person to hold the superintendent position in more than 30 years. She worked for almost 10 years as a special education teacher and instructional coach in Chicago Public Schools. After that she spent 15 years at public charter schools in Chicago, California and Milwaukee.In the Milwaukee area, Kinser worked for Rocketship schools, part of a national network of public charter institutions, and became its executive director for the region.In 2022 she left Rocketship for City Forward Collective, a Milwaukee nonprofit that advocates for charter and voucher schools. She also founded a consulting firm where she currently works. Kinser, 47, tried to brand Underly as being a poor manager of the Department of Public Instruction and keyed in on her overhaul of state achievement standards last year. Underly said that was done to better reflect what students are learning now, but the change was met with bipartisan opposition including from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who was previously state superintendent himself. Evers has not made an endorsement in the race.Kinser said the new standards lowered the bar for students and made it more difficult to evaluate how schools and districts are performing over time. Underly portrayed Kinser as nothing more than a lobbyist who doesnt care about public education. Kinser supports the states private school voucher and charter school program, which Democrats and Underly oppose on the grounds that such programs siphon needed money away from public schools. SCOTT BAUER Bauer is the APs Statehouse reporter covering politics and state government in Madison, Wisconsin. He also writes music reviews. twitter mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site
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  • Max to Host House of Vance Event at Coachella in Celebration of Hacks Fourth Season with Trixie Mattel
    gayety.co
    Attention, fans of Hacks and all things fabulous: Max is bringing the glamour, luxury, and wit of the hit Emmy-winning series to Palm Springs in a special celebration of its fourth season. The event, titled House of Vance by Deborah Vance, will take place on Friday, April 11, 2025, at the Casa Chino Estates in Palm Springs, perfectly timed with the excitement of the Coachella Valley Music and ArtsSource
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  • Bueckers, Betts, Booker among Wooden finalists
    www.espn.com
    UConn's Paige Bueckers, UCLA's Lauren Betts, Texas' Madison Booker, Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo and USC's JuJu Watkins are the finalists for the Wooden Award.
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  • NFL incorporates AAFC stats, shifting leaderboards
    www.espn.com
    The NFL owners approved a proposal by Competition Committee on Tuesday to incorporate player, coach and team statistics from the All-America Football Conference into the official NFL records.
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  • Mariners put Polanco on paternity list, recall Rivas
    www.espn.com
    The Mariners recalled infielder Leo Rivas from Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday to take the roster spot of veteran infielder Jorge Polanco, who was placed on the paternity list.
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  • Rangers' Eovaldi gets season's 1st complete game
    www.espn.com
    Nathan Eovaldi pitched a four-hitter for the majors' first complete game of the season, and the Texas Rangers blanked the Cincinnati Reds 1-0 on Tuesday night, an effort in which the veteran starter struck out eight and walked none across his 99 pitches.
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  • Saka's return provides a glimmer of hope in Arsenal's injury-riddled season
    www.espn.com
    Bukayo Saka made his return for Arsenal after three months, making an instant impact.
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  • Flagg, Broome headline Wooden Award final five
    www.espn.com
    Cooper Flagg and Johni Broome headlined the Wooden Award finalists. They were joined on the list by Walter Clayton Jr., Mark Sears and Braden Smith.
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  • Bueckers, Betts, Booker among Wooden finalists
    www.espn.com
    UConn's Paige Bueckers, UCLA's Lauren Betts, Texas' Madison Booker, Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo and USC's JuJu Watkins are the finalists for the Wooden Award.
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  • Justice Smith Brings His Artistry to the Upcoming Off-Broadway Production of Creditors
    gayety.co
    Actor Justice Smith will make his return to the stage this spring in the Off-Broadway production of Creditors, scheduled to run from May 10 to June 18 at Audibles Minetta Lane Theatre in New York City. This marks Smiths first theatrical performance since his recent success in both film and television, adding another major chapter to his evolving career. Creditors is a compellingSource
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  • Grindr-Approved Guides to the Best LGBTQ+ Destinations Around the World
    gayety.co
    In every corner of the globe, theres a unique destination for the LGBTQ+ traveler to explore. Whether youre shredding the slopes in the Swiss Alps, partying on the vibrant streets of Bangkok, or soaking up the culture in New Orleans, theres a place to celebrate yourself and connect with the community using the roam feature with Grindr. As seen on Host or Travel Season 2Source
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  • 2025 rankings: Profiles for more than 40 RBs
    www.espn.com
    Mike Clay provides detailed breakdowns of the top running backs for the 2025 fantasy football season.
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  • Adrian Peterson, Antonio Gates take center stage in Madden NFL 25 Season 7
    www.espn.com
    Another wave of Madden Ultimate Team content has been revealed, with Franchise Heroes coming to the roster.
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  • Curry drops 52 as Dubs win wild one vs. Grizzlies
    www.espn.com
    Stephen Curry had 52 points and 12 3-pointers as the Warriors held on for a wild 134-125 win over the Grizzlies on Tuesday night.
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  • Which team takes the top spot after Week 8?
    www.espn.com
    Here's the updated college softball Top 25 poll for Week 8, plus series and players to watch.
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  • 2025 rankings: Profiles for more than 40 RBs
    www.espn.com
    Mike Clay provides detailed breakdowns of the top running backs for the 2025 fantasy football season.
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  • Democratic-backed Susan Crawford wins Wisconsin Supreme Court seat, cementing liberal majority
    apnews.com
    Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford waves during her election night party after winning the election Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)2025-04-01T05:01:11Z MADISON, Wis. (AP) The Democratic-backed candidate for Wisconsin Supreme Court defeated a challenger endorsed by President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk on Tuesday, touting her victory as a win against the richest man in the world and cementing a liberal majority for at least three more years.Susan Crawford, a Dane County judge who led legal fights to protect union power and abortion rights and to oppose voter ID, stood on stage surrounded by the courts four current liberal justices and celebrated her win as a victory for democracy.Musk and groups he backed had spent more than $21 million in an effort to defeat Crawford. Musk even traveled to Wisconsin two days before the election to personally hand over $1 million checks to two voters.Today Wisconsinites fended off an unprecedented attack on our democracy, our fair elections and our Supreme Court, Crawford said in her victory speech. And Wisconsin stood up and said loudly that justice does not have a price, our courts are not for sale.Crawford defeated Republican-backed Brad Schimel in a race that broke records for spending, was the highest-turnout Wisconsin Supreme Court election ever and became a proxy fight for the nations political battles. Growing up in Chippewa Falls, I never could have imagined that I would be taking on the richest man in the world for justice in Wisconsin, Crawford said, referring to Musk. And we won.Musk was silent on his X platform in the wake of Crawfords victory, reposting a message about Vietnam and tariffs but nothing on the Supreme Court contest.Trump, Musk and other Republicans lined up behind Schimel, a former state attorney general. Democrats including former President Barack Obama and billionaire megadonor George Soros backed Crawford.The first major election in the country since November was seen as a litmus test of how voters feel about Trumps first months back in office and the role played by Musk, whose Department of Government Efficiency has torn through federal agencies and laid off thousands of workers. Musk traveled to Wisconsin on Sunday to make a pitch for Schimel and personally hand out to $1 million checks to voters.Turnout surpassed the previous record for a court race, set in 2023, and spending was on its way to pass $100 million, which would double the 2023 record.Schimel told his supporters he had conceded to Crawford, leading to yells of anger. One woman began to chant, Cheater, cheater!No, Schimel said. Youve got to accept the results.A state race with nationwide significanceThe court can decide election-related laws and settle disputes over future election outcomes.Wisconsins a big state politically, and the Supreme Court has a lot to do with elections in Wisconsin, Trump said Monday. Winning Wisconsins a big deal, so therefore the Supreme Court choice its a big race.Crawford embraced the backing of Planned Parenthood and other abortion rights advocates, running ads that highlighted Schimels opposition to the procedure. She also attacked Schimel for his ties to Musk and Republicans, referring to Musk as Elon Schimel during a debate.Schimels campaign tried to portray Crawford as weak on crime and puppet of Democrats who, if elected, would push to redraw congressional district boundary lines to hurt Republicans and repeal a GOP-backed state law that took collective bargaining rights away from most public workers.Voters in Eau Claire seemed to respond to both messages. Jim Seeger, a 68-year-old retiree, said he voted for Schimel because he was concerned about redistricting.Jim Hazelton, a 68-year-old disabled veteran, said he had planned to abstain but voted for Crawford after Musk whom he called a pushy billionaire and Trump got involved.Hes cutting everything, Hazelton said of Musk. People need these things hes cutting.Whats on the courts agenda?Crawfords win keeps the court under a 4-3 liberal majority, as it has been since 2023. A liberal justice is not up for election again until April 2028, ensuring liberals will either maintain or increase their hold on the court until then.Crawford thanked each of the current liberal justices and hugged each of them after her win. One of the four is retiring, creating the open seat she won.The court likely will be deciding cases on abortion, public sector unions, voting rules and congressional district boundaries. Who controls the court also could factor into how it might rule on any future voting challenge in the perennial presidential battleground state, which raised the stakes of the race for national Republicans and Democrats.Donald Trump Jr., the presidents eldest son, campaigned for Schimel in the closing weeks and said electing him was essential to protecting the Republican agenda. Trump endorsed Schimel just 11 days before the election.Last year the court declined to take up a Democratic-backed challenge to congressional lines, but Schimel and Musk have said that if Crawford won, the court would redraw congressional districts to make them more favorable to Democrats.Musk pushed that message on election day, both on TV and on X, urging people to cast ballots in the final hours.Schimel, who leaned into his Trump endorsement in the closing days of the race, said he would not be beholden to the president or Musk.Crawford benefitted from campaign stops by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the vice presidential nominee last year, and money from billionaire megadonors including Soros and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.Record-breaking donationsThe contest was the most expensive court race on record in the U.S., with spending nearing $99 million, according to a tally by the Brennan Center for Justice. That broke the previous record of $51 million record, for the states Supreme Court race in 2023.Musk contributed $3 million to the campaign, while groups he funded poured in another $18 million. Musk also gave $1 million each to three voters who signed a petition he circulated against activist judges. Schimel leaned into his support from Trump while saying he would not be beholden to the president or Musk. Democrats have centered their messaging on the spending by Musk-funded groups.Ultimately I think its going to help Susan Crawford, because people do not want to see Elon Musk buying election after election after election, Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler said Monday. If it works here, hes going to do it all over the country.Voters weigh in on Musk and reasons for whom they backedAt a polling place in Waunakee near Madison, 39-year-old Iraq War veteran Taylor Sullivan said he voted for Schimel for no reasons connected to Trump or Musk, but rather because I support the police as much as Schimel does.In Milwaukee, 22-year-old college student Kenneth Gifford said he feels that Trump has done damage to American institutions and that Musk is trying to buy votes.I want an actual, respectable democracy, he said.___Associated Press writers Christine Fernando in Pewaukee, Wisconsin; Ali Swenson in New York; Christina A. Cassidy in Atlanta; Thomas Beaumont in Madison, Wisconsin; and Mark Vancleave in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, contributed to this report. SCOTT BAUER Bauer is the APs Statehouse reporter covering politics and state government in Madison, Wisconsin. He also writes music reviews. twitter mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site
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