Durant leads Rockets past Nets for fourth straight victory
January 1, 2026
NEW YORK By The Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Kevin Durant had 22 points and a season-high 11 assists,
NEW YORK By The Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Kevin Durant had 22 points and a season-high 11 assists,
Kawhi Leonard scored 45 points to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 118-101 victory over the Utah Jazz that extended their winning streak to a season-best six games. Leonard was the only Clippers starter on the floor for much of the fourth quarter. He matched Utah’s points in the period with 20. The Clippers hit seven straight 3-pointers, with Leonard making four. Nicolas Batum added 14 points, including four 3s. The Jazz were missing three starters. They were led by Kyle Anderson with 22 points in his first 20-point game in nearly three years. Utah rallied from a 21-point deficit, but lost for the sixth time in eight games.
Jaylen Brown had 29 points and 10 rebounds, and the Boston Celtics pulled away down the stretch to beat the Sacramento Kings 120-106. Brown shot 11 of 25, including 1 for 9 from 3-point distance, but made six free throws and added four assists before fouling out late in the fourth quarter. The four-time All-Star has been on a scoring tear lately, pouring in 20 or more points in 12 of his last 15 games. Derrick White had 16 points and seven assists as Boston improved to 3-1 on its five-game trip. Payton Pritchard added 16 points and six assists. DeMar DeRozan led Sacramento with 25 points. The Kings have lost four of five and nine of 11.
Sensing the game might be getting away, Georgia coach Kirby Smart junked any semblance of conservatism in favor of straight-up gambling in the second half of a quarterfinal playoff clash with Ole Miss at the Sugar Bowl. His decisions to run offensive plays on fourth down three times from Bulldogs territory produced two drive-sustaining first downs. But on balance, it did not pay off in a 39-34 loss. Georgia converted a successful fake punt in its own territory in the third quarter, leading to a field goal. But his decision to leave the offense on the field on fourth down from the Georgia 33 backfired and led to a Mississippi touchdown. The last conversion led to a late field goal.
Matty Beniers scored twice during the Seattle Kraken’s three-goal first period and Philipp Grubauer stopped 24 shots in a 4-1 win over the Nashville Predators. The win gave the Kraken five victories in their past six games, coming on the heels of a stretch where they lost 10 of 11. Jamie Oleksiak and Beniers scored 10 seconds apart midway through the first to make it 3-0 after one. Jared McCann added an empty-netter. Roman Josi scored Nashville’s goal on a power-play late in the second period, and Juuse Saros had 19 saves for the Predators.
Miami is a win away from a chance to play for a national championship in its home stadium. The Hurricanes have advanced to the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl with a Texas two-step in the CFP. After getting an at-large playoff berth, the 12-2 Hurricanes won in the first round at Texas A&M and then knocked off defending national champion Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas, on New Year’s Eve. Miami has a six-game winning streak since an overtime loss to SMU in Dallas at the start of November. The Hurricanes play No. 6 seed and 13-1 Ole Miss next Thursday in the semifinal game.
Led by Jed Miller’s 24 points, the Montana State Bobcats defeated the Northern Colorado Bears 89-75 on Thursday. The Bobcats moved to 7-7 with the victory and the Bears dropped to 10-4.
Ilya Mikheyev had two goals and the Chicago Blackhawks handed the Dallas Stars their fourth consecutive loss with a 4-3 victory. Teuvo Teravainen and Artyom Levshunov also scored as Chicago improved to 5-13-3 in its last 21 games. Spencer Knight made 21 saves. The Blackhawks also beat the Stars 4-3 in a shootout at Dallas on Saturday night. The Stars had won seven of their last nine games at the United Center. Mikko Rantanen, Jason Robertson and Matt Duchene scored for Dallas, which was coming off a 4-1 loss at Buffalo on Wednesday night. Jake Oettinger stopped 17 shots.
Tyrese Maxey had 34 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, Joel Embiid added 22 points and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Dallas Mavericks 123-108. Rookie guard VJ Edgecombe scored 23 points two nights after hitting a 3-pointer in the final seconds of a 139-136 overtime victory at Memphis. Oft-injured Anthony Davis returned for Dallas after missing two games with a sore adductor muscle. He finished with 13 points and eight rebounds as the Mavericks matched their season worst with a fourth consecutive loss.
Tonie Morgan hit a 3-pointer with 0.5 seconds left to lift No. 11 Kentucky to an 80-78 win over No. 5 and previously unbeaten LSU . It was a stunning loss before a crowd that included new LSU football coach Lane Kiffin, who walked hand-in-hand with Tigers’ coach Kim Mulkey onto the floor before the game. Morgan, a Georgia Tech transfer, led the Wildcats (14-1, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Asia Boone had 18 points, including five 3-pointers. Mikaylah Williams had 26 points to lead the Tigers (14-1, 0-1) and Flau’jae Johnson had 15 points.
NEW YORK By The Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Dylan Guenther had his first career hat trick and added
Kevin Durant left what ended up being his final game with the Brooklyn Nets after getting hurt similar to the way Nikola Jokic just was. In fact, Durant missed time two seasons in a row with a knee injury caused when someone fell into his leg. Jokic, the three-time NBA MVP, was hurt Monday night in Miami when Denver teammate Spencer Jones stepped on the center’s left foot and his knee buckled. Durant sprained his left knee in January 2022 when a teammate fell into his knee. Durant then sprained his right knee in a Jan. 8, 2023, game when then-Heat star Jimmy Butler fell backward into him.
Cole Caufield and Josh Anderson scored 23 seconds apart in the second period, and the Montreal Canadiens erased a two-goal deficit in beating the Carolina Hurricanes 7-5. Sammy Blais had a goal and an assist for the Canadiens, who have a five-game point streak after winning for the third time in four games. Nick Suzuki, Oliver Kapanen, Juraj Slafkovsky and Lane Hutson also scored. Alexander Texier added two assists and Jakub Dobes made 20 saves. Sebastian Aho had two goals and three assists to become the first Carolina player with more than three points in a game this season. Andrei Svechnikov and Nikolaj Ehlers each added a goal and two assists. Alexander Nikishin had one goal and one assist.
Kris Letang scored 58 seconds into overtime in his 1,200th NHL game and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-3. Sidney Crosby had two goals an and assist to extend his point streak to five games, and Blake Lizotte also scored for the Penguins in their third straight win. Pittsburgh has four wins in its last five games following an eight-game losing streak. Erik Karlsson had two assists to become the second active and 14th defenseman in NHL history to reach 900 points. Arturs Silovs stopped 24 shots for Pittsburgh. James van Riemsdyk and Alex DeBrincat had power-play goals for the Red Wings, and Andrew Copp also scored. Cam Talbot made 27 saves for the Red Wings, who had won five of six.
Gage Goncalves scored the tiebreaking goal with 1:41 to play, and the Tampa Bay Lightning rallied from a late deficit to beat the Los Angeles Kings 5-3 for their sixth consecutive victory. Anthony Cirelli scored the tying goal with 3:19 left in regulation for the Lightning, who fell behind early in the third period on Kevin Fiala’s power-play goal. Brayden Point extended his scoring spree with two goals and Kucherov capped a three-point night by putting his 19th goal into an empty net for the Lightning, who have won back-to-back games to begin their three-game California road trip.
Norman Powell scored 36 points and Bam Abdebayo added 15 points and 14 rebounds as the Miami Heat extended their winning streak to four games with a 118-112 win over the Detroit Pistons. Cade Cunningham had 31 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds for Detroit and Marcus Sasser scored 18. Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 19 points for the Heat and Andrew Wiggins added 17. Detroit trailed by 22 in the second half and was still down 114-103 with two minutes left, but scored six straight points to make it a five-point game.
Madison Booker matched her season high with 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and Jordan Lee scored a career-best 23 points to help No. 2 Texas overcome a slow start to beat Missouri 89-71. Ashton Judd added 12 points for Texas (16-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) in her first game in Columbia since playing for Missouri from 2022-25. Grace Slaughter scored 20 points, and Abbey Schreacke added 15 for Missouri (12-4, 0-1), which was playing without second-leading scorer Shannon Dowell for the third straight game as she nurses a lower body injury. The Longhorns did not lead until Lee hit a 3-pointer with 3:50 remaining in the second quarter to pull ahead 35-33. Texas led 41-38 at halftime and outscored Missouri 48-33 in the second half.
New LSU football coach Lane Kiffin attended the No. 5 Tigers’ women’s basketball game on Thursday night as his former team — Mississippi — was taking on Georgia in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal game at the Sugar Bowl. Kiffin and women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey emerged from the tunnel holding hands before the Tigers faced No. 11 Kentucky. Kiffin and Mulkey’s appearance on the court drew a roar from the crowd, and Mulkey raised her left hand to point at Kiffin while the pair responded by raising their joined hands in the air. Kiffin’s appearance at the LSU game came at just about the same time as his old team, Ole Miss, was kicking off its CFP game.
Led by Brooklyn Hicks’ 15 points, the Montana Grizzlies defeated the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks 78-64. The Grizzlies are now 7-7 on the season, while the Lumberjacks dropped to 6-8.
Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson says a cracked rib sidelined him in the second half of the Crimson Tide’s 38-3 loss to top-seeded Indiana in the Rose Bowl. Simpson got hurt when an Indiana player’s helmet hit him in the torso and caused a fumble after he made a courageous scramble through the Hoosiers’ defense for a first down late in the first half. He had an X-ray at halftime that revealed the injury, Simpson said after the College Football Playoff quarterfinal ended. Simpson acknowledged that he might have tried to do too much on that play after he came up one yard short of a first down on an earlier run.
Kevin Durant had 22 points and a season-high 11 assists, Amen Thompson scored 23 points and the Houston Rockets beat the Brooklyn Nets 120-96 for their fourth straight victory. Alperen Sengun had 20 points, six rebounds and six assists after a two-game absence for the Rockets, who started fast in both halves to win in Brooklyn for the first time in seven years. Tari Eason finished with 15 points and nine rebounds, and Jabari Smith Jr. and Reed Sheppard each scored 14 points. Cam Thomas scored 21 points for the Nets, who dropped their second straight.
PASADENA, Calif. By The Associated Press PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — ROSE BOWL No. 1 Indiana became the first team in
New Orleans Saints leading receiver Chris Olave was hospitalized for treatment of a reported blood clot in his lung and won’t play in the club’s regular-season finale at Atlanta on Sunday. Coach Kellen Moore confirmed that Olave was ill after he missed both Wednesday’s and Thursday’s practices. Olave has had the best season of his career. His 100 receptions for 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns are all career highs. His success also has come one year after head injuries sidelined him for the last half of last season. Olave posted a photo of himself in the hospital on social media saying he was grateful to experience life’s twists and turns.
COLUMBIA, S.C. By The Associated Press COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Joyce Edwards scored 25 points and No. 3 South Carolina
New York Islanders center Bo Horvat will get evaluated by a doctor after leaving his team’s game Thursday with an undisclosed lower-body injury, coach Patrick Roy said. Horvat did not play after departing with 12 minutes left in the Islanders’ 7-2 home loss to the Utah Mammoth. He had gotten tangled up with Utah defenseman Sean Durzi. Horvath on Wednesday was named to Canada’s roster for the upcoming Milan Olympics. He missed five games in December because of injury.
No. 1 Indiana became the first team in the brief history of the 12-team College Football Playoff to win a game after receiving a first-round bye, smothering Alabama 38-3 in a quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl. The Hoosiers ended a six-game losing streak for teams coming off an extended layoff, including second seed Ohio State falling to Miami in the Cotton Bowl on Wednesday and fourth seed Texas Tech being shutout by Oregon in the Orange Bowl earlier on Thursday.
Oregon dominated Texas Tech with a 23-0 victory in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Orange Bowl. Matayo Uiagalelei caused a fumble that set up a touchdown, and Jordon Davison rushed for two scores. Dante Moore threw for 234 yards, and Atticus Sappington kicked three field goals. Oregon, now 13-1, will face either Indiana or Alabama in the Peach Bowl on January 9. Texas Tech, which finished 12-2, struggled offensively, turning the ball over four times. This win marks Oregon’s first shutout of an AP-ranked opponent since 2012.
Alabama rallied from a 17-point deficit once in the College Football Playoff, but there would not be a repeat performance against No. 1 Indiana in a 38-3 loss in a quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl. The Crimson Tide tried everything possible to stage a historic comeback on the site of so many memorable moments for the program, from a 1926 win that marked the arrival of southern football as a powerhouse on par with the rest of the country to a 2024 overtime loss that would be legendary head coach Nick Saban’s final game, but not even benching star quarterback Ty Simpson in the second half could provide a spark.
Zohran Mamdani is reveling in what he calls a “new era” for New York City. He was officially sworn in just after midnight Thursday, but politicians and other supporters gathered at City Hall in the afternoon for a larger ceremony. Mamdani is the city’s first Muslim mayor, its first of South Asian descent and the first to be born in Africa. At 34, he is also the city’s youngest mayor since the late 19th century. The democratic socialist takes office after a historic campaign made “affordability” a national buzzword across the political spectrum. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders administered the public oath of office to Mamdani today.
Fernando Mendoza threw three touchdown passes, Indiana’s defense thoroughly throttled Alabama, and the top-seeded Hoosiers roared into the College Football Playoff semifinals with a 38-3 victory in the 112th Rose Bowl. Mendoza passed for 192 yards in his first game since winning his school’s first Heisman Trophy, but the hard-nosed Hoosiers won the Rose Bowl for the first time in school history by dominating the Crimson Tide at the line of scrimmage. Indiana scored the game’s first 24 points before pouring it on with fourth-quarter rushing TDs from Kaelon Black and Roman Hemby, wrapping up a jubilant win in the 112th edition of the Granddaddy of Them All.
Harrison Smith’s 14th year as a steadying presence and energizing force in the secondary for the Minnesota Vikings has hardly been smooth. His setback with a health-related matter during training camp was followed by a 4-8 start that precipitated the team’s elimination from playoff contention. Smith has been having plenty of fun lately, though. His performance on Christmas Day against the Detroit Lions earned him the NFC Defensive Player of the Week award. He’s not ready to think about whether he will return for a 15th season. The Vikings have made no secret of their desire to have him back.
Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier will have surgery on both ankles and is expected to be sidelined four to six months, including the upcoming Unrivaled season. The 3-on-3 women’s basketball league made the announcement Thursday. Collier had been rehabbing ankle injuries suffered during the WNBA season. She said last month she was working back to full strength so she could be available for Unrivaled’s second season, which begins Monday. She suffered a sprained right ankle during an August game and missed several weeks. She then hurt her left ankle in Game 3 of the WNBA semifinals.
The San Antonio Spurs say an MRI showed center Victor Wembanyama sustained no ligament damage in his injured left knee, and their All-Star center will not play Friday in Indiana. The Spurs said Thursday that Wembanyama’s status is day-to-day. He did not travel with the team to Indiana, and instead will rehabilitate the injury in San Antonio. Wembanyama hyperextended his left knee with just under 11 minutes remaining in San Antonio’s 134-132 victory over the New York Knicks on Wednesday. Wembanyama said he felt fine after the game and expected to play Friday against the Pacers, but said San Antonio’s medical staff could decide otherwise depending on tests.
Dylan Guenther had his first career hat trick and added an assist and the Utah Mammoth topped the New York Islanders 7-2. Nick Schmaltz scored twice and added an assist, Clayton Keller and Mikhail Sergachev each had a goal and two assists, while Lawson Crouse and Barrett Hayton each had two assists. Karel Vejmelka returned from a two-game absence and finished with 20 saves as the Mammoth snapped a two-game skid. Cal Ritchie and Matthew Schaefer scored for New York, and Max Shabanov had two assists.
President Donald Trump defended his energy and health in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. He also disclosed that he had a CT scan, not an MRI scan, during an October examination about which he and the White House delayed offering details. Trump, in the interview, said he regretted undergoing the advanced imaging on his heart and abdomen during an October visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center because it raised public questions about his health. His physician said in a memo the White House released in December that he had “advanced imaging” as a preventative screening for men his age.
While fans trickled into the Orange Bowl stadium where tickets were going for as little as $39, the commissioner of the Big 12 said “everything is on the table” when it comes to rebooting the College Football Playoff, including potentially moving another round of games onto campus. The commissioners have until Jan. 23 to figure out what the playoff will look like next year. Expansion and automatic bids have been the two biggest headlines in that discussion, though attendance and travel schedules for this week’s quarterfinal games could play into the thinking, as well.
Clayton Tune will start at quarterback for Green Bay in its regular-season finale Sunday at Minnesota with the Packers intending to rest Jordan Love as he prepares for the playoffs. Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Thursday that Love has cleared concussion protocol but isn’t expected to play against the Vikings (8-8). Green Bay (9-6-1) already is locked into the NFC’s No. 7 playoff seed. Love hasn’t played since taking a helmet-to-helmet hit in the second quarter of a 22-16 overtime loss at Chicago on Dec. 20.
Jacob Rodriguez and Texas Tech’s high-priced defense delivered opportunity after opportunity, disrupting the Oregon Ducks’ dominant offense to put the Red Raiders in position to seize control of a College Football Playoff quarterfinal game. But the offense never did. Facing its stiffest test of the season, Texas Tech’s offense couldn’t match the urgency or execution of its defense, and the No. 4 Red Raiders’ impressive 2025 run ended in a 23-0 loss to No. 5 Oregon in the Orange Bowl on Thursday. It was a sobering finish for a program that won 12 games this season en route to its first Big 12 Conference title and CFP berth.
A Georgia-Ole Miss rematch provides plenty of story lines to their College Football Playoff quarterfinal clash at the Sugar Bowl. The No. 6 Rebels proved they could win as a favorite without ex-coach Lane Kiffin in the CFP’s first round, but the No. 3 Bulldogs were bound to provide a tougher test. Georgia was the only team this season to defeat Ole Miss. That Oct. 18 game in Athens. Georgia, was a thriller. The Rebels led after three quarters before the Bulldogs stormed back with 17 unanswered points for a 43-35 triumph. Now, Ole Miss will try to avenge that loss without Kiffin, who left for LSU on Nov. 30. Georgia lost last year’s Sugar Bowl to Notre Dame.
Chicago Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill is praising Connor Bedard’s all-around game a day after the center was left off Canada’s roster for the upcoming Winter Olympics. The 20-year-old Bedard is on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. He ranked among the NHL leaders with 19 goals and 25 assists in 31 games before he got hurt. While acknowledging the difficulty of finalizing Canada’s roster for the 2026 Games, Blashill says he doesn’t think the rest of the league “knows how good of a two-way winning hockey player Connor has become.”
Shedeur Sanders has captured the spotlight in the Cleveland Browns rookie class. All seven rookies have seen significant playing time this season. Heading into Sunday’s finale against Cincinnati, the Browns are on track to be only the second team in the Super Bowl era to have rookies lead in passing, rushing and receiving yards. The 1968 Buffalo Bills were the first. The Browns are 4-12, a slight improvement from last year. Coach Kevin Stefanski praises the rookies’ diligence and focus. Carson Schwesinger stands out with impressive defensive stats, while other rookies such as Mason Graham and Quinshon Judkins have also made significant contributions.
Texas Tech’s Joey McGuire did something unusual on Thursday after a game. He thanked the referee crew. This happened after a loss to Oregon, where the Ducks won 23-0. The Atlantic Coast Conference’s crew called nine penalties during the game—six on Texas Tech and three on Oregon. McGuire praised the officiating, saying it was among the best he has experienced in college football. Oregon’s penalties all occurred in the first half, costing them 25 yards. Texas Tech’s penalties came later, totaling 36 yards, including a late unsportsmanlike conduct flag.
Joyce Edwards scored 25 points and No. 3 South Carolina won its 24th straight game over previously undefeated Alabama 83-57 to start Southeastern Conference play. Raven Johnson added 17 points for the Gamecocks, who played without injured second-leading scorer Ta’Niya Latson. South Carolina opened a double-digit lead late in the first half before the Crimson Tide cut it to 40-34 at halftime. But the Gamecocks used a 23-10 run in the third to retake control and put the game away. Diana Collins led Alabama with 17 points.
Lamar Jackson says he’s expecting to play when the Baltimore Ravens take on the Steelers in Pittsburgh for the AFC North title Sunday night. Jackson returned to practice Wednesday and was a full participant, but he didn’t talk with reporters at the podium until Thursday. He said he’s feeling good after missing last weekend’s game at Green Bay because of a back injury. That was the fourth game this season Jackson has missed, the first three because of hamstring problems. The Ravens need a win this weekend to make the playoffs after they entered the season as a popular Super Bowl pick.
President Donald Trump signed a New Year’s Eve proclamation delaying increased tariffs on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets and vanities for a year, citing ongoing trade talks. Trump’s order signed Wednesday keeps in place a 25% tariff he imposed in September on those goods, but delays for another year a 30% tariff on upholstered furniture and 50% tariff on kitchen cabinets and vanities. The increases, which were set to take effect Jan. 1, come as the Republican president instituted a broad swath of taxes on imported goods to address trade imbalances and other issues.
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end/fullback Connor Heyward is embracing his family’s legacy. The son of former NFL running back Craig “Ironhead” Heyward and brother to star defensive tackle Cam Heyward has been selected as a Pro Bowl alternate for the first time in his career. While Connor Heyward lacks the physical stature of his brother, he has carved out a role as a versatile player who fulfills a variety of roles on offense and special teams. Connor Heyward says he is aware that his play will never be enough to satisfy some critics who believe he’s only in the NFL because of his last name.
If the offense from Week 1 of the playoffs and the defense from Week 2 show up for Oregon in the national semifinals, these Ducks could be dangerous. Oregon posted the first shutout since 2016 in the College Football Playoff — a 23-0 blanking of Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl — to move to the semifinals for a matchup against Indiana or Alabama. A week after scoring 51 points in the playoff opener against James Madison, the Ducks allowed only nine first downs and 215 yards against the Red Raiders. They joined Miami as half of college football’s final four. The Hurricanes will play Georgia or Mississippi.
The Los Angeles Rams have agreed to a three-year contract extension with Quentin Lake. The do-it-all defensive back has become a key component of their defense over the past four seasons. The son of former Pittsburgh Steelers star Carnell Lake seized a prominent role on the Rams’ defense in 2023, and he currently serves as a team captain and defensive signal-caller. Depending on the situation, Lake can be seen lining up as a slot cornerback, a run defender in the box or a patrolling safety at the back of the defense. He is the first defensive draft pick to get a contract extension from the Rams since Aaron Donald.
Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor is making waves as a promising freshman. He aims to solidify his role as the Bulldogs’ quarterback of the future during Friday night’s Duke’s Mayo Bowl against Wake Forest in Charlotte. Taylor impressed in his first college start, showcasing his dual-threat capabilities. Wake Forest coach Jake Dickert acknowledges Taylor’s dynamic play, emphasizing the need to contain him. Meanwhile, Wake Forest faces challenges with key players leaving but leans on experienced quarterback Robby Ashford. The game features the unique tradition of the winning coach getting doused with mayonnaise, adding a fun twist to the matchup.
The NHL is hosting its first outdoor game in Florida on Friday. The Florida Panthers will face the New York Rangers at loanDepot Park, home of the Miami Marlins. The retractable roof will be opened just before the game. This marks a significant event for the Sunshine State, which has seen its teams reach the Stanley Cup Final multiple times in recent years. The NHL has worked hard to create suitable ice conditions, using custom refrigeration units and a thicker ice sheet. Panthers players and fans are excited for this unique experience, highlighting hockey’s growth in Florida.
Georgia Tech redshirt sophomore wide receiver Bailey Stockton has announced he will enter the transfer portal. Stockton had 21 catches for 233 yards this season. Quarterback Aaron Philo, defensive backs Christian Pritchett and D.J. Moore, linebacker Melvin Jordan IV and offensive linemen Peyton Joseph, Tana Alo-Tupuola and Ben Galloway previously announced plans to transfer. Georgia Tech coach Brent Key is facing a major makeover of his offensive staff. Offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner and wide receivers coach Trent McKnight have joined Florida’s staff. Running backs coach Norval McKenzie has been hired by Virginia Tech. Nebraska hired offensive line coach Geep Wade.
The Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny has redefined what it means to be a global giant. And he may once again make history at the 2026 Grammy Awards. The artist born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio is up for six awards. He is also the first Spanish-language artist to be nominated for album, song and record of the year simultaneously. Win or lose, experts say Bad Bunny’s Grammy nominations mark a symbolic moment for Latinos. That is because his critically acclaimed 2025 album “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” took local, traditional Puerto Rican sounds and made them global smash hits. It’s also because his success arrives in a particularly tense political moment.
Wide receiver Duce Robinson is returning to Florida State in 2026. Robinson announced Thursday that he was passing up the NFL draft to return to the Seminoles for his senior season. The 6-foot-6, 223-pound Robinson was second in the Atlantic Coast Conference in receiving yards (1,081) and had six touchdowns in 2025. He averaged 19.3 yards per reception. He was Florida State’s first 1,000-yard receiver since Tamorrion Terry in 2019 and the 14th one in school history. Robinson’s return could help the Seminoles attract a transfer quarterback. The transfer portal opens Friday.
The Rapid Post now has a printed weekend edition! Check these locations to pick up a free weekly copy starting
Incoming New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is making history not only as the city’s first mayor to take the oath of office on a Quran but also as the first Muslim, South Asian, and African-born mayor. One of the centuries-old copies of the Quran was chosen because it reflects the vibrant Muslim community in New York. It includes a pocket-sized Quran from the Ottoman Syria, part of a collection documenting Black contributions to history. The inauguration has sparked anti-Muslim rhetoric, but scholars hope it will encourage interest in the city’s Islamic history.
Duane E. “Smitty” Smith was born April 14, 1938 at Faulkton, SD to Harry and Clara (Kuhl) Smith. He graduated
Duane E. “Smitty” Smith was born April 14, 1938 at Faulkton, SD to Harry and Clara (Kuhl) Smith. He graduated
PASADENA, Calif. – Travel South Dakota’s “Carved in Stone; A Legacy of Teamwork” float in the 2026 Rose Parade has
(RAPID CITY, S.D.)—The Rapid City Rush (13-13-2) said goodbye to 2025 with a dramatic 4-3 shootout victory over the Tahoe
The 22nd-ranked Navy Midshipmen have one big advantage over the Cincinnati Bearcats in the Liberty Bowl. Not only have the Midshipmen won three straight games, they have everyone on board Friday when they play Cincinnati. No NFL opt outs or transfer portal departures here. Navy coach Brian Newberry says they don’t deal in the transfer portal world, taking no transfers at the academy. Navy also doesn’t anticipate losing anyone this year. Cincinnati, meanwhile, is a far cry from a 7-1 start that had the Bearcats ranked No. 17. They have lost four straight. Quarterback Brendan Sorsby opted for the transfer portal before this bowl in Memphis, Tennessee.
Rapid City, SD- According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, David Hoffmann, a Florida-based billionaire, is set to become the chairman
As the Buffalo Bills bid farewell to their long-time home dubbed “The Ralph,” many cherished memories remain of the facility that opened in 1973. Bills vice president of security Chris Clark has had a front-row seat for just about everything that’s taken place at Highmark Stadium. He began his career as an Erie County sheriff directing traffic for Bills games in the 1970s. His time goes beyond the stadium’s construction on a site that was an abandoned farm field and former explosives testing and storage site. The Bills close their season by hosting the New York Jets on Sunday before opening the playoffs on the road. The team is moving to a new $2.1 million stadium set to open across the street next year.
The Trump administration faces a legal complaint from government employees over a new policy eliminating coverage for gender-affirming care in federal health insurance programs. The Human Rights Campaign filed the complaint on behalf of affected workers Thursday, challenging the Office of Personnel Management’s decision to stop covering such procedures. The complaint argues that this is sex-based discrimination and seeks to reverse the policy. The Trump administration has taken other steps to restrict care for transgender Americans, particularly minors. But these moves contradict recommendations from major medical groups like the American Medical Association.
Cattle roam in a pasture near Killdeer in southwest North Dakota. (Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor) Stories From The States is
Cattle roam in a pasture near Killdeer in southwest North Dakota. (Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor) Stories From The States is
View The Obituary For Patricia Ann Cariveau. Please join us in Loving, Sharing and Memorializing Patricia Ann Cariveau on this
Enhanced tax credits that have helped Americans offset the cost of Affordable Care Act health insurance for the last four years expired overnight. The arrival of the New Year’s Day deadline with no fix from Congress cemented higher health costs for millions of Americans, including many self-employed workers, small business owners, farmers and ranchers. The change represents a failure by lawmakers to address an affordability issue that many Americans have raised as a top concern ahead of the 2026 midterms. On average, the more than 20 million subsidized enrollees in the Affordable Care Act program are seeing their premium costs rise by 114% in 2026, according to an analysis by the health care research nonprofit KFF.
We looked at our website traffic over for the past year and these are the stories that had the most
RAPID CITY, S.D. – Sales tax collections in Rapid City remain on a record-breaking pace through the first 10 months
A fact brief that refutes or confirms a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context.