Weekend Rundown: Glam, Grooves & Good Vibes in Rapid City
July 10, 2025
RAPID CITY, SD – Hey hey, Rapid City! It’s time for your Weekend Rundown, where the vibes are high, the tunes are
RAPID CITY, SD – Hey hey, Rapid City! It’s time for your Weekend Rundown, where the vibes are high, the tunes are
After Outlook users ran into issues accessing their email accounts on Wednesday and Thursday, Microsoft says that affected systems are back online. Microsoft 365 first said that it was investigating an issue with Outlook Wednesday night, and later shared it was deploying a fix. Still, there were some delays. Disruptions appeared to peak just before noon ET on Thursday — when more than 2,700 users worldwide reported issues to outage tracker Downdetector. But by later in the afternoon, reports had fallen significantly. And in an an update, Microsoft said that everything was back up and running.
Ford is recalling more than 850,000 of its cars across the U.S. because the low-pressure fuel pump inside the vehicles may fail — and potentially cause an engine stall while driving, increasing crash risks. The recall covers a wide range of Ford and Lincoln-branded vehicles made in recent model years. That includes certain Ford Broncos, Explorers and F-150s, as well as Lincoln Aviators and Navigators, documents published this week by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration note. Ford plans to send out notification letters to affected owners starting July 14, to warn of safety risks related to this potential fuel pump failure. But recall documents note that a remedy is still under development. Ford isn’t aware of any accidents or injuries related to these recalled cars.
Olympic wrestler and former UFC fighter Ben Askren has undergone a double lung transplant after battling severe pneumonia. In a social media post Wednesday, Askren shared that he is now recovering. He revealed he remembers little from a 45-day ordeal between late May and early July, during which he was on a ventilator and his heart stopped four times. Askren lost 50 pounds during the experience but expressed gratitude for the love and support he received. Known for his amateur wrestling and MMA career, Askren retired in 2019 and briefly returned for a boxing match in 2021.
Thirty-one workers have been safely removed from an industrial tunnel in Los Angeles after part of it collapsed Wednesday. That’s according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The workers were up to 6 miles from the tunnel’s only entrance. Some workers on the other side of the collapsed portion scrambled over a tall mound of loose soil to reach coworkers on the other side. They were shuttled to the entrance and hoisted out. Paramedics were evaluating 27 of the workers removed from the tunnel.
Lionel Messi became the first player in Major League Soccer history with four consecutive multi-goal games, scoring twice to lead Inter Miami past the New England Revolution 2-1. Miami has won four straight and is unbeaten in its last five. Defender Tanner Beason misplayed a header and Messi capitalized, scoring on a half-volley to open the scoring in the 27th minute. Messi made it 2-0 in the 38th. Messi has at least one goal in five straight games. He has 14 goals and seven assists in 15 regular-season matches. Nashville’s Sam Surridge with 16 is the only player with more MLS goals than Messi.
Frank Layden, the sharp-witted former coach who led the Utah Jazz to the playoffs for the first time, has died. He was 93. Known for his humor and sideline antics, Layden coached the Jazz from 1981-89 and had 277 wins, third-most in franchise history. He’s the only coach in Jazz history to be named NBA coach of the year, earning the honor in 1984, when he also was honored as executive of the year. Born in Brooklyn in 1932, Layden began his coaching career in the high school ranks before moving on to coach at his alma mater, Niagara University. He made the jump to the NBA in 1976 on Hubie Brown’s Atlanta staff and became the New Orleans Jazz’s general manager in 1979.
Major League Baseball plans to use its robot umpire technology for ball-strike challenges in Tuesday’s All-Star Game at Atlanta, another step toward possible regular-season use next season. MLB says it intends to make the All-Star announcement Thursday. Teams won 52.2% of their ball/strike challenges during the spring training test, with 617 of 1,182 challenges successful in the 288 exhibition games using the Automated Ball-Strike System. ABS was installed at 13 spring training ballparks hosting 19 teams, and an animation of the pitch was shown on video boards showing spectators the challenge result.
The Supreme Court has refused to allow Florida to enforce an immigration law making it a crime for people who are living in the U.S. illegally to enter the state. The high court’s action Wednesday will keep the law on hold while a legal challenge continues. The court did not explain its decision and no justice noted a dissent. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the legislation into law in February in support of President Donald Trump’s push to crack down on illegal immigration. Immigrants rights groups sued, arguing that immigration is a federal issue beyond the power of the states. The law is similar to a Texas law that also has been blocked by a federal appeals court.
An Oregon judge has sentenced former NBA player Ben McLemore to more than eight years in prison for raping a woman at a house party in 2021. KGW reports that the ex-Portland Trail Blazer was sentenced to 100 months in prison on Wednesday. The sentencing comes a week after a jury found the 32-year-old guilty of rape, unlawful sexual penetration and one count of sexual abuse. He was found not guilty on another count of sexual abuse. The charges stemmed from a party at a home owned by a then-teammate. Prosecutors described the sexual encounter as rape. The defense argued it was consensual sex.
A man awaiting trial on federal charges of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump last year at his Florida golf course is seeking to get rid of his court-appointed federal public defenders. Court records show that a hearing for Ryan Routh’s motion regarding the proposed termination of his appointed counsel is scheduled for Thursday in Fort Pierce. The motion didn’t say why Routh no longer wished to be represented by the two attorneys. They didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Prosecutors have said Routh plotted to kill Trump for weeks before aiming a rifle through shrubbery as Trump played golf in September 2024 at his West Palm Beach country club.
The Kansas City Royals have signed former Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel to a minor league deal. The team announced the signing on Wednesday. The 37-year-old Keuchel worked out for the team last week. He will head to its training facility in Arizona and then is expected to spend time at Triple-A Omaha in the hopes of returning to the big leagues. Keuchel appeared in four games for Milwaukee last season. He spent his first seven seasons with the Astros, helping them win the 2017 World Series. He was a two-time All-Star and won the Cy Young in 2015.
Veronica Burton had 21 points, eight rebounds and six assists, Kayla Thornton added 18 points and eight boards, and the Golden State Valkyries beat the Indiana Fever 80-61 to spoil Caitlin Clark’s return. The Valkyries held Clark to just 10 points on 4-of-12 shooting as the Fever scored their second-fewest points of the season. Clark returned after missing the past five games with a left groin injury. After Indiana went on a 10-1 run to get within 55-50, Burton ended Golden State’s drought with a 3-pointer. Burton also capped Golden State’s 9-0 run on another 3-pointer with 26 seconds left in the third for a 64-50 lead.
Greg LeMond, who is one of the most decorated cyclists in American history as a three-time Tour de France winner, has been honored with the Congressional Gold Medal. The 64-year-old LeMond received the medal during a ceremony at the Capitol with his wife, Kathy, and children in attendance. It was announced he’d receive the medal in 2020, but the pandemic delayed his ceremony. Johnson presented the medal alongside Democratic Rep. Mike Thompson of California and former Republican Rep. Tom Graves of Georgia.
João Pedro scored twice against his boyhood team in his first start for Chelsea, leading the Blues over Fluminense 2-0 and into an all-European Club World Cup final. João Pedro got goals in the 18th and 56th minutes. Chelsea will face Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid in Sunday’s championship. A first-half penalty kick for Fluminense was overturned after a video review. European teams will win their 12th straight Club World Cup title and 17th in 18 tries. Chelsea seeks its second world championship after 2021.
Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz has been added to Monday’s Home Run Derby in Atlanta. He joins Cal Raleigh, Ronald Acuña Jr., Byron Buxton and James Wood. Cruz is known for his powerful homers, and he hit his 16th of the season Tuesday night at Kansas City. On May 25, he hit a homer with a record-breaking 122.9 mph exit velocity. That was the fastest since Statcast started tracking in 2015. The 26-year-old Cruz hit a career-best 21 homers last season.
Kirk Cousins said on the Netflix series “Quarterback” that he played through pain in his right, throwing arm last season in part to keep from losing his starting job with the Atlanta Falcons to rookie backup Michael Penix Jr. Cousins said he felt something was wrong right away after taking a hit in Week 10 but did not want to be “Wally Pipped.” Cousins threw one touchdown pass and eight interceptions over the next four games before Penix replaced him. Cousins remains on Atlanta’s roster with the beginning of training camp two weeks away.
Caitlin Clark expects to play Wednesday when the Indiana Fever host the Golden State Valkyries after missing the past five games with a left groin injury. The All-Star captain participated in practice Monday which was open to season ticket holders, playing in a 5-on-5 scrimmage. It was the first time she’d done that since getting hurt on June 26. Barring any setbacks, Clark will be available to play Wednesday. It was Clark’s second injury of the season. She’s missed nine of the team’s 18 games this season as well as the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup final which saw the Fever beat the Minnesota Lynx. Clark had a left quad injury that forced her to miss five games last month.
Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione has announced that the upcoming academic year will be his last in charge of the department, with an official retirement planned for June 2028. The 67-year-old Castiglione spoke at a news conference Tuesday to explain his decision to step down after 27 years of leadership. He said he’d been thinking over the past couple of months about his life journey and family. Castiglione will help the university with its search for a replacement during the 2025-2026 academic year before transitioning into a special projects role for a couple of years.
A federal judge ruled Monday dismissed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for rescinding nearly $800 million dollars in grants for programs supporting violence reduction and crime victims. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta denied a preliminary injunction sought by five organizations on behalf of all recipients of the more than 360 grant awards, and granted a motion by the federal government to dismiss the case. Mehta called the Department of Justice’s actions “shameful,” but said the court lacked jurisdiction and the organizations had failed to state a constitutional violation or protection.
Manny Machado of the San Diego Padres got his 2,000th career hit Monday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks with a sharp single off the glove of diving shortstop Geraldo Perdomo. The milestone hit came off starter Zac Gallen leading off the fourth inning. Machado received a standing ovation from the crowd at Petco Park, where he’s been a fan favorite since joining the Padres as a free agent in 2019. The All-Star third baseman singled to left field in the first for his 1,999th hit.
The Indiana Pacers won’t be rushing guard Tyrese Haliburton back to the court next season as he recovers from a torn right Achilles tendon. Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard said Monday in a news conference that Haliburton “will not play next year.” Haliburton suffered his Achilles injury early in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. He had surgery June 23 at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. It was a historic postseason for Haliburton, who turned in an array of buzzer-beating winners, incredible plays and some unprecedented stat lines. The Oklahoma City Thunder were crowned champions after beating the Pacers 103-91.
Manager Dave Martinez and general manager Mike Rizzo were fired by the Washington Nationals amid their sixth consecutive losing season since they won the 2019 World Series. The move came hours after a 6-4 loss in Washington on Sunday completed a sweep by the Boston Red Sox. The Nationals are 37-53 and last in their division. The only National League club with a worse record in 2025 is the Colorado Rockies. Rizzo had overseen the roster since 2009, and Martinez had been in the dugout since 2018. Bench coach Miguel Cairo was named interim manager Monday.
Authorities say three people were killed and 10 others injured in a shooting. Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel says the three people who died in the shooting early Monday were adults, and two of the wounded are juveniles. The shooting happened shortly before 1 a.m. along a residential street in Grays Ferry, in South Philadelphia. Bethel says numerous rounds were fired. Police say one person with a weapon was taken into custody. The shooting happened after other shootings in the city and elsewhere around the U.S. over the Fourth of July weekend. Those included at least eight people struck by gunfire near a South Philadelphia nightclub.
The PGA Tour says Ed Fiori has died. He is best known for taking down a 20-year-old Tiger Woods in 1996 at the Quad City Classic. The tournament is called the John Deere Classic now. Fiori was a 43-year-old veteran with three tour wins when he trailed Woods going into the final round. It was Woods’ third tournament as a pro. Woods had a quadruple bogey and a four-putt double bogey and gave up the lead. Fiori wound up winning his fourth and final tour title. The tour says he had been battling cancer. Fiori was 72.
Edson Álvarez scored a tiebreaking goal in the 77th minute after a video review reversed an offside call, and Mexico beat the United States 2-1 for its record 10th CONCACAF Gold Cup title. Chris Richards put the U.S. ahead in the fourth minute Sunday night in Houston, heading in a Sebastian Berhalter free kick for the second time in the tournament. But Raúl Jiménez tied the score in the 27th with his third goal of this Gold Cup. Álvarez’s goal was confirmed by the VAR, and Mexico held on from there to defend its title from 2023 while improving to 6-2 in Gold Cup finals against the U.S.
It’s win or bust for Brian Campbell on the PGA Tour. Campbell won for the second time this season and both have been in playoffs. He shot a 67 in the final round of the John Deere Classic and beat Emiliano Grillo on the first extra hole when the Argentine went over the green and made bogey. Most peculiar about Campbell’s year is he hasn’t finished inside the top 30 except for those two wins. David Lipsky had a chance to join the playoff when he made eagle on the 17th. But he took bogey on the last hole.
Authorities say All-Pro return man KaVontae Turpin of the Cowboys was arrested in a Dallas suburb on misdemeanor charges of marijuana possession and unlawful carrying of a weapon. Turpin was arrested by police in Allen on Saturday. The 28-year-old is out of jail on bond. The team has declined to comment. The former TCU standout is going into his fourth season with the Cowboys. He recently signed an $18 million, three-year contract. Turpin’s TCU career ended in 2018 when he was kicked off the team amid two domestic violence cases.
Authorities say they’ve found the bodies of all seven people who had been missing since an explosion at a fireworks warehouse in Northern California. The explosion shook the tiny farming community of Esparto last week. The fireworks that exploded Tuesday caused a massive blaze and led to other spot fires in Yolo County, northwest of Sacramento. The blast also collapsed the building. The county said Sunday that all human remains have been recovered, but the identities of the deceased are being withheld pending family notification. The cause of the explosion is under investigation.
Jesse Chavez has returned for his seventh stint with the Atlanta Braves. The Braves added the 41-year-old reliever to their major league roster before Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles. It is the sixth move to add the veteran right-hander to Atlanta’s roster since 2021 and the seventh overall since 2009. Chavez allowed two runs in three innings in his first stint with the Braves this season before he was released and then re-signed with the team. The Braves optioned left-hander Dylan Dodd to Triple-A Gwinnett and transferred right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach to the 60-day injured list.
The U.S. men’s soccer team has reached Sunday’s CONCACAF Gold Cup against Mexico with five straight wins. Defender Chris Richards says the team has embraced a fighting spirit under coach Mauricio Pochettino, which he felt was missing in recent years. Tim Ream, at 37 the oldest U.S. players, said the new coaching staff took time to get used to. This will be the team’s last competitive match before the Americans co-host next year’s World Cup.
FIFA cut standard ticket prices for the semifinal between Chelsea and Fluminense at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Tuesday to $13.40 from $473.90 earlier in the past week. FIFA has used dynamic pricing for the 63-game tournament. Standard ticket prices for Wednesday’s semifinal between European champion Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid in New Jersey start at $199.60. FIFA had dropped ticket prices to $11.15 for a quarterfinal in Orlando, Florida, between Fluminense and Al Hilal. and in Philadelphia between Chelsea and Palmeiras.
Kylian Mbappé’s spectacular bicycle kick was among three goals in second-half stoppage time, and Real Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in a Club World Cup quarterfinal as goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois used his fingertips to palm away the potential tying goal on the game’s final play. Gonzalo García and Fran García scored early as Madrid built a 2-0 lead. Dortmund’s Maximilian Beier scored three minutes into stoppage time and Mbappé, who entered in the 67th, restored a two-goal lead with his bicycle kick one minute later. Serhou Guirassy then converted a penalty kick and Courtois just tipped Marcel Sabitzer’s shot just before the final whistle.
The Los Angeles Sparks edge out the Indiana Fever 89-87 on Saturday night. Azura Stevens led the Sparks with 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Kelsey Plum added 20 points. The Fever, missing Caitlin Clark for the fifth straight game due to a groin injury, saw Aliyah Boston score 23 points and grab 12 rebounds. The game remained close throughout, with Rickea Jackson sinking the go-ahead basket for the Sparks with under a minute left. Indiana missed its final five shots, sealing the loss.
Bobby Jenks, a two-time All-Star closer and World Series champion with the Chicago White Sox, has died. He was 44. The White Sox announced Saturday taht Jenks died Friday in Sintra, Portugal. He was being treated there for adenocarcinoma, a form of stomach cancer. Jenks helped the White Sox win the 2005 World Series, saving four games in six appearances during the postseason. He was an All-Star in each of the next two seasons while saving 41 games in 2006 and 40 in 2007. He retired 41 consecutive batters in 2007, matching a record for a reliever.
Julian McMahon, an Australia-born actor who performed in the “Fantastic Four” series of films and appeared in popular TV shows such as “Charmed,” “Nip/Tuck” and “Profiler,” has died. The 56-year-old actor’s wife says in a statement that he died peacefully this week after a battle with cancer. McMahon played Dr. Doom in the films “Fantastic Four” in 2005 and “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer,” which came out two years later. Along with “Charmed,” “Nip/Tuck” and “Profiler,” he also had roles in the TV shows “Home and Away,” “FBI: Most Wanted” and “Another World.”
Eight men deported from the United States in May and held under guard for weeks at an American military base in the African nation of Djibouti while their legal challenge played out in court have now reached the Trump administration’s intended destination, war-torn South Sudan. It’s a country that the State Department advises against travel to due to “crime, kidnapping, and armed conflict.” The immigrants from Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, Vietnam and South Sudan arrived in South Sudan on Friday after a federal judge cleared the way for the Trump administration to relocate them. Their challenge had earlier gone to the Supreme Court, which permitted their removal.
WASHINGTON WASHINGTON (AP) — The Fourth of July is about all things American: parades, cookouts, cold beer and of course,
Jeff McNeil hit a go-ahead, two-run homer off Luke Weaver in the seventh inning, leading the New York Mets over the Yankees 6-5 in a Subway Series opener between teams that faded badly after strong starts. Juan Soto hit a two-run homer among three hits against his former team and Brett Baty connected for a solo shot off Ian Hamilton in the sixth, cutting the Yankees’ lead to 5-4. Weaver relieved with two outs in the seventh and walked Pete Alonso. McNeil drove a changeup into the right-field upper deck, sending the Yankees to their fifth straight loss.
Rapper LL Cool J says he will not perform at a Fourth of July festival in Philadelphia in support of a strike by nearly 10,000 city workers in Philadelphia. In a video posted on social media Thursday, the rapper and actor said “there’s absolutely no way that I can perform, cross a picket line and pick up money when I know that people are out there fighting for a living wage.” Philadelphia native and R&B singer Jazmine Sullivan also withdrew. The Wawa Welcome America Festival comes as the strike moved into a fourth day Friday. Trash has been piling up in some areas, and more than 30 Medical Examiner’s Office staffers have been ordered back to work because of a growing backlog of bodies in storage.
WASHINGTON By J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE, MARIAM ZUHAIB, ROD LAMKEY and JULIA DEMAREE NIKHINSONAssociated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The past week
Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest is back, and famed competitive eater Joey “Jaws” Chestnut is hoping for a comeback 17th win. The annual event is being held Friday in front of the original Nathan’s Famous’ restaurant at New York’s Coney Island. Chestnut is a 41-year-old competitive eater from Westfield, Indiana. He skipped last year’s event due to a contract dispute involving a deal he had struck with a competing brand, the plant-based meat company Impossible Foods. He’s the favored winner in the men’s competition while 39-year-old defending champ Miki Sudo of Tampa, Florida, is the favorite in the women’s division. She’s seeking her 11th title.
Federal officials say famed Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. has been arrested and will be deported to Mexico, where he faces organized crime charges. The 39-year-old boxer was arrested Wednesday in Studio City, California, just days after the former middleweight champion lost a match to Jake Paul in Anaheim. The Department of Homeland Security said Thursday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detained Chávez for overstaying a tourist visa and lying on his green card application. Officials said he will be processed for expedited removal to Mexico. The boxer’s attorney said he did not know where Chavez was being detained as of Thursday morning.
Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood became the third player to announce he will take part in the Home Run Derby. The derby will be held on July 14, the night before the All-Star Game, at Truist Park in Atlanta. Wood joins Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. and Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, who leads the majors with 33 homers, in the contest. Wood has 23 homers this season. He’s the third Nationals player to take part in the Home Run Derby, joining Juan Soto (2022) and Bryce Harper (2013 and ’18). The 22-year-old Wood has 12 homers that have been hit harder than 110 mph.
Doug Ghim has set the pace on a day of low scoring in the John Deere Classic. Ghim holed out from the fairway for eagle on his way to a 62. That gives him a one-shot lead over Max Homa and Austin Eckroat at the TPC Deere Run. The tournament is renowned for producing first-time winners on the PGA Tour. Ghim is in his sixth year on the PGA Tour and has played 160 times as a pro without winning. He’s been around long enough to know Thursday is little more than a good start. Aldrich Potgieter opened with 67.
The president of the University of California has reiterated that student governments are prohibited from financial boycotts of companies associated with any particular country, including Israel. The letter sent by President Michael Drake to chancellors comes as the Trump administration continues its probe of alleged antisemitism on college campuses. Drake said that country-based financial boycotts violate policies requiring the use of sound business practices. The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations condemns the ban. College campuses have been the site of pro-Palestinian demonstrations since the war in Gaza broke out in 2023.
A jury in Oregon has found former NBA player Ben McLemore guilty of raping a 21-year-old incapacitated woman during a lake house party attended by many of his then-teammates from the Portland Trail Blazers. The jury found 32-year-old McLemore guilty of rape, unlawful sexual penetration and one count of sexual abuse. He was found not guilty on another count of sexual abuse. Sentencing was scheduled for Wednesday. The charges stemmed from a party on Oct. 3, 2021, at a home owned by Robert Covington, McLemore’s then-teammate. Prosecutors claimed during the trial that the sexual encounter was rape, while McLemore’s attorney countered it was consensual sex.
The University of Montana is changing course and will opt-in this year to the NCAA’s House settlement. The recent settlement means athletic programs across the country are free to start paying millions to their athletes in the biggest change in the history of college athletics. The deadline for schools around the country to opt out was Monday. Montana was originally planning to opt-in during the 2026-27 academic year. The school explained that it switched after rosters were grandfathered into the final approved settlement so that roster cuts weren’t necessary.
Nissan is recalling more than 480,000 of its vehicles across the U.S. and Canada due to potential manufacturing defects that could cause engine failure. The recall covers certain Nissan Rogues between 2021-2024 model years and 2019-2020 Altimas — as well as a number of 2019-2022 Infiniti QX50s and 2022 Infiniti QX55s sold under the automaker’s luxury brand. The vehicles impacted carry specific “VC-Turbo” engines that may have manufacturing defects in their bearings. This may cause engine damage and possibly lead to engine failure while driving, the regulator warns — increasing crash risks. As a remedy, Nissan and Infiniti dealers will inspect the engine pan of these-now recalled cars — and repair or replace the engine if necessary.
The U.S. men’s soccer team advanced to the CONCACAF Gold Cup final against Mexico after a 2-1 win over Guatemala. Coach Mauricio Pochettino said the sellout crowd of 22,423 at Energizer Park, which rooted overwhelmingly for the visitors, was “like to play in Guatemala.” Diego Luna scored in the fourth and 15th minutes for the U.S., giving him three goals in the tournament. Sunday’s final in Houston will be the Americans’ last competitive match before next year’s World Cup.
Diego Luna scored twice in the first 15 minutes, and the United States hung on to beat Guatemala 2-1 to reach its first CONCACAF Gold Cup final since 2021. Luna put the U.S. ahead with a left-footed shot in the fourth minute, then scored with his right in the 15th for his third goal in two games. Olger Escobar scored in the 80th for Guatemala. The U.S. plays defending champion Mexico for the title Sunday at Houston.
The Los Angeles Dodgers will have three fan-elected starters in the All-Star Game, with first baseman Freddie Freeman and catcher Will Smith joining designated hitter Shohei Ohtani as winners in final ballot totals. Detroit will have three fan-picked starters for the first time since 2007 after second baseman Gleyber Torres along with outfielders Riley Greene and Javier Báez were voted in at their positions for the July 15 game at Atlanta’s Truist Park. Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker of the Chicago Cubs were picked for the NL outfield along with Ronald Acuña Jr. of the host Braves.
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham has sparked reactions from Cleveland and Detroit after questioning the WNBA’s decision to expand to those cities. On Tuesday, Cunningham expressed doubt about how excited people would be to visit Cleveland or Detroit. In response, Cleveland’s social media highlighted Fever star Caitlin Clark’s positive comments about the city during the 2024 Final Four. Detroit’s account emphasized its strong sports culture and the former Shock franchise’s attendance success. The WNBA announced Monday that Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia will host new teams by 2030, expanding to 18 teams. Toronto and Portland are set to join next season.
Buffalo Bills first-round draft pick Maxwell Hairston faces a lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault in 2021. The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Kentucky and alleges Hairston entered a woman’s dorm room uninvited and assaulted her while he was on the Kentucky football team. The Bills declined to comment but referred to earlier remarks by general manager Brandon Beane, who said the team had investigated the allegations and found no substance to them. Hairston was drafted 30th overall in April. He is competing for a starting cornerback position. The Bills resume training camp later this month.
The Trump administration is withholding more than $6 billion in federal grants for after-school and summer programs, English language instruction, adult literacy and more. The administration says it is reviewing the grants to ensure they align with President Donald Trump’s priorities. The move leaves states and schools in limbo as they budget for programs this summer and the upcoming school year, introducing new uncertainty about when or if they will receive the money. Programs that rely on the funding were expecting it to be released July 1, but an Education Department notice issued Monday announced the money would not be distributed while the programs are under review.
Gary Woodland will be going to his first Ryder Cup as an assistant captain for the American team. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley picked Woodland as his fifth and final vice captain for the Sept. 26-28 matches at Bethpage Black. Woodland’s only cup experience was playing in the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne in 2019. That was the same year he won the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. Woodland joins Kevin Kisner, Brandt Snedeker, Jim Furyk and Webb Simpson as Bradley’s assistants. They could take on an additional role if Bradley decides to become the first playing captain since 1963.
Less expensive versions of high-end clothing and other accessories are just about everywhere these days. But these fashio dupes are also drawing some businesses into legal battles. In the latest example, Lululemon has sued Costco, accusing the retailer of selling cheaper imitations of its popular athleisure wear. Dupes, or less expensive alternatives to luxury products, are far from new, but their popularity has surged with social media trends. Recent examples include Target’s $15 version of Hermès $1,000 fuzzy slippers and a $99 version of Bottega Veneta’s $2,800 hobo bag sold on Quince. And, while not to be confused with counterfeits, some dupes raise legal concerns over potential trademark or copyright infringement.
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham has raised concerns about the WNBA’s choice of markets for its three latest expansion teams. Cunningham said Tuesday that the league should listen to players about where they want to play. She says, “I don’t know how excited people are” about the possibility of going to Detroit or Cleveland. The league announced plans on Monday to add franchises in Cleveland in 2028, Detroit in 2029 and Philadelphia in 2030. Cleveland and Detroit have already seen WNBA franchises come and go.
A federal judge in New York has blocked the Trump administration from ending temporary legal status for more than 500,000 Haitians who are already in the United States. District Court Judge Brian M. Cogan in New York ruled Tuesday that moving up the expiration of the temporary protected status by at least five months for Haitians, some of whom have lived in the U.S. for more than a decade, is unlawful. The Biden administration had extended Haiti’s TPS status through at least Feb. 3, 2026, due to gang violence, political unrest and other factors. But last week, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it was terminating those legal protections as soon as Sept. 2.
The popular halftime show performer who goes by Red Panda fell off her unicycle and crashed to the court during intermission of the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup final between the Indiana Fever and the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday night, unable to finish her show. There was no immediate word on the extent of her injuries. She was helped off the floor by wheelchair. Red Panda, whose name is Rong Niu, is Chinese American and her act is composed of her riding on her custom-built unicycle, which stretches about 8 feet above the court, and balancing custom-made bowls on her lower leg before flipping them atop her head.
The four University of Idaho students found stabbed to death at a rental home near campus on Nov. 13, 2022, were all friends and members of the university’s Greek system. The killings of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin left many of their classmates and residents reeling with grief and fear. Autopsies showed the four were all likely asleep when they were attacked. Some had defensive wounds and each was stabbed multiple times. A lawyer for one victim’s family has said that 30-year-old Bryan Kohberger has agreed to plead guilty to killing the four students as part of a deal to avoid the death penalty.
A federal judge says that recent layoffs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services were likely unlawful and must be halted. U.S. District Judge Melissa DuBose in Rhode Island granted the preliminary injunction sought by a coalition after sweeping cuts to agencies including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and other divisions of the federal health department. The judge said the states were likely to prevail in their lawsuit claiming the layoffs and restructuring were arbitrary and capricious, violating federal law. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. eliminated more than 10,000 employees in late March and consolidated 28 agencies to just 15.
Daniel Suárez, the only Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR national series race, is out at Trackhouse Racing at the end of the 2025 season. Trackhouse and Suárez officially called the parting a “mutual decision” that allows the driver an earlier opportunity to pursue a new ride for next season. While Trackhouse did not name a replacement in the No. 99 Chevrolet, Suárez’s departure opened the door for the team to promote teen sensation Connor Zilisch into the ride. Zilisch, who drives in the Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports, has run three Cup races for Trackhouse this season, including Saturday night at Atlanta.
Washington slugger James Wood became the first major leaguer since Barry Bonds to be intentionally walked four times in a game in the Nationals’ 7-4, 11-inning win over the Los Angeles Angels. Bonds was intentionally walked four times in four different games in 2004. The only other players since at least 1955 to be intentionally walked four times in a game are Wood, Roger Maris, Garry Templeton, Manny Ramirez and Andre Dawson. Dawson drew five intentional passes for the Chicago Cubs against Cincinnati on May 22, 1990.
Aaron Judge homered twice to reach 30 for the sixth time and Jazz Chisholm Jr. also drove in four runs as Marcus Stroman won in his first start for the New York Yankees since April, a 12-5 romp over the Athletics. Judge hit two-run homers in the fourth inning off Luis Severino and in the seventh against fellow Fresno, California, native Tyler Ferguson for his 44th multi-homer game. Cody Bellinger added a three-run drive for the Yankees. Severino was chased with a 7-0 deficit in his Yankee Stadium return.
Court records show that the Trump administration has agreed to spare from deportation a key witness in the federal prosecution of Kilmar Abrego Garcia in exchange for his cooperation in the case. Jose Ramon Hernandez Reyes has been convicted of smuggling migrants and illegally reentering the United States after having been deported. Records reviewed by The Washington Post show that Hernandez Reyes has been released early from federal prison to a halfway house and has been given permission to stay in the U.S. for at least a year. Prosecutors have identified Hernandez Reyes as the “first cooperator” in the case against Abrego, according to court filings.
Democrats and Republicans in northern Virginia have chosen candidates who will vie to replace the late U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly. The Democrat served Virginia’s 11th Congressional District in the Washington suburbs for 16 years. Democrats chose James Walkinshaw, who was formerly Connolly’s chief of staff. Republicans chose Army veteran Stewart Whitson. Political observers have said that the district’s Democratic primary likely will determine Connolly’s successor in the reliably Democratic district. It is home to more than 700,000 people and includes communities such as Fairfax, Reston and Vienna. The candidates will compete in a special election Sept. 9. Connolly died last month after battling cancer.
Yankees reliever Ian Hamilton and Athletics rookie Jacob Wilson had a weird stare down at the end of the top of the seventh inning of New York’s 7-0 loss. With the Yankees trailing 4-0, Hamilton gave up a two-out single to Denzel Clarke and walked Lawrence Butler. Wilson followed with a comebacker and Hamilton, after making an underhand toss to first, stared at Wilson. The 23-year-old stared back at the 30-year-old right-hander. Hamilton says: “He just wasn’t running out of the box. I was upset with the inning.” Wilson is hitting .340, second in the major leagues He says: “Sometimes things get hot.”
Famed investor Warren Buffett is donating $6 billion worth of his company’s stock to five foundations. That brings the total he has given to them since 2006 to roughly $60 billion, based on their value when received. Buffett said late Friday that the shares of Berkshire Hathaway will be delivered on Monday. The largest tranche is going to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust, which will receive 9.4 million shares. The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation will receive 943,384 shares, and the Sherwood Foundation, Howard G. Buffett Foundation and NoVo Foundation will each receive 660,366 shares.
A video of Padraig Harrington arguing with NBC reporter Roger Maltbie for not helping him look for a lost ball during his opening round is generating buzz at the U.S. Senior Open. Harrington teed off into a thicket of trees in the first round, and after about a dozen people unsuccessfully searched for the allowed three minutes, Harrington went back to the tee box for his third shot. Harrington is seen in the video telling Maltbie that, as a former pro he should understand that it’s bad etiquette not to help someone search for their ball. Maltbie argued that he was being asked to deliver a report for TV on what was happening on the hole.
Dallas Wings standout rookie Paige Bueckers has been ruled out of Saturday night’s home game against Washington because of a right knee issue. Bueckers showed up on the team’s game status report Saturday. There were no details about what the exact issue was a day after she scored 27 points and had six assists while playing nearly 36 1/2 minutes in the Wings’ 94-86 loss to the Indiana Fever, who were without injured Caitlin Clark. Bueckers previously missed three games in the WNBA’s concussion protocol and another game because of illness. She has played in 13 games, averaging 18.4 points, 5.8 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.8 steals.
Chrysler is voluntarily recalling some of its 2022-2025 Pacifica and Voyager vehicles to replace their side curtain airbags, if needed. The recall potentially affects 250,651 vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it’s because some side curtain airbags may not hold enough pressure during deployment to limit the risk for passengers during certain types of crashes. Chrysler’s parent company said it’s not aware of any related injuries or accidents, but it’s urging customers to follow the instructions on their recall notices.
American Humane Society Shares Hot Weather Safety Tips for Dogs Washington, D.C. – The dog days of summer are here,
Jurors are set to begin deliberations in the sex trafficking and racketeering trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs. A federal judge in New York City is expected to instruct jurors Monday morning before sending them off to decide the music mogul’s fate. During the seven-week trial, jurors heard from 34 witnesses. They included two of Combs’ former girlfriends, who said they felt coerced by Combs into participating in drug-fueled sex with paid male sex workers. The three-time Grammy winner has pleaded not guilty to five felony charges. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to life in prison.
Meredith Gaudreau announced the Columbus Blue Jackets’ first-round picks in the NHL draft 10 months after her husband, John, was killed along with his brother while riding bicycles on the eve of their sister’s wedding. Fans at the Peacock Theater chanted “Johnny! Johnny!” in honor of the late player nicknamed “Johnny Hockey” and cheered Meredith as she spoke. She thanked every team and fan base for their support this past season. Gaudreau said the Blue Jackets were taking Jackson Smith 14th, then returned to announce Pyotr Andreyanov at No. 20.
Nick Martinez took a no-hit bid into the ninth inning before allowing pinch-hitter Elias Díaz’s double and Spencer Steer hit three home runs, leading the Cincinnati Reds over the San Diego Padres 8-1. Martinez walked his third batter, Jackson Merrill, on a low full-count sinker, then retired 22 consecutive hitters before walking rookie Trenton Brooks starting the ninth. Díaz then drove an 0-1 changeup off the base of the wall in left-center on Martinez’s 112th and final pitch, which tied his career high. A 34-year-old right-hander, Martinez struck out six as the Reds won for the fourth time in five games. He also threw 112 pitches for Texas against Boston on May 28, 2015.
Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington will miss the rest of the season because of an unspecified medical issue. Washington, the oldest manager in the major leagues at 73, has been sidelined for the past week. He experienced shortness of breath and appeared fatigued toward the end of a four-game series at the New York Yankees that ended on June 19. He flew back to Southern California, underwent a series of tests and was placed on medical leave. Bench coach Ray Montgomery, who had been filling in for Washington, was named interim manager, and infield coach Ryan Goins was promoted to bench coach.
Caitlin Clark’s first matchup against Paige Bueckers will have to wait. The Indiana Fever star was ruled out of a second consecutive game with a left groin injury. The Dallas Wings, who drafted Bueckers No. 1 overall this year, are playing the Fever at the home of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks on Friday night. Clark missed an 85-75 loss to the visiting Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday. The groin problem is the second injury that has forced Clark to miss time this season.
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The temperatures aren’t the only thing rising this weekend — Rapid City is turning up the heat
Two smugglers convicted in the deaths of 53 migrants in a sweltering truck in Texas face sentencing on Friday. Felipe Orduna-Torres and Armando Gonzales-Ortega were found guilty in March of leading a human smuggling operation that caused the 2022 tragedy in San Antonio. They face up to life in prison. Prosecutors say migrants from Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico paid up to $15,000 each to be smuggled. They were trapped in a trailer with broken air conditioning, leading to 48 deaths on-site and five more in hospitals. This remains the deadliest smuggling incident at the U.S.-Mexico border. Other defendants, including the truck driver, await sentencing.
Philadelphia’s public schools are facing federal criminal allegations of failing to properly inspect eight schools for damaged asbestos. The case was announced Thursday. The district agreed to have it deferred while a court keeps tabs on its response. Prosecutors say it’s the first time a school district in the U.S. has faced such environmental criminal allegations. The district is charged with eight counts of violating the federal Toxic Substances Control Act for allegedly failing to perform inspections in a timely manner during a recent five-year period. If the school district complies with the relevant federal law, the government can eventually drop the charges.
Pat Williams, a New Deal-style Democrat who won Montana’s great liberal-conservative showdown of 1992 to become the state’s lone voice in the U.S. House of Representatives, has died. He was 87. He died in Missoula of natural causes, a family spokesperson said. John Patrick Williams represented the western half of Montana from 1979 to 1997. When the 1990 census eliminated one of the state’s two House seats, he captured the new statewide district in a bruising race against a longtime conservative lawmaker. Williams was an unabashed liberal, a staunch advocate for organized labor and a believer in the potential of government to help people.
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani and the New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge have been the first players picked for the July 15 All-Star Game at Atlanta’s Truist Park, elected as starters by fans. Judge led the major leagues with 4,012,983 votes in the first round of fan balloting and the outfielder was picked for his seventh American League start in eight All-Star Games, though he missed the 2023 game because of a sprained right big toe. He also was the leading vote-getter during the first phase in 2022 and last year. Ohtani topped the NL and was second in the big leagues with 3,967,668 votes, becoming the first designated hitter to start in five straight All-Star Games.
Barry Bonds will be getting a statue outside the San Francisco Giants’ home stadium where he set baseball’s career home run record. Giants President and Chief Executive Officer Larry Baer said Thursday during a radio interview in San Francisco that Bonds is certainly deserving of a statue and that one is on the radar. Baer didn’t have any details of when that would happen. Bonds played for San Francisco the last 15 of his 22 big league seasons, hitting 586 of his 762 career homers while with the Giants from 1993-2007. He set the single-season MLB record with 73 homers in 2001, and hit his record-breaking 756th homer to pass Hank Aaron in a home game on Aug. 7, 2007.
The NCAA is considering a proposal to allow athletes and staff to bet on professional sports while maintaining strict bans on college sports betting. The Division I Council introduced the idea, which requires approval from Divisions II and III. The NCAA says this shift reflects the rise of legalized gambling and aims to focus enforcement on college sports integrity. Current rules already ban betting on NCAA sports, with severe penalties for violations. Officials argue this approach could better address gambling issues among athletes.
An object bright enough to be seen streaking across the midday sky has fallen across parts of the Southeast U.S. The National Weather Service in Peachtree City, Georgia, says the object was likely either a meteor or space junk. Most of the reports of sightings came from Georgia and South Carolina around 12:30 p.m. Thursday. Authorities say someone in Henry County, Georgia, reported a rock came through their roof about the time they heard the sonic boom from the fireball. The weather service posted photos of a hole in the ceiling about the size of a golf ball and reported a crack in a laminate floor.
The NFL has suspended former Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker for the first 10 weeks next season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. The league announced the punishment Thursday. It takes effect on Aug. 26, which is roster cutdown day, and Tucker is eligible for reinstatement on Nov. 11. He is a free agent after the Ravens released him last month in the aftermath of reports that he was accused of inappropriate sexual behavior by massage therapists. A five-time All-Pro, the 35-year-old Tucker has played his entire 13-year career with Baltimore. He’s considered one of the best kickers in NFL history, although 2024 was his worst season.
For more than two decades, amateur photographer Dale Carter has been capturing images of the physicists who come to the
A Super Bowl halftime show performer has been charged with two misdemeanors, about 4 1/2 months after he ran across the field at the Superdome waving a flag that included the words “Sudan and Free Gaza.” Louisiana State Police say 41-year-old Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu turned himself in to authorities on Thursday to face of charges resisting a police officer and disturbing the peace by interrupting a lawful assembly. Nantambu revealed the flag and ran on the field during rapper Kendrick Lamar’s halftime performance on Feb. 9. The NFL said at the time he would be banned for life from league stadiums and events.
The Cincinnati Bengals and Hamilton County leaders have reached a tentative deal for $470 million in renovations to Paycor Stadium. The preliminary agreement announced Thursday would keep the team at the stadium through at least 2036. Final approval is still needed from the team and county commissioners. The county will contribute $350 million, while the Bengals will pay $120 million. Details on what the renovations will include were not announced. But the team has been seeking upgrades to the stadium’s suites, concessions and scoreboards. The Bengals have called Paycor Stadium home since 2000.
Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. is going to again play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. He certainly will have a bigger role than last time. Witt announced Thursday that he’s committed to playing for the United States in the 2026 WBC. When part of Team USA in 2023, he was 22, coming off a standout rookie MLB season and the youngest player on the team. He was was a bench player who went 1 for 2 at the plate. Witt was the runner-up to Yankees slugger and Team USA captain Aaron Judge in the American League MVP voting last season.
The Colorado Rockies are promoting the oldest son of team owner Dick Monfort amid one of the worst starts in baseball history. Walker Monfort has been named executive vice president of the Rockies. He will immediately begin leading the team alongside outgoing President and COO Greg Feasel, who is stepping down at the end of this year after 30 years in the front office. The 18-62 Rockies made both of those announcements Thursday. The 38-year-old Walker Monfort had been the team’s vice president of corporate partnerships since 2015. He will officially assume Feasel’s responsibilities by January.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have rewarded coach Todd Bowles and general manager Jason Licht with multi-year contract extensions. The team announced the extensions on Thursday. Bowles is coming off his third year as coach in which he led the Bucs to a fourth-straight NFC South title. His 27 regular-season victories are the franchise’s second-best total through three seasons behind Bowles’ predecessor, Bruce Arians. Licht is the fifth longest-tenured general manager in the league and is credited with drafting and retaining key players in Vita Vea, Tristan Wirfs, Mike Evans, Antoine Winfield Jr. and Chris Godwin. The team did not provide details of the extensions.
The Indiana Fever will be without star Caitlin Clark against the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday night. The team announced that the former No. 1 pick is battling a groin injury and will miss at least one game. Clark had recently returned from a quad injury that kept her sidelined for five games. She returned to action June 14 and helped the Fever to a 102-88 victory against the Liberty with an explosive 32-point performance. The Fever are currently 7-7. Clark is averaging 18.2 points, 8.9 assists and 5.0 rebounds on the season.
Authorities say a fiery explosion at a storage and disposal plant in the oil fields of eastern Montana was felt by people 10 miles away but caused no injuries or fatalities. Richland County Emergency Manger Brandon Roth says no one was on site when the explosion happened Wednesday night. The fire continued to burn Thursday. Roth says emergency crews were waiting to approach the site when it becomes less dangerous. Several storage tanks burned and Roth did not immediately know what they contained.
The Supreme Court will issue the final opinions of its term on Friday. Chief Justice John Roberts made the courtroom announcement Thursday. Six cases remain to be decided, including whether President Donald Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship can take effect anywhere in the U.S. Other remaining cases include whether Maryland parents with religious objections can remove their children from lessons using LGBTQ storybooks and a fight over a second majority Black congressional district in Louisiana.
A’ja Wilson scored 22 points and became the fastest player in WNBA history to 5,000 points as the Las Vegas Aces beat the Connecticut Sun 85-59. Wilson has 5,015 career points and needed just 238 games, four fewer than Breanna Stewart (242), to top 5,000. Connecticut (2-13) has lost seven in a row overall and six straight to the Aces, who beat the Sun 87-62 on May 20. Jackie Young scored 20 points for the Aces (7-7) and Chelsea Gray added 15 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three blocks. Connecticut went 0 for 10 from the field and committed five turnovers before Lindsay Allen hit a jumper with 1:58 left in the first quarter that made it 19-2. Tina Charles led the Sun with 18 points.
When righthander Jacob deGrom is at his best, the Texas Rangers believe he’s the best pitcher on the planet. DeGrom certainly is looking like the pitcher who is a two-time Cy Young winner. He flirted with a perfect game through six innings and a no-hitter through seven Wednesday night in another dominating performance in his return from Tommy John surgery in April 2023. DeGrom threw 89 pitches before being pulled after giving up his only hit to the first batter he faced in the eighth. The Rangers finished off a 7-0 shutout of the Baltimore Orioles. DeGrom tied his career-best streak at 13 straight starts giving up two or fewer earned runs.
Jacob deGrom held Baltimore hitless until Colton Cowser’s leadoff single in the eighth inning, leading the Texas Rangers over the Orioles 7-0. The right-hander, who turned 37 on June 19, retired his first 18 batters before walking Jackson Holliday on a high and outside full count slider. He walked Ryan O’Hearn with two outs in the seventh, throwing four straight balls after getting ahead 0-2 in the count. Cowser grounded a single to right on a 1-1 fastball. DeGrom won his fourth straight decision to improve to 8-2, striking out seven and walking two.
Baltimore’s Colton Cowser singled to lead off the eighth inning Wednesday night, breaking up Texas Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom’s no-hit bid. The 37-year-old deGrom had a perfect game going through six innings before walking designated hitter Sam Haggerty and left fielder Alejandro Osuna in the seventh and allowing Cowser’s hard hit grounder to right field at the start of the eighth inning. DeGrom struck out seven. The two-time Cy Young Award winner threw threw 59 strikes and 89 pitches overall before being lifted after allowing his first hit.
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