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Chicago White Sox stun Houston Astros to take 1-0 lead in American League Wild Card Series

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 22:45:27 -0400

The Houston Astros entered the 2026 Major League Baseball playoffs as the worst team, by win-loss record, to ever reach the postseason. On Tuesday evening at Daikin Park, they played like it.

Needing a win in game 162 to reach October baseball, the Astros delivered, winning 9-0 behind a bullpen game and the 29th homer of the season from Christian Walker. On Tuesday, they tried to run that same formula back again, starting long reliever A.J. Blubaugh, backed up by Bryan King and Miguel Ullola.

Against the most powerful offense in the American League, it didn't work. Two first inning walks for the White Sox and a throwing error from Walker preceded a sacrifice fly from Munetaka Murakami. And without the benefit of a hit, Chicago took a 1-0 lead. In the second though, the hits started coming. A Chase Meidroth single, Colson Montgomery hit by pitch put two on for Sam Antonacci, who delivered the big blow to put Chicago up 3-0.

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A solo homer from Colson Montgomery and some careless Astros pitching sandwiched around a Nelson Velazquez two-run homer extended the lead to 6-2. And the White Sox never looked back, with Grant Taylor going 2.1 innings with five strikeouts to close out the game and give Chicago the big 1-0 lead.

This outcome is a microcosm of how the Astros and White Sox have played throughout the regular season. Chicago's lineup took advantage of a below-average Houston bullpen, and a rookie with little experience played the hero.

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Hagen Smith, who has just 28 innings of regular season big league experience under his belt, put up three scoreless innings with just two baserunners allowed. Colson Montgomery hit a solo homer to stretch the lead to four. Sam Antonacci, a surprising star at the top of the White Sox lineup, delivered again. And Munetaka Murakami scored two runs and drove in another. Suddenly, a team with the 25th highest-payroll payroll in baseball is nine innings from winning a playoff series, months before owners lock players out to push for a salary cap.

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The win marked Chicago's first postseason victory since 2021, and cemented the organization's remarkable turnaround from their record-setting 41-121 season in 2024. Smart, targeted free-agency signings and a strong player development staff getting the most out of a deep farm system.

For Houston, they demonstrated why they were 81-81. Capable of flashes of brilliance, but with maddening periods of inconsistency. While Tuesday was a bullpen game for both teams, Wednesday will provide a more traditional pitching matchup as they send their aces out in what's now an elimination game for the Astros.

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Hunter Brown, who returned from injury to put up a 3.19 ERA, goes for Houston, while another surprising young player, Sean Burke, starts for Chicago. Pitching is the great equalizer in the postseason, and both teams will send out quality pitchers that can make things tough on opposing lineups.

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Maybe the happiest White Sox fan out there? The Pope, who sent a letter to the organization prior to the start of the playoffs. One more win, and he can start praying to beat the Cleveland Guardians and reach the ALCS.

Aces' A'ja Wilson gets tech for confrontation with Fever fan, who was determined to have broken no rules

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 22:28:37 -0400

Las Vegas Aces superstar A'ja Wilson lost her cool late in Game Two of her team's first-round playoff series against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever, drawing a fourth-quarter technical foul after confronting a spectator, sparking postgame drama and social media meltdowns.

With Indiana holding a 90-79 lead late in the final period, Wilson got tangled up on the hardwood with Fever guard Sophie Cunningham following a physical foul.

After getting to her feet, Wilson spotted a fan two rows behind the basket pointing and shouting in her direction. Wilson escalated then marched toward the spectator until teammates and officials pulled her back.

ACES STAR TARGETS HECKLING FEVER FANS IN INDY BEFORE CHELSEA GRAY STUNS CAITLIN CLARK IN OT THRILLER

Referees hit Wilson with a technical foul for leaving the floor.

The Fever later confirmed that the fan did not violate the code of conduct and was not removed from the arena.

"Following a report of a comment directed toward a player, arena security spoke with the fan involved and witnesses. Security determined there was no violation of the Fan Code of Conduct, the fan was not removed from the arena. We consider the matter closed," the team said in a statement.

Wilson then doubled-down on her decision to confront the fan when explaining the incident to reporters after the game.

CAITLIN CLARK'S TECHNICAL FOUL SPARKS FURIOUS RALLY AS FEVER AVOID ELIMINATION AGAINST ACES

"I don't really get into the bulls—t. I try to play my game. But if I'm just walking and I just got the foul, I'm chilling. If I see a man coming at me, taking steps toward me and pointing at me. I don't give a damn what you said. I don't give a damn how you said, the tone. That is unacceptable," Wilson said.

"You don't step towards me. You should never step and point at me. I'm not for that s—t ... that there is unacceptable. They said he didn't do anything and that's fine. ... There's certain things I'm not going to allow because it's unacceptable. You don't know me at all to step toward me and say anything."

Aces head coach Becky Hammon addressed the incident as well.

"I didn't exactly see what happened. I only saw the aftermath. I’ve never seen her react like that. Whatever was done, she felt very disrespected in that moment. ... Whatever it was, it doesn't have any place in that arena," Hammon said.

DIJONAI CARRINGTON REPORTEDLY HAD FAN ESCORTED FROM HIS SEAT OVER AN 'UNFOUNDED' ACCUSATION

Regarding Wilson leaving the floor, Hammon added, "I guess you can't leave the court," when asked about the technical.

A similar incident occurred when the Aces came to Indiana for a regular season matchup against the Fever on Aug. 6.

Two courtside fans voluntarily left Gainbridge Fieldhouse that night following a mid-game disruption during a highly anticipated matchup between the Las Vegas Aces and Indiana Fever. The incident occurred with 4:38 remaining in the third quarter. Aces guards Jewell Loyd and Jackie Young gestured toward officials and security personnel while pointing out attendees sitting in the front row.

Following an investigation, the Indiana Fever released a statement clarifying that arena security found no official violation of the WNBA Fan Code of Conduct. While the fans were not officially ejected or disciplined by the venue, they chose to leave the arena on their own accord. The Aces went on to win the game 86-84 in overtime courtesy of a Chelsea Gray buzzer-beater.

WNBA PLAYOFFS PREVIEW: WHY THE FEVER AT +145 COULD BE THE BEST BET AGAINST DEFENDING CHAMPION ACES

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Fast-forward to Tuesday's incident, despite the fans being found to have violated no rules, many fans on social media were quick to criticize the Fever fan, across X and BlueSky:

"I wouldn’t be surprised if that fan said something racist to a’ja wilson."
"Fever won tonight but I’m sick of them racist as yt [white] fans and this nasty maga sh–t including Sophie Cunningham, I want her out the league if possible next season, at least off the Fever, I’ve had enough."
"Indiana Fever fans are RACIST ANIMALS no other fans behave the way they do."
"Indiana fever fans and caitlin clark fans gotta be the most racist fan base on this earth."
"Aja Wilson getting a technical foul because of Indianas racist as fans! Smfh. The Indiana fever fan base is just disgusting!"
"Trash as racist a–s fever fans!"

Still, Caitlin Clark and the Fever handled business, sending the series back to Vegas for Game 3.

Caitlin Clark put on a historic performance for the Fever, dropping 27 points, 15 assists, and seven rebounds to tie the series at one game apiece.

Wilson finished with 22 points and nine rebounds on paper, but her late-game meltdown completely hijacked what was otherwise a thrilling 99-89 Indiana victory.

Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela

Missouri Sports Betting — Best Sportsbooks and Apps | OutKick

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 22:10:49 -0400

Missouri sports betting has been live since Dec. 1, 2025, when the Missouri Gaming Commission licensed its first online operators. Bettors in the state can now choose from eight legal sportsbook apps. Below is a guide for all you need to know about sports betting in the great state of Missouri.

Is Sports Betting Legal in Missouri?

Sports betting is legal in Missouri. Legislation was passed by the government and overseen by the Missouri Gaming Commission, effective Dec. 1, 2025. As of September 2026, there have been crackdowns on prediction markets and unlicensed operators. You must be 21 years of age to bet on sports in Missouri and physically located in the state to place the wager.

Best Missouri Sportsbooks and Betting Apps

With plenty of options for sports betting in Missouri, it can be hard to determine which app is right for you. Below is a guide that includes highlights to consider and potential drawbacks in the sportsbook apps featured.

FanDuel Sportsbook Missouri

FanDuel Sportsbook Missouri offers an industry-leading mobile app — it is one of the smoothest apps on both Apple and Android phones.
The withdrawal and deposit process is very smooth and allows for quick payouts and deposits, so you can get in on the action and paid without issue.
FanDuel Sportsbook offers great cash-out options for your bets, giving you a chance to mitigate risk a bit.
FanDuel is recognized for having some of the most competitive player prop odds on the market.
There have been complaints about FanDuel Sportsbook’s geolocation checks and frequent auto-logouts.

BetMGM Sportsbook Missouri

The Edit My Bet feature is offered by BetMGM, and it is a bit surprising to see that other books don’t offer this as it is a major competitive advantage of the BetMGM Sportsbook Missouri app.
BetMGM Sportsbook frequently offers users daily odds boosts and parlay profit boosts for the major sports.
The BetMGM Sportsbook app is often recognized for a great experience with in-game and live betting.
The MGM Rewards program powers the loyalty offers for BetMGM and those can be used at MGM Resorts around the world.
Due to the amount of data and size of the app, there can be significant lag and loading time for BetMGM Sportsbook.

bet365 Sportsbook Missouri

Have you ever been up 20 points in an NBA game and then had the opponent come back and cover the spread or win the game? Bet365 tries to combat that with early payout promotions, a benefit not many other sportsbooks offer.
The international market is a primary focus for bet365 Sportsbook Missouri, and they offer a wide range of games and leagues.
There are often multiple welcome offers and bonuses for bet365 to use, giving you plenty of options to try.
This is not the most visually appealing app on the market as bet365 is typically more text-heavy anyway.

Fanatics Sportsbook Missouri

Injuries are a part of sports, but Fanatics offer injury protection on many of their player prop wagers.
The withdrawal minimums and fast payouts from Fanatics Sportsbook Missouri are routinely praised.
The UI and UX for Fanatics Sportsbook is one of the best on the market.
Searching for bets and the unique bet slip make the Fanatics Sportsbook wagering some of the best on the market.
There is no desktop version of Fanatics Sportsbook, so you have to utilize a mobile-only option if you want to wager.

theScore Bet Missouri

If you’re big into stats and news to guide your betting, theScore Bet connects directly with media to help with placing wagers.
The loyalty program from theScore Bet is backed by PENN Rewards, giving you chances for bonus bets and perks at PENN casino properties.
Some of the best tennis lines are offered at theScore Bet.
There are odds boosts and parlay boosts from theScore Bet offered regularly.
Although the PENN Reward program is available, it does take a long time to accumulate meaningful points to use.

Missouri Sportsbook Welcome Offers

Missouri sportsbooks welcome new players with three main promotion types: Bonus Bets (Bet & Get), which award site credit after an initial wager; First-Bet Matches, which refund a lost first bet in promo tokens; and Deposit Matches, which boost your starting bankroll based on your initial deposit. Bonus credits cannot be withdrawn directly and do not return the original stake in payouts. They typically expire within seven days.

How to Sign Up for a Sportsbook in Missouri

Download the Missouri sportsbook app of your choice.
Enter your personal information.
Go through account verification and location checks.
Deposit funds into your account.
Claim the welcome offer. Note: This step may be completed during the sign-up process.
Place your first wager. (You must be within the state limits to wager, and note that being by the border of a state could fail the geolocation check).

Missouri Sports Betting Laws and Timeline

Missouri has worked on passing sports betting since 2022, but finally got it approved via Amendment 2 on November 5, 2024. The Missouri Gaming Commission opened license applications in the middle of 2025 before officially launching on December 1, 2025. Recently, the Missouri Gaming Commission has started sending cease-and-desist orders to prediction markets offering sports events contracts.

Teams and Markets to Bet On in Missouri

There aren’t any professional sports teams with Missouri in the name, but there are still professional teams. The St. Louis Cardinals might be the most well-known team in the state. Kansas City makes you think of Kansas, it is in Missouri and home to the Royals and the Chiefs of the MLB and NFL, respectively. The St. Louis Blues bring in the NHL fans as well. If college is your thing, the Missouri Tigers are one of the top options.

College Sports Betting Rules in Missouri

College sports wagers are permitted in Missouri, including bets on teams that are located within the state. You can also bet on college player props, but they cannot be from an in-State team. This means you can wager on out-of-state college player props.

Retail Sportsbooks in Missouri

There are plenty of options for sports bettors to place a bet at retail sportsbooks in Missouri. All the options are located inside casinos throughout the state, but most are in St. Louis or Kansas City.

Licensed Retail Locations:

Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City – Kansas City

Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles – St. Charles

Argosy Casino Hotel & Spa – Riverside

Bally's Kansas City – Kansas City

Century Casino Cape Girardeau – Cape Girardeau

Century Casino Caruthersville – Caruthersville

Harrah's North Kansas City – North Kansas City

Hollywood Casino St. Louis – Maryland Heights

Horseshoe St. Louis – St. Louis

Isle of Capri Casino Hotel Boonville – Boonville

Mark Twain Casino – La Grange

River City Casino & Hotel – St. Louis

St. Jo Frontier Casino – St. Joseph

Responsible Gambling Resources in Missouri

1-800-GAMBLER
1-800-MY-RESET
National Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-522-4700
Gam-Anon and Gamblers Anonymous
Missouri Problem Gambling Helpline - 1-888-BETS-OFF
Missouri Department of Mental Health - 1-800-575-7480
Self-Exclusion via Missouri Gaming Commission

Missouri Sports Betting FAQ

Is sports betting legal in Missouri?

Yes, sports betting is legal for anyone over the age of 21 with a verified sports betting account, and the wager is placed by a person physically located inside the state.

What is the best sportsbook in Missouri?

There is no one single best sportsbook in Missouri. Each of them has unique benefits and offerings that you should experience by downloading and trying the app.

How old do you have to be to bet in Missouri?

You must be 21 years of age and physically inside the state at the time of the wager to place the bet.

Can you bet on college sports in Missouri?

Yes, you can bet on college sports in Missouri with certain stipulations: you can bet on player props, but not those involving any in-state player.

Do you have to live in Missouri to bet there?

You do not need to live in Missouri to place a wager; however, you do need to be physically located in the state to place the bet.

How many sportsbooks are legal in Missouri?

There are eight legal sportsbooks in Missouri for you to use via a mobile app.

Can you bet on sports in Missouri without an app?

Yes, you can bet at multiple retail sportsbooks, and they are located within a variety of casinos around Missouri.

New York Sports Betting — Best Sportsbooks and Apps | OutKick

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 22:04:38 -0400

New York online sports betting has been live since Jan. 8, 2022, when the New York State Gaming Commission licensed its first online operators. Bettors in the state can now choose from nine sportsbook apps.

Is Sports Betting Legal in New York?

Sports betting is legal in New York for anyone over the age of 21 within the state boundaries. You can bet both online or via retail locations as of Jan. 8, 2022.

Best New York Sportsbooks and Betting Apps

Finding the best sportsbook is a personal endeavor, but we want to help you out. Consider things like welcome offers, the best odds, ease of use and search, and how quickly the app pays out on bets. There are other considerations as well, but below is a list of some of the New York Sportsbook apps.

FanDuel Sportsbook New York

FanDuel Sportsbook has very fast load times and overall smooth navigation.
Widely recognized among bettors as the premier option for Same Game Parlays thanks to the bet builder and real-time odds updates.
FanDuel Sportsbook New York offers fast payout processing, especially when using PayPal, Venmo, or online banking.
Livestreaming integration allows for tracking wagers in the app as the action unfolds.
There is no real loyalty program for FanDuel Sportsbooks, which is a drawback compared to other apps.

BetMGM Sportsbook New York

Perhaps the best rewards program on the market, especially if you like to travel, as points can be redeemed for stays and perks at MGM resort properties nationwide.
The live betting on the BetMGM Sportsbook app is robust and has more markets than a lot of competing books.
The lines are often better on BetMGM than you’ll find at other competitors.
The Edit My Bet feature allows you to modify open wagers, giving you a potential advantage on the sportsbook.
The biggest drawback of using the app is that it can be bulky and slow to load.

Fanatics Sportsbook New York

FanCash is lauded as one of the better rewards programs, as you can redeem it for things sold on Fanatics.com.
The UI and UX are potentially the best on the market and provide users with a sleek, modern design.
Most sports bettors have a favorite team, and Fanatics plays into that with the ability to customize their home screen with their favorite New York teams and betting preferences.
Customer support is consistently cited as a drawback of the app, as they can be difficult to reach to resolve issues.

theScore Bet New York

The incorporation of the media aspect — linking stories and stats to theScore Bet is one difference between this and other competitors.
The bet slip is very streamlined, which makes it easy to use and keeps things uncomplicated.
PENN Play Rewards are given with every wager, and those can be used for bonus bets or at PENN casinos.
There are generally good line values offered for the four major sports, especially in game options.
The interface is a bit behind in terms of UI and UX for theScore Bet compared to other sports betting apps.

New York Sportsbook Welcome Offers

New York sports betting apps welcome new players with several signup promotions, primarily bonus bets, bet-and-get promos, and deposit matches. With a bet-and-get deal, depositing and placing a small initial wager unlocks a set amount of bonus credits (such as bet $5 and get $50). Deposit matches match a percentage—or the full total—of your first deposit with promo funds. While these bonus credits function like cash for placing bets inside the app, they cannot be directly withdrawn and will expire if not used within a specified timeframe.

How to Sign Up for a Sportsbook in New York

Download the New York sportsbook app of your choice.
Enter your personal information.
Go through account verification and location checks.
Deposit funds into your account.
Claim the welcome offer. Note: This step may be completed during the sign-up process.
Place your first wager. (You must be within the state limits to wager, and note that being by the border of a state could fail the geolocation check).

New York Sports Betting Laws and Timeline

After the US Supreme Court lifted the federal ban on sports betting, New York opened the first retail locations in July 2019. Mobile sports betting was legalized in April 2021 with Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law 1367-a. The first mobile app went live on Jan. 8th 2022 and is overseen by the New York State Gaming Commission.

Teams and Markets to Bet On in New York

New York is among the most diverse states in the country for professional sports teams. In the NBA, the New York Knicks have captured the hearts of many with a recent championship. The Brooklyn Nets are another basketball option. The NFL has two teams with New York in the name, the Jets and Giants (though both technically play in New Jersey). The Buffalo Bills are the only NFL team with a stadium in New York State. The Bronx Bombers, otherwise known as the Yankees, are among the most storied franchises in all sports history. The Mets are also a baseball team that plays in New York. Hockey can’t be forgotten for having two teams, either, with the Rangers and Islanders both representing the major market.

College Sports Betting Rules in New York

You can bet legally on college sports in New York. However, there are strict stipulations to betting on them. You cannot place a wager on a college team from the state of New York. For example, you cannot bet on a game involving Syracuse if you’re in New York. You cannot bet on any college sporting event that takes place in New York, so even when Duke plays Illinois at Madison Square Garden, you cannot wager on it. There are also no college player props allowed in New York sports betting.

Retail Sportsbooks in New York

There are multiple locations in New York that offer retail sports betting. The majority of them are at casinos, both in upstate New York and tribal locations.

Licensed Retail Locations:

del Lago Resort & Casino (DraftKings Sportsbook) – Waterloo

Resorts World Catskills (Sportsbook 360) – Monticello

Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady (Rivers Sportsbook) – Schenectady

Tioga Downs Casino Resort (FanDuel Sportsbook) – Nichols

Turning Stone Resort Casino (Caesars Sportsbook) – Verona

Yellow Brick Road Casino (Caesars Sportsbook) – Chittenango

Point Place Casino (Caesars Sportsbook) – Bridgeport

Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino (The Sports Lounge) – Niagara Falls

Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino (The Sports Lounge) – Salamanca

Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino (The Sports Lounge) – Buffalo

Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort (Sticks Sports Book & Grill) – Hogansburg

Responsible Gambling Resources in New York

1-800-GAMBLER
1-800-MY-RESET
National Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-522-4700
Gam-Anon and Gamblers Anonymous
877.846.7369 - New York HOPEline
New York Council on Problem Gambling - 518-867-4084
NYS Gaming Commision Self-Exclusion

New York Sports Betting FAQ

Is sports betting legal in New York?

Yes, sports betting is legal in New York. You need to be 21 years old and physically inside the state at the time of the wager with a registered account.

What is the best sportsbook in New York?

Depending on what you’re looking for, New York sportsbooks have a variety of options for users to entice them. Consider welcome offers, bonuses, payout structure, ease of use, and how fun it is. You can use as many apps as you’d like so try them all and use which you feel is best.

How old do you have to be to bet in New York?

You must be 21 years old to bet on sports in New York.

Can you bet on college sports in New York?

Yes; however, there are extensive stipulations specific to New York sports betting. You cannot wager on any game taking place in New York between two college teams. You cannot bet on or against any New York college or university in any game they are playing. There are no player prop bets allowed on collegiate games.

Do you have to live in New York to bet there?

No, you do not need to live in New York to bet there; you only have to be physically located in the state to place the wager.

How many sportsbooks are legal in New York?

There are currently nine legal sportsbooks in New York.

Can you bet on sports in New York without an app?

Yes, there are multiple retail sportsbook locations that are available for you to wager at in person. All are located at casinos.

Repeat offender with lengthy rap sheet accused of gunning down Kentucky trooper during traffic stop

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 22:04:36 -0400

The Tennessee man accused of killing a Kentucky state trooper was on probation and already wanted for a violation, with a criminal record that included assault, fraud and illegally possessing a gun.

Emonnie Branch, 51, was denied bond Tuesday on a charge of murder of a first responder in the death of Trooper Hayden Phillips, a husband and father of three young boys.

Tennessee Department of Correction records reviewed by Fox News Digital show Branch was serving five years of probation for a fraud-related conviction. His supervision was scheduled to end in July 2030.

Sumner County District Attorney Thomas Dean told Fox 17 Nashville that Branch was already wanted for a probation violation tied to his securities fraud conviction before Monday’s shooting.

CALIFORNIA GUNMAN REPEATEDLY RELEASED BEFORE DEADLY RAMPAGE, FIERY SHOOTOUT WITH DEPUTIES

"Looks like he has a very extensive and varied criminal history," Commonwealth’s Attorney Kori Bumgarner said during Tuesday’s arraignment, the outlet reported.

CHARLOTTE REPEAT OFFENDER CHARGED WITH KILLING MAN HOURS AFTER RELEASE ON BOND

Dean said Branch’s prior convictions included attempted domestic assault, violating a no-contact order and securities fraud. Court records reviewed by the outlet also showed a 2009 conviction for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

Fox 17 reported that Branch was arrested twice this year for probation violations. Warren County Regional Jail records reviewed by Fox News Digital show he is being held without bond on the murder charge and a fugitive charge.

SUSPECTS AT LARGE AFTER TUCSON POLICE RECRUIT KILLED, PIMA COUNTY CORRECTIONS OFFICER WOUNDED IN SHOOTING

Phillips was shot and killed during a traffic stop on Interstate 65 in Warren County Monday, Kentucky State Police said. Authorities identified Branch as the suspect and issued a statewide Blue Alert before Louisville Metro Police captured him that evening.

"He was senselessly murdered," U.S. Attorney Kyle Bumgarner said Monday night during a news briefing. "We have a wife that expected her husband to come home. We have three little boys who don’t have a dad."

JURY CONVICTS KEVIN SALAZAR IN EXECUTION-STYLE KILLING OF LA DEPUTY RYAN CLINKUNBROOMER

"One of our own was gunned down and murdered on the side of the road," Kyle Bumgarner added.

He pledged that the Justice Department would give state prosecutors and investigators "every tool" and "every bit of support" it could to help them pursue the maximum sentence.

Kentucky State Police Commissioner Col. Phillip Burnett Jr. condemned the suspect’s "cowardly actions" and explained why he had mentioned his name only once.

"I want you to know I only mentioned his name one time," Burnett said.

AMERICA'S WOUNDED COPS FIND HOPE, HEALING AND SECOND CHANCE THROUGH OFFICERS WHO REFUSE TO LEAVE THEM BEHIND

"We will seek justice for Hayden," he continued. "Let me repeat that, we will seek justice for Hayden. We will not rest until this happens."

Phillips was a three-year state police veteran assigned to Post 3 in Bowling Green. Burnett promised his family the agency would stand beside them.

"You will not walk this path alone," he said.

Phillips’ wife, Jordan, shared her grief Tuesday.

DRUNK WRONG-WAY DRIVER KILLED MASS TROOPER AFTER 9 DRINKS AT BAR, DA REPORT SAYS

"I’ve laid here all night waiting for him to come home… for the radio to click off, the gun belt to hang," she wrote on Facebook.

"I promise to pick up all the pieces and force myself to carry on for your boys. I know you would want me to," she added.

State police escorted Phillips’ body to Glasgow Tuesday. A candlelight vigil is scheduled for Thursday at 6:30 p.m. local time.

Gov. Andy Beshear ordered flags at all state buildings lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset Sunday, Oct. 4, in honor of Phillips.

"Trooper Hayden Phillips was a hero who sacrificed everything protecting our people and our commonwealth, and it is our sacred duty to honor him and his family," Beshear said.

He urged Kentuckians to pray for Jordan and their three children and encouraged donations to the Kentucky State Police Foundation, saying all proceeds would go directly to the family.

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Jordan asked people to share memories of her husband with their sons.

"He was just the kind of guy who is easy to celebrate," she wrote.

North Carolina Sports Betting — Best Sportsbooks and Apps | OutKick

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 21:59:41 -0400

North Carolina sports betting has been live since March 11, 2024, when the North Carolina State Lottery Commission licensed its first online operators. Bettors in the state can now choose from seven legal sportsbook apps.

Is Sports Betting Legal in North Carolina?

Sports betting is legal in North Carolina for anyone over the age of 21 within the state boundaries. You can bet both online or via retail locations as of March 11, 2024.

Best North Carolina Sportsbooks and Betting Apps

Below is a composite list of the sports betting apps in North Carolina. This list should be used as a guide for choosing which sportsbook you want to try or which is best for you. Consider things like welcome offers, rewards, and ease of use.

FanDuel Sportsbook North Carolina

FanDuel Sportsbook North Carolina provides lines on almost any market or game worldwide.
The bet building tool is one of the easiest to use and updates odds in real time.
FanDuel Sportsbook has a wide variety of ways to accept funding, including online banking, or e-wallets like PayPal and Venmo.
The customer service chat is one of the easiest to use and reach a representative.
Understanding the plays and payouts can be difficult at times in different markets, so be careful to read all results prior to placing a wager.

BetMGM Sportsbook North Carolina

BetMGM is arguably one of the best to use for betting on live events.
The BetMGM app is easy to navigate and provides users with a simple interface that is enjoyable to use.
BetMGM Sportsbook North Carolina attracts big bettors with a great offer of up to $1,000 as a deposit match bonus
Withdrawing funds is simple, easy, and straightforward, with funds hitting your account within 24-48 hours.
There can be some issues with verification, so be sure to get verified well in advance of whatever game you’re looking to wager on.

bet365 Sportsbook North Carolina

bet365 is one of the better apps for betting on soccer as they have all the games you could look for throughout the world.
If you’re looking to bet on live games, the interface on bet365 is one of the better apps to use.
Early cash out options are available on some bets and give you a chance to win your wager before the game goes final.
Customer service for bet365 faces the brunt of criticism, with some people saying they aren’t helpful and have issues accessing their accounts.

Fanatics Sportsbook North Carolina

Fanatics Sportsbook North Carolina offers users FanCash, which can be used to purchase memorabilia or apparel.
The loading speed for Fanatics Sportbook is very fast and allows you to see odds and lines quickly.
There is typically more than one offer available for new users to try Fanatics Sportsbook.
The app interface is one of the more fun to use and can be customized with your favorite teams.
There can be difficulties getting ahold of customer service and getting certain issues resolved.

theScore Bet North Carolina

theScore Bet North Carolina might be the best out there in terms of player prop offers.
It is quick and simple to set up funding for your account with a multitude of options for funding.
There are competitive lines on sides, totals, and spreads for all major sports.
Their welcome offer is one of the more competitive available and helps you have some funding in your account to experience the app.
The live betting interface isn’t quite as enjoyable for use as the standard pre-game betting option.

North Carolina Sportsbook Welcome Offers

North Carolina sportsbooks offer new users a few different types of welcome offers, including deposit matches, bonus bets, and bet-and-get options. Bonus bets and funds are not the same as cash, but can be used to place wagers within the app. Bet-and-get offers typically have you fund your account, place a wager, and receive a set amount of bonus funds. The deposit matches give you the same amount or a fraction of the amount that you use to fund your account. You should know that bonus bets do expire.

How to Sign Up for a Sportsbook in North Carolina

Download the North Carolina sportsbook of your choice.
Enter your personal information.
Go through account verification and location checks.
Deposit funds into your account.
Claim the welcome offer. Note: This step may be completed during the sign-up process.
Place your first wager. (You must be within the state limits to wager, and note that being by the border of a state could fail the geolocation check).

North Carolina Sports Betting Laws and Timeline

North Carolina sports betting first started gaining traction around 2019 when tribal lands accepted sports betting. In March 2021, in-person bets were allowed. On June 14th, 2023, House Bill 347 was signed into law by Governor Roy Cooper. March 11th 2024, saw mobile and online sports betting become live.

Teams and Markets to Bet On in North Carolina

Looking to bet on North Carolina professional sports teams? There is plenty to choose from, mostly in the Charlotte area. The Panthers are a popular football team. The Charlotte Hornets represent the city in the NBA. There is no baseball team, but they do have the Hurricanes in the NHL, and Charlotte FC for those into soccer. Of course, there are also college teams like Duke and North Carolina that command a lot of betting and sporting interest.

College Sports Betting Rules in North Carolina

You can bet legally on college sports in North Carolina. This includes options on spreads, totals, and sides. Unlike other states, you can bet on player props in North Carolina for college athletes.

Retail Sportsbooks in North Carolina

There are currently three retail sportsbook locations in North Carolina. All three are located inside casinos. You can go to Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino, or Catawaba Two Kings Casino.

Licensed Retail Locations:

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (Caesars Sportsbook) – Cherokee

Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel (Caesars Sportsbook) – Murphy

Catawba Two Kings Casino (Two Kings Sportsbook) – Kings Mountain

Responsible Gambling Resources in North Carolina

1-800-GAMBLER
1-800-MY-RESET
National Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-522-4700
Gam-Anon and Gamblers Anonymous
North Carolina Problem Gambling Program
877-718-5543
Text "morethanagamenc" to 53342

North Carolina Sports Betting FAQ

Is sports betting legal in North Carolina?

Yes, sports betting is legal in North Carolina. You need to be 21 years old and physically inside the state at the time of the wager with a registered account.

What is the best sportsbook in North Carolina?

The best sportsbook in North Carolina is dependent on what you’re looking for. If you want a big welcome bonus, BetMGM might be considered best. There is no limit to the number of sportsbooks you can use, so try them all.

How old do you have to be to bet in North Carolina?

You must be 21 years old to bet on sports in North Carolina.

Can you bet on college sports in North Carolina?

Yes. You can bet on sides, totals, and spreads for college games in North Carolina. You can also bet on player props in North Carolina.

Do you have to live in North Carolina to bet there?

No, you do not need to live in North Carolina to bet there; you only have to be physically located in the state to wager there.

How many sportsbooks are legal in North Carolina?

There are currently seven legal sportsbooks in North Carolina.

Can you bet on sports in North Carolina without an app?

Yes, there are three retail sportsbook locations that are available for you to wager at in person.

Sylvester Stallone's advice to those who are struggling 50 years after 'Rocky' changed his life

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 21:59:39 -0400

Fifty years after "Rocky" made Sylvester Stallone a household name, the 80-year-old says his advice to people who are struggling is "you have nothing to lose" if you try.

"Rocky," a story about a low-level boxer who got the unexpected chance to become a champion, parallels the actor’s own life from being so broke he had to sell his dog to winning the Oscar for the 1976 classic.

"What would you tell the kid who’s sleeping on the bench at Port Authority with $80 in his pocket?" Fox News’ Bret Baier asked Stallone on "Special Report" on Tuesday while discussing his new memoir "The Steps."

'I PLAY ROCKY' REVIVES THE GAMBLE THAT MADE SYLVESTER STALLONE A SUPERSTAR

"You have nothing to lose. Seriously, you have nothing to lose. With failure you don’t get shot. There’s no firing squad," Stallone said. "The only thing you have to lose is your peace of mind if you don’t try. At least try. You may quit halfway through, but at least say, ‘I tried.’"

Stallone said his own motto is "I tried."

SYLVESTER STALLONE SAYS HE'D BE IN 'BIG TROUBLE' TRYING TO MAKE HIS CAREER IN TODAY'S HOLLYWOOD

As a broke 23-year-old backpacking through the Pyrenees in Europe in 1969, Stallone wrote in the book that a fortune teller predicted he would find fortune by 1976, the same year "Rocky" came out.

"And she said also, ‘A woman will bring you into the circle of attention, and that was my manager Jane Oliver who’s the only one like who plucked me from obscurity," he said.

SYLVESTER STALLONE REVEALS SURPRISING HEALTH STRUGGLE BEHIND HIS FAMOUSLY RIPPED PHYSIQUE

Early in his career, Stallone went by the name Mike, but decided to go back to Sylvester.

Stallone felt pre-"Rocky" that he was drifting off into "total obscurity" and thought if Humphrey Bogart could make a career with his name, then "Sylvester’s not so bad."

SYLVESTER STALLONE'S 'TULSA KING' SEASON 4 TEASER SPARKS FAN FRENZY: 'THE KING IS BACK!'

"I thought, that’s memorable because I’ve never met another Sylvester. So, at least it was just another hook that maybe people would remember as opposed to Mike.

Stallone told Baier that he decided to write his book now because he wanted his children to "understand the journey" it took to get him where he is now.

MATT DAMON SAYS HOLLYWOOD'S 'RUTHLESS' NATURE HAS TAKEN HIM AWAY FROM FATHERHOOD MORE THAN HE'D LIKE

The "Tulsa King" actor called ushering at a theater his "film school," explaining that he would watch three showings a night on his shift and would take notes from films like "M*A*S*H."

"I thought, where do you learn more about a film than in a theater where you actually see a reaction?"

HOLLYWOOD PRODUCER BEHIND 'APOLLO 13' REJECTS POLITICS IN HIS MOVIES, SEEKS TO UNITE AUDIENCES

He said college is "very cloistered," whereas in a theater it’s "instant enjoyment or repulsion or they leave. So, I learned a great, great deal. It’s like with a waiter – you want to learn the restaurant business? Be a waiter."

"I learned more in a movie theater than I would imagine in college," he said.

TOM CRUISE ADMITS RUMORS ABOUT HIS 'INTENSE' BEHAVIOR ON MOVIE SETS ARE TRUE

Stallone also wrote that the "go the distance" speech in "Rocky" almost didn’t happen because the producers wanted to cut it.

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"They did pull the plug," he told Baier. "And I have to say I really did lose my cool at that moment. Very upset. It was the first time I really crossed the line. I said, ‘You have to film this because this is the whole movie philosophy in a nutshell."

JACK NICHOLSON SPOTTED IN RARE PHOTO AS LEGENDARY ACTOR CELEBRATES TURNING 89

In the end, the producers gave Stallone one take to get it.

"If the camera shook, if the sound man… I was like ‘Everyone, please be on you A-game.’"

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Stallone didn’t believe he was going to win the Academy Award in 1977, and when Jack Nicolson called his name, he said he was shocked and almost "broke down."

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"I thought ‘No, can’t be.'"

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The actor dedicated the award to all the people who, like Rocky Balboa, struggle but will always "be there" working hard.

Ohio Sports Betting — Best Sportsbooks and Apps | OutKick

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 21:53:32 -0400

Ohio sports betting has been around for over three years, launching on Jan. 1, 2023. Bettors can choose from 13 legal sportsbook apps all licensed by the Ohio Casino Control Commission. Below you will find an overview of sports betting in Ohio and reviews of the apps available.

Is Sports Betting Legal in Ohio?

Yes, sports betting is legal in Ohio. It can be done using mobile apps or in person for anyone over 21 years of age. In Ohio, you can bet on any professional sporting event and collegiate event, but you cannot wager on college player props.

Best Ohio Sportsbooks and Betting Apps

Determining which sportsbook is best for you can be a difficult task. We’ve taken into consideration things like user interface, experience, withdrawal and deposit options, and overall accessibility. Hopefully, this will help you determine which app is right for you.

FanDuel Sportsbook Ohio

FanDuel Sportsbook provides unique betting opportunities on a wide range of sports and games.
FanDuel allows users to make parlays that other sportsbooks won’t, for example, on college football futures.
The bet builder function is easy to use and navigate.
They offer unique options for betting that other books don’t, and they started the same game parlay trend.
The search functionality of FanDuel is not always easy to use to find what you’re looking to bet on.

BetMGM Sportsbook Ohio

BetMGM has virtually every sport you can imagine as an option to wager on.
The rewards for BetMGM are some of the best in the business and can be used on a wide range of options.
The Edit My Bet feature is very cool for adding or altering a wager after you’ve initially placed it.
The user interface is great and easy to use.
There can be very slow loading times, especially when there is a larger game happening.

bet365 Sportsbook Ohio

The very best sportsbook if you want to bet on soccer games, even from obscure markets.
Offers competitive odds with typically lower juice than other sportsbooks
The live betting option is potentially the best in the market.
Bet365 offers early payouts for a wide variety of bets, like when a team goes up 20 points in basketball.
There is no loyalty program for bet365 sportsbook, so there isn’t much incentive to keep coming back.

Fanatics Sportsbook Ohio

Fanatics Sportsbook provides one of the cooler rewards programs if you like sports memorabilia and apparel.
They offer strong stability during major sporting events, without much lag time for placing wagers and monitoring games.
The app is very clean and easy to find what you’re looking for. You can also theme it with your favorite teams.
There can often be errors with promotional terms, but sometimes this is on the user instead of the app.

theScore Bet Ohio

theScore Bet offers as many or more player props than any other sportsbook.
Withdrawals are processed very quickly, giving users their money typically within 24 hours.
theScore Bet has one of the smoothest interfaces you’ll find, and the integrations with the media network provides users with quick updates on games.
Verification errors tend to be the biggest complaint of theScore Bet, with many users saying there are delays before they can use the account.

Hard Rock Bet Ohio

Users of Hard Rock Bet can find lines posted earlier than most other competitors.
The app is one of the more reliable out there and provides bettors with consistent play.
In-game betting is simple and wagers can be placed very quickly.
There are not often a ton of promos provided to Hard Rock Bet users, especially in comparison to other apps.

Ohio Sportsbook Welcome Offers

Welcome offers are a great way for you to try a new app. Ohio sportsbooks offer new users profit boosts, deposit matches, and bet-and-get offers, among others. A profit boost will often give you double your odds, so if you bet $100 on a +100 wager and use a 100% profit boost, you’ll receive $300 total if it wins instead of $200.

Deposit matches give you a 1:1 match for every dollar you deposit. These are bonus funds, and are not the same as real cash, but can be used to place wagers. A bet and get offer is typically betting a small amount to receive bonus funds. For example, betting $10 on a game and receiving $250 in bonus bets.

How to Sign Up for a Sportsbook in Ohio

Download the Ohio sportsbook of your choice.
Enter your personal information.
Go through account verification and location checks.
Deposit funds into your account.
Claim the welcome offer. Note: This step may be completed during the sign-up process.
Place your first wager. (You must be within the state limits to wager, and note that being by the border of a state could fail the geolocation check).

Ohio Sports Betting Laws and Timeline

On Jan. 1, 2023, sports betting became legal in Ohio with Governor Mike DeWine signing House Bill 29. The actual signing took place in December 2021, but the first app wasn’t available until January 2023 after being cleared by the Ohio Casino Control Commission. Since the launch, over 10 different sportsbooks have been legalized for online or retail use.

Teams and Markets to Bet On in Ohio

There is no shortage of professional and college teams to bet on in Ohio. In the NFL, you have two teams that you can choose from, with the Bengals and Browns taking center stage. There are also two MLB teams you can wager on with the Guardians in Cleveland and the Reds in Cincinnati. The Cleveland Cavaliers are an option for NBA fans, and the Columbus Blue Jackets give hockey fans an extra incentive. Ohio State is also one of the most popular college football programs in the country.

College Sports Betting Rules in Ohio

The professional level is not the only way to bet on sports in Ohio. Instead, you can bet on college-level games. You can bet on sides, totals, and spreads with Ohio and national college teams. However, you cannot place wagers on player props from college games.

Retail Sportsbooks in Ohio

There are 13 retail sportsbooks in Ohio. The vast majority of these retail locations are found within casinos. However, there is one at Dayton Raceway and another at JACK Thistledown Racino.

Licensed Retail Locations:

Belterra Park (FanDuel) – Anderson Township

Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs (Caesars) – Columbus

Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati (Hard Rock Bet) – Cincinnati

Hollywood Casino Columbus (ESPN BET) – Columbus

Hollywood Casino Toledo (ESPN BET) – Toledo

Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway (ESPN BET) – Dayton

Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley (ESPN BET) – Youngstown

JACK Cleveland Casino (betJACK) – Cleveland

JACK Thistledown Racino (betJACK) – North Randall

MGM Northfield Park (BetMGM) – Northfield

Miami Valley Gaming (MVGBet) – Lebanon

BetMGM Sportsbook at The Banks – Cincinnati

Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (Caesars) – Cleveland

Responsible Gambling Resources in Ohio

Gambling Network of Ohio 614-750-9899
1-800-589-9966
1-800-GAMBLER
1-800-MY-RESET
National Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-522-4700
Gam-Anon and Gamblers Anonymous

Ohio Sports Betting FAQ

Is sports betting legal in Ohio?

Yes, sports betting has been legal in Ohio since January 1, 2023. There are 13 or more sports books or betting apps within the state that are approved for use.

What is the best sportsbook in Ohio?

The best sportsbook in Ohio is open to user interpretation. The guide above should help provide you with different details to consider when choosing which sportsbook is right for you.

Can you use more than one sportsbook in Ohio?

Yes! You should use more than one sportsbook as they offer different odds, incentives, and other benefits to using more than one app.

How old do you have to be to bet in Ohio?

You must be at least 21 years of age and located in Ohio when placing the wager in order to bet on sports in Ohio.

Can you bet on college sports in Ohio?

Yes, you can bet on sides, totals, and spread options in Ohio, but you cannot bet on college player props.

Do you have to live in Ohio to bet there?

No, you do not need to be a resident, but you must be physically located in Ohio in order to place the wager.

How many sportsbooks are legal in Ohio?

There are at least 13 sportsbooks that are legal in Ohio for you to use.

Can you bet on sports in Ohio without an app?

Yes, there are retail locations where you can place a wager if you prefer to do that instead of betting via an app.

Best Sportsbook Promos and Welcome Offers 2026

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 21:42:34 -0400

Whether you are new to sports betting or a seasoned veteran, you should always be on the lookout for promos and offers from your favorite sportsbooks. Some sportsbook promos will be offered daily, weekly, or for an entire month. Sportsbook welcome offers are a bit different, as you really only have access to them once. We will take a look and see what sportsbooks are currently offering for promotions, and how they stack up against each other in terms of value, conditions, and ease of claiming. These offers are for the month of September and will be updated regularly.

This Week's Best Sportsbook Promos for September 2026

Last updated: Sept. 29, 2026

The most common type of promotion from a sportsbook is their welcome offer. Every book wants to be the one that provides your betting options, and the welcome offer is the way to entice you to use their app. Below, we provide a table that lists major sportsbooks' welcome offers and see how they stack up. If you want to see what the best sports betting app is, check out this page here.

Best Sportsbook Promo for Every Type of Bettor

With all of these different offers, it may be hard to figure out which is the best for you. Don’t worry, we’ve taken care of that for you as well. Check out which might suit you best as you start sports betting and take advantage of the welcome offers.

Best for a Big First Bet: BetMGM

Have you ever felt really confident in something and wanted to put a big bet on it? BetMGM would be the best for you as it gives you back up to $1,500on a lost bet. That’s the largest return offered on any of these books.

Best for Newcomers and Small Stakes: FanDuel

If you’re willing to try out a fairly small investment, $5, and will consistently bet each day for five days, FanDuel is your spot. This gets you back $250 in Bonus Bets, a 10x return.

Best Second-Chance Offer: theScore Bet

A lot of sites have "risk-free" bets, and theScore Bet is currently offering the best welcome offer of up to $1,000. A nice safety net if you happen to lose the bet, getting back the full amount in five equal bonus bets. Note: this is available in AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MO, NC, OH, TN, and VA.

Best Rewards Value: Fanatics

While almost all of these companies offer points and bonus values, Fanatics provides FanCash and betting options. This is a bit subjective — if you’re not interested in Fanatics clothes, memorabilia, etc., you might not like the rewards. However, the FanCash can be used for more bets, which is nice.

Best in Florida: Hard Rock Bet

Sometimes all you need is to be the only game in town. Hard Rock Bet is the only online sportsbook in Florida, but they still offer a nice welcome bonus of $100 in Bonus Bets when placing a $5 bet.

Types of Sportsbook Promos Explained

In our table, we listed a few types of sportsbook promos and offer types. If you’re new to sports betting, you might not be familiar with what they mean, so let’s take a second to explain what the different offer types are.

Bet-and-Get (Bonus Bets)

This is somewhat self-explanatory. You bet a set amount of money (often as low as $5), and you get bonus bets paid out in one day or over multiple days.

First-Bet Safety Net (First-Bet Insurance)

If your bet loses, you receive bonus bets in the same value. Sometimes they will be issued as one bet, but in the case of theScore Bet, you receive five equal bets over five days. For example, if you lose a $1,000 bet, you’ll get five $200 bonus bets, one each day.

Reward Bonus

A reward bonus is typically given on top of other promotions. So it may be as simple as depositing $100 and receiving an additional $20 bonus.

Deposit Match

The book matches a percentage of your deposit in bonus funds, often tied to a playthrough requirement.

Bet Reset

A second-chance credit if your qualifying bet loses. This is different from a welcome offer, because this can be provided by the sportsbook at any time. As long as your bet qualifies and loses, you’ll be given tokens or bonus bets. Keep in mind, those tokens or bonus bets tend to have expiration dates on them.

Odds Boosts and Profit Boosts

Increase the payout on a selected bet or market. Common in ongoing promos rather than welcome offers.

How Bonus Bets Pay Out (Bonus Bets vs Cash)

Bonus bets return winnings only, not the stake. For example, if you have a $100 bonus bet and it hits a +100 bet. You’re only collecting $100 total. If you bet that same bet in cash, you’d collect $200.

No-Deposit Sportsbook Bonuses

No-deposit sportsbook bonuses sound appealing because they give new users a promotional credit before they deposit or place a bet with their own money. The catch is that these offers are rare at regulated U.S. sportsbooks, which typically require a qualifying deposit and wager.

When no-deposit offers do appear, they are often tied to a new state launch or a limited sign-up promotion. The bonus is usually small and may come with minimum odds, playthrough and withdrawal requirements, so read the fine print before claiming it. For most bettors, a low-risk bet-and-get offer will provide more practical value.

Best Welcome Promos by Sportsbook

BetMGM

BetMGM runs one of the most protective welcome offers for bettors who want to start bigger: Up to $1,500 back in bonus bets if the first bet loses. This gives you a chance to make a big splash immediately. If you win, you don’t need the bonus bets. If you lose, you’re still getting a chance to make money back.

Offer: Get up to $1,500 paid back in bonus bets if you don’t win
Offer type: First-bet safety net
Key terms: Players receive a First Bet Offer Token to use on any bet within the first seven days of opening an account. Losing wagers will receive bonus bets that expire within seven days.
Best for: bettors placing a larger first wager who want a cushion if it loses

How it compares: The $1,500 cap is among the largest safety nets available. Remember the refund is bonus bets, not cash, so real value depends on converting those tokens into wins.

How to Claim the BetMGM Bonus:

Tap the offer link to open BetMGM sign-up.
Create your account, enter the promo code, and complete identity verification.
Deposit the minimum and place your first bet.
If your first bet loses, receive up to $1,500 back in bonus bets (keep in mind if you only bet $100, you’re only getting $100 back in bonus bets)

Our Verdict: If you feel very confident in something, and it is your first time betting, this is the spot for you as it provides a bit of a safety net.

Fanatics

One of the nice things about Fanatics is that they offer a few different options to new users. This helps to cater to the wide variety of people interested in picking up sports betting.

Offer: Use promo code FOXNEWS350 to earn up to $1,000 in FanCash through the 10 days of $100 Bet Match promotion, or bet $20 and get $350 in FanCash, paid as seven daily $50 FanCash credits. Bet $1 and get $50 FanCash, while new users in eligible states can also receive 10 instant 100% Profit Boost Tokens with no deposit or bet required.
Offer type: Bet-and-get
Key terms: FanCash, in some cases, expires after 24 hours.
Best for: those looking for daily sports betting.

How it compares: Instead of just one offer, Fanatics provides a wide variety of offers. You can bet anywhere from $1 to $100 and receive bonuses.

How to Claim the Fanatics Bonus:

Tap the offer link to open Fanatics sign-up.
Create your account, enter the promo code, and complete identity verification.
Deposit the minimum and place your first bet.
With these three options, you can bet $100 each day for 10 days using promo code FOXNEWS350 to receive up to $1,000 in FanCash. For the $350 offer, no promo code is needed; you just need to have a bet of $20 or more within your first seven days. The $1 bet for $50 in FanCash allows you to opt in via your bet slip.

Our Verdict: Fanatics are playing for all bettors, not just the big bettors. There is something for everyone here.

theScore Bet

theScore Bet provides a safety-net-style welcome bonus similar to BetMGM, designed for bettors who want protection on a larger opening wager.

Offer: First Bet Reset up to $1,000 in bonus bets if your first bet loses; you do need to claim this before you place your bet.
Offer type: Bet reset
Key terms: Minimum $10 deposit and $10 qualifying first bet required; if your initial wager loses, the refund is split into five equal bonus bet tokens (each worth 20% of the losing stake, up to $200 per token); bonus bets expire 7 days after receipt and pay out winnings only (stake not returned)
Best for: Bettors who want to place a higher-stakes initial wager with built-in protection and prefer having their bonus returned in multiple smaller tokens rather than one lump sum

How it compares: theScore Bet directly competes with BetMGM's safety-net tier. It caps out slightly lower ($1,000 vs. BetMGM’s $1,500), but splitting the refund into five equal 20% tokens gives you much more flexibility to spread out secondary wagers across different events. Just make sure you use them before they expire.

How to Claim the theScore Bet Bonus:

Tap the offer link to download the app and open theScore Bet sign-up page.
Create your account, complete identity verification, and manually enter the promo code when prompted.
Deposit at least $10 and place your first real-money wager.
If your wager wins, keep your cash payout; if it loses, receive 100% of your stake back as five bonus bet tokens totaling up to $1,000.

Our Verdict: The 5-token split makes recovering secondary value noticeably easier than platforms that issue a single massive bonus credit because you don’t need to take a big risk immediately again.

FanDuel

FanDuel is a top-tier option for small-stakes bettors, focusing on high engagement and high-frequency value over single high-risk wagers. Rather than issuing its welcome reward in a single lump sum, FanDuel utilizes a multi-day incentive format that rewards regular participation during your first week on the platform.

Offer: Bet $5 each day for 5 days, get $250 in bonus bets ($50 in bonus bets per day; no promo code required)
Offer type: Multi-day "Bet & Get" welcome bonus
Key terms: Minimum $5 initial deposit; must place a qualifying real-money wager of $5 or more each day for 5 consecutive days starting from your first qualifying bet; each qualifying daily wager unlocks $50 in bonus bets (up to $250 total); bonus bets expire 7 days after issuance and are non-withdrawable
Best for: Active bettors who plan to place daily wagers during their first week, but not necessarily large amounts.

How it compares: FanDuel is essentially trying to establish a habit. They get you using the app and making bets five days in a row. Compared to some other sportsbook's guaranteed upfront drop, FanDuel offers a significantly higher potential bonus cap ($250 vs. $200), though it requires consistent daily $5 activity over five days to unlock the maximum reward.

How to Claim the FanDuel Bonus:

Tap the offer link to open the FanDuel Sportsbook sign-up page.
Create your account and complete identity verification (no promo code needed).
Deposit at least $5 into your new sportsbook account (though, you’ll need $35 minimum if you bet $5 per day for five days).
Place a $5+ real-money bet each day for 5 consecutive days to receive a $50 bonus bet batch every single day.

Our Verdict: If you’re going to bet on something every day anyway, but don’t want to bet a lot, this is ideal because you get $250 back.

bet365

bet365 frequently changes its welcome offers, and several promotions may appear online at any given time. At the time of review, however, the sportsbook’s website featured one primary offer: Bet $10, Get $200 in bonus bets, win or lose. It is not the biggest promotion in this guide, but the low qualifying wager and guaranteed bonus still make it a worthwhile option for new bettors.

Offer: Bet $10, Get $200 in bonus bets, win or lose
Offer type: Bet-and-Get
Key terms: Minimum $10 deposit required; "Bet & Get" requires a $10 first wager on odds of -500 or longer to unlock $200 in bonus credits upon settlement
Best for: Anyone looking for bonus bets issued out all at once instead of over time.

How it compares: bet365 gives you $200 regardless of the outcome of your wager, and they give you those bonus bets immediately, not over time. If you want to bet small ($10) on your first bet, you can bet a bit bigger the next time with the $200 bonus bet.

How to Claim the bet365 Bonus:

Tap the offer link to open the bet365 sign-up page or download the app.
Create your account, complete identity verification, and enter the promo code.
Deposit at least $10 and place your wager.
Place your qualifying wager of $10 or more. Receive $200 in bonus bets once it settles (win or lose).

Our Verdict: This is a nice option for anyone who wants to get started, but give yourself options for a larger wager after the initial bet.

Best Ongoing Promos and Boosts (Beyond the Welcome Offer)

While the welcome offer is a one-time incentive, there are monthly, weekly, and even daily offers from sportsbooks to keep you playing. Profit boosts, same-game parlay insurance, and no-sweat bets are common offers from sportsbooks.

Best Sportsbook Promos by Sport

You’re not going to find an NBA promo in August, just as you won’t find an NFL promotion until the season starts. Maybe there will be a promotion you can use in the future or on a future bet, but each book will update options daily for sport-specific promos.

NFL and College Football Promos

Expect same-game-parlay boosts, touchdown-scorer specials, and Sunday and game-day profit boosts during the season. A lot of the promos from these focus on player props.

NBA and College Basketball Promos

There are typically moneyline and spread parlays offered to give you odds boosts on games.

MLB Promos

Home-run and player-prop promos and weekly boost days during the season.

Soccer and Other Sports

bet365 in particular runs strong soccer boosts and early-payout offers. Many sites will offer odds boost for "Make the Cut" parlays in golf. In tennis, you can usually find good odds boosts or parlay options for big tournaments.

How to Claim a Sportsbook Promo

Claiming a sportsbook promo is very easy. It is pretty straightforward and similar at almost every sportsbook app.

Confirm the sportsbook is legal and live in your state.
Tap the offer link or widget to open sign-up.
Create an account and complete identity verification.
Enter the promo code if one is required (see the offer table).
Make the minimum qualifying deposit.
Place the qualifying bet at or above the minimum odds.
Receive bonus bets or a bet reset per the terms, then use them before they expire.

How to Get the Most From Your Bonus

For a daily sportsbook bonus, you’re likely going to just place one bet (a parlay or straight bet), and it either hits or not. You have instant gratification (or frustration if your bet loses). With welcome bets, you really need to decide how you want to use bonus bets. The big key is to check expirations so you don’t let them go to waste. Outside of that, you need to know if you have one big bet, or multiple smaller wagers. When you place your initial bet, you might want to plan out how you’ll use the bonus bets over the next few days.

How We Rate Sportsbook Promos

A big headline number does not automatically make a sportsbook promotion a good deal. We look at the offer’s real value compared with the required deposit and qualifying bet, along with the type of promotion and the amount of risk it places on the bettor.

We also consider how clear and fair the terms are, including minimum odds, token restrictions and expiration dates. Ease of claiming, how quickly the bonus is credited, and the strength of ongoing and sport-specific promotions also factor into our rankings. Our ratings are editorially independent, tested when possible and refreshed regularly as sportsbook offers change.

Sportsbook Promo Glossary

Short intro line: a quick reference for the terms used across sportsbook promos.
Bonus bets: Credits you can wager but not withdraw. If a bonus bet wins, you keep the winnings, not the stake.
Bet-and-get: Place a small qualifying bet and receive a set bonus, usually win or lose unless a win is required.
First-bet safety net: Your first bet is refunded in bonus bets, up to a cap, if it loses.
Bet reset: A second-chance credit if your qualifying bet loses.
Deposit match: The book matches a percentage of your deposit in bonus funds.
Profit boost: Increases the payout on a selected bet or market.
FanCash: The Fanatics rewards currency, redeemable for bonus bets or merchandise.
Minimum odds: The shortest price a bet can be and still qualify, often around -200 to -500.
Playthrough (rollover): How many times a bonus must be wagered before winnings can be withdrawn. Most sportsbooks use 1x.
Expiry: The window to use a bonus bet or reset before it is forfeited, often 7 days.
Qualifying bet: The first real-money wager that unlocks the welcome offer.

Responsible Gambling Resources

Sports betting should stay fun. If gambling starts to affect your finances, relationships, or wellbeing, these free and confidential resources can help.

National Problem Gambling Helpline: Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER
National Council on Problem Gambling: ncpgambling.org
1-800-GAMBLER Support Portal: 1800gambler.net
Gamblers Anonymous: gamblersanonymous.org

Sportsbook Promos FAQ

What is the best sportsbook promo this week?

The best sportsbook promo depends on your state, budget and betting style. Bettors making a larger first wager may prefer BetMGM’s offer of up to $1,500 back in bonus bets if the first bet loses. If you mainly bet parlays, an ongoing odds boost or same-game parlay promotion may offer more value than a standard welcome offer. There are differing options for each sportsbook that can change from week to week, so it is up to the bettor to decide what is the current best offer.

Do I need a promo code to claim an offer?

Not always. Some sportsbook promos apply automatically through the correct sign-up link, while others require a promo code during registration. Check the offer’s terms before depositing or placing a qualifying bet.

What are bonus bets and how do they work?

Bonus bets are promotional credits awarded after you meet a sportsbook’s qualifying requirements. If a $100 bonus bet wins at +100 odds, you receive $100 in winnings, but not the original $100 stake.

What is the difference between a bet-and-get and a first-bet safety net?

A bet-and-get sportsbook promo awards bonus bets after you place a qualifying wager, often whether you win or lose. A first-bet safety net refunds a losing first wager in bonus bets, up to a stated limit, rather than returning the stake as cash.

Are there any no-deposit sportsbook bonuses?

No-deposit sportsbook bonuses are rare at regulated U.S. sportsbooks, which usually require a deposit and qualifying bet. Some offshore sportsbooks may advertise them, but read the terms carefully because they can include strict playthrough, minimum-odds and withdrawal requirements.

Can I claim promos at more than one sportsbook?

Yes! You can claim as many promos as you are eligible for. You just need to adhere to all of the rules, but this is a great way to get the most out of your money and the offers available.

Do bonus bets and bet resets expire?

Yes. Bonus bets and bet resets usually have expiration dates, so check the sportsbook’s terms and use them before the deadline or they may be forfeited.

Are sportsbook promos worth it?

Sportsbook promos are worth it as protection for your bet or as an added incentive for your continued use of their book. It does often require you to use your own money, but the promotions tend to give you better odds than the normal payouts, or give you free bets to make.

Are these promos available in my state?

Sportsbook promos and legal betting apps vary by state, so an offer available in one location may not be offered in another. Confirm that the sportsbook is legal where you live and check its current terms before signing up. Check each sportsbook for more information.

BBC removes article claiming bare nails trend perpetuates 'White supremacist' beauty standards

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 21:18:15 -0400

The BBC removed an article that suggested the trend of leaving fingernails unpainted could perpetuate "White supremacist" beauty standards after it drew backlash Saturday.

The original article, "How the bare nails trend became a class issue," explored the beauty trend of women preferring clear and polished "naked" nails over the more stylish nail designs over the past few years.

The BBC reported that while some consider this trend part of the ever-shifting standards in fashion, critics suggested the image said "something about class" and could potentially stigmatize Black, Latino and Asian communities that popularized heavily designed nails.

"That trend really promotes blankness and this kind of sameness and erasure of culture and identity that is so important to [B]lack and [B]rown communities," beauty journalist Kristina Rodulfo told the BBC.

JK ROWLING CONFRONTS THE BBC FOR PUSHING 'PROPAGANDA' OVER ITS TRANSGENDER SPORTS HEADLINE

"They are often called elegant or tasteful, and these are often usually euphemisms that perpetuate [W]hite supremacist standards of beauty."

The article quickly drew widespread criticism for linking nail design to racism or class warfare.

"Such a stupid, pointless article. And to think the salary of whoever wrote it is paid by a levy on anyone in this country who watches live TV. Indefensible," Sex Matters Director of Advocacy Helen Joyce wrote on X.

LEGACY MEDIA TRUST HITS NEW LOW WITH SWALWELL STORY LATEST EXAMPLE OF PROTECTING DEMS

"Did one of your Hamas reporters write this one, too?" radio host Dana Loesch remarked.

American Conservation Coalition CEO Danielle Franz joked, "Bad news for the ladies who thought they were saving $80 on a manicure but were actually dogwhistling."

The Sun editor-at-large Harry Cole wrote, "This is mental. Not painting your nails is now White supremacy coded, apparently. Are they hoofing nail polish remover over there?"

In an archived update to the article, the story was removed and replaced with the statement, "This article has been removed pending editorial review."

As of Tuesday, however, that statement had also been removed, and the original BBC URL led to a 404 error page.

Fox News Digital reached out to the BBC for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

DEPARTING BBC BOSS WARNS NETWORK ON 'KNIFE EDGE' AMID TRUMP DOCUMENTARY LAWSUIT, TRUST CRISIS

This move by the BBC comes one month after President Donald Trump won permission to file an amended legal complaint against the BBC for what the president claimed was "maliciously and deceptively" edited footage of his Jan. 6 speech in a 2024 "Panorama" documentary.

"Today’s strong and thoughtful ruling is a major win for President Trump’s powerhouse lawsuit against the formerly respected and now disgraced BBC, which defamed President Trump by intentionally, maliciously and deceptively doctoring his speech in a brazen attempt to interfere in the 2024 Presidential Election," a spokesman for Trump’s legal team told Fox News Digital.

"President Trump is holding the leftist BBC, along with all of its comrades in the mainstream media, accountable for their peddling of fake news through deception and maliciously defamatory conduct."

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The controversy preceded the November 2025 resignations of BBC News CEO Deborah Turness and Director-General Tim Davie.

Transgender athletes have taken 2,293 championship spots from biological women, new research finds

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 21:10:49 -0400

So ... it's rare, right?

That's the argument certain activists keep making when it comes to the debate about trans athletes in female sports.

It's not a great position, frankly — because if something is wrong, it doesn't matter how rare it is. It should be stopped, assuming doing so doesn't trigger undue consequences.

AMERICANS CLASH OVER TRANSGENDER ATHLETES AS DEBATE HEATS UP: ‘JUST GETTING OUTRAGEOUS'

But new data suggests that this "uncommon" occurrence isn't so uncommon after all. Recent research from the Concerned Women of America found that transgender athletes have bumped biological women out of 2,293 championship spots since the mid-1980s. This is far different than simply noting the number of transgender athletes in sports. This is pointing out how many biological females would have won a specific honor if not for the trans athlete that took it.

For the report, the think tank drew on information compiled by HeCheated.org, a volunteer-operated database that tracks reported instances of trans athletes competing in women's sports. In total, it found that they have partaken in more than 14,000 female sporting events ranging from high school to college to amateur to professional.

The HeCheated.org list is extensive. The first page alone has 200 instances ranging from March 27, 2025, to September 18, 2026. It shows examples of biological males making league All-Star teams in high school lacrosse, or winning high school state championships in track and field in Washington, California and Oregon, or earning All-conference recognition in college fencing. There were also a couple of examples of trans athletes receiving "most improved" awards.

TRANS TRACK STAR SWEEPS THREE EVENTS, SHARES FIRST-PLACE PODIUM AND QUALIFIES FOR CA STATE MEET YET AGAIN

And as long as laws that allow this to happen exist, there is no evidence of this slowing down.

Author Abigail Shrier wrote the book "Irreversible Damage" in 2020, in which she noted a 1,000 to 5,000 percent increase in the number of trans-identifying youth over a several-year period. Other research has noted that this uptick has no end in sight.

In 2023, the CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that about three percent of high-school students identified as transgender. In 2025, the Williams Institute estimated that 724,000 Americans ages 13–17 identify as transgender, which was roughly equivalent to 3.6 percent.

And the Society for Evidence Based Gender Medicine (SEGM) estimated that trans/nonbinary identification for college students is at an all-time high, ranging from 4.7 percent to 6.7 percent. That last number shouldn't affect participation in the NCAA, which requires athletes play on teams that match their sex assigned at birth. But when we're talking about, say, the WNBA, which still doesn't have a concrete rule about gender restrictions, who's to say one of these college kids doesn't try to pull a much-more-subtle Enes Kanter and work their way into the league?

US OLYMPIC HERO NANCY HOGSHEAD LAUNCHES PETITION CALLING FOR WNBA TO RESTRICT GENDER ELIGIBILITY

When I was at The Seattle Times, I interviewed a high school athlete named Ahnaleigh Wilson, who lost to a boy in a high school track meet when she was in eighth grade. She told me that she had since competed against four biological males in high school. I couldn't confirm that, but when I see research documenting biological males competing in more than 14,000 events involving females, and consider that alongside a UCLA study estimating that as many as 122,000 transgender youth may be competing in high school sports, I tend to believe her.

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There's a common pattern among the Left when it comes to issues such as these. First, they say it's not happening. Then, they say "OK, it's happening, but it's rare." Then, they say "OK, it's happening frequently, but that's a good thing!" We're getting closer and closer to that third one.

I suppose what's "rare" and what isn't is open to interpretation. But there's no denying that trans athletes are upstaging females often enough for anyone paying attention to notice.

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Common sense doesn't appear as though it's going to stop this trend anytime soon. Laws, on the other hand, would.

Reparations activists call out blue states for using slavery history to fund broader agenda

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 20:58:51 -0400

Reparations activists from a grassroots organization called the U.S. Freedmen Project told Fox News Digital that recent immigrants and non-foundational Black Americans should not be included in government reparations programs.

"I also think it’s not morally correct, you know? You don't give out remedies to people who haven't experienced the harm," Annette Wilcox, a spokesperson for the group, told Fox News Digital.

"A lot of these policies — the Commission on Racial Equity in the city, the Mayor’s Office on Equity and Justice — they talk constantly about slavery, Jim Crow, redlining, convict leasing. All of those things that happened to a specific group of people," Wilcox added. "Then, when it comes time to give out resources and remedies, it's going to everybody: underserved communities, POC [people of color], immigrants, marginalized groups. You’re using one group of people's history to then give remedies to a wider group."

The U.S. Freedmen Project, composed of self-identified "Foundational Black Americans," aims to educate the public on the legal and historical distinctions between African Americans who are direct descendants of enslaved people in the U.S. and those who immigrated to the country voluntarily in recent decades.

CHAOS ERUPTS AT NY REPARATIONS HEARING AS ‘FOUNDATIONAL’ BLACK AMERICANS CLASH WITH LEFT-LEANING GROUPS

Wilcox reacted sharply to efforts by New Jersey Democrats pushing the state to consider direct reparations proposals that could include residents who are not direct descendants of enslaved people.

The proposed legislation — the Truth, Reconciliation, and Repair Act, spearheaded by Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson and state Sen. Angela McKnight — aims to address wealth disparities stemming from historical slavery and systemic discrimination. Informed by research from the New Jersey Reparations Council, the bill seeks to establish a framework for state-level reparative policies.

U.S. Freedmen Project president Devine Prince told Fox News Digital that lawmakers and certain advocates are "conflating reparations with racial justice and social justice."

Fox News Digital previously spoke with New York residents who voiced similar concerns during a public hearing for the New York State Community Commission on Reparations Remedies at Hempstead High School on Long Island. Residents warned state officials that broadening the scope of reparations to include recent immigrants and other marginalized groups risks co-opting and diluting the movement.

NEW YORK FAR-LEFT GROUP CLAIMS REPARATIONS 'OWED' AS BLACKS' MEDIAN WEALTH 'NEARLY 15 TIMES LESS' THAN WHITES

One supporter, Aubrey Muhammad, delivered tense testimony accusing politicians of misallocating resources away from historic Black communities amidst demographic shifts.

"The Democrats, in a sick way, imported 25 million immigrants. And 70% of them came into poor Black neighborhoods," Muhammad argued in a follow-up interview with Fox News Digital. "Hempstead, since the '90s, has been flooded with immigrants. That's taking the resources, putting them towards others."

Demographic data from the U.S. Census Bureau reflect significant changes in the Village of Hempstead over the last three decades. Today, the community of roughly 59,000 is nearly evenly split between Black residents (43.2%) and Hispanic or Latino residents (45.3%). In 1990, the Hispanic population made up roughly 14% of the village.

"That’s why, frankly, I think we're in the situation today, where descendants of slavery in the United States are at the bottom of just about every socioeconomic parameter," Wilcox said.

Prince expounded on the issue, arguing that broader social challenges deserve their own dedicated solutions rather than being packaged under the umbrella of reparations.

TRUMP ADMIN VOWS TO STOP REPARATIONS PROGRAMS, ACCUSES OFFICIALS OF 'VIRTUE SIGNALING' TO GET 'VOTES'

"What we're finding out coming from the left wing of the political spectrum is that they are conflating reparations with racial justice and social justice. All three are similar, but they are far from the same," Prince said. "So what happens is when people believe a rising tide lifts all boats … you're conflating repair for the badges and incidents of slavery with discrimination like not being able to catch a cab, or with the social justice of fair immigration policies."

Members of the U.S. Freedmen Project have become vocal fixtures at public hearings across the country. They maintain that true reparations must be lineage-based — strictly reserved for direct descendants of enslaved human beings in the United States.

Prince argued that for any reparations policy to survive inevitable legal challenges, it must be tied strictly to lineage rather than race.

"What the Democratic Party loves to do is push them all together to create 'people of color' coalitions. These policies are largely being pushed in blue states, which is also where these issues are happening," Prince said. "There is a responsibility for any political entity to address its constituents directly and, more importantly, specifically — because that's how true coalitions are built, not by cobbling people together and pretending they all have the same plight and political priorities."

New Jersey and New York are part of a broader wave of state and municipal governments exploring reparative frameworks. In Illinois, the Chicago suburb of Evanston made headlines as the first city to distribute government-funded reparations to Black residents to remedy historic housing discrimination.

However, Evanston’s program faces a high-profile class-action lawsuit filed by Judicial Watch and the Trump administration, alleging the program’s race-based eligibility criteria violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

SAN FRANCISCO JUDGE NOT CONVINCED REPARATIONS FUND WILL BE DISCRIMINATORY DURING LAWSUIT HEARING

"It either becomes something that is unconstitutional and will be challenged and shut down — like Evanston is on its way to being done — or you convert it into a universal program," he said.

"That is not reparations," Prince warned.

While Prince called broader social and racial justice initiatives "admirable," he reiterated that they should not hijack the legal definition of reparations.

"Reparations, in the context we're talking about, are only for those that were enslaved, emancipated, and then subject to the badges and incidents thereof," Prince said. "That is the American freedmen. Positioning it that way circumvents any legal challenge based on race."

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The New Jersey lawmakers did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

Caitlin Clark's technical foul sparks furious rally as Fever avoid elimination against Aces

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 20:48:10 -0400

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark made WNBA postseason history Tuesday, becoming the first player to record a points-assists double-double before halftime of a playoff game. The Fever won 99-89 to avoid elimination Tuesday and force a deciding Game 3 on Thursday.

Clark finished with 27 points, 15 assists and seven rebounds before fouling out with 2:45 remaining in the fourth quarter and the Fever leading 92-83. Clark become the first player in WNBA history to score at least 25 points and record 15 assists in a game (regular season or playoffs).

Jackie Young led the Aces with 31 points. Las Vegas' A'Ja Wilson, who scored 22, received a technical foul in the fourth quarter for an interaction with a fan. OutKick will have a story on the incident as more information is gathered.

Facing elimination in Game 2 against the defending champion Las Vegas Aces, Clark put on a clinic, leading a wild turnaround after a second-quarter technical foul to give Indiana a big lead at the break.

Frustrated with the officiating following an apparent flop by Aces guard Mai Yamamoto amid heavy physical pressure, Clark picked up a technical foul late in the frame.

Poking the bear backfired for the Aces.

As the floor general, Clark channeled that fire immediately into a furious 24-6 surge, leading a Fever attack that forced eight second-quarter turnovers and outscored the Aces 30-17 in the frame to grab a 48-43 halftime lead.

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Clark posted 14 points and 11 assists in just 19 minutes, dishing 11 of Indiana's 13 team assists while feeding Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston for 30 first-half points in the paint.

The third-year Fever sensation is following up a regular season where she earned AP Comeback Player of the Year and First Team All-WNBA honors, becoming the first player in league history to stack 800-plus points and 300-plus assists in a single campaign.

CAITLIN CLARK RETURNS AFTER FIBA TITLE AS KELSEY MITCHELL SETS WNBA SCORING MARK IN FEVER VICTORY OVER TEMPO

As she hunts her first WNBA playoff series victory, Clark's historic half proved once again that when the pressure cooks she owns the moment.

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Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela

Boeing lands $20B-plus Navy deal for sixth-generation fighter to deliver ‘absolute air superiority’

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 20:17:36 -0400

The U.S. Navy has tapped Boeing to build a new fighter jet that officials say will help American pilots dominate the skies, defeat enemies and come home safely.

The Department of War announced Tuesday that Boeing secured a contract worth more than $20 billion for full-scale development of the F/A-XX, a sixth-generation strike fighter intended to expand the reach of Navy aircraft carriers and eventually replace some of the service’s longtime combat aircraft.

The deal gives Boeing its second sixth-generation fighter program following its selection for the Air Force’s F-47 in 2025, the company said.

"Delivering two advanced fighters in parallel was always our plan, and we invested accordingly. We are ready and able to build multiple concurrent future combat aircraft franchise programs," Steve Parker, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, said in a statement.

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The Navy contract includes multiple test aircraft for ground testing, airworthiness evaluations and systems and weapons integration, according to the Department of War.

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"The F/A-XX is a critical pillar in our commitment to maintaining peace through strength. F/A-XX will dominate contested airspace, extend operational reach, and deliver a decisive combat advantage for the warfighter," Michael P. Duffey, under secretary of war for acquisition and sustainment, said in the announcement.

Duffey called the aircraft a "crucial, non-negotiable investment" in America’s national security and long-term air combat capabilities.

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"We are joining forces with Boeing to field these capabilities rapidly, ensuring our warfighters possess the lethal and highly networked systems required to deter aggression, project undisputed power, and secure absolute air superiority," he said.

The F/A-XX falls under the Next Generation Air Dominance program. The department said the carrier-based fighter will extend the Navy’s operational reach and work alongside both manned and unmanned aircraft, including Collaborative Combat Aircraft.

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Officials said the fighter will also increase the capability of the unmanned aircraft it teams with.

Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao hailed the contract as the beginning of "a new era" for the service.

TRUMP TAPS ‘TRUE WARRIOR’ HUNG CAO AS NAVY SECRETARY AFTER 4 MONTHS AS ACTING LEADER

"The Sixth-Generation fighter is a generational leap in air superiority and will provide the world’s best aviators with unparalleled capabilities to fight, win, and come home safe," Cao said.

"We are excited to partner with Boeing, and for our warfighters to continue to dominate the skies and defeat our nation’s enemies."

AMERICA FACES A CRISIS IN OUR MILITARY ARSENAL THAT TRUMP IS RACING TO FIX

Boeing said the aircraft will bring advances in mission systems and operational reach and capacity, though technical and program details remain classified under U.S. national security and export laws.

"It’s an honor to be selected to produce the Navy’s first sixth-generation platform," Parker said, adding that the company’s team is "ready to execute this critical program."

INNOVATION IS KEY TO AMERICA STAYING A SUPERPOWER. BUT IT IS MISSING AN ESSENTIAL PIECE

The company said construction continues on a secure manufacturing facility in St. Louis as it prepares to build multiple aircraft with next-generation capabilities.

"Investment in facilities is just one part of the story; we’re also investing in technology and people so that we can deliver for our customers," Parker said.

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe celebrated the announcement, pointing to the state’s role in building America’s next generation of military aircraft.

"St. Louis is Fighterland, USA!" Kehoe wrote on X. "Proud of this incredible win that further cements Missouri as a critical leader in the future of America’s air dominance, innovation, and national defense."

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Beginning in the 2030s, the F/A-XX is expected to augment and eventually replace legacy F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers, according to the Department of War. It will also operate alongside the F-35C.

NYC judge orders Mamdani to redo second-home tax rollout

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 18:23:14 -0400

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday quickly appealed a judge’s decision to cancel previously mailed notices for his second-home tax, triggering an automatic stay of the ruling.

"The auto stay allows the city to continue, as we have been, with the implementation of the pied-a-terre surcharge and puts the lower court’s order on pause," a city official said.

Just hours earlier, Judge Wayne Ozzi found that the city failed to follow required procedures before mailing the notices, which he described as "arbitrary and capricious, affected by errors of law, and in violation of the recipients’ due process rights," according to the ruling.

Despite the ruling, Ozzi noted that the policy itself could still survive. He said the city can still apply the tax by removing the current list of taxed properties from its website and posting a corrected list after following the proper procedures.

MAMDANI’S LUXURY-HOME TAX ROLLOUT DERAILED FOR NOW AS JUDGE DELIVERS WIN TO NYC HOMEOWNERS OVER MASSIVE LIST

New notices must then be mailed in compliance with the law.

Tuesday's decision served as a legal speed bump for Mamdani as he approaches nearly a year since he was elected New York City mayor and is among a handful of other legal challenges he faces as he attempts to implement government-first approaches to promises to bring down costs of living, expand housing and increase public transportation.

In addition to his second-home tax, Mamdani has also faced legal pushback on his rent freeze plan, which landlords have characterized as overly punitive, his state-sponsored grocery store plan, which has sparked challenges from the National Supermarket Association and what they see as unfair competition and challenges to specialized high school admissions that some parents believe unfairly discriminates against Asian-American enrollees.

Mamdani announced the second-home tax back in April.

In its original form, it was designed to levy an annual surcharge on one to three family homes, condominiums and co-ops valued at above $5 million. It also only applied to owners who also had additional property outside of New York City.

MAMDANI WARNING TO WEALTHY NEW YORKERS ABOUT 'FAIR SHARE' SPARKS ONLINE FIRESTORM: 'FULL BLOWN COMMUNIST'

"Thanks to the support of Governor Hochul, we are one step closer to balancing our budget by taxing the ultra-wealthy and global elites with a pied-à-terre tax — the first of its kind in our state. Alongside the governor, our administration is fighting every day to make sure we address this fiscal deficit fairly, where the wealthy contribute what they owe and our budget reflects our commitment to the working New Yorkers being priced out of our city," Mamdani said in a press release at the time.

Asked about the plan after Tuesday's decision, representatives for Mamdani said the mayor would stand by his plan.

Matt Rauschenbach, a spokesperson for the mayor, defended the tax rollout, arguing that the pied-à-terre surcharge is a "basic principle of fairness" that supports a city he said should not be a "tax haven for the wealthy few."

"If you can afford a luxury second home in New York City, you can afford to pay your fair share for the schools, streets and parks that make this city work," Rauschenbach said.

"Our administration is fighting every day to deliver for working New Yorkers. The ultra-wealthy are fighting in court to avoid paying their fair share. They have filed lawsuit after lawsuit to protect their privilege, and we will not back down.

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"Today’s decision is wrong, and we will invoke a stay of the injunction. With a stay, we will continue implementing the surcharge fairly, efficiently and in full compliance with the law, as we have since day one."

John Goodman and wife Anna Beth Goodman enjoy rare date night at 'Digger' premiere

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 20:05:42 -0400

John Goodman and his wife, Anna Beth Goodman, had a rare date night out at the Los Angeles premiere of "Digger."

The "Roseanne" actor wore a simple black suit, with a stripped-collared shirt and a grey tie. Anna Beth was photographed wearing a deep plum gown with a black clutch.

John and Anna Beth have been married since 1989, after meeting at a Halloween party in New Orleans. The couple welcomed their daughter, Molly Evangeline, in 1990 and chose to raise her in New Orleans away from the Hollywood spotlight.

NICOLE KIDMAN, RACHAEL RAY, TED DANSON KEEP MARRIAGES HOT WITH UNCONVENTIONAL RULES

The "Digger" premiere date night outing was another opportunity for John to show off his impressive weight loss.

John began his weight-loss journey in 2007, when he weighed nearly 400 pounds. After getting sober, he worked with personal trainer Mackie Shilstone, adopted a Mediterranean-style diet and focused on portion control.

In 2010, Goodman revealed that he had lost more than 100 pounds after cutting sugar from his diet and committing to regular exercise, including working out six days a week.

"I just stopped eating all the time," he told ABC News in 2016. "I’d have a handful of food, and it’d go to my mouth. I was just eating all the time. I was just eating alcoholically. In the old days, I would take three months out, lose 60 or 70 pounds, and then reward myself with a six-pack of Bud or whatever and just go back to my old habits."

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Goodman turned to boxing and daily walks as his form of movement.

"I dug it. Yeah. Nobody’s going to get hurt, but it’s just hitting the mitts and trying to learn," he told The Rolling Stone in 2023. "I never got good enough where I would trust myself to spar because once I get whacked in the face, I don’t know if I wouldn’t lose it."

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"But it’s usually just an hour, hour and a half of hitting the mitts, hitting the bags, learning footwork. It’s great," Goodman added.

"The Big Lebowski" actor has also credited giving up alcohol as a contributing factor.

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Goodman quit drinking in 2007 following years of alcohol abuse. He has spoken candidly about the moment he realized he needed to make a change, saying he wanted to "live life better."

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Fox News Digital's Christina Dugan Ramirez contributed to this report.

‘F--- her’: Jasmine Crockett torched by ex-Dem colleague over who she left off endorsement list

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 20:00:52 -0400

Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, drew backlash from a former colleague for leaving James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Texas, off her list of endorsements Monday.

Talarico, who beat Crockett in the party’s Senate primary earlier this year, was not among 14 candidates supported by Crockett’s Feuling Individual Rights Everywhere (FIRE) PAC. To former Rep. Susan Wild, D-Pa., who served three terms in Congress, the list is clear evidence Crockett is putting personal reservations over the party’s success in the Lone Star State.

"F--- her. That’s all I can say. And that statement has nothing to do with blind loyalty to Dems," Wild said in a post to X. "It has everything to do with her being a narcissistic drama queen who has used her platform (such as it is) only to advance herself. Karma will suck."

Wild’s post is just the most recent controversy surrounding Crockett, a progressive who has called on her party to inch further left through fiery rhetoric that’s garnered national attention during her time in Congress.

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In the past, Crockett has drawn scrutiny for incendiary comments, like calling Gov. Greg Abbott, who is permanently in a wheelchair, "Governor Hot Wheels," describing Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., as having a "beach-blond, bad-built, butch body," and describing MAGA Latino voters as having a "slave mentality."

Most recently, Crockett received public backlash for entering Chris Brown into the congressional record, honoring his musical legacy in the Black community despite a history of violence against women.

JASMINE CROCKETT TORCHED FOR HONORING SINGER WITH NOTORIOUS HISTORY OF VIOLENCE: 'COMPLETELY VILE'

Crockett posted her own reply to Wild and others, noting that she had personally extended congratulations to Talarico after he beat her earlier this year in the March primary.

"Y’all are corny! Keep receipts. I’ll be happy when people either give a damn about FACTS or news media goes back to the news instead of deciding to ride the tabloid lane. NOW FOR THE 1000th time maybe write an article about KEN F*in PAXTON. Y’all sound like corny groupies," Crockett wrote.

Crockett, who lost to Talarico by a margin of 52.4% to 46.2%, did endorse Talarico the day after the election after results were finalized.

"This morning I called James and congratulated him on becoming the Senate nominee. Texas is primed to turn blue, and we must remain united because this is bigger than any one person. This is about the future of all 30 million Texans and getting America back on track. With the primary behind us, Democrats must rally around our nominees and win," Crockett wrote.

"I’m committed to doing my part and will continue working to elect Democrats up and down the ballot."

SHOCK POLL: TALARICO TIES PAXTON IN TEXAS SENATE RACE, THREATENING GOP STRONGHOLD

Crockett’s FIRE PAC has raised only $144,960 and mostly focuses on smaller races. All 14 candidates listed on the post highlighted by Wild are state or local candidates. Gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa was also not on the list.

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Representatives for Crockett did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.

Suspect accused of killing Pittsburgh pediatrician sexually assaulted woman hours earlier: police

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 19:59:53 -0400

The suspect accused of killing a Pittsburgh pediatrician and critically injuring his wife during a midnight home invasion allegedly sexually assaulted a separate woman in public just hours earlier.

Elijah Hemingway, 32, allegedly ambushed the woman Wednesday morning as she was walking along a path that connects to an alley in Wilkinsburg, the Allegheny County Police Department said in a Facebook post Saturday.

Officials alleged Hemingway then stole the woman's cell phone during the incident.

Authorities said the victim did not know Hemingway before the alleged assault.

PITTSBURGH DOCTOR STABBED TO DEATH AFTER INTRUDER ALLEGEDLY ATTACKS HIM, WIFE AS THEY SLEPT: POLICE

Wilkinsburg police then notified Allegheny County detectives, who further investigated the alleged sexual assault alongside the homicide case.

Detectives recovered "multiple items connecting Hemingway to the reported sexual assault, along with the victim's cell phone that was reported stolen during the incident," Allegheny County police said.

After a consultation with the district attorney's office, county police said they filed additional charges against Hemingway, including rape, sexual assault and robbery.

BELOVED TEACHER KILLED AS SHE SLEPT, DAUGHTER STABBED IN ATTACK AS MOTIVE REMAINS UNCLEAR: DA

The Wilkinsburg attack happened just outside Edgewood, Pennsylvania, where Hemingway allegedly entered a home and stabbed a couple just hours later while they were sleeping early Thursday morning.

The pediatrician killed in the attack was identified as Dr. Idris Evans, 46, who was pronounced dead after first responders rushed him to a hospital.

According to a police report, Hemingway attacked the couple while in his underwear. Evans' wife told police that he appeared "psychotic" and claimed to be "God" during the incident.

As the couple fought back, Evans' wife yelled for their children, ages 8 and 12, to get out of the house, according to the police report.

She also told investigators that Evans called the attacker "Elijah," as though he knew him, according to the police report. However, county authorities told KDKA they could not confirm whether Evans and Hemingway had any preexisting relationship.

Evans' wife told police she did not know the suspect and was unsure how he entered their home.

CHARLOTTE REPEAT OFFENDER CHARGED WITH KILLING MAN HOURS AFTER RELEASE ON BOND

During the investigation, police said Hemingway gave an account of the night that did not align with their findings.

Hemingway claimed Evans had invited him back to the home hours earlier and allowed him inside, according to the police report. He also accused Evans of attacking him with a knife and said he sustained a stab wound to his back, the report said.

However, authorities said they found no stab wound on Hemingway's back and could not locate a bicycle he claimed to have used to get to the home.

Authorities brought seven charges against Hemingway in Thursday's attack, including criminal homicide, aggravated assault, burglary and trespassing.

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Court records show that Hemingway, who has a criminal history dating back to 2016, was released without bail in July in a February burglary.

Fox News' Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.

Actor Chazz Palminteri rips Sonny Gray, recalls 'surreal' Robert De Niro story on 'The Craig Carton Show'

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 19:59:18 -0400

Oscar-nominated actor and Bronx native Chazz Palminteri joined OutKick's "The Craig Carton Show," offering his thoughts on MLB pitcher Sonny Gray, throwing his support behind the Giants' signing of JJ McCarthy, and reflecting on his working relationship with Robert De Niro.

Palminteri, a lifelong New York sports fan, recounted a cold personal encounter with current Boston Red Sox starter Sonny Gray from Gray's stint with the Yankees.

"Here's something I got to say: Sonny Gray, Sonny, you hear me, Sonny? Sonny Gray, that son of a b– –h," Palminteri said.

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"And I'll tell you why: because I went to meet with him when he was with the Yankees, and he was like, 'Ah, you know... really?' I said, 'You don't, Sonny? From one Sonny to another Sonny...' I was doing the whole bit with my restaurants. He goes, 'Well, I'm busy.' I said, 'Okay.'"

Palminteri pointed to Gray's 6.98 home ERA in pinstripes, arguing the righty folds under the spotlight.

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"Sonny Gray is the ace of the Boston staff. He's pitching Game 2. Why is he not pitching Game 1? He's the ace!" Palminteri said. "You know why? He chokes. He can't pitch. And you know what? We're going to have to see him pitch in the Bronx. He cannot pitch in the Bronx. Never! He was a failed Yankee. Every other place he goes, huge success. In the Bronx, he chokes!"

Transitioning to Hollywood ... Palminteri shared the moment he realized his life was changing while developing "A Bronx Tale" ('93) alongside Robert De Niro, who directed the gangster flick. Palminteri wrote the story and developed it from his one-man stage show.

"Think of somebody saying to you right now, 'Hey, Craig, you know, I love your show. Listen, I think your life is really interesting. Robert De Niro wants to do your life story, and he wants to play your father.' You would be like, 'What the f– –k?' Right?" Palminteri recalled.

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"I hit the elevator button. I'm going down the elevator, and I went, 'I just acted with Robert De Niro!' And I said no to him for lunch!" Palminteri joked. "I was like, 'What the f ...'

"That's when it hit me. And then I got off the elevator and I went, 'All right, it's all right. Come on, babe, you belong here. You waited your whole life for this.' Then I was okay. He's on Mount Rushmore. If you want to put four up there, he's up there."

In a "Usual Suspects"-level plot twist, Palminteri shockingly backed the Giants' polarizing signing of backup quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Palminteri argued that early career struggles do not define a player's potential, pointing to guys like Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield who got drafted, bombed, busted, and then roared back.

"I'm telling you, the kid's got a strong arm. Definitely better than, I hate this, Jameis Winston. I don't like him because he's got happy feet, and he's afraid to get hit, and I could see it in his eyes," Palminteri said. "He makes these stupid throws where you just go, 'God, he got away with that.'"

"I want a young arm, a young pair of legs in there. And I'm happy J.J.'s here," Palminteri added. "Look, the guy won the championship in high school, won the championship in college. He's a winner. Maybe the fame got to him a little bit, but you know what? He's been humbled. Bing! I think he's gonna be good."

Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela

Mariachi band's national anthem at Bears vs. Eagles game ignites racism debate and US Senator response

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 19:48:12 -0400

To bring you up to speed, the Monday Night Football game between the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles was preceded by the national anthem – performed by a mariachi band.

And what has followed in the nearly 24 hours since that performance is a dispassionate, logical discussion about the quality of the performance and The Mariachi Herencia de México's choice of going for a big finish the crowd definitely didn't expect but mostly celebrated.

Nope.

Sorry, but social media doesn't do dispassionate or subtle music critique.

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What it has done is spawn an emotional and at times vitriolic debate that has included charges of racism by one of the group's performers, counter-charges of the NFL continuing an offensive outsourcing of America's game to foreigners ...

...And a United States senator getting involved.

So, not tame stuff.

And if you cannot abide the heated exchange, then stop right here because the next few paragraphs will get into it.

But for the curious and engaged:

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We begin with the performance itself. To an ear not trained in music's finer points, it sounded like any other national anthem early on in that the three-horn section of the ensemble led the way.

Mariachi bands don't play salsa music, people. So no drum or bongo section setting the rhythm.

Where it got a little different (sideways?) was when the ensemble, dressed in their full traditional mariachi garb including wide brimmed sombreros, seemingly tried for a big finish. And that big finish didn't sound like the traditional Star Spangled Banner at all.

Well, it wasn't long before the critics hit the online streets. Some reactions:

"Last time I checked, Mexicans have their own country and national anthem. We don't need people dressed like Mexicans performing America's national anthem."
"The performers were in full Mariachi regalia and that is 100% symbolism dedicated to Mexico."
"Why the F is a garbage mariachi band playing the national anthem?"

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA ANTHEM CONTROVERSY GROWS AS SPURS, NBA AND ESPN STAY SILENT DURING FINALS

To be accurate, The Mariachi Herencia de Mexico is a two-time Grammy-nominated group out of Chicago. And they were brought to the game as part of the Bears' and NFL's celebration of Hispanic and Latin Heritage Month.

The reaction to the group, meanwhile, came from both the left and the right sides of the political spectrum – with some people on the right questioning why the anthem was used to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month – even though Hispanics are the USA's largest minority group – and some people on the left basking in the fact the people on the right might be triggered.

Some people from both sides also praised the performance.

That wasn't enough for one of the group's leaders, Alonso Orozco Jr., who saw the negative reactions and charged they were racist.

"Yesterday, we had the opportunity to perform the United States National Anthem for the NFL game between the Chicago Bears and the Eagles, and it was incredible to so so with love and respect for a great nation," Orozco posted on X.

"However, a huge wave of racist criticism has emerged."

What came next was a United States senator seeing an opportunity to dive into the fray that had nothing to do with United States Senate business. Arizona's Ruben Gallego came to the defense of the mariachi band.

(And here I am, a United States sportswriter, writing mariachi band controversy play-by-play.)

Anyway, here's the dispassionate analysis the online exchange missed:

The NFL is indeed doing hard and consistent work to take America's game international. And while that will likely first include more games abroad and then teams in Europe, Mexico might decades from now also have a franchise.

That NFL business decision has some fans in the United States upset because they see themselves as losing games when they're shipped abroad.

That may explain some of the reaction that was then heaped on the mariachi band. But, to be fair, there were indeed some unkind comments online and none of those are apparent when other performers take unorthodox approaches to the national anthem, such as performing it with bagpipes.

But, again, all of this happened online.

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Nobody ran on the field playing a banjo to defend America's honor.

One more thing: It is not racist to criticize a performance.

It is not racist to have a dissenting opinion about the choice of performers or their performance. It's America, amigos.

FOLLOW ARMANDO SALGUERO ON X: @ARMANDOSALGUERO

SI Swimsuit gave Justin Verlander a proper retirement send off with look back at Kate Upton cover shoot

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 19:27:51 -0400

Justin Verlander took the mound for the last time on Saturday and gave up two earned runs in 5 1/3 innings of work while striking out six. It was just the veteran right-hander's second start of the entire season.

He was lifted from the game by his daughter Genevieve in a spectacle that, if I'm being honest, seemed to be a bit much. There were tears, if you're into that sort of thing, and he walked off the mound into retirement.

The Tigers rallied in the 9th and ended up winning the game in walk-off fashion on a two-run home run off the bat of Eduardo Valencia. The win erased what would have been one more loss on Verlander's record.

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Even with the longer than normal mound visit, in a day and age with a focus on pace of play, and an unauthorized person on the field participating in it, it felt as if something was missing.

Sure, Verlander was making his final start, but his wife Kate Upton was also retiring after more than a decade of memorable moments in Major League Baseball as a girlfriend and wife of a future Hall of Famer.

JUSTIN VERLANDER'S RETIREMENT ANNOUNCEMENT COMES WITH A WELL-EARNED HAT TIP TO SI SWIMSUIT LEGEND KATE UPTON

On Tuesday, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit stepped up and gave the Verlanders a proper send-off with a look back at the model's 2024 cover shoot.

"In honor of Justin Verlander retiring this past weekend, a look back at @kateupton ’s 2024 cover shoot💙🧡," SI Swimsuit wrote on Instagram.

Now we can respectfully call it a career for Justin Verlander.

You can't tell the entire story of how great he was without mentioning his bikini model wife. That's now been done. She was there for a lot of the ups and the downs after all.

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He now rides off into the sunset at 43 with World Series rings, Cy Young awards, a ton in career earnings and a 34-year-old Kate Upton, who still has her fastball.

Not a bad way to head into retirement after putting together a legendary career.

Unearthed audit exposes vulnerable Dem's handling of COVID relief funds: 'Gross oversight'

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 19:00:57 -0400

During his time as director for the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., allowed over $1 billion in COVID-19 relief funding to go out the door without required monitoring, records reveal.

The 2022 State of Florida Compliance and Internal Controls over Financial Reporting and Federal Awards flagged the weakness in its annual audit, stating, "FDEM did not monitor the activities of any subrecipients."

While Fox News Digital is not aware of fraud that may have been committed with those funds, the resurfaced audit casts an unflattering light on Moskowitz as he pursues re-election in one of the country’s most competitive districts.

It also raises questions about oversight efforts for state-level allocations for government funds, an issue Republicans have signaled merits more attention.

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Moskowitz’s FDEM approved $210,562,500 in funding to 39 local government recipients in the 2020-2021 fiscal year from the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF), according to the audit. The next year, it distributed $1,026,225,200 to 55 locations.

Taken together, the grants add up to $1.23 billion.

"Contrary to Federal regulations, the FDEM did not monitor the activities of CRF subrecipients," the audit states. "Such monitoring is to include, for example, reviewing subrecipient audit reports and determining whether management decisions are required for any audit findings related to the federal award."

According to the report, an acceptable level of oversight would normally include inquiries of the recipients as well as checks like onsite evaluations.

"Monitoring of the subrecipient must include reviewing financial and performance reports, following up and ensuring that the subrecipient takes timely and appropriate action on all deficiencies pertaining to the federal award detected through audits, on-site reviews and other means," the audit states.

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Notably, Moskowitz wasn’t head of FDEM for the entire 2020-2021 fiscal year. He resigned from the post at the end of April, two months before the end of the fiscal year in June, making him the head of the FDEM for the vast majority of the 2020-2021 audit cycle but not the complete window.

Even so, his congressional opponent, Republican candidate Scott Singer, believes the responsibility lies squarely on Moskowitz’s shoulders.

"When Jared Moskowitz ran a state agency, federal regulators and state auditors found that there was a gross lack of oversight of billions of dollars of taxpayer funds, a lack of reporting, a lack of review of where the funds were going," Singer said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

"And that's unacceptable, especially with public tax dollars. But it's not surprising."

Singer argued the audit echoed earlier questions about Moskowitz's work involving disaster recovery funds.

He pointed to an incident in 2017, when Moskowitz, as an attorney for AshBritt, a disaster-cleanup company, had renegotiated compensation from the City of Parkland after Hurricane Irma. Disclosure reports showed that he was being paid over $400,000 by the company while also serving as a state legislator.

"When Jared was a state representative, he went to his own city and demanded that they pay more for hurricane cleanup that went to a disaster recovery company that paid him millions," Singer said.

"We can't afford people who are continuing to do the same thing. A gross oversight of funds and self-dealing."

When asked about Singer's criticisms, Moskowitz's campaign fired back, stating that the congressman was proud of the work that he did, noting that he had been reappointed to the role by a Republican governor.

"As Director of FDEM, I worked directly for Governor DeSantis and his administration. Florida had one of the best COVID responses in the country," Moskowitz told Fox News Digital.

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"I left almost a year before this report was issued as I had to leave the agency to be with my dad, who was battling cancer. Governor DeSantis appointed me again to the Broward County commission. To my knowledge, Florida COVID spending has passed the FEMA audit for reimbursements," he added.

Moskowitz also pointed out that he had received praise from even Republicans for his disaster-related work, including from Singer himself. Moskowitz shared communications between them in which Singer said the state was "in a much better place because of what you've done." Singer also highlighted a second communication from Singer to Moskowitz stating, "seriously, thank you for all of the amazing work you've done and all the help you're providing to our stay [sic]."

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Having cleared their parties’ respective primaries, Moskowitz and Singer will face off in the Florida general election Nov. 3.

Carville mocks Dem candidate staffers as 'weak' and 'soft' for complaining about treatment to New York Times

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 19:20:09 -0400

Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville blasted staffers who complained to The New York Times about working for former Alaska Rep. Mary Peltola as she runs for the Senate.

The Times article, "Angry Outbursts, Slurs and Firings: Tumult Rocks a Key Senate Campaign," featured comments from former aides who described chaos in Peltola's congressional office and Senate campaign as the Democrat hopes to flip a Republican seat.

"I want to react to a story I read in The New York Times concerning the Democratic nominee for the United States Senate from the state of Alaska," Carville said in a brief video posted to the Politicon channel Monday. "It would appear that we have some upset little staffers that she is not — when she's under pressure — not nice to ‘em.

"Of course, The New York Times didn't understand when you're in the middle of a political campaign, and you're a candidate, and you're under pressure, and you got everything coming in from everywhere, and you're trying to raise money, and you're trying to fend off attacks, and you're trying to do this, maybe you don't have time to be overly courteous to little pussified staffers that just — they — 'I want my name and my humanity,’" he continued.

GOP SENATOR, EX-HOUSE DEM EMERGE FROM ALASKA’S ‘JUNGLE PRIMARY’ DESPITE FAR-LEFT MEDDLING

"I got news for you. When I ran campaigns, you didn't have a f---in’ name until you did something," Carville said. "'Hey, you, come over here! Do this! Do what the f--- you’re told and shut up!’ And you know what? Then, when you achieve something, or you do something, then you get a name. But until that, in politics, you don't have a name. Go do something else. Go be a social worker. They'll give you a name right away.

"Now, if somebody does something obviously dehumanizing or overly rude, then that's one thing," Carville added, juxtaposing that with "Telling people to go get coffee for you or calling them by, ‘Hey, you.’ Everybody wants a pronoun. Well, I'll give you a pronoun. ‘You’ or ‘a--hole come over here.’"

He went on to mock various demands that employees might have, replying, "Well s---, that’s why we lose."

He also suggested that female political candidates are scrutinized more heavily when accused of lashing out at staffers.

BAD BOSSES ON CAPITOL HILL COULD FACE RECKONING UNDER NEW ANONYMOUS STAFFER REVIEW PLATFORM

"Why don't we just call every female candidate for everything a goddamn b-----? You'd save time," he said.

"But let's stop this nonsense that everybody that works in politics is all equal and everybody's opinion needs to be respected, and it doesn't matter," he said, calling it "nonsense."

"But do me a favor. If you, if you're that f---in’ delicate, if you're that much of a some kind of a honeysuckle, whatever it is, go do something else with your life," he added. "You're too weak. You're too soft."

After predicting that he would be criticized by far-left media outlets, Carville emphasized his message was directed at the Democratic staffers listening.

"But all — every — to every staffer on every Democratic campaign, on every — anything: just put your head down, work your a-- off and save the country and f--- your feelings," he said.

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Democratic strategist and pollster Doug Schoen spoke to Fox News Digital about how working in politics requires a "thick skin," but he said the allegations against Peltola were troubling.

"He is absolutely right regarding the intensity of political campaigns," he said. "Working on a race is hard, and it is tense, and therefore a thick skin is definitely a plus. While it is absolutely inappropriate and wrong for a candidate to act as Peltola has been alleged to have acted, I don't believe the allegations, however serious, will affect the outcome of the Alaska Senate election. This is an election that is a referendum on Donald Trump and his governance, first and foremost."

Former RNC national spokesperson Elizabeth Pipko agreed that the life of a campaign staffer is not for the faint of heart, and it becomes an absolute crucible as the election draws near.

"Criticisms of Peltola aside, I do agree with Carville when it comes to campaign life and intensity," she said. "He is 100% correct about how cut-throat campaigns can be, and I’m sure how cut-throat they were back when he was working on them and before our culture changed as dramatically as it has.

"Campaigns are full of surprises, usually bad ones, meaning you never know what you’re walking into," Pipko continued. "The closer you get to Election Day, the less you eat or sleep. And the high-stakes atmosphere usually gets the best of folks that aren’t able to compartmentalize their feelings and their thoughts, or who simply don’t have the stamina to keep up with how ruthless a campaign cycle can be. Campaign life is not for the faint of heart. In fact, I’d argue campaign life is not for most people, and that’s OK."

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Fox News Digital contacted Peltola and The New York Times for comment but did not immediately receive responses.

Ex-NFL player Jack Brewer leads charge to end fines for players using religous, political eyeblack messaging

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 19:18:24 -0400

Former NFL player Jack Brewer met with officials from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday as he seeks federal scrutiny of the league’s decision to fine Arizona Cardinals cornerback Kei’Trel Clark for displaying a religious message on his eye black.

Clark was fined $6,651 after wearing eye black bearing the message "Glory Be 2 God" during Arizona’s Week 1 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.

Brewer, an ordained Christian minister and member of the federal Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys, told OutKick that his meeting was intended to determine whether the NFL’s treatment of Clark could raise an employment-discrimination issue.

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"When you start talking about freedom of speech in this country and you start talking about employees’ rights in this country, it’s a big deal," Brewer said. "As a Christian man, I’m not going to stand for that. And as a former NFL player, I’m not going to stand for that."

Brewer said the meeting was "very well received" and left him confident that further conversations with the agency would take place.

"The goal was to first understand: Do we have a potential case? What does that look like? What would the player’s rights be?" Brewer said. "My goal was just to establish some communication and talk about next steps, which we did. And so now we’ll start to work to gather information and get a deeper understanding of really what goes on in the minds of a league like the National Football League."

Brewer initially raised the issue in a Sept. 25 letter to EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas, requesting a meeting about the fine and the league’s policies governing religious expression.

"The NFL treated Clark’s gratitude to God, as expressed in four words, as a punishable personal message," Brewer wrote in the letter obtained by OutKick. "This fine represents an action that strikes at the heart of religious liberty and sends a chilling message to every person of faith in professional sports."

Brewer asked the EEOC to consider whether the NFL would be required to accommodate a player’s sincere religious expression when doing so would not impose an undue hardship on the league or its teams.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act requires covered employers to reasonably accommodate employees’ sincerely held religious beliefs and practices unless an accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the employer’s business. In its 2023 decision in Groff v. DeJoy , the Supreme Court held that an employer must demonstrate that an accommodation would create "substantial increased costs" in relation to its particular business.

However, Brewer’s meeting does not mean the EEOC has opened an investigation or concluded that the NFL violated federal law. Any potential case would require a fact-specific examination that could include Clark’s employment relationship with the Cardinals and NFL, whether he requested a religious accommodation, and the effect an exception to the uniform rule would have on the league’s operations.

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An individual or organization may file an EEOC charge on another person’s behalf, according to the agency, but Brewer did not say that a formal charge had been filed.

The NFL cited Rule 5, Section 4, Article 8 in its disciplinary letter to Clark. The rule prohibits players from displaying personal messages in writing or illustration on game day unless the message has received advance approval from the league's office.

Clark posted the fine notice on social media and wrote that he "needed answers."

"I got to report to God at the end of my days on the day of judgment," Clark wrote. "I’ll always give God the glory and out loud. All good."

Brewer argued that allowing four words on a player’s eye black would place little apparent burden on a multibillion-dollar sports league.

"If someone’s writing things across their uniform or putting it out there on top of their helmet, that’s a different story," Brewer said. "But the eye black — think back to Tim Tebow and many, many other athletes, myself. We would write stuff on our tapes, on our forearms. We would write stuff on our eye black.

"To think about fining someone for doing that, it’s unconscionable," he added. "It’s disgusting."

The NFL’s rule does not distinguish between religious and political messages. Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, a practicing Muslim, was fined $11,492 this month after wearing eye black bearing the name "Hind Rajab," a Palestinian girl killed in Gaza in 2024. Al-Shaair was also fined $11,593 after displaying the message "Stop the genocide" during the previous postseason.

When asked whether Al-Shaair should receive the same protection he is seeking for Clark, Brewer initially distinguished between expressions of faith and political statements. But he ultimately said the NFL must apply its restrictions consistently, particularly while promoting league-approved social messages.

"I think he should be just as protected," Brewer said of Al-Shaair. "If you’re going to pull down the messaging, pull it all down, but don’t pick and choose."

The NFL has continued to display league-approved social justice messages in stadium end zones and on players’ helmets. Teams have been permitted to select from phrases including "End Racism," "Stop Hate," "Choose Love" and "Inspire Change," while the league has also promoted LGBTQ inclusion through team and league initiatives.

Brewer contended that the difference between league-selected messages and unauthorized player expression creates a double standard.

"You cannot treat people differently based upon whatever it is you want to promote," Brewer said. "If you are an organization like the National Football League, you cannot pick and choose the messaging that you want your players to play underneath."

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Brewer said his immediate objective is to build support among current and former players and ultimately force the NFL to address the treatment of religious expression.

"I want players across the National Football League, current and former, to take a stand, to show unity on something," he said. "As a National Football League player, you should be able to use your platform to profess the gospel, to profess your God and to write it on your eye black."

Brewer emphasized that he would support the right of players from other faiths to seek the same accommodation.

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"I don’t care what religion you are," Brewer said. "If you want to have the Star of David on, or you want to say, ‘Thank you, Allah,’ you have every right to do that in this country. That’s what makes this country so great."

The NFL has not responded to request for comment.

UCF Knights salute Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs with slick new Space U uniforms

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 19:07:35 -0400

Thanks to the modern Artemis Missions, mankind is headed back to the Moon in the next few years, but for their annual Space Game uniforms, the UCF Knights are throwing it back to the pioneers who got us there in the first place.

The Knights have been throwing on special space-themed getups for a decade now, and they're pretty much always a feast for the eyes with unique designs, nods to the space program, and of course, the Citronaut.

However, I think this year's batch, which pays homage to the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs of the 1960s, is tough to top.

This is the school's tenth Space Game, which they've dubbed "Mission X," and there is so much cool symbolism in everything.

UCF opened its doors in 1963 — right around the time the Space Race was heating up — as Florida Technological University, and ever since, it has long served as a pipeline to the nearby Kennedy Space Center.

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That's why this year, the team is celebrating that particular era and, man, are there some cool details.

The black stitching that criss-crosses the jersey is a nod to the Mercury program's space suits, which featured black stitching and prominent zippers.

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If you look at the cuffs, one is "Canaveral blue" — which has become the go-to Space Game color for UCF — and the other is red, just like the cuffs were on the Gemini program's space suits.

The collar is Canaveral blue, just like the inside of the suits worn throughout the 1960s.

On the shoulders, the patches mimic those worn during the Gemini missions, while this year's Space Game patch is modeled after the patch from the Gemini X mission.

The pants feature the school's old Citronaut mascot (which, as a UCF alum, I wouldn't hate seeing back full-time; I love it), and a striping pattern like the one that appeared on Apollo program rockets and space suits.

Finally, the helmets have a bold red stripe on them, which is a reference to the similar stripe worn on the helmets of Apollo mission commanders.

Alright, I've seen enough: ten out of ten. No notes.

What an absolute home run on all fronts. There are Easter eggs everywhere you look, but the entire uniform still looks killer in its own right.

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These beauties will debut at the Acrisure Bounce House on October 30 when the Knights host the Baylor Bears.