Buccaneers GM says no intention to trade LB Devin White

FRED GOODALL

AP

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Buccaneers have no intentions of trading star linebacker Devin White, Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht said Thursday.

Last month, the 25-year-old who helped Tampa Bay win the Super Bowl in his second season posted cryptic messages on social media that suggested he may have played his last game with the Bucs. ESPN and NFL Network reported this week that White has requested a trade.

White is seeking a long-term contract and entering the final year of the deal he signed as the fifth overall selection in the 2019 draft. The Bucs picked up the fifth-year option that'll pays him $11.7 million in the upcoming season.

“First of all, we all have all the respect in the world for Devin. He’s done some great things for us as a player and we look forward to more from him in the future,” Licht said during the team’s annual pre-draft media availability.

“He’s on our team. We are looking forward to this season. We’re gearing up for the season with the draft right now, free agency, and we’re looking forward to him being part of this team,” Licht added. “If he has the kind of year we all think he’s capable of, we can hopefully put this to rest and everybody’s happy.”

White, a team captain, became an immediate starter as a rookie and had a career-best nine sacks in 2020. That same year, he had a breakout postseason in helping Tom Brady lead the Bucs to the second Super Bowl title in franchise history.

He had another solid season in 2022 with 124 tackles, 5½ sacks and 16 quarterback hits, but also drew some criticism on social media in October for what was perceived as a lack of hustle on a key play during a nationally televised prime-time loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Licht was asked if he envisioned the possibility of White holding out from training camp or maybe not playing under his current contract if the linebacker remains frustrated by a lack of progress toward a new deal.

“I can’t look into the future,” Licht said. “Like I said, we have the utmost respect for Devin. That’s part of the business world of ... this job that I don’t like. He’s a competitor, he’s a player. Everybody holds him in high regard."

___

More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and

Insider: How a botched Deshaun Watson trade allowed the Colts to ...

As the latest NFL quarterback carousel continues to turn, a commercial has been popping up between March Madness games. It stars Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford in an AT&T store.

"Oh, so I get it: So you can take your old phone that you've had for 12 years and loved every minute of and trade it in for something new that fits your life now?" he asks an employee. "And then enjoy immediate success, even though you'll never forget your old phone? Ever?"

Lamar Jackson, Ravens QB, requests trade amid contract standoff

The notion that the marriage between the Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson would last at least an additional year took a major hit Monday when the quarterback revealed in a Twitter thread addressed to his fans that he requested a trade more than three weeks ago.

Jackson said his ask came on March 2, five days before the team placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on him, allowing the 2019 NFL MVP to negotiate with the league’s 31 other teams while giving Baltimore a chance to match any offer sheet signed.

“The Ravens (have) not been interested in meeting my value,” Jackson wrote of his ongoing negotiations with the team for a contract extension, which has lasted more than two years.

“Any and everyone that’s (sic) has met me or been around me know I love the game of football and my dream is to help a team win the super bowl,” Jackson wrote in his message.

OPINION:For Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, it's well past time to hire an agent – so don't wait any longer

Throughout the offseason, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta and head coach John Harbaugh have stated signing Jackson to a long-term extension is their top priority.

In his message, Jackson thanked Ravens fans in what amounted to a farewell.

“You all are great but I had to make a business decision that was best for my family and I,” Jackson said. “No matter how far I go or where my career takes me, I’ll continue to be close to my fans of Baltimore Flock nation and the entire State of Maryland. You’ll See me again.”

While speaking at the league’s owners meetings in Phoenix, Harbaugh said he had not seen Jackson’s tweets and that he still expected the 26-year-old to be Baltimore’s starter Week 1.

“Lamar’s handled it with class,” Harbaugh said.

Should Jackson and the Ravens' situation remain unresolved with the two sides unable to work out a contract or a trade – reports earlier this month said multiple teams are not currently interested in Jackson – Jackson could opt not to play next season without incurring any fines since he has not signed his franchise tender.

If Jackson signs the tender, he would receive a $32.41 million salary for the 2023 season. Baltimore has until July 17 to reach a multiyear contract extension with the quarterback.

Last week, the NFL management council sent a memo to team executives and contract negotiators that the NFL Players Association informed the league that a person named Ken Francis was contacting teams on Jackson’s behalf despite not being an NFLPA certified agent. Jackson disputed that report, saying “stop lying that man never tried to negotiate for me.”

Jackson took over the starting quarterback job from Joe Flacco in 2018, the year Baltimore selected the Heisman Trophy winner No. 32 overall, and the Ravens have gone 45-16 with him as a starter. Injuries have prevented Jackson from playing down the stretch in each of the last two seasons. In the 2022 campaign, a knee injury prompted him to miss the final five regular-season contests as well as Baltimore's wild-card round loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

A.J. Brown trade: Titans GM shoots down idea of moving Pro Bowl WR

Tennessee Titans general manager Jon Robinson on Thursday reiterated his hopes of keeping star A.J. Brown on the team for years to come amid an eventful offseason surrounding wide receivers.

The market at the position has skyrocketed over the last month, with a slew of elite receivers – Stefon Diggs, Tyreek Hill and Davante Adams among them – receiving megadeals. And Deebo Samuel’s trade request from the San Francisco 49ers added another ripple in the discussion. If he’s dealt and immediately signs a new deal with the trading team, it could set a new bar for Brown’s extension.

Brown and Samuel are both represented by CAA’s Tory Dandy, who negotiated three-year deals worth $60 million earlier this offseason for two other big-name receivers: Chris Godwin (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Mike Williams (Los Angeles Chargers).

At the Titans' pre-draft news conference, Robinson shut down any speculation that Tennessee could trade their star receiver before next week’s draft.

“I do not foresee that happening,” he said.

NFL DRAFT:Which 10 teams have most at stake this year?

DEEBO SAMUEL:Which NFL teams could be landing spots for disgruntled 49ers star?

It falls in line with comments Robinson has previously made. He said at the NFL owners meeting last month that he wanted to keep Brown with the Titans for a “long time” and wanted to extend him “this offseason, or whenever that manifests itself.”

Brown, who’s entering the last year of his rookie deal, has 185 receptions for 2,995 yards and 24 touchdowns in 43 games with the Titans. He was named a Pro Bowler after the 2020 season.

Brown could command at least $20 million per year in a new deal, contracts expert Joel Corry told The Tennessean earlier this month.

“We’ve had some discussions with his reps,” Robinson said of contract negotiations with Brown. “He was here a couple weeks ago. I talked to him. We’re working through that. Not going to get into any details with contract negotiations; never have really done that. But we’ve made it public about how we feel about A.J and how we want him to be apart of this football team.”

“A.J. knows how we feel about him and how much he means to this football team.”

Anthony Davis: Lakers forward doesn't regret midseason trade request

Anthony Davis, now officially a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, says he still doesn't have any regrets about his midseason trade request.

After his introductory news conference Saturday, Davis told ESPN that he doesn't wish that he would have waited until the conclusion of the season to ask for a trade from the New Orleans Pelicans.

"I knew I wasn't going to sign an extension and that my time in New Orleans was definitely coming to an end," Davis told ESPN. "And, you know, I see a lot of people that say 'wait' or 'you should have did it this way, that way.'

"But for me, I've been in the league long enough. I'm a grown man. I know what I want. And so I thought doing it at that time was definitely going to be beneficial for myself and for the organization to get the best package available, so that way the organization is still set."

Davis, 26, added that he loves the city of New Orleans but knew "it was time for me to move on."

Follow every game: Latest NBA Scores and Schedules

With the addition of Davis prior to free agency, the Lakers have spent much of the past few weeks seeking to add pieces to put around their new star forward — and, of course, his new teammate LeBron James. Davis said he has had constant input throughout free agency, telling ESPN that he received calls from general manager Rob Pelinka "every 30 to 45 minutes."

"Sometimes I had to tell him, like, 'Rob, I'm in the movies.' He'd be like, 'All right, well, call me as soon as you get out,'" Davis told ESPN. "But we're trying to put the best team around us, and I think he did a great job of doing it."

Jerry Jones confirms interest in Odell Beckham Jr.: 'Cowboys star on ...

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has confirmed that the team is interested in free agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

On his weekly radio show, 105.3 The Fan, the longtime owner said "Odell is someone that we have all the appreciation in the world for what he is as a competitor and know that the Cowboys star on that helmet when he puts it on could look pretty good.”

The free agent is expected to be medically cleared soon after spending nine months recovering from a torn ACL. While the New York Giants, Buffalo Bills and Green Bay Packers are among potential landing spots, the Cowboys could be a frontrunner.

Head coach Mike McCarthy told reporters Monday that while the team does "really love our receiver group," he has "always been a huge fan" of Beckham Jr., who was taken by the Giants in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

WEEK 10 NFL POWER RANKINGS: Who cracks Top 5 after major trade?

32 THINGS WE LEARNED FROM WEEK 9: Bills may regret last week; Packers, Rams done?

"All the guys that I've worked with – with the NY Giants and the Cleveland Browns – everybody has nothing but great things to say about him. Obviously, I've always been so impressed with his football-playing ability. But I've heard so many excellent things about him over the years. I think those are conversations for the future."

Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons expressed his excitement Tuesday on Twitter of the prospect of Beckham in a Dallas uniform, tagging the three-time Pro Bowler. Beckham responded saying, "u tell me !? U kno all the fam on my daddy side down there. Im just tryna win… wheeerever I go."

In an interview with Complex, Beckham shared his thoughts on where he might go next.

“Whether it’s Buffalo, Green Bay calling, the Cowboys, a reunion with the Giants,” Beckham said, “I want to be able to spill my last — I’m not saying I’ve only got three or four (years) left — but these next three or four (years) into (a place) where I can buy a home. Like, I can call this place home.”

Contact Analis Bailey at aabailey@usatoday.com or on Twitter @analisbailey.

Von Miller lands with Rams after Broncos trade

AP

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) — Von Miller spent Monday in a sentimental daze after the Denver Broncos traded him. He went down into the memorabilia-packed basement of his Colorado home and tearfully contemplated his departure from the only NFL team he had ever known.

By the time Miller boarded a plane Tuesday for the West Coast, the pass-rushing star's eyes were dry — and his vision of the future was increasingly clear.

“I went to sleep 4-4 and woke up 7-1," Miller said with a grin.

Miller participated in his first workout with the Los Angeles Rams on Wednesday, the blue numerals on his bone-colored No. 40 jersey peeling off because of their hasty adhesion.

Miller is already acquainted with Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey from Pro Bowls and offseason gatherings. He feels his overall comfort level rising by the hour as he embraces the opportunity given to him when the Broncos shipped out the face of their franchise for two high draft picks.

The Rams already were a Super Bowl contender, and this former Super Bowl MVP is eager to make the trip with them.

“I’ve been wearing blue and orange forever, (so) everything just looks weird, but it feels extremely right," Miller said. "Feels right to be here. Feels like this is the right thing for me. (No.) 40 looks weird, but it feels right. Being here with all these guys, it’s really a dream come true, man. (Denver) definitely did me right by sending me to such a legendary franchise with a legendary team.”

Miller and Donald are two of the greatest pass rushers of their generation, and they'll team up for at least the rest of this season in a partnership with the potential to reconfigure the NFC race. While the Rams have taken statistical steps back after fielding the league's best defense last season, sending Miller after quarterbacks alongside Donald and Leonard Floyd adds new dimensions to a unit that already leads the NFL with 25 sacks.

“I feel like it frees us all up,” Miller said. “They’ll try to figure out creative ways to triple-team and double-team, but it can’t possibly be that effective. We’ve got great coaches. We’ve got great guys playing on this team, and we’ll be able to figure it out. ... You hear stories of the Fearsome Foursome, you hear stories of this legendary defense, and we want to recreate that. They’ve been playing great defense all year. I just want to add some of the things that I do best.”

Miller is likely to take it easy in practice this week after missing the Broncos' game last weekend due to an ankle injury. Although he has “some lingering issues,” he intends to play Sunday night against AFC-leading Tennessee (6-2) at SoFi Stadium.

Miller still hasn't seen the Rams' palatial new home because he didn't travel to the Broncos' game against the Chargers last season while injured.

“I’ve heard stories on how incredible it is, and how the Super Bowl is going to be there this year,” Miller said. “Hopefully that will be us playing there.”

The rest of the Rams already felt the Super Bowl was a reachable goal for their current core, but Miller's arrival underlined the urgency of this season. Miller will be an unrestricted free agent next spring, although the Rams have already spoken with his representation about the possibility of a longer stay in LA.

Matthew Stafford, the other major star who left his longtime NFL home for the Rams through a blockbuster trade this year, welcomed Miller to sunny Southern California.

“I've been a fan of Von Miller for a long time,” Stafford said. “He's a big-time player in this league, and adding him to a defense that's already got a bunch of playmakers has the possibility of being something real special. ... We'll do everything we can to pull him along as quickly as we possibly can, and I know once he's out there, he's going to be big value for us.”

NOTES: Stafford was among several Rams who didn't participate in a short, light practice Wednesday. The quarterback has a stiff back, but he says he'll play Sunday. ... WR Robert Woods sat out with a foot injury, and WR Cooper Kupp sat out to rest. Coach Sean McVay expects both to play. ... LT Andrew Whitworth also rested, and his availability isn't certain after missing last week's game.

___

More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

10 story lines that defined the year in sports: From the Ball family to ...

As 2017 comes to a close, so too does the year in sports.

And what a year it was.

There were historic winning streaks and inspiring championship runs, national-anthem protests and monumental trade requests, massive scandals, ascending stars, a boxing spectacle, an FBI sting and much more.

As 2018 looms, USA TODAY Sports pinpoints the 10 story lines that defined sports in 2017:

10. An offseason soap opera in the NBA

Every offseason features trades and free-agent signings, but rarely have as many stars found new homes as they did last summer — and with some drama, too. Chris Paul requested a trade and joined James Harden in Houston. Carmelo Anthony and Paul George moved to Oklahoma City. Jimmy Butler was shipped to Minnesota. And then, of course, was the upheaval in the Eastern Conference. In a ballyhooed decision, Gordon Hayward signed with the Boston Celtics, who then nabbed Kyrie Irving in a massive trade with the rival Cleveland Cavaliers. Irving supposedly requested a trade because he wanted to escape LeBron James' shadow, but he has since declined to talk about his reasoning for the request.

Live Leaderboard: PGA Championship Tournament Scores, Schedules, Pairings and More

9. Historic streaks, from Cleveland to Storrs

The Cleveland Indians went more than three weeks without a loss, winning 22 consecutive games from Aug. 24 through Sept. 15. It was the longest winning streak in baseball history without a tie and second-longest unbeaten streak in the sport overall, behind only the New York Giants' 26-game streak in 1916. The stretch featured seven shutouts and four one-run wins.

Meanwhile, the UConn women's basketball team saw its own historic streak come to an end after multiple years. The Huskies' 66-64 overtime loss to Mississippi State in the Final Four ended a 111-game winning streak that dated to Nov. 23, 2014 and was the longest in the history of Division I basketball. "We kind of lived a charmed life for a long time," coach Geno Auiriemma said after the loss.

8. Serena still shining

Though she only played two events early in January, 2017 was still a banner year for tennis legend Serena Williams, on and off the court. First, she beat her older sister, Venus, in the Australian Open final to claim her 23rd Grand Slam single's title, the most of any tennis player since 1968. Then, in April, she revealed that she was eight weeks pregnant when the tournament began. Williams gave birth to a baby girl, Alexis Olympia, on Sept. 1 and is scheduled to return to the court with an exhibition match in Abu Dhabi this weekend.

7. A stunning Super Bowl

To say the Patriots rallied from a 28-3 deficit to beat the Atlanta Falcons, 34-28, would be accurate — and wildly incomplete. This was the first overtime game in Super Bowl history. It featured the largest comeback (25 points) in Super Bowl history. It was arguably the most compelling game in Super Bowl history. And, according to Fox, it was the second most-watched event, period, in the history of the network, with a total audience of 172 million. Yes, it was only one game in a year full of buzzer-beaters and come-from-behind thrillers. But it came on the largest stage in American sports, and defined the year unlike any other single event could.

Brennan:Sending out sports wishes for 2018 to Serena, Brady, Pyeongchang and others

Bell:The best and worst of the 2017 NFL season

FTW:10 biggest sports and pop culture disappointments of 2017

6. The Ball family circus

Rarely has one family dominated headlines as the Balls did in 2017. Oldest son, Lonzo, emerged as one of college basketball's stars in his only season at UCLA and was drafted No. 2 overall by the Los Angeles Lakers. His younger brother, LiAngelo, enrolled at UCLA, was arrested and suspended for shoplifting in China, left the school and recently signed a contract with a professional team in Lithuania. And the youngest Ball, LaMelo, is also headed to Lithuania, though he only recently turned 16, after he was pulled out of a California high school and briefly homeschooled.

And then there's the family's braggadocious patriarch, LaVar. He outrageously claimed that he could beat Michael Jordan in a game of one-on-one. He went on a sexist rant after demanding a female referee be replaced during an AAU game. And, most recently, he baited President Donald Trump into a Twitter spat. Through it all, LaVar became a lightning rod of criticism and a constant source of eye rolls — but he got America's attention.

5. Dark Olympic clouds

On the heels of 2016 reporting by The Indianapolis Star, USA Gymnastics found itself at the heart of one of the most disturbing stories of 2017. Former team doctor Larry Nassar was accused of sexual abuse by more than 150 women — including three members of the Fierce Five — and was sentenced to serve 60 years in federal prison on child pornography charges. Steve Penny, the embattled president of USA Gymnastics, resigned. And last week, McKayla Maroney filed a lawsuit alleging she was paid to not publicly accuse Nassar of sexual abuse, which she says was an attempt by USA Gymnastics to "allow Nassar to quietly leave USAG; further silencing his victims."

Meanwhile, Russia faced a wave of sanctions from the International Olympic Committee after widespread violations of anti-doping rules. Forty-three Russian athletes have been sanctioned, resulting in the loss of 13 medals at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi and several lifetime bans. The country has also been barred from competing in the February Winter Games in Pyeongchang. Russians will be able to compete as neutral athletes, however.

4. The spectacle of Mayweather-McGregor

The fight itself was better than many expected, with MMA fighter Conor McGregor holding his own during his first foray into boxing before losing to Floyd Mayweather in a 10th-round TKO. It generated a massive payout and was one of the most publicized bouts in years. But the real story was the circus surrounding the fight in the weeks and months leading up to it — and in a few months afterward.

There were roughly five months of public posturing from both sides about whether the fight would even take place, then a string of verbal jabs, some of which had racial undertones. And the talking didn't stop after they left the ring. McGregor has since said there's "no doubt" he would win a rematch, while Mayweather has claimed he could make $1 billion for three or four fights, including one against McGregor, in the octagon.

3. The FBI stings college basketball

In news that shook the world of college sports, four assistant basketball coaches were indicted in a fraud and corruption scheme after a lengthy investigation by the FBI. Adidas, sports agent Christian Dawkins and Louisville were among the several entities swept up in the scandal, which resulted in the firing of longtime coach Rick Pitino and athletic director Tom Jurich, but the effects were (and still are) felt throughout college basketball. Like many 2017 storylines, this one will carry over in 2018, as several lawsuits remain pending and the government continues submitting evidence for its case.

2. #HoustonStrong

In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, which caused nearly $200 billion in damage and displaced thousands of residents, the Houston Astros gave their city a reason to celebrate. Led by American League MVP Jose Altuve, they slipped past the Los Angeles Dodgers in one of the most thrilling World Series in recent years to win their first title in franchise history.

The city also received a boost through the efforts of Houston Texans linebacker J.J. Watt. Though Watt missed most of the season due to injury, his impact off the field was profound: He raised more than $37 million for hurricane relief efforts, 185 times his initial goal of $200,000.

1. Unrest in the NFL

When President Donald Trump used an expletive at a September rally to describe NFL players who protest during the national anthem, he turned an already massive sports story into the story of the year. Trump's comments prompted a major backlash from players (and, in some cases, owners) that rippled across the league and the nation at large. While Trump has continued to blast the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell on Twitter, one notable sponsor blamed the protests for declining profits, and a group of players has since negotiated a fundraising agreement with the league, with a focus on social justice issues.

Meanwhile, quarterback Colin Kaepernick — who started the protest in 2016 to bring attention to racial inequality and police brutality — didn't play in 2017. Kaepernick became a free agent in March, and in October, he filed a collusion grievance against NFL owners. Though he's largely remained out of the public eye over the past year, Kaepernick remains a key figure in the movement and has donated at least $900,000 to social-justice causes.

Others receiving votes:

South Carolina dominates the Final Four, with the women winning the national title and the men making a surprise run

Dale Earnhart Jr.'s retirement

Clemson's national championship win over Alabama, and news of their subsequent Sugar Bowl rematch

Tiger Woods' DUI and return

Russell Westbrook's historic season

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal split the men's Grand Slam singles titles

The Ezekiel Elliott investigation, battle with NFL and six-game suspension

O.J. Simpson's release from prison

Giancarlo Stanton and Shohei Ohtani find new homes

U.S. soccer fails to qualify for the 2018 World Cup

Las Vegas gets a professional franchise, with another on the way

PHOTOS: Best sports moments of 2017

Budda Baker requests a trade from Arizona Cardinals

Another star could be on his way out of Arizona.

Cardinals safety Budda Baker has requested a trade, a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Baker was originally a second round pick by the Cardinals in 2017. He’s spent his entire career in Arizona and is regarded as one of the best safeties in the NFL.

Baker is a two-time first team All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler. The defensive back has amassed 650 tackles, 34 pass deflections, seven interceptions and six forced fumbles in 93 career games, all in a Cardinals uniform.

The 27-year-old signed a contract extension with the Cardinals in 2020. He's signed through the 2024 season.

NFL DRAFT HUB: Latest NFL Draft mock drafts, news, live picks, grades and analysis

Baker is not the only big-name player to leave the desert this offseason. Future Hall of Famer J.J. Watt retired and standout wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is rumored to be on his way out of Arizona.

All this comes after the firing of head coach Kliff Kingsbury. He was replaced by a first-time head coach in Jonathan Gannon.

Possible destinations for Budda Baker

► Chicago Bears

The Bears have the most salary cap space in the NFL with $35.8 million available, per Over The Cap. Bears general manager Ryan Poles has shown a willingness to go aggresively after players this offseason.

► Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles lost versatile safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson in free agency. Baker would fill the void and be an upgrade in Philly's defensive backfield.

► New England Patriots

Long-time Patriots safety Devin McCourty retired this offseason. Baker would be an adequate replacement in the defensive backfield and a leader on the New England defense.

► Indianapolis Colts

The Colts have $22.4 million in salary cap space, per Over The Cap. Indianapolis could use a playmaker and a veteran leader in its defensive backfield after trading cornerback Stephon Gilmore to the Dallas Cowboys.

Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on Twitter @TheTylerDragon.

NFL: Dolphins' trading continues, trade Kiko Alonso to Saints

The Miami Dolphins' rebuild continues.

One day after the team traded starters offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil and receiver Kenny Stills to the Houston Texans, Miami shipped another starter in linebacker Kiko Alonso to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for linebacker Vince Beigel, a person with knowledge of the deal confirmed to USA TODAY Sports' Mike Jones.

The person requested anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the trade.

NFL Network was the first to report on the trade.

Alonso, 29, has been Miami’s starter the past three seasons and has been very productive in that stretch. In his first two seasons with the Dolphins, he posted 115 tackles in each, before tallying 125 last season. He also had three interceptions and three forced fumbles.

TANKING FOR TUA?:Dolphins fire sale of Laremy Tunsil, Kenny Stills sends NFL message

CLOWNEY TRADE:NFL now entering the player empowerment era

Beigel, 26, is headed into his third season in the NFL. A fourth-round draft pick of the Packers in 2017, Beigel has just 20 career tackles in 23 games over two seasons with Green Bay and New Orleans.

The Dolphins shed Alonso’s base salary of $6.5 million for 2019 and 2020, as the team enters its first season under rookie coach Brian Flores. Miami has been stockpiling draft picks and is trying to invigorate its roster with younger players.

The Saints, meanwhile, bolstered a position group as they try to capitalize on their combination of star veterans and high-performing young players on rookie deals on a potential Super Bowl push.


Sienna Miller wins settlement in phone-hacking suit against tabloid

The Associated Press and Staff Reports

Associated Press

LONDON — Movie star Sienna Miller on Thursday accepted "substantial" damages from the publisher of British tabloid The Sun, which she accused of hacking her phone and leaking news of her pregnancy.

Miller, whose films include "Factory Girl," "Black Mass" and "The Lost City of Z," joins a list of dozens of people who have received payments from News Group Newspapers over illegal eavesdropping that took place more than a decade ago.

News Group Newspapers, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp conglomerate, has paid millions of pounds to settle lawsuits from hacking victims, many of them famous British figures.

Jussie Smollett found guilty of 5 counts of staging racist, anti-gay attack in Chicago, lying to police

Phone hacking to obtain an individual's private information is illegal in the United Kingdom and in the United States.

Most of the cases in the U.K. have involved the now-defunct News of the World, which was shut down by Murdoch in 2011 after revelations that its employees had snooped on the voicemails of celebrities, sports figures, politicians and even crime victims in search of scoops.

News Group Newspapers has acknowledged hacking by the News of the World but not by The Sun, which continues to operate. Once the largest-circulation publication in the U.K., it has been overtaken by the Daily Mail in recent years.

Miller, 39, said she felt "fully vindicated" after the publisher agreed to pay her undisclosed "substantial damages" without admitting liability. The settlement means her claims of illegal activity by the tabloid will not go to a full trial.

Outside court, Miller said journalists and management at the newspaper "very nearly ruined my life. I have certainly seen how they have ruined the lives of others."

Josh Duggar found guilty of receiving and possessing child pornography

"Their behavior shattered me, damaged my reputation – at times beyond repair – and caused me to accuse my family and friends of selling information that catapulted me into a state of intense paranoia and fear," said Miller, who was a British tabloid fixture during her relationship with fellow actor Jude Law in the early 2000s.

Miller's lawyer, David Sherborne, said the payment was "tantamount to an admission of liability" by The Sun.

The lawyer, who has also represented celebrities such as Duchess Meghan of Sussex and Johnny Depp in their lawsuits against tabloids, said Miller "was the subject of intense media scrutiny and serious intrusion into her private life from around 2003."

"In particular, The Sun published numerous intrusive stories about her that contained intimate private details about her relationships and feelings and even her confidential medical information," he said.

He said Miller accused the then-editor of The Sun, Rebekah Brooks, and others of leaking the news of her pregnancy, a leak that had "led her to being unable to trust those closest to her when she really needed them."

Brooks, who has a close daughter-like relationship with Murdoch, is now the chief executive of Murdoch’s News UK business; she was tried and acquitted in 2014 of phone hacking.

For more than a decade, British tabloids have been settling phone-hacking lawsuits filed by multiple accusers, thus heading off the claims before they reached trial. Just this week, others who have settled claims against The Sun's publisher included the former soccer star Paul Gascoigne, the actor Sean Bean and Sharleen Spiteri, lead singer of the band Texas.

Meanwhile, Prince Harry's phone-hacking case against three tabloids (The Sun, News of the World and The Daily Mirror), which he joined in 2019, remains pending. He is among multiple celebrities who claim these tabloids illegally intercepted their voice messages decades ago. In court papers, Harry said hacking affected his relationships with friends and family and led to a breakdown in trust.

Harry and his wife, the former Meghan Markle, who now live in California after stepping away from royal duties, have become leading voices in the cross-ocean debate about alleged tabloid intrusions. So far the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been winning more battles than losing.

Meghan just won another victory in her legal battle against the publisher of the Mail on Sunday for invading her privacy and violating her copyright in publishing a letter she wrote to her estranged father after her 2018 wedding to Harry. The publisher has said it will appeal that ruling.

Contributing: Maria Puente, USA TODAY

Ten Things You Need to Know Today: 26 April 2023 | The Week UK

Canadian poison investigation

A chef in Canada has been accused of supplying young people in Britain with a lethal poison to enable them to take their own lives, according to an investigation by The Times. Kenneth Law, who has been sending the substance to vulnerable people around the world from Canada for two years, allegedly told an undercover reporter posing as a suicidal buyer how to take the substance to ensure death. The Times report claims up to seven deaths, including four in the UK, are linked to the poison. The Canadian authorities are said to be investigating.

People of 2022: from Meghan Markle to Matt Hancock | The Week UK

Arise, Sir Tony Blair: 14 years after leaving Downing Street, the former Labour prime minister Tony Blair is controversially knighted in the New Year Honours list.

As Moscow builds up its troop deployments near the Ukrainian border, Joe Biden warns Vladimir Putin that the US will respond “decisively” if Russia invades.

A jury acquits the defendants known as “the Colston Four” (pictured) of criminal damage, for their part in toppling a statue of the 17th century slave trader and philanthropist Edward Colston in 2020, and tipping it into the harbour in Bristol.

During an audience at the Vatican, the Pontiff castigates couples who “substitute cats and dogs for children”, saying “renouncing parenthood diminishes us. It takes away our humanity.”

Jonathan Van-Tam is hailed as a “national treasure” as he announces his decision to step down as England’s deputy chief medical officer. He is later knighted, but his trip to the Palace is delayed by a bout of Covid.

Owing to his refusal to be vaccinated for Covid, Novak Djokovic is deported from Australia, ending the world No. 1’s hopes of defending his Australian Open title.

After a New York judge throws out his last-ditch attempt to have Virginia Giuffre’s civil suit against him dismissed, Prince Andrew is cut adrift by the royal family, losing his military affiliations, royal patronages and HRH title.

The final “Plan B” restrictions in England – the mask mandate, vaccine-pass rules, working from home guidance – are all lifted. Sue Gray unveils her long-awaited report into No. 10 lockdown parties, albeit only in outline form. In the 12-page document, presented as an “update”, the senior civil servant discloses that she has looked into 16 alleged parties, and has uncovered failures of “leadership and judgement”.

“They can have Rogan or Young. Not both,” claims the Canadian rock legend Neil Young as he demands that Spotify stops hosting the popular podcasts of the comedian Joe Rogan on the grounds that they promote “fake information about vaccines”. The world’s largest music streaming service opts to remove Young’s music from the platform instead.

Prince William and Kate are in the US for their first trip in eight years ...

Boston CNN —

The new Prince and Princess of Wales touched down in Boston Wednesday ahead of the second iteration of the Earthshot Prize Awards later this week, in their first trip to the United States since 2014.

The couple flew into the city on a commercial flight as controversy erupted back home, after an aide resigned following “unacceptable and deeply regrettable” remarks to a Black executive visiting Buckingham Palace earlier this week.

Lady Susan Hussey – a godmother to Prince William who served as Queen Elizabeth II’s lady in waiting for six decades – was identified by British media as the aide who made the remarks at a palace event on Tuesday, where she repeatedly asked a Black British charity founder where she was “really” from.

Charity boss Ngozi Fulani said that after identifying herself as British-born to the aide at the royal reception, the aide asked her “where do you really come from;” “where do your people come from;” and “when did you first come here?”

A spokesman for William said: “Racism has no place in our society, these comments were unacceptable. It’s right that the individual concerned has stepped down.”

Kensington Palace denounced the incident, saying the remarks were “unacceptable” and that it was “right that the individual concerned has stepped aside with immediate effect.”

It’s the couple’s first visit to the US since their trip to New York eight years ago. The pair also previously embarked on a whirlwind California tour a few months after their wedding in 2011.

The trip is a chance for William to showcase how he intends to adapt to his new Prince of Wales role from his predecessor, while Catherine will hope to charm the public – as her new title’s former holder effortlessly did – but on her own terms.

William founded his climate change prize back in 2020 in the hope of harnessing the world’s smartest minds to confront some of the most pressing environmental challenges facing humanity. Each year for the next decade, five winners will receive £1 million (around $1.12 million) to fund their creative solutions to the climate crisis.

The heir to the British throne was inspired to launch the project by President John F. Kennedy’s “moonshot” speech in 1962 when he tasked the US to push forward with space exploration.

Hundreds gathered at Speaker’s Corner outside City Hall despite pouring rain and biting temperatures to get a glimpse of the royal couple. The crowd screamed and cheered as the pair walked outside with city officials.

Royal watchers await the arrival of William and Kate at City Hall Plaza. Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images

Taking the podium, Prince William told well-wishers he and wife, Catherine were “absolutely delighted to be with you today, for our first engagement in the great city of Boston, as we start the countdown to The Earthshot Prize Awards this Friday.”

The 40-year-old royal said Boston was “the obvious choice” for this year’s ceremony as the former president’s hometown and “because your universities, research centers and vibrant start-up scene make you a global leader in science, innovation and boundless ambition.

“Like President Kennedy, Catherine and I firmly believe that we all have it in ourselves to achieve great things, and that human beings have the ability to lead, innovate and problem-solve,” William continued.

“We cannot wait to celebrate the Earthshot Prize finalists later on this week, and we are both looking forward to spending the next few days learning about the innovative ways the people of Massachusetts are tackling climate change,” he added.

The couple were then joined by Mayor Michelle Wu and Massachusetts Governor-elect Maura Healey to help formally start the city’s Earthshot celebrations, and with the push of a button lit the civic building and other landmarks in green.

Ahead of the lighting ceremony, the senior royals had an audience with Mayor Wu inside City Hall. Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Their busy schedule on Wednesday saw them attend a Boston Celtics game against Miami Heat in downtown Boston. They were seated courtside for the game alongside Healey.

Resetting royal perceptions

While William and Kate’s stateside trip is not an official royal tour, the senior royals aren’t simply parachuting in for a glittering ceremony on Friday night. Instead, they have a jam-packed three-day visit during which they will turn their spotlight onto initiatives in some of Boston’s most hard-pressed communities and meet with local indigenous leaders.

A Kensington Palace spokesperson told CNN the couple were eager for more time in Boston so they could get to know communities and learn about the climate-related challenges facing the coastal city.

Before the fresh racism row emerged, the couple’s trip had also being seen by some as an opportunity to reset perceptions in the US after a damaging few years. New seasons of Netflix show “The Crown” have revived old criticisms of the monarchy, while the Duke and Duchess of Sussexes’ 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey tarnished the family’s reputation.

They claimed family members had made racist remarks and the institution had abandoned Meghan when she admitted contemplating suicide while pregnant with their first child, Archie. William subsequently defended the monarchy, stating, “we’re very much not a racist family.”

Mayor of Boston Michelle Wu; Governor-elect Maura Healey; Prince William; Catherine, Princess of Wales; Emilia Fazzalari and her husband Celtics owner Wyc Grousebeck watch the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat play on November 30, 2022. Brian Snyder/Pool/AFP/Getty Images

Incidentally, days after this tour, Harry and Meghan are set to pick up an award for their work through their Archewell Foundation on race, mental health and social impact. The Sussexes were recently named as recipients of the 2022 Ripple of Hope award by the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organization (RFKHR). They join Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky among others being honored this year.

Announcing the accolade last month, RFKHR President Kerry Kennedy said the couple “has always stood out for their willingness to speak up and change the narrative on racial justice and mental health around the world.”

“They embody the type of moral courage that my father once called the ‘one essential, vital quality for those who seek to change a world that yields most painfully to change.’”

There are no plans for the brothers and their spouses to catch up while in the same country. Their priority is Earthshot and they are savvy enough to know a family gathering would overshadow their objectives.

Instead, the senior royals will be hoping to focus the public’s attention on the causes they champion and the work they do during their stay in the US.

“The prize has become the prince’s Superbowl moment of the year, and he looks forward to continuing to use the platform each year to shine a light on some of the most impactful projects doing amazing things around the world to save our planet’s future,” a Kensington Palace spokesperson said.

One meeting that is on the cards is a catch-up with the US President Joe Biden, who will greet the pair while visiting Boston for a fundraiser on Friday, according to the White House.

Star-studded prize ceremony

The visit to the US culminates in the star-studded Earthshot ceremony grand finale on Friday, which will unite innovation with entertainment.

Singers Annie Lennox, Billie Eilish and Ellie Goulding will perform, and the five winners will be announced by presenters that include Oscar winner Rami Malek, actress Shailene Woodley and Catherine O’Hara of “Schitt’s Creek” fame.

British broadcaster Clara Amfo will return to co-host the awards with actor Daniel Dae Kim. British veteran broadcaster, naturalist and all-round national treasure David Attenborough is also set to feature in the glittering extravaganza.

The awards will be broadcast in the UK on Sunday on BBC at 5:30 p.m. GMT. It’s set to air on PBS on December 14 but will start streaming on the broadcaster’s website and app on Monday. Viewers across Africa will also be able to catch the ceremony Monday when it premieres on Multichoice channels at 5:00 p.m. WAT.

Correction: The trip is Prince William and Kate's first to the US since 2014. This story has been corrected to remove an editing error that inaccurately described the date of their last trip.

Lauren Said-Moorhouse Max Foster Carolyn Sung

News from around our 50 states

From staff and wire reports

Alabama

Montgomery: A top donor to the University of Alabama says students should boycott enrolling at the school in response to the state’s newly approved abortion ban. Hugh Culverhouse Jr. has donated more than $30 million to the university. He said Wednesday that he doesn’t want students who go to the school to become “trapped” under what he calls a morally and constitutionally wrong law. The university renamed its law school in his honor last September after he pledged a record-setting donation. Gov. Kay Ivey signed legislation May 15 that makes performing an abortion a felony in nearly all cases and provides no exceptions for rape or incest. Culverhouse, a Florida businessman who was born in Montgomery, says businesses should also boycott the state. His parents both attended the university.

Alaska

Fairbanks: The wettest region in the state is experiencing the first extreme drought recorded by the U.S. Drought Monitor. The Anchorage Daily News reports scientists say the southernmost portion of southeast Alaska has been in a drought for the past two years. Climatologists at the Fairbanks-based Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy say the drought was upgraded last week to an extreme, or D3, drought. The designation is the second-highest category measured by the U.S. Drought Monitor and marks the first time those conditions have been recorded in Alaska. Scientists say the extreme drought area includes Ketchikan, Prince of Wales Island, Wrangell and Metlakatla. Officials say areas experiencing lesser “severe” and “moderate” droughts have also expanded, and the region’s precipitation, while higher than other areas, is drastically less than normal.

Arizona

Crown King: A meat-eating, tiger-striped predator with a mouthful of sharp teeth has been intentionally released in a remote lake. The Arizona Department of Game and Fish introduced about 450 tiny tiger muskies May16 into Horsethief Basin Lake, a small reservoir 6,000 feet high in the mountains near Crown King. While they are sardine-sized now, the long, spear-like fish grow quickly and are known among anglers for their feisty nature. They can grow up to 3 feet long or more. The survivors should be a foot long in about a year, says Curt Gill, an aquatic wildlife program manager for the game and fish department. “They should be catchable next summer,” he says. The department hopes the voracious fish will grow and eat many of the small bass in Horsethief Basin, allowing the remaining bass to grow larger. Surveys of bass in the lake show 80% are smaller than 8 inches.

Arkansas

Little Rock: Officials say a decrease in federal subsidies allocated by the state has caused substance abuse treatment providers to lay off employees and turn away patients who can’t afford to pay for residential care. The reduction comes from the state’s annual substance abuse funding that exceeds $13 million. One impacted program is Arkansas CARES, which assists pregnant women and mothers with mental illness who are addicted to drugs or alcohol. The 120-day residential treatment program can treat up to 10 women at its Little Rock campus. But the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports just three women were staying at the addiction treatment facility as of last week. The program’s officials noted that 41 other women have been put on the program’s treatment list and are waiting for funds to become available.

California

San Diego: When she was born, she weighed about the same as an apple. A hospital has revealed the birth of a baby girl believed to be the world’s tiniest surviving micro-preemie, who weighed just 8.6 ounces when she was born in December. The girl was born 23 weeks and three days into her mother’s 40-week pregnancy. Doctors told her father after the birth that he would have about an hour with his daughter before she died. “But that hour turned into two hours, which turned into a day, which turned into a week,” the mother said in a video released by Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns. More than five months have passed, and she has gone home as a healthy infant, weighing 5 pounds. The baby’s family gave permission to share the story but wanted to stay anonymous, the hospital says. They allowed the girl to go by the name nurses called her: “Saybie.”

Colorado

Denver: The governor has signed a law reducing penalties for single-use possession of many drugs. KMGH-TV reports Democratic Gov. Jared Polis signed legislation Tuesday that “defelonizes” drug possession for Schedule I and II substances such as heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and most other illicit drugs. The new law says anyone found with a small amount of a drug will face a misdemeanor instead of a felony charge, while those suspected of dealing drugs will still face felony charges. Supporters say the law is an effective way to stop “arresting away” community drug problems and will save taxpayer money. Opponents say state savings will come at the expense of county taxpayers and jails, where those sentenced for the lesser crimes will be held.

Connecticut

Hartford: The state is expanding the number of bee, butterfly and hummingbird-friendly spots along state highways by encouraging wildflower growth. The Hartford Courant reports the Connecticut Department of Transportation already has eight designated locations where minimal mowing allows wildflowers to blossom as part of its Pollinator Corridor Program. Another 51 areas along state highways, off-ramps and medians will be designated. Invasive plants will be removed and native flowers and grasses allowed to grow, increasing the density and quality for pollinators. The agency says it has generally reduced the amount of mowing along highways in recent years, fostering native plant growth beyond the designated areas. The program was authorized as part of a 2016 General Assembly law supporting pollinators that face loss of habitat, disease and widespread pesticide use.

Delaware

Dover: Lawmakers are once again proposing to increase the age for compulsory school attendance. A bill slated to be filed Thursday raises the age through which students must attend school from 16 to 18. The age increase would be phased in over a two-year period, starting in 2022 with students required to stay in school through age 17. The legislation is similar to bills filed in recent years and aims to encourage more Delaware children to graduate from high school. The legislation allows for alternative routes to completing high school for children 16 and older, including independent study and online courses. It also allows a child to be excused from required attendance at the request of a parent or legal guardian with written support from a qualified health professional.

District of Columbia

Washington: The very first hearing for the district’s statehood will be held this summer, according to D.C. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, WUSA-TV reports. “We’ve announced the first hearing on #DCstatehood (HR 51) in the House in 26 years: July 24,” Norton wrote on Twitter. “This is a monumental step forward for equality and self-government for D.C.” Maryland House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer spoke in support of D.C. statehood during a news conference and released an op-ed stating the same support. If passed, the bill is unlikely to make any headway in the Republican-controlled Senate, but it would mark the first vote on D.C. statehood in a quarter-century and the first time either chamber of Congress has ever endorsed statehood for the nation’s capital.

Florida

Tallahassee: Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet met in Israel on Wednesday, waving away complaints that the session violated open-government laws because it was held outside the state. They presented a proclamation of support for Israel and heard from Israelis on several issues important to Florida. The Republican governor then signed a bill that prohibits anti-Semitism in the state’s public schools and universities. The law defines anti-Semitism as including “drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis,” “blaming Israel for all interreligious or political tensions,” or “requiring behavior of Israel that is not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.” Open-government watchdog organization First Amendment Foundation and several news outlets sued in an effort to stop the meeting, claiming it violated a state law that requires government meetings to be accessible to the public.

Georgia

Marietta: A police department in metro Atlanta has announced a new intervention program as deaths from opioid overdoses in Cobb County appear to be declining. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports the new program by Marietta police will create an alert system where authorities are notified when someone is revived using medication, like naloxone, that can reverse the effects of opioid overdose. Two plainclothes officers will then visit the survivor and try to convince them to seek treatment. Officers will also receive training on how best to approach the sensitive conversations. Marietta Police Chief Dan Flynn says the program arose from the success the department has had in using naloxone to combat overdose deaths.

Hawaii

Honolulu: U.S. Census Bureau estimates show urban Honolulu’s population declined for the fourth straight year last year. Hawaii News Now reports newly released census estimates put the district’s population at more than 347,000 people in 2018. That’s down about 1.2% from more than 351,000 in 2015. The agency defines Urban Honolulu as extending from Aliamanu to Kahala on Oahu. Last month, census estimates showed nearly 62,000 more people moved to the mainland from Oahu than moved to the island between 2010 and 2018. Oahu’s high cost of living has fueled population declines as salary increases have failed to keep pace with a rising home prices. Economists say people may be leaving for better jobs or salaries, greater opportunities or in order to purchase a home.

Idaho

Boise: The state Supreme Court says there is no cap on how much money juries can award to whistleblowers who sue their employers. The Idaho Statesman reports that in the unanimous May 24 ruling, the high court said Idaho’s whistleblower law trumps the state’s tort claim statute. Idaho’s tort claim law limits the amount of money that can be awarded to people who sue public agencies to $500,000 for each occurrence or accident. But the high court said the Whistleblower Act doesn’t cap damages, so the tort claim caps don’t apply. The ruling came in the case of Idaho State Police crash investigator Brandon Eller, who said ISP retaliated against him because he testified against another officer in a court hearing. A lower judge had reduced Eller’s jury award of $1.5 million.

Illinois

Springfield: Lawmakers working to legalize recreational marijuana hit a snag that other states have wrestled with – whether to allow people to grow a few pot plants for personal use. The 10 states that have legalized recreational marijuana have different “home grow” rules, with Michigan allowing individuals to grow as many as 12 plants and Washington state not allowing them to grow any. The question in Illinois was settled Wednesday night when the Senate approved recreational use of marijuana after universal home cultivation of the plant was replaced by a provision allowing only medical-marijuana patients to grow their own. The differences in home grow regulations reflect how states view the competing arguments about home cultivation: Opponents say it fuels black market sales, while proponents argue that if businesses can sell it, they should be able to grow it.

Indiana

Angola: Fifteen counties where lakes are becoming choked with aquatic plants have landed more than $600,000 to combat the fast-growing plants. The funding from Indiana’s Department of Natural Resources will boost efforts to control or manage non-native species, including curly-leaf pondweed and Eurasian watermilfoil. Such invasive species can take over and clog lakes, affecting lake ecosystems and hurting local economies by making them less attractive destinations for pleasure boat enthusiasts and anglers. The nearly $633,000 from the DNR’s Lake and River Enhancement program will fund 42 plant eradication projects at 62 lakes and one river in 15 Indiana counties. The money comes from an annual fee boat owners pay to register their boats with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

Iowa

Des Moines: A state court judge has temporarily halted enforcement of a new law that would have blocked Planned Parenthood of the Heartland from receiving federal grant money for sex education courses. Judge Joseph Seidlin signed an order Wednesday prohibiting the state from implementing the bill that Gov. Kim Reynolds signed into law May 3 until the court can decide whether the law is constitutional. The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa filed a lawsuit for Planned Parenthood on May 15 challenging the law as a violation of free speech, due process and equal protection rights. Seidlin says that Planned Parenthood is likely to succeed in its equal protection claim and that it has demonstrated significant harm through loss of funding. The judge says it’s likely the court would not find the new law rational.

Kansas

Topeka: Two peregrine falcon chicks that hatched earlier this month atop a 12-story building have been given metal identification bands to help track their movements. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the chicks, a male and a female, hatched around the first of May on top of the Westar Energy Building. Westar spokeswoman Kaley Bohlen says it’s the ninth year in a row that falcons Nemaha and Boreas have produced offspring in the perch. Westar biology coordinator Eric Johnson said the chicks could be ready to fly in about a month. Falcons have been nesting at the Westar building off and on since 1993. Peregrine falcons were nearly wiped out in North America by DDT and similar pesticides in the 1950s. Their numbers began to rebound after DDT was banned.

Kentucky

Louisville: A new program in the state is training veterans with aviation or power plant mechanics experience to become Federal Aviation Administration certified. The new Veterans Accelerated Learning for Licensed Occupations initiative offers certifications for veterans and transitioning military members looking for jobs. Stewart Ditto, director of the Kentucky Aerospace Industry Consortium, says Kentucky’s aerospace and aviation industry is facing critical workforce shortages. A release from Kentucky’s Education and Workforce Development Cabinet says the program is a collaborative effort, including the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation, the state’s technical college system, the University of Louisville and the Kentucky Commission on Military Affairs.

Louisiana

New Orleans: “Attack of the Bloodsuckers!” isn’t a horror movie but a new exhibit at a nature center in the city. The Audubon Louisiana Nature Center will teach why mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, leeches and other parasites are important to the ecosystem. The free exhibit will also explain how to avoid them – or at least find them in time. A news release says hints include keeping yards free of standing water so mosquitoes can’t lay eggs in them and checking yourself carefully for deer ticks before they can transmit Lyme disease. It opened Wednesday in the interpretive center and runs through Sept. 1.

Maine

Augusta: The state’s schools will be getting new safeguards to protect children from drinking water that’s contaminated with lead. Democratic Gov. Janet Mills signed a bill into law Tuesday that’s designed to improve the lead testing in schools. Only schools on well water are currently required to test for lead contamination in drinking and cooking water, but Democratic Sen. Rebecca Millett’s bill would change that. Millett, of Cape Elizabeth, proposed that all schools be required to do the tests to the extent that the state can provide money and help for the testing. The proposal won bipartisan support in the Legislature. Exposure to lead is dangerous to children, who can suffer damage to the brain and impaired growth as a result.

Maryland

Salisbury: A pony found on Assateague Island with a balloon ribbon in its mouth Monday is expected to have no health issues following the incident, which nonetheless prompted officials to remind people of the dangers posed to wildlife by balloons and other plastic debris. Representatives with the National Park Service could not confirm whether the pony had ingested any part of the ribbon but said it did chew through it. The pony did not, however, swallow the balloon, NPS said. Allison Turner, a biological technician with NPS, said the pony was likely eating when it chewed through the ribbon, which may have been tangled into some grass. Liz Davis, chief of interpretation and education with the service, urged people to not release balloons or other foreign objects into the environment.

Massachusetts

Boston: A report recommends that bans on cellphone use at dozens of courthouses in the state be phased out, with new security measures to prevent abuse. A working group formed last year by trial court leaders concluded in its report released Wednesday that cellphone bans impose “unacceptable hardships” on certain individuals, particularly those representing themselves in court. Current policy generally allows cellphones in courthouses so long as they’re turned off or silenced. But the report identified 56 courts that prohibit them, with exceptions for court employees and attorneys, citing risks the phones could be used to photograph or intimidate victims, witnesses or jurors. The working group says those courts should consider alternatives to outright bans, such as magnetically locked security pouches designed to prevent unauthorized cellphone use.

Michigan

Detroit: The Great Lakes Fishery Commission has selected the final design for a project intended to allow removal of dams from rivers without letting exotic species migrate upstream. The “FishPass” initiative will take place on the Boardman River in Traverse City, which is undergoing a restoration program that includes removal of several dams. At the site of the last dam to be removed, a barrier will be installed to prevent parasitic sea lamprey from swimming upriver and attacking native fish. The mechanism also will include a channel where fish-sorting techniques and technologies will be tested. The goal will be to block the path of unwanted fish while letting the others continue upstream. A second channel will allow recreation and normal water flow.

Minnesota

Chaska: Prince’s former bodyguard answered questions from attorneys for seven hours as part of a wrongful death lawsuit filed by relatives of the late rock star. Kirk Johnson’s attorney told KSTP-TV that Wednesday’s deposition at the Carver County Courthouse was difficult for his client, who considered Prince a good friend. Prince died of an accidental fentanyl overdose April 21, 2016. “This was a traumatic event for my client,” attorney F. Clayton Tyler said. “He feels very sad over the loss of a good friend of his. To have to come back and go through this and relitigate this whole matter has been very difficult.” The lawsuit names Dr. Michael Schulenberg as a defendant. Authorities say Schulenberg admitted prescribing oxycodone, a different opioid, to Johnson in the days before Prince died, knowing the drug would go to Prince.

Mississippi

Vicksburg: Historian and city native Dr. William R. Ferris is being recognized with the placement of a Mississippi Blues Trail marker in his honor. The marker unveiled Tuesday honors Ferris, winner of two Grammy Awards for his documentation of blues and other folk legend. It was approved in March by the Mississippi Blues Commission. The Vicksburg Post reports it’s the 205th marker along the trail and sixth in Vicksburg. Ferris recently received two Grammys for “Voices of Mississippi: Artists and Musicians Documented by William Ferris” for Best Historical Album and Best Album Notes. The 120-page book covers three decades of Ferris’s work and, as a result, he said, connects the otherwise disparate voices of musicians, artists and storytellers with whom he’s worked over the years.

Missouri

Independence: The son of U.S. Sen. John McCain will accept the Truman Public Service Award in his late father’s name. The Independence Examiner reports the city bestows the award each year to someone in public life who followed President Harry Truman’s traits such as ability, honesty and integrity. Doug McCain will accept the award during a ceremony Saturday at the Truman Memorial Building. The event is free and open to the public. John McCain died last year. He spent 30 years in the U.S. Senate and was the Republican nominee for president in 2008. He also was a Navy pilot who was a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War. McCain accepted the Truman Good Neighbor Award in 2016.

Montana

Kalispell: Tourists visiting Glacier National Park last year contributed $344 million to the economy in areas around the park. The National Park Service says 2018 spending was up 25% over the $275 million spent in 2017. The Daily Inter Lake reports visitors spent 40% of those dollars on lodging, 16% at restaurants and 10% for transportation at businesses within 60 miles of the park’s borders. Nearly 3 million people visited Glacier park last year, supporting 5,230 jobs.

Nebraska

Lincoln: Lincoln Public Schools will purchase 12 new school buses equipped with lap and shoulder seat belts following new recommendations from a federal safety agency. The Lincoln Journal Star reports that the district’s school board approved the $1.4 million plan this month. Last month the board adopted a National Transportation Safety Board recommendation to ensure all new buses have seat belts. The issue of whether the safety measures should be required in school buses has been debated for decades. The NTSB and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration had said for years that the design of large buses provides adequate protection. But the NTSB switched its position last year after investigating two bus accidents in Tennessee and Maryland that collectively killed two people and injured 37.

Nevada

Las Vegas: It’s growing crowded inside the Shrine of Our Lady of La Vang. What began in 2000 as a few dozen Vietnamese Catholics gathering at local homes on Sundays has flourished into a church with a growing campus and native-language Mass every day. Across three Sunday services, some 1,500 people crowd into the low-ceilinged chapel a few miles east of the Las Vegas Strip. “Right now we have over 200 youth that have activities here every Sunday,” Tuan Pham, a Vietnamese-American immigrant and the church’s event coordinator, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “The growth of the community is so big.” The same can be said across the board for Asian-Americans, the fastest-growing racial or ethnic group in Clark County around Las Vegas. According to census estimates, more than 220,000 Asian-Americans live in the county today – triple the population at the start of the millennium.

New Hampshire

Concord: The state, which hasn’t executed anyone in 80 years and has only one inmate on death row, on Thursday became the latest to abolish the death penalty when the state Senate voted to override the governor’s veto. The Senate vote came a week after the 400-member House voted by the narrowest possible margin to override Republican Gov. Chris Sununu’s veto of a bill to repeal capital punishment. “Now it’s up to us to stop this practice that is archaic, costly, discriminatory and final,” said Sen. Melanie Levesque, D-Brookline. With New Hampshire’s action, 29 states allow capital punishment, but in four of them, governors have issued moratoriums on the death penalty, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. Twenty-one states have abolished or overturned it.

New Jersey

Trenton: The state is suing eight members of the family that founded opioid drug maker Purdue Pharma over the lethal toll of the drugs. Attorney General Gurbir Grewal announced the suit Thursday. He says the Sackler family wasn’t satisfied with “merely raking in” millions of dollars and instead wanted billions. Messages have been left with the family’s spokespeople. They’ve denied wrongdoing in response to other states’ claims. New Jersey is at least the 11th state to take legal action against one or more family members over the toll of opioids. Several states have announced allegations against the family in the past month. Opioids, including prescription painkillers and related drugs such as heroin, were involved in nearly 48,000 deaths in the U.S. in 2017, more than auto accidents kill annually.

New Mexico

Farmington: The city is examining if it can ban the sale of miniature liquor bottles littering the grounds across town. Mayor Nate Duckett asked City Attorney Jennifer Breakell this month to investigate if the city could pass an ordinance banning the small booze bottles. The request came after a resident showed up at a City Council meeting with a bag full of mini liquor bottles he’d picked up while walking near an elementary school. New Mexico Petroleum Marketers Association state executive Ruben Baca said banning miniature liquor bottles from being sold would likely be a hard battle for the city to win. The Petroleum Marketers Association lobbies for convenience stores. “It will be challenged in court, and they’ll lose,” Baca said. When Albuquerque and Santa Fe have tried to enact related bans, courts have ruled that the sales are governed through the Liquor Control Act and that cities cannot pass ordinances or zoning codes restricting the sales.

New York

New York: Family members of recovery workers who died after digging through smoldering ruins joined city officials Thursday at a dedication ceremony for a new section of the Sept. 11 memorial at the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan. They were joined by recovery workers who themselves are ill. The 9/11 Memorial Glade honors rescue and recovery workers who were sickened or died after responding to the Sept. 11 attacks. The grassy clearing on the southwest corner of the 8-acre plaza includes a path flanked with six huge, sloping stone structures made of granite slabs inlaid with steel recovered from the fallen trade center towers. The larger memorial’s original architects, Michael Arad and Peter Walker, designed the memorial glade.

North Carolina

Charlotte: A nightclub that served the black community during the era of segregation is now on a list of the nation’s 11 most endangered historic places. The Charlotte Observer reports the National Trust for Historic Preservation placed The Excelsior Club in Charlotte on the list, making it the first property in the state to make the list. It’s also designated as a historic landmark by the Charlotte-Mecklenberg Historic Landmarks Commission. Musicians like Nat King Cole and Louis Armstrong performed there. Bill Clinton and Al Gore campaigned there, and locals went to the club to celebrate Barack Obama’s election as the first African American president. The club, which opened in 1944, closed in 2016. State Rep. Carla Cunningham, who owns the building, has filed paperwork to have it demolished.

North Dakota

Bismarck: The state will continue to employ railroad safety inspectors to monitor crude oil shipments for at least two more years. The state-run rail safety pilot program that supplements federal oversight of oil train traffic began four years ago but was set to expire in July. Gov. Doug Burgum signed legislation this month that extends the program through 2021. Republican Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner says he believes the program will eventually become permanent. The program includes two rail safety inspectors to supplement inspections by the Federal Railroad Administration. The idea had been a campaign platform for Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak. Since the program’s inception in 2015, she says state inspectors have found about 6,000 “defects” on tracks and railroad rolling stock, resulting in more than 90 violations.

Ohio

Delaware: A $10 million gift from an anonymous alumni couple is the largest single donation in the 177-year history of Ohio Wesleyan. The university says the gift will support the central Ohio school’s plans to renew its residential campus, including construction of new senior student apartments. The gift also will go toward plans to renovate and restore Slocum Hall, a 121-year-old campus landmark. The donation is part of $23.56 million in gifts and pledges to the university’s Connect Today, Create Tomorrow campaign. The $200 million campaign that began in July 2014 will provide money for scholarships, faculty innovation, living and learning environments, and real-world experiences. The fundraising campaign is set to end in 2021 and already has received more than $196 million in pledges and contributions.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma City: A former University of Oklahoma student is seeking class-action status for her federal lawsuit against the school for misreporting data used to nationally rank the university. The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in federal district court in Oklahoma City on behalf of Elani Gretzer, who says she enrolled at OU’s Price College of Business in 2016 in part because of its national ranking by U.S. News. The company is well-known for its lists of the nation’s best colleges and universities. University officials acknowledged to the company last year that it had inflated its alumni giving data since 1999. The lawsuit estimates as many as 350,000 current and former students could be a part of the proposed class, with claims well in excess of $5 million.

Oregon

Salem: The state will ban restaurants from offering single-use plastic straws under a measure on its way to the governor. The House voted 48-12 late Wednesday night to prohibit restaurants from providing single-use plastic straws unless a customer asks. Drive-thrus could still offer straws. Although the Senate already approved the measure, the chamber must still approve a technical change before the bill hits the governor’s desk. The World Economic Forum projects there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050. Over 8 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean each year, though plastic straws make up less than 1% of ocean waste. Oregon would become the second in the nation after California to enact statewide restrictions on plastic straws.

Pennsylvania

Strasburg: A barn fire in the heart of the state’s Amish country sent up a plume of smoke visible for 2 miles and required a hazardous materials team to respond for runoff into a nearby stream. LNP newspaper reports the Wednesday night blaze in Strasburg occurred on the site of Pop’s Produce Stand, a popular summer market, destroying the 50-by-100-foot barn. The fire chief said Thursday that the cause hasn’t been established, but the property owner had been doing some grinding in the barn about an hour before flames broke out. Strasburg is in Lancaster County, about 70 miles west of Philadelphia.

Rhode Island

Providence: The iconic Superman Building in the city is included on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s annual list of the nation’s most endangered historic places. The 2019 list highlights 11 architectural and cultural sites the private nonprofit deems at risk because of neglect, development or other threats. The 91-year-old vacant skyscraper is Rhode Island’s tallest building at about 430 feet. Formally the Industrial Trust Building, it resembles the Daily Planet headquarters in the old TV show. Katherine Malone-France, the National Trust’s interim chief preservation officer, says few buildings in Providence are as iconic or beloved, but the Superman Building has deferred maintenance needs after six years of vacancy. The National Trust says the list can mobilize support for preservation.

South Carolina

Columbia: A county elections and voter registration director has been fired. The State reports the Richland County elections agency’s new board voted 5-0 Wednesday to terminate Rokey Suleman’s service after it was discovered that the office failed to count more than 1,000 votes in the November midterm elections. Gov. Henry McMaster fired the agency’s entire board in February. Many voters thought Suleman was already out of the job, since he reportedly resigned after the count debacle. But he, in fact, had never resigned, saying he only agreed to leave if the board paid the rest of his contract, which expired April 30. McMaster fired the board before it could vote on that payout, so he stayed in the job. The new board will select Suleman’s replacement.

South Dakota

Rapid City: A student group wants the Rapid City Area Schools Board of Education to prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity. High school students from Working to Initiate Societal Equality told board members last week that the district’s anti-discrimination policy should be updated because it doesn’t include gender identity. The Rapid City Journal reports that the policy forbids harassment and discrimination based on “age, citizenship, color, creed, disability, ethnic background, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex,” sexual orientation or veteran status. The students brought the board a petition signed by about 240 of their peers. School Board President Ron Riherd says he understands the students’ point, but members have yet to discuss the proposal.

Tennessee

Nashville: State auditors have found water leaks at the new $160 million state museum. According to a report released Thursday, nine water leaks were reported between October and March. One leak was found in an electrical closet, another in an exhibition area. Officials say no artifacts were damaged, but some items were moved to prevent damage, and buckets were placed to catch falling water. Museum management officials say no new leaks have occurred since March 10, and they are continuing to work with the Department of General Services and their contracted providers on water issues. The 137,000-square-foot museum opened at Nashville’s Bicentennial Capitol Mall in early October after previously being housed in the basement of the James K. Polk building for nearly 40 years.

Texas

Corpus Christi: Let the digging begin. Ceremonies were held Wednesday to kick off expansion of the Corpus Christi Ship Channel in a bid to attract larger oil tankers to the state. Illinois-based Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company won the $92 million contract to deepen and widen the channel as part of a more than $400 million project. The federal government and the Port of Corpus Christi are funding the upgrades, to be completed in 2022. The Corpus Christi Ship Channel depth will increase from 47 feet to 54 feet. The width will expand from 400 feet to 530 feet. Corpus Christi’s Harbor Bridge, which opened in 1959 with a 138-foot clearance, is being replaced with a larger span.

Utah

Salt Lake City: An ax-throwing business has been granted a license to sell beer after adding pool and billiard tables to the venue. A new liquor law that took effect May 14 raised questions about whether some locations could serve alcohol. It listed businesses that can have recreational beer licenses, including bowling alleys, concert venues, miniature golf courses and pool parlors, but did not include ax throwing or karaoke. The commission last month denied license requests from Social Axe and Heart and Seoul Karaoke, both in Salt Lake City. On Tuesday, Utah alcohol commissioners approved the license for Social Axe Throwing after finding that the addition of the pool and billiard tables on the premises satisfied a new law’s definition of a “recreational amenity.” Social Axe co-owner Mark Floyd told commissioners that they have “done everything” to comply with the law.

Vermont

Montpelier: State police say they want body cameras, but cost is an issue. Vermont Public Radio reports 31 police agencies around Vermont are outfitted with body cameras, but state police are not. Vermont State Police Capt. Garry Scott says it’s frustrating because troopers and the public want the cameras, but it comes down to doing it the right way as far as storage methods and cost. Scott says that $260,000 a year for storage is a conservative estimate and that it needs to be determined whether a state-funded cloud system or private vendor is better. State Attorney General TJ Donovan says he’s optimistic state police will get body cameras, and it’s now best practice in law enforcement. Scott says the agency will continue working with lawmakers to secure body camera funding.

Virginia

Blacksburg: Virginia Tech wants to pay incoming in-state students to delay their start date and not attend the university for up to a year. The Roanoke Times reports the school budgeted $3.3 million to quell the expected 7,500-student freshman class, which officials have said would strain the town. The school has said this class would be its largest. It said the size was unanticipated, but engineering education professor Marie Paretti said that wasn’t true, as faculty predictions of the swollen class size were shared with administrators. The payment options include a $1,000 grant to take a gap year, tuition reimbursement for taking classes at a community college for a year, and tuition-free classes next summer for those who skip the upcoming fall or spring semester. Students can apply until June 6.

Washington

Seattle: A man took exception to a car-share vehicle that was parked without permission at his duplex – so he built a fence around it. Dan Smith tells KIRO-TV he doesn’t know who parked the car2go Mercedes on May 17, but it wasn’t one of his tenants. By the next day, he had erected the barricade, preventing other customers from using the vehicle. He wants Share Now, the company that operates car2go, to pay $65 a day in storage fees, $300 for the fence and up to $500 for “harassment fees.” The company says it has been unable to remove the sedan because of the fence. Its policy requires customers who park in unapproved areas to pay any towing and ticketing fees. The company says it does not tolerate having its vehicles held for ransom.

West Virginia

Charleston: The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra will receive a $20,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Orchestra officials say the award will help support the 2019-2020 season, helping make its music more accessible to more West Virginians. The orchestra, which is entering its 80th season, presents classical, pops and chamber-music concerts annually throughout the state. Officials say that the award, combined with support from the state Department of Arts, Culture and History, means the music will keep playing. The award was among grants approved recently by National Endowment for the Arts Acting Chairman Mary Anne Carter.

Wisconsin

Madison: A bipartisan proposal designed to help the state’s fledgling hemp industry as it enters its second year faces opposition from law enforcement agencies concerned about a provision that would allow drivers to have THC in their blood. The bill, heard by a Senate committee Thursday, is broadly designed to help farmers, hemp processors, retailers and consumers as the industry in Wisconsin explodes. “Hemp is Wisconsin’s comeback crop,” the bill’s lead sponsor, Sen. Patrick Testin, said at a news conference prior to the hearing. Wisconsin sheriffs, chiefs of police and district attorneys oppose a provision of the bill meant to prevent someone who has consumed a product made with trace amounts of THC, such as the marijuana and hemp derivative CBD, from being charged with operating while intoxicated.

Wyoming

Laramie: The University of Wyoming is planning a $10 million expansion to its law school that coincides with the college’s centennial celebration next year. The Laramie Boomerang reports the renovation to the College of Law is expected to be completed in December 2020, but the university expects most of the project to be done in time for the celebration in September 2020. The university says U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch is expected to speak for the law school celebration. Law school dean Klint Alexander told university trustees that $4 million has already been raised for the project, which is still in the design phase. The expansion project aims to bring the school’s various legal clinics into the law building.

From staff and wire reports