North Carolina GOP sending immigration crackdown bills to Democratic Gov. Stein

North Carolina GOP sending immigration crackdown bills to Democratic Gov. Stein

By GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Republicans at the North Carolina legislature gave final approval Tuesday two pieces of legislation that would compel state agencies to participate in President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown and would toughen a recent law that required sheriffs to help federal agents seeking criminal defendants.

The series of House and Senate votes on the measures could mean an early showdown between the GOP-controlled General Assembly and new Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, who since taking office in January has tried to build rapport with lawmakers on consensus issues like Hurricane Helene aid.

Stein has yet to a veto a bill, and pressure will build on him to use his stamp on one or both bills given overwhelming Democratic opposition to the measures during floor votes.

The GOP’s legislative maneuvers happened while National Guard troops have been deployed by Trump to Los Angeles to confront protesters angry with federal conducting sweeps that led to immigrant arrests.

Should Stein issue vetoes, Republicans in the ninth-largest state could face challenges in overriding them, since the GOP is currently one seat shy of a veto-proof majority. Republican leaders would need at least one Democrat for their side during an override vote or hope some Democrats are absent.

Dueling immigration philosophies

Republicans say the measures are needed to assist the Trump administration’s efforts to remove immigrants unlawfully in the country who are committing crimes and or accessing limited taxpayer resources that are needed for U.S. citizens or lawful immigrants.

“North Carolina is one step closer to increasing the safety of every citizen in the state,” said Senate Leader Phil Berger, a primary sponsor of one of the bills. “The Republican-led General Assembly made it clear that harboring criminal illegal aliens will not be tolerated in our state.”

But Democrats and social justice advocates of immigrants say the bills vilify immigrants who work and pay taxes, leading residents to feel intimidated and fear law enforcement, which will ultimately make communities less safe. Demonstrators opposed to GOP action filled the Senate gallery during debate.

Republicans are spending their time “trying to sell a lie that immigrants are the source of our problems,” Democratic Sen. Sophia Chitlik of Durham County said, telling colleagues that their constituents “didn’t send us here to round up their neighbors. They sent us here to make their lives better.”

Stein spokesperson Morgan Hopkins said late Tuesday that the governor “will continue to review the bills. He has made clear that if someone commits a crime and they are here illegally; they should be deported.”

Breaking down the bills

One measure receiving final approval in part would direct heads of several state law enforcement agencies, like the State Highway Patrol and State Bureau of Investigation, to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. That would include having to officially participate in the 287(g) program, which trains officers to interrogate defendants and determine their immigration status. A Trump executive order urged his administration to maximize the use of 287(g) agreements.

The measure also would direct state agencies to ensure noncitizens don’t access state-funded benefits and publicly funded housing benefits to which they are otherwise ineligible. The same applies to unemployment benefits for those aren’t legally authorized to live in the U.S.

And the bill also prohibits University of North Carolina system campus policies that prevent law enforcement agencies from accessing school information about a students’ citizenship or immigration status. Thousands of international students attending college in the U.S. had their study permissions canceled this spring, only for ICE to later reverse decisions and restore their legal status.

The other approved bill Tuesday builds on the 2024 law that lawmakers enacted over then-Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto that directed jails hold temporarily certain defendants whom ICE believe are in the country illegally, allowing time for immigration agents to pick them up. The law was a response by Republicans unhappy with Democratic sheriffs in several counties who declined to help immigration agents with offenders subject to federal immigration detainers and administrative warrants.

The proposed changes expands the list of crimes that a defendant is charged with that would require the jail administrator — expanding in the bill to magistrates — to attempt to determine the defendant’s legal residency or citizenship. A defendant with an apparent detainer or administrative warrant would still have to go before a judicial official before a defendant could be released to agents. A jail also would have to tell ICE promptly that they are holding someone and essentially extends the time agents have to pick up the person.

Trump says he will ‘liberate’ Los Angeles in speech to mark the 250th anniversary of the Army

Trump says he will ‘liberate’ Los Angeles in speech to mark the 250th anniversary of the Army

By CHRIS MEGERIAN and MICHELLE L. PRICE Associated Press

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (AP) — President Donald Trump called protesters in Los Angeles “animals” and “a foreign enemy” in a speech at Fort Bragg on Tuesday as he defended deploying the military on demonstrators opposed to his immigration enforcement raids.

Trump, in his most aggressive language yet regarding the protests in Los Angeles, used a speech ostensibly supposed to be used to recognize the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army to denounce the demonstrators while repeating his false statements about the 2020 election being rigged and attacking the previous commander-in-chief, former President Joe Biden.

The Republican president, who sees the military as a critical tool for domestic goals, has used the recent protests in Los Angeles as an opportunity to deploy the National Guard and U.S. Marines over the objections of California’s Democratic governor to quell disturbances that began as protests over immigration raids. While protesters blocked a major freeway and set cars on fire over the weekend in Los Angeles, the demonstrations in the city of 4 million people have largely been centered in several blocks of downtown.

“We will not allow an American city to be invaded and conquered by a foreign enemy. That’s what they are,” Trump said Tuesday.

Trump’s heated rhetoric came has he’s left open the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act, one of the most extreme emergency powers available to the president. It authorizes him to deploy military forces inside the U.S. to suppress rebellion or domestic violence or to enforce the law in certain situations.

The president also called Los Angeles “a trash heap” with “entire neighborhoods under control” of criminals and said the federal government would ”use every asset at our disposal to quell the violence and restore law and order.”

“We will liberate Los Angeles and make it free, clean, and safe again,” Trump added.

Trump also announced his administration was restoring the names of seven military bases that were given the monikers of Confederate leaders until being changed by the Biden administration. Fort Pickett, Fort Hood, Fort Gordon, Fort Rucker, Fort Polk, Fort A.P. Hill and Fort Robert E. Lee will have their names changed back, Trump said.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth already brought back the names of Fort Bragg and Fort Benning in Georgia.

“Can you believe they changed that name in the last administration for a little bit?” Trump said. “We’ll forget all about that.”

Before he spoke, Trump watched the U.S. Army demonstrate a missile strike, a helicopter assault and a building raid, a preview of the kind of show of American military might he’s expected to display in the nation’s capital for a massive military parade this weekend.

Fort Bragg, which is located near Fayetteville, North Carolina, serves as headquarters for U.S. Army Special Operations Command. Highly trained units like the Green Berets and the 82nd Airborne are based there.

The atmosphere resembled a state fair with military flair. Inflatable slides and attractions for children were set up in a field, with artillery, trucks and helicopters parked on another section of the lawn. Right outside the security checkpoint — but still on the base — two stands were selling Trump political hats, T-shirts and other paraphernalia.

Hegseth and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll were also at Tuesday’s event, along with service members, veterans and their families.

Hegseth, who has said he’s ridding the military of “woke,” told the crowd at Fort Bragg that the U.S. is “restoring the warrior ethos” to its armed forces.

“We’re not a college or a university. We’re not interested in your woke garbage and political correctness,” Hegseth said, drawing cheers.

Driscoll, who spoke to the crowd earlier in the afternoon, called Trump “the greatest recruiter in our Army’s history.”

Trump has promoted the Army’s anniversary as a reason to hold a military parade in Washington on Saturday, which is also his 79th birthday. Tanks and other vehicles will roll down city streets in a reminder of how the Republican president is reshaping the armed forces after returning to the White House this year.

Trump has authorized the deployment of 4,000 National Guard soldiers to the city over the objections of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat. About 700 Marines were deployed to the Los Angeles area, but had not yet been sent to respond to the protests.

California sued Trump over the deployment, with the state attorney general arguing that the president had “trampled” the state’s sovereignty. California leaders accused Trump of fanning protesters’ anger, leading crowds to block off a major freeway and set self-driving cars on fire.

___

Price reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Lolita Baldor in Washington contributed to this report. Follow the AP’s coverage of President Donald Trump at https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump.

___

This story has been corrected to reflect that the 82nd Airborne Division, not the U.S. Army Rangers, is based at Fort Bragg.

Breaking down the teams playing for national championship at the College World Series

Breaking down the teams playing for national championship at the College World Series

By ERIC OLSON AP Sports Writer

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A look at the eight teams competing in the College World Series, which starts Friday at Charles Schwab Field. (Capsules in order of CWS opening games. Coaches’ records through super regionals):

Coastal Carolina (53-11)

Coach: Kevin Schnall (53-11 in 1 year at Coastal Carolina and overall).

Road to Omaha: Won Conway Regional: beat Fairfield 10-2, beat East Carolina 18-7, beat East Carolina 1-0. Won Auburn Super Regional: beat Auburn 7-6 in 10 innings, beat Auburn 4-1.

2025 record vs. CWS teams: 0-0.

Last CWS appearance: 2016.

All-time record in CWS: 6-2 in one appearance (won national title in 2016).

Meet the Chanticleers: C Caden Bodine (.329, 5 HRs, 41 RBIs), 1B Colby Thorndyke (.301, 4, 40), 2B Blake Barthol (.274, 12, 50), SS Ty Dooley (.292, 6, 36), 3B Walker Mitchell (.292, 4, 45), LF Sebastian Alexander (.328, 10, 53), CF Wells Sykes (.293, 3, 36), RF Blagen Pado (.273, 8, 30), DH Ty Barrango (.247, 2, 19). Starting pitchers: RHP Cameron Flukey (7-1, 3.35 ERA), RHP Jacob Morrison (11-0, 2.11), RHP Riley Eikhoff (6-2, 2.90). Relievers: LHP Hayden Johnson (4-0, 3.43), RHP Ryan Lynch (2-1, 0.59, 8 saves), RHP Matthew Potok (4-1, 2.55), LHP Dominick Carbone (6-0, 2.61), RHP Darin Horn (5-1, 2.96), RHP Luke Jones (4-2, 3.51), RHP Scott Doran (1-0, 4.15).

MLB alumni: Mickey Brantley, Tommy La Stella, Kirt Manwaring, Taylor Motter, Dave Sappelt, Zach Remillard, Luis Lopez.

Short hops: Chanticleers have the nation’s longest active winning streak, at 23 games. Since the NCAA Tournament went to its current format in 1999, no team has entered the CWS with so many consecutive wins. … Schnall was an assistant on Gary Gilmore’s national championship-winning team in 2016. He succeeded Gilmore, who retired after last season, and is in his 22nd season on the staff over two stints. … Chants’ 53 wins are most in nation. … Sun Belt Conference regular-season and tournament champion. … Chants batters have been hit by 170 pitches, most in the nation.

Quotable: “This is not a Cinderella story. We’re one of the premier, most successful college baseball programs in the entire country.” — Schnall.

Arizona (44-19)

Coach: Chip Hale (152-93 in 4 years at Arizona and overall).

Road to Omaha: Won Eugene Regional: beat Cal Poly 3-2, beat Utah Valley 14-4, beat Cal Poly 14-0. Won Chapel Hill Super Regional: lost to North Carolina 11-2, beat North Carolina 10-8, beat North Carolina 4-3.

2025 record vs. CWS teams: 0-1.

Last CWS appearance: 2021.

All-time record in CWS: 43-32 in 18 appearances (won national titles in 1976, 1980, 1986, 2012).

Meet the Wildcats: C Adonys Guzman (.318, 8 HRs, 42 RBIs), 1B Tommy Splaine (.290, 5, 25), 2B Garen Caulfield (.262, 8, 43), SS Mason White (.332, 19, 72), 3B Maddox Mihalakis (.278, 5, 35), LF Easton Breyfogle (.248, 5, 31) or TJ Adams (.167, 0, 7), CF Aaron Walton (.320, 14, 49), RF Brendan Summerhill (.358, 4, 34), DH Andrew Cain (.245, 6, 22). RHP Owen Kramkowski (9-6, 5.48 ERA), RHP Raul Garayzar (2-0, 2.81), RHP Smith Bailey (3-3, 4.01). Relievers: RHP Tony Pluta (3-0, 1.26, 14 saves), RHP Garrett Hicks (5-0, 5.61), RHP Julian Tonghini (4-2, 4.26), RHP Casey Hintz (7-4, 5.53), RHP Michael Hilker Jr. (2-1, 6.45), RHP Hunter Alberini (1-0, 3.48), RHP Matthew Martinez (3-0, 4.42), RHP Collin McKinney (0-2, 3.98), LHP Eric Orloff (1-0, 5.14).

MLB alumni: Kenny Lofton, J.T. Snow, Tony Clark, Ron Hassey, Scott Erickson, Dan Meyer, Trevor Hoffman, Nick Hundley, Jack Howell, Casey Candaele, Terry Francona, Gil Heredia, Hank Leiber, Craig Lefferts, Joe Magrane, Mark Melancon.

Short hops: Wildcats are back in Omaha for first time since going 0-2 in the 2021 CWS under current LSU coach Jay Johnson. Dawson Netz, who made relief appearances in both games, is a graduate manager. … Hale played on Arizona’s 1986 championship team. … White’s 48 career homers rank second in program history. The Tucson native has hit 35 of them at road or neutral sites. … Wildcats’ 36 triples lead nation. … Pluta’s 14 saves are a school record.

Quotable: “We’re going to go there, put our best foot forward and try to win our fifth national championship.” — Hale.

Louisville (40-22)

Coach: Dan McDonnell (791-357-1 in 19 years at Louisville and overall).

Road to Omaha: Won Nashville Regional: beat East Tennessee State 8-3, beat Vanderbilt 3-2, beat Wright State 6-0. Won Louisville Super Regional: beat Miami 8-1, lost 9-6 to Miami, beat Miami 3-2.

2025 record vs. CWS teams: 1-0.

Last CWS appearance: 2019.

All-time record in CWS: 4-10 in 5 appearances.

Meet the Cardinals: C Matt Klein (.327, 5 HRs, 30 RBIs), 1B Tague Davis (.286, 18, 50), 2B Kamau Neighbors (.250, 0, 16), SS Alex Alicea (.310, 1, 24), 3B Jake Munroe (.345, 12, 58), LF Zion Rose (.315, 12, 63) or Eddie King Jr. (.362, 17, 60), CF Lucas Moore (.353, 5, 48), RF Garret Pike (.294, 4, 39) or King, DH Rose or Pike. Starting pitchers: RHP Patrick Forbes (4-2, 4.36 ERA), RHP Tucker Biven (3-0, 4.19), LHP Ethan Eberle (6-2, 4.34). Relievers: RHP Brennyn Cutts (3-1, 4.89), LHP Justin West (2-2, 6.12), LHP Wyatt Danilowicz (0-1, 2.25), RHP Jack Brown (5-5, 6.69), LHP Ty Starke (1-0, 8.50), RHP Jake Schweitzer (4-2, 2.15).

MLB alumni: Adam Duvall, Will Smith, Adam Engel, Nick Solak, Chad Green, Sean Green, Reid Detmers, Tyler Fitzgerald, Kyle Funkhouser, Matt Koch.

Short hops: Cardinals are 5-1 in the NCAA Tournament after entering regionals coming off losses in six of seven games. … King is on a tear, having gone 12 for 22 (.545) with two homers, three doubles and eight RBIs in six tournament games. …Moore leads the nation with 51 stolen bases and has been caught stealing just once. … A thumb injury has forced Alicea, a switch hitter, to bat left-handed exclusively since the start of May. … Biven moved from the closer’s role to weekend starter in May. He has received a no-decision in all four starts but allowed just five earned runs over 17 1/3 innings.

Quotable: “We’re going to Omaha to win it all. We’re not just going there just to play.” — King.

Oregon State (47-14-1)

Coach: Mitch Canham (223-101-1 in 6 years at Oregon State and overall).

Road to Omaha: Won Corvallis Regional: lost to Saint Mary’s 6-4, beat TCU 7-2, beat Saint Mary’s 20-3, beat Southern California 14-1, beat Southern California 9-0. Won Corvallis Super Regional: beat Florida State 5-4 in 10 innings, lost to Florida State 3-1, beat Florida State 14-10.

2025 record vs. CWS teams: 1-0.

Last CWS appearance: 2018.

All-time record in CWS: 21-12 in 7 appearances (won national titles in 2006, 2007, 2018).

Meet the Beavers: C Wilson Weber (.333, 12 HRs, 57 RBIs), 1B Jacob Krieg (.251, 13, 35), 2B AJ Singer (.309, 3, 39), SS Aiva Arquette (.354, 18, 65), 3B Trent Caraway (.270, 12, 47), LF Gavin Turley (.346, 19, 66), CF Canon Reeder (.303, 8, 35), RF Easton Talt (.265, 7, 35) or Carson McEntire (.263, 4, 10), DH Tyce Peterson (.282, 5, 19). Starting pitchers: RHP Dax Whitney (6-3, 3.66 ERA), LHP Ethan Kleinschmit (8-4, 3.54), RHP James DeCremer (3-0, 5.34). Relievers: LHP Nelson Keljo (3-2, 3.74), RHP AJ Hutcheson (3-0, 4.00), RHP Kellan Oakes (4-0, 3.60), RHP Laif Palmer (2-0, 2.12), RHP Wyatt Queen (3-1, 3.35), RHP Eric Segura (8-2, 4.76), RHP Zach Kmatz (2-0, 4.21).

MLB alumni: Jacoby Ellsbury, Michael Conforto, Darwin Barney, Bob Forsch, Steven Kwan, Adley Rutschman, Ken Forsch, Trevor Larnach, Matthew Boyd, Drew Rasmussen.

Short hops: The Beavers surpassed 100 home runs for the second consecutive season. The 103 are the second-most in program history, trailing the 2024 club’s 118. … Five home runs in Game 3 of the super regional were a postseason program record. … Beavers are 5-1 in elimination games this postseason. … Talt has walked 62 times, fifth-most in the country.

Quotable: “When we’re all hitting, it’s dangerous. No one can really compete with us.” — Caraway.

Murray State (44-15)

Coach: Dan Skirka (209-150 in 7 seasons at Murray State and overall).

Road to Omaha: Won Oxford Regional: beat Mississippi 9-6, beat Georgia Tech 13-11, lost to Mississippi 19-8, beat Mississippi 12-11. Won Durham Super Regional: lost to Duke 7-4, beat Duke 19-9, beat Duke 5-4.

2025 record against CWS teams: 0-0.

Last CWS appearance: None.

All-time record in CWS: 0-0.

Meet the Racers: C Will Vierling (.316, 10 HRs, 52 RBIs), 1B Luke Mistone (.340, 4, 53), 2B Dom Decker (.361, 0, 48), SS Conner Cunningham (.257, 7, 38), 3B Carson Garner (.281, 17, 59), LF Dan Tauken (.257, 11, 76), CF Jonathan Hogart (.339, 22, 65), RF Dustin Mercer (.356, 0, 39), DH Nico Bermeo (.305, 1, 7). Starting pitchers: RHP Nic Schutte (8-4, 4.85 ERA), RHP Isaac Silva (9-2, 5.09), RHP Kane Elmy (6-2, 4.45). Relievers: RHP Reese Oakley (3-0, 5.64), LHP Dylan Zentko (4-1, 4.38), RHP Graham Kelham (4-1, 4.40, 9 saves), RHP Jacob Hustedde (2-0, 5.09), LHP Ethan Lyke (2-1, 4.64), RHP Jack Wajda (2-3, 5.56).

MLB alumni: Jack Perconte, Kirk Rueter, Pat Jarvis.

Short hops: Only the fourth No. 4 regional seed to reach the CWS, joining Fresno State (2008 national champion), Stony Brook (2012) and Oral Roberts (2023). … This is Racers’ fourth NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2003. … 44 wins are program record. … 10.8 runs per game in NCAA Tournament ranks second. … Hogart has hit a nation-leading eight of his 22 homers to lead off a game. … Kelham has recorded four saves and one win over his last five appearances, and his nine saves are a program record.

Quotable: “Hopefully, it motivates everybody. This team could do it with 28 newcomers and three new coaches. Came together and hit their stride at the right time.” — Skirka.

UCLA (47-16)

Coach: John Savage (723-479-2 in 21 seasons at UCLA; 811-563-3 in 24 seasons overall).

Road to Omaha: Won Los Angeles Regional: beat Fresno State 19-4, beat Arizona State 11-5, beat UC Irvine 8-5. Won Los Angeles Super Regional: beat UTSA 5-2, beat UTSA 7-0.

2025 record vs. CWS teams: 0-1.

Last CWS appearance: 2013.

All-time record in CWS: 9-9 in 5 appearances (won 2013 national title).

Meet the Bruins: C Cashel Dugger (.276, 3 HRs, 25 RBIs), 1B Mulivai Levu (.319, 12, 85), 2B Phoenix Call (.258, 3, 31), SS Roch Cholowsky (.367, 23, 73), 3B Roman Martin (.320, 9, 58), LF Dean West (.315, 4, 40), CF Payton Brennan (.304, 6, 39), RF AJ Salgado (.313, 12, 52), DH Blake Balsz (.246, 1, 24). Starting pitchers: RHP Michael Barnett (12-1, 4.09), RHP Landon Stump (6-1, 4.54), RHP Wylan Moss (2-1, 2.47). Relievers: RHP Jack O’Connor (3-0, 1.80), RHP August Souza (0-0, 5.40), RHP Easton Hawk (1-1, 4.84), LHP Chris Grothues (4-1, 4.94), RHP Cal Randall (2-1, 3.09), LHP Ian May (7-3, 5.00).

MLB alumni: Chris Chambliss, Todd Zeile, Jeff Conine, Bobby Grich, Chase Utley, Eric Karros, Brandon Crawford, Troy Glaus, Jackie Robinson, Don Slaught, Eric Byrnes, Shane Mack, Mike Magnante, Matt Young, Gerrit Cole, Trevor Bauer.

Short hops: Bruins were Big Ten regular-season co-champions in their first season in the league. … Their .372 batting average in the NCAA Tournament ranks first. … UCLA more than doubled its win total from 2024, when it went 19-33. … Cholowsky is Big Ten player of the year and defensive player of the year. … Cholowsky’s 23 home runs are the most by a Bruins player since Forrest Johnson in 2000. … Bruins lead the nation with 63 double plays.

Quotable: “We’re the only team that has gotten to play there. We have played in front of a big crowd there, too, which is useful. Just using that is going to help us.” — Cholowsky, on playing in the Big Ten Tournament at Charles Schwab Field last month.

LSU

(48-15)

Coach: Jay Johnson (185-77 in 4 seasons at LSU; 502-249 in 13 seasons overall).

Road to Omaha: Won Baton Rouge Regional: beat Little Rock 7-0, beat Dallas Baptist 12-0, lost to Little Rock 10-4, beat Little Rock 10-6. Won Baton Rouge Super Regional: beat West Virginia 16-9, beat West Virginia 12-5.

2025 record vs. CWS teams: 2-1.

Last CWS appearance: 2023.

All-time record in CWS: 46-29 in 19 appearances (won national titles in 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2009, 2023).

Meet the Tigers: C Luis Hernandez (.272, 9 HRs, 30 RBIs), 1B Jared Jones (.328, 20, 70), 2B Daniel Dickinson (.312, 12, 48), SS Steven Milam (.290, 11, 55), 3B Michael Braswell III (.201, 2, 17) or Tanner Reaves (.266, 3, 12), LF Derek Curiel (.347, 7, 52), CF Chris Stanfield (.309, 1, 28), RF Josh Pearson (.297, 7, 32) or Jake Brown (.315, 8, 44), DH Ethan Frey (.340, 13, 49). Starting pitchers: LHP Kade Anderson (10-1, 3.58 ERA), RHP Anthony Eyanson (11-2, 2.74), RHP Jaden Noot (2-1, 4.26). Relievers: LHP DJ Primeaux (0-0, 3.86), RHP William Schmidt (7-0, 4.73), RHP Maverick Ritzy (0-0, 4.74), LHP Cooper Williams (0-1, 1.83), RHP Chase Shores (5-3, 5.24), RHP Casan Evans (4-1, 1.90), RHP Zac Cowan (3-3, 3.09), LHP Conner Ware (4-1, 5.48).

MLB alumni: Joe Adcock, DJ LeMahieu, Aaron Hill, Albert Belle, Todd Walker, Ben McDonald, Alex Bregman, Brad Hawpe, Ryan Theriot, Russ Springer, Kevin Gausman, Jason Vargas, Warren Morris, Austin Nola, Paul Byrd, Aaron Nola, Mark Guthrie.

Short hops: Tigers went 2-1 this season against Arkansas, their opening opponent. … Tigers have second-highest all-time NCAA Tournament winning percentage (.708, 182-75). … Anderson’s 163 strikeouts are most among CWS pitchers and rank second nationally. Eyanson’s 135 Ks rank third. … Pitching staff is in top 10 nationally in ERA (3.80), hits allowed per nine innings (7.34) and strikeouts per nine innings (11.9).

Quotable: “Everyone just plays for each other. We know we’re a team and if we don’t get the job done, the guys behind us or the guy in front of us is going to protect us and get it done for us. Everyone genuinely cares about each other.” — Eyanson.

Arkansas (48-13)

Coach: Dave Van Horn (931-470 in 23 seasons at Arkansas; 1,516-710 in 38 seasons overall).

Road to Omaha: Won Fayetteville Regional: beat North Dakota State 62, beat Creighton 12-1, beat Creighton 8-3. Won Fayetteville Super Regional: beat Tennessee 4-3, beat Tennessee 11-4.

2025 record vs. CWS teams: 1-2.

Last CWS appearance: 2022.

All-time record in CWS: 18-22 in 11 appearances.

Meet the Razorbacks: C Ryder Helfrick (.320, 14 HRs, 36 RBIs), 1B Reese Robinett (.276, 2, 12), 2B Cam Kozeal (.346, 15, 62), SS Wehiwa Aloy (.348, 20, 64), 3B Brent Iredale (.289, 14, 56), LF Charles Davalan (.355, 14, 59), CF Justin Thomas Jr. (.278, 9, 35), RF Logan Maxwell (.360, 13, 35), DH Kuhio Aloy (.330, 13, 70). Starting pitchers: LHP Zach Root (8-5, 3.59 ERA), RHP Aiden Jimenez (4-1, 3.66), RHP Gage Wood (3-1, 5.02). Relievers: RHP Ben Bybee (3-0, 4.38), RHP Steele Eaves (1-0, 1.86), LHP Colin Fisher (3-0, 4.62), RHP Gabe Gaeckle (4-2, 4.76), LHP Parker Coil (3-0, 1.27), LHP Landon Beidelschies (4-0, 4.92), RHP Will McEntire (1-0, 2.59), RHP Dylan Carter (6-0, 2.18).

MLB alumni: Kevin McReynolds, Eric Hinske, Jeff King, Andrew Benintendi, Les Lancaster, Tom Pagnozzi, Ryne Stanek, Blake Parker, Drew Smyly, Cliff Lee, Dallas Keuchel, Colin Poche, Jalen Beeks, Robert Person, Tim Lollar.

Short hops: No. 3 Razorbacks are the highest remaining national seed. … Wehiwa Aloy is the SEC player of the year. His first name means “prized one” in Hawaiian. He leads the team with 20 homers and is among seven Arkansas players with double-digit homers. … Hogs’ 123 homers are program record and fifth in the country. … Arkansas has had at least one player selected in each of the past 50 MLB drafts dating back to 1975.

Quotable: “We want to win a natty bad for him. He deserves it. So yeah, we’ll give it all we got in Omaha for him, for sure,” Davalan, on Van Horn.

Poll shows broad support for vaccines, rising concern over decline in childhood immunizations

Poll shows broad support for vaccines, rising concern over decline in childhood immunizations

RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) — A new national poll is revealing a rare point of agreement among American voters across the political spectrum: strong support for keeping FDA-approved vaccines accessible. The survey, conducted by the Partnership to Fight Infectious Disease, also highlights growing alarm over declining childhood vaccination rates in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Candace DeMatteis, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy for the organization, says the findings point to both a shared commitment to public health and a concern that momentum is slipping.

“Sixty-nine percent say they’re very concerned about declining vaccination rates in the U.S.,” said DeMatteis. “But it is important also—as our polls show—a vast majority of people do follow through on the recommendations their healthcare providers give them and they get vaccinated.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), childhood immunizations save around four million lives globally each year. Looking ahead, the agency estimates that the measles vaccine alone could save nearly 19 million lives by 2030, with the hepatitis B vaccine projected to save another 14 million.

Even with an overall high uptake, DeMatteis says the survey confirmed that misinformation and distrust continue to chip away at confidence in vaccines. Still, she says personal relationships with medical professionals make a key difference.

“There is a lot of mistrust, and COVID helped spread that,” said DeMatteis. “But people still do very much trust their personal healthcare provider. It makes sense—the person who knows the medicine, the science, and knows you is the one best equipped to recommend what fits you.”

The Partnership’s data also shows that support for future vaccine development remains high. Respondents overwhelmingly favored continued innovation in medical science, including the creation of new vaccines—something DeMatteis says is especially important for maintaining U.S. leadership in health and technology.

“They see the U.S. as an innovator,” she said. “North Carolina is a great example of that in terms of medical innovation, and they wanted to see that maintained. That ensures us early access and supports the jobs that come with it.”

In North Carolina, the measles vaccination rate for children currently stands at 93.8%—slightly below the CDC-recommended 95% threshold but still ahead of many other states. DeMatteis says maintaining and improving those numbers will require continued focus and public outreach.

Data from the CDC also shows that every dollar spent on immunization in low- and middle-income countries saves $52 in future healthcare costs. The cost to fully immunize a child in those regions has fallen from over $24 in 2013 to just $18 today.

As public health leaders work to counteract vaccine hesitancy and misinformation, advocates say the message is simple: staying protected saves lives—and unity around science may be one of the nation’s strongest tools moving forward.

Invasive Alabama bass threaten native fish and tournaments across North Carolina

Invasive Alabama bass threaten native fish and tournaments across North Carolina

RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) — A fast-spreading invasive fish is raising alarms across North Carolina—and wildlife officials say it’s already threatening some of the state’s most popular game fish. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is warning anglers to be on the lookout for Alabama bass, an aggressive species now turning up in waters far beyond where it was first spotted.

Kin Hodges, Fisheries Biologist with the Commission, says the issue isn’t just about where these fish are—but what they’re doing to native species.

“Alabama bass are a close relative of two of our most popular sport fish in the state: the largemouth bass and the smallmouth bass,” said Hodges. “And they have a unique ability to degrade the populations of both of those species to a tremendous level.”

The largemouth bass can be found statewide, while smallmouth bass are typically concentrated in North Carolina’s foothills and mountain regions. Both have long been staples of the state’s sport fishing culture—but that balance is being disrupted.

Originally detected in a lake along the North Carolina-Georgia border in the 1980s, Alabama bass seemed to remain confined to one area for years. But that changed in the early 2000s, when anglers began illegally moving them to new lakes—most notably, Lake Norman.

“They got put in Lake Norman and they took off,” said Hodges. “That seemed to really set off a chain reaction of people continuing to take them from Lake Norman and moving them to more and more lakes.”

The expansion has been swift and widespread. Alabama bass have now been reported from the mountains to the central Piedmont and even down toward the coast.

“Those are through a combination of intentional introductions where fishermen are continuing to move them and release them on purpose,” said Hodges. “But also just the fact that a lot of our lakes and dams are on river systems—so once you put them into a certain lake, they’re not going to stay there.”

Because the fish can move downstream through dams and into river systems, containing their spread has become increasingly difficult. Wildlife officials say it’s also becoming more challenging to assess just how much harm the Alabama bass are doing.

Adding to the concern is the potential economic impact—especially on North Carolina’s summer bass fishing tournaments. According to Hodges, Alabama bass tend to be smaller, which could alter the competitive landscape.

“A largemouth bass—on a good lake—a tournament fisherman might average catching three-to-four pounders,” he explained. “On your average lake with Alabama bass, that number might be one-to-two pounds.”

That kind of change matters in tournaments, where the biggest catch is everything.

As the Alabama bass continues to push into new waters, state wildlife officials are urging anglers to avoid moving fish between lakes and report any unusual catches. The commission hopes increased awareness will slow the spread of a species that’s quickly shifting the balance in North Carolina’s waterways.

Disney to pay almost $439 million to take full control of streaming service Hulu

Disney to pay almost $439 million to take full control of streaming service Hulu

By MICHELLE CHAPMAN AP Business Writer

Disney will pay Comcast’s NBCUniversal nearly $439 million for its stake in Hulu, taking full control of the streaming service.

The move closes out an appraisal process that’s dragged on for a few years. Disney said in November 2023 that it was acquiring a 33% stake in Hulu from Comcast for at least $8.6 billion. That amount reflected Hulu’s guaranteed floor value of $27.5 billion, according to a regulatory filing.

Disney has run Hulu since 2019, when Comcast ceded its authority to Disney and effectively became a silent partner.

Hulu began in 2007 and quickly evolved into as a service backed by entertainment conglomerates who hoped to stave off the internet with an online platform for their own TV shows. Disney joined in 2009, planning to offer shows from ABC, ESPN and the Disney Channel. A decade later, Disney gained majority control of the business when it acquired 21st Century Fox.

Disney said in a regulatory filing on Monday that its appraiser arrived at a valuation below the guaranteed floor value during the initial phase of the appraisal process, while NBCUniversal’s appraiser arrived at a valuation substantially in excess of the guaranteed floor value.

A third appraiser was brought in and concluded that The Walt Disney Co. will pay $438.7 million for the Hulu stake.

“We are pleased this is finally resolved. We have had a productive partnership with NBCUniversal, and we wish them the best of luck,” Disney CEO Bob Iger said in a statement. “Completing the Hulu acquisition paves the way for a deeper and more seamless integration of Hulu’s general entertainment content with Disney+ and, soon, with ESPN’s direct-to-consumer product, providing an unrivaled value proposition for consumers.”

The transaction is anticipated to close by July 24. It’s not expected to impact Disney’s fiscal 2025 adjusted earnings forecast.

Shares of Disney rose slightly in morning trading on Tuesday.

North Carolina auto insurance rates are going up 5% on average in settlement

North Carolina auto insurance rates are going up 5% on average in settlement

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina automobile insurance rates are poised to increase statewide by a 5% average this fall as part of an agreement reached between state regulators and the insurance industry.

The settlement announced on Monday by Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey is lower than the average 22.6% rate increase for private passenger vehicles that had been originally requested in February by the North Carolina Rate Bureau, which represents insurance companies. The bureau’s requested average rate in an updated March filing increased to 23%, the state Insurance Department said.

Without a settlement, the industry was headed to a scheduled Sept. 22 rate hearing in which a hearing officer would have considered the bureau’s premium rate level request. That hearing is now canceled.

The rate changes will take effect on new and renewed policies starting Oct. 1.

“With factors such as distracted driving, excessive speeding and increased automobile repair costs putting upward pressure on insurance rates, I am happy that we were able to hold the average increase to 5%,” Causey said in a news release. The automobile premium rates will remain among the lowest in the nation, the Republican elected commissioner said.

The agreement also includes an average statewide 16.3% decrease on motorcycle liability insurance rates.

The bureau’s previous rate filing in 2023 ultimately resulted in a settlement that led to an overall average 4.5% increase per year for two years.

Judge dismisses Justin Baldoni’s $400M lawsuit against ‘It Ends With Us’ costar Blake Lively

Judge dismisses Justin Baldoni’s $400M lawsuit against ‘It Ends With Us’ costar Blake Lively

By MICHAEL HILL Associated Press

A judge on Monday dismissed the lawsuit that actor and director Justin Baldoni filed against his “It Ends With Us” costar Blake Lively after she sued him last year for sexual harassment and retaliation.

U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Liman’s decision is the latest development in the bitter legal battle surrounding the dark romantic film.

Baldoni and production company Wayfarer Studios countersued in January for $400 million, accusing Lively and her husband, “Deadpool” actor Ryan Reynolds, of defamation and extortion.

The New York judge ruled that Baldoni can’t sue Lively for defamation over claims she made in her legal claim, because allegations made in a lawsuit are exempt from libel claims. Liman also ruled that Baldoni’s claims that Lively stole creative control of the film didn’t count as extortion under California law.

The judge, however, said Baldoni could revise the lawsuit if he wanted to pursue different claims related to whether Lively breached or interfered with a contract. His legal team indicated it planned to do so.

“Ms. Lively and her team’s predictable declaration of victory is false,” one of Baldoni’s lawyers, Bryan Freedman, said in a statement. He said that Lively’s claims that she was sexually harassed on the film set, and then subjected to a secret smear campaign intended to taint her reputation, were “no truer today than they were yesterday.”

“It Ends With Us,” an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling 2016 novel that begins as a romance but takes a dark turn into domestic violence, was released in August, exceeding box office expectations with a $50 million debut. But the movie’s release was shrouded by speculation over discord between Lively and Baldoni.

The judge also dismissed Baldoni’s defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, which had reported on Lively’s sexual harassment allegations.

“Today’s opinion is a total victory and a complete vindication for Blake Lively, along with those that Justin Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties dragged into their retaliatory lawsuit, including Ryan Reynolds, (publicist) Leslie Sloane and The New York Times,” Lively’s attorneys, Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb, said in a prepared statement.

The lawyers said they “look forward to the next round” of seeking attorneys’ fees, treble damages and punitive damages.

A spokesperson for The New York Times said they were “grateful to the court for seeing the lawsuit for what it was: a meritless attempt to stifle honest reporting.”

“Our journalists went out and covered carefully and fairly a story of public importance, and the court recognized that the law is designed to protect just that sort of journalism,” Charlie Stadtlander said in an emailed statement.

Lively appeared in the 2005 film “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” and the TV series “Gossip Girl” from 2007 to 2012 before starring in films including “The Town” and “The Shallows.”

Baldoni starred in the TV comedy “Jane the Virgin,” directed the 2019 film “Five Feet Apart” and wrote “Man Enough,” a book challenging traditional notions of masculinity.

Dick Vitale has an extension with ESPN — and a college basketball event in his honor

Dick Vitale has an extension with ESPN — and a college basketball event in his honor

By AARON BEARD AP Basketball Writer

Dick Vitale is inextricably intertwined with college basketball, with his iconic voice, exuberant style and enthusiastic catchphrases melding into a soundtrack for nearly five decades of the sport’s history.

And the broadcasting great’s influence is sticking around next season, too, both in person on game days and through an addition to the college basketball calendar named in his honor.

ESPN announced Monday that Vitale has signed a contract through the 2027-28 season, while ESPN Events is launching the Dick Vitale Invitational — the first matchup being a season-opening tilt between Duke and Texas on Nov. 4 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Fittingly, the announcement comes on the 86th birthday of the affectionately known “Dickie V,” and months after Vitale returned to the airwaves after being gone for two years amid a fourth battle with cancer. The Basketball Hall of Famer, also a former college and NBA coach, has been with ESPN since its 1979 launch and called the network’s first college basketball broadcast.

“So many times, awards and honors come to people after they’re long gone,” Vitale said in an interview with The Associated Press. “And to get it while you’re living is just a great, great feeling.”

Vitale’s career is built around his zeal for college basketball, one familiar for fans who have grown up watching games called by Vitale. That style is so authentically distinctive that it can come only from Vitale himself, down to his catchphrases like calling freshmen “Diaper Dandies” and imploring coaches to “better get a TO, baby!” at key moments.

“I think for a lot of people, he represents the voice of the sport,” said Clint Overby, vice president of ESPN Events. “For a lot people he embodies all that’s great about the sport. So we’re excited to do this with him and excited he agreed to participate.”

Paying tribute

Overby said discussions about a Vitale-named event had been tossed around going back years, with conversations reaching Vitale in recent months in what Vitale called “a shock.”

ESPN Events is partnering with the Charlotte Sports Foundation after they worked together previously on the Jumpman Invitational and Ally Tipoff events for men’s and women’s college basketball in Charlotte. After the Duke-Texas game, Overby said, ESPN Events will evaluate how the Invitational will evolve with scheduling, format and even the potential to involve multiple nights in multiple cities.

Overby believes it’s a worthy tribute to the man who welcomed him to college basketball as Overby watched games on TV while growing up in Wisconsin.

“I’d turn on a late-night basketball game and he would be there,” Overby said. “So for a lot of years, he was kind of my window into that world. And I’m not alone. I think he provided that voice of the sport to so many people as the sport and TV were emerging together.”

Getting back

Vitale sounds eager to get back to courtside this fall, calling it “the best medicine in the world” to join partners like Dave O’Brien and Dan Shulman.

“I feel really good,” Vitale said. “I really do.”

Vitale had surgery last summer to remove cancerous lymph nodes from his neck. He was previously treated for melanoma and lymphoma, and had radiation treatments last year for vocal cord cancer. He described feeling “trapped” afterward not being able to speak, leaving him to scribble eraser board messages to communicate.

“I tell people: ‘If you know somebody battling cancer, really take a moment, send them a text message, something encouraging, send them a prayer,” Vitale said. “Because I know what it did for me. It lifted me big time in some of my darkest moments.”

Now he calls himself “fortunate,” “blessed” and “lucky” while offering thanks to family and ESPN for supporting his recovery.

He announced he was cancer-free in December, returned Feb. 8 for Clemson’s home win against Duke, then became emotional during the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament in March when telling colleagues live that it felt “like a miracle to sit here with you guys.”

Looking ahead

It’s among several ways cancer has touched Vitale, a longtime fundraiser for cancer research. He notably helped friend Jim Valvano to the stage at the 1993 ESPYs, where Valvano delivered his famous “Don’t give up” speech, then helped him off with now-retired Duke Hall of Fame men’s coach Mike Krzyzewski. Valvano died of adenocarcinoma less than two months later.

The V Foundation announced last month that the 20th annual gala in Vitale’s name had raised $12.5 million for pediatric cancer research in the past year and more than $105 million in its history — continuing work Vitale said “might be the greatest achievement of my life.”

As for broadcasting, Vitale said he’d love to reach the 50-year milestone with ESPN in 2029.

“I do it because I love it and I feel mentally sharp enough to do it,” Vitale said. “I would never do it if I was at a point in my life I couldn’t remember names, didn’t know players, teams, coaches, strategy. But I feel so strong about that.

“So many people would say to me, ‘Dick, you’ve made enough, you’ve had enough success, why don’t you just relax?’ They don’t realize: It is relaxing! Every game for me is relaxing!”

Black Cow

Black Cow

Black Cow

Photo by Getty Images

Black Cow Recipe from Food.

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: n/a

Serving size: 1 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 scoops vanilla ice cream
  • 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup
  • 1 1⁄2ounces whipped cream
  • 10 ounces root beer

Directions

  1. Pour root beer over ice cream and chocolate syrup in a large glass. Garnish with whipped cream and maraschino cherry.

Recent News

Powered By SoCast