Threats directed at Astros' Lance McCullers came from bettor overseas, according to Houston police

Threats directed at Astros' Lance McCullers came from bettor overseas, according to Houston police

The person who sentonline death threatstoHouston AstrospitcherLance McCullers, mentioning his two children in the messages, has been identified as an overseas sports bettor, the Houston Police Department revealed on Monday. No charges have been filed in the investigation, but are still being considered, according to an HPD spokesperson. The identity and location of the suspect were not disclosed. However, the man apparently told police that he had gambled on an Astros game, lost money and was intoxicated when he sent the threats to McCullers. Additionally, the suspect expressed remorse for his actions and asked for an apology to be relayed to McCullers and his family, the police spokesperson said. While the investigation is still open as charges are being considered, Houston police appear to have reached a conclusion in the case. McCullers received the threats after allowing seven runs in 1/3 of an inning duringhis May 10 startagainst theCincinnati Reds. He faced eight batters in his second appearance since returning fromflexor tendon surgeryin June 2023. After McCullers received the threats, he alerted Astros management to ask what could be done, and team owner Jim Crane hired 24-hour security for him,the Associated Press reported. Additionally, the team notified MLB security and the HPD. McCullers alsodeleted his account on X. Though the person threatening McCullers and his children has apparently been identified by police, the incident drew attention to the increasing online abuse MLB players (and other professional athletes) are receiving on a regular basis. The escalating amount of the threats is attributed to legalized sports betting and fans lashing out at players for wagers being lost. Boston Red SoxrelieverLiam Hendriksspoke out against such threats afterhe and his wife were threatenedon social media afterhe gave up three runsduring a May 21 game versus theNew York Mets. Consequently, MLB teams have taken measures to identify such fans. Finding them can be difficult, but Houston police were obviously successful in tracking down the person threatening McCullers. Otherwise, the Astros and Red Sox have increased security and police presence in sections where players' families are seated at home and road games, along with traveling parties.

byMario Satorik

in

June 02, 2025

Threats directed at Astros' Lance McCullers came from bettor overseas, according to Houston police

Threats directed at Astros' Lance McCullers came from bettor overseas, according to Houston police The person who sentonline death threa...

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Indiana Fever sign Aari McDonald as emergency player after Caitlin Clark injury

Indiana Fever sign Aari McDonald as emergency player after Caitlin Clark injury

WithCaitlin Clark still out with an injury, and other players on the roster getting banged up, theIndiana Feverhave added a guard to help. Indiana signed Aari McDonald Monday via an emergency hardship exception. The exception allows any WNBA team to sign a player immediately if it has less than 10 game-eligible players available at any time during the season. The signing comes asClark remains sidelined due to a left quadriceps strainthat was announced following the loss to the New York Liberty on May 25. The 2024 WNBA rookie of the year will miss at least two weeks with her first possible game back onJune 10at theAtlanta Dream. Clark isn't the only injured player the Fever have. Sophie Cunningham and Sydney Colson were injured in the team's loss to Connecticut Sun on Friday, leaving Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull as the only healthy point guards for Indiana, paving the way for the Fever to sign McDonald. "When I got the call I was very excited, very blessed," McDonald said Monday. "It's a humbling experience to join a team like the Fever, and I'm excited, ready to compete and just win." Indiana is 2-4 on the season and is on a three-game losing streak. McDonald burst onto the scene as a member of the Arizona Wildcats after starting her college career at Washington. She had a memorable senior season in Tucson as she was named Pac-12 player of the year and led Arizona to its first Final Four appearance in the 2021 NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats advanced to the national championship and lost by one-point to Stanford. She was drafted third overall in the 2021 WNBA Draft by the Atlanta Dream and was named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team in her first season. McDonald played three seasons in Atlanta before she was traded to theLos Angeles Sparksprior to the 2024 season. She played in 26 games for Los Angeles and was released by the team before the start of the 2025 season. In four years in the league, McDonald has averaged 8.6 points, 2.8 assists and 2 rebounds per game. The Indiana Fever host the Washington Mystics on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The game will be televised on NBA TV and can be streamed on WNBA League Pass. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Indiana Fever sign Aari McDonald with Caitlin Clark, others injured

byMario Satorik

in

June 02, 2025

Indiana Fever sign Aari McDonald as emergency player after Caitlin Clark injury

Indiana Fever sign Aari McDonald as emergency player after Caitlin Clark injury WithCaitlin Clark still out with an injury, and other player...

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State Department could have an 'Office of Remigration': What is it?

State Department could have an 'Office of Remigration': What is it?

The Trump administration last week formally notified Congress of its plans for a sweeping reorganization of the State Department, which could include the establishment of an office focused on returning migrants living in the U.S. to their countries of origin. It is one of several overhauls spearheaded bySecretary of State Marco Rubioas he marches forward with a broad reorganization of the State Department, first announced in April. It would also include a cut to thousands of jobs, refocus the agency's human rights bureau on "Western values" and either restructure or eliminate 300 of the department's 734 bureaus and offices, according toReuters' review of the May 29 congressional notification. In astatementthe day of the notification's release to Congress, Rubio said the plan will result in a more "agile" State Department, which will scale back a department he said had grown in terms of bureaucracy and costs without delivering results. "The plan submitted to Congress was the result of thoughtful and deliberative work by senior department leadership," he said. "We have taken into account feedback from lawmakers, bureaus, and long-serving employees." Rubio didn't mention the Office of Remigration in his statement, and the office is not listed on a new chart on the department's website. However, reporting fromCNNandAxiossay there is a proposal within a more detailed notification for an "Office of Remigration," with both outlets independently reporting that it is described as a "hub for immigration issues and repatriation tracking." The proposed office would be one of three new "functional offices" formed from the existing Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, the outletsreported, all consolidated under a (Deputy Assistant Secretary of State) for Migration Matters. The three new offices are to "actively facilitate the voluntary return of migrants to their country of origin or legal status," according to the reporting. The proposed name draws on a term increasingly associated in Europe with the far-right and the rise in ethnonationalist immigration attitudes, especially in Germany and Austria, that calls for mass deportation of primarily non-white immigrants. It has become a shorthand to refer to policy proposals triumphed by some European right-wing parties, extremists and neo-Nazi activists that call for forceful mass deportation of migrants. It attracted buzz in 2023 after ajury of German linguistsnamed in "non-word" of the year in its annual ranking of misleading or inappropriate words that are used to discriminate or gloss over issues. While it has become a euphemism for forced repatriation in several Western and Central European countries, it is a largely unfamiliar term in the American political lexicon. In the final weeks of his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump used the term remigration in a post to the social media site X. "As President I will immediately end the migrant invasion of America. We will stop all migrant flights, end all illegal entries, terminate the Kamala phone app for smuggling illegals (CBP One App), revoke deportation immunity, suspend refugee resettlement, and return Kamala's illegal migrants to their home countries (also known as remigration)," he said inthe post. Contributing: Reuters Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her atkapalmer@usatoday.comand on X @KathrynPlmr. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:What is the State Department's proposed 'Office of Remigration'?

byMario Satorik

in

June 02, 2025

State Department could have an 'Office of Remigration': What is it?

State Department could have an 'Office of Remigration': What is it? The Trump administration last week formally notified Congress of...

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US Senate may work on Russia sanctions bill this month

US Senate may work on Russia sanctions bill this month

By Patricia Zengerle and David Morgan WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Republican leader of the U.S. Senate said on Monday the chamber could begin work this month on a bill imposing stiff sanctions on Russia - and secondary sanctions on countries that trade with Russia - over its war in Ukraine. Majority Leader John Thune said President Donald Trump's administration still hopes for an agreement to end the three-year-old conflict, but the Senate is prepared to help put pressure on Moscow. "We also stand ready to provide President Trump with any tools he needs to get Russia to finally come to the table in a real way," Thune said in a speech opening the Senate. Thune told reporters afterward he has been discussing the sanctions legislation with the White House. The measure would impose 500% tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports. China and India account for about 70% of Russia's international energy business, which helps fund its war effort. The bill, whose lead sponsors are Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, now has at least 82 co-sponsors in the 100-member Senate. Graham said in Kyiv last week he thought the Senate could take up the bill as soon as this week, but Thune did not set that timeframe. "I think right now they're still hopeful they'll be able to strike some sort of a deal. But as you might expect, there's a high level of interest here in the Senate, on both sides of the aisle, and moving on it, and it very well could be something that we would take up in this work period," Thune said. He was referring to the weeks before lawmakers leave Washington ahead of the July 4 Independence Day recess. "We're working with the White House to try and ensure that what we do and when we do it, it works well with the negotiations that they've got under way," Thune said. Graham has said the legislation would impose "bone-breaking sanctions" on Russia and its customers if Moscow does not engage in talks, or if it initiates another effort undermining Ukraine's sovereignty after any peace deal. The measure is a rare example of bipartisanship in the bitterly divided U.S. Congress. Trump appears to be growing increasingly impatient with what he has suggested might be foot-dragging over a wider agreement with Moscow to end the war. To become law, the legislation must pass the Senate and House of Representatives and be signed by Trump. Trump has said he worries more sanctions would hurt prospects for a peace deal. There has been no indication from the House's Republican leaders of any plan to allow a vote on the sanctions package. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; additional reporting by David Morgan; editing by Nia Williams)

byMario Satorik

in

June 02, 2025

US Senate may work on Russia sanctions bill this month

US Senate may work on Russia sanctions bill this month By Patricia Zengerle and David Morgan WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Republican leader of...

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Deion Sanders blasts 'foolish' reports about Shedeur Sanders' professionalism during NFL's pre-draft process

Deion Sanders blasts 'foolish' reports about Shedeur Sanders' professionalism during NFL's pre-draft process

Deion Sanders opened up on Monday about reports that his son and former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders went into pre-draft meetings unprepared and unprofessional. The Colorado head coach and former NFL star who coached his son through college said he was "hurt" by the reports around Shedeur's slide into the fifth round of the NFL Draft to the Cleveland Browns. Sanders made his comments inan interview on Asante Samuel's "Say What Needs To Be Said" podcast. "When you sit up there and say something like he went into a meeting unprepared, like, dude," Deion said. "Shedeur Sanders? Who has had six different coordinators, who has still functioned and went up, leveled up every time we brought somebody new in, and you're going to tell me he was unprepared? "You're going to tell me he had on headphones? Anybody who knows my son understands he's a professional. He's gonna go into a meeting with headphones on? Y'all, come on now." At one point in the pre-draft process, Sanders was projected in media evaluations as a first-round prospect. Reports closer to the draft indicated that Sanders was actually not a first-round talent. Those evaluations bore truth when Sanders dropped into the fifth round. Some of the reasons for Sanders' then-projected slide were purely related to football. By many accounts, including fromYahoo Sports NFL Draft analyst Nate Tice,Sanders didn't possess the elite arm talent, athleticism or size to have warranted a first-round selection. Other reports questioned Sanders' character and professionalism. Deion addressed the latter on Monday, referring to the reports as "some foolish stuff" while citing former sixth-round pick and seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Tom Brady as inspiration for Shedeur. "It did hurt," Deion Sanders said. "But the bible says God uses the foolish things to confound the wise. There was some foolish stuff that went on, but, you know what? That gave them something that they needed. … "Like that edge that Tom had, it gave them the edge that you had, it gave them the edge that I have. Folks said we weren't gonna be nothing. But we had to prove that. That gave them that edge that they needed. Both of them." Some of the reports critical of Sanders' pre-draft preparedness came from legitimate reporting.NFL Network's Tom Pelissero cited an anonymous NFL assistant coachwho called Sanders' interview with his team "the worst formal interview I've ever been in in my life." Others — like the headphones rumor that Deion referenced — appear to have come out of thin air. And Deion appears right be perplexed by it. A "report" with no sourcing attached and no citation stated that Sanders "wore headphones around his neck with music playing throughout the entire interview." The "report" claims to have quoted an NFL head coach andwas shared ad nauseam on random social media accountsenough that it was given an air of legitimacy. Deion chalked the rumors up to people taking "shots at his kids," whom he argued were too savvy and prepared to make those kinds of mistakes. "My kids are built for everything," Deion said. … "We've always been in front of the camera, so they know how to navigate, they know how to handle themselves. "You're not gonna catch them in no foolery or no mess. You're not gonna do that whatsoever."

byMario Satorik

in

June 02, 2025

Deion Sanders blasts 'foolish' reports about Shedeur Sanders' professionalism during NFL's pre-draft process

Deion Sanders blasts 'foolish' reports about Shedeur Sanders' professionalism during NFL's pre-draft process Deion Sanders o...

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'Inside the NBA' will reportedly run as usual with 'extensive' postgame show on ESPN networks

'Inside the NBA' will reportedly run as usual with 'extensive' postgame show on ESPN networks

By almost all previous accounts, ESPN has no plans to interfere with "Inside the NBA" when the iconic studio show transitions from TNT to its own networks next season. Butconcerns linger that ESPN will do something to mess things up, specifically around the timing of the show. Will ESPN — a network that doesn't do dedicated NBA postgame coverage — continue to allow "Inside the NBA" to run as usual after games? Per a report on Monday, it will.Front Office Sports reportedfurther details about the show's move to ESPN's networks starting in the 2025-26 season — most notably that "Inside the NBA" will be allowed "extensive" postgame run after games that air on ESPN networks, including its parent network, ABC. From the report: "There will be an extensive post-game show, say sources. ESPN's goal is to let the post-game segment run as long as it does now on TNT." That's cause for relief for the show's loyal viewers, many of whom have watched some combination of Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal guide and entertain them after NBA games for decades. The show is appointment viewing for fans, even when the games that the show covers are not. Despite that reassurance, there's been legitimate reason for concern that ESPN won't give "Inside the NBA" the runway that it's enjoyed at TNT. ESPN's track record with decisions around NBA studio content is dicey at best and a big reason that chairman Jimmy Pitaro outsourced it to "Inside the NBA" when he saw the chance. Smith raised those concerns inan interview with the New Yorkerafter the TNT/ESPN partnership was announced. "We have the same crew of people doing the show," Smith said. "But the timing: Are we a half hour now? Are we forty-five minutes? Fifteen minutes? "Those are the things that you can control when you own your I.P. But we don't. That was the only part that made me uncomfortable and disheartened, because I felt that the four of us should have went into ABC to negotiate that deal. I'm not saying that our executives don't know how to do that, but we are the I.P. now." Podcaster and former ESPN writer and personality Bomani Jones floated concern about "Inside the NBA" running as a dedicated postgame show on Monday while raising another question: Is ESPN really going to let Charles Barkley speak unfiltered in postgame coverage over the traditional and inherently more conservative airwaves of ABC? Will TNT's 'Inside the NBA' hit the same on ESPN?"If you're not gonna do the Inside the NBA postgame show, you're getting rid of the best part of it."pic.twitter.com/yqIygZDPGt — The Right Time with Bomani Jones (@righttimebomani)June 2, 2025 "My concern about taking 'Inside' to ESPN, ESPN historically has not done postgame shows," Jones said in an edited clip from his show Monday morning. "If you're not gonna do the 'Inside the NBA' postgame show, you're getting rid of the best part. "It doesn't seem like it'll be a gratifying experience. But they also can't put that on ABC. That would be preposterous." There's also the subject ESPN's existing coverage. ESPN has an established postgame routine that features one of its own strongest brands, "SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt." Is ESPN going to preempt Van Pelt in favor of an outsourced product? SVP's show frequently features an immediate postgame interview with the star of the game, which is also the turf of "Inside the NBA." Doing both shows at the same time on different ESPN networks doesn't make much sense. Then there's ESPN's much-maligned existing studio coverage that handles pregame and halftime coverage that's also the turf of the "Inside the NBA" team. ESPN previously announced that "NBA Countdown" and "NBA Today," will continue to air in some form. So "Inside the NBA" isn't fully replacing ESPN's NBA studio coverage. The FOS report didn't address specifics. And ESPN did not comment on how "Inside the NBA will be scheduled." But thanks to its extensive collection of networks, ESPN does have options. If the game airs on ABC, ESPN would have the option of tossing postgame "Inside the NBA" coverage to ESPN. Would it use a similar strategy to juggle "Inside the NBA" with SVP's "SportsCenter"? Airing both in competing time slots on different ESPN networks seems equally preposterous. They're both marquee, spotlight shows that demand access to postgame coverage from the arena. It would appear to be a one or the other decision for ESPN, with Monday's FOS report suggesting that "Inside the NBA" will have priority over SVP in whatever decision is made. But again, ESPN has not confirmed scheduling specifics. It has confirmed in previous statements that "TNT Sports will continue to independently produce 'Inside the NBA'" in addition to providing the following broader framework for when the show will air: "The legendary 'Inside the NBA' studio team will appear on ESPN and ABC surrounding high-profile live events, including ESPN's pregame, halftime and postgame coverage of the NBA Finals on ABC, conference finals, NBA playoffs, all ABC games after January 1, Christmas Day, opening week, the final week of the season and other marquee live events." Will ESPN's established studio show be relegated to covering games that aren't considered "marquee" or "high-profile?" A lot of these questions remain unanswered, perhaps because ESPN hasn't yet figured the details out. Until it does and we see "Inside the NBA" on ESPN's networks, we won't be fully sure what the merger will look like.

byMario Satorik

in

June 02, 2025

'Inside the NBA' will reportedly run as usual with 'extensive' postgame show on ESPN networks

'Inside the NBA' will reportedly run as usual with 'extensive' postgame show on ESPN networks By almost all previous account...

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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul gets a primary challenge from Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul gets a primary challenge from Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado

New York Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado launched a Democratic primary challenge against Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday, sayingin a videoannouncing his campaign that the state needs "bold, decisive, transformational leadership." "Let's not drop the ball on figuring out what it is we're fighting for. We believe in facts, truth, liberty, the rule of law and justice for all," Delgado said. "Listen, the powerful and well-connected have their champions. I'm running for governor to be yours." Delgado did not mention Hochul by name in the video. Hetold The New York Times, "People are hurting and New York deserves better leadership." Hochul selected Delgado to be lieutenant governor and her running mate in May 2022, after then-Lt. Gov. Brian Benjaminwas arrestedon charges related to campaign finance fraud. Delgado fueled speculation he could challenge Hochul when heannounced in Februarythat he would not be Hochul's running mate as she seeks another term next year. Delgado and Hochul have had some high-profile disagreements, including when Delgado called on President Joe Biden to end his 2024 re-election bid and said embattled New York Mayor Eric Adams should resign. Delgado was first elected to the House in 2018, winning a crowded primary that year and going on to defeat GOP Rep. John Faso in a competitive district in the Hudson Valley. Delgado could face a tough race against a sitting governor who has already started to build up her campaign, having reported nearly $15.5 million in her campaign account as of Jan. 15. Hochul alsofended off two primary challengersin 2022, easily defeating New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Rep. Tom Suozzi. Suozziposted on Xthat Delgado is "a talented guy, with a great future," but added, "Based upon my experience this may not be the most well-thought out idea!" Democratic Governors Association Executive Director Meghan Meehan-Draper said in a statement that the DGA is "100 percent behind Governor Hochul as she continues to deliver for New York, take on Donald Trump, and build the operation it will take to beat Republicans up and down the ballot in 2026." "For years, Governor Hochul has been underestimated — and each time proved her critics wrong," Meehan-Draper said. Republicans are eyeing New York as a possible pickup opportunity next year, despite its Democratic lean. New York swung toward Donald Trump more than any other state last year as Trump made gains in other blue states. But it is still an uphill climb for Republicans, as Trump still lost it by 13 points last year. GOP Reps. Mike Lawler and Elise Stefanik have been considering running for governor. Stefanik said in a statement that Hochul's "own Lieutenant Governor that she hand picked is now primarying her which shows she has lost support not just from Republicans and Independents, but Democrat New Yorkers as well." "It is time for new leadership to save New York from the decades of catastrophic failed policies of single-party Democrat rule," she added. Lawlerwrote on Xthat Hochul "must be defeated in 2026 and replaced with a Republican Governor who can restore balance and common sense to Albany."

byMario Satorik

in

June 02, 2025

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul gets a primary challenge from Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul gets a primary challenge from Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado New York Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado launched a Democratic pr...

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