Stanley Cup Final players to watch: Can anyone stop Connor McDavid?

Stanley Cup Final players to watch: Can anyone stop Connor McDavid?

TheEdmonton Oilershave some different players from last season's Stanley Cup Final, but their biggest change from 2024 is the experience of going through it before against theFlorida Panthers. "We've done the press conferences, we've answered the question about what it's like to be in the Stanley Cup Final, we know what to expect, we've seen this team before," Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters on Monday. "There's a lot of familiar things about this." Last year, the Panthers won the first three games of the series,the Oilers ralliedto tie it up and Florida won Game 7 on home ice. Edmonton has home ice this time. The Oilers are relatively healthy except forZach Hyman, who had surgeryfor an injury in the conference finals. Forward Connor Brown is ready to return and defenseman Mattias Ekholm came back earlier than expected. Here are 12 players, six per side, to watch in the Stanley Cup Final: The three-time MVP and last season's playoff MVP is leading the league in postseason scoring again. He broke Wayne Gretzky's single-season playoff record last season by finishing with 34 assists. His speed makes him dangerous. He would be the one to lift the Stanley Cup first if the Oilers win and he could win another Conn Smythe Trophy if that happens. He's eligible to receive a contract extension this summer, which would restore him as the league's top-paid player. He led the regular season with 52 goals and is afinalist for the Hart Trophyas MVP to his team. He's one point behind McDavid. Look for the power play to try to set him up in the right faceoff circle. He leads the Oilers with nine points on the power play. He also has drawn notice for his defensive play, finishing sixth in Selke Trophy voting as top defensive forward. He's in the mix for playoff MVP. He hasreceived a contract extensionthat would make him theNHL's highest-paid playernext season. He was the Oilers' No. 1 overall pick in 2011 and had a career-best 104 points in 2022-23. Though he dropped to 49 points this season, he has had a strong postseason. He had two goals and seven assists in the first four games of the Western Conference finals. Bouchard has a booming shot from the point that has to be respected on the power play. He has 17 points in 16 games. He's also prone to turnovers with 28 giveaways this postseason following 128 in the regular season. He's a pending restricted free agent. The key member of the blue line had been out since April 11 with an undisclosed injury. He returned in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals, picking up an assist. "Six weeks ago, I had no clue of where I was going to be at and most people didn't think I was going to be in this position," he told reporters. Knoblauch says the defenseman will be ready to play more than 20 minutes a night against the Panthers. This will be his third final. He played in 2017 with the Nashville Predators. Skinner has had turnarounds in back-to-back postseasons to lead his team to the final. Last season, he sat out several games in the second round. This time, he watched as Calvin Pickard won six in a row. But he has been solid since going back in the net after a Pickard injury in the second round. Skinner's goals-against average, which sat at 6.11 after he was pulled in Game 2 of the first round, is now at 2.53. Three shutouts and two one-goal games will do that. The Panthers captain just picked histhird Selke Trophyand second in a row. He'll likely be deployed against McDavid or Draisaitl. He puts up points (a team-best 17) in addition to his defensive play. He had a beautiful assist in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals. He leads playoff goal scorers with 10 and is also known for his physical play. Sometimes, he's accused ofgoing over the line. The pending unrestricted free agent is on a line with Matthew Tkachuk and Carter Verhaeghe. Reinhart scored the winning goal in Game 7 of last year's final and was Florida's top scorer in the regular season. He was a runner-up in Selke Trophy voting behind Barkov and is a scoring threat when shorthanded. He missed time in the conference finals after a check from Sebastian Aho but had two assists in his return. Histrade from the Boston Bruins was a shockerand he has fit in well with Florida, playing on the third line with Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen. That line was dominant in the second round. Marchand's pesky style also fits in well with the Panthers. He's in the final year of his contract. The 2014 No. 1 overall pick is in the final year of his contract. He has missed four playoff games because of suspensions (two games of a20-game PED banextended into the postseason, plus two more forelbowing Brandon Hagel). Despite that, he leads Panthers defensemen with eight assists, 11 points and 27 shots. He has two Vezina trophies and a Stanley Cup title to his name. And he's playing even better (2.11, .912 save percentage) than he did last postseason. If the Panthers win again, he would be in the mix for playoff MVP. The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments bysubscribing to USA TODAY Sports' newsletter. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Stanley Cup Finals: Panthers, Oilers players to watch

byMario Satorik

in

June 03, 2025

Stanley Cup Final players to watch: Can anyone stop Connor McDavid?

Stanley Cup Final players to watch: Can anyone stop Connor McDavid? TheEdmonton Oilershave some different players from last season's Sta...

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Simone Inzaghi resigns as coach of Inter Milan amid Saudi interest

Simone Inzaghi resigns as coach of Inter Milan amid Saudi interest

MILAN (AP) —The 5-0 rout by Paris Saint-Germainin the Champions League final was Simone Inzaghi's final match in charge ofInter Milan. "The time has come for me to say goodbye to this club after a run of four years during which I gave everything," Inzaghi wrote in a letter to Inter fans on the club website Tuesday. The loss to PSG on Saturday marked the most lopsided defeat in the 70-year history of major European finals. Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal is reportedly trying to lure Inzaghi with an offer of more than 20 million euros ($23 million) per season. Inzaghi coached Inter to the Serie A title last year, and was also in charge when the Nerazzurri lost the 2023 Champions League title to Manchester City. He was at Inter for exactly four years and had one more season remaining on his contract. It's unclear now who will coach Inter at the Club World Cup in the United States starting June 14. Inter opens against Monterrey on June 17 — a day before Al-Hilal opens against Real Madrid. There has been speculation that Inter would go after Cesc Fabregas, who coached Como to a 10th-place finish in Serie A. Inter finished second in the Italian league last month, one point behind champion Napoli. Inter was in the running for a treble until it lost to city rival AC Milan in the Italian Cup semifinals in April. Having also been beaten by Milan in the Italian Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia in January, the Nerazzurri didn't win a trophy this season. The coaching change at Inter is just one ofmany managerial moves among the top Italian teamsthis offseason, with Milan, Roma, Atalanta and others making changes. ___ AP soccer:https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

byMario Satorik

in

June 03, 2025

Simone Inzaghi resigns as coach of Inter Milan amid Saudi interest

Simone Inzaghi resigns as coach of Inter Milan amid Saudi interest MILAN (AP) —The 5-0 rout by Paris Saint-Germainin the Champions League fi...

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Trump lashes out at Sen. Rand Paul over opposition to big tax bill

Trump lashes out at Sen. Rand Paul over opposition to big tax bill

WASHINGTON −President Donald Trumpis lashing out at Republican Sen. Rand Paul, saying his own constituents "can't stand him" over the Kentucky senator's continued opposition tohis tax and domestic policy billthat Trump and GOP leaders are trying to push through the Senate this month. Trump targeted Paul in back-to-back June 3 posts on Truth Social, just minutes after Paul discussed his opposition in a morning appearance on Fox Business by arguing the president's so-called "big, beautiful bill" will increase the debt ceiling by $5 trillion. "Rand Paul has very little understanding of the BBB, especially the tremendous GROWTH that is coming,"Trump wrote. "He loves voting 'NO' on everything, he thinks it's good politics, but it's not. The BBB is a big WINNER!!!" More:Trump's big tax bill moves ahead to potential changes in the Senate Five minutes later,Trump added in a second post: "Rand votes NO on everything, but never has any practical or constructive ideas. His ideas are actually crazy (losers!). The people of Kentucky can't stand him. This is a BIG GROWTH BILL!" The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated the bill, which looks to cement the president's domestic agenda, would add$3.8 trillionto the national debt over the next 10 years. Trump has said he wants Congress to approve the legislation and get it to his desk by July 4after the House voted for the bill along party lineslast month. More:Sen. Rand Paul dismisses GOP budget bill's spending cuts as 'wimpy and anemic' Republican leaders are trying to pass the Senate bill through a filibuster-proof budget process known as reconciliation. It would extend Trump's 2017 tax cuts, implement new tax breaks for tipped wages and overtime, overhaul Medicaid and food stamps and put more money toward Trump's immigrant deportation plan. Paul,in the Fox Business interview, pointed to spending proposals for $175 billion on border enforcement and a $150 billion increase for the military. He said it would offset the cutsthe Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiencymade in the group's push to cut the government. "Something doesn't really add up here,"Paul said. "And I can't be on record as being one who supports increasing the debt by $5 trillion. I think that's irresponsible." Trump warned Paul in a May 31 Truth Social postthat he would be "playing right into the hands of the Democrats"if he votes against the bill. Paul, who has also criticized Trump's aggressive use of tariffs,said on CBS' Face the Nation on June 1that he recently spoke to Trump. "I had a very good conversation with the president this week about tariffs. He did most of the talking, and we don't agree exactly on the outcome." Republicans have a 53-47 majority in the Senate, meaning Trump can lose no more than three Republican senators to pass the bill if no Democrats cross the aisle to support the legislation. In addition to Republicans like Paul worried about the deficit, Trump must alsoease concerns over potential changesto Medicaid voiced by Republican Sens.Susan Collins of Maineand Josh Hawley of Missouri. The bill would cut $625 billion from the low-income health care program while pushing an estimated 7.6 million Americans off coverage, in part by implementing new work requirements for able-bodied adults without children. Other senators such as Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska; John Curtis, R-Utah; and Thom Tillis, R-North Carolina, are worried about the package rolling back renewable energy tax credits implemented under Democrats' Inflation Reduction Act that their states' businesses have benefited from. Contributing: Riley Beggin Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Trump lashes out at Sen. Rand Paul over opposition to tax bill

byMario Satorik

in

June 03, 2025

Trump lashes out at Sen. Rand Paul over opposition to big tax bill

Trump lashes out at Sen. Rand Paul over opposition to big tax bill WASHINGTON −President Donald Trumpis lashing out at Republican Sen. Rand ...

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Republican push for proof of citizenship to vote proves a tough sell in the states

Republican push for proof of citizenship to vote proves a tough sell in the states

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — PresidentDonald Trumpand congressional Republicans have made it a priority this year to require people to prove citizenship before they can register to vote. Turning that aspiration into reality has proved difficult. Trump'sexecutive orderdirecting a documentary,proof-of-citizenship requirementfor federal elections has beenblockedby a judge, whilefederal legislationto accomplish it doesn't appear to have the votes to pass in the Senate. At the same time, state-level efforts have found little success, even in places where Republicans control the legislature and governor's office. The most recent state effort to falter is in Texas, where a Senate bill failed to gain full legislative approval before lawmakers adjourned on Monday. The Texas bill was one of the nation's most sweeping proof-of-citizenship proposals because it would have applied not only to new registrants but also to the state's roughly 18.6 million registered voters. "The bill authors failed spectacularly to explain how this bill would be implemented and how it would be able to be implemented without inconveniencing a ton of voters," said Anthony Gutierrez, director of the voting rights group Common Cause Texas. Voting by noncitizens is rare Voting by noncitizens is already illegal and punishable as a felony, potentially leading to deportation, but Trump and his allies have pressed for aproof-of-citizenship mandateby arguing it would improve public confidence in elections. Before his win last year, Trumpfalsely claimednoncitizensmight votein large enough numbers tosway the outcome. Although noncitizen voting does occur, research andreviews of state caseshas shown itto be rareand more often a mistake. Voting rights groups say the various proposals seeking to require proof-of-citizenship areoverly burdensomeand threaten to disenfranchise millions of Americans. Many do not have easy access to their birth certificates, have not gotten a U.S. passport or have a name that no longer matches the one on their birth certificate — such as women who changed their last name when they married. Married women who changed names are a particular concern The number of states considering bills related to proof of citizenship for voting tripled from 2023 to this year, said Liz Avore, senior policy adviser with the Voting Rights Lab, an advocacy group that tracks election legislation in the states. That hasn't resulted in many new laws, at least so far. Republicans in Wyoming passed their own proof-of-citizenship legislation, but similar measures have stalled or failed in multiple GOP-led states, including Florida, Missouri, Texas and Utah. A proposal remains active in Ohio, although Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, has said he doesn't want to sign any more bills that make it harder to vote. In Texas, the legislation swiftly passed the state Senate after it was introduced in March but never made it to a floor vote in the House. It was unclear why legislation that was such a priority for Senate Republicans – every one of them co-authored the bill -- ended up faltering. "I just think people realized, as flawed as this playbook has been in other states, Texas didn't need to make this mistake," said Rep. John Bucy, a Democrat who serves as vice chair of the House elections committee. Bucy pointed to specific concerns about married women who changed their last name. This surfaced in local elections earlier this yearin New Hampshire, which passed a proof-of-citizenship requirement last year. Similar laws have created confusion Other states that previously sought to add such a requirement have faced lawsuits and complications when trying to implement it. In Arizona, a state audit found that problems with the way data was handled had affected the tracking and verification of residents' citizenship status. It came after officials had identifiedsome 200,000 voterswho were thought to have provided proof of their citizenship but had not. A proof-of-citizenship requirement was in effect for three yearsin Kansasbefore it was overturned by federal courts. The state's own expert estimated that almost all of the roughly 30,000 people who were prevented from registering to vote while it was in effect were U.S. citizens who otherwise had been eligible. In Missouri, legislation seeking to add a proof-of-citizenship requirement cleared a Senate committee but never came to a vote in the Republican-led chamber. Republican state Sen. Ben Brown had promoted the legislation as a follow-up to a constitutional amendment stating that only U.S. citizens can vote, which Missouri voters overwhelmingly approved last November. He said there were several factors that led to the bill not advancing this year. Due to the session's limited schedule, he chose to prioritize another elections bill banning foreign contributions in state ballot measure campaigns. "Our legislative session ending mid-May means a lot of things die at the finish line because you simply run out of time," Brown said, noting he also took time to research concerns raised by local election officials and plans to reintroduce the proof-of-citizenship bill next year. Complications prompt states to focus on other issues The Republican-controlled Legislature in Utah also prioritized other election changes, adding voter ID requirements and requiring people toopt in to receivetheir ballots in the mail. Before Gov. Spencer Cox signed the bill into law, Utah was the only Republican-controlled state that allowed all elections to be conducted by mail without a need to opt in. Under the Florida bill that has failed to advance, voter registration applications wouldn't be considered valid until state officials had verified citizenship, either by confirming a previous voting history, checking the applicant's status in state and federal databases, or verifying documents they provided. The bill would have required voters to prove their citizenship even when updating their registration to change their address or party affiliation. Its sponsor, Republican state Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, said it was meant to follow through on Trump's executive order: "This bill fully answers the president's call," she said. ___ Cassidy reported from Atlanta. Associated Press writers Mead Gruver in Cheyenne, Wyoming; David A. Lieb in Jefferson City, Missouri; Kate Payne in Tallahassee, Florida; Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City; Julie Carr Smyth in Columbus, Ohio; and Isabella Volmert in Lansing, Michigan, contributed to this report.

byMario Satorik

in

June 03, 2025

Republican push for proof of citizenship to vote proves a tough sell in the states

Republican push for proof of citizenship to vote proves a tough sell in the states AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — PresidentDonald Trumpand congression...

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How to watch USWNT friendly vs. Jamaica: TV, time and streaming

How to watch USWNT friendly vs. Jamaica: TV, time and streaming

USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change. The United States Women's National Team is playing its second friendly in a week with a match-up against Jamaica. This game was initially supposed to be against the People's Republic of China, but China informed the Americans that it could only play in the scheduled friendly on May 31 and was unable to complete the two-match series. The last time the two squads played was in the group play of the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship in Monterrey, Mexico. The USWNT qualified for the 2023 World Cup with a 5-0 victory over the Reggae Girlz, with Sophia Smith scoring two goals, and Rose Lavelle, Kristie Mewis, and Trinity Rodman each hitting the back of the net. This will be the sixth matchup all-time between the United States and Jamaica, with the USWNT sporting a 5-0-0 record in those matches, outscoring Jamaica 31-0. When:Tuesday, June 3 Time:8 p.m. ET Where:Energizer Park, St. Louis, Missouri Channel:TNT Streaming: Max,Sling Watch the USWNT with Sling Forwards: Lynn Biyendolo, Michelle Cooper, Catarina Macario, Emma Sears, Ally Sentnor, Alyssa Thompson, Gisele Thompson Defenders: Kerry Abello, Crystal Dunn, Emily Fox, Naomi Girma, Tara McKeown, Avery Patterson, Emily Sams, Emily Sonnett Midfielders: Sam Coffey, Lindsey Heaps, Claire Hutton, Lo'eau LaBonta, Olivia Moultrie, Lily Yohannes Goalkeepers: Phallon Tullis-Joyce, Mandy McGlynn, Claudia Dickey 1994:World Cup qualifying, USWNT 10, Jamaica 0 2008:Olympic qualifying, USWNT 6, Jamaica 0 2018:Concacaf Women's Championship, World Cup qualifying, USWNT 6, Jamaica 0 2021:Friendly, USWNT 4, Jamaica 0 2022:Concacaf W Gold Cup group play, World Cup qualifying, USWNT 5, Jamaica 0 This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:USWNT vs. Jamaica: TV channel, time, stream and how to watch

byMario Satorik

in

June 03, 2025

How to watch USWNT friendly vs. Jamaica: TV, time and streaming

How to watch USWNT friendly vs. Jamaica: TV, time and streaming USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing ...

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Stefon Diggs was once the brightest of stars. What happened to him?

Stefon Diggs was once the brightest of stars. What happened to him?

Editor's note: This story is a part of a series by USA TODAY Sports calledProject: June. We will publish at least one NFL-themed story every day throughout the month because fans know the league truly never sleeps. Do you remember whenStefon Diggswas one of the best wide receivers in the NFL? Do you? Because I do. In 2020, Diggs led all receivers with127 catches and 1,535 receiving yards. He madefour consecutive Pro Bowlswhile with theBuffalo Bills. He was devastating. Absolutely devastating. There was a time, not so long ago, when an argument could have been made that Diggs was the best receiver in football. Then slowly, ever so slowly, things started to change. Or, maybe the better way to put it, is things began to reveal themselves. It should be made clear that Diggs was well liked byBillsteammates and was a relentless worker. But cracks started to show in the relationship between Diggs and the team. There was, for example, the time Diggs and quarterbackJosh Allenexchanged words on the sideline. Things shifted for Diggs. The reasons why have never been extremely clear.There are many theories. One thing is certain. If you remember what Diggs did in 2020, what you're seeing now is stunning. He did have some nice seasons in Buffalo after that year, but he was traded to Houston,and then tore his ACL. Diggs is now in New England. Then came the latest with Diggs.New England PatriotscoachMike Vrabel said he was awareofa video circulating on social mediathat included Diggs. "Obviously, we want to make great decisions on and off the field," Vrabel said when asked about the video. "We're hoping that with our time here on the field today, that when we don't have a script and we're on the call periods, that we're making great decisions. The message will be the same for all our players, that we're trying to make great decisions. Any conversations that I've had with Stefon will remain between him, I and the club." Patriotsradio color commentator Scott Zolak, who played for the team, said the possibility of Diggs getting cut wasn't off the table. "I came to this show yesterday with the opinion — not opinion, but the knowledge that it is on the table," Zolaksaid on 98.5 The Sports Hub's "Zolak & Bertrand. "That it is being thought of. And it's not just the boat. It's not just the boat. There are some other things that I've heard that put some things in question. Are you all-in here? "The videos look great of him working out. I've touted the videos. I know you need diva receivers. I say he shouldn't be cut, because I think he would help Drake Maye and this offense and Josh McDaniels, because you would have a true viable guy that would set coverage. Right now, you still don't have a guy who sets coverage. I'm sorry." Stefon Diggs exchanging some words with Josh Allen on the sidelinepic.twitter.com/J2heSTBMrc — NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS)January 22, 2023 This situation puts Vrabel in a tough spot. He's trying to institute his culture as a new Patriots head coach, and cutting Diggs would send a message that you have to be "all in" as Zolak said. Yet the team also desperately needs Diggs' talent. So, back to the original question. Do you remember when Stefon Diggs was one of the best wide receivers in the NFL? It's impossible to tell where Diggs goes from here. Maybe he can regain that 2020 form (and 2022 wasn't too shabby, either). You saw parts of the old Diggs last season in Houston where he finished with 496 yards in eight games. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said Diggs was at theteam's OTAs on Monday. So that's good news if you're the Patriots. Diggs wasn't there last week. There was also a report fromIan Rapoport of NFL Mediathat New England has no plans to release Diggs. So maybe that's good news as well. Something just seems off with Diggs. That doesn't mean it will stay that way. Maybe he can resuscitate his career. You'd have to think there's still something left. His success in Buffalo wasn'tthatlong ago. Because I still remember. Do you? All the NFL news on and off the field.Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter.Check out the latest edition:Best fits for remaining free agents. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Stefon Diggs was once an NFL star. What happened to him?

byMario Satorik

in

June 03, 2025

Stefon Diggs was once the brightest of stars. What happened to him?

Stefon Diggs was once the brightest of stars. What happened to him? Editor's note: This story is a part of a series by USA TODAY Sports ...

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Trump decried crime in America, then gutted funding for gun violence prevention

Trump decried crime in America, then gutted funding for gun violence prevention

Violent crime wasalready trending downfrom a covid-era spike when President Donald Trump presenteda picture of unbridled crimein America on the campaign trail in 2024. Now his administration has eliminated about$500 millionin grants to organizations that buttress public safety, including many working to prevent gun violence. In Oakland, California, a hospital-based program to prevent retaliatory gun violence lost a $2 million grant just as the traditionallyturbulent summer monthsapproach. Another $2 million award was pulled from a Detroit program that offerssocial services and job skillsto young people in violent neighborhoods. And in St. Louis, a clinic treating the physical and emotional injuries of gunshot victims also lost a $2 million award. They are among 373 grants that the U.S. Department of Justice abruptly terminated in April. The largest share of the nixed awards were designated forcommunity-based violence intervention— programs that range from conflict mediation and de-escalation to hospital-based initiatives that seek to prevent retaliation from people who experience violent injuries. Gun violence is among America'smost deadly public health crises, medical experts say. Among programs whose grants were terminated were those for protecting children, victims' assistance, hate-crime prevention, and law enforcement and prosecution, according toan analysisby the Council on Criminal Justice, a nonpartisan think tank. The grants totaled $820 million when awarded, but some of that money has been spent. "Not only are these funds being pulled away from worthy investments that will save lives," saidThomas Abt, founding director of the Violence Reduction Center at the University of Maryland, "but the way that this was done — by pulling authorized funding without warning — is going to create a lasting legacy of mistrust." The Justice Department "is focused on prosecuting criminals, getting illegal drugs off the streets, and protecting all Americans from violent crime," according to a statement provided by agency spokesperson Natalie Baldassarre. "Discretionary funds that are not aligned with the administration's priorities are subject to review and reallocation, including funding for clinics that engage in race-based selectivity." The Council on Criminal Justiceanalysis of the terminated grantsfound that descriptions of 31% of them included references to "diversity," "equity," "race," "racial," "racism," or "gender." Baldassarre's statement said the department is committed to working with organizations "to hear any appeal, and to restore funding as appropriate." Indeed, it restored seven of the terminated grants for victims' services afterReuters reported on the cutsin April. But the cuts have already promptedlayoffs and reductionsat other organizations around the country. Five groupsfiled a lawsuiton May 21 to restore the grants in their entirety. Joseph Griffin, executive director of the Oakland nonprofit Youth Alive, which pioneered hospital-based violence intervention in the 1990s, said his organization had spent only about $60,000 of its $2 million grant before it was axed. The grant was primarily to support the intervention program and was awarded for a three-year period but lasted just seven months. The money would have helped pay to intervene with about 30 survivors of gun violence toprevent retaliatory violence. He's trying to find a way to continue the work, without overtaxing his team. "We will not abandon a survivor of violence at the hospital bedside in the same way that the federal government is abandoning our field," he said. The cuts are also hitting St. Louis, often dogged by being labeled one of the mostdangerous citiesin America. The city created anOffice of Violence Preventionwithmoney availableunder former President Joe Biden, and various groups received Justice Department grants, too. Locals say the efforts have helped: The 33% drop in the city's homicide rate from 2019 to 2024 was thesecond-largest decreaseamong 29 major cities examined by the Council on Criminal Justice. "I don't think there's any doubt that there's some positive impact from the work that's happening," said University of Missouri-St. Louis criminologistChris Sullivan, who received a grant from the Justice Department to assess the work of the city's new Office of Violence Prevention. That research grant remains in place. But the Justice Departmentslashed two other grantsin St. Louis, including $2 million for Power4STL. The nonprofit operates the Bullet Related Injury Clinic, dubbed the BRIC, which provides free treatment for physical and mental injuries caused by bullets. The BRIC had about $1.3 million left on its grant when the award was terminated in April. LJ Punch, a former trauma surgeon who founded the clinic in 2020, said it was intended to fund a mobile clinic, expand mental health services, evaluate the clinic's programs, and pay for a patient advisory board. The BRIC won't abandon those initiatives, Punch said, but will likely need to move slower. Keisha Blanchard joined the BRIC's advisory board after her experience as a patient at the clinic following a January 2024 gun injury. Someone fired a bullet into her back from the rear window of a Chevy Impala while Blanchard was out for a lunchtime stroll with a friend from her neighborhood walking group. The shooting was random, Blanchard said, but people always assume she did something to provoke it. "It's so much shame that comes behind that," she said. The 42-year-old said the shooting and her initial medical treatment left her feeling angry and unseen. Her family wasn't allowed to be with her at the hospital since the police didn't know who shot her or why. When she asked about taking the bullet out, she was told that thecommon medical practiceis to leave it in. "We're not in the business of removing bullets," she recalled being told. At a follow-up appointment, she said, she watched her primary care doctor google what to do for a gunshot wound. "Nobody cares what's going to happen to me after this," Blanchard recalled thinking. Before she was referred to the BRIC, she said, she was treated as though she should be happy just to be alive. But a part of her died in the shooting, she said. Her joyful, carefree attitude gave way to hypervigilance. She stopped taking walks. She uprooted herself, moving to a neighborhood 20 miles away. The bullet stayed lodged inside her, forcing her to carry a constant reminder of the violence that shattered her sense of safety, until Punch removed it from her back in November. Blanchard said the removal made her feel "reborn." It's a familiar experience among shooting survivors, according to Punch. "People talk about the distress about having bullets still inside their bodies, and how every waking conscious moment brings them back to the fact that that's still inside," Punch said. "But they're told repeatedly inside conventional care settings that there's nothing that needs to be done." The Justice Department grant to the BRIC had been an acknowledgment, Punch said, that healing has a role in public safety by quelling retaliatory violence. "The unhealed trauma in the body of someone who's gotten the message that they are not safe can rapidly turn into an act of violence when that person is threatened again," Punch said. Community gun violence, even in large cities, is concentrated amongrelatively small groups of peoplewho are often both victims and perpetrators, according to researchers. Violence reduction initiatives are frequently tailored to those networks. Jennifer Lorentz heads the Diversion Unit in the office of the St. Louis Circuit Attorney, the city's chief prosecutor. The unit offers mostly young, nonviolent offenders an opportunity to avoid prosecution by completing a program to address the issues that initially led to their arrest. About 80% of the participants have experienced gun violence and are referred to the BRIC, Lorentz said, calling the clinic critical to her program's success. "We're getting them these resources, and we're changing the trajectory of their lives," Lorentz said. "Helping people is part of public safety." Punch said the BRIC staffers were encouraged during the Justice Department application process to emphasize their reach into St. Louis' Black community, which is disproportionately affected by gun violence. He suspects that emphasis is why its grant was terminated. Punch likened the grant terminations to only partially treating tuberculosis, which allows the highly infectious disease to become resistant to medicine. "If you partially extend a helping hand to somebody, and then you rip it away right when they start to trust you, you assure they will never trust you again," he said. "If your intention is to prevent violence, you don't do that." KFF Health Newsis a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs atKFF— the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byMario Satorik

in

June 03, 2025

Trump decried crime in America, then gutted funding for gun violence prevention

Trump decried crime in America, then gutted funding for gun violence prevention Violent crime wasalready trending downfrom a covid-era spike...

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