Chesapeake, Virginia-based Dollar Tree, Inc. (DLTR) operates retail discount stores under the Dollar Tree and Dollar Tree Canada brands. With a market cap of $23.1 billion, the company sells an **** ortment of everyday general merchandise, as well as offers kitchen and dining, toys, books, crafts, cleaning, personal care, glasses, food carriers, gifts, and other household products. The discount retail giant is expected to announce its fiscal second-quarter earnings for 2026 in the near term.
Ahead of the event, **** ysts expect Dollar Tree to report a profit of $1.11 per share on a diluted basis, up 44.2% from $0.77 per share in the year-ago quarter. The company has consistently surpassed Wall Street's EPS estimates in its last four quarterly reports.
Dear **** eX Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for August 6
Amazon Stock Just Hit a Major Hurdle Ahead of Earnings
Elon Musk Just Revealed a Quiet Win for Tesla's AI Ambitions

#earnings #discount

Twelve years after her last onscreen role, Eva Mendes is ready to resume her acting career — and a source says she wants Ryan Gosling to play Mr. Mom to their two children as she steps back into the spotlight.
"She's leaning on Ryan to pick up the slack at home and slow down his usually packed schedule," confirms the source. "Eva needs the free time to meet with filmmakers and studio executives and really see what is out there for her."
Whispers have swirled that the Hitch beauty's comeback has already begun.
While MakingStarWars.net reports that Mendes, 52, filmed a part for Star Wars: Starfighter — the highly-anticipated 2027 ******* e opera featuring Gosling, 45, as its leading man — ScreenRant previously hinted she could return for the eleventh movie in the Fast & Furious franchise ******* led Fast Forever. The latter is currently in production and expected to hit theaters in 2028.
"Eva rediscovered her taste for acting while making Starfighter last year," reveals the source. "Now she wants to be in more films that her kids and their friends will actually enjoy and talk about."

#ryan #gosling #starfighter #twelve

Notre Dame football is fairly close to closing out its 2027 recruiting class, with 23 total commitments after Brayden Parks made his verbal on Thursday.
The Irish have an elite class, one that ranks among the best in the nation and could end up being the top overall class. With that said, Notre Dame has the luxury of moving onto the 2028 cycle, one where they already have two commits, safety Andre Jones and kicker Owen Davies.
One of their top targets is Illinois edge rusher Darieon Prescott, a 5-star in the 247Sports Composite, ranking as the No. 18 overall player in the class. On Friday the 6-foot, 6-inch and 220-pound star announced via On3's Hayes Fawcett that he'll be committing on Monday with Notre Dame, Oregon and Texas A&M as his finalists.
Prescott has visited all three schools, as he was in South Bend to see the Irish hosting Purdue. Scanning his social media, it doesn't look like he visited this spring, but he did see the Ducks and Aggies. It's hard to say where he's leaning at the moment, but the hope is that proximity plays a part in Prescott's decision and joins other Illinois players who matriculate to Notre Dame.
Contact/Follow us IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

#irish #prescott #follow

Leeds United are pushing to complete one of the biggest signings of their summer by bringing Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford to Elland Road.
According to talkSPORT, Leeds are already in 'advanced talks' with City and the 23-year-old is leaning towards a move to Elland Road.
Leeds have been searching for a new first-choice keeper since Karl Darlow joined Manchester United.
Lucas Perri was Leeds' first-choice keeper last season, but his performances were far from convincing, forcing the club to explore other options.
Leeds can also turn to Alex Cairns, but they've now set their sights on Trafford, making him the leading candidate to take over between the posts.

#leeds #first #keeper

By Bo Erickson
MARIETTA, Georgia, July 22 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump rallied supporters in Georgia on Wednesday to press for stricter nationwide voting requirements, leaning into his election-security message that some Republicans worry could hurt them in the state's competitive U.S. Senate race.
Trump's ‌speech in the Atlanta suburbs follows months of attacks on Georgia's election system, which he has criticized since his 2020 loss in the ‌state. So far this year, the president has questioned Georgia's voting system at least nine times during public events and interviews, according to a Reuters review.
In a June podcast, Trump falsely said the 2020 election in Georgia was rigged. Days later, during a telephone rally for a Republican gubernatorial candidate, Trump said: "Our elections are corrupt."
On Wednesday, Trump said some Republican victories in the state were "not going to be that easy with the cheating and everything else going on."

#reuters #president

Regulatory authorities continued to force out non-compliant capacity in the second quarter, creating a "rapid progression in truckload market conditions," according to Knight-Swift Transportation. The carrier reported better-than-expected results on Wednesday, highlighted by contract rates that climbed throughout the period and a tender rejection rate that was twice the industry average. It expects the positive momentum to intensify starting in September and to carry through the rest of the year.
"We've just never seen the FMCSA, the DOT with the push that they're making on cleaning up our industry and taking the non-compliant, the bad actors out of it," said CEO Adam Miller on a Wednesday evening call with **** ysts.
He believes the change the industry is experiencing is "durable" and "raises the floor" for rates in the next downturn.
Knight-Swift (NYSE: KNX) reported second-quarter adjusted earnings per share of 63 cents, 28 cents higher year over year and 12 cents better than the consensus estimate. (Management's EPS guidance range was 45 to 49 cents.)
Revenue of $2.1 billion was 13% higher y/y and ahead of the $2.04 billion consensus estimate. Revenue was up 6% y/y excluding fuel surcharges.

#swift #wednesday

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Republican Steve Hilton launched his general election campaign for California governor Wednesday with a gambit to win over left-leaning voters who dominate the state: Even if they loathe President Donald Trump, he said, they should consider voting for him.
During an event in Los Angeles, against the backdrop of a stinking, scorched food warehouse he described as a symbol of the state's political incompetence, Hilton rolled out a list of campaign promises clearly aimed at residents buckling under California's notoriously high cost of living. He vowed to bring the price of gasoline down to $3 a gallon, about half the current cost, cut residents' utility bills in half, now among the nation's highest, and eliminate state income taxes on the first $150,000 in earnings.
He blamed the state's problems — from homelessness to low student test scores — squarely on Democrats, who hold every statewide office and supermajorities in the Legislature. He called Democrats a "rotten regime that has abandoned the working class."
In his campaign remarks and ads he took out in leading newspapers throughout the state, Hilton addressed his relationship with Trump, who has endorsed him in the race.
"This is not about who you hate in Washington. It's about what we love about California and what we can do to make California once again the best place anywhere in the country to start and raise a family, to start and run a business," he said before a small group of supporters. "That's what this election is about."

#campaign #Trump

After their grand Madison Square Garden wedding, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift's donated $2 million toward Answer The Call, an organization supporting the families of New York City first responders killed in the line of duty. The gift didn't stay quiet for long, and recipients began sharing their reactions, and the response has been anything but ordinary.
"Taylor and Travis, thank you for your incredible generosity and for standing with the families of fallen New York City first responders,"Answer The Call organization posted on Instagram. "Your gift will make a tangible difference in their lives."
Many like Valerie Perry, whose husband PAPD Officer William J. Perry was shot and killed on December 22, 1980, are still leaning on the support Answer The Call provides, and Perry didn't hold back when she heard about the donation.
"I am one of the older widows. My William was shot and killed on December 22, 1980. We buried him on Christmas Eve. Answer the Call has changed my life with our yearly checks, but they have also brought smiles because I feel like my Bill is always remembered, even after all these years. Now, to read about your donation? I'M IN TEARS for such a gift to all these families that have been through so much. Prayers for your future together, and God bless both of you for your generosity and your caring souls for doing something so amazing."
It wasn't just the widows' fund that saw Swift and Kelce's generosity this week either. Ahead of their wedding at Madison Square Garden, the couple also covered the security costs for the event, with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani noting that Swift personally picked up more than $160,000 in police expenses.

#answer #perry #gift #square

EXCLUSIVE - Far-left Democratic congressional candidate Oliver Larkin of Florida says he supports abolishing the U.S. Senate, agrees with socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be arrested during his upcoming trip to the U.S., and refers to Israel's ruling coalition as a "religious supremacist regime."
Larkin, who is challenging Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz in next month's Florida primary, is one of just four congressional candidates endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
The 33-year-old Larkin, a veteran of progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders' 2016 Democratic presidential campaign, is also the only DSA-endorsed House candidate running in one of the roughly two dozen key swing districts that will determine if Republicans hold onto their razor-thin majority in the midterm elections.
Moskowitz, who is running for re-election in Florida's newly redrawn 25th Congressional District, a Broward County-anchored seat in the southeastern corner of the red-leaning state, is heavily supported by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). He currently holds a polling and fundraising lead over Larkin.
Midterm Battle For The House: Check Out The Fox News Power Rankings

#midterm

The Philadelphia 76ers remain behind the Golden State Warriors in the betting market for LeBron James, but the latest message from inside Golden State could provide Philadelphia with a potential opening.
ESPN Warriors insider Anthony Slater said Wednesday on NBA Today that Golden State is pessimistic about its chances of signing James. The Warriors have kept a roster spot open and would welcome the four-time NBA champion, but they do not believe his decision is leaning in their direction.
“They’ve just not thought they’re at the top of the list,” Slater said. “I talked to somebody last night that basically said they’ve given no sign or hint that it’s going to happen.”
Slater noted that Stephen Curry has contacted James directly and Draymond Green recently vacationed with him. Those relationships should give Golden State some insight into James’ thinking.
“I would think that the Warriors would know if it’s leaning one way or the other,” Slater said. “And all of my indications from the Warriors’ side is they believe it is not leaning toward them.”

#Warriors #state #leaning #lebron

The Atlanta Falcons have been strangely quiet in the days leading up to training camp, but those around the NFL continue to churn out content at an alarming rate. Thanks to the Falcons' quarterback battle between Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa, the team has been a frequent topic of training camp preview lists.
In today's Falcons Wire Recap, ESPN and Bleacher Report weigh in on the quarterback competition, The Athletic ranks Atlanta among the NFL's most underrated teams, and second-year safety Xavier Watts makes CBS Sports' under-the-radar players list for 2026.
Bleacher Report's Alex Kay feels the Falcons' QB competition is leaning heavily in Tua Tagovailoa's direction as the team prepares to kick off training camp next week.
"While Miami was understandably ready to move on from Tua after two straight down years, the quarterback is still just 28 years old and should have plenty left in the tank for 2026," wrote Kay. "Tagovailoa gives new head coach Kevin Stefanski his best chance to hit the ground running and make Atlanta a top contender in a wide-open NFC South race. If Tua can avoid injury and establish a rapport with the likes of Drake London and Bijan Robinson in camp, Penix will be relegated to the bench in 2026."
ESPN's Ben Solak shared his two cents on Atlanta's QB1 battle, and despite predicting Tagovailoa would win the job, he feels Penix has the better chance at being the team's long-term starter.

#penix #team

Interested in Mitie Group plc? Here are five stocks we like better.
Mitie reported strong trading momentum, with first-quarter fiscal 2027 revenue rising 10% to £1.4 billion, well ahead of the broader market's roughly 3% growth. Contract wins and renewals also jumped more than 30% to £1.6 billion, while the bidding pipeline hit a record £32.5 billion.
The company is leaning into higher-margin services through "facilities transformation" and "facilities compliance," supported by its Marlowe acquisition. Mitie said the deal is already helping cross-sell fire, security and water services, and it now sees water management as a major growth area.
Mitie's board backed a recommended £3.1 billion cash takeover by OCS, offering shareholders £2.216 per share including the proposed final dividend. The offer represents a significant premium to recent trading prices, and the AGM resolutions were passed on proxy votes.
Mitie Group (LON:MTO) used its 2026 annual general meeting to report continued trading momentum, outline progress from its Marlowe acquisition and confirm details of a recommended cash offer from OCS.

#momentum #Growth #Services #acquisition

Theoretically, professional baseball players should be well versed in the rules of baseball. After all, they play it for a living. But even a 13-year MLB veteran can forget how to baseball, apparently.
With the Phillies suddenly in a battle with the Braves in the NL East race, Philadelphia was in prime position to force extra innings or win it in the ninth against the Dodgers on Tuesday. With Brandon Marsh at the plate in the bottom of the ninth, the Phillies had two runners in scoring position and one out.
One of those runners was J.T. Realmuto, and you'd be hard pressed to handle that situation worse than he did on the base path.
When Marsh sharply hit a ground ball to third, Justin Crawford was caught leaning towards home. At that point, Crawford was going to be out in a rundown. All Realmuto had to do was advance to third and stay there.
That's not what he did.

#Phillies #realmuto #theoretically

Prince Harry is being accused of leaning on Princess Diana's legacy to bolster his "public image." The claim comes after the Duke of Sussex's high-profile UK appearances and personal unveilings about life. More than two decades after her death, people still remember the late Princess of Wales as one of the most beloved royal figures, especially for the lasting influence she had on her children.
Critics have accused Prince Harry of exploiting his late mother, Princess Diana's memory, after he disclosed a private birthday tradition. According to sources, some branded the intimate disclosure as "sickeningly crass," per RadarOnline.
While speaking at Scotty's Summer Festival at Maxstoke Castle in Warwickshire during his recent trip to the UK, the Prince shared a family tradition. The 41-year-old told the crowd that the Sussexes honor the late Princess of Wales' July 1 birthday and the August 31 anniversary of her death with a lemon drizzle cake.
"There are people who feel Harry simply cannot stop returning to Diana whenever he appears in public. **** ody questions that he misses his mother, but some believe repeatedly sharing intimate details about how he marks her memory risks turning an intensely personal tragedy into part of his public image. Among his critics, there is a growing feeling that it comes across as cashing in on Diana's legacy, and some have described the latest comments as sickeningly crass," said a royal insider.
"Supporters will say he is touchingly honoring his mother, but others think every new revelation invites fresh headlines about Diana rather than allowing her memory to remain private. That's why his remarks have generated such a strong reaction," they added.

Stocks ended the week a long way from a bear market. But the "bear" word has started to crop up more in discussions among market ***** ysts. The Nasdaq ended below recent lows and leaning toward its next-nearest tests, the lows from June 26 and June 9. The S&P 500 finished ever-so-slightly below its 50-day moving average, equal to its last slip below the line from June 26.
On the downside, Sandisk (SNDK), Astera Labs (ALAB) and Marvell Technology (MRVL) booked the week's biggest losses on the Nasdaq 100, with an average drop of 25.3%. Paypal Holdings (PYPL), Cintas (CTAS) and Palo Alto Networks (PANW) held the upside, showing a 15.3% average gain. Results were similar on the S&P 500, but adding IBM (IBM) on the downside and Valero (VLO) among the week's winners.
The market is not providing a whole lot in the way of clues as to what comes next. Both the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 continue to trade below their early June highs. And rather than test those highs, wanting to break resistance and move higher, the indexes are instead testing lows and breaking technical support. Sellers are quietly overpowering buyers.
"Look, we are a trend-following methodology," says IBD Market Research Director Justin Nielsen. "And it's pretty easy when you're in a downtrend: we just kinda stay out. It's pretty easy when you're in an uptrend — that's where we like to push it, where we like to make money. This sideways action, this is where it's really tough."
That, for the time being, prescribes a course of caution: build watchlists, don't buy; rotate to cash where feasible and manage your capital with the understanding that it is unclear, for now, just where the stock market may be headed next.

Imagine waking up to find an extra $100,000 sitting in the bank.
For plenty of people, the mind races straight to stocks, real estate, or the next hot investment. Mark Cuban's first move is far less exciting. In fact, it starts in the cleaning aisle.
Micron Is Signing Deals in the Automotive ******* e. What That Means for MU Stock Here.
5% Bond Returns Are a Gift for Retirement Investors. My Favorite Way to Invest in Treasurys Lets You Earn a Paycheck No Matter What the Market Does.
Dear Intel Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for July 23

Laughing Water Capital, an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The second quarter was exceptionally good for the portfolio, with Class A investment in Laughing Water Capital returning approximately 39.8% net of all fees and expenses, bringing the YTD return to approximately 33.6% net. The SP500TR and R2000 returned approximately 15.0% and 21.5%, respectively, in the second quarter. The impressive performance was driven by three of the top five positions being acquired, with its largest position nearly doubling during the quarter. The letter emphasizes that patience can often lead to profits in an inefficient market characterized by fluctuations, suggesting that investing in undervalued stocks can yield good long-term returns. In addition, please check the portfolio's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Laughing Water Capital highlighted NextNav Inc. (NASDAQ:NN). Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, NextNav Inc. (NASDAQ:NN) is a technology company that specializes in positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) solutions that offer Pinnacle, an accurate altitude service for public safety applications. On July 14, 2026, NextNav Inc. (NASDAQ:NN) closed at $15.30 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $2.09 billion. NextNav Inc. (NASDAQ:NN) posted a one-month return of -17.34%, while its shares gained 0.66% over the past 52 weeks.
Laughing Water Capital stated the following regarding NextNav Inc. (NASDAQ:NN) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"NextNav Inc. (NASDAQ:NN) – NextNav, our terrestrial backup to GPS / spectrum play remains in limbo as we await a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that will allow Nextnav to use its wireless spectrum for 5G communication. Despite the regulatory delay, the company has made significant progress in cleaning up its balance sheet. Notably, during the quarter the company's ****** warrants were called and convertible debt was converted to equity. In the near-term events such as these can weigh on share price due to arbitrage opportunities and hedging. However, in the intermediate term when the quants that dominate the markets next see a Nextnav balance sheet they will be looking at a cash rich company rather than a highly levered company. It would not surprise me to see short covering on this change.
Moving away from trading dynamics and toward political tea leaves, during the quarter Nextnav CEO Miriam Sorond testified in front of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications & Technology, alongside representatives of several of the groups that oppose Nextnav's plan. Not surprisingly the opposition warned of interference risks if Nextnav's plan is granted, while Sorond noted that recent real-world testing showed no interference. Following this meeting Nextnav asked the FCC for permission to run tests that

The quarterback play of the Minnesota Vikings has been a rollercoaster in terms of who is under center in recent years. Despite that, the play of their passers has been decent up until last season, when an often-injured and inconsistent J.J. McCarthy made the offense come to a screeching halt.
The Minnesota Vikings need to have a better offense in 2026, plain and simple. The Vikings did what they could to improve it, and now they will be leaning on former Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray to lead them into their next chapter. That move was enough for Bleacher Report's Moe Moton to include them among his top five teams improved this offseason.
Moton writes, "Although Murray underperformed in Arizona over the last few years, he could see a career resurgence under O'Connell, who has called plays for a top-six passing offense in three of his four years with the Vikings. The 28-year-old signal-caller needs to stay healthy, though. Murray joined a team with a solid wide receiver duo in two-time All-Pro Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Minnesota signed Jennings, who caught 55 passes for 643 yards and a career-high nine touchdowns last season with the San Francisco 49ers. The Vikings will have a new dynamic starting quarterback and one of the league's best receiver trios this year. Expect this offense to rack up points as one of the top 10 scoring units."
Murray is going to have the best supporting cast of his career. Pairing that with a coaching staff that has shown they can get the most of reclamation projects at quarterback. The perfect storm could be brewing for the Vikings on offense in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Vikings' offense earns praise for improvements from Bleacher Report

A central part of USC's 2027 recruiting class, Honor Fa'alave-Johnson landed a major NIL deal. He has joined forces with Destination Kia, he announced via social media.
Fa'alave-Johnson has notably impressed with his speed while starring at San Diego (Calif.) Cathedral Catholic. He has clocked in at more than 22.7 miles per hour to cement himself as a home-run hitter and become one of the top-rated recruits from the 2027 cycle.
[ $19.99 gets you a FULL year of On3 | Rivals national coverage ]
Destination Kia is also leaning into Fa'alave-Johnson's abilities as part of the NIL partnership. In a video posted to Instagram on Monday, he promoted the new Kia Telluride.
"Fast isn't just about the clock," Fa'alave-Johnson's post read. "It's about preparation, discipline, and knowing how to make every move count. That's why we're proud to team up with Honor Fa'alave-Johnson, the fastest football player in high school history, clocked at an incredible 22.7 MPH in a game.

The U.S. women’s national team will face its next major test ahead of World Cup qualifying, hosting top-ranked Spain in a pair of friendlies in October. The U.S. will square off against Spain in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 10 before heading north to Subaru Park in Chester, Pa., on Oct. 13.
“We’ve desperately wanted to get Spain on our schedule,” coach Emma Hayes said in a news release, “but the difficulties of scheduling the top teams during the women’s international calendar are well known, so to be able to get these two games on the East Coast will be the perfect tests before we head into World Cup qualifying at the end of the year.”
Spain qualified for the World Cup in June, breezing through European qualification, including a 4-0 romp over England and a 6-1 defeat of Iceland, freeing up their fall schedule to play the U.S. Spain directly qualified for the 2027 World Cup, while USWNT has to wait for Concacaf’s qualifying window later this year that will run through the end of November into early December.
Spain will serve as another aggressive test for the U.S. under Hayes. A pair of friendlies against Brazil in Brazil during the June window helped get the players a test of the hostile — and incredible — atmospheres that await them next summer if they qualify.
“That’s why I keep leaning into the fact that sometimes we create too many perfect conditions,” Hayes said in June.

It’s Monday, and we have made it to Mountain West Media Days week! Take a look at all our content coming out this week. As always, check out our original coverage and what we can find on the World Wide Web below.
Obviously, it’s too early for bowl projections, but Athlon released them to gear up for the season. The new FBS team NDSU is slated to compete in the Potato Bowl, while UNLV will be in the Armed Forces Bowl. Utah State competes in the Frisco Bowl and the New Mexico Bowl will see the Lobos and Washington State Cougars face off against one another. Hawaii is in the Hawaii Bowl and Fresno State is in the First Responder Bowl. Then, the Air Force is going to Arizona, and San Diego State will play in the new Poinsettia Bowl. If that all wasn’t enough, they place Boise State in the CFP,
College Football Network looks at the Aztecs in this preview post, as they aspire to win the Pac-12 this season. On offense, they are leaning on a heavy dose of the run game, and to great effect. Plus, they return their starting quarterback and top wide receivers, but the passing attack will need to find a way to be more effective, and the OL will need to take steps forward to help that. Over on defense, the strength is the interior defensive line and the veteran safeties in the back. They will need to replace most of the tacklers from last year and get better at stopping the run. CFN thinks that San Diego State will end up in the neighborhood of 7 wins, which is a bit disappointing after last year’s campaign.
The Aggies are seeing big jumps in their ticket sales, with their MBB already surpassing last year’s season ticket totals. They have also seen an increase in donations and corporate sponsorships, meaning the money is coming in at an all-time high for Utah State athletics. In the past fiscal year, they’ve actually increased their reported revenue from $55.8 to $75.4 million, and that 35.3% growth is the third-highest increase in the Pac-12. However, that doesn’t mean they are a major financial player in the conference, according to their AD. But they are keeping up, which is important.
Today: A new Recruiting Roundup featuring July Mountain West Recruiting Rankings.

LAS VEGAS -- Brooklyn Nets forward Julius Randle came to the Nets this offseason after being with the Minnesota Timberwolves and competing for championships over the past two seasons. While Brooklyn likely has hopes of taking another step forward next season, that step may not be anything close to getting to the NBA Finals. Randle is understanding of that, but also sees the upside.
"I really think it’s just mindset and approach. The league is more balanced than it has ever been. Every game is a different game, every game matters," Randle said to the media in Las Vegas over the weekend. Randle, 31, joins a Brooklyn team that is coming off a 20-62 record in the 2025-26 season and despite adding the three-time All-Star, the Nets are likely winning around 30 games, barring any unforeseen moves.
"So, it's different obviously than the team I was on, than I was at in Minnesota; but I believe in our team. I believe in the talent that we have," Randle continued. "And I think it's really just how we approach every single game. It's really about what we believe as a group and not the outside noise or the expectation. It’s our expectation amongst ourselves, and what we believe as a group."
Randle is coming off another solid season as he averaged 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.0 ******* ists, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 48.1% from the field and 31.5% from behind the three-point line in 79 games played for the Timberwolves. As Minnesota was looking to return this summer, they traded Randle and the No. 28 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft (forward Joshua Jefferson) to the Nets in exchange for the No. 33 pick.
Randle goes from playing alongside Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert to sharing the floor with forward Michael Porter Jr. and guard Egor Demin, among others. Despite the fact that the Nets are leaning into the development of the younger players on the roster in Demin and guard Mikel Brown Jr., Randle is confident in what the team currently has and it seems like it will come down to how the team prepares for the upcoming season in training camp.

The NFL is a league of trends and copycats. One year it’s spread offenses dominating the league, the next year it’s power running that’s leading the attack. In 2026 it appears to be large personnel packages that’s captured the hearts and minds of modern coordinators. It’s a trend that’s been building over the last few seasons and one that’s likely to peak to new levels this year.
The Dallas Cowboys are not one of such teams. Brian Schottenheimer’s offense is rich in receiver talent and has been leaning on 11 personnel to a very significant degree. In 2025 Dallas ranked second in the league in 11 personnel EPA/play, deploying this three receiver set 66.43 percent of the time (per Sumer Sports). In 2026 that’s a number that’s only expected to increase given the emergence of Ryan Flournoy at WR3.
Swimming against the stream isn’t always advisable, but if it can be used to create mismatches, it may prove to be the ultimate hack. To explain, let’s first dive into the current trend…
Led by Sean McVey and his Los Angeles Rams offense, 12 and 13 personnel are all the rage. In an effort to combat the NFL’s heavy usage of nickel defense, two and three tight end packages are being used to create mismatches. When facing it, defenses must decide whether they want to stick with their normal nickel group that features an extra cornerback, or if they want to pivot to a base defense that matches up better by swapping the cornerback for a third linebacker.
Offenses are forcing defenses to pick their own poison: if they keep the cornerback on the field, offenses can bully them into submission by running the ball behind their larger personnel. If defenses swap in the linebacker, offenses can target the rarely used ‘backer by passing downfield. They are essentially passing against run defenses and running against pass defenses.

Twotime World Series champion Shane Victorino volunteered at the Shane Victorino Nicetown Boys & Girls Club in Philadelphia Saturday morning.
Major League Baseball, Phillies Charities, Inc. and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia teamed up to refurbish the Shane Victorino Nicetown Club as part of MLB Together's yearlong volunteer initiative.
About 100 volunteers spent the morning painting and deep cleaning learning and social **** es inside the club, while others worked outside on seeding, planting and landscaping improvements. The effort was supported by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and additional special guests.
The project contributed to MLB Together's goal of reaching 250,000 collective volunteer hours by the end of 2026 in honor of America's 250th anniversary.
According to MLB, the initiative is part of a broader investment of more than $5.5 million in community projects across the region aimed at expanding youth access to baseball and softball, supporting veterans and providing educational and nutritional resources.

LAS VEGAS — Nestled in a low-riding chair wearing a sharp white polo and black shorts, it was easy for Magic star forward Paolo Banchero, stationed at Court 11 in the Las Vegas Convention Center, to blend in with the crowd while he supported his beloved Seattle Rotary AAU team.
Such is the nature of the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League, or EYBL for short. The thousands of kids scrimmaging nonstop throughout the day — surrounded by the flurry of activity from parents, scouts, agents and onlookers in between the individual courts — almost make him a secondary figure, allowing him to escape attention.
It’s a much harder task pulling that off at his day job. Banchero, a 6-foot-10 forward entering his fifth year in the NBA, is approaching a pivotal point in his young career. His style of play, a high-usage offensive engine unto himself — with a high motor, processing speed and unique skillset for someone his size — is hopeful of meshing seamlessly with a new head coach. Sean Sweeney, a former ***** istant coach under Mitch Johnson in San Antonio, joined the Orlando Magic following the Finals, looking to take the organization further forward than what his predecessor, Jamahl Mosley, could.
The underlying Banchero question has always been how to marry his versatility with his surroundings, all while producing efficient play. Advanced ***** ytics paint a wide-ranging picture of Banchero’s overall impact, as metrics can be influenced by ***** ing (personnel choices), tactics and strategy. Banchero ranks 97th in LEBRON, 146th in DARKO, 141st in LAKER and 56th in Player Efficiency Rating. Last season was the first, according to Cleaning the Glass, that the Magic weren’t a net negative with Banchero on the floor (Orlando was -17 in his playoff minutes, but was also -19 with him on the bench versus Detroit.)
Orlando is blessed with an abundance of additional playmakers — Jalen Sugs, Desmond Bane and Anthony Black are all capable of creation — but Banchero’s ***** ist rate, combined with how often he possesses the ball in the frontcourt, warrant additional conversations between Banchero and Sweeney for how to improve the Magic’s output.

Electricity is in high demand right now, as the world increasingly shifts toward cleaner power sources and new power-hungry technologies take center stage. The numbers are quite shocking. Between 2005 and 2025, electricity demand rose 10%. Between 2025 and 2045, demand is expected to rise by 60%.
That's a step change in the demand that is likely to power years of growth for the utility industry. Big utilities, like NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE), are getting a lot of attention. But don't overlook smaller players like high-yield Dividend King Black Hills (NYSE: BKH).
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
The big story today is NextEra Energy's planned acquisition of Dominion Energy (NYSE: D). NextEra is already one of the world's largest utilities, so this deal will cement its position at the top of the utility pack. But the real story is that it is leaning into demand growth. The market is well aware of this, and the stock's dividend yield is 2.8%, only slightly higher than the 2.6% utility average. It's not a bad stock, but you can do better on the income front and still get attractive growth opportunities with Black Hills and its 3.8% yield.
For its part, Black Hills plans to merge with Northwestern Energy (NASDAQ: NWE). The two companies operate in the same region, so the pairing makes both geographic and financial sense. Notably, the combined business will be nearly twice as large, and earnings growth is projected to rise from 4% to 6% for the two individually to 5% to 7% combined. That's a very attractive growth rate for a high-yield utility.

Texoma's 2026 Nexstar Sports Awards was a night full of glamour and shine as athletes and coaches from around the area were presented with distinguished awards from 21 different categories.
The awards show included five Nexstar Hall of Fame Inductees. Check out the list below.
The Hirschi High School graduate continued his career at Texas Tech University where he helped anchor one of the most dominant offensive lines in Red Raiders history. King garnered numerous accolades during his time at the university inlcuding Texas Tech's Most Valuable Player. King was inducted into the Texas Tech Hall of Fame in 2008.
The Wichita Falls High School graduate made history as the first Black quarterback to play for the Coyotes. He led Wichita Falls to back-to-back state championship games in 1969 and 1970. Williams played at Texas Tech and was drafted by the New England Patriots in 1975 and then went to play for the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns.
The 2011 season stands as one of the most remarkable in Texoma history as the Raiders secured a 6-2 victory over Corpus Christi Calallen to win the program's first state championship in school history. At Dell Diamond, the Raiders took an early lead, leaning on timely pitching and flawless defense.

Ex-Laker LeBron James' agent Rich Paul drops major Warriors hint as free agency decision looming originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Golden State Warriors understand the importance of signing LeBron James this offseason, and they do not appear ready to end their pursuit until he commits to another team.
Golden State has explored every avenue in its effort to recruit James. The process reportedly began with Stephen Curry meeting with the four-time NBA champion to discuss the possibility of joining the Warriors.
"Pairing him with Stephen Curry is going to be something that the Warriors are going to pursue over the next few weeks… It seemed very doubtful, it seemed low percentage, now it's kind of questionable. Now there's going to be some legs to this… That same source told us that Steph is planning on meeting and talking with LeBron about potentially joining the Warriors over the course of the next few weeks leading up to free agency," NBA insider Brett Siegel said.
James has taken a patient approach to free agency, and no one knows which direction he is ultimately leaning. His agent, Rich Paul, recently admitted that even he does not know when James will make his decision.

Manchester United risk missing out on another target to Tottenham Hotspur as the North London club prepares a big-money bid for Eli Junior Kroupi, according to the latest report.
Having come perilously close to relegation last season, only securing survival on the final day with a 1-0 win over Everton, Tottenham are intent on transforming Roberto De Zerbi's squad this summer.
The Italian manager wants to rebuild the spine of his side, believing the team's frailties originate in the middle of the pitch. A £52 million deal for centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke has been struck, as have free transfers for Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson.
This was followed up by two record-breaking offers for Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, with Spurs hijacking Manchester United's move for the latter.
The West Ham midfielder, who attributes his namesake, Bruno Fernandes, as an idol, was believed to be leaning towards Old Trafford, only for the Lilywhites to storm into the race with an £85 million bid and a much better wage packet than the one being offered in M16.

GENEVA — Chinese government officials are using the United Nations' AI for Good summit in Switzerland this week to, in part, reframe the open-source models that have proliferated in China. The implicit pitch: In contrast to the most advanced US models, which can be restrictive and expensive, open-source AI tools can be a development tool for lower-income countries.
"Open source is good for all countries and all groups and all people, and I believe that is the right direction," Yu Xiaohui, the president of a Chinese government think tank, said Tuesday at a panel hosted by the Chinese government.
Beijing is leaning on its geopolitical allies to advance that vision, as it looks to shape how the technology is governed worldwide and pitch itself as the developing world's AI partner of choice.
Other speakers at Tuesday's session included top officials from Russia and Pakistan, as well as Global South nations where Beijing is making inroads, like Zambia and the Maldives. A recurring theme: The benefits from AI shouldn't be concentrated in a few rich nations.
— J.D. Capelouto