No. 1s Michigan, Arizona anticipate real tournament test

INDIANAPOLIS -- On the weekend the Fab Five is reunited and Michigan celebrates the anniversary of its only men's basketball national title in 1989, Dusty May can't help but feel momentum moving the Wolverines closer to tipoff in the Final Four.

The former Indiana University manager for Bob Knight has Michigan (35-3) hitting a peak at the right time with only Arizona (36-2) between the Wolverines and their eighth national championship game appearance.

"It's really cool just to be back here in a full-circle moment," May said Friday, roughly 36 hours before Michigan takes the court at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Wolverines waltzed through the NCAA Tournament Midwest Region in Chicago, taking the regional final from Tennessee in a landslide, 95-62. Michigan's trail of victims all allowed 90-plus points, 25-plus field goals, 19-plus assists and 10-plus 3-pointers with Big Ten Player of the Year Yaxel Lendeborg (21.0 points per game) leading six Wolverines averaging double figures during the NCAA Tournament.

"He's obviously an elite talent," Lloyd said of Lendeborg. "You put the skill with those physical tools, and looks like to me he's got that alpha dog in him. Dusty has done an incredible job just putting him in positions to utilize all his skills. There's probably not one way to guard him. ... I'm sure that guy, that's going to be a household name in basketball for a long time."

Lloyd said Friday he plans to be a household name in Tucson for a long time. He signed a contract extension through 2031 in the wake of interest from another college basketball powerhouse -- this time North Carolina, last year Villanova -- with a coaching vacancy.

Arizona set a single-season program record with 36 wins. The Wildcats won the Big 12 and, like Big Ten regular-season champ Michigan, haven't had to sweat much in the NCAA Tournament with an average margin of victory of 20.5. This is the first matchup since the NCAA Tournament became a 64-team field in 1985 in which Final Four opponents won four prior games by at least 10 points.

"I feel like we've been tested," Arizona senior point guard Jaden Bradley said. "Big 12 play, Big 12 tournament. I think it's going to go down to the wire. It's definitely going to be a full 40 (minutes)."

Illinois, Arizona and Michigan have been in the top six in offensive efficiency rating all season.

The Wildcats are making their fifth Final Four appearance -- their first since 2001 -- and are back near the site of their 1997 national title celebration at the RCA Dome.

Freshman forward Koa Peat was named West Region Most Outstanding Player, averaging 20.5 points, 5.0 rebounds 2.5 assists in wins over Arkansas and Purdue last week. In a Final Four dominated by transfers and international talent searches, Peat is an anomaly Lloyd applauds.

"Koa is special," Lloyd said. "And I know you guys hear it, but you got to hear it again. Four state championships at the same high school. Didn't go to a prep school. Four gold medals with USA Basketball. No one in FIBA history has ever done that. And helped lead Arizona to a Final Four."

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Classmate Brayden Burries scored 23 points against Arkansas in the Sweet 16, the second-most points scored by an Arizona freshman in an NCAA Tournament game. The pair combined for 1,105 points this season.

The player most responsible for carrying the Arizona flag on the roster is Bradley, who was named Big 12 Player of the Year. He was a third-team All-American and a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award.

Bradley's matchup with Michigan's backcourt brings intrigue in a game where most of the Xs and Os are fixed on big men. He'll likely get plenty of time against Michigan point guard Elliot Cadeau, who has three consecutive games with seven-plus assists and overcame an allergic reaction and late departure from Ann Arbor to practice Friday.

But Arizona takes pride in its team defense.

"I think their physicality stands out and the way that they play and they sustain physicality for 40 minutes," Michigan freshman guard Trey McKenney said of Arizona.

The Wildcats are not the typical college offense, a point made by Michigan's 7-foot-4 center Aday Mara this week.

They typically are aiming to shoot a higher volume of free throws, not 3-pointers. The Wildcats have attempted only 53 total 3-pointers in four NCAA Tournament games and shot 43.4%; Arizona made an average of 19.7 free throws per game this season. Michigan made 27 free throws in the Midwest Region final win.

Arizona's defense gave Big 12 foes fits all season with 7-foot-2 Motiejus Krivas roaming between the blocks. But Lloyd views Lendeborg as a unicorn. Not because of just his scoring, but because of his unselfish play.

"It took him a while," May said of Lendeborg reaching his current comfort zone. "And I think our guys have constantly reminded him. He's so unselfish. He's so -- I don't know how to say it. He wants to be one of the guys. They've encouraged him to be more aggressive, to shoot more, to hunt some more individual accolades all year, and he simply refused because he didn't care about any of those things.

"It's allowed us to have a real selfless group, and it's improved our environment because he's been so unselfish but he still has no idea how good he is."

A grad student who had 150 career games under his belt before joining the Wolverines, Lendeborg spent two seasons at Arizona Western College and two at UAB. He's also a unique talent because of range -- 10 3-pointers in the past three games -- and length (7-foot-4 wingspan).

If the Wildcats control the lane and force Michigan to launch from deep, they expect positive results. Opponents are shooting 27.9% from 3-point range against Arizona in the NCAA Tournament.

--Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media

byDaniel Coleman

in

April 03, 2026

No. 1s Michigan, Arizona anticipate real tournament test

INDIANAPOLIS -- On the weekend the Fab Five is reunited and Michigan celebrates the anniversary of its only men's ...

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Travon Walker agrees to four-year, $110 million contract extension with Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars locked in one of the integral pieces of their young defense.

Defensive end Travon Walker agreed to a four-year, $110 million contract extension, his representation announced on X. The deal includes $77 million in total guarantees and $50 million fully guaranteed at signing, per Elite Loyalty Sports.

Walker now ranks 12th among edge rushers in his contract's average annual value.

Walker is coming off a 3 1/2-sack season in 2025, but he registered double-digit totals the previous two years.

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The No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Georgia has long been compared to fellow edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, who went No. 2 overall to the Detroit Lions. Hutchinson, who has been selected to two Pro Bowls, has been the more productive pass rusher of the two and signed a four-year, $180 million extension last October. Walker, however, has emerged as a key disruptor for the Jaguars' opportunistic defense, which ranked second in the NFL with 31 takeaways last season.

"The thing that I really appreciate in watching Travon move is how much he loves this place, how much he loves his teammates," Jaguars general manager James Gladstone said in January. "That just seeps out of his soul. Those are the type of people you want to align yourself with. It's the type of players that we want to make sure that are still in our building moving forward."

Walker had been set to play in 2026 on his fifth-year option for $15.2 million.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Travon Walker contract details: Jaguars DE agrees to hefty extension

byDaniel Coleman

in

April 03, 2026

Travon Walker agrees to four-year, $110 million contract extension with Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars locked in one of the integral pieces of their young defense. Defensive end Tr...

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Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo lay their foundations in the WNBA expansion draft

Portland, which is welcoming aWNBAteam back to the city after 24 years, selected veteran forward Bridget Carleton with the first pick in Friday's expansion draft.

WNBA Expansion Draft Basketball

Guard Julie Allemand, who played last season for the Los Angeles Sparks, was selected by the Toronto Tempo with its first pick.

The Tempo won a coin flip and opted to take the sixth pick in the college draft on April 13 over the top pick in the expansion draft. So Portland went first on Friday and will have the seventh pick in the college draft.

Carleton, who played last season for the Minnesota Lynx and averaged 6.5 points a game, was an unrestricted free agent.

"Once we finalized our process, and zoomed in on Bridget, and knew we had our first expansion pick, it was obvious we did not want to have Toronto hold our destiny in their hands," Portland general manger Vanja Cernivec said.

Allemand averaged 5.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 5 assists in 34 games last season.

The league's teams protected five players apiece ahead of the expansion draft but those lists were not made public, leading to speculation about which players were available.

On Wednesday, the Chicago Sky announced trades with the Tempo and the Fire, which prevented the expansion teams from selecting Sky players. In exchange, the Fire got the No. 17 pick in the college draft and the No. 26 pick went to the Tempo.

The expansion draft had two rounds, with up to six picks for each team in each round. The teams alternated picks, with the Tempo picking first in the second round after the Fire got the first overall selection.

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Teams could only lose two players to the expansion draft. If a player was taken in the first round, a second player from that same franchise couldn't be taken until the second round.

Following Allemand, the Tempo selected center Nyara Sabally from the Liberty, guard Marina Mabrey from the Sun, forward Aaliya Nye from the Aces, guard Lexi Held from the Mercury, and forward Maria Conde from the Valkyries.

In the second round the Tempo selected forward Maria Kliundikova from the Lynx, center Adja Kane from the Liberty, center Nikolina Milic from the Sun, guard Kitija Laksa from the Mercury, and guard Kristy Wallace from the Fever.

After Carleton, the Portland Fire selected guard Carla Leite from the Valkyries, center Luisa Geiselsoder from the Stars, forward Emily Engstler from the Mystics, guard Maya Caldwell from the Dream and forward Chloe Bibby from the Fever.

In the second round Portland took guard Haley Jones from the Wings, forward Nyadiew Puoch from the Dream, guard Sara Ashlee Barker from the Sparks, guard Sug Sutton from the Mystics and guard Nika Muhl from the Storm.

Mabry was also an unrestricted free agent. Each team was allowed to pick only one unrestricted free agent.

Portland previously had a WNBA team, also called the Fire, that played from 2000 to 2002.

AP WNBA:https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

byDaniel Coleman

in

April 03, 2026

Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo lay their foundations in the WNBA expansion draft

Portland, which is welcoming aWNBAteam back to the city after 24 years, selected veteran forward Bridget Carleton with th...

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Second Winter Storm Will Bring Snow, Ice To Northern US As April Kicks Off

A second winter storm will blanket parts of the northern U.S. with snow and ice through the weekend from the northern Rockies to the Great Lakes and parts of northern New England as a reminder that April can still deliver wintry weather for some.

Fortunately, neither of these back-to-back winter storms will come anywhere close to the ferocity oflast month's record-setting blizzard. But each will still have impacts on travel into the Easter holiday weekend.

The storms have been named Winter Storm Joseline and Winter Storm Kadence by The Weather Channel.

(MORE:March Had Everything But The Kitchen Sink)

Happening Now

The map below shows where areas of snow, sleet and freezing rain are occurring right now.

Most of Joseline's snow and ice has pushed into eastern Canada, but some wintry precipitation is lingering in parts of northern Minnesota and northern New England.

Joseline blanketed parts of the Dakotas and northern Minnesota with up to 8 inches of snow. It also left one-quarter one half-inch of accumulated ice in parts of northern Wisconsin and northern Michigan, which, combined with strong winds, knocked out power to over 50,000 customers.

The second winter storm, Kadence, is spreading its snow and some ice out of the northern Rockies into the Northern Plains.

Winter Alerts

Winter storm warnings, and even an ice storm warning, have been issued for parts of the upper Midwest just hammered by last month's blizzard, including parts of Minnesota into northern Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Conditions in these areas will make it dangerous to travel.

Forecast Timeline

Friday, the first winter storm will have spread most of its snowy, icy mess into eastern Canada. However, some snow, sleet or freezing rain is expected in parts of northern New England early, before precipitation changes to rain.

Meanwhile, the second winter storm — Kadence — will take shape over the Northern Plains with more snow and ice. Friday night, that wintry mess will once again spread into the northern Great Lakes.

Winter Storm Kadence will persist in the northern Great Lakes with snow and some areas of ice, though some warmer air could change some areas of freezing rain to rain by midday.

Some freezing rain could once again also spread into parts of far northern New England late Saturday night, but it may change to rain by Easter Sunday.

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How Much More Snow, Ice?

As we alluded to earlier, despite being two storms back-to-back, neither storm will produce anywhere near the totals of the blizzard in mid-March.

However, we do expect a swath of 6-inch-plus additional snowfall across parts of the Dakotas into northern Minnesota and perhaps extreme northwest Wisconsin. Extreme northern Maine could see snowfall approach 6 inches, as well.

This could make travel difficult on stretches of Interstates 94, 29, 35 and 90. Leave yourself extra time and be prepared in case any stretches of roads close for a period of time. The combination of wet snow and winds may also lead to some power outages and tree damage in some areas.

The map below shows areas that may see enough ice accumulation to make most roads slippery, for a time, particularly bridges and overpasses.

The combination of accumulating ice and winds may also lead to some tree damage and power outages in these areas, especially areas that see freezing rain from both storms.

What complicates this forecast, however, is that precipitation in the areas below may eventually change to rain, and ground temperatures are warmer due to the recent bout of spring warmth.

For now, the highest concern for accumulating ice in the Great Lakes is early Saturday.

In far northern New England, that icing concern is early Friday, then possibly again early Sunday.

April Snow

You might be wondering how weird snow as late as April is.

The short answer is, "it's typical."

As you can see in the map below, the season's last snow typically happens in April across most of the northern tier, from northern New England to the Northern Plains.

In parts of Michigan's Upper Peninsula and the Rockies, snow usually still falls in May.

Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at weather.com and has been covering national and international weather since 1996. Extreme and bizarre weather are his favorite topics. Reach out to him onBluesky,X (formerly Twitter)andFacebook.

byDaniel Coleman

in

April 03, 2026

Second Winter Storm Will Bring Snow, Ice To Northern US As April Kicks Off

A second winter storm will blanket parts of the northern U.S. with snow and ice through the weekend from the northern Roc...

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Russian strikes on Ukraine kill 8 as Kyiv holds door open for Easter truce

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian strikes killed at least eight people across Ukraine on Friday, including in a "massive" missile and drone attack near the capital, local authorities reported.

Russia Ukraine War

Ukrainian officials claim the Kremlin is changing its tactics to increase civilian suffering, shifting to daytime barrages and preparing to target more key infrastructure.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signaled Kyiv's opennessto a potential Easter truce. The holiday is celebrated on April 12 in Ukraine and Russia.

Zelenskyy also said that Ukraine is preparing for a shift in Russian aerial tactics, with intelligence indicating that future attacks will move beyondenergy infrastructure.

Russia's Defense Ministry said 192 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight across Russia and occupied Crimea.

'I have no words'

"The Kyiv region is once again under a massive Russian missile and drone attack," said Mykola Kalashnyk, head of the regional military administration, in a Telegram post on Friday.

Kalashnyk said one person died and at least eight others were wounded in strikes on three of Kyiv's satellite towns — Bucha, Fastiv and Obukhiv. Earlier in the week, residents of Buchamarked the fourth anniversaryofatrocities committed in the town by Russia's invading forces.

Obukhiv resident Lesia Podoriako, 37, told The Associated Press she was at work with her child when she learned her building had been struck.

"I found out about it through Telegram channels. Then all my friends and acquaintances started calling me, telling me that our building was attacked. I have no words. The main thing is that everyone is alive and healthy," she said.

Another person was killed in Ukraine's northern Sumy region after a Russian guided aerial bomb struck an apartment block, local Gov. Oleh Hryhorov reported. Authorities in the Kherson, Zhytomyr, Kharkiv and Donetsk regions also reported casualties from Friday's attacks.

Ukrainian officials highlighted what they said were increased daytime attacks by Russia, which they said could lead to more civilian deaths. For months, Moscow pummeled Ukraine with nighttime missile and drone strikes that could involve hundreds of drones at a time.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, said in a post on X that "almost half a thousand drones and cruise missiles" attacked Ukraine overnight.

"This is how Moscow responds to Ukraine's Easter ceasefire proposals — with brutal attacks," Sybiha said.

Kyiv floats an Easter ceasefire

Zelenskyy on Thursday signaled Kyiv's continued openness to a potential truce on Easter, which falls next week according to the Julian calendar followed by Orthodox churches in Ukraine and Russia.

Zelenskyy told reporters that the proposal had been communicated to Moscow through U.S. channels. He added that the Kremlin's response remains unclear.

Zelenskyyhas previously offered a ceasefire for the Easter period— but Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said earlier this week that Moscow wants a lasting peace settlement, not a temporary truce.

President Vladimir Putinunilaterally declareda 30-hour ceasefire last Easter, but each side accused the other of breaking it.

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A change in Russian tactics?

Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials said Russia was increasingly striking the country during the day, an apparent departure frommonths of nighttime barrages.

Andrii Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation within Ukraine's defense ministry, said that the daytime strikes aimed to "increase civilian casualties."

"That is why the combined attack is carried out on a working day, using a large number of drones and missiles," Kovalenko wrote on Friday in a Telegram post.

Zelenskyy told reporters on Thursday that Ukraine is preparing for Russian aerial attacks that could target water systems, logistics and other critical networks. Aftermonths of sustained strikes on power facilities, Kyiv now expects increased pressure elsewhere.

"According to intelligence documents we have received, the Russians will target logistics – railways and other infrastructure. They will also target the water supply," Zelenskyy said at a press briefing.

Around midday on Friday, Russian forces dropped five aerial bombs on the city of Kramatorsk, in eastern Ukraine. At least two people were killed and three were injured, according to a Telegram update by Vadym Filashkin, who heads the regional military administration.

Elsewhere in Ukraine on Friday, a Russian drone strike damaged a bus in the southern city of Kherson, leaving the driver seriously wounded and at least eight passengers hurt, according to regional officials.

Separately, authorities reported sustained attacks on Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, beginning on Thursday and continuing into early Friday. Drone strikes near the city center caused several injuries. Two people later died in hospital, local Gov. Oleh Syniehubov wrote in separate Telegram updates.

Bohdan Hladykh, head of Kharkiv's Department of Emergency Situations, said Russia struck the city at least 20 times during the day on Thursday with explosive drones.

Zelenskyy says battlefield situation has stabilized

Meanwhile, Zelenskyy told reporters that the battlefield situation has stabilized, with recent intelligence assessments pointing to the most favorable conditions for Kyiv in months. Whilefighting remains intense across eastern sectors, Ukrainian forces have disrupted Russian offensives in recent weeks and regained limited ground.

"On Wednesday I received a report from our intelligence and an analysis from British intelligence. I received MI6's assessment of the situation at the front: right now, it is the best situation for Ukraine in the past 10 months," the Ukrainian leader said at a press briefing Thursday.

Zelenskyy added that Ukraine has invited U.S. negotiators to visit Kyiv, as part of ongoing discussions onsecurity guaranteesand abroader framework for ending the war. Recent talks have involved senior American officials as well as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, with Ukraine seeking clearer commitments on long-term defense support and responses to any future Russian aggression.

Ukrainian drones target Russia

Two people were hospitalized on Friday following a Ukrainian drone strike on Russia's Leningrad region, over 1,100 kilometers (684 miles) from the border, said regional Gov. Alexander Drozdenko reported, who added that the drones also set fire to an "unoccupied" building within the Morozov industrial zone.

The settlement of Morozov houses a state-owned plant that makes explosives and components for ammunition, including solid fuel used in Topol-M missile systems. The plant was put under U.S., EU and other Western sanctions following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Twelve people, including at least three Russian soldiers, were injured in a Ukrainian drone strike late Thursday on Russia's Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, local Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov reported.

Four drones were downed during the night on the approach to Moscow, mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported Friday. He did not reference any casualties or damage.

Associated Press journalists Vasilisa Stepanenko in Obukhiv and Derek Gatopoulos in Kyiv contributed.

byDaniel Coleman

in

April 03, 2026

Russian strikes on Ukraine kill 8 as Kyiv holds door open for Easter truce

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian strikes killed at least eight people across Ukraine on Friday, including in a "massive...

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New Details Revealed About Lake Tahoe Avalanche That Killed 9 — Including That Lifesaving Equipment Wasn’t Deployed

New details have emerged about the deadliest avalanche in California's history

NEED TO KNOW

• Among the findings, investigators claim the "best practice for backcountry travel" was not being followed, as the group size was large

• Several skiers were also found to be wearing airbag backpacks, but none were deployed when the avalanche occurred on Feb. 17

Investigators are releasing new details about theavalanche that killed nine skiersin California's backcountry earlier this year.

On Tuesday, March 31, theNational Avalanche Center published its final reportabout the deadliest slide in the state's history based on findings by the Sierra Avalanche Center. There were 11 clients and four guides when the avalanche struck near Lake Tahoe on Feb. 17, killing nine people.

While the exact cause of the slide remains unknown, the findings don't rule out the possibility that the size of the group was a factor.

"Exposing only one person at a time to avalanche terrain is an accepted best practice for backcountry travel," the report states. "This group consisted of 15 people. Analysis of past avalanche accidents has indicated that larger group sizes (4 or more people) have a higher chance of being caught in avalanches."

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Two groups — six females with two guides, and another group of three males with two guides — had decided to combine for the return to the trailhead at the Castle Peak Snowpark on Donner Summit, according to the report.

The Blackbird Mountain guides led the group through an avalanche-prone area for unknown reasons, despite two alternative routes, per theSan Francisco Chronicle.

"This group traveled below avalanche terrain and through the runout zone of an avalanche path during a period when a natural or human-triggered avalanche was likely to very likely," the report states.

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At around 11 a.m. local time, the avalanche struck amid an "intense storm with very poor visibility," according to investigators. Continuous snowfall and strong winds, ranging from 60 to 125 miles per hour, had created hazardous conditions.

Several of the skiers were wearing airbag backpacks that could've helped them to stay on the surface when inflated. However, none were deployed when the avalanche struck, according to the report.

The findings confirm that 13 people were buried in the snow.

Many of the details about how the group responded to the slide come from two survivors who shared their experience withThe New York Times. They were near the rear of the group and not involved in the decision-making process, according to the newly published report.

The pair had fallen behind the rest of the group due to an equipment issue. This kept them from being caught in the slide and they were then able to save the lives of others.

"Two of the four buried survivors required companion rescue to excavate the snow that covered their airways," the report states. "The rapid location and excavation of these two individuals was lifesaving. At the time of the avalanche, the guide and client not caught in the avalanche, were a ways behind the rest of the group due to the client experiencing an equipment problem with one of their ski binding toe pieces."

"This separation may have kept them from being caught in the avalanche along with the rest of their party," the report continues, adding, "If other survivors who were closer to the front of the group and part of the group of women eventually choose to share their story, it may include different information and details."

PEOPLE has reached out to the Nevada County Sheriff's Office amid their criminal investigation into the avalanche. The Blackbird Mountain guides did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.

Read the original article onPeople

byDaniel Coleman

in

April 03, 2026

New Details Revealed About Lake Tahoe Avalanche That Killed 9 — Including That Lifesaving Equipment Wasn’t Deployed

New details have emerged about the deadliest avalanche in California's history NEED TO KNOW Among the find...

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Tom Brady Brings Son Jack, 18, Courtside as the Father-Son Duo Enjoy an NBA Game in Miami

Tom Brady and his son Jack enjoyed a courtside moment at a Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics game in Florida

NEED TO KNOW

• Brady shares Jack with ex Bridget Moynahan and kids Benjamin and Vivian with ex Gisele Bündchen

• The retired NFL star recently shared his love for attending his kids' games while trying to avoid drawing attention

Tom Bradyenjoyed a special night out with his son Jack this week.

On Wednesday, April 1, the retired NFL pro, 48, sat courtside with his 18-year-old son Jack as the two watched the Miami Heat play against the Boston Celtics in Miami, Fla.

In a video shared by theNBA team on Instagram, the two could be seen sitting side-by-side as they took in the game. Jack appeared to be just as tall as his dad, who could be seen intently watching the game.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Brady shares his son Jack with ex Bridget Moynahan. He is also dad to daughter Vivian, 13, and son Benjamin, 16, whom he shares with ex Gisele Bündchen.

Earlier this month, the dad of three appeared on an episode ofThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallonand sharedhow much he loves attending his children's sporting events, despite potentially "irritating" them. He also explained how he ensures the "attention" stays "focused" on them and not their superstar dad.

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"I'm probably pretty irritating to them," Brady admitted to Fallon with a laugh. "They want me to stand outside the arena when they're playing. They're like, 'Dad, don't come in here.'"

"But I love watching 'em play," he added. "I always kind of, especially when I go to the opposing schools, [wear] the hat, hoodie, [and go] as far down, as far away from every other parent. Because you just want the attention focused on the kids, and that's where it should be."

Back in February, Bradyrecapped his latest family vacation to Milanwith several snaps onInstagram, posing alongside his two younger kids. He captioned the images with a sweet message about their exciting trip to Italy for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

"We had the BEST trip to Milan 🇮🇹 to cheer on some incredible sports stars while spending quality time exploring and learning from so many new people and places!" Brady wrote in the caption.

"Relationships are built on shared experience and there is nothing like finding new cities to spend time with the people you love (just missing you Jack during basketball season back at home ❤️)," he added.

Read the original article onPeople

byDaniel Coleman

in

April 03, 2026

Tom Brady Brings Son Jack, 18, Courtside as the Father-Son Duo Enjoy an NBA Game in Miami

Tom Brady and his son Jack enjoyed a courtside moment at a Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics game in Florida NEED T...

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Fight over University of Wisconsin system president's future draws heat from Republican leader

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Efforts to quickly and quietlyoust the presidentof the University of Wisconsin system drew fire Friday from a Republican legislative leader who said he was "troubled" that the board of regents is threatening to remove Jay Rothman without any explanation.

Rothmanhas been president of the multicampus 165,000-student university system since 2022. He said in letters to regents first obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday that they were trying to force him to resign or face being fired without explanation. The letters were the first public indication that Rothman's job was in jeopardy and took university and state government officials by surprise.

Regents the AP contacted have declined to comment.

"This lack of transparency is unacceptable," Republican state Rep. David Murphy, chair of the Wisconsin Assembly's colleges and universities committee, said in a Friday statement. "President Rothman deserves to know exactly why the Board has lost confidence in his leadership."

Rothman's tenure has been marked by his efforts to increase state funding amid federal cuts, debates over free speech on campus amid pro-Palestinian protests, and declining enrollment leading to eight branch campus closures.

Murphy, a frequent critic of the university, praised Rothman's work, saying "he has made tough decisions to sustain our campuses and protect educational access for Wisconsin students."

"I am concerned that the push to oust him may actually stem from his strong support for free speech and open inquiry on our campuses—core principles that must be defended in higher education," Murphy said.

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Murphy called on the board of regents to give a "full explanation" for why they want Rothman out or "stand down from this effort."

Rothman has had to navigate negotiations with a Republican-controlled Legislature during his tenure and a board of regents with a majority of appointees from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. The board was controlled by Evers appointees when Rothman was hired.

Evers spokesperson Britt Cudaback did not return messages Thursday or Friday seeking comment.

Evers is not seeking a third term, meaning there will be a new governor next year with the power to make appointments to the board of regents. The board is in charge of hiring and firing university leaders.

Rothman raised the possibility of resigning in 2023 when the board of regentsrejected a dealreached with legislative Republicans over diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. The board laterreversed its voteand approved the deal.

The fight over Rothman's future also comes as the flagship Madison campus is losing its chancellor.Jennifer Mnookinis leaving at the end of the current academic year in May to take the job as president of Columbia University.

Rothman, the former chair and CEO of the Milwaukee-based Foley & Lardner law firm, had no prior experience administering higher education.

His salary as UW president is $600,943.

byDaniel Coleman

in

April 03, 2026

Fight over University of Wisconsin system president's future draws heat from Republican leader

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Efforts to quickly and quietlyoust the presidentof the University of Wisconsin system drew fire Frid...

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Greek PM reshuffles cabinet as EU aid farm fraud probe widens

By Renee Maltezou and Angeliki Koutantou

ATHENS, April 3 (Reuters) - Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis reshuffled his cabinet on Friday, as he seeks to limit the fallout ‌from a growing scandal over alleged fraud related to European Union farm funds.

Last year ‌European prosecutors charged dozens of Greek stockbreeders with faking ownership of pastureland to claim millions of euros in EU ​subsidies, allegedly with the help of state employees and conservative politicians.

The affair had already prompted ministerial resignations and led the European Union last year to impose a hefty fine on the country over mismanagement of the subsidies by its OPEKEPE payment agency.

But in a move that widened the ‌investigation, the European Chief Prosecutor on ⁠Wednesday asked the Greek parliament to lift the immunity of at least 11 lawmakers, including ministers, so they can be investigated over their alleged ⁠roles in the scheme.

The EU prosecutor has not named the lawmakers and ministers, who are protected from prosecution by the constitution unless parliament lifts their immunity. A minister and four senior officials in ​the government ​resigned last year for their alleged role in ​the fraud.

On Friday, Mitsotakis appointed Margaritis ‌Schinas, a former European Commission vice-president for Promoting the European Way of Life, as agriculture minister.

Schinas, a former member of the European Parliament as well as a long-serving Commission official, replaces Kostas Tsiaras.

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Evangelos Tournas, a retired Greek air force officer, was named climate crisis and civil protection minister, replacing Giannis Kefalogiannis. Earlier, a deputy health minister, a party secretary and the government's parliamentary ‌spokesman had resigned.

Mitsotakis' New Democracy party holds 156 seats ​in Greece's 300-seat parliament.

The latest probe concerns alleged crimes ​against the EU's financial interests in ​2021, including instigation of breach of trust, computer fraud and false attestation ‌with the intent to obtain an unlawful ​benefit.

The OPEKEPE agency handles ​more than 2 billion euros ($2.31 billion) in annual EU farm aid.

Opposition parties dismissed the reshuffle and renewed calls for early elections.

"No reshuffle can save a government built around a ​majority of people investigated by ‌the judiciary," the Socialist PASOK party, the main opposition, said in a statement.

The ​new cabinet members will be sworn in on Saturday.

($1 = 0.8662 euros)

(Reporting by Renee ​Maltezou and Angeliki Koutantou; Editing by Ros Russell)

byDaniel Coleman

in

April 03, 2026

Greek PM reshuffles cabinet as EU aid farm fraud probe widens

By Renee Maltezou and Angeliki Koutantou ATHENS, April 3 (Reuters) - Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis ...

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Affiliate of Iranian state TV claims a US pilot ejected from their aircraft over southwestern Iran

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A channel affiliated with Iranian state television claimed Friday that a U.S. fighter pilot ejected from their aircraft oversouthwestern Iran. The U.S. did not respond immediately to requests for comment on the claim.

APTOPIX Iran War

It was not clear what may have happened to the plane, including whether Iran was claiming it was shot down or had another issue. If the claim is confirmed, it could lead to yet another dramatic escalation in the war, nearing the end of its fifth week.

Iran fired on targets across the Mideast on Friday, as Tehran kept the pressure on Israel and its Gulf Arab neighbors, despite U.S. and Israeli insistence thatIran's military capabilitieshave been all but destroyed.

Iran's attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure and itstight grip on the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil and natural gas transits in peacetime, have roiled stock markets, sent oil prices skyrocketing, and threatened to raise the cost of many basic goods, including food.

Television anchor urges residents to hand over pilot

The anchor on the Iranian channel urged residents to hand over any "enemy pilot" to police and promised a reward for anyone who did. The channel is in Kohkilouyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, an intensely rural and mountainous region that spans over 15,500 square kilometers (5,900 square miles).

Authorities also urged the public to search for the pilot in neighboring Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province.

Throughout the war, Iran has made a series of claims about shooting down piloted enemy aircraft that turned out not to be true. Friday was the first time that Iran went on television urging the public to look for a suspected downed pilot.

An on-screen crawl earlier urged the public to "shoot them if you see them," referring to social media footage circulating of what appeared to be U.S. aircraft in the area. The channel showed metal debris in the back of a pickup truck while making the announcement but provided no other immediate details.

Iran targets a desalination plant and a refinery

The claim came after Kuwait's Mina al-Ahmadi oil refinery came under Iranian attack, and the state-run Kuwait Petroleum Corp. said firefighters were working to control several blazes.

Kuwait also said an Iranian attack caused "material damage" to a desalination plant. Such plants are responsible for most of the drinking water for Gulf states, and they have become a major target in the war.

Sirens also sounded in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia said it had destroyed several Iranian drones, and Israel reported incoming missiles.

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Authorities in the United Arab Emirates shut down a gas field after a missile interception reportedly rained debris on it and started a fire.

Activists reported strikes around Tehran and the central city of Isfahan, but it wasn't immediately clear what was hit. A day earlier, Iran said the U.S. hit a major bridge, which was still under construction,killing eight people.

In Lebanon, where Israel has launched a ground invasion in its fight with the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militant group, an Israeli drone strike on worshippers leaving Friday prayers near Beirut killed two people, according to the state‑run National News Agency

More than 1,900 people have been killed in Iran since the war began on Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes. In a review released Friday, the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, a U.S.-based group, said it found that civilian casualties were clustered around strikes on security and state-linked sites "rather than indiscriminate bombardment" of urban areas.

More than two dozen people have died in Gulf states and the occupied West Bank, 19 have been reported dead in Israel, and 13 U.S.service membershave been killed.

More than 1,300 peoplehave been killedand more than 1 million displaced in Lebanon. Ten Israeli soldiers have also died there.

Iran is keeping a chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz

World leadershave struggledto end Iran's stranglehold on the strait, which has had far-reaching consequences for the global economy and has proved to be itsgreatest strategic advantagein the war.The U.N. Security Council wasexpected to take up the matteron Saturday.U.S. President Donald Trump has vacillated on America's role in the strait, alternately threatening Iran if it doesn't open the waterway and telling other nations to "go get your own oil." On Friday, he said in a post on social media that, "With a little more time, we can easily OPEN THE HORMUZ STRAIT, TAKE THE OIL, & MAKE A FORTUNE."Spot prices of Brent crude, the international standard, were around $109 Friday, up more than 50% since the start of the war, when Iran began restricting traffic through the strait.Iran's former top diplomat suggests terms to end the war

World leadershave struggledto end Iran's stranglehold on the strait, which has had far-reaching consequences for the global economy and has proved to be itsgreatest strategic advantagein the war.

The U.N. Security Council wasexpected to take up the matteron Saturday.

U.S. President Donald Trump has vacillated on America's role in the strait, alternately threatening Iran if it doesn't open the waterway and telling other nations to "go get your own oil." On Friday, he said in a post on social media that, "With a little more time, we can easily OPEN THE HORMUZ STRAIT, TAKE THE OIL, & MAKE A FORTUNE."

Spot prices of Brent crude, the international standard, were around $109 Friday, up more than 50% since the start of the war, when Iran began restricting traffic through the strait.

Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif — a diplomat with long experience negotiating with the West who remains close to a pragmatic wing of Iran's leadership — wrote on Friday in Foreign Affairs magazine that the time has come to end what he referred to as a stalemate.

The U.S. and Iran have proposed dueling plans, and Zarif's proposal included elements of both in a sign part of Iran's leadership might be willing to negotiate.

Iran "should offer to place limits on its nuclear program and to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for an end to all sanctions — a deal Washington wouldn't take before but might accept now," he wrote.

It's not clear how much to read into the proposal from Zarif, who has no official position in Iran's government, but would likely not have published such a piece without at least some authorization from senior leaders.

Rising reported from Bangkok. Associated Press writers Sylvie Corbet in Paris, Sarah El Deeb in Beirut, Tong-hyung Kim in Seoul, South Korea, and Michelle L. Price in Washington contributed to this report.

byDaniel Coleman

in

April 03, 2026

Affiliate of Iranian state TV claims a US pilot ejected from their aircraft over southwestern Iran

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A channel affiliated with Iranian state television claimed Friday that a U.S. fighter ...

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UNC coaching search looms over Final Four — ask Kansas how that goes

North Carolinaneeded a basketball coach, and it set its sights on one in the Final Four.

Its top target had a good job. A darn good one, and one newspaper columnist felt adamant Roy Williams wouldn't leaveKansas, even if his alma mater tried to call him home to Carolina. Williams already turned down UNC once before, a few years previously.

No way Roy's going to Carolina.

So read the headline ofJoe Posnanski's columnin the Kansas City Star on April 2, 2003. Two weeks later, Posnanski wrote another column about how he got it all wrong. He trusted a coach to have loyalty. Whoops, rookie mistake.

If we've learned one thing in the more than two decades since then, it's to never say never when it comes to these situations, and that a coach's loyalty is the underdog when matched up against his ego.

Now here we are at anotherFinal Four, and UNC's hiring, and it's déjà vu, with stay-or-go questionshovering over the coaches of the two favored teams in Indianapolis.

Iowa State Cyclones fans cheer against the Kentucky Wildcats during the first half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Enterprise Center on March 22, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Nebraska's Berke Buyuktuncel celebrates with fans following a second-round game in the NCAA men's basketball tournament between Nebraska Cornhuskers and Vanderbilt Commodores at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on March 21, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Arkansas Razorbacks cheerleaders in the second half against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Ore.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> A Texas Christian University Horned Frogs cheerleader practices before the game during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, SC.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

Iowa State Cyclones fans cheer against the Kentucky Wildcats during the first half in the second round of the2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournamentat Enterprise Center on March 22, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri.

Tommy Lloyd fuels speculation about UNC job

This time, nobody's writing there's "no way"Tommy Lloyd would leave Arizona for UNC. That doesn't mean Lloyd will definitely bolt, but even he's not saying he won't. Lloyd himself fed into speculation he's a prime option for UNC when he said, "Arizona's going to have another good coach after me, I promise you." And, when will Arizona need to hire its next coach? Will that be next week? Next year? Ten years from now?

No telling. At least, Lloyd's not telling, other than to say he's "present in the moment" and that neither he nor his players are distracted by UNC speculation.

He's probably right about his players, anyway.

Arizona's Brayden Burries, Koa Peat and Motiejus Krivas are projected first-round NBA Draft picks. Wildcats point guard Jaden Bradley is a senior. They're out the door after this Final Four, regardless of Lloyd's decision. A fifth starter, Ivan Kharchenkov, might return for another college season, but thanks to the transfer portal, he could follow his coach if Lloyd decided to leave. No stress. No fuss. No distraction.

Twenty-three years ago, KU star Wayne Simien expressed open frustration when Williams jilted the Jayhawks for North Carolina. Now, athletes better understand it's not personal, it's just business, because players field interest from other high-paying suitors, too, and face business decisions of their own.

Is Dusty May more of a 'Michigan man' than Bill Frieder?

While we're on the subject of déjà vu, here's Michigan with a team that can win it all, but willcoach Dusty Mayprove himself a "Michigan man" or a renegade?

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If UNC would like to have Lloyd, then it shouldloveto have May. He's now a veteran of Final Fours, having led Florida Atlantic there in 2023.

Toppmeyer:Dusty May so good, you almost forget Sherrone Moore — now, UNC needs him

Perhaps, Michigan can breathe slightly easier than Arizona's administration, because at least May isn't talking about how great Michigan's next coach is going to be.

Even if May wouldn't leave Michigan for UNC, the Tar Heels could cause a domino effect that results in May leaving Michigan. Just as the Wolverines lost John Beilein to the Cleveland Cavaliers, May has the goods of a future NBA coach. Andif UNC hires Billy Donovan, well, then the Chicago Bulls will need a coach, won't they?

Michigan knows what it's like for a coach to spurn it. When Bill Frieder accepted the Arizona State job ahead of the 1989 NCAA Tournament, Bo Schembechler promptly booted Frieder and promoted Steve Fisher, explaining his decision with the now-famous line that, "A Michigan man is going to coach Michigan."

The lesson Frieder provided: If you're leaving for another job, maybe don't tell anyone until the NCAA Tournament is finished.

Worked out great for Michigan. Fisher led the Wolverines to a national championship.

Never mind a Michigan man. The Wolverines would do well to keep their Indiana man. May got his start as a student manager under Bob Knight, but Frieder proved a coach's alma mater doesn't mean everything to everyone, even if Mama lured Williams home in 2003.

"I was a Tar Heel born. When I die, I'll be a Tar Heel dead," Williams said after he took the UNC job.

In between, he became a turncoat at Kansas.

We learned then that when North Carolina wants to hire a Final Four coach, it's naïve to think, "no way."

Blake Toppmeyeris a columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him atBToppmeyer@gannett.comand follow him on X@btoppmeyer.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Tommy Lloyd, Dusty May would be great for UNC — if they pull a Roy Williams

byDaniel Coleman

in

April 03, 2026

UNC coaching search looms over Final Four — ask Kansas how that goes

North Carolinaneeded a basketball coach, and it set its sights on one in the Final Four. Its top target had a ...

Read More