Leaders across Southcentral Alaska are warning that the region’s shrinking natural gas supply requires urgent action. Mat-Su Borough Mayor Edna DeVries, Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance and local utility leaders discussed the possibility of rolling blackouts if there is not enough…
Local leaders are calling for urgent action as the region’s energy supply continues to decline.
Once upon a time, a burger chain rocked the burger world in Michigan by adding olives (and an olive-mayo spread) to its burgers. This is its story.
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Aldi Finds give customers new products to try and seasonal items to discover. Here are more than a dozen for you to mark on your shopping list this August.
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More than three weeks have passed since the U.S. men’s national team crashed out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a resounding 4-1 loss to Belgium in the round of 16, and for USA greats Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore, the lopsided defeat still stings. “I haven’t even watched the game back,” Altidore, the program’s third all-time goalscoring leader behind only Dempsey and Landon Donovan, told me after the tournament was over. “It’s difficult to swallow.” “It’s a little bit deflating, the way they crashed out of the World Cup,” Dempsey added when we caught up last weekend. Dempsey and Altidore were teammates on the Stars and Stripes 2010 and 2014 World Cup squads. The Americans won their group, ahead of England, in 2010, before an extra-time loss to Ghana in the round of 16. The U.S. survived the Group of Death over Ghana and Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal in 2014, losing in extra time to Belgium at the same stage. Playing in a home World Cup for the first time in 32 years, the expectation for the 2026 version was to reach the quarters for the first time since 2002, or at least match their predecessors with a respectable showing in the round of 16. That’s not how it played out. Despite multi-goal group stage victories against Australia and Paraguay and a round-of-32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, coach Mauricio Pochettino’s high-risk, high-reward style was exposed against a Belgian side that methodically targeted U.S. frailties in goal and along the back line. “We conceded too many goals — that’s what I was worried about,” Dempsey said. “Look at Spain — not to say that we are Spain, but they only conceded one goal throughout the whole World Cup.” The two American soccer legends are finally getting a break after a breakneck last two months spent broadcasting sports’ marquee event, Dempsey as an analyst with FOX Sports and Altidore with Spanish-language network Telemundo. On site for the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina on July 19, the decisive match was a homecoming for the New Jersey-born Altidore, who began his professional career with the New York Red Bulls. “I used to get dropped off at Giants Stadium by my mom in our Toyota Camry when I was 15, and now I’m back in this same place, but it’s for a World Cup final,” he said. ‘New Faces’ For USA’s Squad Altidore and Dempsey’s post-World Cup rest won’t last long. They’ll both be paying close attention to the players returning to action at their clubs, especially the MLS-based contingent. Following a two-month World Cup break, the domestic league returned to action in mid-July and is hoping to capitalize on the unprecedented explosion of interest in soccer within the broader American public. Later this week, the top 18 MLS teams from last season will also embark on the latest edition of the Leagues Cup, joining all 18 squads from Mexico’s Liga MX in a World Cup-style tournament. The schedule features as many as seven inter-league matches a day during the 10-day first round — many of them in prime time. Two youngsters who just missed out on Pochettino’s World Cup roster – Real Salt Lake duo Zavier Gozo and Diego Luna – will be in action on opening night on Aug 4., when RSL hosts Mexican powerhouse Tigres. “Hopefully, there’s some young bloods coming up in the national team to push these starters and give them a run for their money,” Dempsey said. “The best teams in the world, they have that mix of quality right now, but also younger players who have no fear that are coming up and chomping at their heels.” Altidore was more succinct: “We need new faces,” he said. The harder the games they play as young pros, the better. The 2026 Leagues Cup, which for the first three years of its existence was hosted entirely in the U.S., will also feature games in Mexico. Dempsey’s former club, the defending champion Seattle Sounders, visit Toluca on Aug. 5, while San Diego FC faces mighty Club América at the iconic, 88,000-seat Estadio Azteca in Mexico City the following night. Those experiences will help battle-test the next generation of Americans, many of whom were no doubt inspired by what they saw from the USA during its first four games at the World Cup before the wheels fell off against Belgium. “There a lot of positives you can take away from how they performed in the three games that they won,” Dempsey said, noting that the Los Angeles Olympics are just two years away and possibly another U.S.-hosted Copa América, too. “I’m a fan, so I have rose-colored glasses on. But I’m excited about this team. There is a little bit of a ‘back to reality’ when the World Cup is over, but there’s so much to look forward to.” That goes with whoever the coach is, Dempsey said. Pochettino is out of contract and has not yet agreed to the extension through 2030 that U.S. Soccer has on the table. “Under Pochettino, I saw a team that had an identity and made me excited about watching them play,” Dempsey said. “If he can continue moving things forward, and he’s passionate about being here, then that’s what’s up. And if he’s not, it’s the next man up. I don’t know what the situation is. I figure the ball’s in his court, and he can decide what he wants to do.” Either way, the big picture is bright. Soccer is already more mainstream than it was two months ago. The 2026 World Cup was a cultural phenomenon in this country, one that will have a lasting impact on the sport for decades to come, despite the disappointing exit for the co-hosts. “You can feel the tide turning in a real way,” Altidore said. “I can’t stress enough how important it is for MLS teams in every city to really be on the front foot here. People are watching, they’re listening, their eyes and ears are open to something different. It creates an opportunity to take advantage of.”Latest Sports News from FOX Sports
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The 2026 NCSL Legislative Summit will bring together state lawmakers and legislative staff from the 50 states and U.S. territories from July 27-29 in Chicago. (Photo by Leontura/Getty Images)
Like two sides of a coin imprinted with the nation’s motto, “e pluribus unum” — out of many, one — America’s political factions are cast in opposition, but they are intrinsically bound together as parts of a larger whole.
From the beginning, the United States has aspired to build a more perfect union. When our founders convened the Constitutional Convention in 1787, they disagreed about the structure of government, the balance of power and the protection of individual versus collective rights. But when they debated — and they often did, with great conviction and intensity — they honed their arguments on what they thought was best for the entire country, guided by the shared vision of a new nation established on the ideals of individual freedom, equality and opportunity.
Today, that shared commitment to America’s founding creed is under strain.
Most Americans feel exhausted by politics, and a growing number are unhappy with the way the political system is working. Worse, this unhappiness is showing up in unhealthy ways, with low trust in government and each other — a sense that the other side is the problem.
We are painfully aware that partisanship and distrust have grown. We see this too often, when people are reduced to disparaging labels, states are cast as simply red or blue, and the hostility in our politics produces no progress, leaving us all no better off, or worse than before. Our political parties appear deadlocked in a struggle for power, forgetting that they are inseparable sides of the nation’s democratic system, which depends not on who wins but on a shared commitment to the common good. Central to that commitment is a willingness to listen to opposing views, not simply to respond but to understand.
Disagreeing is one thing — it is rooted in our pluralist republic. But when we cannot find ways to work together, it becomes impossible to solve our problems. The founders understood this. They argued passionately, but they shared a deeper allegiance to the nation’s success and its posterity, and they were partners in creating and safeguarding a system that we all continue to rely on.
Whether we choose to engage in political warfare or civil debate is up to each of us. That’s as true in statehouses and city councils as it is at the family dinner table, in the community center, on the debate stage, or standing on opposite sides of a free speech zone. In each of these venues, we can choose to practice democracy by engaging in debate that is spirited, healthy and rooted in strong arguments rather than name calling — or worse, heeding the impulse to withdraw from political engagement altogether.
There are glimmers of hope.
Here in Chicago, as part of the nation’s largest public policy gathering of state legislators and staff from all 50 states and U.S. territories, our organizations, the National Conference of State Legislatures and The Pew Charitable Trusts, are working together to build connections across the political spectrum and share policy ideas and best practices that strengthen legislatures and serve communities nationwide. This follows a series of events held around the country, including a February “America at 250 Forum,” to bring people with opposing views together to discuss issues that matter to everyone. All of the events demonstrate a serious commitment to strengthening our democratic muscles at this historic moment for the country.
Legislators from different parties sitting together to discuss not only their politics but also their human connection and shared belief in the country demonstrates that, despite the spotlight on our divisions, the time is ripe to unite for a common cause. We need to see more unity from our leaders — and be willing to try it ourselves.
Today, Americans must recognize that our political differences are not inevitably divisive, because our futures are fundamentally connected. Politics are difficult, yes, but they do not need to be ugly. Finding common ground is welcome, but at a minimum, Americans need to find the space to connect with one another and the courage to engage in healthy and substantive discussion. We can do that by building up state and local institutions where individuals get to know each other personally and by overcoming the silos and sides we’ve allowed to define us. A far better approach is to deal with people face-to-face and with respect, even when we profoundly disagree.
In a time when polarization and mistrust are treated as inevitable, we encourage all Americans to recommit to the principles and institutions that bind us together: a common belief in individual rights and equality, the rule of law, the legitimacy of representative democracy and our shared pursuit of national prosperity.
As America honors its 250th anniversary, it’s important to say, unequivocally and collectively, that we’re grateful to our country’s founders for starting this great experiment. We care about each other, and we want our fellow citizens to be successful. And we are proud to be part of this diverse, complicated and hopeful country.
Shared beliefs like these are central to the American experiment. E pluribus unum — out of many, one — if we so choose.
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We can expect a flurry of moves to take place ahead of Major League Baseball’s trade deadline on Aug. 3 – and before we do, let’s make some predictions on where the top trade candidates will land. It was tough to narrow down the list to just eight players with so many trade chips potentially available this summer, so we focused on the most intriguing names that, at the very least, have a greater than zero chance of being dealt. Let’s dive in. Teams Interested: Dodgers, Yankees, Brewers, Rays, Cubs, Phillies, Braves (Everyone) Player breakdown: The two-time reigning AL Cy Young winner is the deadline’s unquestioned top prize. He returned from an early May bone chip surgery by the middle of June, and has since looked every bit like himself, which is to say, a dream deadline acquisition contenders are fawning over. Skubal struck out 12 Royals and allowed one run over 7.1 innings in his most recent start, dropping his season ERA to 2.70. Even post-surgery, his fastball still nearly touches 100 mph, and he’s one of the most accessible and friendly superstars in the game, so there’s no need for any contender to worry about how he’ll fit into a winning, tight-knit clubhouse in a pennant race. And if you think the buzz surrounding Skubal right now is extreme, just wait until the upcoming offseason. The 29-year-old southpaw is on the cusp of free agency, so any interested team will be renting a true ace for their postseason run, which is why the price will be enormous. The deadline opens up the opportunity for smaller-market teams to push all their prospect chips in for Skubal. In free agency, those same teams will be unable to afford him. Alas, there’s always a complicated factor with Detroit’s own standing. The Tigers sit four games back of the final AL Wild Card spot with five teams ahead of them after dropping their last three games. If they believe they can make a run for an AL playoff spot, they’ll hang onto Skubal, relinquishing their prime opportunity for a massive haul. Explanation: I’m not fully convinced that they’ll really go for it, but here’s why they absolutely should. Tampa Bay has the best record in the AL at 62-43 and multiple reports suggest the Rays could be the deadline’s biggest surprise buyer. They haven’t made the playoffs since 2023, FanGraphs has them ranked as the top farm system in MLB, and their 2.5-game lead over the Yankees is shrinking. The Rays have both the motivation and the young, talent-rich farm system to put together a package Detroit’s front office would find hard to refuse. That said, this is genuinely a coin flip. Per reports, the Dodgers will remain engaged on Skubal if he’s truly available. The Brewers have also been connected to the ace. And if Detroit gets hot over the next few days and claws back into a wild-card position, all of this could change and Skubal may not move at all. Teams Interested: Yankees, Mariners, Pirates, Brewers Player breakdown: Miller is the most electric arm in the bullpen market this year — if San Diego decides to make him available. He enters the stretch run with a 0.82 ERA, NL-leading 27 saves, and 80 strikeouts in 43.2 innings this season, but it hardly matters at this point just how dominant he’s been. As long as he’s healthy, Miller is extremely appealing because he’s not just a rental. The 27-year-old is under team control through 2029, making him a rare deadline target who combines elite talent and long-term value. Still, any team acquiring him would need to pay a premium far beyond a typical two-month reliever rental. We can’t rule anything out with AJ Preller. Explanation: The Padres would have to be blown away by an offer for Miller, and I just don’t see the desperation being that high for contenders who are looking to add a bullpen arm, particularly when there are more affordable options on the market. The Mets’ expected wide-ranging sell-off includes four relief arms on the trade block, with Luke Weaver representing the best of the bunch. Weaver is another right-handed, high-leverage reliever like Miller. Although not as elite, he’s also under team control for another season. Plus, the Padres might end up being buyers at the deadline after winning their last three games, bringing them just 1.5 games out of the final NL wild card spot with four teams in front of them, which lessens the odds that Preller will part ways with Miller. Teams Interested: Yankees, Brewers, Red Sox, Rays Player breakdown: Say hello to the best offensive shortstop in baseball this season. Abrams’ breakout year has been terrific to watch unfold after the former first-round draft pick is finally putting together the elite performance the Nationals expected when they traded for him three years ago. Abrams, who has easily surpassed his career mark in home runs with 27 so far this year, leads MLB with 82 RBI and his 156 OPS+ leads all major-league shortstops. Abrams took his talent to another level this year, which makes him the best hitter on the market — if he’s actually available. The Nationals already dealt one of their infielders in Curtis Mead, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re full-on sellers at this deadline. Since Washington is listening to offers for Abrams, he would be a great match for the Yankees, who have a shortstop problem, though I remain skeptical New York is willing to move on from Anthony Volpe. The Brewers tried trading for Abrams over the offseason, per a report from The Athletic, but they balked at the Nats’ high asking price. The Red Sox have reportedly checked in on Abrams, but it seems more unlikely they’ll make another infield trade with Washington after acquiring Mead. The Rays, who are expected to be aggressive buyers, are in the market for help on offense and Abrams would be an excellent match for Tampa. Explanation: Abrams is still just 25 years old with two more years of team control before he hits free agency. That timeline lines up with the Nationals’ contention window over the next couple of years, and Abrams is a potential franchise cornerstone. Much like they handled this over the offseason, the Nats will want a major haul for Abrams if he does move, but I just don’t believe they’ll really go through with it, sitting one game behind the final NL wild card spot with just two teams in front of them. Why not give Abrams the chance to experience what it takes to make an impact in a meaningful pennant race? Washington is better off resisting tempting offers and focusing on their future offensive potential fueled by Abrams and his close friend and teammate, left fielder James Wood. Teams Interested: Yankees, Rays, Rangers, Diamondbacks, Pirates, Padres Player breakdown: The market for catchers itself is thin since few true contenders have an obvious hole behind the plate right now. Colorado’s Hunter Goodman is less likely to be traded than Jeffers, who’s in the midst of a career year at the plate, batting .293/.395/.535 with a 158 OPS+ in 46 games despite his season being briefly interrupted by a hamate fracture. That Jeffers has bounced back from his stint on the injured list is great news for Minnesota, since this is now the club’s best chance to cash in before he hits free agency this winter. Jeffers’ defensive growth makes him more than just a bat-first trade chip. Now in his seventh year in the big leagues, Jeffers has developed into a roughly average defensive catcher, which removes the concern some contenders may have about him being only a DH. He also brings real power to be a threat at DH even on days he isn’t catching, underlined by his .557 slugging that’s ranked fourth among all qualified MLB hitters, which widens his appeal and lets a team plug him in almost anywhere in the lineup. Explanation: The Yankees’ production from their catchers this season has been abysmal. The combination of Austin Wells, Ali Sanchez and J.C. Escarra has produced a .186 batting average and a 58 wRC+ that are both ranked 28th in the majors. Any reservations Yankees general manager Brian Cashman might have about bringing in an external catcher who would have to learn a whole new pitching staff should be cast aside right now. The Yankees not only need more thump from their catchers, but they also need a right-handed offensive bat to help carry the lineup while Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and now, Cody Bellinger, remain sidelined with injury. Jeffers is a pure rental with his control running out at the end of the season, which would give the Yankees something like a trial run to see whether he could be a fit for their long-term solution at backstop. Teams Interested: Rays, Nationals, Dodgers, Yankees, Blue Jays, Diamondbacks, Guardians, Pirates Player breakdown: Arraez has quietly become one of the most improved trade chips in baseball this year. He was considered a defensive liability at second base as recently as three years ago, but his glove work there under Ron Washington’s tutelage has turned into a genuine strength, changing how teams could value him. His lack of power and speed had previously been offset by concerns about where he could play defensively. Now that the glove has caught up — and the power, too, to some extent — interested teams are looking at a more complete player than the one who hit the open market a year or two ago. Arraez’s bat, of course, was never really in doubt. He remains one of the toughest hitters in the league to strike out, and that bat-to-ball skill is crucial in October when contact becomes more valuable against dominant pitching staffs. Throw in his ability to shift over to first base when needed, and he gives any contender real lineup flexibility. Explanation: Tampa Bay makes sense as a fit for nearly every top trade candidate this year, and it’s easy to see why. The Rays are playing like a legitimate contender for the first time in a few years and, as previously mentioned, they have the prospect depth to add without touching their long-term core. A high-contact, defensively sound infielder like Arraez slots naturally into a Rays team built on athleticism and situational hitting, and his ability to cover either second or first gives them flexibility. Arraez is set to hit free agency after this season, so he won’t command a package built around years of control, which is right up the Rays’ alley. Teams Interested: Cubs, Braves, Rays, Dodgers, Brewers Player breakdown: As we inch closer to the Mets’ long-expected deadline sell-off, Peralta has been the name on everyone’s minds for months now. The only problem is, he hasn’t kept up his end of the deal. The 30-year-old is in the midst of his worst career season, registering a 4.99 ERA in 22 starts this year after posting a 2.70 ERA in 33 outings for the Brewers last year. The silver lining is he’s been healthy, tied for the most games started in the majors this year. Peralta is the ultimate change-of-scenery candidate for any contender who believes he’s close to returning to the Cy Young-caliber player he represented just one year ago. Explanation: Chicago needs a frontline starter, and more arms in general, arguably more than any other contender. They could make a serious push for Peralta and even fellow Mets starter Clay Holmes, who was pitching like an ace before he was hit by a comebacker and broke his fibula. Holmes is working his way back from that injury in time to be traded at the deadline, and Peralta has familiarity with Cubs manager Craig Counsell from their years together in Milwaukee. Chicago already engaged in a trade with the Mets for a starting pitcher last month, but David Peterson has coughed up 15 earned runs in 26.2 innings since joining the Cubs. Even if the Cubs prefer to look elsewhere than Queens for pitching, it’s hard to ignore how much of a match the Mets are when it comes to an abundance of arms, including in the bullpen. Teams Interested: Yankees, Rays, Braves, Red Sox, Blue Jays Player breakdown: The Angels have been out of contention for most of the year, and the front office is finally showing some willingness to look forward and listen to offers on their best trade chips. Even the attempt to listen is a departure from how the Angels have typically operated. The organization has a long history of holding onto talent past the point it made sense to sell — remember that they absurdly held onto Shohei Ohtani until he reached free agency — so any real movement here would be a genuine shift in approach. And even so, whether that approach includes Neto is anyone’s guess. Neto’s appeal for contenders is straightforward. He’s a young, talented shortstop under team control through 2029. The 25-year-old has quietly been steady at the plate since he made his major-league debut, flashing a 117 OPS+ since 2024, and that kind of consistent production is not readily available on the trade market. Neto’s long-term value is also why any deal would likely require a substantial package. Explanation: Despite being mentioned as a trade chip, the more plausible outcome is that Neto stays in Anaheim, at least for now. Ownership has historically been reluctant to fully commit to a rebuild, and moving a controllable, everyday shortstop is a much bigger step than dealing arms like Jose Soriano or Reid Detmers. If the Angels do eventually decide to shop Neto, the return would be steep enough that a deal within a single trade-deadline week seems less likely than a slower-developing conversation that could carry into the offseason. Teams Interested: Cubs, Braves, White Sox, Rangers, Twins Player breakdown: The Blue Jays haven’t been able to get going all year, and even though they could convince themselves they’re back in the race following a strong winning streak, time is running out with several expiring contracts to justify standing pat. And since they’re still in between sellers and buyers, Gausman represents their best trade bait. His signature splitter remains one of the better weapons in the league when he’s locating it, and even in a down year (4.51 ERA in 22 starts, paired with a more encouraging 3.58 FIP), he still brings experience and swing-and-miss ability that belongs in a playoff rotation. Plus, he’s a rental. Acquiring Gausman doesn’t necessarily mean a contending team would need to tap into the top of their farm system. For a Blue Jays front office weighing whether this is still the year to compete or the year to start retooling for next season, Gausman represents one of the easier decisions on the roster. Explanation: Gausman’s veteran presence makes sense in a Braves rotation that just needs healthy starting pitching. His destination is already somewhat narrowed because he can block trades to eight teams, which, according to reports, include the White Sox, Pirates, Brewers, Tigers, Mariners, Mets, A’s and Reds. We can most likely throw the Yankees and the rest of the AL East into that mix, since Toronto is unlikely to deal him to a division rival. I think this will come down to the Braves or Cubs, who we know are in need of arms, with Atlanta as the frontrunner. Other Names To Watch: Clay Holmes (RHP/Mets), Robbie Ray (LHP/Giants), Luke Weaver (RHP/Mets), Luis Robert Jr. (CF/Mets), Reid Detmers (LHP/Angels), Foster Griffin (LHP/Nationals), Casey Mize (RHP/Tigers), Jeremy Peña (SS/Astros).Latest Sports News from FOX Sports
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In the weeks since Jelly Roll filed for divorce from Bunnie Xo, the exes have sent some very mixed messages about their split:
First, there was talk that Bunnie and Jelly would still have a child together even though they’d separated. Shortly thereafter, Bunnie compared her marriage to a prison sentence.
And now, we have another sign that this breakup is less than amicable.
Fans noticed on Tuesday that the former couple no longer follow one another on Instagram, marking another public sign that they’ve moved on after ending their nearly decade-long marriage.
The social media change comes just weeks after the pair finalized their divorce following Jelly Roll’s filing, which cited irreconcilable differences.
Although unfollowing an ex isn’t unusual, the move is notable because the two initially presented a united front after news of their split became public.
In the weeks following the divorce filing, both Jelly Roll and Bunnie spoke positively about one another, with the country star referring to his former wife as one of his closest friends. Bunnie likewise said the two intended to remain supportive of each other despite ending their marriage.
Since then, however, their lives have continued to move in separate directions.
Over the weekend, Bunnie shared that she had purchased a custom Rolls-Royce Cullinan, describing it as a gift to herself following the divorce.
She was also seen spending time with her new boyfriend, reality television personality Dylan Wolf, in videos posted to social media.
The Instagram unfollow comes after another social media change earlier this summer, when fans noticed Jelly Roll had removed references to Bunnie from his Instagram bio shortly after the divorce filing became public.
The former couple’s separation has generated significant online discussion in recent weeks, particularly after Jelly Roll’s daughter, Bailee Ann, pushed back against speculation surrounding the breakup.
She insisted that infidelity was not the reason for the divorce, while Bunnie later echoed that there was “nothing to clear up” and urged fans not to create their own narratives about the split.
Neither Jelly Roll nor Bunnie XO has publicly commented on the decision to unfollow each other, leaving fans to speculate whether it’s simply another step in moving forward after their divorce or a sign that their relationship has become more distant in the weeks since their marriage officially ended.
Either way, it seems that there’s no going back for this formerly close couple.
Jelly Roll & Bunnie Xo Unfollow Each Other: Is This Divorce Messier Than … was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
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