If you were watching the first Nicktoons slate during its original run, you might have a few rug rats of your own running around by now.
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Month: August 2026
OXNARD, Calif — New Dallas Cowboys cornerback Cobie Durant knows what a winning culture looks like. Durant, who spent the last four seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, nearly helped his old team play in their third Super Bowl over the course of a decade this past year. Now, the fifth-year pro is being tasked with helping turn around a Cowboys’ defense that was statistically the worst in football last season — and he’s already making an impact in trying to turn things around. During an intense, fully padded practice on Sunday, Durant and other Cowboys defensive players celebrated every pass deflection and forced turnover by rushing the field before aggressively trash-talking in the faces of Dallas stars Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. “Every day we come out here, we want to compete at a high level and do your one-eleventh,” Durant told me. “And it’s on display every day we come out here. High energy, everybody doing their part and bringing what we do in the classroom and make it come to life on the field.” While Durant has brought an energy to the Cowboys’ defense so far in training camp, he’s not the key person who joined Dallas this offseason to revitalize that unit. Defensive whiz and new coordinator Christian Parker has been the heart of the reenergized unit. Parker was hired by the Cowboys to run their defense after serving as the Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive backs coach over the last couple of seasons, working under Vic Fangio in Philadelphia and Denver. And what has helped Parker form such a quick connection with his unit (which features eight new starters) is his age. The 34-year-old has brought a culture shift, wearing a pair of Jordan 11s, navy blue sweats and a cut-off hoodie with white sleeves while calling plays on a radio along the sideline during practice. “That’s dead,” Parker screamed, high-fiving coaches and players nearby as his defense stuffed a red-zone run. Durant said not only is Parker detailed, but his youthful energy is infectious. “He’s a real players’ coach who’s willing to listen and see what our thoughts are,” Durant, who is only five years younger than Parker, told me. “And also helping us as defensive vets and as a unit. It’s good to have a coach pour into you and allow you to just be you when you’re on the grass.” “He’s very direct. He knows what he wants out of his guys, and he does a really good job of teaching and communicating,” edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku added about Parker, who is also the youngest defensive coordinator in Cowboys history. “But he’s a cool guy at the same time. He’s very chill, very relatable. He’s got some swag to him.” And as the Cowboys’ defense has been fired up and ready to fight back at the offense, Lamb has taken notice. “It’s fire, man,” Lamb said. “I embrace it. I love it. It’s good to see your defense come out with that type of energy, that type of fire, that type of aggression early on. And for our offense, they leave us no choice to either bow down or fight back and to get back on top. “And I know one thing about us: We won’t bow down to anybody.” However, Parker had some bumps in his early days at training camp. Parker said he’s not a fan of the flood of access available to fans and media at training camp practices, which includes live streams and videos from 11-on-11 team drills posted on social media by folks in attendance. Parker noted that he picked up things as a coach for other teams watching those same videos. But owner Jerry Jones isn’t changing his training camp policy — the more eyeballs on his team, the better, and Parker is learning to adjust to the constant attention on “America’s Team.” But as for on-field matters, one of the key chess pieces for Parker’s defense is first-round pick Caleb Downs, who provides the versatility Pro Bowl defensive back Cooper DeJean offered for the Eagles. The Ohio State product is working at safety and slot cornerback, showing up in pass coverage over the two days I watched practice, including breaking up two passes intended for Lamb. A physical presence who provides leadership and playmaking ability, Downs is expected to thrive in Parker’s scheme. “He’s a guy who’s not afraid to fail and is not going to make the same mistake [twice],” Durant told me. “And that’s what you want in this league. When you come in, and you see all these big names, with some guys that could mess with your confidence. With him, it doesn’t faze him.” And while Parker might not like the amount of access outsiders have at Cowboys camp, the team’s practices have been all about football this year, which is a big change from last year. Gone are the constant headlines generated by the contentious Micah Parsons contract negotiations and eventual trade to the Green Bay Packers. That’s allowed Brian Schottenheimer to take an old-school approach to practice as he enters his second season as head coach. On Saturday, Schottenheimer lit into coaches and players for what he deemed a lackadaisical approach to the start of practice. “I just felt like the energy was a little bit off,” Schottenheimer said. “I felt like we broke stretch in bag (drills) and went to circuit drills, and the coaches weren’t as organized as I thought they should be. And so, I’m always going to point out what I feel. And I think they got the message and ended up putting together a hell of a practice.” Schottenheimer also has players run gassers at the end of practice for extra conditioning. “It’s probably painful because you just did a whole practice,” receiver George Pickens said about the end-of-practice conditioning. “But definitely conditioning is another component of the game that can definitely give you an edge over guys.” Obviously, the Cowboys hope that those conditioning drills will be part of what gets them over the hump as they seek their first Super Bowl title in over three decades. Prescott has made it clear in the opening weeks of training camp that he and the team have the Lombardi Trophy in their sights, going as far as to say he’s “manifesting” it to happen. Parker, Schottenheimer and Prescott will get a good test of where those dreams stand during a joint practice against the Rams at Los Angeles’ Woodland Hills headquarters on Tuesday. Last year, the Cowboys were overwhelmed by the Rams’ bevy of playmakers, with Davante Adams, Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams going up and down the field for scores in a foreshadowing of what was to come in 2025. Durant is hoping for a different result against his former team this year. “I’m overly excited,” Durant told me. “I went up against that offense for four years. It’s a high-powered offense. You got Matthew Stafford, the running backs in the backfield and the wide receiver core — it’s a sight to see when you’re in practice going up against it. “But now I’m here with the Dallas Cowboys, running a new defense with new guys on this defense. And now you’ll actually get to see what the guy next to you is really about, going against another offense.” And Schottenheimer is highly anticipating Tuesday’s practice, too. “I want to see these guys play,” Schottenheimer said. “I want to see the same passion and play style that they do against our guys. I want to see them do it against them. But it’s a building block, another ramp-up.”Latest Sports News from FOX Sports
Preseason officially kicks off for 30 of 32 teams across the NFL this week, but contract matters continue to dominate the news. Monday featured a major contract agreement for Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and an extension for New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry. Aaron Rodgers also did something relatively unusual at Pittsburgh Steelers practice, while there’s another update to share on Aaron Donald’s potential return to play. Here is the latest news from around the league. Star defensive lineman Quinnen Williams has agreed to a three-year, $105.9 million extension with the Cowboys, NFL Network reported Monday. The deal for Williams reportedly includes $101 million guaranteed with $63.35 million due at signing. Williams is entering year two in Dallas after arriving at last year’s trade deadline. With a wave of massive contracts hitting the defensive line market this summer, all eyes now shift to the ripple effect on the rest of the league. “Usually, if you have two people wanting to get something done, it can get done. … Every deal is different,” Cowboys Executive Vice President Stephen Jones told reporters, via The Athletic. “You just hit certain bumps in the road where things don’t. It’s not because we don’t want to. … We’re always in the mode if it’s the right situation to do a deal.” Next in line for a payday at defensive tackle is Tampa Bay Buccaneers standout Vita Vea, who requested a trade at the start of training camp. Maybe a new contract for Williams could reignite negotiations between Vea and the Buccaneers? Vea is entering the final year of his contract, which holds a $17 million base salary. The Cowboys put quite the investment into Williams before the extension. At last year’s trade deadline, they traded defensive lineman Mazi Smith, a 2026 second-round pick and the more favorable of their two 2027 first-round picks for Williams. The New England Patriots agreed to terms on a two-year contract extension with tight end Hunter Henry on Monday, ESPN reported Monday. The extension reportedly carries a base value of $16 million with incentives that could raise the total value to $20 million, including $14.5 million guaranteed. The 31-year-old tight end had one year remaining on his previous contract and is now locked in through the 2027 season. Henry served as a primary target for quarterback Drake Maye last season, hauling in 60 receptions for 768 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers took an unconventional turn during practice on Monday, lining up as an edge defender against his team’s second-string offense. Video captured the veteran quarterback working on defensive reps during team drills. The moment offered a lighthearted break during competitive practice sessions as Rodgers continues his training camp workload. As the 42-year-old Rodgers returned to the Pittsburgh Steelers for one more season, the quarterback made news over the weekend when he credited Mike Tomlin for helping him get his spark back last year. “I’m thankful for last year with Coach Tomlin, because he helped me get that love back, that deep love back for the game,” Rodgers told SiriusXM Radio. “That, you know, tearing my Achilles and going through a year of rehab, and just never feeling like myself, it just kind of beats you up a little bit, and I didn’t want that to be my ending in the game that I love so much, and Mike and being around the guys, got me that love back, and I was content in walking away.” While Tomlin left the Steelers this offseason, Rodgers nearly followed him until the team decided to hire one of his former coaches with the Green Bay Packers, Mike McCarthy, to replace him. “They hired Mike McCarthy, and I was like, ‘OK, maybe we need a full circle here, me and Mike need a full circle here,'” Rodgers said. Aaron Donald is continuing to spark rumors of his return. His trainer shared a video of Donald training alongside Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Braden Fiske. The video came a few days after Donald had an official workout with the Rams, only heightening the speculation that he’ll return. It’s been rumored that his decision could come soon, with Rams head coach Sean McVay saying in late July that Donald would likely make a decision later in August. Donald, a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and eight-time First-Team All-Pro selection, has maintained an active training regimen following his retirement from professional football in 2024.Latest Sports News from FOX Sports
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A torn Styrofoam cup emerges with other trash from a melting pile of snow on April 26, 2026, in a parking lot by Northern Lights Boulevard in Midtown Anchorage. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
This year, Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed a bipartisan bill that would have eliminated the use of polystyrene, best known as Styrofoam, in Alaska. We are interns at Alaska Community Action on Toxics, a nonprofit focused on the impacts of toxic chemicals and plastics on people’s health, the environment and Indigenous ways of life. We are still fighting to end the use of polystyrene — and we are tired of empty promises from politicians like Dunleavy.
We represent young women, scientists and Native peoples. Our voices are often left out of the conversation, yet we have the most at stake. Repeatedly, older generations tell us: “Sorry for the mess we’ve left you.” However, change can only be accomplished through collective and intergenerational action, and we need all ages to help now.
ACAT’s Environmental Health and Justice Program Director Vi Waghiyi from Savoonga always says: “These are burdens we did not create.” Yet they will greatly interfere with our traditions, identities and abilities to live healthy lives. Our Executive Director, Pamela Miller, also published an op-ed in the Anchorage Daily News about how senseless Dunleavy’s veto of House Bill 25 was.
Now, Alaska is falling behind other states: twelve states already passed statewide legislation to eliminate polystyrene. California, Oregon, Washington and Colorado have banned polystyrene packing peanuts, coolers and other food service products. More than 250 U.S. cities and counties already banned or placed restrictions on polystyrene. Even McDonald’s eliminated its polystyrene packaging in 1990.
Rep. Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage and a supporter of the vetoed bill, emphasized the popularity of such measures on the House floor: “Three-quarters of Americans are concerned about plastic foam litter. Over 70% of Americans would support a national ban on foam food ware.” Several local Alaskan businesses submitted letters of support throughout the session, and the bill had bipartisan support, but this support seems to be futile.
Polystyrene contains the chemical styrene, a probable human carcinogen. Styrene has been linked to impaired nervous system function, increased risk of leukemia and lymphoma cancers, vision and hearing loss, and poor memory and concentration. Chemicals from polystyrene can leach into food and beverages, especially when heated. For example, the heat and acidity in hot coffee trigger chemical leaching from polystyrene cups, then these chemicals are absorbed by the fat in milk or cream, which is easily ingested by humans. Multiple studies in the 1980s found styrene in 100% of the human fat tissues they sampled, and polystyrene production and use has only increased since then. Many Alaskans have likely already experienced health harms from this ubiquitous leaching.
Alaskans rely on land and water for livelihood, nourishment and culture. Nationally, roughly 63% of the commercial seafood harvest is from Alaska. But in the ocean, polystyrene breaks down into microplastics from exposure to sunlight, waves and wind. Studies have detected high levels of microplastics in Alaskan waters, harming wildlife, contaminating ecosystems and threatening the population viability of commercial and subsistence fish. Wildlife often mistake floating foam debris for prey, then eat polystyrene or feed it to their young. This fills their bellies with plastic, causing lack of hunger, starvation and permanent injury.
Further, polystyrene is effectively not biodegradable: it takes hundreds of years to decompose, if it decomposes at all. High wind and wave action breaks foam blocks into tiny beads that are practically impossible to clean up. This foam travels through waterways, causing harm all over the globe. Over 10 years ago, polystyrene and related materials were found in 23 of 28 beaches sampled throughout the Gulf of Alaska; notably, no beaches were free from debris.
Alternatives to polystyrene include reusable serviceware, recyclable packaging and compostable products. Materials such as paper, cardboard and plant-based plastics are now common substitutes, and these options are more sustainable for food service providers and consumers alike. Some businesses are voluntarily opting out of polystyrene: Green Alaska Solutions provides plant-based, compostable alternatives for restaurants, businesses and events statewide, including rural villages. Their business partners highlight higher customer satisfaction and loyalty, with up to 15% increases in repeat customers after switching to compostable packaging.
ACAT and its partners will continue to work with policymakers on legislation to eliminate polystyrene in food packaging. Local businesses in Alaska would save money and avoid penalty fees by acting now to adopt alternatives in anticipation of a state or federal ban. The municipalities of Bethel, Cordova and Seward have already successfully enacted bans on polystyrene food containers.
To avoid polystyrene in your daily life:
- Bring an insulated metal mug for coffee instead of drinking from a hot foam cup — disposable lids are often also made of expanded polystyrene or other plastic.
- Bring a metal container to pack hot food leftovers into instead of polystyrene food containers from restaurants.
- Use shredded paper, perforated cardboard, or newspaper to pack items for shipping or moving instead of foam packing peanuts.
- When renovating or building a structure, choose a non-toxic insulation that does not contain polystyrene.
Our faith in public institutions depends on what those institutions do.
As we watched this carefully considered, bipartisan bill get dismissed without any convincing public justification, we took away a discouraging message. Years of testimony, scientific evidence and legislative work can be set carelessly aside, even when the proposed solution is reasonable and beneficial.
We do not want cynicism to be the lesson we take from this experience. We remember fishing, swimming and enjoying clear rivers and oceans free from plastic and pollution. We will continue to fight for these reforms so that our children will too.
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I started using WordPress because it was a practical tool for client work. One tiny patch turned it into a community, a career, and a lasting lesson about what open source makes possible.
The post My WordPress Origin Story: The One-Line Patch That Changed My Career appeared first on Aaron D. Campbell.
Assembly members will discuss a request for proposals for Port Chilkoot Dock for the second time at the Aug. 11 Haines Borough Assembly meeting. And, the borough clerk’s report confirms that two citizen initiatives are making their way through town. The Chilkat Valley News’ Will Steinfeld joins KHNS reporter Melinda Munson.
Melinda Munson: Will, thanks for joining us. Let’s talk about what is on the agenda for Tuesday’s Haines Borough Assembly meeting. Let’s first talk about the cruise ship dock.
Will Steinfeld: Where we left this last time was the borough manager and the assembly plan to write up a draft of what they call an RFD, a request for proposal for management of this dock. So the general idea was, we’re going to go put out this call for whatever private companies are out there who are interested in some sort of deal to lead this dock, manage the dock, whatever they can dream up. And then the borough would have the freedom to go through the proposals, see if any feel like good fits or good deals, and then proceed from there.
And so we’re kind of at the same step in the process this week, except now there is actually a draft of this RFP document that the borough staff have drawn up. And Assembly are going to take a look at it and maybe approve it. They could go in any direction. I think they could approve it or edit it.
It does give us new information about what this RFP process will look like. It’s really open ended as we heard last time, so it doesn’t really have strict guidelines about what the proposals need to look like exactly. It gives outside entities the freedom to offer what they want to offer.
It does require specific information. If this RFP goes out and goes out as written, we’ll hear from companies about financial information, how they plan to handle specific aspects of managing the dock, like how they’re going to schedule shifts. So this is all stuff the boroughs ask for, and we’ll hear from assembly members if they think anything’s missing, or if they think the process isn’t right. And then maybe the RFP process will start after the meeting.
Included in the document is the wording “ship scheduling.” Can you explain why that could be a little bit complicated in Haines?
The whole idea of putting this dock out for management is complicated because there are companies that feel like there’s prior history, and they already have an interest in what’s happening here. It’s not just starting with a blank slate and asking people to come in and give their best offer.
You mentioned the ship scheduling. That’s currently done by Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska. They don’t have a contract with the borough, but they do a lot of the management of the dock right now, including the ship scheduling.
The borough retains ownership. The borough collects the fees. But Cruise Line Agencies provide some of the staff who coordinate logistics of landing at the facility. Also the infrastructure like fenders that are at this dock. So they made a point to come and talk to the borough staff when this whole Global Ports thing kicked off to say, ‘Hey, we already do a lot here.’ And Global Ports coming in, or now a different company that responds to this RFP could change things.
Global Ports itself has said that they feel like they’ve already invested a lot into this process and had asked for some kind of return should the borough go out and open up this offer to other companies. And it doesn’t really seem like the borough has given them that – I hesitate to say special treatment – but it sounded like they were asking for some kind of differential treatment in the RFP process. Asking for the ability to match any other company’s best offer.
So, you know, if other outside companies that haven’t been involved come in, they’ll be entering this kind of network of relationships that already exists surrounding this facility.
Will, Haines residents can expect to see two petitions going around town, hoping to get enough signatures to be on the ballot. Tell us about those petitions.
These petitions are going to need 279 signatures from registered voters to be on the ballot. If they’re on the ballot, then the voters will decide if they pass.
The first is to repeal the seasonal sales tax that passed at last year’s election. So that’s the one that raises sales tax in town in the summer and lowers it in the winter – and exempts groceries in the winter. And if this gets on the ballot and then the voters approve it, it would just roll back the sales tax system to how it functioned before last year’s election.
And then the second one is to lower the senior property tax exemption from $300,000 exempt property value to $200,000. The mayor, Tom Morphet, wrote a letter in the Chilkat Valley News, a letter to the editor last week, making a case for this. And he says that the borough needs to collect more revenue for what he calls essential services. And he says this does that. It brings in more money, but it still maintains at least $200,000 of exemption for seniors.”
The post Listen: Assembly to discuss cruise dock deal, new initiatives headed to the ballot appeared first on Chilkat Valley News.