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A few teams we’ve grown accustomed to playing well in recent years have opened the 2026 NFL season 3-0. And then there are a pair of surprises that have also gotten off to an undefeated start, including the Las Vegas Raiders. What should we make of the Raiders’ 3-0 start? Well, in the most recent edition of Tom Brady’s power rankings, the seven-time Super Bowl champ wasn’t afraid to put them in his top 10. In fact, he went as far as placing them in the top five, claiming that there was “no hometown bias.” We’ll see if the Raiders can continue their hot streak in Week 4, when they host one of the four other undefeated teams: the Kansas City Chiefs. As the Chiefs are out to a 3-0 start, were they able to move into the No. 1 spot in Brady’s power rankings following the Seattle Seahawks’ Week 3 loss? Here’s Brady’s full top 10. Brady’s thoughts: Tyler Loop, a walk-off 56-yarder in Rio? The trio in Rio? That’s what Jim Nantz said — I loved that. Another incredible performance by Lamar Jackson. Week in and week out, he’s unstoppable. I think they’ve got to sustain some of those drives in the second half to put these teams away. I think you’ve got to play to win and do what you need to do to continue to put points on the board until midway through the fourth quarter, when the clock becomes an issue. I think momentum swings are so huge in the NFL. If you take your foot off the gas for just a little bit and the other team gains a little momentum and the snowball starts going downhill, you may not be able to stop the other team. Brady’s thoughts: Huge win against the Rams, and having already played one of the NFL’s toughest schedules, give this team a lot of credit. Bo Nix gets it done once again in the fourth quarter — insane the way he plays down the stretch — and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph and this defense, I give them a lot of credit for keeping them in the game, too. They did it last year, and they’re doing it in the early part of this year, too. One thing Nix can do to elevate his game as a passer is this: having your feet planted in the right place to get to your first and second read, and then knowing when the play is over and not trying to make every play a hero-type play. Find the open guy, cut it loose. If it’s not there, move onto the next play. No negative plays, keep your team on track. Brady’s thoughts: Jared Goff has eight touchdowns and no picks. They’re squeaking by in some tough wins. They show a lot of toughness in Detroit; that’s what that city is made of. I love Jahmyr Gibbs, and I love Saquon Barkley and I love Bijan Robinson. I saw James Cook the other day in person, and he’s pretty ridiculous, too. The NFL’s stacked right now at the halfback position. Brady’s thoughts: Incredible, back-to-back games holding teams in single digits? How about Dennis Allen and that defense? And a veteran quarterback who hasn’t started in like, a million days? Case Keenum said it in the locker room after the game: It’s not his first f—ing rodeo. It’s still early in the season, and Keenum got a lot of training camp reps. So, it’s not quite like it would be in December, where he’s basically been sitting on the sideline the whole time. But I give him a lot of credit; it’s still hard to do. He hasn’t started in a long time, and he came in and delivered for his team. Brady’s thoughts: Someone finally beat the best. The Seahawks drop from No. 1, but outgained the Commanders by almost 200 yards. The run game vanished, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba can only do so much. The Seahawks have got to find a way to get back on track. I always liken JSN’s shoulder plane to Greg Maddux’s pitching exhibition: When the ball comes out of his hand, everything looks the same and it’s all late movement. It’s a lot like what JSN does. Shoulders are low, arms are driving and he’s such a smooth route runner. His start and stop is so difficult to know. He’s always got them on their heels. Brady’s thoughts: No hometown bias here. Listen, undefeated gets you in the top five. That’s just the way my power rankings work. You can only be who you play, and when you’re undefeated, you’re better than the teams that have lost games. That’s just the way it works for me. The Raiders had four takeaways against the Saints. How about their fourth-quarter performance on defense? Taking the ball away, knocking it off, interceptions, fumble returns — they did it all. That’s how you secure a win on the road in the NFL. I think the culture is always about your teammates. I always think it’s about “We” over “Me.” And I think if you go out there and you play for your teammates every single game, you try not to let your teammates down. I love the culture that’s being built in Las Vegas right now. Brady’s thoughts: No one would’ve guessed this, certainly not with the injuries at quarterback. But the Vikings had six sacks, 12 QB hits, a punt return touchdown and winning in all phases of the game against the Buccaneers. I’m excited to see how Kyler Murray grows in this Kevin O’Connell offense. I would say that probably for most quarterbacks, it takes half a season to get acclimated to a new offense. Possibly a season or two, depending on how complicated the offense is and how familiar the quarterback is with some of those things that are being done. Football is football. Concepts are concepts. But it’s really about the verbiage, the vernacular, and how things really just come out of your mouth over the course of the game. These are all different languages from these teams and everybody coaches their offenses a little differently, but I’m really impressed with what the Vikings are doing right now. Brady’s thoughts: That was a lot of ugly football. I mean, look, there were a lot of crazy plays happening. It was really fun to call, and I love seeing the Bills play and I love seeing the Chargers play. But the Bills, they had five turnovers. Five turnovers, and a win! That shows the talent the Bills team has. They’re not going to be able to get away with that later in the season, though. Brady’s thoughts: Winning by 14 while losing the time of possession by nine minutes against the Dolphins. What? That rarely ever happens. But Miami, that’s a tough place to play; believe me, I know. In September, regardless of record, when it’s hot, it feels so good to go in there and get a win. I think what serves every team well is when you have continuity. When you have continuity at head coach, quarterback, GM and defensive coordinator, so many of the culture drivers that the Chiefs have, they’re on their stuff. They can solve problems quickly. There’s so much variation on offense. And because K9 (Kenneth Walker) is doing so much for them, the passing game doesn’t need to be what it was five or six years ago. They can win a balanced game. They can win defensively. That’s a tough team to beat. Brady’s thoughts: They were pretty much unheralded all offseason because everyone was talking about Seattle and the Rams. But it’s the 49ers at No. 1. Why? They’re undefeated. We know that. But they have the best point differential in the league. Brock Purdy’s playing as well as anybody; anybody. He should be considered in the Tier 1 QB discussions. At least he is in my eyes. It sure looks like Purdy is an elite quarterback now. He’s playing within the system, throwing the ball accurately, no negative plays, getting his team in and out of the right plays — I love the way he’s managing every single game.Latest Sports News from FOX Sports
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Jon Pardi is introducing fans to his “new family member,” a sweet little pup named Scout.
The country star took to Instagram Stories late Tuesday to introduce fans to Scout, a black and white Rat Terrier who is already settling into his new life with Pardi. The singer explained that Scout will soon become his new “road dog” and companion, joining him on the bus and traveling with him whenever possible.
“He’s a rat terrier, and he’s going to be a good deer dog, truck dog…whatever you want dog. And he’s a good boy. He’s just getting used to his whole life right now. But I showed him to a broken down truck and a bunch of weird dogs and a bunch of drama, but he’ll be all right.”
As little Scout sat comfortably on his lap, Pardi continued to gush over his newest companion.
“He’s going to be my new companion. He’ll be on the road with me. He’ll be little enough to fly around and join the bus. He’s a good boy.”
According to Pardi, Scout is already fitting right in with the family.
Scout has also met Pardi’s other dog, Cowboy, and the two pups are already “best friends.”
With the clip coming to a close, Pardi gave fans one more look at his new pup before proudly introducing him.
“Ladies and gentlemen, meet the Scout. He got that tuxedo head. He got that tuxedo head. He’s a classy gentleman. He’s classy.”
Pardi will have plenty of opportunities to bring Scout along for the ride this fall. The “Head Over Boots” singer recently kicked off his GAMBLIN’ MAN TOUR 2026, launching the trek with capacity crowds in Richmond, Virginia, on September 17 and Atlantic City, New Jersey, on September 18.
The tour is slated to continue through November 14, with stops in Georgia, Colorado, Texas and more. The run comes during a busy year of touring for Pardi, who has already played to more than 500,000 fans across the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the U.K.
With plenty more dates ahead, Scout is sure to get his fair share of time on the road with his new best friend.
The post Jon Pardi Introduces Fans to His Adorable ‘New Family Member’ Scout appeared first on Country Now.
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If you’ve spent any time online this week, then you’ve no doubt heard about the horrific allegations coming out of Cornell University.
Now, a former student who has been accused of gang rape is speaking out through his attorney.
Gillio Lopes is one of seven former Chi Phi fraternity members named in a civil lawsuit filed by a former Cornell student, identified as Jane Doe, who alleges she was drugged and sexually assaulted inside the fraternity house in October 2024.
Lopes is pushing back on those allegations in a statement issued on Wednesday.
“Cornell previously investigated this matter and developed an extensive factual record,” attorney Tara J. Davis told TMZ.
“The allegations now being made publicly differ in significant respects from the accounts provided during that investigation and do not reflect the complete record,” Davis added.
Lopes’ legal team says those differences will become a central issue as the case moves forward.
“Those inconsistencies will be tested through discovery and addressed in the litigation,” Davis said.
Lopes’ attorney previously gave CBS News a similarly forceful statement, saying that her client “unequivocally denies the allegations against him” and emphasizing that accusations are not proof.
The allegations stem from an October 2024 incident at Cornell’s Chi Phi fraternity house. Jane Doe claims she was intoxicated and later given drugs before being sexually assaulted by multiple fraternity members.
She subsequently reported the incident to Cornell police.
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten announced this week that his office is reopening its criminal investigation and plans to present the evidence to a grand jury. No criminal charges have been filed against Lopes or the other men at this time.
The DA has said that the account provided by Jane Doe in 2024 differed substantially from allegations contained in her more recent civil lawsuit. Specifically, Van Houten has said her original statement did not allege that she had been drugged against her will or gang raped.
At the same time, attorneys for Jane Doe have disputed that characterization and pointed to additional evidence, including interviews and messages that they say support her account.
Cornell has also confirmed that its own investigation resulted in disciplinary action against several of the accused students. According to the university, two were expelled and two others were suspended for at least two semesters. The Chi Phi chapter was also closed and remains barred from campus.
For now, Lopes remains adamant that he did not sexually assault the woman.
And with the criminal investigation now being revisited, his defense team appears prepared to challenge the allegations in court.
We will have further updates on this developing story as new information becomes available.
Gillio Lopes, Cornell Fraternity Member, Denies Sexual Assault Allegation was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
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‘I almost died of a broken heart. I was so, so devastated,’ Wynonna tells Taste of Country. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
Earlier this year, the federal government lifted restrictions that had paused the transfer of 1.4 million acres of federal land along the Dalton Highway and trans-Alaska oil pipeline, seen here in 2023. (Bureau of Land Management photo)
Alaska’s decades-long quest to obtain millions of acres of land from the federal government under the Alaska Statehood Act is getting closer to an end.
But because the state is getting closer to its goal, its requests now exceed a limit in federal law.
This week, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources announced that it is preparing to surrender the claims to as much as 5.7 million acres scattered across the state, an area collectively bigger than New Jersey.
The original 1958 Statehood Act gave Alaska permission to take over 105 million acres of federal land, but the state could — and did — target millions of acres more than that before the selection period closed in 1993.
That’s partially because some of the state’s initial selections were being used for another purpose and weren’t immediately available for transfer.
The state’s selections have paid off in a big way: The vast state-owned Prudhoe Bay oil fields were originally controlled by the federal government before being selected by the state in 1964.
Transfers move extremely slow; the land must be surveyed, marked and processed through the federal bureaucracy.
Year by year, decade by decade, the federal government has incrementally passed parcels to the state.
Earlier this year, the federal government removed restrictions that had blocked the transfer of 1.4 million acres along the Dalton Highway and trans-Alaska oil pipeline. That leaves about 3.2 million acres left to be transferred.
Under federal law, the state can select no more than 125% of the acreage left to be transferred, which means that as the balance shrinks, Alaska needs to surrender some claims.
By phone on Tuesday, DNR officials said they’re preparing to give up some low-priority selections, places that are unlikely to be transferred or are less valuable than other selections.
In this week’s public notice, DNR listed 18 targets for relinquishment — the land under Eielson Air Force Base, a bombing range near Fort Greely, land surrounded by other owners in western Alaska, land envisioned for a road near Unalakleet, and more.
Relinquishing each claim involves a separate public process, and more are likely to come. Even if all 18 claims are relinquished, the state will remain above the 125% claim limit.
Alaska also has millions of acres of “top filed” selections — claims that haven’t been formally processed because the land is being used for some other purpose, like mining.
If a federal mine claim ends, for example, the top filing means the state gets priority afterward.
Top filed selections don’t count against the 125% limit, but the state may begin eliminating some of those as well.
DNR officials said that as the state gets closer and closer to the Statehood Act’s limit, the state will become more selective about the claims it keeps, and it may keep some particularly valuable top-filed picks even if they’re not immediately available.
As it gets closer and closer to the 105 million-acre limit, Alaska could hold the last selections in reserve for those top-filed parcels, the officials said.
Any final decision would be up to future governors and future DNR commissioners.
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Billy Ray Cyrus and Lee Greenwood are honoring the life and service of Kentucky State Police Trooper Hayden Phillips, who was fatally shot while conducting a traffic stop on Interstate 65 in Warren County, Kentucky, on Monday, September 28.
According to Kentucky State Police, Phillips was shot shortly after 2 p.m. CT near Smiths Grove. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Phillips was a three-year veteran of the Kentucky State Police and leaves behind his wife and three children.
The shooting prompted a statewide manhunt, and authorities later arrested 51-year-old Emonnie Branch of Portland, Tennessee, in Louisville. Branch has been charged with murder of a first responder, a peace officer, in connection with Phillips’ death.
Cyrus, who hails from Kentucky, took to social media to share a heartfelt message for Phillips’ family, including his wife and three sons, while asking his followers to keep them and those who served alongside Phillips in their thoughts and prayers.
“Thoughts and prayers for my home state of Kentucky. Rest in peace, Trooper Hayden Phillips, who gave his life in the line of duty. Praying for his wife, his three sons, and all who loved and served alongside him,” he wrote. “Some Gave All… Thank you for your service and sacrifice. A true Kentucky hero.”
The “Achy Breaky Heart” singer also encouraged fans to donate to the family through the Kentucky State Police Foundation.
Lee Greenwood also honored the fallen officer on social media.
“Kim and I just learned of the tragic loss of Kentucky State Police Trooper Hayden Phillips, who was shot and killed in the line of duty on I-65 north of Nashville. Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers are with his family, loved ones, and the entire KSP family. We will always stand with the men and women in blue,” he shared. “May God bless Trooper Phillips and all who wear the badge.”
Funeral arrangements have been announced for Phillips. Visitation is scheduled for Saturday, October 3, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Living Hope Baptist Church in Bowling Green, with funeral services set for Sunday, October 4, at noon at E.A. Diddle Arena on the campus of Western Kentucky University. The public is encouraged to attend.
Phillips will be laid to rest following the funeral service.
The post Billy Ray Cyrus, Lee Greenwood Pay Tribute to Fallen Kentucky Trooper Hayden Phillips appeared first on Country Now.
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If you want to eat the very best fast food breakfast in the country, you’ll need to head to one of these three Southern states (and get there before 2 p.m.).
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