Fans are eager for information. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
Category: News Feeds
Fans are eager for information. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Eight teams. Two world-class arenas. An NIL prize pool of $500,000 on the line.The 2026 College Basketball Crown bracket was revealed Monday afternoon on FS1’s “First Things First.” The second-year tournament features a loaded field made up of teams from the nation’s top basketball conferences. FOX Sports college basketball analyst LaPhonso Ellis joined Danny Parkins on the show to reveal the eight-team event, which will take place in Las Vegas at MGM Grand Garden Arena and T-Mobile Arena from April 1-5. Here is a look at the matchups and analysis from Ellis: Game 1: Oklahoma (19-15) vs. Colorado (17-15), April 1, 8 p.m. ET Ellis on the Sooners: “This is an Oklahoma team that’s won six of their last seven games, playing at a really high level. Four guys [are] averaging 12 points or more, and they make 10 3s per game.” Ellis on the Buffaloes: “The issue with Colorado is they give up 37% from the 3-point line… The question is going to be, can they run this Oklahoma team off the 3-point line and keep them off the offensive glass?” Game 2: Baylor (16-16) vs. Minnesota (15-17), April 1, 10:30 p.m. ET Ellis on the Bears: “This is a team that, though they haven’t been where they typically are offensively, they’re one of the more efficient defensive teams in the nation and do a terrific job getting out in transition.” Ellis on the Golden Gophers: “This is a terrific passing team — the best passing team in the nation — and they can really stick the 3.” Game 3: Stanford (20-12) vs. West Virginia (18-14), April 2, 8 p.m. ET Ellis on Stanford: “Their big-time player is Ebuka Ekorie. He’s only 6-foot-1, but can flat-out score. He’s not even 19 years old yet… [He’s the] eighth-leading scorer in the nation, and I think he has Kyrie Irving-like finishes around the rim with either hand.” Ellis on the Mountaineers: “This is a West Virginia team that is 17th in the nation in terms of defensive efficiency. … They do a terrific job of closing out. Honor Huff, their 5-10 point guard, plays off the basketball and is one of the elite scorers in the Big 12. … and as he goes, West Virginia also goes.” Game 4: Rutgers (14-19) vs. Creighton (15-17), April 2, 10:30 p.m. ET Ellis on the Scarlet Knights: “This is a Rutgers team that struggled all year long, but all of a sudden, they started to surge toward the end of the year because their defense was so much better.” Ellis on the Bluejays: “This is a Creighton team that’s not necessarily known for their defense. … They do make 10 made 3s per game, so can Rutgers slow down that 3-point barrage?”Latest Sports News from FOX Sports
The world’s best sporting event is coming this summer, and it’s going to be bigger and better than ever. We’ll have 48 teams, supported by 48 passionate fan bases, filling stadiums across three countries – the U.S., Canada, and Mexico — at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Plenty of action on the pitch, but we’re also in store for the sights and sounds of soccer fans from across the globe. But which fan base will be the loudest? The most fun and the most followed? I present to you my World Cup Fan Base Power Rankings, sponsored by Lay’s. Let’s go into more detail: No. 10: Netherlands You can always hear the Dutch fans coming from a mile away and see them coming even further. Their iconic orange kits harken to the country’s history, and they’re always in full throat in the stands chanting and singing. Talk about knowing how to make an entry. Alexi’s Take: I know the Netherlands have a legendary fan base with all of that orange, it’s wonderful. But it’s also, it’s kind of a one-trick pony when I’m thinking about the Dutch. So again, there’s no shame in coming in as 10th, but I’m sure the Dutch out there are saying this is ridiculous and they should deserve to be much higher. No. 9: England Is it finally coming home? The fans of the Three Lions have waited a long time for any type of major trophy at a men’s tournament. But their fans always pack the stadiums and pubs when their team plays. Alexi’s Take: Now listen, your reputation precedes you. Both the good and, unfortunately, the bad. So you’re still at No. 9, and I’m not saying you’re not going to have a fun time when it’s England at the World Cup, but you’re still here because there are other people that do it better. I’m just, sorry. Truth hurts. No. 9: Senegal Senegal, as two-time winners of the African Cup of Nations trophy, have become one of the best teams on the continent. And the Teranga Lions bring energy thanks to their devoted fans, as they showed here in the streets of Dakar after their latest title. Alexi’s Take: We’ve seen Senegal just recently and even recently around the world. So it’s not just at the event, it’s not just in the country, it’s around the world. The Senegalese love to celebrate this team and this very, very good team we saw recently become champions of Africa, people stopping traffic and running around. So I think if this team were to do well this year in the World Cup, that fan base that they have is something to be seen. They like to party. Yes, they do. No. 7: Brazil Even with a World Cup title drought that’s now stretched 24 years, the Brazilians also pack the stands with the samba sounds and trademark yellow attire. Getting to experience a Brazil match in person is a must-do on any fan’s bucket list. Alexi’s Take: Speaking of party, Brazil comes in at No. 7, and I’m sure my colleague David Mosse is not happy. Again, it’s all about the samba, it’s all about the dance. And I get it. Who doesn’t love to dance? And that is a big part of what makes the Brazilian fan base wonderful. But there’s got to be something more. I’m sure they’re screaming at the screen right now or screaming at their phone right now saying, “We do this, we do this, we do this.” You know what? I’m sorry, you’re still only coming in at seventh. No. 6 Morocco What a time for Moroccan soccer. The Atlas Lions became the first African and Arab country to reach the World Cup semis back in 2022. And the country will be one of the three main co-hosts (alongside Spain and Portugal) at the 2030 World Cup. Alexi’s Take: Everything is going right from Morocco. A wonderful, wonderful fan base from top to bottom. Whether it’s the men’s team, the women’s team, whether it’s youth, they bring it, they celebrate. They just like to see Morocco win. It doesn’t matter again who’s actually on the field. No. 5: Colombia Colombia may not have the title pedigree as some of their other South American rivals but the fans flock whenever Los Cafeteros are on the pitch. Keep an eye on them this summer the World Cup when they play Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal in a group stage game in Miami. Scenes. Alexi’s Take: I told you before that I’m really, really excited and bullish about this Colombia team this summer at the World Cup, especially here in the United States. I think they’re going to be comfortable, and I think that they are going to rock on the field and off the field. You ever had a good party with Colombians? Oh, they don’t mess around. No. 4: Japan The devoted supporters of the Samurai Blue are engaged from the beginning to the end of any big match, and more so afterward. The fans are known to help clean up World Cup stadiums – win, lose or draw. Alexi’s Take: We know they are organized but not in a sterile way. There is absolute humanity and there’s personality and there is emotion when it comes to the Japanese fan base. But they also clean up for themselves. That, in and of itself, is a good thing. And I think people sometimes say, ‘Oh, it doesn’t really matter.’ No, that does matter. That deserves respect and that’s why they’re coming in at No. 4. No. 3: USA The co-hosts this summer and the spotlight will be on both the team and its supporters. Much like the 1994 World Cup helped transform the trajectory of soccer in the U.S., fans will hope the 2026 edition can further propel the team’s success. Alexi’s Take: This might be a controversial one too, but good ol’ US of A comes in at No. 3. We’ve talked about the diversity that we have here in the United States. The multiculturalism that we have, the multiple languages that we have, and all of those different nationalities and heritages and backgrounds coming together. I think that’s something incredibly unique. When I look around, and I see the stands full of people waving American flags, I know that they all come from diverse backgrounds and different pathways, and yet they’re celebrating this country together. I’m not saying that other countries don’t have that, but I think the USA, more so than any country in the world, does that. You can call it nationalism or whatever, but Americans, regardless of their background, love to celebrate America. And I think you’re going to see that absolutely this summer. And I think you have seen it consistently. No. 2: Scotland Scotland is back at the World Cup for the first time since 1998 and expect tons of support. Their fans singing “The Flower of Scotland” before games will be spine-chilling. Good news on the attire front, as they’ll be allowed to wear their traditional sporrans on their kilts this summer. Alexi’s Take: I mentioned partying earlier, and that’s why at No. 2 is Scotland and its Tartan Army. I mean, they just love to have a good time. And you know what? While they like to win on the field, that’s secondary as long as people are having a good time. But they seem to be more concerned that you are having a good time and that you are getting enough to eat, that you are getting enough to drink, that you are dancing, that you are having a good time. No. 1: Argentina This summer may be the last time we see Lionel Messi playing for Argentina, so expect a fervent following for the defending World Cup champions. Alexi’s Take: I remember back at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. I remember seeing the Copacabana Beach lined with RVs and vans of Argentinians who had come over the border and just descended and taken over the beach and taken over Rio de Janeiro. And the passion, the tears, the success. They are spoiled, but I don’t think that they ever take it for granted. And some of the greatest moments were when they won the World Cup in 2022. We saw the tears, whether it was in the stands, whether it was on the field, whether it was back home, whether it was the crowds, whether it was the TV personalities, just wonderful. So they’re top the list right now. These are my World Cup fan base Power Rankings and things could change. And we will continue to update this and certainly as we get closer and closer and even at times during the World Cup. These fan bases can go up and can go down. Who knows? Maybe the Dutch will bring it on their way and even more. And if you’re up at top but if you don’t behave, or you do something that I don’t like, boom, you can fall down. 2026 FIFA World Cup: How To Watch The World Cup will run from June 11–July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports apps. A record 40 matches, more than one-third of the tournament, will air in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19).Latest Sports News from FOX Sports
Categories
Why Martha Stewart Went To Prison
In the early 2000s, Martha Stewart’s career was thriving, but one sketchy business deal changed everything. The lifestyle mogul ended up in behind bars.
Mashed – Fast Food, Celebrity Chefs, Grocery, Reviews
By: James Brooks, Alaska Beacon
The U.S.-Israeli war against Iran has left oil markets more uncertain than they were during the Great Recession, a state expert told the Alaska Legislature on Monday.
In a pair of hearings, Alaska Department of Revenue economist Dan Stickel told state legislators that the volatility of global oil markets is the second-highest on record, leaving future forecasts particularly unreliable.
“The level of uncertainty around future prices in the oil markets now is higher than during the peaks of the Great Recession in 2008-2009 and it’s higher than the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and it’s higher than any of the COVID spikes other than the initial April 2020 spike,” he said during a Monday morning hearing of the Senate Finance Committee.
“The message here is to plan for the possibility that revenue doesn’t come in exactly at what we forecast for the next couple of years,” Stickel said.
Oil is the second-largest source of general-purpose revenue for the Alaska state budget, and Stickel’s testimony came days after the department released a new Alaska revenue forecast showing $545 million more in current-year revenue than projected in the fall. Most of that higher prediction is due to the price of oil.
That forecast has snarled relations in the Alaska House of Representatives, which has repeatedly postponed discussion of a bill that would fund a variety of amendments to the fiscal year 2026 budget passed by lawmakers and Gov. Mike Dunleavy last spring.
On Monday, after more than two hours of acrimonious debate, House legislators again declined to take up the bill.
Soon after the House adjourned its floor session, Stickel testified in front of the House Finance Committee, and told lawmakers that “the level of certainty that we will hit our exact forecast is low.”
As he spoke, on the other end of the Capitol’s fifth floor, the Senate Finance Committee was simultaneously hearing from Office of Management and Budget director Lacey Sanders, who said the governor’s office was requesting another $18 million in spending for the current fiscal year.
Altogether, the governor has requested almost $427 million in additions to the budget. Add in additional spending proposed by lawmakers, and there’s only about a $30 million difference between the new revenue forecast and the additions proposed by the governor and legislators.
At the latest forecast prices, said Rep. Calvin Schrage, I-Anchorage, a $2 change in the average price of a barrel of North Slope oil is worth $30 million.
He asked Stickel what the odds were that the forecast misses low by more than $2.
“Roughly a slightly less than 50% chance that we come in more than $2 below the forecast,” Stickel said, then alluded to the fact that there’s a similar chance of coming in above the forecast.
“The level of certainty that we will hit our exact forecast is low in either direction,” he said.
Currently, members of the House majority are advocating that legislators unlock the state’s principal savings account to provide surety for some of those budget additions.
Doing so would avoid problems if oil prices turn out to be lower than forecast.
But spending from the Constitutional Budget Reserve, the state’s principal savings account, requires 30 votes in the House and 15 votes in the Senate.
The House’s multipartisan coalition majority has 21 members, which means they need support from the all-Republican House minority caucus.
Members of that group have been arguing against unlocking the budget reserve right now, saying that the new forecast and the current balance of the state’s general-purpose accounts demonstrate it isn’t needed.
In addition, as currently written, the supplemental budget bill in the House would allow spending from savings regardless of the price of oil. That could allow the majority to dictate extra spending even if prices stay high.
The Senate has already approved spending from the Constitutional Budget Reserve, and on Monday morning, Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka and co-chair of the Senate Finance Committee, said a draw from the reserve would act as a “safety net.”
Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, said senators don’t intend to spend dollars from savings unless it is needed.
“If they are not needed, they will stay in the CBR,” he said, adding that without permission to spend from savings, there’s a chance that lawmakers would need to return in August to fix budget problems in a special session.
The blockbuster deal the NFL world has been waiting for is the Philadelphia Eagles inevitably moving mercurial receiver A.J. Brown. But instead, the Denver Broncos got ahead of that market, acquiring productive receiver Jaylen Waddle from the rebuilding Miami Dolphins on Tuesday. According to multiple reports, the Broncos gave up the team’s first-round selection in this year’s draft, No. 30 overall, along with third- and fourth-round picks in exchange for Waddle and a fourth-round selection. So, what does that mean for the Broncos, who finished a game away from the Super Bowl last season? And what is happening in the receiver market, given that salaries are rapidly rising at this premium position? Here are my four takeaways from Denver’s big move. 1. Broncos HC Sean Payton secures a No. 1 WR for QB Bo Nix Courtland Sutton, Denver’s top receiver last season, is a big, physical target who can make contested catches on third down and near the red zone. Sutton is Nix’s security blanket. And Marvin Mims Jr. does a nice job of stretching the field for the Broncos. But the addition of Waddle gives the Broncos a pass-catcher with No. 1 receiver traits. He can consistently win against man coverage and can score from anywhere on the field. Waddle had 1,000-yard seasons his first three years in the league and averaged 14.2 yards per reception in a bad offense for the Dolphins last season. Acquiring the 27-year-old Waddle allows the Broncos to take advantage of third-year quarterback Nix still playing on his rookie contract. And Waddle also reunites with former Alabama teammate and Denver lockdown cornerback Pat Surtain II. 2. Waddle escapes the dysfunction in South Beach Waddle was set to play for his third head coach, Jeff Hafley, and a new quarterback in Malik Willis. The Dolphins are in the middle of an organizational restructuring, with former Green Bay Packers personnel executive Jon-Eric Sullivan taking over as Miami’s general manager. Talk around the league has centered on the dysfunction that existed during the coaching tenures of Brian Flores and Mike McDaniel, with no clear plan or alignment between the front office and the on-field product. Owner Stephen Ross is focused on creating that clarity this offseason. The Dolphins are now one of five teams with two first-round selections — and six picks in the top 94 selections. Miami is in full rebuilding mode. With Tyreek Hill and Waddle gone, free-agent addition Tutu Atwell is the most dynamic receiver currently on Miami’s roster. Meanwhile, in Denver, there is clear alignment between Payton and GM George Paton, and Waddle will take the field for a team ready to make another deep playoff run. 3. Denver’s trade for Waddle highlights shift in WR market The franchise tag for receivers of $27.3 million is the second-most in the NFL, behind only quarterbacks at $43.4 million. Alec Pierce, who finished with just 47 catches a year ago, recently re-signed with the Indianapolis Colts for $29 million a year. Waddle is set to make $41.2 million in total compensation over the next two seasons. That’s a good deal for the Broncos, considering skyrocketing salaries for receivers and how much it costs to secure them on the open market. The Eagles have been unwilling so far to part ways with Brown, but he’s sure to fetch more than what the Broncos gave up for Waddle, based on his past production. And the price is only going to get higher to secure top-notch receivers in the future, with young stars such as Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Puka Nacua eligible to sign new lucrative deals. Five years ago, the franchise tag for receivers was $18.4 million. 4. Broncos are clearly in win-now mode With Nix out with a leg injury, Denver lost the AFC Championship Game to the Patriots 10-7 with backup Jarrett Stidham under center. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is working his way back from an ACL injury. The Chargers can’t seem to protect Justin Herbert and squandered another postseason opportunity last season. Star QBs Joe Burrow (Bengals), Lamar Jackson (Ravens) and Mahomes all missed the playoffs in 2025, while Buffalo’s Josh Allen has a new head coach in Joe Brady. Denver is built to compete with New England for AFC supremacy. Grabbing Waddle shows that Payton and the Broncos believe they can make a strong run at the Lombardi Trophy this season.Latest Sports News from FOX Sports
Economist Dan Stickel talks to the Alaska House Finance Committee on Monday, March 16, 2026. (James Brooks photo/Alaska Beacon)
The U.S.-Israeli war against Iran has left oil markets more uncertain than they were during the Great Recession, a state expert told the Alaska Legislature on Monday.
In a pair of hearings, Alaska Department of Revenue economist Dan Stickel told state legislators that the volatility of global oil markets is the second-highest on record, leaving future forecasts particularly unreliable.
“The level of uncertainty around future prices in the oil markets now is higher than during the peaks of the Great Recession in 2008-2009 and it’s higher than the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and it’s higher than any of the COVID spikes other than the initial April 2020 spike,” he said during a Monday morning hearing of the Senate Finance Committee.
“The message here is to plan for the possibility that revenue doesn’t come in exactly at what we forecast for the next couple of years,” Stickel said.
Oil is the second-largest source of general-purpose revenue for the Alaska state budget, and Stickel’s testimony came days after the department released a new Alaska revenue forecast showing $545 million more in current-year revenue than projected in the fall. Most of that higher prediction is due to the price of oil.
That forecast has snarled relations in the Alaska House of Representatives, which has repeatedly postponed discussion of a bill that would fund a variety of amendments to the fiscal year 2026 budget passed by lawmakers and Gov. Mike Dunleavy last spring.
On Monday, after more than two hours of acrimonious debate, House legislators again declined to take up the bill.
Soon after the House adjourned its floor session, Stickel testified in front of the House Finance Committee, and told lawmakers that “the level of certainty that we will hit our exact forecast is low.”
As he spoke, on the other end of the Capitol’s fifth floor, the Senate Finance Committee was simultaneously hearing from Office of Management and Budget director Lacey Sanders, who said the governor’s office was requesting another $18 million in spending for the current fiscal year.
Altogether, the governor has requested almost $427 million in additions to the budget. Add in additional spending proposed by lawmakers, and there’s only about a $30 million difference between the new revenue forecast and the additions proposed by the governor and legislators.
At the latest forecast prices, said Rep. Calvin Schrage, I-Anchorage, a $2 change in the average price of a barrel of North Slope oil is worth $30 million.
He asked Stickel what the odds were that the forecast misses low by more than $2.
“Roughly a slightly less than 50% chance that we come in more than $2 below the forecast,” Stickel said, then alluded to the fact that there’s a similar chance of coming in above the forecast.
“The level of certainty that we will hit our exact forecast is low in either direction,” he said.
Currently, members of the House majority are advocating that legislators unlock the state’s principal savings account to provide surety for some of those budget additions.
Doing so would avoid problems if oil prices turn out to be lower than forecast.
But spending from the Constitutional Budget Reserve, the state’s principal savings account, requires 30 votes in the House and 15 votes in the Senate.
The House’s multipartisan coalition majority has 21 members, which means they need support from the all-Republican House minority caucus.
Members of that group have been arguing against unlocking the budget reserve right now, saying that the new forecast and the current balance of the state’s general-purpose accounts demonstrate it isn’t needed.
In addition, as currently written, the supplemental budget bill in the House would allow spending from savings regardless of the price of oil. That could allow the majority to dictate extra spending even if prices stay high.
The Senate has already approved spending from the Constitutional Budget Reserve, and on Monday morning, Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka and co-chair of the Senate Finance Committee, said a draw from the reserve would act as a “safety net.”
Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, said senators don’t intend to spend dollars from savings unless it is needed.
“If they are not needed, they will stay in the CBR,” he said, adding that without permission to spend from savings, there’s a chance that lawmakers would need to return in August to fix budget problems in a special session.
One unique McDonald’s location takes dining to new heights, featuring a retired aircraft where guests can enjoy their meals inside the actual plane.
Food Republic – Restaurants, Reviews, Recipes, Cooking Tips
The half-slice of cheese on McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish may induce eye rolls from customers, especially when it’s crookedly placed on the bun. This might be why.
Mashed – Fast Food, Celebrity Chefs, Grocery, Reviews