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Shohei Ohtani absent from Dodgers for birth of first child

Shohei Ohtani is about to be a dad. 

The Los Angeles Dodgers' two-way superstar was away from the team for the birth of his first child Friday. 

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani was with his wife and on MLB’s paternity list before the Dodgers’ series opener Friday night against the Texas Rangers.

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"He and Mamiko are expecting at some point. That’s all I know," Roberts said. "I don’t know when he’s going to come back, and I don’t know when they’re going to have the baby, but obviously they’re together in anticipation."

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Ohtani, 30, posted on his Instagram account in late December that he and his 28-year-old wife, a former professional basketball player from his native Japan, were expecting a baby in 2025.

"Can’t wait for the little rookie to join our family soon!" the Dec. 28 post said. It included a photo showing the couple’s beloved dog, Decoy, and a pink ruffled onesie along with baby shoes and a sonogram that was covered by a baby emoji.

Ohtani can miss up to three games while on paternity leave. The Dodgers have a three-game series in Texas before an off day Monday. They play at the Chicago Cubs Tuesday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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UNC employees 'not loving the Bill Belichick experience,' longtime Boston reporter says

It's no secret Bill Belichick runs a tight ship, but his style is apparently rubbing some people in Chapel Hill the wrong way.

Belichick, who turned 73 Wednesday, took the UNC football coaching job in December after the Tar Heels moved on from Mack Brown.

The 2024 football season was Belichick's first away from the sideline in nearly 50 years. He had some interviews but never got a job and eventually took the season off, other than some media appearances.

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Belichick has been on the job for about five months, and, according to one reporter who covered Belichick with the New England Patriots, some "everyday employee[s]" aren't fond of what's going on.

"From rumblings I heard — and this is not recent, and this a month or two ago — they’re not loving the Bill Belichick experience. If you’re an everyday employee down there, which is probably what a lot of the people here in 2000 felt when Bill came aboard and said, ‘I don’t know if I like this,' it’s uncomfortable," Tom Curran said on WEEI this week.

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Curran's report came after The Athletic highlighted some "notable takeaways" from Belichick's tenure, including treating the program like an NFL team and his 24-year-old girlfriend involvement in operations.

The Athletic recently obtained emails in which Hudson showed concern about fans attacking Belichick and his personal life. Belichick also asked UNC employees that Hudson be copied on emails.

Belichick reportedly kept tabs on some NFL jobs before taking the UNC gig, including the New York Jets. It was also reported Tom Brady and Belichick shared somewhat of an interest, but nothing ever materialized.

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Biden-appointed judge rules against Maine Rep. Laurel Libby in fight over controversial trans athlete censure

A federal judge ruled against Maine state Rep. Laurel Libby Friday in her lawsuit to have her censure in the state legislature overturned. Libby was censured Feb. 15 for a social media post that identified a transgender athlete who won a girls state pole vault title. 

The judge who made the ruling is Rhode Island U.S. District Court Judge Melissa DuBose, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden just before he left office in January. 

DuBose denied Libby's motion for a preliminary injunction Friday, ruling the process House Speaker Ryan Fecteau used to impose the sanction reflected the will of the majority of Maine House members.

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DuBose presided over the case after every district judge in Maine refused to take it.

Judges John C. Nivison, John A. Woodcock, Lance E. Walker, Karen F. Wolf, Stacey D. Neumann and Nancy Torresen signed recusal orders shortly after the case was initially filed. No reason was given. 

So, the case went to DuBose in Rhode Island. 

MAINE GIRL INVOLVED IN TRANS ATHLETE BATTLE REVEALS HOW STATE'S POLICIES HURT HER CHILDHOOD AND SPORTS CAREER

Libby is "disappointed" by the ruling but plans to appeal it and will take the case to the court of appeals and, potentially, the U.S. Supreme Court. 

"I certainly won't leave any stone unturned in getting my constituents their voice and vote back," Libby told Fox News Digital. 

Libby represents 9,000 constituents in Maine's 90th district and has not been able to speak or vote on their behalf in the state legislature for 62 days. 

That cost her a chance to vote on the state's biannual budget and propose a bill to expand access to mental health resources for residents. 

With her censure remaining in place, it will prevent Libby from voting on or speaking on the House floor about a bill that would add trans inclusion in girls sports to the state constitution.

Her colleagues will be voting on the Democratic majority's bill after it passed with a slim simple majority in the House Thursday but will need a two-thirds majority in both chambers before it can go before voters. If passed, it would codify in the state's constitution the Maine Human Rights Act (MHRA), which protects the rights of transgender athletes to compete for sports teams of the opposite sex.

"I will not be able to vote on that," Libby said. 

Libby's social media post that prompted the censure thrust the entire state into an active legal battle with President Donald Trump's administration over the issue of trans athletes in girls sports. 

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the state for its ongoing defiance of Trump's "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" executive order. Maine has faced federal pressure in the last two months over its refusal to comply, including two federal investigations, a funding freeze by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and now a lawsuit. 

The Democratic leadership in the state, led by Gov. Janet Mills, has fought back, filing their own lawsuit against Trump over the funding freeze. Another federal judge has already ruled the USDA must unfreeze the funding. 

"I’m happy to go to court and litigate the issues that are being raised in this court complaint," Mills told reporters Thursday. 

A survey by the American Parents Coalition found that out of about 600 registered Maine voters, 63% said school sports participation should be based on biological sex, and 66% agreed it is "only fair to restrict women’s sports to biological women."

The poll also found that 60% of residents would support a ballot measure limiting participation in women’s and girls sports to biological females. This included 64% of independents and 66% of parents with kids under age 18.

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Gunther relishes being 'party pooper' in WWE as fans flock behind rival Jey Uso

The WWE Universe made it loud and clear that they support Jey Uso ahead of his attempt at winning the World Heavyweight Championship against Gunther at this weekend's WrestleMania 41.

If it wasn’t clear, fans who packed Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas for WaleMania on Thursday made their voices heard with ear-popping "yeet" chants throughout the night. 

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Gunther’s actions have made clear he’s not going to go down easy. He has owned Uso in the ring, and also sent a message with a bloody beatdown of Uso's twin brother Jimmy weeks before the two are set to go 1-on-1 for the championship in Allegiant Stadium on Saturday.

He admitted on Friday to Fox News Digital he was happy to rain on the fans’ parade.

"I enjoy it. I love to p--- on any parade," Gunther said. "I’m the party pooper in this company, and I’m very proud of that. I enjoy doing that.

"The more support Jey has, the better for me."

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Gunther won the World Heavyweight Championship over Damian Priest at SummerSlam back in August. One of his only losses in singles competition over the last year came at Crown Jewel against Cody Rhodes, and against Sami Zayn at WrestleMania 40 for the Intercontinental Championship.

Since then, Gunther has proven to be one of the most dominant superstars the WWE roster has to offer.

Uso earned the right to challenge Gunther with his win in the men’s Royal Rumble. He’s only held one singles title in his career, the Intercontinental Championship, which he dropped to Bron Breakker.

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WWE legend Rey Mysterio confident in son's abilities as wrestling superstar

Dominik Mysterio will enter WrestleMania 41 with the odds stacked against him as he tries to win the first main-roster singles title of his career in a fatal four-way match for the Intercontinental Championship.

Mysterio will go up against Penta, his Judgment Day stablemate Finn Balor and champion Bron Breakker. He’s had quite a tough time trying to get a leg up on the competition in any of the matches he’s been in with the three competitors.

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Rey Mysterio will be on hand to watch Dominick compete. The father and son have been on-screen rivals and even squared off against each other at WrestleMania 39 and 40. Even as the two have been locked in a bitter feud, Rey said he couldn’t be prouder.

"Man, it’s incredible," he told Fox News Digital at LIV Fontainebleau in Las Vegas for WrestleMania After Dark. "Words can’t express how I feel — I try to separate the storyline from how I actually feel as a father. The amount of pride that I feel to see his growth and everything he’s done in such a short amount of time is incredible.

WRESTLEMANIA 41 NIGHT 2 WILL SEE JOHN CENA TRYING TO MAKE HISTORY AGAINST CODY RHODES

"He must know that I’m very proud of him. I don’t get tired of telling him… The execution and discipline that he has inside the ring and with his peers comes from the raising his mom did. The talent that he has inside the ring, that’s just genetics. It’s been around his whole life, and I think there’s no doubt that he’s meant to be a WWE superstar."

Dominik won a tag-team championship with his father and is a two-time NXT North American champion.

Breakker has held the Intercontinental Championship since Oct. 21, 2024, when he defeated Jey Uso for it.

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WWE legend Paul Heyman heaps praise on Paul Levesque ahead of Hall of Fame induction

Paul "Triple H" Levesque, WWE’s chief content officer will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on Friday night, and it will be the second time he is a part of the ceremonies.

Levesque first went into the Hall of Fame as a member of the D-Generation X stable in 2019, but at the beginning of the year, WWE executives Nick Khan and Shawn Michaels surprised him with the revelation that he will be honored as a singles competitor, as well.

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Paul Heyman was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame before WrestleMania 40 last year and called himself a "Paul Levesque guy." He spoke glowingly about Levesque in an interview with Fox News Digital ahead of the ceremonies.

"The company was in a very unique situation at the time," Heyman said, referring to Vince McMahon’s departure as chairman months before WrestleMania 40 following sexual misconduct allegations and the rise of Khan and Levesque into greater executive roles. "The leadership was still very new. Nick Khan’s reign of running the company was still very new. Paul Levesque’s reign of running the creative was still very new. And this was the first Hall of Fame and WrestleMania completely put together under the oversight and management of Paul Levesque.

WRESTLEMANIA 41 NIGHT 1 WILL FEATURE THE END OF SEVERAL EPIC FEUDS

"Everyone was looking around waiting for the old administration to come back in and take the board over a second time and that wasn’t going to happen. And someone from within whose voice carries weight in the locker room had to tell everyone else, ‘We’re in a new era, we have new bosses, they’re doing OK — in fact, they’re doing really good. And we should all follow them because, so far, they’ve proven themselves to be worthy of the kingdom that they have inherited."

Heyman said that was the reason why he spoke highly of Levesque during his own Hall of Fame induction speech last year in Philadelphia.

He praised Levesque’s prowess as the company’s creative chief. 

WRESTLEMANIA 41 NIGHT 2 WILL SEE JOHN CENA TRYING TO MAKE HISTORY AGAINST CODY RHODES

"I understand the level of control that position affords a human being, and the manner in which Paul Levesque collaborates creatively with everyone and delegates creatively with those who’ve earned his respect is mind-boggingly different than anybody else I’ve ever worked with, including outside of this industry," Heyman said, adding the closest comparison is having watched Rick Rubin produce music.

"So, for him to get his moment, both as a talent and also, I’d suggest, for what he’s doing now, is richly deserved, long overdue and happy for him and proud of him."

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Trump and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred have meeting at White House amid Pete Rose debate

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and President Donald Trump met at the White House Wednesday, MLB confirmed to Fox News Digital.

What Manfred and Trump discussed is unclear. The Washington Post was the first to report on the meeting. 

"President Trump is a longtime fan of baseball. As he has done in the past, Commissioner Manfred was pleased to visit the White House again to discuss issues pertaining to baseball with the president," an MLB spokesperson told Fox News Digital of the visit. 

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The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. 

One thing Trump and Manfred may have discussed is the subject of Pete Rose's Hall of Fame candidacy. Trump said he would pardon Rose posthumously after he died at age 83 in September 2024. 

"Major League Baseball didn’t have the courage or decency to put the late, great, Pete Rose, also known as ‘Charlie Hustle,’ into the Baseball Hall of fame. Now he is dead, will never experience the thrill of being selected, even though he was a FAR BETTER PLAYER than most of those who made it, and can only be named posthumously. WHAT A SHAME!" Trump posted to Truth Social in February.

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"Anyway, over the next few weeks I will be signing a complete PARDON of Pete Rose, who shouldn’t have been gambling on baseball, but only bet on HIS TEAM WINNING. He never betted against himself, or the other team. He had the most hits, by far, in baseball history, and won more games than anyone in sports history. Baseball, which is dying all over the place, should get off its fat, lazy a--, and elect Pete Rose, even though far too late, into the Baseball Hall of Fame!"

Rose is MLB’s hit king with 4,256 career hits. He was the National League MVP in 1974 and was a 17-time All-Star, a three-time World Series champion and a three-time batting champion. 

However, the Cincinnati Reds star became a polarizing figure when news of his gambling on games rocked the sports world. Rose received a lifetime ban from MLB in 1989.

The meeting between Trump and Manfred also comes after a feature story about Jackie Robinson's military service was briefly taken down from the Department of Defense's website for a day before being restored. 

MLB celebrated Jackie Robinson Tuesday, April 15, the 78th anniversary of Robinson breaking MLB’s color barrier. 

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Pro-trans athlete protesters chant 'Hail Satan!' at girls during California school board meeting

A school board meeting in California Thursday night included protesters chanting "Hail Satan!" in support of transgender athletes in girls sports. 

The Chino Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) board meeting in San Bernardino County featured opposing protesters delivering impassioned speeches on the issue, and many speeches cited biblical scripture. At one point, police escorted a woman who was there to oppose trans inclusion, citing the Bible.

Footage from the meeting shows several protesters there to support trans inclusion, chanting "Hail Satan!" 

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"Yes, public comments did include speakers saying, ‘Hail Satan,’" the school district said in a statement. 

CVUSD school board President Sonja Shaw condemned the protesters's chants. 

"At last night’s board meeting, we passed several pro-parent and pro-female athlete resolutions that provide measures that protect girls sports and uphold the fundamental rights of parents to raise and guide their children without government interference or radical agendas," Shaw told Fox News Digital.

"In response, a small but loud group of outside agitators descended on our meeting, screaming, cussing and even chanting phrases like ‘Hail Satan’ all in front of families and children.

"According to what was shared with me from their own social media posts, they tried to rally tons of outside groups to overwhelm our district, but what a complete embarrassment. That’s all they got? A handful of angry, disruptive individuals trying to bully a community that’s working to protect kids and ensure that education remains focused on learning, not divisive ideologies."

TEEN GIRLS OPEN UP ON TRANS ATHLETE SCANDAL THAT TURNED THEIR HIGH SCHOOL INTO A CULTURE WAR BATTLEGROUND 

Shaw added that she received a death threat via email in the days leading up to the meeting in response to her stance opposing trans inclusion in girls sports. 

"Just a few days before this meeting, I received a violent and graphic death threat in my email. This is the level of hatred and evil we’re up against. But no threat, no mob and no political machine will scare me into silence," Shaw said. 

Multiple parents who attended the meeting told Fox News Digital what they witnessed. 

"What we witnessed was deeply unsettling — adults behaving in a sadistic and hateful way, all in the name of equality," said Christina Salazar, who's daughter Isabel's speech at the meeting was interrupted by the chants.

"There was even a teacher from my daughter’s school who was interrupting the meeting yelling and said ‘Hail Satan’ as he walked out and flipped everyone off."

Fellow San Bernardino County mother Nichole Vicario claims some of the opposing protesters identify as "Satanists."

"I also witnessed extreme and inappropriate behavior from the opposing side. Some individuals shouted "Hail Satan," identified themselves as Satanists and used vulgar, aggressive language throughout the meeting, even with children present," Vicario said. 

"Despite the chaos, the board remained composed and strong, clearly committed to protecting girls sports, not just for Chino Valley, but as a stand for girls across California and potentially the entire country."

MAINE GIRL INVOLVED IN TRANS ATHLETE BATTLE REVEALS HOW STATE'S POLICIES HURT HER CHILDHOOD AND SPORTS CAREER

The state has seen multiple chaotic occurrences at school board meetings in recent months related to debates over trans athlete inclusion. 

During a Lucia Mar Unified School District (LMUSD) board meeting Wednesday, a high school junior track athlete at Arroyo Grande High School named Celeste Diest cried during a speech recounting her experience of having to change in front of a biological male trans athlete before practice while that athlete allegedly watched her undress. But her speech was interrupted when she was told to "wrap it up" by the board president. 

After her speech, the audience erupted in a roaring applause, and the board president began slamming her gavel down to try and temper the growing applause, but the cheers only got louder after that. 

In December, a Riverside Unified School District board meeting drew national attention and massive opposing protests outside the meeting. Multiple witnesses from the meeting previously told Fox News Digital pro-trans activists at the event were harassing the anti-trans protesters on the other side and disrupting a women's prayer group during a prayer circle prior to the meeting. 

The prayer group, Young Women for America (YWA)'s Inland Empire chapter in California, alleged pro-transgender activists showered them with insults.

"Members of the pro-LGBTQ groups started heckling and harassing the people in line who were speaking in opposition of their values. Some of these adult protesters were even coming up to the young girls that were going to be speaking and were yelling at them close to their face," YWA Inland Empire Chapter President Tori Hitchcock alleged. 

A new bipartisan survey by the Public Policy Institute of California found the majority of California residents oppose biological male trans athletes competing in women's sports. 

That figure included more than 70% of the state's school parents.

"Most Californians support requiring transgender athletes to compete on teams matching the sex they were assigned at birth," the poll stated. 

"Solid majorities of adults (65%) and likely voters (64%) support requiring that transgender athletes compete on teams that match the sex they were assigned at birth, not the gender they identify with. An overwhelming majority of public school parents (71%) support such a requirement."

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Steve Kerr dons Harvard shirt in response to Trump's federal funding freeze: 'Stand up to the bully'

The Trump administration announced Monday it would be freezing $2.2 billion in multi-year grants and contracts for Harvard University after university President Alan M. Garber announced the same day the school would not be complying with the Trump administration's demands to combat antisemitism. 

In response, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr wore a Harvard basketball shirt for a news conference Tuesday night.

"Is something going on?" he jokingly asked, drawing laughter from the media.

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"[Harvard coach] Tommy Amaker is a friend of mine. He sent me this shirt, and it felt like a great day to wear it," Kerr added. "I believe in academic freedom. I believe it’s crucial for all of our institutions to be able to handle their own business the way they want to, and they should not be shaken down and told what to teach, what to say, by our government. That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard, but it's kind of par for the course right now. This is me supporting Harvard. 

"Way to go, way to stand up to the bully."

Kerr, whose father Malcolm was a professor in the Middle East and was assassinated in 1984, has long opposed Trump. Kerr endorsed Kamala Harris for the 2024 election.

Kerr spoke to reporters after his Warriors defeated the Memphis Grizzlies in the play-in tournament to earn the seventh seed in the Western Conference.

Garber said the federal government has threatened partnerships with several universities, including Harvard, over accusations of antisemitism on campuses. He also noted that the Trump administration issued an updated and expanded list of demands, saying if the school plans to maintain a financial relationship with the federal government, it must comply.

"It makes clear that the intention is not to work with us to address antisemitism in a cooperative and constructive manner," Garber wrote. "We have informed the administration through our legal counsel that we will not accept their proposed agreement."

Earlier this month, a federal antisemitism task force announced a review of Harvard's federal grants and contracts, worth nearly $9 billion, as the university faces an investigation into campus antisemitism. 

Fox News' Greg Wehner, CB Cotton, Alexis McAdams and Hanna Panreck contributed to this report.

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Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has medical emergency while recovering from stroke: report

Gregg Popovich reportedly experienced a medical emergency Tuesday night while at a San Antonio steakhouse.

The San Antonio Spurs coach had a "mild stroke" in November and hasn't coached since.

TMZ reports that Popovich left the restaurant in an ambulance, and officials say they received a call that an elderly person "fainted."

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Popovich reportedly did not suffer any life-threatening injuries or illnesses, and he was alert by the time he entered the ambulance.

The 76-year-old missed six games earlier this season before the team announced he had a stroke. He coached the team's first five games of the season.

The team said he was expected to make a full recovery. Mitch Johnson has been leading the Spurs in Popovich’s absence. 

KAMALA HARRIS PAID LEBRON JAMES' ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY $50,000 FOR 'CAMPAIGN EVENT PRODUCTION,' RECORDS SHOW

In December, six weeks after his stroke, Popovich had not ruled out a comeback, saying tongue-in-cheek, "No one is more excited to see me return to the bench than the talented individuals who have been leading my rehabilitation process. They’ve quickly learned that I’m less coachable."

Popovich confirmed in late February he would not return for the rest of the season.

"Mitch Johnson and his staff have done a wonderful job, and the resolve and professionalism the players have shown, sticking together during a challenging season, has been outstanding," he said in a statement at the time. "I will continue to focus on my health with the hope that I can return to coaching in the future."

Popovich is the NBA’s career leader with 1,401 victories and another 170 postseason wins while winning five NBA titles. He is in his 29th season, all with San Antonio. The team missed the playoffs this year.

Fox News' Ryan Gaydos and Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.

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Most California residents oppose trans inclusion in girls and women's sports: survey

A new bipartisan survey by the Public Policy Institute of California found the majority of California residents oppose biological male trans athletes competing in women's sports. 

That figure included more than 70% of the state's school parents.

"Most Californians support requiring transgender athletes to compete on teams matching the sex they were assigned at birth," the poll stated. 

"Solid majorities of adults (65%) and likely voters (64%) support requiring that transgender athletes compete on teams that match the sex they were assigned at birth, not the gender they identify with. An overwhelming majority of public school parents (71%) support such a requirement."

California Gov. Gavin Newsom admitted trans athletes competing in girls sports is "deeply unfair" during an episode of his podcast last month but defended allowing it out of empathy for the transgender population. 

The state was one of the first to defy President Donald Trump's "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" executive order when he signed it Feb. 5. 

The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) said it will continue to follow the state's law that allows athletes to participate as whichever gender they identify as, a spokesperson told Fox News Digital. 

"The CIF provides students with the opportunity to belong, connect, and compete in education-based experiences in compliance with California law [Education Code section 221.5. (f)] which permits students to participate in school programs and activities, including athletic teams and competitions, consistent with the student’s gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the student’s records," a CIF statement said. 

HOW TRANSGENDERISM IN SPORTS SHIFTED THE 2024 ELECTION AND IGNITED A NATIONAL COUNTERCULTURE

A law, AB 1266, has been in effect since 2014 and gives California students at scholastic and collegiate levels the right to "participate in sex-segregated school programs and activities, including athletic teams and competitions, and use facilities consistent with his or her gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the pupil’s records."

California Code of Regulations section 4910(k) defines gender as "a person’s actual sex or perceived sex and includes a person’s perceived identity, appearance or behavior, whether or not that identity, appearance, or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with a person’s sex at birth."

On April 1, the state assembly and its Democratic majority struck down two bills that would have amended the laws to only allow student-athletes to compete based on their biological sex. 

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon served a warning to Newsom to comply with Trump's order barring transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. The warning and investigation come after California made itself the first "sanctuary" state in the nation for transgender minors and has engaged in a multi-year battle with school districts over their notification policies. 

"Allowing participation in sex-separated activities based on 'gender identity' places schools at risk of Title IX violations and loss of federal funding. As Governor, you have a duty to inform California school districts of this risk," McMahon wrote in the letter.

"As Secretary of Education, I am officially asking you to inform this Department whether you will remind schools in California to comply with federal law by protecting sex-separated spaces and activities. I am also officially asking you to publicly assure parents that California teachers will not facilitate the fantasy of ‘gender transitions’ for their children."

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Kamala Harris paid LeBron James' entertainment company $50,000 for 'campaign event production,' records show

LeBron James' endorsement of Kamala Harris last year came with an added bonus for him.

Records show that on Jan. 28 the former vice president paid James' entertainment company $50,000 for "campaign event production."

The NBA's all-time leading scorer has long been critical of President Donald Trump, and James urged his followers to "vote Kamala Harris" the week before the election with a video that garnered criticism for out-of-context clips.

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James and his longtime business partner, Maverick Carter, founded the company, Springhill Entertainment, in 2020.

"What are we even talking about here?? When I think about my kids and my family and how they will grow up, the choice is clear to me. VOTE KAMALA HARRIS!!!" James posted on X.

With the post, James shared a video that featured negative headlines about Trump's rally at Madison Square Garden and a clip of Tony Hinchcliffe saying he and a Black person in the crowd carved watermelons. The video also features other headlines that said Trump spewed "nazi rhetoric" and clips of African Americans being assaulted.

Commenters said the clips were taken out of context and ripped James, but he doubled down days later.

"Having a daughter, having a wife, having a mother and things of that nature, what (Harris) believes in when it comes to women’s rights that’s what the future with my kids and where I see our country should be. I feel like that endorsement is only right. I mean, come on – you guys know me. It damn sure wasn’t going the other way," he said at the time.

Carter and James have been linked since high school. The two played basketball at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio, and are also minority owners of the Boston Red Sox and the English soccer club Liverpool.

When former President Joe Biden decided on Harris as his running mate in 2020, James voiced support.

"Congrats and well deserved Sen. Kamala Harris!! Love to see and support it! Appreciate you JB," he wrote at the time.

The four-time MVP endorsed Hillary Clinton for president during the 2016 election and campaigned for her in Ohio while he was still with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

James previously called Trump a "bum" when Trump rescinded a White House invite to Stephen Curry. 

"Going to White House was a great honor until you showed up!" he said at the time.

Trump also once said it "wasn't easy" to make James "look smart."

When Trump said he was losing interest in the NBA after players knelt during the national anthem, James said, "I really don't think the basketball community are sad about losing his viewership."

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LSU’s Livvy Dunne says goodbye to gymnastics after failed NCAA championship run: ‘It’s been real’

LSU gymnast and social media star Olivia "Livvy" Dunne announced the end of her gymnastics career in a social media post Thursday after the Tigers failed to successfully defend their NCAA championship title. 

The fifth-year senior shared a post on social media after LSU finished third in the NCAA semfinals at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday. 

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"[Peace] out gymnastics it’s been real… and of course forever LSU," she said in a post on X. 

Dunne, 22, did not compete this week after revealing in an Instagram post last month that she had been sidelined with an "avulsion fracture of my patella." 

"It absolutely breaks my heart not to get the opportunity to compete in the (Pete Maravich Assembly Center) one last time," Dunne wrote at the time. 

LIVVY DUNNE RIPS TIKTOK TROLL COMMENTING ABOUT HER FIFTH YEAR AT LSU: 'YOU’RE NOT FUNNY'

The New Jersey native was injured after returning for her fifth year at LSU. She had an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Dunne, who is dating Pittsburgh Pirates pitching sensation Paul Skenes, was one of the NCAA's top NIL earners and boasted millions of followers across several social media platforms. She played a role in helping LSU win its first NCAA title last year.

While LSU failed to defend its title as a No. 1 seed, Utah clinched its fifth straight Final Four appearance at the NCAA women’s gymnastics championship. It joins UCLA, Oklahoma and Missouri. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Saints All-Pro tackle Ryan Ramczyk, 30, retires after battling through knee injury

New Orleans Saints right tackle Ryan Ramczyk on Thursday announced his retirement after an eight-year career in the NFL, which saw the three-time All-Pro sidelined last season due to continued knee issues. 

Ramczyk, 30, made his announcement in a lengthy post on social media, where he highlighted his unconventional path to the pros. 

"What an incredible journey it’s been. My path to the NFL wasn’t a straight line, it wasn’t the story most people expect. There were moments when people doubted me, moments when I doubted myself," Ramczyk's post read. 

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"It’s funny how life works out. Sometimes the road less traveled leads to places you never expected, but it ends up being exactly where you were meant to be. Today I reflect on all the twists and turns that got me to this point, from technical college to become a 'welder' to All-Pro in the NFL. As I step into retirement, I’m filled with gratitude for everything this sport has given me."

Drafted by the Saints in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Ramczyk was a three-time All-Pro and appeared in 101 regular-season games, starting every single one. He is just the second Saints tackle to be named an All-Pro in three seasons. 

SAINTS' DEREK CARR'S SEASON IN JEOPARDY DUE TO NEW SHOULDER INJURY: REPORT

Ramczyk missed a significant amount of time during the 2021 season because of a knee injury. According to ESPN, he stayed healthy the following year but in 2023 missed the final four games due to knee issues. He was sidelined all of 2024 because of the same issue. 

"To the amazing New Orleans Saints fans. Thank you for embracing me from day one. Your passion and energy are unmatched, you made New Orleans feel like home. To my incredible wife, thank you for being my rock through every high and low. And to my parents, who instilled in me the meaning of hard work and dedication," Ramczyk continued in his post. 

"I’m excited for what the future holds, especially the opportunity to spend more time with my two boys and watch them grow. I’m looking forward to this next chapter in life and am forever grateful. Who Dat for life."

The NFL on Wednesday revealed that Ramczyk will announce the Saints' second-day draft picks in Green Bay, Wisconsin, next week. 

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Rangers' Patrick Corbin nearly misses start due to suspected spider bite: 'Some kind of venom got in there'

Texas Rangers’ starting pitcher Patrick Corbin was no guarantee to make his start in the team’s 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday.

Corbin, 35, walked into the Rangers' clubhouse on Wednesday with a swollen ankle, after being bitten by an insect on Monday. 

"It was really bad in the morning," Corbin told reporters Thursday afternoon. "I wasn’t sure if I was going to throw."

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"He could hardly walk when he came in. I don’t know if it was a spider or what," Rangers’ manager Bruce Bochy said. "Some kind of venom got in there. Not sure if it was a spider or what. He was 50/50 on whether he would make the start or not," Bochy said via MLB.com.

Corbin received treatment before the game and went on to make his start. He pitched 5 1/3 innings while he gave up just one run on five hits and struck out six batters and got the win. 

YANKEES' JAZZ CHISHOLM JR. VIOLATES MLB SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY IN POST RIPPING UMPIRE AFTER EJECTION

The Rangers signed Corbin late in spring training as they dealt with injuries to their starting rotation. They signed the left-handed pitcher on March 18.

Corbin is in his 13th MLB season. He spent the first six seasons of his career with the Arizona Diamondbacks and made the National League All-Star team twice. 

After six seasons with the Diamondbacks, Corbin spent the next six seasons with the Washington Nationals after he signed a six-year contract with the team prior to 2019. 

Corbin was an integral part of the team’s pitching staff during their playoff run in 2019, when the Nationals won the World Series over the Houston Astros. 

The Rangers' (12-7) next game is against the Los Angeles Dodgers (14-6) on Friday at 8:05 p.m. ET on Friday. 

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Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. violates MLB social media policy in post ripping umpire after ejection

New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. was ejected from Thursday night’s win over the Tampa Bay Rays, but he could find himself in bigger trouble after he appeared to violate MLB’s social media policy. 

Chisholm was ejected in the seventh inning after he argued a third strike call from plate umpire John Bacon. After arguing at the plate, Chisholm was thrown out of the game for his fifth career ejection. 

It was his first with the Yankees

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But the argument would not end there, as Chisholm took to social media to further condemn Bacon’s call. 

"Not even f---ing close," Chisholm wrote in a post on X before later deleting it. 

Chisholm reportedly posted the message minutes after his ejection and while the game was still going on. The post was an apparent violation of Major League Baseball’s social media policy, which prohibits the use of electronic devices during games.

YANKEES STAR JAZZ CHISHOLM JR. SAYS BASEBALL IS A 'WHITE SPORT'

According to the policy, "electronic equipment" cannot be used 30 minutes prior to the start of a game until its conclusion. Additionally, the policy prohibits any content "that questions the impartiality of or otherwise denigrates a Major or Minor League umpire." 

Chisholm’s actions on Thursday appeared to violate both of those rules. 

After the game, Chisholm told the media that he did not believe that anything he had said prior to the ejection warranted his being kicked out of the game. He added that his comments after the call was made to eject him probably would have. 

"I'm a competitor, so when I go out there, and I feel like I'm right, and you're saying something to me that I think doesn't make sense, I'm going to get fired up and be upset," he said. 

"I lost my emotions, I lost my cool. So, at the same time, I still got to be able to stay out there and play defense for my team. That's why I'm here."

The Yankees beat the Rays 6-3. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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ESPN staple rips 'toxic' Nico Iamaleava, pleads with school to not take him

Nico Iamaleava is becoming somewhat of a martyr, but yet a primary example, in today's NIL environment.

Iamaleava did not show up at Tennessee's spring practice last Friday, reportedly due to NIL contract discussions.

Iamaleava, 20, is reportedly set to earn $2.4 million this season but wants to renegotiate his deal to $4 million per year. However, reports are circulating that schools are offering less than half of his original pay.

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The quarterback's essential holdout has brought upon much criticism, and an ESPN staple chimed in on Thursday, pleading with a school near his home to stay away.

"UCLA - don't do it. Don't take him. This kid is toxic," Bill Plaschke, a writer for the Los Angeles Times who often appears on "Around the Horn," said on Thursday's show.

"At some point, we have to talk about these kids. He had a $2.4 million salary, he wants to nearly double his salary even though he hasn't won a playoff game, and he walks out on the team on the first day of spring training. He's all about the money, he's not about the team. Two-and-a-half million dollars is not enough for him even though he's an average quarterback."

The 20-year-old was reportedly going to make $2.2 million with Tennessee for the 2025-26 season through the school's NIL collective and Spyre Sports Group. 

BILL BELICHICK NABS 4-STAR RECEIVER FOR UNC WHO WAS GOING TO PLAY FOR DEION SANDERS AT COLORADO

The deal, which he signed as a high school junior, reportedly had the potential to exceed $10 million with incentives that included championship and Heisman Trophy wins. 

But that all changed when ESPN reported that Iamaleava was seeking a deal of around $4 million for this season, which other quarterbacks transferring this year are getting. One of them was Carson Beck, who left the Georgia Bulldogs to join the Miami Hurricanes

Tennessee moved on from the quarterback amid the controversy.

Iamaleava reportedly entered the transfer portal Wednesday with a "do not contact" tag by his profile, which indicates he has some idea where he'll be playing next. Oregon is a program that has been linked to Iamaleava since reports began to surface about his situation at Tennessee. 

Fox News' Scott Thompson and Ryan Canfield contributed to this report.

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Maine Democrats trying to amend state constitution to codify allowing trans athletes in girls' sports

The Democrat majority in the Maine House of Representatives voted to pass a bill that would codify the Maine Human Rights Act (MHRA) in the state's constitution on Thursday. 

The MHRA has been the state's tent pole legislation in allowing trans athletes in girls' sports during an ongoing feud with President Donald Trump's administration over the issue. 

The law was amended four years ago to add gender identity as a protected class and specifically stated that denying a person an equal opportunity to participate in sports is discrimination against education. Last year, the Maine Principals’ Association updated its policy to allow athletes to compete against the gender they identify as.

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The proposed bill to constitutionalize the MHRA passed with a slim simple majority in the House on Thursday but will need a two-thirds majority in both chambers before it can go before voters.

Meanwhile, the Republican minority in the House is backing a proposal to remove the term "gender identity" from the MHRA. 

The vote came one day after the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the state for its ongoing defiance of Trump's "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" executive order. Maine has faced immense federal pressure in the last two months over its refusal to comply, including two federal investigations, a funding freeze by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and now an official lawsuit. 

But the Democrat leadership in the state, led by Governor Janet Mills, has remained steadfast in its commitment to defy Trump and ensure biologically male trans athletes can still participate in girls' sports and enter girls' locker rooms.

The MHRA has been the central law those Democrats have leaned on to justify their defiant stance. 

Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey justified his state's noncompliance with Trump by citing the MHRA in an interview on CNN Wednesday. 

"Our position is that Title IX, consistent with the Maine Human Rights Act, so both federal and state law, supports that trans girls will be able to participate in high school sports consistent with their gender identity," Frey said. "So my contention is Maine is following Title IX, Maine is following the Maine Human Rights Act." 

MAINE GIRL INVOLVED IN TRANS ATHLETE BATTLE REVEALS HOW STATE'S POLICIES HURT HER CHILDHOOD AND SPORTS CAREER

Fox News Digital previously obtained statements from the Maine Principals’ Association and the Maine School Administrative District 51, citing the MHRA for its refusal to comply with Trump's executive order. 

"The Maine Principals’ Association is bound by the law, including the Maine Human Rights Act (MHRA), which our participation policy reflects," officials said. "We are unable to sign any resolution agreement that would mandate we create a new policy that would violate the law and MHRA." 

The Maine School Administrative District 51, home to Greely High School, where a transgender athlete incited national controversy after winning a girls' pole vault competition in February, also pointed to the Maine Human Rights Act for allowing the athlete to compete. 

"The MSAD #51 Board of Directors is guided by the Mission, Vision, and Core Values of our district. This includes promoting a safe, caring and ethical learning environment where each person will be treated with respect and fairness; and individuals are recognized, valued and supported," the district said in a statement. 

However, the majority of Maine residents disagree with allowing trans athletes to compete in girls' sports. 

A survey by the American Parents Coalition found that out of about 600 registered Maine voters, 63% said school sports participation should be based on biological sex, and 66% agreed that it is "only fair to restrict women’s sports to biological women."

The poll also found that 60% of residents would support a ballot measure limiting participation in women’s and girls' sports to biological females. This included 64% of independents and 66% of parents with kids under age 18.

And while Maine's Democrat leadership refuses to comply with Trump's executive order, one school district is taking matters into its own hands and defying the state anyway.

The MSAD #70 School Board voted unanimously on Monday night to comply with Title IX, "recognizing only two sexes - biological male and biological female and that all private spaces be separated by biological sex."

MSAD #70 superintendent Tyler Putnam told Fox News Digital that, due to this vote, he is now directed to amend the district's policies to prevent trans athletes from competing in girls' sports. 

"Our board, similar to many people in Maine, have been following the back-and-forth communication between the federal government and the state. We are hoping for both sides to work together to help support local school districts like ourselves," Putnam said. 

"The board and our staff's No. 1 priority is to provide our students with an education that will positively impact their future in our great state and country."

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California girl cries while recounting trans athlete experience, school board president says 'wrap it up'

A school board meeting in California featured emotional debate over transgender athletes being allowed to share locker rooms with high-school girls. One girl who cried during a speech was told to "wrap it up" by the board president. 

During the Lucia Mar Unified School District (LMUSD) board meeting on Wednesday, a high-school junior girls' track athlete at Arroyo Grande High School named Celeste Diest took the podium to recount her experience of having to change in front of a biologically male trans athlete before practice, while that athlete allegedly watched her undress. 

"I went into the women's locker room to change for track practice where I saw, at the end of my row, a biological male watching not only myself, but the other young women undress. This experience was beyond traumatizing," Diest said, as she began to choke up and cry. 

CALIFORNIA GIRL OPENS UP ON FIGHTING LEGAL AND POLITICAL BATTLE OVER TRANS ATHLETES AFTER LIFE-CHANGING PAIN

"Adults like yourself make me and my peers feel like our own comfort was invalid, even though our privacy was and still is completely violated."

Diest then fought through her tears to argue that the trans athlete's XY chromosomes define the person as a male, adding, "That is basic biology."

But Diest was then interrupted by LMUSD board president Colleen Martin. 

"Okay, please wrap it up," Martin said, gesturing to Diest to finish her point. 

The teen then sniffled and continued speaking. 

"I just want to ask ‘what about us?’ We can not sit around and allow our rights to be given up to cater to an individual that is a man, who watches women undress and is stripping away female opportunity that once was fought for us. Sadly we have to try and regain our rights back. I hope you put effort into the restoration of our school safety." 

Diest then walked away from the podium to a roaring applause from the audience before Martin tried to silence the cheers. 

CALIFORNIA DEM COMPARES ‘SAVE GIRLS SPORTS’ LAW TO NAZI GERMANY, AS TWO TRANS ATHLETE BAN BILLS FAIL TO PASS

Martin even began slamming her gavel down to try and temper the growing applause, but the cheers only got louder after that. 

"No!" Martin yelled when the cheers got louder. 

Then, Martin just sat there silently as the applause continued for several more seconds, before it finally tempered, and the next speaker gave another speech opposing trans inclusion. 

Prior to Diest's speech, one of the other speakers, a woman named Shannon Kessler, who was scheduled to go after the teen, asked Martin whether she could give her speaking time to Diest. But Martin denied that request. 

"We're not doing that," Martin said. 

Several other parents gave speeches in opposition of trans athletes in attendance, while other community members spoke in support of trans inclusion. 

California has been one of the many blue states in the nation to defy President Donald Trump's "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" executive order, and has allowed trans athletes to compete with girls for over a decade. 

A law called AB 1266 has been in effect since 2014, and gives California students at scholastic and collegiate levels the right to "participate in sex-segregated school programs and activities, including athletic teams and competitions, and use facilities consistent with his or her gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the pupil’s records."

California Code of Regulations section 4910(k) defines gender as: "A person’s actual sex or perceived sex and includes a person’s perceived identity, appearance or behavior, whether or not that identity, appearance, or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with a person’s sex at birth."

CIF Bylaw 300.D. mirrors the Education Code, stating, "All students should have the opportunity to participate in CIF activities in a manner that is consistent with their gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on a student’s records."

These laws and the subsequent enabling of trans athletes to compete with girls and women in the state has resulted in multiple controversies over the issue over the last year alone. 

The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) said it will continue to follow the state's law that allows athletes to participate as whichever gender they identify as, a spokesperson told Fox News Digital. 

"The CIF provides students with the opportunity to belong, connect, and compete in education-based experiences in compliance with California law [Education Code section 221.5. (f)] which permits students to participate in school programs and activities, including athletic teams and competitions, consistent with the student’s gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the student’s records," a CIF statement said. 

The California state legislature's Democrat majority rejected two bills that would have changed state law to ban trans athletes from girls' sports on April 1. 

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Florida State sports alumni Brooks Koepka, Jared Verse, others react to deadly campus shooting

The deadly campus shooting at Florida State University Thursday shocked the nation. 

Several former star Florida State athletes spoke out in support of fellow Seminoles after at least two were killed and at least six were injured. 

The grieving former FSU athletes included LIV Golf star Brooks Koepka, reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse and former Seminoles star quarterback and current New York Jets quarterback Jordan Travis. 

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The shooting began at around 11:50 a.m. The two people killed were not FSU students, according to authorities.

During a news conference Thursday afternoon, authorities identified the suspected shooter as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, a student at the school. 

Ikner was transported to a hospital after being "neutralized" by authorities. Police also said his mother is a sheriff's deputy with the Leon County Sheriff's Office, adding Ikner used his mother's weapon in the killing. 

FSU has canceled all classes through Friday and said athletic events in Tallahassee were canceled through the weekend. 

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA ON EDGE AFTER 'ACTIVE ATTACKER' WITH KNIFE CAPTURED NEAR CAMPUS

"All Florida State athletics home events through Sunday, April 20, have been canceled," a statement said. "Further updates on events scheduled for next week will be communicated when available." 

FSU President Richard McCullough issued a statement on X, calling the shooting "a tragic and senseless act of violence."

The cancellations will include a three-game series for the school's No. 7-ranked baseball team against Virginia starting Thursday, and the No. 4 softball team's final home series of the regular season against Georgia Tech, starting Friday.

The school's last two spring football practices have also been canceled. 

"There will be more updates in the days ahead and more time to reflect and heal. But, now, we mourn together," the president said. "We lean on one another. And we remember who we are. We are Florida State. We are family. And we stand together."

Fox News Digital's Rachel Wolf, Preston Mizell, David Spunt and Andrea Margolis contributed to this report.

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