Sports
Wife of Johnny Gaudreau shares heartfelt tribute after NHL player and brother are killed by drunk driver
Meredith Gaudreau, the wife of Columbus Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau, broke her silence on social media with a touching tribute to her husband after he and his brother, Matthew, were tragically killed when they were struck by a suspected drunk driver on the eve of their sister’s wedding.
Meredith shared two posts on Instagram that included a series of pictures that depicted their relationship over the years.
Johnny, 31, and Meredith Gaudreau shared two children together, two-year-old Noa and six-month old Johnny. (Meredith Gaudreau/ Instagram)
“Thank you for the best years of my life. Despite losing you, I am still the luckiest girl in the world to have been yours,” she wrote.
“I love you so so much. You were perfect. Some days it felt too good to [be] true. I love every single thing about you. You are my forever and I can’t wait to be with you again. I love you so much forever and ever.”
Meredith shared a second post dedicated to Gaudreau being the “absolute best dad in the world.”
The couple shared two children together, two-year-old Noa and six-month old Johnny.
Meredith shared a second post dedicated to Gaudreau being the “absolute best dad in the world.” (Meredith Gaudreau/ Instagram)
WEDDING OF JOHNNY GAUDREAU’S SISTER CANCELED AFTER BROTHERS’ TRAGIC DEATHS: REPORT
“The absolute best dad in the world. So caring and loving. The best partner to go through parenthood with. John never missed a single appointment,” She wrote. “Was the best at putting the baby to sleep and the Apple of Noa’s eye. I love how much she looks like him. We are going to make you proud. We love you so so so much daddy.”
The Gaudreau family suffered an unimaginable loss when, on Thursday night, the day before Katie Gaudreau’s wedding, 43-year-old Sean Higgins struck the brothers on a rural road in New Jersey as they were cycling.
New Jersey State Police said that Higgins, who was suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol, had attempted to pass two other vehicles on the right and struck the Gaudreau brothers from behind.
Brothers Johnny Gaudreau, #13, and Matthew Gaudreau, #21 of the Boston College Eagles, celebrate after the Eagles beat the Northeastern University Huskies to win their fifth Beanpot Championship in a row in NCAA hockey action in the championship game of the annual Beanpot Hockey Tournament at TD Garden on February 10, 2014, in Boston, Massachusetts. (Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)
Higgins was arrested and charged. Police said he failed a field sobriety test and also admitted to a responding officer to having consumed five or six beers before the accident. He also admitted to having consumed alcohol while driving, police added.
After his death, it was reported that Matthew Gaudreau, 29, was expecting his first child with his wife, Madeline. An online registry for the couple revealed that baby Tripp is due at the end of December.
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Sports
State Department lists major sporting events in addition to World Cup, Olympics exempt from Trump’s visa ban
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The Trump administration has revealed various “major sporting events” in addition to the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games in which athletes and coaches will be exempt from a broad visa ban on nearly 40 countries, allowing them to travel to the U.S. to compete.
In a cable sent Wednesday to all U.S. embassies and consulates, the State Department said athletes, coaches and support staff for the World Cup, the Olympics and events endorsed or run by a lengthy list of collegiate and professional sporting leagues and associations would be excluded from the full and partial travel bans subject to citizens of 39 countries and the Palestinian Authority.
But foreign spectators, media and corporate sponsors who wish to attend the events would still be impacted by the ban unless they qualify for another exemption.
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The Trump administration has revealed the “major sporting events” in addition to the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games in which athletes and coaches will be exempt from a broad visa ban. (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
“Only a small subset of travelers for the World Cup, Olympics and Paralympics, and other major sporting events will qualify for the exception,” the message said.
The federal government has issued several immigration and travel bans as well as other visa restrictions as part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to curb immigration, although the administration still wants athletes, coaches and fans to be able to attend major sporting events in the U.S.
Trump’s proclamation last month banning the issuance of visas to the 39 countries and the Palestinian Authority had included an exception for athletes and staff competing in some sporting events such as the World Cup and the Olympics, and a decision on the other sporting events that would be covered would be made by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
WORLD CUP FANS BANNED FROM US TRAVEL MAY BE UNABLE TO ROOT FOR TEAMS IN PERSON
Foreign spectators, media and corporate sponsors who wish to attend the events would still be impacted by the ban unless they qualify for another exemption. (Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
The events covered, according to the cable, include all competitions and qualifying events for the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Pan American Games and Parapan American Games; events hosted, sanctioned or recognized by a U.S. National Governing Body; all competitions and qualifying events for the Special Olympics; and official events and competitions hosted or endorsed by FIFA or its confederations.
Official events and competitions hosted by the International Military Sports Council, the International University Sports Federation and the National Collegiate Athletic Association as well as those hosted or endorsed by U.S. professional sports leagues such as the National Football League, the National Basketball Association and Women’s National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball and Little League, National Hockey League, Professional Women’s Hockey League, NASCAR, Formula 1, the Professional Golf Association, Ladies Professional Golf Association, LIV Golf, Major League Rugby, Major League Soccer, World Wrestling Entertainment, Ultimate Fighting Championship and All Elite Wrestling are also covered under the exemption.
Other events and leagues could be added to the list in the future, the cable said.
Other events and leagues could be added to the list in the future. (Saul Loeb / AFP via Getty Images)
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Under the new visa restrictions, a full travel ban covers citizens of Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Myanmar, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen and individuals holding Palestinian Authority–issued passports.
A partial ban applies to citizens of Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Togo, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Sports
High school basketball: Tuesday’s scores
CITY SECTION
Animo Venice 62, Animo Pat Brown 57
CNDLC 54, Rise Kohyang 51
Collins Family 62, Alliance Bloomfield 35
New Designs Watts 43, Burton 31
Smidt Tech 61, Stern 48
Triumph Charter 79, Valley Oaks CES 20
WISH Academy 66, Animo Watts 42
SOUTHERN SECTION
Ambassador 60, Compton Early College 45
Animo Leadership 79, Summit View West 48
Arcadia 72, Crescenta Valley 54
Beaumont 55, Citrus Valley 37
Bishop Diego 56, Foothill Tech 45
Burbank 69, Burroughs Burbank 50
Calvary Baptist 90, Bethel Christian 12
Chino 66, Don Lugo 54
Colton 55, Arroyo Valley 36
Crespi 63, Chaminade 52
Crossroads Christian 67, NSLA 29
Damien 64, Chino Hills 41
Desert Christian Academy 56, San Jacinto Valley Academy 50
Diamond Ranch 51, Chaffey 50
Eisenhower 64, Kaiser 57
Elsinore 79, San Jacinto 52
Etiwanda 61, Rancho Cucamonga 56
Fairmont Prep 50, Capistrano Valley Christian 31
Fillmore 58, Carpinteria 41
Fullerton 59, Placentia Valencia 56
Garden Grove 68, Costa Mesa 31
Great Oak 74, Temecula Valley 66
Harvard-Westlake 47, Loyola 36
Hillcrest Christian 71, Beacon Hill 57
Katella 50, Ocean View 44
Laguna Hills 77, Godinez 67
La Habra 61, Sonora 54
Los Osos 63, Upland 60
Magnolia Science Academy 51, Downey Calvary Chapel 33
Montclair 66, Ontario 62
Palm Desert 72, La Quinta 37
Palm Springs 38, Shadow Hills 33
Palm Valley 31, Noli Indian 24
Rancho Mirage 65, Xavier Prep 38
Redlands East Valley 85, Yucaipa 55
Riverside Notre Dame 88, Carter 72
Samueli Academy 50, Avalon 39
San Jacinto Leadership 53, Nuview Bridge 20
San Fernando Valley Academy 70, Glendale Adventist 24
Segerstrom 80, Westminster 34
Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 71, St. Francis 48
Sierra Canyon 83, Alemany 48
Silverado 72, Victor Valley 54
St. Monica Academy 68, Desert Christian 60
Summit 74, Grand Terrace 40
Summit Leadership 52, AAE 45
Temecula Prep 98, Santa Rosa Academy 69
Temescal Canyon 48, Tahquitz 33
Trinity Classical Academy 64, Lancaster Baptist 53
United Christian Academy 46, La Sierra Academy 40
Valley Torah 73, Santa Clarita Christian 67
Vistamar 81, Wildwood 43
Webb 60, Tarbut V’ Torah 56
Western Christian 69, Newport Christian 57
INTERSECTIONAL
Canyon Country Canyon 75, Canoga Park 50
CSDR 60, CSDF 22
Ft. Lauderdale (FL) Calvary Christian 71, St. John Bosco 60
GIRLS
CITY SECTION
Animo Venice 40, Animo Pat Brown 29
Animo Watts 69, WISH Academy 36
New Designs Watts 21, Burton 20
Northridge Academy 70, Fulton 10
SOCES 34, Vaughn 23
Stern 30, Smidt Tech 29
Triumph Charter 48, Valley Oaks CES 14
VAAS 37, East Valley 29
SOUTHERN SECTION
Alemany 67, Immaculate Heart 32
Alpaugh 31, SLOCA 26
Animo Leadership 38, Summit View West 36
Arroyo Valley 43, Riverside Notre Dame 28
Barstow 56, Granite Hills 21
Bishop Amat 66, St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy 63
Bishop Diego 61, Santa Clara 10
Bishop Montgomery 78, St. Monica 47
Burbank Burroughs 76, Burbank 42
Calvary Baptist 63, Bethel Christian 19
Cantwell-Sacred Heart 59, St. Mary’s Academy 27
Chino 79, Don Lugo 21
Chino Hills 59, St. Lucy’s 11
Crescenta Valley 67, Arcadia 57
Crossroads 64, Windward 56
Desert Christian Academy 39, San Jacinto Valley Academy 32
Dos Pueblos 46, Oxnard 38
El Toro 46, Trabuco Hills 40
Etiwanda 67, Rancho Cucamonga 33
Flintridge Sacred Heart 42, Mayfield 25
Fontana 44, Carter 39
Knight 41, Antelope Valley 11
Lakewood St. Joseph 54, La Salle 45
Lancaster 58, Palmdale 33
Loma Linda Academy 56, Mesa Grande Academy 20
Los Alamitos 51, Newport Harbor 15
Mary Star of the Sea 49, Paraclete 44
Notre Dame Academy 57, Marymount 48
NOVA Academy 46, Anaheim Discovery 22
Ontario 42, Montclair 17
Palm Desert 60, La Quinta 45
Pasadena 59, Muir 49
Redlands 44, Cajon 38
Quartz Hill 65, Highland 57
Sacred Heart of Jesus 70, Pomona Catholic 13
San Bernardino 70, West Valley 28
San Jacinto 57, Elsinore 24
San Jacinto Leadership 68, Nuview Bridge 20
San Juan Hills 58, Dana Hills 22
Santa Margarita 47, JSerra 43
Shadow Hills 60, Palm Springs 36
Shalhevet 53, Compton Early College 2
Silverado 58, Victor Valley 30
St. Bernard 75, San Gabriel Mission 20
St. Bonaventure 85, Thacher 13
St. Monica Academy 43, Desert Christian 35
Temecula Prep 51, Santa Rosa Academy 26
Trinity Classical Academy 86, Lancaster Baptist 21
Vistamar 47, Wildwood 8
Xavier Prep 50, Rancho Mirage 10
Yucaipa 90, Redlands East Valley 25
INTERSECTIONAL
Castaic 60, Lake Balboa College 11
CSDR 59, New Mexico School for the Deaf 11
Sports
Education Dept launches 18 Title IX probes after SCOTUS hears arguments in efforts to protect women’s sports
Supreme Court hears landmark women’s sports cases
Independent Women’s Law Center Director May Mailman joins ‘America’s Newsroom,’ reacting to the ongoing hearings to determine if transgender athletes should be allowed to compete in women’s sports.
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The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced Wednesday it had launched 18 Title IX investigations into several school districts across the country, a day after the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the fight to protect women’s and girls sports.
School districts with high-profile transgender athlete controversies were among those under investigation. The targeted districts are in California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Washington.
“In the same week that the Supreme Court hears oral arguments on the future of Title IX, OCR is aggressively pursuing allegations of discrimination against women and girls by entities which reportedly allow males to compete in women’s sports,” Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey said in a news release.
“Time and again, the Trump administration has made its position clear: Violations of women’s rights, dignity, and fairness are unacceptable.
A protester holds a sign outside the Supreme Court during arguments over state laws barring transgender girls and women from playing on school athletic teams Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
“We will leave no stone unturned in these investigations to uphold women’s right to equal access in education programs, a fight that started over half a century ago and is far from finished.”
The schools under investigation included the following:
- Jurupa School District (California)
- Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District (California)
- Santa Monica College (California)
- Santa Rosa Junior College (California)
- Waterbury Public Schools (Connecticut)
- Hawaii State Department of Education (Hawaii)
- Regional School Unit 19 (Maine)
- Regional School Unit 57 (Maine)
- Foxborough Public Schools (Massachusetts)
- University of Nevada-Reno (Nevada)
- Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District (New York)
- New York City Department of Education (New York)
- Great Valley School District (Pennsylvania)
- Champlain Valley School District (Vermont)
- Cheney Public Schools (Washington)
- Sultan School District No. 311 (Washington)
- Tacoma Public Schools (Washington)
- Vancouver Public Schools (Washington)
Fox News Digital reached out to each school and district.
The districts are accused of maintaining “policies or practices that discriminate on the basis of sex by permitting students to participate in sports based on their ‘gender identity,’ not biological sex,” the Education Department said. “These policies jeopardize both the safety and the equal opportunities of women in educational programs and activities.”
Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District responded to a request for comment.
“The Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District has been notified of a review by the U.S. Department of Education,” a school official said. “Our priority has always been to provide safe, respectful and inclusive learning environments for all students while meeting our obligations under state and federal law. The district’s policies were adopted in good faith and are aligned with applicable law, and we will fully cooperate with all requests related to this matter.”
Maine’s Regional School Unit 57 told Fox News Digital, “RSU 57 received notification yesterday afternoon from the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR), that a complaint has been filed alleging discrimination. OCR has indicated it is opening an investigation. RSU 57 complies with all state and federal laws related to discrimination and harassment, and provides a safe and inclusive learning environment for all of its students. RSU 57 will provide OCR with the information that it has requested and looks forward to resolving this matter.”
Cheney Public Schools told Fox News Digital, “We are aware of the investigation that the Department of Education initiated today. At this time, we cannot comment on the substance of the investigation, but we intend to cooperate with the investigator throughout this process.”
Vancouver Public Schools told Fox News Digital, “We did receive notice earlier today alerting us that the Office for Civil Rights is initiating an investigation. We are reviewing the allegations, but are unable to provide further comment while the investigation is pending.”
INSIDE THE SCOTUS HEARING BOUND TO BE A TURNING POINT IN THE CULTURE WAR OVER TRANS ATHLETES IN WOMEN’S SPORTS
Education Secretary Linda McMahon speaks to the crowd as protesters gather outside the Supreme Court as it hears arguments over state laws barring transgender girls and women from playing on school athletic teams Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Washington (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
The OCR’s announcement came as the Supreme Court heard arguments in two landmark cases to protect women’s and girls sports.
The issue at hand is whether laws in Idaho and West Virginia that prohibit transgender athletes who identify as women from playing on teams that match their gender identity, discriminate based on sex.
In the case of Little v. Hecox, a biological man who sought to compete on the women’s track and cross-country teams at Boise State University contended that Idaho’s law, the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, violated the equal protection clause by excluding transgender women.
West Virginia v. B.P.J. centers on a 15-year-old transgender athlete who identifies as a girl and who argued the state’s ban violated both the Constitution and Title IX’s ban on sex discrimination in federally funded education programs.
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Lawyers for the states defending the bans maintain that separating sports based on biological sex preserves fairness and safety for female athletes and is consistent with Title IX’s definition of sex.
Fox News’ Ashley Oliver contributed to this report.
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