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SJSU transgender volleyball player Blaire Fleming's college career likely over after championship loss

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SJSU transgender volleyball player Blaire Fleming's college career likely over after championship loss

Draw the curtain. 

San Jose State volleyball player Blaire Fleming probably played the final college volleyball game of the athlete’s career after a Mountain West Tournament final loss to Colorado State Saturday night. 

Fleming led the Spartans on a run to the championship match in a senior season overshadowed by lawsuits from a teammate and a national controversy over Fleming being transgender. Fleming led the team in spikes and prompted four Mountain West rivals to forfeit a total of seven conference games, including a tournament semifinal.

But Colorado State never shied away from playing Fleming or the Spartans. 

The Rams played San Jose two times in the regular season, splitting the season series, and then taking the championship match three sets to one. Colorado State’s Malaya Jones, the Mountain West player of the year, led the game with 26 kills after kneeling during the national anthem before the match. 

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Blaire Fleming of the San Jose State Spartans reacts during the second set against the Air Force Falcons at Falcon Court at East Gym Oct. 19, 2024, in Colorado Springs, Colo. (Andrew Wevers/Getty Images)

Jones was also alleged to have conspired with Fleming in a plan to spike a ball in the face of San Jose State teammate Brooke Slusser in a game Oct. 3, according to a lawsuit filed by Slusser and a Title IX complaint. 

Slusser was never spiked in the face, and the Mountain West concluded an investigation into the Title IX complaint, saying it did not find sufficient evidence of wrongdoing. Slusser’s attorney has questioned the validity of the investigation. 

Fleming, meanwhile, led San Jose State in the game with 17 kills but committed nine errors and hit poorly in the first two sets when the Spartans fell in a two-sets-to-none hole. 

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San Jose State’s loss will also mean it won’t advance to the NCAA tournament, which would have introduced further controversy with potential matchups against teams outside the conference. Boise State forfeited its Mountain West Tournament semifinal match against San Jose State, which could have set a precedent for teams in other states with laws that prevent transgender inclusion in women’s sports. 

WHO IS BLAIRE FLEMING? SJSU VOLLEYBALL PLAYER DOMINATING FEMALE RIVALS AND ENRAGING WOMEN’S RIGHTS GROUPS

Boise State, Utah State, Wyoming, Nevada and non-conference opponent Southern Utah all forfeited regular-season matches against San Jose State this season amid the controversy. Meanwhile, Louisiana Tech, which played its season opener against San Jose State Aug. 30, has told Fox News Digital it did not know Fleming was a biological male and suggested the match wouldn’t have happened if the team had known. 

The situation became so widely publicized, Fleming’s presence on the team drew criticism from President-elect Trump on the campaign trail during the most recent election cycle. 

Trump weighed in on the situation involving Fleming during a town hall event on Fox News Channel’s “The Faulkner Focus” Oct. 17. Trump referenced Fleming specifically, describing a video in which one of the athlete’s spikes hit another player. 

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“I saw the slam. It was a slam. I never saw a ball hit so hard, hit the girl in the head,” Trump said. “But other people, even in volleyball, they’ve been permanently, I mean, they’ve been really hurt badly. Women playing men. But you don’t have to do the volleyball. We stop it. We stop it. We absolutely stop it. You can’t have it.” 

Trump revealed his intention to ban transgender inclusion in women’s sports if elected. It became a talking point he made sure to reference at every campaign rally from then until Election Day. He and Republican allies hammered Democrats’ position of protecting transgender inclusion, which grew increasingly unpopular.

A federal judge could have ended Fleming’s career earlier but decided to allow the player to compete in the conference tournament. 

Federal Judge Kato Crews of Colorado, appointed by President Biden in January, denied a motion for injunctive relief in a lawsuit by college volleyball players against the conference.

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The players were looking to have their forfeits for refusing to play against Fleming and the Spartans rescinded, which would, in turn, shift the standings heading into the tournament. They also wanted Fleming banned from the tournament. 

Crews, however, wrote that the plaintiffs’ request for an emergency delay “was not reasonable” and “would risk confusion and upend months of planning and would prejudice, at a minimum, (San Jose State) and other teams participating in the tournament.”

Despite the lawsuits, Slusser and the rest of the San Jose State roster took the court with Fleming for matches all season. 

Fleming was second in the conference in kills per set with a .386, still well behind Jones, who led the way at .457. 

Fleming had a signature moment in the second-to-last match of the season against first-place Colorado State at home on Senior Day. Fleming led the game in kills with 24 and total attacks and clinched victory in the fifth set with a match-point service ace. 

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Right after the play, Fleming was swarmed by teammates in celebration. Even Slusser got involved. This group celebration took place just days after Slusser and other Mountain West players filed a second lawsuit over Fleming’s presence on the team against San Jose State and the conference. 

Now, Fleming, Slusser and their other senior teammates will look ahead to their post-volleyball lives.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.



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Colorado

Most Expensive Colorado Buffaloes Road Tickets This Fall

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Most Expensive Colorado Buffaloes Road Tickets This Fall


The Colorado Buffaloes are on the road for four of their first seven games in 2026, including two of their three non-conference games.

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With so much time on the road, especially early in the season, it is important for fans to know which games are worth traveling to. Here’s a look at Colorado’s most to least expensive road games to attend for the 2026 season and the reasoning behind the prices (all prices according to VividSeats).

1. Week 3 at Northwestern Wildcats

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Oct 29, 2022; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; The Northwestern Wildcats mascot Willie the Wildcat in action during the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports

  • Lowest ticket price: $562

Colorado’s matchup against the Northwestern Wildcats is far and away the most expensive game to attend. The price may appear confusing given the relatively low expectations both teams have coming into the 2026 season, but it is simply a matter of the venue the game will take place in. 

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Northwestern’s matchup against Colorado will be the final game it hosts in Martin Stadium, its soccer arena, before the construction of New Ryan Field is complete. The stadium has a capacity of just 12,023, which has inflated the price of admission as a result.

2. Week 8 at Oklahoma State Cowboys

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Nov 15, 2025; Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys huddle during the first half against the Kansas State Wildcats at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

  • Lowest ticket price: $129

As for Colorado’s most expensive Big 12 road contest, it has nothing to do with the stadium and everything to do with excitement. After a combined 4-20 record over the last two seasons, Oklahoma State Cowboy fans are finally seeing a glimmer of hope. 

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Former North Texas coach Eric Morris took over the role at OSU during the offseason and brought his best players with him. The hype surrounding the team has created a marquee matchup and driven prices as a result.

3. Week 1 at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

  • Lowest ticket price: $106

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Speaking of marquee matchups, there are potentially none more qualified to be such than the Buffs’ season opener. It is an opportunity for revenge against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets following the Buffs’ loss to them at home to start the 2025 season. That game was down to the wire, and with this matchup appearing to be similar on paper, tickets are in very high demand. 

4. Week 4 at Baylor Bears

However, prices take a dip with the Buffs’ Big 12 opener. Their matchup against the Baylor Bears may be the best deal of the season, as it will feature two explosive offenses in what is sure to be a Texas shootout. If it resembles Colorado’s most recent matchup against the Bears at all, that entertainment will be worth the price of admission and then some.

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5. Week 10 at Arizona State Sun Devils

ASU football coach Kenny Dillingham reflects on emotions, improvements after a loss to USC. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

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Another significant drop-off occurs in the Buffs’ matchup against the Arizona State Sun Devils. This game is missing the glaring storylines that Colorado’s other matchups have, as both teams have much to prove. However, it will be Colorado’s opportunity for revenge against former star receiver Omarion Miller, who left the Buffs for the Sun Devils during the offseason.

6. Week 12 at Cincinnati Bearcats

But the cheapest game to travel to for Buffs fans contains even fewer storylines than the previous spot on this list. Cincinnati was eaten alive by the transfer portal during the offseason, as it has a roster of youth looking to prove itself. If either team’s season is going better than expected by that point, the game’s affordability may not remain for long.

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Idaho

Fireworks blamed for 2 Ammon brush fires that threatened homes – East Idaho News

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Fireworks blamed for 2 Ammon brush fires that threatened homes – East Idaho News


AMMON – Two fires in the Ammon area have been extinguished, thanks to the massive response of multiple fire agencies.

Two fires started in separate neighborhoods Friday night as a result of people lighting fireworks. The first one started around 5:45 p.m. on Delaware Avenue near the St. Clair Estates subdivision. Idaho Falls Fire Department spokeswoman Hayli Egbert tells EastIdahoNews.com it started in a field next to a house in the area.

Although the blaze was only about half an acre in size, firefighters battled it for about four and a half hours.

“We were able to catch it before any homes were affected,” Egbert says. “We were also able to avoid injuries.”

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As firefighters were wrapping up, another fire started on Comish and High Willow Lane in the Comore Loma subdivision about four miles southwest.

The blaze quickly grew to about eight acres. John Tren posted several videos of the fire on the Life in Idaho Falls Facebook page.

“It got very, very close to several homes, but thankfully we had enough agencies out there that prevented the fire from reaching any houses,” says Egbert. “No civilians or firefighters were injured.”

The fire was out by about 1:30 a.m. Saturday, but firefighters had a brush truck on scene overnight to ensure there were no hot spots to start it up again.

It’s not clear whether anyone is being charged in connection with the fire. EastIdahoNews.com is awaiting additional information from Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office.

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Courtesy Lauri Watson

Six fire agencies were involved, including Idaho Falls Fire Department, Central Fire District in Jefferson County, Ucon Fire Department, Bonneville County Fire District 1, Shelley Fire Department and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office and Bonneville County Emergency Management Services were there as supporting agencies.

“It was all hands on deck,” Egbert says. “We had pretty much all resources expended trying to cover the fires that were going on.”

RELATED | Idaho Falls Fire Department urges fireworks safety after two vegetation fires

Earlier Saturday, the IFFD issued a joint news release on behalf of everyone involved to remind the public that “current conditions are dangerously dry” and that a single spark has the potential to cause major damage. Law enforcement and fire officials are urging the public to avoid using illegal fireworks until further notice and to attend professionally-managed fireworks shows, rather than light them off at home.

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“Individuals found in violation of local fireworks ordinances are subject to citation and fines under local ordinances and may be held liable for the costs of any fire suppression efforts and property damage resulting from unlawful fireworks use,” the city of Idaho Falls says in a Saturday morning news release.

RELATED | Officials: Stop using illegal aerial fireworks before more fires ignite

Egbert reiterates the importance of being safe with fireworks this Fourth of July.

“With last night’s incident, if something of the same size had occurred across town, we may not have had the resources to handle it all,” she says. “It really took all hands on deck to (put it out) and keep everyone safe.”

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Hawaii

La Hoihoi Ea highlights Native Hawaiian perspective amid 4th of July celebrations

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La Hoihoi Ea highlights Native Hawaiian perspective amid 4th of July celebrations


HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – As the United States marks 250 years as a nation today, another observance is highlighting Hawaiian sovereignty and history.

A Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea celebration is taking place today at Iolani Palace in Honolulu, offering a Native Hawaiian perspective alongside U.S. 250th anniversary observances.

The event highlights Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea (Sovereignty Restoration Day), which commemorates the 1843 restoration of Hawaiian Kingdom sovereignty after a brief British occupation. Although traditionally observed on July 31, related events are being held throughout the month.

Today’s program runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and includes protocol ceremonies, a historical reenactment, music, and community speakers. Musicians and speakers begin at 11 a.m. on the bandstand.

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The event also includes screen-printing, and discussions on topics such as geothermal energy and RIMPAC.

Organizers say the gathering is meant to create space for Native Hawaiian voices and reflection on history, sovereignty, and the future of Hawai’i.

For more information about events click here.

Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.



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