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Former border officer from Michigan sentenced for distribution of child pornography

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Former border officer from Michigan sentenced for distribution of child pornography


A former U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer from Michigan has been sentenced for one count of distribution of child pornography, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan said on Friday.

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A federal judge sentenced Scott Rocky of Center Line, Michigan, on Thursday to six years in prison. Online court records show he pleaded guilty to the charge last November.

According to the criminal complaint, an FBI agent during an investigation in April 2025 used a computer to sign into a peer-to-peer file sharing network called BitTorrent. They identified another computer using a specific Internet Protocol address connected to multiple files that had keywords or hash values related to potential child pornography. 

The agent was able to determine that someone using that computer shared about 530 files with “names consistent with names used for files containing child pornography,” the complaint said. Investigators allegedly learned the IP address of the computer was assigned to Rocky.

According to the court document, the agent found that many of the files appeared “to depict real minor children between the ages of four and ten years old engaged in sexually explicit conduct.” 

Federal investigators then searched Rocky’s home, the complaint said. They found a desktop computer that had a file name in the German language that described sexual activity involving children.  

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“This sentence should serve as a warning: no badge, title, or position of public trust will shield anyone who exploits our children from facing justice under federal law,” Jennifer Runyan, special agent in charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, said in a written statement. “Public trust amongst law enforcement officials is essential.”



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Report: Michigan cancels volleyball game vs. Texas Tech, to discuss prohibiting other contests

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Report: Michigan cancels volleyball game vs. Texas Tech, to discuss prohibiting other contests


The fallout from the Brendan Sorsby saga continues. On Monday, Michigan canceled a scheduled volleyball game against Texas Tech, according to a report from Yahoo! Sports’ Ross Dellenger.

According to Dellenger, Michigan “plans to hold further discussions with its athletic staff on prohibiting contests against the Red Raiders.” The program becomes the latest to expressly state intent not to schedule Texas Tech amid the ongoing Sorsby saga.

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The controversy involves legal rulings that have made Sorsby eligible to play after Texas Tech and the NCAA declared him ineligible over sports wagering. Sorsby was granted an injunction against the NCAA that restored his eligibility temporarily, allowing him to play in 2026 after serving a two-game suspension.

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Many, including the Big 12 itself, have come out staunchly against the ruling. They argue it presents an existential threat to the integrity of college athletics.

Sorsby placed dozens of sports bets while a student-athlete, including bets on his own program while at Indiana. The NCAA prohibits such activity.

Because of the legal posturing by Sorsby, the Big 12 and even programs outside the conference, like Michigan, have explored various avenues to state their own intent. Already, programs like Georgia and Nebraska have taken steps to avoid scheduling Texas Tech in athletics contests as a form of protest.

Last week, reports emerged from both athletic departments about their intent. Dellenger provided much of the reporting.

“Based on recent developments, Georgia Athletics will not schedule future contests against Texas Tech until further notice,” Georgia’s internal message read.

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“Please review your sport’s current schedules and future scheduling plans. If you have any contests currently scheduled against Texas Tech, or are actively engaged in scheduling discussions with Texas Tech, please notify your sport administrator as soon as possible so we can evaluate the situation and determine next steps.

“Effective immediately, no new contests should be scheduled against Texas Tech without prior approval from the Athletics Department.”

The message from Nebraska was a bit briefer. But it carried the same directive.

“I want to reach out to let you know we will not schedule any contests vs. Texas Tech in any sport,” the memo read. “If you currently have a future contest already scheduled, please connect with (Nebraska athletic director) Troy (Dannen) immediately.”

Now Michigan has reportedly actively taken a step to cancel a contest against Texas Tech. It may not be the last, either.

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Mark Hollis tells AP he’s interested in Michigan State AD job after Kentucky hires J Batt

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Mark Hollis tells AP he’s interested in Michigan State AD job after Kentucky hires J Batt


The University of Kentucky has hired athletic director J Batt away from Michigan State, a little more than a year after he left Georgia Tech.

Kentucky announced the move on Monday, delivering another blow to Michigan State’s leadership.

“The championship standard has been established at Kentucky and we are committed to upholding that standard of excellence,” Batt said.

Shortly thereafter, former Michigan State AD Mark Hollis told The Associated Press he wants to lead the Spartans’ athletic department again.

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“I would be interested in talking to Michigan State about it,” Hollis said at Detroit Golf Club, where he was serving his role as tournament director of the PGA Tour’s Rocket Classic. “I care for the university and I want to help it in any way I can.”

Batt will succeed retiring Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart. Barnhart has had the job since 2002, making him the longest-serving AD in the Southeastern Conference. Barnhart won’t take on a high-paying role at the school after Gov. Andy Beshear questioned decision-making at the school.

A year ago, Michigan State hired Batt away from Georgia Tech, where he was its athletic director since the fall of 2022. Before leading Georgia Tech’s athletic department, he was executive deputy athletic director at Alabama and served as chief operating officer and chief revenue officer in the athletic department.

Michigan State athletic director J Batt speaks during a news conference, June 4, 2025, in East Lansing, Mich. Credit: AP/Larry Lage

“Across these institutions, J has distinguished himself as a record-breaker in fundraising and as a leader who strategically invests in facilities to maximize resources and revenue,” University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto said.

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Batt’s exit follows Michigan State President Kevin M. Guskiewicz choosing to leave for the same job at Clemson.

Hollis had a successful run for a decade as AD at Michigan State before announcing his retirement in 2018 amid the fallout from the sex abuse scandal involving Larry Nassar, a former Michigan State sports doctor who also worked for USA Gymnastics.

He also was credited with innovative concepts such as putting a court in the middle of a football field as he did when Michigan State played Kentucky in 2003 at Detroit’s Ford Field in front of a then-world-record crowd of 78,129 at a basketball game.

Hollis, a Michigan State graduate and close friend of Spartans basketball coach Tom Izzo, hired Mark Dantonio and he became the school’s all-time winningest football coach.



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NWS confirms two EF0 tornadoes touched down in West Michigan Thursday night

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NWS confirms two EF0 tornadoes touched down in West Michigan Thursday night


Two tornadoes were confirmed to have touched down in West Michigan on Thursday night, June 11, 2026, one in Kent County and the other in Barry County.

The National Weather Service in Grand Rapids released information on the two twisters over the weekend after storm survey findings had been compiled.

Both tornadoes were rated EF0 and were estimated to have occurred at the same time, from 9:31 to 9:34 p.m., along the leading edge of a severe thunderstorm.

Kent County EF0

According to the preliminary survey results, the Kent County tornado touched down 2 miles east-southeast of Caledonia, near and north of 100th Street just east of the Thornapple River near Alaska Avenue Southeast.

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The NWS said the twister reached peak intensity while moving through the southern part of Saskatoon Golf Club, where significant tree damage occurred.

An EF0 tornado was confirmed to have touched down in southeastern Kent County during severe storms on Thursday night, June 11, 2026. The tornado had maximum wind speeds estimated up to 85 mph. (WWMT)

The Kent County tornado had maximum winds estimated at 85 mph, traveled 4.25 miles and had a maximum width of 75 yards, according to the storm survey results.

No injuries or fatalities were reported.

Barry County EF0

The NWS said another brief tornado initially touched down about 2 miles south-southwest of Irving, north of Bowens Mill Road between Yankee Springs Road and North Peets Road.

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After crossing North Peets Road, the most intense damage was observed along North Whitmore Road, where tree damage was more extensive and a house was covered in fallen branches, the NWS said.

An EF0 tornado was confirmed to have touched down in Barry County during severe storms on Thursday night, June 11, 2026. The tornado had maximum wind speeds estimated up to 75 mph. (WWMT)

An EF0 tornado was confirmed to have touched down in Barry County during severe storms on Thursday night, June 11, 2026. The tornado had maximum wind speeds estimated up to 75 mph. (WWMT)

After lifting just shy of 3 miles east of where it touched down, the same thunderstorm went on to produce sporadic pockets of straight-line wind damage from North Irving Road all the way into the north side of Hastings.

The Barry County tornado had maximum winds estimated at 75 mph, traveled 2.9 miles and had a maximum width of 50 yards, according to the storm survey results.

A busy season thus far

With the two additional tornadoes confirmed to have touched down in West Michigan, the statewide total now stands at 20 in 2026.

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Following the confirmation of 2 tornadoes in West Michigan on Thursday night, June 11, 2026, Michigan's tornado tally now stands at 20 so far this year. (WWMT)

Following the confirmation of 2 tornadoes in West Michigan on Thursday night, June 11, 2026, Michigan’s tornado tally now stands at 20 so far this year. (WWMT)

Michigan averages about 15 tornadoes a year, with a seasonal peak typically expected in May and June.

This season got off to an early start on March 6, when four tornadoes touched down in West Michigan, including an EF2 in Three Rivers and an EF3 in Union City.

The storms Thursday were part of a larger severe weather outbreak on June 11, 2026, which brought more than 30 tornadoes to the Midwest, with some of the strongest occurring in Illinois and Indiana.

Follow meteorologist Will Haenni on Facebook, X, Instagram & TikTok.

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