Virginia
Browns open training camp in West Virginia’s scenic mountains, begin climb toward 2023 season
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. (AP) — With the lush, green Allegheny Mountains providing a picturesque backdrop, the Cleveland Browns began preparing for an upcoming season they hope doesn’t go down hill.
Looking to avoid outside distractions and perhaps forge better chemistry among players, the team opened training camp Saturday at The Greenbrier Resort, a swanky vacation spot used by other NFL teams in the past.
Home, for the moment, is West Virginia’s country roads.
Browns wide receiver Marquise Goodwin will miss the start of his first training camp with Cleveland due to blood clots in his legs and lungs.
Defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey has been cut by the Cleveland Browns after police opened an investigation into him being involved in a robbery.
This will be a very different training camp for the Cleveland Browns and quarterback Deshaun Watson.
The Cleveland Browns will shelve those classic logo-less orange helmets for three games this season.
“We’re landlocked here,” coach Kevin Stefanski said after the team took a short flight from Ohio and held a one-hour practice under partly sunny skies. “We’re in the middle of nowhere by design, so it forces you to be around your teammates.”
The Browns, who have held camp in Berea, Ohio, since 1992, will spend eight days at the remote location, giving them ample time to ramp up for their Aug. 3 exhibition matchup against the New York Jets in the Hall of Fame game in Canton.
The first few days will be relatively light before the Browns practice in full pads for the first time on July 28.
Before then, this is a chance for Stefanski and his staff to work on anything that was overlooked during spring workouts and for Cleveland’s players to dig deeper into their playbooks while getting to know each other better.
“Just grind,” said wide receiver Amari Cooper. “Just an opportunity to get away and focus on football. Just training camp, you know, just like the old days.”
Well, not quite like the old days.
The Browns have brought many of the comforts of home with them to West Virginia, and whatever they couldn’t haul is being provided by the luxurious resort, which has 710 rooms and was once designated as a “bunker” for the U.S. Congress in case of war.
Following the first relaxed practice, which did include some conditioning sprints at the end, Browns players dined inside an air-conditioned tent on a gourmet buffet spread that included a stir fry station.
This is not your Dad’s NFL.
The Browns will have one off day next week, giving players some down time to relax or try one of the many available activities including golf, paddle boarding and white-water rafting. Or, they could choose to pamper themselves with “The Ultimate Greenbrier Pedicure” for $150.
“I might check some of them out,” top cornerback Denzel Ward said. “But I’ll probably just be playing football and sleeping the rest of the time.”
There is no price tag on camaraderie, and Stefanski is counting on the extended time together — the league gave the Browns and Jets an extra week of training camp — making his team even closer.
“It just made sense to try to get away,” he said. “This is a place that has housed teams before. Having coaches on our staff that have been here that really can speak to this place, and then how first class it is, that was really helpful in us in determining this was the spot that we wanted to come.”
As for the football part of it, the Browns have plenty of work to do.
Coming off a disappointing 7-10 season shaped by quarterback Deshaun Watson’s 11-game suspension, there are raised expectations in Cleveland. First off, Watson has his legal issues behind him and is healthy.
An underperforming defense has been overhauled with several additions to the line along with fiery coordinator Jim Schwartz. Watson’s got a speedy new target to throw to in wide receiver Elijah Moore, and Cleveland’s roster is dotted with other stars like edge rusher Myles Garrett and running back Nick Chubb.
The excuses have expired. Entering his sixth season, Ward said this is the best Browns team he’s played with.
“I definitely believe so,” he said. “But you can have a lot of talent but you just got to bring it together and bring all those pieces together. So that’s what we’re doing and focusing on to make it happen.”
NOTES: Cooper said he’s full go after undergoing off-season surgery on a core muscle. … Browns 69-year-old owner Jimmy Haslam ran some sprints on the field following practice. … WR Marquise Goodwin, who has been sidelined by blood clots in his lungs and legs, watched the workout. Stefanski said it’s still possible Goodwin can play this season. “It’s an unknown,” he said. “It’s very scary, so right away you worry about Marquise and just his health, period. So all of it remains to be seen from a health standpoint and when he’s ready to go, and in the meantime we’re just supporting him and he’s listening to doctors.”
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
Virginia
Governor amends Virginia's budget bill to increase rainy-day reserves over changes in Washington
RICHMOND, Va. — Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin said on Monday that he hoped to bolster Virginia’s rainy-day fund by $300 million in light of economic uncertainty surrounding the White House’s overhaul of federal jobs and its impact on the state’s workforce.
At a news conference, Youngkin announced he had more than 200 amendments to a bipartisan budget bill adopted last month by the Virginia General Assembly, including trimming state spending to add additional funds to Virginia’s coffers.
The $300 million would be on top of nearly $295 million already slated to be set aside over the biennium. Youngkin said the reserved revenue would give Virginia a cushion of $5 billion.
“It enables us to feel confident that if there is a bump in the road, we can deal with it,” he said.
Youngkin’s announcement comes after a mix of roughly 1,000 Virginian federal workers and contractors have filed claims for unemployment since the end of January after President Donald Trump and adviser Elon Musk began cutting jobs and programs in Washington, state officials have said.
In addition to the budget amendment, Youngkin’s administration has created a job website and encouraged impacted workers to explore other opportunities in Virginia.
“President Trump has been very, very clear, and he has not shied away from the fact that there could and may be economic disruption in the short term,” Youngkin said. “As he resets things in Washington, I agree with him that we will have long-term opportunity, and that is going to be good for Virginia.”
Before 2025, Virginia was home to roughly 315,000 federal workers, according to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government. In the past few years, the state has done well economically — its state budget had a multibillion-dollar surplus, and more people were moving to the state than moving away, officials have said.
But, as the Democratic-led legislature gaveled out of its session, some acknowledged they may need to revise the budget in light of the fiscal cuts. Lawmakers announced they would expand a previously established special session so that they could reconvene later this year.
Following Youngkin’s announcement, Democratic Virginia House Speaker Don Scott blasted the governor for not protecting residents.
“We need a governor who will support Virginians,” Scott said in a statement, “not cave to Trump and Musk.”
Youngkin has until just before midnight on Monday to either sign, veto or seek amendments to all legislation sent to his desk after passing the statehouse earlier this year — including the budget bill, which amends the last year of the state’s two-year spending plan.
Lawmakers will then take up his revisions and vetos on April 2.
In his original budget presented in December, Youngkin proposed providing permanent relief by ending taxes on tips and cars for lower- and middle-income earners. The Virginia House of Delegates and Senate nixed his idea. Instead, they passed a budget that would give each taxpayer a $200 rebate.
On Monday, Youngkin said he would support the rebates, which had bipartisan support among lawmakers.
In the budget bill, lawmakers also scrapped Youngkin’s proffer to cut off funds toward local entities that do not fully comply with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Further, Youngkin originally allotted money for a $50 million “Opportunity Scholarship” program, which would provide low-income families with vouchers to send their children to private schools. Lawmakers tossed out that idea, too.
In his amendments, Youngkin added versions of those provisions back into the budget bill.
“I pared back my request: Let’s take $25 million, and let’s provide lower-income Virginia families an opportunity to pursue an alternative education path that might fit their family and their children’s best opportunities,” he said of the scholarship program. “Why not try it?”
Youngkin also said he added an amendment authorizing the consideration of establishing Oak Hill, the home of former President James Monroe, as a state park. A bill to that effect failed in the legislature during the session.
Virginia
How to watch West Virginia vs. North Carolina in Women’s March Madness: Time, TV channel, streaming
The No. 6 seed West Virginia Mountaineers (25-7) will take to the court against the No. 3 seed North Carolina Tar Heels (28-7) on Monday with a spot in the Sweet 16 of the women’s NCAA Tournament up for grabs. This matchup tips at 7 p.m. ET.
West Virginia is coming off of a 78-59 victory over Columbia in its last game on Saturday. North Carolina won its most recent matchup 70-49 against Oregon State on Saturday. JJ Quinerly’s team-leading 27 points paced West Virginia in the win. In North Carolina’s win, Lexi Donarski led the way with 19 points (adding one rebound and two assists).
West Virginia vs. North Carolina TV channel NCAA Tournament
- Location: Carmichael Arena in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Date: Monday, March 24, 2025
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- TV channel: ESPN2 (watch on Fubo)
- Stream: Fubo
What time is West Virginia vs. North Carolina basketball today?
West Virginia and North Carolina hit the court at 7 p.m. ET.
Watch North Carolina vs. West Virginia with Fubo
West Virginia vs. North Carolina odds, lines, spread
- Spread: West Virginia -1.5
- Total: 126.5
- Moneyline: West Virginia -121, North Carolina +100
In its last 10 games, West Virginia has been racking up 70.9 points per contest, an average that’s a little lower than the 75.9 it has scored over the course of the 2024-25 season. In its previous 10 games, North Carolina is posting 67.1 points per game, 3.8 fewer points than its season average (70.9).
March Madness Second Round schedule
- Duke Blue Devils (2) vs. Oregon Ducks (10): Sunday, 12 p.m. ET on ESPN
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish (3) vs. Michigan Wolverines (6): Sunday, 1 p.m. ET on ABC
- Kentucky Wildcats (4) vs. Kansas State Wildcats (5): Sunday, 2:02 p.m. ET on ESPN
- South Carolina Gamecocks (1) vs. Indiana Hoosiers (9): Sunday, 3 p.m. ET on ABC
- Baylor Bears (4) vs. Ole Miss Rebels (5): Sunday, 4 p.m. ET on ESPN
- TCU Horned Frogs (2) vs. Louisville Cardinals (7): Sunday, 6 p.m. ET on ESPN
- Ohio State Buckeyes (4) vs. Tennessee Volunteers (5): Sunday, 8 p.m. ET on ESPN
- UCLA Bruins (1) vs. Richmond Spiders (8): Sunday, 10 p.m. ET on ESPN
- NC State Wolfpack (2) vs. Michigan State Spartans (7): Monday, 12 p.m. ET on ESPN
- Texas Longhorns (1) vs. Illinois Fighting Illini (8): Monday, 2 p.m. ET on ESPN
- Oklahoma Sooners (3) vs. Iowa Hawkeyes (6): Monday, 4 p.m. ET on ESPN
- Maryland Terrapins (4) vs. Alabama Crimson Tide (5): Monday, 5 p.m. ET on ESPN2
- LSU Tigers (3) vs. Florida State Seminoles (6): Monday, 6 p.m. ET on ESPN
- North Carolina Tar Heels (3) vs. West Virginia Mountaineers (6): Monday, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2
- UConn Huskies (2) vs. South Dakota State Jackrabbits (10): Monday, 8 p.m. ET on ESPN
- USC Trojans (1) vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs (9): Monday, 10 p.m. ET on ESPN
West Virginia Mountaineers basketball schedule
North Carolina Tar Heels basketball schedule
Watch North Carolina vs. West Virginia with Fubo
Former President Joe Biden’s nominee to lead the Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia was found dead inside a home in Alexandria, Virginia, authorities announced Saturday, March 22. Jessica Aber, 43, was pronounced dead at the scene when police responded at 9:18 a.m. EST.
CBS News reports that it is unclear if the home belongs to Aber, or who had contacted the police. The Alexandria Police Department said in a statement posted to X that “an investigation is underway surrounding the circumstances of her death,” adding, “The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia will determine the cause and manner of death.”
Aber became U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia in 2021, following her nomination by President Biden and unanimous confirmation by the Senate. She resigned in January, at the start of President Donald Trump’s second term in office.
Attorney general for the Trump administration, Pam Bondi, said in a statement released Saturday, “The loss of Jessica Aber, former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, is deeply tragic. Our hearts and prayers go out to her family and friends during this profoundly difficult time.”
Similarly, in another statement released Saturday, Erik Siebert, who replaced Aber, called her an “unmatched leader, mentor, and prosecutor,” saying she is “simply irreplaceable as a human being.”
Aber’s tenure with the Eastern District of Virginia began in 2009 and included stints as the assistant U.S. attorney and deputy chief of the department’s criminal division. She grew up in Virginia, received an undergraduate degree from the University of Richmond, and a law degree from William & Mary Law School.
In 2022, Aber helped launch Ceasefire Virginia, targeting violent crime across the state. That initiative and Aber’s work on it, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares said, “saved more lives than we may ever realize.”
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