West
Mountain West closes investigation into allegations against San Jose State trans player without discipline
The Mountain West Conference has said it conducted an investigation into allegations of conspiracy by players on San Jose State and Colorado State’s volleyball teams and closed it without assigning any discipline.
In a letter addressed to San Jose State athletic director Jeff Konya and Colorado State athletic director John Weber, obtained by Fox News Digital, Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez says the conference did not find sufficient evidence to confirm the claims in a recent Title IX complaint. The complaint alleged San Jose State transgender player Blaire Fleming conspired with a player on Colorado State to influence the outcome of the game, and have Fleming’s teammate Brooke Slusser hit in the face with a ball during that game.
The letter did not address allegations in a recent lawsuit that provided further contest on this incident, nor did it address the notion that there was a conspiracy to have Slusser hit in the face. The letter simply refers to all the allegations listed in the complaint as “manipulation of the competition.”
Colorado State University police behind the San Jose State University Spartans bench monitor Moby Arena during an NCAA Mountain West women’s volleyball game between the Spartans and the Colorado State Rams in Fort Collins, Colo., on Thursday, Oct. 03, 2024. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
The complaint included allegations that volleyball student-athletes from Colorado State University (CSU) and San José State University (SJSU) conspired to engage in manipulation of the competition during the SJSU vs. CSU volleyball match played October 2, 2024, in Fort Collins, Colorado. Upon receipt of this information, the Mountain West Conference office, in coordination with both member institutions, immediately initiated a thorough investigation into these serious assertions,” the letter read.
Nevarez says the conference’s investigation included interviews with head coaches and student-athletes initiated by both institutions. However, the letter does not specifically state which individuals had been interviewed. Fox News Digital has reached out to the conference for clarity on that list of individuals, but has not received a response.
The conference also claims its investigation included review of the match video by both head coaches, review of the match video and statistical analysis by multiple third-party volleyball subject matter experts engaged by the conference and multiple interviews conducted by a third-party investigator engaged by the Conference in consultation with the Mountain West’s legal counsel.
The conference claims any evidence to back the claims was insufficient. However, the letter does not explicitly state that the allegations are false.
“Upon review and evaluation of the extensive information gathered during the investigation, there is insufficient evidence to corroborate the allegations of misconduct related to the SJSU vs. CSU volleyball competition played October 2, 2024. As a result, the Conference office has determined no disciplinary action is warranted and considers this matter closed,” it read.
The initial Tile IX complaint was filed by suspended San Jose State assistant head coach Melissa Batie-Smoose on October 29. Batie-Smoose was suspended shortly after the complaint was filed, to the dismay of Slusser and many other players on the team.
INSIDE SAN JOSE STATE’S POLICE BATTLE TO PROTECT WOMEN’S ATHLETES THREATENED BY A TRANSGENDER CULTURE WAR
Brooke Slusser is a junior at San Jose State university who plays volleyball and has joined a lawsuit against the NCAA. (courtesy of San Jose State athletics)
Then, Batie-Smoose, Slusser and other current and former players on the team and across the Mountain West filed a lawsuit against the conference and San Jose State that provided further context on the allegations.
San Jose State volleyball player Chandler Manusky is quoted in the lawsuit recounting an incident in early October, when she and other teammates, including the trans athlete, violated team rules by sneaking out of the team hotel the night before a match against Colorado State. Manusky claimed to have then learned about an alleged plan by player Blaire Fleming to ensure San Jose State would lose the match and set up Colorado State player Malaya Jones to spike Slusser in the face during a match on Oct. 3.
“Manusky said that at Jones’ residence Fleming had shared with Jones the scouting for the CSU-FC game and they had discussed Fleming ‘throw[ing] the game’ and how they would set up Jones to ‘blow up’ Slusser and ‘blast’ her in the face during the game,” the court documents read.
“Manusky also said that Fleming stated, ‘I’m going to leave center court open,’ which would allow Malaya Jones to have a wide-open shot to try to ‘blow up Slusser,’ i.e., to try to hit Brooke Slusser in the face with the ball.”
The documents allege Manusky confronted head coach Todd Kress and currently-suspended assistant coach Melissa Batie-Smoose about the incident. Manusky claims she was crying as she begged them not to tell Fleming that she had come forward with the story. Kress is alleged to have told Batie-Smoose that he believed the story was not true.
“Kress told Batie-Smoose he did not believe Manusky and thought she had made up the entire story so she would not get in trouble for leaving the team hotel,” the documents read.
Slusser previously told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview that she was made aware of Fleming’s alleged plan and believes she has been treated unfairly by the university, arguing the university has not done enough to investigate the matter.
Colorado State University police behind the San Jose State University Spartans bench monitor Moby Arena during an NCAA Mountain West women’s volleyball game between the Spartans and the Colorado State Rams in Fort Collins, Colo., on Thursday, Oct. 03, 2024. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
“If this was me, and I was the one threatening to do this to my teammate who’s caused so much commotion, there would have been action taken immediately,” Slusser said. “I was definitely very angry, and I was glad at first to know that it was already made aware to the coaching staff and compliance and everyone, but I don’t know if that made me feel any differently, I was just angry because I didn’t think someone would go to these lengths.”
“Threatening to want to hurt one of your own teammates, I just feel like there’s so many things in that whole conversation that would make a school want to get it dealt with.”
In the first game since the lawsuit was filed, San Jose State beat Colorado State in the rematch of the game on Saturday. Fleming had the game-winning serve and was swarmed by the other Spartan players in celebration, including Slusser and Manusky.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Read the full article from Here
Nevada
Northern Nevada gardens and backyards: Controlling insects with systemic insecticides – Carson Now
Last week I wrote about soft versus armored scale insects. Soft scales exude honeydew, are protected by ants and can be controlled by systemic insecticides, some of which have the active ingredient imidacloprid. Armored scales do not emit honeydew and are not managed by an imidacloprid insecticide.
Imidacloprid is a systemic neonicotinoid insecticide that is designed to kill piercing/sucking insects via damage to their nervous system. Systemic means it is applied on the leaves, stems or as a soil drench and spreads internally throughout the plant. When an insect feeds on any part of the plant such as the pollen, nectar, flowers, fruit, leaves, or other plant tissues, it ingests the toxic chemical and dies.
Systemic insecticides can kill not only pests such as soft scales, but also their natural enemies and non-target/beneficial insects such as bees and other pollinators, including butterflies, moths and their larvae. They also can “adversely affect reproduction, growth, insect immune systems, learning, flying, or other attributes even at concentrations too low to cause death outright.” Native bees, who often nest in the ground, can be more susceptible than honeybees, particularly to soil drench applications.
Systemic insecticides kill over time at a steady concentration, which can cause a longer toxic exposure. Although it is often suggested to apply in the evening when insects aren’t out, or after flowering season, harmful exposures can still occur. These chemicals can last for months or years in soil. They sometimes leach into groundwater but fortunately are usually only slightly toxic to fish. One application may provide season long control.
Chemical insecticides are always a last resort. The risks versus benefits must be carefully evaluated. A healthy thriving plant is one of the best defenses against scale or other insect damage. Good watering, the appropriate amount of fertilizer and maintenance keep a plant resistant to attacks. Predators, including lady beetles, bugs and lacewings, play an important part in pest management.
Plant a diversity of flowering plants to attract and feed natural enemies. Sometimes when you see scales on a plant, they may have already been parasitized by parasitic wasps. If a large number are parasitized, there are eggs in or on each scale eating away at them. Sometimes scales are no longer alive and do not require a pesticide treatment. Check before applying insecticides. Using tape traps to monitor crawlers will help you accurately time the use of horticulture oils, Neem oil or insecticidal soap. Dormant oil treatment on deciduous woody plants will help kill overwintering scale pests and reduce future populations.
JoAnne Skelly is an Associate Professor and Extension Educator, Emerita, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. She can be reached at skellyj@unr.edu.
Related
New Mexico is not adding population the way some Sun Belt states are. The state’s overall population dipped slightly between 2020 and 2024, though the picture is more complicated than a simple out-migration story. International immigration adds a meaningful slice of inbound traffic, and three population centers along the I-25 corridor capture most of the people moving in. Career growth in defense, semiconductors, and the federal scientific complex matters, but for retirees in particular, affordability and the high-altitude climate carry more weight. The three cities below catch most of the inbound traffic.
Inbound moves to New Mexico concentrate in the major population centers along I-25. Career growth in unique technological and scientific sectors draws newcomers along with affordability factors compared with other US regions, often the major draw for retirees. Neighboring Texas, Colorado, and Arizona supply the majority of new arrivals. Consumer Affairs data shows about 21.3 percent of inbound movers are retirees while 30 percent cite job opportunities. The state’s natural scenic backdrop and access to outdoor recreation also factor in.
Rio Rancho
Rio Rancho sits in Sandoval County immediately northwest of Albuquerque, with a population near 112,500 and an 8.1 percent growth rate between 2020 and 2024 (the strongest in New Mexico by raw numbers). Arizona supplies a meaningful share of the new arrivals. Unemployment runs close to the national average around 4.5 percent. Intel Corporation is the principal local employer, with the company’s Fab 11X semiconductor facility based in town and a $3.5 billion expansion underway.
The town’s growth runs on proximity to Albuquerque and Santa Fe combined with direct access to the high desert. Mainstays like Turtle Mountain Brewing Company anchor a working local business scene. The Willow Creek Trail and the wider Jemez Mountain Trail handle outdoor recreation 30 minutes north.
Santa Fe
Santa Fe probably needs no introduction. The state capital and its surrounding areas have drawn artistic communities for more than a century, with the more recent decades adding celebrity buyers and Hollywood film and television production through the New Mexico Film Office. Santa Fe also holds the title of the oldest state capital in the United States, established by Spanish colonists in 1610.
The town runs a population around 90,550 with the second-highest housing costs in the state after Los Alamos. The national median home listing price is around $394,000, while Santa Fe’s median runs roughly $764,000. Santa Fe County reports list Los Angeles, Dallas, and Seattle among the primary sources of new residents, which paints a clearer picture of who Santa Fe typically attracts. The city’s population climbed by about 10,000 between 2020 and 2024, with another 1,000 added through 2025.
Las Cruces
Las Cruces runs a population near 117,000 with an annual growth rate of about 1.83 percent. The city remains largely underappreciated by those looking to relocate, but a steady stream of individuals and families do make the move, largely for federal and military employment opportunities at the White Sands Test Facility and the White Sands Missile Range to the east. The local economy has also seen sporadic increases in construction and healthcare hiring.
Affordability is the headline pull. Las Cruces sits 8 to 11 percent below the national cost-of-living average. According to apartments.com, housing runs 16.6 percent less expensive than the national average. The region also pulls more than 300 sunny days per year, and direct access to hiking in the Organ Mountains – Desert Peaks National Monument is one of the more underrated outdoor draws in the Southwest. New Mexico State University adds the cultural and athletic anchor at the centre of the city.
The High-Desert Corridor
The bigger pattern: newcomers to the Land of Enchantment gravitate to the populous corridor running south to north between Los Lunas, Albuquerque, and Santa Fe, with some pushing farther north to Taos or Angel Fire. The primary draw is not the countryside but the employment opportunities, security, and amenities a major city can offer. Unless a specific job is the driver, most people are attracted to New Mexico for natural beauty, climate, lower cost of living, and cultural mainstays. In-state relocators tend to seek better career opportunities or specific access to a particular town and its offerings.
Oregon
Oregon’s 1,500-Acre Dog Park Paradise Just Outside Portland Offers Off-Leash Terrain, Trails, And River – Islands
For many dogs, a perfect day involves playing catch in a giant field, sniffing around a dense forest, and topping it all off with a swim. Just outside of Portland, Oregon, which Forbes calls one of the best cities in the U.S. for dogs, lies the Sandy River Delta, where dogs can have their perfect day. The park offers close to 1,500 acres of pure, off-leash dog bliss where the Sandy River meets the mighty Columbia. This land was once a part of the Watlala Nation and was visited by Lewis and Clark, whose team camped on the shores of the Columbia here.
Almost the entirety of the park is off-leash. The park has five trails where dogs can be off-leash, beaches, rivers, and fields that are all open to sniffing, running free, and playing catch. You’re able to hike the trails with your dog roaming along at their own pace. The trails allowing dogs off-leash range from 0.25 to 2 miles long and showcase different ecological zones in the delta. The forests are full of interesting smells for your pup, and the meadows are wide and open — perfect spots to play with other dogs that are also having their best day ever.
The Sandy River Delta is located in Troutdale, Oregon’s “Gateway to the Columbia River Gorge.” Standing in the middle of the park, looking at the views of the gorge, you’d never know that downtown Portland is 17 miles to the west.
There’s so much for you and your dog to do at the Sandy River Delta Park
The areas a dog must remain on-leash are: the parking lot, bathrooms, picnic areas, and within 100 feet of one of the park’s main treks, the Confluence Trail. If you take a route that crosses the Confluence Trail, your dog is allowed to be off-leash, as long as they don’t disturb hikers. A fenced section on the park’s eastern edge is closed to people and pets to give wildlife some peace and quiet. Other than those specified areas, your dog has plenty of acreage to explore. Just make sure your dog doesn’t dig, and please pack out their waste!
Humans have something to look forward to here, as well. The Confluence Trail runs 1.25 miles along ADA-compliant gravel leading to a bird blind designed by architect and sculptor Maya Lin. The elliptical bird blind is made of wooden slats inscribed with the name and current conservation status of the 134 different species Lewis and Clark encountered. Lin is a renowned artist whose work appears at places like Storm King Art Center, one of the largest outdoor sculpture parks in the U.S.
How to get to the Sandy River Delta Park and what’s nearby
One practical note: bring a towel for your pup. The park offers a lot of water for your dog to swim in, and the shore gets pretty muddy. The cool water is a refreshing treat for your dog in the middle of summer. You can hike to the Sandy River and a side channel of the Columbia easily. Don’t worry — the nearby forest provides free sticks to toss into the water for your dog to fetch. To get to the Sandy River Delta from wherever you are in Portland, take I-84 East. The parking lot will get full on the weekends, so get there early or go late. If the parking is full, you can park down the street at a free lot across from the river and enter through a trail.
After all this running around and sniffing, you deserve a treat, too. Portland is one of the top five foodie cities in the U.S., and that love of good food doesn’t stop at the city borders. A mile down the street from the park is the Sugarpine Drive-In, a restored gas station casually serving gourmet food and ice cream sundaes. The New York Times said the Cherries Jubilee Sundae was one of the best dishes in 2024. On the way home, stop at McMenamins’ Edgefield location — a former farm that is now home to a pet-friendly hotel, multiple bars and restaurants, a spa, a brewery, distillery, winery, golf course, and an outdoor concert venue that consistently brings in nationally touring acts.
-
Nevada2 minutes agoNorthern Nevada gardens and backyards: Controlling insects with systemic insecticides – Carson Now
-
New Hampshire8 minutes agoCampus carry law’s future unclear in New Hampshire – Valley News
-
New Jersey14 minutes ago
Black bear spotted in Princeton ⋆ Princeton, NJ local news %
-
New Mexico20 minutes agoWhere People Are Moving To In New Mexico In 2026
-
North Carolina26 minutes agoNC bill seeks protections for immigrant students amid ICE fears
-
North Dakota32 minutes agoAre Missouri and North Dakota in a water war? | Jefferson City News-Tribune
-
Ohio38 minutes agoMiami moves past Ohio State, climbs in national team recruiting rankings
-
Oklahoma44 minutes agoMichigan softball ousted by No. 3 Oklahoma in NCAA Tournament
