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Mountain West closes investigation into allegations against San Jose State trans player without discipline

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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)

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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. 

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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. 

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“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. 

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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. 

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Idaho

‘Landman’ star Ali Larter says life in Idaho is ‘simpler’ after ditching Los Angeles

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‘Landman’ star Ali Larter says life in Idaho is ‘simpler’ after ditching Los Angeles


“Landman” star Ali Larter finds her summers in Idaho to be a lot “simpler” than when she used to live in Los Angeles.

At the Newport Beach TV Fest, Larter told Fox News Digital her summer months look “totally different” since she made the move to Sun Valley, Idaho, in 2020.

“Well, it’s totally different, so we can’t really get our kids to hike anymore. They don’t want to do that. But I can get them to take a bike ride and then do, like, a little cold plunge in the river,” Larter began.

“We love to barbecue at our house. We love to play with our dogs. My daughter will probably play some volleyball. We’ll go to Leroy’s and get an ice cream cone.

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“It’s just kind of simpler, and the days are really long. The sun’s out till like 10 at night now, so it’s been really beautiful to kind of have the kids out of school and enjoy the time with them.”

Larter and Hayes MacArthur share two children — son Teddy, 15, and daughter, Vivienne, 11.

Ali Larter ditched Los Angeles for a “simpler” life in Sun Valley, Idaho, with her family. Instagram/alilarter

During an interview with Fox News Digital in November, Larter shared the exact moment she and her husband realized they wanted to stay in Idaho after moving there during the COVID-19 lockdown.

“We went for two months thinking that the kids’ schools would be reopened in California, and they weren’t,” she recalled. “And, so, they were doing online, and the schools there were open. And, so, we were able to put our 6-year-old daughter in kindergarten for the spring semester.

“And that was a huge thing for us because we just wanted her to be around other children and have that kindergarten experience. And during that time, we met some amazing families just organically by the school,” she continued.

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Larter and husband Hayes MacArthur share two children — son Teddy, 15, and daughter, Vivienne, 11 Instagram/alilarter

“And living in the town and just skiing with our children. And we really spent a tremendous amount of time together as a family.”

After living in Idaho during the latter half of the school year, Larter and her family returned to Los Angeles for the summer, and they realized that “there are so many demands as an actor” when living in the city.

She explained that actors not only audition frequently but are “expected to show up for so many things,” including parties and charity events. While she loves LA and says her “heart will always be there,” she wanted a more family-focused lifestyle.

Larter plays Angela, Billy Bob Thornton’s recently reconciled ex-wife, in “Landman.” Emerson Miller/Paramount+

“We just didn’t want to do that. We wanna be with our children,” she said. “And, so, that’s when I think the biggest change was we came back after that summer, and we just made a go for it and said, ‘Let’s try this and see if it works.’”

Larter attended the Newport Beach TV Fest that honored “Landman,” in which she plays Angela, Billy Bob Thornton’s recently reconciled ex-wife.

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On the red carpet, Larter told Fox News Digital that Angela is a “wildcat,” and she wishes she could channel her a little bit more in everyday life.



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Hawaii

First Alert Forecast: Classic Hawaii trade wind weather

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First Alert Forecast: Classic Hawaii trade wind weather


HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Partly to Mostly Sunny skies with windward and mauka showers drifting leeward at times. Most of the rainfall will be light and in the overnight to early morning hours with an increasing trend on Tuesday and stronger trends on Thursday and Friday; which is good because we need to beneficial rainfall.

View the latest weather conditions here.

Trade winds will continue blowing from the east all week while a high-pressure system sits north of Hawaii, keeping conditions mostly stable. On Tuesday, a weak weather system moving in from the east will bring some extra showers across the islands, but nothing major. A more significant system arrives Thursday through Friday—it’s actually the leftover remains of a tropical cyclone—and will bring noticeably heavier rain, especially on the windward sides of the islands (the sides facing the trade winds) and on mountain slopes, with humidity increasing as well. The highest rainfall will happen Thursday through Friday, though overall rainfall amounts will stay limited due to large-scale stability in the atmosphere.

A Small Craft Advisory now in effect for all Hawaiian waters (a warning for smaller boats to be cautious). A new long-period swell from the south-southwest is already moving in and will boost south shore surf heights to near-High Surf Advisory levels through Monday before gradually fading. East-facing shores will remain rough and choppy throughout the week from the strong winds, while north-facing shores will stay relatively flat. These windy conditions and Small Craft Advisories will continue through the entire week.

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Download the HNN Weather app from the Apple App Store or Google Play for the latest updates from your First Alert Weather Team: chief meteorologist Jennifer Robbins, meteorologist Drew Davis, and weather anchors Guy Hagi, Ben Gutierrez, and Billy V.

Download HNN’s weather app for everything you need to plan your day.(Hawaii News Now)

Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.



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Montana

1 dead in vehicle vs. motorcycle crash in Bozeman

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1 dead in vehicle vs. motorcycle crash in Bozeman


The Bozeman Police Department received a report of a vehicle versus motorcycle collision on July 3 around 10 p.m.

The crash happened on Frontage Road and the westbound on ramp to Interstate 90.

Officials say officers and bystanders attempted lifesaving efforts on a motorcyclist who was seriously injured.

The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene.

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Preliminary findings indicate a Jeep was traveling eastbound on Frontage Road when the driver made a left-hand turn trying to enter the westbound I-90 on-ramp when the driver did not see the dirt bike.

Officials say there was no forward-facing headlamp or other lighting illuminated on the dirt bike, investigators examined the dirt bike for evidence of lighting equipment and found none.

According to a press release, there is no indication that the driver of the Jeep was impaired, and they are cooperating with the investigation.

The incident is currently under investigation.



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