NFL Free Agency opens up on Wednesday, with the legal tampering period beginning on Monday. The top free agents usually all commit to a team during that period, so be ready to rock and roll to start next week.
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Nevada gov speaks out against trans athletes in women's sports ahead of controversial volleyball tournament
Las Vegas is set to host one of the most controversial women’s college volleyball tournaments in the sport’s history this week.
This year’s Mountain West Tournament will feature San Jose State trans athlete Blaire Fleming, and multiple teams that have already forfeited to the Spartans this season amid a national controversy over Fleming’s presence.
Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo condemned the notion of trans athletes competing against women just days before Fleming will likely compete in his state under a national spotlight.
Lombardo released a statement on Wednesday saying he believes that student athletes should “only compete with and against members of the same biological sex.”
Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo speaks during a news conference after the country music festival mass shooting on Oct. 4, 2017, in Las Vegas. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
“Every student, regardless of gender, is entitled to fair and safe competition in high school and collegiate sports. For the well-being of students and the integrity of competition, I believe students should only compete with and against members of the same biological sex,” Lombardo said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital.
“As a father of two daughters, I firmly believe in protecting the sanctity of women’s sports. Despite attempts to politicize this issue, my philosophy is simple: women should participate in women’s sports and men should participate in men’s sports. No matter what sports team a student plays on or what extracurricular activities a student participates in, every student deserves to be treated with the utmost kindness and respect – on and off the field, in and out of the classroom.”
Lombardo previously weighed in on the San Jose State controversy when it involved women athletes at the University of Nevada, Reno in October. The university’s volleyball team was scheduled to play San Jose State’s on Oct. 26, but Nevada players told their athletic department that they didn’t want to compete against Fleming.
SJSU TRANSGENDER VOLLEYBALL SCANDAL: TIMELINE OF ALLEGATIONS, POLITICAL IMPACT AND A RAGING CULTURE MOVEMENT
However, the university initially did not respect the players’ wishes, and publicly stated its intention to proceed with the match against San Jose State. A Nevada spokesperson previously told Fox News Digital that the university was doing this to avoid violating Democratiic-passed state law that prevents trans discrimination.
Lombardo praised the players for taking a stand in a statement on Oct. 15.
“As I’ve said previously, I believe there are competition and safety concerns with this issue, and it’s irresponsible for the NCAA to put student athletes in a position of balancing their personal safety against the schools, competition and sports they love,” Lombardo’s statement read.
“The student athletes at the University of Nevada, Reno have determined that they do not want to play against San Jose State, and I wholeheartedly respect the decision of the players. No student athlete should ever be pressured to play a game where they don’t feel safe – period. The NCAA has a responsibility to address this issue in a consistent way that protects the integrity of women’s sports and the student athletes who participate.”
The players then spoke out publicly and alleged the university was pressuring them to compete against the Spartans. Nevada then officially forfeited the match the day before it was set to be played, claiming it didn’t have enough players to compete.
Blaire Fleming of the San Jose State Spartans attempts to block a shot during the Air Force Falcons match on Oct. 19, 2024, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Andrew Wevers/Getty Images)
Four other teams, including three conference rivals, forfeited games against San Jose State this season. Those forfeits yielded the Spartans six additional conference wins, as it ended up earning the No. 2 seed in the upcoming tournament and a first-round bye.
Now, San Jose State is guaranteed to face a team that previously forfeited to them in the semifinal round of the tournament. Utah State and Boise State, which each refused to face the Spartans, will face off in the quarterfinals on Wednesday night for the right to advance to the semifinals.
A San Jose State spokesperson previously told Fox News Digital that the conference is currently preparing for all teams and players that qualified for the tournament to compete, but it has a plan in the event of forfeits. That plan includes a willingness to recognize San Jose State as the conference champion if its opponents forfeit en route to a victory in the final.
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A federal jury in Boise awarded $10 million to a University of Idaho professor after finding a Texas TikToker financially liable for spreading false claims that linked her to the 2022 stabbing deaths of four college students.
The decision came Friday in U.S. District Court in the case of Scofield v. Guillard. Jurors awarded $7.5 million in punitive damages and $2.5 million in compensatory damages, according to court records and reporting by the Idaho Statesman.
Professor Rebecca Scofield, who chairs the university’s history department, filed suit in December 2022 against Houston resident Ashley Guillard. The lawsuit stemmed from a series of TikTok videos in which Guillard alleged, without evidence, that Scofield had a romantic relationship with one of the victims and arranged the killings.
The victims, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, were stabbed to death in a rental home near campus in Moscow, Idaho, on Nov. 13, 2022. The crime drew nationwide attention and left the campus community reeling.
Ashley Guillard posted TikTok videos falsely linking a University of Idaho professor to the Idaho college murders, leading to a defamation lawsuit. (TikTok/ashleyisinthebookoflife4)
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Authorities later arrested Bryan Kohberger, a criminology doctoral student at nearby Washington State University at the time. He ultimately pleaded guilty in a deal that spared him the death penalty and is now serving four consecutive life sentences in an Idaho state prison.
In a statement to Fox News Digital following the verdict, Scofield expressed gratitude to the jury and said she hopes to close a painful chapter.
“I want to thank the jury for their time and attention to this case. The judge had already ruled as a matter of law that the statements were false. The $10 million verdict reinforces the judge’s decision and sends the clear message that false statements online have consequences in the real world for real people and are unacceptable in our community,” Scofield said.
BRYAN KOHBERGER FIGHTS $27K RESTITUTION FOR VICTIMS’ FAMILIES WHILE TAKING MONEY BEHIND BARS
University of Idaho students from left to right: Ethan Chapin, 20; Xana Kernodle, 20; Madison Mogen, 21; and Kaylee Goncalves, 21. All four were stabbed to death in an off-campus rental home in Moscow, Idaho, on Nov. 13, 2022. (Jazzmin Kernodle via AP/Instagram/ @kayleegoncalves)
“The murders of the four students on November 13, 2022, was the darkest chapter in our university’s history. Today’s decision shows that respect and care should always be granted to victims during these tragedies. I am hopeful that this difficult chapter in my life is over, and I can return to a more normal life with my family and the wonderful Moscow community.”
Court filings show that in June 2024, Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Raymond Patricco determined that Guillard’s statements were legally defamatory, leaving only the question of monetary damages for a jury to decide.
According to the complaint, Guillard began posting videos in late November 2022 claiming Scofield had secretly been involved with one of the students and had “ordered” the killings. The lawsuit states Scofield had never met any of the victims and was out of state when the murders occurred.
IDAHO MURDER VICTIMS’ FAMILIES EXPRESS OUTRAGE AFTER CRIME SCENE PHOTOS ACCIDENTALLY RELEASED
People lay flowers and pay respects at the University of Idaho on Tuesday, November 15, 2022. Four students were murdered in Moscow, Idaho over the weekend. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)
The filing further alleges that Guillard continued publishing the accusations even after receiving cease-and-desist letters and after police publicly indicated Scofield was not connected to the crime.
At the time, Guillard’s TikTok account had garnered more than 100,000 followers, with some of the videos receiving millions of interactions, according to court documents.
Scofield’s legal team argued the statements amounted to defamation because they accused her of criminal conduct and professional misconduct that could jeopardize her academic career.
During the damages trial, Scofield described the emotional toll of seeing her name associated with the murders online, according to the Idaho Statesman. Jurors deliberated for less than two hours before returning their verdict, the outlet reported.
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Guillard, who represented herself in court, has maintained that her statements were expressions of belief tied to tarot card readings, according to courtroom coverage.
It was not immediately known whether she intends to appeal. Fox News Digital has reached out to Guillard for comment.
Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.
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Three adults and five juveniles were arrested after two people were stabbed on Wednesday at San Francisco’s Dolores Park, police said.
The San Francisco Police Department said officers responded at about 4:50 p.m. to a report of a group of people fighting at the park. On the way there, the officers were notified that there was a possible stabbing, police said.
When officers arrived, they found two men with stab wounds, and the officers began first aid before medics arrived. Both men were taken to the hospital, one with life-threatening injuries, police said.
Officers searched the area around the park and detained eight people; they were all arrested after investigators developed probable cause, police said. The adults were identified as 18-year-old Fernando Moreno Hernandez, 18-year-old David Paz, and 19-year-old Yeferson Mondragon-Ortiz. Each was booked into the San Francisco County Jail.
The five teenagers were taken and booked into the city’s Juvenile Justice Center.
All suspects were charged with attempted murder, conspiracy, assault likely to produce great bodily injury, and assault with a deadly weapon.
Police said the case was still under active investigation, and anyone with information was asked to contact the department at 415-575-4444, or send a text to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.
I figured now would be a good time to do a little discussion around the Denver Broncos and where we think their top priorities should be on offense when free agency kicks off.
Broncos top FA needs on offense
Tim Lynch: For free agency, I’d say running back and tight end are the highest on my wish list.
I’d say pay big for a top free agent running back and ensure you have a monster two-headed backfield next season. They need a superior run-blocking tight end and, if they move on from Evan Engram, a pass-catcher too.
Christopher Hart: I agree with Tim. Those are the biggest needs for the offense. Getting a top-notch running back and a tight end capable of playing inline to replace Adam Trautman is a must. The two players I advocated a few weeks ago were running back Travis Etienne and tight end Cade Otton. Both would be fantastic additions and help take Denver’s offense to the next level in 2026.
Scotty Payne: Playmaker is the top and biggest need. That includes a RB, TE, and/or WR in that order.
Need to improve the run game regardless, need some sort of production out of the TEs as well as improved blocking, and if they can get a true WR1, that would be great too.
Ross Allen: I think we’re all in agreement.
Getting someone who can be the dominant running back and have RJ Harvey serve that glamorous “joker” role would be huge for this offense. And given that they also don’t have a legitimate playmaker at the receiving position hurts them. A TE or WR can fill that role.
Sadaraine: The #1 need for the Broncos on offense is a top-notch running back. I will be blown away if the Broncos don’t sign a top-tier free agent running back to upgrade the offense (and no, J.K. Dobbins wouldn’t be that guy…not with his injury history).
There’s a significant gap in need after that until we start talking about tight ends and receivers. I think we’re more likely to see more money spent on a tight end than a receiver, but this offense could use both to be sure.
Ian St. Clair: Not to beat a dead horse, but running back is the biggest need and priority for this team when free agency starts. Having a consistent and effective running game will make Nix and the offense exponentially better. It will make the team better. After running back, the Broncos need to figure out their tight end.
Adam Malnati: Give Bo a weapon. I don’t care which position. Yes, RB is a need. Yes, TE is a need (thanks a lot Evan Engram). Still, a weapon would be nice.
Predictably, we’re all heavily keyed in on running back and tight end. That was a big part of our free agent profile coverage too and for good reason. There have been many rumors around Denver looking to target both positions next week and where there is smoke there is usually fire.
The question really becomes: go big or go affordable? With the championship window open, I’m leaning go big on premium play-maker positions this offseason.
Where do you stand on this discussion? Give us your top free agent needs on offense and how you hope the Broncos address them next week.
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