The Chicago Cubs on Monday announced the schedule for the 2026 Cubs Convention, set for this coming weekend at the Sheraton Grand Chicago along the Chicago River.

The Cubs Convention will be the first time the team can come together with fans to honor the team’s 150th anniversary as a National League franchise, as well as the upcoming 10th anniversary of the Cubs’ 2016 World Series championship.

Fans who attend the convention at the hotel, at 301 E. North Water St., will get to watch footage in the Theater Room documenting Cubs history and notable players, view a 150th anniversary exhibit with materials from the Cubs and Wrigley Field archive, and buy limited-edition merchandise — including jerseys with a 150th anniversary patch.

Fans will also get to vote on who should be on the Cubs 150th Anniversary Team, with a special roster of iconic past players who helped shape Cubs history. Voting through the Cubs website begins at noon Friday, Jan. 16, and closes at 6:15 p.m. Saturday, April 25

Honorees will be announced during the 2026 baseball season. 

The convention will begin Friday, Jan. 16, with a star-studded opening ceremony in which the Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame Class of 2026 will be introduced. Friday will also feature the talk show “Off the Mound with Ryan Dempster,” and a brand of karaoke known as “Harry Carayoke.”

On Saturday, the convention will feature discussions, including a 2016 World Series Team Reunion featuring alumni of the history-making team, a “Remembering Ryno” panel discussion honoring the life of Ryne Sandberg, and a “Kids Only Press Conference” presented by Advocate Children’s Hospital.

A Baseball Operations Update with Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer and general manager Carter Hawkins, and a sit-down with Cubs manager Craig Counsell, will also be held Saturday. Also on the agenda for Saturday is a live taping of “The Compound” podcast with Ian Happ, an opportunity to have a beverage with Cubs executive chairman Tom Ricketts at an afternoon reception, and more “Harry Carayoke.”

On Sunday, young baseball and softball players can take part in a youth sports clinic headed by Cubs players, alumni, and Nike RBI coaches. The clinic is sold out, and is open only to those who have pre-registered.

A celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is also set for Sunday.

The Cubs did not go by their current name until 1902, but they trace their history back to 1870 — when they were officially just called the Chicago Base Ball Club, and were colloquially known as the Chicago White Stockings. In 1876, the White Stockings became a charter member of the National League.

Seasoned municipal recreation leader brings decade-plus of experience in equitable programming, operations, and fiscal stewardship

Mayor Jake Wilson is welcoming Ohemeng Kyeremateng as the city’s new Director of Parks and Recreation. Kyeremateng brings more than a decade of municipal parks and recreation leadership experience focused on expanding access, strengthening community programming, and improving the stewardship of public recreational spaces.

Prior to joining Somerville, he held senior leadership roles across multiple communities, including serving as Deputy Director of Recreation for the City of Hartford, CT, where he helped oversee parks, facilities, aquatics, and community programs and managed significant operating and capital budgets.

“I’m proud to welcome Ohemeng as our new Parks and Recreation Director. Recreation is quality-of-life infrastructure,” said Mayor Wilson. “It’s youth sports, afterschool and summer programs, and the daily opportunities that help kids thrive, and neighbors connect. Ohemeng brings the experience and drive to grow participation and strengthen the programs Somerville families and all our residents rely on.”

In Hartford, Kyeremateng directed division-wide strategy and operations, collaborated with schools and community partners to deliver neighborhood-based programming, and helped manage budgets exceeding $10 million.

Most recently, Kyeremateng has served as Director of Recreation for the Town of Palmer, MA, leading year-round programming, overseeing town recreational assets, and supporting long-term planning and facility improvements guided by community needs.

Kyeremateng is a scholarship award recipient of the American Parks and Recreation Foundation and a graduate of the National Recreation and Park Association’s Revenue Management School, with expertise in financial sustainability and revenue strategy. He holds an MBA in Management and a bachelor’s degree in Sports and Leisure Management.

“I’m honored to lead Somerville’s Parks and Recreation Department,” said Kyeremateng. “Recreation programming can help community members of all ages discover new talents, meet new friends, and just have fun. I’m looking forward to working with our team to deliver great programs for everyone in Somerville.”

For more information on the city’s Parks and Recreation programming, please visit somervillema.gov/parksandrec.

By Mike Warren
Sports Editor

MARSHFIELD – A junior-laden Auburndale girls’ basketball team has found early-season success by combining lots of varsity experience with a few new faces.

“I think our experience is getting us off on the right foot,” Head Coach Josh Nagel told Gene Delisio, WDLB/WOSQ, following a 5-0 start in December. “I’ve got a lot of girls with fifty career games or more under their belts and it’s starting to show. We’re able to work on some of the finer things and they’re picking some offensive tendencies up a little bit quicker. We were able to progress a little bit faster here at the start of the season, which was nice to see. They are all familiar. They know what to expect with what we’re trying to do in our system, so we were just able to hit the ground running.”   

Kylie Anderson is the lone senior on Auburndale’s varsity roster this season.

“She started every game for us last year,” said Nagel. “She’s our off guard, but she’s been stepping up a little bit more this year and actually handling the point position off and on, so Gracie Hasenohrl doesn’t have to do it all the time. 

“And then I’ve got Gracie Hasenohrl and her sister, Rose Hasenohrl (both juniors).

They’ve been major contributors the last couple years.

“Then there’s (juniors) Chesney Nagel and Myah Katzenberger.

“Breleigh Grimm (junior) is another one of those players. She’s a capable scorer as well,” Nagel added.

“We’re waiting for (junior) Lily Bellanti to get back off her ACL injury, so that’s just going to make us stronger.

“That junior class has gotten a lot of experience since they were freshmen, so that’s where all those career games come in,” the second-year head coach told Delisio. “They’ve had to play maybe sooner than they needed to. I don’t know what the case was, but they’ve got the experience and it’s showing here this year.”

In addition, Marti Anderson is a sophomore who’s been getting substantial minutes so far this season. 

“So, we’ve got a little bit of new coming in with a lot of the old and hopefully it pays off,” said Nagel.

He added that physical strength has been the area in which he has seen the most improvement from last season to this year.

“We’ve had some girls put some time in in the weight room here this year. And that physical strength builds confidence. When you’re physically strong you’re more confident with the ball, which has cut back on our turnovers here at the start of the season. Hopefully that continues,” Nagel said.

Katzenberger, a five-foot, nine-inch forward, was a second-team All-Marawood Conference selection a season ago, and Nagel is expecting another big year out of her.

“She’s got a nice outside shot. Most people think she’s just an inside player, but she shoots the three pointer at a high clip, right around forty, fifty percent. She can play with her back to the basket. She’s passing out of the post real well. She knows she’s going to get a double team coming her way and she’s been really cognizant this year of turning around, facing the basket, and if it’s there she’ll make a move, and if not she’ll kick it out and repost,” Nagel said.       

Nagel also said much of the credit for Auburndale’s fast start this season should go to his team’s man-to-man defense.

“We’re only giving up thirty-five, thirty-six points a game, and part of that is we can put great pressure on the ball. With Gracie Hasenohrl and Chesney Nagel, they can put great ball pressure on ball handlers and shooters, and the rest of the girls just know how to play help defense, so we can face guard and those other three girls on the court at any given time are always in the right spot,” said Nagel.  

The Eagles are coming off a 21-5 record a season ago, which ended with a loss to Bonduel in a Div. 4 Regional Final.

Auburndale JV features international trio

Up until just recently, the Eagles’ junior varsity basketball squad had among its membership three foreign exchange student/athletes from three different countries.

Juliette Mills, 17, from Orange, Australia, 160 miles west of Sydney in New South Wales, is in Auburndale until her year abroad ends Jan. 14. While there, the five-foot, nine-inch senior competed in softball, volleyball and JV basketball.

“I never had played softball, so I wanted to try a new sport,” Mills told Hub City Times on Jan. 7. “I really liked it. It was a lot of fun. Volleyball was where I made a lot of closer friends. I just like being a part of the team. And I love watching as well.”

Since Australia has only club sports that practice and play just once a week, and does not include them in their high schools, this was the first opportunity for Mills to be a part of those experiences.

“Prom was probably my favorite part of my exchange year. I really enjoyed the summer. And the Fourth of July was cool. Oh, and I really enjoyed Homecoming,” the 2025 Auburndale Homecoming Queen added. “At photos, I fell down the stairs with my heels on, and so then I didn’t wear my heels onto the stage because I didn’t want to fall down the stairs again. So my mom told everyone that I’m her barefoot queen.”

Mills has three more quarters left of high school back home.

After that, Juliette says she will pursue a career as a flight attendant.

Still a part of Auburndale’s JV team are Lola Marchand and Iris Galetto.

Marchand, 17, is from Normandy, France and in her senior year.

“Homecoming was fun. I really liked it,” said Marchand, who added all three girls especially enjoyed watching Auburndale’s football season, since it’s a sport they don’t have in their respective homelands.

Marchand, who also played volleyball, will this spring participate in track & field, which will be another new experience for her.

France, like Australia, offers sports only at the club level and not in its high schools.

Galetto, 16, is a junior from Turin in western Italy.

“Basketball is fun. I really like watching the varsity,” said Galetto, who added she enjoys practice more than the games. “The girls on the team are really nice and they try to take us in.”

Galetto said she is more of a runner and participated in cross country in the fall and will go out for track & field in the spring — two sports she also competes in back home.

“I like track better, so I’m really looking forward to it and it’s going to be a whole lot of fun,” she added. “And cross country was really fun, but I don’t really like long distance. I’m more like a short-distance person. But the (cross country) team was really fun. They’re like a second family. I really liked the girls on the team. It was amazing and I had so much fun.”

Galetto says she will focus on running the 400 and the 800 during the track season.

She will have two more years of high school left once she returns home to Italy.

After that, Iris says she will either become a teacher or study law.

“If I could, I would just run, but I don’t think I’m good enough to run for a living.”

Both Galetto and Marchand will be in Auburndale through the end of the current school year.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WVVA) – Governor Patrick Morrisey has appointed Brian Keith Cochran to serve as Mercer County’s 13th Circuit Court judge.

Cochran fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge William J. Sadler in December.

Cochran has served as Mercer County’s prosecuting attorney since 2020 and brings more than three decades of combined law enforcement and legal experience to the bench. He has handled a wide range of criminal and civil matters and has represented individuals, businesses, municipalities and governmental entities across West Virginia. Cochran served as city attorney for Bluefield and worked in private practice before returning to public service.

He earned his Juris Doctor from Appalachian School of Law and holds degrees in criminal justice and liberal arts from Fairmont State College, Marshall University and Glenville State College. Cochran was admitted to the West Virginia State Bar in 2007.

Cochran has received awards including American Legion Police Officer of the Year and the U.S. Attorney’s Department of Justice Award for Meritorious Service. A lifelong West Virginian, he has been active in youth sports, church activities and civic life in Mercer County. He and his wife Connie have been married more than 30 years and raised three children in the county.

Cochran said he appreciates the governor’s confidence and pledged to “ensure that justice is done fairly and impartially, and to be respectful to all who come before the court in order to provide every party a full and fair opportunity to be heard.”

Cochran must run in the May 2026 election to serve the remaining seven years of Judge Sadler’s term.

Copyright 2026 WVVA. All rights reserved.

The Sports Bra Launches Playmakers to Honor Young Athletes for National Girls and Women in Sports Day

In celebration of the upcoming National Girls & Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) the Playmakers initiative honors youth, high school, and collegiate athletes for the leadership, teamwork, and heart they bring to their sports and communities. Playmakers is a direct extension of The Sports Bra’s mission: to create an environment that supports, empowers, and promotes girls and women in sports and throughout the community.

Beginning now, youth league directors, athletic directors, coaches, and community and family members in Portland, as well as expansion cities Boston, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, and St. Louis, are invited to nominate young women who embody the spirit of a Playmaker, someone who makes a positive impact both on and off the field, court, mat, pitch, track, pool, or wherever they play. 

“A Playmaker is someone who changes the game just by being who they are, both on and off the playing field,” said Jenny Nguyen, founder and CEO of The Sports Bra. “With this initiative, we’re honoring the courage and teamwork of the next generation. These athletes are the future of the movement, and we couldn’t be prouder to shine a light on them.”

Deborah Pleva, vice president of engagement at The Sports Bra, added, “If you’ve ever watched a coach draw up a play for a team, you know that X’s and O’s are all about preparation and belief. This February, the month of love, as we celebrate National Girls & Women in Sports Day, those X’s and O’s mean even more: they stand for our love of the game and the girls who pour their hearts into it. With Playmakers, we are turning that love into action by shining a spotlight on the girls and women who are the future of sports.”

HOW TO NOMINATE A PLAYMAKER

Nominations are open to youth, middle school, high school, and collegiate athletes in the communities of The Sports Bra’s current and future locations. Nominations are open through Saturday, Jan. 31, with the selected Playmakers being announced on National Girls & Women in Sports Day, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. Submissions can be made at the forms on the Playmakers Blog.

LOCAL SPOTLIGHT | PARTNERING FOR EMPOWERMENT

In Portland, The Bra is partnering with Girls on the Run Greater Oregon to highlight their shared mission to inspire girls to recognize their inner strength and celebrate their limitless potential. From Feb. 4-15, any athlete who visits The Bra will receive a small token of appreciation for their contribution and love of sports. 

Through this initiative, both organizations aim to spark a local conversation about the importance of keeping girls active and ensuring they have the visibility they deserve.

NATIONAL GIRLS & WOMEN IN SPORTS DAY

National Girls & Women in Sports Day began in 1987 to recognize women’s sports and honor Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman for her dedication to promoting equality in athletics. Since its beginnings, the day has become a vibrant annual movement co-founded and powered by the Women’s Sports Foundation. It honors the achievements of women athletes and leaders and acknowledges the significant impact and positive influence of sports participation. 

Participation in sports can develop the confidence and character that help girls become strong leaders in all aspects of life. Today, The Sports Bra is excited to join the nationwide celebration of NGWSD, which inspires girls and women and continues the ongoing struggle for gender equity in sports. 

“Ultimately, Playmakers is our way of ensuring the next generation knows their impact is seen and valued,” added Nguyen. “It’s our love letter to the future of women’s sports. XOXO from The Bra!”

Founded in April 2022 in Portland, Oregon, The Sports Bra is the first sports bar that exclusively televises women’s sports. In 2025, The Sports Bra announced its expansion into four additional cities, with franchise locations opening in Boston, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, and St. Louis. The family-friendly bar and restaurant offers great food, delicious drinks, and an inclusive space that supports, empowers, and promotes women’s athletes and girls and women in the community. Visit TheSportsBraOfficial.com to find out what’s playing and what’s on the menu.

An Israeli youth judo delegation was reportedly removed from a tournament in southern Poland on Saturday after being targeted with antisemitic chants.

The incident took place during a judo competition in the city of Bielsko-Biała, where about 90 Israeli athletes, ages 7 to 16, from three clubs had traveled to compete.

Embassy Warns of Antisemitic Harassment

The Israeli Embassy in Poland said it was “deeply concerned” by reports of abuse directed at the Israeli delegation, adding that “there is no place for violence or antisemitic slurs of any kind, particularly in sport, which should promote respect, fairness, and cooperation among nations.”

We are deeply concerned by the violent incident yesterday against the Israeli judo team, which was attacked verbally and physically during a competition in Bielsko-Biała in Poland. The Israeli competition participants were children and youth aged 7 to 16.

There is no place…

— Ambasada Izraela (@IsraelinPoland) January 11, 2026

According to accounts cited in Polish media, spectators shouted hostile slogans throughout the day. Chants were said to have included “Free Palestine” and “Look, the Jews are coming.” A witness told 247 Sports that the taunts continued during matches and distracted even the youngest competitors.

Confrontation Escalates After Appeal to Officials

As the shouting persisted, two Israeli coaches approached referees and asked them to intervene. Witnesses say the situation then escalated. A group of around 12 local men allegedly confronted the coaches and physically attacked them in front of the young athletes and spectators.

Organizers then removed the entire Israeli delegation from the competition. The team returned to its hotel and stayed there due to safety concerns.

Israeli athletes in a youth judo camp for 7-16 y.o. were attacked by Polish grown men, including 11 y.o. that was attacked while his parents are watching it live on TV.

They were pulled out from the competition and training “for their safety” Pathetic.
pic.twitter.com/zM7yeY3dgE

— Gal G., Adv 🇮🇱 (@ICK_GalG) January 11, 2026

Conflicting Accounts From Polish Officials

Local authorities and tournament officials dispute the Israeli account. A statement published on the Bielsko-Biała municipal website claimed an Israeli coach reacted aggressively to a referee’s decision. The statement said the coach entered the competition area, shouted insults, and made physical contact with the referee.

Organizers contacted police and disqualified the Israeli team, according to that account.

A spokesperson for the Bielsko Police confirmed that police spoke with those involved. He said officers noted physical contact but received no formal complaints. The parties later dispersed without charges.

Calls for Accountability and Protection

The Israeli Embassy urged Polish authorities to investigate the incident thoroughly and guarantee the safety of Israeli athletes at international events. The case has renewed concern about antisemitic hostility at sporting venues, particularly when it targets children.

No independent findings have yet reconciled the sharply different versions of events. The incident remains under scrutiny as tensions continue to affect Jewish and Israeli participation in sports across Europe.

For firsthand insight into how Israeli athletes confront antisemitism on the global stage, and what young competitors can learn from it, read CAM’s exclusive interview with Peter Paltchik, a two-time Olympic medalist and the most decorated judo fighter in Israeli history.

Take Action

CAM has launched Report It — a secure app to report antisemitic incidents anonymously and in real time. Don’t stay silent — download it today on the Apple Store or Google Play. See it. Report it. Stop it. Together, we can fight this hate.