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Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development Holds Hearing …

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Congressman Brian Jack (R-GA), Chairman of the Small Business Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development, held a hearing titled, “Beyond the Ballpark: The Role of Minor League Baseball in Economic Growth” to examine how minor league baseball contributes to community development and economic growth. “I am honored to convene yesterday’s […]

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Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development Holds Hearing ...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Congressman Brian Jack (R-GA), Chairman of the Small Business Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development, held a hearing titled, “Beyond the Ballpark: The Role of Minor League Baseball in Economic Growth” to examine how minor league baseball contributes to community development and economic growth.

“I am honored to convene yesterday’s bipartisan hearing and highlight the positive impact of Minor League Baseball on the communities we call home,” said Chairman Jack. “I am especially proud to feature the Columbus Clingstones, the Atlanta Braves’ newest minor league affiliate, who are an enormous source of pride across the southern part of my district.”

Watch the full hearing here.

Below are some key excerpts from today’s hearing:

Chairman Jack: “Could you illuminate, for this panel, how the facilities at which minor league baseball teams play serve their communities outside of baseball?” Mr. Battle: “It’s a great question, and it’s a goal that we have at Diamond Baseball Holdings. We operate—basically run roughly 70 professional baseball games a year, but these stadiums are the centers of energy in most of these communities. We are actively involved in—and ranking members Scholten talked about several of the things that happen in minor league baseball stadiums—with concerts, with movie nights, with just all of the things, with weddings and graduations and corporate outings, having the opportunity to amplify and to highlight our stadiums 365 days a year. In Charlotte, North Carolina, the Charlotte Knights, Triple-A White Sox, there’s a 30-day winter wonderland that takes place from December first through January first, and last year, tens of thousands of citizens in Charlotte came into the stadium. It was lit up. There was an ice rink in the centerfield. That’s one example of the many ways that we are working beyond baseball to create these special memories for the citizens in the community.”

Rep. Bresnahan: “Lou, you recently mentioned that you are celebrating your 45th anniversary at PNC Park. Can you speak more about the partnership with the team and what it means to Independent Graphics?” Mr. Ciampi: “As I said before, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are very much a part of the Independent Graphics’ brand. To be able to go out on a sales call and say, ‘we are a proud partner of the New York Yankees—like them or not like them—Triple-A team,’ it’s certainly a conversation starter. Some of the unbelievable memories, up there one in particular: the day that we met Reggie Jackson…The vision of Reggie and my old man shaking hands like they’re two old army buddies, that’s never going to leave me. That will never leave me. Where does a company, started 45 years ago by one man, get the chance to go up to the ballpark and meet all of our baseball heroes? That’s coming straight from the heart. That’s one of the biggest things for me about the ballpark, they are a part of our family.”

Chairman Williams: “One of the most important aspects of minor league baseball is that it makes our nation’s pastime available to more people in communities outside of the few cities that host major league teams. Mr. Ryan, you are the CEO and founder of both the Corpus Christi Hooks and the Round Rock Express, the minor league franchises you mentioned. Both teams brought baseball to communities that lacked easy access to the sport. So, how have these communities changed now that a minor league team has been established in them and is part of the community? Mr. Ryan: “I think people don’t realize what they’re missing until they get a team in their community, and it’s really about quality of life. I think, as Pat was saying, every market is very different. In Corpus Christi, they had never been able to find something that could bring the community together, and unfortunately, in a divided society today, there are few things that do bring everyone together. Sports teams do that. Teams win a championship, and everybody is high-fiving and hugging each other on the street. That’s really what we saw in Corpus Christi. First and foremost, it brought the community together in a way that had never been done before. It was fun to see the development around the stadium. The city really jumped on the ballpark and created a SEA district, which encompasses sports, entertainment, and arts. They’ve now clustered all of their amenities into one area of town, creating a unique destination. The city was known for being a regional summertime vacation spot, but it lacked anything really to do at night. People would go to the beach or go to the aquarium, the USS Lexington, but then, at night, they didn’t really have anything to do, and now, you’re seeing that with a concert venue and the stadium and some other stuff.”

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Primis Partners With Absolute Sports to Power Video Discovery for 80M Users

TEL AVIV, Israel, July 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Primis, the video discovery platform for publishers and part of the McCann and IPG network (NYSE: IPG), has signed an exclusive partnership with Absolute Sports, the global digital media group behind Sportskeeda.com, and other leading brands. With over 80 million monthly users and reach across 150+ countries, Absolute […]

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TEL AVIV, Israel, July 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Primis, the video discovery platform for publishers and part of the McCann and IPG network (NYSE: IPG), has signed an exclusive partnership with Absolute Sports, the global digital media group behind Sportskeeda.com, and other leading brands. With over 80 million monthly users and reach across 150+ countries, Absolute Sports is a leading force in global digital sports media.

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As part of the partnership, the Primis online video player has been fully integrated across all Absolute Sports websites. This lightweight video technology fits seamlessly within editorial environments, surfacing original video content in context. The result is a non-intrusive viewing experience that encourages users to keep exploring. It guides them naturally from one story to the next and creates a self-contained discovery journey that keeps audiences immersed in the brand experience.

“At Absolute Sports, we view Primis as a true strategic partner, a company that shares our passion for innovation and audience-first solutions.” said Umesh Sharma, Business Head – Ad Operations at Absolute Sports. “This collaboration strengthens our commitment to delivering impactful and engaging experiences, while unlocking new monetization opportunities for our ecosystem.”

The collaboration also includes access to advanced contextual targeting, seamless demand integrations, and real-time performance insights. These capabilities empower Absolute Sports to unlock more value from their inventory, while offering advertisers a way to connect with a loyal and highly engaged audience in premium video environments.

“We’ve had the pleasure of knowing the incredible team at Absolute Sports for several years, and I’m excited for the opportunity to officially join forces,” said Matan Agi, Director of Business Development at Primis. “Primis is proud to support Absolute Sports on their strategic growth journey and to play a key role in helping them scale with confidence.”

For more information, visit https://www.primis.tech

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Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/primis-and-absolute-sports-announce-partnership-to-deliver-video-discovery-across-their-global-portfolio-of-websites-302501091.html

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USD volleyball team heads to World University Games in Berlin

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — The University of San Diego volleyball team is preparing for what players are calling a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity as they get ready to travel nearly 6,000 miles to compete in the World University Games in Berlin. “I’m so excited. It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. When the coaches told us that we had […]

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SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — The University of San Diego volleyball team is preparing for what players are calling a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity as they get ready to travel nearly 6,000 miles to compete in the World University Games in Berlin.

“I’m so excited. It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. When the coaches told us that we had this opportunity to play in Germany and compete against some of the best people in the country, it just really excited the whole team,” said team setter Kylie Munday.

Already one of the best volleyball programs on the West Coast, the Toreros will now get a chance to test themselves against national teams featuring some of the top players in the world.

“We will play Australia, Italy, and Chinese Taipei in our first pool, and we’re expecting really elite competition from all of those countries,” said Casey Schoenlein, USD assistant volleyball coach.

The trip has a double benefit for USD’s coaches, who get to work with players weeks ahead of the normal NCAA start date at the end of the month. Plus, the Toreros used the World University Games as a recruiting tool for players like graduate transfer Kali Engeman, a middle blocker who was lured to San Diego from the Big Ten and her native Minnesota.

“That was definitely a big part of the recruiting process was, wow, I get to have practice with the coaches, I get to meet my teammates, and I get to bond with them through a challenging practice,” said Engeman.

And even if they don’t win gold medals, the Toreros are confident they’ll be bringing home something even more valuable.

“Lifelong memories with my best friends,” said Munday.

“Getting to see a bunch of different landmarks, and getting to experience people’s first times out of the country or first times to Europe … I’m so excited,” said Schoenlein.

The World University Games run July 16-27 in Germany. They feature competitions in more than a dozen different sports.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.





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Anessa White of Wyoming Indian Signs with Haskell University

Wyoming Indian High School athlete Anessa White will continue her athletic journey in track and field at Haskell Indian Nations University in Kansas. White qualified for the 2A State Track Meet in both of the throwing events and took 7th in the shot put at 31 feet 10 inches and 10th in the discus at […]

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Wyoming Indian High School athlete Anessa White will continue her athletic journey in track and field at Haskell Indian Nations University in Kansas. White qualified for the 2A State Track Meet in both of the throwing events and took 7th in the shot put at 31 feet 10 inches and 10th in the discus at 95 feet 10 inches.

White also played volleyball for the Lady Chiefs and was an All-Conference selection this past season. She was also on the roster for the Wyoming Indian basketball team and appeared in 29 games during the 2024-25 season as the Chiefs placed second at the 2A State Tournament.

Haskell Indian Nations University is located in Lawrence, Kansas, and is an NAIA school competing in the Continental Athletic Conference.

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2025 State Track Meet Day #3 Part 2

2025 State Track Meet Day #3 Part 2

Gallery Credit: Shannon Dutcher

Wyoming High School Track and Field

Photo Courtesy: Wyoming Indian High School





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Central College Names Katelin Valster to Faculty Athletics Representative

Story Links Central College announces Katelin Valster, assistant professor of kinesiology, has been appointed as a Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) for Central College. Valster has been a valued member of the Central academic community since 2010, when she joined Central as a lecturer of exercise science and assistant women’s soccer coach. Since then, she […]

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Central College announces Katelin Valster, assistant professor of kinesiology, has been appointed as a Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) for Central College.

Valster has been a valued member of the Central academic community since 2010, when she joined Central as a lecturer of exercise science and assistant women’s soccer coach. Since then, she has continuously inspired our students through her teaching, coaching and steadfast support of student-athletes. As an advisor to the Student-Athlete Advisory Council, she is a passionate advocate for academic excellence, mental health and the overall well-being of our student-athletes.

Valster joins Lori Witt, the Kenneth J. Weller Distinguished Professor of the Liberal Arts and associate professor of history, and Andrew Green, director of institutional research and professor of political science, in serving on Central’s FAR team. Per NCAA guidelines, faculty athletics representatives play a vital role in ensuring that academic integrity is upheld within our athletics program, that student-athlete welfare is prioritized and that our institution’s educational mission remains central to the student-athlete experience.

“The Central community is proud of its tradition of championing student-athlete success — both on the field and in the classroom,” says Mark Putnam, Central president. “It’s a legacy we’ve embraced since President Ken Weller first coined the phrase, and our faculty athletics representatives help ensure we continue to lead in promoting that national ideal.”

Putnam also recognized John Roslien, associate professor of kinesiology, for his decades of service as a faculty athletics representative. Roslien joined Central in 1987 as an athletic trainer and began teaching in 1999, dedicating more than 39 years to our community. He has been a force for good within our community and beyond.

Central student-athletes continue to excel academically with the support of faculty and the encouragement of FARs. At this spring’s Dutchies celebration, Central recognized 71 new inductees into Chi Alpha Sigma, the national college athlete honor society for juniors and seniors with a GPA of 3.5 or higher.



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Anessa White of Wyoming Indian Signs with Haskell University

Wyoming Indian High School athlete Anessa White will continue her athletic journey in track and field at Haskell Indian Nations University in Kansas. White qualified for the 2A State Track Meet in both of the throwing events and took 7th in the shot put at 31 feet 10 inches and 10th in the discus at […]

Published

on


Wyoming Indian High School athlete Anessa White will continue her athletic journey in track and field at Haskell Indian Nations University in Kansas. White qualified for the 2A State Track Meet in both of the throwing events and took 7th in the shot put at 31 feet 10 inches and 10th in the discus at 95 feet 10 inches.

White also played volleyball for the Lady Chiefs and was an All-Conference selection this past season. She was also on the roster for the Wyoming Indian basketball team and appeared in 29 games during the 2024-25 season as the Chiefs placed second at the 2A State Tournament.

Haskell Indian Nations University is located in Lawrence, Kansas, and is an NAIA school competing in the Continental Athletic Conference.

WyoPreps logo

2025 State Track Meet Day #3 Part 2

2025 State Track Meet Day #3 Part 2

Gallery Credit: Shannon Dutcher

Wyoming High School Track and Field

Photo Courtesy: Wyoming Indian High School





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Genius Sports appoints Drew Simon to oversee development of augmented broadcasts

Drew Simon has joined Genius Sports as director, content. In this role, he will lead the company’s content strategy across data-enhanced broadcasts, helping to drive immersive viewer experiences for global sports audiences. With over a decade’s experience at CBS, Simon brings deep expertise in televised and streaming sports production, operations, technology, and workflow. This includes […]

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Drew Simon has joined Genius Sports as director, content. In this role, he will lead the company’s content strategy across data-enhanced broadcasts, helping to drive immersive viewer experiences for global sports audiences.

With over a decade’s experience at CBS, Simon brings deep expertise in televised and streaming sports production, operations, technology, and workflow. This includes analysing the broadcast market and customer trends to propose new programming concepts for enhanced viewership numbers and experience. Notably, Simon was a key member of the CBS team that worked alongside Genius Sports to devise, build and launch RomoVision on NFL broadcasts, which won the 2022 George Wensel Technical Achievement Sports Emmy.

In his new role, Simon will spearhead the creation of innovative broadcast forms and help to develop new advertising inventory that enables brands to own key moments of the live sporting action and build deeper fan connections.

He said: “I’m thrilled to join Genius Sports at such an exciting time in the company’s history. Having watched Genius grow as a client at CBS Sports, I’m now eager to leverage its cutting-edge tools and expertise to drive new innovations that transform how fans experience sporting events.”

Matt Fleckenstein, chief product officer at Genius Sports, said: “We are delighted to welcome Drew Simon to this key leadership role. His extensive experience delivering cutting-edge broadcast content that entertains and engages millions of sports fans makes him the ideal person to take our content strategy to the next level. Drew will play a critical role in expanding how we deliver next-generation broadcast experiences across the world’s biggest leagues and unlock immersive advertising opportunities for our sports partners.”

 





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